#happy birthday chaos monkey!!

[leviiackrman]

Tag list (ask to be added or removed): @carrionsflower @statichvm @risingsh0t @simonxriley @tommyarashikage @kanos @confidentandgood @unholymilf @florbelles @thedeadthree @shellibisshe @roofgeese @aezyrraeshh @faerune @tekehu @jackiesarch @minaharkers @sergeiravenov @carlosoliveiraa @rosenfey @greenecreek @queennymeria @heroofpenamstan @virginlucanis @jamessunderlandgf @d-esmond @solasan @bigbywlf @delzinrowe @fenharel @imogenkol

POKO RIKIHISA (jujutsu kaisen)

Happy Birthday Poko! [October 26th]

[ellecdc]

⚡️ - angst, ☀️ - fluff, ⛅️ - hurt/comfort, 🌶️ - smut/spicy, 🌈 - crack [comedy] 🫧 = elle’s favourites

Jegulus Our Keeper (poly!jegulus x fem!reader who plays keeper for slytherin) ⛅️🫧 Sweet Drunk Lovie (poly!jegulus x fem!reader after a bachelorette party)🌈🫧 a delicate touch (poly!jegulus tries to woo shy!reader) ☀️ it takes (3) to tango (swapping ties outs your relationship with both boys) ☀️ showering woes (fem!reader thinks they need a bigger shower)🌈

Rosekiller their 'platonic' girlfriend (poly!rosekiller x fem!reader who realize it's love)🌈 -> that has to be new? (jegulily + wolfstar speculate poly!rosekiller)☀️ why'd you only call me when you're high? - Arctic Monkeys (poly!rosekiller's version)⚡️⛅️🫧 spoiled (poly!rosekiller loves to spoil their girl) 🌈 threats of shopping (fem!reader needs more clothes, apparently)☀️ Evan's little freak (reader has a mentyB, the boys try to navigate it) ⛅️🌈 sugar cookies (fem!reader falls asleep decorating holiday cookies)❄️

MoonWaterKiller We can keep him (poly!moonwaterkiller x chaotic fem!reader)☀️ vitamin D (poly!moonwaterkiller x sick!reader fluff)⛅️🫧 Matilda - Harry Styles (poly!moonwaterkiller's version) ⛅️🫧 apple of the marauder tree (poly!moonwaterkiller + marauding child)🌈

poly!moonkiller x fem!reader -> stolen jumpers and Chanel No. 5☀️

DarkSun bloody afterparty (poly!darksun x fem!reader at a Gryffindor party)🌈 Sirius doesn't get it (poly!darksun x black cat!reader)☀️ The Hazards of Hiccoughs (poly!darksun)⛅️🫧 march with me (poly!darksun @ hhc with fem!reader) 🎃 the plight of the panties (the boys help nb!reader with period dysphoria) ⛅️ spiked woes & revenge (the boys comfort reader who was spiked) ⛅️ cuddles & cocoa (the boys convince reader to snuggle)❄️

DeathStar All's Fair in Love & Chaos - poly!DeathStar mini blurb series -> Happy birthday! It's a beautiful day to throw myself off the astronomy tower -> Please adhere to the previously agreed upon schedule -> supervised handoffs with an audience -> it's not your party, you can't cry if you want to

Moonchaser Sun Incarnate Jamie (poly!moonchaser x fem!reader reassuring James)⚡️ Go See Your Lover Boys (poly!moonchaser following a full moon) ⛅️🫧

Jily it's happening again (Jily pursue reader in a Potter fashion) 🌈 young love and potterisms (reader makes Lily blush, James loves them)☀️

Bartylus The most cunning Ravenclaw (poly!bartylus x fem!reader) 🌈🫧

Prongsfoot There's 3 of Them (poly!prongsfoot x fem!reader college au)🌈 one of us (prongsfoot meet their match in foxy!reader)🌈 mischief makes three (the battle of the jersey's)☀️

Lily Super Ice Cream (single mum!Lily Evans x fem!reader meet cute) ☀️ dentist!Lily (reader goes for a routine checkup) ☀️

🫧 = elle’s favourites

[scribblesofagoonerr]

WIPS | © scribblesofagoonerr

Disclosure: all fic titles are subject to change

last updated: 25/09/2024

chaos fc | reader!monkey

getaway racecar driver - monkey attends the f1 with leah and as usual it's very chaotic

standing ovation - monkey scores a goal during a big tournament and decides to celebrate with the fans much to leah's disagreement about it not being safe

rehab mischief - when it comes to monkey being injured along with vic it's a sure reciepe for distaster

pests are back in town! - monkey and kyra attempt to do a tiktok trend and it epically fails

buddy & monkey: double the trouble | reader!buddy x reader!monkey

i'm nothing but a burden - overhearing a conversation between some of the girls, monkey has self doubt that she's nothing but a problem to leah and jordan

first chirstmas - flash back to the first christmas after buddy is born and monkey has settled in

new adjustments - a flashback of life adjusting to a house with a newborn and teenager

improvised hair cut - buddy decides she wants to try and cut her own hair much to leah's horror while jordan finds the whole thing amusing

s'appin girl, ya alright? - monkey decides to try and teach buddy a new tiktok trend

swearing mishap - a second part of the the bubbles are pink, jackass where buddy uses her newfound potty mouth at jordan's house much to her amusement

bittersweet sixteen - monkey has never liked to celebrate her birthday and unfortunately, leah and jordan find that out the hard way

chronical yapper - it's the opening game of the 2024/25 season, arsenal v city game and buddy's overjoyed to sit with keira and her family for it, and of course she doesn't miss the opportunity to spend time with keira and yap her ear off

separate | leah williamson x reader!buddy x jordan nobbs

separate IIII - there's another challenge when it comes to going to bed

acting out | lia walti x teen reader x caitlin foord

fifth installment - there's improvement at the school after the bully is dealt with but there's still ongoing issues with reader

inner demons | leah williamson x teen reader

Leave me alone - aftermath of reader going to katie's after hearing what leah said

Make us proud, kid - reader starts to make her return to training

Not ever alone in this battle - there's a blip in reader's recovery

Only the lonely - reader still continues to struggles but tries to make out like things are fine

Progress is key - reader has an emotional breakthrough

Quitting seems like the easiest option right now - there's yet another setback in readers' recovery and she debates quitting football

Remember how far you've come - reader makes her return to the pitch

Stronger than you know - There's issues that arise when the Media seem to get a hold of information about readers' life

This is your moment to shine - the aftermath of the turmoil in readers past life

Unbelievably proud of you - reader continues to make progress

Vague moment of joy - reader experiences a fleeting but significant moment of happiness that brings a sense of normalcy

We're proud of you - A full year has passed since that night

X marks the spot - there's ups and downs in life but reader discovers' a significant turning point in life

You're gonna go far, kid - there's a minor setback of struggles for reader and it seems all too easy to give in to the temptations

Zooming all over the pitch - In the final part of the alphabet-themed journey, reader experiences a triumphant moment that symbolizes her growth and success

our wonder kid | beth mead x teen reader x vivianne miedema

we've got you, we're here - reader continues with her eating as her training becomes more intense

triumph return - reader makes her comeback after being out 9 months with her acl injury

like mother, like daughter | katie mccabe x child reader

christmas clash of colours - child reader is insistant that she wants a football top for christmas, however it's not the right team

split decisions two approaches, one love school trouble

three parts of child readers life during her teenage years dealing with the ups and downs of her mums' being separated and dealing with general teenage struggles

going pro injured first of many

three parts of child readers life during her adult years dealing with life issues

cookie monster saga | child reader x steph catley

down under in aus - reader and steph arrive in australia ahead of the world cup

mascot - reader gets to be steph's mascot during the opening game of the 2023 world cup although kyra and charli are fighting over reader being there's instead

under pressure | platonic reader x katie mccabe x caitlin foord

second parrt of fic where reader is the next up and coming big thing in women's football and she recieves a lot of media attention and one of the things is a cause of an eating disorder

tiny dancer | third installment of small bump

3 - 5 mini series of 5 five years later and the aftermath of readers' death and how it's taken a toll on leah and the kids' lives

grief is a funny thing sometimes | arsenal wfc x platonic reader

come back soon the weight of the news i'm not ready to say goodbye just yet

reader's brother dies on deployment and she goes through the 5 stages of grief with the support of her fellow team mates

[quitealotofsodapop]

In honor of my birthday, how do all the characters in LMK celebrate their/others birthdays?

Happy birthday! I hope its going well for you!

The only issue here is that not many of the immortal characters know their birthdays!

MK is the one who wants the "kiddie party" no matter how old he is. He wants the cake, the presents, the balloons, all the trimmings. Pigsy likely had to come up with a date (i've seen January 15th due to a note in MK's room) based on when he found MK in the canonverse.

Mei wants money and to left to her own chaos inside of an arcade/disco for a couple of hours. Sounds like what she'd do every other weekend right? WRONG. She's wearing a full flashy "birthday girl" outift with a tiara that declares her queen for the day. So you have to let her win at Monkey Mech if you're playing against her. Thats the rules.

Red Son hasn't celebrated his birthday in a long while because his dad wouldn't be there. I feel that the first birthday he truly celebrates if after the madness of S3. He wakes up to see that his mom and dad have set up a whole-all ball/gala to celebrate him. He gets overwhelmed quickly and has to hide away after an hour - MK and Mei acting as his distractions/grounding for the evening. Overwise Red Son would probably spend his birthday in his garage, probably "treating himself" to a luxury model car.

Sun Wukong and Macaque don't know what their birthdays are, so they just agree that it's the respective Solar and Lunar Solstices. Wukong in the book also identifies that he was born between 3 and 5pm (guess an older monkey told him), so I bet he waits until evening to start partying down. Mini havoc in heaven-level party on his good years. Macaque spends his birthday alone save for times he's treated to dinner by his sworn family/friends. At the end of the day they just want to spend their birthdays in eachother's arms.

Pigsy doesn't like acknowledging his birthday. Far too tied to his age. He does appreciate any bonus help around the kitchen on the day + brand new equipment as gifts though. Tang sees it as an excuse to be super PDA on the day too.

Tang becomes a "little king birthday" on his bday (mbmbam ref). He wants free noodles, he wants to be carried around, he schedules the next few days off work. He's insufferable to be around. Will take his entourage to fancy clubs and pay for their covers though.

Sandy is just delighted that people remembered! First time new friends wish him well or give him a gift, Sandy just starts crying. Loves getting new tea blends and novelty mugs. Treats himself to a day volunteering at the animal shelter.

Nezha doesn't like his birthday. Don't remind him... will enjoy a geniune personalised cake though.

[sirianasims]

Chapter 32

Never Grow Up

Less than a year later, Samuel and I were married.

The wedding was everything I’d dreamed of. I’m sure our parents would happily have paid for an enormous wedding if we’d asked them to. But that wasn’t our style.

All I wanted was a small, intimate affair with our closest friends and family while I said ‘I do’ to the love of my life. We rented the Myshuno Observatory. It almost felt like my grandma Cora was with us in spirit.

Even Charlie showed up. I knew it meant a lot to Samuel, although his brother couldn’t stay for long.

At least he was there for the ceremony, and he came over to congratulate us afterwards.

He said he had a flight to catch, his band was on tour at the moment. I suspected that he was also trying to avoid talking to Colten and Kailani.

I wondered if Charlie actually preferred his solitude, or if he secretly wanted to be a bigger part of his family than he was.

I was grateful that I got along with my own family, especially my sister Grace. I couldn’t believe that she would be starting high school after the summer, it felt like yesterday that I’d taught her how to cross the monkey bars in our backyard.

By the time Grace and I headed inside for the reception, Charlie was gone and Kailani was talking to Jessica. Jessica had volunteered to do the decorations, beautiful blush-coloured roses everywhere, my favourite.

We kept the wedding alcohol-free for my dad, and Griffin and Daria had offered to do all the food for us as a wedding gift. It was impressive, the entire menu was vegan since Griffin had also stopped eating meat after his first visit to the cadaver lab during medical training. I didn’t blame him, it sounded horrific. Samuel hadn’t seemed as bothered.

