#hey guys maybe we should stop letting so much stuff get into the air just an idea

[jaybleu25]

WHAT DO YOU MEAN IT'S 70 DEGREES (fahrenheit) HERE????????? HUH???????????

[lynnimini]

₊⊹ 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘮𝘦𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘥𝘰 ₊⊹

description: fluff ⋆ oneshots ⋆ cute

⋆ in which y/n meets bonedo for the first time in memorable ways.

words: 1.65k

pairings: bnd x gn!reader

warnings: N/A

p. sungho

you and sungho met on your guys' very first day of college. you were running frantically and trying your best to navigate your way to chemistry, already being half an hour late. the moment you ran down the stairs, you saw sungho standing awkwardly outside the room contemplating whether he should go in and risk everyone staring at him.

"you late too?"

he shot you a sheepish smile and nodded in response to your question. you couldn't keep the spreading smile off your face, half relieved that you weren't the only one late. the other half of your smile was because the boy in front of you was the perfect mix of cute and pretty. you thought this was most definitely the silver lining to being late the first day, your prior regrets going out the window.

"let's go in together. i don't wanna be alone walking in while everyone judges me for being late"

you laughed and motioned for him to walk with you while you pushed open the door. surprisingly literally no one cared that you guys were late. a small nod from the teacher, a couple glances your way, and that was it. you and sungho made your way to an empty spot together and started laughing while pulling out your stuff. you two became really close over the course of your freshman year and never stopped mentioning the unfortunate circumstances of your first encounter.

l. riwoo

riwoo always thought you were beautiful, but never got the chance to talk to you. he was the kind of guy who was always surrounded by a lot of friends, both inside and outside school, so you would have never thought he was actually shy.

that is until one day riwoo decided to approach you for the first time since all his friends were telling him to just man up and go. he tried so so hard not to look nervous and just be confident, but riwoo couldn't stay calm in front of his 2 year crush.

"hey y/n"

riwoo's voice was all steady and calm but his eyes looked at anything but you. you were all confused because why was he talking to you of all people? you liked to stay within your friend group, and were pretty sure you'd never talked before. his friend group was so big he seemed unapproachable. nevertheless, you thought he was pretty cute.

"hey riwoo. what's up?"

you said in the nicest possible tone you could to make up for your rbf when he approached you. his friend group was trying to be quiet but they were all cheering for riwoo so loudly it was a miracle you didn't notice.

"i was wondering if maybe you wanted to walk home together later? i mean you don't have to of course! i just noticed that we always walk in the same direction every day and live in the same neighborhood and-"

"riwoo, i'd love to"

you laughed softly at his cute rambling and it sounded like pure heaven to riwoo's ears. you guys walked home together from then on, allowing riwoo to slowly reveal his long kept feelings for you, one day at a time.

m. jaehyun

your first time meeting jaehyun was extremely chaotic, but memorable all the same. jaehyun was looking for a job in the cafe you'd been working at for two years. he passed the interview process and was enlisted to you for training. you had groaned at the time, hating having to train the new hires who always asked small questions over and over again.

it was no different for jaehyun. he messed up over and over again, from scooping way too much ice to accidentally breaking the coffee brewer. he even ended up flinging an uncapped cup of iced coffee in the air, splashing cold coffee all over the two of you.

"i'm so sorry y/n"

he said every single time while laughing and smiling. at first, it annoyed you that he could find the situation so funny when it could get you two in so much trouble if the boss walked in, but with every mistake, you realized that that's just how jaehyun was: positive and joyful.

the only difference with jaehyun in comparison to the other new hires was his smile. you weren't oblivious to his cheerful personality. jaehyun constantly making jokes about his mistakes and smiling no matter what happened was contagious. instead of forcing a smile and rolling your eyes, you found yourself genuinely smiling and having a good time with this new hire, even if he was the worst of all the new hires at the beginning.

h. taesan

you and taesan were classmates, but you guys had never spoken or anything. you guys just existed in the same environment together.

all the girls in your class thought taesan was handsome and fawned all over him. half of them had never even talked to taesan either. you didn't get why girls in your class went straight for looks instead of personality. maybe that's why you haven't had a boyfriend yet, but you liked to reason that it was because you were too mature to date someone for looks alone.

on your daily walk home, you always ran into a sweet black cat that lived in a secluded ring of bushes. at first, the cat didn't come out of the bush, but with a little encouraging and lots of treats, the cat always waited outside the bushes for you at the same time every day.

every day except today. you walked up to the bush and wondered why the cat wasn't walking around waiting for you.

"y/n?"

"holy shit- taesan?"

taesan walked out from the other side of the bush at the sound of footsteps, scaring you in the process. you looked down at taesan's hand to see a packet of liquid cat treats.

"she doesn't like that brand of cat treat"

you laughed softly as your gestured to the cat who was stirring at the sound of your voice. you pulled out another packet from your bag and handed it to taesan. he opened it and held it out, successfully luring the cat out of the bush. taesan smiled widely and pet the cat for the first time, clearly elated at the satisfaction of winning over the cat.

"thanks y/n"

he grinned and you smiled softly. maybe taesan wasn't just handsome like you thought he was. he had a really sweet side too.

k. leehan

leehan's obsession with fish was a mystery to no one. no one but unsuspecting strangers like you. you were minding your own business at the aquarium, having come with a friend who abandoned you to go look at the sharks you were deathly afraid of.

you opted to separate and go look at the stingrays. you stood at the shallow tank and watched the stingrays gracefully slide through the water. you saw other people washing their hands and petting the stingrays, so you went to wash your hands as well.

you went back to the shallow tank and just stared at the stingrays. petting them seemed like a cool idea but you were afraid of the possibility of getting stung. leehan noticed you hesitating to pet the stingrays, so he gently reached down and pet the one closest to you two.

"are you scared?"

leehan asked. you glanced over at the tall, rather handsome man standing next to you and nodded sheepishly.

"i just don't wanna get stung. they looked so peaceful and graceful that i wanted to pet them"

you explained and leehan hummed thoughtfully.

"aquariums remove stingray barbs so people can safely pet them. it doesn't hurt the stingray, so it's okay to do"

leehan said as he motioned for you to pet the one that was about to swim by. you tentatively put your hand down and felt the slippery back of the stingray gliding across your fingertips. you pulled your hand out and smiled at leehan as if to say 'i did it!'. he thought you were cute as you continued to pet the stingrays passing by, promising himself that he would get your number after you were done.

k. woonhak

you didn't know whether to indulge in woonhak's antics or smack him on the head to force him to pay attention in class. despite having been in class with woonhak for three years, you guys have never really had any reason to talk. halfway through year 4, however, you had been assigned to sit next to woonhak.

you knew woonhak was chaotic and silly from what you've seen, but you never really knew the entirety of it until you got to be next to him. woonhak literally could not focus in class. you would think this kid has adhd or something the way he tries so hard one second but moves onto something else so soon.

even when you thought woonhak was paying attention and taking notes, he would be writing song lyrics in his notebook. woonhak noticed you staring and wrote on the corner of his notebook, 'no one knows this yet, but i want to be a songwriter'.

you thought it was nice and endearing that he was putting the effort into being a songwriter but also? you guys were literally in math class??? you wrote right next to it 'i'll be your first and biggest supporter if you can tell me how to do logs on a calculator'.

woonhak widened his eyes and turned to quickly pay attention to how to use a calculator, eliciting light laughs from you.

"i'll be your biggest supporter even if you fail math"

you smiled and whispered to woonhak who playfully shoved you and finished the draft of his song. and when he debuted you really were his biggest supporter. right in the front row at Music Bank. cheering for your boyfriend and the other members of boynextdoor :)

[bambi-slxt]

I’ve been feeling really down lately so would you mind writing something real fluffy with either chris x reader or matt x reader and it’s about how playful they are together and they’re always teasing and tickling each other and stuff like that.

Just something real cute, love your writing btw!!

of course, honey <3 a/n at the bottom

playful!matt & playful!chris:

✨a concept✨

making dinner -

chris: definitely dancing around the kitchen and being exactly zero help. "come on," he yaps, grinning his cute stupid little grin, "dance with me, pretty girl, the pasta can wait." "chris!" you can't help but giggle at the kid. "wanna dance with my lady." his smile is almost too big for his face, and your heart feels tight.

matt: does everything he can to distract you while simultaneously assuming an air of utter and absolute innocence. "i don't know what you're talking about," he says, slipping behind you and pinching your side, rolling his eyes at what he believes is an incredible overreaction from you.

going thrifting -

chris: tries to scare you by hiding in the racks like you haven't been watching him the entire time, only to be disappointed when you're not startled in the slightest. "but...but..." he grumbles, hanging off your shoulders, arms wrapped dejectedly around your neck, "i tried so hard."

matt: "what do you mean, 'don't get the grand-dad shirt'? this is the peak of fashion!"

the shirt in question:

movie night -

chris: resorts to assailing you with tickling when he doesn't get his way. "i wanna - mmfh - watch The Lion - fuck! - King, so we're gonna fuckin' watch - you motherfucker - The Lion - GET BACK HERE!"

matt: keeps trying to drown his face in your tummy instead of watching whatever's put on the tv. "it's just so cozy." his words are incredibly muffled. "you begged me for three days to watch this with you." "mmfh. gimme head scratches." "you're such a baby." "i love youuuuu."

beach day -

chris: insists on playing mermaids ("wait how come you get the sparkly tail. i'm the merman king, i should get the sparkly tail."), lifeguards ("okay, okay, pretend you're like, drowning, yeah. why? so i can be a hero and save you! duh."), and terraforming the beach itself ("it'll be good for a tiktok, yeah, just dig the trench all the way up there by the towels, and then we can divert all the water away from here and-").

matt: hunts all morning for shells for you and teaches himself to braid so he can string them in your hair. he ends up tangling things more than he produces actual results, but is very careful to undo his mistakes and reapply sunscreen on your shoulders. "and here i thought you hated the beach." "i despise the beach," he says cheerfully, closing yet another ziploc baggie filled to the brim with shells. "can't wait to go home." "liar." matt smiles against your neck, his chest pressing into your back. "yeah, maybe."

farmer's market -

chris: conveniently forgets how much he hates fruits and vegetables because, "they just look so, like...anasthetic. that's the word right?" "nope." "anta...antacid? anna..." "aesthetic?" "that's the bitch, look at these strawberries, they're fucking huge-" "you let the strawberries nick bought last week grow mold in the fridge!" chris grins. "what's your point?"

matt: more focused on petting the dogs people brought with them than looking at the actual stalls with products/goods. "who's a good boy, yeah you are, hey babe we should get a dog, oh my god, you're just the sweetest lil' guy-"

night out:

chris: never lets you walk on the outside of the sidewalk and always stops to listen to the musicians through the bars' flung-wide windows. "baby, look, his guitar's got flames on the side. oh shit, you cold? hey, come here, kid," he chuffs, gathering you under his arm, dulcet harmonies flowing from the bar into the soft night air. "i love you," he murmurs, his lips fluttering against the shell of your ear. "i love bein' out here with ya."

matt: gently hands his finger from the belt loop of your jeans, guiding you lightly through the crowds, watching your face light up at the sights and sounds around you. "holy shit, they're so drunk!" "yeah," he says softly. he couldn't care less about a single other thing in this moment - how would he, when the sparkling neon of the nighttime scene washed over your features?

ice-cream date -

chris: plans to get something to share and refuses to hear anything to the contrary, grinning at all attempts to sway him. "yeah, she'll have - quit it - that one over there, please - i'll tickle you right here in public, i swear to god i will - yeah, thanks - miss lady you better watch it-" "...okay, this is pretty good." he scrunches his nose quite cutely in lieu of a verbal response, shoveling spoonfuls into his mouth.

matt: does literally everything he can to get you to make a mess just so he can do the cliche 'wipe ice cream from your lip' move. "i'm a classy guy, alright, leave me alone," he says with a grin.

cleaning day -

chris: CAUTION- may actually flat-out refuse. "we could just stay in bed though," he grumbles, holding your arm hostage. "we gotta cleannnn..." "nahhhh, come back to me." in a sudden burst of energy, he tugs you all the way back onto him, rolling you onto the mattress and under the blanket in one fell movement.

matt: shuffles your favorite playlist, turns it up, and dances with a feather duster you didn't even know he owned. "WHERE THE HELL DID THAT COME FROM?" "STOLE IT FROM NICK'S ROOM. COME ON, WE GOTTA DUST!"

grocery shopping -

chris: has a cart and a dream, and is infinitely more focused on you than actually locating the necessary items. "you want it? yes, mamas," he chuckles, "get whatever you want. yeah i mean it. that's what you want for dinner? okay," he shrugs, his downturned smile making his dimples show up and show out, "i'll make ya whatever you want."

matt: has a list and a plan, both of which quickly crumble as he finds it impossible to resist your impulse-purchasing. "no, baby, we gotta..." - long-suffering sigh - "we already have...yes we do, they're at home in your drawer...what do you mean, 'they're all gone', how did you...okay, well chris isn't SUPPOSED to eat your fucking snacks-"

vlogging -

chris: "okay guys, so i'm gonna take her to build-a-bear but it's gonna be a surprise so don't- HEY YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO BE OUT HERE YET-" the camera falls onto the couch as a blurry image of you and chris rolling around on the floor fades into view. his hat flies off and his weird, goofy laugh fills the living room.

matt: "hey guys >:|" "tell them :)" "i'm fuckin' getting there. so i said last time that i would never do this stupid wheel of punishments again, but someone convinced me-"

makeup/facials -

chris: "this feels colllld. i'm only doing this cuz i love u. what's this one supposed to do? the last one said it was gonna clean out my pores or something, and this one...'just looks cute', huh? i'm gonna fUCKING-" he launches off his bathroom counter and tackles you onto his bed in a flurry of kisses and tickles

matt: "i think i look great with eyeliner actually. what is it larray says, cunty? do i look cunty? why are you laughing?"

cuddle time -

chris: "absolutely not. come here mamas. you're not goin' anywhere, it's rainin' outside, an' i know you're still tired...come on, i miss ya already..." he smiles as you oh-so-reluctantly nestle back into the covers he holds up for you. "atta girl. stay here til' you die." "chris what the fuck." "that was romantic!" "...sure it was honey. sure it was." his laugh makes you roll your eyes, but the peppered kisses that follow make you smile in spite of yourself. "i love you...you know that, right?" "i had an idea, yeah." he tugs you into his body with a playful growl. "shut up."

matt: simply locks his legs around yours so you couldn't leave even if you wanted to. he traces lazy shapes on the back of your hand and his breath fans down over your neck. "miss girl..." "hm?" "were you aware that i loved you?" "ohmygoddoyoureally?" matt's hold tightens and his low chuckle rumbles through your skin. "you're terrible."

request to be on the taglist under this post right here

tags: @pinksturniolo @malirosee @st7rnioioss @nonat-111 @cindylcuwho @evie-sturns @h3arts4harry @fanficsbymia @dazednmatthews @sturniolo-rat @mattsmad @sturniolo04 @bellasturn @blahbel668 @yomamaslays4lyfe @stasiesturn @pleasantlycrazyworld @ariqolyx @wh0resstuff @krissy4gov @coochiedestroyer1 @solarsturniolo 

notes from bambi:

thank you for the request anon! i'm so sorry this took so long but i hope it was at least somewhat worth the wait, and i hope things get back on track for you soon <3

[justanotherescapism]

I need more homelander!!!

I have homie brainrot,feed my hunger please!

A/N: The homie brainrot is real...

Read my mind

Pairing: Homelander x Fem!Supe!Reader

Tags/TW: Established relationship, references to childhood abuse, reader is telepathic, a lil angsty, slight spoilers for season 4

Word count: 1142

Psychic waited at the table of the seven, they were all waiting on Homelander. He was late for yet another meeting. She knew that he was under a lot of stress but lately it had gotten a lot worse, maybe it was this whole starlighter stuff and Neuman. 

“Hey Psychic, can’t you read his mind and find out where he is?” Deep asked.

“No, I promised I wouldn’t read his mind. Doesn’t matter anyways, unless he is close enough I can’t.” Psychic shifted in her seat, as the Deep whispered an insult under his breath. If Homelander knew what he had said, he’d have his head, but he still was nowhere to be seen. Regardless, they would wait until he showed up, everyone but Psychic was scared of him. 

Then just like that, Homelander came bursting through the doors. 

“Sorry, I’m late guys, just got caught up is all. So, now that you are here,” Homelander was going on about his latest plan, but he was smiling through gritted teeth and that’s all that Psychic noticed. His jaw was clenched too and hands gripped the chair a little too hard. He was agitated but she had no idea why. 

“Deep blow A-Train.” That snapped her out of thoughts. 

“What?” He said.

“Get on your knees and blow A-Train, really.” Homelander started to laugh but it was sinister. The deep stood up looking at the other seven to see what they thought. His face turned red. Psychic couldn’t deny that she enjoyed seeing him squirm a little, after all, he wasn’t her favorite teammate. 

“Sexuality is a spectrum, bro.” A-Train looked just as uncomfortable as Deep. Homelander stopped them before Deep actually did anything, much to the relief of them both. Psychic caught Homelander’s eye and he quickly looked away from you, as much as you enjoyed seeing Deep squirm she was still uncomfortable with the whole thing, and he knew that. 

After the meeting, she didn’t even bother sticking around, just rushing straight off to their shared apartment. Walking out onto the balcony, she breathed in the fresh air. She loved Homelander but sometimes he was too much. She looked down at the city, saw a woman walking alone, she sunk her thoughts into her, and soon enough their thoughts intertwined. The woman was on her way home to her partner who she loved dearly, she had no anxiety, no fear of him and it was refreshing to feel for Psychic. Most people aren’t with the strongest supe ever, sometimes it’s nice to pretend she wasn’t, for a moment anyway. 

