#god. I'm going to get my fucking degree and go back home and never leave them again.

[cloudykyu]

⋆౨ৎ˚⟡˖ ࣪mark lee, ever the stickler, has set himself a list of rules to follow until he obtains his degree and he’s had no problem sticking to it. but alas, rules are meant to be broken and mark isn’t as disciplined as he prides himself in being. especially when you smile at him like that.

pairing: student!mark x fem!reader genre: college au, fluff, very light angst, kinda slice of life, strangers to lovers word count: 11k hehe warnings: swearing, not proofread, mark is a little insufferable, reader is referred to as she/her, small food mention, they kiss but its nothing spicy, reader cries but its nothing too angsty, i'm projecting my feelings for mark here, i wrote this in 5 days

mani's notes: thank you @1ntaks for beta reading and encouraging mark delulu hours. you'll be the witness at our wedding

Ah, yes. The university library where it reeks of dread and stale paper. You thought you were the only idiot who would step foot in this place on a Friday, but you’re quickly surprised by the lack of empty tables on all three floors. Shouldn’t these people be at home preparing for the absolute ragers someone must have planned for the night? Nerds. 

You’re about to call it quits and kiss your research paper goodbye until you spot him. On the very top floor of this god forsaken library, sits a boy at one of the tables near the window. Black framed glasses are perched on his nose bridge and his equally black hair sticking up in all sorts of places. Notebooks, textbooks, and loose papers lay spread across the table as the boy goes to absolute town on writing whatever he’s working on on a piece of paper. You know that face. Of course you know that face – it’s fucking Mark Lee. 

Well, you kinda know him through the giggles and whispers that bubble up from others as they spot him on campus. He’s a total hit with the babes, but you’ve never seen Mark react to any of it. The boy is always power walking to his next destination with his lips pursed and dumb, wired earphones in. Even when someone shouts his name, loud enough to pierce through whatever song he had blasted, he’ll just look up at the source and give a nod. Never one to stop and chit-chat. Pretty interesting guy, you think. 

Knowing all this, you can tell just exactly how focused he is and start to feel bad for what you’re about to do, but he’s the only one with a table to himself, meaning he’s got extra space. “Hey,” you start off once you’re close enough. The boy's head snaps up quickly to the sound, eyes widening at the intruder (you). “I’m sorry to bother you, but you’re the only one with space at a table right now… Is it okay if I sit here with you?”

He looks around, scanning his surroundings to find that you weren’t lying. Groups of 3-4 students were huddled at each table, leaving him all alone at a place meant to seat five. “Oh, uh…” he mumbles, moving his things to create some space for you. “Sure, no problem.” 

You smile at him in thanks, pulling out a chair and taking a seat diagonal to him. He’s quick to go back to whatever he was doing, looking back down at his notes and continuing to write. “I’m Y/N,” you introduce yourself, unzipping your bag to pull out your own notes. He tries his absolute best to hold back a groan, but he just lost his whole flow so he has no choice but to deadpan back at you. 

“Mark” he states simply and you’re still beaming at him despite the sour look on his face. 

The loud sound of your laptop turning on causes his eye to twitch, but you pay no mind. “Thanks for letting me sit here, Mark! I promise I won’t bother you too much.” Mark gives you nothing but a grimace in response, hoping you stick to your word. He was just on a roll before you arrived, nearly ripping his pen through his notebook paper with how intensely he was writing and now he feels like he has to take 20 deep breaths before getting back into it. And surely enough, he does.

Only a handful of minutes go by before he starts to catch your movements out of the corner of his eye. You really haven’t said a word to him, but you’re the type of student who’ll work for maybe 15 minutes, then take an even longer break. He wants to bang his head against the wall everytime you begin to fidget with your phone or click your pen over and over, or lean back in your chair and sigh, but he doesn’t. Even if Mark has a whole system for studying and you just ruined it, he’s not a bitch! 

It’s not until your 3rd break in the hour do you speak up. “I’ll be right back,” you tell him. Moving to stand up, Mark's eyes follow your movements. “Don’t move!” 

Tell that to yourself, he wants to reply. Instead, he opts for a nod of the head and an “okay.” Taking it as a sign, Mark gets back to work quickly. If he’s lucky, he’ll get through at least three modules before you come back and disturb the peace again. Now, that’s a little mean. You’re not even doing that much to bother him, but remember Mark Lee’s got his own system and rules to follow in order to keep himself on track. He’s so self-disciplined that it’s never failed him and he’d like to keep it that way, even if today kind of threw a wrench in his plans. Mark is normally always studying alone with no one even daring to approach him. His own friends are always welcomed, of course, but they never last long at Mark’s table with the way he stares them down whenever they start non-academic discussions. He doesn’t mind, though. Actually, he likes the fact that his friends respect him and his ways enough to know their limits. 

He doesn’t hear you come back, until you slide a pack of crackers towards him. You say nothing as you move the snack across the table, giving him a sweet smile that he just can’t return. “There’s no eating in the library, Y/N.” 

“So,” you shrug, plopping back into your seat. “No offense Mark, but you’re telling me you won’t break the rules for some ol’ processed fuel for the brain?” The crinkling sound of the package opening causes Mark’s eyes to blow wide once again. He turns his head fast to look around, making sure that no one bears witness to you munching on a contraband that could lead him to getting kicked out. Or worse – BANNED. 

“There’s rules for a reason,” he chides at you, whispering so others don’t hear you breaking the law. 

You roll your eyes at how frigid he’s being and turn back to your essay in front of you. The snack was just what you needed to go on. “Whatever, but I’m just saying” you wave a hand at the boy. “I spent a dollar fifty on you because I heard your stomach screaming from across the table.” Mark’s mouth opens to counter your remark, but is silenced by the rumbling feeling in his stomach. You heard it too, of course. Having heard it the whole time you’ve been sat here. 

The way his body has betrayed him leaves Mark no choice but to silently open the snack under the table. Out of the corner of your eye, you catch him looking around frantically before shoving a cracker in his mouth. 

Mark Lee’s guide to being better than everyone: rule #4 I know you’re a broke college student, but stay away from processed food as much as you can. 

You run into Mark again a few times after that day in the library. Just in passing on campus and at the coffee shop nearby, but there was never enough time for you to have a chat with him. Whenever you lock eyes with the dark haired boy, you give him your best smile and a big wave hello. Mark returns every single greeting with his own tight lipped smile and a raise of a hand before quickly looking away and continuing his business. A few passerby’s give you two a look, because no way Mark Lee just acknowledged someone. The reality is that Mark thinks you’re causing a scene with the way you’re obnoxiously waving at him and he just wants you to stop. You were hoping to see him again with enough time to actually talk to the guy. The only interaction you have with him can’t be him scolding you for buying him a snack and eating it in the library. 

That moment finally comes when you spot Mark sitting right in the middle of the quad. He’s sat criss crossed on the grass, posture straight as he stares ahead almost as if he’s meditating in the middle of campus? What an odd dude. 

You make your way over to him anyway, deciding that he needs a buddy to meditate with. “Hi Mark,” you greet, sitting cross legged next to him. He barely moves to see who has infiltrated his space, knowing only one person who’d do such a thing. “How’s it going?”

“It’s going alright,” Mark lets out a long sigh, rubbing a hand over his face. Everything he had been trying to let go in the middle of this field starts to bubble up in a rant and it catches you off guard with the way this is the most you’ve ever heard Mark speak, but you listen intently anyway. “I swear, I swear! I packed my bag the night before like I always do, but when I got to my first class I couldn’t find my damn highlighters anywhere! Like who the freak forgets a whole 10 pack of mildliner highlighters?” You can’t help the grin that forms on your face as the boy continues to ramble on and on, some you can’t even make out because he’s drifting off to mumble to himself under his breath. “And it’s not like I could go back home to get them either, like I’m the idiot who decided to live off campus so I have like NO TIME to go and get them. I just had to sit in 3 back to back classes with no highlighters.” 

Mark Lee’s guide to being better than everyone: rule #6 make sure everything you need for the next day is packed the night before.

Mark could have gone and gotten them during this break of his, but he felt so utterly defeated. And when Mark feels like this, he just doesn’t know what to do with himself other than sit someplace and stare – which is exactly what he was doing before you showed up. “I just can’t continue my day like this,” he sighs dramatically. “But I have 2 more classes before I can call it a day.” 

He’s so weird and so dramatic for no reason. But you decide to put him out of his misery anyway, given recent events you just had (your last class). “Mildliner you say?” you hint, pulling out a yellow and a green highlighter from your pocket before handing it out to him. “It’s not a whole 10 pack, but it’s something to talk you off the ledge.” 

You watch as Mark eyes fleet between the pens in your hands and your face with a confused, yet suspicious look on his face. “I can’t take these from you. Don’t you have classes, too?” 

“Nope! I’m done for the day,” you shake your head, happily. “And they’re not mine, either. I found them on an empty desk in my last lecture so I just took them.” Mark continues to stare, deadpanning at you just like he did in the library a week before. 

“First you eat in the library when you’re not supposed to,” he counts his fingers, scoffing. “Then you take someone’s highlighters? So you’re a criminal…” 

It’s your turn to scoff, shoving the pens in the breast pocket of Mark’s jacket with a frown on your face. “I didn’t steal anything because nobody was there, Mark! Imagine how lonely they felt just being left there?!” 

Mark can’t help the way the corners of his lip turn up at the sight of you pouting and spewing ridiculous nonsense about inanimate objects, but still points a finger at you. “I’ve had two whole conversations with you starting now and both times it’s you convincing me that rules don’t exist.” 

“That’s not how you say ‘thank you’, Mark Lee,” swatting his finger out of your face, you cross your arms over your chest and cock an eyebrow. 

“I’m not thanking a thief,” he tsks, then lets out a light breath. “But considering how you saved those two lonely pens, thank you.” The small smile on the boy's face is enough to have you gushing. Standing up from your spot on the grass, you brush off any remnants from your pants and stick out a hand for him to take. 

“Come on, get up” you smile at him. He takes your hand in his and you help to lift him off the ground with a groan, to which Mark scowls at. “When’s your next class? I’ll walk you!” 

Checking the time on his watch, he informs you that his next class is pretty soon and you give him a tug to start moving. “Why are you gonna walk me? You don’t have to.” 

You ignore him and he seems to be ignoring himself too with the way he’s following at your side. He rolls his head back to loosen his neck and shoves his hands in his jacket pockets as he walks with you. “Because that’s what friends are for, Mark!” you sing. “I don’t just give away free pens or spend a dollar fifty on vending machine crackers for just anyone, you know.” 

“One, they’re not yours” he corrects, giving you a side eye. “Two, I never asked you to feed me. And three, no offense, but we don’t even know each other.” 

“Hmm, true!” you hum in agreement, turning to look at his side profile. He turns his head slightly to look at you too and he can’t help but feel a little scared with the way a fire burns behind your eyes. “But I would like to get to know you more! You seem like a cool guy with your head screwed on kinda straight and I like how you’re always so focused. I need more hardworking friends like you.” 

Seeing his lecture building come into view, Mark lets out a little sigh of relief. This moment is about to get awkward and he’s thankful that he’s reached the end of your walk together. “Look, Y/N” he starts, and if he wasn’t such a Leo – so headstrong, the way you’re looking at him with hope filled eyes and chest swelled with pride almost had the words die in his throat. “I-I don’t know if you know this about me, but I’m really trying hard to work towards graduation.” 

“Oh, I know” you cut him off. The interruption stops him for a little, giving you a look before continuing on. 

“And while you seem like a nice girl, I don’t have time for a relationship right now.” 

Tilting you head to the side a little, you wear a confused smile on your face. “I’m not looking to date you either, Mark. I just wanna be your friend.” He shuffles on his feet slightly in front of you, adjusting the straps of his backpack higher on his shoulders. 

“I’m sorry, but the friends I have now are good enough for me” he gives you a smile, an awkward one that lets you know that he just wants this conversation to be over. “I barely have time to see them and when I do, they already keep me on my toes as it is.” 

“Oh…” With the way Mark is fidgeting in front of you, looking around at literally anything but you, you decide to let the protests die down. “Okay, Mark. I’m sorry if I stepped over a line.” You give Mark your best smile, like you always do, and gesture for him to enter his lecture building. “But thank you for letting me walk you. I won’t bother you anymore.” 

“Thank you, Y/N” he replies, looking down at his feet before walking into the building.

Settling in his unassigned, assigned seat at the front of the lecture hall, Mark plucks the two highlighters you had given him earlier out of his jacket pocket and places them gently on his desk. It definitely isn’t his 10 pack, but it’s the most at peace he’s felt all day. Mark is brought back to that day in the library. Those same words, “I won’t bother you” that you had promised to him, only for you to in fact, bother him. He has a feeling that it will happen again, but can’t dwell on it for long because he’s picturing him leaving you there by yourself as you wave goodbye to him. Not above and in the air like you had done before in passing, but a small, almost shy one with a meek expression on your face. 

He decides not to think about it. 

Mark hasn’t seen you in four days. 

It really doesn’t bother him, like, it really doesn’t even if he’s been going about his days wondering if you’ll greet him as you always do from across the way. He just REALLY needs to return the highlighters to you as he’s been reunited with his full 10 pack ever since that day, swearing to never forget them again. 

Okay, honestly, Mark thinks he was really mean to you after you walked him to class and he wants to say sorry. Also, thanks to Chenle who scolded the boy after he spilled his guts to his friend about his day with a sour look on his face. 

“She bought you a snack, gave you highlighters for free, and walked you to class and you don’t even wanna be her friend?!” he had shrieked, standing to his full height with hands on his hips. “You are SO rude, I can’t even – who raised you?!” 

Safe to say that Mark’s day did not get better after that, walking around with a permanent pout on his face as he thought about it. If he were to be so real right now, Mark would actually be the first one to spot you before you see him. After that first day in the library, for some reason, whenever he’d lift his gaze from the ground in front of him, they’d automatically zero in on your form. Those bright eyes weren’t hard to miss at all. Anyways, you had always been by yourself during those times. I mean, who would wanna be around someone who talks to the birds with a serious look on her face? Whether you were sitting somewhere in silence, staring off into space, or standing a full five minutes in front of the coffee shop menu in deep contemplation before pulling out your phone to ask Siri to flip a coin before you ordered, you were alone. 

Mark was weird, but so were you. Not that he cared as a very self aware man. He knew he had odd tendencies, he knew he could be difficult to talk to or be around, but it was all the more special when someone took the time to actually try. Might as well be weird together, right? As desperate as he was to find you, he wasn’t going to try that hard. You’ll pop up eventually. But by the fourth day, Mark had started to grow agitated. Eyes flicking around the campus a lot more than usual and taking different routes to his classes in hopes of spotting you, only to fail. Until he decided to relax his nerves with some good ol’ study time because nothing like using your brain on max power! 

Just like you had first found him before, there you were, sitting in the crowded library at a table by yourself. Your whole demeanor was opposite of Mark as you leaned back in your chair, legs outstretched under the table as you typed away on your laptop with huge headphones over your ears. Despite how fast your fingers flew across your keyboard, you looked so relaxed with your lips turned up in a small smile. He wonders what you’re thinking about. 

“Oh well,” Haechan sighs, a sarcastic tone laced in his voice. Mark decided to drag Haechan with him to the library today to basically force and beg the boy to finish his seven late assignments. “We really tried our best, Markie. Let’s go get a sweet treat to reward our efforts!” 

All Mark can do is roll his eyes at his best friend, knowing how hard he fought to not come here with him. Literally whined and complained the whole time while dragging his feet on the way to success. Mark really did try his best, giving Haechan a motivational speech about how he could do it and he was there to help him, but seeing you right there when he needed to, Haechan can go fail for all he cares. “Actually, I’m gonna stay,” he declares, turning to look at Haechan with a shrug. “I see someone I know so I’m gonna go sit with them.” 

“You know people?” Haechan gasps, bringing a hand up to his mouth in surprise. Mark shoves him by the shoulder in response, groaning. 

“Shut up!” he chides, using force to physically turn Haechan’s body towards the library exit. “I was gonna invite you to join us, but you can leave, like actually.” Haechan lets Mark manhandle him, complying with taking his happy ass out of the library as he laughs. As Mark watches Haechan wave goodbye to him, he exhales deeply, cheeks puffed to calm himself before turning back towards your direction. With each step he takes closer to you, he gives himself a little pep talk in his head and goes over everything he needs to do. First, ask to sit with you. Second, give you back your highlighters. Third, apologize for how mean he was to you four days ago. Fourth, calculus homework. Light work.

Seeing his form loom over you, you look up in surprise with your eyes wide. You quickly straighten your back and lift one side of your headphones off your ears. When you smile at Mark, even with confusion knitted between your brows, he feels a sense of ease wash over him. “Hi,” he breathes. “Is it okay if I sit with you?” Step one: CLEARED!

You say nothing, nodding at the boy with that smile on your face still. After gesturing at the seat in front of you for him to take, you avert your eyes back to your screen and adjust your headphones back into its place. Mark gladly pulls out his chair, taking his backpack off to unpack his things. Even with all the bustling movements in front of you, not once do you look up or attempt to make conversation as he settles in and Mark doesn’t know what to do next. You’re like, actually locked in, a big difference compared to when you two were first sat in this library. He guesses he could move step 4 to step 2 and complete some of his assignments before resuming with the plan. Wake his brain up a little bit, you know?

Ten minutes in and you still haven’t said a word. Still haven’t even taken a glance at him and Mark is officially bothered. He’s been working on the same problem this whole time, unable to move past the third step to solve it. He taps the end of his pencil against his notebook a few times, leg bouncing frantically, before ultimately letting the stick fall out of his hand with a sigh. Leaning back in his seat, Mark stretches his neck from side to side to relieve some tension before letting it completely fall slack, chin against his chest with his arms crossed. Back to the tapping, his pointed finger beats against his arm as he thinks about how to break the ice. When he lifts his gaze to discreetly look at you, you’re still not paying any attention to him in clear agony. His bag sits in the chair next to him, the front pockets zipper open and he sees the two highlighters you had given him. He could just slide them across the table to you in order to get your attention, but would that be enough to start a conversation? What if you just don’t accept them or throw them back in his face? Well, you let him sit here with you so he couldn’t have messed up that bad… Okay, but what if– 

Marks inner monologue was cut short when he catches your movements out of the corner of his eye. You’ve finally taken your headphones off and stretched your arms above your head. Now’s his chance, get the plan back on track. “I wanna be friends!” he blurts out, stopping you mid stretch. His outburst was pretty loud for the quiet atmosphere of the library, catching the attention of a few students nearby. Mortified, Mark feels his whole face heat up and slouches lower in his seat. He scolds himself under his breath as he places both hands on his head, lowering the brim of the hat he was sporting over his eyes. You can’t help but giggle at the blushing boy in front of you, extending your foot to give his leg a tap from under the table. He uncovers his face slightly to look at you and you grin at the expression he wears. 

“If this is about the other day, it’s really okay” you assure him, propping your elbow on the table to rest your chin in your hand. “I understand and I’m not mad at you.” 

“You’re not?” he wonders, a little surprised. When you shake your head in reply, he sits up fully and leans in a little closer to you from across the table. Mark does not need anyone hearing any more of this conversation. “I-I just wanna say sorry, Y/N. I was pretty rude to you that day when you’ve been nothing but nice to me.” 

“Is that why you’ve been sitting here in distress this whole time?” you laugh, quietly. “You really don’t need to feel bad, Mark but I accept your apology anyway.” Marks smile mirrors your own, admiring the way you’ve been so accepting of the situation when he was clearly in the wrong. “But still, we don’t have to be friends if you don’t want to.” 

“I want to!” he interjects, nearly jumping up in his seat. “You really are a nice person and I wouldn’t mind getting to know you more, too. I shouldn’t have treated you like that when you basically saved my life that day.” Mark moves to grab the pens from his bag, laying them out on the table for you to take. “Which reminds me, I’ve been meaning to give these back to you.” 

Reaching your hand out, you scoot the pens back in Marks direction. “You can keep them as backups or something,” you wave off. “You’d probably use them more than I would anyway. I take all my notes electronically.” Pulling out your fancy tablet from your bag, you wave it around for him to see and Mark’s just in disbelief. 

“How can you retain any information that way?” he gapes, eyes popping out of their sockets. “Connecting your pen to paper helps you process your thoughts better, you know.” 

“This is better for the environment!” you argue, rolling your eyes and Mark shakes his head in disapproval. He starts going on a whole tangent about the benefits of physical note taking and you just sit there and take it. But the conversation flows easily with you and Mark talking to each other back and forth. Neither of you get back to your studies for the remainder of the afternoon. 

Mark Lee’s guide to being better than everyone: rule #7 study time is quiet time (friends allowed but they need to shut up).

Heavy footsteps trudge through the halls of the lecture building, but Mark has never felt so light. Even if his shirt is wrinkled, hair all over the place, and eyes about a second away from shutting, he walks to his 8 am class with a tiny smile on his face. 

