#happy what are you trying to tell me here

[highdramas]

okay hear me out… a jack abbott inspired by imgonnagetyouback… the angst? the lust? i fear you would eat this up

never not mine | dr. jack abbot

pairing: jack abbot x f!resident!reader warnings: language, angst with a happy ending, age gap (unspecified, but reader is late 20s/early 30s and jack is mid/late 40s), reader slaps a man hehe (not jack), power imbalance (reader is a resident and jack is her attending), drug use (weed), sexual content (brief but there), jack absolutely grovels and it's a vibe word count: 3.2k summary: jack attempts to walk away. you attempt to reel him back in. it leaves you both raw and vulnerable. notes: if you are under 18 do not interact with my work or this fic. imgonnagetyouback, back to me by the marias, and honeymoon by lana all helped inspire this fic! i'm a little worried i wrote jack ooc, but then i remembered that man is a canonized yapper. this exists within the ring of fire universe, but that does not have to be read first. it is linked here if you would like to, though! i took some liberties with this so i apologize if it's not exactly how you imagined it! but i had a great time writing this! i hope you enjoy it <3 not proofread, apologies for errors!

you know exactly what it is that you’re doing. and if jack feels tortured– fine. let him. this is all his fault, anyway.

the whole time you’d been with him, whatever that even meant, you’ve felt this sense of… waiting for the other shoe to drop. you tried to tell yourself that you were crazy, that jack was good and honest and that he wasn’t going to get cold feet. that the fact that you were his resident and he was your attending didn’t bother him. that he wasn’t irrevocably haunted by demons from his past, a dead wife and an endless war that runs on a replay in his head, pain in a limb that he doesn’t even have anymore.

it’s not that you expect him to forget all of that. you just want him to be real with you.

and when he falls right into the trope, the trap that was laid by fate, you decide that you’re not going to be resentful. you’re just going to prove to him– and maybe yourself– that you’re not so easily forgotten. that you can’t be left.

it sounds both arrogant and pathetic when you think about it like that. but you don’t care. you’re going to get him back.

maybe it is cruel that you started flirting with donnie in front of him. maybe it’s evil, the way that when you all gather for your post-shift beer, it’s donnie’s bench that you settle at. when you meet abbot’s gaze from across the walkway, his eyes are always at a level of stony that make you a little bit nervous. but then you remember that he iced you out and you lift your chin up and turn your face back to donnie.

he’ll pick his poison, you decide.

when you enter lefty’s at 11pm after getting wind that the day shift– which was jack, conveniently, since he uttered the words this is a bad idea, kid. god, you want to shake his shoulders, you want to call him a coward and scream from the top of your lungs: do you need see how good it could be if you let it?

a delicate lilac top clings to your skin. you push your hair over your shoulder as santos crosses the bar to greet you with a big hug, laughter on her lips. “jesus christ, who are you trying to give a heart attack?”

your hand splays on her back and you find abbot looking at you from across the bar. you shrug your shoulders and pull back, pushing back pieces of santos’s hair. “i don’t know. maybe someone new?”

trinity’s eyebrows shoot up. “wow. spicy. i like it.”

you don’t know how much time passes. you feel a bit silly: overdressed, a beer in your hand, nothing on your mind except the man that you want to lure back in to you. your outfit is a siren song and all you can wonder is if abbot is a sailor who is as desperate as you’ve pinned him as.

if he’s as desperate as you are.

every time you look at him, he’s either already looking, or feels your gaze on him. there will be a beat of eye contact before you look away and laugh at something garcia said or engage, rapt, in a conversation with samira about the first date that she went on last week. suddenly, it’s been hours, and you’re closing out your tab when you feel a presence beside you.

it’s not the presence that you want. it’s one that’s unknown and makes you feel uncertain. it’s not abbot’s easy, calm, present demeanor beside you. the one that tells you don’t worry, i’m here, i got this. the one that washes over you like a delicious wave. the one that smells woody and warm and delicious. the man next to you is a little too clean cut, a little too polished–  he smells like laundry and looks like he’s never been through a bad thing in his life.

he takes a drink of the last of his beer. “i’ve been watching you all night.”

you didn’t notice. faintly, you think that if you were twenty three, this man next to you would have been the apple of your eye, instantly. you wouldn’t be able to take your eyes off of him. but when you look at him and you see deep dimples and dark hair, all you see are dimples that are a little too deep, and hair that isn’t streaked with silver.

that pick up line strikes you as unimpressive. your finger tip circles your glass. “oh, am i supposed to say thank you?” you ask, but you manage what you try to play off as a coy smirk. absentmindedly, you look around, instinctively looking for jack. and not even because you want to see if he’s jealous. not because you want to see the look on his face, to feel that sick sense of satisfaction at the fact that you’re getting to him.

no. you want your friend. you want to give a bleak eye roll and make him smirk. you want to go back to him and say what a prick and carry on with your life. you want to go back to the normal that you’ve gotten used to– the one that, maybe, you took for granted.

if you can’t have jack as your whatever he was, you’d take him as your friend. any day.

but when your eyes scan the bar… he’s not there. the spot that he occupied next to robby is vacant. and all you’re left with is this sick sense of shame, embarrassment, and something else that you can’t quite articulate. longing, if someone put a gun to your head and forced you to put a name to it.

the man next to you says something. you don’t hear it. static rattles in your ears and suddenly all you want to do is go home, tear those lilac clothes off, wash your face, and cry. in bed.

and maybe smoke a joint on your patio, too.

he says something again. you, once again, don’t respond. you look at the bartender and answer their questions with one word answers. yes, you want to close. no, you don’t want a copy of your receipt.

“are you ignoring me, or are you just a stupid fucking bitch who can’t hear?”

at the level of shut down you’re at already, you don’t even care what he’s said. but he’s gotten the attention of the others. robby is already on his feet.

and abbot is walking down the hall from the restroom.

“i’m ignoring you,” you turn to him, spitting the words out, loud and clear. “but if calling me a stupid fucking bitch makes the rejection hurt less, knock yourself out.”

he screws his entire face up, and abbot is approaching quicker now, with that lethal anger on his face. robby isn’t far behind… or santos, either, for that matter.

“you are a stupid fucking bitch,” he says, taking a step closer to you, shrinking himself in size to be on your level. “and you’re not pretty enough to get away with an attitude like–”

abbot makes a move to lunge, and robby has to physically pull him back. the man lets out an ugly laugh and all you see is red, bright red. “oh, what’s your fuckin’ grandpa going to do?”

the crack that rings out when your palm hits his cheek could be heard around the world. it opens up a cacophony of mayhem– between you and him, the bartenders, abbot, robby, santos getting ready to throw in a punch of her own… but it all culminates with the lot of you being told to get the fuck out, this isn’t philly.

with your jaw set and your head held high, you are the first one to storm out of the bar. and maybe it’s the alcohol, maybe it’s the fact that a stranger just called you a bitch, but all you feel is an unsettled sort of anger.

you hear abbot say your name behind you.

you stop. the pittsburgh early spring still has a bite to it, especially when it’s nearing midnight. the wind makes your eyes sting, tears trailing down your cheeks. it’s the wind. it’s just the wind. “no,” you say lowly, pointing a finger in his direction. “fuck you.”

“fuck me?”

“yeah. fuck you.” you tug your jacket closer to yourself and wipe the tears away with the back of your hand. “you ignore me, you tell me this isn’t going to work, and then want to play protective… yeah. fuck you.” you go quiet, go to turn, but you can’t. you’re frozen in place. “no, it’s not even that. not really. i shouldn’t be mad at you. i should be mad at myself. i’ve been doing things, this whole time, trying to earn your affection back. trying to get you to see what you were missing, see why it was so silly to pretend that we’re not good. but… i’ve felt like shit every day, doing that. i’ve felt small.”

jack doesn’t say anything. robby has ushered all of your coworkers down the street and far away, bless him. when you assess jack’s face, there’s a myriad of things you see. you think you see regret. you know you see hurt. you want to believe you see love.

“and i don’t want to feel small,” you sniffle and wipe a fat, real tear away. “i don’t want to wear a cute outfit because you might see it. i don’t want to flirt with donnie to watch your knuckles go white. i want– i want to sit on your fucking couch. i want to watch some stupid show with you. i want to lay in bed and listen to the police scanner after sex. i want you to want me. and if you don’t, if this is all too much for you, then…” you look him up and down. the body you know intimately, the person you’d be with forever if he let you.

“then no hard feelings.”

you don’t give jack the opportunity to respond. maybe that’s its own special brand of self preservation. you turn, and you walk away from him, towards an empty apartment.

–

when you get home, you do exactly as you cited. you rid yourself of your clothes. you furiously wash your face and then go through the rest of your skin care. you roll yourself a joint, and you bring it out to your patio, and the small table, chair, and ashtray that sit out there.

your apartment isn’t as high up as jack’s. you live in an old building on the third floor, one of the world war two types, with the radiators and beautiful hardwood floors and all of the character in the world. in exchange, you get no dishwasher and a patio that probably isn’t up to city code.

lighting the joint with one hand, you take in a long, nice, inhale. you lean your head back against the wall. you grab your phone and put the marias on and let those big tears roll down your cheeks freely.

the low rumble of a truck pulling up gets your attention. you lift your head up and watch as the vehicle that you’d sat in countless times goes into park. you hear the door open. you watch jack round it, and his eyes are instantly drawn to your patio. he holds his hand up in a wave.

you flip him off.

the chuckle that gets out of him should infuriate you. but it doesn’t.

“yeah, i deserve that.”

“you’re a dick,” you reply, marijuana leaving you honest. you stand up and lean on the railing, looking down at him.

“i am.”

his hands are in his pockets and you can see a war going on in his mind, but then he starts talking. “i’m not good at this part. the… communication, part. i’m not good at this part at all.”

you raise your eyebrows. he continues. “when annie died, i was content to not be with anyone. ever again. a random fuck there and again, just to get it out of my system, sure. but i was content with not opening myself up to that. i always just thought… i thought i was already so fucked up, and since annie knew me before i was so fucked up. i told myself that she was the only one that was going to get it. get me.” he stares up at you. “now, i know that i was wrong in that. obviously.”

you give a slow nod of your head. “but i lived in that reality for so long. that i wasn’t going to be open to that again. and then we started hanging out, and at first, i was able to convince myself it was innocent. i’m your mentor. no lines would get blurred. and then, obviously, they did. but i told myself it was all casual. and when i told myself that, i felt like… yeah, i could do that. i could be good to someone in that capacity. but then,i felt greedy with you. i felt like i wasn’t going to be able to let myself walk away if i stayed any longer. so i forced myself. thought i was doing you a favor.” he rubs the back of his neck. “thought i was doing right by myself. like, the safest option. and then i talked to my therapist.”

you smirk. “the age old solution.”

“yeah, right?” he smirks back at you. “and i told him all of this, yesterday. and you know what he said?” he waits a beat. “he told me i’m a fucking idiot. and i responded, and said that i know i was. because deep down… deep down, i knew it was all bullshit. a defense mechanism.”

he walks closer and puts his hands on the railing of the first floor patio, staring right up at you, you staring down at him. “i should never have made you feel small. and all i want is to show you that i mean it.”

nodding your head slowly, you mull over his every word. you open and close your mouth a couple of times. “i want to tell you to fuck off,” you say honestly. “i want to think you’re just bullshitting me. but…” you meet his eyes. “that’s probably my defense mechanism.”

the quiet overtakes the two of you. all there is is the lull of traffic and the faint whistle of the wind. “it wasn’t about you,” you say. “i knew why you were pushing me away. i understood. i just wanted you to see why those things weren’t real. and i thought that i could control that. and then i just left myself feeling disappointed, and desperate, and messy.”

the two of you watch each other like feral cats, unblinking and unwavering. maybe that’s what you are.

“i’m sorry,” he says, voice softened. “i was a dick. and you were right.”

you nod your head. “come inside before you catch a cold.”

most of the time, you went over to his place. when he steps over the threshold into your apartment, you think that it feels good to have him in your space. to watch him set his shoes by the door, hang his coat up on the little rack. there’s this awkward sort of tension that simmers between the two of you. he must sense it, because he gives you a sideways look. “that wasn’t all i had to say.”

“yeah?” you ask with a playful smile, filling up a glass of water and taking a big gulp from it.

his hands pin you in at your kitchen counter. all of the air is sucked right out of the room. “you told me that you wanted me to want you. right?” you give a nod of your head. “i wanted to be face to face with you when i said this part.” he ghosts his fingertips over your cheeks. “i want every fucking part of you. your wild, messy parts included. especially, even.” his eyes darken a shade. “do you know how crazy you’ve made me? flirting with donnie, that purple you wore tonight?”

you roll your eyes, mostly at yourself. “that was sort of the plan.”

“it worked.” his thumbs brush your hipbones. “every day, i went home to an apartment that had you all over it. a coffee mug on the counter with a lipgloss mark. the blanket that you love and curl into almost every single night. your book on my coffee table. i felt stupid. i felt small, too. i felt like a coward. i was a coward. and i just–”

you raise up your hand, pressing it against his chest. not pressing him away, just… there. his brows furrow. you say, “you ramble when you’re nervous and when you want someone to feel better.” your hand slides up his chest. “i forgive you.”

the relief that washes over him is a visible, tangible thing. you feel it in the way he grips your hips as a result, the way his face falls into the crook of your neck. you close your eyes and run your hand through the silver streak you love so much. he pulls back and there’s a little tear shining in his eye. and he says three words that are simple but profound, that strike you where you stand. “i love you.” he nods. that steady, stable, self-assured version of himself is there again. “i know that now. i knew it then, too.”

you nod your head slowly. “i know you do,” you say, because you do, you really do. “and i love you too.”

those dimples shine at you. not too deep. just right. he pulls your body in flush with his and it’s like you melt away into nothing but a glowing ball of light. fuzzy and warm.

a switch is flipped. your hands go hungry and your lips find his. jack leads you to your bedroom. he lays you down and he spreads you out. he takes off each article of clothing, slowly. he lowers himself until his head is between your thighs and apologizes with his tongue, until you arch off your bed. he climbs up and he sinks inside of you in one satisfying motion. you’re all nails down his back and relentless eye contact, and you’re the kind of desperate and messy that you want to be. he’s just the same– his pace is consistent, deep, and each thrust tells you just how sorry he really is.

you finish with an explosion behind your eyes, and he tumbles over off that cliff after you. he rolls off of you and you lay on your backs, staring up at the ceiling. your hand goes to rest on his chest. he takes it and presses a kiss to it before he raises, comes back with a damp cloth and cleans you up with care. love. he leans down and presses a kiss to your lips, tender and right.

he starts messing with the covers, brows all screwed up. “what could you possibly be looking for right now?” you ask, chest still heaving.

“this,” he says, locating his phone. he stares down at it until he puts it between you. a faint static emits from it.

“what the hell is–”

“3B60, the subject is fleeing on foot.”

you between him and his phone, police scanner coming from the speaker, incredulously. he just grunts as he settles back into bed, pulling you into him. “i’m just listening to what you want, kid.”

[butyoudidthis4what]

Perfumer

Jack Abbot x Reader

1.5k || All of my content is 18+ MDNI || CW: none I think. Hinted at sex and suggestiveness but that's about it really.

Summary: Jack smells the perfume you're wearing, flirty fluffy happy teasing ensues. That's it, that's the fic. Established relationship. No use of y/n or related. Zero proofreading of any kind. No beta.

A.N.: The summaries and titles will not be getting better I fear. After getting out some sadness in that last one I just needed something fluffy and happy and flirty. This is very self-indulgent as I love perfume and wish I had Jack Abbot giving me some and then smelling it on me, and telling me I smell good, you know? Honestly I'm quite shocked I wrote anything with like no level of angst in it that was just fluff. But my mental health needed some pure happy fluff with him so here we are. Anyway, this is exceptionally short for me and as with last time this is my first time back writing fanfic in a longggg time so please be gentle and kind and also let me know if you like it! The ending is very open, so there's definitely part two potential depending upon reception and if anyone would like.

“I should have known the trail of smell good was you. You always smell good.” Santos comments as she walks up to you while you stand by the center desk. “Do you own like a thousand perfumes or something?” 

Jack’s head popped up from looking at the tablet in his hands a few rooms down from the desk at ‘smell good,’ correctly assuming it meant you were here. You can feel his eyes on you and look over at him. “Probably not a thousand, but a lot, yes. I collect them.” 

“Why? Aren’t women supposed to want, like, a signature smell or whatever?” She tilts her head at you. 

You start smirking but Robby beats you to it. “Oh, she has to keep Abbot on his toes somehow.” 

“What does that even mean?” She looks between you, Robby, and Jack.

You bite your lip and stifle a laugh. It’s nice, having your relationship out in the open, having been able to get to know Jack’s friends. He’s still quite private though, which you respect, and know Robby is flirting with the line. You weren’t going to go quite as far, but can’t help the way it made you smile, in large part because it’s true.

It’s become somewhat of a game for you and Jack. You wear a different perfume everyday and he guesses what it is. He’s good at it, which isn’t surprising, he’s good at everything he does. It’s a nice way to have a close moment together. He likes buying them for you too to keep the game interesting.

It lets him read your moods a bit too. He’s learned that when you’re a bit down you have a tendency to go for perfumes that are heavier in a sense, more warm and comforting. And if you don’t wear perfume he knows it means things are bad because you don’t want to end up associating a smell with however you’re feeling or what you’re going through. He also swears they mix with your chemistry and smell different at certain times during your cycle. You don’t know why you found the idea of him being able to smell that on you so hot, but you very much did.

Recently you’d taken to layering some of them, in part to be creative and in part to make it more challenging for Jack.

“It means-” Robby starts.

“Okay, can we just not?” Jack asks as he walks over to you, shooting Robby a look and standing next to you. 

“I just think it’s cute how-”

“Still talking.” Jack cuts Robby off. 

“How the tables turn.” Robby shoots back, making Jack roll his eyes. 

“I was just trying to help-” Jack starts.

“Now, now, boys, no fighting in front of the children.” You fake scold them. This time they both roll their eyes at you. 

“Go back to work since you all still want to be here past your shifts.” Jack tells everyone, grabbing your hand and leading you to the doctor’s lounge. 

You expect a kiss and hug now that you’re in private, but instead you’re met with him pressing his chest to your back, one hand coming to hold one of your hips and the other moving your hair off one shoulder and tilting your neck before he leans in close to breathe you in. You can feel the soft skin of one of his lips brush against you and the stubble from him not shaving for a day. 

“Jack,” you breathe, heavier than you mean to, one hand coming to rest on his hand on your hip and the other reaching up to cup his face. 

“Celeste,” he murmurs against your skin. He’s right so you nod. That’s the name of the perfume you’re wearing on your neck and wrists today. “No wonder Santos picked up on you. Heavy sillage.” He gives you a kiss to the neck before pulling back to spin you and give you one to the lips. You smile as he does. “Stop smiling so I can kiss you properly.”

That makes you laugh, but you’re able to control it and in turn he’s able to kiss you properly, how you deserve to be kissed. “I love that you know what that word means and actually used it. It’s kind of hot.” You give him another kiss. “I’m making my military man into a perfumer.”

He hums at you, low and from the back of the throat. He loves it when you call him yours. “If you ever told anyone I would deny all knowledge of having a clue about what sillage and gourmand and all of the other pretentiously fancy perfume related words mean.” 

“I never would. Couldn’t ruin your reputation could I, Dr. Abbot? Plus I like having our little secrets.” You let your voice trail down on the last sentence, run your hands all over his scrub top.

His eyes darken just a little and his jaw tightens. He never really had any sort of title kink before he met you, but there’s something about the way ‘doctor’ slips off your tongue that really gets to him. Same with sir. 

“You’re not here for an ED related reason, are you? Hurt? Sick?” It’s teasing but there’s just enough of a tinge of real concern to the question that melts you. 

“I am not, no. I promise if I ever was here for such a reason I would make sure you knew immediately.” You smile at him softly, run a hand through the salt and peppery curls you love so much. “I just wanted to lay eyes on you, even if only for a moment. I missed you extra today. I’ll let you get back to work.” He nods, the little smile he gives you saying everything it needs to. You share one last kiss before going to leave the room.

“Oh,” you say, turning around and shutting the door again. “You’ve only answered half the question today. I just thought you should know.”

He raises his eyebrows. “You layered scents?”

“No.” You shake your head and smirk. He narrows his eyes a little as he tries to find the answer in your eyes. It suddenly clicks.

“Fuck me, your ankles?” He groans. “You put a different one on your ankles? Why?” He can already feel himself starting to fill out. He doesn’t know if he could articulate why he finds it so hot when you put perfume on your ankles for him to discover but he does. 

Your smirk widens. “For a fun surprise and to see the look on your face when I told you.” He glances around the room and then gets a look on his face like he’s thinking. You’re shocked, honestly. It’s so out of character for him to think about trying to do it at the hospital. It’s only happened twice. “Oh no,” you laugh, “no, no, no, Jack rabbit, you are not finding out here at the hospital, so don’t even think about places you could take me to try and find out.” 

He makes a noise of protest, somewhere between a growl and a whine that makes you bite your lip. He pins your back to the door with his hips and rolls them against you, grinding him into you to let you feel what you’ve done to him. “So what, I’m just supposed to go around like this for the rest of my shift?”

“Well you might want to take a couple of minutes to let that go down baby, but yes. You can finish your shift thinking about what could be on my ankles and what position it is you’re going to put me in to find out.” You press a kiss to his collarbone and his hands squeeze your hips a little harder, an unspoken command to look at him. 

You pull back and do as he asked. So big on eye contact, your Jack. He blinks at you, jaw clenched. “I’m going to be half hard and uncomfortable there for the rest of my shift, you know that right?”

“I am nothing if not a cruel woman.” You say with fake solemnity as you smooth your hands over his chest. “I’m sure as you get drawn back into work it’ll go away. Plus, you know the anticipation and wait makes it better.”

He somehow steps closer to you, almost puts a knee between your legs and leans in close, dropping his voice and making his voice even more gravely.“I want you to remember those words because you’re going to find out all about them once I’m home and I don’t want to hear any complaining.”

“Oh?” You raise an eyebrow. “Are you threatening to edge me, sir?” His jaw grinds and you see the slightest twitch under your eye that makes you smirk. You love that you can affect him like this.

“I don’t make threats, Doll.” He whispers at your ear as he steps back from you and pulls the door to the lounge open for you both to walk out of. Everyone glances up at the two of you, effectively forcing you to control your reaction as he keeps his voice low, only for you to hear. “Only promises I intend to keep.” 

[1986hell]

Eddie avoids Steve as he can’t take much of listening to him gush about his boyfriend and avoids Robin by proxy.

Eventually Steve calls him out for it, attributing it to his bi-phobia.

So Eddie just word-vomits the whole thing. The ‘dirty little secret’ explanation for his bi-phobia, his crush, how [Steve’s boyfriend] makes Steve happy so Eddie feels guilty about being moody around him.

Steve just stares at him, taking it all in for a few long breaths before saying, “So we could have been dating months ago if not for your shitty attitude?”

“Should you be saying that while you have a boyfriend?”

“We had a mutual breakup a week ago which you would know if you weren’t sulking and avoiding everyone.”

Eddie gets a bit of a hopeful look in his eyes, visibly making Steve angrier.

“You’re on thin ice Munson. I’m frankly amazed that I still have enough of a crush on you to not just preemptively turn you down. And you’re definitely not getting out of this with just a verbal apology.”

“Wait, what do you want me to do then?”

Steve stops to think for a moment before saying, “Whatever it is, Robin has to give you the green light before you can officially ask me out.”

“I think just trying to talk to her would be an act of suicide.”

“She’s not that bad. Think of it as…” Steve sighs, trying to hide his small smile, …”a quest. But instead of slaying the dragon you have to befriend them.”

Eddie perks up a bit at this.

“Get going before I add Dustin to my ultimatum. And he liked [ex-boyfriend].”

Eddie jumps to his feet, immediately sweeping into a low bow. “Of course my princess. Ye dragon companion will be so happy with me, this humble bard shall become her new best friend.”

“Hey!” Steve snapped, not sure if he was mad about the princess nickname or the ‘new best friend comment. But before he could get any farther, Eddie slipped out the door.

Steve was honestly just stupefied into silence for a long moment before a voice spoke up from further in the house.

“How long do we give him before telling him I was here for the whole argument?” Robin asked as she peeked her head over the couch and grinned at Steve.

“He’ll cave and ask for you over the walkie within an hour.”

Fic where Eddie ruins his chances with Steve because of casual biphobia.

One time Steve went to the gay bar with Eddie and Robin to be their DD if they didn't end up going home with someone else and Eddie brushes off a guy that seems SUPER interested and when Steve asks why Eddie isn't interested, Eddie's casually saying yeah, he was good looking but that guy's into woman, too, and Eddie's not into people who like both.

And that's Steve's Ah Ha! moment. He feels stupid for not realizing on his own that you can like both but now that it's been said it all just kinda clicks into his brain.

Then Dread sets in as he realizes that the only thing holding him back from wanting to be with Eddie was that Steve, genuinely, thought you HAD to pick one gender to like and he'd made his irreversible decision back in middle school with he kissed Mary during the first game of Spin the Bottle he'd ever played.