“Whose head are you fiddling with today?” Homelander snapped Psychic out of her trance, making her jump to one side. Before relaxing when she saw who it was. 

“Just some random woman.”

“Ah.” They stood looking at the city in silence. She keep picking at her fingers, tearing small bits of skin off. Homelander noticed and took her hand in his. “You shouldn’t do that, you’ll make your fingers all sore again.” He kissed where she had been scratching. Her heart melted a little before remembering the meeting.

“Are we going to talk about the meeting?”

“Do we have to?”

“I think we should.”

“Okay, go ahead.”

“Are you okay? You have been erratic recently.”

“Have I?”

“Yes, you know you have. You avoided my eye in the meeting, you only do that when you know I don’t like something.”

“Or maybe I just didn’t want to look at you?” Homelander regretted the words as soon as they came out of his mouth, but he was stubborn and wouldn’t let it go. She didn’t even respond, just turning away from him, looking out to the otherside of the city. Her eyes were welling up with tears but she would rather die than let him see. 

“You’re a dick.” She finally said, and walked back into the balcony. She made herself a glass of water, downing it. Homelander remained on the balcony for a moment, thinking about what he would say now. He did this all the time, took things too far, and it was hurting her, the one person he did not want to hurt. When he walked in, she was on the couch, laying down, defeated. He lifted her head up, sitting down and placing her head on his lap. Slowly stroking her hair, he still struggled with what to say. There are only so many ways to apologize and quite frankly he had exhausted them all. 

“I’m sorry.” He said, meekly. She looked up at him. Her watery eyes were searching his. 

“Please just talk to me.” Her voice was barely above a whisper but that didn’t matter. Homelander took a deep breath, pursing his lips after. He was conflicted, and Psychic didn’t have to read his mind to know it. 

“I’m just…read my mind.” 

“What?” She sat up, shocked at his request. Never in all the time they had been together had he asked her to read his mind. 

“I want you to read my mind.” 

“I promised you I wouldn’t.”

“I know. Please do it.”

“Okay.” She braced herself, slowly she began to seep into his mind. His was tougher to decode, his thoughts were rapidly racing around. Reaching out, she finally understood the rhythm and began to sync with them. 

Homelander was scared, scared about ageing, death and his legacy. Ryan wasn’t like him and he knew that was okay but deep down he wants Ryan to be like him, not for vanity but for acceptance. She thought that was all, she didn’t want to probe further but then something was blazing in his mind, it had its own corner, shut away. Psychic reached for it. All she could see was a room? A white room, and lots of pain. He was led out of the room and into a darker one. He was crying, then there was red and the heat, god it was burning him alive. The pain was like none she had ever felt.

It pulled her out of her trance, screaming and rubbing her skin, crying and moaning. Homelander tried to get her to calm down but nothing seemed to work, she was hysterical. He knew exactly what memory she had seen, he didn’t want her to see that but it was so hard to repress the thought sometimes. 

“I’m sorry, you’re safe, I promise they aren’t going to hurt you.” He cradled her head against his chest and soon enough her breathing began to steady itself. She reached up to his face, looking deeply into his eyes. Her eyes were ablaze, fiery and angry. He had never seen her this way. He would’ve been scared, if he wasn’t Homelander. 

“Where are they?” She asked. Standing and walking towards the balcony.

“What? Why?”

“We are going to hurt them like they hurt you.” 

[admirationandromantics]

Warm Water Helper

Josh Washington x reader

My first Josh x reader fiction. Hope you guys like it, I love writing about this mentally insane hot man.

Word count: 1,2k (Unedited)

“There’s no hot water!!” Sam shouts from the bathroom. Josh gives up on the fire, standing up and fixing his belt. 

“Yeah sorry, I’ll go fix it now” he shouts back, breathing heavily out afterwards. She moves down half of the stairs, asking if he needs help. Ashley answers for him. 

“This lazy fucker should go with him, just you check the water in 10 minutes. Get ready!” she points at me.

I give Ashley scowl, and drag down her fingers which are still pointing in the air. Chris gives me a look, and Josh is still standing still, waiting. 

“Okay, 10 minutes” Sam exclaims, walking upstairs again. I lean towards Ashley, coming close to her ear. 

“You’re gonna pay”

“Hey, this is good for you AND me, we both get ‘alone time’” She says, leaning away and signalling to Josh who’s still waiting. 

“Fine”

“Don’t go too far lovebirds, you never know what might happen down there!” Chris shouts as we walk towards the cellar door. While walking, I notice a slight cut on Josh’s finger, I abruptly grab his hand. 

“What have you done?” 

He just looks surprised down at his hand, apparently he hasn’t noticed before. 

“Hmm, must’ve happened when I tried making the fire” he answers. It seems true, though he has been feeling a bit off since we came. I get why. When we’re halfway down the stairs I stop him. Taking hold of his bicep and turning him around to face me. 

“Hey Josh, I think we need to talk”

“Whatever about?” he asks, grabbing hold of my hand and leading me further down the basement. I decide to tell him, even though I really wanted to do it face to face. 

“I’m sorry about what happened last year, had I known how it would turn out I wouldn’t have, you know…” 

“You weren’t in on the prank”

“No, but if you had been there and not with me, maybe things would’ve turned out differently”

He looks down, still holding my hand and squeezing it a bit. Letting his thumb rub over my knuckles. 

“I’ve learned that we can’t think like that”

“But-”

“We cannot change what happened, we just have to find a way to live with it. I don’t blame you for anything that happened.” We continue down the stairs, eventually coming to a dark creepy room. The cold air hits me, and I immediately shutter. He notices and drags me into him. His arms around me, and my face against his chest. I try to make out words, but they come out as small squeaks since he’s squeezing me so hard. 

“Josh, I’m here for you, you know that right?” He loosens his hold, backing away a bit so I can see his face. 

“I know, and I’ve missed you so much. I should’ve called or texted or something” he looks down, one hand sliding from my face to my waist. 

“I know you went through much, I understand why things didn’t happen” I answer him, carefully cupping his face and making him look at me. He lets out a heavy breath, taking my hand in his and beginning to walk again. 

“You know-” he starts

“I’ve been wanting to see you again” he turns his head to the side, and the signature boyish smirk is plastered on him. 

“Oh really?” I play along, the mood feeling lighter. 

“Yeah, not being able to go all the way, and having to wait a whole year to try again”

“So this whole plan was a setup to get me here?” 

“Maybe”

I laugh as he stops and hands me a flashlight. 

“Before we get any further, we need to get Sam her hot water. Light this here” he smiles and points to some type of machinery. 

“Oh, so we’re going further?” I playfully ask, grazing his neck with my fingers while he clicks some stuff. 

“Oh you have no idea what my plans are” he says, turning on a red light. 

“Can you turn that switch over there?” he points, and I manage. The light beside him instantly becomes green, and he hoists himself up. 

“We did it!” he exclaims holding his arm up for a high five. Just as I’m about to give it to him, his hand slides under mine, making me crash into him, lips meeting his. After the initial shock, he presses deeper into me, parting my lips and letting his tongue in. My arms, already over his shoulders from his stunt, grab hold of his hair. His arms move down below my waist and I jump. He easily catches me, hands grabbing my thighs. He moves towards the concrete wall, slamming my back into it. I love that he’s not aware of his own strength. I let out a gasp upon the impact, making him pull back. 

“You okay?”

“I’m not made of glass” I answer, pulling him towards me and capturing him with my thighs. 

“I’m going to test that theory later.” My body grows hot, my core starting to ache. He moves his face down to my neck, leaving small love bites and kisses. I make out small moans, grabbing him tighter. God, how I’ve missed him. 

Before we can get any further a sound is heard, and we immediately stop. Like a box was knocked over. 

“Did you hear that?” Josh asks. I nod in reply, careful not to make any sounds. He puts me down silently, and we make our way towards the stairs. I look around while walking, spotting wires, small lights and a long tube-like thing laying on the floor by another door. As we’re approaching the stairs, a man with a mask and cloak jumps us, screaming. We both shout, Josh grabbing my hand firmly and running up the stairs as fast as we both manage. I instantly slam the door, trying to get it open. 

“I won’t fucking open Josh!!” I scream, trying the handle again and again uselessly. 

“Shit shit shit” Josh exclaims, pushing me behind him as the figure makes its way up the stairs. I still try prying open the door. 

“Heeey” I hear. 

“What?” I whisper, as Josh relaxes. 

“Heeeeeeeey” I hear again, the man waving his arms around. Chris. It’s Chris. Josh starts laughing, but I’m still not over the shock. 

“Why would you do that?” I ask him angrily, making him snicker. Josh finds the key and opens the door. Chris starts explaining. 

“Well, I considered not doing it, since when I was done getting the costume on you guys seemed pretty busy.” He winks at Josh, and I roll my eyes. 

“But think about it this way, there were probably many rats there, a couple of insects, dusty, the whole package. I saved you guys, hygienically.”

I agree with him, we probably would’ve taken it further if not for him. And it’s not really the ideal place. I look up at Josh and meet his gaze. He’s still breathing heavily. He leans down to my ear, whispering. 

“Go to my room, I’ll get a fire starting here and I’ll meet you there.”

I don’t hesitate, only waiting to give him a quick peck on his cheek.

“Don’t take too long, or else I have to take action alone”

“We wouldn’t want that, do we?” he smirks, walking over to the others. 

“Hey, where are you going?” Ashley shouts. 

“Getting comfortable!” I shout back. “You know, settled and stuff!”.

[blue-slxt]

Romancing Pandora 6

🔞Minors Do Not Interact🔞

A/N: Shoutout to the anon that said they read First Heat and wanted a version for Lo’ak. It was interesting writing this with a new dynamic so I hope you enjoy! All characters are aged up!

Pairing: Lo’ak x Fem!Omatikaya!Reader

Warnings: P in V, Heat Cycle, Creampie

Your day was off to a normal enough start. You wake up and go eat and get to your daily chores. The only thing that was off was this slowly growing pain in your stomach. Was it your stomach? Maybe a little lower? It was distracting to say the least. Nevertheless, you don’t let it stop you from going about your business. It was odd though, you could notice things that you’d never noticed before. Smell new scents in the air that had never been there before.

“Hey, there you are! I’ve been looking all over for you.” Lo’ak says walking up to you, but for some reason, he stops just short of where you stood. His face looks like he’s just seen a ghost.

“Hey Lo. Sorry, today’s been extra weird for some reason.” You say stepping closer to him, but when you do, he takes a step back.

Hurt and confusion flash across your face. Was he avoiding you?

“Lo? What’s wrong?”

Lo’ak says nothing, but he starts to look around suspiciously. You try to follow where he’s looking, but you can’t see anything out of the ordinary. Without another word, Lo’ak grabs you by the wrist and leads you into the forest, away from the rest of the people.

“Lo’ak, where are we going?”

Still, he says nothing. He’s being so weird. But what’s even weirder is this sweet smell coming from him. He’s never smelled like that before, has he? The walk into the forest must be going deeper than you thought because you’re starting to sweat. That can’t be right, though.

Soon enough, Lo’ak drops your wrist.

“You wanna explain what the hell that was about?” you demand.

“Um, hello? Are you blind? All those guys were eyeing you like a fresh piece of yerik that they were about to jump on. I had to get you out of there.” he says as if it’s the most obvious thing ever.

Were the guys looking at you? You couldn’t remember now. It’s not like they ever payed much attention to you before.

“And what are you doing just walking around during your heat? You should be at home before your pheromones alert every male in a 10-mile radius!”

“My heat? Is that what this is?” you ask somewhat meekly.

Lo’ak looks like his eyes might bulge out of his head. “You’ve gotta be fucking kidding me.”

“Look, Lo, you know it’s only been me and my dad and he…doesn’t really talk about stuff with me. I don’t know about this kinda thing.” And suddenly the ache in your core hits you with a new intensity. It’s much stronger than before and you have to hunch over and take a few deep breaths to get through it. It wasn’t this bad before, but with this sickeningly sweet smell wafting up your nose, it’s as if it’s egging on the pain.

“How have you made it this far in life without knowing something so basic?”

“Alright then, if you’re such an expert, then tell me how to stop this pain because it’s really getting to be too much to handle.”

Lo’ak looks around as if he doesn’t want to say it which is trying on your already frayed nerves.

“Out with it!” you tell him.

“Well, you’re supposed to…ya know…mate to deal with it.” he half mumbles the end like he’s embarrassed.

You let out a sigh of frustration. Now, your body is punishing you for not choosing a mate yet? You figure that you’re royally screwed. That is, until an idea pops in your head.

Lo’ak is still pretending to look anywhere and everywhere else to avoid eye contact with you. The smell of him is starting to make your mouth water.

You take a step over to him and lightly hook your finger in the waistband of his tewng.

“Lo’ak…help me…”

You can see the internal struggle on his face as the realization sets in of what you’re asking of him.

“I-I don’t know. I m-mean I don’t think I…I shouldn’t—“ he stammers.

“Lo’ak! Please. Just shut up and help me”

Your voice is firm and it makes his ears lower themselves against his head. His expression still holds that hesitation, so you take the initiative to press up on your toes and kiss him first. He’s taken aback at first, but he soon relaxes into it and his hands come up to hold your face. Your tail wraps around his leg hoping to pull his body closer to yours.

Any and all hesitation melts away from Lo’ak when he pulls himself away from your lips and kisses down your neck while gripping at your breast.

It feels like knot after knot is slowly being worked out of your body with every touch and kiss.

He guides you both down to the ground and hovers over your body still trailing kisses down your neck to your chest and your stomach.

The hunger in your core grows with each passing moment, needing desperately to be satiated.

“Please…need you inside…” your voice is breathless and your mind feels fuzzy, but you’re present enough to know that you’ll lose your grip without being filled.

Lo’ak quickly undoes his tewng with one hand and uses the other to slide your own to the side giving him a perfect view of your impossibly wet pussy.

“Fuck…”

It’s just above a whisper but you can still hear him. He lines himself up with you and pushes in slowly. Your back arches off the ground further with every inch that stretches you.

A moan falls from your lips that perks Lo’ak’s ears up. He lifts your knees to your chest and immediately starts thrusting into you harshly. It feels like he’s reaching into your stomach with every push into you. Every punch to your cervix forces another moan from you.

“Ah! Haah! Lo’ak!”

His eyes are trained on your face that’s scrunched up in ecstasy. His mouth falls open and his thrusts get faster. Every stroke perfectly drags the tip of his cock against the spongy part of your walls. It has your thighs trembling in his hold and your toes curling.

“Oh fuck, I’m going to cum already”

Your eyes roll as your release washes over you. The burning feeling that was overwhelming you fizzles out and subsides for now. Lo’ak fucks you slowly through your orgasm letting you ride out your high on his dick.

When you finally come down, your body relaxes and Lo’ak releases your legs. Your eyes close as you start to try and catch your breath.

“I’m not done with you yet.”

Lo’ak’s hands grab you by the hips and flip your body onto your stomach and hikes your hips up so he can slam back into you. You’re given no time to think or react. And with your body and mind being lost deep in the fog of your heat, all you can do is take it. Your body naturally wants to submit to him and let him have his way with you. You have no real ability or desire to fight that instinct in this moment.

“Fuu-u-u-ck Lo-ak!” Your words are broken with every thrust.

“Shit, I’m gonna cum”

It’s completely subconscious the way your tail coils around his torso keeping him close to you so he can’t pull out. But for Lo’ak, that one gesture is enough to tumble him over that edge and spill inside of you. He cums with a loud groan and mumbles of ‘take it all’.

There’s a new warmth spreading through your body and instead of being suffocating like earlier, it’s a welcome comfort. It brings relief and satisfaction with it.

You both fall to the ground exhausted taking heaving breaths. Before you can fully compose yourself, a dull ache starts to linger in your lower belly again. Confused, you curl up on your side facing Lo’ak.

“It’s starting to hurt again. I thought you said that would fix it.”

He lets out a long sigh, “Your heat lasts for a few days. One time is only going to hold you for a little while.”

“Oh, Great Mother.”

Lo’ak looks you up and down, letting his next statement settle on his tongue.

“It’s fine. I’ll help you so just use me.”

Taglist: @tallulah477 @eywaite @stickyexpertbailiffjudge @quicktosimp @tumblingdevils @teyamshuman @rivatar @frogletscribe @witchsprit @luvv4j4ybe11 @hope-di-angelo

@neteyams-wh0re @itchaboi-itchyboy @pandoraslxna @neteyamsyawntu @teyamsatan @sulieykte @xylianasblog @justcaptiannoodles

[jacobsbigmelons]

Inspired by your username... Can I request one where Jacob's bf is obsessed with his pecs and like playing with them, maybe a first time blowjob too?

you don’t understand how much i love this

i am trying so hard not to self insert myself here because i’m a whole tiddy guy for men ESPECIALLY JACOBMYGODILLDOANYTHINGJUSTFORASQUEEZE

“They are pecs, not ‘tiddies’.”

Jacob Custos x male reader

nsfw, pec play, blowjobs, slightly public, muscle worship

“Anyone see Jacob? Y/N? They’ve just kinda been missing ever since we finished packing” Abi said, the sun beaming off of her colored hair. “Y/N always goes off on his own little trips, but Jacob? He probably got himself lost and trapped in a ditch somewhere knowing him” Kaitlyn spoke, her arms crossed over one another. “Or maybe they’re grabbing some last minute things?” Ryan shrugged as his suggestion floated in the air for a little bit “i think last minute was around 15 minutes ago, y’know…when the packing finished up?” ��Touché” Ryan nodded.

