#goodbye i'm going to make a pancake

[b-blushes]

GUESS WHAT over the course of the last 2 days i booked a taxi for a thing i'm going to in the summer and can't get home from myself EVEN THOUGH i'm scared of a) taxis and b) contacting new people 👍 wow my power

[featherymainffins]

Binge-reading Dungeon Meshi because it's the only thing standing between me and suicide ngl.

[wzy3ka]

Random kisses ೀ - N.RK

Bf!Riki x fem!reader w.c- 0.8k

Warnings- none just fluff

You prank Riki by randomly kissing him throughout the day.

You woke up with the feeling emptiness beside you. You kept patting the empty side next to you trying to cuddle your boyfriend.

You groaned as you sat up and rubbed your eyes tiredly. You looked around still trying to look for your boyfriend, but he was still no where to be found.

"Ki" You mumbled trying to summon the man, you groaned once again and got up.

You stepped into the bathroom and began brushing your teeth. While brushing your teeth you scrolled through TikTok.

You came across this video of a girl kissing her boyfriend randomly throughout the day.

You chuckled and stopped.

‘That looks fun’ you thought as you began to think of it. 'Should I do it?' You thought again as you began to rinse your mouth.

You walked back to your room while still thinking about it. 'Imma do it' you thought smirking as you made your way downstairs.

On your way you smelled a delicious smell and you immediately recognised it.

PANCAKES!

You hurried your way down the rest of the stairs and made your way to the kitchen.

You arrived at your destination aka the kitchen and saw your boyfriend flipping the pancakes with airpods in his ear bopping his head to the music he was listening to.

You giggled and made your way to him, wrapping your arms around his waist and resting your head on his back, you felt him getting startled.

"You scared me" He said chuckling,

"Goodmorning" You said still resting your head on his back.

"Morning, okay love I'm gonna need you to move so I don't burn this house down" He said putting his free hand over yours.

You moved away and stood to his side, you stared at his side for a while and pecked his lips.

He looked at you with shockness but turned back to flip the pancakes quick before they burn.

"That was random" He said putting the pancakes on a plate.

"Come on" He said placing the plates on the dinning table.

You strolled over to the dinning table "Thank you" You said and pecked his cheek.

You both sat down and began eating. "What are you doing today?" You asked stuffing pancakes into your mouth.

"Jake hyung wanted us to hangout a little, so I'll probably be there for a few hours and come back so don't miss me much" He teased "Don't worry, I won't" You teased back.

A few hours passed and Riki went out with his friends.

You were sitting on the couch boredly, suddenly your best friend called.

"HANNI!" You yelled as soon as she picked up "Y/N!” She screamed back.

"What are you doing?" She asked "Not doing anything tbh, but I am doing a prank on Riki" You said giggling at the thought of it.

"What prank?" She asked "Well, it's a little cheesy but it's basically kissing your significant other randomly throughout the day" You said fiddling with your fingers

"OH! That's cute, tell me his reaction tomorrow, oh shit I have to go my Mom needs me. Bye bestie" She said as you also said your goodbye.

A few more hours passed and you heard the front door click open.

You shot your head up and saw a cheerful Riki entering.

You ran towards him and embraced him in a tight hug.

"I missed you" You muffled as you snuggled in the crook of his neck.

"I told you don't miss me too much" He said playing with your hair.

You both went to your bedroom and sat on the bed in eachothers embrace.

You looked up at him and randomly kissed him, he was shocked but soon melted into the kiss.

You pulled away and rested your head back on his chest. "What's with you today?" He said patting your head.

"Nothing" You shortly answered.

He then got up to make some ramen for the both of you to snack on.

You decided to follow him to the kitchen to watch him. You went beside him and pecked his neck, he giggled feeling ticklish.

You chuckled and pecked his cheek this time,

"Y/n, you good?" He asked reverting his attention from the ramen to you.

"Yeah, I just miss you" You replied clinging onto his side.

He looked at you weirdly but ignored. Now the both of you were sat on the couch with the bowls of ramen in your hands.

Riki put his bowl on his lap trying to find something to watch while eating.

You took this opportunity to sit on his lap.

You took his bowl from his lap to your hands and sat on his lap with both bowls in both hands.

Riki looked at you with shockness, then chuckled. "Do you need something ?" He asked eyeing you suspiciously.

"No" You replied shortly and handed him his bowl of ramen.

You were now resting your back on his chest still sat on his lap, you looked up at him and kissed his jaw, he looked down at you and smiled softly.

"Now, come here" He said flipping you over and tickling you, he stopped and pecked you all over your face.

And the night went on with many giggles.

Ty for reading!!🫶🏻💌

[theonottsbxtch]

PREACHER’S DAUGHTER FINAL PART | MV1

an: i bet you guys thought i forgot about this, i didn't. i just didn't want to say goodbye to them just yet because this is officially the end of our favourite couple. i'm defo going to miss them a lot and i hope you enjoyed them as much as i did.

wc: 3.6k

previous part

THE HOUSE WAS QUIETER than it used to be. It wasn’t silent—there was no such thing in a house with three kids, even if they were teenagers now—but the chaos had mellowed into a rhythm.

Theo, now eighteen, had shot up like a weed and was nearly as tall as Max. He spent most of his time tinkering in the garage with his dad, learning the ins and outs of engines and dreaming about rebuilding the motorbike Max had never fully let go of.

Mary-Ann, sixteen and the spitting image of her mother, had inherited her sass and determination. She was perched at the kitchen table, headphones on, doing homework—or pretending to, judging by the way she was doodling flowers in the margins of her notebook.

And Daniel, their youngest, now twelve, was sprawled on the living room floor with a pile of Legos, determined to construct the "coolest car ever" and occasionally asking Max for design advice. 

Max leaned against the kitchen counter, sipping his coffee. The years had been kind to him, though there was a little more grey in his beard and a few more lines around his eyes. He wore them well, a testament to a life lived fully.

His gaze drifted to his wife, who was standing at the stove flipping pancakes. She hummed under her breath, her hair tied up in a loose bun, a familiar warmth radiating from her. The sight of her, even after all these years, still made his heart skip a beat.

“Need a hand, angel?” he asked, setting his mug down.

She glanced over her shoulder with a smile. “I’ve got it. You just make sure Daniel doesn’t eat the syrup straight out of the bottle again.”

Max chuckled, ruffling Daniel’s hair as he walked past. “You hear that, buddy? No syrup until the pancakes are on the plate.”

Daniel groaned but nodded, his focus back on his Legos.

Once the pancakes were ready, the family gathered around the table, the smell of maple syrup and butter filling the room. Theo and Mary-Ann bickered over who got the last pancake until their mum intervened, splitting it in half with a raised brow that said don’t push your luck.

Max leaned back in his chair, watching his family with quiet contentment. They weren’t perfect—there were still squabbles, slammed doors, and the occasional teenage attitude—but they were his. They were hers. And they’d built this life together, brick by brick, from nothing.

Later that day, Max and Theo were in the garage, going over the specs of a carburetor Theo had salvaged from the junkyard.

“Think we can make it work?” Theo asked, his voice filled with the kind of excitement only an eighteen year old with a dream to take over his dad’s garage could muster.

Max grinned, clapping him on the shoulder. “We can make anything work if we put in the effort.”

Mary-Ann wandered in, rolling her eyes, hands glued to her phone - something Max realised she was doing more often. “Mum said you two need to stop talking about car parts long enough to eat lunch. Also, Daniel wants to know if he can use the drill.”

But Max chose peace and never mentioned it as he snorted “Absolutely not.”

Mary-Ann smirked. “I told him you’d say that.”

When dinner rolled around, Max watched as her phone lit up and she smiled. All of this had started innocently enough. Mary-Ann had come home from school, cheeks pink and a slight bounce in her step, and casually mentioned during dinner that a boy had asked her out on a date.

She might as well have set off a grenade.

Theo, who had been lazily poking at his mashed potatoes, froze mid-bite. His eyes snapped up to his sister with the kind of intensity usually reserved for critical engine failures. “I’m sorry, what?”

Daniel, sitting next to him, dropped his fork entirely. At twelve, he wasn’t entirely sure what “dating” entailed, but he knew enough to side with his older brother. “Nope. Not happening.”

Even Max, who had been chewing a piece of chicken, paused. He set down his knife and fork, leaned back in his chair, and folded his arms. “Who’s this kid?”

Mary-Ann groaned, burying her face in her hands. “Oh my gosh, this is why I didn’t want to say anything!”

Her mum, sitting at the head of the table, was trying—and failing—not to laugh. She sipped her water to hide her grin, her eyes sparkling with amusement. “Let the poor girl live, you three.”

But the boys were relentless.

Theo, the self-appointed enforcer, turned to Mary-Ann with a raised brow. “What’s his name? Is he in your grade? What’s his deal?”

Daniel piped up, his brows furrowed in a stern expression that would have been intimidating if he weren’t still twelve. “Does he know we’ve got a garage full of tools? And Dad has a hammer?”

Max nodded sagely, playing along. “Big hammer.”

Mary-Ann threw up her hands. “You guys are ridiculous! It’s just one date!”

Theo leaned forward, fixing her with a deadpan stare. “And that’s how it starts. First it’s one date, and then he’s calling you all the time, and then—”

“—he’s asking you to marry him!” Daniel chimed in, clearly pleased with his contribution.

Max smirked, glancing at his wife. “We’re just looking out for her, angel. Can’t have some punk kid messing with our Mary-Ann.”

She shook her head, laughing softly. “She’s sixteen, Max. Let her figure it out.”

Mary-Ann crossed her arms, glaring at her family. “You’re all the worst. Mum, do something!”

But her mum just shrugged, biting back another laugh. “Sorry, sweetheart. You’re on your own. This is way too entertaining.”

Mary-Ann groaned, pushing back from the table. “I can’t believe you guys! I’m going to my room.”

As she stomped off, Theo called after her. “You’re not leaving this house until we meet him!”

Daniel added, “And I’m bringing the hammer!”

Max, unable to resist, cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted, “BIG hammer!”

Her mum finally burst out laughing, shaking her head as she looked at her husband and sons. “You three are unbelievable.”

Max grinned, leaning back in his chair. “What can I say? We’re a protective bunch.”

Daniel puffed out his chest. “Yeah, Mum! We’re protecting her honour.”

She rolled her eyes, still smiling. “I’m sure she’ll appreciate it one day. Maybe.”

Max winked at her. “Just doing our duty, angel.”

And that day did roll around.

The atmosphere in the head teacher’s office was tense—at least, it was supposed to be. Theo sat in the chair next to his parents, arms crossed, chin jutting out defiantly like a boxer after a victory. His knuckles were still a little red, and there was a faint smudge of what could only be described as "evidence" on his school blazer.

The head teacher, a middle-aged man with a thin mustache and a receding hairline, sighed heavily as he glanced over the disciplinary report in front of him. ���Mr. and Mrs. Verstappen, I’ve called you here because your son, Theo, punched another student today. Quite hard, I might add.”

Mary-Ann, sitting to the side with her own chair, looked both embarrassed and secretly pleased as she avoided her brother's gaze.

Max sat back, trying—really trying—not to crack a smile. He’d been biting the inside of his cheek since they arrived, but the mental image of Theo landing the punch was too much. His lips twitched dangerously, and he coughed to cover the beginnings of a chuckle.

His wife shot him a sharp look. “Max.” Her voice was low, a warning in one word.

Theo, sensing the opportunity for backup, jumped in. “It wasn’t my fault! He called Mary-Ann a...a...” He hesitated, glancing nervously at his mother.

The head teacher cleared his throat uncomfortably. “A ‘church freak,’ I believe, was the term used. Followed by...other comments.”

Max’s lips pressed together tightly, his shoulders shaking as he fought the laugh bubbling up. He turned his head away, trying to disguise it as clearing his throat.

Theo, emboldened by his dad’s silent support, added, “Yeah, so I punched him! Right in the mouth.” He demonstrated with his fist, making a swooping motion like a dramatic action movie. “I didn’t even miss!”

Max lost it. A short laugh burst out before he could stop it, and he quickly turned it into a cough. His wife’s head snapped toward him. “Max Emilian!”

Her tone was scolding, but there was a flicker of amusement she couldn’t quite hide.

Max held up his hands in mock surrender. “What? The kid’s got good aim!”

The head teacher looked horrified. “Mr. Verstappen, this is hardly something to celebrate. Violence is unacceptable under any circumstances—”

“He started it!” Theo interrupted, glaring at the head teacher.

Max leaned forward, his voice mock-serious. “Way to go, buddy.” He reached out and fist-bumped Theo before his wife could stop him.

She groaned, pinching the bridge of her nose. “Max, you’re not helping.”

Mary-Ann finally spoke up, her voice small. “He only did it because he was sticking up for me. It’s...kind of sweet.”

Her mum sighed, turning her attention back to Theo. “Theo, you can’t just go around punching people, no matter what they say.”

Theo blinked at her, his face scrunching up in confusion. “But Dad did. He punched your dad, and no one told him off.”

Max froze, wide-eyed. “Whoa, whoa, let’s not drag me into this.”

But his wife turned to him, arms crossed and eyebrows raised. “Oh no, you’re definitely getting dragged into this. Theo wouldn’t be punching anyone if you hadn’t decked my dad in front of him.”

Max rubbed the back of his neck, looking sheepish. “I mean...to be fair, your dad deserved it.”

“And that’s exactly what Theo thinks about this kid!” She gestured at their son, who looked increasingly smug.

The head teacher cleared his throat, trying to regain control of the conversation. “Mr. and Mrs. Verstappen, while I understand the context, the school has a zero-tolerance policy for violence. Theo will need to serve a two-day suspension.”

Max shrugged. “Two days? That’s not bad. Maybe we can—”

His wife slapped his arm lightly. “Stop encouraging him!”

Theo grinned, clearly unrepentant, and looked up at his dad. “Can we go home now?”

Max ruffled his hair. “Sure thing, champ. You earned a break.”

His wife threw her hands in the air, muttering something about boys and her fate of living with three of them. Despite her frustration, though, there was a small smile on her face as they walked out of the office.

As Max and Theo bolted out of the school building, laughter echoing in the hallway as they raced each other to the parking lot, she shook her head with a small, amused smile. Mary-Ann stayed by her side, clutching her school bag as they walked together at a slower pace.

Her daughter’s quietness didn’t go unnoticed. She looked down, noticing how Mary-Ann stared at the floor, her brows furrowed in thought. Gently, she placed a hand on her daughter’s shoulder.

“You okay, baby?” she asked softly.

Mary-Ann shrugged, hesitating for a moment. “I guess. Just...what that kid said about me at school.”

Her heart sank. She crouched down a little to meet Mary-Ann’s eyes, pausing in the hallway. “It’s okay if it upset you, you know. What he said was mean, and he was wrong.”

Mary-Ann chewed her lip, looking conflicted. “He called me a ‘church freak.’ I guess I don’t really know if I am one. Is it...bad?”

She felt her chest tighten at the vulnerability in her daughter’s voice. She took Mary-Ann’s hand and gave it a squeeze, guiding her to sit on a nearby bench where they could talk.

“I know how you feel,” she admitted after a moment. “When I was your age, I got called things like that too. Kids made fun of me for going to church, for praying, for all the little things I believed in. And it hurt.”

Mary-Ann blinked, her curiosity piqued. “Really? You got made fun of too?”

She nodded. “I did. A lot. But you know what? It doesn’t matter what they think. You don’t have to go to church just because I do. If you don’t like it, or if it makes you feel weird, you don’t have to keep going.”

Mary-Ann looked up at her in surprise. “You mean that?”

Her heart twisted as she nodded. Christianity was such a core part of her own life, something that had anchored her during her darkest moments. Letting go of the idea of her children growing up in the church wasn’t easy, but she also knew she couldn’t force it. Faith had to be their choice.

“I do, baby. What’s most important is that you feel comfortable. It’s not about what Dad or I want for you—it’s about what you want for yourself. Okay?”

For a moment, Mary-Ann said nothing, her little face thoughtful. Then she smiled, small but genuine. “I like going to church. I like Sunday school, and singing the songs. And I don’t care if kids at school think it’s weird.”

She felt a wave of relief and pride as she pulled her daughter into a hug. “That’s my girl. You’re so brave, you know that?”

Mary-Ann grinned against her shoulder. “Thanks, Mum.”

The sound of Max and Theo shouting in the distance broke the tender moment, and she shook her head as she helped Mary-Ann up.

“Come on. Let’s see if those two actually waited for us at the car or if they’re already halfway through that oil change.”

Mary-Ann giggled. “Dad’s definitely winning. Theo’s fast, but Dad’s faster.”

“Let’s go find out.” She smiled, holding Mary-Ann’s hand as they walked toward the parking lot.

Later that day, when the sun set and all of them had packed up the dinner table, Max found himself curled up on the sofa with his wife. His arm was draped around her shoulders, her head resting on his chest, their legs tangled as they relished a rare quiet moment. The kids had been unusually calm after dinner, and they’d taken full advantage of the lull.

But the calm didn’t last.

Suddenly, the sound of hurried footsteps broke through the peace, and all three kids came bounding into the room. Theo was leading the charge, with Mary-Ann and little Daniel trailing close behind, their faces lit up with excitement and mischief.

Max groaned, shifting slightly but keeping her close. “There goes the quiet.”

She smiled, sitting up just as Theo hopped onto the armrest of the couch. Mary-Ann plopped herself between her parents, while Daniel crawled up onto Max’s lap, nestling in without hesitation. At his age of 12, he just got away with it.

