#guess who got sick on christmas day

[mushroomnoodles]

tw/cw for sfw and non kink mpreg

more forever seal doodles lmao

[literaryavenger]

New Year's Eve

Summary: A game of two truths and a lie reveals to the team a fact about the you that Bucky can’t seem to stop thinking about.

Pairing: Bucky Barnes x Avenger!Female Reader

Warnings: Minimal use of Y/N. Language 'cause why not. A lot of fluff. My poor attempts at being funny. Mutual pining, idiots in love. Self-deprecating thoughts.

Word Count: 3.2K

A/N: Happy New Year's Eve! Thanks for all the messages when I was sick, I'm finally feeling better and I'm negative for Covid! I really wanted to post something for New Year's Eve and this came from a fever dream I had when I was sick, lol. I hope it's any good and someone enjoys it! A particular thank you to @ordelixx for helping me with this story!💘I've only started posting here about a month and a half but I'm really enjoying it and feeling more and more comfortable in my writing. I hope I'm also getting better at it. Anyway, I have big plans for the New Year that I hope you'll enjoy! This year hasn't been great for me, but I'm planning on working harder than ever to make sure the next one is a year I can be proud of. I hope you guys have a nice last day of 2023 and an amazing start of 2024! Love you all.💘

Masterlist

“Ok, your turn, Kill Bill. Two truths and a lie, go.” Tony says, referring to the fact that you fight with swords, making you roll your eyes before you join in on the laughter.

“Ok, uhm...” you try not to look at anyone so you don’t give away the answer ��I have a teddy bear that I sleep with, I have bungee jumped from the top of the tower and I’ve never had a New Year’s kiss.”

You look back up to the room and wait for their guesses.

It’s a Friday night and the people that remained in the Tower for the holidays decided to have a little game night.

Every year the same people stay around, having nowhere in particular to go, and spend Christmas together. 

Clint and Scott usually spend this time with their families, this year Thor decided to go to New Asgard with Bruce and Loki to visit Val and Korg, and Peter decided to spend it with aunt May and Happy.

You usually alternate between going to visit your family and staying in the tower each year, and this one was your turn to go to your first home.

You came back the day after Christmas, never being one to miss Tony’s New Year’s Eve party that’s gonna happen in two days now.

“Well, we know she has a teddy bear.” Wanda says.

“Do we know that?” Tony turns to you, narrowing his eyes. “Do you have one?”

“Yes, she does, we’ve seen it” Natasha answers for you while you glance at Bucky, praying he doesn’t put together that they’re talking about the teddy bear he gifted you for Valentine’s Day this year along with flowers. 

Natasha and Wanda were more happy than you when you told them, sustaining that he did it because he liked you until you pointed out that he gave flowers to them too, because he’s sweet and a gentleman and that’s just who he is.

They wouldn’t let up on the fact that neither of them got a teddy bear though, and you would have agreed with them but Bucky never really did anything else about it so you decided to let it go and not read too much into it.

You're brought back to the present by Tony.

“Ok, so she has one. Then it’s gotta be the New Year’s kiss, everyone has had one at least once in their life,” he was looking at your reaction very closely while talking, but you did your best to keep an easy smile and not give anything away.

“Even Captain Virgin over there had one last year.” he adds vaguely waving towards Steve’s general direction. 

You crack at the nickname and at the undignified sound Steve made while blushing and glancing at Nat that shared that kiss with him.

“Tony, there’s no way that she bungee jumped from the roof without us knowing, that’s gotta be the lie.” Sam interjects, also watching you closely for any signs of a reaction that you manage not to give.

“Alright, just take your guesses, people.” You say to the group.

“New Year’s Kiss.” Tony all but yelled, Natasha and Wanda agreeing with him.

“Bungee jump.” Sam says and Steve and Bucky agree, then they all seem to hold their breath as they wait for your answer.

It’s not a surprise that even these stupid little games cause a lot of competition amongst the team.

“Neither.”-you finally said and let out a laugh when they all groan in annoyance while taking their shots for guessing wrong.

“WAIT- you bungee jumped off the ROOF? When?!” Steve seems more concerned than anything.

“Well, you know a few months ago when we happened to all be on different missions at the same time?” They nod, not knowing where you're going with this “Clint and I came back first from ours, we were bored and there was no one around to stop us from doing anything stupid so…” you trail off, shrugging while laughing. 

Steve looks shocked, Sam is laughing his ass off while Tony immediately goes to look for the security footage.

They all cheered while watching you throw yourself off the roof, Clint's yells and laughter could be heard, and then Steve shakes his head while joining you in the laughter when you see Clint take his turn and scream like a little girl while you fall to the ground laughing on the video. 

Once you all composed yourselves, Tony pokes Wanda’s arm “I thought you said she had a teddy bear.” he's looking at her like she brought him on a treasure hunt and then betrayed him and left him for dead on a deserted island.

“She does! She got it from-” you interrupt her before she can finish the sentence, blushing a little and avoiding Bucky’s eyes.

“I do have a teddy bear, I just don’t sleep with it.” you say, shrugging.

“Oh, come on, that’s cheating!” Natasha whines.

“It’s really not, just because I do have one it doesn’t mean I didn’t tell a lie about it” you laugh at her pout.

“Wait a minute, so you’ve never had a New Year’s kiss?” Tony looks at you like you suddenly grew two heads.

“It’s not a big deal. Funny thing is, I have had boyfriends during New Year’s Eve, I just never happen to spend the day with them.” you say absentmindedly while thinking back at all the parties you’ve been to over the years to celebrate the new year.

“Really?” it's so quiet you almost missed it, your eyes snapping up to meet Bucky’s that were already looking at you.

“Is that so hard to believe?” The room seems to go quiet as everybody looks at you two, but you're too focused on each other to notice.

“I didn’t- I mean…” his cheeks started to turn a little pink as he seemed to have trouble finishing his sentence “It’s just you’re very pretty, who wouldn’t want to kiss you?”

You didn’t know what to say to that, you start blushing too while opening and closing your mouth a couple of times, looking like a damn fish.

You settle for a quiet ‘thank you’ with a smile that he shyly returns, neither of you noticing the glances passed by everyone else.

The whole team is convinced that there’s something between you and Bucky, but both of you always deny it and don’t seem to read too much into each other’s actions, always dismissing the glances and lingering touches as friendly affection even though you’re not really that close.

But really what else could it be?

The team lets the moment end and the game goes on, everyone keeps drinking and having fun until it gets really late and you all decide to call it a night.

Bucky goes to his bedroom and gets ready for sleep but he can’t seem to focus on anything else but you.

He really doesn’t understand how can anybody see your pretty self when you’ve just woken up, no makeup and your eyes full of sleep and not want to kiss you, let alone when you are all dolled up in a pretty golden dresses like you do every New Year’s. 

Every year it gets harder for him not to just grab you and kiss you, hell every day is pretty much torture to see you around the Compound and not get to be with you the way he wants to.

But he has to keep his hands to himself because there’s no way you could actually like him like that. 

He’s even tried to drop hints here and there like giving you the teddy bear for Valentine’s Day but, except for the cute shade of pink that your face turned, you still didn’t seem all that interested.

Still, that didn’t stop him from thinking what it would be like if you did like him and fantasize about being your first New Year’s kiss and maybe even your last first kiss.

At the same time you were in your own room getting ready for bed while your own thoughts kept going back to the moment you shared with Bucky in the living room. 

You didn’t know if you were more embarrassed because you actually told the team you’ve never had a kiss on New Year’s Eve or happy because Bucky called you pretty.

If it was anyone else you wouldn’t even think twice about it, but coming from him it just felt like you were being complimented for the first time ever. 

Everytime you thought about it you felt all warm and fuzzy inside, and at this point the moment was pretty much on loop in your mind.

The more you think about it the more you feel your face heat up, sleep not coming easily as you slip into Bucky filled dreams.

The next day everybody’s hanging out in the living room, most of them nursing a hangover from last night. You get ready for a last minute shopping trip to try and find a new dress for New Year’s Eve.

When you get to the living room you see Steve grinning at a disgruntled Tony, Wanda, Sam and Natasha who are obviously very hangover and nowhere near as amused as the blonde supersoldier. 

Bucky’s attention is on you as soon as you're in his field of vision and no one fails to notice it, except you of course, your own attention on Wanda and Natasha sprawled on the couch.

“Well, I was gonna ask you if you wanted to come shopping with me,” you start watching from one to the other, as amused as Steve at everyone’s inability to contain themselves when drinking. “but I don’t think that’s happening.” 

“Bite me, YLN.” Is all Nat says.

Wanda, on the other hand, is a little gentler. “I can come with you, if you want.” she says sweetly.

“That’s okay, Wands.” you smile at her “just rest and drink lots of water.”

You turn around, saying bye to everyone and making your way out. As soon as the doors of the elevator close, everyone turns to Bucky that's not even pretending not to be staring anymore.

Not that anyone could ignore the longing look on Bucky’s face as he watches you walk away.

“Buck,” Steve starts talking, glancing at everyone before setting his gaze back on his best friend. “we need to talk.”

“Okay…” he slowly drags out, unsure if he even wants Steve to keep going.

“Well, we’ve been noticing some things lately…” He’s unsure of how to say this. “Between you and Y/N.”

Bucky’s cheeks start to turn a slight shade of pink, but he’s still not sure where Steve’s going with this so he says nothing.

“So we thought” he gestures around at everybody. “that maybe we should-”

“We know you like her, and we want to help you get with her.” Tony interrupts Steve, quickly getting to the point.

At Steve’s glare, Tony merely raises his hands in surrender saying, “Listen, Capsicle, I’m way too hungover to take the panoramic route. Let’s just get this over with.”

“Yeah, Stark’s right.” Sam says, turning Bucky whose face is fully red now. “You have a weak ass game, man. Let us help you.”

They all look at the brunette supersoldier while waiting for his answer. He chews on his lip while looking at the expectant faces of his friends, before letting out a deep sigh.

“How would you even help me?” He says quietly, neither accepting nor denying their help just yet.

“Well, we know Y/N,” Wanda says.

“Yeah, we can tell you what turns her on.” Natasha smirked, before Wanda flicks her ear making her let out an ‘ow’ with a slight pout.

“What she means is,” she glares at Natasha “we can tell you what she likes, you know. Maybe help you get closer to her.”

Bucky shakes his head lightly “This is not a good idea. And it doesn’t even matter if she doesn’t like me.”

Wanda and Natasha seem to have a silent conversation, ending with Natasha raising her eyebrow at Wanda and Wanda just sighing with a soft ‘fine’.

“She does like you.” Wanda turns back to Bucky.

“She’s just convinced that you don’t like her like that.” Natasha says with a roll of her eyes.

Bucky still wasn’t completely convinced, but he agreed nonetheless. Maybe it was the glimmer of hope the girls gave him, but if there was even the slightest chance you could actually like him, he owed it to himself to try. 

So he let the team make a plan to get you guys together, hoping to god he wouldn’t come to regret it.

You come home a few hours later, super excited to have found the perfect dress for the party the next night.

Bucky thought you were just so cute, all smiles and giggles.

Wanda and Nat talked you into having the last girls night of the year, although it didn’t really take much convincing.

And so the plan begins.

You’re relaxing on your bed, Wanda lying next to you, your head on her lap, and Nat sprawled on the love seat near the window close to your bed.

You’re wearing bathrobes, sheet masks on your faces as you watch a cheesy romcom that you’re so embarrassingly into you don’t even notice the girls exchange a look and nod at each other.

Wanda clears her throat and then begins talking, as casually as she can. “So, how come you never told us you never had a New Year’s kiss?”

They had to approach the subject somehow, right?

“I don’t know,” you say absentmindedly and then shrug, your attention still on the Tv. “didn’t think it was important.” 

“Sure it isn’t.” Nat said, and her tone took your attention away from the movie for the first time since it started.

“What’s that supposed to mean, Tasha?” she simply shrugs, an innocent look in the face.

“It doesn’t mean anything” she says, her attention seemingly on the movie “I mean, if it doesn’t bother you, it doesn’t bother me.”

“Why would it bother me?” you frown, you don't understand what's so weird about this.

“Well, some people might find it a little…” Wanda trails off.

“Sad?” Natasha ends for her.

“It’s not like I’ve never kissed anyone.” you're starting to get a little defensive.

“We know that, sweetie.” Wanda coos, stroking your hair while you look up at her.

“We really didn’t mean anything by it.” Natasha ends, giving you an apologetic look.

“Yeah, whatever.” is all you say, and you turn your eyes back to the tv, your attention nowhere near it.

Natasha and Wanda can basically hear the gears turn in your head and give each other one last glance. 

Part one of the plan is complete.

The next day goes through like usual, the team spending basically the whole morning together.

It’s a tradition, having the last breakfast of the year together, watching the last movie, having the last lunch and so on. Doing all the lasts together.

It’s silly, but it’s a tradition you've all come to be very fond of. 

The afternoon comes and you and the girls spend it getting ready for the party, last night’s conversation almost forgotten.

Almost.

As you got to the party the music was deafening before you even stepped out of the elevator and, once you did, you were immediately immersed in a sea of perfume and cologne and, like every other Stark party extravaganza, you didn’t know about 98% of the people there. 

You quickly find the team, as outgoing as most of them are, you usually spend most of the night together because it’s the last night of the year, last party and, again, it's your tradition.

You talk, you joke, you laugh but the more you drink the more you keep thinking about your conversation with the girls last night.

Was it really that sad that you’ve never started a new year with a kiss?

Midnight came sooner than you would’ve liked and your teammates decide to ask you a sobering question.

“So, who are you kissing?” Tony asks very casually.

You turn around confused, the team’s eyes all on you. “What are you talking about?”

“Oh, nobody told you?” Sam says, looking around him “We’re all kissing someone tonight.”

“I- You- What?” you glance towards Bucky so quickly he almost thought he imagined it.

“Well, Romanoff is kissing Rogers, I’m obviously kissing Pepper and Wanda is kissing Wilson.” Tony said, before specifying while pointing at the last two “As friends, obviously.”

“So, you’re all kissing someone?” You look at everyone except the one person you actually want to look at.

Something inside of you just believes that he would nod too and a beautiful woman that you could never compare to would appear at his side.

“Well,” Steve starts. “not all of us…”

He trails off and, following his gaze, you land on the very pair of blue eyes you were trying to avoid.

Suddenly everyone else scatters and it was just you and Bucky. You don't know what to say, but you feel like you can't look away from him now.

What the hell is happening to you?

You’re talking before you can even stop yourself “You know, we could also kiss. As friends.” you add, realizing what you just said, your eyes wide with your own surprise.

He’s about to say something, but you don’t give him a chance to get a sound out before you’re backtracking so fast you might actually fall out the window.

“You don’t have to. Obviously. It’s not like I’d make you.” you chuckled awkwardly, but you can’t stop yourself from rambling “Unless you wanted to. But why would you want to? It’s not like you’re missing anything. I’m not anything special.”

You can hear the countdown starting, but it sounds distant to your ears as your heart pounds faster. “I mean, I’m sure you’re a good kisser. Why wouldn’t you be? Not that you’re like a lady’s man.”

Bucky glances around him, the team giving him encouraging looks as they near zero and you just keep going “But like you were, you know. Not that it’s a bad thi-”

You're thankfully interrupted abruptly by Bucky’s lips on yours just as everyone yells ‘Happy New Year’ and gold and black confetti starts falling down on you.

You can't even begin to comprehend what's happening but your body does, kissing him back almost immediately.

It feels like forever and also too soon when he pulls away, you can't even hearing the chaos around you anymore.

All that exists is you and Bucky and his eyes and his arms around your waist and yours around his neck and his lips that you wanted to kiss again and kiss forever and never stop.

“You have no idea how long I’ve been wanting to do that” he says after a few seconds. Or maybe days. Weeks? Hours? It doesn’t matter.

All that matters is the bright smile he gives you when you say “Me too.”

He kisses you again, but this time the spell is broken by the team’s whistles and cheers. 

When you pull away you’re both blushing a little, you glance around you and see all the smug faces of the idiots you love to death, Bucky’s attention never leaving you.

“And by the way,” Bucky says, gaining your attention once more. “you have more qualities than you think,” he then pointed at your chest “You have this.”

You looked down to where he was pointing before saying “I do have great tits, yes.”

When you looked back at him he was blushing even harder and looked like he was having a hard time maintaining eye contact, while you were more relaxed now that the kiss took away all the awkwardness, but trying hard not to laugh. 

“... I meant heart” he said after a few moments of silence.

“Either or.” you answered, shrugging and when you heard the snickers of the team around you, you couldn’t help but join them, followed by a still blushing Bucky.

Yep, this year is definitely gonna be an interesting one.

[goldenwilliamson]

hard launch | leah williamson

pairing: leah williamson x reader

a/n: merry christmas!!! enjoy some christmassy awfc fluff x

summary: reader and leah film their parts in the arsenal christmas gifting video. reader receives a gift that shows everyone who's girlfriend she is.

word count: 1.3k

The Arsenal media team had set up a Christmas tree lined with presents for all the girls to open for a video. You obliged happily, excited about having a present to open before Christmas. Leah however had to be convinced.

"It's bad luck! You can't have us opening gifts before Christmas!" She said, her voice firm.

"Ease up Lee, it's just a little present from the club," you said, rubbing the space between her shoulder blades while silently laughing at your girlfriends commitment to tradition.

"My Mum can't find out about this, she'll have a fit," Leah says, eyeing the tree scornfully.

"Well she might see this video when it goes up," Frimmy says from behind the camera.

You move out of the shot now and watch through the screen of the camera as Leah steps into frame and speaks directly to the lens, "Do I look as awkward as I feel? Because I'm sorry Mum, I don't normally do this before Christmas day, I'm being forced to."

Shaking your head, you and many of the other girls watch on in anticipation as Leah unwraps her gift, and when she pulls out the electric keyboard you all exchange knowing glances. It's no secret that learning piano has been Leah's latest mission, and you more than anyone have been along for the journey. Most evenings now your night was soundtracked by Leah sitting at the piano stool, reading her sheet music and practicing.

When she was preparing for her performance with the BBC orchestra you must have heard her play that Shania Twain song about 200 times before you had to cut her off.

"You've got it Leah, I promise," you had stressed to her.

"I'm just so nervous, I need to know I can do it perfectly!" She demanded, starting to play it again.

"Nope. No. I'm sorry, but I'm cutting you off. It's time for bed," you had said. Even though you were always supportive of her endeavours, you knew she was only stressing herself out with the drive for perfection.

"Baby, please just let me practice it one more time, then bed," she pleaded like a little kid asking for five more minutes of play time.

"Fine. Once more. But I am telling you it's been perfect 98% of the times you've played," you said.

She just waved you away and played it once more all the way through, perfectly of course, and then finally conceded to your request. When you finally crawled into bed together that night you turned towards Leah, murmuring into the darkness.

"I'm starting to get worried that I'll have Shania Twain stuck in my head forever."

Leah giggled but reassured you, "I won't be playing it forever. And trust me, I'm sick of it too."

Now today she was sitting down, playing the little electric keyboard and trying to get everyone to guess what she was playing. You knew straight away it was Adele, because she had played it for you just last night, but it took everyone else a little longer to catch on.

Leah, pleased with her present moved along to allow for the next girls to go through. You stepped in, ready to unwrap your presents with Steph and Kyra, but before you got to pull off the paper one of the Arsenal media people pulled you out.

"We'll get you to open yours on your own, Y/N," they told you. You weren't really sure why, but you trusted their vision and waited for your turn.

When you were finally standing in front of the camera after Steph and Kyra, you felt your present through the wrapping and you could tell that it was a piece of clothing. As you pulled it out, you unfolded it to reveal a t-shirt. And you instantly realised why they'd got you to open it on your own. It seemed to be a fan made t-shirt that had pictures of Leah all over the front as well as LEAH WILLIAMSON printed in large pink block letters running down the side.

You bent over laughing, not even sure if you should show it off to the camera. While you and Leah were officially together, it hadn't really been confirmed publicly. The media team knew that and obviously got you on your own so they could easily leave your clip out of the video.

"Really?" You looked up at the small crew, holding the shirt up next to your face.

Leah, watching on began to laugh now, seeing what you'd been given.

"Best present of the day guys!" She exclaimed.

"So ridiculous," you said as all the girls behind the camera laughed.

"Hard launch," Kyra said, teasing you both.

"Shut up," you smiled, "This won't be going on the Instagram," you said assertively, pointing directly down the barrel of the camera.

"Why don't you put in on, Y/N," Leah suggests.