“Hey don’t splash me!” Jacob complained as the cold water hit his body “Youre already wet stop being a baby!” You hollered before giving him another splash of lake water, which he returned just as quick. “Babe babe babe babe…babe! Watch this.” Jacob said as he swam towards the doc and pulled himself up as he wrapped his leg around the dock piling like a stripper pole, and began to rub his body from top to bottom before looking directly back to you. “You should be the next AdamandEve spokesperson” you yelled out, Jacob kept the pose, though with a confused look. “what’s that?” he said as he now wrapped his hand around the piling.

“Uh- website where you buy…y’know, stuff for late night bedroom stuff.” You said quieter as you also pulled yourself up onto the dock as you admired your boyfriends beautifully structured body. “I mean I could try but I don’t think they’d let me if it’s about sex and shit” Jacob said as he finally unraveled himself from the pole “and whys that? you got the body and you clearly know your way around a pole” You said as you pointed to him and the pole “Uh- Well i”m sure it wouldn’t matter but I uh…i’ve never been led to the bedroom, let’s say that.”

Jacobs statement drew a blank to you, you merely blinked at him for a few seconds before speaking “You never had sex?! Have you…ever had anything explicit with another person?” You we’re gonna speak more before Jacob intersected by putting his hand in front of him as a way to stop you from speaking. “Hey hey hey! I- I have actually thank you very much.” His tone trying not to waver nervously “mmmhm…lay with me” you demand with a small pat on the dock to let Jacob know to lay down as you shifted your body so your legs weren’t dangling off but instead laid on top of the dock.

Jacob walked the very few steps it took to get next to you as he crouched down before laying down fully, he put his arm behind his head as a way to support it. You moved in close to his chest as you rubbed your hand around his pecs and abs, the dripping water adding some shine to his physique. “Not saying i’m total eye candy but your more than welcome to admire” Jacob rubbed his other hand in-between your thighs.

“Yeah sure meathead” you teased as you sat up and straddled his lap as you looked down at him, his body definitely what Jacob labeled as ‘eye candy.’ You wrapped your hands on the sides of his chest before rubbing along it while playfully caressing the soft tissue in your hands. “You really like playing with my pecs huh?” Jacob stated, clearly not going to do anything to stop it though. “You got some hot tiddies what can I say.” You smiled before rubbing his chest again, Jacobs face now looking slightly offended.

“They are pecs…not tiddies, if you’re gonna play with ‘em at least show them some respect by calling them by what they’re called.” Jacob explained, of course he would get defensive over a muscle group. The hunk only knew brawn’s after all. “I’m so sorry your dear pectoral muscles got offended” you leaned down as you began to kiss your boyfriend, his underwear clearly not hiding how we was feeling anymore with the quite obvious poking you feel on your stomach.

The two of you made out until you decided to go lower down the body as you kissed around his neck, then his arms, biceps, back to his chest and nipples, abs, everything. The pleasurable sounds he made definitely let you know the effect you had on him then and there. “Your body is so fucking hot” your voice, slightly muffled as you spoke with your lips to his skin. At this point you already got to his dick, your hand rubbing against it as Jacob softly cursed.

“Can I suck you off?” You said sitting up straight once more as your hands were on the elastic parts of his underwear ready to take them off, his dick practically begging to be let out as it kept twitching. “Oh uh- Y-yeah! What uh…what should I do?” Jacob said slightly puzzled, trying to recollect every scene of porn he’s watched, yet it seemed like every little think he could try and think of wasn’t helping him decide what to do.

“Just lay there and look hot baby, let me do all the work for your first time” You confidently said, despite Jacob being slightly embarrassed at the fact that he has never been apart of explicit congress such as this, yet his confident personality hid a lot of that. You pulled off his last piece of clothing before moving it to the side, you leaned down as you licked the base of his penis while he led your hands back up to his chest, specifically to where his nipples were as if he wanted you to stimulate him up there while also doing it down there.

“Holy shit your fingers feel so good but your mouth is really doing a number down there” Jacob said in one breath, before you finally took his dick into your mouth. You went as far as you could and even just the tip going in was enough for Jacob to groan loudly. His hips began to move back and forth as you continued to rub and slightly pinch at his nipples. You grabbed his chest as a whole not long after as just grabbing his pecs and squishing them yourself was hot in its own way. “God this shouldn’t be so hot” Jacob quietly said with gaps in between as he was trying to not fumble his words from just how good he was feeling.

You were bobbing your head pretty quick, and it didn’t take long before Jacob eventually took a chunk of your hair in his hands and moved you up and down himself. “Take that big fucking dick in that tight fucking throat of yours.” He said as he began thrusting a lot faster, as well as his hips began to quiver a lot more. Only then was it when he stopped abruptly and cum began to leak from the small gaps of your mouth, that he finally let go of your hair.

“Oh my…fucking god, you gotta suck this dick a lot more babe jesus christ.” Jacob heaved as you took yourself off of his cock, cum making its way down your neck slightly. “We always got tonight, or if you want…you can be the one sucking this time.” You smirked while you used your arm to clean the mess that was made off of your body and Jacob was yet again lost in thought knowing the last night spent together at camp at least will be the most remembered for both him and you.

a/n: I finished this at like 3:20AM so if any of the last bits sound weird m so sorry ;-;

[chuuyasheaven]

“A slumber party? Seriously?”

Summary: You and Chuuya were holding a slumber party, what could possibly go wrong?

Warnings: fem!Chuuya, fem!Reader, mostly fluff, slight lime, slight making out, mentions of hickeys, few petnames, friends to lovers, drunk!Chuuya is basically flirty!Chuuya, lesbians, everything is consented!, lazy & typos, etc.

Pairing(s): fem!Chuuya / fem!Reader (romantically)

Format: short fic

Notes: first lesbian fic i wrote, enjoy!

It was your idea.

You wanted to hold a slumber party with her!

“Seriously? A slumber party?”, she asked, you just replied with a smile on your face.

“Why not? It’s a reward for all these missions we got through this week! Come on!”, Chuuya looked at your eyes, filled with everything she loves..how could she decline?

With a defeated look at her face, she gave in. ...

“Fine, just this once..”

———

You guys were just casually talking about stuff, having a few laughs here and there.

But you couldn’t stop looking at her nightgown, but her lips looked so kissable too!

Not that she wasn’t having such feelings too.

Chuuya felt happy in your presence, your tank top fitted you perfectly, your lips looked really soft!

She was getting nervous. ...

Maybe some wine would help her relax..

“Hey, do you have any alcohol here?”, Chuuya asked out of no where, you stared at her for a few seconds and then answered.

“Well, i don’t really know, let me go check!”, you got up and left.

Atleast Chuuya got a few minutes to calm herself down, right?

And to think she’ll sleep in the same bed as you..or should she rather sleep on the couch tonight?

Well, she would rather wanna sleep in the same bed as you, to be closer to your warmth. Maybe cuddle with you too, just as friends of course, right?

This was too confusing, Chuuya should confess to you at this point!

“Surprisingly, i found a bottle of wine..!”, you nervously laughed, setting it down on the table, with a glass, of course.

“Thanks, [-], r-really appreciate it..”, thank god, she couldn’t make a fool out of herself in front of you!

———

Now she was drunk, maybe too drunk to function..

“Woah, Chuuya, you shouldn’t drink too much! It’s already getting late..”, you mentioned worried.

“C-come on..don’t be such a boomer!..”, Chuuya slurred drunk, you just sighed.

Suddenly, you felt the sofa shift slightly.

Was Chuuya coming, sorry, crawling towards your way?

She kept moving until you could feel her wine-like breath in your face.

“Uh, Chuuya..what are you doing?..”, you could feel your heart beat get faster each second.

“Nothing special, darling...have i ever told that your eyes are so damn pretty..?”, excuse me, did Chuuya just call you..darling?

Just as you wanted to say something, she kept on talking..

“Y’know, you’re so fucking pretty..I’ll stay up at night thinking about you..i just wanna kiss you..”, you were truly shook.

Was she serious?

Did she, Chuuya Nakahara, just say that she wants to kiss you?

“A-are you sure? I-i mean you’re drunk anyway-”, she was really sure, serious infact, or else-

..she wouldn’t have kissed you by now.

This felt surreal, like a dream..a dream too good to be true.

Her soft lips kissed yours so ever lovely, filled with love. Love, the love she had kept hidden from you for something which felt like an entirety.

You felt butterflies inside your stomach, you didn’t pull away, you just let her.

Your cheeks were getting hotter each second, Chuuya still didn’t part from this kiss, hell, this kiss was more addictive than wine.

Finally, after the air was running thin, you parted.

“...How did that feel, love?”, Chuuya asked with a small smirk on her face.

Still breathless, you just went back to her lips.

(i mean who wouldn’t)

Chuuya found her lips wandering to your neck after a little while, trying to cover it in hickeys.

You enjoyed it nonetheless, it was truly heavenly.

But soon you were desperate for her lips again.

Oh well, that might be a crazy sleepover..

———

As the sun hit your face, you got up to see Chuuya sleep next to you, in the same bed of you!

Does matter though? ...

No it didn’t, really, because you guys were girlfriends now. (Literally)

Still, you need to find a way to hide these hickeys though..

Came out longer than I intended to..

[writingthingsisdifficult]

It's been a long, long time

Steve Rogers x reader

Being on a mission, even with Captain America and Bucky Barnes, is a dangerous thing. One could become injured, and maybe even need someone to take care of oneself…

A/N: trying to get into writing again – it’s been a while (you might even say it’s been a long, long time XD ). Contains violence, swearing, bodily harm. Also pining and awkwardness. And a dose of idiots to lovers.

Obligatory English is not my first language.

Word count: 8893

***

The evening is freezing cold. There is promise of snow in the air, but none of us have the time to appreciate it. We have a job to do. Villains to stop, a world to save. You know, the usual. It should be a quick in and out again. Cap and Bucky are taking the helm on this, and I’m bringing up the rear today. 

The only thing heard in the cargo bay as we ready ourselves, check the gear one last time before they let us go, is the noise from the quinjet. Then almost total silence as the pilot switches into stealth mode. A buckle snaps into place, soft steps on the hard floor, a cough. It’s the quiet before the storm.

“You ready?”

“Lead the way, Cap,” I reply with a grin. If he only knew I would follow him through fire and back. 

“Buck?”

“Let’s go.”

The air rushes in as the hatch lowers, and we walk side by side towards the opening. The plan is to jump out once the plane is low enough and enter the base on the north side, then quietly and quickly take out the enemy before we wipe the system in the control room. I do believe there’s a possibility of fire too.

I glance up at Steve. He’s standing still, his face focused and serious, no doubt going over the plan in his head again. To think I would have the privilege of working with him, and Bucky, like this… I feel like I’ve proven myself to… well, myself. And I never really thought that he would be standing here, so close to me. There’s so much I want to say, to tell him, but words can wait until another day. Right now we have a task to do.

I stare into the darkness, watching the tiny lights in the distance grow larger and larger. Good thing I’ve never been afraid of heights. 

Steve jumps first, then Bucky, and soon I follow suit. It’s a short, but exhilarating trip through the air before I hit the ground, tucking my body to do a front flip, and landing on my feet. Then I carefully fold the small parachute and stuff it back into the pouch, sending a quiet thanks to Stark and his nanotech.

Before I allow myself to be proud of my landing, I take a moment to make sure both Steve and Bucky are ok. They look like they’re just out for an evening stroll.  Steve adjusts his shield and gestures silently towards the base. A wordless ‘let’s go’, waiting for confirmation from us. Bucky rolls his shoulders, I nod. The snow on the ground muffles the sound of our steps as we slip undetected into the base.

Peeking around the corner of the nearest building, a shed or storage of some sort, Steve holds up three fingers, then points to the left. Guards. Not unexpected. We all know what to do. Bucky pulls himself up onto the roof. I can’t see him in the dark, but I know he’s positioning himself for an attack.

“Think you can get them to come a bit closer?” Steve whispers, so close to my ear that I can feel the warmth of his breath. A slight tremble ripples over my body, and the hair on the nape of my neck rises. Jeez! That man is going to be the death of me.

“Of course,” I reply confidently, trying hard to not give away that I was two seconds from sinking to my knees in front of him. Holding my head high, I saunter into the lamplight. “Hey, boys. What’s a girl gotta do to have some fun around here?”

Three heads snap up, and after a moment of confusion, they charge, momentarily forgetting the guns in their hands. I whip out my batons and power up the charge, but before I can do anything, Bucky lands on top of the biggest guy. I can hear the snap of the guard’s leg breaking from here; it sends chills down my spine. He groans and mutters something inaudible, but before he can finish his sentence, Bucky’s fist connects with his nose.

Steve whips around the corner, taking the other guards by surprise – at least if we go by the yelling and cursing. And so it begins. I have to keep myself from laughing with the adrenaline and thrill. I almost feel lightheaded as my energy rushes through me. The middle of my baton strikes the soldier’s shin, sending him to the ground. I leap on him, shoving my knee squarely in his chest, knocking the air from his lungs. Then I bring a baton round, activating the switch to send a jolt of electricity through his neck. He collapses down into the snow and twitches for a few seconds.

Out of the corner of my eye I see Steve land a solid blow to the jaw of one of the guards, making him drop like a sack of potatoes. I grant myself a small smile. He returns it when he sees me.

The base isn’t fully manned, but there are still enough soldiers to make me break out a sweat. They’re not very disciplined, though, throwing punches this way and that. Finally a bullet whizzes past, hitting the wall behind us with a bang, but before the shooter can even think about pulling the trigger again, Steve’s shield hits both him and the gun. A previously unseen soldier makes his way to pick it up, but Bucky beats him to it, and knocks him down before throwing the shield back to Steve. The way his shoulders roll with the catch sends a shiver down my spine and heat to my ears. I can only imagine how that would look without the suit. 

“Get a grip! You’re working!” I mutter to myself, shaking my head to clear my mind. But that moment of distraction rewards me a hard blow to the jaw. I stumble backwards and flex it. Nothing’s broken, but it’s gonna leave me with one hell of a bruise.

The idiot thinks he got the upper hand and stalks toward me brandishing a knife. I wink at him and swing around to kick him in the chest. He staggers, and with a swift movement I am on his shoulders, my thighs firmly pressing on his throat. A garbled laugh slips from his lips, and then finally his knife clatters to the ground. The gurgling stops, and he topples over. I roll off him, get to my feet and dust myself off, satisfied with my work.

The fight has died down, the ground is littered with dead or dying men. We take a moment to get control over the situation, to make sure there’s no one lying in wait for us. The area is clear. All soldiers and officers are accounted for.

“Nice save,” Bucky smirks. “I was wondering if you needed help.”

Steve smiles warmly. “She doesn’t. Never have.”

The heat in my ears spreads over my cheeks. Thank my lucky stars that I’m already flushed from the fight. It would be so typical to be betrayed by my rushing blood now, after denying myself the truth for so long. I swallow the giggle in my chest, but I can’t stop the stupid grin. “It’s a team effort,” I huff slightly out of breath, ignoring the embarrassment. “Wouldn’t have survived without you two here. You good?”

Nodding, Bucky pats my shoulder. “Yep. Going to have a few bruises in the morning, but nothing I can’t handle. You?”

“Mhm.” I grin. “We made a good team out there.”

“Yeah,” Steve agrees, wiping blood from his split lip. “We do make a good team.” He opens and closes his mouth a couple of times to continue, but apparently changes his mind. Instead, he looks to Bucky, and then back at me. His eyes widen, dropping the snow he used to wipe his hands clean.  “Oh, Jesus! Your face! You’re bleeding!”

Wiping my brow, I wave him off. “It’s nothing. The other guy is worse off. Uh, what’s next?” I ask, shifting the conversation to something else, even though I know the plan inside and out. Now that the fight is over, exhaustion rolls over me. I had almost forgotten the toll a mission like this takes. 

“Easiest part left,” Bucky replies, pushing his hair from his face. “Disable the system, and then we get to play with flames.” He grins like a kid that’s been let loose in a candy store. 

“Piece of cake, that. Let’s go so I can get home at take a nice, hot shower. Get all this gunk off of me.” I smack my lips and wipe a lump of something thick and gloopy from my neck. “Ew!”

“According to the map provided by SHIELD, the control room is located right next to the main gate. Follow me. I’d like to get home and take a shower too.” Steve takes off with light steps.

They’re a bit faster than me; I can’t really get my feet to follow. Not that that’s anything unusual. I haven’t got the stamina that the serum gives, so I always follow at my own pace. 

Breathing hard and with adrenaline fading, I lean on the wall for a bit. I just need a small break. Unlike Cap, I can’t do this all day. At least not without a little pause to catch my breath. My uneven breath.

Something feels off. There’s static in my earpiece and a weird rumbling in my mind. I shake to clear my head, but it only makes me dizzy.

When I push off the wall, I wince. The right side of my torso feels warm, too warm, and it aches; that dull ache that leaves an ominous echo in my mind. Looking down, I realise my jacket is torn, and when I touch the fabric, my fingers come away dark and sticky. Fuck!

Glancing up, I see Cap and Bucky pushing on, already almost out of sight, fully focused on the mission. No need to distract them. I’ll deal. We’ll meet at the rendezvous point later.

The zipper sounds harsh in my ears, ripping through the air like a chainsaw, revealing the extent of my predicament. There’s a deep gash running from my bellybutton to my ribs on the right hand side. Double-fuck!

Cold air caresses the wound, snowflakes dance in the dim light. It burns. I have to blink to keep my focus as nausea creeps up, making me even dizzier. My tongue feels thick and fuzzy. No way I’m walking away from this. Rubbing my eyes, I get a final glimpse of Steve rounding the corner and then he’s out of sight. I’m hit with a sudden pang of regret: I never got to tell him… anything.

