#i keep pausing to just keep looking at him

[sixeyesonathiel]

nerd!satoru who yaps nonstop about the multiverse while you’re just trying to eat your lunch, waving his hands around dramatically as he explains the concept of alternate dimensions with half a rice ball in his mouth and crumbs stuck to the corner of his lips. who pokes at his food with a mechanical pencil because he forgot his chopsticks again, and then insists with wide eyes and a mouth half full, “technically, pencils are just wooden utensils for intellectuals.” he gets giddy over a new graphing calculator update like it’s a new iphone drop, tapping the screen like it’s a baby animal, and once dragged you into a 40-minute rant about ant communication hierarchies while you were just brushing your teeth, half-asleep and mouth foaming with toothpaste.

he has no less than ten tabs open at all times—reddit conspiracy theories, physics forums, a paused youtube video on quantum tunneling, a spreadsheet titled “do cats defy newton’s laws?”, a google doc labeled “reasons why kissing might be a form of molecular alignment,” and none of it has anything to do with the assignment he’s supposed to be doing. he zones out during lectures, doodling black hole spirals, equations shaped like hearts, and cats in lab coats in the margins of his notes. once, he drew you holding hands with a worm in a bowtie and captioned it “me and my universe.” somehow still manages to get top marks every single time, even though he once turned in an assignment with a greasy fry stain in the corner because he used it as a napkin in the library mid-cram session.

he mutters the weirdest things under his breath like “i feel like a misaligned proton today” or “the moon’s energy was too sarcastic last night” and you just blink at him like🧍‍♀️while sipping your drink. he wears mismatched socks on purpose and says, “it’s a metaphor for duality.” has five alarms labeled “wake up genius,” “ur gonna flunk,” “your girlfriend will leave you,” “pls satoru,” and “EMERGENCY: CUTE, PRETTY AND SCORCHINGLY HOT GIRL WAITING” and still manages to sleep through all of them unless you call him. his glasses? perpetually smudged, held together with washi tape. his notebooks? an unholy fusion of complicated theorems, grocery lists, pressed flowers, cat doodles, love notes to you, and a page just titled “top 10 reasons why my girlfriend is cuter than entropy.”

his laptop is a biohazard—dusty, overworked, full of files like “time_is_an_illusion_final_FINAL_reallyfinal_actuallyfinal.pptx” and “uRwrong_iMright.docx.” the case is covered in anime stickers, tiny equations, stars drawn with glitter pen, and a wrinkled polaroid of you sticking your tongue out that he keeps taped on like it’s a sacred relic. he listens to lo-fi while studying and pauses every few minutes just to sigh dreamily and whisper, “this part sounds like you looking at me for the first time.”

and yet… he’s so fine it’s borderline illegal. tall, messy white hair that sticks up in all directions and defies every known force of nature, ice-blue eyes that melt when they look at you, and a cocky little smile that makes your chest hurt even when he says things like, “do you think our cells are spiritually linked?” he doesn’t even try to be charming—he just is, like he spawned with a flirt trait.

you fw it. you fw him. every unfiltered ramble, every hyperactive explanation about wormholes or why he thinks bees are secretly time travelers. the way his voice speeds up when he’s excited, and how his hands start waving like he’s conducting an invisible orchestra of nerdiness. you don’t even bother trying to follow every word—you’re just watching him, heart doing somersaults, because he’s so beautiful when he’s passionate. and the fact that you never laugh at him? only ever smile and let him go on? yeah. that cracked his emotional firewall a long time ago.

so now he’s all sunshine and sparkles around you. a literal bundle of joy. grinning at his phone like a middle schooler when you text him “lol ok.” kicking his feet while giggling, voice memos full of stuff like “what if we held hands inside a particle accelerator 😳👉👈” sent at 2:13 a.m., followed by three minutes of him wheezing into a pillow. he calls you his “favorite constant,” even if you don’t get the joke. and if you do? he twirls his hair, blushes, and stares at you like you just split the atom and made it cute.

he makes playlists named “gravity got nothing on how hard i fell for you,” draws you in lab coats saying “ur the thesis to my hypothesis,” keeps your photo in his pencil case and shows it to random people like “this is my girlfriend. she understands my quantum jokes.” if they blink weirdly, he’ll just smile and say, “it’s okay, not everyone gets theoretical perfection.”

being loved by you makes him goo. makes his neurons do the macarena. you make all his bizarre little pieces light up like neon signs. you walked into his strange little world and said “yeah, i’ll stay,” and now he’s rearranging every cosmic thread to make sure it’s perfect for you. adds fairy lights. labels his notebooks “our theories.” buys matching pens. you made his chaos feel like a cozy little planet. he buys you plushies shaped like atoms and puts your name in the acknowledgements of his lab reports. tells people “she’s the reason the data graphs came out prettier.”

nerd!satoru who’s helplessly, hopelessly, tooth-rottingly in love with you. who grabs your hand mid-ramble just to feel you close. who brings you hot cocoa and explains entropy like it’s a bedtime story. who kisses your forehead and tells you “you’re my favorite anomaly in this whole universe.”

and he thanks you—not in grand declarations, but in the quiet moments: when he scoots closer to you without saying a word, when he tugs on your sleeve with glassy eyes after a long day, when he looks at you after an hour of nerding out like you built the whole galaxy just to hear him talk.

his world was spinning way too fast. then you walked in and gave it gravity. and now he orbits you—and he’s never been happier to revolve around anything in his life.

[sweetlovepascal]

closed doors

pairings harry castillo x reader

summary you had his cock in your mouth under the desk when his clueless assistant walked in with a clipboard in hand, rambling about contracts while harry kept a straight face, only to bend you over that same desk the second the door closed as he fucked you like the spoiled little brat you are.

“do you feel me? this is how deep i am inside you.”

content nsfw 18+, explicit sexual content, semi-public sex (office setting), rich bratty reader, power dynamics. established relationship, unspecified age gap. proceed with care.

masterlist

you’re curled up on the velvet chaise in the corner of harry’s sleek glass-walled office, swinging one leg lazily, wearing a minidress that really shouldn't be appropriate for a business visit. but it’s harry. and you’re not just anyone.

he’s seated at his desk, speaking sharply into a call. you watch the way he moves.

fingers tapping, jaw tight, voice low and commanding.

and he hasn’t looked at you in twenty full minutes.

you rise slowly, crossing the polished floor without a word. he notices you in his peripheral but keeps speaking.

you perch on the edge of his desk. then slip down beneath it.

"get—get that document signed by noon," he says tightly.

you grin against the fine wool of his trousers as your fingers slowly trace his thigh. you tease.

you take your time undoing his belt. he’s gripping the desk now.

harry pauses, hand covering the mic. “don’t start something you can’t finish,”

you look up through your lashes, sugary sweet. “watch me.”

you palm him first, lazily, until he’s thick and twitching beneath your touch.

you draw his big thing out and lean forward to press a kiss to his tip. not a real kiss. a tease.

you swirl your tongue around the head. slow and wicked.

harry’s voice falters on the phone. “yes, we’ll finalize the contract.”

your tongue flicks the underside of his crown, and he grips the desk with white knuckles.

you don’t take him in yet. you smile, kiss him again. whisper, “why aren’t you watching me, harry?”

harry end the call and finally looks down. his jaw tight and eyes dark.

just as you begin to close your mouth around him, there’s a knock.

“mr. castillo?”

you pause. look up. smirk.

“let him in.”

harry glares at you like he might drag you to hell. then clears his throat.

“come in.”

his assistant walks in, clipboard in hand. business as usual.

except you’re still under the desk.

you drag your tongue up his shaft. slow strokes of your hand. sucking just the tip, softly. he bites the inside of his cheek.

“move the contract to next week,” he says, voice strained. “and tell legal to revise clause four.”

the assistant eyes him warily. “are you sure, sir? you told legal to finalize it today.”

harry clears his throat, jaw flexing. “yes. i changed my mind.”

there’s a beat of awkward silence. you suck him deeper.

“sir… you seem a little… tense,” the assistant says hesitantly.

harry’s voice is hoarse. “it’s been a long day.”

“would you like me to reschedule your 3 p.m.?”

you flick your tongue. harry exhales sharply. “no. keep it. anything else?”

the assistant flips a page. “only the fundraising gala. you’re supposed to finalize your guest list.”

harry locks eyes with the wall. “i'll put you on it.”

pause. “me?”

harry’s voice turns deadly calm. “do you need me to spell it out?”

“no, sir. i’ll take care of it.”

when the door finally closes behind the assistant, harry's grip is firm when he yanks you up from under the desk, and he doesn’t say a word at first.

not with his jaw clenched like that, not with his cock slick from your mouth and his knuckles white from how hard he’d gripped the chair.

"you want to act like a brat in my office?” he hisses. “fine.”

he throws you onto the desk, dress bunched at your hips.

you gasp, breath catching. he slides your panties with one hand, the other tight at your back.

“now you get to take it.”

“hands on the desk,” he murmurs, voice like velvet and command all at once.

you obey without question, your palms on the cool wood.

the city stretches behind the glass walls, glittering and unaware. this world. yours and harry’s.

his hand drags down the curve of your spine as he steps behind you.

“you know what this does to me,” he says, breath rough at your ear. “knowing no one can see you like this but me.”

you glance back at him with a playful glint in your eyes.

harry slides in from behind in one long, punishing thrust. your moan shatters the quiet.

he moves inside you like he’s trying to memorize the way you feel.

“sweetheart,” he murmurs, voice soft against your skin. “you undo me.”

“you wanna tease me like that again? make me sit through a meeting with your lips wrapped around my cock?” you nod.

“you’re soaked, i could live inside you.”

he thrusts hard. the desk shakes. you cry out.

“you gonna be good now?” he pants.

you grin through glassy eyes. “probably not.”

“then i’ll fuck the attitude out of you.” he brushes your hair back and presses a kiss on your shoulder.

he keeps moving inside you. the city glows, but he’s the one setting you alight.

“this little act of yours,” he mutters, pressing a kiss to the nape of your neck between movements, “your mouth on me with my assistant a feet away…”

“you let him in,” you gasp, voice shaking. “you could’ve said no.”

he laughs against your skin, deep and breathless. “you’d already wrapped me around your finger.”

you arch into him, and his rhythm falters. harry groans your name like it’s sacred.

“you’re mine,” he says,

you breathe. “i’m yours.”

“you are. every spoiled inch of you.”

his hand slips from your hip to your stomach, pulling you back against him while he keeps moving inside you slower now.

“do you feel me?” he murmurs at your ear. “this is how deep i am inside you.”

when you come, shaking around him with your cheek pressed to the desk and his name breaking in your throat, he follows with a low shuddering moan and a kiss to your shoulder.

he’s gives you all the parts of him no one else gets.

when he pulls out, he doesn’t move far. just wraps an arm around your waist and rests his forehead to your back, breath still uneven.

[yurizq]

can I request Yuta smut pls 🙏🏾

ෆ You were only supposed to tutor him.

Late nights at his dorm turned into longer nights, until the space between you shrank into soft shoulder brushes, shared laughter, and those lingering glances he never meant to hold for so long. He’d start biting his lip when you leaned over him. Fidgeting. Swallowing hard. Sometimes he’d squirm in his seat when your hand grazed his thigh under the table.

Yuta wasn’t subtle.

But he was innocent. And sweet. And all the more heartbreaking when he finally stammered, one night, “Can I try something? I—I trust you.”

You didn’t make him beg. Not for the first time.

You kissed him slow. Let him breathe. Gave him time to squirm and adjust as you sank down on him for the first time, your cunt swallowing his virgin cock inch by inch while he moaned like he didn’t know pleasure could hurt that good. His fingers clutched your hips, trembling, and he came too fast—hips twitching up into you as he whined, “I-I’m sorry—!”

You didn’t stop.

You held his face. Told him it was okay. Kept him hard inside you, cockwarming him while he shivered and panted under you, already overstimulated but clinging.

That was hours ago.

Now you’re still riding him—slowly, gently, his swollen cock dragging against your soaked walls with obscene, sticky sounds as his body writhes beneath yours. He’s cum at least four—no, five? six?—times inside you, and you’re sure he doesn’t even know anymore.

He’s gone.

Sweat drips down his neck. His pretty hair sticks to his forehead. His eyes flutter weakly, rolling with each thrust of your hips as you keep bouncing on him, trying to coax just one more orgasm out of him. His voice is hoarse, cracked from sobbing, and he’s shaking so badly you finally pause, hovering over him.

“Yuta…” you murmur, brushing his soaked bangs back, your breath heavy. “Baby, we need to stop.”

He blinks up at you, confused, like the words don’t register.

“I’m serious.” Your voice softens. “Look at you. Your legs are shaking, you’ve cum so many times… I think I’m gonna break you.”

“No,” he breathes, still dazed. “No, please—don’t stop…”

His hands grab your hips—weak but desperate—and he bucks up suddenly, thrusting into you.

You gasp, gripping his shoulders. “Yuta—!”

“Please…” he sobs, and the panic in his voice hits you harder than anything. “It still feels good—need you to move, need you to keep going—wanna cum again—”

Your heart stutters.

He’s crying—again—but his cock is still twitching inside you, hot and hard and sensitive, like his body refuses to give up. He thrusts up again, helpless and frantic. “I don’t care if I break—I want it. I want you—please—”

You bite your lip.

“Baby,” you whisper, brushing tears from his cheeks. “I’m scared. You’re so out of it, and I—what if I hurt you?”

“You won’t,” he cries. “You won’t—you never do—just wanna be good for you, please…”

He sounds like he’s begging for his life.

You don’t move for a moment, your hands cupping his flushed face, your thumb tracing along his jaw as his hips twitch up into you again—this time weaker, but just as desperate. His eyes are glassy. His lips trembling. He looks like he might start sobbing again if you stop.

You swallow thickly.

“I need you to promise me,” you murmur, slowly easing your hips down to let his cock sink in deeper. He moans—broken and high. “If it gets to be too much, you’ll tell me. You’ll let me stop.”

“I—I promise,” he breathes, and even though he’s barely holding on, the words are honest.

You nod, kissing his forehead.

“Okay.”

And then you ride him again—this time not slow. You roll your hips harder, grinding deep, letting the sounds of your slick and his soft whimpering fill the air as your hands cradle his head and you fuck him through another orgasm.

He doesn’t even warn you.

He just screams, full-body shaking, tears streaming down his cheeks as hot cum spills inside you again, thick and pulsing, cock twitching with no rhythm. His fingers dig into your skin and his sobs melt into nonsense.

You kiss him.

You hold him.

You stay on him, unmoving now, warm and full, keeping his cock inside you as he cries into your chest.

“You did so good, baby,” you whisper. “You did so, so good.”

And even as he breathes shallowly, shaking like a leaf, he still clings to you like he’ll die if you leave.

“Don’t—don’t pull out,” he mumbles.

You don’t.

Not yet.

[neonbonded]

I Heard the Heartbeat and I Broke a Little

♡ ft. Caleb, Xavier, Rafayel, Zayne, Sylus x fem!reader ♡ cw: pregnancy, first ultrasounds, emotional devastation (soft), quiet tears, twin reveal (Sylus), stoic boy meltdowns, chaos disguised as tenderness ♡ a/n: they all swore they’d stay calm. They all lied. You hear the heartbeat, and suddenly the bravest men in the galaxy are on the verge of crying, fainting, or starting a baby-proofing war plan.

Caleb

He tries to be calm.

Really, he does.

You’re holding his hand—well, more like crushing it—and Caleb’s doing his best to be composed. He smiles at the nurse. Makes a dumb joke. Rubs your knuckles.

But the moment that grainy little flicker shows up on the screen?

The moment the room fills with the steady, quick-thudding whump-whump-whump of a heartbeat?

He stops breathing.

The grin drops off his face like it was never there.

His fingers go still.

His eyes are locked on the screen, wide and unblinking.

“That’s… that’s ours?” he whispers.

You nod, voice catching in your throat. “Yeah.”

And then he laughs.

A breathy, broken little sound—half-sob, half-hysterical wonder. Like his whole body can’t decide whether to melt or combust. He turns toward you, eyes shimmering.

“I didn’t—I didn’t think I could feel this much.”

His hand cups your jaw, thumb stroking just beneath your eye. “You’re growing a whole person. Our person. That’s my kid in there. Our kid. I—”

He can’t finish the sentence.

He buries his face in your shoulder and laughs again, shaking a little.

“I’m gonna be a dad,” he says against your skin. “And they’ve already got my whole heart. I’m so screwed.”

You kiss the side of his head. “You’re not screwed.”

He pulls back, smiling through tears.

“No,” he says, looking at the screen again.

“I’m the luckiest bastard in the galaxy.”

Xavier

He’s quiet when the screen lights up.

Not his usual stillness. This is different.

His posture doesn’t shift. His expression barely changes. But you feel it—the way his hand tightens slightly around yours, the way his breath catches just a second too long.

And then the heartbeat comes through.

Whump-whump-whump.

Quick. Strong. Inarguably alive.

Xavier blinks once. His eyes lock on the grainy blur on the screen like he’s calculating a threat.

But there’s no threat.

Just something small. And safe. And yours.

“That sound…” he murmurs, voice low and careful, “is them?”

You nod, not trusting your voice.

He stares a moment longer, then lowers his gaze to your stomach—like he's only just realizing what’s been there this whole time.

“I thought I understood,” he says softly. “What this would be. I thought I was prepared.”

A pause. He shifts in his seat, fingers grazing the edge of the ultrasound photo the nurse just handed him.

“I wasn’t.”

Another silence.

Then, so softly you almost miss it:

“I’ll protect them. Always.”

He says it like a vow. Not dramatic. Not performative. Just fact.

Like this heartbeat rewired him.

You lean your head against his shoulder.

He doesn't speak again. Doesn’t need to.

He just keeps staring at the screen like he’s watching the future take its first breath.

Rafayel

He's already being too much before the machine even starts.

Kissing your hand like you’re royalty. Calling the OB “a vessel of the divine.” Whispering, “Are you ready, my muse?” in your ear like this is a movie premiere.

You roll your eyes. “Rafayel, it’s an ultrasound.”

He leans closer, eyes glowing with mischief. “And what is an ultrasound… if not the first brushstroke of our greatest masterpiece?”

You don’t have time to reply before the screen flares on—and just like that, he goes silent.

Utterly. Completely.

You turn to look at him.

He's frozen. Wide-eyed. One hand over his mouth like he just saw the face of a god.

The heartbeat kicks in.

Whump-whump-whump.

And he loses it.

“Oh,” he whispers, voice breaking on the single syllable. “Oh—look at them. Look.”

You do.

But Rafayel? He’s already gone.

Tears pool at the edges of his lashes—long and unblinking, like he’s terrified that blinking might erase the moment. One escapes down his cheek. He doesn’t wipe it.

He grabs your hand with both of his, reverent. Desperate. “They’re so small,” he breathes. “And they’re ours. You—you made that. In you. I—we—”

He lets out this overwhelmed little laugh-sob that turns into a hiccup halfway through.

Then whispers, “I need to paint this.”

You blink. “Babe. It’s a blur of static and bean-shape.”

“Exactly. It’s pure. Abstract. Untouched by symbolism. It’s raw emotion, darling.”

You stifle a snort. “Are you crying?”

“I am feeling,” he snaps, brushing a tear away dramatically. “Leave me be.”

He presses a kiss to your wrist like he’s grounding himself in reality.

“Promise me something,” he murmurs.

You nod.

“When they’re born... remind me I loved them first. Before I even met them.”

You lean in. Kiss his cheek.

“I think they already know.”

Zayne

Zayne keeps his eyes on the screen the moment it flickers on.

