#i got so many questions at work today when getting these photos taken

[sunnyupsidedown]

What is PSU's hand sign?

You know how some colleges have hand signs that people can throw up to show affiliation? Like, USC's is the V for Victory? What do we think the PSU Foxes' sign would be? I'm leaning towards something like NC State's, but what are everyone's thoughts?

I looked into Clemson and it doesn't seem like they have one. Some of the newer students seem to be trying to get a tiger claw popular similar to Baylor's bear claw but it's apparently controversial.

Below are some more examples of different signs!

[gurugirl]

hi can u write something about step dad harry and yn going for a trip on a boat with her mom together and he secretly takes her to a room downstairs while her mom is upstairs and she rides his face and like his facial is covered with his arousal… u can add something more too& make it spicy?? theres just something about this photo, i couldnt resist

stepdad!harry x stepdaughter!reader

I started writing something else for stepdad!Harry but this just made my mind go blank for anything else because I can’t resist these photos and it’s summertime so we’ve already got the vibes going. Thank you for the request, babe!

Note: As a reminder Y/n is 22 and Harry is 28. Both are adults and met as adults. xoxo

Word Count: 2371

Warning: 18+ only, smut, the tiniest lit bit of degradation, cheating, inappropriate relationship between a stepdad and stepdaughter. Don't read if you don't like!!! xoxo

stepdad!harry masterlist

Your mom had rented a boat for a day over the weekend. She hadn’t had many days off but she wanted to have a day out in the sun with her two favorite people while summer was still in swing.

She even encouraged you to invite a friend to come along. So you did.

Harry could tell right away that you were being a little bit cheeky. He’d taken care of you the night before and told you to behave on the boat but you rarely did as he asked these days.

Your girlfriend Lei came along. She was focused on her cell phone most of the time which Harry found annoying too. He expected that you’d wear a cute little bathing suit that barely hid a thing but he didn’t expect it to expose nearly your entire backside. It looked closer to cheeky panties that were almost thongs than a bathing suit bottom. He’d never seen you wear this one. Cheeky bottoms, cheeky attitude.

The cooler was full of drinks, music was playing, the sun was high in the sky, and everything smelled like sunscreen and tanning oil.

Harry anchored the boat in a deep area away from other boaters as Lei (finally putting her phone down) and your mom dove into the water to swim. You were lying on the bed at the front and sunning yourself with a beer next to you, sunglasses over your eyes, and a smirk on your face.

“What’s so funny?” Harry stood over you and blocked your sun. The bit of sweat that began to form on your skin and between your breasts was making it difficult for him to avert his eyes. He was glad your mom jumped into the water so he could look without fear of your mom seeing.

You pulled your sunglasses up and frowned at Harry, the grin falling from your face, “You're blocking my sun. Move…” You waved your arm at him in a shooing gesture.

Harry caught your wrist and you gasped, “Don’t talk to me like that.” He spoke lowly, still hovering over you and looking down at your body.

“I’m just sunning myself. What do you want?” Harry knew you were trying to push it with him. Figured you thought you could get away with it a bit since your mom and friend were in tow.

“Asked you a question. You’ve been a brat all day. What’s with you?” He knew what was “with you”. You liked to tease and your attitude always got him worked up. You liked the back and forth. But so did, Harry, even if he’d never admit it.

You let out an annoyed sigh, “I’m not a brat. I’ve been really good. I’m just having fun today. What’s with you?”

Harry really wanted to yank you up by your ponytail and teach you a lesson but when he looked over his shoulder he could still see your mom and Lei in the water not far off.

You tugged your wrist out of his grip and flipped over to your tummy to sun your backside.

Harry watched as you shifted and settled your head into the crook of your arm and close your eyes. The spread of your thighs and your bottom looked irresistible. If he knew he wouldn’t get caught he’d have stuffed his face into your soft cheeks and bitten down and made you squeal right then and there. He loved making you squeal.

A new song came on as Harry reached for a beer for himself and looked out over the water. Trying to ignore you. Trying to think of anything but your skin slowly tanning and exposed to him. Didn’t want to imagine the way you’d taste as he saw sweat forming along your inner thighs. It was hot out and you were sweating just enough that he could see the glisten. Imagined that sweat was forming under your bikini bottoms and how delicious you’d taste. One of his favorite and depraved cravings was the taste of you after you worked out and all your bits were sweaty and salty.

“Harry!” He turned to see your mom waving to get his attention. He stood up to walk toward the edge so he could see what she wanted.

“Throw over both of the inflatable mattresses. We’re going to lay out in the water for a bit.”

Harry picked up both the pink inflatable water mattresses and tossed them into the water for your mom and your friend. The pair were laughing and chatting like old friends. That was the nice thing about your mom. She got along with everyone.

But now Harry realized there’d be a little time for him to do just as he wished with you in the cabin below the boat.

He sat down next to you on the cushion and put his hand over your ankle, “You need to get out of the sun for a bit. You’re gonna get burnt.”

You scoffed and shook your head, “No I’m not.”

Harry huffed a breath through his nose as he looked back to the water and then back down at your and your smooth thighs. The sweat he’d noticed between your thighs was now forming under your butt cheeks and he was going to go mad if he didn’t get a lick in. But he knew he’d want more than just a lick.

Instead of waiting for your attitude to clear up, because he knew it wouldn’t, he swatted your bottom quickly and then leaned over your back to speak into your ear, “We’re going into the cabin below right now.” He pulled your arm and you gasped dramatically before looking toward where your mom and Lei were floating in the water. You pouted at Harry as he pulled you to the door and down into the cabin before you could protest further.

And Harry normally liked to be begged. Liked it when you wanted him and you were asking to be punished or you were all squirmy for him but he couldn’t stop his mouth from watering. He wanted you to sit on his face and smother him with your pussy and your sweat. It was a bit out of character but he had no time to waste. He’d punish you another time for your attitude.

When he dragged you the small built-in couch at the side of the room you figured he’d spank you or push you down to your knees and make you suck him off or something. But instead, Harry laid on his back and pulled you with him, “Sit on my face,” his words were panted and breathy.

You scrunched your brows at him and looked at him in question as he pulled at you to climb up, “What are you doing?”

Harry sat up and kept his hand around your forearm, “I fucking said sit on my face. I won’t ask you again. I’m doing you a favor.” He was about to lose control and start begging you. Which was not what he wanted at all but he needed it. Needed to have your pussy on his mouth and nose. God he didn’t know what had gotten into him. But he’d forego a blowjob to eat you out in this instance. It was like he was desperate for nourishment.

You squinted as your frown turned into a small teasing grin, “Yeah? Daddy needs to eat?”

Harry rolled his eyes and laid flat as he dragged you up and grasped your thighs, pulling you down, over his face. You still had your bikini bottoms on and Harry moaned into the fabric the moment you settled onto his face.

You smelled so concentrated. You hadn’t showered that morning since you knew you’d be on the boat sunning and swimming. And the sweat that had formed made your natural fragrance even more mouthwatering.

Harry smacked your ass and then pulled at the fabric swiftly, bringing the tiny bikini bottom to the side so your bare pussy was pressed over his mouth. He kept his hands at your ass, fingers on his right hand looped into the material pulling the crotch away for his access.

He sucked and licked as he kept you pressed down hard over his mouth. You steadied yourself by holding onto the edge of the arm of the couch.

His cock thickened fast when he finally got a taste. He wanted to make you come and get his face all nasty with your arousal and sweat before your mom and your friend came back into the boat.

You gasped at how ravenous he was. “Hhharry…” you breathed when your clit was nipped at. But when he began to guide you up and down on his face, over his nose, and down to his chin your breathy pants grew into small little squeaks. Just like he loved.

You began to wet his face when your clit was being nudged and poked into. Looking down at him and the naughty, dirty deed that was being committed only 100 feet from your mother and friend out in the water drove you to your peek quickly.

Harry was grunting in muffled noises into your pussy as he smeared you up and down over himself. He could barely breathe but he was in heaven.

And when he felt your thighs begin to quiver he knew you were close. He pushed you over his chin to catch his breath, “Such a nasty slut. Needed to have your pussy cleaned with my tongue,” Harry figured a little bit of degradation might make him feel like he was still in charge. Still calling the shots but when he dragged you back up and you began griding yourself down on his face and you pulled your tits of your little bikini top out and moaned your words, “Mmm… Daddy needed to clean my pussy so bad. So good at it too,” she rolled her hips and Harry pressed his digits harder into your soft skin as his eyes rolled into the back of his head.

It was too late. He’d shown how weak he was for you by doing this in the first place. He needed your pussy on his face and he was getting exactly what he wanted and even though you’d been a brat and he should be denying you an orgasm and making you give him one, there was just something about the way you looked, and how he was so desperate to put his tongue in between your crack and your folds and get your taste and slick coated on his tongue and face that made him push down his need to dominate you like he normally did.

Your hips began to jerk faster and you looked down at Harry with only his eyes peeking up at you and his dark curls a mess under your thighs. It was explicit. Your pussy lips were spread over his nose and your soft, wet entrance was right over his lips. He couldn’t breathe but he seemed to love it as he was only egging you on to move faster and holding you tightly to his face.

The heat of your orgasm began to unfold as you pinched your nipples and rode his face hard. You loved this position. Loved giving him a small taste of his own medicine, so to speak. He was rough with you so many times, always making it hurt a bit. He often choked you and made it so you couldn’t breathe when he had his huge cock lodged down your throat. This felt like a bit of payback, even though he wanted it.

“Ffuck!” You yelped when you felt the snap of your release unfurl, “Daddy… yes!”

Harry closed his eyes and took a small breath through his wet nostrils before you ground yourself back up and over his nose. He could feel his cock throbbing in his green shorts as you gushed on his face and came with a loud groan. He doubted anyone could hear you from the cabin under the boat but it was loud. He couldn’t care, though. He needed to get you off. Needed it.

You whined and rocked on his face until you were satisfied and your orgasm waned. The moment he felt you still he pushed you down off of himself and yanked his big cock from his swim trunks and stroked it right over your face as you were flat on your back, releasing his own hot come all over your face and your neck as he gasped and held himself up with his palm on the inside wall above the couch. He thought he could be okay to go without an orgasm but he was so close to coming without even having touched himself that the moment he wrapped his fist around his shaft his balls tightened up and his dick began to pulse and leak and then he was coming in ropes all over you.

It was a much bigger mess than he intended. You had globs of his sticky come on your face as you smiled and licked your lips when he tucked himself back in.

Normally he’d have done something nasty and depraved at that moment. Would have had you wipe your face up with your palm and lick it all off while he lapped away your messy arousal to clean you up. But there was no time for it.

He pulled you to standing and brought you to the small sink with paper towels and soap.

You smiled proudly as you wiped yourself up and Harry washed his face, hating to remove the scent of you from his nose and cheeks and overgrown scruff. But he couldn’t have your mom kissing him and smelling your pussy all over his face. Which was unfortunate. He’d have loved to have pulled that off but as oblivious as your mom could be, she wasn’t dumb. She’d recognize the scent of pussy. And she’d know it wasn’t hers.

Harry tossed the paper towel and swatted your bottom again, leaning his chest into your back as you started to wipe your sticky crease, “Don’t think this means you’re off the hook. You’re in for it later, little girl.”

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[aimless-imagines-for-fun]

Tutor Rewards

Pairing :: Chad Radwell x Fem!Reader

Warnings :: 18+ Content, NSFW/SMUT, dub-con?(sex is the only thing that motivates this man), oral(m), implied cheating(never addresses that he's dating Channel at the time)

Word Count ::  1,945

Summary :: As Chad's tutor, you quickly figured out only one thing that motivates him to study: sex. He did well on a practice exam and you give him a reward.

A/N :: I KNOW GLEN POWELL HAS SO MANY OTHER CHARACTERS THAT ARE MORALLY BETTER THAN CHAD BUT he's an idiot and my first introduction to Glen and now whenever I see him in any movie I go "Look at Chad go."

If you enjoy my work consider leaving a comment or kofi as support   ʕ • ᴥ • ʔ ❤️ 

The tapping of Chad's foot and the scribbling of your pen were the only noises in your dorm room. The star jock of the campus sat nervously a good three feet away from your desk, waiting for you to finish reviewing the practice exam he had taken. God, he was hoping he got every question right that way he could get his reward: fucking you.

-

You were his private– and secret– tutor. An arrangement was created by your biological anthropology professor who promised you extra credit in this class and another class of his you were taking. Your professor told you that Chad needed to raise his D+ to a C- and you'd be golden. The assignment felt easy enough until you started studying with the broad-shouldered stud. After one review, you were honestly surprised he even managed to pass his high school biology classes.

At first, you noticed he was less than enthusiastic about studying, something he rarely did apparently. He even offered to pay you to do all his homework– a suggestion you seriously considered before realizing that no matter how well you did on the assignments he'd flunk the exams, thus tanking his grade again. You tried various studying techniques: crash course videos, flashcards, jeopardy-style quizzes, hell, you even put on a paper puppet show(which surprisingly was the most successful at retaining his attention).

You were damn near ready to give up until you noticed some odd behavior from him one session.

It was a particularly warm day and the library's AC was busted, so you were wearing a spaghetti strap sundress that was a bit tight around the chest. While trying to explain the difference between various hominid skulls, you noticed he was carefully observing the photos you had, like he was paying attention. Which was odd because he never paid attention.

When you asked him to point out which skill was which species based on the teeth, you were surprised he guessed all of them correctly. Naturally, you asked him what was so different about today's session than all the others.

His answer both surprised you and grew your resentment towards him.

“Probably because when you held the pictures up you looked topless, so I was imagining what you looked like behind the photos.”

