#i also fell asleep for like??? 10 hours in the middle of the day???

[zero-is-nebulous]

Yippee! Congrats tails!

This is a comission I did for @gareaf ! Tadaaaa

[lefteagleblizzard]

𝔚𝔢𝔢𝔨𝔢𝔫𝔡 𝔴𝔬𝔫𝔡𝔢𝔯𝔰

Mike Schmidt x male reader

Summary: Many weeks have passed since your relationship with Mike began. Every chance you got, every break from studying, you spent with the Schmidt siblings, especially on weekends. Today, in particular, the three of you spent the whole day together, which ended with Abby falling asleep in the middle of a board game she insisted on playing despite the late hour. In the process of cleaning everything up, you and Mike start asking each other some questions to get to know each other better. The situation escalated from there.

Warnings: Age-gap (5 years) between you and Mike. Male reader. He/him pronouns used towards the reader. Fluff. Mike can speak Spanish, translation to everything at the end (y’all, every time I watch that video on YouTube of Josh answering the web’s most searched question about him and he starts speaking in Spanish... 🥵) Smut at the end. Top Mike. Bottom reader. Table sex. Reader being called “good boy”. Handjob (M receiving). Rimming (R receiving). Anal sex.

Words count: 4500

Part 1-Part 3-Part 4-Part 5-Part 6-Part 7-Part 8-Part 9-Part 10-Part 11

Can also be found on wattpad and ao3

The weekend had arrived, bringing with it a much-needed break from college lectures and a chance to spend time with Mike Schmidt and his younger sister, Abby. The three of you had spent the day immersed in simple pleasures: watching Abby's favorite movies, preparing meals together, and even an impromptu dance party in the living room, which left Abby giggling uncontrollably.

As night fell, Abby suggested playing a board game. It was a game designed for children, colorful and straightforward, but its appeal lay more in Abby's enthusiasm than in the gameplay itself.

Mike sat back on the couch, his eyes softening as he watched you and Abby playfully argue over the rules of the board game she insisted on playing. His feelings for you had grown quickly over the past few weeks, and he often found himself marveling at how easily you fit into his life. It was a feeling that both comforted and surprised him-this natural blending of your world with his.

Mike's gaze lingered on you, noticing how you engaged with Abb, your smile genuine and warm, It was moments like these that made him realize just how much you meant to him. The thought of spending nights like this more often, with you by his side, filled him with a profound sense of happiness.

Abby seemed to relish the sight of you and Mike together, often teasing you both with exaggerated gestures of affection.

Whenever you leaned in to kiss Mike or wrap an arm around him, Abby would dramatically roil her eyes, feigning disgust in a way that only a precocious child could. "Ew, you guys are so gross" she'd declare, her face scrunched up, though the playful twinkle in her eye gave her away.

Mike enjoyed playing along with Abby's antics.

He would sometimes pause mid-kiss, turning to her with mock seriousness, "You're just jealous because he can’t resist my charm."

Abby would respond with an exaggerated gag, making you both laugh. "Ugh, please, spare me!" she'd cry, pretending to shield her eyes.

Abby's competitive spirit shone through as she took an early lead, her laughter infectious as she watched the two of you struggle to catch up.

Despite the game's child-like simplicity, you and Mike indulged her, enjoying the shared moments of joy and the occasional eye roll when she pulled off a particularly clever move.

Eventually, the day's excitement took its toll on Abby, and she gradually succumbed to sleep, leaning against Mike's side. Her soft snores were a testament to the fun filled day, and you couldn't help but smile at the scene.

He gently shifted her into his arms, carefully carrying her to her bedroom. The sight of Mike's gentle care warmed your heart, showcasing a side of him that made you admire him even more.

Once Abby was safely tucked into bed, Mike returned to the living room, with a soft sigh, he bent down and kissed you, his lips brushing against yours with affectionate warmth.

"She's out like a light," he chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck.

With the game almost cleared away, you caught the hint of reluctance in his demeanor, as if he was fighting the urge to suggest calling it a night. He wanted to savor this rare moment of togetherness, not wanting to seem like the boring type who couldn't keep up.

"Hey," you started, your voice light as you gathered some puzzle pieces into a box, "how about we play a little game while we clean up?"

Mike looked at you, one eyebrow raised in curiosity. "A game? Haven't we had enough of those for one night?" he asked, his tone teasing but with an undercurrent of fatigue.

He had been running on the relentless schedule of work and caring for Abby, and the idea of simply wrapping you in his arms and falling asleep was incredibly appealing.

You chuckled, shaking your head as you continued tidying up. "Not that kind of game. I was thinking more of a question game—just you and me. We ask each other questions to get to know each other better. Nothing too serious, just...fun."

Mike hesitated, his instinctive walls coming up. You could see the reluctance in his eyes. He wasn't one to open up easily, even to someone he was dating. The thought of revealing too much too soon probably made him uneasy. But he also didn't want to seem boring or unwilling to engage with you, especially after the perfect day you had spent together. He sighed softly, then gave a small nod, agreeing to your proposal.

"Alright," he said, his voice quiet but warm, "but you go first."

You grinned, pleased that he was willing to play along. You folded up a blanket that had been tossed over the couch.

He sat on the couch and leaned back, stretching his arms with a yawn before picking up some toys scattered there that Abby has hidden in the morning.

“If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?"

Mike paused, thinking it over as he picked up the scattered game pieces from the floor. He was silent for a moment, his brow furrowed in thought. "I don't know," he finally admitted, "I've never really thought about it. I guess.. maybe somewhere quiet. A place where Abby could be happy, where she could run around safely and just be a kid without any worries. Maybe a small town by the coast. She loves the water

You smiled at his answer, not surprised that even his hypothetical dreams were centered around Abby's happiness. "That sounds nice," you said softly, picturing the scene in your mind.

"My turn," Mike said, turning to you as he finished stacking the board games. "What about you? What's something you've always wanted to do but never had the chance to"

The question caught you off guard. You hadn't expected Mike to be so direct, but it was a good kind of surprise. You thought about it for a moment before answering. "I've always wanted to go on a road trip across the country," you admitted. "Just pack up and drive, see where the road takes me. No plans, no schedules, just freedom"

Mike nodded, seeming to understand the appeal. "Your turn, champ," he said, getting comfortable on the couch while he handed you this bag where all of Abby’s toys were.

He rubbed his eyes, trying to stay alert with a tired smile.

Mike’s head was resting on one of his hands, his eyes half-closed in a relaxed state as he waited for your question.

To break the tension, or perhaps to prolong it, you quickly thought of another question to ask.

"Say something to me in Spanish."

Mike blinked, clearly surprised by the request. You had heard him mumbling to himself in Spanish once before, early one morning when he thought he was alone in the kitchen. You hadn't understood what he had said, but the sound of the language rolling off his tongue had been intoxicating. You had been craving to hear him speak in Spanish again ever since.

Mike raised an eyebrow at your request, his fatigue momentarily forgotten. A small, knowing smile playing on his lips.

Your cheeks were already flushing with anticipation.

He studied you for a moment, clearly amused by your request. Without further hesitation, he leaned a little closer, his voice dropping to a husky whisper as he spoke in fluid, flawless Spanish.

"Eres un chico hermoso y perfecto," he said, the words flowing effortlessly from his lips

The way he said it, with such ease and confidence, sent a shiver down your spine. There was something undeniably hot about hearing him speak in a language you didn't fully understand, the foreign syllables carrying an air of mystery and allure.

"What... what did you just say?" you asked, your voice barely above a whisper.

Mike rubbed his eyes, clearly tired but still amused by your curiosity.

“It’s a secret,” he murmured, his voice low and teasing. “But maybe, if you’re lucky, I’ll whisper it to you again...sometime.”

Grinning, you gave a nod and smoothly took the bag from his hands. With a swift motion, you began collecting the scattered toys and papers, turning the cleanup into a playful dance.

You could almost see the gears turning in his mind as he pondered a question to satisfy his curiosity. A slow smile crept across his face, transforming into a sly grin. Leaning in closer, he whispered, “Before we got together, what’s one dirty thought you had about me?”

A rush of heat surged to your cheeks, and you instinctively placed your head on the table, shoulders shaking with a mix of laughter and embarrassment while you held tightly the bag. "Why did I invent these rules?" you groaned, half in regret and half in amusement.

Mike chuckled, clearly enjoying your flustered state. His eyes went to esaminate the rest of the room, satisfied in seeing that there was almost nothing left. "Come on, you can't back out now. Rules are rules."

Taking a deep breath, you lifted your head, your cheeks still burning. "Fine," you said, your voice tinged with shyness. "There was this one time... you were fixing something around the house in a tank top. I don’t really remember what you were fixing, I wasn’t paying attention to that, you know? I was just watching you, and I couldn’t stop thinking about— hmph..." You paused, your voice trailing off as you hesitated.

Mike leaned in, clearly eager to hear more. "Thinking what?" he prompted, his tone encouraging.

You laughed nervously, finally relenting. "i kept making scenarios in my head of you pulling me close and kissing me. And more..."

The tension between you was almost palpable, a charged current that seemed to pulse through the room.

“For the record, I knew you were staring." He whispered softly at you before turning his back at you to pick up some shredded paper from the ground

You smiled softly at him, happy to know that the attraction you felt for him was mutual.

This game you started will end soon.

After moving around to pick up toys and scattered pieces of paper, you started to feel the heat creeping up your neck. You had been so focused on the game and the conversation that you hadn't noticed how warm it had gotten. Tentatively, and feeling a little self-conscious, you decided to take off your shirt to cool down.

You hesitated for a moment before you slowly pulled off your shirt, revealing your bare chest. You felt a little shy, your skin tingling with a mix of nerves and excitement as the cool air hit your exposed skin.

When you finally looked up, you saw Mike staring at you in awe, his gaze fixed on your chest. There was something almost reverent in the way he looked at you, as if he couldn't quite believe what he was seeing. The intensity of his gaze made your heart race, and you suddenly felt very self-aware.

He caught your eye and winked, a gesture that sent your heart racing. In a fit of playful defiance, you grabbed your shirt and threw it at him, your cheeks burning under his gaze.

Mike raised an arm to shield himself from the attack, laughing quietly as the shirt hit him squarely in the chest. His grin widened, clearly amused by your reaction. "Hey, no fair! Can't blame a guy for appreciating the view.” He protested, but the grin on his face told you he was anything but annoyed.

You couldn't help but laugh at his reaction, feeling both shy and bold at the same time.

Finally, after what felt like hours but was likely only a few minutes, the room was clean, and there was nothing left to distract you from the simmering tension between you. You turned to Mike, a sudden idea popping into your mind-a bold request that you weren't sure you had the courage to voice, but the thought of his hands on you was too tempting to resist.

"Hey," you began, your voice a little hesitant, "how about a reward for all that cleaning?"

Mike looked at you, intrigued. "What kind of reward are we talking about?" he asked as he leaned in slightly.

You swallowed, your heart pounding in your chest as you worked up the nerve to ask. "A massage," you finally said, your voice almost a whisper. "On my back. I could use one after all that moving around."

He nodded slowly, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips.

"Sure," he agreed, his voice low and velvety. He rubbed his hands together, warming them up as he asked, "Where would it be more comfortable for you?"

Without overthinking it, you moved closer to him and, in a swift motion, settled yourself onto his lap, your back facing him. He let out a surprised huff, followed by a low grunt as he adjusted to your weight.

"Easy there," he murmured, clearly taken off guard by your boldness. He leaned back slightly, his hands resting on your hips. "You're getting a little too good at this teasing thing."

"Everything okay, old man?" you teased, laughter bubbling up inside you.

"You're lucky I like you," he shot back, grinning as his hands settled on your back.

Settling into Mike's lap, you felt a flutter of excitement mixed with a warmth that spread from your cheeks down to your toes.

You could sense Mike adjusting slightly, finding the right balance to support you as his hands settled onto your shoulders. The touch was gentle at first, exploratory, as if he was reacquainting himself with every curve and line of your back. His fingers pressed into the muscles at the base of your neck, drawing out a sigh from you that was part relief, part pleasure.

"You've got a lot of tension here," Mike murmured, his voice low and intimate, the kind of tone that sent a shiver down your spine.

"I blame you for that," you teased, your own voice barely above a whisper.

His hands moved with practiced ease, kneading the knots and tightness with a care that was both soothing and intoxicating. Each stroke of his fingers felt deliberate, a careful balance between pressure and gentleness that sent warmth spreading through your body. You couldn't help but lean back slightly, closer against him, feeling the heat of his body seep into yours.