“What’s up, guys?” his wife asked, amused by their sudden energy.

Theo spoke first, his voice laced with curiosity. “How did you guys meet?”

She exchanged a look with Max, one eyebrow raised. “Where’s this coming from?”

Mary-Ann piped up, clearly eager to share. “We were looking in Dad’s office—”

Max’s eyes narrowed playfully. “Wait, wait. You were snooping in my garage? What were you doing in there?”

Daniel, ever the bold one, looked up at his dad with an innocent expression. “Pictures! We saw pictures!”

Theo nodded, practically bouncing now. “Yeah, pictures of you two when you were younger! You looked so different, Mum. And Dad didn’t have any grey hairs!”

Max snorted. “Gee, thanks, bud. Remind me who gave me these grey hairs.” He shot a mock glare at Theo, who grinned unrepentantly.

Their mother, who was laughing now, shook her head as she ruffled Mary-Ann’s hair. “You guys found the old photos, huh?”

Mary-Ann nodded, her eyes wide with wonder. “Mum, you looked so pretty in your dress, and Dad looked cool with his jacket and helmet.”

Max smirked, leaning back into the couch. “Cool, huh? You hear that, Angel? They think I’m cool.”

She rolled her eyes but couldn’t hide her smile. “You’re inflating his ego, guys. So, why do you want to know how we met?”

Daniel, still snuggled in Max’s lap, whispered conspiratorially, “Was it like a movie?”

Max chuckled, wrapping an arm around Daniel. “Sort of. It started with a Church and a bit of my chivalry. And maybe a little bad timing.”

She laughed softly, her eyes sparkling with fond memories. “He was as stubborn as he is today, kept offering to carry some boxes for me.”

“It worked, didn’t it?” Max teased, brushing a kiss against her temple.

Theo leaned forward, his curiosity insatiable. “So, you just saw Mum and were like, ‘She’s the one’?”

Max pretended to think for a moment. “Pretty much. Your mum was gorgeous. Still is. But it wasn’t just that. She had this thing about her—strong, determined, kind. She made me feel like maybe I could be a better man.”

She rolled her eyes but was clearly touched. “Oh, stop. You’re making me blush.”

Mary-Ann sighed dreamily. “That’s so cute. I want a love story like that one day.”

Max groaned dramatically, covering his face with a hand. “No. Absolutely not. You’re staying single forever.”

Mary-Ann smacked his arm lightly, laughing. “Dad!”

Daniel, trying to stay on topic, asked, “Then what happened? After the parking lot?”

She smiled, pulling her kids’ attention to her. “A lot happened. We fell in love. We got married. And then we had you guys. And that’s the best part of the whole story.”

As the laughter faded and the kids began settling down, she found herself staring at the curious, innocent faces of her children. Their questions had slowed, but the warmth of the moment lingered, leaving her with a quiet space to think.

The memories came rushing back—the hurried whispers in the dark, the rumble of Max’s motorbike as they fled the life she’d desperately wanted to escape. The fear, the uncertainty, and the overwhelming relief when she finally felt free.

They deserve to know, she thought, her gaze drifting to Theo, who was fiddling with the hem of his shirt, and Mary-Ann, who was resting her head against her shoulder. Even Daniel, with his sleepy eyes and little fingers clutching Max’s sleeve.

But how could she tell them? How could she explain the life she’d left behind without tainting their view of the world? Of family?

Her chest tightened at the thought. What if knowing changed how they saw her? Or worse, how they saw Max?

She bit her lip, glancing at him. He was leaning back on the couch, his arm resting along the backrest, his other hand absently ruffling Daniel’s hair. His eyes caught hers, and his brow quirked slightly, a silent question: You okay?

She nodded subtly, offering him a small smile.

No, she decided. Not now. Not yet.

They were still so young, their world so pure. If she told them the truth, it wouldn’t be to satisfy curiosity or ease her own conscience—it would have to be necessary, something they were ready to hear. And she would know when that moment came.

For now, she tucked the thoughts away, sealing them behind the same mental door she’d locked so many years ago.

And that’s how life was for the Verstappens.

Years passed, but the heart of their family never wavered. She and Max, once two young souls bound by circumstance and love, had built a life that was both imperfect and extraordinary.

The children grew, each carving their own paths in the world. Theo, ever protective and headstrong, went on to study engineering, inspired by the hours spent in the garage with his dad. He eventually took over the family’s repair shop, rebranding it with a sleek new sign that read “Verstappen & Son’s Auto.” He still teased Mary-Ann mercilessly but remained her fiercest defender.

Mary-Ann, with her gentle strength and quiet faith, became a teacher. She carried her mother’s warmth into the classroom, where she guided and inspired children from all walks of life. Her love for the church endured, but she carried it as her own, unpressured by anyone. She often joked with her parents that her students were easier to handle than her brothers.

And Daniel—sweet, clever Daniel—emerged as the family dreamer. With a heart as big as his father’s and a mind as sharp as his mother’s, he pursued a career in writing, crafting stories that captured the chaos and beauty of family life. His parents swore they recognised pieces of themselves in his characters, though he always denied it with a smirk.

She and Max grew older, their once fiery love mellowing into something deeper and even more unshakable. The garage was still Max’s domain, though he worked less and spent more time tinkering for fun. She often joined him, still the same girl who’d fallen for him in that tiny trailer all those years ago.

The white picket fence eventually aged, its paint chipping in places, but it stood strong—just like them. Sunday dinners became a cherished tradition, with laughter filling the house as their children and, later, their grandchildren gathered around the same worn dining table.

In the end, their lives weren’t perfect. They had their disagreements, their challenges, their moments of doubt. But they always had each other, and that made all the difference.

And as they sat together on the porch in their twilight years, Max’s hand in hers, the memories of their wild, beautiful journey were enough to fill a lifetime.

Because that’s how life was for the Verstappens—a story of love, resilience, and the kind of family you fight for, cherish, and hold onto forever.

the end.

taglist: @sinofwriting @le-le-lea @vanicogh @iamred-iamyellow @rayaskoalaland @spookyanamurdock @iimplicitt @hellowgoodbye @maximuminfluencerstarlight @lottalove4evelyn @piceous21 @ladscarlett @leclerc13 @linnygirl09 @labelledejourr @cmleitora @fortunapre @felicityforyou @isagrace22 @bookishnerd1132 @formulaal @mastermindbaby @daddyslittlevillain @inmynotes63 @litllefox @hollstopia @alexisquinnlee-bc @carlossainzapologist @oikarma @obxstiles @verstappenf1lecccc @hzstry8 @dying-inside-but-its-classy @anamiad00msday @linnygirl09 @mastermindbaby @iamred-iamyellow

[snixkers]

Parallel Parked

Pairing: Spencer Reid × Wife!Reader

Fluff

For: @imagining-in-the-margins Kid Fic Prompt!

Summary: You two take your daughter to school for the first time, but you can’t make yourselves leave the parking lot.

Content Warnings: Leaving kids at school, worries of children growing up, pure fluff

Author's Note: Absolutely love this, I'm a full believer in girl-dad Spencer!

Feedback is always welcome!

Requests are OPEN

The bag was packed, the lunch was made, and your daughter was dressed and eager for her first day of school. Your husband had instilled in her a love of learning from an early age, attempting to teach her quadratic equations before she learned to walk. Even though she didn’t pick up on everything he was saying, the way she reached for his tie was cute enough for the both of you.

But that was the past. Now she was smiling from ear to ear as she ate her chocolate chip pancakes and watched the two of you get ready. Packing was always on Spencer due to his eidetic memory, but you still wanted to double-check that she had everything and sneakily add your own touches.

The two of you moved around with an unspoken sadness in the air, heavy with the knowledge that your daughter was no longer so little. Although she would soon be going off to her first day of kindergarten, you tried to keep yourself excited for her. After all, this was a great experience that could open up a gateway of learning for her.

She velcroed her shoes and stood up, straightening out her shirt and adjusting the large backpack she certainly wouldn’t need.

“I’m ready to go!”

Her cheerful voice cut through the dull atmosphere, and you both grabbed your keys and got ready to go. When you slipped into the car, she sat in her seat next to the backpack and turned on one of your husband’s favorite classical stations.

She looked excited, and you couldn’t blame her. That childlike wonder was one of your favorite parts about her. The drive was unusually quick. You’d gone this route several times before, and you swore it took twice the time.

She grinned even wider as she saw the school in the distance, kicking her little legs as if she couldn’t wait. As soon as the car was parked, she swung the door open with a burst of energy.

Spencer had to hurry to catch up to her as she ran towards the front doors. You grabbed her backpack and led her inside the winding halls, looking for the room number that her school sent out. She pointed it out for you, smiling proudly at her skills.

The two of you smiled at each other as she stood outside the classroom, waving at her teacher and making sure she had everything she needed. You both took turns hugging her, saying your ‘I love you’s and ‘goodbye’s. When she headed inside and took a seat at the table, you turned around and squeezed each other’s hands reassuringly as you headed back towards the car.

After unlocking the doors and taking your seats again, he just sat there in silence. You were quiet too, holding back bittersweet tears at the knowledge that she didn’t need you two anymore. He sniffled softly as well, staring at the doors of the school as the air thickened. You just sat together, sharing your sadness and pride in your daughter.

He took a deep breath, opening his mouth and voicing his concerns.

“What if she needs something and the school calls? We should wait here just in case.”

You nodded in agreement, wiping your tears and following his gaze to the front doors.

“She gets out of school at 11. It’s easier to wait a few hours. We can take her out for ice cream to celebrate.”

He squeezed your hand as you two relaxed, waiting for your daughter to return from her first day of school.

[patchato]

You should have told me.

(Sanemi x Reader)

TW: Cheating, Angst

I'll be home late.

This was the nth note Sanemi left, just a phrase, nothing else.

As his fiance, it's normal to feel sulky when not told 'I love you' every time he leaves. He always did it back then. Now just feels, different. Somehow.

Hours passed and dinner became cold. I sighed and decided to go to sleep first, he did say he'll be home late. It's been like this for the past 3 months. I ignored it at first since I know he's a hard working man and marriage isn't something to take easy.

We've been engaged for a year. The ring has always brought a smile to my face, especially when I feel down or alone. I sighed and looked at it, I should probably go out tomorrow to have it cleaned. I'll ask for Sanemi's as well.

I looked at the clock while washing the dishes, '10:07' it says.

I pouted, I missed him. Maybe we should go out this saturday. My head thought of the things we can do, I smiled to myself feeling proud. I finished a few more chores and went to bed. The plushie he gave me on our very first date sat on my spot, I held it while slowly drifting to sleep.

My eyes opened and it was still dark. The urge to use the toilet forced me to sit up. I rubbed my eyes and groaned. The time read 5:51 AM, I chuckled. It's like my body knows when to wake up so I can make my future husband his breakfast and lunch.

I turned to look at Sanemi, he was sleeping peacefully. I gave him a light kiss on the cheek, my face scrunched at the smell of alcohol. His colleagues must have dragged him to drink again.

I cooked him eggs, pancakes and made his favourite protein shake. Extra red bean. The shower was already on so I know he's up and getting ready. I sat down waiting for him. His lunch consisted of fresh pickled vegetables, sweet and sour pork along with a pack of chocolates. He may not look like it but he is a big fan of sweets.

Sanemi entered the kitchen and sat down, I perked up watching him eat. He didn't even look at me, it made me feel a little sad. He always compliments my cooking but, he hasn't been doing that these days.

I picked up my fork and started eating myself, I ate slowly as it was still a little early. Going to work earlier and getting home later, it's a little weird if I do think about it. I cleared my head and smiled at him.

"Ah, I have to go." He says looking at his watch. He patted me on the head and proceeded to rush out. I pouted but suddenly remembered I needed his for cleaning.

"Sanemi!" I caught up to him snatching his hand where his ring was. "I'm in a r-", I cut him off by telling him I just needed his ring for cleaning, I looked at his ring finger but it wasn't there. We both stood there, I felt his hand tense and he pulled his hand from mine.

Before I can ask him where it was he pulled the ring out from his bag and handed it to me, "Sorry, I forgot to put it back on last night. I didn't want it to get lost." He smiled and patted my head again. Before I can even say goodbye he was already out.

It feels weird. Why is that?

I shrugged it off and began to get ready to go out after finishing house chores. I texted him that I'll be meeting with some friends for lunch and won't be home for a few hours.

Sure he didn't say he'll be working late but It's better to tell him where I am in case he comes home earlier. I took the rings for cleaning, after that I met my friends and we settled on a cafe near the sea.

We talked about my engagement and what has already been planned. I already picked the bridesmaids and the maid of honor. Everyone was excited until we talked about how I've been lately.

They gave me weird looks and they looked worried. "We don't want you to over think darling but, maybe you should ask his colleagues how he's been at the office." Kanae suggests, the other girls agreed sighing. "Why? I'm sure he's working hard for the wedding." I giggled, "Oh sweet (Y/N)." Shinobu brushes my hair, "You're, too kind for this." She adds. 'Are they saying that he might be out with some other woman?' I thought.

I understood what they're worried about but, I trust Sanemi and I know he loves me. "Thank you for your concern, maybe I'll talk to him soon about it." I answer, I have been thinking about it too but I didn't want to think that way about him. I love him, and with love comes patience and trust.

The meeting ended once their husbands contacted them that they were home. I admit I'm a little jealous, I don't exactly get what they do from their relationship but again, Sanemi is working hard for our future. We all bid our goodbyes and went home.

To my surprise, Sanemi's car is already parked outside the house. I felt excited as it will give me time to tell him that I want to go out this weekend. I unlocked the front house. His shoes were placed messily on the floor. It was weird as he is normally a well organized person. I didn't think any of it and just placed his shoes where it belongs.

I took off mine and began walking upstairs, I felt happy. I can spend time with him. These thoughts instantly vanished when I saw maroon, stiletto shoes which were peeking from inside our bedroom. I don't wear stilettos. 'Maybe it's a gift from him' I thought to myself. I walked closer to the door and that's when it was clear. He brought another woman into our bedroom.

I didn't want to look inside but I stood there looking down while listening to the moans that came from inside our room. I can hear them, making love on the bed we shared. My head was starting to hurt. A tear fell from my eye, then one after the other. I stopped myself from sobbing by covering my mouth. It hurts. It really hurts.

Is this what my mother felt back then? I tried my best not to end up like that. But here I am. I feel stupid, I shouldn't have turned a blind eye to the late nights. Him not wearing his ring. The strong smell of floral perfume on his clothes. He hates floral perfume, he said he loved that I wore vanilla perfume rather than floral. Was he lying? He probably did.

I stepped out and walked to the nearest park and sat down on the bench. I just sat there, thinking of what'll happen now. My face was dry with tears and the headache was still there. The sky began to turn dark but I didn't want to go back to that house. I sent Mitsuri a text that I wanted to talk to her. She responded immediately.

I began my journey to her house, my heart heavy. I don't know what else to think. I played with the ring on my finger, It's slowly starting to look ugly on me. I, don't want it. I took it off and shoved it inside my bag and sighed. The cab arrived at Mitsuri's house. I knocked and Iguro (my brother) greeted me with their daughter, Hana. I greeted them back and kissed the child on her forehead.

'I could've had a family with him', my head was starting to fill up with thoughts again. He invited me in and to my surprise, Giyuu, Genya, Shinobu, Kanae and Kyojuro was also there. I sat down in between Shinobu and Kanae. They stared at me, as if waiting for me to say something. I tried to talk but my tears talked for me. Kanae hugged me and I cried on her shoulder. Small sobs turned to big ones, it felt like I was fighting to breath properly. Shinobu was running my back and the others just watched.

"What's wrong (Y/N)?" Shinobu asks taking my face in her hands, It was hard to talk I stumbled with my words but she knew exactly what I was crying about when she heard 'another woman' from my mouth. They let me cry it out, they comforted me. I can hear my brother cursing in the background.

An hour went by and I began to calm down Mitsuri began to prepare their dinner and it felt like it was best for me to go back home - to that house. "Hey, you can rest here." Mitsuri says, Iguro agreed. "Rest here for the night." He urges me, I smiled and nodded. Grateful that I have such good friends. It made me feel better.

I stared at the sky, thinking of how I'll confront Sanemi tomorrow. I spent another hour crying inside the bedroom once they left me to rest. I'm not sure how to rest with such a stressful thing to think about. Should I think about it? I don't even know anymore.

Before they left, Genya went up to talk to me. His words comforted me, he has always been softer than his older brother.

What's going to happen now? I haven't been working for 1 year due to Sanemi insisting that he work for the both of us, I'm unsure when to live after breaking up with him. I'll make it work. I'm, tired. I fell asleep on the warm bed, this time my body didn't wake up to make breakfast for someone. I slept throughout the night until noon.

I ate breakfast with Iguro and his family, we talked about what to do next after my talk with Sanemi. They offered to live in one of their condominiums that they rent out from up town. I accepted the offer, I'm thankful.

I felt nervous, I feel like throwing up. Iguro dropped me off in front of the house. Sanemi's car was nowhere to be found, God knows where he is. I signed as the anxiety left my body. Iguro said he'll pick me up before sunset so I have enough time to pack my things.

I took out my bags and stuffed them all with my clothes, I didn't touch the dresses Sanemi bought me back then from our anniversary. The jewelry he said looked beautiful on my skin. The plushies, the music box that had the tune of our prom dance. The very night he promised to marry me. It was such a beautiful night, all the memories. The kisses, the night we spent together. All thrown away. I felt like crying again, but I stopped myself. I didn't want to get sick, I need to find a job after this is over.

