#he just has performance anxiety okay he’s not usually like this……

[eterniravioli]

[lovebugism]

Kissing eddie just as you’re both about to get out of the car and now he’s got a problem cause he’s hard, and all your friends are waiting for you and you’re both a little late and Eddie we really gotta hurry up! what’s the issue? and the poor boy is bright red to his neck over how gone he is on you

ty for requesting :D ps: i'm gnawing at the bars of my enclosure over this prompt –– when eddie's about to leave for a show, you make sure he knows exactly what he's missing out on (established relationship, st4 canon divergence, allusions to smut 18+ | 1k)

“How do I look?” Eddie wonders aloud as you trail down the creaking porch steps behind him. He plants his feet on the gravel driveway and spins on the heel of his sneaker to face you –– already bare-faced and clad in your pretty PJs for the night, a striking contrast to the lead guitarist of Corroded Coffin standing before you.

You pause on the second-to-last step and reach for his face. Eddie leans instinctively into your warm touch as you swipe your thumbs under his eyes, gently smudging his dark liner a bit more. 

“Like a rockstar,” you answer with a proud smile.

Eddie scrunches his nose sheepishly in response, ‘cause he has nowhere to hide with you cradling his blushing face like this. He’s still not immune to the way you look at him, even after all this time. “You’re just sayin’ that,” he mumbles, kicking a lone rock with the toe of his show.

You hum in agreement as your hands fall from his face. “Yeah. ‘Cause it’s true.”

“To you, maybe,” Eddie scoffs, trying hard to ignore the pang of anxiety in his chest. “No one else seems to think so.”

He never used to be nervous performing before Vecna tried to kill him. It was the world that was scared of Eddie Munson, not the other way around –– until it nearly ended, anyway. Now, just leaving the house is enough to induce a panic attack. A part of him is always distantly fearful that a stranger’s face will turn out to be the dark wizard’s, back to life and hiding in plain sight again.

“Hey,” you scold, only partially playful. “I think the crowd of five drunks who watch you perform every Tuesday would agree with me.”

Despite the ice-cold apprehension making his limbs feel numb, Eddie manages a breathy chuckle. “You’re right. We could bomb, and they’d still act like we were playing Madison Square Garden or something.”

You soften then, as though sensing his worry. “You’re not gonna bomb, Eds. You guys are gonna do great. Just like always.”

“Sure you can’t come?” Eddie wonders quietly, blinking up at you with a pair of chocolate button eyes that are hard to say no to.

“You know I can’t… I have an early morning tomorrow,” you coo sympathetically, fighting back a smile when the boy’s rosy bottom lip juts in a pout. “But I’ll be right here when you get back, okay? And I’ll make sure to heat up dinner when you’re on your way. So you have something to soak up the alcohol and adrenaline with.”

You tilt your cheek to your shoulder, squinting suspiciously when Eddie’s frown curls into a cheeky grin. He reaches for you with a pair of ringed hangs and squeezes at your clothed hips. “Just like a good little housewife, huh?” he croons mischievously.

You roll your eyes at him ‘cause you’re not a housewife by any means. 

You live in a trailer with his uncle, for one. And you work five days a week, for another. Besides, you’re not even his wife, which you think is usually the first step. (You have no idea Eddie’s already picked a ring out for you. Or that he plans on keeping that a secret until he plays enough shows to afford a house). 

You decide to humor him, anyway. 

“Sure,” you monotone with a slow nod.

Eddie’s grin widens.

“C’mon on, Munson! We’re gonna be late!” Jeff lisps from the passenger side window of the van. The rusted tin can is parked a ways down the drive, packed to the brim with all their band equipment like a perfect game of Tetris.

You lean forward to press a chaste kiss to his mouth.

“Wear that dress I like when I get back?” Eddie murmurs lowly.

You hum with your lips pursed to the side of your mouth, pretending to be deep in thought. “Hmm… I was kinda thinkin’ about wearing nothing, actually,” you answer, shrugging innocently. “You know, for easy access and whatnot.”

Eddie warms all over. His wild head starts to swim at the visual –– one he’s seen a hundred times before that he’s not quiet sure he’ll ever get over. “Have mercy…” the boy mumbles under his breath.

“Just try not to think about it too much while you’re gone…” you lilt knowingly, smoothing both your hands up and over the lapels of his leather jacket. “All alone… Naked in our bed… Trying to get myself off while I wait for you…”

Eddie stares at you with heavy, lidded eyes. He can’t take the chocolates of them off your lips as they curl into a mischievous, tightlipped smile. “How ‘bout I just stay home?” he offers lowly.

A resounding honk blares from the van in a wordless answer. 

Gareth leans out the driver’s side window, face screwed and sandy curls wild. “C’mon, Eddie!” the boy yells like an impatient younger brother. “Put your dick in your pants already so we can go!” 

Eddie’s head swivels back to face you again, chest deflating with a grieving sigh. 

“You have to go,” you tell him, soft and sympathetic, as you press another kiss to his pout. “Have fun, honey,” you croon and step back from him –– knowing exactly what you’re doing as you trek back up the wobbly wooden porch steps.

Before you shut the front door behind you, you flash the boy a curt wave and a pretty smile. It takes a world of strength to keep from following behind you. 

In a perfect world, Eddie would already have the door bolted shut with you pressed against it by now. He’d have your oversized shirt balled up at your ribs and your shorts pulled down to your ankles and his mouth licking over your pretty cotton panties.

He shakes his head in a physical attempt to remove the sinful thoughts from his brain as he stalks back to the van. He keeps his head bowed as he goes, trying to hide his reddened cheeks behind his wild curls. Gareth watches from the window as Eddie tugs at the crotch of his jeans, trying to un-strangle his hard cock like a teenager.

The boy leans between the front seats as Eddie climbs into the driver’s side, slamming the screeching door shut behind him. “You’re pathetic,” Gareth teases through a fit of boyish laughter.

“Shut up,” Eddie grumbles.

[shy-writer-999]

Summary: On tonight’s menu is Sanji, pillow humping, instruction, and praise. Enjoy! ~3.2k words.

CW: Afab reader w/gendered pet names (‘pretty girl’), dirty talk, pillow humping, masturbation, praise, instruction, edging, tiny bit of crying, sloppy head and deep throating.

MINORS DNI. NSFW CONTENT.

Sanji will never forget the day he walked in on you humping your pillow. The concentration on your face, your flushed cheeks, your ruffled hair—all of it was seared in his brain indefinitely.

That day, you let out a squeak (or was it a screech?) of embarrassment and toppled over, bright red and frozen. He took in the sight with ravenous eyes, saving a mental screenshot. “Fuck. Sorry to barge in, princess. Just wanted to let you know that dinner’s ready.”

He closed the door almost as quickly as he opened it and stalked away to the bathroom. The food could wait for another three minutes. That’s all the time he would need to cum on his fist.

A couple weeks later, he broached the subject.

“I want to see you do it again, my love.” He was initially nervous making a raunchy request like this. He has a general proclivity to making love or letting you use him however you like. But he had been ruminating on this idea for a while and he was insatiable.

“You want me to hump my pillow while you watch?” Puzzled, you weren’t sure you had heard him correctly.

“Mhm. Please? I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it.”

“Okay, you can watch.” You smiled and his heart thumped. He was painfully infatuated with you.

Not long thereafter, you hovered over a pillow, poised at the end of your bed. Sanji sat on a chair in front of you. His thighs were spread wide and he had no cigarette—he needed to be as focused as possible.

You looked at him, hesitant and embarrassed. This didn’t need to be awkward, but… he was fully clothed, and you were completely naked. It added to the effect. It’s like you were about to put on a show.

You and Sanji had been seeing each other for a couple months at this point, but it was taking some time to get fully adjusted to Sanji being more than just a crewmate. This added to that feeling of hesitation.

“Don’t be shy, my love. Just do it like you did before.” His voice was soothing and gentle.

“I will but… it’s a little hard to just hump my pillow and get off immediately.”

“Could I talk you through it? Give you instructions?” You weren’t expecting him to say that. Blush creeping up your neck, threatening to take over your face, and you nodded.

“What were you thinking about when I walked in on you last time?”

“You.” You had no idea why you felt so shy and timid right now. Usually, it was you who took the lead in the bedroom. But now you were on full display, vulnerable and on the verge of getting performance anxiety.

“You were thinking about me?” The hint of smugness in his voice accompanied some tenderness as well. “What about me, exactly?”

“That one time when you fucked me really hard a few weeks ago and then came on my face.” The blush took over your face completely now.

“After you squirted?”

“Mhm.” You nodded again, cheeks smarting with heat.

Another soft smile from the handsome chef. “Do you remember how I started to finger you through your panties first? Think about that and start to move your hips slowly.”

You did as he said, albeit apprehensively. You delicately rolled on the smooth fabric while Sanji continued to jog your memory.

“I ran my fingers up and down, then I rubbed little circles on your clit, right? And you started moaning so sweetly. It felt good, didn’t it?”

“Y-yeah,” you answered and maintained Sanji’s blistering eye contact. He broke it every few seconds to stare down at the place where your flesh moved on the pillow.

“What did I do after that?” He prompted.

“You ate me out.” As you gingerly shifted back and forth, pressure built on your clit. It didn’t feel good yet, but something was certainly building.

Sanji continued. “What was the best part of me eating you out?”

With one particularly well-placed grind on your sensitive spot, your hips bucked.

“The best part was when you fucked me with your tongue… and rubbed my clit with your fingers at the same time.”

“Mmmm.” Sanji paused as he savored the memory. “I remember that. You got worked up so fast, it was cute. Keep moving your hips, okay? Just increase the pace a little for me.”

You did as he said, undulating slightly faster. The friction on your clit was turning into small zaps of electricity.

“Does it feel good yet, baby?” He was laser-focused on you. Your blush had subsided by now as you got distracted with mounting pleasure from your tingling core.

You nodded soundlessly. Faint rustling noises of your skin on the fabric filled in the room, barely audible. Sanji was hard and the tent in his pants was showing, large and impressive.

“Keep going like that, sweetheart. You look so pretty right now.”

You smiled at him in between thrusts and his cock twitched.

He prompted you again. He wanted you to narrate the encounter for him, to relive the sex that you had initially masturbated to when he walked in on you. “What happened next?”

“You put your cock in me—fuck—and told me how good I was being for you.” Your voice strained.

“Did you like it when I said that to you, darling?” Sanji’s tone was warm. He could tell by your facial expression that you were starting to buzz with pleasure and fuck, it got him off.

“Yeah, I did—fuck—Sanji.” Hearing his name tumble from your lips made his cock jumped again. He stared intently at the place where you pressed yourself on the pillow.

“Well, if that’s the case, you’re being so good for me right now. Following my instructions so well. Why don’t you go move a little faster?”

Your breath hitched at his suggestion, and you started to rock your hips faster. Arousal seeped out of you and heat simmered in your stomach.

“Are you getting wet yet, baby?” Sanji’s voice was positively oozing with lust. He crept a hand to his aching erection and started palm it.

“Yes, Sanji.” You answered, breathless, becoming aware of just how wet you were. You were soaking the fabric and it allowed you to hump smoother, with more fluidity and ease.

“Look at me, sweetheart.” When you met his eyes, he grazed his palm harder over his cock and groaned softly. “Fuck, you look so good.”

His praise went straight between your thighs and you whimpered. He had to bite his lip to keep in another groan. He didn’t want to get too riled up yet.

Sanji was determined to talk you through the whole tryst. He noticed how your expression was starting to change. As your groove quickened, he observed that your eyes were getting dazed and glossier, your mouth hung open in concentration, and your cheeks were still pink… it was making him feel feral and rabid.

You brushed your clit at the perfect angle and your hips bucked again. That was his cue. Sanji unzipped his pants and tugged the waistband down along with his underwear. His long cock sprang out, red and inflamed around the head, smeared with precum and twitching. He didn’t touch himself yet, though.

“What else did you like about us having sex?” He asked, trying to keep you as present and cognizant as possible. It was far too early for you to get lost in a haze of pleasure.

“Fuck, fuck, it feels good Sanji. I—I liked when you played with my clit, fuck, and made me squirt. And when you said those things to me.”

He hummed, content with his progress so far. You sure looked like you were enjoying it. Each thrust looked more desperate than the last.

“How do you feel, gorgeous? Are you making a mess of yourself yet?”

Your back arched at one ecstatic roll. “Feels so good Sanji—’m so wet, fuck, feels even better when you watch.”

He groaned at your last words and brought a hand to his hard length. As he dragged pearls of precum down his shaft, his hips jerked upwards. He pulled his shirt up to run a hand over his abs and happy trail as he lazily started to move his fist up and down.

“Press down harder, my love.” His instructions, once followed, elicited a full-fledged moan from your lips. You dug your hips down forcefully. He could see a sizable stain on the fabric any time you pulled your hips back.

“Fuck Sanji, fuck, fuck.” As you keened his name, he tightened his grip around his cock.

“You look so beautiful. Don’t you want to go faster?” He purred and continued to stare at you rhythmically ride the pillow.

You nodded and whimpered. “Wanna go faster.”

“Mmmm. Needy little thing. Lean forward and brace yourself on your forearms. Now hump faster and look at me.”

As you collapsed forward to rest on your forearms, the angle of your eyes upwards and your position in general made you realize how pathetic and horny you must look, like an animal, rutting away for Sanji to instruct.

“Ah—ah fuck, Sanji, fuck ‘m gonna cum soon,” you keened, feverishly grinding down onto the sopping-wet mound. He was stoking his cock faster now, hips pressing up every few seconds to fuck his fist better. When he heard you say you were about to cum, his tone dropped all warmth. He responded immediately.

“Stay still.” He frowned, tone stern and harsh. “Don’t cum yet. We just started. Be patient for me, okay?”

You whined in protest, ceasing movement, while he continued to fuck his fist. Milky precum leaked out of his slit, smudging with each pass of his fingers.

“Tell me what happened after I made you squirt. Walk me through it.” Sanji held your orgasm at bay while he made you recite.

“Y-you kept fucking me.” Now you were frowning, too. You were fully worked up. It wasn’t very nice of him to tease you.

“In what position, dearest?” He loved to hear you get bratty. It made his heart warm and his cock throb.

“Doggy style with your chest pressed on my back…”

“I was humping you like you’re doing to your pillow, right?” Sanji cooed and you nodded, pouting.

The blonde squeezed the base of his cock and held it there for a second while he looked at you—your cheeks were ruddy, you were panting, a faint sheen of sweat glowed on your skin. His heart skipped a beat as he took in the view.

“Then what?” He prodded. “Keep talking, baby. I want to hear you say it.”

You were getting frustrated. You craved friction. You were about to shamelessly start pleading and begging for it. “Sanji,” you whined. “You rubbed my clit again and then you—fuck, Sanji, can I keep going? I need it, please.”

“Finish your sentence, pretty girl.”

“You rubbed my clit again and then you made me cum.” You choked the words out. You were on the verge of crying. You’d never been teased like this before, let alone from Sanji. Your core was pulsing, screaming for attention.

“C’mon, sweetheart. What else? That’s not all that happened.” His tone was one of pity, with traces of playfulness and admiration.

“Sanji, fuck. I gave you head, and you came on my face while you talked down to me. There, that’s all.” You huffed, extremely put out. The agony of being held at bay like this was infuriating.

“Did you like it?”

“Yes, I loved it, Sanji. Now please, please let me keep moving.”

“One more question, darling. What did you like about it?”

Your thighs tensed, readying to keep fucking your pillow at his command. “It—it felt dirty when you talked down to me. Fuck. Felt dirty when you told me what to do.”

Finally. That was the answer that he was looking for. “There you go. Move your hips for me, baby. Back and forth.”

You practically jumped into action, returning to your previous speed rapidly. Every push downwards was greedy and hurried. Sanji stroked his cock faster and precum spilled over his fingers as he praised you—the clacking sounds of his lubricated fist down echoed in the room, along with the muted, lewd sounds falling from your parted lips.

“You’re doing so well for me. Go a little faster.”

The pleasure that was flooding your body in ripples was about to raise to a final crescendo. You moaned his name and rocked erratically over the fabric, chasing the wave of euphoria that beckoned.

“S-sanji, Sanji, fuck ‘m close, so close, fuck, fuck.”

When he responded, his voice was gravelly, sinful and sugar-coated. “You did such a good job being patient, gorgeous. Now cum all over your pillow for me. But look at me when you cum, okay? I want to see it in your eyes.”

You mewled his name as you pushed down harder, humped faster, and clawed fistfuls of the covers below you. Sanji twisted his hand around the head of his cock, hissing in air between his teeth at the sensation, taking in the view.

He couldn’t wait to watch you squirm for him over the mound of fabric, nasty and desperate, all from his instruction. He wanted to cum on your face, mark you as his, use your throat and treat you with love after.

His pace quickened. He needed you to know how beautiful you were and how good you were being for him. “You look so, so hot, fuck. Do you feel good? Tell me, baby.”

“I—fuck—fuck Sanji, feels so good, I’m c-cumming I’m cumming, fuck, fuck, fuck!”

As you finally reached your breaking point, you spasmed and locked eyes with him, per his request. You basically screamed his name, writhing on shaking thighs. The euphoric wave of pleasure made you see stars.

“Just like that. Keep rocking your hips through your orgasm. It’ll feel good.”

You fell forward onto your face with a sob, jerking uncontrollably as last sparks of climax hit you like a train. It was truly the most dramatic, mind-bending orgasm you’d ever experienced. Absolutely crazy considering it was all from humping a pillow while Sanji watched.

You got a few spare seconds of reprieve before you had to get back to work.

“Look up, honey. You’re not done yet.” The chef smiled and stood up, cock erect and dripping. Bending down to lift you by your chin, he pressed his lips on yours, gently exploring your mouth with his tongue as you let out warm puffs of air in his. You tried to catch your breath but having his tongue swirl around yours made it difficult.

When he spoke again, his voice was husky and low. He was using every shred of self-control to get out his next words.

“Milk my cock with your throat now, sweetheart. I wanna cum all over your gorgeous little face again. That sound ok?”

Still in bliss, you nodded and opened your mouth wide. He quickly shoved his shaft so far into your mouth that you gagged on the first pass.

Sanji’s hands ran through your hair and he let out a deep, satisfied groan. “Mmmm. Fuck that’s good, angel.”

He pushed your head down and controlled the depth and speed of his cock as slid it over your tongue. The pillow below you was wet and damp on your still-pulsing core.

“God, your mouth feels good. Slippery and—ah—hot, just like your pussy, so wet, fuck.”

He pressed his tip on the back of your throat, eliciting another gag. Precum trickled out of the corners of your mouth, messy and creamy. The whole bottom half of your face was wet and shiny.

“Do you want my cum, lovely? Want it all over that pretty face of yours? Look at me.”

You craned your neck upwards with trouble and he when you met his eyes, he grunted and shoved his cock deep in your mouth again. You choked on it, letting out a muffled moan, a plead for air that he ignored.

“Fuuuhhhhccckkk. Suck harder, my love.”

Hollowing your cheeks like he told you, Sanji admired how obedient you were being for him, how your lips wrapped around his shaft, the tears pricking at the corners of your eyes, and your blown out pupils. He was grunting so loud it could be heard on the other side of the ship.

“Fuck, I’m gonna cum, fuck, fuck.” His grip on your head tightened. You hummed on his cock one last time, knowing that would push him over the precipice of orgasm. His deep groans turned into whimpers as he bent over, grabbing your head while he grinded his length on your tongue.

“Ahhhhh, th-there you go, fuck you’re so good for me baby, fuck, ‘m cumming.”

Sanji convulsed and shoved his cock in your throat one last time, relishing how you squeezed around his shaft, before he ripped it away from your lips and exploded all over your face.

You caught as much of his sticky cum with your tongue as you could, but rogue stripes graced your cheeks and forehead. There was literally so much cum. The whole time he drained his balls over your face, he groaned the most obscene, filthy noises you’d ever heard.

Standing over you, he panted as his cock dribbled last hot pearls on your tongue. From this angle, with your face covered in his seed and your legs numb, he looked better than usual. He always looked good, but damn, right now he looked good.

You licked your lips, drinking up the slightly salty, mild taste of his orgasm. When he was done stroking himself, Sanji kissed you and petted your hair for a moment before he wiped your face down and slid the pillow out from under you.

Peeling the pillowcase off, he had the gall to suck on the saturated wet spot from your juices. He palmed his cock just a tad, still sensitive from his orgasm, then folded the case and pocketed it. Later, he would inevitably suck on it some more and then wrap it around his hard cock, replaying the evening in his mind.