Over by the cake, Conrad was making my dad and Cecilia crack up with outrageous anecdotes. It was strange to see my parents interact with each other. It had happened before, of course, they had celebrated my birthday together a few times when I was younger, but I couldn’t remember if they had been in the same room since my mom and Conrad moved to Del Sol Valley.

Looking at the four of them now, it was impossible to tell that things had ever been bad between my parents. Still, I couldn’t imagine two people less likely to work out. They both had a certain desperation to them, and they both needed someone to temper them, not stoke the flames.

Conrad, with his extravagant approach to life, gave my mother a safe outlet, a way to release all that intensity so she didn’t blow up.

Cecilia, kind but unwavering, calmed my father down and turned his particular brand of chaos into something less destructive.

But who was I?

Was I like my dad, prone to holding on in an attempt to do the right thing until I finally self-destructed?

Or was I more like my mother, desperately trying to make people love me until I gave up and left them in the dust?

I needed to do better than both of them. I wanted everything to work out. I shook my head lightly, trying to chase away the dark thoughts. This was my wedding day, why was I only thinking about disaster?

I went to find Samuel. He pulled me close and kissed me.

This was what I needed. My husband.

Samuel would temper me, like Conrad and Cecilia tempered my parents.

We would be fine.

By the time we were back in our bed that night, I was both exhausted and deliriously happy.

I took Samuel’s hand, marvelling at the ring on his finger.

“I can’t believe we’re actually married.”

He sent me a mischievous smile.

“Me neither. But you better let go of my hand. I need it for something.”

I was glad that we’d had some practice over the last year, otherwise I might have chickened out of my wedding night completely.

Samuel was gentle, always making sure that I was satisfied.

A small part of me wished he’d be a little less restrained, that he would lose himself in it, the same way he made me lose myself, but it was still good.

beginning / previous / next

[count-alucard-tepes]

How would op hotties react to forgetting their wedding anniversary with their s/o?

Haha oh lord, here comes the chaos!

S/O: “…love, this is what I got you for our special day! What you get me?”

Kizaru ✨: *realizes what day it is and hears glass crack* “…oh I thought we’d go out today…why don’t you get ready, love?”

Akainu🌋: *curses under his breath* “…I took the weekend off for us to go on a trip…what do you think?”

Ryokugyu 🌱: *raises a brow* “…special day? It’s not my birthday…I think”

Fujitora 🐅: *literally has no idea what his S/O is talking about* “…every day with you is a special day, love…which one is this?”

Sir Crocodile 🐊: *smiles nervously* “…it’s a surprise at dinner tonight…” *excuses himself to call his jeweler to get something expensive and pretty for his S/O asap*

Doflamingo Donquixote 🦩: *realizes all hell is going to break loose* “…hehe…shall we go shopping…baby? Anything you want?”

Benn Beckman 🔫: *smiles weakly* “…I was just about to make you breakfast and…clean the entire house…for a week”

Katakuri Charlotte 🍡: *blushes uncontrollably as he foresees what is going to happen* “…I need to head out for a bit…I bring it later, okay? Pinky promise”

Killer🔪: *is literally on the verge of tears because he forgot* “…I’m gonna need a moment, love” *sprints off to town to grab some flowers*

Kaido🐉: “…I’m sorry, honey! Please stop chasing me!!!?!”

King 👑 : “…dammit…I’m in trouble”

Queen👑: “…please don’t kill me”

Izou🔫🔫: *grabs his S/O and distracts them with kisses*

Dragon D Monkey 🐉🐒:

Oven Charlotte 🍞: “…babe…I’m gonna be honest…I have no idea what you’re talking about….please don’t kill me”

Buggy🤡: “…someone send help please…I’m gonna die tonight”

Marco the Phoenix 🦅: *rubs the back of his neck nervously* “…maybe we could have a picnic on the beach…I’m doing the cooking, love”

Eustass Kidd🤘🎸:

Rosinantè Donquixote aka Cora-San💕:

Who’s-Who ❤️‍🔥👹: he gets real quiet, “…uh…oh yeah…the best prize is a surprise…so…you got to wait, kitten…” *internal panicking initiated*

Gecko Moria🦇: he gets paler than he already is, “…what…special day…love?”

Iceburg💜: he’d grabs Tyrannosaurus, “…this is gift…he’s all yours and these are happy tears…”

Gild Tesoro⚜️🏅: he’d grin awkwardly and use his powers to quickly make a unique necklace, “…here you go, love…let me put it on you!”

Rob Lucci🐆: he blushes in response and tries to act cool, “…I made a reservation at your favorite restaurant, of course…for tonight…you’ll get your gift later” *he’ll get an ‘urgent’ call from work and would disappear for an hour or so to organize everything*

Karasu🐦‍⬛: he is beyond upset upon realizing that he forgot their special day. He makes up by getting his S/O’s favorite flowers and writes them a poem.

[wanderlustqueen-writes]

Hello Alice 🤎

Sorry to sneak into your ask box but I loved 'The Truth is out there, but so is Love' and I need more X Files LeviHan!

I don't know if you take prompts but if you do I'd like to request a drabble based on this quote : "Mulder Levi, you just keep unfolding like a flower." (The X Files - S1 - Episode 12 "Fire"). Because I (and Hange) want to know more about Agent Ackerman's past!

Feel free to ignore this request of course!

Thank you

🤎🤎

Hi Livia! Thank you so much for your request and for your kind words. It makes me genuinely happy to know you liked this fic 💜💚

I'm sorry it's taken so long to reply to this, I was just having a hard time figuring out what to write. Then, I realized the first anniversary of The Truth Is Out There, But So Is Love was approaching, and everything fell into place. I hope you don't mind that I made your prompt into a celebratory drabble for the fic's anniversary! ________________________________________

Pairing: Levi Ackerman/ Hange Zoë Warnings: None. SFW and Fluff. Additional tags: The X Files AU, She/Her pronouns for Hange Zoë Wordcount: 1,4k

“The fuck is all this?”

Levi asked as he stepped into the basement office. Over the past months, he’d grown used to the crampiness of the space he shared with Agent Zoë who — much to her credit — had been trying to keep things clean, even if chaotic. But what he stared upon right now was a different kind of chaos. Colorful chaos.

The document boxes and cabinets were covered in metallic serpentine coils, which spilled to the ground, painting it red, green, and yellow. The wall of newspaper cutouts had some joyful additions: a picture of an alleged alien head now had a tiny pink birthday hat over it, the severed arm that an article claimed to belong to a victim of the Jersey Devil held a little slice of cake over its hand. Dozens of purple balloons clung to the ceiling, trying to escape the havoc, their curling ribbons hanging so low one of them grazed at Agent Ackerman’s cheek. Levi pushed the strip away, only to have it prickling at his skin a second later.

“Tch. It looks like Party City took a dump in here.”

“I know, right??” The excited voice called from the other side of the room. Agent Zoë sat at her table, face turned to the opposite wall, exactly like the day they met. Her hair was chaotic as always, brown strands moving as she lowered her head to fiddle with something. Levi watched as his partner set aside a small box, and the smell of smoke mixed with something sweet diffused in the air. Hange put on a polka-dotted cone hat before swiftly turning her chair in his direction, smiling from ear to ear.

“Happy birthday, Levi!”

The agent frowned as he inspected the rainbow sprinkle cupcake she held out to him, especially the “1” shaped candle that topped it.

“I’m 32.”

He moved his gaze to her.

“And it’s not my birthday.”

“Well,” Hange started, reaching for his hand to give him the sweet treat “Since I don’t know your birth date, I figured we could celebrate your first year in the X-Files. It’s been exactly 365 days since you walked through that door for the first time.” There was a tinge of genuine warmth in her final words. The same warmth that he felt in his chest.

“The monkey case? It’s been one year already?” Levi asked, sincerely surprised.

“Yes!” Hange said, reaching for a desk calendar that was on one of the cabinets. She pointed at the date that was circled in red “July 26”.

When he was first assigned to work with Agent Zoë, Levi was counting the minutes to be done with the job and move on to the top floors of the J Edgar Hoover Building. Now, a mere year later, still buried in the basement floor, investigating all kinds of weird shit by Hange’s side, he couldn’t imagine himself doing anything else. Time flies in the X Files.

The sound of Hange cleaning her throat pulled him back to reality

“So, when is your birthday, by the way?” she said, feigning casualness

Silence.

“Come on, Levi! At least give me a clue.”

“Fine.”

Hange’s face lit up.

“It happened one time since we met.”

Hange’s smile melted into a hilarious betrayed scowl and Levi had to fight hard to maintain his nonchalant expression.

“Wow,” she said, with an exaggerated wounded look “Levi, you just keep unfolding like a flower.”

He couldn’t fight the urge to smile this time.

“I just don’t celebrate birthdays,” he explained, appeasing his partner “so I refrain from sharing this date with people. But if you’re really so curious, I’m sure you can find that information very easily.

“It wouldn’t feel right” Hange explained, shrugging as if she was ready to drop the subject, but then “That means you never had a birthday party?” she asked, bobbing her head to the side. “You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to!” she quickly added.

“My mom made me a few when she was alive, but I hardly remember any of them” Levi recounted as faded flashes of his mother lifting him from the ground and holding him above a colorful table to blow his candles invaded his mind. “There was one party my friend threw me. The red-haired friend, from the foster home, I think I told you about her once-”

“The one that was like your little sister.” Hange nodded, eyes fixed on him, waiting for his next words.

“Exactly. She bought us two handfuls of candy, I don’t even know where she got the money, probably beat some kids at marbles or something” Levi chuckled “Then she arranged them on the bed, in the shape of a birthday cake. It was a surprise party too, because it was nowhere near the right date.” He smiled, his heart full of love as he reminisced about his friend, and when he looked up, Hange had the sweetest smile on her face.

“Did you ever contact her?” “I planned to. We promised we would stay in touch. But as it turns out, the adults weren’t very keen on sharing the families’ information with a couple of kids. Over time I even forgot her name, I just have a vague memory of someone saying that it was also a flower”

“What flower??” Hange all but jumped on him to get the answer.

“Jesus! How should I know? I know fuck-all about flowers.”

Hange nodded, but Levi could see in her eyes that her mind was elsewhere.

“How about we just celebrate Christmas?” Levi’s proposition caught his partner's attention.

“I don’t do Christmas” Hange answered, puzzled.

“Me neither. Is the perfect middle ground, don’t you think?”

It really was.

Or so he thought when December 25 came and with it an invite to Hange’s apartment.

Levi dreaded he would find over-the-top decorations or — even worse — a bunch of guests with whom he would have to socialize. So when he crossed her door he was relieved to see that it was just her usual place, mess and all, with just a pizza box and one beer bottle awaiting on the small center table. The other bottle was in Hange’s hand, and she used it to point him to the couch, as she went on to feed her fish.

The movie this time was Hange’s choice, and Levi wasn’t surprised when the opening scene of Alien started playing on TV. He was surprised, however, to know why it was her favorite film.

“I like the fact that the cat survives.” She told him “Ripley goes through all that trouble to save Jonesy as she’s running for her life. Then the creature finds Jonesy in his cage and spares him. I think I like the fact that both the human and the alien had to act in a certain way, opposite of what one would think, and that made it possible for the cat to live. I think it means we’re not so different. Or that everyone is more complex than they appear.”

“Maybe it just means cats are fucking scary.”

She laughed, lightly kicking his foot.

As the final credits rolled, Hange propped herself up from the couch.

“I have something for you.”

When she came back from her room, she was holding something flat and rectangular, wrapped in green paper, with a delicate purple ribbon. Levi opened it to reveal a book.

Botanical World 1: An Illustrated Guide To The Flowers of America

He stared at the gift for a whole minute, knowing what it meant.

“If we don’t find her name in this one, there are four more, for Africa, Asia, Europe, and Oceania.”

Levi gulped, trying to swallow the painful knot that was in his throat.

“We can go through it together.” Hange tried, then added, a few seconds later “Or If you don’t like it I can take it back. Anyway, Merry Christmas, Levi, or Happy non-Christmas, I don’t know” Hange chuckled nervously and stared at him expectantly.

“I think” Levi paused, taking his time to look Hange in the eyes “Happy Birthday is more appropriate.”

Levi patiently waited as his partner peered at him. Then squinted. Tilted her head to the side. Her eyes started to grow wide as realization dawned on her.