His hand is holding yours, but it’s stiff. Careful. Like he’s trying too hard not to feel anything too early. Trying to stay clinical. Detached. Professional.

Like he’s just here to observe.

Then the sound hits.

Whump-whump-whump.

The heartbeat. Fast. Alive. Steady.

Your baby.

He doesn’t move.

Doesn’t speak.

You glance over, expecting some sarcastic comment. A critique. Something.

But his jaw is tight.

His eyes—sharp, exact, always calculating—are suddenly unreadable. Blank in the way only Zayne can manage.

He doesn’t blink.

Not even once.

“Zayne?” you whisper.

Nothing.

And then—

Quietly.

Like it slips out without permission.

“…It’s real.”

He exhales hard, like he’d been holding his breath without realizing it.

His fingers tighten around yours. Not painfully—but with intensity. Like if he lets go, it might all disappear.

“I’ve seen thousands of heartbeats,” he murmurs. “Monitors. Flatlines. Fibrillations. But this…”

He swallows. Looks down at your hand in his.

“I didn’t know how different it would feel when it’s… ours.”

There’s something cracked open in him now. Something bare.

You watch his throat move as he swallows again, hard.

Then, softer:

“I didn’t think I’d be scared.”

You squeeze his hand. “You don’t have to be perfect.”

He finally turns to you. His eyes are glassy, but he’s holding it in like always. You can see it—the quiet shaking underneath.

“I’m not scared of messing up,” he says. “I’m scared of how much I already love them.”

You lean in, rest your forehead against his.

“They’re going to be okay.”

He closes his eyes.

And lets himself believe it.

Sylus

Sylus is leaning against the wall like this is a business meeting and not the moment his entire future is about to implode.

Arms crossed. Mouth set. Watching the monitor with laser focus, like the image might suddenly sprout a threat he can neutralize.

Your hand is in his, resting on your belly. The gel’s cold. The nurse is smiling. Everything feels calm.

Until—

Whump-whump-whump.

The first heartbeat kicks in.

Sylus doesn’t move.

Then the nurse tilts her head. Frowns slightly. Adjusts the wand.

“Oh,” she says casually, as if she’s not about to detonate a bomb in the room. “There’s another.”

You blink. “Another what?”

She clicks something.

“There are two heartbeats.”

You stare at her. “As in—?”

“Twins,” she says, cheerfully. “You’re having twins.”

You whip your head toward Sylus.

Still frozen. Still unreadable.

Except for the twitch at the corner of his mouth. The subtle roll of his eyes. The very long blink like he’s internally rebooting.

Then, under his breath—just loud enough for you to hear:

“…I’m f*cking surrounded.”

You choke on a laugh. “Babe.”

He doesn’t respond immediately. Just rubs a hand down his face like the weight of responsibility has suddenly tripled.

Finally: “I agreed to one. One tiny parasite. We had a deal.”

You grin. “Babies don’t do contracts.”

He mutters something about renegotiating with the womb gods before slouching down in the chair beside you, staring at the screen like it personally betrayed him.

The nurse keeps talking—measurements, due dates, baby A and baby B—but he’s not hearing any of it.

He’s calculating. Strategizing. Probably already planning to fortify the nursery.

Then he turns to you. Deadpan. Quiet.

“I’m going to need more weapons.”

You squeeze his hand.

“More diapers, you mean.”

He scowls. You can see the crisis brewing behind his eyes. But he still lifts your hand to his lips and kisses your knuckles like it’s instinct.

And then—very softly:

“…They’re gonna be so small.”

You nod. “And they’re yours.”

He leans back. Stares at the ceiling.

“God help me,” he mutters. “I’m gonna love them stupid, aren’t I?”

You smirk. “Already do.”

He groans.

But doesn’t let go of your hand.

Not for a second.

[dollyswishingwell]

If it’s not too much trouble, could I request Zayne, caleb, Xavier, rafayel and Sylus as sugar daddys with a slighter younger reader, they think that they are in a relationship with her but she thinks its Just a agrement

ᯓ★ˎˊ˗ Sugar Daddy

𝒲𝒾𝓈𝒽 𝑔𝓇𝒶𝓃𝓉𝑒𝒹 𝒻𝑜𝓇 ˙⋆✮ Rafayel, Zayne, Xavier, Sylus, Caleb

𝒢𝑒𝓃𝓇𝑒/𝒲𝒶𝓇𝓃𝒾𝓃𝑔 ˙⋆✮ Fluff, lowkey crack lol

> ࣪𖤐.ᐟ You thought it was an arrangement cause they’re rich lonely men

𝙍𝙖𝙛𝙖𝙮𝙚𝙡 °‧🫧⋆.ೃ࿔*:･

It started simple enough. He paid off your apartment lease, moved you into his seaside mansion, and started buying you shell-pink lingerie and rare mineral skincare.

You thought: “This man’s unhinged. But generous.”

Rafayel thought: “My wife is shy about our marriage. That’s okay. I love her anyway.”

So when you posted a thirst trap with the caption “sugar baby summer ☀️🐚🦞”—he saw it while in the ocean, holding a sea cucumber in one hand and his waterproof communicator in the other.

Cue: rage.

“You keep calling me your sugar daddy,” Rafayel said as he stalked into the art studio, still dripping saltwater, his hair messy and eyes glowing faint pink. “But I don’t pay you. I provide for you. There’s a difference.”

You, lounging on a velvet settee with a shell-polished mani, looked up from your phone. “What do you mean you don’t pay me? That dress last week was two thousand credits.”

“I gifted you that dress. My wife deserves nice things.”

“…Wife?”

Rafayel blinked, visibly glitching. His cheeks flushed violently red. “We live together. I cook for you. You sleep in my bed.”

You raised a brow. “Yeah. My sugar daddy’s bed.”

“Sugar daddy?” he repeated like it was a slur. “No. No. We’re married. Mentally. Emotionally. Spiritually.”

You laughed. “That’s not how marriage works.”

“Then why do I have a framed photo of us holding a wedding cake?”

“You Photoshopped it.”

“It was artistic interpretation!” he snapped, visibly scandalized. “You said you liked fondant!”

𝙕𝙖𝙮𝙣𝙚 ⋆꙳•❅‧*₊⋆☃︎ ‧*❆ ₊⋆

You’d always thought it was a mutually beneficial arrangement.

He pays. You stay. You kiss his cheek, sit pretty in his car, and wear whatever designer thing he quietly orders in your size.

Simple.

He even let you pick out your own suite in his house.

You figured: he’s busy, rich, emotionally constipated, probably just lonely. So yeah, of course he’d want a sugar baby.

You thought you were doing him a favor.

But now you’re sitting on a plush armchair in his hospital’s private lounge, post-lunch, in a dress he bought, eating from a gourmet bento box he prepared, and you’re watching Zayne argue with his secretary over why you’re not on the hospital’s “visitor” list.

Because according to him, you live here.

“She’s not a visitor,” Zayne says, flipping through a chart. “She’s my wife.”

Your bento slips from your chopsticks.

“I—I’m what?”

He doesn’t even look up. “You moved in seven months ago.”

“Because you offered. For convenience.”

“Exactly.” His tone is flat. “It’s inconvenient to have my wife living somewhere else.”

You blink. “Zayne. I’m not your wife.”

He blinks once, looks up at you through his silver wire-frame glasses. “Then why do you have a house key?”

“Because you gave it to me!”

“After I asked you to come home and you said ‘okay, fine.’ That implies consent.”

“…That’s not how marriage works!”

He’s quiet. Then: “You said you wanted a pet, so I cleared out the sunroom. You use my car. You take my cards. I pay for your appointments.”

“Because you’re my sugar daddy!”

He stares. “You think I’m paying you?”

You pause. “You… you’re not?”

He slides a hand into his coat pocket, pulls out his phone, and opens his finance app.

“You have full access to all three of my accounts,” he says calmly. “You’ve made 82 discretionary transactions this month. That’s not payroll. That’s shared income.”

You sit there, stunned. “You let me think I was just your sugar baby.”

“No.” His expression is unreadable. “I assumed you were playing dumb because you liked the pampering.”

“…I thought you were a lonely rich guy paying for company.”

Zayne’s gaze lingers on you, then flicks back to his notes. “I’m not lonely. I just don’t like anyone but you.”

You whisper, horrified, “Oh my god. I’m your wife. I’m a surgeon’s wife.”

Zayne hums, flipping a page. “You’re slow, but you’re pretty.”

You clutch the bento like a life raft. “I posted a haul video and called you my sugar daddy!”

He pauses. “Yes. And I deducted it as marketing.”

𝙓𝙖𝙫𝙞𝙚𝙧 ⋆⭒˚.⋆🪐 ⋆⭒˚.⋆

It started with snacks.

You joked that you needed a sugar daddy to fund your weekly strawberry mochi addiction, and Xavier, half-asleep on the roof with his hair tousled and his cheek smushed against his arm, mumbled, “Okay. I’ll do it.”

You thought he was kidding.

Then he paid for your groceries.

Then your rent.

Then bought you an entire capsule wardrobe in pastels and said, “This matches the aesthetic of our home.”

Your what?

You chalked it up to his eccentricity. After all, he did fall asleep in the middle of your second date and told you the moon smelled nice. Sugar daddies come in all forms. So what if yours has glowing gloves and no concept of sleep hygiene.

But things started getting weird.

Like how he always introduced you as “my partner”—never girlfriend, never sugar baby, just “partner.”

Like how he kept calling your shared apartment “our residence” like you were in a government file together.

Like how he casually said “When I die, you can have my body.”

Like that time you offhandedly called him “Daddy” and he tilted his head and asked, “I thought I was your husband?”

You thought he was being weird-cute.

But now he’s standing at a street stall holding up matching rings made of polished crystal with little etched moons on them, deadpan as ever.

“For the ceremony,” he says simply.

You choke on your boba. “The what.”

He looks at you, eyes soft and distant, like this is all normal. “Ceremony. Vows. I wrote them on napkins so they wouldn’t feel corporate.”

“…You what.”

“I also took the liberty of contacting the Association for legal alignment. They’re sending us paperwork. I marked you as a domestic dependent. For benefits.”

You just stare. “Xavier. I thought you were my sugar daddy.”

A pause.

He tilts his head. “You think I’m paying you to love me?”

“…Aren’t you?”

“No,” he replies simply. “I thought you were pretending to be a sugar baby because you were shy about being a newlywed.”

You gape. “We’re not even dating.”

Another pause.

He looks down at the rings, then at you. “Do you want to be?”

“Xavier, I—this whole time I thought—”

He steps closer, slips the ring onto your finger gently.

“I don’t mind if you were confused,” he says softly. “I already decided. You’re my future. You just hadn’t caught up yet.”

You whisper, shaken, “So… I’ve been accidentally married to a vigilante prince with a bounty?”

He nods, content. “Yes. And I’m making pasta tonight. Would you like garlic bread or the usual?”

𝙎𝙮𝙡𝙪𝙨 ✮ ⋆ ˚｡𓅨⋆｡°✩

You assumed it from the beginning.

I mean, he literally bought you a black diamond necklace because you said it reminded you of licorice.

He replaced your apartment’s entire furniture set after sitting on your couch once and saying, “This is a war crime.”

He bought out the nail salon because he didn’t like how the technician filed your pinky crooked.

You figured, obviously, he was one of those rich men. The ones who don’t blink at a seven-figure price tag and expect kisses in exchange for shopping sprees.

And you were fine with that.

He’s hot. Smug. Slightly terrifying. A perfect sugar daddy.

But today… something’s off.

You’re lounging on the velvet chaise in one of his private armories (because yes, he has more than a dozen), twirling a custom-cut ruby between your fingers, when you offhandedly say:

“By the way, I saw this article about other sugar babies. One girl got a whole yacht. You’re getting outdone, Crow.”

There’s a pause. A long one.

You glance over.

Sylus is standing by the console wall, red eye glowing faintly, head slightly tilted. Amused. Dangerous.

“I’m sorry,” he says slowly, voice a touch too smooth. “Sugar baby?”

You blink. “Yeah. Me.”

He starts walking toward you, deliberate and slow. You sit up a little straighter.

“You think I’m paying you?” he murmurs. “To tolerate your presence?”

You squint, cautious now. “I mean, you kind of… do?”

He stops in front of you, leans down, bracing a hand on the back of the chaise, his face inches from yours.

“Darling,” he murmurs, voice a purr. “You’re not a sugar baby. You’re mine.”

You open your mouth to argue, but he gently takes the ruby from your fingers and tucks it into your palm.

“You live under my security network. You wear my crest. You sleep in my bed. You use my money. You wear my gifts. You kiss me when I’m bored. And you think… I’m just lonely and wealthy?”

“…Well, when you say it like that—”

He interrupts, brushing a lock of hair behind your ear with a featherlight touch. “If I wanted a sugar baby, I’d buy one. If I wanted a servant, I’d command one. But you…?” His eyes burn. “You’re something else. Something I chose.”

“…So what does that make me?”

He smiles. It’s infuriating.

“My wife,” he says simply. “Or my Queen. Whichever sounds less transactional to your pretty little head.”

You whisper: “Oh my god. I’ve been running around thinking I finessed you.”

Sylus tilts your chin up. “And I let you. Because watching you strut around in diamonds thinking you had power over me?” He leans in closer. “Adorable.”

Your heart stutters. “You’re insane.”

“Yes,” he whispers. “And you married into it.”

𝘾𝙖𝙡𝙚𝙗 ⋆｡ ‧˚ʚ🍎ɞ˚‧｡ ⋆

It all started so innocently.

He said he’d take care of you, like he always did.

He moved you into a private Skyhaven penthouse.

Got you the most ridiculous home holo-system, complete with mood lighting and a closet that auto-reorders designer pajamas.

Gave you his card, the black one, the one with no spending limit.

Told you, with a soft laugh and glowing purple eyes, “I just want you to be comfortable, pips. That’s all.”

So you assumed.

Obviously.

You were like 90% sure this was a sugar daddy arrangement.

Hot. Rich. Overprotective. Always home from missions early just to cook for you.

Paid for your skincare routine like it was military strategy.

Let you lounge around in his flight jacket like some spoiled little darling.

You didn’t question it.

Not until you found him in the kitchen one morning, freshly showered from a mission, his uniform half unbuttoned, hair still damp, and he’s casually flipping through a parenting e-book.

You freeze. “Uh. What’s that?”

He doesn’t look up. “Just reading about early language acquisition in toddlers.”

Your stomach drops. “Why.”

Caleb blinks at you with that usual warm, teasing look. “You said you liked the name Artemis, remember? I think it’d suit our first daughter.”

You stare. “OUR—what?”

He finally sets the tablet down. “I was thinking two girls and a boy. But I’m open. We can start with one. I don’t mind.” He smiles. “We’ve got time.”

Your jaw hits the floor. “I thought I was your sugar baby, not your wife!”

Another blink.

“…Wait,” he says slowly, like the concept physically doesn’t compute. “You thought I was paying you to love me?”

You gesture to the entire apartment, the infinite shopping tabs, the imported strawberries he personally orders every Sunday.

He’s still confused. “You’re mine,” he says plainly, like it’s the weather. “You’re not some transaction. I’ve been in love with you since we were kids.”

“That doesn’t mean—!”

“I wake up next to you. You wear my shirts. You make little sounds in your sleep and steal the blankets. You call me ‘baby’ when I hand you your tea.”

You open your mouth. Nothing comes out.

“I’m not your sugar daddy, sweetheart.” His voice drops. “I’m your husband. You just haven’t said yes yet.”

“…You never asked!”

“Oh.” He laughs softly. “I will. But it doesn’t change anything.”

He crosses the kitchen, wraps his arms around your waist. “You belong to me,” he murmurs, smiling into your neck. “And I’m gonna make sure you’re safe and spoiled and loved every day of your life. Then we’ll raise our kids in a better world.”

You whisper: “I thought this was just brunch and lingerie money.”

He pulls back just enough to kiss your forehead.

“It was always forever.”

[calypso-rt]

flower for your thoughts?

rafe x florist!reader

Rafe didn’t know what possessed him to walk into the flower shop.

Maybe it was the ridiculous heat. Maybe it was the sign outside that said “Today’s Special: Sunflowers and Serotonin!” Or maybe it was you, standing behind the counter, tucking a daisy behind your ear like it belonged there in your pretty hair.

He stopped in the doorway and promptly forgot how to breathe.

You looked up with that soft, welcoming smile. “Hi there! Looking for something special?”

Rafe blinked. Then blinked again. “Uh…”

You tilted your head, waiting patiently.

“…Yeah,” he finally said, eyes darting wildly around the store. “I need… flowers.”

Your smile grew. “Well, you’re in luck. That is what we sell here.”

Rafe cleared his throat. “Right. Yeah. Obviously.”

You gently walked over, wiping your hands on your apron, completely unaware of the war Rafe was having internally over how pretty you looked surrounded by petals and sunlight. “Do you have someone in mind? A girlfriend? Anniversary? Apology bouquet?”

“No! I mean—no, not… no girlfriend.” He paused. “I mean, not yet.” He immediately wanted to slam his head into a vase.

You laughed, the kind of laugh that sounded like the beginning of spring. “Alright then, mystery bouquet it is.”

Rafe nodded, gripping the edge of the counter like it was keeping him upright. “Cool. Cool, yeah. Just, uh… make it something that says ‘I like flowers, but also I’m, like, masculine?’”

You raised an eyebrow but didn’t tease him. “I think I’ve got just the thing.”

Ten minutes later, he left with a wildly chaotic bouquet of wildflowers and eucalyptus, cheeks slightly pink, and your business card tucked in the pocket of his hoodie.

He swore he didn’t even like flowers. But now? Now he needed a reason to come back tomorrow.

Maybe he’d say his “non-girlfriend” really liked the bouquet.

Even if he never gave it to anyone but himself.

...

By the third week in a row, you’d stopped asking why Rafe was back.

But he still offered an excuse. Every time.

“These?” he said, glancing at the pastel bouquet you’d just wrapped for him, the one he picked out himself with surprising focus. “Uh… they’re for my aunt.”

You raised an eyebrow. “You said last week’s were for your aunt.”

“Right. Yeah. Different aunt. On the other side. Of… the country.”

You tried not to smile. “Must be a lot of birthdays in your family.”

Rafe nodded solemnly, like he was grieving the sheer number of imaginary relatives he had to account for. “Yeah. Big flower crowd. We’re, uh, really emotional people.”

The bell above the door chimed as he left, muttering something about 'floral therapy.'

You watched him go, messy hair, sweatshirt sleeves half-pushed up, carrying a bouquet like it was a precious artifact, and shook your head, heart a little warm.

You had no idea where the flowers were actually going. But you had a strong suspicion they were sitting on his kitchen table. Next to last week’s. And the week before that.

...

It started as a casual thing, just a silly game you played when business was slow and Rafe dropped by, pretending to browse.

You’d hold up a bloom and quiz him.

“Okay, what’s this one mean?”

He squinted at the delicate purple petals. “Uh… it’s giving... mild anxiety?”

You laughed. “Lavender. It means serenity.”

He rolled his eyes. “Same thing.”

The next time, you handed him a daffodil. “This one?”

“Sunshine? Or, like, happy?”

“Rebirth,” you grinned, “but I like your answer too.”

Over the weeks, he got better. Remembered a few. Asked questions. You didn’t think he was taking it seriously, until one rainy morning when you arrived to unlock the shop and nearly tripped over something on the front step.

A bouquet.

Messy, imperfect, and so very Rafe.

Red tulips. Honeysuckle. White lilac. A sprig of camellia.