It’s been weeks since you and Mark had bloomed a friendship. Weeks filled with studying late in the library, fighting over who gets to pay for the sweet treat of the day, and gallivanting around campus as conversation fills the silence between you two. Mark had honestly thought that he’d take a while to warm up to you, but he finds it incredibly easy to open up and be himself in your presence. He likes that he can talk to you about anything and everything, and you listen to him with your full attention. Mark Lee prides himself in how strong his walls are built and how dedicated he is to his craft (being a student), but it’s like his whole resolve crumbles with the more you’re near. Ask him if he cares, because he doesn’t. 

From the moment he had entered the education system at the young age of five, he never stopped. Mark immediately enrolled in college after graduating high school, barely having time to explore the woes of life. So now in his third year of his undergrad, it felt nice to finally feel alive – do everything boys his age are supposed to do. Like last night, Mark had stayed up until midnight on the phone with you, giggling over the drama you two had started watching together during your study breaks. Even after you both had hung up the call, you two had continued to send messages to one another. By the time Mark had fallen asleep, it really wasn’t that late to the normal person, but Mark Lee has a bedtime that he did not follow. Hence, his appearance today. 

Mark Lee’s guide to being better than everyone: rule #2 get a full 8 hours of sleep every night – nothing more, nothing less.

His body feels like dead weight and he can’t stop yawning, but Mark’s heart is soaring. Not that he knows it. As smart as he is, he’s also a big idiot atoning these fluttering feelings to the excitement of having a new friend around. He doesn’t think much about the fact that his favorite part of the day isn’t putting in his earphones while sat in front of a pile of textbooks anymore, but going to meet you in between classes. 

Fueled by caffeine from his second iced tea of the day (coffee makes him feel sick), Mark is basically skipping towards you sat on a bench under the tree. He can’t wait to gush to you about the new topic he’s learning about in his lit class, but the words die down in his throat when he sees the look on your face. 

You’re sat stiff on the bench, hands balled into fists as you struggle to catch your breath. Instead of greeting him with that glowing smile of yours, he’s met with a solemn Y/N. It’s like a dark rain cloud was brewing a storm over your head and when Mark approaches with a soft call of your name, he sees the tears brimming your eyes, only to fall free when he asks what’s wrong. Your lip quivers as you struggle to find the words to answer your friend and Mark feels like his whole world is falling apart. 

He moves quickly to sit next to you, arms moving to wrap around your shaking figure, but he doesn’t quite make it all the way. Everyone knows Mark is not a physically affectionate person and he’s never done anything more than shove your shoulder when you made a joke he didn’t like. This was new territory for him, to comfort a crying friend, which is why he’s sat frozen with his torso turned towards you, arms in the air, looming above your form and not making contact. Mark’s mouth gapes open and closed like a fish, thinking about what he can say to comfort you, but you take matters into your own hands and fully lean into the boy. Your face buries itself into his shirt as you wail like a baby and Mark has no choice but to finally engulf you in his arms when he feels your tears seep through the fabric. 

“Remember that project I was working on all last week?” you muffle into his chest. Mark hums in response because of course he remembers. He remembers how hard you had slaved over your project, doing your best to ensure that it was perfect. But he also remembers how excited you were to have this as your assignment, how bright your eyes had shone when you told Mark how confident you were in the topic to execute it well. This class of yours wasn’t the easiest for you, so it was like a breath of fresh air for you to finally understand something being presented. “My professor kept me after class and tore me to fucking shreds. Told me everything I had written was wrong and the whole thing was crap a-and basically said I should drop the class because I’m clearly not understanding anything!” 

All Mark does is wrap his arms tighter around you, resting his cheek atop your head. “I’m so sorry, Y/N,” he mumbles into your hair and you pull back abruptly, gripping his shirt in your hands. 

“Am I really that stupid?” you hiccup, screwing your eyes shut. “That my professor tells me to drop out of his class?” 

“Hey hey hey,” Mark scolds you, gripping your shoulders tight, basically shaking sense into you. “You’re not stupid, he’s stupid! You try so hard, Y/N and you shouldn’t discredit yourself like that.” 

Sniffling, you give Mark a small, yet sad smile that doesn’t quite reach your eyes and he’s grown furious now. “I don’t think I’m trying hard, I’m just trying my best.” 

“Then that’s all that matters,” he affirms, raising a hand to pat your hair. “Being a student isn’t easy, but you’re doing it! Don’t let one lousy professor tell you otherwise – I say you stick it to him and not drop.” 

“I don’t know…” you laugh, trailing off in thought. “There’s a lot I have to think about. If I stay, he’ll probably give me hell, but if I actually drop, I’d be saving my GPA but my pride would be hurt.” 

Mark purses his lips, then snakes his hands down to yours and pulls you up from the bench with him. “Tell you what,” he starts, tugging you to walk with him. “You don’t have to think about it right now, but how about we clear our heads and go do something?” 

You’re struggling to keep up with Mark’s quick steps, the strap of your bag slipping off your shoulder. “Do what? Don’t you have class?” you interrogate him, pulling at his arm. “And can you slow down a little?” 

He complies, slowing his walk to a normal pace and turns to you with a grunt. “What’s with all the questions? Just trust me,” he rolls his eyes and moves to stand behind you. Mark nudges you forward in the direction he wants despite your protests. “And don’t worry about my classes, I’ll take a sick day or something. I can’t just leave you by yourself after seeing you cry like that!” 

“I’m fine, Mark” shrieking, you reach behind you to make him let go of you. “It’s really okay! You don’t have to break your perfect attendance record for me.” He finally stops forcing you to come with him, stepping to the side to walk alongside you with a light hand on your back to keep you from running. 

“I don’t have to, but I want to” he smiles down at you, which you return with an unimpressed look. “What are friends for, right?” You finally give up, letting Mark take you to wherever he had in mind to do whatever. 

“Fiiine,” you relent and take a step closer to his side. “But you’re paying!” Mark smiles at you again, wrapping his arm fully around you for the second time that day in a side hug before dropping it to hang in between your bodies. 

Mark Lee’s guide to being better than everyone: rule #5 DO NOT SKIP CLASS (unless you’re sick and I mean dying).

From bike riding to ice cream in the park, Mark kept you busy all afternoon. You have to applaud his efforts with the way he was constantly cracking lame jokes just to pull your face up and encouraging you (peer pressure) to let him buy you a second cup of ice cream. If you could give Mark Lee his flowers for making you feel better right now, you totally would, but instead you settled for treating him to the little Lego figurines he had been eyeing in the trinket store you visited. 

“Uhhh,” the boy basically moans in delight. “Since we didn’t go to class, this is perfect to stimulate our brains!” 

You chuckle at how ridiculous he is and how silly he looks. The two of you are sat on a picnic table in a random park, unboxing your figurines to build. Mark had picked a hippo and a penguin while you just chose to build a cat. The excitement is basically rolling off his body as he vibrates in his seat, tearing into the box and plastic bag containing the pieces. “You that excited?”

Mark makes a face at you from across the table, almost as if he’s offended. “Of course I am! For ages 8 and up, easy work dude” he basically brags, chest puffing up. “Thank you for getting these, Y/N. I didn’t mean to linger on them long enough for you to feel like you had to get them.”

“I wanted to,” you chirp, shaking your head. “It’s the least I could do for you after all you’ve done for me today.” He says nothing, glancing at you for a moment before continuing to build his penguin. A grin slips onto his face as he watches you struggle with the tiny pieces, eyebrows furrowed in frustration. 

You both continue to build in silence, enjoying each others company as the sun starts its journey to dreamland. The sky is painted in hues of gold, pinks, and blues, the warmth starting to settle between you two. Mark notices the rays coming down on his skin at looks up at the beautiful sight, quickly pulling his phone out to snap a picture. 

“I have to send this to my friend, Renjun” he hums, satisfied look on his face. “He’s gonna love this.” 

You coo at Mark and he ignores you, finishing up his penguin. “You send your friend pictures of the sunset often?” 

“Yeah,” he shrugs, busying his fingers with the pieces. “Renjun’s an artist so I like to send him stuff I think looks pretty. Maybe he’d draw it or something, but he never asked me to stop so I just keep doing it.” 

Biting down on your lip, you have to contain your smile and squeals at how endearing this guy was. “I hope he’s drawn at least one of them” you voice. “I know if someone sent me pictures of every sunset, I’d cherish it.” 

Mark laughs in response, but trails off as he starts to think. He’s finished his penguin now, rolling the figure between his fingers. It’s only the size of his palm, but he doesn’t think he’ll get to finish the hippo as this took him nearly an hour. It’ll be dark soon. 

“Y/N,” he starts somewhat sheepish. “Why don’t you have any friends?” 

His question freezes you in your seat and you eye him from under your lashes. “I have friends,” you utter. “I’m friends with my roommate.” 

“I-I’m sorry,” he stutters. With the way the air has shifted, Mark feels as if he hit a nerve. “It’s just t-that everytime I see you on campus, you’re alone! I don’t really see you talking to anyone else…” 

Also finished with your cat figure, you fold your hands into your lap and stare it down. “Is that a bad thing?” 

He shakes his head furiously, reaching a hand across the table to tap on it and get your attention. “No, no! Not at all” he insists and takes your cat to stand next to his penguin. “I was just curious, I’m sorry if I made you upset.” 

Looking back up at the boy across of you, the corners of your mouth turn up to give him a small grin. “It’s okay, Mark. There’s nothing wrong with asking questions” you explain. “It’s not like I don’t want friends, I just don’t really know how to make them? I’m not the type of person to strike up a conversation out of the blue… Even with group projects, it’s a little hard for me to open up.” 

“You?” Mark scoffs. “Not the type of person to make conversation with strangers? Then how do you explain how we became friends.” To prove his point, Mark inches your Lego figures closer together. 

“I guess you’re right,” you laugh, throwing your hands in the air. “I don’t really know what’s up with me then. But at least I have you now, right?” 

“Yeah,” he breathes, chuckling to himself too. “Yeah, you got me now. So don’t you worry, Y/N. I’ll send you pictures of every sunset I capture.”

You bring your hands together, clasping them against your cheek as you look out into the horizon. Watching the bright sky paint itself in an array of different colors before it says goodbye for the day, you’ve never felt more content. And Mark does the same, eyes following the rays of gold bleed into pink, but he doesn’t think he can enjoy it as much as you do right now.

He just can’t believe that he’s here with you in a random park in the city. Instead of sitting in class, he’s sitting at a table building animals out of extremely tiny Lego pieces. Mark didn’t even send his professors a courtesy email that he wasn’t going to be present today, too focused on helping you feel better. He’ll never admit it out loud, but he was also busy trying to forget that gloomy look on your face. It was the first time Mark had ever seen you cry, and he hopes it will be the last. 

A part of him also understands you. The overwhelming pressure of having to do well and not wanting to wave a white flag for the sake of your confidence in yourself. Mark knows it all too well. He also knows how hard it can be to make friends here. No one ever attempts to get to know Mark, only approaching to ask if he’d accompany them on a romantic date or help them pass their classes. It took him a while to learn how to say no, and thank God he did. He’s content in his little bubble with the good friends he has, but sometimes he wonders what life would be like if he just gave in. Who would Mark Lee be if he wasn’t so stubborn in his ways?

“Y/N,” he begins again. “Do you think I’m difficult?” 

Turning your gaze away from the darkening sky, you give Mark a puzzled look. “What do you mean?” 

“Like,” he sighs, crossing his arms across his chest. He looks down at the table in front of him, chewing on his lip. “Do you think I’m hard to deal with? Am I too stubborn to talk to?” 

His explanation doesn’t fix your confusion, continuing to look at him funny. “No, Mark. It’s very easy for me to be around you,” you correct him, moving a hand to gesture between both your bodies. “I’m sat here with you— our first time hanging out off campus, by the way, after you comforted me while I cried into your shirt earlier today.”

“This was the most fun I’ve had in a while!” you continue, gushing when Mark doesn’t respond. “I’m not sure what’s going on in that big head of yours, but I enjoy your company. Heck, I asked you to be my friend during our second meeting! You are anything but difficult.” 

Mark looks up, taking in the sight of you sat across of him. The sky has turned into a pretty pink as the sun has started it’s descent closer to the horizon and it’s casted over you beautifully. There must be a magic in the air that has sparked a look in your eyes that is so comforting. He’s been wary of the elation he’s felt since the day he met you. He can’t quite put his finger on it, but in that moment, Mark has never been so sure in his life about going against everything he set himself up for.

“Come on,” Mark smiles and nods his head towards the path. “Let’s go home.” 

Johnny hears shuffling from Marks room and decided to peak in. Cracking the bedroom door open, he’s met with the boy pacing back and forth, combing his hand through his hair frantically. He can hear Mark mumbling to himself, using his hands to express whatever he was feeling to himself. “Dude,” Johnny calls out and Mark snaps his head towards the sound so fast, he thinks he’s got whiplash. “What’s wrong with you?” 

“Fuck if I know!” he roars, placing both hands on his head. “If anyone can tell me what’s wrong with me, PLEASE DO.” 

The older boy sighs, stepping through the threshold as he prepares himself for what’s about to come. He’s used to Mark being on edge, but this is the guy who apologizes whenever he swears. “Come here, buddy” Sat on Marks’ bed, Johnny pats the seat beside him and Mark obliges. His head is hung low and lips set into a deep pout. “Tell Johnny what’s wrong.” 

Mark lets out a sigh of his own, whining as he falls back onto his bed and stares at the ceiling. He had just woken up from his 3pm nap he takes every other day that lasts precisely an hour and a half. Two hours if he feels like treating himself, but today, Mark had woken up in a cold sweat just a little after 8pm. 

Mark Lee’s guide to being better than everyone: rule #3 if you need a nap, only nap on MWF when you end classes early (only nap for 2 hours MAX).

As soon as he sat up, eyes blown wide, he let out a hushed “oh fuck.” He’s usually so tired that he never dreams. Ever. But this time, all he could see in his slumber was you. You, who he had seen just a few days ago after ditching classes. Forget everything he felt and thought that day because it was starting to feel a little too real.

It came to him in flashes, like he was in some sort of stupid movie. From walking down the street together, to banging on rigged claw machines, to simply sitting across of you at the picnic table in the park, Mark dreamt of every moment you had spent with him. Except, whenever he laid eyes on you, the whole world had slowed down to a serene still and tints of light illuminated around your entire being. And when you smiled like you always did, little bells started chiming. 

Oh, the bells. That dream was straight out of those romance movies Haechan likes to watch regularly. What kind of sick world is this? 

“I’m so screwed, man” he voices, rubbing a hand over his face. “I-I think I like Y/N. Whatever that means…” 

“It doesn’t mean anything,” Johnny muses. “If you like her, then you like her. Y/N’s that girl you’ve been hanging around with a lot?” 

Mark sits up fully, head still hanging low. He can’t believe he’s having this conversation right now, even if he lowkey knew it was coming. “Yeah, that’s her” he mumbles. “I swear she hexed me or something! I skipped class the other day to hangout with her, been eating way too many vending machine snacks, and haven’t been getting my full 8 hours of sleep, bro! That’s so not like me.” 

“First of all, you’re an idiot. Girls aren’t witches, they’re just celestial beings” Johnny scoffs, rolling his eyes at his young friend. “Second of all, did she force you to do all those things?” 

“What? No,” Mark protests. “I wanted to do all those things, with her.” 

“Okayyy,” Johnny rolls. “Are your grades slipping from ditching or not sleeping?” 

Mark blinks at the boy sitting next to him. “No, I’m a week ahead in all my classes.”

“Then what’s the problem here, man?” Johnny belts, standing to his full height. “Cause I’m not seeing it!” 

Still sat on his bed, Mark stomps his feet a little as he whines. “Johnny” he complains. “The problem is I’ve broken every single rule I made for myself. For just one person! Like I said, this isn’t like me and I’m not sure how to handle it.” 

“Look Mark,” Johnny chastises, moving to sit next to him again on the bed. “I love you, dude. I really do and I admire how hard you’re working towards your education, but I wish you would just let yourself breathe a little.” Mark sits in silence, taking in every word. “I’m so glad that you’ve been following these rules you set for yourself and it’s been working, but why are you stopping yourself from experiencing something everyone dreams of? Why are you so scared?” 

Great question that he doesn’t really know the answer to. He’s not scared of you, exactly. Marks more scared of the feelings you give him. You’re not trying to change his ways or who he is, in fact, you’ve been trying your damn hardest to fit yourself into Marks usual routine. You don’t make fun of him for his little quirks and comments and he likes how comfortable you make him feel. He likes how you just go with the flow of things, making it a breeze to just enjoy himself in that moment with you. Mark likes how he no longer feels the weight of the world when he’s around you. 

Mark likes you. But he’s never felt this way before about anyone. Not even Jessica Alba in Fantastic Four while all his friends were drooling over their TV screens. 

With pursed lips, Mark looks up to his friend with pleading eyes. “What do I have to do?” 

“That’s not the question you should be asking,” Johnny smiles at him, shaking his head lightly. “You’re the most hardworking guy I know, no matter what you’re doing. Are you willing to put in that same effort with Y/N?” 

Later that night, Mark lays awake and stares at his ceiling in the dark. He’s got one arm folded under his head and the other laid across his chest, deep in thought about the conversation he had with Johnny. He took way too long of a nap, so now he can’t fall asleep. Not to mention how his phone had been pinging with messages from you, but they remained unanswered as he contemplated. 

What was he to do with you? 

He could just pretend that he never had this groundbreaking realization. He could continue to remain the way he is with you, just friends. Mark doesn’t even know how you’d react to his feelings, but he can’t say he’s afraid to find out. Even if you were to turn him down, tell him he’s got no chance at romance, he doesn’t think he’d mind. Like yeah, he’d be pretty devastated, but who wouldn’t be? After talking with Johnny some more earlier today, he realizes how sure he is with the way his heart feels. He’s dumbfounded that this is happening to him, but he’s not embarrassed at all. Who knew that you, who had wanted to be his friend after only meeting for the second time, would be the one to change his entire view? Mark didn’t even want to be your friend at first, but here he is, possibly wanting something more. 

You probably would think the switch was so sudden and Mark wouldn’t be able to tell you anything else. He doesn’t think you’re the type to completely cut him out if you don’t feel the same way, but there’s always that small chance in anything. He doesn’t know what to do with you, but he also has no clue what he would do without you. Groaning into the night air, Mark turns over to his side. He’s face to face with the bright numbers on his alarm clock that read 1:27 AM. Deciding to leave this problem to tomorrows Mark, he screws his eyes shut and tries to force himself to sleep. But he just lays there, staring at the dark behind his eyes still completely awake and tries to think of something that will put him to bed. And oh of course, all Mark can see is you. 

He lets you consume him, taking every glimpse of you in and god damn Y/N, you are doing nothing to help! Marks leg starts to shake under the covers, twitching himself awake til he starts tossing and turning. Eventually, Mark gives up. He can’t get comfortable at all. Ripping his comforter off his body, Mark moves quickly to stand up and shoulder on a flannel that draped over his desk chair. Hasty fingers grab for his glasses and his phone before he books it out the door to God knows where.

No, Mark knows where he’s going in the dead of night. After walking you home the other day, he realized just how close you two were, living just a 10 minute walk away. But with the way Mark is moving, he finds himself standing outside of your apartment building in just 7 minutes. He’d move to enter, but he doesn’t actually know which unit you live in. So like the completely sane person he is, Mark starts shouting into the night, disturbing the peace. 

“Y/N!” he howls, hands cupped over his mouth. There’s a few lights he can see on through the windows, but none of them show movement. “Y/N, it’s Mark!” 

There’s only one window that’s open, and Mark sees the curtains tear open. There you stand, looking down at him from the fourth floor with disbelief all over your face. “Mark!” you whisper shout. This boy must have lost his damn mind to disturb you and your neighbors at this time, after ignoring your messages all night. “Are you insane?” 

“Just come down, please” he brings his hands together, in a begging and pleading gesture. “I have to talk to you.” 

Sighing, you move away from your window and start to make your way down to the front of your building. You’re praying to whoever’s listening that you don’t get any complaints in the morning from Mark screaming in the courtyard. Like seriously, he could have just called you quietly on his phone. You can see it hanging out of his pocket, but you assume he really is out of his mind when you take in his form. 

He’s pacing again, fidgeting as you approach him closer and only snaps out of it when he sees you in the glow of the dim street lamps. “Hi,” he exhales and you just continue to eye him suspiciously. 

“Hi,” you pout, crossing your arms over your chest. “What’s going on, Mark? It’s nearly 2 AM, you could have just called me.” 

Mark smiles sheepishly at you, rubbing the back of his neck. “Sorry,” he mumbles, kicking the ground underneath him. “I wasn’t really thinking…” 

“Clearly,” you muse, grinning at him. This is the most casual you have ever seen Mark, who never leaves the house unless he’s in a pair of jeans or nice pants. You can tell how much of a hurry he was in, dressed in old basketball shorts and slippers on his feet. The flannel he was wearing over his white tee was also inside out, but you don’t point it out to him. “But you’re thinking about something to come all the way here. What did you wanna tell me?” 

“Uhhh,” he stutters, eyes darting around the dark, avoiding your gaze. “I didn’t wake you, right? I’m really sorry for not calling first.”

You shake your head no, waving him off. You were already awake, but it’s the weekend tomorrow so you have nothing to be up early for. The only important thing you were doing was doom scrolling on your feed. Mark would have known you were still awake if he had just checked his damn phone. Even if he wasn’t interrupting anything important, you still wish that Mark would spit it out. He just nods at your explanation, still not meeting your eyes and says nothing. 