"You'd like that wouldn't you?" You narrow your eyes at your girlfriend, knowing how much of a kick she would get out of seeing you wearing the top, looking like a fan.

"Go on," Steph urges you.

Begrudgingly, you pull your training shirt up over your head, receiving playful wolf whistles from the girls before you pull your new t-shirt down over your body. When it was on you held your arms out, showing it off.

"How do I look?" You said, giving a little spin as the girls clapped for you.

Leah walked over towards you and held onto your waist, admiring herself on your shirt.

"I bet this inflates your ego," you say, seeing the cheeky sparkle in her eyes.

Leah didn't even say anything in response, she just moved to stand next to you, threw her arm around your shoulder in a very platonic manner and posed towards the camera.

"I love meeting fans," she said, smiling at her own joke.

"Ha ha," you said sardonically, rolling your eyes and nudging her away from you.

"We should get a photo of this though," Leah said, pulling her phone out of her pocket and handing it off to Steph who snapped a picture of you both. When you looked back at it Leah wore a very cocky smirk and looked as if you were posing for a photo with your favourite footballer.

Katie stood over your shoulder to peer at the photo, "Oh that's got to go in a photo dump girls."

"I don't think so," you said quickly, leaving it there. Though you did wear the top around for the rest of the day, finding it surprisingly comfortable, until you tucked it away into your bag before heading home.

You had honestly forgotten about it until Christmas Day when you were scrolling on Instagram in bed after the long day of festivities and you saw Leah had tagged you in a photo. She was right next to you sitting on her phone with a smirk on her face.

"What have you posted?" You asked, clicking onto it and swiping through the various Christmas photos until you saw your own bashful face reflected in the photo that Steph had taken of you in the shirt. The caption read, Best time of year (love my fans @Y/N.Y/L/N) x.

Katie McCabe had already liked the post and tagged you in a comment, President of the Leah Williamson fan club aren't ya? @Y/N.Y/L/N.

"Leah!" You said sharply, looking at your girlfriend in disbelief.

"What? It's a great photo," she said.

"You're fuelling the fire," you said, referencing the ongoing speculation online about your relationship.

"So what? I don't care if people know we're together, do you?" Leah said simply.

You realised that you also didn't care, in fact you would be proud for people to know, so you shook your head.

"Of course I don't," you said, reassuring her that you were okay with this.

"Good, then stop being grumpy about the photo," she said, leaning over to give you a kiss.

"It's such a bad photo! I genuinely look like a teenage fan girl," you laughed.

"That's what makes it so great," Leah says, giggling at her ability to annoy you.

You shake your head and pick up your phone again, feeling confident in your relationship with Leah, no longer caring if people know or they don't. This leads you to respond to Katie's comment with two simple words that are enough to send all the fans spiralling over the small confirmation: Hard launch?

[corrodedcoffins-blog]

Bickering (lovingly)

regulus black x potter!reader

note: an edit of luke and lorelai cane on my fyp and they are so reggie x potter!reader coded!!

word count: 1.3 k

warnings: eating, lightest black brother angst

Regulus made his way up the stairs to the Gryffindor dorms in search of his bag that his darling girlfriends had been using since her bag was being used for some special prank. But the weekend was up and Regulus needed his bag back for classes tomorrow,

He knocked on the door, Y/n had told him there was no need, but it was a habit instilled into him from an infant so he still did, James opened the door with a cheerful look which dropped when he noticed who was there, “Ugh, Y/n, your boyfriend’s here!”

The door was opened wider for him, he saw his brother and his boyfriend on a bed, Peter on his, James once again getting comfortable at the desk and Y/n coming out of the bathroom.

“Hey, hun.” “Hi. Do you have my bag?” Regulus was usually short with his words around other people, he only got really chatty alone with her, then she couldn’t get him to shut up sometimes; not that she ever wanted to.

“..Yeah, it’s here, but I was gonna ask to use it for a couple more days…” “No, I need it. You have your own bag” “It’s being used for prank supplies.”

She handed the bag over, all her things still in it when Regulus looked.

“Could you take your stuff out, love?”

“I have nowhere to put them, that’s why I need the bag.” “But I need you to take your stuff out because it’s my bag and I need it.”

“But I don’t have a bag for my books tomorrow.”

“You have your own bag.”

“It’s being used for prank supplies, that’s why I asked for a couple more days..”

“But I need my bag.”

“But I don’t have a bag for my books tomorrow.”

“You have your own bag.”

“It’s being used for prank supplies, that’s why I asked for a couple more days..”

“We’ve been here before.”

“I recognise that tree.”

“Good! Why don’t you shut up now!”

-

Sat across from each other on the sofa, Y/n had been waiting weeks for a moment to watch a movie alone with Regulus, her family got a muggle TV a couple years ago after Remus explained it to her dad and he said they ‘needed’ it.

What they were watching was one of her favourites and she loved watching movies with people that have never seen them, before something big she would sneak a look at Regulus to catch his reaction.

“Stop doing that.” He sat with his arms crossed, her legs rested over his lap under their blanket.

“Shh! No talking.” That made him roll his eyes, lovingly of course, it was always lovingly.

“Then stop doing that.”

“Doing what?”

“Looking at me.”

“What? I can’t just look at you? Admire my very very pretty boyfriend?”

“Not during movies.” Y/n gasped and her jaw dropped comically.

-

It was Christmas, everyone decided to stay at Hogwarts for their last year (plus Regulus)

Owls came flying down the table with letters between their talons, it was about a week before Christmas day so not many letters came, but funnily enough Regulus got one, at first Y/b was worried but seeing the small smile on his face she knew it was nothing bad. They sat next to each other at the gryffindor table along with the marauders.

“Guess where I got a letter from.” “God?”

He didn’t even flinch at her dry comments anymore.

“London…” He said, giving a hint, naïvely assuming she would guess.

“God lives in London?!”

“Your mother lives in London.”

“My mother is God! Mmm so God is a woman.. And my mom, that is so cool! This will make asking for favours so much easier.”

“Why do I even try with you… Your mother asked me if I-”

-

Reaching for the syrup and putting it back after drowning her waffle, Y/n gets back to what she was complaining about.

“I’m sick, I have a cold, I can’t go to classes today.”

Only after finish chewing his eggs does Regulus reply to his girlfriend, “Do you know what would help get rid of a cold?” “You cuddling me all day?”

“Eww!” “I’m eating here, goldie!”

“A good immune system. Do you know how you get a good immune system?”

“Endless vague questioning from one’s boyfriend first thing in the morning?”

“From not eating crap for breakfast. Would it kill you to eat a protein?”

“Remember when you hated me? That was fun wasn’t it?”

-

A lazy sunday was one of Y/n’s favourite moments to spend with Regulus, the boys would be off doing something, and the couple had all day together.

At the moment the two were reading ‘Emma’ together, with Y/n reading aloud and as always Regulus listened to every word to come from her mouth.

“What’d you think?” Between each chapter they would talk about their thoughts, Y/n is so thankful for a boyfriend who likes books just as much as her.

“I think that the bump on your nose is my favourite feature of yours.” He traced her nose bridge with his delicate ring finger.

From a young age Y/n hated her nose, her best friend growing up was the perfect cookie cutter ideal, with blonde hair and blue eyes and a little button nose. She didn’t have any of those things, she was not the standard.

Yet Regulus never failed to make her feel loved, like she was the most gorgeous girl and Regulus is lucky for even a second of her time, in his own words.

“I love you.”

“I love you too, darling.”

-

“Why’re you so grumpy?”

Regulus and Y/n had agreed to meet at the muggle library in Hogsmeade so when Regulus saw his girlfriend angrily stomping out of the store empty handed he knew something was up, she never left the library empty handed. She was looking at the librarian through the window in what she thought was a discreet fashion.

“I’ve been exiled. For what feels like an eternity.”

“How long are you suspended from your book borrowing activities?”

“A month.”

“C’mon, love, that’s not too long,”

“Four Hogsmeade trips I cannot take books home. And for that he must die!”

“You’re not going to kill the librarian.”

“Why not?”

“It’s free library card day, everyone will be livid with you.”

-

It was James and Y/n’s birthday, she got up before James of course but not before her parents and Regulus who were all gathered in the kitchen.

The girl sleepily walked in leaning on her boyfriend to support herself, when she finally opened her eyes she saw a display of oreos spelling out ‘happy birthday James and Y/n!’

“Awww mom! This is so cute! Thank you!”

“Hold on, how’d you know it was your mother's work and not mine or Regulus’?”

“Because only mom would take the time.”

After the thank yous, Monty went back into his office and Effie went to set the dining table. Y/n got up on the bar stool and sat next to the boy, taking a cookie to eat, only to get up and go to the pantry to get the box and replace the cookie she ate on the table.

“What did you just do?”

“What?”

“You put the cookie down.”

“Yeah.”

“You ate the cookie then you took a cookie out of the box and put it down where the cookie you just ate was.” She made little actions as if retracing her steps as the black-haired boy went on.

“Yeah!”

“Well.. That’s nuts.”

“My mom made this for me, I don't want to ruin it, and not before James can see it.”

“Then why eat the cookie?”

“Because I wanted an oreo.”

“Then why didn't you just eat out of the box?”

“Because this one was close and the box was all the way in the cabinet.”

“But you had to go into the cabinet to get the box to replace the cookie you ate.”

“So?”

“So that’s nuts.”

~taglist~

[woso-dreamzzz]

Heart

Mapi Leon x Ingrid Engen x Child!Reader

Summary: They meet you in the hospital

"She's dying," The nurse says to Ingrid.

The club had arranged for the team to go to the local hospital a few weeks before Christmas to give out gifts to the sick kids. Ingrid had enjoyed it greatly, meeting the children and their parents but she still needed a moment to herself.

She couldn't just keep the smile on her face when she saw the children walking with poles attached to wires or the little toddlers who had lost their hair due to chemo.

She had slipped into this hallway to get some respite, only to stumble across the only room that was filled.

Your room.

You've got a little placard hanging on your door, with your name written on it, covered with kitten stickers and smiley faces.

But you don't look smiley at all.

"Dying?" Ingrid echoes.

"Dying," The nurse replies," This is the cardiovascular wing."

"Her heart then?"

The nurse is solemn as she nods. "Her heart." There's silence and then," Would you like to go in and meet her?"

Ingrid's tempted to say no. You're tiny in your hospital bed and she's not even sure if you're older than five. It seems wrong for the nurse to say that you're dying.

"y/n?" The nurse says," This is Miss Ingrid."

"Hi, Miss Ingrid. Are you another doctor? Have you brought me my heart?"

Ingrid almost bursts into tears at the way you're looking at her. She shakes her head. "Sorry, honey," She says," I'm a footballer, not a doctor."

"That's okay," You say," Football's cool too."

Ingrid takes a seat at your bedside. "Very cool."

There's a solemnness in the ear as the nurse tinkers with some of the devices around you.

"Do you like football?"

You shrug. "I'm not allowed to play." You look down at your bedsheets. "I'm not allowed to because it'll make my heart go boom-boom too much. It's okay, I guess."

You look so sad by yourself and it makes Ingrid ask after your parents.

"I'm a..." Your brow furrows as you think of the word.

The nurse helps. "You're in care, aren't you?"

You brighten. "Uh-huh! My care worker's trying to find me a family so I can leave and wait for my new heart at home! I've been asking Santa so it should come soon!"

Ingrid's stomach drops. You're so small and so innocent and the one thing you've asked Santa for is a working heart. "I'm sure he's working very hard to get you that heart."

Ingrid very much hopes that the doctors are working very hard to get you a new heart.

"My heart now is alright," You continue," When I was littler and I was found at the fire station, I had a little hole in it that the doctors fixed but my heart was a little mean and didn't like the scar so it started going boom-boom wrong and now I've got to get a new one."

"I'm sure you'll get a new one very soon." Ingrid just knows that she's going to break down sobbing as soon as she's left, though she can't bring herself to walk out the door just yet.

"I hope so." You pull down your hospital gown to show the mess of wires connected to your body. "Because then I can get these out. They track my heart."

Ingrid spends the rest of her time at the hospital with you and, when she finally leaves, she knows immediately that she'll be back.

She brings Mapi her next few visits, warming both of you up to each other before she asks the question she knew she'd be asking the moment she walked out of your room.

Mapi is more than happy to fill in the required paperwork and spend the money to get your heart stuff into the apartment.

The day you come home with them is perfect.

Mapi brings you up on her back, careful of the little monitors that doctors have given you to track your heart clipped to your trousers. Ingrid opens the door.

You greet Bagheera and you sit in front of them on the floor.

They'd had your room ready for weeks now, just waiting for when you get home.

You're still weak and sickly but you're strong enough to wait for your hospital at home with them.

You take medication twice a day. They go into your room at night to check your monitor. You go everywhere with them, to training, to the shops, all the way to the beach and back.

You doze easily on Mapi, your arm splayed out as she runs soft fingers through your hair.

"What did the doctors say?" She asks softly as Ingrid re-enters the room.

You'd all just gotten back from your weekly check-up where they took scans and did tests on you that they had been waiting on everything to come back.

"The same as usual." Ingrid sounds defeated as she crouches by the sofa in front of you and Mapi. "She still needs a heart. She's stable enough for now. They're thinking about putting in a pacemaker or something called an ICD but those mean surgery. They said it could weaken her too much that if a heart comes along soon then she might not survive another operation."

Mapi's hand freezes in your hair. She wants to scream or maybe even cry. You're so little and already so sick.

"Is it bad," She says quietly," That I just want her to get a heart? I know that it means that another child will have to die so she can get it but..." Her throat closes up and she chokes out the words. "I don't care. I can't bring myself to care about that other child if it means she survives. I just can't. I know that we've only had her a few weeks and I know that the likelihood of her getting a heart is slim but...but-"

Mapi has to stop talking because tears are running down her face as she stares at you, so pliant and quiet on her chest as wires poke out from under your shirt to the little device that's checking your heart rate.

"I get it," Ingrid says," I want her to get that heart too."

For the most part, you're able to do exactly what other kids your age do but it all comes to a head the day of Patri's Christmas Eve party.

You're a bit more tired in the morning than usual and your whole appetite has tanked. You're a little shaky and your hands are super cold so you get put in a warm Christmas jumper and a hat and scarf for the walk to Patri's.

Ingrid and Mapi are loath to let you wander around Patri's apartment but you end up sitting in a group of the girls playing Uno and Keira lets you play on her team.

You're happy with them all but Mapi and Ingrid still hover nearby.

"How is she?" Alexia asks, sipping at the one alcoholic drink she's allowed herself tonight.

"The same," Mapi mutters back as Ingrid excuses herself to take a phone call from your doctor.

It's weird that he's calling so late but Ingrid will happily take a call from him at any time of day when it comes to you.

"I'm glad she's got you two," Alexia continues," She's such a sweet kid. God forbid anything like this happens to my kids."

Mapi smirks. "What? Seeing my kid's got you feeling all broody? Trying to copy me?"

Alexia rolls her eyes. "More like she's got Olga feeling broody. Honestly, they only met once."

"Olga's a bleeding heart," Mapi replies," You'd look cute with kids."

"You certainly do," Alexia compliments," You're more relaxed, you and Ingrid both. Are you going to adopt her?"

Mapi's face suddenly feels hot and she tears her gaze away from you for a moment. "I know it's early," She says," But we're already trying to sort out the paperwork. We're going to get through Christmas and see if a hea-"

Your monitor beats erratically, a loud sound that can be heard even over the music Patri's playing. You slump a little against Keira's side (much to her horror) and your eyes flutter closed for a moment.

Mapi barrels through everyone to get to you. You're still awake (barely) and your monitor displays that your heart is beating in an abnormal rhythm.

Mapi breathes out a sigh of relief. While not ideal, your heart does this sometimes and, just like now, it takes you a few minutes to go back to normal.

A crowd of the team have converged around you and you pathetically faceplant yourself into Mapi's neck with heavy, laboured breaths and grip fiercely onto her top.

"Great news!" Ingrid says as she enters the room before stopping as all eyes dart to her," What happened?"

"What news?" Mapi asks tentatively, still holding you close.

She's beaming again as she crouches down in front of you and rubs at your cheek. "Santa's brought you your heart."

"He's early!"

"He is!" Her eyes are a little wet as she puts your hat back on your head, pulling it down firmly. "How about we get to the hospital?"

You go into surgery within the next few hours.

When you wake up on Christmas morning, it's to Mapi and Ingrid at your bedside and a brand new heart from Santa.

[the-oblivious-writer]

Touch Tank

Tara Carpenter x Reader

One-shot

Summary: Tensions are high when you go over to the Carpenters' apartment after telling Tara you would fix their sink; Sam isn't exactly what you would call your 'biggest fan'

Warning(s): Swearing, Tara & R aren't together, & no pronouns used

Notes: Another work based off of Gilmore Girls! Currently re-watching it and I'm slowly inching towards s3 ep 19... I'm avoiding it like the plague (I wanna stay in literali bliss just a lil longer 😔)

4/7 for Seven Days of Christmas

You made the mistake of agreeing to fix Tara’s sink.

Somehow Tara roped you into agreeing. Plumbers were expensive, and with paying rent in New York while also paying for college, they were already on a tight budget. You offered them a cheaper price, and you honestly didn’t mind giving Tara a favor.

That was before you remembered Sam would be there too.

You have known Tara all of five months, and in that time you haven’t exactly left the best impression on her older sister. Sam has already caught you sneaking in ten times—you got lucky every other time—and it didn’t help that you had an attitude. 

Tara wanted nothing more than for Sam to get to know you—to not just go off the you she made up in her head. So, when Sam found out you would be coming to fix their kitchen sink… she figured it wouldn’t be such a bad idea to give you another shot. Besides, she was doing this for Tara. She wasn’t sure as to why Tara was so persistent on it, but all she knows is that Tara wants you and her to get along. 

—

You walk up the stairs to the shared apartment after getting buzzed in by Tara. Once you get to the door you knock and the door opens.

“Hey,” Tara greets.

“Hey back,” you reply. Tara moves to the side, letting you in. Once you’re inside you look at Tara once again before smiling to yourself.

“You’re very punctual,” she remarked—watching as your eyes wandered.

“Yeah, well, it was either this or more apartment hunting with Danny.”

“You’re moving?”

You shrugged, “I don’t know. Don’t really get the point—the apartment’s fine. He says there’s ‘interior damage’ or whatever. Nothing I can’t fix.”

“Who knows; a new place could be nice.”

“I guess. He’s kinda eyeing the vacant apartment that’s not too far from yours.”

“Really?”

“Yeah… not saying it’s a sure thing but if we do move, can you promise you won’t get sick of me?”

“Sick of that face? Never…” She gently pinched your cheek teasingly; heat rushed to your face. 

“Did you change your hair?” You asked suddenly, changing the subject.

“What?”

“Your hair looks…different.”

“So segway’s not your thing, huh?” 

“Is it?” 

“Uh, no. I wear it like this a lot. Why?”

“Just…” You shrug, “Different.”

“Oh. Bad ‘different’?” She tugged on the hem of her shirt, suddenly feeling nervous for some reason. 

You smirk, about to answer her question, but turn your head when you hear a noise coming from down the hall. It sounded like Sam yelling a curse before Tara looked back at you with a light chuckle.

“The sink hasn’t been putting her in the best mood,” she elaborates. 

“She’s usually in a good mood?” You quip with raised eyebrows, tone laced in sarcasm. Tara scolds you with a look, causing you to back down. “Alright, alright.” 

“This fucking sink is driving me insane–” Sam cuts herself off, stopping in her tracks when she sees you. 

“Oh. Y/N. You’re here,” she says and you simply nod at her words. “Refreshing to see you use the front door for once…” She murmurs but you and Tara hear it. Tara scolds her with the same look she gave you just moments before. 

“If you want there’s Dr. Pepper in the kitchen,” Sam reluctantly offered. You looked at Tara then at Sam before briefly nodding. 

After a few seconds of silence, Sam clears her throat. “Okay, well, everything’s in the kitchen if you want to get started. The toolbox, and gloves are all there. If you need anything else just call one of us.” 

Tara looks between you and Sam before speaking up, “Come on, I’ll show you.” She extends her hand, gesturing to the direction of the kitchen. You begin to walk in that direction but before Tara follows behind, she gives Sam a look.

“I’m trying,” Sam huffed. 

“Well keep it up pleasee,” Tara requested as she walked away to the kitchen. 

By the time she was there, you were already setting up. “Question,” She states.

“Yes?” You put the pair of gloves in your back pocket, looking over at Tara.

