#he started as a joke but hes growing on me

[igorluvr]

req for thanos x shy reader who wears glasses?

'SHRINKING VIOLET

PAIRING: choi su-bong (thanos) x reader

SYPNOSIS: you and thanos had been inseparable since middle school, watching eachother grow into adulthood. you'd been with eachother through good and bad, so what would happen if the both of you suddenly caught feeling for one another?

CONTENT: non-squid game au, childhood best friends awww, kinda corny, lots nn lots of fluff

AUTHORS NOTE: omg i loved writing this!! its super short bcs i wanted to hurry up nn publish your request but i hope u like ittt

[words: 717]

THE first day of school was always a nightmare, and being in a new city made it worse. You missed your old school, teachers, friends, and the comfort of familiar routines. Eighth grade was especially tough, as everyone else already had their friend groups established, causing you to feel like an outsider.

For the first few months, you floated around like a ghost, trying to avoid the rude kids. You went to a particularly large school, so your bus stop had at least 10-15 other people waiting there. Unfortunately, they were all the wrong types: smokers, gossipers, egotistical athletes—the worst of the worst. Already having a bad day, you decided to put in your headphones to tune them out.

Suddenly, someone slammed roughly into your back, sending you crashing face-first into the concrete. “Oh shit!” a voice shouted behind you.

Quickly, you gathered your belongings, but it was difficult. “Shit sorry, I tried to yell. Are these yours?” an older boy said, picking up a colorful skateboard. You noticed him presenting your glasses in his hand. With a small nod, you took them from him, but they were now crooked, making you groan.

“You okay? You went down pretty hard,” he asked, worry in his voice. “Mhm, sorry,” you replied quietly, not wanting to embarrass yourself any more.

His head tilted as he looked at you. “Aren’t you in my science class?” he questioned. You stared at him, confused. You weren't too good with remembering faces. “I’m Su-bong, Choi Su-bong. I sit next to the teacher?”

Now you remembered him—the boy who wouldn’t stop making pencil-beats on the desk during class, causing the teacher to move his seat up front by hers. He had a bright smile and a confident demeanor, one of the more outspoken kids. Embarrassed, you mumbled a quick 'sorry', wishing to disappear.

“Don’t be sorry! I recognized you. You’re the new kid, right?” he said with a chuckle, making you shrink further into your shell.

You expected him to laugh at your quietness, but instead, he leaned against the bus stop, looking genuinely interested. “Since you're new, let me be your first friend. I promise it'll be worth it,” he offered, a playful grin on his face.

Your first instinct was to walk away, to assume his friendliness was just an act or a joke. But he spoke with a sincerity that made you want to believe him. “Why do you want to be my friend?” you asked, hesitant and stuttering over your words.

“Because you seem cool,” he replied nonchalantly. “I hate seeing people alone at school, it makes me feel bad. C'mon, I can show you the best spots in the cafeteria, which teachers to watch out for. It'll be fun!”

Stuck between anxiety and hope, you struggled to find the right words. His enthusiasm chipped away at your walls, and the idea of friendship began to settle in your mind. “Okay,” you said shyly, feeling a mix of excitement and fear.

From that point on, you two were inseparable. From that first day you became friends all the way to graduation, you never left each other's side. You experienced everything together, helping him build his rap career as 'Thanos', going to your first party together, smoking together, even going to prom as each other's dates. It wasn't until your adult life that you started confusing your feelings for him.

Su-bong had always been good-looking; you couldn't deny that, but you never saw him like that. You loved him in a completely platonic way, or so you thought. It seemed as if your feelings for him had hit like a bus.

It was completely out of nowhere—a random Tuesday afternoon. The both of you were hanging out by an abandoned building, a place you visited regularly. Going to random places and smoking together had become a routine for both of you, but this time was different.

The way the golden light from the sunset hit his face just the right way, the deepness of his voice, the way your hands grazed slightly as you passed the blunt to each other—it did something to you. You couldn’t shake the feeling. It was like a revelation, constantly revealing desires and emotions you had long buried.

Of course, though, you’d never dare to bring it up. I mean, come on, all the years you’d been friends, what were the chances of you both randomly catching feelings at the same time? Every time he laughed or nudged you, it was a reminder of the line you couldn't cross. So, you kept your feelings hidden to protect your heart and cherished friendship.

After getting as high as the both of you could handle, you decided to go back home. As you got into the passenger seat of his car, the air was thick with unspoken words. The soft glow of the sky above illuminated his sharp features, and you studied every part as if he were on display at an art gallery. You could feel his boldness radiating, but he also sensed your shyness. As you fidgeted with your glasses, he smirked and broke the silence.

“Hey, you know,” he said, leaning back in his seat hazily, “those glasses of yours? They’re kinda cute.” There was a teasing tone in his voice that made your cheeks heat up and you looked away, trying to hide your smile.

“Thanks,” you mumbled, heart racing. Thanos chuckled softly, his mood shifting slightly as he took a deep breath. “Look, I gotta be real with you for a sec. I’ve been thinkin’ a lot lately… and honestly, I’ve been feelin’ more than just friends. Like, a lot more.”

Your heart stopped. Could this be it? “What do you mean?” you asked, curiosity overpowering your surprise. Something changed in you for sure, but did he actually feel the same way?

“I mean c’mon, we hang out all the time, I just can’t ignore it anymore. I really care about you. You’re my best friend and all, but I want more than that.” Thanos admitted, a smirk creeping on his face. That smile truly sent your heart in a whirlwind.

A million thoughts raced through your mind. The air in the car felt condensed, and you found your voice trembling just a bit. “Y-you’re serious?”

“Yeah,” he said, leaning in a little closer, his strong gaze locked on yours. “I’m serious. And I hope you feel the same.”

You took a shaky breath, trying to gather your thoughts. “I do. I really do,” you said, in disbelief of this entire situation. Maybe it was the weed getting to your heads, but this moment felt truly euphoric.

Before you could say another word, Thanos leaned in closely, lips brushing softly against yours. The moment your lips connected, everything around you faded; nothing outside of that car existed anymore.

The feeling was electric, sending waves of warmth through your body. All other thoughts left your mind, and you felt dizzy with the feeling of his soft mouth moving against yours. You were overly aware of everything—the way your heart raced, how his hand felt on your cheek, and the happiness bubbling in your chest.

When he pulled away, both of you were breathless, smiling at each other with surprise. The doubt that you felt faded into the background, replaced with an undeniable joy. His eyes sparkled with the same wonder and mischief that had always drawn you to him. You both smiled, the tension evaporating as laughter bubbled up from within.

“Wow,” he said, still grinning. “That was… nice.” You giggled at his loss of words. You'd never seen Thanos so nervous. “Yeah, nice,” you echoed, heart still racing.

With a sparkle in his eye, he took your hand, intertwining your fingers. Slowly, he lifted your hand to his lips, kissing your knuckles gently, and you couldn’t help but let out a small gasp. The sweet gesture left you speechless, heart thumping wildly as you stared into his eyes.

“Now that feels nice, too,” he said softly, gaze locked on yours as he held your hand to his heart. “Guess that’s a proper confession, huh?”

You laughed, feeling light as air. “Definitely," you responded, voice slightly shaky due to the immense amount of happiness running through your veins.

The sweetness of the moment wrapped around you like a soft blanket. You felt shy and flustered, but also excited—excited for what was to come. His eyes held all the hope you could dream of, and in that moment, you knew you were ready for this new step with him. As you exchanged smiles, it hit you that this was just the start.

You couldn’t wait to see where this new chapter in your relationship would lead you both. Wherever it may be, you were ready to face it side by side, you two against the world. In that perfect instant of the moment, everything felt infinite.

And as the warmth of the moment surrounded you both, the sun lowered beyond the horizon, painting the sky with vibrant hues of orange and purple—a promising picture for your future. You both shared a knowing look, laughter lingering in the air as you realized that you were embarking on not just a journey of love, but an adventure of life that you were both willing to embrace with open arms.

[leonastarry]

{14} Almost ✧. ┊    s.jinwoo x fem!reader Note: slight angst

You should have known.

You should have seen it coming—the way he looked at her, the way his eyes softened in a way they never did with you. But hope is a cruel thing, and you’ve let it fool you for too long.

Sung Jinwoo has always been kind to you.

He walked you home after late-night raids. He checked your wounds before he checked his own. He laughed at your silly jokes, even when no one else was laughing.

But kindness isn’t love.

And love is what he has for her.

You sat next to him at the Hunter Association headquarters, pretending not to notice the way he looked around the room. Pretending it didn’t hurt.

“She’s pretty, isn’t she?”

Your voice was softer than you intended, but Jinwoo didn’t seem to notice. He just smiled—a small, genuine smile that made your chest ache.

“She’s beautiful.”

Of course she was.

Haein was everything you weren’t. Soft, sweet, naturally charming. She didn’t have to fight for his attention. She just had it.

And you?

You were just his friend.

─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──

It was late when Jinwoo found you on the roof of the Association Building, staring out at the city lights. The air was crisp, biting against your skin, but you welcomed the cold.

You hadn’t expected him to drape the sweater over your shoulders.

“… You’ll get sick,” he said, his voice soft.

You held the fabric between your fingers. It was warm. It smelled of him. And for a moment, you let yourself pretend that this meant something.

Maybe—just maybe—he looked at you the way you looked at him.

But the illusion was shattered when he spoke again.

“I gave my scarf to Haein before. She gets cold easily.”

You squeezed his hand tighter.

Of course.

This warmth wasn’t yours.

It had never been yours.

But you smiled anyway. “She’s lucky to have you.”

Jinwoo chuckled, oblivious to the storm in your chest. “I’m lucky.”

And just like that, you felt the last shred of hope inside you crumble.

You didn’t know what hurt more—the fact that he loved her, or the fact that he never even thought about loving you.

But some people are destined to be side characters in other people’s love stories.

And you were just Jinwoo’s friend.

That’s all you’ll ever be.

So you swallowed the words you would never say. Buried them deep inside, where they couldn’t hurt anyone but you.

And when Jinwoo left that night, you let him take your heart with him.

Because he never belonged to you in the first place.

Jinwoo was happy.

And you told yourself that was enough.

Even when his happiness wasn’t with you, even when his heart belonged to someone else, you swallowed your pain and smiled as if it didn’t hurt. Because that’s what friends do.

That’s what you did.

But something changed after that night on the rooftop.

Maybe it was the way I started to distance myself—just a little, just enough to protect myself. Maybe it was the way I started to refuse nighttime walks, the way I didn’t linger when you smiled, the way I stopped looking at you like you were the center of my world.

I thought you wouldn’t notice.

But Jinwoo did.

At first, it was just the little things. His eyes lingering on me a little longer. He stopped when I walked forward. Something unreadable when I avoided his eyes.

And then—

“Are you avoiding me?”

His voice was soft, but it cut through the air between them like a knife.

You froze. “… What?”

Jinwoo looked at you, his brows furrowed slightly. “Lately… I’ve been feeling different about you.”

You forced a smile. “That’s crazy. We’re still the same as always.”

He didn’t seem to believe it. But before he could say anything more, Haein called his name from across the room.

And just like that, he turned away.

And you let him.

─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──

The problem with unspoken feelings is that they don't just disappear.

They persist. They fester. They grow in the silence between words, in the moments that aren't spoken.

And Jinwoo—who's always focused, who's always sure of everything—began to feel uncertain.

It all started when Haein noticed.

"You've been losing focus lately," she mused one afternoon, tilting her head to look at him.

Jinwoo blinked. "Am I?"

Haein smiled, but there was something in her eyes. "It's [Name], right?"

His breath hitched. "What?"

She chuckled. "You've been looking at her differently."

Jinwoo opened his mouth to deny it. But then—he hesitated.

Why hadn't he?

Hadn’t he started noticing the way your laughter didn’t reach your eyes? The way your smiles felt just a little more forced? Hadn’t he caught himself searching for you in a crowded room, feeling restless when you weren’t there?

Hadn’t he started wondering why your absence felt like something was missing?

“…I don’t know what you mean,” he muttered.

Haein just smiled. But this time, it was bittersweet.

─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──

It happened on a cold evening.

You had stayed late at the Association to finish paperwork, and Jinwoo had offered to take you home. Old habits. A familiar habit.

But tonight, something was different.

Maybe it was the way you walked a little farther away. Maybe it was the way the streetlights cast shadows on your face, making the pain in your eyes harder to hide.

Or maybe it was because—for the first time—Jinwoo was looking at you not as a friend.

But as someone he had never actually met before.

“…Can I ask you something?” His voice was soft, uncertain.

You hummed in response, still looking at the road.

Jinwoo hesitated. And then—

“Have you ever loved me?”

You stopped walking.

The silence between the two of you was thick and suffocating.

Finally, you let out a small, broken laugh. “What kind of question is that?”

Jinwoo swallowed. He clenched his hands at his sides. “Please.”

Then you turned to face him.

And your eyes—raw, painful, endless sadness—were enough of an answer.

But all you said was, “It doesn’t matter, does it?”

And then you walked away.

And for the first time in his life, Sung Jinwoo felt helpless.

Because it really did matter.

It mattered more than anything.

─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──

Jinwoo couldn’t sleep.

Your words—It doesn’t matter, does it?—repeated in his head, a cruel echo of everything he’d been too blind to see.

It mattered.

It mattered so much that it made his chest ache in a way he wasn’t used to.

Because when did your absence start to feel like a part of him was missing?

When did he start to notice the way you bit your lip when you were lost in thought? The way your eyes softened right before you smiled? The way your presence was always there, steady and constant—until suddenly, it wasn’t anymore?

And why—why did it take losing you to realize that he wanted you?

Jinwoo cursed under his breath, grabbing his jacket. He wouldn’t let it end like this.

Not when he finally figured it out.

Not when he knew what he should have known all along.

You didn’t expect a knock on the door in the middle of the night.

And you definitely didn’t expect to see Jinwoo, standing there with his hair a mess, breathing heavily, as if he’d run all the way here.

“…What are you doing here?” you asked, blinking in confusion.

Jinwoo didn’t answer right away. His eyes searched yours—hesitant, uncertain—before he finally spoke.

“I need to talk to you.”

You swallowed, your heart pounding. “Jinwoo, it’s late—”

“I know.” His voice was firm but gentle. “But if I don’t say this now, I don’t think I’ll ever say it again.”

You hesitated, but then sighed, stepping aside. “Come in.”

Jinwoo walked in, but he didn’t sit down. He just stood there in your living room, looking at you like he was still trying to figure out where to start.

After a moment of silence, he finally let out a breath.

“I’m an idiot.”

You blinked. “What?”

His hands clenched at his sides. “I’m an idiot for not seeing it. For not realizing what I had right in front of me.” His voice was quieter now, hoarse with emotion. “I thought I knew what I wanted. I thought I had it all figured out. But then… you started pulling away. And suddenly, I felt like I was losing something I didn’t even know I needed.”

You stared at him, your heart pounding. “Jinwoo…”

“I don’t expect you to forgive me right away,” he continued, taking a small step closer. “I don’t even know if I deserve it. But I do know that I don’t want to lose you. Not like this.”

His voice shook slightly, but his eyes—those deep, dark eyes that always felt like home—were nothing but sincere.

“I want you,” he admitted, almost in a whisper. “And I don’t know if it’s too late, but… if there’s still a chance, I want to try.”

Silence.

Your chest felt tight, as if it was caught between breaking and healing at the same time.

For so long, you had dreamed of this moment—him seeing her. Wanting you the way you wanted him.

And now that it had happened, you didn’t know what to do with the pieces of your heart that had been broken for so long.

So you said the only thing that came to mind.

“…What about Haein?”

Jinwoo’s expression softened. “I thought she was the one I wanted.” He shook his head. “But the truth is, I was just chasing after what I thought I should have. Not what I really needed.”

His eyes locked onto yours, unwavering.

“And I need you.”

Your breath caught.

This was real.

This was him choosing you.

For the first time.

Jinwoo took another step forward, closing the distance between you.

“I won’t rush you,” he whispered. “I’ll wait as long as it takes.”

You looked at him—really looked at him—and saw nothing but raw honesty in his eyes. No hesitation. No confusion. Just him, standing there, giving his heart in a way he’d never done before.

