#i can tell his fingers don't fit in bowling balls

[cyxnidx]

DADDY'S GIRL !

characters: dad!pantalone & dad!wriothesley

genre: hcs + imagines

a/n: i love wrio's design sb omgomgomg. also pls ignore how janky wrio's icon looks compared to pantalones :(

Pantalone

dad!pantalone, who can't help himself but laugh when his little girl tries to wear his glasses.

"why, look at you." pantalone coo's, finger gently tickling his two year olds stomach while she tries to fit his seemingly oversized glasses onto her small framed face. "just like daddy, aren't you?"

dad!pantalone, who's ever so gentle with his little girl.

dad!pantalone, who buys his little one everything she could ever want.

walking beside pantalone, his little girl wobbles slightly from her thick bubble coat keeping her warm in the harsh winter. they pass a store, and the small girl stops for a moment, noticing a toy through the glass. "daddy?" she calls, pointing at the glass as she waits for her father to crouch down, matching her eyesight. "can i have one?" she asks sweetly, eyes going wide. pantalone smiles, "of course, darling."

dad!pantalone, who lets his teenage girl do his nails and makeup.

dad!pantalone, who laughs to see himself reflected in his teenage girl's personality.

dad!pantalone, who compares his girls baby pictures to her now, smiling when he notices she hasn't changed a bit.

walking down the corridors of his home, pantalone smiled as he saw picture frame after picture frame of his little girl, years seemingly passing in a flash. though, with closer observation, he notices her face hasn't changed a bit - perhaps a newer birth mark, but nothing else. "dad?" he hears her voice. "what're you doing?" she questions. pantalone cocks his head slightly, smiling. "nothing - you just look the exact same in the face." he tells her, lightly tapping her nose in a playful manner.

Wriothesley

dad!wrio, who loves to help his toddler play with her little toys.

"daddy." he hears his little girl call for him, pulling at his index finger for his attention. wrio looks down, noticing her pointing at her dolls and doll house spread across the living room floor, pieces no longer where they were supposed to be. "help me, please." she asks politely.

dad!wrio, who adores it when his little girl curls into a ball in his arms late one night while watching a movie.

eating a handful of popcorn, wrio almost doesn't notice his little girl move the bowl to the table and instead places herself into his arms, face buried into his chest. wriothesley smiles softly, tightening his grasp around her smaller body as he continues to watch his movie.

dad!wrio, who smiles when his teenage girl still comes to him for help.

dad!wrio, who always lets his teenager do his hair whenever she deems fit.

dad!wrio, who always tries his best to model the man he hopes his little girl will fall for.

driving his teenager to her father-daughter dance, wriothesley pulls into the parking lot. "don't touch it." wriothesley tells his teenager, stopping her from touching the car door handle. "dad.." she groans before watching him get out of the car, walking to the other side and opening the door for her. "c'mon, let's go." he says, hand out to help her out.

dad!wrio, who feels his heart melt hearing his possessive toddler yell 'my daddy' for the hundredth time.

[transskywardsword]

consoling hugs for Wars and Mask for the found family prompt? :] idk if you're doing the prompts anymore, but I just thought the duo was incredibly cute and I'm not sure if I've ever seen them together before!

ack thank you!!!!! enjoy some 'war of ages' bonding between the Boys

---

Mask was not jealous. He wasn't. He was eleven years old, he'd saved multiple worlds, and he was absolutely, positively not jealous of the General and his pretty pink fairy that followed him everywhere, perched on his shoulder or snuggled in his scarf or hidden under his cap when the fighting got too intense. Proxi wasn't a guardian fairy, like... her, simply serving to translate for Wars to those on the field who couldn't understand his fast moving hands and recurring silence, but she still provided comfort, sticking by the older man regardless of the thickness and heat of battle. Wars adored her, and she adored him, and watching them laugh together hurt in a way Mask hadn't hurt in a long time. But it didn't matter, because he was not jealous. Who cared if her twinkling light as she darted around Wars' head made him so homesick, so lonely, that he thought he might puke? He wasn't Kokiri, he was Hylian, and Hylians didn't get guardian fairies. Hylians didn't get forest friends to stand by them and protect them and guard then, shout for them to look and listen, target on enemies to keep them safe from harm, serve as nightlights in Shadow Temples or warm balls of light to warm fingers when the Water Temple's dampness became too cold. Those fairies belong to the Kokiri, not to little boys like him, so of course Navi flew away and left him behind. Of course she did.

So why wasn't Proxi doing the same? What did Wars have that Mask didn't? It wasnit fair, it wasn't!

"Are you alright, squirt?" A jingling bell of a voice called, and Mask looked up from his stale soldier's rations. Proxi hovered in front of his nose, and he had to cross his eyes to look at her. He glanced behind her where Wars sat, just a few feet away. His words in her voice.

"Your food's gonna get cold," the General signed, and Proxi translated the words. "Don't say you're not hungry, when I hear your stomach growling from your bedroll tonight, I won't be happy."

Mask scoffed, putting on an air of annoyance, and Wars, the bastard, laughed.

That wasn't fair to him though, now was it? The General had been nothing but kind. It wasn't his fault that he had a fairy companion and Mask didn't. Wars patted the empty spot next to him, closer to the fire.

"'M fine." Mask mumbled, and Wars rolled his eyes.

"You're shivering. I can hear it from here, squirt." Proxi said, and her voice didn't fit right with the General's frank words. She was made for eloquence and elegance, not a soldier's vernacular.

Begrudgingly, Mask shuffled over to Wars' side, and the man dumped half his food into Mask's bowl.

"Growing bones," he signed, and Mask rolled his eyes.

"I mean it. That Deity Mask of yours-- that's a lot of magic. It wears you out. Eat."

Mask wanted to glare, to insist he was all grown up, that he didn't need some half stranger's help, but then Wars was wrapping an armored arm around his shoulder and squeezing him close to his side.

"You know, if it-- if all this-- gets too much..."

"I'm not a child. I can handle myself."

Wars pursed his lips, but didn't take the bait. "Very well. You aint a kid. But all soldiers need help some time."

Proxi repeated the words and Mask realized to his horror that his eyes had grown wet. Wars brushed blond hair from his eyes, looking at him with concern.

"Kiddo..."

"I'm fine. Just... just a little homesick."

"Ah. I see." the General said, pulling the younger boy closer. "When I first was drafted, I missed home a lot too. I want to tell you that you get used to it, but it never really goes away. But you find new people, new family, and they help."

"They do?"

"Yeah. May not seem like it at first, but they do." Wars signed, and Proxi settled into Mask's hair, burrowing down in the blonde stands.

"Eat your food, kid. I'll keep you company. Promise."

He replaced his arm around Mask's shoulder, and a warmth Mask had been missing for a long, long time welled up. He slotted the arm closest to Wars around the man's waist, and stuffed a bread roll in his mouth with his free hand, pretending that the General's embrace didn't feel like the beginnings of a home.

[palettes-and-prompts]

Character Palette/Personality Palette

If I have seen the movie/show/or whatever this character is in I will let you know! But if I haven't I'm just gonna give my best guess to their personality or what I think they like and everything. I will make them two palettes, one based on their appearance and one based on what I think their personality is. If you'd rather not see this just block the tag "character palette and personality guess" I figure no one's tagging anything like that so it should be easy to filter out. If you genuinely like this character and I lowkey diss them I'm sorry, I'm not going to apologize though, you're going to have to live with it. If you wanna send me a character for a palette and my guess at their personality/interests just drop it on anon and I'll see what I can do.

Alright so this is Victor from the game/anime Mr Love: Queen's Choice. I have never played this game or seen the anime, I don't plan on playing or watching it, I've played games like this and they're not really my thing but let's get into it!

The style isn't bad, he's good looking I guess. I don't like his hands because they are fucking huge compared to his body, he's got yaoi hands and I don't fuck with it. And he's got incredibly long legs, I just noticed, big ass shoulders. He's the kind of guy in an anime or drama that gets the girl but you really don't want him to. He's the boring dude, you know? The guy that's got this bland personality and the main character is like "He's such a good guy and he's really funny, he makes me laugh." Shut up. No he doesn't. I've seen a million of these characters. He's almost always incredibly possessive and gets jealous if another person even breathes in the main character's direction. And he's not funny, they're never fucking funny. You just like him cause he's tall! He's not funny. I have never met one person over six foot who has made me laugh. Not one. He's every businessman ever. He looks like a CEO who has like minimal knowledge of the company. He's that guy who can seal any deal because he is kind of attractive. He's the guy who swirls the glass of wine at a party and gives a short little laugh like "Hahaha, business!" and then everyone else does that rich person laugh. He is a handsome rich business man with the personality of a store window mannequin. The kind of guy you meet who tries to convince you to destroy the world with him and in the end of the story you find out he was a robot the whole time. And you're like, "no, he can't be a robot. What about those times we had together." But then you realize everything you did together was never romantic and they were just really weird outings. Like, every restaurant you'd go to he'd never eat. And you just thought he was watching his weight or something. And like, every time you went to kiss or whatever he'd pull away and you're like "Oh, okay, maybe he's asexual or something and he's just not into kissing." But then you notice he like, sleeps standing up in the corner and you swore one time you saw him drinking oil but were like "it couldn't have been oil, it's probably just Coca Cola or something and I just have bad vision. But then he rips off his human mask and he's a robot underneath and all those things your mind just thought were something else were just him being a robot.

Anyway here's his palette based on his character design.

And here is his palette based on what I think his personality is.

[joshbruh10x]

Drawing the animatronics as humans in my style bc I can (1/3)

This will be a 3 part blog bc I'm tired and could only do the 3 here, I'll do Chica and Roxy next then sun and moon (and maybe DJMM)

This took longer than I expected??

Ok so first was Freddy, I wanted to give him a very D A D vibe bc he's Freddy. Also some people make him ginger so I made mine somewhat a brunette. Also fairly deep skin tone and the clothes he wears are basically what I normally draw Freddy with. Also yes in this human au the Fremonnie polycule are married and you can't tell me otherwise. Also he likes coffee cuz he's not a morning person.

Next is Monty, ok you wouldn't believe me if I said this took 5 hours, why???? I actually don't know myself. I gave him a gator tattoo referencing actual Monty from the FNAF universe. Also I was supposed to draw him like buffed up but this is as buff as I can get him. I can't draw muscles even if my life depended on it. And I added the dude some facial hair like Freddy, they look epic with it. He still has his gray tanktop tho :)

Lastly Bonnie aka surprisingly took long to draw, thought it was gonna be easy but apparently not since I argued with myself deciding to give him purple or blonde hair. He is also the only one without facial hair because I don't think my Bonnie suits having facial hair? I mean he would look cool but idk I didn't feel like it would fit. Though he still has the ability to epicly spin a bowling ball on one finger, don't ask how.

Thank you for epicly reading my random post, ok now have a nice day/night see ya

This is a threat and a compliment at the same time now take it

[measuringbliss]

Glee Rewatch 1x05, okay, maybe Will sucks (and everybody's obsessed with balls)

This episode is about balls.

(Are you confused? Here's an explanation!)

First, can I just say that Chris Colfer is a great actor? His role is very short but the scene where he's hangover and barfs on Emma... He's great. What's more, he's wearing a... well, a straight suit. You know. Doesn't suit him. And unsurprisingly, he wears it when he has a hangover aka when he's not himself.

Don't Stop Believin', *again*? I guess they mostly needed the song for its 10 seconds scene so why do something new if it wasn't the focus?

As usual Terri and Will are defined by their clothes, here it's about the color contrast.

Now can we talk about this dude and his badges? He has *a lot* of badges. Does anyone even wear that many? Chris, what's going on here? And why does it still work? I like it! I don't understand it, but I like it! The tie is hideous but it fits with everything else. This is such a strange one-off thing. (Note from a month later: I'm still utterly fascinated by this outfit, it needs its own post!)

Always covered in layers. Layers are comfy. Dude needs to be comforted. And naturally, Rachel's top is full of pink hearts. Definitely different from Slaychel who replaces her in S5.

And when Rachel's not wearing hearts, she wears stars. Of course she does.

I don't like April Rhodes. And I understand that Will recruiting her is a way to satire irresponsible teachers, but I really don't like April, except maybe vaguely in her later appearances. With that said, she fits in the early themes of the show (the lost opportunities of your youth).

People about Child Star (S6): "so now a child is part of the Glee Club? He doesn't even study at McKinley!" They conveniently forget that April was a full-on adult and temporarily participated as well. She was registered as a student, though...

This shot is here to tell you this specific, inconsequential guy has a lot of balls, instead of just two. I'm sure this is plot-relevant. Admit it, y'all live for my deep analysis.

Similarly, the bowling balls in the background as well as the ball-shaped pizza and paper cups clearly indicate Rachel and Finn are preoccupied with sex. Rachel hesitating to put her fingers in the bowling ball earlier is indicative of her hesitation concerning sex (I think she hasn't done anything yet at this point, right?) and Finn's encouragement is his subconscious manifesting itself. They're horny for each other.

