#have you ever made something and thought “I need to go back to therapy because something is clearly wrong”

[luci-in-trenchcoats]

Break In (Part 3)

Summary: The reader goes on her ride along but is getting bored fast. Meanwhile, Tim comes to the realization that he needs to start including the reader in all aspects of his life if he doesn't want to risk losing her...

Pairing: Tim Bradford x reader

Part 1 Part 2

Word Count: 4,000ish

Warnings: language, smidge of angst, teasing

A/N: Please enjoy!

“Good morning, handsome,” you said, setting a plate and cup of coffee down at Tim’s kitchen table. He slowed his soft padded footsteps, narrowing his eyes. “What?”

“You made me breakfast on a Friday? Is this the start of the apocalypse? Am I about to be the victim in a lifetime movie?” You scoffed, Tim crossing his arms and cocking his head.

“Can’t a girl make her guy homemade sausage and egg burritos with bacon and hashbrowns and toast?” you asked, Tim mid way to an eye roll. “Maybe I was being nice?”

“You’re buttering me up because you have your ride along today,” he said, taking a seat. He took a bite out of his burrito, pausing mid-chew. “Did you put avocado in this?”

“Yes and hot sauce,” you said, grinning to yourself as he muttered under his breath. “What was that?”

“I said you’re bribing me with my favorite breakfast.” You shrugged, sliding over next to him, wrapping your arms around his shoulders. 

“Is it working?” You kissed his cheek, Tim emitting a low growl. You brushed your lips over his earlobe, his body tensing ever so slightly. “I’ll let you try that thing you wanted to try tonight…”

“Are you trying to bribe me with sex?”

“Yes,” you said, kissing under his jaw, Tim biting back a cough. “And it’s not a bribe if it’s something we were going to do anyway.”

He turned his head, looking you up and down. “I thought you said no way were we doing that.”

“I said no way on my damn period and mother nature has exited the building for the next few weeks so I mean, if you don’t want to-”

“No, no, I want to.” You ruffled his hair, Tim rolling his eyes. “Tomorrow night.”

“Tomorrow?” you said, taking a seat with your own cup of coffee. 

“Yeah, cause tonight, I’m going to torture the hell out of you for the pain and suffering you’ve cause me this week. You can have it tomorrow,” he said, smirking back at you.

“It’s so cute when you think you’re in charge.” You hummed behind your coffee, Tim going back to his breakfast. You paused a moment, the playfulness gone from the room. “Will you be distracted today if I do this ride along? Because I know you’re worried about me but I’m not putting you in danger and real talk, I need an honest answer from you.”

He finished his bite, swallowing it down. “Boyfriend me? No, I don’t want you to go. Cop me? Ride alongs are pretty safe and generally only easy calls are taken. My friends will be extra cautious with you and I would trust you in their hands.”

“I appreciate that but you didn’t answer my question, honey.” He bit his bottom lip, letting out a sigh.

“I see the worst parts of this city every day. Sometimes, I get nervous when you meet with new producers or book people or whatever alone. I wish you took someone with you for safety. Honestly, I’ll be less distracted today knowing you have basically two bodyguards for the day.”

“That is an alarming change of view from the guy that was freaking out I was alone in a police station three days ago. What changed?”

“I had my therapy appointment,” he said shyly.

“If you ever leave me, it better be fore that therapist of yours,” you said with a gentle smile. He returned it, leaning forward in his seat.

“I mean, he’s way hotter than you so…” you lightly smacked his arm, Tim chuckling.

“Eat your damn breakfast, Bradford. We got work to get to.”

One Hour Later

“Hey,” said Tim, coming over to you in the garage. He pulled you away from the shop, grabbing your hand. “You get scared at all, just tell them and they’ll bring you back. Or call me, okay?”

“I’ll be fine,” you said, Tim setting down the bag in his hand. 

“Don’t get mad at me for this.” He opened the duffel, holding up an item that looked suspiciously like a bullet proof vest. You glanced at him, Tim nodding. “Yes, you’re going to be balls hot and it’s going to be heavy and the odds of you needing it are nill and-”

“Would you help me put it on?” you asked, shrugging out of your jacket. He did that soft goofy little smile he did sometimes when he truly relaxed. God, what you wouldn’t give to take that weight he carried off of him for good. But you’d take the moments when you could.

He had you hold out your arms and slipped it over your head, the weight of it settling on your shoulders. 

“You wear this under your uniform every day? No wonder you’re so damn sweaty when you get home.”

“It’s saved my hide more than once.” He tightened the velcro straps on the sides, your hand reaching out and grazing his lower left hip. He put his hand on your own hip, matching where he’d been shot years ago on your body. 

“Why doesn’t it go all the way down your torso? It would have protected you if it had.” 

“If you make this,” he said, tugging on your vest, jerking you forward, “Too long it protects you but limits mobility. I can’t bend as easily, duck out of the way. The heavier it is, the slower I run. There’s pros and cons and different style vests for different situations. This one is for day to day use. If you were going on a SWAT raid for example, you’d have something heavier duty.”

“Save the intense calls for the SWAT guys today then, roger that.” He sighed, kissing your forehead.

“Be safe, stupid.”

“You too, moron.” He hugged you tight, pecking a quick kiss on your lips before he pulled back. “Will I see you at all today?”

“We’ll try to tag up at lunch. Promise.”

Six Hours Later

You forced a smile when you met up with Tim and a few other patrols during their lunch break. They were spread out at a few different tables, Tim finding a quiet place off to the side for the two of you. 

“You alright?” he asked when you picked at your food, Tim putting a hand to your forehead. “I’ve never know you to turn down street tacos.”

“I’m fine,” you said, watching his friends talk vibrantly across the way. 

“Did…you want to sit with them? We can, I just thought we could eat together-”

“I’m so bored,” you groaned quietly, Tim blinking rapidly. “All we’ve done is drive around in circles for hours. They did a wellness check to see if an old guy was dead. Apparently he was just on vacation. Oh, and I got to pee in a gas station bathroom. I’m getting some real good feel for police work here.”

“Well, that’s what most of the job is,” he said after a beat, brushing his arm against yours. “Ride alongs…it’s our policy to take the lightest of calls. They can’t put you in a dangerous situation.”

“I know but I’d take a fender bender. I feel like I’m on a road trip to hell and I feel bad cause your friends are bored out of their mind too. I should just go home. It’d make everyone happy,” you said, poking your taco with a frown. Tim scooted closer, leaning in.

“Did Nolan and Juarez tell you that you should leave?” he asked, your head immediately shaking.

“No. I like them. Cracking jokes with them is the only reason we haven’t all gone insane.” You turned your head, his face so close to yours. “You don’t want me out here. I’ll go make up an excuse and get an uber home, okay?”

Tim POV

“Don’t call an uber, just…stay here a second.” I got up and walked over to the other tables, my feet moving without my say so. Did I want her to go home? Yes! A million times yes. But she was sad and disappointed and after how much of a dick I’d been this week, she deserved better. This wasn’t just about her screenplay. She wanted to know what I did all day, why some nights I just came home and didn’t want to talk.

The sting of pain I’d felt when Lucy told me how disappointed Y/N was when she realized I didn’t have her picture on my desk was right there at the surface too.

If I didn’t start letting her in more, this was going nowhere and I wanted to go a lot of places with her. A whole fuckton. God, was I really about to do this?

“Why do you look like you’re about to vomit?” asked Lucy, my eyes closing.

“Because…Y/N’s not having a good time and I need to show her what we do all day. It’s important and the little crap ain’t cutting it. Now how do we do it safely?”

Angela leaned back in her chair, tsking at me. 

“Do you have an idea or are you just insulting me?”

“I will solve your problem if you bring Y/N on a double date with me and Wesley tonight,” she smirked. I clenched my jaw but that woman had never been intimated a day in her life. “One little date and all your problems go away…”

“Fine,” I grit out. Angela’s eyes lit up in a way that would make Hannibal Lector proud. “What’s this-”

“A nice place. You do own a suit, Bradford?” she teased. I breathed deeply. “Lucy, you free tonight? You should come too.”

“I am totally down for that,” she said, my jaw dropping. 

“Suit. Tie. Flowers. Upscale restaurant. Say yes before I invite more people to this dinner,” said Angela.

“Fine, satan,” I grumbled, Angela grinning happily. I turned to the rest of them, flexing my shoulders. “For the record, I’ve taken Y/N out to plenty of nice places. Just cause you bozos weren’t there to see it-”

“Now everyone’s invited,” said Angela. I twitched my eye at her, that evil look back. “Say thank you Angela or I’ll invite Smitty.”

“Thank you, Angela,” I muttered. 

“Close enough,” she said, standing up, glancing over at Y/N. “Tomorrow’s Saturday right? Take her to Metro’s training center. It’ll be closed. Run her through combat with some paintball guns, let her get immersed in some different drills. She gets the feel and her heart rate up without the danger. And for the rest of it, ask Grey if she can watch your bodycam footage from today. You never know, he might let her.”

I stared at her, mouthing opening slightly, words caught in my throat.

Why the fuck didn’t I think of that?

“Because you’re a stupid boy and yes, you said that out loud,” said Angela. I flicked her ear, Angela smacking me back. 

“All of you are helping me run drills tomorrow,” I said, earning a few eye rolls. “Penn, Juarez, the practice will be good for you and the rest of you? Revenge for that stunt you pulled in the station the other day hiding Y/N.”

“To be fair, I was as out of the loop as you were,” said Nolan. I shot him a look, John picking up his coffee and slurping it slowly. 

“We could make it interesting,” said Lucy with a mischievous look. God, she spent too much time with Angela. “Girls versus boys tomorrow. Losers buy lunch for the winners for a month.”

“How’s that fair to Y/N, she doesn’t eat lunch with us,” I said. Lucy narrowed her eyes and I scoffed. “What the hell is that look for?”

“Probably the fact your girlfriend is sitting over there watching us probably thinking my boyfriend’s embarrassed of me,” said Harper with a shrug. My hands went to my hips, more than a few of them making faces. 

“Knock it off,” I snapped. 

“They do have a point,” said Nolan.

“What the hell are you talking about?” 

“You keep her secret for half a year, you still haven’t put up a picture of her at your desk, I’m sure you were a dickhead about the ride along which she clearly regrets going on and you banish her to the other side of the courtyard. If I were her I’d think you’re either cheating on me or embarrassed.” Angela picked up her drink, sipping through the straw, the words caught in my throat. “Wild idea, maybe you can invite the girl that works from home to lunch with us sometimes?”

Jesus, was I that much of a moron? 

“...Does she look upset?” I mumbled.

“More like the new kid on the first day of school,” said Lucy, standing up with her basket of fries. She brushed past me and over to Y/N, unease crawling up my spine as Y/N perked up when Lucy sat down at the table with her.

“Get it together Bradford or that girl will walk.”

I swallowed as I headed back to the table, pausing as Angela watched me carefully. After a beat I sat across from Y/N, Lucy and her engaged in some deep conversation already about some reality TV show they both watched. I flipped open the last bite of my taco, flipping it closed again and back open. A foot nudged me under the table, my eyes shooting up to catch Y/N’s, a question in them.

You okay?

I smiled and nodded, Y/N lingering for a moment before giving Lucy her full attention again. I picked up the trash and carried it over to a bin, flinching when Angela was suddenly right fucking there.

“If you ever give up police work you’d make a great assassin,” I said, her hand catching my arm and pulling me around to the back of the trucks. I raised an eyebrow, her own shooting up. “What?”

“Timothy, I’m your best friend. I know when something’s wrong. Talk to me, why were you really hiding Y/N? She got a relative that’s a criminal or something?” I stared at her. I could lie. I knew how to lie extremely fucking well. Instead I sighed, looking past her.

“I didn’t want to say anything because honestly, I thought she’d have broken up with me by now. After the way I’ve acted this week, I’m shocked she’s still here. The only thing I’m embarrassed about is how when she realizes the mistake she made, all of you will give me that sad puppy dog look. I’m running out of time to find someone and I thought I’d be married and have a couple kids by this point, not be still dating. Sometimes I think, maybe she and me could…I’m just going to screw it up.” I crossed my arms, Angela stepping closer in my periphery. 

“So you’re scared she’ll hurt you pretty much.” My jaw clenched but I didn’t look at her. “Listen, I get people have hurt you your whole life and this is hard to unlearn at your decrepit age and you’re always going to be you but that girl? Buddy, she wants to be in your life more, not less. Why the fuck do you think we want to get to know her? Now put on your big boy pants, get over your personal pity party, and just tell her you want to get more serious. You can thank me at the wedding.”

“Woah, we are nowhere near…and you left,” I sighed. I found Y/N standing near the table alone when I returned, everyone veering off towards their vehicles. 

“So Lucy said you guys came up with a thing for me to do tomorrow that’d be more fun? And we have dinner plans with everyone later?” I hummed, interlacing my fingers with hers. “Tim, I don’t want to cause any trouble-”

“This is my life and you’re part of it and I want you to see it, even if that means subjecting myself to a long ass dinner where I have to wear a fucking tie,” I said, Y/N’s face softening. “Why you lookin’ all cute like that?”

“‘Cause I like you,” she said, pecking a kiss on my lips. I hummed, returning it before my radio crackled on my hip. “Go on. Save the world while I go dress shopping.”

“Oh you don’t have to go buy a new…” I closed my mouth when I saw annoyance creep back in her features. “Red.”

“You want to see me in a red dress?” she asked, her eyes darkening ever so slightly. “Interesting.”

“Does that mean…” she shrugged, smiling back at me. 

“Guess you’ll find out when you pick me up tonight,” she said, my radio crackling again. “Sounds like you got a robbery to get to.”

“I’ll text you later,” I said, managing to catch her cheek before I was skirting past for the shop. “Move it boot!”

Reader POV

“Just me!” called Tim as the front door opened. 

“One second!” you shouted back, fixing your hair one last time in front of the bathroom mirror. You darted across the hallway to your bedroom, grabbing your clutch and slipping into a pair of nude heels before you spun around, Tim leaning in your doorway. He had on a black suit, white shirt unbuttoned, no tie. The look worked for him though and you couldn’t help but flush under his heated gaze. 

Out of nowhere the silliest thing happened. The heat turned softer, that look on his face like he was so damn happy. Ugh, why was he so flippin’ adorable?

“You look stunning,” he said quietly, smirking when you stepped in front of him. “And taller.”

“I got a pair of black pumps in my closet you could borrow,” you teased, Tim shrugging.

“I would but I wouldn’t want to show you up,” he shot right back, his grin widening every second. “We went with red I see.”

“We did. How do we like the red?” you asked. He stroked a finger down your arm, just barely grazing the fabric by your waist.

“I should take you out to nice places more often. I will.” You tilted your head. “You deserve reasons to show off how good you make that dress look.”

“You okay, honey? You seem…different.” He shrugged.

“I’m good,” he said, smiling while dancing his fingers down your arm. “For the first time in a long time, I’m really good.”

“Okay…” You said, Tim holding out his arm, letting you slip yours through. “Did you feed the dog before you came over?”

“Yup,” he said, walking you down the hall and stopping at your kitchen counter. 

“If we’re doing that training thing tomorrow, maybe we can install the security system on Sunday?” you said, checking that the fridge door was closed after it’d been popping open lately. Maybe Tim could help you fix it-

“No, I think I’ll return it.” You raised an eyebrow, Tim turning his head towards you, a big smile there. 

“Why would you return it? You just bought it,” you said, TIm tilting his head like you were doing something cute much to your annoyance. “Bradford, why would you send it back?”

“Because like I said earlier, I want you in my life more. I think we’re both ready for it but that stupid break in happened so I was my stupid self and tried to be all mature instead of asking for what I actually wanted.”

You blinked once, Tim tracing your jaw with your thumb. “Move in with me.”

“I thought…” you trailed off, his face falling the longer you stared at him. It was as if you could see a wall shoot up in front of you in real time. “Hey!” you barked. He startled, confused as you walked him back against your kitchen wall, Tim’s brow furrowed. “Don’t shut down on me. I am processing, okay?”

“Seems like a lot of fuckin’ time to process,” he said. You put your hands on his chest, taking a deep breath. “It’s fine that you don’t want to. It’s too soon-”

“What did I just say Bradford? Can you just stand there and look pretty while I figure out how to say this?” 

His mouth snapped shut, gaze drifting downward. You let your hands fall downwards, taking his large ones in yours.

“Tim, I’ve been thinking about moving in together probably longer than you have. For nearly two months.” His head snapped up, a question on the tip of his tongue but he held it back. “I want to and not because some guy broke in my house earlier this week. I am not scared to sleep alone and I didn’t honestly want this big stupid alarm system you bought either but I didn’t want to argue with you when you were clearly as shook up over the break in as I was, maybe more. So before I give you an answer, I need to know why and I need more than you want me around more. Why-”

He pulled you into a harsh kiss, your breath hitching as his hand held the back of your neck with one hand, the other on your cheek.

“Because I love you,” he growled against your open mouth. “This isn’t temporary for me and you’re wrong. Wanting you around more is a perfectly valid reason. I want you around all the time and I’m ready for more. I want you taking over the closet and leaving your empty coffee mugs on the counter and not replacing the toilet paper because you are so shit at that and it drives me nuts and I still want you to move in. Is that good enough for you?”

You stepped closer, pressing your bodies together, your hands grabbing his hips, Tim’s eyes dark. 

“If I move in, Bradford, I ain’t moving back out,” you said, a rasp to your voice that his hands shifting to your waist, squeezing you just enough to make you gasp.

“Good,” he said, a whiff of his cologne filling your nostrils. “We’re on the same page then. So give me a damn answer.”

You stepped back from him, a flash of pain on his face but you only smiled as you went to the box of alarm system equipment on the counter. You picked it up, holding it out to him. “You should send this back…as soon as humanly possible.”

He smirked as he took it. “That can be arranged. You want to move in next weekend?”

“Afraid you’ll be too tired after my team wins your little training thing tomorrow?” you teased. He put the box down, stepping over to you. He caught your chin with his hand, tilting it upwards.

“You’re being a brat on purpose.” You smiled, Tim pretending to pout, pulling your mouth against his. “You play dirty.”

“Because you’re such an esteemed gentleman,” you returned, Tim looking smug. “We’re going to be late if you keep looking at me like that.”

“So?” he hummed, kissing under your jaw, sucking lightly. 

“If you give me a hickey I swear to god-” He nipped at your skin, your jaw dropping. He pulled away slowly, licking his lips. “You…you…you better hope this restaurant is dark as shit.”

“I see why you’re the brat so much. It’s fun,” he grinned, taking your hand, leading you out of the kitchen. “Ready to go, dear?”

“You’re going to regret that when I kick your ass tomorrow,” you said as he opened the front door for you.

“I really can’t wait to see you try, honey.”

A/N: I'm thinking I'll be doing one more part of this little series so keep your eyes out!

