#hi guys . i forgot to make devs car beat up because i am not good at cars ( yet ) . sorry

[mtsodie]

PEW PEW POW

[annab-nana]

Flowers Of Forgiveness - Colby Brock

You and Colby had known each other for five years, dated for two, and you’d think he would remember your birthday, right? Wrong and with birthdays being such a big deal to you, it hurt like hell. He messed up big time and it might be the last straw before your relationship crumbles unless he can manage to save it.

Requested by an amazing anon 💙

Warnings: some curse words; mentions of alcoholic parents

Word Count: 2.1k+

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

You look around the table to see who all is there. Tara is to your right, then it's Jake, Kevin, Reggie, Cassie, Devyn, Xepher, Griffin, Sam, Katrina, Corey, Mike, Aryia, and then there was an empty seat to the left of you. Colby's seat. You don't know why he isn't here yet. He couldn't have forgotten, could he? No, because last week he told you he cleared up his schedule for your birthday. So, where the hell was he?

"Excuse me for a second, guys. I am going to call Colby really quick to see where he is," You say as you stand up and walk out the front door of the restaurant.

"Hey babe!" you hear his chipper greeting flow out of the phone.

"Hey Colbs! Where are you?" you question. He must have got in some bad traffic and is just being held up a bit.

"I'm at my apartment, catching up on some Unus Annus videos." Your heart dropped to the pit of your stomach. He forgot your birthday. You had originally thought he was just being annoying or was trying to hide a surprise or something when he didn’t text you about it and avoided saying 'happy birthday' all day long. But he wasn't. He had forgotten it completely.

"Oh." The only response that came to mind spills out of your mouth.

"Yeah, what are you up to, babe?" He asks so nonchalantly.

"Um, I'm just out with the girls and wanted to check up on you. But I will let you get back to your videos," you say as tears brim your eyes. Your boyfriend of two years forgot your birthday.

"Okay, I'll talk to you later." You blink the tears that threaten to spill over away.

"Yeah, I might swing by your place before I go home. Talk to you later. Bye." Ending the call, you take a deep breath to calm yourself before heading back in.

"Okay, so Colby is just running late. He got caught up with some work stuff, but he'll be here soon," you lie as you sit down. You don't want to make the dinner awkward by saying that Colby forgot. You just want to enjoy the last bit of your birthday with the people who actually care enough about you to remember your birthday. You all order your food and talk and have a good time.

"I have to go to the bathroom. Y/n, wanna come with?" Tara asks. You nod before standing with her and following her to the restroom.

"Colby isn't coming, is he?" She asks as soon as the door shuts.

"No," you tell her the truth as the tears come back. "We've been together for two years. Friends for three before that and he just forgets. He has never forgotten before and he knows how much it hurts me when someone close and important to me does. My parents didn’t care enough to celebrate my birthday when I was younger which is fine, but Colby told me he would never do that to me. But here we are. He forgot."

"Oh y/n," Tara whispers as she pulls you into her tiny frame. "I am sure there is some reason for this, and you know better than I do that he is an idiot most of the time."

"Yeah," you laugh before going to the mirror to make sure that the few tears that did manage to escape did not mess up anything.

"I lied so that I wouldn't make anything awkward," you inform her as the two of you head back to the table and she nods understandingly. When y’all get back, the food had arrived, so you all eat. You thank everyone for coming as you leave the restaurant.

"Happy birthday y/n. I hate that Colby couldn't make it," Aryia tells you as he pulls you in for a goodbye hug.

"Yeah, traffic got the better of him, but we'll be doing something tomorrow," you lie again as you pull away from the embrace. After receiving many hugs and happy birthdays, you get in your car to go to Colby's.

Knocking his door, the anger and sadness in you boil. He swings the door open and lays his eyes on you, noticing how angry and upset you are.

"What happened babe?" He says as he opens the door wider to let you in. You walk in and turn to face him.

"What do you think happened?" you question him. His face drains of color as he thinks back on everything he has done to figure out what has set you off.

"Sweetie, I really don't know. Just tell me what I did," he pleads, completely oblivious to what was wrong.

"Did you forget something?" Again, he goes through everything he can think of and is stumped.

"I don't think so. I-"

"You aren't forgetting anything special. Like a holiday or someone's birthday..." you trail off, trying to get it through his thick skull.

"No, your birthday is tomorrow, and Kevin's is next week-"

"Oh sorry. I didn't realize my birthday was tomorrow. I thought it was on June 17th like it always has been for the past twenty or so years, but I must be mistaken," you sarcastically spit out. At this point, you were fuming.

"No, your birthday is on Thursday which is tomorrow," he retorts as you roll your eyes.

"Where is your phone? Have you been on that thing at all today? Normally your eyes are glued to it," you ask him. You can tell he is getting angrier with you, but at this point, you don't seem to care.

"No, I was taking a day away from my phone. I only answered important calls or texts but that was it," he informs you as he walks to where his phone was in his room.

"Tell me what today's date is, Colby."

"It's June 16th, I know it is because..." His voice fades out. He comes out of his room with his eyes on his phone.  "It's the 17th," he states bluntly before looking up to meet your sad and angry eyes.

"Y/n, I'm so sorry. I-"

"No Colby. You know how much birthdays mean to me. You know that. Do you know how embarrassing it was tonight when I was at dinner with all of our friends and the person who means the absolute most to me doesn't show? I hated being there and I couldn't even enjoy it because you weren't there."

"Did you tell them I forgot?" He asks me as he sits down on the couch, all ashamed.

"No, I didn't. Instead, I lied to all of them, but it was not to protect you and your feelings. It was for them so that they didn't have to feel awkward or feel bad for the girl that they were supposed to be celebrating. I told them you were caught up with work stuff and then got caught in traffic and couldn't make it. But Tara still figured it out. She was right. You are a damn idiot."