I heard the front door open, his footsteps echoed through the house. His presence that once brought warmth and comfort now made me feel uncomfortable, it made me want to get away from him.

The bedroom door opened, I turned to him. Our eyes met, he looked tired from who knows what. "You're back." I say, he smelled of that strong perfume again. "Yeah." He replied not looking at me. My chest started to feel tight again and I can feel the tears build up. Did he even wonder where I was last night? Did he try to look for me? Probably not, he didn't even send me a text nor ask my friends if they knew where I was.

"I stayed at Mitsuri's last night." I told him with a sigh, I began to play with my ring once again. I really want to take it off now. "Why?" He asks while he takes off his necktie. The very tie that I used to always do for him. Sadly, I won't be doing anything for him anymore. My eyes wandered to his finger, no ring again. I chuckled to myself which Sanemi seemed to notice. "What's wrong with you?" He asks in an annoyed tone, how dare he? I didn't answer and just stared outside. "You've been real weird lately." He adds, "Am I?" I asked him before looking back down.

I heard him sigh and groan, "Not right now (Y/N). I'm tired." He ruffled his hair and went into the bathroom. The sound of the open shower filled my ear. How should I go about this? Do I just tell him right away? Maybe that would be better. He stayed in the shower for some time, probably clearing his head. What does he have to think of anyway? He's got two women swooning over him. One slaving away and the other squeezed herself in the relationship. I didn't see the woman he was with but I bet she was beautiful. The bathroom door opened revealing a fully clothed Sanemi.

"Sanemi." I called him before he left the bedroom. I can tell he didn't want to be in the room by the way he turned around to face me. It hurt me. He used to look at me in such a loving way, now it's just this. Whatever this is. "Your ring, it's missing again.", that one sentence made his eyes widen and he immediately started to look for it. He grabbed his bag and went through all the pockets. He forgot. He forgot I took it out for cleaning yesterday. I left it on the kitchen counter before I left for Mitsuri's. So he really didn't look for me. How funny. The face he made, the panic in his eyes. It made me laugh a little bit. "What are you laughing about?" He yells. I stopped and stared at him, "It's on the kitchen counter." I answered sighing, I should probably send Iguro a text now. "Why is it there?" He asks confused, "I had it cleaned yesterday. I left it on the kitchen counter when I dropped by yesterday." I answered, "Dropped by?" He looked even more confused. We stared at each other, he really is clueless.

"Shinazugawa, I don't want to be with you anymore."

Sanemi's face softened, he still looks confused. He looked stupid. "Wha-," I cut him off before he can ask, "I know." That one phrase sent him stumbling over the bags on the floor over to me. Seems like he didn't notice it. "(Y/N), please, I'm not..." He tried to form his excuses. "Please don't stop me, I don't have any intentions on hearing your excuses." I sighed. I wanted to cry, but that'll only make me stay with him longer. God knows I'll give in to his pleas if I stay longer.

"No please. I'm sorry. (Y/N)." He pulled me in a hug. I didn't say anything, I let him scramble with his words. His touch made my skin crawl. I began to struggle out of his grasp. It took me a minute to push him away, he's as strong as always. "You already chose your other woman." I say, "You brought her to our bed." I shifted my attention to the bed. Shinazugawa began to caress my face, spouting things that I'm not paying attention to.

"You did such a disgusting thing, Shinazugawa." More pleas and apologies fell from his lying lips. I laughed a little, suddenly remembering the first time I've seen him cry. It was over their family dog. The one their mother left him to take care of. "Why are you laughing..." It was more of him asking himself than me. "I, no longer feel anything towards you." His tears fell faster as he began apologizing again.

"Makes me wonder if I really did love you."

The tears flowing from his eyes didn't stop, he was at the floor now. On his knees, begging me to stay. "Did you even think about me when you brought someone else over." I mumbled, of course he didn't. The image of the man I once loved made my eyes sore. I took off the engagement ring, took his hand stopping him from crying and began to walk out the room. Shinazugawa began to run after me but I didn't give him a chance to pull me back as I opened the door of Iguro's car and locked it. I was finally able to breathe, then the tears came in. My heart hurt seeing him cry. Of course I loved him, I still do even if he did such a horrible thing. I wanted to hurt him too in a way.

He should have told me. We could have talked about it, whether he still felt something for me or if he fell out of love. We could have saved us.

Shinaguzawa was starting to make a scene outside, banging on the car crying all while trying to stop Iguro from taking my things from the house. All my bags we're finally in the car and it was time to leave. Leave everything behind. "Hey.", Iguro calls. He gave me a smile, "You'll be alright."

Yeah, I'll be okay. I smiled back and we drove off. I saw Shinazugawa run after the car. I couldn't help but cry. I wanted to get out of the car and hug him. I don't want him hurting too. But this is for the best. I sent him a text, one last time. Then I blocked him on everything. I wiped my tears and steadied my breathing.

'You should have told me.' Shinazugawa read the text. He couldn't call her anymore. He cried all the way back to his now empty house. He stared at the ring on his hand while cursing at himself. He knew this will be the last time he'll see her.

×××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××

Hey everyone! I missed tumblr so I'm back haha! Sorry I've been gone for some time. What do you think of this? Send your votes! I also take requests now so please don't be shy to send me a message! lotsoflove♡

[vainvenus]

꒰ The Café ꒱

Hello! Well to Vainvenus' Café! I'll be your host, Vee. Make sure to order a nice beverage to go with any desserts you end up choosing, don't be scared to ask for a little something extra on top of that dessert or in your drink!

The current fandoms that I'm writing for and that you can request characters from are: Formula one, OBX, PJO, TBOSAS, Hunger Games, Harry Potter, The Black phone, The Outsiders, Marvel and DC. You can request characters from other fandoms, these are just my favorites/what I'm familiar with!

Make sure that when you're requesting you include the Driver/character, who you want saying the quote and which pronouns/gender you would prefer for the reader! Do not request smut/lime for minors or drivers ( I just don't feel comfortable with it lol ) and don't request anything extremely weird! I will not write pedophillia, incest, dubcon or any extremely weird/illegal kinks!

꒰ Beverages ꒱

Hot Chocolate: Fluff

Cold Brew: Slow-burn

Black Coffee: Angst

Chamomile Tea: Hurt + Comfort

Latte: Lime

Coffee Cocktail: Smut

Amaretto: Royalty Au

Cappuccino: College/University Au

Chocolate Milk: Soulmate Au

Lemonade: Fantasy Au

Water: Au of your choice

Americano: Strangers to Lovers

Espresso: Enemies to lovers

Frappuccino: Friends to lover

Latte Macchiato: Opposites attract

Flat White: Fake dating

Earl Grey Tea: Secret Relationship

Green Tea: Unrequited Love

Mocha: Dark!Driver/Character

꒰ Desserts ꒱

Chocolate soufflé: "I trusted you. How could you?"

Blueberry muffin: "Just tell me the truth."

Banana nut muffin: "Are you breaking up with me?"

Strawberry-nutella crepe: "I'm sorr-" "I don't want your apology."

Strawberry cheesecake: "You don't mean that."

Strawberry shortcake: "I don't wanna say goodbye. Not now."

Raspberry cheesecake: "Shhh. It's okay, I'm here."

Classic cheesecake: "Look me in the eyes and tell me it meant nothing."

Strawberry rhubarb cake: "We're not friends anymore."

Molten lava cake: "Can we still be friends?"

Coffee cake: "You promised."

Caramel cake: "Just leave."

Blueberry bundt cake: "Are you...crying?"

Angel food cake: "Don't look at me like that." "Like you love me."

Carrot cake: "I wish you could see yourself like how I see you."

Red velvet cake: "Did you ever mean it when you told me you loved me?"

Chocolate cake: "I can't lose you."

Tiramisu cake: "I wish we never met."

Fruitcake: "For what it's worth, I'm proud of you."

Pumpkin pie: "Can I...hold your hand?"

Cherry pie: "Please don't say you love me."

Apple pie: "Don’t. Don’t promise me anything. It’s not like you keep them anyway."

Pecan pie: "You still love me?" "I never stopped."

Key-lime pie: "Shhh don't apologize."

Lemon meringue pie: "Stop pushing everyone away!"

Coconut creampie: "You're dead to me."

Tres leches: "You liked me this entire time!?"

Parfait: "Staring is rude." "I'm just admiring."

Macaroons: "I could be a better boyfriend/girlfriend than them."

Cinnamon rolls: "Do you want me to stay?"

Oatmeal cookies: "Please don't leave me alone."

Chocolate chip cookies: "For someone who hates me you're not pulling away."

Snickerdoodle cookies: "Stop looking at me like that..it's hurting my feelings."

Gingersnaps: "I love you so much, do you know that?"

Chocolate donuts: "How long has it been since someone hugged you?"

Hazelnut donuts: "Please don't be scared. I won't hurt you, I swear. I'm here to help."

Pancakes: "Breathe, just breathe."

Butterscotch pudding: "Are you sure you're fine?"

Brownies: "Do you hate me or something?"

Blondies: "Does somebody have a crush on me?"

Vanilla ice cream: "You're my priority."

Chocolate ice cream: "I'm not crying, I have allergies."

Strawberry ice cream: "But I don't want them! I want you!"

Neapolitan ice cream: "I got you cherry perfume!" "They like vanilla."

Cookies n cream ice cream: "You're cute when you get angry."

Mint chocolate chip ice cream: "Me? Jealous? Don't make me laugh."

Churros: "I'm gonna fuck you until the only word your little brain can form is my name."

French toast: "That's it, fuck, that's a good girl/boy."

Cream puffs: "You look so pretty like this."

Lemon bars: "Oh c'mon you can give me one more."

Nanaimo bars: "Uh, uh, look at me."

Scones: "Use your words."

Biscotti: "On your knees. Now."

Belgian waffles: "Please, I need you."

Banana pudding: "You'd sound so good begging for me."

Banana bread: "Go on, fuck yourself on my cock."

Banana split: "Is this okay?" "Yeah, that—more than okay. Please—keep going."

Chocolate truffles: "Relax, I've got you."

Chocolate covered strawberries: "Don't do that, I wanna hear all the pretty noises you make."

Puff pastry: "I can't-” “Yes you can."

Baklava: "You're such a fucking slut."

Chouquette: "You either get off on my thigh or nothing."

Creme brûlée: "You're so in for it when we get home."

Flan: "Swallow. All of it."

Chocolate eclair: "That's so fucking hot."

Beignets: "Let's put that mouth to better use."

Chocolate mousse: "So noisy tonight, do I need to gag you?"

Chocolate croissant: "Just relax for me, I'll make it feel good."

Croissant: "You're mine. All mine. Say it."

Strawberry tart: "Please stop teasing me."

Peach Cobbler: "Look at you. Taking me so well."

Madeines: "Oh c'mon you can be louder than that can't you?"

꒰ EXTRA ꒱

Espresso: Rough Sex

Creamer: Gentle Sex

Whipped Cream: Possessive/Obsessive behaviour

Chocolate Chips: Cockwarming

Strawberries: Dumbification:

Coconut shavings: Semi/public sex

Hazelnut drizzle: Dirty talk

Caramel drizzle: Praise

Strawberry drizzle: Degradation

Vanilla drizzle: Edging

Chocolate Drizzle: Overstimulation

Nutella: Kink of your choice

[chuubian]

Bulle fruit pancakes

Tags Arlecchino x fem reader, fluff, domestic life, anxiety, blood, death, soft Arlecchino, Arlecchino acts like an old man in this she’s my favorite gilf

Summary After a mission that nearly breaks you and Arlecchino apart, she decides she can’t let her job get in the way of your relationship. Living in the countryside after running away from the fatui can be scary. But Arlecchino finds a way to comfort and reassure you that you’re safe with her.

A/N: This is actually based off a conversation in stormbringer where verlaine tells rimbaud about his plan about running away and giving chuuya a normal life 😭😭 i wanted to cry during that and now i can’t stop thinking about it.

Images of Arlecchino, covered in blood and lifeless infront of you have haunted you since your relationship started. Her job is dangerous. Stepping out of line could lead to her being hunted down and killed. As her girlfriend, they wouldn’t hesitate to target you for revenge too. The fatui is not a philanthropic organization.

Her job requires her to constantly be away from home, sometimes you go weeks without hearing from her, wondering if she was killed— or, god forbid, captured and tortured. As a trained soldier, she would probably be able to handle it and escape, but it doesn't make it less frightening. There are still people stronger than her in this world— though it is very few.

On her last mission, Arlecchino is supposed to be sent to Inazuma for an undisclosed amount of time. Naturally, this revelation fills you with anxiety. How could they not know even a general timeframe? Was it this serious of an assignment. You begged her to please ask for a new assignment, but she brushes your worries aside. Telling you that you're overreacting and that if you can't handle it then there's nothing she can do to salvage the relationship, her cold red eyes staring into your soul, taking note of how you react.

You instantly go speechless, humbled by the threat. Sitting back down quietly, unwilling to lose her. Maybe it won't be so bad. She can still send letters. Arlecchino's gaze softens, leaning over you, kissing the top of your head gently. It was so sweet and intimate that you couldn't help but lean into her pleasant touch.

"I'll try to get back home as soon as possible. We can still write to each other."

Sighing softly, you look up at her. There was a flurry of emotions stirring up inside your chest. How were you supposed to be okay with this? You're brought back out of your thoughts by Arlecchino softly cupping your cheeks. Her nails, although sharp, feel soothing against your heated skin.

"It'll be fine. You worry too much."

Leaning away from her touch, you take a hold of her hands. You don't even want to look at her.

"How can you be sure? You don't even know how long you'll be gone."

Her eyes narrow, she pulls her hands our of your grip.

"I'm going whether you like it or not, it's my job. I expect you to reflect and come to your senses while I'm gone."

With that, she grabs her bags and leaves. Not even offering you so much as a goodbye. You sit in silence, feeling cold and abandoned. It's hard to even get up, your mind is filled with worries about what could possibly happen on this dangerous trip.

For the seven months Arlecchino is gone from home, she rarely writes. You can't really blame her, you don't respond to her letters either way. Nevertheless, you can't help feeling betrayed by her. She didn't stop to consider your feelings at all. It might be selfish, but you wish she cared more about you than her job.

When Arlecchino shows her disgraceful face around your shared house again, she's covered in blood. She doesn't wait for you to invite her in, taking the initiative to push past you, rushing into your bedroom and packing your clothes into a garbage bag. Stunned, you try to stop her.

"Arle! What are you doing?!"

She ignores you, seeming engrossed in her task. You try to pull her hands away, but instead of letting you, Arlecchino smacks your hand away. She looks back at you with a frenzied, irritated look on her face. It's clear you shouldn't mess with her, but you have barely talked to her in seven months, she can't force you to do anything. However, Arlecchino is nothing if not commanding and forceful. The look in her eyes chills you to the bone. Now you understand why she has such a high ranking in the fatui.

When she finishes packing your clothes, her cold hand wraps around your forearm- pulling you away from the bedroom, away from the house, and away from Snezhnaya. She doesn't speak until the harsh winter storms are far behind, in favor of the mild winters and humid summers of the Fontainian countryside.

"I'm leaving the fatui."

"What?"

She rolls her eyes, seemingly still aggravated.

"I'm leaving the fatui."

Your initial reaction is to doubt her new announcement. Even if she isn't lying- she betrayed you, she doesn't get to drag you away to Fontaine. But thinking it over for a few seconds, you realize something must've gone wrong. You take in her appearance, jacket turned brown. It makes you shiver, a sense of dread looming over you, the fright that comes with it sinks deep in your gut, making it hard to even move with the burden of your emotion weighing you down.

"Why? Did something happen?"

She moves to hold your hand instead, pulling you closer. The warmth radiating from her almost makes you forget about how stained her clothing and hand is.

“We’ll talk about it when we get to our destination, okay?”

You nod and follow her lead, unsure of what’s going on. Although the both of you aren’t speaking, it’s comfortable. The scenery of rainbow rose fields and exotic birds is a welcome change from the brutal blizzards that leave nothing but a white wasteland in Snezhnaya. As you both approach the cottage in the distance, you notice just how remote everything is. There's no people around at all, it doesn't seem like there's even any electricity. This is going to be a hellhole in the summer.

Arlecchino sets your bags down on the couch when you first enter, sighing softly. She starts taking off her soiled, blood covered jacket. Looking over her exposed arms, your mouth goes dry. It's been too long since you last saw her, and it was hard not to stare at her defined arms and strong back. She was covered in a thin sheen of sweat, her skin was glistening. You reached out to grab hold of her arm, finding it hard to resist. The feeling of her soft skin and firm muscles is invigorating. It's just so right. You're interrupted in your thoughts by Arlecchino sitting down and pulling you onto her lap.

"What are you thinking about, my love?"

"You still haven't explained anything."

While talking to her you can't help but run yours hands over her arms and shoulders. The years of training in the fatui have sculpted her like a Greek god, you can hardly even pay attention to what she says. She tilts your chin up to look her in the eyes, sharp nails digging into your jaw.

"i meant exactly what i said, I'm leaving the Fatui."

Scowling, you shake her shoulders. Why does she always have to be so tight-lipped?

"Okayyy but why...? This is so sudden! And especially for a harbinger its hard to completely escape, what if they come looking for us? You came back covered in blood, I was worried all seven months! We barely even talked in that time, so what gives you the right to drag me away from home?!"

