#i need to finish my secret santa fic this is NOT HELPFUL

[lale-txt]

me minding my own business:

my brain throwing a stray thought at me like an unstrapped wii remote flung towards a flatscreen: you should write something with a cuck chair

[lincolndjarin]

Not So Secret Santa

javier peña x fem!reader

this is a part of the @pedrostories gift exchange!!

summary : you get the only person you didn't want for your offices secret santa.

warnings/tags : 18+ mdni, enemies/friends to lovers, canon divergence, steve is your boss/close friend, reader and javier have a complicated relationship, reader is insecure, brief mentions of alcohol, porn with plot, smut, light angst, javier and reader fight physically but it's very light with no actual injury, masturbation, semi-public sex, p in v, idk how to properly tag this but javi likes boobs in this so he touches boobs, unprotected sex (don't do this, wrap it this holiday season), use of a makeshift gag, rough yet very loving sex because it's christmas and christmas magic means i can write what i want.

tldr : you and javi have sex in his office and you put his tie in his mouth to shut him up.

word count : 4.4k

✦ : merry christmas @taro-666 !!! i'm your secret santa !!! i hope you're well this holiday season and i hope you enjoy this fic !! i haven't written much peña, despite how much i love him so i hope i did him justice and i hope you have a wonderful holiday <3 <3 (also sorry this is a little late (20 minuetes left before midnight so we're good). i was out with family all day and was only just now able to get to my laptop, i promise i didn't forget about you lmao)

no use of y/n, reader has hair and painted nails & javier sort of half picks her up at one point, nothing else is described besides clothing.

lovely dividers by @saradika-graphics

“Please, Steve, I’ll give you a week's pay.” You lean across his desk, genuine desperation in your voice after an hour of begging. 

“Not gonna happen.” He doesn’t even bother looking up from his computer.

“A month.” Your voice is starting to pitch up, something similar to anguish in your tone. Your offer finally gets a reaction out of him as his eyes widen, head tilting up.  

“Jesus, you can’t be serious.” He’s examining your expression, trying to determine the sincerity of your claim. 

“My entire Christmas bonus.” 

“Okay, stop.” He sighs, giving you a sympathetic look. “We���re not allowed to switch.”

“When did you become such a stickler for the rules?” You cross your arms in front of your chest. 

“It’s just a secret Santa. He’s our friend, whether you like it or not, you two are close and this shouldn’t be this big of a deal, now go, please, I need to finish up here so I can leave at a reasonable hour.” He loosens his tie as you sigh. 

“It’s not just a secret Santa, Steve. It’s an opportunity for him to tell me that I once again didn’t do something right. No matter what I get him, it isn’t going to be good enough.” Even as you’re saying it you can see that he isn’t going to change his mind about this. 

“He’s a dick to everybody. That’s inevitable, it just means he’s comfortable with you.” He’s already turning back to his work. 

“Please, Steve.” 

“No.”

You glare down at him, giving him your angriest look as his gaze tilts back up to meet yours. 

When it’s clear that he isn’t going to switch you turn and leave, slamming his office door in the process. 

“Don’t forget, I need you here early to help set up for the party!” His muffled voice seeps out into the hall as you walk away. 

Once you’re out in your car and far away from prying eyes you unfold the damned slip of paper you’d drawn earlier today. 

Javier P. 

Of course, you got stuck with fucking Peña, a nickname you’d given him a few months ago. He absolutely hates it but the entire time you’ve worked for the DEA he’s gone out of his way to bother you. Sure, he’s your “friend”, in a strange, complicated way. But he still drives you up the wall with his constant need to one up you and the way he’s constantly making passes at women around the office. 

And it’s not like you have any problems with him sleeping around, lord knows you’ve had a fair amount of one night stands, but he just has to hit on every woman you work with. 

Every single woman, except you. 

You’d never admit it of course but a part of you will always be self conscious about that fact. It doesn’t help that Javier absolutely adores bothering you at every possible moment. He loves nothing more than to pester, annoy, and mock you, spending nearly half his day leaning over your desk despite the million complaints you’ve sent Steve about his persistent partner. 

He’ll sit on your desk, doing an endless amount of things to cause you distress. Like crowding you with his cigarette smell and vanilla cologne as he tells you you’re filling papers wrong, or telling you what colors to paint your nails, or solving your cases before you can even get to them, or teasing you about your shitty car. Today he wouldn’t stop bothering you about your weekend plans like he doesn’t already know exactly where you’ll be. 

“Are you doing anything this weekend?” He’d asked with that devastating smirk and eyebrow raise combo. 

“I have to go buy my secret Santa gift, just like everyone else.” You’d turned away, avoiding eye contact as he scoffed. 

“What about Saturday?” He continued to pry, you wanted nothing more than to shove his perfect ass off your desk. 

“The Christmas party, Javi. Just like everyone else.” You had sighed, squeezing the bridge of your nose as Emilia had walked past your desk. Javier immediately forgot your entire conversation as he turned to her. 

“I love your nails.” He’d pushed his hair out of his face, holding his hand out to take hers, getting a closer look at the well manicured designs. 

You had tuned out after that. Not wanting to be involved in the exchange as you went back to typing. Acutely aware of your own nails. 

Red chipped paint. 

You couldn’t help but wonder what it must be like to be the object of his affection.

It wouldn’t matter if he did hit on you, you would probably reject him anyway. 

Probably. 

It doesn’t matter, it’s never gonna happen so why let it bother you? 

With a sigh you toss the paper into your cup holder, reaching to turn on the radio, maybe some Christmas music will make you feel better. Of course nothing happens as you turn up the volume knob but it makes you want to scream regardless. 

Stupid fucking Peña. 

Stupid broken radio, stupid shitty car. 

“Fuck.” You mumble under your breath as you shift into drive.

Before you know it you’re back in your car in the DEA office parking lot, this time a few things are different though. 

You’re dressed nicer, trading your slacks in for a skirt and your dress shirt for a sweater. And of course you now have a small wrapped box in your lap. 

Since you had yesterday off for the holiday you spent your Friday at the mall, searching for a gift for Javier. Eventually you had settled on three little things; Nicotine gum, mostly because you’ll get more work done if he isn’t constantly dragging you outside for his smoke breaks. He complains too much about going alone and it’s always been easier not to argue, now he can stay at your desk with his gum. Beard oil, the fancy stuff he always insists on using in his mustache. You’d bought him the wrong kind last year for his birthday and you still haven’t heard the end of it. And a lighter, you had to beg the shop owner to make an exception and do a same day engraving of his birthday. 

Jesus. 

You know way too much about him. 

You arrived two hours early as requested by Steve to help him set up. With the wrapped box tucked under your arm you anxiously tap the patterned wrapping paper with your freshly manicured nails. 

“You should paint your nails green, I love green.” He had said through a drag of his cigarette. 

Why did you let that idiot's opinions influence this decision? You feel foolish. The green chrome polish shimmering in the street lights in the parking lot as you step into the building. You had extra time while you were waiting for the engraving and you just couldn’t help yourself when the salon was just a few stores away. The image of Javier holding your hand and examining your painted nails while telling you how nice they looked was just too tempting. Maybe he’d even ask if you did it just for him, and you could drag him into a closet at the party, the exact situation you watched unfold last year. Except in that scenario you weren’t the lucky lady he’d run off with that night. 

There’s no time to be thinking like that.

You shake off whatever filth you were imagining as you look around the hectic mess of garland and glitter.

Steve is already stressing, setting up tables as you set your gift under the tree before getting to work. The office is already mostly decorated but with his new position as supervisor Steve is insistent that everything be perfect his first Christmas in charge. So you plate food, and you mix drinks exactly as he wants them, and you hold the ladder steady when he insists on putting more lights up. When you’ve got about a half an hour before guests start arriving you’re finishing up and last minute touches, the two of you crowded around a drink tower. 

The tension from your conversation yesterday seems to have fizzled out as you become engrossed in your work, when you’ve both finished he gives you an appreciative look.

“Thank you, seriously, it means a lot.” You help him adjust his tie as he straightens out his shirt. 

“Anytime, although I’m surprised you didn’t just ask Javier.” You pat his shoulder as you finish, brushing a stray blonde hair out of his eyes. 

He laughs, a nervous chuckle that makes you raise an eyebrow but when you open your mouth to comment on it he lets out a relieved sigh as the first of your coworkers arrive.

More people show up than you could have expected. 

You stay near Steve for most of the beginning until he gets dragged away by one of the higher ups who had made an appearance, leaving you alone to sip your drink against the back wall. You hum along to a Christmas song that plays loud enough to drown out any conversation you might eavesdrop on to entertain yourself in his absence, your eyes scan the crowds as you try to match up the people you work with with their spouses. 

You’re getting ready to find another group to talk to when you catch a glimpse of him standing against the opposite wall, talking to Bonnie, the woman who works in the cubicle next to yours. 

Fucking Peña. Dressed in a stupidly tight green dress shirt. 

You should leave them alone, especially if he’s trying to make a move on her. But you can’t help it as you make your way around the room towards them, a vague sense of jealousy settling in your stomach. 

String lights twinkle across the ceiling of the office, creating a warm ambience throughout the space, just as you’re about to tap him on the shoulder you overhear their conversation. 

“I had to beg Steve to switch with me, took an hour of convincing and a week's paycheck but it’ll be worth it to see the look on her face.” His back is to you as he leans in closer to Bonnie. 

He’s probably talking about one of the other women from the office. Steve probably had someone Javier was trying to impress and that’s why Steve didn’t want to trade with you, he had already promised his pick to Javier. 

Whatever, you can’t be too bothered about that. It does make you want to return to your spot on the other side of the room but you don’t get the chance to as the music is turned down rather suddenly.

One of the secretaries, Benjamin, stands on a chair, making an announcement that it’s time to do the secret Santa. You manage to twist through the crowds so Javier never sees you, finding his gift and bringing it to where he now stands, simultaneously keeping an eye out for your own gift.  

You hand him the box, watching the way his face lights up. 

“You picked me?” He grins as you nod, carefully peeling back the wrapping paper as you feel a tap on your shoulder. Benjamin waits behind you, leaning in to whisper while you watch Javier open his gift. 

“It was short notice so we didn’t have time to get you a back up gift but your secret Santa told us at the last minute that he forgot to get you something, he promised to bring in something after New Years, I’m so sorry.” You feel a little disappointed as he murmurs but it isn’t that big of a deal, it’s a busy time of year and people can forget things. 

“No worries, do you know who it was? I’d like to at least tell them it’s fine.” You turn away from Javier as he smiles at the nicotine gum, Benjamin's eyes flicker from your face to Javier’s before he gives you a sympathetic look, walking away. 

Javier traded for your name? 

As your head tilts to look at him now you can see the smirk he’s now sporting. 

“ …but it’ll be worth it to see the look on her face.”

Javier had made a conscious effort to get your name just so he could not get you something.

Huh.

That doesn’t feel great. The look he gets to see on your face is betrayal and then just sadness. You don’t really care what the reason for his decision is, you turn and walk away from him regardless. If he tries to say something to you it’s drowned out by the music that starts once again. 

Why are you so upset over some stupid joke? If it had been anyone else you wouldn’t have cared, you’d have brushed it off as a harmless accident but this wasn’t an accident. 

Maybe he didn’t really think of you as a friend. 

Maybe all of the teasing and one-upmanship really was from a place of animosity and you were just too blind and too infatuated to see it. You want to cry but you don’t want to give him the satisfaction so you sift through the bowl of keys, searching for the Star Wars keychain attached to your lanyard but you can’t find it. The combination of the blaring Christmas songs with the frustration you’re currently feeling only makes you more emotional.  

You don’t want to go to the bathrooms where you might run into someone and you can’t go to Steve’s office because he might be talking to his supervisor, so you go to the only place you know there won’t be people. 

Javier’s office. 

You walk as quickly as you can, slipping inside as you slam the door shut behind you, clicking the lock in place before turning around, resting against the door as you feel tears spilling from your eyes. It isn’t until he clears his throat that your head snaps up.

Today is just not your day.

Did he know you’d come here? How the hell did he beat you here? He’s fidgeting with the lighter you bought him, watching it light and go out as he sits with your keys in his other hand. 

Your face feels hot as you take in the sight of him. 

“Give me my keys.” You hold your hand out, wiping your eyes with the other as you wait. Of course he doesn’t hand them over, that would be too easy and today is insisting on being difficult. 

“I really liked your gift. Seriously, this is… outrageously thoughtful.” He murmurs, seemingly unaware of your mood until he takes a closer look at you, his expression shifting as he realizes your eyes are rimmed with red. “Why are you so upset? What happened?” He slides open a drawer, tossing your keys into his desk while you consider calling a cab. 

What a foolish question. 

How could he possibly not know?

“I want to leave, I’m sick of this party.” You turn to leave, maybe Steve can drive you home. 

“Come on, the parties barely started.” He’s on his feet, he doesn’t try to corner you, if anything he sets himself against the wall. 

“And I want to leave.” When you reach for the doorknob he grabs your wrist, holding it as he stares at you, a look of impatience crosses his face. 

“Don’t tell me you’re mad about the secret Santa.” His brows furrow. 

“This isn’t about a stupid secret Santa.”

“It sure seems like it is.” He’s still holding your wrist, why is he still holding your wrist?  

This isn’t about the secret Santa. It’s a lot more than that, and after ages of keeping your thoughts to yourself in front of him you just let it out. 

“This is about the fact that you don’t even care about me enough to make any sort of effort. I know you deliberately chose me, you specifically chose to do this to me and I don’t care that it’s just a stupid prank. It still- It’s still a shitty thing to do.” Your voice starts cracking half way through and you can feel your eyes welling up again but it doesn’t matter anymore, you were wrong, the two of you aren’t friends. 

“So this is about the secret Santa.” 

Of course he wouldn’t get it. 

“You’re an idiot.” You finally pull your wrist from him. 

You aren’t sure what else to do so you shove him, his back hitting the wall with a soft thud as you push past him to get to his desk, hoping to grab your keys but he catches your waist first. 

“Can you stop being so stubborn for five seconds and just let me explain myself?” You can tell his patience is wearing thin, his voice is strained as he pulls you back against him, caging you against his chest with his arms. 

“Fuck Javi- let me go-” You try to kick his knees but he anticipates it, shifting his legs to avoid you.

“Just wait- listen to me.” He swings you around a bit as he tries to still you, you can feel his breath hitching, the buttons of his shirt digging into your back. The two of you thrash around for another moment until you freeze, feeling something poking your hip. When he realizes why you stopped putting up a fight he lets you go in an instant. “Shit- I-I’m sorry.” He stammers as you turn around towards him, eyes wide. 

You never thought you’d see Javier Peña flustered yet here he is. When you take a step back his cheeks are burning red, his fingers twitch nervously at his side, and as much as you try to ignore it, his pants are tighter than usual. (And considering how tight they usually are this is quite a feat.) He won’t look you in the eye. 

“It- It’s fine, Javi.” You adjust the hem of your skirt, trying to fix your hair. You just can’t catch a break today. “It was an accident, there was a lot of- of friction and it happens. I think I should just go.” You stutter a bit trying to find the right words. This entire evening has been catastrophic, and you’re more than ready to call it a night. 

“It’s not an accident.” He mumbles, finally looking at you, not bothering with subtlety as he adjusts himself. “You should probably go.” 

If it’s not an accident you don’t want to go. 

You want to stay and keep making accidents, starting with rushing forward into him, taking his face in your hands and kissing him. Which is exactly what you do. At first he doesn’t react and you worry you read the situation wrong but when you pull away, just an inch, his hands envelop you. 

Hips, waist, back, shoulders, hair. He’s everywhere, all consuming as his teeth graze your lips, in an instant your backside hits his desk.

When he finally does remove his lips from yours his are slick and a tiny bit swollen, his pupils swallow his irises whole. 

“I loved your gift, I wasn’t joking, it’s perfect and the last thing I want is for you to think that I don’t care about you. Of course we’re friends, you-” As he rambles on you ball up the end of his tie, unceremoniously shoving it between his teeth. 

“Talk later, this now.” You grab the bottom of your sweater, pulling it up over your head, watching his jaw tense at the sight of your chest, his hands playing with the strap of your bra as you hop up onto his desk. Hiking your skirt up, he slots himself between your legs, your own fingers push your panties to the side as he reaches behind you, easily twisting the clasp of your bra to release it, tossing it to the side as his enormous palms engulf your breasts. 

