#i am not emotionally prepared for a newlyweds game

[nebulaedaniel]

remember how in literally april this year we thought holding hands would be the worst thing they did

[thegc4life]

Do you any other Hawks fic ideas you'd like to write? Or is Hawks-sensei all you've got on your mind right now?

Wyv. You know not what you ask. I have to put them in categories, Wyv. Categories.

Kid!Hawks:

-Kid!Hawks growing up with the LOV (both as a permanent thing and various ridiculous drabbles) This involves Unwilling Big Brother Shigaraki, scarily willing Big SisterToga who knows all the coolest knife tricks, Best Uncle Twice who sometimes on his real good days doubles as temporary Dad, the Dad who teaches you how to hot wire cars and laugh people’s money straight out of their wallets Compress, mother-henning can-not-leave-you-alone-for-one-god-damn-minute Spinner, True Mom Kurogiri, Big Sis Mag who seems to be the only actual one that realizes that children need to sleep at some point for the love of god, extremely confused but horrifically soft Dabi who may or may not eventually turn his whole life around because of this feathered idiot that needs someone to make sure he lives a happy life whether it be a permanent shrinking or not. Oh, and Machia. The best Mountain Monster Dog brother (?) a boy could ask for.

-Kid!Hawks with UA (staff edition) also both in temporary and permanent circumstances. Temporary is already in progress. Permanent? Oh boy, permanent world. They raise him within UA so as to keep him from the Commission. Hawks often sits in on their classes with coloring books, picture books, or just to sit there and watch them. He is very smart. He picks up on things, but mostly he just likes being around all the staff. He picks a new person to sleep with every week because some of them have really shitty sleep schedules and even as a kid he knows they would feel bad keeping him up, thus forcing them to go to bed through good-person guilt so he tragets the sleepiest looking people for the week (hint: Aizawa gets picked a lot, and even if he’s not sleep deprived Hawks would pick him because he adores his grumpy cat Dad). Thirteen does crafts with him all the time. She watches every kid show and gets really into it with him. Hawks and Mic make the meals and they sing the entire time. They sing together throughout the day. Hawks will chirp out a line of notes and out of nowhere Hizashi will burst in to sing the lyrics. Midnight reads him bedtime stories cause her voices are the best. She does his nails and lets him do hers. He practices on the UA students to surprise her with new designs (the students fall over their own feet to offer to be his test subject). Snipe does little challenges with him. Things that, while technically helping him get used to controlling his quirk, are more fun than anything else because Hawks enjoys using his feathers in games. Hawks dresses up like a cowboy for an entire month, quoting old western movies and driving everyone but a very proud Snipe up the wall. Hound Dog and Hawks go on walks together ALL THE TIME. They explore the woods around UA and Hound Dog tells Cementoss to change up the geography every once in a while so they have something new to explore. He teaches Hawks how to go camping and Hawks fricken adores him and is always on his shoulders just kicking his feet or napping in Hound Dogs hair. Ectoplasm is Hawks favorite person to play any kind of tag based game because the others are too easy to catch with his feathers. But with Ectoplasm and all his clones? hawks goes nuts. Ectoplasm cried once when Hawks asked Aizawa for peg legs for Halloween and when someone asks him if he wants to be a pirate he says no because he wants to be a super cool hero like Ecto for Halloween. No one will be as cool as him. Hawks fricken loves Vlad. Like, adores him. Whenever Vlad is in the room Hawks will just go hang off his shoulders, or tuck under his arms with a book to read, or just lean against him. He has a little stuffed bull dog that has Vlad’s exact resting bitch face and carries it with him every time he leaves the dorm because he feels safer with it. He goes to Vlad when he’s injured because Vlad just takes care of it, gives him a hug, and doesn’t tell him to be more careful. Just asks if Hawks learned something and moves on. Hawks and Nezu are penpals. They see eachother every single day, but they are penpals. Hawks grows up with the most beautiful calligraphy handwriting because he keeps trying to out-do Nezu’s. He absolutely tattles on every single teacher in these letters, giving Nezu years worth of blackmail. Hawks thinks Nezu is a stuffed animal until he is fourteen because Nezu never fesses up. He just thinks the staff is even cooler for letting a stuffed animal run the place. He only ever cries around Nezu.

-Kid!Hawks UA(Student edition): So many. There’s lines I’ve written where they’re still in school when Hawks is kidified. When they’re already pros. In Canon, in Hawks-sensei, I even a small blurb sentence of Deku running a preschool that Hawks gets put into in an AU with quirks still. I can’t even... there’s too many students, cause I’d do all 1-A and 1-B. My favorite one to randomly wake up in a panick and write about though is the one where it’s Hawks-sensei verse based and Kid!Hawks gets taken in by the Monoma family. Rui and Eiko are older and Monoma is a pro-hero by then. The pure amount of fluff, sass, and Hawks spoiling that will happen. Big Brother Rui and Bigger Sister Eiko.  I think about this one a lot.

-I’m currently (slowly but progressing) writing a gift for @saltwater-sweets where Kid!Hawks is taken in by the Uraraka family. Like, he’s not even shrunk in this one. Uraraka’s newlywed parents were involved in the accident he first saved people in and they found him before the Commission. They realized his homelife situation and opened their home to him and now he is Uraraka’s big brother and that one line I threw out there? About him being a global superpower in household moving? Teaming up with Uraraka for that? Yeah.

-Kid!League of Villains and adult Hawks. Yeah, you heard me. They all get shrunk instead of him. And he can’t just... turn them in. They’re kids. They haven’t done any of the crimes their older counterparts have. And if it’s a permanent thing? They stay kids? Then he has a chance to really, truly save them. To give them the happy lives stolen from them. The Commission doesn’t like that. So Hawks takes them and runs. Dabi can be an adult too, I guess, if that’s the ship or something, but I just really wanna write Kid!LOV and Dad!Hawks.