Declarations of love. Bonds that can’t be broken. Youthful longing. Admiration.

Tied together with something makeshift: a gray hoodie drawstring knotted around the stems, fraying a little at the ends.

No card.

But you didn’t need one. Because when you looked up, Rafe was across the street, umbrella in hand, pretending to check his phone, failing to hide the smile tugging at his lips.

You ducked your head, cheeks warm, heart thudding.

You’d teach him the meaning of every flower in the world. But he just taught you what it meant to be seen.

[kisses4themissus]

The Applesauce Crisis | M.R X Reader

a/n: thank you so much @lovebuggyies for letting me write this prompt with robby ♡ pairing: Michael "Robby" Robinavitch X Single Mom!Reader wc: 2.1k

series masterlist ¦ send me a love letter ¦ kisses4themissus 1k celebration

Sitting quietly, lacey looked around her class room while her teacher passed out their snack of the day.

Kicking her legs, she waited patiently for her turn to receive her treat. 

Mckenzie, a ginger five year old sat across from lacey, applesauce pouch in her hand, napkin laid out in front of the two girls. “Mhmm, i love applesauce!” Mckenzie announced, lacey giggled and nodded with her friend as her teacher handed a pouch over.

“Me too, my grammy gives them to me all the time!” Lacey nodded, sipping on the pouch happily.

“My dad puts on in my lunch box, says it keeps the doctor away!” A little boy beside the girls chimed in, as the words registered in lacey’s mind, she stopped.

She dropped her pouch in front of her, staring at it in horror.

“Keeps doctors away?” She asked, catching the attention of her teacher who chuckled and nodded. “Mhm, an apple a day keeps the doctor away!” She smiled before checking up on another child in need of help, not realizing what panic had hit lacey.

Quickly spitting it out into her napkin, lacey pushed her applesauce away to her friend, a look of shock on her face. “My mommy and daddy are doctors!” Lacey whispered to her friends, making them gasp.

Mckenzie stared at the pouch, taking it away. “You shouldn’t have any!” The young girl gasped for her friend. Lacey nodded and sighed into her hands as she thought over all the times she had eaten apples.

An apple a day, keeps the doctor away? 

- - - - - - - -

You yawned to yourself as you exited out of a patients room, watching as they got extubated. 

You hummed to yourself as you walked over to wash your hands. As you sat down to write out orders you stopped as your phone buzzed in your back pocket.

It had been a simple reminder for an ultrasound, but it was your background that stopped you. 

Due to yours and robby’s schedule you had barely had time to see lovebug off to school, by the time you and robby had gone to pick her up from the dance studio she was sound asleep.

You sighed at the picture of robby and lacey together. As you went to close your phone, another text came through. 

dr. grumpy ♡: We need to go shopping tonight, your mom texted that lace needs to bring snacks for friday.

You smiled and sent a response before going back to the computer screen. Hoping for the hours to fly by.

Thankful they did just so, you had gotten off a bit early since shen had taken over, rushing robby out of the ED. You both drove to your moms studio and walked to a practice room.

Peaking in, you both smiled as lacey stretched her little legs, tapping her feet swiftly, watching the older kids from afar.

“Psst!” You called out, making lacey look up, a wide grin broke onto her face.

“MOMMY! DADDY!” She yelled, running over to you both, her arms wide for a hug.

You laughed as robby picked her up and kissed her cheek as she squeezed him. “I missed your guys..” She muttered into robby’s collar.

“We missed you buggy, now go get your bag we have to go shopping right now.” You told the six year old who nodded and took off for her dance bag.

- - - - - - - -

The stores hustle and bustle made you sigh as you pushed lovebug in the shopping cart, she glanced around the basket, arranging things to be in certain corners.

“Incoming, caprisuns!” Robby announced as he placed the carton on lacey’s lap, she smiled and patted the box before placing it beside her. “Alright, what do you want to take for snack time?” You asked the six year old.

She paused in the cart, her little eyes glazing over each snack item.

Robby watched as she attempted to get on her knees to look at some crackers but stopped as the cart dug into her knees.

He walked over and lifted her up out of the cart, as he went to place her on the floor her legs stay around his waist. “Can you carry me?” She asked, pouting her lip. 

Robby chuckled and nodded, earning a happy noise from lacey before she continued her search.

Lacey smiled as she pointed to the box of golden oreos. Robby snickered, you shook your head as lacey turned with a puppy dog smile. “Can we get these mommy, please?” She asked, pouting her li ponce more for goodluck.

Being tough you shook your head and smiled at her. “Nice attempt but no, your teacher said no sweets.” You explained, going back to look at the shelves of snacks, seeing in your peripheral robby sneaking the oreos in the cart, holding a finger to his lips at lacey, who just giggled in return.

Letting the pair have their sweet treat, you stopped at fruit pouches.

“Ooh, this sounds good buggy, apple and mango pouch.” You smiled, picking up the box, you and robby turned to see her reaction only to see the flicker or excitement only to be covered by a look of disgust.

“NO!” She shook her head.

You and robby shared a look, agreeing to let it go for the time.

You quickly buried the pouches under their oreos and pressed on, it would be great for her lunches.

- - - - - - - -

Fighting the urge to go back to bed, there you stood at six in the morning, slapping together sandwiches for robby and lacey’s lunch bags.

You had gotten the day off thanks to gloria, who knew of your hidden pregnancy; being a mom herself she had made you take it off after you had shown up to the ED after your shift pale and dehydrated from vomiting that whole day.

As you looked over your pantry for anything else you stopped at the fruit pouches, you shrugged and opened the box and dug up three, one for robby, one for lacey and one for yourself and the baby.

You tossed them in, looking over to the clock on the stove, it read 6:07.

Meaning lacey and robby where meant to come grab their things in minutes. As you poured coffee into robby’s thermos, you smiled as footsteps entered the kitchen.

You turned to the pair with a smile. “Morning you two!” You greeted, taking a sip of coffee before screwing the lid on. 

“Good morning mommy!” Lacey squealed, running over to your small bump and cupped her mouth to it, “Night night baby!” She spoke softly, hearing robby in the past talk about the baby sleeping while you were up and active.

 You smiled warmly and ran a hand over her head, being careful of her hairstyle, little pigtails on the top, each were lopsided—A robinavitch specialty. 

Robby smiled at the sight before picking up the small lunch bag and shoved it in his backpack. Once finished he clipped lacey’s lunch bag to her small backpack. Lacey smiled up at you as you handed her a half a bagel.

Robby rounded the kitchen counter and grabbed his thermos; giving you a sharp look as he noticed a bit was missing. “Don’t say it, i know dr. robby!” You teased, shaking your head at him.

“Caffeine makes nausea worse, just the other day you had to get an IV for fluids..” Robby sighed, trying to hid his smirk as you and lacey mocked him.

“I’ll take a zofran if it gets too horrible, now go before one of you ends up late!” You playfully scolded, walking with them to the door of your apartment.

Lacey tugged on her velcro shoes before standing up and tilted her head down for a kiss. You smiled and dramatic kissed her head, doing the same to robby before watching the pair leave for the parking garage. 

“What should we watch for movie night?” Robby asked lacey as he held her hand to the truck.

Lacey thought about it for a moment before smiling at robby. “Tangled!” She laughed, making robby groan, knowing the reason why she liked the movie was because she thought langdon was flynn rider.

“How about robin hood?” Robby asked, helping lacey into her car seat in the truck. “With the fox?” She asked, unsure.

Robby nodded. “If you don’t like it then we can watch chicken little..” Robby offered, knowing the answer.

“Okay!” She nodded, smiling at him. Robby chuckled and got into the drivers seat, occasionally looking into the rearview mirror to see lacey kicking her legs singing tangled songs under her breath for the whole ride; excited for movie night.

- - - - - - - -

Lacey squealed as she sat down on the grass, some of the kids scattered nearby for lunch. Mckenize skipped over to lacey and sat down across from lovebug and began talking over their friends.

As lacey ate her lunch, she twisted open her pouch, assuming it was a mango one she had in the pantry. As she sipped on it, mckenzie let out a loud gasp, her eyes going wide at the label of the pouch.

“APPLES!” 

At her friends warning, lacey spit it out, half of the fruit pouch already gone. Lacey felt tears build up in her eyes.

“My–my mommy–!” She whimpered, tears starting to fall. Mckenzie panicked and flagg down another of their friends for help as lacey began to cry, thinking she’d never see her parents.

“Daddy said–said, we were gonna watch movies tonight!” She cried, hunching over onto the grass. One of the other kids patted her back, “you can come stay with me and my grandma, she has like three dogs!” One squealed, attempting to comfort their friend.

Lacey just shook her head and cried, thinking of how she’d no longer see jake, her uncle jack, aunty dana, her grammy but most importantly her parents.

The small crowd of kids caught the teachers attention, she walked over and noticed the kids trying to comfort lacey as she cried.

“What’s the matter honey?” The teacher asked, rubbing lacey’s arm.

“She ate applesauce, but it was an accident and now she won’t get to see her mommy and daddy!” Mckenzie explained to her teacher, holding up the half eaten pouch. “Why won’t you see your parents?” Her teacher asked, watching as lacey sniffed, wiping her eyes.

“Apples keep doctors away…” She sniffled, pausing before continue to cry.

“I miss my daddy!” she whimpered, holding onto her teacher who chuckled and grabbed her phone to call your number.

- - - - - - - -

Being called to the school, mae you scared.

You had barely walked into the office before you were hugged by lacey who rubbed her face on you. “MOMMY!” She sighed, taking in the smell of your clothes.

“What’s the matter buggy, your teacher called and said you were crying?” You asked, picking her up, thankful that she was light to hold.

“I didn’t mean to eat it!” Lacey shook her head, her teacher just smiled and held the fruit pouch out to you.

"There was a slight miscommunication, she thought by eating apples she would never see you or her father again since you’re both doctors..” The teacher explained.

You cracked a smile before turning to lacey who clung onto your neck.

“That’s a silly saying buggy, i still see people even if they eat apples!: You watched a lacey wiped her tears away, nodding as you explained it to her in detail.

“Do you want to go home or do you wanna stay with your friends?” You asked, watching as lacey pointed to her backpack on the plastic chair.

You turned to the font desk ladies and smiled. “It’s an early release then..”

As you and lacey got into the car, she had calmed down, her eyes still puffy from crying.

You both sat in the parking lot, your phone ringing as it waited for robby to answer the facetime.

Finally it connected to show robby in the breakroom, he smiled as you and lacey appeared in frame. “What happened lace, mom said you got out of school early?” Robby asked, watching as lacey sighed.

“I thought apples would make you and mommy disappear, and i cried at lunch cause mommy packed me applesauce and–and!” She stuttered as she explained everything to robby, who just sat and listened with a smile.

“There’s no amount of apples that would keep me from seeing you bug!” Robby reassured, making lacey nod, the call wasn’t very long due to robby being pulled away to a trauma but it was reassuring to the six year old.

That night lacey sat comfortably between you and robby as tangled played on the screen, you three on the couch all sipping on applesauce pouches.

"I like applesauce..." Lacey sighed making you and robby share a smile.

[muwapsturniolo]

Nightime Shenanigans 🐰ྀི C .sturniolo

"I got you baby, tell me what you want."

⟢ NSFW AHEAD!!! smut, fingering, dry humping, biting. mentions of smoking and being high.

@bernardsbendystraws for divider

Her stomach was in knots, her body rigid as she sat beside Chris on the couch, surrounded by his brothers.

It was her first time sleeping over, and despite her initial excitement, she now felt like bolting for the door. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to be there—she’d been looking forward to spending the night with Chris—but once the possibility of sex entered her mind, the nerves kicked in. She was still a virgin, and Chris knew that, but the uncertainty of what might happen made her anxious.

Then, seeing his brothers at home—meeting them for the first time, no less—only added to the pressure. She wanted to make a good impression, but instead, she was spiraling.

She remained tense the entire evening, barely saying a word—a stark contrast to her usual self. Chris noticed, confused by her uncharacteristic silence, especially since she typically had no trouble talking his ear off.

Eventually, Chris realized it was Nick and Matt making her nervous. He caught the way her eyes trailed after them with every movement, how her voice dropped to a near whisper whenever she answered one of their questions. It amused him a little—she was usually so bold with him, but now she looked like she was trying to shrink into the couch cushions. Still, beneath the humor, he knew her well enough to sense the growing overwhelm. If he didn’t step in soon, she might end up crying from the stress.

"Alright, Bun and I are heading to bed," he announced suddenly.

Relief immediately crossed her face—finally, an escape. But as she stood up and followed him down the stairs, that comfort quickly faded. Going to his room meant privacy… and privacy meant the possibility of that happening. The thing she’d been silently stressing over all night. One anxiety had ended, but another one was just beginning.

They stepped into his room, and she lingered near the wall, her body tense and unmoving as he quietly shut the door behind them.

Chris kicked off his Nike slides without a second thought, then flopped backward onto his bed with a deep sigh, letting the mattress swallow him whole. He lay there for a moment, eyes closed, fully relaxed.

When he eventually cracked one eye open, his gaze landed on her—still standing stiffly in the corner like she didn’t know what to do with herself. She hadn’t moved an inch.

“Bun… what are you doing?” He asked, a hint of amusement in his voice.

She bit her lip, glancing away before softly replying, “…Standing?”

He chuckled and pushed himself up on his elbows. “Yeah, that’s definitely what it looks like.”

He stood up fully and walked over to her. “Why are you just standing there all tense? Thought you’d relax now that Matt and Nick aren’t around.”

She shrugged softly, fingers nervously twisting together. He caught the nervous habit and his expression softened.

“Hey, talk to me, Mama. What’s going on with you?”

“I’m just… nervous,” she whispered, her voice barely carrying across the room. Chris furrowed his brows, studying her carefully, then nodded slowly. “Okay, you’re nervous… but about what?”

She swallowed hard, eyes dropping to the floor as she muttered something too quiet for him to catch. “You gotta speak up, Bun. I can’t help you if you’re mumblin’,” he said softly, stepping a little closer.

She huffed softly, her fingers twisting together as she fought to meet his gaze but failed. After a long pause, she finally whispered, “…I’m nervous about sex.”

The quiet lingers between them, thick and soft, like the moment right before a secret is shared. Chris watches her, noticing the way her fingers twist nervously and how her eyes keep darting away, searching for an escape.

He shifts a little closer, his voice low and gentle as he reaches up to toy with one of her curls. The touch is small but deliberate, warm enough to ease the tension between them.

“You know we don’t have to do anything tonight if you don’t want to,” he says softly. “I didn’t ask you to stay over because I expected sex. I asked because I wanted to be near you. To spend time with you. To fall asleep in the same bed.”

He smiles, quiet and reassuring. “If we do have sex, then we have sex—and I promise I’ll make sure it’s something you enjoy. But if we don’t... well, I’m pretty good at just lying here looking sexy."

His hand lingers near hers, steady and warm—a silent promise that he’s not going anywhere. The tension in her shoulders eases, and she lets out a small, relieved laugh—the first real sound she’s made all night.

She finally lifts her gaze to his, eyes wide and uncertain, shimmering with a fragile hope. “…You—you promise it’s okay if we don’t do anything? Like, you won’t be mad at me or anything?”

His expression tightens, brows drawing together with irritation. Fierce protectiveness. His voice was low, firm, and unwavering—every word a quiet command wrapped in care.

“Mad? Anyone who ever got pissed at you for saying no is a dumbass—and I’ll make sure they know it. You don’t owe anyone a thing. Not now, not ever. You call the shots. I follow. simple as that."

He grips her chin gently but with undeniable authority, holding her gaze without blinking. His voice is low, firm, yet carries a quiet warmth.

“You hear me? You don’t owe anyone anything, especially not me. You got that?”

She meets his intensity, swallowing hard before nodding, her shoulders relaxing as the weight of his words settles inside her. In that moment, she feels safe—protected by his unwavering care, something she didn't really feel in her past relationships.

He studies her face intently, searching for any sign of doubt or dishonesty. When all he sees is clear understanding, he nods slowly and releases her chin. Without hesitation, he wraps an arm around her waist and pulls her close, his touch firm but protective.

“Good. Now get your ass in bed and relax. I’m gonna step outside for a smoke real quick, then I’ll come lie down next to you. You need anything while I’m gone?”

She shakes her head softly, and Chris’s lips curl into a sly smile. Before she can react, he swats her ass sharply. She lets out a surprised squeal and jumps, and he chuckles quietly to himself.

With that, he turns and heads for the door, closing it behind him with a soft click.

She lets out a quiet sigh and drifts toward the bed, mumbling to herself as she climbs onto the mattress and settles in. About twenty minutes later, Chris walks back into the room, his eyes downcast and tinged faintly red.

He lazily peels off his shirt, tossing it over the chair near his desk, then crawls onto the bed beside her. Reaching for the remote, he starts flipping aimlessly through the endless carousel of streaming services.

“What do you wanna watch?” He asks softly.

She shrugs, barely audible as she murmurs, “Anything’s fine.”

He lands on a show they’ve both seen a dozen times and sets the remote aside. Then he pulls her in close, her head resting on his chest, one leg draping over his waist as they settle into the quiet comfort of each other.

They lie like that for about an hour, the room quiet except for the soft murmur of the TV. Eventually, Chris notices the slow, steady rhythm of her breathing and the way her eyes keep fluttering shut. He glances down at her and smiles, brushing his hand over her back before giving her a light pat on the butt.

“C’mon, Bun,” he murmurs, voice low and warm. “Gimme a kiss before you knock out.”

She hums sleepily, barely lifting her head as she shifts closer. With a soft sigh, she tilts her face up and presses a gentle kiss to his lips.

It’s meant to be soft — a quick goodnight — but the moment stretches. Her mouth lingers against his, slow and warm, her hand resting lightly on his chest as her thumb moves in a lazy circle.

Chris kisses her back, matching her pace, his hand finding the curve of her waist. The kiss deepens just slightly — unhurried, heavy with comfort and quiet want.

Without saying a word, Chris gently shifts, guiding her onto him with quiet ease. His hands rest on her waist, light and steady, more supportive than suggestive — as if he just wants to keep her close, to feel the weight of her there.

“Chris—”

“Shhh,” he murmurs, cutting her off softly. “Just wanna kiss you, that’s all.” He leans in, pressing his lips to hers again — slow and unhurried, like there’s nowhere else he’d rather be. Despite her earlier worries, she finds her body buzzing as she sinks into the deepening kiss, her skin starting to feel hot as his hands brush along the soft skin of her thighs.

As if her body were on autopilot, she slowly and timidly began to rock her hips, drawing a soft groan of pleasure from the man underneath her. Chris reinforces his grip on her hips, pushing their clothed centers against each other, rocking his own hips to match her rhythm.

She whimpers gently against his lips as she feels the familiar tingle spread through out her cunt, the wetness beginng to form between her thighs. It feels good, more than good, but she needs more.

"Chris," she whines out softly as she pulls away from his lips, a soft pout planting itself on her face as she looks down at him. Chris rolls them over, his body now settled between her legs. He continues to grind his bulge against her warm center, his lips attaching themselves to her neck.

"I got you baby, tell me what you want." His raspy voice and lewd words cause her face to burn with embarrassment. Instead of vocalizing her want, she shyly grabs his hand, pushing it towards the waistband of her shorts. He raises his head and gives her a look, his eyes searching hers for confirmation. She gives a barely noticeable nod, but Chris catches it, his hand starting to remove her shorts. He does it slowly, giving her time to back out if she wants to.

He gets her shorts all the way down to her ankles, throwing the satin material somewhere in his room. He kisses her once more as he snakes his hand into her panties, swiping a finger through her slick folds and groaning at the feeling. She shudders at the new feeling, his hand feeling completely different than her own.