So, Steve's realized he wants to date Eddie and learned that Eddie won't be with someone who likes both. It's a terrible night for Steve all around.

And Eddie's comments don't stem from a place of actually hating bi people; it's just been years of growing up in Hawkins and being someone's dirty little secret while watching the same boys that fuck him from behind in a dark bedroom walk around the halls of Hawkins High holding their girlfriend's hands.

And because it's gotta be Steddie for me, Eddie's crushing on Steve and would absolutely go out with Steve if he asked. But Steve never asks because Eddie is so vocal with his opinions on everything and he's got no filter so he's unintentionally mocked Steve's sexuality 3 times TODAY. There's no way Steve will ask; not when he's so sure the answers going to be know.

Then ooppps. Steve gets a boyfriend and Eddie has a meltdown about it because Steve never even told him he was into guys!!

I just love all the angst potential.

[thedivinetarot]

But I’m your little cherry, honey We’re so high, we’re so high.

What will your relationship with your future spouse will be like?

☆ Here's how to chose your pile 🦪🦪🦪

☆ Note:

This is a general reading so take what resonates or use your intuition as a discernment tool.

This reading is applicable for future spouse or future partner. Do not use for crushes, someone you are briefly dating or someone on your mind or an Ex (we don't want you to get stuck further on them or "what could've been").

Pile 1 - Heart locket

☆ Current energy:

Hello there my dear people 💕. I hope you are doing well. Now let's put a note here (if the energy check did not resonate with you skip to the next part).

Now, I'm sensing that some of you are moving from their community into another. It can be literal or symbolic. I see that you guys have to move, change address and start a new life and if not then you are considering to do this move. At the same time there's this resistant to change, you fear change and you are holding to your comfort zone like it is a lifeline, you fear the unpredictability and the unknown that you are stuck on your own ways. I see that a masculine in your life caused you too much trouble, could be a father, spouse, current partner or a masculine you are dealing with in your day to day life. This person's energy is very malicious, they are manipulative, cunning and selfish. They like no one but themselves and they are full of themselves. They have a tendency to cross boundaries and not taking accountability for their actions. I think you have an allergy of some sort because I started sneezing and my throat became itchy. Also, your back I felt my back got numb and I feel cold all of sudden. I see that some of you are considering your best match or option if you are dating other people. I see that you want peace and healing more than anything else in this world. You want to move in with your person and have a happy and peaceful life with them. I see that you are someone who is very aware of their own journey and the risks along the way your guides what me to tell you that abundance is closer than you think and you'll reach to were you are meant to.

☆ Placements for you:

Leo, Sagittarius, Scorpio, Taurus, Aries. Dominant planets in your chart in Jupiter, Mars, Sun, Uranus. Sun or moon in the 1st, 5th, 9th, 8th, 2nd house in your chart.

☆ Your relationship with your future partner:

[ This pile is not for everyone so if you are not like I'm describing down below then chose another pile or skip this reading.]

Okay, before I start there's a message here for you which is "you have the power to shape your circumstances". I'm saying that because 100% of this relationship you'll be the one who is going to destroy it. In the Lenormand I got the lady which is referring to you beside trouble you are going to cause. I see that I mentioned above that you want peace but at the same time you are unhealed and stuck. And it's not the circumstances you want to end up in. But let's get into the reading; I see that your person is likely someone who is older than you and more patient with you, you'll probably chose that person because you think you have no options but you are wrong. This person will be very familiar to you, like a childhood friend or one of your family members. I see that this relationship will be very calm and peaceful in a boring way. Everything is mundane, no big changes, nothing at all. You probably won't be intimate with your partner often and they'll be the one to PUSH you into getting intimate with them (not in a manipulative way or anything they just need you more) but you'll be like no na-uh. I see that your partner won't hide anything from you, and they'll try to avoid clash with you as much as possible because you always seem on edge which will make them uncomfortable most of the time. It'll be super hard for you to show vulnerability or open to them about yourself or your struggles and you'll maintain a cold exterior in front of them. I'm sensing an INFJ, INTJ, ISTJ, INTP, ISTP vibe. You don't want to open up or get close to them emotionally and the marriage will happen because of reasons other than love, perhaps stability or children or money. I see that on the long run it'll become so exhausting for your partner to keep up with your cold attitude. You need to learn how to open up emotionally and be vulnerable because not all people are bad or mean or want to hurt you. I see also that this relationship will make your partner to feel stuck and abandoned. Especially their emotional and personal needs by you. That's so mean pile 1 why do you do this? Healing is possible and getting in a loving relationship is more realistic than people think. I see that you'll see this marriage as something you are forced on, perhaps your circumstances lead you to meet this person and marry them for reasons other than what you wish for. You'll make your person feel abandoned and denied and the problem is you have this ability to gaslight them into thinking that this is their problem and not yours (pls don't do that it's toxic).

☆ How will your partner treat you?

Your person will have golden retriever energy, they are so sweet and adorable. This person is very generous and structured, they'll make you feel like you are their entire world. They'll make you feel desired, wanted and deeply cared for. They'll get you out of your shell and make you more social and extroverted. They'll make you feel more confident in your body or ability to satisfy them sexually, emotionally, and mentally. They'll see a long term relationship with you. And will defend you when someone wrong you in front of everyone. They'll make you feel more hopeful, more optimistic and they'll travel with you and take you to museums, art galleries, sightseeings, cultural events and local historical places. They'll be the one who shine with excitement and passion. They are probably and ESFP, ESFJ, ENFP, ISFP, ENTP. They'll be like a magician, your magician, you ask for anything and they'll say "your wish is my command". That's weird I'm getting missionary position a lot (take what resonates). They'll make you feel so abundant and happy because they are a happy person with sweet, generous attitude so pls stop your cold attitude and treat them right.

☆ Placements for them:

Aries, Cancer, Pisces, Leo, Sagittarius, Gemini, Capricorn. Dominant planets in their chart is Saturn, Jupiter, Mars, Moon, Mercury. Sun or moon in the 1st, 4th, 5th, 9th, 3rd, 10th house in their chart. Possible aspects in their chart saturn-ascendant, Jupiter-ascendant, sun in the first house, Mercury in gemini.

Pile 2 - Boots

☆ Your current energy:

[ Disclaimer: it doesn't have to resonate with you, if you find that none of it resonated move to the next portion. Thank you💕]

I see that you were working on your self-esteem. But external circumstances or people especially in your family made you doubt who you are. I see that you thought that those people love or like you or want nothing but happiness for you. But you were struck by realizing that some of them are envying you and wishing to see you fail. I see that you started to realize that something unfair happens here. Perhaps you were the black sheep in the family or the sacrifice goat that no one pay attention to. I see that you used to see people for something that is not the real them and paint their faces with the colors YOU want to see them in. Someone here used to see potential in people instead of how trashy they treated you. I see that you were forced into solitude to see those people for who they are not their potential and that is growth my dears. You understood the assignment, the lessons of how life works and how much people in your life that were praying for your demise and failures instead of happiness and success. I see that you might received or will receive a message about someone's death in the family or a news of someone's death. This person's death probably made you contemplate your whole life and perhaps opened a path for you to seek freedom and find strength within. I see that someone in your life doesn't want to show you their true colors. They are hiding behind an innocent childish mask but be careful of them. They are not what you think.

☆ Placements for you:

Leo, pisces, Gemini, Libra, virgo. Dominant planets in pluto, mars, mercury, Saturn. A stallium in the 3rd, 5th, 6th, 7th, 12th house in your chart.

☆ Your relationship with your future partner:

Okay, right off the bat I'm sensing that this person will be very much rejected by you. I see that you won't see any potential for the relationship to develop because this person's energy or personality is quite not what you hoped or prayed for. I see that this pile are very dreamy and idealistic. They have their own values and views when it comes to love. Someone here dreams of the perfect love story but this is not quite what you'll get. Now I'm not saying you won't be emotionally fulfilled but the package won't be as you hoped or wished for. This person will make you laugh when they see you sad or tired. They are your own private jester who do their tricks and magic to amaze and make you laugh. I see that they will enjoy telling you a lot of words of affirmations. They might enjoy doing so. They can get a little impatient sometimes and accidentally get flirted with or flirt which will make you blow up on them and start arguing. I see that you might start doubting their loyalty, I'm seeing that the arguments are so hot and it'll probably end up by having sex. This person enjoy make up sex, they like get you angry and yell at them then they start kissing you and something lead to another and you two end up exhausted and sleep tell next morning. You two also will be very possessive and jealous towards one another. Your motto will be "what's mine is MINE" and you LOVE IT but not in a toxic way. Very much like TV series when the two main characters make love and one tell the other "you are MINE" and the other repeat "Yours, not anyone else's" while they pant and squirm. This marriage is Karmic, you two are destined to be in each other's life for the long haul. This relationship is a mix of dreaminess, fire, possessiveness and hot sex. This person will be very much committed to you early on and you will be the one who reject them until they make up your mind and you fell slowly for them. I'm not picking any age differences, like nothing at all so it is safe to say that they are your age. Also, this relationship will last for a lifetime possibly a long long time. You got 4 cards of the pentacles suits that refer to investment, long-term relationship and legacy.

☆ How will your partner treat you?

Your future spouse will make you feel deeply seen. Every disappointment you’ve carried, every time you were abandoned, ignored, or misunderstood they’ll notice it, and they’ll honor it. They won’t run from your wounds; instead, they’ll gently hold space for them. This is someone who sees past your guarded heart and recognizes the strength it took to become independent. They’ll understand that behind your solitude is someone who longs for depth, safety, and real emotional connection and they’ll choose to stay, to invest in that healing with you. There might be emotional confusion in the beginning, like you're speaking different emotional languages, perhaps due to past pain or differing expectations but with time and patience, that bond will grow stronger. It won’t be effortless, but it will be worth it. They’ll respect your autonomy and individuality, never trying to control you. Instead, they’ll see you as theirs. Not in a possessive, toxic way, but in a soulful, "you're my person" kind of way. Any jealousy they feel will come from deep love, not insecurity or control. I also see travel and movement as a theme between you two journeys for fun, for shared memories, maybe even a nomadic lifestyle together. You might find yourselves living in different cities or countries, creating a life full of adventure and freedom while still feeling grounded in each other. This person likely resonates with the personality of an INFJ, INFP, or ISFJ, someone deeply emotional, spiritually aware, and committed to love that’s rooted in understanding and loyalty.

☆ Placements for them:

Pisces, Gemini, Libra, Virgo, Aries, Taurus. Dominant planets in Mars, Saturn, neptune, jupiter. Stallium in the 12th, 6th, 2nd house in their chart. Venus in Scorpio, Libra, Taurus. Mercury in pisces.

Pile 3 - Virgin Mary

[ Disclaimer: This is a general energy check. Please if nothing resonated with you feel free to skip to the next portion. Thank you]

☆ Current energy:

Hello pile 3, how are you? I hope you are doing well❤. Your current energy speaks of emotional clarity rising from a period of detachment. There’s a sense that you've outgrown certain social dynamics or connections that once brought joy but now feel hollow. You're embodying emotional maturity and compassion, yet you’re no longer offering your energy freely you’re discerning now, observing, learning, and giving only to those who give back. You're healing by taking things slow, anchoring yourself in steady progress, and releasing old patterns or attachments that no longer serve you. The past may still linger at the edges of your thoughts, but you’re choosing not to be defined by it anymore. There’s a powerful readiness in you, a willingness to act when the moment is right, cutting through confusion with sharp clarity. There’s a beautiful shift happening around you, a soft stroke of luck, stability finding its way into your personal world, and a sense that you're being gently guided toward something comforting and familiar. A message or communication may arrive, possibly from a wise, feminine presence bringing with it a blessing or opening tied to fortune and grace. Beneath it all, you've endured deep transformation and heartbreak, but balance is being restored. Past deceit or tension, especially through words or unspoken conflict, is now being cleared. There’s movement ahead swift and unexpected change, possibly involving someone grounded and mature, bringing with them a shift that feels fated and fortunate.

☆ Placements for you:

Cancer, pisces, Virgo, Scorpio, Libra, Capricorn, Gemini, Taurus, Sagittarius. Dominant planets in mercury, moon, neptune. Venus-pluto aspects in the chart, as well as saturn-moon aspects. A stallium in the 4th, 6th, 7th, 8th house in the chart.

☆ Your relationship with your future lover:

This relationship with your future spouse will be anything but superficial, it’s a layered, soul-deep connection built on a blend of passion, effort, emotional security, and mutual growth. From the outside, people may sense the chemistry and stability you share, but few will understand just how much depth lies beneath the surface. There's a profound sense of being tethered to one another not out of control or obsession, but from an intense energetic bond that demands attention and care. It’s the kind of connection that challenges you, sharpens your boundaries, and teaches you how to be vulnerable without losing yourself. At times, the relationship may feel like a mirror to your deepest fears and strongest desires. There could be moments of jealousy, power dynamics, or emotional defensiveness, but those won’t be the core of the connection, they’ll simply be phases you work through together. Despite the weight of emotional or practical responsibilities, there’s also celebration, friendship, and joy woven throughout your dynamic. This is someone who’ll be protective of you, perhaps even a bit possessive, but with a steady devotion that makes you feel grounded. Their energy is serious, loyal, and dependable someone who shows love not just through words but through consistent action. This relationship may go through periods where communication feels blocked or misunderstandings linger longer than you'd like, yet truth and resolution always find their way back in. You’ll both learn how to pause, reflect, and then come back stronger. There’s also a sense of shared purpose here whether it’s creating a beautiful home, building a legacy, or growing together spiritually and emotionally. The emotional intensity is balanced by healing energy; this person will see the star in you even when you feel dim, and you’ll help them tap into their deeper magic as well. Together, you’ll break old patterns, shed unnecessary burdens, and step into a partnership that feels like a safe harbor after the storm. Despite the occasional confusion or emotional fog, the clarity and light always return. Your connection won’t be perfect, but it’ll be real, rich, and endlessly transformative.

☆ How will your future partner treat you?

Okay now let's see, Your future partner will treat you with a fierce sense of purpose and devotion, as if they've made up their mind about you and there's no turning back. From the very beginning, they’ll pursue you with intention, not just romantic flair, but a grounded, almost strategic kind of love. They won’t play games. They’ll want to move forward, not just with speed, but with clarity, and they’ll see you as someone worth building a real, lasting life with. There’s something healing about their energy. They’ll actively try to unlearn their own toxic patterns and won't project emotional baggage onto you. It’s like they’re willing to do the inner work just to love you better. They’ll hold space for your emotions, your past wounds, and your dreams, but they’ll also challenge you to step into your own power without apology. You’ll feel emotionally seen and mentally stimulated, like you’re with someone who gets you on multiple levels, heart, mind, body, and soul. At times, they might appear emotionally cool or detached, especially when they’re processing things internally, but their feelings run deep. They won’t always be the most expressive with words, but their actions will speak loudly: consistency, protection, emotional support, and the desire to see you thrive. They’ll likely spoil you in subtle ways, through thoughtful gestures, surprising visits, or even just being there when no one else is. They’ll see beauty in you that you sometimes forget is there. This person views you as someone special, worth celebrating, worth traveling to, worth changing for. And while the connection may come after a period of emotional hardship or transformation for both of you, it brings a fresh start. It won’t be about fixing each other, but rather about evolving together. They’ll be your calm and your spark, someone who shows up, softens your edges, and reminds you that love doesn’t have to hurt to be real.

☆ Placements for them:

Capricorn, Cancer, pisces, Aries, Sagittarius, Scorpio. Dominant planets in Neptune, mercury, Mars, Pluto. Stallium in the 10th, 1st, 4th, 12th, 8th, 9th house in their chart.

Pile 4 - Heart chain

☆ Current energy:

[ Disclaimer: This is a general energy check, if it didn't resonate then skip to the next portion. Thank you💕].

Okay, Hello dears? How are you💕. I hope you are doing well. Now let's get into your energy check. I see that a new opportunity is coming your way in the material world. Perhaps, a job, a promotion something professional in your organization if you are working and earning money. I see that you are currently ending a phase in your life and starting another. Which is filled with emotional fulfillment and happiness. I see that there's someone in your life, that you are moving in with or want to take things to the next level. And if not I see that lately, you feel the need to stay alone and heal emotionally. Some of you are reading about emotional intelligence and maturity. Trying to understand how to not react to certain situations. I see that you are taking care of an older woman in your family, perhaps a mother, grandmother or an aunt. I see that this woman's health will get better and she'll be okay within few weeks. I see that some of you are trying to fix your mindset about money, the way you see yourself and finally the way you talk to yourself and others.

☆ Placements for you:

Earth Placements {Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn}. Leo, Scorpio, Aquarius, Pisces. Dominant planets in your chart: Saturn, neptune, sun, moon. Stallium or placements in the 7th, 12th, 6th, 4th house in the chart.

☆ Your relationship with your future spouse:

This relationship doesn’t come rushing in, it builds slowly, quietly, through mutual observation and unspoken understanding. At first, it might feel like you’re both trying to figure each other out from a distance. There’s hesitation, maybe even a sense of emotional caution, as if both of you are carrying invisible weight. But as the walls begin to soften, the connection deepens in ways that feel almost fated. This is someone who holds space without needing to fill silence, someone who listens between the lines. Their energy is composed, steady, and quietly protective. They’re not the type to play games or speak without meaning. I'm picking up on the MBTI: ISTJ, INFJ, or even a more grounded INTP, someone deeply internal but not emotionally cold, just intentional with their presence. This person likely has a past that shaped their strength. There’s something noble in them, duty-driven, reliable, and maybe a little self-contained, but you’ll slowly see the warmth underneath, the part of them that’s tender and loyal once trust is built. They might carry some emotional burdens they don’t speak about easily, but you’ll be the one they choose to open up to. And you, with your emotional depth and intuition, will sense their unspoken needs before they even name them. You’ll challenge each other in subtle ways, learning patience, vulnerability, and emotional endurance together. There may be a point in the relationship where everything gets shaken, perhaps an external situation, or an internal shift that forces you both to reevaluate your direction. Something will fall away: illusions, control, the need to “figure everything out.” But what remains is real. After that moment, your connection becomes even more honest, less about what it should be, more about what it is. It won’t be perfect, but it will be sincere. And in the quiet steadiness of your daily life together, you'll find joy, in small rituals, shared glances, soft laughter, and long talks at night. They might be someone who’s not always socially forward but respected by those around them someone who values privacy, home, and a few meaningful relationships over many shallow ones. They could also be an ISFJ or ISTP, depending on their emotional wiring. But regardless of their exact mbti, their presence will feel grounding to you, almost like an anchor during emotional storms. They’ll offer you safety, and you’ll offer them depth. Together, you’ll create something quietly beautiful. A relationship where both of you are allowed to grow, rest, and return home to each other again and again. A love built not on performance, but on presence.

☆ How will your partner treat you?

Your spouse will treat you with a mix of admiration, protectiveness, and respect for your independence. They won’t try to control you, they’ll see you, in that rare way that feels both grounding and liberating. They’ll want to understand how your mind works, what your silences mean, what brings you comfort. You might notice them studying your routines, memorizing the way you like your tea, or how you curl up when you’re thinking. They’ll want to be someone you can count on, not just emotionally, but practically, someone who shows up without needing to be asked. In conflict, they may not always be emotionally fluent at first. There might be moments where they struggle to express vulnerability, especially if their love language leans more toward action than words. But they’ll try. They’ll choose honesty over avoidance, even when it’s hard. They may need time to articulate their feelings, but they’ll never leave you in confusion for long, they’ll know you need clarity and emotional truth to feel safe. They'll encourage your individuality, never clipping your wings. Imagine them watching you pursue your interests with quiet pride, maybe even bragging about you to others when you’re not around. They’ll support your goals, but also remind you to rest and receive. They’ll take your emotional depth seriously and won’t treat your sensitivity as a flaw. In fact, they'll admire it, because to them, it’s part of your strength. Physically, they may be affectionate in a natural, warm way, hands on your lower back when walking, brushing hair from your face, subtle but intimate gestures that say, I’m here. They may come across as a confident, composed person in public (perhaps even a little guarded), but behind closed doors, they’ll soften with you. You’ll be their safe place, and they’ll become yours. This is someone who values loyalty deeply. Their presence will feel dependable, like a quiet pulse that never wavers. They’re the type to check in during the day just to hear your voice, or bring you something small just because it made them think of you. Not loud love, but steady, deeply rooted love. The kind that doesn’t need constant proving, because it’s lived every day in actions, protection, and quiet devotion.

☆ Placements for them:

Virgo, Sagittarius, Cancer, Aries, Leo. Dominant planets in Venus, Saturn, Mars, Mercury. Stallium in the 6th, 9th, 1st, 5th, 4th house in their chart. Mars in Aries, Venus in Virgo too in their chart.

Post Date: 17th of Apr 2025- Thur

*Feedback is appreciated

[bytemee]

۶ৎ STUNNER — yu jimin.

“my little angel in disguise..."

⌗ in which— you're a painter who hasn't picked up a brush in months. then one night at your best friends gallery, you meet a stranger who inspires you more than you ever thought possible. you don’t know her name. you don’t know that she’ll disappear before morning. you don’t know that when your hands finally remember how to move, how to paint, it’ll be her face staring back at you from the canvas.

but—when your best friend sees your finished piece, she says eight words that change everything:

"why the hell did you paint the princess?"

pairing. princess!karina x painter!fem!reader

warning(s). language, mentions of alcohol and smoking, mild angst, kissing + implied nsfw but not explicit, happy ending.

word count. 5.7k

authors note. @bimkayd for u. i also have to update my masterlist...bad.

when creativity strikes, it strikes.

like, really fucking hard. and it always comes at the worst times—when you’re in the shower, when you’re half-asleep, when you’re five minutes away from an important meeting you don’t even want to be at. but for the past few months, it hasn’t come at all.

time blurs when you’re stuck in the same four walls, staring at blank canvases like you're trying to have a staring contest with them. the paints dry in their tubes, waiting for you to wake up from whatever this is—this rut, this drought, this fucking nothingness in your head.

yunjin tells you it’s a phase. "everyone goes through it," she says over the phone, her voice tinny with excitement, too busy preparing for her own gallery opening to properly pity you. “come to my exhibit tonight. it’ll help.”

so you go to her art gallery opening. you haven't been out of the house in weeks. you haven't painted anything worth showing in months. it's a miracle you can dress yourself and brush your teeth without collapsing.

the gallery is packed when you arrive, an ocean of well-dressed bodies moving in slow currents, sipping expensive champagne from delicate flutes and admiring the artwork. most of these paintings are by yunjin herself—all bold colors and abstract shapes—but there are a few others here, too, and you spend some time wandering around, looking at them all.

your favorite is a painting done in blues and greys, full of sharp angles and harsh shadows. the paint looks thick enough to feel under your fingertips. there's a small plaque in front of it that reads "untitled" and nothing else. you stare at it for what feels like hours, but it must only be minutes because when you look up, yunjin is standing beside you, smiling.

"do you like it?" she asks.

"i love it," you reply. "it's stunning."

she laughs. "that's what i was going for."

yunjin nudges you playfully with her elbow. “so? feeling inspired yet?”

you scoff, but it lacks real bite. “i don’t think staring at other people’s work is going to magically make me able to paint again.”

“maybe not,” she muses, taking a sip of champagne. “but getting out of your own head for once might.”

you don’t have the energy to argue with her. not when she’s right. not when she’s always right.

you then let her drag you through the gallery, introducing you to people whose names you’ll forget before the night is over. collectors, critics, other artists—everyone here looks effortlessly put together, as if they belong in a world you haven’t touched in far too long. you nod, you shake hands, you make small talk. it takes every ounce of strength you have just to act normal, as if you haven't been locked inside your own head for months now. as if there isn’t a black hole where your creativity used to be.

"your work is so… bold," says one woman, sipping from her champagne flute. "i love it."

"thank you," you say, hoping your smile doesn't look as strained as it feels.

you glance around the room, looking for anything that might distract you from this conversation. a familiar face. a bathroom sign. anything. but all you see are unfamiliar faces and unreadable paintings on the walls, and suddenly you feel dizzy.

claustrophobic.

you need to get out of here.

now.

"excuse me," you mutter, slipping away from the woman before she can ask another question.

you don't know where you're going, but it doesn't matter. as long as it's somewhere else. your shoes click against the tile floor as you weave through the crowd, eyes focused on the exit ahead, sliding out the door into fresh air.

the night is cool on your skin, but not cold. you can still hear the sounds of the city echoing off the buildings, muffled music from inside the gallery mixing with distant traffic and the occasional car horn. it's a beautiful night, perfect weather for an art opening. if only you could appreciate it.

you lean back against the wall, fishing your pack of cigarettes out of your pocket. they're crumpled up but still intact, thanks to the tin foil wrapper you put around them before heading over here. you've been trying to quit lately, but old habits die hard.

besides, you figure you deserve this one.

you light a cigarette and inhale deeply, letting the smoke fill your lungs before exhaling slowly, watching as it curls and dissipates into the air. it tastes terrible—like ash and chemicals and bitter regret—but it calms your nerves, just a little bit.

and then the door swings open again.

at first, you think it's security. some guy ready to kick you out for loitering in the wrong place. but then you see her, stumbling out the back entrance of the gallery, looking flustered and annoyed. she's wearing an expensive-looking gown with a slit up one side, showing off her long legs, and heels so tall you'd trip over them yourself if you tried to walk in them. her hair is perfectly coiffed and her makeup flawless, but her expression says she wants to be anywhere else.

you stare, transfixed. she’s all contrast. elegance and frustration. poise and unrest. a picture-perfect masterpiece comes to life.