-Kid!Aizawa. Dad!Hawks. Same concept. Beautiful dream. Need I say more.

-Kid!Hawks, Best Jeanist

-Kid!Hawks Gang Orca

-Kid!Hawks RUMI!!

Vigilante Hawks:

- Raven was born and I dived down that rabbit hole so fast I went back in time. Raven. But from a way earlier age. Those guys mugging Hawks when he was fifteen? The spark. Hawks stayed on the streets, he never went back, and he learned some things. He got some freedom, learned some shit, and realized that hero society was pretty fucked up. Shigaraki starts the LOV up and realizes there’s this whole underground community he was never aware of that Hawks has been building for years. It’s great.

-Hawks was never found by the Commission so he was never ‘Hawks’. His Dad raised him as a criminal but Hawks, with his little heart of gold, took every chance he could to make something good out of the bad deeds. Then he got old enough and he took full control. You ever seen the Levi OVA’s of Attack on Titan? Where he’s walking down the stairs and you realize every single person there is part of a huge ass gang of awesome with Levi at the head? That. THAT.

-Hawks loses his shit in Canon and goes completely AWOL. full Feral. He sees the problems, and he is prepared to do whatever it takes get rid of them. Whatever it takes.

AU Hawks

-Horribly injured, recently retired at the ripe old age of 23, and looking for something to save him from depression. Hawks meets Todoroki Fuyumi who gets him a job at her school. This one makes my brain happy.

-Takami Keigo and Todoroki Natsuo meet in college, graduate together, join the same hospital, and open one as partners as soon as they can. Ship or no ship, they go through their entire lives together. (I just... I really like the Todoroki sibs, okay?)

-Takami Keigo was born a lot earlier. So much, earlier, in fact that he is classmates with this overly optimistic ball of light named Yagi Toshinori and the grumpy ball of flame Todoroki Enji. Big Three anyone? Also, everyone needs a dumb smart birb to keep them sane. Hawks loves his friends, and he’ll kick anyone’s ass that tries to hurt them be it physically, mentally, or emotionally. Also, he meets Nana. 

-I LOVE THE IMAGINARY KAMAKIRI FAMILY DYNAMIC OKAY?! literally anything with Hawks involved in their lives, okay?! I did not expect to spiral so hard when I made up Hideo and his relationship with Kamakiri but my god did I spiral! I just really love them!

-I’m a sucker for the classics. Tattoo/flower. Coffee shop. College. Roommates. Love. 

- (she made me write this) a story surrounding the amazing love story of my sister and Iida Tenya with Aizawa crashes the wedding even though he was invited and Mirio is her maid of honor, with Eri as the ring bearer, and All Might is the flower girl. Twice is the officiator. Uraraka releases a flock of fake pigeons (not real ones cause they don’t deserve that). Oh, and everyone else is there too, I guess. Except for Mineta. Cause he’s in jail.

Right now, at this very moment, I can not for the life of me think of any others but I KNOW there’s at least seven more that I just can’t remember because my brain is work dead. Wyv. @wyvernspirit do you see what you’ve opened here? Close the box! Close it before it’s too late! There is always more! I am never without MORE ideas!

[basicshadowhuntersstuff]

This roundup covers February 1 - February 12 featuring Shadowhunters news, updates, sneak peeks, and behind the scenes. All the stuff you need to stay up to date.

Official Promotion

3x11 Sneak Peeks: Simon’s mark has become his curse.

Official Trailers: YouTube, Twitter

Blooper Reel: Part 1 of 3 of the Season 3A Blooper Reel.

Harry (Magnus) and Matt (Alec) play the newlywed game.

Shadowhunters is arriving on Itunes and Apple TV in February

Making lunges look easy. @WainwrightAE behind the scenes of #Shadowhunters season 3B. [1]

Yes, @arosende took this beauty. Yes, this is from season 3B. Behind the scenes with our dear @JadeHassoune. #Shadowhunters

Time to ring the bell. Behind the scenes of #Shadowhunters season 3B

The ladies of #Shadowhunters are as stunning as ever at the #FreeformTCA. 

.@HarryShumJr and @IsaiahMustafa looking good at the #FreeformTCA. #Shadowhunters

What could Luke be looking at? Behind the scenes of #Shadowhunters Season 3B.

You’d never guess. Behind the scenes of #Shadowhunters 3B.

Caption this. Behind the scenes of #Shadowhunters season 3B

Shadowhunters 3B Trailer Reactions

TV Guide (article): Hi, Hello, Who the hell is getting married inShadowhunters Season 3

Hypable (article): ‘Shadowhunters’ 3B trailer is here and we are not emotionally prepared to handle it

The Workprint (article): The ‘Shadowhunters’ season 3B trailer is finally here

TV Insider (article): ‘Shadowhunters’ Trailer: Season 3B returns with Malec, Sizzy, & ‘New’ Jonathan (video)

Pure Fandom (article): ‘Shadowhunters’ 3B trailer: Sizzy, Malec, and  Dark Clary take center stage

Pride (article): Malec is back in new trailer for the final season of Shadowhunters

TV Line (article): Shadowhunters Season 3B trailer: Scary Clary, ‘Sizzy action, [Spoiler]’s wedding and more in final episodes

Entertainment Weekly (article): Shadowhunters final season trailer promises a wedding and a new Clary

Cosmopolitan (article): Everything to know about ‘Shadowhunters’ season 3B and finale event

GLAAD (article): The GLAAD wrap: ‘Shadowhunters’ trailer, ‘The L Word’ returns, and more!