You felt your brain short-circuit for a moment before throwing all the materials you had at him in a fit of frustration before storming off. Of course, his sexualizing you is what made him pay attention to what you were saying.

God, he's such a pig it's not fair he's so damn handsome, you thought 

Naturally, not wanting to fail the class, he chased after you and begged you to continue tutoring him.

“(Y/N), I need your help passing this class. If I fail I- I don't know what I'm going to do!”

“I'm not some object you can ogle at, Chad!’

“Come on! I can't help it! I had no clue you were kinda hot under all those baggy librarian cardigans.”

“‘Kinda hot’?!” Your anger was rising, and he could tell. Not only was he objectifying you, but now he had just insulted your sense of fashion.

“My bad- I shouldn't have chosen those words to say! I'm sorry!” He grabbed your hand in desperation. “Please… I need your help…”

He gave you a puppy dog pout, one that was nearly impossible to refuse. You groaned, tanking your hand away.

“You're paying me if I do this because extra credit is NOT enough.”

“Of course! Whatever you want, just name your price!”

“And we're going to have to start having study sessions at my dorm instead now.”

He cocked his head. “How come?”

You turn away, embarrassed about the reason you were going to give. “That way I can get you to pay attention.”

Chad was dumb, but he wasn't that dumb. He knew what you meant and his dick twitched. He was so sure he had seen a porn that went like this before.

Sadly for him, you genuinely meant to help him learn and had him work. Granted, you were always in a tight-fitted shirt without a bra and a short skirt, but you never let him touch you. You made it very clear, you wouldn't be fucking him– which he did try to negotiate for after getting his first B- on a pop quiz.

Eventually, his attention started to slip nearing the end of the semester. Apparently, he was losing interest in just having to imagine what you'd look like naked all the time. He needed more stimulus to pay attention.

After a lengthy debate– one he was oddly well prepared for– you both agreed you would touch him to get him to focus. You wouldn't touch him underneath his clothes, only over, and he was still not allowed to touch you. You were also getting a boost in what he was paying you.

First, it started with some gentle circling of your hands around his shoulders. Then, some rubbing of his biceps or chest, eventually moving down to his thigh. You could see a small mound forming in his crotch, though refused to touch it.

It was only when one particularly frustrating study session did you put your hand there. He was tired from practice, which would've been fine except for the fact you had a quiz the next day.

You meant to grab and squeeze his thigh to wake him up, instead of grabbing his dick. It worked though, the drowsiness immediately exiting his body and his focus all on you. You didn't want to show him how embarrassed you were, so you looked away in shame with your hand still holding his growing erection and had him memorize the key terms for the chapter you were in. With each word he correctly told you the definition of, you stroked him through his pants.

You refused to make eye contact the entire time, but he was a-okay with that since your shyness made it all the more hot for him.

This method was very useful when it came to getting Chad to memorize key terms, though it always left him wanting more. So much so, that he memorized all the key terms in the textbook in hopes of getting enough strokes he'd be able to cum. You had to admit, watching how desperate he was to cum just from some hand action over the clothes turned you on. Plus, you were majorly impressed with how much getting laid seemed to motivate the guy.

So, knowing how much of a fiend he was for sex, you promised him that if he managed to get every question right on the final exam you’d sleep with him.

-

Currently, you were grading the test exam the professor handed out. Chad was getting about every eight questions wrong, worrying you slightly that you might have to sleep with him. You only made the deal partly because you didn’t think it would happen. With a score of 83/100, you almost debated sabotaging him a bit. You put down your red

“Nice, does this mean we’re finally fucking?”

“I told you I’d only do that if you got a perfect score on the final exam. Now shut up, or else I'm not rewarding you by sucking your dick anymore, Chad.”

“Understood,” He said with a shit-eating grin.

He got comfortable fast, spreading his legs wide open to give you plenty of room. You sink between his legs, a heat rising to your cheeks and between your thighs. You pulled out his rock-hard erection, not surprised in the slightest that even his penis looked good– of course, Chad Radwell didn't have any physical flaws. He was slightly longer than average(or at least what you were used to), a good girth, and a few veins already popped though.

You opened your mouth up wide and took in his tip, earning a pleased hum when you swirl your tongue around, going down further as you did.

“Shit, did you practice before?” He teased.

You glared, taking in more but still unable to get his full length in your mouth. You began bobbing your head quickly, wanting to get this over with as quickly as possible. As the droll started to spill out from the sides of your mouth, you noticed the veins on his forearms begin to flex.

“Shit, wait-!” He nearly shouted, hands jumping to your hair and yanking you still.

You whined, wanting to pull away and yell at him for pulling your hair, but his grip remained firm, keeping you in place. You stared up at him, waiting for him to explain himself.

“I wanna enjoy this, not get rushed to cum. This is a reward isn't it?”

He began to guide your head at a much slower pace. When he brought you down, his hips inched up, pushing more of his length down your throat. Unused to taking more down your throat, your eyes started to water as you had to fight your gag reflex. He repeated this until he managed to get his dick down your throat and your face was practically against his pelvis.

Instinctively, your body grew hot. You cursed the wetness that was forming on your panties right now.

“Fuck yes,” He groaned out. He grinned down at you, admiring your crying eyes and full mouth. “You know (Y/N),  you might even be hotter than Channel when you're not saying anything and just sucking dick.”

Unable to reply verbally, you lifted your middle finger. A part of you wanted to bite down on him and wipe the smug grin off his face, but another part of you had to admit it felt so good having him borderline face fuck you right now.

He picked up the speed a bit, though he didn't go as far down when he did. He was enjoying the view, yet he desperately wanted to cum. He just wasn't sure if he wanted to finish in your mouth or on your face. With the tension growing in his lower abdomen, he knew he had to make a choice and soon.

You were also aware of his readiness to cum. His guiding was getting sloppy and his hands were gripping your hair tighter. 

Realizing you'd be upset if you had to get semen out of your hair, he decided to finish in your mouth. So, he pulled your mouth off, only giving you a brief moment to gasp before standing and ramming his cock back in. He held your head in place as he thrusted into your mouth repeatedly. Your hands reached up, grabbing onto his forearms as you moaned around him.

With a few long strokes, his dick began to twitch, and hit spurts of cum poured down your throat. He held you close, making sure you swallowed every drop. You could feel him throbbing in your mouth until he eventually stopped and pulled himself out. You coughed a bit, and when he released your hair you slumped forward, your hands helping you remain up.

“I can’t…believe…you just…throat fucked me…asshole,” You said between pants.

“Like I said, it was a reward. I deserved to enjoy it.”

Begrudgingly, you took his hand when he offered to help you up. He was still beaming with joy, and your heart sank at his next sentence:

“Don’t make any plans for the 15th. I plan on making the most of my reward again,” and with a wink he left.

The 15th was the day your professor would release the scores for the final exam and possibly the day you had to have sex with that handsome idiot.

[peaches2217]

Alright! One more post before returning to hiatus, because I've GOT to talk about the consult.

My blood pressure read astronomically high, and I admitted that I was scared to death. The nurse getting my vitals was so sweet. She led me through some deep breathing and assured me there was nothing to worry about, because I was in good hands. Her next attempt at getting my blood pressure was a little more accurate. 😅

Pretty standard from there: stripped from the waist-up, had a bunch of topless photos taken, demanded a share of the profits if they intended to upload the photos to OF or anything of the sort (admittedly I probably WOULD have made that joke, but alas, it didn't come to me until she'd already left). When she asked for my new patient paperwork, I handed her that... plus a half-inch-thick stack of papers containing my reference letters, medical records, and insurance information. I was NOT taking any chances.

A little while later, the assistant surgeon came in. She ended up not having to ask me very much, because pretty much every question she had, I had already provided an answer to via the records I printed out. She said she'd never seen a patient come in so thoroughly prepared and informed. So that's an ego booster! 😆 After that, we discussed the operation, pre- and post-op procedures, and what my procedure specifically would likely entail.

She was equally thorough (she answered about 70% of the questions I'd written down before I could even ask them!), and really personable. Apparently the very reasons my chest is such a pain to properly bind (namely that the combination of size and shapeliness makes it difficult to pass off as fat) are reasons she anticipates my surgery will be straightforward (it's easy to tell where tit ends and back fat begins), so hey, that's a plus! Since my chest is so large, she also quizzed me about complications I've faced just because of having big boobs (of which there are plenty), that way they've got one more reason to argue for my insurance to cover the surgery.

She left to go over all the paperwork I brought in, then about twenty minutes later, she came back in alongside the primary surgeon. The first thing out of his mouth: "So (assistant doctor's name) here says you're the most well-organized patient she's ever met." Today did wonders for my self-esteem. 😂

He came across as very well-informed, yet laid-back and easy to speak with. I was already pleased with what I'd learned about him through research, and his openness just served to increase my confidence in him. He proceeded to answer the other 30% of my questions before I even had a chance to ask them (and then stuff I hadn't even thought to ask), and then he discussed the process of them submitting my case to my insurance and seeking approval.

He said that approval rate is typically pretty high, but as he operates in a red state, some insurance companies put up resistance. I told him that my insurance company specifically covers GAC under specific prerequisites, and while the list of those prerecs I'd found was from another state, I'd cross-referenced and verified that my state also honors that coverage, so I didn't anticipate many issues. I told him I'd also prepared just in case there WERE issues, because the extra paperwork I handed over included the entire fifteen-page policy along with annotations referencing which OTHER papers I'd given them confirmed I met each prerec...

And before I could even finish, they both just bust out laughing. The assistant doctor clapped and told the surgeon "I told you! I told you, he did all our work for us!" For once, my neuroticism actually produced wholly positive results!

I was told when I booked my consult that I'd likely have surgery in the latter half of the year, and during my first sit-down with the assistant doctor, she estimated October or November. She turns and tells me that we can schedule it then if I need the extra time, but if I was interested, they had an opening August 5th. I said "August sounds great."

I'm just... I'm so happy. This turned out so much better than I could have hoped! The team is knowledgeable and friendly and have promised to keep me informed of developments through MyChart (where I'm also welcome to ask questions as I consider them), and it's all happening MONTHS before I was expecting it too if I was accepted. There was never even a question about accepting me, either. The nurse that took my vitals? One of the last things she did before turning it over to the doctors was give me three different business cards with her phone and fax, the assistant's, and the head surgeon's. They never planned on turning me away. 🥹

Y'all are gonna be hearing a LOT more about this once I'm fully back from hiatus, but oh my God. Thank y'all so, so much for your constant and continual support. I could NOT have made it this far without y'all! 🫂🫂🫂

[ghost-proofbaby]

EDDIE MUNSON - OURS

😭😭😭

ours (eddie’s version)

warnings: none. just tooth-rotting fluff <3

wc: 1.4k+

a/n: i got a little carried away. but i wish i had an eddie munson to go home to each night and just kiss and cuddle goddamn it

“Oh, is that your boyfriend?”

“He’s… interesting.”

“I guess when you said you had a boyfriend, I never envisioned someone like him.”

“You two are such… opposites! I mean- no! No, not a… bad thing, I suppose. Just… interesting.”

You were growing tired of it. You know people didn’t mean for their incessant questions or comments to get under your skin so badly, but they did. Any time someone at your new job caught sight of your phone’s lock screen – a joyous selfie of you and a sunburnt Eddie at the lake – or your work computer’s screen saver – a photo taken at dusk of Eddie on your couch, strumming on his guitar completely unaware – they had something to say. Something to point out. Whether it be the way you two didn’t seem to fit in their minds, or how rough around the edges he seemed to be. Some coworkers even pressed on how long you two had been together, pulling out the marriage card at a completely inappropriate time. One coworker had even made a snide remark on his long hair, saying “oh, I thought that was a girl! What a relief!”. It just…. It dug beneath your skin every time without fail, making you uncomfortable and irritated all in the same breath. 

You don’t understand why they cared so much. It wasn’t their relationship – they didn’t know you. You’d only started the job a few months prior. They could eat shit, for all you care.

Today had been a bad day. Maurice, one of the elderly women who worked at the front reception desk, had just been awful. She was always talking of you going on a date with her grandson, each time conveniently forgetting that you were already happily in a relationship, but today she’d crossed a line. She’d had her grandson physically come into the office at lunch time, and caught you just as you were on your way out the door to try and pick up something to hold you over until five o’clock would finally arrive. 

The one day you didn’t pack your own lunch. Go figure. 

“Oh! Dear! Over here!” she called  to you as you tried to scurry past her desk. You had held out the hope that the young man standing beside her would have occupied her, but no. No such luck for you on this wicked Thursday.

You took a deep breath before you turned slowly, forcing a polite smile as you faced the elderly woman, “What can I do for you, Maurice?”

“This is my grandson!” she animatedly motioned to the blonde boy at her side, and as he looked up, your stomach dropped, “Jason! The one I was telling you about!” 

Jason fucking Carver.

“Oh,” you tried to keep kind in your tone, but you were already feeling hatred prickle at the back of your neck. You knew all about Jason — he’d made Eddie’s life living Hell too many times to count. He was nothing like the angel Maurice had tried to paint, “I… It’s nice to meet you, Jason, but I really should get going. I’m on my lunch.” 

Jason didn’t take the social cue, stepping forward and stretching out his hand towards you, “Pleasure to finally meet the beautiful coworker my grandmother has been going on and on about. Words really didn’t do you justice.”

Gag. “You’re too kind. I do hope she also mentioned I’m already spoken for.”

Jason’s eyebrows shot up, glancing at Maurice for a second. “You’re taken?” 

You opened your mouth to say, yes, I am happily taken, but Maurice was already waving her hands about as if that fact of the matter was nothing more than trivial smoke. “Technicalities. She has a fling with that Munson boy-“

“It’s not a fling,” you stressed, your patience meeting its end, “We’ve been together for years. We live together. I’m really sorry, Jacob,” you purposefully say the wrong name as you turn to Jason, exasperated and not sorry in the slightest, “But I’m not interested. I’ll see you after lunch, Maurice.” 