"Comfortable?" Mike asked, his breath warm against your ear.

"Very," you replied, the word coming out more like a contented sigh. You tilted your head to the side, giving him better access, the gesture both an invitation and an acknowledgment of trust.

His hands traveled lower, fingers tracing the contours of your spine with a touch that was both firm and featherlight. You could feel the calluses on his fingertips.

Mike's fingers splayed across your lower back, his thumbs working in tandem to soothe the tension from the long day. You could feel the strength in his hands, the surety of his touch, and it made you acutely aware of every point of contact between your bodies.

"You're really good at this," you murmured, the words slipping out between soft sighs of pleasure.

He chuckled softly, the sound vibrating through you. "I used to give Abby back rubs when she couldn't sleep.” he replied, his voice a deep rumble that resonated in your chest.

You couldn't help but shift slightly, pressing back against him, the motion eliciting a low hum of approval from him that sent your heart racing.

"You're making this very difficult for me to concentrate."

You smiled, your eyes fluttering open to meet his gaze. "Who said I wanted you to concentrate?"

He laughed softly, a sound that wrapped around you like a favorite blanket, comforting and familiar.

You could feel your heart beating a little faster, your breath coming a little shorter, as if every cell in your body was attuned to the anticipation building between you.

Mike shifted beneath you, adjusting his position slightly, and the movement brought you even closer together, your bodies aligning in a way that was both natural and exhilarating.

You felt a surge of courage that prompted you to turn slightly, shifting so that you could see his face more clearly.

Mike met your gaze, his eyes dark and filled with an emotion that mirrored your own. There was a moment of silence before he leaned forward, his lips brushing against yours in a kiss that was filled with an urgency that left no room for hesitation.

His tongue traced the seam of your lips, coaxing them apart, and when you opened up to him, the kiss deepened into something raw and primal.

But it was the way he moaned against your mouth that sent a thrill of electricity coursing through your veins, the sound low and rough, vibrating through your very core. The moan was muffled, almost swallowed by the intensity of the kiss, but it resonated in the pit of your stomach, sending waves of pleasure radiating outward.

And then he rotated your head slightly, his hand gripping your chin as he deepened the kiss, his mouth moving over yours with a fervor that bordered on desperation.

You could feel the tension in his body, the way his muscles coiled with the effort to maintain control, and it was intoxicating, the knowledge that he was holding back for you.

His hands slid down to your waist, and he pulled you even closer, your chest flush against his as he guided your movements with ease. You could feel the hardness of him pressing against you.

He broke the kiss only to whisper against your lips, his voice a low murmur that sent shivers cascading down your spine. "My good boy," he breathed, his words a caress that resonated deep within you, leaving you yearning for more.

Mike's own breath was unsteady, mingling with yours in a symphony of shared pleasure.

As he pulled back slightly, his lips still brushing against your skin, he whispered with a husky tenderness that made your heart flutter, "Such a good boy for me.”

His mouth found its way to your neck, pressing kisses.

"Mike...”. you whispered, your voice a breathy plea, filled with a need that you couldn't quite put into words. "Speak to me... in Spanish... please."

The request hung in the air between you, and for a moment, you wondered if he would oblige. But then, his lips were at your ear, his breath warm against your skin as he began to speak, the words flowing from his mouth in a rich, rolling cadence that made your heart skip a beat.

"Eres mi chico bueno," he whispered, his voice rough and filled with a intensity that made your knees weak. "Mi precioso, el más hermoso que he visto. Eres mío."

You didn't need to understand every word to know what he was saying, the intent was clear in the way his voice caressed each syllable, his tone heavy with adoration.

His hand slid up your back, his fingers curling around the nape of your neck as he bent down to press a kiss to your shoulder, the gesture so tender, so filled with reverence that it made your chest tighten with emotion. You could feel the way his body trembled against yours, the effort to maintain control evident in every movement, every breath.

But it was the way he continued to speak, his voice low and breathy, that sent shivers down your spine, the words a mixture of praise and profanity that made your heart race and your skin flush with heat.

"Me vuelves loco," he whispered, his breath hot against your ear. "No puedo... resistirme a ti. Eres tan perfecto, tan malditamente perfecto."

"Mi chico perfecto," he whispered, his voice rough with emotion as he leaned in to press a soft, lingering kiss to your lips. The kiss was tender, filled with a depth of feeling that made your chest tighten with emotion, and you found yourself leaning into him, your body seeking the warmth and comfort of his embrace.

His hands moved to your waist, gripping you tightly as he deepened the kiss, his tongue sliding against yours with a possessive hunger that made your knees weak.

The taste of him was intoxicating, and you found yourself drowning in the sensation, your body pressing against his in a desperate attempt to get closer, to feel more of him.

"Eres mío," he murmured, his words a promise, a vow that resonated deep within you. "Solo mío."

The declaration sent a thrill of pleasure through you, and you couldn't help the soft moan that escaped your lips, the sound quickly muffled by his kiss. His hands tightened on your waist, pulling you closer, as if trying to merge your bodies into one, to erase the space that dared to separate you.

And as his lips moved from your mouth to your neck, pressing kisses and bites along the sensitive skin there, you felt the world around you fade away, leaving only the two of you, locked in a moment of pure, unbridled passion.

Mike shifted, rising from the chair with you in his arms and he carried you to the table with a grace that left you breathless.

The cool surface met your skin as he bent you over the table, a contrast that heightened the warmth of his body pressing against you. His hands roamed with a newfound urgency.

His lips followed the path his hands had charted, pressing kisses that were both gentle and insistent.

You couldn't help the soft moan that escaped your lips, a sound of pure pleasure that echoed in the quiet room. Mike responded with a deep, resonant grunt, a primal sound that spoke of his own rising desire.

"Shh," he whispered, his lips brushing against yours in a playful reprimand. But his own breath was ragged.

Mike's hands found yours, interlocking your fingers as he leaned over you, his chest pressing against your back in a gesture that spoke of unity and devotion. His breath was warm against your ear, his whispered words a balm that soothed and ignited in equal measure.

His hand finds the front of your sweats, breaking your train of thought, and he smiles when you gasp softly.

"You're hard."

"Have been for a while," is all you say, face hot.

He just nods before kissing you again, hand rubbing against your bulge with his other one still on your rear.

His hands make haste with the strings of your sweatpants, loosening it just enough to reach in and grab your hard cock, releasing it from the confines of the fabric with a satisfied look. He rubs you softly, thumb placing just beneath the head, soaking in your noises.

He wraps his hand around you firmly now, stroking you slowly as he kisses you deep. It’s rather unfortunate that he must silence your pretty sounds but the vibration of your moans against his mouth makes up for the loss.

Mike was always this way - the pleasurer, rather than the pleased. Trust that he was always happily pleased with his time with you, with your reactions and moans, asking for more, but in general, he just wasn't the type to seek out his own gratification before giving you yours. Part of it riled you up inside, part of it made your heart yearn for him all the more.

He strokes you and you curl into him. It’s as though his fingers are laced with poison. And yet, his lips somehow carry the antidote.

Mike positioned himself in between your thighs, cock of his own throbbing through his jeans. The sight alone has you begging whatever gods may be for some kind of release, not that you’d ever repent for your sinful thoughts when it came to this man. Even if it meant going to something resembling Heaven. You’ve already experienced such a reality and he was right in front of you, rubbing his hardening self against you with no remorse or embarrassment.

Your hands reach down to finally feel him, the way he twitches against your touch, the way he groans just above you.

His hips buck up just slightly, seeking friction, and you chuckle before giving it to him. You buckle his belt and take him out of his jeans and boxers and revel at the sight.

He reaches down to help you. His mouth found yours again as his hands wrap around the both of you, rutting his leaking cock against yours, fucking into his palm.

You follow suit, hips rolling forward as you chase your high. He smirks against your lips before pulling away to look at you, "Eres tan jodidamente hermoso así."

You whine at the praise, face heating up even more - you didn't know that was even possible.

"I, I want-" You struggle to find the words, too lost in the pleasure of his dick against yours.

Mike kisses you again, understanding you regardless, and chuckles as he lets go of the both of you to help you shimmy off your pants completely.

His fingers find again the curves of your ass and he grins widely, groaning at the sight. The flat surface of his tongue laps up your hole, sopping up the area to make it easier for his thumb. He pushes the digit into your enclosure, slow yet eager.

"Mike," you sigh, eyes shut as you focus desperately on his touch.

Your hands clenched into fists on the cold table.

His tongue finally - thankfully - pushes past the precipice, your hips rising at the feeling. Already, your dick twitches in ecstasy, wanting more, wanting release. You can feel the way his facial hair curls upwards against you.

He spits once at your hole as he pulls away, his chin slick from his preparations. Two fingers pass easily through and leave you to crumble beneath him, scissoring them apart to make room for one more, rolling your head against the table, thrashing about as if you were being tortured.

He positions himself at your entrance. "Ready?"

You nod with furrowed brows and god, when he pushes the tip slowly past your rim, you swear you could die.

He pushes in steadily, slow but never faltering. He stretches you so well. You groan, a mix of pain and satisfaction flooding your senses. He holds your cheek, rubbing his thumb over the curves to soothe you as he seeks pleasure of his own deep within you.

You feel his dick twitch against your walls. He rolls his hips, aiming for that spot that drives you to madness. The angle allows this easily, your mind going blank as you become solely aware of the feeling of him entering and exiting your hole. He finds his rhythm, keeping his hands on you as he guides himself in and out, loving the way your ass looks as it ripples with every thrust. He moves his hand from your stomach down to your dick, holding it against the skin of his palm, fingers wrapping around you.

He strokes you at a pace mimicking his own movements, and your brain begins to steam, overcome with heat and desire.

"Shit," you grit, finally opening your eyes.

Your hips buck upward and his thumb shifts against your head as a result, sending you over the edge, spilling over his hand and onto your stomach.

Mike groans at the sight of you coming undone beneath him, pace quickening as he longs to join you in your ecstasy before thrusting a final time, moaning low as he spills.

Warmth spreads over you as he keeps himself slotted within. His hand rests on your stomach.

"You good?" He asks with a soft and reassuring cadence, leaning over to kiss your collarbone as his hands rub up and down your sides.

You nod, satisfied. He chuckles softly at your expression, taking it in affectionately.

As you turned to face him, you saw the exhaustion etched on his face, and your heart softened. He looked like he was on the verge of falling asleep, his eyelids heavy as he tried to keep his gaze focused on you.

"Mike," you whispered, reaching up to gently caress his face, your fingers brushing against the stubble on his jaw. "You look like you're about to pass out."

He leaned into your touch, his eyes fluttering shut for a moment as he let out a deep, tired sigh. "I'm so tired," he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper.

You smiled softly, your heart swelling with affection for the man before you. "Let’s get cleaned up real quickly," you murmured, pressing a gentle kiss to his cheek.

Mike's eyes opened slightly, a grateful smile tugging at his lips. "You're too good to me," he said, his voice filled with a warmth that made your heart flutter.

You shook your head, your smile widening as you helped him to his feet. "No, Mike. We're good for each other."

Later on, as you curled up together in bed, Mike's arms wrapped securely around you, his breath warm against your neck, you knew that whatever the future held, you would face it together, with love and trust as foundation.

As Mike drifted off to sleep, his body relaxed against yours, you couldn't help but smile to yourself, feeling utterly content.

Note: I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to everyone who read the first part of this. Your support and kind words mean the world to me and have truly inspired me to continue writing.

I hope you enjoy this second part just as much as the first. Your feedback and encouragement are incredibly motivating, and I look forward to hearing your thoughts on this continuation of the story.

Thank you once again for all the love and support!

Translation for all the words in Spanish (done with the help of my brother so blame him for any errors)

-"Eres un chico hermoso y perfecto"= "You are a beautiful and perfect boy"

-"Eres mi chico bueno" = "You're my good boy"

-"Mi precioso, el más hermoso que he visto. Eres mío." = "My precious, the most beautiful I've ever seen. You're mine."

-"Me vuelves loco" = "You drive me crazy"

-"No puedo... resistirme a ti. Eres tan perfecto, tan malditamente perfecto." = "I can't... resist you. You are so perfect, so damn perfect."

-"Mi chico perfecto" = "My perfect boy"

-"Eres mío" = "You're mine"

-"Solo mío" = "Only mine"

-"Eres tan jodidamente hermoso así." = “You're so fucking handsome like that."