Time seems to slow down. I suck in air to steel myself, but it stops at the top of my chest. My breath is ragged and shallow. Blood drips from my lips, and I wipe my mouth with heavy movements. 

Everything is so cold. My body weighs so much, making my knees buckle and give out. It’s a strange sensation; feeling both heavy and so light at the same time. Stumbling forward, I suddenly lose my balance. Luckily I manage to catch myself with my hands so I don’t faceplant on the ground. The snow cushions my fall a bit, but the impact still sends a shock through my body, and by the feel of it, my palms are as good as shredded. It doesn’t take long before my clothes are soaked, and soon my bones are frozen through.

When I open my eyes, the bright white has turned a dark, rich crimson. I feel sick. I always knew there were risks being involved in my line of work, but this isn’t how I imagined I’d go.

Every breath is laboured, every movement slow. My lungs convulse and drops of blood and spit flies everywhere. Some hit my cheek, and I recoil from the slap.

I try to push myself up again, but it’s no more than a feeble attempt, resulting in a silent groan and even deeper scrapes on my hands.

Thirty seconds pass at most, but it feels like an eternity. As I sit on my knees and hands, quiet stinging from the cold and the cuts on my knuckles mixes with the throbbing in my side. If only I could have one wish it would be to say goodbye.

There’s a whooshing of something in my ears, my vision is fading. A nothingness seeps in, cinching it to pinpricks in front of me. To my left I vaguely register movement, but I’m too far gone to really notice. I just want the pain to stop. 

My vision goes completely, and shortly after so does my hearing, Gravity takes over, and my head hits the snow with a heavy thud.

There’s a commotion nearby. Or at least I think there is. I’m slipping in and out of consciousness as I’m bleeding out. It’s hard to get at firm grip on anything at all.

There is no light. No sounds. I’m wrapped in a cocoon, like I’m swaddled tightly in a warm blanket. Time is syrup. Everything is so hazy. I’m not sure where I am, or even who I am. Or if I am at all. Just let me drift off to sleep.

I’m jolted and shaken, and the amount of noise around me weighs me down; beeping and muffled rumbling and sounds I can’t place. People whispering. There’s a bird singing somewhere… I think. My ears are buzzing. I try to open my eyes, but the light is so bright it hurts. A soft whimper escapes me, but I can’t speak. The voices get louder, but I can’t make out what they’re saying. It doesn’t take long before darkness consumes me.

A flare of blazing, white light flashes in front of my eyes. My back arches as a sharp pain shoot through my body. The savage scream that erupts from my mouth lingers in my throat, scratching and itching, biting at my consciousness, but the waves I’m riding pull me under again, and I don’t have enough strength to fight them.

Somewhere above my head I hear a frantic “No, no, no…” followed by a quieter “Fix it. Please.” There’s pressure on my shoulders. It’s warm. Pleasant. My head rolls to the side, and it’s dark again.

Someone’s calling my name. The voice is far away, but through the cotton in my ears the urgency is clear. I cannot answer. I don’t know where it’s coming from.

My eyes are crusty when I try to open them. I blink, and blink again. The light is harsh and it does nothing good for the growing headache that throbs in my temples. The room is unfamiliar with its light green walls and – I squint – colourful, abstract paintings. The air smells sharp, a little bitter, but clean. It stings in my nose.

There is… an attempt to sit up, but I’m pinned down by wires and tubes and my own lack of strength. The failed attempt tugs on the needle in my hand. Jesus that hurts! “Fuck!” The word comes out as a coarse croak, setting off a coughing firework befitting an old man.

“Hey, hey, hey… relax.” Light touch on my forehead, and then Steve’s face comes into focus. He looks tired, drawn. But he’s smiling, so I try my best to smile too. My lip cracks. “You scared us. It looked pretty sketchy for a moment.” When he moves closer, he reveals another person standing behind his back. I have to strain my eyes to focus, but after a second I see Bucky, looking so worried I’m tempted to get up to comfort him. 

I begin to speak, but that only starts another coughing fit. 

“Don’t. You’ve been… out for a long time. Here.” Steve pours a glass of lukewarm water and holds it to my lips. 

I drink greedily; I don’t think I’ve ever tasted anything so delicious. And it washes away the rawness in my throat. “Thank you.” It’s a mere whisper, but at least I can communicate.

Bucky moves to my other side. “You look like shit!” He laughs at my glare. “Really, though, it’s good to have you back, doll. If not, Steve might’ve gone on a rampage…” He chuckles, ducking to avoid Steve’s swat, and picks up the red button. “Let’s call the nurse, hm? Let them know you’re not dead?”

The nurse shoos them out of the room, but she has to use stern words before they reluctantly leave with promises that they’ll be back. 

Feeling my forehead, she gives me a quick smile. “Right, honey. Let’s make sure you’re okay, alright?” She’s a kind woman with light hands, making the testing and prodding and questions almost bearable. She has to take my blood, she says, nodding towards my hands resting on top of the blanket. I lift my left arm, and she fastens a rubber band around it. The smell of the alcohol wipe sticks to my nose like a horse fly. The wet is cold, and when the needle punctures my skin, it’s almost as if I can hear a crisp pop.

I’m used to needles, have no problems with blood work, but when it’s time to change the bandage on my stomach, I squirm in my bed. It hurts, and now that I’m awake, I really just want to fix it myself. 

“Listen,” she starts, using the same stern voice she did on the boys, “I apologise for being harsh, but you died! You’ve been cut open several times, your intestines had to be shoved back in and rearranged, your body is battered and bruised, and I’m amazed you didn’t have any broken bones. By all logic your skull should be cracked. You’re lucky all you got from the resuscitation were a few fractured ribs. We had to keep you in an induced coma for a week just to let your body rest.”

Coma? What? I look from her to the window, a deep furrow between my eyes. 

She laughs, and continue dressing my wound. “It’s okay to be a bit dazed. You’ve been beat up pretty bad. But you’re gonna be as good as new when we’re done with you.”

The next few days goes by at a snail’s pace. Sure, I’ve got plenty of visitors. Nat and Clint, Wanda, even Director Fury swings by one time. Bucky is here most days. So is Steve. He doesn’t leave my side unless he’s told to by the staff. I’m eternally grateful that I don’t have to be alone all the time.

My room is filled with flowers and balloons and get well cards. But I hate being this helpless. Everything hurts; moving, breathing, sleeping… The nurses are doing their job, and it’s a fine job, but I want to go home. I want to sleep in a soft bed with warm covers, with a pair of pyjamas that leaves a bit more to the imagination than the flimsy gown they’ve dressed me in. I miss my TV, my music… I miss the freedom to do as I please. And I’m not afraid to tell the nurses exactly that. 

“We’ll see,” is the only answer I get.

So my days are filled with physical therapy that leaves me sweaty and annoyed – damn, I hate that walker – chatting with whoever is there when I’m feeling up for it, and dozing when I get too tired. Night and day all kinda blend together. It’s difficult to keep track of time.

Whispers draws me out of my slumber.

“You’ve gotta tell her, Steve.”

“I know. But I can’t spring it on her like this. Let her recover first.”

“Fine. But tell her! Or I will!”

“Okay, okay! Shh… you’re waking her!”

I half wonder what that was all about, but I drift off before I can think to ask, and when I wake up again I can’t really tell dreams from reality, so I say nothing.

It’s been a week and a half since I woke up in the hospital bed, and I’m about to start climbing the walls. When Doctor Lloyd comes by on her daily visit I moan about staying again. 

“About that,” she says with a bright smile, giving me hope. “I was thinking it’s about time you get some fresh air.”

“Yes!” I mutter under my breath. Finally! A grin creeps over my lips, and I’m half a second from swinging my legs over the edge of the bed. 

“However –“ She interrupts, stopping me with a look. Her face is serious, but kind. “You can’t be on your own. Not yet.” Her voice full of sympathy. “If I am to discharge you from our care, you need someone who can look after you at home.”

My face and heart falls. “But –“

“Listen. I’m going to be honest with you. You have been through four surgeries, and you have a very long, very tough road of recovery ahead of you. If you’re good, and follow my advice, you’re looking at at least twelve weeks before your body is back to relatively normal. And you need minimum two more weeks without any physical exertion at all. No housework, no lifting, no stretching. You will need help. With everything. Do you have anyone you can call?”

I grimace, fighting the sudden pressure behind my eyes. My head is filled with I don’t want to, I don’t want to, I don’t want to! Of course. I live alone, and she knows it. But I can’t stand the thought of staying in the hospital for a moment longer. I discreetly rub a finger to the corner of my eye, concealing it as removing some gunk, but I know that if I’m not careful, everyone in this room will watch me ugly cry.

There’s beeping in her pocket. She fishes out a small device, nods and walks to the door. “When I return, I’m going to need an answer.”

“Fuck!” I groan loudly when the door clicks behind her.

“What’s wrong?” Steve and Bucky quickly get to their feet.

I glance over at them, blinking away the remaining tears before they can see. They retreated to the far corner to give me some privacy while the doctor talked. “I’m stuck here for the next… god knows how long.”

They cross the room. Steve frowns. “But I thought you were supposed to go home soon.”

“Yeah, so did I. Or… I hoped,” I reply with a sigh. “But they won’t release me unless I have someone who can take care of me while I recover.” I think for a bit, shoulders slumping forward. “My sister lives on the other side of the world, and she’s too busy with work and the kids. Besides, she’s already taking care of Mum. She can’t be on her own with the dementia and all. So she can’t just drop everything and fly out.” Not that I particularly want her to. We’re not that close. It would just be awkward.

“Oh.”

Bucky stares pointedly at Steve, nodding almost imperceptibly towards me, like he’s finishing an argument they’ve had before. 

Steve clears his throat stiffly. “How about, uh, how about you come live with me while you recover?”

My stomach flips, and I’m pretty sure it’s not because of the injury. Looking away, I swallow hard. “I don’t want to burden you with that responsibility.”

“You could never be a burden.”

“But it’s twelve weeks. And I’m gonna be useless for at least two of them.” I’m not gonna lie. Staying with Steve sounds like an absolute dream right now. But chances are it would eat me up to be that close to him for so long.

“Don’t worry about it. I wouldn’t offer if I didn’t mean it. Bucky and I were… discussing it earlier, since we figured you were going to need someone close by –“ He pauses. Rubs the back of his neck. “My apartment is big enough. Please, will you let me help you?”

Bucky smirks. “Yeah, please let him help you. Or else he might just go mad from the guilt.”

Guilt? Confused, I’m about to ask, but then I see Steve’s face, scrunched up like a puppy, mirroring Bucky’s, making me laugh. I shrink from the pain that follows. “Fine. You can help. Just don’t make me laugh.” I make a point of looking inconvenienced, but secretly, gratitude washes over me. If it has to be anyone, I’m glad it’s Steve.

“Good. That’s settled. Thank you.” Steve steps out of the room to make some arrangements, leaving me pondering the guilt comment.

“Bucky?” I shift a bit in the bed to look him in the eyes.

“Yes?” 

“What did you mean that he feels guilty?” 

He looks down for a moment, a grimace flits across his features. “Well, to tell you the truth, we both feel guilty. We just left you, didn’t even check if you were okay –“ He grips the metal railing on the bed, and I can see his face tighten.

“You asked,” I reply, patting his hand. “And I said I were. No reason for you to think otherwise.” They should absolutely not feel guilty. And the way I’m floating with relief and joy from getting out, there is no way I’m letting them feel bad!  

“Yeah, but we should have been with you. You died! You should’ve seen h…” He stops himself. “It doesn’t matter. What matters is that you’re here, and you’re gonna be okay, and Steve is happy to take care of you.”

There it is again, a small flash of something. But what? Steve would be happy to… My chest tightens, it feels like I’m going to implode. Just as I’m about ask Bucky what that means, Steve comes back. 

“Sorry about that,” he smiles, sliding his phone back in his pocket. “Had to make a few phone calls. Suppose you need some things from your own apartment. Natasha said she’d be more than happy to go over and pack a suitcase for you. And Fury needed to know where to find you should something happen.”

I look at him, bask in his happy smile. Oh yeah, I’m definitely gonna struggle for the next weeks. “You sure it’s okay?” I have to ask, have to know that it’s not just because I was upset or because of guilt.

Bucky and Steve react in unison. Arched eyebrows, annoyed smiles, and exhaling through their noses. “Yes.” And that’s the end of the discussion. Don’t think I’d be able to argue more even if I wanted to. 

Three hours later I’m wheeled out of the front door and over to a waiting car. Bucky tosses a bag with the few possessions I had while admitted into the boot while Steve helps me into the back seat, making sure I’m comfortable before climbing in on the other side. 

Bucky gives us a mock salute, then winks at me. “I’ll see ya later. And please wait a week before you kill him, won’t you?” He shuts the door, and heads over to his motorbike.

“Let’s go,” Steve laughs, shaking his head and gesturing to the driver. “Let’s go home.”

Steve insists on carrying me from the car, and though I protest, I can’t deny that I’m enjoying it quite a bit more than I should. 

He sets me down on the kitchen counter and begins looking through the cupboards. “You hungry? Bet you want something other than hospital food. I haven’t been able to go shopping for a while, but there should be enough to fill you up for now. I’ll call in a few favours, so you don’t have to be alone, okay?”

I start swaying. My muscles aren’t strong enough to sit upright without support yet, but it’s fascinating to watch Steve being so natural in a domestic situation that I don’t say anything, just bite down the struggle. Until I almost wobble off the counter, and knock a small knife to the floor. 

“Oh shit! I didn’t think… you shouldn’t be sitting without a back rest. You’re probably exhausted too.” It isn’t a question at all. 

I wave him off. “Don’t worry about it. But I am tired. Maybe I should just take a teensy nap or something.” The sofa is looking very tempting right now.

“Of course. You sleep. I’ll make us something to eat and come wake you after it’s done.”

“You sure? I mean, I could help with –“

“No. No, you’re not helping me with anything,” he interrupts, dropping the bread so he can pick me up. 

I feel like I don’t weigh a thing, floating through the air, securely enveloped by strong arms. Don’t think I’ll ever get used to feeling his arms around me, and I tuck it away in my mind to remember a rainy day. I almost forget to protest when he passes the sofa, but he just laughs. The rumble from his chest vibrates through me, and I bite the inside of my cheek to stay appropriate.

He nudges the door to the bedroom open with his foot and walks sideways through. When he lets go of me, I sink into the mattress. It feels like a cloud after the hospital bed. Steve glances around the room. “Sorry about the mess. I didn’t have the time to do anything special in here. Just let me put away the clothes –“ He quickly scrunches up a couple of t-shirts and shoves them into a hamper in the corner.

“What, is this… Is this your room? But… where are you gonna – don’t tell me you’re gonna sleep on the sofa! Nope!” It’s out of the question to kick him out of his own bed, and I wriggle to get out of it again.

“Relax.” He looks at me and smiles sheepishly, lifting my leg up again and tucking the blanket tightly around me. “That isn’t my bed. Well, technically it is, but that’s besides the point. It’s not the one I sleep on. Never really gotten used to a normal, civilian mattress, so I usually sleep on a field cot… And I was thinking… So I can be close by in case you need anything, I’ll just sleep on that.” He points to the floor on the other side of the bed. Tucked into the other corner is a mattress, neatly done with folded sheets and everything.

I raise an eyebrow and tilt my head a little bit. “This is awfully well planned out, Captain, considering we made this deal just today. I didn’t even know I would be released until this morning…” I try to sound tough and serious, but I can’t quite hide the twinkle in my voice. Trust Steve to have a plan. Even for this.

He actually blushes, and looks away as he answers. “Uh, well, you see… Bucky – and I – thought it might come to something like this, so I got it a couple of days ago. Besides, I’ve been meaning to get a proper bed for ages. And now I had a good reason.”

“You’re a couple of sneaks, the both of you,” I grin. My chest leaps with the thought of him going through all that hassle just in case I needed a place to stay. “But thank you. I really appreciate it.”

“Don’t mention it,” he says gruffly. He clicks off the light and glances over his shoulder. “I’ll leave it ajar so I hear you if you need anything.”

I haven’t slept this well in… forever, I think. The bed is perfect, and there’s just something about the room; the light coming from under the door, the scent, whatever it is, that makes me feel safe. 

Steve wakes me a little while later, a tray in hand. “Figured you wanted to be comfortable while eating. And when you’re done, you can sleep a bit more. It’ll be good for you.”

It’s dark when I wake up again. My head hurts, and my mouth is bone dry. A glass of water. That’s what I need. The kitchen isn’t that far, so I roll over on my side and slide my feet to the floor. But I can’t seem to get my abs to follow instructions. Instead I sorta hang over the edge like a slug, unable to get up or down. “Shit, shit, shit,” I mutter, wriggling to get into a better position. But the more I try, the more I twist, and the strain stabs and stings my side.

“What’s going on?” Steve’s voice is groggy with sleep. He sits up so I can see his head over the edge of the bed. Even upside down it looks confused.

“I just wanted to get a glass of water.”

“And you decided that you’d do that yourself. On the first night out of hospital, despite the doctor’s orders to not do anything physical at all?”

I give him my best puppy eyes. “Yes?”

“What am I going to do with you?” he sighs, helping me back under the covers. After propping me up with pillows and checking on my side to make sure nothing is ripped, he fetches a glass of water. When he comes back, he gives me an exasperated smirk. “Next time, just wake me, okay?”

My stomach drops when I see how tired he looks. “I’m sorry,” I start, feeling like this whole situation could have been avoided if only I had paid more attention.

He cuts me off. “Don’t. You don’t have anything to apologise for.”