[ohtori-dropout]

If you saw this 5 seconds ago when it had a cropping issue no you didn’t

[myheartxmyman]

[eufezco]

NEW OLD JOEL 𓂃 𓈒 ❀

old man!joel x younger!fem!reader

synopsis – after years on the road, you and joel finally settle in jackson and there's nothing you love more than coming back from work to your old man wearing those glasses.

smut. fluff

the last of us masterlist

after traveling what felt like the entire world following joel, you both finally decided to settle down in jackson. it was peaceful, a not so small community anymore where you could breathe again, where you could do more than just survive. eat three meals a day. sleep through the night without one eye open. and with all that peace came space, to feel, to think, to finally let yourself consider what had been quietly building between you and joel all this time.

he was reluctant at first. the age gap weighed on him more than it ever did on you. you’d never brought it up, never even seemed to notice it in the ways he did. but you two had lived too much together since you first started traveling with ellie. that kind of bond didn’t come easily. yet joel didn’t think he had the right to want something as soft, as tender, as the love you showed him. and jackson helped him with that. the town gave him the kind of peace he never thought he’d earn. and slowly, as the years passed, joel softened and started to accept the life he deserved and appreciate the little things.

the way you massaged his shoulders after a long day of work, the way he always made sure you were warm in the mornings when he had to leave early, how you'd wake up tucked beneath an extra blanket. you built a life together made up of shared breakfasts and quiet evenings walking through the snow-covered streets of jackson, of fixing things around the house side by side, of laughter in the kitchen when something burned, and the way he'd kiss your temple like it didn’t matter.

—hi, —you said coming into the house. joel looked up from where he was sitting at the table, glasses low on his nose, hands busy with something that needed to be fixed. his eyes softened the second he saw you.

—hey, darlin’, —he said, —you’re back early.

—yeah, the snow is getting worst, there wasn't much we could do in the garden, —you replied, shrugging off your coat and hanging it up by the door.

joel gave a small nod, eyes following your every move, —i figured, —he said, —how’s the ground looking? any chance we can save anything before the winter really sets in?

you sighed, taking a moment to pull off your gloves and slide them into your pocket. —a few plants are holding up, but it’s mostly the cold that’s making it tough. i’m thinking of giving it another shot in the spring, once everything starts to warm up.

joel hummed. you approached him and hugged him from behind, resting your chin on his shoulder. his hand, still holding the small tool, paused for a second before he gently placed it down, he took one of your hands in his, bringing it up to his lips and pressing a soft kiss to your knuckles.

—how was your day? —you asked.

—good, busy. dina told me the cracked main lines are full of roots. should've checked them but i forgot, —he rubbed his hands over his face, clearly annoyed with himself. you could see how much he cared about getting things right, about showing that he was still capable, still useful. he picked the piece again and fidgeted with it.

—it's okay, you can get it done tomorrow. the main lines aren't going to move, —you reassured him, your voice gentle, as you smoothed your hand over his chest, feeling his heartbeat beneath your palm.

—yeah, you’re right. tomorrow’s another day, —the therapy sessions were working, somehow, because never in your life would you have imagined the joel you first met would learn to take things slow.

you kissed his cheek, his beard tickling your lips, as your hand slid slowly over his chest. you couldn't help but smile at how lost he was in the task, not even seeming to notice the way you were touching him. you pressed a gentle kiss to the side of his neck, letting your lips pressed there for just a second before pulling back.

—joel, —you murmured. your fingers brushed against his before you gently took the small tool from him and set it on the table. you moved closer, slipping one knee over his lap, easing yourself down until you were straddling him. —are you planning on working all night?

joel's hands instinctively found your hips, steadying you, surprised but not willing to stop you. —was just about done here, —he said, —then i was gonna give you every bit of my attention. but i see you've got other plans for me.

you loved how he looked with the glasses low on his nose, made him look more domestic, but you gently slid them off, folding them and setting them on the table. his eyes followed the movement, then back up to yours, darker now but entirely focused.

—thought you liked those, —he murmured.

—i do, —you whispered, —but i'm afraid they might get in the way.

he hummed, his eyes fixed on your lips.

you unbuttoned the flannel he wore beneath his jacket. he watched you, barely breathing, his hands still resting on your hips but his thumbs began to trace soft circles through the fabric of your jeans. you sighed softly as the last button came undone, revealing his body. your hand moved over his chest, tracing the old, pale scars that marked his skin. your eyes moved lower, taking in the softness of his belly, the way he relaxed under your gaze instead of tensing. you bit your lower lip, what if you said this was the sexiest he has ever looked?

—i couldn't wait to get back home to you, —you brushed your nose against his, you hips started rolling against his own. joel swallowed, his hands flexed where they held you, fingers tightening just a little.

—yeah? —he asked, his voice low, a little gruff.

you nodded, and your lips finally met his in a kiss that felt like it had been waiting to happen all day. it was desperate, needy, but slow and passionate. your fingers sank into the soft, graying hair at the back of joel’s head, tugging gently, needing him closer. he groaned low in his throat, his hands working hungrily on the zipper of your jeans.

you lifted your hips from his so he could slid your jeans down your legs and immediately after, you straddled him again. as your fingers worked on the buckle of his belt and then unzipped his pants, joel's big hands cupped your ass, pushing you forward and encouraging you to grind against his crotch.

you whined, feeling the rough fabric of his jeans through the thin one of your panties. you pulled down his underwear, just enough for his cock to sprung free. you connected your lips with his again, his hands now on your cheeks as you lowered yourself just enough for his tip to go in. he let out a deep grunt straight from his chest, you let out all the air you had in your lungs in a moan.

you took all of him. joel let his head rest on your shoulder as his hands traveled down your body to your hips. he helped you move, at first just rocking your body back and forth against his. your lips, half parted pressed together, made it easier for your breaths to mingle. then, you lifted your body and then dropped back onto him. you wrapped your arms around his neck and kissed his lips while you repeated that same move again and again.

—fuck, yeah, just like that, —joel groaned in your ear.

you tried not to be so loud, you didn't want to attract anyone's attention or cause a scandal. but your cries and his moans eventually echoed on the walls of your living room every time you lifted yourself a bit more and then sucked his cock completely inside you again.

joel rose from the chair in one fluid motion, his strong hands holding your weight. with a sweep of his arm, tools and scraps went to the floor, forgotten. he laid you down on the now-cleared table, the wood cool against your back, contrast to the heat building between you as his cock never left your body.

—did so good for me, now let me take care of you, hm?

he grabbed your thighs with firm hands and guided your legs around his waist so he could go deeper. your heels pressed into his lower back as he leaned in closer, his forehead resting against yours. the table cracked with each one of his thrusts and you feared it might break, it wouldn't be the first time joel would need to ask his brother for help in repairing a piece of furniture that you had broken since your arrival in jackson.

one of his hands sneaked in between your bodies and found your clit, his fingers moving fast and with urgency as he felt how you were getting tighter and tighter. you closed your eyes shut, feeling a little dizzy from all the panting as your body jerked and squeezed his own between your legs as you came. after that, he didn't last much longer and released himself inside you.

you both stayed there for a few minute. joel rested on top of you and with your legs still around him, you welcomed the weight of his body pressing you down onto the table. you played with his hair as he finally looked at you. you showed him a little smile and he gave a quick kiss to your lips.

—my body's gonna hurt so much tomorrow from this.

you giggled, —i'll make sure to give you the best massage ever.

you showed him a little smile, and he gave you a quick kiss to your lips. but as you pulled away, both of you noticed the mess of tools and pieces scattered across the floor, the work joel had been focused on before everything had shifted between you.

—i'm afraid you're gonna have to start all over again.

—with that or with you?

[bruhstories]

touch-starved

summary: dante is touch-starved, and he thinks the only way for him to feel something is to get punched by you

pairing: dante x afab!reader | based on the netflix version but definitely canon divergent

warnings: dry humping, unprotected p in v, creampie, degradation kink, very light choking, lots of swearing, kind of soft dom dante and light pain kink if you squint, idiots in love, friends to lovers, bit of praise, fem bodied reader

w/c: ~3.2k

a/n: this is definitely not my best work but it's a warm up ig. lol anyway i absolutely loved the dmc netflix version, and i'm considering getting the games

"Punch me."

Not a question, but an indisputable demand coming from the demon hunter, which made you do a double take, place the barrel of your M4 carbine on the table, and flat-out refuse.

"No."

He snarled, yes, snarled at you, slamming his pistol against the table with a loud bang. You looked up from your own weapon, taken aback by Dante's reaction, concern written all over your face. Was he high??

"Come on, Y/N, just do it. Just one punch, one tiny little punch. I know you want to." His cocky grin did numbers on your nerves, but you still refrained from giving him the satisfaction of hitting him. It’s been years since you met Dante, by this point you were used to his shenanigans.

"Why, though?" You decided to focus on cleaning your weapon, the sharp smell of isopropyl alcohol filling the room.

"Because," Dante groaned, snatching the bottle of liquid from you, causing you to glare daggers at him, "I'm touch starved."

You blinked once, twice, trying your hardest to process both his honesty, and the logistics of his request.

"Why not ask for a hug, then? Or, I don't know, go to therapy?"

"Hah! I'm sure my therapist is gonna have a field day with me! So, my dad, a demon, disappeared without a trace, then my mother and twin brother died, but actually my brother is alive somewhere. My therapist is gonna need a therapist."

"Okay, okay, you made your point. Still, you could just rephrase it. Maybe leave out the demon bit." You wiped the barrel clean before setting it aside.

"I'd rather get punched. Now, please."

"Dante, a punch isn’t gonna solve it. Are you sure you don’t want a hug? I could cook you something. Or we could grab a few beers and watch a movie, or talk about your feelings." You shrugged.

Both of you had done this before — went out for drinks, danced, cooked together, fell asleep together — it was so intimate, almost like you were a couple. But the reality was that you weren’t. Not by a long shot. Unfortunately for you, Dante was protective of you in the way an older brother was. You thought that, perhaps, he missed Vergil so much that you were the closest thing he had to a sibling in years.

"A punch would be less time consuming. Cooome on, babe, just hit me!"

You hated when he called you babe. He called other girls babe, girls that were hot, pretty, girls that were his type, and it was the nickname that made you clench your jaw and purse your lips.

"Ugh, fine!" You sat up, rotated your wrist and flexed your fingers. "Are you sure this is going to help in any way?"

"Positive. Right here." Dante pointed at his cheek.

"What, in your face?"

"You're stalling."

Without a single ounce of hesitation you swung your arm, hitting the demon hunter square in his face, but it caused you more pain than it did him, and you stumbled back, holding your fist in your other hand.

"Son of a fucking bitch!" You cried out in pain, knowing damn well that would happen. Still, you couldn't say no to him. Ever.

"Are you okay?" Dante was visibly concerned — a rare sight since he was always cool and edgy, even when his own life was in danger.

"Fuck no! Feels like I punched a brick wall!" You practically growled at him, gaze quickly softening when you saw the pure look of terror in his eyes. "But hey, nothing a little ice can't fix, right?"

"Right." He nodded and got up, making a beeline for the freezer.

There was no ice in it, but there was a pack of frozen peas somewhere at the bottom of a drawer, which Dante picked up and brought to you. When you reached for it, he, instead, took your sore hand in his, gently pressing the cold legumes onto your knuckles. You winced, instinctively trying to retract your hand, but he held it in place, his fingers wrapped around your wrist to stop you from backing away.

The pain wasn't gone, but it was becoming bearable, and a relieved murmur escaped past your lips, one that sounded closer to a moan than a sigh. Dante's cheeks burned, tinted red with embarrassment and arousal because you were yet another girl in his life who just didn't want to be involved romantically with him. Not that he tried anything with you, because he always thought you deserved better. Sure, he was cocky and flirtatious, but he wasn't a dick. If no one reciprocated the flirting, he didn't push his luck. It was simple. And he wasn’t the type who did one-night stands, despite the rumours. Dante enjoyed having a connection to the people he took to bed, he became sexually attracted to those he knew on a deeper emotional level. But sometimes, when he was really, truly desperate, he would download Tinder and hook up with random girls.

And he reeked of desperation.

"Dante, you can let go of my hand now."  You told him, part of you hoping he wouldn't.

Who could blame you? He was an objectively attractive man, with a charming smile and a body sculpted by the gods themselves. Why would he ever want to get involved with you? Dante was your opposite — he talked, he sang, he danced, he was obnoxious. You were quiet, most of the time, and shy. In fact, when he first met you, he thought you had some form of speech impediment, with your nose in Boccaccio’s The Decameron, a book you stole from the public library because you were much too young to read. That’s when knew you were trouble, just like him.

"Yeah, of course." Dante stepped back. "How's your hand?"

"Better. How are you feeling?"

"Me? Why are you asking?"

"Hello?" You scrunched your nose and frowned. "You wanted me to punch you because you were touch-starved. Did it help?"

"I'll be honest, it felt more like a tickle than anything." He shrugged. "Are you sure you didn't pull your punch?"

There it was, the one thing that turned you from an introvert to a bat-shit crazy bitch — his stupid little mouth that he opened without ever thinking.

"Are you fucking kidding me? You're telling me I risked breaking my bones so you could feel better, only for you to not feel anything? I swear to fucking God, Dante, this is the last time I'm doing anything nice for you."

"Nice? You punched me!" He threw his hands up in exasperation, while your blood boiled inside of you, sending you into a blind rage.

"You asked me to punch you, you maniac! You should've fucked me instead!"

Your eyes widened at the sentence that came out of your mouth without a single thought, mortified at your own stupidity.

"Hugged. I meant hugged. Shit."

"No, no, hold up, you didn't say hugged." Dante tilted his head, one hand rubbing his chin. "Isn't that called a Freudian slip?"

"I- well- how the fuck do you even know what a Freudian slip is?" You tried changing the subject but he didn't bite.

"Google." He closed the gap between the two of you, and for the first time you felt intimidated by him. "Do you want me to fuck you?"

The bluntness of his question, coupled with the sudden change in the pitch of his voice made you feel like a cornered prey. There was no possible way he was serious. But he wasn't wrong — the nature of your jobs made it impossible for either of you to have partners, and besides, you've known each other for years. It was only natural that some form of physical attraction would have developed between you two, right? But why you? Why now? And the worst of all your questions, why not?

You didn’t want to think about how this would ruin almost a decade of friendship. All you could think about was the look of pure lust in his eyes as he held your gaze, and how months upon months of sexual frustrations accumulated inside of you, bubbling and boiling and exploding when you dropped the pack of peas on the floor.

"Yes. I want you to fuck me."

Without a sliver of hesitation, you felt him pick you up with ease, hands roaming up and down his back as he slammed you down onto the table, desperately pushing away all the guns and knives. How thoughtful of him. Your hands slithered under his blood red coat while he tugged at your t-shirt, pulling it over your head to expose your bare breasts to him.

"No bra? Kinky." Dante stopped to take a better look at you.

"Stop talking." You firmly told him, but the chuckle that erupted from your throat betrayed you.

He was the one person you felt most comfortable around, so much so that you didn't feel weirded out by him pressing his lips onto your neck, or his fingertips bruising the plush of your hips, or his tongue flicking over your sensitive nipples. No, it felt natural, too natural, like your skin was made to be touched by him.

With his coat on the floor, you tackled his shirt, effectively tearing it off of him because you were just as desperate as he was, and Dante pulled your body closer to his, your clothed cunt accidentally rubbing against the bulge in his trousers. You were aching from the lack of sex, and you uncontrollably moaned at the tiny bit of friction before mumbling a weak 'sorry.'

"Fuck, don't be. That's actually kind of hot." He shamelessly admitted, and you rose a brow.

"Yeah? Then you wouldn't mind me doing it again?" You chewed on your lower lip, but he could see past the fake innocence when you rolled your hips, frantically and feverishly rubbing your clit through the layers of fabric. "Shit, I could come just from this."

For a split second, Dante wondered if this was all real. What happened to your shyness? How was it possible that his best friend, the quiet, nerdy girl he'd known for such a long time, was worse than any demon he'd ever encountered? Not that he was a saint. Far from it, because when you threw your head back, desperate to climax, his is eyes darkened, black seeping into his sclera. It should've made you afraid, but it had the opposite effect. The thought that he could activate his Devil Trigger and quite literally snap you like a twig turned you on.

"Do it, then." Dante's hand snaked behind the back of your neck, forcing you to look at him. "Show me just how needy you are."

Beads of sweat trickled down your forehead as you fucked yourself on the half-demon, fog settling in your brain with each breath, each movement, each beating of your heart. Faster. Harder. Faster. Harder. Faster.

"Oh-" Any sentence you tried to utter stopped in your throat, replaced by a string of whimpers and curses. Whatever you were trying to babble was reduced to incoherent words.

"Well shit, I didn't know you were such a filthy little slut."

"Just- oh- shut up-"

"Hmm, I don't think you really want me to shut up." Dante sneered when you picked up the pace. "I think you like it when I talk like this."

"N-not true!" You yelped as he pinched your nipple, barely doing anything and yet you were a mess already.

"So, you don't want me to call you a fucktoy, then? Bet you're dripping right now. Bet you want me balls deep inside of you."

"Fuck, I'm gonna come!" You proved his point when your entire body quivered under his, mind blank and vision blurry.

"There, there." Dante pressed his lips onto your forehead. "I got you."

The noise of his belt unbuckling made you snap your eyes open, filling you with newfound desire and guilt — poor Dante, his cock was probably aching by now while you had the time of your life. He stepped back, letting his trousers pool at his feet, and you lifted your skirt to peel your panties off. You caught him staring at you, taking the sight in, and what a sight it was — locks of hair fell out of your bun, sticking to your sweaty temples, your legs still shaking from the orgasm, and your cunt dripping wet.

"I'd love to eat you out, babe, but my balls are genuinely gonna explode." He confessed, earning a giggle from you. Even with his eyes pitch black and his Devil Trigger on the verge of activating, Dante was still Dante. And you loved that about him.

"Hurry up and fuck me, then."

"Are you that desperate that you forgot your manners?" He dug his fingertips into the plush of your hips, violently pulling you closer to him.

"Please hurry up and fuck me?" You pouted.

"Good girl, that's better." Dante pushed your leg to the side with his elbow, dragging his cock up and down your slit.

You didn't get the chance to take a look at it, but the tip felt huge, so much so that you gasped, propping yourself on your elbows to see better, and you were not disappointed. In fact, you were concerned. You could not take it.

"Dante, it's not gonna fit."

He shook his head with a half-smile, finding your concern quite cute.

"I'll make it fit."

It was both a promise and a threat, but you trusted him. God, you trusted him with your life. He slowly and gently pushed the tip, your slick more than enough to lubricate his cock, but he stopped every time you looked uncomfortable to make sure you were okay.

"Tell me if it's too much."