You couldn’t walk afterwards. Well, you technically could walk, but not well. Your legs were like jello and sore. You didn’t need to walk, though. Sanji carried you around and brought you food anywhere you wanted. He was extremely satisfied with the evening, to say the least.

that’s all for this one~~ i hope you enjoyed it as much as i enjoyed writing it!

here’s my masterlist and here’s my october posting schedule.

i’m posting every day from now until halloween!

finally, trick or treat?

[sunny44]

Anxiety

Pairing: Lando Norris x Girlfriend!reader

Warning: panic attack, anxiety, English is not my first language and maybe more…

Summary: Lando has a panic attack because of the pressure of racing at home and Y/n helps him to calm down and show him that he’s good enough.

On the eve of the British Grand Prix, Lando was struggling with the pressure.

I stood outside Lando’s hotel room, my heart heavy with concern. The British Grand Prix always brought a special kind of pressure for him, performing in front of his home crowd, and I knew this race was weighing heavily on him. The door was slightly open since I was outside making a call, and I pushed it open gently, my eyes immediately finding Lando sitting by the window, a shadow of his usual self.

His eyes were distant, his body tense. I could see the rapid rise and fall of his chest, the way his hands gripped the armrests of the chair. Lando was lost in his thoughts, drowning in a sea of self-doubt and anxiety.

"Lando," I called softly, hoping to anchor him back to the present. There was no response. I moved closer, my concern growing with every step. When I reached him, I knelt down and placed a hand on his arm. He flinched, his eyes wide and filled with tears.

"Lando, it's me." I said, my voice steady but filled with worry. "Talk to me."

He tried to speak, but his voice failed him. Instead, a choked sob escaped his lips, and he buried his face in his hands. My heart ached for him. I had seen him face many challenges, but nothing pained me more than seeing him in this state.

I wrapped my arms around him, pulling him close. His body trembled against mine, and I could feel his ragged breaths on my neck. "It's okay," I whispered, my hand gently stroking his hair. "I'm here, Lando. You're not alone."

For what felt like an eternity, we stayed like that. I could feel the intensity of his anxiety attack, the way his muscles were taut with stress, his breath coming in short, uneven gasps. I held him tighter, whispering soothing words, trying to ease the storm raging inside him.

Gradually, his breathing began to slow, and the tension in his body started to ebb away. I pulled back slightly, cupping his face in my hands. "Look at me, Lando," I said softly. His eyes met mine, and I saw the pain and fear that had consumed him.

"You are an incredible driver, but more importantly, you are an incredible person." I said, my voice firm and filled with love. "You don't have to prove anything to anyone. I love you for who you are, not for what you achieve on the track."

He shook his head, fresh tears spilling down his cheeks. "But what if I fail? What if I'm not good enough?"

"You are more than enough," I replied, my tone unwavering. "Success isn't measured just by wins or podiums. It's about passion, dedication, and being true to yourself. You've already achieved so much, and I'm so proud of you. But even if you never win another race, I'll still love you just as much."

My words seemed to pierce through the fog of his anxiety, bringing a clarity that he desperately needed. He took a deep breath, feeling the weight on his chest start to lift. "Thank you, babe." he whispered. "I don't know what I'd do without you."

"You'll never have to find out." I replied with a smile, kissing his forehead. "We'll face everything together, one step at a time."

“Okay.” He smiled a bit and I kissed him.

“I’ll grab you some water.” As I was getting up, Lando hugged me tighter.

“Can we just stay like this a little bit more?” His voice was low.

“We can stay like this as long as you want.” He didn’t said anything but just by the way he started to play with my fingers I knew that he needed more time like this.

We stayed there, wrapped in each other's embrace, the world outside the hotel room fading into irrelevance. The tension that had gripped Lando slowly gave way to a fragile calm. I could feel the warmth of his breath against my skin, the steady rhythm of his heartbeat against my own.

Eventually, I felt him relax, the tightness in his muscles easing. I knew he was finding his center again, the overwhelming pressure starting to dissipate. I gently ran my fingers through his hair, a comforting motion that I knew helped him relax.

"Lando," I whispered softly, "I believe in you. Not just as a driver, but as the amazing person you are. Tomorrow, when you get on that track, remember that it's not about proving anything to anyone. It's about doing what you love and enjoying every moment of it."

He nodded slowly, his eyes still glistening with unshed tears. "You're right. I need to focus on the joy of racing, not just the results."

"Exactly," I said, smiling. "And no matter what happens, I'll be here, cheering you on, proud of you every step of the way."

He sighed, a sound of release and acceptance. "I don't know what I'd do without you," he repeated, his voice steadier now.

"You'll never have to find out," I replied, a playful glint in my eyes. "Besides, I still need to keep an eye on you to make sure you don't get into too much trouble."

He chuckled, the sound a welcome relief from the earlier tension. "I'll try to behave," he said, a hint of his usual mischief returning.

We stayed like that for a while longer, wrapped in each other's presence, finding strength and comfort in our love. Eventually, I pulled back slightly, looking into his eyes. "Are you ready to get some rest now?" I asked gently.

He nodded, his expression more at ease. "Yeah, I think I am. Thanks to you."

“How does a bath sound?” I asked him.

“Sounds very good.”

“I’ll prepare one for you and then we can get some rest.”

“Thank you.” He said and I went to the bathroom and prepared the bath.

I helped him get up, guiding him to the bathroom, I helped him get out of his clothes and the he get in the bathtub.

“Is I warm enough?”

“It’s perfect, just like you.” He said and I smiled at him. “Wanna join me?”

“I’ll love to.”

After some time in the tub we got out, got dressed in our pijamas and went straight to bed. He lay down, and I pulled the covers over him, and I laid on the other side and I think for the first time ever he was the little spoon.

“Wow, this is good.” He said getting cozier.

“What is good?”

“Being the little spoon.”

“I’ve told you many times but you never believed me.”

“Yeah, but usually I’m the one that protects you and not the other way around.” He said with his voice very low.

“I know baby, but sometimes you need to be the one that should be protected.” He didn’t said anything. “I'll stay awake until you fall asleep."

Lando reached out, taking my hand in his.

"I don't deserve you." he said softly.

"You deserve all the love and support in the world." I replied firmly. "And I'm here to give you just that."

He smiled, a genuine smile this time, and closed his eyes. I stayed behind him, holding his hand, watching as his breathing evened out and he drifted off to sleep.

As I stay there, I couldn't help but feel a deep sense of pride and love for him. Lando was an extraordinary person, and I knew that no matter what challenges lay ahead, we would face them together, stronger than ever.

When I was sure he was asleep, I quietly moved and turned off the lights, leaving a small night light on. I kissed his forehead one last time. I held his hand and closed my eyes to get some sleep before the next day.

Tomorrow would be a new day, a new race, but tonight was about love and support, and in that, we had already won.

Bonus scene!

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“Luv u baby” tagged: @landonorris

[spiceofvy]

SKZ x Reader — Reader never had an Orgasm

notes: reader is not a virgin, former partners are mentioned

cw: gender neutral reader, mention of accidental edging and possessiveness (chan), mention of corruption kink (minho), mention of guided masturbation (hyunjin), except for minho everyone is very soft and sweet

Chan: This man is so torn on this topic. On one hand, he feels very protective of you and wants to make you feel safe. On the other hand, he has a deeply possessive feeling that he is really happy that he is going to give you your first orgasm. To make you feel better than even yourself could make you feel. He talks you through it all. What to expect, what he will do. Is probably gonna make a game plan in his head beforehand. Will take it slow and checks in on you a lot. I can definitely see him accidentally edging you by stopping shortly before you cum to check in on you. But deep on the inside this possessive need to own you never lets him go.

Minho: This man has a corruption kink. Knowing that this is gonna be your first orgasm makes him go feral. He will make sure that your first orgasm is gonna make your eyes roll back. No starting slow. He is gonna pull out all his tricks. Only stops when you tell him that it's too much, but he only gives you a short break before starting again. He makes sure that you will never forget this and that nobody could ever come close to that feeling. You're his and he enjoys ruining you for anyone else.

Changbin: Poor baby definitely feels the pressure of being better than your partners before. He wants to do it all right and make you happy because he thinks that you deserve the best in the world. He will probably make it romantic like it's your first time having sex and not just your first orgasm. And even though he is usually pretty confident in his skills in the bedroom, he will be a bit nervous. Will take his sweet gentle time. Lots of sweet talk. Aftercare consists of holding you gently and softly asking you what you liked and what you didn't like

Hyunjin: My man is aware that self-love is the most important kind of love and he wants to be sure that you don't have to rely on a partner to experience pleasure. So instead of making you cum himself he suggests talking you through your masturbation. He knows that you like his voice and he is confident that can lead you to your orgasm with no problems. But if you don't like that Idea, he's gonna do it himself. Really slow and soft. Teasing you to your orgasm with flowery dirty talk and lots of "Relax baby", "just enjoy it", "it's okay. Let go."

Jisung: He is so excited to help you. He will probably ask you a ton of questions about your former experiences and in return tells you about all his favorite techniques. Maybe it's a bit overwhelming but he also sparks excitement in you. When it comes to the actual thing he may suddenly struggle with some performance anxiety, it's your turn then to get him hyped, but with just a few words about how much you want this he is happy to go again. Expect a lot of giggling, sudden position changes, and terrible dirty talk, a lot of fun with a very happy end.

Felix: He is also very excited to get the chance to give you your first orgasm. Sees it as a great way to bond deeper as a couple. He‘s gonna be very soft. Lots of kisses all over your body. Always looking at your face to catch all reactions, with a soft smile on his lips. Lots of „Do you like it if I do this?“, „Tell me when it gets too much yeah?“, „Do you want more?“. He enjoys watching you so much that he probably cums from just watching you, and he feels zero guilt about it. Afterwards, he wants to talk about it all with a soft smile and some sweets to snack on, asking the most important question „Do you want to do it again soon?“

Seungmin: He almost pities you? Looking at you a bit confused. He doesn‘t mean to shame you, but it definitely comes off like he does. Asks some low-key invasive questions about your masturbation habits… for research purposes of course. He will definitely poke fun at your former partners' incompetence. When it actually comes to it he's gonna act all confident, but still feels a bit nervous on the inside. He wants to make this good. Really careful and is gonna give a lot of aftercare to make sure you feel good afterwards. He‘s precious.

Jeongin: He is not super experienced, being busy as an Idol and such. He is a bit shy and asks if you don‘t want to experience your first orgasm on your own. He has a bit of performance anxiety and is scared that he won't be good enough to make you cum. If you convince him otherwise, he is gonna plan this out. Talks you through the whole thing so you can feel safe and keep a sense of control even in a situation like this with a lot of new sensations for you to experience. There's gonna be a ton of talking during it and so much reassurance. Absolute sweetie.

[nebbyy]

Hi! Could you please do a part two to the lester/apollo x reader fic you posted?

Apollo x reader - Eternal Bonds

A/N: thank you so much for your request, anon! Sorry if this took a bit more than the time I usually take to write my fics, but as I said the past weeks have been really tiring for me🥹 

Anyway, I hope you like this fic, I personally like it better than the first part, but as always let me know your thoughts on it<3

Aaaand as always, painting is "Springtime" by Pierre Auguste Cot for anyone interested!

Summary: Having regained his immortality and prestige, all that remained for Apollo was to stabilise something in his life was one thing: you. It might sound easy, but he honestly would disagree.

Warning: it is implied that Athena has a great admiration for reader, but they’re not their child. This reconnects with my own personal thoughts on how Athena’s cabin should work, so the goddess’ relationship with reader in this fic should be seen as the same as hers and Odysseus’ (if you want further explanations on what their dynamic was let me know:))) Also I must say, I haven’t read any of the trials of Apollo books in ages so I took it as an occasion to interpret Apollo’s return to Olympus how I see it more fit to this little scenario of mine.

And lastly, not a warning but this fic starts just a bit before the end of the first part, if anyone was wondering:)

Word count: 3813 (longest fic yet omgg)

Apollo stood there, standing on the elevator that would take him home. How strange, he had dreamed of this moment for months, eager to return to his home and be welcomed as a glorious hero, with restored dignity, free of the mortal shell in which he had been confined all this time. He had imagined himself proud, tall and triumphant as he entered the gates of Olympus.

Yet as he stood on his way home, he could not prevent the continuous movement of his foot against the elevator floor. There was no trace in him of the security typical of a hero, in him at that time reigned only the same anxiety and nervousness that had characterized his mortal form. First it was Apollo inside Lester’s body, now Apollo had his body back, but Lester was inside of him. That Lester had become an integral part of him? Or maybe it didn’t add up, maybe it was always there, unable to make its voice heard under the omnipresent spirit of Apollo.

Okay, maybe he was rambling, but he couldn’t help it when he felt like his nerves were about to make him explode!

The point was, he wasn’t just going home, he was going to convince his father, the king of the gods, the exact same person who kicked him out of Olympus, to make the love of his life immortal so that he could stay by his side for eternity. It was not a situation in which one could easily remain connected to reality.

Finally, the elevator slowed down its run, until it stopped completely and opened its doors with a characteristic "ding".

Slowly, one step at a time, Apollo stepped out of the elevator and advanced to the throne room, walking up the path that would take him directly there. His performance had an air of regal composure, but it was nothing more than a method of masking his tense nerves. He walked until he reached the first areas inhabited by the Olympians and some other immortal creature.

"Apollo? I didn’t know you were already back. We thought it would take you millennia to make it up to Zeus!!" He hadn’t heard it in a while, but there was no way he could ever forget the sound of Nike’s voice. The winged goddess came to meet him flying curiously, also attracting the attention of the entities that had not paid attention to the scene so far.

Some approached, recognizing the face of the beloved god, while others ran to announce his return to the major gods. First came Hestia, who with that loving family attitude, embraced him gently. "Oh Apollo, you were so good! I never doubted you could do it." 

"I can’t say that with as much confidence, but I must congratulate you, Apollo, you have exceeded all my expectations." It was the authoritarian voice of Athena who spoke, who wore a smile on her face, a more unique than rare event. Apollo was so surprised by this unusual compliment from her that he hardly paid any attention to her questioning his chances of success.

For a moment he felt his eyes almost come out of his skull when a large hand was planted on his shoulder to pat him. " Well done, little brother, aren’t you as soft as you look, eh?" Massaging his shoulder, Apollo smiled faintly at the mountain that was his half-brother. "Thanks, Ares, it means a lot I guess..."

He was about to receive the coup de grâce, if it were not for Aphrodite, unconscious of her intervention, she had put herself right in the middle, affectionately placing one hand on Apollo’s shoulder while the other not very secretly found place in that of Ares, to the delight of Hephaestus who observed snorting away from the scene, but thumbs up at the sun god to express his joy.

He didn’t know how long this lasted, or exactly how many gods surrounded him at that point, but when Nike was about to hold a banquet in his honor he couldn’t control his reaction: "No wait!" His tone sounded so panicked that he caught everyone unawares. For a moment the gods almost had the sensation of speaking a mortal, so much his voice had squeaked in the air. Realizing that he had drawn even more attention to you, as if it were even possible in that situation, he gently shrugged his shoulders, to mitigate the gaze of the Olympians his nerves more tense than ever.

"Um I-" he made a false cough to try to regain his posture before starting to speak again, illuminating his companions with a dazzling smile, "sorry, mortal’s pollen, am I right? Anyway, much as I would be... ecstatic to attend a banquet, I’m afraid I must first have a discussion with Zeus about some... matters of utmost urgency! If you’ll excuse me, now.”

With little pomp, he made his way through the crowd stunned at his unusual behavior. "Poor thing, the Earth has changed him." Someone shook their head resigned, someone else did not even notice his abrupt exit, simply saying goodbye and congratulating him as he got smaller and smaller in the distance. The attention to him lasted just before each god went for their merry way. After all, when you have a whole eternity to live, there are few things left for you for a long time.

Everyone resumed doing what they were doing before Apollo’s return, all except Athena. It was in her nature to predict the rival’s moves- or rather, the moves of anyone around her. She may not have been born with the ability to see the future, but her intellect allowed her to come to conclusions almost as apt as an oracle. Silent as night, he followed the solar god, whose aura seemed to be clouded by some heavy burden.

The closer he got to the heavy bronze doors of the throne room, the lighter his head felt, as if his brain had gone numb. He was mathematically certain that he had NEVER felt so nervous in his entire existence. Not even his many figures in human form could compare to how he was feeling at the time. But it’s not like he could back out now, not after all the way he’s come, not after promising you not to leave your side. Not now, that had arrived in front of the doors.

He didn’t even have to knock, or announce his own name. No use, Zeus was waiting for him. Apollo took a breath, pumping his chest to emulate some sense of confidence before making his way into the vast hall. Out of the corner of his eye, he looked around and looked at the empty thrones, each with small inlays reminiscent of its owner. He passed by his own throne, and a sense of longing pervaded him to the thought that in no time he would have sat there again. Maybe you could convince Zeus to put a similar throne for you next to his own..

No, stay focused, Apollo, first of all he had to convince Zeus to make them immortal in the first place.

Without even realizing it, he was so taken by his own thoughts, he had reached the end of the room, finding himself a few feet from the king of Olympus. Now he could not afford to show himself weak, fearful. Come on, it had to come easy for him, he was also the god of the theater after all! As if a thread pulled him from above, he felt himself erect tall and proud, his chest out, his muscular back straight; a slight halo of light surrounded him, reconferendogli a little of that shine that has always distinguished him from the rest of the gods. He smiled at his father before bowing down gracefully. "It’s good to see you again, Father."

“Apollo, I see it took you no time to get used to your old life once more. I trust you have learned your lesson.”

“Indeed, father. And I came here to thank you for it all. It was… better than I expected.” Zeus lifted a brow suspiciously, eyeing his son as if trying to make out what’s in his mind just by his appearance. “Mmh I hardly believe that you only came here to thank me for your punishment.” Okay, even if he had second thoughts, it was DEFINITELY too late to back out. Yet despite the seriousness of the situation, Apollo no longer felt the same anxiety that had accompanied him throughout the climb to Olympus. He felt powerful, confident in his words, in his actions, but above all confident in you. He knew that if ever there was a mortal worthy of immortality, it was most certainly you. He looked up at his father, this time his smile had become less dazzling, almost a little nervous.

“Heh, you’re not wrong, father. I came here to make a request.”

“Depends. What is it that you desire?”

“How do you make a demigod immortal?”

Total silence fell in the room. The expression of Zeus was intelligible, and not being able to read the true emotions of Apollo, moreover in such a silent environment did not help to calm his nervousness. Zeus slowly blinked, covering his icy eyes for a moment before opening them again as he breathed in just as slowly. " Few mortals have earned the gift of immortality throughout history. He must deserve that honor with out-of-the-ordinary feats," he paused, as if to reflect, then resumed speaking, in a neutral but glacial and authoritative tone, "this is not impossible, but I count on one bare hand how many times a mortal has been added to the abode of the immortals over the millennia."

"I am aware of this, Father, and that is precisely why I believe that the person I speak of is the most deserving of this honor." Zeus did not answer. Not immediately, at least. He seemed confused and intrigued at the same time, as if he had not expected such a response. " My son, what do you mean by that?" Apollo could not avoid the smile that spread on his face having an opportunity to talk about your countless qualities, which in his eyes were endless. It was one of his favorite activities even when he was mortal, actually.

"You see father, they are a demigod of qualities worthy only of an immortal god. They are strong and wise, although they are still at a young age. They fear nothing but the limits imposed by Olympus, which they have served since the day they set foot inside Camp Half-Blood."He took a little dramatic pause, perhaps expecting to be interrupted by the divine father, but he gave no sign of wanting to intervene in words; he preferred to remain silent, peering at his son while he justified his reasons for satisfying his will.

"And they are beautiful, Father. They shine with a beauty far beyond that of an ordinary mortal. Even on the battlefield, soiled with blood and filth of all kinds, their beauty always resembled that of Aphrodite and Eros and all the gods of all the Pantheons of this world who possess the gift of supreme beauty." To this the father could not suppress a snort of derision, not trusting the words of the son in fact of beauty, "If I remember well such words were spoken by you also for Hyacinth, and before him Daphne, and before her still such a long series of river nymphs and mortal beings that I lost count."

Apollo lowered his head in resignation, sighing gently before looking up to speak again, "I realize this, Father, but I mention their beauty only because it would be a crime against all that is right to omit. However, it remains only one of the many qualities that characterize them, which none of my past lovers can say. But that is not the greatest reason why I consider them worthy of immortality."

"Speak openly then, you know I don’t like to wait." The blond-haired god nodded and took another step towards the king of the gods, his eyes even brighter than before, inflamed by his longing desire to obtain what he most desired in his entire existence. You, at his side. Forever.

