#i think it’s important they take a while to warm

[pseudowho]

You and Kento bustled through the kitchen, and with your arms full of plates, you couldn't resist giving the top of Yuuji's head a nuzzle and a kiss as you passed.

Yuuji smiled at you both, full and warm for the first time in years. You and Kento felt his eyes on you as you weaved past each other, in a practiced after-dinner-clean-up Tango.

"Ah...hey, Nanamin, I-- I've got, uh...I've got a, uhm..."

Kento's interest was piqued. He stopped washing up and, with one raised fine eyebrow, turned to regard Yuuji while he dried the suds off his forearms.

"What is is, Yuuji?"

Yuuji looked awkward. Eventually, he stuttered out through a sheepish grin.

"I've uh...I've got a date tomorrow, so I won't be home for dinner."

A gasp. A smash!clinkclinkclink as you dropped a mug to the floor, and Kento closed his eyes in wounded resignation for the death of his favourite mug. You stepped across him, pressing your palms to the counter, wild-eyed at Yuuji.

"A date?"

"Uh...y-yea--"

"A date date?"

"...I...Nanamin, I'm scared--"

"--she can't hurt you, Yuuji--"

"A date!"

You could barely contain your excitement; Kento huffed, plucking pieces of porcelain from the floor, while you squished Yuuji's cheeks and cooed.

Yuuji barely escaped in one piece that evening before bed, grilled for any piece of information you could get your hands on. Eventually, he escaped, the lock clicking behind him as he shut his bedroom door.

Flopping onto your back into bed beside Kento, with enough force to make his reading glasses bounce on his nose, you sighed with one dramatic arm across your forehead.

"I'm just so happy for him, Kento."

A warm little smile; a folding of the book. "Yeah. Yeah, me too. Did he say who it was?"

"You know, of all the things I asked him, I didn't ask him that."

A chuckle, a hum...a silence. A rustle of pages. A gentle removal of reading glasses, and Kento looked over you with quiet scrutiny, as if your state of undress in a t-shirt and nothing more stirred memories for him.

You blinked up at him, "...what's wrong?"

Kento's nose flared, and he laid down beside you, switching the light off. You could hear him blushing in the dark.

"Do you think Yuuji's a virgin?"

You felt a thud of realisation, and answered, "I...should think he probably is. I...what should we..."

"Don't worry," Kento answered, clipped and looping an arm over your waist, "I can handle that."

+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+

"Yuuji. If you have a moment, could you come and speak to me, please?"

You felt an alarm bell in your soul. The sun was setting, on the evening of Yuuji's date, but Kento was still fully dressed. He'd even buttoned his suit jacket up and redone his tie. His pocket rustled. You could have sworn you saw a droplet of sweat drip down his temple.

You paused your murder documentary...and watched, for this would surely be more horrifying. Yuuji leaned round the bathroom door, innocently curious, and padded over with his hands in his pockets. He pulled out his phone.

"Ah...y-yeah, I think they'll be here in a minu--"

"Sit down. Please. Yuuji."

You could have sworn Kento left dents in the top of the chair that he grasped. Yuuji sat slowly, wary, looking between you and Kento. From your place on the sofa, you shrugged. Kento spoke.

"You're...a young man now, Yuuji."

"Ah...yeah. I-I guess I am. Thank--"

"--and sometimes young men have...urges."

You wished for death, but would take the entertainment before you expired. Yuuji's blush started at his chin, and climbed slowly upwards, a sun-ripening peach.

"...Nanamin. Please, you-- you don't have to do--"

"--and it's important to understand the difference between lust, and love."

"Oh god, Nanamin, I'm begging you--"

"--and while it's only natural to follow your urges, it's important to do so responsibly--"

"--Mrs.Nanamin, I'm scared--"

"--he can't hurt you, Yuuji--"

Kento pulled the rustling packet from his pocket, and placed it before Yuuji on the table. The room was thick with silence. Yuuji spoke, his voice breaking and his soul sweating.

"...Nanamin, please say that's candy--"

"I've bought you these condoms--"

"--please just let me die, Nanamin--"

"--ribbed, dots, big, small, strawberry I think--"

"--please-- I have to go--"

"--and I only ask that you're sensible and treat your partner with the respect and dignity they deserve--"

"--please treat me with the respect and dignity I deserve and just kill me Nanamin--"

"...and be home by midnight."

Silence. You had held your breath through the whole thing, and held one hand over your mouth. You studiously avoided Yuuji's gaze. Yuuji's mouth puckered, staring up at Nanami, who looked as serious as a car crash.

Yuuji's phone rang. He snatched it up, and made for the door. Kento called after him, mild, "Your condoms, Yuuji--"

"--oh well shit yeah can't forget those, fuck--"

"--language, Yuuji--"

Yuuji stood at the door, considering answering back. He took a single deep breath. He swallowed hard, and stopped himself from scarpering immediately, and turned back to Kento.

"Hey, uh...was that, erm...was that difficult for you, Nanamin?"

"It was the worst thing I've ever done in my life."

"Yeah, it--it felt it, uhm..." Yuuji waggled the bag of condoms with a smirk, pocketing them, "Thanks, dad. Nobara and Megumi are waiting. We'll go for a date, and the other idiot's our chaperone apparently."

As the door clicked closed, Kento released one great heaving breath, and arched back with his hands over his face, releasing an enormous, animalistic groan of agony.

You bubbled over, snickering, and traced one toe up Kento's thigh from behind.

"...oh hey, Mr.Nanami, sir, can you teach me about the birds and the bees--"

"Quiet."

[misswynters]

𓏲 ˖. ♡ Ekko as your bf

having the boy who shattered time as your bf

warnings. none, just all fluff (truly need it after act iii)

How You Got Together.

• It started with a deep friendship. You were someone who always stuck by him through thick and thin, whether it was sneaking into Zaun’s alleys to watch him race or sitting on rooftops together while he talked about his plans to make Zaun a better place.

• Ekko didn’t realize his feelings right away, but every time he saw you cheering him on or patching up his wounds after another risky stunt, something in his chest warmed.

• One day, during a quiet moment after a long day of running with the Firelights, he blurted it out. “You know, you’re the only person who keeps me sane around here. I think I’m in love with you.”

• You were stunned for a second, but when you smiled and told him you felt the same way, he grinned so wide his face hurt. “Guess we’re stuck with each other, huh, Firefly?”

Nicknames He Gives You.

• Firefly — His favorite. You’re his little spark of light in Zaun’s darkness.

• Shorty/Tallie — Depending on your height, he’ll playfully tease you about it.

• Gearhead — If you have any interest in tinkering or helping him fix things, this becomes a fond nickname.

• Starling — For when he’s feeling extra soft and poetic.

• Babe — When he’s feeling casual or playful.

Love Languages.

• Acts of Service: Ekko loves taking care of you in small, thoughtful ways: tinkering with gadgets to make your life easier, fixing anything you need, or walking you home to make sure you’re safe.

• Physical Touch: He’s touch-starved, and it shows. He thrives on hand-holding, cuddling, and casual touches like ruffling your hair or resting his hand on your knee during meetings.

• Quality Time: Ekko values the moments when it’s just the two of you. Whether you’re hanging out in the hideout or watching the stars from the rooftops, he treasures your company.

How He Shows Affection.

• He has this way of looking at you like you’re his entire world, especially when you’re laughing or talking about something you’re passionate about.

• He’s a sucker for forehead kisses: quick, soft, and full of love.

• Ekko likes to surprise you with little gifts he makes himself, like a glowing trinket to wear or a gadget that makes your life easier.

• When he’s feeling especially bold, he’ll pull you close by the waist and murmur something sweet in your ear just to see you blush.

What He’s Like in a Relationship.

• He’s fiercely loyal and protective, always making sure you’re safe and cared for.

• Ekko is a mix of playful and serious. he’ll joke around to make you laugh, but when it comes to your happiness or well-being, he’s all locked in.

• He listens to you like it’s the most important thing in the world, always giving you his full attention. He’s like completely mesmerized with the way you speak to him. like it could literally be you just yapping about the stupidest thing and you will still have his full attention. Ekko would be all smiley and smitten he just loves hearing you talk about your interests.

Dates with Him.

• Rooftop stargazing is one of his favorites. He’ll bring a blanket and snacks, and you’ll spend hours lying side by side, talking about anything and everything.

• Late-night walks through Zaun, where he shows you hidden spots he loves, like graffiti walls he painted or quiet corners with the best views of the Undercity lights.

• He loves taking you everywhere with him. Anywhere, that would allow him to proudly show you off to his crew.

• Sometimes, dates are simple. Fixing things together, cooking (well, attempting to), or dancing to music in the hideout.

• Taking you to do inventions. Whether it’s with heimerdinger or not he will not mind having you around while he does his nerdy stuff. Encourages you while you try to do something while failing miserably.

What He Loves About You the Most.

• Your unwavering support. He’s always carrying the weight of Zaun’s struggles, and you’re the one person who makes him feel like it’s okay to lean on someone else for a while.

• Your laughter. It’s his favorite sound, and he’ll do anything to hear it.

• Your determination. Whether you’re helping him with the Firelights or pursuing your own goals, he admires your drive and tenacity.

• The way you care for others. It reminds him of why he fights so hard to protect Zaun.

Arguments with Him.

• Ekko HATES arguing, especially with you. He’ll try to keep his cool, but sometimes his frustration slips out.

• He’s quick to apologize if he’s in the wrong. He doesn’t like going to bed angry, so he’ll do whatever it takes to make things right before the night ends.

• If you’re upset, he’ll give you space if you need it, but he’ll always check in to make sure you’re okay. “Look, I’m sorry. I just… I hate fighting with you. Can we talk about this?”

• Arguments never last long because both of you care too much to stay mad.

Little Things He Does for You.

• He always checks in on you, whether it’s through quick messages or showing up to see you in person.

• He’ll steal your snacks but always makes sure to bring extras so you don’t actually lose out.

• Ekko loves playing with your hair, whether it’s braiding it, twirling it around his finger, or just running his hands through it absentmindedly.

• When you’re stressed, he’ll pull you into a hug and whisper, “You got this, Firefly. I believe in you.”

• If he notices you shivering, he’ll shrug off his jacket and wrap it around you without a second thought.

Moments That Make Him Soft.

• When you fall asleep on his shoulder after a long day. He’ll sit perfectly still so he doesn’t wake you, his heart melting at how peaceful you look.

• The way you light up when you see him, like he’s the only person in the world that matters.

• When you cheer him on during one of his missions. Your belief in him gives him strength like nothing else.

• Watching you interact with Scraps or other animals. He loves seeing your gentle, caring side.

Overall in my opinion.

Ekko as your boyfriend is a mix of excitement, warmth, and unwavering devotion. He’s someone who will always have your back, someone who will fight for you and with you, and someone who will treasure every moment you spend together. With him, life in Zaun feels a little brighter, a little safer, and a whole lot more full of love.

note. just my opinion :3

taglist. @diffusebread @xxblairslairxx @annybah @niredsw @stqrlxght @kriss-w @marilovz @blkmystery @multiverse-fandoms-2001 @turquoizxe @mishellii @kor-0suu @feelya @theamazingmilli @multim00n @m00nd0v3 @sodavrr @maialublmere @radtragedyarcade @spiderhook @night-fall-moon

banner. @anitalenia

[sillyuin]

hi <3! was wondering if i can get svt reaction to yn being completely oblivious to them flirting with her? subtle things like while she’s just ranting about her day they’d move closer to her and she’d absentmindedly put her hand on their chest to push them away still running her mouth, just completely unaware of what’s happening. and even the most obvious things like compliments or physical touch, yn is blind to it and it’s so frustrating to them

so yeah, hope you see this! ❤️

Hi! I'm sorry for being so late 😭 i've been very busy with job and housework, but it's finally here.