"No, you can- it's fine, keep going." You closed your eyes, the discomfort causing you to clench around him instead of relaxing, which made Dande forget how to breathe or think.

But the worst came to a halt when he was fully in, stopping briefly to allow you to accommodate to the size. Your breathing went back to normal soon enough, and the last ounce of pain in your body was swiftly replaced by a surge of electricity when Dante moved, slowly and softly rolling his hips, unable to abstain any longer. And you didn't want him to when his cock filled you up so good, reaching places you didn't even know existed inside of your body. Your fingernails dug into his back, clawing at his skin with desperation and impatience, like you needed more than what he was already giving you.

"See? I told you I’ll make it fit. And you take me so well." Dante said, dragging his mouth over your neck, your scent overloading his senses.

But it just wasn't enough. No matter how painful, you wanted it-

"Harder."

Assertive, demanding, you wrapped your legs around his waist, and he pulled back to look at you, as if not believing your request.

"A minute ago, you were wriggling in pain, now you want it harder?"

"Yes." There was no hesitation. "I want it harder, faster, please-"

You were shushed by two digits forcing open your mouth, and you instinctively wrapped your lips around them, sucking obediently.

"You talk too much." He gave you a taste of your own medicine. "Should've known you were just a dumb little cocksleeve."

The degrading words caused you to moan and drool around his fingers, tears welling up in your eyes. Each thrust had you clench tighter, the tip of his ridiculously large cock punishing your cervix. Pain and pleasure bubbled inside of you, sparking through your body as Dante practically ripped his fingers from your mouth, only to wrap them around your throat. He was a hungry man, and you were dinner — arching your back to get closer, deeper, you fucked yourself on his cock with his name spilling from your lips like a prayer, and he revelled in your worship.

"Shit, you like it when it hurts, don't you?" He whispered, squeezing harder while you nodded eagerly. "Of course you do."

Of course you did. How could you not when he fucked you so good that your dignity and modesty were long forgotten? When Dante stripped you of your decency to bring out the worst in you? You felt your second orgasm build up, causing you to twitch under him, eyes rolling back as you slipped your hands under his arms, holding on for dear life.

"Again- gonna come again, Dante! Fuck!"

"Atta girl." He held your quivering body, his own hips stuttering, brutally thrusting into you with raw, animalistic passion.

You came undone on his cock, fingers carding through his hair, pushing away white locks to look at his pretty eyes while his arm slithered under your lower back to both support you and bring you closer to him. Dante was close, his throbbing cock still stretching your sore cunt out. He bucked his hips, splitting you open while you latched your arms around his neck, tits pressed against his chest and your lips ghosting over his earlobe.

"Almost there, babe." Dante promised. "You're doing so well." He pulled back, nearly on edge, but you squeezed your legs tighter around his waist.

"Don't pull out." You demanded, and that was enough to help him reach enlightenment.

He filled you up, and when he did pull out, watching his cum slowly leak out of you, you could've sworn he whispered 'marry me' under his breath. Surely it was just the brain fog, or the post-orgasm high. Your whole body was numb, and you stumbled into Dante's arms when you tried to get down from the table, muscles sore and aching.

"You wanna get pizza?" He nonchalantly asked, as if he didn't just fuck his best friend.

"I- shouldn't we talk about this?" You avoided looking into his eyes, opting to stare at the floor instead.

"About what?"

God, he was either insufferably oblivious or remarkably good at pretending.

"Us." You sighed.

"What's there to talk about?" Dante's fingers found your chin, and he gently lifted it up, forcing you to look at him.

"Don't make this harder for me, please. You know things won’t be the same now. We’re not in a relationship and-"

"I don't follow." Confusion was written all over his face. "Do you not want to be my girlfriend?"

"Girl- I- hold up, what? Do you want me to be your girlfriend?" You tilted your head, baffled by his question, because of course you wanted to. You just never had the guts to admit that you like him. It was even more shocking that he liked you back. Wasn’t this all just a one-time thing?

"I mean, I thought it was pretty obvious when I fucked you. What, you thought I nut and dip? That I shoot a load and go back on the road? That I cum n go?"

"Wow, please never use those euphemisms ever again." You cringed at his words, trying your best to hide the smile that crept on your lips.

"Christ, babe, you know I don't do one-night stands unless I’m really desperate. And here I thought you were my best friend. Guess I was wrong." Dante gasped, dramatically feigning offence by placing a hand on his chest.

"I’m not your best friend anymore." You said, voice serious and cold, and his charade was quickly replaced by actual worry and offence. "I'm your girlfriend now. And your best friend."

"Okay, I was genuinely concerned. Fuck you." He flipped you off and you sneered.

"You already did."

"Wait, that's my line!"

"Skill issue."

[smiteswrites]

A Different Kind of Pain

Part One

Description: After losing a gem of a next door neighbor, Jack worries what the new resident will be like. Instead of a young obnoxious college kid, he meets you. Instantly struck by your warm nature (and good looks but he won't admit to that), Jack finds himself drawn to you in a way he hasn't experienced in years.

Tags: reader is a chemistry grad student bc i say so, shameless self insert, fem!reader, trying to avoid too many specific descriptors on readers appearance but i am new to this, reader is shorter than jack, widower!Jack, Jack talks ab therapy, trying to do justice to the fact that Jack is an amputee, but again I am not an expert, just some fluff and feelings, eventual smut, and so mdni 18+

A/N: Thank you all for the encouragement on the first version of this! It has been really really amazing to know people enjoy my ideas and writing and absolutely wild that y'all want more. I really love this idea and have many many plans for these two. I hope to get part two written and out this week. I am thinking around 3-4 parts total, but we shall see. This is starts similar to this post, but I made some changes and expanded quite a bit. I hope you enjoy and please send me asks/dms if you have any suggestions/comments/feedback on anything! I am always open to improving and learning.

gif credit - @iluvseb | divider credit - @cursed-carmine

Part One - 3k

Jack has been living in the left half of a red brick duplex, unit 101A, long enough to see a handful of tenants come and go on the right side, 102A. There was a college kid whose prefrontal cortex was just underdeveloped enough for him to be nothing but a pain in Jack’s ass. Needless to say, not his favorite neighbor. Then there was a young couple who were perfectly lovely until they had to move somewhere with two bedrooms to accommodate an incoming little one (Jack had been sure to give them his number in case they ever needed a friend in the ED). Most recently an older woman, Mrs. McAlister, who had regularly brought Jack all manner of baked goods and leftovers, had moved out and into her daughter's house. 

The unfortunate loss of Mrs. McAlister’s cooking meant that the right half of his duplex (and yes he thought of it as his by this point) was empty. Jack couldn’t help but feel a sense of dread creep in as he watched the last of Mrs. McAlister’s things be packed into a UHaul on Saturday afternoon. Would his new neighbor be another sweet elderly woman? Or would he get stuck with some obnoxious twenty something with no common courtesy? 

Fortunately for Jack, he didn’t have to wait long to find out. Housing got snatched up fast in a city like Pittsburgh, especially housing that was halfway decent and affordable, so it was no surprise that 102A was empty for under 48 hours. 

His first glimpse of the new tenant comes when Jack is arriving back home from a shift, just before 8 am on a Monday. He isn’t surprised to see a moving truck out front, nor is he surprised to see you directing the two movers on where to put furniture and boxes. He can tell you're young, in your twenties is his guess, which immediately sets his nerves on edge. Jack doesn’t think he can handle anymore house parties or loud hookups or trash left out. But you have a quiet, competent air about you that seems to indicate you aren't going to cause a ruckus. You appear to be alone, aside from the movers. He finds himself looking for evidence of a partner, husband, wife, without really meaning to. Forcing himself to not be overly nosy, Jack moves past the two men, now carrying part of a bed frame, and lets himself into 101. 

After a shower and the last of Mrs. McAlister’s roast (bless that woman), Jack is dressed in grey sweats and a black t-shirt, ready for bed. Despite the sleep threatening to overcome him, he finds himself looking out his window to check in on the status of your move. Apparently you had gotten here early, because he can see you handing the movers a wad of cash and sending them on their way. Before he really knows what he’s doing, he’s grabbed his prosthetic and is hurrying to get the damn thing back on so he can step back outside. He may as well catch you as you’re heading back inside, introduce himself, make sure he doesn’t need to be concerned about having another pain in his ass next door. It is the neighborly thing to do after all, he reasons. 

Another moment finds him a couple steps outside his door, clearing his throat to catch your attention from where you’re examining the front facing window of 102. 

“I’m Jack. Abbot. I’m in 101. Figured I should introduce myself, welcome you to the neighborhood and all.” He outstretches his hand, wondering if a handshake is still what people do these days.

Smiling, you shake his hand firmly and give him your name, he lets out a quiet sigh of relief. It is at this moment Jack finally takes you in fully. He was right, he thinks, you must be in your mid twenties, no ring on your finger, and certainly not a pain in his ass. You stand a handful of inches shorter than him, just enough that you have to look up to make eye contact. The smile you are giving him is radiant in a way that makes his stomach feel tight. He can see you’re flushed from the exertion of carrying boxes and helping to move furniture, and your hair has begun to fall from where you had it back. 

But even though you aren’t at your most put together, Jack is left feeling off balance, as he can only see you as the most raw and real kind of beautiful. The kind of beauty that comes with a bright smile, dewy skin, and pink chinks. The kind that has as much to do with physical appearance as it does a person’s character. The kind of beauty that reminds him of his late wife when they first met. Even though he is just meeting you, Jack likes to think his gut is usually right about people, and his gut is telling him that you are exactly the type of kind, caring, intelligent person that spells nothing but trouble for him.

“It’s very nice to meet you Jack! I hope the movers weren’t too much of a disturbance, it seems like a quiet little haven around here.” 

“About as close to a haven as you can get in the city,” he agrees with a small smile. “And don’t mention it, you weren’t a disturbance at all.” 

In the few minutes the two of you spend chatting he finds out you’re a fourth year graduate student, “A PhD in chemistry? You might just be a bigger masochist than me.” You somehow work nearly as many hours as he does, and he finds your work ethic dizzyingly attractive. You moved to the area in the hope of finding somewhere a little quieter, some place where you didn’t feel like people were packed in like sardines. You aren’t from PA, but you have a couple close friends in town and your family tries to visit often. You confirm his suspicions when you tell him you’re single and don’t have any kids or pets so there shouldn’t be any noise waking him up through the night.

“Actually, I’m an attending in the ED, usually on night shift. Sounds like you aren't home much during the day, but-” 

“Don’t worry Jack, I’ll keep it down during the day too. You can always bang on the wall if I’m being to loud,” 

He feels the corners of his mouth twitch up. “Thanks, sweetheart.” It slips before he can catch up to his mouth. Even though he knows he shouldn’t be giving you nicknames, and definitely not that kind, the pink that dusts your cheeks at the term of endearment is enough to make him want to call you nothing else. 

“Uh- listen I’ve gotta get to bed, but let me give you my number in case you need anything.  Neighbor or doctor wise,” he says, shooting you a wink. 

“Thank you, that’s very sweet of you doctor.” 

And god, he knows you mean it in a teasing way, but it does nothing to help the steadily growing attraction he feels towards you. He knows he is at least 15 years too old, and far too emotionally unavailable to even entertain the idea of being with you. He knows. But when you smile at him like he’s just offered to hang the moon and stars for you, he really doesn’t know what to do with himself. 

It’s just his number, no harm in you having it, and certainly no reason it has to have any underlying intention behind it. That’s what he tells himself anyway. 

He puts his number in your phone when you hand it to him, putting “Jack Abbot” as the name and “the guy in 101A and doctor at PTMC” in the notes for good measure. You thank him again, giving his hand a squeeze as he returns the phone. You say your goodbyes, and he retreats into his black out curtain and noise machine generated paradise. The last thing he sees before shutting his eyes is a text from an unknown number with your name, just so he can save your number too. 

You are going to be a pain in his ass alright, a kind he didn’t even think to be worried about. 

After your initial introduction, Jack assumes (worries) the two of you won't see much of each other. During your initial meeting, in an effort to reassure him you wouldn’t make too much noise during the day, you had inadvertently given him your schedule: 6:45 am leave for work, 7-5 ish suffer, 5:30 pm arrive home from work. With anyone else he would be glad to know that there would be no one next door to disturb his sleep, but instead he could only focus on the fact that he would rarely, if ever, run into you. 

His assumption proved to be correct for the first two weeks of your time in 102A, only seeing you on occasion as he left for work. But, about halfway through week three, Jack wakes up earlier than normal. By the time 5:30 pm rolls around and he’s supposed to be on call for another 13.5  hours, he feels himself starting to get restless. It’s a nice day outside with a high of 75 and a low of 52, the sun has set enough to cast an orange glow on the city, but not enough that it’s going to be dark soon, and Jack has a rare burst of energy. His therapist has been telling him some sunshine goes a long way, and he didn’t spend all that money on the fucking sports prosethic to not use it. 

By 5:42 pm Jack is in athletic shorts and a t-shirt, sports prosthetic on. He makes it about two steps out his front door, still adjusting the stupid prosthetic, when he senses he isn't alone. Straightening up, he realizes you’ve just come out of your front door as well. His gaze travels upwards from your feet as he makes his way to his full height. You’re dressed similar to himself in athletic shorts with a matching jacket, and he has to force himself to not linger on the exposed skin of your legs. When he does meet your eyes, he finds you smiling at him in a way that suggests you caught his little slip up, but are too polite to mention it. 

“Hey Jack! Are you heading out for an evening run? Well- I guess it would technically be morning for you, sorry,” You laugh at yourself lightly, cheeks coloring only the slightest bit. Whether it’s from embarrassment at the slip up or something else he can’t be sure. 

Either way, he gives you what he hopes is a reassuring smile. “Don’t worry, I still consider this to be evening. I am a proud night lurker, there is no part of me that wants to be waking up before 3 pm.” A small fit of giggles overtakes you, and he feels his smile turn into something more genuine. 

“But no, not much of a runner,” he gestures to his right leg where the prosthetic is on display. “I’m on call tonight and can’t do much besides hang out here, figured a walk might do me some good.” 

To your credit, your expression only falters slightly when you take in his leg, quickly recovering to match his eye contact as you listen. You nod, humming warmly in agreement, still keeping your eyes locked on his. “I have to agree. I’m also not much of a runner but I try to walk after lab most days. I think it’s a great way to reset after a long day.” 

“Sounds like you’re the evening walk expert then?” 

“Something like that,” you joke back. 

Jack knows that the conversation is winding down, it’s time for him to wish you a good walk and find a reason to hang back until you go on your way. Wait to see which direction you turn before beginning to walk in the opposite way. But Jack also knows that you’ve been looking at him with an attentiveness that, while he gives freely, is rarely if ever matched. If there were ever a sign of not wanting a conversation to end, he thinks the way you’re looking at him is surely it. 

Fuck it. 

“Well, I’m new to this whole walking for fun thing, maybe you could show me the best route to take?” 

Your eyes brighten, “Of course! I mean, obviously I’m new to the area, but I think I’ve found a good path. It’s about 30 minutes, if that’s good with you?” 

“Of course, lead the way,” he gestures forward with his hand, indicating for you to lead the way, leaning forward slightly as he does so. If you notice the way he stumbles forward slightly as his weight shifts on an unfamiliar right foot, you don’t say anything. But Jack swears he you’re biting the inside of your cheek to fight off a grin as you walk down the steps. 

Fucking sports prosthetic. 

The walk is… nice. Nicer than Jack expected. He can hear the birds chirping in the trees that are awkwardly implanted in the sidewalk. He can hear the sounds of the city too (sirens, honking, a plane overhead) but they’re less pronounced than normal. The two of you walk side by side as you lead him through parts of his neighborhood he’s never really taken the time to look at. You point out a café that apparently ‘makes a mean oat milk latte.’ 

“I hate to fulfill the old white guy stereotype, but I only drink my coffee black.” Self-deprecation as a form of self-defence, the oldest trick in the book. 

“As horrifying as that information is,” you begin, closing your eyes and placing a hand on your chest, “I also can get behind a black coffee, so if you’re calling yourself old you’re gonna have to call me old too.” You smile at him and make eye contact for only a moment before breaking looking at the pavement a few feet ahead of you.

“Besides, you have got to be the sexiest ‘old guy’ I’ve ever seen so I’d be wearing that badge proudly if I were you.” You put your hands up in mock defensiveness and accentuate your point with air quotes. 

He really isn’t sure what to do with himself besides laugh. Looking at you now, he could tell that even if you were uncertain, you were not the type of woman to let him get away with putting himself down. Nothing to do but admit defeat. 

“I think I’ll be quite happy with that title.” 

By the time the duplex is coming back into view Jack has learned that you’ve been walking everyday for years after a suggestion from a therapist. He’s learned that you “actually thought about going to medical school, but turns out biology and me don’t get along.” He’s also relearned more about chemistry than he ever hoped he would have to after asking the simple question “What does your lab research?” 

He had told you his own therapist had suggested he ‘get his ass outside’ more often, and that maybe the shrink was right more often than he wanted to give the guy credit for. He also shared one of his gorrier work stories and had been impressed when you were hanging on to his every word rather than going green. More importantly, he had only let himself spend about 3 minutes total looking at the way the sunlight caught your hair, or the way it framed your face as it fell from the loose bun you had it in, or at your lips as you spoke rather than your face, or at the necklace laying against the soft place where your neck met your collar bones. Just 3 minutes, not bad at all, practically a record. 

As you approach the front steps you hesitate, and he feels it too, he thinks. The uncertainty of where the two of you stand with one another. Jack knows where he stands, and he has a feeling he knows where you do too, he hadn’t been the only one with a staring problem. But even if Jack thinks he knows, he doesn’t really know. 

“Thank you for sharing your route with me, I think I was right to call you the walk expert.” He shoots you a trademark Abbot smirk, trying to put a lid on whatever feelings may or may not have been simmering during the past 30 minutes. 

“Anytime Jack, it was nice to have some company.” The smile you give him in return is softer, warmer than his own. For not the first time, and certainly not the last, he feels torn about how to approach you. He knows this feeling, he’s felt it before and it landed him in a world of heartbreak and pain. It was a place he’s worked hard to move on from, and thank god he can see now that while yes feelings, raw and vulnerable, can end in pain they are also what make life worth living. 

He isn’t sure where the two of you stand, after all you’ve barely started to get to know each other. However, he is sure that he wants to at least give himself the chance to find out, no matter how scary or stupid a choice it might be.  

“Well… maybe we could do this again sometime? I know my therapist would throw a fucking party if he got word of me not only being out in daylight but also socializing outside of work.” 

“I’d love that,” you smile wider now, staring at your feet briefly and rocking back on your heels slightly before looking back up at him. “I’ll be here a little after 5:30 pretty much everyday, join me whenever you like. Okay?” 

“Okay,” he feels his own expression melt into something so sickly sweet his cheeks hurt. “Goodnight, sweetheart.” 