"do you have another?" she asks, motioning to your cigarette.

her voice snaps you out of your reverie, and you arch an eyebrow. she looks too perfect, too put together, to be standing here asking you for a cigarette. "you smoke?"

a pause. then, "no. never actually."

you laugh to yourself, not in a mean way, more like you're trying to convince yourself this isn't actually happening. "so why'd you ask me for one?"

"because i want to try," she says, like it's the most obvious thing in the world. "i want to try something new."

she’s so fucking out of place here. all that polish, all that perfection—it makes her look like a mirage, something that can't possibly be real. her hair’s perfect, her makeup looks like it was painted on by a master, and that damn dress? it’s made for a runway, not this alley. she’s like someone dropped a fantasy into a real, gritty world, and for some reason she ended up here.

her eyes don’t leave yours as she waits—most likely for you to respond, to offer the cigarette she asked for, to say something, anything—but you stay silent because your mind is working faster than your body right now, and you need a moment to catch up.

“you wouldn’t like it,” you finally say, once the gears have started turning again, your words sounding much steadier than you feel.

her eyebrow furrowed, her lips turning down just slightly at the corners. not quite a frown, not yet, but a near thing. you've never wanted to capture an expression on canvas as much as you do right now, her face in all its beauty and annoyance.

"why not?" she asks, sounding indignant, almost insulted. "do you not trust my judgment? my tastes?"

she seems to be talking herself into it, the challenge sparking something behind her gaze. and though her posture doesn't change, you can practically feel the determination radiating off her.

you laugh. "you're missing out on the exhibit, you know."

"i could say the same to you," she counters. "why are you out here?"

you could give her a simple answer, something about needing a break, needing air, needing to get away from the suffocating crowd of people who actually have something to show for themselves. but none of that would be the truth, so you simply shrug and say—

"—wasn't really feeling the whole art world pretentiousness thing."

"strange place to be if you're not a fan."

"my friend dragged me." you admit, dropping the cigarette butt to the ground and grinding it out with the toe of your shoe.

she cocks her head to the side, eyes flicking down to the now extinguished butt before looking back up. it's her turn to stare at you. to take in your appearance—the plain button-up, dark dress slacks, and polished black leather shoes. if not for the tattoos peeking out from your sleeves and collar, you'd just look like another patron, dressed to impress and blend into the crowd.

"are you an artist as well?"

you smile at the question, "used to be."

her gaze softens, "used to be?"

"haven't painted in a while."

the pout is back, her eyebrows scrunching together as she stares at you, clearly processing this information, taking in your words and decoding them, working through their implications and how they fit into the context. she settles with, "well, do you plan to ever again?"

it's a simple question. one you should have a simple answer to, but life isn't simple. and art, well, art's a fucking mess. your shoulders rise before dropping.

"why not?" her eyes narrow. "have you given up?"

"not giving up." you tell her. "just stuck."

her lips press together like she doesn’t quite believe you. like she’s debating whether to push, whether to pry, whether you’re just making excuses.

"stuck how?" she asks, arms crossing over her chest.

you huff out a laugh, shaking your head. “you ask a lot of questions.”

“i like knowing things,” she says easily. “and i like understanding people. you intrigue me.”

it shouldn’t affect you the way it does. but those words—you intrigue me—they lodge themselves somewhere deep, twisting and turning like a key fitting into a lock you didn’t realize was waiting to be opened.

you glance down, scuffing the toe of your shoe against the pavement, considering how to answer. the truth is ugly. the truth is that you used to paint like your life depended on it—because, in a way, it did. it was your lifeline, your voice, your way of making sense of things when nothing else made sense.

and then, one day, it just—stopped. the inspiration, the fire, the need—all of it dried up, like a well you kept going back to, only to find it emptier each time.

"you ever look at something so much you forget what made it beautiful in the first place?" you ask instead.

she doesn’t answer right away; she just watches you, eyes flickering over your face. trying to read you is like a puzzle box. or a book. you wonder what kind of story she thinks she finds on your face. what she sees, besides the tired bags under your eyes and the slight tremble in your hands.

when she speaks, her voice is quiet. low. it carries across the distance between you and hits you right where it counts.

"i think everything can be beautiful again. if you look at it the right way."

"yeah?" you say, a little more bitter than you mean to. "that easy, huh?"

her lips quirk, not quite a smile, but close. "i didn’t say it was easy. i just think… maybe beauty isn’t lost. maybe it’s just waiting to be found again."

you swallow, forcing yourself to scoff lightly, to shake your head. "you always this philosophical, or is that just the champagne talking?"

she laughs, soft but real. "i haven’t had a single sip tonight."

"then what are you doing out here?"

"i needed fresh air."

your fingers twitch. she speaks again.

"and maybe you just need a new muse."

you wonder if she even realizes what she’s saying. if she knows that, somehow, without even trying, she’s already painting herself into every blank canvas in your mind.

the night unravels like a half-finished painting—smudged, chaotic, too many colors bleeding into each other. you don’t remember who kissed whom first, only that one second she was looking at you like she saw something worth figuring out, and the next, your hands were on her waist, and she was breathing against your lips.

it’s desperate. messy. her dress pools on the floor of your too-small apartment, and her skin feels like something you’re not supposed to touch but can’t help but reach for anyway. you don’t ask her name. she doesn’t ask for yours. it’s better that way.

and then, when morning comes, she’s gone. no note, no number, nothing. you don't have to guess if it was real or not because the memories are too vivid, too sharp, for it to be anything but. you lie there for a while, staring at the ceiling, replaying everything over and over in your head.

the way she looked. the way she tasted. the way she felt.

your hands are itching, craving the feeling of your brush in your hand.

it’s not a choice. not really.

your body moves before your mind can catch up, reaching for the brushes, the paints, and the canvas that’s been gathering dust in the corner. the moment the bristles touch the surface, it’s like something clicks back into place—like an old wound finally scabbing over.

she appears in fragments first. the curve of her jaw. the slope of her neck. the way her lips parted like she was about to say something, only to change her mind. it’s obsessive, almost. you don’t even think about what you’re doing, only that you have to do it. the need rushes through you like wildfire, consuming everything in its path.

you don’t know how long you sit there, lost in the act of pulling her from memory onto canvas. hours, maybe.

that’s how yunjin finds you.

she kicks the door shut behind her, dropping a bag onto the counter like she’s another name on your lease. "you alive?" she asks, but then she sees you—sees the paint on your hands, your clothes, your face. sees the finished piece propped up in front of you.

and she stops short.

"oh."

her tone is surprised, breathless, then she laughs, loud and disbelieving.

"oh my god," she says, eyes wide with something between amusement and shock. "why the hell did you paint the princess?"

you blink, exhausted. “what?”

she gestures to the painting like it should be obvious. “why did you paint the princess?”

your stomach drops. “the what?”

she stares at you. “you’re joking.”

“i—” you look at the painting. at her.

your pulse thuds in your ears.

“yunjin,” you say, your voice barely above a whisper. “what the fuck are you talking about?”

it’s a joke. it has to be.

you wait for yunjin to laugh, to tell you she’s messing with you, but she doesn’t. she just stares at you, then back at the painting, then back at you again like you’re the dumbest person alive.

“you seriously didn’t know?”

your mouth is dry. you shake your head. yunjin lets out a sharp breath.

"oh my god. you—you slept with the princess, and you didn’t even know?” the words hit you like a punch. you stare at the painting—at her—but it doesn’t make sense.

princesses don’t sneak out of fancy events. princesses don't try to bum cigarettes off strangers in alleyways. princesses don’t have one-night stands with random depressed artists they meet in the back of art galleries.

you swallow hard, rubbing a hand down your face. “fuck.”

“yeah,” yunjin says, crossing her arms. “fuck.”

you stare at her, then at the painting, and then back at her. the gears turn in your head, trying to connect the dots, trying to fit this new information into the picture. "are you sure?" you ask, even though you know she wouldn't lie about this. "like, absolutely fucking positive?"

"of course i'm fucking positive!" she throws her hands up. "do you not pay attention to the news at all?"

your mind whirls with the new information.

it’s not that she was just some stranger slipping out before sunrise. she's a princess. a whole gorgeous untouchable, have you said untouchable? — princess.

and now she’s everywhere. on the news, in magazines, her face staring back at you from glowing screens and glossy pages. every headline, every camera flash, every fucking update on her. princess karina seen leaving in the royal car. princess karina attending an art gala. princess karina, princess karina, princess karina.

you try to forget. you try to be normal again—whatever that means. you go back to ignoring your canvases, sitting on the couch, flipping through channels you don’t really watch. you even let yunjin drag you out a few times, shove drinks in your hand, and tell you to move on already. but it doesn’t work.

because she’s still in your head.

so you chase.

not in the obvious way. not in the stupid, reckless, get-yourself-arrested-for-trying-to-climb-the-palace-gates way.

you chase in the quiet ways. the ways that don’t make sense to anyone else. the ways that make yunjin groan and say, “you are literally the most tragic idiot i’ve ever met. but i'll help you anyway."

and that's how you find yourself here. in a palace that is stupidly big.

like, what do you even do with this much space? big. it’s all gold and chandeliers and marble floors and suits of armor standing around, looking vaguely threatening. it makes your skin itch.

you don’t belong here. you know that. but neither did she, that night outside the gallery. and if she could slip out of this world for one night, maybe—just maybe—you can slip in.

yunjin had connections. she always did. you didn’t ask questions when she got you in, just pulled the sleeves of your borrowed suit down and tried not to look like you wanted to throw up.

you have a plan. it doesn't go smoothly.

"i'm sorry, miss. only those on the guest list may enter."

"oh, i—" you scramble to find an excuse. any excuse. "i am on the guest list."

the guard doesn't move. he doesn't even blink.

"what's your name?"

"uh—" your mind blanks. "it's a very long name. very, very long. with a lot of letters. like, a lot of them. you wouldn't be able to pronounce it."

the guard doesn’t look amused. or convinced.

"try me."

you throw out the first thing that comes to mind. "it’s, uh… y/n… the first… y/ln… the third."

silence.

then yunjin, from beside you, coughs so hard you think she might pass out. you nudge her with your elbow, but she’s already turning away, shoulders shaking.

the guard, however, does not laugh. he just stares at you like you’re the dumbest person to ever breathe.

"that’s not a real name."

"it could be," you argue weakly.

he crosses his arms. "it isn’t."

you exhale through your nose, willing yourself not to turn and run. not yet. not when you’re this close.

yunjin, finally recovering, clears her throat and steps in. "okay, okay, my idiot friend here—who, i assure you, is actually very harmless—just has a little bit of trouble with names. what they meant to say is that they’re a guest of lady yu."

the guard squints at you both, skeptical. "lady yu?"

"yes," yunjin says smoothly. "you know, lady yu. very high society. loves art. huge fan of… uh, brush strokes."

you resist the urge to slap a hand over your face.

the guard exhales, clearly debating whether dealing with the two of you is worth his time. eventually, he lifts a radio to his mouth, murmuring something you can’t hear. a beat later, he nods.

"you’re clear to enter."

you don’t ask how yunjin pulled that off; just grab her hand and pull her inside before the guy can change his mind.

and then you’re in.

the palace is even more ridiculous further inside. every inch screams money. gilded ceilings, more enormous chandeliers, even shinier marble floors that make you extra aware of how not rich you are.

you scan the room, searching, heart pounding in your throat. and then—

there.

at the far end of the ballroom, half-surrounded by nobles and dignitaries and all the kinds of people who actually belong here, she stands. regal. poised. effortlessly untouchable.

princess karina.

and she’s looking right at you.

you swallow. she arches an eyebrow. her expression shifts, then she's up and moving. in your direction. then, without a word, her fingers wrap around your wrist, firm but not rough, and she turns, pulling you with her.

you barely have time to process what’s happening before you’re weaving through the gilded halls, past guards who barely spare you a glance, past murmuring guests too distracted by their own conversations to notice the princess slipping away with some stranger in a borrowed suit.

she doesn’t stop until you’re deep in the palace, past the public rooms, past the private suites, past everything anyone else has a right to see. only then does she let go.

you swallow hard, rubbing at your wrist. "subtle."

she ignores you, crossing her arms. "what the hell are you doing here? you're not supposed to be here."

your throat feels dry. "i know."

"then why are you?"

you lick your lips, suddenly 1000x more nervous than you were standing outside the palace gates. "i—" you inhale sharply. "i tried to forget you. and i couldn’t."

"that’s unfortunate."

your chest tightens. "is it?"

she exhales softly through her nose. "what do you want, really?"

and it hits you, all at once, all over again. why you’re here. why you had to come.

you take a step forward, closing the distance between you. your eyes never leave hers. "do you know what it means to be a muse?"

that throws her. a small crease forms between her brows. "i—"

"it means you exist everywhere," you cut in before she can finish. "even when i try to ignore it. even when i don’t want to think about you. you show up in every color, in every stroke of my brush, in every painting i try to create. you are impossible to forget."

her mouth opens and closes. "that doesn’t—you can't—"

"it means you stole something from me," you continue, your voice growing softer as you close the last bit of distance between you. "something i didn’t even realize i was missing until you came into my life and showed me what it meant to feel alive again. you're my muse."

her breath catches at that, lips parting just slightly, as if to speak, but no words come out. you take advantage of the moment, reaching up to cup her face in your hands, brushing a thumb over her cheekbone. she leans into your touch, eyelashes fluttering against her skin, eyes falling shut for a moment. and then they open again, dark and intense and so, so beautiful.

she searches your face as her hand reaches up to rest against yours. you want to kiss her, want to tell her you want her in the simplest terms, in a way that even a princess can understand. you lean forward, pressing your forehead against hers, and ask, "do you feel the same? was it real, what i felt between us?"

you barely whisper the question out loud, barely hearing her inhale as she closes the space between you. her lips brush against yours, featherlight but enough to make your stomach flip. “i can't be that for you,” she says against your mouth.

and your heart breaks. you know you were just a one-time thing, just a quick fling for her. it's the whole princess thing. you knew it would be complicated, but you couldn't stop thinking about her, and she's looking at you with such an intense look, a look that says she can't forget you either, and that has to be worth something, right?

you don't realize you said all of it out loud until she pulls away, blinking rapidly. "wait, no—that's not—that's not what i meant," she stammers, suddenly looking much younger and more vulnerable than you've ever seen her. "that night at the gallery, with you, was real. that was—it was the only time i've ever felt that way."

"but," like always

her gaze softens. "we can't. you can't just come in here like this."

she says the last bit as if you've done something wrong, and her hands pull back to her sides. you don't have it in you to care about her rules anymore. her hands fall to her sides, but you stay still, your forehead hovering near hers, your breath mixing.

"i don't care about protocol," you whisper. "i care about you."

"stop," she says, softer than before. "you can't just say things like that and expect me to—"

"expect you to what?" your voice rises, sharp edges showing. "feel the same? you already do. you’re just scared. and i get it. i do. but don’t pretend this didn’t mean anything."

"i'm not pretending," she snaps, taking a step back, composure cracking. "i haven't stopped thinking about you either, okay? but that doesn’t change the fact that this—us—it’s impossible."

"why? because you wear a crown and i wear paint under my nails?"

"because my life isn’t mine!" she yells. "because everything i do is watched and calculated and twisted into something ugly. if they knew you were here—if they saw us like this—"

"then let them see," you say, helpless and stupid and in love. "i'll stand in front of every one of them and say it. i'll tell them how i look at you like the sun rises in your mouth and sets in your goddamn spine. i don't care."

"well, i care!" she shouts, her voice shaking now, full of fire and something just comparable to fear. "i can't afford to want things. not like you do. not recklessly. i don't get to choose who i love."

it's quiet.

"you need to leave."

you don’t move.

"if you don’t, i'll call the guards."

you flinch, and she notices. her jaw clenches. it takes everything in you not to beg.

“don’t make me do that,” she whispers. “please. just go.”

your throat is tight. you nod once.

you turn, heart heavy, the room blurring at the edges. when you open the door, yunjin is waiting, quiet and still in the corridor, like she knew this was how it’d end.

you don’t say a word as she walks beside you down the long hallway, past the grand ballroom, and out of the palace. she doesn’t push for information or ask about what happened. she just lets you stew in your thoughts, and you are grateful. when you get back to your apartment, you collapse onto the bed. you don’t cry—you never really did, even in high school, and now doesn't seem like a good time to start—but you come pretty fucking close.

you lie there for hours. maybe days. hard to tell. just you, your ceiling, and the hollow space behind your ribs where your heart used to sit before she carved it out with a single sentence and left like it didn’t matter.

you tell yourself it was stupid to fall for her. she’s a fucking princess. what were you expecting? that she’d run off with you into the sunset like a fairy tale? that she’d burn her whole world down just to be with someone who wears the same hoodie four days in a row and forgets to buy groceries until you’re eating plain rice and mustard?

but it still hurts.

the gallery night is yunjin’s idea. she throws a flyer at your chest and tells you to “get a grip and make rent.” you roll your eyes, but deep down you know she’s right. you need something to do with your hands, something to keep you from climbing the palace walls like some deranged romantic with a death wish.

you don’t expect anyone to show up, but people come. some friends. some strangers. a few art freaks who talk way too much about your “use of longing and space.” you just nod along, pretending you're three seconds away from yelling in their face.

everything is her. every painting. every messy, unblended brushstroke. every fucking streak of white paint on the canvas because she wore that blue dress when you first met, and now it’s like your brain can’t forget.

the last person leaves, some guy who said a lot of things you didn't understand, and you don't really remember the specifics of it, but you're pretty sure you shook hands, and maybe he wrote down your name and contact info? you don't remember. but there are no more guests. so you’re cleaning up. closing things. mentally debating whether or not you can drink paint thinner and survive.

the door creaks open behind you, and you don’t even look.

“sorry,” you call over your shoulder, wiping your hands on a rag. “we’re closed. private event's over.”

no response. just the sound of the door shutting. then —

“are you always this rude to royalty?”

you freeze.

slowly, slowly, you turn around. and she's standing there, in a white coat with her arms folded against her chest. there are shadows under her eyes, like she hasn’t been sleeping either. it takes everything in you not to run to her. not to kiss her until she forgets all the reasons why she ran the first time. you settle for swallowing hard and clearing your throat.

“you could’ve just knocked."

“i did." she lifts her hand. “twice. and then i panicked and came in anyway.”

you stare. she fidgets.

she looks down at her shoes. looks back up again. looks back down again. like she doesn’t know what to do with herself now that she's here. finally, she takes a step forward. you take a step back. it's reflex at this point, some instinct to keep her from getting too close.

"i came to apologize," she starts, sounding unsure, which isn't like her at all. "for—everything."

karina runs a hand through her hair. your throat goes tight at the familiarity of the action, at how much she reminds you of that night, that stupid dress, and the way she kissed you, indicating that she didn’t care what came next.

you exhale.

"don’t apologize," you say, because the words feel heavy and foreign in your mouth, because she's been living a life you can't even begin to imagine, because none of that matters if she's here, looking at you like this, and you have to believe in something. "you didn't do anything wrong. and if anyone needs to apologize, it should be me. i shouldn't have—"

"you were right," she cuts in before you can finish.

it throws you. "what?"

she swallows hard, glancing down at the floor, at your shoes. then back up again, holding your gaze this time. "i don't know much about art, but i know what you meant…for someone to be your muse." her voice drops low. "and i think you're mine."

you blink. "oh."

a pause. her cheeks flush, eyes widening in panic.

"was that—did that make sense? i probably sound like a—"

"yeah."

you nod, trying not to smile as you watch her rambling, trying not to stare too obviously at how her whole face is blushing now.

you want to tell her everything. to show her everything.

you settle for, "i mean, it does make sense."

it does. it doesn’t. none of this does, not in a normal way. it's the kind of thing you tell your grandkids about someday. or maybe a therapist, if you can ever afford one. either way, it makes something flicker deep within your chest.

you pause.

"so what do you mean, exactly?"

her lips purse. her eyes are pleading now. she looks younger. more human. not so much a princess anymore as she does someone trying to figure out how to tell the world to screw off. you're struck, again, with how much you love her. it feels like a physical ache in your chest.

"i want this," she says quietly, gesturing between the two of you. "i want this so much it scares me."

you're not used to this, to feeling seen by someone who isn't yunjin, and it throws you off. you clear your throat again, shifting from one foot to the other. "i want this too."

a pause. you try not to stare too openly at her lips. you fail miserably.

"we'll figure it out," she says softly. "together. whatever that looks like."

"together."

the word hangs between you, heavy with everything left unsaid. and then—

you don’t even realize what's happening until she's already moving forward, pulling you down to her level. you can smell her perfume. you can see every single detail of her face as she stares back at you. your lips are a breath apart. she hesitates.

"tell me you don't want this," she murmurs. "and i'll go."

your chest constricts, throat tight. you want to tell her it'll never be easy, not when you're you, and not when she's her, not when this could be so much more complicated than either of you are prepared for. but you also want this, want her, want to know what her skin feels like against your palms and whether or not the words i love you sound good when spoken aloud. you swallow hard, hands tightening on her hips.

"i can't," you whisper. "i don't think i've ever wanted anything more."

a smile flickers over her face. it's gone too quickly. "good."

her lips are on yours, soft and gentle, and everything in your life shifts back into focus, into place.

there are things you can't explain. the way she feels pressed against your chest, warm and perfect and yours, for now at least. the way your hands shake when you brush your thumb over the curve of her cheek. the way she tastes like starlight.

and there are things you don't have to.

[traveler-at-heart]

Stuck Together - Part 7

Summary: After Westview, Wanda and her children go into hiding. She's not happy with the person in charge of protecting them.

Wanda Maximoff x F! Super Soldier R

A/N: Final part is here. Thank you to everyone reading :)

Quiet.

Something you love. Or used to, anyway.

It’s stupid, how fast you got used to the little things. The sounds in the kitchen as Wanda made coffee. The hurried steps of fhe boys, eager to join Riley in a morning walk.

Now you’re back to being alone, feeding the animals, looking out the window while the radio plays some generic music.

Everything’s so bland and boring and you hate it.

Then, one morning, you hear a car parking in the driveway.

“Sestra!” a voice with a heavy accent calls, and your shoulders drop. You realise a moment later that you were holding your breath.

Fanny barks, eager to say hello to Riley. You open the door, your dog sprinting out to greet Yelena and her pup.

There’s a brunette trailing right behind the Russian, looking around nervously.

“What are you doing here?”

“Well, you left the hospital against medical advice. What was I supposed to do?”

“Hu-huh” you cross your arms, looking at the stranger. She hesitates, taking a step forward to introduce herself.

“Kate Bishop”

“Clint’s minion” you recognise the name. He told you all about their little stint in New York. You turn to Yelena, raising your arms. “I’m fine, all healed. You can chill”

“Well, we came all the way here, could we at least stay the night?”

In that moment, Riley sits at your feet, barking excitedly. You glare at the blonde.

“Only because Riley agreed”

“Good girl” she says, scratching behind her ears. With a roll of your eyes, you turn back home, Yelena and Kate close behind you.

As you prepare coffee and the two girls make sandwiches, you think of all the things Natasha told you about Yelena.

She was my little sister.

And you knew, that if anyone could understand your grief was her, out of all the people in the world.

But that didn’t mean you wanted to spend time together. It was a constant push and pull. Talking about Natasha and avoiding the topic altogether were both equally painful.

After a while, you show them the guest room. Yelena doesn’t flinch at the sight of one bed, and even when you mention the other rooms available (or even the couch), they both walk in.

As Yelena walks by you, you arch an eyebrow, and she gives you a stern look.

“Shut it”

Figuring it’s better to give them some privacy to settle, you take a stroll around the farm, Lou happily following along while Fanny and Riley chase each other.

Your mind is a mess, and you don’t know which way to turn to hurt less. As usual, there’s a weight in your chest when you think about Natasha, and how much you miss her. But now, Wanda’s abscence is also there, the wound very much fresh and open, as only a few days ago she was in your arms, promising to stay.

For the first time in years, you miss going on missions.

“Had a good walk?” Yelena says when you’re back. You just shrug your shoulders, sighing as you go up the steps. “Well, ok. Have a seat”

“What is Bishop doing?” you ignore her invitation, taking a look through the window.

“Trying to cook dinner”

“Is she going to burn my house down?”

“I’d give it a 40-60 chance of it happening” the blonde smiles, clearly not worried about it. Then, she pats the space next to her on the porch swing. “Now come. Sit”

With a sigh, you walk up to her and lean against the bannister, crossing your arms as you look at her. Yelena rolls her eyes at your defensive stan.