You think you heard Jason call out a correction of his name from behind you, but you paid him no mind. Fuck him.

You ended up taking a longer lunch, not even caring for the consequences just so you could sit in your car and call Eddie. You described each person who walked into the building that you caught sight of, completely forgetting to scavenge a snack, too wrapped up in giggling at every ridiculous joke or story he makes up for the strangers.

He made it feel better. Maurice and Jason and everyone’s incessant comments forgotten. Their judgments never took this into consideration — this tranquility and Eddie’s ability to make you laugh until your ribs ached. They never considered the love that carried you home each night.

Five o’clock couldn’t come soon enough.

You practically speed the entire way home, forgetting to watch for any police cars half the time. Your poor front door cries out on its hinges as you barrel through it with only one thing on your mind: Eddie.

“Hey baby-“ Eddie tries to greet you, but he hardly has the time to set his guitar to the side before you’re falling into his lap where he sits on the couch. “Oof, bad day?” 

Your thighs bracket his hips and your nose is already nuzzling into his neck, his soft laughter shaking his shoulders slightly as your arms wind themselves around him to the best of your abilities. He returns the favor without hesitation; arms hold you close to his chest and you can feel his nose dip to graze along your temple.

“The absolute worst,” your voice is muffled by his neck, but he doesn’t seem to mind, so you continue, “I swear to God, if I had know this office was full of such judgmental assholes I would have never-“

“Woah, woah, woah,” he pulls you back slightly, bringing his hands up to hold both cheeks between his palms as his thumb trails softly against your cheek bone, “Are they being mean to you? Because if they are, just say the word – I’m not afraid to kick a couple of grandmas’ asses.” 

You laugh, sniffling a bit, still on the verge of tears out of relief of being home with him finally, “No, no. You don’t need to go and kick any elderly ass – today.” 

“What about tomorrow?” 

You pretend to think about it as you finally slide off his lap, sitting to his side as your legs remain draped on his lap. He’s quick to reach down and let his calloused fingertips graze a trail down your thigh, ending at your ankle before he wraps them around it and squeezes softly, “Hmm, I’ll have to think about it.”

“Yeah?” he questions, leaning his face down to your shoulder, peppering kisses there, eyes still attempting to glance up at you in adoration through thick lashes, “So not a no. Got it. I’ll have my boxing gloves at the ready.” 

You both laugh as Eddie continues his short assault of kisses. 

Your coworkers can say whatever they want. They can judge the two of you based on short snapshots all they please – they can’t take this from you. Not as his lips brush your collarbones, not as his palms massage your calves, and certainly not as he murmurs soft declarations of how much he missed you all day against your skin. 

“Say, you wanna play a song for me on that guitar, rockstar?” you say as you thread your fingers through his curls, noting the way they’re extra soft, as if he’d done a hair mask like you always pestered him to. 

He lifts his head and leans back casually against the back of the couch, eyes half-lidded as he smiles at you like you hold his entire world in the palm of your hand, “Maybe later. Right now, I just wanna spend some time with my baby.” 

“Oh, I see,” you snort, “You’re gonna break out sweetheart instead? No more dragon-slaying for today?” you joke, referencing his nicknames for his two guitars. 

He only shakes his head and rolls his eyes at you, surging forward and capturing your lips against his, teeth clashing a bit due to both of your wild grins. He has you falling backwards into the couch cushions in an instant and lets his weight settle between your thighs, enveloping you in smells of home. Just him, just you, just the love that you two have gardened here. No opinions of others ever needed.

“Shut up. I love you.” 

“and it’s not theirs to speculate if it’s wrong. and your hand’s a tough but they are where mine belong.”

[worldserasingandcreatinginmymind]

Bloody Beetle | Part Nine

Summary: the afterlife is quite what you expected it to be

Pairing: Taweret x reader (platonic)

Word Count: 3.3k

Warnings: it's the afterlife y'all... you dead...

A/N: please note as much as I did some research into identity disorders, it may not he 100% factual and is supposed to be taken in context of the story... as always spelling and grammar are not my strongest skills so please be kind :)

Part Eight | Series Masterlist

- - - - -

Floating. 

You're floating in dark nothingness. 

Your body weightless. 

Your mind empty. 

Just… nothing…

Then you hear something in the distance. 

A voice. 

A name being called. 

Your name. 

Closer.

Closer.

The voice gets louder, angrier, as it gets closer…

“Y/N!”

— — — — 

Your head slips from your hand as you jump awake from your position, leaning against your work desk. Donna, your boss, stands on the other side of the desk, looking down at you disapprovingly. 

“Is this what we pay you for? Sleeping on the job?” She tuts before continuing to rant at you. You ignore her, looking around the familiar museum inventory room as you try to shake away your sleep. Broken remnants of a realistic feeling dream flash in your mind, like a puzzle missing half the pieces. 

You had been in Egypt, that much is clear. But what were you doing there? Lots of people, unknown faces looking at you with hatred. Scales. A glowing purple light. A crocodile? 

You’ll have to tell Steven about this dream when you see him. Maybe he’ll understand it more than you do. Then you realise, he’s not here. 

“Is Steven not in today?” You ask suddenly, not really caring that you’ve interrupted whatever rant Donna was on. 

“Who’s that?” she looks at you blankly and you laugh. 

“Ste-ven.” You repeat clearly, emphasising each syllable. “Steven Grant? You know, the Egypt guy. Works with me down here like, all the time.”

“I don't know who you're talking about.”

“Steven!” You shout, getting frustrated now. 

“Don't matter how many times you say it!” Donna is getting more annoyed by the second. “There is no Steven that works here.”

“Is this some sort of joke?! I know you don't like him very much but even by your standards this is cruel!” 

“Okay, you need to calm down or soon you won’t be working here either!”.

“I’ll show you, look!” You grab your mobile and open the photos app. To your horror there’s not a single one of Steven to be found. “No! Where is it?! I took one just the other day… he was wearing one of those stupid pharaoh headdress things we sell to the kids. It was right here-”

“Y/N!” Donna snaps, snatching your phone and putting it down on the desk. “I don't know want to hear any more about your imaginary friend, alright? You’re wasting my time as well as your own! So unless you wanna be looking for a new job I suggest you drop it.”

You're about to argue back, but think better of it. Arguing with Donna is like hitting your head against a brick wall. 

“You’re right, sorry..." You say sheepishly, playing along. “I just got confused. I think I might be coming down with something.” 

“It’s alright.” Donna looks at you unconvinced but accepts it anyway. “Forget about it and get back to work.”

“Yes boss.” You say and she walks away, glancing back at you suspiciously before she leaves. 

As soon as she’s gone you pick your mobile back up off the desk to message Steven, but when you search your messages all the ones from him are gone. So you head to the contacts and scroll down to ’S’. Sarah, Shaun, Simon, Stuart… where’s Steven? You scroll up, thinking maybe he’s saved under ‘G’ for Grant. Nothing.

You consider for a moment calling the police. But what would you say? ‘My friend has disappeared, but no one remembers him and I have no evidence he ever existed?’ They’d either laugh at you or lock you up. Maybe you are going crazy… 

No. Steven was real! You remember him. The sound of his laugh as he would tell you a really crap joke he'd heard. The way his eyes would light up when someone asked him a question about Egyptian history. The smell of cologne whenever he bumped into you, which was more often than you’d think. He really was quite clumsy. That was one of the things you loved about him. And one of the things you had in common. 

You decide to go find J.B. Surely he’ll must remember Steven, even if he does always called him ‘Scotty’. If all else fails, you could at least get him to check security cameras. 

But as you step out from behind the desk, you don't notice the large box on the floor and trip over it. You manage to stop yourself falling by clinging on to the desk, but you send the box flying across the room, the contents spilling out everywhere. It's filled with action figures that you sell in the gift shop. You pick one up. 

At first glance you think it’s a mummy but then you notice, it’s a man. A man dressed all in white and wearing a white cape. You take another figure out, almost the same but this one wearing a white suit. 

You dig deeper into the box. It’s full of figures. Some the same as the two you’ve already got. Some with the skull of a bird and holding a crescent moon staff. A lady with dark curly hair. A crocodile... Then you find one that makes your blood run cold. A man, wearing a reddish brown outfit and sandals. He has shoulder length dirty blonde hair, and he’s holding a glowing purple cane. 

“Harrow?” You whisper, the name coming to you out of nowhere.

An image fills your mind; Harrow stood in front of you, plunging a dagger into your stomach.

You look down and realise your clothes are stained red with blood. Your heart and mind starts to race. Something isn’t right. You need to get out of here. 

You run to the door, swing them open and crash straight into someone. You look up and to your surprise see a tall hippopotamus stood smiling wildly down at you. 

You freeze as the two of you stare at each other for a moment. The hippo raises its hand in a waving gesture. 

“Hi!” A female voice. She sounds friendly enough.

“Uh… h-hi?” you stutter, trying to remain calm. 

“You're not screaming.” She says. You're unsure if this is a statement or a question. 

“Am I supposed to be..?”

“No, not at all. I’m just used to people screaming when they first see me. To be fair death can be quite traumatic as it is so I suppose to then come face to face with, well, me… must be quite startling.” She laughs. “You're handling this amazingly. Well done you.”

“Death?” You ask and her face drops.

“You didn’t know?” She says and you shake your head. 

“I thought it was just a bad dream.”

“Oh dear. I am very sorry, but I am afraid you are quite dead. Oh hang on! I have a thing I’m supposed to read…” She pulls a scroll out from her robe and unravels it before beginning to read. “Welcome gentle traveller to the realm of the Duat. I am Tawaret, goddess of women and children and I am here to guide you through your journey to the afterlife.”

“Wait wait wait, if I’m dead then why am I at the museum? Shouldn’t I be, like, in heaven or something?”

“Because the Duat’s true nature is impossible for the human mind to comprehend, you may perceive this realm as something more easily recognisable to you. Was this place special to you?”

You think back through all the happy memories you have here, in this room laughing with Steven.

“Yeah, I suppose it is.” You say with a smile. “But hang on, Donna was here. My boss. She was here earlier having a go at me as usual. How is that possible? Is she dead too?” 

“This place can appear as real as you want it to. Whatever would normally be here will be here, that includes people. But rest assured, she is very much still alive.”

“Then where’s Steven? He was always here with me, but Donna didn’t even know who he was!”

“Steven? Steven Grant?” She asks.

“You know him?” 

“I do. Goodness, how do I explain this?” She says, mostly to herself. “Steven Grant isn’t real.”

“Of course he is!”

“No dear, uh…” she pauses, thinking over her words. “Do you know a Marc Spector?” 

“Kind of. Not very well, but we’ve met.”

“Right! So… Steven is Marc.”

“I don't understand.” 

“Marc created Steven when he was young to help him escape the trauma he was going through. He may not have even realised that that’s what he did, but whenever life got too much for Marc he would become Steven instead.”

“No hang on, Steven told me that this Marc lives inside him. Are you saying it’s the other way around?” 

“Steven really believed he was who he was. He had no idea the truth.” She watches you for a moment. Watches as your brain ticks over everything and sadly the truth sets in. “I think deep down, somewhere, subconsciously a part of you knew. That’s why he’s not here. The Duat picked up on it.”

She was right. Ever since that night when Marc first spoke to you, a small part of you had wondered. Harrow had tried to tell you, in his own manipulative way. You just didn’t want to believe it; Steven wasn’t real. 

“I wish he was here.” You say sadly. Taweret puts a caring hand on your shoulder. 

“I know dear, this is a lot to take in. But as I said, you are handling this exceedingly well.” She smiles at you, holding out her hand. “Come, let me show you around.”

— — — — 

You follow Tawaret through the doors and to your surprise you're no longer in the museum. Instead you find yourself on a magnificent wooden boat sailing through sand.

“Where are we going?” You ask, staring out at the the amazing blend of purple, blue and gold that makes up the sky. It would take your breath away, if you weren’t already dead. 

“Hopefully to the Field of Reeds.”

“Hopefully?” 

“Yes, there’s just something I have to do…” she places her hand on your chest and pushes, reaching inside you and when she pulls her hand back out she’s holding your heart. You watch in shock as she away from you and places the heart on a scale. She takes a feather and places it on the other side of the scale. The scales swing a few times before settling in a balanced position. 

“Oh goody.” Taweret smiles. “I would have hated to have to throw you overboard.” 

“Excuse me what?”

“If they scales hadn’t balanced, you would not be permitted entry to the Field of Reeds. The dead would have dragged you down into the Duat where you would have remained forever frozen in sand.” She explains and you stare at her in horror. “But the scales are balanced, so no need to dwell on that.” 

You walk to the edge of the boat and look over at the sand below you. You can just about make out the shapes of human figures half buried in the sands, hands desperately reaching for something to grab onto. It sends a shiver down your spine. Taweret moves to stand beside you. 

“All these people had unbalanced scales?” You ask sadly.

“I’m afraid so.” 

“Do the scales ever get it wrong?” 

“That’s not possible.” Taweret says looking at you, she notices you look troubled. “Are you alright?”

“When Harrow judged me with Ammit’s scales, they were unbalanced.”

“Ammit is wrong. She judges based on things that might happen, what someone might do. We judge on what you have done." She turns to face you completely, putting her hands on your shoulder so you have to face her. She looks you in the face. "Believe me when I say, you are a good person Y/N Y/L/N.” 

“Thank you.” You say with teary eyes as the boat continues its journey. 

— — — — 

Eventually you arrive at the most beautiful place you have ever seen.

“Welcome to the Field of Reeds.” 