For their last performance of the episode, the New Directions are dressed in blue, which has been the color scheme of Vocal Adrenaline until now. Does this mean they reached VA's level? Or maybe it is that Rachel's back, and blue is also the color of her relationship with Finn.

[nevenabadr]

Sebastian Stan X Reader, Leather Love, Prologue

This is a prologue to Leather Love!

Note: English is not my first language.

Inspiration: this is inspired by:

· Bliss, a novel about a magical baker.

· A Dash of Magic, a novel about a magical family of bakers

Word count: 2003

Warnings: Romance, fluff, sweet words, and few explicit words

Enjoy reading and please comment with your feedback. 🖤

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You and Sebastian met at the Met Ball, an annual fundraising gala for the benefit of the Metropolitan, and you were their choice for creating the patisserie masterpieces for the evening.

As for Sebastian, the gala was enjoyable till the moment he was running away from the press.

Also, you were running away from the pressure of catering for your foremost important event of the season.

At the calmest corner of the hotel. You sat calming yourself down speaking to yourself, "I am seven stars rated Baker. One of the best around the world."

Little did you know that someone was taking a few steps and heading to that same calming place.

You were so close when you noticed that man lighting a cigarette "want one?"

He smiled at you.

"You know, that could kill you." You frowned.

"Better than anxiety" he scrunched his nose.

Smocking was something you tried once or twice for fun but never thought of as a tool for calming your nerves.

"I am Y/N by the way."

"Sebastian" he extended a hand to shake yours

You did not rush to tell him you know him and his works. You are a fan, but you still respect that he is already anxious.

"Can I ask, what are you so anxious about?" You calmly asked.

"Too many cameras, I am used to them, but I needed a moment for myself too."

You smirked "A fellow introvert, are not you?"

"Maybe," he giggled and kept smocking, "I did not get your name?"

"Your/F&L/Name, please to meet you, Sebastian." You smiled softly and noticed stars in his eyes.

"Are not you the owner of Bliss, the antique-styled bakery café in New York?" His voice was jammed with excitement.

It surprised you to be personally recognised by a star. It is always the brand that gets the enthusiasm, not you.

"Yes, in the flesh," you shrugged.

He was excited as a child just found his favourite lost toy "I love your patisserie. I even treat myself from Bliss each Sunday."

You were excited that he likes what you serve. "Have you tried our coffee?"

He hesitated "I am a Starbucks guy, sorry."

You laugh "even I, a Starbucks girl, just don't tell my workers." You winked.

"Well, look, I should prepare my surprise for the evening."

The cigarette was almost finished, and the conversation was not over, so as you started walking away, he called you back "Y/A, can I ask you for a favour."

You turned, "anything, Sebastian,"

"Can I take a VIP tour? That special thing, for me, please." He asked with puppy eyes.

He seems to be still nervous about going into the crowd. He is in the sport because of his new PR company. Adding, his ex-girlfriend fame and breakup impact was hard, especially the buzz all over Tumblr. He could not be around the media at that moment.

"Alright, come along, but no cameras or sharing my secrets." You seriously ordered

Indeed, that VIP tour was in a crowded kitchen. Everyone is busy creating a piece of heaven.

"There you are," a young man ran to you. His face draws worrying emotions and anger.

"Frank, what's wrong?"

"It is 30 minutes to delivery."

Frank started walking by your side, describing something that was going wrong and you pointed "we have time"

It surprised Sebastian that Frank did not even notice him. There in the kitchen, you were the star to be followed and the boss to be obeyed.

"Sebastian, I need you to put on gloves and follow my lead"

It surprised him to take orders now

"Frank, you go being the rest of the cupcakes, I am preparing the icing myself."

As Frank left, you give Sebastian an explanation "my staff got something wrong, I have 30 minutes to icing 500 cupcakes."

"This is better than expected. I would love to help." His soothing voice calmed down your anxiety.

He took off his jacket. He looked stunning in everything, as you thought to yourself.

He was laughing and motivating everyone around him "coming people there is a Gala to conquer."

You were icing the side of the cupcake by side, forgetting how exhausting it was to do all of this work in a short time, yet the joy on his face made this worthwhile.

"I don't remember having this much fun in my life," he was icing a chocolate cupcake

"Are you sure this is your first time?" You said playfully

"I don't even know how to cook," he shrugged, "maybe, you can teach me."

The icing went well, but both of you stayed talking and he ignored the time

"Oh, look at the time, I have a to attend that dinner."

He was fixing his clothes and hair, running too fast out of the kitchen. "Thank you Y/A."

You wish for him to stay longer, as he made this chore easier for you, at least mentally.

As he was rushing out "can I book you for a private lesson? A date maybe?"

"I thought you would never ask." Giving him your private card and going back to your staff.

The next morning, he woke up thinking of how alive he felt around Y/A. He juggled her card between his fingers, thinking whether or not to call her. He settled on calling her after mid-day or at lunch.

He took a shower and got prepared for his morning run. It is never too late for one.

He took his usual route of running passing by the Bliss, something made him stop and look for her. Maybe you were tired from all her work, but it is Sunday and he deserves his weekly treat.

Behind the counter there you were, beautiful as he remembers her from the night before.

"May, I have a cupcake please,"

You were busy talking and giving instructions to one of her staff members, yet a familiar voice turned her head "Why not trying the Bakery choice of the day?"

"If the baker herself agrees, then I am sold." He flirted.

"On the house, sir,"

You served him English cake with coffee at his table.

He stood up when you approached "oh God! You brought it yourself!" he tried to give her a hand and serve himself at the table.

"Anything for my favourite guest." You smiled as did not sit.

He was puzzled and clueless "Y/A, wait."

"Anything else?" You smirked at him.

"Will you go out with me tonight, please?" He used the charm of his puppy eyes again.

"I would love to." You glowed.

Later that day, he texted

Sebastian: You did not take my number! 🧁

Y/A: Sebastian, hey, thank you! 🙏🏻

Sebastian: tonight, when and where?

Y/A: Sushi, maybe???

Sebastian: I was thinking of an Italian fancy restaurant, gotta impress the girl. 🤷🏻‍♂️

Y/A: Not this one lolz. Just anything you like. Surprise me.

Sebastian: Fancy, it will be!

Y/A: next time, I am choosing.

Sebastian: there will be next time, huh? 😉

Y/A: haha, I've got to go. Sunday means work.

Sebastian: see ya tonight.

At your house, you are confused about what to wear.

"It is a fancy date with a handsome man that happens to be a star" you were worried, every ex you had was not even close to Sebastian's sweetness. You know that there is always a catch. This time, it might be you and your busy schedule.

You texted him your address. He arrived before his time with ten minutes holding flowers at your door.

He was dressed in a slim fit navy suit without a tie.

"You look beautiful," he complimented your little black dress and heels.

The dinner went well. Both if shared stories from your past, trying to make a career, and how hard the world is becoming.

"Baking is great but applying for investment is hellish," you discussed the situation with coming at the top.

"Your food should be decorated with prizes. I believe you won many."

He teased, as he knew that you were part of a reality show for bakers.

"It was a phase, now this is the real world." You exhaled gloomily.

Your phone ringing cut off your conversation. You excused him for taking this call.

You left the table, yet, arriving with a miserable 10 minutes later.

"Is everything okay?" He nervously asked.

You looked down at your food "I am sorry, Sebastian, I have to go"

You were anxious and irritated

"What's wrong?" He tried to soothe you.

"My angel investor is having a party. He needs me to prepare the cakes and cookies by myself." You were about to cry.

"Okay, you are pressures." He smirked playfully, trying to change your mood.

"He needs them tomorrow by noon." You asserted upon the last word.

"See, I was going to ask you to teach me, so why not today,"

He called for the check.

Sebastian drove you back to your bakery. It was almost empty by that time. Just two workers and you took Sebastian to the kitchen.

You prepared the ingredients on the counters. Sebastian asked if he can help with getting the blenders and mixing bowls. You pointed at a higher shelf opposite to you.

"Thank you, Sebastian," you were about to leave his car.

"Not yet, doll, we have cookies to prepare," he said as the cute dork he is.

You were guiding him to which thing is to add to the blender first and he was a curious student.

"Exactly, why are you hand blending that?" Pointing at the chocolate mixture in front of you.

"Because we make these with a dash of magic and bliss," you spook magically and seriously.

He paused for a moment "and I am not magic"

You raised an eyebrow, "you are my apprentice, yet, hand blend the cookies."

You came by his side, your chest at his back, and guided his arm to hand to blend the cookies.

He was blazing with fire and excitement. Ultimately, he felt at peace.

“An excellent exercise to those guns.” He teased you.

"Not as a baker's," you guided his free hand to something, "now take a pinch of magic... chocolate chips and add them."

Both of you rounded up and finished everything was in the oven. You sat on the floor drinking wine and chatting further, till the alarm of the oven called it done.

"My cookies" Sebastian pulled them out of the over, "taste what the master baked."

"Apprentice," you asserted as you pulled your cakes out of the other oven.

You let everything rest. It was almost the morning.

"They will come I pick them at 9 am, no time for home." You yawned

"Can I drive you?" He yawned too, and his eyes were sleepy.

"Cookie, you looked exhausted." It was the first time to call him so, he was surprised and delighted.

"I have a coach in my office."

Both of you laid tired and exhausted from the long day. Spontaneously he put a kiss on your forehead, you whispered at his lips "I have a better one" you took his lips on your own and shared the sweetest romantic first kiss.

"Sweet dreams, apprentice Cookie." You laid to sleep in his arms.

"Sweet dreams Y/A." He smiled against your lips and laid a kiss goodnight on them.

Yet, Sebastian had to make the last thing before he sleeps.

Guys, I made cookies

That was his message to the group chat with his best friends.

Chris: cookies, is that's a new term for sex?

Anthony: WTH @Cheis. If Sebastian mentions cookies, then he really made cookies.

Sebastian: I baked cookies

Christ: good for you, pal.

Anthony: you are waking me up at 6 in the morning for cookies.

Sebastian: and a kiss.

Anthony: my man, you should have gone for the pussy 💪🏻

Chris: language!

Sebastian: Good night oldie issues and smarty pants. 🤣🤣🤣

Sebastian looked at your peaceful face, laid another kiss on your forehead, then departed into a deep sleep.

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Tag list:

@shafverani

@imsebastiansta-n

@brokenwitty

@221bshrlocked (awaiting your feedback)

@sinner-as-saint

@zemosimp05

@buckys-fairy

[hawksugarbaby]

Fatgum x reader- Atlas

Fluff + Greek mythology AU.

You were nothing more than a simple human, roaming the built up world to find something new and interesting, something no one could see but you, a secret for you and the universe to hold together. You needed to find something special is what you thought, taking a break at the atlas mountains in the scorching Morroccon sun. sweat bead down your forehead and your skin was hot to the touch but the adventure and experience, the trials to find something undiscovered was worth the peeling skin on your shoulders being soothed by aloe over and over.

Your persistence to find the unknown secret may have started genuinely, you wanted to find what the universe wanted you too, but eventually it gave you a reason to travel the world. You've travelled to 28 countries in 4 years, beginning at 18 and now you're 22, you skipped uni and college, you made money from ad revenue on youtube since your vlogs became popular, and you were incredible when it came to saving money.

Of course, you were still searching, but now you felt like you had even bigger reasons. Exploring the world, drinking in fountains of culture and knowledge, that was perfection enough. But the secret was missing.

You stood up rolling your neck and started your walk up rocky paths of mud and stone to the sandy houses forming a village and your senses lead you to a vendor, golden couscous with colourful, roasted vegetables mixed through smelled amazing and glasses of fresh mint tea lined up for you to drink while eating couscous at the vendors stall. You requested a glass of the tea, sat down, and drank it too quickly, burning your tongue from the hot water. You sucked in sharply and hummed in pain. "Thank you!" you said paying for the drink and continuing to the mountains past the beige buildings with terracotta tile roofs.

You felt like if you walked between the fingers of the mountain grabbing the earth with their hands you would find something unknown. You walked around the spurs peering into the joining point of each interlocked section but none tugged you in, pulled you towards them with mystery.

Apart from one. The sun was on the opposite side so technically there should have been no light, but it seemed perfectly visible to you? Was it a trick of the light? Possibly an illusion? Either way your heart longed to investigate and so you did. You trudged forward kicking a stone out your way and looked at the joining line. "You have to be something right?" you muttered and put your hand between the drack. You drew a triangle, mimicking the shape the spurs made and as quickly as you could blink, the mountain began to shake, not violently, but it trembled like being coerced into sharing it's deepest secrets.

"Okay... mountains don't usually do that" you say with wide eye's as the seam rips apart and balls of moss and rock tumble into a pile on the floor. Was it a doorway for you? Who knew, you didn;t care, whatever it was you were finding out one way or another.

You stepped into the cavern, dripping stalagmites made your head turn in the direction of every 'plop' into the puddle and your hands brushed against the side of the wall for stability and a sense of surrounding. "These feel like bricks?" you whisper in a questioning tone as your eye's begin to adjust to the dark and you found that you were going aimlessly through a long, triangular corridor. The bricks were a muted clay colour with green moss and algae blanketing them, the grout in the walls was black and viridian unidentifiable as something anyone had ever known of.

