#hands down the most draining conversations to have at work. there are people who just adamantly refuse to hear the words im saying

[kathaelipwse]

Home is Where They Are - SVT OT13

Warning: Fluff, Comfort, Found Family, Soft SEVENTEEN, Reader Having a Rough Day, GN!Reader Trope: Roommates AU, Found Family, Comfort After a Hard Day Word Count: 1.1k Synopsis: After a long, exhausting day at work, you come home completely drained. Your 13 chaotic yet caring roommates immediately notice and do everything they can to make you feel better—whether it's cooking your favorite meal, sitting with you in silence, or making you laugh. In the end, you’re reminded that home isn’t just a place—it’s the people who love you. Author’s Note: This is pure comfort fluff! I wanted to capture the warmth of having people who just get you and know exactly what you need after a bad day. Hope this makes you feel as cozy as it made me while writing it. 💕

The moment you stepped through the door, exhaustion weighed down your every movement, an invisible anchor dragging you towards the floor. Your bag slipped from your shoulder, landing on the worn wooden floor with a dull, heavy thud, echoing the weariness that permeated your bones. You barely had the energy to kick off your shoes, your feet aching in their confines, your body a symphony of protesting muscles after a long, draining day at work.

The usual cacophony inside the apartment, a vibrant, chaotic symphony of thirteen young men, had come to a complete, abrupt stop. DK and Hoshi, who were previously engaged in a boisterous, borderline violent argument over a video game, their voices usually bouncing off the walls, froze mid-sentence. The air shifted instantly, the playful energy dissipating, replaced by a quiet, concerned stillness. Your tired expression, the lines etched around your eyes, the slump in your shoulders, was enough to silence even the two most hyperactive members of the group.

"Bad day?" Joshua’s voice was soft, careful, a gentle question that didn’t demand an answer, but offered a space for one. You nodded, a sigh escaping your lips, a heavy, ragged sound that spoke volumes, as you dragged yourself further into the living room, each step a monumental effort.

Seungcheol was on his feet before you could even articulate your exhaustion, his strong, reassuring hands resting gently on your shoulders, kneading the tense muscles beneath your work clothes. "Go sit down. Don’t worry about anything else, okay?" His voice was firm, yet tender, a comforting directive that you were too weary to resist.

You didn’t have the energy to protest, to feign strength or offer a polite denial. Instead, you let him guide you to the worn, comfortable couch, where Woozi and Junhui, usually engrossed in their own creative pursuits, quietly made space for you. They didn’t say anything, simply offering the silent comfort of their presence, a wordless reassurance that you weren’t alone. You sank into the cushions, your head tilting back against the soft fabric, your eyes closing as you exhaled, the sound a mixture of relief and utter depletion.

The silence that followed was not awkward or tense, but a warm, comforting blanket, a shared understanding that you needed a moment to simply exist, to breathe. Meanwhile, in the kitchen, a gentle clatter of pots and pans began, a subtle, reassuring rhythm. Mingyu was already rummaging through the fridge, his movements purposeful and efficient. "Wonwoo, grab that pot. We’re making their favorite."

Wonwoo, who wasn’t known for his culinary prowess but was deeply familiar with the subtle language of comfort, simply nodded and started assisting, his usually stoic expression softened with concern. The sounds of chopping vegetables and soft, murmured conversation filtered through the apartment, a comforting background noise, a gentle hum that filled the space with warmth and familiarity.

Vernon approached next, his tall, lanky frame moving with a quiet grace. Wordlessly, he handed you a small bar of dark chocolate, your favorite. He didn’t make a big deal out of it, didn’t ask questions or offer platitudes, just placed it in your hands with a knowing look, a silent acknowledgment of your weariness, before settling into a nearby armchair, his presence a quiet comfort. The warmth in your chest grew just a little, a small flicker of gratitude igniting in the face of such thoughtful kindness.

Joshua reappeared moments later, carrying a warm mug of herbal tea, its delicate aroma filling the air. He placed it on the coffee table in front of you, the steam curling upwards like a gentle whisper. "Drink when you’re ready," he murmured, giving your shoulder a reassuring squeeze before stepping back, allowing you the space you needed.

Minutes passed in comforting silence, each tick of the clock a gentle reminder that you were safe, surrounded by people who cared. Then, as if a silent agreement had been reached, Seungkwan and Dino decided enough was enough, the quiet concern shifting into their usual brand of boisterous, playful energy. "Alright, we can’t just sit here like we’re at a funeral. Tell me—who do we need to fight?" Seungkwan asked, crossing his arms dramatically, his voice laced with mock seriousness.

Dino nodded in agreement, puffing up his chest in a comical display of bravado. "Yeah, name one person, and we’ll take care of it. We'll make them regret crossing you."

A tired chuckle slipped past your lips, a small, involuntary sound that broke the tension. "I don’t think my boss would appreciate that."

"We’ll make it look like an accident," Seungkwan deadpanned, his eyes twinkling with mischief.

A genuine laugh bubbled up in your chest, a wave of warmth spreading through you, and just like that, the heavy weight of the day started to melt away. Dino and Seungkwan continued their antics, launching into exaggerated reenactments of their own ‘horrible’ days, complete with dramatic sighs and over-the-top gestures, making you laugh even more, the sound a welcome release.

"You wouldn't believe it," Dino exclaimed, pretending to wipe a tear from his eye. "My ramen was slightly overcooked! A tragedy!"

"And mine," Seungkwan added, clutching his chest dramatically, "My phone died right before I was about to win a game! The horror!"

As you laughed, the tension in your shoulders eased, the knot in your stomach loosened. You took a sip of the warm tea, the soothing liquid calming your frayed nerves.

When Mingyu and Wonwoo finally emerged from the kitchen, carrying steaming plates of your favorite meal—a comforting mix of spicy kimchi jjigae and fluffy rice—you swore you could’ve cried. The aroma alone was enough to make your mouth water, a promise of warmth and sustenance. "I’d like to take full credit for this masterpiece," Mingyu announced proudly, placing a plate in front of you.

"You literally almost set the stove on fire," Wonwoo deadpanned, rolling his eyes.

"Details," Mingyu scoffed, placing the plate in front of you with a flourish. "Eat up."

As you began to eat, the warmth of the food spreading through you, the exhaustion from work hadn’t disappeared, but it no longer felt as unbearable. You weren’t alone. You never were.

"It was just… one of those days," you began, your voice a little shaky, a little rough. "Everything went wrong. The client was impossible, the presentation crashed, and then the train was delayed. I just felt… overwhelmed."

You looked up at them, your eyes filled with a mix of exhaustion and gratitude. "I know it sounds silly, but I just needed to come home."

Seungcheol, who had been watching you with a gentle, understanding gaze, pressed a soft kiss to the top of your head. "It doesn’t sound silly at all. We’ve got you. Always."

The simple words, spoken with such sincerity, were enough to make your heart swell. You looked around at the thirteen faces, each one filled with warmth and affection, and you knew that you were truly home.

"Thank you," you whispered, your voice thick with emotion. "Thank you for everything."

The rest of the evening unfolded in a haze of warmth and laughter. They shared stories, played games, and simply enjoyed each other’s company. The exhaustion from the day was still there, a dull ache in your muscles, but it was overshadowed by the overwhelming sense of belonging, the knowledge that you were loved and supported.

As the night drew to a close, and you finally retreated to your room, the words echoed in your mind: "We’ve got you. Always." And that was enough. More than enough. It was everything.

[yeyinde]

the therapist x Price ask has me thinking terrible things. but what if instead of helping him with anger management, you're his marriage counsellor.

With your colleague's early retirement on the horizon, you take over several of his files, and among them is Mr and Mrs Price. A marriage on the brink of collapse, he writes, but both are willing to work things out.

As if.

You're not one to pick sides—it's morally, professionally, and ethically wrong—but you really wish Mrs Price had better friends. Or someone in her life to pull her aside and tell her to run because as much as she seems to want to work at these issues that plague her marriage, it takes you only a handful of sessions to realise this is impossible.

And the reason is just—

John Price.

Unprofessional? Yes. Wrong? No.

Your colleague's notes about Mr Price being the driving force behind keeping the marriage intact seem almost farcical looking back because that seems to be the very last thing on his mind.

He goes into each session with the single-minded goal to tear through any progress made—and that's only when he shows up. And in this particular profession, you're used to combativeness. The guarded nature of people is a hurdle you can often overcome with logic and solutions to their problems, but Mr Price's walls have walls. His armour is thick, and impenetrable, and he's—at best—unwilling to participate in any meaningful way.

And at worst—he spends most of the session arguing with you. Needling over everything you say. Ignoring any attempts to steer the conversation back to the idea of salvaging his marriage in favour of riling you up. Disrupting the natural order of accountability and progress just to see you flustered. Asking personal questions. Coming in earlier just to nitpick your talking points. Letting his wife leave before he does, and using the time to go over his startling accolades like the thought of chasing her, taking her to dinner, didn't even cross his mind. A man with one foot out the door, and almost no interest in turning around.

He's bullish. Compromising. Stubborn—

"—and a pigheaded oaf of a man!" You seethe, ethics fleeing from the room as you dig yourself a spot on your boss's couch, and take hearty gulps of the Chardonnay he offered with a grim twist to his lips. "Every time we get close to the truth, to a breakthrough, he jumps ship! Pulls away! But then has the audacity to question me because his wife isn't changing her mind on the divorce? In what goddamn universe is this my fault?"

He clears his throat, looking more than a little bemused. "Uhh. Have you tried—"

"Talking to him one-on-one in a confrontation-free way to try and get him to open up? Yes! And he spent the whole session avoiding the issue and making redundant comments about me, my life! What do my future plans have to do with his marriage? My relationship status! If I want kids! It's absurd!"

"Interesting. And have you considered—"

"All of it! There's no getting through to him. I don't even think he really wants this marriage to work out which is so different from what the counsellor they had before told me. He was trying back then. Said he'd let her divorce him over his dead body, and now? Two decades down the drain. I just don't get it."

"Well." His brow lifts, and he seems almost worried for a second before he scoffs. Shakes his head. "I think I do. Good luck, hon. He seems like the sort of man who knows exactly what he wants."

It takes all of your willpower not to reach out and grab the whole bottle from the table. Professional, you think. And that's what John called you, isn't it? Well—

Smart little girl, aren't you? Is what he growled out, arms folded over his chest as you—indiscreetly—ushered him towards the door. "But you don't know what you're doing, love. Gonna get yourself in over your head—"

The little girl prickles over your nerves. There's something about him that makes you want to lash out.

"I can handle myself, John."

He leaned down, shoulders tense. Eyes blazing. This man, you realise, is all fire. All heat. You fight back a shiver, meeting his stare head-on.

"Oh, I hope you can."

A challenge, right? Maybe he's another misogynist in a choking, crowded sea too blinded by his own ego to admit that maybe you could help him if he let you. Pretentious, self-righteous prick—

It really doesn't surprise you when the dissolution of his marriage happens a week later. Irreconcilable differences. Go figure. But what does surprise you is finding John Price standing outside your office only several days after the contractual obligations you had with them end.

The sight of him, stripped of any professional distance, makes you tense. "If you're here to complain, you'll need to file a—"

In hindsight, you should have seen it coming. The signs were there from the onset. Mrs Price's frigid anger at the end, and John's interest in you beyond the therapist. But when he pushes you against the door of your office, pulling you into a searing, demanding kiss that siphons the air from your lungs, all you can think is huh? and when did this—?

He doesn't really give you much of a chance to say any of that, though. Just devours you whole like he's been waiting his entire life for this moment, hands biting into your flesh, gripping tight. Refusing to let go even for a second. Even to let you breathe. Just grunts into the lax seam of your mouth about how much a goddamn little tease you are, tempting him like that when he was still a married man.

"But you can handle me, can't you, sweetheart?" He rumbles, fingers rasping over the skin of your nape. "Said so yourself, didn't you? Actin' all naughty even when you were pantin' at me like a bitch in heat. But don't worry, I'll make an honest woman outta you yet."

"Um—"

(maybe you were, in fact, a little over your head with John Price.)

[risuola]

TOO MUCH — F. READER x GOJO SATORU

Lately, it felt like not a second pass by without some new curse appearing somewhere in Japan and both you and Satoru had your hands full of work for few weeks, but when he comes back home, exhausted to the bone, his composure snaps and he unloads his frustration on you.

cw: angst, verbal abuse, hurt/little comfort, mentions of blood and hurt, reader is injured, mental exhaustion — 2,5k words

Too much. Too much of everything that piled up on Satoru's shoulders, weighing him down so heavily that he almost couldn't breathe. It felt like the world was on fire, curses crawling out of every shithole in Japan, most of them first or special grade, spreading nothing but death and chaos. So many people killed, so much blood and pain he had witnessed in the last few weeks, it drowned him in exhaustion and helplessness. Satoru Gojo, the strongest sorcerer alive, and yet he felt so helpless in the current situation. He traveled from town to town, fighting these terrors, but the lives that had been taken away, he couldn't bring back, and he used to think that he was immune to it already. Turns out, one can never be immune enough.

You had your hands full with work as well, but you stayed in Tokyo. The situation drained your energy too, the cascading waves of sadness and sorrow made you feel like you couldn't think straight, but you pushed through. You felt so weak, but had to be strong, everyone had to be. All of your sorcerer friends were just as engaged in the fight as you were, just as tired and distressed, but the show must go on, as they say.

You and Gojo weren't officially a couple, though everyone knew you were together. You were friends, yes, the kind of friends who kiss and have sex. The kind of friends that use pet-names and fall asleep while cuddling naked. Shit, you lived together for a few months, you know everything about him and he knows just as much about you. And you were happy, sharing every moment. He always said that you bring him so much comfort, that he feels like he can be openly himself when he's with you and be accepted for it. Nothing could ever bring you more joy than the man you love feeling comfortable with you.

That being said, it wasn't the best time for your relationship slash situationship. He was more out of the house than in it, and you were just sleeping there, barely. It's been going on for a few weeks already, and it's just now it’s beginning to finally calm down. Few weeks of constant fighting for everyone involved in the jujutsu world, but it started to slow down. So you knew that Satoru would finally return home.

It's when you showered and put on your pajamas that you heard the keys twisting in the lock and the doors opening. Putting on a smile, you rushed to welcome Gojo home, but the moment you saw him, you knew he's extremely exhausted.

Satoru entered the house already annoyed by the conversation he had with Gakuganji a few moments before. That old fart had the audacity to nag him about his methods while he himself was sitting in his cave sipping green tea, not caring one bit that the world was drowning in curses and blood. He threw the keys on the shelf, kicked off his shoes and took off the blindfold, then looked at you, all clean and comfortable in your pajamas. He scoffed quietly.

He felt like his own body was falling apart, everything hurt, his head was pounding, his eyes were burning. Even though he was actively healing himself, the side effects of everything were getting to him. A few weeks of nonstop fighting, of domains, of reds, blues, and purples, and so much physical combat had left him hanging on the last thread of his composure. The usual mask of cheerful carelessness long gone.

Suddenly he wished he could enter the empty house, throw away his clothes, collapse on the bed dirty and just fall asleep, but he couldn't. You were there. And there was never a time in the past when he wouldn't be absolutely overjoyed to come home to you. Even when tired, he wanted nothing more than your arms around him. But not right now.

"Satoru, hey," you greeted him, keeping your voice soft and on the quiet side. You knew him so well, you could see how fatigued he was and frankly, you couldn't blame him. Being the strongest had its downsides, one of which was being very much in demand, and sadly, no one could take his place. "You're exhausted, huh?"

"Look at you, so damn perceptive," he snapped harshly, his eyes cold and empty as he looked down at you. He walked past you to the kitchen to grab a bottle of water from the fridge.

“Are you hungry? I can make you someth-“

"No, just shut up, you cannot make me fucking anything," once again, his tone was cold as he snarled at you. It was the first time so much cyanide spilled out of his mouth and he just barely opened it. At first you tried to understand it. Things had been really draining lately and you knew he was angry because he was tired, but it hurt nonetheless.

"Alright," you sighed, deciding it's best not to get deeper into the conversation when he's so argumentative. "Do as you wish, get some rest, Satoru."

"You know, why instead of telling me what the hell to do, you just don't leave my house, huh?", Shut up Gojo, he screamed at himself subconsciously. "Why are you even here anyway?" Shut. Up. " All comfy when I'm constantly on the job?"

"I know you're tired, Satoru, but I've been on missions too. I'm tired too," you looked at him in defeat, unable to keep the smiley mask on. There was so much wrong in this situation, so much anger being thrown at you for no reason whatsoever, and you had every right in the world to be just as angry as he was, but you just chose not to. You wanted to welcome him home with warmth, comfort him, and keep him up even if you felt down. You wanted to soothe his aching body when yours hurt just as much. Or worse. You were badly injured during the last few battles, but Shoko had her hands so full, you told her you could wait, and you hid all those wounds from Gojo's eyes so as not to worry him.

"'Yeah, your little missions,'" he bit, and your brows furrowed at the sound of his words.

"What does that even mean?" you asked, slowly feeling the heat of anger coursing through your veins. "I'm first gra-"

"I don't care what you are. You're still nothing to me. I deal with real shit, not those..."

You slapped him. Or at least you tried, your hand stopping just short of his face, and it surprised you to realize his limitless was still on, even though he was home already. He was still in fight-or-flight mode, still feeling threatened enough to keep his defensive techniques activated.

"Just what do you think you're fucking doing?" he growled, taking your wrist into his grip, the squeeze shooting shockwaves of pain through your nervous system. "Did my words hurt you? Did the truth hurt you so badly that you thought you could actually hit me?", his tone had a taunting undertone, and when you looked into his blue eyes, you saw nothing but cold. "Funny little thing."

"Let go, Satoru."

"Oh, I will. And when I do, you'll get your useless ass out of here. I'm not your boyfriend, we just fuck, we're not in a goddamn relationship for you to be here all the time. I need my space."

Gojo hated every word that fell out of his mouth, but now he couldn't take them back or erase them, and he didn't exactly know how to act now that he had said them. Immediately, he let his limitless inactivate, hoping you'd want to slap him again. Shit, he'd even accept a kick in the balls, but you remained silent, just looking at him. He could tell by the way your eyes glistened in the sharp artificial light of his kitchen that there were tears threatening to come out, but you didn't cry. Your jaw clenched for a moment and you lowered your hand.

"Right," you exhaled deeply, feeling the hurt burn your heart and soul. The smoke of sadness already flowing through your veins, your cells, your mind. "You're right, we're not. Here," you performed a theatrical swing of your arm, displaying the interiors to him, "your fucking space. I'll let myself out."

"Y/n..." he tried, but you were already in the room, changing from your pj's to sweatpants. He stayed in the kitchen, hoping you'd just jump into bed and maybe cry about it all, and he'd just come back later and comfort you when he wasn't mad anymore, but it didn't go that way.

Once he saw you again, you were heading towards the door.

"Y/n stay, don't be silly, stop," he tried to grab you, but you slapped his hands away.

"What, does the almighty, fucking honored one wish to add something to his oh-so-wonderful speech?"

"No, I'm sorry, stay," he took your hand forcefully, pulling you into his chest, but you fought back, not wanting anything to do with him right now. He had said too much. You knew it was all driven by his exhaustion, but it was far too much.

"No, Gojo, I don't want to stay here. I'm more than pleased to leave you in your space. There's no damn reason for you to share your precious air with such a useless nothing."

"No, no, please," he begged, his anger slowly being overtaken by panic. The sound of his last name felt cold and unfamiliar as it rolled off your tongue. "I'm sorry, please stay. I didn't mean it. Fuck, I didn't mean any of it."

"Please, take your hands off me," you told him more quietly. You were tired and now emotionally drained as well. All you wanted from this evening was to cuddle up with him to sleep. To bask in his warmth, knowing he's safe and home, to feel his skin against yours, to breathe him in. But no.

"No, I won't," he lowered his head and buried his face in your neck. "Please, I'm so fucking sorry. I didn't mean it, I'm just so tired. I feel dead, there has been so much fighting and pain and suffering and death all around me these past few weeks. I'm sorry, y/n," his voice faded to whisper as he rambled against your pulse.

"Gojo..."

"I don't think you're useless or nothing. Fuck, what have I done" he was spiraling slowly into a panic attack. You could feel his heartbeat getting hectic, his breathing uneven, and his grip on you so tight it hurt. "I am nothing without you. Please stay."

"Gojo."

"I love you," he whispered, his tone breathless, and at first you thought you had heard him wrong. He had never told you that. Not even once. "I love you so fucking much, please. Slap me, kick me, punch me in the dick, I don't care. Just don't leave me. I'm so sorry."