You dip your fingers into the wetness between your legs, briefly taking a moment to wonder how you found yourself here. Just moments ago you were ready to leave and consider your friendship with Javier over, yet now you’re spread out on his desk, on display for him as you sink your fingers into your eager cunt. 

You don’t get to linger on the thought for long because he groans into the fabric of his tie and you’re pulled back into the moment. 

Jesus you’re soaked. 

You have no trouble pushing two slick digits into yourself. You can feel the outline of him against your thigh and you know that you need to warm yourself up to take him. He’s too engrossed in your tits to do it right now and you’ve waited too long for this, you don’t want to wait, you just want to have him. 

He’s tender at first, squeezing and softly tracing the outline of your areola until he seemingly can’t control himself any longer and he pinches, rolling your nipples between his thumb and pointer finger as your whine. Back arching of the oak of his desk as you curl your own fingers. Even through the tie his moans are still somehow louder than yours, you’re briefly worried about someone hearing as you let out a whimper while he tweaks your nipple but the music’s so loud at the party you can hear Mariah Carey from here. 

You don’t stop for a second, putting your focus on reaching the peak that you find yourself already getting startlingly close to. You can feel yourself pulsing as you pick up the pace, reveling in the way his eyes devour the very sight of you. You’re agonizingly close when he grabs your wrist, removing your fingers carefully as you try and resist, wanting to finish what you started, you’re about to whine when he begins unzipping his pants. You can feel your pussy clenching at the very sight of him, of course he isn’t wearing any underwear under his dress pants so the second his zipper is fully down his cock springs free.

Javier fucking Peña has a gorgeous cock. 

Standing stiff and proud without either one of you even having to touch it. Pretty and pink on the tip, already leaking down the shaft. And heavy, as he takes it in his hand, his other hand gripping your waist as lines himself at your entrance. He takes a moment, eyes scanning your face, silently asking for permission. 

You can’t nod fast enough but the second that you do he slides into you. 

You could never conjure up something this good in your fantasies. The way he fills you, stretching you open as he whimpers into the fabric of his tie, you like that he listened, that he kept it in his mouth this long. His strokes are needy and fast, like he’s been waiting for this for so long and now he can’t help but be ravenous. You were already painfully close before he filled you with his perfect cock, it takes only a few minutes for you to be right back there. His fingers dig into your waist so hard that you’re certain he’ll leave marks as he slams in and out of you, pulling out almost entirely with every thrust. 

You’re vaguely aware of the sound of his trinkets rolling off his desk and onto the floor. 

“Javi, Javi, Javi.” Between gasps you chant his name, the sound encouraging him as he pushes in deep, his pelvis grinding against your clit until you see stars. Your cunt clenching around him as your orgasm is ripped out of you. Messy and loud and blurry, he fucks you through it. You’re so blissed out you can barely focus on the persistent pounding into you until you manage to come back to your senses and his hands leave your waist, instead intertwining with your fingers as his hips twitch forward and you feel him hastily pull out of you.

He spits his tie out, opting to instead bite your shoulder as he comes, the groan that leaves his throat is obscene. Raspy and filthy as he collapses down on top of you, the two of you sweating and gasping amongst the paperwork and pens now scattered across his desk. 

Did that really just happen?

He manages to collect himself first, leaning back and tucking himself into his pants before quickly tending to you. He grabs a few tissues, wiping your stomach where the product of your activities lay, before redressing you, slipping the flats that had slipped off, back onto your feet, pulling your skirt back down to cover you as he slides your panties back into place, and retrieving your bra and sweater, lifting you into a sitting position as he redresses you, kissing your cheeks, nose, and forehead the entire time. 

“All good?” He whispers, gentler than you’ve ever heard him as you nod, grinning. 

“Good enough to make me forgive you for not getting me a present.” You reach into his drawer, grabbing your keys before sliding off of his desk. 

“Maybe this was your present.” He tilts his head, kissing you again, smiling all the while. 

“That was the perfect gift then.” Probably the best you’ve ever gotten.

“Are you gonna stay for the rest of the party?” He takes your hands in his, his thumbs absentmindedly rubbing circles into your skin. 

“I think I need to go to bed after that.” You laugh as you jingle your keys, turning towards the door as he catches your lips in another kiss. 

It makes your heart flutter. The continued affection makes you think this isn’t a one time thing. You want more. You want conversations about feelings, and to talk about what just happened, you want to feel him inside you again, and the look in his eyes tells you that you’re going to get all of that. But right now you’re tired, so the rest can wait. 

“Can I walk you to your car?” You nod as he murmurs.

He doesn’t let go of your hand, walking you out of the building towards your car, opening the door for you and giving you one last kiss with a promise that he’d call you tomorrow, before you watched him walk back into the building.

Your phone buzzes as you turn your key in the ignition, the sound of Wham! fills the car, Last Christmas playing softly. You take your phone out of your pocket, checking the text notification from Javier. 

[ i forgot to tell you how pretty your nails are. merry christmas hermosa ]

Your head turns up in surprise as you realize your radio is working. A new radio system is installed in the center of your dashboard, with a little green bow taped to the top, and a paper tag with Javi’s familiar messy handwriting. 

from : your secret fucking santa

a/n : happy holidays everyone!!

[moonstruckmoony]

A Ravenclaw Lunch 🦅

Drew some of my favorite Ravenclaws on this platform. Although one isn't necessarily a Ravenclaw. (@traceyc-uk I genuinely thought he was a Ravenclaw when I first saw him lol but I saw your comment reply somewhere that your first playthrough was Ravenclaw so I think this counts… a bit? 😂)

This post is basically a peace offering (and a love letter) bcs I want to make more Ravenclaw friends 👀👉🏻👈🏻 definitely not because I'm obsessed with you guys' MCs

I swear it was supposed to be a silly doodle at first but idk how or when down the line but somehow it turned into this mega drawing. Took me weeks to finish it. I’m not happy with a few technical things especially lights and shadows… and some other things as well but I leave it be bcs I’m aware that I’m still learning 🥲 The rest I’m pretty satisfied with, I’m just happy that I got to finally finish this.

Front row (left to right):

Violet and Pearl Castellar by @vienguinn Omg HAPPY BELATED BELATED BIRTHDAY TO THESE BABIES! These 2 are some of my favorites and everytime you post I always open my phone real quick, your short comics are my comfort 🩵

Clora Clemons by @choccy-milky I cannot not draw Clora?!!?! I consider you a legend in this fandom tbh 👑 also I want to thank you bcs your fic and illustrations literally helped me go through my stressful period when I was at my lowest bcs of my new demanding job that I started half a year ago. I look forward to your post everytime and your Clora and Seb always heals my soul 😭🩵💚

Sally Salamander by @siboom777 Sally is just so wacky and unapologetically herself and I love her for it 🩵 Does she take commissions for toys tho?

Marvin Jerry by @runicxraven MY LOVELY SILLY ADORABLE LITTLE NERD 💗💗💗💗 I need more Marvin in my life honestly.

@najiang ‘s MC - I’m so so sorry I didn’t draw her full face😭, I tried my best to show her face as much as I can while still looking like she’s taking those sausages haha. But anyway please know that I love your art so so much and I kept going back to the curry one and the one where MC came across Amit with beard as adults (that one is hilarious). Idk if your MC has a name or you left it nameless? I assume it was the latter but if she has one I’d love to know!

Faustine Daemon by @faustinio27 Hey, a fellow INFJ! Winter is the same 🩵 I really love her story and especially her personality character sheet, you drew her expressions really well and I’m a fan!

Back row (left to right):

Oliver Lennox by @pixie-dustss Handsome boi 🥰 We’re friends already (I hope I’m not the only one who thinks that way 🫢) from TikTok and you made me a video for Secret Santa last year and I just found out recently that you’re on Tumblr too so I want to say thanks by drawing Oliver! 🩵🩵🩵

Aurélie Collins by @morelikeravenbore I loove this look for Aura, she just looks so chic with the hat and scarf 😭🩵 Sassy Ravenclaw bebe 🥰 My Winter has some French heritage (the lore is still rotting in my notebook bcs I haven’t had the chance to draw her family members 🥲) so I do hope they can be friends and Aura would teach her French bcs she can’t speak much of it 👉🏻👈🏻

Alistair Dusk by @speedysart Surprise! You commented on my last speedpaint on Tiktok yesterday and I want to spill this art so bad but I was almost done so I kept my mouth shut haha. I love the pretty boi’s hair and piercings, and the fact that you chose this blazer for him, I just love it he looks so dapper in that 😣🩵

Eleonora Russel by @zordanna I love sweet Eleonora and her fascination with the moon and stars 🩵🌌 Oh and I kept coming back to your “I feel like an orange” Tiktok bcs it’s so fluffy and it heals my stress… also I adore your art it’s super soft and painty and delicate 🥹💗

@traceyc-uk ‘s MC - YOUR MC. I SWEAR TO MERLIN HE’S ON MY MIND 24/7 LATELY. Not sure why, it’s probably bcs I kept re-reading your comics. Also bcs he’s an adorable little golden retriever (but also a fierce cat!😼) You’re super talented in drawing comics and facial expressions, I have a lot to learn especially in terms of layouting… last time I made a comic I hated the layout and the fact that it looks stiff to me, so your comics has been such an inspiration!

[laddelulu30]

This is my first ever post. Be kind but be honest

Synopsis: Christmas themed, soft Sylus smut

Tags: small plot, female reader x Sylus (dragon daddy), poc reader implied, cunnilingus, vaginal creampie, foul language, soft(ish) smut

Word Count: 2.8K

A/N: This original piece is for @hesprisms I tried to keep this as romantic as possible as my understand for soft smut. I hope you like it, pookie. I also have to formally apologize since I went way passed the closing date. Holidays got a little hectic for me. I did my best despite my... preferences. I hope I did you proud. This work for the Secret Santa Fic Exchange event by @nanamiscocksleeve

Dividers by:@jiyascepter; @adornedwithlight ; @cafekitsune

Sylus image by: IG: @botsandmod.ig

Twinkling Lights

It’s been 2 years since you moved in with Sylus in the N109 Zone. His place was massive, too much room for just two people, well four if you counted Keiran and Luke. But they often came and went. So they didn’t really count. An entire apartment complex bought out because Sylus liked his space and wanted to keep his treasure secure. Whatever that meant.

With a sigh and a shiver, the elevator dinged open. Your arms full groceries, I walk into the penthouse. Sylus comes walking down the steps.

“You know I could’ve just called to have them delivered” his deep voice smooths over my skin like silk. I shiver as I put the bags on the counter. And it’s not because of the cold weather outside. I’ll never get used to the way my body reacts to his voice.

“Baby, it’s fine. I Like going out and moving about,” you defend, taking everything out of the bags. Beginning to put them away. You’re so locked in to putting everything away that when you finish, his arms wrap around you. And it causes you to jump. “Oh!”

“Sweetie” his lips skitter along your neck as he inhales your scent, his voice almost drawing the word out, “Do you miss being a Hunter that much? If you need something to keep you occupied, you can pick up boxing or simply do physical training with me?”

You shiver again, and this time, he notices. He pulls away slightly to get a look at your face, concern itching his beautiful face.

“ Are you cold? You’re shivering,” he says.

“ No no I’m fine,” you defend, doing a double take at his appearance, “Baby, your hair. Your horns are out. What happened?”

He chuckles, “ I know my hair is longer than what you’re used to. I can cut--“

“ No!” you say quickly, swallowing before talking again, “It looks great. I like it”

He smirks, probably picking up how your heart sped up every time you looked at his ashen white hair that was now long enough to stop in the middle of his back. But he doesn’t say anything.

“Your horns. Did something happen?”

“No. it’s nothing to worry about. I promise,” he says, waving dismissively.

Your gaze Narrows but you don’t press.

“Are we putting up a Christmas tree?” you ask, hopeful.

“is that what you want to do?” he says, chuckling.

“ yes, I’d really like that. Even if we don’t have presents to put under the tree, I still want to put one up. You know with the whole tree topper and decoration and everything.”

He wraps his arms around your waist again, resting his face in the crevice of your neck. You do your best to keep your heart from galloping in your throat.

He chuckles, “ Alright, I’ll grab the decorations and we can decorate together, sound fun? ”

You nod, your stomach knotting.

He places a quick kiss on your forehead before disappearing back upstairs. You try to calm down your galloping heart, hoping he hadn’t noticed.

You lay your coat and scarf on the sofa, bending down to take off your shoes and place them by the front door.

You walked back to the bare Christmas tree. A peculiar white tree with red frosted tips.

Leave it up to Sylus to get something almost no one else has in their home.

Moments later, he comes walking down the stairs with two packing boxes.

You jump up to help.

“I’ve got it sweetie just stay by the tree” he says, softly his voice warm like milk and honey, gentle.

You stand by the unique tree, awkwardly. Patient. Waiting.

Anxious energy coils in your stomach again.

“Are you sure you’re okay, sweetie?” he frowns” setting the boxes down in front of the tree.

Hastily, you grab for one of the flaps of the boxes, opening it to start decorating the tree. Trying to find something else for your mind to focus on.

Several minutes, maybe hours of silence pass. As you and Silas decorate the tree you pick up a velvet red box.

One you hadn’t seen before.

“Um....Sylus”

“Open it,” he says gently, abandoning decorating the tree as you become his sole focus.

You open the box and a light, small, eliminates the most breathtaking ring you’ve ever seen, nestled in the foam. A black ring with three big rubies encrusted in the band, surrounded by many small emerald green gems.

You look up, eyes snapping to his face. Your heart sinks into your gut as he looks at you, hopeful.

But he’s observant and picks up the shift in your mood quickly.

“You.. don’t look happy,” he says quietly.

“N-no I am. It’s just..” you start trying to find the words as your stomach knots, and your throat feels like it’s closing up.

“What’s wrong?” he says gently.

“I don’t know.. how to tell you, if you’ll be excited... or if you’ll”

“Sweetie, just tell me” he urges gently.

“Well,” you swallow thickly “While I was out, I went to the clinic to do a quick test because I hadn’t been menstruated in 2 months. I was worried something was wrong. But they told me.... I’m pregnant”

Silas doesn’t move. Doesn’t even blink. The silence is deafening except for the crackling of fire in the fireplace.

He finally breathes “You’re pre-- we’re gonna have a baby?”

You nod.

“Do you want to have a baby? Because you don’t have to, if you don’t want to. I’ll be sad, but it’s your decision to make. Ultimately it will be your body that has the bare the consequences.. ”

You swallow “I want to have this baby with you. Do you want to..?”

“Sweetie, nothing would make me happier than you becoming my wife and the mother of my children,” his gaze darkens

“Children,”you squeak.

“Only if you’re open to the idea,” he takes the box out of your hand, taking out the ring and placing the box on the sofa.

“Let’s cross that bridge when we get there,”you laugh nervously as he slides the ring on your ring finger.

He nips that finger with his sharpened teeth, causing you to let out a low hiss.

“Kitten, you didn’t answer my question?”

“What was the question?” you blink, momentarily stunned as a persistent fire licks at you from the inside.

“Will you marry me?” he chuckles, his voice deep and husky.

“Yes,” you replied, your voice breathy from your arousal.

“Well wife,” he says endearingly, pulling you into his arms bridal style “As much as I want to ravage you under the Christmas tree, that wouldn’t be good for your back. Nor for the baby. So let’s go upstairs and we can finish the decorations tomorrow.”

“Okay,” you whisper breathless.

“My lovely wife,” he grinned his Ruby eyes bright with happiness “I will savor you tonight, so try not to pass out on me.”

“What?” you squeak.

“My dragon could smell that you were with child. I simply wanted to wait until you were willing to tell me yourself.”

“So, I was nervous for no reason?”

“Not quite. Children are a big responsibility. I wouldn’t have faulted you, had you chosen to wait a little longer. I wanted you to tell me when you felt ready. I wasn’t expecting you to say it right after my proposal though,” he laughs, walking up the stairs to your shared bedroom with you carried in his arms like something precious.

“But I’m happy you told me. Your pheromones were driving me mad,” his voice deepened.

“You could smell that?”

“Darling, I could smell you getting aroused as soon as you saw my long hair and horns. I just didn’t say anything.”

“You jerk,” you laugh, mock hitting his shoulder.

He gets to your shared bedroom and lays you gently on the bed leaving the door open.

“The door. What if the twins--”

“They know better,” he says, his voice rough with desire.