Digital Spy (article): Shadowhunters trailer teases Clary’s rebirth and a wedding in the final episodes

Hidden Remote (article): The complete breakdown of the Shadowhunters season 3B trailer

TV Guide (article): Shadowhunters Season 3B: Everything we know so far

Girlfriend (article): ‘Shadowhunters’ just dropped their season 3B and trailer

The Geekiary (article): Netflix trailer for Shadowhunters season 3B should be the official trailer, honestly

Anna Hopkins (Lilith) and Luke Baines (Jonathan) tweeted responses to fan comments about the 3B trailer

Luke Baines (Jonathan) tweeted “Personally, I think this is sweet. Could’ve been a couple inches lower and then we’d really be even” in response to a fan comment.

Matt Hastings (Executive Producer) was excited to share the 3B trailer with fans

Bryan Q. Miller (Writer) tweeted: “#Shadowhunters 3B has everything. Neck wounds. Glamping in the subway. Elite dog people. A zamboni. Zeke Russo.”

Isaiah Mustafa (Luke) responded to Bryan Q Miller’s (writer) tweet about 3B with his own teases: “Don’t forget about the window love, cheap motel and takeout from Tina’s Tacos”

Todd Slavkin (Showrunner) responded to our question about a mysterious character in the 3B trailer This badass gentleman was one of the many prisoners who escaped from the Gard in 3x09 during Valentine’s attempted breakout. This storyline plays a big part in 3B #alittleteaseneverhurtanyone #moretocome #shadowhunters

Shadowhunters in the News

3x11 Spoiler-Free Previews: FANdemonium, TV Fanatic, ScreenSpy.

TV Spielfilm (article): Shadowhunters: Fan groups could save the series even before the dismissal.

Hypable (article): 5 things ‘Shadowhunters’ season 3B should do that might be controversial.

The Series Regulars (article): ‘Shadowhunters’: The fight for Jace Herondale in 3A.

TV Line (interview): Anna Hopkins teases Shadowhunters’ end (and Lilith’s Revenge?), revisits her roles on Arrow, Defiance, and more

Pure Fandom (article): #ShadowhuntersPosterChallenge Part 6: A visit to the downworld.

Digital Spy (article): Shadowhunters star thinks fans will feel “a sense of contentment” with finale.

Netflix Life (article): Netflix should STILL save Shadowhunters.

TV Guide (article):  Shadowhunters’ Harry Shum Jr. Had to Coach Matthew Daddario Through That Malec Dance Scene.

Hidden Remote (article): Shadowhunters Season 3B: Malec dancing confirmed to happen TWICE.

The Series Regulars (interview): Exclusive Interview: Getting Pumped With ‘Shadowhunters’ Trainer, Nuno De Salles!

Pure Fandom (interview):  EXCLUSIVE: Katherine McNamara talks ‘Shadowhunters’ and ‘Arrow’.

Fansided (article):  Everything we need to watch out for in Shadowhunters season 3B.

The Series Regulars (Interview): ‘Shadowhunters:’ How 3A shaped our papa wolf Luke Garroway.

TV Insider (photos): ‘Shadowhunters’ stars Harry Shum Jr., Kat McNamara, & more in the TCA 2019 studio (photos)

Pure Fandom (article): #ShadowhuntersPosterChallenge Part 8: Fan art of Team Evil.

The Series Regulars (article): How fandom changed me: Fans speak out on the importance of fandom

Hidden Remote (article): Shadowhunters season 3B: Raphael and Isabelle help SImon destroy the Mark of Cain.

Hypable (article): ‘Shadowhunters’ 3B sneak peak: Maia and Simon try to reconnect.

Matt Carter (article): Shadowhunters season 3 episode 11 video: Why is Simon hiding away?.

TV Insider (article): Check out the hilarious ‘Shadowhunters’ season 3 bloopers (video).

Entertainment Weekly (article): Meet Mia Smoak! ‘Arrow’ Star Katherine McNamara dishes on playing Oliver and Felicity’s daughter (exclusive).

Glitter Magazine (interview): Interview: Kat McNamara Dishes on Her New Role on CW’s ‘Arrow’

Entertainment Tonight (interview):  Katherine McNamara Talks ‘Arrow’ Fan Theories on Who She’s Really Playing (Exclusive)

Find Your Inner Geek (interview): FYIG chats with actor Jade Hassoune

#SaveShadowhunters

Fans paid for billboards in Los Angeles California leading up to the premier of Shadowhunters 3B. Here are some highlights:

@BoomBitchesHQ collaborated with Film Daily for the design teasers and final design reveal

Kat (Clary) & Luke Baines (Jonathan Morganstern) visited one of the billboards at launch!

TV Guide shared a photo of Kat (Clary) & Luke (Jonathan) at the first billboard.

Hidden Remote shared a photo of the first billboard

@BoomBitchesHQ revealed the second billboard location and information.

A fan visits the second billboard and shares pictures.

Freeform TCA 2019

Freeform held their panels for the Television Critics Association. Some of the main cast showed up to walk the red carpet and do interviews.

Kat (Clary) shared a photo:  Finding my inner Viking dragon princess thanks to @MaartenPhoto …  #TCA2019 #shadowhunters

Jim Halterman shared a photo with Harry (Magnus) and Isaiah (Luke) from the Freeform TCA. [2]

TV Insider shared a photo of Kat (Clary) on Instagram:  Look who showed up to our #TCA19 video suite! #Shadowhunters star @kat.mcnamaratold us so much juicy stuff about the upcoming episodes. Interview coming soon in the coming weeks on tvinsider.com.