"No, I'm not!" He fights back as he rises to his feet in anger.

"Yes, you are," you laugh at him. "My parents even told me happy birthday this year Colby. They haven't done that since I was five. I guess they weren't drunk off their asses enough to forget it this morning." You take a breath before continuing.

"You must've not checked the group chat. They were all going off about my birthday and the dinner tonight. And you weren't on Twitter or Instagram either because then you would have seen your fans wishing me a happy birthday as well. People who don't even fucking know me knew my birthday was today."

"Y/n, I'm sorry. I don't know what to do."

"There's nothing you can do. You can't replace the feeling I have of not feeling good enough. You of all people know that when my parents forgot my sixth birthday, I was crushed. Then they forgot year after year after year. Then I met you and all of your amazing friends and you guys have made me feel so special and loved, especially on my birthday. You know that on anyone else's birthday, I make sure that they feel so loved and cared about because I know what it feels like to not be."

"I'm sorry, babe. I didn't mean to forget. It just happened."

"Wow Colby, that makes me feel so much better. You know what? I am sorry. I probably sound like such a diva for getting upset about this, so I'm gonna go-"

"No y/n, please don't go."

"I'm going to leave and go back home. Probably cry myself to sleep? I don't know. We'll see." You place your hand on the doorknob.

"I've noticed how you never miss a beat when it comes to work stuff. But this isn't the first time you've forgotten something with me. It's just the first time it was something important. Get your priorities straight Colby if you want to keep me around." And with that, you leave his apartment, get in your car, and head home.

After walking in, you do exactly what you didn't want and start crying. You slip out of the clothes you were wearing and wipe off all your makeup. Throwing your hair into a messy bun, you walk to your phone to see the many messages and missed calls from Colby which you choose to ignore. The constant buzzing gets on your nerves so much that you turn the damn thing completely off before falling asleep.

…

"Oh, I'm so sorry, y/n," Devyn says as she walks into the living room with a bowl of popcorn. She had texted you last night when you had your phone turned off because of Colby and was asking if you were okay. She knew you were lying about the work and traffic stuff too. You called her this morning and asked her to come over because you were in need of some girl time, especially with your Dev, and she happily obliged. You told her all about it, providing the details of your past and all, and then you two decided a movie would make you feel better, specifically your favorite Moana.

"Yeah it sucks, but I'm going to give him a few days. I'll still like text him and stuff. I just don't want to see him for a bit," you tell her as the movie begins. The two of you sit back and enjoy the movie and popcorn until a knock at the door interrupts you.

"I'll get it," you huff as you make your way to the door before looking through the peephole to see the last person you wanted to at the moment.

"Colby," you mouth to Devyn. She nods, pausing the movie and skipping into your room. You open the door just enough for him to see you but that's it.

"Hey," you speak softly. You know you probably look like shit, but you honestly do not care. He should see how he made you feel.

"Hey, umm, y/n, I am really sorry and I-" you couldn't help but notice him steadily trying to peek behind you. Does he actually think you have some guy over or something? Is he really that jealous and think that low of you?

"Forgetful and jealous? Man, you really have changed Colby."

"No, I'm... never mind. I am here to apologize. I was a shitty boyfriend yesterday. I still am one today and I'll probably never be the best boyfriend in the world, but I will continue to try to be the best I can be for you. I know this isn't much at all, but it is something. It shows I pay attention to some details," he says as he pulls a bouquet of flowers out from behind his back.

After getting a better look at them, you notice that they are daffodils, your grandmother's favorite flower which became your favorite flower. You might have mentioned that once, maybe twice, but it was a long time ago. The fact that he remembered it warmed your heart. You smiled at him before taking the flowers from his grasp.

"You aren't completely off the hook, but I forgive you. Come here," you say as you pull the blue-eyed boy into your arms, wrapping them around his neck. His arms snake around your waist and lift you off the ground slightly.

"So, I haven't lost you yet?" He questions in your ear and you giggle into his before he sets you down. You bring the hand that wasn’t holding flowers to cup his face.

"Nope, but I suggest you don't forget my birthday again," you whisper as you place a small kiss on his nose.

"I won't. I promise. Your birthday will forever be engrained in here," he tells you as he taps on the side of his head.

"Oh yeah, what day is it?"

"June 23rd?" He jokes and you roll your eyes.

"That's Kevin's birthday sweetheart."

[739337369137371082]

Hey so I found u thru the Halved Live Funnies and I gotta ask... whose Leon? What series these dudes from?

i got this ask and then forgot about it for like 2 days. anyways.

IVE ANSWERED THIS BEFORE BUT. GOD. LEON. ok so like....... long story short last year was when i first played resident evil........ bc we got a copy of re2remake in and.... jesus christ. i hyperfixated so fucking hard for the better part of a year going on into this year. and then i watched hl/vr and well. we know where that went. but now i am once again hyperfixated and now im back to where i was in like.... june of last year LMAO. but anyways i am once again going to ramble under the cut about them <3 (seriously. its very long and doesnt go much of anywhere. also spoilers)

tl/dr:

OK. SO. resident evil. the last time i answered this ask i either hadnt played some of them or just completely forgot the plot of others LOL but now upon beating/playing a large majority of them (besides 6 which i have not touched yet, and 7 is first person and im not rly interested in it rn)...... well others have said this as well but if you like cheesy b action movies you would love resident evil!!! 