“Hey,” you call out, poking his middle with your finger. He caved into it, swatting your hand away because Mark Lee is ticklish. “Take your time, find the words. I’ll be here when you’re ready.” 

Mark finally looks into your eyes, softening at the way they’re pouring into his. Your lips are curled into the prettiest smile and Mark thinks you have really nice teeth. It’s all enough to squeeze at his heart, causing his blood to pump furiously in his chest. He feels it tighten and tighten, until it finally explodes.

“I’m all bent outta shape, dude” he rants, staring right at you. “And it’s all because of you!” 

You frown at his confession, wondering if he really came all the way over here just to call you out. “What did I do to you, dude?“ 

His shoulders slump and he rubs at his eyes. Sleep is finally getting to him now that he’s here, but Mark has always been way too good and getting what he wants to give up. “Everything,” he basically whines like a child. “And I can’t stop thinking about it.”

Mark looks to the sky, eyes screwed shut as he lets out a long exhale. You’re still confused as to what he’s trying to get at, but seeing him so perplexed himself has you concerned. 

“Mark,” you coax, touching his arm lightly to bring him back down to Earth. “If I did something to upset you, I’m really sorry. But could you please tell me exactly what happened so I can fix it?” 

Eyeing when your hand meets his skin, he smirks lightly at the tingling waves that shot up his arm. He taps the hand that connects him in a reassuring manner before completely engulfing it in his own. “I’m just being dramatic, it’s not that bad” he offers, stroking a thumb over your knuckles. Goosebumps peak through your skin at the gesture. “You did nothing wrong. It’s just…” 

He trails off, looking down at your intertwined hands. “I have these rules for myself, called ‘Mark Lee’s guide to being better than everyone’ and I’m not trying to one up everyone I meet with this. It’s all just to help me succeed and be my best self as a student” he’s nervous as he wears his heart on his sleeve for you when he hears you laugh, but it quickly dissipates when you give his hand a squeeze in reassurance. Come on, it was a funny name! “And I’ve been really good at following them! It’s definitely helped me to stay on track, but from that first day we met in the library, I’ve just been breaking all of them.”

“Oh,” you gasp, quickly letting go of him to shy into yourself. “I’m sorry, Mark. Really, I never meant for you to go off track.” 

“No, it’s okay!” he assures you, grabbing his hand back into his. In the middle of 70 degree weather, Mark felt cold for the split second you let go. “It’s not your fault and I don’t mind it at all. My point is, it’s just not like me at all to do this and I didn’t realize why until now.” 

“I’m so used to being strict in my ways because it’s been working well for me, but here you come along, making it so unbelievably easy to forget it all,” you’re still not sure what he’s hinting at, but you continue to let him talk. “Forget it and realize that it’s not so bad as long as I’m with you, Y/N. I like that I can still be myself without all these rules or barriers, I can still sit in the library all night with you sleeping across of me.”

Mark can’t help the smile on his face at how wide your eyes have blown, almost as if you couldn’t believe what he was alluding to. He also can’t believe it, but the more he speaks, the more it feels right. Even if he feels like he’s saying a whole lotta nothing. But it’s something alright and you feel your heart start to beat a little quicker. You hope Mark can’t tell how your hands have started to clam up and tremble in his hold. 

“I like the feeling you give me, that everything’s gonna be okay and I have nothing to worry about” he beams at you, steadying your shakiness with a tight grip. “I like you, Y/N.” 

You say nothing, taking it all in. Mark starts to shuffle on his feet, loosening his hold on your hand but not fully letting go so you can’t book it inside. He should speak up and add that you don’t have to respond to him right now, because it really is sudden. It just felt like a good time to tell you, even though 2 AM is never a good time for anyone. But you cut him off before you get the chance, grinning like a Cheshire Cat at the nervous boy in front of you.

“You didn’t even wanna be my friend at first,” you point out, tapping your chin in thought with your free hand. “Now here you are, holding my hand and confessing to me in the dead of night?” You’re teasing him and he knows it. 

“Ugh, I know” he exclaims, looking like a kicked puppy. “I’m just a stupid, dumb, idiot boy and I really felt bad for how I treated you that day.” You giggle quietly, stopping him from dropping to his knees in front of you to beg for forgiveness. “I know this all came so fast and I know I have a lot to learn. A lot of things to grow into, but I feel like I can do that as long as I’m planted next to you.”

The taunting coo you let out does nothing to cover the blush rushing to your cheeks. You move your arms to wrap fully around his neck, standing on your tip toes to hide your flushed face in his shoulder. Mark reciprocates, encircling you in his hold completely as he pulls you closer to him. “You’re so cute” you squeal, nuzzling your face closer and inhaling his scent. “You’re so sweet, Mark. I will gladly plant myself next to you.” 

You pull away slightly, still face to face with the boy who is also blushing. He’s fighting back a smile, the apples of his cheeks making a prominent appearance. “Does this mean you’re my girlfriend now?” he’s so clueless with the way he asks you the question, causing you to laugh again. If anyone were overlooking the two of you right now, all smiles and blushing messes, they’d think you’re insane. 

“Do you want me to be?” you press further and Mark nods his head vigorously. His hold tightens around you for the nth time that night.

“Can I be honest real quick?” he utters, staring deep into your eyes. He’s been honest this whole time, you don’t know why he needs to ask. “I’m kinda scared…”

You pat his shoulder reassuringly, standing further on your toes to press a chaste kiss to his cheek. “We can go as slow as you’d like, Mark. I’ll be here all the way.” Mark feels a wave of warmth wash over him, suddenly feeling bold and straightens his back. 

“I think you missed,” he states. You’re back to wondering what the hell he was talking about until you feel his lips on yours. 

The kiss is soft, short, but sweet. It’s enough to unleash a cage of butterflies in the pit of your stomach. It’s enough for Mark to know exactly how you feel, even if you never said it. 

Pulling away, you two share a shy smile as you lean your forehead against his. You play with the hair on the nape of his neck as you lean back in for another. So much for going slow, Mark thinks as he’s basically clawing at your sides to pull you unbelievably closer to him. He breaks away first this time, leaning into your neck as if he can’t get enough of you. 

“Go home, Mark” you laugh at the tickling feeling against your skin. “I’ll see you after we’ve both had some rest, okay?” 

He only sighs loudly and dramatically before pulling back, reluctant to release his hold on you. His feet step away from you slowly, towards the direction of his own apartment building. Mark doesn’t want to go. Mark wants to spend all his time with you, even in the middle of the night, but he listens to your request anyway. You’ve gotten him wrapped around your finger, after all. He knows you’ll have all the time in the world, starting now and he can’t wait for the days to come. 

Mark Lee’s guide to being better than everyone: rule #1 no dating of any kind to prevent distraction (90 and above or no love).

Spoiler: Mark keeps his 3.9 GPA until graduation and graduating with honors is literally nothing compared to the love you shower him in.

mani's notes: i hope you enjoyed reading this! yk true cloudykyu fashion is no real plot lines and whiplash time skips lol it's my first long fic since coming back so i would appreciate any feedback :D please let me know your thoughts in the tags or my ask box!! <3 happy valentines day unless you're mark lee

[jaebeomsbitch]

Best Friend's Kisses (E.M.)

Summary: After seventeen long years of friendship Eddie decides to fulfill a ten year old promise. Something whispered in the middle of the night. He gives you the best gift of all.

Pairing: Eddie Munson x Fem! reader, really only mentioned like two or three times

Mid-twenties Eddie and reader. Mechanic! Eddie

Warning: Slight smut at the end, talks of insecurity, making out, flirting, swearing, and melancholy reader. MINORS DNI!

AN: This is only my third fic on here. I'm still trying to understand the formatting.

Eddie Munson had been your friend since you met him on the playground in third grade. He had defended you against some asshole kid who tried to take away your toy. Pushed him to the ground and yelled at him, you’d been inseparable since then. You saw each other through the awkward phases of becoming teenagers, watched him struggle through high school, and then eventually graduate.

Now you were both in your mid twenties, still having movie nights at the Munson’s every Friday after your shift at the record shop. You had a chance to leave, to go to college in New York but you turned it down. Not that you told Eddie, you didn’t want him to feel guilty. Truthfully you did stay for him, afraid that he might break without you but, did he really need you?

Eddie was an incredible sweetheart, making friends left and right with whoever would listen to him. It seemed like anyone that had a chance to really talk to him could see beyond the rumor around him. He was surrounded by people who loved him. Sometimes you regret staying, maybe you could’ve become something. Maybe you could’ve gotten a good degree, move your parents out of this shitty town but you were afraid.

The truth being you use Eddie as a crutch, you always had. Hiding behind him, gripping onto the back of his shirt as he yelled at another person for you, cleaning him up after he fought with a guy for groping you, Eddie was your protector in a sense. So you stay, stay in the shitty down you despise, wallow in self pity for being a fucking coward like you always are, and spending your days drinking or getting high with Eddie and his friends.

Today was a special day, Eddie had gotten a job at a mechanic shop. He always said that when he got his first paycheck he’d buy you something really special. He’d jump around from job to job until he found Earl. Earl was the only person who truly gave Eddie a chance.

“Honey, I’m home,” He jokes, walking into the trailer. Already expecting you to be lying on his bed when he comes home like you always are. He walks in shoulders hunched, face covered in grease stains, and hair knotted. “Gonna take a shower, then’ll be back. Got something exciting for you sweetheart,” He smiles, grabbing the pile of clothes you left on the foot of his bed ready for him. “Toodaloo,” he wags his fingers behind him as he exits the room.

Oh god what did he get you? Eddie had a reputation for going overboard, always saying he had to spoil his ‘princess’ because you were his longest friend. Always rambling about how you deserved the world for sticking by his side. Steve and Robin like to tease him, poking fun at your friendship. Always whispering, “you’ve never thought ‘bout it?” with their questioning gazes. It didn’t matter what either of you said, they never believed you. They could see the way the tips of your ears turned red or the way Eddie silently threatened Steve.

“I feel so much better,” He sighs, throwing himself next to you. He cuddles into the pillow, throwing the sheets over himself. “You forgetting something?” You laugh.

“Oh shit, sorry. M’tired,” He mumbles, eyes open wide. “Just go to sleep, Eds. You can give me whatever it is tomorrow,” You whisper. Trying to lull him back to sleep as you massage his scalp. “No, been waiting forever,” He murmurs, eyes blinking slowly. He must’ve been really tired for him to forget dinner. Eddie was never one to skip meals, always saying they were his favorite part of his day. You watch him sleep, he looks so peaceful with his eyes closed, his lips slightly parted. It isn’t until you hear the phone ring that you move your hand from his curls.

“Hello?” You whisper trying not to wake him up. “Oh hey! I was expecting Eddie,” Steve says on the line. “He got home and fell asleep immediately, I was just about to make dinner. What’s up?” You ask.

“You sound so domestic, like a housewife,” Steve chuckles.

“Yeah, yeah. Hardy har har.” You roll your eyes leaning against the wall.

“H-has he given you the present yet?” He asks out of nowhere.

“No, he just said he had something for me then fell asleep two seconds later. I don’t know what he did today but he skipped lunch. You know how unusual that is for him,” you say slightly concerned.

“It’s just… he loves you a lot you know?” Steve says, his voice sounding a little weird.

“Yeah and I love him too,” You reply quickly, eyebrows furrowed in confusion.

“Just… keep that in mind, I’ll see you tomorrow,” He says.

“What wh-” He hangs up. What the fuck was that about? Of course you’d see Steve and the gang tomorrow, it was your weekly get together with the adults of the group but this felt weird. It almost felt like something monumental was supposed to happen today.

You try to shake away the feeling, looking through the fridge to see what they have. Cheese and tortillas, the ones you brought from home because you ‘accidentally’ bought two packs. You make quesadillas like you’ve made all your childhood, they were quick to make and easy for Eddie to eat while he’s half asleep. He had this miraculous way of waking up, eating, and forgetting that he even ate when he woke up.

“Eds… Teddie,” you whisper, gently shaking his shoulder until he groans. He gained the nickname after a long night of calling each other annoying nicknames, you saw your childhood teddy bear and instantly thought of Eddie. Just like it, he brought you comfort and he was also the person to give it to you. Claimed he won it in a claw machine for twenty five cents but you knew he had saved his money for weeks to buy it for you. You'd seen it at the store when your mom dragged you shopping for your sister's new clothes.

“I know, I know, baby. Just eat and you can go back to sleep okay,” You whisper, sitting on the ledge of the bed next to him. He slowly blinks, turning toward you as he scratches his neck languidly.

“Come on, eat,” You show him the plate but he still blinks at you not understanding. So you feed him like a sick child, watching as he takes little bites and tilting his head forward when he needs a drink. “Go back to sleep,” You whisper, kissing him on the forehead as his eyes close again.

Steve was right, it all felt entirely domestic. You’d never treat him, Robin, or any of your other friends like this but Eddie, he was special. Your heart clenches at the idea, always longing for Eddie in a way you know is not possible. Always afraid you’d ruin your seventeen years of friendship, afraid you’d lose the one person who made you feel comfortable. You’d always cuddled with him, he was overly touchy with you to the point that everyone thought you were together. You were always off limits to the other guys in Hawkins, only ever catching the eye of passersby. You fall asleep, thinking about all the should haves and could haves.

The sun filters through the small crack in the curtains hitting you straight in the face. You look around the room, remembering you fell asleep next to Eddie. His arm is around your waist, head buried in your neck, hair tickling your nose. You try to stretch as much as you can while being basically pinned down by Eddie.

“Ten more minutes,” he mumbles, pulling you closer.

“You slept for sixteen hours already,” you snort.

“Not enough,” He nuzzles into your neck.

“You gotta stop that or I’m gonna piss myself,” You say, trying to pry his arm off of you.

“Do it, you wouldn’t dare,” He challenges.

“No I wouldn’t but seriously, I gotta go!” you say more urgently.

“Fine, but you jump right back in bed the minute you finish,” He bargains.

“It’s almost one o’clock, I am not staying in bed,” You protest, still pulling at his arm.

“Either way you still owe me a present,” You say.

“Oh shit, I forgot,” He says, finally letting you go. You run to the bathroom to take care of yourself, peeing and brushing your teeth. You’d had a toothbrush right next to Eddie’s since your first sleepover, he always took charge of changing it out every couple of months.

“So what’s the plan for today?” You ask, rummaging through his closet.

“Eat, present, meet Robin and Nance and 'em,” He says, standing up from the bed to join you. He picks up a pair of black jeans, his favorite because “they fit him the best and they make his ass look good,” according to Eddie. It was warm out, you could already tell by the heat in the trailer so he picks out a cutoff tee that shows off the sides of his ribs if he moves a certain way. He didn’t know this was your favorite shirt of his. He always looked so fucking hot with it on, his tattoos peaking through the side, his midriff exposed at the corner of your eye. Well if he was going to play that game you needed a better outfit, no band tee for you.

You search through your overnight bag for the black lacy cami top that usually leaves him speechless and a pair of shorts. He looks at the outfit in your hand and gulps.

“Great, I’m starving,” You wink at him as you walk by. What the fuck were you doing? What has gotten into you? He might’ve just been thirsty or something. There was no guarantee he even noticed what you grabbed or even cared. When you come out dressed you hear Wayne’s voice to the right of you talking to Eddie about his job.

“Good…afternoon!” You greet them.

“Finally decided to wake up I see,” Wayne says, eyebrow raised. He wasn’t judging you, he liked to tease but he knew how hard Eddie and you worked. He always treated you like a dad, more than your own father. He was protective and caring in his own way.

“Blame Teddie,” You nudge Eds in the ribs.

“You know I need my beauty rest,” He says, flicking his hair.

“Maybe you need to sleep longer,” Wayne’s eyes light up, teasing Eddie.

“Some sleep would do you good,” Eddie says, tone more serious. Wayne had been picking up more shifts lately, you had hardly seen him the last three weeks.

“I’m already as pretty as I’ll get,” Wayne grumbles, not liking Eddie’s concern.

“Weren’t y’all ‘bout to get food, c’mon get,” Wayne pushes you both out, slamming the door behind you two.

“He really is overworking himself,” You sigh as you climb into Eddie’s van.

“I know, that’s why I’ve been taking longer hours at the shop. Just want to take some burden off the old man,” He says, eyes focused on the road. You both sit in silence on the drive to Benny’s, thinking about how stuck you felt.

You wanted to help Wayne in any way you could but you still weren’t making enough money. You rented out a room from your parents because according to them the second you turn eighteen they weren’t supposed to help you anymore. Even if you wanted to leave you couldn’t afford the lease. You remember all those nights with Eddie, dreaming of the day you finally became adults so you could become independent.

“We’re here,” Eddie says, snapping his finger in front of your face.

“Fuck, you scared the shit out of me,” You jump, hand clutching your chest.

“What’s got you so spaced out?” Eddie asks, during the short walk into the diner and into your “designated” booth.

“Nothin’” you say, playing with the salt and pepper shakers.

“C’mon tell me what’s on your mind,” He pushes.

“I just wish I could do something to help Wayne out,” You sigh, not looking up at him.

“Me too,” He says, taking the pepper from your hand and playing with it. You didn’t expect the heavy atmosphere but thankfully it's broken when Doris comes over with your drinks. You always ordered the same thing, every week.

“Here’s your cola’s, just put in your order,” She smiles.

“Thank you!” you beam at the sugary beverage.

“There’s something magical in these sodas I swear,” You moan, as you gulp it down.

Eddie’s looking at you through his eyelashes, tongue swiping at his bottom lip.

“Yeah tastes pretty good,” He observes, voice deeper than normal and pupil’s slightly blown out. You make conversation over your pancake breakfasts, talking about shitty customers and bonding over telling them to fuck off. The tension from earlier is gone as Eddie promises he can scarf down his food in less than ten minutes.

“I never said you couldn’t do it, I just said it wasn’t worth the upset stomach I know you’re gonna have,” You say, walking toward his van.

“Well it was worth it,” He gives you a toothy smile.

“Now for the big event,” He says, as you both get in the van.

“Big event?” You question.

“Got you a surprise, something I promised you a long time ago,” He says, staring into your eyes. There’s something there you don’t recognize, his gaze looking different. You wrack your brain trying to decipher his riddle. What did he promise you? He had made so many promises over the years, pinkies intertwining each other as Gareth made fun of your childish ways.

“Okay…” You look at him suspiciously.

“But, I’m gonna need to blindfold you,” He says, eyes full of mischief.

“Ooh kinky,” you wag your eyebrows at him. His eyes slightly widen before he snaps out of it and grabs a scrap of fabric from his door.

“Turn around for me sweetheart,” He mumbles. You can’t help but slightly shake as he places the opaque fabric over your eyes, his hand brushing the back of your head as he knots it in place. The entire act felt all too intimate, your heavy breaths in the silent van weren’t helping either.

“Can you see anything?” He asks, presumably waving a hand in your face as you turn to sit straight.

“Nothing, scouts honor,” You say, raising two fingers.

“You weren’t even in the scouts,” He laughs, turning the key in the ignition. You don’t know what direction you’re heading in.

“Oh my god are you gonna murder me? Been playing the long con? Get me comfortable so I go without protest,” You tease.

“Oh yeah, gonna chop you up in the forest in the name of satan,” He says dramatically.

“Sounds ‘bout right,” You laugh, as he pulls to a stop.

“We’re here, just give me a second” He says, opening the door and rounding the car to open yours less than a second later.

“Wrap your arms around my neck princess,” He says, carrying you out of the van and placing you on your feet.

“Woah,” You grab onto his arm as the dizziness sets in.

“You alright?” He asks, concerned laced in his voice.

“Yeah just give me a second. M’dizzy” You say, gripping harder onto his bicep.

“Take your time,” He says.

“I’m ready,” You say after a minute. “Okay, just follow my voice. It’s a trust exercise,” you can hear the smile in his voice as he leads you. “There’s like three steps, just take ‘em slow. Here’s the first one,” He says, stopping so you can get your footing. He leads you up the last two, “Before you take your blindfold off… just, I don’t know. J-just I don’t even know how to explain it,” He says, voice full of nervousness.

“Eds, I feel like I've been blindfolded for an hour. If this is another prank I will fucking kill you,” You threaten.

“Not a joke, promise,” He says, “Ready?”

“Been ready,” You answer. He takes your hand putting something cold in it and leaning over your shoulder to see the knot. You blink at the sudden light, trying to grab your bearings.

“W-what?” You asked confused. He’d placed a key in your hand, you were standing in front of a house.

“We always promised we’d move out together, it was time for me to bank it in,” He smiles.

“Wait, what?” You still couldn’t believe it. It had to be some sort of joke, he probably found this key on the floor.

“C’mon open the door,” He nods his head in the direction of the lock.

“You’re serious?” You ask, eyes wide in shock.

“As a heart attack. C’mon! I’ve been waiting for months to show you it,” He says, pressing you to open the lock. Your hands shake as you approach the door, the key surprisingly sliding in and turning. Oh no he wasn’t lying, this wasn’t an epic prank. You open the door to an empty living room, his hand guiding you inside.