Maybe it had taken too long.

Maybe the pain wouldn’t go away overnight.

But right now, standing before him, you realized something.

You still wanted to try.

So you took a shaky breath. And then, finally—

“…Okay.”

Jinwoo’s shoulders slumped in relief, a small, hopeful smile breaking the tension.

And for the first time in a long time, the pain in your chest felt a little lighter.

Because maybe—just maybe—this time, he's almost yours anymore.

Because he is yours now.

[pacofprunes]

DARK / TOXIC SQUID GAME REACTIONS TO YOU TRYING TO LEAVE THEM

CONTAINS — namgyu x reader, thanos x reader, myungi x reader, inho x reader, sangwoo x reader, saebyeok x reader

WARNINGS — toxic relationship, domestic violence, baby trapping, manipulation, guilt trip, prepare yourself for namgyus that’s the worst probably, mentions of suicide (thanos)

masterlist

THANOS / PLAYER 230 / CHOI-SUBONG — manipulates you / would let you leave and crawl back to him

doesn’t take it well at all. he’s going to laugh and think you’re joking, but after realizing that you’re not, he’s quickly going to scream at you. telling you that you’ll never find anybody better than him.

“do you really think anybody else will want you? if you leave me you’ll never find anyone else. you’ll never find anybody better!”

he’ll start breaking shit. punching walls, shit, he’ll even break your own phone if it’s in arms reach. if you still insist on leaving he’ll say he’s gonna overdose. he tells you that he’ll kill himself if you step out that door while pressing a blade up to his arm. if all else fails, he’ll totally act like he didn’t just beg you to stay and scream at you to go then and not to come running back.

“fine bitch, go ahead and leave! but don’t come running back to me for nothin’.”

in reality, he’s definitely stalking your socials, making fake accounts you haven’t blocked him on, stalking your friends accounts to see other photos of you, visiting the club every night (not that he didn’t already do that) to try to see if you’d show up. after about a month or so of doing this and going out and fucking other girls to get over you, he can’t do it anymore. he’ll send you some fake heartfelt text that he probably used ai to make and call you while making himself sound like he was crying, trying to make you feel bad and convince you that he’s changed and that he can be a better boyfriend. if you fall for it, you’re doomed. the relationships only going to be a million times worse than before. instead of knocking glass over and breaking shit, he might slap you. in public, he might grip your wrist ten times tighter, scared you’ll run away. when he finally lets go, his fingers will be embedded in your skin. he might even guilt trip you into getting a matching tattoo with him. “if you really loved me and forgave me then you would.”

if you really don’t go back to him though, no matter how many times you block him, you’ll get a new video sent to your phone from some unknown number of him fucking a new girl. he sent you the videos in hopes of making you jealous or something. he’s not going to stop for a long time. if you don’t go back to him, he’s going to harass you for the rest of your life. and if you do go back? you’re in for a world of hell.

NAMGYU / PLAYER 124 — would threaten you, would actually harm you

“you’re one funny bitch. you know how much shit i got on you?”

he finds it admirable, honestly. but still, fucking hilarious, that you, you, think you can leave him. what? when did you grow some balls? yeah, no. you just hurt his ego and that’s about the stupidest thing you could ever do to him. he’s not very empty with his threats. if he says he’s leaving? he’ll leave. (for like a week…) if he says he’s gonna hit you? you’re gonna be bruised for a while. if he says he’s gonna kill you? well, you haven’t gotten to that point yet. but keep this up and you sure will.

he keeps every nude and threatens to release it. sure you’re his and all, but that doesn’t stop him. so what if some other guy sees your body? he could care less. now if another guy touches you? let’s not think about what would happen. threatens to send the pictures to your family and threatens to send every sex tape of you two that he filmed behind your back.

“what the fuck is wrong with you namgyu? when the fuck did you film that?”

don’t raise your voice at him. once he hits you and you fall to the ground, he’ll keep kicking at you with his foot over and over until he thinks you’ve had enough. don’t speak up to him, don’t speak against him, and don’t piss him off. just sit there and be pretty, okay? he’s going to be bolder now. next time you two have sex he’s just going to shove the camera in your face. he’s going to manipulate and force you to take nudes for him since you don’t want to anymore after he threatened to send them out. sometimes he’ll force you to strip and then he’ll just take the pictures himself. all in all, sometimes he might just say no and leave it at that. but if you keep pushing, he’s going to threaten you. and if you still keep pushing, he’s going to go through with those threats. you really are just some whore to him, don’t think he’s above killing you.

MYUNGI / PLAYER 333 / MG COIN ★— would let you leave and crawl back to him (except he’s the one who crawls back), babytrapping

“really? fine, if that’s what you want then leave.”

he acts like he doesn’t care because he thinks his annoyance will make you turn right back around to him. he acts like he doesn’t care because he’s trying to not get so bent out of shape about it and move on quickly. but when he hears your footsteps disappear and the door shut, he immediately balls up his fists. you seriously left? he didn’t expect that, but whatever. he doesn’t need you.

he tries to move on but after barely even a week, he can’t do it. he contacts you, but when you block him, he makes more and more numbers. he thought you’d be running back to him, not the opposite. he sends you pictures of you two together in hopes you’d change your mind, but when you just keep blocking him, he’s knocking on your door demanding you open it up. he tries being nice but when you don’t open it, he starts banging on the door. really? you’d been together for months and you’d already gotten over him? no. no no no. you don’t get to just move on! what the hells wrong with you? when you still don’t open the door, he leaves and goes back to his place and sits on his bed while he ponders his next move. he decides for now just to stalk your page and harass you from more and more numbers. he’s not going to stop until you at least respond. oh, you’re gonna get a restraining order? you’re funny. you think that’ll stop him? don’t go back to him. if for some reason you give in, the next time that you two have sex, he’s going to make sure that you can’t leave. he’s sure that you’ll look so pretty with your stomach swelled up.

INHO / YOUNGIL / PLAYER 001 — straight up says no / baby traps / makes you feel like you’re going crazy

straight up, no. you want to leave? no. he doesn’t even care for an explanation on why, you’re not leaving. completely ignores your words and changes the whole topic. everytime you try to say you’re leaving he just completely overrides you with something different.

“inho, i’m serious. i’m leaving you! i’m packing my shit right now and i’m not coming back, i swear to you.”

“what did you want for dinner again? i have to go back out to get some groceries so there’s not too much…”

maybe it’s on purpose, maybe it’s not. but it makes you feel like you’re losing your mind. then he will deliberately go out of his way to make it seem like you’re crazy.

“i’m leaving because of what you’ve been doing behind my back, inho. it’s fucked up and you’re insane.”

“baby, you could follow me around tomorrow. i’ve got no idea what you mean.”

and he says it all with that stupid small polite smile that he gives everyone. you just want to strangle him. if somehow he can get you in bed with him after you just got so pissed, he’ll be more passionate than ever. he’ll treat you nice, focus on your pleasure before his and then quickly when you’re blissed out, he’ll pull out of you, slip the condom off and slide right back in. you don’t notice at all, but he makes sure to tell you like the cocky fuck he is. but he does it while he’s thrusting and when you can tell he’s about to cum. poor you, it’s too late to stop him :(.

“i’m about to fuck a baby in you — agh, i — i took the condom off. gonna have a beautiful—fuck—fucking baby with you.”

how could you leave now? do you have enough money to take care of a child without him? and would you really deprive your child of their father? you’ll get an abortion? he’ll find a way to keep you locked up in your house. you’re still going to leave? he’s going to guilt trip you to the max. and if that still fails? once again, he’s just going to find a way to keep you locked up in your house. he’ll figure it out as you go on, but for now, have your happy little family with him.

KANG SAE-BYEOK — straight up says no

she’s not going to entertain you at all. she might not even say no, opting to just stay silent instead. if you get in her face about it because she’s ignoring you, she’s just going to push you away. if you keep nagging her about it, she’s going to slap you. if you decide not to drop it, she’ll drag you by your hair and lock you in a room. are you stupid? don’t start this shit first thing in the morning.

“saebyeok, this isn’t working. we should go our separate ways.”

“no. did you hit your head or something?”

you should just drop it and move on with your day. nothing you say is going to convince her and if you piss her off too much, like said before, she’s just going to lock you away until you stop sounding ‘crazy’. she’s very cold, but she’s generally pretty nice to you still though. she’s a good girlfriend to you, just a little possessive, but it’s never gotten out of control. you just didn’t think the relationship was working and that it just wasn’t the right time. all in all, if you don’t push to much, you won’t see the shitty side of her that she never shows you. however, if you keep pushing the idea, she’s going to give you a real reason to break up with her.

SANGWOO — would let you leave and crawl back to him

“you want to break up? fine.”

it leaves you shocked at the sound of him not caring. it was as simple as that. you want to break up? bye then bitch! it hurt. it almost made you want to change your mind and say never mind and just stay with him, and that’s exactly what he wanted. that’s exactly why he said it like that. but that didn’t work and you just walked out the door. that’s fine though, you’d come back to him, he knows it.

he makes sure to post old photos of you two on his Instagram. not ones with your face in it, duh, but he posts the photos that you took of him where you’re behind the camera or ones where your arm or your hand is slightly showing. he knows you still stalk his socials. he’s posting these knowing that it’s going to hurt your little heart and make you crawl right back. he leaves every photo of you two up on every platform, not deleting a single thing. for a little while, he even keeps his pfp the same. you two holding hands. whenever he posts something, he always makes sure to put something in the caption that he knows you love. you liked tulips? he’ll put a tulip emoji in the caption. you loved cats? he’ll put a cat emoji in his bio. all these subtle things where you won’t know he’s doing it on purpose, but it’ll be so much of a coincidence that you’ll think this is a sign to run back to him.

he’ll tell his friends to ask about him to you whenever they talk with you.

“how are you and sangwoo doing?”

“oh he talks about you all the time.”

he tells them to act like they don’t know that the two of you have broken up. he makes sure to get in your head and eventually? you’ll come running back. if for some reason you don’t, he might have to pull some strings. spread some rumors about you so that your friends want nothing to do with you and so all that you have to run to for comfort is him.

[altacctforastarion]

Astarion & Being taken care of

Minors do not interact, 18+ only.

Ft. Vague rewrites of the mirror and Araj confession scenes.

-it starts when you begin offering your blood. You do it anytime there’s a big fight, and he’s always grateful, and always takes you up on it.

-then when he starts talking about Cazador, you start to linger, talking with him about various things (usually camp gossip, or making ridiculous jokes) to get his mind off of things. At first he thinks you’re stupid, not understanding the gravity of what he’s talking about, but after a couple times he notices that his chest doesn’t feel so tight after your talks. He notices that you have him laughing easily, and that your laugh is growing on him.

-the first time you sleep with him, he’s expecting you to leave, or to just go to sleep where you lay, but instead you ask him if that was good for him, saying he seemed kind of out of it. He dismisses you, telling you he was holding back a little, but you see through it. “If you say so, but really, if somethings wrong I’d rather you tell me. We’re friends and I care about you, with or without the great sex.” You say it so easily, but it’s so foreign to him, you caring without the need for sex. He almost believes you then, but letting go of that trauma, letting go of what’s familiar, is impossible for him. He doesn’t tell you what’s wrong then, but he does start to tell you more in general.

-he starts to confide in you more often, he starts to drop the mask. If something reminds him of the past he doesn’t try as hard to hide it, and he lets you make your stupid jokes and he lets himself laugh instead of dwelling. If he’s feeling especially open he’ll even tell you his thoughts. And eventually you learn when to ask him about his sudden shift to anger or irritation, or why he’s avoiding a room that seems a little too much like where he’s been before. You also learn when to play oblivious, but he always knows you know.

-eventually he starts to return the favor, previously he’d comment or ask about whatever came to mind, if you seemed off, if you were too quiet, if you had an out of character reaction to something. But now he makes his own jokes, and at times you notice that he sometimes stands with one foot just slightly in front of you, almost like he’s guarding you, ready to stand in front of you if something happens.

-things shift a bit more the first time he gets hurt- badly hurt. He was knocked down in a fight and he just couldn’t get up, and as soon as you can you’re there, defending him, blocking attacks and casting spells to keep your enemies at bay while you help him stand, a hand on his back, supporting him. You use the last of your energy to heal him and give him one of your few remaining health potions to make sure he stays up this time. After the fight you check on him, even though with no energy and your own injuries you’re way worse off. You offer blood, knowing he needs his strength. For the first time he declines, and he’s snarky about it, talking about how with how filthy and covered in nasty cuts you are, you’d taste awful. That he wants something more fresh. He immediately follows his jabs by taking your pack, lightening your load. Claiming he doesn’t want you to lose the camps valuables. When you pass a river on the way back to camp, he tells you he’ll stand guard while you get cleaned up, and when you get to camp he’s immediately demanding for healing, telling them to heal you first because your blood is distracting.

-he starts to check in more, making sure your well enough before he accepts your offers for blood, and he starts to leave water and a snack next to you in the night. If you’re awake when he comes for your blood he’ll offer it to you while conversing, and your conversation doesn’t end until your snack has been eaten and your water has been drank.

-when he asks you what you see when you look at him, you describe him honestly, and he enjoys the way you stare, contemplating. He trusts that you’re being honest. And when you’re done you leave quickly, but you return soon after with a scroll of disguise, and offer to disguise yourself as him so that he can see himself. He doesn’t take you up on it then, afraid of what he’d see, but you leave the scroll with him, giving him options. He stares at that scroll often, thinking of how you’d use something so valuable just so he can have something he wants.

-when Araj tries to demand he drink from her you tell her to fuck off, and you would have fought her then and there, but you looked to him first, and at the shake of his head you tell your companions that it’s time to go instead. When you return to camp you can see that he has something to say, and to your surprise he invites you into his tent, requesting a private conversation despite everyone being out of earshot. Once inside he thanks you, and thanks you again for looking for his approval before you fought on his behalf. And then he confesses, telling you that he planned to manipulate you, that you deserve something real. When you’re finishing up your conversation, you hug him, face on his chest. You feel his arms hesitantly, slowly wrapping around you in return, and when you pull away he doesn’t seem like he was ready to let go. You tell him you’ll wait forever if he needs, and he’s surprised to realize he trusts you to leave it in his hands.

-eventually he drops some of the snark, some of his act, when you care for him. Sometimes he even lets you coddle him. When he asks you to accompany him to the river so he can bathe, you offer to wash his hair, and he lets you. You still get plenty of attitude, almost every single time, but he’s also vocal about how nice some things feel.

-when you are back to having sex, and you ask him what feels good for him, what he wants, what he needs, if certain things are ok, he feels so safe. He tells you that you don’t need to ask, but he loves that you do anyways.

-finally, after the biggest adventure of your lives, when he’s having a rough day or he needs help, or he just craves your company, he finds you, and he knows you’ll take care of him.

[miniwheat77]

The Man. (Ex Stepdad!Joel Miller x Reader.)

!NSFW, smut, unprotected p in v sex, age gap, NO MINORS!

Joel was a rugged man of course. He was rough around the edges, quiet and stern. But he was a good person. He did right by people no matter what, even when people pissed him off. If he saw people struggling, he stepped in and helped without expecting a dime in return, it was who he was.

When your mom and Joel split up, it messed up your entire life and you lost the only father figure you’d ever had. He was no longer your step-dad but a man who was once apart of your life. Your mom met another man and moved on without you and you got used to being alone without either of your parents. You spent a few years alone until you ran into Sarah at a supermarket.

She told you that Joel was in a pretty bad place after the divorce. That he had a hard time adjusting to being alone, that him and Sarah had gotten into a fight and hadn’t been speaking. Tommy was in and out of jail and Joel had enough of that. Moved on and made his own business and really had nothing to do and nobody to talk to. She said he worked his life away.

You’re not entirely sure what made you reach out to him, but when you did he’d met you with open arms.

It started out as normal dinners every Sunday night. You’d meet and cook, usually you’d do the cooking. He didn’t like all that you did for him but you didn’t mind and you usually fought him.

Then a couple Friday nights. You helped Joel around his house because it needed the work and he was neglecting it with his job. You didn’t mind. It eventually turned into the both of you doing nearly everything together. He had returned to that father figure in your life once more, but this time? Something was missing. Something was just off.