[zg0nuwa]

Hey, hope you're fine...and i see that you're another fan for Miguel (we are) can you write the father day with his daughter and the reader as his wife please:(?....(i just hate my daddy issues)

★ best dad ever ! ⎯⎯

i don't think you understand how much power you just gave me with this (i had like half of this written already but tumblr crashed and i was one step away from going into my joker era)

miguel o'hara x wife!reader

warnings ; angsty fluff, i tried experimenting with the spanish but i feel like i failed miserably, lowercase intended, i'm not a spanish speaker so you're free to correct me on the spanish.

miguels work schedule was very unstable. there were times when he would be gone for the whole day and then there were times when he could spend most of the day at home. you understood, for the most part, he had the multiverse on his shoulders no matter how hard you wished for him to have a much less dangerous job. of course not everyone knew why he sometimes had to disappear for long periods of time.

and one of them was your daughter. all she knew was that " daddy does very important things and he has to go but he will always come back ".

this year, fathers day rolled up on a sunday which meant not only your daughter was home but also you. for your husband it was a little more complicated. he woke up in the middle of the night to a notification from lyla about another anomaly going nuts in the wrong universe. you loved the ai but in this particular moment you wanted to explode her with your mind.

" i'll be back before sunset, i promise " with that and a kiss on your forehead he left through the portal in your bedroom.

the next time you woke up that day was because of your daughter. she climbed onto your bed and started to shake you lightly with her small hands.

" mom? where’s daddy? " you opened your eyes to gabi hovering above you with her favorite plush animal pressed close to her chest. she had this disappointed expression on her small face. you knew it was because of miguel being gone. she planned this whole day for him, you even helped her organize everything.

" i’m sorry sweetheart… daddy had to go to work. " you pulled her in so her head was under your chin. she clung to you like a small koala bear as you played with her thick brown hair. definitely his genes.

" but, he promised he'll be back before your bedtime sooo, we can still make something special. what do you say about that? "

after a small argument about who gets the cooking part of preparations, which obviously ended with you being responsible for it, you and gabi got to work. as you were looking through your old mexican cuisine recipe book [ that you definitely didn’t bought only for miguel to feel more at home during meals ] you saw your dughter holding a box of artsy stuff.

" cariño, ¿qué estás haciendo allí? "

" making daddy a poster! it's going to say 'el mejor papa de todos'! " you couldn't help the big smile from appearing on your face. you knew how much time miguel put into teaching gabi spanish and it always warmed your heart when they sat down at the dining table and simply talked in spanish, your husband making little corrections in pronounciation or grammar from time to time. but no matter what he always looked as if he had hearts in his eyes.

★

you knew miguels work schedule was unstable and sometimes took him out of the house for a whole day, and you understood. but gabi not so much. so here you are, 10:48 pm on the clock and no sign of your husband. you spent the past two hours comforting her and promising her that it wasn't miguels fault and that he loved her. finally at around 11 pm she fell asleep in her bed. you turned off the cat shaped nightlamp and as quietly as possible closed the door to her room.

with a heavy sigh you went back to the kitchen to start cleaning everything up. while puting away food into the fridge you heard a specific glitching sound and you already knew who showed up home.

" you're late. " you weren't really mad at him , it was just tiring sometimes.

" i know, i'm sorry love... it's just - things got a little out of control. " you didn’t look at him and his first thought was to come behind you and hug your waist hoping it would make you feel even a little bit better. “ was there something that i forgot about today? is that why you’re angry? “

" i’m not angry, but your daughter is. she planned the whole fathers day for you. "

" ay, coño… " he sounded defeated, tired, and disappointed in himself. you pulled yourself away from him and came up to the poster gabi made, its was rolled in a tube to not spoil anything before the big reveal. you handed it to miguel with a tiny smile on your face. he was a bit confused for a second but he got the memo and rolled out the paper to it’s full extent. you could see the tears forming on his waterline as he chuckled. probably because of the spelling mistake made by gabi that you didn’t have the heart to point out.

" me and gabi made a deal for you, you have take us to the zoo tomorrow, and she demands that you let her piggyback the entire time to repay for your sins. "

" i guess there’s no other option. " he said with a smile.

cariño, ¿qué estás haciendo allí? - honey, what are you doing there?

el mejor papa de todos - the greatest dad ever

ay, coño - oh, fuck

[damiansgoodgirll]

rhea driving and reader falling asleep on damian please

I LOVE THIS REQUEST

damian priest x reader

sweet dreams (are made of this)

it was raining outside and even if it was recommended to stay at home and to do not drive in that weather you and the rest of the judgment day had a show to do and a city that was waiting for you.

finn was the only one smart enough as he left the day before, knowing that there was a storm coming in and when he offered to drive you all declined it saying that you would be leaving the day before the match as it was only a few cities away.

worst idea ever.

rhea loved driving but not in that kind of weather.

dom was in passenger seat giving rhea directions but with that kind of weather it was pretty hard to see the road.

thankfully it was only 10 in the morning even if it felt like it was 10 p.m. due to how dark and scary the sky looked.

“guys…there’s a starbucks a few miles away, i think we should go and wait for this storm to stop” rhea suggested and you all agreed with her.

damian was sitting in the backseat with you and he felt how anxious you were getting. you loved rainy days but driving in this weather? absolutely no.

and he knew that too.

so once you stopped at starbucks you spent there a good three hours waiting for the weather to change. it never stopped raining and the sky was still grey but thankfully it wasn’t thundering anymore so you could continue your voyage.

the car ride was longer than you all imagined. it was only four hours but those four hours became almost seven and it was already night when you started to feel tired.

you tried to stay awake as long as possible, chatting with dom and damian while rhea was singing some of her rock songs. at one point she even let you change music just to keep you awake but nothing was working anymore.

the dark sky and the rain outside were like a lullaby to you and before you knew you fell asleep.

on damian’s shoulder.

he smiled when he saw how close to his body you were and he even took the blanket off of dominik just to lay it over your body.

“what the hell?” he almost shouted but received a deadly look from damian.

“don’t scream…she’s sleeping” damian whispered and rhea smirked at him.

“you have a soft spot for her damian…everyone knows…” she said smiling.

“what?”

“he’s in love with her mami” dom teased damian and even if he wanted to punch him in the face there was no way he was going to deny it. he was in love with you and he had a soft spot for you.

he loved how close you two got and he wouldn’t change it.

“he’s not denying it…” rhea said.

“i’m not…cause it’s true” he confessed, hearing the fake gasps from dom and rhea.

“you should tell her…i mean the way she’s clinging to you makes me think she might have a crush for you too” dom said.

but damian was reluctant about it.

there was a chance you would love him back and there was a chance you would hate him forever and he didn’t want to risk it all.

“and i also think we should switch rooms…dom you’re staying with me, damian you’re staying with her…that’s a perfect way to bond together, better” rhea winked at damian.

he was so lost in his thoughts that he didn’t even notice the way his arm was holding you closer to his body and how his fingers were massaging your hair. it felt natural to him and he wished it could be like that forever.

“i’ll see what to do when we get there…” he whispered, wanting to quit the chatting just to live off the moment of having you so close.

hoping that nothing would change once he confess.

little did he know that you woke up in the middle of their conversation and that you heard every single word.

[withlove-amber]

Brighter Than the Stars

gibbs x reader

“What’s your perfect way to decompress after work?” Abby asked (Y/N), the youngest member of the team. (Y/N) wasn’t sure how to answer the question. Should she say what she was really thinking? Or maybe something else, out of fear of being judged. But, when (Y/N) joined the team, she quickly realized that Abby doesn’t judge anyone, so she had nothing to fear. With that, she responded with her true answer, “It would have to be stargazing.” “Stargazing, that’s so cool!”, the forensic scientist responded. “Thanks! I know it’s not really an ‘adult’ thing to do, but for me, there’s nothing I like more after work than laying back and watching the stars shine.” “That was the most perfect answer ever, I was just going to say bowling.” Little did they both know, Gibbs was outside Abby’s lab overhearing the whole conversation.

The day went on, the team said their goodnights, and went their separate ways for the night. Right before (Y/N) could unlock her car, Gibbs stopped her and asked, “Do you wanna do somethin’ with me tonight?” “Sure. What do you have in mind?”, the young agent replied. “It’s a surprise, but don’t worry, you’ll love it.” She thought for sure she would be helping work on the boat in his basement (not that he needs help). But when he parked his truck in an old field, she started to wonder if he overheard her conversation with Abby earlier. Her suspicions were confirmed when he said, “Bring the blanket.” 

He opened the door for her, and during the short walk to the bed of his truck, he asked her, “Do you have a favorite star?” “Not really, to be honest, I love them all. Being able to admire the stars just fills me with so much peace.” “How?”, he asked the young agent whom he was starting to fall for. “There’s just something about looking up at the sky and seeing how radiantly they shine.” she replied, unknowingly smiling almost as bright as the stars hundreds of light years away. After he made his way onto the truck bed, he helped her up by gently taking her hand and holding her waist. She’d be lying if she said it didn’t give her butterflies. 

He made a motion for her to lie down, as he did the same. He threw a large blanket on top of them both, and their surroundings felt 10° warmer. They spent the first few minutes lying underneath the starlight in complete silence, just being. He was the first to break the silence, saying, “I remember as a kid staying up for hours in the summertime just to watch the stars. I’d go to bed when the sun’d come up and pretend like I’d been in bed the whole night.” They spent the next several hours talking about fond childhood memories, childhood pets, anything, and everything. He taught her which stars were which, how to navigate the stars, trying to ignore the warm feeling he felt every single time she smiled. She had also tried to ignore the warm feeling she felt every single time he smiled, or any time he had talked about his childhood so fondly. 

After the conversation had started to die down, she let out a yawn, neither of them realizing it was now the middle of the night. In a moment of bravery, she gently laid her head down on his shoulder, claiming him as her pillow for the night. When he didn’t move, she knew she was safe. She always feels safe when she’s with Gibbs. And he always feels safe when he’s with her. “Goodnight (Y/N).” “Goodnight Jethro.” In that moment, he realized not only does he really like it when she uses his name and not just “boss” or “Gibbs”, but he also realized she seemed to fit perfectly in his arms. He spent the next several moments breathing in her scent, which consisted of her perfume and the soft vanilla and lavender from her shampoo. He finally fell asleep holding her close, after kissing her forehead.

They woke up the next morning, as the sun rose over the very same field that was host to countless stars the night before. Then they spent the next several minutes observing each other’s features. She observing every freckle on his face, how his eyes seemed to be much brighter and appear much more blue than they’d ever been, how the soft sunlight made his hair appear brighter and if she looked hard enough, his silver strands of hair seemed to softly glow in the morning sun. He observing how the sun was making her hair appear brighter and softer than it’s ever looked before, how her natural freckles were illuminated by the sun’s soft rays, how plush and smooth her lips look. Being in each other’s cozy embrace made them both think, “I could stay here forever and never want to leave.”

[reflections-in-a-critical-eye]

This is a personal post about boarding school experience and its later effects in life. It will be under keep reading so anyone can scroll over it if they don't want to read it. It's mostly for me and the need to express the thoughts I've been having and I need an outlet for that.

I've been reading once again about boarding school syndrome all day since this morning. I don't know why I do this to myself. Why I feel the need to go back to all that as if to check if all the damage is still there. Or like a way to pity myself and then to hate it for feeling sorry for myself once again. It's a cycle. I must have remembered something last night before falling asleep because I found myself today at 10 am reading a research paper on it and then looking up testimonials in reddit.

But the thing is, most of the research is done on English boarding schools and as much as the overall experience is similar, there are so many nuances in the differences that exist.

I vividly remember looking out the window and watching my parents get in the car and leave. It was Sunday evening and they had the car parked on a smaller street in downtown where I was left to stay. The next day was the first day of school and I was 11, starting 5th grade.

I read that in cases of children going to boarding school, a lot of them remember in detail the moment the separation took place. And it's true even if it's been almost 20 years since then. That's when my stomach issues began. Of course the cause was emotional stress, but that didn't stop from going to medical clinics weekly to do full check ups when any adult should have realized that I was just homesick. The year after, I began to feel nausea each Monday morning. I used to beg my parents to postpone my return as much as possible so I would only leave home on Monday and arrive an hour before classes would start. For five years I went to school in the afternoon. The nausea became a constant. I would complain on that day, hoping my mother would tell me that I don't have to go to school. But I couldn't understand at that time that my mother was emotionally unavailable and had no idea how to deal with her daughter's real needs.