Svt reacts: Flirting vs clueless s/o. Who will win?

Yuin's note: barely proofread. I'ts 1 am and I'm tired.

Seungcheol. Staring at your face.

I mean, he likes to just stare at you as if he's watching the prettiest person in the world, but when Seungcheol wants to be especially flirty, he stares at you fondly and smiling with the whole intention to make your heart skip a beat, he even glances at your lips, as if he were trying to say something. Most of the time that's enough to make you really, really shy but when is not... Geez, he has to breathe in and ends up pouting a little (Probably one or two pecks will make him feel better).

Jeonghan. Teasing.

Is like his default love language, making harmless jokes to see you flustered all over him is just so fun to watch. But, is he really just trying to be a teaser, or is there something else behind? "I took the chair, but you can sit on my lap" he said one day, sitting at your desktop, with the most mischievous smile possible. But you didn't fall for his charm and as you kept your annoyed face, he stood up and sighed "Okay, all yours". And you better be ready because he's not forgetting so easy, and will keep teasing you just a little (yeah, a little) more than usual.

Joshua. Back hugging.

When Joshua wants your attention only and only for him, he goes where you are to hug you from the back, resting his chin on your shoulders and crossing his arms around your waist. Oh, he loves it so much is so tender, but he gets lowkey hurt when you don't react in any way because, how come you don't realize his intentions? Is really doing the dishes way more important than his warm hugs? Now, this is personal and Joshua won’t let you go, take it as a punishment for being so clueless (reward or punishment?).

Jun. Tickles.

For him, tickles is the perfect excuse to be closer to you. It's so obvious that hurts lol. Most of the time you melt in his touch, and you both end up laughing and sharing some kisses, but sometimes you're minding your business, too busy to realize that Jun wants to get your attention. Better get ready because you'll have a pouty little cat going around the apartment, and will NOT forget your offense unless you give him extra cuddles before bed.

Hoshi. Random "facts".

At the least appropriate time, he would come to find you. "Did you know that there is a minimum number of kisses that a person should receive per day to be healthy?" he says with a very serious expression on his face. And there you are, standing in the middle of the living room while you're brushing your teeth; your soulless expression says all. Hoshi turns around and pretends nothing happened, but in his mind, he's sitting in the corner staring at the walls.

Wonwoo. Making compliments out of nowhere.

He likes to pour you with sweet words, like how much he appreciates your homemade food, or that you did it great at work. From time to time, he thinks is fun to be a little sassy and his praises are very, very intentional. “New gloss?” he says, grinning at you “It looks good” and for some frigging reason you just start talking about how you got it? Babe, Wonu doesn’t care that much that you bought it because your favorite gloss wasn’t on stock, but now he feels a little shy to speak and just lets you tell the whole story.

Woozi. Playing with your hair.

When it comes to be openly flirty, Woozi tends to be a little coy. You rarely notice it since it's very common for him to be around you, caressing your hair and playing with the strands in complete silence. So when you get distracted he places a strand behind your ear, exposing your neck. But when he's so close to place a kiss, you jump like a scared kitten. "No! It tickles!" Woozi looks down, defeated, as you move away. "Sorry, be right back" and he locks himself in his room for the next hour.

Minghao. Holding your hand.

He thinks your hands are more than just pretty. Hao likes to take one of them when you're sitting by his side, scrolling on your phone or watching TV. He's so subtle that most of the times you don't feel how he traces your hand with his fingers and when you realize, it’s because your hands are intertwined and he’s holding his laughter. “How low you’ve been like this?” but Minghao just giggles. You end up doing the same and then resume your activity, letting him laughing low in embarrassment and biting his lips as a sign of frustration.

Mingyu. Resting on your lap.

He's very straightforward when it comes to flirting with you. Mingyu likes to wait patiently for you to sit on the couch or the bed and then he goes, at first making some (pretty obvious) questions "What are you doing?" "Is that a new book?" and as you're talking, his hands rest on your thigh, gently stroking your skin with his thumb, but you're so immerse in the topic and he goes completely unnoticed... And before you even notice, there's a flustered Mingyu resting his head on your lap, tracing small circles on your thigh as if he had been punished.

Dokyeom. Taking photos.

He already has a folder with your name and an unhealthy number of photos; Seokmin just never gets tired, you're so used to it that most of the time don't realize that he's actually trying to hit on you. "Just let me take a picture, you look so beautiful today!" And after giving him an awkward smile, you're getting back to your stuff.  Seokmin is a bit disappointed but with a bunch of new photos of his precious person, so is not that bad (at least is what he says to himself trying to not lose his mind).

Seungkwan. Scolding.

I know, it may sound like a bit harsh but when he's scolding you, Seungkwan tries to make it as tender as possible, it doesn't feel like scolding and actually, he uses this as a cheap excuse to be extra lovely. "Don't sleep too late, you're getting dark circles" he says in a soft voice while caressing your checks "you're too pretty for that, don't you think?". He waits for you to take the bait and when you laugh on him, saying that he's being a little dramatic, Seungkwan doesn't hide his disappointment. "Okay, keep watching your series" he says getting up from the couch "but don't you dare to complain later!"

Vernon. Placing his arm on your shoulders.

A classic that never dies and his favorite, Vernon likes to do it all the time: when watching movies, chatting, watching videos together; is a like a very subtle invitation to get closer to him, and somehow, most of the time you’re just minding your business and leave him waiting for you to notice. And yeah, he’s very patient, but everything has a limit. "Come here, babe" then he places his hand on your shoulder and brings you closer to his chest. And don't you dare to move, because there's no way he let you go now.

Dino. Calling your name.

Usually, he calls you by pet names or your name in diminutive, reserving the use of your name for special occasions. However, it doesn't always end the way he expected. “Did I do something wrong?” you ask him just after he called you by your name, and when Chan sees your big doe eyes, his smile fades. “Is just that… I feel like you’re mad at me”. At this point his intentions doesn’t matter anymore, he just hugs you and tries not cry in his disappointment.

[alotofpockets]

Finding comfort | Katie McCabe x Teen!Reader

Where you're always very timid, but open up to Katie

Woso masterlist | Words: 1k

-----

You had never been great at new environments. It always takes a long time before you are able to warm up to people you don’t know. So, being called up to Arsenal’s senior team and being surrounded by a whole new team definitely wasn’t an easy task.

The first few weeks had flown by, but you hadn’t really spoken to any of your teammates, besides giving short answers to their questions.No one seemed to mind that you were so timid, never pushing you. 

Behind your back they had spoken about it, not in a bad way, more so that they were worried that you weren’t comfortable here. They tried in different ways to make you feel more included, hoping you would start opening up more, but despite their best efforts not much changed. However, your teammates were patient with you, and you were grateful that they weren’t pushing.

“Good morning, are you ready for training?” Kim said as she sat down besides you in the locker room. You smiled timidly and nodded. Your team captain smiled and quietly got ready besides you. Around you the room was buzzing with the chatter of the rest of your teammates.

Training today was a gym session. You enjoyed gym days because for the biggest part of it, you were working individually. While yes football was a team sport, so that part was very important, the individual work made you feel more comfortable with the new environment.

You started with biking, as that was usually the equipment that everyone liked the least, so you would have the space to yourself. After a few minutes of cycling, Katie walked up. “Hey Kid, mind if I join you?” In response you nod. She sits down on the bike beside you and starts cycling with you.

After a few minutes of silence, Katie turns her head your way with a serious expression. “I’ve got an important question for you.” You turn to her, worried about what she might ask. Katie McCabe wasn’t known for being serious, so this must be something big or important.

“Do you think cereal is a soup?” You look at her in disbelief, definitely not having expected that question at all. “That’s your important question?” Your lips curl up slightly. “Yes, I need to know where you stand on the matter.” She says just as seriously as she started.

This time your smile breaks out and you start laughing. Katie smiles proudly before she joins in on your laughter. “So,” She says when the laughter dies down. “Is it soup?” You shake your head. “Definitely not and you can’t convince me otherwise.”

Katie gasped, her face filled with shock. “Not soup? Unbelievable. I thought you had better judgement, Kid.” You felt the walls you had up crumble bit by bit every time she joked around. 

The sound of your laughter caught the attention of a few of your teammates in the gym. They looked at the intersection between you and Katie with smiles on their faces. Who would have thought that Katie would’ve been the one to get you to open up more?

“I will let you off the hook this time. Everyone is allowed one wrong opinion, and you have just used yours.” You shake your head with a chuckle. “Good to know.”

The two of you continued chatting throughout your bike session. The team occasionally looks over, happy to see that you are feeling more at home. Wondering what kind of magic Katie used to get through to you. 

“Do you maybe want to join me and toss the ball around?” Katie is quick to say yes, happy that you want to continue opening up to her. “Right behind you.” She says as she gets stopped by Leah on the way.

“I’ve never seen her like this. How did you get her to open up?” The blonde asks full of wonder. Katie shrugs, “I told you that I am funnier than the rest of you.” She walks off proudly, leaving Leah standing there dumbfounded.  

You had picked out the weight that you wanted to use right as Katie walked up. “Alright, show me what you got, Kid.” She stood a few steps in front of you and got ready to catch the ball. You held it at chest height as you squatted down and in your movement up, you threw the ball her way. She did the same movement before tossing the ball your way again.

Just like on bikes, the two of you were chatting. It seemed like you were getting really comfortable with Katie, and there was just one thought on the older players' mind. “Why me?” She asked out loud before thinking.

“I eh, I mean you’re opening up to me and I was wondering what made you do so with me?” She threw the ball back your way. You catch it with ease and as you squat down you answer her question. 

“You just made me feel safe.” You toss the ball back but Katie is so caught by surprise with your answer that it just falls to the ground in front of her. “I win.” You say with a proud smirk.

“Yeah yeah, well done, Kid.” Katie tries to shrug off the loss, but ultimately she’s feeling very good, because she had created a safe space for you without even realising it. Growing up with younger siblings had unintentionally prepared her for youngsters joining the team.

“I want a revance on this next training.” You shake her reached out hand. “Deal, but don’t be upset if I beat you again.” Laughter erupts in the room. Your cheeks turn a bright red when you realise everyone was looking at you. 

Katie notices and puts her arm around your shoulder. “Get used to it Kid, that humour will get you far with these girls.”