You felt like you're going crazy, How is this normal in any way? Arlecchino can never just talk to you like a normal person. She shushes you by putting a finger over your mouth. Pushing her hand away, you glare at her.

"Why cant you ever talk to me like a normal person? Am i not worthy of knowing your thoughts? Or what you're up to?! Seriously you're so fucking condescending and irritating, Arle!"

She smirks in response. Seriously!?

"You're angry at me but you still use a nickname?"

You can feel your face get warmer, embarrassed and angry with her. She knows you too well, she always has to rile you up in the way only she knows.

"If you don't explain I'm walking the whole way to Snezhnaya."

Her grip around your waist tightens. She wasnt going to let her prized possession leave her so easily.

"Fine fine, Ill explain."

You cross your arms, waiting for the explanation.

"Look... I didn't want my job to get between us. You're more important to me than the fatui is so It's not a big deal okay?"

"That's it? You couldn't have told me that before dragging me to Fontaine?"

Gently running her fingers over your sides, she presses a soft kiss to your cheek. The tensions leaves your body at the tender show of affection. All the anger and worry dissipates, leaving your mind feeling light. It's a welcome change from the grim thoughts running through your head for the past seven months. It's amazing how easily Arlecchino can manage to lower your defenses- she's your biggest weakness and she knows it.

"I'm sorry, but i had to get us away from there as soon as possible... They'll definitely look for us but its okay, I'm here. I'll protect us. I've taken all the precautions i can. You trust me right?"

You nod, leaning in and resting your head on Arlecchino's shoulder.

"But... you're not even the strongest harbinger, what if they find us?"

She soothingly rubs your back. It's comfortable moments like this that remind you of why you fell in love with her. She's usually so cold and brutal, but during intimate moments she turns sympathetic and unguarded.

"They won't, i made sure."

"You came back covered in blood, I was so worried."

Your eyes start watering. During that period of minimal contact, your heart was aching for your lover. Aching for someone you assumed didn't feel the same way. The lump in your throat grows bigger, making it hard to breathe or talk properly.

Arlecchino lets you cry into her neck all night. Holding you tightly and never letting go. She could never even conceive of a world where your relationship isn't her top priority. A sense of warmth washes over you, melting away the cold lonely feeling in your heart.

It's been months since you ran away with Arlecchino. Months since you've been away from civilization and big crowds- but surprisingly, you don't feel isolated.

The paranoia of being found by the fatui never goes away. Slowly creeping up on your mind, becoming more and more persistent until it pounces- causing severe panic attacks and barbaric nightmares. Images flash before your eyes. Portrayals of Arlecchino collapsed on the floor, slumped over, covered in her own blood, eyes flat and lifeless. Your cottage has been ransacked and destroyed by those barbarians. All your furniture and clothing were scattered across the ground, some of them charred until they were unrecognizable. You could feel the heat radiating off the fire burning your back.

You tried to scream for help, but for some reason your voice wasn't working, your throat was closing. Your mind felt fuzzy, it was hard to think or move- like your legs were made of lead. You didn't even get to say goodbye. She was taken too soon.

Suddenly you were shaken awake. Eyes fluttering open, your cheeks were wet with tears and you could feel your heart tightening in your chest. Arlecchino's worried face was hovering above you. Gasping for air, you search for comfort in your lovers arms. Relieved to see her again alive, wrapping your arms around her and squeezing tight, leaning into the warmth- the life- radiating off of her.

"What happened, my love?"

She tenderly caresses your hair, running her slender and sharp fingers through the strands. It sends tingles through your scalp and down you spine, quelling the dull ache through your body.

"Y-you died..."

Your voice was shaky and weak. It was clear to Arlecchino that the nightmare had affected you deep to your core. She gently kisses your forehead.

"I'm here, I'm not leaving any time soon."

She gently pulled you back bed, laying you down in her caring embrace. The soft golden light of the sunrise is shining through the window and into your eyes. It made Arlecchino's smooth skin glow. She looks so heavenly, even with her messy bedhead. How had you landed someone so gracious and bewitching? She cooed softly, her enchanting voice lulling you into a dreamlike daze. Even with the horrible nightmares that haunted you, mornings like this were your favorite part of being with Arlecchino. She never fails to make you feel secure again.

After a few minutes of laying in bed and holding each other tightly, Arlecchino decides to get up, attempting to pry your arms off her.

"Noooo don't leave me!"

Whining, you hug her closer, refusing to let go of the human heater that sleeps on the other side of the bed. Unfortunately, Arlecchino is much stronger than you so she manages to get your hands off her, instead deciding to pin your wrists to the bed, straddling your hips.

"We have to get up eventually, my love."

Pouting, you start complaining and trying to free your wrists.

"But does it have to be now?"

She chuckles lowly, leaning in so close that you can feel her breath fanning over your face.

"Yes, it does."

Your heart is beating so fast, her face is so close, you can feel the electricity in the air. The heat radiating from her skin was making your face burn. It was hard to look her in the eyes, if you made eye contact you would probably burst into flames. But despite you avoiding her gaze, you could feel her staring at your lips, looking down at you under her, with your hair splayed out, so disheveled but still so beautiful. The butterflies in your stomach seeming to want to escape, fluttering against the walls of your stomach, making your muscles quiver.

She squeezes your wrists tighter, leaning in even closer. You could cut the tension with a knife. It was like there was a magnet pulling your lips closer, like the universe is working to bring the both of you together. Slowly, she presses her lips to yours. She tastes like heaven. Your head goes fuzzy and your body feels like it's floating. It's too soon after that, that Arlecchino starts pulling away. Her lips are parted, panting softly. Her eyes are darkened, her pupils dilated.

Suddenly, she sits up- looking high and mighty, like an ice queen.

"We need to get up."

She drags herself out of bed, giving you a playful smack on the ass.

"Agh!! you're mean!"

Smacking her hand away, you attempt to drag her back to bed.

"Come back!"

"Nope."

She smirks taking a hold of your hands, kissing the knuckles. It made you forget your goal. Before you could get back on track she pulls you out of the comfortable cotton sheets, wrapping her arms around your waist.

"Arle!"

She ignores your cries and carries you over her shoulders. You squirm and kick, trying to get free.

"Put me down!"

She holds the back of your thighs tightly, laughing at your struggle. Once you both arrive in the kitchen she finally puts you down on the kitchen counter. She stands between your knees, with her hands on your thighs.

"I told you we had to get out of bed."

"Well maybe i didn't want to."

"But i want you to, the sun is already up"

You scowl, pushing her hands off you.

"It's only seven! we should be sleeping!"

She shrugs, not seeming to understand the problem.

"I like waking up early."

You run your fingers through her hair, pulling her closer.

"You're like an old man, seriously why do we need to be up so early?"

She wraps her arms around your waist, pulling your bodies closer.

"The sun is up, it's time to eat."

You sigh, giving up on trying to convince her to be normal. Getting up from the counter, you walk around the kitchen grabbing ingredients and tools to start cooking breakfast.

"You better stay out of the kitchen, your cooking is deadly."

Arlecchino doesn't even try to argue, she knows it wont do any good. Sitting down at the kitchen table, admiring the view, she rests her chin on her hand.

It seems like a dream, the birds chirping in the distance, the beautiful flowers in the garden, the sounds and smells of your cooking- it all feels surreal.

You cut up the bulle fruits, mix up the batter, making Arlecchino's favorite dish-Hearthfire's trail, adding spices (which are desperately needed). You cant let her live on without spices anymore, it is physically hurting you to see her eat bland food. How does she even do it? She's just torturing herself.

After a few minutes of cooking you finally finish, giving her a nice big serving of pancakes with bulle fruit jubilee, and her stupid beloved Hearthfire's trail. She looks at it confused.

"Did you do something to it? It looks different."

"No... i spent so long making it perfect for you and you're complaining?"

She decides against pressing you for more information, trying some. Quickly, her face turns red. She evidently isn't used to eating anything other than bland meat. Regardless, she doesn't spit it out, deciding to swallow it before complaining.

"Why did you do this to me??"

Her voice is hoarse, you cant help but burst out in laughter. You've never seen her so flustered.

" Hehehe... Arle! you can't go on eating unseasoned food forever! It's time to be an adult."

"Seasoning is useless! If your food needs spices to taste good then its just bad quality."

Shrugging you point to her food.

"I worked very hard on that, you have to finish it."

She grumbles softly, complaining but doing as you say anyways. She sips her tea between every bite, suffering due to your little scheme. After she's done, she digs into her pancakes, seeming much more delighted at the taste of cold ice cream and sweet fruit on her tongue. You giggle watching her, amused by how weak she is to something so simple.

"Arle... How did you manage to get the position as the fourth harbinger when you cant even eat cumin?"

"Our position isn't based off food preferences, it's based on strength."

She clearly isn't as amused as you, her eyes narrowed.

"Still..."

"I just have a taste for quality food."

"I would hardly consider what you eat to be 'quality'."

"Hey! I eat your cooking, so that means you think your own cooking is bad."

Oh she thinks she's so funny. Groaning, you sit up straight.

"My cooking is good!"

"You don't seem to think so."

Scowling, you ignore her. You eat your pancakes angrily.

"Do you like my cooking?"

"No."

Her face betrays her words, she's smirking- enjoying getting under your skin. You decide you need to get revenge.... by wiping putting the whipped cream and ice cream from your pancakes on her face.

"I hate you."

She only laughs in response, wiping the cream off with her pointy fingers and licking it off. Her long forked tongue dragging over the blackened skin. She doesn't even try to hide her intentions, staring you right in the eyes with that evil, sinful stare.

The rest of the morning is a blur. You can only remember the feeling of pure bliss and the warmth of being in her arms. All the worries about the fatui finding you are completely forgotten when you're with her. Arlecchino makes you into a happier, more secure person. There's no other place you'd rather be.

[lillchris]

You with the dark curls; You with the water colored eyes (Two Shot)

Chapter One: A Sour Apple Can Spoil The Whole Bunch

Responding to @my-favorite-sign-blog Word Count: 1.7k

a/n: The book title is inspo from the song "Dear Arkansas Daughter" Anyway seeing that this is my first fanfic in a while, I thought it was no better time to start than the present. Most of the plotlines in this book will be ideas from my delusional brain. In this fanfic, Jalen and Paige actually dated so just keep that in the back of your minds ;) I hope you all like this first chapter! <3 TW: Angst, Jalen Suggs, Mentions of cheating and divorce, Swearing, Homophobia

It was Christmas morning in the Fudd household, and with that came Christmas breakfast, it was a tradition the family had yet to break.

It was precisely 8:30am when Azzi looked at the alarm clock beside her bed, and heard the sound of her father's voice ring down the hall as he banged pots and pans that woke up all those who were sleeping.

"Come on everybody up! Rise and shine it's Christmas morning and you know what that means!"

Tim Fudd's morning enthusiasm was not reciprocated as Azzi rolled back over, and pulled the comforter back over her head, in hopes of blocking out the loud ruckus outside her room.

"I'll rise but I sure won't shine." Azzi mumbled groggily.

Just then the door burst open, and she soon felt a dip in the mattress as she groaned from the sudden disturbance.

"AZZI! AZZI! AZZI! Wake up! Come on get up!" The sound of Drew Bueckers voice blared in her ear as she rolled over once again.

"Wow I guess that didn't work, maybe you should try since your besties." Drew shrugged before getting off the bed and walking out of the room.

"Come on you big head, get up. It's rude not to greet your best friend after it took three-plus hours to get here." Paige said in a teasing tone as she attempted to pull the comforter off of Azzi.

"Just five more minutes Paige, pleaseee. You know I'm not a morning person."

"Okay fine, but I'm sitting on the edge of your bed waiting here until you decide to get off your ass and wake up." Paige teased as she picked up a mini basketball that was lying on the floor.

The constant sound of the ball hitting the door and bouncing back, over and over was enough to drive Azzi nuts, she sighed before pulling off the covers.

"When, and how did you even get here? I thought you were going back home to celebrate Christmas with your mom's side of the family in Montana?" Azzi asked sleepily as she rubbed her eyes.

"Well, it took me a minute to realize after I said goodbye to you at the airport a month ago, that I wanted to spend Christmas with you instead. So I bought tickets for the next flight out to Virginia, and viola here I am."

"Paige do you need me for anything else, me and Jose want to play Fortnite," Drew said with a sigh as he trudged back into the room with a PS5 controller in hand.

When Paige didn't respond, Drew took it as a sign, rolling his eyes before leaving once again.

"Come on Azzi I want some of your mom's famous maple apple pancakes fresh off the griddle before your brothers eat them all". Paige says with a long pleading, drawn-out sigh.

"Don't make me force you out of bed".

"Noo Paige Please. Just let me wake up naturally. Jose forced me to watch some stupid ass Christmas comedy movie, and I am so tired." Azzi says with her eyes closed still as an annoyed groan falls from her lips.

"You're getting up whether you like it or not, come on," Paige says mischievously as she swats at Azzi's knee lightly as an incentive.

"Alright guess I'm going to have to carry you out like the princess you are." Paige says before picking up Azzi and slumping her over her shoulder carrying her out.

" Think you might want to carry Azzi more gently, she is Sleeping Beauty." Tim Fudd laughs upon seeing his daughter carried out Fireman's lift-style.

"Well, she is a princess after all," Paige says with a smirk before carrying Azzi bridal style in her arms.

"Wait before you put her down," Jose says laughing, before taking a picture of a sleepy Azzi, as Tim and Katie just laugh.

"Alright, Paige wake up Azzi it's almost time to eat." Katie says with a smile as she sets the last of the pancake on a plate.

"Wakey, Wakey princess, it's time to wake up for real this time." Paige says with a smirk as she bops her best friend on the nose, as she puts Azzi down forcing her to stand up despite how groggy she is.

"I'm up, I'm up! " Azzi says yawning as she puts on one of Paige's hoodies that she's currently "borrowing"

"Hey, that's my hoodie! Haven't you had it for over six months now?" Paige says jokingly with an eyebrow raised and a smirk plastered on her face.

"Whatever Paige. I like it, it's so comfy and it smells like you. I've worn it for the past month since I missed you." Azzi says as she leans against Paige's shoulder, and everyone sits at the table.

"She has hardly taken it off since we picked her up at the airport a month ago." Katie states as she passes the syrup bottle.

"Yeah, she practically lives in it." Tim chimes in, as Drew and Jose give each other knowing looks, as they look across the table at the two girls, who seem utterly comfortable and relaxed in each other's presence.

"Oh? So you actually missed me?" Paige says teasingly to Azzi as she eats her scrambled eggs.

"Of course I missed you! Is that even a question!" Azzi says with her mouth half full of food as she half-jokingly rolls her eyes. She glances over at Paige, before nudging her in the side playfully.

In Azzi's mind, she wanted to say: of course I missed you I always miss you. But she refrained, something in her mind stopped her.

Just as everyone was finishing eating, the sound of the doorbell ringing shifted their attention.

"I'll get it" Tim said as he rose from the table, before heading to the door.

"Is Paige Bueckers here by chance?" A young man says as he stands on the snowy outside steps.

"And who are you?" Tim asks curiously.

"I'm Jalen Suggs, Paige's- friend. I would like to talk to her for a second.

"Oh, so you're- never mind, sure come in," Tim says clearing his throat, letting the young man inside.

"Paige, someone's here to see you."

"Here to see me? On Christmas? I don't know who could possibly want to see m-." Paige's words stopped just as quickly as they had been spoken. Her mouth suddenly goes dry, upon seeing him standing there.

"I need to talk to you, please." Jalen says with a insistent look as she approaches him, firmly grabbing his forearm, and leading him into the living room.

"What the hell are you doing here Jalen on all of the days Christmas! I thought I made myself clear-"

"You did, baby, but I-I want to apologize, for everything." Jalen pleads as Paige's blood almost boils upon hearing him call her baby.

Paige sighs, looking down and shaking her head, before glancing over at Drew who is watching them talk. He quickly snaps his head toward the TV acting like he isn't staring.

"Look, can we just- talk about this outside. The at least decent thing you can do is not have this conversation in front of my little brother." Paige sighs in frustration as she and Jalen walk out onto the small front porch.

-----------------------------------------------------

Meanwhile, Azzi is helping her mom and dad clean up the kitchen.

"Whoa, what did that plate ever do to you?" Tim jokes as Katie shoots her husband a not the right-time look.

In Azzi's mind, the thought, the sight, the mention of that person, that man- Jalen Suggs, makes her blood boil to no avail. He was a dick, an asshole, hell, every insulting name in the damn book of insults, for what he put Paige through the last year and a half.

She despised him, how could he do that to Paige, Her Paige. She dismissed that thought quickly, as her mind trailed back to Jalen the more she thought about him the more her mind reeled and turned at just how much she disliked him.

"Azzi." The sound of someone's voice and the feeling of her mother's hand brought her back to reality, and it was only then did Azzi realize that she had been washing the same damn pan for over five minutes. She released the death grip she had on the pan before taking a deep breath.

"Azzi, are you alright?" Her mother's eyes met hers as she looked up from her feet.

"Yeah, I'm fine. its-just why the hell did he have to show up, right here, right now, on Christmas of all days- I just." Azzi sighed and threw her hands up in the air.

"I'm walking out there, I know it's not my place but I'm giving Jalen a piece of my mind."

Azzi says determined, walking out of the house before Katie can tell her not to.

"ooooh weeeh, man! Watch out! Here comes Azzi. That boy is gonna see some Fudd fury from her! That's my girl!" Tim says proudly as Katie shoots him another unamused look.