But I kept going and as years went by, I got used to it and it felt easier by the time I finished high school. When I was already in college, I had forgotten half of my experience and I would gloss over what happened. I would act proud of how fast I had become independent, without needing any help, as if that was a good thing.

Of course that at some point I slowly started to realize that not everything went that well, but either way, that perhaps it was worth the sacrifice if I manage to do something well professionally. Eight years of boarding school meant sacrifices and financial investment. For me to go to the most prestigious middle school (I had to take an English exam for 5th grade, that was unheard of at that time in any other school!), then to the most prestigious high school to receive the best grades which would help to get into the most prestigious university so I can study exactly what I want because by then I found my passion. And I was encouraged. So I worked for it for more than a decade because all the pain had to have been worth it. Yes, parts of life sucks, but perhaps a uni position while I teach and research would compensate for it. But it never did and that entire plan fell to pieces because life doesn't work how I wanted to.

So was all that worth it in the end? Absolutely not.

For years I would think and say that I never suffered bullying in school because my colleagues were nice and for the most part, I had nice experiences. And that's still true. While at the same time forgetting that I also had that other life in boarding school where 17-18 year girls found abuse a form of entertainment.

Bullying is such a common occurence but it gets worse in boarding school because you can't get to any space that feels safe. You can't get home to your own room and to your own parents who might notice something and intervene. In boarding school you have to sleep in the same room and next to the same bed as your abusers. You take showers next to them, hoping that nothing happens. It's living in constant fear.

All my emotional mechanisms have developed during those years, especially between the ages of 11-13. I quickly learned to avoid any type of conflict because that would mess up whatever aparent peace that existed from time to time. I learned that speaking up and telling the adults responsible meant that I was in more danger.

As adults, those who went through the boarding school experience have trouble maintaining relationships. We become self sufficient because we had to. There was no help so we learned to take care of ourselves. Consequently, we don't need other people, especially if we know they will eventually abandon us. Of course attempts are made because it's in our nature. I've lost friendships because rather than making myself heard and to be an active participant in a relationship, I distanced myself. It's easier than to speak because there's a risk that the other person would certainly decide to break the friendship. Avoid conflict at all costs, even it rots everything from the inside. I'm still actively doing this.

When I told my therapist about these experiences (which I don't think I'll talk about in detail here), she used the word trauma. To this day, I have a hard time accepting it. Because deep down I still don't believe that my experience was that bad to be labeled that way. It's not real trauma if nothing really actually "bad" happens.

It's only bad enough that it infiltrated and influenced all aspects of my entire life. From personal relationships to professional. The latter I used to think it was independent and untouchable of all the things I had going on personally. But of course to realize as an adult that the need for perfection, the impostor syndrome, all are a result of never feeling good enough which stems from the initial abandonment.

I find it hard to accept that some decisions taken 20 years ago without me having any real say in it (I was asked and I said yes because my parents know best) and the consequent experiences that I had to go through have negatively influenced my entire life. For many years I never looked at aspects of my life, thinking that something is not well and should be investigated. I was busy in my 20s with other thoughts without realizing the root cause of why I was doing some things. But by the time that decade was over, it's like everything is crashing down. Piece by piece. Every single aspect of my life had been fucked by that thing my therapist calls trauma.

[not-alien-girl-v]

hey babes!! ur works is just 🤤. george is so hot could you please write a valentines day thing with him 🙏

warning: language, TW matty healy

note: they/them pronouns for Y/N and this is almost angsty but still fluffy also Matty is like bitchy but is still Y/N’s bestie idk they’re frenemies cuz that happened in a dream once. might continue writing more george stuff cuz i rly like it.

Complete silence is swallowing them whole, alongside a few other sounds keeping them company in the early hours of the morning.

There is an open window somewhere on the spacious tour bus, and the winged creatures singing in the outside world inform Y/N that the daylight has come to greet them all once again this morning. Though they wish the birds would just shut the fuck up, honestly.

They are loud, cawing and chirping and essentially screaming as if it isn't 7 am in the fucking morning and Y/N doesn't have a pounding headache. Last night was a bit wild for the gang, once the post-show drinks started making their way through the already mildly intoxicated band members, it was clear that none would have any memory of the rest of the evening.

And despite all the drunken tomfoolery, Y/N had not consumed a single ounce of alcohol. Not a drop. Yet their head throbbed as if they had. Being the designated driver, the designated sober friend takes it's toll on a person, especially when your entire group is filled with professional dumbasses, it's like they've been trained in all the ways to be annoying while drunk. Having to deal with all of them until 3 in the morning mixed with the lack of sleep and water Y/N is currently experiencing make the perfect recipe for a vile headache.

George had no problem with sleep last night, fortunate for him. He got the most shitfaced, and coincidentally, was the most irritating amongst the hoard of drunks, with his need to cling to Y/N like a lost puppy, stroking their hair, placing sloppy wet kisses all over their face when all Y/N wanted was to get them all safely in the car. At least as a drunk, George was clingy and lovey rather than mean and aggressive.

They had no idea what happened to the rest of the boys once they all retired for the night, as once Y/N succeeded in getting everyone safely in the bus, they allowed them all to fuck off for the night, with the exception of George who would not settle down enough to go to bed unless Y/N committed to a 5 minute cuddle in his bunk. Soon enough, a 5 minute cuddle turned to 10 minutes, which turned to an hour, and Y/N fell asleep before they could continue counting the hours G’s arm wrapped tightly over them prevented their escape.

So here they are, same position they fell asleep in with George's arm securing them to the bunk like they might slip away at any moment. They keep their gaze on him, his hair sticking flat to his forehead from hours of being pressed into a pillow. They consider reaching out, tenderly brushing some away from his sleeping face but decide not to, not wanting to disturb his peaceful slumber.

With a sigh, they pull out their phone, and like they suspected, it's 7:18 am, February 14. February 14... shit. It's Valentine's day. It's Valentine's day and George probably has something super fucking romantic planned as a surprise and Y/N has nothing. They gently peel his arm off of their middle and slip out of the bunk.

With the stress of the situation, they decide to trifle through G's jacket pockets, hoping to find his pack of cigs Y/N has come to know that he always keeps with him. When they're met with an empty container, a plan devises in their head.

Cigarette's can be a great gift, right? They're quick to find their shoes and lace them up, putting on George's jacket as an afterthought to conceal them from the frigid San Francisco morning air, seeing as it's still winter.

Before their hand touches the door, however, a voice speaks up from a figure on the couch that somehow Y/N hadn't noticed in their hurry.

"Where are you off to?" It's Matty, of course it is, because Y/N can't do anything without the mild tease and torment from that man.

"Drugstore."

"I'll tag along."

"I didn't ask you to."

"You don't have to. 'S the beauty of friendship, isn't it?"

A tired scowl appears on their face but Matty is already behind them, so fortunately, he misses it.

In their stress, Y/N kept quiet during the walk, resulting in a lack of snide commentary from Matty which they were secretly very grateful for, though they’d never admit it out loud.

They walk side by side into the automatic sliding doors of the drugstore and the immediate warmth of the interior of the building grasps their features. They make a beeline for the candy aisle, and an intrigued Matty follows closely behind.

“Oh fuck, it’s Valentine’s Day, isn’t it?” Matty comments like it was a necessary observation, not a glaringly obvious and rather stupid and oblivious thing to say at such a moment. Maybe Y/N needed breakfast, hanger is not a good look on them.

They hum in response. “He’s been talking about his plans for months. He even- actually, I shouldn’t be telling you. Surprise, or something like that. But it’s romantic as shit.” Matty paces the aisle, not paying attention to the icky stress sweat appearing on the other person occupying the aisle. Does this guy not know how to shut his mouth?

“He’ll like this, right?” Their hand grabs a heart shaped box of chocolates, assorted flavors. Matty gives them a look. “What? What’s with that face?”

“What face? This is just my face, can’t blame me for having a face.”

“No, you were making a face at me. What is it? Will he not like it?”

Matty’s eyebrows raise childishly and Y/N wishes they could slap them clean off, watch them inch away like lowly caterpillars on the ground below.

“It’s just, I don’t know, he’s more of a fruity candy kind of guy. Doesn’t fancy chocolate all that much,” they could see in his eyes he strained so hard to refrain from making a pun about his own song, but by some power above, he didn’t.

“Okay, okay. I’ll do… some Red Vines. He likes those, right?” Grabbing a pack of red candy, it is waved in front of Matty’s face.

“Do you even need to ask me that?”

“I don’t even know why he loves these things so much. This is like old person candy. He’s only twenty…” They trail off.

“Three?”

“Right, twenty-three. I knew that.” Y/N makes their exit from the candy aisle, grabbing a few cans of tea from the drink section.

“You should get a snack for yourself. You seem a little out of it this morning.”

“Only because you and your bitchass friends got drunk as skunks last night and I had to round you all up,” they huff and turn to face him, meeting his now rolling eyes.

“Fine. I’ll pay for your snack. Will that fix this?”

“Certainly won’t hurt!” They smile and pace to the front of the store, hoping they don’t forget the cigarettes, the sole purpose they went to the store for. That would be just like them, forgetting like that.

⋆*･ﾟ:⋆*･ﾟ:⠀ *⋆.*:･ﾟ .: ⋆*･ﾟ: .⋆

The click of an opening tour bus door alerts George, who was scrolling through his phone on the couch. He woke up easily, however, wondering where his lover had gone so early. He sleeps like the dead, so whenever they slip out during the rare nights they get to sleep in the same bed, he hardly is disturbed by it in his peaceful slumber.

Sometimes he swears they always leave his bed before he wakes up to avoid his compressing cuddles in the morning. He can’t help it, he’s a sucker for being all over the ones he loves.

Matty is the first to walk in, and George almost goes back to looking at his phone in sheer disappointment until Y/N walks in. Suddenly, a lazy smile makes itself known on his sleepy face and his mood is elevated.

“Hey darling, where were you?” He queries as Matty busies himself with a laptop at the back of the bus.

His voice is extra deep in the morning, it’s always deep, but something about hearing it in the morning is something so personal and special to them. It’s like a promise to more days like this, spent in the knowledge of their lover, the knowledge that George exists and is in love with them.

“Stopped by the store for some things,” they plop down onto the cushion next to the one George is taking residency on, placing the plastic bag between them to dig through it.

“Is that my jacket?”

“You want it back?”

He grins, trying not to show how lovestruck he is and seriously failing. “No, no, keep it, if you’re cold. Looks better on you.”

“Oh, you old charmer,” they giggle, chucking the Red Vines into his lap, followed by the cigarettes, then gently placing down the can of tea at his side as to not injure him with the 24 ounces.

“All of this for me?” George places a dramatic hand over his heart while his lover digs into the snack Matty bought for them. “Aren’t I the luckiest girl in the world.”

The two spend a few moments in a famished haze, pile-driving the snacks in their grasps but once he slows down with his red candy, he sneaks a few looks at the person beside them.

The person who, even lost in thought, looked more beautiful than ever, who George had the privilege of sleeping next to when he sweet talked them enough, who George prayed he could sleep next to every night for the rest of his life, if they’d have him.

He tosses the empty bag separating him and his love onto the ground and scoots closer to them. Ignoring the odd stare he is given at the invasion of personal space, he wraps his arms around them and pushes them back into a laying position, propped up by the arm of the couch.

“What are you doing?” They ask with a small smile.

Voice muffled, face buried in their chest, “loving you.”

“You could have just said thank you for the candy. Don’t have to do all this to show your appreciation.”

“Maybe I just enjoying doing this, being close to you. Ever thought about that, numbskull?”

Their hand brushes up and down his built back, slow and gentle, like coaxing a baby to sleep and not a full grown man. “Watch your language, mister.”

He picks his head up to face them, chin resting on their sternum. “Happy Valentine’s Day, my love.”

Trying to make light of the furious blush creeping onto their cheeks, “do you ever keep count of all the names you call me in a day. Like affectionate or not. So far you’ve got ‘darling’ and ‘numbskull’, ‘my love.’”

“Well, somebody’s gotta be the sweet one in this relationship. Most of the time, you act like you don’t even like me.”

“I do not.”

“He’s got a point!” A mumbly British voice from the back of the bus.

“Butt out!” Y/N scolds, turning attention back to the man who’s made his place on top of them, settling enough to rest his full body weight. This is the typical type of cuddle to be expected from George. There’s not many other ways he knows to cuddle.