the orig 1-2 are more survival horror which is what i like the most. 3 is where it starts branching into more actiony stuff but is still survival horror. but 4 and after is just like..... cheesy action stuff which is fine but not really like.... my thing. altho i do think that they are fun in a “this plot is hilariously bad” type way because i do enjoy horrible things. but people who like resident evil dont like it for the plot they like it for the characters. and for me i latched the fuck onto leon kennedy and tyrant t-00 aka mr fucking x

listen.......... you guys know me relatively well enough to know that i have a type......... and i would define leon as not really fitting under it usually because he is 1. under 6 foot 2. human and 3. very much not a villain. but something about (mostly remake) leon hits fucking different!!!!!! hes kind and means well, thinks about others constantly, looks like an actual fucking person in the in game graphics instead of being some manufactured perfect model, nice voice, etc....... i fucking care him so much. also gameplay wise i find his weapons to be more enjoyable than claires so i always end up playing his route/2nd route the most compared to hers. but i do also like claire :) shes nice and epic

i dont really like the newer leons (4 and afterwards) as much.... i mean a lot of it has to do with trauma and general “growing up” after what happened in re2 but hes just so constantly... snarky? jaded? constantly spouting lines to make him seem cool? when in my head hes very much like... a loser LMAO. i mean dont get me wrong hes a badass. he survives a fucking zombie outbreak and nearly gets murdered dozens of time. thats the definition of badass. but also you cannot change my mind that hes also a anxious loser twunk. there is literally nothing you can do to convince me he is “cool” like the games and movies want to think. this is probably heresy to re fans but this is my truth

https://youtu.be/aVZWuSfGStk?t=129

here is a vid of his cutscenes. obvious spoilers in there but you can skip around and see how cute he is. also yes in his first cutscene he is listening to butt rock. i switch between thinking hes just listening to it because nothing else is on the radio or his taste really is that terrible

also you literally CANNOT convince me that he is straight. the games try SOOOOO hard to get you to ship leon/ada or leon/claire but like...... i cannot see it. he has one of the gayest run animations i have ever seen in re2 remake and i mean... he just radiates gay trans man energy to me. also please look at this small scene from one of the animated movies where a licker jumps on top of him and he wraps his legs around its hips and lifts it off of him to not die. gay king

https://youtu.be/d-VNikxYBPw?t=9

but yes ive basically decided to ignore all characterization from re4 and onwards regarding leon at least. every leon after that is not my leon (except in special cases when im thinking about something like leon/jd from re damnation..... they did jd so dirty and they should have fucking kissed. or how cute he looked in vendetta sometimes)

ANYWAYS. MR X

so basically there are these enemies in resident evil called “tyrants” that are manufactured by the evil capitalist company umbrella that are near indestructible save for like.... rocket launchers or super heavy artillery that youre not buying at your local gun store. and in re2 one of them get sent to the police station where leon and claire are and is told to wipe out all witnesses. (i also do think that 2 or more were sent there... or at least in the area when this happened due to some very obvious plot hole stuff on each route no matter how you play, even tho the devs have come out and said that only 1 existed in the game and that each route is like “a parallel dimension” to each other. i wont go into it more than that but i choose to ignore that)

and well. when i first played it i knew of mr x but didnt like... know much about him other than that he was a monster and Tall (like 7 or 8 feet tall) and that he chased you around. that already sold me on him but then. well. you first encounter him because he lifts up an entire goddamn helicopter and then proceeds to chase you. and it was then that i knew i was in deep shit because he fucking stomped his way into my heart and never left.

mr x basically has serious Side Character Disorder where (even tho the remake made him very cool and epic and did him really well compared to nemesis in re3 remake which is an entire different can of worms) he has LITERALLY no personality or like. thoughts. or anything. hes only there to chase you around and be on screen for like 10 seconds for a couple of cutscenes and then not show up again until the very end of the game for you to fight on leons route. but god. he means so fucking much to me. 

you know how people latch onto random side characters that have no personality and essentially flesh them out more than the creators ever will? thats me with mr x. its gotten to the point where certain songs come on on my spotify and i actually get EMOTIONS or even TEARS because they remind me of him, but its not even really HIM, its the fucking ideas that ive come up with regarding him because all he ever does in game is chase you around and punch you and then die and is never brought up again

but anyways. mr x is a tall monster who chases leon and claire around in their routes but mr x is leons main monster in the game (claire has a different one). he chases leon around, literally never stops looking at him as he chases him, gets hit by an entire fucking car which then explodes BUT THEN chases him down into the sewers and into a secret underground lab just to get to him like a fucking bloodhound who, once he has the scent, will never stop chasing him

(you can see why this made me kind of insane)

just. AGHHH. the tyrants in this series get treated so dirty. i desperately want capcom to give us some sort of tyrant that can actually fucking like.... go against orders and brainwashing or whatever and actually have emotions and thoughts!!!!!!!!!! but capcom would never do anything with it cause its a rough and tough action series and people arent here to see tyrants have some sort of thought process beyond punching and killing and people only want to shoot guns at them instead of thinking about the possibilities of a tyrant that goes against its programming.

i so desperately want an au where mr x got the transmitter shot off of the side of his head (and while capcom never mentioned this ever many re2 fans have since decided that it is what feeds info/orders to him. i flip flop between thinking that it either is near controlling him and prevents free will and thought or that its just giving him orders and that hes just burying/hiding/not showing free will and thought in fear of being killed. either that or someone at umbrella is “piloting” him but also the whole point of tyrants is that theyre supposed to be smart enough to think for themselves somewhat so... eh). GOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!

ive explained a bunch of this stuff in my other ask about it but just...... xleon means so much to me when it should not and will never be actually canon

anyways please play re2 remake at least, you dont have to know everything about re1 to like it, just go into it knowing that a few months ago in the mountains outside raccoon city claires brother chris and a few members on his team went to a mansion where they discovered umbrella doing shady zombie shit there. re2 remake was hyped up for years for a reason and it is really good, even if its short (altho i do appreciate short games in this day and age cause not every game needs to be like 60 plus hours long). 

maybe one day when its not late and i can actually think i will explain all this better but todays not that day <3

(EDIT: ALSO RE DAMNATION TYRANTS ARE 14 FEET TALL. AND CHASE AROUND LEON AND ACTUALLY FUCKING RUN. FUN FACT! anyways while i do think jd in that movie and leon should kiss i also want leon and a tyrant from that movie to kiss. bye)

[of2worldsxmuses]

IT WASN’T ME

When: Friday, August 23rd following the para Ladies Night Out.