She whimpers as he begins to toy with her clit, the tips of his middle and ring finger drawing slow and precise figure eights. The lewd sloshing noises fill the bedroom, mixing in with the low sounds coming from the TV.

Figuring she was wet enough and relaxed, he slowly sinks two fingers into her aching cunt, her velvet and spongy walls clamping down on them like a vice. He slowly begins to pump them in and out, occasionally curling them. Her head drops back onto the pillows as she lets out the occasional moan, her hips rocking as they chase his fingers.

He looks down at her as she clenches her eyes shut, the strain in his sweatpants only getting harder as he takes in the pleasure on her face. She looked so pretty, and he knew that when she finally reached her peak, her face would be enough for him to reach his own.

She had that effect on him.

He redoubled his efforts, speeding up the thrusts of his fingers, curling them every time he reached the hilt inside of her. He uses his thumb to swirl against her clit, making sure to keep the same tempo.

Her whines and moans get louder as the pleasure increases, her fingers clawing at his back. She could feel something-almost like a knot-forming in the pit of her stomach, her thighs starting to quiver as her toes curled.

"C'mon Bun, open those pretty eyes." His other hand gently grabs her jaw, lightly tapping her face and getting her to open her glossy eyes.

"There she is, my pretty girl. You got it, let go f'me."

Her eyes roll back at his praise, her body tensing as her orgasm washes over her, her body soon going slack. Chris groans out, his own orgasm hitting him, a wet patch forming on his pants. He gently and slowly removes his fingers from her weeping hole, popping them in his mouth and moaning at the taste.

He goes to climb off the bed but stops when Bun whines and yanks him back down, immediately curling into his body.

"...stay." She mumbles softly, her eyes already closing as she holds him tightly. He chuckles softly and pulls the blankets over them, grabbing his phone and turning the TV off in the process.

He rubs her back softly as he unlocks his phone and sends a quick text to Matt and Nick, telling them that if they heard anything coming from his room, to not joke about it or act up in the morning for Bunny's sake.

He lazily drops his phone down on the nightstand and snuggles deeper both into his bed and bun. He kisses her forehead and nose before closing his eyes and falling into a deep sleep.

[cherrywriterrr]

bad table manners 3

bfd!rafe x reader

warnings: 18+ MDNI, smut, dom!bfd!rafe, masturbation, reader watching rafe jerk off, voyeurism, degradation/praise, cheating, age gap (rafe is 47), filthy dialogue, rafe’s obsessed, reader touches herself, extremely NSFW, it’s a mutual thing now — things are spiraling (in the hottest way possible) absolutely unholy smut, mirror sex, sir kink, daddy kink, degradation, corruption, possessiveness, rough unprotected sex, spit, hair pulling, light dumbification, he keeps her hand on her lower back the whole time, mean filthy dirty talk

☁️ minors — seriously. go. this is not for you. ☁️

bfd!rafe

you wake up to sunlight and silence.

jake’s still snoring beside you, twisted in the sheets like a child, drooling on the pillow. his arm flops across your stomach, and your first instinct is to shove it off.

you stare at the ceiling.

your thighs still ache. your lips are sore. you’re sore

last night was real.

your pussy throbs remembering the weight of rafe’s body against yours, the way he groaned when he came inside you like he meant it, like it wasn’t just fucking—it was a claim.

your throat’s dry.

you slip out of bed quietly. still in that tiny tank top and the same shorts he pushed to the side. you pad down the hall toward the bathroom, legs shaky, heart heavier than it should be.

you don’t expect to hear it.

the low groan. the steady sound of skin on skin.

wet. slow. desperate.

you pause.

the bathroom door is cracked open. just a little.

you shouldn’t look. you do.

and there he is.

rafe cameron. your boyfriend’s father. the man who fucked you on his kitchen counter less than ten hours ago.

he’s standing in front of the sink, hand wrapped tight around his cock, head tilted back, jaw clenched. his towel is slung over the edge of the tub. water’s still running from the shower, steam curling around him like smoke.

and he’s saying your fucking name.

your mouth parts. your knees lock.

“fuck, baby…” his voice is hoarse. ruined. “tightest pussy i ever had… fuckin’ ruined me…”

he strokes harder. precum smearing across the head, hips twitching with every pull.

“that little voice—sir, it’s not right…”

he laughs. low. “wasn’t saying that when you came all over me.”

your hand falls between your thighs before you can stop it.

your fingers slide under your waistband.

you’re soaked.

you bite your lip. stay hidden in the shadow of the doorway.

he’s close now. muttering. “should’ve finished in your mouth.”

stroke. stroke. tighter. “should’ve made you swallow every drop like a good little girl—”

his eyes open. he sees you.

and he doesn’t stop. his lips curl, slow and wicked.

“you like watching, sweetheart?”

his voice drops to a growl. “look at you touching yourself. dirty girl.”

you don’t move. don’t speak.

you just rub harder. faster. shameless now.

he steps closer. cock in hand. still fucking himself to the sight of you.

“come here,” he says, low and firm.

you step into the bathroom.

he spins you around, presses you against the sink.

your eyes meet in the mirror—his face flushed, lips parted. your reflection looks fucked out already.

his cock slides between your thighs.

not inside. just there. heavy. hot. ready.

“you want it again?” he breathes against your neck.

you nod, whimpering.

he grinds against your ass, moaning deep. “then take it. right here. against the mirror. and this time, don’t you fucking dare pretend you don’t love it.”

the glass is fogged, steam clinging to your skin, your breath already shaky as rafe presses your body against the mirror.

his hand is flat on your lower back, big and firm, holding you there.

“stay just like that, sweetheart,” he murmurs, breath hot against your ear.

“you move, i stop. you understand?”

you nod quickly.

“say it.”

“yes, sir.”

his grip tightens. “fuck, you’re so good when you listen.”

his cock slides between your folds, heavy and teasing—he doesn’t push in, not yet. he lets you feel it. lets it drag across your soaking slit while you whimper in the mirror.

his other hand comes up to your throat from behind, thumb brushing your jaw, making you look at yourself.

“look at this little fucking whore.”

his voice is calm. cruel. “can’t even go a day now without begging her boyfriend’s dad to fuck her stupid.”

you moan. high, soft, shameful. your thighs already trembling.

“bet you touch yourself in his bed thinking about me, huh?”

“bet you close your eyes and pretend it’s my cock splitting you open.”

you nod, flushed and wrecked and feral.

“please, sir—”

he cuts you off with a slap to your ass—sharp, loud.

“no begging. you get what i give you.”

then lower, meaner—“and you’re lucky i’m still giving it to you after last night.”

his tip catches your entrance, and then he’s inside—deep—all at once.

you choke on your breath, eyes wide, mouth parted in a silent moan.

he doesn’t let you fall forward

his hand is still on your lower back, keeping your spine arched, your ass tilted perfectly for him.

his hips pull back. slam in.

again.

again.

again.

the slap of skin is obscene in the echo of the bathroom, your moans muffled by your own palm now. you’re drooling, trembling, your eyes rolling back as he drives into you over and over like he owns you.

and fuck, he does.

he does.

“you like being bent over for me like this?” he pants. “like being used like a little cumdump?”

“yes, sir—oh my god—”

“you like getting fucked by your boyfriend’s daddy like a good little slut?”

you nod, crying now.

“say it.”

your voice cracks. “i like getting fucked by you, sir—only you—”

his hand in your hair, yanking your head up.

“that’s right, baby. say it louder. say you’re mine.”

“i’m yours,” you gasp.“i’m fucking yours.”

“yeah, you are. this pussy’s mine now. you feel that?”

he thrusts harder. meaner. “he’ll never make you cum like this. he’ll never touch you like this. he couldn’t even make you whimper—”

he leans in, breath hitting your ear. his voice drops. “but i made you cry for it.”

and you do cry.

as your orgasm hits so hard you go weightless, silent at first—then gasping, shaking, body locked as he fucks you through it like a man obsessed.

his hand never leaves your lower back.

he cums with a guttural moan, cock buried to the hilt, hot ropes painting your walls. his chest against your back. his teeth at your neck.

both of you staring into the mirror, ruined.

he grins. “you’re mine now, sweetheart.”

a kiss to your temple. “tell your boyfriend to keep sleeping in.”

bfd!rafe taglist masterlist

interacting with this post (likes, replies, reblogs) lets me know you still want to be on the taglist! i’m trying to keep it active, so if you’re silent for too long, i might stop tagging you <3 no hard feelings, just trying to keep it tidy!

tag: 🏷️ @rafesbabygirlx @qversazex @iconiccolo @devoutedlover @sc05 @viqtoria @k4yr14 @t0x1cfaerie @purplerose291 @mrspuffdriving @silkylovey @rafescloudie @babygoddam @meetmeintheemeraldpool @rafessbaby @mayanqueenxx @bigjuli444 @jamesbeaufortismylife @glitterylightkingdom @alphabetically-deranged @deeninadream

[thecreelhouse]

me reading this chapter:

okay but also the way my tears instantly paused over that one kid’s reaction “is she gonna die?” And reader GLARING LMAOOOOO

But ugh poor penelope 😭💔 and Steve getting emotional about reader being so supportive… saying he wishes reader was Penelope’s mom….. I’m drowning in tears

can’t say enough how much I adore your version of dad!steve. he’s doing a great job despite the challenges of being a single parent, and reader reassuring him is just 🥺!!! but I love how human you write him too— he’s goofy like a dad, wholesome in so many ways, would do anything to keep penelope safe and happy, but also has his moments of little slip ups of swear words lol, lack of time overwhelming him, the little details of the house being a bit messier than the first time reader comes over, the exhaustion of juggling so much at once catching up to him sometimes— idk I just appreciate it all so much. He’s not written as some flat, total rainbows and sunshine parent, but still has a heart of gold and has easily passed that onto his daughter.

And influences of backup parenting (for lack of a better phrase) from reader where it’s not overstepping boundaries, but rather simply helping Steve in those moments the extra support eases any worry or stress, idk it’s just all so heartwarming!!! You’ve written reader flawlessly fitting into both Steve and Penelope’s lives as they get closer, like they’re just meant to be a lil family 🥺💞 even if reader and Steve were only to stay friends, as heartbreaking as it would be, it’s still a dynamic written so well I could see that working well too (but god i do hope they can finally become more 😭💞)

Sooooo so so looking forward to the next part; it’ll be bittersweet for this lil series to end, bc it’s just so dang good, but whatever the outcome is, I’m excited to read it!!

The Shape of Family ‧₊˚❀༉

As a single dad, Steve’s world revolves around school drop-offs, bedtime rituals, and tee-ball practices—and he's struggling to keep up. But you're always there, happily lending a hand when he needs it most. / masterlist

part five - tee-ball practice leads to a trip to the emergency room. cw mentions of sex, description of injury (no gore) 12k

a/n - this broke my heart to write i apologize in advance

── .✦

You didn’t spend much time on the phone before you met Steve. The landline lived on your kitchen countertop, collecting more toast crumbs than voicemails. But it has since been moved to the living room on a fold-out table beside your couch. Because now, several times a week, you collapse there with the phone wedged under your ear for hours, a smile as constant as the voice on the other end. 

The first thing you do when you get home is check your answering machine. You’ve come to love that little red light that lets you know when you have a new message. Sometimes it’s no one important, a salesman or a scam or work, but most of the time it's Steve.

You know his phone number better than anyone’s. You’ve entered it so many times the digits have started to wear away on your keypad. And the trill is as thrilling as the first time you heard it. 

Brrrr. Brr. Brrrr. Brr. Brrrr. Brr. Brrrr. Brr– “Hey, you’ve reached Steve– AND PENELOPE– Yes, and Penelope, uhh– WE’RE BUSY– well, yeah if you’re hearing this we probably are sooo leave a message and I’ll get back to you when I can. By– BYEEE!”

Steve changed his voicemail the night you exchanged numbers. He wanted something more him, more Penelope, too. And you love it more than he knows. Sometimes you hope he won’t pick up just to hear the message play. 

You press the switchhook before it beeps. You’re turned and only two steps away when it rings back. “Hey,” you grin into the receiver. 

“Sorry, hi, I just– I think I've flooded Nell’s bathroom and–”

“You think?”

“Alright, fine, I definitely flooded Nell’s bathroom. Look, there was food in the oven, I told her to start the bath, and then— boom— suddenly it’s the goddamn Titanic in here. I’ve been stomping on towels for like ten minutes, and it’s not helping.”

You snicker down at your pajamas. “Do you want me to come over?” 

“No, no, I’ve got it. The house will probably just smell like wet dog for eternity.” 

“Better put it on the market now before it really sets in.” 

“Yeah, I–” Steve pulls the phone away to shout, “Penelope Anne! No, thank you!– I might have to call you back, she's–” There’s a thump and a crumbly static sound like the phone was dropped, and then– “I wanna talk! Hi, Y/N!” 

Hijacking the phone isn’t uncommon in the Harrington household. Steve would scold you for letting Penelope hear you laughing about it. But he’d be just as guilty, smiling through something like you’re supposed to be on my side, you know.

“Hi, Miss Penelope Anne.” You tug the phone’s rubber cord to your heart, your voice sticky with affection. “Are we being a good listener for Dad?”

She giggles. You’ve never used her full name– didn't even know it until two seconds ago– and you’re pretty sure it’s reserved for when she’s in trouble. “Yes!” 

“Are you sureee?”

“Yesss,” she promises. Steve’s voice is too muffled to make out in the background, but Penelope fills in the gaps, “I’m not lying, Dad!” 

Your hum drags suspiciously. “Did you help him clean the bathroom?”

“Yes, and it wasn’t even my mess.”

“Oh, well, it’s still nice to help, yeah?”

“Will you come to my game tomorrow?”

You are unfazed by her master deflection skills at this point. If Penelope is finished talking about something, she will make that clear. “I thought it was over the weekend, babe.”

“Oh– dad says it’s just pra-tiss.”

“Tomorrow?”

“Daddy! Tomorrow?” A long beat, Steve’s voice barely crackling through the speaker. “Yeah. He said you don’t have to go, but I think you should ‘cause it would be really fun if you did.” 

“Sounds super fun. What time tomorrow?” 

“Six? Yeah, six,” she confirms. 

“Okay, I’ll try to go. But only if you’re a super-duper good listener for the rest of the night. ‘M gonna call Dad later to check, ‘kay?” 

“‘Kay.” 

“Okay, I’m gonna hang up now. Tell him I said I’ll call back. And go stomp on some more towels with him.” 

“Okay, bye-bye.”

“Bye, Pen. Goodnight.” 

You hang up the phone with aching cheeks. You’re still smiling as you set out tomorrow's clothes and even as you slip into bed. It’s always like this with them, this perpetual, overwhelming sense of joy. 

Work isn’t quite as boring when you have tee-ball to look forward to. But still, each passing hour feels like a hurdle between you and the best part of your day.

You arrive at practice a little late, more than a little worried that Steve will think you’re making his daughter empty promises. But he’s waving at you from the top of the bleachers with a huge grin, and all the worry disappears. 

“You made it,” he beams as you climb up past other parents. 

“‘Course,” his warm fingers slip across your pulse point as you take his hand. “You doubt me?” 

“A little. You are like twenty minutes late.” 

You sit, hip to hip, your smile aimed up at his. “There was a bad accident. Had all of Pine Ridge blocked off. Oh, and then I missed the turn and I couldn’t find the entrance. This place is like a maze, they should have more signs.”

He hums agreeably. The sun spills across his front like a can of gold paint was dropped on his lap. One eye’s clamped shut and the other’s narrowed, glinting like a shard of amber. “Nell wanted to get ice cream after this if you wanna go.” 

“You buying?” 

“Maybe. If  you’re nice to me.” 

“I’m always nice to you.” You swipe the sunglasses off your head and turn the arms toward his face. He lets you push them up his nose without complaint. You’re much gentler than when Penelope tries to do it. And they look as silly on him as you hoped they would, pulling a bubbly laugh from the bottom of your chest. “See? I’m nice. What number is she?”

His eyes roll behind the tinted lenses. “She’s four.”

You scan the field. There’s a ring of girls in teal at the pitcher's mound, tip-toed with their hands in the sky. Penelope stretches beside the coach in the cutest jersey, HARRINGTON stamped proudly across her back. “Why? ‘Cause she’s four?” you ask.

“Yeah,” he huffs. “She lucked out. I guess three other kids had the same logic. ” 

“Aww, look,” you elbow Steve, leaving your arm against his side where it’s warm. 

He feels you sit up straighter to wave at Penelope, who’s literally jumping for you now that you’re here. A few girls turn their heads to see what the big deal is, and you feel a little shy when the parent in front of you does the same. 

Steve would never tell Robin this, but she has officially been knocked to number two on Penelope’s list of favorite people. Penelope adores you more than anyone he’s ever met. She talks about you more than all of her classmates combined. And most of her crafts from school end up on your fridge instead of theirs. He even had to put the phone up where she couldn’t reach after she memorized your number and started harassing you after work.

The girls stretch and run laps around the field's perimeter before taking turns swinging foam balls off the tee. Penelope’s got a pink glove to match the cleats you helped them pick out. And her helmet’s already decked out in stickers from the Lisa Frank book you gave her. You forget how intertwined you’ve become in their lives until it’s so apparent you can’t even try to deny it. 

Baseball fields are quite noisy. Moms trade gossip with other moms, whining siblings are entertained by other even whinier siblings. There’s the consistent knock of a ball against a bat, cheering and chanting from an adjacent field, and the occasional “heads up” to listen out for. You and Steve watch the team, but you slip into the comfort of each other’s company, the outside world fading away as you trade stories. But then someone gasps, and it’s like the whole park stills, the silence hanging just long enough for an awful scream to break it. 

“Oh, shit. What happened?” 

“It’s one of the girls. She fell I think.”

“Is she okay? Whose kid is that?” 

You get up from your seat as Steve pushes past you. Your heart becomes a woodpecker, peck, peck, pecking you in the ribs like it wants out. And your eyes snap between Steve and the field in a desperate search for Penelope. 

Steve cuts through the dugout as the girls start to huddle around third base. It’s impossible to tell them apart when they’re all wearing the same shirt. But there’s number six, number thirteen, number two– fuck where is she? 

The crowd parts for Steve to get by, and then, finally, you see her. Poor Penelope’s curled up on her side in the clay. Something about it puts your brain on autopilot and your feet start moving on their own volition. 

It’s a blur how you end up on the other side of the fence but you’re there, kneeling in the dirt beside Steve with a big audience of onlookers. Penelope squeals out a pitiful little sound and it’s like an anchor drops right on your chest. 

“I’m here. I’m right here,” Steve’s promising her. His hands hover near her face. They’re shaking so hard he’s afraid to do anything with them. “You’re okay. It’s okay.” 

Penelope’s whole body trembles with the force of her breath, one gasp tripping over the next. Her face is scrunched bright red, leaking snot and tears like a faucet. And she’s trying so hard to speak but all she’s babbling out are broken sounds. 

Steve attempts to move her hand out of the way, but she screams at him loudly. 

“I know it hurts, I know– I have to see, baby.” 

You pin her ankles to the ground so she stops kicking him for one second. He quickly pries her fingers loose, his voice straining through apologies as she squirms. Her left arm lies limp across her tummy, swollen twice its size, a shade of plum blooming from her elbow out. It’s really an awful sight. 

You feel your arms prickle and your face goes cold. You want to turn away, but you can’t. 

Someone behind you says, “It’s really swollen.”

A smaller voice goes, “Will she be okay?” 

And a third, “Is she gonna die?” 