"One! You are not calling me baby, and two! Don't you dare bring my parent's divorce into this! I might have been only three but that does not make it irrelevant. " Paige says beyond angry.

Azzi stomped out onto the snowy driveway about to give Jalen a piece of her mind, but she stopped beside the two, seeing that she had come at a bad time.

"And don't bring Azzi into this either leave her out of this!" Paige says before realizing Azzi is standing right there.

"Oh I'm sorry did I hurt your "girlfriend's" feelings." Jalen shoots back.

"Don't talk to her like that don't you dare!" Azzi says stepping in front of Paige protectively.

"Oh does Paige need her best friend- or shall I say girlfriend to fight her battles for her? Is that why you broke up with me just so you could fuck your best friend instead?"

That was it Paige had officially snapped.

"I'm not the one who cheated, with my used-to-be friend Hayley Van Leith! And no that's not why I was going to break up with you! I broke up with you because you kept fucking continuously lying to me!" Paige says with venom in her voice.

"You need to leave now." Azzi says firmly as she once again steps between Paige.

"Yeah alright, whatever Paige, at least I tried apologizing. Yeah, you just have fun with your girlfriend here. She'll never be able to give you what I could." Jalen says mockingly.

Before leaving Azzi and Paige in the snowy driveway.

a/n: lmk what y’all think :)

[followsfrankiep]

A little (fluffy) Christmas gift for ya'll ❤️

Home Alone

It is the morning of the twenty third of December. It is most likely that everyone is with their families or partners by now. Sadly, it was not the same case with me. The bed felt emptier than usual, a constant reminder that Tom was away filming again. There was nothing new about the famous Tom Hardy being trapped in the film set since he's a prized actor after all. It's almost a month since he left to go to the US and our only mode of communication was through the phone. I sighed, stretching out before reluctantly getting up. I was not looking forward for the upcoming holidays knowing that I will be home alone.

Today was going to be another long day without him.

I made my way to the kitchen, the silence of the apartment almost deafening. Only food can help with my mood. I decided to make a hearty breakfast—pancakes, eggs, and bacon. As I whisked the batter, my mind wandered to Tom. We had been secretly dating for three years now, and his hectic schedule often kept us apart. We thought living together would help our relationship considering his busy schedule. However, it just made me miss him even more since his absence is even more evident now that we are living under the same roof.

The aroma of breakfast filled the air, but it did little to lift my spirits.

After breakfast, I changed into my workout clothes and headed to the living room. I set up my yoga mat and started my routine, hoping the exercise would help clear my mind. Each stretch and pose felt like a small victory, a way to keep myself grounded amidst the chaos of missing him.

Once I finished my workout, I showered and got ready to head to the grocery store. Christmas was just around the corner, and I wanted to prepare a special dinner, hoping against hope that Tom might make it back in time. The store was bustling with holiday shoppers, and I carefully selected ingredients for our favorite dishes. As I picked up a bottle of cranberry juice instead of wine, having wine is not the same anymore this christmas.

Back home, I put away the groceries and settled on the couch with a blanket. I turned on Netflix, trying to distract myself with a movie. But my thoughts kept drifting back to Tom. We usually video-called at night, and I found myself eagerly waiting for his call. The tiny box wrapped in festive paper sat on the dining table, a gift I had been saving for him. I glanced at it often, hoping I could give it to him in person.

As the evening approached, my phone buzzed. It was Tom. I quickly answered, my heart racing.

"Hey, love," he said, his voice warm but tired. I could see him laying down at his hotel room with the lights dimmed as well. "How was your day?"

"Hey, Tom," I replied, trying to sound cheerful. "It was okay. Just the usual—workout, groceries, Netflix..." I sighed, holding back my tears. I got too emotional just by seeing him. "I miss you."

"I miss you too, darling" he said, his eyes softening. He knew I was looking forward to spending this Christmas together and how upset I was when I first knew about his unavailability. "I'm so sorry I can't be there. We're rushing to finish these scenes, and I don't know if I'll make it back in time for Christmas."

"I understand," I said and bit my lower lip, though my heart ached. "I just wish we could spend it together."

"Me too," he sighed, running his fingers through his hair. "I promise I'll make it up to you. You know I hate being away, especially now."

We talked for a while longer, sharing our days and comforting each other. As we said our goodbyes, I looked at the tiny box again, my fingers tracing the edges. I hoped with all my heart that Tom would be home soon, so I could give him his gift and we could celebrate together.

The night grew darker, and I curled up on the couch, holding onto the hope that maybe, just maybe, he would walk through the door and make this Christmas unforgettable.

---

I still remember the day we met. It was at a charity event three years ago. I was there with a friend, feeling a bit out of place among the celebrities and high-profile guests. Tom was one of the speakers, and his passion for the cause was evident. After his speech, I found myself at the refreshment table, nervously fiddling with my drink.

"Hey there," a deep voice said, startling me. I turned to see Tom Hardy himself standing next to me, a friendly smile on his face.

"Hi," I managed to reply, my heart pounding. I mean, who wouldn't be nervous? It's Tom Hardy!

We struck up a conversation, and to my surprise, we hit it off immediately. He was down-to-earth and genuinely interested in what I had to say. By the end of the night, he had asked for my number, and the rest, as they say, is history.

Our first date was magical. Tom suggested a cozy little Italian restaurant tucked away in a quiet corner of the city, far from the prying eyes of the paparazzi. I arrived a bit early, my heart pounding with anticipation. The restaurant was warm and inviting, with soft lighting and the comforting aroma of freshly baked bread. I chose a table near the back, hoping for some privacy. As I waited, I couldn't help but feel a mix of excitement and nerves. I thought he wouldn't arrive so I started taking a bite from the bread.

I heard a deep chuckle nearby. When I looked up, Tom is standing infront of me with a cheeky smile plastered on his face, looking effortlessly handsome in a casual shirt and jeans. He flashed that charming smile that made my heart skip a beat. As he approached, I stood up, and he greeted me with a warm hug.

He brushed some of the bread crumbs off my lips as I blushed out of embarassment. Tom Hardy just saw me devouring the complimentary bread. What a way to start a date.

"Take it easy on the bread there." He teased.

"Shut up." I playfully rolled my eyes, earning another chuckle from him.

"Hey, you look amazing," he said, his eyes twinkling. He tucked a strand of my hair behind my ears.

"Thanks, you too," I replied, feeling a bit shy.

We sat down, and the conversation flowed easily. Tom was incredibly down-to-earth, and we talked about everything from our favorite movies to our childhood memories. He shared stories from his filming experiences, and I found myself laughing and feeling more at ease with each passing minute.

The food was delicious, and we savored every bite while continuing our conversation. At one point, Tom reached across the table and took my hand, his touch sending a warm shiver down my spine.

"I'm really glad we met," he said softly, his eyes locking onto mine. "There's something special about you."

I blushed, feeling a rush of emotions. "I'm glad we met too, Tom. This feels...right."

After dinner, we decided to take a walk. The night was cool and crisp, and we strolled through a nearby park, the city lights twinkling in the distance. We talked about our hopes and dreams, and I felt a deep connection forming between us.

As we reached a quiet spot by a small pond, Tom stopped and turned to face me. "I know this might sound crazy, but I feel like I've known you forever," he said, his voice filled with sincerity.

"I feel the same way," I admitted, my heart swelling with emotion.

He leaned in, and our lips met in a gentle, tender kiss. It was a moment of pure magic, and I knew then that this was the beginning of something truly special.

From that night on, our bond only grew stronger. Despite the challenges of keeping our relationship a secret and the distance that often separated us, we found solace in each other. And now, as I waited for his call, I held onto the memories of that first date. I miss him even more.

-

The day before Christmas, I woke up with a heavy heart. I sent Tom a message, pouring out my feelings. I told him how much I wished he could be here with me, but I understood his obligations and wished him well. I stared at my phone, hoping for a reply, but none came. I sighed, trying to push away the disappointment.

Determined to make the best of the day, I threw myself into preparing our Christmas dinner. I started with the deviled eggs, carefully mixing the yolks with mustard and mayonnaise, then sprinkling them with paprika. Next, I moved on to the prime rib, seasoning it with a blend of herbs and spices before placing it in the oven. The rosemary roasted potatoes were next, their fragrant aroma filling the kitchen as they baked. I tossed together a fresh garden salad, the vibrant colors a small comfort amidst my loneliness. Finally, I prepared the English trifle, layering sponge cake, custard, fruit, and whipped cream with meticulous care.

As I worked, my mind kept drifting back to Tom. I glanced at the bottle of wine I had saved for us, my heart sinking. With a sigh, I placed it back on the shelf. It seemed pointless to open it when Tom wouldn't be here.

I tried to distract myself by watching his series, "Taboo." Seeing him on screen, so intense and captivating, made me miss him even more. I curled up on the couch, a blanket wrapped around me, and let the episodes play. Each scene reminded me of how much I loved him and how much I wished he could be here.

The hours passed slowly, and the apartment felt emptier with each passing minute. Going back and forth from the kitchen and the living room while checking my phone, hoping for a message, a call, anything. But there was nothing. I knew he was busy, but it didn't make the silence any easier to bear.

As the evening drew closer, I finished setting the table, lighting candles and arranging the dishes. The tiny box with his Christmas gift sat in the center, a symbol of my hope that he might still make it. I sat down, staring at the flickering candlelight, and whispered a silent wish that Tom would walk through the door and make this Christmas unforgettable.

It was almost midnight, and the smell of the prime rib was too enticing to resist any longer. I decided to eat the dinner I had prepared the whole day, even if it meant doing so alone. I served myself two huge slices of the succulent meat, along with a little bit of everything else. It made my heart so happy to see it perfectly cooked. I am so hungry. I feel like I could eat for two. Instead of the wine, I poured myself a glass of cranberry juice.

I settled in front of the TV, still watching "Taboo," and began devouring my meal. The flavors were incredible, and I couldn't help but feel a small sense of satisfaction. I was in my sweatpants and hoodie, my hair tied up in a messy bun, completely at ease. For a moment, I allowed myself to enjoy the food and the comfort of our cozy apartment.

As I took another bite of the prime rib, savoring its tenderness, I felt a sense of happiness. It wasn't the Christmas Eve I had hoped for, but at least I had made a delicious meal. I was so engrossed in my food and the show that I almost didn't hear the doorbell ring.

Startled, I paused, my fork halfway to my mouth. Who could it be at this hour? My heart raced as I got up and walked to the door, wiping my hands on my hoodie. I peeked through the peephole, and my breath caught in my throat.

There, standing on the other side, was Tom. His eyes were tired but filled with warmth, and he held a small bouquet of flowers in his hand. I quickly unlocked the door and flung it open, my emotions overwhelming me.

"Tom!" I exclaimed, tears welling up in my eyes.

"Hey, love," he said softly, stepping inside and wrapping me in a tight hug. "I couldn't stay away. I had to be here with you."

I buried my face in his chest, feeling the warmth and comfort of his embrace. "I missed you so much," I whispered, my voice choked with emotion. His scent was so intoxicating.

"I missed you too," he replied, pulling back slightly to look at me. "I'm sorry I didn't reply to your message. I wanted to surprise you."

I smiled through my tears, feeling a rush of happiness. It did not matter anymore. I am just happy he's here now. "It doesn't matter. This is the best Christmas gift I could have asked for." We made our way inside, he plopped his things down and inhaled the smell of the freshly cooked food.

He glanced at the table, seeing the half-eaten meal. "I was just about to say "let's eat" but it looks like you started without me," he teased, his eyes twinkling.

I laughed, wiping my tears away. "I couldn't resist. The prime rib was calling my name."

Tom's gaze softened as he looked at me. "You've got a little something right here," he said, pointing to his own lips.

I blushed, realizing I had some gravy on my lips. Before I could wipe it away, Tom leaned in and kissed me, his lips warm and gentle. "Mmm, delicious," he murmured against my lips, making me giggle.

"You're such a tease," I said, playfully swatting his arm.

"Only for you," he replied with a wink. "Now, let's finish this meal together."

We sat down, and I served him a plate. As we ate, we talked and laughed, the apartment filled with the warmth of our reunion. Tom noticed the TV and grinned. "Watching 'Taboo,' huh? Missing me that much?" he teased, pinching my cheek.

I rolled my eyes, smiling. "Maybe a little. It's not the same without you here."

Tom gave me a warm smile, leaned in and kissed my cheek. "Well, I'm here now. Let's enjoy this meal together."

We continued eating, sharing cute banter and stealing kisses between bites. "This prime rib is amazing," Tom said, his eyes lighting up. "You really outdid yourself."

"Thanks," I replied, feeling a warm glow of pride. "I'm glad you like it."

As the clock struck midnight, we put our plates aside and shared a sweet kiss. "Merry Christmas, love," Tom whispered, his arms wrapped around me.

"Merry Christmas, Tom," I replied, my heart full.

Tom glanced at the wine on the shelf and raised an eyebrow. "Why didn't you open the wine? I know you love it."

I shrugged, feeling a bit sheepish. "I didn't think it was worth opening without you here."

He smiled, grabbing the bottle and bringing it to the table. "Well, let's open it now and celebrate properly."

As he poured the wine, he noticed the small gift box on the table. "What's this?" he asked, picking it up and bringing it over to me.

"It's your Christmas gift," I said, smiling. "I was hoping to give it to you at dinner."

Tom's eyes sparkled with curiosity as he sat back down beside me. "Well, let's see what it is," he said, handing it to me.

I took a deep breath, feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness. "Open it," I said softly.

He carefully unwrapped the box, revealing a positive pregnancy test and a small ultrasound picture of a tiny bean. Tom's eyes widened in shock, and then he jumped up, his face lighting up with pure joy.

"Are you serious?" he asked, his voice trembling. "We're having a baby?"

I nodded, tears streaming down my face. "Yes, Tom. I'm twelve weeks pregnant."

Tom let out a whoop of joy, lifting me off the ground and spinning me around. "We're having a baby!" he exclaimed, his eyes shining with happiness. He set me down gently and immediately knelt, kissing my stomach tenderly. "Hello, little one," he said softly, his voice filled with love. "I am your dad. I can't wait to meet you."

I laughed through my tears, overwhelmed by his reaction. "I love you so much," I whispered, my heart bursting with emotion.

"I love you too," he replied, standing up and kissing me deeply. "This is the best Christmas gift ever."

He pulled back slightly, his eyes scanning me with a newfound understanding. "So that's why you were so hungry for the prime rib," he said, a grin spreading across his face. "And why you didn't drink the wine, and why you're in your comfy clothes."

I nodded, smiling. "I wanted to be comfortable for the baby."

Tom's eyes softened even more, if that was possible. "You're going to be the best mum," he said, kissing my forehead. "And I'm going to be the best dad."

We spent the rest of the night together, enjoying the meal and each other's company. Tom couldn't stop talking to my stomach, making me laugh with his excitement. "You're going to have the best parents, little one," he said, his voice filled with joy.

As we sat back down to eat, Tom noticed the ultrasound picture again. "I can't believe it," he said, shaking his head in wonder. "We're really having a baby."

"Yes, we are," I said, smiling. "And I couldn't be happier."

After we finished eating, Tom pulled me close, his arms wrapping around me and my baby bump. "I'm not leaving your side tonight," he whispered, his voice filled with love and determination. "I want to be here with you and our baby."

We cuddled on the couch, his hand gently resting on my stomach. "I can't wait to meet you, little one," he murmured, kissing my belly softly. "And I can't wait to spend every moment with you both."

It was a Christmas Eve I would never forget, filled with love, laughter, and the promise of a beautiful future together. Tom held me close, and I knew for the next Christmas, I would not be alone.

[melikedraw]

Married life with Gaolang headcanons

Ft. Gaolang wongsawat x gn! Reader

Sickeningly fluffy

~~~~~

Take note: I'm not a writer, I don't know what I'm doing, I just want gaolang content

Now that that's set aside-

~~~~~

- Married life with Gaolang is probably the easiest part of your relationship with him. No more of your painfully obvious hints bouncing off his dense head, no more questioning whether the feeling you had for him was reciprocated due to his unreadable expression

- Now, Gaolang doesn't expect you to take his surname, but if you refer to yourself as Mr/Mrs Wongsawat, he will feel so fucking smittened with you

- Gaolang's job as Rama's personal bodyguard requires him to leave your shared house early and come back late

- However, that has never stopped him from giving you any less love

- Though it pained him to leave the bed you two shared, he would always wake up early to prepare breakfast for you

- and by breakfast I don't mean cereal with milk

- He can and will make a filling and balanced breakfast for you, with some carbohydrates like rice, pancakes or toast, proteins like eggs or ham, and fibrous foodstuffs like a side salad or a bowl of fruit

- as someone who doesn't usually eat breakfast, this meal looks like a lot, but even if you aren't a breakfast person, Gaolang's handmade meals aren't something you can just pass up

- He WILL make you eat it (usually the smell itself is enough to have you feeling hungry anyways, so it isn't too difficult for him)

- After prepping your breakfast, he would wake you up to eat it before it goes cold

- he also wants you to be awake to see him off while he leaves, but he won't be admitting to that any time soon.

- for his job, Gaolang has to wear a suit and tie, not his preferred choice of clothing, but it was what a bodyguard typically wears

- putting on the outfit was usually one of the more boring parts of his morning, so help him get past this hurdle by putting it on for him!!