“I do too like you, what are you talking about?”

“It’s okay, I get it, you show your love and affection in your own special way, and I love that about you, but I’ve gotta say, sometimes people who don’t know us think we’re just friends.”

“Look, it’s not like I can be all over you all the time, it’s impractical.”

“I know, love, that’s why I use pet names, it’s the easiest way I know to show my love for you. Especially since you won’t let me buy you things even though I constantly offer.”

“Ok, I’ll let you buy me things.”

“That’s not the point, baby. The point is, I love you.”

“I love you too.”

Their words seem to turn him to absolute mush. It’s something Y/N has always had a hard time speaking out loud to him, every time the three words make it out, they’re incredibly special to George.

“Thanks. For saying that, I mean. Thank you. I mean it.”

“Anytime.”

“Can I add to the relationship contract that you have to say that to me at least once a day? Can I do that?” George seems half joking but they don’t care.

“If that’s what you want, babe.”

“Good. Cuz I do want that. And I’m taking you out to dinner tonight. We leave at 6. Dress nice. And I’m paying, because you said I could.”

They nod their head at his demands, waiting for him to drop his head back onto their chest before circling both arms fully around his back, giving him a tight squeeze before holding him gently.

[pbandjesse]

We are on our way home. Only about an hour away now. It has been a long day. I am feeling better now but I was very very tired this afternoon and got upset because of it. I tried to not be upset but I was just really tired.

We got back to our room last night and after showers we went to sleep. It started raining in the middle of the night and the rain on the skylights woke me up. But I was mostly worried that the party hadn't remembered to bring everything inside. And I would be mostly correct. A bunch of Gabe and Hannah's dad's instruments for left outside. And will hopefully be fine but stressful.

When we woke up I didn't want to get out of bed yet. I knew we would be having bagels at Gabe and Hannah's around 10. And it was barely 815. And we needed to be out of the Airbnb by 10. So I stayed in bed for a bit but pretty quickly got up.

I got dressed. James finished packing. We didn't have much stuff, we are very efficient packers. Which is always interesting to see against other people's large suitcases for the same amount of time. Like it doesn't matter at all, but it is a little bit of a point of pride to pack the exactly right amount of stuff.

We walked over to the house. I felt really cute. Me and James had matching red sweatshirts on. Different sweatshirts but both red so we kept saying "red sweatshirt gang" and being silly.

We got over to the house and went to the backyard. James would help Hannah fold chairs. I was kind of cold. We were all hanging out for a bit. But soon got to go inside and check out Hannah and Gabe's apartment on the second floor. It was really cute. I was jealous of their floor to ceiling corner cabinet in the kitchen. And I got to pet one of their cats. The other ones (there are 4 total) are scary cats so we never put eyes on them.

Slowly other family came through. There were bagels and coffee and juice. I discovered I am soiled by Philly cream cheese because this cream cheese sucked. It tastes like nothing. I ate half of my bagel and had some juice. Everyone kept trying to offer me a seat but I wanted to stand, I knew we were going to be in the car for about 7 hours! I wanted to stand for as much as I could.

James continued to impress. Getting the food set out and organized. And then helping Ian's girlfriend, by translating for her (she is learning English but is mostly Spanish speaking) and everyone was visibly impressed.

We would be there until around 11. Hugs all around and then we were on the road. James would take us to a brewery that their friend recommended we get brunch at before we left. So that is what we did.

And I liked it. James got hummus and pita. I got eggs Benedict with tomato's instead of ham (which the waiter suggested and it was a good idea). I also got a Shirley Temple but it was a little to sweet. Still nice though.

While I enjoyed the food, I was really tired.

We wouldn't be in the car long before we stopped for gas. Except we forgot to get gas? We went inside to use the bathroom and then left. Oops. James was really mad at themselves but it was fine. We just stopped at the next one.

When we got back on the road I got as comfortable as I could and fell asleep.

I would sleep, fitfully, for most of the first half of the drive. My back hurt so I was struggling to be comfortable but the stuffed animal pillow I had in the car did help. But the podcast James was listening to kept startling me. People laughing loudly or whatever.

When I woke up for good it was around 3. We were stuck in a little traffic and James said that when we got to the other side of the traffic we should pull off to get a late lunch. Because I had been sleeping I was like. I just ate. But it was good we stopped.

We got five guys. They have a party melt now so James got that. And the food was good but I was feeling kind of stressed inside and that made my stomach hurt. I was trying to not be upset about it. I talked to James about it and they tried to be supportive but it's hard. I am almost thinking I'm sad because we are going home and I won't be with James 24 hours of the day. I think I get a little sad when we have to go back to regular life because there are distractions from each other.

We made a quick Wawa stop to get James a coffee and I got some candy and the drive since then has been nice. I worked on my temperature blanket and finished that not long ago. And now we are almost home! The sun is setting and I am very ready to see Sweetp and Crabcake. And our house. And the tomorrow we have the day off. So I am hoping for a restful day at home. Maybe slightly productive. But mostly I am just looking forward to being home.

I hope you all have a great night. I love you all. Goodnight!!

[thearcher1003]

1, 5, 21, 22, 25, 26, 30, 36, 39 and 42 for asks - sorry if this is a lot I'm just very curious!

Nono it's not a lot, I actually like doing it so thank you for these questions :) 1. Do you have freckles?  No > < 5. Do you sleep with a stuffed animal? No, I sleep with my baby sister instead ◠‿◠ 21. How was your day today? It was good. I watched Luca with my cousin, it's one of my favourite movies ^^ 22. How much sleep did you get last night? 6 hours (I went to bed around 10 but I fell asleep after 11 and woke up around 5) 25. What's your favourite decade? I never thought about it but if I do I think the two decades I have lived in have had some good years in them (not necessarily for me in certain terms) but then again I can say that about every decade. There have been good things and some horrible ones but who is to say how it would have been for me personally had I lived in those decades instead. Well it's nice to think about the romanticized versions of them but I cannot ignore the practicality. Uh Idk I think I am ruining this question with my lack of knowledge so lets move on to the next one. (Maybe this is something I will think about while trying to fall asleep tonight) 26. What are some seemingly childish things you like? I like watching animated movies. They are usually considered for kids but a lot of them are actually so good. Nimona, Luca, Encanto, these are some of my favourite animated movies and they have some beautiful stories to tell. 30. What are you looking forward to in the near future? Passing an exam I have in September. Also, waiting for CUET result so I can go to some good college and get out of my house asap. 36. Do you like your middle name? I don't have a middle name 😁 39. Do you stay up late? At times, yes. Recently, no. 42. Tag 5 of your favourite blogs @thebeatenandthedamned @stripedwolf88 @daisiesamethyst @hoktom @missy832001

[the-algebra-thing]

I have been keeping my schedule at least a little bit normal for the past few months like waking up before 11 and going to bed before 3. just because I know it's gonna have to be normal eventually and I thought maybe if I get better at this middle ground I can ease myself into it. long as fuck post about how it works when I sleep ahead because I'm pissed off about it fair warning.

now fun fact it takes me at least half an hour to wake up. I cannot even drag myself out of bed till I've snoozed my alarm for at least 10 minutes and then once I've woken up to that laid in bed psyching myself up for 10-20 minutes. I need at least 8 hours and it takes so much to drag my ass out of sleep. waking up feeling "well rested* might as well be a myth; I don't really wake up without being overwhelmed with how my body wants to go back to sleep. the earlier I wake up the worse it is—on days when I have to wake up at 8 to babysit I have to TEAR myself out of bed, and my stomach hurts like a motherfucker once I do get up, almost invariably.

on the flip side I can fall asleep easy at any time, but it takes longer before 2, and even longer before midnight, and also if I go to sleep before midnight I will wake up in at most 4 hours and then again and again and again during the night and struggle to get back to sleep. sometimes when I go to sleep at 9pm to wake up for my job in the morning, I get those 4 hours, and then wake up for good at 1am with absolutely no chance of getting back to sleep no matter how hard I try.

last night I went to bed at 4am bc I decided last minute instead of going to bed to get flynn to cut my hair (it is finally buzzed now I'm so happy LOLLL) and then take a shower first. did all that, fell asleep easy as hell since it was after 2. I set an alarm for noon this morning so I didn't have to worry about checking the time to see if I had under- or overslept when I woke up in the morning to roll over. when I did, the alarm hadn't gone off— turned out it was 15 minutes before it was supposed to, and I laid there for like 5 of those minutes before I even checked trying to go back to sleep, but my body literally didn't need to. i just woke right up. if id had a reason to I could've rolled out of my bed 5-10 minutes before my alarm feeling rested and awake as fuck, a feeling that doesn't really happen to me for hours when I wake up at 8. my mom had even called my phone, right next to my pillow, two hours earlier, and I don't remember it waking me up at ALL bro I was OUT.

in conclusion I had no idea the magnitude of the difference when I do it the way my body wants me to and also Why do my biorhythms hate me thus

[gabrielmtc]

Baguio : The "Coolest" Place in the Philippines.

                Baguio, elevating 1,500m above sea level, at an elevation this high, you will definitely feel the breeze gliding on your skin making your shiver.

 Many of us has been to Baguio for at least one point in our lives, and for me, I mean, my 10-year-old me, it was my first time.

                After knowing that we will go to Baguio for summer, I was excited, because all of the things I have hear about this place was, “sobrang lamig dito, parang ayoko na umuwi”. So the little me cant wait to find out what’s really there, if its really “malamig” or its just a placebo effect that if you are in baguio you’re the one of the coolest person in the country, literally.

                So, the time has come and it’s the day that we go the city, I woke up at 2 am, bags already packed, heck I even slept with my clothes that I will wear for tomorrow beside my bed. I was really excited, to come and see the beautiful views of mines view, the elegant, and the classy “The Mansion”, and of course the popular night market at the Harrison Road just shy of Session Road. It is a place where both kids and adults will be happy whatever the city offer. The rental bikes you can rent with your family and friends, the swans on the pond, and the horses that you can ride. For me, the moment I stepped out of the bus it was the horses that greeted me a welcome to their beloved city, I was so happy, probably because that  was my first time seeing an actual horse in flesh. Happy and excited, the little me was running out of joy at the park yelling, but of course only in my mind “sa Wakas naka rating na din ako sa baguio”. After an hour of exploring and appreciating the beauty of the city we finally went to our transient and that’s when it all sunk in, “damn, Ill literally be in this city for a week, that’s so cool”. Little me was so excited thinking what are the many things that my family and I will do for tomorrow, lying down on my bed, thinking, just thinking, until my eyes unconsciously closed, and I fell asleep.                 The next time I opened my eyes, its morning my family and relatives were already packing and getting ready for the first day of our tour, after I saw them, I quickly stood up and took a bath, even though it’s so cold as a Pinoy-cultured kid, I. have. To. Take. A. Bath       

                Our first stop, Minesview Park, this place is unreal, the views on the Observation deck is breath-taking, while looking at the superb view I ate a delicacy called “sundot kulangot” in Tagalog, it literally means picking a booger from the inside of your nose. Ew, but as much as it sounds disgusting the taste of this food was so sweet and yummy, I really enjoyed eating the sweet candy while looking at the sweetest view in the whole city.

                I won’t be telling the whole tour in detail because it would take days for me to express it, like, 1 day for a day in Baguio? That would be insane!

                There I also a day where we visited The Mansion, and since its only a walking-distance from our transient, you guessed it, we walked, inside the vicinity, a lot of people walking, some are towards the mansion, and some away, and in the middle of them, is a body of water and is probably a man-made river this sets a cool ambiance to the place that helps The Mansion be more elegant and dreamy.

                Last day was different, I mean commonly last day is the day where you so called “sulit” your time because those are the very last minutes of your tour, but us, we just stayed in our transient, rested, but for me, it was sort of experiencing to actually live in baguio, because of course the locals don’t tour everyday so this final day for us was like, how does it feel to be a baguio local-resident? Is it more relaxing than living in the suburbs of manila? So, in our last day we lived like locals and stayed in our house, watching tv, chilling near the chimney, and me, as a “videogame-addict” I went outside with my dad and looked for a computer shop nearby. And we found one, so I rented 1 hour to play, and this was one of the times that I said to myself “gusto ko tumira dito”. To experience living in a place much more cooler than manila is different, like everything is different. The air is so much fresher and cooler. But sadly, we had to leave the city and go back to reality.