“So, what’s the deal between you and this Wanda?”

“Nothing”

“Not what I heard” she shakes her head, amused. You glare.

“From who?”

“Barton”

“Oh, come on. You were trying to kill the guy a few weeks ago and now you gossip? He braids your hair while he’s at it?” you mock.

“Ok, fine. Not directly from him. He called Kate and she called me”

“She called you or you were together?” you tease her.

“Stop being an ass. Tell me what’s going on”

You look away for a moment, thinking that you could tell her it’s none of her business. Ask her to leave you alone, to try and get drunk, forget about everything that’s weighing you down.

But you can’t. Because, whether you like it or not, you’re bound by grief, and loss. And love. Love for Natasha.

If she was struggling with something, you’d be chasing her around until you made sure she was ok.

“Nothing. I thought… Hill asked me for help to protect her. And for those couple of weeks, I developed these feelings. Maybe I was just lonely”

“Feelings? Like love?”

“I guess. But she left, and it’s probably for the best. She’s right; someone always gets hurt”

“You’re already hurt” she replies, her voice gentle.

“I’m a big girl, I’ll get over it”

“But do you have to? Why not go after her? Give yourself the chance to be happy. Just once”

“I don’t think… I didn’t do anything to stop her, Yelena. I don’t think I can be happy, after failing Natasha” you finally say, voice shaking.

“You didn’t fail her. She made a choice. After everything she went through, all the possibilities that were taken from her… do you really think the last thing she ever did was against her will?”

You can’t answer that.

What’s worse? To think you could have stopped her? Or that her sacrifice was always inevitable?

Yelena stands up, her hand on your shoulder.

“Just… remember what you told me. A life worth living. That’s the best way to honor her memory”

“Yeah” you sigh, looking up. You hate crying.

Though, a second later you smell the smoke and hear Kate’s scream.

“We should probably go help her”

“And order some pizza” Yelena adds, smiling as you roll your eyes.

—

It’s been a while since you’ve been here.

The gifts and letters scattered around always warm your heart.

There are people who value her, honor her life.

Natasha’s legacy.

As far as your little tribute, it’s all the plants you placed around this hidden corner of land.

You spend some time cutting and cleaning the grass around the gravestone, and then turn your attention to the flowers.

The peonies get pruned, daffodils adding a spring of color. You know the hydrangeas aren’t blooming until early summer, but that’s fine.

Natasha once told you; bare trees or withering flowers didn’t make her sad. It meant she was staying long enough in one place to watch them go through every season. It meant she had a home.

Once you’re done removing the soil, checking the watering system you installed, and fixing the little gifts people left for her, you sit on the floor, watching your hands.

“Sorry for not coming sooner. Hill called me. And you know I answered because she was your friend. Turns out she wanted me to help out Maximoff. She got a bit more annoying than when she was running around the Compound looking like a raccoon with all that eyeliner” you chuckle at the memory of her dark clothes, rings and smoky eyes. She couldn’t look more different now.

“I should have known it was going to be trouble, and I don’t mean just because I almost got killed twice. It’s because… I started to fall for her. She has two kids, by the way. Born from magic or some weird deal I don’t really understand”

I didn’t think I had it in me, to fall in love again. Not only because I lost you, but because I had been so angry at everyone. It felt like I only had space for that emotion. Anger.

But I saw myself in Wanda. In everything she lost, in all the things that were taken from her, without so much as an apology. And I want more for her. I want her to be happy. Maybe with me. Why not?

As usual, I haven’t stopped thinking about you. It’s different this time, though. I still feel sad and lonely, but it’s also a different kind of nostalgia. I can think about you and appreciate everything we shared.

Most importantly, I think I’m finally ok with the fact that you made your choice. I have to trust that you knew what you were doing, Tasha. And that whether I like it or not, it is what you wanted.

You lean your head against her grave, the stone cold against your skin. It makes your heart ache, it makes you wish you could bring her back and feel her warmth against your body.

How could you ever think Wanda’s a monster? If you could, you’d create a new reality, a new universe where Natasha gets to live the life she always deserved.

But you can’t do that. All you can do is go and find your own happinnes.

With a final touch, you speak softly, hoping she can hear you, wherever she is.

“I love you, so damn much. And I always will”

—

Very few times in her life, has Wanda regretted putting on The Dick Van Dyke Show.

And then, she realises what episode they’re watching.

Never name a duck.

The one where Ritchie becomes attached to two ducks, but only one of them survives. Until he’s sick and the vet tells Rob he needs to be in the wild.

The words that come out of Rob’s mouth make Wanda think of you.

“But maybe that was a selfish love”

That’s exactly what she thinks her love for you is. Selfish.

You didn’t ask for any of this, and Wanda’s not about to burden you with everything she carries. She’ll manage alone, like she has done ever since Pietro died.

Except she wasn’t alone. There was Vision, Steve and Natasha. You, in the background, doing your part, fighting for Wanda’s right to have a life outside of this.

Even if she misses you, you deserve to have a life.

And so, she let you go.

“Can we watch something else?” Billy asks, and Wanda can tell the show is making him sad as well.

“Sure, sweetheart”

After watching Zootopia, the kids drag their feet to the room they’re sharing. Fury provided another safe house, while Wanda decides where to go next. Billy and Tommy need stability and of course they won’t get it by changing houses every other day.

“Can I ask you something?” Tommy says, turning to look at Billy, making sure his brother’s asleep. “Is Y/N ok?”

“I sure hope she is, my sweet boy. She knows how to take care of herself” Wanda smiles at him, hoping he doesn’t notice the tears that are almost rolling down her cheeks. “Now you get some sleep, ok? I’ll see you tomorrow”

“Night, Mom” he replies, settling in bed.

As Wanda takes a moment in the hallway, she allows herself to think about you, probably back home. Watching Ancient Aliens, cursing at the TV as you sip on a bottle of beer.

It’s stupid, how much comfort it brings her to think of you doing the most absurd things.

Said comfort doesn’t last long, though. She hears a branch snapping close to the house. It’s a small place and the road ends a few feet away from the entrance. So, whoever approaches has to leave their vehicle and walk to the front door.

Without wasting a second, she goes to the door, hand up in the air to hold the intruder.

“Hey, now wait a second” you say, smiling.

Wanda’s so shocked that she drops her hand, you crashing down immediately after.

“I’m sorry” she rushes to your side, and you sit up. Wanda places her hands in your face,  fingers tracing the cuts and bruises that are still healing.

On pure instinct, you move forward, kissing her. She moans against your lips, allowing you to wrap your strong arms around her waist. But then she remembers.

“Stop”

“No” you shake your head, pulling her closer. “You said you’d stay, Wanda”

“That was before”

“Before…”

“You almost got killed because of me” she sighs, pushing her hair back and standing up. You follow her, reaching for her hand.

“Can’t even tell you how many people have tried to kill me. And I’m still here”

“It wasn’t just him. It was Agatha too. And who knows what else? I’m like a magnet for these things. I don’t want you getting hurt” she says, arms around her own body, as if desperate to find something that can hold her together.

“Wanda… bad things are going to happen. It’s part of life. Wouldn’t you want to face them with someone who… who cares about you?” you whisper, holding her chin between your fingers.

“I’m scared”

“The thing is, we’ve both lost people. And I know, I can’t deny that a part of me will always love Natasha… but I think I have to accept she made a choice. And I should try to live my life. I think Vision would want that for you as well. I mean the real Vision; not that white awful thing” 

“I just don’t want to lose anyone else. I don’t know if I can take it” she says, finally reaching forward. You kiss her temple.

“Well, just come back home and we’ll take it one day at a a time. Together”

“The kids miss you” she says after a beat of silence.

“And I miss them, but I swear if there’s a fourth Cars movie I will burn down Pixar myself”

Wanda laughs for a moment, her breath tickling your skin.

“Promise me you won’t leave me” she says against your neck and you smile, making her look at you.

“Scout’s honor, witchy”

“Don’t…” Wanda’s about to fight you on the nickname, when you meet her lips in a soft kiss.

“Just stop fighting it. You like me too much”

“You wish” she teases, kissing you again.

Looks like you’re stuck with each other.

And you wouldn’t have it any other way.

[kilojulietsierra]

Baby, It's Alright - Chapter Two

(Dr. Robby x Fem!Reader)

A little later than I promised but here it is!

Summary: Reader gets a sort of second date with Robby that sort of doesn't go the way she planned. It sort of goes better...

TW: all my content is considered 18+, age gap, car accident but everyone is fine, medical inaccuracies, DIY medicine = kids don't try this at home, sort of slow burn sorry, quiet flirting, male friendship, includes Dr Jack Abbot x nurse wife!OFC, Jack and Sam are INVESTED, Reader is nervous and twitterpated, Robby is falling and he's working through that ok!

This is a part of my "Save Me From Myself" series, if you feel so inclined you can check that out! Love you all for the love!

Read Chapter One here if you missed it!

~~~~~

Sam had invited you out for coffee after your shift and once you had found a table she asked the question you had been expecting for a week. "So, how are you feeling about your sexy, older, ER doc crush now?"

"Do you have to say it that way?" You supposed you should be grateful she'd let you go this long without bringing it up. It had given you time to think.

"Yes," She smiled, "I'm honestly having fun torturing you both. Stop avoiding the question."

You thought for a minute while you picked at your muffin, "Is it weird?" You were aware it was a vague yet somehow loaded question.

Sam still smiled, a little softer, as she reached up to let her bun down, "I don't think I can answer that for you." She paused to take a sip of her coffee and then continued. "What I can tell you is that when I first got to spend some time with Jack, we didn't know anything about each other, but, we sat and ate together and I knew that I could sit at a shitty picnic table and eat shitty pizza with him anywhere in the world and be perfectly happy."

You thought about what she had said, thought about dinner and the chat you had with Robby after.

Across rhe table from you Sam chuckled, "You realize you don't even have to say it right? It's written all over your face."

~~~~~

Robby blinked, snapped out of his thoughts, as his earbuds read out, "Incoming call from: Sam Abbot"

"Good morning Mrs. Abbot."

"Good morning Dr. Robinavitch. You on your way to work?"

"Mhmm, you've got three blocks."

She got right to the point, "If I told you Y/N was interested in seeing you again, what would you say?"

Robby scoffed, "I'd ask what you're bribing her with."

"Robby I swear to God, do you like her or not?"

"I don't know that it's that easy Sam."

"Because you're making it complicated."

"It is what I do best."

"You should have seen her face this morning when I brought you up." When that doesn't get a response out of him she continues, "I knew it! You big chicken, just admit you would like to see her again."

"I don't know Sam."

Something in his tone sobers Sam up a little bit, "Ok, I'm not bullying you,"

"You sure?" He interrupted, only half teasing.

"Shut up. Look, she liked meeting you at the house the other night and I think she really likes you. So, I won't beat you up about it, but will you at least promise me you'll think about it? You might be pleasantly surprised."

Robby was quiet for most of the next block, "Ok, I will think about it. I am thinking about it."

Sam's smile was evident in her voice, "Ok, good. I'm glad. Have a good day at work, okay."

Robby couldn't help but smile with her, "I will, I'll make sure Jack leaves on time."

~~~~

As soon as Robby got inside the the ED Dana met him at the counter, "So, haven't seen you, how'd dinner go with the VA cutie go?"

Robby glared at Jack as he gathered up his stuff. Jack just glared right back.

"Oh please," Dana scoffed, "Don't look at him, he's like trying to get gossip out of a KGB agent."

Robby throws another glance at Jack who just shrugs and slaps him on the back on his way out. When he turns back to Dana he sighs, "Ok, what did Sam tell you?"

"Nothing much, just talked to her quick the other day and she said they had you two over for dinner and that Y/N had a good time."

Suddenly, he was already exhausted and he had only just got to work, "Is there anyway for me avoid this conversation?" The look she gives him says it all. "Dinner was... fine, actually no dinner was good. She is everything Sam said she was and more."

Dana softened, "But?"

He sighs and scratches at his beard as he leans his elbows on the counter, "She's so young."

With an arched brow, "Robby, she's a grown woman, and from what I hear she's a grown woman that likes what she sees."

~~~~~

Robby heard the access door open, but he didn't turn. DIdn't need to.

"At least you're on this side of the rail this time."

Robby scoffed, "Look who's talking."

Jack nodded, "Came to tell you to go home." He stepped up to the rail and leaned his forearms over the top. "What're you doin' up here anyway?"

His colleague didn't answer right away, but Jack waited him out. "Needed some quiet, time to think about some things."

"Would one of those things happen to be a pretty, little nurse over at the VA?"

"That's your shtick brother." Robby gave him a side eye.

Jack shook his head with a chuckle, "Well that wasn't a no." He turned his head and gave Robby a look, "C'mon, tell me what's up. You got," He turned his wrist over, "Five minute before my shift starts."

"You a counselor now?" Robby scoffed.

"Four minutes, 50 seconds."

"Fuck me, you really want to talk about this?"

"Not especially, but we're gonna." He stood up and turned around to lean back against the rail, "And I really only have it in me to say this once, so listen."

Robby grumbled, but did not interrupt.

"I know the age thing is messing with you, but I think you're makin' a bigger deal out of it than it needs to be. You know, Sam fell for a... a 29 year old soldier with a six pack and God complex. Now, she's married to a 46 year old doctor with fucking grey hair, frown lines, PTSD and a shitty schedule. She still loves me, and yeah shut up, God knows why sometimes. But look brother, she's the only thing that keeps me above ground on the really bad days."

After a deep breath Robby shook his head, "Still different. She wouldn't be getting any of the good years, and Jesus I feel old just thinking about it." He laughed at himself.

Jack laughed a little, at Robby as much as at himself, "I mean, you're older than me." He takes the jab because he can't help himself, "But, for what it's worth, sometimes yeah, you're goin' to feel old as fuck, but most the time the age difference thing isn't even a factor." He paused and turned back around, hands gripped the railing as he leaned into it. "Then there's sometimes man where she's goin' make you feel twenty years old again, ten feet tall and fucking bulletproof." He chuckled, "Plus, look at it this way, now you got twenty, thirty years experience to put behind it."

"Oh fuck off." Jack laughed again, "C'mon, times up, otherwise I'm goin' to bill you." He pushed back from the railing.

"Sam, she's your once in a lifetime man." Robby's voice sounded tight. "Doesn't happen every day."

Stopped two steps away Jack turned back, hands in his pockets, and nodded, "You ever think Y/N might be yours?"

~~~~~~

When Sam had texted you last week that Robby was interested in seeing you again your initial reaction had been panic. Dinner at Jack and Sam's had been fun, easy even. Then you stopped and thought about going on a real, actual date, just you and Robby.

For whatever reason, the thought scared you, like maybe you weren't quite ready for that just yet. You wanted to see him again, you knew that for sure, but you couldn't help but feel like that first night had been less of a date and more of a dinner with friends.

Sam had teased you, a little, "Not that we mind, but you are going to have to take the training wheels off at some point."

She had agreed though and that was how you found yourself in Sam's SUV on your way to lunch. Jack driving and Robby up front with him, Sam next to you currently leaned over the center console typing in the restaraunt address into the GPS screen.

"Would you please, sit your ass back down?" Jack chided his wife with a smile. "I know where we're going."

You stifled a laugh as Sam caught your gaze and rolled her eyes as she settled back into her seat and buckled her seat belt. "So bossy."

From where you sat you could see the look they gave each other in the rearview mirror. You also saw the moment, halfway through an intersection, when Jacks eyes jumped the left.

"Mother fuck..." He didn't even get out the rest of the word before the car that had blown through the stoplight slammed into the SUV.

Tires squealed and you could hear the creak and crunch of metal on metal over the ringing in your ears as the airbags deployed.

~~~~~

"Sam, baby you okay?"

"Yeah! I'm fine."

"Y/N, you okay?"

Everything was fuzzy, your ears still rang and this time it was Robby calling back to you, "Y/N, hey, are you okay?"

"Yeah, yeah I'm, I'm okay."

As your vision cleared you heard a repeated pop and hiss, pop and hiss. Jack had pulled out his knife and was popping the airbags on the driver side of the SUV. You flinched when your door opened, but a warm hand grabbed your wrist and squeezed.

"Hey," Robby spoke calmly, "Cover your eyes for me." Another pop and hiss and the side curtain airbag between you and him deflated. "There we go. Hey, look at me. Anything hurt?" When you didn't answer right away he ducked his head to catch your eye, "Does anything hurt?" His eyes scanned you head to toe and he gave you a little nod when you told him nothing hurt. "Ok, good watch my finger for me. Perfect." His hands moved to take each of yours, "Squeeze for me. Good. Move your feet?" He gave a smile and a nod, "Ok, you're ok, c'mon. I got you."

"Robby!" Jacks voice carried from the other side of the SUV, "I got three over here. Driver's unresponsive!"

Robby helped you out and away from the Tahoe where it had come to rest in corner of the intersection.

"Sam, grab a kit!"

You watched Robby disappear around the SUV and you could hear Sam behind you. When you turn she had a phone pressed to her ear as she opened the back hatch.

"Intersection of South Highland and Liberty. MVC in the southound lane, three vehicles involved." She drug a backpack out of the back, "We are going to need EMS, yes ma'am. Yes ma'am. Expect multiple injuries. My name is Samantha Abbot. Yes ma'am."

Head still fuzzy you watched as she jogged towards the car that had hit you, the whole front end completely mangled. After a second your instinct kicked in and you followed after her.

Jack didn't even look over his shoulder as Sam came up behind him, "Driver is unresponsive to pain, pupils are pinned. Grab me the narcan."

You took Sam's lead and went to Robby to see what you could do to help. He looked up at you briefly, "Check her in the back. If shes's ok get her over to the sidewalk. Then come back, grab me one of the kits out of the Tahoe on your way. Should be a backpack, probably camo or black."

Grateful for the direction you did as he said and came back with a black backpack moments later. "Got it."

"Ok perfect." He glanced at the bag, "That big front pocket should be some 4x4 gauze, grab me that and then can you hold C-spine for me?"

You crawled in the backseat and supported the passengers head and neck from behind.

"Jack, you got a collar?" Robby called out across the car. "Looks like the passenger went head versus windshield."

Sam came jogging back, "Other car is fine, minor lacs and bag burn, a little spooked. I can hear EMS. What you need?"

"Grab the collar out of the pelican case, give it to Robby." Jack caught the driver by the shoulders as he sat bolt up right with a gasp. "Welcome back. What did you take?" When he got no answer he made a fist and rubbed it over his sternum, "Focus buddy. You were in a car accident, do you remember what happened? Can you tell me what you took?"

The cops get there first and apparently one of them recognized Jack and Robby, "Don't you guys ever take a day off?"

Robby scoffed, "This was supposed to be my day off."

"Just can't help it." Jack laughed as EMTs arrived and made their way over, "Overdose here, came around with three of narcan, this is the driver. Robby has the worst, looks like he's banged up pretty good, no seat belt. Backseat passenger, and passengers in the third car they're all minor lacs, contusions, abrasians."

"What about the Tahoe?" Jack grimmaced, "That's us, we're all good, just clipped the front quarter panel when they ran the light."

A cop looked around, "RP?"

Jack pointed to Sam, "My wife, Samantha, called it in on my phone."

"Looks like you need checked out too man." The cop pointed at a gash on Jacks arm from the broken glass, but he just waved it off.

Another set of EMTs ushered you out of the backseat so they could get to the passenger. One of them taking over holding traction and you moved to the side. Out of the way. You couldn't help but think, through the pounding headache, that this was not how this afternoon was supposed to go.

~~~~~

After you had talked to one of the cops, told them the little bit you could, you headed back towards the Tahoe to grab your purse. The cops said the vehicles would all be towed.

When you get back to the SUV you find Sam and Jack at the back, the hatch open and Jack sitting in the back. His left foot is braced on the bumper, his arm rested over his knee while his wife sutured the small gash on his forearm.

"Good, make sure to finish it with a..."

Sam froze and her eyes snapped up to Jacks with a scowl.

"Habit, sorry, just habit." He gave her a smile and his right thumb stroked over her hip where he had his right hand resting while she worked on him.

When an EMT comes back with Robby he took one look at the couple and groaned, "Dude, seriously?"

Jack glanced up at the kid in uniform, "Go get the form."

"SIr, that needs seen by a doctor."

You caught Robby's chuckle from where he sood just behind you.

"I am a doctor," Jack kept his tone flat, "I've seen it. She'll do a better job than wherever you would take me anyway. Go get the form."

Brow furrowed you turn to Robby, "He's really not going to go to the hospital?"

He gave you a little grin, "Have you ever seen and ER doctor actually go to the hospital?" He laughs, "If he can't do it himself, she does it. Nothing new."

Not that you doubt your boss, she's a bad ass nurse, but, "She's not a doctor, what if it was something serious that she's never done before?"

"He talks her through it." He gives you a wink that makes you forget about the accident for a second. "I'm still not convicned she hasn't removed his appendix just to see if she could." He lightened the mood a little bit and then his eyes softened as they settled on your face. "How's your head feel now?"

Robby reached up and brushed a thumb around the edge of the abrasion on your forehead. The burn from the side curtain airbags. Your eyes closed of their own accord at his gentle touch, "Hurts."

His thumb moved low to trace under the apple of your cheek where the skin was also raw and tender, "Adrenaline is starting to wear off."

Jack spoke up, his eyes trained on the knot his wife tied in his suture. "Take her home. We'll have to wait for the wrecker."

Robby gave you a nod and a soft smile, "Let's grab your stuff."

~~~~~

Later, while they're watching the wrecker drag her Tahoe with it's mangled front end onto the flatbed, Jack wrapped his arm around Sam's shoulders and gave her a squeeze, "Sorry about your car baby." He dropped a kiss to the top of her head.

Sam sighed deep, and rested her head on his shoulder, "Just glad it wasn't worse." She turned to look him up and down, "Sure you're ok?" Focusing on the tiny laceration on his temple she'd glued, the dressing on his forearm and the way his bad shoulder dipped just a little lower than the other.

"I'm fine." He looked her in the eye and gave her a nod, "Glad it was me not you."

She rolled her eyes, "Don't do that." Sam smiled carefully, and then chuckled a bit. "Here," She held up the dog tags she'd pulled off the rearview mirror, "Want these? Old times sake?"

Jack cracked a smile and took his old dog tags from her, a reminder from a lifetime ago. "I've got a set already." He gave her a wink as he bounced the tags and chain in his palm a couple times, thinking fondly about the old set of hers always hanging in his truck. "Here." He smiled wider as he slipped the chain around her neck, moved her hair out of the way and then tugged on the collar of her shirt so he could drop the tags inside.

Sam's eyes never left his and she smirked, "You think you're cute don't you?"

He pursed his lips with a shrug, "Married me didn't you?"

She let him kiss her on the forehead as she hummed skeptically.

"C'mon," He whispered against her brow and gave her one more kiss, "We'll go get somethin' to eat, guess we'll Uber to the house then we can take the truck to go pick up all our shit."

She ducked out from under his arm and gave him a look, "I'm sorry, we can go get something to eat?"

"Yeah," He gave her a blank look, playing at not understanding why she questioned it, "I'm fucking starving."

"You're hungry? You sent Robby and Y/N home." When he continued to stare she elaborated, "To presumably take it easy, because they were just in a car accident, but we're going to just go to lunch?"

Jack shrugged, "Eh, let Robby take her home, play a little doctor. Do 'em both some good."

Sam's eyes went wide, "Oh my God! You give me shit, but you do want them to get together!" She gave him a calculated shove and shook her head at him.

He kept up the straight face and tugged her back to him, "Not what I said."

~~~~~~

Robby was in your apartment.

You weren't sure what possessed you, where you had found the guts to invite him inside, but the way he had been looking at you made you think that maybe he had wanted you to.

As soon as he was across the threshold of your tiny apartment he pointed to your loveseat, "Go sit down." You did as he said and watched as he washed his hands in your sink and then ran a handful of paper towels under cold water. "Okay if I clean this up a little bit?" He asked as he gently pressed the damp towels to your brow and cheek.

Even though the towels were cool you felt your whole body flush when he touched you. Just barely touches you, as he guides your hand up to hold them in place. "Robby, you don't have to, really."

"Michael, and that's not what I asked." He gave you an easy little grin, trying to pry the cooperation out of you. When you finally give him the nod he had been waiting for that smile gets a fraction bigger. "It's not too bad. Where's your first aid kit? I'll clean it up and put a little dressing on to help it heal faster."

Next thing you knew Michael was sitting on the ottoman in front of you cleaning up and dressing the area where the airbags had irritated your skin. You didn't know what kind of doctor he was on shift, but the way he carefully held you steady with one hand and treated the burns with the other, his touch confident yet gentle, those deep brown eyes focused on the task, you could certainly imagine.

Occasionally though those eyes would flick to yours, and the way he sat with his legs bracketing yours you were close enough to see there was something hiding in those eyes. Just as much as there was something hiding in his careful touch.

You didn't mean to whisper when you spoke up, but you couldn't risk disturbing the moment. "Sorry this afternoon didn't quite turn out the way I had hoped."

He gave you a little smile that crinkled the corners of his eyes, "You weren't the one that ODed and ran the red light."

"I know," You watched his hands as he packed up your first aid kit. "But still, I was looking forward to it."

The way he looked at you looked like that might have surprised him. That you had been looking forward to seeing him. The look passed quickly, like he had hidden it away, and then he looked at his watch. "Could still do a late lunch. If you feel up to it."