"You see, they have done a great service to the goddess of wisdom and the manual arts. They have done the will of Athena and have done such glorious deeds that they have increased her honor. I myself was able to attend only some of their quests, but I assure you that they were so great as to justify the support and blessing of a goddess so hardly affable." To these words, Zeus seemed completely incredulous. In Olympus it was well known that Athena was the beloved daughter of the king of the gods, who always kept her close to him and always made all her will an uncompromising law. It seemed impossible to him that any mortal had been able to win the favor of the goddess, and he strongly doubted the veracity of Apollo’s claim.

The young god opened his mouth to answer, but was interrupted by a voice echoing from behind him, "As much as the idea of supporting Apollo’s petty whims, this time I must agree with him." Athena had followed Apollo to the throne room, suspicious of his strange behavior. He had to be honest, Apollo literally had no idea what to say at that moment; he did not expect to get to that point with his interview and certainly did not expect Athena’s support in his intent. But this was a real blessing, for she herself could bear witness to your worth.

She only gave him a scowling look, like a silent admonition to avoid yelling at him, pick up your mouth from the ground and be a god, genius! But his silver eyes were enough to relay the message, and after a moment Apollo had returned to his usual divine bearing. She blinked slowly before turning her eyes again to Zeus.

"Y/N Y/L is a demigod of undeniable quality, which also left me pleasantly surprised. It is true, they have diligently served Olympus and have especially served me, and I have let them fight in my name precisely because their wit deserved such honor. If only it were possible, I would claim them as my own child, for only twice in my existence have I met two mortal men of equal virtue, and those mortals were the king of Ithaca and your son Hercules, to whom you rightly granted immortality.

You know that I do not speak in vain when I express my opinion, and that is why I consider them worthy to also obtain the gift of immortality, especially when to these incredibly successful quests are added the love of a god and the admiration of another." 

Now Zeus observed the two with two comically wide eyes, mostly due to the unexpected intervention of Athena. Even Apollo could not hide his amazement from that sudden help, but he certainly did not complain at all. Three beats passed, then Zeus cleared his voice and I speak in a more serene tone than before, though still authoritarian, "Very well, if you yourself, Athena, consider this mortal worthy of so many honors I want to believe you. Your lover will be granted immortality, Apollo. This will happen at sundown, when you bring your chariot back here to Olympus. Lead them with you, and they can live forever here with you."

"Yes!!" Apollo threw a fist in the air for joy, a small habit he had taken in his stay on earth, but soon after he realized that perhaps it was not quite the right place to give free rein to his happiness, judging by the unimpressed face of Zeus, "Um, I apologize. I thank you father, for this wonderful gift. I assure you that you will not regret it!" He slowly stepped back as he spoke to him with the biggest smile on his face, extending his arms and bending his knees in a farewell bow. Zeus, for the first time in what seemed like centuries, smiled at Apollo and nodded slightly.

"Enjoy this concession of mine, my son, and may it remain in your mind as your reward for having demonstrated your qualities, even without the intervention of your divinity."

"I’ll never forget it. They’ll never let me!" With some other ceremonious thanksgiving, which they had little given the haste and irrepressible joy of the sun god, Apollo rushed down to Olympus, hastening as much as possible to reach his beloved in the place where they had met. He looked at a clock to see how much time he had left. 7 P.M., he still had some time left. He ran like a madman, until he saw the entrance of the familiar Campo approaching. He ignored everyone around him, his perplexed children, his disappointed fangirls, his friends not too surprised to see him running like a bullet through the field, with the biggest smile they’d ever seen on him. Only Meg had a vague feeling about what exactly happened, but even if she did, she didn’t say anything and just looked at him smiling before going back to her things.

Apollo entered the forest next to the Camp and continued to run. Lucky he was back in his cool form, if he was still Lester would have collapsed out of breath for half an hour. And then finally, he finally arrived at your rendezvous point. She found you there, gently lying on moss, slumbering from the weariness of the activities at the Camp and from the worries you had freed yourself of the previous day, in that exact same place, when you had finally found your beloved. Apollo was quivering, thinking how you would react to the awakening, among the golden blankets of his heavenly palace. What would you have said seeing your body invigorated and illuminated by immortality. What would you have felt seeing that his declarations of eternal love were not fallacious, but promises that he had dedicated himself body and soul to keep.

He gently picked you up, taking care not to wake you. He invoked his golden chariot and rode with you to your new home. He kept you close, as much as he was physically allowed by the confined space. The journey did not last long, being facilitated by the godly transport; once arrived right in front of the golden gates of the Apollonian abode, he took you back in his bridal style, leading you to his- your bed. You were stretched out just as he saw your skin begin to shimmer gently, its color gradually became richer and filled with eternally vital sap. He stood by your side, filling your neck and shoulders with kisses as he crouched behind you, eagerly awaiting your rebirth as a deity.

In the morning you woke up with a strong light that dazzled you. You thought it was Apollo, who since he had returned to his true form had regained all the lustre of his nature. But no, it wasn’t him; it was you, whose skin emanated a faint light that bounced against the various gold inlays that were in the bedroom. Yeah, you didn’t remember falling asleep in a bed, the last thing you remembered was lying in the forest moss while you waited for Apollo. Wait a minute, this isn’t even a room in Camp Half-Blood! 

You did it to snap up to the alert, but then you stopped when you felt the familiar touch of Apollo caressing your shoulder, sliding towards the back of your neck and passing through your hair, which had been twice as long as the day before. Normally you would have yawned, but it didn’t seem physically possible to experience any fatigue in the state you were in. You felt... almighty. You finally turned your attention away from your body and turned it towards Apollo, who was already looking at you with a loveless look.

"Good morning, beautiful." You smiled though still confused by the situation you were in. Tempting your luck, you took a sigh and then you spoke, your melodic, honey-sweet voice even though you just woke up, "'Chicken, where are we?"

"We are in Olympus my dear. I promised you that I would not forget you, that I would love you forever. And I meant every single word I said, which is why I had a little conversation with Zeus earlier, and well... let’s just say with a little help I was able to convince him to give you immortality." He said it with the biggest and most satisfied smile I’d ever seen on him, and meanwhile he hugged you and held you and caressed you all over his body, as if to confirm himself that all this was true.

You were utterly speechless, incredulous at what this god had just done in the name of love for you, but at the same time you felt a warm feeling pervading you from within, filling you with joy and happiness, as if that of him had infected you like a disease. You held your hands to his face and laughed in disbelief and said, "You’re the biggest crazy idiot I’ve ever met, Lester!" 

He laughed with you, feeling pervaded by this joy that moved him from within, almost pushing him to tears by the power of these feelings. Holding you tighter, she stroked your silky soft hair as she chuckled happily, "I guess you’ll have to get used to the gold and clouds here." " Still better than a bunk bed to share in five."

Laughing together, you held each other so long as you had time, before he had to take off and lead the sun across the sky. Before he got on the golden chariot, he touched your face with his bronze hands and kissed you gently. " I still can’t believe I’m gonna be able to kiss these lips forever, Y/N." You smiled at him before you grabbed him by the shoulder to push him towards you, and kissed him again. " Then hurry up and leave, so you’ll be back soon and I’ll have a chance to convince you that everything is real." Winking at him, he laughed loudly and heartily, a more melodic sound than any lyre or flute.

"Then I shall not be long in returning to your arms, my lord" And so he departed towards the horizon, and you smiled as you watched him disappear into the sky, thinking with satisfaction of the world that will look up to him with longing and admiration, knowing that he will never again stop for anyone but you, once his daily duties are over. 

[danieyells]

hi there,

thank you so much for all the voicelines you post !! if it’s okay, can i request subaru’s ?

thank you again !

You're welcome! At some point I might go back and put in the ones I leave out because they don't appeal to me as much lol but since i always end up posting 99% of them anyway I think it's enough for most people hahaha. It's all of them now! Sorry for the delay.

I WAS GONNA OMIT ONE OR TWO BECAUSE OF SPOILERS but eh i'll just warm for like. extra spoilers. since after doing more code peeking it wasn't the spoiler i thought it was. SUBARU IS A SWEETIE THOUGH. I also read Subaru's chats which were put in the code recently and. Man this guy needs anxiety meds. I have a small guess as to what his stigma is, but we'll learn in a few days anyway.

Hello: (the first time the game is opened after that character is set as home screen NPC. Only happens once per day, unless the character is switched out and back.)

"I'm very sorry to have kept you waiting. It's wonderful to see you again."

You've Got Mail: (whenever there's something in the inbox, usually Arena rewards)

"It looks like there's a notice for you. I'd be happy to go pick it up for you if you've got your hands full. Oh, forgive me if I'm overstepping."

oh no he's anxious about helping--

Default: (requires no affinity, has no time constraints)

"I really am so lucky to be surrounded by so many kind people like you."

"I never thought I'd get the chance to enjoy the lifestyle of a student until I came to Darkwick. Every day truly is fulfilling here."

it feels like subaru is like. . .the only one who actually enjoys school life here. . .or who really enjoys being here period lmao. . . .

"You think I'm always smiling? Ha ha, I hear that a lot. It just happens when I'm around all of you."

"I may be the captain, but it's just in name. I think Haku is much better suited for the job than me."

"I've been working since I was four, so people often said I was mature for my age. But the truth is, I've still got a lot to learn."

that makes two characters whose parents have essentially been keeping them from normal life and normal childhood for work reasons since they were four year olds. . . .

Affinity 1: (between 5am and 11am)

"I tend to just have hot water for breakfast. I know it would be better for me to eat a proper meal, but it's just so much effort."

DO WE REALLY HAVE TO START WITH "I NEED THE GHOULS TO EAT PROPER FUCKIN MEALS". . . .

Affinity 2: (between 11am and 4pm)

"I'm sorry I'm so late. The campus is so crowded I can never manage to walk in a straight line, so it always takes me longer than I think. Silly, isn't it?"

baby you're hardly the first person i've met with anxiety about crowds. you're fine.

Affinity 3: (between 4pm and 8pm)

"What would I do without Haku's help? Hotarubi would be a mess without him."

Affinity 4: (between 8pm and 5am)

"I wonder if I should apply early to take out any common artifacts I might need for this mission. I'll ask Haku what he thinks..."

Affinity 5: (between 8pm and 5am)

"Ah!  You surprised me there... I just got back from a small errand. Do you need something?"

Affinity 6: (between 4pm and 8pm)

"Ever since I was a child, the performing arts were my only focus. Maybe that's why people always say my mannerisms are so peculiar. It bothers you too, doesn't it?"

poor boy doesn't know how to act if he isn't acting. . .he doesn't know how to exist off-script. . .no wonder he made a deal with a demon. it's probably the first thing he's ever done for himself.

Affinity 7: (between 11am and 4pm)

"I'd like to go to the cafeteria, but the line is always so long. I feel bad taking time to choose while people are waiting behind me. The bar of entry feels a little high."

i am once again suggesting subaru get anxiety meds. hell go to sinnostra and get some weed, i bet they sell that. i hear it can help.

Affinity 8: (between 4pm and 8pm)

"I'm just about to go and meet a friend. I hate to inconvenience you like this, but if it's something urgent, could you speak to Haku about it instead?"

Affinity 9: (between 8pm and 5am)

"What am I going to do? We're supposed to be meeting up in an hour... If I cancel now, they'll hate me..."

Affinity 10: (between 10pm and midnight)

"Whew... I'll walk you back to your house, {PC}. Oh, it's no problem at all, I assure you! I wanted some fresh air anyway."

Affinity 11: (between 5am and 11am)

"I have an Anomalous Ecology test coming up. It's such a fascinating subject, I couldn't help but stay up all night studying. Now I'm a little sleep-deprived."

Affinity 12: (between 11am and 4pm)

"I'm going to stretch my legs a little. I might not have a show to practice for right now, but I need to keep putting myself through my paces. I'll get rusty otherwise."

Affinity 13: (between 4pm and 8pm)

"I'm sorry my phone's been making so much noise. I recently downloaded an app by mistake, and it won't stop sending me notifications..."

awww he's also technologically incompetent. . .poor guy was probably raised with such a heavy focus on his career he just. never needed a smartphone. anyone he needed to contact or who needed to contact him was probably always very close by. it sounds like he didn't even properly go to school before going to Darkwick. Somebody please take this boy on a walk. like anywhere. take him to a library. buy him a churro. can sho make churros? this is somebody who's never had any sort of normal social experience and sees how different he is and wishes it weren't the case, unlike Ritsu who assumes everyone else is like him, i think he'd like to have some more Experiences.

Affinity 14: (between 5am and 11am)

"... ...Oh! Hello, {PC}—I didn't even notice you there. My mind was somewhere else."

Affinity 15: (between 5am and 11am)

"Good morning! Sorry? My hair's messy? You're right, it's sticking right up at the front... That's embarrassing. I'll fix it right away."

Affinity 16: (between 11am and 4pm)

"I usually have lunch in the dormitory. I do eat on the terrace with Lyca every now and then, but he seems so busy these days..."

Lyca is one of the members of Obscuary, btw! Seems like he and Subaru are friends.

Affinity 17: (between 10pm and midnight)

"I didn't take you for a night owl, {PC}. Since you're here, I suppose I'll stay up a little longer. You're sure you're okay? You're not sleepy?"

Affinity 18: (between 8pm and 5am)

"Do you visit Sinostra very often, {PC}? I see... Oh, no reason. I was just making conversation. Ha ha."

why do you ask that. . .a certain mafioso captain wouldn't happen to be suspicious of you would he. . .or maybe you owe them money. . .or maybe you used to be part of Sinostra and moved to Hotarubi. . . .

Affinity 19: (between 10pm and midnight)

"It's getting late, {PC}. How about we finish this tomorrow? Thank you for keeping me company all this time."

Affinity 20: (between 5am and 11am)

"Oh, I couldn't ask you to come all the way to my room to wake me up—I'd feel terrible. I do very much appreciate the thought, though."

it's okay buddy jin already makes them do it, one more pit stop won't hurt.

Affinity 21: (between 11am and 4pm)

"Oh, hello, {PC}. Sorry, I was actually just on my way out. I should be back by evening—do you mind if we speak then?"

Affinity 22: (between 4pm and 8pm)

"Lyca has seen my message, so why hasn't he responded to it? I hope nothing bad has happened to him..."

Affinity 23: (between 8pm and 5am)

"Lyca will adapt well to human society, I'm sure of it. I'm so relieved that Darkwick chose to trust him. I can't thank you enough for your help."

he really likes Lyca huh? that is his dog.

Affinity 24: (between 10pm and midnight)

"You can't sleep? Then let me tell you some stories. Legend has it that evil spirits appear once you've told a hundred. Now, what number was I up to..."

BOY IS TRYNA GET YOUR ASS HAUNTED.

Affinity 25(max): (no time constraints)

"I don't want to seem like I'm testing you, I just... I get really anxious sometimes... I'm sorry. I'm being weird, aren't I?"

he's the type to ask 'are you sure you love me? are you sure you wanna be with me?' after you get married and move in together and own a house and have two kids with another on the way. he's the hyper anxious 'i'm sorry we disagreed about our favorite colors do you hate me?' friend(affectionate) I wonder though, is he apologizing for seeming like he's testing you because he's using his stigma to see what you've been up to or something. . .? Probably not lol it's more likely he just keeps asking if you like him

Spring: (March-May) (between 5am and 11am)

"There is no time like spring. Everyone seems more relaxed this time of year. It's reassuring to see."

(between 11am and 4pm)

"I have some sakura mochi. I was just about to prepare some tea to go with it—would you like to join me?"

(between 4pm and 8pm)

"They have no control over whether they bloom, and yet they get made a spectacle of nonetheless... Oh, sorry—I was talking about the cherry blossoms."

(between 8pm and 5am)

"There are many different flowers growing in Hotarubi, but I think the wisteria are my favorites. This is the best time to see them, so you should take a walk around."

Summer: (June-August) (between 5am and 11am)

"Hot today, isn't it? It's always raining in Hotarubi, so it does provide a little escape from the blazing summer sun, but... Ha ha. It is very humid, isn't it?"

(between 11am and 4pm)

"Summer makes me think of the ghost story Yotsuya Kaidan. The scene where Oiwa becomes hysterical, having realized her her face has been disfigured— incredible."

Yotsuya Kaidan is one of the best known japanese ghost stories! It's extremely violent, so read the summary at your discretion. The scene in question has Oiwa shown her reflection by her sister's boss to see that the cream she was given by a woman who was in love with her husband was actually some sort of poison that instantly scarred her face. She grabs a sword and goes to kill her, only for her to accidentally slit her own throat.

(between 4pm and 8pm)

"Hotarubi House holds regular festivals during the summer months. If you need a yukata to wear, I'd be happy to pick one out for you."

(between 8pm and 5am)

"I don't mind scary stories, but when that biwa in the tea room started playing by itself, it did make me jump a little..."

slight spoiler, although you can probably figure it out from this but. . .Zenji is a ghost. Subaru currently can't actually see him or hear his voice. . .only Haku, the pc, and, perhaps not so oddly, Towa can afair. All of his youtube content doesn't have him or his voice in it because he can't be recorded by cameras. So Subaru doesn't realize that the biwa playing on its own is actually Zenji playing the biwa.

Autumn: (September-November) (between 5am and 11am)

"The air has gotten crisper, and the leaves are changing color. I know it's only natural for the seasons to shift, so why does it make my heart ache so much?"

(between 11am and 4pm)

"Oh, these? They're some chestnuts I found. I know—I should give them to Sho. I'm sure he'll be able to make something delicious with them."

(between 4pm and 8pm)

"That's another kuchikiri tea ceremony under my belt. It's an annual tradition where one cuts open a tea jar to reveal the tea that was preserved from the first harvest."

(between 8pm and 5am)

"On long autumn nights when the moon is shining beautifully in the sky, it's hard to resist taking a walk outside. Don't stay out until too late though, {PC}."

Winter: (December-February) (between 5am and 11am)

"...Oh, {PC}. Good morning... I had a hard time getting up today. It must be the cold... Ha ha. Not very captain-like, is it?"

Jin, Taiga, and Ed are all prone to not getting out of bed. and Yuri falls asleep on operating tables when he has down time. Trust me Subaru you are perfectly captain-like.

(between 11am and 4pm)

"Today, I'm going to order ingredients from one of my favorite stores so we can all make negima—tuna and scallion—hot pot together. Please, do join us."

(between 4pm and 8pm)

"It's cold out today. I was just thinking about lighting the fire. Would you like to come and warm up with me?"

oh subaru you don't even know how that sounds

(between 8pm and 5am)

"People say winter makes you want to snuggle up with someone, but I find that a good blanket does a much better job."

i agree that blankets are much easier to manage than people lol. probably warmer too.

His birthday: (February 20th)

"A present? For me? Thank you... I didn't expect you to do anything for my birthday, so I'm a little caught off guard. I really appreciate it."

Your birthday:

"Um... Happy birthday.  I really hope this year will be a wonderful one for you."

New Years: (January 1st)

"Happy New Year. I hope I can depend on your guidance and support again this year."

Valentine's Day: (February 14th)

"Chocolate? Oh, It's Valentine's Day, isn't it? Does that mean these are for me...?"

nah i just wanted you to look at them. YES THEY ARE FOR YOU BBY. why would you be showing him chocolate if it wasn't for him! On any day, not just valentine's day!!

White Day: (March 14th)

"These are for you, {PC}. I put in a special order for monaka from my favorite confectioner in Ginza. They're wafers filled with bean jam—I hope you like them."

April Fool's Day: (April 1st)

"Earlier, Haku told me he was switching houses. It gave me a real shock— I'm very relieved that it wasn't true..."

i bet subaru made the most scared kicked puppy face and started apologizing for being such an awful captain and blamed himself for that haku would go to a different house and haku had to quickly explain it was just a prank for fear that subaru might burst into tears.

Halloween: (October 31st)

"Happy Halloween. I know it's nothing special, but I've prepared some treats for the occasion. Oh... But you're more than welcome to play a trick instead."

please don't trick him. april fool's day was hard enough for him.

Christmas: (December 25th)

"Merry Christmas. We already have our New Year decorations up in Hotarubi, so it has a real east-meets-west atmosphere now. I hope everyone is okay with it..."

Idle: (about 20 seconds without interacting with the game) (below 13 affinity)

"Everyone seems busy at the moment. Maybe I should use this opportunity to tidy the garden..."

(13 affinity and above)

"{PC}? Oh... I'm sorry, I didn't mean to disturb you. I was just worried because you were so quiet..."

Absent: (logging in for the first time in 2 or more days?)