You’d spoken about your mom and how after the divorce she stepped out on you. Moved a random guy in who was disrespectful to you and how she’d chosen him over you. Joel was furious when he found out. You were a good girl through and through. Joel respected the hell out of you. He loved you like his own. The time he’d spent with you, made him realize what he’d been missing out on with Sarah and he felt empty for a while. But eventually with your help, him and Sarah had gotten better, texting here or there a couple times. Asking about each other and how they’re doing. It wasn’t much, but it was good enough. Sarah meant everything to Joel.

Something started to change the more time you spent around Joel. Since he was no longer married to your mom, since he had no ACTUAL fatherly obligations to you, he became more of a friend. Jokes and stories that a step-dad and step-daughter would never have, were shared. The both of you had talked about your previous relationships and laughed when you told the other about how bad they had crashed and burned. Joel noticed the change too. How you’d gone from a young girl to a young woman and how mature and grown up you’d become. Taking care of yourself with no help from anyone.

He was pissed when he found out that you hadn’t reached out to him sooner, but you explained that the time alone helped you grow as a person. Into the woman you are now.

You finished up putting the dishes on the drying rack and wiped your hands off. Joel had made a fuss about you doing his dishes for him. He always did. He eventually gave up and waited for you to finish on the couch. He was watching the game but it wasn’t going in his favor so he wasn’t all that invested. Something about this night felt off for him.

You finished up and came into the living room to sit with him until you’d eventually make your way home.

“You’re a sweet girl you know that?” He smiles. Seeing a smile tug at your lips. “Thank you.”

“You don’t have to be doing this stuff for me all the time.” He mumbles. “Makes me feel bad.”

“I don’t mind Joel. Not like I got anything better to do.” You shrug. “You deserve better though. Wish I could give it to you.” He sighs. “I’m doin just fine.” You laugh.

He shakes his head. “Shitty apartment on the bad side of town? I mean it’s your own darlin’ but I hate it for you. You’re too good a girl to be in a place like that.” He mumbles. You laugh, sitting down next to him. Curling a leg under yourself. “I’m doin’ just fine. Haven’t had any issues yet, yknow?” You smile. He purses his lips and shakes his head. “Nah, I think you should stay here.”

“What do you mean?” You ask.

“I think that I have the space and it would be safer for you. If you lived here with me.” You turn to look at him. Arm propped up on the back of the couch by his head. “Joel…” you mumble. “I’m dead serious Y/N. I’m alone in this big house all by myself. No reason I couldn’t share it with you. I mean you do half the work anyways.” He shrugs. You bite your lip. “I’d have to think about it Joel. I mean if my mom found out-“

“Y/N.” He cuts you off, turning you to look at him by your chin. “Your mom left you all alone. If she gave a shit about you one, she wouldn’t have run off without you. What happened between her and I is between us. You shouldn’t have had to suffer at all over this.” He sighs. “I mean really, who gives a damn what she thinks. You ain’t her responsibility anymore n she made that really clear.” He takes another drink of his beer. He sets it down, turning himself to look at you.

You realize just how close he is to you. “So Cmere. Come stay with me.” He smiles. “Okay Joel.” You swallow hard.

Your eyes and the way you’re looking at him. It’s different. Unsettling almost. “I’m sorry if what I said hurt your feelings.” He mumbles, looking down slightly. You can tell that he does actually feel bad. He wasn't trying to hurt your feelings he was just trying to show you that you shouldn't care. You bite your lip. “You didn’t. I’m a big girl Joel.” You laugh. “I know. You’ve really grown up.” He laughs. His eyes linger on your lips and he doesn’t even try to hide it. He chews at his own bottom lip. Avoiding your gaze. “I feel.. bad. Almost.” He sighs. “What do you mean?”

“Cause sometimes… The way I look at you. The way my brain reacts to you. It’s wrong.” He looks up to your eyes finally. He’s moving closer. “What are you saying Joel?” You swallow hard. He presses his lips together, breathing in through his nose. He’s leaning into you too much, you know what this is.

His lips brush over yours and you draw away a couple inches. Taken completely off guard by what’s happening. This shouldn’t be happening. You should pull away, stop yourself. Stop whatever this is from happening.

“It’s okay.” He breathes.

He leans into you more. Eyes darting from your own to your lips. He parts his own lips just slightly. He was into this.

The distance between you is narrowing by the second, if you were going to stop him, now would be the time.

Your eyes shut when his lips brush over yours again. He’s going slow, treading lightly. Your insides twist, it's more intense than anything you've ever felt and you've only barely touched him.

When you don’t pull away this time, he snakes a hand around the back of your neck. Not forcing you but holding you there. He deepens the kiss.

Joel feels like a piece of shit. You came into his life looking for a father figure.

And here he is, about to fuck that up.

You’re breathing heavy when he pulls away, and it takes a few tries before you’ll let him. Lips flushed from his. Your eyes are dark and he knows you want more. He glides his tongue over your lip and you let him. No fight, you give right in. He grasps your hips and hardly has to nudge you into his lap before you’re climbing onto him. Hips grinding down into him as he kisses you again. He groans into your lips. Teeth catching onto your bottom lip as he pulls away. Tugging it with his teeth. “Fuck.. you’re a good girl, you know that? Such a good fucking girl.” He breathes.

“Joel..” you mewl.

“I’ve got you baby, I’ll give you exactly what you need.” He breathes. Reaching for his waistband. He’s still wearing jeans. You draw away from him to get your own pants off, tugging them off completely while Joel pulls his down to his mid thigh. It’s hard because he’s sitting down. Your breath catches in your throat, the size of him is intimidating. “It’s alright. No reason to be nervous.” He breathes. “Cmere.” He pulls you closer by your bare thigh. “Joel I-“

“Hey. Look at me.” He lifts your face to look him in the eyes. “M’not gonna hurt you. If you wanna stop we can. But I promise I’ll give you exactly what you’ve been missing out on.” He breathes. You nod your head. He raises you up slightly. He’s already spit in his hand and used it to make himself slick for you. He didn’t want to hurt you. “You’ll stretch. You’ll feel so full…” he breathes. Your pants are getting more frequent. You’re getting overwhelmed. You lower yourself onto him, moving slow as you sheath yourself on his cock. Your breaths are unsteady, deep. You're nervous, nearly panting.

He's much bigger than anyone you'd ever been with before. You didn't know how you were going to take him.

Your heart races in your chest, you can feel the throb between your thighs. He can feel a heartbeat through you. You've never been so turned on in your life. You gasp when you rest on him completely. He's fully inside of you and you're surprised by what your body was able to take. "Oh fuck Joel." You gasp, he helps raise you up and your legs feel weak from him. He was so much.

"I know baby- I know it's a lot. You're doin' so good for me." He groans, chewing at his lip. You start to rock your hips into him and he's trying to contain it. His own thighs shiver just a little as he thrusts up into you. Hearing you gasp. "Oh god." He drags it out, head tilted back. His hair is damp with sweat. The reality of the situation you're in is starting to hit you. You're having sex with him.

You're actually having sex with him.

He forces your shirt up, helping you take it off completely. Doing the same to his, stopping for just long enough to get it off.

A gasp leaves your lips, raising your hips and coming down to meet his thrusts. You form a steady pace, it's fast and desperate but the both of you have been waiting for so long. You knew the tension was there in the beginning and yet you chose to ignore it.

His skin is hot and sweaty and your own rubs against his. It's filthy.

It's like something straight out of a porno.

He pushes his face into your chest. Sucking and biting at your skin, doing the same to the skin on your throat. He's leaving marks.

Claiming you.

He grasps the strap of your bra, tugging it down harshly. Exposing you to him completely. He takes a nipple into his mouth, running his tongue over it. You tilt your head back, moaning out.

You've got a death grip on him, riding him like his life depends on it. Using him to get yourself off. Your pants are getting more and more unsteady, he knows that you're getting close. He's worked up. He's enjoying it, but he's also angry at himself for this. For doing this to you.

“I’m sorry-“ he pants. He’s moaning and they’re unsteady and desperate. He hikes you up further onto him, thrusting up inside of you, desperate for that high. Your tits are right in his face. “I’m so sorry-“ he’s got tears in his eyes. He’s right there. About to fill you full of him, past the point of no return. You trust him so much and look what he’s done with it.

He felt like a filthy pervert.

“Joel!” Your cry pierces his ears. A gasp leaving his lips when you reach your peak around him. Soaking him in your orgasm. He looks between the two of you for just a second, seeing your arousal gather in a ring at the base of his cock.

You're gripping on his upper arm. He rides out your orgasm.

You draw his high from him, the way you feel so tight around him, he can’t stop it. He’s panting, his moans uncontrollable. He’s never felt so good before. He's louder than you expected him to be when he finishes, whimpering out as he takes his last couple of thrusts to ride out his own high.

You look down at him and swallow. In disbelief by what's just happened.

How the hell did you end up here?

Your lips are dark, bruised almost. Your lips curl into a smile, cheeks turning crimson.

"Fuck... I don't know what got into me." He shakes his head. Helping you off of him.

"It's alright." You take a deep breath.

"Were you being serious? You really want me to move in here with you?" You ask.

He nods his head. "Yeah, I'm a lot of things darlin' but I ain't a liar." He laughs.

"Okay Joel."

For the next couple of minutes, the both of you get dressed and when you leave for the night, Joel feels like a teenager again the way you make him feel.

It's been a while. Could this be... a Crush?

"M'too old for this shit." He grumbles, rubbing the blush away from his cheeks and turning out the lights to his bedroom.

[saintslewis]

𝐀𝐌𝐄𝐑𝐈𝐂𝐀 𝐇𝐀𝐒 𝐀 𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐁𝐋𝐄𝐌

𝐑𝐄𝐍𝐀𝐈𝐒𝐒𝐀𝐍𝐂𝐄: 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐒𝐄𝐑𝐈𝐄𝐒

pairing: sir lewis hamilton x black fem!oc; nadia hamilton

summary: nadia’s got a new job, life is going great (we do not mention singapore ’23) and she has a loving husband! nothing could go wrong, right?

warnings: cussing, outfit descriptions, suggestive stuff bc i love teasing you guys, slight angst too! (tw: qatar ‘23)

saint’s team radio 🫧: hey…..hey. i did not realise that it’s been almost 7 months without giving you guys lewdia….you guys are too kind i swear oh em gee 😭. like i always say, the last chapter bummed me out but we’re back now! i hope you enjoy this one, guys and thank you for sticking around 🥹

pls like, comment and reblog (i’m watching you)

taglist is down below!

fc: @/unclewaffles_ on ig!

renaissance: the series masterlist • general masterlist

-

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM

Lewis watched as his wife stepped out of the private exit of the upscale restaurant with her red bottoms clacking against the gravel of the parking lot behind the building. Holding the train of her dress like a true princess, she flicked her hair behind her shoulder as she made eye contact with her husband and a huge grin filled her face.

He leaned on the cullinan with a bouquet of white roses sitting pretty on the hood of the car and the infamous pink box from her favourite bakery, a swell of pride in his chest as he watched Nadia walk closer and closer to him.

“You, Sir,” She started, placing her clutch on the hood. “You’re looking at the brand new creative designer for Louis Vuitton.” Nadia expressed, her excitement kept in but the smile showed all her emotions. “The dinner went so well, baby, that the executives moved me from just working in Pharrell’s team to the general team in LV.” She giggled, trying her level best to surpress the excitement.

Lewis’ jaw dropped at the news. He knew Nadia was always gunning for a second chance in the fashion world and after months of communication, deep emotions and frustration, her biggest dream has come true. He could the tears prick his eyes as he watched his wife’s eyes glimmer with happiness.

“Nadia…oh my god, sweetheart. This is huge, this is…everything. I’m so proud of you, love.” Lewis spoke, his arms circling her waist and pulling her impossibly close. It truly sunk in as he spun her around in his arms and her laughter rang through the night sky. “How are you feeling? This is massive, babe, I can’t believe this.” Lewis spoke in disbelief, the ever growing smile never leaving his lips.

“I’m so shocked, I almost screamed and cried when Jean-Luc said that. Then my first thought was to facetime you then I remembered that I was still in work mode. Baby, they even asked that I sign the contract as soon as possible. Like?! Me?! I dreamt of this, Lewis, for years and I just-” The waterworks beat Nadia to her words, a few tears slipping down her cheeks.

Lewis didn’t have to say much, he just hugged her, her head softly placed on his chest and he most certainly didn’t mind that her makeup would get on his shirt. “Oh my god, I need to tell my babies Willow and Kaiden. Then the girls then- this is just so overwhelming and exciting!” She smiled wide, wiping her tears, not caring about her makeup anymore.

Nadia’s eyes finally drifted to the large bouquet staring right back at her along with the faint scent of the croissants. “Was it your job to just make me cry today? I’ve been craving these things for weeks.” Her bottom lip curled into a sweet pout before opening up the box and immediately munching on one.

“Nads, you didn’t even see the flowers? These things are heavy, you know?” He chuckled, watching move crumbs into her mouth.

She laughed. “Trust, I saw them. I had to get some real food first, they in there feeding people thoughts of food with a side of caviar.” She joked, taking up another bite of her pain au chocolat.

nadiahamilton

liked by lewishamilton, megantheestallion and 963,728 others

nadiahamilton this girl is now a creative designer for @.louisvuitton. i’m eternally grateful for this opportunity, thank you 🤍

view all comments

user THIS IS HUGE OH MY GOD CONGRATULATIONS MOTHERRRR

arianagrande nadiaaaaa i’m so proud of you!! can’t wait to celebrate you 🫧

charlottieee ARE YOU FUCKING JOKINGGGGG AHHHH

nadiahamilton girl i told you already 🧍🏽‍♀️

charlottieeee STILL THIS IS SO AMAZING

louisvuitton welcome to the family, Madam Nadia! Very excited to work with you in the future ❤️

nadiahamilton I can’t wait to start!

user damn i also wanna use my last name to get me into places that i was never supposed to go to

user you’re such a bitter bitch. you’d never say this about a white man

user TELL EM OOMF

chunkz you making big moves, sister 🥹

user THAT BOUQUET!!!

fencer sister in law is doing insane things! so proud 🥳

nadiahamilton milesssss 🥹

zendaya we’re officially co-workers! ahhh this is amazing, congratulations big sis

nadiahamilton you’re officially my work wife 😛

kehlani vv proud of you, baby girl!!!! only wearin your pieces from now on, trust

iamcardib steal my entire comment, why don’t you? 😐

latto777 y’all ain’t doin enough, i’m getting this shit tatted on me! 🗣️

alexandrasaintmleux sending the biggest bouquet of flowers to you tinkerbell!

nadiahamilton love you always, alex!

iamkaylanicole THEE GIRL, OKAY?!

nadiahamilton kaylaaaa bae 🥹

user from high school teacher to creative designer for lv….. this ain’t shady to y’all?

megantheestallion NOPE

user mother has spoken

lewishamilton clean

nadiahamilton don’t piss me off 🧍🏽‍♀️

lewishamilton i love you, darling and i’m very proud of you ❤️💐

user motherrrrr 🥹

user still can’t have kids btw

nadiahamilton and your bf is still in the ground, now what

user she went LOWER omg 😭

-

LUSAIL INTERNATIONAL CIRCUIT, DOHA, QATAR

Nadia was already missing Japan and Mexico. Those two races had been the most fun she had experienced this entire season. The car was behaving surprisingly and Lewis was very positive about the outcome of the car, saying the team seemed to finally listen to him.

She was riding solo this time, Miles having to leave early for some work reasons and their friends just saying something about the vibe of the track didn’t sit right with them. Shrugging her shoulders, Nadia packed and went to Lusail with her man, packing her work books as well for sketches.

It was unbearably hot on race day but she had still covered up because she knew of the strict rules around her. Thank goodness the fabrics of her outfit were breathable but she wouldn’t be surprised if her lace lifted a tad bit. Her prescription glasses perched on her nose with her pencil tapping on the corner of her mouth as she sketched potential pieces a new collection that LV was planning to release.