It’s indescribable. An endless view of golden warmth. Peace like you’ve never felt before. 

“It’s… I don't have the words…” 

“Enjoy it. You belong here.” 

You smile up at her. 

The peace doesn’t last long however, when suddenly you hear a familiar voice calling from a distance behind you. 

“Hey! Hey, hippo lady! You gotta take me back!”

You turn to where the voice is coming from. 

“Not this again.” Taweret sighs.

“Marc?!” You interrupt as you realise who is running toward you. He stops when he notices you. 

“Y/N? What- what are you doing here?” 

“Same as you.” You respond bluntly. “Harrow killed me.”

A range of emotions flash across Marc’s face. Anger and sadness being the mains ones. 

“I’m sorry.” He says simply, before turning his attention back to the hippopotamus next to you. 

“There’s nothing I can do Marc.” Taweret says before he can even ask. “Steven is gone.”

“What?” You look between Taweret and Marc in a panic, but Marc turns away from you. “What do you mean he’s gone?”

“The Duat has him.” Taweret explains. “When Marc died, the Duat split him and Steven into their own separate bodies in order to fairly judge their lives.”

“So Steven is one of those bodies in the sand?” You say in horror and she nods. “We can go back for him though? Right?!”

“It doesn’t work like that. If you leave here you can’t return.” She looks at Marc. “Please, enjoy your peace.”

Marc turns around angrily. 

“Peace?! There is no peace without Steven!”

“You don’t need him anymore Marc. You created Steven when you needed to cope with the worst parts of your life, but that’s over now.” She says, her voice gentle.

“So I get to go on to eternal peace, and he just…” Marc pauses. “Stays lost in the sand forever?”

A tear escapes down your cheek at the thought of Steven being one of those desperate figures you saw in the sand on the way here. Even though you now understand that Steven was only ever a personality created by Marc, he still felt real to you. You only really knew Steven. Your goofy, lovable, Egypt obsessed friend. 

“No.” Marc says suddenly. “I’m not good with that.” 

“Wait!” Taweret calls as Marc begins to walk off. “Think about this!” 

You watch him for a moment before turning to Taweret. She shakes her head at you, warning you. But you ignore her and run to catch up with him.

“What are you gonna do?” You ask. 

“I’m gonna get Steven back.” 

“Then I’m coming too.”

“Are you sure?” He stops and turns to you. It’s still so weird seeing Steven’s face but hearing Marc’s voice. “I can’t guarantee this will go well.” 

“He’d do it for it me.” You say and Marc nods.

The world around you starts to swirl. The golden sky turns dark and the reeds change to sand. Just ahead of you you spot him. Steven. Now one of the figures stuck in the sand. The two of you run over to him. His frozen hand is reaching out in front of him, a look of pain on his face. Marc crouches in front of him. 

“Steven. Looking pretty rough man.” He cries. “I don't know if you can hear me… From the moment you arrived, way back then, we were so young… You saved me. I survived because I knew I wasn’t alone. You were always there, alive, full of hope. I tried to protect that, and I failed. I couldn’t protect you.”

You feel a strange sensation in your feet and look down to see they’ve started to turn to ice, like Steven. Then you notice Marc’s hands have also started to change. 

“You didn’t abandon me.” He looks down at his frozen hand. “You didn’t abandon me. And although that field back there was looking pretty good, there’s no way in hell I’m gonna abandon you.” 

He tried to reach his hand up to hold Steven’s but his arm goes stiff. He looks at you and nods his head to gesture for you to come over. You crouch down beside him, looking into Steven’s terrified eyes.

“Hey Stevo. It’s Y/N. You know, Marc is right. You would never abandon the people you care about. How many times you stayed later than you needed to at work, just so I didn’t have to do inventory on my own.” You laugh as tears stream down your cheeks. “And I know you wouldn’t have left me with Harrow unless you had no choice. Because you are the best person I’ve ever met. You don't believe it, but you are. I should have told you that when we were alive. I should have told you how much you mean to me.” The feeling of your body quickly changing to ice spreading up your legs and arms. You manage to lift your hand to hold Steven’s.

Your body has completely changed now, only your head remains. You look at Marc. He reaches his hand up and places it over yours and Steven’s.

“You are the only real superpower I ever had.” He says to Steven as the ice takes over, freezing his head completely. 

You feel it creeping up the sides of your face. You fix your eyes on Steven and manage to whisper three little words as the last part of you becomes frozen in the sand.

“I love you.” 

— — — — 

The worst thing about being frozen in the Duat wasn’t actually the being frozen, but rather the fact that you were conscious the whole time. Forced to stare into the frozen eyes of the man you love, but unable to move or speak to him. 

All concept of time goes out the window. You have no idea how long you’ve been stuck like this, when suddenly you're aware of a rumbling sound and bright light shining to the side of you. As the light hits the side of your face its like warmth is being restored to your body. The ice melts away and you take a deep breath as life is restored to your body. 

You look over to see the giant ornate gates have opened, light pouring through them. You turn back to look at Steven, the ice is starting to melt from him.

“Steven…” you whisper and he looks at you, taking a big breath of air into his thawed body. 

“Y/N…” he smiles and hugs you before turning to a now unfrozen Marc. “Marc!” 

“Steven!” He says happily.

“You came back? What the hell’s wrong with you?!” Steven says, smiling as he helps Marc stand.

“Well I did a whole little speech there.” 

“It wasn’t that little.” Steven laughs, pulling Marc in for a hug. He turns to you, holding out his hand to help you stand. “I heard yours too.”

“I meant every word.” You say sincerely, looking into his eyes and he smiles as he gently places a hand on your cheek. 

“I love you too.” He whispers.

“Uh, guys.” Marc says from beside you. “As lovely as this moment is… we have a problem.”

You both turn to see what Marc is looking at. A giant sandstorm wave heading straight towards you. 

“Oh bollocks!” Steven shouts. “Come on, lets go!”

The three of you start to run, Marc struggling as his leg seems to be injured. Steven hooks one of Marc’s arms over his shoulder and you do the same on the other side.

“I’m slowing us down, just go!” Marc shouts.

“We’re not leaving you!” You reply, almost dragging him now. 

“Coming through!” You hear and turn around to see Taweret on her ship sailing towards you. “Osiris you old softie!” She calls as she crashes through the wave, slowing it down to give you time. “Now run!!” She shouts. 

“Hippo!!” Steven shouts, waving his hands in the air before Marc grabs him and pulls you all towards the gates. You run with all the strength you can muster and finally make it through the gates. 

— — — — 

“Where am I?” You ask aloud, glancing at the bright white nothingness around you. “Steven? Marc? Anyone?”

“Y/N Y/L/N.” A voice calls from everywhere at once.

“Hello?” You respond. 

“I am Osiris, god of the underworld.”

Part Ten

Taglist :  @sleepylunarwolf / @ahookedheroespureheart / @sleepyamaya / @spicydonut25 / @kult6 / @uncle-eggy / @malaanii/ @toracainz / @pinkiestwinkie / @galacticstxrdust / @mateihavenoidea / @xmariakx / @oscarissac2099 / @whycantwebefriendz / @parkeepingparker

(if you want to be added to the taglist please let me know!)

[lionlena]

1. New job, new problems... (PedroPascalxreader) - one shot

Ok, so here's the first one shot of: one shots week. As I wrote, I was inspired by my problems, but don't take everything literally, because of course I changed some things, but generally yes, my new co-workers are mean bitches. But I've come to terms with it. At least instead of talking to them, I write ff xD

Summary: co-workers at your new job treat you badly. You try to hide it from your boyfriend, but even from a distance Pedro senses that something is wrong.

Warnings: little sad but later fluff and loving, caring Pedro

This can be considered as a continuation: ♡Just let it go…

You were happy when you got a new job where you made more money. No matter how many times Pedro told that you could have his money. You felt bad about it and wanted to prove to him that you weren't with him for the money.

However, you soon found out that your new job was a nightmare. And it wasn't the job itself, because it was easy and fun for you. Your co-workers were the problem. You ended up in a three-person team consisting of all women, and you felt their hostility from the very beginning. They had trouble giving you the simplest of information, like where the bathroom is. They responded with annoyance to your every question. But you thought they'd get used to you over time. You were polite and tried to have little chats with them, but it was not effective because they ignored you. With each passing day, you felt worse and worse, and as if your misfortune wasn't enough, Pedro flew to the set in Morocco.

You sighed heavily as you sat alone at a table during your lunch break. You've been scrolling through the photos fans have taken of your boyfriend. It always made you feel a little better and made you forget everything for a moment. Your boyfriend looked pleased, though you could see he was tired. You wanted so much to hug him and make sure he was taking care of himself.

Of course, Pedro wanted you to go with him. At least for a few days, but you couldn't take free time from your new job so quickly. Another minus.

And of course, every time you spoke to him, you said everything was fine. You didn't want to worry him. You knew he should be focused on a movie set.

You were just looking at a photo of Pedro wearing a white t-shirt that was visibly wet at the bottom. You smiled and started to wonder what your beloved had done. Knowing him, he probably spilled something on himself. Pedro was so clumsy sometimes. But you loved it about him. You were so lost in your thoughts that you didn't even notice your co-workers walking past you. Their sudden giggles made you jump and almost drop your phone.

"Seriously Y/N," Jane said. "You'd better focus on your job, not on dreaming about some actor who doesn't even know you exist."

You had to bite your tongue not to say that unlike her, you work instead of filing your nails half the day.

"I don't know what these girls see in him," Michele said.

You perfectly saw how a few days earlier she was drooling at the monitor when she was reading an article about your boyfriend.

Before you could answer anything, they walked away laughing like crazy.

When you talked to Pedro in the evening, you could hardly keep your composure. He asked you several times if you were okay.

"Honey, you really do sound kind of weird," he said sadly.

"I'm really fine... I've had a busy day today and I think I'm having a migraine."

"My poor baby," he cooed. "Maybe you should lie down."

"That's what I'll do."

"Do you want me to talk to you on the phone until you fall asleep?"

You wanted to cry. Your boyfriend was so sweet and caring.

"Yes," you whispered.

You only felt worse for the next few days. Even during lunch, you didn't look at pictures with Pedro because your co-workers always sat at the table next to you. You were sure those bitches did it on purpose. It was ridiculous and you felt like you were in high school.

You started wondering if you should just start going out to some restaurant for lunch. You would have less time then, but you would gain peace of mind. Suddenly you heard some commotion behind you.

"Is that him? It's impossible," Michele murmured.

You turned around and your heart leaped. You couldn't believe your eyes. A smiling Pedro was walking towards you with a small bouquet of your favorite flowers. You couldn't take it any longer and ran over to him. He welcomed you with open arms and hugged you tightly. You pulled away from him after a while, to look into his eyes. Out of the corner of your eye, you saw the silly faces of these three bitches.

"What are you doing here?" you choked out.

"Did you really think I wouldn't sense something was wrong?" He stroked your cheek gently. "I'm back only for two days, but I hope it's enough."

You nodded and murmured, "I still have a few hours left at work."

"I know, but I couldn't wait to see you. I'll pick you up in the car so you don't have to take the subway back and we'll spend a wonderful evening together."

You blushed involuntarily, and he chuckled and whispered in your ear, "Yeah, I'm thinking about that too."

You shook your head and groaned as you realized you had to get back to work. You kissed Pedro on goodbye.

Suddenly your co-workers wanted to talk to you, but this time you ignored them. It was really sweet revenge.

Pedro has come for you as promised. On the way, he picked up food from your favorite restaurant. At home, he lit the candles and asked, "Dinner first, or bath first?"

You looked at him lovingly. "Dinner."

After you ate, he prepared an aromatic, warm bath for you. The tub was big enough for both of you to fit comfortably. You sat between his legs and rested your head on his chest. His big hands traced patterns on your breasts and belly. You finally felt relaxed. You closed your eyes and sighed heavily. You felt Pedro kiss you on the head. "My love, can you tell me what's been making you so sad lately?"

You nodded and squeezed his hand tightly. Though you tried to be calm, your voice trembled a few times as you told him about your job and how your co-workers treated you.

Pedro listened to you carefully, and at the end of your story, he hugged you tightly and kissed your shoulder.

"I'm so sorry babe. These stupid women should be glad to be working with someone as great as you." He placed a kiss on your shoulder again. "I know we've talked about this before, but you don't have to work. You know that. Why do I need money if I can't make the people I love happy?"

You smiled and squeezed his arm. "I know baby. But I want to go back there and watch those bitches die of jealousy because I have the most amazing and handsome boyfriend in the world."

Pedro chuckled and hugged you tighter. "Can this most amazing and handsome boy take you to bed and enjoy your body?"

"Yes!" you squeaked.

A week later, your boss appreciated your work and decided to transfer you to a new, more experienced team. Your new co-workers turned out to be very friendly and communicative. Enjoyed your job again. Though it was nice knowing you had a great boyfriend thanks to whom you don't have to work. And you don't have to worry about money.

Taglist: @creedslove

[keepyourpantsongohan]

Married, Colleagues, Divorced

This thought would enter his mind: Something about it is definitely different. (Gaara Hiden, Ch. 1) | Ten Days of Tenzo (@tendaysoftenzo) Day 5: Kakashi | AO3 |

                          ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

Yamato to Kakashi of the Two Normal Eyes: Kakashi. Can I ask you a question...?

Kakashi to Colleague I Think About Such a Normal Amount: Yes, Tenzō?

Yamato: Did you date Iruka?

Kakashi: Why do u ask?

Yamato: Something Naruto said about going on outings with the two of you. Apparently, you even paid. 

Kakashi: We are amicably divorced

Yamato: Elaborate. 

Kakashi: The outings are part of our custody arrangement. The ramen is alimony

Yamato: I understand all of these words but not in this order. 