“You come over. You seem to have a very firm grasp of the English language. You put together several full sentences—even using a couple of words that contain two or more syllables. And then my sister appears, and suddenly we need a thought bubble over your head to understand what you’re thinking. Can you tell me why that is?”

You looked down at the four-way silicone key in your hand before looking at Tara again with a  response. “The verbal thing comes and goes.” 

Tara sighed, lightly rolling her eyes. “I would really appreciate it if you would try to get along with my sister.”

“I took the Dr. Pepper,” you stated as a matter of factly. 

She furrowed her eyebrows, “I know.”

“Personally, I think it’s a little crazy to put lemon in Dr. Pepper—buuuut I took it anyhow.” You reached for the bucket and rag as you heard Tara huff.

“Stop it.”

“Ooo, stern face,” you say as you lift the tool and bucket to place by the sink. Tara continues, following you as you crouched down by the sink.

“Look. I went out on a limb for you, trying to get my sister to give you the benefit of the doubt. Okay? So, I don’t think it would hurt you to try to be nice.”

You put down the wrench you had just picked up, now fully turned and standing to look at Tara as you spoke. “Why?” You simply asked, taking off your jacket.

“Why?” Tara mirrored.

“Yeah. Why?” 

“Because she’s my sister—and she and Danny are dating.”

“So?” You tossed your jacket on top of a nearby chair.

“What do you mean ‘so’?” She asked incredulously; her eyebrows stayed furrowed.

“So, just because she’s your sister or Danny’s girlfriend doesn’t mean that I automatically have to get along with her,” you stated with pure conviction, rolling up your sleeves. 

“Y/N, my sister is a great person. She’s also my best friend—so if you care about me at all you will take that into consideration,” Tara was now crossing her arms as she stood her ground. “And you will be mildly polite to her.”

You couldn’t help but smirk, looking her up and down before responding. “What makes you think I care about you?” Tara didn’t need eyes to know you were smirking and enjoying this way too much.

She blushes, looking down at the ground and shaking her head as she grows flustered. “I–I don’t mean care-care. Like—care. I mean if you like me at all—not like-like! I just meant that–” Tara stumbles over her words, tucking in a loose strand of hair behind her ear. You watch her with amusement, a soft smile grazing your face as you let out a light snort.

“If you think of me remotely as the sort of person you could occasionally stand to talk to then you will try to get along with my sister. That’s all.” 

Your eyes never pulled from her once, only looking at her with fondness as you finally said something. “Okay,” you nod.

“Okay?”

“Can’t guarantee that it’ll work but I’ll try,” you confirm. 

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome…” You glance at the sink then back at Tara. “Should probably get to work.”

“Right. Sorry—go ahead.” She turns to walk away, looking at you one more time before leaving the kitchen. You crouch down by the sink again, not meeting her gaze but feeling it. She doesn’t see how you grin to yourself; your mind being plagued with thoughts of the younger Carpenter.

Guess it wouldn’t hurt to make an effort. 

—

Later that night, you decided to stop by Tara’s window for a surprise visit. You looked at her for a few seconds—admiring how peaceful she looked—before lightly tapping on her window. She turned to look at the window, a grin grazing her face when her eyes meets yours.

She lifted the window with a smile as you looked up at her fondly. “Hey,” you finally said after the window fully opened, expression never faltering as you leaned your head against the window frame.

“Hey back,” she replied. “Didn’t you say something to Sam about not coming through the window anymore.” Tara heard from Sam that you managed to hold somewhat of a conversation with the older Carpenter, actually making an effort to try with her. No matter how awkward it might have been on your end, at least you tried.

“You talk about me with Sam?” You asked smugly.

She rolled her eyes with an infectious smile. “Just get inside.”

“I didn’t hear a no~” You say in a sing-song voice. Tara pulled you in by your sleeve, roughly, might you add. “Watch the shirt,” you complain while you’re pulled inside her room.

“Quirk it.”

“How gentle,” you sarcastically complimented; you dusted your pants off with your free hand, not commenting on how Tara still held a grip on your other arm. 

“So,” Tara began as she sat on her bed—dragging you with her, “What are we watching tonight?”

“I can’t do Freaky Friday again.”

“Fine.”

“How about Cursed?” You inquired. Tara was leaning her back against your chest; she looked up at you with those beautiful brown eyes.

“That movie’s terrible.”

“One-hundred percent, but Milo Ventimiglia is in it.”

“Doesn’t he only have like six minutes of screen time?”

“But in it, nevertheless.”

“You drive a hard bargain… Get the laptop?”

You respond by reaching over to the night stand, grabbing her laptop. You hand it to her and she opens it on her lap. 

Tara would never comment on how she was the only one who got this side of you—the gentle, kind, and considerate side. Well, when she wants to see you squirm she comments on it. But for now, she’ll keep it to it herself.

-----------

A/N: the urge to write a paper on how jess mariano is a truly misunderstood character grows each & each day...

(I got beef with star hallows. we leave it at that.)

[starry-hughes]

wrapping presents (jack hughes)

day 12 of star’s ficmas

jack hughes x reader

Jack was pretty insistent on the fact that he didn’t need an assistant. But everyone else thought he did. He was immature, constantly forgetting about meetings, if someone else wasn’t grocery shopping for him, he would be eating leftover meals from the nutrition team every day. He didn’t know what temperature to preheat the oven to for chicken.

Luke didn’t mind your presence. He knew you helped Jack more than anything, plus you kept the pantry stocked with his favorite fruit snacks. Jack appreciated you more than anything. You picked up his drycleaning, made sure he was where he needed to be, and sometimes, you would wait up for him after hard games to help him put icy hot on his shoulder.

You were his life saver.

Jack had wanted to thank you for all your hardwork. You had been his assistant since his rookie year. You stuck by him through injuries and his small hissy fits he would throw when the team was in a bad area of the season. He had thanked you previously, big extravaganza gifts, bonuses for the holiday and offering to buy you plane tickets to go wherever you desired. At the beginning, he didn’t want to admit that he needed someone like you, but now he didn’t know what to do without you. This year, though, he couldn’t think of something to get you, until he saw the present in a bookstore. He wasn’t typically found in bookstores but the gift caught his eye in the window.

You entered his apartment with bags of Christmas gifts and wrapping paper. Jack was sitting on the couch with Luke. “Got all the gifts you needed,” you smiled at the man who was technically your boss. Jack sighed happily, “Oh what would I do without you.”

You grinned, carrying the gifts to his room to wrap. “You’d probably perish.”

Luke waited until the door of Jack’s bedroom closed, signaling that you were in his bedroom, wrapping gifts. You knew Jack’s bedroom well, hell you’d slept in his bed before. It wasn’t on purpose of course, but when the team had all gotten sick and you two were quarantined together, you had really gotten to know him by talking for hours in his bedroom, which resulted in you falling asleep on his bed. “Did you get (Y/N) a gift?”

“Yeah dude of course. I always get her one.”

Jack jumped up from the couch, carrying over a box. It wasn’t wrapped, just a plain white box he was planning to stick a bow on and call it a day. It was a custom, leather bound journal with flowers pressed on the cover. “It made me think of her.”

“So when are you going to tell her you’re in love with her?” Jack hit his brother, a signal for Luke to shut up.

You neatly wrapped all the gifts before packing them in a suitcase for Jack to take to Michigan for the holiday break. You loved your job and did it with a smile on your face. Sure, Jack sometimes drove you crazy but you really liked him. Maybe even loved. You chalked up your feelings to the fact that you spent a majority of your time with him. A proximity crush. You’d never fall for him if you didn’t spend so much time with him.

“Picking up dinner boys, be back soon,” you said as you got your coat on. “Oh actually, just dinner for you and Jacky, I’m going over to Dawson’s,” Luke said. Jack’s eyebrows furrowed together, “I didn’t think you were going there.” The brothers shared a look. Luke was telling him with his eyes that it was time to make a move. “Well I am, you and (Y/N) enjoy dinner together,” Luke gritted.

“Jack, I’ll be back with dinner I guess,” you said confused before leaving. “What the hell dude?” Jack whipped his head toward Luke. “Just tell her you love her! Tonight! Stop beating around the bush!”

You got home with food and Jack wasn’t in the living room. “Jack?” you called out. You heard a muttered “damn it” from his bedroom and you walked to his room. He had tape stuck to his fingers and horrible cut wrapping paper and a plain white box on the floor of his bedroom. “What are you doing? I thought I wrapped all the gifts?”

“This one is special,” Jack huffed out. He was raising the white flag, surrendering to the wrapping paper. You left the paper bag of food on his dresser and joined him on the floor of his bedroom. “You should measure the wrapping paper and make sure it covers the whole box, like this, before cutting,” you explained softly. He pulled himself closer to you, he could hear your heartbeat picking up.

“Then, you should tape one side down to the box, then the other side, and finally the edges you tuck in to make triangles and then fold,” you narrated as he handed you pieces of tape. “Must be a special present if you wanted to wrap it yourself,” you looked at him. His lips were inches away.

“Yeah, something like that,” he mumbled. You could have sworn he was moving in to kiss you before you snapped out of your trance. “Do you want to add a bow to the box?” you cleared your throat and looked back at the neatly wrapped present. “Oh,” Jack was snapped back to reality, “I guess?”

You added the bow before handing it to Jack. “I’m sure she’ll love it.”

Jack’s eyes almost pop out of his head. “How do you know it’s for a girl?”

“Because Jack, I’ve only ever seen you put this much effort into presents or items if it’s for a girl you really like.”

Jack could have laughed, it was so ironic. You were right and you had no idea how right you were.

[watarfallar]

I bring more

Etho: I like to play this game called nap roulette. I take a nap and don’t set an alarm. Will it be 20 min or 4 hours? Nobody knows. It’s risky and I like it.

Jimmy: Scott, I want a bedtime story! Scott: I’m busy, Jimmy. I’ll tell you one tomorrow. Jimmy: If you don’t tell me a story, I won’t go to bed! Scott: Once upon a time, there was a person named Jimmy, who always wanted things their way. One day, their friends got sick of it and locked them in the basement for the rest of their life. Everyone else lived happily ever after. The end. Jimmy: I don’t like these stories with morals.

Bdubs: Where did you get that tomato soup? Etho: It’s actually a bowl of ketchup I just microwaved.

Skizz: Hey, what have you two been doing? Martyn: we were helping Cleo with their wedding vows and we were kicked out of their house for making it inappropriate. Joel: How is “Nice ass, Bdubs” inappropriate?

BigB, talking to Martyn: They're trying to lure me into a false sense of security! Well, joke’s on them! I’ve never been secure in my life! And I’m not about to start now!

Mumbo: I’m not so sure you’re stakeout material. Scott: I’m a chronic insomniac, I was born for this.

BigB: Ew. What kind of tea is this? Martyn: I boiled gatorade.

Pearl: I keep a picture of all of us in my wallet. Whenever I face difficulties, I take it out and stare at the picture. The Squad: Awwww- Pearl: And I tell myself "If I can deal with these idiots, then I can deal with anything." The Squad: Oh.

Gem: So what do you have planned for the future? Jimmy: Lunch. Gem: No, like long term. Jimmy: Oh...um, dinner?

Cleo: As someone who has a long history of not understanding anything, I feel confident in my ability to continue not knowing what is going on.

Bdubs, singing: I don’t want a lot for Christmas, there is just one thing I need— Joel: A family. Pearl: A better love life. Impulse: Mental stability. Jimmy: *clueless* Bagels?

Gem: Are you tall enough to play basketball though? Joel: Are you calling me short? Gem: I'm calling you vertically challenged.

Cleo: Am I in trouble? Skizz: Take a guess. Cleo: No? Skizz: Take another guess.

Etho: Sweet dog you got there. Police: Yes, this is our new drug sniffing dog. Etho: Still training huh? Police: What do you mean? Etho: Etho: Never mind.

Martyn, after asking the squad how to get rust off of a blade: Thank you good people oddly versed in knives.

Martyn: I wanna die. Joel: We all do, you aren't special!

Impulse and Gem texting* Impulse: Come downstairs and talk to me please. I'm lonely. Gem: Isn't Etho there? Impulse: Yes but I like you more.

Grian: When I first got my autism diagnosis, my first thought was “woah… it’s canon” and I think that maybe thoughts like that is why BigB made me get tested.

Pearl: We can’t tell you because you’re not a member of the club. Tango: What club? Scar: The hating Tango club. Tango: …The fuck? I should be the leader of that club!

+ a bonus soup group quote:

Keralis: Between Gem, Pearl and Impulse, there are three braincells. Keralis: And Impulse has all three of them.

[silverflqmes]

໒⦂ 𝐇𝐀𝐈𝐊𝐘𝐔𝐔 𝐂𝐇𝐑𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐌𝐀𝐒.

notes. reposted and edited from wp! happy holidays and merry christmas to those who celebrate!

genre. fluff + crack

ft. tooru oikawa, tetsuro kuroo, rintaro suna, shoyo hinata, kenji futakuchi, hajime iwaizumi, osamu miya

gender neutral! reader

➫ 𝓞𝗜𝗞𝗔𝗪𝗔 𝓣𝗢𝗢𝗥𝗨 ୨୧ ˎˊ˗

⌗ HOT COCO HOT COCO HOT COCO

⌗ he loves to sit near the fire place with either you seated on his lap or just plopped up above him on the couch or beneath if you're more my style AHAHAHAHA

⌗ LOVES HALLMARK MOVIES i mean look at him, he would so watch them.. but he wouldn’t mind the classics like elf, christmas story ( my fav fr ), the home alone duology or national lampoon’s christmas vacation🫶

⌗ "I LOVE YOU I LOVE I LOVE YOU I LOVE YOUUUU Y/N-CHAAAAANNNN!!" — after watching elf and doing last minute christmas shopping going up the escalator ( he’s silly )

⌗ would totally play old jazzy christmas songs and pull you close to him, swaying gently in the kitchen or by the fireplace to the melody with the smell of balsam in the air❤️

⌗ you already know he would have lured you under the mistletoe too somehow🧎

⌗ "oh wow! i wonder how this got here!!🙀"

➫ 𝓚𝗨𝗥𝗢𝗢 𝓣𝗘𝗧𝗦𝗨𝗥𝗢 ୨୧ ˎˊ˗

⌗ y'all woke up LATE on christmas day istg, but tetsuro hooked you up real nice with presents ykyk he made that bank af and worked those extra hours just for you<3

⌗ THE DECORATIONS ARE SO PRETTY ISTG WHO LET HIM HAVE THIS MUCH TASTE, WHO ALLOWED HIM TO SLAY THAT HARD

⌗ unlike kawa, kuroo took you for dinner and made a day out of it? he took you ice skating, out to see the lights and decorations, tossed a few snowballs at you to piss you off🧎

⌗ "come onnn, i promise i won't let you fall~"

⌗ it ends up snowing a bit later into the night on your way back home, so he gave you his scarf, long coat AND mittens.. hooked you up fr

⌗ except.. nothing fits aside from the scarf, but are you complaining? no🙄 although you did yell at him for it cuz he could get sick</3

⌗ he had an entire argument prepared as to why he wouldn't get sick and you could have sworn that he mentioned the periodic table somewhere🧍‍♂️spoiler alert- he gets sick the next day

➫ 𝓢𝗨𝗡𝗔 𝓡𝗜𝗡𝗧𝗔𝗥𝗢 ୨୧ ˎˊ˗

⌗ ngl at first you were SO confused as to why suna didn't have a christmas tree in his living room, but one in his bedroom until christmas day..

⌗ Y'ALL DID NOT MOVE THE ENTIRE DAY

⌗ "rin, we gotta open the presents y'know.. and i kinna want breakfast.. we gotta get up at some point."

⌗ "the presents are under our tree over there by the dresser, just peek under and you'll see them. as for breakfast, kita-san’s coming over with everyone later. problem solved."

⌗ tbfh the laziest christmas you could ever imagine, but like you can’t complain, it was nice to just unwind a bit

⌗ he did keep the spirit of the holidays with a good bit of christmas movies, for sure the grinch who stole christmas ( it’s his favorite )

⌗ later on, true to his words, kita showed up around 7:30 with the rest of the team and y'all had sum good ass food and hot coco after reluctantly dragging suna out of bed to get ready🤲

➫ 𝓗𝗜𝗡𝗔𝗧𝗔 𝓢𝗛𝗢𝗬𝗢 ୨୧ ˎˊ˗

⌗ boy are you in for it🧎

⌗ shoyo woke you up at four in the morning with natsu in tow, dragging your ass to the living room where the tree was filled with a wide arrangement of presents

⌗ you were still half asleep and since you were staying at shoyo's for the holidays — you uh.. weren't allowed to start opening gifts till seven LMAOO so you guys started guessing the presents instead; yk getting a feel of them

⌗ "WOAH THIS ONE'S SUPER BIG, I-IT COULD BE ANYTHING!"

⌗ "sho, the only thing it's gonna end up being is a wake up call to your mom and then you'll never know what it is."

⌗ tobio comes over later and y'all have a snowball fight together🥺

⌗ you and natsu won LMAOOOO poor lil birb was upset, but your kisses made things better for him❤️

➫ 𝓕𝗨𝗧𝗔𝗞𝗨𝗖𝗛𝗜 𝓚𝗘𝗡𝗝𝗜 ୨୧ ˎˊ˗

⌗ ugh yes dateko's baddest bitch😩 another grinch enjoyer tbh

⌗ this man woke you up with a snowball to your face before shouting out merry christmas

⌗ although it was a cheap shot, getting you while VULNERABLE, you couldn't stay mad at him, as you loved this piece of shit so dearly😪

⌗ HOWEVER. that didn't mean you didn't get his ass back the minute he dropped his guard when you went outside to turn your christmas lights off for the day

⌗ "huh, so you think you can be a cheeky little shit with me on such a loving day? and get away with it?"

⌗ "and what? you don't hear me complaining, now do you kenji?”

⌗ in spite of being complete little shits to each other, you laughed it off after awhile and just spent your evening curled up together on your couch with a plate of sugar cookies that you both had baked the night before ( ofc you can guess there was a war of flour and baking tools then too )

➫ 𝓘𝗪𝗔𝗜𝗭𝗨𝗠𝗜 𝓗𝗔𝗝𝗜𝗠𝗘 ୨୧ ˎˊ˗

⌗ y'all have the coziest christmas honestly

⌗ you and hajime don't wake up too early or too late; it's just the right time and you're both completely prepared for all that's to come for the day

⌗ the two of you start off with unwrapping presents, then iwaizumi makes you the BEST breakfast ever istg, TELL ME HE DOESN'T COOK RN IF YOU WANNA GET TUSSLED

⌗ ngl tooru taught him some good shit when it came to making hot coco and you swore you were just about ready to tap into heaven at that immaculate taste

⌗ "oh my gosh, haji, what did you put in this, it's so.. it's better than amazing!"

⌗ "while i want tell you, i'm ‘sworn to secrecy’, his words not mine, by that fool oikawa with his secret recipe bullshit." he can’t lie though, whatever tf tooru invented was otherworldly..

⌗ not even an hour later you found it on starbucks' secret menu app and you showed it to your boyfriend who flipped his shit before sprinting over to his friend’: house with two snowballs in hand ( with hard snow.. praying for my man to dodge more than ever ); the outcome.. wasn't the prettiest😔

➫ 𝓜𝗜𝗬𝗔 𝓞𝗦𝗔𝗠𝗨 ୨୧ ˎˊ˗

⌗ FOOD FOOD FOOD FOOD did i say food? yes, food.

⌗ all you two did that whole entire day was EAT?? NOT EVEN THAT BUT YOU HAD A WHOLE CHRISTMAS EVE DINNER TOO THE NIGHT BEFORE HXJSKSKS OSAMU DOES NOT PLAY GAMES WHEN IT COMES TO CHRISTMAS

⌗ atsumu invites himself over as usual and there's chaos in the kitchen of course..

⌗ "OUTTA THE WAY 'SAMU, I WANNA DECORATE COOKIES TOO!!"

⌗ "if you don't quit whinin' right now 'tsumu, i'm gonna beat yer ass and toss ya out in the snow."

