#how do i stop her or do i let her just keep going idk

[incorrectbatfam]

I wanna write a tough love scene between Bruce and one of the kids but idk how to do it bc it just seems abusive

I'm sort of a believer in tough love and I think the main thing is knowing when to stop. Beating them down, invalidating them, ripping apart their self-esteem, overall hurting them for the sake of it—that's abuse, no question.

Tough love is a "say it once, then hands off" kind of approach. It's communicating expectations and boundaries clearly the first time, and after that, letting them deal with the natural consequences. Oftentimes, you're talking directly to the part of them that they don't wanna take accountability for. On the receiving end, it won't feel good at first because you're not dressing it up with platitudes or other fluff, but the difference between that and abuse is that tough love doesn't leave a bad feeling after the issue is resolved.

So a (pretty lame) example with the batfam:

Bruce: "If you keep up this reckless streak, you're going up end up in a dangerous place where not even I can reach you and you'll just have to hope you can find your own way out." Stephanie: "Whatever, you have no idea what you're talking about." [later in the story] Stephanie: *makes reckless decisions and winds up in a situation where no one can help her except herself, just as Bruce said*

EDIT: Alternatively, if it's after the fact:

Dick: "The whole mission is blown because of one detail." Bruce: "Perhaps. What are you going to do about it?" Dick: "What am I supposed to do?" Bruce: "I can't tell you. You took the lead. It's your mission."

[anyarose011]

How to Get to Coney Island

-> Bucky Barnes x Single Mom!reader

Summary: As summer begins and the school year ends, Bucky decides to do something nice for you and your daughter.

Warning(s): Minor angst, low-key disorganized attachment (but she's healing), a sassy child, FLUFF, one innuendo, and making out.

In response to that one little boy questioning if Bucky would be a good dad [he would, it’s canon], me watching ‘Brooklyn’, it’s aftercare after Thunderbolts* [I haven't seen it yet], and how it’s summertime and I wanna go do summer things😊. So, idk if this is gonna be a series or not (I have one or two other stories in mind, but let's see if it'll be in practice). I also imagine this to be like six months before Brave New World and Thunderbolts* [the timeline is fucked]. Anywho, I hope y'all enjoy it, and happy summer!

Word Count: 5.5k

MASTERLIST

“Jamie!”

Your little girl seldomly ever called him ‘Bucky’. She was at that strange age (nine) where she wanted to seem vastly different than anyone else in the world. Even though you and her had known him for a year, you could only use one hand to count how many times she’s called him ‘Bucky’.

It was late afternoon on a Saturday in early May. The dance company you taught at just had its recital at Brooklyn Arts, and all the kids you taught were running around the reception hall in their fairytale costumes, excitedly showing them off to their parents. That was when, from the crowd, Clementine saw him.

She ran from your arms and into Bucky’s. He laughed as he hugged her, and it shouldn’t have surprised you to see two small bouquets of flowers in his hand.

Even before you started dating him, he’d bring flowers to your doorstep. It never unnerved you, which was a real shock. If anything, they’d brighten the room and in turn, your smile.

Approaching them, you wore that same smile. “You came.”

“Yeah.” He stood. “Wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

Clementine made dead eye-contact with the bouquets. “Are those for me?”

“One of them is, don’t be greedy.” Bucky chuckled, handing her a pastel bouquet. Then, he held one out to you. “For the Madame.”

You swatted him playfully, taking the flowers. “Now stop it.”

“Only if you come to get ice cream.”

“Ice cream?!” Clementine interjected.

You wrapped your arm around her shoulders, bringing her to your side. “We’d love to. Just let her get changed.”

“You haven’t said anything about my dress.” Clementine pouted, showing off the lavender fabric. “You think it’s ugly.”

“No, sweetie.” Bucky got down to her height. “I was just so impressed by your dancing, I thought I’d tell you that first because the last time I said your dress was pretty, you told me I was shallow for complimenting a girl’s clothing and not her talents.”

You snorted, and Clementine merely smiled before dashing away back into the changing rooms. Shaking your head, you sighed.

“I don’t think she’s ever gonna fix that attitude.”

“No problem.” Bucky stood. “You both keep me on my toes.”

“You say that like I’m ever mean to you.”

He didn’t have to say anything. He only gave that look, grinned a little, and shrugged. Scoffing, you turned over your shoulder and started walking to the changing rooms to hide your amusement.

Your voice betrayed you. “I’m stealing your cat if you talk to me like that again!”

“I didn’t say anything!”

After Clementine changed out of her costume, and your boss essentially “allowed” you to leave, the three of you left the school. Now here was the funniest thing about James Buchannan Barnes: Despite being a congressman for half a year at the time, if he wasn’t going anywhere for work, he took the train. He lived in a humble, one-bedroom apartment across from your two-bedroom. It was practically a suite for you and Clementine, but for him, all you could ask was why?

So, you did a month after he was elected Senator.

“I like what I like.” He said as he was fixing the heating in the small dance studio you worked in. “I’ve lived in that building for a few years now, I have all my stuff there, I don’t want to waste time moving again.”

“Clem and I would help.” You pointed out.

“You mean you.” He snickered, twisting the screwdriver.

“I mean me.”

He certainly fit the role of a politician only in movies who cared about their community and would go out and actually solve problems. He even fixed the lamplights down the whole block of your apartment and a few by the nearest library.

He was modest, and that was something you weren’t used to. Perhaps that’s why, even with a huge amount of hesitance, you agreed to go to lunch with him two months ago.

And there you were, having ice cream on an early summer day with him and your daughter.

“Did you see my do a double pirouette?” Clem asked excitedly, chocolate custard all around her lips.

“That one’s the turn, right?” Bucky asked while the three of you sat at a small table outside the bustling ice cream parlor. The last day of school had been the day before.

“Uh huh.”

“Of course I saw it, you were amazing.”

“Yeah, I was.”

You playfully shoved her. “‘Thank you’ is what we say.”

“Thank you.” She pitched her voice up higher but smiled wide at Bucky. “Do you wanna see my designs?”

“Always.”

She unzipped her backpack, bringing out a pink, glittery sketchbook. She pushed the ice cream dishes out of the way as if she were presenting important data and flipped through the pages.

“I made this one last month.” she pointed to a blank model wearing a red dress with white frills on the sleeves titled ‘Christmas in Germany’. “That ones for me, and then this one’s for mama.”

The one labeled ‘Met Gala’ simply had a lace dress in your favorite color with a long veil.

“And why would I go to the Met Gala?” You teased.

“Dance.”

“Yes,” you nodded. “that is what they do for sure.”

“You’re lucky I’m your designer for it.”

“Not really.” You pointed at the veil. “If I’m dancing, won’t that just make me trip?”

“Jamie,” she looked up. “do you want to go to the gala?”

“No.” He answered.

“Fine.” She sighed, starting another sketch. “I guess I’ll have to.”

You and Bucky laughed, and then he pointed to the next page. “What’s that one?”

Clem answered, glancing up. There were two models, a taller one and a shorter one, wearing dresses in the style from the 1950s. On the smaller one, a robin’s egg blue dress with a darker shade of blue buttons down the sternum, and a headband the same shade in the hair. On the larger model, a white shirt and skirt with red and yellow flowers scattered alongside green foliage. A robin’s egg blue satin sash across the waist.

She glanced back down at her original sketching. “When Mama and I go to Coney Island.”

“Like this summer?”

“No, ever.”

You thought you had seen (almost) every facial expression this man could make, but you were wrong. Never had you seen such a look of bewilderment.

“How long have you lived in Brooklyn?” He asked.

“Almost two years.” You shrugged, smiling. Originally, the dance studio you worked at was in lower Manhattan, but at the same time your studio was moving, you and Clementine were evicted.

But he didn’t need to know that.

“And you’ve never been to Coney Island?”

You leaned forward, putting your arms on the table. “I’m sorry, but when was the last time you went to Coney Island?”

Bucky said nothing at first, glancing down at his melting ice cream. “Nineteen forty-two.”

You hummed. “And I’m guessing tourism wasn’t really at all a time high during a war going on, so therefore, not many people went to an amusement park?”

“Not like how there are today, no.”

You didn’t have to say anything. You only gave him that look and smiled a wicked smile, sitting back in your chair.

He mirrored a yielding one. “So, if the recital’s done, what’re your plans for the summer?”

“I’ll start teaching summer classes in June, and some of the students’ parents also asked me to help tutor their kids; elementary stuff thankfully.”

“Not taking any vacations?”

You shook your head. “Busy.”

And couldn’t afford it; but he didn’t need to know that either.

He shrugged sheepishly. “I mean…I know I have a conference at the end of the month in D.C. You could come out with me.”

Clementine’s face lit up like the hot sun that day. “Yeah!”

Yours grew dark like the night that would come, though you tried to hide it. “No. Thank you for the offer but-.”

“-Why can’t we go?” Clem whined.

“He’ll be doing a lot of important work, and we don’t want to distract him.”

Not taking the hint, Bucky only continued. “That’s only for one day, we could go out on Friday and then-.”

“-Thank you.” You finished for him, a smile so tight it would rip your cheeks.

It was settled; you weren’t going, and it wasn’t spoken of again. The rest of the ice cream social went on without any more tension; spoken aloud, that is. It still lingered from your abrasive decline of Bucky’s offer. Call it your own anxiety, but you felt his disappointment radiate off of him and onto you.

Clementine was a child, and your child nonetheless, so you and the other customers outside the bustling ice crem store knew she was silently judgmental and upset about your decision.

Even on the subway ride home, the three of you said not a word to each other. Usually, the silence would have been out of comfort, but then, you knew beyond a shadow of a doubt it was because of you.

That’s why you stayed out in the hall when you got back to your apartment. Clementine went in without question, and you were left with Bucky.

“Really,” you began. “thank you for the offer to D.C. but-.”

“-No, it’s okay.” He interrupted casually. “I shouldn’t have pushed and now you gotta deal with Clem-.”

“-May I speak?” You cut him off calmly. When he nodded, you took in a shuttering breath. “I really am sorry. I-we’d love to go, but I haven’t been serious about anyone since her father. I’ve gone on dates, you know that, but either it’s not a match, they ran at the first sign of a kid, or the complete opposite…and I’m prideful, and I don’t want a huge trip solely just to rely on you.”

He nodded, completely understanding. “You’d be uncomfortable. You don’t have to explain it to me.”

 “I’m just…” You swallowed. “I’m sorry I’m moving so slow-.”

“I don’t think you are.”

You hadn’t even kissed him. Well…you had, but only on the cheek, his head, jaw, essentially anywhere on his face but his lips. You were wondering how he hadn’t become bored with you yet.

 “I want this to work.” You vowed. “Because, hell, I knew that even if I told you no about going on a date, you never would have treated me differently afterwards.”

Bucky took your face into his hands, saying softly. “I wouldn’t have. You’re not going slow, I…I like this too. I haven’t been serious about anyone either and I don’t wanna mess it up. Even if we’re going slow, that means we get to enjoy it more.”

You melted from his words and his touch. Drawing your arms around his neck, you sank into his embrace as his hands wrapped around your waist, pulling you close. It was nice, just standing there in the hallway, even if the fluorescent lights above were too bright.

“But please,” he whispered into your ear. “please, let me take you two to Coney Island.”

Laughing into his neck, you gave him one last squeeze before kissing his jaw and pulling away fully. “Only if that means you’ll stop talking about it like it’s Disneyworld.”

“I will never step foot on that rat’s land.”

“Thank God you weren’t around for Chuck E. Cheese.” You joked.

“That’s not the pizza place, is it?”

“Yeah. If I was ever misbehaving, my parents would take me there to catch a cold.”

The two of you laughed maybe a little too loudly in the hallway. After you both (somewhat) composed yourselves, you wished each other a goodnight, and the rest was history. The first few days were uneventful between the three of you. Most were spent between you and Clem, sometimes making the journey all the way to Central Park, and others were spent indoors, simply having a movie day.

Some were spent with Bucky when he wasn’t busy, but those times were reserved for casual dinners or playing with Alpine (the damn cat that was the reason you and Clementine met him officially).

Two weeks passed, and it was after one of your tutoring jobs you got a call from Bucky.

“I want to do something nice for Clem.”

You chuckled, walking down the sidewalk. “She’s had you wrapped around her finger for months, that’s nice enough.”

“I’m not wrapped around her finger.”

“Uh huh. What’d you have in mind?”

“So, I was overhearing my secretary talk this morning-.”

“-Oh, your young, straight out of college, pencil skirted-.”

“-Her wife,” he strained the word with similar humor you spoke with. “just started a fashion design business and is looking for clients. It’s Sylvie and Emily, remember?”

“Oh, that’s them!” You laughed. “Yeah, their wedding was fun. What’s this about?”

He clicked his tongue. “I think it’d be neat if Clem got to wear something special for her first trip to Coney Island.”

You stopped in your tracks, in complete awe and wonder at his thoughtfulness. “If heaven is real, I know whoever raised you is there.”

He laughed, and you could picture every detail of his face; how his cheeks turned the palest of pinks, and he’d rest his hand in his hair for just a moment as if to decide if what you said was in his imagination or not.

“Do you think there’ll be enough room for me?”

You puckered your lips. “I don’t know.”

“And here I thought you were sweet.”

“Please, you know I’m sweet.” You teased. “Now, what do you need from me?”