Your neck cracks with the speed at which you turn around. You glare daggers at the kid you’re pretty sure that came out of. Admittedly, not one of your proudest moments. 

“Here,” someone shoves a grocery bag full of ice into Steve’s hands, “ice it.” 

Steve molds it to her arm and her other hand grasps for something to squeeze. You scoop her fingers up from the dirt, letting her nails bite the meat of your palm. 

You miss whatever the coach says to Steve, but it doesn't appear to be good. Steve gears to stand up but falters with wobbly legs. There’s a great distance in his eyes like he’s seeing right through Penelope. 

You press up off your shins and squeeze his arm until he nods. 

You think her screaming can’t possibly get any worse, but it does the moment he lifts her off the ground. You’re trying really hard to turn your ears off, to trigger whatever dissociative state Steve has gone into, but nothing will stop the hurricane that is your heart. 

Steve speedwalks across the pitcher's mound. There are a few dozen sets of eyes on him, but he barely notices. His mind is running a mile a minute. All he keeps thinking about is how he wasn’t watching when it happened. 

What if she hit her head? Is she in shock? Should I be helping her in some other way? Which hospital is closest? And where the fuck did I park the car? 

You catch up to him and cover the back of his bicep with your hand. He glances at you and exhales a shaky breath he'd been keeping. He doesn’t smile like he usually would. But he’s more grateful for your presence than he can put into words right now.

You shove the chainlink gate open and easily spot the beamer, parked in the very first row of cars. Steve almost eats shit in the dip from pavement to gravel but he rights himself with the help of your hands. 

You try the backseat door handle and find it locked. “The keys?” 

He takes one hand off of Penelope and quickly returns it when she shrieks. And she nearly launches herself out of his arms when he tries to shift her to his hip. He looks at you miserably and says, “Front pocket.” 

You might’ve felt weird about reaching into the front pocket of Steve’s jeans in any other circumstance, but there was no time for hesitation here. You unlock the doors and start the car while Steve fights to get Penelope in her seat. 

“Nooo,” she yells, gripping the back of his shirt so hard the neckline chokes him. 

You turn in the driver's chair, finding Steve with his teeth gritted, knelt on the edge of the backseat, and Penelope holding onto him for dear life. Her back arches under his hand, her feet pushing the passenger seat forward a notch. She’s relentless. Steve pulls her back out of the car and swings to the other side. He climbs in behind you and slams the door hard. His eyes find yours in the rearview as he urges you to, “Just drive.” 

You wrench the gear shifter into reverse and reach behind the passenger seat so you can see. While you are focused on not running anyone over, it’s hard not to notice the battle going on in the backseat. Steve’s wedged up against the car seat, in the middle of the row, and Penelope's crushing his nose with her good hand. 

By the time you’re turning onto the main road, Steve has given up forcing her to sit in her own seat. It’s doing her arm more harm than good at this point. 

His head slumps hard into the headrest, his arms keeping her tight to his chest. “It’s okay,” he keeps saying. “You’re okay,” he promises, but the words do nothing to relieve her tears. 

Your fingers tap the steering wheel impatiently. The cars in front of you aren’t moving nearly fast enough, and you’re already pushing the speed limit. You check the rearview for the umpteenth time. “Almost there, Pen. Promise.” 

She warbles something too quiet for even Steve to make out. 

“What?” he asks her. 

“Don’t want my– my arm– ‘r gonna,” she gasps, “take my arm.” 

Steve blinks at her sorely until it clicks. “No, baby. No one’s taking your arm. They’re gonna help it feel better. No one’s gonna hurt you.” 

“It hurts,” she sobs. 

Steve wipes his eyes. “I know.” 

This is simultaneously the longest and shortest drive of your life. You park under the emergency room’s overhang behind an ambulance. Steve tests the child lock on his door until you can get out and open it. 

You’re rushing in behind them when an EMT stops you. “Ma’am. Ma’am, you can’t park here.” 

You’re ready to argue but Steve doesn’t give you the chance. “Just go park,” he barks, halfway through the automatic doors. 

The car’s parked in the first spot you see, and the jog back up to the building is achingly long. From the sidewalk, you can already hear Penelope wailing inside. And the sound only worsens as the entrance doors open. Steve’s not hard to find, shifting impatiently at the front desk. 

The receptionist slides a clipboard across the counter like he has room in his arms for paperwork. But you appear at his side as you always seem to, reaching for the pen and paper before he even has to ask. 

Steve hoists Penelope back up where she’s slipped and turns around without a word. He’s expressionless, near mechanical in his movements. You’ve seen him have bad days at work and you’ve seen Penelope scare the shit out of him a good handful of times, but you’ve never seen him like this. You follow him to a vacant pair of chairs, hugging the ream of paperwork to your chest as you sit. 

Penelope still doesn’t settle. Steve encourages her sweaty cheek off his chest and she looks up at him in this terrible way that splits your heart right in half. Her eyes are glossy, and so swollen, her lashes dampened into dark points. Her ponytails have loosened, frizz bunching up at each hair tie. And she looks like she needs an inhaler the way her chest keeps distending for air. 

Steve flattens a hand down the short breadth of her spine, the other wiping snot bubbles from her nose. “Penelope,” he pleads, “take a breath, baby. Take a breath.”

She sucks in air so hard she chokes on it. It’s scary from your position, you can’t imagine how Steve feels. 

“You’re okay. I’m right here, it’s okay.” 

“No,” she shakes her head and hiccups, “hurts.” 

“I know.” He brings her head to his lips, nostrils flaring against her bangs. He’s blinking like tears will fall any second. All he can say is, “I’m sorry.” 

You feel so bad. Anxious and useless most of all. You stop clicking the pen in your hand and flip through the intake forms on the clipboard. It's standard stuff– name, date of birth, allergies. You fill in what you know, which isn't much, but it keeps your brain occupied and saves Steve a few questions. 

Penelope’s crying subsides to a steady whine. The tears stop, but her back spasms with every handful of breaths. She’s gotten as comfortable as she can be in the crook of Steve’s elbow, his hand stapling her face to his bicep. 

“Pen,” you start softly. 

Shiny brown eyes flick up to yours. 

“Help me out here. Do you know your birthday? You remember?” 

She shakes her head as much as she can manage with her head laying like that. 

Steve frowns at her. Or maybe he’s just looking at her, and the frown’s a permanent new addition to his face. “Come on, you know it,” he whispers. “Tell me."

“Ju–une,” she shudders.

You wiggle your eyebrows excitedly. “June… first?”

“No.” 

“June second?” 

“No.” 

“June one hundred and sixty-fourth?”

Not even a millimeter of a smile. You might be poking the bear the way her brows twist at you angrily but you continue to tease her regardless. “Do I have to say every number in June?” 

She kneads her eye with a closed fist and grumbles, “Se–even.” 

“June seventh?” You look at Steve, and his eyes flick to yours. “Eighty-nine?”

He nods. Penelope looks severely unhappy with you, but at least she’s distracted. 

You run down the long list of questions together. You fill in his information for the emergency contact, then Robin’s as a secondary, and then Steve asks, “Can I add you?” 

“Add me?”

“As another contact.”

You blink at the page and then raise your eyebrows at Steve. The idea would’ve never crossed your mind.

“Only if you want to. It’s fine if not.” 

“No,” your brows sink and furrow, “I mean, yeah– I want to. I'd love to.” You grin, and he grins poorly back. 

A nurse calls Peneleope’s name from the other side of the room. You’re guided down to triage– less a room and more a section of the hallway, tucked behind a frosted glass partition and cramped with a cabinet full of supplies. 

Steve sits in the patient chair with Penelope on his lap. He explains what happened, and that no, she has no allergies, no nausea, no fever, just a very obviously broken arm. The nurse sticks a thermometer under her tongue anyway, cuffs her working arm with a blood pressure monitor, and counts the beats of her pulse. He fits her with a sling tinier than you’ve ever seen and administers cherry-flavored children’s Tylenol, which sparks a whole new well of tears because Penelope clearly stated she wanted strawberry. The nurse isn’t as apologetic as you think he should be, he just straps a bracelet to her wrist and you’re walked right back to the havoc that is the waiting room. 

And so you wait. When you’re not people-watching, you watch the clock because there’s nothing better to do. Fifteen minutes, thirty, forty-five minutes pass. At an hour, you peel your legs off the vinyl chair to take a lap around the room. You skim a pamphlet about heart disease and a second about stress management. 

You present Penelope with a wrinkled Highlights magazine you found, and she’s not thrilled, but she’s calm at least. Stuffy and tired, but in much less pain than she was. Steve coaxed her down for a nap, but she insisted that it’s too loud. And between the constant sirens and people rushing in and out and the fluorescent lights, you can’t blame her, you wouldn’t be able to nap either. 

Steve’s sneaker is a riot under his chair. You cup his knee to stop it from bouncing, though it doesn’t do much. He places the front of his hand across the back of yours. It’s noticeably clammy but it could be drenched in sweat and you probably still wouldn’t move it.

You feel his fingers flex every time a nurse returns with a clipboard and a new name to call. But each time, all the anticipation deflates when it’s not Penelope’s. 

Another hour passes, and you’ve had enough when, for the second time in a row, someone who arrived after you gets called back first. You stand quickly and inform Steve, “I’m gonna ask how much longer.” 

He nods, gratefully, you think. 

The receptionist offers the same rehearsed answer they probably give everyone else– “The doctor will be with you as soon as they’re able.” 

You stare at her bland face. You know she has nothing to do with the number of patients here or the order in which the nurses decide to call people back, but it’s no less frustrating. 

“Soon,” is what you tell Steve when you return. 

He knows you well enough to tell that you don’t actually know how long it’ll be. But he pretends like you’ve told him the truth anyway. He finds it’s much easier to be optimistic when you’re around. 

You drop back in your seat, arms crossed, feet tapping away on the linoleum. Steve can’t sit still either. You’d think his hands would get tired, but they’re tenacious when it comes to back rubs. His hips shift, and Penelope whines. You chalk his squirming up to an anxiety similar to your own, but he’s starting to act like he sat on an ant hill or something. 

“What?” you ask.

Steve shakes his head, eyes drilled on the floor. 

“You okay?” 

He funnels air slowly out of his mouth and nods. 

“Steve, what?”

“Just have to pee,” he mumbles, his hand kicking back into gear where it paused on Penelope’s shoulder. “‘S fine.” 

“Go,” you say. “I’ll sit with her.”

He looks from the floor to you, back down to Penelope. She’s comfortable, finally, and moving her is a risk he doesn’t want to take. But he really fucking has to pee. He nods at you, straightening out in his chair and pushing Penelope forward. 

She protests the movement with a great big groan. It’s like when she wakes up from a long nap, always so grumpy, but with the cutest little pout. Though this time, you’re foreseeing a meltdown, and you can’t imagine it’ll be cute at all. 

“I have to go potty. I need you to stay here,” Steve explains. 

Her face crumples instantly, her lip jutting as her eyes fill with fresh tears. She clings to Steve’s arm like a buoy, blubbering into his sleeve, “Go with you.”

“I can’t hold you in there, baby.” 

Her voice rises, earning a few turned heads. “But I want you to!” 

“Please, baby. I’ll be so quick, promise.” 

“Pen, let’s look at that magazine again,” you try. “I think I saw Tic-Tac-Toe somewhere.” 

Steve dumps her in your lap and books it. He feels terrible but he’ll feel much worse if he pisses himself in the ER lobby. He prays Penelope isn’t as rough with you as she is with him, but she’s still shouting for him by the time he reaches the bathrooms. Not a good sign at all. 

You press the back of your hands to her cheeks with the utmost care. They’re so warm and slick with tears falling too fast to chase away. She’s gone ballistic, bawling helplessly at you like you’ve done something truly terrible to her. And you sort of have. You urged Steve to go, that you could handle it, but a little part of you is starting to regret that. 

There are at least a dozen pairs of eyes on you, filling you to the brim with embarrassment. Generally, you think you’re pretty good at talking Penelope down from a tantrum. You make up silly songs and do weird little dances, but none of it is coming even close to working right now. She’s crying so loud you almost miss her name being called. 

“Penelope Harrington,” the voice says again. 

You lock eyes with the nurse across the room. Fuck. 

“Pen, hey, Penelope, listen,” you tip her face toward yours, “we have to get up, okay?” 

“I want Daddy.” 

“I know. He’s coming. He’ll be right back.” 

“No– we, we can’t–” her voice cracks into another heaving sob. 

“We won’t leave without him, we just have to get up.”

She continues to cry as you struggle to your feet. Penelope’s not what you’d consider heavy but her lack of cooperation is making her very difficult to carry. 

The nurse meets you halfway and confirms, “Penelope?”

“Yes, she’s– can we just wait one second, her dad’s still– he’ll be right back, he just ran to the restroom.” 

The nurse follows your gaze to the empty hall. Her mouth opens and closes like no is on the very tip of her tongue. 

“He’ll be just one second,” you plead.

Penelope must gather what’s going on and she’s not a fan at all. Her fit escalates even more, one hand cinching your collar, tugging your shirt so far down you fear you've just flashed the nurse. She nearly flails herself onto the floor, then headbutts your chin hard enough for your eyes to water. The reactionary tears worsen into real ones because you have absolutely no idea what to do. Steve steps away for all of two seconds, and you’re already screwing it up.

“Look,” the woman says in a way that makes the back of your throat burn even worse, “I’ll come back–” 

“No, wait, he’s–” You blink until the restroom sign unblurs and find that Steve’s actually there at the end of the hall this time.  “He’s right there, see– Steve!” 

Steve's jogging life his life depends on it. Nearly knocks someone over trying to pass them. And when he gets close enough to see your matching wet eyes his stomach kinks itself like a hose. 

Your arms are burning, nearly trembling by the time Steve takes her. Never in your life have you been so grateful to give up your Penelope. 

But Steve is just so good at being a dad. He calms her with practiced ease, cradling her like she’s no bigger than she was the day she was born. The walk to her room gives her a chance to catch her breath and for you to wipe your eyes. Steve asks if you’re okay and if you’re sure when you swear that you are. He’s a great dad but an even greater friend. 

Steve situates himself on the edge of the hospital bed with Penelope balanced on his thighs while you stand restless near the foot. You can’t shake the goosebumps from your skin, and your headache thrums like a second heartbeat behind your eyes.

“Alrighty, Miss Penelope,” the nurse reads sternly off her clipboard, “can you tell me what happened?” 

Steve reiterates the play-by-play. They discuss her pain levels, medical history, changes in symptoms– it’s deja vu. The woman is as curt as just about everyone else in this place, jotting his answers down like she already knows them. And she’s halfway out the door before you or Steve even have a chance to ask any questions. 

Steve shakes his head at you. How he’s not snapped at anyone by now, you have no idea. But you think his last nerve is starting to fray, and yet, his voice still softens when he tells you to, “Sit.” 

There’s only one chair in the room, the same peeling vinyl type from the waiting room. You steer it over to the side of the bed and sit. 

Penelope mumbles into Steve’s chest, her words buried in the fabric of his shirt. 

Steve’s gaze falls to her. “What, baby?” 

“‘M hungry.” 

“You’re hungry?”

She hiccups, nodding with the tiniest sweep of her chin. 

“Want me to go stick my hand up the vending machine?” 

No, her head shakes. “Stay.” 

You’re already standing when Steve looks at you. He digs around in his jeans for his wallet, but the second you see it, you wave him off.

“I got it,” you press.

He opens it one-handed across his thigh, but you flip it closed.

“Watcha want, Pen?” 

You think she shrugs, but your eyes are sewn to Steve’s. He fights the worn leather back open and pulls a crisp twenty out. “Please?” 

The magic words don’t work on you at his big age. Not for this at least. You tear the wallet from his hand and slide the bill back inside. 

If Steve didn’t have Penelope in his lap and his brain didn’t feel like it had been diced up on a hibachi grill, he’d put up a much better fight.

You swing the door open with an, “I’ll be back!” 

Steve frowns at your gloating smile, but his lips catch something similar the second you’re through the door. 

You’re thrilled to have something to do. Watching Penelope be miserable is at the very bottom of your list of least favorite pastimes. Your chest squeezes as you remember her poor little face. You’ll never forget that first scream at the field. Or how when she fell, she just laid there. You’d thought so many awful things might’ve happened. 

The gift shop is hard to miss with windows stretching from floor to ceiling. And right there on a shelf in one of them is a teddy bear with its arm in a sling. Jackpot. 

The door jingles as it opens and an employee greets you from across the room. You browse the get-well cards and bouquets of balloons, but nothing is as good as a new teddy when you’re a kid. You take it to the counter quickly. You’ve been sent out on a very important mission and you’d guess Penelope’s mood is souring with every grumble of her empty stomach.

The first vending machine you find is fully stocked– snacks, candy, soda– a hangry little girl’s dream. You have a pretty good idea of what she likes at this point, but a much safer way to ensure you get the right is to just buy all of it. Maybe not all of it, but you do feed a twenty in the mouth of the machine and buy as much as you can. Pack after pack of candy drops into the well and a few healthier options in the rare chance that Steve vetoes. You shove them all in the gift shop bag and hustle back to the room. 

The snacks are dumped across the foot of Penelope’s hospital bed, much to Steve’s horror and Penelope’s great surprise. It’s like Christmas the way her eyes light up.

“Wow,” Steve says. “Bought the whole machine out, huh? Whadya say?” 

“Thanks,” Penelope sniffles. Her lovely voice is so congested from all the crying. 

“You’re very welcome. Which one you want?” 

“M’s.” 

“Yeah, M’s,” you laugh. “That’s what I thought you’d say. 

Your eyes flick to Steve’s as you lift the pack of M&Ms. He nods as you tear them open. 

You hold out your hand to ask for Penelope’s, but she opens her mouth instead. 

“What! You need me to feed you?” you play along. 

She stifles a giggle, her open mouth twitching to smile. 

“Last I checked, you still have one working arm.” 

“No, feed me,” she implores. 

Steve squeezes her thigh. “Come on, you’re a big girl.” 

Penelope shakes her head, still tilted up at the ceiling. 

“Alright, alright, here’s one. You can do the rest, silly girl.” You drop an M&M on her tongue and let Steve steal the bag from you. 

“Yummy?” you ask. 

She nods and pops another few in her mouth. 

Your eyes return to Steve’s. “For you? There’s a Snickers and a Hershey’s and…”

He shakes his head, pushing his hair back before it falls over his eyes. “Thank you,” he mouths. 

Your lashes mesh together when you smile at him, but your eyes pop back open as fast as they closed. “Oh– Pen, guess what?” 

She blinks at you with a mouthful, chocolate already painting the underside of her chin. 

“I gotcha something else.”

Her eyes go impossibly wider, and they have a much happier sheen to them. “What?” 

She springs up with a newfound energy as you unveil the teddy bear. You press it into her lap and her fingers curl around its tiny ear to keep it upright.

“Like it?”

“Yeah,” she coos, “can I keep it?”

“Of course, it’s for you.”

“We match.”

“Yeah, isn’t that cool?” 

She beams, her hand roving all across its fur, her smile blooming full force. 

Sometimes, it feels like all the love you could ever need is right here— woven into every grin, every word, every look Penelope gifts you. Her smile truly is like a weight off your shoulders. 

The intensity of Steve’s gaze pulls your eyes away from Penelope. He’s looking at you with enough warmth to set your face on fire. And if he’s not careful he really might have to call the fire department. Or maybe just a nurse in case your heart gives out. You turn away, but your smile is no secret. 