- button up his shirt, tie his tie, straighten up his blazer and dust him off while standing him in front of his full length mirror, telling him how good he looked this morning

- and don't forget a goodbye kiss for when he's putting on his shoes to leave the house

- I think gaolang would like you to be a housewife/husband

- it's not that he wants you to give up your dream job or anything like that, no. If you have a job you want to keep, he'd gladly support you in any way he possible could

- it's just that part of him wants to give you a perfect life, comfortable, in which he believes he can provide for you, and indeed he can, which is why he would want you to have the freedom of not needing to work

- However, if you agree to this arrangement of his, you can't just laze around all day and waste away in bed

- Being free all day, you usually do the grocery shopping, cooking lunch and dinner, laundry etc

- basic housekeeping stuff

- gaolang will try his best to help you with it too, but his job is inherently tiring, so treat him well!!!!

- now that I'm done with you two's day to day activities, lets move on to other stuff (HELP IDK WHAT IM DOIN)(ignore me)

- Gaolang would be super conflicted about having kids

- on one hand, he is obsessed with the thought of a child that was a mix of the two of you, like a symbolism of your marriage and love for him or something

- on the other hand, he KNOWS how busy he is, and he understands better than anyone that he can't possibly split his time in a way that would provide for the child the fatherly care they would require

- if you do want a child with him, you're going to have to do a LOT of convincing, begging and pushing because he is STUBBORN

- it mostly stems from his very valid fear of not being able to be a good father, and not wanting an innocent child to have to face the fact that their father can't even be there for them