⌗  bantering aside, the cookies were super pretty?? they tasted heavenly too, cookies from scratch go hard and whatever recipe those two were taught.. yum

⌗ osamu had nonalcoholic eggnog prepared for you and him to have after atsumu went home and the two of you exchanged the presents you had for one another before cuddling near the tree and fireplace for the night<3

notes. forgot to repost this before with the other reposts but it was kinda out of season.. so i waited for the holidays to blow in to fixed them up a bit and post them on here. furthermore, super sorry for the lack of activity, been working on my og wip as of late and my longer fics on wp :’) hope you understand</3

↳ return to main masterlist . request rules . send an ask

[kiss-me-muchoo]

𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 || 𝐉𝐨𝐞𝐥 𝐌𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐫 𝐱 𝐫𝐞𝐝!𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫

part one: i think i’m finally clean || part two: HERE

summary_ after a failed desperate attempt from Joel to get you back, you go missing while doing patrol, which leads to the Millers having to go and find you.

warnings_ age gap! (not specified tho), angst, fluff, ANGST, emotionally constipated Joel!, lots of apologies, mostly Joel’s POV

notes_this was supposed to be 1989 related like part one but I love Suki’s new album so much and it’s so Joel Miller coded, Legendary is all I played while creating this.

✰ 𝙄𝙉𝘿𝙀𝙓 (𝙈𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙡𝙞𝙨𝙩 𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚)

♪ ♫ 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙨𝙩 𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙮𝙡𝙞𝙨𝙩 𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙋𝙚𝙙𝙧𝙤 𝙃𝙀𝙍𝙀

…

How could there be a disco ball in the room? Who found it? And where?

You weren’t expecting much from the Halloween party in Jackson to be honest. But turned out to be full of people with mid-costumes made by the first thing they could come up with. At a long table, you could spot a jar of fruit punch, some simple pastries, and snacks.

Some music was playing as many couples danced on the improvised dance floor. You only stared as you drank some alcohol your friend Lia sneaked in.

“Hey, love your outfit,” Sally says, a friend of yours who also worked in the gardening business of Jackson with you.

“Thanks, Sally. I also love yours” She has a crimson dress with her old usual boots and some fake blood everywhere, made with berries and pomegranate juice. You know because you helped her out with that.

“It’s been ages since I saw so many people gathered. Not even on Christmas” You nod, although you hadn’t lived in Jackson long enough like her.

“I guess Halloween really is that time of the year” she laughs and offers you a gentle smile.

“Hey… I’ve heard Joel has been trying to talk to you”

“I’m not in the mood to handle him or his bratty little girl right now…” Sally laughs even harder at your words. But you’re being serious. For a whole night, you don’t want to think about Joel and Ellie. They are around, you saw once the man talking with Tommy, helping him to drag some trash cans. The girl on the other hand was barely talking with a girl who looked around her age.

“Perhaps… but it’s so hot of him to keep trying with you,” she says and you scoff shrugging.

“You made it sound like he wants to seduce me”

“He may be…”

“No. Oh my God, no, Sally.” You say crossing your arms. Completely missing the pair of eyes that were fixated on you.

“You spent months with him and Ellie in the wild. I swore you were a family when you arrived here the first time”

“I used to think we were a family too. But that’s long forgotten. I’m good right now. Without them…”

Sally doesn’t push it anymore. But she thinks you’re trying to ignore your emotions. And she can’t judge you, she saw how Joel treated you the day of the vegetables.

“Let’s just forget about it, I’m in the mood to dance.” You add, dragging her and improvising some lame dancing along the 90s music playing.

…

Your vision is spinning. The lights that made the party feel like a real disco now seem to be violent faded dots. But you don’t feel sick, you feel light.

It’s nearly past midnight. And there’s still a lot of people in the party. All of the kids of Jackson have been long ago finished with the trick or treating. Sally found a guy to spend the night with and you told her to enjoy but also be careful.

And so you’re also ready to call it a day. You got dressed for Halloween ever since the outbreak. You witnessed a big party, you kissed two guys for fun and you were drunk as hell.

You couldn’t recall another day as happy as that Halloween.

When you almost trip when going down the stairs of the dining hall, you have to sit on them, laughing.

For some seconds, you can see the blurred image of the bright yellow moon. It’s a cold night, but nothing near freezing.

“…y/n?” You hear a male voice calling you.

It was Joel.

“Not tonight, Joel.”

“You’re drunk.”

“I don’t give a shit, I can stand and make it home,” you say calmly. Although you’re drunk, you still feel very conscious.

“I’m takin’ you home” Joel barely grabs your arms when you squirm away from him, standing up immediately.

“For fucks sake, Joel. I want you away from me. A-W-A-Y… GET AWAY FROM ME!” He was taken aback. And there was nowhere to hide his feelings. Joel had been painfully hurt by your words. Even when he had heard the same hours ago, this time hurt even more.

“All of your friends say you keep avoiding the way you feel. Why can’t you just let me speak then you can ignore me the rest of your life?” He shouldn’t be arguing back when you’re drunk. He really shouldn’t.

“Because I’m not interested in whatever shit you will say. You never gave me the chance to speak back then… Remember?…” you say dragging every word with a vague look that only confirms how drunk you are.

“I don’t think I’ll ever stop saying I’m sorry. To Ellie, to me… you are family.”

Your eyes prickle with tears.

Suddenly you’re sober. Your brain works perfectly fine. So you cry.

Joel sees the first tears rolling down and he sighs. He couldn’t comprehend your side of the story because you were excluding him and Ellie. But he wanted to be in your life again. He was a man who had changed so much after Salt Lake.

Joel was open to being vulnerable, just for you.

His body moves closely, attempting to embrace you in a hug. Or at least touch you.

But you move away.

“I need time…” you say before walking away with weak steps but a confident pace.

You don’t dare to look back. The way home is more quiet than silence itself. You block every thought regarding Joel while you wash your hair in the shower. And you are even scared to think about it as you light the candle on your nightstand.

…

Two weeks without any contact with the little Miller family pass by. Ellie sees you in the garden and picking vegetables to send to the kitchen and the rest for livestock or as fertilizer. She also saw you once in the dining hall with your friends laughing and gossiping. And the young girl couldn’t help but think she hadn’t seen you laugh like that. Not ever since you and Joel used to mess with Ellie about the dirty tee shirt she always wore.

Joel goes to your house one night and spots you outside, taking care of your plants, humming some songs, and wearing pajamas. He stood there in the shadows like a creep for more minutes. He looked carefully at how you sat on a patio couch you had near your door and got into the book you pulled out.

Joel reminisced the night Ellie and he had a hateful dinner. They recalled the moment they met you some miles away from Boston. And by the end of the memory, when you told them you were staying in Jackson instead of going with them to the Fireflies in Salt Lake, Ellie snapped. The girl and Joel briefly argued, blaming each other for treating you so bad. But soon Ellie made Joel say three precious words.

He loved you.

And seeing you alone, in your home, almost a year after taking separate ways, only made Joel desperate to feel worthy of your affection.

…

The Miller brothers carried heavy piles of carved wood for a new library the men had built during the summer. Joel and Tommy never lost their contractor’s touch. They beautifully worked so well that ended up giving advice to the younger ones. It was a normal day. That morning a group left to patrol as usual. Others prepared the food of the day. Others refurbished the town. The kids went to school. Everything was normal. Joel was pulling splinters out of his left hand, ready to go home. Ellie discovered the new guitar Joel got, so she seemed curious about the instrument.

His home smelled like cedar and burnt wood. Joel rolled his eyes, watching how Ellie forgot to wash the dishes again. But he was tired, he went straight to take a shower and soon landed on his couch. His muscles relaxed and he closed his eyes for a minute.

Which turned into two hours.

“JOEL!” Ellie yells on his face, waking him up.

“What the fuck, kid?”

“Tommy is here, y/n didn’t come back with her patrol group.” His eyes opened wide as soon as he heard the girl.

“What?”

“She’s missing…” Ellie sounded scared, even anxious. Joel immediately got the chills. He sighed and quickly stood up, ignoring the way his back cracked.

In the kitchen, Tommy sat, looking stressed out.

“What happened?” Joel crosses his arms, already losing his patience.

“Patrol was coming back when some raiders attacked them. It was y/n who gained time for the group, and said she would follow soon, but she didn’t” Joel sighed once again.

“How long ago?” Ellie asked timidly.

“Almost three hours ago…” Joel huffs. Angered at his brother, he gave the table a slight slap.

“Why you didn’t tell me sooner?” Tommy tried to calm him down. The whole reason why he avoided his older brother was because he would get stressed. He had hoped that the other groups that went out to find you would come back with great news.

“The group is almost back but now news so far…”

“I’ll go to find her…”

“I said we’ve already sent people around the area…” Tommy says, but Joel rolls his eyes, putting on his boots. Unbeknownst to Tommy, his last resource was Joel. And deep down, he disapproved of the age gap between you two, but he wanted nothing but your happiness and Joel’s.

“Tommy. I’ll go find her.”

“I’m coming too” Ellie quickly says.

“No. You stay here.”

“Joel. I won’t be able to sleep knowing you could be out there alone. Even worse if she’s hurt or…”

“Don’t say it…” Tommy pleads with the girl, so she nods.

Joel’s heart pounds in his ribcage. He is scared, to be honest. And he wants nothing but to grow wings so he can quickly find you.

“Is there any place you haven’t checked?” Joel asks, putting on his jacket. Ellie opens the closet near the entrance and grabs her and Joel’s emergency backpacks.

“There’s a cabin only Maria, the meds, and council know about…” Tommy reveals.

“And y/n too…”

“Yes, Ellie. It’s only for emergencies, hidden near a cliff, where the bushes grow wilder and perfect to disguise raiders and infected.”

“Where is the cabin exactly?” loading his rifle and grabbing more bullets, Joel asks to his brother.

“About an hour away from here. If you go now, you’ll make it before the night falls. I’ll check it in a map…” the man grabs the paper from his pocket, marking a red circle around the green area.

“There’s a lot of apple trees near the area. We collect from there every fall, once you start seeing rotten apples in the way, you’ll know you’re very close” Tommy says.

“Remember. We have a periwinkle ribbon hidden in the bushes. That’s the entrance. Be careful, Joel. And good luck, to the three of you…”

At that moment, Joel realized he would find you in a bad position or a terrible one he didn’t even want to imagine it.

But he was full of fate.

“She’s alive. Right, Joel?” Ellie asks once the gates of Jackson opened and the pair left in two horses.

“Of course she’s alive…” he confidently replies. But the pounding of his heart made him conscious of the anxiety he was feeling.

…

The woods howl with every sound of the wind pushing dry leaves around. So far Joel hadn’t used a single bullet. The way was clear. Only the fainted sounds of the waterfalls and the eco of the cliffs.

There were indeed a lot of apple trees. With the sun almost gone, the burgundy spheres hanging from the trees looked even more majestic.

“I guess we’re here…” Joel announced, putting his feet on the ground.

“Look for the periwinkle ribbon, Joel” the man nodded.

Sneaking his hands through the bushes, he could feel some thorns. At first glance, those bushes looked very intimidating. As if poison would suddenly leak from their tiny white flowers.

“Found it!” Joel didn’t get it, but when he tried to pull the ribbon, he lifted a whole branch attached to it.

“Holy shit!” Ellie gasped surprised to see that the bushes were actually very light.

“The horses can make it inside too. You go first…” Ellie nods, taking the lead.

Then followed Joel, leading his horse inside the property and then making sure the ribbon was completely hidden.

The Cabin was small, rustic, and surrounded by the same bushes and big rocks. It was strategically positioned where the pines and apple trees could disguise it.

“She’s here. Look…” Ellie says, pointing at your backpack and a rifle thrown on the stairs of the cabin.

“Stay back…” he indicated, firmly holding his rifle in case of anything.

Both went up the stairs and were notified the door was barely closed as if they had been in a rush. Joel opened the door slowly and when the view was granted, he saw you on the floor pointing at him with a small pistol.

“It’s okay, it’s just me and Ellie,” he said dropping and rifle and literally running towards you.

“Joel?” You ask looking at his barely distinguishable silhouette.

“I told you once. Don’t go where I can’t follow, darlin’…” he says, but you can’t hear him.

Ellie finally saw you and noticed you were sweating so much, panting for air. The skin of your neck looked between pink and lilac. For some seconds, she thought you had been bitten.

“You can’t breathe,” Joel noticed when you literally dropped your head against the wooden floor.

“J-Joel… My- ribs. It hurts…” you barely spoke and tears streamed down your cheeks. Your hand grasped his and didn’t want to let go.

“Shh… we’re here. I’m gonna take care of you”

Respectfully, Joel tore your long-sleeved top. You had a silk bra that looked very vintage but that wasn’t capturing all of Joel’s attention.

You had indeed swollen ribs. Your right side looked awful in comparison to the left one. There was also a small cut in your shoulder, but your ribs were painted in shades of red, purple, and blue.

The man turned to see the girl standing at the door. Ellie couldn’t hide it, she seemed scared, her eyes slightly teary.

“No tears, she’s gonna be okay. Now help me with the remedies and medicine we have” she nodded.

By the time Joel had finished putting ointments and giving a local spraying of anesthesia, you had completely fallen asleep. Ellie helped him to put a bandage around your ribs and the man carried you to a room that had a bed.

Joel took a brief glance at you and sighed in relief. You were alive, and your chances of survival were big. He just had to take care of you. Like he should have since the first time.

…

You wake up violently, quickly trying to sit down because you can’t remember anything. Your last memory was the raiders shooting and hitting you with his rifle, throwing you off of your horse.

“Hey, easy there!” you immediately stop, encountering Ellie beside you.

One thing was for sure; you felt amazing compared to the day before.

“What are you doing here?” She sighed.

“Patrol came back and you were missing. Since nobody could find you, Tommy suspected you were here. So Joel and I came…” your eyes closed in embarrassment. Blurred memories of them stepping inside the cabin, you pointing at them, telling Joel how bad you were in pain, and Ellie helping him to bandage you.

“Thank you.” She nods, but her lips get sealed, like she wants to say more but she’s unsure.

“I’m sorry.”

“You were the closest thing I had like family and Joel and I fucked up everything,” Ellie says looking away.

“When we’re grieving the past, we get so scared to mess up our present. Which makes us mad and terrified.” You tell her with a little smile.

And you also talk to yourself, because you were so hurt by how they treated you that it made you feel scared of getting hurt again by them.

“Joel said you needed time. But do you think you already have an answer about us being friends ever again?”

You can’t make a teenager beg for your forgiveness. Every single person you know has suffered. All have sacrificed something. And you didn’t want to grow old alone.

“Come here…” you tell her and in less than a second you have Ellie hugging you tightly.

“Wait… my ribs” she breaks off the contact, looking scared.

“Shit, I’m sorry. I-“

“Ellie, it’s okay…” you smile at her and she reciprocates it.

“Where’s Joel?”

“Patrolling around. She already signaled to Tommy we were fine. He also went to get something to eat. There’s nothing of food besides the bread and water we brought.”

“Oh…”

“Joel can be an asshole. After all, we both know him so well. But… give him a chance, please” Your smile grows. It makes you blush because Ellie sounds like she’s implying Joel had feelings for you.

Ever since you met him, you developed a crush on him. But he was a grumpy old man, he never showed any sign of romantic attraction towards you.

“I could give him a chance, but I think everyone has misinterpreted the way he feels for me,” you say, remembering how Sally implied the same time during the Halloween party.

“You know how Tommy looks at Maria?” You nod at her.

“That’s the same way Joel looks at you. And I’ve never experienced it, but I know that must be love”

Was the girl in the correct?

…

It’s already late when the need to get out of bed gets stronger. You took a very careful shower, and with every droplet of cold water that washed you, you also repeated every word Ellie said. You could easily admit you loved Joel. Even after everything. Because was there in the harder days out in the wild. You were a stranger he also carried wherever he was going. And always reminded you how strong you were.

“Ellie!” The girl appeared with her hair also wet.

“Can you help me go downstairs?. I want to help you with dinner” you said.

Ellie carefully grabbed your hands to help you stand from the bed. As soon as she opened the door, the smell of apples and cinnamon hit you.

“What are you cooking?” You asked her.

“Just apples with honey and cinnamon…”

“Smells really good, Ellie” she thanks you, paying extra attention as you walk down the stairs.

Just when you make it safely. The front door opened. Joel came in with a dead rabbit in his hands.

“You’re awake…” he said surprised.

“I am…” you reply feeling your face burn in red.

“How are you feeling?” He asks scratching the back of his head.

“Better. Thanks to both of you”

“It’s nothing”

Ellie can’t stop looking between you and the man. She has a little dorky smile and her heart beats in hopes you two can solve your problems.

“Can I skin that rabbit?” You ask him shyly. He looks down at the rabbit and then back at you.

“Let me do that. But if you feel okay, you can cook it” You nod, offering him a brief smile that takes him aback.

“Okay. I’ll wait for Ellie in the kitchen.”

Joel is shocked. Ellie has to go and pinch his ribs to take him down to earth again.

“Don’t mess it up.” She says.

“What?”

“I think we’re okay now. Talk to her tonight, please” he sighs but nods.

“Joel?” The girl asks.

“Hmm?”

“I think y/n feels the same way about you. But she doesn’t think you do.”

His heart beats softly but hurriedly. Joel has to hide his smile as Ellie walks away into the kitchen.

…

Dinner was quiet. Some words were exchanged. Mainly about your accident. You explained how the raiders ambushed you and your group. After gaining time for your partners to leave, there was nobody left to save you. A man hit your head with his rifle, then your ribs. You fell from your horse and barely noticed when the raiders left. Your body dragged itself towards the cabin, where all of your energy disappeared and your Brian processed the pain.

Thankfully, you had two saviors. Joel and Ellie appeared and saved your life.

The plan was to go back to Jackson the following morning. You agreed as long as your health lets you. Ellie helped you go upstairs again as Joel cleaned the dishes. You said good night to the girl and went to brush your teeth. By fortune, you always carried first necessity items in your backpack.

There is no electricity in the upper rooms. But there are tons of bottles of wine, soda, and old glasses with half-melted candles. It made it a little harder while showering. But after feeling clean, relaxed, and lonely, it brings a sense of peacefulness.

In the mirror, you encounter a woman whose body is tired but her mind is starting to feel at peace. You have decided that if Joel came knocking at the door, you would let the past go and you would focus on the present.

But your hopes die a little when an hour passes and you are still alone in the room.

And just when you’re about to give up, you hear it.

A knock on your door.

You encounter Joel with the same clothes he arrived with. However, his hair is slicked back and wet from the shower he took. You remain silent as he stares closely at you.

“Can we talk?” The man asks.

“Okay…”

You let him step inside. Joel sits on the little couch that faces the bed, and both of you stare in silence. There’s a distant howling from coyotes or jackals near the area. But then, you only pay attention to Joel. He continuously moved his hands and tried to speak up but couldn’t.

“Ellie said you and her are okay,” he says and you nod, avoiding his gaze. You hear him sigh.

“If I had accepted sooner how important you are to me, I would’ve given you the whole night to tell me why you couldn’t come with Ellie and me to Salt Lake” he starts, bringing you back to the night where the doctor of Jackson told you your body was full of anemia. That if you went out to the wild again, you’d likely suffer a breakdown.

“I would’ve understood, I would’ve told you I’d be back. But I didn’t because… I guess I got scared, I was convinced you were abandoning Ellie. But mostly me… I got used to having you in my life. And thought you wanted to take separate ways as soon as you discovered you could have a better life in Jackson”

“I started to feel dizzy that day. If I hadn’t felt anything, I wouldn’t visited the doctor and I would have gone with you and Ellie” you admit looking at the melting candles.

Joel feels a little worse. But it only makes him even more eager to stand up and walk towards you.

You witness how he goes down to his knees with difficulty, knowing his bones are tired. It takes you aback when he grabs your hands and gives you the softest look.

“I’m sorry. For everything. When I saw you were back, so full of life and willing to keep explaining to us what happened, I kept acting like an asshole. That’s not what a man does to the woman he’s in love with…”

You quickly look at his eyes again, trying to see if what he said was true or not. He briefly smiled, tender to see the way you reacted.

“I probably won’t stop saying I’m sorry until I have you by my side every morning and every night. ‘Cause if want thing has thought me, Ellie, is that I have to express my feelings. So I’ll do it, I’m in love with you and I’m sorry”

You are near tears when he says that, Joel only squeezes your hands softly, but you break the contact only to pull him towards you in a big hug.

“The moment I saw you came with Ellie through the door of this cabin, I knew I didn’t want to lose my little family. I’ve been trying to be strong but the truth is that I need you, Joel” his cheek touches yours and you feel the warmth of his skin. Any trace of uncertainty is gone. Only he could have taken and brought back your happiness.

“I need you too, darlin’”

He kisses you, so soft, so simple. You barely pay attention to the rain that suddenly started pouring. Joel slowly stands up and you lean back on the bed. His kisses were addicting even when you just met them seconds ago. But you take the lead by moving your lips down south, marking traces on his chin, towards his jaw. It is there when Joel lets out the first moan. But he suddenly stops

“Wait, y/n, I don’t want to hurt you. Your ribs aren’t completely healed. And-“

“Joel… If I kept going, it’s because I can. And because I want to…” you say before capturing his lips in another kiss.