Description: Deviano reminds Charlie of what she did at ladies night. 

Warning: None

Deviano was at his home working on a piece he wanted to make for his guest room, when he got the text from Charlie to come get her from the club. He didn’t hesitate to go get her. But when he got there, what he saw was Valeria and Charlie making out. He smirked and bit his bottom lip, but was quickly brought out of his thoughts by Ezra telling him to get his girl, “Yeah I got her.” He smiled and headed over to Charlie, “Okay you two, that’s enough love, let’s go home.” He carried Charlie out of the club and put her in the car. After he strapped her in, he got in, and headed to his studio, “So you had fun tonight huh?” He smirked.

Charlie didn’t know how Val found her, but pretty much as soon as she sat down, her friend came back. Drunk and needing to makeout, she pulled her best friend in for another kiss. They made out until she felt someone pulling her away, making her whine drunkenly. “Hey… Gimme those lips.” Before she knew it she was being carried away and found herself sitting down again. When she heard Dev’s voice, she opened her eyes and smiled. “Dev… Where did you come from? I had so much fun.” She then began to sing. “I kissed a girl and I liked it, taste of-” she paused and thought about the next word, “-Tequila…” She laughed.

Deviano couldn’t stop himself from laughing, he had never seen Charlie like this, but he thought it was cute. He made sure she was strapped in before pulling off, “You asked me to come get you, but you didn’t tell me I was going to get a show as well.” He shook his head as she sang her song, “I’m glad you had fun, but I do hope that you were only kissing Val tonight, you were only kissing Val right?”

Charlie found the song stuck in her head after she’d kissed Val and Claude. It made her giggle. “Oh yes! I texted you. I’m sorry, mi corazon, I forgot. Val’s lips made me forget.” She licked her lips, her thoughts were fuzzy, but she was still able to form a response–or at least she thought she could. “I kissed Claude too! I don’t know who is the better kisser, Val or Claude.” She chuckled.

“Yes you did baby girl, and I came right on for you.” Deviano wasn’t too upset seeing Charlie kissing Val, he actually thought it was kinda hot. But what he didn’t expect to hear was that she kissed someone named Claude. “Who the hell is Claude?” Now he was annoyed.

“Thank you for coming, daddy. You saved my life! I’m going to ride your dick so hard tonight… Val is going to ride Ezra!” Charlie said with a chuckle. “Claude is a Montague Dominant.” She simply answered, her smile growing brighter as she pictured the domme’s lips on hers. Who knew that kissing a woman could be so hot? She sure didn’t.

Any other time Deviano would be all over that, but not tonight, and definitely not with her in the state she was in. “ I think tonight you should just rest, and then talk to me when you’re sobered up.” Hearing Charlie kissed some Montague dominant was not what he wanted to hear. “So is this you drunk, going around kissing random people?” He was furious right now, but she was drunk, and he couldn’t hold her actions against her, but it still sucked.

Charlie felt herself growing upset right away, she wanted to have sex. Why couldn’t she have what she wanted? Val was going to have sex… “But I want to ride the Ddddd…” She chuckled, remembering what Val had said as they separated for the night. “Who’s drunk? I’m not drunk…” She retorted, despite her words clearly slurring. “Claude is not random people. She’s my friend and I think she needs to ride a dick too…”

Deviano couldn’t believe this was happening right now, he wanted to be upset because Charlie admitted to kissing some Claude guy, but she was drunk off her ass, he honestly didn’t think she knew what she was doing.  "You’ll get the D, just not tonight.“ He shook his head at her denying she’s drunk, "Baby girl, you are totally drunk, but you will sleep it off.” He let out a breath of relief when she said Claude was a she, “Claude is a woman? Oh okay…” He calmed down quickly, because he couldn’t not be mad at her kissing Val, and then be mad at her kissing another woman.

Charlie knew that Dev was speaking to her, but it all sounded like gibberish. On top of having too much to drink, she’d also had a full day which included fixing up two cars and meeting potential buyers. To say that she was exhausted was an understatement. Curling up in the passenger seat as best as she could, she fell asleep right away. When she awoke, it was already bright outside and her head was pounding. “Oww…” She grumbled as she sat up, quickly scanning the unfamiliar surroundings. “Where am I?”

It didn’t take long for Charlie to fall asleep, and he was happy for that. Deviano took her to his studio and laid her in the bed so she could sleep it off. The next morning he got up, laid some fruit, juice and medicine by the bed, and went to finish his painting. He looked around when he heard Charlie stirring, “Morning baby girl, you’re in my studio.” He went back to painting, not wanting to disturb her, just in case she wanted to go back to sleep.

Panic sets in for a moment, making Charlie wonder who she went home with last night. When she heard Dev’s voice, she finally was able to breathe normally. “How did I get here? What happened last night?” She tried recalling the night’s events, but nothing came back. All she remembered was girl’s night with Val and Claude. They got to the club and she remembered telling them that she had to be up early today. Other than that, nothing.