Sylus peels off his shirt, kicking off his shoes and socks. He reaches or your oversized sweater and your hand clenches tightly down on it.

His eyes look to your face, brightening with understanding his gaze and voice soften, “Show me.”

Still hesitant, you hold on to the hem of the sweater, his grin widened and he removes your pants flinging them away without looking

“Kitten, you’ve gone weeks without letting me touch you. Smelling your arousal without letting me help. Driving me mad with desire. Please don’t deny me this. I want to see you. To taste you. Claim you,” he runs his nose against your inner thigh, nipping at the sensitive skin, making you whimper softly. He begs in a soft voice “Please.”

Relenting, your fingers let go of the sweater and he pulls the sweater over your head, your breasts bounce free. They’re in a larger size bra than they were before and a small baby bump is seen.

“Is this why you wouldn’t shower with me? Wouldn’t share the bed with me?” he plants fervent kisses along the underside of your belly, rubbing the pads of his thumbs softly along your pebbling nipples.

“Yes, “ you whisper, your breath hitching.

“You are beautiful, kitten. There’s no reason for you to be nervous to show me your body. Our baby is growing inside your body, understand?” he says gently, licking and nibbling back down to your inner thigh.

He lifts your legs by the underside of your knees, hooking them over his shoulders. He dives his face between your thighs, rubbing his nose along the damp material of your panties.

“Wait, Sylus--” you pant in protest, but his lips close over your panty-clad core.

You yelp in surprise, your hands flying to his hair as the other hand braces against the bed.

“Fuck. You smell divine, “ he growls, humming after coming up for air, “You taste even better. ”

“Sylus!” you gasp, fire spreading in your veins.

“Sorry, kitten, you deprived me. Starved me of eating this pussy. I’m hungry, and nothing is going to stop me from feasting on you,” a growl rumbles in his chest as he hooks his teeth on your panties and slides them down your legs before diving back to your weeping core.

Lapping at you hungrily like a starved man savoring his last meal.

A string of cusswords rip from your throat as he feasts. Teeth and tongue alternate between which one skates across your folds and your electrified bundle of nerves.

“Sylus, please,” you beg, a climax cresting quickly.

“No need to beg, kitten. I’ve got you,” he pants, doubling his efforts.

“I’m sorry!”

“Don’t be. I’m simply reminding you how much you mean to me and how much I’ll always adore you no matter how much your body changes.”

You explode on his tongue, and he doesn’t change his nor his tempo, dragging you roughly through your climax.

You’re not sure how much time has passed, but you’ve climaxed three more times since the first one.

“Sylus...” your voice is hoarse from screaming your release, but it doesn’t seem like he plans to stop anytime soon.

“I’ve got you, kitten. One more,” he says, sucking on your swollen and oversensitive nub as he slowly sinks one finger into your pulsing heat.

“I can’t,” you weep, your thighs shaking from the strain.

“Yes, you can,” he coos encouragingly.

Pulling his fiendishly talented tongue away, he curls that one digit over the spot that makes you squeal. Your world shatters, stars dying behind your eyes, blinding.

“See? You did so good,” he says, slowly pulling his finger from your quivering heat.

You pant, trying to catch your breath. He grasps one of your ankles, kissing and nipping at it adoringly.

He stands, grinning wickedly, whispering, “We’re done yet.”

He carefully, gently, changes your body’s position. On your hands and knees. He rubs your skin, spreading you open.

“Such a pretty pussy,” he groans low, appreciatively, rubbing his hot and hard length through your soaking wet folds.

“Sylus, please..... I’m tired,” you beg weakly.

“I know, sweetie,” he croons, “One more, then I’ll make sure you’re pampered in the bath like the queen you are, okay?” he says.

He doesn’t give you a chance to voice your opinion before he pushes fully into you, seated deeply to the hilt. You scream.

“Already? Wait for me, kitten, ” he smirks, then starts moving.

A determined and purposeful pace. He thrusts deep, desparately chasing his own release through pounding through your squishy walls.

More string of curses from you.

“Just a little longer, kitten,” he encourages, his voice strained, “Ahh, fuck, you feel so good for me, so soft and hot.”

With one more deep and determined plunge, he cums with a groan string of curses and prayers, his hips jerking weakly as he shoots rope after rope of it, his cum coating your walls. His muscles twitch and flinch.

After catching his breath, he slowly pulls out, your body releasing him with a wet and sloppy pop.

“You did so well, kitten,” he says, kissing the back of your head before going to the bathroom to run you a bubble bath.

When the water is done, he comes back to retrieve you. He picks you up and gently places you into the water.

“Is the temp okay?” he says sweetly, his gaze watching for any twitch or frown you may make.

“Yeah,” you whisper, hoarsely.

“Did I hurt you?” he says softly.

“No, you did go a bit overboard but I can’t really complain because it felt really good. I know I’ll be a little sore afterwards though,” you blink, smiling sleepily.

“I’ll make you some hot cocoa, sound good?” he offers.

You nod.

Wrapping a towel around his waist, he disappears downstairs to make your drink. He returns a short time later with your hot cocoa in a ceramic mug of a snow man wearing a scarf and mittens with two giant marshmallows floating in the chocolate goodness.

“Here ya go, sweetie,” he hands you the mug.

“Thanks, baby,” you say, taking the mug and taking a sip, “You always make the best hot cocoa.”

He smiles and waits for you to take a few more sips before he takes the mug and then leave the bathroom to sit the mug on the nightstand next to the bed.

You start to protest.

“You’ll get more after I pamper you,” he says, and starts to bathe you with all your favorite smell goods like body wash, body scrub and water safe body oils that you use.

After letting you soak for a while, he let’s the water out and rubs oils and lotions into your skin, pat drying your skin before helping you get into your lavender satin pajamas.

He picks you up and puts you against the pillows, pulling the cover back and tucking you in.

He hands the cocoa back to you, “I’ll take a shower and when I come back, we can snuggle and watch a movie, okay?”

He kisses your forehead and you nod, smiling dreamily.

You drink your cocoa, waiting for him to return, but you fall asleep. The empty mug resting on the small baby bump.

Sylus returns from his shower and smiles at the sight of you.

“Rest well... my wife,” he says, whispering warmly before taking the mug into the kitchen and starting the dishwasher.

He quickly returns to the bedroom, getting into bed with you, nuzzling between your legs so his face rests against your belly. Rubbing circles on the small bump, lovingly.

“I can’t wait to meet you, little one. Try not to stress your mom out too much. She’s a sweat heart and will be a very important person to us both,” he whispers into your skin before gently moving so that he cocoons behind your sleeping body, wrapping his arm firmly around you and pulling you up against him.

His chest presses against your back as he rests his chin in the crook of your neck as you both sleep, relaxed and spent, deep in bliss.

~The End~

copyright: original written by @laddelulu30 this is my only account. If you see my work anywhere else, please let me know. Otherwise, if you made it to the end, leave a like and a comment.

[darkficsyouneveraskedfor]

Three for One 3

Warnings: this fic will include dark content such as dubcon/noncon, cheating, customer service abuse, and other possible triggers. My warnings are not exhaustive, enter at your own risk.

This is a dark!fic and explicit. 18+ only. Your media consumption is your own responsibility. Warnings have been given. DO NOT PROCEED if these matters upset you.

Summary: As a customer service associate, you’re used to work with a wide variety of characters. Your efforts to go above and beyond draw the attention of a certain set of customers who want more than what’s on the shelf.

Character: Andy Barber, Lloyd Hansen, Ransom Drysdale

Note: Let's go!

As per usual, I humbly request your thoughts! Reblogs are always appreciated and welcomed, not only do I see them easier but it lets other people see my work. I will do my best to answer all I can. I’m trying to get better at keeping up so thanks everyone for staying with me &lt;3

Your feedback will help in this and future works (and WiPs, I haven’t forgotten those!)

Love you all. Take care. 💖

Two days before Christmas. The store is left in tatters. Shelves strewn with sparse lefftovers and aisles hastily paced by those who left their shopping a bit too late. The frantic shoppers searching for a diamond among the sand grains of untouched product.

You work at arranging the remnants of the season’s beauty advent calendars on a table draped in a bright red cloth. There’s a large tag in a metal stand that marks them as ten percent off. On the other side of the holidays, they will drop to a full eighty percent off. You always believed giftcards were a better prize, not that you got many gifts.

That year, Luanne gave you a new journal and a specialty hot chocolate bomb in the department’s secret santa. You go Michelle and gifted her a copy of your favourite novel and some nail polishes. That is the extent of your shopping and gift exchanges. Except for your puppy, Ernie, who will get a bone and one of those special gourmet dog meals.

You finish your arrangement and step back, admiring your work. It’s close to close and so close to the end of the race that the shop isn’t as busy as usual. The only customers you do see are in a rush and horribly disappointed when that very specific thing isn’t in stock.

“Excuse me,” you’re drawn around the deep voice. A man strolls up the center aisle of the beauty section, the tails of his coat flicking behind him, “hi,” he uses your name as he approaches, “I’m so sorry to bother you again but can you point me to, erm,” he looks down at his phone, “a ring light?”

You hesitate. He seems to know you and you admit, he looks familiar. You’re at that point where the faces all blur together. Your one innate flaw is that you really don’t have a good memory for that, bt you definitely recognise his voice.

“Hello, sir,” you fall short of his name. You want to say Alan but you also don’t want to be wrong. “The ring lights are actually with the cellphone.” You gesture back at electronics, “I know it makes more sense to put them with cameras.”

“Ah, oh, thanks,” he nods but doesn’t move to find his quarry, he lowers his phone, “how’s your holiday going? Thing’s slowing down,” he looks around and you can’t help but do the same.

“Uh, yeah, yeah, most people are all done,” you shrug.

“Ha, wish I could say the same,” he sighs, “I thought we were done but the wife just sent me on a wild goose chase.”

“Hm, oh, well, I’m not very busy, did you need help finding anything else?”

“Really?”

“Yeah, my manager’s done for the day so doesn’t really matter if I leave my zone,” you say, “kinda boring around here.”

“You’re too sweet,” he smiles, his blue eyes deep and swirling, “and that sweater is adorable.”

You look down at your dark blue sweater with the white crochet peter pan collar. You wiggle your shoulders and grin back at him, thanking him. You know he bought some perfume for his wife but you’re still blanking on his name.

“Here’s my list,” he tilts his phone towards you and looks down, shifting closer to you as he shows you a text bubble.

“Oh my, right. I’m not sure we’ll have everything,” you teethe your lip as you go through the items, “but we’ll see.”

A message pops up over the top and you try not to read, putting your head up as you try to act like you didn’t see it. It’s not that you meant to decipher the words but your brain quickly skimmed that ‘tomorrow night?’ Not much but just feels a bit personal.

“Alright, we’ll go to electronics first, then work our way forward,” you suggest.

“Good idea,” he agrees.

You set off and he follows at just a step. You have to remember to slow down as often you’re so determined you find yourself leaving your customers far behind you. You bring him to the mobile accessories and point to the ring lights.

He considers them and rubs his chin. He points between two; “what’s the difference?”

“Oh, this one comes with a tripod extension and this one is a full kit with a mic,” you point from one to the other.

“What do you think is better for, uh, streaming?” He sounds unsure of that last word.

“I think that kit would have more to it, especially if whoever it’s for is just starting out. But I’m don’t know too much about these things.”

“I’ll take the kit,” he scoops it off the shelf, “the kid can never have enough.”

“Oh? You have kids?”

“One,” he sounds less than excited, “teenager now so he really can’t stand me.”

“I’m sorry, sir, I didn’t mean to…”

“No, no, it’s not your fault,” he forces away the shadow across his features, “you know how they can be. What about you? You going to see your parents? Spending the day with someone special?”

“Um, just Ernie,” you answer, “my puppy.”

“Cute,” he remarks, “are you guys open tomorrow?”

“Tomorrow, yeah, ‘til five,” you try to remember the next thing on his list. 

He seems less concerned with the items than before, instead turn to examine a pop socket, “you have to work on Christmas Eve?”

“Yeah, closing, but I don’t mind.”

“What’s this?” He holds up a pop socket.

“It goes on your phone,” you pull out your phone and show him your daisy one, “see?” You hook your fingers around it, “it’s a grip to help you hold on.”

“Ah, makes sense,” he turns the thin package over, “kid’s always breaking his screen…”

You wait patiently as he makes up the mind to add the grip to his haul.

“What’s next?” You prompt as gently as you can.

“Oh, uh,” he looks at his phone, “video games…” he squints, “V-bucks?”

“Ah, yes, that would be a gift card,” you say, “I can show you the rack.”

He lets you lead him to the large rack of subscription cards. You point out the various currency amounts available and he rubs his brow. His forehead lines as you see the stress needling in his cheek. He’s struck with the late shopper syndrome. He’s start to feel the crush of time.

“So, just your dog?” He wonders as he picks up a $75 card.

“Yeah,” you answer softly.

“No boyfriend? Siblings?”

“Just me,” you assure him, “I don’t mind. I get to choose the dessert!”

He chuckles, “that’s a good way to look at it. Did you buy yourself something special?”

“Not really, I’ve been saving for a vacation so I put most of my overtime into that,” you explain. “You having a big dinner?”

“Last minute change, wife’s parents want to host. Had to figure out travel plans.” He looks at the giftcards again and your eyes fall to the large back curled up in his arm and the card and phone grip balanced between his fingers. He slides free a Netflix card and reads the fine print.

“Do you want a basket, sir?” You offer.

“Oh, well, sure,” he accepts as he looks down, “that’s very considerate.”

“Don’t want you to drop anything,” you smile and turn on your heel.

You go to the stack of rolling baskets beside the electronics desk. Tyler doesn’t acknowledge you as he sorts through game shells to put back on the shelf. You pull the basket behind you, rattling on its wheels as you approach the shopper by the gift cards.

“Here,” you veer it around towards him.

He bends to lower the ringlight inside and drops the smaller items into next to it; he adds the Netflix subscription along with it and holds onto the Kindle card in his hand.

“You got any of these around?” He holds up the card, “the reader?”

“Hmm, we should,” you rub your neck, “I suppose if we didn’t, you can get a tablet and download the app.”

“I guess,” he nods, “can you check?”

“Of course, sir.”

You turn away and call over your headset. Regan tells you there’s a kindle up in return they can sell. You ask them to put it aside.

“There’s one left at checkout. They’re going to have it waiting for you,” you announce proudly.

“That’s great. You like to read?” He asks.

“Oh, sure, my one vice is my book addiction,” you giggle, “how about you?”

“Well, I don’t get much of a chance with work. I’m usually burnt out from all the legal documents,” he drones grimly, “then the kid has extracurriculars or there’s a PTA meeting or the wife needs something done.”

“Sounds busy,” you say empathetically, “I hope you get some time to relax this holiday.”

“Me too,” he agrees. “I almost envy you. I’m sure your dog’s good company.”

“He’s so sweet,” you can’t help but beam at the mention of your boy.

“Big cuddler?” He asks.

“Uh, yeah,” the question is a bit unexpected, “you like dogs?”

“Never really had one. Don’t need the extra work,” he says, “but I don’t mind them.”

“That’s fair. He can be a bit needy.”

He flinches and looks down at his hand. His screen flashes and he gives an apologetic look as he raises his palm, “I’m so sorry. I need to take this.”

“Take your time, sir, I’ll wander,” you point over your shoulder with your thumb.

He mouths a thanks before he answers, “Barber.”

You back up and turn to distract yourself with the shelf of controllers and switch cases. His deep voice carries but you focus on the Sinatra carol playing overhead to drown him out. Still you can’t help but catch a few words.

“Five, yeah…no, she won’t…it’s fine…” He’s quiet for a moment before he raises his voice, “figure it out.”

His stern tone sends a chill through you. It’s a sharp contrast to his previously friendly demeanour. Well, he mentioned he’s a lawyer, you assume he has a lawyer voice, akin to your customer service one.

“Sorry,” he comes back to you, “my wife…” he takes a breath, “you don’t happen to sell wine here?”

You smile. The way he answered, it didn’t sound very affectionate but maybe he hadn’t expected his wife.

“No, sorry, sir.”

“Kidding,” he chuckles, “well, I guess I should get my butt in gear,” he flicks through his phone, “um, I assume toiletries? Face masks?”

“Oh, that’s near me,” you point back towards beauty, “there’s a special for the sheet masks.”

“Great,” he grabs the extended handle of the basket, “thanks so much for this. I’m so lost.”