“Is Ellie asleep?” You add. Joel chuckles.

“You know she snores loudly. Listen…” Both of you remain quiet and the distant snores of the girl can be heard, which makes you giggle.

First, he undresses you and makes sure to heavenly explore your most intimate areas with his tongue. Then he takes off his clothes and worships your body in the most perfect way he could possibly do it.

“I love you, Joel” it spills out of your lips with honesty. Between thrusts and gasps for air, he makes time to answer you.

“I love you too.”

For the rest of the night, his hands are in your body. And until the morning, remain there…

….

The rays of the sun wake you up by directly targeting your eyes. But when you open them, they’re gone. Is a cloudy morning, and there’s a big pair of warm hands securely around your stomach.

The need to stretch is suddenly gone when you remember what happened last night. How good Joel made it clear you were the woman he wanted, his caresses, kisses, and everything. You can’t help but smile and snuggle closer to him.

“Mornin’…” Joel says with a raspy voice, without you noticing he had woken up.

“Hey…” you reply deciding to face him.

It feels odd to see an unworried Joel after months of being witness to his sleep deprivation, his inability to eat because he preferred to make sure you and Ellie did first, etc.

“Is there anything on my face? Or what’s with the starin’, sweetheart?” Your face goes hot, but there is no point in hiding your thoughts.

“I just… I never thought we would end up in this position. We were practically strangers once…”

“You said it, y/n. Once…” he replies, pulling you closer.

“I guess I’m just not used to this side of you…” Joel smirks, then chuckles. To be fair, he isn’t used to seeing you in such an intimate way. He knows there are many things left to learn from each other, but he knows nothing will change the way he feels.

“Look, after saying out loud how I feel about you… there’s nothin’ else to run away from, baby. I’m an old man who’s tired but feels like a teenager when it comes to you” Your heart melts from tenderness. You can’t help but kiss his chin.

“I’ll make sure to take care of you. There’s literally a whole life waiting for you, Joel. You’re not that old, dear” he smiles, nodding before resting one arm behind his head and the other snaking around you.

“Are we gonna tell Ellie?” You add, stretching on the bed.

“Let’s be real, she already knew before us.” Both of you laugh, smiling at each other like two idiots. The girl had constantly shared silly comments about you two being too close while dinner in the middle of nowhere, or how needy Joel looked about asking you to share a sleeping bag with him.

“She seemed excited about us talking…” Joel nods, sitting on the bed, stretching and making his bones crack a little.

“Glad we did more than talk” you gently push the man, making him chuckle a little.

“We should start heading towards Jackson by now…” you say looking that the sun was coming out again.

“Right. But… let’s say it one more time, please. So it’s… officially real” There was the insecure man you knew.

A little smile perks in your mouth as you crawl back towards him.

“We’re together now, wherever the tides take us…” he kisses you abruptly.

It was real. Coming back to Jackson meant closing a chapter, and starting a new one. And both of you knew it was going to be happier. And possibly… forever.

_______________________________________

Thank u to all the humans that waited almost A YEAR for this second part :)

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RUMOR HAS IT (pt. 17)

(Drew Starkey one-shot)

Plot: in which drew and isobel address a false rumor in the most abstract of ways

Setting: Christmas Eve night

Disclaimer: Isobel is an OC, 18+

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

PART SIXTEEN

Drew had never been perceptive of his emotions that weren’t obvious and easy to identify, and he was never ready to internalize the big emotions—the ones such as fear or grief—until it was too late to stop the feelings from infiltrating his mind and body. He’d been that way all of his life, and age had done nothing to change that. It was sort of like getting hit with a wall bricks, and not registering until the feeling of the harsh solid is piercing, scratching, and abusing your skin. And the breath is knocked out of you.

Drew reluctantly pulled his lips away from Isobel’s only to suck in one gust of air before reconnecting their lips once more. This kiss was different than the ones before, but this one, just like the others, fueled that foreign feeling he felt deep inside his chest for Isobel. It felt like he was somehow getting closer and in that moment he realized on a tipping scale of how close he could get to Isobel whether it was intimately or emotionally, he’d barely brushed the surface.

They fought for the first time as two people who were intimately involved. It was dramatic and tumultuous and everything he tried to avoid when it came to other women he’d been with before, but he would do it again if the person he was fighting for was Isobel. If having to experience that new found fear of possibly losing her meant he got to have her in his embrace after it all mellowed out. Because like the kiss, just simply having her in his arms again felt better than it ever has before.

Isobel felt so good in his hands he couldn’t help the groans of satisfaction rumbling in his throat from just running them across her thighs and over her silk pajamas that were driving him insane. “Show me your little outfit, baby.” Drew mumbled in her ear while grabbing a handful of her ass causing her mouth to fall agape against his cheek before slipping from under her and tossing her gently onto the center of the bed. Drew stood there as his eyes roam over every inch of her body. He absolutely could not figure out how someone could look so adorable yet sexy all at the same time, “You’re so beautiful.”

“Thank you.” She grinned up at him, baring all of her pretty white teeth and he melted at the sight. That toothy smile alone always knocked the breath out of him, even before that day in her apartment.

He’d been such an asshole earlier in the day to her and now he couldn’t imagine how he could ever say the things he did to the same sweet girl lying before him. It actually made him sick to the think about, so he backed away and twisted away from her. She told him the last thing she wanted was any of their parents finding out about them, and when she reacted like she deserved to he couldn’t handle it.

“Drew what are you doing?” Isobel asked with her eyebrows furrowed in concern. She saw something pass over his blue eyes before he turned around, how whatever it was that dawned on him happened as he was gazing at her.

Isobel and Drew weren’t the same and the mental voice inside of her told her that’s why they were good together. Drew let her walk away from him the previous night for his own reasonings they had yet to discuss. Isobel, on the other had, never let him get away from her without a fight whether it was something as little as him trying to pump the breaks on a heated kiss or something such as this moment where she could tell he was second guessing everything between them.

“You said you couldn’t do this.” Drew motioned his pointer finger between the two of them after he turned back towards her where she was now sitting up, “I need to give you space-”

“I don’t want space, Drew.” She interrupted, her voice was full of varying emotion. She usually hated it—how her voice betrayed her and revealed what she was truly feeling inside—but she didn’t hate it when it came to him. Because it gave opportunity for her to see that Drew really did know her like he said that he did, that he’d been paying attention, and absorbing everything he could about her because he cared that much. She could see it now in the way he flinched at her words as if he didn’t expect them and then in the softening of his twinkling eyes as he interrupted her thoughts through her chocolate orbs.

“-we have to stop making decisions for the both of us and focus on what is happening right now.” She continued on, the conversation with Charlotte still fresh on her mind, “I want you, Drew.”

He began to walk back over and she got up to stand on her knees at the edge of the bed so they were facing each other. His hands slowly found her hips and squeezed so tightly she gasped. Her arms sliding over his shoulders and around his neck and just like that they were practically in the same position as when she first walked in and he pulled her into his lap.

“I want you, Isobel.” He stated while staring deep into her eyes. He said it with generality like he wasn’t saying it just to agree with her, but to convey that he wanted her now and he would continue to want her when she left this room.

Isobel’s hands found either side of his face and rubbed his cheek bones with the pads of her thumbs, her tinted orbs looking up at him through her eyelashes with her teeth piercing her bottom lip. Then in a bat of an eye Drew was leaning in and carefully running his tongue in a linear swipe across her teeth trapping that lip. As soon as she released it, they were kissing once more, tongues immediately involved as they sensually swiped against each other. Isobel’s fingers conservatively scratched the buzzed hair at the nape of his neck while his large hands ate up every inch of her waist and thighs just grabbing and squeezing his favorite parts of her.

Isobel was the one to pull away this time and Drew was about to chase hers until the feeling of her moistened lips under his jaw registered and his eyes wrenched open. Her little kisses felt cold to the touch but it made it feel like his skin was on fire, “You always feel so damn good, Is.”

She just hums and continues to leave sweet pecks with her full lips as she moves on to his throat and eventually his shoulders. Drew watched intently while her hands spread and rubbed his chest, “Fuck.” He grunted when her nails grazed his nipple on their descent down to his stomach.

The girl was obsessed with his body and the energy he gave off around her. He just always felt so manly when they were with each other like this. It was how he was always towering over her, that predatory look he had in his eyes even when he was telling her they needed to stop, and how he was so lean yet stacked with muscle—muscle she wanted sticking to her sweaty skin when he finally gave himself to her. It was absurd how hesitant she was to address her feelings when it came to Drew, but was so willing to be with him in intimacy.

Suddenly, Isobel lowered her body back onto the bed, her gaze unwavering until she slowly twisted her body around and arched her long, slender back so her ass was pressed against the front of his pants. “Drew.” She dragged out in a needy whine, the thin material of her shorts and his thin pajamas doing nothing to prevent the feeling of his arousal from nudging her dampening silk covered cunt.

“You’re so fucking nasty, Isobel.” Drew said through clenched teeth as he harshly ran a hand down his face as if he were in disbelief at what he was seeing.

Desperate for some friction, Isobel shook her ass against him until the fat of it being began to ripple from the sensual motion. When she turned her head to the side to get a glimpse, Drew seemed to be in a trance—God, she loved teasing him. “You like that?”

“You know I like it.” Drew managed to get out before he placed his hands on her mesmerizing backside and watched as his hands moved along with her. He had always preferred a nice ass when it came to women, but Isobel turned that preference into a necessity. After about a minute he moved southward between her legs, his thumbs entering her shorts through the leg holes and rubbing circles into the skin just outside the crotch of her panties. Isobel’s movements stalled and now he could just barely hear little high pitched pants leaving her mouth, “I’m not going to fuck you like this, Izzy.”

Isobel was fully prepared to throw a temper tantrum at this point, all the times Drew had stopped them from going further flashing through her mind and their last time together when she got to get a taste of what he was holding back from her. But when she opened her mouth she could only blubber in protest, “No, Drew please.”

“What is it, baby? You don’t want me to stop?” She heard him asking behind her and his tone of voice, the slight taunting, had her pushing her hips back for more contact as she shook her head in protest. “I’m not gonna stop Isobel, but I’m also not fucking you like this.”

Isobel sucked in a breath when she felt his knee dip into the bed then remove his thumbs from her shorts to grab her hips and flip her over, moving them both up to the top of the bed. Drew placed himself on top of her so that his chest just barely brushed over her breasts and his face was hovering directly above her own.

The smirk on Drew’s face fell before he murmured his next words like some sort of vow, “I’m not going to fuck you in a position where I can’t see your pretty eyes.”

“I want to see you too.” Isobel whispered.

He leaned down and gave her a kiss before disconnecting and leaning in once more just like he always did. Giving her at least three more pecks to the lips before lingering on the last one and finally pulling away with satisfied groan vibrating in his throat. “I haven’t stopped thinking about that night in your room, how good you took my dick.” Drew spoke into her ear as he somehow made it even more unbearably hot in the room.

Isobel was dying from his teasing, her legs squeezing together as an attempt to release some of the tension. And she was about to complain like a brat until his pointer and middle fingers founds her top lip, tracing it then doing the same to the bottom. They were both silent, Drew seemingly calm while she was panting from anticipation. All the while their eyes remained on each other and he slipped his fingers between her lips. It was so quiet in the room that they both could hear the saliva in her mouth as he tried to fit his long fingers in there. When he spread them and closed them on her tongue and she gagged around him, she swore she felt his dick twitch against her hip.

Isobel’s eyes were already watering from his fingers just simply sitting on her tongue but she began to suck the flesh, twisting her tongue all around and between them, and grabbing his wrist to push them further into her mouth making herself retch again. Drew’s eyes screwed shut for a few seconds as he cursed to himself before returning her gaze and slid his fingers from her lips. “I love doing that for you.” Isobel told him.

“Sucking off my fingers?” He asked with a squint in his eyes.

Isobel giggled at the question and pulled him down to kiss him quickly before pulling away to speak, “No, Drew, just you in my mouth in general.”

She could visibly see his eyes darken to a deeper blue just as the sea does when the moon replaces the sun. They both remained quiet even when he began running the same fingers he had in her mouth down her stomach until he reached the top of her shorts where he rubbed the skin there in a horizontal motion for a few moments.

“Lift the waistband of your shorts for me.” He directed and watched carefully when she reached down to do as told, his eyes falling on the red underwear he knew was probably barely covering anything.

Using the opening she was making for him, Drew slid his hand inside of her shorts then slipped them under her panties. When his fingers traveled deeper and found the pool of arousal soaking her cunt she was instantly a moaning mess. That was the first time since she’d entered his room that she remembered there were other people in the house with them, but it did nothing to shut her up not with his fingers teasingly rubbing and prodding her slit.

“You gotta quiet down just a little, Izzy.” He warned and she listened for the most part. She laid there holding her shorts out of the way while he played with her pussy. Her moans were quiet and mainly in his ears then suddenly he was sliding a finger inside of her. When he began pumping into her she tucked her face into his neck knowing she wasn’t going to be able to keep it down.

“So damn tight.” He sighed to himself.

She knew there was probably a smirk on his lips as she whined into his skin, but she couldn’t bring herself to look up and glare at him. She just continued hiding her face while he picked up speed inside of her and eventually he added another finger—slowly easing in and giving a few experimental thrusts before fucking her with them just like he did in his truck weeks ago. “Drew.” She sounded like she was sobbing when really she was just breathless and turned on which made for uncontrollably loud cries to leave her lips.

She’d let go of her shorts by then and was using both of her hands to blindly grasp on to his arms, desperate to find something to anchor herself to. When her moans were back to a dangerous octave he didn’t stop, he just moved her face from his neck with his free hand and place his mouth on hers.

His kisses and the lewd swipes of his tongue distracted her from how deep he was inside of her until he created a scissor motion hitting that sensitive spot and erasing all the progress they’d made keeping her quiet. Her mouth was now agape, though still pressed against his lips as he repeatedly brushed over the spot until she was gasping from the feeling of it. Now, he was pulling away, shaking his head in amusement at her incompetency, “How am I supposed to eat it if you can’t stay quiet, baby?”

Isobel squeezed her legs together at his words, which still has his hands between them, making his eyebrows to raise in mirth. The thought of having his tongue on her and inside her made her entire body convulse. This was new territory, he’d never been able to touch her like this because they never had the opportunity. And now wasn’t the best opportunity seeing as their entire families were probably fast asleep and completely unaware of their actions.

Still, Isobel gave Drew an innocent look and moved to wrap her legs around his waist, “I’ll be good.”

“You promise?” He was looking at her with eager eyes as if her agreeing would dictate his next move, but she could also see how captivated he was and knew he would have her regardless. She nodded her head with their eyes locked, and that was all it took have him dragging his lips down her body.

Isobel had been with one other person who showed her how bad they wanted her, he swept her off her feet and made her think she was the best thing he’d ever had. It took a lot of trust and naivety to believe that someone can think so fondly of you, and just as quickly as she’d given away her trust he stamped on it, on her hands, on everything she’d given in love until she remained like a child who’d put those hands somewhere they weren’t supposed to.

Drew made her feel the same way, making it easy to trust that he really wanted her as bad as he made it seem. And it scared her to see a man be so infatuated with her again. It would be different if Drew didn’t always look at her with so much emotion, if this was what it was supposed to be, just two people hooking up—but it wasn’t. They both knew it, it was obvious in their gazes, in the way they disagreed, and most importantly the way they risked it all to be together despite their families.

There was so much history between them that they could ruin, yet they proceeded despite it. Isobel had loved blindly before, but with Drew it was like getting on the same rollercoaster they’d been on together since they were barely teenagers—that had been stagnantly moving for close to a decade in a route they’d grown accustomed to—but now they’d chosen to take a different route and speed. One that was new and unfamiliar but they were still together just moving through life differently, learning how to be together under different conditions until it wasn’t so scary anymore.

The silk fabric of her shorts tickled her smooth legs as he slid them down her body, throwing them on the floor beside the bed when he got them off completely, “Sit up a little for me, Isobel.”

She immediately obeyed and slid herself up so her shoulders were resting on the pillow leaning against the bottom of the headboard. In this position her hips were angled up so her panty covered heat was directly in his line sight, and when he grabbed her knees to spread her legs open the girl was practically gnawing at her bottom lip from the way he was gazing at her cunt.

“You’re just pretty all over aren’t you?”

If Drew was truly shameless he would let the drool seep from his mouth, that’s how pretty Isobel’s pussy looked spread out for him. She was dripping and puffing from his invading fingers, and the way the red material of her panties looked to be suffocating her was a provocative sight. He’d never seen her like this, lying before him like a soliciting invitation asking him to take her. Drew was greedy when it came to women before Isobel, but he had never felt such greed for just one woman like he did with her. Never wanting someone to himself so desperately that he couldn’t stand the sight of his brother hugging them, so desperate it had him recklessly thinking that this was who he wanted to be with for the rest of his life.

A languid, wet lick of his tongue over her underwear was all it took to have her babbling again and covering her mouth with her hand because she didn’t want it to end. From there he was all in swiping his tongue, sucking her clit with his slobbery lips, and spitting globs of saliva on her pussy all without pulling down her panties. Isobel was spiraling like she’d taken just a shot too many or taken one too many hits of a joint that would send her to the point of no return.

Her legs closed around his face, and he welcomed them with his hands squeezing her thighs in encouragement as she trapped him against her core. She felt him groaning and mumbling incoherent sentences while eating her like he couldn’t keep quiet either. Then his tongue expertly slipped past her underwear and circled her throbbing clit just one time and she was falling, her legs shook around him as he continued to lap at her bare cunt.

This particular orgasm felt as if the blood running through her veins had been replaced with concrete as her body tensed and her back froze into an arch off the mattress. She was silent, all ability to produce sound had been stripped from her by the man below her as she just held her mouth open in pleasure. She could feel him watching her like a predator watching in awe as his prey fell apart right in front of him.

Drew stopped licking her when she relaxed again into the bed and her breathing mellowed. He left wet kisses up the inside of her thigh, he could still taste her in his mouth and his dick thumped with arousal at the feeling.

“Drew.” Isobel pathetically called out his name and reached out for him with her arms. Drew immediately abandoned her thighs and moved back up the bed where she was, wrapping his arms around her waist when he was back above her and looking into her deep, brown eyes. She kissed him softly for a few seconds tasting herself on his lips, but eventually pulled away and rested her head on the pillow still breathless from her orgasm.

His body rolled off hers onto the bed, trying to ignore the heavy feeling of his dick in between his legs. He hissed when Isobel threw her leg over his lap just as soon as he dropped down beside her. She looked so tired and innocent, but her hands were grazing his lower abdomen—driving him mad.

“I want more, Drew, I want you.” She murmured, pressing her mouth onto his shoulder as she spoke, “I don’t want to wait anymore.”

Drew just stared at her having an internal battle with himself on what to do, what to do with Isobel. It had been convenient for him to always stop Isobel before they went too far while being home, but he really did need that control because he had a feeling that when they had sex only one of them wouldn’t be able to go on as normal. He knew that he wouldn’t be the same Drew he was before Isobel.

“Isobel, are you sure?” He had to ask because her answer would determine how things went from here.

She didn’t have to consider the question at all, Isobel had been wanting Drew since they left for home. So much so that she was the one making the first moves despite telling him they were putting a pause on their physical relationship, and every intimate moment they’d shared since then had brought her to now. Wanting to be as close to him as humanly possible, in a way that she knew would be emotional, in a way she knew would change things but for some reason she wasn’t afraid, “Yes, Drew.”

Isobel exhaled when he hungrily kissed her waiting lips, so hard she could feel the tip of his nose nudging the side of her own. His kisses were desperate, but his hands were shy on her body. He took his time trailing them down her body before slightly lifting her to cup her ass and blindly dragging her underwear down her hips with his thumbs. Isobel snaked an arm around his neck when his tongue entered her mouth and moved the other between them to tug at his pants. Drew ignored her silent request and dropped his hips down so his dick was nestled right against her core. Then he began to rock them slowly, the cotton fabric of his pajamas quickly being soaked by her arousal and slipping easily up and down the mess between her legs.

“Fuck.” Isobel dragged out in a curse as Drew’s groans harmonized with the sounds she was emitting.

“That’s it, Isobel.” He panted when her hips began to lift to meet his thrust, only adding to the building pressure, he sped up his movements causing the bed to creak beneath them, “Gotta make sure you’re ready for me.”