Hange gave him the most breathtaking smile, and suddenly Levi wasn’t sure what the best birthday present was.

[librarycomic]

Happy Halloweenie by Katie Vernon. Little Simon, 2023. 9781665930604. http://www.powells.com/book/-9781665930604?partnerid=34778&p_bt

Weenie can't decide what to be for Halloween, which provides a chance for Vernon to create hilarious illustrations and for young kids to learn some rhyming vocabulary words. My favorite is the Chewbacca-esque "hairy" costume.

Birthday Monsters by Sandra Boynton. Boynton Bookworks, 1993, 2014. 9781665925105. https://www.powells.com/book/-9781665925105?partnerid=34778&p_bt

Five birthday monsters wake a poor hippo up at 6am and create chaos! My daughter loved it when I used to read this book to her, and then she loved reading it to me.

And, good news, it seems like every Sandra Boynton book I remember is back in print now! Did they ever leave print? At least I've seen more out there recently than I remember reading, and I remember quite a few.) My favorites are : -Fifteen Animals (I'm sending this one to my friend Bob) -Jungle Night (I love Boynton's hippos best, but the way she draws monkeys is a close second) - and EEK! Halloween! (the chickens are nervous)

The Wheels on the Tuk Tuk by Kabir Sehgal & Surishtha Sehgal, illustrated by Jeff Golden. Little Simon, 2023. 9781665921947. https://www.powells.com/book/-9781665921947?partnerid=34778&p_bt

Yeah, tuk tuk wheels go round and round, and people jump off and off as you'd expect. It also stops for the moo-moo-cow, and the riders say namaste-ji. It's all a nice way to honor the tuk tuk walas in India who don't stop for anything (and one of whom inspired the authors to write this). Golden's illustrations are what keep me coming back to this book -- they're bright and friendly and make me want to take a ride.

[violetjedisylveon]

Shadowpeach/Cracked Family AU Masterpost

I gave the gay monkeys a kiddo. And then ripped the family apart.

Art:

Character designs/info:

Chao-Xing(that's the kiddo)

Xuěhuā, Marshal Ma's kid

Yuze, Ma and Wukong's Mom

Nuwa

Other Art:

Protective Dad Wukong

Stargazing (Chao-Xing and Macaque)

The Onesie Rule

Babysitters

Chao-Xing inspired by Monkey King 2009

Not-Mayor Is A Very Committed Wingman

Chao-Xing Halloween Costume

Xuěhuā Halloween Costume

Trick Or Treat 😈

Season 5 Drawing

Nuwa and Her Grandkids

Beach Drinks (Season 4 pic ft. Mei x Chao-Xing)

You Caused It (Ao Lie's firstborn ink drawing)

Protective Mei (aftermath of Silent Film)

Animatic WIPs:

Depressed Gay Monkey Man (Silent Film animatic frame)

WIP Shadowpeach + Macaque rant (Silent Film animatic frame)

Favorite Frame (Silent Film animatic frame)

The hero and the warrior were like the sun and the moon (Silent Film animatic frame)

Very Sad Monkey Man (Silent Film animatic frame)

Breaking News! Local Sad Gay Monkey Finally Happy Again After Seven Years (Silent Film animatic frame)

Animation/Animatics:

Silent Film also on YouTube

Fics:

Little Star: Ao3 link (first fic)

New Light (chap 1)

First Night (chap 2)

Sunrise (chap 3)

Introductions (chap 4)

It's Just A Little Cold (chap 5)

One Hundred Days, Time To Move On (chap 6)

Family Trip To Hell (Diyu) (chap 7)

Baby's First Powers (chap 8)

Unexpected Visit From The In-laws (chap 9)

Birthday Celebration (chap 10)🎉

Moon-side Family Reunion (chap 11)

Memes, Rambles And Other Stuff:

Havoc In Heaven 2: a baby monkey scaring everyone shitless(ramble)

Funky lil Meme

Meme 2

Meme 3, Ma Brings Home Lots Of Strays

Meme 4

Meme Dump

Baking Headcanons

Meme Dump 2

What Happened To Chao-Xing's Twin?(ask)

Meme 5

Meme 6

Meme 7

Meme Dump 3

Wukong plant nerd headcanon

Meme Dump 4

Chao-Xing refrence (ask)

[sinisterexaggerator]

I missed hubby Hondo's birthday! I saw a thing! A November 3 thing! I saw it in passing cause my eyes are ill. But yes!

How does the great Ohnaka celebrate ... aging? ♥

"I may not be as young as I once was, but I am older!"

I am for sure Hondo throws a giant party for himself in the early years; him and his gang get shit-faced and have a huge banger. Maybe they even go on a thieving spree, leaving chaos in their wake.

In the middle years when he's without anyone to call a friend, I bet Hondo drinks alone and feels sorry for himself, as he lost his gang, his ships, and his entire fortune, including his Monkey Lizards. I am sure he bemoans all his mistakes in life at this juncture ( around Rebels timeline ).

Later, for the Batuu years where he lives at Blackspire Outpost, I am sure he is back to being more jolly and lighthearted. I can see him having a get together with some friends of his, acquantainces, or other scoundrels like himself. Maybe they are not as crazy or extravagant as they once were back on Florrum, but he is happy with his life and could not ask for anything more than credits and to be extra rich.

Of course, should someone else plan this party as a surprise, while he boasts that "of course you should throw old Hondo a party!" I can see him becoming emotional and trying to hide it, or walking away for a moment to appreciate this kind gesture, as it has been so long since anyone thought of doing something nice for him, or anything at all.

He's really a softy at heart.

[thornstocutyouwith]

Name: Elijah Christopher Sparrow Meaning of Name: Elijah: Jehovah is my god. Christopher: Bearer of Christ. Sparrow: Small bird in the finch family. Nickname(s):  Eli, Topher, Chris,  Age: 27 Birthday: April 16 Species/Nationality: Human (Astrological Being), Polish Accent: Yes Language spoken: English, Common, 

Powers:

Venus Physiology:

Love Manipulation

Supernatural Beauty 

Sexual Inducement

Monetary Manipulation 

Empathy

Light Manipulation

Earth Mimicry 

Magma Mimicry 

Magma Manipulation 

Electricity Manipulation 

Heat Generation 

Miasma Emission 

Acid Generation

Acid Manipulation

Constellation Physiology:

Cygnus:

Air Manipulation

Flight

Water Manipulation

Waterfowl Physiology

Four Symbols Physiology

Seiryu: Azure Dragon of the East Physiology:

Ambient Energy Manipulation

Asian Dragon Physiology/Transcendent Dragon Physiology

Directional Lordship - East

Spring Manipulation

Transcendent Element Manipulation

Air Manipulation

Wu Xing Manipulation (Wood Element)

Wood Manipulation

Zodiac Physiology:

Aries: 

Ram 

Fire 

Mars 

Gold/Iron 

Diamond 

Wool Manipulation

Monkey: 

Metal, 

Monkey

Fox/Snake: 

Vulpes Physiology

Snake Physiology(Mak)

Weaknesses/Illness/Allergies: Normal mortal weaknesses, Severe head trauma, Lung damage, and other body trauma, PTSD, Schizoaffective Disorder,  Pet: Iguana (, ), Pig (, ), Mongoose (, ), Bees (??, ??), Parrot (, ), Frog (, ), Dog (, ), Otter (, ),  Occupation: Journalist, Delivery Boy (Former),

Faceclaim: Dave Franco

Description: Somewhat messy, slightly curly light brown hair, brown eyes. His eyes do however tend to change different colors based on his mood, at times. Not in the quirky way, like when people say their eyes change when they get angry or when it’s about to rain. But in the actual mood ring, from brown to deep blue or red kind of way. Slightly tanned skin. Has 5 tattoos. Burn scars and small cut scars.

Outfit/Accessories/Jewelry: Likes warm colors and playful looking clothing. Has 3 accessories. Also has a stuffed long neck dinosaur based on an old popular children’s movie that he has named “MonKee”. 

Height: 6’1”

Weight: 172

Body Build: Athletic/Toned

Backstory:

Elijah was born into a wealthy family to two decent parents. He is an only child. For the most part, especially in the beginning of his life, his childhood would be a happy one. Though this would not last very long. As when he was a few years old he would be outside playing with his stuffed animal MonKee. This day a storm had begun to brew, leaving his mother to call out to him across the yard from the house. Though Elijah would not hear her the first few times she called out to him to come inside. Soon she would step down from off the steps attached to the porch and move closer to her son.

Then Elijah would hear her and stand up. Though as he had started to move toward his mother he noticed something, flaming, coming down from the sky in the distance behind her, at a distance from their home. Then a loud explosion, the ground shaking as the formation, a plane slammed into the ground. It became increasingly clear in a matter of seconds that a storm was not something that any of them needed to worry about. As he was pushed back onto the ground, things, such as glass and metal and other things came raining down from the sky. In the chaos something had struck him in the head, blood began to pour down from the wound. Though all he could try and do is try and find his mother, or the house, somewhere or someone safe.

Hot glass and steel had hit him and left cuts and burns along his skin before he could curl up to try and protect himself from all that was happening. As he does this he comes to black out. Though when he did wake up again, it had still not been over. Crawling away with his stuffed long neck toy, he stops, hurt still, holding the toy closer to him, and soon enough once more he passes out. Both his parents would also be injured in this incident, but fortunately they would live. His father would have very serious injuries while his mother more minor ones. Elijah would wake up some days later in a hospital bet, his mother greeting him happily. Though when he asks about his father she tells him he’s still asleep.

After this he would need to take several days to run more tests and to see what entirely was going on with him. It would be found out that he was suffering from a traumatic brain injury, and that he was having memory issues because of this. Or, in some cases, he would have violent outbursts when remembering something. Though overall, with some medications and therapy he was thought to be good enough to go. They would plan for him to have a release from the hospital about a week after this. Elijah could not wait to get life back to normal again. That was what he wanted the entire stay, for things to just be normal once more. Though it became apparent that with his fathers injuries his mother could not give him the attention he would need at the moment. With that, his mother was convinced by her sister to take him in with her family for a little while.

This however would be a terrible, miscalculated decision in the long run. As his aunt and uncle were often very abusive toward him. Especially his aunt who would take the abuse for minor infractions way too far. This would leave Elijah more traumatized in the long run. Eventually he would be returned home, and some would say changed greatly from the experience all together. Though once he was returned home he would still do well in school and for the most part manage to get by. However, in his teenage years he started to become more volatile and easily irritated all together. This would ultimately end with him having a psychotic break after an argument with his parents about his grade and recent rebellious behavior.

During this night Elijah’s psychotic break would take an ultimately horrific turn. He would in his warped state of mind, angry, go on to slay both of his parents in a moment of poor decisions. Then, set his family home on fire before fleeing the scene of the crime. This of course would make him the prime suspect in the murders of his own parents. But the young teenager had been too afraid of being caught and sentenced to prison for the rest of his life, once he had come down from his state of mind, and immaturely decided to flee instead of turn himself in, in the panic that came after. This makes him an outcast. And for the next thirteen years he would live his life on the run, in space.