You end up with a pair of disposable gloves from the counter. They get blown up with air and each a set of eyes with a pen you found, and now Penelope’s got two turkeys to play with. You’re so creative, Steve really doesn’t know what he’d do without you. He’s done this whole parent gig by himself for the majority of Penelope’s life, but he’s starting to rely on you like you're the other half of her. Had you not already been at practice, he’s sure he would’ve called you from the hospital. 

It’s during difficult times like these that Steve yearns for validation of his parenting choices from his own mom and dad. He knows they’re no example setters and he has far better people to seek that from, but it’s an urge he can’t put away sometimes. But then there’s you, laughing and making his daughter laugh even harder, and he realizes he just doesn’t need it anymore. He knows he must be doing something right when you’re around. 

Penelope gets another snack, and Steve gets his very own balloon turkey. You cycle between lots of games as you wait. You think Charades might be Penelope’s new favorite after you end up in a pretzel on the floor trying to get her to guess that you’re an octopus. Steve gets a kick out of it too, though you are adding it to your book of embarrassing things you did to make Penelope laugh. 

Thankfully, you’ve finished making a fool of yourself when the doctor knocks. She’s got a pep in her step and a wide, pearly smile. If only this type of attitude were more universal among the hospital staff. 

“Hi, there!” she says. “I’m Dr. Ruthman, I’ll be your–” A hand clamps across her gaping mouth. “Woah! Wait a second,” her eyes flick between her clipboard and Penelope, she flips a page theatrically, “they didn’t tell me I’m taking care of the Penelope Harrington today.

A Cheez-It slides out of Penelope’s hand onto the floor. Her blank stare is comical and says I’ve never met this woman in my life. 

Steve appears to be similarly confused– his brain really is fried– but you catch on quickly. “Pen, you famous around here or something?” 

Dr. Ruthamn scoffs. “Are you kidding me! Only the coolest, bravest athletes get to see me.” She shoves her hand out in front of Penelope. “It’s an honor.” 

Penelope has next to no clue what is happening, but she giggles because it seems like it’s something silly. She takes Dr. Ruthman’s hand and shakes it gently. 

“You’ll let me get your autograph, later, won’t you?” 

Penelope smiles funny, her voice lilting up an octave. “I guess?”

“You must be a busy woman.” Dr. Ruthman sticks her hands in the sink and flips the faucet handle. “What number are you again?”

Penelope’s gaze falls to her aching arm, snug in the sling. You can just see the gears turning as she realizes her counting hand is out of commission. Her other hand raises slowly, and four fingers unfurl stiffly. She double-checks that she’s got the right amount up before saying it out loud. 

“Four! No way! You know, I used to play basketball when I was in school, and you’ll never guess what number I was.” 

Penelope tips her head. “Four?” 

Dr. Ruthman gawks as she crouches in front of Penelope. “Ugh, you are just the smartest little smartie-pants, huh? How’d you know that? ”

She shrugs. “I dunno. I just did.” 

“You just did,” the doctor laughs, “Well, don’t you worry, I’m gonna get this arm back in swinging shape. Get’cha back on the field in no time.” 

Her freshly gloved hands run gingerly down Penelope’s arm, two fingers poking and prodding the inflated muscle. Steve cradles Penelope’s knee to keep her still, his other hand working lots of love into her shoulder. 

“Score any home runs today?” the doctor asks. 

Penelope’s mouth opens and snaps shut. How can she possibly focus on the conversation when this woman is kneading her arm like a cat? 

“Being so brave, honey. Can you wiggle your fingers for me? Yeah, good. Your thumb?” 

You wince as Penelope does. Fresh tears start in her waterline and she writhes uncomfortably back into Steve’s chest. 

“Good!” Dr. Ruthman beams genuinely. She pokes Penelope’s palm with her fingertip. “Can you turn this side to the floor? Perfect, now to the ceiling?” 

Penelope’s lip quivers as she tries. She can’t even get it halfway before her hand starts to bobble. 

“That’s okay. Doing so good.” 

“So good,” Steve echoes. He thumbs a little tear off her cheek.

Dr. Ruthman sheds her gloves and looks from Steve to you as she stands. “Your girl’s a trooper. I’ll go ahead and order an X-ray. A tech should be by to pick her up soon.” Her focus returns eagerly to Penelope. “And I’m coming back for that autograph, number four.” 

Penelope doesn’t cry like you expect she will. She really is a trooper. Steve tells her so several more times and promises they’ll get two ice cream cones since she’s been so brave. 

There’s not much to entertain yourself with, let alone a four-year-old. Steve keeps Penelope busy with Tic-Tac-Toe on the back of a diabetes brochure, then I Spy when she gets bored. But unfortunately, the majority of the room is white so that doesn’t last very long either. 

Meanwhile, you flip over the only magazine on the side table and skim the all-caps headline about sex health. There’s no shot Steve can read it without his glasses from where he’s sitting, but still, you feel self-conscious for not putting it down. You’re both adults, and you’re close friends, yeah, but you don’t exactly discuss your sex lives with each other. The thought of Steve having partners you aren’t aware of crosses your mind. He’s entitled to his secrets, you suppose. And it's probably best for your own sake that he doesn’t tell you anyway.  

You read an article praising abstinence for being the safest sex practice but feel weirdly worse about your own case. When Steve asks what you’re reading about, you lie, foot fungus. He takes you for a comedian and doesn’t press for details. 

The x-ray technician pops in sooner than you expect. He escorts you three turns down the hall to a room packed with lots of expensive-looking machines. A wall divides it into two, the first section smaller with a long counter and enough computer monitors to track a space launch. 

The tech stops you from following him and Steve into the second half. “Only one of you can come with her in the examination area,” he says as he jams a stopper under the door. 

You nod and hang back in the doorway. Penelope whines about how dark the room is, and Steve tries, but she still refuses to be put down. The tech fits them both in heavy-looking aprons and wheels a table up to the chair they’re sharing. 

Penelope peeks up at you with a deep frown that screams get me out of here! Her brows twist together like she’s trying very hard to telepathically forward her escape plan to your brain. It tears you apart, but the best you can do for her is two big you got this thumbs-up. 

The technician removes the sling, taking Penelope’s arm and gently pushing it in a way it just does not want to go. The tears are immediate, like silver streamers unraveling down her cheeks, shimmering under the machine's lights. Steve watches the tech helplessly as he straightens out Penelope’s arm. 

You backtrack out of the doorway, and the tech kicks the stopper out on his way in. The door slams, and Penelope’s hysterics muffle, though you can still see her struggling through the thick pane of glass. 

The tech types and clicks away at the desk. You know there’s no use in rushing him, but the urge is there. It’s any other day for him, but probably the worst of Penelope’s whole life. 

Eventually, he clicks his tongue, stands, and marches back through the door. He repositions Penelope’s arm– not without protest– and circles back to the desk. It’s a terribly long and painful deal of rinse and repeat. And Penelope doesn’t give poor Steve’s ears a break. 

You count eight photos on the monitor by the end, all from different angles and proximity. You’re no doctor, but there’s a distinct line through the white of her bone in nearly all of them. 

The tech pins the door back open and flicks the examination room lights on. 

“All done,” Steve shushes into Penelope’s hair. “That’s it, no more. You’re all done.” 

His knuckles have turned white where she’s squeezing them. Her whole body turns towards his, and she collapses with a big, open-mouthed sob. 

The tech fixes her sling back on while you lean over Steve’s shoulder, your hand rooted gently on his spine. “You did so good, Pen. Always so brave.”

“So so brave,” Steve affirms. “‘M so proud. Think about that ice cream we’re gonna get.” 

She couldn’t be less interested in praise or even ice cream at the moment. Steve tugs the apron up her back, you help thread her arms through the holes and pass it to the tech. Steve struggles to slip his off one-handed, so you guide one weighty end of it over his head, your fingertips skimming the fluffy ends of his hair. 

With Penelope still glued to his front, the four of you trek back to her room. She cries the entire way but panicked tears ebb into sleepier ones. You realize how many hours past her bedtime it is. 

“The doctor will be in with the results soon,” the technician explains on his way out. 

Steve resumes his position on the hospital bed, scooting back to the headboard and crossing his legs over the sheets. Penelope slumps down in his arms, boneless with the heavy weight of defeat. Her hiccups peter out under Steve’s hand, her breaths turning thick and congested with sleep.

“Coffee?” you ask, not because you want any, but solely because you’re anxiety swells again and you'd love something to do. 

Steve looks up with heavy-set eyes. He feels terrible, suddenly, looking at your own. “You don’t have to stay. I can– I’ll call you a cab.” 

You hadn’t considered that to even be an option, and honestly, you still don’t. “I want to stay.” 

He sighs but he decides he won’t fight you further because he really, really wants you to stay too. 

“Large coffee, three cups of sugar?”

He cracks a smile for the first time in a while. “I’m not that insane,” he defends, carefully maneuvering his wallet out of the front pocket of his jeans. 

You take it without argument this time. He might throw it at you if you avoid it any longer. And you’re not made of money either, the gesture is always appreciated. 

The cafeteria is closed, which, maybe you should’ve guessed. But you do some exploring and eventually find a pot of coffee in some sort of lounge you aren’t totally sure if you’re allowed to be in. It’s for a good cause, you tell yourself as you steal a styrofoam cup. The coffee is lukewarm at best and questionable in color, but Steve takes enough sugar in his you expect he won’t know the difference. 

There’s a pen lying there and a pail of extra sugar packets. You draw a smiley face on one and stick it inside the flap of his wallet for him to find later. And while it’s open, you can’t help but snoop. Cash and cards with his full name, a thick stack of pictures of Penelope, and a folded photo booth print of the three of you, your face plain as pavement in the clear pocket on the side. 

You keep the other half tucked in the sun visor of your car but it hadn’t occurred to you that Steve would treasure his copy just the same. Your heart tumbles, your thumb roving across the plastic divider. You’ve held your version long enough to sear those images into your brain forever. But these two you haven't seen since the day they were taken. You look at them for a long while before heading back. 

When you return, Penelope’s still snoozing, and Steve’s mid-conversation with her doctor. 

She pivots when his eyes veer to yours. “Oh, Mom, you’re back! Perfect timing!” 

Mentally, the caffeine heist is still underway. Her words don’t process until she’s well into her next sentence. She talks so damn fast that Steve didn’t have much of an opportunity to correct her either. Though maybe he wouldn’t have. He looked at you after she said it, oddly calm for something that cranked your pulse up a few notches. 

The doctor clasps her hands together. “Okay, so, do we want the good news or the bad news first?” 

Steve winces. “Bad?”

“Tee-ball is off limits for a couple months, give or take. But good news, it’s a clean break, should heal good as new in no time.” 

As far as bad news goes, he was expecting a lot worse, but this will still devastate Penelope when he has to tell her. She hadn’t even made it through a week of practice, and he’s pretty sure he isn’t getting her registration fees back. 

Dr. Ruthman explains lots of medical mumbo jumbo as you hand Steve his coffee. She leaves and you end up back in your chair, sleepy enough to think that maybe you should’ve gotten something with caffeine too. Your back aches against the sturdy armrest but you’re trying to pretend it’s a lot more comfortable than it is. You must not be doing a very good job, though, because Steve shuffles to one side of the hospital bed and pats the sheets. 

Your gaze floats up to him. “I’m okay.”  

“You look tired.”

You are tired, but you hoped it wasn’t that obvious. 

Steve pats the sheets again when you don’t answer. 

You push yourself onto your feet and trip over to the empty half of the bed. There’s an obvious lack of space between your bodies– this bed was clearly not built for two adults– but neither of you minds. It’s not the first time you’ve sat like this, and you’d bet it won’t be the last. 

Like Penelope’s Barbies, you both sit upright with legs straight out across the sheets. Both of your guys’ knees are smudged brown with clay. You wonder if it’ll come out of your work pants and Steve’s nice jeans. Yours aren’t anything expensive, you can always buy more if it doesn’t. 

You let the side of your shoe tip into his, just to see how they look beside each other. His sneakers are well-loved with lots of creases and a hole or two, not so far off from your own pair. You zone out pretty quickly thinking about shoes. Your eyes start to burn, but you refuse to let the exhaustion catch up. 

“I stepped on your foot earlier.”

You blink the weight off of your lashes and turn your face toward Steve’s. “What?”

“I stepped on your foot. On the bleachers, when I was getting off. I just remembered.” 

“When?”

“When she fell.”

“You did?” You struggle to talk through a big yawn. “I don’t– I don’t even remember.”

“Yeah, sorry.”

“It’s okay, Steve.”

“I know, I just… felt bad.” 

You sigh deeply and let your ear drop to his shoulder. There’s a gentle curve to your lips, a happiness bubbling inside and out. “Better call the nurse back so I can get it x-rayed.” 

He huffs through his nose. “Don’t start.” 

“Don’t be sorry, then.”

You can’t help but close your eyes. Steve’s a good pillow, though maybe that’s the delirium setting in. 

He takes your hand to the tiny sliver of his thigh that Penelope isn’t using. His fingers bunch yours up, then unfurl them one by one. You’ve seen him fidget with Penelope’s hands countless times, though this is the first time the nervous habit’s been extended to you.  

A little nap won’t be the end of the world, you decide. 

You wake to voices, Steve’s and a less familiar one. You gather from the short conversation and Steve’s sudden sitting up that she must be the casting technician. 

Steve slides off the bed onto his feet. Penelope’s still passed out on his chest, her open mouth coating his sleeve in drool. He hears you elbowing up off the sheets. 

“You can stay. It won’t take long,” he says quietly. 

You swipe the crust out of your eyes and shake your legs awake on the floor. “Mm-mm. I’ll go.” 

You follow him and the casting tech to a room so small you could’ve mistaken it for a storage closet. 

Penelope’s still in Steve’s arms when she rouses, but she’s in an entirely new room. There’s someone she doesn’t remember meeting, a girl with a boy’s haircut, wearing the same boxy clothes that everyone who works there has. 

“Hey, sleepy girl,” Steve rubs her thigh, “gotta pick a color for your cast.”

Penelope scrunches her eyes real tight at Steve. It is not time to wake up. 

The casting tech clears her throat, “We have pink, purple, red, blue, black…”

Steve sits Penelope upright on his lap as her head lolls to his shoulder. “Baby, look, see these pretty colors?” 

“Pink,” she groans into his shirt, her lashes fanned across her cheeks. 

“Pink?” the tech calls. 

Steve nods and the woman begins to prep on the countertop. You stand beside the bed Steve’s perched on, your head heavy as a dumbbell. 

“Don’t fall over," Steve says.

You grab his shoulder for balance. “‘M not.” 

The technician rolls a side table up to Steve and pops the brake. She has him scoot forward and maneuver Penelope’s broken arm flat. His stomach knots itself in a guilty pretzel when her eyes open full of tears. Casts are all the rage when you’re that young, but they’re not so fun to put on and take off. 

She’s so spent she barely puts up a fight. Steve holds her good hand more for his sake, sprinkling sorry kisses all across her head as the tech works.

Penelope’s arm is wiped, padded, and all plastered up in no time. The amount of minutes it takes to harden is the same amount it takes Penelope to calm back down. She’s awake, but zombie-like; moaning and groaning like she might really bite someone’s head off. 

Back in her hospital room, she tests the weight of her cast, complains that it’s so itchy and too heavy. But the mention of signatures adds a little shot of excitement to her cup. You track down a Sharpie and are begged to sign it first. After, she insists you must draw Cinderella too. And now you're no artist, but you try your absolute best.

“I’m the only boy who’s gonna sign this, right?” Steve asks as he colors in a heart by DAD. 

Penelope nods with her lip between her teeth so she doesn’t laugh. Every boy on the block is about to sign it, that’s for damn sure. 

A nurse steps in with discharge paperwork and a speech about cast care and referrals and payment plans and it all goes in one ear and out the other. But finally, Penelope is free to go. 

It takes ten minutes of wandering the parking lot to find the car because you’ve completely forgotten where you left it. Penelope treats it like a game of hide and seek and Steve genuinely doesn’t seem to mind, though he does tease you about your awful parking job when he sees it. You’re just glad it’s in an actual spot and not halfway to some impound lot. 

Penelope fusses as Steve eases her into her car seat. He threads her casted arm carefully through the seatbelt strap, her new bear crushed to her chest with the other. She looks more asleep than awake the way she’s blinking at him. 

It’s late enough to wonder if he’ll keep her home from school tomorrow. Or if maybe he’ll stay home from work himself. You could call off too, make a special day out of it. 

Steve adjusts the rearview so he has a slice of Penelope when he checks it. She’s an absolute goner before the car’s even left the parking lot, her head swaying like a ragdoll with every turn. 

The drive back to the field is peaceful. The hum of the engine pushes you dangerously close to a second nap. And Steve patting your thigh certainly doesn’t help. 

When he parks you’re crestfallen with the realization that the night is coming to a close. It’s been the most stressful part of your week and yet undeniably your favorite. You hang out in the heat of the car while Steve goes to search for Penelope’s missing cleat. He searched all up under the car seats for it, but you’re almost positive she kicked it off on the field. 

You watch Steve retrace his steps up to the dugout. Your mind, for whatever reason, jumps to earlier, smushed in that little twin bed, using his arm like a pillow. He was so gentle with your hands. He always is. And you were close enough to kiss him as you have been so many times in the last couple of months. You’ve had every opportunity to do it, but so has he. If it’s something he wanted to do, surely he would’ve done it by now. But it is nice to consider that maybe one of these days your delusions won’t be so delusional.

The passenger door clicks, and a swell of cold air hits your side. You’re stunned for a split second before Steve’s face slides into view. His eyes swing from Penelope’s over to yours. “Ready?” 

His fingers are icicles, slipping between yours to pull you up. You stand toe to toe, more than happy to encroach on his body heat in the residual spring chill. There’s a streetlamp behind him, his face is shadowed but still clear, his head fringed in white like a halo. 

“Couldn’t find ‘em,” he says, “but I did find your sunglasses.” 

“Oh,” you pat the top of your head, “I didn’t even realize.”

He cleans the lenses with the hem of his shirt before folding them into your hand. “Sorry, I must’ve dropped ‘em.” 

You shake your head. He could have snapped them in two and you still wouldn’t care. “Her cleat– one of the moms? Or her coach, maybe?” 

“Yeah, probably. Her bag’s gone too.” 

You hum. Your chest aches fiercely with the gauntlet of emotions you’ve bounced between all night. You aren’t sure what to say apart from, “Sorry.” 

He wrinkles his nose, a laugh of disbelief shaking his shoulders. “Why on earth are you sorry?” 

You squeeze your hands together, grasping for the right words. You're running on empty, though, and your thoughts just feel so heavy right now. “Today… it was all just so scary,” your voice goes paper-thin. “I just can’t imagine.” 

Steve’s eyebrows pinch together. He’s quiet for a while, staring at you like you’ve said the wrong thing. And maybe you have, it’s so late you can’t tell up from down anymore. But his face screws itself tighter, he looks away and then quickly back with even more severity. And then his arms are pulling you roughly against his chest, squeezing you gently. “God, Y/N. I should be the sorry one, you– she’s not even your fucking kid and you– you don’t need to be sorry.” 

“No,” you push off his chest until you can see his face again. He’s frowned enough times today to last him a lifetime. “I am. I care so much about her and it was all so awful. I just can’t even imagine how you must’ve felt.” 

Steve’s eyes sting like fire ants have made a nest in his waterline. He’s using every last drop of energy he has not to break in half right now. The last thing he wants is for you to feel even more sorry for him.  

He puts you back where you won’t see if he does cry, a big hand holding the side of your head to his chest. Your arms loop around his waist, hands latching onto his shirt like he’ll turn to dust and blow away. 