Getty Images shared photos of Darren Swimmer and Todd Slavkinfrom the Freeform TCA.

Harry (Magnus) shared his TCA outfit on Instagram:  The brilliant @iheartmaarten behind the 📷 for the ABC/Freeform TCA’s @tvguide Styled by @lauraschuffman Suit: @stile_latino Grooming by @andreapezzillo

Twitter & Social Media

Basic Shadowhunters Stuff releases the eighth #SHTVFlockToUnlock polariod with Jade Hassoune (Meliorn): Consequences.

Basic Shadowhunters Stuff releases the ninth #SHTVFlockToUnlock polariod with Sydney Meyer (Helen Blackthorn): Test of loyalty.

ShumDario News releases the tenth #SHTVFlockToUnlock polariod with Isaiah (Luke): Loss.

Jade Hassoune (Meliorn) shared a photo of his Seelie themed coffee cup wishing fans good morning.

Kat McNamara (Clary) shared a map by @Malecficlibrary of everywhere #Shadowhunters was tweeted in the 24 hours after the 3B trailer was released.

Kat McNamara (Clary) responded to a tweet by Anna Hopkins (Lilith) commenting on Clary’s look in the 3B trailer.

Matt Hastings (Executive producer) answered a fan question on Twitter: Do you have 3 words to describe Malec?

Brian Hui (makeup artist) tweeted: When shows collide! Parallel Dom’s fight for my affection! @DomSherwood1 @Mi55Tipper

Stefanie Terzo (crew member) shared a BTS video on Instagram of a scene from season 2x08 of Magnus’ magic.

Jack Yang (Asmodeus) tweeted Something wicked this way comes in 3B. None of you are prepared #Shadowhunters #Asmodeus #Edom

Brian Hui (makeup artist) shared a video of the cast playing around between takes on set

Kat McNamara (Clary) is featured on the cover of the February issue of The Daily Shuffle Magazine

Javier Munoz (Lorenzo Rey) tweeted a video:  Given I still cannot sleep & am a friggin’ nerd/dork…here is me in my trailer on set for ⁦@ShadowhuntersTV⁩ for my very first day as Lorenzo Rey. #LorenzoRey #BTS (Y’all are the best)

Todd Slavkin (showrunner) tweeted:  A BTS blooper in words: when we saw directors cut our jaws were on the floor. @MatthewDaddario crushes the dance in ways you can only imagine and keeps up with Harry every step of the way #ajoytowatch #3b #threesixteen #shadowhunters

Darren Swimmer (showrunner) tweeted:  .@MatthewDaddario can cut a rug. @lindsayjoane, if Matt were on Dancing with the Stars he would be hard to beat. Spoiler alert - that episode will not be the last time you see Alec dance.

Jack Yang (Asmodeus) shared a photo on Instagram:  Passing the time waiting for Shadowhunters 3B. Schadenfreude is best this time of year we will let it ripen on the vine for a bit longer 😈 #shadowhunters#asmodeus #teamedom #youarenotready [3]

Brian Hui (makeup artist) wished Dom (Jace) a happy birthday with a fun photoshopped photo.

Ariana Williams (Madzie) wished Dom (Jace) a happy birthday and shared a photo of the two of them.

Jade Hassoune (Meliorn) announced that he has been nominated for the Audience Choice Award at the Canadian Screen Awards.

Lola Flanery (Young Seelie Queen) shared her favorite throwback Shadowhunters moment:  That time I played a game

ShumDario News shared their  #EXCLUSIVEFRIDAY photo of Matt(Alec).

Kat (Clary) shared a photo and wished Chai Hansen (Jordan Kyle) a happy birthday. [4]

Anna Hopkins (Lilith) responded to a fan comment regarding 3A bloopers

Matt Hastings (Executive Producer) shared two photos of Kat (Clary) and Luke Baines (Jonathon) in Paris with the captions What would you do for love? With @Kat_McNamara & @LukeBaines #Shadowhunters #Paris;and One more with @Kat_McNamara & @LukeBaines. #bloodisthickerthanwater #Shadowhunters #3B #Paris.

Brian Hui (Makeup artist) shared a BTS photo of Dom (Jace) from 3B

Todd Slavkin (Showrunner) responded to a fan question regarding Clace teasers for 3x22

Arianna Williams (Madzie) wished Isaiah (Luke) a Happy Birthday

Javier Munoz (Lorenzo Rey) posted a BTS photo of himself from 3B on his Instagram

Brian Hui (makeup artist) posted a photo of himself and Kat (Clary) between takes on set

Brian Hui (makeup artist) posted a short video of Javier Munoz (Lorenzo Rey) during filming of 3B

Kat (Clary) shared a photo of her and Anna Hopkins (Lilith) dancing on set to wish Anna Happy birthday

Other News

Business Wire (article): Panda Express presents experiential pop up house of fortune; a Lunar New Year experience

Harry (Magnus) took part in the Panda Express pop up and shared good wishes celebrating the  Lunar New Year.