“Goodnight, Jack.”

[batsandbirdbrains]

So Damian in the comics currently like wants to be a doctor or smth right? I want every single member of the Batfamily to find out and immediately start lobbying for him to become a physical therapist

“Dami, my favorite baby brother, it’s such a noble profession!”

“Go away, Richard, I have no interest in physical therapy”

“But Dami, please!” Dick whines, actually folding his hands and pleading, “I need someone to just like pop my pelvis back into place every so often. It’s so fucking annoying Damian, please.”

“Well maybe don’t contort yourself like a pretzel every time you sit down, and your pelvis won’t pop out so much!”

“But it’s so comfortable!”

“Clearly not, if it’s, and I quote, so fucking annoying to deal with.”

You have Tim following him around one day like, “But it would be so good to have a PT in the family, think of all the good you could do!”

“I can do more good in a field of medicine I’m actually interested in.”

“But my carpal tunnel-”

“Wouldn’t be so bad if you actually put your phone down for longer than ten minutes at a time and didn’t sit like a goblin at your computer 24/7.”

“I do not sit like a goblin-”

“Your posture is terrible. Your wrists are always bent at horrid angles. You sit there for three hours, get up to get a Red Bull, then sit back down for three more hours.”

Tim is so offended, and a little weirded out at how accurate that is, that he just leaves.

“Come on, brat, I need someone to fix my shoulders.”

“Not my problem.”

“Not your problem? It is if my shoulder locks up and a goon gets ahold of me and your precious big brother dies again-”

“You’re not the only one who’s died, you’re not special. You’re literally the founder of the Dead Robins Club, you can’t use being dead to guilt another member into something.”

“What, since when?”

“Since right now. I’ve just made it a new rule.”

“You can’t do that!”

“Actually I can. I’m Secretary and in charge of the club’s by-laws.”

“I thought Dick was the Secretary?”

“I’m Vice President and Event Coordinator, actually,” Dick says, climbing in through the window, startling Jason. “We switched up roles like two meetings ago, remember? There was a vote! Anyway, did you convince him to become a PT yet? Because my knee is doing that thing-”

“No, he hasn’t!” Damian tells them both. Then he turns on his heel to exit the room, muttering under his breath, “I hate this fucking family.”

When Bruce actually comes into his bedroom and smiles at him, Damian rolls over on his bed and groans into his pillow.

“Not you too,” he begs.

“It’s just my back, you know, ever since Bane-”

“That’s not fair!” Damian practically whines.

“It just would be nice if we had a PT we could trust.”

“You have a whole network of them through the Justice League, use one of them!”

“It’s not the same, Damian.”

He just groans even louder, kicking his feet and whining. He will have a full on tantrum if it gets his father to leave him alone.

It does work.

Until he gets three texts in a row with schools that have good physical therapy programs.

Damian throws his phone across the room.

[colossrat]

the beginning is not what it seems, I promise it will be a funny approach Mary: I can’t believe you got a girlfriend and didn’t tell me!!

She’s upset because she and Marvel promised to always tell each other everything, not because of the supposed girlfriend itself

Cap: I don’t have a girlfriend! We’re just talking

Mary: Stop lying to me!! Did you even stop to think what Mom would think about this?!

And by “this”, she means lying to each other, not dating someone.

Cap: You don’t need to remind me, Mary. I was there when I made that promise to her. I’m keeping my word.

It’s been maybe eight years since their mom made them promise to never lie and to stay friends forever. They were around 4 or 5 years old, it was before their parents passed away.

Cap: Mary, please... I’m not lying or hiding anything from you. I was just talking to that lady. I’m not breaking the promise I made to her… I would never do that. Okay? I would never do that to her… or to you.

Mary: Just… tell me things first. I don’t like hearing stuff from other people. They gossip! They’re saying all kinds of things about you.

Cap: And you believed them? Mary, I would never do anything that would hurt you or Mom…

Then they hug, a warm sibling moment where they talk it out and fix the misunderstanding. Mary was a bundle of nerves because it wasn’t the first time Marvel didn’t tell her something first, and she heard about it from someone else. She was scared they were growing apart :(

But here’s the twist:

Some members of the Justice League who were around during this thought Marvel had made a promise to Mary’s dead mother, his ex-wife, that he’d never move on with anyone else. And that Mary keeps holding him to that promise, reminding him of his dead wife and not letting him move on without guilt. Nobody really blames either of them, they understand both sides… it’s complicated.

They start noticing the little things Marvel does. He never, ever, shows romantic or sexual interest in anyone, man or woman. He’s extremely respectful and always careful not to come off as too friendly. Some of the League members start feeling sorry for him. From what they know, Cap is immortal, or at least going to live for a few more centuries, and that’s a long time to be stuck in the past. But some of them understand… sometimes, love is hard to move on from. And there’s Mary, who doesn’t seem ready to see her father with someone else that is not her mom

Later, Flash and Hal not only stop trying to set Marvel up with other heroes, but they even start helping him out when some hero, villain, or civilian tries to flirt with him.

Batman recommends a few therapists for both him and Mary, family therapy, a whole list of suggestions

There was one time they went out for some bonding routine. Marvel didn’t drink (he doesn’t like alcohol), but he was relaxed enough to spill a little:

Marvel: I’ve actually been liking someone lately. nothing serious. They’re just a very kind and smart person and… and I could really see myself with them, you know? But Mary… I don’t think she’d like that. And it’s important to me that if I’m going to have any kind of relationship, she’s okay with it, and that she gets along with them.

And he looks so sad and demotivated… Batman is the first to give him a couple of firm slaps on the back in support.

The reality is that Billy is actually liking someone, but it just so happens that this someone is (reader’s choice) a person Mary absolutely cannot stand. And Billy’s terrified of saying “I’m dating [person]!” and hearing Mary go “OH HELL NO.”

But from the League’s point of view, what they see is Marvel wanting to move on… but being stuck because Mary isn’t ready to move on with him and he’s not willing to leave her behind!

[dameronspector]

“Happy New Year, Honey.”

Pairing: Joel Miller x Fem!Reader

Summary: Set during the New Year’s party where Joel protects Ellie and Dina from Seth. Aka you comfort Joel and don’t let him spend the new years alone.

Warnings: Angst, Mentions of panic attacks, Hurt/Comfort, Fluff, Cursing, Joel deserves to be doted on, Reader and Joel are married, Reader is in her late 30s-early 40s, Reader is kind of upset with Ellie for hurting Joel, Reader just wants her family back but is stuck as the mediator (PS: I fucking love ellie, she’s my sister. This is no hate against her. This is just my depiction of a parents-child relationship dynamic.)

AN: i saw the episode and my heart broke for joel and his sad, warm brown eyes :(

It was finally New Year’s Eve and there was a little party being held in Jackson. Maria had assigned you to food service so you were helping the kitchen team with the plating and to set the buffet. You had to leave the house a little early for that. Joel was pouting because he didn’t want to arrive alone to the party. It was difficult enough to convince him to come, and now his big brown eyes were staring at you like he was a kicked puppy. You stalled for a good 10 minutes before parting with a sweet kiss, with a promise of saving him a dance.

Slowly, the community area of the church started filling up with people. There was a quiet murmur of people chatting and laughing. The air was perfectly warm inside the main house and crisp-cold outside. There was no snowfall today, thankfully, which meant everyone could enjoy the bonfire. The food smelt good and the band was playing soothing tunes.

The area was decorated with lovely fairy lights that made it look like the stars had come down. Overall, it was a very cosy scene. You were actually enjoying yourself. You had finished serving the food into containers and were now setting up the buffet. Gradually, the number of people gathered around increased and now you were 4 hours away from ringing in the New Year.

Joel was not still nowhere to be seen but you did spot Ellie with Dina and Jesse. Maria and Tommy were welcoming the newcomers meanwhile Benji was playing with his friends.

You were thinking of going back home and bringing him with you but you knew he just needed his space. You knew how badly the separation with Ellie was affecting him. Everyone could see that. Hell, even he could see that. It got so bad, that he had resorted to seeking therapy. You were so shocked when he admitted that to you but you encouraged him because he was finally willing to open up. You just hoped the therapist-Gail-wouldn’t breach his boundaries and make him isolate from others again.

He was trying so hard. It broke your heart into a thousand pieces to look at his dejected and sad face everytime she ignored him. He asked for Ellie during breakfast, lunch and dinner without missing a beat. He kept aside some food for her everyday. He built her a new chair because her old one had a broken leg. He would find something to gift her on patrol every time and would ask you to give it to her so that she accepts it.

It was heartbreaking.

You tried to talk to Ellie about this but she shot you down quickly. That’s when you decided you wouldn’t get involved because it’s not your place. It’s something that only the two of them should be talking about. And truthfully, you’d never admit to Ellie that you didn’t think he did anything wrong because you would’ve done the exact same thing for her. Any parent who denies this is a hypocrite.

So, you gave him space. You were patient with him. And you could see the gratitude in his eyes and his actions. How he would hug you longer. How he was more open with his affections. How he freely shared his thoughts and feelings. And that was everything that you’d ever want.

He’s all you have and you were all he has. You would do anything to protect him, just as he would for you.

-

The band was playing a cheerful song and everyone was laughing and dancing to the fullest. You were busy serving everyone so you didn’t notice Joel enter the area. You were talking to the town’s beekeper Jude while making her a plate when you felt arms snake around your waist. You jumped.

“Hey, honey”, his low baritone voice murmured in your ear.

Your face broke out in a loving smile.

You excused yourself from Jude who gave you a teasing smile and asked Kat to take over. Joel shifted the two of you slightly away from the table and you turned your neck to look at him. You rested your hands on his left hand and played with his ring.

“Hey, baby. Welcome to the party”, you greeted him softly and pressed a chaste kiss to his lips. You broke apart and he turned you around.

He rested his hands on your waist and rubbed it gently. His brown eyes looked like they were sparkling in the fairy lights. He ran his eyes across your face. Like he was reading you.

“You look so beautiful, darlin’”, he complimented you shyly, even though you were wearing a simple sweater that would’ve been considered as a ‘going out top’ with some jeans. He thought you looked good in anything.

You grinned brightly at him.

“Yeah? Well, Mr. Miller, you don’t look too bad yourself”, you replied cheekily and caressed his chest. You saw his cheeks turned into a tinge of pink. Even after being married for 4 years and being together for a decade, he would still get shy whenever you complimented him.

He gave you a meek smile and brought you closer to kiss your forehead. You closed your eyes and let out a content sigh before raising your head to look in his eyes.

“I’ve got to help with the serving, you think you’ll be okay without me for sometime, baby?”, you asked him softly and put your hand on his stubbled, soft cheek.

You could see him deflate a little as he let out a sigh. He leaned his head against your palm and rubbed your lower back with a hand.

“Yeah, okay. But, you’re saving me a dance, remember?”, he smiled.

You smiled at him sweetly and nodded your head.

He drank in your smile before pressing a kiss to your palm and planting a sweet kiss on your lips.

“I’ll see you, wife”, he smirked before pulling away.

You just giggled and waved him off.

God, you’d do anything to see this man happy.

-

An hour to go before you all rang in the New Year. You were almost done with serving desserts and now you could finally dance with Joel. The band was playing softly and while everyone was slow dancing.

You turned away to put away the last container into the kitchen and you came out to see the music was stopped and everyone was huddled around- Ellie and Dina?

Something was wrong. Your maternal instincts kicked in and you immediately pushed your away to the middle. You stood next to Ellie and held her arm gently.

“Ellie? What’s up? What happened?”, you asked her carefully. Her face was red and her eyes were bloodshot with tears. Dina was in the same condition.

“Dina, hey. What’s wrong?”, you asked her gently and put your hands on her shoulders. She sputtered but said nothing. She looked embarrassed and she was drunk, you realised. You turned to look at Ellie again but she looked away from you.

What the hell happened?

“What- hey. What’s going on?”, you raised your voice slightly and looked around. You couldn’t see Maria or Tommy or-

“Where’s Joel?”, you asked out loud, hoping he’d hear you incase he was around. “Ellie, where’s-”

She turned around so quickly that you jumped back from her. She pointed at you.

“Tell your fucking husband to stay the fuck out of my business.”

You froze. Her tone was so harsh. Her body language was aggressive and agitated. You’ve seen her like this before but it was never directed at you. And she never spoke to you like this.

“Ellie!”, Dina’s eyes widened and she pulled Ellie back.

“Hey, relax. I’m just-”

“I don’t need your fucking help, (Name). So don’t tell me to relax and I don’t fucking know where Joel has gone. I don’t care where he is and if you’re so worried then don’t stand here and-”

“That’s enough”, you cut her off firmly and held out your hand to stop her. “I just wanna know what happened.”

Ellie’s mouth fell open and she looked away in shame.

You clenched your jaw. You took a deep breath in to calm down. You registered how everyone was still staring at the three of you.

“Do we not have work to do? Y’all want some popcorn?”, you sternly questioned the crowd.

Everyone averted their gazes before clearing the area and leaving the three of you alone.

You turned to Dina.

“Dina, where’s Joel?”, you asked her with urgency in your tone.

“I-I don’t know. He just left”, Dina stuttered. Her eyebrows were furrowed and her cheeks were red.

Joel went to two places frequently when he was not ready to face the world- either his workshop to work on his projects or he’s in the office looking over the blue prints. But now that you know something happened between him and Ellie, you really didn’t know where he could’ve gone. It was a very fragile situation.

Ellie furiously walked away from the two of you to stand outside the hall. You closed your eyes to compose yourself and to stop the tears from flowing. She was drifting further and further away from you. And not just physically.

You looked at the door tearfully before turning back to Dina. “Don’t let her do anything stupid, okay? Get home safely.”

Dina nodded at you. You patted her shoulder and ran out of the hall to check the office first. He wasn’t there. You felt your stomach hurt at the thought of him being alone and having a panic attack. You needed to get to him now.

You ran all the way from the community hall to your house. The cold, dry wind hit your face and turned it into a bright shade of pink. Your eyes were watery and your breath was uneven but still, you continued to run.

On your way, you passed people wishing a happy new year to each other and lighting fireworks. Your heart twisted painfully. This is the first time in a decade that you and Joel weren’t together for New Year’s Eve.

Your lungs were aching by the time you finally saw your house in the distance and noticed the porch lights were on. And that’s when he came into view.

Joel was sitting on the armchair with his guitar on his lap. You could hear the soft strumming of the guitar along with your loud breathing and the whistling wind.

He looked so small.

Your husband was a hulking man of 6 foot tall height with the broadest shoulders. You didn’t know it was possible for a man of his stature to look so small and dejected.

The sight of him alone on the porch, while listening to the muffled cheers of the other residents, brought tears to your eyes. He didn’t deserve this. You felt guilty for leaving him alone.

You made your way to the porch and he looked up as soon as he heard your footsteps. His eyes shone in the light and he stopped strumming. He furrowed his eyebrows when he looked at the state of you. He quickly set down his guitar and got up from the chair.

“Honey? You okay?”, he approached you and held out his hand for you to join him on the porch. Acting as if his heart wasn’t hurting right now.

Your vision blurred as eyes filled with tears and your face scrunched up before you let out a soft cry. You stepped on the porch and buried your face in his chest while tightly wrapping your arms around his back.

Joel simply encased you in his warm arms and brought you closer. “Baby? What’s wrong? You’re scarin’ me. Did someone say somethin’ to you?”, he rambled worriedly and laid his cheek on your forehead. He winced. “And you’re s’cold. Where’s your jacket? I keep tellin’ you to not go out like this”, he scolded you gruffly before wrapping his jacket around you and hugging you closer. He was fussing over you even when he was the one who needed to be comforted.

You gently pulled away and settled your hands on his bicep. “Where did you go? I’ve been looking for you all this time. I ran all the way from the community hall and I even checked the offi-”

“You ran all the way here?!”, he asked incredulously. He was clearly changing the topic to avoid your questions. He huffed out a scoff and wiped your tears gently. “Now, why’d you do that? Are you crazy-”

“You’re crazy if you think I’m letting you spend the New Years alone”, you furrowed your eyebrows.

He opened his mouth to argue.

“What happened back there?”, you cut him off.

You observed the way he froze and averted his eyes from your intense gaze. He swallowed thickly before clearing his throat. “Nothin’. I just came back home because I was bored. Thought I’d let you have fun. Didn’t wanna ruin it for ya.”

You cupped his cheek and turned his head towards you. His eyes were tearing up. He clenched his jaw tightly to keep the tears at bay.

You scrunched your brows and caressed his cheek gently.

“Joel, I went into the kitchen for a moment and came back to a scene. Everyone was looking at Ellie and Dina. Tommy and Maria weren’t there. You weren’t there. Ellie….”, you trailed off before letting out a sigh. “She seemed disturbed. So was Dina. Ellie didn’t wanna talk to me, either. What happened, Joel?”, you whispered.

You saw how he was trying his best to hold it together. He closed his eyes and let out a weary sigh. A tear slid down his cheek and you wiped it with your thumb. He held your wrist gently and leaned into your palm.

“Ellie and Dina were dancin’ together. Seth was bein’ an asshole. He said this is a family event and called them a slur. I happened to hear it and I pushed him down. Told him to get out”, he murmured. Your eyes widened.

You knew Ellie and Dina liked each other and you were so happy because they’re adorable together and they made each other happy. But you had no idea that even in an apocalyptic world, some people were still a fucking dick about who’s kissing who.

“Oh god”, you murmured in disgust towards Seth. Joel nodded. “Yeah. Pissed me off real bad. But Ellie…”, his voice cracked.

“She..she didn’t like it. Told me she doesn’t need my fucking help”, he choked out.

“Oh, Baby..”, you whispered and held his face in both of your hands. Like he’s something precious.

That did it for him and he broke down. He let out a shaky breath. Your palms were damp with his tears.

“I just…I was just trying to protect her. It hurts so much. No matter what I do…I’ve lost her. I can’t-”, he cut himself off, his breathing uneven.

You quickly removed your hands from his face and helped him sit down on his chair.

His entire body stiffened up and he pressed his hand to his chest-near his heart. He was having a panic attack. You didn’t touch him to avoid startling him and kneeled in front of him instead.

“Hey, Joel. Tell me 5 things you can see?”, you asked him quietly.

He closed his eyes before taking in a deep breath and looked around.

“The…the porch light..the snow..the door…my shoes…you”, he whispered.

“Okay, now 4 things that you can touch?”

“The chair, m-my jacket…my jeans…my watch.”

“Good, now 3 things you can smell?”

“Smoke…wet soil…your shampoo.”

“That’s good, baby. Now 2 things you can hear?”

“The wind….your voice.”

“And now tell me 1 thing that you can feel?”

“My heartbeat”, he responded quietly before taking in a deep breath and letting it out.

“Good job, baby. Do you want some water?”, you asked him gently.