“I don’t think I would’ve survived tonight without you,” he murmurs. 

“You would’ve figured it out. Always have.” 

“No, I–” he exhales hot air down the back of your neck, his chin anchored to the slope of your shoulder. “Honestly, yeah, I don’t think I’ve ever been that scared in my life,” he admits. 

“Yeah, it was scary. I don’t think I’ve ever heard a kid scream like that.” 

“I’m gonna have nightmares, I think.” 

He says it like a joke, but neither of you laughs. It feels too true to be funny. 

“I thought it would get easier as she got older… but I– I still have no idea what I’m doing.” 

Your lashes tickle his collar every time you blink. And your hand crawls up and over his shoulder, but a light squeeze does nothing for all the tension packed in there.  “I don’t think anyone does, Steve,” you say. 

A sigh whistles through his nose. 

“But I do know you’re doing a good job. A really good job.” Your sincerity colors every bit of your tone with warmth. “I think it all the time.”

“Really? You don’t think I’m astronomically fucking this whole raising a decent human thing up?” 

“Now I know you’re just fishing for compliments,” you pull back to flick his chest. The bud of a small smile appears on his face. “You know what I think.” 

He catches your wrist before it drops, bringing his other hand up to heat yours in both of his. “You know, I know she’s not yours, but I’m really grateful that she has you in her life.”

“I’m just–” 

“You’re here,” he cuts you off. “You’re not her mom, but I mean, you’re here. You’re always here for her– and for me.” 

“Steve.”

“It’s so fucking selfish of me, but God, I just wish sometimes you were her mom, like her actual mom, even if we weren’t–” he looks away, his eyes somewhere else before he turns back, “she’s just so fucking lucky to have you is all.” 

You swallow the giant rock in your throat. You hope he’s squeezing your hand tight enough not to notice how it’s shaking. “I wouldn't be as good at it as you think. You’d get sick of me.” 

“Are you kidding? You’d make a great mom.” 

You turn your face away. “Don’t play with me, Steve.”

“I’m not. I swear, I’m not.” 

You don’t know if you believe him. He speaks with such conviction it’s hard not to. But after tonight, you do know that parenthood scares the hell out of you, so much more than it already had. 

And every moment with Steve leaves your heart more exposed like it’s blistering itself raw under the weight of all these hidden feelings. You can’t kid yourself, you love Steve, maybe more than anyone you’ve ever loved in your life. And for a while, it seemed like hiding it was the best option, hoping it’d just go away seemed like it would work. But you’re still here, being tortured by every little stupidly kind thing that comes out of his mouth. 

Maybe it’s the lingering adrenaline, but suddenly this moment feels like your opportunity. You’re both being vulnerable, clinging to each other like you’re years past friendship. You know Steve. He’s considerate and patient and empathetic, he would never end things completely over this. 

Your lips part, then smush back together. It’s like you’ve swallowed a pint of glue, the words stuck swirling in the pit of your aching tummy. 

“I–” You clear your throat, “I think… I’ve been, um–” Your eyes close so hard you see colors. You laugh strangely, much more of a breath than sound, shaking your head, then his hands off of yours. “It’s freezing out. I’m– I’m gonna go.”

He nods fiercely. 

You don’t allow yourself to look at him, spinning on your heels before the words have left your mouth. “Night, Steve.” 

“Goodnight,” he tells the back of your head. 

The wind doesn’t help your stinging eyes. But you don’t wipe the wetness away until you reach your car on the other side of the parking lot. Inside you take a big desperate breath. You feel like you’ll be sick all over the steering wheel. 

He probably thinks you're such an idiot stumbling over yourself and then just leaving like that. The whole thing was stupid. It was stupid and impulsive, not at all how you’ve dreamt about doing it. You couldn’t even do it. You should have just saved yourself the embarrassment and kept it to yourself like you have been. 

You take your half of the photo booth pictures from the sun visor, your finger sliding across the torn ridge gently. You and Steve are friends! He’s said so himself dozens of times. And tonight, while it was absolutely awful in just about every way, it’s still a memory you’ll cherish because of Steve. You are so afraid to lose that. 

Every time you think you’ve come to terms with the way things are he goes and does something that sends you right back to square one.  Half of you is endlessly grateful for what you and Steve have. But the other half mourns the idea that this is all you’ll ever be. 

On Saturday, you arrive at the softball field early this time, nerves chipping at the soft smile on your face. Things with Steve have been… off since the last time you were here. Not alarmingly so, but enough to make your stomach turn when the beamer pulls in beside you. Though he’s grinning at you through the window like you’re a pile of gold, you decide that maybe you’ve just been overthinking things. 

Steve rolls Penelope’s window down with his. She’s loads happier than when you last saw her, sticking both hands out of the car to wave at you. 

You're beaming instantly, stupidly so, as you turn your car off and step out. It’s relieving to see her smile again. 

“Oh my goodness, look at you! Look at these fancy bows!” you fawn, pulling her door open for a full view of her uniform. She’s got knee-high socks over her pants, two big bows securing her braids, and streaks of sparkly face paint on her cheeks. “Are you so excited?” 

“I have pom-poms!” She nearly smacks herself with the speed she brings them up to show you. “I’m just cheering today.” 

“Did you practice your chants?”

She nods, still smiling but chin pointed down with an atypical bashfulness. 

“Saving them for the game?” you nod back agreeably. Your eyes flick over to Steve’s, where he’s elbowed into the center console to watch. He’s observing with that familiar softness, but there’s something else attached to that look. Tension, maybe, whether a good or a bad kind, is yet to be determined. 

You help Penelope with her seatbelt. With two hands, unbuckling is a breeze for this smarty-pants. But a bulky cast over one of them makes it quite a bit more challenging for her little fingers. 

“You’ve got so many new signatures I see,” you point as she springs out of her seat. 

“My whole entire class signed it! There was barely even room!” 

“Wow,” you squint at her wrist, “someone even squeezed a smiley face in there!” 

“Yeah, that was Shell. She's like my bestest friend in the world.” 

“Oh, Shelly with the short hair?” 

“No,” she squawks like you’re crazy to have even thought so, “It’s Michelle. Sometimes I call her Shell ‘cause it’s for short.” 

“Ohh,” you chuckle, a tight hold on her arm as she jumps out onto the gravel. “Michelle, of course.” 

“Yeah, of course.” 

“Silly me.” 

Steve laughs from the back end of the car where he unloads all her gear from the trunk. He helps her arms through the hefty straps on her bag. It’s heavy with a bat, helmet, and glove she won’t need today, but she insisted on bringing, just in case someone forgets theirs.

For the next six weeks, Penelope is the team’s very own part-time cheerleader and part-time dugouts assistant. This was abysmal news at first, she cried for an hour when Steve broke the news. It’s more than half of the season she won’t get to play. But you’ve spun it like it’s a real special job– and it is. You don’t know anyone who can cheer you up faster than Pen can. 

The three of you trek up to the field. Steve’s got a cooler full of juice boxes and a grocery bag of snacks for Penelope to hand out. You’ve teased him about being the team's best mom before, but this couldn’t be more on the nose. Still, it almost makes you want to cry, Penelope gets every drop of her generosity from him. 

Several families convene around the stands, sending their girls into the dugout with good luck. Penelope greets a couple of her friends, both of whom gawk at her cast and argue over who will get to sign it first. 

Steve reels her back over for a quick hug and a round of super embarrassing dad kisses. “My little superstar,” he calls her. “Gonna hear you chanting in the next field over, yeah?” 

She agrees and smacks his hand with her good one. 

You hold out your own with a, “Good luck, Pen!  

She whams down on your palm so hard it burns, but you’re both beaming despite it, high off the excitement of the very first game of the season. Penelope is towed away by a gaggle of girls dying to ask all sorts of questions about her arm. Steve drops the cooler off in the dugout and meets you in the bleachers. 

“Hello,” he says as he sits. "Fancy meeting you here." His eyes flit around every inch of your face, his smile beginning to mirror yours.

“Yeah, funny, I was hoping to see you."  

“You got all dressed up for this.” You're in a plain tee and jeans, but the shirt is technically new.

“Teal’s a hard color to find. Three different stores it took me.” 

There’s a pause, neither of you looks away, no one says a thing. 

“Thank you for coming,” he eventually says. He’s so serious about it as if he doesn’t possibly thank you enough. 

You bump your elbow to his and turn towards the game.

Penelope leads warm-up stretches in the outfield, shouting each countdown as loud as Coach does. There’s a little speck of pink in all that teal parting her from the rest of them. And maybe it’s cheesy, but it feels metaphoric. Penelope is truly one of a kind, your sun is a sky full of gloom. The kids’ stolen your heart for good, Steve, her little accomplice. 

[alaiasole]

💫 welcome back to solè’s bar. today’s special: one “current boyfriend” & six hurt feelings. how i think the aot boys will react to reader calling them their current bf

→ fluff | modern au | boyfriend reactions | black!reader implied

→ tags: fluff, humor, black!reader, boyfriend moments, tiktok prank au

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eren

“hey guys! sooo today i’m vlogging with my current boyfriend—”

he turns his head so fast like.

“current??”

you try not to laugh, still looking at the camera, still tryna keep it cute:

“yeahhh, my current boyfriend.”

he stares. blinks. stares some more.

“current like… you plan on getting a new one?”

“or current like i’m the only one there’s ever gonna be?”

pauses the video. deadass.

“nah, say that again. run it back.”

“say only boyfriend ever. matter fact say soulmate. say forever.”

you’re giggling like “ok ok damn” and he’s just looking at you like:

“don’t play with me like that ever again.”

𓆩♡𓆪𓆩✩𓆪𓆩♡𓆪𓆩✩𓆪𓆩♡𓆪

armin

“hey guys! sooo today we’re doing a mukbang. anddd as a special guest, i have my current boyfriend!”

he pauses mid-fry. slowly turns to you.

“current??”

you’re tryna hold your laugh while he blinks like he just got hit.

“wait… current like… like temporary? like trial period? like… limited-time offer??”

he pouts immediately. full-on baby face.

“are you being serious right now?”

“so we’re not gonna be together forever?”

“you’re just gonna throw me away when you’re bored?”

you’re crying laughing now and he’s still going.

“no, it’s fine. just let me know when the breakup is so i can pack my things.”

“i can’t believe i opened your sauce packets for this.”

he folds his arms and faces away dramatically but still eats the fries

“don’t touch my nuggets. fake girlfriend.”

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levi

“okayyy so today i’m doing a lil outfit rating video, and my current boyfriend is gonna be giving his thoughts on what i wear—”

he ends the video.

no warning.

no reaction.

just clicks the phone and the screen goes black.

off-camera, it’s silent for like two seconds before—

“why the fuck would you say that.”

you’re giggling and he is not amused.

“no, seriously. what the fuck are you on about.”

“current? like i’m replaceable?”

“you trying to be funny or you just purposely pissing me off?”

he’s staring at you like you called him short in public.

“you think this shit’s cute? you wanna be single or sum?”

you’re laughing and he’s just rubbing his temples like he regrets falling in love.

“nah. don’t touch me. i’m annoyed.”

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connie

“okay hey guys! so today i’m doing a little storytime about how i met my current boyfriend—”

“yo. hold on. current??”

he was grinning at first. cheesin’ hard.

kicking his feet a little in the background.

but when that current hit his ear, his face changed IMMEDIATELY

“nah nah nah. run that back. current who? current where? current why?”

he gets up.

starts pacing in the background like he’s on the phone with the government.

“you must be talking about some other man cause me and you? we locked in. spiritually. eternally. i’m your last stop. i’m your final boss. we gon’ die together.”

you’re laughing and he’s dead serious.

“you sayin ‘current’ like i’m some lil temp assignment. girl i’m your forever. i’m your husband.”

then he gets quiet… and dramatic.

“wow. all that time i spent playin animal crossing with you. all those tacos i bought. and i’m just your current boyfriend. okay. okay. say less.”

storms off. comes back 2 minutes later with his hoodie strings tied tight like a mad toddler.

“nah but for real delete that part. i ain’t no fuckin’ current anything. i’m the one.”

𓂃 ࣪˖ 💌 ˚｡𓆩 ♡ 𓆪 ˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥

onyankopon

“hey guys, so today i’m gonna be doing a lil day-in-the-life vlog with my current boyfriend—”

he doesn’t even let you finish the sentence.

“nah. don’t say that.”

he’s not laughing.

just looking at you like… be serious.

“what the fuck is ‘current’ supposed to mean?”

you try to giggle and play it off but he’s just shaking his head.

“baby, stop playing with me. you know better than that.”

he’s looking at you like you just disrespected the whole relationship. all ten toes down in his manhood.

“i’m your only boyfriend. your forever boyfriend. current doesn’t exist.”

and then he kisses you on the cheek and goes back to driving like nothing happened.

off-camera he’s like:

“don’t even post that. i’m not finna be out here lookin like some temp. stop tryna be funny.”

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jean

“hey guys! so today i’m gonna be doing a lil get ready with me featuring my current boyfriend—”

jean immediately stops brushing your hair like—

“…current?”

he tries to laugh but it doesn’t land.

you look up and he’s just staring at you in the mirror, wide-eyed and confused.

“baby… why would you say that?”

you giggle and keep going but he’s stuck on it.

soft voice, all pouty now.

“like… you don’t actually mean that, right?”

“you’re just joking?”

“right?”

his hands drop from your shoulders.

you look back and he’s visibly sad.

“you said ‘current’ like… like i’m temporary. like you’re gonna replace me or something…”

you go to reassure him and he leans into it IMMEDIATELY.

arms around your waist. forehead pressed to your cheek.

“say you’re sorry.”

“say i’m your forever boyfriend.”

“say you love me the most.”

you’re laughing now and he’s like:

“no. i’m serious. that hurt. my heart lowkey dropped.”

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[erinyesofvengeance]

A/N: just watched sinners and i am salivating at the mouth for irish fine shyt... alsooo this is from his POV and he might (definitely will) come across as a narcissist and weirdo in this (might do part two if yall ask in the comments cause i lowkey like this idea)

also!!! reader is dumb af and remmick is lowkey delusional and interpreting reader's feelings to how he wants her to feel. this man is a black flag, yall. THIS IS SHORT AND NOT PROOFREAD!!!

REMMICK didn't take kindly to people he considered outsiders, and that just so happened to be about everyone. Everyone except for you. You were the only exception. He cared for you like one of his own. Made sure you were healthy, loved, and cherished. Protected you against all of the people around you seeking to bring you harm.

He really had gone above and beyond for you. He had given everything to you; his time, his care, his love... he had given away his soul piece by piece to silly old you. So of course you ought to love him with all of your heart for the rest or your living life, or maybe even for the rest of eternity should he decide to turn you.

Isn't that right?

So why was it that you wouldn't even let him come into your house?

"Get the fuck off of my porch!" you snap. He was shocked. Honestly shocked that you had the audacity to treat him, the love of your life in this horrible manner. Surely you'd snap out of it if he talked to you a bit...

"Oh, come on now, baby..." he says. "You don't - you don't mean that. Don't be like this now." His hands are stretched, reaching to you on the other side of the door. But he can't grab you, can't touch you; not if you don't let him inside.

"You were gone for two months. Two whole months, Remmick! You just disappeared with no heads up. You couldn't even say goodbye."

Well... that might've been on him this time... but he couldn't help it! He was so hungry, and was resisting the sweet urge to rip out your neck where you stood. So really, he left for your own good. He was protecting you! Why couldn't you just see that?

"I-" He pauses. "I'm sorry... please, baby. Let me in. I was just tryna do the right thing. To be better, and be the man you deserve."

This was getting a lot harder than he thought it would be. Usually, you would invite him in almost immediately. But it's okay. He has faith in you. He knew you would eventually, one way or another, come around.

"I, I promise, I will repent for the rest of my life. I'll be by your side for the rest of our lives. For forever. You'd like that, wouldn't you? Just you and me."

Your scowl nearly burns through his skull.

"Come on in."

"Huh?"

"I said come on in."

He steps in carefully, as if there were broken shards of glass on the floor. He looks up at you and your expression.

The look on your face says it all. That you love him. That you want to be with him, just like how he'd promised you. For all of eternity.

"Oh, baby..." he says wistfully. "You should've just told me."

Your expression seems confused, but why would it be? You know exactly what he's talking about. This act you've been keeping up is really getting tiring, but he can't lie and say he doesn't like the chase. The effort he has to go through to get you.

His steps are soft, and he can visibly see you tense up as he approaches you slowly.

"What are you doing."

"Awh, baby. Don't you start gettin' shy on me, now. You don't need to be scared."

He grabs your wrist, pulling you close before leaning down to your neck and taking a deep inhale.

"You smell like cherries," he murmurs.

And with that, his teeth pierce your neck, tearing off your flesh with a wet swoosh. A horrifying rip echoes through the air, coupled with your screams.

But he can't hear you. He isn't able to. Not with the amount of euphoria he's drowning in at the moment. And he wants to tell you, to reassure you that the pain only lasts for a minute. That after you wake up, you'll feel as he does now; euphoric. You'll feel powerful and forever young, and although it may come with a few downsides, that it will pay off in the end.

Plus, you two will be together. What is there to fear?

[starmaidengarden]

hi!! i was wondering if i could request just a very sweet moment of just being close to one another and kissing them with rook and kalim? you can also add whoever u want if u would like! ⸜(｡˃ ᵕ ˂ )⸝♡

—Rook : Kalim : Jamil : Malleus : Ace x gn!reader. no cw/tw. dividers: uzmacchiato.

note: sorry this took so long!! (T_T)

Rook Hunt ༉⋆｡˚

Rook doesn’t just love you—he adores you, in the way one might admire a breathtaking sunset or a perfectly composed poem. You’re both sitting beneath a tree at the edge of a flower-filled courtyard, the golden hour sunbathing you in a soft, warm glow. He’s been quiet for a moment, his gloved fingers brushing over the back of your hand, his eyes half-lidded with a gentle smile playing on his lips. “Mon trésor... you’re radiant in this light,” he whispers, his voice full of awe. You laugh softly, brushing a petal from his shoulder—and he watches you as if he’s trying to memorize your every move. You don’t even realize you’re leaning in until your foreheads are touching. He closes the gap with a kiss, slow and tender, his hand rising to cup your cheek with almost reverent care. It’s sweet, and light, but full of emotion—like he’s telling you just how deeply he feels with nothing but a kiss.

Kalim Al-Asim ༉⋆｡˚

The two of you are on the rooftop of Scarabia, wrapped in a blanket, staring up at the stars. Kalim is warm—physically and emotionally—and his laughter still lingers in the air from the joke you told moments ago. He’s not shy about affection, but this is different: quieter, softer. He leans his head against yours and sighs dreamily. “This is perfect, isn’t it?” he murmurs, turning to look at you with those bright, earnest eyes. You nod, and when you look back at him, he's already close—so close. He smiles again, less energetic this time and more adoring, and leans in to kiss you. It’s not hurried or giddy like usual—it’s gentle, slow, a moment where his joy softens into something deep and genuine. He hums against your lips, his hand squeezing yours, holding onto the moment like it’s precious.

Jamil Viper ༉⋆｡˚

It’s quiet in the Scarabia lounge, the lights dim, and the world outside feels miles away. Jamil isn’t one to initiate contact too often, but right now, he’s relaxed—so much so that your head is resting on his shoulder and his arm is around you. You can feel his heartbeat, steady and calm, under your hand. He doesn’t say much. But when you look up at him, there’s a softness in his eyes that he rarely shows others. His fingers brush through your hair before resting gently at your jaw, guiding you to face him. He kisses you slowly, purposefully, like you’re the only thing that exists in his world right now. There’s no rush, no performance—just a simple, tender press of lips that says I trust you. And when he pulls back just enough to rest his forehead against yours, he whispers, “Stay here… just like this, a little longer.”