The sweet sounds of jazz rang through her earphones as she swung her feet. Lewis’ driver’s room was comfortable enough for the both of them to be in their own worlds together. Lewis was also focused on his little notebook, focusing on the first lap mostly as he was starting in the front with George. His leg was bouncing, thinking of how things would go for him in this race.

Nadia was the first to put her sketchbook down sigh internally, fanning herself with her hands. He followed suit, taking his airpods off and setting them aside. Lewis gently patted his thigh and Nadia hopped off the ‘bed’ and into his lap, leaning back and feeling his chin on her shoulder as his arms circled her waist and pulled her closer.

“It’s just you and me this time.” Nadia spoke softly, playing with the hem of her shirt. Lewis could only hum in agreement. “I don’t know how to feel about this one. The last two were good and that kind of scares me because the car hasn’t been reliable all year.” He sighed. “I don’t know, love…”

“What are you thinking, Lew?” She took a moment to allow him to respond. He leaned his forehead against her shoulder. “I..They listened to me, Nads. They don’t..they don’t usually do that. I should be able to trust them, you know?” Lewis expressed and Nadia could feel his despair in his words.

She took a moment before saying anything. “Are you thinking of-”

“No. No, I’ve been with them for majority of my career. They’re family to me.” Lewis lifted his head, his voice harbouring slight offence at the mere thought of…that happening.

“Do they feel the same towards you though?” Nadia said, letting the sentence linger in the air for a moment. “You give them everything and they give everything to your teammate. I’m not saying that you should…leave. Never. I just want to see you happy in a car that you can drive.” She fidgeted with her nails this time.

Lewis took his time to respond. The thoughts racing in his head. He is Mercedes. He wants to retire with them. But do they want to?

“I made it deep, innit? I’m sorry.” She chuckled, trying to lift the mood. “I know you’ll do amazing today. I’m just chatting.”

He bounced the leg that she was sitting on. “Heyyy, it’s okay, these conversations are needed. You’re a gem.” Lewis said, kissing her temple. Nadia turned to kiss him fully and when pulling away, she pecked his lips again.

“You’ll kill it today, I just know it.” She smiled.

Nadia, in fact, did not know it.

Her eyebrows were furrowed with her mouth slightly ajar as she watched her husband stand next to his car as he was knocked off the track by his own teammate. Watched as he crossed the track on foot, as they lifted the car from the gravel, as he walked through the garage with his helmet still on and his shoulders slumped in defeat, watched as he walked past her.

After what felt hours of silence sat in his driver’s room in complete shock, the man of the hour placed his cap on as he prepared to walk out of the driver’s room to the masses.

“Why’d you post that? Why’d you say you’re sorry?” Nadia finally spoke up, halting him from leaving just yet.

His hand was on the handle for a second before letting go. “Because I am. What happened out there was my fault.” He muttered, looking directly at her.

“Don’t actually piss me off, Lewis. What I saw, what the world saw? That was sickening. You can go out there and say how awful you feel for doing that to George and the team and how sorry you are but in this room? You cannot lie to my face like that.” Nadia crossed her arms, not wanting to come off as angry but it was getting worse.

“Nadia, you can’t possibly be mad at me for something I did. I was in the wrong. I need to go apologise to the team.” Lewis told her, fully facing the woman.

She took a breath, collecting her words. “They’re going to humiliate you. Do you understand how dehumanising that is?” Nadia asked, her throat feeling tight and her eyes prickly.

Lewis scoffed and looked away, scratching his beard. “I’m not doing this with you right now.”

“Lewis Hamilton, what the fuck happened out there? Tell me to my face what happened.” Nadia pointed in between her eyes, standing to her full height not breaking eye contact.

“George crashed into me. Fuck, is that what you want to hear?” He ran a hand down his face, not believing he actually admitted that out loud.

She let it linger in the air for a few moments. “Thank you. You can go and play superhero. You’ll know where to find me.” Turning away from him, she hopped back onto the bed and carried on with her sketches.

Licking his teeth and holding his breath, he looked at the ground and left the room filled with immense tension.

-

Hours. Hours passed and she hadn’t said a word to him. She watched as his phone buzzed with all sorts of supportive messages from friends and family. She sat in bed, staring at the bathroom door and waited for him to get out so she could sleep peacefully.

Lewis appeared with just his boxers on and his eyes immediately connected with hers and you could cut the tension with a knife. All he did was call her over with a tilt of his head and she was on her feet before she could even think about it. As soon as she was in front of him, his hand was splayed over her lower back and his other lifting her chin.

“What you did today…it was needed. I have to thank you for that, love.” He murmured, looking all over her face except her eyes and his thumb lightly brushing over her bottom lip.

With her mouth slightly open, he took the chance to slip his thumb into her mouth, immediately allowing her to melt into his arms. “You have to remember though, baby. You always have to remember…” He whispered, kissing her forehead.

Nadia nodding her head unconsciously, her eyes softening and just like that, she was putty in his hands.

-

AUSTIN, TEXAS

“Okay but think about it though! These cowboy boots are comfortable.” Nadia exclaimed to her friends as she leaned on the kitchen island.

Amara gave her friend the side eye. “Girl, trust me when I say you’ll regret saying all that at the end of the day.” The woman patted her face with setting powder, looking in the huge mirror just outside the kitchen.

The airbnb Tia rented for the weekend was abnormally large but it was able to fit the whole friend group in with some extra space. The sunlight shined through the floor to ceiling windows as the morning sun greeted Austin.

“The goal here was to look like a Dallas Cowboy cheerleader, Amara.” Nadia informed, her hands on her hips and her jewellery jangling.

In that moment, Natalia jogged down the stairs. “The actual goal here, besties, is to get to the track before we miss the performance or the race!” She exclaimed, fixing her dress then her hair. “Plus Andrew is saving us some bomb ass slushies.”

Nadia’s eyes widened, immediately running to her and Lewis’ room to get an alternative pair of shoes. “I feel like you should’ve mentioned that earlier, Nat!” She shouted as she bolted up the stairs.

The slushy was very refreshing under the Texan sun. The girls were right, the cowboy boots wouldn’t have worked out for the amount of walking and standing she had to do for this particular day.

Everything was going well, the Dallas Cowboy cheerleaders performed so perfectly, Nadia even thought of potentially joining them one day but that seemed far fetched. The start of the race was smooth, knowing it was going to become a battle of some sort between Lewis and Charles. The guests in The 44 club were very hyped for the race and the vibes were just right.

That’s how Nadia knew something was too good to be true. Lewis had gotten on the podium with the biggest smile on his face as everyone celebrated around him. The celebrations continued into the evening, the friend group having a party of their own in the airbnb.

“I think we should come here for December, what do you think? Maybe Aspen?” Lewis asked his wife, laying his head on her shoulder as she held a smoothie in her hand, watching her friends play a board game that she checked out of a while ago.

“I’m not skiing though, I’ll watch you do your thing baby.” She smiled softly at the thought of spending Christmas with her new family.

Lewis hummed. “That’s good enough for me. Though…I might have to whisk us away somewhere special soon. I’ve got a surprise for you.” He hinted, a grin on his face that could light up the room.

“What on earth are you planning? You’re always up to something.” She giggled, barely thinking of what the surprise could be.

Miles stood up from the carpet with his phone in his hand, his jaw dropped a bit. “Mate, you got disqualified.” His usual loud voice going quiet as he showed his best friend the instagram post from F1.

All Lewis did was sigh. “I expected it. Today was going to be a bit too well with that damn car.” He scoffed in disbelief. “Maybe I should think about going red.” Lewis joked.

Nadia gasped and smacked his arm. “Lewis, you can’t say that!”

-

saint’s notes: heyyyyyyyy 🧍🏽‍♀️ i hope y’all enjoyed that 🥹. love y’all always. lmk what you think!

tags: @motheroffae @perfecttrashface @myescapefromthislife @slytherinjimin3nthusiast @jamie2305 @cocobutterqwueen @like-fire-love-blog @sugardontbesweet @simpfortoomanymen @mauvecherie-writes @queenshikongo3 @eugene-emt-roe @deepgothfiremuffin @18754389 @cherry2stems @anubisnoir @littlelizzies-world @httpsserene @apenasumlug4r @eddiesbitch83 @arshiyuh @alika-4466 @peyiswriting @sunfairyy @vsfavs @louvrepool @mistruscity @tian-monique @hopefulromantic1 @exotic-iris13 @yeea-nah @nichmeddar @gg-trini @lifeless-firefly @vellicora @takeoffz-tookoff9876 @serpenttines-library @emjayewrites @lewisroscoelove @purplelewlew @xoscar03 @kidsol-ar @nothaqks @tremendousstarlighttragedy @ggaslyp1 @henneseyhoe @saturnville

if your account is blank, that means tumblr can’t find you!

[brujahinaskirt]

I will write a post at some point about how fucking fantastic all of it is, but in case anybody missed this motif or how HUGE and revolutionary this romance is:

A few years ago (sorry sorry) I published a few chapters of a Kingdom Come Deliverance longfic called Fortune Favors the Bold. It went on (SORRY) lengthy hiatus due to general writer sluggishness and some twists in my life, but the idea was that the "boldness" theme would explicitly shake out to Henry firmly deciding to move on with life, to seek joy and thereby open himself to further grief after his incredible canon loss at Skalitz (and a fic-based incident of nearly losing Hans during a nasty separation period). It all culminated in a scene where Henry & Hans, whom I chose to depict as already romantically entangled (if somewhat ambiguously) in kcd1, finally exchange difficult verbal I-love-yous, far more difficult for Henry due to the above.

None of this big scene made it out of WIP. I'm explaining it now, before it is published, to express my amazement and gobsmacked appreciation at what Warhorse set up in kcd1.

Hans's final words in kcd1 and first in kcd2 are the "audentes fortuna iuvat," which is said so much between he and Henry through the latter that it begins to chafe the audience. Boldness in the face of overwhelming odds will yield reward and a future worthwhile.

This is the verbal indicator and tone-setter for their entire relationship arc. It is about them, specifically, growing into who they will become in life and with each other.

"Fortune favors the brave," the motto of the two lead characters and kcd2 itself, is in every way about the kiss scene and whether or not buckwild firebrand Hans, the primary mouthpiece of this motto, will feel loved enough to do the bravest thing he's ever done. It is about the culmination of embracing this mentality and the natural resolution, for good or ill, of the dynamics between these two people from the start. It is in many ways why it is so critical the cutscene deliberately breaks the kiss to show enough of Hans's face to reveal his astonished smile; bravery leads to triumph, even if it risks ruin, as in the story of the starcrossed knights he has only just shared with Henry.

It was all lovingly planted there, in kcd1. It was there so well that I picked up on it, somehow, years and years ago, even though I was joking meanly about how "Warhorse would never have the guts to really do it, it's just me reaching, they don't understand what they set up."

They did understand.

"Audentes" is overused, yes. But of course it is. It is their I love you.

And it is the tagline of the entire game.

Hooooooly shit. Audentes fortuna iuvat, Warhorse. Damn!!!!

[t1ts-4-donaldson]

Mutual masterbation with Stanford Art

It’s a scorching Saturday afternoon when you find yourself laid half naked in Art's bed, the AC unit in your dorm had broke Thursday morning and you’d been doing what you could to stave off the heat, spending most of your day in the library or cafeteria between classes but you always had to go back to your god forsaken room at the end of the day.

Art had noticed your condition the past few days sweating through lounge clothes that fit a bit to tight for comfort short enough to show a little more skin, he understood your discomfort but fuck you looked so good each forced to excuse himself after each encounter around hard as a rock. It was confusing to you not noticing how hard he was or his obvious infatuation towards you but you paid no mind.

Art been in love with you for ages pining pathetically for years. Patrick mocked him comparing him to a dog utterly devoted yet all of his attempts were in vain, someone else always caught your eye or you’d write off any of his compliments as friendly banter. He was on the verge of giving up but the summer heat finally gave way to the possibility of anything happening between you two.

you hit your boiling point unable to handle the exasperating heat

so now you're here at his front door pleading for some relief.

“Art it’s too hot I need air please" you stammer the words completely jumbled together, he’s taken aback a bit but steps aside letting you in

 “can I strip please I’m begging you" clammy hands tugging at the hem of your shirt

“of course yeah.” Art acquiesces voice cracking as he turns away respecting your privacy utterly shocked, his best friend here almost nude. You strip grateful in too much distress to notice his unease.

“lay in the bed” he offers still staring at the wall, you squint the blatant shyness but don’t care stumbling forward falling back exhaling deeply the breeze from the air-con finally hitting your body the cold calming you down

"Art lie down" you hum patting the space next to you, the boy shuffles over landing next to your body making sure there’s miles of space between you both

You frown shoving your shoulder against his, gripping his arm and pulling him closer "why are you freaking out you've seen me in a bikini before" you ask puzzled.

"this is different" he shrugs "underwear" he gulps, he hates himself for acting this way clamming up like a child it’s pitiful.

"Art it's just me, your best friend" you grin cupping his face tilting his head meeting his worried gaze.

Best friend he winces but wills that strain away shutting his eyes giving in tugging his shirt off as well. “I guess I need fresh air too” he sighs settling against his pillow not before peeking at your chest, nipples pebbling through your lace bra. He averts his gaze quickly when you pinch his arm coughing awkwardly knowing he’d been caught.

“Artie.. something you like?” You joke scooting a bit closer to him

“you wish” he sneers but shifts uncomfortably tugging his shorts trying to tamper down his growing boner, you follow his movements, realizing of what’s happening hitting you. 

“want me to help?” you ask.

“Shut up” he whines embarrassed “you’re fucking with me” he rolls his eyes with disdain 

you try to sound sincere “I will..” you nod, hand slowly shifting over his stomach towards his crotch “only if you want” you stammer sitting up on one elbow.

 “yes, yeah go for it” he chokes out eagerly in disbelief

You settle back down palming his hard on, “fuck” he throws his head back you smirk ego slightly inflated, hand slowly tugs the waistband of his boxers down mouth salivating at the sight erect tip flushed pink leaking, it makes you feel sorry for him. “So needy” you pout running your fingers up and down his member squeezing his balls lightly

“Tease” he chokes out gripping the sheets firmly, you give in feeling bad once his chin starts to wobble, you spit in your palm looking into his eyes as you do so his reaction priceless, mouth slack eyes blinking languidly

you tug his spit slathered dick slowly up and down, rolling his balls between your hand roaming up again running your thumb over his tip smearing pre cum over it, holding back a giggle when a whimper escapes his lips twisting your wrist with each pump.

“Fuck I’m close” sweat beading on his forehead enough of an indication, you lean forward and suck his neck nipping a bit before rising your mouth barely touching his “cum for me.” 

He shudders beneath you panting softly one hand gripping your thigh with a vice surely leaving red indents on your flesh. 

You attempt make his high last as longer milking him dry until he grabs your wrist, “too much” he heaves chest flushed red just like his cheeks.“Didn’t know you’d be that good” he laughs. 

“Doubting my skills? that hurts” you mock lifting your hand observing the thin creamy substance on your skin bringing your fingers to your lips sucking them out of curiosity. Art gulps eyes fixated dick beginning to harden again.

You sigh in contentment, leaning back against the headboard staring up at the ceiling “hope that was nice” you smile knowing it was. 

You stiffen as Art unexpectedly grips your waist. “Can I do you” he pleads meekly.

“no need to return the favor” you laugh ruffling his curls but he shakes his head desperately. “Please.. let me make you feel good” his body vibrates “been wanting to for a while-” he admits eyes watery “please-” 

“alright..” you whisper caressing his cheek wondering where his eagerness is coming from.

what really takes you back is him kissing you, immediately latching his mouth on yours without warning biting at your bottom lip, demanding to open up. You cave tongues lashing together as spit dribbles down your chin. His hand snakes down stopping right over your mound running his fingers up and down your slit over your underwear the cotton rubbing against your clit just right

 you gasp mouth dropping at the sensation he smirks fingers slipping into pussy gathering juices from your hole smothering it over your clit tracing he circles around it

“shit” you groan feeling his fingers slip inside you lost in your own pleasure nails digging into his arm body rolling in time with his hand. 