“I haven’t picked out the furniture yet, thought you’d want to do it together,” He stammers, as you silently scan over the room. It was nice, the entrance opened to the living room, to the left was an open floor plan kitchen, and to the right a bedroom.

“T-together?” You stutter. You were speechless.

“I know how much you hate living at your folks home and you know we made that promise that we’d move out together when we had the money,” He says scratching the back of his neck. He was nervous at your lack of response, did you hate the house? Maybe he should have consulted you first.

“So you and me, living together?” You question, taking in every single detail.

“Yes, just you and me. Maybe Wayne but I doubt he’ll leave the trailer. He’ll finally have a bedroom again though,” He trails off.

“Holy shit, this is for real?” You ask again, walking around the living room toward the kitchen.

“Oh my god how many times do I have to say yes. Did I tie that blindfold too tight? Not enough oxygen in your brain” he chuckles at his joke. You jump into his arms, legs straddling his waist. You hold onto him like a monkey as he grabs your thighs.

“This is the best present ever! Holy shit, Eddie,” You say hugging him close.

“Least I can do for your long years of serving me loyally,” He laughs, walking deeper into the house. You slide down his body as he pulls you through, giving you the grand tour. The house had three bedrooms total, apparently he got an insane deal on the property. Someone from the shop got a huge opportunity in Indianapolis and was trying to get rid of it. They passed down the title to Eddie instead of going through a broker.

“Now this, I think may be your favorite part,” He says, pulling you toward the back door. Your hands entwined, which was not unusual for you both. He opens the door to a beautiful garden, the previous owners must’ve loved this place. It was full of flowers and fruit trees.

“There’s a perfect shady spot to read your books, we could put a table out there and have breakfast together,” He says.

“Holy shit Eddie, it’s perfect,” You say, pulling him in for another hug. He’s bent at an awkward angle to meet your height. Without thinking you peck him on the lips before letting him go and walking down the steps to the garden. You look back at him still frozen in that weird position.

“What’s wrong?” You ask oblivious to what you had just done.

“D-did you just kiss me?” He asks, running down the stairs to meet you halfway down the yard.

“T-that was-” You stutter, realizing what happened. He towers over you, hand tilting your face upward as he kisses you again.

“This okay?” he mumbles into your lips. You move your hands to his shoulders, nails digging into the skin. “Mhm,” You agree, trying to pull him closer. His tongue swipes against your bottom lip with a groan, his kisses becoming more desperate. You open your mouth inviting him in, his tongue mapping out your mouth as you moan. “F-fuck,” You breathe out as he pulls away, kissing down your neck. You’d never been touched like this by Eddie, his hands running all over you anguished for a piece of skin to grab onto. He leans his forehead against yours, as you both catch your breath, his hands under your shirt on your hips.

“W-what was that,” You stammer.

“Been wanting to do that since middle school,” His breath ghosts over your face as he leans back to look at you, skin flushed and chest rising rapidly.

“Since fourth grade,” You laugh, throwing your arms around his neck to pull him down to your level.

“That long?” He says incredulously.

“You were my first crush,” You admit, face flushing at the confession.

“You were mine!” He says, voice raising in astonishment.

“So we could’ve been doing that for fuckin’ years?” He says more to himself than you.

“Guess so,” You shrug your shoulders.

“No wonder everyone thought we were dating. You made the goo goo eyes at me I made the goo goo eyes at you,” He laughs.

“That was your fault! You always had an arm around my shoulder or were holding my hand. Anyone would’ve thought we were together!” You reply.

“As if you didn’t love it. Don’t think I didn’t see the way you look at me when I wear this shirt,” He teases.

“So you admit you did it on purpose?” You ask, smacking his chest.

“Course gotta make you all nervous,” He pecks you on the lips.

“Well don’t think I don’t notice all the times you stare at my boobs especially when I wear this,” You motion to your outfit.

“I fucking knew it! You’re a temptress y’know that?” He growls, pulling you in for another kiss.

“Anyway, I was always touching you because I didn’t want anyone hanging around my girl,” He mumbles at his admission, neck and cheeks flushed.

“Your girl?” You question, eyebrow raised.

“Always have been, always will be,” He reveals.

“You don’t know how many girls I had to fight off,” You chuckle.

“No way! I had to fight off half the town. You don’t even know how many fist fights I got into because of you,” he says.

“Girls are a lot more vicious. You know there was always a rumor going around about you,” You divulge.

“Oh yeah?” He motions for you to go on. “Always heard you had a big dick,” You reveal before hiding in his chest. You feel his chest vibrate as he laughs, “Wouldn’t you like to know?” He teases.

“Yes I would,” You say, gaining confidence. You look up at him, the way his chocolate brown eyes are swallowed by his pupils. He pulls you in for another kiss, this one faster and more aggressive, it almost felt primal.

“Finally!” Robin cheers from the door, Eddie groans at the sound. He forgot he called them while you were changing. Steve, Robin, and Nancy scramble down the stairs giving you both congratulations. Gareth, Jeff, and, Grant arriving a few minutes later. Eddie’s annoyance dies down when he sees your face loving the way you laugh around your friends. You spend the rest of the afternoon drinking and eating take out with them. Nancy had brought a board game, this felt like home. Having them all here, Eddie's arm wrapped around you as he kisses your temple. You were finally home.

Eddie was finally yours and you were finally his. All your internal struggles and insecurities paid off. You had won the big prize at the fair! You spend the night on a blow up mattress with Eddie, eventually popping it because he has no control. After years of waiting you both felt more than desperate, clawing at each other's clothes.

“Shit- shit shit! M’close,” You moan.

“Fuck me too!” his eyes roll to the back of his head, thrusting in and out at a brutal pace.

“Say you’re mine, wanna hear it,” He begs.

“M’yours, always yours,” You claw at his back. “Yes yes yes yes,” He rambles until you’re both seeing stars. He pulls out of you, pulling you to his sweaty chest.

“This has to be a dream,” He exhales, staring at the ceiling. You kiss his chest in response. It was all too real. Your dreams had become reality. You finally had Eddie in your arms. You were his and he was yours just like you both promised when you were children.

[satorusugurugurl]

Worth It

Summary: Marie’s Summer Fest prompt: babysitting

Pairing: Choso Kamo x AFAB!Reader

Warnings: language, handjob, fingering, smut, protected sex, fluffy fluff

Word Count: 4,988 (oops)

A/N: hi y’all sorry for the delay heroes the last prompt for my summer fest celebration!! I am finally getting back on track, my goodness have I been super busy! Enjoy!

Choso was so damn stressed. He ran his hand down his face with a sigh as Yuuji screamed at the top of his lungs, singing along to the theme song of his favorite show that was playing in the background. Choso was left feeling more than a little stressed between his dayshift at the hospital and trying to find a new babysitter while taking care of the apartment. On top of everything else, he was trying to prepare himself to see you for the first time in four years.

He had run into your Mom at the grocery store last week. After talking for a bit and hearing about all the stuff piled up on his plate, she offered for you to babysit during the summer while his grandpa was on a month-long cruise. You had been friends growing up, having lived next door to each other; it only made sense. But the age difference between you caused you both to grow apart. It was only natural since there was a four-year difference. Choso was off to medical school for his nursing degree by the time you started high school.

But now that he was twenty-four and you were twenty going to college yourself, things wouldn't be so different. God, when had he seen you last? Would he ever recognize you?

While Choso found himself lost in thought, pacing the kitchen. You were excitedly bounding up the stairs to his apartment door, knocking on it. God, you were so excited! Your mom’s consistent meddling with your dating life had finally paid off for once! She had successfully given you a chance to rekindle a relationship with your longtime crush. You’d always had a down bad for the gothy boy next door. But since you were four years younger, it never went past friendship.

Things are different now, though! You both were older now, more mature, and you were jail-bait any longer. You wouldn’t throw away the golden opportunity you had been given.

You were so lost in your thoughts that you almost jumped out of your skin when the door to the apartment opened. Your childhood crush towers over you, black hair tied up in two buns, and he was in his tight maroon scrubs that looked delicious on him, showing off his muscles. While you were looking over him like a tasty meal, he swallowed hard, eyeing your blue jean shorts and a black crop top, leaving for Choso’s imagination. Both of you practically eye fucking each other when a flash of pink hair came bolting out of the door.

“Sissy!!” Yuuji yelled, throwing his arms around your legs and hugging you tight.

You giggled, allowing him to knock you back a step before you reached down, ruffling his hair. “Heya Yuuji!” Your eyes trailed from pink tufts of hair to Choso’s dark eyes. “Hiya Cho.”

“H-Hi, uhm, c-come in!” He stepped aside, allowing you to shuffle in with his little brother, still attached to your leg. “Sorry about the mess, I uhm—haven't had much time to clean.”

“No worries.” Your smile was soft, warm, and understanding.

Why did you have to smile at him like that?! It took every ounce of strength in him not to confess his undying love for you right there in the apartment's entryway. Instead of an impromptu confession, he cleared his throat, ushering you to the kitchen, where the sink was filled with dishes and toys littering the floor. Choso flushed, rubbing his neck with a huff.

“Uhm—yeah, the apartment is a mess, I'm sorry—I just—ya know—”

“Choso, you're good, so there's no need to worry. You've been balancing a lot.” you are so sweet, caring, and understanding. To not like you would be an atrocity.

“Right, right, so I’ll be home around 6 o’clock; you can order food. If you want, my credit card is on the counter. Yuuji already ate breakfast, so he’s good. Thanks again for doing this. My life has been hectic between my shifts at the hospital and trying to balance everything.”

You gently took his hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze. “Whatever I can do to help alleviate some of that stress, I’m happy to do so.”

Oh, Choso could think of multiple ways you could help alleviate his stress. One day, he would tell you how much he liked you and had a crush on you since you were small. The other things he wanted to do to you involved that tiny crop top you were wearing.

“Okay, uhm—if you need me, I'm just a call away!”

“Right!”

Choso grabs his saddlebag, lunch, and his badge for work. He headed towards the door with you and Yuuji following him behind. Taking a deep breath, he turned back to look at you. You look so cute standing there holding his little brother's hand. He wouldn’t mind getting to see you like that every day he left for work.

“I’m off.”

“Be safe, see you later!”

Choso kept thinking about how you were at home with his little brother all day. He thought about how pretty you looked this morning. You were too cute for your good; you had grown up from that little kid with pigtails to a beautiful woman—one that Choso would love to take out for dinner, kiss, and finally confess his love for.

It was like that that helped him get through his hectic day. What was supposed to be a regular shift turned into a busy, nightmarish day. Between all the patients coming in for heatstroke and hiking accidents, Choso had been busy since the moment he stepped into the hospital. But a busy day, and his day went by fast, and the faster it went by, the quicker to go home to you—Yuuji, he was going to Yuuji, not you.

When he finally got home, he was about an hour and a half late. He grumbled, dropping his shoes by the front entrance before shuffling inside the apartment. "Sorry, guys. The hospital was busier than I thought." Yuuji lifted his head from the paper he was coloring on, rushing towards his big brother's arm, stretched wide.

“Big brother! Sissy made dinner! Lots of meat, and it was super tasty, too!”

"Welcome home," You said, setting a plate for him. "I hope you had a great day other than it being busy.”

Choso’s face flushed a deep red. Oh god, you’d be so cute as a stay-at-home wife someday. Shit. He nodded to you, swallowing down those thoughts. "'Uhm—yeah, it was pretty good. Thank you for dinner." He grumbled, looking you up and down as he ruffled Yuuji’s hair.

You beamed at him before kneeling to Yuuji’s height. "Yuuji, why don’t we clean up the coloring stuff? When we’re done, let's get you ready for bed while your brother eats before we watch a movie.”

Yuuji nodded excitedly, babbling on about the firefighter movie you would watch, while he looked at you with surprise written on his face before he took in the apartment. Not only had you taken care of his little brother and made a home-cooked meal, but you also had time to clean the apartment! You truly were perfection in his eyes as he happily ate the dinner your loving hands prepared while he watched you and Yuuji sitting on the couch laughing.

Yeah, this was a sight he would never get tired of looking at. When he finished dinner, he ruffled you and Yuuji’s heads before heading to the bathroom to shower. You watched from the couch, a little too obviously, as he took his scrub top off while walking down the hall. Fuck he looked so hot; it had to be illegal in some country to look as good as he did! The things you would do to him—.

“He likes you too.” Yuuji’s little voice spoke between a yawn.

“Eh?!” The eight-year-old's blunt comment left your cheeks flished as you jolted your attention back to him. “W-What makes you think that?!”

Yuuji so sweetly tilted his head to the side, smiling softly. “I see the way you guys look at each other. Plus, I heard Choso telling Gramps how excited he was to see you again. He said he couldn’t wait to see how prettier you were.” He yawned louder, rubbing at his eyes as he snuggled into your side.

“He said that?”

“Yeppers.”

About six minutes later, you carried Yuuji back to his room, tucking him in as he softly snored onto his tiger plushie. When you left his room, you decided it might be best to be blunt about your feelings for Choso. It was painfully evident that both of you were pining after each other, but neither of you knew how to tell one another. So, it seems as though you would have to make the first move.

But how are you going to do that?

It would probably be best just straight up to tell him, but you weren’t sure if you could look him in the face and tell him how you felt. Sometimes, actions spoke better than words. You toss your options around as you clean the kitchen, scrubbing at the plates left in the sink. At about that same time, Choso walked out of his bedroom, heading into the kitchen in a towel, his eyes watching you clean like a hawk. "Hey, honey."

"Hello Cho-o-ooh!" You blushed, looking him over, taking in the stray droplets of water running down his chest. He looked so hot! The water emphasized the definitions of his toned abs, making your mouth dry, suddenly thirsty for him. Miraculously, though, you shook your head, turning away from him. "Ehem, are you feeling better?"

He nodded, running a hand through his damp hair. "Yeah, a lot better.” He pursed his lips together as he watched you drain the sink before wiping down the counters. “Thank you for watching Yuuji and cleaning up for me—it means a lot.”

“I figured since I was here, and Yuuji could entertain himself, I might as well help out a little more. I like making it a bit easier for you.”

“You are a breath of fresh air.” He hummed, propping his head up on his elbow. “Seriously, you just lifted ten tons off my shoulders. I’m so glad your mom told you I needed help.”

“I’m glad she told me too.” You whispered as you wrung on the rag before folding it over the edge.

“Seeing you here at the house, taking care of Yuuji, making dinner, made me wish you could be his permanent babysitter until you return to college in the fall.”

You stepped around the counter, leaning against it before your childhood friend. “Are you offering me the position? Because I can assure you I am CPR certified and have tons of experience babysitting from my high school years.” Choso grinned, exhaling contently through his nose.

"Consider it, then. You're extremely qualified, and you’re good with him."

A compliment was his subtle way of asking you to be the full-time babysitter. Your tummy was all fuzzy as you gave him your best sultry laugh. A laugh that had Choso’s cock twitching to life underneath his towel

"Oh yeah?" You bit your lip. "Are you sure it's not just because you want me around—?" Your eyes glittered as you smugly grinned.

He flushed, eyes going wide as he turned to look at you. "No! I—I mean, only if you want to! There is no pressure at all!" He corrected himself, looking away as he rubbed at his neck.

“Well, what if I were to say I wanted the position?”

“T-Then you could have it.”

You crossed your arms over your chest, pushing your breasts together. “AlrightI—.” before you could answer, you couldn’t help but notice your childhood friend's eyes glancing towards your cleavage. “Oh my god—are you staring at my tits?” There was no disgust or anger in your voice as she questioned him. Instead, nothing but the light and excitement laced your tone, which went completely unnoticed by Choso.

He choked on his saliva, coughing as he looked away, trying to hide his blush. "N-No!I'm not some pervert!'

"Whoa, Cho, it’s okay! I was teasing you." You said, changing your laid-back demeanor. "I know you're not a perv." You returned to drying the washed dishes with a wink and a smile.

God, the things you did to him drove him absolutely insane. Choso couldn't deny that he was looking at your pretty breasts. His mind conjured up different ideas on how he worshiped them. Those delusional thoughts had him moving a hand to cover his mouth as he glanced out at the sink, flushing deeply. The embarrassment left him feeling numb to the temperature, your laughter, and the sensation of touch. Because he was so entranced, he never noticed his towel starting to fall, but it never lost, all thanks to his hard cock holding it up.

“Cho, really you’re—” your eyes peered away from the cup in your hand. The sight of his seemingly levitating towel caused the plastic cup to fall out of your hands, clattering in the sink. "I-I fuck~ you have a huge cock.”

His eyes widened as he looked down. "O-Oh fucking hell!" He grabbed the towel, trying to hide his erection from you, but it was too late. You’d already seen a peek, and you wanted to see more.

You walk over without a care in the world, your tits jiggling. "Choso~ do you need help with that?" you eye him closely, teasingly brushing your fingers over his shaft through the towel.

“H-Honey—I uhm—”

“Do you want me to stop?”

Choso sighed, shaking his head. “I-I uhm—no, I don't.” He groaned, shaking his head.

Without another word, you gently cupped his face in your hands, kissing him deeply. Choso’s eyes went wide for a split second, the shock causing him to release his grip on the towel as his brain tried to process what was happening. All of his dreams and fantasies for years were coming true. Your lips were on his, and he didn’t think he could longer hold himself back. So, instead of holding back those carnal desires, he let them take over instead. His fingers fisted into your hair as he kissed you back with the same enthusiasm as you had.

Lips moved in sync with each other, As he pressed you up against the counter, his hard cock throbbing against you. Your head was spinning in the best way as you dug your fingers into his damp hair, tugging at it gently as you let yourself lose all your control. You both weren’t kids anymore, and you weren’t jailbait, which meant you could finally go after what you wanted without any repercussions, and the way your childhood friend was kissing you, you knew he felt the same way.

Choso nipped at your bottom lip as he pulled back just an inch, allowing you to look at the black tattoo across the bridge of his nose. He was breathing; his cheeks flushed a pretty pink. His dark eyes roamed across your face, taking in your beauty.

“Oh my god, this is finally happening.” He snarled out before his lips were on yours again. “Oh my god, I can’t believe this is finally fucking happening.”

“Is that why you came out of nothing but your towel?” you questioned as he grabbed your hair, forcing your neck to the sides slightly, allowing his lips to trail down your sensitive, sweet skin. “Ah~ fuck~ t-trying to seduce the babysitter?”

“Ha, more like I’m finally making my move.”

You blinked, trying to focus on what he said, but his lips running over your skin was distracting. “W-Wait~ nnngh fuck did you seriously do that on purpose?!” His hands found a sweet spot on your hips, and you could feel him grinning against your neck.

“No, not really, it’s just a happy accident.”

"Ooh." You mumbled, reaching down, stroking his insanely hard cock. "I suppose I better help you with this accident then." You whispered, standing on your tiptoes and nipping at his earlobe. “I told you I'm happy to help with the house, but I'm also happy to help in ‘other’ ways too.”

Choso groaned, his hands gripping the counter next to him. "F-Fuck, honey—" He moaned as your hand twisted expertly up and down his cock. Watching you do something he’s fantasized about while jerking off for years felt like a fever dream. "Oh fuck-!”

You smirked at the feeling of his cock throbbing in your hand, making you move your hand.

"Does that feel good?" Choso hissed head, falling forward as he nodded.

"Y-Yeah, fuck, it feels s-soo good. God fuck, you’resfucking pretty." He panted softly, trying to prevent himself from cumming too soon. It'd been a long time since he touched himself; he had been so busy.

“Good,” Your thumb ran teasingly over the slit dribbling more pre-cum. “You deserve to have some fun~ for caring for your family, working so hard.” Your hand increased in speed, desperate to help him cum.

Choso gasped, one of his hands gripping the countertop of the kitchen island, as the other hand grabbed the back of your neck, bringing your for head to rest on his as his orgasm crashed into him, his cum spurting out in thick ropes over you are hand. "FUCK!" He cried out, jerking his hips forward with whines and grunts.

“Oooh fuck,” you moaned; his cum was so thick and warm, you wished he had come in your mouth or—somewhere more intimate. "There you go~ feel a bit better now, Cho?" you asked, bringing your hand to your mouth, licking the thick, bittersweet release off your hand.

“God fuck.” Choso panted softly, looking down at you as he took his bottom lip between his teeth. "F-Fuck, yes, thank you—b-but I think we have a problem now.”

“And what might that be?”

“I can't control myself around you.”

Hearing that had your panties soaking wet. You found yourself biting your lip, rubbing your hands slowly down his bare chest. You could see the way his eyes rolled back into his head, how he shuddered and groaned as his cock slowly twitched back to life. Giving you more confidence to press against him with a soft, needy sigh. Choso groaned, eyes rolling back as you kissed slowly up his chest.

“So now might not be the best time to tell you I'm soaking wet right now?”

Choso groaned, nodding quickly. "Y-Yeah, maybe you should stop. If you don't... If you don't, I won't be able to stop myself."

You pouted and sighed. "If that's what you want, I'll stop." You headed to the sink to wash your hands. "You just look so stressed out and in need of a good fucking. Oh well, guess I'm lucky you're such a good guy, Choso~ wanting to contr—”

As soon as you said 'a good fucking,' all hell broke loose. Choso grabbed you by your wrist, dragging you down the hall. He didn't allow you to think before you were pulled into a bedroom, and the door slammed behind you. Choso pushed you back and pinned you down onto his bed. "Fucking tease." He growled.

