#he's lost in costco

[quasarden]

Using my DMC5 English Art book to make the most incomprehensible deep cut lore meme redraws. 

[redbean-nom]

adding that those are definitely bobas clothes because nobody else wears those sorts of scarves

(also important to note that fennec is half a foot shorter than mayfeld and also does not own anything more than din currently does after getting shot. on the other hand din is the closest in height but is probably already borrowing boba's clothes after his own got blown up)

Do you guys wanna know what I’ve been thinking about nonstop since my friend pointed this out?

Let us take a journey to The Mandalorian, Chapter 15. Here’s a look at our favorite ex-imperial from Space Boston, Mayfeld:

He looks as dashing as eve- wait a minute

Mayfeld was wearing this prisoner garb at the beginning of the episode:

And he and Cara went straight to the Slave I. Even if they made some stops before the ship took off, Mayfeld was arrested in season 1 wearing this:

So that begs the question, who gave him those clothes??? He is wearing them LITERALLY right after the ship launches, and you can see the ship rotate in the background. SO, the options:

Cara- she was picked up out of the blue similarly, so she likely didn’t have anything to give him

Din- poor thing only has the clothes on his back (i’m still not over the space honda civic’s death….)

Fennec- has worn the same outfit for literally 27 years; this is out of her realm

There is only one possible solution, and that is the fashion god himself, lover of scarves, man of many pockets, king of color coordination–

BOBA!

THOSE ARE LIKELY BOBA’S CLOTHES!

(so obviously I had to draw casual Boba)

anyways my 2 braincells were thinking about Boba in casual clothes for a week and a half and I could not rest until I drew him

I hope you enjoyed this revelation as much as I did and I hope to god this means we’ll get to see more outfits because I am so READY FOR IT

[bee-wg]

Year 2:

“Jay! What the Flip?” It’s the ass crack of dawn, and Theo is already trying his best SpongeBob impression.

“Whaaat?” I yelled back with a mouth full of pancakes.

“You put your dirty clothes on my bed again!” He squealed.

”Dude, you asked for it. What are you whining about?”

“Boys, What did I say about yelling in the morning?” She yelled.

“Yewn, bwintow!” I think Dad was telling us to break it off, but he’s too lost in the Cream Cheese Danish.

Can’t blame him. Delicious and high protein? There’s nothing better.

Theo rushed down with a constipated face. 

“Ewww. They’re still wet to the touch. Wait. Is it dripping sweat?”

Okay. I overlooked the wet part, but he asked me to have it. 

I’ve been cleaning out some gym clothes that don't fit anymore, and Theo wanted some. I’ve decided to fully commit on football and my stocky phase, so I gave that shirt one last try yesterday. It was definitely not made for a more rugged build person. As I walked around the house, I unknowingly soaked it. I used to be disgusted with sweating. I would shower and wash the clothes by hand after each morning run. Recently I’ve been sweating a lot easier, but Dad told me to look at the bright side of things, and I do see it. Usually I would only sweat when I get a real good workout. Since it's easier to sweat buckets, that means I’m getting lots of exercise.

That leads back to this. I don’t feel as compelled to wash them anymore. They’re the result of my hard work on the journey back to being shredded. 

“No more pancakes in the morning for the month.” He said.

“What?…But…You can’t do that.” 

His face tells me, “Yes, loser. I can.”

***

“What happened, dude? Your cat died?” Brad asked.

This is supposed to be an easy practice because it’s the last before the summer. I guess Coach woke up and chose violence. 

I’ve been only doing a few yards of Quick Steps and Sumo squats. My lungs are now collapsing.

I’m only 230 pounds; there are players heavier than me doing better. I’m doing something wrong. It must be because I didn’t have protein pancakes for days.

“Dude, you there?” Brad asked.

Trying not to wheeze, I replied.

“Yeah, S’all good. I’m just hungry.” 

It would be an understatement. When you’re used to protein goods pumping your belly full of energy every morning, what does five English muffins and some hash browns even do?”

“Hahaha, classic Jay. You’re the man.” Brad answers with a slap on my back.

“Gosh, you’re getting sweatier than Aiden.” He said in disbelief.

“Oh, by the way. Aiden’s going to Costco to buy a speaker for our dorm. You mind giving him a lift?” Brad asked.

“Bad timing man, my dad broke the old Toyota. It’s taking a long time to repair.”

“No problem. I’ll see you next semester then. Take care!” Brad waved as he sprinted out of the field.

***

I felt like I could eat a horse when the bus arrived. I passed through the usual stops, and finally.

The warm smell of chicken nuggets invites me.

I pull out my phone and check. Ten consecutive days. I can definitely redeem a free meal today.

“Welcome, what can I get you?” The cashier asked.

“Can I have the Double Western Deluxe Combo?” “ I have the loyalty discount.”

“Thank you, here’s your number.”

After what felt like forever, they finally called my number. 

It’s a pretty big meal, but today’s situation calls for it. 

I’ve been doing pretty well sticking to a fries-only diet when I’m here. With some occasional burgers and soda thrown in, I’ve accumulated a few thousand points to have meals like this once in a while. The only downside is the bus here takes way too long. I guess it’s better than the neighbours knowing I’m a regular customer. 

As I finished the fries, I saw a guy wandering outside with my university’s gym bag.

Wait, is he from the team? 

Wait, is that Aiden?

No. Shit, Is Aiden waving to me?

He’s probably waving to someone else.

Then the door’s jingle chimes.

“Yo, I didn’t expect to see you here!” Aiden said.

My alone time is ruined.

“Yeah man, me too. What brought you here?” I asked.

“Just bought the speaker and couldn’t find any restaurants here. I thought Costco had a food court.” He looked down at my plate.

“Whatchu havin’? Oh Damnnn, that’s a chunky burger!” He said in excitement.

“Haven’t had them in years, my mom hates that shit.” 

I just wish to crawl into a hole at this point.

“Yeah, my mom hates them to-” 

“I should have one too.” Aiden interrupted.

”What?”

Then he came back with a smaller combo with a box of salad.

“Oh man, I’ve been wanting to have a taste for so long,” Aiden said with glittering eyes.

He got a few bites of the burger and fries, then moved on to the salad.

“So what are you doing this summer?” I asked.

“Oh, not much. Probably hang out with the guys. My dad wants me to go to a training camp though. It’s not like I will play football after college anyway, so what’s the point?”

Then we talk about dorm drama and who the coach is going to recommend to the NFL scouts.

He is actually quite chill to talk to. 

“You don’t like it?” I point down to his unfinished burger.

“No, it’s the best thing I’ve had in years. Definitely beating celery or carrots. I just have a diet going on, and I kinda impulse bought this.”

“I could finish it for you.” I offered.

“Really? Thank you so much dude!” He said.

“You’re actually pretty fun to hang out with. I always thought you had a stick up your ass.” He added unhelpfully.

By the time the last of his burger and fries disappeared in my stomach, I was ready to sleep it off when I got home. 

My phone rang, waking me up from sleep. It’s 2 AM.

Probably Number Seven. He always calls at an odd hour. 

I picked up the call.

“Duuuuuuude, I didn’t know you go to fast foods. I thought we don’t keep anything from each other.” Instead of number seven, Brad said.

“Jay, knock it off,” Theo grumbled on the other side of the room.

“Keep it down, Brad. What is it?” 

I knew shit would get out of the bag sooner or later. At least I had two weeks of peace.

“Next time let me join too!” Brad said.

What the hell is up with these people? 

“Fine, whatever. Let me go to sleep.”

“Thanks a lot, man. I’ve never had fast food before!”

I have the feeling that this is going to bite me in the ass later.

Brad is calling me. Again.

“Dude, what?” I asked calmly.

“Woah, no need to get so worked up.”

“I asked some of my mates, they all agreed to meet up at the mall’s parking lot,” Brad said.

What is going on? It’s only been five hours since he last called me.

“Don’t forget to bring your laptop and an empty stomach! It’s gonna be an epic summer.” Then he hung up on me.

I should be used to Brad’s bullshit by now. He’s been like this since high school.

The bus on the way there is as tedious as usual. 

Why did he tell me to go with an empty stomach? Didn’t he know that I get really grumpy without any breakfast? It’s worse now without pancakes.

He looks at me eagerly, like a dog finding its treat.

“What is it, man?” I asked as he led me to the back of the restaurant.

Then, no Harry Potter bullshit, he opened the wall.

“What the hell? There was a room back here all this time?”

“Wait, Brad. You rented a party room?”

“It’s sick, right? I thought we could chill here for the summer, and go to the river nearby when we’re bored. Oh, I also brought the guys here. And a projector!”

“How did you afford this? I didn’t know you were rich.” I look at the big ass room with my friends in there already playing video games. Even Aiden the snitch is here.

“Oh, I have a pretty successful OnlyFans account. I thought I could spend it on you guys.”

“…”

“…”

“Good for you, man. Gotta hustle in this economy.”

He ordered a party combo with a bunch of salad. Then we started playing video games. It wasn’t until I was on a losing streak playing Yoshi on Mario Kart, I realized. They were staring at me expectantly.

“What?” I asked.

“So…Can you help us finish?” Aiden said.

Oh no. Not again. I turned to look at Brad.

He responded with a toothy grin.

“Please Jay, you have, like, the biggest appetite out of all of us. Look at all this free food going to waste. I bet you’re still hungry.”

“There are five of you,” I said.

“Marcus can help,” Brad added.

“Wait, me?” Marcus said.

He’s the team’s linebacker. The only guy bigger than me.

“Fine. At least it’s free.” I said reluctantly.

The fact that all of the juicy meat is screaming for my attention might be clouding my judgment.

We continued playing games, watched some movies while I munch

It was pretty fun. I got to talk to the people I wouldn’t usually talk to.

For example, I didn’t know Braxton played piano or Oscar was a hardcore Pokémon card collector.

The rest of the summer continued and the guys would meet up about three times a week.

I should’ve said no the second time Brad asked. But how can I let the food go to waste when the guys need me?

Marcus doesn’t come often because he’s occupied with his boyfriend. So the guys developed a way for me to eat all of their share. I would drink a dubious amount of water to expand my stomach in the morning, giving me more space. 

It was incredibly stupid, but when the guys cheered me up while I devoured the last of the remains, I felt pretty proud of myself.

By the end of the summer, not wanting to waste the last of our freedom. Everyone has been scrambling for things to do.

That’s where Brad’s dad comes in. He organized a BBQ party by the beach and invited all the football Dads from high school who were still in their little group chat. Of course, we are invited too.

“Oh come on, Jay Jay. You have to go, or else I’m gonna be all alone.” Brad whined.

“No Brad. You’re gonna be with twenty people, you won’t be alone.” I replied.

“If you’re worried about not having any swim trunks that fit, you can borrow from my old man, or we could go shopping together.” Shit, he’s awfully insightful.

“Your dad is like, 500 pounds. I’m not that fat, dude.”

Then Theo asked me if he could join cause he had grown out of his swim shorts too. Whatever that means.

That’s how we ended up here with Brad showing me an ugly Hawaii print speedo with a blue Jay on it, and Theo laughing his ass off with him.

“No, I’m not going to wear that,” I said for the final time.

“You’re no fun, Jay,” Theo said.

“Right? This guy gets it.” Brad replied to him.

“So you’re the culprit who made Jay fat,” Brad asked.

”Dude, you don’t know the half of it. I basically sacrificed myself to advance his cooking career.” I added.

“I don’t know. I would think taking care of his laundry, dishes, and meals, just to have him burp in my face and snore at night makes up for it. If anything, I'm doing too much. I should stop doing the protein pancakes agai-“ 

”Theo! You’re literally the best chef in the world. I am honoured to be your Guinea pig for the rest of my life.” I said.

He smiled 

Yes! Crises subverted.

“Hahahahaha you two are so strange.” Brad, who is still listening, said.

The possibility of protein pancakes being taken away from me sends shivers down my spine. I try to refocus on Brad’s shenanigans.

He came out of the fitting room with a professional swimming Jammer.

Why did he even take his shirt off? Goddamn washboard abs.

“Don’t you think it’s too extra for the beach barbecue?” I asked.

“I think it fits him nicely,” Theo said.

“Theo, you get me,” Brad said, then winked at him.

Is he trying to rizz my cousin?

“It’s my turn!” Theo said, grabbing a few trunks he chose.

Then he came out, without a shirt too, wearing a bright orange swim shorts.

“I see you’re putting my gym membership to good use.” Goddamn washboard abs, where did that even come from? Now that I think of it, he’s been fitting my old gym clothes better.

“You look awesome, Theo. The orange fits you nicely.” Brad said.

“I guess it’s my turn,” I said without enthusiasm.

After struggling to pull it up my ass. I walked out with the ugly print forest green trunk that’s wedged between my inner thighs; with a shirt on, thank you very much.

“Woah, look at those hefty thighs,” Brad said.

I’m out of options, and there’s no way I’m walking into another swimwear store again. So we made our way to the counter.

The day for the beach finally arrives, and I can already feel the swim trunks digging into my ass.

What’s more annoying is that Mom and Dad are now angry at me.

I would be angry at myself too.

Now I’m in a car with no AC, listening to how I should make better life choices.

“Jay, I didn’t think you would sneak off for fast food without telling us.” Mom said.

She caught the extra burgers I sneaked in to munch on at night this morning.

“Jacob, don’t you remember what I told you about garbage food?” Dad asked.

He said my full name. He never says my full name.

“If you want fried chicken you could ask mom to make it. You know it’s healthier at home.” Dad said.

“Am I not making enough, Jay?” Mom asked.

“I’m sorry Mom, I know I shouldn’t go,” I said.

“Don’t worry about it, honey. We can get through this together. If you want more fried food, Theo and I will make lots of it at home.”

“I got you, Jay,” Theo said, patting my shoulder.

We finally got to the beachside. After finding a shade to park our car, Dad struggled a bit to get out of the car. It seems like the old Toyota is seeing its last days. We might need to upgrade the car soon.

I know Dad is probably not mad at me, but his disappointment was worse.

Hopefully he can forgive me after getting some barbecue in his stomach.

We started setting up the chairs with Brad’s dad as more of my high school friends and their dads started coming in. I haven’t seen most of them since we graduated.

Dad went to greet them and it looked like he fit right in.

He was the Dad everyone’s dad was jealous of but couldn’t help to like him.

I was pretty shocked when I heard Dad wanted to come because he always declined their barbecue invites. 

He was the fittest of the group, but it looks like he is one of the heavier guys here. Dad told me he’s almost 260 pounds now, so Theo and I will probably lose again this year.

I feel conflicted. I wanted to look like Dad before when he had chiselled abs, but I also want to look like him now when he has a much larger presence with the same amount of confidence. I can’t do either correctly.

“You daydreaming, bro?” Brad said.

“It’s nothing. Let’s get the boxes out,” I replied.

“Just so you know, you can tell me whatever you want, Alright?” He said.

“Thanks man, appreciate it.”

He’s too pure to know about my problem with how my abs or belly doesn’t look right.

We got the tablecloth pinned in place to withstand the wind, then set up some disposable tableware.

“Good job, son,” Dad said as he patted my back.

I smiled for the first time today.

Brad’s dad put us on watch duty for the grill while I fought not to drool on the food. 

I’ll get my share. Old people first.

“Jacob? You’re all grown up! You’re a big boy now, almost as big as me. I bet you made your father proud.” Mr. Lancaster said. 

“Mr. Lancaster, you’re here! I didn’t know you were coming.”

He used to take me to his house with Ms. Lancaster when my mom was busy, or when Dad was substituting for other teachers.

Avery and I used to-

Wait, Avery is here?

I looked around to scan everyone.

“Oh, my boy is having a problem with his car, so he is probably not coming.” Mr. Lancaster said.

“We have the same issue too; it’s been a mess. Say hello to Avery for me, eh?”

“Of course, good to see you, Jay.” He replied.

I sighed in relief. I don’t know what to say to Avery if he comes. I missed him, but I also ignored him a couple times when I spotted him at the fast food place.

We served for an hour and a half. I probably lost the 60weight pounds I’ve gained, and my stomach is definitely deflated now.

Note to self: If I ever need to lose weight again, just stare at tasty barbecues all day just to have none of it.

“Ahem. Woah cool! Look at that shiny thing over there. I’m going to go fetch it!” Brad said suddenly, then ran off.

“Wait, you still have your-“

He ditched me.

I tried to flip over both of our grills to no avail.

“You need help?”

“Ahhhhhh!”I yelped.

Ave laughs with his usual lopsided smile.

“I thought you were,” I said.

“Dead? No. I caught an Uber.” Avery said.

“Right. Long time no see.” I reached out my hand for a shake.

“Seriously, Jay? When did you start doing that shit?” Ave said.

Same old Avery then. I took my hand back and hid a grin.

He looked so different I didn’t know how to react. By the looks of it, he’s almost doubled my weight, maybe around 450s. 

“Haven’t seen you in a while. You look good.” He said.

“You looked good too.” Now that I see him closely, it suits him, makes him look sturdy. His ass is hanging out in the back like a bra though.

“What were you up to this past year?” I asked.

“Well you know, I screwed up the football scholarship. But it’s the best thing that could’ve happened to me.” He said.

“I was pretty depressed for a bit, so I decided to go on one of the self-searching trips to some countries and states...”

Then he told me about the kind people and assholes he met on the way, as we finally sat down with our share of Barbecues.

Ave said that he got to eat food he never imagined existed, learn about cultures that changed his perspective on things.

He said he has never felt freer of any emotional constraints than he is now. I couldn't stop my smile from forming. I’m really happy for him.

He has always been harsh on himself. When school didn’t work, he dedicated his all to sports. On his way there, I felt like I lost a friend.

We talked for hours about the airplane seats being a bitch and how he’s sorry for whoever sat next to him, or about how I am addicted to fast foods and pancakes. He’s probably the only one I know that can relate.

I was lost in the conversation, with Brad interrupting occasionally with strange looks of wiggling eyebrows or smug smiles. I really don’t know what he’s on.

It’s when Dad is folding up the seats, and Brad’s dad cleans up the grill. Ave asked me.

“Wanna do this again sometime? My dad’s coffee shop has a new brownie coming up that he’s really proud of.”

Yes, of course. I wanna learn more about you and be friends again.

“Sorry, men. School is going to be busy. I also need to focus on football more this year, or I will get too fat to play.” I said.