He weakly shook his head no before burying his face in his hands. You got up to get away from the freezing floorboards but he mistook that for you leaving him and snapped up his head. He held your wrist.

“Don’t go, please.”

He looked like he was pained by the idea of you leaving and it broke your heart all over again. You softened and stood closer to him, taking that as a sign to touch him.

“I’m not going anywhere, Joel. I was just bringing you some water”, you whispered to him and rubbed his back soothingly.

He released your wrist and slowly leaned his head against your stomach, wrapping his arms around your waist tightly.

You hugged him back and buried a hand in his beautiful curls and rubbed his back with the other.

“You did the right thing, honey. You protected her. And gave her space when she asked you to. I’m so proud of you. She’s just…she needs time to accept it, yeah? It’s not easy for her either. Plus, she’s growing up now. It’s just how the kids act like when they’re 19, we were probably the same as well”, you chuckled softly.

He let out a shuddering breath and kissed your stomach before propping his chin up on it to look at you. You stared back at his gentle eyes and brushed his curls back before caressing his forehead with your thumb.

“I’m sorry for the way she acted towards you, Joel. I know I said I’m not going to get involved but I will try to talk to her again, okay? I know you hate being away from her and you worry about her every second but you have to respect her boundaries too, Joel. Promise me?”, you asked him gently before cupping his face in your hands.

He swallowed and nodded his head.

“I understand.”

You gave him a smile. “Good. Now, I believe I saved you a dance?”

He smiled weakly. “There’s no music.”

“Who said we needed it anyways?”, you teased him and he let out a chuckle that showed his pretty dimple. You kissed his cheek.

You pulled away and held his hands in yours. He stood up and towered over you before winding an arm around your back, holding your free hand in his. You held the bicep of his arm that was around you and laid your head on his shoulder. He brought you closer and leaned his head on yours before swaying the two of you gently.

After a while, he nudged you to face him and delicately held your face in his hands before leaning in. The two of you share a sweet, loving kiss. Your lips gently massaging each other and your noses nudging against your cheeks.

You came away for air and leaned your forehead against his before circling his neck with your arms. His went around your hips and he pulled you impossibly closer.

“Happy new year, honey. I love you so much”, you whispered to him and nudged his nose with yours.

He flashed you his charming, dimpled smile. His cheeks were flushed.

“Happy New Year, Mrs. Miller. I love you with everything in me.”

The two of you were so intertwined with each other that the world disappeared around you.

Both of you didn’t notice Ellie standing in the darkness, observing and listening to everything with tears in her eyes.

AN: i can’t take their separation anymore please they’re so sad.

[pinkfishtank]

Back in your arms

Pairing:Bucky Barnes x Girlfriend!reader

Summary:Bucky finally comes back from the blip. And he seemed to have missed you a fuck ton.

Word count:3.5k

Warnings:smut/18+mdni/hickeys/shower sex/pet names (just baby)/fingering/a little angst/dirty talk/unprotective sex/female reader/ FIRST TIME WRITING SMUT IM SORRY.

Prompts:He be missing you a lot/“can you still take it?/fluff? and smut

Author’s Note:LIKE I SAID THIS IS NEW TO ME IM NOT USED TO WRITING SMUT. But this came in mind after I saw some post on here and was like “hehehehehheehhe”. So here I was writing till 5 in the morning. Anyways enjoy and like I said I love tips and advice.

The blip was…weird, terrifying, left the world confused and scared that maybe the rapture had came.

At first it was heartbreaking to you. Bucky had just never came back home. You were confused like many others and that lead you to so many stages of denial, like someone ghosting you or faking their death. Yet you never knew when he would come back. At least you knew it wasn’t just you who had lost the people they loved.

You even went to go see the wall of the vanished, hearing it apparently had everyone’s name on there that had completely vanished from the earth. God maybe this was the rapture, No, Bucky wouldn’t have disappeared. As you thought and constantly started checking the news of any updates like a stupid paranoid freak there was nothing. It’s not like the news could say anything I’m sure they had no idea where people had went. Then you had people who were incels who tried to make up theories, saying the Daily Bugle was always telling the truth, yet trying to watch it made your head spin worse then listening to an Australian accent.

In the end there wasn’t much people could do. Either wait till there was a solution, or accept this was a way of dying weirdly peacefully without torture or pain to them.

You tried to make the most of it. Getting therapy since you probably needed it, checking in on family and friends who had also lost many of the people who they truly cared about. While you sat there waiting at your door like a pet waiting for their owner to get home; weirdly kinky.

Five fucking years, five years of this crap. Useless bullshit of saying that their loved one’s have died in the rapture. You were in denial. Constantly remind you that Bucky was out there somewhere, looking for a way out. He wasn’t one to back down, maybe? No. But it had been five years what was the point of caring anymore at trying to find a way out. Maybe they were really dead, dying on the spot and everyone was just finding their way of mourning by using different predictions or theories since not much had ever been explained on it.

Acceptance was stupid, who needed it, you didn’t. You knew he was gone what was the point of waiting here in your Apartment to hear just that little click sound of the door being unlocked by the keys you gave him. You just needed him because during the night you were scared of the dark, ya that was definitely all of it. Not that he made you feel some sort of softness that made you wanna scream into you pillow; or that whenever you’d see each other some tight warm pit in your chest had you doing flips all day long. But mostly or some dark needy part of you couldn’t forget the amount of intimacy there was. You too were basically animals around each other. Every time you saw each other it was like something primal and hazy took over your mind, body, and soul. It was like you too were hungover each other, always getting lead to bed by him, his hands in your hair either in a nice soft way, or in a way that left you breathless, needy, begging for him to keep pulling until tears spilled down your face. No, this was stupid. Stupid stupid stupid lovey dovey shit he got you hooked onto like a fish before he said goodbye and went poof. And god how you wished it didn’t screw you up so much you had to start using a rose toy.

You sat on your bed, right in the middle instead of your designated side when that asshole was here. You watched some crappy reality tv show that made you think this is where people went when they were full on broke. This is really what you were doing on your Friday night; wrapped up in a big comforter snacking on anything. You got up since you were running out of snacks and you forced to pull yourself together as you walked to your fully lit kitchen, looking around at the empty space like a maniac who watched to much true crime.

Meanwhile your phone was buzzing like crazy.

As you got back you were met with newsletters you signed up for sending you a random breaking news emergency.

‘BREAKING NEWS! It seems to have been that all the sudden everyone from the snap of five years ago have been reappearing right where they were when they had left. This is not a drill people have been reappearing after all this time. Be aware of loved ones popping out of nowhere’

Oh what the fuck. No, that’s a lie this can’t all the sudden just be happening like the world just chose to bring everyone back. Yet again, it wasn’t April, as you quickly checked the date on your phone and sighed. Nope this was real this was pure fucking real shit happening right now. You looked around your room so many thoughts filling your head

What would happen if Bucky found you in this state?

Would he have changed?

Would he still like you?

Was he a zombie?

Okay now that’s just stupid. Right?

Next thing you know it you basically jumped up from your bed and started running around the room. You grabbed trash bags and threw any type of trash you found in your room, candy wrappers, soda cans, twisted tea cans, chip bags. Damn if crumbs were everywhere, you really let go when you lose someone don’t you?

It was like one of those stupid montages from a coming of age movie, music blared in your apartment as the loud sound of your vacuum seeped into the mix. The constant groans of how everywhere you looked there was a new messy problem you had to take care of by yourself. This news really just had to show up now didn’t it? Ya, to ruin your life and make you question everything. Hours and hours of cleaning while looking out at your window, then your door. Just need to hear a click, a sound of the door and you would be running to the door.

Yet after checking around the house to see if there were any more messy spots….nothing. There was nothing. Complete silence that scared you, making you run back in bed and turn on the tv again to the shitty tv. Knew it was a lie. Yet you saw so many post of people reconnecting with happiness in their eyes. That should be you. Where was Bucky? You felt like a puppy in a pound watching all the other pups get picked while you just sat there waiting for that right person to pick you up and praise you for being you. God maybe you were a pet.

It had been a week. All your friends had been reunited with their lovers and friends. When was it going to be your turn to see your man fly through that door and pick you up happy to see you for the first time in what? Five years? Or better he’d lift you up and take you to the bed, showing you how much he missed you. God you were fucked for that being one of your first thoughts. Your body tensed and ached just thinking about the stuff that would go on once he got here.

The day went on, work being…well work what were you expecting. It was boring with employees asking you the same question over and over, you trying to not lose your sanity and tell them to go ask someone else.

Yet once night set upon the city you look out the window, arms crossed as you stood there frozen in your pajamas and a little cardigan hiding any upper part of your body. Your body felt cold as your arms tightened around you like they were trying to replace Bucky’s arms when he held you, staring o ur this same big ass window; just enjoying the bliss.

‘Click.’

You were too in your head to pay attention to anything at the second. Like how your door was opening to a taller figure coming through the door looking around like the place was new.

“Baby?”

Your throat wasn’t letting you breathe, caught, like startled or surprised. You hadn’t even turned your body, not having too. That voice, deep pitched voice that filled the silence of the room. Before you could fully comprehend anything at the moment all you heard was the door carefully shut closed and the sound of step after hard step, getting closer. The air behind you made you shiver in your spine, gently stretching for a moment before the presence of familiarity was behind you lurking in for some sick joke.

“Sorry I’m late.” He whispered his voice just behind your ear, feeling the hot breath against the side of your neck. Until you finally spoke.

“Where were you?” Was that really all of what you had to stumble out of your mouth.

Bucky urged to not let his hands wander over your waist, to not pull you in so quickly. He fisted his hands up before finally speaking after one big hard sigh.

“I honestly got no fucking idea.” He murmured as he took in your full body. All he could think of was how god damn happy he was to see this body again, to have in right in front of him, and in the palm of his hands “but I missed you. Just had to get some stuff figured out before I came to see you.” He proceeded before looking down at his machine weapon hand, whatever you wanted to call his replacement to flesh.

Finally after a good couple of minutes you turned and looked at him, really looked. Seeing the way his muscular body hadn’t seemed to change, just seemed to be more worn out. Had he aged during the blip? There were so many questions going through your head yet you didn’t feel like reminding him of everything he had probably been through the night of the snap.

Before you could think of asking a soft breath left your mouth and your hand lifted up to his robotic arm. The metal cold and tired against your palm.

It was like Bucky’s arm was still there when he felt your touch. Even if that was lie and the machine was still well a machine, your touch, sense made him let out a shivery exhale. He swallowed any curses or words that would spill out and just looked up at your eyes interlocking with his.

“I know you probably have so many questions but I’d rather just enjoy this, enjoy everything curve and trace of your body I’ve been craving for so long.” He couldn’t hold his word anymore, he needed you to understand just how much of the your touch he had needed these past five years

Your breathing hitched and you bit the inside of your mouth, gnawing at the chewy flesh. It was hard not to give in, not to completely fall to your knees and become a stupid mess.

As his face got closer you could feel your breath mixing with his. They way yall looked at each other made sparks flare in each others eyes

“Have you moved on? Were you seeing anyone while I blipped with most of the world” he asked like he knew the answer, but wanted to hear come from your mouth, Hear you say those words that meant you belonged to him. Even when he was gone.

You shook your head slowly looking down and taking a moment before speaking up. “No.”

He nodded smiling a bit, taking a moment for those words to slip into his head. God it felt good to him knowing you were his.

“Join me in the shower.”

“Right now?”

“Mhm.”

And just like that he walked off expecting you to follow, in which you did. Why wouldn’t you? Your body felt warm, fuzzy, like every part of you wanted to remember that touch of his.

As yall got to the bathroom he slowly pulled off his shirt and so did you, pulling off your cardigan revealing the lacy tank top covering the bit of skin it could. As you stripped your eyes were locked on his body like a magnet or a fresh piece of meat. You looked at his arm and curiously tilted your head

“What about your arm….thingy machine.”

“Waterproof” He said firmly before continuing to strip until he was left in nothing. Both of your bare bodies. You watched as he walked into the shower and turned it on, the glass panels quick to fog up. You stood out for a moment watching as you could see him under the shower head getting his hair and body wet. Biting your lip you walked to the light switches and turned on the main light, dimming the room of only the light under the shower.

And once that was done you basically padded over to the shower, walking in before gently closing the door behind you. All you saw was the toned hard body of Bucky’s. Flexing not by command as he sighed into the relaxing heat. Next thing you know you were grabbing the body wash and gently pouring it into the palm of your hand.

“Lemme help.” You murmured as you walked behind him, your small form comparing to his tall rough one. Your hands made its way to his back and gently massaged the soap suds in. Getting every nook and cranny. All you could hear were the faint groans he let in pleasure of the heat. Bucky really didn’t wanna hurry things, but five years of pent up arousal was enough to make any man wild for his woman. With that he slowly turned looking down at your form. Taking in every beautifully curved body part of yours.

“I don’t wanna rush things.” He whispered before looking into your eyes before speaking his truth “but if you just say anything approving I will let go.”

That was enough to make your breath hitch and every part of yours body to tense up with the same arousal you had been feeling all these years. You stayed quiet for a moment trying to fully get your thoughts together before finally giving into everything you had been waiting for.

“Then let go.” You whispered and in seconds you felt those rough large hands wrapping around your waist, pulling you in like a lifeline. Like you were everything he ever wanted. As he looked down at you and took in all of you with his eyes he smiled and pushed his lips onto yours, needing to taste the sweetness of your lips. He didn’t stop, letting it start off soft and hazy, letting the passion drip into your mouth before basically devouring you. Bucky bit and nipped at your lip as you gasped into his sudden desire to make sure you knew who you belonged to, who you had been waiting for all this time.

“Is this what you’ve been needing” He asked in between him feeding his starvation

“Y-yes god yes.” You moaned as your breath hitched and lead to a little yelp but you felt his hands wander, his hot hands trailing up your back then down to your plump ass. He gave it a nice squeeze as he groaned. licking your licks, asking for permission to be let in you let out another quiet moan before you felt him devour it with his tongue diving into your mouth, exploring all he wanted.

His hands were a whole on their own mission though. One resting on your waist as he backed you under the stream of water, hot and nice, just like how y’all seemed to be at the moment. Once he had you all backed up the water flowed between both of y’all. The other hand of his went down your chest, and you knew exactly where the target was going for. Just as you thought of that the gentle circling of your clit started, and you gasped moaned into his mouth while he rubbed harder, quicker, and in all the right places.

One of your hands ran down the foggy glass panel while the other was on the toned muscles of his chest letting you feel him down.

“I missed this so much” you murmured as he groaned and nodded

“I could tell.” He said firmly with pride as he kept going before finding your pussy and gently sliding a finger into there. Your head laid against the tile of the shower wall and you bit your lip before looking up at him with those pleading eyes.

“Another.” You breathed as he nodded and dipped in another before finally curling his fingers, determined to find that sweet spot as he started pumping in and out. The stimulation of the pump and curling left me breathless. With his tongue deep in my mouth I whimpered as I felt those urges to let go, the need to release all over his hands.

“I think-I think I’m gonna”

“Come on baby let it get all over my fingers” He urged as he pumped harder until finally he noticed he hit that sweet spot and you arched your back against the tile, gasping as you felt yourself release and shiver against his touch.

For a moment you just leaned against the wall. Taking that all in for just a moment before looking up at him and his cheeky fucking smile. Bucky looked at you for a moment before pulling out the digits of his fingers out and bringing them to his mouth and licking the clean, not breaking eye contact once.

“You fucking taste delicious.” He murmured against his fingers. You couldn’t help but just watch and get all red in the face like an idiot before he finally ran a hand through his hair under the stream of water.

“Come on baby now I need my fill too.” He said firmly as you forgot about his erection. Your eyes lowered down and saw the thick veiny cock of his sprung against his stomach, already leaking with pre-cum. You couldn’t stop staring seeming like a perv but being in a trance thinking about all the thing he could do to you right here right now made you just wanna cum on the spot right here right now again.

Next thing you know his hands were on the back of your thighs gripping them as he lift them up into the air and against the wall. Making sure you were pinned up all nice with your legs now wrapped around him. Your arms snaked around his neck holding on, awaiting for him

“Think you can still take it?”

“I-I think so”

Bucky groaned and gently pumped his cock a couple of times before rubbing his pre-cum against your slit, making your head fall back from the teasing. You whimpered and squirmed as he chuckled before finally sliding his cock in, inch by aching inch. You could feel the way he stretched you out yet made sure in every way you were okay. He peppered your neck in light kiss and nips, leaving tiny hickeys everywhere over the neck.

“Tell me when to move” he whispered before you nodded and squirmed a bit

“Move please fuck move” you whimpered as a sudden gasp left you breathless while he started pumping into you, pulling out leaving just the tip in, just to pump into you with new found eager. Showing you how much he missed you, how much he was waiting till he’d get back to you.

Bucky cursed and groaned as he drove deep into your pussy looking down to see your pussy accommodating his size,stretching it out till it had a tint of red around the ring of your hole. You could tell he was getting closer, with the way he pumped into you harder and harder. And while he was close you were too, feeling that hot pit in your stomach needing to be emptied. You put your hand on the panel leaving a mark on the foggy glass.

“F-fuck! I need to cum, I need you to cum inside of me” you breathed out as you pulled his lips to yours for one last kiss before all you felt was the grip of his hold on you become harsher until you gasped and felt as the ropes of cum bursted inside of you, while you came on his cock, mixing your juices together in a mess. As he kept pumping into you, you fell limp in his arms, pressing your forehead against his as his hand went into your hair. His pace slowly down.

“I have a lot to explain.”

“Ya you fucking do.”

[iamespecter]

I've been thinking a lot about episode 4 recently, but not exactly in a way that what most would think. I'm actually specifically referring to this scene of Zooble and Jax.

But I'm not thinking about Jax and Zooble, rather I'm looking at the patties.

They're fucking High Definition. In fact, everything in the diner is high definition, save for the NPCs. There's also Orbsman. A simple NPC comprised of blue spheres, and simple elongated eyes. He's the most out of place NPC, if we disregard the mannequins. Even the way he moves is so outdated, and Ragatha had made a point that Orbsman comes from an adventure way before Pomni's arrival.

The guy even clips through the table when trying to order.

Something that always had some sirens going off in my head is how the Circus is this low-poly scenery with heavily stylized props, but the adventure locations are always much more detailed and realistic.

Since The Grounds is definitely, if not, one of the oldest locations, it makes sense for it to be graphically styled like this. But Caine's adventure set pieces are becoming more and more realistic, and also a whole lot more morbid than we had initially thought.

Going back to the patties, the food there is more realistic and has a higher polygon count compared to Bubble's "feast".

Where am I going with this? .... I have no idea, I forgot. /j

Jokes aside, I really do think that as more humans enter the circus and talk about what life is in the real world, Caine extracts that data and improves the 3D environmental props, resulting in higher definition textures.