An idea pops up, finish at the same time

 you sneak a hand between his boxers knowing you can pull another orgasm out of him, Art hisses at contact involuntarily slowing his ministrations cursing trying to concentrate on his movements, “together come on” you urge pecking his lips gently

He nods both of your bodies trembling in tandem, exchanging moans between open mouths, gripping skin trying to find some semblance of control.

“Art I’m close” you squeal eyes shut tight chest rising and falling rapidly 

“come on fucking cum” he grunts sinking his teeth into your shoulder your legs clench together as pleasure rips through you like lightning, a sudden gushing sensation releases between your thighs you gape at his soaked palm 

“I didn’t know I could do that” you pant trying to catch your breath

“doubting my skills?” He whispers pecking a sloppy kiss on your cheek

[wyniepooh]

Come and take a walk on the wild side

Patrick gives you what art can’t.

Married!reader x homewrecking!patrick. Mentions of infidelity and alcohol. reader is married to art, Patrick does not gaf (kinda).

the first time you saw him, you were completely wasted.

It was after midnight at some random tennis after party— art had lost for the third time that month, and you were too busy drinking the shame away to assure your husband that it was alright and that you loved him despite it all.

you didn't mean to catch the stranger’s eyes. but once you did, it was hard to look away. he stared and smiled with the confidence of someone who knew exactly what you were thinking. perhaps you needed that.

when you asked, your friend whispered something about how patrick zweig was a low ranking player who was constantly fluctuating in the numbers. rich parents, supposedly, but his clothing certainly didn't show it.

the second time you saw patrick, you were slightly less wasted.

you and art had been invited to some prestigious gala for the most renowned tennis players. you knew it was just a way of showing off your wealth and status and had nothing to do with tennis, in fact, but still, you went, wearing your best dress that art especially picked out. The dress that he had bought and zipped up with a gentle kiss on your shoulder.

after excusing yourself from the overly full table stuffed with snobby comments and humorless jokes, you stood in the corridor of the ancient, expensive building, leaning into your reflection as you wiped away the smudged lipstick in the corner of your mouth.

he spoke before you could notice him.

“Still drinking, I see,” he tilted his head over to your half-empty champagne glass sitting on the plush velvet bench.

you swivelled around abruptly, brows furrowing when you saw the familiar eyes. “excuse me?”

he chuckled, then extended a hand, clearing his throat as a way to hide his growing laughter. “patrick. patrick zweig. sorry, I didn’t mean to assume anything about your drinking habits. just that uh, the first time we met, you were downing shots like they were water.”

you sighed and mumbled your name before taking his hand and giving it a firm shake. “It’s the only way to get through these events.”

“I mean,” you continued, “I don’t play, but, even watching is stressful enough these days.”

He stuck his hands into his pant pockets, stepping a little closer to pick up the lipstick-stained glass and handed it over to you. “don’t worry. art’s talented and dedicated. he’s got what he needs, he just needs to find his rhythm, is all. and there’s always next season to get back out there.”

You took your drink from him hesitantly, a small smile spreading on your face as you questioned, “how do you…” he chuckled, fully, this time, before replying.

“we were partners, once. long time ago.” He paused. “now we’re just players on the court.”

you hummed in response. “Well-“ you started to say.

“can I walk you back?”

You stared curiously at him, at his dark curls and his pleading eyes, and finally, you smiled. “yes, you can.”

you pretended not to feel the gentle buzz in your lower stomach as he placed a hand on the small of your back, guiding you back to your husband.

the third and final time you saw patrick zweig, you were sitting up on crumpled sheets and a tussled pillow.

“this is the last time,” you mumbled as you tied the hotel robe around your waist.

Patrick chimed up from behind you, still bare and tired and laying comfortable in the bed. “You’ve said that before.”

You turned around to find patrick smiling, grinning with the same expression that he had on the first day you saw him. his hands toyed with your underwear from the drunken night before, fingers casually fidgeting with the delicate lace.

“Well,” you pulled your panties from his grasp, “I mean it this time.”

you heard him grumble, then your attention turned to the tv projecting scattered talk of the latest tennis matches at a low volume. you began gathering your clothes in silence, looking under chairs and tables to find the remaining bits of your dignity.

“Hey, I forgot to ask— how did art do in the provincial championships?”

You paused in your actions, straightened yourself up, then turned to face him, throwing your clothes down onto the couch. “he lost.”

“huh,” he murmured. you looked down at your feet, hands coming up to your face to rub at your temples. next season didn’t turn out to be his season after all.

“Come here, honey,” he gestured you towards him.

you hated that you listened to his words, hated how your body responded and sat across from him on the bed.

“I win enough to cover the both of us. Consider my win to be his win. I’m willing to do that for him,” he wiped at your face, “for you.”

He lifted up his freshly lit cigarette, and you accepted a puff from his hands, blowing the smoke out right into his face. He mirrored your teasing smile, grabbing you close by the waist as his expert hands untied your robe.

He pulls back from your lips, resting his forehead on yours as his hand grazed the side of your face.

“do you think art wants kids?”

you chuckled breathlessly into his ear, fingers tangled in his damp hair. “what?”

His nails danced up and down your back before lowering between your legs. you closed your eyes and sighed, adjusting yourself onto his lap.

“I mean…” you breathed with closed eyes, focused on everything but your thoughts and your words, “I think he’s mentioned it once or twice before.”

Patrick’s other hand gripped the back of your neck before he spoke, forcing you to look down at him. You tilted your eyes in confusion, but your face quickly collapsed when he began to move, and with his pleading eyes and lips curled up, he whispered,

“so why don’t we give him one?”

-

a/n: so messed up but sexy?

[lightlyblooming]

What if it wasn't a joke?

Pairing: Natasha Romanoff x Reader

Summary: What if Natasha’s teasing wasn’t a joke? 

Words: 2.1k

I tapped my fingers on the glossy wooden table in front of me, following the tempo of the conversation around me. The cacophony of voices flitted through my mind, going in one ear and out the other. 

What was supposed to be a swift debriefing with the rest of the Avengers had stretched into its third hour. I’d lost my patience two and a half hours ago when Tony Stark started talking about possible technological improvements he could add to the Avenger’s headquarters. It had only gone down from there.

I stared down at my leather folder opened on the table, letting out a slightly too-loud sigh when I saw the two sentences of notes I’d managed to put down. Only two sentences of actually useful information. Three hours, two sentences. Three hours for two sentences. 

My fingers curled into a fist. I picked up my pen, if only so that my frustration wouldn’t show. I hovered the pen over the clean piece of paper, but that only caused my anger to grow because there wasn’t anything to write.

My phone buzzed in my pocket and I dropped the pen, grateful for the distraction.

I leaned back in my chair and pulled out my phone, ignoring the sidelong glance I got from Steve Rogers. Phones technically weren’t allowed during meetings, but confidential information had stopped being shared hours ago. I doubted it’d matter if I leaked a conversation over what type of flavoured water they wanted in the lounge this month.

A smile tugged at the corner of my lips as I read the notification that lit up the screen. 

Natasha: Busy daydreaming about me?

I raised my eyes to Natasha, my smile growing further when I noticed she had already been watching me. Her blue eyes twinkled with humour, but her features betrayed nothing. Her expression was just as blank, severe, and stoic as it had been for the last few hours.

Natasha only held my eyes for a handful of moments before she turned away, returning her steady attention to the conversation.

I texted back: I’m just thinking about how this meeting could’ve been an email.

Natasha picked up her phone a few moments later. Her expression didn’t change, and I was too far away to notice any other minor changes. I looked back to the nearly blank paper in front of me. 

Every second I spent waiting for her response felt like an eternity. I started to tap my fingers again.

After what felt like forever, my phone buzzed.

Natasha: I wouldn’t have seen you if it was an email.

A second later, she added: And I do enjoy watching you when you’re frustrated.

My eyes shot to her. She merely stared back at me, watching, waiting. I blinked at her, hoping she’d offer any kind of reaction for me to read. Instead, she picked her phone up, her fingers moving across the screen.

I lowered my eyes to the paper and put my phone on the empty sheet. I placed my elbow on the table and rested my head in my hand. My leg, the traitorous thing, started to bounce. My body tensed with every moment that passed. My breaths grew shallow as I waited for that screen to light up.

What was taking her so long? She had to be writing an essay if it was taking her this long to finish. I couldn’t help but wonder if she liked leaving me waiting.

My heart skipped when the screen lit up, only for it to drop deep into my gut when I read the text.

Natasha: It’s even better when you get flustered and start blushing.

I shut off my phone and shoved it into my pocket.

My head thundered in my chest as heat prickled on my cheeks. I silently cursed myself for playing right into her hand. 

It wasn’t like it was a surprise. She’d joke far too often about how easy it was to throw me off and the enjoyment she got from it wasn’t a secret. She always pushed it and tested it, seeing what measure of responses she could get. One glance. One smile. One whispered word. One step too close. A touch that lingered too long. For fuck’s sake, one sentence that toed the line between friendly banter and flirtatious teasing would leave me dumbed down and unable to speak for hours.

I took a deep breath and ran my hand through my hair, hating the way I shook. I focused on my breaths, reread those two stupid sentences written on the paper. I willed the heat to fall from my face. I counted through my breathing. I picked up my pen and clicked it over and over again.

I was a fool for being affected by her. It was nothing. It meant nothing. It was a game to her, just a way to fill time and push away excruciating boredom.

I reminded myself of all those moments Natasha had toyed with me, only to pull away a moment later. 

I remembered the hours we had spent crouched in some dark hole, waiting out a mission, her faint touches oh-so-clear in the pitch black. I recalled the way she had looked at me days later when I had brought it up, her face flush with confusion and eyes so cold it was like looking at a stranger. 

I remembered the first time we’d exchanged personal numbers after becoming part of the Avengers. It had only been a handful of years since we’d worked together in the Red Room, yet she treated me like she’d never seen me before.

I remembered the hours of texting we’d do in those fluid hours of the night when time lost all meaning. Then the absence of contact in the morning, followed by stilted small talk that’d build a chasm between us. 

I glanced over at Natasha. My heart stung when I saw her stoic expression fixed on Wanda Maximoff.

I closed the folder and got to my feet. The rest of the Avengers at the table glared at me, but I ignored them. There was no reason for me to stay. The important parts of the meeting were done. I hadn’t needed to chime in for well over an hour. And I didn’t feel like torturing myself with Natasha’s cold distance for any longer.

⧗

I stirred my half-melted cocktail with the metal straw. The metal clicked against the glass. A chill wind brushed over my skin and rustled my hair, causing goosebumps to prickle along my arms. 

The Avengers compound had long since settled into its peaceful night operations. All the lights had been dimmed, the large mass of day staff had been sent home or to their rooms, the headache-inducing sound of jets coming and going had finally stopped. These small hours of the night were the only time I got any solitude. 

I watched the tarmac from the balcony, taking in the quinjets that had been left out and the skeleton crew that maintained them.

They always had to be ready, waiting, should the sky fall open and the Avengers had to be on the other side of the world in an hour. I always had to be ready to answer the call, be prepared for anything at any moment. I hadn’t even left the compound for a non-Avengers related reason for… months. It was too risky.

I looked down at the cocktail in my hand and braced my arm against the balcony railing. I sighed and pursed my lips at it.

Despite the small amount of alcohol I’d had, I could feel the warmth of drunkenness spreading through my limbs and a delightful buzz that clouded my mind. I was already too far gone to fly, or fight, or do any amount of strategic thinking. Drinking more would only multiply that and make my recovery take longer. If there was an emergency and I got called out--

The door to the balcony softly clicked open and I whipped my head around, muscles going taught. 

The moment I laid my eyes on Natasha, who stood silently in the doorway, I let out a breath and allowed my shoulders to slump. The warm glow of the Avenger’s lounge silhouetted her form and took the sharp edges out of her appearance. 

She almost seemed vulnerable there, in her sweatpants and loose t-shirt. Her hair had been pulled back into a braid. The light caught the loose strands of her hair, making it look like strings of spun gold. My eyes couldn’t help but wander to the smooth plane of her neck. I couldn’t stop the prying thoughts that wondered how it would feel, how it would taste, if she’d just let me get close enough.

I pressed my lips closed and squeezed my eyes. I gave myself a moment to breathe and settle my system before I turned around and fixed my eyes on the cocktail cradled in my hands.

The stupid drink, wiping away every ounce of self-preservation I had.

The door clicked shut and Natasha walked up beside me, bracing her arms on the railing, mirroring my position. A beer bottle hung from her fingers, dangling precariously over the distant ground. Natasha took a swig and from the sound of it, she was quite far into her drink as well. At least I wasn’t the only intoxicated one.

I sipped at my now fully melted cocktail. I winced at the overwhelmingly sweet liquid. Without the ice to break up the taste, it had turned into a cloying mixture of syrup and rum.

“Too hard for you?” Natasha’s voice was low and heavy. 

Her voice tugged at something deep in the pit of my gut. My heart fluttered in my chest and my breaths shuddered. Heat prickled at my cheeks, and I prayed that Natasha thought it was because of the alcohol. I glanced at her out of the corner of my eyes and knew my prayers had fallen upon deaf ears when I saw the teasing tilt to her lips.

I don’t know if it was the alcohol or the illusion of sanctity the darkness granted, but the truth came out before I could even consider filtering my words, “A bit.”

Natasha’s ghost of a smile grew into a full-on grin. Her voice dipped into a sultry drawl that raked along my bones, “You should let me buy you a drink some time. I can show you what hard feels like.”

My hand tightened around the glass. I opened my mouth, prepared to spit out one of the million scripted rejections I had tucked in the back of my mind, but stopped short.

I schooled my features and turned towards Natasha. I took in her stance: her relaxed shoulders, fingers that fidgeted with the rim of the beer bottle, her ram-rod straight back, her attentive eyes, her welcoming smile, the way her head tilted just-so. She was expectant, waiting, and… nervous? A furrow ghosted in the space between her brows. Tiny fragments of uncertainty flashed across her face.

I swallowed and stared into her eyes. I tapped my thigh with my free hand. Silence stretched between us. My muscles tensed with every second that crept by.

I was such an idiot. A fool. My hesitation revealed more than I ever wanted Natasha to know. My growing silence stripped me bare and made me more naked than I would’ve been if I had merely removed my clothes. 

“Or--” Natasha’s words were slow, hesitant, searching, “--you can buy me one of those cocktails you always get, we can get drunk, and I can stop calling you a lightweight.”

I pressed my lips together and searched Natasha’s expression. All I found was a gentle vulnerability. There was teasing, yes, but behind all that was an openness I’d never seen in her before. 

What if, this time, it was a genuine offer? What if I said yes? Would she take me to a bar, let me order her a drink, and end the night with more than a painfully professional handshake? Or would she laugh and back off, making me look like a fool for even considering the offer?

My mind was too clouded to make a clear choice. I couldn’t discern anything more from her expression. I couldn’t calculate all the possible responses. 

I let out a shuddering breath and, with the type of courage I could only get from the alcohol coursing through my system, said, “Only if you promise to show me the best places.”

Natasha let out a breath and straightened. All signs of tension smoothed from her face. A light seemed to spark in her eyes, bringing a glowing warmth to her features. 

“Promise,” Natasha said, her voice strung with the softness and truth in her oath. 

[rvmanoffbarnes]

Lingered looks || Joseph Quinn x Actress Reader!

Summary: Joseph and you can feel the tension. What will happen if both of you listen to what the're feeling?

Warning: The next one shot contains explicit content and sex scenes. MDNI.

They say that the eyes say more than words.

Apparently, the gazes between me and Joseph meant something beyond words.

The tension between us could easily be cut with a knife. Joseph was just inches away from me as we walked to the hotel elevator. It had been a busy day after doing interviews for our new movie and meeting some fans.

The elevator doors greet us and Joseph gestures with his hand to let me through first. "After you," he says with a slight smile. I thank him and enter the space, followed by him. The doors close and silence envelops us. It's only a few seconds until the Brit decides to break it.

"Are you tired?" he asks me. I can only nod my head. "It was a lot for one day. Honestly, this is what i hate about being an actress," I joke.

He laughs at that.

"Are you tired?" I ask him, looking at his profile. He has a beard from days ago and I notice that his shaved hair is growing longer every day.