JustJaredJr (article): Angela Sarafyan & Harry Shum Jr step out for ACE Eddie Awards 2019

Kat (Clary) tweeted: Tomorrow @CW_Arrow #Arrow150 Keep a sharp lookout because you may just see a certain camo clad blonde haired bad ass make an appearance…#BlackStar

Art Directors Guild (photo) tweeted @HarryShumJr joined us last night at the #ADGawards! What a beautiful night with beautiful people. #HarryShumJr #ADG800

People Magazine (article); Harry Shum Jr reveals which lessons he wants his daughter to take from Crazy Rich Asians

Jade Hassoune (Meliorn) was announced as the first guest at the Dark Shade Con in Brussels

Isaiah Mustafa (Luke) was announced as a guest at the 2019 WellyGeddon convention

Just Jared Jr (article): Jamie King joins Katherine McNamara & Kaitlyn Dever at InStyle’s  Badass Women event

[thepropertylovers]

Feature Friday with Chip & Alexx Pons

Happy Friday! This week's FF is a married couple who are actively serving in the United States Air Force, and stationed in San Antonio. Alex and Chip Pons share their inspiring story of what it's like being an openly gay, married couple in the military, what they're doing to help normalize the stigma around that, and their unconventional yet totally charming wedding. Read on to see what we mean...

Where are you from? Alexx is originally from California and Chip is from Michigan.

Where do you live? We currently live in San Antonio, Texas

Instagram handle: @chip_pons  @alexx_pons

Age: Alexx is 30 and Chip is 28

On an unforgettable trip together: We were both given the opportunity to support the Air Force Wounded Warrior (AFW2) Program and Department of Defense team during the 2017 Invictus Games in Toronto, Canada. Something about that trip, despite our workload, was wonderful. It might have had something to do with the amazing people we met or the area we stayed in (this little village in the gay district near downtown)… it was just a wonderful trip and one of the only where the military sent us as a couple to do what we love as a team – that is when we are at our best!

On knowing they're "the one": We met through the process of joining the Air Force; fate brought us together at the same base in New Mexico. Alexx was actually Chip's instructor for a week-long military course and it was there that we realized we have the same job as photojournalists. Chip walked away from that initial meeting swearing he was going to marry Alexx… 

On quiet, intimate proposals: Our proposals were very true to who we are as a couple; intimate, private and meaningful. I proposed to Chip first over a quiet night at home, and Chip proposed several weeks later while we were in the kitchen preparing dinner. To others, these moments might seem to be lacking a "wow" factor, but for us, they are some of our most cherished memories!

On making the most of a hard situation: We actually didn't have a wedding! To keep a very long and dramatic story short, we found ourselves in the middle of some very stressful and borderline homophobic professional trouble. As a same-sex, dual military couple who happened to be co-workers, there were some professional obstacles that we had to overcome in order to have our happy ending. 

We were essentially punished by leadership for having what was termed an "unprofessional relationship," and were eventually ordered to not speak to one another. So, over a lunch break on Tuesday, Sept. 15, we drove down to the Curry County court house in uniform and swore to spend the rest of our lives fighting for one another. 

Getting married was the only option to save our careers at the time which we had both worked so hard to build, but it also the key to our happiness and nearly three years later it is still the easiest and greatest decision we ever made! 

On coming out: Alexx came out in his early 20s. His family was and still is very loving and supportive. In fact, they were the ones who sat him down and initiated the “coming out” conversation out of concern for his mental wellbeing. From that moment, Alexx felt fully comfortable being his authentic self, and his family has been so supportive of our marriage and welcomed me to the family with open arms! 

Chip on the other hand is a bit of a late bloomer. In all honesty, I am the first man Chip ever dated or connected with emotionally. While he had a great relationship with his family, his fear of their disapproval kept him from living an honest life. When we met, Chip's world was turned upside down! For the first time, he was experiencing love, trust and self-acceptance. Before Chip had the chance to come out, a coworker we were stationed with felt the need to let Chip's family know he was involved with me and from there, it all blew up (personally and professionally) for us. But with me by his side, Chip took a leap of faith and chose love over the life he knew and the relationships he had. For nearly four years, Chip's relationship with his family was non-existent, but recently, those relationships have started rebuilding themselves.  

On being openly gay in the military: We have our ups and downs just like everyone else. Constantly having to convince people we aren't brothers is hilarious and "correcting" people when they ask about our wives can be somewhat annoying, but for the most part active-duty members are very accepting. Those around us do a great job of making us feel supported and just like everyone else. We've found that having a good sense of humor goes a long way especially when dealing with people who may be awkward but have good intentions! Most military bases even celebrate Pride Month now, which is slightly unnecessary, but appreciated at least from an educational standpoint (when done correctly). 

No matter how much support we feel, there will always be toxic individuals who thrive on spewing hate. Chip wrote a Pride Month commentary once about serving as a dual military, same-sex couple and when it was published, the overwhelming hate on social media (from civilians and active-duty members) was almost impossible to ignore. But we reminded ourselves why we joined the Air Force: to serve our country and its citizens; so that everyone has the right to express their opinions, no matter what those might be!  

On normalizing same-sex marriages within the military: Coming out and accepting that you are gay is usually a life-altering experience. Doing so while adhering to military customs and courtesies, regulations and the day-to-day stress of military life takes that experience to a whole new level. While being a member of the LGBT+ community is a pivotal part of who we are, there is so much more to us than that. We are husbands, sons, brothers, friends... and professionally, we are Airmen. We try to promote a lifestyle that praises ALL aspects of what makes someone who they are as a whole instead of just focusing on one aspect. 

For us, it's all about redefining what people in the military perceive normal to be. From us attending official military functions together and being seen supporting one another professionally, to holding hands in the grocery store (in Texas I might add) and enjoying a night out with friends, we try to show that life goes on when you come out. People have very different versions of what "being gay" looks like and for us, having a life that you are proud of and genuinely happy to be living is the only thing that matters. 

On being each other's wingman: Working together has been the biggest blessing for our relationship. Before we were a couple, we were teammates and best friends. That friendship and professional comradery laid the strongest foundation we could have asked for. 