“Sor–“

He shuts me up with a finger on my lips and a soft shh. “Go back to sleep. You need the rest.”

***

“I think I’ll manage from here,” I say when I’m safely down on the little chair in front of the sink. We decided on using the office chair, since that can spin, and it has wheels, so it’s easier for me to access what I need around the bathroom. Steve has already brought me washcloths, towels and soap, and I’ll spare him the horror of giving me a sponge bath, since I’m not ready for a shower just yet.

“If you’re sure,” he replies. “I’ll be right here if you need me,” he adds when he closes the door.

Washing away the hospital smell that sticks to my face feels amazing. The water is warm, and the cloth is soft. I sigh with contentment as I let it linger over my eyes. 

I pat my face dry and move on to get out of the sweater I’m wearing. Ow! Each time I try to lift my arms and pull it over my head, my stitches sting. After three attempts and lots of quiet swearing, I’m stuck. “Um, Steve?” I call, trying to sound calm, but the burn in my side is concerning. “A little help, please?”

From my limited vision through the fabric I see his head in the mirror, poking through the door, looking increasingly worried, but with a crooked smile on his lips. “Jeez. How did you do that. Here.” He averts his eyes like the perfect gentleman he is when he frees me from my sweater, but he tuts at my stupidity and refusal to do as the doctor instructed. 

I hesitate for a second. “Um... think you can help me unhook my bra too?”

With minimal fumbling, he does as I ask, and before I can say anything else, he wrings a wet cloth and starts washing my back for me. I can’t do anything but close my eyes and breathe as he quietly fusses over my cuts and bruises, before leaving alone to finish cleaning myself. When he returns ten minutes later, I’ve turned into a towel burrito. 

“I figured you needed something to wear, and the clothes Natasha packed didn’t look very comfortable.” He looks down on his hands and then back at me; he’s holding an oversized zipper hoodie and sweatpants.

“Thanks. Those will do.” The fabric is soft, like feathers against my skin. “I’ll be right out.”

“Good,” he replies and leaves me alone again.

A couple of minutes and a good deal of fumbling later, I’ve managed to get into the sweater. Sure, it took time, and sure it was a bit painful, but over all I’m happy with my effort. But it’s another situation altogether with the sweatpants. I just can’t lift my feet high enough to step into them while holding them, and when I drop them to the floor, I can step into them, but I can’t bend down to pull them up. Shit.

Wrapping the towel around my waist, I call for Steve again. “Help?” I squeak, gesturing to the grey bundle on the floor, ignoring the rising heat on my neck. I hadn’t thought of this; that I actually need help getting dressed. For some reason I’m not that embarrassed, really, more disappointed that I have to be that kind of a burden. If we’re going to make this work, I can’t let my pride get in the way.

“Oh.” He watches me intently from the doorway.

“Yeah.” I give him a flat smile. “I think I can get out of my clothes on my own. At least mostly,” I add when I notice the arched eyebrow and crooked smile on his face. “The zipper hoodie works, so that’s good. But… this movement,” I mime pulling up the sweatpants, “hurts. I can’t bend properly, so…”

“It’s what I’m here for,” he says, before quickly adding “to help.” He kneels in front of me and guides first one, then the other foot into the sweatpants, while I hang onto his shoulders for dear life, and he looks away while pulling them up. Only when they’re safely tied and hanging, do I drop the towel. 

I want to thank him, but no sounds come when I open my mouth. So I settle on a smile and a nod, though that is wildly insufficient.

“Sit,” he orders, but his voice is mild, and once I’m down again, he turns the chair around so my back is towards the sink. 

You would think that Steve has done all this before. He knows precisely what he needs to do, and he’s the gentlest being on the earth in this moment, tenderly lowering my head into the sink and making sure I’m comfortable and that the chair doesn’t roll away, all while silently asking me if it’s okay.

“Mhm.” I close my eyes, savouring the sensation of warm, running water over my scalp. Then he begins to massage, and I melt into the chair. An obscene noise rises in my throat, but I swallow thickly, settling for a quiet hum instead. I can get used to this.

The last of the hospital sweat swirls down the drain, replaced by the clean smell of shampoo. That it’s Steve doing it is just icing on the cake. Now, if just that stupid sting in my side could disappear too, my life would be perfect.

With my hair wrapped in a new towel, he picks me up and carries me to the living room. I’m pretty sure I could walk if I wanted, but what’s life without a little exploitation of the situation?

It quickly becomes a routine, him helping me with the things I can’t do, carrying me from room to room. Picking stuff up from the floor when I drop it, making food when I’m hungry… And my heart swells for every kind gesture. I feel like I’m about to explode.

My strength and pain fluctuate over the weeks. Some days I’m ready to take on the world, and Steve has to remind me that I still have a long way to go, others I can hardly get out of bed, but my recovery is definitely moving forward. Before long I can even sit up without support for more than a couple of minutes at a time.

***

The tape tugs on my skin, and I’m glad I only have to change the bandage every other day. I hiss as I pull on it, but I just can’t get myself to rip it off quickly today. Taking a deep breath, I change my grip and try again, but no luck.

“You decent?” Steve’s voice floats through the door, and moments later, his head pops in.

“Yeah,” I answer, not even looking up to see that he’s already in the room.

He gently pushes my hands out of the way. “Let me,” he says, soothing over the red skin where I’ve already managed to remove the tape. His eyes lock with mine, and he gives me a quick smile. “I’ll count to three, then pull, okay?”

I nod and breathe in, then out again. 

“One, two –“ He pulls. 

I let out a loud yelp. “Oh, you fucker!” 

“There you go. Good girl.”

My mind blanks. Did he really…? I hold my breath for a few seconds in fear of making some sound I’ll regret later. Through my haze I barely recognise that the new bandage is already on, and he’s pulling down my sweater. Just before he lets go, his fingers lightly brush over my skin, making my heart flutter like a hummingbird. I’m gonna need a month to recover after this.

He moves to pick me up again, but I want to do it myself. No, I need to do it myself. “I can walk.” I think. My legs suddenly feel so very weak, and when I try to get up, I just can’t.

Instead of commenting, he offers his arm, and practically pulls me to my feet while supporting my back. He’s right there when I take the first, unsteady steps on my own since the fight. I both miss the walker I had in the hospital and don’t, but I know that if I need to, I can always grab onto Steve. Or in the worst case, he’ll lift me up and carry me into the living room.

“So. What do you want to do today?” he asks as we slowly make our way towards the sofa.

“I don’t know. Not much I can do.” I’m not used to sitting still. “How about we just watch TV for now – well, I can watch, if you have other things you want to do.” Please stay with me.

“No, that sounds good.” He brings out a small notebook and a pen. “I have a lot of catching up to do. What do you wanna watch?”

Later that evening, Bucky comes traipsing in with his hands so full of bags that they’re stacked all the way to his elbows. “Food delivery,” he announces loudly, dropping the bags on the floor for Steve to put away. “How’s my favourite patient?” he grins, turning to me.

“Can’t complain. Steve’s being an angel nurse.”

“Good, good.” He’s already on his way out again. “I slipped in a chocolate for you in case you can’t take it anymore,” he adds, pointing to Steve with an exaggerated grimace.

“Thanks. You’re not staying?”

“Nah. Got a mission coming up. And Steve, remember: I’m not your personal DoorDasher.”

Steve laughs and follows him to the door. They remain standing, talking for a bit – whispering so I can’t hear them, but there’s an urgency to underneath their voices. I wonder if Steve was supposed to go on this mission too. A pang of guilt punches me in the gut. Bucky better come back in one piece.

“Be safe,” I say, swallowing hard.

“Don’t worry about me,” he replies and closes the door behind him. Steve busies himself with the groceries.

“What kind of mission?” I ask when he finally sits down again.

“Huh?”

I frown. “Bucky. What was the mission?”

“Oh, didn’t ask. Sorry.”

Despite being so curious that I’m about to burst, I don’t ask again. I’m not privy to all communication between SHIELD and their agents.

***

Steve is gone. He’s been gone for a couple of hours. Think he had to run to the store or something, but I couldn’t go with him. Which is okay, I guess. So I’m lying on the sofa, tapping my fingers, trying to count to 500 backwards. It’s something to do, to keep the boredom at bay. Every day feels like the days I stayed with my grandparents when I was little. You know; constantly a little bored, because you don’t have access to all your toys? But also excited, because you’re on holiday and it’s kinda new and regular routines don’t apply? Quiet days passing slowly, but pleasantly. There’s a kind sort of nostalgia to the whole thing.

Here I don’t have my books or stuff, and though I can always go get some, it’s not the same, because there’s nothing like that feeling of just browsing, picking up the one that piques your interest at that moment… I do have my music, though. It’s on my phone, and that is wonderful. But I miss my record player, and listening to digital music through headphones doesn’t quite give the same experience. On the other hand: I get to spend every day with Steve, and now that I don’t fall asleep from exhaustion every hour, I can actually enjoy it.

When Steve comes back, carrying bags and looking so deliciously domestic that I can’t do anything but sink into the sofa to hide my reaction, I breathe a sigh of relief. Weirdly enough, being alone has started to make me uneasy.

“Welcome home,” I splutter, trying to conceal the sound as a yawn. Outside the sun is setting, sending long, peachy rays that spreads over the walls. If I’m lucky, the colour in my face can be explained away. Not sure he’s fooled.

He gives me a wide smile and brings me a bottle of soda. “Thanks. What do you say we order dinner today? I couldn’t decide what I wanted when I was at the shop, so I just picked something. And now I don’t really feel like making lasagna at all.”

“I’m always up for takeaway. Did you have anything in mind?”

“How about…” he thinks for a bit. “Thai? Form that restaurant down by the square?”

“Absolutely!” He asked me one of the first days what my favourite food was, and I just said the first thing that popped into my head, being too preoccupied with the sight of his shirt straining over his shoulders, but it’s sweet of him to remember. And I do really like Thai food, so it’s a win-win.

Two hours later we’re both full, content, and comfortably seated in the sofa. We’ve made it a habit for me to lie with my head in his lap. That way I can rest, and I don’t have to twist or move in case I get tired. If this is the only good thing that comes from this situation, I will be happy.

He absentmindedly strokes my hair, watching the clouds floating by outside the window. “You wanna watch a movie today?”

“Sure.” I’d go to the end of the world with him if he asked me. I’m not ashamed to admit it. “What do you want to watch?”

“So, I’ve been meaning to… You know I’ve got my list – gotta try to update myself – ”

“Get with the times,” I offer with a smirk, looking up into his face.

“So to speak. There’s a lot of things I missed, you know, when… anyways, I thought maybe we could watch Fellowship of the Ring? I’ve heard a lot of good things about it, and it’s been on my list for a while, ‘cause I really liked the books.”

“I’d love to. It’s one of my favourites.” The prospect of watching Lord of the Rings with Steve makes me warm and fuzzy. 

Somewhere around Weathertop my head starts feeling heavier, and before Arwen has breathed out “What’s this, a ranger caught off his guard?” sleep overtakes me. 

It’s dark outside when I wake up. The light from the tv screen is too bright, illuminating Steve’s peaceful face when I look up. He’s deeply entrenched in what I recognise as scenes from Helm’s Deep, a serene smile on his face. His hand rests on my waist like it’s the most natural thing in the world. I feel an intense urge to reach up and kiss him, but I don’t. Instead, I hum and stretch and rub my eyes.

He looks down. “Hey.” It’s merely a breath. “I didn’t want to wake you up, you looked so comfortable.”

You have no idea. “How many orcs has Gimli killed yet?” I want to tell him, I should tell him. But I don’t know how. And definitely not now. Not when I’m like this. I don’t want to come across as a smitten patient who has a crush on her carer. Not when this is so much more. Damn! I’m in too deep. This is going to be torture! 

Steve chuckles and glances up at the tv again. “Seventeen?”

There is something in his eyes, I can’t decipher it, and instead of trying, I shift my attention back to the film, muttering “Hado i philinn,” simultaneously  with Aragorn, and lose myself in Middle Earth for a couple of hours.

***

The brush glides through my hair, followed by a gentle hand. Careful movements, every one calculated to do the least amount of damage. It’s a secret dance that we’ve been rehearsing for the last couple of weeks, and I’m sad to see it end. 

On the surface, my wound has healed. I can move a lot easier, stretch my torso, twist around. Yes, I still get tired quickly, and I still can’t stand for long amounts of time, but it’s time I take over my own bedtime routine.

I close my eyes, savour his touch, his fingers in my hair… It’s more than I had ever dreamt of. As I exhale, a tiny whimper follows. Steve stops immediately. Oh no!

He lets go and lean down to get a look at my face. “What’s wrong? Did I hurt you? Was it too rough?”

Shit. How do I explain away this one? I can’t. I shake my head and take a deep breath. Inside me every emotion swirls together like a tempest. “No, Steve. You didn’t hurt me. You didn’t do anything wrong. In fact, you do everything right. The thing is…” I pause, watching his face fall.

“Oh.” He gets to his feet and starts to walk away, still with the brush in his hand. “I’ll give you some privacy.”

Not thinking, I reach for his hand. I try to pull him back, but I’m not strong enough yet. The movement shoots daggers through my stomach, but it’s easy to ignore it.  “Wait.” The word is small and weak, but important. “Let me finish, please.” Then you can leave, if you need to, I add in my head.

He turns back, watching me with wary eyes. 

I weigh my words. If I’m gonna do this, I’m gonna do this right. “The thing is…” I repeat, then clam up again. Come on! You can do this! I clear my throat. “Steve… I love you.”

His jaw drops, as does the hairbrush. It clatters to the floor, but I don’t think he notices. Blinking stupidly, he just stands there like an idiot. If I weren’t so nervous, I’d laugh.

“I have for a long time,” I continue quickly, afraid I’m gonna lose my momentum. “But I was afraid to say something, because I don’t want you to think I’m crushing because you’re kind to me and take care of me, and I don’t want to ruin our friendship, or the team. I didn’t want to make it awkward, but now that I’ve spent so long with you, I just forgot for a moment, that I’m supposed to be normal, that we’re not…” I trail off, want to finish with together, but I can’t bring myself to it. Is he reacting? His face tells me nothing. Crap. I’ve fucked it up. “Steve, say something? Please?”

He shakes his head. “Uh. Sorry. I just… I’m…” A gentle smile. “I was going insane, trying to figure out how to tell you – how you make me feel. That I haven’t felt like this since I don’t remember when… And then you beat me to it. I could kiss you. Can I kiss you?”

“Uh-huh.” This time it’s my turn to blink stupidly, but it takes me less time to recover. “Yes. Please!” 

I stretch up to meet him halfway, ignoring the doctor’s orders, and throw my arms around him. The distance between us closes and we pause, just for a moment, to drink in the sensation. Both of us smile into the kiss as we melt together, electricity sparking between us, leaping over the skin, tingling in the hottest, darkest depths of our minds. 

When he finally draws back, my breath is heavy. I’m not quite sure where I am, but I’m definitely not complaining. Instead, I pull him back to me, and he follows, hungrily, to kiss me again.

[starythewriter]

A shift dinner date w Vinnie hacker imagine

I stepped into this amazing restaurant it reminded me a lot of the Cheesecake Factory except everything was plain black, and had dark tainted glass with lights everywhere it was so beyond beautiful.

I walked in feeling the air conditioning hit my face it wasn't too strong nor too weak just perfect. I saw Vinnie, I drove to the restaurant to meet Vinnie... I turned up some music and put on my lipstick then I got a call from Vinnie "I got a gift for you be ready"

"really? oh my gosh I can't wait"

"yes of course! that's all... but also be sitting at table 8"

"alright perfect thank you"

I stepped into this amazing restaurant it reminded me a lot of the Cheesecake Factory except everything was plain black, and had dark tainted glass with lights everywhere it was so beyond beautiful.

I walked in feeling the air conditioning hit my face it wasn't too strong nor too weak just perfect. I saw Vinnie, he looked so good wearing a light blue shirt tucked neatly into his jeans and he even wore some glasses that seemed to accentuate his already handsome features even more.

He looked up as I approached him I said "Hey" smiling shyly at the older man who smiled back at me, then looking over towards the bar I see a group of guys laughing... I tune out and say "let's order what do you want?" he looks around like he doesn't know which one I mean he says "can we get the same food we always eat?" which reminds me that I'm pretty much always there for him so I say "Yeah sure" then order our food while he orders mine he pays, and I say thanks before we head to our usual booth.

We talk about work a lot... he works at the school where I teach English and he teaches science... he is an artist too... he wants to make things when he grows up and wants to open a gallery somewhere where people can buy art. We talk about how we feel and what we are going through right now and what we think about the future... I noticed he was wearing a strong perfume I loved the smell... I smiled at him. He smiles back but suddenly starts blushing... well, I guess the conversation was going too long."Oh yeah uh sorry... I don't know why I started talking about my feelings... I have really bad insomnia... I try not to let my mind run away with me but sometimes..." he sighs "anyway, how are you doing babe?"

I smile sweetly at him "I'm good" he puts down his fork and leans across the table towards me "you are very sexy tonight..." he says softly... 'hmm he does look very handsome... ' I muse. I lean toward him slowly until I could kiss him. but out of no where the waiter seemed to intervene delivering the check.

I wasn't sure if it was on purpose or not but regardless it definitely broke a moment of passion... and made a couple of strangers turn their attention towards us.

We both start getting angry as he stands up. I am a little surprised because usually he doesn't lose control like that unless he's mad at me or something... but he calmed down after "well... here" I say giving him a small kiss.

"thank you"

"here wanna go to a local fun center?" I suggest trying to break the awkwardness

"yeah ok."