"You're back... I'm so relieved. I was worried I'd done something to make you feel uncomfortable..."

this man shakes like a chihuahua 24/7. like you can taste the anxiety coming off of him. i love him. he's so pathetic(affectionate). i wanna squeeze his hand reassuringly and tell him everything's gonna be okay. i wanna hug him and pat his head. i wanna take him places so he learns more about the world outside of working. i wanna watch him do schoolwork excitedly because he's never really gone to school before and it's a new and exciting experience. i want him to experience the most mundane aspects of life with wonder.

good boy. yeah. get him anxiety meds /nodnod

[daenysx]

Hi, would you write a modern aemond where he's a virgin and quite shy? ♡ First time with his girlfriend he's a bit ashamed of his inexperience/has performance anxiety and he doesn't last very long, but she's super kind about it and makes him feel comfortable

thanks love ♡

hii! thank you for this request, i've never written aemond as a shy character before but i tried my best, i hope you like it!!

i always think that aemond would love receiving praises and he deserves to know how good he is. in my stories mostly he is the one giving praises but this time i wanted him to be the praised one. ♡

title's from suki waterhouse' lovely song 'good looking'

my masterlist

my good looking boy

you are the first person modern!aemond has sex with. nsfw.

aemond has no idea how good he looks right now.

not good, perfect. such a gorgeous man and he is with you. you know he doesn't usually believe in your words about how good looking he is, how kind and gentle, how perfect for you. he's gotten used to receiving problematic words from his family, he's never felt appreciated enough and you always intend to change his mind.

he should know how perfect he is.

he is just sitting on the couch with wearing nothing but his sweatpants, his back is against the comfy pillows and he has this book he's recently obsessed with in his hands. his pretty hands. he looks concentrated, unaware of your presence as you stand by the door. you take your time, watch him a little bit more and enjoy the sight in front of you.

he lifts his hand to push his hair from his face then reaches for his cup on the coffee table. he takes a sip and you watch how the muscles of his throat move with the act. as he puts the coffee cup back, he looks at the door and sees you.

he smiles so beautifully when he sees you standing there. you approach him, he puts his book aside and opens his arms for you. he always welcomes you with open arms and helps you lay on top of him. he knows you love the comfort you feel with him after a long day, just listening to his heartbeat to acknowledge his presence, feeling he is there for you.

your relationship has started a little while ago, you were just friends before you both realized your feelings for each other. aemond always told you how bad he thinks he is with feelings and relationships but that was okay. you were willing to be the brave one, the one who confessed first, the one who gave the first kiss, the one who first started a hug.

you lift your head enough to kiss him, he parts his lips enough to let your tongue in his mouth. he holds the back of your head securely in his big hand and you keep kissing him until you decide to move further.

you feel him smiling on your lips and you smile back. you've never done anything more, only these intense kisses and touching each other. it felt a bit awkward at first, thinking you were friends before and now that he is your boyfriend. you took your time, waited enough to feel comfortable for something more.

and now, you feel like you're on the edge with how gorgeous your man looks.

he can turn you on without doing anything spesific. fuck, he turns you on just by sitting shirtless and reading a book. you try to settle on his lap more comfortably and he holds your hips while you do that.

you press yourself to his hardness which is inevitable to feel right now and he makes a sound, clearly indicating he was not expecting this.

"sorry." you say, laughing slightly.

he smiles, "that's okay."

"i know we didn't really talked about this but- if it feels weird we can always try later. i just-"

he cuts your rushed words with a simple kiss. "nothing feels weird with you sweetheart. it's- i want to do this with you. but, i think you should know that i've- i've never done that before."

you are a little bit surprised but you don't say it. "that's fine. we can take all the time you want. just-anything you're okay with."

you see his cheeks turn pink and you love the color on him. you can't even describe how lovely he looks, how pretty for you. you give him a comforting smile.

"do you want to go to bed?" he asks, almost whispering.

you nod, take his hand and lead him to the bedroom. he sits on the bed while you stand and looks at you, unsure of what he's supposed to do.

you lean closer to give him a little kiss as you move your hands to take off your clothes. your shirt goes first, then your skirt. he watches you with a starved look on his face. you take off your bra and your panties as he can look at your face only. your clothes make a little pool on the floor and you kneel in front of him.

"can i take this off?" you ask with a smile, your forefinger points his sweatpants. he nods and lifts his hips to help you.

he doesn't wear any underwear.

and he looks gorgeous. the tip of his cock is slightly red, he is hard for you and you can't help but pressing a little kiss to the tip of him. he winces, closes his eye.

"we can do anything you want, however you want. just tell me, my love." you say with a reassuring smile.

"i'd like to be inside you first, but i'm not sure i can last long." he says.

"that's fine. we have all the time in the world. would you like to be on top?"

he thinks for a small moment. "no, i want you on top of me. you'd look so good on top of me."

for a man who never had sex, aemond targaryen surely knows what to say to make you fall for him.

he lays down on bed, extends his hand for you to reach. you sit on his abs, slowly moving on top of him and his cock presses against your backside. your wetness stains his abs and he loves the feeling. he loves the way you kiss his chest when you move, the way you bite his nipple playfully, the way he can hold onto the soft flesh of your thighs.

you are everything he has ever longed for and he is glad that he waited enough to have his first time with you.

"that feels- fuck, that's perfect but i want you, i want to be inside-" he says with an impatient voice.

"do you have any idea how good you look right now? no, you don't. you don't have a little clue about what you do to me just by looking like that. my good looking boy." you say, finally moving closer to his cock.

he moans deeply when you hold him in your hands, adjust yourself on top of him and take him inside you. he loves the feeling of your warmth, your tight muscles clenching around him, and it's perfect. such a lovely feeling, it makes him feel safe, totally unaware of the outside world right now.

you start riding him, taking his hand to stroke your clit at the same time. you guide him first but he is a fast learner, he starts doing it with his own pace now. you arch your waist like a purring cat and he says your name with a desperate voice.

"i'm- too close, i can't stop!"

you nod feverently, "don't stop. never stop."

he rubs your clit harder and your little kiss on his chest makes the final for him. he lifts his hips and comes inside you with a grunt.

you are mesmerised by the way he looks when he comes.

he takes quick breaths, tries to calm himself. your warmth still surrounds him and he realizes you're still waiting for your own peak.

"fuck, i'm sorry. i'm sorry, my love, i should've-"

you shush him as he sits on bed with you on his lap, put a finger on his lips and stop him from talking nonsense.

"that was perfect, aemond. it was supposed to be good for you and you- you don't know how pretty you look when you come. for me it was enough."

he kisses you, he is still inside and you can feel him getting hard. "thank you for being so kind. i love you."

"i love you, too."

"can you let me make it up to you, right now?"

you laugh at his words. "of course."

he smiles too, you lay on your back now as he stays on top, he pulls himself back. "i need you to tell me what you like. i want to learn how you like it, how to make it good for you."

you nod attentively, hold his face and kiss him. you guide his long fingers on your clit. "i like how you touch me here. like this."

he nods, trying to understand the basics of it. you let his hand move and he finds your entrance with his fingers. you guide them inside you. "there's a spot that feels- oh!"

it appears your good looking boy is successful at everything he does. his fingers find your g-spot with the little help from your hips and he presses there.

he moves his fingers inside you, his thumb stays on your clit. "mm-hmm, there. that's so beautiful. you are so good for me."

aemond loves when you praise him, your words are sincere and so sweet. he wants to make you feel good, he wants his touches to make you lose it for him.

he sucks your nipple, and then the other one. you push your body to him, wanting him to keep going.

"like that, just like that!"

it only takes three more thrusts for you to reach to that lovely state. you moan his name, not caring about how loud you are. he feels the pride deep in his heart, smiles broadly and kisses you. you grab his cock when your orgasm hits you and you move your hand fastly to make him come once more.

he pushes his cock to your fist and he is gone after a few moments.

he feels so good, so relaxed. he lays on bed with you on his chest and pulls the covers on you.

you are trying to catch your breath as he rubs circles on your back, your nipples press on his skin and his softened cock rests on his thigh.

you enjoy a few minutes of comfortable silence.

you leave the bed afterwards, go to the bathroom to clean yourself. you grab a towel for him, hand it to him when you go back to his side and let him clean himself.

he looks calm and grounded, his eye closing slowly and you know he wants to sleep with you in bed. you kiss his forehead affectionally, mumbling how perfect he is. you take the used towel from him and put it in washing machine.

you go to kitchen with quick steps after wearing one of his shirts and clean panties. you bring him a cool glass of water and sit on the edge of the bed on his side.

"come on, drink some water my love."

he slowly sips his water, grateful for the care you show him. you hold his hand when he finishes the water in the glass and put the glass on the nightstand.

he opens the covers for you and takes you in his arms. you kiss his neck, wrap your arms around him.

"thank you." he says, and his voice sounds a little shy it makes your heart clench.

"i want you to feel good with me. i like taking care of you, i like making you smile. you deserve all the sweetness i could ever offer."

"i feel the best when i'm with you. i just- i'm not used to it but i love it. pretty words and someone taking care of me." he says.

"that's okay. we have time, remember? you'll get used to all of it, baby."

he kisses you good night then, and you watch him fall asleep, holding you closer and closer.

your good looking boy.

[artemis32]

bnha, a hero reader with a yan who doesn’t think the reader should be a hero (world too dangerous etc etc). how would they stop reader from performing hero duties?

platonic (??) yandere All Might x reader

All Might, all the way. This man is anxious and the definition of a helicopter parent

Also, I'm getting to all my asks, so thank you so much to everyone who sent one in! <3 if you've literally ever sent me an ask or request, I promise, I see it, I'm getting to it (I don't hate you, promise)

bnha masterlist

This man is such a hypocrite. He shouldn't care this much about one person - one student.

You're old enough to make your own decisions, old enough to decide to be a hero. You're a good hero. He just-

He can't handle it.

This isn't a situation he's faced before, and he has no idea why it's different with you. Usually, he doesn't care. Hell, usually he's the one encouraging kids like you. Mirio and Izuku are prime examples of that, and Izuku was even younger than you are now when he was pushed down that path, so there's no good or even logical reason to excuse the way he's feeling now.

At first he tries to distance himself, tries to completely ignore you, convinced that will pull him out of whatever funky headspace he's in.

When that inevitably doesn't work, he ends up hovering like some damn helicopter parent, playing it off as a concerned teacher, eager to guide an impressionable youth.

It works for a while. Sort of.

People pick up on it eventually - fellow faculty, other students, you. He doesn't notice, or care, honestly. His methods, crude as they are, work, and if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Except, his methods aren't exactly as full proof as he thought, and that becomes glaringly obvious when you're away on an internship and word gets out a few days in that you were hospitalised after a particularly gruesome fight.

He blames himself more than anything else - probably more than he blames whatever low level villain hurt you either - something he might've discussed in therapy, if he ever actually went.

Once you return to classes, he only becomes worse. Days pass, then weeks, and he feels like he can hardly breathe when you're not within his direct line of sight. There were far too many what-ifs when he wasn't around, and, in an admittedly spur-of-the-moment decision, he snatches you off the street.

Well, snatch probably wasn't the right word. He, truthfully, just asked you to accompany him to... somewhere. Not that he remembers. He was a mess of anxiety, thinly veiled by terrible jokes and loud laughs, and none of that really even mattered anymore since you were safe now. Safe, and here, with him.

Of course, when he ran out of things to say, ways to stall, you quickly realised that dear old All Might did not, in fact, want heart-to-heart. And damn him if the fading trust and slight sliver of fear in your eyes didn't wring his heart out in his chest.

But he was doing what was best for you! You'd see that, eventually. He was doing his job, as a hero and as your mentor. He was number one for so long for a reason. He was older than you, wiser than you, and he knew what was best.

So what if you were scared for a little while? A little fear was healthy every now and then. It kept the youth respectful.

He was a hero. What good was a hero if he couldn't protect people? Especially the people he felt odd, warm, protective feelings for?

And, yeah, okay, maybe he hasn't exactly worked out all the semantics of your stay yet, but that was irrelevant! You were safe, and he'd cross those bridges when he got to them ('those bridges' being the fact that he was the top pro hero who regularly left the city, the country, for days, sometimes weeks on end - or the fact that, sooner or later, people would realise you'd disappeared off the face of the earth).

Yeah. Semantics.

The point, young one, was that you were safe! There was nothing safe about hero work. And, okay, maybe he might tell you small white lies to keep you complacent - 'this is part of the course', 'yes, of course you'll get to go home soon', 'mhm, yes, your parents know you're here, who do you think approved this?'

Lying to you is easier than telling the truth. It may make him a coward, but it makes you a fool too. You obviously don't believe him, but what would you do? How were you, a random teenage girl with an alright quirk, going to beat the number one hero? You weren't.

He handles you with the utmost care, like a puppy, or a piece of fine china. But God forbid you bring up the topic of hero work, never mind trying to escape. Sometimes he forgets his strength. And after the first time, hurting you doesn't weigh as heavily on his conscience as it used to. When he said he'd do whatever he had to, to keep you safe and by his side, he meant it. And if that means hurting you? So be it.

[showstopper35]

I do not know if you are taking requests, if you aren’t then feel free to ignore. But I was wondering, if you are of course, if I could have Con x Reader headcanons where the reader has really bad anxiety? But like tries to play it off as not that bad as they are visible freaking out?

I hope that is okay and thank-you in advance!

No problem! Sorry for the wait! And also sorry I didn't do all the cons!

Starscream

-He knows a thing or two about repressing emotions...he mostly just gives you a lot of space. If you want to talk about it, he will listen quietly. Maybe give you a few words about how its okay to not be okay, and that you can allow yourself to feel things in front of him, or just let it out when you feel safe alone. If you don't want to talk about it, he will pretend to believe your "I'm fine" routine until you come clean.

Megatron

-You're fine, you say? Good. All his soldiers must be fine. So what if your hands are shaking? Maybe you aren't fine after all. But you have to tell him that first, or otherwise let your anxiety so badly affect your performance in whatever your daily tasks are that he notices. Then he won't say anything, but he might let you take a break. Just until you can go back to serving him, of course.

Soundwave

-You don't even need to pretend to be okay. He knows. He's probably tracking your heartbeat or something. The shaky hands, the trembling voice...the anxiety is definitely bad. Well, when he gets nervous (which is never, because the security chief of the Nemesis could never be nervous, right?), he usually would play with his minicons. Don't be concerned when Laserbeak starts flying at you--he's just here to help. Laserbeak never leaves your side until Soundwave has decided you've calmed down enough.

Knockout

-Don't worry, darling, he is definitely the first one to know you're faking it. After all, he puts on his dramatic act every day. One glance at you and all his medic training kicks in and identifies the symptoms of an anxiety attack. Expect to be escorted into a quiet room while he orders everyone else away from you for "medical reasons". Once you are calmer, he sips energon with you and just does his best to distract you with all the random stuff he has to say, even if he mostly talks about himself.

Breakdown

-If we're being honest, he is not the smartest. It would probably take something as drastic as you breaking down into tears to realize that you're panicking. Even so, he does realize that something is off. He might be kinder to you, or offer to aid you in any of your assignments. He just keeps you company.

Shockwave

-Shockwave would notice that you aren't exactly acting as your usual self. After a while around you, he would come to the conclusion that you are highly anxious. He notices everything, yes, but he wouldn't say much. Maybe he just leaves you alone. He isn't sure if this is his problem. If you did voice your anxiety to him, he would probably recommend some weird medicine he cooked up. Maybe it's best to just avoid him about this issue.

[p-artsypants]

Fiddle Me This

Ao3 | FF.net

Hamish, former chief of the Shivering Shores, is coming to Berk and has requested Hiccup play some songs he's written over the years. The problem? No one else knew Hiccup could fiddle, and he's never performed for anyone.

The idea for this is completely self-indulgent and comes from the fact that Alexander Rybak does the Norwegian voice for Hiccup. He wrote two songs for the series, including one specifically for Toothless. I can’t just sit here knowing that and NOT write a fic, I mean COME ON. Also, in the Episode with Garf, Hiccup’s song was about Toothless, and he was really enthusiastic about it, making me think he wrote it himself. 

This is not historically accurate, but neither is the source material. 

Set somewhere during RTTE, before Blindsided.

—

Things had thankfully been slow at the Edge. The Hunters hadn’t been seen in a while, probably regrouping or strategizing. But the anxiety of that unknown was quickly pushed aside with a Terror Mail from Berk. 

“Alright gang,” Hiccup stated that morning. “Who’s feeling homesick?” 

Fishlegs sheepishly raised his hand, but the rest just kind of looked at each other. 

“Well, you’re in luck. We’re heading back to Berk for a little vacation! The Shiver Shores are coming in a week, and they’ll be in Berk for three days. Hamish’s oldest son Hagar has taken over as chief.” 

“Is Hamish okay?” Fishlegs asked, as that was the usual reason a tribe had a new chief.  

“As far as I know, he’s still alive. Sounds like his health is declining and it was getting hard to keep up with all the duties. Hel, it’s hard when you’re not sick,” Hiccup muttered that last bit to himself. 

“When do we leave?” Asked Astrid. 

“I’m leaving today,” Hiccup rested his hands on his waist. “Dad specifically asked me to come early to help with some preparations. You guys are welcome to head back on Frigg’s day. Or earlier, if you want. But I’d like someone to stay on the Edge as long as possible.” 

“Sweet! Unsupervised vacation!” Tuffnut high fived his sister. 

“Uh, no. If you’re staying, you’re doing your jobs. That means patrolling!”  

“Boo!” 

“Killjoy!” 

“What could your dad possibly need you so early for?” Snotlout asked, insult implied.

Hiccup’s face went red, satisfying Snotlout, but the blush was for a totally different reason. “Hamish…specifically requested…I play the fiddle.” 

There was a pause. “You have a week to learn the fiddle?” Asked Tuff. 

Hiccup sighed. “No, I have a week to brush up on the fiddle.” 

Then everyone yelled in unison, “You can fiddle!?” 

He chuckled awkwardly. “Yeeeeep.”  

“Since when?!” Snotlout demanded. “I’ve known you since we were in diapers, and I’ve never heard you play a single note.”

“Yeah, but how well did you know me before the Red Death?” 

“People talk, Hiccup. You’re not that good at keeping secrets.” 

“And the Nightfury that spent three months in the woods?” 

“A notable exception.”

Hiccup awkwardly played with his hands, avoiding eye contact. “I’ve been playing since … well, since I was able to. My mother played. We had her fiddle at the house, and when I was little, my dad asked if I wanted to learn how to play, explaining that mom had. I was really enthusiastic back then, and so when we went to visit the Shivering Shores a few times a year, he had me take lessons with Hamish.” 

“Which is why he requested you play now,” Astrid gathered. 

“Yeeeep.” 

“So, are you good?” Asked Tuff. 

“Oh no, I’m terrible. I’m thinking that I’ll just play with the band. Maybe quietly so they drown me out.” 

“I’m sure you’ll be great, Hiccup,” Astrid said fondly. “When was the last time you played?” 

He scrunched up his lips in thought. “For anyone? Never. Unless you count Hamish. Or Toothless.” He smiled over at his dragon. “But I sometimes play in my room or at the forge if I need to think something through and need to do something with my hands. I didn’t take it with me when we came out here.” 

“So a few months.” 

“Give or take.” 

Tuffnut snapped his fingers. “The Fiddler on the Roof!” 

“Excuse me?” 

“What? You never heard the rumor of the Fiddler on the Roof? Ugh! It makes so much sense now!” 

“What are you talking about?” Hiccup pressed. 

“Okay okay, for years people have been talking about a mysterious fiddler in the village. His music carries over the rooftops, so people assumed he was up high…kinda like the chief’s house on the hill?!” Tuffnut nudged him. 

“Th-that can’t be right. It must be someone else.” 

Fishlegs pointed out, “no one else on the island plays a fiddle though. You said it yourself that you had to take lessons from Hamish.” 

“Yeah, but Silent Sven plays the nyckelharpa and Sigurd plays the Hurdy-Gurdy. What if it was one of them?” 

“Nope, not a nyckelharpa,” said Tuff. 

“And definitely not a hurdy-gurdy!” Said Ruff. 

“Besides, they play in the Great Hall all the time, we know what they sound like,” said Fishlegs. 

“And it’s definitely a Fiddler on that Roof.” 

Hiccup’s face went even more red, and he covered it with his hands. “Oh gods…people have been hearing me for years!” 

“That’s the cool part, H,” said Tuff. “The Fiddler is said to be otherworldly in nature, and some even thought he might be a spirit of music himself.” 

“Okay, now you’re just messing with me.” 