"Satoru, please, it hurts..."

"Hurts?", he froze. What hurts? Did he hurt you? The thought frightened him, not only did he insult you for no damn reason and now he caused you pain? As if burned, he let go of you completely, raising his hands as if he wanted to keep them in sight so you knew he wouldn't hurt you anymore. "I'm sorry."

"I've been fighting for these weeks, too. I'm tired too. I would never compare myself to you, but I gave it my all, too," you exhaled deeply. "And I know you're exhausted, Satoru. So please go to bed and get some sleep. I'll just go home."

"Here is your home, with me."

"Here?", you briefly looked around. It was a place you loved because it was filled with him. It was where your heart wanted to be when you felt safest and happiest, but now... "Suddenly I feel like an intruder here. I feel like I shouldn't be here."

"No, please don't say that. Listen, y/n, love," he dropped to his knees, took your hands in his and kissed the tops of them gently and tenderly. "Please, stay with me. I'm an idiot. But I love you. And I need you here, I need you in my life. I want you by my side."

"So, what do you want us to be? You said we're just fucking. God, I thought we were at least friends, if not a couple, but..."

"I want us to be everything. I want you to be my friend, my partner, my lover, my wife and my entire world."

You sighed. Deep and slow, pushing the air out of your lungs, letting your whole body deflate as you took his hands and pulled him up.

"Go take a shower and come to bed. You need to sleep it off. I need to rest too."

Obeying, Satoru rushed to the bathroom and you made sure to lock the doors, turn off the lights and took the time to change back into your pajamas. Sitting on the bed, you finally felt the tears running down your face. They brought you some relief and you let them flow freely, desperate to get it out of you before Gojo came back. It pained you how wrong the evening went and you wondered if there was anything you did to cause it, but no. It wasn’t your fault. You didn’t deserve it. And you should leave him there alone, just as he wished for. Then why were you still here?

"Please don't cry," his long arms wrapped around you from behind, enveloping you in his warmth. The light sweet scent of his body wash pleasantly filled your airways and it's out of habit that you leaned into him. "Will you ever forgive me?" he asked, gently wiping the tears from your cheeks. Slowly, he laid you down on the pillows and took his usual place beside you.

"I will," you sighed, already feeling the discomfort. "But please, let's change sides."

Satoru didn't understand at first, but he did what you asked anyway. When he saw you exhale in relief as you turned to the other side, his brain clicked. Moving his hands in the most delicate way possible, he lifted your shirt a little, revealing the many layers of bandages, already tinged with red that was seeping through them slowly.

"God, you're wounded. That's what was hurting you when I held you... I had no idea why you didn't tel-, ah, because I was being an asshole, right," he sighed.

"Yeah, I wasn't going to tell you anyway. I'm fine, just Shoko had her hands full, so I told her I'd wait a day or two. It's just a scratch, really," you told him, fixing your shirt. "Please, let's get some sleep, okay? We'll talk about it all later."

"I love you," he whispered, pulling you to his chest and planting a kiss on the top of your head. It was only now that he could feel his body relax, with you right next to him, your heartbeat syncing with his own, and all of your loving aura filling his body. And he realized that the words he never had the balls to say out loud to you now felt natural, rolling off his tongue. "I love you so much."

"You idiot," you sighed, closing your eyes and slowly melting into his form. "I love you too."

[societyfolklore]

Apple Pie – Part 1

Title: Apple Pie – Part 1

Pairing: Dark!Endgame Steve Rogers x Female Reader

Summary: Steve knows it’s important to move on, and he’s going to make sure you do.

Word Count: 3.5k

Warnings: / Explicit Content / 18+, Minors DNI, Possessive, Dub Con/Non Con, DARK, Coercion, Eventual SMUT, No Beta (More specific tags will be added as required)

A/N: Very excited about starting this series off.. This is set post Snap but pre the events of Endgame proper (probably about two-three years into the Blip/Snap) There will not be a set update schedule

The first time you saw him in person, it almost didn’t feel real.

Captain America.

Not on the news, not in some historical footage, but there- standing before a circle of people in a dimly lit community centre, running a support group.

That was the first time, but you’d been attending this group run by Steve for, what, six months now? It often felt like your only tether to the world. The meetings were the only time you felt connected to anything, like an anchor keeping you from drifting into the numb void that had replaced the life you once knew. Without them, without Steve's steady voice reminding you to keep going, you weren’t sure if you would have even gotten out of bed some days.

You barely noticed the Styrofoam cup of tea cooling in your hands as you watched him speak. The warmth had long since faded, mirroring the hollowness in your chest. The room felt heavy, thick with unspoken grief, the air tinged with the faint scent of old coffee and cheap disinfectant. Voices murmured around you, some raw with emotion, others flat, drained. But you barely registered any of it. The tea in your hands had started as a comfort, something to ground you, but now it was just another thing slipping away, cooling past the point of saving. Steve Rogers was calm, steady, a voice of unwavering strength in a room filled with shattered lives. He wasn’t just talking- he was listening, really listening, to every story, every loss, every quiet plea hidden in the words of the group.

“We’re what’s left,” he said, scanning the room, meeting everyone’s gaze in turn. “The world is in our hands now. We have to make a go of it.”

His words settled in your chest like a weight, but not in a crushing way. It was grounding. They were words you wanted to believe. Words you needed to believe.

He understood. He had lost, too. Going into the ice, losing everyone he ever knew, only to wake up in a world that had moved on without him. And then, after everything, losing even more. Bucky, gone. Sam, gone, not to mention Peggy. Or the people he should have been able to save.

You had lost nearly everything now- your husband, most of your friends. Even your parents had passed years ago. And then The Snap had taken what was left of your circle. The last string tethering you to a world that no longer felt like it had a place for you had been cut. And yet, here you were, still breathing, still waking up every day to a house that didn’t feel like home anymore.

Your fingers tightened around the cup as you finally spoke, your voice quieter than you’d liked. “I cried while mowing the lawn last week.”

A few sympathetic chuckles rippled through the group, but Steve just nodded, his expression open and understanding, as though he knew exactly where the conversation was heading before you did.

“That was his job,” you continued, forcing the words out. “And now I do it. I’ve been doing it for a while now, but…it still feels like I’m just waiting for him to come back and take over. Like he’s just…on a trip. Or at work. And any day now, he’s going to walk in the door and tell me I did it wrong.”

Your breath shuddered, and you looked down. “I don’t know who I am without that life.”

A beat of silence stretched before Steve spoke. “I know it feels like the whole world is gone,” he said, his voice gentle, careful. “But you’re still here. We’re still here.”

You let out a breath you hadn’t realized you were holding.

For the first time in a long time, you felt seen. You didn’t always share. Most nights, you sat and listened, let others fill the empty spaces with their pain so you wouldn’t have to voice your own. But in that moment, when Steve met your gaze and didn’t look away, it felt like maybe he saw it anyway. Like maybe he understood. You thought about the way he had looked at you, as if you weren’t just another grieving person in the room. As if he understood something deeper, something you hadn’t even said. The memory of his voice lingered, the cadence of reassurance wrapped in steel.

You admired him, how someone like Steve Rogers could lose so much and still find the strength to help others. There was something compelling about it, something that made you wonder- how did he keep going? How did he bear the weight of it all without breaking? A small part of you, the part you rarely acknowledged, wondered what it would be like to have someone like that carry some of your weight. To not have to hold everything alone. What kind of man carried the weight of the world and still reached out to hold someone else steady?

And, more importantly- what would it feel like to be held?

~#~#~#~

As the meeting wrapped up, you lingered in your seat, still feeling the weight of what you had shared. People around you were standing, stretching, gathering their things, chatting in low murmurs. You thought about slipping out unnoticed, but Steve’s presence made that impossible.

He moved easily through the space, offering nods and small smiles, always approachable. But this time, he didn’t just blend into the group. He was making his way toward you.

“You doing okay after that?” His voice was lower now, softer, meant just for you.

You hesitated, then nodded. “Yeah. I’m fine. Felt good to talk today.”

His lips quirked, not quite a smile. “I worry about you being alone so much. It’s not good for people- being alone.”

You blinked at him. “You don’t have to worry, I’m- ”

“I pay attention,” he said simply. "I know you're not okay."

Something in his tone made it feel like an unspoken challenge, like he wouldn’t accept anything but the truth.

For some reason, you ended up talking to him longer than you meant to. He asked easy questions- about your job, about your daily routine, about how you had been holding up. And for the first time in a long time, you found yourself answering honestly.

You almost told him how much you had started looking forward to the meetings. Not just for the group- but because Steve would be there. Because his presence was steady, grounding. Because, for those brief hours, the world outside didn’t feel quite so empty.

He listened intently, asking questions that made you reflect in ways you hadn’t before. How long had it been since you laughed, truly laughed? Did you have anyone checking in on you? What did you do for yourself these days- just for you? The longer the conversation stretched, the more you realized how much space he was occupying in your mind.

When people started filtering out of the meeting, Steve lingered. “I could walk you to your car,” he offered, casually, like it was no big deal.

You hesitated. “It’s not far.”

“Still,” he said, shrugging. “I’d feel better knowing you're safe.”

It was so simple, so easy to agree to. And so you did.

He walked beside you, steps measured and unhurried, his presence both effortless and solid. The night air was cool, and for the first time in a long time, you weren’t hurrying to get home, weren’t trying to escape the open space of the world outside. Steve didn’t rush, and neither did you.

When you reached your car, he paused. “Drive safe, alright?”

You nodded, and for a moment, you thought that was it. But the next time, he was there again. And again. Until it became routine.

At first, it was just to the parking lot. Then, one night, you mentioned walking home instead of driving, and he offered to walk with you. That became routine, too. Soon, he was waiting at the meeting’s end before you could even glance toward the door, already stepping beside you, as if it had always been this way.

It started small.

“You shouldn’t have to do everything by yourself,” he said one evening after the meeting, when you mentioned how your sink had been leaking, how you wanted to call a handyman but your husband hated having workmen in the house when it was task he could do, how it felt like a betrayal of what he stood for to pay someone. “You’ve been through enough.”

You shook your head, waving a hand. “I’ll call someone eventually. Got to be a big big girl now.." 

Steve frowned, just slightly. “Let me help.”

“You don’t have to- ”

“I’d feel better knowing you’re taken care of.” His voice was gentle, sincere. “You shouldn’t have to let a stranger into your home. Not when you’ve got a friend willing to help. I'm sure your husband wouldn't turn down the help of a friend.”

And it was that- ‘friend’- that made you cave.

It felt harmless.

You weren’t sure why, but something about the way he said it settled into you. A friend. When was the last time you had one of those? Someone who just wanted to help, just wanted to be there. Someone not caught up in their own grief all the time. It had been so long since anyone had even offered to lighten the load that you almost forgot what it felt like. And for once, it felt easy to just accept it. Steve showed up the next afternoon, sleeves rolled up, a warm, easy smile in place. He carried himself with that quiet confidence, like he belonged in any room he stepped into, toolbox in hand. He looked the part of the all-American man- broad shoulders, golden hair catching the afternoon light, the very image of stability and strength. A man built to protect, to provide, to take care of things without hesitation. It was easy to see why people trusted him so easily, why it felt so natural to let him in.

The sink was fixed within minutes. Then the door that squeaked. Then the cabinet hinge that had been threatening to snap off.

“This could have broken right off if you weren’t careful,” he said, testing it. “Good thing I checked.”

You murmured something about not having noticed, and he only smiled.

Then, since he was already there, he started pointing out a few more things. Little details you hadn’t paid attention to- the uneven leg on your dining table, the slightly off-kilter bathroom self, the way your front door lock stuck when you turned the key.

“You don’t notice these things until they go completely,” he said, tightening a bolt under the table. “Best to fix them now before they become real problems.”

And you found yourself nodding along, thinking how easy it was with him around, how simple everything seemed when he was handling it.

Steve even helped you put together the spice rack you had bought but never assembled. As you watched him work, his hands steady and sure, a strange mix of emotions stirred in your chest. Relief, gratitude- maybe even a small twinge of guilt. You should have done this yourself, shouldn’t you? But it was so much easier letting him handle it. Easier to let someone else take care of the things you didn’t want to deal with. Was that such a bad thing? Then the bookshelf. He was perfect, even going so far as to dust from the light fixtures you couldn’t reach.

“Gotta keep things bright in here,” he joked, stepping off the chair he’d been using. “A dim home can make you feel even lonelier.”

When he was leaving, he noticed your tires were low and frowned.

"I'll come by tomorrow to look at your car." There wasn’t room to question in his tone. You could see how he ended up being in command of things so easily. How natural it was for him to just- lead.

He made it easy to let him.

The next evening, when he came to check your car, he brought dinner. “Figured you probably didn’t have time to cook today,” he said casually, placing a bag of takeout on the counter. It was from your favorite place.

You didn’t remember telling him what that was.

“You don’t have to keep coming by, you know,” you said one day, after he had finished mowing your lawn. You were sitting on the porch, watching him wipe the sweat off his brow. The heat had left him working in just his undershirt, blonde hair looking a little messy. He looked younger when he smiled at you.

“I don’t mind,” he said, stretching his arms. “What kind of hero would I be if I didn’t help where I could?”

And that made you smile.

You stopped calling anyone else for help because Steve was always there.

Then one day, he brought over groceries. “Figured you might need a few things,” he said, placing the bags on your counter. “Got your favorite tea, too.”

You didn’t even remember telling him what your favorite tea was.

You admit it was strange, but sweet. And convenient.

Then he started staying a little longer each time. He didn’t just fix things- he asked about your day, sat at your kitchen table, drank a cup of coffee as if he’d always been meant to be there. He looked so big in your house. Those wide shoulders, designed to carry every worry in the world without drooping.

He asked about your favorite movies. Before you knew it, he was sitting on your couch watching them with you. “Can’t believe you love this one,” he had laughed, shaking his head at some romantic comedy, but he stayed until the credits rolled. Though sharing your couch felt foreign now. Steve large frame taking up so much of it, the weight of him so close making his presence hard to ignore.

He laughed when you offhandedly mentioned never getting around to organizing your bookshelves. “That’s a crime,” he said, shaking his head. “C’mon, let’s fix it.”

Before you knew it, you were spending an evening rearranging your books, the two of you sitting on the floor as he handed you novels, asking which ones were your favorites. And you answered. You wanted to answer.

But the feeling didn’t last.

There was something creeping at the edges of your mind, a guilt that gnawed at the easy comfort of the moment. You shouldn't have felt this way. Steve was a friend. He was kind, thoughtful, patient. You should have been excited, grateful even, to have him there, filling the empty spaces of your home with warmth. And yet, something about it felt wrong. Like a slow, creeping weight pressing down on your chest.

You smiled when he laughed at a book title, but it was tight, forced. You answered his questions, but there was a hesitation beneath the words, an uncertainty you couldn’t quite explain.

Then, it happened.

Steve reached for a book on the lowest shelf, fingers brushing over its spine before plucking it out and flipping it open. Your stomach clenched at the sight of it in his hands.

Before you even realized what you were doing, you snatched it from him, holding it protectively against your chest. The movement was too fast, too sharp, the air between you suddenly tense.

Steve’s brows lifted in surprise, his expression shifting from confusion to quiet understanding. “Sorry,” he murmured.

“No, I- ” you exhaled, fingers curling around the worn cover. You wanted to explain, wanted to tell him why it mattered, why the sight of it in his hands had sent panic clawing up your throat. But all you could manage was a weak, “That was from him, my copy of his favourite...”

Your thumb brushed over the faded inscription inside the front cover, a familiar loop of handwriting that you had long since memorized. A gift. A memory. One of the few things you still had left.

Steve was silent for a moment, watching you with something unreadable in his gaze before he spoke. “Sometimes it’s good to hold onto things.” His voice was gentle, steady. But then he tilted his head, his tone shifting into something quieter, something coaxing. “But if holding onto it is hurting you… maybe you need to let it go.”

You swallowed hard. You should have agreed. Should have nodded, should have told him he was right. But instead, you just hugged the book a little closer, unable to meet his gaze.

How were you supposed to let go of the only person that-

"I'm tired, maybe we should do this in a few more days.." Your voice strained under the effort to keep from-  Screaming? Crying? Pleading to let you have one more moment with the person who was supposed to still be there?

"Sure, it's been a long day. I'll see myself out." Something in Steve's tone of understanding hurt just the same as the ache in your chest. It wasn’t irritation, or even disappointment- it was patience, unnervingly so. Like he already knew you’d come around.

Damned if you did, damned if you didn’t.

"See you at the meeting on Wednesday." You nodded, pushing your hair behind your ears, still not looking up from the spot on the floor. The door closed behind Steve, the weight of it settling over you like an iron curtain. The silence was suffocating, pressing in on your chest until the tears came.

You sat there for a long time, clutching the book to your chest like a lifeline. How long had it been since you'd let yourself cry? Not just tears slipping down your cheeks, but really cry? It was a quiet, hollow thing- muffled against your palm as if making noise might make it worse. Might make it real. ~#~#~#~

It was guilt that made you do it, the decision to start moving forward. Or maybe it was exhaustion. You should have been doing things yourself. You’d started looking up YouTube videos, even considered a home maintenance course being run at the YMCA. You saw the flyer pinned up at the community center after the support group, but you left quickly before Steve could come over. A few blocks away, you pulled over and cried, your hands gripping the steering wheel until your knuckles turned white. Why was this so hard? Why did it feel so awful?

Every time you tried to move forward, something pulled you back. It wasn’t just the grief- it was the weight of change itself. Fixing a leaking sink wasn’t just fixing a leaking sink; it was admitting he was never coming back to do it for you. Learning to patch drywall or unclog a drain wasn’t just about self-sufficiency; it was proof that you were alone. Really, truly alone.

You sat there in your parked car, head resting against the wheel, eyes burning with unshed tears. Maybe you were making a mistake. Maybe Steve was right. Maybe you weren’t ready for this. But wasn’t that the point? You had to start somewhere. If you didn’t, you were afraid you never would.

“I should start doing things myself again,” you told him one afternoon when he’d popped by to help clean the windows with you. The words felt unnatural on your tongue, hesitant, like you were bracing for impact. You weren’t sure how he was going to take it. He’d done so much for you. You should have been grateful- Captain America was being such a good friend. But then why did it feel like you needed permission to say it?

Instead of arguing, Steve smiled, his expression easy, unreadable. “I admire that, I do. But those courses- sometimes they teach you things that don’t really apply to real-world problems. Some of them are just theory, not actual skill-building. Hope it’s not a waste of time and money. Some of those things are basically scams, you know.”

The way he said it made you pause. Maybe he was right. It was expensive. And what if you didn’t even end up using half the things they taught? Still, it felt like something you should be doing. Life had to start moving on didn't it? That was almost the mantra in the support group. 

You faltered, the certainty you’d held onto slipping just slightly. Steve took a step closer, his voice dropping into something softer, reassuring. “I think it’s great that you want to do more for yourself, sweetheart. I really do. But you don’t have to prove anything to me. I already know how capable you are.”

His words curled around you like a warm blanket, soothing, familiar. And just like that, doubt crept in, snaking through your resolve.

And just like that, you doubted yourself. You'd never needed this skill, didn't want these skills. It felt so final.. 

It was a slow, creeping thing. The way confidence melted under the weight of Steve's certainty. "It takes a village."  The way your plans, so solid just moments ago, suddenly felt... unnecessary.

The idea of fixing things alone didn’t feel quite so good anymore.

And Steve-

Steve was just happy to help.

And weren't you supposed to be building an new network, people to rely on? Moving forward together? 

[heliosunny]

Bidding for trouble

Yandere!Sugilite x Assistant!Reader

Working under Sugilite was nothing short of an experience. It wasn’t the workload that drained you, no, you had handled more demanding jobs before transferring to his department. It was the way he worked. His approach was... unconventional at best, completely insane at worst.

And today?

Today might just take the cake.

“You’ve got to be kidding me…”

With a deep sigh, you set the paperwork down on his desk, rubbing your temples as if that would somehow soothe the headache forming.

Across from you, Sugilite leaned back in his chair, sipping his coffee with the usual, infuriating calmness. He had allowed you to be more casual with him—something few employees in the Strategic Investment Department could claim. But at this moment, you weren’t sure if that was a privilege or a curse.

“Unfortunately, I’m not” he said smoothly, placing his cup down with a soft clink.

Just moments ago, he had casually explained his new plan to deal with a planet in deep financial debt to the IPC. A plan that, for some ungodly reason, involved you.

“I have to be auctioned? Seriously?” You gave him an incredulous look, half-expecting him to say this was all some elaborate joke. “Boss… don’t tell me you’re already tired of me. Even so, don’t sell me like that.”