Malleus Draconia ༉⋆｡˚

Malleus is used to silence, but the quiet with you is different—it’s peaceful. You’re walking together in the moonlit gardens of Diasomnia, hand in hand. Fireflies flicker around you like falling stars, and his expression softens every time he glances your way. You pause near a blooming flowerbed, and he turns to face you fully, one gloved hand resting gently at your waist. “The night is beautiful,” he murmurs, “but it pales in comparison to you.” His words make your cheeks heat up, and Malleus smiles softly. Carefully, like he’s handling something fragile, he leans in and kisses you. It’s full of ancient affection and discovery, slow and full of quiet emotion. The kind of kiss that makes time seem to slow down. He lingers close afterward, gazing into your eyes like he’s seeing eternity in them.

Ace Trappola ༉⋆｡˚

You’re sitting side by side on his bed, your legs brushing. The TV plays something forgotten in the background, but neither of you is paying attention anymore. Ace keeps glancing your way, lips twitching like he’s got something to say but can’t find the words. Finally, he nudges your knee with his. "You always do that thing with your nose when you're trying not to smile. It's stupid cute." You snort and smack his arm lightly. His laughter dies down as he leans closer, just barely touching foreheads. “You’re real cute when you get flustered too, y'know…” His voice is quieter now, almost sheepish. And when he kisses you, it’s surprisingly gentle—no teasing, just soft pressure and warmth. He lingers for a moment, then pulls back just enough to smile that rare, genuine smile of his. "...You make my heart do all kinds of dumb stuff," he mutters, face a little red.

[iamthatonefangirl]

sweet - bucky barnes x reader

word count: 1.5k based on this ask. disclaimer: not tagged as nsfw but brief mentions of nsfw topics. a/n: pure unadulterated, tooth-rotting fluff to make up for what I did to y'all last night.

~~~

when he looks at you, all he sees is light. a beacon. a way home.

you're an angel, his angel, a perfect being that surrounds him in eternal comfort and love and trust. pure happiness wrapped into a bundle of beauty and warmth.

he would fight to the ends of the earth for you. he would kill for you. he would see himself turn into the darkest version of himself if only it made you happy, even if only for a fraction of a second. he would do it without hesitation and without regret.

because that smile on your face means more to him than anything else on this planet.

the flowers he brings you every Saturday morning before you wake up, just to see you smile.

the kisses he plants all over your face every morning and every evening, so the first and last thing he sees every day is that smile of yours.

maybe it's not healthy that all his self-preservation instincts go out the window when it comes to you, but he doesn't care.

he'd rather preserve your happiness.

you're everything to him.

~~~

you've never had a man this enamored with you.

the way he treats you like the most expensive and most beautiful diamond in the world. the way he treats you like every word out of your mouth is his own personal gospel. the way he never fails to be so interested in your interests, in hearing what you have to say, in being near you all the time.

you weren't used to the attention at first. you almost wondered if you were being love-bombed.

you weren't. you'd just found the man who intended to spend the rest of his life by your side, making you smile.

he wanted nothing but the best for you, so he always made sure to treat you to nothing but the best.

you were sure to do the same for him.

~~~

you begin to stand from the couch where you're sitting wrapped up in one another, a show you've seen a million times playing out on the screen.

"where are you going?" he whispers in your ear, rubbing a hand up and down your arm.

"I'm going to make dinner, baby," you tell him and place a peck on his lips.

"no. you sit, I'll cook," he tries. he hates to make you lift a finger when he could be the one doing it.

"I want to make you dinner, baby. you've been gone, let me do this for you?" you ask, giving him a soft, hopeful smile.

his heart just melts at the sight, the way your eyes look into his, and he's done for, every time.

"are you sure?" he pushes, brushing his nose up against yours.

"yes. I'm sure, Bucky," you tell him, giving him another kiss, and standing. "you rest."

he doesn't want to let go of your hand as you walk away, but he does anyways.

even if you're doing the heavy lifting now, he'll make it up to you.

once dinner was near prepared, he came to join you in the kitchen, wrapping his arms around your waist from behind. "need me to set the table?" he offered.

"let's sit on the couch? don't want to spend another minute away from you," you admitted to him with another gentle smile on your face.

the fire burned brighter in his heart.

"me neither."

you ended up back on his lap as he laid on the couch, your legs crossed over his on the sofa.

"baby, let me move, you need to eat," you told him, turning your head to look at him and giving him those puppy dog eyes.

"no. want you right here," he mumbled, keeping his hands on your waist, holding you close.

"aren't you hungry for the lovely dinner I just made you?" you tease.

he pauses for a moment, considering your words, grumbling as he deliberates.

you laugh a little to yourself and adjust enough to bring your fork to his lips.

"there. problem solved," you smile, and he smiles back at you, amused by your solution. he loves it all the same. if you want to feed him, he'll damn well let you.

~~~

one day in the midst of winter, you come down with a nasty cold.

the minute you realize it, you tell him you're going to sleep on the couch.

"oh hell no, you're not sleeping on the couch," he protests immediately. "why would you want to do that?"

"I don't want to get you sick," you tell him in your nasally, congested voice. it's disgusting. he doesn't care, he loves it anyways.

"you know I physically can't get a silly little cold," he laughs, pulling you in to embrace you. "you're not sleeping on the couch."

"I might wake you up if I can't sleep, or if I have a coughing fit, or-"

"and why would that bother me?" he prompts, laughing a little and smiling at you. "how are you supposed to get better if you don't let me hold you, let me love on you, baby?"

his words hit so deeply you can't help but smile and shake your head at how sweet he sounds.

"come on. I'll take you to bed, and get you your favorite snacks, and make you soup..." he tells you, walking you to the bedroom, "...and I'll spend all week with my mouth between your thighs if that helps you, yeah?"

he's like a dream come to life. as he sits you in bed, helping you change out of your clothes and into one of his oversized t-shirts, you can't help but wonder how you got so lucky.

"I love you, Bucky," you tell him so earnestly, as though you've never said it before.

"I love you too, baby. you know what, screw going to the store, I'll have it delivered so I don't have to leave your side..."

~~~

is it too early to buy a ring? he wonders.

a century ago, you'd have been married already, obviously. but that was then, and things were different now.

what was different was that he didn't feel that sense of obligation to get married. no, he just wanted to marry you so he could officially call you his for the rest of his life.

you'd had the discussion before that you were interested in getting married. "one day," you'd told him.

but he wanted to make sure.

so one morning as you sat in bed together and drank your respective beverages, he brought it up.

"are you still interested in getting married?" he asked you, carefully analyzing the look on your face to gauge your immediate reaction.

you took a pause, trying to hide the little smile that appeared on your lips. of course he noticed it. he would never miss one of your smiles.

"yeah, baby. I am."

"and you're, like... ready?" he asks. "because I think I am."

you quit trying to hide your smile as your turn to look at him directly.

"I'm ready."

and there's his confirmation.

~~~

no way was he going to give anything away.

for weeks, he grilled your closest friends about what kind of ring you'd like. he knew you'd tell them, and no way was he about to buy a ring without making sure it was exactly what you wanted.

he did the right thing and took their advice, checking with them before buying it.

he didn't want you to know when the proposal was happening. so for two more months after he bought the ring, he waited. obviously, you knew it was coming, but.. he wanted to make it a surprise.

you made sure to have your nails done at all times, just in case.

he had always been the type to take you out on a date every week or two. that's what you deserved.

for this one, he went a little nicer than usual. took you to a restaurant on the water, a little further away from home, where you could watch the sun go down as you ate.

it was a full moon. a beautiful, clear summer night. you looked so gorgeous in the soft dress you wore, the color complimenting your skin so well.

he kept it low-key, only having a photographer on stand-by.

he was so excited.

so after you ate, he took you down to the balcony nearing the beach.

he got down on one knee, popped the question-

and there it was. that smile, accompanied by you jumping up and down, yelling "yes!" over and over again. you reached for him and kissed him before he even stood, before he even slid the ring onto your finger.

it was the beginning of the rest of your lives.

"I promise you, doll, I'll spend every minute for the rest of our lives making you happy," is what he told you as he held your hand, now with a shiny ring on your finger, watching as it glistened under the light of the full moon.

and that's exactly what he vowed to you on your wedding day, too.

~~~

masterlist

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bucky tag list part 1: (send an ask or dm to be removed)

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[unadulteratedsoulsweets]

A DC X DP IDEA #48

Grandpa

Imagine dis…

This inspired my fridge being full again, here’s a flash back

Me: Thanks for treating me at my favorite restaurant, Grandpa, but you really don't have to do this every time I visit your house.

Grandpa: Don't worry about it, kid.

Me: I'm *realage*, definitely not a kid, Grandpa...

Grandpa: As long as you're not in your 30s yet, you're still a kid. Come on, pick whatever dessert you want, it's on me.

Me: No thanks, I'm saving up for a special treat.

Grandpa: Didn't you hear me, brat? (fondly) I said it's on me. And what treat are you saving up for? Did my daughter didn’t gave you enough pocket money again?

Me: No, it's not like that, Grandpa. You and Mom give me plenty. It's just that there's this *brand* I've been dying to get ever since I first tried it, so I'm saving up to buy it.

*a few months later*

Me: MAAAAAA!

Mom: What's wrong, honey?

Me: Why is there a bunch of *brand* in the fridgeeee? These are expensive!

*I said as I look at the prices on my phone, fearing I missed some sort of discount for buying in bulk.*

Mom: Dad apparently wanted to try some ever since he saw it in a commercial and bought too many. He sent some extras here...

Me: *Takes a long inhale* AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

….…..

We all have that grandfather. The one who insists he doesn’t play favorites but then turns around and gives one grandchild a thousand dollars for Christmas, claiming it’s because, “Well, I can’t take it with me when I’m dead, might as well spend it on something cute now.” It’s a universal experience. And apparently, not even death—or undeath—exempts you from it.

For the past month, Danny's friends had been roasting him relentlessly over one singular fact: Clockwork spoils him rotten.

Danny, of course, denies it. Danny, ever the tired, oblivious little disaster of a ghost prince, insists Clockwork treats him like any other unfortunate intern-slash-trainee. If anything, he argues, Clockwork enjoys his suffering. After all, no spoiled child would be forced to sit through two-hour lectures on the political structure of the Realm of Screeching Mirrors or solve time-based equations that make mortal physics cry. And yet, somehow, every time he finishes school and is already dead tired—pun intended—he gets yeeted straight into another lesson about interdimensional algebra that makes even Jazz’s nerdy heart weep.

Sam, Tucker, and Jazz just sit there and stare at him like he’s trying to convince them the sky isn’t blue. Even Dan, actual chaotic/ genocidal menace of the Ghost Zone, released on royal bail with a community service contract (a.k.a. babysitting duty), had the gall to grimace at the blatant favoritism. Ellie just nodded and made snide bets on how long it would take before Danny noticed Clockwork had been rigging his ghost-life like a doting stage mom.

It didn’t stop there either. Apparently, somewhere along the line, Pandora decided to become the wine aunt—but instead of wine and passive-aggressive casserole recipes, she sent weaponized care packages. Need a broadsword that sings show tunes when swung? Pandora’s got it. She once gave Danny a dagger made from the crystallized screams of vanquished tyrants. When asked why, she simply said, “To keep your mortals on their toes.”

Then there was Frostbite. Calm, collected, soothing Frostbite… who also happened to be the kind of uncle who would knit you a blanket and throw a car at anyone who made you cry. He’d once paused a global summit in the Far Frozen to deliver Danny a scarf because he “looked a bit chilly” during said meeting. The scarf was bulletproof. And sentient.

Everyone saw it. Everyone. The entire inner circle of Danny's life treated it like the worst-kept secret in all of ghostdom. Sam tried reasoning with him. Tucker built a PowerPoint. Jazz made pie charts, actual pie charts, trying to explain the psychological indicators of excessive grandparental attachment. Danny? Still blissfully in denial.

Which was funny, considering Clockwork literally paused time every night so Danny could get his eight hours. And occasionally twelve. Or fourteen. There were also the little notes left in Danny’s backpack: “Don’t forget your lunch, also destroy that wraith behind locker 307, it’s giving off bad vibes. Love, C.W.” Or, you know, when certain bullies AHEM GIW agents that are more on the violent and competent side AHEM mysteriously disappeared from time itself. Not dead, not missing, just never existed in the first place. Suspiciously convenient.

Still, Danny remained oblivious. Ranting about how Clockwork just gave him more work while his friends sat in the background, watching the temporal equivalent of a dad saying “I’m not mad, just disappointed” and rewriting history to give his grandson fewer childhood traumas.

Things only got worse when Phantom officially joined the Justice League Dark. The invitation had been pending for months. After all, there was only so long the League could ignore the literal child-shaped ghost who kept single-handedly neutralizing League-level threats in a small Midwest town like it was his weekend hobby. The Dark team, especially Constantine and Zatanna, had begrudgingly accepted him after witnessing him pull obscure banishment spells from memory, casually referencing ancient ghost kings as if he had lunch with them last week. (He probably did.)

Thanks to Phantom, the League Dark's solved-case rate skyrocketed. Not that Danny bragged about it. No, he just muttered quiet “thank-yous” to Clockwork for teaching him spells like “Ecto-Spatial Reversal via Reverse-Entropy” and “Don’t Touch That You Idiot, It Bites.”

Things were going smoothly—until a group of Green Lanterns arrived with bad news: a planet eater had been spotted in their quadrant. Immediate panic, of course. Superman went into overdrive, Batman did his usual dramatic scowl, and Phantom… winced.

Hard.

He doubled over slightly, one hand pressed to his core, face pale and wide-eyed. The room turned quiet as Danny muttered something garbled, a soft, vibrating cry that made Constantine drop his cigarette and Doctor Fate slowly turn his helmeted head.

What most of the League didn’t know—what even Danny barely acknowledged—was that as a newly ascended Ancient of Space (thanks, Ghost Zone promotions), he could feel his creations. And he had just started experimenting with creating baby planets for fun. Tiny, floating ball worlds full of pink sand, purple skies, and slow-beeping space whales. He’d named one of them “Steve.”

And now? Steve was gone.

That warbled noise he let out? Not pain. Not warning.

It was a cosmic tantrum.

And the moment he wailed, the pen sitting at the edge of the conference table froze in mid-air. Time literally stuttered. The League stood frozen. Until a massive, glowing portal sliced open behind Danny with the sound of a very irritated and blood thirsty grandfather clock chiming, who knew a grandfather clock can make such ominous chime.

Out came a giant ghost cloaked in deep violet robes, staff glowing ominously, red eyes glaring holes through the League. Every hero present snapped into defense mode—Superman rose into the air, Wonder Woman readied her lasso, Batman reached for seventeen gadgets at once.

And Phantom?

Phantom flung himself at the terrifying ghost like a toddler reunited with their favorite plushie after a week of laundry day. The tears started flowing as he began incoherently babbling about Steve and planet goo and how he worked really hard on making the gravity work this time, and now it’s gone, Grandpa, it’s gone!

Clockwork, for his part, gently patted Danny on the head and offered a soft “There, there. Let’s go home. I have cookies. And cocoa. With extra marshmallows.”

Danny nodded miserably, clutching his mentor like the universe had wronged him personally—which, in fairness, it kind of had. The two vanished into the portal, and just like that, time resumed. The pen hit the floor with a sharp clack.

The Justice League stared in stunned silence.

And then, just a beat too late, the Flash burst in with a stack of nachos, four Slurpees, and a hot dog sticking out of his hair.

Flash blinked at the scattered papers, frazzled League members, and the faint, lingering smell of cinnamon cookies. Batman said nothing. Constantine just lit another cigarette.

…..

 PS: If someone out there wants to continue or make a fic about this you are free to do so, don’t forget to tag me though.

[lazysoulwriter]

soft launch sabotage - pedro pascal. ── .✦

requested! thank you. content: fluff, social media reveal, anxious Pedro, established but secret relationship

---

It wasn’t like you and Pedro had planned to keep your relationship a secret forever.

But it was new, and you were both a little drunk on each other. The kind of drunk where even going to the grocery store together felt too intimate to risk. Too good. Too delicate. And Pedro, bless him, had been so respectful of that — always checking before posting, always turning a soft smile toward you when someone asked about his love life and saying something vague like, “I'm very loved up lately, let’s say that.”

But then the awards show happened.

And Pedro, in a sharp navy suit and those glasses you loved, was practically glowing with nervous excitement as he stepped onto the red carpet. He was halfway through an interview when it happened. The reporter said, “You look incredible, Pedro. Who helped you pick out the suit tonight?”

And without thinking — not even pausing — he said: “My girlfriend. She has this eye for tones, and she—she’s amazing. She said this color makes my eyes look 'less tired in photos.’”

He blinked. The reporter blinked. The camera operator did not blink.

Pedro’s smile froze slightly as his brain caught up with his mouth, and he tried to chuckle it off. “I mean, my...stylist. I call her that sometimes. You know. Fashion girlfriend. Fashion ghost. Ha.”

It didn’t work. It definitely didn’t work.

By the time he made it off the carpet, your names were trending together on Twitter. People had screen-recorded the interview in HD and were doing TikTok deep dives on your recent vacation photos. Somehow, a blurry pic he’d taken of your legs on a hammock two weeks ago had resurfaced. The caption — “Heaven looks like this.” — was now very much in question.

Pedro’s anxiety had kicked in full force. He didn’t even go to the afterparty. He just went home and called you the second he walked in the door, pulling off his tie with trembling fingers.

“I fucked up,” he said immediately. “Baby, I fucked up so bad. I'm so sorry. You didn’t even get a say in this and I just—blurted it. I opened the gates and now they’re gonna find everything. I didn’t mean to out us, I swear, I wasn’t thinking, it was—”

“Pedro,” you said gently, trying not to smile.

“I should've kept it to myself. I just—I was thinking about you. I always think about you. And they asked and it just came out and—fuck, you hate this kind of attention. I ruined it, didn’t I?”

“Pedro.” You laughed now, full and warm. “I don’t care.”

He blinked, and your voice came through the phone like balm. “I mean, maybe I would’ve liked to post a really cute soft-launch first. You in the kitchen with that ridiculous apron you wear. Or me in your hoodie. But... it’s fine. It’s you. And I love you. I’m not mad.”

He was quiet for a second.

Then: “You love me?”

“Oh my God,” you rolled your eyes. “Yes. Obviously. I just thought I’d wait to say it until after you accidentally told the entire entertainment industry we’re dating.”

Pedro’s breath caught in his throat — and then the nervous wreck of a man melted. He was giggling, pacing around the living room with a hand on his chest like you’d hit him with a tranquilizer dart made of love. “Fuck. I love you too. You’re sure you're okay?”

“Yes, Pascal. In fact—” you grinned. “Now you have to post me. No turning back.”

So the next morning, he did.

pascalispunk 📸 a carousel of you and him — the first one was a candid: you curled into his lap, laughing in a sunbeam, his sunglasses half off your face. The second was blurrier, you kissing his temple while he cooked. The third was that same hammock photo — but this time, he tagged you.

Caption: Guess the secret’s out. Best accident I ever made. 💛

The comments were unhinged. The internet fully lost its mind. But Pedro didn’t care — not with you curled into his chest, hand tucked under his shirt, scrolling through them with a lazy grin and whispering, “They’re right, you do look less tired in that suit.”

---

✦ please do not copy, repost, or translate this work. © lazysoulwriter // i write with a lot of love and care, so please respect that.

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