~~~~~~

Michael had offered to take you out to eat, to make up for the date that you had missed out on, but you had panicked. You didn't like the idea of him leaving your apartment now that you'd seen him move through it. As silly as it sounded, you worried that you wouldn't get him back again if you let him leave now. "Would you be okay if we order something and just ate here?"

For a brief moment he hesitated and appeared to have an array of emotions spin through him before he settled on a nod, "What sounds good?" He had already pulled up the DoorDash app on his phone.

You agree on something and he orders it. The restaraunt is close by so it shouldn't be long. You glance around your tiny, effeciency apartment. Coursework is scattered all over you kitchen table and you suddenly realize your mistake.

Behind you Robby must see you hesitate, "If I had to guess I'd say that table doesn't get used to eat much?"

"Basically never." You admit, embarrassed.

His gaze shifts over the menagarie of books and pens, markers, reports and studies littered with multi-colored sticky notes. He smiles, "Going for your Masters right?"

"Yeah. A decision I regret almost daily." You laughed at your own self-inflicted torture and than catch the look he gives you. A clear invitation to explain yourself. "I was never good at the whole school thing. I'm smart don't get me wrong, but the classes, the lectures, homework, I've always hated it."

"So, why are you doing it?"

"I want to teach, and no the irony is not lost on me."

"Really?"

"That hard to believe?"

"No." He shakes his head, not backpedaling or second guessing his answer just a simple no. "Wouldn't think someone so young would be going that route is all."

This was not a new sentiment. "I love being a nurse, always have, and it's always been what I wanted to do."

"But..." He tilted his head to one side and waited patiently.

You chewed on your lip and thought for a moment, "Take today for example. Sam is an amazing nurse and I've learned so much from her already, but I always get the feeling that she craves the chaos of it. That's why shes where she is. You can watch her work and she thrives in situations like that. Running an ER is exactly where she belongs. Me, I can do the work and yes I do love it, but I've never had that level of desire for it. I don't need it like she does. I've always been more drawn to... cultivating the love for this in others." You pause not meaning to ramble, "I fumbled a little today, until I saw you and Jack and her dive in headfirst and, like right now, I just think that I'm meant more to help others build that foundation, that confidence and competency to go out there and find where they belong in all this. I might not ever be the nurse that can take charge and own the floor when everything is falling apart, but I love the idea that I could help send hundreds or maybe even thousands of nurses into the system that could."

Robby, Michael, just stares at you for a long time.

Your heart suddenly pounds in your ears, "Sorry, I kind of just word vomited all over you." You laugh to try and dispel the awkwardness.

He just shakes his head, "Don't apologize. I think that's incredible." The look he gives you feels like it could stop your heart. Or maybe shock it back into rythym.

A knock at the door ends it there, for now.

"Foods here."

~~~~~

He moves to answer your door like he's done it a dozen times before. Maybe it's just because you haven't moved a muscle from where you were standing when you heard the word 'incredible'. "So, If you don't eat at the table?" He waits patiently for you to answer.

You fidget a little before youdo "This is so embarrassing, but honestly, I usually just eat over the sink, or sometimes i'll sit on the floor and use the ottoman for a table."

The thought hits him without warning, 'I'm too old for this', but then he takes that extra beat to really think about it. He thought about what Jack had said, that sometimes she might make him feel old as fuck, but sometimes...

So, he takes the takeout into your tiny living room and set's it on the oversized footstool.

You give him a little look as he settles down on the floor next to you and leans back against the front of the loveseat. "Do you want me to grab the Icy Hot now or wait until you try to get up?"

Robby laughs, he couldn't help himself, because yes he feels old as fuck, but he likes that you can poke at him, push him, say things that make his cheeks heat up. A part of him can't help but think about what he would do if this was real, if this wasn't just an attempt to salvage a sort of first date that went off the rails. If you were his.

Because if you were his and you'd teased him like that he would want to forget about the takeout and make sure you were both a little sore when you got up off the floor.

~~~~~

After you eat you have to force yourself to tell him you have school work, because you would sit on the floor with him the rest of the night if you could. What Sam had said about shitty pizza and picnic tables flashed through your mind and you smiled.

At the door you ask, "Would you be willing to try lunch again sometime, or dinner? With real furniture."

Michael gives you that crinkly eyed smile and shoves his hands in his pockets, "I'm not opposed to the floor, but I might make you pay for the chiropractor next time."

Your heart was a jackhammer in your chest when he reached up to ghost a finger over the dressing he'd put over the abrasions on your cheek and face.

"Do something for me?" He words are soft, not teasing anymore.

Anything. You have to choke the word down with a nod.

His touch lingers, "Come by tomorrow, so I can see you. Take a look at this." He traced the edge of a bandage, "My shift starts at seven."

~~~~~~

You had never been so nervous to walk into a hospital before in your life as you were when you entered the PTMC Emergency department like Michael had requested. You join the line to wait, but one of the registrars makes eye contact with you and waves you up.

You apologize to everyone that you passed in the line and gave her your name at the window, "I'm supposed to see Dr. Robinavitch." She smiled, "Yes, yes, he told me to keep an eye out for you. All the way to your right, I'll buzz you in."

You nearly run into Jack as you step through the fire doors into the ED. You flinch a little, startled, but you don't think Jack Abbot has been startled by anything in his life.

He does look a little curious though. "Hey, long time no see." He had a long sleeve shirt on under his scrub top, you assumed to cover the bandage and the cut on his arm. The small cut at his temple has a bruise around it now. "What're you doing here? Everything okay?" He ducked his head to look at you, clearly concerned.

"Yeah, I'm fine, fine. Just following doctors orders." You pointed to where Michael stood by the main nurses station.

Jacks eyebrows jump as he nods and adjusts his backpack, then he meets Robby's gaze across the way. They exchange a look you can't read and then Jack turned back to you. "Ok then. Take it easy ok? I'll see you around."

You don't see the smirk on his face as he continued to the door, but Robby does.

You also don't see him immediately pull his phone out of his pocket as he pushes through the door with his shoulder, but Robby does.

"Good morning." You try for bright and cheery and not sick to your stomach with nerves.

Michael smiles, skips over the pleasantries, "How are you feeling?" He reached for your temple while his eyes asked if it was ok.

You nodded, "Little headache this morning, nothing bad. How about you?"

"Oh, I'm just fine." He carefully pulls back the tape holding the dressing down and does a quick exam. "This looks ok. Want me to dress it again?"

Selfishly you nodded, "If you don't mind. Since you made me drive all the way down here."

He gave you a look as he guided you back behind the nurses station and into one of the chairs. "Wait right here, I'll be back."

Just as soft and competent as before he cleaned and treated the burns from the airbag, this time only putting a dressing over the one on your forehead.

He had just finished up when a nurse in grey scrubs came around the corner, "We run out of rooms and hallways already?"

Michael chuckled, "Just a quick check up. Dana this is Y/N, Y/N this is Dana."

Dana's smile doubles as she looks from you to him and then back. "Oh my God, yes! It's so good to meet you." She pulled you into a hug you were not expecting, "Sammy's told me all about you."

You try not to flush, but you can see Michael's cheeks go just a little pink so you know at least you're not alone.

~~~~~

You were barely out the door when Robby's phone goes off and he gets a text from Sam.

'Doctors orders huh? Winky face, winky face. What's you next weekend off? I'll see if I can get you two a Saturday night for your next follow up.'

Robby drops his head and groans as he spins his phone around and around in his fingers.

Dana pops up next to him again, "What's that face for?"

He looks her in the eye, "One of these days, I'm going to push Jack off the roof."

~~~~~

By the time you left Robby's department you were all fixed up again, had his number in your phone and felt like your head was about to spin right off. When your phone vibrated, still in your hand, you nearly dropped it.

A text from Michael Robinavitch, 'If you're free Saturday after next, how would you feel about dinner? Real restaraunt, real furniture."

Your heart raced as you checked your email, silently praying Sam had sent out the schedule for next month, and there it was, a free Saturday night. Nearly shaking you texted him back, 'What if I liked sitting on the floor with you?' You bit your lip and waited.

"Compromise for the couch after dinner?'

~~~~

Chapter Three - Coming Soon!

[izzih22]

Chapter 3: Just Say You Need Me

Note: remember this is fiction.

The quiet after Azzi left for prom felt heavier than anything Paige had ever known.

Paige had watched her walk out the door in that black sparkly dress that shimmered in the hall light, her heart thudding painfully behind her ribs. She’d barely spoken as Azzi adjusted the sleeves of her dress and slid on her heels, her face neutral but eyes distant. The final blow had been the moment Azzi turned back to hug her goodbye—not just a quick hug, either. A long, slow squeeze, arms winding tight around Paige’s neck like she didn’t want to go. Then came the kiss.

It was barely anything. A soft, warm press of lips just under Paige’s jaw, right at the edge of her neck. Quick. Secret. Gone before Paige could even react. No one had seen, but Paige felt it like lightning.

“Bye Paigey.” Azzi had said as Marcus grabbed her hand a pulled her out the door. Paige wanted to say something anything. Pull her back, tell Marcus to fuck off but she didn’t. She wanted Azzi happy…

So Paige stood frozen in the hallway, Azzi’s scent still clinging to her varsity jacket—because, of course, Azzi had asked to wear it over her dress. And, of course, Paige had wordlessly handed it over. Because that’s what she always did. Whatever Azzi needed, Paige gave.

Now, Azzi was gone, and Paige felt hollow.

She barely responded when Jose and Jon asked if she wanted to hang out, just shook her head and wandered into Azzi’s room, shutting the door behind her. Everything smelled like Azzi in here. She crossed to the bed on autopilot and laid down on Azzi’s side, her head resting on the pillow Azzi always slept on, hoodie still warm from her body.

The ceiling stared back at her. She didn’t cry. She just…lay there. Not moving. Not thinking. Just feeling everything and nothing all at once.

Her phone buzzed hours later, breaking the stillness.

She turned her head. The room was dark now. She blinked at the screen.

Azzi 💗

Her heart jumped. She sat up fast, thumb swiping to answer.

“Az?” Her voice was low, hoarse.

A soft, shaky breath crackled through the speaker. Then: “P-Paige?”

That one word. Broken. Barely there. Paige was already off the bed and grabbing for her shoes.

“I’m here,” she said quickly. “What’s wrong? Where are you?”

Azzi’s voice was trembling. “Can you…can you come get me? Please? Don’t tell my parents. Just—just come, okay?”

Paige was already sprinting up the stairs. “Of course I’ll come. Are you hurt?”

“N-No. I mean…I just—I’m in the bathroom. At school. Please hurry, Paige. I just need you.”

“I’m coming,” Paige said, already bursting into the kitchen where Azzi’s parents were watching TV. “Azzi wants to come home. I’ll go get her. She said she’s okay, just wants to leave.”

Mr. and Mrs. Fudd glanced up. Neither questioned it. Paige had been around for so long, she was basically family.

“Of course,” Mrs. Fudd said, nodding. “Tell her to text me when she’s home.”

“Will do,” Paige said, already out the door.

She stayed on the phone the entire drive. Azzi didn’t say much, just little sniffles, small breaths, soft whimpers that twisted something sharp in Paige’s chest. Her hands gripped the steering wheel like a lifeline. She didn’t know what happened yet, but she knew it was bad.

“Az, I’m almost there, okay?” she said gently. “I’m pulling into the lot. Where are you exactly?”

“Girls’ bathroom. Back hall. Near the gym…”

“I’m coming. Stay on the line.”

She parked, threw the car into park, and sprinted across the front walk, her heart pounding. The hallways were quiet. She pushed through the door of the bathroom and immediately heard it—soft crying from one of the stalls.

“Azzi?” Paige called, her voice catching.

A click, a slow creak, and then the stall door opened—and there she was.

Azzi’s makeup was streaked down her cheeks, eyes red and glassy. She was still wearing Paige’s hoodie over her dress, the sleeves pulled down over her hands like she was trying to disappear inside it. She looked up at Paige and instantly broke into sobs, stumbling forward.

Paige caught her, arms wrapping around her tight. “Hey, hey, I’ve got you. It’s okay. I’ve got you.”

Azzi buried her face in Paige’s neck, shaking. Paige just held her there in the middle of the bathroom, rocking slightly.

“I didn’t—I didn’t let him do anything,” Azzi sobbed, voice muffled against Paige’s skin. “I didn’t—he tried—he wouldn’t stop—”

Paige’s blood turned to ice. She pulled back just enough to look at Azzi’s face.

“What happened?” she asked softly. “Az, tell me.”

Azzi choked on a breath. “It was Marcus. My date. He got drunk. I told him no, Paige, I told him no.”

Paige’s jaw clenched. Her whole body went rigid.

“And then—then he—he tried to kiss me. He was grabbing at me, and I tried to get away. He kept going, and I pushed him, and he shoved me. That’s when I ran. I ran to the bathroom. I locked myself in and called you.”

Paige was shaking now, too—but with rage.

“I’m going to kill him,” she whispered. “I swear to God, I—”

Azzi reached up, cupping Paige’s face in both hands.

“No,” she said, eyes wide and wet. “Don’t. Don’t leave me. I just need you. Please.”

That stopped Paige cold. Azzi’s voice was raw. Pleading.

Paige softened instantly, wrapping her arms fully around Azzi again.

“I’m here. I’m not going anywhere.”

Azzi nodded against her chest, fingers curling in the fabric of Paige’s shirt. She clung like she was afraid Paige would disappear.

Paige maneuvered them out of the bathroom quietly, shielding Azzi from any lingering promgoers. The gym was mostly empty now. She got Azzi to the car and opened the passenger door, helping her in carefully.

But Azzi didn’t want to let go.

“Can you…can you sit with me?” she whispered.

Without hesitation, Paige nodded, climbing into the passenger seat and pulling Azzi into her lap. Azzi curled into her, head under Paige’s chin, still crying softly. Paige cradled her, rubbing her back gently.

They sat there in the quiet hum of the night, the car’s soft interior light glowing above them.

After a while, Azzi started talking again—voice quieter now, but steadier.

“I kept thinking about you. In the bathroom. I just kept thinking—‘Paige will come. Paige will come.’ And then you did.”

“I’ll always come,” Paige whispered.

Azzi didn’t say anything, just gripped her tighter.

“I can’t stop thinking about him touching you,” Paige admitted. “I hate that he did that. I hate it so much.”

“I didn’t want him to. I only went with him because… I don’t know. I felt like I was supposed to.”

Paige swallowed. Her fingers trembled slightly as they traced slow circles into Azzi’s back.

“He doesn’t get to touch you,” Paige said, voice low. “He doesn’t get to put his hands on you. Not ever.”

Azzi leaned back slightly, eyes shining with emotion as she looked up at Paige. “Why do you always say stuff like that?”

“Stuff like what?”

“Like…” Azzi hesitated. “Like you care more than you’re supposed to.”

Paige stared at her. For a moment, it felt like the air between them shifted.

“I don’t know,” Paige said honestly. “Maybe I do.”

Azzi blinked. Her lips parted, like she was going to say something—but she stopped.

They both glanced at each other’s lips, then eyes.

The moment hung there, fragile and charged.

But Paige pulled back gently.

“You’re not in the right headspace,” she said softly. “I don’t want to do anything you’ll regret later.”

Azzi looked stricken, confused. She pulled back just enough to create space, like she was trying to protect herself from being hurt.

But Paige saw it—saw the hurt and the fear flickering behind Azzi’s eyes.

So she leaned forward and kissed Azzi’s cheek.

Then the other.

Then the tip of her nose.

Then her forehead.

“I got you,” Paige whispered. “Let’s go home.”

Azzi gave a tiny, tired smile. The first one since that awful night began.

They drove back in silence. Paige opened every door for her like she always did, guiding Azzi gently through the house, quiet as they crept back inside. Mr. and Mrs. Fudd were asleep.

Back in Azzi’s room, Paige helped her out of the dress, letting her wear her hoodie. She didn’t comment when Azzi reached for her hand and didn’t let go.

They crawled into bed together like they always had—but this time, Paige held her closer than ever. Azzi was tucked against her chest, her breath soft, finally steady.

Paige stroked her hair and whispered, “You’re okay now. I’m not gonna let anything happen to you.”

And when Azzi’s breathing slowed and her body melted into Paige’s, right on the cusp of sleep—Paige leaned down, brushed her lips against Azzi’s temple, and whispered:

“I love you.”

She thought Azzi was asleep.

But just as she started to close her eyes, she heard it—barely above a breath:

“I love you too.”

A small, quiet smile spread across Paige’s lips.

And for the first time that night, she let herself believe that maybe, just maybe, Azzi meant it the way she hoped she did.

[revelboo]

Revel, I am so sorry you got put in horny jail, but at the same time, you are on a ROLL today.

🤣 Oh, yeah my go to reaction to y’all telling me I’d been flagged was just to post more. I was half tempted to post nothing but spice like the gremlin I am, but resisted. Mostly.

Apparently it’s something new they rolled out on the apps to stay compliant with the app stores. Seems to be mostly android- I’m on Apple and had no idea until you guys told me about it. If the default setting to hide Mature content isn’t toggled off, some accounts/content gets hidden. Aka horny jail 🤣 funnily enough, from what I can tell, you can’t actually turn the setting on or off from the app itself, just desktop. I know a few of the affected blogs are trying to petition to get their blogs unflagged.

Woe. Spikes be upon ye, cause I’m not going anywhere. 18+ 🌶️

Before I Wake

ROTB Mirage x Reader

• Tires humming on wet pavement as streetlights dapple him, Mirage isn’t even really sure what he’s doing. With Noah out on a date and explicitly forbidding him from tagging along and ‘helping,’ he’s got nothing to do. No one to talk to. And the city is alive around him with noise, but it’s still so lonely and he hates it. Venting, he pulls off under an overpass. What is he even doing out here? His little buddy is doing his own thing more and more and he’s getting left behind. Wants Noah to be happy, the kid deserves it, but still.

• Swearing when one of your low heels catch on the uneven sidewalk, your head is swimming. Had lost track of the rest of your party and just need some air. The smoke, lights, and noise of the club becoming overwhelming. And the night is warm as you stumble. You hadn’t even had that much. “You good?” Turning unsteadily, there’s a stranger behind you and your skin prickles. Had he followed you out of the club?

• Movement draws his attention and he spots two humans on the sidewalk talking. Lovers? Watches the smaller one’s body language shift right before the bigger human snags their little bag and it’s given up immediately, hands lifting. Afraid. Definitely not lovers. Shifting on his shocks, he knows it’s none of his business. That he’s supposed to be hidden, but as the bigger human seizes the smaller one by their hair, he’s reaching out a thought.

• Screaming as he yanks at your hair, bruising fingers grab your arm and then he just lets go and stumbles back. Nearly falling. And an arm curls around you as tears stream down your face. A savior or someone worse? But your attacker turns and bolts. And whoever has you makes a noise that makes your skin crawl. Not a human sound at all.

• Nope. Attention divided trying to keep the avatar solid, his engine revs as he takes off after the thief, throwing open a door as he cuts the man off and the guy bounces off his door to go sprawling. Oh, that probably hurt. Swallowing a laugh, his engine rumbles. And you’re making a funny little keening sound in his arms. Wheels cutting back your way, he groans. Your head’s turned staring up at his avatar. At his inhumanly pixelated avatar. Oh. Frag him. And your eyes roll up into your head as you just go boneless in his arms, collapsing. Oh, he’s so dead.

[no1blacksapphirefan]

In your self aware crk au, what if the player didn't log in for a week or two? Like, usually they're there every day for the log in bonuses and stuff but they're missing. Maybe their phone broke/ lost it or they were really sick or something. Would our beloved beasts and ancients (+ black sapphire if you want) freak out?

I like the way you think >:) Before I came back I did wonder, if the cookies were aware, I wonder how they feel about me constantly dipping back in and out of the game. (I'm here to stay this time!!...hopefully...if my phone storage lets me)

Pure Vanilla He's worried :(( He isn't sure what happened but not seeing your face for nearly 2 weeks now worries him a lot. Did you...loose interest? He understands and he can't be too mad if you didn't know that they're aware. He can't help but feel done as he patiently waits for your (hopefully) return.

And when you do? He nearly breaks character, running up to where your screen is pointed at and waving happily. Nearly telling you welcome back. He quickly switches to once of his automatic voicelines and prays you didn't notice the slip up. He's so happy to see you, if you were sick and that's why you weren't playing? He makes sure to (try) and send you good blessings through the screen, he may not be able to heal through he screen but he can try in another way.

Dark Cacao He won't admit it to anyone, but your disappearance makes him upset. He's gotten so used to you after all. He doesn't exactly like the thought of you going missing even if...sure technically you're probably not. His mind goes to the worst case scenario. Caramel Arrow Cookie has to try and calm him down until you return.

Upon seeing your face again, he instantly feels a wave of relief crash over him. What's that? You just broke your phone when you accidentally dropped it down the stairs?...Now he feels embarrassed on what he thought had happened, but hey!! He was just really worried about you okay...

HollyBerry She waits patiently, she knows you'll come back!!...Right? If you're go for more then say, 2 weeks then she'll get scared. You will come back right? She knows you technically didn't promise anything (Joke or not) and you aren't...obligated to come back but...she's starting to miss you!! She loved hearing you laugh.

When you finally come back she's so happy, quickly waving to you, when the screen goes to her. She'd knew you'd come back!! There's no way you'd get bored of them, she can sense how much you love them after all!

Golden Cheese She didn't notice it at first, well...she noticed the silence but she knew when you get upset, sometimes you'd be more quiet. Eventually she realises...it's a bit too quiet. And that's when sh realises you've been gone. Wait, don't leave her too!! Well, she knows you're not gone gone but. She can't help but pace back and forth, hoping to see your face again She silently begs you to come back.

When you do she lets out the biggest sigh of relief ever. She tries her hardest in Arena (And arcade arena if it's there + she's allowed to fight) for you. As a sort of, welcome back kind of thing. Oh she misses seeing that smile of yours.

White Lily Wait what? You're gone? Okay you're not gone gone but...what happened?...Did you...finally get annoyed by her? Has her actions eventually annoyed you enough to make you leave? She shakes her head, and tells herself that if you did leave, it wouldn't be because of her...surely...you've shown her how much you cared about her after all.

She nearly lets out a noise of pure delight as you come back, she's so happy and relieved to see you again after so long. Sure it wasn't years but it's still been a while!! Plus it felt like forever to her...she can't help but smile in her cookie menu and your kingdom for a few days.

Mystic Flour She's the Light of Apathy. You'd think she'd care? That's what she told herself and others anyways. That your sudden disappearance didn't mean anything to her. You could be gone for years and she wouldn't feel anything. That's what she said and that's what she believed...she did feel strange though, but that was probably nothing.

She was quickly proven wrong when she realised seeing you again after 2 weeks made her feel a sense of joy in her chest...what's this? She swears she didn't care you were gone...but seeing you again with your smile, hearing your laugh again...it proved her wrong...she really did care about you being gone...huh, you make her feel the strangest things you know.

Burning Spice He become a bit more...how do I put this, tense, angsty. Not even Nutmeg Tiger Cookie could calm her master down as he constantly hit his axe against the rock each day you've been gone. Where have you even gone?? Arg, he's gonna run out of rocks to destroy at this poin- wait you're back?

He's quick to throw his axe to the side and greet you happily, he couldn't care for playing along right now. Right now you have his attention and he hopes he has yours as well. Take him back to the Arena yeah? He's gonna take the rest of his rage out by destroying these cookies for you. Just for you!!

Shadow Milk He's been trying to cope by writing script after script after script. He has a feeling that you just can't play right now, or atleast he wants to believe that...he has yet to be proven right with your return...he's so worried, he hopes the reason you're not playing isn't because you got hurt...oh if it is, he hopes no one hurt you...he isn't scared to teach the other person a lesson if that's the case.

His worries washes away as he sees you return, happily taking advantage of the fact he "can break the 4th wall" without trouble. Giving you nearly a whole dramatic speech about oh how lonely you've made him feel, how much he missed you and how you shouldn't leave him alone like this again. He hides it all behind a giggle but...he does mean some of the words he's said in his speech.

Black Sapphire At first he brushes it off, even using you being gone as something to get more viewers to listen into his radio show...but after awhile, seeing that you're still gone. He gets more upset and worried, almost cancelling his usual radio shows until you came back. While he doesn't in the end up, it's not as well done as it was previously, listeners can tell your disappearance is upsetting him.

When you eventually do come back, his mood quickly shifts and he becomes happy again. His mic keeping an eye on you, seeing if it can spot the exact reason why you disappeared. He almost never leaves your screens field of view, waving at you any chance he gets, just to subtly tell himself it is you there. His radio shows go back to normal after that with the usual charm in his voice.