Obviously, the sketch of the dress she designed for herself, but also her specific measurements for the perfectly tailored gown. Those were easy. When Clem was having a playdate, you snuck into her room and snapped a picture of the sketch. You had also gotten her measurements from dance when needing to buy costumes for the recital, and you sent that to him too.

So, the next few weeks ran like the last ones. When you’d work, depending on if it were for dance classes or tutoring, you’d take Clem with you. If you couldn’t, she’d be babysat by either the college girl a floor below, or the ex-nun at the end of the hall. They were really the only people in the building who would take your home-cooked meals as payment instead of money.

It was the second week of June, and you and Clementine were having a “girl’s day in” for your Friday afternoon, when a knock came on the door. You paused the Barbie princess movie that was on, and you looked through the peephole; no one.

Opening it, your eyes fell to the two white boxes wrapped in pink bows on your welcome mat. On top, a sticky note read: “Only the best for you both. Be ready at ten tomorrow morning, we’re going on an adventure. Your Loving, Jamie :)”

“What is it?” Clementine asked behind you.

Taking the boxes into your apartment, you set them down at the kitchen table, grinning from ear to ear. “Open them.”

She read the note on top before mirroring your smile and unwrapping the first box. Taking the top off, inside was revealed a perfect replica of the dress she had sketched. Her jaw dropped to the floor as she held it up, the light from the window in the living room catching it perfectly.

Clementine squealed as she hugged it close to her chest, then reaching in to grab the headband.

“How’d he do this?!” She cheered, beaming.

You giggled. “He told me he wanted to do something nice for you.”

She latched her arms around you, kissing your cheeks. “I love you, I love you, I love you!”

Laughing, you hugged her just as tightly. Still in your arms, she turned around, glancing at the other box. “Is this one for you then?”

You frowned. “I’m not sure.”

Still, you opened it, and your face was the same as Clementine’s; pure, unadulterated shock. There was your dress in the box; the one your daughter had so caringly designed for you. Your face dropped into a smile, realizing this was perhaps the greatest gift you had ever received, and it wasn’t even your birthday.

“It’s so pretty.” Clem fawned.

“I wonder who designed it?” You ticked her sides. She laughed, trying to push you away from her.

You were tempted to text Bucky thank you, but decided it was best to wait until the morning to do it in person. Call it “Old-Fashioned”.

It was Clementine who ironically got you up early to get ready. After having a quick breakfast, the two of you settled to get “prettied up”.

“But I thought you said we shouldn’t dress up for men?” You teased, fixing her hair.

She sighed dramatically. “We are dressing for ourselves.”

You kissed her head. “That’s my girl.”

After “prettying up”, you heard a knock on the door. Clementine ran just as you stood from the couch and swung it open. Upon seeing Bucky, she clung to him with an iron grip.

“Good morning.” He greeted, trying to hold in his laughter.

“Thank you, thank you, thank you!” She squeezed with every word.

He crouched down to her height and pulled her away just enough to look at her. “How do you think it came out?”

“Absolutely marvelously.”

He repeated her sentiment, smiling. “Took the words out of my mouth.”

His eyes drifted towards you, and there you stood, wearing the outfit you didn’t expect to come to life. Even though he had seen it before you, it was more than apparent that it was as if you were a witch, and he was under your spell as he stared at you, eyes running over every detail of the skirt.

“Tell her she’s pretty.” Clem whispered into his ear.

That somehow snapped him out of it. “You’re really pretty.”

Giggling, you approached him, and he stood. Perhaps it made it “worse” the closer you stood to him; he could get every detail of your face.

“Now how’d you make this?” You asked, pulling at the skirt. “I thought you only wanted to be nice to Clem?”

He smiled sheepishly, yet you detected a hint of hesitation. “Your dress was side by side with Clem’s when you sent the first picture, and your measurements were above hers when you sent them.”

None of that had occurred to you; you were simply so focused on surprising your daughter, all of that had left your mind. Bucky wasn’t finished.

“I was second guessing myself, because I didn’t know if I was violating your privacy or-.”

You kissed his cheek to shut him up. “I never would’ve given you Clem’s measurements in the first place if I didn’t trust you a little.”

He let out a sigh of relief. “Thank God, I really wanted to surprise you.”

“Come on!” Little Clementine pulled on his metal arm as if she could move him. “Stop kissing, I wanna go!”

“You don’t even have your shoes on!” Bucky taunted.

Once she did in fact slip on her sandals, and you got your own shoes, the three of you left the apartment and hailed a cab. As you were waiting on the sidewalk, it was only then you got to get a better look at Bucky as he entertained Clem.

His hair was combed, and he’d shaved recently, yet there was still somewhat of a stubble. A few of the buttons on his navy-blue polo were unbuttoned, and he wore loose-fitting cream-colored pants.

You never denied that he was attractive, even when he was a mere stranger. Yet it was that morning as he listened to Clementine talk about everything and anything, that you realized he was the most beautiful man you’d ever seen.

The ride to Coney Island didn’t take long. A part of that certainly had to do with both Clem’s excitement, but also yours that you tried to mask. The sun was starting to come out from behind the clouds as noon approached whilst you waited in line for Luna’s Park.

“Does it look different from back then?” You asked once the three of you finally made it in. The smell of popcorn and cotton candy flooded your nostrils as you walked with your arm looped through his.

He nodded. “Everything does, so kinda. There are still some of the rides, but there’s a lot more now. Kinda overwhelming but guess that just comes with the territory.”

“Did you ever ride the Cyclone?” Clem asked, taking his hand.

“Oh yeah.” he snorted. “My friend Steve threw up. He was about as tall as you.”

“Well, I’m not going to throw up.” She bragged.

An hour later, she was right; she didn’t throw up. Yet, while you and Bucky were beaming from the thrill of it, the poor thing’s entire body was trembling as she walked.

“Okay,” you soothed her, rubbing a hand up and down her back. “let’s go get lunch.”

Thankfully, nothing like fried food horrible for everyone’s cholesterol plus ice cream to fix a nine-year-old. She nearly had a tantrum when a drop of mint-chocolate chip got on her dress, but after you dabbed some of her apple juice onto the stain, all was well.

In your decision, it was best to just play the carnival games and minor rides considering Clem’s reaction to the Cyclone. All games were played from whac a mole to ring tossing, including a few where Bucky insisted on winning crappy, cheap (but albeit adorable) carnival stuffed animals.

“She has a bunch already.” You joked when he’d gotten a stuffed bear for Clem from knocking down a pyramid of cans.

“So?” He handed the prize to Clementine, who took it happily.

“So, it’s a bunch of gobbledygook.”

Clementine laughed. “Gobbledygook!”

Bucky audibly seethed. “That’s not even how you use it!”

“Sorry,” you scoffed. “didn’t mean to be such a cornball.”

“I beg of you,” he spoke softly, holding your shoulders. “please stop, or I’ll start saying the slang I’ve heard around my office.”

“No!” Clem screamed as if she were being murdered.

Giggling, you shushed her putting a finger to her lips, and she merely giggled. You looked up at him. “Just one more, please?”

How could he say no to you as you looked at him with your own eyes? He sighed, shutting his own and nodding.

“‘Sugar, are you rationed?’ was adorable, and I probably would’ve folded if you said that to me.” You admitted.

He scoffed. “You would’ve backhanded me.”

“No.” You denied. “Rejected you and gave you a look, yes; but never hit you.”

“Gee, thanks.”

The teacups ride was by far one of your favorites. Even with only seeing it in Uptown Girls, you still enjoyed it, despite feeling slightly dizzy from all the spinning. It was much more relaxing to ride the carousel; something you couldn’t remember doing for the longest time.

It was then that the three of you decided to walk alongside the boardwalk. Clem would frequently walk ahead of you, but never too far. She settled upon sitting in the sand to relax when you and Bucky finally had somewhat of a moment alone together.

“I think you’ve made her entire summer.” You said, watching as Clementine built a sandcastle with some kids she just befriended; you wished it was that easy to make friends as an adult.

Bucky looked over at you. “You helped.”

“All of this was your idea.”

“You look beautiful.”

That’s what brought your gaze to him. You didn’t know him in another life when he lived in the 1940s, but you liked to believe that the way he looked at you then was what he looked like when he was himself. Boyish, yet mature.

Snickering, you shook your head.

“I’m serious.” He said.

“‘I’m serious’.” You mimicked in his voice before leaning in so he could only hear you. “You know, I’m not gonna put out just because you got me a pretty dress.”

He huffed, and you couldn’t tell if it was from being amused or slightly aroused. He still wore the same grin you always liked.

“I don’t expect that from you.”

“Uh huh.” You teased.

“I don’t!”

“Mama!”

The tension was broken by the call of your child. You both looked to see her standing in the sand. “Can we go swimming?”

You shook your head. “Baby I already told you we aren’t; and in what swimsuits?”

“We could buy them!”

Your jaw dropped. Usually, the childish greed would’ve appalled you into scolding her. Yet, it was a sunny day, and it was summer, so you merely laughed.

“Absolutely not!”

She groaned yet did nothing more than sit in the sand and sulk. Thank God she didn’t throw a tantrum.

“You know,” Bucky started. “I could-.”

“No.” You interrupted. “You’ve done too much, and she needs to be told ‘no’ or it’ll just make my life hell when she grows up.”

“Yeah, you’re right.” He dropped it.

Silence fell between the two of you, and you rested your head on his shoulder. “Besides, why would I want to take off a perfectly beautiful dress you so caringly told your secretary to tell her wife to craft?”

“It’s not the dress that makes you beautiful.” He pulled you closer.

“Really?”

“Yeah, I should say you’d look beautiful wearing anything; even a potato sack.”

“Huh,” you looked up at him. “so you should say it, but you aren’t. What are you saying them?”

Bucky didn’t say anything, and he didn’t need to. He only smiled, and you watched as his eyes traveled down your body.

A sharp laugh filled your lungs and escaped your mouth as you tried to muffle it with your hand. Bucky took it away as he laughed, hugging you close to him.

“Now I know you weren’t just imagining me in swimsuit just now.” You teased.

He shook his head. “No-!”

“Too scandalous for you, James Barnes.” You threw on an accent one would only hear in black and white movies. “Oh my stars, it was already too much to see a woman’s ankle, but to imagine her in a bathing costume?”

“We didn’t see just women’s ankles back in the forties, doll.”

“What did you see?”

He scoffed, hiding how his cheeks turned red. “Come on.”

“No, I’m serious.” You smirked. “I thought you were all prudes back then. Are you telling me I’m wrong?”

“Yes.” He kissed the top of your head. “Very.”

It was funny; you told him you wanted to take it slow, and you still did to an extent…but it felt so effortless to tease and flirt with him like this.

“We can always go swimming some other time.” You changed the subject as you watched Clementine get over herself and make her way back to you two.

“Preferably not at Coney Island.” Bucky added.

It could’ve been for an array of reasons you guessed; he thought the beach was too crowded, he didn’t like the new version of the amusement park, or he was insecure of his arm being more so on display for everyone. Still, you intercepted with.

“Probably for the best.” You looked directly at your daughter when she took your hand. “I can just imagine you and Clem playing, and then an out of context picture is taken and labeled ‘Brooklyn Senator spotted trying to drown child’; when really, it would be the other way around.”

“Now why would I do that?” Clementine asked innocently while Bucky laughed.

“You’d have your reasons.”

Bucky took Clem’s other hand. “We’d be playing sharks and minnows.”

“What’s that?”

He looked up at you. “What have you been teaching this kid?”

“Well, I tried manners but gave up.”

Clem hummed. “You didn’t teach me anything.”

You raised your arm up, hoisting her halfway into the air and Bucky soon followed. Both of you swung her as you walked, resulting in her into a fit of giggles. As the sun beat down on your neck, it wasn’t just you getting tired. Clem’s eyes grew heavier, and by the time you made it back to the entrance of Deno’s Wonder Wheel, she was falling asleep on her feet.

“Okay,” Bucky hoisted her into his arms. “maybe it’s time to go home.”

“Nooooo.” She whined but nuzzled her face into his neck.

You ran your hand over her hair, then whispered to Bucky. “She’s getting too big to be carried. I can-.”

“-I got her.” He said just as quietly back.

“I wanna ride the wheel.” She continued to sulk.

You rubbed her cheek. “You’d throw up and ruin your dress.”

“No, I won’t.”

“We can go on the wheel another day, pumpkin.” Bucky cooed.

“I wanna go swimming.”

“We can go swimming another day.” He promised.

The cab ride back was peaceful. It was the better kind of silence; one where no one had to say a thing to feel comfortable. Part of that was because Clementine drifted off to sleep. Bucky wouldn’t say it aloud, but just from how he looked down at her resting face, you knew he never imagined someone so small and helpless would feel safe enough to fall asleep in his arms.

It was only four in the afternoon, but it had been a long, exciting day. When you made it back to the apartment, you watched from the doorway of Clementine’s room as Bucky carefully laid her down on her bed, tucking her in.

Something in you shifted as you watched such a domestic scene.

As he tiptoed out of the room and carefully shut the door, you found that you were wrong earlier that day.

It was him staring at you then in there outside your daughter’s bedroom did you notice how beautiful he was. How his chest heaved in air gently while previously holding his own breath as if it would awake Clementine, how his eyes gazed over you to try and figure out exactly what was going on inside your head.