The Air Force is built upon this idea of never leaving your wingman behind. Well, from day one we were wingmen and that notion of teamwork and support has absolutely transferred onto our marriage. Working so closely with your spouse during the formative years of your relationship not only allows you to spend more time together, but it unifies you in a way that is hard to put in words. Personally, we know that the other will always have our back, but there is a great sense of relief knowing that throughout the day, you have someone who is in your corner unconditionally and pushes you to be the best version of yourself! 

And on that note, where some often feel some sort of competition between themselves and their spouse for success, that could not be further from the truth with us. We are one unit; we share success and downfalls – and when one falters, the other is there to quickly pick them up and keep moving in one direction again. There are just as few words for someone who would move heaven and earth to see you become your best self – even as a cost to themselves… it leaves you speechless and feeling genuinely loved! 

We have been blessed to travel together and work side-by-side, and there is nothing more rewarding than getting to do what you love with who you love more than anything. Separation and distance is a huge obstacle military couple’s face, and we have been fortunate throughout our careers to have not been apart too long from one another. But during those moments away for training or individual obligations, we take that time to take a look at the beautiful life we have built and appreciate all that we have – if anything, it is those brief moments apart that makes us a stronger, more resilient couple!

On the joys of a simple date night: For us, date night is all about relaxation. There is nothing better than putting on a movie or one of our favorite shows after eating a delicious home-cooked meal (Alexx is a MASTER in the kitchen). Add some wine, continuous laughter, a loving massage, and we have everything we could ever need! 

On the one thing they love most about each other: First, we have to admit that we are very much still DEEP in the newlywed stage of our marriage and we've vowed to never leave it, so our level of obsession with one another is pretty extreme. 

Chip: I adore so many things about the man that Alexx is and has become, but I love Alexx's passion the most. Alexx is protective and loyal and warm and everything Alexx does, he does out of love for me. It's overwhelming and exhilarating and a once in a lifetime feeling that I will never get used to but never take for granted. He throws himself 100% into every aspect of our life together. Our marriage, his job, our future...I am blown away at how completely immersed this man can be in so many things at once and he does it all with a smile on his face. Before we were married, Alexx told me that he aspires to "do the most good, for the most amount of people," and I am constantly in awe at how he has embodied that expression. He is the epitome of selflessness, unconditional love and unwavering support and the immensity of his love knows no limit. I am TRULY the luckiest man on the planet for tricking him into loving me!

Alexx: And for me, it is Chip’s heart – he has the biggest one, sometimes to a fault. He really does not have a bad bone in his body. We are talking about a man who sees the good in everyone, which translates into the most unique and intense type of love I never imagined was real. He does not do anger or even mild irritation… Chip’s go-to when things get remotely tense is affection – I mean tight, take-your-breath away hugs and kisses. It is this incredible propensity for love that he possess which lets me know how deeply loved I am, and without question that he will be an incredible father to our children (someday).

[musicprincess655]

One hour, two minutes.

Give or take depending on delays, that was how long a train from the station by Kazuya’s new apartment to the station by Seidou took. Not that far, all things considered, but far enough to matter.

Keio University was fine. The new apartment was fine. The new team was fine.

Kazuya was less fine.

It wasn’t like he was unhappy - far from it. He was playing university baseball, and it was challenging and rewarding in equal measures. His only complaint was a lack of interesting pitchers on his team, but the coach was talking about working to round out their bullpen for next year. This was supposed to be what he wanted.

But he was on a train on a Friday afternoon, going back to a place he was supposed to be done with already, and really feeling how long an hour and two minutes could be. He never thought he’d be impatient to go back to school.

He never thought he’d be impatient to see Sawamura Eijun again.

Maybe it was because, more than any other pitcher he’d ever worked with, Sawamura had been his partner. They’d had an electric battery, everyone around them had known that, and no one before or after had come close to the same kind of daring that Sawamura had without even trying. He was interesting in a way no one else was, and Kazuya had had that almost entirely to himself for two years. It wasn’t weird to miss that after a few months.

And maybe he missed how close they’d been, too. He’d been Sawamura’s donor for almost a full two years, and in a weird kind of way, that had started to feel like more than just an arrangement of convenience. It wasn’t that Kazuya didn’t have other friends. Kuramochi lived a few blocks away from him with Kominato Ryousuke and showed up at his door every so often when he felt like kicking someone’s ass in video games. But what he’d had with Sawamura had felt special by the time he’d graduated.

And he was cutting off that train of thought right there. It would only get him hurt, especially since Kazuya wasn’t part of what had originally made the secret feel special. He wasn’t Sawamura’s donor anymore.

He got off the train, trying to focus more on the walk than his own thoughts. He almost didn’t notice someone calling out to him until he was nearly stumbling over Kuramochi.

“Oi!” Kuramochi yelled, but he looked more pleased than pissed. “You didn’t mention that you were coming!”

“I didn’t realize you were my keeper,” Kazuya shot back. Kuramochi rolled his eyes.

“Maybe it would have been nice to know you were coming to the first game since you graduated,” Kuramochi pointed out. “Everyone’ll be happy to see you. Sawamura asks me about you every time I come.”

Kazuya tried not to be warm and pleased by that.

“Do you really have so much free time that you can come down here so often?” Kazuya teased. “You better not be slacking off in your classes. Coach’ll be pissed.”

“Sometimes I wonder why Sawamura misses you so damn much,” Kuramochi sighed. “Let’s go sit. Tetsu-san usually tries to make it if he’s not too busy, and Nori comes sometimes too. Ryou-san usually comes with me, but he had a paper to finish.”

“How’s the newlywed life treating you?” Kazuya asked.