-----

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[beforetimes]

my headcanon about the alternate timeline we see in s2ep7 is that instead of ekko and powder being close friends throughout their childhoods who became lovers with no friction, it actually took a while for them to bridge the gap that vi's death caused.

when we see ekko and powder go to vi's memorial for the first time and ekko asks if she was the one who caused their death, powder very quickly retorts that it was ekko's tip that ended up sending them on the job that killed her. i think that this is important not just because the writers wanted to explicitly say that the chain of events that led to the original timeline hinged on ekko's tip but also because in how quickly she said it, we can assume that this is something that's come up between them before.

ekko already is seen as a character who carries a lot of responsibilities on his shoulders, mostly self-ascribed, which i tend to characterize as being born partially of guilt. i think guilt is a large part of his character and it would be somewhat irresponsible to shrug that off when speaking about his character in the alternate timeline that the original ekko drops in on.

powder is characterized as brighter and happier than jinx when she grows up in this universe with a support system, obviously, but she still has a tendency to anger. this is shown through how she tells ekko to get out before she does something she'll regret rather than rolling over in the face of his interrogation and insensitive statements. she also holds a grudge, as we see it takes ekko physically taking her to see vi's painted memorial in the firelight lair before she stops scowling at him in the bar and warms up to him again.

looking at all of these things, i think it's a fair assumption to make that following vi's death, there was a period of time where powder directly blamed ekko for what happened, and that ekko blamed himself as well. this, in my opinion, doesn't cheapen their relationship when they grow up into the people we see in s2ep7, but deepens it.

i think the act of forgiving is something that takes a long time, whether you're forgiving yourself or someone else, and ekko and powder's relationship being as comfortable and easy as it is in s2ep7 speaks to the fact that they had a long stretch of time to get to that space where they could move past the circumstances that led to vi's death. at least, they both do until original timeline ekko drops in and reopens that wound, which in turn leads powder to throw blame back in his face, similarly to how i assume she must have done directly following vi's passing.

the idea that powder and ekko in this alternate timeline had to move past anger, grief, guilt, and blame makes their relationship feel more heartfelt than if they were locked in since day one and there was no more work to be done. love as something that has to be earned and worked for even in a world where things seem mostly ideal shows that it wasn't just a fluke that they got together but a deliberate continuous choice to work through trauma to allow themselves to be together.

it also legitimizes the idea that original timeline ekko and jinx could hypothetically be together as well. not just because we see "oh, one version of powder and ekko can get together so this one can, too" but because both versions have baggage to work past before getting together, but the universe we see displays how this pair managed that with the luxury of a support system and a kinder environment that original timeline ekko and jinx unfortunately weren't afforded.

i think this also makes their team-up in s2ep9 more heartfelt because we can see ekko move past blame when he comes back for jinx to help in the fight, similarly to how i assume ekko in the alternate timeline had to work through his own to eventually get together with powder. both relationships hinge on the fact that they have to put effort in to get comfortable with each other following the consequences of the job that ekko sent them on rather than letting the alternate universe relationship ultimately act as a fluke that can't be replicated because of how drastically different that world is.

[swiftiethatlovesf1]

Back home p.15

Hii guyss, here's part 15 of the story. If you want to read more stories of mine here's my masterlist and if you missed part 14, here it is.

Your life in Monaco was idyllic, growing up alongside the Leclercs. But everything changes when you're forced to leave. Now, returning to the place you once called home, you're confronted with a dilemma: not one, but two Leclerc brothers vying for your heart. Old bonds and unresolved emotions collide-what will you do when the past and present merge in unexpected ways?

Charles had secured fourth place in qualifying, a strong result for the weekend. You had cheered loudly from the paddock, your heart swelling with pride at his performance. But the excitement of the day couldn’t shake the nervous energy bubbling inside you. By the time Charles finished his debrief and met you outside the Ferrari motorhome, you were barely holding it together.

“Ready to head back?” he asked, his eyes soft as he smiled at you.

You nodded, following him silently to the car. The drive to the hotel felt different from usual—quieter, heavier. Charles glanced at you a few times, his brows furrowing slightly, but he didn’t press. Once inside your room, the dam broke. You couldn’t keep it in any longer.

You began pacing, wringing your hands as your thoughts raced. Charles watched you from the bed, concern etched across his face.

“Y/N,” he said gently, standing up. “What’s going on? You’ve been acting strange all day.”

You stopped pacing, turning to him. His genuine worry only made the lump in your throat grow. “Charles… I need to talk to you about something,” you said, your voice trembling.

He nodded, taking a cautious step toward you. “Okay. Talk to me.”

Taking a deep breath, you said, “I need to know how you feel about me. Because I think… I think I’m starting to catch feelings for you, and I need to know if I’m just imagining everything. If I’m just… one of the girls you’re talking to.”

His expression shifted to one of surprise, and for a moment, he said nothing. Then, he smiled—a soft, genuine smile that made your heart skip a beat.

“You’re not just one of the girls, Y/N,” he said, his voice steady and warm. He stepped closer, his hands gently taking yours. “You’re the girl. The only one.”

Your breath caught, your heart hammering in your chest. “You… you like me?” you whispered.

He chuckled, the sound low and comforting. “I’ve had feelings for you for a while now,” he admitted. “I didn’t want to ruin what we had, so I kept quiet. But seeing you here, supporting me this weekend—it’s made me realize how much I want you by my side.”

A tear slipped down your cheek, and Charles reached up to brush it away. “I actually wanted to give you this tomorrow, after the race,” he said, his voice soft. “But now feels like the right time.”

He pulled a small box from his pocket and opened it, revealing a delicate necklace with a red heart pendant. The color shimmered like the Ferrari red you’d seen on the track, vibrant and beautiful.

“Charles…” you murmured, your voice breaking.

“I wanted you to have something to remind you how important you are to me,” he said, unclasping the necklace. “May I?”

You nodded, your hands shaking slightly as you turned around. He fastened the necklace around your neck, his fingers lingering for a moment against your skin. When you turned back to face him, his gaze was full of warmth and something deeper.

“Thank you,” you said, your voice barely audible. “It’s beautiful.”

“You’re beautiful,” he replied, his hand cupping your cheek as he leaned closer.

For a moment, it felt like the rest of the world had disappeared. But then, Charles pulled back slightly, his expression turning serious. “Can I ask you something?”

You nodded, your stomach knotting at the shift in his tone.

“Who told you I was talking to other girls?” he asked, his voice calm but firm.

You hesitated, guilt twisting in your chest. But you knew you couldn’t lie to him. “Arthur,” you said quietly, your gaze dropping to the floor.

Charles stiffened, his jaw tightening as he processed your words. “Arthur,” he repeated, his tone unreadable.

You looked up at him, your eyes searching his for any sign of anger or betrayal. Instead, his gaze softened as he took a deep breath. “We’ll deal with that later,” he said, his fingers brushing against the pendant around your neck. “Right now, all that matters is us.”

He pulled you into his arms, holding you close as you felt the weight of the moment settle between you. Despite the tension, there was a sense of peace—a feeling that, no matter what came next, you and Charles would face it together.

Tag list: @iamapersonwholikesunicorns, @janeh22, @victoriaholland, @abq654, @iamapersonwholikesunicorns, @anaferreira-4, @larastark3107, @itgirlofthecenturysposts, @boherahpsody, @iamkaku, @jz12, @boherahpsody, @urfavouritef1girly, @meglouise00, @charlesgirl16, @a-beaverhausen

[lovebittenbyevans]

Behind The Curtain | Part 1

Summary: When you and Toji thought you both finally went your separated ways but it turns out not everything is all that it seems to be when you both can’t escape the one thing you wanted for so long – Divorce. As Toji tries to get back into the spotlight you both began to wonder if this was ever real between you two or fake

Pairing: Actor/Ex-Husband! Toji Fushiguro x Female Reader

Warnings: cursed words

Author note: This will be a short series.

Part 1

Seeing him again you did not know what to think of it. You forgot how fast a year can go by quickly but you would always remember how he looked. You picture him in your head so many times but eventually you know this isn’t what it used to be.

You clear your throat as you pull out the chair to sit across from him. “Toji.” It was eight o’clock at night and you were in the mood for something warm to drink.

Toji takes a sip of his coffee and leans forward in his chair a bit. “Thank you for meeting me, babygirl.” You notice he had on a hat that says ‘better yourself’ while wearing trimmed black sunglasses along with a white shirt and blue denim jeans.

“Toji, cut to the chase.” You tell him seriously. You don’t have time to hear his fake sobbing stories this time and excuse.

He trailed off. “Always straight to the fucking point, huh?” He reached inside his red jacket pocket and pulled out a piece of paper. “Remember how we finally got divorced from each other and my lawyer helped us out?”

You rolled your eyes and huffed. “Yeah, why? Your lawyer finally admitted she is a scammer and a piece of shit.”

“Well…” Toji exhaled loudly as he unfolded the paper and slid it towards you. “Apparently we are still married to each other.”

You took the paper and looked at it for a moment. “What?” You carefully read what was written on the paper.

11/4/23 –Toji Fushiguro and Y/N Fushiguro are still happily married

Your eyes slowly looked at him. “What the fuck!?” You scoff, shaking your head.

He lowered his hat down as his eyes were on you. “I know, look, I feel the same way you do.”

“You better get a fucking good lawyer this time and fixed this!” You raised your voice a little.

He leans back against his seat. “I know but we have another problem.” You didn’t want to hear those few words at all.

Before you open your mouth to talk, your phone vibrates against your jeans pocket. “That's definitely important.” He said.

You take your phone inside your green jeans pocket and check to see what showed up on your screen.

Actor! Toji Fushiguro and Y/N Fushiguro are happily married a year ago

Your eyes widened immediately when you saw the headlines. You seriously wanted to vomit and crawl into a hole.

Fuck!

“How? W–What?” You were speechless and shocked at the same time.

Toji took one last sip of his drink and said. “It was too late before I could call my publicist to ask them to get rid of the story.”

Your mind had too many thoughts right now. That bastard lawyer for not filing the papers correctly. You wanted to scream loudly but you already knew it was not going to make your problem go away.

“Too late?” You raised an eyebrow. “Are you sure about that?” A part of you didn’t believe him one bit.

He took off his black shade sunglasses and pushed his chair back. “Look, I know you don’t believe anything I tell you anymore but I’m telling you the truth.”

You scoffed. “How long do we have to wait this time to finally go our separate ways.”

“Um, well…” He rubs his chin while looking at you. “She thinks this might help my image. I have trouble staying out of scandals.”

You shot him a look. “Excuse me? Are you–Sharon is a fucking joke.” You got up from your chair and pushed it underneath the table. “That’s not my problem, you can’t control yourself T.”

You were ready to walk out the door when he grabs your wrist, forcing you to look at him. “Wait, how long are you going to be in London for?”

You glanced at his hand on your wrist before looking at him. “My flight leaves today like I told you over the phone.”

Toji took off his hat and ran his hand through his hair. “Stay.” His piercing dark blue eyes were fixated on you.

You let out a chuckle and pulled away from him. “Goodbye T.” You walked out of the coffee shop, struggling to keep a straight face.

[dairy-farmer]

So I had an idea a while ago but didn't have anywhere to share. Honestly very happy to have found your blog and asks(very fun to read too).

Basically:

Tim has an artistic eye, he IS into photography afterall, which means he can look at, enjoy and find beautiful something most people consider sexual in a completely objective way. Specifically, the human body.

So just Tim wanting to start a personal project where he explores the inherent beauty of anatomy. But he needs models. Somehow he gets his brothers to model for him.

Maybe they had to fight arousal almost from the get go, naked in front of him with all his focus on them. Every ounce of his attention on one person at a time and making them feel not just appreciated and beautiful, but like they were the center of his world for that short time.

Or!

Or maybe there's nothing to it to them. Kid is putting a weird amount of focus on body parts not really all that important, like they'd get it if he was focusing on the parts of them generally considered attractive, but he's not? Go off I guess.

Then they see the final products. They don't know how he did it, but... they feel seen in a way the never knew was being neglected.

Damian sees his hands through Tims eyes. They were always just a tool to him, not all that special even if vital. But somehow Tim has captured them in a way that is powerful and strong, and beautiful and gentle. You can see a paint stain that Tim insisted he not wash off, his calluses from training and the muscles coiled under soft skin.

Jason sees his eyes. His eyes that have become more green since he came back, eyes that he avoided looking at in the mirror because they didn't feel like his anymore. Eyes that now look back at him in a way that were they anyone else's he'd say they look intelligent and empathetic. He sees his lashes in stark detail, beautiful and not pitch black, a few as stark white as the streak in his hair that he never noticed extended beyond that. The corner of a scar that doesn't look hideous, but beautiful.

Dick knows he's beautiful, has been told so many times it's become shallow. He knows which parts of him are lusted after. He expects to see something along those lines. Instead he sees his shoulders. Not as some sensual part of him to be objectified, but... as wide and strong, as load bearing and of steel. He knows he's beautiful, but he's never seen someone even try to look past that in a photo.

Tim took so many different photos of them, but his focus was on picking photos that capture their very essence to him.