“You alright, honey?”

Your eyes ran over his lips, and after inhaling a shaky breath, you took his hand. After leading him into the sitting room, and onto the couch, you straddled his lap and placed your hands on his face.

Lightly tracing every inch of it, you brought your lips to his cheek, and then the other. Bucky shut his eyes, sinking into the couch and your touch as his hands drifted to your hips. You hovered your mouth over his.

“Too much?” You asked.

“No.” He breathed. “Not at all.”

You pressed your lips to his gently at first. It didn’t take long for the heat of your breaths to heighten as Bucky pulled you closer into him as you kissed. Your hands traveled into his hair, loosely pulling on the short strands causing him to grunt with each tug.

The farther you sank into his lap, the higher your skirt hiked up your hips. The coolness of his metal hand traveling up your thigh tore a yelp through your throat.

“I’m sorry.” He asked, immediately stopping.

You shook your head. “Just surprised me. I don’t wanna do more than this.”

“Okay.”

“Yeah?” You kissed him again.

“Yeah.” He sighed into your mouth, bringing his right hand under your shirt to rub circles into the small of your back.

You lightly bit his lip as you smiled into the kiss, and he groaned, wrapping his arm around your waist and his other around your thigh to hoist you up. You tried to stifle your giggle against his lips as he gently laid you down on the couch before climbing over you. You parted your legs to give him enough space, resuming kissing.

You could only feel him all around you. One hand would clutch the fabric of your skirt while the other cradled the back of your neck to not rest uncomfortably on the arm of the couch.

It was when you swore he had kissed all the air from your lungs when he finally pulled away and draped his legs over the couch, panting as if he’d ran a mile. You smiled wider than you had all day, you swore. You fully lay yourself down, tossing your feet over his lap and watching him.

He rested his head in his hand, still breathing quite deeply.

When he hadn’t looked at you yet, you frowned, sitting up and tugging your skirt down over your bare legs.

“You okay?”

“Yeah.” he huffed, finally meeting your gaze, a shy grin upon his lips. “Just a lot.”

“Oh…” you dropped your eyes before looking back at him. “Good though?”

“Yes.” He said without a hint of reluctance.

You chuckled, bringing your hand up to his hair. “I think you should grow it out.”

“Why?” He wrinkled his nose.

“More for me to run my hands through.”

Bucky smiled, dare you say, almost shyly. “I’ll think about.”

And the two of you just sat there in each other’s company, debating if it was better to wish each other farewell for the day, or be absolutely still and where you were with each other.

“You know,” You began. “I think Clem would love it if you stayed for dinner.”

“I think so too.” He agreed. “And maybe a movie?”

“Oh, she’d adore it.”

[kisses4themissus]

Just A Fool | M.R X Reader

a/n: happy mothers day y'all...why not celebrate mother's day with some cuteness...and angst.. pairing: Michael "Robby" Robinavitch x Single Mom!Reader wc: 5.2k (idk I blinked and it was at 5k)

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Chatter and clicking of plates and cups filled the restaurant.

“So?” Robby began, glancing over to Lacey then to you beside her. “How did you not know she’s mine?” You asked, confused how he had assumed she was your niece. “I wasn’t thinking, does anyone else know?” he asked, glancing over to see Lacey already staring at him.

“I thought everyone knew i was a mom, lovebug stop staring at him.” You said, patting lacey’s hand on the table.

“He looks like the guy from josh’s game!” Lacey realized after staring intently at robby. “If having a kid turns you away then– what did you say?” you turned to lacey who sat next to you smiling at robby.

“He looks like the army guy!” She laughed, before turning to robby, sitting up on her knees. “My mommy likes his face hair.” She told Robby, who chuckled and titled his head. “Army guy?” Robby questioned.

“She thinks you look like a call of duty character.” You explained, chuckling to yourself. 

With a shocked expression, Robby stared at Lacey for a bit before turning to you. “She plays call of duty?” he asked, shocked as the little girl began to nod proudly.

You laughed and shook your head. “Her older cousins play but they let her get on the mic to talk shit.” You explained, looking over to see Lacey searching for her restaurant crayon. 

Robby nodded at the explanation. “I’ve dated a single mom before, she had a son…his name is jake.” Robby spoke softly as he watched you recognize the name.

“The boy who lost his girlfriend at pittfest?” You questioned, earning a slow nod from robby.

“He told me that he had gone to a therapist and said that it didn’t help but when he went to the hospital, he ran into someone..” Robby hinted, making you nod.

“I know the grief he’s going through, told him I wished Adamson was here so I could give him a proper apology.” you told robby, running your hand over the back of lovebug’s head 

There was a beat of silence before Robby asked.

“Was the person you lost her dad?” Robby motioned for lovebug who was too busy following the little maze on her place setting to listen to the adults.

You shook your head. “I wish he was her dad, he would’ve been a great one.” You sighed, looking down at the little girl. Robby saw the look of sadness and backed off the topic. 

Feeling eyes on her, Lacey looked up and saw both you and robby staring at her. “What?” She asked, looking a bit upset. “Got a problem?” She asked, raising her crayon to point at robby and you.

Robby chuckled and raised his hands in surrender. “I haven’t said anything.” 

Lacey sighed and nodded before flipping her place mat to face Robby, handing him a yellow crayon. She tapped the paper and pointed to her little tic tac toe board where she had placed a big X in the middle.

Glancing over you took in a deep breath and looked at robby with a smile. “Good luck, she’s good at those..” You sighed, picking up your drink.

Robby had begun to play with Lacey, at first letting her win but slowly grew to be competitive as she managed to trap him each time before running her red crayon over a line of hidden X’s. He leaned across the table and looked at Lacey in a mix of shock and awe.

“How do you keep doing that?” He laughed as Lacey shrugged before turning to you.

“How much longer, I'm hungry!” She dragged out her letters, flopping over on your shoulder.

You laughed and rubbed her head. “I’m not sure lovebug, we’re not the only people in here eating.” You explained, motioning towards the other booths and tables.

She sighed and placed her hands under her chin as she sat back down. She looked out the window before sighing once more, a bit more dramatic.

Both you and robby exchanged a look.

“Why does your family all call her that?” Robby asked, earning a laugh from you.

“Before I found out I was pregnant, I claimed I had a really terrible stomach bug, that’s why I was always tired, vomiting, and grumpy. So when I took a test and it was positive my brothers teased me by saying I had a lovebug in my stomach.” You explained.

Robby chuckled and nodded. “She’s more of a bedbug though!” You teased, tickling her sides. 

“Stop it mommy!” She laughed, wiggling from you.

You let her go and smiled as she sighed and moved back to her part of the booth, leaning over the table, Lacey looked at robby.

“Dr. robby. what’s your favorite color?” She asked, tapping the table with her pink painted nails. Robby chuckled and pretended to think.

“Blue.” He answered, earning a nod from lovebug.

“I like blue, my favorite is green.” She smiled at the doctor. 

“How was rat practice?” he asked, taking a sip of his drink, watching as Lacey perked up.

“Great, me and the older kids said on opening night we should do WWE rats, and– and I'd be the flying rat off the couch!” She explained, her eyes bright as she said her plan. You and Robby laughed.

“And the boys agreed?” You asked, laughing into your cup.

“Yep, Jason said to do it!” She nodded, waiting for you to finish your drink before asking for a sip.

Robby’s heart warmed as he watched you and Lacey across from him.

Lacey happily drank the lemonade, streaks of the drink on the sides of her mouth, she sighed and wiped it away with the back of her hand.

“Here honey.” Robby handed the little girl his napkin, smiling warmly as she nodded and wiped her face and arm. “Thanks dr. robby!” She grinned.

“You just call me robby.” His heart grew as you laughed.

“But you’re a doctor!” Lovebug tried to reason. “Like when mommy isn’t nice, I call her dr. mommy.” She explained before taking gulps of more lemonade.

“What’s your favorite food lacey?” Robby asked, making the little girl stop her gulps, she let out a deep gasp before answering.

“I like cheesy noodles!” She explained, making Robby tilt his head in confusion. 

“Fettuccine alfredo.” You clarified, lacey nodding in agreement. She turned to your purse and searched through it. Leaving you and robby to your own conversation.

 - - - - - - - -

Leaving the restaurant, you attempted to carry lacey who looked around the street, her sugar rush going crazy.

Robby noticed the look on your face as Lacey chattered and attempted to climb around you and quickly stepped in.

“C’mon monkey.” He took lacey and held her up. You smiled at the two. Lacey settled down a bit as Robby placed her on the ground before giving her a piggyback ride.

“Sure, your old man back won’t give out?” You teased, earning a laugh from robby; the fluttering in your stomach resumed. “I can’t guarantee it.” he joked, following as you walked to your car down the street.

As you passed an ice cream parlor, you took a deep breath and waited.

“Ooh, can we stop!” Lacey squealed, making you chuckle. Robby glanced at you with a grin. 

“It is nice to have dessert after dinner.” Robby teased, making you sighed before nodding at the pair, who cheered and walked inside. As the tired employee greets you three, staring at the ice cream flavors you turned to ask what everyone was getting only to see a sight that’d melt your heart.

Robby had moved Lacey to be in his arms, nodding as she pointed out different flavors she had liked the sound of. You felt red as robby’s free hand fell to your lower back and guided you to the counter.

“We’ll take a waffle cone with, what did you say you wanted honey?” Robby asked, looking at Lacey who sat comfortable in his arms.

“Cotton candy!” She squealed, making robby chuckle and nod at the employee before turning to you.

“What do you want?” he asked, not noticing how flustered you were. “Um- can i get a brownie sundae please.” You ordered, your face feeling overwhelmingly warm.

The employee nodded and typed something on the register screen. “And one fudge sundae.” Robby finished, removing his hand from your back to get his wallet out of his back pocket. 

“Hold this honey.” Robby told Lacey who nodded and held his leather wallet as he got out a twenty. At the same time you had pulled up your digital wallet on your phone.

You and robby looked at each other, robby looked almost offended as you attempted to pay. “Put that away, I'm treating you girls.” He playfully scolded you, making you nervously chuckle, nodding as you turned your phone off, letting him hand over the bill.

“Could you get the change for me, Lacey's shoe is falling off.” He asked, not waiting for a response, walking over to a booth and sat lacey down before helping the little girl with her Mary Jane shoes.

“Cute family.” The employee smiled at you, handing the change over.

You stuttered to get the words out. “Thanks..” You smiled and quickly walked over to the two.

After you and robby had shared your sundaes with each other, you three continued the way to your car.

As you unlocked the back door and loaded Lacey in, she sighed and whined. 

“What’s wrong babybug?” You asked, running a hand on her leg, trying to sooth her. “I don’t want dr. robby to leave!” She sighed, looking at Robby with puppy eyes. “Please come home with me and mommy!” She pleaded. 

You sighed at her. “Eat your ice cream before it melts some more!” You pointed to the waffle cone, she followed your finger and quickly jumped up to start eating it.

Both you and robby chuckled, softly shutting the door. You turned to robby and looked around the parking lot to see a few cars.

“Which is yours?” You asked, finally looking at him who smiled at you. “I walked.” He shrugged, watching as your eyes widened. “What?!” You scoffed at him. “And I thought carrying lovebug would’ve taken your back out..” You lightly laughed.

He nodded and motioned for you to get in the car. 

“You can’t be serious, I'm not gonna drive off and leave you to walk back to your apartment michael..” You said, noticing the flushed look on robby’s face. “What did you call me?” He asked, a sly grin growing.

You recalled your words and froze at the slip up. “Robby…I meant robby!” You attempted to cover. He nodded and grinned. “Nice cover slick.” 

“Are you getting in the passenger or what?” You asked, turning to the driver’s seat.

Robby laughed and nodded, opening the driver's door for you before running to the passenger side.

 - - - - - - - -

Somehow lacey had managed to convince you and robby to go back to your own apartment, robby agreed on staying till lovebug had passed out.

Unlocking the door, you sighed and smiled as Lacey ran into the living room and threw herself at the couch. Robby stayed at the doorway and admired the apartment, hanging plants in every corner of the rooms, a small kitchen and living room, two doors on each side of the apartment; easily you could tell which was Lacey's the colored construction paper and stickers stuck on the white door.

You kicked off your shoes and walked to your kitchen, opening the fridge to grab a cold water bottle, you turned to robby and offered one. “No thanks, nice place.” He nodded and looked around.

“Thank you.” You smiled, walking around the kitchen and poured the water into a bottle with cartoon characters before going to the couch and handing Lacey the plastic cup, “drink it for me please!” You smiled as the little girl began to chug it down.

She hopped onto the sofa, and patted the spot next to her for robby to sit, you sat on the opposite side of lacey and picked up the remote.

“Movie or bluey?” You asked lovebug who paused before looking at robby then back at you. “Movie since dr. Robby hasn't seen bluey!” She sighed, motioning for you to pick a movie out. 

Robby chuckled as she slouched down, and watched as you scrolled through movies, waiting for someone to pick.

“OH ALADDIN!” Lacey popped up from the couch and pointed at the screen. You hovered over the disney movie and turned to see Robby watching with a smile as Lacey bounced around, waiting.

He glanced at you and nodded.