That earned a full, unrestrained laugh from him. A rare sight.

Sugilite was usually composed, his amusement measured, but you?

You always managed to catch him off guard. It was part of the reason he kept you around, despite the constant back-and-forth.

After all, work was far less dull with you in it.

“Who said I’m going to do that?” he said between chuckles. “You’re my precious employee. Just follow my orders.”

“But—”

“No but.” He waved a hand dismissively, already moving the conversation along. “Besides, what makes you think I’d sell you off to someone else?”

You hesitated. “Well… a few colleagues of mine said I’ll soon move under Opal—”

Sugilite nearly choked on his coffee.

“Okay, stop right there” he cut in sharply, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand.

You blinked.

“You can go home now.”

“But—”

“If you say one more word, I’ll cut your salary.”

That was enough to send you bolting for the door, offering a quick bow before making your escape. As soon as you were gone, Sugilite let out a long sigh, pinching the bridge of his nose.

Opal? Seriously? The nerve of those gossiping employees.

He wasn’t about to let that happen.

The Strategic Investment Department wasn’t known for taking the most ethical approach to problem-solving. But when it came to Sugilite, the term ethical might as well be optional.

Which explained why, after days of preparation, you now found yourself standing in the center of a lavishly decorated auction hall, as one of the items up for sale.

Sugilite’s plan was simple: infiltrate the underground elite of this debt-ridden planet by letting you play the role of an “exclusive product.” You would be the bait, drawing out the highest bidders—corrupt politicians, shady financiers, and the type of people the IPC wanted under control. Meanwhile, he would work from the outside, pulling the necessary strings to ensure the debt was paid back in full—in ways the bidders wouldn’t like.

And at first, it all went smoothly.

Sugilite played his role perfectly, making business deals, exposing financial fraud, and manipulating the planet’s economy in real time. He always had a sharp tongue and sharper instincts, and as you watched from your designated position in the auction lineup, you knew this planet’s leaders were already falling into his hands.

The moment his name was announced in the VIP section, the entire hall fell silent.

Then came whispers.

Nervous murmurs.

Everyone knew the IPC didn’t just send high-ranking officials to small, struggling planets without reason.

Sugilite took advantage of that fear, leaning back in his seat as if he owned the place already.

It was going well.

Until it wasn’t.

Sugilite expected you to be exactly where he left you.

But when the auction’s proceedings finally wrapped up and the planet’s debts were effectively handed over to IPC control, he turned to retrieve you—

And you were gone.

His eyes darkened, the casual amusement from earlier draining from his expression as he turned to one of his men.

“Find them. Now.”

The operative hesitated for only a second before scrambling to follow orders.

Sugilite tapped his fingers against his chair’s armrest, gaze sharp as he considered the possibilities.

Had someone figured out who you really were?

Had they seen through the plan?

Or—

His jaw tightened. Or had someone decided they wanted to keep you for themselves?

That thought did not sit well with him at all.

One way or another, he would track you down. And when he did, whoever dared to take what was his would regret it.

Your Perspective

You should have expected this. From the moment Sugilite suggested this insane plan, you knew things would go sideways at some point. You just thought you’d at least get a warning before that happened.

But, here you were—bound at the wrists, being dragged through dimly lit corridors by a man whose breath smelled like stale liquor.

“Didn’t think I’d be getting such a prize tonight” the bidder sneered, his grip tightening as he shoved you forward. “You were supposed to be mine from the start, but then that damn IPC agent had to get in the way.”

This guy had tried to bid on you earlier in the night, but Sugilite’s very presence had sent him and others into a panic, forcing him to back off. He must have gotten desperate.

You glared at him. “You really think you’re going to get away with this?”

The man scoffed. “You think the IPC cares about a single—”

A low beeping sound cut him off.

He frowned, reaching into his coat to pull out his comm device. The moment he glanced at the screen, his face paled.

CRASH. The wall exploded inward.

Dust and debris filled the air as a figure emerged from the wreckage, stepping through as if he had all the time in the world.

Sugilite’s Perspective

It took less than ten minutes for his men to track your last known location. And only five more for him to personally break through the underground facility’s defenses.

The moment Sugilite spotted you—alive, unharmed, but bound like a prize, his usual easygoing demeanor vanished.

“Ah… Boss!!” you coughed, waving at him weakly through the dust. “You’re early.”

He ignored you.

His gaze locked onto the pathetic excuse of a man still holding onto you, now trembling like a leaf.

“I—It’s a misunderstanding,” the man stammered. “I—”

Sugilite’s smile was slow, but there was nothing kind about it. “You know,” he said, taking a deliberate step forward, “I really hate when people try to take what’s mine.”

The man barely had time to scream before Sugilite grabbed him by the throat and slammed him into the wall.

You winced.

Someone was definitely dying tonight.

The man barely had time to sputter out another excuse before Sugilite lifted him higher, letting his weight dangle uselessly.

“You really thought this was a good idea?” Sugilite’s fingers pressed down with a slow, deliberate force, just enough to watch the bastard’s face turn shades of red.

“P-Please—!” the man choked out, clawing at Sugilite’s wrist.

Sugilite tilted his head, watching with mild amusement before sighing. He was already bored.

“Not even a minute, and you’re already begging?” His grip tightened. “Disappointing.”

“Boss” your voice cut in. “Maybe don’t kill him immediately? I’d rather not be classified as collateral damage.”

Sugilite flicked a glance at you, taking in your disheveled state, the dust clinging to your clothes, the slight tension in your shoulders. You were fine, but that didn’t change the fact that someone had dared to lay hands on you.

His grip tightened further.

You groaned. “C’mon, at least let me get out of the blast radius before you commit murder.”

Sugilite chuckled.

“Fair enough.”

And with that, he slammed the man into the ground hard enough to crack the concrete. The body twitched but didn’t move again.

Sugilite rolled his shoulders, satisfied, before turning his full attention to you. “Now, onto more important things.” His eyes scanned you from head to toe, sharp as ever. “Did he hurt you?”

You exhaled. “Not really. Just manhandled a bit.”

He nodded, then reached out, far too gently for a man who had just nearly crushed someone’s windpipe, to untie the bindings on your wrists himself. His fingers grazed your skin briefly, lingering for a second longer than necessary before pulling away.

“You really had me running around, you know” he said, stuffing his hands back into his coat pockets.

You huffed. “It’s not like I planned to get kidnapped.”

“Mm.” He tilted his head slightly, his gaze unreadable. “Maybe I should’ve raised you higher at auction. Then no one would’ve dared to touch you.”

You blinked. “That is not the takeaway here.”

Sugilite only smiled, his amusement evident as he gestured toward the exit. “C’mon, let’s go before the rest of the idiots show up.”

Later – Back at IPC Headquarters

You were so close to clocking out for the day.

But of course, Sugilite had other plans.

“You’re not going home yet” he announced as soon as you reached your desk.

You stared at him, tired beyond belief. “Why?”

“You still have paperwork to fill out.” He smirked. “You were technically ‘purchased’ tonight. We have to make sure you’re properly ‘returned.’”

You dropped your head onto your desk with a loud thud. Sugilite laughed.

At least one of you was having fun.

[part 2] [Valentine]

[buuniebaby]

you and hamzah going round FOR round

NOTHING WITHOUT YOU. 🎀

includes: cute fluff at the start -> turns to v much rough sex. spanking, choking, slight degrading he gets a lil mean.. mentions of semi public sex

wc: 3.4k

back from vacation! hope u all enjoy 💖

there’s an overwhelming aura floating around the crowded house, and it’s draining the life out of you and your boyfriend.

neither of you are really the most social people in general, which is why it probably wasn’t the greatest idea to attend a family get-together with your side - the biggest yappers you know. you think you’re starting to see faces blur together as you continue to awkwardly smile, not paying attention to the conversation you’ve been dragged into.

you feel a wide hand slide just beneath your midriff, and you don’t need to look to know who it belongs too. you’ve already fixated enough on hamzah’s presence: the way he touches you, his smell, his breathing. his proximity makes you calm down a bit, exhaustion beginning to melt off your shoulders.

you shift your attention from the conversation back to your boyfriend, looking up at him from over your shoulder while his arms are wrapped around your waist. he gives you a look of reassurance, and you can tell already that he’s thinking the same thing you are.

“i think we might head out now.” he murmurs, voice soothing and soft. you smile up at him - a way to thank him for saving you from awkward social interactions - a much more genuine smile than the forced one you’ve had this whole time.

after saying your goodbyes, he walks you out with a protective arm around you. he stays like that until you two reach the car, and the subtle touch makes your heart jump to your throat.

he drives, hand softly pressed against your thigh, and you pull small talk out of him. you’ve found that throughout your whole relationship, that he just doesn’t happen to be a big talker. not that he doesn’t want to; he has things to say, he just doesn’t know how to unless you give him the opportunity. It’s the total opposite to how he is on camera, rambling and joking around with martin. he’s told you that he still gets nervous around you sometimes, even after months of dating, meeting your parents and literally moving in together - it’s endearing to you.

it’s a relatively far drive from where the two of you reside. not far enough that you’d ever have to spend the night away or anything, but far enough that you have to pee and he has to get gas. you’re running to the bathroom around the side of the building, and it really looks like you could get a disease or something back here, but your urge to piss is worse than whatever you could possibly be contracting.

you’re reminded how good he treats you when you find your way back to the car, only to see that hamzah’s grabbed you your favorite candy and a dr. pepper.

“thank you, baby.” you smile, genuinely greatful for the way he takes care of you. “so sweet to me.”

“only for you.” is all he replies back, voice deep and soft. you like moments like this, when you do things for each other without thinking. it lets you know he really cares.

his hand stays on your thigh for the entirety of the drive back. you’re arriving back at your place before you know it, fishing the house keys out of your pocket, freezing when you feel his hands run over your shoulder blades, traveling down to your waist. you’ve noticed how touchy he’s been with you all day. he’s been busy the past week, working on podcast stuff and getting the new studio situated - you guys haven’t had sex in almost two weeks. poor boy is probably pent up.

you’re wandering into your shared bed the moment the door is opened, falling into it face-first. hamzah follows you, snuggling in next to you. you feel his palm caress your back softly, feeling up your body.

“been missing you.” hamzah mutters. it’s enough to get you to lift your head off of the bed, unable to tell if he means it in an “i want to fuck you” way or an “i wanna cuddle and watch a movie with you” kind of way.

“hmm?” you say, tilting your head, shuffling to his side of the bed. hamzah eyes you up and down for a second, pursing his lips.

“c’mere.” he mumbles, patting his lap twice. you follow his commands, sitting between his thighs, hands balancing you out on his biceps. “atta girl.” he murmurs under his breath as his hands trace down your body, feeling up your ass specifically.

he’s kissing you before you know it, nothing slow and sweet like he normally is. it’s needy, desperate even, and it makes you feel weak. he’s pulling you as close as he can as your lips press up against each others, pinning you into place.

“missed you really fucking bad.” he says, same comment as last time, but more desperation in it. if it isn’t obvious already, you’ve come to the conclusion that he means it in an “i want to fuck you” way.

a hand creeps down under the softness of your hoodie (actually, his hoodie, which is one of many that you’ve stolen), pushing it up over your head and leaving you in just a lacy bra and nike pro shorts - the ones you know he likes because of the way it shows off your body.

he kisses you again, hard and deep, licking into your mouth like he’s never tasted anything better. he’s pulling away not soon after, one hand on your waist, the other trying to pull your bra off. he’s a little too far gone, struggling to yank it off as fast as he can, so you help him by unclipping it.

he stares as it comes off, groaning at the sight. he loves your tits, you’ve noticed, always taking time to play with them or suck on them like he’s a baby during foreplay. he’s already kneading a hand into one of them, sucking on the other hard enough to bruise. there’s teeth and tongue and it’s messy and wet - exactly how he likes it. you grind your hips against him a little, realizing how hard he’s gotten from just this, and giggle. it gives you an ego boost, how obsessed he is with your body.

“you don’t understand how bad- fuck.” he pauses when your hips meet his again. “how badly i wanted to fuck you.”

“yeah?” you smirk, voice smooth, yet still sounding almost as gone as he is.

“yeah.” he says, gripping onto your waist, slamming your clothed hips down onto his with a groan. “when i was looking at that studio with martin- he had to leave early, and i kept thinking about you.” he rambles, stuttering a bit as you grind into him. “fucking- got so hard- came all over my hand in the bathroom.” he groans. your eyes widen, blushing a little when what he just said hit you. he jerked off.. in public.. to you.

that’s.. really fucking hot.

you’re so turned on and it must show in your face, because hamzah is picking you up already. your instinct is to straddle him, wrapping your legs around him koala-style, but before you can move he throws you down onto the bed. big hands grip your thighs as he spreads your legs apart, pulling down your shorts and panties all in one swoop. he throws the shorts away, but keeps the panties. there’s a pause for a second, and you look up at him, confused.

“wanna make sure you stay quiet.” he mutters, breathy. he gets on top of you, arms pinning you down from each side, and then shoves your thong into your mouth.

fuck.

you can taste yourself on it, dripping with wetness from how badly you want him. he only smirks at you from above, then moves down, face to face with your pussy.

“stay quiet for me, okay?” is all he says before he’s diving in, mouth on your clit. you can’t help but moan at the sinful feeling through his makeshift gag. plus, you know that there might be a consequence to being noisy - which is exactly what you want right now.

his tongue is wide as he laps at your pussy, two fingers entering you before you know it. another loud moan gets him to stop for a second, biting down on your thigh. it’s like a warning, letting you know you’re on thin ice.

he wraps his strong arms around your thighs before he’s lapping up at you again, sucking at your clit while he curls his fingers up into you.

he slaps your thigh this time when you moan, and it only makes you louder - his last straw.

you whimper when he stops and stands up, watching as he pulls down his shorts and takes his cock out of his boxers. he positions his thighs so that they’re surrounding your shoulders, and he rips your panties out of your mouth. he strokes his cock with them for a second, speaking as he does it.

“if you don’t shut the fuck up-“ he pauses, groaning, “I’ll do it for you.”

your eyes widen. he’s getting mean, and you like it.

“mm?” is all you can say, pushing him to get meaner. he throws the panties to the side, then rubs his cock against your lips, now closed. his precum makes them glossy and shiny.

“so now you shut your mouth?” he says, cocky. it’s what he does next that really shocks you - a large hand comes down on your face, slapping you against the cheek.

“fucking open up.” is what he commands, and god you listen. his cock immediately goes all the way down your throat, a hand gripping at your hair.

“made me wait, so fuckin’ long- and this is how you treat me when i finally get to fuck you?” he growls, cock hitting the back of your throat again and again. you’re overwhelmed by the sensation of him using your mouth like it’s your pussy, barely giving you time to pull off and breathe, but god is it hot. his balls slap against your chin with each thrust, nose touching his thick pubic hair.

“fuckin’ choke on it- good girl.” he says, a finger playing with a loc of your hair. you love the way he praises you even when he’s being rough. at the end of the day, you’re still his princess.

his eyes flutter shut, hips stuttering and head rolling back when he cums, filling your mouth and making you choke. he pauses for a minute, cock sensitive, moaning at the feeling of you swallowing. there’s a long string of a spit and cum mixture that trails out of your mouth when he pulls out, coating your chin. he uses his dick to smear it around a little, making a mess. you smile, dizzy.

he stares at you in a haze, placing a soft kiss on your lips - he’s as sweet as he is rough.

“still wanna fuck you,” he whispers in your ear, voice deep and raspy. “until i’m fucking cumming dry.” god, the way he talks to you is so fucking hot.

he’s manhandling you again, flipping you over onto your stomach. you think he gets an ego boost from the way he can just grab you and throw you around. you’re not complaining either, to be fair; it’s hot.

you stick your ass up in the air, arching your back, knowing the sight is gonna turn him on. your thoughts are confirmed when you hear him groan, spreading the cheeks out to see your pretty pussy leak for him. he grabs his cock, sliding the tip against your folds, being careful not to slip in with how wet you are. you look back at him from behind, biting your lip and making eye contact.

“you look like a braindead fucking slut right now.” he says, out of nowhere. it’s dirty, a gross way to talk about you, but god does it make you wetter. he leans down, planting kisses on your neck, before wrapping his hands around your throat.

he’s sliding his cock in while he chokes you, and if your throat wasn’t already cooked from all the face-fucking earlier, it definitely is now. the stretch feels good for both of you; you know by the way he’s already setting a fast pace.

you can barely speak from the way he’s taking your breath away, from both the choking and the way he’s pounding into you, but you manage to choke out a strangled “hit me.”

you’re craving the roughness, and it makes him fucking feral. before you know it a hand is coming down on your ass, smacking you while his hips do the same. he continues until your ass is bright red, taking pride in the way he knows it’s gonna be bruised.

he moves his hand from your ass to your hair, gripping at the ends of it. your head is pulled back, accentuating the arch of your back, and it only makes his pace faster.

your hips are grinding against his, feeling your insides squeeze around him. your clit meets his hips each time he thrusts into you, and god, does it feel good. your vision spots as you feel your pussy flutter around him, and before you know it you’re cumming around his cock.

he pulls out moments after your orgasm, but you know he isn’t done with you yet. he flips you around and kisses you, picking you up by the ass and lifting you into his arms. your legs wrap around him instinctively, kissing him even deeper.

his hands move from your ass to the backs of your thighs, and you’re in awe of how he’s even capable of holding you up like this. you jolt as you feel him slam your back against the wall, and all of a sudden he’s holding you up against it with just a single hand. god, he’s so fucking strong.

he used the other hand to stroke himself (barely) before he pushes his cock back into you, both hands moving to your body. he thrusts into you, pinned up against his wall. his head nuzzles into the crook of your neck, adding more than a few hickies. he likes to claim you like that, show everybody that you’re his. as much as it is scandalous, he fucking loves it when you show up on the podcast or in a video with hickies; he wants everyone to know that you’re his baby.

“h-hamzah,” you whine, overstimulated by the way he fucks your sensitive pussy even after your orgasm.

“yeah baby?” he asks, voice breathy as he thrusts into you, keeping his rapid pace.

“want you to cum inside me- fuck- so ffucking bad. don’t care if you get me pregnant.” you cry out, feeling his dick twitch inside you at his words.

and fuck, that does something to hamzah’s brain. hypothetically, he knows that probably isn’t a good idea, but god does the thought of it make him feel fucking feral. he decides between it for a few seconds in his head, before going with the option of “fuck it, we can get plan b after.”

you feel the drags of his cock inside you slow down, the “plap” sound of his thrusts getting deeper and louder, and suddenly your insides are warm and wet, being filled up by hamzah’s hot cum.

he takes a second to breathe, hands shaking a bit, but doesn’t pull out. you wrap your hands around his neck, keeping yourself upright. he’s already moving, cock still inside you - you give him a confused look as he opens the door and brings you out to the kitchen.

he grabs onto your thighs, picking you up and pulling you off his cock. he sits you right down on the kitchen counter, and suddenly you know exactly what he’s trying to do.

he crouches down onto the floor, getting on his knees. he’s face-to-face with the counter now, and about to be face-to-face with your cunt as he grabs your hips and pulls them to his mouth.

you expect him to dive in again, tear you apart, but he takes a different route. he spreads your lips apart with his fingers, gently thumbing your clit. you watch him, staring at your pussy, still sort of confused, until his cum begins to drip out of you.

he latches on to your pussy, licking at every drop of cum leaking out of you. not only does it feel good, but they way he’s lapping at his cum mixed with your juices is really, really fucking hot. you reach a hand down to your own pussy, rubbing yourself while he eats you out.

he continues until he’s nearly licked you dry and you’ve both settled after the intensity of the last few rounds. he kisses you, softly. it’s different from the rough tone of before, more like a “thank you” kiss.

he rests his head on your shoulder, leaving soft kisses over the deep red hickies he had left before. a soft hand massages your back, and you hear him whisper.

“think you can do one more?”

a blush creeps onto your cheeks at the question. you’ve never gone this long before, but the idea of fucking while still extra sensitive from the overstimulation is a lot more tempting than it should be. you smirk, deciding that you’re up for it.

“as long as you cum inside again.” is all you have to say before he’s lifting you up again, throwing you down onto the couch. he crawls on top of you, placing calloused hands on your small hips.

“all I have to do is touch you, and you’re already sounding so fucking pretty for me.” he mumbles when he hears the soft noises that come out of your mouth. he latches onto your collarbone, leaving more marks before he shoves his face into your titties. he’s such a fucking fiend, it makes you giggle a little.

you buck your hips up, too horny to be embarrassed by the moan you let out from him simply sucking on your nipple. a hand suddenly comes down on your pelvis, hard. you try to roll your hips, but his strong grip keeps you in place.