The terracotta sparsely began to cut into black white and grey granite eventually forming a whole wall as if the bricks had never been there to begin with. The marble was just as unkempt and ruined as the bricks but the walls got wider, further and further away from each other until they opened into a wide, white cavern, glowing and inhumanely clean. In the middle was a statue of a hulking man, holding the sky. He wore no shirt and had a pair of orange shorts on and black sandals, sandals that looked real and hyper-realistic looking shorts that flowed with the draft and skin you could see the detail of every pore in. hold on... fabric made of marble should not flow in the wind and should not be such an even orange no matter how much paint.

You slowly looked up, the chest rising and falling with a huffing breath it had to take, the hands trembled and the lips quivered. The hairs on his leg and arm stuck up with the chill of the wind and his elbows dropped slightly making the sky move. Finally, you dared look at the eye's of the giant, who was looking back at you confused as a bee trying to escape through a shut window. Mustard yellow eye's with sunken bag's looked right back at you and you backed up letting out a girlish scream.

"Hey hey wait!!" he shouted, wishing he could reach out and shake your hand or reach after you to emphasise that he wanted you to stay. "Please! Please don't go. I don't have anyone to talk to, I promise I won't hurt you!" he begged, glancing at your figure backing up and starfishing against a wall like it would absorb you and push you out the other side. "Y-you you're talking! And moving! But you, you're a statue?" you shook your hands in front of you and he laughed lightly. "I'm not a statue, I'm a titan. I'm just a big God to be honest, big God doing his job" he nodded his head at his rhyming ability and you slid down the wall grazing your burnt back. "Don't do that you'll hurt yourself" he said.

You took a deep breath to calm yourself then blew out, another deep breath and blew out, another deep breath then blew out. "Okay. so... what you're like atlas or something? He was... he was a titan right and he just held up the universe forever and that looks like something important like the universe" you pointed at the sphere on his back constantly shifting and changing colours and he made a whiney voice at the back of his throat. "Sorta? I'm Taishiro, nice to meet you" he greeted with a nod and you nodded back glancing again at the exit.

Could you trust him?

One look from him and it wasn't hard to tell he was overjoyed to finally talk to someone so you stood in front of him with your hands on your hips so he could see you while he was looking down. "Should I know who taishiro is, not to sound rude but everyone's heard of atlas, who is taishiro?" you asked biting a nail and the titan nodded understandably, fair enough, you would ask valid questions.

"so like, zeus wanted to do something cool and like "oh look i'm redeemable" se he basically said hey all the titans weren't so bad and just did what dad told them to so they all got freed or whatever but someone still has to hold the sky so they gave me the job" he said in one breath which was impressive to you but he wasn't finished. "which is okay, I don't mind it here but it's boring and lonely and my arms have cramp and God I miss food. And like they just made me a titan, they just chose me off the street after work and were like yo we need a new titan and I thought, hey y'know what i'm a hero, i'd be doing good for the world but i'm bored and hungry" he finished his ramble and you giggled.

You opened a packet of pistachios and a muffin and looked at him. "Can I climb you?" you asked gripping the pistachios in your teeth and pulling the muffin in a travel cup that clipped to your belt. "Sure! Not like you're very heavy to me" he joked and you laughed quietly grabbing the threads of his sandals and pulling yourself up like a climbing wall. "Oh you're so small. It tickles" he laughed. Resisting the urge to twitch and jerk you off his leg. You climbed quickly like the ropes in gym class then when you got to the shorts you pulled yourself up until you rested on his knee, flat as a table.

"Uhh, I think this should be good" you nod and balance cautiously to sit down pulling out the muffin and tapping his knee. "Hey open your mouth" you ask and he does so without question. You throw the muffin like a shot put and he grins, savouring the sweet, chocolatey taste "sorry their human sized" you sigh and shuck the pistachios for yourself, chewing on the green nuts with hundreds of questions buzzing in your head.

"So you were a hero?" you question flicking the pistachio shell into the bowl below you where taishiro's feet stood rooted to the ground. "Mhm. BMI hero: fat gum. I was like 46th, the world thinks I retired, that's what I told them but to me i'm still being a hero" he explained and you hummed agreeingly. "It's pretty hero like to give up everything to hold the weight of the world" you smile up at him and he blushes lightly. "Aw, you sound like one of my old interns. I miss it sometimes though, and I miss talking to people so much, it gets lonely here" a breeze flew past you and he shivered, but didn't lose an ounce of balance on the sphere, it was firmly rooted above him, it could have been suspended for all you knew. "Yeah, I bet, especially since being a hero is a pretty team focused job right?"

He smiled sadly and looked up at the tiny exit. He couldn't fit through doors like that anymore, he was the height of the eiffel tower and with one step he'd crack open the crust of the earth. "Yeah. you sound like you know what your talking about" you smiled tucking your hair behind your ear and shrugged "I do. I went to shiketsu to be a hero but when I left I was like... nah, that ain't my purpose. I wanted to like, find a secret the universe had that no one else knew about so i've been travelling for 4 years and I guess you were the secret right?" you thearised and he agreed happily. "It's cool knowing the universe wanted you to find me!" "heck yeah it is!"

You stayed with taishiro for a few days before having to leave and you had never felt so sad before. It was finally over, you didn't have a reason to travel anymore, you found the secret and had solidified a friendship with him but now you were leaving? Despite the snacks and drinks and stories shared about what you'd seen. You felt guilty leaving him again but he looked overjoyed. "I'll visit soon okay!" you shouted and he nodded "I'll see ya around. Say hey to little red riot for me, and suneater!" he instructed and you saluted exiting the cavern back into the dank corridor.

You kept your eyes trained on the ground until you left the mountain. A shimmering rainbow was directly in front of you and you swiped your hand through it like a cloud of smoke you tried re-directing.

The rainbow fizzled and formed into a human with long white hair and pasty skin, a long sundress with rainbow accents and black eye's. "Hi, (y/n) (y/ln) am I right? Oh I know i'm right don't worry, i'm iris Goddess of the rainbow and a messenger for the Gods of sorts. See I'm here to offer you a fast pass from wherever you are to right here in Morocco, next to our dear friend Tai whenever you please" she said with a smile, arm around your shoulder and walking away from the entrance like a car salesman.

You crossed your arms and raised an eyebrow interested but cautious. "What will it cost me?" you ask bluntly and she laughed, slapping your back lightly. "Your hilarious kid. No it costs you nothing more than a prayer or 2 to me and my dear friend Hermes, see he's the God of travel, he's my partner in this see, and what we'll do is just zip you over here faster than you can think!" she exclaimed. You nodded and thought. A free service from 2 Gods? Were they typically that kind? No not really so...

"Oh I see. Zeus wants a fuck doesn't he" you jeered and the sky's went pale grey, like the colour your skin would go if you;d seen a ghost. Iris choked and looked up. "Um... the God of the sky does take an interest in you, yes." you rolled your eyes and stuck your tongue out at the sky. "Keep it in your pants buddy! I want the fast pass for free or I tell yo wife!!" you bargained, though it was hardly a haggle as the king God, terrified of his wifes wrath, told irish to just give you it for free.

"Thank you! I'll be sure to think of you when I see rainbows from now on, maybe we can have a chat! Oh oh or come see me and Tai some time, he says he gets lonely, you should visit him!" you grinned with a wave and said your address, being transported immediately like cargo from morocco to your home.

You crashed into your bed and huffed grabbing your limbs to make sure you were completely there. "DOES THIS WORK WITH OTHER COUNTRIES!" you shouted to no one in particular, your voice cracking while you spoke and then collapsed into bed, falling into a deep slumber.

A/n: Not gonna lie I really dont like thos chapter. It feels rushed and boring, I think I'll revisit it at somepoint. If you have any feedback feel free to comment!

[managedmischiefs]

north//chapter twenty

genre: fluff, angst

warnings: mentions of canonical violence and deaths, lmk if I missed anything

word count: 4k

summary: Spencer is getting reacquainted with life outside of prison, and he gets a not-so-great phone call.

pairing: season twelve spencer reid x oc

please remember to comment, like, and reblog!!

AMELIA

Spencer and I managed to sleep through the entire day and the majority of the night. After all, the previous day was probably one of the most eventful of my entire life and it left me absolutely exhausted. I can't quite speak for Spencer because I'm sure he's had much longer days than yesterday, especially when he has been away for cases, but it was still stressful and way too long for both of us.

I wake up before Spencer as the sun starts to rise the next day, the sunlight pouring in through the opened window on the other side of the room. Before I even consider getting out of bed or looking at my phone, I look to my side to check on Spencer. He's sleeping soundly, his cheek pressed against his pillow and his hand on my side of the bed, no longer wrapped around mine. He looks absolutely angelic at this moment, his mouth hanging open and his body completely relaxed.

I promised Spencer that I'd be here for him and that I wouldn't leave the bed without him. I've never broken a promise to him before and I don't plan on starting now. So, moving as little as possible so I don't disturb him, I sit up against the headboard, reaching into my bedside table for my journal. I pop open the top and start furiously scribbling down everything I can remember from the last two or so days and how I feel about it, how excited I am to have Spencer home again, and how terrified I am to have Spencer home again.

I barely even notice it when Spencer starts squirming beside me, and my attention is only taken away from my journal when his hand grabs onto my thigh. I smile down at his suddenly tiny figure, finding that he's already looking up at me with a tired gaze.

"Good morning, love," I chirp, tossing my journal onto the floor and sinking back under the duvet in an attempt to absorb some of his radiating body heat. Since he already touched me and he's seemingly feeling okay in the morning sun, I let my hand stray and trail through his flat curls. "Did you sleep well? You didn't wake me up."

Spencer sucks his lips between his teeth, shrugging softly. "I woke up a few times. I just--" he wiggles his hips as he tries to come up with an excuse, "I didn't need to wake you up. I didn't need to bother you. Having you here was enough."

I bring my hand to the back of Spencer's neck, huffing with some slight annoyance, "You're not a bother. You never have and you never will be," Spencer just shrugs dismissively in response, and reaches his hands up to rub his eyes. Spencer has never been good at these kinds of conversations and I imagine he's far too tired to entertain a lecture about how important he is. So I make a mental note to bring this topic back up as I sit up and stretch. "Alright, well, do you want some breakfast? I can make us something to eat."

"Yeah, sure," he nods, ducking away from my grasp and quickly sliding out of bed, putting on a pair of shoes I hadn't realized he set up on his side of the bed.

I reach for a pair of sweatpants but when I look up to find Spencer frozen in his spot, staring at the bed, I drop the pants and sit up on my knees. The sheets are rustled and the duvet is in a heap under me, and he's very fixated on this. His arms are glued to his side but his fingers are twitching like he's dying to use them.

"Spence? Everything okay?" I ask gently, and like the other instances where he gets lost in a daydream, he doesn't react to me. "Spencer?" I call again in hopes of getting some sort of response. But his fingers just twitch and he takes a long, frustrated breath. "Talk to me," I don't know if pressing the issue will help, but if I don't at least try to get him to talk, then I'll never figure out what his issue is. "I just wanna help you, but I can't do that if you don't talk to me."

Spencer quickly covers his face with his hands, his breathing becoming labored and heavy, chest heaving. "The bed. It's the bed. It's-- I need-- it's the bed."

It looks like a bed to me. It's a messy bed, sure, but it's just a bed to me. I pause for a second to try to get my brain to match Spencer's. I try to see what he is seeing, but all I see is a bed that we just used for its intended purpose. It just needs to be made, that's all. I can't see into Spencer's brain so I have to resort to asking. "What about the bed?"

"I--" he drops his hands, balling them up into fists again, "The bed is supposed to be made. I need to make the bed. It needs to be made or else they're gonna come and I'll get in trouble. It-- the-- the bed needs to be made."

Oh, this poor baby. My heart aches for him. Not all of him made it out of that prison cell. Part of him is still there. He's not here with me. He didn't really come home.

"Spencer, you're not gonna get in trouble here. It's just me. It's just Lia," My voice shakes as I try to speak, my hands pressed to my cheeks to continuously wipe the tears that start to fall. "I'm never gonna yell at you or hurt you or get mad because you didn't make your bed. Dove, you can make the bed if you want to, but you don't have to. It's okay. I'm not gonna be mad. You won't get in trouble. It's just me."

Spencer stares at me, his eyes wide and his lips parted. His hands aren't twitching anymore but they're still reaching towards the bed. He doesn't say anything, he just stares at me in bewilderment.

I compose myself with a deep breath, wiping my cheeks quickly and climbing off the bed. "Dove, make the bed, please. I want you to do anything that makes you feel better. But if you choose not to, I'm not gonna be mad," I step towards Spencer, holding my hands out in front of me and not expecting him to grab them. "I'm gonna go downstairs and I'm gonna start cooking, and you come down when you're ready, okay?"

I give Spencer one more attempt at a convincing smile before turning and going downstairs. My first stop is to the living room, and I pop the record into the player that Spencer had put on yesterday. If it did something to comfort him yesterday, hopefully it will do the same today. I grab both of our phones and start cooking breakfast.