He grimaces and leans against the elevator wall. "I still have a little energy left," he admits, "I have to use it all up before I can let myself go to bed." I raise an eyebrow at his response.

Usually, I do the opposite, even if I have energy left, I decide to go to bed anyway. These last few days, stress has consumed my being, so I opt for the healthy decision of putting aside the activities I had planned for our day off. Tomorrow I would make sure to get as much sleep as possible before going back to work.

"What will you do to spend that energy?" I ask him curiously.

He seems to think about it for a few seconds before turning to look at me, at the same time the doors open.

"I'll see if something comes up" A smile sneaks across his face.

We leave the elevator and he walks next to me with his hands in his pants pockets until he leaves me at the door of the room where I am staying. I stop in front of it and take out the card so I can open the door and get inside to rest for the rest of the night. I keep the card in my hands and neither of us seem to move.

These days I have felt a palpable tension between us, which has only increased every day since we had to share more moments together between the two of us to make the chemistry of our characters much more real. Although I have worked with Joseph before, the director asked us to deepen our relationship so that the friendly connection we had would be reflected in the film. Now, of course, we had to have a couple chemistry. I didn't think beyond the topic; I was an actress and my job was to be able to bring those emotions to life and to the film. However, I have been hearing my heart race every time Joseph and the character he played approached me for a scene or in our daily routine together.

I was almost sure it happened to both of us.

I bite my inner cheek and smile at him.

"Okay. This is it," I say in an attempt to break the silence that surrounds us. Joseph looks at the door and then guides his gaze to me. He nods and licks his lips, leaning his shoulder against the wall.

"Yeah...." he says.

I don't know what I expect exactly. The only thing that is clear to me is that neither of us wants to say goodbye at all. His gaze persists on me and a shine appears in his brown orbits. Joseph clears his throat as if suddenly reacting. He straightens his posture and points to the door with his hand and then puts it back in his pocket. "Well, I guess I'll leave you to it," he mentions, "Have a good night, (Y/N)."

I smile. Almost dissapointed. I wonder why.

"Goodnight, Joseph"

He starts to back away and then turns his back on me to walk to his room which is a few doors away from mine. Before I can enter, he turns around and says:

"If you need anything," he begins. I look at him feeling my heart stop for a second "you know where I am."

I swallow and nod my head.

"Same here"

He smiles and waves his hand goodbye. We both go into our respective rooms and I close the door, leaning my back against it. A sigh escapes my lips and my eyes close. Heat invades my cheeks and I run my hand over my forehead. I take my bag off my shoulder and leave it hanging on the coat rack on the wall. Not even 10 seconds pass after I do that and I already hear someone knocking on my door with three firm and urgent knocks.

I open the door and widen my eyes when I see Joseph with a serious expression, which when he sees me changes to one of desire and desperation.

"Actually I do need something" he says.

Before I can ask him what, he kisses my lips fiercely. He grabs my waist with his arms and I allow myself to react to wrap my arms around his neck. In an agile and quick movement he leans his body back, still hugging me, to close the door. He gently pushes me against the wall and explores my mouth with his tongue.

He breaks away for a brief moment to look me in the eyes. He has his dark, eager gaze, his mouth slightly open and then whispers: "I couldn't take this anymore," he admits with heavy breathing.

He brings a hand to my cheek and looks directly at me.

"Joseph..." I say in a whisper. I have a whirlwind of emotions after what just happened.

He shakes his head dejectedly.

"If you don't want me to continue, I'll stop now and go to my room," he says. "It all depends on you."

I lick my lips and take his hand that is on my cheek to slide it around my waist. I smile slightly at him and say:

"Who says I want to stop?" He growls and smiles.

That action I do allows him to continue devouring my mouth as if there were no tomorrow. He pins his body with mine against the wall and spreads my legs with his knee, rubbing his pants against my underwear-covered crotch, which is now a wet mess. It's incredible the ability he has to make me wet in such a short time, just with a fierce kiss. He slides his hands from my waist to my butt to knead it as he wants. This causes me to cry because of the delicious sensation and I cling much more to his body, the word distance disappears as soon as he decides to continue squeezing my cheeks to his liking.

"Mhm...." I moan, clutching at his shirt desperately. I feel ashamed to be in that state so quickly, but after months of tension on the verge, I honestly shouldn't care about it.

He smiles amused and sighs against my lips. "I know we're going too fast, but it's impossible not to enjoy your body and your lips like this," he admits agitatedly.

"Please, Joseph. Don't lie to yourself; we've been wanting this for months," I say firmly and sure of my answer, even though I'm agitated. "To hell with the wait."

Joseph reacts to my words and continues kissing my lips passionately. He lifts the skirt of my dress and massages my ass like he owns it. With more and more lack of control. I venture to unbutton the buttons of his shirt clumsily, but when I manage to do so, he steps away from me for a few seconds and, without taking his eyes off me, takes off his shirt in a hasty movement. This gives me time to start taking off my dress. I lower the strap on one shoulder and then the other, feeling cold as my tits are exposed. I'm not wearing a bra.

"Oh, darling..." he moans.

He takes my waist again and connects his lips with mine. He walks with me until he sits on the edge of the bed and watches me with puppy eyes.

"I want you" he says.

"Then take me," I say.

I settle into his lap and finish lowering the dress with his help. I feel it fall to the ground and I sit back down on Joseph's lap. He looks at me pleadingly for a moment.

"Can...?" He points to my body, to which I nod. The brown-haired man runs his hands slowly over my skin, enjoying the moment. I lean on his shoulders while I'm only wearing my panties. I start kissing his neck at the same time that Joseph raises his hand to my tit, playing with it, while the other holds my waist. I let out a moan, moving closer to him. My hips take on a life of their own and begin to move against his crotch. Joseph curses under his breath and grabs my hips to move them urgently on top of him.

"I need you to tell me if... oh, fuck...." he doesn't stop the movements of my hips on him "I need you to tell me if you want to do it soft or hard."

I lick my lips.

“Fuck me hard, please,” I whimper.

I can't stand the pressure that forms in my lower area. My panties feel so sticky I just want to rip them off. Joseph moans and begins to unbutton his pants, kissing my neck. I stretch it so he can taste my skin better.

I feel his pants and boxers fall to the floor. I look down and see how excited he is. I smile and tuck a strand of hair behind my ear. The tip of his member is red and dripping precum from the situation. Joseph looks me in the eyes and smiles amused. He lowers his gaze to my lips while with his fingers he moves my panties aside and begins to caress and spread my clitoris.

"So wet. Is it for me?" He asks and I move against his fingers. "Yes, Joseph," I say, throwing my head back. "Please... it's just for you."

Joseph chuckles softly. He inserts three fingers again and again until he sees that I am at his complete disposal. He removes them and I instantly miss the sensation. Joseph licks his fingers clean and I swear the action he does can't look any hotter. He closes his brown eyes and enjoy my taste.

"Delicious," he says with a grimace, "just as I imagined."

I groan when I see it.

He places his hand on my cheek. "Do you want me to take control or would you rather ride me?" ask. So gentlemanly and thoughtful of him. I think about it for a few seconds, but with a mischievous smile I answer: "I want to ride you"

Joseph chuckles.

He lays on the bed with a smirk plastered on his face.

"Go ahead, darling"

"I'm clean," I tell him.

"Me too" he smiles in a sincere tone.

And that's enough for me.

I lower my body until I feel his hard member at my entrance and without thinking twice I get into it. I let out a pleasant whimper at the new sensation and watch as Joseph's face is invaded by pleasure.

"Fuck" he groans.

He grabs my hips and begins to guide me with the movements. I rest my hands on Joseph's chest, feeling the small hairs brush against my fingers.

"Oh Joseph," I stifle a moan.

"That's right, beautiful, take all of me" he pushes his hips against mine.

The obscene sound of our bodies is confused with our moans throughout the room. I'm about to cum. I need a little more stimulation, so I take one of his hands that is imprisoning my hip and guide it to my tit. He seems to understand what I want, so he starts massaging it and playing with my nipple. "So beautiful... oh, god" he says.

I moan. This time i'm moving faster.

"Joseph... i'm gonna cum" i admit.

He barely nods with his eyes closed.

"Yes, beautiful, cum for me" he lifts his body a little and hits deep into my body

"I'm ready too." A few more seconds pass until the climax reaches us. "Fuck!"

I feel all his semen spread in me, at the same time that I cum on top of him.

"Oh god" I try to catch my breath and feel him take me by the waist and gently lay me down next to him. I hug him and he smiles at me, looking into my eyes.

"Hey"

"Hey..." I say with a smile.

The rooms smells like sex and the temperatures is increasing.

"That was... incredible," he mentions. I nod my head.

He caresses my cheek softly and tenderly. "I don't want you to think that this will be a one-night thing," he begins by saying seriously, "I really want to try it with you."

My heart races.

"Only if you want it too," he adds. I kiss him to answer him. Joseph corresponds to me, and as we part I tell him:

"I would love to try it, Joseph."

He smiles and kiss my forehead.

"Joseph?" I ask.

"Yeah, baby?"

"Did you waste that energy left?"

He laughs.

"Yeah. I did"

--------------------------------------------------

Hi! I hope u enjoy this one shot... i'm so bad writing smut.

[malsmind]

more than we thought

a bsf!matt x bsf!reader series by @ 𝓂𝒶𝓁𝓈𝓂𝒾𝓃𝒹

chapter 2

warnings: swearing, mentiones of sex and being a one night stand

wc: 1.5k

chapter 1

english is not my first language!

the sound of your alarm ripped you fom your sleep, wishig you could stay in bed for a little longer. it didn't take long for the excitement to take over your wish to continue your sleep though. today, you had a date. you'd met this guy named joe a few months ago at a party you went to with nick, matt and chris, getting along with him almost immediately. he was nice and good looking, he cracked a few lewd jokes and comments, but other than that, he seemed nice. he asked you out on a date a few nights ago, which is exactly what you were getting ready for right now. getting out of bed and throwing on an outfit you put more thought into than you usually would, (if that's even possible). unplugging your phone from the charger and grabbing it off of your nightstand, you took one last look in the mirror, fixing your hair before you texted the guy and made your way out of the apartment building.

you were excited, for sure, but you also didn't really know if you had the courage to actually go and meet him. dating was always something you kind of avoided. not like you didn't want to date, or give and recieve love from a partner, but you were always hesitant to open up to someone. meeting new people could be hard for you sometimes, especially if it took onto a romantic way. despite your ovethinking, you started your car, driving to the adress of the resturaunt he was supposed to meet you at.

you arrived at the place, getting out of your car and walking up the stairs, looking for your date. when you spotted him, you made your way over, his eyes landing on you as you gave him a warm smile.

"hey pretty." he smiled, pulling you into a friendly hug. you hugged him back, greeting him.

you guys chatted a little, about your interests, about your hobbies, just the typical small talk. the way he seemed not entirely interested in what you were telling about yourself stood out to you immediately, but you decided to just brush it off, assuming it was just the natural awkwardness of the moment. you ordered your food, and he ordered his. the waiter walked away to put in your order and joe turned his head to look at you with a smile. "so how'd you know about the party?" you straightened your back, starting the new conversation with him. "i'm friends with the host, sort of." you answered, taking a sip of your drink, clearing your throat before continuing, "you?"

"a friend of a friend invited me, he's friends with her too." his eyes looked you up and down, admiring the way your body looked in the outfit you wore, making you shift uncomfotably under his gaze. you didn't like where this was headed, the way he looked at you giving away just what exactly his intentions were. despite the feeling in your stomach telling you to make an excuse and leave, you shrugged it off, trying to convince yourself that you're putting too much thought into it. before joe could speak up again, the waiter came back with your food, placing it on the table infront of you.

the both of you ate your meal, making small conversation again, "you're really beautiful, y'know that?" he complimented, a faint smirk on his lips, watching your reaction. you put your drink down after taking a sip of it, smiling, "thanks."

his eyes glanced down at your body again, lingering on your cleavage for longer than they should have. you could feel the mood shift slighty, realizing his behavior wasn't just you overthinking. "we could go back to my place after if you'd like, watch a movie or something?" he leaned back, smirk growing, clearly implying how he had no interest in watching a movie with you. you shrugged, nodding. "yeah sure, i'll have to see though, was gonna help a friend with something later..." you spoke, getting up from your seat, "i'll be right back, gotta use the restroom" you excused yourself, walking away, his eyes roaming over your figure as he watched you dissapear into the restroom.

you pulled out your phone, texting matt. there was no way you were going back to this guys place tonight.

you didn't care abut the fact that you had to leave your car here, joe didn't know what it looked like anyway, you just wanted to get out of this place, not interested in being some one night stand. you walked out of the restroom, back towards your table where joe was waiting for your return. you pulled out your wallet, placing the money for the food and drink you ordered on the table. "i am so sorry. my friend just called me and she got into a car accident. i'll text you, yeah?" you didn't even care about the fact that what you had just told him was a complete lie, not even waiting for his response as you made your way out of the resturaunt, spotting matt's car already parked further away from the window that joe was sat by.

you sprinted towards it, getting into the passanger seat, waving your hands for him to drive off. when matt pulled out of the small parking lot, onto the road, a sigh you didn't even know you were holding escaped your lips, sinking back into the seat.

matt looked over at you, letting you catch your breath, "seatbelt." he reminded, nodding his head towards you. you looked down on yourself, "shit, sorry." you mumbled, grabbing the seatbelt and buckling it in. matt drove towards your place, stealing glances at you every now and then before he actually spoke up, "he didn't... try anything, did he?" matt asked, slight protectiveness laced in his voice. you shook your head quickly, "no, no. god no." you exhaled, "he was just obviously not interested in anything other than sex." you sighed, leaning your head back against the headrest. to be honest with yourself, you were quite disappointed. the guy seemed nice when you met him.

matt knew what was up. he sighed, reaching out to place a hand on your knee to offer you some sort of reasurrance. "m' sorry to hear, he clearly doesn't deserve to get to know you." you turned your head to look over at him, still leaning back against the headrest. you gave him an appreciative smile before turning your head back towars the road. the drive to your house was quiet, different from the usual music playing, chatting, and laughing between you and matt on your usual car rides.

matt pulled up to your place, parking the car on your usual parking spot. he looked over at you, thinking of what he could do to help you with your mood. "how about i come up with you and we watch a movie, doordash some food?" his voice was soft, slightly tiltingt his head to the side. you turned your head to look at him, smiling "yeah, that'd be nice." you nodded.