- most likely you two will not have a kid, but hey, you tried (or didn't)

~~~~~

Yikes I'm all out of ideas

Should I make a prequel to this?? (Dating life with gaolang)

[aezuria]

*ੈ✎ be my, be my baby!

—be my baby; the ronettes

content: leo valdez x daughter of aphrodite! reader

╰┈▸ back cover: part I | part II | part III

╰┈▸ warnings: cursing

librarian's annotations: guys i realize this would technically be a twoshot.. ANYWAY yall already KNEW i had to make a part 2 also i had to search up 'villain hand pose' to get the word STEEPLE -the more you know ig

loveloveyn shared a note "mom if ur reading this set me up with yk who I BEG"

you sighed and put down your phone. this was honestly getting embarrassing. you hadn't even had a single conversation with the love of your life! maybe you'll sacrifice an extra nice portion of your breakfast to aphrodite. yeah, that's what you'll do.

you hated to say goodbye to the best part of your maple-syrup drenched pancakes, but it was for the greater good. please give me a real sign mom!! you prayed silently as you scraped the rest of your plate into the fire.

love wastes no time apparently, because as soon as you turned around to walk back to your table, leo stops short in front of you with his plate, the both of you almost bumping into each other. oh my gods. you've never been this close to him before! "uh, sorry." you muttered and walked around him before he could see how embarrassed you were.

'uh, sorry!?' what the hell is wrong with me!? you went back to your table, mortified at your awkwardness. where was your charisma when you needed it!? you put your head in your hands. piper noticed and poked you. "what's up with you? love problems again?"

you stayed stagnant, staring into space. "i think i'm the problem."

alldaladiesluvleo sent a message to: water, fire, air, and frank "BIG RED BUTTON"

jason ran into bunker 9, percy and frank mere steps behind him. "what's going on? what's the emergency?" he leaned against the door, panting. percy was doubled over on his knees, frank not looking much better.

leo swiveled around in his chair and put his elbows on the desk in front of him. his hands a steeple in front of his mouth, making him look like a villain talking to his henchmen. this was probably the most serious he's looked in his life.

"as you all know, everyday i have dedicated my offerings to the goddess of love, hoping to receive a sign to pursue fajita." he paused for the ultimate dramatic effect. "and i have gotten an answer."

the three boys broke out into a flurry of overlapped reactions.

"are you still calling her 'fajita?'" jason raised his eyebrow, focusing too much on the small details. it was a very unconventional codename.

"i love fajitas, and i love her!" leo broke his stoic attitude for a second. "it makes perfect sense!"

frank's tired expression morphed into a very, very, unamused look. "you used the emergency codeword for this?"

"hey! the big red button was absolutely necessary!"

"oh. my. gods," percy gasped, immediately standing up straight. "no way."

leo nodded solemnly, back on his stoicism. "yes way."

jason looked at him skeptically. "are you sure it was a sign sign? or are you just being delusional again?"

the curly-haired boy shot him a look, though not very intimidating. "i am completely sure! i specifically said, 'please make her bump into me as a sign' and guess what happened at breakfast!?" his serious front gave way into an ecstatic smile. "she did! that's the most definite sign i've gotten!"

frank and jason had a silent conversation with each other. wait, that is the most definite sign he's gotten. frank's eyes seemed to say. did her mom finally listen to his begging? jason's eyes responded. percy was too busy jumping for joy and congratulating leo to notice.

the boy in question was jumping along with him, before clearing his throat. "guys. i'm gonna follow her." he pulled out his phone to prove it.

shocked gasps ensue. they all crowd around him, looking over his shoulder as he went to your profile. the bright blue 'follow' button stared back at him, taunting him. he took a deep breath of courage and pressed it. the button smiled and turned into a more forgiving grey of 'requested.'

"i did it." leo looked at his friends in disbelief. "i did it!"

"he did it," jason and percy breathed out.

"you know you still have to wait for her to accept, right?"

"oh, fuck you, frank! you ruined the moment!"

loveloveyn sent a message to: so coquette 🎀🏹🔪 "CODE RED I REPEAT CODE RED"

mere moments after you sent that text, piper came running with hazel and annabeth in tow. they caught sight of you laying in the grass and rushed over. annabeth knelt before you, shaking your shoulder. "y/n!? oh my gods are you dead!?"

you opened your eyes and blinked up at her. "oh hey guys, you're here!"

the blonde was very much not amused. her cheeks were tinted a dusty shade of rose as you were in fact, not dead and she had made a fool out of herself. (it really wasn't that embarrassing, you're okay girl!) "so what's the emergency? i thought we agreed to use that in important situations."

you sat up straight, almost knocking her head in the process. "this is super important. like, the events of my life have aligned perfectly and created this moment. wrench.." you paused, also for dramatic effect. "followed me."

the three of them stared at you, disbelieving.

so, you turned on your phone and went to your instagram notifications. there, at the top, it said:

alldaladiesluvleo requested to follow you. 1m

"oh my gods," they said in unison as they stared at your phone in shock.

"hurry! accept it!" hazel insisted, and shook your arm.

"wait, don't do it right now! give it like, a couple hours," piper shook your other arm.

annabeth stayed silent, probably pondering the pros and cons of both choices. you were quiet too; for an entirely different reason, that being a well-thought out love life of you and leo, reaching all the way into marriage. what type of house should we get? how many kids will we have?

"in fifteen minutes." annabeth finally spoke up, startling you from your nice home life built inside your head. "accept it in fifteen minutes. that way, he won't think you don't like him by waiting hours, but he won't know how desperate you are if you accept right now."

"was that jab really necessary!?" you huffed, but you knew she was right. "alright, fifteen minutes it is." you went to your clock app and set a timer.

"did you seriously just set a timer?" piper asked incredulously.

"how else am i supposed to know when exactly to follow my man!?"

librarian's annotations: THERES GONNA BE A PART 3 I JUST WANTED TO SEPARATE THEM

[fakescenariosbeforesleepblog]

Every step to win your heart.

König x FEM reader.

Short version, your little crush turned into a dark obsession with this big guy. You weren't expecting he could actually fall for you.

Warning: Stalking, spying, mentions of drugs, Grammatical and spelling errors, image not mine. I think there's no specific description of the reader so you can read it as a Neutral too.

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters nor do I claim to own them. I do not own any of the images used nor do I claim to own them.

König barely goes to his house, he prefers to work without stopping. But after almost 4 months without appearing there he decides after this mission he would take some rest.

You've been observing him for a while, you're like his shadow, poor guy, he doesn't even know about your existence but you already know some good things about him.

His morning routine, his favorite fruit, the size of his clothes and combat boots, you already know that he likes the cloth softener with that baby smell, you know he prefers the minimalism deco at home, he doesn't like the raw yolk egg and sometimes he simply eats the egg white with fresh grounded black pepper and salt, he eats pancakes and waffles without honey or any other topping, coffee needs to be black without sugar but if you offer him some tea he likes with two teaspoons of sugar and a little bit of milk.

How do you know all these things about him without even talking to him? Simple, you've been following him everywhere, spying on him, of course in your mind everything is innocent, you can't see the dark side of your obsession. All started after he saved you, you were a hostage a few years ago, he arrived and rescued you and your parents, he was kind and very protective over you and the other hostages, you couldn't avoid developing feelings for the man.

It was hard to find him, his name and everything about his personal information was a secret, until one day you saw a man, tall and muscular, bright dark brown hair, blue eyes and a perfect nose, some scars accentuating his features just walking by the street, he went inside a grocery store and bought a bottle of sparkling water, you weren't sure but something told you that body and the way he was walking was familiar to you, quickly you crossed the street and went inside the grocery store too, observing him more close, definitely was him, you confirmed it after you heard his accent and his voice.

That was the beginning, you quickly understood he was rarely at home, you found his address walking behind him, you saw where he usually saved his keys, he never felt your presence you were quiet and discreet so it was easy, you passed a great part of your time spying on him, if you weren't working you were searching and spying.

Today is the day of your master plan, you've been waiting for him out of the base where he works, you know he's there, finally at 19:00h, he appears with another man, not so tall and with asiatic features, both talk and then say goodbye, that's when you turned on your car and started to drive slow, you know he lives close to his work so he simply walks, he enjoys to walk everywhere.

Once you're sure he will go directly to home you drive fast to arrive before him, you park in front of his house, no one is out observing you, so you quickly pinched your car's tire and ran quickly to König's principal door, you put a strange liquid on the lock and handgrip, it's simply to make him faint, then you go back to the car, now you wait to see him arrive and ask him for help.

There he comes, his face is serious and lacklustre, you leave the car and ask him for help.

- Hey, excuse me, I'm so sorry to bother you but could you help me? I have a flat tire and I don't know how to fix it, my phone's dead and you're the first person I see walking here...

Clearly annoyed he agrees and asks you to give him your Toolbox and spare tire. While he holds the tire you decide to put some more liquid on the tools he will be using to fix that flat tire.

König doesn't feel any effect until he finishes his work with your tires, you're very friendly and somehow he feels like he has seen you before but doesn't know where or when.

-Ja, Kein Problem (yes, no problem)... Ah...Have I seen you before?

You offer him a kind smile and before you can answer you can see his face, he doesn't feel well. König feels like his head is spinning and feels sleepy, he doesn't say anything else and simply walks as fast as possible to his door, he opens it with a lot of difficulty but once the door is open, he falls on the floor.

You quickly walk to him, once you're sure he's not hurt you drag him inside the house, it was more difficult that you expected but finally he's on his bed. You close his bedroom door and go quickly to grab his backpack and park your car in his garage.

König wakes up feeling nauseous as if he drank too much the previous night or something, then after a couple minutes he realizes he slept in underwear, he doesn't remember when he changed his clothes, his head hurts, his boots are clean and in his usual place, why can't he remember when he did all those things? Finally, the sound of music catches his attention, He's not alone.

Quickly but silently he tries to stand up and tries to grab a small gun he has under the nightstand beside his bed, unfortunately he realizes he's chained to the bed, he thinks he's not being listened to but in fact you already heard him, you're simply finishing to decorate his plate for the breakfast, after a few minutes he can hear steps walking through the corridor of his house, the music comes from the kitchen and it's not only music, the smell of food fills his lungs and then a voice, singing.

What the hell is going on? You're standing on his bedroom door with a tray full of meals, He observes your body and the way you move, you're very pretty but... Why are you there? Are you dangerous? What do you want from him?. You gasp a little excited, he's awake, but sadly he doesn't seem happy.

- Who are you? What are you doing in my house and what do you want from me?

- Hi, you're finally awake, I'm y/n and I bring you the breakfast... König calm down please.

Your pleading eyes can't convince him, he needs more answers.

- What do you want from me? HOW DO YOU KNOW WHO I AM? TELL ME!

- I... I can explain it, just... Calm down... I'm not a menace.

he quickly considered his options and then he nodded. You point at his bed to indicate you will put the tray there.

He doesn't look at somewhere else but your eyes, he's focused on your eyes. Once the tray is over the bed you step back, you're ready to explain yourself but the sea of questions starts again.

- How do I know you will not try to poison me? What do you want from me?

- Eat first, I spent the whole morning cooking all your favorite meals. You haven't eaten since... God knows when.

He finally looks at the tray in front of him, indeed, there's a lot of food, all his favorites for breakfast, but then he looks at you, his look says he still doesn't trust in your word.

- König, if I wanted to hurt you I could do it while you were... Unconscious, instead of that, I cleaned the fresh wound you have on your bicep and your thigh, I cleaned your boots and knives, your laundry and I cooked for you. Once again, I'm not a menace.

He takes the plate and before starting to eat he sees a small note at one side of the plate «welcome home 🩷». Home? When was the last time someone felt happy to see him? When was the last time he felt that his house was actually a home? For him it was just the place where he can go whenever he feels seriously tired of his comrades at work.

His thoughts are interrupted by you when he listens to your question.

- Is it good? I hope it tastes good...I tried to make it in the way you usually do it.

He can't lie, it actually tastes better than when he cooks.

- Yes, it is. Can you tell me what you want now?

- It's a long story... But I've been looking for you, observing you, following you since... I don't know, maybe you don't remember but you saved me and my parents and some other hostages, we were in a hotel, you saved us.

- Ja! I remember, it was like 5 years ago. So what?

- Well, maybe for you it was as any other successful mission, but for me it was... A realization about the kind of man I wanted for me. You stole my heart, König.

You approach König who's now observing you as if you were insane, you slowly kneel down in from of him.

- I looked for you, for months until I found you, then I started to follow you everywhere, learning about you, the things you like, the thing you hate, your story, who you were when you were young, what you did during your young years...

He's quiet, he can't believe your words, your innocent look is adorable and almost convincing but all this 'love' that turned into something else, something dark but strangely... Attractive, makes him feel out of place, something unexpected.

Of course women approach him occasionally, but he never gives them a chance, he has always been alone, he never thought someone could give him love, that's why he never went through relationships or meeting people in a romantic way. Now you're here, in front him, you literally kidnapped him in his own house to finally introduce yourself, talking about love, is he dreaming?

- König, I know maybe it wasn't a good way to do it and you have all the reasons to not trust me, but I noticed when women try to get close to you, you leave, I didn't want you to run away...

- I don't run, I just reject them. Do you think I'm a man who can have love? I am not the man you created in your head.

He says it without caring, he doesn't even look at you, but it's not because he doesn't care, he wants to know if you're talking seriously.

- You're. I Know very well who you are... and if you want to reject me, fine. But I'm not going to give up, do you understand? When I want something I get it in a way or another.

- Is that a menace, Liebling?

He finally stares at you, your look is not bright and innocent, is dark, determined and cold.

- It's a warning, baby. So, you have two options, give me a chance now that I'm doing everything for the good way or call the police and send me away, but trust me when I say this. Your missions will be the least of your problems, I will not give up, you will not keep me away, I'll be there, I'll be like your shadow, hunting you, step by step until I can finally call you mine.

König smirks. You unchained him from the bed and walked away, he stays there thinking about you and your words, he can't lie to himself. You're pretty, hot and you look smart, the determination in your eyes and voice, you send shivers through his spine, he continues eating, after all, you spend the morning cooking, for him, you cooked for him, no one cared about him in that way, the few times he tried to be with a woman, they don't even offer him a glass of water or show at least a little bit of affection, they just wanted a quick fuck.

Now you're here, craving for his acceptance, for his affection. He's not afraid of you or your warnings, he simply thinks he's not in a position to reject you.

He walks to the kitchen and there you are Washing dishes and singing in a low voice. He stops and observes you, such a tiny doll, he could easily erase you from the map, but, he already made a decision.

He slowly walks to you, at this point you already feel his presence, you're waiting for his next move. Suddenly a pair of strong arms are around your waist, the warmth of his Chest and abdomen is pressed against your back.

You waited for this moment, since he appeared in your life, you saw this moment in your dreams, now it's happening, you close your eyes and slowly turn to him, you return the hug.

- You have one chance, that's all.

- I'll make it worth.

You kept your promise, it was slow since he was in long missions, but he started to enjoy the attention you had with him. When he was at home you had plenty of dates and time together, sometimes he was concerned about how jealous and possessive you could be but he admitted, it was a great feeling.

Every time he was back in the base he called you to let you know he was alive, when he would be at home and to know how you were doing.

Once you knew he would be at home, you cleaned the entire house and spent your day cooking, you bought him flowers, beer, candles and prepared him a hot bath.

When he arrived at the door you always jumped on him, kissing his face, he loved it, König never expected he could actually feel that happiness, eventually he invited you to meet some of his colleagues, everybody adored you, he was a proud man, he loved you, he fell hard for you.

[crossfandomskylines]

In the Space Between Us: Chapter 15

OTHER CHAPTERS:

Chapter 1 I Chapter 2 I Chapter 3 I Chapter 4 I Chapter 5

Chapter 6 I Chapter 7 I Chapter 8 I Chapter 9 I Chapter 10

Chapter 11 I Chapter 12 I Chapter 13 I Chapter 14 I Chapter 15

Chapter 16 I Chapter 17 I Chapter 18 I Chapter 19 I Chapter 20

Pairing: Glen Powell x OC

Summary: Gabby and Glen spend one last night together before she heads back to Los Angeles and he prepares to start filming his next project. The next day they both struggle to say goodbye at the airport knowing it will be weeks until they see each other again.

Word Count: 2.8k

Warnings: None.

A/N: Please continue to let me know what you think with Hearts, Comments, and Reblogs! Also if you'd like to be tagged please let me know, and I will get you added to the tag list!

Tag List: In Comments - Tumblr for some reason doesn't like linking more than 5 usernames so I'm just going to use the tags in the comments to make sure you get the notification!

The next few days that followed were a blur of easy laughter and quiet moments, a rhythm of life that felt natural to Gabby in a way she hadn’t experienced in years. Austin welcomed her with its laid-back charm, but it was Glen’s presence that made everything feel effortless.

Mornings were spent lingering over coffee in Glen’s kitchen, where sunlight poured through the windows, casting golden light over the wooden countertops. Gabby loved watching him cook breakfast, his movements unhurried yet precise as he scrambled eggs or flipped pancakes. They talked about everything and nothing, trading stories and teasing each other in a way that left Gabby’s cheeks sore from smiling.

Afternoons were reserved for exploring Austin. Glen took her to his favorite taco stand tucked away in the heart of the city, where Gabby insisted on trying every salsa they offered. He laughed when her face flushed after sampling the spiciest one, quickly handing her his drink to cool her down.

Evenings were slower and more intimate. One night, they curled up on the couch, a movie playing in the background as Gabby’s head rested on Glen’s shoulder. She had almost fallen asleep when she felt him press a soft kiss to the top of her head, and though she didn’t say anything, the unspoken tenderness in the gesture filled her chest with warmth. Another night, they sat on Glen’s back porch with a couple of beers, watching the stars and letting the comfortable silence stretch between them.

It was simple, and exactly what Gabby needed. For the first time in a long time, she felt herself letting go of the weight she’d been carrying. She didn’t just exist anymore—she was living, and she couldn’t deny that Glen had a lot to do with that.

On the night before Gabby was set to go back to Los Angeles, they were in Glen’s room. Gabby lay nestled in his arms, her head resting against his chest as they stretched out on his bed. The room was dark, illuminated only by the faint glow of the moonlight streaming through the partially open blinds. Glen’s steady heartbeat beneath her ear was comforting, but she could tell something was off.

He’d been quiet all day. At first, she assumed it was just the weight of her leaving tomorrow, but the longer the silence stretched on, the more it gnawed at her. It wasn’t like Glen to retreat into himself, not with her.

She shifted slightly, propping herself up on one elbow so she could look at him better. His gaze was fixed on the ceiling, his brow furrowed in thought. The subtle crease between his eyebrows tugged at her heart.

“You’ve been quiet today,” she murmured, her voice soft in the stillness of the room.

His eyes flicked down to meet hers, and he forced a small smile, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Just been thinking,” he replied, his voice low.

Gabby tilted her head, studying him. “About?”

He hesitated, his gaze fixed on the ceiling as though the words he was looking for were written there. “About tomorrow. About us.”

Gabby’s stomach tightened at the admission, but she forced herself to stay calm. “I know it’s going to be hard,” she said, threading her fingers through his. “But we’ll figure it out, right? We’ve already talked about how we’ll stay in touch—texts, FaceTimes, maybe we can plan some visits or something—”

“It’s not that,” Glen interrupted, his voice quiet but firm.

She frowned, sitting up slightly so she could look at him more closely. “Then what is it?”

He propped himself up on his elbow, his free hand running through his hair in a gesture that told her just how much this was weighing on him. “It’s just... I know what I signed up for with you, Gabby. But sometimes I wonder if you knew what you signed up for with me. I wonder if you’d be better off with someone... I don’t know... someone more normal.”

Gabby blinked, stunned into silence for a moment. “Normal?” she echoed, her tone disbelieving. "Better off? What are you talking about, Glen?"

“Yeah,” he said, his gaze dropping to the space between them. “What if you'd be better off with someone who has a normal job and a normal life. Someone who doesn’t have to be gone all the time for work. Someone who isn’t constantly in the spotlight. Someone who can give you the kind of stability you deserve.”

“Don’t do that,” she said firmly, her voice cutting through the heavy air between them. She reached out, cupping his face in her hands and forcing him to meet her eyes. “Don’t start giving me an out before we’ve even had a chance to face this. I’m here because I want to be here. I know your life isn’t normal, Glen. I knew that when I met you. I know it comes with challenges, but I’m not scared of them. You’re worth it, okay?”

His eyes softened, and his hand came up to cover hers, holding it against his cheek. “You say that now,” he murmured. “But I just... I don’t ever want to make you feel like you’re settling, or like you’re giving things up to be with me.”

Gabby’s expression softened as she leaned closer, her forehead resting against his. “I’m not settling with you, Glen. You’re giving me something I didn’t think I’d find again—something real.” She paused, her forehead gently resting against his. “For so long, I told myself I’d never let anyone in like this again. It wasn’t worth the risk of being hurt. But you... you’ve made me believe in relationships again, in us. That’s not settling.”

“Gabby...” he started, but she pressed a finger to his lips, silencing him.

“I don’t want ‘normal,’” she continued, her voice steady as her hands slipped down to his chest. “I want you. I don’t care what your job is, what your crazy schedule is like, the spotlight that’s on you all the time. I don’t care about any of that stuff. I care about you.”

Glen stared at her for a long moment, his expression unreadable. Then, slowly, he reached up and covered her hands with his, pulling them away from his face just enough so he could press a kiss to her knuckles. 

“You’re something else, you know that?” he said, his voice thick with emotion.

Gabby smiled, the tension in her chest easing slightly. “You knew what you were signing up for,” she teased gently, echoing the words he’d said to her earlier.

He chuckled, the sound low and warm, and tugged her back down into his arms. “Guess I did,” he murmured, his lips brushing against her forehead.

They lay there in silence for a while, the only sound the faint rustle of the sheets as he held her close. Gabby felt his grip tighten slightly, as though he was trying to memorize the feel of her in his arms before the world pulled them apart again.

“You’re stuck with me, Glen,” she said softly.

He smiled against her hair, his heart swelling at her words. “Good,” he whispered. “Because I don’t want it any other way.”

A silence fell between them that felt comfortable, the earlier tension eased by Gabby’s words. Her fingers absently traced patterns over the soft cotton of his shirt. The steady rhythm of his heartbeat beneath her ear was soothing, grounding her in the moment.

For Glen, though, the stillness wasn’t quite the same. His gaze was fixed on the ceiling, but his thoughts were entirely on the woman in his arms. How had he gotten so lucky? How had someone like her walked into his life? And how was he supposed to let her go tomorrow, even for just a little while?

“Gabby,” he said softly, his voice cutting through the quiet.

She stirred against him, lifting her head just enough to meet his gaze. “Hmm?”

He didn’t answer right away. Instead, he just looked at her, taking in every detail—the gentle slope of her nose, the curve of her lips, the way her eyes seemed to hold a thousand emotions all at once. A slow smile spread across his face, one that made her own lips twitch upward in response.

“What?” she asked, her voice light but tinged with curiosity.

Glen reached up, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear before letting his hand linger against her cheek. “I love you,” he said simply, his voice steady but full of meaning.

Gabby’s heart skipped a beat, her smile growing as warmth spread through her chest. “I love you too,” she replied softly, her voice barely above a whisper but no less sincere.

The way she said it—without hesitation, without fear—made Glen’s chest tighten in the best possible way. He watched as she leaned up, her hand resting lightly on his shoulder for balance as she pressed her lips to his.

When they finally broke apart, both were breathing hard, their foreheads pressed together as they tried to steady themselves. Gabby’s eyes fluttered open, meeting Glen’s, and the intensity in his gaze made her stomach flip.

“I’m going to miss you,” she murmured, her voice soft but laced with emotion.

Glen’s thumb brushed over her cheek, his touch lingering as he studied her like he was trying to commit every detail of her face to memory. “You don’t even know,” he replied, his voice low and rough.

* * * *

The morning sun streamed through the truck’s windows as Glen navigated the road toward the airport. The drive was quieter than their usual conversations, the air heavy with unspoken emotions. Gabby sat beside him, her head resting against the window, her fingers laced tightly with his on the center console.

Glen glanced over at her, his chest tightening at the sight of her subdued expression. Gabby was rarely this quiet. Normally, she’d be teasing him about his music choices or recounting some random story from her day, but today… she seemed lost in her thoughts.

“Hey,” he said softly, giving her hand a gentle squeeze. “You okay?”

She turned to him, offering a small smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Yeah. Just… thinking.”

“About?”

She shrugged, her thumb idly brushing against his knuckles. “Everything. You leaving. The next few months.” Her voice wavered slightly, and she looked out the window again, blinking rapidly.

Glen’s grip on her hand tightened, his jaw clenching as he forced himself to focus on the road. He hated seeing her like this, knowing there was only so much he could do to ease her worries. But he’d be damned if he didn’t try.