I mix batter for waffles in a bowl as I check my notifications, sifting through a whole load of texts. My groupchat with my friends has a couple hundred texts, starting off with lots of questions and concerns about Spencer from yesterday, asking if he's okay, if he's home, wondering how happy we are. I have other texts from Wendy and Mike, asking the same types of questions that my friends did. I send some quick responses to all of them and let them know that we're home, we slept for a very long time, and that I'll contact them later with more updates.

Spencer's quiet footsteps approach and I turn to face him, breathing a sigh of relief when I find he's not so worked up anymore. "I hope waffles are okay."

Once I've closed the waffle maker and let it start cooking, I glance over my shoulder to ee what Spencer is doing. He's sitting gingerly at the island, placing his elbows on the granite and eyes darting around the room. Honestly, I don't even know why he sat there. He absolutely hated sitting there and eating yesterday, and it made him have some sort of flashback. Maybe it's because he started off the morning with the prison-bed situation, and now the natural order of events in the day is to be transported right to prison-breakfast.

"Hey, bub, you don't have to sit at the table," I say casually, trying not to bring too much attention to it. "You didn't like that yesterday. But you seemed better when we sat on the floor so we can do that again, or we can go on the couch or the balcony." I don't even have time to see his reaction before the waffle maker beeps, and I have to whip around to pull the waffle out.

I can hear Spencer shuffling behind me, and then I feel his shoulder brushing against my leg as he slides down to the floor beside me. I put the waffle onto the plate and hand it down to him, then open the drawer above his head to grab a fork.

"Thank you," Spencer mumbles, catching my free hand in his and pressing his lips to the back of my hand. It's clearly a thank you for more than just handing him a fork, or making him breakfast, or sleeping with him, or showering with him, or anything of that. It's a thank you for being so patient with him, but I couldn't fathom not being there for him in the way he needs. I want to tell him that he doesn't need to thank me, but in his mind, it is something he needs to do, so I decide to let it happen for a while before I start to refuse his thanks.

The next week functions almost identical to this. Spencer is quiet, keeping to himself and eating his meals on the floor and making the bed perfectly in the morning, cleaning the bedroom floor every night, wearing a tee shirt to bed. I get just a few glimpses of the man he was, but not many.

Emily had called later that day to let Spencer know that the entire BAU was placed on a mandatory six week leave, but also that he had to be evaluated for reinstatement. A whole slew of people have to review Spencer's actions, have to interview him, have to test him to see if he's fit to return to work, and he didn't take this news well. He didn't talk to me for a hours and just curled up on the floor of the bedroom, staring out the window with the drawn-back curtains. I tried, for so long, to get him to talk to me, but he didn't budge and he didn't even look at me. So I just grabbed whatever book was inside his go-bag from the last case he went on and sat beside him, reading aloud in an attempt to bring him back down to earth. And when he did, he went off to shower and then straight to bed.

Spencer's work is his life and there's few things he loves more than his work. I know that he would be lost without the BAU and that he would have absolutely no clue what to do with his life if he couldn't keep working there. So hearing that there's a chance that he may not be reinstated to the BAU is absolutely crushing.

On the other end of the spectrum, the prospect of Spencer not being reinstated isn't all bad to me. In his line of work, there are always going to be enemies. There's always going to be another Cat and another Lindsay. He's always going to have guns pointed at him and bombs blowing up beside him and people wanting to kill him. If he's not reinstated, I get to have him home every morning and night and I won't stare at the wall at lunch with Jenna, wondering if Spencer has just been shot or if he has a knife to his neck. I know that he would absolutely hate not being reinstated, but it would save me so much heartache.

That's an incredibly selfish thought, I know. I'm happy and willing to strip Spencer of one of the things that makes him happiest in his life just so I can sleep at night. But all I've wanted from the moment I met him is for him to be safe and to be happy and if he's not chasing serial killers, I know that he will at least be safe. Happy? I can't help but imagine he wouldn't be.

After a tense week at home, I convince Spencer to let me take him back to his apartment. He insists that he doesn't want for stay there and would rather stay with me, even though I said I would stay at his apartment with him, but I'm happy to let him keep with me. I just want him to be happy.

So I drove him over to his apartment, picked up most of his clothes and whatever else he was needing, and he rounds up an entire duffle bag full of books that I'm sure he would read in just one day. But we collect whatever he could possibly need and shove it in my car, then go straight back to my apartment. I'm starting to get a little stir crazy, being trapped in my apartment, but Spencer doesn't want to go out anywhere yet and the last thing on my mind is forcing him into things he's uncomfortable with.

"So what do you wanna do today?" I unzip the bag full of books and start making a few small piles against the wall, glancing over my shoulder at Spencer. He shrugs gently, too distracted with picking a record to properly respond to my question. Sighing, I return my attention to the books.

The record turns on and this time, I recognize it to be a record full of Christmas music. We've been listening to nothing but Taylor Swift, Frank Sinatra, and Christmas music this past week, and while that's my favorite music and I have no problem with it, it's odd. Spencer never really listened to that music, whether we were together or not. He always managed to convince me to put on some cello concerto that wound up being fifteen minutes long. I thought he would rather listen to that and not Christmas music when it's almost the summer, but I haven't questioned this yet.

"Could we," Spencer starts speaking after a moment, tearing my attention from the books, "maybe watch a movie?"

It's the first time he's suggested anything like that. Honestly, it's one of the first times he's suggested that we do anything. He's just been staying quiet and following me around like a puppy dog, watching me attempt to draw in a sketchbook or watching me cook or watching me do the laundry. He's stuck to my side, even if he hasn't been touching me much. So now that he's suggesting that we do something, I'm not about to pass up this development.

"Yeah, of course. You can choose whatever you want. I'll be over there when I'm done," Spencer nods and turns his back to me, and I pick up my pace in emptying the books from the duffle bag. I don't want to lose this momentum of him, maybe, feeling just a little bit better.

Once I've stacked all the books, I fold up the duffle bag nicely and put it in a place where it won't bother Spencer, and then head into the living room. He's sitting on the couch with a DVD case in his lap, and he holds it out to me when I approach. Always a technophobe, he never goes near the DVD player and lets me do it.

"Polar Express?" I raise my eyebrows, but that's as far as my questioning goes. I pop the DVD out of the case and put it into the player, then grab the remote and press play.

I settle onto the couch with my favorite plaid blanket, draping it over my lap. As the movie starts and the title screen shows, I feel cold. I'm completely covered and under my trusty blanket, but I'm cold. Absolutely freezing. I pull the blanket tighter around me and when my temperature doesn't shift, I quickly realize where the cold is coming from.

Spencer and I are a very physical couple. Despite his aversion to touch, he never seemed to have the problem when it came to me. Especially when we watched movies, we were always touching. Legs, hands, shoulders and heads, laps and heads. There was always a connection, but now there's none. I'm left on my own couch cushion, not sharing Spencer's cushion and continuously pushing closer and closer until we're squished together. A shiver runs down my spine.

We watch the movie in silence for a little while, all the way up until the three main characters are singing a song at the back of the train. And while they're singing, I feel Spencer reaching over, grabbing the edge of the blanket, tugging it closer to him. "You can come closer," he tells me, looking up at me through his lashes, fingers grasping the fuzz of the blanket.

Happy to comply with this request, I scoot closer to him until our legs are touching. I think that's enough for now, but then Spencer slings his arm over my legs and tugs me closer until my knees collapse over his legs and I'm laying my head on his chest. It's a position that I'm so familiar with and I've been dying to be in, but he hasn't been up for lately. My body warms up. The shivers stop.

I completely melt into his embrace, pressing my ear against his chest to listen for the steady beat of his heart as I wrap my arm around his stomach. I let my eyelids flutter closed and relax into him. The movie isn't important anymore, at least not to me.

///

SPENCER

///

Today is a good day, one of the first I've actually had since being home since my prison release. I thought that actually leaving Amelia's apartment would make me nervous, but returning home wasn't as horrible as it seemed like it would be. For once, I'm feeling pretty good. I'm even feeling well enough to watch a movie and cuddle with Amelia on the couch, just like we used to do. She still can't creep up behind me or touch me without showing me her hands first and I still can't eat at a table, but it's an improvement. Albeit a tiny one, but it's there nonetheless.

By the time the movie is coming to an end, Amelia has slid down to rest her head on my lap, her curls sprawled out and her hands pulled up to her chin. She looks ridiculously adorable like this, and even though it's a sight that I've seen many times and I've committed to memory, I wish I could sit and stare at her forever.

But that plan is foiled when my phone starts buzzing on the coffee table. My first instinct is to look down to check that Amelia is still sleeping, and all she does is scrunch up her nose a bit before relaxing. Adorable.

I grab a pillow from beside me and slide it under her head when I slip out from under her. Thankfully, she doesn't notice and she doesn't wake up. Pleased with this, I grab my phone and rush onto the balcony. I don't have time to check who it is before I answer. "Reid."

"Hey, Reid," Rossi's voice comes through the phone. "How's it going?"

"It's-" I ponder my answer for a moment, double-checking that the door is closed as I sink into one of Amelia's adirondack chairs, "um, it's a good day today."

"Good, I'm glad. And I'm glad you've got Amelia to look after you. You've got a good one there. She really cares about you," Rossi says, and his words prompt me to turn and peer into the window at her sleeping form, curled up on the couch and holding the blanket to her chest. "Where-- uh-- where is she right now?"

"She's sleeping right now. I'm on the balcony," Honestly, this is already some of the most talking I've done in the last week and I'm exhausted. I'd rather be talking to Amelia, but Rossi called me for a reason, plus I know that Amelia needs to get some sleep. "Did you need something?"

"Yeah. I'm afraid I may need to bring your day down a bit," Rossi sighs, and my heart drops down to my feet. "I feel horrible calling you now, after everything you went through and while the BAU is on leave, but you need to know the situation."

I furrow my eyebrows, balling my free hand into a fist, digging my nails into my palm to give the pain somewhere to go. "What situation?"

"Damian Kelsey's signature popped up on two bodies in LA."

I didn't think that I would have to face a day where Damian Kelsey's signature reappears. I admit that I have stayed late at work many times just to look at Damian's case file and rememorize the details and try to predict what his next murder would have been all while ignoring the chilling family photos that contain my girlfriend as a horribly abused child.

And this is the worst possible time for this to happen. I can barely go a day without flashing back to prison or almost yelling at my amazing and patient girlfriend. How can I possibly tack on dealing with her serial killer father's signature resurfacing, all while trying to keep it a secret from her? It's nearly impossible. I thought that I could just take these stupid six weeks off to spend time with Amelia and try to rest comfortably, but I guess that's not possible.

"I'm heading to LA as we speak. I'm getting on a plane right now. And while we both know what his signature coming up again could mean, the good thing is that these are male victims and they're not surrogates for Amelia. I know that's what you're worried about. The other good thing is that this is across the country and obviously nowhere near Virginia. So--"

"Spencer?" Amelia's sweet voice comes from the balcony doors, the blanket disregarded on the couch and her hair messy on the top of her head.

"Gotta go," I mumble, hanging up my phone and tossing it aside, not even waiting to say goodbye to my coworker.

Amelia steps onto the balcony, her bare feet silent as she approaches me slowly, rubbing her eyes like a small child. "Everything okay?"

I reach my hands out for her and she smiles, placing her hands in mine and slowly sinking onto my lap, resting her head on my chest, similar to the position we had been in before. Amelia runs a hand over my chest and it takes everything in me not to let out a sound akin to a cat purring.

I just hold her tightly in my arms, probably the tightest I have since I saw her for the first time in the parking lot of my correctional facility. Rossi swears that Damian Kelsey won't come after Amelia but I just hold her tighter, as if that will protect her from the horrors of the world. I have a lot of holding to make up for from when I was gone, and I suppose that time starts now.

TAGLIST

@babybloodstonebones @bxnnywriting @blameitonthenight21 @feralreid @anepiphany @reidscardigan @itsmyblogandillreblogifiwantto @4x24 @whollytaciturn @thegingerfairchild @yasminwashere @shrimpyblog @anamelessfacelessnerd @wonderlandhatter @whxt-to-write @just-call-me-non @imagining-in-the-margins @boldlyvoid @homoose @gubler-me-up @thundergunexpresss @eideticmemory @andiebeaword

[skellebonez]

AKLJFAHKLFAS, I LOVE THE WAY YOU WROTE SU! If you don't mind me making another request with Tang and Su, how about 34 and 51 with more freenoodleshipping?

HEY-O I heard it was your birthday! HAPPY BIRTHDAY! I know you’ve been waiting a long while for this prompt (too long, I have so many...) so I yanked it out of the list and went all out in writing it for you today! I really hope you like it, I tried to work with Su’s new bee form and I have come to the conclusion that bumblebees are the cutest little balls of fuzz with wings.

Truth be told, I forgot they were even here/Can you two save the kissing for later?

"Tang, you're later than usu-whoa," Pigsy startled as the scholar entered Pigsy's Noodles for is usual lunch, deep dark circles under his eyes and hair so messy Pigsy couldn't tell what style it was supposed to be in. "Uh... you ok?"