Isobel watched him as if she was in a trance, his eyebrows knitted together in concentration, his mouth open as his breaths escaped him, and his blue eyes when he opened them and found her brown ones already on him.

“Fuck, we have to stop, you’re going to make me come.” He rasped and got off of her.

He stalled for a minute or two to calm down she presumed, then he grabbed his wallet off of the night stand beside her where his condoms obviously were, and she rolled her eyes at how much of a guy he was.

“Wanna put it on for me, Izzy?” He offered while taking off his pants, and she nodded before snatching the condom from him.

Drew chuckled, letting her push his boxers down his hips, and she watched awestruck when his hard cock slipped out and tapped his stomach. It looked angry and sensitive just like it did before she had it deep in her mouth last week, so she figured she’d be gentle as she rolled the condom onto his hot flesh—but he was already moaning by the halfway point. She loved how he couldn’t control himself when it came to this, how she could turn him on so much it was incomparable to his other experiences. Drew got back on the bed when she finished, and grabbed her thighs so they were wrapped around his hips.

He kissed her neck and lingered there for a moment before moving to her jaw then forehead like he was leaving something behind with each kiss. She felt a flutter in her chest by the time he claimed her mouth until the feeling of the tip of his dick on her pussy claimed her attention. He smirked when she gasped against his lips as he slightly pushed into her before pulling out again.

“Are you hot, baby? I don’t want you to get uncomfortable in this.” He mumbled into her as his hands moved to her top and began unfastening the buttons. When he finished the last he pulled the fabric away from her chest and broke their kiss to look down at her heavy breast, her dark nipples erect from his touch, “Isobel, fuck.”

She needed him to do something, anything or she was going to scream in frustration.

“Drew-“

Isobel barely got out his name before the sensation of him pushing inside of her rendered her speechless. He was slow yet deliberate like he wanted to be balls deep, but also wanted to be gentle with her because this was Drew and he was probably considering the fact she hasn’t been with anyone in almost three years. When he was fully inside he just waited as she remained beneath him trying to adjust, “You okay, Izzy?”

She bit her lip and hummed because she was afraid if she were to actually open her mouth she would wake the entire house—that’s how deep he felt. Drew began to move when she kissed him, giving her slow strokes as he rolled his hips into her slick opening making her moan uncontrollably against his mouth.

Drew was choking, he wanted to say so much but the feeling of her melting on his cock was too much. She felt so good to him, she always did. That showed in the ways he couldn’t help but slide into her so unhurriedly his mouth widened with each thrust because he was feeling all of her. She let him have her in the most intimate way possible and the feeling and the simple thought of it was overwhelming.

“You feel so good, Drew.”

Her praise made him snap his hips into her just a little harsher making the bed began to creak again. Her moans grew and he couldn’t help himself as he sped up his thrust even more, her cries and the sounds of the bed groaning with them spurring him on. He leaned in her ear and gave her comforting shush, hoping she would keep it down for both of their sakes.

She didn’t stop moaning but her hips did began to roll, meeting his every stroke as if him telling her to be quiet turned her on even more. He was moaning along with her, and losing all control despite being in such a dominant position.

“Baby.” He moaned in her neck at the sound of her squelching each time he plunged into her pussy. All of his senses were heightened when he was with Isobel, she made him feel so good so fast to the point where it was too much and he hated that she knew that.

Isobel’s hands sensually rubbed Drew’s back watching him with his eyes trained on her bouncing breasts and eventually his thrusts grew erratic telling her he was close, “You gonna come with your dick inside me, Bear?”

“You can’t do that to me, Is.” His forehead was resting on hers and they just stared into each other’s eyes only heightening what they were already feeling.

Drew reach down her body and found her clit and all her movements stopped, the grinding, her hands on his back, all of her teasing ceased. She allowed him two final strokes before she was coming on his cock. This time she came with his name leaving her mouth in breathless chants all the while her pussy convulsed around him as he ground into her. And just as her orgasm ended his began, his hips wildly thrusting into her. He clung onto Isobel at the high he was getting, the high that wasn’t ending despite the seconds that had passed and him slowing his movements, “I’m still coming, fuck.” He wheezed and started thrusting his hips again.

Isobel watched enthralled as he grabbed her ass and used her to fuck himself through what seemed to be another orgasm, drinking in every detail so she could commit his face while coming to memory. She could get addicted to this, she thought to herself.

Drew finally collapsed on top of her after pulling out, feeling depleted. Isobel had just unknowingly ruined him, he’d never be able to fuck another girl, not after tonight. His eyes found the digital clock and she followed his gaze where it showed it being well past midnight.

“Merry Christmas, Isobel.” He kissed her cheek and because he couldn’t help himself he said the one thing that had been caught in his throat the moment he slid inside her—what had the man at a loss for words, “I love you.”

Drew felt an invisible weight lift from his body, one he had no idea accompanied the feelings he had for Isobel. How it was getting heavier and heavier the more time he spent with her. He felt her stiffen beneath him, so he moved over and laid beside her.

“Look at me, please?” He tried and she resisted for a little before finally peering over at him, “You don’t have to say anything, just look at me.”

He needed to see her eyes because where her words strayed, her eyes spoke volumes—he wondered if she knew that. Her pretty, brown eyes didn’t make him regret his confession, they gave him hope for the future, just as they always did.

“Are you scared?” Drew whispered and she nodded but continued looking into his eyes.

“Yeah, me too.”

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

PART EIGHTEEN

[sirfrogsworth]

I posted the below on my Facebook. I am secretly trying to head things off at the pass. Every time people see pictures of me out and about, they think I have been magically cured or my health status has improved. And I know going to Florida is going to give people that impression.

But also, I just wish a few of my relatives could understand my situation better. And why I didn't come to Christmas. And why I might try to come to Christmas now.

I guess I'll see how this goes.

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

One of the biggest struggles I've had my entire adult life is explaining why I appear fine whenever people see me. I say I am very sick and bed-bound and then they see me and I am out of bed and talking and joking and... a normal healthy person.

What many don't realize is I am making a choice.

A choice to get sick.

I can use up all my energy in a short time frame to accomplish a difficult chore or entertain a friend or go to a doctor, but that is going to have a consequence.

The more I do, the more severe the consequence.

In the ME/CFS world this is called "post-exertional malaise." (for those interested, you can read more about it here: https://rthm.com/art.../what-is-post-exertional-malaise-pem/ )

Imagine every time you wanted to do something, you were *choosing* to get the flu.

Take a walk, get the flu.

Exercise, get the flu.

Spend a night out with friends, get the flu.

And you might be thinking, "Okay, it can't be as bad as the flu. I've had the flu and the flu sucks. No one would choose that."

I may not get the nasty respiratory symptoms, but everything else is pretty much the same. Crippling fatigue, horrible aches, and the loss of the will to do much of anything. Sometimes it is much worse than the flu. Some people don't know how much being this exhausted can hurt. They have never used up enough energy that their body is unable to power itself properly. I usually say it is like every cell in my body is starving and screaming for energy. I feel it in every inch of my body—and not just on the surface... through and through. So, like... cubic inches.

Sometimes I don't even have the energy to power my legs. Trying to stand feels exactly the same as trying to lift a barbell with way more weight than you can lift. I can't get upstairs or even walk to the kitchen. It's a concentrated misery that defies description, despite my constant attempts to try.

Sometimes I get lucky and this flu lasts for a day or two. But the more active I am, the longer it can last. And the severity increases as well. There is also a cumulative version of this—where if I do a bunch of little things over a longer period of time, eventually it will catch up to me and I may be stuck in bed for a few weeks.

And when I say "stuck in bed" I mean stuck in bed.

Short trips to the bathroom and a few minutes in the kitchen to make food. If I spend too much time upright, my legs will literally give out and I will be stuck on the floor until I recharge enough energy to get up again. It would be like every time you needed to get up, you had to hold your breath. Not to mention, the more I do, the longer the recovery will take.

For a long time I chose to never get the flu. I stayed in bed and did just enough to avoid the worst of PEM. I skipped family get-togethers. I didn't see my friends. And I lived my life inside the computer. Some may find that sad, but I actually found a way to make this work. I ran a successful blog that was seen by millions of people and I met my two best friends who I now consider my new family.

One thing that allowed me to choose not to get the flu was my parents. I fear some thought they were spoiling me. They did my laundry. They helped clean my room. They got my groceries. They cooked my food. They took on any chore they could so I could avoid the flu and live some semblance of a life on my computer. There is a lot of guilt wrapped up in that. I didn't ask them to do that. They just sort of... did. And I am so grateful to them.

To be fair, they would have to do these chores for themselves anyway, and tacking on my stuff wasn't a huge deal. But I know it caused them a little extra pain and a few post exertional consequences of their own. So I appreciated that sacrifice more than I can put into words.

But then they both got very sick. And not only could they not help me with my stuff, I had to help them with their stuff. And this was a difficult transition. I had to choose to get the flu to take care of my parents, but then if I got the flu, and I couldn't take care of my parents. I believe this is called a catch-22.

My initial solution was to just not take care of myself. At all. My health and mental well-being was set aside and I just gave all of my energy to them. I didn't shower. I forgot to take important medicines. I didn't do a single thing that brought me joy. And I'm reminded of that analogy of the airplane emergency where the oxygen masks drop. You put on your mask first before you put one on your child. Your instinct is to save them first at all costs. But if you pass out, they are screwed.

So I kept getting that cumulative version of the flu. I'd help them as much as I could for a week or a month and then I'd be useless to them for just as long. Living in the basement did not help. Stairs were very hard for me and constantly going up and down was a huge waste of energy.

And I'm sad to say, the level of care I gave to my mom was not great. I didn't know what I was doing. I didn't understand how to balance my needs with hers. And it led to costly mistakes. She had several preventable falls that caused injuries. At one point she spent hours on the floor because I fell asleep and did not check on her. When you know someone needs regular supervision, you need to synchronize sleepy time.

Thankfully I learned from all of these lessons. Maybe not as quickly as I would have liked, but I did figure it out. I just wish I had learned them before my mom passed. I just wasn't able to give her the help she needed.

And you can tell me "you did your best" all you like, but this isn't a guilt I am choosing. It's just there and I feel it no matter what anyone says. In time I am hoping it will get lighter, but I'm afraid it cannot be wiped away with a well-intentioned platitude.

But with my dad, I decided to move upstairs. That was something I should have done much sooner. But I liked having my personal space and that was hard to give up. When he slept, I slept. When he spent 4 hours at dialysis 3x per week, I would make sure to take care of any personal needs. I would do chores a tiny bit at a time. 5 minutes here, 5 minutes there. And then I would lay on the couch in between and regain my strength. I did everything possible to not get the flu. And I got my flu shots so I wouldn't get the actual flu. (Get your flu shot! 50K die from it every year!) The only hitch in my plan was when I got a kidney stone at the same time my dad was in rehab. I have no idea how I got us through that.

I was very proud of the care I was able to give my dad. And I'm so grateful I was able to pay back just a tiny bit of what my parents did to help me. And the care I gave my father is the only thing that helps me feel better about my failures with my mom.

But now I am entering a new chapter of my life. And I find myself choosing to get the flu more often. I have decided sometimes it is worth the consequences. Part of that is because I am more used to it after dealing with it for 20 years. I have coping mechanisms and procedures and techniques to manage the symptoms. It doesn't make them suck any less, but it definitely makes it more manageable. It's akin to people with chronic pain who still feel the pain just as profoundly as when it was new, but they get so used to it that they forget that isn't how they are supposed to feel.

I approached this scientifically. I did tests. I went to the movies. I tried once a week and that was too much. Then I scaled it back and that was more manageable. Then I realized I had movies at home and decided to end that experiment.

I started to put my energy into something I enjoyed more. My photography. So I have been finding new ways to take pictures again. More experiments. I'm designing a simpler studio that requires much less energy. I'm creating a little product photography workstation where I don't have to set up everything each time I want to take a cool picture of an object. It will just be "turn on the lights" and "take the pictures."

Figuring all of this out made me realize how much I missed photography. And since I have been shooting test pictures here and there, my mental health has been noticeably better. And once I get this all figured out and set up, I am hoping some of you will let me take your photo. Or a photo of your kid. Or a pet. Whatever you have that needs photographing, I'm game.

I'm not going to charge. It's not going to be a business. I do not have the energy to "hustle." And asking people for money just sucked all of the fun out of my beloved art form. It corrupted it. I just love taking pictures and if you need a photo, I'd like to do that for you. I also restore old photos for fun. I'll talk about all of this more in another post when I am ready to start.

And then my grand experiment is coming next week.

I am going to travel.

I am going to see my best friend in Florida for two days. Two days of travel and two days of visiting. This is a scary choice. I know the aftermath is going to be difficult. But I need to get out of this house. I need to see my chosen family in person. And I have never been on a plane and I love the perspective from high places. I know people hate air travel, but for me, looking out that viewport is stunning television that cannot be matched.

Purposely making myself sick sounds like a bad idea. But it isn't life threatening. I have the free time to recover as long as I need to. And I can always choose not to get sick for a while if it gets too hard.

I just ask that people not see this as going from a worse life to a better one. I was really proud of the life I was able to create for myself while staying in bed. That took a long time to figure out. I met some of my favorite people. And I accomplished things I couldn't imagine in my wildest dreams. Please do not shit on that life and think it was sad or meaningless. I was given that life as a gift from my parents and it kept me alive. It has always been a huge insult when people pitied that precious gift they gave me.

This is not a better life that I am trying to figure out. It is just better for me right now. My needs have changed. I have changed. So I am trying to adapt. I just ask that people understand when I go out and do something, please remember the choice I am making.

You may be tempted to say, "You are doing so much better!" I am not any better than I was 10 years ago. Actually, my health has degraded. It's just that before I didn't think getting the flu every time I did something was worth it. And I would hope everyone would understand that was a valid choice.

And now I am inviting those consequences.

On purpose.

Give me the flu, I guess.

[riverbutghost]

Santa!Ghost. Nothing more. slight nsfw towards the end!!

He had lost. He had lost a fucking bet and he had to wear a fucking Santa costume.

His first thought was to cancel it all or just give them the satisfaction of making him embarrassed.

But no, he had pride. He wasn’t going to bitch and moan about sitting down with kids and taking pictures with them. Hell nah. He could do this. He would do this.

So he went to a store, bought a Santa costume (even though the workers looked at him like he was sick) and agreed with someone. He didn’t think there would be so many children. But oh boy, was he wrong.

And he was regretting it.

“Smile for the camera, Lt!”

Soap laughed while hitting Gaz’ back, making Simon’s scowl to get deeper.

Another kid sat on his lap, and his eyes dropped to the little girl with pigtails.

“Ho-ho, princess, what would you want for Christmas?”

His voice sounded energetic and happy, which made Soap and Gaz laugh harder. They were obviously recording it, to send it to the group chat of Task Force.

“i want a big Camaro, but my dad said it was for boys.”

The little girl pouted and looked at him with hopeful eyes. Simon looked at the dad, who was giving him a pointed look. He couldn’t care less.

“A car isn’t for boys, princess. I’ll give you one, here.”

-

The day went by, and Simon wasn’t as unhappy as he was before.

Soap and Gaz had left to eat, leaving Simon alone with a handful of kids.

The last boy wanted a real Santa to take home with him, and Simon almost gave in at his pleading. He never thought he would like children, but he enjoyed their cute little giggles as he gave them their presents.

“Hey, Santa?”

Simon cleared his throat and looked up, only to see you in an elf costume.

“came here to tease me sergeant?”

You huffed and sat down on the floor.

“i don’t think i have the right to tease you when i look like this-“

You pointed to yourself and Simon smirked a little. So you had lost the bet too.

“you look good though.”

You sucked in a breath as your cheeks got redder.

“you look good too, Santa.”

You playfully smile at him and got up.

“So, is your shift over?”

Simon sighed and looked at his watch.

“Yeah, i guess.”

He stared at you, eyes roaming over your body and how the elf costume hugged your curves.

He breathed through his nose, the fake beard itching his chin.

He suddenly felt too exposed, without his black mask and military uniform.

“Never thought i’d see you in a beard, Lieutenant. But it looks good.”

You bit your lip and turned around, swaying your hips while walking towards the exit.

His pants suddenly felt too tight, his neck felt too hot.

“What do you want for Christmas?”

He said, with a raspy voice. You cursed at the arousal that you were feeling when he called your name again. You turned around, feeling too hot and bothered with the elf costume.

“Hmm, lemme think.”

You took a few steps forward, reaching him in a minute.

“Yeah?”

You sat on his lap, giving him no chance to readjust himself. His hands automatically went down to your waist, reeling back as he looked at you with hooded eyes.

“I do want something, but i don’t know if it wants me.”

Simon sucked in a breath as you wiggled, making him squirm in his seat.

“I can assure you that he- it wants you.”

You smirked at him. Simon licked his lips as he saw the playful glint on your eyes.

“I have a problem, though…”

You mumbled and got up, getting rid of your elf costume in a minute. Simon’s cock hardened more if it was possible.

He whispered your name, hands going to your hips and pulling you on his lap as he ripped his beard off. You gasped at his naked face, hands finding his little stubble.

“handsome…”

He smiled lazily up to you, your hands rubbing his chest through the Santa costume.

“Hey Lt!-“

Soap gasped loudly and ran put of the room in a second after seeing you both devouring each other’s faces.

-

i was actually going to write it as a smut, but i have no motivation. School is killing me 👾👾👾

also, i have no idea how Christmas works since i was raised in a slight Muslim household but ended up being an atheist-

[talesfrommedinastation]

My redneck neighbor Doug watches 'The Bad Batch': The Outpost

As per many people's requests, I've collected a series of texts and Facebook messages from Doug when he watched certain episodes of everyone's favorite Copy Paste Boi show.

Some he was quite pithy on ('Ryan-from-Accounting goes fast but not fast enough to get away from the Bitch Wife Laura'), and others...well, he got excitable, to put it mildly.

Here's one of the more deranged ones, Season 2, Episode 12, 'The Outpost'. Or as Doug calls it: "The Daddy Warcrimes Christmas Special."

CW for Language like you wouldn't believe. Doug says "you'll need a permission slip from your momma to read this, I guess."

-----

Daddy Warcrimes is waiting by the Empire's equivalent of a windowless van, because comfort is just not his thing and he really wants the experience of smuggling cocaine across the border one of these days.

Some bitch who looks like she works at a bank is telling these clones that their extended warranty is up. I wanna bring her a bag of pennies and make her count it before I deposit it because I'm sick like that.

So here comes in SOME BLOND JACKASS. Mother of Hell do I hate this guy. Can I just tell you how much I hate him? I hate him like I hate the Crimson Tide, like I hate February, like I hate my mother-in-law. Hate hate hate. 

So Daddy Warcrimes, SOME BLOND JACKASS, and some homies get into Floating Probable Cause to lay waste to an unsuspecting Third World country or whatever.

Well, I was wrong! Looks like Elsa and her frozen fingers took over this dump. Disney owns both, so why not. The cold never bothered them anyway. Nope, they’re at somebody’s nasty old storage shed. Why does this remind me of visiting my sister in Wyoming?

Oh, who is this no-frills, salt-of-the-earth, son-of-a-bitch? Is that tanned Kurt Russell? No? It’s Sassy Park Ranger! I like him already. If he was my boss I’d actually show up to work on time and sober, or late and hung over, either way, it’d be a good time with the man. He just seems cool and chill and a nice dude. I bet he’s got homemade beef jerky in his locker and his beard always smells like cigar smoke. 

OH SHUT UP STUPID BLOND JACKASS, Jesus Christ I’ve never wanted to hit someone with a folding chair so hard in my life. CALL HIM COMMANDER.

Aw, Sassy Park Ranger’s being nice to Daddy Warcrimes, maybe Daddy Warcrimes will share the Columbian nose candy in the back of the van with Sassy Park Ranger, and Sassy Park Ranger won’t ask about the sobbing family Daddy Warcrimes is probably holding for ransom in the back. It’s all about understanding each other. 

This is truly the Daddy Warcrimes Christmas special, snow and friendship and stuff. I hope this doesn’t end up with Daddy Warcrimes 86’ing Rudolph and the rest of the reindeer from the sky, that would traumatize the children. But this is the same studio that produced Bambi so who knows. Didn't he try killing a kid the first episode?

Oh man, Sassy Park Ranger’s lost a lot of his men, that’s real sad. Only two left, Jesus. SHUT UP BLOND JACKASS SHUT UP SHUT UP SHUT UP.