Kakashi: What’s not to understand. It’s important to model healthy separation for the kids 

Yamato: So you two did date?

Kakashi: No. Next question 

-- 

Kakashi to Standing Tenzōvation: Come sit here

Yamato to Hatake a Bow: I’ll come find you after. We’re going to get in trouble for texting during jōnin council deliberation again. 

Kakashi: I tried talking to u with Anbu hand signals. U said those were too obvious

Yamato: They are too obvious; you should see the message Genma sent me after the last council. Why do I need to sit there anyway? 

Kakashi: I want to eat with u today and if I’m not already occupied after we finish I will be caught in a meeting vortex

Yamato: Comes with the new job-title, Rokudaime-sama.

Kakashi: Not until next week, officially. And I didn’t enjoy any part of that sentence.

Yamato: Well, aren’t you emotionally forthright today? It’s refreshing. 

Kakashi: Does that mean u will buy lunch?

Yamato: You’re the one who just got a promotion. Hokage’s treat? 

Kakashi: I’ll spar u for it

Yamato: You’re on. 

--

Kakashi to Magic Mountain: Soup on your windowsill 

Yamato to Lord Sixth Flags: Thank you. You could come in, you know. 

Kakashi: U need some rest. Plus I have been assigned a mission to have tea with Hyuga-san 2nite

Yamato: That’s a new one. Who assigned that?

Kakashi: Me. 😔 I’ve been told clan relations are my problem now

Yamato: I can hardly wrap my head around you being a politician. 

Kakashi: I’m having a hard time wrapping my head around u nearly getting chakra exhaustion from a spar

Yamato: How many times have YOU gotten chakra exhaustion?

Kakashi: I haven’t kept a count 

Yamato: I have. 16.

Kakashi: That’s not bad. 1.4% of missions. Point is that’s what I expect from me, not u 

Yamato: Give me a break. I’ve only ever fought you when you had your sharingan. I didn’t account for how much stamina you’d have without it. My hospital check-up was quick and painless. 

Kakashi: Easy for u to say, u weren’t awake for the berating when I hauled u in

Yamato: Tsunade-sama or Sakura?

Kakashi: Sakura, thankfully. She still feels bad about hitting me, unlike her shishō

Yamato: Are we in trouble?

Kakashi: Don’t think so. The killing intent stopped after u woke up 

Kakashi: Sakura threatened to abandon her post and become a rogue ninja if we ever do it again, but I have a plan for that

Yamato: Do you anticipate Sakura leaving Konoha?

Kakashi: Not really. But after Sasuke I figured the other two should have contingencies, and I kept adding as u and Sai joined 

Yamato: Are you saying you have a plan for a scenario where all five other members of our team abandon the village? 

Kakashi: Don’t take this the wrong way but I have a 14-step-plan for that scenario

Yamato: Both impressive and concerning. 

Kakashi: That’s what they tell me in ninja therapy

Yamato: You have a therapist? 

Kakashi: Yeah. Don’t u?

Yamato: Don’t take this the wrong way, but I’ve never been more attracted to you.

Kakashi: Hm. What’s your average amount of attraction to me?

Yamato: I abstain from the question.

Kakashi: 🤔😈㊙️❓

--

Sakura to Team Thanks for Pardoning Sasuke, Sensei: reminder that our new team photo will be taken tomorrow. naruto buy a hairbrush. sensei and sasuke remember to show up on time 

Naruto: i own a hairbrush!! it just doesn’t work on my hair y’know

Sakura: bring it and i’ll help. i’m not breaking another one of my combs

Sasuke: Why do I get lumped in with Kakashi? I’m on time.

Sakura: you missed the last three years of team meetings

Sasuke: Touché. 

Sai: Do Yamato-taichō and I need to do anything? 

Sakura: i think you’ll both be fine. don’t worry too much about what kind of smile you need. be natural

Sai: I will join you early so we can practice being natural.

Sakura: that’s not what i meant. but sure we can get breakfast 

Naruto: me too!!!!

Sakura: NOT ichiraku. 

Naruto disliked “NOT ichiraku.” 

Sasuke liked “NOT ichiraku.” 

Naruto: :(((((((((((( ok 

Yamato: Kakashi and I will both have a meeting about the new housing developments first thing. I can make sure we get there.

Naruto: should u be spending so much time together?

Naruto: i don’t want yamato-taichō to catch ur chakra exaustion again kaka-sensei

Kakashi: For the last time, I did not GIVE Yamato chakra exhaustion. U can’t catch it

Sakura: debatable.

Sai: Sakura does offer medical credibility to Naruto’s theory.

Kakashi: Tenzō, tell them.

Yamato: I haven’t ruled it out.

Naruto: SEE. ur contagious sensei 

Kakashi: I miss when u all found me intimidating

Sasuke: We never found you intimidating. 

Sakura liked “We never found you intimidating.”

Naruto liked “We never found you intimidating.”

Yamato: Didn’t you make them homemade bento on their first day? Not your most menacing tactic. 

Naruto: tbh iruka-sensei and jiraiya-sensei had a lot more rules than u 

Naruto: ur gonna have to work on that as Hokage!

Sai: If you would like, I can pretend to find you intimidating. I’m a very good actor. 

Kakashi: Thank u, Sai. 😔🤘 

--

Anko to Jōnin Gone Wild: @Shiranui Genma, Married, Colleagues, Divorce: Gai, Raidō, Aoba 

Genma: Easy. Marry Raidō, Colleagues Gai, Divorce Aoba

Aoba: I understand

Gai: You have ALWAYS been an EXCELLENT Colleague, my friend!!!

Raidō: 👌

Yamato: What kind of a game is this?

Anko: Kakashi invented it. Something about it being a therapy exercise

Kakashi: Actually, my therapist advised against it. But I’m glad we have a new game. Shizune was 2 good at online mahjong

Shizune: You would be too if you grew up with Tsunade-sama. Also your next meeting is 5 minutes. I’ll bring the briefing when I’m upstairs

Kurenai: You know, as Hokage, technically Kakashi is responsible for all active shinobi. He shouldn’t be allowed to date any of his colleagues

Anko: Hahahah, government-mandated celibacy

Kakashi: I’ve been Hokage for like 3 days and none of u respect authority anyways 

Kurenai: Are you saying you DO want to date a jōnin?

Anko emphasized, “Are you saying you DO want to date a jōnin?”

Yamato emphasized, “Are you saying you DO want to date a jōnin?”

Kakashi: U think I don’t know a trap when I see one

Shizune: He has a picture of gljljLKHGLJ

Shizune: I would like everyone to know that Kakashi-sama grabbed my phone when I was writing that message. 

Kakashi: Aiming for meeting brief. New depth perception with 2 eyes. Talk later bye

--

Yamato to Celibacy Senpai: Explain to me how the game works again. Since we’re colleagues, we can’t be married or divorced?

Kakashi to Comrade Featured in Several GROUP Photos: It’s more of a state of mind

Kakashi: Take for example, if I had u, Yugao and Ibiki. I’d Colleagues Yugao, Divorce Ibiki and Marry u. 

Yamato: That implies you were married to Ibiki before me. 

Kakashi: Would it affect ur interest in marrying me?

Yamato: No, but I’d wonder why we didn’t get married first. We get along more.

Kakashi: We prioritized our friendship over other potential kinds of bonds

Yamato: I think we've got a pretty good track record for adapting. Besides, spouses should be friends. Anyway, none of this answers the question of why you’d suddenly marry someone else.

Kakashi: We were separated by a tsunami. U lost ur memory and I couldn’t find u so Ibiki and I got together so the kids could have another role model

Yamato: How long was I gone before you moved on? 

Kakashi: We co-parented but I didn’t move on. That’s why u and I get married 

Yamato: What if I’m more of a long-term-romantic-roommates kind of guy? 

Kakashi: I’d make that work

Yamato: In the game?

Kakashi: Sure. In the game

--

Naruto to Team Congratulations Chūbu Sai: i went 2 the yamanaka flower shop for plant food after we met up and u’ll never guess what i saw!! u know the bandana guy?

Yamato: Genma? 

Kakashi: Ibiki?

Sakura: Ebisu-sensei? 

Naruto: no. sasuke hair

Kakashi: Izumo

Yamato: Izumo. 

Naruto: yeah him!! he was buying flowers for that other guy. big stick.

Sakura: 🤨

Kakashi: That’s Kotetsu. And? 

Naruto: he was BUYING FLOWERS. for that GUY. for a DATE!!!!!

Sai: Ino tells me it is customary to bring your partner gifts like flowers to show your affection. 

Naruto: I DIDN���T KNOW THAT WAS AN OPTION!!

Kakashi: Dating Kotetsu? It isn’t. He’s in a relationship. And he’s too old for u

Naruto: DATING A GUY!!

Yamato: Why didn’t you think it was an option, Naruto? 

Naruto: i mean, everyone thinks that way about guys and girls and everyone 

Naruto: but no one DOES IT, y’know

Sai questioned “i mean, everyone thinks that way about guys and girls and everyone.” 

Sai: Is that true?

Sakura: i think this is the wrong chat to ask that question in 

Yamato emphasized, “i think this is the wrong chat to ask that question in.”

Sai: Why? 

Kakashi: I can give u a book that will explain it, Sai. Anyway Naruto, people can date anyone they want, within reason. As long as the people involved like each other

Naruto: anyone?

Kakashi: Yeah. Even more than one person at once. Right, Sasuke? 👨🏻‍🎤

Sasuke: What’s that emoji supposed to mean?

Kakashi: I just like to make sure ur phone is on. 

Naruto: i gotta go for a walk

--

Yamato to It’s Kakamplicated: I’m going to tell him.

Kakashi to Konoha’s Next Top Anbu (Not a Sex Thing. Maybe A Sex Thing): Give him a few more days, he’ll figure it out 

Yamato: …How long did it take you to figure it out?

Kakashi: I abstain from the question

Yamato: 🙄

Kakashi: Fine. 19. 

Yamato: Age or years?

Kakashi: Definitely one of those two things. Next question 

--

Iruka to Senseis R Us: What have you been telling Naruto?

Kakashi: U’ll have to be more specific

Iruka: Why did Naruto say he was going to hang out with my ex-husband?!

Kakashi: What makes u think I have anything to do with it

Iruka: I didn’t say I was talking to you. However, he was going to see your team and I don’t think Yamato-san is responsible for this!!

Yamato: I’m going to leave this one in Kakashi’s capable hands.

Iruka: Kakashi. What is wrong with you?

Yamato: Becoming a chunin at the age of 6, a strangely public black ops career, a possible attachment disorder and some very interesting tan lines. 

Kakashi: That’s the kunai calling the shuriken sharp. 

Kakashi: Also I’ll show u some interesting tan lines

Yamato loved “Also I’ll show u some interesting tan lines.” 

Kakashi: Anyway. I didn’t say much, Naruto was just curious about our history 

Iruka: We don’t have a history?? 

Kakashi: What about when I reupholstered your sofa?

Iruka: Was that... a romantic activity for you?

Kakashi: This is why we’d never work out, Iruka. 

Iruka: Because you text like a member of the cypher corps? 

Yamato: It’s not so bad. His birthday messages are very heartfelt. 

Kakashi loved “It’s not so bad. His birthday messages are very heartfelt.”

Kakashi: Thank you, Tenzō.  

Iruka: Who’s Tenzō?

Yamato liked “Who’s Tenzō?” 

Kakashi loved “Who’s Tenzō?” 

Iruka: This is going on your performance review as an ex-husband.

Kakashi: That’s fair

--

Yamato to Kakashinova: Have you seen my uniform belt? 

Kakashi to Some Kind of Wooderful: I have not. U do keep taking it off every time we eat if that helps?

Yamato: I can’t get used to the placement. But I’ll need to find it or order another one before my next check-in. You know how they are about item counts. 

Kakashi: U can use one of mine if u want 

Yamato: Your black belt which has Rokudaime Hokage stitched on the inside? I’ll pass, thanks. 

Kakashi: I don’t know why they keep putting that on everything. But u can’t see that part while ur wearing it anyway. It’s the same belt 

Yamato: Yes, but the Anbu would know it was your belt. I get enough heat for how much time we spend together as it is.

Kakashi: Favouritism?

Yamato: More like wisecracks about holding a torch for you. 

Kakashi: Haha why. Do you have a crush on me, Tenzō?

Yamato: You know the answer to this one. Next question.

Kakashi: What makes u think I know the answer?

Yamato: You’re the smartest person in this village. And we see each other every day.

Kakashi: We all have our Shodaime’s nipple

Yamato: Some of us more than most. Let’s try a different question. How many times have we kissed each other?

Kakashi: 7. 9 and a half if u count missions 

Yamato: Where are you getting the half from?

Kakashi: CPR

Yamato: Ah. So, in those nine-and-a-half moments... You didn’t have any suppositions? Inferences? Lessons gleaned from experience? 

Kakashi: Four and a half of them we’d need to discount for recall, and the last few are harder to report on due to observer bias

Yamato: The observer bias in you gauging my romantic feelings.

Kakashi: Yes

Yamato: Because you would like?

Kakashi: You

Yamato: Me to what?

Kakashi: Long-term romantic roommates, eventually

Yamato: Oh.

Kakashi: Yeah. Do you mind?

Yamato: No, I don’t mind. Maybe we can start with dinner and a walk first? 

Yamato: And Kakashi? I long-term romantic roommates you too. 

Kakashi: That’s a funny way to ask me on a date. 💘 See u in an hour?

Yamato: It’s on.

[sequinsmile-x]

I physically cannot stop thinking about Emily’s reaction if Jack asked her to officially adopt him and be his mom. I think she’d turn into a puddle of tears omgggg

hiii friend <3

I know this is likely a little different to what you were thinking, but I really hope you like it!