“No problem Jay. You know I’ll always be there for you.” Avery said.

I tried to one arm hug him and he fully embraced me. His body is so warm and unbelievably soft.

For a moment, I wished I was proud like him. But I’m not free like him

Gathering supplies Dad brought, I walked back to the car, forgetting to ask for his number.

The school year started without much fanfare. But the feeling of estrangement grew.

Hanging out with the team was fun, but playing the game just doesn’t bring me the same amount of rush and anticipation anymore, instead, I look forward to the meal after the game that brings me the rush. It’s not like I was playing the game much anyway; I’m a glorified Waterboy now. My job is to refuel the Gatorade or water, then squirt it into the guys’ mouths. After that, I just need to hand them the towel and sit back to finish my hot dog. 

I know the team appreciates me. I would keep doing it for them if not for Coach’s disappointing stares. He probably thought I would be a star player like Dad, but I ended up fatter than the linebacker. I would be disappointed too.

My decision was made following the buzzing call of our defeat.

Chapter 3 ->

[muddyorbsblr]

onyx pt1

See my full list of works here!

Summary: You're stuck in the Avengers Compound because of an injury from your last mission, and you come across an adorable and affectionate little kitten.

Pairing: Loki x Reader

Word Count: 2.3k

Warnings: language (no i'm not sorry, Rogers); talks of explosions and injuries sustained from explosion [let me know if i missed anything!]

Things to be aware of: one-sided crushing (but is it really…?)

An eerie silence served as your only company in the Avengers Compound the last few days, some of your teammates off to finish the HYDRA mission that left you injured while the others took time off to visit their families over the holidays. With the promise to keep their comms on in case they would be needed until the New Year.

Now all that remained in the Compound with you were a few junior agents that drew the ends of the short stick, Val, and Loki.

Sadly your teammate, friend, and occasional drinking buddy Val was out blissfully spreading holiday cheer throughout New York with her girlfriend.

And Loki? Well, the God of Mischief wasn't exactly on chummy terms with you. Didn't even so much as give you a passing glance when you were at mission briefings.

Which was a damn shame because what you would give just to get lost in those stormy ocean eyes.

You made your way to the pantry in the common room to replenish your stash of snacks, towing along a little wagon to help you on the way back. Every step had you feeling every square inch of bruising on the left side of your body that you got from being unlucky enough to be caught in the blast radius of an explosion at the HYDRA base you were trying to infiltrate with Shaun just a few days ago.

Your phone buzzed with a new message. "Speak of the devil," you muttered to yourself, seeing Xu's name on your screen as soon as you pulled up next to the elaborate barista setup, putting a few Lindor truffles in a small bag for your wagon. "Hey FRIDAY?"

"Yes, Agent Y/L/N?" the AI answered immediately.

"Could you make me a white chocolate mocha with peppermint while I raid the latest Costco delivery for uhh…supplies. Yeah, I'll go with that."

"Right away, Agent Y/L/N." The sound of the barista setup whirring to life filled the kitchen area as you checked on Shaun's message.

Thor just mentioned that he'll ask his brother to take a look at your injuries. Maybe get him to kiss it all better. He finished his text with a smirking emoji, along with some hand gestures that painted a less than family friendly picture, making you roll your eyes at the screen.

You recorded a voice memo for him. "You know that he'd need to actually be willing to look at me so that he could see the damage from the blast, right? And last I checked I'm pretty sure he thinks I'm Medusa reincarnated and I'll turn his Asgardian ass to stone."

You went on to the ridiculously stocked pantry to rummage the delivery that came just a few hours ago, trying to find a bag of Jalapeño Cheetos somewhere in the mix, when you heard a tiny meow from somewhere behind you. You looked to the ground to find a black and white munchkin cat looking up at you with wide blue eyes.

"Hi there, baby…" you cooed, surprised the adorable little creature hadn't hissed or scratched at you yet. Cats normally didn't take to you, which was a shame because you often found yourself fighting the urge to pick one up or stroke its head whenever you crossed paths with one during your errand runs. "How'd you get in here?"

The tiny kitten caught you by surprise with what it did next, walking up to your feet and proceeding to rub its cheek against your ankle, a little purr emanating from its small fluffy body. You decided to risk the hissing and scratching and bent down to pick it up, your heart melting once he placed his paws on your cheek and proceeded to nuzzle your face with his nose.

"Aren't you a complete darling." He settled into your arm as you carried him out of the pantry, a little whine escaping him when you placed him down on the counter. He stood on his hind legs and made grabby hands towards you, blue eyes wide and pleading for you to pick him back up. "Just a second, sweet baby, I'm just getting you something to drink."

You took out a tiny sauce dish and poured some cream into it, pushing it toward the kitten that responded with a slow blink and a meow before licking away at the rich liquid.

"I'm sure your owner's gonna crucify me for giving you that but I can't help spoiling little fur babies especially when they're as adorable as you are." You took a sip of the coffee FRIDAY had finished making before shouting out a question for her. "Hey FRIDAY, you have any clue who this little bub belongs to?"

It took a second for her to answer. "Negative, Agent Y/L/N. There is currently no other agent on the premises looking for their pet. I also see no collar on them and from a preliminary scan they do not seem to have a microchip on them."

Those words stopped the kitten from drinking to look up toward the ceiling and hiss at the source of the voice. He only relaxed once you started stroking his fur again, going back to drinking and letting out a few purrs along the way. "No owner, huh? Does that mean I can invoke Finders Keepers then?"

"It appears so, Agent Y/L/N. What would be your new companion's name?"

The kitten looked up at you, as if expecting your answer. You wondered briefly if he could actually understand what it was that you and FRIDAY were talking about. "How about Onyx? I know I know it's absolute garbage for originality to name a black cat after a black gemstone but--"

His eyes widened before he climbed up your arm, only stopping once he'd reached your shoulder to nuzzle at your neck again. "It seems he likes the name, Agent Y/L/N."

"Then it's settled." You placed a soft kiss on top of his head. "Hello there, Onyx."

You brought your new kitten back to your apartment, setting him down on your bed while you tried to take off your sweatshirt as gently as you could manage.

"Ah, fuck it," you hissed as you felt the bruising around your ribs, letting out a pained sound when you opted to whip the garment over your head as fast as you could instead. Your reflection revealed that the bruising on the left side of your torso was quickly becoming a frightening deep purple.

Onyx meowed from your bed, again standing on his back legs and making grabby hands at you, eyes wide with evident pain.

"What's wrong, little baby?" He placed his paws gently on your side when you made your way to him, pressing his nose to the skin near where your bruising began. "Oh don't you worry your pretty little head about those, sweetie. They'll heal…eventually."

He kept on pressing his face to the area, your heart melting for the tiny kitten even more realizing that he was pressing kisses to your wounds.

"You really are such a precious little bub, aren't you?" You picked your new kitten up, placing him on the armchair in your reading nook before setting an alarm for dinner in a few hours and settling into your bed. "Get some sleep, sweet baby Onyx. I'll see you in a few hours."

Your eyes had only closed for a few seconds before you heard another tiny meow followed by a soft thud, immediately making you sit up on the bed looking for the kitten. He'd already made his way to your bedside, standing on his back legs and reaching up trying to climb up the sheets.

"Alrighty then," you mumbled, picking him up and placing him on the pillow beside yours. You rolled over to lay on your right side to remove any pressure to your injuries the best you could, hovering your finger near Onyx's nose once you'd settled in. He leaned up and pressed his nose to your finger, paws kneading on his pillow. "Boop," you giggled. "Sweet dreams, baby."

Just as you'd closed your eyes to try catching an hour or two of rest before you had to eat again and take those pain meds that Banner prescribed you, your phone began to blare Immigrant Song way too loudly by your nightstand. There were only two contacts you gave that ringtone to and one of them was currently out with her girlfriend.

"Talk to me, Thunder," you muttered, groaning when your stretch to reach for your phone made your bruising smart a bit. "You all good over there?"

"Absolutely grand, Lady Y/N," the blond god's voice boomed from the other end. "I was just wondering if you could check on my brother, he refuses to answer his phone yet again."

"That's gonna be a hard pass from me, buddy. I've already been cut and bruised, I'm not too keen to add stabbed to that list. He's probably just practicing spells. Or out on a date." You winced at that last part, an irrational part of you flaring up with unwarranted jealousy at the thought of Loki out with just about anyone. "Just--I don't know, check up on him yourself when you get back. You can take a stab better than me anyways."

Thor sighed loudly, the low rumbling making Onyx step back from his pillow and start hissing at the phone. You stroked the top of his head to calm him down. "Very well then, Lady Y/N. Rest well. We're scheduled to return after nightfall."

"I'll have pizza here waiting for you guys. Bring your own mead." You clicked off and tried to get some sleep, having FRIDAY place an order for pizzas and wings for when the team gets back. Your new kitten padded his way over to you, resting his head on your outstretched arm and letting out a soft purr.

The sound of the Quinjet coming back roused you from your nap, along with the feel of little paws on your arm and Onyx nuzzling your cheek.

"Looks like everyone's home," you mumbled, pressing a few kisses to the kitten's head before making your way out of bed. "Come on, little baby. Time to meet the team."

With a whole lot of discomfort and groaning, you slipped your sweatshirt back on before presenting your hand to Onyx and patting your shoulder, prompting the kitten to climb up your arm and perch himself on the spot, nuzzling his face behind your ear.

The team had already arrived and filled the common area when you made your way there, some of them helping themselves to the pizza. Barnes and Wilson walked in with coolers, probably filled with chilled bottles of beer inside.

"Hey, there she is!" Shaun exclaimed, pulling out a bottle of Pepsi before making his way over to you and pulling you into an embrace. "How's the healing go--Whoa there." He took a step back as Onyx hissed in his direction. "Where'd you come from, little guy?"

You shh'd the kitten, pressing kisses to his little cheek to calm him down. "It's okay, baby, Shaun is a friend. One of the good guys." You turned back to your mission partner. "Shaun, this is Onyx."

"Always thought you were a dog person, Babes," Natasha spoke up before taking your arm and walking you to the food. "We leave for one day and you become a cat lady. Where'd you even find the time to go to a shelter and get baby blue eyes over here?"

"I didn't, actually," you answered the master assassin. "I just went to the pantry and poof there he was, meowing at my feet. Like the cat distribution system mailed him to me by magic or something." He nuzzled your cheek again before starting to knead at your face.

"And he doesn't belong to anyone? You're sure?" Shaun spoke up, backing up immediately when he tried to pet your new kitten and getting hissed at. "Easy, kitty. I'm a friend, I'm not gonna hurt you." The martial artist turned back to you. "He wasn't collared? Or chipped?"

"Nope. FRIDAY scanned him and everything."

"You wanna think about getting him chipped?"

Onyx hissed again at the question before swishing his tail around to curtain your hair around him, his little body shaking on your shoulder. As if he was silently pleading for you to not take him out to have him chipped.

"Don't you worry, baby. I won't get you chipped, I wouldn't hurt you like that," you cooed, letting out a little giggle as he placed his paws on your cheeks and nuzzled your nose, giving the tip tiny licks. You were so focused on your cat's affections that the bellowing of Thor looking for his brother was a distant muffled noise in the background.

Until he got to where you were standing and his booming voice was impossible to ignore. "What an adorable little beast you have, with you, Lady Y/N." Onyx buried himself in the crook of your neck, shaking at the sound of Thor's voice.

"It's alright, Onyx. It's just Thunder, he may be all big and menacing on the outside but he's just a fluff ball on the inside. Come on, go say hi."

The blond Asgardian approached you, examining your new pet carefully before a knowing grin graced his bearded face. "Hello, Brother."

A chill went down your spine at his words. "What the fuck d'you just say, Blondie?"

He motioned toward the kitten on your shoulder. "This is the explanation for his lack of replies on his phone. His absence from his quarters. Lady Y/N, the little beast hiding himself in your hair…is my brother. That is Loki."

In your stupor, the only words you could manage to say were, "Bitch what?!"

A/N: Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays to the members of SAS, beloved besties, and fellow whores! I've had this idea doing a slow lurky crawl in the microwave that is my writing noggin for the last few months, and I'm so excited that I finally get to share it with y'all! Part 2 is coming in a few days, and then it's a coin toss on whether I'll be trying to end the year with crossing off some things on my writing todo list, or crossing off some titles from my Tumblr TBR 😳👀

everything taglist: @simplyholl @loopsisloops @imalovernotahater @coldnique @loz-3 @huntress-artemiss @salempoe @vickie5446 @athalialaufeyson @lokiprompts @kats72 @kikster606 @asgards-princess-of-mischief @lokixryss @thomase1 @mischief2sarawr @peaches1958 @lovingchoices14 @lunarnights95 @goblingirlsarah @iamlokisgloriouspurpose @creationsbyme @maple-seed @mjsthrillernp @ladyofthestayingpower @mygfloki @sititran @glitterylokislut @ozymdias @fictive-sl0th  @lokidbadguy @mochie85 @silverfire475 @joyful-enchantress @elizabethmidnight2017 @holdmytesseract @smolvenger @gigglingtiggerv2 @lokidokieokie @lunarnights95 @superficialdomina @anukulee @kmc1989 @november-rayne @goddessofwonderland @buttercupcookies-blog @peaky-marvel @lokiified @tom-hlover

[mushroomates]

the fellowship grocery shopping (modern au!):

frodo: has a list which he always loses halfway through shopping. tries to bring his own bags but they’re never enough, or he forgets them in the car and realizes mid checkout. does not like a lot of the name brand foods, goes for the knock offs- partly because he thinks they taste better and partly because he’s rooting for the underdog. (also they’re cheaper which means more money go towards buying treats for the neighborhood cats.) makes an exception for name brand strawberry poptarts, a pippin favorite. keeps his fridge stocked with snacks for his friends.

sam: grows a lot of his own produce and makes an effort to shop local. has his own chickens and a thriving herb garden. he often trades with neighbors-tomatoes for honey, basil for goats milk, etc. once a month he teams up with boromir and goes to costco for insane amounts of flour (he bakes his own bread) and a foot long hotdog. sam refuses to get his own membership.

merry: has a list of things to get that he has worked very hard to compile. this list stays on fridge, and whenever he runs out of something he adds it. this is always sabotaged by pippin who, in a port attempt to mimic merry’s handwriting, adds a copious amount of sweets and things only pippin likes. ends up buying them anyways only to not share with him- will gloat by snacking in front of pippin and not offering any to his cousin.

pippin: does not actually grocery shop. yes, he has food in his house but this is more because he just tags along whenever someone else is going. selectively copies whatever they get into his own basket. has eight jars of peanut butter because he loves peanut butter but does not consume it at the rate he believes he does. also for backup, incase he runs out mid sandwich and needs eight jars of the stuff. loves to ride in the shopping carts when no one’s watching. definitely scooters along isles. loves to hijack boromir’s shopping trips as boromir is the only one who will push him in the cart and give him a lil treat at the end.

gandalf: kind of just. wanders around the store. gets lost in the bakery. buys the most random things, causing the clerks to conspire about what he’s doing with two packs of rubber gloves, a rosterseie chicken, and a tub of mayonnaise. is he a murderer? a professor? a single mother? what is he doing with this stuff?

aragorn: does a lot of trading with neighbors, like sam. likes to accompany arwen on errands and do the little things. she points at an item and he puts it in the basket. he bags at checkout. drives her home. unloads the car and put it away. real quality time and acts of service. yes, arwen is capable of doing these things herself, but he likes to do it for her: hunts so be always has a surplus of jerky, does need to buy more salt then the typical person.

boromir: also hunts. has a thing about using every part of the animal, will eat bone marrow straight out of the femur with a spoon for breakfast. eats a lot of protein. is real big about no food waste and will use everything he can. has his own compost bin and a humble herb garden. likes hosting barbecues for everyone, and makes the burgers and hotdogs from scratch. every other tuesday is grocery day. he goes to costco and buys his things in bulk. he’s the only one in the fellowship with a costco card and everyone loves to take advantage of it.

legolas: mainly just happens upon farmers markets and grabs what appeals to him in the moment. does not have any seasonings or cooking oil as it’s not something that’s ever really occurred to him to buy. will forget he has food in his fridge for weeks and when he finally does it’s gone bad. this, however, does not stop him from eating it. makes a lot of smoothies.

gimli: has a lot of preserved foods and a cupboard dedicated to emergencies. owns a lot of canned beans, fruits and vegetables- anything that will keep well. has a freezer filled with food in his garage with backup stock. is a very good with coupons- pippin likes going with him just to see the total (and the clerks jaw) drop. eats a lot of trail mix and jerky. enjoys fresh fruit when he can but doesn’t like to buy it because it doesn’t last.

gollum: sneaky little man. he hides in the bottom part of the carts meant for heavy items and parties his way across the store with his hands, scooting along tile and grabbing anything with reach, tossing it back up to the cart and continuing on his journey. then he just rolls right out the door. no one can stop him.

[cdragons]

You lived on the Cut, but you knew your situation was far better than most of your friends.

While you were by no means a Kook, your family had enough money to be comfortable. Sure, it wasn't a beach mansion with 10 bedrooms, 8 baths, and a decked-out pool - but it was more than enough.

Your parents had full-time jobs that paid the bills, put food on the table, and gave you a roof over your head. Most importantly, they could comfortably afford Costco executive memberships for both.

At first, they were skeptical about paying so much for a membership fee, but when they saw the annual 2% rewards on qualified Costco purchases - they were sold.

The only Costco on the island was in Kitty Hawk, which was about a 15-minute drive without traffic. Because of your parents' schedules, the only times they had time were on the weekends. They always took you with them, of course. Weekends were the best part of the week, not because you got out of school but because you got to go to Costco.

Your parents made it so fun, too! Costco was your own little amusement park - your parents let you ride in the shopping cart as you waved to fellow shoppers, your family tried each and every sample cart dispersed throughout the store, and you got to have a giant slice of pizza and soda from the food court!

Not only that, but the people at the exit would always draw a balloon on the receipt after they checked the cart!

The moment you were able to get your driver's license, you wanted to get a membership, too. You paid for it with the money you saved up from years of babysitting, working at the Kook Country Club, and even helping out with the Wreck.

You loved the store so much. Even when the Pogues would ask you to join them on the weekends, you told them you couldn't go because you had to go shopping with your parents.