“Am I?” Tuff wiggled his fingers. 

“Look, don’t get too excited, okay? I’ll show my dad where I’m at and he might agree to have a private performance with Hamish. I would never want to subject the village to hear my…” he rolled his hand, looking for the word. 

“Screeching?”

“‘Fork-on-dinnerplate’?”

“Dying cat?” 

“Yeah,” Hiccup said flatly, “One of those.”

“You know, Hiccup,” said Snotlout. “I never saw you as the type to be musically inclined. But it suits you, I must say. Someone’s gotta play the tales of my awesome battles.” 

“And the fact that you sing a solo every Snoggletog doesn’t count because…?” 

“Duh, because it’s Snoggletog, a season of giving. And I give the gift of my beautiful tenor.” He gestured to his throat.

“Right,” He sighed. “Anyway, I’m going to get packed. Anyone else coming now?”

“I will,” said Astrid. 

“Me too!” Said Fishlegs. 

Hiccup looked meaningfully at the Twins and Snotlout. 

“What?” Asked Snot. “Yeah, we’ll behave! We’ll even patrol! We’re mature adults that don’t need a babysitter.” 

“There was only one word in that sentence that was true,” Hiccup said, rolling his eyes and heading out. 

Tuff yelled back, “Which one was it? Was it ‘that’?” 

An hour later, Astrid, Fishlegs, and Hiccup were packed and ready to head back to Berk. One last chastising for the stragglers, and they were off. 

“So…” Fishlegs began, as their trip was underway. “Can I ask more questions about the fiddle?” He squeaked. 

Hiccup sighed. “Yeah, I guess. At least I know you two won’t make fun of me for it.” 

“Never, Hiccup,” Astrid assured. “I can’t even sing, let alone play an instrument. I bet the muttonheads back at the Edge certainly can’t.” 

“Not that I’ve ever heard,” he shrugged. 

“What songs can you play?” 

Hiccup winced. “Not many. I learned how to play some traditional stuff when I was younger, and when I nailed those down and got tired of them, I started doing my own thing.” 

“…what’s your own thing?” Astrid asked. 

“Well, I uh…I made up my own songs. Not really writing anything down, but developing a melody I liked…putting some words to it. That kind of thing.” 

“You should perform those!” Said Fishlegs, enthusiastically. “I bet people would want to hear a Hiccup original over the same thing we hear all the time!” 

He scoffed. “No, you got it all wrong. They aren’t good, Fishlegs! Like…I know you come up with little songs about Meatlug, right?” 

“Yeah?” 

“Would you perform those in front of the tribe?” 

“Ha! No way! Not unless Meatlug was having a panic attack and I needed to calm her down.” He laid on his dragon, giving her a hug. “Then in that case, no crowd could stop me.” 

“So did you play a lot?” Asked Astrid. “You said you would play to keep your hands busy.” 

“Quite a bit,” he admitted. “It’s kind of fun to play, and the music kinda helps me think. But I’m usually not thinking about the fiddle when I’m playing, so I’m sure it sounds like a bunch of random notes just sliding around.” 

“But if you practice a lot, it shouldn’t sound that bad,” she reasoned. 

“Oh, you’d be surprised…” 

The conversation changed then, and they talked about other things for the rest of the flight. Dragon training, the Hunters, there was even an hour long argument about who would win in a fight between three Flightmares and ten Speed Stingers. 

Eventually, they reached Berk right before dinner. Gobber and Stoick were waiting for them and greeted them warmly. 

“Evening son! Have a good flight?” 

Hiccup slid off Toothless, stretching his back. “Good weather, fun company, no complaints.” 

“You know…I got your fiddle out for you. It’s on your desk.” 

Hiccup barked a laugh. “That didn’t take long. I thought for sure you’d wait to bring it up until after dinner.” 

“Well, the others want to start practice after dinner,” Stoick argued. “Thought you might want a little time to make sure she’s all ready to play.” 

“Others?” 

“Oh you know, Sven, Sigurd, Hackjaw, Frida, Hilda…and Gobber wants to play the pan flute.” 

“I love playing the pan flute!” The man cheered. 

“Well, I’ll need all the practice I can get. I’m really hoping to just pretend to play, and let the others kind of drown me out.” 

Stoick gave him an incredulous look. “What are you talking about son? Why would they need to drown you out?” 

“Dad, I’m not good,” he chuckled humorlessly. 

“Aw this hogwash again? You’re a fine fiddler!” 

“A damn fine fiddler!” Gobber added. 

“Thanks but—“ 

“No buts!” Stoick interrupted. “It’s been decided. Through our letters, Hamish and I have been talking. I told him about the songs you wrote.” 

“You didn’t.” 

“I did! And he’s so excited! He wants to hear all four!” 

“DAD!” 

“I want to hear ‘em properly too! I like that one about the fairytale, that love song? Oh it gets me in the heart. Makes me think of your mother…” he said wistfully.  

“Dad!” Hiccup grabbed his face in horror. Feeling more and more sick as the story went on. 

Gobber said, “I asked if the one that’s like, ‘come fly with me! Oh whoa, oh whoa’ was in the line up, because that’s the one I like.” 

“You too?” He gaped at Gobber. “You’ve been listening?” 

“The backroom to the forge is only separated by a cloth lad, not exactly soundproof.”

“And then the one you wrote for Toothless,” Stoick suggested. 

Hiccup furrowed his brow, he’d actually come up with a dozen little songs about Toothless. “Which one?” 

“Oh you played it for a week straight during our first Snoggletog with the dragons! You built that tail for Toothless, and you were so heartbroken that he was gone…” 

“Oh Thor, that one?” 

“It was so sweet, lad! No need to be embarrassed.” 

“Ugh! And dare I ask about the last one?” 

Stoick gave him this weirdly proud smile, “Oh you know which one I’m talkin’ about.” 

“If I did, I wouldn’t be asking,” Hiccup droned. 

Stoick glanced at Astrid, before leaning in to speak into Hiccup’s ear. 

Fishlegs and Astrid had to assume it was beyond embarrassing as Hiccup’s face flushed a vibrant red and his eyes went wide. “You heard that?” 

Stoick giggled, “how could I not? You sang with so much passion!”

“I think I’m going to be sick.” 

Stoick patted his shoulder. “Everyone gets a little stage fright, son.”

“What about stage paralysis?” He asked. 

“We’ll have an hour of music during dinner on the first night. The rest of the band has already figured out all the other music to play. Now, all they need is to hear your songs so they best know how to accompany you.” 

“And the songs that they’re playing?” 

“You know them. And you know how to make it up if you don’t.” 

“You, sir, are putting way too much faith in me.” 

“No. You,” he poked Hiccup’s chest, “aren’t putting enough faith in yourself.” 

Hiccup rolled his eyes. “Fine, I’m the best fiddler on Berk.” 

Fishlegs squeaked, “Aren’t you the only—”

“That’s my point, Fish!” He scratched his head. “Look, I’ll see you guys around. I’m gonna go…fiddle with the fiddle.” 

Gobber chuckled, “an oldie, but a goodie.” 

As Astrid watched Hiccup and Toothless depart up to the chief’s house, “He’s really good then, chief?”

“Aye! As he is with all his artistic endeavors.”

“The Halls of Valhalla are filled with bards that wished they played as well as him!” Gobber declared. 

“So why does he think he’s bad?” Asked Fishlegs. “How can he not notice?” 

“Well, you’ve got to look at it from his perspective. Hiccup has always compared himself to others. I’m at fault for that, as well as most in the village. We always told him he wasn’t as good as others at fighting. But he’s taken it to the level of all his skills. You think he’s talented at drawing and smithing, right?” 

“Absolutely.”

“But to him, he’s ‘just good enough’ because he’s compared himself to others and decided he’s not as good. I think that’s why he’s so gung-ho about Dragon Training. No one else has ever befriended a Nightfury, therefore, no one to compare to.”

“Wow,” Astrid said sadly. “I never thought of it that way before.” 

“With his fiddle, he learned from Hamish, who’s a fantastic fiddler. Hiccup could never quite get the technique the man had. The only other comparisons are Sven and Sigurd, and they’re quite good too. But their instruments sound different from Hiccup’s. He can’t do what they do, therefore, he’s bad.” 

“Now I’m depressed,” said Fishlegs. “I never knew this about Hiccup.” 

“Oh don’t let it get your skivvies in a twist. Hiccup’s drive to find his place in the village is what drove him to Toothless afterall, right? And look at how he’s doing now!” 

Distantly, Astrid could hear it. Someone playing the scales on the fiddle, the notes sliding into place. A note played alone, over and over, and then the next. 

“Ah, sounds like it needs some tuning,” Stoick observed. “That’ll bother him all night.” 

She wanted to listen. She wanted to sneak over and just watch and listen. But that wouldn’t be fair to him if he was so self-conscious. Maybe this will get him out of his shell, and he’ll be more willing to share his music with her.  

Astrid’s parents were having dinner up at the Great Hall, and she happily joined them, catching up with them about all the things that had been happening at the Edge. 

As she ate, she watched as Stoick and Hiccup arrived, bowls in hand. Hiccup wore a wooden case on his back, attached with a leather strap. 

His fiddle.

It was one thing to have him tell them about it, but to see it…

Then again, this was still just the case. It would be completely different once he was actually holding it and playing it. 

He set the case down on a table over by the wall, where she could see other instrument cases sitting and waiting for practice. Then he went and sat with his father at the head table. 

“You’ve been away from the boy for an hour and you can’t take your eyes off of him,” Phlegma Hofferson teased. 

Astrid whirled around, red faced, and hushed her mother. “Don’t say stuff like that!” 

Her father laughed. “Oh, like everyone doesn’t remember you planting a big ol’ wet kiss on him after the dragon war.” 

“That was years ago!” She hissed. 

“And you’ve only grown fonder of him, no?” 

“Ugh.” Astrid’s head smacked lightly on the table. “You two are impossible.” 

“We are? Sure dear. But when are you two just going to make it official? You know we’re ready to pay your dowry whenever Stoick’s got the bride price.” 

Astrid rubbed her temples. “Look—you’re not…totally wrong about how I feel…but I haven’t said anything, and I’m waiting on Hiccup to make the move.” 

“Dear, you’ll be old by then.” 

“Give him some credit! He’s got a lot on his mind.” 

“I hope he’s got you on his mind too,” Phlegma smirked. “Have you tried seducing him?”

“Mother!” Astrid damn near screamed. 

“Sorry dear, sorry. We’ll drop it for now.” Phlegma and Axel shared a smug look. 

Astrid doubted they were done with the topic for this trip. If Hiccup was going to be busy in rehearsals most days, then she’d have to find a way to avoid her parents. 

Maybe Fishlegs would be up for some fun instead of spending it in the library? 

After dinner, Astrid hung around the Hall, even as her parents left. 

The rest of the band was setting up. Sigurd and Sven had their strings, Hackjaw had his drums, Frida had the lute, Hilda on the horn, Bard on the mandolin, Bucket had a shaker, and Gobber had his pan flute.

And Hiccup was just sitting by them, not making any move to his case. In fact, he kept glancing around to the other non-band folks in the Hall, waiting for them to leave. 

Then his eyes met hers.

She waved and smiled. 

He ducked his head sheepishly. 

Astrid felt a pang in her chest. It was so heartbreaking to see Hiccup this embarrassed. It was almost like the old days, before Toothless. 

Toothless.   

The dragon wasn’t in the Great Hall. He was probably frolicking with the other dragons, or just with Stormfly and Meatlug. But if anyone was going to give him the courage to do this, it was Toothless! 

Astrid got up and went to find him. Though, it didn’t take long at all. He was sprawled out on the grass on the hill. 

“Pst! Toothless!” 

He perked up, looking at her, ears up at attention. 

“Hiccup’s inside!” She pointed. 

He leapt to his feet and trotted over. 

“Now,” she told him, “he’s going to be working hard and practicing music with the others inside, but he’s nervous about it, so you’re going to support him, okay?” 

Toothless was the smartest dragon she knew. Sometimes with the looks he gave, she swore he was going to open his mouth and speak perfect Norse. Right now was one of those times. He gave her this look, like he knew exactly what she was saying and what needed to happen. He nudged her arm with his nose and then plodded into the Great Hall and over to Hiccup.

Hiccup lit up when he saw his friend, and greeted him with a chin scratch. 

Toothless laid at his feet, paws crossed elegantly. 

Hiccup chuckled, and then looked over to her, still standing in the doorway. 

Astrid gave him the thumbs up and a wide reassuring smile. 

Hiccup returned it, though not as confident. But he did get up and go to the fiddle case. 

Astrid decided to leave and give him his privacy. Toothless was all the support he needed right now, and anymore attention would just make him crumble. 

A few minutes later, Hilda put a sign on the door. ‘Practice in session, do not disturb.’

So now it was a waiting game. Hiccup obviously wasn’t going to give out any sneak previews. Though she did try to keep an eye on him. 

—

As the week went on, she noticed happily that his demeanor had changed quite a bit. He stood up straighter when he went into practice, and he talked freely with the band, like he was one of them instead of an intruder. 

Astrid wondered if someone had said something to him, or if just having Toothless around was making a difference. 

The band practiced for a few hours after dinner every night. Even with the doors closed, the faintest music could be heard. Astrid didn’t know enough about instruments to know if she was hearing a fiddle or nyckelharpa or hurdy-gurdy. 

She actually wasn’t really sure what those last two were. 

During the day, Hiccup was mostly helping with preparations. She often saw him helping someone or another in the town. 

But there were a few hours a day where he couldn’t be found. He wasn’t at his father’s house or the Great Hall.  

“Hey Chief,” she greeted. “Have you seen your son around?” 

“Nope,” he smiled. “He’s gone off to find a place to practice.” 

“He’s really taking this fiddle performance to heart, isn’t he?” 

“Sure is,” he continued smiling, seemingly proud at the thought. “Hiccup’s a viking, though he might protest. He’s as bullheaded and stubborn as the lot of us. When he doesn’t want to do something, he fights and protests the whole way. But when he finds a reason to want to do something, he dives in, head first, and puts his whole being into it.” 

“Yeah,” Astrid agreed. “I’ve seen that. And he’s good about finding a reason to do something.” 

“We’re friends with the Shivering Shores, our alliance isn’t in any trouble. But Hiccup knows I’m good friends with Hamish, and he has a lot of respect for the man. I think it might break his heart if he disappointed him.” 

“Hiccup has always valued other’s opinions,” she supposed. 

“And…” Stoick drawled, a keen smile on his face. “I happen to know one of the songs he’s got is a love song. Maybe he wants it just right to convey a message?” 

Astrid flushed red. “T-t-to who?” 

“Ah, I’m joking,” he patted her back, though the smile didn’t go away. 

Stoick had read her like a book. He knew there was something going on between them, even if that ‘something’ had been in a weird limbo for years. 

She looked away, shyly. “Well, anyways, I’m excited to see him perform.” 

“Aye, me too, lass. Should be memorable!” 

—-

Snotlout and the Twins arrived the next day, one day before the Shivering Shores’ arrival. Despite what Astrid was expecting, they seemed to have forgotten all about Hiccup’s fiddle secret, as no one brought it up. 

They had dinner together in the Great Hall, which was now decorated with fresh flowers and garland. 

“So,” Hiccup began, sitting down with a plate of chicken and veggies. “How’s the Edge? Everything still quiet?” 

“You think anything is quiet with these dunderheads?” Snotlout jabbed a thumb over at the twins. “But as for our enemies, we didn’t see anything.” 

“Did the twins cause any—”

“The answer is yes, and you don’t want to know. We’ll talk about it on the way back, I already did my part.” 

Hiccup sighed. “Well, thank you, Snotlout. I knew I could trust you to watch the Edge while we were away.” 

Snotlout sat up straight at this praise and started to smile. “I did do a good job, didn’t I? Hey, maybe you shouldn’t even worry about coming back to the Edge. Your dad seemed really stressed and you should—” 

“Nice try, but I’m definitely going back.” 

Snotlout folded his hands behind his head. “Can’t blame me for trying.” 

“How goes the fiddling practice?” Asked Fishlegs. 

Astrid flinched heavily, ready to punch him. 

“Oh yeah!” Said Snotlout. “You’ve got a little recital coming up, don’t you?” 

“Hiccup: Live in Concert!” Said Tuffnut, enthusiastically. “I’ve been thinking about it all week!” 

“Tomorrow during dinner.” Hiccup nodded, looking sheepish. “I think it’ll be okay. I’m really nervous, but…I found a really good tactic to distract myself.” 

“And that is…?”

“I play to Toothless, specifically. He really likes music, and almost dances to it. It’s kind of adorable. So I just watch him.” 

Astrid tried not to seem too proud. After all, it was her that encouraged Toothless to join that first rehearsal. 

“So what are ya gonna play?” Tuffnut asked. “Silvard had a Little Yak?” 

Hiccup rolled his eyes, but retorted smugly, “You’ll just have to wait and see.” 

“Did your dad convince you to play the songs you wrote?” Fishlegs asked, again making Astrid want to hit him. 

Hiccup sighed. “Yep.” 

“Hold on,” said Snot. “You wrote songs?” 

“Sure. Didn’t you write a few for Garf?” 

“That’s totally different,” Snotlout laughed. “I never expected to perform them for anyone. Oh this is rich. I can’t wait until you see what we have in store for you tomorrow!” 

Hiccup felt pale. “Wh-what are you talking about?” 

“Nothing much,” said Tuff. “Just a little surprise.” 

“You’ll love it,” insisted Ruffnut. 

“Somehow, I doubt that completely.” 

—

Great ships with black sails arrived at the docks the next day. Hiccup stood with Stoick to greet the guests, while Astrid stood a little ways away for emotional support. Hiccup had foregone the leather armor, as requested by his father, and went back to his fur vest. His hair was still a mess, despite combing it for twenty minutes. It was probably stuck in place for ever thanks to Toothless’ saliva.

Hamish, a man as big as Stoick, disembarked first, using a cane to get around. “Stoick! My old friend!” 

“Good to see you, Hamish! Have a nice trip?” 

“Oh yes, very peaceful. Ever since your boy made peace with the dragons, sailin’ around has been a breeze! Of course, that doesn’t hurt.” He pointed at the three dragons leashed to the ship, having pulled it. They were all getting fish and scratches from the rest of the crew. 

Hiccup smiled proudly. 

“And look at you, boy-o!” Hamish praised, spotting him. “Shot up like a tree! I wager you’ll be taller than your old man one day.” 

“Wouldn’t that be something?” Hiccup chuckled. 

“Well you’ve grown into a fine young man, are your fiddling skills set to match?” 

Hiccup’s smile faltered. “Hamish, I’m going to do my best, but I don’t think I’ll ever be as good as you.” 

“Hiccup…” Stoick reprimanded. 

“You aren’t me, lad!” Hamish said joyfully. “I could never tame a dragon like you did! Let alone smith a tail! You have a lot of skills that you’ve honed over the years. Your father just said you never gave up the instrument, so I want to see what you’ve got!” 

That seemed to relieve Hiccup more than any other words had up until now. He smiled genuinely and said, “thanks for understanding.” 

Hagar, the new chief of the Shivering Shores disembarked a moment later and came to stand by his dad. He was just as large, but had no gray in his beard. He greeted Hiccup and Stoick with a wide smile.

“Incoming dragons!” The lookout called, pointing out over the sea. 

Hiccup and Astrid narrowed their eyes, looking at the two dragons coming in. 

“Is that…?” Astrid asked. 

“Oh gods,” Hiccup moaned. 

Before they even landed, a voice called boisterously. “BROTHER!” 

“H-hey Dagur…” Hiccup waved awkwardly. 

“Dagur of the Berserkers?” Asked Hamish. “What a pleasant surprise! What are you doing here?” 

“Hamish! You’re looking well!” Dagur and Shattermaster landed at the docks while Heather landed back by Astrid. “How are you feeling?” 

“Oh I’m doing pretty good. Some days are better than others. Been having a lot of great days leading up to this trip!” 

“Great to hear!” 

“So…what brings you to Berk?” Hiccup asked, dread churning in his gut. He had been on edge since Snotlout and the Twins said they had a surprise for him. 

Dagur laughed. “Isn’t it obvious?! We’re here to see your fiddling prowess!” 

Hiccup smacked his forehead. “Those muttonheads…” 

“Yes, Heather and I came to check in on the Edge a few days ago, and Snothat told us all about what you were doing! Why didn’t you ever tell me you played the fiddle?” 

“He didn’t tell any of us,” said Astrid. “Apparently, he’s not very good.” She smirked. 

“So he thinks!” Said Stoick. 