We headed off together... we sat down at an arcade and played some games and talked about random stuff. He kept glancing my way and I was starting to blush. I couldn't figure out why... maybe I was embarrassed at myself for being so forward... then randomly we were playing a racing game and I knocked his car off the screen I celebrated we both laughed having a great time . Then I asked where he lived. He told me his place was a few blocks away. We got out and headed off together. When we finally stopped walking he held my hand and looked into my eyes "we should go somewhere else sometime... " he said gently kissing me... I closed my eyes and kissed him back. As he pulled away he said "your so sexy"

"thank you" I said kissing his ear. I pulled back... how about a second date?

"really?"

"yeah of course Vinnie" I smiled at him

He smiled and took my hand leading me to his car. I felt like I could fly I was so excited. It didn't matter that he wasn't in love with me, he thought I was hot. He liked me. He wanted to hang out with me. And honestly I did like hanging out with him. "here I know you love to read so here's a book with 500 quotes"

"thank you Vinnie that's so thoughtful"

He blushed a bit saying "it's nothing... I'm happy to help"

I felt his gaze of lust...

"let me drive you to my house. I'll invite you for a sleepover"

"hmmm I don't know"

"please?"

"alright fine, but only because you seem so desperate to spend time with me"

His eyes lit up and he grinned at me. "oh god I am so whipped! come on!" he yelled as he started the car

the end!

[sunnyfoxsstuff]

Hey guy's! >:D New chapter today cuz i decided its Time that i right lol

Chapter 7:(idk tbh)

Qingxuan had went outside to take some fresh air After lastnight, walking more away into the forest

He xuan on his side was making breakfast being a bit distant thinking he caused this nightmare to him he may be dead and a Ghost now but it wont erase what he went through because he xuan's and shi wudu's action's

After some hour's around in the afternoon he xuan decided to talk to him but not about what happened but about more Ghost stuff

SQX:"what? You're gonna teach me? Teach me what?" Tilting his head confused After all he's a grown man

HX:"yes, i dont know if you noticed but pretty much any ghost's have something..'special' like their animal features or well for me controlling water ghost's usually find out what their 'special' thing is soon after having their body's materialised but since you're kind of, a peacefull Ghost." Crossing his arm's shutting his eye's "we'll have to find it by trying anything out After all a Ghost life isnt all happy one day you'll probably get attacked and i cant Always bé there," he stopped looking at sqx

SQX:"why would you want to always be there for me he xiong? Im sure i can learn it easy it'll be a piece of cake!" Lifting his fist's to his chest enthusiast and sure of himself

He xuan looked away to think, qingxuan creeped closer poking his cheek like old time's

SQX:"what are yooouu thinking?"

He xuan just turned his head looking at him "nothing, stop poking me its not Time for this." He sighed while sqx chuckled with a bright smile

HX:"what's so funny?"

SQX:"your face is funny, and squishy"

This Time he xuan grabbed his hand so he stops poking him continuing with "i think we should go shopping again"

Looking confused "sure if you want"

With that he xuan dragged sqx by the hand back to the market where jewel's and clothe's sort of thing's are

SQX:"y'know you Can let go of my hand i wont trip my leg doesnt hurt and its not like i'll run away either, also why are we back here"

Hx ignoring continuing to walk stopping infront a fan selling shop "choose one think of it as like a gift from me"

SQX:"he xiong you're acting weird today are you ok? Do you have a fiever?" Gettin infront of he xuan putting his free hand on his forehead

HX:"i aint sick i just had an idea beside's you're not gonna refuse a fan right? I know how you loved to use that thing everytime you would dance to summon the air"

SQX:"fine but let go of my hand"

After that sqx looked at all of the fan's he loved some but nothing felt like his past fan's he would buy some pretty fan's use them one Time and go back to the fan him and his brother had it was the only one he needed the only one he wanted but that same fan had got teared up by the same person that's right beside's him

SQX:"i dont really want any of them..i liked the old one"

HX:"you still like it even After your own brother who gave you it tried to kill you?"

SQX:"maybe he had a good reason?" Looking at he xuan which he Saw scoff probably by annoyance

Since sqx refused to buy any they had went back home After a walk around for the next day's he xuan would be busy going back to his territory sqx would wonder why he goes away for so long but he didnt dared to ask and just stay silent he still had xie lian's company he also counted hua cheng but it was clear as day that he was around only for his majesty

That night After walkin home sqx saw from a far he xuan's silhouette in the filled full of flower's with the full Moon and their house behind it seemed like he xuan had been waiting him

SQX:"what are you doing here at this hour alone? I mean beside's me i Always see you alone hehe-"

HX:"i just thought you'd be home more early and i got a gift for you" handing a fan with black silver ish detail's

Sqx took the fan openning it seeing that its his old fan a bright smile grew on his face hugging he xuan out of happiness

SQX:"ah sorry no hug's" he said but he xuan hugged back a bit which surprised sqx

HX:"..sorry for last time at the market when i got mad you're just really annoying sometime's"

SQX:"he xiong! That's not a way to apologies!..but its fine i forgive you dont worry about it your really silly sometimes he xiong" laughing

HX:"im not silly, anyway's i made diner alone since you werent there yet Come on"

Yoooo! I loved writing this chapter he'll probably will never have a title i Hope you all will love it just as much as i did!

[whumpdoyoumean]

Whumptober #11

xxx convenience store

“What do you think, Harden?”

Harden glances over at the rookie, then back at the road. The headlights on the heavy, windblown rain remind him of stars flying by a ship going at light speed. He clicks the windshield wipers up a notch. “It’s miserable out there. There’s plenty of people that’ll be wanting a roof over their heads. Can’t blame ‘em. At least this way maybe whoever it is’ll have someplace warm for the night.”

“So you don’t think it could be a vandal or an arsonist or something?”

Harden looks over at him again with a frown. “Look, Corsetti. I know every cop show will try and tell you otherwise, but most of the people we encounter on the job—especially calls like this—are just trying to get by. Robberies, kidnappings, all the 'exciting' stuff – that's only a small part of it. The sooner you learn that, the better. What’s the motto?”

Corsetti lets out a small sigh, and Harden sees him barely manage not to roll his eyes. “‘To protect and to serve.’”

“‘To protect and to serve,’ that’s right. People forget that sometimes, but not us. Not you, not as long as you’re riding with me.”

“Yes, sir,” Corsetti mumbles.

“Very good.” He turns into the parking lot of the abandoned convenience store, squinting at the darkened building. The faded sign above the door says, Anyone’s Market, and the door is open a crack. “This is it.”

He gets out of the car and takes out his flashlight, flipping it on, and looks over at Corsetti. The kid looks nervous as hell, fingers hovering near his holster.

“Hey.”

“Yeah?”

“Take it easy. Guys getting spooked with guns in their hands is how people get hurt. The call was only about the door being open, we don’t even know that anyone’s in there. Just keep it cool.”

Corsetti nods quickly, taking his own flashlight out. “Right.”

“Right.”

And then he pushes the door open, taking a careful step inside. “Police,” he calls, loudly but not at a shout. He shines the beam around. Nothing seems to have been disturbed, and he doesn’t see any belongings. He moves further into the building. “Hello? GCPD, anyone here?”

Corsetti is shining his light around, too, and he stops suddenly. “There. Behind that shelf!”

Harden looks where he's pointing. A foot.

"Excuse me," he says as he approaches. "Gotham City police." In all likelihood they're about to find someone passed out or sleeping, but it could be that they're about to come upon a body, and he's already preparing what he'll tell the kid if that's the case. It's always hard, but the first one…

He moves around the shelf and the beam of his flashlight falls on a man lying face-down, soaking wet and not moving. There are no bottles or needles in sight, and he's well dressed…

"Sir," he says, and there's no response. He puts his flashlight in his mouth and pulls out the pair of surgical gloves he carries for bagging evidence, putting them on before kneeling next to the man. "Hey, buddy."

The man is young, not much older than Corsetti. Harden frowns, putting two fingers to the man's neck, addressing his partner as he does.

"Call for an ambulance."

"Is he…"

"He's got a pulse. Do it, Corsetti!"

Corsetti nods and grabs his radio to make the call. Harden barely hears him.

"Sir?" He pats the young man's face lightly, but there's no response. "Corsetti, come help me turn him over."

"Gloves first?"

"Yes, gloves first!"

He hears the snap of latex a moment later, and then Corsetti is kneeling next to him.

“Alright, carefully, careful…” They turn the man onto his back, moving slowly in case of injury, and then Harden picks up his flashlight to get a better look. The air rushes from his lungs as he takes in the bruises and swelling on the man's face. Behind him, Corsetti makes a strangled sound.

"No frikken' way," he breathes. "Holy crap, Harden. Do you know who that is?"

"Should I?" Harden says.

"That's Dick Grayson."

xxx

"Master Bruce? Might I have a moment of your time?"

Bruce looks up and, upon seeing the expression on Alfred's face, excuses himself from the conversation he's having with two young socialites that he doesn't remember inviting to this party. He keeps a pleasant, charming smile on his face as he follows Alfred out to the hallway and doesn't let it drop until he's sure they're alone.

"What's wrong?"

"We've had a call from Commissioner Gordon. Two of his officers responded to a call about a possible break-in at an abandoned convenience store."

Bruce suppresses a sigh. If it was enough for Jim to call, then it wasn't just a random person.

"Which of the Rogue's Gallery was it?"

Alfred's brow twitches down into a small frown. "None, sir. It was Master Richard. I'm afraid he's been taken Gotham General."

Bruce takes a deep breath, then another, forcing himself to stay calm despite the emotions crashing over him like waves. Dick was here, at the gala. Bruce saw him just a few hours ago."Did Gordon say what happened?"

"I've told you everything he told me."

"And he wasn't...it was Dick they found? Not...?" Not Nightwing?

"Yes, sir. As I understand it."

Bruce nods, mind racing. Deep breath. "Okay. I have to go."

"Of course, sir. I'll see to it that your guests are given a satisfying explanation for your sudden disappearance."

"Thank you, Alfred." Bruce puts a hand on his shoulder, letting it rest there for a moment before he heads out to his car.

xxx

"...three broken ribs, a fractured orbital bone, a concussion, and extensive bruising. We'll be watching him closely the next few days for internal bleeding." Bruce listens numbly as the doctor explains Dick's various injuries. He's already spoken with Gordon. The investigation hasn't turned up much yet, but the police are fairly confident it wasn't a robbery, given that Dick was found with his wallet and phone still on him and ligature marks on his wrists. Their working theory is that someone, or someones, snatched him. He was able to escape, and ran to the nearest shelter he could find which would explain why he was found soaking wet on the floor of the old Anyone's Market. If someone hadn't called the police...

He's lucky to be alive.

Bruce is going to find whoever did this.

xxx

[animementrash]

I could've died

Characters: Levi x reader

Tags: angst, canonverse scenario, hurt no comfort, implied levi x reader

A/N: woo! third day in a row posting! thank you very much to those who have taken the time to read/like/reblog my work I deeply appreciate it! Also I keep on posting AOT related stuff because I had an AOT brainrot and most of my saved works are related to this anime but I also have some content for other fandoms which I'll eventually post. This is my take in the "hurt no comfort" area, I'm not very fond of this topic but a little heartbreak is good from time to time(? Once again thanks for reading and feel free to message me any request/comment!

There is a high-pitched beep that brings my consciousness back, I wake up with a gasp and look around to find my horse patiently waiting for me in the open field. I get up still confused and make my way to it.

“I could’ve died… I seriously could’ve died” That’s all I can think about while I ride my horse as fast as I can to reach my squad after a titan grabbed me in the middle of the ground, it happened so quick I didn’t have any time to react, all I could feel was my ribs hurting and the screams of my team members, everything went blank and then I woke up in the floor. I guess Levi or someone killed the titan but didn’t stop for me since we have explicit orders to retreat as soon as possible.

“Hey guys! I don’t know who killed that guy back there but thanks for the help! I was seriously scared!” I say once I'm near them, our horses racing through the muddy field make it difficult to communicate while riding. Some do glance back and others just keep riding, I then spot Levi at the front of the formation, his horse is going faster than ours.

“Captain Levi!” One of our squad members calls him, maybe he’s trying to let him know I’m back in the formation but Levi never replies, he keeps on riding with his gaze fixed straight forward.

“It’s alright! I’ll talk to him once we get back to the safe area!” I tell the guy and he just keeps riding in silence. Was Levi angry at me? I guess the fact that I got caught did make him upset so I hope his anger has cooled down once we reach the barracks.

“Be careful guys, seems like a storm is approaching!” I alert the squad; the sky is filled with clouds and the sun is soon hidden behind a gray curtain. Again, nobody replies and I start to feel as if not only Levi but everyone is upset with me.

We move forward and after a couple minutes my horse starts to lose its strength, maybe it was also hurt during the assault.

“Guys, I’ll slow down for a bit, my horse isn’t feeling too well” I announce and meet silence once more, with a sigh I slow down the pace and let my horse rest. The team moves at the same speed and sooner than later there is a considerable distance between us but I remain calm since we’re no longer in titan’s ground. I feel a knot form in my stomach and the urge to cry when I see them get away, I feel ashamed and useless, they seem to be very angry at me. I let the tears roll down my face taking advantage in the fact that nobody is around me.

About half an hour later I am finally back at the barracks, I leave my horse in the stables and make my way to my squad, they’re all reunited next to a bonfire except for Levi.

“Hey guys, I really want to apologize for what happened back there, it was a rookie mistake that could’ve cost my life and I am sorry for worrying you all…” I speak with a shaky voice, some of them have their backs turned towards me.

“Guys seriously, if there’s something I can do to fix this please let me know…” Tears fill my eyes and blur my vision, I look down to avoid being seen crying and blink the tears away, that is when I see it. The muddy boots of my team mates are all pointing away from me, nobody is turned towards me, but the worst part is when I look to where my boots should be and all I see is air. I’m not there.

“I could’ve died” echoes in my mind over and over and slowly turns into “I died”.

I look up and see their crying faces and understand it’s because of me, I look around and try to find Levi but he’s nowhere around.

“Levi, I am sorry” With that whisper my presence dissipates and somewhere inside the barracks Levi allows himself to let out a broken sob.

[diosama27]

Satoru Gojo

Yn's Mom: Hey, Gojo-san!! My, my, look at you, standing here like our very own Adonis. Come on in, you absolute heartthrob!

Satoru: laughs Thank you, Mrs. LN(Your last name). I must say, you look absolutely radiant today. You're like a timeless beauty, defying age itself.

Yn's Mom: blushes Oh, you smooth talker! Flattery will get you everywhere.

Satoru: Well, I can't help but admire someone who looks so much younger than their age. You must have discovered the fountain of youth, Mrs.LN.

Yn's Mom: Oh, stop it, you! You really know how to charm a lady. Maybe I should introduce you to my friends. They'd be thrilled to meet someone who appreciates their youthful spirits.

Satoru: winks I'd be honored to meet them, Mrs. LN. But let's enjoy this gathering for now, shall we?

Yn's Mom: Agreed, Gojo-san. And don't forget to call me "Mom" from now on.

Satoru: bows Yes, Mom.

AN: I know you all are utterly flabbergasted as to why yn's mom is welcoming the most annoying, irritating asshole into her house.

I mean, seriously, this guy who hovers over your front door suddenly transforms into Mr. Charm when faced with mom. Hold up, let me spill the tea on how yn ended up in this wild situation.

So, picture this: it's the start of the week, and you're running late for work, rushing to your cabin with your coat and coffee, trying to keep your sanity intact. And there he is, Satoru, your colleague, strutting in with his fresh baby blue and black fit like he's walking a runway.

As if that's not enough, the dude spots you and decides to sashay over, grinning like a fool, as if he's auditioning for the role of "The Annoying Casanova"

It's has become his routine. He always slides in, all flirty and starts boasting about his weekend conquests, like he had all the "different types" of girls. But you, being the unbothered queen, just brush off his narcissistic crap. Like, who gives a damn?

You dive into your work while he keeps yapping about how he could make you see stars. And you hit him with, "Oh, please! I see stars every damn night, so thanks but no thanks."

People y'all need to get this straight: you ain't got no beef with him. You just aren't into the romance stuff at the moment. You prefer your solo time, you feel me? You're in that "me time" phase, and it's all good.

No denying, the dude is hot as hell. That's spitting facts. If someone bet you $50 to jump on him, you'd do it free, even toss in some extra cash without batting an eye.

But it ain't about that and never could be more than that. It just didn't click with him. Now, let's be real, he's the one you could fully adore, no doubt, without holding back.

He's been low-key hinting about his feelings all this time, but you've been straight-up ignoring them.

Y'all know him, he's the king of players, always flexing his charm, cracking jokes, and hopping from one hookup to the next.

So yeah, we ain't falling for that game and specifically no getting played by his smooth talk, he's an expert at leading hearts on with zero intentions of commitment. We're standing our ground, staying wise to his tricks.

Your phone buzzes, and it's your mom. You let out an irritated huff because you know another 25 minutes are about to go down the drain, just like that.

Mom: "Hey, honey."

You: "Yeah, mom, morning."

Mom: "Good morning, my precious. How's your day kickin' off?"

You: "I don't know, just started, nothing crazy yet."

Mom: "Well, let's infuse some positive vibes into it, shall we?"

You: "Sure, but I'm at work, so make it snappy."

Mom: "I understand life's a struggle, but sweetheart, don't you think it's time to come back home, settle down, and start a family? You know, before you hit that dreaded age of no return where all the eligible bachelors disappear into thin air!"

You: "Mom, seriously? We've had this talk a countless times. Please, just stop. I can't throw away four years of grind just because you want a grandchild! This is beyond ridiculous!"

Mom: "Oh, my poor heart! Will my beautiful daughter be left behind, watching the sands of time slip through her fingers, forever destined to be an old maid? Oh, the tragedy! Is this why I carried you for 10 months and..."