“Good,” Kuramochi replied, not rising to the bait like he might have when they were still in high school. “There’s Tetsu-san, and I guess Jun-san took the train up for the weekend.”

Tetsu waved to them, shaking Jun’s shoulder to point them both out. Jun looked up, and a big grin split his face.

“Good to see you two,” Tetsu said. “How’s university life treating you?”

“Apparently it’s keeping Miyuki so busy that he can’t come watch his precious kouhai play,” Kuramochi told him.

“Former kouhai.”

“Don’t be an ass.”

“Shut up and sit down, the game’s starting,” Jun said, flapping his hand in their general direction. Kazuya plopped down next to Kuramochi, watching the teams bow to each other and take their positions.

“Since when is Sawamura a starter?” he asked.

“He’s been trading off with Furuya as starter all year,” Kuramochi told him.

“Furuya started the practice game they had earlier,” Tetsu broke in. “He went the whole time. I think Sawamura is going to pitch the whole game, and then they’re going to do a relay with the younger pitchers in the practice game tomorrow.”

It was hard for Kazuya to sit still. Watching tapes was one thing, but being at a game hyped him up. He wanted to play.

He wanted to catch for Sawamura again. It wasn’t something he’d expected to miss. He was supposed to be relieved that he didn’t have Sawamura following him around begging for pitches anymore. But fuck, he missed that.

He couldn’t really help criticizing the catcher in his mind. It looked like Yui, and Kazuya couldn’t help pointing out the places they could have attacked more aggressively, even if only to himself.

“Will you goddamn calm down?” Kuramochi finally snapped. “I know what you would’ve done, but Yui’s style works for him and Sawamura too. They know what they’re doing.”

“They could’ve gotten the batter with fewer pitches there,” Kazuya couldn’t help arguing.

“Maybe they don’t want to tip their hand before the summer tournament,” Kuramochi pointed out. “Just watch, will you? You’re not the only one who knows how to lead Sawamura.”

That didn’t exactly make Kazuya calm down. Still, he couldn’t deny that Sawamura worked well with Yui. They managed to make it a called game in the seventh inning, which obviously meant they were doing something right.

“Come on,” Kuramochi said while the teams were bowing to each other. “If you don’t come talk to Sawamura and he finds out you were here he might actually cry.”

As if Kazuya hadn’t been looking forward to this all day and trying to pretend he wasn’t. He followed Kuramochi on a familiar path down to the dugout. He could hear Sawamura’s ridiculous laughter already, and he could feel the grin forming on his face as he rounded a corner.

Sawamura was standing there, laughing at something Haruichi had said.

Haruichi, who was Sawamura’s donor now, because it wasn’t like Kazuya had the time to make the trip back to Seidou every Friday night. It was just practical that they’d let Haruichi in on the secret and asked for his help. He was Sawamura’s closest friend, except for maybe Furuya, but Sawamura refused to ask for that when they were still rivals.

Kazuya was staring, but he couldn’t help it. He also couldn’t help the fact that he wanted to punch Haruichi a little bit for absolutely no reason.

“You know, someday you’re gonna have to admit that he means more to you than just an interesting pitcher to catch for.” Kuramochi broke Kazuya out of whatever trance he’d fallen into when he saw Sawamura and Haruichi together.

Kazuya forced a laugh.

“I don’t know what you mean by that.”

“I mean that Ryou-san is probably going to kill you in your sleep if you don’t stop glaring at his little brother every time he stands next to Sawamura.” Kuramochi didn’t look amused. “Deal with whatever shit you have to deal with and stop acting like a schoolgirl with a crush.”

“I am not…”

“Yeah, you really are,” Kuramochi sighed. “Look, I get it. It’s not easy to have a crush on a teammate, but it’s even harder when you’re not on the same team as your partner anymore. And it’s not like it’s getting any better. So you have to do something about it, even if it’s a risk.”

“Is that what you did?” Kazuya asked. He wasn’t being nice about it, but then, Kuramochi could take it. He was tougher than Kazuya would ever be. “Take a risk?”

“I didn’t, actually,” Kuramochi said. “And I almost missed out on something great. I’m lucky Ryou-san has more balls than I ever will.”

They looked back to Haruichi and Sawamura.

“He’s an idiot,” Kuramochi said. “Well, I mean, so are you, but at least you realize what’s going on. I don’t think he does, so you’re gonna have to break the news to him.”

“What news?”

“Don’t be an ass, you know what I’m talking about.”

Kazuya couldn’t argue with that.

“He’s a straightforward guy, and he expects everyone else to be too,” Kuramochi advised. “So don’t play games with him. They won’t work. Just be honest for once in your damn life.”

“And what if you’re wrong?” Kazuya asked. “What if he doesn’t feel the same way?”

“Then you know. And you can move on.”

Kazuya took a deep breath. It wasn’t like he didn’t know Kuramochi was right, but it didn’t mean he wanted to do this, either. Sawamura was the brave one. Kazuya wasn’t a risk taker off the field.

But Kuramochi was right.

“Sawamura,” he called, finally breaking him away from his conversation with Haruichi. He tried not to be meanly pleased at the way Sawamura lit up when they locked eyes. And failed, but at least he tried.

“Miyuki Kazuya!” Sawamura was the same height as him now - damn his last minute growth spurt - and for the first time, Kazuya was facing him at the same eye level. It was a little strange to not have to look down a few centimeters. “You didn’t say you were coming!”

“Surprise.”

“I know you have LINE, message me when you’re going to come back next time.”

“Who says there’s gonna be a next time?”

Sawamura pouted. Fuck, that was cute.

“You better not forget about me just because you have new pitchers to catch for,” he threatened.