“gonna fucking break you.” he says, and god you need him more now than you ever have before. you watch him grip his cock in his hand, hard as a rock. your hips roll up for him, and he can’t help but force his cock into you with one big, long thrust.

“fuck- hamzah-“ you say, blood rushing to your head. he’s kept his hand on your lower half this whole time, pushing low on the place where his cock bulges against skin in your stomach, and god he’s so fucking big and it’s so sexy.

he’s pounding into you, fat cock twitching inside you and you can’t help but already feel a burning heat in your stomach, clenching hard around him.

“hamzah!” you nearly scream, the coil snapping in your stomach. you feel yourself drench his dick in your juices, pulsing around him - like a chain reaction, it only makes him cum even harder inside you, spilling his seed into your insides.

he rides out his orgasm, collapsing next to you. heavy breathing, he brushes a hand through his messy curls. he does that thing where he nuzzles his head in your neck again, and you lean into the touch, playing with his hair. you kiss him on the forehead, trying to convey all the love you felt in that moment to him.

he looks up at you, soft. it’s almost submissive; you can see the love in his eyes.

“you okay?” you ask, making sure he’s not dissociating too badly.

he nods. “can I- can- can you kiss me?” he mumbles, causing you to melt a little bit at the softness. you pull him in for a soft kiss, moving slowly. you savor the taste of him in the moment, taking it all in.

“love you.” he mutters as he pulls away. “sorry if i was like- too rough. I don’t wanna actually hurt you, I just like, stop thinking when i get a certain amount of horny, it’s like-“

you cut off his rambling with a kiss, smiling against his lips.

“you’re fine.” you giggle. “it was hot anyways.”

[gothamite-rambler]

Bruce Wayne sat in bed, awake, counting sheep, currently at five hundred.

Bruce (gritted teeth): 501 stupid sheep, 502 stupid sheep, 503 stupid sheep... Who came up with counting sheep? This doesn’t work!

Hatman (Australian accent): The repetition and countin' make you bored and annoyed enough to fall asleep. Doesn’t work for everybody.

Bruce looked around his room, darkness surrounding him until he saw a tall shadowy figure wearing a wide-brimmed black fedora.

Bruce (stammering, confused): Who… what… who are you?

Hatman: Me? I’m the Hat Man!

Bruce blinked a few times, checked his pulse, slapped himself in the face, and confirmed three times that he was still awake. The hat man waved with his shadowy hand.

Bruce (of all the things he could ask): How are you talking when you're just shadows?

The hat man’s shadow shrugged. Bruce decided that asking questions about how a shadowy man wearing a fedora with a Kiwi accent was real was rather pointless, especially since he was living in Gotham, knew Constantine, and was friends with Zatanna.

Bruce (asking instead): Why are you in my room?

Hatman: I invade people’s rooms and stand in one spot to scare 'em. I’ve been followin' ya for a few years. Ya just haven’t seen me 'til now, so that’s nice.

Bruce (raising an eyebrow): Nice is an odd word to use in this situation. When did you… first appear in my life?

Hatman: Remember wettin' the bed 'til ya were thirteen?

Bruce (mortified): Yes.

Hatman: I started around that time, and ya got used to avoidin' sleep and probably thought I was in ya head. I usually like to feast on people being scared of me, it’s a tasty little meal, but ya always intrigued me.

Bruce: Seeing as my sleep is worse than an insomniac’s, I could understand that. Plus, I’m Batman.

Hatman: Wow, you do say that as a defense. Let me try, why do I like to stand in the darkness of a room? I’m the Hat Man.

Bruce (approving nod): It works.

Hatman: Thanks!

Bruce: No problem… Fedora Man. Um, are you going to attack me or drain my life force? Because I’m not in the mood for that.

Hatman: Nah, that’s not what I do. I just stand here.

Hatman cleared his 'throat'.

Bruce: That’s it?

Hatman: Yeah… and scare people, feast on your fears and nightmares. Most of that is caused by me standin' here. I’ll head out in a few minutes.

Bruce (accepting this, since it’s not the worst thing he’s dealt with): Yeah, okay. I owe Clark a hundred bucks. Are you one of those sleep paralysis demons?

Hatman: Mmm. Yeah and no.

Bruce: And I owe Diana two hundred bucks and a phone. Thanks for that.

Hatman: Hey, mate, it’s not my fault ya made poor bets. Mind if I ask some questions that’ve been on my mind?

Bruce: Questions from a shadow formed into a guy wearing a fedora? Sure, go ahead.

Hatman: Did ya hear McDonald’s brought back the chicken tenders?

Bruce: I had no idea. I don’t usually eat at McDonald’s. Some of my kids, who I hope you’re not haunting, enjoy that fast food. Are they good? I… asked the man with no mouth.

Hatman: One of my clients has been eating them like crazy. Says they’re the best. I won’t disclose if your kids are ones I watch.

Bruce: One of them looks similar to me, with a white streak in his hair.

Hatman: Jason? Yeah! He tried shootin' me once, nice kid, otherwise.

Bruce: Good to know. Got any other questions?

Hatman: Do they actually make the mcnuggets from pink slime?

Bruce (resigned to having a bizarre conversation): No, that’s a rumor. McNuggets are gross to me, but most of it’s real chicken.

Hatman: You would look down on McNuggets, rich kid.

Bruce: That’s not... Why does everyone say that? I like certain items on the artery-clogging menu, the nuggets aren't one of them. I can’t believe I’m having this conversation, but the tenders were actually pretty good when they were first on the menu.

Hatman: Yeah, mate. Try them when you go and tell me what you think.

Bruce: I will, possibly remember that... Hat Man. How much time do you have left?

Hatman: Five minutes. This has been cool chattin' with you. You’re just as interestin' as I hoped.

Bruce (prideful tone) That’s to be expected. Any other questions?

Hatman (talking quickly): A few that you can answer quickly, Batmite?

Bruce: Finally left me alone.

Hatman: Selina or Talia?

Bruce: Selina, but I did love Talia.

Hatman: Does that clown fellow know ya Batman?

Bruce: Yes, but he pretends I don’t know he does.

Hatman: What’s your favorite thing in the Star Wars films?

Bruce (eager): Okay, this is complex, I can explain in the next five minutes.

[fandombandomfics]

If I Killed Someone For You? (Salesman x female!reader)

Y/N’s POV 

My boyfriend…he isn’t the most conventional person. When he told me what he does for a living, I was taken aback. He recruits people who are in an insane amount of debt to play ddajki to win money. When they play enough rounds, he gives them a card to play in the Squid Games. I didn’t like the idea, didn’t really talk to him for a few days to process what he said. It has been a few days since I saw him, now we are grabbing dinner together since his work is done. 

“Recruiting done?” I ask, as I sip my wine. He nods, taking a sip from his own glass. His black hair slicked back as usual. His brown eyes gaze into mine, looking exhausted yet still put together. 

“Yeah finally, it’s always draining this time of year,” He says and I nod. Yeah sending people to their deaths. 

“I’m sure it is…glad it’s over,” I say 

“Yeah I get to spend time with my favorite girl,” He says with a soft smile. I smile back and give him a small nod. 

“Gong Yoo, do you feel guilty about what you do?” I ask and the tension in the air increases. He stops mid cut of his steak and slowly raises his eyes to look at me. 

“Oh sweetheart, I don’t,” He says, a glint going over his eyes. Something in his eyes changed, something….dangerous. 

“You don’t feel an ounce of guilt?” I ask, seeing the look in his eyes not changing. He smirks at me and leans back into his chair. 

“Those pathetic human beings went into debt themselves, I simply just gave them a nudge,” He explains and I shift in my seat. Listen, knew my boyfriend was crazy but this is a whole new level. 

“They are still human being,” I say and he scoffs. 

“Listen here darling,” He starts, getting up from his chair and walks over to me.  As if he is a predator about to pounce on his next meal.

“Those humans are in such debt they won’t be able to pay it off in their lifetime. I simply gave them an opportunity to pay it off,” He explains further, cupping my face with his hands. 

“By sending them to their deaths,” I say plainly. He chuckles, the glint in his eyes becoming darker as he continues to speak.

“That’s simply up to them,” He emphasizes the last part with his dramatic change in tone. He tightens his grip on my face slightly, making sure I have no choice but to look at him. 

“How can you be so ok with it?” I ask and he chuckles, a dark menacing chuckle. 

“Oh darling, you knew who you were getting involved with when we started dating,” He says, his tone dropping low and rough. I look up at him, my eyes gazing into his. The look in his eyes was a mix of lust, love, and contemptment. How can he be so content in being compliant in their deaths?

Later that night 

As I get ready for bed, my conversation with Gong plays in my head. The look in his eyes, the chuckle, it’s all coming back to me. I sigh as I finish doing my nighttime routine. When I exit the bathroom, Gong looks up from the book he was reading. 

“Ready for bed my love?” He asks and I nod, walking over to him. Before I could react, he throws me on the bed. My back hits the softness of the mattress as he hovers over me, pinning my arms down to the bed. 

“Gong what are you doing?” I ask. He studies my face, as if he was remembering every detail of it. 

“I need to ask you a question and answer me truthfully darling,” He says, caressing my cheek with his thumb. I nod, wondering what question he could possibly ask me.

“If I killed someone for you, would you love me more?” He asks and I’m taken aback by this question. 

“Gong I–,” “Answer the question,” He says, more like demands. The look in his eyes is telling me to answer him truthfully and quickly. My mind goes a million miles a minute, the more I find myself leaning towards the answer I never thought would ever leave my lips. 

“Yes…” I say and he grins, no more like smirks. 

“That's what I thought darling,” He says before capturing my lips into a heated kiss. I close my eyes and let myself get lost in the feeling of his lips on mine. He smirks against them before pulling away. 

“I’m taking my time with you tonight,” He says, his voice low and husky, I feel a shiver down my spin. Tonight is gonna be a long night. 

[jjkamochoso]

HI HI!!! Just wanted to let you know first that I LOVEEEEEE YOUR WRITINGGG🥹🥹!

if possible! Can I request a Gen Narumi x reader Angst to fluff please! (I’m a sucker for angst to fluff). If possible, I want the reader to be jealous/insecure/hurt that Gen likes/looks better with Rin Shinonome. Please end it with him comforting her and confessing to reader please 🥹🥹

Please keep up the good work! I’ll always support you 😆

ANON I AM SO IN LOVE WITH YOU I HOPE YOU KNOW THAT!!!!! Seriously you're so freaking sweet, thank you!! I hope you like what I've written for you, I appreciate the request and your patience! I, too, am a sucker for angst to fluff so this was a treat to write :)

I Gen-uinely Love You

Angst, Fluff

Gen Narumi x f!reader

Warnings: slight cussing

Your once warm breakfast had turned into a cold, mushy mess as it sat ignored for the past 10 minutes. Your attention was currently held elsewhere, somewhere much less pleasant than the delicious food in front of you. Gen Narumi and Rin Shinonome were deep in conversation at a table not far from yours. You were sure you looked pathetic, sitting by yourself and stealing glances at the two who were having a grand time together, smiling and laughing as if they were the only people in the dining hall. You had never seen Gen up this early without a video game in his hand and you desperately wanted to take the time to catch up with him, but Rin had beaten you to the punch, occupying the open seat next to the man who'd captured your heart many years ago. No one could deny that Rin was extremely beautiful; you were sure that Gen was very aware of how attractive she was, considering that she was leaning into his personal space without a care. You wished you could be that brazen with your desire to get closer to him, but every time confidence struck you, Rin somehow swooped in and took your chance at speaking with Gen away from you. It hurt for sure--you loved hanging out with the man, his silly personality never failing to make you laugh and his soulful eyes looking at yours as he gave you his attention. Even when he was preoccupied with gaming on his phone or handheld console, you never felt dismissed or like he didn't want you around. You thought you had a good thing going with him, but with Rin's sudden appearance by his side as he did, well, everything, you felt your chances at gaining Gen's affections were quickly draining. You took one bite of your neglected breakfast and immediately felt sick to your stomach. Clearing your tray, you all but ran out of the dining hall.

As a platoon leader, you took training very seriously. You had to be in tip top shape so you wouldn't let down your subordinates in battle. That was why you were currently sweating buckets in the training room, lifting weights after completing your cardio circuit earlier. You were motivated to keep working harder after seeing Gen spending most of his time with Rin the past month. It seemed like they were now joined at the hip with the way they were never too far from each other and that left a bad taste in your mouth. Rin was super pretty and extremely athletic; she looked the part to be standing by the side of someone like Gen.

That was another reason why you were training so hard.

You weren’t lacking muscles in any sense of the word, but you definitely weren’t on the same level as Rin. Even if you worked out all day, every day of the week, would you be able to catch up to her? Would you ever be able to surpass her? You fought down the bile that rose into your throat as you pressed the metal bar into your chest and back up into the air, finishing your set. You sat up, wiping your face with a clean towel. To your dismay, the door opened and in came Rin, her hair in a perfectly poised ponytail.

“L/n! Could you spot me for a few reps?”

Oh, how you wanted to so desperately say no.

“Sure,” you said through gritted teeth, your discomfort hopefully not noticeable. She piled the weights onto the metal bar and you all but dropped your jaw as you witnessed just how strong she really was. Lying on the bench, she got to work, pumping out flawlessly executed bench presses. Her toned arms were highlighted under the tight shirt she was wearing and you couldn’t help but stare at how gorgeous she looked. After a few rounds, she finally stopped, sitting up and taking a drink of water.

“My form was good, right?” she asked calmly, no indication in her voice that she was previously exercising.

“Yep. Perfect,” you squeaked out, not believing your eyes. Rin wasn’t out of breath or sweating—she didn’t even have a hair out of place. You groaned internally. There was no way you could compete with her.

“I’ve been trying to double down on my training so I can get even stronger. Captain Narumi and I have been giving each other advice on how to keep advancing in our exercise and it looks like what he told me really works.”

“So cool,” you said, trying your best to not scream in frustration.

“He’s amazing,” she continued. “It’s been great becoming as close to him as I have recently. He’s so strong, not to mention really attractive. Don’t you think?”

“Well, I-”

“I’ve been trying to keep up on my beauty regimen, too, so maybe I could have a chance at a date with him someday soon. If I keep getting stronger and prettier, there’s no way he could resist me!”

“I think you’re plenty strong and pretty already,” you grumbled, gathering your things. “Anyway, I really have to get going. Bye, Shinonome.”

She waved as you shut the door behind you. You quickly started your walk to the shared bath and shower facilities, eager to wash off the sweat and self conscious feelings you brought with you from the training room. You kept your head low, not wanting to interact with anyone you might be passing by in the hallway. Unfortunately for you, someone else wasn’t paying attention either and you bumped into them, a small “oof” coming from both parties at the impact.

“I’m so sorry!” you blurted out, raising your head, and your breath hitched in your throat.

“L/n! Hey! Long time no see,” said Gen, a soft smile appearing on his face when he met your eyes. You couldn’t have picked a worse time to literally run into him. You were sweaty, your hair was a mess, and you probably didn’t smell the greatest.

Gen would never see Rin in this horrendous state…

“Yes! Hi! Good to see you too! I’m sorry, I really have to go, I need to get to the bathroom,” you said, stepping away from him.

He tilted his head. “Are you… feeling okay?”

Embarrassment hit you like a freight train. “Oh! I didn’t mean it like that, I meant I have to wash off. I just finished training,” you explained, warmth flooding to your face. As if your day wasn’t bad enough before, now Gen probably thinks you’re an idiot.

“Good! I was worried there for a sec,” he told you, fingers tapping furiously at his phone screen. “So whatcha been up to? I miss hanging out with you, you’re the only one that laughs at my jokes.”

Rin doesn’t laugh at your jokes?

“No, she doesn’t,” he answered with a dry chuckle.

Fuck, I said that out loud?!

“She’s cool for sure,” he said, frowning slightly as his game came to an end, “but she can be super serious. I’ve noticed that more as we spend time together.”

“Shinonome likes you a lot, you know,” you said, a subtle sadness coating your words. “She admires you and your strength. She’s a real catch, Narumi. Beautiful, athletic, intelligent. Anybody would be lucky to spend their time around her.”

“I suppose so,” he muttered, looking deep in thought. As much as you hated the thought of losing Gen, you hated the thought of him not finding happiness more. It was time for you to let go of the man who was never within your reach in the first place.

“See you around, Captain,” you choked out, tears welling in your eyes as you made your escape from him. Leaving him confused and alone in the hallway, you ran away from the person you loved most.

Gen had no idea what had gotten into you. Normally you were excited to sit and talk with him, wasting precious hours of the day goofing off, but you seemed upset, though for what reason he hadn’t a clue. He hadn’t been spending time with you lately so maybe something happened at work that he didn’t know about? That couldn’t be it—he made sure to quietly keep tabs on you when you two didn’t cross paths. It must be a personal issue then. Those, he knew a lot about, and was surprisingly good at helping people work through. He was about to chase you down to have a deep conversation about what was bothering you, but he stopped in his tracks, thinking about your last exchanged words. Why did you keep mentioning Rin? You two didn’t dislike each other, but he knew you weren’t friends, so why did you keep bringing her up? Sure, he’d been finding himself in her company almost every day for a month, but that was her doing, not his. He liked Rin enough, but just as a friend. His heart had belonged to someone else for a long time, but he was never brave enough to confess his feelings.

…Oh.

You probably thought he was in love with Rin.

Gen’s eyes widened when the realization hit him.

“Shit,” he groaned to no one, smacking his palm to his face, “I really messed up.”

He racked his brain on what was the most rational thing to do next.

You let out a long sigh, submerging your body into the comforting water of the bath. Though you liked all your coworkers, it was nice being the only person in there so you could wallow in silence in the midst of your heartbreak-

“Y/n! Y/n! Are you in here? I need to talk to you!”

“Narumi? What are you doing in here?!” you exclaimed, sinking lower into the water to hide your unclothed body. You saw Gen��s shaggy hair peek into the room before he gingerly emerged a bit more, his hands covering over his eyes.

“This is the women’s bath room, you idiot,” you said, completely perplexed by his actions. “You need to leave before you get written up.”

You let out a shaky sigh, wishing to get lost in the hazy steam of mist surrounding you. “Besides, Shinonome isn’t here. She’s probably still training.”

“There you go again about Rin!” Gen sounded almost desperate as he spoke. “It’s not what you think. I’m not in love with her. She’s just a friend, that’s all.”

You were quiet for a few beats.

“Y/n, you’re still in here, right?”

“Yes, I’m still here.” You rolled your eyes. “But you shouldn’t be.”

“Didn’t you hear what I said?”

“Yes.”

“And?” he practically whined.

“And I’m wondering why you aren’t. In love with her, I mean.” Your voice came out softer than usual as you toyed with the water that was encompassing you.

“Because she’s not you.”

You were thankful you were already sitting or else your knees would’ve buckled from astonishment.

“What?” you whispered, still not believing what you had just heard.

“I’m in love with you, y/n. I have been for a ridiculously stupid amount of time. I don’t want you to feel pressured to feel the same or anything, especially after everything I didn’t mean to put you through the last month, but you deserved to know my true feelings.”

While you tried to calm your beating heart and compose your racing thoughts, Gen was busy rocking back and forth on his heels, waiting for your response.

“I hate to ask again, but are you still here or-?”

“Yes, Gen,” you laughed, making him breathe a whole ton easier, “I’m here. And I’m in love with you too.”

Even with his sleeves masking most of his face, you could still see him light up.

“Hell yeah!” he shouted, before becoming meek again. “Also, I’m very sorry for rushing in here but this was the best plan I could come up with at the time.”

“Running into a women’s bath to confess your love was the best plan the First Division’s captain could think of? I think a kaiju might come for your job,” you teased, seeing the light dusting of a blush color his cheeks.

“Just because I love you doesn’t mean I won’t tell you to shut up,” he grumbled, making you laugh again.

“Now, get out of here, you creep. I’ll kiss you when I’m dressed.”

Gen had never run so fast in his life!

[sturniolo04]

Can you do one where Madison is (15). And she has a bad day at school and all she wants is to lay on the couch next to her dad

A/n:  ofc! I absolutely love these requests I have coming in, you guys are amazing!! I hope you love it! And remember to leave requests in my inbox! If you don’t like the pre added name in my works you can simply put in your own or don’t read it, it up to you :)-Charli

dividers: @issysh3ll

Chris knew that Madison starting highschool was going to be diffcult just because kids are mean especially girl and he was fully prepared for those tough conversations should they had to be had.

Although madison seemed to be doing just fine she had couple of solid friends, she wasnt really talking to any guys which chris was estatic about and most of all she never appeared that she had bad days at school at all and that was only because she was really great at hiding it.