So seeing themselves through his eyes? They fall and they fall HARD.

them seeing themselves through tim's eyes and seeing that he thinks of them as art, that he can see the little pieces that make them up. when tim talked about photographing them for some personal project because bruce had told him to get a hobby- they'd mostly laughed it off. they hadn't really been taking it all that seriously they'd just been mostly humoring tim.

but then they'd been in tim's little bedroom studio and tim had been arranging them and his warm hands moving them- adjust posture, cupping heads and hands and moving them a certain way.

tim sees them as pretty and wonderful he photographs them but doesn't make them obejcts he makes them people 🥺💖💖!

[passionwillow]

Dating Dominique Luca - Headcanons

Thank you to the lovely anon who requested this! I hope you enjoy it as much as I did writing it. ☺️❤️

Warnings: mentions of smut!

- Oh this man is just- so fucking sweet and cute. He’s the personification of a golden retriever boyfriend.

- Luca had no plans of really settling down and finding someone until he met you. You understood how important his work was and supported him and he was like- oh. It’s possible.

- Every waking minute he isn’t on shift he’s attached to you. Like- actually hands all over you just talking and chatting excitedly about anything and everything and you can’t help but smile. Because he’s so fucking adorable.

- He loves having your legs over his lap as you guys sit on the couch, his hands motioning and tapping excitedly on your legs as he talks about the latest case at work, his blue eyes bright and excited because he really loves his job.

- He’s the most attentive listener as you talk about your work or literally anything. You could say you liked this new coffee flavor and he’s so tuned in and asking all these questions because he just cares.

- This man never seems to sleep. He’s always up early surfing or working out and he’ll have something ready for you to eat when he comes back because he loves taking care of you.

- He always wants to take you out to do something. Try a new food truck, a new shop that opened, or just go out and walk and talk. He isn’t one to shower you in presents, but he’d definitely make a little trinket for you or pick up something small and thoughtful that made him think of you.

- You showed up at HQ after you guys had been together for awhile, planning to surprise him with lunch and he was so giddy and excited to show you around. It was the first someone understood and cared about his work as a partner.

- The interest you showed in his work made him glow, and you won’t find anyone more interested and supportive of what you do than Luca. Whatever it is you wanna do, that man is your personal cheer section.

- The way you got along with the team, bantering and talking and making yourself at home took his breath away. You really were everything he could hope for.

- He isn’t a fantastic cook, and he can be messy sometimes, but he really tries hard to make it up to you and help with household chores. You ask him to wash some dishes or throw in the laundry, he’s right there helping.

- He’s the most intense, passionate love maker and you don’t think you’ll ever not be swept off your feet by it. He fills every kiss and touch with his love and adoration for you.

- And don’t you dare lift a finger and work yourself while you’re having sex (unless you want to, he’d never object). He’s there to serve you and make you feel good and that’s enough for him.

- This man fucking loves your curves. He could drool over your hips and thighs for hours. Like if you’d let him, he’d be between your legs kissing and biting at your thighs because he thinks they’re so delicious.

- If you’re ever upset about something, he wants nothing more than to sit and help you. If he hurt you in anyway, he’d be on his knees begging for forgiveness. This man couldn’t bear to ever hurt you.

- He feels guilty whenever he gets called in, especially if you guys had plans. But the reassuring kiss and smile he always gets from you helps.

- GOOFY SELFIES. He’s definitely sending selfies or pictures of the guys to you while he’s on shift. And you saves every single one you send back.

- He loves showering with you. Mostly to admire you, and he loves washing you, but also to be a goof and fuck around. Using the shampoo to mess with your hair, making shapes. He’s such a dork and it warms your heart.

- This man will have you crying laughing with his antics. Jokes, doing goofy shit with the team, he brings so much laughter into your life. He’s a ray of sunshine.

- He has his down moments though too, and you being there to help him through it or keep him company means the world.

- He knows he isn’t an easy person to be with, but you trying and putting in such effort because you love him never fails to baffle him. That he means that much to someone.

[stansthemans]

Yall my fem stan brain rot is so bad rn. I just looked at my wips. 78k for fem Stan. 4k for dude Stan. lol oops anyway here’s some more

Sometimes it feels embarrassing to ask, like she really is still a child. But Ford never denies her, even when he’s really busy with some project or studying for some exam. Stan knows how important those things are to him, and even though she thinks he needs to relax about it—he’s miles ahead of everyone else at school, even the teachers—she doesn’t want to drag him away from it unless one of them really needs it.

Today, it’s her.

Nothing has gone right today. She actually tried her own homework, like really tried, not just half assed it or copied Ford’s. Predictably, she beefed it, and her teacher actually took the time to call her out in front of the entire class. She tripped on the way to English class, bruising her knee and sending all her shit flying. She hadn’t been fast enough gathering it all up, and she got a tardy. One of her gloves busted at boxing practice, and she hasn’t yet had the guts to tell Pa because she knows he’s going to blow a gasket at having to buy a new one. Dinner was an icy affair. Shermie had apparently called and he and Pa got into it about something. Then, cleaning up the kitchen, Ma had taken out her frustration on Stan.

Stan is glad it wasn’t Pa. She’s always glad when it isn’t him and not just because hiding the bruises has recently gotten much harder. But it still doesn’t make it nice when Ma locks a sharp, critical gaze onto Stan and picks apart everything that’s wrong with her. Too loud and opinionated. How is she ever supposed to catch a man if she’s got the crazy idea that she’s allowed to think anyone cares to hear what she has to say? Not to mention her waistline. The extra dough in the middle—she had pinched Stan’s side here—that Stan certainly didn’t inherit from her. And still with the boxing? It really was high time to stop that brutish, unladylike nonsense.

As if she doesn’t know exactly why Stan needs to keep it up, needs the easy excuse to hide behind.

As soon as she’s able, Stan retreats to the bathroom. It takes a good couple of minutes for the water to heat up, so while she waits, Stan strips down and stares at her reflection in the mirror. She isn’t vain, she doesn’t think. She doesn’t wear any makeup, doesn’t do much more to her hair than run a brush through the waves to manage any tangles. She doesn’t care about trendy clothes or the latest styles. A pair of jeans or shorts, depending on the season, a simple t-shirt, and some high tops. That suits her fine.

She isn’t stick skinny like her mother or a lot of girls at school. She isn’t fat either, not even really that chubby. She’s just kind of thicker. And she’s got muscles from boxing. Not much by way of hips.

How are these ever supposed to bear a child? Any nice boy at the temple, any potential mother-in-law worth their salt, they’ll be looking for that. Hips like these, bad figure elsewhere too. She doesn’t have the looks enough for any good husband to overlook all the other things wrong with her.

Stan steps under the stream of water, hoping that it’s warm enough to wash her mother’s words off her skin.

It isn’t. It never is.

Ford is deep into whatever assignment when she comes into their room, deep enough that he doesn’t look up and watch from the corner of his eye while she changes into pajamas. He’s been doing that for a really long time, but he’s been a little more obvious about it the past few months, and every time it sends a thrilling jolt down Stan’s spine. But he isn’t looking right now, and that makes her feel even worse, despite the fact that he doesn’t look every time and that he’s clearly fully immersed in his textbook.

Stan folds her arms over her stomach, leaning up against their dresser as she watches him. He isn’t hunched too badly, despite how into his work he is. She’s glad to see that at least. The way his spine will pop when he stretches out sometimes really isn’t right for a sixteen year old boy. He took a shower while she was still cleaning up after dinner, and his hair, much shorter than hers, looks so soft and puffy in its freshly cleaned state. His eyes are sharply focused on the textbook, even as his pen dances over his notebook in his neat, looping writing.

He’s so deep into his work, but Stan’s heart is aching too much to keep standing there or even to go curl up in her bunk alone. She steps over to the bookcase. Over the years it’s changed a lot. More and more space is taken up with Ford’s textbooks and scientific journals and less and less their treasures found while out exploring or their comics. Still, there is a small section of novels. Stan picks up one of the most worn down and shuffles over to the desk.

“Hey, Sixer,” she asks, and Ford hums in acknowledgment. “I know you’re real busy.”

“Yes,” Ford says, but not dismissively. “I’m writing that proposal to send in to the Rutgers field office. I told you about that, didn’t I?”

“Yeah,” Stan says, hugging the book to her chest. “Big deal if they take it, right? Maybe get this dump cleaned up some.”

“That’s the hope,” Ford says. “And it will make an excellent addition to my academic portfolio.”

“Yeah,” Stan says again. “Yeah, it’ll be real good.”

The pen stops moving on the paper, and Stan presses her lips together as Ford looks up. His eyes flash as he takes her in, and he opens his mouth. Stan can’t have him ask her what’s wrong because she just can’t, so quickly she blurts, “I know you’re busy but—“ And she shoves their battered old copy of The Hobbit in his direction.

Ford leans back in his seat, almost jumping a bit. She isn’t standing close enough that the book would have smacked him in the face, but it is a close thing. He blinks at it and then again up at her. Stan thinks she must cut a very pathetic figure, but she also doesn’t care in that moment.

Ford studies her with a furrowed brow for only a brief moment before he stands up. He takes the book with one hand and lightly touches her cheek with the other. “Sure,” he says. “I’m at a decent stopping point for the night.”

He absolutely isn’t. Stan wouldn’t understand anything about his proposal if she picked it up to read it, but she knows that he’s lying and going along with her, and she’s so grateful for that. Ford neatens up his work while Stan arranges the pillows and blankets on her bunk. He crawls in after her, and they find a comfortable way to lie tangled up together. Ford opens the book and begins to read aloud.

They both loved this book so much as kids. It wasn’t on the ocean, but it was fantastical adventures fill with daring fights and golden treasure. It was odd, out of place, little people who were still heroes in a big, big world. Sometimes, Stan would read too, picking a couple of the characters that she wanted to voice, often sillily to make Ford laugh. But usually, it would just be Ford reading, them lying together just like this, his voice low, breath ghosting over the top of her head.

It’s soothing. It is. The knots in Stan’s stomach are beginning to loosen, but she still feels heavy in an unpleasant way. As the party reaches Rivendell, Stan decides that she needs more than this, and she hopes Ford is willing to give it.

“Ford,” she asks, and he stops. Stan knows that he can tell she’s about to say something important. She really doesn’t use his name very often.

“Yes, Stanley?”

“Can you do me a favor,” she asks.

“Of course,” he says. “What do you need?”

Need. Because this isn’t a want. She needs this, or she thinks she might shake apart, and Ford doesn’t have to know any details to know that much.

Stan shifts against him just a bit, changes the way she’s lying against him just slightly. Then she reaches up for his hand that was scratching lightly at her scalp. She brings it down her body, under her shirt, and lies it over her breast. Despite being a bit bigger in her upper body, Stan really doesn’t have large breasts. Ford’s big hand covers it completely, and the feeling starts to unwind some of the tension that his voice couldn’t cut through.

Under her, Stan can feel his breath pick up a bit. They haven’t done this outside of her periods before. For the past several months, that’s been the excuse. Ford touching her like that is just him helping her through the very real discomfort of what that week puts her through. And if—when—they do other things, well, they’re hormonal teenagers. Hormones can be such crazy things, overwhelming sometimes. Overwhelming enough to forget the very important fact that they are siblings. Twins. And then when the cramps and aches are over, they go back to being normal.

This isn’t normal. This is outside of that very specific set of parameters where they have decided it’s ok for them to act in ways that they never should have even considered. But Ford’s hand is on her now, skin to skin, and it’s warm and it’s safe.

After a moment, Ford squeezes at her, something questioning, and Stan, her hand still over his, squeezes back and says lowly, “No. Just this.”

“You just want me to hold it,” Ford asks, his voice just as low.

Stan nods. “I just—it’s comforting,” she says.

In a whisper, against her hair, Ford says, “I can feel your heart beating. More than usual.”