It had barely gotten half way through when Lacey's sugar high hit, causing her to crash on the carpet in front of the hung tv. “She looks like a bug that’s been squished.” Robby chuckled, leaning over as you got up and prepared yourself to pick her up.

“Oh that’s because she’s tired from her long day, normally she’s fighting off demons.” You joked, you picked up the half full water bottle and placed it on the table to the side of the sofa.

Robby got up from the couch and carefully scooped up lovebug and looked at you. 

Too busy staring at robby’s broad shoulders you hadn’t noticed him gently shushing Lacey as she whined in her sleep, gently patting her back. Snapping back, you led robby to her room and watched as robby sat her down gently, you walked over and settled her in.

Robby smiled at Lacey's room; fairy lights were strung up across the room’s ceiling, painted stars on the walls, he looked back and blushed; It had felt oddly right to be domestic with you.

With a forehead kiss, you backed away from Lacey's room, turning on her fairy lights before leaving the room with robby.

Robby quietly shut her room door, noticing as you walked to your kitchen to clean up. 

He sighed and walked over to you. “I’ll be taking my leave now.” He smiled as you turned to him, two wine glasses in hand. “So soon?” You grinned, placing the glasses down on the island before turning to an upper cabinet and pulled out a bottle of wine.

Robby chuckled and sighed, looking down. “Alright, you got me.” He shook his head and walked further into the kitchen as you popped open the bottle. 

Robby took it gently from your hands and began pouring some into the glasses.

You scoffed at the amount. “Give me that, stop trying to be cheap with it!” You both laughed, taking the bottle from his hands.

He watched as you poured more wine into the glasses.

“Trying to wine and dine me?” He asked, a sly grin on his face as you froze in place.

“...possibly..” You looked at him quickly before taking a long sip of the wine. “I mean, I'm not opposed.” he told you before taking a drink. Feeling flushed, you watched as he drank more. “If you think you can stay quiet then absolutely..” You shrugged, placing down your glass.

There was a beat before both you and robby leaned into each other and let your lips touch, it was exciting, your stomach curled in as he reached to cup your face, bring you deeper into the kiss.

You pulled away first, smiling as he followed your lips. Placing your hands on his chest you motioned to your bedroom. Robby smiled and picked you up, cupping your bottom as he carried you to the bedroom, shutting the door and locking it behind you both.

 - - - - - - - -

Waking up to the smell of food was unusual for robby. He looked up from where he laid, all the memories of the night before rushed back, the late night chat with you.

He grinned and got up, putting on his clothes from the day before. Opening the door he saw you in the kitchen, humming to yourself as you made coffee and prepared something. Walking over he stopped at the kitchen island, smiled as you turned and grinned at him.

“Morning robby..” You said a bit shyly. He chuckled and walked over you, wrapping his arm around your waist. “Good morning, sleep well?” He asked, you closed your eyes and leaned your head against him. “Be quiet!” You giggled.

Robby had begun to help you make sandwiches, he raised an eyebrow as he placed another into a zip lock bag. “What are these for?” He asked, slightly confused.

You chuckled as you finished another sandwich. “Every other weekend, I get lacey all dressed up and cutesy and we go have a picnic.” You explained.

“That’s sweet.” Robby smiled.

As you both talked about your date, Lacey's door swung open to show a tired and crazy haired lacey. Her pajamas all messed up, one pant leg was hoisted up by her knee while the other was on the ground, her shirt was now backwards.

She walked out and rubbed her eyes as she yawned, she dragged over a stepping stool and hopped onto a stool nearby to sit down.

Robby quietly chuckled at the sight while you smiled and walked over to your crazy little girl. “You ready for our picnic?” You asked, earning a nod from her.

“Is dr. Robby coming with?” She asked, quietly. You looked over your shoulder and shrugged. You leaned in and shrugged at you. “I think you should ask him.” Your words made her light up.

“Do you want to go with us dr. robby?” Lacey asked, sitting up looking at robby with her puppy dog eyes once more.

He sighed and nodded. “I’d love to!” He grinned. With an answer lacey nodded and motioned for you to help her down.

Lacey ran off to your bathroom to brush her teeth and her hair. Leaving you and robby alone again.

Robby looked down at his clothes before nodding to himself, with a deep breath he walked over to you and leaned in. “I need to go back to my place, I need an outfit for the picnic with you lovely ladies.” He grinned as you got flustered and nodded, robby leaned in and kissed your cheek before leaving your apartment, out walked lacey, toothbrush in her mouth, her comb stuck in her hair as she looked around and shrugged at you. 

“Where’s dr. robby?” She mumbled, making you giggle before walking over and guided her back to the bathroom. “He went home to change, just like we need to change you into your dress.”

 - - - - - - - -

Robby had sent you a text about a park he knew that had good shade and a playground to take lacey to. You had agreed to meet there, packing up the picnic basket, a big enough blanket and getting lacey into the car; thankfully you had gotten there peacefully and quickly.

You carried the basket while Lacey insisted she carried the blanket, she walked through the grass, smiling as little kids ran past and towards the big playground. You had spotted robby across the park and walked with lacey over to him.

“Hi Michael!” Lacey yelled, making Robby turn and smile widely at you both.

You laughed and looked at lacey. “How do you know his name?” You asked, the little girl shrugged.

“After ice cream you called him michael.” She explained, running over as Robby knelt down to her height.

“Look at how pretty your dress is!” Robby smiled and spun her around, making her skirt fan out.

She laughed and sighed as he stopped and turned to you, his cheeks tinting pink.

You stood before him in a matching dress with lacey, a basket in hand and a warm smile on your face made his heart palpitate. “You look wonderful too!” He told you, taking the basket from your arm as lacey attempted to lay the blanket out.

“Thanks robby!” You smiled, helping lacey before sitting down on the blanket. Turning back to him, you chuckled as robby stood still, watching over you both.

“Come sit.” You patted the spot next you, robby nodded and with a groan sat down, placing the basket to the side. 

Lovebug began to buzz on her knees as kids ran past laughing, she turned to you.

Without having to ask you nodded at her and watched as she zoomed to the playground. “She could hardly wait.” Robby laughed, his arm going around your waist. You watched with a smile as Lacey joined a group of kids easily and began to play.

“I didn’t get to tell you but you look very nice as well.” You complimented, turning your head to robby who was looking over his shoulder. “I don’t look as good as you in that dress though.” He winked, making you both chuckle.

TIme had passed, you and robby had ended up cuddled together under the tree, watching as Lacey played with other kids, talking about anything and everything. 

You sighed and turned to look at robby, he had opened up about his struggle with adamson’s death then jake and his fallout. Your mouth frowned as you opened your mouth.

“Her dad’s name is nicholas callahan..” you started, earning a look from robby as you opened up. “He was my ballet partner, he and my ex boyfriend were best friends, everyone at the studio was surprised to find out that me and him had begun dating rather than me dating nick.” You looked down at your palms, not meeting robby’s gaze.

“When everything had happened, Nick comforted me...I was a fool, he took advantage  of my grief and convinced me to sleep with him; he said it’d take the weight off..” You sighed, feeling Robby's grip tightening on your waist in anger at Lacey's father.

“When I realized I was pregnant and went to tell him…he had left for Scotland, saying he didn’t want to be stuck in one place; I told my mom I wanted to quit ballet and the reason why.” You finally looked up to see Robby's eyes of remorse.

“That dick..” Robby muttered under his breath.

“He’s only seen lovebug a few times, she knows who he is, what he does for work; and how rarely she sees him.” You began to tear up. “My ex’s family knows about the whole thing, they adore lacey.” You chuckle, looking up to see robby looking distracted behind you. 

“She really likes you y’know.” You added, noticing the far off look in robby’s eyes but brushed it off.

He absentmindedly agreed, a pain struck your heart at his actions. 

You looked over to see lacey on the monkey bars, playing chicken with another little girl. As you turned back to robby, you saw him with his phone out, typing quickly.

“Is something wrong?” You asked, robby sighed and got up from the blanket. “I need to deal with something but you and Lacey have a good picnic.” He gave a peck on your lips before giving a quick smile before running to the other side of the park, leaving you alone on the gingham blanket.

Calling lacey over you had pulled out the sandwiches and ate as lacey talked your ear off about her new friends, part of your mind listened while the other half wondered why robby left urgently.

 - - - - - - - -

Going back to the hospital after spending the weekend with robby was lonely, no help with lacey’s questions of medical things she’d hear you both talking about.

As you scanned your badge into the ICU a mix of night shift and day shift all stood together around the nurses station, watching you with wide grins. You ignored them and placed your things down before going to log into a computer.

The night doctor stared at you before sighing and walking over to your desk. “So, how was your weekend?” She asked, smiling down at you.

You chuckled as you scrolled through files from the night before. “It was good, took lovebug to the park, got into a fight at my parents studio oh and made cookies!” You listed before turning to see the pile of workers.

“You forgot your date with dr. robby!” She giggled, making your face drop. 

“What? How did you know about that?” You asked, standing up, your face feeling warm. She quickly pulled out her phone and showed you a photo.

It was of you and robby at the coffee shop, both smiling at each other almost looking like a couple, it was clearly taken across the street.

“We met up for coffee…so what?” You asked bashfully, glancing back down at your new lockscreen. She laughed and leaned against the desks. “So what? You got your biggest hater to go on a date with you!” She laughed and began to clap at you.

You quickly stopped her. “Can we stop talking about my love life in front of all the patients, please?” You asked, gesturing to the open room doors.

She sighed and waved you off. “Most are intubated or probably want to hear something other than a depressing diagnosis.” She insisted; making you sigh.

“Fine, it was a date, he may have also stayed the weekend at my place..” You smirked shyly. 

A bunch of squeals and gasps came from the ICU workers. “Are you dating?” One of the respiratory nurses asked, grinning widely. You sighed and tilted your head to think. “Umm– I’m not too sure, he hasn’t officially said..” Your words made everyone stop and stare at you.

“And he stayed over?” The night doctor asked once more, making you nod.

Quickly the excitement disbursed. “I knew he was a player..” One of them sighed, shaking their head.

“What do you mean?” you asked, watching as the ICU workers began to pick off some post it notes off the fridge, groaning at each one.

“Do I have to tell her?” The nurse sighed, earning a nod from the others. She sighed and walked over to you and rubbed your arm as she sat you down.

“There’s rumors of dr. robby dating dr. Collins and for a while the rumor was dead but… lately all the other departments have been talking about them,” She sighed, your stomach tightened before releasing. 

“Apparently, one of the girls in CT saw them snuggled up together just this past weekend at the park by that one deli shop..” She finished, watching for your reaction.

The park…the park he had suggested for you, Lacey and him go for your picnic, the park where he kissed you at–.

You sighed and shook your head. 

“Their exes so what, maybe he needs closure..” You tried to excuse, your stomach began to sink as you thought about it some more. “I need to go get some fresh air..” You quickly got up from your chair and exited the ICU.

As you passed through the pitt, you were stopped by Langdon and McKay who both smiled widely at you. “Wanna place a bet?” Langdon asked, making you look at him confused.

“What kind?” You sighed, looking around for robby, but failed.

“Rumor has it, Robby's got a girlfriend, and I'd place a bet quickly if I were you..” Langdon smiled, you froze and shook your head. “No thanks, left my wallet upstairs anyways.., hey where’s robby?” You asked, turning to mckay who shrugged and glanced around the ED.

“No ones seen him since he got in.” Dana replied, sighing as she placed her hands on her hips.

You nodded and excused yourself to go to the ambulance bay, as you stepped outside by the bush you sighed and closed your eyes.

As the feeling of bile rising slowly washed away laughter caught your attention.

Opening your eyes you froze as you saw robby with Collins by her car; both laughing together. The bile quickly rose up as you saw the look of love in robby’s eyes.

Finally leaning over, preparing as the bile rose to your throat. Looking up for a final time to see robby rubbing over Collins stomach before cupping her face with a longing look.

The EMTs nearby jumped into action as you vomited into the bush. 

One held your hair back. “Are you alright?” She asked, you nodded and took a shakily breath before wiping your mouth. “Peachy..” You sighed, watching robby and collins off in their own world.

You stood up before walking back into the ED, rushing to the nearest bathroom. Thankfully being a single stall, you locked the door and bent over the sink.

Once again you had been taken as a fool; thinking a man would love you with no bad intention; was him being sweet to lacey just to get you to sleep with him faster.

Sighing, you glanced in the bathroom’s mirror and fixed the stray hairs as tears began to form. Silently crying as you perfected yourself.

Rolling back your shoulders you sighed and wiped away the tears. You stared at yourself before walking back out. As you exited the bathroom, Langdon laughed and shook you by your shoulders. “I won the bet, I knew him and Collins were together again!” He laughed.

You looked over to where the group of ED workers all cheered for the pair.

Among the workers, robby found your eyes, watching as they went from lovingly to sharp. He went to excuse himself but you had been faster as you slipped to the staff elevators with a blank expression.

 - - - - - - - -

The ICU had noticed the subtle shift of your personality; it was only seen on your worst days.

Everyone had quietly spoken about it. You had been snippy with any ED call, denying any bed space and allowing any OR patients the bed first. 

While on a cafeteria run, you walked through the ED, ignoring the gaze stuck on your back.

As you passed a curtained room, someone calling your name made you stop. You turned and opened the curtain and begged for your day to be over or to keel over and be bedridden.