“That’s fine,” you go ahead of him, “it’s the job.”

🎀

You groan as you put the last empty bin in the stack. You stand and rub your shoulders, traps sore from all the lifting and moving. The night crew will set up for the day after Christmas but in the last hour of work, you and the few others in the store scrambled to get the old displays torn down.

Luanne walks with you to the employee break room. She’s in more of a hurry as she has her three children waiting for her at their grandparents. She goes ahead of you and punches out as you wait and stretch out your arms.

“Have a good Christmas,” she says breathily as she opens her locker and pulls out her purse and jacket, folding the latter over her arm, “I’ll see you after. You’re opening, right?”

“Sure thing,” you say as you punch in your employee number. “Merry Christmas.”

“Give Ernie some pets for me,” she trills as she goes to the door. “Thanks again. You saved my ass today.”

“No problem, “ you shake your head, “Christmas Eve brings out the best.”

“Does it ever. Bye, sweetie,” she waves over her shoulder as he sweeps through the door.

You go to your locket and take out your fluffy pink sherpa coat and purse. You loop your scarf around your neck and slip your earmuffs around your head. You sit to pull on your boots and stand with an ache in your calves. You feel the fatigue finally setting in. It’s not over yet; one day off and you’re right back to the furor.

You yawn as you leave the breakroom and drag your feet across the store. You take out your phone as you pop your earbuds in and choose your holiday mix. You wave goodbye to a few other stragglers and go out the front door, Spencer locking it behind you.

It’s bitterly cold out. You’re surprised by the fresh fall of snow swirling in the air. It gives an extra sparkle to the time of year.

You scroll through your phone. The buses are on holiday hours already. The next one is in an hour. Great. You can just walk, at least until you get to the next stop. More buses stop there and you can get at least ten minutes within your building.

You trod along, kicking through the powder of snow as headlights gleam ahead of you. You walk along the narrow walk beside the hotel on the other side of the intersection and a pair of flashing tail lights blink ahead of you. A dark figure stands beside the white SUV but you can’t make out much more than their silhouette.

You keep going, peeking up curiously as you near. The boot of the car pops up and the stranded driver searches. As you pass, you trip over an unseen shape, the metal clank painfully against your toe. You look down at the small foot jack.

“Oh, shoot, sorry,” the man stands straight and turns to you, “I didn’t see you coming. I was just grabbing the iron–”

“That’s okay,” you pick out your earbuds, “I wasn’t looking.”

“Wait,” he stops short and points a gloved finger in your direction, “it’s you. You work at the store just down the way, right?”

You know the man. He’s the one who was in the store just yesterday. There’s a flutter in your chest at the coincidence of your encounter. It happens, especially in the shopping district. Half the city at least passes through her during the holidays.

“Yeah, uh, that’s me. You finish your shopping?”

“Just about,” he tuts and shakes his head, “blew a tire. So, happy holidays to me.”

“I’m so sorry,” you look down at the snowy walk.

“Mhmm,” he grumbles, “all this snow, I can’t get the jack to work either.”

“Dang, unfortunately, I’m not help. I don’t know much about cars.”

“That’s fine, I called roadside assistance but they’re taking their damn time,” he checks his watch.

“Oh…” you utter.

“Don’t let me rain on your holiday, honey,” he says, “your toe okay?”

“Yeah, yeah, it’s fine,” you look down.

“Wait, are you walking home?” He asks.

You nod.

“Wish I could offer you a ride. This weather’s only getting worse,” he bemoans. He slips his hand into his jacket and pulls out his phone, “they should be here shortly so if–”

A set of headlights pull onto the apron and roll towards you. You look over as the man beside you does the same. You stand, somewhat dumbfounded at the unexpected run-in. 

“That’s them,” he declares, “hey, guys.”

He waves as the white van pulls up. You were expecting a tow truck. Oh, well. Not your problem.

“Great, I guess I should get going,” you excuse yourself, “have a happy holi–”

As you step back, your heel catches on something. You don’t realise until your plummeting onto your ass that the man stuck his leg out behind you. You hit the ground with an oomph, barely missing the metal jack half-buried in the snow.

You hear the van door sliding open and a clatter of heavy treads. You can barely catch your breath as the world moves fast around you. The man bends over you as another rushes over, grabbing you off the ground as the two vehicles block out the street from view.

“Be nice,” the first man warns as your arms are seized. “Don’t hurt her.”

You suck in a deep breath. What is happening? You go to let out the shriek as you’re struck by the situation. This can’t be real but you’re being half-carried towards an open vehicle. A hand comes up and stifles your scream, smothering you as you’re yanked harshly forward.

“Careful,” the man girds again.

“Shut the fuck up,” the other grits and pulls you away from the other, spinning you around as he hooks an arm around your neck and covers your mouth, forcing you towards the van. He bends backwards, lifting your feet as you kick and squirm.

“Honey, calm down,” the friendly customer coaxes, “it’s okay.”

You don’t understand. Why are they doing this? Why you?

The man’s hand slips as you grab at his arms and your teeth come over the vee between thumb and index. You bite down and he yowls. Even through his leather glove, you give him a viscous pinch.

“Fuck!” He tosses you forward so your knees hit the side of the van and fall half-inside.

“Hurry the fuck up,” another voice calls from inside the van.

“Trying,” the second man snarls as you stand and let out a shrill note, only for a second before you’re caught from behind and muted again. This time the leather glove seals over your nose. “Fucking bitch.” 

You’re lifted into the van, writhing and kicking as the door slides shut from the outside. You’re pinned on the floor in the seatless rear of the vehicle. You whimper as your eyes glisten with a sudden spring of tears. 

That question rings in your head again; why you? You have no one to look for you, no one to care. It’s only you against them.

[dragonrider9905]

Infectious Love

Summery: After a failed, almost confession of love, you and Hunter's relationship is skating on thin ice...that is, until someone falls through (or gets stabbed in the gut), so to speak.

Warnings: Angst, lots of it, but comfort too. Lots of emotions. Mentions of blood and sickness.

Hellooooooooo @imaginesfordifferentfandoms tis I, your Secret Santa in the @cloneficgiftexchange!!!!! I really, really, hope you like it. I worked really hard on it ;D So I hope it turned out the way I imagined it in my head ;D Enjoy this kinda longish drabble XD Hehehehe now you understand all the questions I asked. I hope you don't mind I went with Hunter. You seemed to not mind any of them; he's my favorite so I know I can get carried away :D and I wanted to make sure the story was nice! Also, I gave Hunter's scarf a destiny. A fate. A sense of purpose. We now know what happened to it. I have spoken.

Furthermore, I'd like to throw a huge shout out to some people who deserve it. Firstly, @ghostofskywalker. Thank you so much for organizing this event and all the other ones like it. They are always so much fun and I enjoy them immensely. It is safe to say the others who join feel the same way. Thank you for all the hard work you put into it all! Also, thank you to @photogirl894 for being an awesome beta reader and supportive friend. I don't know if I would have finished this fic on time if she hadn't helped me through all the rough spots by her encouraging words. Bestie, you read everything but the ending...I hope you like it <3

The decree is written, now, let the story unfold.

“As a father, you couldn’t ask for a better place to raise a child.”

You’d heard Shep say these words to Hunter your first day on Pabu, and you had to admit, it made your heart flutter a little bit. You’d fallen hard for Hunter a long time ago but duty always got in the way. At first, you hadn’t realized just how much you cared for him during the Clone War, serving as their medic, until Hunter received a shot in the chest. It was then that you realized, or rather were honest with yourself, that your friendship was always more than just a friendship. Almost losing him gave you a clarity and an honesty with yourself that you needed, but that didn’t make things easy. In fact, they made them harder.

Because now you knew how YOU felt, but you had NO IDEA how he felt. Every day, you’d face a new challenge, a new battle, overcome insurmountable odds against the Separatists on top secret missions and won. Every night, you’d have a heart to heart with Hunter, talking about things that made him laugh, made you laugh, things that made you cry, or things that upset him. 

But never unburying that heavy secret locked away in your heart. 

You considered yourself brave in many aspects but not when it came to problems with the heart. You could tell Hunter anything and everything, except how you felt about him. Instead, you’d find little things every day to show him you loved him. You’d fix his caf the way he liked it, you’d make sure the others were considerate of his sense, you listened to him when he wanted to rant, you showed him you trusted him. You were his shoulder to lean on, his unofficial right hand man. Technically, Crosshair filled those shoes but not always. You tried to be the head of reason when the boys fought and patched them up when they were done arguing. 

Then the Clone War ended with fateful Order 66. Your world turned upside down and even though circumstances were different, your situation was the same. 

That secret would have to be pried out of your cold dead hands. 

You’d been on the run, constantly in fear for your lives and that of the child in your care. You’d started to love her as your own daughter, and you could see Hunter did too. You’d seen Hunter with Cut and Suu’s children before, but somehow, this was different. He’d cared for her as a father would. And that made your heart melt more than you ever thought it could. 

Now, here on Pabu, having something that resembled peace and a chance at a life, was it time? Could you actually have the dream you despaired of. The dream which was a nightly comfort but in the morning seemed unreachable as something you thought you couldn’t hope for? 

Shep’s words teased you. Taunted you. Pried at you. 

Perhaps, perhaps it was time to open your heart? 

“So have you reconsidered staying?”

“For soldiers, putting down roots is an occupational hazard.” 

“Is that all you are? Soldiers?”

You’d seen the thoughtful look on Hunter’s face. It was the one he made when he was considering something. There was no contention, just thoughtful pondering. 

Somehow, some way, that moment spurred you and you worked up the courage. 

Hunter sat in the cockpit, swirling his knife. You approached and leaned against the door. You’d love to sit there and watch that for hours. You smiled a little to yourself, waiting for him to recognize your presence so as to not scare him into a mistake (not that he’d ever but…better be safe than sorry.) 

“Echo said he’s on his way. Will be here in a few rotations.” he said without looking up. “Omega will be glad to see him.”

“Yeah, she misses him, the poor kid.”

Sheaving his knife, he turned to you. 

“So, what can I help you with?”

“Oh, you know, just checking in on my Sargeant. You’ve been in here all day.” You placed some fruit native to Pabu in front of him. You never could remember the name, but you’d noticed he liked them. 

“Thanks,” he gave half a smile while you took the seat next to him. “What kind of trouble are Wrecker and Omega getting into?”

“Ohhhh probably best not to know right now. Just enjoy the few moments of peace while you can.”

He chuckled and cut into the fruit.

“Soooooo” your heart pounded. You were actually going to do it. You got this…just had to breathe and remain steady, it’d be ok. 

Hunter gave you a side eye, silently offering you a piece of the fruit. Kriff, he can tell. You tried to slow your heart best you could. 

“So.” He prompted you.

You laughed. “I heard Shep the other day. Something about settling down…ever think about it?”

He sighed. “More than you know. I honestly don’t know what to do about it. I’d like to but… It’s … complicated.”

“Ever think about marrying a pretty woman and having a family? Raising Omega somewhere safe where she’d be happy…”

He huffed a little. 

“Who’d I marry? Please don’t suggest the woman Wrecker’s friend was trying to set me up with.” 

At the words, the muscles in your face felt heavy and turned sour. The twinkle in your eye went out and the joy in your demeanor dissolved. 

An empty smile remained on your face. No indication to the outsider that anything had changed. But Hunter wasn’t an outsider. He knew you inside and out. 

Who’d I marry? You weren’t even a consideration. You weren’t on the list. Of course you wouldn’t be. It’d be foolish for you to think that. Why’d you hope in the first place? You should have known better. 

Swallowing hard, you bit back tears and forced a laugh. 

You had Hunter’s full attention now. He sat up straight and leaned forward a bit. 

He immediately sensed the change of demeanor. Your heart rate plummeted but beat hard. Your focus was gone, staring into nothing. Even if it was just for a millisecond, he’d have noticed it, but it lasted longer than that. 

Your hollow laugh filled the cabin.   

He knew he messed up.

Hunter moved to speak again but it was too late. You’d gotten up and moved toward the door. 

“Well um, I should go check on Omega and Wrecker and see what they’re up to before they do too much damage. Yeah, yeah…”

The next moment you were out of the cabin and down the ramp without a second look behind you. 

Kriff. He had to fix this. 

He almost went after you. He almost made it out the ship, but an incoming transmission stopped him. This could be the one he was waiting for. He looked longingly out to where he saw you hugging yourself, making your way slowly across the shipyard, and went back inside the ship. 

Kark it all. This’d better be important, Echo.

Tech was gone. Omega was taken. Crosshair a prisoner. Echo abandoned them, again. It was just you, Wrecker and Hunter now. A ship once filled to bursting with life and light, warm with the love and laughter shared between its walls, was now cold with an emptiness, a magnanimous devoid maw that the ship had never known before. 

Tech was dead. Crosshair was gone. Omega was taken. 

He was lost. 

Hunter might as well have added you to the list of lost as well, because even though you were physically on the ship, you weren’t with him. You were distant. Gone. In every way possible other than physical. You’d done your best to keep Wrecker and himself together. You’d been the same insurmountable strength you’d always been for them to lean on. You were being the strong one for them because you knew they couldn’t right now. He was angry, frustrated, focused and lost all in one but didn’t know where to direct that energy. As always, you came through. You acted the same as how you did throughout the entire Clone War, except not. The actions were all there, but there was a lost life to it. 

A lost love. 

And it was his fault. 

Though you were strong, you weren’t invincible. 

During the day you’d serve them. Got them food, made sure they rested, used every resource imaginable to find the little lost loved one. You tried to make them laugh and smile if you could or focus on the task at hand. Completing small missions to get by was his bane, because all Hunter wanted to do was find Omega, but you brought him back to the present, reeled in his reckless side when it got to be too much. You kept track of the inventory and how and when to push on. 

But every night he’d hear you silently cry yourself to sleep. 

You’d go and comfort Wrecker, then you’d offer the best gesture you could to him to encourage him, then you’d retire to your bed, broken down by the day. Tired, exhausted, empty. 

He saw it. And he caused it. 

And he hated himself for it. 

He’d lost you in a hasty, foolish sentence. One he’d said without much forethought. One he said because he was afraid if he’d said too much, or given any indication of the deeper feelings he had for you, you’d have rejected him and he’d lose you entirely. He thought he could be your friend. You deserved so much more. So much more than himself and what he could offer. He’d wanted to stay your friend so that way, even though he couldn’t have you, you’d be happy. He’d make sure that whoever he was, the man you’d marry would give you all the love he couldn’t. 

Turns out he was wrong.  

You did return his feelings and he broke you.

He should have gone after you, but he didn’t. He thought he’d have time. He thought he could do it when you’d return to the ship and he could sit down with you uninterrupted but he was wrong, so wrong. Echo arrived and in moments, though he didn’t know it, his life turned upside down. When the mission was declared, his focus turned to that. 

He should have talked to you. He should have let you know how he felt. 

But the manner of your hurt shifted. You were no longer hurt, but cold. 

Perhaps you didn’t want him to love you anymore. He didn’t know what to do. So much was wrong. So much that shouldn’t have been, was now his reality. 

In truth, you DID deserve more than him. Perhaps this was for the best. This hurt would pass and you’d meet the one you were supposed to be with. You could get over this fancy for him and live an actual life with someone else. 

The thought made his stomach churn and threatened to vomit, but perhaps, that’s what was meant to be. 

After all, sometimes to love someone you had to let them go. And Omega, she needed him right now, fully focused on nothing else but finding her. 

It was late in the night watch, Hunter sat alone staring at the broken pair of goggles and a plush toy that belonged to the child of the ship. His child, not by blood but by choice. 

Taken from him in a cruel twist of fate. 

He closed his eyes and leaned back in the chair. Hunter wasn’t normally one for crying but he felt close to it now. He didn’t know what to do, but he knew Omega took priority over himself. He HAD to find her. Bring her home. Oh Force, what was Hemlock doing to her?

He felt his head start to pound and his brow furrowed. 

It hurt so much to love. This was love, wasn’t it? After all, what would he know? All he knew of it was what was in the novels and holofilms…

Something cold touched his head and he jumped in surprise. Opening his eyes, he found you had taken a few steps back surprised, with a blanket and an ice pack in hand. 

It didn’t go unnoticed you’d had the scent of fresh tears on your hands. 

“I’m sorry, I thought you were in one of your uncomfortable sleep cycles.” You offered gently. “You looked like you had a headache so I brought you this.” You shook the ice pack. 