˗ˏˋ ꒰ ♡ ꒱ ˎˊ˗

despite your horrible date and the disappointment that came with it, your evening with matt really made your day. even though matt wasn't the biggest fan of horror movies, he let you pick one out since you loved them. you were sat on your couch next to matt, a blanket draped over your legs, your head on his shoulder. you reached for the chips on your lap, shoving a handful into your mouth with your eyes focused on the movie. a jumpscare scene played, making matt jump, you couldn't help the small chuckle escaping your lips. "jesus christ, they always gotta fuckin' do that when you're focused and not expecting it" matt breathed out, shaking his head.

you laid your head back down on his shoulder feeling how stiff his body was from the jumpscare earlier. you reached out, smacking him on the chest, "you're a pussy, loosen up a bit you're shoulder's uncomfortable" you groaned, leaning your head against him again.

the movie continued and your eyes grew heavier with every moment that passed, exhausted from the stress from today. matt didn't notice how you slowly drifted off to sleep, his eyes stayed on the TV. another scene made matt jump slightly as he watched the horror film you picked out, really just torturing matt at this point with the amount of annoyingly scary scenes causing his body to jolt everytime, his heartbeat picking up with every jumpscare. a noise of disapproval left your lips at his movement, making him take his eyes off of the screen to look down at you drifting off to sleep with your head on his shoulder.

he leaned forward, careful not to rip you out of your dosing state completely. he reached for the remote, turning the TV off. "come on, i'll get you to bed." he spoke softly, tapping your shoulder. you groaned, getting up from the couch with an annoyed expression on your face, missing the comfort of the soft couch cushions beneath you and matts shoulder as a pillow. matt helped you get in bed, making sure you were comfortable. "i'm gonna go get your phone real quick, yeah?" you hummed in response, watching him leave your room. he came back with your phone and a glas of water in his hands, placing both down on your nightstand. matt sat down at the end of your bed, placing his hand on your leg over the comforter. "you call me when you're up and ready and we'll go get your car, okay?" matt tilted his head, looking at your face, you nodded.

matt got up from your bed, but you stopped him, grabbing his hand. "you can just stay, save the drive back..." you mumbled into the pillow. matt looked down at your hand holding his, thinking for a moment. it's not like it'd be your guy's first sleepover, but something felt different, there was something matt couldn't explain to himself about the way you were leaning on him earlier, head resting on his shoulder for comfort like it did so many times before, the way you asked him to stay. shaking himself out of it, matt agreed, "yeah, yeah, of course."

you let go of his hand, moving over so there was room for him to lay down. he got in bed next to you, getting comfortable. you were facing away from him, matt was facing your back. you were dozing off to sleep again, matt shifted next to you a few times but you were too tired to be bothered. it didn't take you long to fall asleep, but matt? matt couldn't fall asleep. his mind was racing, mostly with questions as to why this felt so different from the countless of times he's laid next to you in bed, sleeping over at yours ever since you were in highschool. he tried to shrug it off, to stop overthinking it, he really did, but he just couldn't stop his mind from going ways they haven't before and it scared him more than he'd like to admit to himself. what if it were in a not so casual way? what if cuddling up to you right now wouldn't be seen as two friends being comfortable with eachother, thinking of it as nothing else than the simple bond of a strong friendship?

he shook his head, a sigh escaping his lips. he shifted in bed again, scooting closer to you, cuddling up to you like he did many times before during a sleepover. your body reacted to his wamth, cuddling back into him. his arm landed on your waist, just laying over it. he held his breath without realizing, exhaling shakily when your body pressed against his. he tried to drown out the weird feeling in his stomach, closing his eyes and trying his best to fall asleep. luckily, he eventually did.

series link (everything you need to know)

taglist

authors note: yh icl this is lowk ass and cliche, forgive me. next chapter will be better... hopefully LMAO

@grace-sturnz @rcklessheavn @sofia-is-a-sturniolo-triplet-fan @chrissturniolossidebitch @sl4ttformattsturniolo @priscillaog @oopsiedaisydeer @sturnzzlovee @dollyvuu @xbahaaha @h3arts4nat @sturniolosymphony @powpowjinxlife @idkwhatthisis2009 @surprisecurlyfriess

[defectivevillain]

bitten by the love bug

pairing: House/Reader (no explicit romance)

the reader's race and gender are ambiguous; no pronouns or physical descriptors are used.

“House, come on-” You say helplessly, quickly growing frustrated. “You’re rather oblivious, aren’t you?” House interjects, raising a brow at you. One hand rests on his cane while the other is shoved in his pocket. He looks so casual and unbothered, as if he didn’t just jokingly diagnose the patient with love.

word count: 1.3k | ao3 version

I know nothing about canon. okay, thanks. bye.

In the years you’ve spent working for Dr. House, you grow to recognize that he loathes small talk. It’s better for you to just cut right to the chase. He prefers direct and honest communication. So, when your patient’s condition is eluding you, you don’t hesitate to approach him about it.

“My patient’s confusing me,” you say as you enter his office, abandoning any pleasantries. 

Despite your direct remark, the doctor still pays you a bored glance. “Well, if they’re confusing you , then this case must be unsolvable.” House responds, his voice dripping in sarcasm. You roll your eyes. 

“I’m serious,” you maintain, silently commanding him to pay attention. “His symptoms are constantly changing. One moment, he’s dizzy and nauseous; the next, he’s completely fine. His vitals are normal, the tests we ran are normal. No past injuries or illnesses… I don’t get it.”

House hums. He spins his chair ever so slightly, tapping his chin in contemplation.

“Come on, please?” You continue after a few moments of silence. 

“Disgusting.” House’s nose wrinkles and he looks repulsed. “Don’t act like that ever again. Especially not in my office.” You fight off your amusement at that, instead recognizing the implicit agreement. House gets to his feet and stares at you impatiently. “Well? Let’s see this medical anomaly.” He scoffs, clearly disbelieving. You sigh and walk over to the patient’s room. Before you can even open the door of the room for him, House pays a bored glance to the window returning his attention to you. 

“You dragged me all the way over here for this nonsense?” He huffs blandly, not even bothering to take a second look. You’re not quite sure what you expected from him, now that you think about it.  

“What?” You ask skeptically. “Don’t tell me you know what’s wrong already.” House merely took one look at the guy. How could he possibly know what’s wrong?

There’s a beat of silence. A slight smile rises on House’s lips—it seems mocking. “He’s in love.” House states, raising a brow. You’re convinced his amusement is at your expense. Surely this is just one of his jokes. But… you can’t seem to find the punchline. 

“What?” You exclaim. “House, come on-” You say helplessly, quickly growing frustrated. 

“You’re rather oblivious, aren’t you?” House interjects, raising a brow at you. One hand rests on his cane while the other is shoved in his pocket. He looks so casual and unbothered, as if he didn’t just jokingly diagnose the patient with love. 

You grit your teeth, resisting the urge to throttle him. “Just explain, House.” You sigh impatiently. You don’t have time for these games.  

“He’s just pretending,” House elaborates, taking another look through the window. “He probably felt somewhat under the weather when he came here. Then he saw you, and started faking his symptoms to get your attention.” He turns his head back to you, his expression a mix of annoyance and boredom. 

You stare at him in disbelief. “Seriously?”

“People often confuse attention from a doctor with romantic attraction,” House rolls his eyes. “It’s desperate and pathetic.” He then scoffs darkly.

“That’s-” You sigh, pinching the bridge of your nose in distress and annoyance. “Are you sure?”

“‘ Am I sure?’ ” He repeats mockingly, rolling his eyes. House doesn’t bother to greet the guy, instead giving him one look and evidently coming to a decision. “It’s a textbook case, really. Normal tests, ever-changing symptoms. He’s dropped the act, since he doesn’t realize you’re standing here.” He says to you. 

Then, without warning, House opens the door to the room. He forgoes a greeting. “What are your symptoms, buddy?” He asks the patient with faux politeness. The guy hesitates for a few moments, stumbling and stuttering. House immediately interjects. “Yeah, that’s what I thought. You’ve been pretending since you got here, just to impress a certain doctor…” The diagnostician trails off and glances at you pointedly. 

The patient doesn’t immediately object. Instead, to your complete surprise, he nods regretfully. 

“Are you serious?” You choke out, the gravity of the situation hitting you now. “You came to the hospital and pretended to be sick… just to waste our time?” You demand. The guy’s shoulders droop and he doesn’t say anything. You look to House for assistance, only to find that he has his arms crossed over his chest and an entertained smile on his face. Damn it, he’s having fun with this. You can hardly focus on that now, though—not through the overwhelming haze of frustration and irritation currently plaguing you. 

Hospitals are always understaffed and lacking resources—Princeton–Plainsboro Teaching Hospital is no different. The fact that this patient took up space in the already crowded hospital, just to fake his symptoms, infuriates you. He wasted your time—valuable time you could’ve spent helping someone who genuinely needed the help. Your fists clench at your sides.  

“There’s nothing wrong with you,” you repeat incredulously. The patient nods. “You’re feeling fine.” Another nod. He looks embarrassed now. Good. 

You take a slow breath, attempting to hold back your anger. It doesn’t quite work. “Get up,” you order, in a tone far more assertive than the one you usually wield. At his confused look, you repeat yourself and motion impatiently. The guy seems to break out of his stupor and gets up from the bed. “Follow me.” You say. 

You feel House’s eyes on your back as you lead the patient out of the room and towards one of the interior exits, away from prying eyes. You don’t want the other patients to think this is how you treat people. You’re just- You’re so frustrated. This guy thinks this is all some sort of joke, that he’s being clever. “Here’s the exit.” you announce, promptly holding the door open and gesturing for him to walk through it. Fortunately, the guy seems to have some tiny sliver of dignity left, because he doesn’t argue. “And don’t bother coming back unless you’re sick or dying.” You finish, immediately closing the door and locking him out of the building. 

You immediately grasp at the handle of the door and take a slow breath, tilting your head down as you attempt to regain your composure. That was a bit harsh. But, at the same time, he deserved it. You can’t condone that kind of behavior—and if you had let it slide, it would’ve likely happened again. 

“That was quite the ruckus.” Dr. House says from a short distance away. He’s staring at the door when the strangest emotion flickers across his face. It’s gone in the blink of an eye, leaving you questioning if you ever really saw it in the first place. 

“No, it was pathetic.” You respond with a shake of your head. You shove your hands in the pockets of your lab coat. “I’m really not in the mood.” You warn House as you walk back towards him. 

He’s silent at your side for a moment, before speaking again. “I’ll admit, I didn’t think you had the guts.” House repeats himself, a slightly mischievous smile dancing on his lips. “And I’m never wrong.”  

“First time for everything,” you say somewhat breathlessly, feeling almost flustered by the intensity of his scrutiny.

“You’ll have to get used to that kind of thing.” He says flippantly. 

“What?” You ask, blinking at him. You feel as if you’re missing something. The implications of that statement are going over your head. “Why?” 

House stares at you, as if the answer is infuriatingly obvious. “You’re relatively young. Easy on the eyes. Nice enough for people to think they have a chance.” Before you can even begin to comprehend what he just said, he’s continuing to speak. “Now, enough slacking; get back to work. And don’t expect me to bail you out next time.” 

You’re left to stare after his retreating figure in complete disbelief. 

House: "Enough slacking; get back to work." House, internally: Why was that kind of hot…?

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[love-byers]

(same anon that previously sent an ask about the monologue, because writing all this just got me thinking)

Another thing to take note of is that Mike only talks in the past/present tense, but never in the future tense. He says "I've loved you every day since" but never "and I'm going to love you every day for the rest of my life". He's clinging to the past, he's refusing change. There's a line after where he says "And I’m not ready to lose you -- you hear me??". It's just so clear to me. Once he's ready, he can finally grow and allow new and better things to come into his life, and truly come of age. That's the kind of ending I believe is right for the show and those characters in a more general sense anyway.

OMG IVE NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT THE PAST/PRESENT TENSE STUFF THATS SO TRUE

i've always thought that it seemed like both mike and el were clinging to the past. it starts in the s3 epilogue when el says i love you too. its supposed to be taking the next big step in their relationship, maturing and changing. but mike realizes he doesn't want that, he doesn't want things to change. he doesn't want to get more serious with el. he yearns for the past when he was closer with will and didn't have the pressure of growing up and committing to el. and of course the idea of that scares him bc it makes him question the nature of he and will's relationship.

"And I guess...if I'm being really honest...I don't want things to change. So I think maybe that's why I came in here. To try to maybe...stop that change. To turn back the clock. To make things go back to how they were."

i've analyzed the living hell out of this in a byler way, because it is undoubtedly coded towards byler, but i think there is a bit of mileven here too based on what happens in s4. here's some quotes/moments that made me think mike and el were clinging to the past because they know they have no foundation of a future.

"Bitchin' right?" "Yeah, yeah, bitchin'. Do you come here a lot?" mike is so dismissive of her here it's kind of funny

then there's mike bringing her eggos before their fight. he's trying to make peace with a staple from their past, but it doesn't work, because that's not what makes a relationship strong.

"You can't let those mouth breathers ruin you, ruin us." again a reference to a joke/phrase from their past. something they share, or should share. mike feels like saying that will draw them back together. but it fails

"They're nobodies. And you're a superhero." "Not anymore." i feel like this one speaks for itself lol

and the fact that the song playing over their fight is called "Eulogy", a track that plays during scenes referencing dead characters (barb, bob, el (before mike knew she was alive), billy) and metaphorical deaths, like el moving into the cabin with hopper. "This is your new home." it's representing the death of el's old life in the lab, and finding new beginnings. their fight was the death of their relationship, and even mike knows it. a fight you can't come back from.

[cuubism]

WIP Word Train

Rules: tagger gives a word, then for each letter of that word you share a sentence/excerpt from your wips that start with that letter.

Tagged by @kydrogendragon :)

Fun!!! The word was STAB

-- for S --

[ from equestrian au pt. 5 ]

So on day three Hob got Dream situated in the hotel room, then hauled Ruby five hours back to the farm—begrudgingly taking Alex with him, though fortunately not Roderick who’d presumably gotten himself a limousine or something—and then drove five hours back to the hotel where he’d left Dream. It was a long day. He found Dream pretty much where he’d left him that morning, asleep in bed with the curtains pulled shut and all the lights off so the room was in complete darkness. Poor thing.

-- for T --

[ from 3rd Stormlight Archive fic ]

The city’s growing on him as they walk. Then again, Adolin’s rarely met a city he didn’t like. He’d even fallen a little bit in love with Azimir, siege and all. “Have you ever been somewhere you don’t like?” Kaladin asks, as if reading his mind. “Wasn’t a huge fan of Lasting Integrity. They put me in jail there. Two out of ten stars.” Kaladin laughs, actually laughs out loud, a quick, helpless burst of it, and Adolin can’t help his grin. “Azimir was nice,” Adolin continues. “Strong sense of architectural style. Loses points for the mortal injury, but you can’t have everything.” “I’m not sure we fully healed that head injury after all,” Kaladin says, but he’s smiling to himself. “Fine. If nothing’s gone wrong by nightfall, maybe we can find some place out of the way and get you the bar experience you desperately crave.” “Wow, you’d really do anything for me,” says Adolin, meaning it as a joke, but Kaladin just sort of nods, and Adolin feels himself blush. Hopefully the sun will obscure it.

-- for A --

[ from "Good Horses" ]

And he took off down the path, dragging Dream along behind him. Hob was much faster than him, and certainly fitter too, and Dream nearly tripped and fell several times trying to keep up, but didn't let go of Hob's hand. His nice school loafers skidded on the wet leaves. His tie flapped along over his shoulder. Dream could not remember the last time he had been so out of breath, the last time his heart had beaten in his chest like so. "Shit!" Hob yelled, and skidded to a stop. Dream was not so fast, and quickly learned what had brought such an abrupt end to Hob's run. The path veered off sharply to the right above a steep embankment, and Dream's momentum carried him right over the edge, dragging Hob with him. The next few moments were a tumble of dirt and leaves and flashes of sky, Hob's laughter, Dream's very unbecoming shriek. Then a splash, as they landed in the shallow brook at the bottom of the embankment. Hob was still laughing as Dream pushed himself upright, took stock of himself. His trousers and the back of his blazer were drenched and mud-soaked, certainly ruined; his socks sloshed in his shoes; his tie was twisted and mangled around his neck. Hob looked no better, wet and muddy and with leaves stuck in his hair. Only on Hob, there was a natural ease to it, a sense that he would pick himself up with a grin and go on like that. Dream was certain he himself looked merely disheveled and ridiculous.

-- for B --

[ from In Waking Dreams ]

But Dream was still looking at him with his hollowed-out eyes and his hair an even more chaotic wreck than usual, and his body that hadn’t touched something soft in seven decades, seeming more uncertain the longer Hob left stillness between them. And Hob was going to have to take the first step here, he knew he was. He reached out a hand. Can I? he asked without asking, and Dream, knowing him, inclined his head. Still so regal, even after all of that. Hob fit his hand to his jaw, and yes, they still fit together as they did in dreams, what a marvel. 

---

tagging @five-and-dimes, @meadowziplines, @tharkuun

the word is GLOW

[too-much-tma-stuff]

Good to Have a Home

Previous | Masterpost

For a moment when Danny woke up he wasn’t sure what woke him, he opened his eyes a crack and looked around trying to discover the possible threat without letting on he was awake. He noticed Bruce sitting quietly next to him and realized his father’s presence must have been what woken him. He considered pretending to still be asleep, perhaps father would carry him to bed like in the movies and they could avoid this talk, but it was to early for that and he should put Bruce’s mind at ease.

Danny unfolded slowly from his curled up position with a little groan and sat up, checking where the patch of sun was and realizing he’d been asleep for an hour or less. Hopefully that wasn’t enough to mess up his sleep schedule. He stretched and sighed, crossing his legs and leaning back against the wall as he waited for Bruce to speak.