“Nick..” You sighed, fixing the end of your jacket, feeling insecure around him; Nick the man your whole family hated, the man your heart still had affection for, Lacey's father.

He sighed at the sight of you.

“You still look pretty as always.” he smiled, admiring as you looked around the room. “What are you here for?” You asked, avoiding his gaze.

“Got trampled by some folks during a fire drill.” He explained, smirking at you. “Are you my doctor?” He smiled charmingly at you.

As you opened your mouth to speak the curtain was pulled back to show robby, collins and santos.

You saw robby and shut your mouth before turning to nick. “I got bumped upstairs, better patients and doctors.” You told him, using santos as a shield from robby walking closer to you. 

“These will be your doctors, dr. Collins, dr. santos and…dr. robinavitch.” You motioned to the three, seeing robby’s hurt expression from the corner of your eye.

“You still have my number right, let me see you and lovebug this weekend?” He asked, you turned and noticed robby’s furrowed brows at the patient.

“My apartment’s still the same.” You told Nick before walking to the elevators, leaving Robby to brew in his anger.

robby taglist!! @nerdgirljen @whatdoesntkillyoumakesyoustrange @evans-dejong @lovebuggyies @snowflames-world @whimsicalfungiforager @itschelseacisneros @kmc1989 @foolishseven @rhysology @delicatetrashtree @equallyshaw @qardasngan @fallout-girl219 @dantemorenatalie @18lkpeters @ohmystrawberrycheesecake @blackblueberries @swiftie-4-lifes-stuff @isla-finke-blog @baileythepenguin

[returnofeternity]

The van x employee thing was so hot 😭 & now jm thinking - reader who doesn’t know van has security cameras in the back room so you go there to jerk off on your break oblivious to the fact that she’s watching you on the monitor feeling like a complete perv but unable to stop herself. (& okay maybe you did know about the cameras).

i feel like van took up 99% of my inbox idk how this happened but i love it

she definitely records it and makes it into a VHS tape so she can always watch it.... she could always just record it on her phone, but there's something about having a collection of random security tapes of you.....pervert!van? 😳

and this has DEFINITELY happened more than once.

van gets you so horny that you need to ask if you can take your break early just to touch yourself to the thought of her :(

the first time it happens though.... she almost passes out. she's so glad the security cams have audio because she hears you gently whining out her name and feels even more like a creep for not being able to look away while her employee touches themselves. love the idea of her being unable to talk, let alone look you in the eye after, but what about confident perv!van... van who innocently asks where you went off to and what took you so long, van who loves how you splutter and tell her this bullshit excuse like she wasn't watching you, like you didn't know she was watching you, because you do, but you're embarrassed from getting caught red-handed :(

but you keep doing it.

and van keeps watching.

need van who comes down mid jerk off session to tell you to move more into view because she cant see you properly 😭 van who says "fuck it" and moves you herself, pushing you against the breakroom wall and giving you head until your legs turn into jelly.

[better-setterv2]

Hi! How are you? Idk if you are not comfortable writing about things that happen in real life (you Can change the name) but i would love to read about reader reaction to lewis liking his ex picture! With a happy ending he thank you

𝒩𝑜𝓉 𝒥𝓊𝓈𝓉 𝒜 𝐿𝒾𝓀𝑒

Authors Note: Hi all! Here is a quick request I completed today when I should have been doing class work…Enjoy! Lots of love xx

P.S I hope this meets the expectations of what you requested and doesn’t seem rushed

Summary: After discovering Lewis liked a sultry photo of his ex just before her engagement announcement, the reader confronts her insecurities. Only to have Lewis reassure her with a heartfelt proposal that proves she's the only one he wants.

Warnings: bit of angst

Taglist: @hannibeeblog @nebulastarr

MASTERLIST

࣪𓏲ᥫ᭡ ₊ ⊹ ˑ ִ ֶ 𓂃࣪𓏲ᥫ᭡ ₊ ⊹ ˑ ִ ֶ 𓂃࣪𓏲ᥫ᭡ ₊ ⊹ ˑ ࣪𓏲ᥫ᭡ ₊ ⊹ ˑ ִ ֶ 𓂃࣪𓏲ᥫ᭡ ₊

The sun was barely rising over Monaco when you woke up to your phone vibrating with back to back notifications. You almost ignored it - another group chat, probably, or your best friend sending TikToks before her morning coffee. But then you saw her name.

Nicole Scherzinger.

And beneath it, two posts.

The first was a sultry black and white shot of her in a body hugging satin dress, cut high on the thigh, one hand tangled in her hair, the other resting just above her hipbone. She looked radiant. Wild. Free. The caption was a simple black heart.

The second post was a carousel - a ring, a kiss, a sweeping view of Italy.

“Yes a thousand times.” The caption said.

And in the likes?

Lewis Hamilton.

Your heart dropped.

You stared at the screen, feeling everything go unnaturally still the room, your breath, your chest.

You weren’t the jealous type. Not really. You’d seen the pictures of them before, the old red carpet photos, the gossip columns, the recycled headlines. You’d told yourself that was the past. You were his present. His future.

But something about him liking that photo the sultry one, the one posted right before she announced she was engaged…made your stomach twist into knots.

It was like seeing a private moment you weren’t supposed to witness. Like a secret you hadn’t been let in on.

You stared at the photo again. Then again. Then at the comments. And then, finally at the name highlighted among the hundreds of thousands of likes.

Your boyfriend’s name.

Lewis emerged from the shower a few minutes later, towel slung low around his waist, humming something low under his breath. He stopped when he saw the expression on your face.

“Hey. You alright?”

You didn’t answer right away. Instead, you held up your phone.

His brows pulled together. “What’s that?”

“You tell me.” Your voice came out quieter than you meant it to. “You liked her photo. The one where she’s practically naked. And then she posted that she’s engaged.”

Lewis blinked, stepping closer. “I - what? Wait, what are you talking about?”

“She posted a sexy photo,” you said, trying not to sound petty. “Then minutes later posted her engagement. And you liked both.”

His face fell.

He crossed the room, taking your phone gently from your hand and scrolling through the posts. You watched his expression go from confused to frustrated to instantly guilty.

“Shit,” he muttered. “I didn’t even notice the second one.”

“Not sure that makes it better,” you said, trying to keep your voice from cracking. “I know I’m not her. I know you loved her once. But you liking that picture, it felt like you were looking back. Like some part of you still misses it. Misses her.”

“Hey. No.” His voice was sharp but earnest as he crouched in front of you, hands on your knees. “That’s not it. I promise. I didn’t even see the engagement post. I saw the first one when I was half asleep last night and I just scroll, double tap, move on. Mindless. It didn’t mean anything.”

“It meant something to me.”

That’s what broke him.

He sat down beside you on the bed, his head in his hands. “I’m sorry. I was careless. I didn’t think about how it might make you feel, and that’s on me.”

You stared down at your hands. “It just hurts. She was such a big part of your past. And sometimes I feel like I’m just standing in her shadow. That no matter how far we go, she’ll always be that part of your life that people compare me to.”

Lewis reached for you, gently lifting your chin until your eyes met his.

“You’re not standing in anyone’s shadow,” he said softly. “And you never will be.”

You stayed quiet, your heart aching in that vulnerable way you hated, the kind that made you feel small. Replaceable.

Lewis stood, turned and went to the drawer in the corner - the one you never really paid attention to. He pulled out a small velvet box and held it in his palm for a second before walking back over.

“I wasn’t gonna do this yet,” he said. “Had some grand plan in mind. Something in Italy maybe next month . Somewhere romantic. But maybe what matters more is doing it right now to show you it’s real. That it truly counts.”

He sank to one knee.

You gasped softly, lips parting, eyes darting between his face and the box in his hand.

“Liking that photo? That was a mistake. But the biggest truth in my life is this - I don’t want her. I don’t want anyone else. It’s always been you. You’re the one I want beside me when I’m tired, when I win, when I lose. You’re the one I think about when I land in a new country, when I’m stuck in traffic, when I’m lying in bed staring at the ceiling.”

The box opened, revealing a diamond ring that glimmered even in the soft morning light. It was timeless. Elegant. You.

“I want a life with you. A messy, honest, ridiculously beautiful life,” he said. “Marry me. Let’s make our story the one people talk about.”

You covered your mouth with your hands, breath trembling. The pain in your chest had softened into something warmer, fuller.

“Yes,” you whispered. “God, yes.”

He slipped the ring onto your finger like it belonged there, like you belonged. And when he kissed you, it wasn’t performative or perfect. It was just him sincere and sure and a little shaky, like he’d been holding that love in for too long.

࣪𓏲ᥫ᭡ ₊ ⊹ ˑ ִ ֶ 𓂃࣪𓏲ᥫ᭡ ₊ ⊹ ˑ ִ ֶ 𓂃࣪𓏲ᥫ᭡ ₊ ⊹ ˑ ࣪𓏲ᥫ᭡ ₊ ⊹ ˑ ִ ֶ 𓂃࣪𓏲ᥫ᭡ ₊

Later that night , social media buzzed again only this time, it was about you.

A new post. From Lewis.

A photo of the two of you curled up on your sun soaked balcony, your ring front and center, his lips pressed to your temple.

Caption: “Some things aren’t for the timeline. But this? This love? I want the world to know.”

There were no more doubts after that.

Not because of the ring.

But because of the way he looked at you every day after, like you were the only person who ever mattered.

Because you were.

Every quiet moment after in the slow mornings tangled in sheets, in the late nights when sleep wouldn’t come and the world felt too loud, he looked at you like that.

Like you were the calm after every storm.

The choice he made a thousand times over.

The beginning and the forever.

And when he held your hand in public, when the flashes went off and whispers of "Is that his fiancée?" rippled through the crowd, he didn’t let go.

He didn’t flinch.

Because you were no secret.

No rebound.

No shadow.

You were it.

His love. His future. His home.

And the whole world could watch, because he finally had everything he’d ever wanted.

And this time, he wasn’t letting go.

[katnipp]

idk if this is fluff lol but like idol Rina and yn (from different groups) caught shopping and holding hands together and being lowkey romantic and lovey dovey (it's karinas fault) and fans freaking out

it’s not fanservice if it’s real— yu jimin

genre: FLUFF👅

synopsis: karina and y/n keep “accidentally” getting caught being in love. fans lose it. karina leans in. y/n tries not to.

a/n: had to let a few stories marinate before i posted them💔💔

—

it starts with a text.

pretty girl [3:14pm]:

come shopping with me

i’ll buy u stuff

also i miss u. a little. maybe. whatever

y/n [3:16pm]:

how do u manage to make flirting sound like a threat

i’ll be there in 20

—

twenty-five minutes later, y/n finds karina in a black hoodie and dark shades, standing in front of a vintage boutique like she’s waiting to get recruited for a spy mission.

“you look like a celebrity trying not to get noticed,” y/n teases, pulling down her own bucket hat.

“i am a celebrity,” karina deadpans, then grins and holds out her hand. “hi. missed you.”

y/n hesitates for a split second—but karina’s already lacing their fingers together like it’s the most natural thing in the world.

“rina,” y/n whispers, eyes darting around. “what if someone sees—”

“so what?” karina says, too casually. “we’re just two besties shopping. in matching shoes. and with insane chemistry. nothing suspicious here.”

“we’re not even wearing matching shoes.”

“we could be. if you’d let me buy you the ones i picked earlier.”

y/n rolls her eyes, but her cheeks are already warm. “you’re going to get us caught.”

karina grins wider. “no i’m not. i’m very stealthy. stealthy and affectionate. tragic combo.”

—

they walk down the street with hands swinging lightly between them. at one point, karina stops abruptly and points into a small accessory shop.

“wait—this. i saw a photo of winter wearing a ring from here. you’d look hot in one too.”

y/n raises a brow. “you want to buy me a ring now?”

karina shrugs. “it’s not like a wedding ring. unless…?”

“don’t even start.”

“too late.”

—

inside the store, karina picks up a silver band and slides it onto y/n’s finger. “look at that. you’re already mine.”

“karina,” y/n hisses, but it’s breathless. her fingers don’t move away.

karina leans closer, whispering, “you’re lucky the cctv in here doesn’t have audio.”

“you’re lucky i like you.”

karina gives her a proud smile. “you really do.”

—

they’re standing too close at the counter, y/n’s head tilted just enough to bump into karina’s shoulder every time she laughs. the cashier looks mildly confused, mildly starstruck, but says nothing.

they buy matching rings. karina pays for both.

—

back on the street, y/n finally pulls her hand back. “okay. we’ve pushed our luck enough. people are starting to look.”

karina blinks. “i thought that was just ‘cause we’re hot.”

y/n stares.

karina sighs dramatically. “fine. fine. i’ll behave. just—wait, no. cross the street with me first. that way.”

as they wait at the crosswalk, karina leans in and mutters, “just pretend you’re cold.”

“what?”

“trust me.”

the light turns green. they step forward.

and then—karina reaches out and grabs y/n’s hand again. not discreetly. not sneakily. just full-on public hand-holding. and not the platonic kind. the fingers-laced, soft-smile, thumb-rubbing kind.

“karina—”

“you said you’d pretend to be cold.”

“you said pretend. this is romcom lead in the third act behavior.”

karina snorts. “you say that like it’s a bad thing.”