All of this combined means he can learn. He IS an ever-evolving pseudo-sentient AI. And the reason why he's stagnating is because of a combination of being trapped in his own little bubble (haha see what I did there) of comfort, and the fact that no one's really able to give him criticism on how to improve, which is.... honestly understandable, given how he reacted to the whole "it was bad" line from Pomni and "Why did you think I would like that?!" from Zooble.

Not to mention episode 3 where the whole circus started to glitch when he was just thinking about the fact that he could possibly be bad at the "only thing he's good at" during the therapy session.

In fact it's interesting how human Caine acts sometimes... I think it's quite interesting to think about the fact that Caine is both progressing in terms of bringing the casts' world to the digital circus and making it so HD that it looks even better than Triple A games, but regressing even more in terms of catering to them and what exactly humans need.

He understands, and doesn't at the same time.

This also makes me think about the players themselves, too.

Ragatha, one of the oldest players, gets pierced by a spike through her chest, and barely has any reaction to it. Meanwhile, Zooble, the second most recent member, gets scalded by the stove.

The only time Ragatha actively claims she's in "so much pain" is when she's glitching badly. Both Ragatha and Kinger barely react to the knives too; and not to mention Ragatha even gets fucking plunged into a boiling deep fryer, and yes while she screams, it sounds more like she's just drowning rather than being fried alive.

And the only patch up she gets is a FUCKING BAND AID ON HER CHEEK. A COMPLETELY UNRELATED WORKPLACE INJURY FIRST AID APPLIANCE LMFAO

It could be just a coincidence and I'm just being stupid again, but I think this "improvement" actually also applies to the rest of the cast, and how their digital bodies react to the five different senses. I'm sure Ragatha and Kinger can most definitely still feel pain, but not exactly as "bad" as the newer integrations do. Dare I say, it's on brand with how used these two are to the digital world's wackiness because they've been there the longest.

Like they've been numbed to the pain of the countless adventures they've had to go through.

Anyways my brain be thinking useless facts fr fr

EDIT: Going back to Caine, it's definitely interesting how this AI seems to possess (some) emotions in the first place. He's mostly wacky and nonchalant, but he also gets angry under the right conditions.

... I think not only is his adventures his "work of art", but also his main coping mechanism from the fact that he can't achieve his goal, one that constantly backfires on him. Like a 'one step forward, two steps back' scenario that's slowly causing him to slip and break.

And what scares me the most is that like all things... he'll reach a breaking point sometime. He's already reached a breaking point with Zooble. It doesn't help that Gangle could've possibly made things worse with introducing Caine to the whole "punishment" thing, and since we literally have NO context for the last 3 episodes for the finale... I could only fear what's in store.

[majinael]

Kaiser, how we know him in the manga, absolutely does not know how to love and would never end up in a relationship or at least, a healthy one, so, I'll write here one of my most important works (that I'll probably refer to in a lot of my future writings), helping you guys understanding what I think is the most realistic way he could love anyone.

★TW : mentions of mental abuse, depression.

★1k words

✾ You absolutely fell in love first and stayed even after seeing him fail and witnessing the worst sides of him with your own eyes.

✾ Kaiser would eventually notice something special in you, something he didn’t see at first. As time passed, he couldn’t help being drawn to you because you saw through his facade—the ego, the arrogance—and treated him with both blunt honesty and quiet compassion.

✾ He desired you, though not in a romantic way at first. To him, you were someone he needed around, someone he didn’t want anyone else to have, almost as if you were an object to be kept.

✾ One day, you found enough courage to confess your feelings to him. To Kaiser, it was an opportunity to keep you tethered to him, to have control over you. He accepted, assuming you were the type to be so stupidly in love that you’d let anything slide—and you did.

✾ Even then, he tried to “love” you, though selfishly. He didn’t want you to leave, even if he didn’t truly know how to put you first or care for you in a way that wasn’t about his own gratification.

✾ You stayed because you saw glimpses of the person he could be, because you believed he deserved to be loved, and because you were far too attached to walk away.

✾ Over the years, however, the emotional weight of loving someone so broken—someone who was unwilling to change no matter how many arguments or breaks you endured—began to take its toll. His jealousy, his possessiveness, and his inability to communicate left you exhausted.

✾ “Why do you always forgive me, even when I don’t deserve it?” he asked one night, his frustration laced with disbelief. He thought you might have finally given up on him. You just smiled sadly and replied, “Because someone has to.”

✾ Eventually, your love alone wasn’t enough to hold you together. You left—not out of anger, but out of self-preservation. You were on the brink of losing yourself entirely.

✾ At first, Kaiser wasn’t overly concerned and was mostly in denial. He convinced himself you’d come back, just as you always had. When hours turned into days, he believed you felt the same need for him as he did for you. But as the days turned into weeks, the silence began to gnaw at him.

✾ He spiraled, masking his pain with his usual bravado—if not more exaggerated than ever. Yet when he was alone, he was consumed by thoughts of you being with someone else. The idea drove him mad, and for the first time, he felt true, raw heartbreak. He realized your leaving wasn’t an act of abandonment but a final act of love—giving him what he thought he wanted most from you towards the end: freedom.

✾ Kaiser wasn’t used to losing or feeling such despair paired with a complete loss of control. Refusing to accept the end, he did everything in his power to win you back—grand gestures, heartfelt confessions, and promises he’d never made to anyone before.

✾ Of course, you were deeply hurt and hesitant. “Words don’t mean much, Kaiser. You need to show me,” you said firmly.

✾ He offered you everything—luxury, security, anything money could buy—but you demanded something far more valuable: his willingness to change.

✾ One of your conditions for reconciliation was therapy, something Kaiser initially scoffed at. “You think talking to some stranger is going to fix me?” he said, incredulous, thinking he knew everything about psychology already.

✾ But he agreed, not just out of desperation but also because when he saw your tearful, pleading eyes filled with hope that this time it could change, he couldn’t refuse. For the first time, he understood that this was something he had to do—not even for you, but for himself.

✾ The sessions were slow and grueling, forcing him to confront parts of himself he’d buried for years—his insecurities, his fears, and his warped view of love.

✾ Over time, after almost two years, he began to heal. He learned to express his feelings in healthier ways, to apologize without deflecting, and to listen instead of always trying to be right. Winning you back wasn’t a quick process. It took years of effort, of proving he had changed—not just for you, but for himself.

✾ During this time, you were together but not entirely as close as most couples might be. You still needed proof that he had truly changed, even though you frequently told him, “I’m proud of you.”

✾ When you finally accepted him again, it was under the condition that he continued to grow. This time, he was willing to meet you halfway and love you in a way that didn’t destroy you. “You stayed when I didn’t deserve it,” he said one night. “Now it’s my turn to stay, no matter how long it takes to make things right.”

✾ You were the first person—the only person—who cared for him so deeply, who showed him what selfless, innocent, and unconditional love looked like.

✾ And, in turn, Kaiser became someone capable of deep, selfless love himself. He cherished you not as a possession but as an equal partner.

✾ The scars of your past together never fully faded, but they served as reminders of how far you had come. “You taught me how to love,” he told you one day, his voice softer than you’d ever heard it. “And I’ll spend the rest of my life proving I deserve it.”

✾ For the first time, he said the words he never thought he could mean, the words he never expected to truly feel: “I love you.”

MK:"Someone beautiful, smart, and full of love."

[temis-de-leon]

When they don't know you as well as they thought they did

Characters: Lucifer, Mammon, Leviathan, Satan, Asmodeus, Beelzebub and Belphegor (x reader, separately)

Main Masterlist

C/W: the boys are crushing on MC and it's implied MC is crushing as well, but there isn't any established relationship. Just friends feeling things for their friend, very common. Self-insert, perhaps?

A/N: this is just fluff, very silly, a little ooc maybe, but I'm not sure. I just wanted to make something fun and lighthearted after the recent news.

.

No one is surprised anymore at the firmness the brothers speak with when they call you part of the family. Between the pacts and the unsolicited free therapy, it’s only fair, and only an idiot wouldn’t be able to see the affection running through the House of Lamentation.

Still, there are instances every once in a while where, although it’s difficult at the beginning, the boys have no other choice but to accept the fact that you have a completely different life back in the human world and they may not know you as good as they would like.

It starts with the small things; embarrassing conversations where their ignorance gets you to laugh like a maniac more than a couple of times. There they are, blushing in self-consciousness while you cackle uncontrollably because they believed some urban legend about a faceless suited man with freakishly long arms.

Then, slowly, but surely, it turns into more personal things about you, like your irrational, downright, phobia of lizards or the fictional characters you’re surprisingly attracted to.

(Some of those aren’t human, which makes them all feel a strong sense of hope, but you don’t need to know that).

The brothers learn about your studies, favourite subjects and what you’d like to do with your future, even if it sounds hopeless or unlikely. They also keep every bit of information about your friends and family; little comments that you let go here and there and help them understand why you are someone they love so much.

The whole situation evolves in such a way that inviting them to your birthday party in the human realm seems to be the obvious next step.

‘It’s so I can celebrate it with all my loved ones’ you say, and they really can’t deny your offer after that.

So, after a few awkward introductions and half-truths about their origin, everyone is happily talking to each other and eagerly waiting for their turn to be with you.

.

Lucifer, who has had a special interest in your family for a while, finds himself chuckling in understanding when your mother complains about the occasional mess in your room. In your defence, he feels obligated to partially throw his brothers under the bus and blame them for keeping you in a constant state of disarray, but then she says something that… perplexes him.

You don’t like perfection? His eyes open wide at the revelation and your mother chuckles, misinterpreting his expression. She doesn’t know who he really is or what he represents, after all.

Just how vast is the veracity of that statement? Does it refer only to a state of mind or do you apply it to everything else?

Thankfully, he doesn’t have time to feel too anxious before he remembers the little details. When your triumphal smile shone in the dimness of his room that time he made a silly mistake in chess, ultimately granting you the win; or when the Anti-Lucifer League managed to leave his hair unkempt for an entire day, which got you to shamelessly look at him for longer than any of his younger brothers would’ve ever liked.

Not being perfect isn’t something he would ever do consciously and he had always found solace in the fact that you like him despite his mistakes. However, knowing you actually like him because of those mistakes? Perhaps letting those cracks show in his façade isn’t so bad as long as it is for you.

.

Not far from him, Mammon chats with your human best friend. There’s an air of competitiveness between them, both wanting to be the ultimate best friend, but it all stays light-hearted. There’s no real threat when Mammon gets to be your first demon, you know? It’s a unique position!

But he still makes sure to assert dominance by stating he would’ve made the perfect party for you, better than the one you’re currently enjoying; with food and decorations from the Devildom and the Celestial realm included, matching outfits and, of course, keeping everything hidden so you can have the best surprise of your life. He had thrown a lot of those with Asmo’s help back home, so he knows you love them!

Or he thinks you do, at least.

Your friend sniggers harmlessly when they hear that last part, pointing at him with an infuriating smartass attitude, and immediately shatters Mammon’s reality.

What the heck do they mean, you don’t like surprise parties? He’d done a lot of those back at the Devildom and you’d never complained, appreciative as you are, even helping him do the same for other’s birthday parties!

Sure, you had always looked dumbfounded by the loud cheering and the confetti after stepping through the door, but that was part of the fun… right? You would tell him if you wanted him to stop, wouldn’t you?

He feels a pang in his heart when the idea of you being uncomfortable for his sake appears in his mind, but it doesn’t make sense. While you undeniably treat him better than anyone else in all of the realms, you still correct him when you see fit and him making you unhappy on your own birthday would be one of those occasions.

He trusts you to confide in him when things are wrong just as much as you trust him to do his best. That’s what friends are for, after all.

.

And where else would Levi be if not hidden in a corner playing with his DDD?

He had tried mingling with people at the party, or at least tried hanging around them, he swears, but conversations became repetitive and boring and then he received a notification for a daily reward from one of his apps, so, of course, he had to sit down to collect it. Then minutes passed as he completed minigames to power up his cards and… you get the idea.

So when a friend of yours walked towards him, complimenting the pins and badges on his bag and the faint music coming out of his headphones, sure, the evening started going way smoother.

He talks enthusiastically, just like any other time his interests are mentioned, wildly gesturing with his hands and letting the little bubble around them be full of their eager exchange. However, a casual lament from his companion stops him right in his tracks.

It’s a shame you don’t like anime…? His first reaction is to laugh, enumerating everything you’d watched, and later commented on, with him under a blanket in the tranquillity of his room, but the utter surprise in your friend’s face leaves him speechless.

You really don’t like it? But… But he’s made you see so many things! Did you like any of them? Did you lie to his face when you said you enjoyed them? He would’ve never chosen a best friend like that; you were not like that and he refused to believe the contrary.

Also, would a liar buy merch on their own like you did? Would they watch the best episodes again or listen to the soundtrack on repeat when they had a bad day? This new revelation only makes him aware he was the one to change your perspective of the fine arts and he’s damn proud of that.

You are still getting an earful when you get back home, though.

.

Satan thinks the kid is a young cousin of yours, but he really hasn’t been paying attention to anything in a long while. How could he, when the enthusiastic toddler had taken their mother’s phone just to show him the family cat’s pictures and videos?

A Mackerel tabby cat, too chubby for his own good but not enough to be actually concerning; playing with feathers, blinking slowly, bumping his head against legs and shoulders, meowing sweetly and, basically, opening his heart in half and making it roam inside his chest like a butterfly.

What a good party.

He mentions all the stray cats behind his house, obviously leaving behind the name of the House of Lamentation and the Devildom, and all the times you’ve gone with him to feed them and play. Satan even shows pictures on his DDD and stops with an adoring expression when you appear on the screen, sitting on your toes with a kitty on your knees and smiling past the camera, straight at Satan.

However, what he hears next takes the air right out of his lungs. He sits down and clutches his pearls and the kid stares at him in anxious confusion, clearly witnessing but not understanding the severity of his distress.

Who, in their right mind, doesn’t like cats?

He remembers the first few times you had accompanied him to his route, intimidated and slightly lingering behind. Initially, he had assumed it was due to the novelty of your friendship or a possible fear of Devildom fauna, but nothing against cats!

Were you afraid of them or just plain uninterested? Why keep going with him if you weren’t as fond of them as he thought you were? Wouldn’t it be because of him, would it?

A warm feeling covers him like a blanket, makes him search for you with his eyes and then immediately blush when you excitedly wave at him, point at the kid and mouth ‘Cute cat!’

Yeah. Very cute.

.

On the other hand, Asmo hangs out with the people responsible for the decorations of the party and compliments them on their work. The colours are well-coordinated, there’s nothing out of place and the distribution was thought with all the guests in mind.

Although he hasn’t been able to help in that regard, he’s made sure you would be the centre of attention that evening; a complicated feature coming from him, but he had never minded sharing the main spot just as long as you were the one by his side; and everyone knows that.

You look cute and pretty and hot in your outfit, a style that both compliments and pleases you. You also worked together in your makeup for hours before getting to the party.

However, taking that much time might have been due to scrolling through social media and gossiping so much, but never mind that. Everyone agrees you look incredible and that is more than enough for him.

It isn’t until one of your friends mentions how weird it is to see you wearing makeup that he dares take his eyes away from you to stare at them in disbelief.

He would’ve never guessed that given that one of your favourite pastimes together is makeup as a whole: going shopping, watching tutorials, following trends, doing your own next to each other, doing each other’s… And, even if he wants to use it, his charming power is useless against you, so he knows you do your makeup because you want to and not because you feel forced by him.

Whether it’s something you share because you enjoy it or something you enjoy because you share it with him, he isn’t sure, but he can swear on his precious damned soul that makeup isn’t a need for you.

It’s just a bonus to your beauty.

.

Sitting at one of the tables, Beel is simultaneously talking to your older sibling while gulping down an entire plate of bite-sized snacks; thankfully, whatever apprehension anyone felt at his hunger died hours ago and now the conversation flowed more naturally, mainly centred around you.

As much as he loves having you near him and his brothers in the House of Lamentation and thinking of you as another member of the family, he is very interested in knowing how your human family is, especially your siblings. It’s another way of relating to you and making him feel closer.

Plus, he gets to know stories from your childhood you may never tell him on your own; anecdotes that will stay at the table he is currently sharing with your sibling.

Unfortunately, they reach a point where, although he wants to keep asking questions about you, doing so with a mouth full of food might end up with Lucifer’s scolding of the year. Also, he really wants to make a good impression.

So your sibling begins asking the questions. Surprisingly, they start with his tattoo; dark red curling around his muscles and almost going unnoticed under the colours of dusk. Beel smiles without giving it any importance because it really doesn’t have it, but forces himself to stop gulping down food when your sibling throws a fun fact about you.

You find tattoos attractive?

He feels an instant burning on his cheeks followed by the rapid beating of his heart and a knot in his stomach, but there’s also a faint unpleasant sour taste in his mouth.

You’ve never asked him about his tattoo, barely sparing a glance at it when you worked out together or he took off his jacket.

He wonders if you don’t like it or if you think it doesn’t look good on him because all he can remember is the focused look in your eyes while looking at his and the curve of your smile growing bigger as you listen to whatever he says, even when it is entirely about food, and…

You know what? He doesn’t really mind. He is fine with things as they are.

.

As both a friend of yours and a fellow younger brother, Belphie respects your sibling’s decision to spill your darkest secrets and thoroughly enjoys the air of comradery between them.

Don’t worry, he won’t let it go past actual serious matters; if you want him to know any of that, he’d rather have you telling him yourself when you’re ready and not get betrayed by your sibling. Silly and harmless pieces of information, however? Those are more than welcome.

And he already has a favourite.

You need to hug plushies to sleep? Tell him more. He doesn’t judge you for feeling the need to hug toys or pillows while sleeping. Actually, he understands.

Do you have a favourite? Is it in the human realm or is it in your room back at the House of Lamentation? While he can recall seeing that ugly zombie iguana on your bed, he’s never seen you cuddling it while sleeping and, other than that, he doesn’t remember seeing one, so he wonders if you hide it somewhere when you know he’s going to your room; but what about those times he enters uninvited?

Does that mean you left your preferred plushie in your room in the human realm? Does that mean that you don’t actually need to hug anything to sleep?

Whenever you share a bed, which is pretty frequent, Belphie can sense an invisible barrier between you that he’s dying to break. It’s nothing physical, given that only he knows how truly comfortable your lap and your chest are, but it’s obvious in the way your hands hesitate to bring him closer.

Shy and indecisive, while you don’t reject his advances, he’s still unsure what your feelings on the matter are. He’d initially thought you weren’t used to having anything so close to you while sleeping, but… now… Maybe he has to assure you that you can hug him as hard as you want.

Belphie is just as good as any plushie, after all; if not better.

.

.

Taglist: @ilovecandys2010  @ollieoven @kingofspadesdelusion @whimsybloom

[mafiadad5]

Teach me to not love, Epilouge: Haechan’ s Journal.