Hunter sat up and rubbed his head. “I…can’t sleep.”

He looked down. It was so hard to keep your gaze. His throat tightened and tears sprung against his will. All he could do was sigh, long and heavy. 

Hunter was silent, not knowing what to say. He tried opening his mouth a few times but closed it at every attempt, frustrated. 

You slowly drew near him, considerate as you always were. Giving him a chance to stop you if he wanted or needed, but he didn’t. You crouched down in front of him and took his hands. 

A shock of surprise sprung his head up immediately and sent a shiver through his body. His brain registered your hands were cold and instinctively he moved to warm them, covering them completely with his own. But his mind was fully focused on your face. 

Your eyes glittered with unshed tears and your mouth had a half, crooked smile. A ghost of the one you’d had before. But there was something in your gaze he’d missed, he’d longed for. 

It was ‘that’ look. 

You hadn't looked at him like that in a long time. 

There was a warmth and a love aflame. A gentleness that hadn’t been there these long past few weeks.  

If eyes were truly the window to the soul, he’d seen that the embers were dying, but not gone. 

You squeezed his hand. 

“We’ll find her. I promise.” 

There was such a conviction in your voice, determination. A rawness that almost freighted him. A testament to the power you had. The power of your will and spirit. The power of your determination. One of the reasons he loved you so much. One of the elements in your looks that he yearned to see again after missing it for so long. 

He squeezed your hands. 

“Thank you for everything.” He swallowed hard, voice now scratchy and sore. 

You nodded and stood, pulling your hands from his. You placed the pack on his forehead and placed the blanket on him in two swift motions and made to go. You were fast, but not too fast for him. You’d tried to retreat, but Hunter jumped and grabbed your arms, centering you to himself. 

A surprised look crossed your face and he saw you searching him, wondering. 

“We need to talk.”

You looked away, tears starting to gather again, a breath catching in your throat wanting to break free. 

Hunter cupped your face with his hand and slowly, softly turned your gaze back to him. 

“Please.”

You nodded, but then looked away again. 

“Ok, but not now.” Your voice was heavy and empty. That void look entered your eyes, extinguishing the flame that was there before. 

“No, you should get some sleep, you look exhausted. You’re always looking after us. Tonight, take care of yourself, yeah?” He rubbed his thumb against your cheek, whipping away a tear that escaped. “Tomorrow.”

You nodded. “Tomorrow.”  

Lifting the blanket you’d brought for him, Hunter placed it over your shoulders with a reassuring squeeze then turned back to his chair, cradling the ice pack to his forehead. 

Tomorrow came, but started off all wrong. Emergency lights flashed and sirens blared. The Marauder made an emergency landing on the treacherous mountainous planet below. The hyperdrive malfunctioned and threw you out of hyperspace. It was a tumultuous, uncontrolled landing but Hunter managed with minimal damage to the exterior of the ship. The haul was a little banged up, but other than that, the smoking hyperdrive was the focus of your concern.

There was no Tech to fix the ship now. You were on your own.

“Do you think you can fix it?” Hunter looked at you worriedly. You’d helped Tech plenty of times in the past. You considered yourself pretty capable with all the training you received from him. 

Taking a look around, you carefully considered. 

“I think so, but it’s going to take time. This superficial stuff I’m not too worried about. We’ll have to make port somewhere soon anyway for supplies. We’re low on everything.” You’d been looking at the inventory the last few days and the lists were concerning. “I think we have enough credits to get by until we can do a job and earn more.” You rubbed your forehead. “I’ve been running numbers on how to keep ourselves sustained without needing to distract ourselves from our mission with a whole bunch of side missions anymore. I think it’ll work but you’re going to have to trust me. But I digress. I’ll patch up the hyperdrive which seems to be the main problem. I’ve got a weird feeling about this place, I don’t want to be here too long. Weather might not hold out for extensive repairs either.”

“Alright, we’ll discuss this when I get back. I’ll scout the area and see what we’re dealing with.” Hunter turned to leave, then paused. Half looking back he spoke: “And, I do. Trust you, I mean.” 

With that he put his helmet on and shouted to Wrecker. 

“Keep her safe. I’ll be right back.”

It’d been an hour. And Hunter wasn’t back. 

Whipping the sweat from your forehead you heaved a big breath.

“I think that’ll do it Wreck. Where’s Hunt?” 

Wrecker looked nervous. “Not back yet.” 

You looked at your wrist chrono and raised your eyebrows in surprise. Highly unusual.

“Ok, I’ll go look for him. Protect the ship.” 

“We should stay together.” Wrecker added quickly, “I’ll come with you.”

“I would like that too but at this moment that’s a luxury we can’t afford. We have to split up.”

Wrecker groaned. “Bad things ALWAYS happen when we split up.”

You softened and patted his shoulder comfortingly. 

“I know, big guy, I know. But the less we argue, the sooner we get Hunt back.”

Wrecker paused and nodded. “Ok.” He sighed and took his place by the ramp of the ship. “And…..it’s good to hear you call Hunter, Hunt again…”he trailed off uncertainly, “but it’s kinda making me scared. You think he’s….?” 

Your heart clenched in realization. You didn’t think how your hurt would shed and affect others. “Oh Wrecker….” You started but he stopped you. 

“Aw Doc, I am just worried about ya. You two always meshed together, you know? So when you didn’t, and now get soft again…” He shook his head. “Get Hunter back, and everything will be ok, yeah?”

“Yeah, it will. I promise.” You started off your sentence quaking but with every word you found your conviction. It was time to go. 

“I hope you two can work things out. I always liked it that way, ya know?”

You smiled, “Yeah I do actually, and I did too.”

“Well, do you think that … whatever happened…you two can fix it?”

Your smile faltered a little bit but Wrecker didn’t see that. Really, only Hunter would have been the one to notice.

“I’ll do my best.”

With one last nod to Wrecker, you set out.

You weren’t exceptional at tracking but Hunter taught you a thing or two. 

It was time to bring Hunter home.

Hunter skirted the edge of the cliff carefully. His foot set a few loose rocks tumbling into the unknown. Knife unsheathed and corned against the endless void beneath him, he glared at his enemy. Hunter met these villains almost as soon as he left the ship. It didn’t take him long to realize their harmful intentions and led them away from the ship, hoping to buy you as much time as he could to fix the ship. He’d taken out ten of these bandits already, but this one was of a higher status, he could tell by the large hat he wore and more expensive weapons he possessed. He’d be more of a challenge but that would only make it more fun. 

Hunter growled and lifted his knife in the ready. Blood and sweat dripped from his face from the few scratches and scrapes he had. 

He was prepared for anything.

“Get away from him!” An agonized voice filled with terror screamed. 

Your voice. 

Hunter’s heart dropped to his stomach and for the first time since the crash, terror entered his veins. He was prepared for everything, except that.

Garnishing your blade, you swiped the air to show the mysterious stranger you were serious. “Leave him alone!”

Hunter’s throat closed up. You didn’t have your blaster, and while still decent with the blade, you weren’t ready for this yet. He hadn’t finished your training. 

“Meshla, no!” 

Hunter reached out, distracted only for a moment but a moment is all it took. In the second he tried to get in between you and the enemy, a kick to his stomach sent Hunter over the side

“Hunter!” You screamed after him in terror. 

What you didn’t see was the flip he made or how he grappled onto the rock. If only you had the enhanced senses he did, you might have heard his hard breathing, the uneven sob, and the continuous prayer that somehow you could live long enough for him to get to you. 

His heart pounded. He wanted to call for you but that’d only make things worse for you. He grunted as silently as he could. He had to get to you. 

He heard your angry grunts, the slices of knives through the air, missing their marks. He heard you yelling unintelligibly and savagely. The man’s gleeful laughter. 

Your painful cry.

No

Those were some of the longest seconds of his life. What happened? He tried to climb faster but the rock was so slippery.

Watching Hunter get shot. Finding him shot again in the same place all this time later by Cad Bane, and now seeing Hunter tumble over the edge was more than you could handle. Anger like you’d never felt it bubbling all over you, tingling your fingers and guiding your blade’s every movement with hardened focus.

No, you couldn’t lose him like this. You wouldn’t. The man was quick, practiced. But you’d had a good teacher. Now wasn’t the time to doubt. Sure, you wished your blaster had survived the raid on Ord Mantel but there was nothing you could do about that except replace it when you made port.

You tumbled, dived, parried. This demon wouldn’t win. He made a hit on your arm and you cried out. The evil, smug smile he had was enough to refocus you instantly. Jumping for him unexpectedly, you caught him by surprise. You pushed your entire body against his in a close roll.

And your blade found a home in his heart. 

Breathing hard, it took you a moment to realize…you’d won. You defeated him! Hunter would be so proud.

Hunter!

Diving for the cliff, you slid toward the edge. 

“Hunter? Hunter!”

Hunter looked up at you, face hidden behind his visor but all the emotions were spilling from his mouth. “Are you ok? Mesh’la, what the karking hells?”

“Grab my hand!” Ignoring him, you reached down. “I’ll pull you up.” 

Hunter clasped your hand but you let out a cry of agony. Collapsing in a heaping pile. You were shaking but your grip held firm.

“Mesh’la…” 

“Don’t you dare let go. Don’t you dare.” Your demand was dry and forceful, but fear spilled from every word. “Please.” Your plea was soft, broken.

“Alright.” He tightened his grip.

Tears streamed down your face as you panted, hulling him up. Hunter seemed so heavy. You’d done exercises like this before and it was a lot easier. Hunter seemed to notice your lack of strength too.

You pulled and heaved and scooted and rolled until you managed to get his body over the lump. Immediately, Hunter started his barrage on you in between heaving breaths of his own.

“What were you thinking? Don’t you know you could have gotten yourself killed?”

You got to your feet and brushed yourself off, head dizzy with emotion and adrenaline.

“Do you,” you panted, “have any idea what you did to me? Don’t start with me…”

“Oh honey, just wait until I get started—“ 

You turned to look at Hunter who also had gotten to his feet, the words registering, but sounding quite distant. Was he yelling? You weren't sure. Suddenly, your breath was knocked from your lungs and a sharp pain invaded your entire body. 

Falling to your knees, you clutched your side to find it wet and sticky, and warm. You didn't need to pull your hand away to look at it to know there was blood, yet that's what you did, and you were shocked nevertheless to find the red, sticky substance on your hands. Gasping with wide eyes, you missed Hunter’s cry of alarm.  

“You’re bleeding!”

Hunter ran over to you and caught you as you crumpled to the ground in pain. Gathering you to himself, he rested your body against his.

Tearing off his scarf from around his neck, Hunter pressed it to your wound.

“You’re losing so much blood.”

“Nah, I know exactly where it is. Here, there, and a little over there.”

“Not funny.”

“I thought it was.” you faintly chuckled. 

With a dark look, he cut the red fabric into strips and bound your abdomen tightly. 

“I’ll get you back to the ship as soon as I can, just hold on for me ok?” 

You nodded but your eyes now felt so heavy. You just wanted to sleep. 

Scooping you up, Hunter started at a full run. 

The bouncing hurt. Every pounding bounce sent fire mixed with ice through your body. Your head rolled back and your eyes shut.

“Hey, hey, cyare, look at me. Look at me! Don’t give up on me yet, please.” 

Hunter came in running. 

“Wrecker! Wrecker! Get the ship started, we’re leaving NOW!”

Wrecker didn’t miss a beat. He saw you dangling limpless in Hunter’s arms and dashed up the walkway. Wrecker tore through the room, doing the start up sequences as fast as he could then meeting Hunter in the gangway, he threw the med kit at him. 

Back in the cockpit, Wrecker took the controls. 

Placing you in his bed, Hunter slapped your face.

“I know you’re in there, wake up! Wake up! Don’t leave me now, I need you. I can’t do this without you. Omega is depending on you. You’re stronger than this, come on!”

Injecting you quickly with a stim and re-wrapping your wounds, Hunter frantically chaffed your wrists until your eyes fluttered open. 

“Hunter?” You were looking around, trying to sit up. 

“Hey, hey don’t get up.” He placed a hand on your forehead, then your pulse points. He felt you slowly but surely starting to equalize. “Just rest for a bit, ok? I’m going to stay right here if you need anything.” He pulled up a chair next to you. 

“I’m ok,” you smiled weakly, “I was so scared when I saw those tracks. I thought I’d lost you again. But you’re ok, and that’s all that matters to me.” You squeezed his hand, then let the darkness take you.

All was still and dark. The Marauder gently rocked in what would pass for the early hours of the morning, if there really could be a morning or night in space. 

All was still and quiet inside the Marauder. Wrecker was by the controls watching the ship’s course and motion beacons, Hunter was fast asleep, leaned over the bed and holding your hand. 

You on the other hand were restless. Buckets of sweat fell from your forehead. Dizzy and disoriented, even laying down, a nauseous feeling crept up your stomach into your throat. 

You wormed your hand out of Hunters, not wanting to wake him. It’d been too long since he’d gotten any sleep at all and at last the complete and utter exhaustion took him over. You pushed on the bed, attempting and failing to drag yourself up. 

You glanced at Hunter, considering only for a moment, then resurfaced your determination. No, you’d let him rest. You could do this. Grasping the blanket’s cocooning you, you attempted to untangle the heavy sheet entwining you. It was so heavy, suffocating. 

With a heaving breath, you pushed your feet off the bed and lunged your body forward.

You were standing. 

But as soon as you got up, you realized your mistake. The ship spun and the dull aches over your body were awakened. Your stomach’s pain blew its trumpet and your ears felt like balloons that were going to pop. You must have swallowed marbles because there was barely any room in your throat. 

Oh well, you could only push forward. 

Stumbling into the bathroom, you turned on the cold water. Perhaps that would help. 

The first thing Hunter noticed was his hand was cold and clammy. The lack of warmth left a devoid and empty feeling embedded with a nervous foreboding. 

Next came the darkness, which became a haze, and that haze turned into a bubble as he fought he was to consciousness. The bed in front of him was empty and Hunter could vaguely make out the things around him, noises indecipherable. He thought he heard trudging of feet scraping against the floor, the turning of a facet with the gush of water, then a loud crash, and thud with a BAM!

Instantly his body was alert. Dashing toward the source of the sound, he knew subconsciously what he’d find. Your body on the floor, sprawled out and drained. Your face was pale as death, eyes hollow. You didn’t look like this a few hours ago? 

“Mesh’la? mesh’la! what happened? Did you hit your head? Why are you up?” A thousand questions spilled from his mouth in worry. 

Worming his body behind yours, he gathered you up gently. You mumbled something that was lost even to his hearing. 

Concerned, Hunter removed his gloves, and placed them on your face. 

You leaned into his warmth, shivering, unable to get warm, yet your skin felt like fire to him. You were burning. Beads of sweat danced on your forehead as large as the tears that fell from your eyes.

“Why didn’t you wake me?” Cradling you now, he carefully wrapped himself around your body. This allowed you to curl in on yourself and tuck yourself in further to his chest.

“‘M sry.”

Kriff, you could barely speak. 

“Don’t be sorry. I got you now.”

“Hunter, I-I can’t hear you too well.”

A wall of realization hit him hard. Kark it, he knew what happened. 

The fever, the swelling, the loss of balance and your voice, not to mention your hearing? 

You had an infection. 

Fear invaded Hunter’s senses. He’d never been sick like this, having super immune genetics (one thing to thank the long necks for he supposed). But now, how could he help if he didn’t know what you were going through exactly? 

This wasn’t the first time you were sick like this. He remembered the story you told of your childhood, and how one winter, you fell through the ice which resulted in something like this. The incident left you vulnerable and weakened, and he worried about you. 

You were tough and fought it out. But what if you couldn’t fight this one off? Would your second brush with death be enough to claim you?

Tears swelled your eyes and poured onto your cheeks. Small sobs started to wrack your body as emotion overtook you.

“I…sorry…don’t burnden…’Mega, gotta find…” 

“Hey, hey, it’s ok, I got you, I got you. You’re not a burden. We’ll get you better then we’ll find her. Hey, I got you, it’s ok.” Hunter had no idea how he managed to sound so calm. He’d never seen you like this before and it terrified him. Your small sniffles and hiccups reminded him of a small child. Every nerve and essence of his being screamed at him to protect you. 

“I’ll get you some water, I’ll be back. You have to stay hydrated.”

“Stay, I’ll get it.”

Hunter looked up to find Wrecker looking down at the two of you with a sad look in his eyes. “You should be with her.” He disappeared then returned a few minutes later with a full flask of cold water. 