You: "Alright, enough. I know exactly where this is headed. But didn't I mention the flight reservation for the weekend?"

Mom: "Well, I just yearn to behold your lovely face as soon as humanly possible."

Your brother, causing chaos in the background, chimes in: "Yo, Mom's schemin' to set you up on a blind date right after you land."

You: "What the actual heck? Are you serious? Mom?!!"

Mom: "Oh, no, darling, it's not a date. We're just going to mingle with some influential folks, ya know? It's all about networking!"

You can hear your brother shrieking as your mom unleashes something on him, probably her flip flops.

While you're knee-deep in a heated argument with your mom, completely oblivious to your surroundings, Satoru slyly sneaks into your cabin, popping up with a silly grin. "Heyyy yn sannn!!" he cheerfully exclaims, his flirty game in full swing. "What's shakin', baby??" He puckers up for a cute face and inches closer.

To your utter astonishment, the other side of the conversation suddenly falls into a bizarre silence, like someone hit the mute button on a chaotic war movie scene. All you can hear now are faint murmurs.

In the midst of the madness, your brother snatches the phone from your mom's hands.

Brother: "Yo, yn! You better not be getting tangled up with guys, are you?!"

You can hear the satisfying sound of your mom delivering a few extra smacks to your brother before regaining control of the phone.

Mom: "Wait just a minute!!! You're dating someone? Oh, my dear heavens! Who is he? How does he look? What's his name? Send me a picture, pronto! Hold on, you're at work, sooo, is it someone from work??? No wait, this is not happening!

You're in LOVE????!!!!"

At this point, you feel a strong urge to grab a sledgehammer, break through those wide glass windows, and escape into the sweet embrace of peace and serenity.

Instead of dealing with two hyperactive, intentionally overdramatic adults and a loudmouthed teenager (your mom, Satoru, and your brother respectively) is just too much to handle.

That's when the brilliant idea of fake dating pops into your mind like a light bulb moment. "Well, couldn't I just pull off this epic move?!" you think to yourself.

You: "Oh yeah, Mom, I'm actually dating someone, so sorry, but I won't be able to make it to that date!"

You can practically see Satoru's heart shattering into a million nano particles in his eyes, scattered across the room. But now that he's within earshot, he overhears the conversation and finally grasps what's going on.

Mom: "Well, if you're really dating someone, let me talk to him! I need to see if he's good enough for my precious baby!"

Satoru, being the quick thinker that he is, jumps into action, matching the vibe effortlessly.

They both start engaging in a lively conversation, with all his charm and sweet talk meanwhile you are a sweating mess trying to predict what on earth the outcome of this stupidity will be.

Their chemistry is so convincing that even you start to question if it's all just an act. They just hit it off soo effortlessly.

Mom: "Oh my, you two seem just perfect together! I can't believe my luck! You will, without a doubt, make the cutest couple ever. I can't wait to meet my son-in-law"

As they continue, Satoru plays his role flawlessly, you can't help but admire his ability to spin this fake dating scenario into a believable tale.

It's like watching a masterclass in deception, and you can't help but feel a mix of awe and amusement at the absurdity of it all.

"Wait a damn minute! Now she wants to meet him? Uhhhhhhh?" You swore internally, feeling the chaos about to unfold sinking in like a sinking ship in a stormy sea.

Lost in your own thoughts, trying to come up with a diversion to steer the attention away from your mom meeting "Satoru Gojo," you completely missed the part where they finalized the full master plan for your trip back home together, both you and him.

"Hey?? Ynnnn! What should I pack? When are we leaving? Hmm?" He asks innocently, his face now a picture of cluelessness.

"Eh? Ehh? Ehhhhhhhhh???!!" You were left utterly bewildered, your mind racing to comprehend the sudden turn of events.

"No way. Nooo, I can't believe this is happening." It's like a mission fucking impossible, no, scratch that, it's a mission that should not be fucking possible under any circumstances.

Satoru on the other hand "Shoot! I have to go book those tickets, before they're out." He struts out of your cabin, shooting you a playful flying kiss, and quips, "I'll be here waiting for ya babe!" before sauntering off.

"What the actual freak have I gotten myself into?!!" you exclaim, overwhelmed with a sense of despair and disbelief.

[teen-cups-au]

Teen Cups - Plot Notes Part 1

Doudy (mod): 7 parts are ready so far. For now, they'll be posted weekly!

Beginning of the comic | Previous | Next

Cuphead walks further away with his bag [I would have corrected the sketch in the last page WIP, since I drew him letting it with the others. You’ll know why in a bit.], where he and Chalice were at night in the flashback a few pages ago. Mugman and Puphead join him to check on him.

Mugman: Cuphead ?

Cuphead: I wanna be alone.

Puphead pokes him.

Cuphead: Ugh… What ?!

Puphead: *signing* We’re all happy to get to spend time with you again.

Mugman: They could have done better, true. But you should still enjoy the moment !

Cuphead: Leave me alone...

Puphead follows Mugman as he walks away, mumbling :

Mugman: At least, he’s taking fresh air…

Cuphead hears him and rolls his eyes while getting a cigarette.

Cuphead sits down at the edge of the water and stares at the sea. The night falls, and he’s now writing in a notebook, his bag open, as he got it from it. The moon is surrounded by a few clouds. He then gets up to join the others again. They’re all around a campfire.

Sammy: Aha ! Look who decided to come back~

Cuphead: Sammy, you say one more word and I leave.

Sammy: Geesh, can you stop being a jerk ?!

Baroness von Bonbon: Cut it, you two ! Want a marshmallow, Cuphead ?

Cuphead: No thanks.

He walks to his tent.

Baroness von Bonbon: Okay ! But stay here at least !

Cuphead: Am I allowed to put my stuff in my tent, or what ?!

Baroness von Bonbon: Yes. As well as having manners !

Cala Maria: Is it me, or everyone is in a bad mood since he arrived ?

Mugman looks down next to her, tightening his legs while sitting. He starts coughing. The coughing worsens, making Cuphead hurry out of his tent. Samuel, who’s sitting on Mugman’s other side, puts a worried hand on his shoulder.

Samuel: Mug? Are you okay?

Cuphead reappears and crouches beside him.

Cuphead: Mug ?

Mugman gets up and walks a bit further to isolate himself, as the fit is getting worse, Cala commenting in the background :

Cala Maria: Man, his cough is so nasty…

Baroness von Bonbon: Poor Mug…

Cuphead gets up again to follow him.

Sammy: I thought he wasn’t sick anymore ?

Cuphead: Do you have your inhaler ?

Mugman nods and gets it from his pocket. Cuphead takes it and shakes it for him.

Cuphead: I knew it was a bad idea to come !

Mugman frowns.

Mugman: Shush…

He inhales the medicine, Baroness von Bonbon yelling from out of the panel :

Baroness von Bonbon: Is he okay ?!

Cuphead: UGH, GIVE US SOME SPACE, BONNIE !!!

Mugman retains his breath with a done face.

Baroness von Bonbon: Dammit, what’s wrong with you ?! We barely see you anymore, and when we do, it’s to be yelled at non stop ! You’re ruining our night !

Cala Maria: No wonder. He always goes to the casino. He can’t be surrounded by respectable people.

Mugman is catching up his breath, wheezing.

Cuphead: Mug, let’s just go home ! You’re not well anyway.

Mugman: No ! I’ll be *cough* fine… *wheeze* I won’t let it prevent me from having fun ! *wheeze*

Cuphead: I’m clearly not welcome anyway.

Mugman: Of course you are ! *wheeze* Just try to… Just enjoy, okay ? Puphead brought- *cough* *cough* -cards to play. *wheeze* Maybe you can teach us poker or something ?

Cuphead: You won’t go back home, are you ?

Mugman: No.

Cuphead sighs.

Cuphead: Fine.

They come back.

Baroness von Bonbon: You chill now ?!

Cuphead stays silent, looking at her scornfully. He then asks Puphead :

Cuphead: Hey Pup, Mugman told me you got a card game ?

Puphead nods.

Cuphead: You guys wanna gamble ?

Sammy: To be honest, I’m curious.

Sam: I don’t want to bet money. I don’t even have that much on me right now.

Cuphead: No problem, Sam. We can make it interesting another way.

Sam: Like ?

Cuphead: Loser sniffs cocaine.

Sam: I’m out.

Sammy: ...Why not.

Sam’s eyes widen.

Sam: WHAT ?!

Sammy: For my experience ! It’s just a try !

Sam: Sammy, you know what it implies, right ?

Sammy: Yeah, yeah, dependence, blah blah blah… But it’ll be just once !

Cuphead: Hehe, yeah sure~

Sammy: You don’t think I’m able ?

Cuphead: Yanno it’s hard drugs, right ?

Sammy: And what does that mean ?

Cuphead: The kind that are hard to stop.

Sam: Cuphead, don’t do anything that extreme ! Please...

Cuphead: Fine. Marijuana it’ll be.

Sam: How is it not extreme ?!

Cuphead: It’s soft drugs.

Sam: Are you serio-

Sammy: Shut up now, Sam ! I’m tired of you bossing me around ! If I want to give it a try, I’ll just do it !

Sam frowns and grumbles.

Samuel: But I… I don’t want you to die !

Cuphead laughs.

Cuphead: He won’t, don’t worry Samuel. It’ll be more like-

Time skip to Sammy puking at a tree a bit further. Cuphead teases him, while smoking too.

Cuphead: That makes you a double loser, dude !

Mugman is sitting beside Baroness von Bonbon, a hand on his nose.

Baroness von Bonbon: YOU’re the loser ! You don’t even care about your brother who can’t breathe because of you !

Cuphead: He’s far from me enough !

Mugman: No. You know the smoke always comes to me, whatever you do.

Cuphead: Ugh, fine. I’ll extinguish it.

He rubs it on the floor.

Cuphead: There, happy ?

Mugman: No. I’m SO ashamed of you !

Baroness von Bonbon : To be honest, I don’t want you to hang out with us anymore.

Cuphead frowns as she says that and gets up, an empty glass bottle in his hand.

Cuphead: Fine with me !

He throws it violently on the floor.

Cuphead: FUCK Y’ALL !

He lifts his middle finger to them, as he goes to his tent.

[Alternate idea: Try to make him lift the 2 middle fingers, as he has 4 fingers, to see if it works visually, and make him say :

Cuphead: Uuh, which finger is it again... Ok nvm, imagine there's only one - FUCK Y’ALL !]

Cala Maria: Geesh ! How are you dealing with this everyday, Mug ?

Mugman: It’s not that bad, usually. Sometimes with Grandpa. But with me, I feel like he retains himself.

[cianmarstoo]

‘ remember to scrub behind your ears. ’ for the prompt post :) love your writing!

You're enough Chapter 4: inbetween Shower

(thank you so much for this prompt, combined it with another on ao3 as they both fit so well together! <3 Hope you enjoy this!)

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Alex carried the last of the glasses from the dining room table to the kitchen, where Derek and Meredith were cleaning up the kitchen. Meredith was washing the dishes which couldn’t be washed in the dishwasher, while Derek loaded the dirty ones into it. Derek had been the one to cook their meal, and usually the one who cooked didn’t have to clean, but they’d had a dinner party, inviting Addie, Mark, and Jackson around, so Derek was insisting on chipping in on the cleaning. 

Alex wasn’t going to complain about that, not if it meant he had to do less cleaning. He placed the wine glasses he had collected, along with the sippy cup Jackson had borrowed, and placed them between Derek and Meredith, honestly whenever Alex did the dishes he just hoped for the best that everything could be thrown in the dishwasher.  

“That’s the last of them… the sippy might need to be put in a furnace or something,” Alex pulled a face, “Jack got all his spit on it.” At least it was Alex’s least favourite one, and he would be getting his own back next time he was dropped at Mark’s place. 

“We can get it clean,” Meredith assured him, clearly deciding that he was being dramatic as she fondly rolled her eyes at him, “thank you for letting him borrow it.” 

Alex blushed at her praise, but sent her a small smile, “Whatever, it wasn’t like I was usin’ it.” He went to push himself back to sit on the counter only to realize there was stuff there, so he just held himself up, swinging back and forth… he wondered if he could swing himself enough to flip over, maybe flip over onto the countertop. 

He suddenly felt himself go weightless, he yelped, expecting to feel himself fall onto the ground, maybe hit his head which Derek was always warning him about. 

But he didn’t go crashing down at all, instead he was suddenly being held. Even if he couldn’t see the fact he was now placed on Derek’s hip he would have known, in the past 6 months he had gotten used to pretty much everything about Meredith and Derek, including what their hands felt like, and what if felt like to be held by them. “Hey! You scared me!”

Derek let out a breath of laughter, but he kept Alex on his hip. “Well, now you know what it’s like being scared by you. Not everything needs to be climbed or swung on, Monkey.”

“You never should have given him the nickname,” Meredith teased Derek, “it was just tempting fate.”

“I thought you didn’t believe in fate?” Derek teased. 

“Erm, hi?” Alex leant awkwardly  to wave his hand in Derek’s face, so Derek had to hoist him up higher, “I’m still here, and I’m big, can you put me down and stop doing your whole gross flirting thing in front of me?”

“We’re not gross.”

“Yeah, you guys are,” Alex disagreed, “especially when you guys flirt in public, cause everyone knows you guys are my parents,” he could feel his cheeks blush hot, but shrugged, “it’s embarrassing.”

“You only think we’re embarrassing because we’re your parents,” Derek told him, “I was the same when my parents did pretty much anything.”

Alex looked across at Meredith questioningly, he should have expected her shrug, she had as little idea about families as he did. “Nah, I’m pretty sure y’all are just embarrassing. Der , put me down.”

“What’s the magic word?”

Alex pouted and rolled his eyes, “ Please .”

“It was abracadabra, but ‘please’ is pretty close,” Derek teased and placed him onto the ground finally. 

Meredith laughed and Alex rolled his eyes even harder, “Traitor!” he gasped, and had a dish towel thrown at his head by her. 

“How big are you actually feeling?” 

Alex frowned at Meredith’s question, he threw the towel up into the air a few times, “I already told you, I’m big.”

“You know we have to ask,” Meredith reminded him, “we understand it’s hard for you to tell us when you need to drop or to realize when you’re slowly dropping.”

“You also,” Derek added, adding the last few plates into the dishwasher, “spent the evening having Jackson forcing you to play with his toys with him, that can trigger needing or just wanting to drop, especially when he was playing with your toys. You know that Doctor Jack explained that until you get on a more regular schedule for dropping, and not putting it off, we’re going to have to ask you regularly.” Derek pressed the buttons, then shut the door, flipping the magnet on the front so it was green and said ‘clean’, ready for the next morning. 

Alex huffed, “He’s my therapist, he’s meant to be on my side, not yours.”

Meredith sent him that same fond smile she always wore when he grumbled, it was nice, in a weird way, that there was someone who found him easy to love even when he was pouting and grumbling. “There’s no sides, Alex. If there were, I’m pretty sure him doing something that sucks but helps you is still being on your side, honey.”

“Plus you managed to convince him to hook up a switch in his office so you could play Mario against him, that's pretty on your side- not that there are sides.” Derek pointed out. He undid the child locks on a cupboard and pulled out the cleaning chemicals. “If you’re sure you’re big can you take the trash out, please, it’s your night.”

“But it’s only a little full,” Alex whined.

“It’s full,” Meredith sent him a look, “because we don’t play tetris with the trash, Alexander.”

“It still counts as not overflowing just because the lid doesn’t close,” but her look just intensified at his argument, apparently she didn’t agree. He shouldn’t be surprised, she had always insisted on coasters on tables and for him not to climb on things, and to tidy up messes. He sighed and pouted, but relented, walking over to the trashcan and pulling the black bag out of it. “ Fine .”

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Alex flipped the outside light on before heading out the kitchen door to dump the trash in the trash can. He didn’t really mind this job, Mer was always insistent on the home being clean, that seemed to go double for making sure that the inside trashcan never had a chance to accumulate trash-juice, so it didn’t smell that bad. The only issue was, despite Alex’s best wishes (and god did he wish for this)... they hadn’t had a family of raccoons there for him to adopt as pets… yet. 

He threw the trash bag into the can, with a thud as it hit the bottom, he sighed before putting the lid on it… yet again, no raccoons. He decided to keep his mind on what he would call his raccoon pets as he walked back to the backdoor of the house, using it to try and distract himself from thinking about how dark it now was. 

Naturally when he walked back in Meredith and Derek were making out, Meredith pressing Derek back against a cabinet, hands still wearing the gloves she wore while handwashing dishes, though now they were on Derek’s shirt, leaving wet handprints in several areas. 

“Oh c’mon! Don’t I already have enough trauma?”

“Nope,” but she pulled away from Derek and sent Alex a smile, her hands still on Derek’s chest with his arms around her, “I’m guessing, since you’re not running to your room hiding something, that there were no raccoons around?” 

Alex pouted as Derek and Meredith both chuckled, “No. I don’t get why they’re never around when I have to take the trash out: It's a living hell.”

Meredith shook her head, still smiling at him, she finally moved one hand off of Derek, grabbing a pack of wet wipes , which she threw to him. She waited to speak until he had wiped his hands clean on a wipe, before sitting himself down at the island. Meredith watched him, her smile still firmly in place. “I don’t think not seeing raccoons makes your life some kind of trial, but thanks for taking it out.” 

“Yup,” Derek agreed, smirking, he rested his head on top of Meredith’s, “gold star.” 

Alex rolled his eyes, and placed his head down on the island countertop, he ignored the sauce or whatever which his forehead must have landed in. “You keep jokin’ about gettin’ a sticker chart,” he pointed out, “but you never do. You’re gonna give me trust issues, dude.”