Deviano put his paintbrush down, and walked over to the bed, and sat next to Charlie, “You texted me, and asked me to come pick you up, and when I got there, you and Valeria was having a lot of fun making out with each other.” He chuckled and pointed to the medicine, “You should take those, it will help your hangover.”

Charlie placed her pointer fingers on her temples and began massaging them. Her head hurts, they felt like they were about to explode. She only looked up when she heard Dev’s remark. “No way… I didn’t do that.” She’d never been into women, why the hell would she kiss Val? Reaching for the meds, she took them and chugged some water. “I don’t kiss girls and I know I wouldn’t kiss Val. She’s my best friend. That’s like me kissing my sister if I had one.”

Deviano moved behind Charlie and moved her hands and started massaging her temples, “Oh you certainly did, and myself and Ezra was there to witness it. Why would I ever make something like that up?” He wasn’t the least bit upset with her, because he knew she was just having fun. “Well you made out with your sister last night, and you even told me that you made out with Claude.”

Charlie stopped what she was doing and let out a moan of contentment when Dev began massaging her temples. She knew he wouldn’t lie to her about what happened, it still didn’t sit well with her however. “I know you wouldn’t. I just can’t believe I would do that.” She mumbled, her eyes growing wide at what he said next. “No way! I would not do that with Claude. Did you see me kiss her too? Because if you didn’t, it never happened.”

Deviano continued with the massage to Charlie’s temples, while he continued trying to explain what happened last night. He did appreciate her knowing he wouldn’t lie to her, “It was definitely not what I expected to see, but it is what it is. When you drink a lot, you lose your inhibitions, and that’s what happened. But as long as you weren’t kissing any guys, I’m not tripping.” He laughed so hard at her refusal to believe she kissed Claude, “Well you told me you did, so I can only go by your word. But if you wanna go on the if I saw it rule, then it never happened.” He continued laughing, because he knew more than likely, it happened.

Charlie felt sick all of a sudden. She’d always respected Claude. How could she face the other woman now? She was a Montague and was always around. It wasn’t like she could simply ignore her or run the other way when she sees her next. “Oh no…” She covered her face, embarrassed beyond reason. “I can’t believe I kissed Claude! She must think I’m weird or horny or just bat shit crazy.” All those things were mumbled onto her palm and she didn’t even register what Dev was saying.

Deviano didn’t want to make Charlie feel worse than she already did. “I’m sure she doesn’t think any less of you. That’s what happens on nights out, and you’re letting loose, and having fun, so I’m sure she understands.” He kissed the top of her head, “Don’t beat yourself up over it.” He picked up the bowl of fruit, “Here, you should eat something, and let me finish massaging your scalp.”

Charlie knew that Dev was trying to make her feel better, but she still felt awful. Plus, there was also the part where she’d kissed someone who wasn’t him. Yes, she knew that they weren’t in an exclusive relationship, but she also promised him that she would never be interested in anyone else either. He was being really nice to her, and had even kissed her head which made her feel even worse about herself. “You’re not mad at me?” She asked when he tried to get her to eat.

“No, I’m not mad at you.” Deviano could understand why Charlie would think he would be. But in all honesty, they never said anything about being exclusive, he knew where his heart was, but he wasn’t going to force her to feel the same way. She has called him her heart on several occasions, so he knows how she feels about him. “This was just you letting loose and having a good time. And the fact that you kissed your friends, it made it easier for me to grasp. But I’m not gonna lie, for a moment when I thought Claude was a guy, I was really upset.”

Charlie couldn’t understand why Dev wouldn’t be upset with her. But then again, maybe she was just projecting her feelings onto him. Just because he’d said that she was his baby girl, it didn’t mean that what they have was exclusive. For all she knew, he could be flirting or even sleeping with other people, even though it was doubtful. “I don’t do that though… I don’t get drunk and I’ve never kissed my friends before.” She said with a sigh, before she turned to look at him. “You were?” Maybe he was attached after all…

Deviano smiled, and wrapped his arms around Charlie, “Well like they say…. the lot first time for everything.” He rubbed her shoulders, trying to be as supportive as she needed him to be. He wondered why she was shocked to hear that he was upset at the thought of her kissing some guy. “Of course I was, I don’t want to think about you kissing another man. I know it may be selfish of me, but I want to be the only man kissing those beautiful lips of yours.” He meant every word of it.

Charlie melted in Dev’s embrace, she always did, so it wasn’t much of a surprise that she would now too. “I know, I just don’t like to think that I’m that kind of a drunk.” She explained with a sigh. “I don’t think it’s selfish at all…” I would hurt anyone who dares to kiss you. She wanted to add, but she knew she couldn’t be that way with him. He wasn’t hers. Wanting to make things light again, she smiled at him and asked. “You said I can’t kiss another man. So does this mean you’re okay if I kiss or fool around with a woman?”

Deviano chuckled lightly, “Don’t you worry, alcohol has a way of bringing out things in you, and if that means you are a flirty drunk, then that’s not a bad thing.” He wasn’t going to judge Charlie for doing things while she was intoxicated, that would be silly, not to mention it was just a little harmless fun. He was glad that she didn’t think his comment was selfish, “Good, because if it was, then I was just going to be selfish.” He laughed, and looked at her when she asked about messing around with women, “Don’t get it twisted, just because I am giving you a pass on this night, don’t think there is endless amounts of passes. Because if you continue to do it, I am going to believe that women is who you really want to be with.”

“I will never drink that much ever again. My head is hating me right now.” Charlie groaned. She wanted to ask Dev about the status of their relationship, but she was still too scared to go there. She knew that she would never want anyone else, and although she was drunk last night, she did still texted him to come get her. That alone told her that she was his. “No, you’re not being selfish. If you are, then I am too because I don’t like thinking about you kissing other people.” She shook her head slowly. “Apparently, I find women sexy when I’m drunk, so you’ll just have to keep me sober from now on.” She chuckled.