Hunter brought it to your lips, but you barely swallowed any before relinquishing your strength to an empty sleep, exhausted by the struggle. 

Silence bore down on the three of you as Hunter and Wrecker looked on while you slept an uncomfortable sleep.

“I knew we should have stuck together.” Wrecker said sadly at last, not looking at Hunter. “I told her I’d come with her…”

“It’s not your fault, Wreck.”

“Bad things happen when we split up, I told her that….”

“This is all my fault.” Hunter hung his head. “I—”

“That kind of talk isn’t going to help her, Hunt. Don’t even think that. She made up her own mind. She was scared for ya, Hunt. She even started calling you ‘Hunt’ again.”

Hunter looked up surprised, then back down towards you. You’d stopped that since that morning on Pabu. You’d been formal with him afterward. It was either Sargeant or Hunter. 

He shifted then lifted you in his arms, bringing you back to the bed. He set you down then ran his fingers through your damp hair, worry evident in his eyes. 

“We need to get her to a hospital, Wreck. I don’t know what to do…Without Tech…I’m really scared right now.”

Wrecker placed a large, comforting hand on Hunter’s shoulder. “Then we go. We’ll get her better, Hunt. Don’t worry. I think we have a few of those fake IDs left Tech made. We’ll make something work.”

Swallowing hard, Hunter nodded.

Instead of letting go, Wrecker’s grip tightened. In one swift motion, Hunter was enveloped in a hug. If he was being honest, he didn’t mind in the least. 

Hunter sat by you in silence as the ship flew through hyperspace toward the hospital, watching your fitful sleep. Your forehead was creased in pain and your mouth turned into a pout. One hand carefully stroked your sweat soaked hair, the other intertwined with yours.

The waiting was the worst part. Not being able to do anything to help or accept, fate could only take its course and he could only stand by and watch. The worst enemies were the ones he couldn’t protect you from and he hated that. He couldn’t fight the infection with his blade, or take away your pain by shooting the cause with a blaster bolt. 

He leaned his forehead against yours and swallowed a sigh. Was this agony what you'd felt when he'd been shot? He remembered what delicate care you took of him. You'd been more than thoughtful, and tried not to show your concerns but he saw them anyway; just as he could always see you. But there was something else there that at the time he hadn't realized. And now he hoped he hadn't realized it too late. 

“You asked me before if I’d settle down like Shep asked……………and in my dreams, yes. I always wanted to, even before he asked, with you. It was you, it was always and only you.”

Silence was your response. 

 “Please, don’t leave me now. I already lost the others, I can’t lose you too.”

The steady rhythm of your heart was promise enough for him right now, he had to hold onto hope. 

“We can take it slow. Take our time. We don’t have to rush into anything but please, please stay with me and I’ll be yours for the rest of our lives. That’s my promise to you. I–I love you. Always have, always will.”

Perhaps if he’d hadn’t been so tired, he would have noticed the slight squeeze of his hand you have him. 

Hunter walked into the hospital carrying you wearing civilian clothing hoping he looked more inconspicuous than he felt. He approached the nurse at the front desk. 

“Excuse me, my wife needs help. She had an accident…”

“Chain codes.” the nurse said flatly without looking up but holding out her hand. 

Hunter fished them out and gave them to her. 

“It’s urgent, she needs to see a doctor ri–”

“Just sit down over there and the nurse will be with you shortly.”

“But she needs a doctor NOW!”

The nurse glanced up annoyed. 

“Keep that up and she’ll have to wait a full rotation, buddy.”

Hunter glared but didn’t say a word. Normally he would have fought back harder but with your life on the line, he couldn’t find it in himself to do it. So he did as he was bid, and took a seat in the waiting area. 

You blinked your eyes open with a smile. 

“Hey Handsome.” 

You reached up for his face, and he took your hand in his and gave it a quick kiss. 

“Hey,” Hunter kept his voice low, giving you a quick smile before making a quick survey of the area, “to catch you up real quick, we’re married. You’re my wife and we took you here after an accident on our farm. You’re going to be ok, ok?” 

His eyes darted across your face, looking, searching, for any indication that his words would come true. Even here and now on the brink of being saved, he felt like you’d suddenly vanish and be taken from him. 

He didn’t know what he expected from you, a nod of recognition maybe? But he didn’t get that. Instead, you chuckled. 

“Married? Already? So much for wanting to take it slow, Hunter.” 

To his surprise, a laugh burst from his lips, a smile replacing the worry for a second. He shook his head. Even now, you were trying to look out for him, making him laugh while you were the one who needed help. 

“Always looking out for me, aren’t you?” His voice was warm and full. The deepness of his voice like chocolate on your sore ears, not that he’d know that of course. All he could hope for was that you could hear the depth of love and gratitude he had in such a few words. 

You smiled, “always have, always will, I promise you that.” 

Hunter heard the nurse approach and looked up, only to be faced with a jaw dropping phenomenon. 

“How can I help you today? Wait…Hunter?”

It was Nala, your old classmate.

“Nala?” Hunter repeated, stunned. “You work here?”

“Yes…” her eyes drifted down to you. 

An unsettled feeling came over Hunter. You hadn’t been in touch with anyone since Order 66. Whose side was Nala on?

He didn’t have to wonder long when her face went white and she dropped down on one knee to be at your level. 

“What do you need? Let me assess her and see what I can do.”

Nala came running up carrying various vials and all but shoved them in Hunter’s pockets. 

“Give her this as soon as possible. It’s safer for all of you if you just take it and administer it on your ship. I got word of Imperials coming here shortly. I’ve listed instructions on how to give it to her safely. You should go before someone recognizes you and hands you over. Goodbye, and good luck. Take good care of my friend. When she gets better, tell her to give me a call!”

With that, Nala turned and left, trying her hardest not to give an impression of concern. 

Back on the ship, Hunter did as instructed. After making sure you were carefully placed in bed and made as comfortable as possible, he enlisted Wrecker’s help as soon as they’d jumped to hyperspace. Hunter knew Wrecker wasn’t going to like it, but there wasn’t another way. 

You’ll want to give this one to her first. It’ll regulate her body so she can take the following medications. It’ll help her breathe easier and adjust to what’s coming…it won’t appear so right away so don’t worry. You’re going to need to give this to her in quick succession so don’t wait to see the effects.

Hunter injected the hypo into your arm. 

This one is the IV with the antibiotics. Get her hooked up quickly and make sure the bag is drained before you take it out. 

He rubbed your arm and inserted the needle.

This one, inject into her chest near her heart. This one will hurt the most. 

This one, he couldn’t do. 

“This…is going to hurt.”

“I know.” You stared at the ceiling, trying to catch your breath and collect your courage. “It’s ok.”

Of course you knew, you were a medic. He would have cringed at his own words, but he couldn’t help it. His own fear mocked him and he wasn’t ashamed of it. Pain was pain, and nothing could make him like it or want that for you. All he could do was prepare you in any way he could. 

Your breathing was labored, huffing your breaths, greedy for air, gluttonously swallowing in as much as your lungs would let you. 

“Tell me.” You looked into his eyes, trying to focus, “tell me about it? I can’t seem to remember anything from our big day. What happened? Who was there? How did it go….How did I look?” You huffed a little laugh at the last question, “nevermind, don’t answer that.” Your laugh caused a coughing fit to follow. 

Hunter gripped you firmer as your body racked, fear unmasked in his eyes. 

Shutting your own, you tried to center yourself. 

“Crosshair probably made trouble, didn't he. He and Wreck competed to see who could eat the most cake and got sick, right?” Your voice was nothing other than a whisper, but Hunter could still pick up the dream-like tilt in your voice. The little smile as if it was a real memory, breaking across your lips. 

“Of course, would you expect anything less?”

Another chuckle turned into a gasp of air. 

Hunter kept his gaze on you as he spoke, his hand on your cheek facing him so you wouldn’t have to see what was to come. Rubbing gentle circles in your cheek and wiping away tears, he tried to speak without a shake in his voice. He didn’t know if he succeeded, but ever after that, he’d remember the images burned in his mind both, of the story he was telling and the raw reality of your pain. 

“Tech filmed the entire thing; we’ll have to rewatch it; would you believe Echo had more champagne to drink than anyone? He was so happy the entire night. He was also the only one next to Wrecker to cry.”

You smiled through gritted teeth.

“Yeah?”

“Yeah. You looked beautiful all dressed in white…” he stumbled over his words now as Wrecker garnished the needle, “your dress dazzled with little jewel thingies and you liked spinning in it because it reminded you of a waterfall or a butterfly’s wing. I couldn’t keep my eyes off you. And when you walked toward me, I was a mess, because I knew I was the luckiest man in the world, and I couldn’t ever have imagined you more beautiful.”

You swallowed hard. 

“Omega couldn’t stop smiling or singing; and when the music at the Pabu sunsets starts and the orange sun starts setting in the sky, it hit you just right and…”

You screamed as muffled of a scream as you could, but it rang in Hunter’s head so loud it bounced around until he felt like he was going to be sick.  

“Aaand, and, when the sun set, we resaid our vows under the stars, just you and me. Always, just you and me. I’ve got you, it’s ok.”

Your eyes rolled back and all went dark.

Breathing never felt so sweet. You smiled, feeling like you could laugh and cry at the same time. The pain was gone and you felt great! Energy was surging, and life felt beautiful again. Despite the illness, you remembered everything that happened with vivid accuracy. Though your eyes were closed, your mind was very awake and registered everything in perfect memory.

Not just the pain, but the sweet moments too. Hunter taking such good care of you, his poor fear and concern, the thoughts he confessed because he thought you couldn't hear.

You felt the urge to stretch but couldn't move. Opening your eyes and looking around, the sight made your heart melt. Hunter was curled up half beside and half behind you. His body was curled in around yours, holding you as if he feared when he woke, you wouldn't be there. 

Your heart was gripped by the softness of the gesture and you didn't want it to end.

You reached your hand up, running your fingers down his face and neck. The touch was enough to wake him. He stirred, then jolted with realization.

“You're awake!!!” Tears gathered in his eyes as he cupped your face with both his hands. “You're ok.” He smiled and swallowed so hard you could hear it. You embraced him, burying your face in his neck.

“I love you.” 

You froze. You didn't expect him to actually confess to you while you were awake. Hunter sensed your hesitancy and started to pull away, but before he could move an inch, you were grabbing him toward yourself again. 

“I love you, too. So much.”

“Can…we talk? I can't wait anymore.”

“Of course.”

Hunter turned shy. He found his hands extremely interesting as he fiddled with the blanket rim. His face turned red and he tripped over his words.

“I only said what I did because besides you….I wouldn't want to marry any other woman. Who would I even marry…if it wasn't you?”

He paused briefly before continuing.

“I always felt like you deserved way better than me…I can't offer you anything but myself and that's not much of a gift.”

“Hunter! No! You—” 

He gave you a sheepish look and cut you off.

“And I'm so sorry for everything that happened, for how I hurt you. I should have gone to you sooner, I should have…”

Now it was your turn to cut him off, but instead of with words, you captured his mouth with yours in a kiss 

You felt his shock, which made you smile, and soon he joined and returned your soft show of love, holding you even closer than before.

“You scared me.” Hunter said, kisses becoming needier. 

“You scared me first!” You countered, meeting his veracity. “More than once!”

When you both stopped for breath, you settled back in his embrace. 

“Hunter, you're all I could ever need or want. The gift of yourself is more precious than anything or anyone in the galaxy, and that's more than I deserve. All I've ever wanted was the war to end so we could have a family of our own, your brothers all be near us if they're not with us while we raise Omega and children of our own.”

Hunter's face darkened. 

“I wasn't strong enough to protect you or keep this family together. I lost Omega.”

“You didn't lose her, Hunter. She made a choice. She didn't want to lose you, and neither did I. You don't control the galaxy or have some responsibility for everything that happens. It's ok to breathe, Hunt, and let go. All we can do is move onward and face the galaxy together, just like we always do.”

Hunter nodded, the shadow slowly falling from his face, replaced with something gentler. 

“And that story I told before, about you in the white dress?”

“Yeah?” You blushed sheepishly, recalling with a bubbling laugh trapped inside your chest. 

“What do you say we make that real?” Leaning closer, he whispered in your ear, “I want to see you all in white, for real. I want to be yours, only yours, forever. I want to have a family, with you and only you. My brothers can all live close by and we can all be together. We can raise Omega the way she deserves to be raised…and I can love you, the way you deserve to be loved.”

“Yes! Oh yes! My sergeant, I am yours and only yours, now and forever!”

Filled with new determination, you smiled even wider, gripped his hand and got out of bed.

“Come on, now, love, let's go get our kid. Time to bring our family home. Time to start healing and growing.”

"The Empire be warned, we're coming."

Dividers by @stars-n-spice @ve-ti-ver and @djarrex

[birdversary]

What is Tanabemas?

Tanabemas is a Christmas event for fans of Yellow Tanabe’s works, including Kekkaishi, Laughter at the World’s End, BIRDMEN, and Kai-Hen Wizards!

Participants will post a wishlist containing prompts for fanworks they would like to receive. During the holiday season, everyone will receive at least 1 thing on their wishlist, courtesy of the moderators! Gifts can be drawings, fics, moodboards, playlists, gifsets, or anything else your gifter can think of.

You do not need to create gifts for anyone to receive something, but if you would like to participate in gifting, all wishlists will be available for public viewing. Happy gifting!

Important Dates

Wishlist submissions will be open from October 18th, 2024 to December 6th, 2024. While you will still be able to edit your wishlist after that, gifts may not reflect changes made after November 15th.

Gift posting will begin on December 20th, 2024, and run until January 10th, 2025. Feel free to post any gifts in this time period. The tag for this event is #tanabemas2024.

If you do not share a social media website with your giftee, you may contact the moderators, who will share your gift with your giftee.

Writing Your Wishlist

Please format your wishlist like so:

Name: Your name

Gift Address: Social media accounts where you are accepting gifts

Wishlist: 

(Fandom) Specifics about your wish

(Fandom) Specifics about your wish

…and so on.

Do Not Want: Things you do not want to receive, such as blood, gore, suggestive art, etc.

Additional: Additional information that may help your gifter make you the perfect gift

Please include at least 3 wishes (at least 5 recommended, but the more the merrier), but feel free to be as vague or as specific as you like.

An example of a wishlist can be found on the Padlet where wishes are posted.

What can I wish for?

You can wish for anything! I want this to be an event where you receive fanworks you have always wanted.

That being said, if your wish makes gifters uncomfortable, you may not receive a gift of that prompt. Please don’t be too disappointed. 

NSFW will be allowed in this event, but please make sure at least 3 of your wishes are SFW. If you are a minor, please do not request or fulfill NSFW wishes.

You may wish for original fan characters or specific AUs, but please provide visual or written references if applicable. 

Posting Your Wishlist

Post your wishlist on this Padlet: https://padlet.com/karaeishi/tanabemas-wishlists-2tg12ibinnn1vyjj

You can create your own post by clicking the “+” button at the bottom right corner.

You do not need to create a Padlet account to make a post. You can also come back to this link at any time to edit or add to your wishlist by clicking on your post. Please refrain from editing the wishlists of other people.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to keep my gift a secret from my giftee?

Not at all. This is not a Secret Santa event, merely a Santa event. If you would like to reach out to your giftee to make sure they are okay with aspects of your gift, go ahead! If you want to post your works in progress, feel free to do that as well. I just ask that you finish any works in progress you post.

Can my requests all be from 1 fandom?

Yes, of course. This was originally a BIRDMEN event, but I wanted to include the long-neglected Kekkaishi fans, and the new Kaihen fans as well, so it was broadened to include all of these series. But I know many people are only in one or two of these fandoms. There will be someone to fulfill your wishes even if you only request from one fandom.

What if someone else has already fulfilled the wish I want to fulfill?

That’s okay! Then your giftee will receive two gifts! How wonderful!

I’m going to be too busy to make any gifts this year. Are you sure it’s okay to wish for things, even if I won’t be able to give anything in return?

YES! I want you to get a little gift just for existing! It would be cool if other people participated in gifting as well but I have zero expectations for anyone else to do so! I just want to do this!!

What if my head is empty and I don't have any wishes? Can I still make gifts?

ALSO YES! Sometimes there is just nothing in particular you want but you still want to gift things. That is okay too!! You are important to the ecosystem as well!!