[yes-no-maybe-soo]

A couple of things that I love and adore about Sylus ♡♡

(For even more things, go here)

His eyes. They are so beautiful and expressive. They so often convey his inner thoughts and feelings without him having to say a word. Such as how they twinkle and light up when MC touches him, and at other times soften or widen with love as he looks at her.

His smile. I adore the way his face is transformed by it, how his sharp features noticeably soften, and how unguarded he looks for once. It's also adorable how you can sometimes glimpse his teeth. He kind of resembles Toothless ^^ His eyes closed smile is also really cute, it makes me think of this.

He is a lover and a yearner with every fiber of his being. He couldn't be further from the toxic mafia dom that booktok likes to pretend he is (on the contrary he represents healthy and secure masculinity at its best).

His way with words. He can drop the most gorgeous, poetic lines you've ever heard in your life just like that. Without them ever sounding cheesy or too much. They always feel like they come directly from his heart.

He can't hold a tune. He can't peel oranges in one go. His luck is abysmal. He uses Mephisto as a (veil thin) excuse to see his gf time and again. He gets sad when he can't find MC's hair tie. He bumps his head on MC's furniture b/c he's burj khalifa sized and then wants her to blow on his boo boos. He uses up all of her shampoo to smell like her. etc. What I'm trying to say is that he is a loser loverboy in a 6 foot something body. And it's incredibly endearing <3

His draconic traits – his affinity for treasure, his greed, his need to hoard, his desire to mark and be marked by MC, his striking proportions and size, his specific ways of showing and receiving affection.

He is so freeing and healing. MC can always feel whatever emotions she wants and needs to when with Sylus. He tells her outright that she never needs to hide a single thing she's feeling from him, and that he wants to provide a safe space for her to show her "vulnerable belly". She is able to be open, unguarded, and honest around him. Another thing that he encourages and cherishes is her playful and childlike side, and I adore how carefree she is able to be with him. He has created a space for her where she is free to be wholly and unabashedly herself.

His banter and sass. He's funny af. Even if some of the things he's said in his text messages and in the café have lowkey made me want to smack him on MC's behalf ijbol. Overall I love his sense of humor and how playful he is with MC.

The sounds he makes when he's kissing MC. He is so breathy, so love drunk. It's a big contrast to his usually smooth demeanor.

The fact that he is a biker and a mechanic. What can I say, it's attractive as hell.

His moral ambiguity and complexity. He is not a character that can be boiled down to either or (ie morally white or black) or simplified, and to try to do so would be to do him a disservice imo. He is incredibly well written and hugely rewarding to analyze and deep dive into.

His habit of one arm carrying MC every chance he gets.

His love for animals and nature.

His singing. I know I make fun of him for it a lot but I honestly adore it and wouldn't trade it for anything. Not only is it sweet and uniquely him but to me it's also symbolic of doing and enjoying things that you aren't necessarily good at. Because as long as it fulfills you and makes you happy it doesn't matter how proficient or talented you are or aren't. Be like Sylus and never stop doing what you love doing, regardless if others think you aren't "good enough" at it.

How sincere he is in his way of showing love. You can tell that he truly means every word he says, every gesture he makes.

[crowdedimagines]

Tailspin - Bradley Bradshaw

summary: Bradley Bradshaw was happy to retire to the small town of Southport with his two children after their mother had passed. He traded in training pilots at Top Gun in San Diego to being a fire chief for a small town of 3,000.  What he doesn't expect in his small town is a new neighbor who captures his attention. She's making the cross country move from New York promising never to fall for a man quickly ever again and then she meets the hot single dad next door. Yeah right. Between the two of them and everything they have going on in their lives on they going to fall out in a Tailspin?

🤭8.7K omg my baby single dad Bradley and neighbor!yn what else could a girl want?Warnings: domestic violence, stalking, use of Y/n

✿

The loud and clunky engine of the moving truck breaks up the usually peaceful houses that sit all in a row this Saturday afternoon in Southport, California. It wasn’t a surprise to anyone once a shiny red sold sign got slapped on the sale sign for the old McCallum property. They knew it would be inevitable that someone new would be joining their neighborhood. 

Y/n is trying to find the driveway to the house that she’s only seen in person once. Yesterday as a matter of fact when she made the deposit and signed all the paperwork. She manages to park and make her way around to the back of the truck when she sees a young girl standing at the end of her driveway, still on the sidewalk. 

“Hi.” The little girl calls out. She has a piece of chalk in one hand and a bucket with twenty different colors in the other. 

“Hi there.” Y/n smiles, she reaches back to swing the lock on the truck and push the large door open to reveal all of her belongings. Thankfully most things look like they made it intact and she didn’t send anything flying around back there. 

“Did you just move here?” The young girl asks. She doesn’t move her feet from where they are planted on the sidewalk, but leans in to look at all of the stuff in the truck.

“I did-”

“Did you know I live next door?” The little girl interrupts, taking a few steps closer onto her driveway. She points to the house sitting to the right of where they stand. 

“No.” The woman pauses to chuckle, “I did not know that.”

“Did you come all by yourself?” The young girl asks another question and smiles brightly at the woman in front of her. 

“Yeah.” The woman continues to smile down at the curious young girl. She sees her golden curls that sit wildly in a ponytail on the top of her head. Most of it is escaping the small pink tie, Y/n can tell she’s spent a fair amount of time today pushing the stray curls back out of her face. 

“That’s pretty cool.” The little girl smiles finally, “My daddy would never let me do that.” 

“No, probably not.” Y/n squats down next to the girl to be at eye level, “Once you’re an adult though, you can do whatever you want. That’s the fun part.” 

“That’s pretty cool.” Her grin grows wider. 

“You must be an artist.” Y/n nods to the chalk still in hand. 

“Yeah, I am.” The girl attempts to push the loose curls back away from her face, streaking a pale line of pink chalk across her face making Y/n bite back a laugh. “I’m starting the sidewalk because I filled up the driveway.” 

“Do your parents know you’re over here?” Y/n asks, looking around to see who the girl could belong to. How far has she strayed to come say hello. 

“My dad is in the backyard with my brother, they’re working on a new swing set. ” 

“Maybe we should get you back over there-”

“Where did you come from?” The young girl asks yet another question before Y/n can finish her question. 

“Sadie!” A voice calls loudly making them both look up. A tall man with a matching set of curls is making his way around the neighboring house up to the front yard. “Bug, what did I say about leaving the yard?”

He holds his hands up outstretched with concern as he makes his way down the driveway to the sidewalk to make his way over to join them.

Truth be told, Bradley had heard the loud vehicle enter the neighborhood and a few minutes later when he looked around and his youngest was out of sight he knew where she was likely exploring. 

“I wanted to come over to meet her.” Sadie explains while she looks back up to the woman standing next to them with an amused smile, “What’s your name?”

“Y/n.” She looks up to Bradley and reaches out a hand out to introduce herself to the man in front of her,  “Y/n Y/LN, I just moved in. Or at least I'm about to start the move in.” 

She nods to the house behind her and Bradley reaches out to shake her hand.

“Bradley Bradshaw.” His hand is significantly bigger than hers, rough with life from work but still warm. 

“Nice to meet you.” She covers her face from the sun for a second so she can look at the tall man in front of her.

“So someone finally decides to tackle the McCallum house.” Bradley smiles, “It’s a beautiful property.” 

“Thank you.” She pushes her hands in her back pockets and forces herself to look away and admire the view instead. The beachfront property is close enough to the water that they can hear the waves. “It’s going to be quite the project.” 

“You tackling it alone?” He asks, raising a brow.

“Trying to. We’ll see how long until I throw in the towel and hire out. This is my summer project so I’ll be pretty focused on it.”

“Where’d you move from?” He asks, Sadie grows bored with the conversation and plops down on the ground between the two and begins drawing a flower with the same pink chalk in hand. Now that the adults are talking she forgets that she had been the one to ask that question initially. 

“Sadie, this isn’t our driveway. You need to ask first.” Bradley gently reminds. 

“Sorry-”

“It’s okay, Sadie.” Y/n crouches down next to her again. “Maybe I could get some of your beautiful artwork right here.”

She points to the area they stand in and Sadie quickly goes back to work. 

“I’m from New York City actually.” She stands back up to look at him while answering his previous question. 

“Wow, that’s a complete change of pace. You do realize Southport is about as quiet as it gets, right? I think we only have five stop lights.” Bradley chuckles. 

“We’re less than an hour away from San Diego, so if I never need to get my city fix I can head down there.” 

“I know that drive well, I actually moved here to Southport from San Diego. I was a pilot in the Navy and taught at Top Gun down there.”

“Oh wow.” Her face shows how impressed she is, “Are you still in the Navy then?” 

“No, actually I got out right after she was born.” He gestures down to the girl seated below, she’s working on a bee now. “I actually run the fire department here in Southport.”

“How often do you see anything crazy in this town?” She asks, trying not to focus too much on how tight his tee shirt is stretching across his biceps. 

“I will say there are more cats stuck in trees than fires most days, but I’m okay with that.” 

“Good. I’m sure you got your fill of crazy being a pilot.” 

Is there a Mrs. Bradshaw? She finds it hard to believe that a man that looks like this could possibly be single, but the way he’s looking at her makes her think otherwise. Is it really possible he’s sleazy enough to flirt with the new neighbor in front of his daughter if he’s married?

“I could tell some stories, that's for sure. In fact-”

“Dad!” 

They all pick up their heads to see another member of the family standing in the driveway. The boy must be Sadie’s brother, she had mentioned him earlier. Y/n would guess that he’s around ten and Sadie seems around five years old. He is a total copy and paste of his dad standing in front of her. 

“Bud, we’ll be right back over. Why don’t you go ahead and head in and get washed up.” He doesn’t respond to Bradley, but just turns around and takes off for the front door. 

“Well I’m Bradley and you’ve already met my daughter who is going to give me grey hair before I can turn forty.” He grins making Y/n laugh. He’s even more delicious up close, and Y/n gives herself a second to picture him as a silver fox. It still works. 

“Yeah, she was the welcoming party for the neighborhood. It was very much appreciated.” She reaches down to fistbump the girl making her giggle. 

“Yeah, she’s a stray who wanders the neighborhood even though she knows she’s not supposed to.” He scolds, reminding her while she guiltily looks away. “If she ever comes bugging you, feel free to send her in the direction of home!”

“I don’t know, I’ll never turn down free labor.” Y/n jokes, turning back towards the truck to start unloading things. 

“Well, if you ever need any help with anything I’m just next door.” His eyes rake down her figure and she can tell he does it without thinking when his eyes widen. Sadie continues her own grin obliviously standing between the two of them.

“Let’s get you washed up Bug.” Bradley hoists her up onto his shoulder and walks in the direction of his own driveway. “It was great to meet you, Y/n. Welcome to Southport.”

“Nice to meet you Y/n.” Sadie echos with giggles from the top of her dads shoulder. 

“Bye guys!” She waves and makes her way back to the truck ready to get started on hauling everything inside. 

✿

 It was early afternoon when she pulled up to the house and it’s dark out by the time she emptied the entire truck. Doing a close walkthrough of everything it’s alarming how much work the house really needs. Most of it is cosmetic, but some things she knows she’ll need more than a Youtube video to accomplish. She doesn’t have a car yet, but Southport is a small enough town she can walk the short distance into town when she needs things. She meets her neighbor on the other side of her house that morning before leaving. Iris is in her seventies and has lived there for the past forty years. She welcomes her onto the porch for some lemonade. 

“So what brings you to Southport?” The lady asks, taking in the younger woman.

“I needed a change of scenery and Southport was the perfect little beach town to settle into. I was looking for something a little quieter than New York.” Y/n admits.

“Well, something tells me there’s more to that story, but we can table it for a rainy day. Here in Southport you definitely found quiet.” Iris rocks her chair looking out to the neighborhood, “Although it’s more exciting now that you’re here!”

“I don’t know about that.” She shakes her head, still reeling over the fact she wants more information. Information Y/n doesn’t need to be handing out to her new neighbors, this is her fresh start. “Trust me, you’ll be the talk of the town! I see that you’ve already met Bradley.” 

“Yes, his daughter was actually first on the scene for the small town gossip.” Y/n teases. 

“Isn’t Bradley something?” Iris wags her eyebrows causing Y/n to roll her eyes, “He’s available.” 

“He is?”

Iris nods and explains the story of the boy next door. Five years ago his wife Anna passed away from cancer. She was pregnant with Sadie and barely made it long enough to deliver. After that happened, Bradley moved their family to the quieter town where he felt he could be a single dad. He’s spent the past five years here in Southport and is now the fire chief for SFD. Y/n never would’ve guessed that Sadie had lost her mom with how bubbly she was. 

Iris continues to tell her more about the town, the things she should know while they finish their lemonade. Y/n decides to return the empty moving truck and pick up some things at the hardware store so she can get started on some of the projects. She makes laps and laps through the hardware store and becomes well acquainted with Hank who runs it. Hank has had the store for several years and she’s asked nearly a dozen questions and he’s walked her through every single one thoroughly. 

The bell chimes as the door swings open to the small shop. She picks up her head only to meet the familiar brown eyes of her neighbor Bradley. Small town indeed. 

“Hey neighbor.” He pulls his sunglasses off and puts them on top of his head while walking up to her. 

“Hey, how do you feel about a yellow kitchen?” She holds up a paint sample of a bright yellow. The sample shows six shades, but her finger points to a soft butter yellow.

“Your kitchen faces out to the beach, right?” He leans against her shopping cart, looking over her cart and the various things in it. “That’ll be bright with the sun reflecting out on the water.”

“That's kinda the point.” She squints down at the sample still in hand, “I was going for blinding.” 

He snorts and looks up to the color again. The one she’s picked is by far the least horrendous of the options, but he’s still not convinced. 

“I’m afraid I’ll have to see it to believe it.” He snorts. 

“Well, I’m afraid I’ll just have to prove you wrong then.” She pushes her cart away, effectively nudging him with the cart. She makes her way up to the counter to order a gallon of that color and grab a gallon of primer as well. Bradley follows her to the counter and waits while she checks out for everything and Hank starts mixing her order. 

“Hey, Hank.” Bradley greets as he steps up to the register. 

“Bradley, I got your order in back! Just a second.” Hank leaves to go grab the order and he’s gone for a minute before he comes back with a large package of sidewalk chalk. Y/n grins while still waiting on her paint, but she knows exactly who the chalk is for. 

“Here ya go!” Hank hands him the box, “Let me know when we need to order some more and I’ll bring it in.” 

“Thanks Hank.” Bradley pays for the chalk before saying goodbye to them, waving to Y/n as he makes his way back out into the blazing California heat. Y/n is waiting for a few minutes for the paint, but Hank gives her extra stir sticks and throws in an edging tool for free to help her out. 

“Where’s your car?” Bradley asks, looking around the parking lot that is vacant save for the Bronco he’s sitting in. She looks up from the sidewalk to see her neighbor has waited for her. The Bronco she’s seen in the driveway next door is running, and he’s sitting inside with the window down. His sunglasses are back on his face. She adjusts her grip with a can in each hand and a bag or two of supplies hooked on various fingers. “You need a ride?” 

“I’m a big girl. I didn’t have a car in New York, but getting one is part of the summer project.” Her voice light and carrying a hint of humor. 

“You’re going to need a car in this town if you’re gonna make it.” Bradley can barely stand it watching the sun beating down on her while she adjusts her grip again. His mother would smack him if she could see him sitting comfortably in the car while she’s beginning to sweat. She just needs to let him give her a ride home. It’s a hot day in Southport and home is at least a mile away. “Even if you city folk are too good for them.” 

“Here I was thinking now that I’m out of the city I can have the luxury of a vehicle.” She teases, “But maybe not, you car people sound kinda judgy.” 

Bradley laughs out an exhale through his nose. He has to give it to her, she’s got a little bite back which makes her even more intriguing. He would struggle to admit it, but the girl next door is the first person to pique his interest in years. He knew it the second he saw her crouched down next to his daughter with a gorgeous smile. This is something new to him, not something he’s felt at all in the past five years. It’s something Bradley didn’t have the time for. Two kids and a busy job kept him more than entertained, even if it meant going home to a cold bed. He watches her wave her hand as best she can with everything she’s holding before throwing a smile over her shoulder and continuing her walk through the parking lot. 

“Let me give you a ride back.” He insists, swinging the door of the Bronco open to get out, he doesn’t want to let her get far. He waited long enough, but his mom seriously would roll over in her grave if he let her walk away. “You’re right on the way and it’s the least I can do for being so judgy. Especially for a neighbor.” 

She pauses her steps and turns to see him already walking around the back to open his trunk. He leans against the back while she debates, her grip on the thin metal handle slips a little. The sun beating straight down on them isn’t helping her case. Her hands are sweating and it’s starting to dig in. He shrugs his shoulders, his mustache can’t block the slight smirk he’s maintained this entire interaction. 

“Alright, I give. My hand is cramping.” She pivots to make her way back in his direction. Bradley meets her halfway to take the gallon of primer from her and load it with everything else into his trunk. He shuts it and quickly makes his way around to the passenger door to pull it open for her. She smiles and thanks him while climbing into the truck. She takes in her surroundings a bit once he shuts the door, the car smells like him. It’s almost overwhelming. There’s a tear in the leather that she runs a finger along on the bench seat, the vehicle is old but very well loved and maintained. She can see a booster seat in the back before Bradley climbs into the car and backs out of their spot. 

Bradley knew the house she had moved into fairly well with it being right next door, he had checked it out when it listed and he was curious. It needed a lot of work. More work needed than the one he settled on next door, but he could argue she had a slightly better view. A larger stretch of beach for the larger house. Both houses back up to the water and sit on a popular stretch of beach for the small town. Houses on the beach needed extra love to stay nice, and with how long it sat on the market it’ll need a lot of it. 

“So lots of plans for the house then?” Bradley asks, the windows are down letting in a breeze. The wind is the only other noise other than the radio that is still playing softly. 

“This is the start really, I’m taking things as they come. I know renovations can be pretty unpredictable so I’m trying to take it one step at a time.” She admits, “I’m starting with the kitchen and first floor since it needs the most work.” 

“You’re experienced in renovating then?” He asks, his eyes peek off the road in front of them to dart to her. He takes in her legs that are on full display in her shorts, her hand rests on the windows ledge wiggling with the breeze. 

“Not at all.” She laughs as his eyes go wide, “I’ve barely picked up a screwdriver unless you count putting together Ikea furniture.” 

“and you’re tackling that entire house by yourself?” 

“You don’t know this about me yet, but I’m quite stubborn when it comes to getting my way-“

“Never would’ve guessed.” He mutters.

“What I mean is-“ she rolls her eyes, “When I set my mind to something I’ll achieve it. I can do this. I’m determined.” 

“I actually have no doubt.” His voice is laced with sincerity and it makes her flush warm inside. She doesn’t know why it suddenly matters what her neighbor thinks of her project, but she’s happy someone else thinks she can do it. 

“Thank you.”

The rest of the short drive is quiet, but it’s comfortable. Bradley wants the drive to last a little longer, but they approach their street faster than he would like. He backs into her driveway to help her unload everything. 

“Thank you, I’m sure I would be sweating my ass off only halfway home by now.” She takes the can of primer from his hand and sets it down on the porch by her front door. 

“Happy to.” He grins, taking a step backwards off her steps back onto the sidewalk while still looking up at her, “You’ll find that I can be very helpful.” 

“You better watch out, I’ll take you up on it.” Her cheeks dust pink from his blatant flirting, but she’s enjoying the butterflies he’s giving her. It’s been a long time since a man has given her butterflies feeling so high school. 

“I’m counting on it.” He nods and continues his walk back to the bronco to move it to his side of the white picket fence. She shakes her head but is unable to wipe the smile from her face even while she carries everything inside. Before she can pull the door shut she hears a voice call her name, she peeks her head out to see Iris is still sitting on her own front porch. 

“Well that was awfully nice for him to give you a ride back.” Iris smiles into her lemonade taking a long sip. 

“Iris, I’m starting to think you’re the cause for all the small town gossip.” She shakes her head with a smile, “I ran into him at the hardware store and I don’t have a car here yet.” 

“Mhm, sure baby.” Iris nods and continues to rock slowly on the porch. 

✿

For days Y/n sets off to work on the house and hit the ground running. She realizes in her research she really shouldn’t paint yet since she wants to resurface the cabinets. She learns how to do that, and after several trips to Hank she manages to sand them down, stain them, change her mind, sand them, restain them and fall in love. It took days but she's happy with the results.

She also spent an afternoon in the front yard cleaning it up. She was joined by Sadie who kept her company while covering her driveway in doodles. 

“What else can I add?” Sadie asks. Today's theme was ocean so she’s managed to fill a lot of the space already with fish, coral, sharks, and everything else they can both think of. 

“How about a sea turtle?” Y/n continues pulling at weeds trying to clean up some from the flower beds. 

“Sea turtle!” Sadie shouts, loving the idea. 

“Hey, ladies.” 

Y/n picks up her head to see Bradley walking out towards them. Over the past week they have interacted a couple times. He had a busy stretch at the station where Y/n really didn’t see him or the Bronco at all for a few days. It was nice however for a couple days not really having to worry about the hot guy next door while being a sweaty mess. So much for that now.

“Hey.” They both call back. 

“I’m embarrassed to say she escaped me long enough to have accomplished this much.” He looks over the expanse of driveway covered in pastel scribbles in vague fish shapes. 

“Daddy, I think Miss Y/n knows more sharks than you.” Sadie doesn’t pick up her focus from the sea turtle she’s working on. 

“No way!” 

“Mhm, she knows what a tiger shark is too.” 

“Wow-”

“Dad, I’m meeting Tanner at the fishing pier.” His son makes another appearance. In all of her interactions with Sadie and Bradley, he’s still a stranger to her. He doesn’t ever leave the beach or his bedroom according to Sadie. 

“Nick, what time do you need to be back?” Bradley asks, turning to watch his son walk down the trail to the beach. 

“Seven, Dad.”

“No later-”

“No later than 7:00pm for dinner. I know, Dad.” He continues his walk and Bradley simply shakes his head. 

“Ten going on twenty.” Bradley jokes, breaking the tension. Sadie hadn’t even picked her head up so it would seem this isn’t out of the ordinary. 

“I don’t even want to picture me talking back to my parents. I’m lucky we made it through my teenage years.” She smiles with a gentle laugh, “What about you? Is this some karmic debt for being a terrible teen?” 

Bradley chuckles before diving into a few stories of his high school years and admits he probably gave his mom a few wrinkles before she passed. He also explains he didn’t know his dad long enough for that. 

“How’d you haul the mulch here?” Bradley questions, changing the subject. He noticed the yard had been cleaned up, but only just noticed the mulch in the flower beds she had been working on before he came over. 

“Iris let me take her car. Apparently she doesn't like driving much anymore.” 

“I could’ve taken you.”

“Wanted to be my knight in shining armor again?” She asks with a confident laugh. 

“Maybe.” He admits, “So, when do I get to see that yellow kitchen of yours?”

“Wanna see?” She takes off the gardening gloves. Sadie jumps to follow, finally setting down the chalk. Bradley wordlessly follows them both up the steps. 

She pulls open the screen door that sits in front of her front door, it squeaks loudly as she pulls it back. Bradley reaches out to push it back and forth a few times. 

“Sorry, I know it’s obnoxious.” She nods her head to invite them in anyway. 

“Hold on, I can fix that.” He leaves the two girls on the porch briefly and walks over to his garage only coming back with a red toolbox. He opens and closes the door a few times again, looking at the hinges. Y/n shrugs to Sadie while they watch him work some magic with WD-40 and a screwdriver. 

“That should do it.” Bradley takes a step back and pulls it back again, this time it’s silent as he moves it open and closed. 

“Okay, you’re definitely getting recruited to help now.” Y/n beams and it makes Bradley smile too. He can’t remember the last time he was this happy to see someone else happy. Sure, he was a good person and liked when people were happy, but something was different about being the cause of her grin. 

He follows her in and immediately Sadie takes off to explore. Bradley has to admit, it does already look nice in here. He’s sure just having furniture in the space helps from when he first saw it. It’s brighter in each room he walks through though, it would seem she’s primed all the walls, but there's a lack of yellow as he walks through the first floor. 

“I haven’t gotten to the yellow quite yet, but it’s not because I’m scared to commit!”

“Yeah right-” Bradley smiles mischievously. 

“No no, it just turns out you shouldn’t start with that if you have a lot else to do. I sanded and stained the cabinets though!”

She proudly poses in front of one and Bradley has to admit it looks nice. She hasn’t changed any of the house's character, but she’s refreshing the space. 

“Okay, I’m impressed.” 

“I would say that now I can start the yellow. In fact-” She grabs the gallon can off the floor and shakes it before cracking it open. Bradley picks Sadie up to rest on his hip and take a peek of the color. 

“What do you think of it, Sadie?” Y/n asks, leaning against the counter eyeing the younger girl. 

“I like it!” She cheers. 

“I do too!” She nods her head to Bradley to prove her point. 

“Congrats on having the same preferences as a five year old.” His voice dripping with sarcasm. 

“I’m going to pretend I didn’t hear that.” She rolls her eyes and focuses her attention on Sadie, “Would you like to do me the honor of the first bit of paint on the wall?” 