(I won’t repeat it, but the amount of times that SHUT UP was texted was….something else- Dr. MM)

Sassy Park Ranger’s taking Daddy Warcrimes on a hike around the place in the middle of a blizzard, probably going to say hi to the yeti hooker they all frequent and show him how to write his name in the snow with pee. He’s such a good guy. If they go sledding I’d be so happy.

Oh, shit! Daddy Warcrimes remembers that he has a job and proceeds to cop some poor bastard in the leg so he can follow the trail of blood in the snow. What in the Fargo am I watching here, does Steve Buschemi show up at one point now. No sledding in this one, I guess.

Well there goes Sassy Park Ranger and Daddy Warcrimes on a heartwarming romp following a crippled burglar in the snow as he bleeds to death. Kevin McCallister would be so proud. Well, now, they found a dead body already. You know, at this point, if Daddy Warcrimes capped Santa in the head this show wouldn’t be less wholesome. 

Aw shit Daddy Warcrimes stepped on a landmine, but Sassy Park Ranger watched his training videos that HR made them sit through and disarms it. They’re having a nice convo, I really, really like Sassy Park Ranger. If he dies I’ll be so freaking mad. 

(I said nothing, FYI - Dr. MM)

Aw shit, they found the bunker of crazy white people with guns in the snow. It’s confirmed: the Daddy Warcrimes Christmas Special takes place in Wyoming. Are Daddy Warcrimes and Sassy Park Ranger facing off my brother-in-law and his branch of the VFW near Laramie? Those guys need hobbies besides doomsday prepping and getting drunk in the snow. It ain’t right. 

“After all we sacrificed”…man. I feel right here. Is this the child friendly version of Enemy at the Gate? Shit. Please these two bastards need to survive. I need a beer and I wanna hug my wife.  

Dr. Meat Muffin, please don't tell me you're letting your babies watch this show. They need that dog from Australia who has fun with her daddy, not this.

Oh shit, avalanche! 

Oh no, Sassy Park Ranger. Oh no, oh no. Oh, Daddy Warcrimes.

Thank Christ they made it! They’re gonna save him! They’re gonna save him.

Wait. What. 

WHAT THE FUCK, BLOND ASSHOLE. 

I HATE THIS JACKASS SO GODDAMNED MUCH, SOLDIER OF THE EMPIRE, I WANNER SHOVE MY SOLDIER UP YOUR EMPIRE YOU STUPID DICK. 

FUCK YOU FUCK YOU FUCK YOU

Yay! Daddy Warcrimes finally took out his gun and 86’d that FUCK. CHRISTMAS CAME EARLY!! YAAAAAAY!!!!!

Man...I hope this ends okay for Daddy Warcrimes. I hope his brothers aren't just dicking around somewhere warm while he and the other bros are out dying.

Guess that'll be next episode?"

....Doug snapped SO HARD watching 'Pabu'. Brace yourselves.

[fortisfilia]

Promised Part 8 - Tom Riddle x reader

Info: This is a rewrite of a story I've posted on my old account years ago. If it sounds familiar, that might be why :)

Summary: In this story, Tom didn't grow up as an orphan, but with his grandfather and uncle. Reader's sister got very sick and the Gaunts offer their help. But not without asking for something in return.

Warnings: Arranged marriage

Word count: 3.1k

Masterpost | Masterlist | Part 7 | Part 9

Part 8 - Slughorn's Party

Returning to Hogwarts after the Christmas holidays was far less stressful this time. Now that Elsie was better, it was much easier to concentrate on your studies. Maybe you could also focus on Tom. Both things seemed equally important somehow. And the fact that you could see Camille again added to the good things Hogwarts had to offer.

You were sitting on her bed in her dorm, telling her everything that had been going on during the last days. The Gaunts who had wanted to force you to do an unbreakable vow, their fight with Tom, that Tom had stayed for a bit, the book he had gifted you and everything in between. 

“I can’t believe you got him a snake,” Camille laughed. “What do you think his family said about that?”

“I couldn’t care less what they think of it. I hope they’re mad at me.”

“Do you think Tom got in trouble for it?”

“I don’t think so. He knows how to stand his ground.”

“And the book he gave you? Do you think that it means something? It’s some sort of family heirloom after all.”

Thinking about it, you lay down on your back next to her. “I’m not sure. Do you think that was some kind of secret message from him?”

“Maybe.”

“I’ll have to look into that.” You rolled over to face her. “And what have you done these days? Tell me all about your presents.”

“Well,” Camille said with a smile. “The presents weren’t the most exciting part of my holiday, to be honest.”

“Let me guess. You met someone! A guy?”

The smile on her face widened. “I didn’t meet him. I just kept in contact via owl.”

“Oh, Merlin! Who is it? Someone from school?”

She nodded.

“Go on, tell me!”

Her expression suddenly changed. “You have to promise not to be mad.”

“Why would I be mad?”

“It’s someone you don’t exactly like,” she said, a thick tone of guilt in her voice.

Then you knew. “No. Don’t. It’s Ben Hilt, isn’t it?”

She nodded slowly. “Yes.”

“Oh, Camille,” you sighed and needed a moment to sort out your thoughts. “Why?”

“He is a very charming boy.”

“He’s a year younger than you.”

“So?” she giggled.

“He wanted to tell on me to the Ministry, so that I wouldn’t be able to marry Tom. Sticks his nose in everybody’s business.”

“He just wanted to help. He thought you were forced to do it. And you have to admit he wasn’t exactly wrong about that.”

“Have you told him about the pact?”

“Of course not! I would never. I told him right from the start that if he’s only after me to get information about Riddle and you, he could piss off.”

“And?”

“He didn’t piss off,” she smiled. “He’s really nice. We never talked about you and Tom after I had made it clear it was none of his business. He didn’t even bring it up to begin with. I did. I would never date someone who would want to harm you, I swear.”

“Ugh, I know,” you groaned. “You’re too good. For me and for Ben.”

“Shut up,” she said as she nudged your shoulder.

“Wait. Did you just say ‘date’ someone? Are you official?”

“No. I guess not. But maybe someday. Now, what are you going to wear to Slughorn’s party?”

Slughorn’s annual belated New Year’s party was one of the few exclusive gatherings happening in school. Students could only attend if they had gotten a personal invitation, from Slytherin’s headteacher Horace Slughorn, who would invite his favourite pupil, or rather, the ones he thought looked best in his trophy collection. 

Camille, Tom and you had all gotten Slughorn’s owl. You had not mustered up the courage to ask him about it. Even though you were going to marry him, that didn’t mean he wanted to go to the party together. Together, as in, on a date. It had felt too delicate talking about it directly, the fear of being rejected too present. So you had danced around the subject, trying to find out if you were on the same page. Until he had finally said what you had wanted to hear. He had asked when to pick you up as if the possibility of not going there as a couple had not even occurred to him.

Seven o’clock, as arranged. It had arrived so soon. You hastily fixed the small wrinkles on the hem of your dress with a spell when you heard him knock on the door. Tom looked very posh in his black suit, politely offering his arm. And off you went. Together.

The guests at the party were students from years six and seven, as well as some teachers. Camille, who had brought Ben with her, looked absurdly pretty in her golden dress. Ben couldn’t have been more proud. He talked to Camille continuously and just seemed head over heels for her. Right next to them stood two of Ben’s friends, looking all out of character in suits. Avery and Lestrange came without dates and seemed awfully nervous for some reason. They whispered to each other every time you looked their way.

And then there was Freda Morris. Hogwarts’ head girl, who had her eyes fixated on Tom from the moment you had entered the room. Had she even noticed you next to him? Was she aware Tom was spoken for? Everyone knew by now that you were engaged after all, the ring on your finger being a testament to that. Either she didn’t know, or she didn’t care. The expression she sent you, after carefully staring you up and down, told you though, that she was absolutely aware of your relationship. She looked like she wanted to throw you out the next window.

“What in Merlin’s beard?” you muttered quietly to yourself after she had finally turned away from you.

“Pardon?” Tom asked and came closer so he could hear you better.

“Nevermind. Let’s go over to Camille and Ben, shall we?”

Tom’s gaze fell right on the two. 

“Your friend came with Hilt?” he asked sternly and began to walk their way. 

“Um, yes. About that,” you said, pulling lightly on his arm to stop him. “They’re dating. Kind of. They’re not official yet, but, you know, it could lead somewhere.”

He looked like you had just given him the world’s most unnecessary information. “What are you trying to tell me?” 

“That we have to be nice,” you answered and gave him your best fake smile, demonstrating what you wanted him to do.

“Nice?” He gawked so blankly at you, it was almost comical. “You want me to be nice to Benjamin Hilt? After what he’s done?”

“Well… Yes.”

“Why?” Tom asked, genuinely not understanding what you meant.

“Because Camille is my best friend. And she likes him.”

Tom sighed.

“Answer me this,” he said. “Camille knows a lot about you, yes?”

“Yes.”

“I assume she knows about us.“ He started talking more quietly. “Our pact?”

“She does.”

He rolled his eyes. “That’s what I thought.”

“So?” you asked.

“Isn’t it clear? He’s sweet-talking her to get information.”

“That’s what I first thought too. But Camille swore she wouldn’t tell him a thing. And she said she had made that clear to him from the beginning.”

Tom was still eyeing Ben sharply. 

“Come on,” you said and pulled him their way. “I trust Camille. It’ll be fine.”

“It‘s not her I don’t trust,” Tom said under his breath. “At least he's a true Gryffindor if he goes after her now. Either completely daft or actually courageous.” Your eyebrows lifted in question and he ducked his head grinning. “Remember I told you I’d take care of him when Marvolo sent his letter?”

“Yes?”

“I sort of did.”

Stopping in your tracks, you asked, “When? And what did you do?”

“A few weeks before Christmas. I just pulled him aside and talked.”

“Talked?”

“Well, I talked. He didn’t say much to be fair.”

“Tom, where did you take him?”

“The weather was nice so I took him outside.” 

Short answers again. This story wasn’t going to end well. “Where?”

He still feigned innocence, squinting his eyes as if he struggled to remember. “The whomping willow.”

“The wh- Tom! What in Merlin’s name were you thinking?”

“I said I’d take care of him, so I did!” He held his hands up in defence. “Also, he was only up in the air for a minute, okay? I held back.”

“I can’t believe you’re telling me this now,” you sighed, your fingers pressed against your forehead.

He shrugged. “I didn’t deem it important. For me, the issue was settled.”

“Okay.” Shaking your head, you started walking towards them again. “Since it’s settled, we can give him another chance. And vice versa.”

Tom didn’t answer, following you silently. 

When you greeted the two, Camille hugged you and gushed, “You look so beautiful! And you both know Ben, I believe.”

Of course, you did. Whether Ben wanted anything to do with you after what Tom had done was a different question. You offered him your hand and Ben shook it, despite it all, with an honest smile on his face.

“Fresh start?” you asked.

Ben nodded and turned to shake Tom’s hand as well. Tom looked at him seriously for a moment, inspecting his hand as if it was covered in Dragon Pox, until you nudged his side with your elbow, urging him to accept, which he reluctantly did.

Slughorn called for dinner before you could talk more, so you all went to the big oval table on the other side of the room. Ben sat down left of Camille, you to her right and Tom on your other side. Slughorn talked openly across the table, asking his students about their holidays, while dinner was served. Freda, obviously trying to impress, mentioned that she had been to France with her family, which didn’t have quite the effect on Slughorn that she had hoped it would.

“Pathetic,” you mumbled and Camille chuckled.

“Mean, aren’t we?” Tom whispered, a grin forming on his face.

“Me? Never.”

He exhaled a laugh and slowly grabbed your hand beneath the table, taking you by surprise. You looked at him, your fingers wrapping around his hand, then pulled them upwards and rested both his and your hand on the table. 

“Now you’re just cruel,” Tom jested when Freda looked over and saw the two of you.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” you answered, biting the inside of your cheek to prevent yourself from smiling. “I’m merely holding my fiance's hand. That’s not an act of violence, is it?”

“Fiancé, huh?” Tom asked.

“Aren’t you?”

“You’ve never called me that before.”

He was right. You had never called him that in person, or when you had talked about him to anyone else. If you didn’t know better, you could have sworn that a crimson haze was creeping up his neck and across his face.

“Well,” you swallowed, feeling a wave of heat on your cheeks as well. “It’s what you are, whether we like it or not.”

Tom nodded and held your hand a little tighter while glancing down at the table. “Fair.”

After dinner, the guests spread around the room, chatting and drinking punch while they waited for the first dance of the evening. Slughorn had pulled Tom aside a while ago, asking about his opinions on different things concerning Potions, politics and the news. He visibly hung to Tom’s every word, clearly awed by his favourite student, nodded and agreed to most of the things Tom said. You turned your back on them and faced Camille and Ben, still hearing the two chat behind you and thinking of how well-spoken Tom was. He knew how to lull in every teacher by heart. Each word that left his mouth seemed carefully crafted for Slughorn’s ears only and made him react just as Tom wanted him to. Impressive. 

Having engaged in conversation with Camille and Ben, while still keeping an ear on Tom behind you, you heard that Slughorn finally set him free and wished him a nice evening. Tom would be joining you, no doubt, even though he still didn’t like Ben when suddenly an all too familiar voice started talking to him.

“Hello Tom,” Freda Morris said, sickly sweet. “How are you? How were your holidays?”

You shot Camille a look, to which she automatically checked the people behind you, eyes wide in disbelief when she peered back at you. 

“What are you going to do?” she mouthed silently.

“No idea,” you mouthed back.

Ben stared back and forth between Camille and you, completely confused until he finally noticed what you were whispering about. 

“Oh,” Ben snorted. “Someone’s looking for trouble.”

Alright. Freda had not given up on Tom yet. There was a knot in your stomach, pulling bitterly and twisting your insides. You tried to ignore it, took a deep breath and decided to listen to them first. Maybe you were overreacting. Jinxing her later was still an option.

“Oh yes, Paris was wonderful actually,” Freda enthused and had pronounced ‘Paris’ in a weird French accent. “It’s so cosy there around Christmas, you have to go someday.”

“Sounds nice,” Tom answered, rather casually. “Well, if you don’t mind, I-”

“Oh, Tom, actually,” she went on. “I wanted to ask you. Don’t you think we should open the first dance together, as head boy and girl? It’s a tradition, after all.”

Tradition? You had never heard of such a tradition before. Camille and Ben, now eavesdropping too, were as dumbfounded as you. Camille was sincerely shocked, while Ben’s mouth was open, half laughing, half speechless, like a fish on land gasping for air. It seemed that you had not been overreacting, so you turned around, now facing Tom and Freda’s backside.

“I don’t know if that’s actually a tradition, Freda,” Tom said, looking back at you briefly, one side of his mouth pulling upwards.

“Philip Elms and Eve Sterling opened the dance at last year’s party,” she huffed. “They were head girl and boy too.”

“Correct,” Tom agreed. “But they were dating at the time, weren’t they?”

Freda didn’t answer.

“And since we are not dating, I have to politely decline,” he said, again looking at you. “Now excuse me, I have to talk to my fiancée.”

Tom left Freda standing there and the four of you watched her wandering off. No one said a word, Camille was holding her breath until Ben burst out laughing. “Mate,” he chuckled. “That was… deadly.”

Tom didn’t laugh, squinting at what Ben had just called him, but nodded appreciatively before he turned to you, offering his hand.

“What are you doing?” you asked.

“Opening the dance? The music has just started and Slughorn told me I should do it.”

You shook your head smiling, took his hand and let him take you over to the dance floor.

“For someone who accused me of being cruel, you’re doing a very good job yourself, you know,” you said, keeping an eye out for Freda, in case she planned on hexing you. Better safe than sorry. 

“Ah, she’ll be fine,” Tom assured. “Or would you have preferred if I took her to dance?”

The question didn't need an answer, so you just gave him a knowing look when you arrived on the dance floor, where you got in position. Tom placed his hand on your waist and took your right hand in his other one, holding both of them upright below shoulder height. All the guests had gathered around the floor, waiting for you to start dancing. Luckily there wasn’t enough time to get too nervous. It had all happened in a matter of moments.

“You know how to waltz, right?” Tom asked.

“It’s been a while, but-”

“Doesn’t matter, I’ll lead,” he said and took the first step, spinning in circles in three-four time.

Tom was a good dancer, which wasn’t surprising. He probably had taken courses some years ago, just like you, upon your parent’s request. You kept up with him quite well, only taking a wrong step every now and then.

“If I had known, I would’ve practised…”

“It’s alright, people will join in soon. You’re doing well,” he reassured you and lightly squeezed your waist.

The fact that you had never been so close to him for more than a few seconds became more apparent the longer he held onto you. Suddenly the spinning felt faster, all eyes focusing on you, burning holes right through you. The only thing steadying you was Tom and his hands. You spotted Camille in the crowd, who was smiling at you, holding up her hand and giving you a thumbs up. That made you feel a bit more at ease, so you let Tom lead you round the floor, twirling away from people’s stares. Finally, halfway through the song, pairs of people joined in and filled up the dance floor, leaving not much room to be glared at.

Tom looked at you, a proud smile adorning his face, his eyes softer than you had ever witnessed before.

“What’s that I’m seeing there?” you asked. “A genuine smile? Certainly a rare sight.”

He swallowed, not changing his expression. “Camille was right.”

“She usually is. But what do you mean?”

“Earlier, when we went up to them. She said you look beautiful. You do.”

People’s faces around you seemed to blur and you couldn’t hear them properly anymore. The only thing you saw was Tom’s face and how his eyes still stared into yours. It felt as if you weren’t dancing anymore, but rather floating above the ground, a swarm of butterflies emerging from your stomach. Your hand went from Tom’s shoulder behind his neck on its own and pulled him closer. Closer, just a tiny bit closer, so that you were able to view every single one of his eyelashes. His chest bumped against you and his cologne tickled your nose. You let yourself sink into the smell of bergamot and lemon, feeling how his hand squeezed your waist a bit tighter by the second.

Closer, until you both shut your eyes and your lips met in the middle, kissing Tom right out there on the dance floor. You were the only people who had stopped spinning, even though it still felt like you spiralled around a hundred miles an hour. Butterflies turned into aeroplanes, rotating and crashing gently against each other, just like the two of you.

Masterpost | Masterlist | Part 9

Tags: @ariachaos

[yellowbunnydreams]

Dance With Me? [Part 2] (Once Upon a December) ~William Afton/Steve Raglan x F! Reader~

~Sorry it is so late after Christmas, but I have been plagued by idea bunnies and university work, so...happy belated Christmas?~

@ruh--roh-raggy @moonbanana-library

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* Want more or something different? *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧

CW: Slight angst, stalking, mentions of violence and blood, attempted sexual assault, fluff

William had been missing from your walks home for the past few days, and you had begun to wonder if perhaps he was angry at you for not somehow communicating that you wouldn't be walking home that night you caught a lift from Steve Raglan. The idea of him being mad sent a sinking feeling into your stomach, twisting over itself nervously as you glanced towards the darkened office windows to try and spot that waving hand, or even a note left in the cold dew.

But the lack of anything made tears prick at your eyes. Perhaps the man had gotten bored of you now that you were aware of him? Trudging through the snow back home slowly, you couldn't believe you'd been forced to work Christmas Eve when most people got to finish the day before. A pang went through your chest as a thought occurred to you. What if William had a family? The thought made you sick and sad, walking a little slower still as you turned the corner onto your road, sighing and shoving your hands deeper into the pockets of his coat, fingers curling around the well worn receipt inside.

Something caught your eye as you approached your house however, making you look up. Gasping and eyes widening in surprise as you began to walk a little more quickly, staring at your house with awe and confusion.

It was decorated.

And you didn't recognise half of the decorations used.

Your small little home had a beautiful holly wreath on the door with mistletoe and red ribbon in a perfect bow. Lights carefully strung across the eaves and even your ratty doormat had been replaced with a jolly red one with 'seasons greetings' written on it. Glancing through the window into your kitchen, you could make out more lights and something on the stove that you knew you didn't put there. You couldn't see the living room, but something about the way even the kitchen was done gave you Martha Stewart vibes.

Approaching the door, you unlocked it slowly, even more confused that it was locked still. Nobody else had the key. Carefully taking off your boots and placing them by the door, looking around carefully before you spotted some mistletoe hung just in the doorway towards the rest of your house. Frowning slightly as you noticed a piece of purple cloth attached to it and a small envelope, standing on your toes to reach it and pull both down, feeling the cool silkiness of the cloth before you opened the letter.

~

'I'm sorry I've been away, little bunny. But I had some things to sort out to make your Christmas special, and I didn't want to ruin any of the surprise.