Today Madison couldnt hide it this time. Today was absolutely terrible for her. She was late to class. She ended up getting tripped falling flat on her face and on top of that she had started her period that morning so he had been emotional all day which didnt help considering there were people who despised her exsistent at school.

Madison walked into the house completely drained dropping the jeep keys in the car key holding next to the garage door sighing heading to her room to change into something more comfortable. She knew exactly what would cheer her up which was no one other than her dad.

"hey you"

chris greets her as she comes into the living room not saying a word which left chris a little confused. Madison raised his arm that was resting on his side up so she could lay down next to him with her head resting on his lap. Chris slowly lowers his hand resting it on her hip.

"dad i had a bad day"

she finally mumbles out as chris face softens him immediately setting his phone down on the couch next to him to gently comb his fingers through her hair to comfort her.

"aww mads im sorry do want to talk about it"

chris asks her softly.

"no"

madison sobs out feeling all the emotions hit her at once. Chris' heart broke hearing his daughters silent sobs within her response.

"is there anything that i can do"

chris asks still threading his finger through her hair.

"no i just wanted to lay with you dad. i needed you"

madison sobs out burying her face more into his leg to try to stop the tears from flowing. Chris could do that, just simply being there for her if that is all she needed.

Tagslist🗂️

@mintsturniolo @spicymuffins03 @dirtylittleheart333

@stayingstromboli @wh0resstuff @ksturnz @chaoswithus @emely9274 @ivysturnss @sturniolo-szn2 @lezleeferguson-120 @courta13 @chrepsi @lyingonchris

@tezzzzzzzz @babytomatoes21 @zenithsturniolo @bernardsbendystraws

[teenag3z0mbi3]

If it's alright with you and if it doesn't sound boring, might I request the Mouthwashing Cast with a reader who's been writing every day since the crash. If they ask them what they're writing about the reader just states that they're all likely going to die with the ship being their tombs and the chances of anyone finding them are low so they're just writing what might be their final days so if there's a chance someone does stumble upon the wreckage, they'll know what went down in the Tulpar

Mouthwashing x Reader Who Knows Knows Everyone's Fate HCs:

Masterlist & Request Rules Author’s Note: I actually really enjoyed writing something like this. It’s very different from the requests I usually get, so I hope I did it justice. Sorry if I didn’t write exactly what you wanted. I wasn’t sure if the reader is supposed to be like a psychic or is just smart enough to put the pieces together, so I wrote it so it could be taken either way.

Anya

☆ : You told her everything because you just couldn’t stand holding it in any longer. She already knew deep down how things would play out. Anya knew how Jimmy was and how things would be with him taking over and wanting to fix things, but hearing you say it out loud and seeing what you had written in your journal only made the feeling of dread she was having much worse.

☆ : She noticed you had been writing a lot, but nothing could’ve prepared her for that. She was speechless, as most people would be after being told they would die soon.

☆ : She wanted to tell you that things would be fine, but she knew that was a lie, so instead, she just hugged you and told you how much she loved you while fighting back tears, not wanting to cry in front of you and add to the stress of the situation.

Curly

☆ : He only found out about your writing because you had told him. You spent a lot of time sitting by Curly in the medbay, just telling him whatever was on your mind. You knew he wasn’t going to respond, but you assumed he was still able to hear you.

☆ : He missed you, and you missed him too, even though he was still there, but it wasn’t the same when you weren’t able to have a real conversation or hold him because you were worried it would hurt his burns. You wondered if it was wrong to be telling him something so terrible while he just lay there, unable to do anything about it.

☆ : He, on the other hand, had already accepted that he probably wasn’t going to be okay after all this. Even if he did survive, he knew things would still never be the same, but the thing that bothered him most was not being able to do anything to help you or even try to comfort you through this whole mess. 

Daisuke

☆ : You didn’t intend for him ever to find out about what you had been working on because you didn’t want to cause him to panic. He was already worried to begin with, but he still had that small amount of hope that came with always wanting to see the good in any situation, and you hated the idea of ruining that for him.

☆ : Unfortunately, he has a tendency to be in places, and when “exploring,” he found your journal. He knew it would be a total invasion of privacy to look through your things, but his curiosity always managed to get the best of him. He panicked when he read it and tried to pretend nothing had happened, but it was eating away at him.

☆ : You had noticed he seemed a bit more on edge than everyone else and decided to check in on him, and that's when he admitted to snooping through your journal, apologizing profusely for invading your privacy. Normally, you would’ve been upset by something like that, but not this time. You knew the end was near. Did anything actually matter at this point?

☆ : You just tried your best to calm him down, but it didn’t help much now that he knew everything. He didn’t leave your side once after that, wanting to enjoy the little time he had left with you

Swansea

☆ : You had tried to come to terms with what you knew was about to happen, but you found it emotionally draining to walk around acting like everything would be okay and reassuring people. You knew there was no way to avoid or change the outcome, and as scary as it was, you knew you would just have to accept it at some point.

☆ : Like Anya, Swansea was also familiar with the way Jimmy was and knew that him taking control of any situation wouldn’t have a good outcome. Swansea seemed like he was fine, but you knew it was because he was getting drunk off mouthwash most of the time.

☆ : One night, you were both up late and sitting on the couch while everyone else was asleep. As he sat there with a bottle of mouthwash in hand, you were laid back, resting your legs in his lap while writing in your journal. He noticed how focused you looked and nudged you, asking what had you so occupied. That's when you broke and told him everything, letting him read all the things you wrote about for himself.

☆ : He didn’t like that you were bottling all that up the whole time; he wished you had come to him about it so he could at least try and comfort you. Even with already knowing things wouldn’t play out well with Jimmy in charge, reading everything you have written just didn’t sit right with him. He eventually opened up about some deep worries he had, which was something you never thought Swansea would do. It was strange to see how something so terrible could bring people closer together. 

Jimmy

☆ : He has noticed you spending more time writing in your journal than usual, and that bothered him because he felt like you were keeping secrets from him. Knowing how everything would play out, Jimmy was the last person you wanted to read your journal.

☆ : One evening, when you were writing in your journal, he approached you about it, and you tried to assure him that you were just doing normal journaling, but he didn’t buy your response and snatched it away from you.

☆ : He hated what he read on those pages, and the fact that you had hidden it from him only added fuel to the fire. He hated the way you saw right through him and the way you seemed to be criticizing him and his actions in your writing. Now, you had to worry about whether or not you would be the first to go. 

[bellarkeselection]

Hello ! I love your work sm and was wondering if you could maybe possible do a Charles Xavier x reader where the reader is British like him but had lived in France most her life so when she gets angry like in class when teaching the students or just in general with other people and or things she start yelling and insulting in French (reader has ANGER ISSUES) ? If that is to much to ask I understand completely, thank you and I hope you have a great week my lovely xx

The British and French Professor

Hi there, anonymous asker - I’m sorry it took me a while before I got this posted but I hope you enjoy what I have wrote

Some people simply find enjoyment in staying in the state or country they were born in.

Others have this desire to travel the world and see more than what we have been around most of their lives.

And I used to be one of those people that stayed at home until I met Charles Xavier and his beautiful dream that he had for mutants and the rest of the world at Oxford University when I had gotten my dream job to teach as a professor here.

The first time I had left my childhood home in France I had to adjust to many different things, especially switching from my French accent to a British one that my mother had. She taught me all she could but I haven’t been able to not curse in French when I let my anger get the better of me.

Walking into my college classroom I sat my bag down seeing most of my students were already in their seats and ready for our exam that day. Taking out my exam papers I heard one of my students coming up to my desk with a nervous look on her face. “Excuse me, Professor L/n. I was hoping I could be excused from today’s exam cause I didn’t get enough sleep last night.” The girl's name was Penny and she had her blonde hair up in a ponytail.

Holding the exam papers up against my chest so she couldn’t see the questions I sent her a half smile. “You’ve known this exam has been coming up for two weeks now.”

“Professor L/n, I can’t take the exam today because I broke up with my girlfriend and that was really draining for me.” One of the boys that sits next to her came up coming up with a half assed excuse.

Rolling my eyes I glared at him. “That’s not a valid reason to not take this exam, Bryan.”

“But Professor L/n-“

The classroom door got thrown open and I saw one of the cheerleaders running inside the classroom completely dressed in her pajamas. “I totally thought she was joking about us having an exam the day before fall break.”

“Alright that’s enough.” Laying the exams faced down beside my laptop that was sitting on the desk.

Easton, who was a senior who had failed this class two more times rose from his seat, beginning to put on his backpack and leave the room. “I’m out of here. I don’t need to learn about English if I’m going to play in the NFL one day.”

“Yeah, let’s get out of here.” Another boy began to pack his things, making the blood inside of me start to boil.

Slamming my palms down on the wooden desk I raised my voice at the students who were trying to leave the classroom. “Nobody leaves this room unless I say that class is over!”

“But half of them aren’t prepared for class, Professor L/n. Why should we make it where they pass because we came prepared for the exam?” Amy, who was one of my best students, raised her hand getting frustrated with the fact that their good test scores would help out the ones who could care less about trying to take or pass the exam for today.

Running a hand down my face I huffed doing my best to not let my anger take over. Even if this wasn’t the first time we have had this conversation in my class this year. “Amy, you shouldn’t worry about the curve. I will not improve the others' grades considering we have already discussed this.”

“So since we’re having this conversation I’m assuming we aren’t having the exam today. I’ll see you on Monday.” Penny slowly started walking backwards towards the door.

“Vous tous gèlez cet instant ! Je refuse d'avoir cette discussion cette année. Vous devez suivre ce cours, je suis votre professeur, ce qui signifie que vous ferez ce que je dis, ce qui signifie que nous aurons l'examen aujourd'hui et que toute personne qui échouera à l'examen devra écrire un essai pendant la pause qui explique comment vous serez préparé pour notre prochain examen. Est-ce clair pour tout le monde ?” - - - - - ( All of you freeze this instant! I refuse to have this discussion anymore this year. You are required to take this course, I am your professor meaning you will do what I say, so that means we will be having the exam today and anyone who fails the exam will be required to write an essay over break that explains how you will be prepared for our next exam. Is that clear to everyone? )

All my students' eyes were locked onto me after I had stopped shouting in French and a familiar British accent could be heard throughout the classroom. “On that note I’d say Professor L/n isn’t feeling well and needs to step out. My colleague Hank will be protruding your exam and will make sure everyone finishes before they leave.” Charles slowly enters the room with his friend Hank coming in behind him moments later.

Slumping my shoulders, the anger that I was feeling almost went away instantly when I saw his face and those piercing blue eyes. “Charles.”

“Let’s both be done for the day. I think you and your students have been stressed out enough for some time.” The telepathic professor extended his hand out to me waiting for me to give him my hand. Slowly intertwining my hand with his own he led me out of the classroom and grabbed my bag.

Once we were outside I felt my entire body relax with the wind in my hair and the sun on my face simply taking a walk with the man that I loved. Charles found a park bench and we sat down where I laid my head against his shoulder sighing heavily. “I didn’t mean to snap at them. My anger - my anger issues just got the better of me.”

“I know you didn’t mean for that to happen, Y/n. You are one of the greatest people I have ever met. So don’t beat yourself up over what happened in your class a few minutes ago.” Charles tucked some hair behind my ear.

Lifting my head up I gently kissed him, threading my fingers through his long brown hair. “Thank you, Charles. I appreciate you being here for me.”

“I’ll always have my girls back. You are my love, Y/n.” He smiled gently cupping my face in his hands deeply kissing me back where we just enjoyed the peaceful moment together.

[maximoffcarter]

Now that you're here.

Pairings: Alex Cabot x reader.

Summary: Anxiety and insomnia were two of the things that kept Alex Cabot awake at night. Sometimes pills had to be her comfort to be able to sleep through the night; that was until she met reader.

A/n: This was requested by an anon, Alex having a hard time sleeping until she meets reader. I gotta admit that I love writing Calex but also reader inserts are comfort for me haha. Don't be afraid to send me an ask or message if you got any requests, I'm up for anything for now. Enjoy and leave your comments, reblog, hearts, whatever you'd like, will be very much appreciated🫶🏻

*not my gif*

“Alex, you look like crap.” Olivia said as Alex walked into the precinct, a bit of concern behind her words.

Alex looked at her with a raised brow. “You sure know how to compliment a woman.”

“Sorry.”

Alex sighed as she shook her head. “Sorry, didn’t actually get a good night sleep. What do you have for me?”

It was known that Alexandra Cabot was devoted to her job. She could stay hours in her office without a problem, as unhealthy as it was. She basically only got home to ‘sleep’, take a shower, and have some sort of food, whatever she could find really. She barely knew what free days were, not wanting to skip any work day in case they really needed her. But she was also conscious of how this affected her physically and emotionally, it could be draining, but there was nothing a couple of pills couldn’t do for her -also very unhealthy-. Today, she had been called to the precinct for some advice, frustrated as she figured they had nothing she could work with and she just wasted time in walking all the way here, almost running out of the building as she had some arraignments she had to get to. The day had felt so long and draining, she felt exhausted to the point where she could literally drop asleep in any place, but knew that once she was home, there was no way she was going to sleep.

So after leaving her office, she opted for stopping by a small bar that was near her apartment. The thought of a good scotch drink made her feel a bit more relaxed. It was a Tuesday, so of course the bar would be almost empty, which also was to her favor as she really didn’t feel like dealing with drunk people. As she sat down, she noticed a girl who sat just two seats away from her. Alex could definitely move to another seat, but she just wanted the drink so badly that she didn’t really care. As she ordered the drink, she couldn’t help but study the mentioned girl; she was wearing scrubs which meant she was either a nurse or she worked in the health area, her head was in a ponytail, some hair all over the place, but still cute. The girl was entranced in her drink, just staring at it.

“Hard day?” Alex said before she could even figure out that the words were coming out of her mouth. She was supposed to enjoy a drink or two and then leave, but now there was the possibility that she just engaged herself into conversation.

The girl looked up and her eyes fell on Alex, offering a tired smile. “You could say so.” She raised her brow as she noticed the drink. “Guess it was for you too?”

Alex scoffed, nodding, and taking a sip of her drink. “You could say so.” She grinned as she turned to look at the girl again.

The girl huffed a chuckle, turning her body to face Alex. “Judging by your drink and clothes…I dare to say you’re a lawyer?” She raised her brow.

Alex grinned as she nodded. “Is it that obvious?”

The girl shrugged. “Just a bit.”

Alex raised her brow. “And judging by your drink and clothes, I dare to say you’re a nurse?”

“Is it that obvious?.” She smiled softly and extended her hand. “Y/n.”

Alex chuckled as she took her hand. “Alex.”

They held each other’s hand for a little longer than expected, just staring into each other’s eyes. Y/n couldn’t help but get lost in those baby blue eyes, Alex was beautiful, she was sure she was the most beautiful girl she has ever seen in her life, and she sees a lot of people every single day. As for Alex, she felt attached to her, something called her in and she couldn’t help but study every single feature of y/n, even with the tiredness in her face, she looked beautiful. They finally let go of their hands and giggled quietly, their eyes going back to their drinks.

“Done with your shift or you’re heading there?” Alex decided to speak again, looking back at y/n.

Y/n sighed in relief. “Done with my shift. Almost 20 hrs cause I needed some extra hours. And drinking is not allowed before a shift.” She grinned as she looked back at Alex. “What about you? Done with…court?”

Alex chuckled as she nodded. “Yes. We don’t really do court that late, though. Just paperwork and preps.” She smiled.

“Private lawyer or…?”

“Assistant District Attorney. I work for Special Victims.”

Y/n tilted her head as she smiled. “So you know Liv.”

Alex raised her brows at the name and nodded. “I do. You know her too?”

“They call me in whenever they have a victim. I mostly work ER, so.” Y/n smiled. “So now I know the famous attorney they always mention.”

Alex shrugged and grinned. “Nice to meet you.” She chuckled.

What was supposed to go for half an hour or an hour, turned to three hours. Alex had said a drink or two would be enough, but now she was involved in conversation with y/n, which she did not mind at all because she was enjoying this more than she expected. She wasn’t one to give up information about what she did or anything about her life, but as y/n started talking about her life, she felt safe to talk about hers too. It wasn’t all work, it was also things they did out of work, which in Alex’s part, she really didn’t have much to talk about since her whole life was work but listening to y/n talk was enough for her.

After the last call, both women decided to take a walk in direction to their apartments. Alex knew she had to grab a taxi at some point, but she didn’t want the night to end even if she had an early morning. Y/n kept going on about some work thing, and Alex just stared at her the whole time. They finally got to a corner and in front of a building, Alex sure this is where y/n lived, and they stood there, smiling at each other.

“Here is my stop.” Y/n turned to look at Alex. “Thanks for keeping me company.” She smiled softly.

Alex smiled. “I should say the same. Sorry I kept you until late.”

“It was worth it.” Y/n blushed as her words left her mouth, she cleared her throat and then looked in her backpack, getting a small notebook and a pen. “You can throw it away or do what you please with it but…here’s my number.” She then gave her a small paper and smiled. “If I don’t answer, it’s not because I’m avoiding or ignoring you. I’m working.”

Alex giggled as she grabbed the paper and stared at it for a moment before she looked up. “Noted.”

“I’ll see you around, Alex. Be safe.” Y/n smiled.

Alex saw y/n get into the building and turning to say a final goodbye to Alex before she disappeared. Alex stood there for a bit more, playing the evening in her mind and smiling. After all the stress and tiredness, the least she had expected was to meet someone at a bar and staying with her for hours just talking and laughing. Definitely worth the tiredness for the morning.

********************

Alex groaned as she took off her glasses, putting them on her desk and then groaning as she rubbed her eyes. Not only was she tired, but she was frustrated. The trial hadn’t gone as she expected, there was still a chance to win but at this point, her options were limited and the only thing she could do was push through it and try her best. She was also frustrated because she had to cancel on y/n last minute, her desk flooded with paperwork that she needed to finish, so she had to call y/n to cancel.

After that night at the bar, Alex couldn’t help and she called y/n the next day, while she was at her office doing paperwork she had called y/n and they had a conversation for a whole hour, and before saying goodbye, Alex had asked her out. The date went smoothly, and it had been better than they expected. For a whole month, they tried to go out every week, but today that was not possible. She had enjoyed every minute she spent with y/n, her day being a lot better just by seeing her, even if she had not much to say, she could listen to y/n over and over again. She looked at her watched and sighed, it was pass 10:30 pm and she was nowhere near finishing. She looked down at her paperwork and was about to dive in again, but a knock on her door startled her, making her look up at her door.

“Y/n?”

Y/n smiled softly as she leaned over the door frame. “Hello, counselor.”

“What are you doing here?” Alex smiled, moving her hand to let y/n know it was okay to come in.

“Well, since a pretty girl canceled our date today, I thought maybe I could show up in her office with some takeout. Cause I’m pretty sure she has not had any food all day.” Y/n walked to the desk, raising her brow as she looked at Alex. “I took the liberty of ordering Chinese, hope you don’t mind.” She showed the bags she had in her hands and smiled.

Alex felt her heart beating a bit faster as she listened to y/n, smiling softly. “Any food sounds amazing. Thank you.” She stood up and moved to the small table beside her desk, followed by y/n. They both sat down, and Alex then looked at her confused. “I have a suspicion on how you got into the building, but how did you know where my office was?”

“I’m not gonna confirm or deny that I had to stop by every floor to find it.” Y/n grinned as she got the food out.

Alex furrowed her brows. “You didn’t.”

“Baby, I asked the guard.” Y/n chuckled softly.

Alex blushed softly at the pet name, grabbing the boxes that y/n handed her. “Right. Sorry, my mind is kind of screwed at this point.” She looked at y/n and smiled. “I’m glad you came here.”

Y/n smiled. “My pleasure. I wanted to see you, and if this is my chance to see you, then I’ll take it.”

Alex tried to hide the big smile she had on her face and looked down at the box of food she had in her hands, grabbing some sticks and started eating. They ate in silence for a moment until they started talking about their days, Alex complaining about the trial and then the whole paperwork, and y/n talking about her day at the hospital. There was a moment where Alex went back to paperwork just to finish up and y/n stayed there reading a book and finishing her food. Every now and then, they look at each other without them noticing, time to time they’d lock eyes and just smile, trying to hide their smiles. Alex felt like a teenager, both doing their homework or studying and just keeping each other company, looking at each other and then going back to it. But even then, she felt happy.