“Hard to forget about you when you’re always yelling at me,” Kazuya teased and this was it. This was what he’d been missing. Even if it didn’t really make sense - or if he refused to let it make sense - he’d missed the hell out of Sawamura.

“How long are you staying?” Sawamura asked.

“Long enough for you to take a shower,” Kazuya said, eyeing the sweat drying in his hair. “Just don’t take too long. I have to catch the train home.”

“Just stay here if it gets late,” Sawamura said. “Asada won’t say anything, and our first year roommate won’t be bothered either.”

Yeah, because sharing a room with Sawamura was definitely something he was emotionally prepared for right now.

“Just take a shower. And make sure you bathe properly,” Kazuya said. “I’ll hang out.”

“You better,” Sawamura said, before wheeling around and sprinting for the showers. Kazuya amused himself by chatting with Jun, who was apparently staying with Tetsu for the weekend in what was a terribly disguised weekend-long booty call. Even with Kazuya’s instructions to bathe properly, Sawamura was running back in almost no time. He looked soft in sweatpants and still-damp hair.

“Hey,” Kazuya said. He licked his lips. Take a risk, Kuramochi had said. Maybe he could handle something smaller than what Kuramochi had in mind. “Let Haruichi have the night off. I’ll take over being your donor again this time.”

Sawamura’s eyes widened.

“You don’t have to…”

“I wouldn’t have offered if I didn’t want to,” Kazuya cut him off. Sawamura looked a little strange, but not unhappy.

“Same place?” he asked. Kazuya nodded. In his last year, with a roommate making his own room less of the safe place it had been before, they’d had to find a better place to keep up their arrangement. They’d found that the second field was completely deserted after dark, since there were no overhead lights for late practice. They’d always tucked themselves in a far corner, just to be safe.

It looked just as deserted as Kazuya remembered it. He depended on Sawamura to guide them - although Sawamura didn’t have superpowers like vampires in movies, he did have significantly better night vision than Kazuya.

When they got to the same place they usually went - deep into the outfield, out by the fence - they faced each other. Sawamura fidgeted a little.

“Did you forget how this goes?” Kazuya teased, leaning back against the fence. Sawamura pouted again, stepping forward and crowding Kazuya against the fence. Kazuya was less annoyed about Sawamura being of a height with him now.

“I’m going to bite you now,” Sawamura warned him.

“Then do it.”

Somehow, Kazuya had forgotten how gently Sawamura could treat him, loudmouthed idiot he was otherwise. He used his left hand to tilt Kazuya’s head to the side, leaning in to run the tip of his nose along Kazuya’s neck.

Kazuya didn’t remember it going quite like this. He especially didn’t remember Sawamura’s lips closing like a kiss on his skin before his teeth pierced it. He wasn’t complaining, but it would be that much harder to leave with this fresh in his memory.

Sawamura leaned in harder, pressing their chests together to support Kazuya against the fence. He felt warm and surrounded, and was almost disappointed when Sawamura licked over the bite to close it. He pulled away from Kazuya, looking at him with eyes that were somehow so open and yet unreadable.

Kazuya slid down the fence to sit, legs boneless and relaxed as they usually were after Sawamura bit him. Sawamura sat next to him, and maybe Kazuya could be a little brave tonight. He tilted until his head was resting on Sawamura’s shoulder. Sawamura didn’t jump, just slung his arm around Kazuya’s shoulders.

“Are you gonna go pro when you graduate?”

Sawamura sighed, looking up to the stars.

“I don’t think so,” he answered finally. “I’ve talked to a few scouts, but...well, boss says I’d probably be a reserve for a while fresh out of high school, and I kinda don’t want to do that when I just made starter. Plus, neither of my parents went to university, and even though they haven’t said anything about it, I know they want me to go.”

“Where are you looking?” Don’t get your hopes up.

“A couple of different universities have sent scouts,” Sawamura said. “Meiji, Hosei, and Keio all made offers.”

“Are you interested in any of those?” Don’t get your hopes up.

“Hosei is a good baseball school, and Meiji is good too,” Sawamura said. Kazuya could feel his heart in his throat, because he could hear the but coming. “But Keio is supposed to be building up their bullpen this year, so I’d probably get more playing time there.”

Kazuya couldn’t find enough breath to speak, so it was a good thing Sawamura kept talking.

“Besides, you were the one who taught me that it’s a lot more fun to be a challenger than a king.” Kazuya could hear the grin his his voice. “And I’d get to be a battery with you again.”

“You’ve proven that you can work with other catchers,” Kazuya pointed out, because he was a damn idiot sometimes.

“They’re not you,” Sawamura said. “Yui’s good, but it’s not the same as working with you. I want to pitch to you again.”

“You should…” Kazuya swallowed. “We should live together.”

“Huh?”

“Living in an apartment is nice,” Kazuya hurried on. “Dorms can be kind of restrictive, and I know how to cook, and it’ll be cheaper to have a roommate, and…”

“Miyuki Kazuya!”

Kazuya shut up.

“I said yes,” Sawamura said. “I mean, the offer is contingent on how I do this year, but I’ve basically already said yes.”

“Contingent is a big word for you,” Kazuya said. Sawamura swatted him.

“At least act like you’re happy about it,” Sawamura complained. “I mean, you’ll have to go back to being my donor, probably, unless you’re really against it.”

“I wouldn’t have offered to live together if I didn’t expect that,” Kazuya said. “I better see you at the first day of practice next year. On time. Don’t get off to a bad start with the coach.”

“I won’t,” Sawamura said. “And I’ll make sure you aren’t late either.”

“Brat.”

“Tanuki.”

Maybe being brave was worth it.