(Work In Progress)

Personality:

Suave, Observant, Solid, Conscientious, Planful, Farsighted, Solemn, Noncommittal, Earthy, Opportunistic, Neglectful, Rigid, Forgetful, Tense, Calculating, Frightening, Superstitious, 

Quirks/Savvies/Other: Cracks Knuckles, Talks to a person in mirrors that no one else can see, Is a Terrible Listener, Can fall asleep anywhere, Believes in pegasi, Stutters when anxious, Tugs his ears sometimes, Prone to eating alone, Obsessed with pigs, Prone to slouching a lot, Chatterbox, Believes in dragons, Smokes, Knows Heimlich and can’t weight to try it out, Extremely fast walker, Laughing for no reason, Believes in the paranormal, Skills: Stargazing, Tracking, Actuating, Systems Management, Sculpting, Embroidery, Horseback Riding, Influence, Electronics Operation, Analyzing The Past, Stealth, Map-Making, Trivia, Navigation, Intuition, Hobbies: Playing Drums, Building Sets, Fruit Carving, Netball, Cardistry, Reviewing Things, Marbles, Ghost Hunting, Martial Arts, Jogging, Robot Combat, Cheese Making, Puzzles, Water Polo, Creating Music, 

Likes: Jumping in puddles, Candles, Nail Art, Lunar Eclipses, Painting, Orange Is The New Black, Archeology, Wind Chimes, Animals, Shounen Manga, Tumblr, The Setting Sun, Superhero Movies, Making Doll Houses, Drawing Fantart, Plants, Spunky Time Travelers, Puzzle Games, Gothic Literature, Flashing Lights, Writing, Foggy Weather, Books/Manga/Comics, Singing, Drawing, Coloring Books, Cartoons/Anime, Children’s Toys, Juice Boxes, Backpacks, MonKee, Monkeys, Exploring, Lemons, Rabbits, Candy, Musical Instruments, 

Dislikes: Clouds, Hot & Wet Weather, Stand-up Comedy, Coffee Mugs, Receiving Gifts, Canopy Beds, Figurines, Jewellry, Fantasy Books, Forests, Flowercrowns, Bungee Jumping, The Woods, Harry Potter Books, Skateboard Moves, Cat People, Medieval Music, Old Computer Games, Romance Novels, Ghosts, Fire, Loud Noises, Being Sick, Blood, Corpses, Abuse, Cleaning, Bugs, Thunderstorms, Cats, People bugging him,   

Fears: None.

Personality Tests:

Other: Aries,  

Parent(s):

   -> Father:

   -> Mother:

Sibling(s):

Other Relatives: Damion Coldblood-Sparrow, Milo Sparrow, Leon Sparrow,

Starters

Chat’s

Para’s

Face

Stuff

Information

Asks

All

                                                            Alternate Universes

[skellebonez]

Celestial Crossing (A MoonStone, SWKxChang'e, ship fic).

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BUCKY! You awoke something in me that could not be contained.

Everyone, I am so far down this rabbit hole. We both are. The fic title is actually the name of a new AU and it's gone so far in such a short time. You all know who to thank for jump starting me into pure chaos with this ship in the future because the plot bunnies (heh) I have for these two cannot be contained any longer.

As always, AO3 link here!

“What am I doing…”

It was hardly a question. Hardly even a statement, more an utterance of disbelief from the immortal.

What WAS he doing, exactly?

Making another rocket, of course.

Another.

As if making one the first time was even within the realm of normal. But then again, what was normal about any part of the Great Sage’s life?

Born from a rock. Learned how to shape shift from a secret tutor. Become immortal more times over than he could recall sometimes. Angered all of the celestial realm. Got trapped under a mountain for centuries, spent years on a pilgrimage with 4 companions, you get the idea.

Sun Wukong’s life was anything but normal. And yet, somehow, this one singular instance of making a second rocket seemed to be the thing that tripped him up.

It was even for the same reason he had built it the first time… almost. Sort of.

It wasn’t every day that the Great Sage Equal to Heaven, the Handsome Monkey King, Sun Wukong himself had a meteorite with a letter inside of it crash land on his home. But it was yesterday. Just the night before to be exact. 9 hours, 45 minutes, and 23 seconds.

He was not counting. No. Don’t be absurd!

It was just…

There was no denying who it was from. It was impossible to.

Chang'e had sent him a letter. Somehow.

“Dear Sun Wukong,

It is alright to call you Sun Wukong in a letter, right? It’s been so long since I have really sent one to… anyone! Let alone one of my immortal or celestial compatriots. So I am unsure if proper etiquette has changed or not… once again. But I felt this was more appropriate than asking Pigsy or MK for your email address.

I was wondering if, perhaps, you might be able to pay me a visit? I so enjoyed your last visit, though with the world apparently ending and all it was so short.

And I do mean you, not you and MK or Pigsy. I (something was scribbled out here that he could not make out at all, except the word "lonely” barely legible) would appreciate it if you would act as a taste tester for some new mooncakes I was making! It’s almost time for the mid-autumn festival preparations and I would appreciate the (something else scribbled out, starting with a c… company?) assistance!

If you cannot or do not wish to, I understand. You don’t even have to reply!

Best regards,

Chang'e"

It was both formal and casual, somehow fitting for her. And yet… there was a sense of sadness that could not be separated from the words on the page.

Sun Wukong knew full well what the time of year meant for Chang'e. What the upcoming festival meant. Who… wouldn’t be there.

When was the last time she sent a letter to anyone asking them to visit? She must have before, given how she talked in her letter, but when? Years? Decades? … Centuries?

He knew a thing or two about waiting centuries for things for people. That was something the two of them had in common. Before MK? He had never actually physically interacted with anyone. Sure, he has correspondence with his lawyer and his development team and the people who wished to use his likenesses for Monkey Cop or whatever new TV show based on him there was.

But it was all via clones he sent out. Or letters, email, phone calls. Never physically meeting someone.

It had been such a shock to his system to finally leave the mountain and watch over MK when he was looking for a successor. To be around others. To talk to someone who was THERE! Was that what it was like for her when she saw the trio of intruders in her garden? Or was it more intense since she never got the chance to slowly adapt to it again?

Chang'e was so happy to see MK in particular, being such a fan of him as a hero. And she and Pigsy had gotten alone so well as they bonded over their cooking! Meanwhile he… photo bombed her and made her angry by not respecting cooking.

The first thing she didn’t seem to mind. If anything she seemed to think it was funny, him pretending to suffocate without oxygen like a dorky mortal (hey, how was HE supposed to know that MK and Pigsy wouldn’t realize he was joking). She looked at her phone and smiled at it in a way that felt more genuine than any other smile outside of the soft thankful one she shot MK after he thanked her for being so understanding and the ones she had while cooking with Pigsy.

But the one she shot them when they left was anything but genuine. He knew.

He’d worn the same one countless times before.

Maybe that was why he was buckling himself back into this rocket he had made while “borrowing” the staff from MK while he slept.

Maybe that’s why he actually attempted to fly this rocket the way he was supposed to, trying not to actually crash on the moon this time.

Maybe that’s why he hesitated for a few seconds longer than he wanted to before getting out and announcing his presence.

Maybe that’s why, when she rushed out of her garden and froze for only a second before leaping at him and enveloping him in a tight and warm hug, he leaned into it like he hadn’t ever before.

And maybe that’s why he asked her to show him her new mooncakes, let her lead him through her factory (her in turn letting him gush over every single bunny bot they came across, but especially the little shrunken one that he couldn’t help but want to carry around with them) and to the wide array of confectionery for them to partake in.

They stayed together for hours.

Mooncake after mooncake, far more than what a normal human could eat being no challenge to the Great Sage himself. The peach mooncakes were his favorite, because of course they were, but on this particular day he realized that ube was also a great flavor for him. He learned about how the moon goddess had set up her home and how she managed to broadcast her show to Earth. How she had a similar sense of humor to him, how she enjoyed dry and dark humor in the right way too, how she thought he had picked a wonderful successor and how she could see the difference MK was making in the world.

He also learned that when she laughed it sounded like wind chimes, almost. That she was just as happy to listen to him as he was to listen to her. That she enjoyed the tales he had to share about his journey that he never had the chance to tell anyone else.

He learned that she gave the best hugs, even if they were with one arm as they got tired and he realized he wouldn’t be able to fly home that night (day?). That she was more than happy to help him build a better ship or some kind of teleport device so that he could visit more. Could bring MK and Pigsy back. Bring more people.

Learned that she had the prettiest smile and eyes he’d ever seen.

Learned that, when she held onto his hand a little too long and a little too tight, that she may want him to stay longer.

Maybe… staying wouldn’t be so bad.

He should really learn to cook, eventually, if only to do something nice for MK. Who better to learn from?

And maybe they’d see where this all went. One day.

[mystic-monkie-business]

ma'am,,, would you spare a man some Sha Dali romantic hcs,,,, buddy deserves some lovin

A/N: You BET I can my dude

Character: Sha Dali 

Relationship: Romantic 

Okay, first and foremost...Sha Dali is an absolute catch. Like I’m talking the ideal man. He’s so caring and attentive and yet no one ever really seems to think too much about him in a romantic light so honestly? Kudos to anyone out there who does because you better believe he’s gonna treat you right 

He actually has a very good memory, so I feel like even before you guys got together he was always remembering things about you. Little anniversaries of stuff that was important to you, things you like, your birthday, etc. (he has all his friends’ birthdays written on his own little cat calendar. Change my mind) 

As said before, he’s very attentive, and he’s always in-tune with how you’re feeling. He can read people’s emotions very well, so most of the time you don’t even need to tell him how you’re feeling, though he always appreciates it when you do! He’s more than happy to listen to you talk about your day, or whatever thoughts you have going on in your head (he loves it actually. He loves hearing you talk, and he’s always willing to help you by bouncing thoughts and ideas back and forth, or just staying quiet and letting you rant. Whatever you prefer!) 

Even though he has a tendency to put the needs of his friends before his own, he knows his limits and boundaries very well, so he usually doesn’t have a problem with knowing when he needs to step back and take care of himself. That being said, he does get a bit wrapped up in whatever struggles his friends happen to be going through (especially if they’re related to Qi Xiaotian’s whole Monkey Business Situation), so he could do well with someone being there to help him remember when to take some time for himself amongst all the chaos. If you’re that person, he’s eternally grateful. He isn’t used to relying on his friends as much as they rely on him, so it feels a bit strange to have someone he can truly open up to (other than his therapist), but he isn’t against it at all. He really appreciates having you there to listen to him 

You know how protective this guy is with his friends? That 100% extends to you. He respects you a lot if you happen to be more headstrong and independent, and you don’t need to tell him not to baby you, but if the two of you get into a particularly dangerous situation -probably relating to Xiaotian’s monkey business- his first instinct is to put himself in front of you and keep you safe. He’s not even self sacrificing- he’s just that strong, and he wants to use that strength to keep you safe

Honestly though? If you try to protect him, even if it’s from something really small and non-threatening (like a spider, bug, snake, etc.), he’ll be really touched. Even if he isn’t scared of what you’re trying to protect him from, he still finds it really sweet that you’re doing it. He’ll just let you take care of whatever it is, and possibly play up his fear even if you can see right through it

Sha Dali is a really balanced guy, so no matter what your personality is like, he can flow with it and balance you out. Outgoing? He’ll revert to being introverted. Shy? He’ll do all the talking for you. Fiery and passionate? He’s calm and chill. You’re more laid back? He’s energetic and wants to do a million things in one afternoon. He’s got it all, baby

Speaking of activities, he has a passion for calm, low-key dates. He likes going to cafés and book stores with you, or even just walking around the city going window shopping after getting some drinks together. And, of course, he loves inviting you back to his boat so you two can hang out (with his millions of cats) and drink some tea, or whatever other beverage you prefer (with his millions of cats) 

He’s a hopeless romantic at heart though! He’s always dreamed of going on a big fancy date at least once and treating his partner like the royalty they are, but he’ll be equally as satisfied if you decide to treat him to that. He always gets surprisingly flustered when you treat him nicely. It’s really, really sweet 

He blushes whenever you compliment him. He’s just not used to it! Especially if it’s about something other people don’t usually notice, like his attention to detail, or how pretty his eyes look in the sunlight 

I have to say it because I know you’re thinking about it: yes his cats love you. They’ve gotten used to you and the way you smell and your constant presence in their home at this point, so they like to curl up around you whenever you sit down. If you’re not into that, you can just gently shoo them away and they’ll be fine. But that probably won’t stop them from rubbing up against your legs or meowing at you for treats. You can give them some if you want, but they’ll start flocking around you like seagulls if you do. Tread carefully 

All in all, Sha Dali is literally the most supportive and understanding partner ever. He loves and trusts you whole-heartedly, and he obviously has his ups and downs (as does everyone), but you sticking with him through all that just makes you even more special in his eyes. He loves you a lot. And he will take a million embarrassing pictures of you if you happen to fall asleep on the couch with all his cats <3 

[amjustagirl]

Summary: Sakusa Kiyoomi's heart has always pointed north. He wonders if it's broken when it starts to point inexorably towards her. 

Set in the aftermath of The Astrophile, in the same universe as Storm Chaser.