The sudden change of scenery and the drop of his voice had your thighs squeezing together. All you managed to do was gasp loudly, looking up at him in awe. "I-I—holy fuck Cho."

He leaned down, biting and kissing your neck.

"Is this what you wanted? For me to lose control and fuck you?"

You nodded, whimpering as you squirmed.

"Yes, Cho~ I do~!" You shivered before moaning into your hands.

A hand slid up your body, massaging your breasts with a desperate groan. He was so in love with you. To have you underneath him like he'd fantasized about a hundred times before was unbelievable. Choso wanted, no, he needed you so insanely bad. Nothing would stop him from making you feel good and showing you how much he cared.

“Tell me what you want, honey."

“Y-You Cho! I want you! I've always wanted you!”

He nodded with a smirk, his hand gliding down to slip under your panties, his fingers brushing against your pussy. "Fuck, so wet~" This, indeed, was better than any of the daydreams he'd had about you when you had come home from college.

You were a mess, gasping pit loud, hands gripping the sheets underneath you. His fingers felt so much better than you had imagined them feeling. Being with him like this would make every solo session you had from this moment on lackluster. Thank god he was only a few streets away from you.

Because looking down at his hand working at you would not be enough to get you off in the future. You needed him, to feel him on you, touching you, feeling the heat of his body on you. "Fuck, your fingers feel so good-!" You mewled out, your hips bucking up against his hand.

Choso pulled his fingers up slightly to gently toying with your swollen clit. "Yeah? Is that true?" He chuckled softly, trying and failing to hide the desperation in his voice.

"Y-Yeah~ god, they're calloused, and it feels fucking good!” Your eyes bore into his with pure lust. "Will you please have sex with me? I bet you know how to fuck well, Cho."

Your childhood friend stiffens at your request. The shock faded into a need as he growled softly, sliding two fingers into your tight wet pussy to start stretching you out. "I have a bit of experience, yeah." His lips met yours in a searing kiss. “I’d be happy to show you how experienced I am.”

“Fuuck!” You inhaled sharply, looking up at him.

"Fuck yes, I want it so bad~" You moaned out, your walls clenching around his fingers.

Choso growled in response, curling them up and slowly pumping them into your wet walls. "Such a good girl— fuck honey.” While you arched and squirmed underneath him, Chosk leaned over, nipping at your sensitive neck as he slid a third finger in, thrusting them into you with a low hum of approval.

You could hardly take it anymore. You threw your head back. His fingers brushed over a sensitive, spongy spot deep inside of you that you could hardly reach. But the instant his fingers pressed down on that mythical spot, you saw stars.

"I-I'm c-cumming!" You screamed out loud, causing Choso to finger you faster until your slick coated his fingers, making his cock throb hard.

Seeing you come undone like that left Choso smirking as he continued working his fingers in and out of you, helping her ride out your orgasm. His gentle touches and soothing kisses had you eager for more. Your fingers dug into his biceps, trying to drag him close to your face and attempt that Choso found himself helping you with and allowing his body to follow your needy touch until his lips were on yours.

"Fuck me, god, please fuck me." You whispered against his kiss-swollen lips.

At this point, your walls relaxed enough to allow Choso to slide his fingers from you, moving them up to his lips and cleaning them off with his mouth. “You want me?” he grabbed a condom from his bedside table. "You think you're ready?"

"Oh god, yes, please fuck. I'm so ready. I've been ready for so long. God, I need you, Cho; I need you so bad, please.” You pleaded out, looking down at his thick long cock that throbbed at the sound of your voice.

That begging left Choso a groaning mess as he nodded, sliding the condom over his length before pushing the head of his cock against your entrance. "F-Fuck, you're so tight, honey." Choso moaned softly before he slid his cock into you, grabbing your legs and placing them over his shoulders. "Tell me to stop, and I will, okay, sweetie?”

“I will.” You whispered, only to have your words cut off by a gasp as Choso pushed further inside of you. "I—fuck!”

Hearing your oft cries only pushed Choso to press himself further inside of you. He made sure to pay attention to your body, breathing, and facial reactions the entire time. He wanted you to feel as good as he did but didn't want to hurt you. Luckily for him, you were so wet; everything went as smoothly as any couple could hope for their first time. And this was one neither of you would forget.

"Are you okay, honey?" Choso asked tentatively as he pressed his hips to flush against yours. You nodded in agreement, trialing hot, open-mouth kisses down his neck, encouraging him to keep going as you rocked against him. Feeling you get into it made Choso feel drunk off of you and your pussy. He felt like he was desperately restraining himself from fucking you fast and hard, just the way he liked it. "Honey, fuck—you're making it hard to hold back."

"Then, fuck me the way you like it, Cho." You whispered as you stared into his eyes. "I want you, no matter if it's hard or slow. Being with you like this is more than I could have ever asked for.”

He growled softly, leaning in and biting down on your shoulder as he started to rail his cock into you. Losing the last remains of self-control he had. The sudden change of pace and speed left you screaming and whining as you dug your nails into his back.

"Cho!" You cried out, thrashing your head side to side against the pillows beneath you. Seeing you in such a state had Choso's eyes rolling back as he desperately fucked into you like a wild animal, growling into your shoulder. You whimpered and moaned louder, feeling your legs starting to tremble at the feeling of another orgasm approaching. "C—Cho!" Your own eyes rolled back into your head. "F-Fuck, I'm gonna cum if you keep fucking me this hard!"

Choso finally released his grip on your shoulder, kissing and biting at your neck between moans. "G-Good g-girl, fuck! I-I want you to c-cum on my cock, fucking milk me, honey--!"

You were going to cum, and you were going to cum hard. Not wanting to wake up his brother, you decided to follow his lead. You bit into Choso’s shoulder as hard as you could to silence your voice as she came hard around him. Getting fucked like this by your long-time crush was everything you dreamed of. And Choso felt the same as his eyes shot wide as you bit him, his teeth clenching as he groaned loudly as his cock twitched inside you, unloading his cum into you faster than he thought.

You both remained still like that, teeth and fingers digging into each other as your body shook with the aftershocks of your orgasms. You were the first to release him, panting as you pulled your teeth out of his, opting to wrap your arms around him instead. A gesture Choso was grateful for as he panted against your shimmering skin. You were pulling back to look down at you with blazing, dark eyes.

“Oh fuck." You giggled, tracing your nails down his back.

"God fuck, yeah, that was unexpected."

"It was Unexpected, but it felt so good." You whispered against his lips with a wide, warm smile.

Seeing such a warm smile made Choso melt against you as he realized he was falling harder for you. "Y-Yeah. " He let out a breathless laugh, disgrading the used condom in the trashcan before he laid back down, nuzzling his face in the crook of your neck. "Yeah, it did."

You relaxed against the bed, holding him close against you. "You know, I could get used to this. Hanging out at your place, making dinner, waiting for you to come home. It was nice." Your nails gently scratched at his scalp with a hum

“Only if you promise to let me take you on a real date. One that doesn't involve cartoons and crayons.” You giggled as he pressed a kiss to your forehead. "You know, to an actual restaurant, then we can come back and have incredible sex like this over and over again."

"Mhmm, I hope you can match my sex drive.”

Choso couldn't stop the growl that rose in his lower chest as he tightened his grip around you. "Oh, honey, that's what's good about older men like me. We have the stamina and the experience."

You giggled as Choso yanked you onto his chest, holding you tight against him. “You're only older by four years, Cho.” His hand gently rubbed up and down your arm, as he sighed contently. As you nuzzled your head into his chest, Choso couldn't help but look up at his ceiling fan. “But that difference seemed to work out in our favor.” Pulling your head back, you rested your chin on his chest, finding His dark eyes focused solely on you; it was a look that melted your heart.

“Yeah, I guess it did, didn't it?” you agreed, resting your chin against his chest.

“Yeah, but it was well worth the wait,” Choso whispered, leaning down and kissing you softly.

Forever Tag List:

@darkstarlight82 @pandoness @nealeart @simp-plague @sugurubabe @chilichopsticks @reap3erslov3 @wil10wthetree @luvsymai

Summer Fest Tag List:

@typicalife-101

[ellesthots]

Fateful Beginnings

III. “the alley”

read on AO3 🦇

parts: previous / next

plot: chasing down your interview subject lands you in a sticky situation.

pairing: battinson!bruce wayne x fem!reader

cw: 18+, almost sexual assault, noncon physical touch, violence

words: 2.5k

You could tell by the bright yellow caution tape surrounding the blocks nearby that you’d finally arrived. Officers were stationed around the tape with a crowd beginning to form. Masses shuffled out of nearby clubs to see the drama, muttering amongst themselves about what it could be. None of them were correct. Another shooting? A stabbing? A drug bust? You heard murmurs of Where is he? which you could only imagine was about the man of the hour, the Batman.

Snaking your way around the officers would be difficult, but not impossible. The onlookers guaranteed a degree of anonymity, so you slink between distracted groups of friends and wove through the crowd, ducking under the tape and into the alley. Once there, the darkness was protective. Blaring sirens deafened your ears, causing a shudder on your spine as you trekked through the blackened night. The only thing that gave you any idea of where you were was the brick you kept your palm on as you walked, dust collecting on your fingertips from untouched cement.

It was eerily quiet, which unnerved you. Gotham was never this quiet, always with a constant backdrop of cars, drunks, and blood-curdling screams. As you kept forward, the commotion began to leave your ears. It seemed to fade into the distance rather quickly—either that, or you were walking much faster than you anticipated. When would this alley end?

Almost as if you'd asked for it out loud, you started to hear wet, frantic footsteps splashing through puddles ahead. You squinted your eyes to try and cut through the shroud of darkness, but to no avail. Then, frantic yelling. You pressed your back to the brick as you saw a flashlight appear in front of a tall, stocky figure a few feet down the alley. "Hey," the voice, a man's, shouted at you. He shone the light right at your face and your vision went white, stinging your tired eyes. "What's a lady like you doing back here, huh?" His tone was conniving, setting off your body's alarm system.

You turned and started to run, but he removed the light source as soon as he noticed you were on the move. Not ten steps after, you fell flat on your chest, tripping over a wood block mid-step. Your hands protected your face, your palms taking blunt trauma rather than your nose. You felt the familiar, childhood sting of scraped hands and elbows as you heard his footsteps creep closer. Fuck. This was so stupid, fuck. You started babbling, anxious. "Please, I'm just trying to get home,"

"A girl like you doesn't live over here." You heard him spit somewhere, hopefully not on you. You felt a hard tug on your right shoulder and found yourself yanked over onto your back. He threw the lit flashlight down onto the ground and it made a strong clang. The rain stung your eyes and hands, thundering down and into your jacket and soaking your clothes underneath. You began scooting backward and scrambled to get up on your knees as you were shoved back onto the concrete, further grating your palms. You yelped out in pain as he pinned you face-down on the alley floor with a grunt. "Not my first choice of broad, but you'll have to do." He chuckled and you heard the rummaging of clothes. Oh my god. I’m about to get assaulted.

Your jaw dug into the ground as he palmed your ass over your pants, giving it a slap with the hand that wasn't pressed between your shoulder blades. Suddenly you felt a breeze on your lower back, through the rain hearing a tearing of fabric. You squeezed your eyes shut and let your body go limp as you felt the breeze extend down your ass, to your thigh, and then down to your calf. Hard rain pelted against newly exposed skin. A white noise filled your ears, stifled sobs stuck deep in your chest as he started unzipping. You balled your sore, bloody fists in preparation, begging it to be over quickly.

Except...you didn't feel anything. The man gasped and you heard a thud. Adrenaline rushing through your tired, cold limbs propelled you up and you quickly stood, yanking your jacket off and hastily wrapping it around your hips. More thuds, then an unintelligible shout. You couldn't tell what was happening, and started to hobble back the way you came. You heard another thud and clang, and noticed the alley was illuminated behind you. Nervously, you looked over your shoulder and saw him: the Batman, rain-soaked and angry. He was crouched over the man, his gaze rising. Your eyes connected for a moment and you froze.

You again. He didn't know what to make of you. You were difficult to read. You didn't look like the city; you looked too innocent, too kind. Yet you had this persistence that made you do such ridiculous—if not impressively tenacious—things such as wandering around a crime scene in Gotham City in the dead of night. He glanced down and noticed your pants were torn and shredded in a pool around your ankles. His jaw tightened, molars starting to grind together. He'd thought you were just getting mugged, not... this piece of shit... his fists pressed firmer into the perpetrator as the man began to gasp for breath, struggling against him. Who would do that to someone? What made someone think they had ownership over someone else's body like that? To take it at any time? He looked down and stared into the waning eyes of the criminal, rage burning in his throat.

You had never seen someone die before, and you started to panic. The vigilante was staring at the man and pressing harder, harder, harder into their chest until the dude sputtered. "Stop, stop!"

He immediately jumped back, panting. He'd never come that close to killing someone.

He shot a frazzled look at you. His knuckles clenched tight, bent to perfectly cup the criminal's neck to snapping. He tried to hide his shock at having momentarily lost control.

You stared back at him, nervous. He was just... sitting there. Would he hurt you? You had a peculiar, yet strong sense you were safe here, but was that real? No one truly knew much about Batman; what if he was just as bad as the criminals he fought?

Looking at you in the alley triggered something deep within him. His palms began to sweat and he suppressed images of his childhood, the sound of gunshots ringing in his ears rendering him unsteady. You peered at him, nervous, stuttering a few steps back. The criminal, still choking and gasping, struggled up to his knees.

Batman’s heart raced and pulse echoed in his ears; he refocused, grabbing the criminal by the shirt and tossing him behind you both. The stranger landed on his knees, scrambling up to bolt down the alley from whence he came. It was now just you and Batman, and he looked... nervous? And his eyes... somehow they shined through the dark night.

"Go home." His voice was gruff, yet somehow still piercing through the thundering rain, echoing thickly off the balmy brick. You instinctually followed his order as if he was some sort of supernatural force, but stopped before exiting his eyeline entirely. The interview.

He was still staring at you, motionless besides some flexing of his fists. "Wait." You gulped down fear, adrenaline still coursing through your veins, staring down the dripping, armored mountain before you. You were surprised the words slipped past your lips. "I want to interview you for GU—"

"Go home." He tried to make his voice menacing as flashbacks caused nightmares in his mind, pelting him with suppressed memories of gunpowder and screams. You didn’t move, and his jaw set.

You weren't backing down without a bit of a kick, desperate, hyperaware this was the last time you’d ever have this opportunity. "It's why I came out ton—" He interrupted you with a hissing shout, slipping through your fingers.

"Do I have to tell you again?" You were audacious, he'd give you that. He narrowed his gaze to a glare and straightened his back to help tower over you, even twenty feet away. He didn't have the capacity to monitor his tone, his throat becoming more swollen and constricted as the images and sounds screeched inside.

"Please?" He wasn't having a lick of it, you could tell. His eyes were narrowed, chest heaving, tone bitingly bitter. He had a miserly quality about him, as if he were acting as savior whilst resenting people for it.

"Being here alone is a stupid thing to do. Don't let me catch you out here again." With that, he disappeared up the brick to the roofs of Gotham, barely concealing his panting, rushed breaths as he tried to calm himself off the edge of a panic attack.

You managed to get home without a hitch, which was a miracle. The swarms of people on the main road due to the club evacuations allowed you to slip into a nobody, a faceless member of the horde. You showered off the chill and the sting of your scalp left you reeling, a manifestation of your frustration toward the Batman. He'd wanted nothing to do with the affair, and you tried not to brainstorm more topics that night, letting your mind off the hook to simply be thankful he had intervened at all... even if he'd kinda been an ass about it.

The day was much the same, holing yourself up to your apartment. You didn't have any other classes besides journalism, didn't have to work due to your scholarship, and had just enough money left to get you through the next two weeks until you graduated and left Gotham permanently. It was maddening being so close to the end of something yet having no clue how to finish it. A part of you wanted to walk to the corner store just to have some human interaction, but you were more tender to the reality of living downtown now. It wasn't safe here, not even being outside for a moment.

You awoke the next day feeling restless from 36 hours contained to your studio. You vacillated between being tormented by lack of inspiration and doing everything you could to distract and fill the time. Crocheting? Too mindless. Television? The same. That final paper clung to every passing thought like a wet napkin. It nearly sent you spiraling; you were without a single word on the page, with twenty of them to fill.

You'd drawn up a plan the rest of that day, figuring it would take you at least two days to write the paper to your specifications, which gave you just under five days to: find an interviewee, develop a thesis and ensuing questions, and gather the data. You cursed yourself for ever choosing a class as heavy in writing as journalism for your last term. At least a PE credit would have let you blow off steam.

By the time it hit seventy hours in your apartment you nearly threw yourself out the window to feel something other than the crushing weight of the deadline. Phone calls haunted your dreams where you had to admit to your parents you couldn't finish college because you couldn't stop something as simple as writer's block. It consumed you, both day and night, pulling the color out of your face and emphasizing the dark crescent moon under your eyes. With a solid "fuck it", you threw on some sweats and hunkered down to the corner store. Rai would be a pleasant sight. He'd ask about your classes as he always did, and maybe he'd even have some ideas.

The sky stung your eyes after essentially living in a cave for the better part of three days, though it was cloudy and dark as it ever was in the city. The infamous scent of chemical rain stung the lining of your nose, prickling every microscopic hair to annoyance. It beseeched you how difficult this assignment was; nothing, no assignment in all your years of academia, had stirred you as much as this one. It plucked at the edges of your skin with relentless animosity, gleeful as you spiraled deeper into what eerily resembled a depressive episode. The experience of this paper was rattling your bones, and you were close to calling up the school counselor.

Your palm shoved the slick handle of the store door open, the familiar ding and "Welcome in!" forcing you to hide your chagrin. A quick flit of your eyes to the register and you noticed Rai wasn't on shift. Ugh.

You walked toward the register to check out the deli. Rai always had delicious surprises, and offered you the 'student discount', which was really nonexistent—just kindness from the sweet acquaintance. Hell, at this point he was one of your closest friends. You could’ve laughed at how lonely you were, if it weren’t so fucking painful.

Except today, the deli was empty. You checked your phone with confusion, sure you’d gotten here before even the earliest time he’d closed it. Peering over at a young woman you'd never seen before, you asked if he was okay. Rai was as reliable as the rain in Gotham.

Sheepish, she cleared her throat lightly before perking up. "Actually um, our family was asked to cater at the city hall meeting tonight!" Visibly excited, she rambled on. "Rai is my brother, he's with our mother prepping the dishes."

"Oh, cool!" You drudged up the small amount of enthusiasm still left within you and mustered interest. "That'll be good for business, I'm sure."

The young woman nodded so quickly you feared her head might roll off. Her excitement became palpable and you couldn't help but grin as she prattled on. "Definitely! My mom was so happy when we got the invite, Mr. Wayne sent us a handwritten letter with a BONUS inside!"

And then it hit you like sharp, salty wind, and you bid a quick farewell to scurry back to your apartment. You dialed up Dr. Vry after pulling her number from the syllabus, praying she hadn't left the office early. On the last ring she answered, chewing on something on the other line. "Dr. Janay Vry speaking."

"Dr. Vry, hey! It’s Y/N. Would you be able to give me one of the department’s press passes for the event at city hall tonight?" The keys were chilled in your hand from the outside air and you put her on speaker as you rushed your clothes off.

"Well hello to you too, Ms. Y/L/N. I'm afraid I was just packing up."

"Please, I found someone to interview." You yanked off your socks and unclipped your bra. You needed to shower and be out the door as quickly as possible.

"And who could be so important as to call me on a Friday evening twenty minutes before I retire home?" She sounded aloof, not quite frustrated yet.

"Bruce Wayne.”

[cloudyeventss]

I thought I try my hand at writing a little story about being 141's assistant. I'm not sure where I'm taking this or even if I should continue. Let me knoww but be sweet. This is literally my first attempt at writing anything

Warnings~ cussing, slightly anxious ? Idk

Y/n pov

He's staring right at me. Slouching slightly to his left, strands of blue dyed hair peeking out underneath his hat. He clearly hasn't been sleeping, I can see the dark circles under his eyes. I don't think I’ve seen him blink once. This is too much. Too fucking much I'm starting to fidget with the belt of my purse, shifting back n forth trying to ease my nerves. I'm overwhelmed and overestimated. This bus smells worse than a gas station bathroom, it doesn't help it’s hotter than the damn desert in here, my sweater is starting to itch and the constant sound of the buses bell going off is enough to make my head explode. GOD why did my car have to break down today? sweat is beading my forehead I feel nauseous. GOD DOES THIS MAN EVER BLINK?!? *ding* fuck finally my stop. I've never been more relieved in my life to leave somewhere... stepping outside I feel like I can breathe again not by much though, last night, laying in bed i got a call from my father's friend Laswell telling me to meet her at a Cafe not too far from my home. Usually, I wouldn't be so nervous to see her, being Laswell and my father worked together for the past 10 years. She’s been around quite a few times but this time She spoke about a potential job opportunity as an assistant overseas. I'm not even sure I heard her right, i was a bottle deep into Apothic red wine. Nothing special but drink enough it’ll knock you on your ass. I've been anxious ever since. After finishing my associates degree in mind and body psychology, I wasn't sure I wanted to continue with school. Maybe I just need a break, but I also need a job. I take one final deep breath to attempt to calm my nerves as I wipe my sweaty palms down my jeans. Okay now’s the time to be confident y/n don't freak out .....