—

three hours later, they part ways quietly at a side entrance to a practice building.

karina squeezes y/n’s hand one last time before letting go. “text me when you get in. and wear the ring tomorrow. i wanna see how long it takes the fans to notice.”

y/n rolls her eyes. “you’re evil.”

“you love it.”

“unfortunately.”

—

by the time y/n gets home, the internet is already on fire.

[THEQOO] [HOT] two idols spotted holding hands while shopping???

“is that karina????”

“wait is that y/n from le sserafim?”

“THEY’RE WEARING MATCHING RINGS?”

“who holds hands like that unless they’re dating??”

“be serious. they look so into each other. karina’s SMILE???”

a blurry but damning photo is circulating—karina mid-laugh, eyes crinkling, hand wrapped around y/n’s like it belongs there. their heads are tilted toward each other. it doesn’t look accidental. it doesn’t look fake.

someone zooms in.

“YOU GUYS. LOOK AT THEIR RINGS.”

“is this a soft launch? is karina soft launching a GIRLFRIEND??”

“don’t mind me i’m just screaming into my pillow bye”

“i knew it. i KNEW they had chemistry. they were literally giggling in that behind-the-scenes video last month. i KNEW IT.”

karina texts her ten minutes later.

pretty girl [8:07pm]:

we trended in three countries.

you’re welcome.

y/n [8:08pm]:

this is your fault

you’re out of control

i should’ve worn gloves

pretty girl [8:09pm]:

too late

u looked cute

wanna get matching gloves next?

y/n [8:11pm]:

gosh help me

i do

—

in the end, neither of them address the rumors. not directly.

but the next time y/n goes live, fans notice the silver band on her finger. and the next day, karina posts a mirror selfie on bubble—hand clearly in frame, same ring visible.

and beneath it, a caption:

karina:

just shopping with a friend.

she has cold hands.

i have solutions.

—

[bacchuschucklefuck]

Ooh what's barbarian Figs subclass

m flipfloppin between giant and totem (def reskinned) for her rn! giant would be Really funny for junior year and there's some thematic stuff for the transformation element I think would be interesting, but just purely on a character basis I think fig would love totem esp. as a barbie girl in freshman year. if I land on totem I kinda imagine it like a wuxia animal style thing tbh, mostly just because the idea of someone coming into a fight expecting typical movie shaolin choreography and getting Teenager That Mauls You To Death is entertaining to me

[charleemoon]

current ocd theme is that someone is in my house trying to kill me every night can they please give me back the obsession that i am a fundamentally bad person or like any other one because i might actually call the police in the coming week if this keeps up

[kavehayati]

Man I just give up.

[twinklingwatermellon]

sigh

[trendfag]

“why cant you see that this policy designed to harm the minority group everyones mad about this year actually harms innocent people i mean people in the majority!” well typically its not that they dont know or understand that theyre worse off than before, they just think its the price that needs to be paid to effectively punish the real targets of the discrimination

[ragnars-tooth]

On fire world rn and I'm losing my shit over Eliza going "david, he killed a man fucking around with time rifts and abandoned us bc he felt kind of bad about it 🤨"

(^eliza, pictured)

[h1biscusgal]

I fucking entered the void.

Long post ahead!

@premiumbitch I owe u every shit wtf, your method was INSANE?

REMEMBER HOW I TOLD Y'ALL IMMA BE ENTERING THE VOID ON MY BIRTHDAY???? I did it, and guys it's literally the easiest shit idk why some people see it as smth big 💀

I didn't manifest anything, why? Because guess it or not I actually just wanted to be familiar with it, I love how I'm slowly knowing everything is mine, and yesterday I didn't want to manifest anything I just wanted to try the void out especially bc I have been studying sm these days, I wanted a break.

Now I've been eating up that mindset that I'm a master at the void, which let's be obvious, everyone is, they just need to get to the point and slowly realize it, it has to click.

Okay I'm going to stop yapping and fucking get into it 👍🏻, either way, yesterday night, at 1:32 AM or smth, after the day turned 6th April, I got in bed and made myself comfortable, and simply told myself I'll enter the void under 5 minutes, which actually and unsurprisingly, it was the case, I used a standard boring ass method too yk, the one where it's usually always what people do.

On my back, started slow breathing, and i set the intention of keeping myself awake when my body sleeps (best advice I got from idk who it helps sm) and then I let myself sink in the bed for some minutes, like I just laid there, and already I immediately was in the SATs.

So naturally I affirmed for the void, knowing I'm already in there, and mf I slipped in there after two or three minutes of affirming, just saying "I am the void." Or "I am in the void."

I think the reason I actually got out myself or sometimes used to slip in and back, is how I immediately focused on my body signs or anything connected me to myself, so I have a note to myself next time, to allow it naturally happen and focus just on the blackness behind my eyes.

ANYWAYS I STAYED THERE FOR LIKE I THOUGHT 2 OR 3 MINUTES BUT IT WAS A WHOLE WHOPPING 1 HOUR TF, and get that, how did I know it's the void? I just wanted to see stars there and I fucking did 🎀

IMMA GO CRY I FINALLY AM THE CREATER OF MY OWN REALITY.

anyone reading this, babes please don't give up, genuinely don't, I've been in this game for 6 years and I know a lot of people that'll leave for this long, saying they have no patience, girly you can do it if I did, I used to be in SUCH a bad place you can't even imagine, I pulled my shit and started living in the end for 2 months (and no it doesn't take two months, I just was stubborn af and kept slipping in and out my beliefs).

Special thanks to them for keeping my motivation up 💗

@joc3lynn @catherineaboutlife @salemlunaa @premiumbitch @prettygirl444sblog @mercifulstate @shimmershifts @littlemissprettyprincess @luckykiwiii101 @carlyshifts111 (I adore her oml her RAS thing? ATE the fuck up)

And of course can't forget @gorgeouslypink but idk if she's here anymore? And every old blog back in the 2022 and 2020, I adore y'all sm even though I don't have your blog's names 😔🎀.

[astonmartinii]

wherever the roots may lead you | charles leclerc social media au

pairing: charles leclerc x antonelli!reader

when one takes an ancestry test they don’t usually expect to find out that their half brother is now racing in formula one…

MASTERLIST | TIP JAR

yourusername

liked by yourbff, user1 and 1,578 others

yourusername: the whole office decided to do an ancestry test - WHY IS MY HALF BROTHER KIMI ANTONELLI???

view all comments

user1: girl i follow you for your pasta recipes why am i expected to know who this man is

user2: he’s a formula one driver?

user3: he’s A BABY

user4: the way this did not answer a single question

yourbff: bro you’re italian, there’s probably hundreds of kimi antonellis

yourusername: no one asked you to be logical about this

yourbff: let’s just not claim a random 18-year-old without verifying it

yourusername: well in the short five minutes i’ve known of his existence i have googled him and all the dates line up

youbff: not to support this delusion but you two do look freakishly similar

user5: i fear my kimi stanship has led me to dark places

user6: for real why is this girl yapping

user7: idk how i got here but they do look like they could be related …

user8: if they are it’s still probably not the weirdest thing to happen in f1 this week

user9: someone needs to study the sport and as to why it’s so fucking weird

olliebearman: who are you and why have you stolen kimi’s face

yourusername: excuse me?

olliebearman: you are excused

yourusername: what?

olliebearman: you are claiming to be related to kimi but i happen to know everything ever about him sooooooooo where have you been all this time?

yourusername: well i kind of just found out about this so i don’t have an answer for you right now?

olliebearman: i’ve got my eye on you weirdo

yourusername: okay?

kimiantonelli: wait!!! ollie how did you even find this post it’s got like 2k likes?

yourusername: omg read?

olliebearman: well it just came up on my explore page?

yourusername: no the fuck it didn’t

olliebearman: EXCUSE ME MISS, KEEP YOUR BEAK OUT OF BEARNELLI BUSINESS

yourusername: you’re doing your business in my comment section?

user10: i swear these fools are meant to be at media day

user11: nothing stops for bearnelli chaos clearly

estebanocon: @olliebearman yo? we were meant to be filming like 20 minutes ago?

olliebearman: oh? i was busy

yourusername: busy getting on my nerves

olliebearman: WHO ARE YOU?

yourusername: you’re on MY INSTAGRAM PAGE

olliebearman: i am a child WATCH HOW YOU’RE TALKING ABOUT A CHILD

olliebearman: @charles_leclerc dad stop her now

charles_leclerc: why are you pinging me during the press conference

olliebearman: this is important !!!!

charles_leclerc: @yourusername oh hi

yourusername: hello ???

kimiantonelli

liked by olliebearman, charles_leclerc and 590,300 others

tagged: yourusername

kimiantonelli: i thought getting points on my debut would be the craziest part of my week but turns out i have a half sister i never knew about ??? watch your back paddock i don’t think you can handle TWO antonellis

view all comments

user12: wait so that trainwreck the other day was REAL?

user13: smile and wave girl i have no clue what’s going on

user14: we need a weekly episode of drive to survive at this point omg

yourusername: we haven’t even met yet

yourusername: i am very excited to

kimiantonelli: OF COURSE WE SHOULD BE EXCITED

kimiantonelli: i knew you were out there i could feel you in my waters

yourusername: i’m not sure you have waters? like anatomically?

kimiantonelli: well i knew you existed before your post so explain that atheist

yourusername: i’m just going to let you have this one i think…

kimiantonelli: that is VERY wise

user15: i am losing my mind over the fact that these kids are talking for the first time in instagram comments

user16: i honestly wouldn’t expect anything less from this crop of rookies

jackdoohan: please do not lump me in with this nonsense

kimiantonelli: so our family love is nonsense to you

yourusername: jack!!!! after everything …. i can’t believe this!

jackdoohan: we’ve never spoken before?

yourusername: well in my familial research i watched the rookie round table and you ranked highly to me… but i see

jackdoohan: wOAH PAUSE

jackdoohan: my apologies

kimiantonelli: they all come crawling back …

user17: what is actually happening?

user18: so like has anyone stalked this girl? who even is she?

olliebearman: y/n y/ln is a 26-year-old marketing manager who lives in london. she runs a pasta-themed instagram account to apparently page homage to her ‘italian heritage’. she has no kids and no boyfriend or girlfriend. by most accounts she doesn’t have many friends or hobbies or money?

kimiantonelli: that’s like… kinda hot?

yourusername: you do you i guess

yourusername: also like that’s such a rude write up on me ???

olliebearman: so you don’t think i’m hot

kimiantonelli: that’s SO rude y/n

yourusername: you’re EIGHTEEN??? and also have this weird tension with my brother… idk i’m not a therapist?

olliebearman: i’ll call my dad again

yourusername: oh the one from the other post? please! i think he’s the best thing i found on my f1 stalkfest

charles_leclerc: well well well, i’m charles

olliebearman: NO?

kimiantonelli: ollie you gotta let her have something!

olliebearman: but if she falls for his dorky charms that might make us incestuous ???

kimiantonelli: i don’t know what that word means

olliebearman: my dad, dating your sister?

kimiantonelli: @charles_leclerc you have to disown ollie now

charles_leclerc: okay, if i do that does that mean i can take y/n on a date

yourusername: DO IT NOW PLEASE

yourusername: woah! i mean, i’ll have to check my calendar

yourbff: she’s free, the lanky one was right, she doesn’t have many friends.

charles_leclerc

liked by pierregasly, kimiantonelli and 1,209,457 others

tagged: yourusername

charles_leclerc: lost a son and won a date. congrats on the promotion oscar!

view all comments

user19: we are moving so fucking fast

user20: well it’s on theme…

user21: well we need to go from rb19 to that fucking aston martin

yourusername: as far as first dates go … well i didn’t think we’d be babysitting a 23-year-old

charles_leclerc: he’s fragile right now

yourusername: and he needed his emotional support not-boyfriend there as well?

yourusername: and that emotional support not-boyfriend needed to bring his friend who brought his maybe-boyfriend who brought his ‘surrogate brother’ which is MY BROTHER?

charles_leclerc: i’m sorry?

yourusername: i’m starting to think attachment issues and homosexual tension is just part of the job description to work in formula one

alexalbon: i don’t think you’re wrong on that

charles_leclerc: honestly i did plan for just a romantic dinner but things came up!

oscarpiastri: well i’m kind of sorry for crashing your date but as previously stated i was in a crisis…

yourusername: you did cry… but i thought that was just to get charles to get you dessert?

oscarpiastri: you can’t prove that…

oscarpiastri: ALSO why are you just coming for me when the others crashed and without a good reason like me?

yourusername: true ….

landonorris: i was taken by oscar !!!!! not my fault

yourusername: you made me move from my seat across from charles because you didn’t ‘like the lighting’?

landonorris: well that was very kind of you

charles_leclerc: you basically sat on her until she moved

landonorris: well maybe you should have stood up for your date!

georgerussell63: considering how badly lando is digging his grave, i’ll just say sorry and that i wasn’t completely aware it was a date

yourusername: how was it not very obvious? we were at a CANDLE LIT DINNER WITH A TWO PERSON TABLE YOU DRAGGED OVER A TABLE TO SIT WITH US

alexalbon: in our defence we were only going to escort kimi there but the curiosity got too much…

yourusername: are you just attaching to kimi because i’m not going to get annoyed at him

alexalbon: …….. um no?