Pairing: Sakusa Kiyoomi / f! reader

Genre: Fluff, angst, romance 

Wordcount: 7.8k 

Masterlist link here

A/N: Dedicated first and foremost to Ami @softsakusa, one of the first people to convince that my writing isn’t shit and that I should keep creating fics. 

This fic is also for all the readers who wanted a happy ending for the reader in The Astrophile (which sets out the backstory of the reader, Iwaizumi and Oikawa), and also follows the events of Storm Chaser (which follows the turbulent relationship of Miya Atsumu and now wife - I named her Kaiyo in this fic to avoid confusion!). 

Hope you like it - reblogs and comments are always dearly appreciated <3

It must be the worst meet cute of all time. 

That is – if he’s using that phrase correctly. It keeps appearing in the god-awful English movies Bokuto and Miya keep playing during team movie nights that makes him want to tear his hair out. 

But yes, he meets her at Miya Shino’s seventh birthday party, the birthday girl the apple of Miya Atsumu’s eye, the princess of his castle, the most perfect angel in the entire heavens - the list of pet names growing longer and longer the more the obnoxious setter prattles on about his daughter. 

And apparently Miya Shino is a chip off the old block, and is as obsessed with volleyball as her father. Which means that he, one Sakusa Kiyoomi, is forced to turn up on a Saturday afternoon for a birthday party to teach a group of children roughly about the same height as his kneecaps how to play volleyball. 

There are plenty of other MSBY players that Miya Atsumu could have rounded up to fritter away a Saturday afternoon. Hinata, for instance - the sunny, fiery headed opposite hitter a perennial favourite with young fans. Or Inunaki - the liberio has an amiable personality that he certainly wouldn’t mind snot nosed children hanging off his arms like a walking, talking monkey bar. But no, Hinata is apparently busy on a weekend meditation retreat, and Inunaki is at his sister’s wedding party, so both of them managed to escape this travesty of a birthday party. 

That leaves him with Bokuto who’s practically a child himself, beaming, bumping balls at screaming children with one hand, the other hand lifting another child above his head. Meian’s here too but his own kid is somewhere in this gaggle of monsters anyway, so he’s here to carry out his parental duties – hopefully his presence might balance the sheer chaos he’s sure he’s about to face.   

‘Omi-omi you made it!’ Atsumu greets him with a slap to the back. 

Sakusa resists the urge to bare his teeth. Is this what hell is? Screeching gremlins underfoot, the nauseating smell of fried food permeating the air. 

And it’s probably because he’s still in a horrified daze at the situation he’s put himself in (which Atsumu is either too dense to pick up on or already immune due to the series of similar expressions he pulls at him on a daily basis), Atsumu manages to snap a party hat on his head, before he prances off in victory. 

Sakusa snarls, ripping off the red paper hat off his head. 

Why on earth did he agree to this again? 

‘Sakusa-san! Thank you so much for coming!’ 

His glare softens by a fraction. 

Miya Kaiyo, Atsumu’s long suffering wife approaches him, careful not to touch him, waving at him instead. He appreciates her thoughtfulness, so he thaws a little, giving her a slight nod in greeting. 

Right, she’s the reason why he’s here. 

He’s always been fond of her - competent, patient, intelligent, far too good for her idiot of a husband. Approximately a year ago, he sought her professional help with his accounts. He graduated with a business degree from Chuo University, so he can tell there is obviously something fishy that his manager is pulling with his finances, but the accounting courses he took weren’t in depth to pinpoint the problem. Miya Kaiyo, on the other hand, a trained forensic accountant with a nose like a bloodhound for fraudulent accounts, nailed down the problem within a week. So when she asked him after a game whether he’d be free to attend her daughter's birthday party, he hadn’t been able to turn her down. 

‘It was no problem’, he says stiffly, already itching to spray the whole place down with disinfectant. ‘I’m glad to be here.’ 

Kaiyo laughs at his obvious lie, tugging at his sleeve to seat him in a corner. ‘You don’t have to go play with the kids if you didn’t want to! I invited you so we could catch up, and besides, I did want to introduce you to someone.’ 

‘Hm.’ 

He doesn’t try to mask his reluctance this time. Kaiyo means well, he knows, but between her and his mother, he’s tired of having to fend off match making attempts. It’s not like he can’t get a date – he can and he has, it’s just difficult to find someone willing to put up with his prickly personality and busy schedule.

‘Well she’s not here yet, so you’ll have to wait. And while we’re waiting, tell me how’ve things been, Sakusa-san?’ 

Grateful that he’s not going to be forced into shepherding children into playing anything remotely resembling an actual volleyball match (he suspects he might have more luck teaching cats how to do the conga), he settles into his seat, mouth stretching into something resembling a smile. He lets her chatter about work, and they’re deep in a discussion about his plans post-volleyball (because he can feel the countdown on his career in his creaking bones, his aching sinews)  when Atsumu swoops in on him again, like a vulture seeking easy prey. 

‘What’cha doin’ with my wife, Omi-omi’, he slips a hand around Kaiyo’s waist mock possessively. 

She swats at him. He ducks, raising his hands in surrender. 

‘I enjoy talking to an actual adult sometimes, ‘Tsumu!’ 

‘Oh come on, I already have to share you with ‘Samu most of the time, now you’re leaving me for Omi-kun?!’

‘Dramatic ass.’ 

‘Please, you chose to marry me.’ He crows, flipping his hair. He looks ridiculous, he always does. Kaiyo seems to agree - 

‘And I wonder why sometimes.’ She retorts, Atsumu squawking indignantly at her response, hair ruffling like an offended chick. But Kaiyo ruins the effect of her words by laughing, leaning over to affectionately peck her husband on the cheek. 

Sakusa should be annoyed by this display of childishness, but for some inexplicable reason, a frisson of longing bubbles in his chest instead. It’s strange. Marriage or even serious relationships have never been something he’s actively sought. After all, it always seemed horrendously illogical to put all your eggs in one basket and hope nothing trips up – but his heart pays his mind no mind, and the strange sensation continues to trickle down his throat into his chest. 

He makes up an excuse to slip to the bathroom for a tactical retreat from this madness. 

Then he takes a breath. 

Rinse. Lather hands with soap. Rinse. Repeat again .

Familiar motions, bred out of a desire to do things right, transformed into an unbreakable habit. Cold water, washing away soap bubbles.

Right. Now he’s ready for another plunge off the deep end . 

He’s a foot past the threshold of the community hall where the party is being held when Miya Shino darts towards him. She’s very clearly her father’s daughter with his penchant for mischief because she dives between his legs, making him stumble in confusion. Then Meian Shugo’s eldest son Makoto barrels towards him, intent on reaching the ball held aloft in Shino’s hands. 

Athletic reflexes be damned in the face of a pair of hell-spawn. 

‘Shino!’. Kaiyo shouts. 

‘Makoto!’ Meian thunders. 

Sakusa flails, decidedly without grace, and in his attempt at not squashing the two little devils, he manages to do something even  worse . 

Much, much worse. 

He manages to trip over his feet and bump right into the woman Miya Kaiyo wanted to introduce him to (this, he finds out later). It’s a lost cause – he’s six foot two of pure muscle, dwarfing her by a mile, and she’s carrying a huge box in her hand. 

He ends up face planting directly into her chest. 

His brain short circuits at the feeling of plush softness and vanilla and – , 

‘Woah - Omi-omi, never thought I’d have to defend the honour of my cousin in law’, Atsumu laughs.  

The sudden flare of irritation at Atsumu’s words kickstarts his brain back into gear. Rearing back in alarm, he promptly topples over onto his butt. 

‘Uncle ‘kusa, I’m sorry’ Shino screeches, distraught. Makoto merely snivels. Kaiyo is evidently the only one with working brain cells, because she rushes over to help them up.  

The-woman-with-the-mysterious-box makes Kaiyo take the box first. It holds precious cargo - Shino’s birthday cake, he later finds out, but because she manages to cling on to it with admirable tenacity, it emerges more or less intact. Then she turns to him, still sprawled on the floor. He scoots away, still dazed. 

She offers him a steady hand. ‘Hello’, she says. ‘It seems we’ve gotten off to rather a bad start.’

There is a hint of mirth in her voice, but her eyes are kind.  

He takes her hand with a rare smile. 

Miya Kaiyo grins behind the cake box. It turns out her daughter is a better matchmaker than either her or (heaven forbid) her husband. 

It turns out that Miya Kaiyo wanted to introduce him to her cousin, newly moved to Osaka from Tokyo. She’s a sports journalist, used to cover volleyball even, but for some reason their paths never crossed. She too, is tired of her cousin’s well intentioned meddling, but asks him if he’d like to meet her for dinner one day ‘if only to get Kaiyo off her back, because she’s persistent’, and funnily enough, he agrees. 

He doesn’t mind making a new friend, he reasons. She seems decent enough. 

They go out for dinner on a Tuesday night. She doesn’t complain when he tells her that due to his diet planned by MSBY’s nutritionist, most restaurants are off limits. Instead, she asks intelligent questions about whether the sources of protein and fibre he’s relying on are varied enough, even suggesting alternatives like tempeh, a Southeast Asian soy product. 

He appreciates that. 

She doesn’t also fawn over the fact that he’s a professional athlete. That makes sense, considering she’s probably interviewed dozens, if not hundreds of individuals who are just like him. It’s nice - he’s tired of groupies who start dates off by staring at him starry eyed, but ending it with disappointment in their eyes when they discover that he’s just a guy who practices hitting balls enough to do it for a living. And best of all, she doesn’t mind that their conversation sometimes wanes into silence. She doesn’t seem to feel the need to fill empty spaces with inane drivel, nor expect him to entertain her like a circus animal. 

He likes that. 

So when the night ends, he asks her whether she’d like to have dinner with him again. ‘Just as friends’, he’s quick to clarify. 

‘Sure’, she nods, and they bid each other goodnight.  

They start having dinner every Tuesday night, subject to their erratic schedules. 

He enjoys her company. She’s thoughtful, bringing him home made baked goods like zucchini cake (low sugar, of course), sneaking him chocolate scones for his cheat days after she discovers his hidden sweet tooth. She’s considerate too, never blinking an eye at his compulsive need to make sure everything is just in order, even if the waitress stands behind them aghast when he insists on using disinfectant to wipe down their table. She doesn’t even call him paranoid when he passes her a bottle of sanitizer. 

Slowly, he finds himself confiding in her about things he’d maybe only tell his cousin, Motoya. Or at least, the things he would tell Motoya if the guy would only pick up his calls. 

‘Sorry’, Motoya texts back after a couple of missed calls. ‘ Practice has been brutal recently. 

In a remarkable display of restraint, Sakusa does not point out that EJP Raijin is below MSBY in this season’s rankings. 

So he tells her instead about how he’s contemplating retirement, how he’s trying to chart out his next steps career wise. She surprises him by listening to him gravely, pointing out that he can lean on his business degree to possibly land an office job in event management or with sports associations, putting him in touch with one overly excited Kuroo Tetsuro. He tucks her suggestions away carefully at the back of his mind.   

It’s nice to have a friend, he tells himself, his lips quirking ever so slightly when her hand grazes his as they walk down the street together. 

He invites her to the monthly gatherings that the MSBY players take turns to host for their family and friends, making the excuse that he needs a human shield in any event hosted by Miya Atsumu. She agrees easily, perking up at the chance to spend a Sunday afternoon with her cousin and niece - ‘ and Kaiyo’ll need help, especially since she’s pregnant’, bringing far too many cupcakes topped with the lightest, fluffiest cream cheese frosting he’s ever had the pleasure of tasting. Even Miya Osamu gives her a nod of respect after stuffing his face full of her cupcakes.  He, unlike his twin, has good taste.

Her brow furls into a concerned frown when he quietly sneaks himself a second cupcake. ‘You don’t have to force yourself to eat it just to be polite! I made it, so  I  know it has so much sugar and butter it would make your nutritionist weep. If you want, I snuck some zucchini cake in my handbag for you instead.’ 

He stubbornly shovels a large bite into his mouth. ‘I won’t tell if you don’t.’ 

She bursts into laughter, leaning forward to wipe away the smudge of frosting on the tip of his nose with her thumb. 