                For me, that tour was very fun and memorable, I mean its my first time right? First for me is always the most memorable. And although I love Baguio so much, I just cant forget the place where I lived and grew up, yes other places might be cooler, and more beautiful, the place where we  grew up always has a special  place in our hearts, and that’s the reason it’s called “HOME” there’s nothing like it, as much as Baguio is relaxing, the feeling of resting in your own home  is unbeatable, that’s when you feel that you are really resting.

                I won’t forget Baguio, it still probably one of my favourite places that I visited. But as much as I love home, I can’t wait to go back, and I will go back to… Baguio: The “Coolest Place in the Philippines.

[lucius-the-sinful]

writing patterns

rules: list the first line(s) of your last 10 posted fics and see if there's a pattern!

tagged by @omgkalyppso ! thank you!! <3

1- "Fragile Thing" (D&D, OC's, fingering, penetrative sex, rated E)

He had the soft pad of his thumb pressed up against the warmth of her clit, making small circles and observing her reaction. Sylvanna bit her lip, then peered at him down the length of her body.

2- "The Sinking of Teeth" (WIP) (BG3, Astarion, Astarion and Tiefling OC, biting, blood, Rated M)

Astarion’s gaze flicked between each of his traveling companions thus far, until they landed on the tent of their darling tiefling bard, Galethor. He mulled over his options. The wizard was swollen, yet veered on the side of caution. The assumed warlock was the most likely to not think twice about killing him, followed swiftly by the githyanki warrior. And the cleric… Well, best not to bite the hand that heals you.

3- "Call in the Wind" (WIP) (TES, Dunmer OC's, death, rated M)

A lone dunmer entered the Ancestral Tomb just as midnight passed, carrying in his arms a decorated urn and with a neatly folded banner draped over his shoulder.

4- "Feather Fall" (Part 2 of the Witcher, Poet, King series) (The Witcher, Witcher OC's, Winter at Kaer Morhen, Rated T)

The snow fell from the dark gray clouds, adding to the deep drifts. It also clung to the hood and cloak of a witcher, riding a white stallion along the winding path through the dense mountains.

5- "I Was Just a Kid" (Part 2 of the Bend & Break series) (D&D, OC's, child neglect & abuse, Rated M)

Gale folded his arms over his desk, resting his chin as he gazed out the window, watching the other middle schoolers play whilst he was stuck in detention. He wasn't alone; his best friend, Domiel, sat on the opposite end of the room. Their teacher, a human man with a permanent scowl and sagging skin, was practically half asleep while grading papers. Seconds felt like minutes, the lunch hour would feel like an entire day. 

6- "Ashblind" (WIP) (TES, Dunmer Dragonborn, Teldryn and the Dragonborn, Solestheim, Rated M)

Helón was never good at hiding his emotions, whether it was the smallest tilt in the corners of his mouth or how he crossed his thick arms over his broad chest. Or those damn longing eyes of his as he got onto that damn longboat that'd sail across the damn sea. Away from Solestheim, away from Teldryn, who was left utterly speechless on the docks.

7- "Cold Cold Man" (WIP) (D&D, OC's, oral sex, dubious consent, rated E)

“Is that what you want to do? Beg for me?” The words passed through Rarzal’s lips nonchalantly, the same lips Gale had been watching this entire conversation.

8- "Evervale" (WIP) (Original Work, OC's, rated M)

He held his hand against the disturbed soil, a furrow bringing his eyebrows together. The print was unusual for this area, and not the monster he believed he was hunting. His golden eyes, with thin vertical ovals for pupils, followed the tracks deeper off the trail. He looked up, and saw a branch snapped from at least ten feet above the ground.

9- "Fragments" (Mass Effect Trilogy, Kaidan Alenko and M!Shepard, first person pov, alternate ending, rated M)

One moment, there was darkness. The only sound was a high pitched ringing. It faded within moments, and then the pain started.

10- "A Worthy Distraction" (TES, ESO, Fennorian and Vestige OC, Altmer OC, trans masc character, penetrative sex, fluff and smut, rated E)

Fennorian's habit of wasting a large portion of his day in the laboratory was about as surprising as a pony guar dozing in the afternoon sun.

Lord I struggled to find enough writing for these because I am a slow writer, so there's a bunch of wips sprinkled in. I also can never keep it to one line.

tagging anyone who wishes to participate :)

[lithesunflower]

Fragile Strength Part 15

Part 1  Part 2  Part 3  Part 4  Part 5  Part 6  Part 7  Part 8  Part 9  Part 10  Part 11  Part 12   Part 13  Part 14

Author’s Note: So everyone wanted different things so here is just everything, Whump, Fluff, and Story building all in one! I hope you enjoy 

Over the next few weeks Spider and Anya got used to a new routine as the monsoon season arrived. If it as cloudy in the mornings Anya would leave for a bit to go and get breakfast for both of them while Spider slept. She would bring it back before moving to massage Spider's head until the clouds eventually parted.

Thankfully most of the storms happened either in the morning or the late afternoon but didn't last all day. If the storms seemed to be brewing Anya would make up some sort of excuse about being tired or too warm and Spider would follow her to the lab where he could take his mask off and relax until the storms passed.

He still got the migraines, the terrible throbbing in his head but usually if they caught it early enough Anya could massage away the worst of it.

One day, the sun came up and stayed out all day. Making for  a long and fun day for both Spider and Anya. They had played with the Sully kids, done some deep diving with the Metkayina clan, and even helped to forage and plant in the gardens.

Needless to say both of them were exhausted. Anya hardly even ate dinner she could barely keep her eyes open and eventually Spider got up and gently picked the girl up in his arms to take her to the med hut they both liked so much.

“I can walk” she mumbled softly and Spider just chuckled

“Yeah…walk right into the ocean” he teased her. She gave him a playful pinch in response and he just smirked.

He put her down inside the med hut and moved to check his mask oxygen level. His oxygen was good so he moved to curl up a few feet away from Anya starting to let unconsciousness take him. Moments later he felt her curling into his side, no matter how far apart they started she always found her way up to his side. It was a comfort feeling her that close and Spider would be lying if he said he hadn’t been waiting for her to snuggle up before he fell asleep. A painted arm gently draped over the small girl’s body and both of them were out in seconds.

It was still dark when Spider woke something having stirred him from sleep. He realized it was nearly dawn and decided he should go and help with some of the morning preparations since the sky seemed to be clear. He had been feeling guilty about not being much help the last few weeks. He hated leaving Anya but he also couldn’t bear to wake her. He slipped away quietly and hurried to start helping.

A few hours later at breakfast Spider was starting to wonder how long Anya would sleep. She was often more tired than he was and they had been pretty busy the day before, maybe today she was just extra tired. Still it wasn't like her to miss breakfast. The sun continued to climb in the sky and Spider finally went to check on Anya.

She was still curled up like he had left her and that caused Spider to reach out to brush some of the hair from her face. He nearly jumped back in shock as he felt heat radiating off of her. In one quick motion he had grabbed the blankets off of her and was searching her for signs of distress. That was when he saw them, one on her collarbone and one of her wrist, large nasty bites, bites Spider had never seen. They were dark and the skin around them looked red and angry. Spider scooped the girl up and ran from the hut

“Help! Help! I need help!” He called out running as fast as he could towards the middle of camp. Many of the Na’vi looked up in concern but it was Ronal that Spider was looking for. The woman appeared and took one look at Anya before pointing to the blankets in the corner of her own hut.

“Set her down” she instructed. Spider set the girl down and watched on anxiously, his chest heaving with deep breaths. Ronal moved her hands along the girls body before quickly turning her to her side and reaching down the back of her shirt and yanking something from the girl’s back. She held up the dark bug it’s fangs clicking as it protested to being moved away from its prey.

Spider recognized the creature instantly and for the first time ever wanted to kill something out of pure rage. Usually Kali'weya stayed away but it seemed that the season was warm and this one had found it’s way into the med hut. Anya being human meant she was easy prey and the insect had started its work circulating poison into the girl’s system.

Even with the creature detached Anya looked pale and fragile. Spider moved forward to touch her but Ronal held up her hand. “I need to work on her…she may not be safe yet” she said softly. “Go” she commanded and Spider felt fear in his heart as he was moved from the hut.

Spider paced back and forth in anger, frustration. He picked up a few rocks hurling them into the sea and yelling loudly. It was Kiri who came to his side.

“Monkey boy” she said gently as she approached. Spider turned, his eyes red from crying.

“Why!? Why her? She didn’t do anything! She’s innocent why doesn’t the great mother protect her!?” He screamed. Why was it like this? Spider loved Pandora, loved the Na’vi, had always considered this his home but now he felt like at every turn there was some sort of danger to Anya and it didn’t make sense. How could this world that had always seemed so beautiful and peaceful be so deadly to her? How could this place he loved, this place that he felt so connected to be the reason he might lose his companion?

Kiri sat down and patted the area beside her.  

Spider reluctantly moved and sat down huffing in frustration. “It’s not fair…Eywa should be protecting her…of all creatures…” he said. “I know she’s human like me…I know we’re different…but I thought the great mother cared about us too…”

“But Spider…” Kiri began “Don’t you see? She does…she does care…Anya is alive because of you” she said. “You found her in time and she’s being tended to…she’ll be okay…if it had been much later she wouldn’t be but Eywa gave you your intuition and you knew to check on her”

Spider just shook his head in frustration. “But she shouldn’t have been hurt to begin with! Why is this world so dangerous to her!?”

“Earth was dangerous too…” Kiri said. “There will always be danger Spider”

The boy looked distraught and sad “Why can’t I…why can’t I protect her?”

“You did Spider…we can’t stop bad things from happening to those we love…but we can be there to help with the healing” she whispered, gently touching his arm. Spider leaned into Kiri’s shoulder, exhaustion falling over him as the adrenaline from earlier began to wear off.

“I just don’t understand…I love pandora…but…” he didn’t know how to finish that thought.

“Perhaps you are looking at this wrong…Eywa sent you to protect Anya…you found her in the forest, you found her today, Eywa has given you great purpose Spider…she is using you to protect Anya and us…” she said. “You have come to my rescue plenty of times, and Tuk’s we all know that you would never let something happen to her” Spider sighed softly.

“I suppose I hadn’t thought of it that way” he said. “Kiri…I…” he hesitated before speaking again "I wanted to kill that thing that touched her today” he said. “I’ve never felt like this. I mean I've been angry before but...I would do anything to protect her..." he whispered.

Kiri smiled and nodded "I know you would...and it seems that she would do anything to protect you too...she cares about you a lot" she said.

"I miss her....I mean I've only been away from her for today and I miss her..." he sighed shaking his head. "I'm scared I'll lose her...and...and I...I don't know if I could be okay again...if I did" Kiri hugged Spider close.

"You can't live in fear of what might be...you have to enjoy what you have while you have it" she whispered, sadness creeping into her voice.

Guilt filled Spider as thoughts of Neteyam filled his mind, thoughts of Quaritch and all that had happened. He felt like he had betrayed the Sullys and he couldn't even tell them. It made him ache more for Anya, for her presence, the way she knew how to cheer him up and turn his thoughts.

Ronal appeared and nodded to Spider and Kiri "She's awake...she's asking for you" the woman said.

Spider jumped up quickly and rushed towards the hut but he stopped and glanced back at Kiri for a second

"Thank you" he said softly. Kiri smiled at him and watched him go. Her eyes filled with tears as she watched him disappear into the hut to take care of the blonde girl. She remembered when they were close, she and Spider, now it was so rare that she even got to talk to him. Anya was always there and often the two seemed to have their own language they spoke with each other that Kiri did not understand. Everything was different now with Neteyam gone. She wished again that she could go back to the night that Spider was kidnapped and undo what had been done. Now it seemed things would never be the same between them.

Spider hurried to Anya's side, slowing down just enough so he wouldn't startle her as he appeared. She still looked pale and tired but her emerald eyes held their usual spark when she saw him.

"Spider!" she grinned reaching out for him with her good hand. Her other wrist was wrapped up as well as the bite near her collarbone and on her back.

"You scared me" Spider said almost instantly scooping Anya into his arms and hugging her close. She squealed in surprise but wrapped her arms around him.

"Did your head hurt today?" she asked, worried about him.

"Anya...you're the one who's been hurt today...I'm fine...you..." Spider choked up, how was it that she could be the one hurt and still be trying to look out for him?

"I'm okay now...I'm sorry...I didn't mean to scare you" she said softly, melodically, her voice was so sweet.