Finally, JJ (your amazingly sweet, sexy, funny, wonderful boyfriend who you had a crush on since the sixth grade) wanted to find out what was so dang special about this "eXCluSivE" warehouse store that it meant he had to be kept away from his (out-of-his-league, gorgeous, smart, sunshine smiles) girl (who he's been in love with since the third grade).

Luckily, your dad had a job that was gonna take up the entire weekend. Your mom and you could have gone, but your dad was the heavy lifter of the family - you two needed him for the real heavy stuff.

That's where JJ comes in!

You and JJ were lying on the hammock the afternoon before the trip when you asked him if he could join you and your mom to Costco because they needed help loading stuff into the house afterward.

"It's nothing too crazy, but mom's been getting a lot of night shifts lately, and I don't want her to strain herself more than she already has to. I'll treat you to whatever you want at the food court!" What kind of heartless monster would JJ have to be to refuse? God, he wanted to smush your cheeks between his palms and kiss every part of your face from then till the rapture. Besides, your folks have been so good to him since he was a tot. Which is pretty much exactly what he did. "Don't worry, pretty mama; papa J'll get it done."

...Listen, he still thinks it's weird your parents fork over so much money just to shop at this one store when there's a perfectly good Bobby Heyward on the Cut. Buuuuut, he'll go along with anything you do if it means he gets to see that 1000-megawatt smile you shine his way.

The next day, you and your mom pick JJ from the Chateau, and JJ's never seen you so excited, ever. You're practically hopping like a little bunny, and he would've pulled you onto his lap if your mom wasn't there.

"I can't wait for you to see it! You're going to love it! Everyone's so nice, and the food there is so cheap, you'll never want to leave." JJ couldn't help but affectionately roll his eyes at your excitement. Anyone else, he'd think they'd lost their marbles or hit their joint too much - but for you, it was nothing short of adorable. "Baby," he kissed your cheek. "S'just a store - ain't gonna be Disney."

...He was wrong...he was sooooo wrong. JJ's jaw fucking dropped at the sight of the massive warehouse since your mom pulled into the parking lot, all the way to when they entered the store when she pulled out her card for security to check.

You had to physically shut his mouth out of fear he'd eat a bug.

JJ was starin' at everything like he was at Disney, and he really might as well have been. He begged your mom if it was alright if they could walk in every aisle to see it all. Your mom raised a brow before seeing the absolutely adoring expression you had on your boyfriend.

How could you help yourself? He looked so cute, all excited!

She agreed, and immediately, JJ went to the electronics sections and plopped down at the TV with the biggest screen and the best graphics he'd ever seen. From there, he found the section in the beginning where the coupon and sale items were located and immediately gunned for the discount toothpaste and razors.

"Baby! They give you a pack of 30 here! "...I don't think your peach fuzz counts. And do you even brush your teeth every day?" "Uh, 'scuse me - I will for these prices. And don't think I don't know how many of these bad boys you n' Kie go through each month. Your cooch will never be growing out of its jungle with these bad boys."

The food and household sections are his own damn paradise. He tries every sample and goes back for more, and the workers treat him like he's a freaking golden retriever puppy.

"Babe, babe, babe - this place gives you two loaves for ONE SET! ONE SET! LOOK AT THE CAKES AND MUFFINS! Oh shi- we need to bring Pope. He'll lose his rocks for this."

Sees the prices for the Kirkland products and immediately insists that anything else is "boUgIE."

"5 BUCKS FOR A PACK OF 40?!" "It's 3.99 if you're a member."

Immediately goes and loads two packs into the cart. You warn him not to let Kie know that you and your family voluntarily bought plastic water bottles - he does not care.

"(Y/N), she can crucify me upside down n' shit; we're not missing out on this deal."

He sees the $5 rotisserie chickens and physically stops the cart. You slam into his back and barely have enough time to grab onto his shirt to stop him from getting another cart and filling it up with chickens.

"We don't need so many chickens!" "THINK OF ALL THE STUFF YOU CAN MAKE!" "We'll get one for you for now and come back another time!" "But-" "I'll even let you sit in the cart!"

Finally, you and your mom got everything from the shopping list (along with a few other things upon JJ's request), and you three could finally head out for the checkout.

Just when JJ thought he couldn't love Costco more, he finally saw his heaven...the Costco food court.

$2 slices of pizza...$1.50 for a hot dog, and a free refill soda combo...$3 smoothies...$2 soft serves...$9.95 18-INCH PEPPERONI PIZZAS????

...Fuck the Wreck, this was officially the best restaurant on the whole fucking island.

Your mom gives the green light for you and him to get a table, and JJ practically jumps on the first empty table (there were still grease stains and ketchup spills from the previous seaters) and sets his stuff down. His giant 6' body is leaning over smaller frame as he watches you press the buttons on the order kiosk.

"Two hot dogs...one pepperoni - no, make that two - no, three - fuck it, get the whole pie...holy shit, they got churros?!"

After you pay and grab the receipt, you two wait by the window for your food as JJ is buzzing with the biggest smile you've seen on him since you two got together. A couple of onlookers are staring at the two of you - some with skeptical expressions, others warmly chuckling at his excitement.

When your number is called, the mountain of food you ordered requires only the most delicate and careful balancing acts for you two to get back to the table where your mom was. Thankfully, she cleaned the table and got the napkins before you all sat down. She volunteered to fill the sodas - Coke for you and her, Mountain Dew for JJ.

The noises he makes while eating are borderline pornographic and make everyone around your immediate vicinity uncomfortable. Parents, grandmas, kids, and employees are giving your table the BIGGEST side eyes; meanwhile, you're just eatin' your pizza and sippin' your soda with the straightest poker face. Occasionally, you turn around and stare at your blonde menace with the most lovestruck expression in the history of ever, and you're just so happy to be the one to give him this experience.

While he's on the john, you snuck away and bought the prettiest bouquet you found in your price range. Afterward, you went back to the food court kiosk and sorted a chocolate soft-serve cup just for him! The look of pure, unadulterated adoration on his face when you gave him the bouquet alone made you wanna cry tears of joy, and when you showed him the ice cream cup - he immediately picked you up and spun you in a circle with everyone watching.

Your mom was 100% recording the whole thing and sent it to your dad.

At the exit, you asked if the lady could draw a balloon. She looked over, confused before she saw your golden retriever puppy of a boyfriend and even drew a smiley face on the balloon. It goes without saying JJ keeps the receipt in his wallet.

Literally the happiest person on the Cut, he's skippin' everywhere, all day. Nothing can bring him down, not even the fucking high prices Mike Carerra charges for one fucking drink at the Wreck.

Keeps the receipt so he can brag about how much your family saved to the other Pogues. John B and Pope do not believe him until they scroll through all dozens of pictures in JJ's camera roll of every glorious thing he saw at Costco.

...They beg you to include them next time.

This is for all the JJ girlies who want some fluff! Let me know in the comments what you think, and reblog if you enjoyed reading it and want more!

Tagging: @ethereal-athalia, @dipperscavern, @instructionsnotincluded, @darlingchronicles, @ruerecs, @excbambi , @jjsfavgirl , @bre99 , @redhead1180, @markno

[princeescaluswords]

Shipping Madness Part 72,000

I'm watching rage explode among some viewers of Agatha All Along. They are very upset that Agatha didn't get a "happy-ish" ending and some are calling it 'bury your gays.'

Agatha lived for four centuries, give or take a few decades.. She was a power-hungry con-artist and serial killer who deceived and murdered at least 30 women on-screen (with the implication there were more) in her quest for power. She did have a love interest, Rio Vidal, an incarnation of Death, whom Agatha also hated because Death took her child. What type of happy ending were these members of the audience expecting?

An ending which featured domestic bliss, with Agatha and Rio doing things like shopping for microwaves at Costco, would have been incongruous and incoherent. It ended the way that both Agatha and Rio indicated it would end, even though Agatha managed to come back as a ghost. (Which Death hates, by the way)

Agatha comes to be Billy's ghostly mentor (something similar happened in the comics by the way) after Agatha is shown to have transferred her feelings for her long-lost son to Billy and once says so explicitly. She figured out that Billy was Wanda's son and that he had created the Witches' Road. It was easy for her considering she created the very idea of it with her deceased son and used it in her long-running con. Every aspect of the story was set in motion by Agatha and related to Agatha's narrative.

Nothing was taken from the character. Her sexuality wasn't tacked on to her character to make her a target, and her emotional relationship with Rio wasn't given short shrift. This isn't Bury Your Gays.

There might be legitimate reasons for being dissatisfied with the ending of the story, but a series which proposes the line "Death Comes for Us All" is a comfort because "It's one thing we all have in common," wasn't treating it's main character as a disposable prop.

[inawickedlittletown]

All I Want For Christmas Is You (BuckTommy) - 1/5

Summary: When Buck and Tommy pick each other for the 118's Secret Santa, they both realize they know nothing about each other. That changes very quickly. Words: 2.5k Rating: M Read on Ao3

-

Chapter One

Tommy reached into the little wooden chest offered to him and pulled out a tiny pink folded post-it from the sea of similarly folded post-its. 

A finger was pointed to his nose. “We’re capping it at $50. No swapping. No telling anyone who you got. No gift cards. Since we’re on shift over Christmas we’ll swap presents then and it better be wrapped or in a gift bag.” 

Tommy pushed Hen’s finger away. “I know how Secret Santa works, Hen.” 

She narrowed her eyes at him, but didn’t say anything as she walked away to find her next victim. When Tommy turned away, he found Howie. 

“Who did you get, Kinard?”

“Do you want Hen to kill me?” Tommy asked. “I’m not breaking the Secret Santa rules.” 

Howie laughed. “Alright. Fine. Just don’t come crawling back to me when you need help getting Cap something.” 

“If I got Cap, I know exactly what I’d get him,” Tommy said. 

“Nice to know you know what I like, Tommy,” Bobby said. He was holding his own pink slip and stuffed it into his pocket. 

He clapped Tommy’s shoulder as he passed him to head upstairs. Chim followed and Tommy walked behind them, opening up his post-it. Evan Buckley. Tommy almost groaned. He got the probie. Alright, so he wasn’t a probie anymore, but he was still both the youngest and newest member of the 118 and Tommy didn’t really know him all that well outside of work. 

Within that scope, Tommy knew that Evan was hotheaded, impulsive, and too eager. He was good at the job, had apparently beat all kinds of records at the academy, but he’d also almost lost his job by stealing the ladder truck to meet up with some girl. Tommy had been on vacation that week so he’d missed the whole firing and re-hiring of it all. So what did you get someone like Evan? A big box of condoms from Costco? A self-help book? 

When he made it to the top of the stairs he spotted Evan in the kitchen. Bobby was already behind the counter getting out ingredients for their dinner and Evan was sitting at the counter watching. 

The thing about Evan was that he was kind of gorgeous. Tommy had noticed that right on his first day when he arrived a little nervous but excited. He’d seen his blue eyes, the pink mark over his eyebrow and the pout on his lips and Tommy had wanted him. Of course he wanted him, and it was exactly why he had decided right in that moment that he needed to stay away. 

And he had stayed away. He didn’t freeze Evan out of anything. He worked with him, showed him a few things when it looked like he needed it, but he didn’t talk to him during downtime, he didn’t invite him along when he invited Hen and Chim to go out for drinks. So, he knew nothing about him or what he might want for Christmas and since it was Secret Santa, there was no way he was getting any help from Chim or Hen. 

Logically, Tommy knew he could just go to literally any store and just buy a giftset or something, but it felt so impersonal and lazy. Eyeing Evan as Bobby put him to chop veggies, Tommy wondered what he might find out from the man himself if only he tried to get to know him. 

So, he walked towards the fridge, opened it, and pulled out a bottle of water. Unscrewing the top, he leaned against the counter. 

“Learning how to cook?” he asked Evan. 

Evan’s knife paused on the bell pepper and he looked up, somehow surprised to find Tommy there. He smiled easily, though, and Tommy hated how appealing it was. Hen had described him as a golden retriever once and she was not wrong. 

“I — yeah, never had anyone that could teach me before.” Evan glanced back at Bobby. “I like it.”

Cooking supplies? Maybe a nice apron? It was definitely an idea. Then again, he didn’t really know Evan’s living situation and he was pretty sure he didn’t live on his own. Tommy drank his water in a few gulps. 

“Kinard, stop distracting my sous chef,” Bobby said. “Unless you want to be put to work.”

When Tommy looked at Evan, he found that Evan’s cheeks had gone pink. He’d gone back to chopping though.  

He got lucky when the call came in. Saved by the bell and all that. He rushed down with the others and when he settled into his seat in the truck found Evan at his side. It wasn’t that it never happened, it was just that Tommy tried not to think about how nice it felt to have Evan’s shoulder against his or how he could feel the warmth of his thigh. 

“So,” Evan said, “what does everyone want for Christmas?” 

Hen actually kicked him. Tommy couldn’t help but snort. Chim chuckled. 

“What?” Evan asked. 

“What about Secret Santa says ask everyone involved what they want for Christmas?” Hen asked. 

Evan sputtered. “I just — I mean I figured — if we all talk about it then that helps everyone right?” 

“Secret Santa,” Hen said, “is supposed to be Secret.” 

-

Tommy Kinard. 

That was what his pink post-it read and Buck had folded it neatly back into a square and stuffed it in his pocket after reading it. What the hell was he supposed to get for Tommy? 

Since Buck started at the 118, Tommy had been standoffish. Not during a call or when they had to do something together that revolved around work, but anytime it wasn’t related to the job. Buck knew about all the times that Tommy asked Hen and Chim to join him for drinks. The invite never seemed to extend to Buck. He’d hung out with Hen and Chim a few times and even took Bobby to a concert once, so it wasn’t like he felt excluded from the team. It just felt like Tommy didn’t like him. 

Buck was used to not being liked. So, anything he felt about how Tommy saw him he just pushed out of mind. The guy was professional and he didn’t seem to mind working with Buck. Did he think it was unfair of someone to judge him without really knowing him? Yes. He also knew that he might have done it to himself. After all, Buck was the guy that borrowed the ladder truck for sex and as far as he could tell Tommy didn’t even date much less hook up with anyone. Or, at the very least, he didn’t talk about it. 

He certainly shied away from conversations about Buck’s hook ups even when they came up on the way to or from a call. So what did you get a guy that was built like a brick house, who could probably pick Buck up easily, and who was maybe not into sex? A book? The Kama Sutra? Puzzles? Buck had no idea what Tommy was into. 

Asking everyone in the truck what they wanted for Christmas had seemed like the right move, but he should have done it when Hen wasn’t present. 

“Tough luck, kid,” Chim said when they arrived at the apartment building, “you just gotta figure it out on your own.” 

“Apparently.” 

Tommy made a noise that sounded amused and when Buck looked at him, he winked at Buck, holding his gaze for a second too long. That was unusual. 

“Hen takes Secret Santa very seriously,” Tommy said and then walked off. 

“You coming, Buck?” Bobby called out. 

“Uh. Yeah. Yeah.” 

So maybe it did bother him that Tommy didn’t like him. 

That first day, he’d been more than a little captivated by Tommy. He was all big muscles and a defined toned chest. The one time they were in the locker room together, Buck had even gotten to see that Tommy had the start of a six pack. Buck had wanted to ask him all kinds of questions about his workout routine and maybe even his diet, but Tommy had made himself unapproachable to Buck pretty much at all times. 

At first, Buck had figured that was just how he was. Then, he saw him laughing with Chim. Then, he saw him talking to Bobby and Hen. Then, he saw how he was around kids during calls. So, it was Buck that was the problem. Tommy didn’t like him and Buck had no idea why. 

The call turned out to be relatively simple. A stuck elevator with four people inside. No one in distress. Just a power failure due to some bad wiring. They got the door open and the people out and were headed back to the station just as quickly. 

Buck went back to helping Bobby with the stirfry. 

“Three weeks,” Buck said. 

“What?” 

“Until Christmas. I guess that gives me time to figure out what to get for my Secret Santa.” 

Bobby chuckled. “Don’t overthink it, Buck. I’m sure whoever you got will be happy with anything you get them.” 

Except he didn’t want Tommy to just be okay with the gift. He wanted Tommy to realize that Buck knew him or that Buck was worth becoming friends with. This felt like his chance at friendship with Tommy and he wasn’t going to squander it. 

-

“Drinks tonight?” Tommy asked as he passed Chim boxes to add into the ambulance stock. 

Chim grinned. “Nothing better for me to do. I’ll see if Hen’s available.” 

“I wouldn’t blame her if she wants to go home to Karen and Denny more than hanging out with us.” Tommy paused and then, “Invite Buck too, if you want.”

Chim eyed him for a moment but he didn’t say anything. Tommy just handed him another box. When they were finished, Chim hit his shoulder. 

“Hey, I’m glad you’ve decided to include Buck. I know it takes a while for you to let us in. He’s a good kid.” 

He saw Chim ask Evan if he was up for drinks and saw him nod. So, that was a start. Tommy had no idea how much he would actually learn about Evan at a bar, but it would probably be more than what he already knew. He hoped. 

They had a few more calls. One car accident — the tree won. One incident of a toddler locking mom out of the car and finding the whole thing hilarious. The kid was adorable and Tommy didn’t want to admit it, but Evan had done really well convincing the kid to unlock the door. A grease fire at a Chinese restaurant which was a shame because Tommy loved getting take out from that place. All in all, a regular day with nothing too crazy. 

When Tommy was changing out of the uniform, he found Evan lingering at his own locker. Chim broke whatever tension existed. 

“You guys coming? Hen said she and Karen will meet us there. I got us an Uber.” 

Evan closed his locker and then he glanced at Tommy with some surprise in his eyes, before he walked out after Chim. Tommy followed a moment later and yes maybe his eyes did linger on Evan’s back. He looked good in uniform, he looked good in jeans and that short sleeved button down whose sleeves hugged his biceps in such an accentuating way. Evan probably looked good in anything and nothing. Tommy…Tommy hadn’t gotten laid in a while. 

It wasn’t easy for him. Tommy had known he was gay as soon as he realized that he wasn’t looking at the girls the way all the other boys in his class were. He’d also known that he couldn’t ever say a word about it. Not with how his parents were. Then, there was DADT and years under Gerrard. It was only in the last couple of years that Tommy had embraced that part of himself. 