Miya Kaiyo shoots him a knowing look across the room, waggling her eyebrows in an eerie imitation of her husband. He fights to keep his face blank, refusing to feed her satisfaction, but fails, a hot flush rising in his cheeks. 

‘Traitor’ he mouths at her. Her smirk only deepens.

Fortunately, the gathering ends with no further mishaps, either to his physical well-being or his dignity. Makoto is packed off with Meian, the little boy whining for more time to play with Shino. Hinata and Bokuto prance off for some ridiculous buffet on the other side of town.

As for himself, he hangs back with her to help the Miyas put their house back in order, expelling an amused puff of a laugh from his nose when she forces the very pregnant Kaiyo to ‘stay still, for goodness sake!’  on the couch, dancing around the house with a mop, Shino trailing after her waving a feather duster with gusto. He refrains from telling the little girl that she’s more likely to spread  the dust than to actually clear it – at least she’s not causing more havoc this way. 

‘I can’t believe I could’ve ever taken this for granted, y’know’, Atsumu comments from behind him, mouth wide in a tender smile. ‘It’s the best feeling in the world to have a wife and kid who loves ya to the moon and back, welcoming ya home after a long day at work. They make everything worth it.’

He’s thrown for a loop at this rare display of emotional vulnerability from the usually obnoxious setter and for once, does not resort to hostility, choosing instead to acknowledge the blonde setter’s words with a tacticum nod. 

The Miyas’ apartment is far too chaotic for his tastes, with colourful toys scattered on the floor, mismatched picture frames of the little family on the walls, but laughter hangs in the air, and light spills from the windows, illuminating the warmth and love and fondness in every look and word the Miyas gift each other. 

His father gave him a compass when he was a child, as a present to celebrate his first match. His mother clucked her tongue because it’s a strange gift for a child - delicate, fiddly, its gold exterior tarnished with age. But his father chuckled and told him that he’s old enough to appreciate that the compass is his father’s, and his father’s father before that, an heirloom to remind their sons to work hard at everything they do, and to keep their hearts on course, pointing north. 

And Sakusa thinks he’s done that. He’s worked and worked and worked at perfecting his skills in his chosen sport. He’s accepted his solo course, so laser focused on carving out a career in professional sports leaves little time or space for intimate relationships. Not to mention the fact that watching the disaster of Atsumu’s early years of marriage from the sidelines, made him swear off similar heartbreak for himself. 

But there are times when he can’t help but feel a little lonely - when he has to struggle to find a date for MSBY events, when he has no one to celebrate the holidays with, when he goes home every day to his neat, cold apartment with space for only one occupant. 

The compass in his heart creaks. It starts to turn a few degrees just off-course. 

‘Do you ever wonder what it’d be like to get married?’ he asks her as he’s walking her home that night. 

‘I did, once upon a time’, she shrugs carelessly. He misses the sudden strain in her smile. ‘Why do you ask?’ 

He stays silent for a while, the length of the quiet street giving him time to properly ferment his response. He considers the effects of adding splashes of colour to his dull life, weighs it against his long cultivated instinct to avoid the potential chaos of any emotional entanglements. He finds himself suddenly craving the sweetness of cream cheese frosting, and wonders how it’d be like to come home to light, fluffy cakes baked by her hands. 

When they reach her apartment block, she tilts her head at him curiously, obviously awaiting his answer. He tugs his words together, strings his swirling thoughts into a decipherable sentence. 

‘Because Atsumu and Kaiyo seem happy together. And I wondered if we’d be happy together too.’ 

He watches her puzzle over his words, her brow furling into a confused frown. ‘And I wasn’t proposing, by the way’, he feels the need to clarify. 

She snorts. ‘I didn’t think so.’ With a directness that he very much appreciates, she looks at him squarely and asks - ‘Are you asking me out, Sakusa Kiyoomi?’ 

He meets her gaze. ‘Yes, I am. We’ve known each other for a decently long time for me to conclude our personalities are well matched, and we’re both mature adults who respect each other’s work schedules and commitments. And if you don’t mind that I can be overly blunt and quiet sometimes - ‘ 

‘ - which I don’t’, she interjects, with a chuckle. 

‘I think we might be happy together’, he concludes, with a small smile that’s becoming more common in her presence.

He allows her the space to turn his proposition over in her mind. 

‘Alright’, she finally says. ‘I guess we can give it a go’. 

So much for Atsumu accusing him of having a heart made out of tin. Flesh and muscle works overtime to pump blood into his cheeks as she slots her fingers between his and gives his hand a squeeze. 

Being in a relationship isn’t too different from what they had before. 

They still keep to their standing date to meet every Tuesday (schedules permitting, of course). But now he doesn’t have to make up excuses to ask her out on outings that aren’t food related. At first he tries his best to adhere to dating norms, arranging for romantic dates at candlelit restaurants, buying her massive bouquets that make her sneeze. 

‘It’s fine, Omi’, she tells him gently after they spend another uncomfortable evening in a dimly lit restaurant eating off plates too large for the laughably tiny food portions. ‘I’m happy just hanging out with you. You don’t have to go out of your way to impress me, I’m not holding on to any ridiculous expectations of you’. He stops after that, glad he doesn’t have to suffer another night trying to decipher which utensil to be used at which course, or having to put on starched formal wear to yet another stuffy restaurant. 

She’s noticeably happier when they accompany each other on trips to the supermarket, each holding a stack of coupons to take advantage of the latest deals. She shields him from any overly zealous obaa-sans with gusto, throwing elbows and using her grocery basket as a makeshift battering ram before they crowd close enough to him to trigger his anxiety. He helps her reach for things on the top shelf ‘to prevent her from scaling the grocery shelves like an overgrown teenager’ , he snarks. He’s worried his attempt at teasing lands wrong, but she snorts and thanks him good naturedly anyways. 

On the weekends, they develop a habit of meal prepping for the rest of the week at her apartment. His kitchen lacks the fancy mixers and blenders that she has, and in all honesty, his dark, spartan apartment lacks the sunlight and warmth that spills into her apartment from the windows, so it’s only logical that they should spend the bulk of their time there. It’s an oasis of calm for him, chopping vegetables and chicken into small cubes, sautéing them for the week ahead, while she bustles around whipping eggs and flour and milk together to form another delectable cake that they always end up sharing at the end of the day. 

He starts to dread matches away from home a little more than he used to. While hotel rooms are as spartan as his own apartment, he doesn’t have the option of heading over to her apartment to bask in her quiet warmth. His meals come in styrofoam boxes instead of the glass tupperware she stacks on her kitchen counter, and he turns up his nose at store bought cakes that his teammates offer him, only craving for those baked in her oven. He even starts looking up to the stands for a glimpse of her, only to remember that she can’t be there to cheer the team on. 

‘Cheer up, Omi-omi! We’ll have a home match next week’, Atsumu tells him jovially. 

‘It doesn’t matter either way to me’, he mutters resentfully, but the setter only grins.

‘Trust me, it matters a great deal to have the girl ya love cheering ya on, y’know?’ 

He stalks off to the changing room, ignoring the peals of laughter from the blonde annoyance he leaves in his wake.  

The tight coil of loneliness only loosens when he sees her waiting for him at the station when he returns. She ignores his protests to snag his suitcase away from him, the case looking comically large against her small frame, but she uses it effectively as a tank to force a path through the crowd, and drag him back to her apartment in no time. 

‘You need a home cooked dinner to make up for all those industrially prepared food you must’ve been eating this entire week’, she tells him, bustling around the kitchen, only stilling when he takes her shoulders in his hands. 

‘Are you happy?’ he asks, when he cups her face to carefully brush the dusting of flour on her cheek away.  

‘Why wouldn’t I be?’ She laughs, the sound fond.

‘Just checking in’, he tells her, closing his eyes as she pulls him down towards her for a kiss. 

All in all, it’s a happy, uncomplicated relationship. He likes it that way.

If his heart were a compass, he’d suspect it’s broken because instead of pointing north, it starts to inch inexorably towards her. 

But there are strange quirks he notices about her that niggles at his brain. 

She refuses point blank to check out the planetarium when she attends an event held at the adjacent Art Museum as his date, professing to have an irrational dislike for stars. 

‘They’re just balls of burning gas and light ’ , he points out. ‘What could you possibly have against them?’ 

There’s a flicker of irritation in her eyes that he does not miss. ‘I know it’s stupid but just humour me, ok?’ Her tone verges on a snarl, before she storms away, ostensibly to the bathroom to freshen herself up. 

She returns later with an apology for her behaviour. Though he’s confused, he respects her privacy and does not push for an answer. 

He’s at her apartment preparing meals for the week ahead when the doorbell rings and an enormous bouquet of white lilies are deposited into her arms. She stares dumbly at the flowers, their sickly sweet scent permeating the air. 

His brow furls. ‘Today isn’t your birthday, is it?’

His words jolt her out of her trance. ‘No’, she answers, before inexplicably storming to the living room and dumping the bouquet with a vengeance on the coffee table. Pollen flutters to the floor, delicate white petals crushed in her hands. 

‘It’s nothing’, she tells him as he shoots her a questioning look. 

When she disappears to the washroom, he peeks at the card. There’s no name on it, just a simple message - ‘consider it, please?’

He doesn’t question her about it when she returns to the kitchen. She doesn’t offer him any answers either. 

He finds himself wondering about them. 

It was refreshing at first to have a relationship free of any expectations. She never asks for more than he’s willing to give, seems happy enough to slot herself into the pockets of time he offers, only attends his games when he gives her tickets, doesn’t get upset with him when he inevitably forgets to text. 

But therein lies the issue, doesn’t it?  

If she truly likes him, wants to pursue a relationship seriously with him, shouldn’t she be demanding more than the crumbs of affection and attention he shows her? They’re both past the age of thirty, shouldn’t she be looking to get married and settle down, maybe spawn a demon child or two? 

He’s tried raising it with her once, but she responded with confusion. 

‘I don’t have any expectations of you, Omi’, she’d replied. ‘We both have busy lives, so whatever you’re willing to give, I’m happy to take’. 

There’s technically nothing wrong about her answer. It’s wholly considerate and kind - very much her.  

Still, it makes him wonder - if her heart were a compass, would it point towards him? 

He manages to hold his tongue until she gets another delivery of flowers. 

This time he opens the door when the doorbell rings, assaulted by the heady scent of lillies, pollen smeared on his sleeves. This time, there’s a name on the card. 

Oikawa Tooru . 

It takes a couple of seconds for him to realise why the name is so familiar. It’s the same name Hinata and Kageyama used to buzz about every Olympics - the famous Argentinian setter who started his career as a schoolboy from Miyagi, a prodigious setter who never made it to Nationals in high school, refused to give up and forged his way to success in a whole new land, continents away.

‘How do you know Oikawa’? He asks her. ‘And why does he keep sending your flowers?’ 

‘He’s just an old acquaintance,’ she admits. ‘He’s just sending the flowers to persuade me to attend his wedding.’

His forehead crinkles in confusion, and he tries his best not to leap to conclusions, but since she doesn’t seem to be forthcoming with further clarification, he presses her further. 

‘And why won’t you attend his wedding?’ 

Her shoulders slouch in obvious reluctance as she turns away, focusing her attention on the mixing bowl. But Kiyoomi isn’t easily deterred, so he firmly takes the mixing bowl from her and sets it on the countertop. He raises an eyebrow at her, clearly seeking an answer. 

She huffs a sigh through her nose. ‘Because he’s getting married to my ex-boyfriend, ok?’   

He blinks. That was unexpected. 

‘It happened half a decade ago. Ancient history. I’m over it.’ She mutters to the floor. 

‘Why didn’t you tell me about it?’ 

‘Because it’s none of your business’, she snaps, grabbing the mixing bowl again, beating the batter with a vengeance. 

‘You’re going to ruin the texture if you whisk it too hard’, he tugs the bowl away from her again. She refuses to relinquish her grip.

‘Leave me alone!’ she snarls, yanking the bowl back. Confused by her sudden fury, he lets go of the bowl, only for her to stumble back, eyes wide as she loses her balance, knocking her head against the countertop.

He drops down onto his knees, not even noticing the batter soaking into his pants, combing through her hair, scouring the back of her neck for any sign of injury. It’s only when he’s satisfied that her fall has resulted in nothing more than a bruise that should go away by tomorrow that he notices her tears soaking the front of his shirt. 