He doesn’t need to touch her to feel that, just like she doesn’t have to touch him. It’s always there, right alongside hers, has been for their entire lives. Two hearts beating side by side.

Ford sets the book down in his lap. He doesn’t take his hand away from her, doesn’t move it at all, but his other reaches for her cheek, turning her gently to face him. And then he does something that they also have not done outside of her periods. He brings his lips to hers. Stan sighs against him, lightly dragging her fingers over all six of his before curling around his wrist.

Ford pulls back just slightly. “Whatever Ma said, she was wrong,” he says, and Stan could cry, but his hand is resting directly over her heart, and it keeps her grounded. He kisses her again, a sweet, gentle thing, and then he picks up the book and resumes their reading. Stan melts into her brother, and his voice and touch drives away everything bad in the world.

[crossfandomskylines]

In the Space Between Us: Chapter 8

OTHER CHAPTERS:

Chapter 1 I Chapter 2 I Chapter 3 I Chapter 4 I Chapter 5

Chapter 6 I Chapter 7

Pairing: Glen Powell x OC

Summary: Glen navigates a busy morning while Gabby lingers in the comfort of his home, enjoying the ease of their growing connection. When he returns from a meeting, the sight of Gabby and Brisket on his couch stirs something deeper in him. Their conversation takes an unexpected turn when Glen asks Gabby an important question that could change their relationship.

Word Count: 7.9k

Warnings: None.

A/N: I am really loving these two! I mean I've always loved them but I really feel like we are seeing their relationship develop now! I haven't been able to stop writing the past few days! Hoping to have the next chapter up sometime this weekend after the holiday. Please let me know what you think with Hearts, Comments, and Reblogs! Also if you'd like to be tagged please let me know!

Tag List: @djs8891 @queenslandlover-93 @teacupsandtopgun @loveatfirsttornado

The shrill buzz of Glen’s alarm cut through the stillness of the morning, pulling him from the edges of a pleasant dream. He groaned softly, his hand fumbling on the nightstand until he silenced the sound. The room was dim, early sunlight seeping through the blinds, casting a soft glow over Gabby, who was still curled up beside him.

Glen turned his head, the sight of her drawing a slow smile to his lips. Her hair was slightly tousled, her face peaceful against the pillow, and one arm peeked out from beneath the covers. She looked so at ease, so comfortable in his bed, that he almost didn’t want to disturb her. But he had a couple of meetings with a director this morning before he flew to Austin, and he knew she’s have to go to her apartment.

Shifting closer, he gently nudged her shoulder. “Gabs, time to wake up,” he murmured, his voice low and rough with sleep.

Gabby stirred just enough to grumble something unintelligible, burrowing further into the blankets and tugging them up to cover most of her face. Glen chuckled quietly, his heart warming at the sight.

“Five more minutes?” she mumbled, her voice muffled.

“I’ve already stayed here five longer than I should have, babe,” he teased, leaning in to press a soft kiss to the top of her head. She peeked out from the cocoon of blankets, one eye barely cracking open, her expression adorably unamused.

“Go away,” she murmured, but the corners of her mouth betrayed her with a faint smile.

Glen shook his head, amused. “Alright, alright. I’ll let you sleep a little longer while I get ready,” he said, brushing a stray strand of hair from her face. His fingers lingered for a moment, and he kissed her temple before sliding out of bed, careful not to disturb her further.

As he stood and stretched, Glen glanced back at the bed. Gabby had already nestled deeper into the pillows, her breathing evening out once again. The sight sent a pang of something he wasn’t quite ready to name through his chest—a mixture of affection and contentment that felt as foreign as it did welcome.

With a soft exhale, he padded toward the bathroom to start his day, leaving her in the quiet comfort of her dreams.

Glen moved through his morning routine with practiced efficiency, though his thoughts kept drifting back to the woman still curled up in his bed. By the time he had showered, shaved, and dressed in his button-down and jeans, he found himself smiling at the thought of her waiting just a few feet away.

He took one last glance in the mirror, and then Glen grabbed his phone and keys from the dresser before making his way back to the bed. Gabby hadn’t moved much—her small frame was still buried under the comforter, the occasional soft rise and fall of the blankets confirming she was happily lost in sleep.

He sat on the edge of the bed, reaching out to gently shake her shoulder. “Gabby,” he murmured, his voice warm. “It’s time to wake up.”

She made a sound somewhere between a whine and a grumble, turning her head just enough to bury her face in the pillow. “Mmm, no it’s not,” she muttered, her voice thick with sleep.

Glen grinned, leaning closer. “Come on, sleepyhead. I’ve gotta head out. And you’ve gotta go home.”

When that didn’t elicit much more than a faint groan, he tried a different approach. Sliding closer, he leaned over her and pressed a soft kiss to her cheek, then her forehead. 

“Wake up,” he whispered teasingly, wrapping an arm around her shoulders.

Instead of stirring, Gabby shifted closer to him, nuzzling into his chest like a cat seeking warmth. 

“Don’t go,” she mumbled, her words barely audible but brimming with sleepy stubbornness. She wrapped her arms around him, squeezing slightly, and mumbled, “Stay.”

Glen couldn’t help the laugh that escaped him, low and full of affection. “Oh, is that how it’s gonna be? Trying to hold me down so I stay?” he asked, brushing a hand over her back.

She hummed, her lips curving into a faint smile against his shirt. “Mmhmm. You don’t need to go to your meeting. Meetings are overrated.”

“You think so? So this meeting about a script and a possible role isn’t important?” he asked, his amusement growing.

“Not right now,” she said, her voice muffled. She tightened her hold on him as if her sleepy protest might actually convince him to stay.

He shook his head, both exasperated and charmed. “You’re ridiculous, you know that?”

Her only response was a soft hum of agreement, followed by another nuzzle against him. 

Glen laughed again, his resolve weakening with every adorable little move she made. “Alright, you win this round. Five more minutes of this, and then we really have to go.”

He stayed there, holding her for just a moment longer than he probably should have, savoring the way she fit so perfectly in his arms, even when half-asleep and obstinate.

Five minutes turned into ten before Glen finally glanced at his watch and sighed. If he didn’t leave soon, he was going to cut it dangerously close to his meeting. As much as he wanted to stay wrapped up with Gabby in the cozy warmth of his bed, duty called.

“Alright, sweetheart,” he said softly, shifting slightly to look at her. “As much as I’d love to stay right here with you all day, we really need to get going.”

Gabby made a faint noise of protest, burrowing deeper into the covers and tugging the comforter up to her chin. “Nooo,” she mumbled. “Don’t want to leave.”

“Come on, babe,” he coaxed, his lips twitching into a smile. “I’ve got to head out soon, and I want to say goodbye before I leave.”

“Nope,” she mumbled, clutching the comforter tighter around her. “You can say goodbye to the blanket. I live here now.”

Glen laughed, shaking his head. “You live here now, huh? That’s news to me.”

“Mmm bed’s really comfy. And warm. I like it here.”

Glen laughed, the rich sound filling the room. “Oh, is that your master plan? Moving in with me so you can turn me into your personal heater and make me late for every meeting?”

Gabby’s grin widened, and she shrugged under the covers. “Sounds like a win-win to me.”

Shaking his head, Glen leaned down and pressed a lingering kiss to her forehead. “Tempting as that sounds, I’ve really got to go.” He paused, glancing down at her still-snuggled form. “But if you want, you can stay here while I’m out. Make yourself at home. There’s food in the fridge, and you can hang out with Brisket—he’s an excellent host.”

Her eyes brightened, peeking out from beneath the blanket. “Really? You don’t mind?”

“Of course not,” he said with a warm smile. “Besides, it’ll be nice to come home and find you here.”

Gabby’s cheeks flushed faintly, and she buried her face against the pillow for a moment before looking back up at him. “Okay. I’ll stay.”

“Good.” Glen sat up fully and reached for his phone and keys on the nightstand. “But before I go, think I could get a proper goodbye?”

Gabby smirked, pushing herself up slightly and letting the covers fall just enough to reveal her sleep-rumpled hair and flushed cheeks. “Proper goodbye, huh? What’s that entail?”

“Well,” Glen said, leaning down until their noses were nearly touching, “it usually involves a kiss. Or two. Maybe three, if I’m lucky.”

Gabby giggled softly, but her laughter faded as he closed the distance between them, his lips capturing hers in a kiss that was soft but brimming with warmth. She sighed against him, her fingers brushing lightly over his jaw as if she didn’t want him to leave, either.

When they finally pulled apart, Glen smiled down at her, his voice low and teasing. “You’re making it really hard for me to leave, you know that?”

“Good,” she whispered, her eyes dancing with affection.

With one last kiss, Glen reluctantly stood and grabbed his bag, glancing back at her one more time. “I’ll see you later, sweetheart. I’ll leave a key on the counter for you in case you leave. Just lock up if you do,” he said, leaning in to press a kiss to her forehead. “Get some rest, alright?”

As he grabbed his bag and headed for the door, he glanced back one more time, finding her still nestled in his bed, her smile the last thing he saw before stepping out into the morning sun.

A few hours later the late morning light filtered through the curtains as Gabby stirred awake, her hand instinctively reaching out to find Brisket curled up beside her. The dog’s tail thumped lazily against the bed as he stretched, his big brown eyes looking up at her with quiet expectation.

“Good morning, Brisky,” she murmured, her voice still groggy as she ran her fingers through his soft fur. He gave a happy little huff, leaning into her touch.

She spent several minutes like that, scratching behind his ears and rubbing his belly, enjoying the quiet comfort of the moment. Eventually, Brisket rolled onto his side, content to let her keep going if she wanted.

Gabby finally sat up, rubbing her eyes and glancing around the room. Her clothes from the previous night were folded neatly on the chair by the window—a small gesture she assumed Glen had done before he left. She smiled at the thought.

As she stood and padded over to retrieve them, her phone buzzed on the nightstand. She grabbed it and saw a text from Glen:

Glen: Hey, sleepyhead. Make yourself comfortable while I’m gone. Bathroom’s all yours if you want to shower, and feel free to steal a shirt or some sweats from my closet if you want. 😉

Gabby chuckled softly, rereading the message before glancing toward the bathroom. The idea of freshening up sounded appealing, especially since she’d spent the night in his bed after their first time together.

She made her way into the bathroom, turning on the shower and letting the steam fill the space. Glen’s thoughtfulness lingered in her mind as she stepped under the warm spray, washing away the remnants of sleep and feeling more awake with each passing minute.

When she emerged, wrapped in a fluffy towel, she couldn’t help but feel more at ease. Glen’s place smelled like him—clean and woodsy with a hint of something citrusy—and it made her smile as she stepped back into the bedroom.

She slid her jeans from the day before back on, but paused when she caught sight of the closet. His offer from the text replayed in her mind, and after a moment’s hesitation, she opened the door. Inside was a neatly organized row of clothes, and she quickly spotted the burnt orange of several Texas Longhorns t-shirts.

Pulling one from the hanger, she held it up for a moment before slipping it over her head. The cotton was soft and oversized, falling just past her hips. It smelled faintly of Glen, and she felt her cheeks warm as she smoothed it down.

Brisket gave an approving wag of his tail as she emerged from the closet, looking a little more put together but still comfortable.

“Well,” she said to the dog, crouching to scratch under his chin. “Looks like it’s just you and me for now. Think your dad will mind if I raid his ktichen?”

Brisket trotted after her as she made her way to the kitchen, his tail wagging happily. Gabby paused by the coffee maker, taking in the small but telling details of Glen’s space. The fridge had a handful of pictures and magnets—some of what she assumed were his family, a couple of him with Tanner and other friends, and one of Brisket as a puppy. 