He didn’t keep it Secret, but he didn’t advertise it. It wasn’t that it was hard to go into a gay bar and find a hook-up. Tommy had done that often enough. It was that he had yet to find even one person that might want more than that with him and once he’d gotten past the excitement of getting to openly be with men, Tommy had lost most of his interest in one-night stands. He wanted more and just never seemed to find it. Sometimes, he thought that it just wasn’t in the cards for him and that he didn’t deserve to find someone when he just hadn’t been the best person for most of his life. 

The badge and ladder bar was moderately busy. A lot of firefighters and police officers taking some time to decompress from their day. Mixed in were the guys and girls looking to chat up someone in uniform. Both pool tables were in use and Christmas music played over all of it. A glance around told Tommy that the place had even been decorated for the holiday. 

“I’ll uh, I’ll get the first round,” Chim said. “Grab us a booth.” 

Tommy spotted a free booth in the corner and he motioned for Evan. 

“I didn’t know you were coming tonight,” Evan said. “Chim didn’t say.” 

“Is that a problem?” Tommy asked. 

Evan immediately shook his head. “No. No. No. I just…I’m glad. We’ve never hung out outside of the fire station is all.” 

Evan slid into the booth first and Tommy followed. He left some space between them and watched as Evan took his phone out, frowning at his screen and why did that look so cute on him? 

“Everything alright?” 

“Yes,” Evan said quickly. “It’s fine. Just my roommates.” 

Roommates. That probably meant that it wasn’t a good idea to get him any fancy cooking equipment. 

“Can I ask what happened?” 

Evan bit his lip. “I guess they’re throwing a party tonight.”

Tommy didn’t know why that had caused a frown. “Do you want to go to the party? You can if you want. Chim and I won’t be offended if you want to spend tonight with people your age.” 

“No,” Evan said with a shake of his head. “No. And you’re not that much older than me.” 

“I have like ten years on you, kid,” Tommy said. 

“More like eight which…it isn’t much,” Evan said and he was pouting. 

“Except that you act like you’re twelve sometimes,” Chim said, arriving at the table with three bottles. 

“What is that?” Evan asked, looking at Tommy’s bottle. 

“This guy is particular about his beer,” Chim offered. “What are we talking about?” 

“Evan’s roommates,” Tommy said. 

Chim chuckled. “What did those guys do this time?” 

So, there was an ongoing issue. Interesting. It gave Tommy absolutely nothing to go off of when it came to figuring out what to get Evan for Christmas. 

“Throwing a party,” Evan said. “Again.” 

Tommy took a sip of his beer. He saw Evan type something into his phone and then he placed it on the table and drank from his own beer. Tommy watched him, the way that his lips touched the rim of the top of the bottle, how his hand held it and how his throat moved as he swallowed. Gorgeous. 

[saltofmercury]

* waving* heelllloooo, just want to say thank you for the “ break in” series! I love König and Civilian!readers, there’s not enough non military reader stories out there so i am always hunger for more.can I put in a request? I don’t know why this idea pops into my head and not sure if Soap has a younger sister, imagine his sister had a crush on König from meeting him during military family day ( im sure theres no such event lol) or some off duty team outing. Something like..

Sister: who’s that really big guy there johnny?

Soap, knowing his sis too well : oh no you don’t.. dont go there darling

Sis: but he is so cute like a huge costco teddy bear..very huggable

All the while König overheard the who convo, flattered +embarrassed + in disbelief

Thank you! If it’s too much just ignore me its ok 😂

Pairing: König x f!reader ft. Johnny + Ghost

Summary: You tag along to Johnny's party.

A/N: Thank you @sofasoap

"The Favorite MacTavish"

“You’re still on the fastest route.”

The navigation on loop. You focused on what you could tone out Johnny with.

Looking out the window, a blur of cars turned into a blur of bricks, that in turn ended up to just dirt and then open land. Dust. You’ve been sitting as a passenger princess the entire ride there. Johnny but insisting on lecturing you about what was expected of you.

It felt more like briefing you if you were being honest.

“I’m dead serious ya hear?” Johnny had turned and pointed a finger to you.

“You got to tone it down with Ghost.” “You were off ya trolley last time, I told ya to leave the poor man alone.”

You smiled. “It wasn’t anything too bad.” 

Your mind flashed back to the last get together Johnny and his friends had. You had met the legendary “Ghost” that Johnny had worked with. A man with a skull face covering, taller and larger than any other of his teammates. A deep set British accent. (You and Johnny still argue if it’s Southern or Manchester.)

Ghost kind of bothered you that he was at a party. The man had radiated big fuck off vibes from you. It made no sense for him to be here. 

All you saw was… someone crying for attention.. Or even a little competition.

You approached Ghost with a deal, if he were to out drink you, you would shut Johnny up the entire night, and if you were to outdrink him, he would join the group for 20 minutes. 

The little game turned dangerous and it wasn’t until you had almost bested him in the tenth beer of the night that he almost tapped out. Almost beat by a MacTavish. It didn’t help that you were flirting with him a bit when he started to become sloppy, which you think became in your best interest.

One of the other teammates had lost it.

“Ghost is going to lose!”

Ghost looked loopy. Not even his skull painted covering could hide that. He ended up going to the cooler, bringing out 3 beers, chugging them one by one, and then remained in his stoic composure. It was truly a sight.

All of Johnny’s teammates never let that one go.

“Can’t believe Johnny’s little sister thought she could out drink Ghost.”

“I can’t believe she had him stuttering. Never heard the LT at a loss for words.”

“I think I like his sister more than Johnny.”

Johnny never lived it down, and never heard the end of it from Ghost.

“I actually don't know why I bothered bringing ya.” He continued.

You missed your older brother. It was hard seeing him a few times a year. With any opportunity to see him, including riding along to party with his teammates, you took. It helped that he had a soft spot for you.

“I won't make any promises, but I’ll leave Ghost alone.”

*

It wasn’t until an hour later that you had arrived. You remembered what Johnny had said. “No teasin’ Ghost.” “No trying to out drink anyone.” “Behave!”

You both walk up into a small beige house. There’s a plain white metal gate in front of it, but no live plants, just dirt. Endless dirt, dust, and rocks surrounding it, and a few other SUVs, Jeeps, and sedans.

You walk inside, right behind Johnny, mumbling in your head—

“No drinking, no ghosting.”

How annoying.

Once inside, you’re greeting everyone behind Johnny.

Gaz looks at you. “Well if it isn’t Ghost’s favorite little sister!”

You smile. “No ghosting tonight.”

Immediately looking toward Johnny, who was nodding in approval.

*

Much later when you're inside that you see him, along with a brand new set of faces that you aren’t familiar with.

There’s a lady with a small ponytail, some guy on a tablet and sunglasses on, and a guy who's got a black face mask on. This particular individual is more distant, pushed further away from everyone else. Looks big, bigger than Ghost. 

He’s not alone, he’s got some other guy next to him talking about some game he was playing on his phone.

“Steamin’ Jesus” you think to yourself. How did this massive guy end up here?

You grab a hold of Johnny,

“Johnny, who’s that over there?”

Johnny had barely taken a sip of his 3rd beer before his eyes went wide. 

“Aw Jesus Christ, no you don’t. Don’t you dare go there.” he says, grabbing a hold of your wrist. 

“Oh for fucks sake, I’m just asking who the guy is!” 

“Haud yer weesht! It's the same ol’ script with every single one of my teammates I swear to god.”

“Is he new?”

“He’s not with us.” He stops for dramatic effect. 

Whispers- “That group over there is a different team.”

Oh. 

The big guy is holding an electrolyte drink as opposed to any alcohol. He takes up the entire chair and he’s polite, nodding his head to his teammate, but quickly glancing back and forth towards you and Johnny.

“And I swear to god, you better not think of stepping over there, I’ll get Ghost to restrain you.”

You raised your eyebrows at him.

“You said no Ghostin…”

Johnny pulled you a little closer to him, then quietly (his case of quiet) says

 “Do you know what those guys do?”

“Military?”

“Christ on a bike… those there are contracted killers.”

You snort.

“Yeah fuckin' right Johnny and what do you call yourself? Saints?”

“I swear you’re so daft. Don’t go near them, stay with what you know.”

“I just want to introduce myself to them, it would be rude no?”

The guy in the mask looked harmless. He wasn’t drinking, he was among friends, he was simply waiting for someone to approach him.

*

The entire night you keep thinking of ways to get over it. You’ve got plenty of liquid courage in you now though.

“Just because he’s bigger than the rest of you, you’re intimidated.” The liquid courage was bubbling up inside you. 

“Fucking hell, would you drop it?” Johnny says

“I just want to talk to him, Johnny!”

You made your way over to him.

Johnny’s eyes looked like they could burst out of their sockets.

“Hi, how are you? You know what, you don’t seem bad at all, you just seem big, but that's ok.”

The man looked at you wide eyed, beneath his mask formed some crinkle surrounding his eyes.

“I just wanted to let you know that you don't intimidate me, but quite frankly you encourage me to give you a hug.”

He smiled now, you could see it.

“You’re like a huge teddy bear even, have you been to the states? They got a whole warehouse full of teddy bears the size of you.”

A small laugh from him and his fingers running through his hair.

“In fact, I kind of wish I had you as my own size for a teddy bear… what do you say?”

Before he could respond, you were yanked up, thrown over someone’s shoulders.

“That’ll do mini MacTavish..” A British accent. Ghost was hauling you away.

You felt dizzy, and kept your eyesight on the big man.

“I MEAN it! You are not intimidating you're just in need of a hug.”

[avenging-fandoms]

imagine chris being way more clingy than normal one day and you’ve got no idea why, he doesn’t leave your side all day but never tells you what’s wrong, but you finally coax it out of him that night and he says he’d had a bad dream where he lost you so he didn’t want to let you out of his sight all day:((

Chris's spot next to you in bed was usually empty when you woke up. He’d be out at the gym, walking Dodger, sometimes cleaning the house. When your eyes peeled open there he was, back to you while his phone played at a low volume as he watched videos on Instagram.

You press your hand against his ribs, scooting forward and draping your arm over his stomach with your eyes still closed and you planted a soft kiss on his skin.

"Well what a nice surprise." You mumble into his skin, a soft nose laugh coming from Chris as he grabs your hand and pulls it to his chest. "Just wanted to be lazy today?"

"Yeah.." He sighs, your eyes peeking open and watch his back muscles move with every slow breath. You trace a heart on his spine, Chris finally turning to face you kissing you like he hadn’t see you in months. His hand held the back of your head and gripping your hair softly.

Chris pulls away and pecks your forehead. You check your phone, realizing you had no food in your fridge as your stomach gurgles and you groan. "Do you want to come get groceries with me? I know you hate shopping but-"

"No I'll come, you wanna shower together to save some time and water?" He asks and you smile, nodding. You both get out of bed and you stop him, hand on his bare stomach.

"Did you take Dodger out?"

"Yeah I did, earlier this morning" You nod. He probably woke up at his normal time and did everything for Dodger then came back to bed.

You and Chris shower together, Chris spending his time pampering you. You were getting worried. You surely didn't miss an anniversary, or his birthday, so you were so confused why he wanted to come shop and pamper you in the shower. Maybe he was just a good husband.

A little over an hour later, you two were off to Costco. You sat in the passenger seat while Chris drove, a hand on your thigh the whole way with your Dunkin breakfast, his treat. You didn't question this, he was always holding your thigh while driving.

Although at the grocery store, his hand was always on your back, arm, hand, or shoulder. This wasn't normally how he acted, he usually ventured off himself and grabbed things he wanted, or following you and complaining and asking how much longer. However today he was right next to you as you walk up and down the aisle - his least favorite thing ever - not a peep coming from him except to chime in on what or whatnot to get.

You two get the shopping done in two hours, and you tried to break Chris in the store by going to the miscellaneous sections and taking your time, but he let you. You two bring the groceries in and he lets Dodger out while standing at the sliding door and watching you put the groceries away.

“Chris, have I done something wrong?” You broke and he knits his eyebrows in confusion. “Did I forget an anniversary? Is it the anniversary of when we met? You know I can never remember if it’s the 12th or 13th.”

Chris lets out a soft chuckle, crossing his arms over his chest after letting Dodger back in. “No, you didn’t do anything wrong. No anniversary, and it’s the 13th.”

“Then what is going on, hon? You’ve been up my ass all day. Not that I care, but you’re never like that. You love to love me but you would not let me out of your sight or would hold onto me. What is going on?” You walk over to him and place your hands on his shoulders, darting your eyes back and forth between his sad ones. “Chris..?”

His arms wrap tightly around your waist, picking you up off the ground softly with just your toes barely on the ground. His hand reached up and held the back of your neck, taking in your smell and you rub his back. “I had this really bad dream last night. You were in a crash and I was with you. I sat next to you as I watched you.. oh God Y/N it was so bad.” He cried softly and you held him tighter.

“Chris you should’ve woke me, why didn’t I wake up when you did?” You pull away and hold his face, wiping a tear with your thumb.

“I wasn’t thrashing or anything, just a jolt awake. There was some light outside so I took Dodger outside and sat out there for a bit before coming back in here. Couldn’t go back to sleep so I watched you sleep for a bit then went on my phone.” He laughs to himself. “I sound like a stalker, I watched you sleep.”

“You watched me sleep because you had a very real feeling dream.” Your arms wrap around his neck. “You should have woken me up, honey. Especially if it’s a dream like that.” He nods and hugs you again, taking a deep breath. “Do you want to get some comfy pjs on and watch some Disney movies in bed while we order food?”

Chris pulls away and rubs his nose against yours, lips brushing over yours. “We just went shopping for 8 hours, we have food here.” You giggle, his nose pushing your head up more as your nails scratch the back of his head.

“I don’t feel like cooking, and it takes time for the food to get here.” You whisper and he hums, kissing you and swiftly picking you up and taking you upstairs.

[adorethedistance]

Thought of You - Trevor Zegras x Reader

Hockey Masterlist

Warnings: swearing, PDA

Words: 1386

Requested: hi!! can you please write something with trevor zegras where he is extra clingy after a long roadie? thanks sm!! 💗💗

A/n: This got a little heated at the end and I didn’t intend to do that lol whoops.

“Y/NNNNN!!!” I hear Trevor bellow outside as he bangs on the front door to my apartment.

“Give me a second,” I squeak as I clamber off the couch to answer the door. The cold tile under my feet is a shock that goes forgotten as soon as I see my boyfriend’s face for the first time in two weeks. “It’s almost midnight you’re gonna wake my neighbors.”

“I don’t care! I need everyone to know hOW MUCH I LOVE THIS GIRL, RIGHT HERE!”

“Get inside before you get me evicted,” I scold him, although I’m unable to keep myself from smiling. Once he practically slams the door behind us, Trevor smothers me with the biggest hug, unintentionally lifting me slightly off the ground for a moment.

“Oh my god, Trevor!”

“I missed you so fucking much, baby.”

“I missed you too, I-hmm,” I hum in surprise when he grabs my jaw in his right hand and kisses me with as much as passion as a lifetime could possess. The kiss is sloppy and desperate, it reminds me of the time we had sex the back of his BMW. When he pulls away he looks in my eyes and simply melts. Sweet relief doesn’t even begin to describe the way his gaze drinks me in. If this feeling could be contained and replicated, it would be the most catasrophic epidemic known to mankind.

“How was your trip?” I ask as if we haven’t facetimed everyday since he’s been gone.

“I mean we won three and lost three so,” he shrugs like it’s no big deal but I know how he mentally beats himself up for bad losses.

Trevor then smiles flirtatiously, reaching down to grab my hand in his and place a kiss on the surface of each joint. He leads us over to the couch and flops down looking around the room with furrowed brows.

“Where’s the big costco throw blanket you got?”

“Right behind you, dork. I thought you ran hot anyways?”

“Well, yeah, I do, but I know you don’t.” My heart soars at his thoughtfulness and I’m overcome with happiness. I blink back into the moment and sit on the couch directly next to Trevor. His arm is draped over the seatback of the small sofa as I lean into him, resting my head on his chest. He unfolds the blanket to cover my bare legs and then takes my left hand in his right once more. He absentmindedly traces shapes and paths over the surface of my skin, occasionally stopping to maintain unconditional contact.

“Did I already tell you about when Mason and I went out after playing Colorado and he asked a girl for her number and she said no?”

“Yes.”

“Oh… Did I tell you about when Gibby dropped his stick during practice?”

“Yes.”

“What about Terry’s fight-”

“Yes.”

“Is there anything I didn’t tell you?”

“Maybe if you didn’t talk so much I could say yes, but for now, probably not.” I lift my head to look up at Trevor and he scrunches his face in annoyance. He falls quiet once again for a short moment before taking a big breath.

“I guess I’m out of- oh no wait there is something I haven’t told you!”

“Enlighten me,” I sit up and face Trevor completely, blinking slowly and attentively.

“Everywhere I went, I thought of you.”

“Well that’s not new information-”

“Let me finish! Everywhere I went, I thought of you because… music!”

“What?”

“When I was away, I went to a ton of different places and all of them had music of some kind. And, I don’t know, just… hearing all these songs about love, I thought of you…” His hand stops tracing patterns on mine. He’s frozen, uncharacteristically silent. I can see the cogs turning in his mind as he’s trying to wrap his head around something unknown. “I thought of you…” he repeats to himself in a whisper.

“Hey,” I say, softly trying to get his attention without breaking the moment entirely. “I love you.”

More silence.

Trevor scans my face for a moment before declaring, “I’m gonna marry you.” The statement is so vulnerable it catches me off guard and all I can do is laugh. Trevor begins laughing with me, realizing how absurd that sounds because I’m missing the context of his internal thought process. “I’m serious, Y/n. I want to marry you some day.” I develop an endeared smile and place a kiss on his cheek bone. He kisses mine as well and then wraps both arms around me to hug me securely. His arms feel so sturdy around me and he smells like cedarwood, like home. I hold him close for a moment before he speaks again.

“What the fuck, dude. Have you never had your heart broken?” The question catches me off guard once more and I burst out laughing before pulling away just enough to see his face.

“Why do you ask?”

“You just hug with so much love. I’m surprised no one’s broken your heart yet.”

“I’ve had my share of heartbreak, but that doesn’t mean you get to add to the collection.”

“I wouldn’t dream of it.” Trevor quickly pecks my forehead before singing a very off key rendition of “Don’t go breaking my heart” to himself. I let him get through the chorus before I decide I’ve had enough, and bring him in for a kiss.