"Hrmg," was the response he recieved as the man took his usual spot at the bar, barely removing his glasses before face planting into the hard wood with a thunk. The motion made the large bee hanging onto his back jolt, wings buzzing as they craweled further up to his shoulder muttering something softly that Pigsy couldn't exacty hear.

"I think I'll take that as a no," the chef sighed, watching as Su tried to get any kind of response from the clearly exhausted man and was only rewarded with a heavy sigh. "Hold tight."

If it had been any other time in his life Pisgy would be incredibly horrified about a large cat sized bumblebee with pink eyes crawling over his significant other, but at this point in time he was... somewhat used to it. Kind of.. Sure, he was still not entirely used to the whole symbiosis thing and he still startled every so often when they popped up from Tang's back and when Tang suddenly looked at him with entirely pink eyes. But it didn't really scare him like it used to (he would never admit that it used to scare him and that his first time seeing Su one of the first thoughts that he had was that he didn't know whether or not Tang was allergic to bees and instant panic... he still wasn't sure if Tang was allergic to non-demon bees, but he thought that one of them would tell him if he was at this point), and now when he knew Su was around he just reacted as if seeing them were no different than seeing Xiaotian or Xiaojiao. And it kind of was, he supposed.

He hoped that Su was picking up on that, given how adamantly opposed he was not all that long ago. He remembered he was... well, he remembered and was trying not to repeat it.

With the two sitting at the bar he could easily watch them as he prepared a bowl of fresh noodles for Tang, making sure to sneak in a few extra pieces of his favorite ingredients. It was clear the man was exhausted, but even so he did not ignore Su when they started to nuzzle against his face. He watched as Tang lifted a hand without turning his head and gently pat Su's head, rubbing a finger in the soft fuzz between their wings and chuckling softly as Su emmited a tiny purr in response (and if the size didn't give away that Su wasn't just a bee that demon purr certainly did). It really made them seem more like a weird cat than anything else.

Pigsy couldn't help but smile, putting the fresh bowl down to let it cool as he moved to prepare some coffee. It wasn't anything special, he was too impatient to wait for anything more than instant when he absolutely needed caffeine and he always prefered tea anyway, but it looked like Tang needed a bigger energy boost to at least get himself home and he wasn't picky as long as the coffee had enough cream in it himself.

In time he heard a groan and the shuffle of Tang sitting up, buzzing of bee wings signaling that Su had moved to sit on their usual shoulder perch. That was as good an indication as any that Pigsy needed before bringing the still warm soup and just hot enough to be gulped coffee and place them on the counter in front of Tang.

"Coffee first, talk after," Pigsy said as Tang opened his mouth to say something, not missing the soft smile he shot his way before sipping the drink as Pigsy turned to grab something else.

"Oh caffeine how I appreciate you," Tang mumbed out as he took another gulp of the coffee, seeming to care less about the taste than anything else. "Almost as much as Pigsy and Su."

"Oh, it's second place only to the two of us, huh?" Pigsy chuckled as he turned back around with a small saucer of... something that he placed on the counter, clear liquid with yellow something floating around in it.

"Ooooh, oh, what is that?" Su asked, wings buzzing in curiosity. "It smells good!"

"It better smell good, it's for you," Pigsy said with a shrug, taking in the surprised expression on Tang's face and the way Su's head turned in curiosity. "It's uh... sugar water. With some pollen from the flowers outside. Supposed to be like... a treat for bees I guess? Wasn't entirely sure if the pollen was necessary but... uh, it's not something you should have all the time, kinda like coffee." He added the last bit with a smirk toward Tang who let out a laugh.

Su buzzed excitedly, slowly crawling off Tang and making their way to the saucer between the two men to give it a tentative taste before eagerly helping themselves to the treat. Again, Pigsy couldn't help but make the comparison to a cat in his mind.

"So," he said casually, leaning against the counter as Tang moved on from his coffee to take a bite of noodles. "Rough day?"

"Aaaaaaaaaagh yes," Tang groaned, putting his bowl down in an attempt to fix his hair. "I uh..."

"You didn't actualy go to bed last night did you?" Pigsy accused with no anger in is voice.

"I did! For... an hour..." Tang admitted, hiding his face behind his bowl to sip the broth. "I had work to finish and I was already behind and just... snuck out of bed to finish it and before I knew it you had gotten up?"

"I thought you got up to get a head start," Pigsy sighed, reaching out to fix a lock of hair that Tang had missed. "It can't be good to pull all nighters like that."

"It's not," Tang admitted with a scowl. "I feel like death. Apparently I also look like death because I was actually ordered to go home since I had managed to finish everything I needed to and what I was started on was beginning to sound like... gibberish."

"Yikes, that's bad," Pigsy frowned, remembering how Tang had asked him to proofread his work in the past and you could actually tell where he was starting to get tired as his sentences went from scholarly to 'was this person drunk when they wrote this' very obviously. "Can you make it home ok?"

"As long as Su keeps talking to me I'll be just fine," Tang chuckled, taking another thankful gulp of warm broth with a smile. "And maybe with a little... extra incentive to leave?" He raised a brow, smirking and pushing his bowl to the side as he leaned forward.

"I could just make you pay for those noodles," Pigsy teased, leaning forward himself. "But I think you have something else in mind."

He smiled as they both leaned forward, his snout making contact with Tang's nose before they tilted their heads and moved closer to-

"Hey!" Su yelped shakily from between them where they had tried to flatten themselves into the counter, startling them into pulling back and looking down at the cat sized bee. "Can you two save the kissing for later? Like. For 5 seconds from now. When Su won't be squished." Tang burst into laughter, covering his face with one hand and taking in stuttered breathes as he tried to stop himself. He carefully pushed the saucer of sugar water toward Su as they backed away from them, letting out a happy buzz when they deemed themselves at a non-squishing distance. "Ok, you may kiss now!"

This only served to make Tang laugh harder, laying his head down on his arms as his laughter devolved into just shaky and jumpy intakes of breathe. Oh, yeah. He was super tired if this made him laugh that hard.

"Truth be told, I forgot they were even here," Pigsy muttered, feeling his face heat up in embarassment.

But he couldn't feel upset with himself, not when Tang sat up and breathed heavily in less intense laughter and giggles, cheeks flushed and hair messed up again. Pigsy couldn't resist, he dragged a stool that was hidden behind the counter over with his foot and climbed onto it, leaning over the conter to grab Tang's scarf with one hand and gently drag him forward, giving him a few seconds to realize what he was doing and nod before smirking and pulling him into that kiss. His snout scrunched against Tang's nose and Tang broke the kiss with a giggle before bringing his hands up to cup Pigsy's face and tilt his head so they fit together better, lips finally touching the way they were supposed to and Pigsy rested his hand on Tang's shoulder.

He chose to ignore the other giggles and buzzing coming from the other side of the counter as he pulled away, smiling at Tang. "You get more if you go straight home and get some sleep."

"That is just the incentive I needed."

[katrinawritesthings]

Jonghyun is jealous of Taemin being so friendly to Jongin, Taemin gives Jonghyun kisses and tells him that he is important to him

What is this 2012

got this ask and I was like sure I'll just do a three-sentence fic real quick with speech to text it'll be no big deal. This is 1202 words. did not edit it because I wrote it directly into the reply box with speech to text LMAO here you go

Jonghyun knows that it's irrational. It's always been irrational, this feeling inside of him,unsolicited and unwelcome. Ever since he was little, it's been a mantra that he's had to tell himself over and over. Don't be jealous of your sister. Mom likes you, too. Don't be jealous of your friend's friend. they're your friend, too. Don't be jealous of your partner's friends. They care about you, too.

It's just so hard, to care so much about someone, and to feel so insignificant, so unnecessary to them. The constant back-and-forth between knowing that he has value as a person and feeling that he has no worth at all. The lingering Sensation that no matter how much he means to someone, there will always be someone else that means more. And on top of that, the guilt that comes with instantly assuming that the moment someone he cares about shows affection towards someone else it means they're ready and willing to drop him in a heartbeat.

And on top of that, the annoyance that comes with having all of these feelings suddenly swell up inside of him at the fucking bowling alley of all places. He's having a depressive crisis over his own self worth And in the background he can hear some kid yelling about Pac-Man in the arcade. Fucked up.

Taemin is wrapped around Kai, laughing at the absolute bomb of at Gutterball he just taanked, holding him around the waist as he smiles so big against his cheek that his face is all wrinkles. So big that it makes Jonghyuns heart soar, and then makes his heart crash because it's not directed at him. Because if Taemin has someone else that can make him smile like that, then he doesn't need Jonghyun. Not true, Jonghyun tells himself, not true, not true.

Jonghyun rubs his fingers into his eyes, taking his deep breaths. Not true. Just because Taemin has another person that makes him happy, that doesn't mean that Jonghyun doesn't make him happy also. And it doesn't mean that Taemin likes Kai more than him. And even if Taemin does, it's not because he doesn't like Jonghyun. It's because he's known Kai for way longer, has been best friends with him for his entire life, and has only been dating Jonghyun for A couple of years. Comparing himself to Kai doesn't work like that because they're not even in the same category. Taemin is capable of liking more than one person at a time. Taemin likes them both, just differently. And that's fine.

"Hey. Crybaby." The heavy thump of Taemin sitting down on the bench behind the ball return , pressing against Taemin and slinging his arm around his shoulders. he sits so close that his thigh actually whines up on top of Jonghyuns. "You okay?" He asks.

"I'm not crying yet, "Jonghyun grumbles. Maybe he was close, but still. He's not that much of a mess yet.

"Sure," Taemin hums. His lips press to Jonghyuns cheek, then to his Temple. "Kind of a weird place to be almost crying, "he says. "want to talk about it?" He asks.

Jonghyun presses his forehead against Taemin shoulder, continuing to Grumble. He knows it's a weird place. He didn't ask. "no, "he mumbles. Not really. It's irrational and embarrassing and he was working through it on his own. And the cheek smooch definitely helped a little. And so does the second cheek smooch that Taemin gives him after he says no. "Where did kai go?" He asks, opening his eyes finally and glancing around. He was just here a minute ago, before Jonghyun started getting all emo about him, and now he's not.

"He's getting us refills, "Taemin shrugs. Jonghyun shrugs too. Makes sense. Very nice, also. Taemin Fits his chin on Jonghyuns head, the arm around his shoulders playing with the hair by his ear."I like that guy, "he smiles, nothing but fund adoration for his best friend. Still, for just the slightest second, it makes Jonghyuns breath catch in his throat.

"Do you like me?"he asks, small, tiny, infinitesimal.

"Course, "Taemin replies instantly oh, almost automatically. Like it's obvious, like he didn't have to think for a second. He kisses the top of Jonghyuns head. it's then that he hesitates, just for a moment, and then he Chuckles softly. Jonghyun can't hear it over the noises of the alley, but he can feel it in the restling of his hair. Taemin leans away but only to press their foreheads together. His eyes are closed, but Jonghyun keeps is open to watch the lay his eyebrows disappear behind his bangs. "I thought you didn't want to talk about it, "he says.

And just like that, Jonghyun is grumpy again. Rude. He also didn't want to be called out about it, or be so easy to read that Taemin even could call him out about it. But at the same time, there's something. Nice. Something reassuring. About it. Something comforting in that Taemin doesn't even need to try to understand him because it just comes that naturally. Still,

"fuck you," Jonghyun says.

All Taemin does in reply is laugh. Laugh and kiss Jonghyun, his mouth, his cheeks, the very tip of his nose. "you're really cute, "he smiles. "and I like you and your voice and your face and your butt and your music and your laugh and the way you smile at me in the mornings and say good morning with your sleepy little voice and the way you hold my hand and don't say anything when I'm feeling anxious and the way you talk to dogs and that time I forgot your birthday and had a panic attack and thought you were going to leave me and hate me forever but then you just laughed and said that you forgot it too and your eyes and your little chest mole and the way you say my name and you're actuallycrying now."

The end of that comes out as a laugh, incredulous that not entirely surprised, and before Jonghyun even registers himself that his eyes are overflowing, Taemin is thumbing and kissing away his tears. Jonghyun laughs at himself, exasperated at his own emotions. He really is like a faucet. In his defense, he got himself all worked up and then Taemin just showed up and hit him with a finishing blow that huge. It's not like he could help it.

"Yeah, well,"he says. He Snuffles, swallows, leans away so he can rub his sleeves into his eyes. When he blinks them open again, Taemin is still there, smiling at him, so big his face is all wrinkles. "you really really like me? You promise? Quote he asks. Less for reassurance this time and more because he just wants to hear Taemin say it, a little bit because he thinks it's funny.

"I really really do, I promise, "Taemin says. He runs his fingers through his hair, smirking a little bit."I mean, bros before hoes, obviously, but -"

And then he's laughing again, loud and gorgeous, as he scrambles to save himself from falling off of the bench from the force of Jonghyuns shove. But Jonghyun, at least, has enough confidence, enough reassurance, enough affection in his heart now to appreciate the joke and laugh with him.