As she moved around, Gabby felt a strange mix of emotions. On one hand, she couldn’t deny how natural it felt to be here, as if this space already held a place for her. On the other hand, it was surreal. She’d only known Glen for a little over a month, and yet she felt more at ease here than she ever had in other people’s homes.

She opened a cabinet above the coffee maker, looking for something to drink. She wrinkled her nose at the sight of Glen’s coffee pods and the bag of ground coffee sitting on the shelf. Coffee was his thing, not hers. She much preferred tea—something warm and calming to start the day.

Scanning the shelves, her eyes froze on a small box tucked neatly into the corner. A box of her favorite brand of tea.

Gabby’s fingers hesitated before reaching for it, almost like she wasn’t sure it was real. Turning the box over in her hands, she studied the familiar logo and flavor, the same one she kept stocked at her own place.

She couldn’t help but smile as her chest tightened with a mix of emotions. He didn’t drink tea—she knew that much. Glen was a coffee guy through and through. Which could only mean one thing: he’d bought it for her.

Placing the box gently on the counter, she pulled out her phone and fired off a quick text.

Gabby: Did you buy my tea for your place?

It didn’t take long for his reply.

Glen: Yeah. Saw it at your place. Thought you might want some here if you stayed the night or ever needed it.

Her throat tightened as she stared at the message, rereading it several times. The simplicity of it struck her harder than she’d expected. It wasn’t some grand romantic gesture, but that was what made it so significant. Glen had noticed something small—something most people wouldn’t even think twice about—and he’d acted on it just for her.

No one had ever done something like that for her before.

She ran her fingers over the edge of the box, her mind swirling with thoughts she wasn’t quite ready to say aloud. But one thing was clear: this was different. He was different.

With a soft smile tugging at her lips, she set the kettle on the stove to boil.

* * * *

The early afternoon sun hung high as Glen parked his truck in the driveway, grateful to finally be done with his back-to-back meetings. The day had been productive but draining, and all he wanted now was a quiet moment to decompress at home.

As he unlocked the front door and pushed it open, he was greeted by a sight that stopped him in his tracks.

There was Gabby. Curled up on his couch, a blanket draped over her legs, with Brisket sprawled across her lap. Her hand moved absentmindedly along the dog’s fur as she focused on the TV, a soft smile tugging at her lips as she watched whatever show or movie held her attention.

Glen didn’t move. He just stood there in the doorway, taking it in. It was such a simple scene, but something about it felt... right. Almost too right.

He leaned lightly against the doorframe, his hand still resting on the doorknob as he let the moment settle over him. The faint sounds of the TV mixed with Brisket’s contented sighs. The way Gabby looked so at ease in his home, wrapped in his blanket, wearing his shirt. The way Brisket, who wasn’t usually so quick to cuddle up like that to people that weren’t him, was completely at peace with her. Glen felt a tug in his chest, a mix of emotions he wasn’t entirely sure how to process. This. He could get used to this. Coming home to her. 

The thought startled him, and he quickly shook his head, as if trying to clear it. Too soon, he told himself firmly. It’s only been a month.

But his gaze drifted back to her anyway, and damn it if he couldn’t help the way his chest tightened again. Gabby had a way of making things feel effortless. Natural. Like this was exactly where she belonged, even if it wasn’t logical or planned. He hadn’t planned to have her spend the night when he invited her over last night. He wasn’t against it, but it wasn’t expected. He definitely hadn’t planned to let her stay at his house while he was gone, but again, he wasn’t against it. And it wasn’t logical to want to come home to her every day after only knowing her a month. But damn, was he not against the idea of doing this every day.

She must have sensed his presence because her head turned, her eyes locking on his. A smile broke across her face, warm and inviting, and suddenly Glen didn’t care if it was too soon or not.

“Hey, stranger,” she teased, shifting on the couch to face him more fully.

Glen glanced up at her, his expression softening. “Hey,” he said, straightening and crossing the room toward her. “How’s your day been?”

“Not bad,” she replied, setting the remote down. “Brisket and I have just been holding down the fort. You?”

“Busy,” Glen admitted, brushing a hand through his hair. “Meetings ran a little long, but nothing too bad. Just glad to be home now.” He leaned over, pressing a quick kiss to her lips.

Glen then glanced at Brisket, who gave him a sleepy wag of his tail, but made no move to relinquish his spot on Gabby’s lap and give Glen a proper welcome home greeting.

Glen huffed out a laugh. “Traitor,” he said to Brisket, earning a snort of laughter from Gabby.

Gabby smiled, her heart skipping the way it always seemed to when he was near. 

“We missed you,” she said softly, a teasing note in her voice.

“Well, I’m here now,” Glen said with a grin. He straightened, pulling off his jacket and tossing it over the back of a chair. 

His eyes then glanced to the TV, and that was when he noticed what she was watching. Twisters.

“Really?” He drawled, his lips quirking into a grin.

“What? It’s a good movie.” Gabby said as she gave him a mock innocent look. "And I saw you had a copy of it on the coffee table so decided to watch it. How did you even get a copy of it? It's still in theaters."

"Actors always get a copy before it's released." He chuckled as he stood near the back of the couch. “You’re really watching one of my movies?”

She smirked, glancing up at him. “Oh, don’t flatter yourself. I’m just watching it for David Corenswet.”

Glen let out a bark of laughter, shaking his head as he rubbed the back of his neck. “Noted,” he said lightly, a teasing glint in his eye.

Gabby grinned at his reaction, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “What can I say? The man’s got great cheekbones.”

“Uh-huh.” Glen said as he rounded the couch and sat down beside her, his hand casually grabbing a handful of popcorn from the bowl on her lap. He pointed at the screen, where his character had just entered, stepping out of the pickup truck and amping up the crowd.

“So, how’s David doing so far?” He asked, gesturing towards himself on screen.

She laughed and nudged his shoulder. “Not bad, but your character? Kind of a showoff.”

He leaned closer, his voice dropping into a low drawl that mimicked the character’s. “Careful what you say there, city girl.”

Gabby blinked at him, caught off guard by how effortlessly he’d slipped into the role. Then she burst into laughter, covering her face with her hands. “Oh my God, Glen! Don’t do that—it’s so weird hearing it in real life!”

“What? You don’t like it?” He grinned as he grabbed the remote, pausing the movie just as his character started to flirt shamelessly with the female lead. “City girl’s practically my catchphrase in this thing. I figured you’d appreciate the authenticity.”

“Yeah, I’m good, thanks,” she said, trying to hold back her laughter.

But Glen wasn’t done. He leaned back on the couch, his arm draping over the backrest as he gave her a lazy smirk. “Admit it. You kinda like being called city girl.”

Gabby rolled her eyes, but her cheeks flushed slightly. “Not even a little bit.”

“Hmm,” he mused, his voice light and teasing. “I don’t know. You seem like you’re blushing a little there, city girl.”

She swatted his arm, still laughing. “If you call me that one more time, I’m going to finish this movie without you.”

He chuckled and leaned in to kiss her cheek. “Fair enough,” he said, settling back against the couch. But the smirk on his face told her he wasn’t done using the nickname anytime soon. “You enjoy your movie, I’ve gotta pack before my flight later,” Glen said before standing up from the couch.

Gabby raised a brow. “Isn’t your flight not for another four hours? That much to pack, huh?”

He chuckled, shaking his head. “Just trying to stay ahead of things. Most of my stuff’s at the ranch, but there are a few things I like to travel with.”

“Fair enough,” she said, watching as he grabbed his carry-on from the closet near the door.

“You can keep watching your show,” he said, nodding toward the TV as he headed down the hall. “I’ll just be in the bedroom if you need me.”

The faint sound of rustling came from Glen’s bedroom as Gabby wandered down the hallway, curiosity pulling her closer. She stopped at the doorway, leaning her shoulder against the frame, and smiled at the sight of Glen moving around the room. He had a small carry-on suitcase open on the bed and was in the middle of folding a few shirts with surprising precision.

“What’s this?” Gabby teased lightly, crossing her arms as she watched him. “You’re a neat packer? Didn’t see that coming.”

Glen glanced up with a smirk, a t-shirt in his hands. “Gotta keep the chaos somewhere, and it’s not going in my suitcase.”

Gabby laughed, her eyes roaming over the room. Most of his essentials were probably at his ranch in Austin, but the sight of him packing made her realize just how much time he must split between his two homes. She could see the well-practiced ease in the way he moved, grabbing what he needed without hesitation.

“Big plans in Austin?” she asked, shifting her weight as she watched him.

“Just the usual when I’m there,” he replied, tucking the t-shirt into the suitcase before grabbing his laptop bag from the desk. “A couple work related meetings. But mostly hanging out with my family, catching up with a few friends.” He glanced up at her, his expression softening. “It’s been a while since I’ve been home for more than a day at a time. Feels like I’m always on the road these days.”

Gabby nodded, stepping into the room and perching on the edge of the bed. Brisket followed her, flopping down at her feet. “That’s what happens when you’re a big-time movie star,” she teased, though her tone was gentle.

“Yeah,” Glen said, rolling his eyes but smiling. He zipped up the laptop bag and set it next to the suitcase. “It’s not all bad. I like being busy. But sometimes…” He trailed off, his gaze flicking to her for a moment before he turned to grab a pair of boots from the corner.

“Sometimes what?” she prompted, tilting her head.

“Sometimes it’s nice to slow down for a bit. And it’d be nice to have someone to share it with,” he admitted, his voice quieter now.

Gabby’s cheeks warmed at the admission, and she glanced down at Brisket to hide her smile. “Well, you’ve got Brisket,” she said lightly, scratching the dog’s ears.

Glen chuckled, shaking his head as he set the boots next to his suitcase. “He’s great company, but he’s not much for conversation.”

Gabby laughed softly, the sound filling the room. Glen looked at her again, and for a moment, the air between them shifted—something unspoken hanging in the space.

He leaned back against the dresser, crossing his arms. “You should come with me,” he said suddenly, the words tumbling out with an ease that surprised even him.

Gabby blinked, caught off guard. “What?”

“To Austin,” Glen clarified, gesturing toward the suitcase. “Come with me. It’s just for four or five days, and I’d like to show you around my world, you know?”

She stared at him, her heart skipping a beat. “Glen…”

“You don’t have to. No pressure,” he added quickly, straightening up. “I just thought… it might be nice. My family’s been asking about you, and it’d give us some time together before things get crazy again.”

Gabby hesitated, her mind racing. She wanted to say yes—of course she did. The thought of seeing Glen’s hometown, meeting his family, and spending more time with him was tempting. But the idea of stepping deeper into his world, into something that felt so significant, made her nervous. They had only known each other a month…and technically they had only been dating for a couple weeks. Was it too early to meet his family?

“Are you sure?” she asked softly, her voice tinged with uncertainty. “I don’t want to intrude.”

“You wouldn’t be,” Glen said, stepping closer. He reached out, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. “I want you there, Gabs. I wouldn’t have asked if I didn’t.”

Gabby gave him a small smile, appreciating his words, but she could feel the questions swirling in her mind. 

“What if they don’t like me? Your family, I mean,”

Glen blinked, startled by her confession. “Why wouldn’t they like you?” he asked, his voice laced with genuine confusion.

She shrugged, her fingers fidgeting slightly with the hem of her sleeve. 

“I don’t know,” she said softly. “It’s just… they’re your family, you know? What if I don’t fit in? What if they don’t think I’m…good enough for you?”

His expression softened, and he reached up to gently tilt her chin so that she was looking at him. 

“Gabby,” he said, his voice steady and full of conviction. “They’re going to love you because I already do.” The words slipped out before he even realized what he was saying, and as soon as he heard them, he froze.

Gabby’s eyes widened, her breath catching in her throat. “What did you just say?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Glen hesitated, his heart racing as he tried to gauge her reaction. “I…” He exhaled a small, nervous laugh. “I guess I just said it, huh?”