Moderated by: Soh (Tumblr: @birdmenmanga, X: @arsquare3) and Kitsoa (Tumblr: @kitsoa)

Any additional questions can be sent to our askbox!

[spiritofrainbursts]

Back from the Shadow Realm ( A Long Awaited Update)

- Designs not yet finalized -

- Update below the cut -

Good evening to one and all!! Welcome to the first ever Fur & Fun Friday! So in case it weren't already apparent my account recently got banished to the shadow realm as of a result of handing out invites for a Secret Santa I've been helping @head---ache out with ever since offering to help run the project back in December and wound up deactivating as a result because I didn't feel like dealing with Tumblr staff and felt it would be easier to start from scratch again so I could kick off the new page with a long awaited update regarding the future of my work. Hopefully this doesn't happen again so I don't have worry about my content gaining zero traction nor go through the hassle of creating a new account for the up tenth time, ah anxiety ye heartless bitch, but if it does then I'll be sure to get off me ass and bug the help desk next time around.

With that being said the short of it is that ya'll probably won't be seeing any art from me for awhile starting Pride Month at the very latest depending on whether or not I can get some smaller projects such as updating my Dragon, Sonic, and never before seen Poke sona's designs done and out of the way before then. Why? Well for whatever reason, whether it be the insomnia that has plagued me since senior year of highschool or the mental health issues I've unfortunately have had to deal with over the years as a result of unwanted drama, some of which was admittedly on me and too anyone who may have been caught in the crossfire at the time it all happened truly from the bottom of my heart I'm sorry if I said or did anything to hurt you and hope that wherever you are that you're living your best life regardless of whether or not you decide to forgive me for my past actions or not and hey even if you don't than that's ok too, it's no skin off my back, or even certain events from past that have come back to haunt me with a vengeance over the years, something I've only recently come to terms with thanks some personal growth on my end that has allowed me to feel the happiest I've felt in awhile even if I don't have a lot going for me right now, for the past few years now I've had some kind of weird creative burn out that has made it difficult for me to sit down and draw as much as I used to which in turn has caused a severe decline in content on my end. As a result as soon as I complete my previously forementioned projects I shall here by be going on an indefinite hiatus so I may use the time to create a content buffer and get back in the swing of things. Once I do I'll be sure to set up a new side blog to share my work on a semi regular basis again and hopefully when I do I can start bringing in some income in the form of merch as well as potential adopts so if you'd be interested in receiving some prints and/or characters from me then be sure to be on look out for that as well as a couple of secret projects I'm hoping to start production for in the coming months hue hue 😉 Until then however you can at the very least expect to start seeing some written martial from me throughout the course of this year starting with my contribution for Kat's Secret Santa event come Valentines Day so be sure to keep an eye on my Rainburst Studios tag in the near future and be sure to follow me on my new A03 for updates! (Just a heads up that I'll be changing my user back to Spiritofrainbursts on there come Wednesday as I changed my mind last minute lol Also I lied you'll technically be seeing a fic from me before Valentines Day even if it's a reupload of an older one shot I never got a chance to finish, and never will or at least as is, for archival purposes.)

Welp that's all from me folks so if you have any questions feel free to send them my way via the inbox otherwise 🎶 SO LONG AND GOODNIGHT 🎶 cause this girl needs some 🎶 SLEEEPP 🎶 (Yes that was an MCR joke. Deal with it cause I've gotten deep into their music as of late and intend to start making a crap ton of jokes based off their songs alongside some other rockbands and/or rock music I enjoy such as Crush 40 or Carry on my Wayward Son by Kansas.)

[ninjago-oc-appreciation]

Ninjago Oc Secret Santa 2024

What is a Secret Santa? - A Secret Santa is a gift giving event; you’ll be assigned someone to secretly make a gift for, and someone will make a gift for you. - It’s very important that no one knows that you are making them a gift and vice versa, that you don’t know who is making you a gift! Are there any rules? - Absolutely no N/S/F/W or Suggestive content is permitted for prompts, gifts, or references. This is /not/ an 18+ event. - No direct contact with the person you’re making a gift for; you can communicate through me or ask through anon on tumblr if you can. - No AI art/writing, Gacha edits, face claims, picrews, or bases will be permitted for oc reference submissions or gifts. - Oc x Canon and Oc x Oc ships are 100% allowed. - Fankids, sonas, and self inserts are also allowed; my only rule is that fankids of Lloyd x Canon ships are not permitted. - Please respect requests regarding holiday or seasonal preferences when making a gift. Don’t depict an oc participating in a holiday or seasonal activity that the creator asked not be depicted.

- For the art portion, you must draw the character(s) you were assigned and they must be visible (feel free to ask for clarification) How many ocs can be submitted total? - At least one oc is required, but up to three can be submitted ^^ What will I need for sign ups? - Refs or art that show a clear, colored depiction of your oc. - OR at least two pieces of writing for said oc (does not need to be a whole fic. Could easily just be a quick blurb showing how they’re written as a character) - Basic Information/Fun Facts about your character. This can be background information, relationships, likes/dislikes, age and height, personality, etc. - Suggestions or prompts for your gift giver. Stuff to help get their brain going. - Your blog name (not the name you go by online but the url name. Like @/Ninjago-Oc-Appreciation. Make sure it’s a tumblr url, and not from any other social media) What’s the general timeline for this event? - Sign ups will officially begin near the end of October, around the week of Halloween. - Assignments will be within the first couple of weeks of November. - You will have until December 23rd to January 7th to finish your piece. These will be the designated posting days. - January 8th to 14th will be the designated late week. How do I sign up? - In Late October, I’ll post a google form where you can submit your oc(s)! There will be one for writing and one for art! - Please reach out to me in someway after signing up. This can be through messages, asks, comments, etc. In the past we’ve had issues with the forms, where they’d “eat’ a submission, and I’d like to know when to check to make sure this doesn’t happen again. Additional Notes: - This will likely be the last year I host the writing portion of the event, unless a significant amount of people show interest. Last event we only had one person sign up, and the one before that we just barely got two. - Google forms does require an email in order to make submissions with images and documents, a necessary part of the sign up process. The process is entirely private on your end, so I will not be seeing the emails used. - We’ll be using #NOSS2024 and #SecretNinja2024 as tags for this event! That’s all! If you have any questions feel free to let me know, I tried to cover everything but I may have missed something!

[joshusten]

kiss and make up

In which Honey wants a makeover and Guy gladly helps. (lots of kisses, fluff, makeover time!!!)

2.7k+ words [ao3 will be added when im not lazy lmao] [masterlist]

[CW and notes: typical guy innuendoes, honey doesn't know how to do makeup and they get a lil insecure about that fact, that being said i'm not really a makeup expert too LMAO, theres also lots of grammar mistakes probably ;--; and since like, makeup styles and visuals vary between people i tried to make it as vague and gender neutral as possible but idk if i really achieved that so keep that in mind and please let me know if i should change some wordings etc. ! oh and lmk about typos too hehe tysm!]

thank you so so much to my dearest friend @slushiepizza !! this wip is literally a year long and they've been a HUGE HUGE (x1000) help to me finishing (and convincing to post) this fic!! this fic's also inspired by fanart they made before and this yt short from that one anthony padilla interview. also yes theres a lil 2024 hbs guy AAAND jin (his gamer friend in that second hoodie video i think) reference too lmao HAHAHAH hope you enjoy!! :D "Ugh! Why can't I fucking–" 

“Piece of—!”

“Fuck!”

Another frustrated groan cuts Honey off. For the past few minutes, Guy had been hearing his partner's muffled frustrations from their room all the way to their humble kitchenette and he was seriously starting to get worried about what could possibly be troubling their usually well-composed lover.

He quickly turned off the stove, wiping his hands on the piercingly hot pink apron with the words "Please Do More than Kiss the Chef" embroidered on its body (a joke gift, courtesy of Rosa being his Secret Santa last year, that Guy legitimately used in his every day, much to his friend’s amusement). Fortunately, the lunch he was making was done by the time he decided to check up on them (and, really, it was just a simple one-pot pasta recipe he stumbled on Tiktok at 3 AM.)

Guy haphazardly hung the apron by a chair nearby—future Guy can worry about all of the mess later—and made his way to the hallway that led to their small shared bedroom.

He gently knocked a little melody on the door,  announcing his presence through the painted wood. "Honey?”

A thump was heard, as if something suddenly dropped out of surprise, followed by a faint “Shit!”

The man knocked again, this time with a furrowed brow.

“Honey dearest? Lover of mine? Is someone botherin’ you? Need to kick someone’s ass?” He joked, clearing his throat afterward for a more sincere tone. “But for real, do you need any help there, baby?”

The silence that followed almost tempted Guy to ask again before a loud sigh came from the other side.

"Yeah…It's unlocked. You can come in..." 

They almost sounded embarrassed. A little shy even. The man couldn’t help but grin at how comfortable Honey had become showing him their more vulnerable sides throughout their time together. 

Guy opened the door slowly to reveal their usual semi-tidy bedroom save for the mess that seemed only to be contained around Honey, whose head was currently hanging low in shame. Alarms went off in his mind once he processed the potential severity of the situation with how distressed his partner looked.

He rushed to where Honey sat, in front of the vanity where a variety of make-up products were strewn across the dark oak wood. Upon closer inspection, he could see that—

Oh. Uhm. This was interesting.

His partner’s frustrated face seemed to be an amalgamation of different cosmetics that looked like they were hastily smeared on and rubbed off multiple times. 

Patchy foundation, unblended blush, shaky eyeliner. 

Guy can practically feel the heat coming off their tinted face, furrowing their brows and averting their glare to the side.

“Look, I know what this looks like but—" Honey was never able to finish their sentence as a very, very poor attempt of stifled giggles reached their burning ears. Oh my god, he's never gonna let them live this down, is he? 

“Guy.”

“Wh-whaaaat? N-no, you look f-fine Honey! Pfft–” A snort interrupted the man's words of reassurance. 

“Guy, stop laughing, you asshole!” They groaned, sending a flurry of light slaps to Guy's shoulders, snickering along to indicate that they weren’t actually mad at him because, yeah, they did look a little silly (and his laugh was too damn cute to distract them from their predicament) but that still didn't make them any less self-conscious about it.

“I-I–OW! I don’t know what you mean, baby!”

Honey crossed their arms and made a face, looking away in a pretend-but-not-really sulk. 

“Fine, so I’m horrible at makeup ha-ha! Pack it up, jackass!”

To that, their boyfriend's laughter slowly died down, leaving him with a soft, sympathetic smile. 

“Okay, okay! I’m sorry! C’mere,” He apologized, beckoning them to come closer to which Honey begrudgingly complied. His smile brightened, pressing numerous quick kisses against his partner’s grumpy face, pulling away with a string of giddy giggles.

“Ew, I got your foundation on my lips.”

“Serves you right,” Honey huffed, unable to hold in a chuckle as they saw the faint splotches of the coating in their skin color on their boyfriend’s stubbled chin and pouted lips.

“So, uh, mind telling me what actually happened over here? ‘Cuz, Honey, you’re as pretty as a painting…given that it’s a painting my baby cousin can do, which I’m assuming isn’t what you were going for?” Guy asked, his full attention to his partner's make-up Frankenstein of a face.

The embarrassment rushed back to Honey tenfold but they masked it up with a shrug that looked timid regardless. “I dunno…there’s this event in the evening with my company and I just…wanted to try something new with my look. I-it's stupid. I started a lot earlier because I knew I’d need some time to learn but…I just can't get the hang of it!”

Sure, they know make-up isn’t all that easy to do but managing to tremendously fuck up something as seemingly simple as putting color on their face despite the amount of tutorials they’ve watched was just embarrassing to admit (especially to someone they’ve grown to care about what he thinks of them). They braced themself for more mocking laughter yet the teasing never came. Instead, they heard an excited gasp.

"Oh, I can do your makeup for you!"

…What?

"Uhm– I– You–?"

Guy picked up the wiped near Honey and started pulling a few from the already-opened plastic pack. The subtle clean scent of aloe vera wafted into their nostrils.

"I can do your make-up!" The man repeated happily, oblivious to Honey's quizzical stare. He gently grabbed their chin with one hand while the other one held the cleanser-soaked napkin inches closer to their cheek before he stopped and gazed into their eyes, "Can I?"

"Uh…Y-yeah. Sure." They felt their breath hitch at the sudden intimacy of the distance between them.

Guy beamed at that and started removing the product on their face but the confused expression never leaves it. He discarded the used wipes in the trash can under the vanity table and started sifting through their shopping spree's worth of cosmetics.

“I suggest you buy micellar water or cleansers instead of those wipes. They do a better job!”

“Uh, Guy?”

"Oh, you got this one! Yeah, I really like their formula, it doesn't feel too heavy on the skin. Well at least on my skin. Let me know if it doesn't feel comfy and–"

"Guy…"

"Woah, you got your shade just right with this one! Ah, but I think this brand oxidizes so the color might change–"

"Guy."

"Ooh, I haven’t seen this product before! Is this newly released or—”

"Guy!” Honey exclaimed, finally capturing their boyfriend’s ever-so-dwindling attention. “Babe. How…I mean, not that I'm doubting your skills or anything but–" 

By this time, Guy had already cleaned all of the makeup off from his partner and was now left with the face he was more used to seeing (and admiring).

"It's just…I've never seen you wear makeup. At all. Besides Halloween, I guess?”

The man simply grinned at that and continued rummaging through the cases of eyeshadows and face creams. “If you must know, a performer was moi!” 

“Oh, trust me, I'm familiar with your theatrics.”

“I’m just gonna pretend you meant that as a compliment,” He huffed, averting his gaze to the products that lay between them both. “Anyway, I did a lot of shows back then and, well, with constantly getting your face painted on, you pick up a few techniques, y'know? I even get to do my own makeup!”

The click and clatter of glass and plastic fills the room as Guy carefully examines each container with the same look he gets when he proofreads a revision of a script he made. It was almost weird to see how his eyes scanned the text of the labels and his habit of biting the inside of his cheek while focusing on the context other than the familiar blue light of his laptop.

“Got interested, asked my friends, then watched a few vids. I got to…’secretly borrow’ some of my mom's makeup to test out some looks.” The image of a teenage Guy experimenting with makeup much like what Honey was doing a while ago tickled their mind.

“But eh, college got in the way and I never really got the time to play around with some flashier makeup styles between delivering greasy ass pizzas and delivering exquisite screenplays that excite the mind and bewitch the heart.”

He held up a circular blush pot near a dumbfounded Honey. His eyes squinted with focus until he finally determined the blush matched their skin tone just fine. 

“Anyway, let's get some moisturizer to prep that cute face of yours!”

After Honey described what they wanted for their look, scrolled through Pinterest to get some inspiration, and watched a few more tutorials, the pair eventually got started with the process.

Guy put on an even layer of foundation, and concealer that he tried his best to match their skin, added contour, eyeshadow and blush according to the style they had requested, and painstakingly drew on some eyeliner (“Because everybody looks hotter with eyeliner!”). He had even let them try a few brush strokes of their own to get the feel of it.

Honey, on the other hand, felt like they were going to explode from the attention they’d been getting from him. Granted, they were no stranger to his affections yet something about the way he was so close—to the point where they could feel the warmth emanating from him, where the way his breath ghosts their neck made them tremble—it was a whole different experience.

The man added some finishing details to Honey’s face before announcing the final step: lipstick.

“Hm, let’s try these colors. Maybe it’s more your style.” He brought up a few plastic tubes with one hand closer to them, awaiting their input on his selection.

“Have you tried these brands before?”

“Uh, not really…I don’t think I’ve actually tried the liquid ones or the twisty ones. What’s the difference anyway? They both color your lips, right?”

Guy laughed at the sheer creativity of the nickname his partner had appointed to the lipsticks in his hand.  “Ah well, I’m glad you asked, Honey!”

He twisted up the matte tube and swiped the creamy formula on his lips, smacking them to spread it evenly. The color on his lips only emphasizes the smirk it formed, amused by the hitched breath Honey lets out as he gently cradled their face and brought it closer to his.

“Solid lipstick doesn't last long. See?” 

He demonstrated this by pressing his mouth on the back of his hand a few times to reveal pigmented marks against his skin. The man even gestured toward his face to show that the tint of the lipstick had significantly faded.

“Huh.” 

Honey was definitely studying his lips, alright. It formed into the same old smile they never got tired of, this time with its edges slightly smeared from what he had done moments ago. They were so entranced that they didn't even notice Guy reaching for a clear tube, this time twisting it to reveal an application wand with a different hue of the lipstick before, quickly applying it on his lightened lips.