Deviano continued massaging her temples, “You were pretty wasted, but it will pass, and you will be back to normal soon enough.” He liked that he was able to take care of her, and be here for her. She was so important to him, and he just wanted to make sure she was always okay. He smiled hearing her say that she didn’t want to think about him kissing other people, “You don’t have to worry about that baby girl, I have no desires to kiss anyone else.” He laughed, “I’ll definitely keep you sober from now on. If you have a ladies night, just know it will be ladies night and Deviano.”

Charlie closed her eyes and allowed herself to relax. “I know. Your massage is helping too.” She told him with a gentle smile, liking how easily he could take care of her. “You better not. Unless you want to see me kick someone’s ass.” She wasn’t even joking around about that, she’d never been great with sharing and for some reason, she was even more selfish when it came to Dev. Her eyes popped open again and she let out a laugh. “You’re ridiculous, mi corazon. But fine, if you’re going to tag along on my ladies night, I just won’t go on one anymore or maybe I should crash your boys night, if you ever have one.” She said teasingly.

Deviano smiled, “Good, I want you to feel better.” It was nice knowing that he could make Charlie feel better, and he was going to continue finding ways to do that. He couldn’t hold back his laughter at her threats, “Not that I don’t think that would be sexy as hell, but I don’t want you ��getting into any trouble, so I am not going to make you kick anybody’s ass. It will never come to that il mio solo ed unico I am here for you.” He smiled and laughed, he loved seeing her smile, “I mean you can go, but I’ll be there. And I will happily let you come to my boys nights, but I am sure my boys won’t be happy about it, but it is what it is.”

“You always do, mi corazon.” Charlie returned, knowing full well that only Dev could comfort her this thoroughly. “Since you don’t want me getting into trouble, then you better behave or you might just have to see me kick some bitches ass.” She teased and felt her breath hitching when she heard him call her his one and only. Her heart felt like it was about to burst and she couldn’t stop herself from smiling. “I won’t bother you on your boys night. I promise and if I do have another girl’s night, I won’t drink again.” She kissed him then, passionately because despite her inability to tell him how she felt, she did want him to know that she was only his. When she pulled back, she smiled and said. “I think I can eat something now. Feel like feeding me breakfast, mi corazon?”

Deviano just liked hearing the little things from Charlie, she will never know how much her calling him her heart meant to him. She was so amazing, and he couldn’t believe he was so lucky to have her in his life. “I’ll behave I promise, because it is already enough crap going on around here, we don’t need you being added into that.” He had no desire to be with anyone else, she was his one and only, and he wouldn’t have it any other way. “I think not drinking is the best idea, or limit your drinks to one or two.” He smiled, and kissed her back with so much passion. He would never want to kiss another pair of lips, because they couldn’t compare to hers. Once they pulled apart, he sat up when she said she could eat, “It will be my pleasure to feed you breakfast baby girl.” He started to feed her bacon from her plate, and they spent the remainder of the day in bed holding each other and watching movies, it was the perfect day for him.

[crashing-into-the-sun]

run away (but not from me)

simon and baz are on the track team together. tw: homophobia, homophobic slurs, cursing.

Simon couldn’t deny it. No matter how much he loved feeling the oxygen rush in and out of his lungs, the wind whip against his face, the tight pull of his hair strung back with a rubber band, the burning in his calves, there was one thing he loved the most about running track, and that was winning. The moment when he passed someone a few paces in front of him just before he crossed the finish line, his thresh hold of glory, was the most exhilarating experience he’d found so far in his seventeen year life. Sweat dripped down his forehead and pooled above his brow bone as he bore down into the final sprint, eyes locked on the blue-jerseyed runner in front of him. The only person between him and first place. The only person between him and his next blue ribbon.

He forgot he was running when this happened, forgot he was breathing, forgot he was moving or hurting or even alive. It was just him and Blue Jersey, fighting for the title. It was no longer about a place in the next run, because the top ten got to advance. It was a primal need somewhere deep in Simon’s head, and he needed victory more than he needed the air he was sucking in deeper and deeper with every second.

Simon was gaining on him with every second until they were running steady with each other, shoulder to shoulder. For a second, there was an air of cameraderie, a shared moment of brotherhood. The briefest acknowledgement that they both deserved this. But then Simon took off even faster than before, because no matter who deserved first, only one person could have it, and it was going to be him.

He collapsed onto the ground seconds after his feet flew over the finish line, clutching his stomach as he hurled up his lunch into the bushes. The vaguest remnants of a grilled cheese sandwich and a red Powerade splattered onto the ground, and Simon heard Blue Jersey rush past him and collapse similarly, coughing like a smoker. Two more people passed, and Simon didn’t move, hands still pressed against his stomach in pain. Then he felt long, bony fingers massaging his shoulders, and he knew Baz had crossed the finish line.

“I’m going to regionals, Simon! We’re going together!” Baz celebrated behind him, panting, and Simon managed a weak nod. “Fifth place, can you believe it?”

“You did great, Baz,” Simon breathed, forcing himself up from the ground and wiping his mouth on the shoulder of his t-shirt. “Coach is gonna be thrilled. You must’ve beat your best time.”

“I’m sure I did,” Baz agreed, taking a few steps forward and plunging his arm deep into the water cooler. “Want one?”

Simon nodded. Baz handed him a water, ice cold and dripping, and Simon uncapped it and poured half of it on the top of his head, letting it run in rivulets down the back of his neck and his face. Then he drained the bottle and crumpled it up, tossing it back into the cooler.