She stared at him, her emotions a whirlwind of shock, warmth, and something deeper. “You love me?” she asked, her voice trembling slightly.

He nodded, his gaze unwavering despite his nerves. “I do,” he said simply. “I know it’s fast, and maybe that’s crazy, but I’ve never felt like this about anyone before.”

Her heart felt like it might burst, but at the same time, she felt a flicker of fear. 

“Glen…” she started, her voice barely audible.

He smiled gently, sensing her hesitation. “You don’t have to say it back,” he said softly. “I don’t want to push you into anything. I just wanted you to know how I feel about you…about us.”

Gabby swallowed hard, her emotions threatening to overwhelm her. “I think…” she began, her voice trembling. “I think I love you too.”

Glen’s breath hitched, and a smile broke across his face. “You do?”

She nodded, her eyes shimmering with emotion. “Yeah,” she said, her voice steadying. “But it scares me. I’ve never fallen this fast before, and I don’t know what that means. What if—”

He stopped her with a soft kiss, his lips brushing against hers in a way that felt both grounding and reassuring. 

“It’s okay to be scared,” he murmured when they broke apart. “I’m a little scared too. But we’ll figure it out together.”

Gabby exhaled a shaky breath, her heart full but still wary. “You make it sound so simple,” she said with a soft laugh.

“It is simple. Or at least it can be,” Glen said, his arm tightening around her. “Because I want to be with you, Gabby. That’s all that matters to me. We can figure out the rest as we go.”

His sincerity melted some of her hesitation, and she found herself nodding slowly. “Okay,” she said, a small smile tugging at her lips. “I’ll go.”

Glen’s grin was immediate, lighting up his face. “Yeah?”

“Yeah,” she confirmed, laughing at his boyish excitement.

He leaned down, pressing a quick kiss to her forehead. “You won’t regret it,” he promised, already mentally rearranging his plans to make room for her.

As Glen carefully folded a button-up shirt into his carry-on, Gabby crossed her arms, the gears clearly turning in her head. Then, without saying a word, she slipped her phone from her back pocket and started typing.

Glen glanced over, catching the concentrated furrow of her brow. “What are you doing?” he asked, raising an eyebrow as he zipped up a small toiletries bag.

“Nothing,” Gabby replied a little too quickly, her tone light but not fooling him in the slightest.

He straightened, watching her as she tapped away on her screen. She didn’t even look up as she moved a step back into the hallway, like she was trying to be subtle.

“Gabby.” His voice carried a teasing edge now, his curiosity fully piqued. “What are you up to?”

“Nothing,” she repeated, her focus still on her phone. “Just… looking something up.”

“Uh-huh,” he said, stepping toward her slowly, like a predator zeroing in on its prey.

Gabby finally glanced up, holding her phone close to her chest as if that would shield her from his scrutiny. “I’m just seeing if there’s a flight I can catch to Austin today since I’m going with you,” she admitted, the hint of defiance in her tone softened by the hopeful smile tugging at her lips.

Glen blinked, then let out a laugh, shaking his head. “Seriously? You’re trying to book a flight right now?”

“Well, yeah,” she said, like it was the most obvious thing in the world. “You’re leaving in a few hours. If I’m going to go with you, I need to get my ticket booked, if I even can get one this late.”

“You’re not even sure you’ll get on the same flight,” Glen pointed out, crossing his arms and leaning a shoulder against the doorframe.

“That’s why I was going to check,” she said matter-of-factly. “What airline are you flying, anyway?”

He stared at her for a beat, piecing it all together. And then it clicked: she wasn’t just checking out flights—she was planning to book one herself. Without missing a beat, Glen moved forward and plucked the phone from her hand before she could react.

“Glen!” Gabby protested, standing on her toes to try to snatch it back.

He held the phone high above his head, easily out of her reach. “Nope,” he said, grinning as she half-jumped in an attempt to grab it.

“You’re being ridiculous!” she said, laughing despite herself.

“Am I? Or are you the ridiculous one for thinking I’d let you pay for your own flight?” Glen teased, his voice playful as he took a step back, still holding the phone aloft.

“Glen!” she said again, her laugh turning exasperated.

He softened, his grin easing into a lopsided smile. “Gabby,” he said, his voice dropping to something warmer. “I’m taking care of it, okay? Let me handle it.”

Her eyes narrowed, though her lips twitched in amusement. “You don’t have to—”

“Yes, I do,” he cut her off gently. “You’re coming with me as my guest. I’ll make sure everything’s sorted. No arguments.”

He handed her phone back with a mock solemnity, and she snatched it quickly, her cheeks flushed. “Fine,” she muttered, though her smile betrayed her. “But you don’t have to do this for me, you know.”

“I know,” he said, brushing a strand of hair from her face as his expression softened. “But I like taking care of you.”

That earned him a shy glance and a small, genuine smile that sent a rush of warmth straight through his chest.

“Now, you should head home and get a bag packed,” he teased, pulling her into a quick hug before turning back to his own packing. “I’ll call and sort out your flight.”

Gabby shook her head with a chuckle but didn’t argue further as she walked back toward the living room, muttering something under her breath about “stubborn Texans.”

Glen couldn’t help but laugh to himself as he grabbed his phone, dialing the airline to add her to the reservation. If she thought he’d let her do this on her own, she had another thing coming.

As Glen wrapped up the call with the airline, ensuring Gabby’s seat was confirmed next to his, he heard the soft patter of her footsteps returning to the bedroom. He glanced up, finding her leaning casually against the doorframe again, her arms crossed over her chest and an eyebrow raised.

"Okay," she began, tilting her head. "What about a hotel? Am I allowed to book that for myself, or are you going to wrestle my phone away for that too?"

Her teasing tone was playful, but there was a spark of curiosity in her eyes, like she was genuinely testing his response.

Glen smirked, leaning back against the dresser he’d been packing beside, arms crossed as he met her gaze. "I mean, I could book you one," he drawled, letting the words hang in the air for a beat.

Gabby raised her eyebrows expectantly.

"But only if you really want one," he finished, his tone dropping into something softer, almost hesitant. "You’re also more than welcome to stay at my place."

Her confident smirk faltered just a little as she straightened, clearly taken off guard by his suggestion. "Stay…with you? Like for the whole trip?"

Glen nodded, his gaze steady as he shrugged one shoulder, trying to keep his tone light despite the vulnerability he felt creeping in. "Yeah. I’ve got plenty of space. You’d have your own room, if you want, or… I mean, you could share mine. Totally up to you."

Gabby’s lips parted slightly, but she didn’t respond right away. Instead, she stepped further into the room, her expression unreadable.

Sensing her hesitation, Glen cleared his throat, rubbing the back of his neck as he added quickly, "I just figured it’d be easier, you know? No back-and-forth, no figuring out rides or whatever. But seriously, no pressure. If you’d rather a hotel, I can—"

"Glen," Gabby interrupted, her voice cutting through his rambling with a small laugh. She stepped closer, standing just a foot or so away now, her expression softening into something almost shy.

"Yeah?" he asked, his voice quieter now, unsure of where she was going with this.

She looked down for a moment, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear before meeting his eyes again. "I’d… like to stay with you," she admitted, her cheeks tinged with the faintest hint of pink. "If that’s really okay."

The grin that spread across Glen’s face was instant and impossible to hide. "Of course it’s okay," he said, his voice warm. "I wouldn’t have offered if it wasn’t."

Gabby let out a small laugh, shaking her head. "Okay, then. But just so you know, if you snore in your sleep I’m kicking you to the couch."

Glen chuckled, reaching out to gently tug her closer by the hand. "Noted," he said, his voice low, his thumb brushing against her knuckles. "Though, for the record, I’ve never been accused of snoring, so you might be stuck with me all night every night.."

They stood like that for a moment, the playful banter fading into a quiet, comfortable silence. Glen glanced down at her, the corners of his lips still quirked in a smile, and he swore his heart skipped a beat.

"You sure you’re ready for almost a week in Texas?" he asked, his tone teasing but his gaze searching hers, looking for any hint of doubt.

Gabby’s smile grew, her fingers tightening slightly around his. "I think the better question is," she said, tilting her head, "are you ready for me to go to Texas and meet your family?"

Glen laughed, a soft, genuine sound that filled the room. "Guess we’ll find out," he said, squeezing her hand once before letting her go.

"Now," he added, turning back to his suitcase with a grin, "you’d better start packing. We don’t have all day, city girl."

Gabby rolled her eyes, but the smile on her face didn’t fade as she headed back toward the living room. "I’ll have you know, I’m a farm girl. Grew up in Missouri, remember? I’ve lived in the city for like a month. I’m a country girl." She called over her shoulder.

Glen grinned, crossing the room toward her. "Oh yeah? You sure about that?"

She tilted her chin up, feigning indignation. "Positive. And I’ll prove it this weekend."

Glen laughed softly, stopping just in front of her. "Guess I’ll hold you to that," he murmured, his smile softening as he reached out to tug her gently into his arms.

Gabby’s playful expression melted into something warmer as she slid her arms around his waist. They stood there for a moment, her head resting against his chest, his chin brushing the top of her hair.

"Thanks for letting me tag along with you this weekend," she said softly, her voice muffled against him.

Glen pulled back slightly, just enough to tilt her face up toward his. "Thanks for saying yes," he replied, his tone equally quiet, his thumb brushing lightly along her jaw.

She smiled up at him, and before either of them could think too much about it, he leaned down and pressed a kiss to her lips. It was soft and lingering, a promise wrapped in tenderness.

When they finally broke apart, Gabby let out a small laugh, her cheeks flushed. "Okay," she said, her voice teasing but her eyes bright. "Now I really have to go pack, or I’m going to miss our flight."

Glen chuckled, his hands resting on her hips as he nodded. "Okay, I’ll meet you at the airport, okay? Or do you want me to pick you up? I can have the Uber swing by your place.”

“I’ll just meet you at the airport.” Gabby smiles before giving him one more kiss and then heading towards the living room.

Gabby spotted Glen as soon as she entered the terminal, standing near the check-in counter with his carry-on bag slung over his shoulder. Even with a baseball cap pulled low over his brow and sunglasses hiding his eyes, he was impossible to miss. The confident way he stood, the sharp lines of his jaw, and the way he scanned the crowd as if he knew someone was bound to recognize him—it all made him look like he’d stepped out of a movie scene.

He noticed her almost immediately, a small, private smile curving his lips as she made her way toward him. Despite the distance between them, Gabby could see the subtle shift in his shoulders, as if her arrival was all he’d been waiting for.

“Hey,” she greeted softly when she reached him, glancing around to make sure they weren’t drawing any attention. “Have you been here long?”

“Not too long,” he replied, his voice low, warm. “I checked us in already. Figured you might want a tea, though, so I didn’t grab any coffee yet.”

Gabby grinned. “You know me well.” She glanced at the Starbucks line a little further down the terminal. “I’ll grab us some. What do you want?”

“Black coffee, medium,” Glen said, stepping closer as if to keep their conversation more private. “Thanks.”

As Gabby turned toward the coffee line, he added, “And don’t let the barista talk you into getting me one of those fancy seasonal drinks.”

Gabby laughed softly, tossing him a teasing look over her shoulder. “No promises, cowboy.”

The line at Starbucks was long but moving quickly. Gabby stood with her arms crossed, scrolling idly through her phone when a quiet commotion pulled her attention. A few feet away, she noticed Glen—still standing in the same spot—now surrounded by a small group of fans.

She froze for a moment, her heart catching in her throat. She knew this was part of his world, part of him, but it was the first time she was seeing it up close.

Glen had removed his sunglasses, and even from this distance, Gabby could see the practiced ease in his expression. He smiled politely, posed for a quick picture with a young woman holding her phone, and nodded as another fan gushed about how much they loved one of his movies.