“Alright, alright. I should have known,” Hiccup groaned. “It’s fine. The more the merrier, right?” He smiled, but it was wobbly. 

 “And of course it’s always a pleasure to see the Shivering Shores folks, especially after we confirmed our alliance.” He shook Hamish and Hagar’s hands. 

“Glad to have Berserker Island back in our good graces,” said Hagar. 

“It's all thanks to my sweet baby brother!” Dagur grabbed Hiccup and pulled him into a side hug. “Showed me the error of my ways. Converted me into a real dragon lover. United me with my long lost sister! Oh, such a big and loving heart! The heart of an artist and musician!” 

Hiccup wheezed. “You’re too kind, Dagur.” 

“Brother?” Asked Hagar with an amused smile. 

“Honorary title,” Hiccup wheezed again. 

It seemed like Dagur’s praise reframed his arrival to Hagar and Hamish, and they looked a lot more relaxed and amused. 

“We’ll only stay tonight,” said Heather. “To watch Hiccup’s performance and give our dragons some time to rest. This is your vacation, after all. We didn’t mean to intrude.” 

“Tonight is the best part, anyway!” Said Hagar. “Feasting! Music! Dancing! And barrels of mead!” He gestured to their ship, where several barrels were stacked in a pyramid. 

Stoick cheered gleefully. 

“Perfect,” said Hiccup, “drunk ears are happy ears.” 

Astrid elbowed him. 

—-

Dinner time came around far too quickly for Hiccup’s liking, as with most things dreaded. 

The band was setting up in front of a support pillar. The tables were arranged in a semi circle around them, with enough space in front to move around. Directly to Hiccup’s left was the head table, where Hamish, Hagar, and his father sat. Next to them, with a front row view, was the table with his friends. They all watched eagerly as Hiccup moved around and talked with the band. 

Toothless laid at the front of the table, on his absolute best behavior. His eyes were rounded and soft, as he occasionally stuck his tongue out in excitement. 

People were still milling around, getting drinks and sharing food. 

No introductions were made yet, no commencement speeches, but Hiccup had his fiddle in hand and walked up to the front of the band. The players watched him, waiting for a queue.

Hiccup nodded his head, put the fiddle to his chin and started a fast paced one note sprint, literally sounding like someone was running. Then Hackjaw came in with several heavy beats of his drum. Then the rest of the band joined, filling the hall with boisterous music. 

And to Astrid’s disappointment, mostly drowning out Hiccup. He had taken a few steps back to stand with the group. He had his head bowed, and eyes clenched shut tightly as he played. Occasionally, she thought she could hear that sprinting note from him, but the song seemed to highlight the other members of the band. Frida had an incredible performance on the lute, plucking the notes and a dizzying speed. Same with each member, all having a unique solo to introduce their sound. The band played the same driving melody in the background while Hiccup stayed playing that same note.

The song came to an end, and the crowd was full of cheers. 

Hiccup sighed in relief and shared a smile with the other players. They all gave him thumbs up. 

“Looks like everyone has found their seats,” said Stoick, his voice booming over the chattering crowd. 

Everyone grew silent, ready to listen. 

“Tonight, we welcome our dear friends from the Shivering Shores, and celebrate their new era with them. Hagar has shown to be a very capable leader, and will surely follow in his father’s legacy.” 

A cheer. 

“We honor our friendship with the Shivering Shores, and we’re grateful for the many years Hamish worked with us. As a thank you, we have a special performance prepared. Specially requested from Hamish himself, my son Hiccup will be joining the band tonight on the fiddle.” 

Another cheer went up through the crowd, and Astrid swore she heard people say “no way” and “he’s so much like his mother” and even “is there anything he can’t do?” 

It made Astrid’s heart swell with pride. 

“Many of you older folks may remember that my dear Valka was a fiddler. Well, as a little boy, Hiccup picked up the instrument and got his instruction from Hamish himself, the best fiddler in the archipelago.” 

“We’ll see about that!” Hamish laughed. 

Stoick grinned. “Hiccup has prepared several unique songs for your listening pleasure this evening. Take it away whenever you’re ready, son.” 

Hiccup had his awkward ‘I know I messed up but please don’t be mad at me’ smile on his face as he shuffled closer to the front. 

He shrugged and said, “sorry in advance.” 

The rest of the band scoffed.

He put the fiddle on his chin, taking several deep breaths. He glanced across the room, lingering on Astrid’s face for a moment. 

She gave him an enthusiastic thumbs up. 

Then he looked at Toothless, and actually started to smile a little. 

He turned to the band, and mouthed something to them, though she couldn’t tell what. 

Then he pinched his eyes shut, and set his mouth in a thin line…

And he attacked the fiddle, the bow ripping across the strings with the fervor to make sparks fly if they could. His eyebrows twitched and his nostrils flared as the notes came out rapid fire. His entire body moved with the effort, like it took every fiber of his being to make this wonderful, soul-filling sound. 

“Holy—” Snotlout barked. 

He briefly turned to the band and bobbed his head to bring them in, and a joyful bouncing beat filled the hall. People started stomping and clapping. 

Then the fiddle slowed to a less intense melody, and Hiccup opened his mouth. 

“Years ago, when I was younger, I kinda liked a girl I knew.

Thought she was mine and we were sweethearts. That was then, but then it's true…”

The music cut out, except for a few plucks of the fiddle strings. 

Then Hiccup belted out, while continuing to play. 

“I'm in love with a fairytale! Even though it hurts…

'Cause I don't care if I lose my mind, I'm already cursed!” 

He returned to that intense dance with the bow, his heel slamming back on the floor with each beat of the drum. He twisted and jerked, like he was fighting with the music. 

And he was winning.

“Every day, between the fighting, I could have sworn we fell in love.

No one else could make me sadder, but no one else could lift me high above!

I don't know what I was doing, she let me go, we grew apart…

Nowadays, I cannot brave her…” 

He dared to smile.

“But when I do, we'll get a brand new start!” 

He pulled on the strings, a high note that conveyed heartache. Astrid felt it in her chest.

“I'm in love with a fairytale, even though it hurts,

'Cause I don't care if I lose my mind, I'm already cursed…”

The band cut out, suddenly, leaving Hiccup to battle the notes on his own. His fingers flew in a flurry, matching the cutting of the bow. Hiccup set his jaw, garnering the strength for the end. A few slower, growing notes, and he sang again.

“She's a fairytale, yeah! Even though it hurts…

'Cause I don't care if I lose my mind, I'm already cursed!” 

Astrid had no idea he could sing like that, or even hit that note. It struck her to the core, and she sat breathless and stunned as he played his last battle hymn and ended with a flourish. 

The hall was deafeningly loud with cheers as Hiccup finally, finally opened his eyes to look around. He seemed surprised as he met everyone’s boisterous cheers. 

Dagur launched from his seat and ran to Hiccup, grabbing him in a hug that lifted him off the floor. He laughed maniacally, and Astrid could hear him damn near yell, “that was amazing, brother! The best song I’ve ever heard!” 

Hiccup looked kind of pale, she noticed. 

Once Dagur set him back on his feet, Hiccup used his shoulder to stand upright. 

“Thank you!” He called to the crowd still freaking out. 

“Alright, settle down,” Stoick called, laughter in his voice. 

Once it got quieter, Hiccup said, “thank you, very much. I wasn’t expecting that kind of reception. I uh…I have some more songs for you, but I’m feeling kind of light headed, so I’m going to sit down for a minute.” 

Astrid patted the empty spot beside her, she saved just for him. 

He slid into it, awkwardly smiling. “Hey, how’s it going?” 

“What the hell, Haddock?!” Snotlout shouted. 

“Aww, thanks Snotlout, that means a lot.”

Astrid giggled, and gave Hiccup a pat to the shoulder, the universal ‘I’ll be right back’ sign. She got up and went to get him some water, so he could sit and bask in the praise. 

The band, in Hiccup’s absence, played a reprise of his song, though it sounded really weird without the fiddle. 

Gobber and Hilda belted the lyrics, in an unflattering harmony. 

“I'm in love with a fairytale, even though it hurts,

'Cause I don't care if I lose my mind, I'm already cursed!”

She had been so caught up in the music, in the fact that she was finally hearing Hiccup sing and play, she hadn’t paid attention to the lyrics. It was like they had been in a foreign language.

But now, she understood, and her face turned bright red. 

Determined not to be awkward, she returned to her place with the cup of water for him. 

“Thank you, milady!” He raised the glass with a big smile. His eyes were twinkling in the firelight, and his cheeks flushed a handsome pink. 

“You’re welcome,” she replied, voice a little deeper than intended. 

She sat beside him, their arms occasionally brushing in the cramped space. But Astrid really didn’t mind. In fact, she had half a mind to reach over and hold his hand. 

“I don't know what I was doing, she let me go, we grew apart…

Nowadays, I cannot brave her… 

But when I do, we'll get a brand new start!”

So she didn’t hold his hand. She decided that he needed to make that move. Was it petty after he sang her a love song? Maybe. 

Hiccup finished his water, still smiling as the gang animatedly talked. No one broached the yak in the room, ‘hey Hiccup, who was that song about, huh?’ and that was just fine. 

Once the band finished their butchered version of his song, Hiccup patted her shoulder and got up. “Wish me luck, gang,” he chuckled. 

“You don’t need it,” Ruffnut waved him off. 

“Yeah, but Astrid might,” Tuff smirked. 

Astrid blushed fiercely. “I don’t know…what y-you’re talking about…” She tried to be casual, but couldn’t make eye contact with them. 

“You’re hopeless,” said Heather, fondly. 

“Oh shush!” 

Hiccup had his fiddle in hand, and played a sharp note to get attention. He looked a lot less nervous now, and looked around at everyone. “This next song is older. I started writing it while I was training Toothless, before anyone else knew about dragons, before the Red Death…back then, I practiced a lot of speeches where I tried to convince everyone that we didn’t need to fight them. I never ended up successfully delivering those speeches, but I did write this anyway.” He nodded to Frida, who strummed the lute, starting the song. 

Then Hiccup came in, playing a fast tune again, though it wasn’t as intense as the first. He also didn’t have his eyes closed anymore. He was looking directly at Toothless and slowly walked towards him.   

“I have a dream, you are there, high above the clouds somewhere.

Rain is falling from the sky but it never touches you, you're way up high!” 

Toothless perked up, his tongue lulling out as he stood, making light little steps in time with the beats. The rest of the band joined as Hiccup continued to play and sing at the same time. 

“No more worries no more fear, you have made them disappear,

Sadness tried to steal the show, but now it feels like many years ago!”

Hiccup did a little skip hop to be right in front of Toothless, and sang brightly to him.

“And I! I will be with you every step!” 

The band shouted, “Hey! Hey!” While Hiccup leaned it and rubbed his nose against Toothless’. 

“Tonight I found a friend in you, and I'll keep you close forever!” 

He skip-hopped backwards and sang to the room. 

“Come fly with me!” 

The band echoed, “Ohoohoh Ohoohoh!”

“Into a fantasy!” 

“Ohoohoh Ohoohoh!”

“Where you can be whoever you want to be! Come fly with me!” 

He was on the move again, skipping over to the table and plopping into the spot next to Astrid. He leaned against the table, pretending to be casual, but he looked her dead in the eyes as he sang. 

“We can fly all day long, show me the world, sing me a song,

Tell me what the future holds, you and me will paint it all in gold!” 

Astrid beamed at him, her face hurting from the smile. 

“And I! I will believe your every word!” 

The audience got the prompt and stomped in time “Hey! Hey!” Hiccup leaned in and rubbed his nose against hers, just as he did with Toothless, making her burst into laughter. 

“‘Cause I, I have a friend in you. We'll always stay together!” 

He leapt to his feet, dancing in time with the beat and Toothless’ little prancing. 

“Come fly with me!” 

“Ohoohoh Ohoohoh!”

“Into a fantasy!”

“Ohoohoh Ohoohoh!”

“Where you can be whoever you want to be. Come fly with me!” 

He played his heart out, barely containing his laughter as Toothless did this adorable little steppy-step right along with him. Then Hiccup stopped his dance, though the smile didn’t leave his face. 

“And I…I will be with you every step.” 

His notes were slow, and his voice was soft, like he was making a promise. He swept his gaze across the hall, singing to the village this time.  

“Tonight I found some friends in you, and I keep you close forever!” 

He beckoned with his head, and smiled widely as a few kids from the back ran up and started dancing with Toothless. Hiccup flipped the fiddle to his side and strummed it like a guitar while Hackjaw kept a steady beat.

“Come fly with me, into a fantasy!

Where you can be whoever you want to be!

Come fly with me!” 

He flipped the fiddle back onto his chin to resume playing normally, but beckoned at the teens table with his head. This got the Twins and Snotlout up and dancing with the kids.

“Come fly with me!” 

“Ohoohoh Ohoohoh!”

“Into a fantasy!”

“Ohoohoh Ohoohoh!”

“Where you can be whoever you want to be. Come fly with me!” 

As he came to the end of the song, Snotlout grabbed him by the waist, lifting him off the floor and spinning him around. Hiccup didn’t miss a note though, and only laughed as he was rag dolled around. 

The room broke into cheers when the song ended, and Hiccup gave an exaggerated bow. Toothless mimicked this behavior and bowed his head, making his little ear flaps flip around. 

Astrid’s heart was full and ready to burst from her chest. 

She loved him so much. 

Seeing him so happy, having fun and dancing, it almost made her cry tears of joy. She smiled at him, watching as he cooed at Toothless. Then she turned back to her table mates. Fishlegs, Heather, and Dagur were all looking at her with thinly veiled giddy. 

From behind them, she could see her parents, who were even more enthusiastic. 

She rolled her eyes and covered her face with her hand. 

“Alright,” Hiccup said with an exaggerated sigh. “I guess I’ll give the band a break.” He plopped down on the floor, using Toothless as a backrest. In turn, Toothless curled up and rested his head in Hiccup’s lap. 

People slowly started to calm down, curious about what was happening next. The children that had been dancing sat down around Toothless, leaning on him too. 

That included the Twins, who draped themselves over him. 

“This next song, I wrote that first Snoggletog we had with the dragons. That year, all of the dragons left a few days before, and we had no idea why. Toothless couldn’t fly on his own, so I made him a tail that he could use by himself. He flew off, to where I assumed the other dragons were. 

“I missed him immediately, and started writing this that same day. You may remember that Snoggletog morning when the dragons returned with a boatload of babies.” 

There were some fond ‘aww’s from the crowd. 

“Well, Toothless wasn’t with those Dragons. It was a lonely few days waiting for answers, but when he finally came back, he brought my helmet I had lost at sea. He had spent all that time getting back what I had lost. He gave me a wonderful gift that year, so I gave him this song. It’s his very special song and he demands I sit on the floor like this when I play it.” 

Toothless warbled in confirmation.

“So…here we go…” He said, without further adieu.  

He held the fiddle up to his chin, but instead of using the bow, he plucked at the strings, playing a lullaby. 

Apparently, Toothless knew exactly what song this was, as he let out a warm rumbling purr. 

“It's almost night, I should be sleeping.

But the moon's so bright, as if it's playing with me.

Round and round, I walk in circles aimlessly.

Where could you be?”

The twins, without prompting, started snapping on the beat and rocking side to side.

“The purple skies were so inviting when we used to fly.

But the excitement slowly fades away.

Feels like there's nothing I wanna do.

Not without you.” 

Hiccup leaned his head back, eyes closed and relaxed, as he sang in a falsetto.

“And I will cry you a thousand tears the day you will return.

Tonight I swear, I'll stay right here until you will return.”

Sven picked up his Nyckleharpa, but tapped on it instead, making soft percussion. Hacksaw hit his drum ever so gently with his hand. Frida plucked the same notes on her lute, letting Hiccup go back to his bow.

“And every little cloud, and every single star, reminds me of just how much I miss you. And every little cloud, and every single star, reminds me of just how much I miss you.”

The band crept closer, softly harmonizing as Hiccup played his song. Toothless looked around to them, smiling, as everyone was singing his special song. 

“And I will cry you a thousand tears the day you will return.

Tonight I swear, I'll stay right here until you will return.”

Then Hiccup bowed a gentle waltz, one that might be played at a wedding. A warm, happy melody. Sven harmonized. 

“And I will cry you a thousand tears the day you will return.

Tonight I swear, I'll stay right here until you will return.” 

Slowly, the band faded out until it was just Hiccup plucking those soft notes.

“And every little cloud, and every single star, reminds me of just how much I miss you.” 

Hiccup smiled at Toothless, and just as he took his fingers away from the strings, Toothless warbled a loud ‘wah wah wah!’ that Astrid swore sounded like he was trying to sing. 

“Yeah bud! Every little cloud!”

“Wah wah wah!” 

“And every single star.” He chuckled.

Most people were too busy cooing to applaud. Astrid included. She held her hands over her heart, feeling all those warm and fuzzy un-viking feelings in her chest. 

She heard a loud sniff, and turned to see Dagur, Snotlout, and Fishlegs crying. Fishlegs just had tears, Snotlout was weeping openly, and Dagur was bawling uncontrollably. 

“That was beautiful,” Dagur whimpered. “He has the most beautiful soul.” 

Heather, who was only a little misty-eyed, looked at Astrid and rolled her eyes. “Boys.” 

Astrid chuckled, wiping a tear from her eye before joining in the remainder of the applause. 

“Alright, I’ve heard enough,” said Hamish, standing without the use of his cane. His face was serious, and solemn. 

“Wh-what? Did I–did I do something wrong!?” Hiccup struggled to stand with the fiddle still in hand. “If you didn’t like those, I can play something traditional! I just thought—”

Hamish held up a hand to stop him. “Hiccup. You…are a damn fine fiddler.” 

Hiccup relaxed slightly. “So then—” 

“It's time for your final test.” 

Hiccup stared, wide-eyed. “Really? You think I’m that good?” 

“Fiddler on the Roof!” Tuffnut yelled. 

“Is this not a good enough final test!?” Snotlout yelled a beat after. 

Hamish moved his cloak aside. “It’s time for you and I to do battle. As master and apprentice.” From under his cloak, he withdrew his own wooden case, and his own fiddle. 

Hiccup gulped. 

Hamish smiled, good naturedly. He brandished the shiny black instrument. “I’ll hold you to that last song, but now, we play Shades.” 

“Shades!?” Hiccup yelled. “Are you—are you sure?” 

“You are ready, my boy. Hagar, will you join us on vocals?” 

Hagar laughed. “You’re roping me into this too?” But he stood anyway. 

“What’s Shades?” Astrid asked Fishlegs. 

“Don’t look at me! I don’t know anything about this kind of music!” 

It seemed that Hamish heard her question and answered, “Shades is a piece written by my mentor. It’s difficult, but the perfect piece to test my students with. The difficulty lies in performing it with two fiddles.”

Hiccup nodded in agreement. “But I’m willing to try.” 

Hamish smiled at him. “That’s a good lad! You’ll take the high part.” He pulled a long note off his strings. Then he turned to the band and told them, “A Minor.” 

Then he and Hiccup took a stance, staring at each other. A breath passed, then two.

In a blink, they started playing a frantic gallop in time. The notes started rising, climbing an invisible ladder through the air. Always harmonizing, never falling out of sync. Hackjaw was the only one that joined in, playing a syncopated beat on the drum. Then the fiddles both calmed down to a whisper, and Hagar sang. 

“In a forest without any trees, where feelings and memories superimposed by an image of you are caught on the morning dew.” 

A duel, trading notes back and forth, taking over each other’s parts. 

“Swim in a lake at the first light of day, where children and swans go to play right in the wake of your perfect body and sing of unity.”

Right at the last line, they jumped it, keeping strides with each other. Like running a race, but they were matching each step for step. Hiccup kept his eyes locked with Hamish, watching his hands as he played.

“A Shiv’ring garden where willows grow tall, their shadows caught on a wall.

The sound of weeping so soft in the breeze, a bustle of falling leaves.” 

Soft notes, punctuating each line, soft swells, not distracting, just accenting. Matching tone, volume, intensity. 

Astrid was riveted. She didn’t know much about fiddling, much less any music, but performing like this without practicing together had to be very hard. Impossible even. 

“A night has many shades. It can last for many days and hurt in many ways, 

like the force of a rising tide when the moon floats by.”  

The song seemed to come to an end. Slow, drawn out notes that seemed to gently set everyone down from the heights they had been climbing. 

But then Hamish pulled a triplet, a quick back and forth of the bow. Hiccup returned it. Hamish did it back. Then Hiccup began his sprinting note, and Hamish was right there, meeting it in speed. They grew louder and louder, changing pitch, changing tempos, hitting notes at a dizzying speed of variation. Each one had to be perfect. 