“Listen,” he began, his voice steady but soft. “I know this isn’t going to be easy. For either of us. But I need you to remember that we’re still in this together, okay?

Gabby turned back to him, her green eyes shining with unshed tears. “I know.”

He nodded, his throat tightening. “It’s like you said yesterday, we’ll make it work. We can call, text, Facetime. Hell, I’ll send you a hundred cheesy memes a day if that’s what it takes to make you laugh.”

A small laugh escaped her, breaking through the tension in her chest. “You already do that.”

“Good,” he said with a grin. “Then I’m just gonna keep doing what I do best.”

Her smile grew, and for a moment, the weight in the air seemed to lift. Glen glanced at her again, his gaze lingering as he tried to memorize the way the sunlight caught her hair, the way her lips curved even when she was trying to hold back a smile.

“You know,” he continued, his tone softening, “it’s okay to be upset about this. I don’t want you to feel like you have to be strong all the time, Gabby. I want you to talk to me about how you're feeling. I know this is hard."

Gabby’s fingers tightened around his as she nodded. “I just… hate the idea of you being so far away.”

“I hate it too,” Glen admitted, his voice thick with emotion. “But I’m coming back to you. Don’t ever doubt that.”

She didn’t respond, but the way her hand stayed firmly in his spoke volumes.

Glen pulled his truck up to the Southwest gate, the rumble of the engine quieting as he shifted into park. Gabby opened her door, stepping out into the cool morning air, the smell of jet fuel faint in the distance. For a moment, she stood there, her gaze fixed on the busy airport entrance ahead of her, the weight of reality pressing down harder than it had all week.

Glen climbed out and walked around to the back of the truck, pulling her suitcase out of the bed. The sound of the bag’s wheels hitting the pavement snapped Gabby out of her thoughts, and she turned to watch him.

As he set her suitcase down beside her, it hit her all at once. Sixty-five days. Nine weeks and two days. That’s how long it would be until she saw him again. It sounded so manageable when they talked about it before, but now, standing here, staring at the terminal that would take her away from him, it felt impossibly long.

Glen stepped closer to her, noticing the way her eyes had glossed over with unshed tears. 

“Hey,” he said softly, his voice steady but warm. “It won’t always be like this.”

Gabby nodded, but the lump in her throat made it impossible to respond. She glanced at the planes lined up along the runway, her gaze landing on the 737 she assumed was hers. It sat there like a cruel, unmoving promise, ready to take her thousands of miles away, away from Glen, away from the warmth of his arms. But the 2,175 miles that was going to be separating them for the next two months may as well be a million miles apart, because that’s what it felt like in her heart.

“Come here,” he said, closing the distance between them. He cupped her face in his hands, his thumbs brushing gently over her cheeks. “Give me one last kiss before you go.”

Her breath hitched, but she leaned up on her toes, her lips meeting his in a kiss that was sweet, slow, and filled with everything they couldn’t put into words. Glen’s hands slid down to her waist, holding her as if he could memorize the way she felt against him in these fleeting moments.

As their lips parted, Gabby’s eyes fluttered open, the tears she’d been holding back finally spilling over. She hadn’t even noticed them pooling, but now they were streaming freely, hot and unrelenting. Glen saw the first tear roll down her cheek, and it nearly shattered him.

“Gabs,” he whispered the nickname he'd given her, his voice breaking just slightly.

He pulled her into his chest, wrapping his arms tightly around her. One hand cradled the back of her head, holding it gently to his chest as he rested his chin on her hair. She clung to him, her fingers fisting in the fabric of his shirt as if she could keep him here, just like this, for a little longer.

“It’s gonna be okay, I promise. We’re gonna get through this,” he murmured, his lips pressing a tender kiss to the crown of her head.

Gabby nodded against him, her breaths coming in uneven gasps as she tried to rein in her emotions. Glen held her until she stilled, his hand rubbing slow circles on her back.

Finally, he leaned back, just enough to look at her. His own eyes were glassy now, but he managed a small, reassuring smile. 

“You should probably get going,” he said gently, his voice thick with reluctance.

Gabby wiped at her cheeks, nodding as she stepped back. But before she could reach for her suitcase, Glen leaned in one last time, capturing her lips in a lingering goodbye kiss. This one was different—filled with longing, with love, with the quiet ache of goodbye.

When they pulled apart, Gabby’s heart felt heavier than ever, but she reached for her suitcase, her fingers brushing against the handle.

“Text me as soon as you land, okay?” Glen said, his voice steady again, though the slight crack at the end gave him away.

“I will,” she promised, her voice trembling as she met his gaze.

“I love you,” he said, the words both an anchor and a plea.

“I love you too,” she whispered back, her voice barely audible over the bustle of the airport around them.

He stood there as she turned toward the entrance, his hands stuffed deep in his pockets to keep from reaching for her again. She glanced back once, her lips pressed into a wobbly smile, before disappearing into the crowd.

Glen stayed rooted to the spot, watching until he couldn’t see her anymore. The ache in his chest was sharp, almost unbearable, but he refused to move, as if staying there just a little longer might make the distance feel less real.

Finally, with a heavy sigh, he climbed back into his truck. As he pulled away from the curb, he glanced at the terminal one last time, silently willing the next sixty-five days to pass a little faster.

[newtsbloodygf]

Breakfast Pt.1

Pairings: Stray Kids x Reader (female)

Summary: Stray Kids making breakfast for you vs you making breakfast for them

Content: Fluff, cute, cuddles, breakfast (mostly in bed)

Warnings: None

Inspired by: @cosmic-railwayxo (i hope the tag works, cause I'm new🥲)

Part two here: [loading..]

Bangchan

(his smile omg sidnodksks)

When he makes breakfast for you

He would (most probably) wake up earlier than you. If he had time, he would make breakfast with you. Of course, he would cook stuff you'd like. And would bring the breakfast to bed. (cause he's a cutie🥺) Would wake you up, so you could eat what he made for you and tell him if it's good or not. Or if he had to leave early and wasn't sure if and when you'd wake up, he would wake up to make sure you ate your breakfast and gave him his goodbye kisses. Also, it would be totally cool with you if he didn't have time to make you breakfast. I mean, being a leader would probably make him really busy some times, but you understood that.

When you make breakfast for him

The very few times you woke up before him (sorry lol🥲) you'd make breakfast for him in return. Or maybe to thank him for being the best fcking boyfriend in the whole damn world. Or just because you felt like it and said "why not?". You'd bring him pancakes or something you knew he really liked. He would thank you a million times and shower you in kisses.

(i'm so fucking lonely🥲)

Hyunjin

(ksnssonsks he's so cute)

When he makes breakfast for you

Most of the times, he would wake up first, his arms around your waist, cuddling with you. He would gently remove his hands, trying not to wake you up. (xkdjdk cutie pie) He'd make your favourite breakfast and bring it to bed in a fucking tray🥺 And if you ever said you weren't hungry, he'd force the food into your mouth, cause "you have to eat something"🥺 (i love him so much, it's insane)

When you make breakfast for him

If you ever woke up before him (sorry again🥲💀), you'd make his favourite breakfast and also bring it to the bed in a tray. If he wasn't already awake when you walked into the room, you'd gently try to shake him awake, probably mumbling his name softly a few times. He would also thank you a million times and tell you how "you didn't have to do this for me". And would most probably shower you with kisses as well and praise you for your great cooking.(for the hundredth time since you started dating, but anyways)

Felix

*casually inserts the king of our hearts*

When he makes breakfast for you

The few times he's awake before you (cause I think he'd be a sleepy boy), he would cook your favourite stuff for breakfast and bring it to bed in a tray, if the stuff fit in the small tray. (🥲) If it didn't fit, he'd just put them around the kitchen table and wake you up to go to the kitchen with him. Would probably carry you to the kitchen, bridal style and place you gently on a chair. He would wait until you finish your breakfast, so you'd tell him if it was good enough. (poor baby just needs some validation🥺)

When you make breakfast for him

You'd mostly wake up before him and probably make him some cupcakes with a hot chocolate or something like that and bring it to the bed. If he was asleep, you'd admire him for a while and gently stroke his hair, until he wakes up. He'd also say that you didn't have to do that for him and would probably tear up. (someone give him a tissue🥺) Would definitely shower you with kisses and thank you each time you made breakfast for him. Would tell you that your cooking was really good and how he really was in need of breakfast, because he'd have a long day ahead of him.

I.N.

(baby bread is baby breading in this one)

When he makes breakfast for you

The few times he's wakes up before you (cause he's also be a sleepy boy), he'd cook your favourite breakfast. Would most probably carry the stuff in a tray and give it to you in bed. If you weren't awake when he'd come to your room, he'd wake you up with a few soft pecks at your kiss and/or by stroking your hair gently. He'd even tell you that he made all your favourites and then hand them to you. He'd watch you eat with a smile on his face, waiting for you to tell him that he did a good job!

When you make breakfast for him

The times you woke up before him, you'd sneakily get out of bed, trying not to wake your baby up. You'd make all his favourites and bring them to the bed. Would wake him up by stroking his face and hair. He'd wake up to see you looking at him with heart eyes and a small smile. (you were not so secretly admiring him) Would tell you that you didn't have to do this, but would gladly and happily eat the food anyways. Would thank you and shower you with kisses while you just giggled at his actions and his cuteness.

[ritzylate]

@saradika-graphics made the lovely dividers and also taught me what dividers were.

This is from a huge fic I'm writing and I'm posting entirely out of order. I plan on posting the whole thing on a different AO3 eventually. this is just the start of just one part of the story. I cut out the worst of the NSFW content. I'm saving that for AO3. Kinda wanna feel out the crowd to see if my writing is something people would enjoy reading.

"Caught" A Harvey x reader fic - NSFW

NSFW 18+ MDNI MDNI MDNI MDNI I literally cannot say this enough. This is not for you.

Super dialog heavy.

Content warnings: Past relationship trauma, trauma and sadness in general, established relationship, adult entertainment, getting off. You get the idea.

AFAB!reader.

Word count: 3200 ish

I have trouble with tenses so I'm sorry if this is ass to read. I tried.

“So you're staying at Harvey’s then?” Robin asked.

“Yeah,” you say, slinging your bag over your shoulder.

“That's great,” she says with a smile. “How are things going between you two? Good then?”

“Yeah,” you say with a little more conviction. “It's going really well, actually.” 

You feel a smile spread across your face.

You hide your embarrassment by staring intently down at the pebble under the toe of your boot.

“That's so great!” Robin cheers. “Harvey is such a great guy, and he's not too bad to look at either,” she says with a wink.

You let yourself get lost in the thought of him for a moment before clearing your throat.

“I best be off,” you say. “I don’t want to get there too late. I don’t want to keep him from opening shop too late.”

Robin laughs to herself.

“Of course. Well, have fun. Don't do anything I wouldn't do.”

“Robin, you're too young to lecture me on what to do,” you joke. 

Robin throws her head back in a laugh and waves goodbye.

The short drive to Harvey’s place allows you time enough to think of how you want to thank him. A few obvious ideas cross your mind, but you shake them free, wanting to offer something special and more thoughtful than just that.

“Hey!” Harvey stands out front of his office, the morning sun bright and beaming.

You hop out and sling your arms around his shoulders.

“How are you doing darling?” he asks, holding you in a tight warm hug. The fall air smells of sweet leaves and honey.

“I’m good,” you smile. “Robin’s started on the renovations. Should be done in a few days. It really means a lot to me that you wanted me to stay.”

Harvey chuckles. 

“Are you kidding? Of course I want you to stay. I’ve been waiting for today all week.”

Harvey leads you inside and up the stairs to his flat. 

“You can put your bag anywhere. Make yourself comfortable. I’ll make us some coffee.”

As nice as a good breakfast or coffee sounded, you had to get back to work. 

“You’re so sweet,” you say. “But I need to get to work, I have a long day ahead of me.”

“You need to eat,” Harvey said, flatly. “You can’t work if you don’t have enough energy. So sit. I have some pancake mix. I bought it just for today so if you don’t have any I’ll be sad.” 

Harvey tosses you a sarcastic smile as he reaches into the cupboard.

“Okay, okay,” you say reluctantly, sliding onto the bar stool at the counter.

“So,” Harvey starts. “What do you have planned today?”

You sigh. 

“A lot. I have some weeding to do, probably cut some trees down. Could use the firewood.”

Harvey nods as he listens to you spell out your mundane day.

“What about you?” you ask him over the rim of your coffee mug.

“Not much, honestly,” he says. “I have a few patients. But nothing big.”

A timer dings signifying the pancakes are ready. 

“Here you are, dear,” he said, sliding the pancakes onto a plate. 

“Thank you, Harvey,” you say earnestly. Your stomach rumbles at the idea of a pancake breakfast.

Harvey takes your plate and throws it in the sink as you finish your last bite.

“I’ll get to it later,” he says with a shrug.

“That was really kind of you,” you say shyly. It was hard for you to accept such kindness.

“Happy to do it.” Harvey watches you for a moment before drawing his attention to the clock.

“I better get down there,” he said with a heavy sigh. “Or Maru is going to tear me to shreds.”

You wipe the syrup off your lips with the back of your hand.

“Breakfast was lovely, Harvey, thank you,” you say again. You feel like there isn’t enough thanks in the world to express how much his gestures meant to you. 

Harvey places his hand on the small of your back.

“Don’t work too hard today,” he says as he nudges you, giving you a kiss on your cheek. 

When you arrive back at the farm, Robin is knee deep in her project. It’d only take three days, she said, but you have trouble imagining how such work could be done so quick.

You set to work at the farm. Your cows needed milking, your chickens needed feeding, there were new fruits found in the cave. But your mind wandered. 

Wonder what Harvey is doing right now?

If Robin was paying any attention to you, she’d laugh at how blissfully unaware you were of your surroundings. 

The sun sits high in the sky when you lean down to start plucking at the weeds biting at the base of your crops.

You yank at the greenery when you feel a tightening in your calf, followed by a sharp, sudden pain.

The pain catches you off guard, and you reach down to grasp at your leg. 

You fight to stay on your feet, but before you know it you fall to the dirt.

“Are you okay??” Robin calls out. You hear her boots hitting the metal on her ladder. 

“Oh what happened?”

“I don't know,” you say honestly. “I think I pulled something. I stood wrong or something. I'm fine.”

“Well. It's a good thing you're fucking the doctor, huh?”

You try to laugh, but the grimaced pain on your face won't go away. 

Robin rubs your back. 

“I'm sorry, I shouldn't joke. When a farmer stops working because of pain, you know it's serious.”

“It's not serious,” you say. “I'm fine. But…maybe it wouldn't be the worst thing in the world to stop early.”

Robin wraps an arm under you and lifts you up. You hobble to your car, Robin helping you open the door to shuffle you in.

“I can drive you,” she offers.

“No no, I'm fine, I can make it. It's all good.”

Robin looks after you with a worried, motherly look on her face as you wave to her through your open window.  

You pull up to Harvey’s clinic. The windows darkened except for a distant light shining through the hallway door leading to the stairs. . 

The pain comes and goes, but either way, you really weren't getting that much work done. And you’re already here. No sense in returning only to have the pain spike again. You might as well call it a night.

You push the front door open into a near silent office. The only sound being a slight hum from the heater.

“Harvey?” But no one answers. 

You close the door quietly, locking it behind you. 

There are slight sounds emanating from beyond the stairs but nothing too distinct. Just enough to let you know he's home. 

You climb the stairs, holding onto the wall for extra support. 

The handle to Harvey’s flat sticks slightly, but gives way to a click with enough force. 

“Harvey?” you ask again.

You move to peer round the door, not wanting to spook him. You press your knuckle to the door to give it a knock, but take pause when your brain catches up to what you're hearing.  

Heavy breathing, soft moaning, the creak of Harvey’s leather chair.

You peek your head around the door just long enough to see Harvey at his desk. His laptop opened, the screen obscured by his bare chest.

Harvey’s head rests on the back of his chair, knees barely visible on either side of him. 

“Oh fuck,” he breathes.

Your eyes widen from the shock. From this angle, you can't see much, but you still feel your cheeks flush.

You can see enough to watch him bring a hand to his forehead, running his fingers through his hair. He grabs a fistfull of his auburn locks, tightening them into a fist.

You shut your eyes, turning from the door. But the sounds of Harvey still wash over you like a wave. 

You feel breathless yourself. What do you do? Do you say something? Interrupt? Do you turn and leave? And even then, what next? Wait a few minutes, then come back? Do you pretend you only just arrived, give him a shout up the stairs to give him warning? Do you lie and pretend you didn't see anything?

You decide that leaving would offer the most ideal situation for him. Leave, wait downstairs for a little bit, then come back up. He doesn’t have to know you were here. You pull the door towards you to slowly shut the door. As it swings shut, your boot catches the edge, causing the door to bounce off the rubber. The hollow squeak sounded louder than church bells in the current situation. 

Harvey’s head whips around, his eyes widening in horror.

“Oh Yoba!” Harvey shouts, fumbling with his laptop screen. His hurried, frightened movements cause him to trip over himself, nearly knocking over the bookcase and all of its contents. 

“I- it- oh my- I can't believe, I-” Harvey’s panicked voice rushing over his words.

“Hey, hey, it's okay!! Harvey, it's fine!” Your race to issue as much reassurance as you can through the half closed door. 

“I wasn't, I mean, I was but, shit this is so embarrassing oh Yoba I don’t know what to say.”

You close the door over and hide even further behind it, teetering on the edge of the stairs.

You can barely make out Harvey's figure as he fumbles to pull his pants up around his hips before the door shuts completely. You hold onto the handle with one hand, your knuckles turning white from sheer panic.

“Harvey, really, you're fine! It's okay!!” you call through the door. “I'm so sorry I didn't mean to walk in on you, this is my fault, I'm so sorry.”

“You're just here earlier than I expected, I’m so sorry, I can’t believe-” Harvey pulls the door open, looking at you with a beet red face. You stumble over your feet to catch your footing. 

 Harvey narrows his eyes. 

“Are you okay?” The panic in his voice fading immediately. 

You don't say anything, feeling your own embarrassment sneak in. 

“Your leg? What happened?” Harvey's voice shifts from anxious to concerned medical professional immediately. 

You didn't realize you were still rubbing your calf.

“What?” You almost forgot. “No, I'm fine, I think I just strained it or maybe a charley horse, I'm fine. I thought maybe it was my sign to come back a little early. I should have texted you, I'm sorry.”

“Yes you should have!” 

You feel a wash of shame at his voice being raised. This was all your fault, none of this had to happen if you had just been responsible and texted him first. 

“You shouldn't have walked on it, I could have come and gotten you. That's what I'm here for. To help you.”

His words softened and by the end his voice was soft like satin.

“No, no, I’m sorry. I shouldn't have just let myself in. There’s nothing wrong really. I can go,” you offer.

You stand up straight, putting your weight mostly on the other leg. 

The pain fades into a dull ache that feels more like a memory of an injury.

Harvey walks to you, placing a finger under your chin. He pulls your eyes to meet his.

“Hey, no, stay here. You don't have to leave. Let's get you off your feet.”

Reluctantly you follow Harvey into his flat, feeling a flush of panic and shame for having created such an uncomfortable situation. 

“You don't have to do everything yourself, you know,” Harvey said. 

You laugh to yourself, thinking of all the times you were really injured, and probably should have called upon him for help, but didn't. Of all injuries this was hardly the one you'd bother him with.

“I've been through so much worse,” you say, before realizing that was probably the last thing Harvey wanted to hear you say. 

“It's just a muscle cramp. Really.” 

You try your best to assure him, but the worry still sticks to his face.

Harvey runs his hand down your arm.

“Why don't we get you some water, sit down, relax a bit. If you're getting Charley horses you might be dehydrated. Or you're overworking yourself, but either way, water isn't a bad idea.”

You feel yourself blushing at how Harvey rushes to take care of you.

You don't say anything out loud at first; you just take a seat on your favorite stool.

“It seems we're both not used to having someone else fuss over us.”

Harvey reaches for a glass, his pj's riding down on his hip slightly. 

“Whatever would give you that idea?” Harvey jokes. 

Harvey’s voice returned to normal, but his eyes still held worry. His brows stitched together in concern. Concern for which one of tonight's events was a toss up. Probably both, realistically speaking. 

As much as you hated to admit it, taking a load off felt nice.

The two of you fixate your gazes on the tap filling the glass. You wondered which one of you would break the silence first. 

Harvey turns the tap off and leans over the counter to slide you your drink.

“Thank you,” you say quietly. You take a modest sip trying to draw out the silence until one of you finds the strength to speak.

To your surprise,  it’s Harvey.

“Listen,” Harvey starts.  “I-I would feel better if we just…forgot about what you saw. I honestly-I can honestly say I have never been more embarrassed by anything in my entire life.” 

Harvey fixes his gaze on the floor, wearing away at an already thread barren towel sitting on the sink.

“Harvey.” You try to soften your voice as much as you can without sounding like you're patronizing him. You want to tell him you’ll forget all about it. You want to tell him there’s nothing to be embarrassed about, but you know that won’t help the situation.

“I've always felt this weird, I don't know, shame? About that." Harvey makes a wide motion with his hands towards the corner of his room with his desk. 

“I know all the facts, I know it's not weird and it’s common for a lot of people.  I hear the shame and fear from patients myself, all the time! And I reassure them that, scientifically, it's not only safe but healthy. And if that doesn’t help and they still have concerns, I’ll suggest a therapist I know out of town, and they’ll come back to me telling me how much it’s helped them. I know all that. But…” Harvey trails off, tracing a finger along the edge of the counter. 

“I find myself feeling weird about it too. Like, I don't…” Harvey shifts from foot to foot. 

“Like you don't what?” You reach out, taking his hand in yours. 

“I feel like I don't deserve it. I feel like, okay, sex, at least someone else is getting something. I'm serving a purpose. But by myself it's just me, and I struggle with the idea that I deserve it.”

You sit in silence, letting Harvey take his time and say whatever he feels comfortable saying. 

“I'm sorry,” he said. “I don't know why I'm telling you all this. This just made this even more embarrassing.” 

You take a beat before speaking again.

“Thank you for telling me. You can always tell me whatever you want, and I want you to know how much I appreciate you sharing that with me. I know it can be hard.”

You reach a hand towards him, inviting him to your touch. He obliges, leaning into your cupped hand. You gently stroke his cheek, feeling the flush of his skin. 

“But we don't have to ever talk about this again if you don’t want to. You have my word. I will speak of it no more.”

Harvey went quiet for several minutes. The only sounds coming from the ticking grandfather clock and the hum from the radiator. 

You don't look away, keeping a soft gaze on his face. 

“You don't think I'm weird for it?” Harvey’s voice was small, almost weak. 

“Yoba no!” You exclaim. “I'd be a hypocrite if I did. My vibrator gets more use than my farm tools. My bottom drawer is as colorful as a rainbow.”

You offer him a lighthearted smile as your eyes search his face. 

Harvey closed his eyes and nervously tapped his foot against the linoleum floor. 

“That's really a relief to hear,” he says with a nervous chuckle. “My biggest fear was that you’d be upset.”

“Upset?” You tilted your head to the side. Upset? Upset about what? The very idea would never have crossed your mind. 

“Yeah,” Harvey drawls. “One of my past partners felt a certain way about it. Certainly didn't help me with my own hang ups.”

“I'm really sorry to hear that.”

“Eh,” Harvey shrugged. “We were young. I wasn't exactly the most reasonable person either. It was just a bad time.”

You nod. We've all been there you want to say. 

But instead you say, “just know that I’m here to listen. And if you want to stop, we stop. But I’m here to listen for as long as you want.”

This time Harvey is the one to nod. You can practically see his thoughts racing behind his eyes. 

“It’s okay. We can keep talking. This is good.”

You settle into your seat and take a breath in. You open your mouth to speak, but just offer a smile, a nod, and a small squeeze of his hand instead.

“So you don’t think it’s weird?” he asks again, continuing to nervously shift around.

“I think it's hot,” you say with a shrug.

“Really?” Harvey’s surprise both visible and audible. 

“Yeah,” you chuckle. “I would have been open to watching if that had been something you wanted. I panicked, and I didn't know whether to say something, leave and come back, pretend I didn't see anything and call out like I had only just arrived…”

“I would have picked the last one if you gave me the option,” Harvey said, putting his head down laughing.

“I'm so sorry,” you plead. “I was turning to leave, but I made too much noise. I’m truly sorry, I wasn't there for more than 5 seconds, I swear. I wasn't even sure what I was seeing at first, it was that quick a glace. If that helps.”

Harvey inhaled deeply. 

“That actually does help,” Harvey chuckled. 

“But-” he stuttered. “I'm kinda glad you didn't. Leave, that is. I'm kinda glad we're talking about this. Really glad, actually. Not just to clear the air, but because this feels like a really good conversation for us to have.”

Your heart beats out of your chest, you feel so warm and fuzzy.

“I really like you,” he says softly. Harvey looks up at you over the rim of his glasses. 

“I like you a lot, so, this feels like something I should share with someone who I really, really like.”

“Oh Harvey,” you say, placing your hand over your heart. You had a million things you would have liked to say. But all you could do was sit there, staring at the man you were falling in love with, thinking about all the ways you wanted to kiss him.

“This is, I guess, my first real, mature, established relationship since college. And even then, I don't know if I can call any of those relationships mature or real.”

“I'm really honored to hear you say that,” you say in a voice closer to a whisper. You can barely hear him over the sound of your heartbeat in your ears. 

Harvey closed his eyes and took in another deep breath. 

“I guess that's the plus side of dating in your 30s, huh?  We're all a little experienced.”

“A little traumatized,” you add. You sound like you're joking, and even though you both throw your heads back in a laugh, you both know you're right. 

There's some more silence between you, but the air feels lighter. 

Harvey rounds the corner of the counter and wraps his arms around you. He holds you in a tight hug. His heart sounded like a war drum.

“Thank you,” he says. His voice deep and echoing in his chest.

“You deserve to be happy, Harvey.” you say, absentmindedly running your fingertips down his back. 

“I’m starting to believe that, now,” he said, pressing his lips to your forehead.