"You have nothing to be sorry for..." Spider whispered. "Come on...I'm taking you back to the labs"

"But its getting late and you hate sleeping in the labs"

"I hate sleeping alone way more and the bugs won't touch you in the lab" he insisted. He stood easily with her in his arms and she giggled softly.

"Spider! I can walk!"

"No way!" he said with determination "I'm not letting you go till we are safe inside the labs" he said. There was a playfulness to his tone but he also seemed pretty serious. Anya rolled her eyes but kept her arms round his neck as he carried her.

Once they were inside Spider set Anya on the bed and took his mask off. Anya sat there looking at him crossing her arms defiantly

"Well I'm not going to sleep yet! I'm not tired! So what are we going to do till I'm sleepy?" she asked. Spider looked confused for a moment, it was still pretty early in the night even though it was dark out. They certainly had time to do something.

"Well...ummm..." he thought for a moment then grinned. "Stay here!" he said before putting his mask back on and disappearing outside. He came back with a large bowl of sand and several rocks and sticks.

Anya looked at him like he had lost his mind "You know I think the idea of being inside the lab is to leave outside...outside" she teased him. He narrowed his eyes at her as he took his mask off.

"Ha ha very funny, come here" he said motioning for her to sit on the floor with him. But he seemed to reconsider "Wait, stay there," he found a way to set the bowl down on the bed before sitting crosslegged at the other end. Anya sat up and scooted closer, watching as Spider drew a few lines in the sand.

"Do you want to be rocks or sticks?" Spider asked

"Rocks?" Anya asked not sure what exactly she was agreeing to. Spider nodded and gave Anya the small pile of rocks.

"Okay this is called Toe Tacks...or Tac Toes? I don't remember, but I learned it when I was trapped..." He explained "The goal is to get three in a row...and that is my goal too...so you have to block me if I'm getting close and I have to block you. We take turns until one of us has three in a row or until the board is full" Anya looked a little confused

"Okay..." she placed one of her rocks and Spider countered with one of his sticks. They went back and forth before Spider announced

"I won!" Anya looked at him confused

"How?! You don't have three in a row!" she insisted.

"Yes I do...see" he pointed to one in the bottom left corner, one in the middle and one at the top right corner.

"You did not say that it could be diagonal!" Anya insisted

"Well I didn't say it couldn't be!" Spider countered.

"Well then mine right here count too" she said pointing to the one at the top middle, top left and middle left.

"No it doesn't...those don't make a straight line" Spider explained seriously.

"Your line is slanted it's not straight" Anya argued.

"It is too straight! It doesn't have a corner!"

"Fine...I still think you're cheating though..." Anya said "Come on let"s play again...I'm gonna beat you this time!"

"Yeah right!" Spider said crossing his arms. They played several more rounds but soon Anya was finding a way to win every one and Spider was starting to get flustered.

"Now you're cheating!" he said trying to figure out her strategy. She just giggled and shrugged

"I'm not!" she said

"You are too...let me be the rocks!" Spider said thinking maybe she had some sort of advantage being rocks.

"No way!" Anya said holding her rocks out of reach. Spider just leaned over her trying to grab her fist as she laughed "Spider no! You're gonna knock over the bowl!" she squealed as she tried not to collapse in a fit of laughter.

She was holding the rocks so far away that she lost her balance and started to fall off the bed. Spider tried to catch her which just resulted in him also losing balance and tilting towards the floor. On his way down he knocked the bowl over so it spilled sand all over both of them leaving them in a puddle of sand, rocks, sticks, and laughter on the floor.

Anya was laughing so hard she could hardly breathe and Spider was sitting up pulling twigs from his hair and looking shocked at the mess they had just made.

"Are you hurt?" he asked worry suddenly clouding his features for a moment. Anya couldn't even respond she was laughing so hard but she shook her head which didn't seem to calm Spider at all.

"Are you sure? Anya...geez I didn't mean to do that" he said checking her over and pushing her hair away from her neck to check that none of her bandages were off.

Anya took a deep breath but just continued to giggle. Her smile, the sound of her laughter made Spider feel like the whole room was glowing. He felt that flutter in his chest again as he looked at her, covered in sand and twigs. He found himself reaching out and brushing her hair back from her face as he leaned over her. His own smile started to form at the sound of her glee.

He was inches from her, and the laughter seemed to slow and come to a stop as they both realized how close they were. Spider couldn't take his eyes off of her. Her eyes, her face, her hair....she was breathtaking and he had known it but the way she was looking at him, they way he saw her right now...it was different.

It was slow, both of their hearts racing in their chests, but quiet settling over them. Spider leaned closer, his hand moving to carefully cup her cheek, fingers brushing her neck as he closed the gap between them, softly pressing his lips to hers. Anya seemed surprised but she kissed him back instantly, without hesitation. Her arms moved to wrap around his neck. She tasted like fruit and honey.

As he kissed her he could feel how delicate she was and yet there was a strength he had never given her credit for. When he pulled away from her she just smiled at him, breathless, quiet, happy. He had pulled away from her for air but he almost instantly leaned back in, only hesitating slightly to make sure that she was okay with it. His hands rested again her soft skin, cupping her face with one hand and her neck with the other.

Spider had spent years never feeling like he belonged anywhere, always feeling like he was half of what he should be, half human, half Na'vi, half family, half wanted... Even with Quaritch he had felt something but had felt like it was a betrayal to his Na'vi family to get too close to the man who held his father's memories. But now, for the first time in his life, Spider didn't feel like half, he didn't feel conflicted or like there were two sides pulling him in different direction. He felt fully known, cared for, wanted.

When he moved to pull away from the second kiss Anya whimpered softly keeping her hand on his neck pulling him closer, she didn't want him to stop. She cared about him, he could feel it, he could feel her wanting to be close to him and it was like every bad thing, every bad thought, every fear he had ever known disappeared knowing she wanted to be this close to him.

Eventually they did have to part for air but Spider was beaming. "I've...never done that..." he whispered and Anya chuckled softly.

"Me either..." she whispered back feeling like they needed to be quiet.

"Anya...I..." Spider didn't know the words to say, he didn't know how to express what he felt being that close to her, sharing that kiss with her. Anya didn't know the words either but she reached out and brushed his cheek with her fingers.

"I see you" Spider said gently.

"I see you..." Anya whispered back her eyes locked on him.

Spider felt like he had swallowed a whole family of butterflies his stomach was doing so many somersaults.

"Spider?" Anya whispered

"Hmm?"

"We are going to be in so much trouble when Norm and Max get back if we don't clean this up" she teased him softly. Spider grinned and shrugged

"I'll just tell them you did it..." he said earning himself a playful scowl and a pinch as Anya wiggled out from under him to start cleaning.

[snazzymolasses]

When I was 22, I almost died from not sleeping. No, that is not hyperbole.

I had a hellish schedule- I was working full-time to afford rent/food, while also doing a full-time college class schedule and student-teaching at an elementary school.

I slept on Saturdays. No, that isn't a joke.

My schedule was:

5am - 6am Shower/eat breakfast 6am - 6:45am Drive to elementary school 7pm - 3pm Teach (lunch was in ther) 3pm - 3:30pm Drive to college 3:30pm - 6:30pm Class 7:00pm - 4am Work (dinner was in there; I worked at a pizza place) 4am - 4:45am Drive home 5am - 6am Shower/eat breakfast Same exact thing as before, except now it's called Tuesday. Do you see anywhere in that schedule to sleep? Nope. Cause there isn't.

So at 4:45am on Saturday mornings, I'd get home and sleep for about 24 hours. Then on Sundays I did all my homework/studying for the week, and planned all my teaching lessons.

This was my schedule for the semester, which means I went on like this for months. And because I was so young, my body handled this until APRIL, which is 4 months in.

And then it crashed. Hard.

I was in the middle of teaching 2nd grade, when suddenly...my voice stopped working. No matter what I did, I couldn't clear my throat. Drank some water. Nothing. Couldn't talk.

Sat down at my desk, and realized, suddenly, instantly, that I was sick. Very sick. I had never felt anything like it. 10 minutes ago I'd been fine, and now I had a raging fever. My cheeks were burning. My head was throbbing.

I wrote a note to my mentor teacher that I had to go to the doctor, didn't even wait for her to reply, and left.

The drive from the school to my college's infirmary (which was free for students and I was piss poor so it was my only option for medical care) was 45 minutes, and I wasn't sure I was going to make it.

When the nurse took my temperature, it was 104F (40C). She said "Oh my God." and gave me an insane dose of Tylenol, forced me to drink a gallon of Tang, and then left to go find the doctor. And I could no longer keep my eyes open. I laid down right there on the exam table and fell asleep.

They said I slept for two hours. They let me; they said it was important for me to get my fever down, and the Tylenol and Tang worked, by then it was in the non-dangerous range of 101F (38C).

Then I had a horrific coughing fit. What came out of my lungs was nasty; but after that, I was able to talk. The doctor told me I had severe bronchitis. He wanted me to go to a hospital.

I told him I couldn't afford a hospital. He seemed to understand; he gave me a long list of medications to take, and due to the nurse's infinite kindness, she gave them to me out of the infirmary's stores for free.

I got into my car with a huge bag full of medications and took the 45 minute drive home. On the way I stopped at the grocery store. I knew I was going to have to drink tons of fluids, and I also knew that once I crashed in my bed, I would not be coming back out. I left with as much juice and soda as I could carry and somehow, made it home.

I was bedridden for four. Weeks. 22 years old, had been otherwise healthy all my life, and now I was barely able to leave the bed to use the bathroom and then crawl back into it. During the day I was able to move to the couch. I couldn't cook; I lived on cereal and peanut butter. I knew I was failing all my classes; it didn't matter. I couldn't go to them. I knew I was failing my student-teaching, it didn't matter. I was barely alive. I knew I was an inch from death's door. Sometimes, when I closed my eyes, I wondered if I would open them again. I coughed so hard I pulled the muscles in my abdomen. I couldn't work; I had no idea how I was going to pay my rent. It didn't matter. I had to sleep.

I did survive. I did get well. It took months for my cough to go away. My lungs became scarred on the inside; after that, I had asthma, for the rest of my life. This was 20 years ago, and I still have it.

ALL BECAUSE I DIDN'T GIVE MY BODY SLEEP.

After that, I learned my lesson. There was nothing, and I mean NOTHING, more important than letting my body rest. When I went back to school, it was part-time. The old me was worried about graduating in 4 years; the new me learned that didn't matter as much as getting rest. So what if it took me 8 years to graduate? What good was a degree if I was dead? (I wound up graduating in 7 years).

The old me crammed my internship (student teaching) and classes into the same semester. The new me did not; if I was interning then I wasn't taking classes at the same time. I also waited until I could get an internship that paid me, so that I didn't also have to work as many hours at my other job. I learned to slow down. I learned it was GOOD to slow down. It was HEALTHY to take my time.

I also changed jobs from pizza to bank teller. It paid the same, but there were no night shifts. Night was for sleeping, night was for rest, and I was never, ever, going to deny my body what it needed again.

Now? Nobody is going to take my sleep from me. No societal pressure, no guilt trip, no "but if you just worked harder." FUCK working harder. I want to live. I am going to sleep. Take your working harder and shove it. I am going to bed.

And so should you.

Has anyone else noticed that as a society, we’re shamed for wanting to sleep? Sleeping in is bad, naps are only okay if they’re 20 minutes, you cant be tired unless you’re a <insert career/lifestyle choice here>, so on and so forth.

I mean, I think we all need to spread our blankets out, cuddle a pillow, and go to sleep. Everyone needs more of it, fuck this “it’s not productive” nonsense. It’s okay to sleep, it’s okay to want to sleep. You’re not lazy because of it.

[anon-apple]

Hot Soup and Soft Bread 10

Table of Contents and Synopsis <- Chapter 9 Read Chapter on WordPress

Chapter 10: Instant Noodles with an Egg IV

One day around sunset, electricity went out in Qin Qin Homeland for a few hours. Because of the high temperatures, Liu Xiaoying went downstairs and found a shaded place to cool down in the breeze. Zhou Cunqu stubbornly stayed inside and ended up with a heatstroke. He took some medicine and groggily fell asleep. He slept for a long time. When he woke up, the sky was already pitch black. A mug of herbal tea sat on his nightstand. Zhong Qiuyan had attached a sticky note and wrote: Make sure to drink more water. Rest up today. I won’t be coming today at midnight.

After Cunqu sat upright, he discovered another note beneath the mug. It was already damp from the condensation on the teapot. Cunqu unfolded it. Qiuyan had written neatly on top of the piece of A5 paper: Apology Letter.