[sumeshi-t]

past or present— a haikyuu smau

[oikawa x y/n x atsumu]

a/n: hi !! here we have sum words in between pictures 😔🤘🏻

part 10 > part 11 > part 12A | nav.

you place your phone down on the bedside table, sighing as you watched streaks of sunlight enter through the partially opened blinds.

to be honest, you didn't know what got into your head that made you say those words to atsumu. were you always this impulsive? no, not really. you preferred thinking things through.

perhaps deep inside, you just wanted to find out for yourself what it is that you really feel for the blonde miya, and what he genuinely felt for you too.

it wasn't that you wanted to settle down, or be in a committed relationship anytime soon. it's just that you felt like something was missing in your life even after treating your profession as your spouse. maybe you're just not used to all the flirting anymore. or maybe you were getting old, preferring a more direct approach to trivial matters like this.

trivial... matters? is this really something a person could call trivial? 

the early morning thinking made your stomach grumble, prompting you to get off the bed to have breakfast.

'i'll save my appetite for later,' you thought before randomly pulling a bag of bread, then absentmindedly began eating its contents. as soon as you recognize the fluffy texture and creamy taste, a brunette setter flashed through the recesses of your mind.

you look down, noticing that indeed, you were eating milkbread. you faintly remembered how he–oikawa tooru–had once given you a whole month's supply of the food to help in increasing your height. his reasoning was ridiculous, but nonetheless, your dork of an ex was someone you really couldn't resist. 'is that why i was so helpless when we... when he broke up with me?'

just in time, your phone rang, snapping you back into attention. it was atsumu. 

"hello?" 

"y/n... you weren't kidding when you said you were gonna go here, right?"

that was the first time you heard a hint of hesitation in the usually cool, sure-of-himself, atsumu. the thought made you chuckle. "mhhm, i'll be there a little bit before lunch. what food do you want?"

you hear osamu's voice from a distance saying, "leave that to me,"

"well, you heard him. if you're worried he's gonna stick around later, i'll kick him out."

this makes you gasp, feeling a bit embarrassed of yourself for forgetting to consider his twin, "oh! is he gonna be there later? i... i thought he was gonna go work or... something..." you hiss at the end, slowly regretting your decision.

"yep, he has work don't worry." there was a brief pause and then, as he speaks, you could see it in your head that atsumu was smirking through the receiver; the smirk that seemed to have been embroidered on his handsome face since birth. 

"you seem pretty dead set on getting me alone, y/n. why?"

you blush, cheeks heating up with all the blood that suddenly rushed underneath your skin. "b-because! i-it's... it's kind of like a date, right? why, are you two like a package since you're twins?" you berated yourself for stuttering (he was going to tease you for that later, that's for sure). at the same time, you heard something like a pot lid dropping to the floor.

"is... everything okay back there?"

"yeah, samu's fine,"

"...i'm on speaker, aren't i," 

"yep." atsumu pops the last syllable, then proceeds to not put you on speaker anymore. he took an intake of breath, you assumed he was stretching as he asked, "any movies you'd like to watch?"

you sighed, trying to tone down the feeling of embarrassment from the joke you made about the twins, hoping osamu would put it behind him. instead of dwelling on that, you answer atsumu's query, "just nothing too obnoxious, horror is fine, please no porn, cute animated ones are also good, i'm not really that picky with movies." you listed your terms as you get a glass of juice.

atsumu chuckles, snarky comeback ready, "but you do seem picky with the people you date,"

"that, i won't deny."

"and it's a valuable trait to have, right? besides, i think we're both making a good pick here." 

you hum for an answer, before taking a quick sip, 'damn it, he's too good at this,' you thought, biting your lip at having been unable to come up with a retort.

atsumu notices that you haven't said anything so, with a soft smile that you couldn't see, he says, "well, i'm not gonna hold you up for long. see you later, y/n." 

"osamu just chatted to ask if the food was okay. he's so sweet. i said the food was great. sooo, think you can bring those to training some time?" you say, before shooting a potato chip into your mouth.

you only brought some snacks–basically, junk–for when you two watched movies.

atsumu raises his brow, leaning back comfortably on his side of the sofa. you peep at him when he doesn't respond, then teasingly grins. "atsu, don't tell me: are you jealous i called your brother sweet?" 

his ears became a little pink and he aggressively picks the remote up, "why would i be?" he murmurs under his breath. his reaction made you chuckle, before reaching out for his phone. "Ciri, pick a number between one and 20," 

"nice choice, perfectly fitting." atsumu remarks, after putting "50 first dates" on to play.

"right? because this is like our first–no, second–date. unless of course, you forgot about that already."

"i don't have short term memory loss, atsumu."

"no, keep calling me atsu. you're the only one who calls me that." he winks, before digging his hand into the bag of chips atop your lap. 

the rest of the movie marathon afternoon was spent by laughing over the same jokes together, you getting emotional at any scene that made you feel emotional, with atsumu making sure to give you tissues and a bowl of ice cream to calm you down.

first, the two of you began the marathon sitting on either end of the sofa, and gradually, things began to get a little chaotic when the both of you became comfortable with each other; such as your feet on atsumu's lap, turning into atsumu sprawled on the floor with his arm on your leg, while you were on the couch, lying on your belly.

to be honest, atsumu spent more time watching you than focusing on the movies on the screen. he could watch them anytime he wanted to, but to observe you up close, and just being around you, your presence just for himself–atsumu felt that it was a once in a lifetime thing, and knew he shouldn't take this moment for granted.

there were more times he's caught himself smiling at you, whether it was when you got scared from a jumpscare (wherein you then laughed at him for flinching, and he ends up defending himself that it was your screaming that shocked him); or when you couldn't control the outburst if your loud laugh and snorting.

'i wish time would stop.' atsumu thinks. 'from here on out, what will become of us?'

sure he seems confident on the outside, but the truth is, this pro athlete is not much of a pro when it comes to dating. he's never really been interested in the prospect of romance, probably because he was surrounded by those who squeal in joy at the sight of him, and getting one would have probably come in easy for him. he even remembers calling his female fans as pigs (even though they were kinda cute–but they were ruining his game! well fuck, that doesn't matter now)

but you? oh y/n, he never said he didn't like a challenge.

now... should he be more direct than he already was? he was sure that he wanted you for himself, but... 'does y/n even want me that way? does she want... anything like that with me?' 

it was suddenly quiet, as he immersed himself into his thoughts, losing track of which movie it was you were watching. atsumu took a quick glance at you, only to see that you were fast asleep, head on the edge of the seat. somehow you two ended up switching places, you on the floor and him on the couch. 

all his previous thoughts were gone, your peaceful face giving him... peace.

his gentle fingers nimbly brushed a few strands of your hair out of your face. he inches his face closer, his lips just a few inches from your forehead, before you stirred in your sleep.

atsumu gave you one last look before pulling himself away. he smiles to himself, eyes intent on you.

then, he finally notices your horrible position on the floor, which was sure to give you either a back ache or a stiff neck if he was just going to let you be. atsumu sighs, shaking his head.

an idea pops into the blonde setter's mind, causing him to smirk. quickly, he reaches for his phone that was on the couch, swiped open the camera, before looking for a cute angle of yours and grinned at successfully taking a photo of you sleeping soundly without waking you up.

satisfied with his little victory, atsumu finally bends down, carefully wraps his strong arms around your form, and carries you to his shared bedroom. atsumu lays you down on his messy bed (because, he wasn't being possessive, it's just that there was no way he was going to let you end up on his twin's bed).

he took his brother's neat bed, and just let you sleep, toss and turn, while he would toss a ball while lying down. when he grew tired of doing so, and you had your back turned to him, atsumu just pulled his phone out once more and checked the photo he took.

atsumu gently smiles, "i'm so stupid... there's no need for us to rush, am i right y/n?" he murmurs softly, knowing you wouldn't be able to hear him anyway.

for now, he was just going to take his sweet time.

taglist: @tamcitrus @nerdyphantomlady @haikyuuincorrect @aurorahoneybuns @zoppzoop @takingyouruwus @jesquisser @blushinggray

[jiracheer]

!!! My very first request!!! 🥺 I was so happy to see this in my inbox!! Sorry these are a bit long, but I hope you enjoy nevertheless anon!! 💕💕 pls forgive any grammar mistakes! im p sure i wrote this around 2 AM LMAO

__________________________________________

{ Haikyuu boys taking you out on your first date HCs }

ASAHI AZUMANE

we all know he's rlly nervous about y'alls first date

he probably asks the boys for help about places to go, and how to ask you out!!

Suga, Daichi, Yachi, Kiyoko, Ennoshita, and Yams are super helpful!! They give him a lot of helpful tips, and even help him figure out a way to ask you out in the most perfect way possible!

Tsukki, Noya, Tanaka, Kags, and Hinta were little to no help. Their Ideas were... Good, but they weren't what he was looking for. He appreciates their help in the end 

you both tend to walk home together. It really depends though! Sometimes you're down to wait until practice is over, and sometimes you just wanna go home and do your own thing

so on one of the walks home, he stops you halfway and asks you if you wanted to go roller skating date with him over the weekend

his face is so red

and so is yours because you never would've thought he'd ask you out on a date

he thinks you're about to reject him because you're just standing there in silence

"Y-You don't- We don't have to go-"

"No! Wait! I do wanna go out with you!"

the rest of the walk home is really awkward, but there's a sweet smile on y'alls faces

when the day finally comes, Asahi picks you up from your house and you're 🥺

he's wearing a cute pair of jeans with a wooly sweater over a white button up, and converse

and you're like,,, omg, did i underdress?? i need to look as cute as that??? and you look like you're about to go back inside and change, but he stops you halfway and tells you that you look cute

last minute he pulls out a handful of flowers, and you're about to cry because he's so damn cute, but then he apologizes bc lowkey they're kinda crushed

but its okay

you put them inside and y'all start leaving

y'all chat about whatever and you walk close to him, and you hold onto his arm and lean against him

when it comes to the skating part? y'all are dying.

you both cling to the walls until you finally find the confidence to skate, and you're FERAL. You're zooming around, and Asahi is just watching you with big eyes and a blush

you try your best to pull him off the wall, and skate with you, and he was terrified! man almost peed his pants! but eventually you peel him off and he's SHAKING

this tall beefy man that could snap you in half, is leaning on you and holding onto you for dear life, and you're the only thing between him and the floor

it takes him a hot minute before he's finally able to stand without busting his ass, or shaking, so you take his hand and y'all are just vibing

when the couple song comes on? He's heading towards the exit and you tug him BACK into the rink, and you're like :) "let's skate!!"

he almost passes out

he never would've thought you'd want to skate with him during a couple turn 🥺

he holds your hand real tight, and you interlace your fingers with him. and it's just really nice

Asahi leans against you again but it's not as heavy, it's a good weight that you wanna feel all night long

y'all decide to split a pizza and an icee, and you're just hanging out at your table and you're just sitting close and 🥺🥺🥺

his face is close to yours when you talk, and you're hugging his arm and you just lay your head on his shoulder

im so fuckin soft

eventually, you get really tired and it's time to go home

Asahi takes you home and nervously takes your hand before you go in, and he kisses your knuckles and wishes you goodnight

the second you're inside? you're dying

Asahi is also dying

IWAIZUMI HAJIME

you and Iwa are probably already pretty close, and you both knew how you felt, but neither one of you knew how to approach the situation

bc no cap?

Iwa was lowkey waiting for YOU to say something

while you were waiting for IWA to say something

and the whole team is sick and tired of it. Especially Oikawa

He just wants to see his two favorite people get together!!!