I decided to write it like this because Jack Hotchner turns 18 this month!! Which is insane. So it felt like a nice way to kind of acknowledge that <3

Please do let me know what you think! -x-

Building Blocks

A few months before his 18th birthday, Jack has an important question for Emily.

-x-

Words: 2.4k

Warnings: none!

Read over on Ao3, or below the cut

Emily sighs contentedly as she steps onto the porch of her home, the thought of an evening with her Hotchner boys, after she’d been away for almost a week, was just the balm her weary soul needed. She digs through her purse for her keys, but the door opens just as she grabs them, her fingers wrapping around the worn and faded keyring that was a photo of her, Aaron and Jack that had been taken shortly after they got together. 

She smiles as her eyes meet her husbands, the sight of him casually dressed in jeans and a polo shirt enough to undo her even after all these years. She was more in love with him today than she had been when they got married. Something about the salt and pepper flecks in his hair, in the deeper laugh lines on his face, evidence of the joy of their lives etched into his handsome face, enough to make her fall for him again and again. 

“Hi sweetheart,” he says, stepping forward to stamp a kiss against her lips as he removes her go-bag from her grasp, slinging it over his own shoulder as he pulls back. 

“Hi,” she replies as she lets him guide her into their house, his hand on her lower back, pressing into the curve of it that had seemingly been made for him, “I missed you.” 

“I missed you too,” he says, stamping a kiss against her forehead. He puts her go-bag down, idly thinking that he’d take it to the laundry room later as he does so, “Jack did too.” 

Her smile gets softer as she thinks of the teenager, the boy who was only a few months off from being a man. It was hard sometimes to think of how many years had passed by, slipping through her fingers like sand as she watched him, her son, grow up in front of her. He’d started calling her mom years ago. A slow transition from calling her Emily into the moniker that meant more to her than she’d ever care to admit. Even now it still warmed her from the inside out, made her feel happy in a way she thought she was never destined to experience. 

They’d tried to add to their family, tried to give Jack a little brother or sister, but it had never happened for them. It still made her sad sometimes, the slightly out-of-focus image of a child that was half her and half Aaron always just out of her grasp. It made her relationship with Jack, the little boy who she knows she couldn’t love more even if she had carried him herself, all the more precious to her. 

“He actually wants to talk to you about something,” Aaron says, a knowing smile on his face that makes her stomach flip. It was how he’d looked at her before he proposed, a nervous edge to it as if he’d thought she’d ever say anything other than yes. She frowns in confusion as he tucks some of her grey hair behind her ear, and it only makes his smile wider, “Come on, he’s in the living room.” 

She lets him lead her there and she leans into his side, content to let the scent of him and his endless warmth overwhelm her senses, slowly drawing her back into the comfort of their home and away from the work that left her feeling weary more than it didn’t these days. Jack jumps up from where he’s sitting on the couch when they walk in, he looks nervous, anxious in a way that makes concern start to simmer low in her gut, a shake to his smile as he walks over and hugs her as she detaches herself from her husband to hug her son.

“Hi honey,” she says, hugging him a little tighter, “I missed you.”

“Missed you too, Mom,” he replies as he pulls back, his eyes flicking to Aaron’s as they exchange a look she can’t entirely read, as if they were privy to a secret she wasn’t, “I got you a gift.”

He leans down and picks up a gift bag that had been on the ground near the couch and he passes it to her. She smiles as she takes it from him, her eyebrows furrowing as she does so.

“Thanks, sweetie,” she says as she sits down, her smile turning curious as she sees Aaron smile and nod at their son encouragingly as Jack sits down next to her and Aaron takes a seat in the nearby armchair, “What’s this for?” 

It wasn’t her birthday for a few months, and even then Jack’s was the week before hers, and their anniversary had been and gone. Aaron, and Jack to an extent, had always been big into gift-giving. Her desk both at home and in the office were covered in things Jack had made her when he was young. A pen pot that was rudely painted, a mug that leaked from the moment he handed it to her, a proud smile on his face, and countless paintings he now claimed were embarrassing when he saw them. 

“Just open it, sweetheart,” Aaron says, clearing his throat to smother a laugh when she turns to look at him, her eyes narrowed slightly. She looks back at Jack and sees the matching expression on his face and she rolls her eyes lovingly at them. 

“You two are ridiculous,” she says, shaking her head as she pulls out a double picture frame from the bag, and she smiles widely at the two photos in it. They were both of her and Jack, the first from when she’d just started dating Aaron. It was one he’d taken of the two of them on one of their many weekends at the aquarium. She’d hauled Jack onto her hip as he spoke at her about the sharks they were looking at, one of his small hands tangled in her hair and the other pointing at the tank. She was listening intently as she held him in her arms, unaware that Aaron was capturing the moment she was now looking at, frozen in time and shining up at her from behind glass. 

The other picture is much more recent. It was taken just a few weeks ago at Dave’s house, at a summer barbeque he’d thrown for everyone from the BAU’s past and present an annual event they all enjoyed. Again, Aaron had taken the picture, forcing his wife and son to stand there, their arms around each other, as he got the perfect picture. The juxtaposition of the two moments next to each other makes her ache, the passage of time far too fast for her as she looks back and forth between the two versions of her son. The little boy who had once insisted she carried him around the aquarium and the teenager who was now taller than her. 

“Oh, Jack,” she says, looking back up at him, “I love it. I’ll put it on my desk at work.” 

“Maybe you could replace one of those paintings I did in the 4th grade,” he quips, smiling when she raises an eyebrow at him. He clears his throat, his smile turning slightly nervous again, “There’s something else in the bag.”

She looks back in the bag and sees a manila envelope, she pulls it out and opens it, gentle as she removes the paperwork that was in there. She freezes as she spots the title of the form, her heart seizing in her chest as she struggles to breathe for a moment.

Petition for Adoption of Minor

Superior Court of the District of Columbia 

She was his legal guardian, she had been since she’d married Aaron, but she’d always been careful to not overstep, desperate to make sure Haley wasn’t erased, that she was still part of their lives. It was enough for Emily, and she didn’t need a piece of paper to determine whether or not Jack was her son. 

She looks up at Jack and she lets out a noise somewhere between a laugh and a sob, her emotions overwhelming as they hit her all at once, “Jack…”

“I’ve been thinking about it for a while,” he says, swallowing thickly, “I spoke to Aunt Jess and Dad about it and they said it was up to me,” he explains, and she looks over at her husband, unsurprised to see the wistful look on his face, the tears shining in his eyes, “And I just kept thinking about how you’ve always been there as long as I can remember. I love my Mom, I really do, but I barely remember her,” he says, his voice cracking as he talks about Haley, about the mother he never got to really know. Her love for him clear in her sacrifice, “I remember you. You’re my Mom too,” he wipes a tear away from his cheek and she feels her own fall from her lashline, “I want to do it. I’m only a minor for another few months,” he says, shrugging one of his shoulders nonchalantly, “And I want you to be my Mom legally.”

His words hang in the air around them, laying over them like a comforting blanket, stitched together with their love for each other.

“Sweetheart?” Aaron says, his voice soft as he reaches over and places his hand on her arm. The touch brings her back to herself, her chest feeling hollowed out, nothing but love for the family she’d found in the most unlikely of places spreading through her. 

“Yes,” she chokes out, nodding as she clutches the paperwork fiercely in her hand, crumpling it together, as if she couldn’t quite believe it was real unless the paper was all but cutting into her skin, “Of course, I’d love to as long as you’re sure-”

She’s cut off as Jack throws himself at her, his arms tight around her as he hugs her fiercely, “I love you, Mom.” 

She hugs him back and turns her head to kiss his temple, something she hadn’t done since he was smaller, “I love you too.”

Jack pulls away and smiles widely at her, tears still shining in her eyes, “I’m going to go tell, Aunt Jess.” 

He’s out of the room in seconds, all of the previous nerves gone and replaced with excitement, helping him bound out of the room. Emily gives herself a moment to blow out a steady breath, her chin trembling with the force of the emotions she was feeling.

“You ok, baby?” 

She turns to look at her husband and slaps playfully at his shoulder, “You couldn’t have prepared me?” 

He chuckles, and she’s sure it should make her mad at him but it doesn’t, and he stands from the armchair to resettle next to her on the couch. He wraps his arm around her and pulls her into his side. He kisses the top of her head, his smile so wide she can feel it.

“He swore me to secrecy,” he says, kissing her again before looking down at her, “He was nervous.” 

She hums and leans in to kiss him, a quick thing stamped against his lips, “I…never expected…” 

She couldn’t put it into words, couldn’t express how she felt. Totally floored by the request from her son, and how it felt like a piece of the puzzle she hadn’t realised was missing. The answer to a question she’d never dared to ask.

“I know, sweetheart,” Aaron says, stamping a kiss to her lips again, as aware of her feelings as he always was, “I know.”

___

The adoption goes through two weeks before Jack’s 18th birthday. 

The courtroom was bustling with members of the BAU, both current and from the past, and Jess, all excited to watch as the judge declared the adoption was official. They all cheered, sharing hugs and handkerchiefs when there were inevitable tears from Penelope and JJ, and Emily thinks the last time she’d felt so intensely happy was on her wedding day, another polarising moment from her life that had happened in a different judge's chambers just down the hall. 

Dave insists on hosting a party afterwards, always happy to have an excuse to have everyone over. As the evening ticks on Emily feels herself getting slightly overwhelmed, the emotions from the day catching up with her, snapping at her heels as the party being thrown in her honour only really gets started. 

She seeks out solace in Dave’s home office, looking for a moment of peace, but her solitude doesn’t last long. There’s a soft knock on the door followed by it opening and her husband peeking around it. 

“Are you ok?” He asks, his concern clear as he steps into the room and closes the door behind him. 

“Yeah,” she replies, smiling tightly at him as she blows out a breath, “Just…I just needed a minute.”

“Do you want me to leave you alone?” He asks, and she shakes her head, reaching out a hand to him, inviting him to join her on the couch Dave kept in his office.

“Never,” she replies, smiling softly when he joins her. She immediately leans into his side, seeking out the comfort he always gave her. They sit in silence for a while, the only sound the rasp of the material of her dress as he runs his hand up and down her arm. She wipes a stray tear from her cheek and swallows thickly, making him look down at her. He hooks a finger under her chin and makes her look at him

“What’s wrong sweetheart?” He asks, wiping a stray tear from her cheek, “Today is a good day.” 

She nods, chuckling humourlessly, “I know, it’s the best day,” she says, clearing her throat in a fruitless attempt to get rid of the shake to her voice. “It’s just…I’m someone’s Mom.” 

It was something she couldn’t get her head around, something she had once told herself she’d never get. She was someone’s mother, a title that now went beyond the confines of their home, something that would be recognised by everyone. 

“Sweetheart,” Aaron says as he smiles at her and kisses her forehead before he pulls back, love for her, for their family, making tears press at the back of his eyes, “You’ve been his mom for a long time.” 

-x-

Tag list:

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[gamerbearmira]

Extension of rockband au-

The kids (not just the grandkids but them too) LOVE Julieta's bakery. She's just as famous as her sister but for a different reason. She's known as the "Baking Queen" on social media.

When younger kids between the ages of 4-7+ stop by her bakery and actually see her as a queen or princess. She doesn't mind either label. It fills Julieta's heart to see so many little babies view her in such a way. Especially when it's their first time seeing her.

Ahem-

It was the early morning and Julieta was just setting up shop. Her husband and daughters were helping put some freshly baked desserts behind the glass casing.

The place already smelled lovely as the sweet aroma filled the air. It was more than likely one or all three of the girls took something from the trays for themselves.

Not that Julie minded, there was enough for everyone, she made sure of it.

After everything was set up the castle like bakery was finally open! the time struck 9:30 and Julieta was in her queen attire. The outfit always brought a smile to her face.

The outfit brought back memories of her younger self dreaming of being a princess and in a way, she actually made the dream come true.

Her daughters and husband had their own work to do today so she gave them all hugs, kisses, and farewells. As they left through the door Julieta switched the "closed" sign to "open".

Pretty much everyone who knew of her existence knows her shop opens at 9:30 so it would be no surprise if people started rushing in. The first two people were a Japanese man and his daughter. She looked no older than 4 or five.

As always, Julieta held her signature and genuine smile. "Hola and Good morning! What can I get for you today?"

"What do you recommend for a birthday girl?" The older man smiled at her and looked down at his daughter who was dressed in princess attire.

Julieta's eyes widened and so did her smile. This woman LOVED birthdays. "¡¿Cumpleañera?! Oh my goodness...well-"

The royale woman walked around the glass casing and kneeled down next the girl. What she had in mind was something she knew would make a birthday girl happy-

"What's your name mija?"

The little girl stared up at the woman in shock. Was she real? was she really really real?! there's no way!

"M- Miyuki!" She stuttered. Before she could get another word in Miyuki asked the million dollar question.

"Are you a princess?!"

Julieta's heart melted and she smiled softly, "Yes, yes I am. Princesa Julieta of....uh...Bakery kingdom!" Julie became aware of that this girl must've been new to the neighborhood because every kid new her.

Miyuki's pupils dilated and she smiled as wide as humanly possible for a five-year-old. "Really?!"

"Yes I am. And as a gift from one princess to another, you get to have whatever you want in my bakery kingdom. As for the father of the princess, anything she chooses is free!"

Miyuki squealed a big "yay" and her father did the same but eternally. 

After the little girl got all the stuff, she wanted Julieta kneeled down next to her again.

"Would you like a picture with the princess, nina?"

Miyuki beamed once again and nodded vigorously. Her father smiled and took out his phone when both "princesses" posed for a photo. After the picture was taken, Julieta asked if he could take another one but with a small handheld camera.