What struck Gabby most wasn’t the interaction itself but the subtle shift in him. The easygoing Glen she knew—the one who teased her for being a “city girl” now and gave her goofy grins when he thought she wasn’t looking—was replaced with something more polished, more careful. He wasn’t cold, but he wasn’t entirely himself, either.

By the time Gabby reached the front of the line, Glen was slipping his sunglasses back on, signaling the end of the impromptu meet-and-greet. As she placed their order and waited for the drinks, she couldn’t help but glance at him again. He was already looking her way, giving her a small, reassuring smile as if to say, I’m still here. It’s just me.

When she returned with the drinks, she handed his to him and said lightly, “Looks like you made some new friends.”

Glen chuckled softly, adjusting his cap. “Yeah, they were nice. Thanks for grabbing this.” He took a sip, his eyes flicking around the terminal before landing back on her. “You okay?”

Gabby nodded, a small smile tugging at her lips. “I’m fine. Just... getting used to this part of things.”

He hesitated, then leaned in slightly, lowering his voice. “I get it. And if it ever gets to be too much, you tell me, okay? We’ll figure it out together.”

Her heart warmed at his words, and she nodded again. “Okay.”

As they made their way toward security, Glen reached for her hand instinctively, his fingers brushing against hers before he stopped himself. They exchanged a knowing look, both feeling the same pull but knowing they had to tread carefully.

On the plane, they settled into their seats near the back of first class. Glen’s cap and sunglasses were back in place, and Gabby couldn’t help but laugh quietly as he glanced over the in-flight magazine like he was trying to disappear.

“You know,” she said under her breath, “the hat and glasses make you look more like someone trying not to be recognized.”

He smirked, tilting the brim of his cap up slightly. “Noted. I’ll go full incognito next time. Fake mustache and all.”

Gabby stifled a laugh, but her amusement softened into something warmer as he reached for her hand under the armrest. Out of sight, their fingers laced together, a quiet rebellion against the invisible wall they’d built in public.

As the plane began to taxi, Gabby glanced at Glen, who had leaned his head back against the seat. He caught her looking and gave her a small, lopsided grin.

“Ready for Texas?” he asked, his voice low, almost a drawl.

She smiled back, squeezing his hand. “With you? Yeah. I’m ready.”

Midway through the flight, the hum of the engines and the dimmed cabin lights lulled Gabby into a light doze. Her head, which had been leaning against the window, gradually tilted sideways until it rested against Glen's shoulder. He glanced down, a faint smile tugging at his lips as he shifted slightly to make her more comfortable, careful not to disturb her.

She looked peaceful, her features soft and relaxed, and Glen couldn’t help but feel a tug of affection as he watched her. This was Gabby at her most unguarded, no cameras, no rehearsed lines, just her.

A shadow crossed over them, and Glen looked up to see a flight attendant standing in the aisle. She had a kind smile on her face, her hands clasped politely in front of her.

“Mr. Powell,” she said quietly, her gaze flickering to Gabby and then back to him. “Would you like me to wake her up? I can get her to sit up if she’s bothering you.”

Glen blinked, caught slightly off guard by the question. He quickly shook his head, his smile easy and warm. “Oh, no, no,” he said softly. “She’s fine. I don’t mind.”

The flight attendant hesitated, glancing at Gabby again as if to confirm. “Are you sure? I just thought, with you being, well... you—”

Glen chuckled under his breath, cutting her off gently. “Really, it’s fine,” he assured her, his voice low and sincere. He glanced down at Gabby for a moment, the corners of his mouth lifting in a smile again before he added, “She’s my...”

He stopped himself just in time, realizing what he’d been about to say. Clearing his throat, he quickly corrected, “She’s fine.”

The flight attendant nodded, seeming satisfied, and murmured, “Alright. Just let me know if you need anything.” She moved on, leaving Glen alone with his thoughts.

He exhaled softly, tilting his head back against the seat and closing his eyes for a moment. His hand, resting between them, inched closer to Gabby’s, his fingertips brushing hers lightly.

It struck him then how natural it felt to have her leaning on him, how much he liked being her quiet anchor, even in something as ordinary as a flight. He didn’t need to put on any masks or play any part. Around Gabby, he could just be.

When the plane hit a patch of mild turbulence, Gabby stirred slightly, her head shifting against his shoulder. Glen turned to look at her, brushing a strand of hair away from her face with a tenderness that surprised even him.

“Go back to sleep, Gabs,” he murmured softly, his voice so low it was barely audible over the hum of the engines.

She didn’t wake, but her body seemed to relax even further against him, and Glen allowed himself to rest as well. He knew this trip would bring its challenges—introducing her to his family, keeping their relationship under wraps from prying eyes—but in this moment, none of that mattered.

For now, she was here, leaning on him, and that was enough.

The plane landed smoothly, and as the seatbelt sign dinged off, Gabby stretched and turned to Glen with a sleepy smile. He reached up to grab their bags from the overhead compartment, his movements practiced and efficient.

As they stepped off the plane and into the bustling terminal, Glen adjusted his baseball cap and sunglasses, doing his best to remain inconspicuous. Gabby walked beside him, brushing her hair behind her ear as she glanced around at the unfamiliar surroundings.

Just as they passed through the gate area, Glen looked over at her, his lips curving into a warm smile. “Welcome to Austin, Gabby.”

[atangledfate]

The old bird didn't comment on the caretaker, but the fact certain parties in Sol had never made a move on the clock. Was probably a good indication that he was correct. Eternity was no ones fool, and had existed since before time began and started the great wheel of time. Morpheus was not convinced the old primal had died, but rather was waiting for something or perhaps trapped somehow? Thoughts that he'd have t dwell on later. For now he focused on his sister and this stranger from another world.

" Greetings Sister, i do apologize for the sudden visit... though, we have Vistors who wished to speak with you. "

Sol gave her brother a courteous nod as she turned her eyes to Blitz, her tail swishing from side to side. She seemed quite comfortable in her guise, and could only smile at the stranger, a kindness flowing from her like a river. Though a smile could mean many things, she gave the impression of a wise woman on a mountain rather then some all powerful goddess.

" Oh, pish posh! walking as a great flame as true as it might be. Isn't the best way to greet someone. It can be rather uninviting... and i will have no one say i am not a gracious host... "

She placed her hands behind her and gave the other deity a moment to speak his mind. She seemed to never stop smiling but perhaps that was the unsettling part. Despite what was asked she didn't seem to betray her emotions, and kept herself quite calm. Morpheus could never quite tell what his sister was thinking and knew should she be upset you'd never know unless she decided to punish you.

" AH, i see... i did tell my daughter there would be consequences to her decision... and then she went and brought dear poppys whole family as well. While i have no issue with this act, i imagine its quite a disruption for your world... "

She made a motion with her hand as the realm around them shifted and churrned until they stood within a little cottage deeper within the island. A simple little home with a little fireplace, a stove, and many herbs dangling around the rather primitive cottage. The goddess motioned to a small table where Tea waited for them, the perks of a dreamscape--- it was what she wished it to be.

" Let us have tea, and we can discuss what it is you wish to change. Though i admit i do not have power over fate here... that would be the timekeeper... Eternities realm. Though they has been missing for many generations now. His caretaker Archimedes is the one to speak to on the matter. But before i allow this i would like to know details... it is my daughters fate after all and she's important to me..."

As the conversation turned to herself she seemed to smile warmly at the offer. Though there was something about the smile that was both sad, and warm at the same time. She found a seat at the table and picked her own Tea up and stared at it. She was silent for a long moment as if searching for the right words to speak.

" ... the Spark of Life, it's a peculiar thing don't you think? Have you ever stopped and watched a mortals life, just watched them born, live, struggle, love, and be loved... and die? I'm connected to all life by proxy all mortals on soul are part of me. Like them i am part of a great cycle... "

She paused taking a sip of the tea and gazing at blitz with that same smile though she did look quite tired.

" That Cycle is coming to a close, to rekindle my flame now... i'd be defying my own cycle... it would be unnatural, and go against my very ideals. My time is coming to a close... soon my daughter will be fully prepared... She believes she is kindling, to be consumed by me in order to fuel my pyre and reignite the spark of life. That she will end her own existence for me... "

Sol smiled again though was more genuine and proud, as if she was very proud of her daughter. She couldn't think of a better reward for her, a better way to say she loved her. A better way to give herself to this world she loved so much!

" That kind of loving selfless sacrifice is what this world needs... But, you see it will not be her that is consumed. But rather my essence shall enter her... i shall cease to be as a new Goddess of life is born, and she shall be my living legacy... so you see, i can't accept your offer. As generous as it is... my time comes to a close... and i am content with that... But i appreciate your concern, and am flattered by your kindness...but i must also ask that this never be spoken to my daughter--- she must never know least she may not be willing to go through with it..."

"Nothing to gain in all honesty, expect maybe for the fact if a certain specter attempts to weasel their way in this universe, she can incinerate whoever they try to send here in an instant. Other than that, it just comes down to the fact that I could possibly help so I figured I should offer it." Blitz only needed permission to slightly alter Blaze's timeline so anything else was simply him wanting to try and help.

"Well, I certainly hope he made this caretaker powerful as well. It wouldn't be very wise to leave something that can control all of time without someone strong enough to crush anyone trying to control it." If the time God of here was as smart as Morpheus made him seem then wouldn't be surprised if the caretaker was packing some serious fighting power.

"It's not that I don't have a need for it, I'm just storing up energy. Even as we speak it's building up, higher and higher. It's not something most look out for, though if you look closely enough, you'll see me slowly soaking up cosmic energy. If things go well, I'll have a rather powerful ace up my sleeve for when things get real crazy in the universe that I'm from." Seemed he was gearing up for something big.

Blitz didn't seem phased by the voice as he looked up at Sol, and then having to look down a bit, though still up. "I was expecting something intense. I don't mind if you chill in your true form. I'd do the same thing if I had a crazy cosmic form, though this is the only one I've ever had since I'm not your typical primordial. If I don't end up kicking the bucket down the line, I'll tell you about it." Blitz better move on to business.

"Only name I got is Blitz, mainly because I can't remember my own. As for why I'm here, the God of Time from my universe needs to make a small adjustment to Blaze's timeline, only because it sorta crosses with Poppy's now. Nothing crazy, just the time Poppy ended up here which would add more detail to what life was like in Flora. Also, if you can make it so she does remember the unaltered timeline that'd be cool. I'd rather her not we did that."

"That's about the only thing I really need your help on. Other than that, if you'd like I can help restore your flame back to its prime. I also know a guy who can hopefully make you a physical body to connect to so you can freely and safely check on things easily. Oh, and if you want, I can throw a few tests at Blaze to improve her skills. Nothing crazy or dangerous, though it'll push her. She could also land the Forger making her a divine weapon."

[crimson-nail]

More thought about Knives, Livio, and Razlo?

having klr meet through vash or wolfwood is usually the easy go-to, but honestly i love the idea of them meeting initially thru elendira until they become more than acquaintances. she will always be knives’ girlbestfriend in whatever i write and also she scares the shit out of LR but in a sexy way. have i mentioned that fight was my favorite in the manga. many times? yeah. it was my favorite.

[poorly-drawn-mdzs]

More MDZS and Hollow Knight! The cool bugs I found in my backyard have started to unionize.

Part 1 - Part 3

[arolesbianism]

Anyways incorporating new saint hcs into my semi au Sliver lore means that now saint gets to continuously experience ascending Sliver forever 👍

[songofwizardry]

just moved into a new place that has a washing machine that *has a dryer* and in addition to the convenience of washing sheets, I am now convinced that all I need is to put all my bones into the washer-dryer for a good spin. and then they will be warm and sorted.