Read: Teach me to not love -> Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3

W/c- 1.3k

Now playing: Journey Mercies- Mark Lee

══════════════════════════

Journal Entry #1 – The Day You Left

I messed up.

I keep replaying her face from that night— when it all finally hit her. She looked so exhausted, so tired. Not just physically, but like her soul had been carrying too much for too long.

Yeah, Jaemin was part of it, but so was I. Probably more than I want to admit.

I tried to protect her, but it was too late— and in the worst way. I thought just being there, having feelings, meant I was doing something right, but love isn't enough if your actions don't show up with it.

I wanted to explain everything. I wanted her to scream, to cry, to throw something, anything but just walk away, but I slipped up, and made it worse. Everything she said before she left... about me ending up alone... it hurt. Not because it was new, but because I've told myself that for years. Hearing it from her made it real though. Because she tried, she gave me a chance, and I blew it.

I drank myself sick that night. Don't even remember calling her. But when I woke up and saw her there— water on the nightstand, trash can by the bed, I knew I didn't deserve her.

I don't really know if I'm writing this for her or for me, maybe both.

But I know one thing: I want to be better. I have to be.

══════════════════════════

Journal Entry #2 – A Week After You Left

Therapy's weird.

I hate silence, but this kind of silence... it pulls the words out of you. And once I start talking, it's like I can't stop.

Today I told him I feel like I ruin every good thing that touches my life. That even my own parents didn't really want to deal with me. He asked when I learned to survive like that.

I didn't say anything at first, then I said everything.

We talked about control, about how I hold back, how I try to manage pain by never letting anyone get too close.

I realized something. I didn't just want her, I wanted the moment she chose me and I wanted to hold on to that moment forever. That's not love, that's fear dressed up as romance.

Real love lets people walk away, and still hope they find peace.

I'm starting to understand that.

══════════════════════════

Journal Entry #3 – One Month Later

If she ever comes back, and that's a big if... I'm not going to be the guy who just says, "I've changed."

I want her to see it. 

I'll show her patience. Speak softly, even when I'm hurting. I'll listen, even when I want to argue.

If she needs space, I'll give it. If she says no, I'll respect it. If she doubts me, I'll understand.

Clarity is something I need to meet, not fight.

Now, I just want to deserve her.

══════════════════════════

Journal Entry #4 – The Night You Came Back

She came back.

It felt like coming up for air after being underwater too long.

She looked different, not in a physical way, but like... whole. Like she found pieces of herself I never even realized she lost.

When she said she was willing to try again— slowly, I didn't feel like I got her back. I felt like I was being given a chance to love her right this time.

And that's the only way this works.

If this is all we are... soft steps forward, quiet moments, a journal and a promise, I'll take it.

══════════════════════════

Journal Entry #5 – One Month Later

We're still taking it slow.

Some people think slow means uncertain. Like we're tiptoeing around something fragile, but it doesn't feel like that.

It feels calm. Like we're both learning to breathe again in the same space, at our own pace.

She smiles more now. Not the kind of smile that hides things. This one's different, it's soft, real, and sometimes when she doesn't know I'm watching, it breaks my heart in the best way.

I didn't know watching someone else heal could feel like healing too.

I still get urges to rush— reach for her hand, kiss her, ask if she's mine yet, but I don't act on them. Not out of fear, but out of respect.

And honestly? I like this version of us.

If love is slow and steady, I'm finally ready for that kind.

══════════════════════════

Journal Entry #6 – Two Months Later

I think I'm ready to ask her out.

Not in the casual, "let's see where this goes" way. I mean for real, with intention.

I've thought about what I'd say. I'd tell her this isn't about our past, it's about what we've built through it.

That loving her like this— slow and steady... with care, has been the best thing I've ever done.

If she says no, I'll be okay.

That's how I know I'm really ready. I don't need her to say yes to feel whole. I don't need her to love me back to believe I'm worth loving.

Still... I really hope she says yes.

══════════════════════════

Journal Entry #7 – Five Months Later

She said yes.

I asked her while we were walking, hands in my pockets, stumbling over my words. I was so nervous, it probably didn't even make sense.

She laughed, then she smiled and said yes.

It wasn't fireworks, it wasn't some big cinematic moment. It was quiet and it meant everything. 

We're not perfect. We still have tough days, we still talk things through slowly, but now there's honesty.

She doesn't wonder if I'll change. I don't worry if she'll leave.

We both did the work. First alone, then together and now we're here. Still growing,  still healing, but in love— for real this time.

And if this is where the story ends... I wouldn't change a single word.

══════════════════════════

You stayed up later than you meant to. The apartment was quiet, just the hum of the AC and the soft rhythm of Haechan breathing beside you, out cold after insisting he "wasn't tired" and falling asleep twenty minutes into the movie.

The journal sat open in your lap.

You hadn't expected him to hand it over so casually tonight. Just said, "If you're ready... I think I want you to read this now."

And you were ready, you didn't realize it until the first few lines, then you couldn't stop.

Entry after entry— his fear, his shame, the way he tried and failed, and tried again. The way he broke things, the way he realized he wanted to fix them... not just for you, but for himself. The way he started to become someone better, even before you said yes.

You wiped your cheeks more than once.

Not because it was sad— but because it was honest.

And now, sitting here in the glow of the hallway light, with his words still fresh in your mind and his arm gently brushing yours in sleep, you felt it for real. 

You weren't the same girl who spiraled at parties and mistook chaos for love. He wasn't the same boy who ran when things got too real. You both unraveled and then rebuilt yourselves in the quiet, and in doing that, you somehow found each other again, not as broken people clinging to each other, but as two whole people finally learning how to hold love the right way.

You closed the journal, laid it on the nightstand, and slid under the covers beside him. He stirred slightly, mumbling your name like it was instinct. You smiled to yourself, letting your fingers trace gentle patterns along his back.

You weren't sure what the future held, but tonight, you were sure of this:

You were healed. You were in love. And this time, you weren't losing yourself to keep him.

══════════════════════════

a/n- hi guys ! Thank you so much for reading, I truly hope you enjoyed it. I poured so much of myself into this, so it’s a little bittersweet to let it go… but also kind of a relief, lol.

Just a quick reminder: part one, two, and the beginning of three portray a VERY toxic version of love. This is not how you deserve to be treated, so If you ever find yourself in a similar situation— run 😭.

And with that… goodbye 💋 <333

© mafiadad5 2025

[skimmingmilk]

aughhh sonic going back in time to visit little two yr old tails as been in my brain for what feels like forever! like how many dots does he end up connecting? how does he have the strength to not travel back further and knock the daylights out of tails’s mom? how does he react to the whole kukku invasion and forest fire? so many questions…aaaaa im so excited for this fic i will be in ruins. in ruins, i tell you

also with the whole sonic punching tails’s mom thing: you were talking about tails and his parents, but like sonic interacting (or just seeing) tails’s parents is always something ive thought about. idk, im curious about what your take on that would be, if you have one. (sorry if you’ve already answered something like this ahshhshs)

your boys are just spinning around in my brain constantly. they are living in there completely rent free. i adore them sm, they make me sick. anytime there’s a reference or parallel to something in their past, it hurts. these boys need therapy immediately. maybe even before immediately. your portrayal of them is such a huge inspiration istg

anyway, sorry this is kinda all over the place 😭 i just had a bunch of thoughts and threw them together in the most coherent way i could lol. hope you have a good rest of your night/day! stay safe out there 🩵

So, I was saving this because it really inspired me to write a little something, and it felt fitting because I live for your baby Tails and Sonic art, it's seriously the best boost of serotonin for me xD I'm sorry it took a minute to get to this, and I'll address the second idea you had in another ask (someone else was on the same wavelength as you around this time, and also asked about Sonic and Tails and Tails's parents xD).

But for now, please accept a continuation of the back in time shenanigans <3

Sonic Back In Time Shenanigans WIP #2: Back for the Luggage

Tracking down a second Chaos Emerald so he could skip back in time for an afternoon wasn’t how Sonic saw himself spending the past few days. Though, to be fair, he spent a good chunk of them trying to ignore the very itch encouraging him to give into this particular whim of the week, but impulse control wasn’t Sonic the Hedgehog’s claim to fame. Not by a long shot.

His curiosity had been piqued. New insight into the lore of his little brother’s life before he’d ever crossed his path niggled at his mind no matter how far and fast he ran from the temptation to take a peek. The glimpse he’d got on that rainy night hadn’t been all that reassuring, with Tails so small and sick and the time Sonic got to spend with him in that dusty, stuffy cabin all too brief.

Cocoa Island. He’d looked it up after he and Silver returned to Sonic’s present, their respective futures stabilized for the time being, but he couldn’t find much information on it. If it wasn’t for the fact that Sonic could chart it on a map, it almost seemed like it didn’t even exist.

Historic records mentioned studies of the volcanic activity on the island more than a decade ago. Mines had also been dug out in the cave systems throughout the island long before Sonic had been born, in search of potential esoteric energy sources.

The Chaos Emeralds, no doubt.

But other than that, it seemed the island had never been properly settled. Sonic could’ve flown over in the Tornado for a quick jaunt—running to small islands never boded well for him, they were always tricky to aim for—but he knew it wouldn’t have the answers he was itching to find out.

And sure, the big one was already answered. The sick baby fox he’d had to leave behind in the care of some flickies after that rainy night obviously made a full recovery, or else Tails wouldn’t be alive in Sonic’s present, off on his own adventure. Flying solo. Alone.

But knowing that without actually seeing it, experiencing it for himself, didn’t satisfy Sonic in the slightest. He was all about experiences. And he wanted to experience this mysterious chapter of his best bud’s life, one he never really let himself think all that hard on.

So, that was how Sonic found himself on a nearly deserted island eight years in the past with two Chaos Emeralds in hand. It was warmer than in his present, willing to bet they were somewhere in spring or early summer as opposed to late fall, but the dense cover of pine trees kept the forest floor cool in its shade. Allergies tickled his nose, prompting Sonic to scratch at it as he took in his surroundings. Flickies sang throughout the branches, their chirps a comforting song accompanied by the steady hum of insects hidden in the brush. With his own curious hum, Sonic picked a direction and ran with it—er, walked with it. He took it slow for the moment, trying to find his way back to the cabin from that night. It seemed like his best bet to start his search for Tails.

Until a child’s voice somewhere in the forest caught his ear, both perking up and flicking towards the sound with an instinctive pull as everything else faded into the background. A breath Sonic hadn’t realized he’d been holding lifted from his chest. The child sounded light, healthy. No coughing or crying as far as he could tell. 

Sonic followed the voice to a clearing. Unlike the stormy day he’d first stumbled in on, sunlight flooded the patch of grass between the trees with its warm beams. One fell across a tree stump where a two-tailed fox kit lay sprawled across on his tummy, bright-eyed and bushy tails further confirmation that he’d made a full recovery. Sonic’s shoulders sagged with relief as he observed him from the brush, his own green eyes lighting up as he realized he was playing. Making motor sounds with his mouth, Tails rolled a toy airplane through the long, wild grass. His tongue poked out as he accidentally blew raspberries amidst his very serious airplane noises.

“Pfft—” Sonic’s laugh nearly sputtered out of him, cut off only by the fact that the kid heard him and froze.

Ears swiveled in his direction, but Tails couldn’t see him through the trees from his spot on the stump. The toy airplane fell to the grass with a soft thump as the baby fox squirmed and tried to hoist himself up into a sitting position, his two blue boots dangling just over the edge as his bare hands planted themselves on the wood between them to support himself. One tail flicked up and down with excitement while the other twitched limply against the tree stump, like it didn’t know it could lift itself up like its twin.

“Mom?” he called out, and the hope in his voice ensnared Sonic’s heart in a vice. “Mom!”

“Ah, sorry, little guy. Not mom.” Sonic stepped out from behind the brush with his hands up, a sheepish smile on his face. “Just me. Long time no see.”

His tails immediately wilted as the bright-eyed, eager expression on his face retracted into something shy and pensive. But not scared, Sonic noted. There wasn’t a trace of fear in his eyes.

“Remember me? I stayed with you during that rainstorm the other night,” Sonic added, hoping to jog the little guy’s memory, but he didn’t actually know how long it had been since that night. 

He didn’t have Silver’s neat little time travel gizmos. His comm couldn’t pinpoint where he was in time, only in space. Which meant he couldn’t stay long, because if Tails or anyone else tried to ping his location, it’d probably come up blank. 

The Tails sitting in front of him drew his legs up, curling into himself a bit the closer Sonic got. Okay, well maybe he was a little afraid. Sonic stopped short of reaching the tree stump, hoping a reassuring smile would get him the rest of the way.

“My name’s Sonic. Sonic the Hedgehog. What’s yours?”

Tails stared at him for a moment, until his gaze slowly slid past him to focus on the tree line behind him. Sonic planted his hands on his hips and canted his head back to see if anything was there, but aside from the buzz of insects and rustling of flickies in the leaves, the forest was still. No one else but the two of them smack dab in the middle of it.

“…Mom?” Tails whispered, grabbing onto one of his tails to hold.

Sonic’s smile slowly slid off his muzzle. In all the time he’d known Tails, he’d never once called for his mom. Not a single cry. By the time he came into Tails’s life, whatever innate trust he’d had for this faceless person had completely evaporated. There was only one person Tails had ever called out for, ever cried for, ever searched for when he was lost or scared or lonely.

Sonic swallowed thickly. “I don’t know where your mom is, bud. You waiting for her?” Tails nodded with the most intense certainty, his ears flopping forward and back with the force of it. “Did she… did she say when she’s coming back?” 

This time Tails pursed his mouth as he thought carefully about his answer, his pensive expression the same one he’d still make to this day when he debated how to explain something to him. If he should explain something to him. If he should give his big bro a glimpse into the inner workings of his big brain, or if it’d be easier—safer—to keep it all to himself.

And just where’d he pick up that particular trick?

But this Tails was young enough—hadn’t been hurt enough—to trust someone who looked like a grown-up, so he slowly shook his head in response, wide blue eyes gazing up at him like there’d be some sort of prize if he answered all the questions correctly. 

Sonic’s brow furrowed. “Do you know how long it’s been since you last saw her?”

“Long.” The small, squeaky voice was so matter-of-fact, Sonic nearly fell over with the sheer amount of joy a single syllable filled him with; his little bro’s attitude had been baked into him from the start.

“I’ll bet,” he huffed out a chuckle, choosing to sit cross-legged in the grass so he wasn’t towering over Tails like some kind of threat. “You like planes?” Sonic glanced meaningfully at the toy plane still discarded in the grass.

Tails glanced down at it, the tip of his tail in his mouth as he gently chewed on it. “Mmhm.”

Though Tails had long-outgrown the habit of chewing on his own tails, Sonic would still occasionally catch him nibbling on the ends of pens and pencils when he was deep in thought or starting to get hungry. Or, at least, he used to. Back before Sonic had been captured and Tails had been out on his own for six months…

“I like ‘em, too,” Sonic piped up with a grin. “Probably my favorite way to travel! Second to running, of course.”

Tails blinked at him, head canting to one side. Sonic’s smile grew and he scooched forward a couple inches, steadily closing the gap between them.

“Y’see, running’s sort of my thing. What kinda things do you like to do?”

Tails glanced down at the toy plane again, then up at the sky. He pointed shyly at the white, puffy clouds slowly floating by overhead. Sonic followed his gaze, unable to help the way his smile crooked to one side.

“You like to watch the clouds?” Sonic filled in for him, beaming when Tails nodded. “Me too. You ever look for shapes in ‘em?”

The little guy’s brow furrowed. “Shapes?”

Sonic laughed as the perplexed, and ultimately unconvinced, expression remained fixed on Tails’s face. “C’mere, I’ll show ya!”

Unceremoniously flopping onto his back, face turned towards the sky, Sonic patted the grass beside him. Though they were mostly shielded by the thick cover of trees, a light breeze still wafted down into the clearing and carried the salty scent of the sea with it. The stands of grass tickled Sonic’s side as he laid back and took a deep breath, listening for the familiar patter of eager footsteps following his lead.

Except they didn’t come.

Sonic pushed himself up onto his elbows. Tails was still curled up atop the tree stump, chewing on the tip of his tail as he watched him with worry in his eyes. Worry that had no place being there in a kid so young.

So Sonic cracked another smile. “Don’t worry. The floor’s not lava,” he teased, but it was something the toddler obviously didn’t understand. “It’s safe, bud. I’m not gonna hurt ya. Promise.”

Tails’s gaze darted to the treeline again, searching amongst their thick trunks and low-hanging branches before snapping back to Sonic. “Mm… s’pposed to wait here,” he mumbled, his words sounding a little thick as some of his syllables slurred together in a mouth that was still so small, but ultimately what he’d said was clear enough for Sonic to understand.

His smile slowly faded as he processed the simple explanation; the same feeling rising in the back of his throat as when he sat with a sick Tails in the cabin while the kid asked if he could go home. “Your mom tell ya that?”

Tails nodded. “Wait here. Be good.” His little face scrunched up in a look of pure, earnest determination. “Wait here an’ be good, then mom will come back. She said… she said.”

But she wouldn’t.

No one would.

And maybe Tails already knew that. Even if he didn’t want to believe that someone he loved would leave him, he’d always been a smart kid. Tails’s tiny claws caught in the fur of his tail as he clung tighter to it—like he could physically cling to the hope that his mom would still come back if he did this one thing really well.

If he did his very best.

“Look Sonic, I made this for you!”

“Sonic, I’ve made some adjustments to the Tornado’s aerodynamics, so her base speed has more than doubled! Pretty cool, huh?”

“I made a radar to help us track the Chaos Emeralds faster!”

“I still need to optimize your Extreme Gear’s turning radius and acceleration for your next race. It’s not good enough.”

“The Cyclone still has a ways to go in terms of balancing its different modes of transport. It’s just not good enough at land or air travel yet.”

“I’m wildly inconsistent. I’m just a burden to you. I’m not good enough.”

Not good enough.

Sonic’s fingers dug a little firmer into the soft, damp soil beneath the grass. “Well, I mean, ya gotta get off that stump sometimes. What about when you get hungry? You leave to go get food, dontcha?”

Tails stiffened, fur frizzed up like he’d been caught with his hand in the proverbial mint chocolate chip cookie jar. “Don’t tell,” he pleaded, eyes wide as panicked tears welled up. “I’m sorry—”

“Woah. Hey, hey, hey,” Sonic sat up straighter so he could lift his hands, using them to make a calming gesture as Tails’s little chest started to heave with each little gasp. “Easy there, bud. I’m not gonna tell her.”

“…Not?”

Despite the storm brewing just beneath the surface, faced with further confirmation that Tails had never truly felt safe or wanted, he refused to scare the kid with its intensity. Offering up a kind smile and reassurance, Sonic held up a finger to his mouth. Like they were keeping secrets from some nameless authority figure they’d never shared. 