"I love putting up photos of my young customers up on the wall over there"

she pointed over to a noticeboard that had a variety of pictures with her kneeling next to a happy kid. These were always aftermath photos of kids who thought she was a princess and/or queen.

The man obliged and helped take the photo. Once all that was done, she hugged Miyuki and bid her & her father off.

And like all the photos before, she pinned the new one to the one little space on the noticeboard. A soft smile on her face as she looked at the small photos. This is how far she has come with her life, and she couldn't be prouder of herself.

GOOD ON JULIETA REAL❗❗ At least she's got a successful business. Gotta love that entrepreneurship 🤭🤭

It's nice that kids like coming in, especially for birthdays, that's so cute <33 got kids coming in left and right, and that's cause Julieta know how to run a business fr🙏🙏 picture wall is a W too 🦅🦅

[sakurachan7734]

Love worth killing for 

Chapter 3: late night murder and walk&talk

Aristotle x Charlie

Charlie pov

It was about 11:00pm at night and both my dads were asleep and I know my and my other dad(079) don’t really need sleep since we computers but I am still trying to figure out what emotions are I know Zachary told me about them a week ago because I am experiencing these emotions as a robot I may need to check my motherboard for any updates since emotions aren’t normal for me

Aristotle all of a sudden flys onto the windowsill

Charlie: What do you want?

Aristotle: I want to hang out

Charlie: why?

Aristotle: my boyfriend and Zachary are hanging out and I’m bored

Charlie: didnt you have photo shoot today?

Aristotle: I did, but it went quicker than expected

Charlie: fine I want to ask some questions anyway and I don’t know who to ask

Aristotle and Charlie jump out the window and start walking

Charlie: so I’ve been meaning to ask you this for a long time but I’m pretty sure you’ve got this a lot but how does it feel being the child of a famous actor and you being well-known model?

Aristotle: well you are right I get that question a lot and it’s nice that we have a bunch of money just laying around but I feel like I can’t get any privacy My dad’s acting career really kicked off back in France and by the time I was 11 he became really well-known around the world so every time we will move the news and everybody in the place we moved to would go crazy and every time I go anywhere like 40 paparazzi take pictures of me

Charlie: I expected that answer but I can understand why you don’t like it

Aristotle: no, I didn’t say I hated being famous I just said it’s annoying that no one leaves me alone I remember one news article that came out around the time I came out as non-binary pansexual and when I started to do ballet and it said something like “Aristotle Polonoi comes out as non-binary but “they” do ballet. Well, that’s a female dance class”

Charlie: yeah, I could see why you think you get no privacy 

Aristotle: and the news articles where crazy when I started dating Zachary and a bunch of creepy men and women mad that I am dating somebody

Charlie: yeah, I heard about that and I’ve seen it too the fact that so many people just surround me to get a picture or an autograph and you seem really uncomfortable around all of them

Aristotle: yea I just say I don’t want my picture taken every time I leave the house but then people will get mad at me for not wanting my picture taken

Charlie: sorry if this is out of line but what emotion is that? 

Aristotle: I would say a mix of anger and fear

Charlie: what do you mean fear?

Aristotle: well I have had a few people yell at me or slap me if I deny a picture

Charlie: well I um can kill them if you want me too

Aristotle: no, you shouldn’t and sorry for kind of going on a rant over a little question

Charlie: oh it’s fine i’m pretty sure the people who ask you that aren’t really close friends of yours so you can’t really share how you really feel 

Aristotle: yea and I know that you are trying to learn how humans kind of work

Charlie: let’s change the tropic you seem to be getting uncomfortable

Aristotle: yea….you want to go kill somebody?

Charlie: hell yea!

Aristotle and Charlie start running around and killing people and laughing after every person they slaughter 

Charlie: hay can I ask I another question?

Aristotle:* stabbing a woman in the back* yea?

Charlie: why do you always wear that ring?

Aristotle:* Looks at their right hand* oh this? My sister gave it to me When we were in the woods

Charlie: how did your sister find a simple diamond rain in the woods?

Aristotle: well there is a portal to a kingdom nearby and we would take turns going into it to get food, blankets etc and when I got really sick my sister was the one that had to go get food and she decided to explore the castle a bit and stole the ring and gave it to me

Charlie: because both you and her are Crows and like shiny things? 

Aristotle: oh shut up lizard

Charlie: why because I’m right?

Aristotle: yes

Charlie: knew it

Aristotle: can I ask you a question?

Charlie: yea?

Aristotle: why does some big strong lizard like you wear two pink bows In your hair?

Charlie: my sister put them there and I just kept them there and are flirting with me?

Aristotle: no I can’t complement my best friend? 

Charlie: no you can it was just unexpected coming from you.

Aristotle: ok I won’t do it again

Charlie pov

A few minutes went by but it felt like hours with Aristotle I’ve never felt like this before about anyone but it feels weird because i know Aristotle is dating Zachary so I didn’t say anything I had to tell Aristotle I had to go home but they asked if we could hang out again sometime this week

End of chapter



[eternallongings]

Life continues to move even when we feel like we need a breather. With the access of having a phone to quickly snap a photo anytime and catch snippets of it on a video, we catch glimpses of those moments that we might’ve not had enough time to linger on or give it enough of our attention in the moment because - life continues to happen.

But every so often, we get a pocket of breath - like today - as I write this. A pocket of time where the mind has enough left in it and nostalgia pulls you in to the state of mind to finally give that moment its due attention.

The moment chosen for today is the day we miscarried for the first time. I knew I always wanted to write about it but never really being able to put things into words nor make up my mind on what was actually happening within myself.

But almost 3 years after the incident - I find myself looking back at that pivotal moment in time - revisiting it and see the ripples that it has sent to my present self.

I am writing this, from a completely different place in life. A full time mom vs a working mom. A mom of 1 vs a mom of 2 going on 3. A mom who lost 1 baby vs a mom who lost 2.

Many things have happened in that 3 years but going through the first loss made me reckon with things I simply bulldozed through before. And this is how it has changed who I was and who I am.

After being told that there was no heartbeat - we chose to wait for another month before the body would take its natural course to abort the pregnancy as opposed to going in for a d&c. And we knew that was the right thing to do. In that month, I had the most supportive group of coworkers who knew I would drop off the grid for a week when it happened. I was determined to continue life as usual and not dwell on the loss. It was after-all no big deal, right? So, on the day of the actual miscarriage - I went ahead with a training that was planned weeks ahead because I did not want to reschedule. Of course there were signs. I was already bleeding that morning - but I did not want to cancel. As a result, I was stuck in a uni bathroom - heavy bleeding and needed my mom to come and help me out. And then be caught in traffic while going through the sharp labor pains before finally gaining relief once we got home. And that was it - my body had ended the pregnancy.

I did not grieve. Probably because I already knew what was going to happen. Or maybe I did not want to let myself do that because dwelling on it would’ve made no difference. And maybe I wanted to let future me deal with it - and dealing with it I am.

The whole incident put me in a situation where I deeply questioned my own need to people please and what my career meant to me. Maybe I was already on the brink of a burn out because I was constantly feeling like I wasn’t doing enough - yet also feeling overwhelmed. It made me relook at my inability to say “no” and put my own needs first. Coupled with some not great management- I made the decision to eject myself from my job - where satisfaction felt extremely fleeting.

Little did I know - I was about land myself into an even worse situation but that’s reflection for another day - the death of my corporate career.

The questions that i incessantly continued to ask myself that day, will propel me down the path that I have taken today - to learn to advocate for myself - even when the culture says this is how things need to be done - without being disrespectful or feeling the need to invalidate another’s truth in order to validate my choices in life.

To a certain extent, I’d like to think I see life with a certain clarity on this side - yet - as I look back at old photos I do see that I am constantly battling a cynicism and pessimistic view of the world and people; one that is tempted to distrust and label - then I remember - I am able to just be. And people and just do their thing.

I just need to recognize the providence and calling of the moment - and everything else will sort itself out.

The Lord has been good to us. The experience of loss and subsequent grief is one I’ve allowed myself to not resist because if not learnt, I might find myself back in the same places again and again. I have learnt that in the wrestling, to relent and allow for life to be restored - not by me - but by the One who holds it all in Him.

[breathenbounce]

THE LUCKY ONES

As we travel throughout life, we look around us and sometimes we find ourselves joining a certain club without our knowledge. It's a club my teacher and new friend Rina calls "the comparison club." We go on social media and see people have things experiences that we are like I wish we could have that, or look how happy they are, I wish I was that happy. When we go to the gym, some of us look at people there and say boy I wish I could look like that. By doing this, we are missing a much bigger picture than Kodak, the photo company that provides pictures for those special "kodak moments," you know, the ones you see on social media.

Its very easy to fall into the trap of seeing what other people have and wanting a taste of that life or whatever is going on with them. However, we must always remember that two things about these people. One, they worked like hell to get that happy or good looking and they came from hell and back to get there. They have learned very hard lessons. I am not talking about the material shit. i am talking about people smiling and looking happy. The second and most probable, this is the wallpaper and siding to cover up the glass that surrounds them in their house. They want to portray an image of happiness through material items and lifestyles. We must not pay attention to that crap. Sure, you want to give a like and move on, OK. And if that is the way they want to live, do you guys. I am glad you feel good. However, the big question, do you really?

This world has many distractions and detractors to take us off our game. The material things, the demands, the conditioning, everything is meant to test us. To tempt us. To see if we understand what the true meaning of happiness is life.

Maybe you heard this, maybe you don't. Happiness is within you. You have to really work to find it. Admitting that is half the battle.

We surround ourselves with things. Material things that are status symbols. Try to hook up with people who we look up to because of their standing in life. For trying to feel better and look cool. The one thing I will tell you its not how you look, it's how you feel. We look at some of these people, the kodak moment people, the rich people, the smiley people, and say they are so lucky. I say to hell with that. We are all lucky.

We are lucky that we got to wake up today.

We are lucky to have an opportunity to make things better for ourself. Whether its 1 percent or 100, progress is progress no matter how big or how small.

You look at people who are fighting cancer have some medical condition that is horrible, live in a place like Flint where clean water is not guaranteed. Many of these people feel grateful that they have more time. They have another moment.

Moments are the true currency we have. If we can make the most of them, we truly can be rich. This isn't some toxic positivity speech. It's truth. I know because I have been fighting myself for years. I have compared myself to others. I have let others influence my thinking. I have for the first time taken full responsibility for all that I am and all that I do.

Once you find that ability, the game changes. The feelings changes. The war becomes a battle. And the fight becomes more of a march. It takes years to work on it. And we never stop working on it.

And once you figure that out, you are truly one of the lucky ones.

Namaste,

M

[u-aremy-sky]

UK 08.11 live recap

He first greeted everyone and asked how we were doing. He was a little late so he apologized. He had been working out earlier apparently and also he did his release event at VV Shibuya earlier in the day.

He was very excited and joyful, which put everyone in a good mood. He answered a lot of fan questions but before that he announced his release event schedule. There are still 7 release events to complete to promote the release of his mini album Vivid UK coming out on October 8. He was happy because a lot of people came to see him and he is getting a lot of support from them, also he is gaining more followers each day so it encourages him a lot. He said that he was in a very good spirit and that he was very grateful for the love he received. He said he loved his fan very much, he even introduced himself saying « Hello everyone this is your boyfriend/lover » when he started the live lmao

Several questions were asked during the live, I did not understand all of them but I can quote mine and a few others from Japanese and foreign fans. I asked him what he did today and he said that he had a release event earlier in the day which lead him to announcing the other event dates. Someone asked him if he had any pet to which he answered he had none. He was asked if he had a sister. He confirmed he had three sisters and added he had recently been in contact with his family. During the live, I mentioned that Kizuato was one of my favorite songs among those he created and upon our request he sang a little part of the song. Which lead to other fans suggesting songs for him to sing. Among which were Follow me and Checkmate. Many of us told him that he was looking good and seeing him so happy made us really happy. He felt very touched and thanked everyone for their heartwarming messages.

He told a short story about his childhood at some point, explaining that he didn’t like being called cute as a child as he thought this wasn’t a manly quality. He said that as a young man he preferred to be called sexy or handsome. But now that he’s grown up, he feels very happy when people say he’s cute. He also showed us his ID to prove his age because a fan asked how old he was and then some fan teased him saying he looked like a baby. So he showed the proof he was 29 and would turn 30 next year in May. He also showed a picture of him that was taken before he went to the military (which he proceeded to stick to his cheek lmao).

He was acting very goofy throughout the whole live which was really nice to see. He was very happy to see that there were new fans that joined the live and some of them were from France so he greeted us in French. He said he wanted to go back to France and was ready to fly anytime. A French fan said they were going to Japan by the time his album would be released and asked if he planned on doing lives during that period. As he didn’t see the question the Japanese fans got his attention and asked the question in Japanese which was really kind of them. I believe he answered that it would be difficult to do so but he would try his best. I am not sure about that though. At one point in the live he reiterated that he was really happy to receive so much support and that it mattered to him and I told him that he was not alone. I had told him before that I liked his energy and that I was able to have a lot of fun thanks to him. He was really touched by those words and thanked everyone again.

At the end of the live he said he would upload the schedule for his upcoming events on his page and that he would keep it pinned for everyone to see. He said he would update it frequently. And then as usual he asked for fans to suggest poses to do for a little photo time.

I forgot to mention that he said he was curious about which song of his people liked the most. So everyone put their favorite song in the chat.

The live is still available in his reels section on his Instagram page if you wish to check it out.