‘Do you want to tell me what’s wrong?’ he asks, wiping her tears away with a batter splattered thumb. 

She hangs her head, body still shaking from her sobs. ‘I’ve already made such a mess of things – don’t want you to have to listen to my nonsense – am just bein’ stupid, that’s all - ’. 

He patiently waits until her sobs dissolves into mere sniffles before speaking. ‘I want you to tell me what’s wrong. If you’re up to it.’ 

So through more broken sobs and hiccups, he listens to the tale of Iwaizumi Hajime, a boy who was her world, who only realised he was always in love with Oikawa Tooru, a fortnight before she and he were to wed. Her voice wavers as she tells him the full story of the white lilies, explains that her irrational dislike for stars stems from the reminder that she chose to give her world up to a boy-king burning brighter than the stars in the night sky combined. 

He waits until her words run out, and she’s leaning against him, broken and pliant in a way that makes his heart ache. 

‘I wish you told me about it earlier’, he tells her, tucking the loose strands of hair behind her ear. ‘That you would trust me enough to tell me about the things that hurt you in the past. And I wonder about the state of our relationship if you don’t even trust me enough for that’. 

‘That’s unfair. You never asked - ‘ 

‘How could I ask about something I didn’t even know about?’ He takes hold of her shoulders, forcing her to look at him. Hurt and anger and shock simmer in her eyes, each swirl of emotion fighting for dominance. 

‘I didn’t want to expect anything more from this relationship than you were willing to give’, she admits after a pause. 

She’s scared of being hurt again. He doesn’t miss the subtext.  

‘Shall I tell you what I want from you then? I have a list, if you’re willing to hear me out’ he asks, with a smile that’s growing more common the more time he spends around her. 

She nods, but keeps her gaze stubbornly on the ground. 

He takes his time to choose his words. He’s never been verbose - not like Atsumu or Bokuto or even easygoing Motoya, choosing to only say what is strictly necessary, using the precise amount of words, nothing more, nothing less. But this is a situation that requires more emotion rather than precision, so he inhales a shaky breath, letting it fuel the sentiment in his heart as he exhales. 

‘First. I want you to trust that I’ll never hurt you like he did’, he says, and with a self-deprecating smile he adds - ‘I don’t have any childhood friends to be secretly in love with besides Motoya, and I’m hardly going to be pining after my flake of a cousin’. 

That triggers the corners of her lips to tilt upwards, and encouraged, he carries on.    

‘Second. I want you to be open with me about what you want - your dreams, your expectations of me. I want to hear them all because  you’re important to me.’

That makes her flush pink, and she sneaks a glance up towards him. 

‘Third. I want to wake up each morning with you by my side and come home to you every night. I want to watch you fight cranky old ladies in the supermarket in my honour, be the first person to taste test all your baking experiments - even the failed ones that are only fit to feed Atsumu. I want us to be happy together. Forever, if possible.’

He lifts her bodily into his lap, brushes his nose against her cheek. ‘Now that I’ve told you what I’m willing to give, is that too much for you to take?’ he murmurs against her lips. 

Her blush blossoms into a deep scarlet, but her eyes are iridescent pools of startled delight. She doesn’t speak, sealing her answer instead with her lips. 

His heart’s compass is irretrievably broken, the needle melted into place. It doesn’t point north any longer, no  – it’s always going to point towards her. 

They move in together after that. 

He gives up his apartment, professing to prefer the warmth and light of hers. The Miyas help him move in even when he tries to refuse their help, Atsumu helping him to lug cardboard boxes up the stairs, Kaiyo helping him sort out his belongings, sorting them into his allocated cupboards. 

When they’re done, they order pizza and she bakes a cake to celebrate. ‘An impromptu housewarming’ she says, toasting Miya Kaiyo with a slice of pepperoni pizza with a laugh.

Kiyoomi shares a slice of chocolate cake with Atsumu in complete defiance of their nutritionist’s advice, jostling forks over the very last bite. She and Kaiyo scold them teasingly, telling them to behave like they’re actually thirty and not teenagers on the cusp of adulthood. Atsumu pulls at Kaiyo’s ponytail in retaliation. He refuses to engage in similar tomfoolery, reddening instead when she reaches over to ruffle his curls.

‘This is nice’, he remarks to Atsumu later, when their significant others are out of earshot, gossiping and giggling about something or other.  

‘It is, isn’t it’, Atsumu replies, a dopey smile on his face as he stares at his wife. 

It truly is , Kiyoomi thinks, staring at her.  

He takes over most of the cleaning, it clears his mind, he tells her. So to split the chores evenly, she insists on doing their laundry and cooking, and he doesn’t even nag her too much when she forgets to split the white and coloured clothes and stains some of his shirts once in a while. 

Wedding invites printed on expensive cream paper and bouquets of white lilies start to litter their doorstep every day. He tries his best to dispose of them before they reach her sight, but every so often, he comes home too late, catches her wilt as she brushes white petals from their doorstep. 

‘I don’t blame either of them’, she tells him, after he asks if she’d like him to call Iwaizumi and tell him to drown himself in a vat of batter, thank you very much. 

‘You’re too kind to both of them’ he says plainly, as they share a pot of tea, his head pillowed in her lap. ‘I would’ve just set them both on fire and left them to rot.’

‘Hajime loved Tooru for almost all his life - I just wanted to see him happy in the end. Argh  - I sound so stupid and sentimental like an old grandma, just laugh at me already’ she complains, hiding her burning cheeks in her hands.  

‘You aren’t stupid for being kind.’ He hums, quiet and low. ‘It’s why I love you so.’ 

He relishes the soft light dawning in her eyes, captures her whispered affection with careful fingers, spins them into gold. 

He has to turn off the stove to answer the door when some rude lout bangs on their front door far too early on a Sunday morning. 

With his coldest sneer and thinking resentfully about his breakfast, Kiyoomi swings the door open, fully intent on looming over the disturbance with his full height, but takes a step back instead when he finds one Iwaizumi Hajime hanging off the door knob. 

‘Hello’, Iwaizumi looks up at him confusedly. 

‘Hi’, he nods a greeting back at his old Olympic team trainer. They stare at each other. 

‘Eh - I think I’ve got the wrong house’, Iwaizumi scratches the back of his neck awkwardly. ‘Sorry about that, Sakusa-san.’

He’s about to close the door in Iwaizumi’s face when her voice chimes in, clear as a bell. 

‘Who’s at the door, Omi?’ 

The shorter man shoots him a look of barely contained rage as he uses his bulk to push his way through the doorway towards her. Kiyoomi tries to stop him, protesting that he can’t barge into someone’s private property without an invitation like that, but it’s as futile an endeavour as trying to block the path of a raging storm.

Iwaizumi reaches her first, raising a hand as if to cup her face by instinct, before letting it fall back limply by his side. ‘You weren’t answering any of my messages or calls’, he says. ‘I was worried about you.’

She stares at him blankly for a moment. Then fire sparks in her eyes. 

‘Well, as you can see, I’m completely fine’, she replies, jaw and fists clenched. ‘You don’t need to do a welfare check on me, we’re not involved anymore.’

The scorching pain in Iwaizumi’s eyes is evident, even from a distance away. ‘Yeah. Well. I thought we were friends. You didn’t even tell me you were dating again’. He shoves his hands in his pockets, tossing another heated glance in Kiyoomi’s way. 

‘I didn’t think I needed to update my ex-fiance about my love life, especially not when he’s trying to drag me to attend his wedding that I already said I’m not going to attend’, she bites back. 

Iwaizumi opens his mouth, then closes it with a resounding snap. ‘I’m sorry’, he says, with heartbreaking honesty. ‘I told Tooru that you probably didn’t want to hear from us, but he insisted and I got worried when I didn’t hear from you for months’. 

Kiyoomi can see her glare soften into molten sympathy. The tension in the air crackles with electricity. He’s neither blind nor stupid – he can sense the years of longing and love not quite lost between them. 

He thinks she loves him, Sakusa Kiyoomi – weird habits, cold disposition and all, but the doubt clogging up his arteries and veins is enough to make his heart seize – and if she’s going to break his heart, he’d much rather she not do it in front of Iwaizumi.  

‘Hajime - ‘ she begins to say, and at this point he jumps in - 

‘I’ll excuse myself so you both have the chance to catch up’, he says, waving aside her protests as he slips on his shoes. Even in his haste to leave the house, he clicks his tongue at the mess Iwaizumi left behind at their  genkan , kneeling down to arrange their shoes, only standing up when he’s satisfied they’re neatly arranged back in place. 

‘Omi, you don’t have to leave’, she says, holding the door open. 

He shrugs his shoulders at her, nose and mouth already obscured by his usual face mask. ‘Let me know when you’d like me to come back’. 

If she’d like him to come back. She doesn’t chase after him, after all.  

It’s a beautiful Sunday morning, but the golden sunshine feels more like a taunt rather than a balm to his mood. His stomach growls, making him long for the scrambled eggs he was in the middle of frying before he was so rudely interrupted, but his growing sense of nausea keeps him from seeking out an alternative meal. 

Instead, he makes his way to the park, sits on a relatively clean bench. There are couples a-plenty, strolling around hand in hand, families picnicking merrily around him, compounding the growing chasm of loneliness in his chest. He tries to count the seconds by his breaths, tries not to let the minutes expand the insecurities crawling, inch by inch up his throat. 

He sits alone. Poised, yet short of breath. 

He wonders if Iwaizumi Hajime has finally figured out that stars, for all their brilliance, cannot compensate for their lack of human kindness. And if so, he wonders which direction her heart would point towards if it were a compass - whether it’s as broken as his, and whether it points towards Iwaizumi or him.   

He waits. 

Then his phone buzzes. 

Ah. 

She’s asking him to come home. He does not dare to overthink the meaning of that single word. But he does not hide that his steps back  home are lighter than when he left, though the key in his hand shakes so hard it takes him three tries to fit it into the keyhole. He does not try to suffocate the seed of hope budding in the soft earth of his heart when he realises Iwaizumi’s shoes have vanished without a trace.  

“Omi?” 

She’s waiting for him, slipping warm arms around his waist, tangling her fingers in his curls, ignoring his complaints about letting himself wash his hands first. 

‘Am I silly for missing you, even though it’s only been an hour?’

He refuses to be distracted by the affection in her voice.

‘But what about Iwaizumi?’ he frowns, hesitation still poisoning the well of thoughts in his mind. 

Perhaps it’s a testament to how well they’ve grown to know each other that she doesn’t need to read the silent subtext of his statement. She smiles, bringing his palm flat against her chest, does not answer until his pulse matches the steady beat of her heart.  

‘I love you , Omi’, she tells him. Her heartbeat does not quicken, her smile does not waver. ‘You told me not to long ago to always be upfront with you about what  I  want so I’m going to be honest with you now - Iwaizumi is only ever going to be my past, and I want you from now on’. 

If her heart were a compass, the steady beat of her heart tells him, it would point only towards him.  

‘That is – if you’ll have me’, she adds, a shadow of doubt suddenly appearing on her face. 

‘Don’t be ridiculous’, he scoffs, burying his nose to breathe in the familiar scent of vanilla in her hair. ‘Who else would I rather have than you?’ 

Who else would he be lucky enough to call his home – a woman with a heart large enough to fit a whole ocean within its depths, with kindness in her eyes and mirth in her smiles. 

She laughs in spite of the salt in her throat and water in her eyes, leaning on her toes in a vain attempt to reach his face. He lifts her into her arms, laughs when she squeals indignantly as her feet only find air, toppling them both onto the couch where he can seat her between his legs, press kisses to her cheeks.  

She’ll tell him later that Iwaizumi came looking for her because he’s never outgrown his overprotective streak, and he’s truly happy for her - for them, because they’ve both moved on with their separate lives. And she ended up agreeing to attend his and Oikawa’s wedding on one condition – that an invitation is extended to him, Sakusa Kiyoomi, to attend with her as his date. 

He’ll tell her later that he’s happy to attend the wedding with her, just not to expect him to smile in any wedding pictures. And more importantly, he’ll tell her in his plain way that the list of expectations he has of their relationship has expanded yet again. 