“Not that I don’t love your singing but maybe don’t quit your day job.”

“I’m gonna quit hockey and become a singer full time just to annoy you,” Trevor says as he stops hugging me. He grabs me by my hips and nudges me gently, indicating he wants me on his lap. I comply.

“Oh my god, please don’t.”

“I’m the next Taylor Swift, dude.” Trevor unintentionally laughs at how ridiculous he sounds and I straddle him gently.

“I highly doubt that.” He rests both hands on either side of my hips, slowly inching the right one forward so he can grab my ass. The gesture is subconcious judging by the gleam in his eyes as he takes in my form.

“You don’t know how much musical talent I have!”

“I know how much hockey talent you have and your luck has gotta run out somewhere, so…”

“Follow your dreams until they annoy your girlfriend, that’s the saying, right?”

“Yeah, you nailed that.” When I finish my statement we stare at each other for a moment before breaking into gradual fits of laughter. Any other night and we probably wouldn’t think twice about what we’ve been saying, but seeing him after so long makes the both of us giddy inside. Trevor compulsively leans forward to kiss my cheek then rest on the back of the couch again. I chase after him, leaning in to close the gap between us. My lips are on his once again tonight and the kiss is far more heated this time. His tongue grazes my bottom lip before gently sucking it into his own mouth. I sigh into the kiss. Too many nights alone with a vibe will never do these make out sessions justice.

Trevor grips my hips harder as he deepens the kiss, running his large hands down the sides of my thighs. The action ignites a wave of chills over the surface of my skin and I shiver a tiny bit as an outlet. I reach up to hold my hands behind his head, gripping the tufts of hair on the back of his neck. Trevor hums into my mouth a groan of desire and lust. The pads of his thumbs are rough against my bare legs, and the sensation is replaced when I notice he’s run his hands higher on my legs to disappear under the hem of my sleep shorts. I bite down on his lower lip and Trevor takes it as a sign that he can get rougher with the kiss. The feeling of his lips against mine consumes my every thought as I get lost in his touch, his scent, his kiss.

“Do you want to take this to the bedroom?” Trevor asks, his voice low and gravelly in my ear. I look at him and nod yes seriously but enthusiastically.

“I missed you…”

“I need you.”

***

A/n: hope you enjoyed reading and my requests are still open if anyone has something they’d like to submit!

[wttcsms]

keeps your preferred shampoo and conditioner in a value size bottle inside of his shower

Pls this is so random but I feel like Kageyama would LOVE Costco

no he SO would. has an executive membership. could get (and has gotten) lost in the store. he could spend two hours in there and never get bored. he buys his athletic socks, those 18 pairs + 2 free value size packs of them, from costco. it’s a running gag in his fan community that if you want to recreate any of tobio’s candid looks, there’s a chance it’s just a plain men’s sweatshirt and track pants from costco. when kags has a family of his own and his kid carelessly mentions they they like a certain snack, tobio will stock up on it. as a matter of fact-

[the-fiction-witch]

House Of Christmas

Media - House Of The Dragon AU Character - Gwayne Hightower Couple - Gwayne X Reader Reader - NONE Rating - 12 Word Count - 978

Fictional Advent Day One

Gwayne yawned a little, feeling the fatigue of the long drive settling in. He tapped his fingers against the steering wheel, the rhythmic drumming a distraction from the monotonous journey. He longed for just another sip of coffee, but his last cup was long empty, and he highly doubted his ability to get a decent one within a good twenty miles. The snow fluttered down outside his small car, creating a mesmerizing dance as the delicate flakes landed on the windshield and melted away. The radio played another remix of the same four Christmas songs that had been playing since Gwayne was sixteen, with the occasional squeak of the windscreen wipers cutting through the music.

As he pulled the car up to the tall house, Gwayne found himself the first one there. He happily took the chance to park up in front of the double garage.

Gwayne sighed, taking a moment to clear his mind and force on a smile before he climbed out of the car. He quickly made his way to the trunk, the cold air nipping at his cheeks as he retrieved his bag and tossed it over his shoulder. He jumped in surprise as he saw Daeron standing beside him,

“Ah!” He gasped, “Here you go kiddo.” he said handing Daeron his bag from the trunk,

“You forgot I was in the car didn’t you?” Daeron asked pulling out his headphones with his guitar on his back,

“No, I did not, you were just very quiet I assumed you were asleep and didn’t want to wake you,” Gwayne smiled doing his best to lie given he had completely forgotten he had Daeron in the car with him. “Come on then let’s go see the family,” He cooed,

“Must we?” Daeron sighed,

“I’m afraid we must yes.” Gwayne nodded,

The two headed up to the door and knocked on the dark silver knocker in the centre of the perfectly decorated wreath.

The door soon opened revealing Alicent in her long green dress, knitted cardigan and a red and white striped apron.

“Daeron. My darling.” She immediately wrapped her arms around the unwilling boy,

“Hi Mom.” He grunted out,

“Ohh my darling, I have missed you,” she caressed his face softly, “Go on put your things in your room.” She cooed pushing him gently to the stairs,

“Greetings sister,” Gwayne smiled,

“Hello Gwayne,” She softly smiled giving him a hug,

“Good to see you,” He smiled, “But uhh coffee?”

“In the kitchen,” She playfully rolled her eyes before heading to the very cluttered kitchen herself, heading back to the island where she was working on preparing very watered-down mocktails in a pitcher.

Gwayne followed her making a beeline for the coffee machine pouring himself one and trying not to grimace as he sipped it. “You seem uhh…” he began,

But Alicent met his eyes with a glare,

“Sorry.” He chuckled as he opened the stocked fridge, “Holy -”

“Language.”

“Did you build a Costco in your fridge?”

“Talysa did it all before she left for home.”

“You do not pay that girl enough,” He chuckled, “So what is the arrangement then I got kinda lost in the group chat.”

“I did send out an email.”

“And I failed to read it so…”

“Since Aegon moved up into Daeron’s attic room, they will both be in there.”

“Right.”

“As well as Aemond, Luke and Jace.”

“...Are they all going to fit up there?”

“There are two king-size beds and a sofa bed I am sure the boys will be fine.” She says,

“And your room?”

“Myself of course, as well as Jaehaerys and Jaehaera.”

“Can’t they just stay in Heleana’s room?”

“They usually do but I thought I’d take them, cause then the twins can share Heleana’s room.”

“Makes sense I guess.” Gwayne nodded, “What about Aemond’s-”

“I gave up my room.” Aemond spoke up having appeared in the kitchen as tall and imposing as usual, “Mummy deemed it necessary so I was more than willing to.”

“Yes thank you Aemond,” Alicent nodded,

“Hey Aemond, how’s your eye doing?” Gwayne smiled,

“I am well.” He snapped back with a glare, before he took an apple and headed back to the living room,

“So who’s going in his room?”

“Rhaynera and Harwin.”

“Right, Okay… The ground floor room?”

“Usual it’s Otto but he decided he would give up his room and go down into the basement with Viserys, leaving the ground floor room for Daemon and Leana,”

“Cause you think he’s gonna get drunk and punch the stairs again?”

“Leana is pregnant I was being considerate.” Alicent snapped,

"Okay, Okay just asking," Gwayne said as he refilled his coffee for the second time. "And I?"

"The den or the couch your choice."

"I'll take the den. I'll go see Dad." With his coffee in hand, he made his way to the impeccably decorated living room, taking in the festive atmosphere. "My god, it's like a set," he muttered to himself as he leaned on the back of the sofa where Otto and Viserys were engrossed in a conversation, the classic movie 'It's a Wonderful Life' playing on the TV in the background. The children were running around with excitement for Christmas, their laughter filling the air. Heleana sat at the window, gazing at the snow-covered landscape outside, lost in thought. Meanwhile, Aemond sat at the kitchen table, meticulously peeling an apple with a knife. "Hey, Dad," Gwayne greeted as he entered the room.

“Ohh hello Gwayne, I thought you’d gotten lost out on those roads.” Otto laughed,

“Yeah well snow, you know what it does to people.” He chuckled,

“Rhaynera will be here in ten minutes,” Helean a spoke up,

“Ummm she is a mystery… however do you always guess these things, my dear?” Viserys asked,

“Jace texted me.” She answered,

Gwayne chuckled having another sip of coffee as Alicent entered drying off her hands,

“Aemond where’s your brother?” 

[acute-crashout-jeyuso]

Between the Ropes.. a Jey Uso x Rhea Riley fanfic.

Chapter 34: This family is bigger than we thought..

Later that night, Jey and Rhea found themselves settling into bed, the weight of the day finally catching up to them. After Jon and Trinity left, they quietly got ready for bed, the unspoken bond between them feeling even more intimate now. Their morning tomorrow would start with a Zoom meeting with Hunter to discuss their upcoming character arcs and storylines. They had other plans too, a casual trip to Costco to look for Christmas lights and stock up on some essentials. But for now, they just wanted to be with each other, alone, in their shared space.

As they lay there, Jey rested his hand on Rhea’s stomach, feeling the faint warmth beneath his palm. He looked at her with a soft smile, a glimmer of something deeper in his eyes. “Do you think… they’ll look like Julie?” he asked gently, his voice tinged with both hope and the lingering sadness of their past.

Rhea stilled, her heart catching in her throat at the mention of Julie. She had never mentioned Julie to Jey at all. However; she knew that they both carried the weight of her memory, but it was always something unspoken between them—a silent guardian that neither had fully confronted.

She looked at Jey, a small smile playing on her lips, though her eyes shone with unshed tears. “Do you… do you think she’s with us like I do?” Rhea asked softly, her voice trembling slightly.

Jey nodded, his hand still on her stomach as he gave her a small squeeze. “Yeah,” he whispered. “I didn’t want to say it because I thought… I don’t know… I didn’t want to sound crazy. But Julie’s seen me..”

Rhea’s eyes widened slightly. “She’s visited you too?”

Jey hesitated, but then nodded again, his voice barely audible. “Yeah, in my dreams. She told me to sing to you… after everything that happened. It wasn’t just a feeling, Rhea. She… she came to me, told me that was we’d get through this. Together.”

Rhea’s heart pounded in her chest. This was the first time they were talking about Julie openly—about their shared connection with the baby they lost. The experience had felt so real, and since then, Rhea had felt Julie’s presence in the most difficult moments—during the assault, during Jey’s shooting, during her moments of despair.

She’d never told Jey about it, afraid it would hurt him more. And Jey had never told her, fearing the same. But now, it was all spilling out.

“I saw her in my coma,” Rhea admitted, her voice shaky. “She looked like a grown woman, Jey. She was beautiful… like a part of both of us, but somehow more. She told me that it wasn’t my time… and I never forgot that.”

Jey’s breath caught, and he turned his head toward the ceiling, blinking away his own tears. “I thought it was just me. I thought I was losing it when I saw her… in my dream at the hospital. She told me to take care of you and then when I was very… unsure about what would happen, she appeared to me again and told me to sing to you.”

Rhea reached out, threading her fingers through his, her hand trembling slightly. “We’ve never talked about her, Jey… not like this.”

“I know,” he said, his voice thick with emotion. “I didn’t want to hurt you. I figured you were already going through enough. But she’s with us, Rhea. She’s always been with us.”

Tears fell from Rhea’s eyes, but they weren’t from pain this time. There was a strange comfort in knowing that Julie had connected with them both in such profound ways, especially during their darkest moments. Even though they had lost her, she had never truly left them.

Jey squeezed Rhea’s hand, pulling her closer to him as he kissed her forehead. “Whatever happens, she’s watching over us. And this baby… I don’t know, Rhea. Maybe this baby is her way of saying she’s still here.”

Rhea nodded, her face pressed against Jey’s chest. “Yeah… maybe.”

They stayed like that, wrapped in each other’s arms, the silence between them no longer a barrier but a shared understanding. Julie, their lost baby, had become more than a memory—she had become their silent guardian, guiding them through every storm. And now, with new life growing inside Rhea, they both felt a renewed sense of hope. Even in the face of their grief, they weren’t alone.

As Jey and Rhea lay in bed, his hand resting protectively on her stomach, he pulled her closer into his embrace. The warmth between them was palpable, an unspoken comfort in their bond. Rhea, her mind buzzing with excitement, broke the silence, “What kind of baby shower should we throw?”

Jey raised his eyebrows, pondering the thought. “Hmm, if it’s a girl, something cute like Strawberry Shortcake… or Care Bears.”

Rhea let out a soft laugh, tilting her head to glance at him. “No black? You know how much I love black.”

Jey chuckled and kissed her shoulder. “Baby, I love you, but let’s cool it with the black for this. I’m thinking colors for our little one.” He grinned, knowing how much she loved her dark aesthetic.

“Fine, fine,” Rhea playfully surrendered. “But if it’s a boy, I want a beach theme. I’m talking ocean vibes, surfboards, and sand.”

Jey nodded thoughtfully. “A beach theme could be cool, something laid-back and fun. Are we going all out, though? Gender reveal, baby shower, diaper party?”

“Hell yeah!” Rhea said, her eyes lighting up with excitement.

Jey smiled, his heart swelling at her happiness. He loved seeing Rhea like this—alive with anticipation and hope. It made everything they had been through feel worth it, like they were finally building something together.

“Whatever you want, babe,” Jey murmured softly, his voice filled with affection. “We’ll make it all happen. I got you.”

As they continued to talk about the plans, ideas bouncing back and forth between them, Jey found himself staring at Rhea, his love for her deepening with every moment. The way she spoke with so much hope and excitement, despite everything they had endured, made him fall even harder for her. This was their new beginning, and he couldn’t wait to live it with her.

—

It was the next day, and Rhea and Jey were back in their comfy pajamas, wrapped in the warmth of their home. The fire crackled softly in the background as Rhea handed Jey his cup of coffee before settling in with her own. She opened her laptop, mentally preparing for the Zoom meeting with Hunter. There was a lot to think about, and the weight of the decision loomed over them both.

As soon as Hunter’s face appeared on the screen, he greeted them with a smile, clearly happy to see two of his favorite superstars. “Well, well,” he said with a chuckle, “I never would’ve pictured this—two of my best wrestlers, future Hall of Famers no doubt, engaged, living together, and BOTH out of action.”

The comment hit Jey and Rhea unexpectedly, a subtle reminder of their current status. Neither of them was used to being on the sidelines for this long.

Rhea broke the silence with a nervous laugh. “Yeah, we’re out of action… but we’re healing.”

Hunter nodded, his tone shifting to a more serious note. “I just emailed you, Rhea. Take a look at your new contract.”

Rhea hesitated, her stomach tightening. She felt nervous about what might be in it, but she opened the email and scanned the document. “What’s this?” she asked, glancing up at Hunter.

He leaned in, his expression sincere. “I’m offering you a position as an Executive Writer/Producer. Rhea, I was being honest when I told you I want to retain your image and take care of you. You’ve been a critical part of this company, and this role will allow you to transition into a new phase while still shaping WWE’s future. You’ll be hands-on with storylines, mentoring talent, and working behind the scenes.”

Rhea was stunned. “Wait, you’re serious? A corporate role?”

“Absolutely,” Hunter confirmed. “I want you to come back, announce your retirement on your own terms, and after the holidays, you can start in January.”

Rhea couldn’t help the smile that spread across her face. This was a dream offer, one she never saw coming. “Yes,” she said, almost breathless. “Of course, I’d love that.”

But then Hunter’s face turned more serious. “There’s just one catch—you’d need to relocate to Connecticut.”

Rhea’s heart sank. She felt the weight of that statement hit her hard. Moving to Connecticut? She exchanged a look with Jey, both of them knowing that this wasn’t part of their plan. They had chosen to stay in Florida to be close to Jey’s family, especially with everything they had gone through recently.

Hunter, sensing their hesitation, added, “You don’t have to decide right now. But it’s something to consider. We can help you find a place, and with your injury, Rhea, the best neurologists and medical support are in Connecticut. It would be good for your recovery.”

Rhea bit her lip, feeling torn. She knew Hunter was right, but the thought of leaving Pensacola, leaving Jey’s family, was hard to swallow. She couldn’t imagine them moving so far away.

Hunter then turned his attention to Jey. “As for you, Jey, we’ve got big plans. I want you back in action by WrestleMania 41 in Vegas. The plan is for you to feud with Gunther for the World Heavyweight Championship, and I’m talking about giving you your first world title and first money in the bank win.

Jey’s eyes widened slightly, the weight of Hunter’s words sinking in. “Money in the Bank & the title?” he echoed, his voice low.

Hunter nodded. “That’s right. It’s a big deal. The feud would last about a year—slow build, high stakes. This could solidify your legacy.”

Jey and Rhea exchanged another glance, both of them feeling conflicted. The offer for Jey was massive, something he had been waiting for his entire career. But the timing—Rhea’s pregnancy, her health, the potential move—it was a lot to process.

Jey finally broke the silence. “Hunter, there’s something you should know—Rhea’s pregnant.”

Hunter’s eyes widened slightly before a smile spread across his face. “Well, congratulations! That’s incredible news. All the more reason to think about moving to Connecticut, where you’ll have all the support you need—professionally and medically.”

The room fell silent again as Hunter’s words settled in. He encouraged them both to think about it, take their time with the decision, and said his goodbyes before ending the call.

As the screen went dark, Rhea and Jey sat there in silence, both of them grappling with what had just happened. The offer was huge—for both of them—but it came with so many strings. Moving to Connecticut meant leaving behind everything they had built in Florida. But the opportunities… they were undeniable.

Jey reached out and took Rhea’s hand, squeezing it gently. “We’ll figure this out together, like we always do,” he said softly.

Rhea nodded, leaning her head against his shoulder. “Yeah,” she whispered, still trying to process everything. “Together.”

—

Rhea and Jey decided to get dressed, slipping into casual hoodies and sweats for their Costco trip. It was a laid-back day, one where they both needed some normalcy after everything that had happened. Deciding to take Jey’s sleek black Mercedes instead of Rhea’s Jeep, they hopped into the car, put on their sunglasses to avoid unwanted attention, and headed to the store.

As they pulled into the Costco parking lot, the place was buzzing with weekend shoppers, but nothing they weren’t used to. Jey grabbed a shopping basket, and they walked in, greeted by the friendly door greeter as they entered the warehouse-like store. It felt good to just do something regular, to be a normal couple for once.