There she is sitting with her back against the wall right in between both exits like always. I'd say she's paranoid but with the work she does it's more justifiable. Laswell stands to greet me "Y/n , it's great to see you!" She moves to sit, and I follow. " it's good to see you too Kate, it's been awhile" . Lunch goes by smoothly; it always was easy falling into conversation with her. A red headed waitress with long legs and black trim glasses drops us our check before walking off to tend to her other tables. My eyes follow her as she passes, she's one of those girls who are effortlessly beautiful. Laswell gains my attention again " so your father tells me you are looking for work"

" I am"

"I could use someone I trust"

"Tell me more"

.....

It'd been two weeks since I met with Laswell, and I accepted the job offer. She explained it mainly consist of filing paperwork and doing whatever task ask of me, running errands, and so on. Kate didn't really give me any details of who I'd work for, just that it was four men she trusted with her life and assured me I'd be in good hands. Today's the day I get on a plane and uproot my whole life. I spent every bit of yesterday taking care of last-minute arrangements. I sold my piece of shit Honda to some high school kid . I almost felt bad for taking his money, but I told him of its issues. In a way I'ma miss Johnny. I named my car after a porn star, Johnny Sins. Ha. It still makes me chuckle . My honda wasn't much, but it always got me where I needed to be hints the name. After taking care of my car I went to see my father. He graciously agreed to look after my apartment for me while I was gone. We spent the rest of the evening watching old westerns on TV and saying our goodbyes.

.....

It's only four hours into the flight, and I'm already regretting my decision. I've spent most of the time in the bathroom emptying my stomach while avoiding angry knocks on the door. The taste of bile in my mouth makes me a little less caring about the people outside. Deciding I can't spend the rest of the flight in the bathroom, I pick myself off the floor and do my best to rinse my mouth. Flying has never sat right with me. I like my feet on the ground instead of tempting God. Regardless, I have to tough it out, its not like I can get them to land now. I walk out the restroom, mumbling hushed, apologizes, and take my seat. Just six more hours.. you got this y/n.

[11queensupreme11]

What would Cú Chulainn do if Percy actually DOES fall in love with a mortal when she’s in Midgard

i'm assuming this is about the cheating au, which would mean cú chulainn's a god in this scenario and OHHHHHHHH MY GOD........

pissing off cú chulainn back when he was a demigod was already bad enough (dude was a menace), but when he's an almighty GOD????? that could literally ruin lives with just a single THOUGHT???????

😭😭😭 rip to the mortal man

(i think i might actually write about this way later btw lol)

percy, to her credit, knows damn well that she can NOT get attached to this man she met in midgard, that would put him in danger. so she pines from afar, but let's say she goes back home to valhalla after her lil break. she goes back to her motherly and wifely duties, but cú chulainn, who's become 1000000x more hyper-focused and loving to her then usual since he learned his lesson, starts to notice her attention lingering. she's more distracted than usual.

and so he looks to see where her Sight has been focused on lately!

(and btw, when i say "Sight" with a capital S, i don't mean she's physically looking at something. gods are omniscient to a degree, they can literally see wherever and whatever they want regardless of where they're at. i've explained this several times throughout the fic, but i'm just putting this here in case some forgot cuz its been a while since i brought it up 😅)

so he looks to see where his dear wife's attention has been at and oh. it's towards some mortal man. and she wasn't just gazing down on him, but subtly helping him from afar as well. school debt? gone. hospital bills? gone. that job interview he's been waiting to hear back from? he got the call and he got the job! his little siblings' school is suddenly able to afford free school lunch for all. his parents were given huge bonuses in their salary that could make them eligible for a comfy retirement years early! this man's life and the lives of his family has become nice and safe thanks to cú chulainn's sweet lil wife 💖💖💖

but cú chulainn fucking sees RED. he's seething with jealousy and also the dawning realization that this human man was a threat. because he knows his wife has a soft spot for humanity, that she even preferred their company over her fellow gods. percy's straying affections are a horrible reminder of his own infidelity -- an infidelity that he regrets because it led to his beloved wife temporarily leaving him for a few years. he can't let this man live, can't run the risk of losing percy again.

demigod cú chulainn would've went down to midgard to rip the man to shreds, and then kill him again once his spirit gets to valhalla, and then he'd be done with it.

but as an omnipotent god with unlimited power??? he's so much more crueler than he was as a demigod. if you remember my previous post about what sort of domains i'd give him (here), god of WAR would be one of them.

he doesn't even need to do much. he just needs to think of it and everything falls into place right then and there.

one night, the mortal man falls into a good sleep and when he wakes up the next morning, it's to the news that the US president has declared war with another superpower country. that same day, he'll get a letter in his mail saying he's been drafted. he doesn't have the money to be a draft dodger and he's in peak health, so he doesn't have a choice. he has to leave his family, give up on his career, all to fight in a war he never wanted.

and cú chulainn makes sure this war would be the worst war to ever occur in all of human history. and he makes sure the human lives through every grisly second of it. he exposes him to the worst of the worst, gives him un-ending trauma that he could never recover from. he makes this war drag on for years, decades even, all to make sure that the only thing this man knows is death and pain. he'll make sure to shatter this human's mind, make him a former shell of the man percy once knew and loved. he's going to ruin him for daring to try and steal percy's attention.

he'll make this war drive him to the brink of insanity until he finally kills himself, and even then his agony won't end because cú chulainn's already waiting for him in the afterlife.

[ttobiosgf]

see you later alligator…

there are going to be many parts to this omgggg...

context: you and kageyama were together for well over a year in highschool but you’ve both recently graduated. Kageyama is moving to Tokyo for volleyball but you’re staying in Miyagi to get your degree. You two haven’t decided what you’re supposed to do yet…

warnings: fluff, severe angst, smut, cussing, HEART BREAKING

characters: fem-reader, kageyama tobio, maybe some other vb players

the characters in this story are in COLLEGE!!! they are 18+!!!!!

- about a week after graduation-

I wake up around 10am. my mind racing and my eyes stinging from the thought of what I'm about to do. I'm about to go breakup with Kageyama. My boyfriend of 1 year, 4 months, and 17 days. but who’s counting…

I get out of bed and brush my teeth and get dressed. I try to look presentable but there’s no point. I head off to Kageyamas house on my bike. my heart pounding in my ears the whole way there. “fuck, fuck, fuck” is pretty much the only thing going through my head while i bike to his house. and it doesn't get better once I finally get there...

I get off my bike and practically toss it to the ground as i head to the door. knock knock knock. i stand there practically shaking out of my shoes. i want to die the second my beautiful boyfriend, who i love so fucking much, opens the door.

"babe, we need to talk..." i say as i step into the house of my soon to be ex. "yeah... we do need to talk." Kageyama responds with a voice that makes it seem like he was ready for this conversation.

"we still haven't decided what were gonna do when you leave... We need to talk about it." i speak in a quiet voice. i just want to curl up into a ball and die right there in his foyer of his home. i have my hands at my side, fiddling my fingers on the side of my pants, only able to get out a couple words.

"i think... umm i think..." i keep repeating over and over again. "you think what??? spit it out." Kageyama says, getting impatient with my annoying repetition.

"umm i think we... i think we need to end it." fuck. my eyes are instantly hit with a stinging sensation as i finally spit it out.

Kageyamas eyes pop open when i finally say it "w... what the hell do you mean end it?? do you think we're not gonna work out? just because we're long distance?" he says, losing his cool and calm demeanor. his voice cracking slightly.

"well... i know you aren't a big texter. plus you'll be so busy with volleyball and everything else in Tokyo. you wont have time to waste on me." i say, my head hanging low and my voice cracking, same as his.

he steps closer to me and takes my hand in his, "please baby! we can figure something out. we can make it work. I love you." he was terrified at the idea of being apart from me. he doesn't want to let me go.

"you're going to do amazing things in Tokyo. Kageyama please..."

he runs a hand through his hair, visibly stressed and becoming frustrated at my insistence to breakup, "ill make time for you... i can do facetime calls, and- and i can come back to Miyagi to see you."

tears start pricking my eyes and my voice catches in my throat. "please. its what's best for us. for you" the tears in my eyes finally begin their travel down my face. "i love you so god damn much but, you need to find someone better for you. someone who can be at all of your games and who you don't have to travel to see."

Kageyama cant believe that Id think he could find someone better for him than i am. "i don't want someone else. i want you! i don't give a shit if we're apart, ill still think about you... i wont find anyone else, i don't want anyone else."

"we need to go separate ways, we have different lives to live! I'm so sorry" i grab his face with my hands, "i love you so much Tobio I'm so sorry."

he feels tears finding their way out of his eyes. he pulls me into his chest. his grip on me is so tight it feels like he's trying to make sure i never leave him. he presses his forehead against mine. "Why cant we just try... i don't care about the distance. ill do anything, just please don't give up on us." his voice cracks and i can hear his cries getting caught in his throat. i just continue to cry as he holds me.

"it'll only make it worse if we keep trying. it'll hurt more in the end. Just let me go Tobio... let us go..." he pulls away from me as i say this with almost an emotionless look as tears fall from his chin. "so you just want to break up? that's it?" i nod and he scoffs, "just let me ask you one thing y/n... do you still love me?"

"ill always love you Tobio. ill always be there for you but we need to end." i say with a sob falling from my mouth. he looks at me with anger and hurt in his eyes. "you'll always love me, but you're breaking up with me? that's it? just like that." he tosses his hands up and lets out a pained laugh.

i place my hand on his cheek. i can see his urge to keep arguing but he gives up and leans into my palm. "promise me something y/n... promise that even if we aren't together, you'll never get over me. I don't care if you don't want us to be together but dear god please promise you wont find anyone else..."

"i promise..."

-i eventually leave. after many tears, hugs, and "i love you's , and a bitter "good bye".-

four days later, its the day Kageyama is set to leave for Tokyo. i drag myself out of bed and head to the train station to send him off.

i see Kageyama standing at the platform. his eyes slightly red and puffy, same as mine. As i walk up to him he gives me a nod, i can tell he doesn't trust his own voice.

"the train will be here soon, wont it?" i say. he nods and doesn't bother looking at me, he just stares straight ahead at the tracks waiting for the train to arrive. The air is tense between us, it feels heavy, like a rock hanging over us.

"Tobio, talk to me before you leave... please talk to me." he doesn't look down but he eventually responds, "about what? i don't know what to say..."

i cup his face with my hand forcing him to look at me. "don't leave me without saying goodbye." he remains silent but his face tells me everything. I love you y/n, you're the only one i want. i don't want to leave you.

i pull him into a hug as a response to his silent words. "text me when you get there okay? and text me every once in a while and tell me how you're doing?" he listens and says nothing. the tears well up in my eyes again, fuck.

his grip on me tightens and he buries his face in my hair. "i will... ill text you. and call you when i get to my apartment..." he sniffles, "and ill text you everyday. Ill call you every chance i get... ill send you pictures and ill tell you what everything is like..."

i feel the tears become too heavy for my eyes to carry, "text me when you make a new friend. text me when you eat a good meal or when you find a good song. just text me..." just as i finish speaking the train enters the station. "i love you Tobio..."

he lets go of me and looks down at me, "i love you... i love you so so much..." he grabs my face and kisses me.

i close my eyes and just feel his lips on mine. i want to fall into him and stay with him till i die, but he has a train to catch. the train doors open

"good bye Tobio..." he walks towards the train doors and turns back to me once he steps on with his luggage.

"good bye... y/n..." the doors close and the train begins to move. i wave as it slowly moves.

"i love you." i say, knowing he cant hear me.

[ladyohdeath]

rant incoming under the cut, because i don't have a diary or a therapist and i don't know how to open up to people irl.

i am really struggling with going back to work because it feels, irrationally, like failure.

when i started film school -- over 10 years ago now -- i had so many chances. i had so much work i was ready to do, and i was down in the city, i was ready to move forward. but i was scared. i didn't move out of my mom's house because i let her hold on me get tighter. i let her rely on me. i got a full time job to pay her bills and to try and fund my dreams. i fell into the worst mental and physical health i've ever been in. for the next ten years, i worked every single day, and in 2020 i got diagnosed with pcos and other illnesses that made me so sick.

this year i got really bad. my job got so bad that i almost had a heart attack, i had to be rushed to the hospital. i was fainting almost every day from stress. my mental health was so bad that i would have a meltdown every day. it was so goddamn bad. and throughout all of that, my career was totally gone. i didn't have anymore connections. i stopped going on film sets. i became forgotten

then i got laid off, and i thought to myself, this is my chance. i can write, i can get to work, i can try and get back in. but god i have spent the past 9 months trying to deal with myself again. trying to figure out how to be alive. trying to catch up on a decade of burn out and letting my body recover.

and i've been writing yeah but nothing is fully complete. i haven't had the chance, the skill, nor the money to pursue the mentorships i wanted to pursue. now it's november, my unemployment is about to run out, and i got a job interview at a job that'll pay well, but i feel myself failing

my biggest fear in life is working a 9-5, becoming like my mother, and working for no money, having kids and dying without being happy. i don't have a college degree because i went to film school. i put all my cards into film and then i stopped doing it. every time i take a new 9-5 job i feel myself falling into my biggest fears. i don't want that for my life. but i feel like i'm in a rut and can't get out

all i can do now is continue to write, work for money, and attend as many networking things as i can on the side. maybe, if i'm lucky, 2025 is my year and i will finally get back on set. maybe i can do it. breaking into this industry is not easy, especially not after a ten year break. and i know it'll be ten times harder to do it with a 9-5 job but... i have no choice. i have to pay the bills

idk. i'm just disheartened. and i have so many regrets in life already and i'm not even 30 yet. i wish i could go back in time and tell younger me to take risks, to leave home, to chase my dreams and not fall victim to my mental health. but i never did and now i'm going to have to fucking claw my way back like a feral cat. and i don't know if my claws are sharp enough anymore.

[1000-year-old-virgin]

203 Best Songs of 2023

Janine - If I Call *FAVE SONG OF THE YEAR*

Kim Petras - Brrr

Sam Smith, Koffee, Jessie Reyez - Gimme

ILIRA - Work of Art

Joseph - Nervous System

Mariah the Scientist ft. 21 Savage - 77 degrees

PinkPantheress & Ice Spice – Boy's a liar Pt. 2

Ryan Destiny - Lie Like That

Latto ft. LU KALA - Lottery

Chrissy Chlapecka - I'm So Hot

Ashnikko - Don't Look at It

serpentwithfeet - Gonna Go

Don Toliver ft. Lil Durk & GloRilla- Leave The Club

Don Toliver ft. James Blake - Let Her Go

Miley Cyrus - Flowers

Miley Cyrus - River

Meghan Trainor - Mother

Ice Spice & Nicki Minaj - Princess Diana (Remix)

Melanie Martinez - DEATH

Natalie Jane - Seeing You With Other Girls

Amelia Moore feat. jxdn - FUMD

Ashnikko - You Make Me Sick!

Flo Milli ft. Lola Brooke & Maiya The Don - Conceited (Remix)

Flo Milli ft. Monaleo & Gloss Up - Bed Time (Remix)

Astrid S - Come First

Ashnikko - Want It All

salem ilese - PainHub

Libianca ft. Ayra Starr & Omah Lay - People (Remix)

Labrinth ft. Billie Eilish - Never Felt So Alone

Katie Belle - The Best You'll Ever Have

Emilie Nicolas - Everyday

Donna Missal - Flicker

Donna Missal - Out of Me

Donna Missal - Move Me

Donna Missal - God Complex

Donna Missal - I Saw God

LØLØ ft. girlfriends- 5,6,7,8

Jackson Wang & Ciara - Slow

Troye Sivan - Can't Go Back, Baby

Baby Tate & Saweetie - Hey, Mickey! (Remix)

Shania Twain - Number One

Shania Twain - Got It Good

Empress Of ft. Rina Sawayama - Kiss Me

NLE Choppa ft. SexyyRed / Sukihana - Slut Me Out (Remix)

Maggie Lindemann, Siiickbrain - deprecating

Ed Sheeran - The Hills of Aberfeldy

Rita Ora ft. Fatboy Slim Praising You (Fatboy Slim Remix)

Tyla & Ayra Starr - Girl Next Door

Kesha - Only Love Can Save Us Now

Ciara ft. Lola Brooke & Lady London - Da Girls (Girls Mix)

Jeremy Zucker - OK

CXLOE - Flight Risk

Josh Levi - See Low

Josh Levi - BIRTHDAY DANCE

Alex Vaughn & Summer Walker - So Be It (Remix)

Alex Vaughn & Ari Lennox - Demon Time (Remix)

Taylor Swift ft. Ice Spice - Karma (Remix)

Taylor Swift ft. Lana Del Rey - Snow On The Beach (More Lana Del Rey Edit)

Boris The Lucid - BOYFRIEND

Carrie Underwood - Take Me Out

Libianca - Jah

Conan Gray - Never Ending Song

The Aces - Always Get This Way

Madison Beer ft. Timbaland - Home To Another One (Remix)

Äyanna - Girlfriend

Nicki Minaj & Ice Spice ft. Aqua – Barbie World

Rita Ora - That Girl

Rita Ora - Unfeel It

Tanerelle - Feel Good Inc. X Sidetracked (Perfect Lover Mash Up)

Sleater-Kinney - Hell

Saweetie ft. YG & Tyga - BIRTHDAY

Mae Stephens ft. Meghan Trainor - Mr Right

Brooke Candy - FMUATW

Ben Kessler - When I Hate Myself

Eliott ft. Vancouver Sleep Clinic - Happy On My Own

Reneé Rapp - Pretty Girls

Leah Kate - Bored

Chappell Roan - HOT TO GO!

Rina Sawayama ft. Amaarae - Imagining

GAYLE - Leave Me For Dead

Selena Gomez - Single Soon

Äyanna - Change Your Life

Julia Wolf - Wishbone

Cloudy June - Devil Is A Woman

Anne-Marie ft. Shania Twain - UNHEALTHY

Leaf ft. Bandmanrill, DJ Drewski - 2 Freaky

Olivia O'Brien - I should've fucked your brother

SIIICKBRAIN - Psychopath

Adekunle Gold - Do You Mind?

Duncan Laurence - I Do

Dizzy - Open Up Wide

Leigh-Anne ft. Ayra Starr - My Love

Troye Sivan – Got Me Started

Cate - Girlfriend

NERIAH - Falling 4 Somebody

Cardi B ft. Megan Thee Stallion - Bongos

Amelia Moore - Over My Ex

Johnny Orlando - Boyfriend

Tyla - Water

Tems - Me & U

Mette - Mama's Eyes

Wrabel - Beautiful Day

Chxrry22 - MORE

Norah Jones - Can You Believe

Kanii ft. Trippie Redd - sins (let me in) [Remix]

Niall Horan & Lizzy McAlpine - You Could Start A Cult (Encore Version)

Travis Scott ft. Beyoncé - DELRESTO (ECHOES)

Addison Rae ft. Charli XCX - 2 Die 4

Gyakie - Rent Free

Kim Petras - Hit It From The Back

Kim Petras ft. Banks - Bait

Kim Petras - Dirty Things

K. Michelle - Blame Yourself

Sunnitharapper ft. Salma Slims - Moody

Troye Sivan - One of Your Girls

Lady London ft. Jeremih - Do Something

Zara Larsson, David Guetta - On My Love

cassö, RAYE, D-Block Europe - Prada

Serpentwithfeet- Damn Gloves

Dove Cameron - Still

Kenya Grace - Paris

Dua Lipa - Houdini

Tokischa ft. Sexyy Red - Daddy

Zach Seabaugh - Helium Balloons

COBRAH - 10/10

COBRAH - BAD POSITION

COBRAH - TEQUILA

Clinton Kane - PANIC ATTACK

Megan Thee Stallion - Cobra

Nick Wilson - For You It Was Him

Nick Wilson - Way Back

Ice Spice - Deli

Enchanting - Needy

SZA - Kill Bill

Kylie Minogue - Padam Padam

Summer Walker - Girls Need Love (Girls Mix) ft. Tyla / Victoria Monet / Tink

Tate McRae - exes

Tove Lo - I like u

Kim Petras - Je T'Adore

Doechii - Booty Drop

Kim Petras - Claws

Sam Smith & Madonna - VULGAR

Kim Petras - uhoh

Borgore x Cupcakke x Chase Icon - Abracadabra

Clinton Kane - DISAPPEAR

Nicki Minaj - Big Difference

Nicki Minaj - Pink Friday Girls

Charli XCX ft. Sam Smith - In The City

Reneé Rapp ft. Megan Thee Stallion - Not My Fault

Flo Milli - Never Lose Me

Kim Petras - Thousand Pieces

Kim Petras - Minute

Charli XCX - Speed Drive (jamesjamesjames Remix)

Chrissy Chlapecka - BRAT

The Last Dinner Party - My Lady of Mercy

Shania Twain - Waking Up Dreaming

Nicki Minaj - Fallin 4 U

Jessie Ware ft. Pabllo Vittar -Pearls (Brabo Remix)

Shania Twain - Queen Of Me

Chiké, Oxlade - Spell [Remix]

Anycia - REFUND

Lah Pat ft. Flo Milli - Rodeo (Remix)

Biig Piig - This Is What They Meant

Niall Horan - Save My Life

Bronze Avery - Sex In The Room

Ava Max - Cold As Ice

Peach PRC - F U Goodbye

Suzanne Sheer - Off Limits

Nicki Minaj - FTCU

Madison Rose - Girls Girls Girls

Kaliii ft. GloRilla - Can't Get 'Em

BIA - FALLBACK

Miley Cyrus - Jaded

Kylie Minogue - You Still Get Me High

Miley Cyrus - Violet Chemistry

Miley Cyrus ft. Sia - Muddy Feet

Bebe Rexha - Visions (Don't Go)

Coi Leray - My Body

Coi Leray ft. Saucy Santana - Spend It

Maiya The Don - Luv U Better

The Last Dinner Party - Nothing Matters

IDK ft. Jucee Froot & Saucy Santana - Pinot Noir

Tinashe - Uh Huh

Nicki Minaj - Beep Beep

Nicki Minaj - Pink Birthday

Bella Poarch - Bad Boy

Nicki Minaj - My Life

Trippie Redd & BANKS - Saint Michael Myers

Tamera - Frozen

Shygirl & CoSha - Thicc

Ari Lennox - Get Close

Flo Milli - Fruit Loop

Mette - For The People

Amaarae - Angels in Tibet

Jamila Woods ft. Saba - Practice

Rachel Chinouriri - Maybe I’m Lonely

Jonah Kagen - Save My Soul

The OMG Girlz - Lover Boy

Karin Ann - A Stranger With My Face

Victoria Monet - Alright

Paige - Aquarian

Jack Harlow - Lovin On Me

KenTheMan - Mean B*tch

2022's List

[archivus]

MAG[REDACTED] - Double or Nothing

tw: non-descriptive mention of suicide and cults

*tape clicks on*

- I HAVE NOTHING TO SAY TO YOU

- Sam, you know exactly why I'm here

- And why exactly would I tell you how I ended up here? You've got your own god serving you its powers on a silver plate and you still serve a different one- why would I talk to a traitor like you?