So he urged Iwa to say something after one of their matches

and thats when you both decide to finally make plans for a date, and you both suggested going bowling

and y'all just kinda looked at each other

and laughed really fuckin hard

You both decide to just meet up there since it would be easier for the both of you

he looks rlly cute in his usual attire of just a good pair of jeans, hoodie, and a jacket above it

and you're like. eyein that jacket. you want it by the end of the night

so you two go in, get your shoes, and start heading down to the lanes

on god, you're nervous. you're scared of your fingers getting stuck in the balls

you tell Iwa and he laughs at you, telling you that it won't happen if you're careful

you kinda eye him like uhmmm if you say so????

but you're still careful

y'all decide to name each other

Iwa is a gentleman, so he makes your nickname 'Sunshine :)'

sadly tho, you decide to be a lil shit, and his nickname is 'Oikawa's whore'

he punches your arm and you're in tears from how hard you're laughing

y'all decide to place a bet at the start since you wanted to add some spice to the date

you make a bet that if iwa wins, you're paying for the food, and if you win, he pays for the food

eventually you start playing and he's way ahead of you, and you're hitting his back jealous that he's winning

iwa is laughing in your face and he reaches for another ball. you have a feeling that this is gonna be the ball that makes you lose

you just watch in horror as he lifts the ball

he's preparing to throw it...

and!

he's sent forward, collapsing onto the ground with a double heavy thud

you blink.

and then you LAUGH REALLY FUCKIN HARD

Karma is a bitch! Iwa's fingers got stuck in the ball, and he's just laying there dumbfounded, and you're laughing

you have to help him up eventually, and you're trying so hard not to cry/shout in laughter. He's all red, but you help his fingers out and y'all sit down

you look over his hand and you're making sure his fingers aren't broken or anything

iwa just watches your tiny lil hand in his, and his heart is racing SO FAST

it isn't until you kiss his fingertips and tell him that you're gonna go get ice, that this man explodes

he takes your wrist and pulls you down so he can kiss your nose and he thanks you with a tiny mumble

you lowkey die on the spot and stagger away to get his ice, and when you come back there's a bit more pep in your step

you come back and his fingers seem okay, so you just decide maybe it's a good time to start going back home

the walk back is full of laughter and him eventually throwing an arm around your shoulder

you lean into his side and you hold his hand

when he drops you off the two of you just hang out in your porch

and he eventually leans down to kiss you 🥺 and he whispers good night against your lips

he waves you farewell, and you do too

and you know damn well you wanna go on another date with this man

TENDOU SATORI

on god I struggled to think of a date idea for Tendou

bc I was given SOOOOO MANY GOOD DATE IDEAS FOR THIS FUCKER

Tendou decided to ask you out of the blue if you wanted to go to the zoo with him

you were kinda shocked to see that Tendou wanted to go somewhere with YOU of all people

because no cap, you thought u were pretty Lame, and not cool enough to hang out with him, but. 😳 um. you said yes! let's go to the zoo!!!

but you really didn't know if it was a date or not, because he didn't say it, but in your head its a date

you're a lil nervous about going to the zoo with him because you haven't hung around with him one on one

Leon, Semi, and even Toshi, were always with y'all when you two would hang out

so having alone time with him is KINDAAAA intimidating

but when he pulls up to your house so excited to take you out 🥺 all of your anxieties are GONE!!!!!

he does not HESITATE to take your hand. He holds your tiny lil hand in his much bigger one, and he just chats about whatever comes to mind

when y'all are on the train, he sits across from you just so he can watch you stare out the window and admire you AND the view outside

he chose a pretty good day to take you out. the sun was bright and warm, and you were wearing the cutest dress so he knew today was going to be pretty good

the second you get to the zoo he makes sure to buy tickets to ride the train around the zoo, and even access to the carousel

you're about to WWE bodyslam him to the ground for buying you your ticket!! like motherfucker I have the money!!!!!!

you're so close to beating the shit out of him, but he slips the access bracelet around your wrist and slips his fingers through yours and he's like

🥰🥰🥰🥰!!!

anger? gone.

serotonin? here.

your love for him? massive.

hotel? trivago.

you decide to get a map of the zoo so you two know where you're going, and you end up navigating the both of you around

Tendou is going feral over all the animals, and he tugs on you gently to point at whatever animal is doing something he finds exciting

He even goes as far as to pick you up if you can't see a certain animal because they're positioned somewhere high

when it comes to finally going on the small ass train, y'alls legs are basically twisted with eachother and your hip is pressed against his in such an uncomfortable position

its a tight fit!!! im pretty sure your leg is falling asleep

but you can't help but giggle and laugh when Tendou leans over you to see the animals, cheek pressed against yours since you turned your head to look too

ugh. fucker takes this chance to kiss your cheek and nose it, and when you go all red he laughs at you

when you go see the penguins he holds you really close to his side, and hugs you from behind to keep you warm

but also so he can see the penguins better. the penguin house was lowkey full

you have to hold him back from touching most animals that seemed close enough to be touched

y'all get a pretzel and split that shit, but then you're both screaming when a bird swoops down to steal it right from your hands

just as you're about to get on the carousel, there's a distant rumble of thunder and you both stop like ????? brother what??? the sun was OUT

the zoo announces that they would be closing soon due to the rain, and they urge the members to start heading to their cars or whatever other method of transportation

you just look at Tendou like 👁_____👁 wut da hell we gon do...... now?

Tendou looks back at you like queen don't ask me. i didnt think we'd get this far on god

you both decide to just start leaving so you don't get caught in the rain

but wow, what do you know, it starts raining as you walk to the train station

and you BOOK IT

you're screeching as the rain just hits you at full force, and you're holding onto Tendou's arm for dear life, and he's laughing so hard and just stops

you're like ??? IT'S RAINING???? WE GOTTA BLAST BITCH

but listen. This dude is vibing now. He just had such a good day with you, and the rain feels so nice on his hot skin, and he's never felt so much at once

and you kinda just stop and admire him for a bit. So you stand under the rain with him before it gets to be too much, and you take his hand gently and start walking to the station

y'all just hang under the tin roof the station provides

you're both soaked, but sit close to one another to share heat bc y'all kinda stupid for tryin to act out a hallmark movie scene

but hey

at least y'all had fun, right?

[itad]

Tonight’s the Night!(part8)

TheDirt! TommyXReader

Summary: You have been on tour for almost a year, event after event, mile after mile. Your uncle was Doc the manager of Mötley Crüe, one of you favorite bands. He pulled a few strings and got you on this tour for a late birthday present and for making up the lost time from when you didn’t see him much as a child. As he was one of the only ‘father’ figures you had. Recently found yourself thinking more and more of Tommy. Could you possibly be falling in love with the hopeless romantic? If you were could he possibly feel the same? 

A/N: sorry about the last part.

~ “Come here.”~

word: 1357

You woke up your head pounding, the world spinning all you felt was one your urgent need to throw up and two the body of someone else right next to you. You quickly followed your instinct of getting up and running to the bathroom as soon a possible. You were hungover, great. As soon as you finished throwing up you weakly pulled yourself up and looked for something to get rid of the pounding scrambling through the cabinet you found motrin, popping a few in your mouth you walked back in to the room you were previously is finding a cup of something you downed it. Finally you looked at your appearance, you had make up smeared on your face, your hair was a complete mess and you also had no clothes on, you looked at the body next to you and smiled slightly. He wasn’t the exact in you wanted to wake up next to but he was close. Nikki fucking Sixx was sprawled out across the bed now. Never in your right mind would you have thought that you would wake up with any of them. You lived in a constant fantasy, of crazy rumors and late night booty calls, the press ate you up and so did the groupies and fans that wanted them. Maybe it made you a little famous, but all in all you started out just a fangirl and that made you happy always seeing them day after day even when you were pissed off at something they said/did. They understood that about you and everyonce in a while they let you geek out. But you also knew that they were too, regular people at the end of the day.

You found his shirt that was made into a muscle top and carefully climbed on top of him, you could tell Nikki was half awake because he was no longer snoring, a smirk fell apon his lips as he felt your skin on his. Nikki secretly has a crush on the presence your brought around him. You were tough as nails, but also sweet as sugar.

His hand skimmed up your thighs and landed on your butt, it wasn’t sexual it was just where it felt right. Nikki slowly opened his eyes blinking a few times in the process. “Sign me up if this is the right way to wake up.” His smile was small and yet so full.

“I heard there’s no waiting list.” You smiled and bent over pulling your hair back and kissed Nikki’s forehead, nose, then finally his lips. He kissed back. Pulling away smiling you grabbed his hand and held them kissing every finger “Can we make this real?” You looked at him

“Thought you liked Tommy?”

“I do and I did, but he’s with Heather and it’s obvious he doesn’t feel—“

“I didn’t really care, but if you want it then i’m sure we can make it work.” He squeezed your hands “What about doc?” Nikki eyes said that he wanted you and only you, and in a way you needed to get over Tommy.

“I don’t care about him.”

“okay that’s all i need.” He wrapped his arms around your back and pulled you down to kiss you which you accepted gratefully. You pulled away, and got up off of him.

“i’m gonna go take a shower sixx.” You walked away and jumped in the shower washing yourself and your hair from the hair spray and makeup from last night. It hit you that today was your 21st birthday. You hopped out of the shower and walked back out to grab your dress. Nikki was gone which was odd because you figured he’d get in with you. You shimmed the fabric back on. You were honestly ready to start drinking again. you made your way through vince’s largely sized house. Finally finding your way to the kitchen as you made breakfast for yourself.

“I want breakfast.” What do you know, Tommy fucking Lee walked out from the corner, rubbing his eyes.

“Make it your own damn self.” You rolled your eyes and made a plate for myself then setting yours down on the table in the dinning room before sitting down at the table

You heard the door slam shut and Nikki walked past the dinning room “Babe!” you yelled to him. Next thing you knew he was in the dinning room making his way towards you and kissed you on the lips.

Tommy was at the door way, he looked pissed.

“Your good in bed and in the kitchen. Hot.” Nikki winked and smirked as you got up and grabbed the plates for you Nikki slapped your ass causing you to moan slightly, putting them in the sink for you to do them later. You looked at Tommy who wouldn’t look at you and just stared into his lonely bowl of cereal. Hear came rebounding; Heather in nothing but Tommy’s shirt that he changed into last night, you felt you face become hot. Nikki strolled over to you and whispered into your ear ‘Your fucking hotter don’t even bother getting jealous’ before he kissed your neck.

“Come one Y/N I have to run some errands. Come with?”

“If only I get to change my clothes.”

“You’re bags already in my car.”

“You’re the best.” You stood on your tippy toes and pecked his lips before grabbing his hand and leading him out of the house walking to his Ford Mustang. You got his and the same with Nik as he started the car. You rummaged through your suitcase finding something to wear. Finding some leather pants, a leopard corset-type cropped top, your leather jacket, and your boots. you took off your dress. you didn’t care much about how people seen you as you were in Vince’s long as fuck driveway. You shimmy your way into your leather pants as those would be the hardest to put on, next your shoes. -Nikki could not keep his eyes on the road as you were changing, so swerving was an understatement.- you put on your shirt then your leather jacket. then you looked at nikki who was shifting in his seat.

“uncomfortable there?” you smirked and leaned over the center council slightly.

“Slightly. Pffft blow me.” He quickly looked at you in a almost pleading way.

“With pleasure babe.” You leaned over the council, unzipping his pants, slipping him out of his underwear -which you were surprised as he normally wore leather pants and the two don't mix apparently-  NIkki reclined the seat a little bit to make it easier for you as you brought your head down to his dick, you licked the slit causing a sharp inhale in his breathing, Nikki could control a situation like this very well, multitasking was one of the many things he was good at as a musician. Kissing the tip you put it the tip into your mouth swirling your tongue, earning a few groans, you were already over the teasing and you sunk your head further down, the part you couldn't fit in your mouth went to your hand, foundling his balls in the process. Now moans escaped his beautiful lips, along with your name. You began bobbing your head as you felt Nikki pull over to which you assumed was on the side of the road so he could focus on you only. Your core was dripping, you could feel it. You and pretty much the rest of the boys were the same with that. You guys probably had the same body count. Horny motherfuckers you were.

“Fuck babe fuck.” Nikki’s head dropped and you felt him twitch into your mouth then realeased his load. Most in your mouth, some fell out. You swallowed then licked the rest that fell on his stomach.

Sitting up all the way in your seat you looked Nikki dead in the eyes and wiped his load that went on your cheek onto your thumb and licked it off. Everyone knew Nikki had a oral fixation, it drove him crazy.

“My girlfriend is fucking hot.” Nikki was now leaning over the council and kissed you. Hard.

[gobsmackapplejack]

Doljanchi

Rated G,  3041 words, on AO3

“Going out hunting,” Daryl mumbles as he grabs his crossbow.  His footfalls are a little louder than usual.  Something’s bothering him, Glenn can tell.  But sometimes he just has to let Daryl work out whatever it is by stomping through the woods, shooting things. Though, it’s not hard to figure out the source of his mood this evening.

“Okay. Mom is making dinner, so you don't need to catch much.”

Daryl's response isn't audible to Glenn's ears.  Which may be for the better. Glenn's mom has been staying with them for a couple of days already, preparing for Kevin's doljanchi. Their little house can barely fit everyone.  It’s only four people, three adults and an almost-one-year-old, in their tiny two bedroom house, but you’d think it was Glenn’s entire extended family or something, the way they’re hitting on nerves so close to the surface.  Thank God Merle moved out awhile ago.

Well, he didn’t so much move out as announce loudly when Glenn and Daryl started dating that the walls in their house were too thin for him to be around on nights when Glenn was staying over. Since that started happening more often than not, Merle and his stuff became more and more scarce.  Eventually they figured out that Merle had met someone, and miraculously, she didn’t mind him moving into her place.

They give Glenn's mom their room and put a full sized air mattress in Kevin’s room.  It covers the entire floor next to the crib so they only put it down at night and have to lean it up against the wall when they wake up in the mornings.  One frantic night Glenn woke up disoriented when he heard Kevin crying, jumped up and tripped so violently after running straight into the baby’s dresser that the mattress popped, sending Kevin into terrified screams.  That was not a great night.

Luckily, Daryl was able to patch the mattress the next day.  Too bad their nerves and tempers were not so easily fixed. Those took several more days to smooth over.

Daryl comes home with a rabbit, already dressed and butchered, which he puts immediately into the deep freeze storage in the garage.  They eat the jajangmyeon that Glenn’s mom made for dinner that night.  It’s Daryl’s favorite of her Korean dishes and Glenn isn’t ashamed to admit (though not to Daryl) that he asked her to make it, hoping to improve Daryl’s mood.  Plus, the noodles are soft enough so that Kevin can eat it too. The black bean sauce smears around his mouth and makes him look like he’s growing a baby beard.  Glenn takes a picture of Daryl holding him, with their matching goatees.