[tom1bombadil]

Battambang to ?? 27.6.25

So, today I woke up and felt well enough to drive. I have been super crook the last few days, similar to how I had been sick in Cao Bang. I was holed up in a hotel in Battambang. I didn’t get to explore the area which is frustrating. It supposedly has stunning scenery paired with an equally dark history. It was here I splurged on a delicious kebab plate, reminiscent of Aladdin Chicken in Newy. It was really really tasty but in hindsight equally as dodgy. Turns out that Western medications doesn’t always work for Asian sicknesses and by fuck I was sick this time. Fluids being excreted out of my body every which way you can imagine. Not that you would want to. Sorry.

I packed up my stuff and left. No more than five minutes after my departure was I directed by workers who had a truck blocking the road I was following. They gestured to use an alternate route to what my maps were showing. Okay, fair enough. No questions asked. This was not uncommon in Asia….

….I was directed over a bridge, and once I had crossed, I was rounded up by Cambodian police officers. The guy that pulled me over looked like an orc. No joke, his nose had been demolished and looked to be sewn back together by hand. He spoke no english and I was shit scared. What the fuck had I done. He gestured for me to park my bike. I was pulled over to a tent by another two officers.

It was there I met the head honcho, who also didn’t speak English but was familiar with google translate. He spoke ominously in Khmer into his smart phone. The translation read“50000 or Jail.” Surely he didn’t mean dollars, I didn’t look half rich in my current withered state. “Why?” I shrugged my shoulders and gestured. Officer Orc smiled and came lumbering over to show me a picture through his cracked phone screen. A red circle with a cross through the centre. The international symbol for one way, no entrance. I honestly didn’t think the photo was even from the same bridge but in that moment I think I made the right decision not to argue my case. I paid up the and got out of there.

When the sunlight hit my eyes I realised I was not alone in my arrest. Many Cambodians were lined up and distraught. They too had to pay the 50000 Reil ($18 AUD) for the traffic violation. It seems some new the drill. The paid up and got out of there. Those who couldn’t were brought to the tent to make phone calls to I assume friends and families that could cover the fine. The ones that could not were put in the back of a truck and taken away to god knows where.

At first, I thought it could’ve been an honest mistake. That me and my fellow arrestees failed to read an obvious traffic sign. My naivety vanished when I saw a police officer make his way over the bridge and pay the workers of the truck that had altered our paths. I’d heard from friends that Cambodia was corrupt as fuck, I just hadn’t seen it yet. I’m glad I had 50000 in Khmer cash, a rarity for me this last week. I doubt I would’ve got any change back from my $100 bill.

I continued on my drive, pissed off and increasingly wary. There were police everywhere. It must be revenue raising day for the government. Need some extra dosh to fund their lavish end of financial year dinner party while the majority of commoners live day to day in fear of poverty. Either that, or the police were all desperate to line their pockets. I know a government job doesn’t pay as well in Cambodia as it does in Australia. Probably gets you hated more by than the people than being an Australian copper too. Either way, these blatant shams of desperation and explotation build distrust amongst people, wherever you may live. I felt relieved that I could ride away not to bothered. This interaction would have no dire consequences for my future. I knew there would be serious repercussions for the other Cambodians caught up in the mix.

I managed to ride another 5 hours towards my hopeful/ idealistic destination of Kampot. By this time I was weak, exhausted, dehydrated and could feel my small meal of two 7/11 Danish’s trying to escape their human vessel. I’m in a hotel fuck knows where writing this now. Quite a memorable day really.

Oh yeah, also got new SIM card from a legend who wouldn’t let me leave until he got a selfie and sent it to me on Facebook. He told me he send it to his family first. It’s stuff like this, and days like today, that to me, makes Cambodia, Cambodia.

[winter-cheshire-writings]

Echoes and Experiments - Chapter 18:

Albedo spent the next few weeks doing some light work and having it sent back to Mondstadt while he was with Mieko, also conducting research while she worked on her flower studies and drawing her designs. They were just finishing up taking photos of Mira in the prototype pieces, Mieko ecstatic about seeing the purple haired woman wearing her designs. “This is amazing…” She said softly, operating the Kamera she had bought for the trip. She had been using it for the scenery and the flowers, but she was glad that she was also able to use it for this purpose.

Once the photographs had been taken, Mieko felt a hand on her hip. “Yes, Albedo?” she turned to him, smiling.

“How are you feeling? Not exhausted yet?” He questioned. The light work seemed to be helping a bit, and all the time they spent resting in between also seemed to assist. However, he was wary of letting her out of his sight at this point, especially since she was spending a lot of time awake.

“I'm doing well today, I think.” She smiled. “Do I seem like I'm not…?”

“No, it's not that.” He replied. “Just monitoring your condition.” They both looked up when they heard Mira call out to Cyno, seeing him run off.

“Ah, that doesn't look good…” Mieko said as Tighnari and Mira ran off after him. “Do you think they're okay?”

“I'm sure they'll be fine.” Albedo replied. “It sounded like Cyno was professing his affections for Mira.” He added.

“Eeh, that so?” She asked, smiling. “Well… I hope it all works out for them in the end.” She said, a far off look in her eyes. Albedo nodded, taking her hand.

“I'm sure it will be fine.”

-

“She what?” Diluc stood up from his chair and hurried to see Mieko, Natalie rushing after him.

“She collapsed downstairs, when she was about to come inside for some water.” Adelinde bowed her head. “She’s in the infirmary now, resting.”

“They just got back from Sumeru, I hope she didn't get sick from that…” Natalie said, heading to the infirmary room with Diluc. Mieko had come to spend the day at the winery since Albedo had to, rather reluctantly, work out in the field, so he couldn't have Mieko around since she wasn't a knight. Diluc opened the door slowly and walked to the side of the bed, looking at Mieko laying there.

“Stop staring, Diluc. I'm fine.” She said softly. “I was just dizzy…”

“Mieko.”

“I'm fine.” She repeated, opening her eyes. “I got up too fast from kneeling.”

“You are not fine, you blacked out.” He stated sternly. She sighed, Diluc checking her over. “Adelinde.”

“I shall get her some cold water.” She left the room and Mieko sighed again.

“How many times have you blacked out recently?” Diluc asked. “Did you encounter any more Abyss beings in Sumeru at all?”

“No, I didn't.” She sat up. “Only idiotic humans trying to hurt other people.” She added.

“And you didn't over exert yourself?” Diluc asked. “I will be asking Albedo when he comes to get you.”

“I fought to defend a new friend.” she sighed.

“Reaction caused?”

“Hyperbloom.”

“Mieko. It's no wonder you're exhausted. Hyperbloom is far too aggressive a reaction if you were handling it without a healer.”

“I'm fine.” She retorted. Diluc sighed, reaching to pet her head. “Please, don't tell Albedo…”

“Don't tell him? Mieko-”

“Please, Diluc…” She looked up at him. “I… I can't let him worry about me anymore… Please.”

“If it happens again, I won't let you avoid the conversation.” Diluc stated. Mieko nodded. “Drink your water and go to sleep. I'll tell him you needed to lay down if you're still out when he comes by.”

“Thank you.”

-

“Asleep?” Albedo looked to Mieko, still asleep in the infirmary bed.

“Shall I wake her?” Diluc asked.

“No, that's fine. Has she been feeling alright otherwise?” He questioned.

“She seemed fine, when she got here… She looks pale, though.” Diluc replied, looking mildly troubled.

“She has been… I asked her to see a doctor but she keeps avoiding it.” The alchemist stated, shaking his head.

“I knew it.” Diluc sighed.

“She wasn't well, then?” Albedo talked to Diluc outside, exhaling heavily as he wrapped up the explanation.

“I had someone look at her, she's definitely sick somehow, but the cause is unknown.” Diluc added.

“Unknown, huh?” Albedo nodded. “Thank you, for looking after her.”

“She's been like an older sister to me since I was a child… She used to look out for me all the time. Of course I would return the favor if she needed it.” Diluc replied. He knew Albedo cared about her, and he knew that the Chief Alchemist was more soothing for Mieko than anyone else. “Make sure that you protect her… Because you're the only one she'll allow to do so.” He added before heading back to work. Albedo balled his hand into a fist.

“That was a terrible way to say it.” Natalie sighed. “Diluc is always like this…”

“Even so… I do need to protect her.” Albedo replied to the girl.

“No, you don't.” Natalie replied. “Mie can protect herself… What you need to do is protect her heart.” She smiled. “Cause she's never done very well protecting her own…”

-

Months went by, and Mieko was having good days and bad ones. Albedo was doing his best to not interfere with her work, but some days he would hear about things going wrong. Today, he was talking with Mona. “Normally I wouldn't think twice about leaving a relationship alone due to it being too much to maintain… I do not understand why I can't do the same with Mieko…” Albedo stated simply. Mona nearly dropped her snack when he said that.

“That's because you're in love.” Mona sighed at him. “Is it really that difficult for you to grasp? Miss Mie has been with you for 4 years, you clearly think about her more than almost anything else.” She added. Albedo sighed.

“In love…” Albedo still didn't understand, even though he knew he was very attached to Mieko. “I see… Then I haven't just been saying the words because that's what she wants to hear?” He smiled a little.

“Have you been saying it just for that?!” Mona slammed her hand on the table, surprising the alchemist. “What is wrong with you?! Have you been toying with her this whole time?!” Albedo explained about the original arrangement, and Mona was 5 seconds from slapping him across the face. “You asked her out as an experiment, and she agreed?” She slumped down onto the table. “You're both idiots.” She said. “You're an idiot for not just asking her normally, and she's one for agreeing.”

“Am I?” Albedo asked.

“You are. It's no wonder she's always saying stuff about how she'd do anything for you… She's trying to please you because she doesn't want you to let her go.” Mona pulled the brim of her hat down over her face. “And it's no wonder she's always so incredibly sad…”

“Sad?”

“She's living moment to moment, thinking that even a little slip up will cause you to walk away.” Mona replied. “She's trying day in and day out to stay at your side, but she's always saying ‘I don't want Albedo to worry.’. I thought it was just her trying not to concern you, but it was because she assumes it's still an experiment.” Mona glared up at him. “You had better tell her properly, how you feel. Stop stringing her along. I can only imagine how she feels, having all that information and being so attached to you.”

“Tell her properly?” Albedo questioned. “What do you mean?”

“Tell her it isn't an experiment anymore.”

“But it is still an ongoing-”

“Albedo, that's probably one reason she's suffering so much!” Mona exclaimed. “Knowing you only think of your relationship as an experiment after 4 years? It's no wonder she hasn't completely fallen apart yet.”

“Oh…” The realization hit Albedo, finally, that just because Mieko was ‘alright with this being an experiment’ didn't mean she wasn't stressed by it. But simply leaving wasn't an option now… He sat and pondered for a while about what to do, and what would be best for Mieko, Mona sighing to herself. She hoped that push would be of some help to Mieko and Albedo. Seeing them both tearing themselves up about this was ridiculous. Especially when everyone around could see how attached they were to one another.

-

“You… What?” Albedo heard the disappointment in Mieko's voice as he walked into the shop. There were 2 people in the shop with her, both bowing their heads to her. She put her hand to her face and sighed. “I can't believe this, you lost the shipment?”

“What?” Albedo asked, walking over to her. She turned to look over her shoulder at him. “How did you lose that shipment?”

“Albedo.”

“Please, forgive us!” They explained the situation, Albedo listening and rubbing Mieko's back. This order had been lost in a sandstorm, and though efforts were being made to retrieve it, they had been unable to find anything yet. “We understand this is a huge loss, but we will be sure to repay you for any losses! This was our blunder!”

“Very well…” Mieko sighed. Albedo let them leave, hearing Mieko grumbling to herself as she flipped through her finance log. “That was an immense amount of Mora…” She closed the book and shook her head. “And the amount I need to recoup is too high…” Albedo watched her, smiling to himself. On days like this, he felt like she might be recovering a little. She kept grumbling to herself and checking around the shop until she noticed him staring at her. “I'm sorry, I-”

“Please, don't apologize.” He replied, noticing her flinch at his words.

“I… But I'm…”

“You're having a hard time, thats all.” Albedo replied. He knew the mishap would have happened at some point, but for it to be on this shipment? He knew Mieko well enough by now, she was panicking. Even if it didn't show as much as Sucrose or anyone else's panic, it was clear to him. “Let's go up to Dragonspine for the night.” He said, making her turn to him. “You need to rest.”

“I feel like that's all I've been doing.” She replied softly. “I feel useless, Albedo…”

“You aren't useless, Mie.” He replied.

“But I'm burdening you, clearly. You're constantly checking on me when you have work you could be doing… Experiments you could be performing… I'm distracting you…” She whispered. Albedo wasn't going to deny that, she was distracting him immensely. But he was letting her distract him. He never had any problems leaving people behind to do what he needed or wanted, but with Mieko it wasn't the same. He was compelled to watch out for her, he felt like he needed to protect her. He sighed, looking up at her.

“Mie… I wouldn't be here if I didn't want to be, you know that.” He said, leading her out of the shop and up the path to Dragonspine. Once there, Albedo got to work, letting Mieko prepare dinner at her insistence. They spent the night quietly together in his camp, Albedo keeping an eye on her as he worked. She didn't fall asleep immediately, but she seemed more at ease here than in her own shop at least. Albedo held some solace in the fact that he could do this much for her, looking up as the snow began to fall. “It's quite late for snow…” He said. “It should be spring already.” He caught a snowflake on his glove, watching it melt. “I wonder… What caused this? The weather reports showed no signs of snow.” He glanced back at Mieko, seeing that she was finally asleep. “Hm… I wonder if this is your fairy friend, watching out for you, darling.” He smiled a little. “It shouldn't be plausible, and yet… You have me curious.” He went back to working as the snow continued to fall. “I wonder, Mie, if that's one of the reasons I cannot let you slip away?”