They strolled through the aisles, taking their time. Jey spotted a 24-pack of paper towels and grabbed it, tossing it into the cart after Rhea casually mentioned they were running low. They continued to move through the store, browsing for what they needed. Then, Rhea pointed out the Christmas lights further down an aisle. “The lights, babe,” she said, her voice light but with a hint of excitement.

Jey followed her gaze and nodded. “I see them,” he said, pushing the cart toward the lights section. They were picking out things for the house, for their life together. It felt good—safe. But as they neared the aisle, Rhea suddenly stopped, her body freezing up as her eyes locked onto a figure down the row.

Jey, noticing her hesitation, furrowed his brow. “What’s up?” he asked gently, but Rhea didn’t respond right away. She stood there, staring at the man in the aisle, her breath catching in her throat. For a moment, the world seemed to close in around her. The figure—the broad shoulders, the way he stood—it all reminded her of Matt.

Jey’s hand gently touched her shoulder. “Rhea? You okay?” he asked, his voice soft, trying to snap her out of the trance she was in.

Rhea blinked, her heart pounding, and the haze slowly lifted as the man kissed a woman next to him, presumably his wife. He wasn’t Matt. The resemblance had triggered something deep inside her, a fear she hadn’t realized she still carried. But the moment passed, and she took a deep breath.

“I’m fine,” she said quietly, shaking her head as if to rid herself of the lingering unease.

Jey’s eyes softened with concern. He leaned in closer, his voice low and gentle. “You sure?”

Rhea nodded, forcing a small smile. “Yeah. Just… for a second, I thought…” She trailed off, not needing to finish the sentence. Jey knew. He always knew.

Without another word, he wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her close for a brief, reassuring moment. “I’m right here,” he whispered, pressing a soft kiss to the side of her head.

Rhea exhaled, the tension easing away as she leaned into him, grateful for his steady presence. They continued their shopping, leaving the moment behind as best they could, but the weight of the past still lingered, even in the bustling aura of a Costco aisle.

After some shopping, Jey and Rhea sat together in the Costco cafeteria, tucked away in a corner with their shopping cart strategically placed to give them some privacy. The simple meal felt like a small escape from everything, and both of them appreciated the moment of peace. Rhea took a bite of her pizza when her phone rang, breaking the calm.

“Hello.. yes this is she… Thanks for getting back to me… next Tuesday at 3:30, that’s fine.. thank you.” Rhea confirmed with the caller before hanging up.

Jey, intrigued, looked over. “Who was that?”

Rhea smiled softly. “It was my OBGYN. They just confirmed my first ultrasound appointment.”

A bright grin spread across Jey’s face. He reached across the small table and held her hand, his thumb gently brushing over her knuckles. “I’m so happy I’m going to be there,” he said, his voice filled with genuine excitement.

Rhea felt a warmth in her chest at his words. “I’m glad.” she said. “It feels… I don’t know, different this time. Like everything’s coming together.”

Jey nodded, sensing the unspoken emotions Rhea was feeling. “Yeah, it does,” he agreed, holding her hand just a little tighter, as if silently promising her that they were in this together, no matter what.

After their quiet lunch, they gathered their things, paid for their items, and headed back to the car. The drive home was calm, the hum of the road and the radio filling the silence between them. Midway through, Rhea’s phone buzzed with a text.

“It’s Trinity,” she said as she read the message. “She’s making dinner tonight and wants us to come over.”

Jey glanced over and smiled. “Of course. Sounds good.”

Rhea texted back, confirming their plans with Trinity, and they continued their ride home, the sun being nothing but light to the cold weather that swept over Pensacola.

Once they got home, Rhea immediately got to work unloading the Costco haul while Jey stepped outside to start putting up the Christmas lights on the front of the house. Jey set up the ladder and began stringing the lights across the roofline, the holiday spirit already starting to fill the air.

Inside, Rhea began figuring out where to place her Grinch-themed decor. She stood in the living room, holding up various decorations, trying to picture how everything would come together. “Hmm… where does the Grinch belong?” she muttered to herself with a small smile.

The house was slowly becoming a reflection of their growing excitement for the holidays and the new chapter they were entering. Everything felt right—comfortable and settled—as if the world had finally given them a moment to breathe.

From outside, Jey called in, “Babe, come check out the lights!”

Rhea walked to the window and smiled at the sight of Jey, standing by the side of the house with the lights flickering on. It was simple, yet perfect—just like everything they were building together.

—

Jey and Rhea arrived at Jon and Trinity’s house for dinner as planned, feeling the comfortable rhythm of their family routine. Jon greeted them at the door, pulling Jey into a quick hug before ushering him inside.

“Game’s already on, Uce!” Jon grinned, gesturing toward the living room where the football game was in full swing.

Jey laughed, giving Rhea a quick kiss on the cheek before following his brother. “Don’t worry, I’ll save you a spot,” he called to her, heading into the living room where they settled on the couch with beers in hand.

Rhea made her way into the kitchen, where the delicious smell of Trinity’s cooking filled the air. Trinity, as usual, had gone all out—chicken fried steak with white gravy, roasted vegetables, broccoli mac and cheese, and that spicy-sweet jalapeño cornbread. It was the kind of meal that made Rhea feel completely at home.

“Need help with anything?” Rhea asked, leaning against the counter.

“Yeah, can you check on the cornbread?” Trinity said, stirring the gravy on the stove. “It should be just about done.”

Rhea opened the oven and smiled as the warm, savory scent of the cornbread hit her. “It smells terrific. Looks like it’s ready.”

“Great, go ahead and take it out,” Trinity said, smiling. Rhea grabbed an oven mitt and set the cornbread on the counter. The kitchen buzzed with the kind of energy that only came from cooking with someone close, the soft sound of football playing in the background, and the familiar clinking of pots and pans filling the space.

As they worked together, Trinity glanced over at Rhea. “So, when’s your ultrasound?”

“Next week,” Rhea replied, a quiet excitement in her voice. “What about you?”

“Mine’s this Friday,” Trinity said with a grin. “I can’t believe how fast it’s happening.”

Rhea nodded, feeling the same anticipation. “Are you thinking about doing a big announcement?”

“Actually, I was,” Trinity said, wiping her hands on a towel. “I thought it might be fun to announce it together. What do you think?”

Rhea smiled, feeling a sense of relief and joy wash over her. “I was going to ask you the same thing. I think that would be amazing.”

“Perfect,” Trinity said, and they shared a quick laugh, excited about this new chapter in their lives. They were family, yes, but now they’d be connected in an even more profound way, sharing this experience of motherhood together.

“How far along do you think you are?” Rhea asked, curious about the timing.

Trinity thought for a moment. “I’d say about eight weeks. It feels like it because my ass has gotten more jigglier but I’ll know for sure after Friday.”

“Eight weeks? That’s awesome,” Rhea said, but her curiosity was piqued. “How’d you know when to take a test?”

Trinity laughed, setting the last of the dishes on the counter. “Okay, so you know how much I love banoffee pie, right? Last week at SmackDown, I was eating it in catering, and out of nowhere, I felt so nauseous I thought I was gonna puke right there. I didn’t, thank God, but just before my match, I had to run to the bathroom and, well… I puked.”

Rhea’s eyes widened, amused. “No way!”

“Yup!” Trinity chuckled. “After the show, I didn’t want to take any chances, so I went to the store, bought a test, and bam—positive.”

Rhea laughed along with her. “That’s wild. I love it. So you had a total movie moment.”

“Exactly,” Trinity said, still smiling. “What about you? How did you find out you were pregnant?”

Rhea shook her head with a laugh. “Damian door-dashed me a pregnancy test.”

Trinity burst out laughing. “No way. Are you serious?”

“Dead serious. He knew before I did,” Rhea said, still amazed by the whole thing.

“That’s so Damian,” Trinity said, shaking her head, still laughing. “So, are you having any morning sickness?”

Rhea shook her head. “Nope, and that’s the weird part. When I was pregnant the first time…” Her voice trailed off for a moment, the memory of her miscarriage passing between them. She took a breath and continued. “I had terrible morning sickness then, so when I didn’t get it this time, I didn’t even think I could be pregnant.”

Trinity gave her a warm, understanding smile, reaching over to give her hand a gentle squeeze. “Every pregnancy is different, you know? Maybe that’s a good sign this time around.”

Rhea smiled softly, appreciating the support. It was moments like this that reminded her of how lucky she was to have Trinity by her side. They weren’t just family by marriage—they were sisters in every sense of the word.

They finished up in the kitchen, the warm aroma of dinner filling the room. As the meal came together, Rhea couldn’t help but feel a sense of peace. After everything she and Jey had been through, moments like this—being surrounded by family, making plans for the future—were the normalcy they had craved for so long.

After their conversation, Trinity wiped her hands on a towel, smiling warmly. “Alright, it’s time to eat! Jey, Jon, food’s ready!” she called out.

Rhea grabbed the pitcher of sweet tea and began pouring drinks for everyone as the brothers made their way to the table. Jon and Jey sat down, with Jey taking the seat right beside Rhea. She handed him a glass, and they shared a quiet, content smile before everyone settled in around the table.

Trinity, ready to dig into the feast she’d prepared, reached for Jon’s hand, and Rhea instinctively took Jey’s. Jey held her hand gently, glancing around the table before clearing his throat.

“Before we eat, can we pray?” Jey asked, his voice filled with gratitude.

Everyone nodded, bowing their heads as Jey led them in prayer. “God, we come to you tonight so thankful for everything you’ve blessed us with. I want to thank you for giving me another chance to become a father, for trusting me with that responsibility. And I want to thank you for blessing Jon and Trinity with a beautiful baby. It’s their first baby together, and I can already tell this little one is going to be surrounded by so much love.”

Jon squeezed Trinity’s hand as she smiled, her eyes misting a little at Jey’s words. Jey continued, his voice steady with emotion. “We’re all so grateful for our family, for being able to share these moments, especially after everything. Amen.”

“Amen,” the others echoed softly, heads still bowed before they lifted their eyes and looked at one another with warmth and affection.

With that, they began serving themselves. The table filled with conversation, laughter, and the delicious smell of home-cooked food. They dug into the meal—perfectly chicken fried steak with the savory gravy, roasted vegetables, broccoli mac and cheese, and the jalapeño cornbread that had made the whole house smell like comfort.

Jey nudged Rhea gently as he took a bite of the mac and cheese. “I think I might be in heaven right now.”

Rhea laughed, finally feeling like this was the normalcy she’d been craving—the calm, quiet moments with family, preparing for their future together. Everything finally felt like it was falling into place.

—

As Rhea and Trinity shared a warm bowl of homemade s’mores dip, the laughter from the living room punctuated the air as Jey and Jon hollered over a bad call in the football game. Rhea took a bite, savoring the gooey chocolate and marshmallow, while Trinity leaned back and asked, “So, how did you and Jey actually make up after all that?”

Rhea smiled, thinking back on that moment. “Honestly, after I found out I was pregnant, I just went straight over to our house. We didn’t really need to say much. He’d missed me so much, I could feel it without either of us having to say a word.”

Trinity chuckled. “Jon came home the other night asking me to give him some ‘cookie’ and I was just like…what did he see today?”

Rhea nearly choked on her s’mores dip, laughing. “Oh my god! That’s probably because Jon walked in on us that day.”

Trinity’s eyes widened in shock. “Wait—what?!”

“Nothing happened!” Rhea quickly added, shaking her head. “He didn’t see anything. He just walked in, saw us…well, y’know, and turned right back around.”

Trinity laughed so hard she nearly dropped her spoon. “Well, I guess it runs in the family, because I’ve walked in on you two before!”

Rhea blushed, laughing at the memory of Trinity catching her and Jey in the middle of a rather intimate moment not too long ago. “I know! You must have the worst timing.”

As their laughter died down, Rhea felt the timing was right to drop the news she had been holding onto. “Hey, Trin… I wanted to tell you something Hunter told us today.”

Trinity raised an eyebrow, sensing the shift in the conversation. “What’s up?”

Rhea paused, taking a breath. “Hunter offered me a new role—Executive Writer and Producer. I’d retire, and then start in January.”

Trinity’s face softened as she processed the information. “Wait…you’re retiring?”

Rhea nodded. “Yeah… Also we’d have to move to Connecticut. Hunter wants me and Jey up there. And Jey’s returning at WrestleMania… there’s just a lot happening right now.”

The news hit Trinity hard. “You’re moving? Rhea, you can’t move, especially with the baby on the way! I’ll be here all alone,” she said, her voice tinged with worry.

Rhea leaned in, placing a hand on Trinity’s. “You don’t have to be. Come with us.”

Trinity looked at her, surprised by the suggestion. “Rhea… I don’t know. We just settled into this house, and Connecticut is so different from Florida.”

“I know it’s a lot to think about,” Rhea said gently, “but it will be different. You could be down the road instead of hours away and we will have each other. It’d be easier with us both going through pregnancies together. Just think about it. Talk to Jon.”

Trinity sighed, clearly torn between excitement for Rhea and the looming uncertainty of such a big change. “I’ll talk to him… but you know how much we love it here.”

“I get it,” Rhea said softly. “Just consider it. It would mean a lot to have you close during all of this.”

—

Some time after leaving Jon and Trinity’s house, the evening had settled into a quiet stillness. Rhea was fast asleep in their bedroom, her body curled up in the blankets as the soft glow of the Christmas lights illuminated the room from the window. Jey, however, was kneeling by the tree in the living room, carefully attempting to glue together an ornament he had accidentally knocked off while distracted on his phone earlier.

“Stupid ornament,” he mumbled under his breath, holding the fragile piece together with precision. After letting it sit to dry, he stood up, making sure to walk carefully around the tree this time as he made his way toward the bedroom. He undressed down to his briefs, eager to crawl into bed and wrap himself around Rhea for some warmth.

As Jey brushed his teeth, the soft sound of something caught his attention—a faint moan. He turned to glance toward the bedroom, and through the bathroom door, he could see Rhea’s body shifting under the covers. Her movements became restless, her head turning from side to side, and he noticed a thin layer of sweat starting to form on her forehead.

Jey quickly rinsed out his mouth, spitting into the sink before hurrying to her side. His heart sank as he watched her tremble, her face contorted with fear as she muttered, “Don’t hurt him. Please, don’t hurt him.”

“Rhea,” Jey called gently, kneeling beside her and trying to rouse her from the nightmare. “Rhea, wake up, baby.”

She remained lost in the terror of her dreams, her words becoming more frantic. Jey, feeling the urgency, nudged her a little harder, calling her name again. Finally, her eyes shot open, wide and filled with panic. Her chest rose and fell with deep, rapid breaths as she gasped, struggling to break free from the lingering terror of whatever she had seen.

Jey immediately wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close as she trembled against him. “Shh, baby, I’m right here,” he whispered soothingly into her ear, rubbing her back in slow, calming circles. “I’m fine. I’m here, okay? Nothing’s gonna hurt me.”

Rhea buried her face into his chest, her breaths still shaky as she clung to him. The warmth of his body, the familiar beat of his heart under her hand, began to ground her back in reality. She let out a shaky sigh, her grip tightening on him as if she feared letting go would make the nightmare come true.

“I… I saw Matt. He was hurting you,” Rhea whispered hoarsely, her voice barely audible.

Jey kissed the top of her head softly, his heart breaking for her. “He’s not here, okay? I’m right here, and nothing’s gonna happen to me or you. You’re safe, baby. We’re safe.”

Rhea nodded against him, still trying to calm the storm inside her mind. Jey held her even tighter, vowing to protect her from every nightmare, both real and imagined. They stayed like that for a long moment, wrapped up in each other, until the weight of the nightmare started to lift from Rhea’s shoulders, allowing her to finally breathe freely again.

—

Rhea finished the last bite of her sandwich, licking the crumbs from her fingers as she glanced over at Jey. He was kneeling in front of the fireplace, clearly struggling with something, his brow furrowed in frustration. She smiled to herself, amused by how determined he was to fix things himself, even when it was obvious he was having a hard time.

Her phone buzzed, pulling her attention away from Jey. She saw Liv’s name pop up on the screen with an incoming FaceTime call. Raising an eyebrow, she swiped to answer.

“Hey, baby!” Liv’s cheerful voice came through the phone, her face lit up with that infectious smile of hers.

Rhea leaned back against the couch, relaxing into the call. “Hey, love! How are you doing?” she asked, a warm smile tugging at her lips.

“I’m good! I’ve been thinking about something and I wanted to get your opinion,” Liv responded, her voice sounding a little more serious now.

Rhea took a sip of her water and set the glass down. “Shoot, what’s on your mind?”

Liv hesitated for a moment before speaking. “Okay, so… I was wondering—did Dom ever get his marriage annulled? You know, after all that drama with his ex cheating on him?”

Rhea blinked, caught off guard by the question, but quickly nodded. “From what I remember, yeah. He did. Why?”

There was a brief pause before Liv finally asked, “Would it be weird if I, you know… made a move on him?”

Rhea sat up a little straighter, considering Liv’s words carefully. “Weird? No, not really. But are you sure you want to go down that route?” she asked, her voice soft but cautious. She thought back to all the scrutiny she and Jey had faced when they first got together, the endless media attention, the backlash from fans and critics alike. It had been a lot to deal with, but they had come out stronger for it. Still, she wanted Liv to be sure.

Liv sighed on the other end of the line, clearly thinking about it. “Honestly? Seeing you so happy with Jey, it makes me think it’s worth it. I want that, you know?”

Rhea’s heart warmed at the thought. She understood exactly what Liv was feeling, that desire for happiness, even if it meant facing some challenges along the way. “Well, if you want to go for it, then go for it,” Rhea encouraged, her voice full of support. “Don’t let anything hold you back.”

Liv’s smile returned, her eyes brightening. “Thanks, babes! You’re the best. I’ll keep you posted!”

“Anytime, love. You know where to find me,” Rhea replied with a grin before the call ended.

She set her phone down and turned her attention back to Jey, who was now letting out a loud groan of frustration. He ran his hands through his hair, clearly fed up with the situation.

Rhea smirked and crossed her arms, watching him struggle. “What are you even trying to do over there?”

Jey turned to her, his expression exasperated. “We’ve got creosote buildup in the chimney,” he grumbled. “It’s dangerous. I’ve been trying to clean it, but it’s not working.”

Rhea raised an eyebrow, genuinely clueless. “Creosote? I have no idea what that is.”

Jey let out a deep sigh, rubbing his forehead. “It’s this gunk that builds up inside the chimney from burning wood. If it gets too thick, it can cause a fire. That’s why we need to clean it out.”