Pass midnight, Alex finally said she was done, grabbing what she needed to take home and cleaning up their empty boxes of food. Unconsciously, as they left the office and waited for the elevator, Alex grabbed y/n’s hand and intertwined their fingers, only noticing once they were inside the elevator. She turned to look at y/n, who was already looking at her with a smile on her face. Once they walked out of the building, they kept walking hand in hand, talking about everything and nothing at some point. After walking a few blocks, they were waiting for the green light to cross the street and that’s when Alex turned to look at y/n.

“Would you like to come over? To…my apartment?” Alex bit her lip as she looked at y/n.

Y/n smiled softly. “I’d like that.” She whispered softly.

Alex smiled, noticing the light was green and they crossed the street. At some point, Alex decided it’d be quicker if they called a cab, so they did. Alex never let go of y/n’s hand, sitting close to each other in the cab and just looking out the window, the silence was comfortable, something both women were growing into. Once in Alex’s building, they went into the elevator and waited for the doors to close. Alex just stared at the doors for a moment, until she felt y/n’s hand on her cheek and the next thing she knew, her face was getting turned in y/n’s direction and she felt a pair of soft lips on hers. Alex gasped quietly, but right after, her free hand went to y/n’s waist, pulling her closer as she kissed her back. The kiss was slow and sweet, with a hint of passion in it, nothing either of them had experienced before. They had shared cheeks kisses while saying goodbye, but Alex was too shy to kiss her properly, so to say she was thankful that y/n kissed her, it was an understatement. y/n broke the kiss and Alex tried to follow her to keep kissing her, opening her eyes as she heard y/n giggling.

“What are you laughing at? You kissed me.” Alex grinned.

“I did. But you’re cute.” Y/n smiled as she pecked her lips. “I’m sorry if I didn’t ask, I just been thinking about kissing you for so long.”

Alex smiled. “I have too, but I was shy.”

“You’re welcome.” Y/n chuckled and just as she was leaning in again, the doors of the elevator opened.

Alex pulled her quickly out of the elevator and walked to the end of the hallway until they were at Alex’s door. As soon as they were in, Alex turned to look at y/n but before she could do anything, y/n had the same thought as Alex and she placed her hands on Alex’s waist, pushing her against the door, her lips attaching to Alex’s in a heated kiss. At some point they kicked the bags off onto the floor, not really minding where they landed. Alex moaned softly as her hands went to y/n’s hair, her hips thrusting into y/n’s as she tried to get her impossibly closer to her. y/n pulled away for some air, but soon enough started kissing Alex’s chin and went down to her neck, biting and licking every inch of skin she found. Alex threw her head back, giving her a bit more access to kiss her.

“W-We should move to my bed.” Alex moaned out as she looked down at y/n.

Y/n looked up at Alex and grinned. “Okay.” She pulled away from Alex and took off her coat, Alex doing the same thing and grabbing both of them to put them on the rack beside her door.

Alex took y/n’s hand and pulled her to her room, as soon as the door was open, she turned to kiss y/n again, her heartbeat racing as y/n’s hand found the buttons of her shirt and she started undoing them. Alex pulled away for air, looking at y/n as she panted. Her hand stroked her cheek for a moment, her fingers then moved to y/n’s chin to make her look up.

“Are you sure you want to do this?” Alex asked softly.

Y/n smiled softly, her heart pounding on her chest at the questions. “I’m sure. Are you?”

Alex smiled as she nodded. “I do.” She lost no time and went back to kiss her, her hands landing on y/n’s shirt.

********************

Alex woke up to the sun hitting her face, she forgot to move the curtains when she got home so now the sun was in a part of her room. She stretched a little and groaned as she moved, only to feel that she had no clothes on her and the only thing covering her was her blanket. She took a moment to register what happened the night before, and it clicked when she turned to look at a sleepy and naked y/n beside her. She smiled softly as she remembered the night before. Not wanting to get up yet, she laid on her stomach and faced y/n, her smile never fading away as she studied every single feature in her face.

Then her mind started wandering and she almost gasped at the realization that she had slept the whole night. It could’ve meant nothing, but she had been having a lot of trouble sleeping because of the cases they’ve had, her anxiety being present every single night making her have insomnia. But tonight she had slept, and she felt relaxed and rested, she could get used to this. She closed her eyes for a bit, not feeling like moving or doing anything at all. But then she felt the bed moving, she could hear y/n groaning softly and she couldn’t help but grin. She kept her eyes closed, the grin never leaving her face which gave her up, y/n knowing she was awake.

Y/n moved close to Alex and kissed her naked shoulder softly. “Morning.” She whispered.

“Morning.” Alex finally opened her eyes and looked at y/n, smiling.

“How long have you been awake?” Y/n laid her head back down on the pillow as her hand made patterns on Alex’s back.

“Not too long. I just didn’t feel like moving. Though I know my phone will go off anytime soon.” Alex chuckled.

Y/n smiled. “And I need to get home to change. My shift starts at 2 pm.”

“Why don’t you shower here?”

Y/n grinned as she raised her brow. “With you?”

Alex realized the insinuation of her question, she didn’t mean it like that, but she wouldn’t be opposed to it. “I don’t see why not.” She moved to sit up and stretch, looking back at y/n. Y/n stared at her and smiled, making Alex chuckle. “What?”

“You’re beautiful.” Y/n whispered softly as she smiled. “I don’t mean to come off as a creep, but even if you always look beautiful, right here…right now…you look the most beautiful.”

Alex bit her lip as she tried to hide her smile, she leaned down and kissed her lips softly. “You’re just as beautiful.” She smiled softly. “Now, let’s go to shower before my phone goes off.” She whispered against her lips before she pecked them.

********************

Alex sighed as she laid on her bed, looking up at the ceiling. She had been trying to sleep for the last 2 hrs but sleep was definitely not on her side. She had tried everything at this point, even had taken some pills for her anxiety but sleep was definitely not an option. She couldn’t quite understand why she was not able to sleep when in the last few days she had been sleeping just fine, but today they beat her up at trial and she had been a bit stressed about it. Also she had not been able to get lunch with y/n so that had added to her anxiety since she was now used to their little routine. She took her phone and stared at it for a moment, until she dialed the number and waiting, hoping she wouldn’t grab her in a bad moment.

“Hello?”

“Hi.” Alex smiled as she heard y/n.

“Lex! Hi! I’m so glad to hear your voice.”

Alex chuckled softly. “So glad to hear your voice too.” She smiled. “Are you busy?”

“No, I actually just finished with a patient, and I came to the on call room to lay down for a bit.” She sighed softly. “How are you? Shouldn’t you be sleeping?”

Alex bit her lip softly. “I can’t.”

“Is something bothering you, love?”

Alex smiled softly at the pet name, they randomly came but she loved when they did. “They beat my ass today. I worked with Liv and Elliot all day to try and find something that could help us.”

“I’m sure you’ll find something.”

“I know, just…” Alex sighed. “I cannot let this man walk free.“

“And you won’t. You got this.”

Alex smiled softly. “I wish you were here.” She whispered softly, almost to herself, but she knew y/n had heard her.

“Just a few more hours till my shift ends and I can go visit you at your office.”

“You don’t have to do that. I know you’re exhausted as it is.”

“I told you before…I’d do anything to get to see you for at least a minute. I can sleep later.”

Alex shook her head as she smiled. “You’re too cute.”

“And cheesy, but you seem to not mind it.” Y/n chuckled.

“Not one bit.” Alex smiled as she sighed. “I’ll let you get some sleep and I’ll try to sleep too.”

Y/n stayed silent for a moment. “Alex?”

“Yes?”

Another moment of silence and then Alex could hear a small sigh. “I’ll see you later.”

Alex furrowed her brows but nodded as if y/n could actually see you. “I will.”

Alex hung up the call and sighed softly as her eyes went back to looking up at the ceiling. Part of Alex’s work was to figure out people whether they were lying or not, she could either notice it in their body language or the way they talked, and their voices slightly changed. She had now been dating y/n for the last 4 months, they’ve made it official after the second night y/n had stayed over with her and she couldn’t be happier about it, but in the last week she could see that y/n was battling with herself about something, but Alex was not one to pressure her into talking -even if that was mostly what she did with her job-. At some point Alex closed her eyes and fell asleep, her mind clouded in thought of y/n.

********************

Y/n knocked on Alex’s door and smiled softly as Alex looked up and offered a smile. “Hello, Ms. Cabot.”

“Hello there.” Alex smiled softly as y/n closed the door behind her.

“I brought you some coffee and a sandwich. You can leave it for later.” Y/n said as she walked to Alex, putting her coffee in front of her and the box of the sandwich on the small table beside her desk.

Alex sighed, a smile on her face. “You didn’t have to.” She stood up and wrapped her arms around y/n’s neck.

Y/n smiled softly as she wrapped her arms around Alex’s waist. “I wanted to. You should be used to it by now.”

“You’re just too good to me.” Alex whispered softly as she closed the gap between them, giving her a sweet kiss.

“How are you doing today?”

Alex sighed. “Apparently Liv and Elliot are getting somewhere, Fin and Munch are trying to check on some records. Maybe we’ll get something out of it.”

Y/n leaned up to kiss her nose and smiled. “You got this, Lex. And I’ll be here for you.”

Alex smiled as she nodded, kissing her forehead softly. “Thank you.” She then chuckled. “What’s your height again?” She looked at y/n teasingly.

Y/n rolled her eyes. “You know, you might be a bit taller than me, but the heels are helping you. I’m not even short, you’re just too tall.”

Alex laughed softly as she nodded. “Okay.” She ran her fingers through y/n’s hair as her eyes stayed glued on hers. “Was there something you wanted to tell me earlier?”

Y/n’s breath hitched as she looked at Alex, thinking she might’ve forgotten. “I uh…well, sort of. But it wasn’t important.”

“You got all nervous. Sounds important. Anything I can help with?”

Y/n raised her brow. “You say that like you’d actually get me out of trouble. Will you get me out of jail if I murdered someone?” A playful tone in her voice as she kissed her cheek.

“I’d probably do it. Can’t say I won’t.” Alex grinned as she kissed her forehead again. “But don’t avoid the question.”

Y/n sighed softly as she closed her eyes, begging anyone that this would go okay. “Okay…I did want to say something, but I thought maybe it wasn’t the best moment to say it since it was through the phone and it was literally 3 am in the morning, so I held myself back from saying anything.”

Alex nodded. “Okay…I’m listening.” Y/n looked up at Alex and bit her lips, a hint of fear could be seen in her eyes and for a moment Alex regretted that she brought it up.

“I know we’ve been only dating for 4 months but…I love you, Alex.” Y/n smiled. “And you definitely don’t have to say it back. I’d understand entirely if this caught you off guard. I don’t expect anything back.”

Alex’s face softened at the words, her heartbeat racing as y/n spoke. She placed her hands on y/n’s cheeks and chuckled softly. “My love, stop rambling.”

Y/n sighed. “Sorry.”

Alex smiled. “I love you too.”

Y/n looked at Alex with a relieved expression, smiling softly. “You do?”

“Of course I do. How could I not? You’re the best thing that has ever happened to me.” Alex pulled her close and kissed her lips softly.

“Now who’s cheesy?” Y/n whispered against her lips, kissing her again.

Alex chuckled softly as she pulled away, stroking her cheeks softly. “Hey…I know you want nothing but to sleep all day but…how about you sleep at my place tonight?”

Y/n tilted her head. “Sure, what time do you want me to meet you there?”

Alex bit her lip softly as she smiled. “How about I give you my keys and you wait for me? Get some sleep, something to eat, and I’ll get home after 7 pm.”

“Are you sure? I mean, I know I’ve stayed there but-“

“I’m sure.”

Y/n smiled softly as she nodded. “Okay. Sounds like a plan.” She tilted her head. “Do you mind if I shower there?”

“Not at all, you know where the towels are.” Alex went ahead to her purse and got her keys out, going back to y/n and handing her the keys. “Went grocery shopping already so fridge is kinda full, use whatever you need, and get some rest.” She kissed her forehead softly. “And thank you for the sandwich and the coffee.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Y/n chuckled as she leaned in to kiss her lips softly. “I’ll see you later. Will go to my apartment first for a bag.” She kissed her lips one last time. “I love you.”

“I love you too. Be safe.”

Alex smiled and blushed slightly as y/n blew her a kiss as she walked out of the office. She sighed happily as she returned to her desk. Never in a million years would she think that she’d be all in love with a beautiful girl, but things were definitely getting serious, and she was happy about it.

********************

Alex stood in front of her door trying to find her keys on her purse, cursing under her breath as she tried to remember where she had left them. Then a heavenly smell made her look up at her door, a smile appearing on her face as she remembered y/n was inside. She knocked on the door softly and waited, hearing footsteps approaching the door. As soon as the door opened, Alex looked up at her and her heart warmed at the sight of y/n smiling at her. She had spent the weekends with Alex before, whenever she didn’t have any shifts, but seeing her dressed so casually, was probably one of Alex’s favorite things.

“I love the way you’re looking at me, but I don’t think the pasta I’m cooking will agree with us.” Y/n grinned.

Alex chuckled as she walked into the apartment, pecking her lips softly. “Hi baby.”

“Hi.” Y/n whispered against her lips. “Back to the kitchen, your keys are in its place.” She went back almost running to the kitchen.

Alex closed the door behind her and locked it, putting both her coat and purse on the rack beside the door and taking her shoes off. She moaned quietly as her feet hit the cold floor, finally getting off those ridiculous heels she’s been wearing all day. She massaged the back of her neck as she walked to the kitchen, wanting to see what y/n was making for them. She smiled softly as she saw y/n working around her kitchen; y/n was definitely better at cooking, she always made sure to make either breakfast or dinner for them, knowing perfectly that it was the only times Alex actually had a proper meal that wasn’t a grilled cheese or take out. Alex couldn’t help but notice that she was wearing her Harvard hoodie, the smile never leaving her face; she definitely looked better in it, but she wouldn’t admit it. She walked to y/n and wrapped her arms around her waist, kissing the side of her neck softly.

“I see you got a new hoodie.” Alex whispered softly.

“Don’t tell my girlfriend, but I actually stole it from her closet. She’ll have it back, I just forgot to bring a hoodie and was cold.” Y/n chuckled softly and grabbed a bit of the pasta she had in front, blowing in it and putting her hand under it so it wouldn’t fall, turning slowly to Alex. “Taste it.”

Alex took the bite and sighed softly, closing her eyes. “Delicious.” She smiled as she looked at Y/n. “My favorite.”

Y/n shrugged. “I wanted to spoil you.” She smiled.

“Did you get some sleep?”

Y/n nodded. “I took a shower and then I was dead to the world for about 8 hrs. I got up and I decided to make dinner.” She smiled. “Go get changed while I serve dinner.”

“You really didn’t have to, but I appreciate it, love.” Alex kissed her cheek softly and disappeared into her room.

Once Alex was back, they both had dinner quietly at first, just enjoying each other’s company until y/n asked about Alex’s day, knowing that Alex had been stressed and maybe she needed to talk about it, so the rest of the dinner went with Alex letting all the stress and frustration she felt inside. As they finished dinner, Alex cleaned the kitchen telling y/n she’d meet her in bed soon. Even after all these months of getting to know each other and dating, Alex hadn’t had the guts to tell y/n that she normally took anxiety and sleeping pills to help her out a bit. It’s something she had put out there before, that she had both anxiety and insomnia, but somehow, telling y/n about it seemed a bit too much at the moment. She checked that doors and windows were closed, lights out and she then headed to her room, finding y/n reading a book while she waited for Alex. Alex stood there for a moment, thinking that she really could get used to this. She first went to the bathroom to brush her teeth and then walked to the bed and sat down, moving closer to y/n as she tried to see what she was reading.

“I thought you’d be reading a medical book or journal. Didn’t think you were a fantasy fan.” Alex grinned.

Y/n chuckled as she closed the book. “Well, sometimes it’s nice to get out of reality for at least a second.” She looked at Alex and smiled. “And it’s a romance novel.”

“Which are mostly based on fantasy. They make it seem too unrealistic, like in the movies.” Alex raised her brows as she teased.

“You’re no fun, Cabot.” Y/n rolled her eyes playfully and placed the book on the nightstand, turning off her light. She turned back to Alex and leaned in to kiss her lips softly. “So, what is realistic for Alexandra Cabot when it comes to romance?”

Alex sighed as she thought about it, grinning as she looked at y/n. “This. Us. Just…I don’t know. I like the way we work together.”

Y/n smiled. “I do too.”

“I wouldn’t change it for a thing.” Alex caressed y/n’s cheek and gave her a soft kiss. “C’mon, I’m sure you still want more sleep even after the 8 hrs.”

“It’ll definitely be better now that you’re here.” Y/n smiled and moved to Alex’s arms, resting her head against her chest. “Love you.”

Alex smiled softly and wrapped her arms around her tightly, kissing her forehead softly. “Love you too.”

The moment she felt y/n’s slow breath, she smiled and closed her eyes, falling asleep right after.

********************

Alex opened her eyes slowly, the sun coming through her window, making her groan a bit as she figured that she had to get up soon to get ready for work. But then something hit her, making her furrow her brows as she looked at the window; she hadn’t taken her sleeping pills. She opened her drawer trying to figure out if she probably didn’t because she ran out of or because she just forgot, but the bottle had enough for the next few weeks, so maybe she just forgot. She put it back inside and turned to look at y/n who was sound asleep. She laid there for a moment, a faint smile on her face as she thought back to all these months they’ve been together. She thought she was truly stupid or just an idiot, how could she not figure out that she slept so much better whenever y/n stayed because she was with y/n. It was the best sleep she got, feeling her close to her, whether she was in her arms or Alex was in her arms, just her presence made Alex feel so safe. And it took her all this time to figure out y/n helped her sleep better.

Alex laid there for a moment until she moved closer to y/n, her arm sneaking around her waist and pulling her closer, laying kisses on her naked shoulder and up her neck. Y/n sighed softly as she moved back into Alex, smiling softly but kept her eyes closed. Alex noticed and chuckled, leaving more kisses in her neck and up her jawline, she felt a bit bad about waking her up, but she really wanted to enjoy her morning before she got a call from someone from the precinct.

“I won’t mind waking up at all if this is the way you wake me up.” Y/n whispered softly, the raspy tone noticeable.

Alex kissed her shoulder and smiled. “I’d love to do that every day then. Sadly, I cannot do that when you stay at the hospital.”

Y/n chuckled, opened her eyes, and turned enough to look at Alex, one of her hands laying in Alex’s so she would leave it there. “Fair enough.” She leaned up and pecked her lips. “Morning.”

“Morning.” Alex smiled and leaned down to kiss her lips more properly. “I’m feeling some pancakes. Why do you say?”

“I can make some.”

“No, I meant I could order some.”

Y/n smiled. “You spoil me too much.”

“I love doing that a lot.” Alex kissed the tip of her nose. “Regular, chocolate or blueberry?” She moved to grab her phone and sit up in bed.

“Surprise me.” Y/n did the same and kissed Alex’s shoulder before she got up.

********************

“Alex?” Olivia asked softly as she knocked on her door.

Alex looked up and smiled. “Liv, hi. Can I help you?”

Olivia furrowed her brows as she walked into the office and sat down on one of the chairs. “I need a search warrant for the Levy case.”

Alex nodded. “What do you need it for?”

“We discovered that he might be hiding evidence, he collects prizes after rapping the girls and he could be keeping them in a special box. He also collects the underwear, so that might give us enough for an easy win.”

“And where did you get this information from?”

“One of the victims.”

Alex nodded. “Okay, I have an arraignment in an hour, I’ll try to find Petrovsky before that, and I’ll send it your way.” She smiled softly and went back to her paperwork.

Olivia furrowed her brows. “How’s your day been?”

Alex looked up at Olivia and smiled, a confused look on her face. “Uh…good? I guess?”

“A few weeks ago you looked like if we said something wrong, you’d throw us whatever you had on your reach. And now you look so…happy.”

Alex blushed slightly at the comment, knowing perfectly why she was like this. She took off her glasses and cleared her throat, looking down at her hands for a moment. “I’ve uh…I’ve been seeing someone. In the last few months. And…I figured out that whenever she stays for the night…I feel safe and comfortable that I wake up feeling so much better and well rested.” She smiled as she looked up at Olivia.

Olivia smiled, everything making sense now. “Does she lives with you now?”

Alex sighed as she looked down at her glasses, her fingers playing with them. “Not exactly. I mean- she has been coming to see me whenever her shifts end and then she goes back to my apartment.”

“So she basically already lives there.” Olivia chuckled.

Alex huffed a chuckle. “I’m an idiot for not asking her, huh?” She looked back at Olivia. “I’m afraid she’s not in the same page and I’ll ruin everything.”