Hiccup’s eyes widened as a grin began to tug at his lips. This was the final sprint, this was it! 

They played that final climb, hitting a high note and jumping off the ladder into silence. 

They both stared at each other, panting, before breaking out into laughter. 

“Did I actually do it!?” Hiccup laughed breathlessly. 

“Aye lad! Every single note! You’ve been practicing, don’t lie!” 

“Of course I have! Ever since I fumbled when I was a kid, it haunted me. I didn’t think I had it down yet though!” 

“Oh, you’ve done an old viking proud, you know. I’m thinking of taking on more students now that I’m retired from chiefing. It’ll give me something good to do! I might call on you to show ‘em how to do it right.” 

“Oh, I don’t know if I can do it like that again.” 

“Sure you can! And next time, it’ll be even better.” 

“Well, thanks for the vote of confidence, Hamish.” 

For the third time that evening, Hiccup was picked up in a hug and lifted off the floor. “The boy has passed! I can teach him no more!” 

The assembled cheered, not all comprehending what exactly had happened, but happy for Hiccup all the same. 

Hamish set him back on his feet. “Alright lad, your old man said you got one more song for me. About a girl?” 

Hiccup’s face went bright red and he put his free hand to his cheek. “Oh gods…he sure promised you that, huh?” 

“Darn tootin’! I’ve enjoyed the rest! I’m sure this will be great!” Then he put an arm around him and spoke to him so softly no one else could hear. Hiccup responded just as quiet, before Hamish burst out laughing. He gave the boy a punch to the shoulder, and exclaimed, “go get her, boy-o~!” 

Hiccup gulped, and straightened his clothes nervously. 

“We’re doing the last one now, lad?” Gobber asked, grinning. 

“Uh oh! Is this the one?!” Stoick barked, standing from his seat. 

“Sit down, dad!” Hiccup shouted back, face as red as can be. “Gods preserve me.” He looked back at the band, making sure they were all ready to go. Then he spoke up to the room. “This is my last song for you this evening. I hope you all have enjoyed this little…uh, concert? It was certainly not expected. But your warm reception is appreciated!” 

“Whooo! Go Hiccup!” Tuffnut screamed.

He released an awkward laugh. “Yeah, thanks…um.” He brought the fiddle up to rest on his shoulder. “This song…I wrote a really long time ago. Before I met Toothless even. It’s uh…it’s still true though…” he trailed off. He nodded to the band, getting a beat. 

Instead of instruments, they all clapped in time, before Hiccup started singing, his face still a bright red. 

“This feeling lasted,

I love you, Astrid!

You're so much stronger than me,

But I don't mind!” 

Astrid’s jaw dropped, her own face going as red as his. Hiccup began playing a jaunty tune, making Toothless pop to his feet and start dancing again. 

“Never mind what the others say, deep inside I'm quite okay.

I may have messed up once or twice, but I really need you!” 

He dared to look at her.

“And it's not like I'm the only guy. Oh, I know how you make them cry.

So let's start by being friends and let this friendship never end.

I knew you years ago. What I want, I don't know. But let’s just say it's love!” 

Playing the fiddle and having Toothless prancing around gave Hiccup a lot of confidence. That, or just getting those first words out was the hardest part. But now, he was smiling, and hop-skipping around while he played. 

“This feeling lasted, I love you, Astrid!

You're so much stronger than me, but I don't mind! 

Don't say maybe, just be my lady!

No need to hesitate 'cause you'll be fine!”

Hiccup could, on occasion, be extremely corny. Even now, when he was just playing, he had this faux bashful smile on his face, like he had no clue what he was doing to her. The blush seemed genuine enough. 

“So tell me what I want to hear,

No wait, let's just leave it there.

You know I'm not good for you!

Gods, I don't know what to do!”

Stoick had said he sang this song with passion, and he was right! Hiccup belted out the words, like he was making a grand proclamation. 

“I liked you from the start!

You melt my icy heart!

And now it's burning hot!”

In retrospect, she always knew he was a performer. He’d always had a streak of the dramatic. Like when he tried to tame the Nightmare during his final exam. Or whenever he revealed one of his inventions. If he was going to do something, it was going to be a grand spectacle. Why was this any different? 

“This feeling lasted, I love you, Astrid!

You're so much stronger than me, but I don't mind!

Don't say maybe, just be my lady

No need to hesitate 'Cause you'll be fine!”

He got down on one knee in front of her, looking up at her with big glistening eyes that would put Toothless to shame. 

“Don't go away, you're what's left of me!

I once believed you would save my soul.

But if you saw me now crying secretly,

Would you hold my hand and never let it go?”

He flipped the fiddle to his side and strummed it like a guitar. His voice became softer, tender. Now just singing to her, and no one else. 

“This feeling lasted, I love you, Astrid!

You're so much stronger than me, but I don't mind!

Don't say maybe, just be my lady!

No need to hesitate 'Cause you'll be fine!”

He popped back up onto his feet, and threw his head back, making his grand declaration into the room. 

“Do you hear me, Astrid?

I still love you, Astrid!

I’m getting stronger now, hope you don’t mind!

Don't say maybe, just be my lady

Your parents are bugging me, knowing you'll be fine!”

I love you, Astrid! How long had she waited to hear those words from him? Too long, it seemed. But this seemed worth the wait. 

All there was left to do was wait for him to move that damn fiddle out of the way. 

He finished his song, flushed but smiling as he gave her a little shrug. 

Astrid bolted from her seat, flung her arms around his neck, and kissed him hotly on the lips. In a way she had been wanting to for years, but hadn’t quite had the nerve to do like when she was younger. 

She was still able to hear him squeak despite the cacophony that filled the large room. 

Shouts of “finally!” And “you owe me ten gold” were totally drowned out in the absolute satisfaction she felt, finally kissing Hiccup. 

Someone must have taken his fiddle for him as she felt his arms wrap around her and pull her tight. 

Finally, she pulled away, a little winded. His face was priceless. He was dazed, but had this awed and lovestruck smile on his lips. 

She played with his hair, then declared, “I don’t know much about music, but…

“Ooh Hiccup, I love you Hiccup! 

You’re such a dork, you see? 

But I don’t mind! 

Won’t say maybe, I’ll be your lady! 

I know you’ll take care of me, and I’ll be fine!”

He smiled broadly and pulled her in for another kiss. 

“What a way to end a concert!” Hamish yelled from his table. “Way to go, lad!” 

“I owe you a thank you, Hamish. I never would have done this if you hadn’t requested it.” 

“Anytime, my boy! Always happy to help!” 

—

The Shivering Shores stayed for three days, and in that time, Hiccup spent some time with Hamish, teaching him his songs. He played with the band during dinners, and over all, didn’t seem as secretive as he had been the last week. Everyone knew now, and he accepted that he was good. He was no longer hesitant, but actually allowed himself to show off.

When it was time to return to the Edge, Astrid spied the wooden case among his baggage. 

“You’re taking it with you?” 

“Might as well, might help me think while I’m planning on how to deal with the hunters. It’s helped in the past.” 

“Are you going to give us something to listen to on the way back?” Asked Snotlout. “Gods forbid I have to listen to the Twins bicker for another 8 hours!” 

“You want me to fly and play at the same time?” 

“Oh like Toothless isn’t doing most of the work!” 

Hiccup couldn’t argue with that.

Once they were up in the air and on their way, Hiccup made a great show out of taking out the fiddle and tuning it. Agonizing over each note. 

“We know it’s tuned! You’ve been playing it all weekend! It’s tuned!” Snotlout shouted. 

Hiccup snorted. “Alright alright, let’s see…” He drew a long note out and sang. 

“Ohhhh I got my ax and I got my mace and I love my wife with the ugly face, I’m a viking through and through!!”

And he was promptly relieved of entertainment duties. 

—-

A week later, things were back to normal. The twins had done a number on the Edge, and repairs and restocks were needed. 

Hiccup and Astrid were up to their necks with duties, busy with work and barely could find a moment to relax, let alone have some time together. 

It was late one night when Astrid laid in bed, exhausted but unable to sleep. She kept going over her lists in her mind, making sure she hadn’t missed anything. 

The silence of the night was interrupted by the soft trill of a fiddle. No particular song, just notes floating around. Fast, slow, but mostly quiet. 

Hiccup was also awake and thinking. 

She got up and wandered over to his hut. His door was open, and he paced back and forth, with the fiddle on his shoulder. He was obviously talking to himself, but it was quiet and muffled by the music. 

“Babe?” She asked, just loud enough.

He jolted. “Astrid! Oh! I didn’t wake you, did I? I’m sorry, I knew I shouldn’t have—“ he went to put the instrument away, but Astrid reached out and stopped him. “No, you didn’t wake me. I was already up. And it was so quiet I probably wouldn't have heard it if I was asleep.” 

He sighed in relief. 

“Then what’s up?” 

“Well, I could tell you were awake, and…I wanted to see you.” 

His face colored. “Yeah?” 

“Hmmhmm. You don’t have to stop what you’re doing. I kinda like the idea of my own private performance.” 

He shyly smiled, then put the fiddle back on his shoulder. 

—

Fishlegs had night patrol. He opted to take Meatlug out for a relaxing flight around the island. He saw Astrid sneak over to Hiccup’s hut, but didn’t say anything. It wasn’t his business. He heard Hiccup playing the fiddle, a lovely little melody. 

Then he heard a sharp, off key note, followed by silence. 

He may be on patrol, but he had a feeling they didn’t want him to investigate. 

------

One time in Highschool, we had a talent show. Know that I went to a very tiny private school, and everyone knew everyone (20 people in my grade). There was this guy in my class, Kevin, who was pretty stoic and quiet. For the talent show, he rode a unicycle while juggling and telling jokes. No one knew he could do that. Even the kids that knew him from Kindergarten. 

Songs: Seasoned Oak - King Arthur and the Legend of the Sword

Fairytale - Alexander Rybak

Into a Fantasy - Alexander Rybak

Return (For Toothless) - Alexander Rybak

Shades- Árstídir

OAH- Alexander Rybak (heavily rewritten, and I actually prefer the strings of the Russian version ‘Strela Amura’ better.)

[ifangirlalot]

hey!! I'd just like to say that I ADORE your theme and your writing. Could you maybe do a reader that performs a scene with Finn and it's triggering for her and Finn doesn't know because he thinks she's just improvising and he doesn't realize until after?? It's totally okay if you don't want to do this btw I just thought this would be cool lol

˗ˏˋ "𝐌𝐄𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐃" 𝐀𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆 ˎˊ˗ | starring finn wolfhard

︵‿︵‿୨♡୧‿︵‿︵୨♡୧‿︵‿︵୨♡୧‿︵‿︵୨♡୧‿︵‿︵

*~fluff!~* [𝖜𝖆𝖗𝖓𝖎𝖓𝖌𝖘]: reader having a panic attack, finn unintentionally triggering [name]'s anxiety, accidentally not acknowledging and apologizing until later

Hi Anon! Thank you for your request I'm sorry it took so long to get this out, hope it's good since this took me maybe fifteen minutes lmao.

︵‿︵‿୨♡୧‿︵‿︵୨♡୧‿︵‿︵୨♡୧‿︵‿︵୨♡୧‿︵‿︵

︵‿︵‿୨♡୧‿︵‿︵୨♡୧‿︵‿︵୨♡୧‿︵‿︵୨♡୧‿︵‿︵

[Name]'s POV

Reading a romantic scene on the script is so much less nerve wracking than actually doing the scene. When I read that my character and Finn's would have to kiss, my belly fluttered with butterflies. Actually, I felt a little excited. But then, as the day we were meant to shoot the kiss scene, I got steadily more anxious until it was all I could think about.

I had liked Finn for a while, what if I fucked it up? What if he didn't like the kiss? Oh God, what if he doesn't want to and I have to kiss his stunt double and I somehow fuck that up too? I wasn't ready for this. But unfortunately, anxiety has this habit of speeding up time, so the day had arrived before I even blinked. The scene passed as it was meant to..

But then.. Oh God, Finn was leading in.

His soft red lips met mine and my entire body felt like he had ignited it. Like my lips were fire and his were gasoline. My ears were ringing and my heart was pounding against my eardrums. It felt like my body was disconnected from my mind and my lips had gained a mind of their own. My lips pressed against his and I shakily moved my hands to his shoulders.

His hand wandered up my thigh.

Oh god oh god oh god Finn this wasn't in the script why are you doing this oh god please don't do this don't do this don't do this...

My entire body froze, but Finn didn't seem to notice. He continued kissing me, his thumb brushing against my thigh while his other hand held my cheek. Meanwhile, I felt like I was short circuiting. Like I was just a shell. It took everything in me to keep myself from shaking.

︵‿︵‿୨♡୧‿︵‿︵୨♡୧‿︵‿︵୨♡୧‿︵‿︵୨♡୧‿︵‿︵ Later on, I hesitantly knocked on Finn's trailer door. "Um.. Finn, can I.. talk to you, please?"

Finn smiled at me, which usually would have brushed away all the troubled thoughts I was experiencing, but not today. My body was still on edge from Finn's improv. I was shaking now, my face pale and my eyes twitching around the room. His smile quickly dropped when he saw my troubled expression.

"Hey.. [Name], you okay?" he asked, concerned, his dark eyebrows furrowing into a worried v.

"Um.. Finn, why didn't you tell me you were going off the script?" I whispered, not meeting his eyes. I looked down at the carpeted floor of his trailer, my arms wrapped tightly around myself, as though I were trying to keep myself from falling apart. "It.. just caught me off guard."

For a second, Finn was silent. I could almost hear the pieces clicking together in his head.

"Oh- fuck! Shit, I am so sorry, [Name]- I-I swear to god I wouldn't have done it if I knew it was going to make you uncomfortable! Jesus Christ-" He suddenly seemed stressed, his hands pushing into his hair back with his hands as he began to pace. "How did I not notice? I have anxiety, I should have realized! I should.. have.." Finn's words trailed off as he blew out a breath between puckered lips.

"Finn.. it.. it's okay.." I said quietly, hesitantly reaching out and grabbing his shoulders. Then I let my arms wrap around his torso, my head resting on his chest. He immediately relaxed and wrapped his arms around me with a sigh.

"I-I'm sorry, [Name]. No more improv unless we discuss it first, I promise."

[erinfern0]

i love your writing! can i please request some more softdom roman? with any prompt you want.

thank you ♥️

perfect for me.

softdom!roman x gn!reader

— gender-neutral anatomy, gender-neutral nicknames, only pronouns used are you, etc.

summary: he doesn't usually take any breaks at work, but you can take as much of his time as you want, especially after you've been so good to him. you were always his favorite stress cure.

warnings: slight financial dom, office setting, semi-public, teasing, unprotected sex, messy, creampie, cock warming, a bit of performance anxiety.

Please, reblog if you like my posts!

His mind was always busy, thinking about his work and all the upir stuff that was happening to him, but you were that little anchor that kept him going. You kept him feeling loved and secure, always calmed by your soft hands and words of affirmation. No matter how tough life was, just a glimpse of your smile could make his day better.

That's exactly why the moment he started to feel overwhelmed, he called you a little before midnight, asking you to visit him in his office. You were so worried the moment you heard his exhausted voice, almost begging you to use his card to pay for your taxi. And so you did, not even half an hour later you texted him you were waiting by the elevator.

He was so happy you were there for him, the moment you stepped into his office, he turned around in his chair, smiling ear to ear as he watched you lock the door behind yourself.

"Oh, baby... Look at you!" he said excitedly as he spotted your outfit. It was one of many that he had bought for you during one of many of his shopping sprees. Seeing the way the soft fabric wrapped around your body so perfectly made his heart melt. "Come here, love."

You giggled as you felt warmth spreading over your cheeks, walking over to his desk. Before you could even think about protesting, his strong arms wrapped around your waist, nuzzling his face into your soft tummy.

"Are you okay, Rome?" you asked, fingers slowly playing with his hair just the way he loved so much, nails gently scratching the back of his neck. He murmured something in response, palms slowly kneading your hips.

"Yeah, I'm just a little tired, y'know? Needed you here." he explained while resting his chin on your stomach just to look into your eyes. You smiled at him and leaned forward, pressing a kiss to his forehead.

You weren't even sure when the soft, gentle pecks on his face started trailing down his neck, your fingers lingering over his clothed shoulders and chest, messing with the buttons of his shirt.

His breathing became heavier but shakier, quiet groans leaving his mouth every time you teased his exposed skin with your teeth, gentle hickeys suckled over it. Feeling the way your knee rested between his thighs, placed on his chair, makes him feel like he has his whole world above him.

"If you keep going, I might not..." he stopped with a gasp as you pressed your knee over his bulge, allowing him to slowly grind against it. The chair squeaked as he got up, your knee still between his legs as he pushed the papers aside. Proud smirk on his lips as he pulled your body to sit on top of his desk.

His body moved automatically, spreading your legs to fit between them, a low chuckle left his mouth when you threw your arms around his neck. You shifted, tilting your head to make space for his yet-cold lips to leave kisses the same way you did for him.

Roman's hands gripped your hips as he pulled you closer to the edge of the desk, your crotch pressed against his as he purposefully avoided your lips. You tugged on his hair, whimpering into his ear as he pulled your shirt up, thumbs caressing your nipples under the material.

"R-Roman..." you moaned, feeling him gently bite into your exposed shoulder. He looked at you, eyes already glistening with lust, as he smiled at you. Nodding his head, he pressed a kiss on your cheek, smirking as you tried to reach his mouth with yours.

"You want a kiss, doll?" he asked, feeling the way you arched your back against his digits. Slowly rubbing and tugging on your sensitive buds. You nodded your head eagerly, legs wrapped around his waist. "Use your words... Say 'Please, kiss me, Roman'. I know you can..." he whispered encouragements into your ear, a little high-pitched whisper so similar to the way you plead. Vibrations of his voice send shivers down your spine.

"Please... Kiss me, Roman." you whined and he proudly kissed your lips. Fast pecks slowly turn into passionate making out against his desk, bodies grinding against each other while you claw at his belt, trying to unbuckle it.

He chuckled at your miserable attempts, quickly pulling your wrists away to help you. Your movements are rushed, clumsy, and fueled by the adrenaline that the idea of being discovered like this brought you. Roman's palm started rubbing your clothed sex, patting it slightly through the material, just to hear your little mewls against his lips.

His trousers fell to the ground with a clank of his belt, you softly palmed him through his boxers, focusing your thumb on the wet spot right above his slit. All this pent-up stress made him desperate, and happy at the same time – happy that he had such a loving little toy that was always there for him whenever he needed it the most.

He couldn't wait any longer, almost ripping his shirt off his body, staring at your hands flimsily pulling your own pants down. He can't keep his eyes off of you as you get yourself prepared for him. Not only that, but he praised you, tracing your inner thighs with his fingertips as he witnessed you moving your fingers in and out of your tight hole. Spreading them around with the addition of spit to help with the slight soreness.

"All this just for me, huh?" he asked, kissing your temple as he stroked his cock, precum covering your smooth skin. Roman never cared about how messy you got, it never bothered him. Sometimes, though, it worked like fuel to his actions. Getting him so eager to finally make you feel good, to hear your soft moans again.

This time, you were in his office, legs wrapped around him as if you were scared he was going to move away any second. But he wouldn't ever leave you like this, exposed and vulnerable. You were his and to his eyes only.

His nature took over, pulling your thighs apart as he slowly slid inside, feeling your walls already clench around his leaking tip. He groaned, pressing his forehead against your shoulder, his eyes focused on the spot where your bodies connected.

"Am I... doing okay?" you asked, panting above him as you tugged on his hair. The way his head jolted upwards to face you made you squirm in your seat. Slowly moving his hips, one hand on your thigh, the other cupping your jaw. Not harshly pulling towards him, just softly holding it as his greatest treasure.

"You're doing so good for me, baby. As you always do." He didn't sound upset, just slightly shocked that such a silly thing could ever cross your mind. His hips started thrusting into you a little harder, making your eyes roll and your voice crack. "So. Fucking. Perfect."

Soon enough, his palm covered your lips, muting your moans as he continued, kissing your neck and earlobe as he panted against you. Your hands focused on holding his torso close to yours.

The room was quickly filled with rhythmical sounds of flesh slapping against each other and the desk hitting the wall behind him, but he didn't even care at this point. He slowed down, seeing how overwhelmed you were becoming. You couldn't even look at him anymore, eyes closed shut, tears slowly pricking at the corners of your eyes as he pounded you.

His movements slowed down just to allow you to rest for a second, his forehead against yours as he pecked your cheek, asking if you were okay. Roman's hand moved down your body, easily finding your shoulder, then your arm until he found your hand, taking it away from his neck.