Rhea’s eyes widened in understanding. “Oh! Well, no wonder you’re frustrated. That sounds like a nightmare.”

He chuckled darkly. “Yeah, tell me about it.”

Rhea stood up and walked over to where Jey was sitting, kneeling beside him to get a closer look at the fireplace. “How about we call a professional or maybe try a self cleaner, something we could find at Walmart or Costco. We don’t need to be setting the house on fire or something,” she suggested, bumping his shoulder playfully.

Jey looked at her for a moment, then sighed again, a small smile creeping onto his lips. “Yeah… probably a good idea,” he admitted, laughing softly. “Guess I’m not cut out for the whole DIY fireplace maintenance thing.”

Rhea grinned and leaned in, pressing a kiss to his cheek. “It’s okay, you’re good at plenty of other things,” she teased.

He wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her closer. “Oh yeah? Like what?” he asked, his tone playful now.

Rhea smirked, resting her head on his shoulder. “Licking your plate clean…” she whispered.

Jey chuckled, the tension in his body melting away as they sat there together, surrounded by the warmth of their home and the love they shared.

Sometime later in the day, Jey and Rhea sat comfortably in their bedroom, the glow of the TV casting flickering shadows on the walls as A Haunted House played. Their laughter filled the room, breaking the cozy silence between them. They were wrapped up in their comforter, snuggled close together, completely enveloped in their own little world.

As the movie rolled on, Jey shifted slightly, resting his chin on the top of Rhea’s head. “So, you got anything planned for tomorrow?” he asked casually, his voice soft in the dim light.

Rhea, still smiling from the ridiculous scene on the screen, shrugged lightly. “Just a few things,” she replied. “I’m gonna get my nails and toes done. They’re in desperate need of some love.” She wiggled her toes under the blanket for emphasis, making Jey chuckle. “And I need to do some serious shopping. I’m tired of wearing the same clothes over and over.”

Jey raised an eyebrow, curious. “Shopping, huh? Thought you had a closet full of clothes.”

Rhea sighed, her mood sobering just a little as she turned to look at him. “The only clothes I have right now are the two bags Trinity managed to grab when she and Jon went to the house to get the animals.” She paused, her eyes darkening slightly with the memory. “The rest of my stuff is still at the house I shared with Matt. And you know I’m not going back there.”

Jey’s expression softened immediately. He knew all too well how much the thought of that house weighed on her, and he didn’t want to push her into anything she wasn’t ready for. He squeezed her hand gently, offering silent support.

“You don’t have to go back there, babe,” he said quietly, his voice steady and reassuring. “Take your time. When you’re ready, we’ll figure it out.”

Rhea gave him a small, grateful smile. “Yeah. I know.”

After a moment, Jey smirked, trying to lighten the mood. “Well, if you need something to wear in the meantime, you can always start wearing more of my shirts.”

Rhea let out a playful laugh, shaking her head. “Already ahead of you on that one.”

Jey glanced down at her with a teasing look. “Wait—what do you mean?”

Rhea grinned and shifted under the covers, revealing the oversized black Nike shirt she was wearing. At first, Jey had thought it was hers, but now, seeing the familiar logo, he realized it was one of his.

“Hold up,” he said, feigning mock surprise. “Is that my shirt?”

Rhea gave him a mischievous smile and shrugged. “Yup. Found it in your drawer. It’s comfy, so I borrowed it. Hope you don’t mind.”

Jey shook his head, laughing. “Not at all. It looks better on you anyway.”

She leaned in and kissed him on the cheek, her heart feeling lighter again. “Thanks, babe. But don’t be surprised if more of your clothes start going missing.”

Jey wrapped his arm around her, pulling her closer. “You can take whatever you want, as long as you stay right here with me.”

Rhea rested her head on his chest, smiling to herself. “Deal.”

They went back to watching the movie, but the air between them felt lighter now.. which was always a great sign.

—

Jey sat at the dining room table, Rhea’s laptop open in front of him, his fingers nervously drumming on the sides. He’d done countless interviews before, but this one felt different. It was his first since the shooting, and the weight of it pressed heavily on his chest. He wasn’t sure how he was going to handle the questions, or even if he was ready to face some of them. The only comfort was that the interview was with Chris Van Vliet, someone he trusted. But even so, the thought of rehashing everything made him tense.

Rhea had offered to stay with him, to be there for support, but he’d told her to go ahead and enjoy her time getting her nails done. He had lied, saying he was okay, but he wasn’t. His mind was racing, his hands slightly trembling as he waited for Chris to pop up on the screen.

Suddenly, the familiar ding echoed through the speakers, and Chris’s friendly face appeared on the laptop. He greeted Jey with his usual warm smile. “Jey! How’s it going, man?”

Jey forced a smile, trying to ease his nerves. “Hey, Chris. Good to catch up.”

Chris nodded, settling into his seat. “Yeah, it’s been a while. Before we dive in, I just wanted to ask—what kind of questions can I touch on today? Anything you want to avoid?”

Jey hesitated for a moment, rubbing his hands together. “Uh, what kind of direction were you thinking?”

Chris leaned forward, his voice soft but professional. “Well, I want to talk about your relationship with Rhea and how that came about, your role in her life and WWE, and of course… the shooting. But I want to be respectful of where you’re at with it.”

Jey exhaled slowly, feeling a lump form in his throat. He wasn’t ready to dig into the trauma of the shooting, not yet. “I’m not ready to talk about the shooting,” he admitted, his voice a little strained. “With Rhea… I’m very emotional about that, but I can touch on it lightly.”

Chris nodded, his tone empathetic. “Totally understandable. We’ll focus on what you’re comfortable with. I also wanted to ask about a few other things, if you’re up for it.”

Jey shifted in his chair, trying to stay focused. “Yeah, sure. What else did you want to cover?”

Chris pulled up his notes and listed off a few more questions:

“What has the support from the WWE Universe meant to you during this time, especially after your injury and everything you’ve been through? You’ve been through a lot of transitions in your career, from tag team wrestling with your brother to ‘Main Event Jey Uso.’ How has this journey shaped you as a person and a performer? How has your relationship with Rhea affected your perspective on life and your career? You’ve been a part of some huge storylines in WWE, especially with The Bloodline. Do you see yourself returning to that role, or are you thinking about something new when you come back? What’s next for Jey Uso? When you’re ready to come back, what can fans expect from you moving forward? I have a lot more and I know it’s a lot to process but what do you think so far..?”

Jey nodded as he listened, feeling more at ease with the direction Chris wanted to take. “Yeah, I can work with those.”

Chris smiled warmly. “Great. Whenever you’re ready, we’ll start.”

Jey took a deep breath, his nerves settling just a bit. “Let’s do it.”

As Chris launched into the interview, Jey tried his best to stay composed, answering each question with as much honesty as he could muster, even though some parts were difficult to navigate. But with each question, he found himself loosening up, speaking more freely about his relationship with Rhea, his journey in WWE, and how much the support from fans had meant to him during his recovery.

Meanwhile, across town, Rhea was sitting in the nail salon, her hands resting on the table as her nail artist flipped through a book of nail designs. The hum of the salon’s dryer buzzed in the background as Rhea glanced at the different options, trying to decide what she wanted.

“So, what are we thinking today?” the nail artist asked, her voice cheerful.

Rhea grinned. “I want Jey Uso nails.”

The artist laughed, her eyes lighting up with excitement. “Alright, alright! Let me see what I’ve got here…” She pulled out a book of nail decals and flipped through the pages until she reached the sports section, where different designs for athletes and teams were laid out. She turned to Rhea with a playful smirk. “So, do you want Bloodline Jey Uso or Main Event Jey Uso? You know, the colors.”

Rhea leaned in, examining the options. She tapped the picture that featured Jey in his black and red attire, a signature of the Bloodline era. It was a nail decal picture and she just had to have it. “Bloodline Jey,” she said with a smirk. “Definitely the black and red.”

The nail artist nodded and began gathering her materials. “Good choice. You two have been through a lot together, huh?”

Rhea’s expression softened as she thought about Jey, currently doing his interview. “Yeah, we have.”

The nail artist, while prepping Rhea’s hands, glanced at Rhea. “So, how are you and your future husband doing?”

Rhea smiled warmly at the thought of Jey. “We’re doing really well. It’s been… a lot, but we’re stronger because of it.”

The artist nodded approvingly. “That’s good to hear. You guys seem like you’re rock solid. I love that you support each other through everything.”

Rhea looked down at her hands, her heart swelling with love and gratitude for Jey. “Yeah, we do. He’s my rock, and I try to be his.”

As the nail artist began to size Rhea’s nails, Rhea thought about how much her life had changed in such a short time. Despite the chaos, the media scrutiny, and the trauma they both endured, her and Jey’s bond had only grown stronger. They were building something real, something lasting, and she knew that no matter what came their way, they’d face it together.

After some time, her nails began to start taking on the bold red and black colors of Jey’s Bloodline era, Rhea felt a sense of pride. The nail tech even painted a J on Rhea’s ring finger. Her love for him ran deep, and no matter what challenges lay ahead, they were in it for the long haul.

—

Friday 5:11 PM. December 13th, 2024

Jey and Rhea were in their usual frantic race to get ready. The clock seemed to tick faster every time they had somewhere to be, and tonight was no exception. Trinity and Jon had invited them out to a private dinner at Rodizio Grill, and of course, they were running late.

Rhea stood at the bathroom mirror, her face a picture of concentration as she applied her makeup. Her black corset, paired with tight black jeans and platform boots, was perfectly laid out on the bed, alongside her signature black trench coat. She was currently in her bra and panties, not wanting to risk getting any makeup on her outfit before she was finished. Despite the chaos, the house was finally warm, thanks to Jey cleaning out the fireplace earlier.

Suicide Silence was blaring through the stereo system, and while Rhea was in her element, Jey was struggling. He stood in front of his open closet, completely lost, trying to figure out what to wear. The loud music wasn’t helping.

Jey walked up behind Rhea, his face scrunched in frustration as she carefully applied brow pomade. “Babe, I can’t concentrate,” he said, resting his hand on her shoulder.

Rhea didn’t even blink, focused on getting her eyebrows just right. “Why?” she asked, her voice calm despite the ticking clock.

Jey ran a hand through his hair, looking at her through the mirror. “It’s like someone is screaming in my ear.”

Rhea rolled her eyes playfully but reached over to the stereo remote, lowering the volume just a little. “Better?” she asked, smirking.

“Yeah, thank you,” Jey said, breathing a sigh of relief as the music became background noise instead of the overwhelming wall of sound it had been. He returned to his closet and finally settled on an outfit. He grabbed an all-black ensemble—an original Right Hand Man T-shirt, paired with his black jacket and gold watch. He even dug out one of his old chains to complete the look.

Meanwhile, Rhea quickly finished up her makeup, ditching eyeshadow to save time. She applied her favorite dark lipstick with precision before walking over to the bed to start getting dressed. She slipped into her black jeans and boots, then carefully adjusted her corset, tightening it and making sure it sat just right. Her trench coat would be the final touch once they were ready to leave.

By the time she was fully dressed, she glanced at the clock and saw that it was 5:32. “Shit,” she muttered under her breath.

Jey was already by the door, pulling on his jacket. “We gotta go,” he called, his tone urgent but still laced with the usual teasing.

Rhea nodded, grabbing her purse off the bed. They scurried out of the bedroom, moving through the house in a blur of black clothing and last-minute adjustments. Jey grabbed the keys to his Mercedes, and they both hurried to lock up the house before heading out.

The cool evening air hit them as they stepped outside, but the adrenaline of rushing to make their dinner reservation kept them warm. Jey unlocked the car with a quick press of a button, and Rhea slid into the passenger seat as he jumped into the driver’s seat. With one swift motion, Jey started the engine, and they were off, heading through the quiet streets toward the restaurant.

The drive was quick, mostly spent with Rhea adjusting her lipstick in the passenger mirror and Jey muttering about how they were always late no matter how early they tried to start getting ready. Rhea laughed, poking fun at him for taking forever to decide on an outfit, while he shot back that she had enough clothes to fill three closets.

Before long, they pulled up to Rodizio Grill, the warm lights from the restaurant casting a cozy glow outside. Jey parked the car, and they both got out, straightening their outfits as they walked toward the entrance.

Rhea looped her arm through Jey’s, leaning into him as they made their way to the door. “We made it,” she whispered, grinning up at him.

Jey smirked, turning his head to kiss the top of her head since she was his height with the platforms she had on. “Yeah, we did. Barely.”

As they stepped into the restaurant, the familiar aroma of sizzling meats and freshly baked bread greeted them, along with the soft murmur of conversation. The hostess smiled as they approached, recognizing them immediately. “Private party for Trinity and Jon?”

Jey nodded, and the hostess motioned for them to follow. They were led through the main dining area to a more secluded, private section of the restaurant, where Trinity and Jon were already seated.

Trinity waved excitedly as soon as she saw them. “Look who finally made it!”

Jon laughed, shaking his head. “Always fashionably late.”

Rhea grinned as she and Jey approached the table. “Hey, we’re here, aren’t we?”

Jey gave Jon a playful slap on the back as they all settled into their seats. “You know how it is, Uce’ ” he said with a smirk. “Gotta make an entrance.”

As Jey and Jon looked over the beer list, trying to decide between a couple of local craft options, Rhea and Trinity enjoyed their Sprite mixed with cranberry juice. The casual chatter continued, but Rhea couldn’t help but circle back to her curiosity about the ultrasound. She leaned toward Trinity, her eyes filled with excitement.

“So, how did the ultrasound go?” Rhea asked, her voice low but eager.

Trinity smiled warmly, already knowing the surprise she was about to reveal. She reached into her purse, pulling out a small roll of pictures. She handed them over to Rhea with a sly grin.

Rhea unrolled the pictures and studied them, her expression shifting from confusion to shock. “Wait… hold on,” she said, blinking at the images. “Are there two babies?!”

Trinity beamed and nodded, clearly delighted by Rhea’s reaction. “Yep, twins!”

Rhea’s eyes widened further, and without hesitation, she nudged Jey, who was still mulling over his beer options with Jon. “Babe, you have to see this,” she said, pushing the pictures into his hand.

Jey glanced down at the ultrasound and immediately broke into a huge grin. “Yo, with the Samoan genes!” he said proudly, shaking his head with a chuckle.

Jon leaned in as well, shaking his head in disbelief. “Man, I wasn’t expecting twins. Like, we were prepared for one baby, but two? That’s a whole other level.”

Trinity laughed softly, giving Jon a playful nudge. “Speak for yourself. I had a feeling it might be twins. It’s in the family.”

Jey and Rhea couldn’t hold back their laughter, sharing a glance at how unsurprised Trinity was about carrying twins. Rhea, still marveling at the pictures, said, “Of course you were expecting twins. I mean, that’s how it goes, right?”

Trinity leaned back in her chair, taking a sip of her drink. “Yeah, yeah. But seriously, I couldn’t believe it until I saw it on the screen. When the doctor told me, I was like, ‘Of course.’”

Rhea tilted her head, smiling warmly. “Have you told Hunter about maternity leave yet?”

“Oh, yeah,” Trinity replied, her eyes lighting up with amusement. “As soon as I got that ultrasound, I sent Hunter a picture. He emailed back and said, ‘Good luck!’ He’s always been supportive, but he was probably just as surprised as Jon was.”

Jey chuckled, imagining the scene. “I bet he was sitting there like, ‘Twins? Man, the roster’s gonna be thin for a while.’”

Rhea laughed, but then a look of admiration crossed her face. “How far along are you, Trin?”

Trinity leaned forward slightly, placing her hand on her stomach. “The doctor estimated about 12 weeks.”

“Damn,” Rhea muttered, shaking her head. “And you’ve been wrestling this whole time?”

Trinity nodded, her expression a mix of pride and relief. “I didn’t even know I was, I had no morning sickness. The only indicator was me feeling nauseous after eating the banoffee. But yeah, I’ve been really lucky. The doctors checked everything out, and the babies are perfectly fine. I’m just grateful nothing happened to them while I was in the ring.”

Rhea sighed in admiration, her gaze soft as she looked at her friend. “That’s amazing, Trin. I don’t know how you do it.”

Trinity smiled. “You do what you have to do, right? And thankfully, I’ve got Jon here, and now you guys, to help out when things get more intense.”

Jey leaned over and patted Jon on the back. “Jon you’re about to be the real Main Event at home with those twins.”

Jon laughed, shaking his head as he took a sip of his beer. “Yeah, man, it’s gonna be a whole new challenge. But I’m ready for it.”

Rhea and Trinity exchanged a knowing look, the kind that only two women could share when they understood the demands and joys of motherhood and partnership. “We’re here for you, no matter what,” Rhea said sincerely, reaching across the table to squeeze Trinity’s hand.

The table fell into a comfortable silence for a moment, filled with warmth and anticipation for the new chapter ahead for Jon and Trinity. It was more than just a dinner—it was a celebration of family, friendship, and the life changes that lay ahead.

As the four were served their dinner, the smell of grilled meats filled the air. The atmosphere was warm and relaxed, but Rhea had something on her mind that she couldn’t wait to bring up. With a grin, she turned to Trinity, already knowing what the two had discussed earlier.

“So, have you figured out the details for the big announcement?” Rhea asked, her excitement bubbling just beneath the surface.

Trinity smiled, already in sync with her. “Yeah, I think we’ve got it all planned out. A Christmas-themed pregnancy announcement!” She shot Rhea a knowing look.

Rhea nodded, equally excited. “Perfect! I think a Grinch theme could be fun,” she teased, her playful tone earning an immediate eye roll from Trinity.

“Rhea, I’m telling you, no Grinch!” Trinity laughed, clearly having heard this suggestion more than once. “But seriously, we’ve got something even better lined up.”

Curious, Rhea raised her eyebrows. “Oh? What’s better than the Grinch?”

Trinity reached into her purse and pulled out her phone. She swiped through a few pictures and handed it to Rhea. “Check this out. It’s an Elf on the Shelf duo theme. Jon and I will be the parents, and we’ll have two tiny elf dolls to represent the babies.”

Rhea’s face lit up as she looked at the concept. “This is adorable! It’s festive but not cheesy. It’s perfect for both of us to announce together.”