- Because I *know* you're no different

- NO DIFFERENT? HOW DARE YOU COMPARE US, YOU TWO FACED DISGRACE! I joined the Falling Titan's reign for the man I loved and as soon as the waves took him I changed sides. The difference between us is that I left. I didn't serve two powers at once. I didn't sell out like that.

- And your heartbreak as well as you leaving one entity sent you plummeting into the arms of another one...

- Do you really think I became like this over some breakup? You should know damn well that serving an entity requires stamina, effort and reassurance. I didn't just have a small depressive episode and stuck with The Lonely, I was destined and I finally arrived, I could feel it.

- Would you mind going into greater detail?

- You're just as ceaseless as your master, so fuck it. I need this off my shoulders. Go do your thing, and once it's over get the hell out of my sight

- Got it. Statement of Samuel Bolt, regarding the story of how he obtained his powers. Recorded from subject 2024 May 6th, archivist present: Arcturus Walker. Statement begins:

- I've had it rough since forever. I can't remember my childhood and it's probably for the better. I couldn't figure myself out. Depending on the circumstances I was always someone else. At home I was chatty, couldn't shut up about whatever caught my fancy back then, but once around people I knew it was a total blackout. I never said a word, almost to a comedic degree and around strangers once more it was like I transformed, I was brave and, perhaps not a leader but still, assertive in conversations.

And I got *respect*. Something I didn't get at home nor from those who were supposed to be my friends. So I craved talking to strangers, I frequented parties, beaches, conventions for trivial topics I wouldn't think about twice but it worked. People appreciated my attitude, were acting just how I wished they all did. In retrospect that is, as I actually hated approaching strangers. I found myself in this paradox, either I couldn't express myself or I had to do so around *people*. And how I hate people. Always did, that never changed. And the burnout, that damned exhaustion, I was living my daily life on battery saver to have enough energy for all that self fulfillment later. But now I can be myself, the fog listens, the empty houses are there for me to wander, to explore the perverted lives of those that never lived there, not really. It's amazing. I'm all alone, happier than ever. No need to fight against stupid amatonormativity, I never even wanted a spouse. I had one crush in my life and look where that lead me, to an entity that couldn't keep me around for a year. Heh, pathetic.

Serving your *better* god did me no good, I got way too existential for my own right. Now don't get me wrong, I love a good philosophical crisis every now and again, but it felt like the sky was peering down at me, my own insignificance took a toll and at that point I once again felt that need to prove myself to make it worthwhile. The others in the cult? Oh they bathed in the light, enlightened about their own meaninglessness they fully gave in to nihility. But I couldn't. It didn't feel right. Call me another stupid human, well I'm not even that anymore I suppose, but I needed purpose. And that was to be myself, with myself, without the whole entire universe towering over me.

- Huh, how did you find the Forsaken? What did it take for you to join and embrace it?

- To find it? I kinda always felt it was out there, the tranquility of isolation lifted my spirit, I could tell there was something otherworldly behind it. From the two of us you were always the one reluctant to spirituality and look where that lead you!

- To be fair, neither of us would have guessed the ones overlooking our world were born not of perfection but of fear-

- Mr. fancypants coming at me with that poetic language, oh please. Your little ego was stroked, because the way those scientific videos you always watched about our universe altered your brain chemistry, were just a step away from what one of those entities stood for. I still remember how full of joy you were reading your first Leitner, still not believing a word that text said but you just related so close to it, it was like someone read you. You chose a path and didn't even knew what you signed up for. Hell, neither of us did, I'll give you that. And I don't know what it took for you to be able to throw people into the sky, but the Lonely took nothing from me. Hear that? Nothing. Not until I gave it what I thought it deserved. It never drove me to do this, it calmed my mind when I most needed it, making every moment of peace last forever. I'm not saying it was easy serving it you know, I'm sure you can't relate but I'm plagued with guilt for every bypasser I sent into the fog. But it never made me feel like I needed to be different to align with it. I could join its grace without changing a thing, even carrying all that guilt. It allowed me to keep that part of my humanity. That's why I did it. Neither you nor your polycule of gods deserve the details-

- The Sam I knew would've never worn turtlenecks. I can guess the rest, thank you very much

- ...So am I free to go then, *officer*?

- Did it seem like I forced you to stay?

- Is that a rhetorical question? Get outta here, you bastard *tape clicks off*

Thank you so much for reading this episode of MAG[REDACTED] which was dedicated to The Lonely! I have an important announcement to make: I am an author for @magnusforgaza, please check them out and donate to the charities if you can! You can also request me to be your artist for any tier 1 commission!

You can read the rest of the episodes here: The Flesh The Vast The Stranger The Dark

Or here: #magredacted

[meraki-yao]

God, he must be so overwhelmed being in that huge city far from home and alone. I know he's a grown man and he is working but it's always better to have someone close on these long and tiring journeys 🥹

See, I kind of have a little more complicated perspective on his trip to China

Taylor travels a lot (I think in September we saw him in Australia, New York, London and Spain?) and I think he mentioned he loves doing so, so to some degree I think travelling comes easier to him

But China is different from all the other places we've recently seen him travel to. I have some authority to say this as 1, I am Chinese (ethnicity-wise, I am living in Hong Kong), and used to visit family in the mainland (geopolitics are weird) at least once a year 2, I check on the RWRB Chinese fandom from time to time (still mostly here, I consider myself to be a western RWRB fan, being a Hong Konger is weird and fun in that regard) 3, racial micro-aggressions and colourism is a common issue in China that everyone just goes with (I am mad about that) 4, I know Chinese celebrity culture and how different it is from Western celebrity culture. I was so anxious for him the moment he landed at Shanghai airport because I was worried the different perception of both his race and him as a celebrity/him as Alex would hurt him in some way. I kid you not, I was worried the whole time, even if I know he's a grown man and there's functionally nothing I can do.

In a way it did and it didn't, I guess? There were a couple of issues that I personally had with the GQ event, but those are more my subjective opinions. And there was an incident two days ago that I cannot for the life of me find a reliable retelling, so take it with a pinch of salt, but what happened was there was an... art event? That Taylor attended at a restaurant? I think he co-designed something, either a plaque or a shirt. It was a private event, but one of the guests leaked the invite online, so people knew he was going there at what time, and then a crowd gathered at the restaurant and even though it was relatively peaceful and police were there to keep them in order, it's still a crowd in front of a restaurant. They didn't get to meet him, he had to leave through a back door, and later on Little Red Book said he had a change of plans. Again there are like, two contradicting narratives I could find and I pieced this together to the best of my ability, so please take it with a pinch of salt. However, I will say the whole gathering at a place where a celebrity would potentially show up is the norm in China. It's not good, it will cause inconvenience, but it is how it is.

But on the other hand, on the day of the GQ event when we saw him on the boat and everything, people were showing him so much love. People were shouting "Welcome to China" from the bridges, some people took the day off just to travel to the venue to see him, and a lot of them prepared gifts and cards for him. I heard some really fucking awful Twitter drama was happening to him at the same time (and no I don't want to hear about it) so it was relieving in a way to see him get so much love in real life. And Taylor was incredibly sweet, signing books and photos and phone cases. This would never happen with Chinese celebrities (because everything is monetized), especially with firstprince or TayNick photos. (because even shipping and RPS shipping is monetized! It's so fucked and I'm mad about it!)

I am still concerned with just how much work he had and how tight his schedule was (on the 7th he changed into 5 outfits, did a photoshoot in the morning in the black blazer, photoshoot and meeting with fans in the afternoon in the casual set, early dinner party and blue carpet in the white suit, water carpet and red carpet in the brown suit, then dinner party in the lilac suit, what the fuck, especially when apparently no other guest had this tight a schedule) and I was extra concerned when he said in the live stream that he came alone (I already suspected that when he arrived at the airport and the police were keeping order instead of private security) and I kind of think the whole trip could have been better organized or done in a way less demanding for him

But with that being said, I am incredibly proud of him and grateful for him for coming to China and doing all these events. It feels like a step. And I completely admire him for going through all of this in such a different, foreign environment on his own. As much as seeing the boys and RWRB content makes me happy (and frankly, helping my shitty mental health), I do hope he has a good rest when he gets back. I think this trip took a toll on him even if he (hopefully) enjoyed it.

Chinese RWRB fans are joking that as much as they want Nick to visit as well, with how intense Taylor's schedule turned out and how introverted and tired Nick is, he'd be "swimming back in England" after a day 🤣

[hidden-poet]

Bestieee I finally (after 3 years) read Professor Snow… and my god I did not know I needed a Professor Snow fic this bad 😌

I have to say… this Coryo seems like the most normal one 😂

I felt so bad for the reader. She is so sweet and I just wanted to give her the biggest hug every time he was mean to her and failed her on purpose 😭

He would catch a young boy staring at her occasionally, innocently or not, and would proceed to make an example out of him. - our jelly jelly boy!

He watched her face as it sagged when she received her first fail - awe poor girl 😭

“Yes, honey?” - honey? MY GOD 🥵

“What about this deserves a higher grade?” - damn bro 😒

“No. Hobbes and Rousseau met the criteria and you copied them. Philosophers I taught about in this class, so I have very little interest in re-reading them in your poor and clunky paraphrasing.” - HE’S SO CRUEL TO HER 😭

HOW HE CALLS HER SWEETHEART 🥵

And now he’s going to tutor us? Sign me up daddy cause i want to get fucked against his desk 🫠

Bro him tutoring her… i be so nervous around him cause i'm dumb as fuck 😂

“Very good, angel,” he praised and she glowed under him. - i can’t with these nicknames 🤤 please send help!

OMG FEED ME PLEASE 🔥 girl when he offers you food… YOU TAKE IT!

He imagined her in his home pregnant. - i too! I would gladly bear all his children 🫠

Not his whole day and mood getting ruined by another guy talking to her 😂

He barked at everyone to sit down, and the other student, who Coriolanus never bothered to learn the name of - i died of laughter at this 😂

He spoke too fast for her to finish taking notes, leaving her to try to absorb information as much as she could. - my god he’s so PETTY 🤦‍♀️

“Is my class a joke to you?” - no daddy… i- i

“Then perhaps you can tell me why after hours of wasting my time with you, you still manage to hand in something I can barely read, let alone pass?” - he’s so mean i swear if it was me i would cry on the spot 😭

“Maybe if you spent less time flirting and more time studying I could have my nights back.” - 😑😑😑

“Well?” He snaps. “Say thank you. I shouldn’t be giving you another chance.” - “What? Speak up,” he pushes. - “Go,” he flicks his hand towards the door and she rushes out. - the way i gasped and was turned on at the same time 😳

Bro he’s actually so delulu with her tho. Poor girl, she’s probably so confused too with his behavior 😂

If the other student had walked any faster, Coriolanus would have thrown open her car door and yanked her out. - oh lord this is way too hot for me too handle right now 🥵

~

I feel so bad for the her guy friend 😭 he was so mean to him too because he’s so fucking petty 🙄

“Shut up,” he spat. - “You fucking slut.” - the way I immediately changed my panties after these two lines…

“Where do you think you’re going?” - running away cause i’ll know you’ll catch me and take me back to your apartment and make me your wife and make me bear your children 😃

“Get out of the car,” he demands, - make me, daddy 🫠

“You are so fucking dumb, you know that? I’ve never seen anymore more undeserving of a place at the University than you.” - ohhh now it’s my third time changing my panties…

I love how he kidnapped us and kept us prisoner in his home. God do I love being his property 🤤

“I told you, I wasn't flirting with him!” - “Me, you dumb girl.” - call me a dumb girl again…

~

It was so cute how she was crying because she couldn't get the greenhouse door open 😂

Wow he really thought this plan through with her and her family and school, didn't he? This man continues to surprise me every time!

BESTIEEEE I loved this one-shot so much. I’m not really into student/teacher dynamics but this is Coriolanus Snow so it’s different 😂 and... HOT!

Also… HUGE congrats on finishing and getting your degree, bestie 🩷you must be so relieved! I hope you’re doing well and taking care of yourself first 🩷 can’t wait to see you in the next one! love youuuu

BESTIE! Hello!

Can’t believe he seems normal compared to the rest 😭😭

I am also not into the teacher/student dynamic. I never read them so I don’t know where this one come from.

He would be such a hot teacher through 😍

Thank you! Law is no joke and I am so grateful that my degree is over after 6 years. But more to go and then I will be a lawyer!

See you soooooon. Love you ❤️

[blucassiopeia]

i really love your Dangerous piece! that i started stalking you and your works. but can i request a piece about the song Rewrite the Stars like how you did to Vanilla Twilight?

i won't mind if it's connected to your fic/s or anything. ☺

🤩 love this! i have just the right plot!

warnings: angst angst angst, cheating, complicated Osamu, mentions of suicide and deaths, pining, may be boring for you butー🙈

wc: 1.6k

Ω.

"cake?"

you nodded at your husband as he reached out for that layer of cake at the middle of the round reception table. you don't think you can keep it down tho. your head's swimming right now, eyes unfocused and glossy. glad Atsumu's not talking about it, if ever he had noticed.

at the swarm of guests in the reception, your sight seemed to make a beeline to someone you never expected to marry. and he's staring back at you with wide wary eyes.

the whole scene was unexpected, the past week was full of bombs you never anticipated, he never anticipated. a shotgun wedding because of some overly reserved culture, a wedding to mask the shame he did infront of the bride's parents not even less a month ago.

you sighed, resigned at the ridiculous fate of your husband's twin and readily averted your gaze from him, already smiling at Atsumu and his new plate of cake.

"thanks, love."

four months passed by like a fork scraping on metal and one morning you found yourself naked and blanketed and alone on Osamu's marital bed. your head is throbbing so hard, breath labored as panic washed over you. within minutes, you were ready to leave their household. Atsumu and Osamu's wife are all you could think of at the moment.

then you saw her, carrying a supposed to be breakfast in bed, and awkwardly smiling at you.

"hi. you're up already. Osamu's just taking a bath." she squeaked.

your eyes glossed at the unexpected encounter with her, panic reaching to your brim. how could she be soー

"she won't tell Atsumu."

Osamu's arms wrapped around your hips, his chest flushed on your back as he softly gave your shoulder kisses. in front of his wife. you saw how she forlornly smiled as her eyes were glued on Osamu's arms around you.

"breakfast before she go, 'SaーOsamu."

"of course."

"no. i'm going home. thank you."

you forcefully squirmed away Osamu and stomped through their door, so sudden that he took a minute to process and he's out of their apartment on your heels, leaving his wife clutching her chest unbeknownst to both of you.

"let's stop this, 'Samu. please." you begged Osamu two nights after that incident with his wife.

"don't you love me anymore?"

oh god, i still do. i do.

"i don't."

"you were mine first."

"but he's my husband now. he's the one that i love now. and he's your twin, for god's sake Osamu. are you really out of your mind? can't you not see your wife hurting because of yourー"

"no. i'm not letting you go."

but to Osamu's horror, you snipped out all means of communications with him. it was hard because how it'll be possible if Atsumu and Osamu are on the same circle, on the same family. but you tried your hardest. and you have seen him getting restless.

and his wife giving you pleading glances.

why is she pleading you to cheat with her husband? when clearly, she's fucking hurting. she has consented, but you can't stomach it. Atsumu and she deserves so much better partners. and you'll be that better one for Atsumu. even if it'll kill you.

then came a day that all of that went 180°. Atsumu started to notice how Osamu and his longing gazes rest on you and your husband would linger his eyes on you on nights, full of question.

his question came past one night, "do you somehow want me to break this relationship up?"

to your horror, eyes wide, you sat up and took a good look at him before you whispered, "no. no Atsumu. why would you ask that?" you cupped his cheeks now wet with his rolling tears. it broke your heart to a certain degree. "why would you ask that?"

you came in terms with him after that night, but his relationship with his brother got dented. you blamed yourself as your attention was on Osamu and how he's treating his wife. he's getting worse everyday. how can he do that to her? is he really like that?

no. he's not like that. he's just like that because she's not you. Osamu's blaming her for everything bad happening to him, from his family to you.

god, what an asshole. and to think you love that asshole.

"you love Atsumu, huh?"

"with all my heart, Osamu. with all of my heart. so please."

"okay."

that sneaky afternoon, he walked out from you for the first time, and you let him. you have to let him.

that was hours before something horrifying happened.

his wife died, and she was pregnant. his wife died without him by her side. his wife died, never knowing how Osamu cried for her, how he's realizing he loves her.

"i regretted ever blinding myself because of my love for you that i didn't notice her. i regretted ever loving you. because of you, i lost them."

you smiled at him, Atsumu not far and listening, letting you take the wheel.

"no Osamu. you lost them because you were selfish and indifferent. keep that in mind."

and his words burned you and it'll always will, for times to come.

i.

he was avoiding you for all the time you've been with his brother. does he remember? what was happening anyway? why's everything happening again?

no. not happening again.

so, you also avoided him with all your might.

acted like magnets with the same polar properties, repelling.

and you can't help but to watch him ruin everything for both him and his ex-wife, roping her new husband in the process.

you heard him muttered under his breath his apologies and his newfound motivation. and it broke you, because it's all for someone that's not you. and this is fine. this is fine.

ii.

it's different now.

he'sー

invigorated. to give his ex-wife the happiness she deserves. all along. and he'll continue to give her everything. until he's exhausted.

and he'll never be. you know it deep in your bones.

the way he looks at her while pretending to be her bestfriend? it's different from the way he looks at you.

so you close your eyes. you don't have to be a masochist.

iii.

how long has it been from when he last talked to you like how he did so long ago?

you can feel Atsumu's arms on your waist, his slow breathing as he slumbers. but your mind's not there. it's on some apartment far downtown, with Osamu crying because he can't bottle up his emotions anymore. his ex-wife is getting married again to her soulmate.

your heart wants to hug him, but it's not right. and he doesn't want you there.

i regretted ever loving you.

you swallowed hard.

iv.

again.

close your eyes.

v.

yn be strong. you can get through this.

it's going to be okay.

he'll be okay.

focus on Atsumu.

vi.

you have seen him so devastated when his ex-wife committed suicide after the freakest incident these cycles had offered Osamu.

and you lost Atsumu, too.

you wanna run to him. but it's not too easy.

it'll waste everything he had worked for. for the love of his life.

six cycles ago, that was you.

when will this end?

vii.

something's different with him. he's.. hitting on you. and you hoped it was it.

but no.

he's trying to change the situations. trying new paths to get a new ending. but you're close to breaking.

"stop what you're doing, Osamu."

he was.. fuck. damn you, Osamu.

"not doing anything like that."

for over seven cycles, he's at it again. is he not afraid?

but there it was. even if it's just a glimmer, there's something else in his eyes. but Atsumu.. you can't sacrifice Atsumu.

you're afraid that he's just doing this for his love. and not for you.

of course. it's not for you. he has someone else now. and he's going through and against space and time to give everything to her. you're.. jealous. but she deserves all of it.

so close your eyes again, yn.

viii.

but when he tried his chance again on you, so early down the line, you gave in. but you didn't expect much. he's still inlove with her. he'll forever be. you smiled bitterly as you rode his train.