Please put on this blindfold, I promise your whole house is decorated, and you'll see it soon. I thought it was very strange that somebody who seemed so excited for the holiday hadn't decorated their house, and sorry I didn't use your lights, they were very tangled.

-William'

~

The note made you smile, cradling it to your chest and feeling your cheeks heating up already before you placed it carefully on the small hall table, reaching up with the silky material and being careful to tie to around your eyes. Not too tight, and hopefully not catching any of your hair in the knot, but only able to see a haze of rich purple if you opened your eyes. Standing in the doorway, you waited, unsure of what to do as William's letter never covered what he wanted you to do afterwards.

You almost screamed, but certainly jumped when a pair of lips pressed to yours. Tensing up with your hands against the broad chest before the deep chuckle reached your ears and you felt a large hand gently stroking down the side of your face.

"Sorry, bunny. But I guess that means the blindfold is working." William's deep, rich voice hit your ears and you felt yourself melting, grateful that it was only him. Though you felt for his arm and smacked him lightly, earning another chuckle and you could almost hear the pout in his voice. "What was that for?"

"Scaring me, it's Christmas Eve, not Halloween!"

"You expect me to scare you on Halloween? What a terrible, terrible man I would be to scare something as sweet and pretty as you." He smirked, watching the way your head tipped to one side when he spoke adorably, as if tilting your head would allow you to hear him better, considering he'd temporarily taken one of your senses from you.

"Says the man who's first hug with me involved another man's blood." You teased, feeling William tense in front of you before he noticed the playful smile you gave him, realising you were comfortable with what had transpired between you and that you were simply playing with him.

"Well, yours is far too precious to spill. But, enough of that talk. Dinner is on the stove for us, and I've got a present under the tree for you for tomorrow." He smiled, watching your face light up even under the purple blindfold, his large fingers moving down your body and undoing the coat he'd given you, incredibly happy that you continued to wear it.

"You've even put up a tree?" You asked, incredulous as you felt the thick material of the coat moving off of your shoulders and allowing William to move it from your smaller frame, hearing another chuckle as he took your hand in his larger, rougher one. Thumb stroking over your knuckles as he carefully began to lead you towards your lounge.

You got the sense that there were plenty of lights in the space, hearing a log fire crackle which you assumed was playing on the TV since you didn't have a hearth, soft music playing in the background as you were led towards one part in particular. Reaching out with your free hand and feeling the waxy, fine needles of a pine tree and disrupting the sickly sweet sap scent that always felt so homely for some reason. William planted a kiss on the side of your head as you explored what was infront of you, he liked your dependency on him in a way. But he gave your hand a little squeeze before letting it go, reaching for a box on the side that he'd purposely placed there ready for that moment.

"I got us a little ornament, for our first Christmas together." He explained, glad you couldn't see the heat on his cheeks as he adjusted his gold-wire aviators and placed the box in your hand, watching you open it cautiously and feel the smooth globe beneath your fingers. "It's a snow-globe ornament. It's two people figure skating on a lake together, in a forest." Giving you a description and waiting for you to nod.

You held the cool glass to your chest for a moment, tears prickling at your eyes again as you could picture it, wondering how you ended up loving somebody so warm and thoughtful. Biting your lip, you reached out for his hand again and gently clasped it, turning your head towards him and smiling warmly.

"Can I have help placing it on the tree? I...I just don't want to ruin your beautiful decorating." William laughed, giving you another warm kiss onto your cheek before he shuffled around you, his chest to your back as he guided your hands to a conveniently empty place on the tree for just that purpose. He'd been planning how the entirety of the interaction would go for days afterall.

"It looks beautiful, bunny." He smiled, planting his chin ontop of your head and wrapping you up in his arms as you secured the ornament onto the tree, standing out a little from the rest he had brought for the occasion, but not too much at least.

Having you wrapped up in his arms again was perfect, and there wasn't much more that William could ask for, except that perhaps you would accept his gift for you and his appearance.

He'd checked with everybody in the office during his research, but everybody had held their cards close to their chest with the office secret santa coming up when they returned to work. But everyone he spoke to about it seemed to give him the same answer, confident he was lost in the crowd of people with the same information, and it wasn't like they wouldn't talk to others about such things either. Asking where to procure such an item.

They'd all been told you wanted the one thing you wanted since childhood.

Planting a kiss ontop of your head, he looked outside and frowned at the snow. Knowing that if it kept falling that he wouldn't be able to pull out of the secluded woodland track he'd parked on to keep his car from view. The thought of being snowed in with you thrilled him, as much as it caused him concern.

"We should eat soon, I've made a nice stew for us, I hope you enjoy it." Smiling up at him as you took his hand again and pressed a kiss to the skin, feeling him shudder slightly under your lips before you leaned your head back against his chest and feeling the way it rose and fell with each breath.

"I'm sure I will. It smells delicious already." He smiled at the compliment, giving another soft kiss before he took your hand and led you to the kitchen, grabbing some plates and cutlery for you as the wind picked up outside the cosy confines of your small home. How he wished you could be curled up with him in his own house, in front of a fire and love him like he loved you.

"Well then bunny, be careful, it's hot and I wouldn't want you to burn yourself." He warned lightly, beginning to dish up and guide you to a seat so you didn't have to worry about a thing whilst he was there with you.

~~

"That was amazing, thank you Will."

"Not a problem at all, I'm just glad you enjoy my cooking."

"I enjoy everything about you!" You laughed, hearing William join in your laughter as he put the dishes in the dishwasher and came back over to you, planting a kiss on your head and trailing it down your nose and onto your lips, making you squeak slightly as he groaned softly into it.

"What if I'm secretly ugly, and that's why I hide myself from you?" He teased, watching as your nose scrunched up adorable and you smacked his arm again, making the older man chuckle as he held you close.

"Oh yes, because I've based our entire relationship off of your looks! Clearly, you are a monster with whom I'll never get along." Rolling your eyes under the mask and shrieking in delight as William picked you up and spun you lightly, planting another few chaste kisses on your lips as he held you up in his arms for a moment before allowing your feet to find solid ground again.

"No need to be a tease, bunny. What can I say, I'm....nervous...about showing myself to something as pretty as you."

You kissed William this time, feeling him relax as your hands moved up his arms and wrapped around his neck slightly, allowing your bodies to press together lightly as he sighed contentedly. Planting soft pecks in between words as you spoke in a soft whisper just for him.

"And you don't think I'm nervous about whether you'll put up with me?"

"That's different, and you know it."

"Hypocrite."

"Never said I wasn't." He chuckled, holding you close as he looked out at the snow again, knowing that it was verging on far too deep to go anywhere, but the soft touch of your hand before your fingers laced with his brought him out of his thoughts, his brow furrowing as he noticed your little frown, clearly in your own thoughts as you took a deep breath and steadied yourself.

"William...Would you...like to stay the night? I don't know if it's kept snowing, but...I don't want to say goodbye..not if I can help it." Your words melted him, and he smiled as he kissed you softly once again.

"That sounds wonderful to me. I'll stay, and then we can celebrate Christmas together."

The way your body lit up at his words was adorable to him, and he cradled you close for a few moments in a strong, warm hug. The feeling of your smaller frame in his arms felt right, and he was damned if he was going to relinquish any opportunity to hold you for more time, to kiss you softly and admire the way the lights caught your features so prettily.

If he had his way, you would never leave his side again.

"This sounds silly...but would you like to dance with me?" He asked suddenly, making you pause as your cheeks heated up and you nodded slowly, holding onto him for guidance as you allowed him to guide you and he left you in the middle of a safe, cleared space. Fiddling with your CD player before a soft version of 'baby it's cold outside' came on and left you smiling.

"How appropriate."

"I thought so too. You'll have to excuse me, I only know more...formal..dances." He cringed to himself, trying not to give away his age compared to yours as you laughed, making him raise an eyebrow as your fingers found his as his other hand settled on the small of your back.

"Don't worry, I only know how to waltz, so you'll have to put up with that." He laughed as he began to lead the steps for a more relaxed version of that very dance. Humming softly as he held you close and let your head rest on his chest as you danced in the small space.

Not being able to see to dance was a little confusing, and you found yourself getting dizzy quickly, holding on tightly to William for support and to orient yourself as you the twirls and smooth movements of the dance took hold and left you breathless. The smell of his cologne taking over your senses, eyes feeling heavy now that you were full and relaxed in your mysterious man's arms, letting him move your body to the music before the song came to an end. Both breathing a little heavily as you parted and you stumbled, feeling his strong hands catch your arms and hold onto you with an embarrassed laugh.

"Guess I should have thought about how you might get dizzy."

"Asshole."

"Maybe, but would you change me?"

"Never."

Content with that, William scooped you up, hearing you shriek with laughter again as your arms wrapped around his neck and you held him close. Smiling brightly as he carried you through your house and what felt like into your bedroom, cheeks heating up as you briefly had flashes of what he might potentially do to you as he set you down on the bed before he wandered off and left you with your thoughts.

"Do you want me to leave so you can pick out something comfy, or do you mind if I pick?" He asked, making you jump slightly and giving you a moment to think about it. Biting your lip before you leaned back on the soft sheets and hummed quietly, looking towards his general direction.

"You can pick something out, there should be some sweatpants and a t-shirt or something in the same part of the wardrobe. Men's clothes are comfy." He laughed at your explanation, rummaging through the drawers until he found what he was looking for. Picking out something for himself as well as finding a fairly matching pair of sweatpants and an old t-shirt for yourself. Placing them on your stomach gently before he planted a kiss on your lips with a smile.

"I'm going to change in the bathroom, I won't be long, just put your blindfold back on when you're done and knock on the door, I'll come collect you." Giving another quick kiss before he took the clothes and let himself out of the room, knowing it would do you some good to give your eyes a reprieve from being blindfolded too.

He couldn't wait to cuddle with you properly.

~~

The rest of the evening had been spent pretty lazily, curled up together and idly chatting about things in your life whilst skirting around things in William's. Though you had learnt some new things about him, which made you happy.

His favourite colour was purple, and he liked rabbits. He wore glasses most of the time, although he didn't need them, he liked the look of them. He preferred to have some form of beard, and he wasn't often in comfortable clothing. Chalking it up to a more strict upbringing, it was more comfortable to him to be formal.

But as you woke up slowly, you fluttered your eyes open and found yourself staring at the wall. Unsure of when you had been moved into your room, the warmth and weight against your back told you that William had probably carried you. His large arm draped over your side and the other under the pillow beneath your head, as if pulling you as close as physically possible even as the deep, even breaths told you that he was still asleep.

Closing your eyes, you turned around in his arms and pressed a soft kiss to his lips. Hearing a deep rumble in his chest as his lips moved sleepily back against yours, pressing you closer against his larger body and breaking the kiss to rest his forehead against yours. Smiling warmly and still half-asleep as he felt you against him, heart pounding and opening his eyes to check that yours were closed still. Giving another gentle kiss and hearing a sweet moan from your lips, making his heart flutter as he planted another one just shy of your lips.

"Good morning, bunny." He sleepily greeted you, making you giggle as you cuddled up to him, hands resting on his broad chest and feeling the muscles beneath the thin t-shirt.

"Good morning, handsome."

"You don't know how long I've dreamed of something like this." He whispered, making you giggle as you curled up against him and felt him shift in the bed, whining as his warmth left you before you felt the cool silk being tied carefully around your eyes again, heart pounding slightly as you opened your eyes and felt his lips pressed to yours. "Merry Christmas, little bunny."

"Merry Christmas, William." you smiled, taking another kiss from him as he wrapped his arms around you once again, giggling as he picked you up so easily and cradled you against him and brought you through to the lounge.

He was glad you were a heavy sleeper, he'd been able to make breakfast for you before you'd even woken up and he just needed to finish it off so you could eat. He felt excited to be so homey with you, something he wasn't sure he would ever achieve as William again. Part of him was afraid he'd have to live as Steve forever, but with you, it seemed all too possible.

Seating you on the couch, he cooked waffles for you, making your mouth water as he carefully sat the warm plate on your lap after a few moments. Eagerly eating up as he assured you that he too was eating, though he was more of a coffee man. Luckily, you were able to hide the tiny smirk that fluttered across your face when he revealed that, focusing on eating and stilling your rapidly beating heart as you tried to figure out when best to reveal what your true present to him was.

After breakfast, William carefully picked up a package from under the tree. Handing the beautifully wrapped box to your curious hands as you gently shook it and listened, making him laugh.

"You're supposed to open it, not guess what it is before hand." He laughed, seeing your cheeks flush and a smile spread across your face as you joined in his giggle. Fingers carefully moving to try and open it from the confines of the smooth, waxy paper and silky ribbon.

"There should be a present under there for you too...if you wanted to open it now?" You suggested, heart pounding as you could hear the man let out a surprised breath, shuffling around until he found it and placed himself next to you, arm wrapping around the back of the couch and playing with your hair idly.

"I want to see you open yours first, if that's okay?"

"Of course, not like I can see you open yours." Earning an embarrassed chuckle as you finally located the tab that allowed you to open your gift. Pulling on it eagerly and diving into the box with concerningly little regard for what could be inside.

As your fingers touched something furry, you initially squealed and pulled back, before they more cautiously moved, feeling what it was since all you could see was purple from the cloth around your eyes. The silky feeling of the plush fur was cool under your fingertips, fluffy and velvety all at the same time as you paused, finding two little beads for eyes and a cold plastic nose. A soft gasp escaping your lips as you pulled it out and let the box tumble from your lap. Eyes watering as you felt the soft, long ears and little round tubes that formed the arms and legs of the plushie in your lap. The little bow-tie on his chest solidifying in your minds eye as to what it was.

"It's...oh my god it's a Spring-Bonnie!" Your voice wavered, William giving your shoulder a soft squeeze and kissing your head as you felt the hot tears running down your cheeks. He hadn't meant to make you cry, but the pride in his chest that he was the one to give you such a personal gift was undeniable. The moment that only the two of you would share, and the fact that he was personal to William too made it all the more sweeter in the man's mind.

"I hope you like it, I told you I have my ways of finding out." Chuckling as he idly played with the tag on his gift, barely paying attention to it as you tried to contain your excitement in hugging him. Planting kisses across the reachable parts of him, body trembling slightly. He thought it was cute, but you were quite nervous.

"W-Well... don't let me just cry...are you going to open yours?" William rolled his eyes at the request, feeling the package so you could hear the paper crinkle, much more messily wrapped before out of curiosity he glanced at the tag. Freezing as he saw what was written on it.

'To: Steve William'

His chest tightened and he felt like all the colour had drained from his face, pulse pounding in his ears as he felt your fingers move against his arm and find his as they held the tag. Swallowing dryly as he glanced at you.

"Baby...what's...what's this?"

"Well, I didn't know if you... wanted to still be called William, or if you prefered Steve. I mean, you go by both each time I see you, so..." Shyly smiling as you felt him moving to stand up and quickly taking his hand, encouraging him to stay with you. Your own heart pounding nervously.

"I don't-"

"I know it's you. You got me Spring-Bonnie, it just confirmed something I'd suspected for a few days now." You spoke quietly, forcing him to stay near you as you spoke, his body still tense as he stared at you.

"No, no you told everybody in the office-"

"And you were told when you asked that I'd said about the one thing I've always wanted but never elaborated?" William felt his breathing become shakey as he realised you were right. They had never explicitly said what the item was, and he'd struggled to get access to the search history of the office to check what people might be searching for gift wise. The realisation set in quickly, and it terrified him.

And it made him proud.

"You...You set me up so you could figure it all out." He breathed, watching as you slowly nodded your head and reached up, undoing the purple cloth and blinking rapidly as your eyes once again adjusted to the light. Seeing him as himself for the first time. William's handsome face contorted into confusion and a little hurt with something you couldn't quite make out in his eyes.

"I'm sorry but...I wanted to see you. And...I don't want you to have to hide in my footsteps anymore." Your voice was cracking, tears threatening to spill as you sat back, clutching onto your new plushie with white knuckles as you avoided his silvery eyes. Curling protectively around the toy. "You're the only one who knew what I really wanted. You were the only one who got the real thing I wished for."

His heart melted to see you so vulnerable, laying yourself bare for his scrutiny and his emotion. Clutching onto the lifeline you'd asked for of him, and avoiding his eyes like you might see anger in them. William wasn't sure he could be angry at you, and the more he thought about it, the more impressed he became on how you'd set up the whole thing to figure him out right under his nose.

Carefully, the taller, older man shuffled over and wrapped his arms around you, holding you close and kissing the top of your head tenderly.

"It's a poor thing to cry on Christmas Day." He smiled softly, making you laugh as one arm relinquished its death grip on the plushie and wrapped around him too, holding him close for comfort. "You don't...find me...too old? Or repulsive?"

"Again, blood...my nice dress? Pretty sure you killed that guy from work too at this point." You said, parting from his iron-embrace to look up at him and cup his cheek, thumb stroking over the greying beard with a reassuring smile.

"For a while when I was unsure you were...you... I-I felt really guilty for finding you handsome."

William blinked and laughed at the absurdity of it, although he knew he was one to talk since he'd gotten jealous of himself previously when you talked about him. Grabbing you, he made you yelp as he brought you into his lap and held you close, fingers cupping your chin lightly as he searched your eyes before his body began to relax. Watching the heat spread across your cheeks with satisfaction as he leaned in and kissed just besides your mouth teasingly.

"Then...would you mind seeing this face more often? You'd have to keep calling me Steve at work, little bunny. But I promise one day, I'll give you an explanation." You smiled warmly, leaning in and claiming his lips in a sweet kiss. His lips moving against yours with a soft grunt of approval as his hands gently moved down your body and landed on your hips, holding you in place so close to him.

"As long as I get to be yours."

"No doubt, and with the bonus that I get to actually buy you pretty things without hiding."

"That goes both ways, mister." You laughed, shrieking as he playfully grinned and tickled you, making you squirm before he placed a soft kiss against your neck, squeezing you in tightly with a hug and letting his warm breath caress the sensitive skin.

"Sure sure... So, you'll be mine?"

"Forever."

"That's my brilliant little bunny. But, I think we should do one more thing today."

"Oh?"

"Will you dance with me?"

~~

Your coat was neatly buttoned up as you waited by the front door to the office, not bothering to look out as you waited to be picked up. Several co-workers looking at you with curious side-eyes before one of the gossips that you couldn't remember the name of came up to you, tossing her glossy hair over her shoulder.

"So, are you not walking home today?" You smiled at her question, hands in pockets as you shrugged and felt your cheeks colouring slightly. No matter how many times you thought of it, the feeling was still strange as your stomach fluttered nervously.

"Nope, being given a lift home by my boyfriend."

"Oooo, so we all get to finally see the mystery man! Well, he might see somebody a little prettier whilst he's here, since it doesn't seem like he gets out much." She 'whispered' in the way that one might do when they purposely want to be overheard. But your smile only grew wider at the teasing, shrugging your shoulders and looking over her shoulder briefly.

"I firmly doubt he would. And no, he doesn't socialise much, especially with gossips." The woman spun on a dime with eyes wide as Steve Raglan stood behind her. Being handed two sealed envelopes as the man tucked the purple scarf that had suddenly appeared after Christmas over his shoulder, adjusting his aviators before he glanced at you reassuringly.

"Mr. Raglan!"

"Consider this our two weeks notice, I'm afraid me and the young lady here will be leaving the office due to...conflict of interests." He tutted, before walking forwards, waiting for you to untuck a hand from your pocket and both of you feeling a little satisfaction as your fingers laced with his and produced a gasp from the office. Whispers abound as he held open the door for you, letting you both out into the cold.

As the door closed behind the both of you, you knew that the whole office would be alight in gossip, but you didn't care as you stopped besides his car to give him a quick peck on the lips, making the older man smile broadly.

"Did you have to do such a dramatic exit?"

"She's lucky that there were witnesses, I don't take kindly to insults about myself, let alone you bunny." You sighed and reached up to tuck a stray strand of his hair back as you shook your head lightly. Smiling warmly before you placed another soft kiss on his lips, letting him open the car door afterwards.

"So...Where will we go after this?"

"You know... I feel like Hurricane, Utah is pretty nice. And plus, it still has a Freddy's building. The original." He explained, feeling amused as your face lit up at the mention of your shared passion. William hadn't revealed the dark past to you yet, but he was sure that you would be all accepting of him under the right persuasion. It wasn't like he didn't know how to make you melt like putty, just as you knew how to do to him.

"To new adventures."

"To new adventures." He agreed, staring the car and taking your hand, thumb stroking over the knuckles as both of you thought how you had never been so happy.