They get to bed early that night, to get ready for another day of work and preparations.

--

The next morning Glenn’s mom takes over the kitchen as usual.  Even getting a cup of coffee is a hassle, the coffee maker buried behind bowls full of marinades and sauces on the counter.

Daryl leaves early for his work, without coffee, at the high school, kissing Glenn and Kevin and giving Mrs. Rhee a nod.  Glenn has the mornings to play with Kevin while his mom works on preparing party food.  Around ten Glenn packs Kevin up and takes him to the daycare run by Beth Greene, their family friend, on his way to work.  Mrs. Rhee continues party prep and also makes dinner and baby food throughout the day.  Then, when Daryl brings Kevin home from his daycare she spends the late afternoon playing with him while Daryl showers and cleans up, then joins them.  When Glenn comes home they all have dinner together. Daryl and Glenn go through Kevin's night time routine, bathing him, reading his stories and giving him a last bottle before he falls asleep. This is their pattern through the week until it's finally the day before the party.

--

Friday they pick Glenn's dad and sisters up from the airport. More family will be coming in from Michigan the next day, the day of the party.  

Fortunately for them, Glenn's extended family knows the significance of this milestone, and two aunties and four cousins on his mom’s side are willing to travel for it.

Holding it in Georgia, they figure the maximum number of friends and family will be there, which is their goal.  Also, the wedding had been up near Michigan so having the party in Georgia seems only fair.  Only a few people were able to travel to the wedding: Merle, his girlfriend Andrea, and her sister Amy. Luckily, Hershel Greene, Beth’s father, had thrown a reception for them at his beautiful farmhouse just outside Atlanta, so they were also able celebrate with their friends locally.

Mr. Rhee, Ada and Alene spend the day at the house with Kevin, Mrs. Rhee, but later in the evening Glenn takes them to their rented rooms at Hershel’s. The retired and widowed veterinarian had converted his huge farmhouse into a bed and breakfast after all his kids moved out leaving so many rooms empty. His daughter Maggie soon moved back home to help him run it.

--

Finally, the big day arrives.  Everyone wakes up early.  The house is so clean you could eat off any surface but Mrs. Rhee continues to wipe and polish anything she can get at with her microfiber cloths.

They've set up one long picnic table out back with tons of chairs. Finger foods and bowls of Korean snacks fill the center of the table.  All the other available surfaces at their house, inside and out, are covered with food too; the dining room table, the kitchen counters, the coffee table, the wet bar and the hutch have bowls of the largest fruit found in the state -- mangoes, asian pears, apples, carved watermelons and pineapples. Plates and platters are stacked with ricecakes, sweets and cakes, and all the grilled meats, vegetable and banchan dishes Mrs. Rhee prepared throughout the week.

There is one small table on the porch that doesn’t have food piled on it, sitting low to the floor. It’s covered with a red tablecloth and on top are seemingly random objects set out on display. Glenn waves Daryl over.

“This is the Doljabi.  Do you remember?”

Daryl nods but looks slightly unsure so Glenn goes into the explanation again.  It should be easier to remember now that they have it laid out in front of them.

“Whatever Kevin touches first is believed to be symbolic of what will come to him in life. The pencil represents intelligence - it means he’ll have a good job. The gold coin is, well, pretty self explanatory, he’ll never want for money. String represents a long life. Food - your kid will never go hungry.  Those are the really traditional objects.  The rest are more modern additions.  The stethoscope means your child will go into medicine.  A ball represents sports.  Books for academia. We didn’t put in a paint brush for artist - I didn’t think you’d mind.  Some people add objects for politics or acting.”  Glenn shrugs, since it didn’t seem important to either of them.  “I'm debating putting my phone or laptop in for a technology career.  But we have the pencil to represent, like, all good jobs.  I don't know if I want to pigeonhole him into something he doesn't like. You know, us Asians and our tiger parenting. I figure we’ll keep to the more general fortunes.”

Daryl nods and crouches down in front of the table, tracing his fingers over the gold coin.  He looks at Glenn briefly then goes to the bedroom closet and comes back in with the crossbow. Sets it on the table. It takes up all the remaining space, even hanging off the edge and covering several other objects.

“Oh, hey.  Bow and arrow is actually one of the traditional items,” Glenn is surprised he remembers this.  “It represents bravery.  But then people didn’t like that in older times it meant that your child would go into the military - become a war hero or general or something.  It’s fallen out of tradition.  But, do you want it to mean bravery?”

“No.  It’s...that our kid’s gonna be a hunter.”

“But.  He’ll learn that anyway.  Do you think he’ll become a  professional  hunter when he grows up?  That’s sort of what that will imply.”

“No.  It’s… It’s just important.”  Daryl is staring hard at the crossbow, brow furrowed, rubbing his chin.

Glenn pauses before responding.  He knows this could be a sensitive area for Daryl.  “I don’t think my mom would like a weapon as part of the Doljabi.  She’ll think it means he’ll grow up to be a criminal. Or make a living where he’ll have to use weapons.”

Daryl isn’t meeting Glenn’s eyes.  It’s almost how he was early in their relationship: closed off, hesitant to share his feelings.  “S’my kid.  I’ll put what I want.”

Glenn knows when he shouldn’t push.  “Okay.  Um.  Okay. I’ll- I’ll let her know.”  He will.  He’ll make her understand, because it’s important to Daryl.  But he still has  some  concerns. “It's kind of big though. He might grab it first just because it's the only thing he can see. Or because he sees you with it but he's not allowed to touch it. Or what if he starts thinking he can touch it because we let him grab it this one time?”

Daryl grunts and picks up the crossbow.  He leaves, though not in a huff or stomping like he had earlier in the week.

Glenn is at a loss.  Of course he’ll let Daryl include the crossbow.  It’s just...it's huge. Putting it out there with things like a pencil or a piece of string doesn’t seem balanced.  But does that matter?  If it’s something Daryl wants to be included in the Doljabi, would it be so bad if it’s so oversized that Kevin grabs it first?  Glenn hears Daryl’s motorcycle pulling out and driving off.

He’s only a little worried. Surely Daryl will come back.  He didn’t seem upset, per se.  But there  is  something bothering him, something important enough to take him away from the party.

The guests start arriving. Hershel and Maggie bring Glenn’s dad and sisters a little early so they can help with any last minute setup.  Beth comes soon after with her boyfriend Noah, and Kevin makes excited noises when he sees her.  Merle arrives with Glenn’s two aunts and Andrea and her sister Amy bring the cousins from Michigan they picked up at the airport.  Merle immediately heads straight for the coolers in the back yard with the beer, takes one for himself and starts passing them around.

College friend and sheriff’s deputy Rick Grimes and his new wife Michonne are the next to arrive with his five year old daughter Judith.  His teenage son, Carl, comes a few minutes later with girlfriend Enid. Morgan, Rick's friend who then became their friend, arrives with his son Duane, and the three teens head inside to play video games.

Daryl’s work buddy Tyreese Wililams brings his girlfriend Karen, and his sister Sasha brings her boyfriend Bob.

Rosita Espinosa and Abraham Ford were a couple who were part of Daryl and Glenn’s drinking group, but once they broke up started avoiding each other.  When they arrive they stay on opposite ends of the yard, but eventually start mingling with the group and later, grudgingly, with each other.  Also in attendance are Eugene and Tara, more drinking buddies and Tara’s girlfriend Denise.

Aaron and Eric are there, friends Glenn first met doing consulting work for their recruiting firm.  They hit it off and the two couples often hang out together.  Glenn calls it their gay alliance.

Carol, probably their oldest and dearest friend, and also Kevin’s godmother, is last to arrive with her daughter Sophia.

All these people comprise their found family - those they came to love due to shared interests, location and circumstance.  It's a blessing to be able to celebrate with them all.

Kevin, dressed in his hanbok, is carried around by Mrs. Rhee.  She likes showing off that he calls her ‘hah-mo’ now.  She lets others carry him too.  He goes willingly, recognizing almost everyone as imo, ajumoni, or sam-chon.

Glenn tells people who don’t know, about the doljanchi tradition.  How in the olden days in Korea, babies making it to their first birthday was rare, and so such an accomplishment called for a big celebration.  He also spends time describing and explaining all the Korean foods,  snacks and decorations.

Daryl slips in when Glenn is telling the kids about his favorite Korean candies, mallang cow chews. He goes into the house with a plastic bag under his arm.  Glenn slips away from the conversation and follows.  He sees Daryl opening a blister packaged toy.  When he gets close, Daryl puts a nerf crossbow on the table with the other objects.  It’s more reasonably sized and doesn’t take over the whole table like the real model had.  The bright neon green will be very eye catching to a one year old though.  He moves close to Daryl standing over the table and slips his arms around Daryl’s waist, hugging him from behind.  Daryl doesn’t turn, only places a hand on top of Glenn’s and they look at the items together.  Problem solved.

--

After the dinner of Korean specialties is finished, they ask everyone to gather around the doljabi table that’s been carried outside.  Glenn’s cousins have set up a skype call on his laptop so the rest of the family in Troy can watch and cheer too.

Glenn gives a speech, welcoming and thanking everyone for coming, and for their friendship through the years, for being a part of their lives and more recently, Kevin’s life.

He explains the doljanchi one more time. Then Daryl sets Kevin down in front of the table, far enough away so that he’ll have to crawl forward a few feet before he can reach any items.  At first Kevin is frozen, shocked by so many people crowded around, staring and cooing at him, but then he spots all the objects on the table and makes excited sounds.

Kevin scoots forward and gets a hand on the table and almost touches the spool of yarn but misses.  He pulls himself to standing so he has a better view of the items.  Glenn sees the moment Kevin spots the crossbow.  His eyes light up and he smiles a mostly gummy smile, grabs the crossbow with its orange and green foam bolts. Glenn’s mom wails and clutches her chest and shakes her head. Everyone else cheers and claps.  Daryl steps in quickly and swoops Kevin up, giving him a noisy kiss. Kevin squeals and laughs, still holding the crossbow, trying to chew on the handle.  

When people ask what the crossbow represents, Glenn tells them about the traditional bow and arrow that represented bravery, and that he and Daryl want Kevin to be a hunter like his dad. Daryl smiles slightly at Glenn’s explanation, but never offers the explanation or elaboration of his own.

--

The party goes on until late, but Glenn and Daryl slip away to put Kevin to bed at his usual time.  They are paying the teenage cousins to stay inside to keep an eye on him while the party continues on outside.  They rejoin the party once Kevin is asleep, taking turns carrying the baby monitor.

--

That night, after the guests have departed and Hershel and Maggie have taken Mr. and Mrs. Rhee, Ada and Alene back to the farm, Merle and Andrea have taken Glenn’s aunts and cousins to the hotel in town, and they have cleaned up only the most pressing mess (mostly putting away the leftover food) they wash up and collapse into their own bed.

Glenn pulls Daryl in for a kiss, just a light, press of lips.  They’re too exhausted for anything more.  Not even much talking beyond a few murmured comments about the party, their friends, family, and Kevin.

Glenn rolls onto his back and closes his eyes, ready to drift off, when he hears Daryl take a slow, deep breath.  It’s his ‘tell’ that he’s about to say something so Glenn opens his eyes and waits.

It takes Daryl a minute, then he starts in a low voice, “Hunting, it's. It’s...quiet. I found peace when I was hunting.”  He stops, looking up at the ceiling, then turns to fully face Glenn.  “It saved me.  When things were bad with my dad I could go hunt.  When we didn’t have a lot to eat.  After the house burned down and my-.”  His voice gives out and he takes a shaky breath.  It’s the most emotion Glenn has heard from him when talking about his past.  “When I figured out I was…different.” There’s the most meaningful pause Glenn thinks he's heard in their relationship. “That’s why it’s important to me.  Hunting, tracking, knowing the forest.  Knowing…yourself.  It makes you able to survive. Self sufficiency.  Not just surviving, but  knowing  you can survive.  It’s zen.  That’s…. that’s what I want for Kevin.”

Glenn nods, then takes Daryl’s hand.

“Okay.  Yeah.  That’s what I want too.  Thank you, Daryl.  Thank you for giving him that.  That’s what he’ll have.  That’s… yeah.”  He reaches out and slips his hand around to the back of Daryl’s neck, brings their foreheads together.  “I love you,” he whispers, and kisses him one more time, long and lingering.

When they pull apart, Daryl’s breathing is ragged. Glenn knows it’s a sign he’s overwhelmed, fighting his emotions.  He also knows Daryl wouldn’t want him to call attention to it so he shifts them into a more comfortable sleeping position, Daryl’s face tucked into Glenn’s shoulder.

So he doesn’t tell Daryl, not tonight anyway, that that’s what he’s found too. Found it in meeting and knowing and loving Daryl.  This reassurance that he'll be okay, no matter who he is and who he loves. The knowledge that he can take care of himself and his loved ones.  This contentment with himself, his life, love, family and friends; it’s exactly what he would want for Kevin. So, yeah.  The crossbow is perfect.