Trinity nodded, clearly pleased with herself. “Right? And I’ve already booked the photographer for next Wednesday at 3:30 pm. That’s the time you and Jey need to be there at the house.”

Rhea smiled brightly. “Of course..”

Jey, who had been glancing over the beer list, finally chimed in. “Wait, wait, so we’re doing a whole Christmas announcement thing? What are we supposed to wear?”

Trinity grinned, already ahead of him. “Jon and I are wearing red, so I was thinking you and Rhea could wear black to contrast us. It’ll make for a great photo.”

Rhea shot a glance at Jey, who shrugged and smiled. “Black, huh? Well, that’s easy enough for us.”

Rhea smirked. “Yeah, like I was gonna choose anything else.” She leaned back in her chair, already envisioning the photo shoot. “I’m really excited for this. It’s going to be so special. I can’t wait to see everyone’s reactions when they find out.”

Trinity smiled warmly, placing her hand on her stomach. “It’s going to be amazing. I’m so glad we’re doing this together, announcing both pregnancies at the same time.”

Jon, who had been quietly enjoying his food, added, “It’s kind of surreal. I mean, we’re about to be parents to twins, and you two are sharing this huge moment with us by having your baby as well.”

Jey leaned back in his chair, raising his glass. “To family. And to these babies, who are going to be so spoiled.”

Rhea and Trinity raised their glasses of juice, and Jon joined in with his beer. “To family,” they all echoed in unison, clinking their glasses together.

As the evening wore on, the four continued discussing their plans for the announcement, sharing laughs about how they’d break the news to the world. With each moment, it became clear that they were more than just friends—they were family, united not only by love but by the bond they shared in these exciting life moments.

—

Jey lay in the darkness of their bedroom, the soft glow of the moon & Christmas lights slipping through the curtains, casting shadows on the walls. The warmth from the fireplace still lingered, but the house had settled into a hushed quiet, save for the soft ticking of the clock on the wall and the rhythmic sound of Rhea's breathing beside him. It was just past 1 a.m., and while the night had been perfect, with laughter and great company, sleep still eluded him.

Rhea, however, had long since drifted into a deep, peaceful sleep. She lay on her side, her back to him, with her hair fanning across the pillow in dark waves. Her breathing was steady, serene, and in the stillness of the night, Jey found himself drawn to her even more than usual. He turned onto his side to face her, gently sliding an arm around her waist and pulling her close. The simple act of holding her felt grounding, like the world outside could spin and spiral, but here, in this bed, with her in his arms, everything was perfect. Everything made sense.

The sweet fragrance of her body soap filled his senses-melon, plum, and freesia, a scent that had become a part of her, a part of their home. It was a subtle reminder of her presence even when she wasn't right next to him, but tonight, she was here, and that scent was as intoxicating as ever. He nestled his face into the crook of her neck, breathing her in deeply. Every time he did this, it was like discovering her all over again-the warmth of her skin, the softness beneath his touch, the sweet, familiar scent that lingered on her.

With gentle fingers, Jey lightly traced her skin, running his hand along the curve of her waist, feeling the smoothness of her body.

She stirred slightly, her body unconsciously leaning further into him, as if even in sleep, she sought his closeness. He smiled softly to himself, his lips brushing against her neck as he pressed the lightest of kisses there. He lingered for a moment, feeling the quiet connection between them, as if the simple act of kissing her while she slept was its own declaration of love.

As he lay there, holding her, thoughts of everything they had been through together flashed through his mind-their journey, the highs and the lows, the intensity of their connection, and the way they had weathered every storm. Jey's heart swelled with love and gratitude. There were moments, like now, when he felt overwhelmed by how lucky he was to have her, to call her his.

It was hard to believe sometimes. That after all the pain, the near losses, the battles with the media, the scars-emotional and physical—they had come out stronger. She was his, and he was hers, and that bond was something no one could touch.

Jey shifted slightly and nuzzled into her neck again, pressing another kiss there, this time a little longer. The sensation of her soft skin against his lips was electric, and it only deepened the intensity of his feelings. His fingers gently brushed against the waistband of her pajama pants, the intimate familiarity of the touch making him smile.

Every part of her was known to him-every curve, every scar, every laugh line that told the story of their shared moments.

"You're mine, baby," he whispered softly, the words barely a breath. The words were a tad bit possessive; a quiet affirmation of the love they shared. A promise that no matter what happened, they would always have this-this love, this closeness that nothing and no one could take away. "And I'm never letting you go."

Rhea shifted again, her body instinctively pressing back into his, the warmth between them a quiet comfort. She mumbled something in her sleep, and while the words were unintelligible, they made Jey smile. He held her tighter, feeling her heartbeat, soft and steady against his chest. He was hers just as much as she was his, and that was all he needed.

Jey kissed Rhea’s neck again and she let out a soft moan as his cold mouth connected to her neck on her sweet spot, Rhea used her butt to move up to Jey, indicating she was okay with him continuing. Jey’s kiss was soft and slow, indicating he wanted to take his time with Rhea. His hand moved up underneath her shirt as he grasped her breast, his finger softly grazing her pierced nipple.

Jey licked Rhea’s earlobe softly and he whispered to her, “I need you right now..” Jey bit softly on her earlobe and Rhea reached for Jey’s hand and she guided him into her panties. Jey slid his hand in her panties to rub Rhea’s pussy softly, his two fingers feeling her wetness. Rhea turned her head to Jey and he kissed her so passionately, carefully adjusting herself to laying on her back. This time however, the kiss was slow, Jey didn’t want to cause her any discomfort like last time. Jey could feel himself getting harder by the minute, his briefs becoming soaked with precum, his manhood… aching to be inside of Rhea.

Rhea broke the kiss as she felt Jey’s finger rub her clit softly, she let out a whimper as she locked her eyes with Jey, this was different from the sex they usually do, this time was… deep. “You’re so beautiful..” He said as he saw Rhea start to squirm slightly in her position. She lifted up her leg slightly to open herself up more and Jey’s hand became immersed in her juices, the sounds of Rhea’s soft moans and wet pussy engulfed the room.

“Babe… oh fu-“ She struggled to get words out but couldn’t, Jey was in control and Rhea was to submit to him. It happened then, Jey softly teased her entry way, indicating he wanted to finger her. “Slow please..” Rhea begged. Jey kissed Rhea to distract her from any discomfort she might have from his finger, he slowly inserted his finger and Jey wanted to come at just the feelings of her walls on his finger, they were very warm, Rhea had never felt this way before. She was warm and inviting, like a freshly baked apple pie on a Sunday morning.

“Jey..” She moaned as Jey slowly pulled out his finger and inserted it once more. He proceeded to repeat the action as he kissed her neck more, keeping his primal eyes on Rhea as her chest when up and down and more moans escaped her mouth.

“Tell me you love me..” Jey begged.

“I love you..” She said and Jey felt her walls clench more on his finger. Jey slowly pulled out his finger and he put it in his mouth to quickly savor her taste and just like always… she was intoxicating.

“Ride me.. I want you to be in control..” Jey commanded. Rhea took off her shirt as she positioned herself on top of Jey, her breasts in full view of Jey’s eyes, the moonlight peaking through the blinds and curtains, casting that glow Rhea was known to have. Jey held his dick in his hand as Rhea slowly slid onto him. She moaned softly as she felt his manhood stretch her slowly, she felt some mild discomfort as felt him hit the end of her. But, the discomfort was overruled by the pleasure filled moment.

“Baby… I love you so much..” Rhea struggled to get out as she attempted to pick up the pace. Jey held both of his hands at her hips and told her, “Take your time.. it’s about you..” Jey said and Rhea nodded. Rhea then slowed down and went up and down in a much slower yet romantic way. As Jey observed the way she rode him, he couldn’t help but notice that every time the moonlight hit Rhea, it was a sight for sore eyes.

Rhea’s hands were positioned together on Jey’s abs as her movements became deeper, Jey’s hands had shifted to her ass, each hand on her buttocks, softly pressing and pulling up into her to expose her pussy more. This moment had become very ardent, filled with their pleasure as this impromptu love making session filled the room.

“Jey… baby… fu-“ Rhea again struggled to get some words out. “Cum with me..” She pleaded. Jey nodded as he allowed himself to completely submit to Rhea. Rhea didn’t pick up no pace, she kept it, she hadn’t experienced this type of orgasm before. This fulfillment of a slow, ‘take your time’, orgasm.

“Rhea.. fuck..” Jey said as his hands slipped from her ass to hold her waist. “Jey baby.. fuck” Rhea said as she felt him pull her down more to his manhood. The pleasure surrounded the two of them as they both let out groans, a signal that they both finished. “Hold on..” Jey said as he felt his cum drip down out of Rhea and down to his area. After a bit, Rhea softly slid off of Jey. Out of breath and her pussy oozing a lot of cum, she turned to Jey and wrapped an arm around him.

On instinct, Jey pulled her closer and kissed her forehead. The two then drifted off to a peaceful slumber, deciding to worry about cleanup tomorrow.

—

Jey’s eyes fluttered open to the sound of his phone buzzing on the nightstand. The morning light was just starting to filter through the curtains, casting a soft glow across the room. He and Rhea were still wrapped around each other from the night before, her body resting peacefully against his. For a moment, he hesitated to move, not wanting to disturb the calm that enveloped them.

But the phone wouldn’t stop. He groaned softly, careful not to wake Rhea as he reached over and grabbed it, blinking at the screen. Takecia.

Jey sighed and rubbed his face before answering. “Hello?” His voice was still thick with sleep.

“Hey, Jey,” Takecia’s voice came through the speaker, light and cheerful. “I just wanted to let you know that Jeyce and Jaciyah are on the plane right now. They should land in Pensacola around 3 this afternoon.”

Jey glanced at the clock on his phone—it was barely 9 a.m. He stifled a yawn and nodded to himself. “Yeah, that’s cool. I’ll be ready to pick them up.”

“Thanks,” Takecia said, then there was a brief pause before she asked, “So, have you and Rhea been doing okay? Have you talked much since… everything?”

Jey’s eyes drifted down to Rhea, her soft breathing filling the quiet space between them. A smile tugged at his lips as he watched her sleep, her hair cascading over the pillow. “Yeah, we’ve been good. We worked things out,” he replied, his voice soft. “Actually, Rhea’s pregnant now.”

As soon as the words slipped out, Jey froze. His heart jumped in his chest. He hadn’t meant to tell her that—especially not so casually. Panic seized him, and for a split second, he regretted his honesty. He wasn’t sure how Takecia would take the news.

But to his surprise, her voice remained calm and even, almost happy. “Congratulations,” she said warmly.

Jey blinked, momentarily caught off guard. “Uh, thanks,” he replied, feeling a wave of relief wash over him. He hadn’t expected her to take it so well, but it was a weight off his shoulders.

Before the moment could stretch on too long, Takecia shifted the conversation. “Oh, by the way, I found a buyer for our old home. I’ve already started looking at places in Pensacola.”

Jey frowned, sitting up a bit in bed. He hadn’t known she was considering selling their old house. “Why are you selling the house?” he asked, confusion evident in his voice.

Takecia sounded just as puzzled. “Didn’t Rhea tell you? I’m planning on moving closer to you so that the boys don’t have to fly all the time to visit.”

Jey’s mind spun as he tried to piece together everything. Rhea hadn’t mentioned anything about Takecia moving. “Wait, hold up,” he said, his voice cautious. “Hold off on looking for a house in Pensacola.”

Takecia’s tone shifted to one of concern. “Why? What’s going on?”

Jey rubbed the back of his neck, trying to figure out how to explain it. “Rhea got offered a writer position with WWE now that she’s retiring from wrestling. The job’s based in Connecticut, so we’re going to be moving there soon.”

There was a long pause on the other end of the line, and Jey could practically feel the tension building. When Takecia finally spoke again, her voice was filled with surprise and maybe a little frustration. “Jey, you and Rhea just got settled in Pensacola. And now you’re moving again?”

Jey exhaled deeply, feeling the weight of everything pressing down on him. “I know,” he said quietly. “But it’s the best decision for us right now. I don’t want to risk anything happening again. You almost lost me, Takecia. I almost didn’t make it.”

There was a brief silence before Takecia sighed softly. “I understand,” she said, her voice laced with resignation. “It’s just… I didn’t expect this.”

Jey softened his tone, hoping to reassure her. “It’s all for the best. I just want the boys to have a stable life, and I want to also be there for mine and Rhea’s child.!We’ll make it work, I promise.”

Takecia was quiet for a moment before she spoke again, her voice softer. “You know, my company’s headquarters are actually in Stamford. I might be able to request a transfer there.”

Jey’s eyes widened, the idea sparking some hope in him. “Seriously? That would make everything so much easier.”

“Yeah,” she replied. “I’ll look into it. I just didn’t expect to be relocating so soon. But if it’s what’s best for the boys and you, I’ll figure it out.”

Jey nodded, even though she couldn’t see him. “I appreciate that, Takecia. Really.”

“Of course,” she said with a hint of warmth. “So, Rhea’s taking the job?”

“Yeah,” Jey replied. “She’s taking the rest of December off to relax and get everything in order, but she’ll start work by the end of January.”

“Alright, well… I’ll start looking into the transfer, and we’ll figure things out from there,” Takecia said, sounding more hopeful now. “And the boys will be with you for the week, I will pick them up next Friday.”

Jey smiled, feeling a sense of relief at how everything was coming together. “Sounds good. I’ll make sure everything’s ready for them.”

They ended the call, and Jey set his phone down with a sigh, feeling a mixture of emotions. He glanced over at Rhea, who was still fast asleep, completely unaware of the conversation he had just had. He couldn’t help but marvel at her—the way she slept so peacefully, her presence always grounding him, even when life felt chaotic.

He gently pulled her closer, his arm tightening around her waist as he buried his face in her hair. Even after she had slept, her scent still remained. He then kissed the nape of her neck softly, his lips brushing against her warm skin.

“Everything’s gonna be okay,” he whispered into the quiet, more for himself than for her. He had to believe it—because for the first time in a long while, it really felt like it would be.

[firenati0n]

roop's first rwrb fics aka fics that left an impact aka fics that kicked off her rwrb fic love aka fics that make her heart go weeeoooweeeooo <3

hello! this list was quite literally revealed to me in a dream just now...which means now you all have to read it. happy holidays. a gift for you.

i read RWRB when it released, but started reading rwrb fics earlier this year during some tough titty times...and have since discovered a gorgeous community of folks just pouring their hearts out into the fandom fabric, giving me the courage to start putting bits of my work out there as well. here are some of the works that were present in my life at VERY roop-specific moments this year:

First fic I sent kudos to (i caved and made an ao3 after reading this one lmaoooo): With so much of my heart (that none is left to protest) by @kiwiana-writes

First fic that forced me to send my first tumblr ask screaming directly at the author for my feelings: also With so much of my heart (that none is left to protest) by @kiwiana-writes

First fic I bookmarked with the knowledge that this fic would destroy me: all that glitters (is not gold) by @indomitable-love

First fic I reread immediately after finishing like literally immediately: Going Platinum by @cricketnationrise

First fic I sent to someone not in the rwrb fandom but is a fan of the au so i schemed that this fic would suck them into the rwrb fandom and I was successful: Rogue's Gallery by @orchidscript

First fic(s) I sent to a boy as a bizarre mating ritual that actually worked: lifelines by @indomitable-love, Am I the Asshole? by @everwitch-magiks, and i ask you how you're doing (and i let you lie) by @matherines (his first fics, he loved them btw)

First fic that made me ugly cry not because it was inherently sad but because i achieved emotional catharsis i was not expecting: One Too Many Mornings by @orchidscript

First fic that made me CRY LAUGH until i was wheezing: and history remembered. by @sherryvalli

First fic that was a WIP I followed and screamed with each update: Cold Cases, Lost Causes by @tintagel-or-cockleshells

First fic that made me run laps around my room in sheer stress: Nova, Baby by @cha-melodius

First fic that made me run laps around my room in sheer thirst: Show Me What You're Working With by @clottedcreamfudge

First fic that made me giggle and kick my feet and blush: No Sense or Sensibility by @inexplicablymine

First fic that made me cry buckets in a costco parking lot: i ask you how you're doing (and i let you lie) by @matherines

First fic that made me learn something new about myself and patched up a crack in my heart: Down By The Water, I Saw You by @myheartalivewrites

First fic that taught me something I didn't know and had me doing a deep dive on wikipedia for 3 straight hours: Moonlighting by @orchidscript

First fic that had me writhing on the floor in absolute agony: What Do I Know? by @three-drink-amy

First fic that made me stare tearfully at a wall in quiet contemplation: Help Me Hold On to You by @affectionatelyrs

First fic that had me slamming subscribe to a series faster than I could say "kinktober": Temperature's Up, 'Bout to Erupt by @sparklepocalypse

First fic that opened my eyes to a whole new world of tags and also a new part of my brain: In His Wildest Dreams by @myheartalivewrites

First fic that made me feel such insane amounts of pining and yearning and longing that i had to take a walk: but if you could see us from a distance, you’d know i’ve always been so close to you by @anincompletelist

First fic that made me rethink my life while sitting in a DMV lobby waiting to renew my driver's license: Deep Blue by @myheartalivewrites

First fic that made me stay up all night to comment on each chapter as I read it in one sitting: Omakase by @orchidscript

First fic that I reread and live reacted to the author 3 hours before my dissertation was due instead of finishing the damn paper: to the victor, the spoils by @rmd-writes

First fic that made me feel incredibly homesick and had me looking up flights at 4am: after hours by @dumbpeachjuice

And finally... First fic I ever wrote after reading all of these incredible fics and wanting to also put a little piece of silly roop out into the world: our world, mine and his alone (the midnight train to go) by me :)

if you made it this far, thanks for reading. love you all. <3

xoxo roop

[thelampisaflashlight]

Dew: "I lost my husband recently." Sibling of Sin: "Oh, goodness, I'm so sor-" Dew: "The bastard gave me the slip while I was looking at some bedsheets in Costco and fled to the freezer section because he knew I wouldn't look in there because my nipple piercings get fucking cold as shit." Sibling of Sin: "...Wha-" Mountain, from across the room: "I WAS JUST GETTING LETTUCE!" Dew: "LIKELY STORY, SLEEPER SOFA!" Sibling of Sin: "I-" Mountain: "CALL ME A PULLOUT COUCH THE WAY I'M GONNA PULL-" Sibling of Sin: -covering their ears-