kimiantonelli: y/n he brought me dessert and a funky little drink - MARRY HIM

yourusername: that’s a little fast buddy

charles_leclerc: so you wouldn’t marry me?

yourusername: take me on another date, just me, and we’ll see

user22: she’s stronger than me i would’ve proposed right here right now

user23: nothing more 2025 than an instagram comment proposal

yourusername

liked by maxverstappen1, olliebearman and 23,091 others

tagged: kimiantonelli & charles_leclerc

yourusername: so who was going to tell me this f1 shit was this crazy?

view all comments

user24: actually thinking about it, this girl must be having such intense emotional whiplash

user25: legit because what do you mean like last week she didn’t know what f1 was but now she’s related to the best rated rookie and dating (?) charles leclerc

user26: when will these situations happen upon me

charles_leclerc: did i win you over this weekend?

yourusername: maybe?

charles_leclerc: maybe?

yourusername: okay, yeah

yourusername: but you could’ve let kimi through :/

charles_leclerc: that’s kinda not the game of the game

yourusername: but he’s my brother ?

charles_leclerc: you make a compelling point…

charles_leclerc: but, amor, i wouldn’t let my own brother overtake me

yourusername: i see…

yourusername: it was worth a try sorry kimi

kimiantonelli: fear not we can try again when he’s more in love with you

yourusername: for everyone’s information: i do genuinely like charles, this ^^ is a joke !!!!!!! i understand the sanctity of formula one and that no one would genuinely let another through based on such a situation

kimiantonelli: okay miss PR AND MARKETING

yourusername: oh buddy you should see my DMs, that was necessary

charles_leclerc: what ???

yourusername: babe your fans are great but like a good 5% of them are like genuinely insane, like 51/50 level

charles_leclerc: oh yeah… i’m sorry

yourusername: oh no worries i’d be just that crazy for you

charles_leclerc: you aren’t?

yourusername: i don’t need to be, i have you don’t i?

charles_leclerc: oh hehehehhehehehe, you do

user27: WRITE THAT DOWN WRITE THAT DOWN

user28: i’m scared of her, but i need to be her

user29: you can’t be that good at making pasta and have rizz and date charles leclerc

user30: i fear y/n might actually be sniped, she’s a triple threat

oscarpiastri: do you see why i needed emotional support?

yourusername: well yes i get that now

yourusername: but please refrain from crashing dates in the future unless you have let us know promptly

oscarpiastri: i knew i’d get you on side, the leclerc family love me

oscarpiastri: @kimiantonelli watch out, i might overtake you next

kimiantonelli: i will slash your tyres, y/n will bail me out

yourusername: will i?

kimiantonelli: so you don’t love me?

olliebearman: I TOLD YOU SHE WAS NO GOOD

yourusername: first of all, ollie - i thought i’d managed to get you on side with my offering of pasta. second, i love you the most on the grid kimi, i just do not have the disposable cash of a formula one driver

kimiantonelli: fine, you make a point

kimiantonelli: @charles_leclerc looks like it’s down to you now.

kimiantonelli: and you’d do anything for my sister, right?

charles_leclerc: ugh why are the rookies so crafty these days

yourusername: hmmmm?

charles_leclerc: YES I WOULD, FOR YOU

charles_leclerc

liked by pierregasly, kimiantonelli and 1,894,500 others

tagged: yourusername

charles_leclerc: follow wherever the roots may take you, because sometimes it might lead you to the best thing ever

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user31: i mean meeting your girlfriend through her doing an ancestry test to find out she’s related to your coworker is one hell of a meet cute i’ll give them that

user32: ‘wherever the roots may take you’ okay mr leclerc when did we become a poet

user33: let’s add it to the words of wisdom

user34: the ferrari garage WISHES they could be him

kimiantonelli: well, i am pleasantly surprised with how this all unfolded, you’re definitely the best choice on the grid

yourusername: awwwww kimi thanks !!!

charles_leclerc: thanks?

olliebearman: CHARLES IS THE BEST CHOICE ON THE GRID ????

kimiantonelli: you want to date my sister? i thought you liked another antonelli?

olliebearman: oh!

olliebearman: yes!

olliebearman: … another antonelli for sure

charles_leclerc: @yourusername do i say anything

yourusername: no i want to watch ollie suffer after he’s done nothing but come for me

charles_leclerc: okay, amor

user35: this is how all men should be

user36: AGREE WITH EVERYTHING I SAY

user37: so like… where do we find them because i fear there’s only two ferrari drivers and many of us

yourusername: well i am certainly glad i followed mine

charles_leclerc: led you right to me

yourusername: wouldn’t want to be anywhere else

charles_leclerc: hehehehehehe i guess i have that effect on people

yourusername: PEOPLE?

charles_leclerc: just you xxxxx

yourusername: that’s what i thought

charles_leclerc: speaking of you… when can you come to another race?

yourusername: i’m very sorry to say babe but i do have a job

charles_leclerc: NOOOOOOOOOOO

yourusername: i know :( i don’t dream of labour

charles_leclerc: what do you dream of?

yourusername: there’s this really sexy monegasque formula one driver who has an amazing accent and the cutest little dog. he’s super determined and sounds even sexier when he’s angry on the radio or celebrating a win. you might know him?

charles_leclerc: i might…

yourusername: well you should BACK OFF because he’s MINE

charles_leclerc: yes, yes he is

user38: so like … how do we get her on drive to survive

yourusername: oh you know netflix have been calling my phone

user39: LETS GOOOOOOO

yourusername: don’t celebrate too soon, because you won’t like me when i delete all the cute footage of charles, that’s for my eyes only

user40: i would want you dead, but also real

lewishamilton: ummmmm so when can you come back @yourusername he’s being pathetic again

yourusername: he’s always pathetic that’s what i love about him

lewishamilton: but it’s particularly bad now, he’s carrying a picture of you and leo (it’s VERY badly photoshopped)

charles_leclerc: hey! joris was busy i had to make it myself

yourusername: that’s cute bby don’t listen to him

charles_leclerc: yeah leave me alone lewis

lewishamilton: what the hell, sure

fin.

note: if you couldn't tell i'm a big kimi stan LMAO

[atlabeth]

bend an ear

pairing: peter parker x fem reader

summary: your boyfriend doesn't listen to you. good thing your friendly neighborhood spider-man does.

a/n: there's just something about him idk. andrew garfield spidey bc of course! look at him! this came from me playing the spider-man game after it went on sale and yearning for peter parker (will prob have to rewatch the movies bc of this) anyways hope you like it

wc: 3.6k

warning(s): reader's bf is shitty -- they argue for a while and he lowkey slut shames her. but this is basically all fluff otherwise bc childhood best friends to lovers babby!!! real yearning loverboy hours!!!

Peter just wants to go home. 

It’s been… a day. He got his ass kicked by an English test (he doesn’t have time to do the readings when he’s fighting crime), got his ass kicked by Flash Thompson (it’s not like he can fight back with his super strength and pulverize his ribs), and has spent every second since his final class ended fighting petty crimes around the city. 

Stopping ATM thefts and minor muggings feels good, sure, but on days like these, it doesn’t really make up for failing intro literature classes and getting absolutely zero sleep. He’s just thankful May is still letting him live with her while he studies at ESU—if he had to do all of this in addition to trying to make his rent? He doesn’t really want to think about it. 

So he swung his way to the roof of some random building, and he’s taking a break. Sue him, but Peter thinks he deserves it. What’s the point of living in a city like New York if you can’t have a second to yourself every once in a while? 

He’ll go home soon. Grab a bodega sandwich, maybe stop another crime, and then get home for some much needed rest. But for now, he’s just going to sit on this rooftop and relax for a second. Even Spider-man needs some peace and— 

“Babe—” 

“Why are you following me?”

Peter winces as the door slams open, an argument following close after as a girl storms out onto the roof followed by a guy speeding to keep up with her. His first instinct is to swing away as soon as possible, but for some reason, he stays. 

“Because I want to talk!”

“God, do you even hear yourself?” 

“You keep talking over me, so I really—” 

“You don’t get to babe me right now!” 

As if his day hadn’t been bad enough, now he’s accidentally made himself privy to some couple’s dispute. He’s about to web himself out of this third wheeling nightmare when the girl turns around with a groan, revealing her face, and Peter realizes who it is. 

It’s you.

This is your apartment complex. Peter came here without even realizing it, but can he really be surprised? Your name is synonymous with peace in his brain. Comes with the territory of being friends for so long—it still calms him, even when you’re being the opposite of peaceful. 

“I don’t get why you’re acting like this!” the guy exclaims, frustration clear in his voice. 

Of course. Why wouldn’t your shitty boyfriend be here too? The only reason you live here is because you scored this place together; said he didn’t want you living on campus anymore. Ethan Frey might be the bane of Peter’s existence after two and a half years of him being your boyfriend. 

“Because you and your posse are acting like complete jags in front of all my friends!” you shout back. 

He laughs in disbelief. “I’m just being myself, babe. Besides, you’re the one who said I could invite them!” 

“Because you complained about it just being my friends,” you grind out. “You weren’t even supposed to be here, Ethan! You just can’t handle the thought of me being around guys that aren’t you!” 

“Well, what the hell am I supposed to think, huh?” He gestures wildly. “You spend every second with that geek and I’m supposed to believe you’re not into him?” 

And now he’s eavesdropping on a conversation between you and your boyfriend about him. How could this get worse? 

“God, it isn’t like that at all!” you exclaim with a mirthless laugh. “Peter is my friend— my best friend since elementary school. You knew when we got together that wasn’t going to change.” 

“Yeah,” he says, nodding lazily, “but that was before I knew how obvious his hard-on for you was.” 

Peter feels his face heat beneath the mask, wants to wipe the sweat off his palms. That’s how it could get worse. 

Your nostrils flare as you turn away, your hands flexing while you shake your head. “Get out of here, Ethan.” 

“Oh, of course that’s where you draw the line,” Ethan mocks. “When I bring up fuckin’ Peter Parker.” He pauses then chuckles. “You’d love that, wouldn’t you?” 

Peter nearly intervenes right then and there, wanting to stop this mess before Ethan does anything to hurt you. But revealing himself sounds like the worst possible thing to do, so for once he listens to the rational part of his brain over the emotional. 

“He’s not even here!” you retort. “I live with you, not him. I’m dating you, not him. Why are you bringing him up?” 

“Because I’m not blind.” Ethan crosses his arms. “Y’know, I thought you’d get over this little thing after you let me take you out, but for some reason, it’s exactly the same. I swear you spend more time with him than me.”

Your hands clench into fists. “Get out of here.” 

He scoffs. “You want me to leave you up here?” 

“Yes,” you nod. 

“God, you’ve been acting crazy this whole night!” he complains. “You’ll freeze up here. Just get over it—we’ll go back down, I’ll get you a beer—” 

“I hate beer.” 

“Then I’ll get you a fucking apple juice,” he spits. “Just stop being so dramatic.” 

“You’re not listening to me!” you shout. “I want you to leave me alone!” 

This time he says your name, and you shake your head. 

“Go back to the apartment,” you interrupt. “Because if I have to spend another second with you, our relationship might not make it through the night.”

For once, Ethan is silent as he stares at you. You stare back with no sign of giving up. Eventually, he just huffs and shakes his head. 

“Whatever.” He starts walking towards the door. “You better cool off up here, because I’m not dealing with this shit when you come back down.” 

You stare at the door for a good twenty seconds once he closes the door—slams it, rather—before you angrily kick a stray soda can. Your childhood days of rec soccer must still be in you, because you get an arc on it. Just before it can go over the side of the building, Peter shoots a web to catch it wholly on instinct. 

Your eyes widen as you dart around, and Peter is finally spotted from his place on top of the roof door building thing. What is that even called? He doesn’t really have time to think about it. The aluminum can crunches as it flies into his hand, and you stare at him in complete shock. 

“Uh,” his mouth suddenly feels very dry, but he has to make some excuse for why he’s up here, “littering is bad.” 

Good one, Parker. 

“You’re Spider-man,” you say, eyes still wide. 

“The one and only,” he nods. 

“Oh my god,” you mumble, finally seeming to break out of your shock as you cover your mouth and turn away. “Oh my god, Spider-man just heard my relationship falling apart.” 

“I didn’t hear anything!” Peter exclaims. “I—”

You shoot him the withering look he loves so much, that was able to get his bullies to shrink on the spot in high school—it feels weird being on the receiving end of it. 

“I’m not stupid,” you say. 

“I kn—” He has to stop himself from saying I know, because realistically Spider-man has no idea who you are. “I’m sorry.” 

You huff and cross your arms. “Do your superhero duties include eavesdropping on failing couples?” 

“It was an accident,” Peter says. “I was up here before you were. So technically, you were eavesdropping on my actual superhero duties.” 

You laugh, and he smiles just at the sound of it. One benefit to wearing the mask, because it would expose him right on the spot. “Oh yeah? And what are those?” 

“Patrolling the streets,” he says. “I’ve got a very good vantage point from up here.” 

You hum, your mood turning a bit more morose as you glance away. “Well, I’m sorry you had to hear all that during your patrol.” 

“I’m sorry you had to go through it,” he says. “Your boyfriend sounds like an asshole.” 

You roll your eyes. “He’s fine, most of the time. Just had a little bit too much to drink.” 