He’ll lay out his dreams of a pair of matching golden rings to bind them to lifelong companionship, of hellspawn of their own and a dog, maybe two. 

He’ll ask her if it’s too much for him to ask of her.  

She’ll tell him that she’s willing to give him everything he asks for and more. 

It’s Miya Shino’s ninth birthday party. 

He’s retired from volleyball proper, and is thankful he insisted on getting a business degree from Chuo University before going pro, because it comes in handy working alongside Kuroo Tetsuro at the volleyball association. 

Miya Atsumu insists on inviting him to the party, though he supposes he’s invited not by virtue of being a former teammate, but because he’s also Shino’s uncle by marriage now. The thought that he’s related to Miya Atsumu, however distant and most definitely not by blood, still fills him with dread. 

The birthday girl is a little less imbued with her father’s chaotic energy this time, though she still squeals when her birthday cake is unveiled – though to be fair it’s less a cake, more a tower of cupcakes with cream cheese frosting spelling out her name. 

‘Thank you Auntie!’ Shino cries, flinging her arms around her. Kiyoomi flinches at the sight of anyone, even his nine year old niece, coming in close contact with his extremely pregnant wife, but a sharp glare from her subdues any complaint he dares to make. 

He fusses over her the minute he has the chance to corral her away from the clutches of Miya Shino. ‘Are your feet hurting? What about your back? I don’t know why you insist on walking so much when you know the doctor said you should be on bed rest soon’. 

‘Stop fussing, Omi! The baby and I will be fine’, she replies, exasperated. ‘This is the last social event scheduled before I pop and I’m determined to enjoy it while I can.’ Then she scuttles off faster than he imagines her frame allows, leaving him floundering in her wake. 

‘Just let her be’, Miya Atsumu laughs, slapping his back. Kiyoomi is on the verge of pointing out -  pot, meet kettle, reminding Atsumu that the last time Kaiyo was pregnant, Atsumu didn’t stop fretting until she went into labour and delivered a healthy baby boy. But then he remembers the grief etched into Atsumu’s face when Kaiyo miscarried in the stands during a game, so he holds his tongue and rolls his eyes instead. 

‘I’m just worried she’s pushing herself too hard’, he admits in a rare bout of vulnerability. 

Atsumu smiles, genuine for once. ‘Those crazy women, eh? They’re always gonna drive us up the wall, but they’re worth every minute of it.’ 

He looks at her, belly swollen with their first child, peach blossoms blooming in her cheeks. His past self would never imagine that he’d find this much joy and contentment in being a husband and a father, but then again his past self was satisfied coming home alone day after day to a cold apartment. He knows better now - life is so better when he has her, sharing stories of their day of over steaming mugs of tea at their kitchen countertop, listening to her hum as she bakes treats for the weekend, warmth and laughter and love abound in their cosy apartment for two, soon to be three.   

So feeling vaguely drunk though he hasn’t had a drop of alcohol in the months since she whispered during their anniversary dinner that they were expecting, Kiyoomi laughs aloud. 

Atsumu lifts his eyebrows in surprise.

‘She really, really is’, Kiyoomi says, breaking into an unguarded smile.  

If you wanna know more about the backstory of the reader - check out The Astrophile, and if you wanna know more about Miya Atsumu’s relationship with his wife, check out Storm Chaser. 

As always, reblogs and/or comments are so very appreciated <3

Taglist: 

@snoozless @softsakusa @moondaius​ (yeon i’ll be shameless and tag you cos I know you’re an Omi stan!)

[kybervisions]

midnight at wayne manor [clark]

summary: during a new years party at wayne manor, a drunk reader makes a move on clark. feelings long buried resurface, which leads to a clark breaking up with lois.  

author’s note: i love chaos,, this was just a small and quick idea that popped into my head while working on another clark one-shot,,feel free to send requests!! clark does try to be a good boyfriend to lois buuut......still a soft!clark fic bc im pretty sure he gets manhandled in this??? 

tags: cheating, dry humping, intoxicated!reader, reader is kind of a maneater in this ngl, kinda angsty   

They should have stayed home, that was Clark’s immediate thought upon laying eyes on you. The wind had been knocked out of him and he felt frozen in time as you approached them with a bright smile. Your dress fit your body perfectly, complimenting your shape in a sexy red faux leather mini dress, and then your eyes met. Dazzling and alluring. Clark almost forgot about Lois standing beside him, but she grabbed his arm and dragged him to greet you. 

“Happy New Year!” Lois exclaimed as she went in for a hug. “Your house looks amazing by the way,” 

“Thank you,” You chuckled and hugged Lois. “I didn’t think you’d be coming,” You kissed Lois’s cheek and withdrew from the hug. Clark knew you would go to him next. He knew it was just a friendly greeting, but he couldn’t keep himself composed if your body was wrapped tightly around his. 

So, he extended his arm and went for a handshake.

Clark saw a flash of hurt in your eyes, which you quickly covered with a happy face, and he felt like he had been punched in the gut. 

“Almost didn’t,” Lois laughed. “But our schedule cleared up,”

“Good,” You smiled. “Alfred and I spent too much time planning this for people not to enjoy it,”

“Where’s Bruce?” Clark looked around the room.

“My dear brother has locked himself in his room,” You said rather somberly. Again, the sadness in your eyes impacted him. Clark wanted you to be happy, and he needed to be the reason for putting a smile on your face. “Like a fucking child,”

Lois chuckled nervously, uncomfortable with the turn in the conversation. Clark takes a step closer to you, “Do you want me to talk to him? Try and convince him to come up?” He asked. 

“No...I kinda want you to beat his ass,” You said, and you shared a small smile. “He knows how much this party means to me and doesn’t care enough to show up,”

“I’m going to get some drinks,” Lois said, wanting to leave such a personal conversation. After all, she and you had never been close. You met Lois through Clark, but Lois had written about you long before Clark became Superman. You’ve kept a cordial relationship with her, in the name of team bonding. 

So, Lois quickly exited the scene. 

“I’ll rough him up for you,” Clark chuckled and pushed his glasses up with his index finger.

The sudden alertness in your eyes should have told him not to follow you to the Batcave. When you grabbed his arm and interlocked your fingers with his, he should have pulled away, but he let you lead him deeper into the manor, away from the party. 

Clark turned a corner, and you pushed him against a wall. The attack took him by surprise, but he didn’t fight you off. He felt your lips on his and melted. His mind went fuzzy. All he could focus on was you and the feeling of you against him.

He kissed you back. Desperately. Like you’d disappear and he’d never be able to kiss you again. Clark grabbed your hips and switched your positions — having your back against the wall as he thrust his crotch against your wet core. 

Being so close to you made Clark delirious. He should have stopped it, but instead, he deepened your kiss. He tasted the tequila and weed on your tongue, which reminded him you weren’t in the right state of mind, and that completely shattered this little paradise.

“You’re so warm,” You slurred in a whisper. 

“Y/N, you’re drunk,” He tried to hide his hurt. It wasn’t some confession of love from you. It was something fun for you to do while drunk, which broke his heart.

“Hmhmm,” You nodded. “And high,” You smiled. “Want some?” You tried to kiss him again. He turned his head to avoid your lips touching. 

“We can’t,” Clark struggled to pull himself away from you. 

“Because of Lois?” You asked.

“Oh, god, Lois,” Clark ran his fingers through his hair, panicking at the mention of his girlfriend. “I’m sorry,” He apologized. “I shouldn’t have let you do this,” He looked deeply into your confused eye. 

“You don’t have to apologize, Clark,” You smiled. “I wanted to kiss you,” You took a step toward Clark, closing the space between you. “I want to do a lot more than that,” You added, reaching for his crotch.

“O-oh,” Clark whispered as your hands teased his hardened cock through the dress pants. You kissed his neck, and Clark shut his eyes. “Please, don’t,”

You immediately pulled away.

Clark opened his eyes but didn’t see you standing in front of him. He turned around, looked down the hallway, but saw nothing. Only when he used his enhanced vision did he see you had made it to the Batcave. He looked at his watch, which read 11:38pm and sped down to the cave. 

When he reached the control computer, he could hear you crying. Bruce was holding you and looked at Clark with an angry expression. Your tears were his fault, somehow. Confused, but desperate to make you feel better, Clark approaches you.

“Lotta nerve making a girl cry on her birthday,” Bruce said callously. 

It stung.

“You’re not not guilty either, asshole,” You punched Bruce’s shoulder. 

“Ow, fine, I’ll leave,” He kissed your temple, “Love you, spider-monkey,” You rolled your eyes at the nickname. Bruce shot a death glare at Clark before exiting the Batcave to join the festivities.

Your eye makeup had smeared, with black tears running down your cheeks. You looked a mess, which Clark still found endearing.

“What’s wrong?” He asked in a soft tone. 

“I didn’t think you were coming,” You hiccupped. “Soo I drank a lot really fast,” You continued, almost embarrassed to explain your emotions. “Because I really wanted you here and I felt sad but then you showed up and I got really happy and you look so good right now and I’m really drunk and—” To save you your breath, Clark kissed you.

He moved your hair, cupped your face, and passionately kissed you. He wanted this, you, for so long, Clark didn’t care it would inevitably hurt Lois. 

You shoved him away and tears filled your eyes, “We can’t, remember?” Lois. “I’m such a horrible person,” You began to cry. “I shouldn’t have kissed you, I shouldn’t have done that to Lois,” Your eyes were red and puffy from crying. 

Clark hugged you. He wrapped his arms around your body, tiny in comparison to his stature, and he just held you.

“I look good tonight?” Clark asked after a few seconds of comfortable silence. 

You burst into laughter, and Clark was happy to see you smile again. “Yeah, like a sexy librarian,” Your eyes met.

“How long have —

“I don’t even know when it started,” You answered his unfinished question. “All I know is that I looked at you one day and I wasn’t afraid of it anymore,” 

Right. The unspeakable ‘it’. You’d been so scared of falling in love with your best friend that you patiently watched him date another woman for nearly a year.

“But by then, it was too late,” 

“It’s never too late,” Clark asserted. Despite his relationship with Lois, he didn’t feel at home. He’d never experienced a passion like you. Lois tried her best to keep him happy, but her efforts were pointless. “I love you, Y/N,” He confessed.

“I wanna fuck you so bad,” You blurted out. 

“Dear God, woman,” Clark laughed at your explicit commentary. “I’ll break things off with Lois first, alright? So we can both try and keep some semblance of a conscience,” 

“...tonight?” 

[musette22]

Okay but imagine Steve getting a Claddagh ring for Bucky before he shipped out but was too hesitant to give it to him. Steve knew if he gave Bucky the ring Bucky would see it as a sign of their deep friendship but for some reason the thought hurts Steve so he keeps the ring, promising himself he'll give it to Bucky the next time he sees him. Only the next time Steve sees Bucky they're both different, changed, and the ring had become a source of comfort for Steve as he did his dancing monkey routine before he took his fate in his own hands and rescued Bucky and the rest of the 107th. He found his purpose but Bucky was adrift. It didn't feel right to give him the ring just yet.

He keeps the ring, making another promise to give it to Bucky on his birthday. Then Bucky falls and Steve loses all reason to keep going. He kisses the ring one last time before crashing into the ice.

He'll give the ring to Bucky in his dreams.

Only he wakes up to a world he doesn't know, finding the crushing grief hasn't lessened; he's horribly lost and unbelievably alone, but the ring is still with him - keeping Bucky close to his heart. Steve tries find a purpose, and he keeps going, forever marching ahead and trying to find his place in a world without his best friend and the only family he had left.

And then he finds Bucky in the middle of DC under a bridge, and his world implodes and shatters and then remakes itself anew with a broken, jagged happiness that he's no longer alone. Then he loses Bucky twice more but always coming back to him, each time threatening to forever break Steve for good.

After Thanos, after fighting like hell to get Bucky and the others back, Steve finally gives the ring to Bucky in a moment of quiet in the chaos of the battlefield.

"I'm with you until the end of the line," Steve promises as he slides the ring onto Bucky's finger with such solemn care that it's borderline reverent, giving it one last kiss before meeting Bucky's lips for the first time.

"Took you long enough, punk," Bucky whispers then kisses Steve back.

Alright, ok, ok. This is fine, I'm fine.

No I'm not.