“I won’t tell if you won’t.”

Tails’s ears perked up and the grip on his tail eased up. “M’kay…”

“M’kay,” Sonic mimicked, smile growing as he watched Tails scrub at his face with the fur of his forearm. “C’mere, kiddo. Watch the clouds with me.”

Tails looked at him for a moment, then scooted closer to the edge of the tree stump. He swung one leg over, then the other, his little boots scraping against the bark as he eased himself down. He was a little off-balance as he toddled over. Both arms splayed out to steady himself as one tail flicked up and the other was dragged behind him, still as limp and awkward as it had been on the stump.

Sonic’s gaze narrowed in on it immediately. “Didja hurt your tail?”

Tails paused and craned his neck back, wobbling a little as he tried to look behind him. “No,” he answered simply.

“Then how come it’s not up like your other one?”

Tails reached behind him and picked up the limp appendage, hugging it to his chest. “Doesn’t do it.”

Sonic’s frown deepened. “Let me see it.”

Tails didn’t even hesitate. He let go of his tail as he waddled right over to him. He turned his back to him, giving him complete access to the part of his body he protected the most. Sonic was the only one he’d learned to trust with them over the years, but he’d had to earn it. 

Sonic gently ran his fingers through the fur, watching his baby brother’s posture for any sign of discomfort. He didn’t flinch, but his good tail started wagging almost immediately, thwacking Sonic in the side of the face. 

“Careful with that,” he chuckled, catching it in a loose hold when it smacked him again. “You could take someone’s eye out with one of these bad boys. Here, hold onto this for me.”

He waited for Tails to grab onto his eager tail, hugging it hard when it wiggled uncontrollably. “S’tryna get away,” he giggled.

“Oh boy, better get a good grip. It’s a slippery one, that tail,” Sonic laughed, using the distraction to his advantage as he palpated along the base of the weaker tail with his fingertips.

There was barely any muscle to it, and the fur was patchy and matted, flattened in a way that his other tail clearly wasn’t, even though his fur overall could’ve used a good brushing. But it wasn’t injured, no welts or bruises or cuts. It was just… weak. Like it was developing slower than its twin. He’d caught a glimpse of it that night where he was sick, but now that he was getting a good look at it, the differences between the two were stark. He couldn’t imagine why; Sonic’s brain literally wouldn’t let him conceive of a situation where this would happen—where Tails wasn’t allowed to use one tail to the same extent as the other.

Whatever had caused this had reversed itself by the time Sonic met Tails, both little propellers of equal strength. At least, he thought they were. To be fair, he’d only been eleven and he hadn’t looked all that closely at them. And Tails barely let him patch him up from where he’d been smacked around by bullies or badniks in those first few weeks.

Idly petting along the length of his tail, Sonic stilled when it spasmed against his palm. Just looking at it, he’d have thought he accidentally pulled on it or snagged his fur, but there was a gentle rumbling sound emanating from Tails’s chest that assured him otherwise. Sonic flicked his gaze up to see Tails watching him, a smile on his face while he purred openly. His tail jerked in his hold again. It was trying to wag.

Sonic’s shoulders sagged, his own smile lopsided as he let his tail slip from his grasp. “All clear. Time to park those two tails of yours right here on the runway.”

Tails squeaked as Sonic nabbed him around the middle, but dissolved into a fit of giggles as he was lifted up and plopped down on the grass next to him. Kicking up one leg over the other, Sonic laid back once again, arms pillowed behind his head as he let out a contented sigh. Beside him, Tails laid back and wiggled a bit to get comfortable, both tails swept to the same side so they wouldn’t get pinched underneath him. He tilted his head up to look at the sky, the same color reflected back in his eyes.

“Shapes?” he asked.

“Yeah, we’re gonna look for shapes, little buddy,” Sonic hummed. “Go ahead and tell me what ya find.”

Tails considered the sky for a moment, then pointed at a blob above them. “Oval.”

A sharp laugh burst right out of Sonic. “Sorry, sorry,” he wheezed when Tails pouted at him. “Not those kinda shapes, pal. I’m talking things like flickies or flowers or chili dogs! But good first try. I’m thinking that one looks more like… a whale.”

“Whale?”

“Uh-huh. See the tail?” Sonic removed one hand from behind his head so he could trace the oblong cloud as it faintly curved upwards at the end, making sure Tails’s eyes followed where he pointed. “And there’s its fin. And the wispy bits at the top are like the water shooting out of its spout.”

“Spout,” Tails echoed, blinking up at it like he was trying to solve a puzzle. 

“Yeah, you know. Like when they come up from the water and all that mist sprays from that hole on top of their heads like…” A devious grin spread across Sonic’s face before he looped his arm around Tails and dragged him close enough to blow a raspberry against his cheek with a loud, “pbbbbbbfffft!”

Tails squealed, legs kicking as he squirmed about instinctively, but made no move to pull away entirely. The ticklish sensation buzzed through him like a bunch of tiny butterflies; the feeling silly, unfamiliar, and almost overwhelming all at once. He eventually pawed at Sonic’s muzzle, pushing it away from the fluffy, baby fur of his cheek, but he was smiling and laughing as he looked over at him, eyes shining with delight.

“Was that funny?” Sonic snickered.

“Yeah!” Tails beamed at him, his tails beating an inconsistent rhythm against the grass. “You’re funny.”

“I’m funny?” Sonic feigned offense. “Excuse me, but seems to me like you’re the funny one, wiggling around over here like a cup of sparkle gelatin!”

“No!” Tails squeaked, curling up when Sonic poked him in the tummy. 

“No?” Sonic eased back, reminding himself to reign it in a bit so he could figure out if the “no” was just in play or if he was serious. 

As much as he wanted to give this little guy something to smile and laugh about while he was out here on his own—and it was so easy, it was almost intoxicating when he hadn’t seen his brother’s smile in weeks—he didn’t want to overwhelm the kid. But as he let him go and pulled back, a panicked look flashed in Tails’s eyes. His smile fell and a fear that was too big for a guy so small replaced it as he froze up.

“Hey, it’s okay. You’re okay.” Sonic lowered his voice, but even that didn’t stop the tears from suddenly sprouting in the corners of his eyes. “Was that too much? Sorry, kiddo. Not really used to you like this. I don’t know your limits.”

Tails didn’t answer him, probably because he didn’t know how. He was a baby, after all. Four-year-old Tails had often had trouble expressing how he felt or what he wanted. And heck, even ten-year-old Tails was still facing that particular issue. He couldn’t expect a maybe-two-year-old to know…

Tails’s tiny paw reached for Sonic’s arm, the light touch barely registering as anything other than an itch before his fingers curled into his fur. Sonic stared at his hand for a second, then immediately darted to his face. Tails sniffed, muzzle quivering as he held back his tears.

Always sucking it up. Always putting on a brave face. Always trying to be a big kid, like his big bro.

Even when he was just a baby.

“It’s okay,” Sonic repeated, his arm curling around Tails again. “I’m right here, it’s okay.”

Tails nestled against his side, nuzzling his face against him with a shiver and a barely suppressed whimper. “Mom… dad…”

The storm returned with a white-hot flash of frustration and resentment. Sonic directed his glare at the cloud whale lazily floating past them, since he couldn’t look the people responsible for this in the eyes. Not that he particularly wanted to. If they never crossed paths, his and Tails lives would only continue on for the better. That was one thing he was still certain of. There was nothing in the universe that could convince him otherwise.

Not even the baby who desperately wanted them.

But he didn’t know any better. They were all he knew. 

Releasing a long sigh, Sonic let go of the past and pulled himself back into the present—or, well, two-year-old Tails’s present anyway. He patted Tails’s side, then ruffled his fur a bit when he cuddled closer. His fur tickled as he rubbed his little face against his ribs, so Sonic scooched him up a bit more until his cheek was pillowed against his shoulder.

“Sorry if I scared you, bud,” he hummed, watching as one of Tails’s ears twitched from the lull of his voice. “Didn’t mean to. You’re safe with me, okay? When I’m around, I’m always gonna do whatever it takes to keep you safe.”

Tails tipped his head back to watch him, silently absorbing his words, even if he didn’t understand them. But as Sonic looked down at him, he saw his four-year-old brother snuggling up to him in a storm and his six-year-old brother falling asleep on him during a movie and his eight-year-old brother trying to be strong for Sonic as they lost another friend… He could see all of Tails in the way he looked at him, every moment where he let Sonic see a little of that vulnerability he always tried so hard to hide.

He could even see his ten-year-old brother, hundreds of miles away, determined to bury that vulnerable little kid for good, somewhere Sonic would never find him. And that was fine. If that was what Tails wanted, then Sonic wanted that for him. He wanted Tails to feel confident and capable and every bit the hero Sonic saw in him every day.

“And even when I’m not here… when you can’t see me? I’ll still be with you. Wherever you go, whatever you face, you won’t have to do it alone.”

Tails sniffed, then lifted his head to gaze up at him. “Pomise?”

Sonic’s breath hitched, his eyes as wide as saucers as the fox kit who’d only known him for a few minutes at most looked at him with nothing but trust. “Yeah. I promise.” He had to clear his throat, then tugged Tails up to sit on his chest. “You’ve got no idea just how stuck with me you are, keed.”

“No idea,” Tails repeated, shaking his head with the utmost seriousness a two-year-old could express.

Sonic’s laughter traveled through him and right up into Tails, the two of them shaking with it. The feeling of being bounced about coaxed a few giggles out of Tails and he nearly slid off his unsteady perch. But Sonic’s hands supported him, holding tight so he wouldn’t fall.

“You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me,” Sonic choked out as his laughter petered out on a breathless sigh. “Don’t ever forget that, okay?”

“M’kay,” Tails agreed.

“M’kay.” With one hand remaining on Tails’s waist, Sonic lifted the other to poke him on the tip of his nose, grinning at the way he went cross-eyed from following his finger. “I’m gonna follow up on that in eight years, y’know, so better work on committing that to memory, stat.”

“M’kay.”

“I mean it. There’ll be a test and everything.”

“M’kay.”

“You’re so agreeable,” Sonic sighed, closing his eyes as he laid his head back, leaving the comfortable weight of the baby fox on his abdomen. “I don’t think I know what to do with a little bro that actually listens to me.”

He felt Tails squirm a bit, one knee digging into his ribs as he attempted to scoot further up, then a finger lightly tapped Sonic on the tip of his nose. One green eye cracked open, immediately greeted with a pair of pleased blue ones and a wagging fox tail. Despite the fact that it was pinned beneath him, pressed into the grass, Sonic felt his tail give a jerky little wag, too.

“Shapes?” Tails asked.

“You wanna look for more shapes in the clouds?” Sonic waited for Tails’s eager nod before turning him around and laying him back in the grass beside him. “You got it, bud! You need a redemption round, after all. Let’s see what kinda shapes you can find this time.”

Tails hummed, contemplative gaze fixed on the clouds for a good minute before he pointed slightly to his left. “Floor!”

“Floor?” Sonic squinted up at the cloud, making sure he was looking at the right one. “Oh, ‘flower!’ Yeah, that does kinda look like a tulip flower. Good eye, kiddo.”

Tails nodded proudly. “Mmhm. Floor.”

“Flower,” Sonic repeated, and even made the sign for it, touching each side of his nose with his fingertips, like he was smelling a flower.

“Floor-er.”

“Close enough,” he chuckled. “Oh, okay, now that one looks like a crab claw. Like from a crabmeat.” Grinning devilishly, Sonic made a claw-like grabby motion at Tails with his hand while the little guy laughed. “Or, y’know, an actual crab.”

They watched the clouds, picking more shapes out of them until Tails’s stomach started growling. Sonic quickly sped through the forest to gather up whatever kind of fruits or vegetables were available on the island, eventually settling on some peaches, plums, and cherries. He grabbed them from the other side of the island, so as not to take from anywhere Tails was likely to forage on his own. He liked the plums and peaches, the sticky juice staining his muzzle as it dripped from his hands. He kept trying to lick his fingers clean while Sonic wiped the fur around his mouth so it wouldn’t bother him later when it dried. He didn’t care for the cherries as much, but Sonic still left a small stash of them and the leftover peaches at the base of the tree stump.

With a full tummy and sticky paws, Tails let out a big, squeaky yawn before he curled up on top of the tree stump. His tails covered him like a blanket as he settled down for a nap, giving Sonic just the out he needed. He’d been debating how to head back to his present time without sounding any alarms for Tails. He honestly wasn’t sure he’d be able to if the kid just looked at him with those sad eyes, like he was being abandoned all over again.

But if Tails was asleep, then maybe this would all have felt like just a dream. Sonic had just wanted to check on him after leaving him so abruptly that first time, and then he figured it couldn’t hurt to give him one good afternoon. There would be so many days where he’d be on his own after this, so many months before their paths would cross. One afternoon where a stranger showed him kindness and played with him wasn’t going to break the time stream, but even Sonic knew it couldn’t really go further than that.

“I’d break time lines for that kid.” His own words echoed at the back of his mind, the certainty he’d felt at the time faltering when faced with the sleepy face of a baby fox who wasn’t supposed to have met him yet. It wasn’t so simple.

Sonic waited until Tails’s breaths were deep and steady, arms wrapped around the weaker tail while the stronger one blanketed him with its fluff. Smoothing down his bangs with his thumb, Sonic gently stroked the top of his head and scritched behind his ear.

“Love ya, little bro,” he whispered.

Things would be okay, Sonic reminded himself as he backed out of the clearing, picking up the two emeralds that were his ticket back to his time. Because they were okay in the present. Even if Tails wouldn’t be there when he returned, they would still be okay. Eventually. They always came out on top. Sonic still believed that.

If there was anything he still believed in above all else, it was Tails.

So, to be fair, when he left the Poloy Forest that afternoon, it had been with the intention that this wouldn’t happen again.

But then, Sonic the Hedgehog’s impulse control wasn’t his claim to fame, was it?

---

A/N: Anyway, just wanted to say thank you again, 0vergrown, and that I appreciate you so much! I'm so happy you're interested in this little side plot I've got brewing and all the angst potential that it holds <3 I have so many little scenes I want to write for them, you have no idea! Hope this scratches a bit of the itch for more of these boys who need so much therapy. So much...

And thank you everyone else who's also interested in this idea! Much love to all of you!

[thepencilnerd]

Hello!!! So, I just wanted to gush and say that "seeing double" was absolutely amazing! I love how beautifully you intertwined the smut with Jack and Robby's genuine love and devotion to the reader... it was the perfect blend of romantic and steamy <3333. I'm wondering, do you think you'd ever write more for this trio in the future??? I will say, in an amazing one-shot the bits at the start about the guys being protective made my heart race especially... do you think you'd ever consider delving into more of them being protective of reader (whether that be in standard/domestic "making sure reader is taken care of" way or the more dramatic "reader is put into dangerous scenario and needs defense (i.e., rude patient)" way)? So sorry for the mini-essay, just wanted to bundle all my thoughts into one! Hope you have a wonderful day! <3

ahh thank you so much anon ㅠㅠ this absolutely made my night. I’m so happy you enjoyed seeing double—that balance between tenderness and heat was such a joy to write, and I’m thrilled it landed for you!!

I would absolutely love to dive deeper into the trio. I've actually started sketching out a blurb about what days off might look like for them (domestic bliss, the quiet ways they take care of each other, plus some mutual pining that never really went away even after officially getting together 😌). below is my IP rambling I have in my google doc for inspo hehe

In my mind, Robby’s always the first to move. The one who leaps into action without hesitation, who steps between you and the threat before you even register something’s off. But Jack—Jack watches everything. He memorizes your tells, tracks the shift of your breathing, the tremble in your hand when the adrenaline dips. He only steps in when it really matters, but when he does—it’s devastating.

Especially with Robby constantly pulled into other cases or wrangling the interns, Jack becomes this steady background hum of protection. Not loud, not flashy—just there. Always. He’s the one who notices if you haven’t eaten, if you start shifting the weight between the balls of your feet after hour 11, the way you roll your shoulders back like you’re trying to keep yourself upright out of sheer will. He watches for the subtle signs, the quiet cues—and he never points them out to embarrass you. Just quietly adapts around them.

If there’s a rogue patient, Robby’s the one who throws himself in the way. Jack’s already calculated every worst-case scenario the moment you were assigned the case—ready to act if he has to. Because he knows combat. He knows his temper. He knows exactly what he’s capable of if he lets himself go. Jack’s done the work—therapy, grief, the slow rebuild. He’s learned how to love without losing himself. But he still carries that edge: grief-shaped rage, the kind that only comes out when something he loves is threatened.

Robby, on the other hand, is still a little “I’ll deal with my feelings later (but I still love you, obviously).” Loud in his loyalty. Earnest in his chaos. Soft in a way he doesn’t realize until it’s too late.

Jack strikes me as someone who didn’t mean to fall in love with cooking; he started because his therapist told him he needed something quiet, grounding, and just for himself. Something to do with his hands that didn’t involve saving lives or burying grief. Something that required attention but didn’t ask for emotional labor. It began as a coping mechanism—recipes, repetition, control, precision—but now it’s care. A ritual. An offering.

Robby is the type to buy you takeout, while Jack seems like the one to cook for you. Both more than willing to meet your needs, but varying in degrees of intimacy and awareness.

And now? Getting to share it with you? Letting someone into that sacred, hard-won space? That’s one of the most vulnerable things he’s ever done. He cooks like he listens: carefully, intentionally, and a little too thoroughly. Quiet love with depth.

Robby’s the kind of guy who lives on caffeine, protein bars, and vibes—but will unthinkingly give you his last granola bar, no matter how long his own shift has been. He’s the “don’t worry about me” guy with dark circles under his eyes and a schedule that makes no sense, but still leaves for work early to swing by that one café because he knows you like the muffins on Tuesday mornings when they’re fresh.

Jack’s the one who notices Robby’s neglect—quietly logs every skipped meal, every too-long shift—and drags him back to earth when necessary, lest he be scolded by you both at home. You and Jack form a sort of quiet alliance in this: always nudging him toward sleep, handing him a fruit bar, replacing his expired snack drawer without comment. But Robby? He never lets his own burnout stop him from taking care of you.

It’s a strange, overlapping rhythm of care. Sometimes it feels like you’re the one looking after Robby—reminding him to hydrate, slipping a post-it note into his locker, nudging a fresh pair of scrubs into his hands when he’s soaked through post-trauma. Robby tries his best to return the favor—sometimes clumsy, sometimes a little too loud—but always with his whole heart. Jack takes care of you with quiet precision, anticipating your needs before you voice them, adjusting around your silences like he’s reading sheet music only he can hear. And together—without ever saying it out loud—you and Jack take care of Robby. You anchor him. Balance his chaos. Give him permission to fall apart, if only for a moment, knowing he’ll always put himself back together again.

but what do i know, daydreams are just sober drunk thoughts :)