“Better?” Baz asked, sipping his water. His breath was mostly back by now, but Simon was still heaving.

“Yeah, much. Let’s go find a spot to watch the girls’ race.”

-

When Simon entered the bus for the ride back to school, he was met with cheers. The bus was already mostly full, and Baz waved from the back. “Our champ!” Simon heard as he passed by seats, meandering toward Baz. “First place winner, once again!”

The entire vehicle stank like teenage boys and BO, but it was a party. They made toasts with their water bottles, crankled up the music so loud on Dev’s Bluetooth speaker that it blew out and broke, and generally gave the bus driver a run for his money. Who could blame them? They hadn’t taken more than one person to regionals in years, hadn’t had a runner like Simon on the team in far longer than that.

It was dark when they pulled into the parking lot, teeming with the cars of parents here to pick up their kids. Coach Davy stood up at the front of the bus and quieted them all by raising his hands. “Listen guys,” he began. “I’d just like to say how proud I am of all of you, even the ones who didn’t make it into the top ten. We’ve had a fantastic year and I’m looking forward to taking four runners this year. But our work isn’t over yet. Remember, the practice schedule for the next two weeks is rigorous and not flexible. Especially for the regionals runners, you must show up to every practice unless you’ve got a doctors note. That’s all! Have a good night.” He sat down, making way for the flood of teens to exit the bus.

Simon and Baz lagged back and pretended to collect their things while the others filed off. “You coming home with us tonight?” Simon asked Baz.

“I was planning on it, yeah.” Baz slung his bag over his shoulderand stood up, taking his place at the end of the line.

“My room’s a mess,” Simon warned. He stood behind Baz and wrapped his hands around Baz’s backpack straps, tugging. Baz snickered.

“You’re a mess, Snow,” he replied. Baz reached behind his back and found Simon’s hand fleetingly. He gave it a gentle squeeze before retracting and shoving his hands back into his sweatshirt pockets. The line began to move.

-

In the passenger seat of his dad’s beat up Sedan, Simon listened for the millionth time to the Humility Speech. “Yes, you’re good, but that doesn’t mean you’re invincible, you hear me? You hear me?” Baz stifled a laugh in the back as Davy’s voice grew more and more urgent. “Simon Oliver, are you listening to me? You are not the king of the track. One of these days you’re gonna lose if you don’t take this shit seriously. You missed three days of practice this month. That’s unacceptable. You’re not a god, Simon. Do you understand? You don’t get a full ride for a second place title.”

This was a routine for Simon- run, win, take Baz home, get the Humility Speech, force feed himself pasta (for the carbs), early morning practice with Baz, rinse, repeat. That was what Davy thought at least.

Here’s how the routine really went- run, win, take Baz home, laugh his way through the Humility Speech, feed Baz half his pasta, make out sessions until it got light out, cuddling until five in the morning, pretending to go for an early morning run and really taking Baz out for early breakfast at the diner, where all the waitresses knew their names and orders. Rinse. Repeat. Rinse. Repeat.

Davy finished talking a minute before their driveway appeared, and Simon felt his phone buzz in his pocket. He checked it, amused that it was Baz’s name on the screen. He’s finally done, eh?

For now.

As if you’d forgotten since your last race

Lmao, Simon typed back. Can’t wait til he goes to bed ;)

And why would that be?

Because I want to celebrate ;)

Quit it with the wink faces, Si. I feel like I’m talking to a preteen who just copped his first feel. Lol.

Simon chuckled, then tucked the phone back into his pants pocket as they pulled up the drive. Gravel crunched underneath the car tires, and it scratched to a stop at the top. Simon’s house sat on a hill. It was dark brown, with warm yellow light coming from the living room windows and illuminating the well-manicured lawn. It wasn’t huge, but it wasn’t small. A good size for a single father and his son. In the front there was a small, sickly looking crabapple tree that Davy had been trying to tear up for years. Simon would never let him.

They carted their bags up the porch stairs. The inside of the house smelled like pulled pork, and Simon realized how hungry he was. He’d forgotten that Davy had prepared something in the crock pot. The smell made his stomach growl. “Let’s put our bags up in my room and eat, shall we?” Simon asked Baz.

“Sounds like a plan.”

The stairs were shiny hardwood, and the upstairs floor was small, with only a bathroom and Simon’s room. The door was already ajar, and sure enough, the room looked as if it hadn’t been cleaned in several months. “Simon,” Baz chastised. “I just helped you tidy this place up last time I was over.”

“You know how I get, Basil,” Simon protested, throwing his bag onto his full sized mattress and rumpling up the blankets. He tossed his sweaty sneakers into a corner and grabbed a shirt off the floor to change into.

“Glasses?” Baz asked, plucking them from the hazardous mess of Simon’s vanity and shutting the door with his foot.

“Sure,” Simon said, slipping his jersey over his head. He let it fall to the floor, like everything else already was, then stepped toward Baz to retrieve the glasses.

“Allow me,” Baz smirked, slipping the glasses onto Simon’s face and settling them onto his nose. He leaned his head down and pressed his forehead against Simon’s, closing his eyes. Simon’s hands wound around Baz’s trim waist and danced their way up the hem of his shirt, fingers pressing against the knobbly joints of Baz’s spine, and their lips met, soft as spring rain.

The kiss was gentle, and they enjoyed it for itself, as it wasn’t going to lead to anything else at the moment. Baz tasted like peppermint gum and he smelled like cedar and bergamot, his signature cologne. Simon ran his tongue quickly over Baz’s bottom lip, then pulled away, grinning like a fool.