“Do you want a sticker chart?” Derek’s voice was soft, and genuine. 

Alex kept his head on the counter, he could feel their eyes on him even if he couldn’t see them. He was immediately going to completely deny it, but instead he just shrugged. “I was just jokin’” he mumbled. Both of them were quiet enough that Alex knew they were either whispering or mouthing, or having one of those weird mind reading conversations they seemed to be able to have. Alex should probably object to that too, but he didn’t. 

“It could be a good idea,” Meredith broached, “it could help you do things you need to remember like chores, or help with your behavior.”

“My behavior’s fine,” Alex whined. 

“It is,” Derek agreed, “most of the time, but sometimes it’s a little harder, isn’t it Monkey?”

Alex kept his head down until he felt Derek’s hand in his hair, his nails gently scratching his scalp in the way which Derek knew he liked, his finger gently tapped his head after a few seconds. He still whined again, but forced himself to look up at them, his chin resting on the island, he pouted at both of them. 

“I think it’s a good thing to try,” Meredith told him, giving him that hopeful look of hers which always seemed to work on him, “plus it means you get a reward when you get enough stickers.”

Alex frowned, “Wait, whatcha mean? I thought it was just getting stickers?” Derek’s fingers began to scratch his scalp again, which Alex knew meant that this was something which pretty much everyone knew. 

“Nope, you get an actual reward too, me and dad will discuss what we think is the best way to do it, and we’ll order a couple.”

“You don’t gotta,” Alex said to her, gaining the same look from her she always gave him when he felt bad about them wasting time or money on him. 

“We’re ordering some, I think they do combination ones for Littles. I’ll take a look when you go to bed.”

“We can put it on the fridge,” Derek nodded at the fridge which had been completely clear when Derek and Alex had moved in, but now was covered in photos and appointments and a lot of Alex’s drawings and paintings from when he was Little, and doodles on notes left them when he was big; “that way you can keep an eye on what you need to do.”

Alex pulled a face, “But people will see it.”

“Who could possibly see it who hasn’t seen you refusing to dress in anything but paw patrol pajamas for a week straight?”

Alex blushed, “Okay, but that’s- Jackson and April are gonna see it and Jackson’s gonna be a d- a er, donkey about it, and April’s gonna be even worse ‘cause she’ll be like ‘you can’t do that it’s against your rules’ but even worse than she always is!”

“If she oversteps, tell me or dad and we’ll talk to Owen, same with Jackson, we’ll talk to Mark. But if that’s your only reason I think it could be a good idea.”

Alex whined and pouted, but it didn’t work. “Fine, but I’m getting a raccoon as the ‘reward’.” Meredith just snorted with laughter so he poked his tongue out at her. “I’mma go shower.”

“Why don’t you take a bath instead?” Derek suggested.

Alex frowned, “Why?”

“Because,” Meredith answered without needing to look up at him or even at Derek, her eyes were on her phone, “you’re close to dropping, and you dropped while showering last week and it didn’t go great.”

“I’m not close to dropping,” Alex wasn’t sure that the whine and the pout was working on his behalf. “I’ll be fine, I swear.”

Derek and Meredith exchanged a look, then Meredith looked back at him with a sigh, “Okay, but you’re going to compromise  and only have a quick shower so we don’t worry, and you’re going to leave the door unlocked in case you need any help.”

“It really wasn’t that bad last week mom.”

Derek raised his eyebrow, “I had to climb up a ladder and through the window to help you unlock the door, you really upset yourself Alexander. Door unlocked, and a quick shower, or one of us can sit in there for you.”

Alex groaned his cheeks were now absolutely bright red. He yet again wondered what kind of curse they had put on him to always be able to embarrass him like this. He got to his feet. “ Fine .”

“Alex,” Meredith’s voice forced him to stop, before he could walk away, “which one?” 

“I’ll leave it unlocked,” he groaned, rolling his eyes, before he started to walk towards the door, “ god .”

“Twenty minutes, then I’m calling the firefighters to help me break down the door.” 

Alex rolled his eyes again, this time at Derek laughing at his own joke, “You don’t gotta do that, I already said I won’t lock it. An’ you’re not funny.”

“You’re just cranky.” Derek grinned, “Make sure to wash your face, you’ve got sauce on it somehow.”

“I wasn’t gonna not wash my face, Der, I’m a full-grown-adult.” he threw over his shoulder as he left the kitchen.

He walked through the dining room where he kicked some broccoli which he hadn’t quite managed to throw into the plant pot during dinner, behind it. They’d never find it there, and if they did he could just convince them it was one of the plant’s kids or something… or he could blame Jackson, that would go well.

“Remember to scrub behind your ears!” He heard Meredith call through to him, laughter and teasing in her voice.

He shook his head, heading up the stairs relieved that they had left the gates open so he wasn’t forced to climb over them which would probably get him scolded, or ask them for help when they were being annoying. “You’re both so embarrassing!” he could hear them laughing from halfway up the staircase.

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Alex got distracted nearly immediately, he went to find some pjs to wear and wasn’t sure which to go for, then got distracted doing, pretty much everything else, until he heard Meredith call up to him to remind him to shower. So he quickly headed into the family bathroom, he’d find some pajamas after he’d showered. 

He liked the bathroom, both the en-suit in Meredith’s room with the big bathtub, and the family one, in fact he preferred the family one. Before living here he’d lived in the shittiest motel in Seattle, it’d had damp, and black mold, and the water was brown and rarely worked, the pressure was almost nonexistent and the light flickered in a way which made him not want to shower at night in case it got dark. 

The family bathroom was mostly white, which was boring, but there were pops of color, like his bright toothbrush which was next to the sink faucet, and the shark stickers he’d stuck on the mirror one time which he was surprised that Meredith and Derek hadn’t minded him doing, in fact Meredith had seemed to really like them, especially when she had told him that she had never been allowed to decorate it, but she liked what he had done with it. 

He grabbed his favorite towel, the one with the sharks on it, and threw it on the floor, before sliding open the shower door to turn it on. There were a lot more colors inside the shower tub combo too, it had always been tiled red, but now there was a multi-bucket toy storage stuck to the tile, with a lot of toys in it, mostly for when he was taking a bath… maybe he should have decided to take a bath like Derek had suggested, but he didn’t want to do what his daddy- his dad- his, fuck , Derek had told him to. 

He stripped off, throwing his clothes around the room with nary a care before climbing into the hot shower sighing contently as he did. 

He wasn’t sure how long he’d been under the spray, he’d gotten distracted, looking through the toys in the middle bucket trying to find the boat Derek had given him, the one he wasn’t sure he’d seen since Meredith had gotten hurt on the boat. Eventually he gave up, his parents, foster parents, would probably know, but they hadn’t gone anywhere near the ferries since the whole thing at work. 

He grabbed Derek’s shower gel, he always seemed to leave one in this bathroom, probably for when Meredith was hogging the shower, he was glad Derek always did, Alex had his own shower gel of course, a couple of them in fact, but he liked Derek’s one, for reasons unrelated to Derek completely. And Derek never noticed it gone, it wasn’t like Alex had ever used it all, so Alex was fairly certain Derek didn’t know he used it at all. 

He was still thinking about his missing ferry as he washed the suds of the shower gel off. He grabbed Meredith’s shampoo, the lavender one which she also had a double of in the family bathroom, he knew it was girly, even if both Meredith and Derek told him it was fine for him to use it, that flowers were for everyone, but Alex wasn’t so sure… he did like it though, because it felt safe, like Mer. 

But he was also thinking about his ferry, he was thinking about it so much that he wasn’t paying attention to his hands in his hair, or not in his hair anymore, but on his face, in his eyes. 

He let out a cry of surprise and pain as the shampoo immediately stung his eyes. He immediately tries to rub the shampoo out of his hands, but the shampoo on his hands just made it hurt even more, and let out another cry. 

“Dad!” he shouted, instinctively, still rubbing his eyes which were squeezed shut, he called Derek’s name again, crying harder when Derek didn’t magically appear. It wasn’t fair, his daddy should just be there as soon as he wanted him. He opened his mouth again to shout, but he heard the door open. Alex tried to open his eyes to see if it was Derek, or maybe a monster, but opening them just got more shampoo in his eyes, and he cried harder. 

“Alexander, what’s wrong?”

His daddy��s voice was serious, but kind, Derek was always kind to him, even when Alex was in trouble. “Dad!” Alex cried.

The door to the shower slid open, hitting Alex with cooler air, he immediately felt Derek’s hands on his own, pulling his hands away from his eyes. “ Dad, ” he whimpered once again, “ owie .”

“Did you get something in your eyes sunshine?”

Alex nodded, flicking sudds everywhere, he kept his eyes clamped shut. 

“Okay, sunshine, I’m going to help you sit down in the tub, I’m just going to move some of your toys,” Derek’s hands left his own, the shower turned off, and there was the noise of a lot of plastic things crashing against each other, before Derek’s hands went back to his upper arms. “Okay, monkey, down we go.” 

Alex allowed Derek to guide him down. “Didn’t mean to… gots it in my eye.”

“It’s okay Alexander, I know you didn’t mean to get shampoo in your eyes. It’s okay, daddy’s going to help you. Can you open your eyes for me?”

Alex shook his head, “No, hurts daddy.”

“I know it does, baby, but I need to check them, to make sure you haven’t really hurt them. Can you be super brave for me, sunshine?”

Alex whimpered, but opened his eyes up, they were all watery, so he couldn’t even see Derek properly, he was all watery and blurry, he whimpered again, Derek clearly didn’t understand that this was agony, worse than anything anyone had ever felt, ever . Derek’s face went close to his, he held open Alex’s eyes to look close at them. “ Daddy .”

“I know sunshine, you’re being so brave. Daddy’s going to get you out of the tub. Let me just grab your towel, you’re doing so good, Alexander, so, so good.”

Alex was wrapped in his towel and Derek easily picked him up out of the tub, Alex squeezed his eyes shut again, and ducked his head against Derek’s neck. Too soon he was placed down, and despite the stinging Alex opened his eyes to stare at Derek who had placed him down on the closed toilet lid. “No!”

“I know baby,” Derek soothed, “daddy just needs to flush your eyes out, just to be sure.”

Alex shook his head, “No, daddy don’t wanna.”

“I know, but this is something we need to do, we don’t want your poor eyes hurting, do we?”

Alex pouted, sure his eyes hurt… a lot, but he also didn’t want them to be flushed out. “They be okay daddy, no more water.” 

“Sorry buddy, you know that mommy and daddy keeping you safe comes first, it’ll be so fast, I promise.” Derek moved to the sink, grabbing a first aid kit from the cabinet, before he moved back over to Alex. He kept talking to Alex as he sorted out the eye wash. “Daddy’s just going to do this, then I’ll give you a really quick bath, buddy. You got all your toys out,” he said as he tried to keep Alex calm, “were you playing in the shower?”

“Nuh uh… wanted to, couldn’t find fairy boat.”

Derek paused, before continuing what he was doing, knowing it was needed. “You were looking for the ferryboat daddy gave you, huh?” Alex tried to nod his head, but Derek was holding it still. “I put it safe, baby, I didn’t think you’d want to see it.”

“Why?”

“Well… I know everything that happened with mommy and the ferryboat was scary, I didn’t think you’d want it.”

“I want it,” Alex pouted, “I wanna go the big fairy ship, never go anymore.”

Derek was quiet again, this time he used the silence to wash Alex’s eyes out, making soothing noises and praising Alex as he fixed his baby. Eventually they were done, and Derek placed a damp cool washcloth on Alex’s eyes, and moved Alex’s hand to hold it, while he quickly tidied up the bathtub and started to fill it up to bathe Alex. 

“Daddy.” 

Derek looked back at Alex, who had moved the wash cloth from his eyes, which were red but would be okay, Alex was pouting and looking sad. Derek didn’t hesitate; he moved back to crouch in front of him, pulling his towel tighter around his shoulders. Unsurprisingly Alex was beginning to shrink. He knew Alex would call him overprotective, but there was no way he was allowed to shower alone when he and Meredith thought he might be between headspaces, Derek didn’t care, twice was enough times for this to go poorly. 

“What’s up monkey?”

“Wanna go fairy.”

“Daddy and mommy will have to talk about it, maybe Doctor Jack too.”

“Wanna go now.”

Derek pressed a kiss to the tip of Alex’s nose, “it’s nighttime baby, there’s no ferries out right now, they’re all in bed. And Alex needs to go to bed soon too, anyway.”

“Not right now, p’ease?”

“Not bed right this second, Sunshine: daddy’s going to give you a nice bath and wash your hair, then we’ll find you some jammies because you didn’t bring any with you.”

“Wan’ded footie jammies, but big.”

Derek sighed softly, “Alexander, you know that no matter how big or little or in the middle you are you can wear whatever clothes you want- if we’re going somewhere mommy and daddy have to say yes- mostly as long as they’re weather appropriate. Otherwise, if you want to wear footie jammies when you’re big or in between, that’s more than fine. Now, let’s get you into this bath, buddy, and get the rest of that shampoo out of your hair.”

Derek picked him up, unwrapping the towel from his shoulders, and placed him down in the tub. “What toy do you want with you, buddy?”

“Sharkies.”

Derek grinned, grabbing a handful of his plastic sharks from one of the tubs on the tile, he crouched down beside the tub, passing the sharks to Alex. “We’re in a sharkies mood, are we?”

“Sharkies’re cool!” Alex beamed. 

“They are, aren’t they?” Derek made a mental note to talk to Meredith about taking Alex to the aquarium, he knew Alex would love that… 

He should probably talk to her about the fact that Alex was wanting to go back on ferries again, they’d have to talk to him when he wasn’t dropped, see if he wanted to them too. Derek knew that being Little wasn’t like he was a different person, often Alex found it easier to admit what he wanted when he was dropped though. Maybe Alex hadn’t brought up wanting to go as he thought it would be triggering for them.

Derek sat there for a moment, just watching Alex play, having his sharks swimming around. Derek grabbed a great white, and started to make the Jaws theme as it swam towards Alex, once it got to his squealing boy Derek tickled his sides making him squeal even more.

“What are you two doing in here?”

Derek turned to see Meredith in the still open doorway, her eyes drifted to the first aid kit on the floor. “Alex got some shampoo in his eyes, but he was very brave while daddy got them cleaned out, right Alex?”

“Uh huh, need’a sticker,” he told them seriously. 

Meredith grinned and moved to sit on the side of the bath, “I guess it’s good mommy already ordered a chart and some stickers for you then, isn’t it?”

“Sharkies stickers?”

“I added some shark ones, and monkeys, and some others I know you’ll like. She caught sight of her shampoo open and grimaced. “Was it my shampoo that got in your eyes, honey?”

Alex nodded his head, “...Just borrow it…”

“That’s okay, that’s why mommy left it in here, I know you like it,” she assured him. She passed Derek the cup with the guard on to stop water from getting in Alex’s eyes while he washed the dry shampoo from his eyes. “When you’re in between big and little you’ve got to use your special no tears shampoo, we don’t want it hurting your eyes.”

“Wan’ mommy’s.”

“I like mommy’s shampoo too,” Derek winked, “But, what’s the new rule for in-between showers, Alex?”

“Gotta have daddy or mommy here too,” Alex announced to her, focusing on his sharks again.

“Oh really?” Meredith eyed Derek with a raised brow.

Derek shrugged, “Yup, that’s right isn’t it, Alex? And daddy’s not being overprotective, is he, sunshine?” Derek tickled his side again making him giggle and nod his head. Derek looked at Meredith “See?”

Meredith rolled her eyes but pressed a kiss against Derek’s cheek, “Fine, but only because you’re the one who’s enforcing that at the start.” 

Derek pouted at Meredith.

“Sorry, you’re not as adorable as Alex,” but she still kissed him.

“I’ll work on it.” he assured her, stealing another kiss. “Can you go find him some pjs, he wanted footie ones but he wasn’t sure about wearing them while in between.”

Meredith pressed a kiss to the top of Alex’s hair which was crusted with sudsy shampoo, “Silly boy, of course you can, baby.” 

“See, monkey, I told you that.” Derek told him with a smile. He couldn’t help but chuckle as Alex rolled his eyes, because it was such an instant Alex reaction. “Okay, let’s get this shampoo out, daddy will do it again for you, sunshine.”

“You gotta wash sharkies’ hairs too.”

“Sharkies’ hairs? I don’t think they have hair, Alex.”

“‘visidle hair,” Alex told him, both his tone and the look he gave Alex screamed ‘duh’.

Derek rolled his eyes fondly, “Ah, of course, how did I not remember they have invisible hair? Okay, Alex first then I’ll wash your shark's hair and we’ll go find mama.”  Derek was quick but carefully not a single bubble got anywhere close to Alex’s eyes, luckily the sharks were currently distracting him. He made sure to use Meredith’s lavender shampoo, it was adorable that Alex liked to be like her, plus, hopefully, the lavender would get Alex to relax enough to go to bed soon, maybe even just with three stories. 

“Now sharkies hair,” Alex told Derek once his hair had been rinsed off, and dried off with a towel. Derek laughed and pressed several kisses to Alex’s face, “Why you laughin’ daddy?”

“I’m just thinking about how much I love you, Alex. You know I love you, right?”

“Uh huh, you an’ mommy lub me an’ lots, an’ Jack Jack lubs me, an…. Lots’a people.” 

Derek smiled, thinking back to the Alex who didn’t know who to tell about being a Little, and turning to him and Meredith, without really thinking that they’d want to help him. Now Alex knew that he had a huge family who loved him. “That’s right baby, you’ve got lots and lots of people who love you so much, and we always will.”