Peter will never understand why you defend Ethan so much. You’ve been together since freshman year and he’s only gotten worse since then—maybe he hides how he is around you, because he hasn’t really shied away from showing Peter how much he hates him this past year.

“He looked pretty sober to me,” Peter says. “And trust me, I have plenty of experience fighting guys that have had too much to drink.” 

You huff. “What are you, a spider-therapist?” 

“I’m good at a lot of things,” he says. “And I’m always good for bending an ear.”

“Surely you have better things to do than listen to me complain.” 

Peter shakes his head. “My schedule’s pretty clear right now, actually.”

“Really?” you marvel. “There’s no crime in New York City at,” you check your watch, “11:37 pm?”

“Absolutely none,” he says. “I solved it all. At least for now.”

You laugh again at that and gesture with your head as you walk over to the edge of the roof. “Then I guess I’ll take you up on that offer.”

Peter jumps down and follows you over. You hoist yourself on top of the wall, legs dangling over the edge, and he feels himself frown as he leans his back against the wall and looks up at you. 

“Isn’t that a little dangerous?” 

“You’ll catch me if I fall,” you say. 

“Obviously,” Peter says. “I’m supposed to encourage safe behavior in New Yorkers, though.” 

You laugh and tilt your head up towards the night sky. The moonlight reflects in your eyes and Peter knows he could get lost in them forever. “Just this once, then.” 

“I think I can let it slide.” 

“Good.” 

A comfortable beat of silence passes between the two of you, and Peter finds himself smiling. No wonder he ended up at your place out of instinct. There’s nothing else like your company. 

“I always think it’ll be different,” you murmur. Peter glances up at you, your expression shifted to something more melancholic. “We’ll have a good day, which’ll turn into a good week and a good month, but he always does something to mess it up. It’s like it’s in his DNA.” 

He stays silent as you think. Most of the time when you rant to Peter, you just want to be heard, not given advice. At this point, he’s an expert at listening to you. It’s not like he minds. 

“I want things to work out. I— I still love him. I mean, I think I do. But everything is a fucking struggle with him. If I don’t do things the exact way he wants, if I try to do something for me instead of him, if I can’t read his fucking mind, then he loses it and we argue. And I’m so fucking tired of arguing!” 

Your voice has risen by now, and you bite down hard on your cheek. Peter doesn’t realize he’s started reaching towards you to comfort you until you look back down at him, and he runs his hand over his head in an effort to cover it up. 

“I’m sorry,” you sigh. “I promise, I’m a much nicer person than this. You just caught me at the worst time.”

“Don’t worry,” he says. “I know.”

Your brows rise. “Spider-man knows I’m a nice person?”

“I can just tell,” he rushes, trying to save himself. He’s doing a real good job at not revealing his identity. “I’m good at reading people.”

You chuckle and shake your head, then adjust your position so your back is towards the open air. It makes Peter nervous, he can’t lie, but it’s not like he’s not a superhero. 

“So, spider-therapist,” you say. “Any advice?” 

So this is one of the rare times you do want answers. Peter wonders if you’ll leave your boyfriend if Spider-man tells you to. 

“He doesn’t sound great,” Peter says, inclining his head. “How many times have you argued this week?” 

“Four,” you say. “Five, if you include tonight.” 

He whistles. “And it’s only Wednesday.”

You tip your shoulder. “We’re efficient.” 

“And unhappy, it sounds like.” 

“We’re not unhappy,” you defend. “We’re just…” 

“You’re up here talking to me instead of down there with him,” Peter says wryly. “That doesn’t exactly scream ‘happy couple’.” 

You shake your head with another sigh. “It’s because he can’t get over Peter.” 

He tries to act as nonchalant as possible when you bring him up. Is this an invasion of privacy? Letting you talk to him about all this when you have no idea who Spider-man actually is? 

Instead of floundering over moral qualms, he just clears his throat. “And who’s he?” 

“My best friend,” you say. “The one person who’s been by my side since the second I moved to New York. He means everything to me.”

Peter feels his heart skip a beat. “Yeah?” 

“He’s like— like the opposite of Ethan, and it’s wonderful. I guess that’s why Pete irks him so much. Y’know,” you pull out your phone and start typing in your password, “maybe I should call him. He always knows what to say.” 

“No!” Peter exclaims with a bit too much force, causing you to give him a look. “No— I mean, it’s late. He’s probably asleep. And— and it’s a school night?” 

You tilt your head, and Peter exhales when it seems to work. “True. He’s probably studying for that biochem test.” You grimace. “I should be doing that too.” 

He watches you type out a few texts and send them, and Peter’s never been more thankful to have his phone on silent. What a way that would be to blow his cover. 

You shove your phone back in your pocket with another sigh. “I just hate that my boyfriend and my best friend don’t get along. I love them both—why can’t they like each other?” 

“I mean…” Peter trails off when you look at him, and he gestures with his head. “It seems pretty obvious why they don’t get along.” 

“Yeah,” you say dryly. “Because Ethan thinks Peter likes me, and he probably thinks I have some secret crush on him too. I swear, he’s always looking for a reason to fight.” 

God, could the universe be calling him out any more? It’s honestly ridiculous how this is going. 

“Do you?” Peter asks, because he can’t help himself. “Like him, I mean.” 

“I don’t know,” you murmur. “I love Pete, I do. It’s always been the two of us no matter what. But I…”

He holds his breath as he tries not to look at you, tries not to make it too obvious that he might have stumbled his way into his simultaneous dream and nightmare scenario. 

He’s had a crush on you for what feels like forever. Since you stood up for him against his bullies in elementary school, honestly, and it’s only grown over the years as the two of you have grown. From recesses spent together and bike rides through the city; spending the night in Peter’s apartment because it was easier for your sister to let it happen than try and drag you back home; endless nights with heads bent over textbooks trying to study for tests, over college applications trying to get into the same place, and now studying and researching near every damn weekend together because you’re both unfortunate enough to try for ESU STEM degrees. 

You were there when Ben died. He’s there on every anniversary of your parents’ accident. Without knowing it, you were there when he got bit and his whole life turned upside down. 

You and Peter have been there every step of the way for each other, and it’s why he’s content with just friendship—Peter wants you in his life no matter what. But he can’t lie and say he doesn’t hope. 

No, actually. He yearns. He’s doomed to be a yearner for the rest of his life because he’ll never stop loving you. How could he? 

“I’m not sure,” you finally say with a sigh. “All I know is that I’d rather be with Pete tonight than Ethan.”

Peter wonders if your chest compressions are still as good as they were in high school, because he feels like he’s about to have a heart attack. 

You’d rather be spending tonight with him than your boyfriend of two years and seven months, and Peter isn’t even supposed to know. 

You mistake his silent freakout for nonchalance, and you clear your throat as you jump back onto solid ground. 

“Well, I’ve spilled my soul to you,” you say wryly, crossing your arms. “Anything a superhero can spill in return?”

Peter thinks for a good, long second. His hands itch to take off his mask, to do what he’s wanted to do since he got bitten by that stupid spider and show you who he really is. 

How many times has he been a total asshole, canceling plans on you because he had to go stop some supervillain from wreaking havoc in Times Square? How many times has he been late to something important to you because he was caught up stopping dime a dozen muggings? He still remembers the look on your face when he showed up just in time to miss the entirety of Les Mis’s opening night with your first lead role. 

You were a better best friend to Peter than he was to you because of this stupid mask. If he took it off, it wouldn’t make every mistake fade away, but it would sure help explain some of it. 

But Peter has been doing this since high school, and he has seen far too many times what happens to the loved ones of heroes. They’re used as leverage, used for ransom, sometimes just straight up killed.

You’ve been friends with Peter since you and your sister moved into the apartment next to May’s thirteen years ago. It doesn’t matter if you never share Peter’s feelings. You’re one of the only constants in his life, and he’s not going to lose you because he’s too selfish to keep a secret. 

Losing you would be the last straw. He couldn’t take it. 

So Peter pushes all thoughts of secret identities revealed out of his mind and tries to chuckle convincingly. 

“I’m allergic to peppermint, believe it or not.” 

You stare at him, deadpan. “That’s nowhere close to all the shit I just gave you.” 

“It’s true!” he exclaims, holding up his hands. “Happened after I got bit by the spider. They’re repelled by peppermint oil, and I guess I am too.” 

You shake your head in disbelief. “I can’t believe Spider-man is a coward.” 

“A superhero’s gotta have some secrets,” he says, and he taps the side of his head. “Otherwise this thing doesn’t do much good.” 

“Yeah, yeah,” you say. “Whatever.” 

A chill suddenly goes up Peter’s spine and he whips around—he can hear a distant scream followed by a distant gunshot, and he mentally curses. 

“Duty calls?” you ask, drawing his attention back to you. 

“Yeah,” he says. “I’m sorry—” 

“Don’t be.” You smile, and it’s genuine. A nice change from the state Ethan effortlessly puts you in. “You went out of your way to cheer me up. Pretty super of you.” 

“I hope it makes up for the eavesdropping,” he says. 

“More than,” you nod. “Now get out of here. Your city needs you.” 

Peter nods too, and he backflips onto his original spot. “Have a good night. You’re real special to somebody.” 

He’s gone before you can say anything else, already zipping across the rooftops to get to the scene of the crime. Peter can only think of your face as he swings through the air—all the things he’s too scared to say to you. 

The crime, which turns out to be yet another petty theft, is resolved easily enough with some punches, kicks, and a snappy one-liner. Once he’s retrieved the woman’s purse and alerted the police, he’s back in the sky. 

Peter only stops once he’s swung a couple miles away, perching on the edge of some rooftop for some actual peace and quiet. He checks around once or twice to make sure he’s not somehow back at your place, and when he’s sure it’s all clear, he pulls his phone out. He swipes past all the notifications he’s racked up until he finds the one he’s looking for: the texts from you. 

hey pete, I know you’re prob asleep rn but you were right. I really need to study for that test lol

wanna meet me at the library tomorrow after QM? I’ll buy the coffee this time i promise <3 

as long as you use your roomie’s dining dollars to get me a croissant lol 

Peter can’t help but smile, larger than anything tonight. This is why he’s okay with being nothing but your friend for the rest of his life. 

Deal. Anything to get you an A 

lol

asshole 

Never 

Try to get some sleep. No good studying on a tired brain 

Three dots appear for a good long second, enough to constitute a decent paragraph—then they disappear. In its place: 

I’ll try just for you 

night boy genius

(How could he not love you?) 

Night, girl wonder

[shouyuus]

+18, mdni, uh idk what this is dont look at me please thanks

sevika likes it when you can't get her full name out.

"-- v-vika -- please --"

"hm... please what? please... stop? cause i can do that if you want --"

she tugs back her arm slightly, even as you whine, keening at the loss of her fingers, your thighs clamping down around her wrist (as if that's ever been enough to keep her there).

"no no no no -- don't stop -- want more -- fuck --" you squirm, begging, hips kicking up to chase her hand. she chuckles, the sound smoke-ridden and amused.

"ahh there y'go," she grunts as she fucks her fingers back into you, curling them till your eyes roll back, "needy lil slut, aren't you? hm?"

she cocks her head as you moan, fingers curling into the sheets. even with your eyes closed, you know how she looks -- her eyes dark, a smirk sharpening her lips as she watches you. she likes you like this -- begging, incoherent.

the room smells of cheap alcohol and metal polish, the light from outside tinted acid green by the vast, arching windows, washing the bed in a strange, ethereal light.

"f-fuck -- s -- vika, g-gonna -- mmngh --!"

your heels kick out and sevika hisses, leaning forward, bearing down over you, her mechanical arm banding across your hips to keep you still as she pummels into your puffy, abused hole. your mouth falls open in a broken scream as you cum, static wreathing it's way up all your limbs as you shake through the aftershocks of your orgasm.

"fuck fuck fuck fuck -- mm -- please -- a-ah-ha..." your voice tapers out into a whine as sevika tugs her fingers from you with a feral grin, spreading her digits just so you can see how your slick webs between them, catching in the halfway light. the sight makes your stomach clench, even though your whole body aches from an afternoon spent in bed with her.

"damn. looks like you had a good time," she says, shoving up to wipe her in the thin, tangled sheets. she always does this, her tone almost mocking as she goes through the motions of cleaning you both up, her movements two notches beyond gentle, not quite hedging into harshness.

you hum, pushing up into a sitting position as she goes about the room. you lean in to drop a kiss on her hip as she stands next to the bed. her fingers curl into your hair. you glance up with a cheeky grin.

"you look like you had fun too," you tease, to which sevika scoffs, her fingers softening in your hair before she pushes you away.

"yeah yeah, now put your panties back on. we're goin' out."

you shimmy off the bed and tip-toe across the room where you pick up your panties from the back of a chair, slipping them on.

"where're we going?"

"jericho's. i could hear your stomach rumblin' from across the room. hurry up, c'mon."

you roll your eyes; she slaps your ass as you walk by her. you let out a squeak, cheeks flushing with heat even as she shoulders on her cloak.

it's an easy kind of intimacy, what the pair of you have, tentative and uncertain at times, but easy, nonetheless. you know that all it would take is a single wayward breeze to unsettle the precarious balance between you, but, you think as you push out into the bustling zaunite streets, the air textured in shimmer and smoke, sevika lighting up a cigarette next to you before ushering you forwards -- you're thankful at least that tonight won't be that night.