“Alex, honey, she’s already staying with you every now and then. What if you’re also her comfort and that’s why she goes back to you every end of shift? Have you ever thought about it that way?”

Alex stared at Olivia for a moment, thinking back that she hasn’t. “Not exactly.”

Olivia nodded. “Ask her, and I’m sure she’ll say yes.”

Alex smiled. “I will.”

“How long have you been thinking about it?”

“Uh…2 months?” Olivia tilted her head. “Alex.”

“I know, I know. I will ask her.”

Olivia nodded. “You better, or I will for you.” She grinned as she chuckled, making Alex laugh.

********************

After the conversation with Olivia, Alex had in mind for 4 days how it would go down, or…overthought about how it could all go really down. She kept thinking over and over again how she could ask her. Was she supposed to just drop the question? Give her a key? Make a long ass conversation about it and then ask? Alex had never asked anyone to move in with her, hell she hasn’t even mentioned her anxiety and sleeping pills. She knew they’d come up at some point, but she didn’t know how to bring them up, she didn’t know how to ask y/n. Y/n had been braver than her when she told Alex she loved her, because it would’ve taken Alex another 2 to 3 months to tell her, just like the last 2 months that she let pass by and now she was having a hard time figuring out how she could ask her. She kept checking the time, waiting for it to be 9 pm, which was when y/n ended her shift. She knew today she was not coming to her apartment since it was late, and y/n’s apartment was closer to the hospital than Alex’s.

Alex sighed and went to her room, sitting down on her bed and looking at her pills. Was it too early to take them? Would she need them? She knew she’d definitely need them, but she was still in denial of taking them, but they had been so busy these past few days that y/n had not been able to come back to Alex’s, so she has been having a hard time to sleep. She sighed softly as she grabbed them and was about to grab the pill when she heard a knock on her door. She furrowed her brows but left the bottle in bed and walked out of her room. For a slight moment she felt a bit frightened because not everyone knew where she lived, but the moment she looked through the small hole in the door, she felt her heartbeat calming down and she sighed softly as she opened the door.

“Y/n, I was waiting to call you to ask if you were home safe.” Alex smiled softly but then her smile disappeared as she noticed y/n’s face. “Baby, what’s wrong?”

Y/n swallowed hard as she looked up at Alex, trying to hold back her tears. “I uh- I know I was…not supposed to come today. I’m…I’m sure you’re exhausted. God, I’m so exhausted.” She covered her face with her hands as she sighed. “But I needed to see you.” She said softly almost in a cry as she looked back at Alex, tears forming in her eyes.

Alex quickly wrapped her arm around her shoulders and pulled her into the apartment, closing and locking the door quickly to give full attention to y/n. “What happened? Are you hurt?”

Y/n shook her head, letting Alex take her backpack and her coat off her. “I lost someone. In the ER.” She finally let the tears roll down as she sobbed. “S-She was so y-young. She was only ten. And I…I tried to help to stop…to stop the bleeding. We took her for an emergency surgery and she…she didn’t make it.”

Alex sighed softly as she wrapped her arms around y/n. “Love, I’m so sorry.” She kissed her forehead softly.

“It’s not the first patient but…Alex she was okay when she got there. And 10 minutes later, she was complaining about a pain, and she passed out. She looked so terrified and I…I couldn’t do anything else.” Y/n wrapped her arms around Alex’s waist and buried her face on her neck. “I should’ve done more. I should’ve hurried up and not think she was okay.”

“You did what you could. And I’m sure anyone would’ve done the same things you did.” Alex kissed her forehead again, walking them to the couch.

Y/n sighed softly as she leaned into Alex again, trying to stop her tears. “They already talked to me and said I did every possible thing but just…god.” She rubbed her face. “They saw me so bad that they gave me a week off, paid. They told Anika to take the week off too, she was as freaked out as I was, I mean…she was in charge, it was her OR.” She chuckled sadly. “

You need some rest and to clear your mind. You’re amazing, love. You all did everything.” Alex whispered softly, grabbing her hand.

Y/n nodded as she sniffled. “I’m sorry I…I just…I didn’t want to be alone. I just needed you.” She whispered softly as she pulled away enough to look at Alex. “I’m sure you’re tired and just wanted to sleep.”

“No, baby. I was waiting to call you.” Alex smiled. “And I’m actually really happy that your first thought was to come to me and not go to your apartment.” She let go of her hand and stroked her cheek softly. “I’m here whenever you need me, and when I’m not, I’m just a call away.”

Y/n smiled softly. “I love you.”

“I love you more.” Alex smiled and pecked her lips softly.

“I didn’t bring any clothes, I uh…I just came straight from the hospital.“

Alex thought for a second and thought it was now or never; could be the worst time but it could also be the best chance. “Maybe you should have clothes here. I mean…I don’t mind sharing mine. You look lovely in them.” She chuckled.

Y/n furrowed her brows as she smiled. “So I should just…bring my clothes in here? For when I stay?”

Alex bit her lip softly for a moment as she stared into those lovely eyes she loved so much. “Yes. But…maybe…maybe you should always stay.”

Y/n grinned softly. “Alex, baby…I know you can talk better than this. I’ve seen you in court.” She chuckled as she wiped away the last tears from her eyes.

Alex chuckled softly as she shook her head. “I’m sorry I’m…a bit nervous.” She smiled as she sighed. “What I mean…I’d like for you to move in, with me.”

Y/n’s face softened, tears forming in her eyes again. “Really?”

Alex nodded. “You know…I love the fact that you first thought about coming here because you needed me, because I need you as well.” She took a deep breath. “I suffer from anxiety, and I have trouble sleeping, insomnia. I took pills and I…I never told you because I didn’t think it’d be important. But when you’re here…when you stay with me, it’s the best sleep I have and I just live having you here with me. And if I can do the same for you…I’d do it every single day. Because I love you. And I’ll always be here.”

Y/n smiled through her tears. “Alex.”

“Oh, my darling. I didn’t mean to make you cry.” Alex wiped her tears and kissed her forehead softly.

“They’re happy tears.” Y/n smiled. “I’d love to move in with you. I wish you could’ve told me about your anxiety and trouble to sleep. I’d have moved in since our first date.” They both laughed.

Alex shrugged. “I wouldn’t have minded that.” She grinned as they laughed. “But I mean it. I don’t want you to ever go.”

“Then I won’t.” Y/n smiled. “My lease is due next month actually. So…guess it was the perfect time to bring this up.” She chuckled. “I…wanted to bring it up but I was also a bit nervous.”

“Guess we both overthought so much about it.” Alex chuckled.

“Well, I’m glad you brought it up.” Y/n leaned in and kissed her lips. “Thank you.”

Alex tilted her head. “For what?”

“For being you. For loving me. For being here.” Y/n smiled.

“I should thank you for the same things.” Alex smiled. “Hey, how about we order something. I’ll ask for tomorrow off so I’m here with you.”

Y/n nodded. “Sounds good.” She smiled. “Could we…maybe…take a bath together?” She bit her lip as she looked at Alex.

Alex chuckled and nodded. “I don’t see why not.” She kissed her forehead softly before the two of them headed to her bedroom. Their bedroom.

[anzulvr]

୨୧ On Purpose Karma x (fem) reader || Chapter: 08 ୨୧

 PREV || 08 Klepto || NEXT

Last year, the strangest sequence of events altered [Name’s] life. It was a day like any other, beginning with countless possibilities. An inevitable build-up to the perfect moment, fate, which could have led to anything, led to him.

"Akio! It's good to see you, I'm on an assignment. Could you do me a favor and answer some questions?" [Name] greeted him with a smile.

Akio scoffed in reply he looked the [h/c]-haired girl up and down. "Spare me the trouble and tell me who reported me. My dad invests a ton of money into this school... so this conversation won't get you anywhere."

"I'm sorry, what?"

"Don't act clueless, it's annoying just cut to it." Akio yanked [Name’s] bag off her shoulder. "Unless you tell me who sent you, I won't be giving this back."

[Name] felt so out of the loop. Akio hadn't been apprehensive towards her before. "Gakushuu sent me. I only need to collect a student survey." He quickly backtracked in an attempt to cover up his self-incriminating tone "Of course he did... forget this, I don't need Asano getting mad at me for bothering his girlfriend."

"He's not my boyfriend and you don't have to be so hostile towards me, if you don't want to participate it's alright."

"Not your boyfriend?" Akio laughed as if it were the most ridiculous statement he'd heard come out of anyone's mouth. He blocked out anything else she'd said and honed in on that.

"The entire school knows the real reason you're in council."

She felt her heart sink. "Are you trying to insinuate something?"

[Name] shouldn't care, it's only a rumor. Still, it was hard not to when a good amount of the student body targeted her on how she didn't deserve her position. No one else in the Big Six had to take the backlash she did. It wasn't fair. Why did people assume the worst?

This was the first time someone had the guts to say it directly to her. She worked hard for her spot but her success was attributed to some guy going and "handing" it to her.

Just as she was about to wack Akio with the clipboard in her hand, Akio held his breath. A tall red-haired guy wearing a dress-code-violating uniform and a creepy smile was standing right behind him.

[Name] stared at the stranger's face a little longer, oh- that's the guy Asano constantly complains about!

He grabbed Akio's shoulder in an overly friendly manner. "Did you think you'd get away from me?" Karma's voice dripped with confidence, he was confrontational and clearly didn't run away from a fight. A weird guy, his tone was friendly; the same way you'd talk to an old friend. It was comforting in an uncomfortable way, his words didn't match his attitude at all.

The life drained from Akio's face, he went pale and rigid.

"I'm having trouble deciding what to do. I could beat your face in before I take the wallet back, or you can give me everything you have on you, clothes and all. You can keep the underwear."

"You can have it back! I swear I didn't take money out of it!"

"You're funny, I don't just want it back. Not after you made me run around the block ."

Akio dropped everything he had on the floor, Nagisas wallet, [Names] bag, his pants... Karma laughed at the sight of Akio running off like his life depended on it.

It was a cute laugh, a little maniacal considering the circumstances, but cute.

"This is like hitting the lottery... Nagisa had 10 bucks in that old thing- That blockhead carries hundreds!" He was excitedly talking to himself like a child opening an early Christmas gift.

"Karma! There you are! I finally caught up. Huh? Where'd Akio go? God, please don't tell me you actually killed him..."

Nagisa was holding his stomach for support, completely out of breath and a few minutes late. He must've gotten lost while Karma was chasing Akio.

"Even better, check this out!"

He tossed both wallets to Nagisa, Then Karma opened up [Names] bag and started rummaging through it.

[Name] spoke up softly, even though the belongings were hers she felt pretty out of place after watching the whole ordeal go down. She wasn't keen on being next.

"Hi um, that's my stuff."

Karma gave her a suspicious glance out of the corner of his eyes. "Are you trying to rip my steal?"

She shook her head no in rapid motion.

Nagisa gave a panicked expression, "Karma don't be rude! She's in our class, she always brings that bag."

Karma furrowed his eyebrows in response, "Really? I never noticed ya."

He tossed the bag back into [Names] arms, "Heads up." She dropped her clipboard when meaning to catch her bag.

"What's that stack of papers for?" Nagisa asked while picking the board back up.

"It's just a survey I'm having people fill in for the school."

Karma tapped his open palm with his balled-up fist, a lightbulb moment, "Now I remember you! You're the square's girlfriend!" A little late, but at least he had some sort of recollection of [Names] existence.

[Name] was visibly taken aback, he did not just say that.

"Seriously where did that rumor come from? Asano would put a bullet in his head before going out with me."

Nagisa gave an awkward chuckle, clearly, he was only being polite. "Sorry about Karma, we can answer the survey if you still need people."

"You'd do that for me? Thank you! I have like fifty more to collect."

"Anytime, it's no problem!"

It was a really sweet gesture until the mood got spoiled by the delinquent behind him who didn't share the same enthusiasm.

"Do I have to? There are plenty of other people to choose from."

While Nagisa started going through and checking boxes [Name] couldn't help but focus on Karma. In contrast to his perfect hair and face his uniform was completely wrong. He could get into trouble if a teacher notices then it'll become a bigger problem than it has to be.

[Name] took a step closer and began to fix his outfit the best she could. She straightened up his blazer and buttoned up his collared shirt.

He wasn't sure what to do with himself as she lectured him about cleaning up his look. He focused on her hands. "Your shirt's unbuttoned, the blazers on wrong and I have an extra tie in my locker so you can have mine if you want."

He smiled and gave her a weird look, "No thanks I'm not a big fan, ties are suffocating."

He'd gotten told off millions of times by the councilors and teachers over dress code but this was the first time a girl his age nagged him about it. What was her deal? "Sorry if I sound pushy, I'm only looking out for you."

Looking out for him, that's a first.

"Nah it's okay, your shoes are untied by the way."

She looked down to check completely forgetting they didn't have laces. "Hm? But they aren't."

He laughed again, this time not like a sadistic weirdo. "Made you look! Are you always that gullible?"

Back then, [Name] and Karma didn't know they'd eventually become the most important people to one another.

He's always there when she needs it, that's what sets him apart from anyone else. [Name] thinks this makes her over-reliant, and needy. She hopes he won't grow sick of her. In that way they're the perfect pair, behind his poker-faced facade Karma is worrying about the same thing, hopefully, she never gets sick of him.

[solecize]

  ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ  𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐅𝐀𝐑𝐌𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐒𝐄 | 𝐣𝐮𝐧𝐠𝐤𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐱 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫

𝐒𝐔𝐌𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐘: every summer on your grandpa's farm was real-life magic to your younger self, who left a piece of her heart in amber valley when the years went on and the town became nothing but a faint childhood memory. soon enough, you become rocked by his death and realize the dead end in your bustling city world. this leads to you making an abrupt decision.

despite knowing nothing but designer purses and the corporate ladder, you uproot your entire life to take over your grandfather's old farm in the town you were desperately trying to remember - alongside a familiar face from your youth that permanently finds his way into your heart.

𝐏𝐀𝐈𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐆: jungkook/reader 𝐓𝐀𝐆𝐒. inspired heavily by stardew valley, friends to lovers, childhood friends, cowboy jungkook, small town alternate universe, slice of life, grief, growing up, mutual pining 𝐖𝐎𝐑𝐃 𝐂𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐓. 4.6k 𝐍𝐎𝐓𝐄𝐒. writing fluff has drained me prepare to only feel pain from this point on

part four: the routine, the posters and the dancefloor  ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ   ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ   ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ previous. next. masterlist

 ix. the routine

  like many residents in the town, the saloon eventually became apart of your regular weekly routine. you found yourself in a booth every weekend, not necessarily to wind down with a drink on each visit, but to enjoy the company of those around you. after hitting the commencement of your mid-twenties, you lacked a ‘third place’ and a community you could lean on.

  “can you guys pay attention? this is the call to adventure in the hero’s journey,” yoongi snapped, interrupting a poorly hidden conversation between jungkook and namjoon. the two ceased talking in a way a child caught by their mother would. 

  similarly, the saloon served its purpose as a third place to your newfound friends. you learned about a book club hosted bimonthly by yoongi, which you were encouraged to observe, in hopes that they would gain a new member. there was a regular karaoke night, which jimin was apparently the reigning champion of, with the highest score seen amongst patrons. then, there were people like taehyung and seokjin, who came regularly to just participate and engage in whatever was going on that night.

  hoseok, as the manager of the pub, made every other friday fun with themed nights. tonight was salsa night and apparently, he did not warn yoongi of this, who also did not inform hoseok that book club night was moved.

  “i can barely hear you!” jungkook defended himself, hands in the air. 

  you’d been smiling and nodding the entire time in oblivion yourself, as the rapid dance steps and salsa music drowned out most of your surroundings. at least someone spoke up, you just wanted to be polite in consideration of yoongi’s invite to the club. 

  to your left, seokjin was dancing with mrs. oh, who was the middle-aged lady that owned the general store where jungkook worked. he originally arrived as a member of the book club, but was swept away by the addicting beat of salsa. he’d spent the last 10 minutes trying to convince the group to join in.

  “are you guys done now?” seokjin called out, having watched yoongi shut his book in frustration.

  namjoon nudged yoongi. “let’s postpone today’s meeting!”

  you laughed as yoongi made a dismissive gesture, which was cue for everyone to disperse from the corner that the club occupied. the others stood up, presumably to either grab a drink or join in on the festivities. meanwhile, namjoon tapped your arm when you rose, indicating for you to wait.

  “just wanted to check in to see how the farm’s going,” he began. “you know, our families have been close for years, so you’re basically family, too - even if i wasn’t around much during your time here before.”

  you got a sense that namjoon had his head on straight and while grounded, seemed so much bigger than the town. those around you seemed to respect him a lot. his kind attitude showed you why.

  “it’s a work in progress,” were the only words you could use. “i’m very lucky that my mom was looking over the property after my grandpa passed and even more lucky that jungkook was also looking after it.”

  namjoon’s raised eyebrows as if this was the first time he was hearing about this. “oh, he was? dang.”

  it was kind of sweet to think about - jungkook sneaking around to take care of the place out of the goodness of his heart. amidst that, though, it seemed like there was a lot on his plate, so you brought it up to namjoon.

  “yeah, he has jiwon and jiwon’s a good kid, but she’s still a kid to look after. of course, no one wanted to see her split up from jungkook and she would have likely been sent out of town to be matched with a foster family,” he sighed. 

  a few weeks prior, when jungkook first showed up to your front door to fulfill his promise of helping you fix your windows, is when you first began wondering about jungkook’s home life and where jiwon was. you also learned that day about how selfless he really was.

  summer vacation was in full swing by that june morning, with the sun beating you to a pulp and the only thing on your mind being corn season. that, and the anticipation of a handsome man expected on your doorstep at any given moment.

  your day begun at five a.m, but you made your best efforts to not let that show by ensuring your appearance was kempt prior to your visitor’s arrival. after tending to your morning tasks, you soon received the text that jungkook was at the front, as you were elsewhere on the property. specifically, you were fighting for your life attempting to close the garage shut. yet another repair needed to be addressed.

  hey, i’m out back. give me a few.

  it took twenty minutes out of your morning to shower and change into clothes that didn’t smell like cow shit because you didn’t want to look like a mess in front of jungkook. all for it to get ruined getting sweaty from putting all of your bodily strength into a broken garage door. there was no way you were going to admit you did all of that - though, you did mentally prepare yourself when you sent your reply to his text.

  a few minutes passed and you could make out jungkook approaching you from a distance. you waved, even though you wanted him to stay put and not walk all the way around. the sight of him briefly reminded you of when the two of you used your grandpa’s farmland to play hide and seek, running across the same fields you stood on. 

  “oh, i should’ve warned you about that,” jungkook started, putting a slight jog into his step as he came closer. “that garage door broke just before your grandpa passed.”

  you made an exaggerated, wide-eyed expression. “broken? oh, i was just fighting the door for fun, what do you mean?” you made sure your glare intensfied when he laughed at you. “would have been great to mention before i lost years of my life trying to close this thing.”

  “sorry, bunny,” jungkook replied, as he stepped past you carefully and put a hand on your arm as he did so. 

  he looked up at the door from the inside and smiled thinly. you mimicked his moves, trying to make out at what exactly he was inspecting. you knew farm and you knew finance, but you certainly did not know anything about repairing things. 

  “how did my grandpa get the tractor out if this door has been broken?”

  “crop production lowered in recent years because his body couldn’t handle as much. it was a low priority repair because we used the smaller one parked out by the front shed,” jungkook explained. “honestly, it’s quick fix, just looks like the cable and rollers need to be replaced.”

  you shrugged it off and checked the time. “well, this is a problem for another day.”

  as you began walking off, jungkook followed you with the same pace. you genuinely did not want to have another to-do item in your sight before you were finished with the rest of the day ahead of you. a list dedicated to repairs was an idea that you’d been toying around with, but you were afraid of how overwhelming it was going to be.

  “not to rain on your parade, buuut on my way, i noticed that your coop’s fencing might need to be replaced.”

  it was as if he read your mind. you would’ve been frustrated, but the irony was too funny to ignore. you did notice the fencing and it was definitely already on your hypothetical repair list. as a response, you only grunted and moved along.

  as you led him back into the house, the two of you made small talk. it was still odd to you, picking up a friendship where you left it off from thirteen years ago. the dynamic seemed to ease up, the more time you spent together, but you had to remind yourself that it was indeed thirteen years since you last saw jungkook and that meant thirteen years of catching up.

  “so, are you off work today?” you asked, as jungkook brought in a toolbox from the porch. 

  jungkook set his tools down by the front shoe rack, rolling up his sleeves slightly. “kinda. i don’t really have a set work schedule, i’ve just been helping out mrs. oh whenever she needs me. i did tell her i would be busy this morning, though.”

  you met remembered the oh family from when you were younger and they always gave you and jungkook free ice cream and twenty bucks each when you cleaned their store’s front windows. mr. oh was a high-ranking military general and mrs. oh owned the town general store since taking it over from her mother. their youngest son was born the last year you had visited amber valley as a child. 