It takes a minute to get them set up with paint brushes and rollers. Bradley takes on the higher parts of the walls, working along the entire upper trim. Y/n helps Sadie get set up on a blank wall with a small brush and grabs a roller for herself. It goes fast with the two of them, Sadie also contributing on her wall. 

“Can I hire your guys full time?” Y/n asks, taking a full step back to admire their work. 

“Can’t afford me, babe.” Bradley teases. 

“Yeah, me neither babe.” Sadie mimics her Dad causing everyone to break out in a laugh. 

“Okay.” Y/n dramatically backs up into the archway between the kitchen and the living room. “It’s still drying, but what do we think?” 

Sadie runs over to stand by her and take in the view as well, she waves over Bradley to do the same. He looks at the two girls standing there and how serious they’re both being. With his arms crossed over his chest he walks over to take in the kitchen and the brand new walls. 

The kitchen has a large window that looks out on the deck and beyond to the ocean. The sun is shining bright today, but it wouldn’t matter if it wasn’t because the room is bright enough on its own. The stain on the cabinets compliment it well and warm up the place. 

“I have to admit, it looks good.” 

“Right?” Y/n cheers, she breaks out a few goofy dance moves before pulling Sadie around to spin with her. 

“You have a lemon kitchen now!” Sadie keeps dancing, letting out a goofy laugh. 

“A lemon kitchen?” Y/n’s jaw drops. 

“What’s next?” Bradley asks, he paces around looking at everything.

“Pretty soon I’m tackling updating that bathroom,” She points to one down the hall, “I had a wonderful idea to open this up and round it off, but I have no idea how to do that. I don’t know if this is load bearing.” 

She reaches up to the large square archway that goes between the kitchen and living room. Bradley reaches up to examine it a little. A rounded arch would look nice, and you would have a better view from the living room. 

“I have to go to the bathroom.” Sadie announces, Y/n points to the same door down the hall and tells her she’s more than welcomed to use it. She comes back to find Bradley inspecting the arch himself. 

“I could help with that. I can’t today because I have to take that one to a dance class in a little bit.”

“I couldn’t ask you to do that.” She shakes her head, “That's a big project, helping me paint was already more than enough.” 

“What if we make it a date?” 

“A date?” She asks, laughing with a bit of shock. There have been flirty conversations when they interact, but she’s surprised he’s so forward. 

“Unless you aren’t interested.” Bradley quickly deflects with a nervous laugh, “We haven’t really talked about if we’re both single and-”

“I’m single.” She smirks, it’s fun and so far it’s been rare to see Bradley unsure of anything, “and I’m interested.” 

Bradley sighs in relief at her admission. It would make for an awkward couple of weeks living next door to the first woman he’s hit on since his wife passed. 

“How about this-” He regains confidence now, “You provide beer and pizza, and I’ll bring over everything we need to do this.” 

He points up to the arch and she nods to agree. Sadie comes back out and reminds him her dance class is soon and she still needs to go home to change. Bradley says he can get a babysitter for the next night and it’s a date. 

✿

“Slight change of plans.” Y/n opens the door wider for Bradley and the two children standing in front of him. “My normal sitter got the flu so she couldn’t, so my friend Jake promised to help out, but the open problem is he’s also a firefighter and when I’m not there, he needs to be.”

Jake is one of his Navy buddies, Y/n remembers the name. He retired two years ago and made the move up here to the small town where his god daughter lives.

“That's okay.” Her voice light, “Happy you guys could still make it.” 

“Nick, have you met Y/n?” Bradley asks. 

“Hi.” He barely looks up from the switch in his hands. He couldn’t be less interested. 

“Hey, Nick. Nice to meet you.”

Bradley has to nudge him to reciprocate the sentiment. He mutters a ‘yeah whatever’ before they both launch off to the couch while the couple lingers by the door. 

“These are for you.” Bradley pulls a bouquet of yellow daisies from behind his back. 

“Thank you.” She can’t help but smile widely. The yellow is perfect, and she’s pretty sure she’s unpacked a vase she can use for them. Bradley looks her over, scanning for any hint of irritation at his plus two for the night. 

It wasn’t his plan at all, and he’s interested enough he was genuinely scared of scaring her off by doing this. She’s already been so good with Sadie. Deep down he knows that if she had a big reaction to this, she wouldn’t be the one for him. His children are a priority to him, it can’t hurt to know that from day one. She doesn’t seem upset at all. 

Bradley heads back outside to get some of his tools needed and Y/n gets Sadie set up with Moana on the TV and Nick focuses on his switch still glued to his hands. She called for a pizza delivery one for them and adding a cheese too for the kids, Bradley didn’t even have to ask. 

“So, Navy pilot turned fire chief?” She asks, reaching out for her bottle of beer. They’ve got everything set up and he told her the game plan for how they’ll do everything. She knows things about him, but they don’t know a lot about each other. Y/n has gotten more from Iris about him than himself other than cheeky comments. 

“Yeah, I wanted to stay active. It would’ve been a big shift to go from that to a desk job.” He pulls down the piece of drywall he just cut off. 

“Trust me, the muscles are appreciated.” She blatantly ogles him, causing him a rare blush. 

“Thank you, thank you.” He nods in his spot, “Yeah, I started off volunteering, which turned into working full time, which turned into the old chief retiring last year.” 

“Was the stache a requirement for the position?” She teases, he snorts out a laugh. 

“No, I had it before, believe it or not.” He grins. 

Building out the rounded arch is a little more extensive as a project and she’s glad she’s got Bradley’s help as he walks her through everything they're doing. It takes a few hours, a few different movies for the kids, but eventually they get almost done. The kids are both completely asleep on the couch by now, it’s gotten dark out. 

“Okay, I think we need to cut this.” Y/n holds up the last piece of trim “You wanna cut this, please?”

She bats her eyelashes looking up at him, leaning in holding out the board. He’s already taught her how to make the cuts on the saw in his garage. She's on her fourth beer, and he’s on his third. He has to admit, renovating was never a good date idea but he’s pleasantly surprised at how well they work together. 

“I can take care of it, but only if you promise to be impressed with my skills.”

“When can I see your other skills?” She teases, pulling him closer by the front of his shirt. 

“God, you sure know how to make a project hard.” He sighs, taking a deep breath. 

“Hard? I haven’t even gotten started w-” Bradley cuts her off with a single finger pressed to her lip. 

“My children are in the next room.” He reminds. 

“Oh my god.” She cowers into his chest, hiding from embarrassment causing him to shake around her in a laugh. “That’s not funny.” 

“I’m gonna go cut this.” He presses an affectionate kiss to her forehead before heading outside to his garage for the saw. By the time he comes back with everything cut to size her cheeks aren’t on fire anymore. He can see that she cleaned up the area for him to frame it out. He hits it with the nail gun quickly and the job is done. 

He sits on her large island with her looking at the work they’ve completed. 

“Hell of a job.” She reaches out to cheers her beer with his. 

“This has to be one of the most unconventional dates I’ve ever been on.” Bradley admits, “That’s gotta be up there.” 

“What? You mean you don't typically bring your whole family on first dates while you’re helping them remodel?”

She leans in to bump her shoulder into his teasing him. 

“If my mom could see me now, she’d be kicking my ass.” He laughs with a shake of his head. He breaks his stare on the two kids sleeping on the couch to look over to her, “A lady deserves your full attention on a date.” 

“I happened to very much like this date.” She bravely reaches out to connect their hands. His warm and enveloping hers as he runs his thumb back and forth over the back of her hand. 

“I wanna go home dad.” 

Both their heads snap up to see Nick is very much awake now. His glare focused on their intertwined hands, which Y/n slowly drops. 

“Yeah, bud. Why don’t you head home and I’ll be right behind you with the princess there.” 

Y/n smiles looking at the tiara on Sadie’s head while Nick makes his way out the front door. 

“Ahh, I’m sorry about him.” Bradley sighs, scratching the back of his neck as he gets up from the counter, “He’s just-”

“Ten going on twenty.” Y/n smiles repeating his phrase from last week. Patting his shoulder, “Don’t worry about it. I don’t wanna push any boundaries.” 

“You aren’t. I can’t even explain how happy you’re making Sadie.” He rests his arms on the counter around where she’s still sitting. It's an intimate position but it’s comfortable, “I think she’s almost as obsessed with you as I am.”

Y/n fights the urge and fails to stop herself from running her fingers through his hair. He sighs in relief and leans in closer. 

“I’m kind of obsessed with you too.” She whispers, leaning to brush her lips against his ear.

“You’re something else.” He mutters. 

Bradley scoops Sadie up from her spot on the couch while Y/n cleans up the bottles they’ve littered all over her kitchen. 

“Have a good night.” He smiles, pausing by the front door. 

“You too.” She takes a few steps closer to them to say goodbye and open her front door. 

“We do a movie night every Friday night. Do you want to come over tomorrow?” Bradley asks, hoping to continue his trend of seeing her everyday. 

“I’ll be there.” 

She didn’t let it be known that she was shocked he invited them over for a movie night. Y/n would say she’s gotten to know Bradley pretty well over the last couple of weeks, Sadie almost more so. Nick however has been a different story. Y/n hasn’t crossed the fence over to their house at all so far. Each of their interactions getting stronger than the last.

Bradley gets up early to work a twelve hour shift before coming home at 6 to get the house ready for her to come over and join them. Sadie was thrilled to find out about the special guest for the night.

“Why is she coming?” Nick asks from where he’s glued to the stairs. 

“Because I invited her, Nicky.” Bradley makes another lap through the living room picking up miscellaneous toys off the ground. A soft knock on the door has him whipping around to face it. 

“Y/n!” Sadie yells and leaps off the couch to open the front door. Bradley walks up to stand behind his daughter and greet Y/n. 

“Hi, you guys.” She smiles warmly at the kids. Bradley drinks in the yellow sundress she has on. Her hair is laying down air dried like she recently showered and he’s dreaming of her shampoo already. He opens the door wider so she can come in and he can see that she’s brought something over. “I made cookies too, it feels fitting for a movie night.”

“What kind are they?” Sadie already reaching up to take the container right out of her hands. 

“Chocolate chip.”

“Sadie, after dinner.” Bradley warns and she gives him her best pout to give in. She simply shakes her head and she releases her grip. Nick stands up abruptly from the stairs and turns to go up them. 

“Nicky, where ya going? We’re about to start something.”

“I’m not watching tonight.” Nick shouts back as he continues going upstairs. Y/n’s face goes pale and she looks at Bradley. She knows that the likely reason is her presence.

“Maybe I should go.” She takes a half step back toward the door. 

“No, please don’t go.” Bradley places a hand on her arm holding her there, “Let me just talk with him for a second.”

Bradley takes off up the stairs and Sadie simply pulls Y/n further into the house. They talk about dinner and what movie to watch and by the time they’ve decided something Bradley has convinced him to come back down. 

They eat together at the table, Nick is still quiet but Y/n catches him smile a couple times. She doesn’t wanna push it and address him directly, but he does answer a few of her questions about fishing. 

Nick ends up picking Transformers for his movie, Y/n learns that that take turns in a rotation each week for who picks the movie. Sadie whines for a minute, but settles into a spot right next to Y/n for the movie. Bradley and Y/n share a grin while they both watch her inch closer and closer before Y/n just extends an arm to let her lean in. By the time the movie is finished its bedtime.

The kids make their way to bed, Bradley reminding them to brush their teeth. Sadie insists that Y/n help her pick out her pajamas. Bradley picks up stray laundry from Nick’s floor, listening to the girls giggle in the other room. Nick is already under the covers, his switch on and pulled up close to his face.

“Is it so bad having her around?” Bradley asks quietly, giving Nick a chance to talk about the woman in the next room. Tonight was the longest stretch she's been with both of the kids, and it wasn't perfect but it was better than any previous interaction.

“I don’t want a new mom.” 

Nick doesn’t dare pick up his head to look at his dad.

“No one said anything about her being a new mom. Mom was mom, and that’ll never change. Y/n is kind and she might not be a bad friend to have, buddy.” 

Bradley is met with silence. 

“Did you know she used to go fishing with her dad?” Nick picks up his head to look at his dad now. 

“Really? Why was she asking me how to do stuff then?” 

“Hmm, maybe she wanted to connect with you on something. She knows you love fishing. Maybe you can help her get back into it this summer. You’re good at teaching, Nicky.” Bradley reaches out to ruffle his hair up causing them both to laugh. 

“Ok Daddy, I’m ready for my bedtime story.” 

Y/n is standing in the doorway with his mini me standing next to her. It would seem they settled on the pink striped pajamas. Bradley gives Nick a loud smooch kissing him on the forehead before leaving his room to move to his daughters.

“I’m gonna wait downstairs.”

“Goodnight Y/n!” Sadie reaches out arms to hug her, “Goodnight Sadie.” 

She leans her head back towards Nick’s door.

“Goodnight, Nick.” She calls, he responds with a simple ‘night’ but she’ll take anything at this point. Bradley watches her make her way back downstairs and she smiles back at him over her shoulder feeling his eyes on her. 

Bradley reads her a story and manages to drag out one long enough for her eyes to be heavy by the end of it. He softly shuts her door and peeks in on Nick before shutting his too. He makes his way downstairs and notices the absence of the person he’s looking for. 

He scans the kitchen and living room before he sees the back of her head out on the back patio. He slides open the sliding glass door and she turns to see him, a grin blooming on her face. He joins her on the outdoor couch, kicking up his feet next to hers. 

“These past few weeks have been amazing.” Bradley admits, they both lookout towards the water, his arm wrapping around her shoulders to pull her in closer. 

“They have been.” She admits, “I have to say, you have been quite the surprise. This is one of the last things I could’ve expected with moving here.”

“You weren’t looking for a relationship?” He asks. 

“Not at all.” 

His heart stills for a second. They’ve never really had a conversation about what they’re both looking for, but she’s in his life already. In Sadie’s life already too. It's only been a couple weeks, but he's already felt such a strong connection.

“Pleasantly surprised though.” She clarifies. 

She pauses to clear her throat and lean back a little to really look at him. 

“I need to tell you something.” She admits, her heart is racing with anticipation knowing she can’t go back now. She doesn’t want to have this conversation either, but knows that she needs to with the relationship heading where it is. It’s serious and she can’t let him let her all the way in without knowing why she’s actually here. 

“Don’t tell me you just wanna be friends” He jokes. 

“No, trust me I could not be just your friend.” She presses a hand to his chest, “I just wanted to talk about how I ended up here.” 

“Fresh start, right?” He reaches out to tuck her hair back behind her ear. He’s radiating warmth and it makes her want to lean back in closer and drop the conversation all together.

“Exactly. I needed a fresh start, but I didn’t tell you what it was from.” Y/n takes a breath and Bradley gives her all the time in the world, “I had a relationship with a man named Matt for four years. We were pretty serious, but I ended things when I had to get seventeen stitches and this arm was in a cast for two months.”

Bradley completely stills and his eyes dart between hers while he takes in all the new information. 

“Oh, Y/n.” He sighs. She’s got tears in her eyes, but she knows she needs to get through this. Bradley gives her the time to gather her thoughts completely. 

“I ended things and got my own apartment in a different burrow. I had to get a temporary restraining order, but he kept waiting outside of my office. He broke into my apartment a month before I moved in next door.” 

“I’m so sorry.” Bradley admits. “I was in a total tailspin.” She admits, “So, I took his ass to court and went back and forth for weeks before we reached a settlement. His parents were the ones who arranged a deal and convinced him to leave me alone. In return for dropping the charges I was paid off. It was enough to get away and start a new life.” 

He leans over to pull her in close to his chest, her head resting against it. He presses a kiss to the top of her head and lets his hand run down the back of her head a few times before he can really gather his words. 

“I’m so proud of you.” His lips murmur into her hair. She can’t help but pick her head up to pull back and look at him. 

“Proud?”

“Of course. That’s an impossible situation to be put in and you were able to get yourself away and start a new life. It’s brave to pick up and move away. Change your life.”

“You of all people think I’m brave?” She questions with a grin. “Mr. I literally run into buildings that are on fire and I used to fly planes on impossible missions?”

“I do, which is saying something.” He chuckles, “But seriously. I don’t think you understand how strong you actually are.”

She reaches out so her fingers brush the curls on the back of his neck. She can feel the goosebumps she’s raising as her fingers dust over the back of his neck. 

“Y/n.’ He says her name softly, but something tells her it would come out horse if he tried to say it any louder. 

Just with that little whisper she tilts her chin up with her eyes locked on his to kiss him. Slow at first, still smiling but tasting the warmth of his lips and the faint salt from the sea clinging to him. She’s sure she tastes like it too, not very sweet. 

He loves the salt, it tastes like home. He responds with his hands gripping her waist to pull her onto his lap while deepening the kiss. It’s raw and honest, pulling them into each other and forgetting the whole ocean behind them. The waves and the world fade out for a few minutes while they just focus on each other and what feels good. 

They break apart, both needing a full breath of air. His fingers are still holding her dress bunched up at her hips, revealing the white lacy thong she had on underneath. 

They don’t speak for a minute still catching their breaths, the sound of waves curling against the beach come back into focus. Her lips are swollen and Bradley is sure he couldn’t be any better off. He reaches out to let his thumb brush against her cheek, she leans into the touch. 

“Will you be my girlfriend?”

YOU GUYS! this has been my baby that i have been sitting on for so long, and i have so many ideas where i want to take it i had to split it up.

please let me know if you want more to this series!!! this is heavily inspired by the Safe Haven by Nicolas sparks

[ummachistaamenos-blog]

undermine - part I

summary: Ana’s a Brazilian engineer who, by total chance, meets Pedro at a coffee shop in LA. What starts with coffee turns into a friendship with benefits—full of desire, intimacy, and longing. Between trips, daily texts, and random meetups, they build something deep—something made of skin, quiet affection, and all the things they never say out loud. A year later, she surprises him on his birthday, and all those feelings they’ve been trying to keep on the sidelines? Yeah, they spill over. warnings: age gap (ñom), smut, dry humping, oral (m. receiving), jealous!pedro, possesive!pedro, short story, two parts story word count: probably 5,000 words side note: Just another story, another little experiment. this one’s gonna be short—I think just two parts—and I’ll try to drop Part 2 either tomorrow (April 17) or by the 18th at the latest. the whole story’s set during his birthday earlier this month, with a tiny bit of flashback at the end of part 1, ok? got the gif at pinterest, not mine but i believe is from @ a7estrellas (?) something like that, sorry. part II is here 👇🏻 part III? part I | part II

∞

"Hello?"

"Ana? It's Lux!" The voice on the other end was giddy. "Everything's set, we'll be on location by five. You'll make it just fine, yeah?"

Ana smiled, juggling her passport and carry-on.

"Oh thank God! I was scared I'd be late. You're sure I won't be intruding, Lu? It's his birthday... family time and all—"

"Intruding? Girl, he's been DYING to see you. Won't stop complaining about your work schedule. Never seen him this antsy."

Ana laughed awkwardly.

Does she know?

"Seriously?"

"Dead serious! Now hurry up, everyone's excited."

They said their goodbyes and Ana pocketed her phone. Her pulse raced—hard to tell if it was the line or the thought of seeing Pedro. She wanted his scent, his warmth...

As the immigration officer stamped her passport, Ana's mind wandered. Did Lux, Javiera and Nicolas know? They were so close. Had they noticed how she and Pedro crossed way beyond friendship? Because when they were alone, it wasn't just affection. It was hunger. It was bodies. A craving so sharp it ached sometimes.

And it'd been weeks. Weeks without his touch, his weight, those rough hands and raspy moans. The way his teeth grazed her ear, her scalp, her throat. The thick veins on his—Jesus. Control yourself. You're at border control.

Later, showered and fed at the hotel, Ana met his siblings at the rendezvous point with hugs and warm chatter. Lux was vibrating, holding a cake with a single candle.

"Surprise! You're delivering this," she said, thrusting it into Ana's hands.

"Me?!"

"Obviously! You're his best present today. Go on."

She definitely knows. Lately, they hadn't been great at hiding it anyway.

As they walked toward his trailer, close friends and crew joined in, some filming, others grinning. Pedro was inside, oblivious, when the singing started.

"Happy birthday to you—"

He bolted to the doorway, eyes widening. He smiled at the crowd, at his siblings—then froze when he saw Ana holding the cake.

His breath hitched.

"No..." he whispered. "You."

She smiled shyly and waved. "Happy birthday, amor."

He moved without thinking. Took the cake, handed it to Lux, then pulled Ana into him like the world was collapsing. A hug so tight it said everything he hadn't yet voiced. He buried his face in her neck and breathed.

Like coming up for air after drowning.

Her scent. Lavender, vanilla, jasmine, sandalwood, patchouli, coumarin. Her favorite notes—of course he remembered. They'd talked about it that night she'd lain in his lap, tracing his fingers while explaining how she loved perfumes that balanced sweetness and depth. He'd laughed, claiming ignorance. Now he was addicted.

On her skin, those notes transformed. Became more than fragrance—they were presence. Memory. Intimacy. To Pedro, this smelled like home. Like safety. Like relief. Like opening the door after an endless day to the right silence, the right touch, the hug that unravels you. It smelled like slow Sunday laughter, bare feet on kitchen tiles, tomato sauce splattering as she danced to Lana Del Rey while he pretended to hate it but sang along anyway.

It smelled like good wine and hands wandering under shirts, like stolen kisses between cabinets and muffled moans against cold countertops. It smelled of raw, reckless want—the kind that ignites without warning and burns like wildfire.

But above all, it smelled like peace.

And peace? That was rare for Pedro. Priceless.

So he lingered there, face buried in her neck, breathing deep. Not just to memorize the scent—but to remind himself that somehow, without explanation, this was the only place left in the world he wanted to be.

"I missed you so much," he murmured against her skin.

Ana shut her eyes and smiled into his shoulder. "Me too."

And for that moment, surrounded by candles and laughter and applause, nothing else existed. Just them.

Pedro finally pulled back just to look at her. "You have no idea how badly I needed you here today."

Her eyes glistened. "Now you have me."

And for once, he forgot everything. All he knew was how much he needed this—even if he'd never dared say it out loud.

∞

The day one.

The sun hadn’t even fully shown its face yet when Ana finished her last set after lifting. The time difference between Houston and L.A. messed with her body clock a little, so waking up early just happened. She was walking light-footed between the gym and the house the company had rented for her and her friends during their three months of training out there. Underground Natural Gas Storage—it was turning into a new obsession, and she was there to learn it.

She was strolling, headphones dangling around her neck, when she spotted a little coffee shop a block over with a cute sign: "Café Baum."

"Oh my God. Minas coffee? Thank you, Lord," she muttered to herself, picking up the pace.

That’s when she saw a guy standing next to a black car—clearly fancy. He was messing with something in the back seat, distracted, and when he shut the door, he didn’t notice it stayed half-open. Ana liked walking alone, people-watching, taking in her surroundings. It wasn’t weird for her to notice the guy. She hesitated for a second. Not a dangerous neighborhood, but still, leaving a door open… figured she’d say something, especially since she was heading to the same coffee shop.

When she walked in, he was already in line. She approached calmly and tapped his shoulder lightly.

"Hey, sorry—" she said with a soft smile.

He turned around, and Ana’s eyes went wide.

It was Pedro Pascal. The Pedro Pascal, right in front of her, with that half-surprised, half-charmed smile. And he was gorgeous. Way hotter than on any screen. Golden skin, brown hair with silver streaks, messy in that effortless way, and his eyes—damn, those warm honey-brown eyes looked like they saw everything. He was wearing a simple dark tee and a light jacket, but he still oozed magnetic charm. And his smell? Oh my God. Woodsy, warm, intoxicating. Ana had to focus not to take another deep inhale like a total freak.

Meanwhile, seeing her stunned face, he went straight to the obvious.

"Yeah, yeah. We can take a pic if you want," he said, friendly but automatic, like he did this every day.

Ana let out a quick, genuine laugh and shook her head.

"No, no! Not that, sweetie... I just wanted to tell you about the door. Your car door. You left it open."

Pedro blinked twice, clearly thrown, then smacked his forehead with pure embarrassment.

"Oh my God... Sorry! What an idiot," he said, almost blushing. "Thanks for telling me. I’m a disaster with this stuff. Gonna go fix that now."

He rushed out of line, and Ana, grinning to herself, went up to order. When he came back, he still looked kinda sheepish.

"I feel like such a dumbass with that whole ‘celebrity moment’," he started when he got back to her. Ana thought he was adorable—the attitude, the charm, the obvious embarrassment and the humility that followed. Did it make him even hotter? Hell yes.

"At least let me buy your coffee. To make up for my shame," he said.

"Didn’t have to, but… if you insist," she replied, faking thoughtfulness with a raised eyebrow.

"I insist. Hard," he shot back with that lopsided, dimpled grin that could melt an iceberg.

They grabbed their coffees and shuffled away from the counter, kinda awkward. A short, comfortable silence settled between them.

"Look… seriously, sorry again. It was automatic. Happens more than I’d like," Pedro said, running fingers through his hair.

Why so damn hot, Ana thought.