Cunqu couldn’t help but laugh. He continued reading. Qiuyan solemnly apologized for his behavior of forcibly kissing him. Then he started analyzing the cause and effect of this event as well as introspecting on himself. At the very end, he wrote:

This is how things are. If you are still angry, I’ll bring a feather duster tomorrow and beg for your forgiveness.[1] But before I ask for forgiveness for my offenses, let me offend you a bit more. It’s like this, Zhou Cunqu, you’ve already read what I wrote before this. I think I probably like you. If you are interested in a relationship… Here, Qiuyan had crossed out the last few words and wrote: The next time you want a relationship… He crossed that out again. Then he wrote: The next time you want to find someone for a relationship, can you consider me? Once again, he crossed out the entire sentence and wrote: I want to be in a relationship with you. 

At night, Cunqu sent a text to his ‘Smart Assistant’: I was stuck inside for too long today. Why don’t you still come by today and let’s go for a walk?

After a few minutes, Qiuyan unexpectedly replied: No.

Cunqu was taken aback for a few minutes. Qiuyan immediately followed up with another text: I have some things to take care of later tonight.

Cunqu thought about it for a bit and replied: All right.

Qiuyan bonked his head a few times against the wall at A’Shan’s auto repair shop. A’Shan was squatting down and examining the chassis of a car. He turned to look at Qiuyan and said: “Knock your head again and the few brain cells you have are gonna scatter away.”

Cunqu also squatted down and hugged A’Shan from behind and whined: “Help me A’Shan. It hurts so much. It’s like there’s a little hand clutching at my heart right now, grabbing one fistful then another.”

A’Shan mumbled to himself: “What kind of…”

Qiuyan gloomily said: “What if he says, he doesn’t want to. Then what do I do?” He leaned against A’Shan’s back and refused to get up.

That night, Qiuyan couldn’t fall asleep. The next day he had a day off, so he just got up, leaned against the windowsill, and had a smoke. Like he told Cunqu before, in the past he liked a girl from the same village. But at that time, Da Yu liked her, A’Shan probably also secretly liked her, so he also decided to like her. In middle school, their village handed out milk boxes[2] to the students between classes. The flavor that everyone received was different. That girl apparently liked strawberry-flavored milk. So Qiuyan saved up a bunch of strawberry-flavored milk boxes, put them in a little basket, and brought it to confess to her. The girl said she liked neither strawberry milk nor Zhong Qiuyan. 

Qiuyan had a cigarette between his fingers, buried his head in his arms, and groaned “Help…”

Cunqu wasn’t the same, Qiuyan thought. When that girl rejected him, he threw it to the back of his mind and forgot all about it. But now, if Cunqu rejected him, Qiuyan felt like he probably would need to hug Da Yu and A’Shan and bawl for two or three months. Every time he shut his eyes nowadays, all he could see was Cunqu’s face.

He squatted down and leaned against the wall. He had taped the card Cunqu wrote on the side of his nightstand. He stared at those few lines of the poem and took a drag out of the cigarette.  

---

The next day, Cunqu waited for a while downstairs, but Qiuyan still didn’t show up. He called him. Qiuyan picked up and said weakly: “I’m almost there.”

Cunqu, wearing a grey t-shirt and a pair of shorts, was leaning against the entrance door. Qiuyan saw him from far away. When the car stopped, Cunqu opened the door and got in. He asked Qiuyan: “Why don’t we go for a walk today?”

Qiuyan didn’t turn to look at him. Staring at the path in front of him, he shook his head. Cunqu shrugged and said: “Then let’s drive.” But Qiuyan didn’t start the car. Cunqu patted his face and asked: “What’s up with you today?”

Qiuyan turned and asked: “Ge, no matter what, you’ll let me accompany you and keep helping you until Liu Xiaoying’s birthday in November right?”

Cunqu nodded. Qiuyan felt a bit relieved and sighed at himself. As he started the car, Cunqu asked: “Your note from yesterday. Were you confessing to me?”

Qiuyan abruptly slammed the brakes. Cunqu almost fell out of his seat. Qiuyan helped him up and said, “Sorry.”

The dancing girl figurine spun in circles in between them.

Cunqu grabbed Qiuyan’s hand, pulled him slightly closer to himself, and wrapped his arms around Qiuyan’s neck as he said: “When you are kissing, don't randomly poke around in my mouth. Take it slow. And remember to breathe through your nose.”

Cunqu leaned in and kissed him. His tongue traced the tip of his nose, his lips, teeth, and intertwined with Qiuyan’s tongue. The car wasn’t started, the AC wasn’t on. The interior was extremely stuffy. When sweatdrops on Qiuyan’s forehead rolled down and landed onto the back of his hand, he opened his eyes. Cunqu pulled away, but Qiuyan hugged him closer and messily kissed his eyelids and cheeks. When he finally kissed enough, he reluctantly stopped and asked: “Ge, what did you mean by that?”

Cunqu sighed and asked: “Did you think I was going to reject you?”

Qiuyan nodded. Cunqu smiled with exasperation and said: “I thought we had been flirting[3] with each other for some time now. But looks like there's a fool who was not on the same wavelength at all. He couldn’t even tell that I was also interested in him.

Qiuyan wiped away some of the sweat on Cunqu’s forehead with a napkin. In confusion, he asked: “Ah? We’ve been flirting with each other?”

Cunqu replied: “I even copied verses from a love poem for you, you fool.”

Belatedly, Qiuyan started to mentally review everything that’s happened. Cunqu unbuckled his seatbelt as he said: “I don’t date fools, I’ll be leaving first.”

Qiuyan immediately locked the car doors and dragged Cunqu into his embrace. “You’re not going anywhere,” he said.

The little girl figurine spun and spun and knocked into Qiuyan’s head. Qiuyan let out a swear, then immediately kissed Cunqu’s cheek. Cunqu said: “Have you considered that I won’t be able to go out on dates with you, I don’t have a job, my mental state is not quite stable yet…”

Qiuyan interrupted him: “We can date at home. If not Xiaoying’s place we can go to mine. Seeing you right after getting off work would make me so happy.”

Cunqu didn’t say anything for a long time. Qiuyan urged: “Ge, say something. I’m starting to feel the little hand grabbing at my heart again. If it grabs a few more times, I’m going to have a heart attack. I’m being serious.”

Cunqu’s laugh came out a bit choked up. He scolded: “What are you even saying…”

He let out a sigh. Lowering his head, he wiped away the tears that were about to spill over from his eyes. Then he said: “What I wanted to say is the same. Every day when I'm able to see you, I feel really happy. Zhong Qiuyan, although right now I’m not very good, in fact, I’m quite awful, I still really want to be with you.” -> Chapter 11

Footnotes

[1] I think he’s implying Cunqu can use the feather duster and beat him with it to vent his anger lol [2]Milk in China are commonly shelf-stable. They often are sold in little cartons the same way juice does.  [3] Cunqu doesn’t say “flirting” but instead says he thought they’ve been doing 暧昧 (an mei), this word literally translates to “ambiguous/ambiguity” but is often used in the romantic sense to refer to an attitude or a period of time before the relationship is confirmed but both parties are acting very…romantically “ambiguous” towards each other. Similar idea as UR/ST (unresolved romantic/sexual tension) lol. Oftentimes (not always), both parties are aware of each others’ feelings to some extent during this phase, but hesitate to actually speak it into existence because they either enjoy the ambiguity or due to some other concerns discouraging them from starting a relationship. But our dear friend Zhong Qiuyan here was just completely offline lol.

--

--

T/N: THEY'RE TOGETHER!!!! there's so much to love in this chapter. Cunqu being the older, and more experienced one in a relationship, guiding Qiuyan through his feelings and through the kisses. But yet at the same time, being too self-aware of his current state, being insecure of his ability to be a good enough lover to Qiuyan. And Qiuyan immediately reassuring him that it's ok, and just providing so much emotional value by straightforwardly displaying all of his feelings, letting Cunqu see exactly how much he values him. I adore Qiuyan for that. He doesn't need to be an expert in relationships, he might not know how to kiss, but he's so caring, so honest, so genuine, and he intuitively knows how to love so well. (also poor A'Shan hahaha he probably thinks his good old sworn brother has finally lost his last brain cell)

[neotorchwickvt]

So, in honor of The Babadooks upcoming 10th Anniversary, Join me for a Haunting Tale!

Flashback to around 2016, Babdook is now on Netflix (Boycott them), my friends and I would have popcorn, watch some horror movies, and genuinely enjoy the time of not having a job yet as we were in High School.

So one night, we watch a little movie called The Babadook (sadly before he became a LGBTQ+ Icon), this is still one of my favorite Horror films, the Pacing is Slow, but helps drive home the absolute paranoia and fear the Mother feels in the film, alongside the scene where she looks at her neighbors house in the middle of the night and The Babadook is just, standing there, menacingly (I had to include a SpongeBob joke, it’s in my nature).

So we watch it, and sadly due to it being 2am, my friends fell asleep. So the next day, we go to breakfast, Have lunch, and finally we go to Hastings (an old video rental store), and long and behold, like a holy grail calling our name, The Babadook is available to rent.

So despite it being on Netflix, we rented it this time, go back to my friends place, and watch it again, this time around 7pm, we get done around 9pm, my friends having not fallen asleep this time, loved it, me having seen it twice now, Love it even more.

So we drive back to the rental store an hour before it closed and return the movie. But we decided to also have a little browse around the place, and amongst the books, The Babadook finds us again, it’s the actual pop up book they made to go along with the movie.

So we all jokingly read it, laughing, and having fun thinking nothing about how despite us not looking for it amongst the books, it was just sitting out practically waiting for us. We continue on, I wanted to look at the Manga, so we go to the Very Back of the store where they kept it, and pass by a Stormtrooper toy (Force Awakens is still fresh in everyones mind).

I think the Stormtrooper was supposed to say something like “Don’t Move Resistance Scum.” Or something, but it was broken, and all we hear from this toy is “Do-Do-Dook” “Do-Do-Dook”. We joke about how it sounds like Babadook, and start teasing each other that we are haunted now.

So Stores about to close, I go to check out my Manga (I forget which one as I’ve read a LOT now). And as I’m buying it, a person in a Black Trench Coat and Black Top Hat walks in (The store closes in like 10 minutes). Not a single vehicle except my friend’s truck parked outside.

My Friends and I walk out, a little scared but laughing like “Did any of you see his face?”

We all agreed that we didn’t get a long enough look at the person to see the Face, just the clothes. We start driving, it is now around 10pm, and one mile away is a Walmart (Also boycott), so we go to get snacks.

On the way there, we hit a Stop Light amongst a Pizza Place with a bright sign, and a gas station across the street also with bright lights, and standing on the sidewalk nearby them…

A person in a Black Trench Coat, Black Top Hat, and a Ghostly White Face. Let it be known, this Gas Station/Pizza Place is half a Mile from the Video Store, so unless the person at the video store sprinted in less than 3 minutes to this spot in the darkness, then thats not the same person.

We get to Walmart, now entirely scared like did we actually just see that, or are we psyching ourselves out. We all agree that we are just being paranoid (Master Gaslighters of Ourselves), and go into Walmart.

We go to the Movies, and on the New Releases, The Badbadook. Let it be known, Film came out in 2014, we watched it on Netflix in 2016, meaning the DvD probably came out some time in 2015, so it is not a New Release. It’s just a single copy of the movie, sitting front and center for us to see.

So we get the hell out of the movies, don’t even look at the books, and go straight for snacks, we are rushing to get home now, because we all think something is now haunting us.

We are in the Snack Isle, Walmart is a bright place, lots of lights everywhere. As we buy some Microwave Popcorn, The Lights above the Snack Isle, Go out, with a Pop.

We all look at each other, and agree, we need to check out, and leave. We turn to exit the Isle, and there again stands. Black Trench Coat, Black Top Hat, and Ghostly White Face. Whether the same Person, Three different people, we have no clue, it’s not Halloween, so it’s not like people are just casually dressing up in costumes.

We go out the other side of the isle, we are running, probably looked like thieves despite us dropping the box of popcorn and getting out of there. We get to my friend’s Truck, we’re out of breath, he starts the engine, and we floor it back to his house.

We all huddles together in his bed that night. Because we don’t know if it was just all coincidence, Shared hysteria amongst us, or if we actually summoned something that night.

But we all haven’t experienced anything like that since. And it will always be remembered to me anyway as The Night We Saw The Babadook.