  “their kid is old enough to man the front counter, huh?” you joked.

  he chuckled. “yeah. he’s in that weird pre-teen phase, though, acting like he’s cooler than everyone and anything. he used to hang out with jiwon all the time and now his new best friend is his ps5.”

  “aw, poor girl.”

  “right? too bad, hope he grows out of it. you know,” jungkook paused, glancing at the picture on the wall, “they reminded me of me and you.”

  the picture was of you, no older than eight, in faded overalls and the toothiest grin. it was untouched when you moved in and must have been framed sometime after you stopped visiting the town, having not recognized it when you came in. you didn’t have the heart to move it, knowing your grandpa put it up while you were gone. 

you weren’t sure what to say. “i hope she’s a better behaved kid than you were,” you remarked teasingly.

  “i was an angel compared to you,” jungkook shot back, rolling his eyes. “but, yeah, she’s a great kid. hardly gives me trouble. besides, anything i’ve ever needed help with? my friends, the oh family, mayor kim - i got the best support in the world.”

  pride and gratitute were intertwined in jungkook’s voice, as if he watched back the last six years before his very eyes. you couldn’t even imagine what that could have looked like. he was so young, just two months younger than you, and the idea of having the responsibility over a child at your age, much less younger, was unfathomable. 

  you didn’t want to push the subject of jiwon too much, knowing the circumstances, but you were appreciative of how jungkook allowed himself to open up to you. you leaned on the wall, listening to him talk about his little sister and it was clear he loved her very much.

  “you’re lucky to have that kind of community around you,” you said.

  “it’s your community, too, now.”

  you didn’t realize it, but you soon had spent a good chunk of time talking to jungkook, as he began the process of replacing your windows. there were other things you had to tend to outside, but the conversation flowed so naturally. at some point, you brewed a fresh pot of coffee and handed a mug to jungkook, interrupting his installation of what he explained was exterior stop moulding. 

  you were nodding your head, listening to him explain his employment situation with the oh family. “that’s real nice of you.” although jungkook had a very flexible schedule, he essentially helped with the operational portion of the store that mr. oh used to cover before he was first deployed overseas.

  “thank you for the coffee - anyway, they did so much for me when i first started taking care of jiwon, of course i would lend a hand.” he took the hot cup gratefully, cautiously taking a sip. “mr. oh hasn’t always been overseas, but even when he comes back, it’s just my full-time job at this point. they pay well and mrs. oh watches jiwon when i need it.”

  you replied, “if you don’t mind me asking, what were you doing before you worked at the store?”

when you were little, jungkook had always been academically gifted. he loved books and always used to brag about how he got better grades than you did. you always thought he was the type to leave amber valley and find success elsewhere.

  “honestly, there wasn’t really a ‘before,’ bunny. it kinda just went from me being in high school to me having to look after my sister. i worked part-time with jimin’s family when i was a teenager, sorting fish bait, if that’s what you mean,” jungkook was trying to be light-hearted, but you felt bad. 

  he noted your silence and said, “remember when we were kids and we promised to go to the same university when we grew up? and you’d show me the city instead of me showing you the valley?”

  “that was the plan,” you sighed. you nearly forgot about that and you could vaguely recall a pinky-swear being attached to that promise. “maybe there’s a universe where that happened.”

  in a phone call sometime earlier with your mom, she casually joked that she always thought that you and jungkook were going to get married. she and his mom made that bet when you were kids, mirroring the competitive spirit passed down to the two of you. you tried imagining falling in love with jungkook on campus - study dates in the library and sneaking into each other’s dorm rooms, all while being academic rivals in the lecture hall. 

  the man in front of you was neither the jungkook in your youthful fantasies or the little boy that collected seashells with you. nostalgia and daydreaming were dangerous things that couldn’t be trusted. just like you, he grew up. 

  eventually, you declared yourself a distraction and excused yourself from the living room to take care of the rest of your chores. catching up was nice, but you thought it would be better to take it slow. checking in on jungkook every half hour, it was early in the afternoon when he was finished replacing both sets of windows. 

  the sun was still unforgiving and the humidity was no different. the air conditioning system in your house was mediocre at best and there was a stand fan right where jungkook was working, along with two in the living room. you came in to offer jungkook another water bottle when he excitedly showed you his finished product.

  “not bad, huh?” he folded his arms across his chest.

  you observed his work and shook your head, impressed. “more than ‘not bad,’ jungkook. the new panels look amazing - thank you so much. i really, really appreciate it.” 

  it was hard to believe that he installed brand-new windows in such a short time span and the contrast was especially stark, given how old the broken set was. you’d been prepared to pay him for his work, but he warned you earlier that he would “beat you up” if you did so. something about revenge for spending years throwing rocks at him. 

  he grinned, as he began gathering his tools. you were a bit sad, which confused you until you realized why. however, you decided that this unresolved attraction would best be dealt with on a day where you didn't waste almost two hours talking to the man in question. you still ended up deciding this while staring at the way his tattoos looked against his flexed muscles. 

  “so, i’ll come by again for the fence?”

  “wait, what?” this question snapped you back into reality. the fence? you remembered what jungkook pointed out upon his arrival.

  he looked at you, seemingly feigning confusion. “yeah, you said you’d let me fix the fence.”

  “no, i didn’t. are you messing with me?” you narrowed your eyes at the way he slowly blinked at you. 

  “yeah, you said i can come by sometime in the middle of the week.”

  there was no way you promised such a thing. “you brat, when did i say that?”

  the conversation diverted your attention away from the way jungkook quickly bounced up and was opening the front of your door. he waved you goodbye and that he would text you before you could even process it. you made a beeline from the door, but that man was a damn fast walker.

  “have a nice day, y/n!” he yelled from afar and you could hear the laughter jump out in his tone. he knew what he was doing. 

  from that day on, you continued finding yourself in the whirlwind that was jeon jungkook. it’d been a few weeks and about two days in each week where jungkook has paid you a visit with a different excuse of a repair to “help” you out with. though you knew it was bullshit, the crinkle at the corner of his eyes everytime he greeted you at your front door showed that he knew the same.

  there was a silent agreement between the two of you that no one paid attention to when it was just the two of you in the farmhouse. even though you would have refused back and forth had jungkook actually asked if you wanted help, you took anywhere from one hour to a couple just talking to him. one of the times, he insisted he check the condition of your chimney for you. this occasion was more than obvious for the both of you, as you sat on your grandpa’s stiff, old porch bench the entire time and didn’t seem to mind.

  the routine of jungkook helping you out on the farm was getting dangerous. when you packed up all of your worldly possessions and abandoned your old life, you promised yourself that this was a new chapter for yourself. there was never a man in the picture or the end goal and the last person you thought it would be was the little boy that you once called your best friend.

  on the third day of jungkook’s mission to use your grandpa’s property as a level of house-flipper, you made lunch for the both of you. 

  “it’s really not a big deal, i ate before i came here.”

  jungkook was busy smashing a rail into place with a mallet when you approached. you clutched your cardigans a little closer to yourself, as the wind outside took aback. you looked up and silver clouds muddled in the sky. it was hard to tell because of the lack of sun, but it was nearing two p.m. 

  “you came here in the morning!” you huffed, tapping your feet. 

  it was a great deal of confidence in your chest for you to think that no one was more stubborn than you were. as much as you deflected help from jungkook, you were certainly beating his level of persistence. at this point, you would just have to shove food into jungkook’s mouth for you to take it over the top.

  he made an exasperated sigh. “bro, i forgot how annoying you can get.” even though jungkook stood firm with “helping” you with repairs, he was no match for your insistence.

  “let’s go - chop, chop.” your voice was dry, as you took the hammer from his hand yourself. 

  you turned to place the hammer back into jungkook’s tool box when you felt the first kiss of a storm on your bare legs. the sky never lied. you tilted your head up to meet the clouds again, but this time, the rain was sharp and doubled, then tripled. you heard jungkook call out your name from behind you.

  “this doesn’t look good, let’s go,” he said, taking the denim jacket tied around his waist. the cold sensation lightened on your back and you realized it was because he was holding the jacket between the two of you, with his right arm pulling you to his side and his left arm enveloping your body. 

  a clap of thunder interrupted your daze. you wondered if amber valley always stormed like this in your childhood or if you only embraced the happy, sunny parts. the town lived in your memories surrounded by dazzling waters and a rainbow, just like everything else did when you were nine. 

  you tried keeping up with jungkook’s pace, but your legs were failing. “can you slow down?” you panted. 

  jungkook couldn’t help but snort aloud. “if this was a zombie apocalypse, you’d be dead right now.” when you stomped on his foot with intention, he finally relented and slowed down for you, laughing when he did so. 

  the chicken coop was on the other end of the property from the farmhouse, so you were struggling for several minutes trying to make it back. the whole time, you and jungkook continued laughing at one another and cracking jokes. it made you momentarily forget your surroundings of a growing storm.

  the two of you stumbled onto the back porch, up the steps and nearly fell on top of each other. jungkook tightened his arms around you when he saw that you were about to miss a step and you let out a breathy “thank you” through your giggling. he shook his head and dropped his grip when the two of you made it under the gable roof. you shivered when he did so.

  “you didn’t check the weather forecast?” you wheezed, checking to see if your phone was in your pocket. 

  jungkook defended, “neither did you, genius.” 

  you two paused for a moment, before bursting out into laughter again and you looked out to see the unrelenting rain. when you looked back, you wondered if jungkook was standing this close to you the entire time. you also wondered if he could tell that you were trying not to look at the way his wet t-shirt clung to his body. daring to meet his eyes, you nearly choked on your own breath when you saw that he was looking at you, too. 

  his gaze lowered and then he cleared his throat. “well, that’s too bad. i was making good progress,” jungkook also turned to stare at the grey skies and flashes of lightning.

  “i guess you can just come tomorrow.”

  the statement surprised even yourself when it left your lips. jungkook raised an eyebrow at you, before nodding slowly and the corners of his lips quirked to form that charming, gentleman smile. you couldn’t help but turn around to hide your own smile, instead telling jungkook to stop standing outside like an idiot. the agreement was no longer silent.

  x. the posters

  around your newfound friends, the dynamic between you and jungkook never changed. it did leave less room for tension, though, and you saw more of the upbeat, heart-of-gold jungkook that he displayed for the rest of the world. despite that, some caught on faster than the others.

  “if i knew you guys were going to bicker the entire time, i would’ve just asked someone else. seokjin literally offered. or, actually, i’m pretty sure that even jiwon would have been better than the two of you. doesn’t matter if she can’t reach up that high.”

  the day prior, namjoon asked you if you and jungkook wanted to help him put up posters around town for the midsummer fair. it didn’t occur to you to question why he asked you for jungkook’s presence, but you ended up roping him into it anyway. unfortunately for namjoon, the two of you ended up arguing the entire time.

  “but, i’m right. aren’t i, namjoon?” you prodded. “jungkook’s idea is horrible!”

  jungkook shrugged. “why? it’s eye-catching.”

  “there is no way anyone will agree to dressing up as a clown to hand out fliers. we’re going to scare the kids away.”

  “tell her otherwise, future mayor kim,” jungkook said to namjoon, who groaned. 

  the reason why namjoon was tasked with the promotion of the midsummer fair was simply because his father told him to. it was a town event and he was always expected to lend a hand to whatever his dad needed him for. it seemed like every time he had to do something, it was all performed with reluctance.

  “oh, god. don’t start, you have no idea what speech my dad gave to me earlier today about ‘being a leader,’” namjoon shook his head. 

  you furrowed your brows. “oh, are you planning to run for mayor soon?”

  “definitely not,” namjoon instantly responded, not an ounce of hesitation in sight. “i have a master’s degree in fine arts, the last thing i want to do is be a politician.” the laugh namjoon gave was hollow. 

  “what we would all do to not be trapped here,” murmured jungkook and you almost missed it. 

  your gaze met his and quiet smiles were exchanged. there was an air of comfort grounding the two of you, now that you knew the weight behind those words and jungkook’s sacrifices. you did, however, miss the way namjoon caught this shared smile and turned around, keeping it to himself and letting the moment remain between you two only. 

  xi. the dancefloor

  during salsa night at the saloon, jungkook seemed to be in every corner of the room except yours. it had been a few days since you last saw him, with his latest excuse for the farmhouse being chalking on your silo’s roof. you didn’t even know what that meant, but you stopped arguing the same way he stopped insisting that you didn’t have to make him food. instead, you began texting him about what time he was coming, while he began taking leftovers home, since you always “accidentally” made too much food. 

  you and namjoon continued to chat when jimin breezed by, plopping down beside you. he was sitting off to the side of the dancefloor the entire time, lazily sipping a beer and talking to hoseok.

  “because i would embarrass everyone with my moves,” was jimin’s answer when you asked him why he wasn’t participating.

  namjoon chuckled. “he sounds like he’s joking, but he’s an insane dancer.”

  “it sounds like you’re good at everything, park jimin,” you teased.

  “you know who’s not good at anything?” it seemed like this wasn’t his first beer of the night. “jungkook. he’s horrible at pretending to not look at you. you should go up to him, i think he wants something.”

  there was a sense of confusion, but even with jimin under the influence, you also saw the way namjoon leaned back in his seat. it was as if he was relieved that someone other than himself spoke up about it. turning your head, you immediately caught jungkook’s stare, which he retracted like touching fire. 

  you widened your eyes. “is there something on my face?” 

  “no, you’re just a woman that he likes that’s wearing a nice dress,” jimin deadpanned. 

  “you’re a funny drunk, jimin,” you shook your head, chuckling. what he said didn’t even register in your brain. 

  to your side, namjoon only sighed. he stood up all of a sudden, tugging jimin in the opposite direction. you were confused even more. in a second, jungkook appeared in front of you and your words immediately left your body. 

  “book club over?” he asked, scanning the room to where the others dispersed off to. 

  bewildered at the dissolution of the club meeting, you could only shrug. you weren’t sure what even happened. then, you looked up at him and smiled. 

  you said, “jeon jungkook, you’re not going to embarrass me by asking me to dance, are you?”

  “i would never embarrass you. i’m definitely a much better dancer than you, anyway.” jungkook winked and extended his hand, gesturing for you to join him. 

  without missing a beat, you grabbed his hand and got up from your seat. thankfully, the senior community of the town was loving salsa night and made up most of the crowd. you and jungkook were able to hide your horrible dancing in between the retirees going wild.

𝐓𝐀𝐆 𝐋𝐈𝐒𝐓. @sstrongstyletyle @wobblewobble822@taiwan0618 @seokout @firelcrds @xwniazx

[femininenachos]

10 years of Clexa kisses (Make America Gay Again edition)

“Look, Lexa, I get that you’re reluctant to resort to underhand tactics but destroying his reputation might be the only way to bring him down. If you haven’t got the stomach for it…”

“I didn’t say that.” Lexa’s jaw tightens. A few seconds elapse then she lets out a long, drawn out sigh. “Whatever I think of his politics or his character, it’s hard not to retain some affection for the man who raised me.”

Lexa places her untouched glass of water on the coffee table. She stares at her lap, adjusting the hem of her skirt.

“He wasn’t always like this.” Her voice is sadder, more subdued when she adds, “After my mother passed away, he changed.” She appears to fold in on herself a little, spine sagging under the weight of this admission. “Not that he was ever an open-minded, tolerant person but he was more… moderate, I suppose. Less entrenched in his views.” A muscle ticks in Lexa’s cheek. “Grief transformed him beyond recognition.”

Clarke is up and moving before it really occurs to her what she’s doing. She sinks into the seat beside Lexa, like her presence, the nearness might bring comfort.

“Part of me always hoped he’d mellow,” Lexa continues. “That eventually he would come around to scientific fact over religious dogma. Or, I don’t know, he’d be swayed by an appeal to his sense of humanity or whatever shred of common decency remains.”

“It’s still possible.”

A wan smile tugs at Lexa’s mouth. “I think we both know that isn’t true.”

There’s a lull.

Until Clarke speaks up. “I lost my Dad when I was seventeen. Natural causes. If you can say that about an outwardly fit and healthy forty-two year old man. He was fine one day and the next,” she puffs out her cheeks and blows out a slow breath, “gone. He suffered a massive myocardial infarction while he was out running. Rare genetic heart disorder. Nobody knew.”

Lexa reels back slightly, brows shooting up. “Genetic…?”

“I got tested. I don’t have it.”

The relief that drains through Lexa’s face is instantaneous, but Clarke refuses to dwell on what it means.

“I’m so sorry, Clarke. Were you close?”

A nod. “We loved watching soccer games and old movies together. We had the same dorky sense of humour and it drove Mom crazy.”

The way Lexa looks at her now, eyes glowing with soft sympathy, makes Clarke’s throat constrict, a hard lump of emotion wedging itself in her esophagus. But she finds the strength to keep going.

“Bereavement affects people in different ways. There’s no timetable, no universal coping mechanism. My Mom—she’s a surgeon—threw herself into work. I hardly saw her for the first six months afterwards. Any time I tried to talk about Dad she shut down, stopped the conversation and left the room. It took her years just to get to the point where she could even mention his name in front of me. We’re in a better place now. We talk. But it was kind of a fraught journey to get there.”

Clarke allows Lexa to process the exposition dump in silence for a moment.

She sighs at last. “I guess what I’m saying is: it’s never too late for personal growth, even for Titus fucking Woods.”

They share a wry glance and the tightness in Clarke’s throat recedes, the band of pressure around her ribs loosening.

“I hope you’re right,” Lexa says, so softly. And there’s something about the brittleness of her smile that tugs at Clarke in a way she can’t explain.

“Would it be too weird if I hugged you?” Seeing the surprise register on Lexa’s features, Clarke quickly backtracks. She waves it off. “Yeah, of course. It’s weird. Stupid question. Never mind.”

“Clarke.”

“Forget I said anything.”

Lexa puts her hand on Clarke’s wrist and, clichéd as it is, Clarke feels a spark shoot up her arm at the touch of their skin.

“I don’t usually—I’m not really one for—” Lexa presses her lips together. She shuts her eyes briefly. Resets and tries again. “If the offer is still open, I think I’d like that hug. Please.”

It’s the thin, strained ‘please’ that gets to Clarke most.

Awkwardness ensues. There’s a bit of logistical trial and error, a wordless negotiation of whose arm goes where, an exchange of sheepish smiles. But as soon as Clarke’s arms wrap around Lexa’s shoulders and she feels Lexa’s hands slide across her back through the fabric of her sweater, it’s like something clicks into place.

The sensations hit her dizzyingly all at once. If she thought Lexa smelled incredible before, it’s overwhelming now. Her hair and her perfume and the scent of her skin. As covertly as possible, Clarke breathes it all in. And it strikes her how warm Lexa is. Warm and soft, despite her thin frame, and Clarke wants to melt into it. Attuned to the pressure of each finger against her spine, she’s hyper aware of every place that they’re touching: chests flush, knees knocking, the soft strands of Lexa’s hair tickling her cheek. Clarke’s chest aches with the urge to pull Lexa tighter against her, to press her nose against Lexa’s throat, to let her mouth—

A light expulsion of air close to her ear sends a tingle rolling down Clarke’s spine. She can’t hide her body’s reaction, can’t prevent the sharp intake of breath. It’s a reflex; beyond her control.

It snaps her out of this haze.

God, what the fuck is she doing?

There isn’t really a graceful way to disengage, especially when Lexa seems reluctant to let go. They both inch back, arms still loosely looped around one another, and Clarke makes the stupid mistake of catching Lexa’s eye.

There’s a moment.

An infinite moment of stillness where neither of them move.

A look on Lexa’s face that shakes Clarke to the core, that causes her stomach to plummet, heat coiling low in her belly. It’s that same hot gleam in Lexa’s eyes that Clarke glimpsed on the train but magnified to the extreme, pupils large and black enough to swallow her whole.

Lexa’s half-lidded gaze keeps flicking between Clarke’s mouth and her eyes.

She can’t remember anyone looking at her with this much thirst.

It makes her head spin.

“Clarke.”

Her name from Lexa’s lips seems like the most loaded word in the English language, a 12-gauge round that obliterates the last of Clarke’s self-control.

She isn’t sure who reaches for the other first, her own hand sliding across Lexa’s jaw as Lexa’s palm cups the back of her neck.

All that matters is that Lexa’s mouth is soft and eager, and she makes a noise that sends a warm flood of excitement through Clarke when she licks inside.

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