He kissed each one of your knuckles until you looked back at him. "Too much for you?" he asked worryingly but never stopped moving his hips. Your lover chuckled as you shook your head, grinding against him for even more friction. The way he kept hitting that sweet spot inside of you started to create a knot in your lower stomach, you couldn't allow him to stop now. So he didn't.

Roman found the pace that got you the most worked up, still hissing your hand as his eyes closed in the indescribable, almost overwhelming pleasure. Your bodies were caged together over his desk, above the documents that he was supposed to take care of.

His arm wrapped around your waist just to hold you a little closer if that was even possible. Your lips connected for the last time before those coils inside the both of you unraveled. You moaned into his mouth, feeling the way he painted your walls in his spend, claiming you yet another time.

He panted heavily, a string of saliva connecting your lips as they parted. Roman grasped your shirt, pushing his face against your chest to calm down, not pulling out yet. The warmth of your flushed bodies interlocked with each other always made him feel that maybe there was heaven for someone like him.

You spent the rest of your time in his office, straddling his lap as he sat by his desk. Leaving kisses all over your neck and shoulders, arm still wrapped around you as he worked. All that stress he couldn't bear was gone, replaced by his well-known post-sex kindness and care. Even when his mind was solemnly focused of his paperwork, his body still soothed you in the gentlest ways possible, despite him almost breaking you a couple of minutes ago.

masterlist | request info | kinktober 23

[kowaindar0u]

[ continuing from here | @zantedeschia-praesul ]

After the Awataguchi's performance (and some others, which eventually devolved into some very lively karaoke), Yuichi and Kogitsunemaru walked their guests back to their room (complete with "please, don't hesitate to wake me up if you need something" and "join us in the dining hall in the morning!") and then each retreated to their own respective rooms to get some sleep after the long day.

Yuichi slept much easier than he had the few nights before. The antsy excitement and anxiety of meeting and hosting someone new was gone, and in its place the relief and pleasant surprise of indeed a new friend.

He rose early, though, and made sure to join Kasen in the kitchen to prepare a breakfast and tea for himself and Saseki to share-- much to Kasen's delight.

However, through the preparations, the ambient shhhhhhhhhh of the rain outside gradually grew fainter and fainter, until suddenly... It was quiet, save for just a few faint 'tap.....tap.......tap....' every so often.

Yuichi looked up from the broccoli he was chopping, and out the window. The rain seemed to have reduced to just a sprinkling, and the dreary gray that usually cloaked the citadel was brightening, just so.

"Oh," he smiled, then looking to Kasen, Shokudaikiri, and Ookurikara who had come to prepare breakfast together. "I think Saseki-san's gift has been saving its power for today..."

After a quick moment of contemplation, Yuichi set his knife and broccoli down and stood up. "Excuse me, guys. I'll be back shortly."

And indeed, he was back, after a few moments of checking and talking with Konnosuke.

"Once we're done with breakfast, you guys take the day off. I'll let everyone else know too, when it's time to eat-- I think everyone deserves a chance to enjoy the day, hm?"

"Oh? Are you sure, aruji?" Shokudaikiri inquired. "What about lunch and dinner? I don't mind, really--"

Yuichi raised a hand to pause him. "I've just checked our expenses, and we've been doing pretty decently on our spending for the most part. We have some money to play with, including enough to order something delivered... If you like, you can help me sort that out later, but I want you to get out of the kitchen and relax or have fun, okay?"

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

By the time everyone is in the dining hall, the sun is out in full, with only a few drip-drops scattering about. ("A fox wedding~," Kogitsunemaru remarks fondly.) Yuichi announces to everyone that today shall be a free day-- no chores, no field work, just... a day to enjoy the sun.

With his breakfast, he makes to meet with Saseki.

[vaguesxrrow]

Can you maybe do from 911 a buck x celebrity!reader? Where something happens during her concert (a fire on the stage or the stage breaks and she falls down with it and is buried under it) and Buck is a fan of the reader and has a celebrity crush on her.

I dont know i had this idea stuck in my head and didnt see anyone writing something like this!

tysm for the ask! and ofc, here you go! hopefully it's what you had in mind :)

cinderella

evan buckley/reader

tags: female reader, fluff, flirting, technological and medical inaccuracies, use of y/n, buck being awkward and not knowing how to act around reader

cw's: swearing

wc: 1,190

reader is a famous singer, and also buck's celebrity crush.

You adjusted your outfit as the backstage crew bustled about, looking in the vanity mirror. You took a deep breath, trying to block out the frantic orders thrown around in the background, as well as worried words being exchanged between coworkers about how the staging had been very "last minute".

Whenever this happened - staging arrangements being rushed - it made you nervous, so you were determined not to focus on it.

You checked the clock on the wall; the audience had probably finished filing into the stadium by now. You listened closely past the talking of the backstage crew, managing to make out the excited chatter of your fans. This gave you a bit more confidence. Your fans believed in you, and you loved them, so you weren't going to let a little performance anxiety get in the way of giving them an amazing show.

Your assistant tapped you on the shoulder. "Miss Y/n, it's time for your entrance," she said, handing you a microphone.

"Thank you. Do I look okay?" you asked.

"Stunning as usual!" she assured. "Now go out there and break a leg!"

You slipped through the curtain and stepped onstage. The second the crowd took note of your arrival, they erupted into screams and cheers. Immediately, a huge grin appeared on your face. You waved with both hands, and blew a few kisses as you made your way to centre stage.

"Thank you!" you said into your mic. "Thank you all of you for being here. I love and appreciate all of you."

The audience screamed in response.

"Before we begin this performance, one last reminder to stay safe out there in the crowd!" you said. "Alright, let's get started!"

The lights dimmed, the music began, and the crowd erupted into cheers once again. However, not long after you sang your first note, you had the chilling sensation that something was wrong.

You looked up just in time to see one of the light fixtures fall. You jumped out of the way just in time, the spotlight missing you by inches. You landed flat on your back on the floor the same time the spotlight did, both of you going down with a huge thump. You vaguely noted that the wires on the spotlight had ripped, and one of them was tangled around your ankle. It appeared to also be caught in the heel of your boot.

Suddenly, you saw a spark, and before you could even blink, the spark evolved into a full-blown fire. You screamed, attempting to scramble away. However, as soon as you got up, you fell again, and a shooting pain went up your leg. Fuck, you'd forgotten about the wire.

"Somebody call 911!" you yelled.

⌦ -- -- Buck's pov

"Tell us more about this fire, cap?" Buck prompted from where he sat in the backseat of the engine.

"Electrical fire at Lavender Plaza. There was a concert happening-"

"Wait, Lavender Plaza?" Buck exclaimed. "That's where Y/n L/n is performing!" His mouth was open in awe, and he turned to look at his crewmates. "Oh my god, you guys have no idea how much I wanted to go see that concert. I'm actually in love with her," he gushed. "Holy shit, is she okay, though?"

"Yes, the victim's name is Y/n L/n. Apparently, one of the spotlight fixtures fell onstage. It's an electrical fire - not too big, but still enough to be dangerous, especially since Y/n is unable to escape due to a wire around her ankle," Bobby continued.

"Guys, we have to go save her," Buck yelled.

"That's what we're doing right now," Eddie, Hen, and Chimney said in unison.

Buck's eyes grew impossibly wider. "Holy shit, I'm about to meet my celebrity crush!" he exclaimed.

⌦ -- -- y/n's pov

You nearly cried of relief when you heard the sirens approaching. The fire had engulfed most of the stage area opposite you, but luckily, you were in the safe zone for now.

The firefighters jumped into action, literally. You coughed at the CO2 from the fire extinguishers. As soon as the fire was put out, you saw a firefighter leap over the spotlight, landing next to you. You vaguely heard someone reprimand him - "Buck! Be careful!".

The firefighter - Buck, apparently - only gave a thumbs up in response.

"Okay, Y/n," he said, light blue eyes looking down at you in concern. "Don't you worry, I'm gonna get you free."

You nodded. "How do you know my name?"

"Buck over here is a big fan," you heard a voice to your left say. A woman with glasses set down a first aid kit next to you. "I'm Hen. Does it hurt anywhere, honey?"

"Um, I think I broke my leg or something, cause it really hurts."

Hen nodded in acknowledgement.

"Alright," Buck piped up. "It looks like the wire is just caught on your boot, so if we unbuckle this thing, you'll be free."

"Oh my god," you said. "Thank you."

"Hey, you're pretty much Cinderella, now," Buck joked as he finished unbuckling your boot. He held it up. "You know, with the lost shoe and all that."

"Does that make you my prince charming, then?" you teased.

Buck blushed, stammering. Before he coukd get out a response, Hen and another paramedic lifted you onto a gurney, wheeling you away.

⌦ -- --

You were breathing steadily into the oxygen mask, just as Hen had instructed you. Then, you spotted Buck making his way towards where you were currently sitting on your stretcher. He was still clutching your boot.

"Hey," you said. "Thanks again for saving me."

"Hi," Buck breathed. "Is this real?"

"Unfortunately for me, yes," you grumbled, casting a forlorn look at your broken leg. You remembered how your assistant had told you to 'break a leg' earlier. The irony.

"Right, no, of course, I didn't mean it like that! Oh god, I'm so sorry!" he rambled.

"It's okay," you laughed. "You just saved my life, I'm probably gonna love you forever, now."

Buck blushed a deep crimson. "Can I have your autograph?" he asked. "This probably isn't an appropriate time, but I mean, your hands aren't broken or anything, so I figured it'd be fine? If you're fine? If you're fine with it, not if you're fine in general, cause you know, you just broke your leg and everything." he snapped his mouth shut. "I'm gonna stop talking now."

You laughed. Looking at him fondly, you took in his features. His very good looking features, you noted.

"I'd love to give you an autograph," you told him. "I'd even give you a picture, but I'm a mess right now."

"I think you still look great," Buck blurted.

"Thank you," you giggled.

"Hey, if you stop by the hospital later, I'll get you my autograph and a picture. And maybe even dinner, if my prince charming's up for it." You winked.

Hen and another paramedic came to wheel you away. The last glimpse you got of Buck was him still staring ahead, a slightly dazed look in his eye and a smile on his lips.

Yeah, he looked like a prince charming to you.

---------

a/n: okay before you start thinking that reader getting caught in the wire is inaccurate, id like to say that ive been trapped under those big wire rope things before when i was younger, and that shit is HEAVY like no joke

[gretavangroupie]

Songbird

Word count: 2.4k+

Pairing: Josh x Female Reader

Warnings: Language, Angst, Drinking, Fluff.

A/N: This idea came to me after watching a soundcheck tiktok, and I had to get it out. Hope you enjoy.

Sitting in the front row of seats at The Greek Theater, you nervously pick at your fingernails. 

You could tell he was still nervous and just wanted you there for support. You typically don’t attend the soundchecks since they only last an hour or so. You like to spend the time getting ready, and packing up Josh’s bag for the night. You don't like him to have to worry about anything on show days, so doing this one small thing for him always seems to help his stress level before shows. 

Today however, was different. He has been on edge about this performance for a few weeks. The setlist was set in advance and there was no changing it. It’s the second night of the two shows for Strange Horizons in Los Angeles, and tonight they will be recording the set for the live album. Now, this usually wouldn’t be a problem but there is one thing that has Josh absolutely worked up and it’s the one thing he is usually never worried about. Singing. 

He spent all week telling you how nervous he was about tonight’s performance and how challenging one of the songs is vocally. Hyping himself up all week and practicing as much as he could. They almost never perform said song because by the end his voice is maxed out. But since these albums will be the sister albums to their newest album, they had no choice but to perform it at atleast one of the shows and tonight was the night. You could sense the anxiety in his voice, in his posture, in everything. It was rare to see him like this and knowing that there was not really anything you could do to help, was taking its toll on you. 

Josh paced around the hotel room all morning, practically wearing holes into the carpet, drinking his throat coat tea and trying to speak as little as possible. So when he finally did speak and asked you to come to soundcheck, you nodded your head in agreement. If just this one thing would help him to relax, you’d do it. Your phone buzzed on the dresser as Josh was getting dressed.

Jake: How’s he doing?

You: He’s a wreck…he has been pacing all morning.

Jake: I figured, I swear I can feel his nervous energy from 5 rooms away.

You: We will see you down there soon.

Jake: We will talk him down, it will be okay.

The entire drive to the theater, Josh fidgeted nervously, and you just held his hands, and tried to reassure him that everything would be fine. But deep in your heart you were just as nervous as he was. Jake shot you a questioning look from the seat in front of you and you nodded to him. An unspoken yeah, he’s still panicking. 

As you arrive at the venue, you all file out of the van and into the back gate. You walk hand in hand, fingers intertwined with his rubbing his knuckles to try and help him calm down. The guys make small talk with him but Josh is laser focused. The last time you saw him like this was when they were in the thick of recording the album.

As they approach backstage you give him a quick kiss and a good luck, and you and the girls retreat to your seats at the very front row.

That's where you find yourself, now. Anxiously watching them get settled on stage to begin soundchecking. 

Jake nods to Josh in a silent ‘you ready’ and Josh gives him a quick nod back. They play through a few songs and everything sounds great, Josh sounds perfect and you can see a bit of his usual confidence coming back to his demeanor.. A misstep from Sam on a chord awards him a concerned look from Jake and Josh, to which he laughs and continues. 

A little bit later you see Sam make his way over to his piano set up and you swallow harshly knowing that they are about to do it. Sam and Danny exchange a nervous look as they see Josh start to pace the stage. 

Jake walks over to Josh and says something indistinguishable, giving his shoulder a quick squeeze before returning to his spot. 

Sam nods to Jake and starts the intro to Tears of Rain. 

So far so good. Josh sounds good, and he’s gonna do fine…

As he sings the first line of the song, all is well. You know the part he is questioning and it's towards the end, so if he can just hit that note now, you know that he will feel better and have a great show tonight.

Your knee nervously bounces on the concrete as you see Josh’s eyes shoot over to you. You look directly into his and hope he can find that comfort that he needs. As he sings the line in question, he clamps his eyes tightly shut and uses every ounce of effort that he has to hit that note. 

Shit. He was so close.

His voice cracks, and he stops singing all together. Sam and Jake quickly look at each other and you can tell they are nervously preparing for the blowback of Josh’s frustration. 

He is mad, and swings the microphone down to his side as he curses outwardly.

The girls clap for him to show their support and he turns to look at them, and you are pretty positive that if looks could kill they would both be dead.

You bite your lip as they turn to you. “He hates to be patronized.” you giggle.

“Play it again.” he commands. The music stops, and they all look at each other to start again.

Second and third time was not the charm. 

Fourth time came yelling, and the fifth time Josh walked off the stage. 

The guys all stayed on stage, knowing better than to approach him when he is like this. It took everything in you to not run back there to find him, but you knew he would be back out. He’s anything but a quitter. 

A few minutes later he comes back out, with a bottle of water and says something to Jake, followed by Danny and Sam. Knowing him, he is apologizing for storming off, but they all know that it's a taxing song and don't think much of it. 

Instead of playing it again, they move on and work their way through a few other songs, before calling it. You and the girls stand up, and walk back to the gate to be let through. You meet up with the guys and you can tell Josh is absolutely beating himself up even though he is trying to play it off. His hand reaches for yours and squeezes it tightly as you all walk back to the van. 

He is silent on the way back to the hotel and you know that as soon as you get back to the room he is going to unleash. His hand grazes the top of your thigh back and forth as he listens to the guys talk and your mind wanders to how you are going to approach the situation rapidly drawing nearer.

Pulling up outside the hotel, you make a plan to meet back here in 2 hours to head to the venue for the night, and you all make your way to the elevators. Stepping into the room a few minutes later, Josh dives head first into the bed, stuffing his head into the pillows.

You kick your shoes off and sit on the bed next to his feet, untying his shoes and throwing them on to the floor next to yours. As he lays on his stomach you feel his hand reach out of yours next to him, grabbing it in his. He just needs to feel you, and feel comfort.

You thought he would be yelling and tearing himself apart, but you were wrong. You push yourself back to the head of the bed to lay next to him. You both lay in silence for a few minutes as you lightly scratch his back over his white shirt.

“You know, I told them when we recorded it that I didn't know if I would ever be able to perform it.” he says muffled through the pillows. “It took nearly ten takes in the studio too.” 

You roll to your side to face him, and he turns his head to look at you.

“You can do it baby, I know you can. You did it for that candlelight session and it was so beautiful. You are just thinking too much. Just sing, you and I both know you can do it.” you say quietly.

He pulls himself closer to you, and you turn onto your back as he rests his head on your chest. You rub your fingertips through his scalp and scratch as he sighs.

“I know I can do it. I just wanted to nail it one time today. I thought maybe if I just…I just want to get it right for them. They love this song. They want to play it. The fans want to hear it. I feel like, if I can't hit the note…” he sighs again. 

“I feel like they will be disappointed. I don't want to let them down.” he whimpers, and you feel a warm wet drop on your shirt.

You cradle his head in your arms and just hold him. You know he needs to let his emotions out, so you just lay there and let him.

“No one will be disappointed baby I swear. No one.” you whisper into his curls. You feel another wet tear form a spot on your shirt. You rub his hair off of his face and kiss his head.

“When we get there tonight, just go in the bathroom, try again. If you’re still feeling nervous, talk to Jake, tell him to come in early if he sees you start to struggle. Point your mic to the crowd, let them sing it for you. Don’t stress it my love. Everything will work out exactly how it's supposed to.” you say with another kiss to his head.

“Will you stand backstage? At least for that song? Just need to see you before I do it.” he asks.

“Of course, I’ll be wherever you need me.” you reply.

He wraps his arms around your waist and kisses your stomach before laying his head back down over your heart. “I love you” he sighs. 

“Love you more.” you reply. His hand grabs yours and places it back on his head, indicating he would like more scratches so you oblige and lay there with him for just a few minutes longer wondering how you got so lucky.

An hour and a half later, you are both ready to go. His bag is packed, you are dressed and your hair and makeup is done. He has showered and refreshed his curls and he has his to-go cup of tea in hand. 

You make your way to the lobby to meet the others and you grab his hand and he spins to meet your gaze. “I know you’re about to get into your zone but, I love you. No matter what. You’re still my songbird.” you say.

His free hand slides up to meet your face, “I love you too, couldn’t do this without you.” he says, pressing a gentle kiss to your lips.

“AYE!” Jake shouts in his fake British accent, “No kissin in the lobby!” he laughs as he meets up with you.

You talk and laugh as you make your way to the van, loading in and heading to the venue. Josh seems to be a little more relaxed than earlier, but you all can tell he is still tense.

Making your way backstage, Josh talks to Jake, and makes a plan for if things don’t work out how he wants them to. 

God, I hope they do… 

For a few hours, you mill around in the green room, talking, drinking and watching them all get ready. You talk to Josh and help calm his nerves and he tells you that he is feeling good, and is hoping for the best. He is in a beautiful royal blue velvet jumpsuit with silver stars embroidered on it. He looks like an angel. Your very own angel.

Ten minutes till the show, you all make your way to the stage and you watch as they all get their monitors on and their respective instruments. Josh dashes over to you, and kisses you one more time. “See you on the other side, my love.” he smiles.

“Love you, I’ll be here if you need me.” you reply as he runs up the stairs. 

The first half of the show has gone amazing, Josh sounds so good and the other guys are playing amazingly. You know that there is only a few minutes until the moment of truth and you link arms with Jake's girlfriend for support. She rubs your hand and tells you that he is going to be fine and you nod as you hear the intro start. Josh tells the crowd he is scared of this one, almost giving himself an out just in case. 

Josh looks over to you, just like he said he would and you blow him a kiss, causing a smile to spread across his face. He winks and turns back to the crowd and you hold your breath as he begins to sing. 

So far so good…

As the moment comes, and he absolutely nails that high note, your heart bursts with pride. 

He did it.

You jump up and down with excitement and the girls join you as you quietly cheer for him.

As the song ends he looks back to you and you smile at him, his beaming smile flashing back. 

The rest of the show goes perfectly and they end the night on a high note. Literally. They make their way off the stage Josh runs straight into your arm and groans into your neck in relief.

“I told you, you could do it baby. I’m so proud of you.” you say.

“I couldn’t have done it without you. Love you so much.” he says, still trying to catch his breath.

“Love you too Josh, but it wasn’t me…You sang from the heart and it paid off.” you smile, walking back to the dressing rooms.

“You’re my heart, it was all for you.” he kisses your cheek and you lean into his hold on your waist. 

“But I’m never singing that fucking song again.”  he says with a cheeky smile, and a smack of your ass. 

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