"i love you."

you teared up at how he said it, so sincere and believable. and you wanna believe him. you badly want to believe him. coz this was all you ever wanted. all you ever dreamt of, happening in front of your eyes.

"i love you too, 'Samu."

"i'm yours."

you laughed lightly. how could he say that? after this cycle, he'll have his happy ending with his forever love. after this, he'll come back to her like you never happened. and you'll go back to Atsumu, just like before. you just aren't meant to be, in any of these cycles. eventhough you longed for him for so long.

he maybe thought you were already asleep in his chest. he maybe thought that you'll never hear.

"i'm giving up on her. i'll take responsibility now. i have roped all of you to these crazy cycles and i'm sorry. i'm sorry for being selfish, yn. i pray there wont be any other cycle. i pray this would be the last. i'm done seeing you longing for me. i'm so sorry. i love you."

but you're not giving up on his happiness too.

so you wished for him instead.

α.

because this is what is supposed to be.

that only cycle is enough for you to survive. everything will keep you and Osamu apart anyway so you'll treasure that previous cycle with all of your heart. where you were on edge, but you're happy. because you are with him.

now, you just have to drink to the fact that it's not Osamu, in any universe. and you'll forever suffer from it, for as long as you'll remember.

and he'll never know.

"i love you, Osamu. be happy now."

you whispered infront of the shrine that started it all.

cassie 2023.

[formulapookie]

Okay, so idk if youve answered this before but what is your headcanon about how mignelli get together? Because i feel like many people say they took super long to ask the other out which makes sense. But. Just wanted to ask for your take on that

Btw, your mignelly fics are 🔥, i come back to them every other week because they are soooooo good ❤️

I haven't answered this yet and honestly uuuu I have so many ideas about them

I often see them as the "historic" couple, the one which no one really knows WHEN/HOW they got together simply because it has always seemed like they were always together.

I do see the two of them taking long to ask out the other, and maybe choosing to ask at the same moment and ending up going bright red the second before and then laughing like idiots the second after.

BUT as many knows I'm a SUCKER for complicating things or making them angsty, sooo why shouldn't I apply it to this perfectly healthy couple? >:3

In my mind Franco was with someone else before Mig, someone uhm a BIT older, to cut it short with Paso. And Mig and Paso are related (something like second/third degree cousins). Mig too had someone before, and this is where I get a bit eviler, Fenati. You'll ask yourself WHY Mig should be with someone who's so much of a dickhead (check here to know what I'm talking about) well the reason is Fenati is nice to him. But only to him. And with time Mig gets that, and he manages to leave him, even if it's difficult because it STILL is the first proper relationship he has.

Meanwhile Franco and Paso I see them simply parting ways, they get they're not really made for each other and it ends there.

And Mig and Franco are close friends the whole time, and mayyyybe Mig realizes his feelings first, but Franco seems completely oblivious, even if he's actually developing feelings as well.

So yeah, both too scared, one evening at the Ranch they're outside just chilling and chatting and Mig works up the courage to ask.

"Franco do you want to go out with me?" "Uh yeah of course where?" and Mig proposes Franco's favorite place, not necessarily where to eat, just a place Franco loves, maybe a particular spot outside Tavullia, or nearby, something he likes, and obviously Franco agrees, but he's dumb, and he didn't ACTUALLY understood what Mig meant by "going out", and Mig knows

"no franco I mean like going out" "eh what do we do usually? lock ourselves at home?" "Franco my God I mean going out for real, not as friends. I'm asking you out on a date"

and there's this middle-of-july kind of silence with crikets in the distance and the smell of the sun still on the skin and Mig thinks he's fucked up because Franco is staring at him saying nothing and he's so so scared he did something wrong, that he damaged their friendship, that Franco is never gonna talk to him again.

and while he thinks that Franco is trying to understand if he's heard correctly.

"Like - like a date date?" and Mig is immediately pulled back to reality "How many meanings of 'date' can you think of, yes an actual date, a romantic one" "So you like me?" "Franco I don't ask people I don't like out on dates, I barely ask those I like" "Ok let me grab the keys to my bike, stay here" "Wait so it's a yes? you want to?" "YES OF COURSE"

and they go to their place and enjoy some takeout food and talk and Mig rests his head on Franco's shoulder and once they're finished eating it's obvious tension, because they both want to kiss the other but they feel like teenagers who can't do it

So this time it's Franco who acts first, and kisses Mig, softly, it's obviously a kiss coming from his heart, he's putting his feelings into it, and they stay like that for a long time, just kissing and maybe yeah hands in hair and then Mig breaks away because he' not one to do occasional or unlabelled

so they talk a bit again, and Mig goes straight to the point, he wants a relationship, if they go out it's because they're dating, he wants to be with him, no compromises. And Franco does too so they just agree because they both want it and stay there another few hours and during the ride back they're both smiling like idiots :)

OK SO THIS IS BASICALLY A FIC IT'S LONG

but yeah I love them dearly sooooo it makes sense

:3333 hope you like my idea and thanks for the compliments I think mignelli fics are some of the best written I have

<3333333

[croissantlover24]

Humans are fragile creatures. Sure, their backs bend. Their necks turn. Their arms stretch. But to a limit. A very easy-to-break limit.

Oh my god Moon...

It wasn't Moon's fault he didn't realize they had a limit! He could turn his neck 360 degrees. He can bend his back all the way backwards. He could stretch out his arms and pop them back in with ease. So why couldn't they?

Moon you are a scientist how do you not KNow that????

It was an accident the first time. He didn't mean to snap that civilian's neck, but she shouldn't have been screaming at him like that in the first place!

Oh my god....

That's when the blood came out, and he gained a new infatuation. He had never seen anything so red. Anything such a pure, sanguineous hue. He had felt like he was staring at an autumn tree, the outer skin of an apple, the juicy innards of a blood orange, the feathers of a cardinal, the petals of a rose, the—he got giddy just thinking about it.

MOON.

He learned his mistake, though. He learned humans didn't like having their skin ripped open.

YA THINK??????

He learned people weren't very forgiving to murder. He learned. Unfortunately, he, however, learned the hard way. He was banned from public. He was kept away from society. He was as good as dead in their eyes. Out of sight, out of mind, as the saying went, and Moon's punishment was to eternally become both of those.

L /silly

The idea of plastering the signs down into the earth for an assistant was one he knew wouldn't work. He just wanted to have something to do to ensure he could regain his sanity, if only for a moment. A fleeting moment. When he had heard moving, he had thought you were yet again another hooligan who came to graffiti his lab, a teenage delinquent eager to cause problems.

What do you mean Another

You, of course, were not. You were different. Naive. Oblivious. He liked those traits.

OH NO

You didn't know what he did.

OH NO

If he could have it his way, you would never know. These conditions, of course, led to the perfect idea of a problematic temperament. His obsession with blood and his horrific loneliness came together to make him dedicated to forcing you to stay. If you left, he would have nobody. Again. Forever. That was not a risk he was willing to take.

Oh god fucking damn it Moon...

The anxiety that rose from this at every slightly off action you made was harmful both for him and for you. For him, because he feared you would leave and his systems would go into overdrive to conjure a way to prevent that. He would then overheat and fry some of his internal processors. None that were important, probably.

What's to bet he's fried his rational thinking capabilities?

For you, because you could not get a read on him. One moment, he would laugh about something odd and you would awkwardly laugh along, and the next, he would glare at you like he wished to rip your head off. It was a dangerous mindset to have, constantly worrying whether his next move would be shoving a list of items he needed in your face or a knife. The latter never came, but you still feared it nonetheless.

Oh my god.....

Moon didn't take it well when the weekend came. He seemed to have forgotten that workers often had two days of rest throughout the week. You didn't question why he made up every excuse possible to keep you there for a few more minutes, mainly because you didn't have an answer as to why and didn't want to worry about it.

We cannot isolate ignore ibuprofen forever reader...

Money was money. A job was a job. You needed both. If dealing with Moon for a few months was the cost for that, then so be it. You would quit when you could.

That.......... Reader dear I....

When you finally left (10:00 P.M.), you rushed home to enjoy the weekend, which flew by you faster than the autumn wind.

I could say something here about the desperate need for more rest time in your average working week, but that would take a while and I'm not sure you'd like to read that

Your plan for working on Mondays was simple: wake up before your alarm and take your time getting ready to ease you into the work week. It was simple enough.

Sounds easy enough

Five weeks left.

OH NO

You missed your alarm.

Oh dear....

You woke up and rushed to get clothes on, sure you were going to be berated by your employer for being late. You slipped your phone into your pocket—20 missed calls??—and ran through the thicket. Twigs clawed at your pants and ferns brushed against your shirt.

Christ Moon.....

You wheezed as you finally reached the laboratory and pounded on the door. It swang open before you could even knock twice. Moon looked worried, a manic form of panic spread across his face.

Oh he is like. really not healthy huh

"Why are you late?" he demanded, trying to hide the hysteria in his tone. "And why didn't you answer my calls?" You looked down at your phone. 52 missed calls.

52?!

"That was you?" you asked through your heavy breaths still remaining from your run over. You decided against pondering the emotion behind such an action. "Yes!" he exclaimed, his arms crossed like an angry parent. "Wait." You narrowed your eyes. "How did you get my phone number?" His eyes widened in turn. He chuckled nervously. "You know what?" he suddenly declared in a high-pitched tone. "All's forgiven! Come in, come in."

head in my hands oh my god

He ushered you inside before you could question him further. His clawed hand on your back reminded you of just who was in power here—and it wasn't you.

...ough

As Moon asked you to wash the dishes and began his walk back to his invention, you decided against telling him what you saw over the weekend. Or, rather, what you heard… The whispers. It seemed those two employees were quite the gossipers, considering you had heard whispers every single time you went somewhere.

Oh my god....

They were quiet, hushed so you would not hear, but you could still understand their words anyway. The first time was in a cafe adjacent to a local shop full of miscellaneous trinkets.

Oh hell yeah trinkets

"You see them over there?" A man in a dark suit with auburn hair and milky skin had nodded to you. "What about them?" a woman across from him asked, wearing a yellow sundress to match her golden-framed glasses. Her skin was the hue you'd expect to see in a coffee lacking milk—a rich brown similar to the color of her curly hair. "They're working for that maniac in the woods," he replied in a hushed tone. "You know, the one who—"

Oh my god....

He had leaned forward and you were no longer able to hear him. The second time was in the grocery store. "That poor soul," a lady in a tight-fitting scarlet dress drawled to the employee helping her find the right brand of cereal. You knew she was talking about you because of the way her eyes narrowed in upon yours the way a predator's might upon its prey.

Ohhhhh my god....

The employee helping her simply shook her head. "They won't survive two weeks with that man."

5 weeks left.....

The final time (that you could hear) was in the park. You had been looking at a bird in a tree—was it a magpie, or something similar?—when you heard it.

MAGPIE MENTION!

"That's the killer's assistant?" a high-pitched voice practically screeched to her partner, incredulous. The latter rushed to quiet her down. "Yes," he confirmed. "Do they know?" She gave her partner a look. "No," he shook his head, "I don't think so." She hummed in reply and the two went quiet.

this is them

Yes, you decided, it was best to not tell Moon about that. About them calling him a killer. Your hands twitched.

To be perfectly honest I would not've left either.. I would've gone "well, if he's a murderer someone should keep an eye on him, and I'm getting paid to do it so"

The truth was that you yearned to know. What happened? What did he do? Why was everyone so frightened by him? Why did they call him a killer?

Because he killed people, reader, obviously /silly

You had so many questions, but with how tense and finicky Moon was around you already, you questioned your safety at the notion of asking them. You decided upon a new mantra: keep your mouth shut and your head down.

ohhh reader....

It worked well enough so far, and you were sure it would continue to. Well. You hoped it would continue to.

AAAAAAOUGHHHHH

final thoughts: Reader I'm getting you the fuck out of there right now

Hehe

Reader, count your days!

[taekookielove0130]

Marry me? | JJK x Reader Ch 1

"You made me question every damn thing I've been taught to believe from the very beginning. Doesn't that make you special enough?"

_____________________________________________________

Yn POV

The breeze brushes past me as I gently inhale the scent of invigorating coffee lingering in the shop. I sigh and tuck the strands of hair as I stare out through the window.

A typical day in my life. Wake up at 6. Workout for a while. Eat breakfast. Study. Work at the coffee shop from 5 to 7 pm. Go home. Eat, sleep, and repeat. Well, the sleep part isn't too prominent. But that isn't the point.

Oh, and did I mention college? Yeah, I'm working to earn the money I need alongside doing my PGs. Today, in particular, has been quite stressful.

With the new month approaching, the house owner has been pestering me about the rent. Today, he decided to drop a bomb on me by saying I have to move out.

Apparently, his daughter, who was living in the US, is now returning to spend a few days here. I only have a month to find a new place to live. And since it's the last semester of my last year at college, I have a LOT going on at the moment.

A voice calling out my name breaks me out of my reverie, and I turn to see my best friend waving at me. I wave back and wait for her to join me at my table.

Ha-Joon and I have been friends for as long as I can remember. Born to parents who are good friends, going to the same school and growing up in the same neighborhood, she has always been the sister I never had.

As both of us had the same passion when it came to fashion, we both followed our dreams and pursued a degree in our field of interest. Since I wanted to do a PG course and get a professional degree and she didn't, I am studying while she is working.

"Yah! Where were you? You told me you'd come at 7 and see the time now." I ask her with a glare as she sets her bag down on the table and sits.

Sighing, she says, "I know. I promised to be here at 7 and now it's 7:30. I was late because my ex just bumped into me as I was coming here."

Frowning, I decide to...

"Okay. So before you even think of scolding me..." she says, giving me a look.

See what i said? She knows me far too well.

"I didn't let him charm his way back into my life. He let me go once, and that's it. " she continues staring into my eyes.

"That's right. He doesn't deserve you." I agree giving a satisfied smile.

"Exactly what I thought. Now, what do you have to say about not getting ready?" She cocks her brows at me as I frown in confusion.

"Oh My Fucking God! You forgot again didn't you?"she asks and places her fist above her chest, gasping.

Drama queen. But yeah, I did forget that we have a party to attend tonight. One of our friends from college has gotten a job at Flowers and Seasons after months of applications and rejections.

He has decided to throw a party and since it's on a Friday night, I wouldn't say no to starting the weekend with a drink and he basically threatened our friendship if I didn't go, I agreed to it.

The party starts at 9, and we need to go and get ready now unless we plan on being late and having our heads bitten off.

"I did forget. I'm sorry, today was just way too stressful than usual." I say wincing, rubbing my temples.

"Aw. My baby is tired."she coos at me and hugs me sideways as I sigh and hug her back.

"Okay. Let's go now." I say, standing up.

This day can only get better from here, right?

_______________________________________________

Jungkook POV:

Leaning against the railing, I run my hands through my hair as I scroll through the texts and the calls I haven't answered.

More than 20 missed calls, mostly from my mother and a few of my friends. I texted my friends that I'm already here before i opened the chat with my mother. She's asking me where I am and berating me for leaving without even listening to what they had to say.

Seriously? My dad just decided to step down and hand his title and all the responsibilities that come with it to me without even asking me if I was ready. Typical of my parents to make decisions for me without considering my thoughts or my emotions...

In all of the 30 years I've lived so far, not once have I had my parents ask me what I would like. Not like I expect them to. Being the only son of the best mob boss of South Korea does teach you not to expect good things in life.

All this time, I've been taught that emotions are weaknesses. Love can only make you weak. I do understand the truth in that statement. My cousin, who got married last week to the live of his life, got killed because he couldn't afford to maintain his position in our empire.

Only a marriage like my parents' can survive in our world. A marriage of convenience. One without love. A facade. A symbiosis where both gain something by living together. I do know all of this. I understand it, too.

But why did my heart skip a beat when my eyes met hers for the first time? Why did I feel like I wanted to see the world through her brown orbs instead of the dark, expressionless black that mine are? And most importantly, why did I think she was the one I was meant to meet? I need answers to all these questions, and that's exactly what drew me to her.

___________________________________________________

Yn POV

I'm shaken out of my shocked state by Ha-Joon who looks at me with a questioning look and follows my line of vision to see the object of my desire and looks back at me with understanding in her eyes. She rolls her eyes and fans her face in a dramatic show of "hot" and smirks at my giggle before turning back to face the table.

I can totally relate to her. The guy that's sat across from us at the bar looks like he just jumped right out from one of my fictional novels.

With perfectly-gelled jet black hair and a casual look on with the black jacket thrown over his white tee and blue jeans, he looks so hot that I would jump his bones right now if I weren't so scared of the others' reactions.

Shit. No. No, no, no. I did totally not think about that right now. I take a deep breath and am sure that my face just turned so red that it would give tomatoes a run for their money and try to forget about him and tune in to the conversation about the model that has asked one of our friends to design her dress.

A few minutes pass, and I know I can't concentrate anymore. Understanding that what I need right now is a drink, I excuse myself from the table and pad across the room to the bar.

Sitting down, I wait for the bartender and am shocked again as a figure makes its way to me and maneuvers into the seat next to me.

Settling down, he turns to face me and flashes me a smirk before extending his hand.

"Jeon Jungkook." he says in his deep baritone that has wetness gushing between my legs that makes me want to rub my thighs together. Clearing my throat, I try to control my reaction and regulate my breathing.

"Lee Y/n. " I say, flashing him a nervous smile, proud of the fact that my voice doesn't break.

"A bone dry martini for me and.." he pauses, turning to me.

"I'll have the same, please," I say, turning and flashing a smile to the bartender before he leaves.

I turn to face the model-like man next to me and notice him cocking his eyebrow at me.

"You sure you wanna try that drink?  It's a bit too strong." he questions as I smirk at him before saying

"I'm tougher than you may think, mister."

Smirking back he asks,

"So y/n. What brings a lovely lady like you to the bar on a Friday night?"

"Can't a girl just enjoy her youth in a bar with her friend?" I shoot back and see that amused expression on his face at my response.

Letting out a tiny giggle I say,  "We're actually here for a friend's party. I couldn't concentrate on the conversation at the table, so I just wanted to take a break." I answer genuinely.

A few minutes later, we've both had plenty of drinks, and I've loosened up gradually. I'm pretty comfortable around him now. And he is actually an interesting person.

He's been filling me in with a lot of funny memories from his childhood, along with pieces of information about who he really is. 

I now know that he's the son of Mr. Jeon, who is currently South Korea's most dangerous mob boss.

To be honest, I was quite surprised at the information.  Scared? Not really. Being friends to one of the top mob bosses' daughters does that to you. Before you ask, yes. Ha-joon's dad is a mob boss. It's a very dangerous one at that.

I'm broken out of  my musings as a hand appears in my peripheral. Following it, I stare transfixed as Jungkook stands there looking at me with a charming smirk.

"Care for a dance?" he asks.

Glancing back, I can see Ha-Joon talking to one of our friends. Understanding by her animated way of talking, I see she is quite comfortable.

Making my decision, I turn back to Jungkook and slip my hand into his after giving him a smile. The warmth in his soft hands amaze and somehow shock me at the same time.

"Sure," I say. Clasping my hand tightly in his hand, he starts to make his way to the dance floor.

The song is one for a slow dance. He turns back to me with an unreadable expression on his face, his eyes sparkling due to the lights of the dance floor.

Looking into my eyes for permission, I understood what he was asking when he slipped his hands around me, hovering over my waist but not touching.

Suppressing the smile and hiding the happiness such a sweet gesture caused in me, I answer him by thread both my hands behind his neck, pulling him closer.

Once again, I am impressed by his build. This man definitely works out. Suppressing the shiver that passes through me at his body, I understand that admiring such a man from a distance was fine but feeling it this close to me and having the privilege of running my hands over it was a whole different thing.

I don't have much time to dwell, though. He immediately wraps his arms around my waist, bringing me closer.

The warmth from his hands seeps past the thin fabric of my dress and makes me shiver with anticipation.

Looking up, I can already see him staring into my eyes. As we slowly begin to sway along with the music, I am starting to get mesmerised by his eyes.

His gaze darkens further as I move even closer, pushing my body up against his as someone pushes me into him.

When I clear myself of the drunk state his gaze causes and start to move away, he locks his hands around me, caging my body with his in an almost - protective cocoon.

The look in his eyes is overpowering, and I find myself submitting to his will against the nagging voice in my head.

We sway with the music for what seems like eternity, but in actuality, it is nothing but a few minutes.

As the song ends, I still can not find it in me to look away and have to wait for a few minutes until the inebriated state clears.

Just as I think the night was over, along with the dance and the amazing time I spent with this man, he shocked me with his words.

Lowering his head to my height and placing his lips next to my ear, he presses an open-mouthed kiss against my skin there.

As I shiver, I can feel him smiling or rather smirking (since I haven't seen this guy full-flown smiling yet) against my skin.

A few more minutes pass before I hear the deep timbre of his voice whisper against my head,

"YN, will you marry me?”

Author note:

Hey!

Was the first chap was good enough that you want to read the story? And what do you think will happen next? Was Jungkook serious? Will Yn agree? What do you think? Let me know!

And, I'm taking requests! Just message me privately or drop a comment.

Hope you have a great day!