“I know you’re trying to be strong for your brother Danny, but it’s okay if you’re struggling too. You know that right? You both came from the same place, you’re bound to have some of the same troubles,” Danny snorted and drew up his knees, crossing his arms over them. It was quiet for another minute before Bruce added. “If it makes you feel better, I still struggle with it too. I have a well established public persona, but it never feels natural to me. A gala or a formal interview is harder than fighting crime any day.” He said with a little smile, and Danny laughed though maybe not for the reason Bruce hoped.

“You and Damian, both so much more eloquent with violence then with words,” he said, not fully managing to keep the disdain out of his voice. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Bruce wince a little. “It is hard, but it’s much easier for me then for him since I have the training for this. There’s no point wasting time complaining about it. It would help me more if you could talk to Damian and give him some media training, especially before we do any television appearances.”

“Sure, I can do that,” Bruce said, looking a uncertain. Danyal had to bite back a laugh to see an adult man of his stature looking so helpless, he clearly didn't know what to do with Danny. “You can talk to me wherever you want to you know, about anything. And I would like to talk to you more about this, whenever you’re ready.”

“Of course,” He said like a private joke and got up again. “It must be almost dinner time right? I’m hungry,” He offered Bruce his hand to help him up.

“You’re right, I think Alfred is making something special,” Bruce agreed. He took Danny’s hand but didn’t put any weight on him as he stood, which was fair, both Danny and Damian were a bit small even for their age though he was sure they’d grow soon.

“Sounds good, I’ll go see how it’s going,” Danny said and returned the cushion he took back on the chair before trotting down to the kitchen, Bruce following behind him despite Danny’s subtle attempt to flee.

“Ah, master Danny, it’s good to see you. Care to help me put the finishing touches on the meal?” Alfred asked with a kind smile that Danny couldn’t help but return, instantly feeling a little better. He helped prep toppings for the home made burgers Alfred had made and then carried things to the table.

When everything was finished the rest of the family started to filter into the dining room and Danny wandered over to the secret cupboard that held his bottle of Lazarus water. He pressed the door and slid it up, grabbing the bottle and twisted off the cap. He took a quick swig and grimaced at the taste, shuddering as it flowed like fire down his throat and turned into ice and mist in his chest. His eyes flashed green as he gaped and let his breath out as a freezing fog, quickly rushing over to the table to grab a piece of cheese to wash down the taste.

That was when Damian slunk into the room last looking sulky and maybe a little guilty, Danny glanced at him and then sat down next to Tim. Damian hesitated, looking at the table, to the place next to Danny where he would usually sit, that was not open tonight. He sighed and went to sit next to Casandra. The room was silent other then Alfred announcing there were also veggie burgers should anyone want them as they started to serve themselves. The tension was noticeable and annoying so Danny sighed and decided it would be up to him to break it.

“So when can we start doing tests on the Lazarus water? I really want to find out more about how it works,” He said catching Bruce and Tim’s attention.

“I want to wait until you get the first package with more from Talia. You’re reliant on it so you having what you need is more important then any tests, and until we’re sure there’s a reliable source we should save what we have,” Bruce said.

Both Danny and Tim gave twin disappointed sighs and then looked at each other startled before Danny cracked a smile and Tim smiled back. “The spirit of scientific inquiry huh?” Tim joked and Danny laughed, nodding.

“It should be soon, I sent a letter to mother telling her how being so far away from the pits was affecting me so hopefully we’ll have what we need before long and we can start running tests.” Danny assured Tim before they once again started bouncing ideas off each other again, this time veering into other subjects, both Bat and Wayne tech. Tim’s eyes lit up, gesturing wildly as he explained the newest patent he’d been working on for Wayne enterprises.

Danny demanded to see it after dinner and Tim managed to pretend to be reluctant for all of five seconds before agreeing. After that they both ate too quickly so they could rush off together, Tim eager and happy to have someone to talk at about his projects. Danny was happy too! Glad to be a fresh pair of eyes and give Tim some new ideas of how he could improve the product, or things he could try to help fix the last few issues. Some of Danny’s idea’s were unconventional, but Tim didn’t seem to mind.

They lost track of time and Danny only realized how long it had been when Alfred politely knocked on the door of Tim’s office/inventing room to tell them that it was time for bed. Danny didn’t doubt Tim would ignore that and keep working but Danny was used to having a schedule and now that his focus was broken he realized that he was tired… and very thirsty, and sort of had to go to the bathroom. Oops.

“Alright, thank you Alfred. Don’t stay up to late Tim,” He joked as he stood up and stretched.

“We should do this again sometime soon,” Tim said, pointedly ignoring the comment about his sleep schedule.

“We should, I’m looking forward to it,” Danny agreed before leaving Alfred to pester Tim further to see if he could get the teen to go to bed at a reasonable time.

Danny got ready for bed slowly and slipped under his covers Despite how tired he was he ended up laying on his beck and staring at the ceiling, tracing the constellations and trying not to think about the day. He didn’t want to think about how he hadn’t spoken to Damian since he made the comment about this being easy for Danny. He didn’t want to think that they might be fighting now, was Damian upset too? Was he laying on the other side of the wall awake thinking about how what he’d said upset Danny? Was he sorry? Was he angry?

Danny nearly jumped out of his skin when there was a knock on the wall, well that answered a couple of questions. He stared at the wall. Damian and Danny had slept in the same bed together every night for nearly the first two weeks but since then they’d been doing it less often, just when they’d had a bad day or nightmares, or Danny had heard the call in his dreams again. Tonight Danny wasn’t sure if he wanted to reciprocate, what if Damian was still seeking a fight? But they needed each other.

Danny sighed and sat up, leaning over to knock on the wall in return, inviting Damian to come over. He lay back down and waited, a few moments later his door opened a crack and Damian slipped inside, coming over to lay next to him. Danyal offered his hand the way he always did, without opening his eyes, Damian’s warm callused fingers wrapped around his wrist, seeking his pulse.

Danny didn’t say anything, and Damian didn’t either for a long time but the tension between them was palpable and he knew neither of them was asleep.

“I’m sorry,” Damian murmured finally. “I shouldn’t have said that, I know it isn’t actually easy for you either. I just hate how useless I’ve been recently, you… the family likes you, and you know how to handle the media and I feel like I'm falling behind. I hate feeling useless.”

“Welcome to my world,” Danny snorted bitterly. “How do you think I felt in Nanda Parbat.” Danny opened his eyes and was surprised to see guilt and shame on his brothers face. He too suddenly remembered dozens of timed Damian had lectured and put him down, enforcing the standards put on both of them and making Danny feel worse for his inability to do what was expected of him. “It’s okay,” He murmured. “Don’t apologize or feel bad for anything that was done there.”

“I wasn’t going to,” Damian scoffed, but Danny knew he didn’t mean it. “At least you won’t have to go back now right? You get along well with father, and his adopted children, and of course you have the media training. He’ll obviously choose you.”

“Don’t be silly Damian, you and father are very similar. Father has agreed to give you one on one media training, take the chance to bond with him. You should be the heir to the Bat,” Danny encouraged softly.

“But… You don’t want to go back to the League,” Damian said with a little furrow between his eyebrows.

“No, I don’t. The League doesn’t actually need an heir, grandfather is next to immortal anyway. If he does accept an heir I have a feeling he’ll eventually come to see them as a threat, after his position and end up sending them away or killing them. No, neither of us are going back,” he said firmly.

“But… if I’m going to be heir to the Bat, and you don’t want to be the Demon Head’s heir, what are you going to do?” Damian asked sounding lost and confused. He'd always cared so much about such thing.

“I’m not going to be the heir to anything, I never wanted to be anyway,” Danny said just as softly. He’d never said it so plainly before because Damian wouldn’t understand, he’d always wanted a legacy, a purpose to live up to. “If I end up with a legacy I want it to be my own, not handed down to me with all sorts of traditions and expectations. I want to be my own person, whoever that ends up being. If I couldn’t be that here either I was planning to run away once you were settled, but I think Father won’t mind.”

“Good,” Damian said, his fingers twitching and his grip tightening around Danny’s wrist. “We shouldn’t be separated.”

That made Danny smile, he didn’t think Damian would have said such a thing a few months ago he didn’t think Damian would have admitted he wanted to stay together. “You’re right, we shouldn’t be,” He agreed, reaching out to squeeze Damian’s hand with his free one. “And don’t worry about me Dami, yes it’s still hard on me but I know what I’m doing. I know the league training wasn’t actually easy on you either. We compliment each other well, one excelling where the other falls a bit behind, we can help each other.”

“Hopefully the media training will help,” Damian said with a soft sigh. “Smiling and talking like you do doesn’t come naturally to me. I’ve been trying to practice but my smile always looks… off.”

“It’s okay, you don’t have to have a public persona like Danny or Brucie, you can find one that suits you better, Bruce can probably help you with that,” Danny assured as he curled a little closer to his brother.

“Maybe, thank you,” Damian said softly.

“Of course, thank you for apologizing,” Danny murmured.

They fell silent again, but this time it was a comfortable silence, Danny felt like he could finally relax. And with that he fell asleep quickly.

---------

The talk show host sat behind his desk, the Wayne family scattered around on couches, the twins sat between Bruce and Tim on the bigger couch, on the other side Dick and Cass lounged on a love-seat. It had taken a little arranging to get all of the family in one place but Gotham was always happy to see it, especially to have Dick back from Bludhaven and back with the family. He’d been back more since the twins had arrived of course, wanting to get to know the new siblings, but that hadn’t included many public appearances.

“Thank you for making the time to join me and my studio audience tonight,” The host, Jim Thomas said with a winning smile, sweeping his gaze over all the Waynes present.

“Of course! We’re always happy to be here, especially with such good news as two new children,” Brucie said with a bright smile. Everyone knew Gotham’s billionaire adored kids. It seemed like he didn’t know what to do with himself without having a full house and dealt with empty nest by simply adopting more children.

“Right, two at once this time. One at a time no longer enough for you, Brucie?” Jim teased and Bruce chuckled rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly as the audience laughed.

“To be fair to him, we sought him out. And no one really expects twins right?” Danny said with a chuckle gesturing back and forth between him and Damian.

“I guess not,” Jim agreed as the audience laughed along. “Now I doubt there’s anyone here who doesn’t know who you are but introduce yourself anyway please.”

“My name is Damian Al Ghul-Wayne,” Damian responded first after being gently nudged by Danny.

“And I’m Danyal Al Ghul-Wayne, but I go by Danny,” Danyal followed up.

“Al Ghul must be your mother’s last name?” Jim asked and the twins nodded. “Is that Middle Eastern?”

“Close but no, we were raised in Pakistan which is South Asia,” Danyal said with a shake of his head. There was a soft hiss at the name of their country, a lot of people knew about the violence there. “Thankfully we were very sheltered,” Danyal said before any follow up questions about that could be asked.

“Fair enough,” Jim said with a nod, clearly he’d like to ask more about that but they had gone over what questions would be asked in this interview ahead of time and that was not one of them. “So we heard in the print article how the twins feel about all their new siblings but how do the rest of the siblings feel about the twins?” Jim asked, his eyes sweeping over them. “Let’s go oldest to youngest?” He suggested looking at Dick.

“Oh I’m used to it by now! I was really mad when Bruce brought J-.. My first brother home,” Everyone winced, the family still had a hard time talking about Jason. “But by the time Timmers came around I was used to it and was thrilled to have a new sibling! I swear since then I’ve just gotten happier with each new sibling I get!” He said with a bright, if slightly vacuous smile.

Jim pointed at Tim next who smiled. “It’s been great to have some more geniuses around,” He joked. “Danny is mechanically minded like me, we’ve been working together on some new tech for Wayne corp, he has some creative ideas. Some of them even work!” He laughed and let out an oof when Danny elbowed him. “Neither of the twins know much modern media, so it’s been fun showing them all the movies I consider required viewing, Damian has the best reactions.”

“Well I know we're all looking forward to seeing what you come up with! Cassandra, what about you? These are your first new brothers aren’t they?” Jim asked, looking to Cass.

She smiled at him and started to sign, it was easier on her then talking in front of so many people. Dick translated easily; “She loves having brothers who are so similar to her. They both stretch and train with her every morning though they’re far from professional dancers. Besides it’s nice to not be the baby anymore.”

Jim laughed at the comment. “Fair enough! Some people like being the baby of the family but it’s not for everyone. What about you Brucie, we know you’re happy to have more kids but this brings it to five, How many children is too many?”

“Oof hard questions,” Brucie said leaning back and looking like he was thinking hard. “I’m going to say eight? Give myself some more room to grow! It also depends how many friends my current kids mak,e if I can keep my house full of happy people.” So unlike the quiet, grief stricken home he had grown up in after his parent’s deaths, as far away from that as possible.

“It’s not like all of them live at home anymore! I currently only have 4 under my roof, and whatever friend is staying over of course. There’s room for more, if the right kid comes along of course,” He said cheerfully and all his kids groaned in exasperation making the audience laugh.

“Try to wait for a bit, at least till Danny and Damian and properly adjusted hm?” Jim joked. “Well I’m sure we’re all glad to hear that the family is all settling in well and going strong.

“Us too, we would have hated it if showing up caused issues,” Danny said gesturing back and forth between himself and Damian. “But it’s been really nice to be somewhere we can be ourselves, and just be kids.”

“It hasn’t been coming entirely naturally,” Damian admitted, hands folded in his lap. “Neither has trusting adults, but we have time, and dad has experience with kids who’ve been through… hard times. In that way I know we’re very grateful for our older siblings.”

“There’s probably no one better you two could have ended up with,” The host agreed warmly.

------(Changing back to Danny’s perspective)

The rest of the interview wrapped up well and Danny felt like he was almost bursting with pride that he couldn’t express. Two weeks of intense media training for Damian, he hadn’t enjoyed it, it had been hard and frustrating, but he had stuck with it and it had really paid off tonight! He had done so well in the interview, he had kept a straight face while their adopted brothers were talking and Danny had only had to prompt him once! And it had helped, the interview had still been exhausting but without having to worry about Damian, and with their family there to rely on, less so.

He was still glad to get out from in front of the cameras and back stage to wash off the tv makeup and change out of the scratchy suit before they headed home. Alfred had promised that while they were playing socialite he would be doing some baking, preparing a treat for them when they got home. Danny couldn’t wait!

“Way to go little brothers!” Dick cheered, slinging an arm around both of their shoulders which had Damian snarling and start fighting against the grip. Which backfired as Dick released Danny to hold Damian with both arms and ruffle up his perfectly sicked back hair as Damian made sounds of complaint out outrage. Danny laughed and backed away to avoid getting grabbed again.

“I can’t believe your said you were grateful for us! I’m touched,” Tim teased as well as Damian managed to bite Dick hard, them kick his shin to escape.

“It’s hardly a compliment to call you an experiment,” Damian sniffed turning up his nose at them, though thankfully they just laughed again. Danny was just relieved Damian hadn’t pulled a knife of Dick, he knew his twin had a few stashed in various hiding places on his person. To be fair, so did Danny.

“Really, Chum,” Bruce said softly, resting a hand on Damian’s shoulder, smiling warmly down at him. “You did well, I’m proud of you. Both of you,” He added smiling at Danny as well, who smiled back softly and nodded in acknowledgement. Damian looked like the praise had overwhelmed and shut down his systems. Bruce chuckled and gently led the way out to the car, using his hand on Damian’s shoulder to guide him while he processed.

They all piled in the limo, chatting and laughing, mostly getting out residual nervous energy from the interview. Danny joined in a little, but mostly relaxed next to a silent Damian. When they got home everyone got out and scattered, Cass and Tim rushing to grab a couple cookies before practically running to the cave so they could get out on patrol. Dick broke off with Bruce to talk about something, and Damian and Danny took their time walking back inside together.

“It’s good to be home isn’t it?” Damian said with a soft sigh once the heavy doors closed behind them.

“Good to have a home,” Danny said. Good to have a place where he finally felt safe, where they didn’t have to fight for survival. Good to have a place they could finally be themselves. Whatever happened with school, and hero work, and everything else, it was good to have a home.