“We should get downstairs,” he whispered, but then one of Baz’s hands was cold and sure against Simon’s chest, tracing down to his stomach, and the other was knotted in his golden hair, and his brain took a flying leap out the window.

“Few more seconds,” Baz mumbled, pressing a lazy kiss to the space behind Simon’s ear. “Few more minutes.” Their chests pressed together and they kissed again, longer, with a strained kind of urgency that knew it couldn’t last long.

“I love you,” Simon said to Baz, tugging at a loose tendril of hair that had fallen around his dark, angular face. He kissed Baz’s cheek, then his nose, then his lips again, and Baz leaned, mindless, into Simon’s touch.

“Simon,” Davy called out, flinging open the door. “You forgot your-”

The gym bag Davy held fell to the floor. Baz immediately disentangled from Simon’s arms and flung himself back onto the bed, but it was too late. The door slammed shut, and all Simon could do was cry.

-

Hitchhiking was never a smart idea, even as a 6’ 1" eighteen year old man, but Baz needed a ride home, which Davy had not-so-gracefully declined to give him. His fahter was away on business and Daphne was visiting her sister, so here he found himself, late at night, wandering down the road with his thumb up. Cars passed him, but none stopped. And then it began to drizzle.

-

Davy had nothing to say, Simon surmised. That was the way it seemed, because they hadn’t spoken in days. He’d missed practice to stay after and do schoolwork just to avoid his father twice already, and he had no intentions of going today.

“You can’t let him push you away from what you love,” Baz told Simon at lunch, hooking his ankle around Simon’s under the table. “Running is what you were made for.”

“I can’t be around him. He’s got this dead look in his eyes Baz, you don’t understand. He hasn’t said a word to me. I’m nothing. I could win the national title for Christs’ sake, he wouldn’t give a shit.” He pushed the spaghetti on his tray around with his plastic fork. For the first time he could remember, Simon had no appetite.

“Look, Si, your dad is being a huge dick, but that doesn’t mean you have to stop living. Running is what you love best. Everyone knows that. Please go to practice. For me?”

“I can’t, Baz. I can’t face him.” The bell rang, and Simon got up from the table without meeting Baz’s gaze. “I hope you can understand.” He dumped his tray and went to class. Baz watched him go.

-

The crowd at regionals was wild for a track meet. Simon hadn’t practiced in two weeks, had barely spoken to Baz. He seemed to be a husk, going through the motions. They’d just sit there in silence when they were alone, Simon crying, Baz holding on as tight as he could to Simon’s hand, for fear he might lose him if he let go. But today was the big day, and Simon couldn’t miss it. This was his moment. Baz was determined to get him there.

He skipped out on the team bus ride, instead electing to drive his own car over to Simon’s after he knew the rest of the team had left and taken Coach Davy with them. When Baz honked the horn, Simon emerged, bleary-eyed and in pajamas, on the porch. Baz beeped again, to the tune of Jingle Bells, and Simon smiled. “Get in, babe. You’ve got a race to win.”

-

Simon denied that he wanted to race, but Baz knew he wouldn’t have gotten in the car if he didn’t secretly need it. When they arrived to the packed venue, he was practically shaking with anticipation. Simon shrugged out of his dirty sweatshirt and slipped on his jersey, tied his hair back. Baz recognized the determined gleam in his eye. “You ready to get out there and show them how it’s done?” Baz asked.

“I’m not wearing uniform shorts,” Simon protested. “And I haven’t run in weeks.”

“Who gives a shit?” Baz countered. And honestly? Didn’t that just sum up everything. Simon kissed Baz, slow and deep, then exited the car.

“Let’s fuck shit up.”

“Let’s.”

-

“Fag.” Simon heard it first from behind him, just a whisper. He whipped his head around, but it was impossible to tell who had said it. He and Baz had walked to their spots holding hands.

“Who gives a shit,” Simon muttered to himself, a personal mantra. “Who gives a shit, who gives a shit.”

“Faggot. Fucking queer.”

“Fairy.”

“Pussy.”

“Who gives a shit? Who gives a shit? Who the fuck cares?” Simon was yelling now, glaring all around him.

“Faggo-”

It was Blue Jersey. The insults were emanating from him, and he grinned, until Simon caught him in the act.

“Think you can throw me off my game? Well you know what, asshole?” Simon hissed menacingly, face flushed. He got up close to the kid’s face, almost nose to nose, and stared him down. “This faggot’s gonna win the regionals first place title. And you’re gonna fucking watch.”

Blue Jersey gulped.

-

The gunshot seemed louder than ever, but Simon didn’t hesitate a second as the sound reverberated in his ears. His feet pounded against the grass. He had more energy than he’d ever had at the beginning of a race. His anger fueled him as he thundered through the crowd of boys, clearing a path straight for the front. He flipped off Blue Jersey on the way, smiling, sickly sweet, as he took his rightful place at the head of the pack. He didn’t slow down one step.

-

This time, there was no competition.

Simon lead the runners with a wide berth. His legs went miles in a single stride, his lungs were open gulleys swallowing air by the ton. He was a god, and holy fucking shit, it felt good to be unbreakable.

“I’m made of fucking diamonds, you can’t touch me,” he panted as the finish line came into view. “I am fucking invinceable. Who gives a shit?” He was practically screaming now, every muscle in his body on fire, every inch of him drenched in sweat but it wasn’t sweat, it was liquid fucking gold and he was crossing, he was first, he was the winner, he was raising his arms for the crowd and they screamed his name, he was laughing, he was smiling, he was descended from Mount fucking Olympus and Baz was a king and when Baz came in second, they kissed in front of everyone. And maybe there was a collective gasp, and maybe Davy held his head in his hands, and maybe Blue Jersey cried when he got home. But you know what? Who gives a shit.