"It’s fine. Was funny, honestly," she said, grinning. "And to be fair, you’re an amazing actor. Love your work."

Pedro smiled, genuinely surprised, his gaze softening. "Thanks. That means a lot, really." He studied her closer, like he was actually seeing her for the first time. "You’re from Brazil? Caught a little accent."

"Yeah, Northeast. But I’m in Texas now. Here with coworkers for training."

"Nice. I’m Chilean. Love running into South Americans here. Feels more like home, you know?"

"Oh, totally. We’ve got that same energy. More warmth, more random chatter, more… intensity," she laughed.

"Yes! Exactly!" He laughed with her. "So what do you do? Coffee biz, or just a professional appreciator?"

He slid into a nearby table and gave her a silent join me look. Ana sat across from him.

"Chemical engineer. Here for a course on underground natural gas storage."

"Brains and beauty. Solid combo," Pedro said lightly, but Ana caught a mischievous glint in his eye.

Or am I hallucinating? she wondered.

She flushed a little, pretending not to hear, and laughed. "And you? How long’ve you been acting again?" she teased.

"Oof, low blow. But fair," he chuckled, tipping his head back. "Since… forever? Theater, TV, movies. Not always, but a long damn time. Only recently people started recognizing me on the street, though." He smirked.

Pedro watched her—the way she fiddled with her cup, how she glanced out the window with a half-smile. There was something hypnotic about her. She wasn’t trying to impress him. And yet. The conversation kept flowing easy, natural. Like they’d known each other. And with every word, the quiet attraction burned hotter.

Neither knew it yet, but this wasn’t just coffee. It was the first chapter of something neither expected—but both had secretly wanted for a long damn time.

Ana’s cheeks warmed every time he smiled. She felt weirdly teenage right now, and that was strange. It’d been forever since she’d felt that—the light flutter, the electric buzz in the air. And it wasn’t just the fame. It was the man in front of her. How he listened like she was the only thing that mattered. How his eyes stayed locked on hers like nothing else existed. Like she was interesting. Beautiful. Special.

Pedro was hooked too. There was something about Ana that didn’t fit the usual mold. She was gorgeous in this effortless, quiet way. Her fair skin always looked slightly flushed, and the contrast with her long, straight black hair gave her this ethereal, almost cartoon-princess vibe. Her eyes were expressive, talking as much as her mouth—and her mouth… yeah, he’d already noticed how hard it was to look away.

"So you liking LA so far?" he asked.

"A lot. Thought I'd hate it, but I'm loving it. Probably 'cause I haven't hit traffic yet," she answered with a laugh.

"Ah, so there's still hope for you," he said, grinning wide.

"What about you? You living here full-time?"

"Yeah, for now at least. Shoots are here, and it's easier for everything. But I miss Chile sometimes. The food, the people... speaking Spanish with everyone."

"Same. Portuguese is a needy language. It misses being spoken," she said.

"That's poetic. You write?"

"Just technical reports," she laughed.

"I'm already a fan."

They talked for over two hours—laughing, trading stories, teasing. Ana talked work trips; Pedro ranted about chaotic film sets and insane directors. They tossed Spanish and Portuguese phrases around, laughed at the differences. The chemistry was thick. No awkward silences—just pauses loaded with meaning.

When she finally got up to leave, both their hearts did a little protest. Pedro stood too, clutching his empty cup, hesitating.

"I know this might sound weird… but can I see you again? Lunch, dinner, more coffee… any excuse works," he said, dragging a hand through his hair—a nervous habit, she realized.

Ana smiled, eyes bright. "Yeah. Any excuse works."

The cell signal was still spotty when Ana finally answered the call. She was in the immigration line at Heathrow, exhausted and buzzing with excitement. It was only noon, but the line was endless and she was starving.

[gingiesworld]

The Scarlet Storm : Hydra Reborn

Chapter Four

Wanda Maximoff x GiP Fem Reader

Warnings : Fluff, Angst

18+ MINORS DNI

Once they had finally landed. Everyone went on with following through on their orders. Nat helped Bruce fill a trolley with the equipment he needed.

"Are you going to tell Yelena?" He asked her as she sighed deeply.

"I know I should but I want to make sure that Y/N is still in there somewhere." Nat told him. He just nodded as the two finished off their task at hand.

Wanda and Steve both stood outside of the cell. Observing Y/N as she lay unconscious.

"What's going to happen if we can't get her back?" Wanda asked. Not tearing her eyes away from the girl in the cell.

"We will have to treat her like every other threat we encounter. Terminate her." Steve told her sadly. Hoping himself that it wouldn't come to that.

All of them watched as Bruce performed his tests that he could while she was unconscious. Tended to her wounds which she had. Nat had a lot of questions to ask her.

"She is physically fine other than a few lacerations and a lot of scar tissue." He informed them.

"What about mentally?" Nat asked him as he sighed.

"We won't know that until she wakes up." He told her.

"We should put on a watch." Steve stated. "Everyone has a shift. We need to find out as much as we can about that base. We need to know if there are anymore still operating."

Everyone nodded in agreement before leaving Steve to take the first watch. Taking a seat. Observing Y/N as she lay there.

Y/N was running around, chasing Yelena in the yard. The two giggling as they played.

"You're too fast!" Yelena called out to her. Y/N turning around to face her.

"I just have longer legs little widow." Y/N told her. Slowing down. Allowing Yelena to tackle her. Y/N groaned with a laugh. "You got me Lena." She smiled. Yelena removed herself. Doing a happy little dance. Cheering as Y/N laughed at her younger sister.

Y/N had started to stir awake. The bilnding light of the cell was harsh. She closed her eyes once more before re opening them. Sighing when she felt a heavy metal object around her wrist. Looking out of the cell to see Steve sat there, reading the paper.

"Where am I?" Y/N asked as she sat up. Facing the blonde man who looked over the paper to see Y/N staring back at him.

"Good. You're awake." He said as he closed the paper, folding it over as he stood. Placing it on the chair. "I have some questions for you." He approached the glass as she watched his every move. "What is your name?"

'Y/N!!' Was what her mind was trying to scream out. The name she was given from birth.

"I am The Lightening Soldier." She stated calmly. Her eyes fixated on Steve's form.

"No. Let me introduce myself." He went to continue when Y/N cut him off.

"Captain America." She stated sarcastically. "Hydra's number one enemy for decades."

"I am Steve Rogers." He said. Ignoring her sarcastic remark. "And Hydra has been gone for years." He told her.

"Hydra will never be gone." She seethed as she rose to her feet. "Hydra will always remain." Stepping closer to the glass.

"You are actually extremely important to them." Steve stated as he picked up the file. All of the information they had of The Lightening Soldier. Hydra's greatest weapon since the Winter Soldier. "I can see a lot of attributes here. You're even quite smart."

"You know when a star implodes, it leaves behind this black hole. The bigger the star, the bigger the black hole." Y/N whispered as she lay on the grass in between Natasha and Yelena.

"The sun's a star?" Yelena asked as she looked up at Y/N.

"It is. Before the solar system begun, the sun was only a star." Y/N told them.

"So what would happen if the sun imploded?" Natasha asked her.

"Well it would create a massive black hole, taking in everything in our solar system and life as we know it, would cease to exist." Y/N told them.

"I don't like black holes." Yelena mumbled making her older sisters laugh.

Y/N was laying back down, Steve had switched up with Wanda. Wanda was intrigued by Y/N.

"You knew my brother." Wanda stated. Causing Y/N to stare in her direction.

"Was he Hydra?" Y/N questioned.

"Yes. We both were." Wanda started. "That is how we got our powers." She allowed red wisp dance around her nimble fingers.

"It was you who enchanted me. You have put these." Y/N pointed to her head as she approached the glass. "These visions in my head!!" Wanda flinched when Y/N yelled at her.

"I didn't put anything in your mind." Wanda said. "Something had simply awakened what was locked away behind some wall." Y/N glared at her. "So Pietro? You trained him?"

"I don't know a Pietro." Y/N snarled as she glared at Wanda. "I barely saw the outside of my cell. I was only used as a weapon. Nothing more."

"They must have wiped it from your mind. The same way they did with Bucky." Wanda mumbled.

"You know James?" Y/N asked her. Wanda could see some emotion withi her eyes. "Is he alive?"

"He's alive. He's having a break from the Avengers right now." Wanda informed her.

"No. No. No." Y/N told her. "You need to make sure he is safe. He is still a weapon of Hydra. If he somehow managed to break free of their hold. They will still come for him. He was their first weapon. Please protect him." Wanda was shocked to see some sort of emotion from the eyes that were stone cold moments before.

"I'll speak with Steve on one condition." Wanda negotiated as Y/N just nodded. "You tell us everything you know about Hydra."

"Yes. Of course. Just save my brother." Y/N told her. Wanda nodded before calling for Steve.

°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°

Taglist : @mothertoall2 @natashamaximoff-69 @canvascoloredin @wizardofstories @louxbloom @wandanats-goodgirl @the-ox-fan20 @ladyqueenxoxo @aemilia19 @wandaromamoff69 @mfd-101 @dorabledewdroop @marvelogic @dopeyouth @karsonromanoff @bimad @reginassweetheart @machyishere @gemz5 @pawiie @duckiekong (If you want to be added to my taglist, please DM me or comment)

[miaoua3]

Moth To A Flame

Pairings: bf! dk x f!reader x ex! mingyu, friend! dk x friend! mingyu

Genre: angst, no comfort, exes to enemies, secrets from the past, hatred, unspoken promises, breakup talk, insinuation about the break up being set up, unfinished business, inoccent! dk

Description: no matter how many men come after him…he will always be on your mind, a part of your past haunting your present. (or you go on a date with your newly secured boyfriend dk when you run into your ex, mingyu, the one who broke your heart, and yet is still the one you refer to as “the one who got away.

Author’s note: inspired by this tiktok and also the whole younghee live😭

you thought you had it in the bag.

you thought that after years and years of having a broken heart, that you finally started mending the pieces together. thought that you grew up and finally started forgetting about him.

oh how wrong you were.

because no matter how hard you try to get away from the past, to forget him, he always comes to haunt you in one way or another.

you were having a wonderful time with your boyfriend, seokmin, enjoying the day despite the gloomy weather.

seokmin, although you haven’t been together for that long, just 3 months, has been the best boyfriend you could’ve asked for.

after many failed attempts at dating since him, many times where they were straight up rude and misogynistic, many that were so self centred you had to resist the urge of rolling your eyes, you finally found the one good guy.

seokmin was all smiles and positive energy, always bringing a bit of sunshine to your gloomy days. he was good, kind, he genuinely cared for you.

seokmin was the type of guy to open all the doors for you, give you his jacket when you were cold, and who your mother loved. the type that treated you with nothing but gentleness, like you were a fragile flower, fearing that if he touched you any harder, that your petals would fall off.

he was a good guy, the type of guy you needed after 5 years of lingering feelings for him, 5 years of not allowing yourself to move on, 5 years of keeping out the hope that he would come to his senses and come back to you.

he was truly what you needed.

and yet…

seokmin was sitting opposite of you, telling you a story about one of his friends, a cheerful smile grazing his sharp features, all while cutting and feeding you a piece of cake you two order and decided to share.

although you had to hide your grimace every time he put a fork with a piece of cake in your mouth, as you absolutely despised the blueberries. which, of course, was his favourite fruit and what the cake was made out of.

but instead of telling him that you would eat literally anything else, you just smiled a fake smile, saying that you had no problem with ordering it.

he was getting at the height of his story, the build up reaching almost it’s peak, when he stopped and looked behind you, a look of surprise and happiness overcoming his features.

in retrospect, had you known who he saw, you would’ve bolted right through the window that you two were sitting by.

“ggyu! over here!”, seokmin called out, hand raised to signal the person where he’s calling from.

ggyu?

you looked and your boyfriend confusedly, ready to look back and see who it is, when you heard his voice, the voice you knew too well even after all this time, making you freeze in place.

“oh, minnie! what are you doing here?”

you heard his steps approach your table, a sense of dread and anger overcoming your whole being as you sensed his dominating and strong presence.

before you knew it, he stood right beside you, looking at seokmin, not bothering to even look at you yet.

seokmin reached out his hand for a handshake, all too cheerful considering that he was the one on the receiving end of the said handshake.

“oh nothing, ynnie and me decided to make the best out of this gloomy day and come here for breakfast!”

it’s only when seokmin said your name that mingyu slowly looked over to you, shock and surprise on his face clashing with anger and disgust on your own.

he just looked at you, the big brown eyes flying over your features, drinking up the sight of you after not having seen you since your break up, 5 years ago.

somewhere in the distance, you hear seokmin speak out, his clueless voice all too cheerfully ringing inside your ears.

“love, this is mingyu, one of my good buddies. and mingyu, this is yn,” seokmin stops for a second that it takes him to grab your hand across the table, before he finishes “my girlfriend.”

the shock and surprise on mingyu’s face disappears the second the word “girlfriend” leaves seokmin’s mouth, something colder and emotionless masking his real emotions, the brown eyes that usually looked at you with nothing but adoration looking at you with this…emptiness, almost like he doesn’t feel anything for you anymore.

and it pissed you off.

almost like he can sense the tension in the air, seokmin asks with an unsure tone “um, do you two know each other? because it looks like you do…”

after another second of looking at mingyu with anger and hatred, you finally look back at your boyfriend, a fake smile grazing your lips. in the corner of your eye you can see mingyu opening his mouth, ready to spill the truth and probably ruin everything you and seokmin have built up until this point. but before he can say anything, you answer for you both.

“just old acquaintances, baby. nothing much, we just know each other from mutual functions.”

at your smile, seokmin smiles in relief, his worries melting away at your words.

“oh, okay. well, didn’t know you knew each other, had i known it, i would’ve brought you to one of out group hangouts much earlier. maybe you could’ve reconnect with ggyu then.”

you smile fakely, your thoughts going from i would rather die than reconnect with him to had i known you two were friends i would’ve never gone out with you.

mingyu shifts beside you, catching your attention. you quickly look over to him, his jaw set in annoyance, eyes looking only at your hand that is being held by seokmin.

and it pisses you off, so much.

who does he think he is to get annoyed at you for having moved on? for having found the happiness in the kindest man there is? for having finally forgotten of his existence after he accused you of cheating and breaking up with you?

who does he think he is to sit there and act like he has any right to look at you with the eyes of betrayal?

before you can even register, seokmin pulls his hand away in the name of getting up.

as he stands beside mingyu, he smiles at him and pats him on his shoulder, pure happiness on his face as he says.

“well, since you are here already, i’ll let you two catch up while i go go the bathroom.”, he steps around mingyu before he stops beside you and bends down.

all too unexpectedly, he lands one brief kiss on your lips, shocking you to the core. you feel your whole blood turn cold in panic for the one millisecond it takes seokmin to kiss you, before he says lowly.

“i’ll be right back, okay? just have to go to the bathroom and pay.”

you just nod in response, his words barely registering in your brain before he walks off.

you immediately look out of the window, making it a point to ignore the man that stands beside you in silence.

after a few uncomfortable seconds of silence, he finally speaks out in the most condescending voice ever.

“ ‘just old acquaintances’, huh?”, he pauses for a second it takes him to sit down in the booth opposite of you, where your boyfriend sat just a second ago.

you snap your eyes to him, jaw set tight in anger, looking at him like he’s the last person you wanted to see.

he smiles condescendingly, a bit of his own anger mixed with it.

you start panicking, the way his smell has stayed unchanged and is now filling your senses, the way he still wears his glasses the same, the way he still hasn’t changed at all, yet he looks so unfamiliar, in the most familiar way.

before you can stop yourself, you snap back.

“fuck off mingyu. we obviously have nothing nice to say to each other so let’s spare ourselves the energy.”

his smiles dims a bit, tongue poking the inside of his cheek in anger like he always used to do. in a hoarse voice, he almost whispers back to you.

“oh, i have a lot to say to you. planning on screwing with seokmin like you did with me, huh?”

laughing in disbelief, you snap back just as quickly.

“i see nothing has changed with you. typical. should’ve known you would always believe her. tell me, did she try getting together with you yet? like i told you she would?”, you finally look back to him, eyes stormy, meeting his own.

he stops for a second, hesitating to answer your question.

hook, line and sinker.

you scoff as you look away yet again, muttering to yourself.

“so i was right after all. should’ve known from the minute she sent me those messages.”

mingyu’s anger disappears for a second, looking at you with confusion.

“what messages are you talking about?”

you are ready to call him out, to tell him to stop pretending because he probably knows. but when you look at him, you only see genuine confusion on his face, eyebrows furrowed and eyes slowly filling with a bit of fear.

huh.

making it your turn to smile condescendingly at him, you answer.

“the messages she sent me the night before. y’know, where she told me im not good enough for you and how- and i quote, ‘you will be hers, one way or another.”, you stop for second so you can lean in closer and drop the final bomb “y’know, the messages i tried telling you about while you were accusing me of cheating and breaking up with me. the messages i tried telling you about while you were packing my stuff.”

mingyu looks at you with genuine shock, guilt swimming in his big brown eyes.

but you don’t stop just there.

“you know mingyu, i always knew that you were a bit gullible, that you trusted the first thing you heard, and that you never checked the truth…” you stop as you look down at the table before you finish “…i just never knew that you would’ve believed her over me, your girlfriend. guess that just shows that i was always your second choice, ever since the beginning.”

you can see his mouth opening and closing, trying to form an answer, but to no avail.

luckily for you, you see seokmin slowly walking back to you, making you quickly get up and gather your things. but unfortunately for you, seokmin walks over to the counter first so he can pay, making your chance to get away void.

your foot taps impatiently, looking around as you wait for seokmin to come back.

suddenly, mingyu asks you a question, a question that makes your back freeze in panic.

“you let him order a cake with blueberries? even though you hate them?”

slowly, you turn your head around, his eyes challenging you to answer it.

but you stay silent.

he chuckles dryly, muttering to himself.

“and here i was worried for nothing. turns out, he doesn’t even know you that good. because you won’t let him.”, he pauses before he looks up at you through his eyelashes.

“won’t allow him know you…not like how i did.”

you freeze, eyes wide in panic, out of words at how right he actually is.

luckily for you, seokmin walks over at that moment, wrapping an arm around your waist. snapping you out of your panic, you see him smiling at you gently.

“ready to go, love?”

you swallow dryly, smiling a bit awkwardly as you nod your head at him.

you turn away as the two friends say their goodbyes, sighing in relief when seokmin intertwines your hands together and leads you to the exit.

in the moment of weakness, the one that you will cuss yourself out for later when you are laying in your bed in the middle of the night and staring at your ceiling as you think back about the sight, just as you and your boyfriend reach the exit, you slowly look over your shoulder to where your ex is sat.

only to see him looking directly at you.

his eyes are very serious as they observe, dark and full of emotions. you watch as he slowly plucks one of the blueberries from the leftover cake and puts it in his mouth.

like he always did whenever there were blueberries and he ate them for you.

you swallow dryly.

and you see it.

see how his eyes look directly back at yours.

see the unspoken promise that floats in them.

see the promise that reads out:

this isn’t over yet…love.

[acexsmhking]

𝕱𝖑𝖎𝖗𝖙, 𝕷𝖚𝖘𝖙, 𝕷𝖔𝖛𝖊

𝑷𝒓𝒐𝒍𝒐𝒈𝒖𝒆

: ̗̀➛ Knight!Toby x Queen!Reader

Summary: King Arthur’s tale is a long Arthurian myth yet to be known as true or not. Centered around medieval Britain, untying his people and defending his kingdom, Camelot, from Anglo-Saxons. Known for his legend of leadings ‘The Knights of the Round Table’.

Warning(s): 18+ content, Sexual Content, Chubby!Reader, Practice of Infidelity, Descriptions of infidelity, Mentions of violence, Descriptions of violence, Crass language, Mentions of child abuse, Child grooming, Psychological manipulation, Mental abuse,

Little note!: First, I forget what a prologue is so don’t hate me. The tale of King Arthur has been told many times, in many different ways, and today I’m going to be telling it again.. with Tobias Erin Rogers.. for porn. Please know none of these tales are truly historically accurate since it is unknown if King Arthur was even a person much less Camelot. Please know this is my own tale with my own wanted inclusion as I see fit. Good day, enjoy!

The warm summer air heated her skin, beads of sweat forming before she hastily dabbled them away. Worry etched in her eyebrows, teeth gnawing on her bottom lip. Mother glanced down, a soft smile as she rubbed the shoulders of her daughter before pressing a gentle kiss to her hair. “Fret not, I’m sure he’s still coming.” Her mother chuckled, fingers combing through her hair. Fingers tangled in frills as her eyes continued glancing outside the opened window. While he was not late by any means, she was merely impatient.

She held high hopes for her future. She had hopes he would be kind, be good. After all, she did not have luxury of peasant girls, Arthur and her were destined. For the best of their kingdoms it was a deal. She had to make this work, for him. For her family. There was no telling what kind of a man he’d turn into after marriage. What liability would he have to be good anymore after securing her? Those were thoughts on the carriage as the Bishops took here away. Practiced smile on her lips as she waved to the crowd.

They followed her to the cathedral, where Arthur awaited. As they exchanged vows and placed rings on their fingers. Her hands shook as she held his, slowly slipping the ring on. “Are you alright?” He whispered, a teasing smirk on his lips. “Perfectly.” She bluffed, face straight as he returned the favor. All he did was hum, he could see through her blatant lie but he did not call her out. His hands soft as they cupped her face as if she’d break at any moment. The kiss was soft, kind and inexperienced. For both of them. Arthur pressed another soft kiss as the families cheered. Guiding her down the steps as another carriage awaited them.

During the ride, both waving to the crowds with smiles taught. He brushed against her, nuzzling his head. “You need not hold your tongue around me.” He chuckled, eyes glancing down to where her nails fiddled. “It’s just.. so real.” She said, shoulders tensing with eyes glancing to rooftops. Would someone try assassinating them? Her? By the gods, she could feel her stomach twisted in knots. “I am happy it is. That it’s you.” The earnest tone in his voice made her breath hitch. She playful slapped his shoulder, cheeks too flush to even respond. But a happy smile on her lips.

These thoughts eased though, how could they not during the festival. Such kind people praising her, loving her and not even knowing her? Was this not what every girl dream of? Being queen? Being loved? The heart of a kingdom. “What disturbs you, my dear?” Arthur whispered, kind smile on his lips their hands held tight. She had been anxiously fiddling with the rings on his fingers. She exhaled, trying to almost force the nerves from her body. “Nothing just.. I am fearful for our future.” She mumbled, bashfully turning. Arthur hummed, looking towards their people. The singing, the dancing the feast.

There was a brief pause before he turned back to her. Thumb rubbing the knuckles of her hand before pressing a soft kiss to them. “I swear to you, my love. I will ensure you’re never unhappy.” She could’ve swore there were stars in his eyes. The faint flutter of her heart rushed blood to her cheeks. “You are so.. kind.” She giggled, leaning her head on his shoulder. A soft kiss placed on the crown of her forehead. “For you, always for you.” Her eyes watered, breathing in his scent. “But do you truly mean that in your heart?” A question he’d never be able to answer. No matter the truth in the moment.

Life is forever changing, forever untamed. Such sweet words now, meaning nothing in an instant. Yes an instant was all it took. She couldn’t tell which hurt more — being there to see the moment it happened, or seeing him unchanged despite her pleads. To feel herself grip so tightly to the love they once shared to hope for the day he might return back into her arms. Even if she couldn’t open them to him any longer. That night played over and over in her dreams. It should have been loving, as any other they shared. Their first year anniversary. Arthur was determined to spoil her, to show their love in love for all to see.

She remembers watching the dancers and jester. Clapping along to their performance with such a bright smile. She remembers the warmth of the wine sitting in her belly as laughter made her chest burn. And she remembers looking to him, expecting him to already be looking at her as he always was. But he wasn’t. His eyes were hooded, he’d drunken far than her. His body almost slouched on her. And his eyes.. on someone else. She knew who that woman was. What that woman was. And her stomach dropped. She remembered as some of his men pulled him up to dance.

A silly, drunken prefomance. She remembered her insecurity slipping as she watched her husband stumble around with friends. His smile so bright. And she remembered that stinking feeling as the woman approached not to him, but to his eyes. How he seemed transfixed on her and how no one even.. cared. Was this not their night? Why did he look to another?

Oh how it felt to wake in the night to an empty bed. Her dress still on the floor that he had near ripped off her. She looked around hastily. Had something happened to him? Just before she reached for the door she heard it. Laughter. Looking from her balcony she could see them. In the distance. In the yard. Their yard. She felt her nails stretch the stone as he talked to her. Made her laugh. Touched her.

Yes, she remembered it all too well. And the times after that. And the times after those. Until she just.. expected it. Expected his pleading, his frustration. Not with her, but himself. No.. she could never open her arms to him no matter how much she missed doing so.

: ̗̀➛ okay don’t hate if this isn’t actually a prologue I never truly understand what those were or the laws that it took to follow to actually properly make one. Anyways. I hope that y’all are ready for the extremely heart tugging love I’m about to make these two have cause while this is for Toby. I can’t resist some good angst.

— Ace