“While liquid lipstick—” His quip breaks Honey’s lip-centered daydream and with a sudden movement, Guy pressed his colored lips gently against Honey's bare ones,  the latter letting out a quiet squeak that made the man eagerly press down harder. He slowly pulled away, close enough to have just an inch of space between their mouths.

“...Is kissproof!” 

He was right. Honey could see that Guy’s lips still looked the same with no sign of smudging or transferring of the product. Not that the efficiency of the lipstick is what’s on the forefront of their mind at the moment.

“O-oh,” their voice cracked rather pathetically but Guy only let out a laugh, holding up the twisted-up tube of the lipstick he first used near the other’s visibly quivering lips.

“Hm…now that I see it, I think the shade on the ‘twisty one’ fits your look better. Let’s use that!” 

A wide-eyed Honey simply nodded in response.

—

“...And then here’s your make-up bag, just in case you need to retouch! So, what do ya think? Stunning? Iconic? Gorgeous? Oh, oh! Pulchritudinous? Ehh?”

Honey turned to the vanity mirror for the first time in a while and gaped in the reflection. 

“It's…” They raised their hand, opting to feel their face before deciding otherwise as they realized it might waste all of their boyfriend’s hard work. Honey racked in every corner of their brain for a word to encompass the awe they’re in right now, wishing they had even just a fraction of Guy’s mind to express it in words. 

But for now, they’re just Honey—who isn’t particularly known for their expertise in saying what they mean and they settle for the answer they weren’t satisfied with at all.

“It’s pretty.” 

The person staring back at them looked so different yet still the same. It felt like looking at themselves from a different perspective. Pretty was hardly an adequate descriptor for what they were looking at but it’s all they could think about in their dazed state (the way their partner beamed at their compliment told them he didn’t mind).

“You’re the pretty one, hon! With or without make-up! I mean, c’mon! Look at that smile!”

That earned a wider smile from Honey with Guy giddily matching it.

“I’d have to thank my handsome make-up artist for that. He did such a wonderful job after all.” 

“How do you suppose you’ll do that then, Honey?”

This time, Honey was the one to surprise their lover with a kiss.

BONUS SCENE:

“Do you really have to go?” Guy whined though he already knew the answer. That didn’t stop him from snaking a hand around Honey’s waist, who was just leaving through the door of their shared apartment.

“Yes, Guy. I really have to, especially with how long you’ve been painting on my face, there’s a possibility I might get late,” they explained, giving him an apologetic look despite the scolding tone of their voice. 

“Well, who can blame me when my Honey’s looking absolutely ravishing,” He pulls Honey closer with his usual goofy smile, though this time they notice a mischievous glint in his eyes, “Besides, just a while ago it seems like you wanted your face to be painted with something else, ehh—mmph!”

Honey had cut him off by pressing their lips tenderly against his once more, eliciting a relaxed sigh from him. They pulled back to see a pouty expression plastered on Guy’s face.

“Fuck. Y-you’re enjoying that stunt way too much, it’s not fair!”

“I wasn’t the one that started it!”

“Fine, whatever!” Guy lamented loudly, complete with his hand clutching overdramatically on his chest. “Be like that, go to your party, then! See if I care!”

Honey just rolled their eyes with a smile. “One last goodbye kiss?” 

And how could he ever say no to that?

So after a quick peck on Guy’s cheek (maybe two or three more), Honey finally made their way out the door, leaving him a bit lightheaded than before. 

Despite his lovesick state, he was quick to make his way over to the couch and started setting up his game console connected to their T.V. Since his Honey would be out for most of the night, he decided to invite a friend over to play video games and kill some time.

Knock, knock. Ah, speak of the devil. “Jin! Come in, man!”

Guy swung the door open to reveal a man his age, carrying a paper bag full of chips on one arm and a game controller on the other. He set down the snacks on the second-hand coffee table before settling himself on the couch his friend was sitting on. 

“Sorry for being a little late, just had to do a few things. So, what game are we…Oh.”

“Why? What’s wrong?” “Dude. I think you should look at a mirror.” --

yes jin like one of guys friends that he plays with in that one hoodie video. with no voice line or anything at all. that jin. LMAO

anyway i rlly hope u enjoy this :")) i honestly dont think its my best work LMAO but eh! im here 2 have fun man,,, and this probably would be my last fic (atleast in a while but aughh idk if i'll be active again here HAHAJHAD) so yeah!! hope u liked it tysm have a good night/day!!

[youre-ackermine]

Happy Holidays from your Secret Santa @theysangastheyslew 🧑‍🎄

This is my gift to you for the Levihan Secret Santa Exchange hosted by @levihanweek ❄️

This fic is set a few weeks after Belated Birthday Hope you'll like it!

Characters: Levi Ackerman x Hange Zoë, Erwin Smith

Content: Modern AU / Established relationship (they're engaged your honor) / Tooth rotting Fluff / Non-binary AFAB Hange / Swearwords

Wordcount: 6.4k approx.

A/N: English is not my usual language / Huge shout-out to my proof reader Terra @dont-f-with-moogles Thank you for your help & constant support! ilysm ❤️

Hange stopped abruptly in front of a small shop filled with colorful treats and festive pastries. They squinted at the display window before turning to Levi with a grin.

“What now, Four-Eyes?” he asked with a scowl, trying to force back the irritation in his tone.

Hange clasped their hands together, eyes wide and imploring.

“Levi, please!” they whined, fluttering their eyelashes in that ridiculously cute way they both knew he couldn’t resist.

“They sell those amazing candied chestnuts, the best in town really, and I need them to snack on tonight, you know. Could you buy me some while I... well, while I handle something else down the street?”

Levi raised a suspicious eyebrow. “What kind of ‘something else’?”

They leaned in with a playful smile. Their voice dropped to what they thought was a whisper, their breath tickling his ear. “It’s a secret!” 

“Fine,” Levi muttered with a sigh. “But be back soon or I’ll leave you here.”

Hange beamed at him, kissed his cheek and, before he could protest, slipped into the crowd.

⋆⁺₊❅.

His errand quickly taken care of, Levi decided to wait for Hange by a lamppost adorned with garlands next to the candy shop.

Scattered snowflakes drifted lazily in the cold air, delicately dusting his nose and eyelashes. With the sweet scent of roasted chestnuts wafting from a stall nearby or the distant echo of Christmas carols, the holiday cheer was slowly taking over him, more than he cared to admit.

He let his eyes wander over the busy street for a while.

A young boy bundled in a thick coat tugged at his grandfather’s sleeve, pointing excitedly at a toy shop, his big blue eyes full of dreams.

A few steps away, a couple was sitting close together on a bench, sharing a red scarf and laughing softly, their cheeks flushed from the cold or from something else, Levi couldn't tell.

He fished his phone out of the back pocket of his jeans as soon as it buzzed with a call from his best friend.

Erwin: Hey Levi! How’s your weekend so far? Are you busy?

Levi: Trapped in Hange’s holiday frenzy. Shitty snow everywhere. Fucking crowded. Your boy-scout’s ass would probably love it

Erwin: So, gift shopping it is?

Levi huffed, glancing down the street where Hange had disappeared.

Levi: Dragged me around town all afternoon, then sent me to buy some fucking treats

He snorted.

Levi: Got diabetes just looking at those by the way

Erwin: Come on Levi! Don’t pretend to be pissed, we both know you’re exactly where you want to be!

Levi rolled his eyes. He could hear the smirk in his friend’s tone but decided to ignore it.

Levi: They're plotting something. Probably buying more junk as we speak

Erwin chuckled.

Erwin: Be nice every once in a while, I promise it won’t kill you

Levi: If “nice” means standing around in the cold carrying a shitton of paper bags like a pack mule, I’d rather not be

Erwin: Never took you for a drama queen before

Levi clicked his tongue.

Levi: Drama queen huh? Well now, all I know is that I’m freezing my ass off waiting for them to finish whatever shit they’re up to

Erwin: Same old story for years. Let me guess -you didn’t want to go out, Hange insisted, and you gave in

Levi: Easier than arguing. You know how fucking stubborn they can be

His voice softened imperceptibly.

Levi: Besides, it’s just a few gifts. And candy.

Erwin: You’ll never admit it but you’re a softie, Levi

Levi: Just…shut the fuck up, dumbass

Erwin: All right, all right! See you tomorrow at the gym then?

Levi: Yeah, see you tomorrow

Sliding his phone back into his pocket, Levi adjusted his scarf and scanned the crowd again.

His fingers clutched at the bag holding the sweetmeats, and the corners of his lips twitched upward when the thought of Hange’s happy grin crossed his mind.

He glanced down the street again, finally spotting Hange weaving through the crowd, a red bag in their hand.

“What took you so long?” he asked gruffly as they finally joined him.

Hange plucked the bag of candy from him with a wink but didn’t reply.

“Thanks, Levi. These are gonna be perfect for our Hallmark movie night.”

“Yeah, yeah. Let’s go before you get any more stupid ideas,” he muttered, falling into step beside them.

Hange looped their arm through his, chattering away about the movies they had already picked for later.

⋆⁺₊❅.

The cold bit at their cheeks as they strolled through the snowy streets, their breath fogging in the crisp air. Twinkling lights lined the rooftops and shop windows, reflecting off the icy sidewalks.

Hange clung to Levi, their boots crunching in the snow. They had forgotten their mittens back home -again- but they were bundled in their usual chaotic style -layers upon layers of mismatched clothes topped with an absurdly fluffy, reindeer-themed hat. Its floppy antlers bobbed with every enthusiastic step.

He gave their head a flat look and tugged at the ear flaps. “That crap on your head looks ridiculous.”

“You mean ridiculously warm!” Hange replied with enthusiasm. “You’re just jealous you don’t have one.”

“Over my dead body,” he deadpanned.

Hange laughed, a boisterous, cheerful sound that always stirred something warm in his chest.

His gloved hand tightened slightly around theirs, his fingers curling to shield them from the cold, his thumb brushing the ring on their finger.

“Do you think Moblit will like the sketchbook? The leather cover is so beautiful.”

“It’ll suit him,” Levi said. His tone was flat, but Hange caught the faint note of approval.

“I can’t wait to hang the ornament we picked! It’s so pretty!”

“Should stop swinging your shopping bags then for fuck’s sake, Four-Eyes. Y’gonna break it before it even makes it to the tree.”

“Ok, I'll stop, I promise, Shorty!”

They turned their face toward the glowing shop windows, cheeks and nose pink from the cold. They beamed as they took in the festive decor.

“Isn’t this the best time of year? Just look at all these lights, Levi!”

He grunted but his pace slowed to keep in step with them.

“Not bad,” he conceded.

⋆⁺₊❅.

They strolled at a leisurely pace, Hange darting from one shop window to the next, their excitement bubbling over in a string of delighted “ohs” and “ahs.” Every so often, they dragged Levi along, pointing out the displays -a miniature train circling a snowy village or dolls and plushies all dressed up for a tea party.

Levi followed, his usual grumbles shushed by their enthusiasm.

When Hange stopped in front of a window, he paused, letting them press their nose on the glass. Inside, a collection of elegant scarves and gloves were neatly arranged, one catching their attention.

“Do you think Nanaba would wear this?” Hange mused, their breath fogging up the glass. “She loves practical gifts, but this one is also stylish.”

Levi didn’t answer immediately. Instead, his gaze lingered on them -the way the soft lights danced across their face, the way the sparkle of excitement lit up their eyes. And for some reason, their ridiculous hat somehow made them look endearingly cute.

He felt something swell in his chest, a comforting warmth pushing aside the winter chill.

Hange turned abruptly, catching his gaze. They smiled, wide and unguarded. “What?”

“Nothing,” he muttered, his hand tightening slightly around theirs.

Their grin grew, but they didn’t press him further, their fingers squeezing his back.

Hange leaned in suddenly and pressed a quick, warm kiss to Levi’s cheek, the chill of the night momentarily pushed further aside.

Levi froze, his ears turning faintly pink beneath the streetlights.

“Tch. What’s that for?” he groaned, shooting them a sideway glance.

“For being adorable,” Hange teased.

“I’m not-” he started, but the words caught in his throat as Hange squeezed his hand and kissed him briefly on the lips this time, their laughter ringing softly in the frosty air.

He sighed, shaking his head, but his lips twitched ever so slightly. The warmth from their kiss lingered, spreading through his chest.

“Come on,” he said, his voice softening. “Gotta walk or we’ll freeze to death.”

Hange laughed again, their breath clouding between them, and let Levi tug them away from the window.

“I hope Erwin’s going to like the book,” Hange said. “He always had a soft spot for poetry.”

“He’d better,” Levi muttered. “You spent twenty minutes debating between that and the essay about war strategy.”

“It was a tough choice!” Hange defended, their voice rising in mock indignation. “You can’t rush picking a gift for a friend, Levi.”

“Pretty sure he’ll just squeeze it in his shelf,” Levi shot back, but there was no bite to his words.

Hange laughed, turning to face him as they walked backward, gesturing animatedly. “You’re so-”

Their words cut off abruptly as their foot caught a patch of hidden ice. They yelped, arms flailing, but before they could hit the ground, Levi moved instinctively, catching them in one swift motion.

“Hange-” Levi uttered in a breath as he steadied them against his chest, his arms wrapping protectively around their waist.

For a moment, Hange had frozen, their hand clutching at their coat near the middle of their body as they regained their balance. Their face had paled slightly, but they quickly managed a shaky laugh, brushing it off. “That was close.”

Levi’s brows furrowed with concern as he studied their face.

“I’m fine,” Hange said quickly, their voice a little too light as they straightened up. A faint, sheepish smile crossed their lips, but their usual energy seemed slightly subdued. “Guess I got distracted.”

Levi didn’t look convinced. His grip lingered for a bit longer, his concerned gaze flicking over them before he finally let go.

“Watch where you’re stepping next time, idiot,” he scolded, though his voice lacked its usual sharpness.

Hange gave a small nod, glancing away as if to gather themself. Levi’s focus shifted briefly, catching the warm glow spilling out from a nearby window.

“Look,” he said quietly, gesturing with a tilt of his head.

Hange turned, realizing they were standing directly in front of the café where their first date had taken place. Its golden light spilled out onto the snow-covered street, just as inviting as it had been back then.

“You think they still have those weird drinks on the menu?”

Hange’s eyes lit up. “You mean the one with cinnamon and hot peppers? I’m still convinced it was a prank to be honest.”

Hange laughed, their breath misting in the cold air. “Well, I’m freezing and I’m sure you too. Since we’re here, might as well go inside.”

⋆⁺₊❅.

The door jingled as they entered, welcomed by the cheerful chatter and the clink of cups. The warmth of the café enveloped them instantly. It was crowded, but not enough to stop Hange from spotting their old table near the window.

Without hesitation, they started weaving through the maze of chairs and patrons. “I call dibs on the table!”

“Wait, there are still cups on it-” Levi tried to protest.

But Hange was already sliding into the booth, grinning as they sat down. “It’s the same table, Levi. We have to sit here.”

Levi frowned, glancing at the mess of empty cups and stained napkins left by the previous customers. “Really? Looks like it’s been hit by a tornado.”

“Don’t be such a grump.” Hange grinned, shoving their paper bags under the table. “Come on, it’s the perfect spot. It’s nostalgic!”

Levi sighed, but despite his grumbling, he sat down on the chair across from them.

“Nostalgic my ass.”

Levi got rid of his coat and scarf, folding them in a neat pile beside Hange.

His eye twitched as he looked at the scattered cups, their contents long gone but the mess still there. He let out a heavy sigh and immediately started to gather the dirty cups, sliding them to the side.

“Levi, seriously? It’s not like anyone cares,” Hange said, watching him with an amused grin as he stacked the cups into a pile.

“Well, I care,” he muttered, flicking a napkin out of the way. He wrinkled his nose. “It’s disgusting.”

Hange leaned back in their seat, watching the subtle twitch of Levi’s fingers as he rearranged everything to his liking. “You’re the only person I know who would willingly clean up after strangers in a café.”

“I’m not cleaning,” he grumbled. “Just... organizing.”

Before he could finish, the waitress arrived, smiling brightly as she swept the mess away effortlessly. “I’ll get these for you,” she said, flashing them a warm look.

Levi barely glanced up, his face already in its signature scowl. “Fucking finally,” he groaned under his breath.

The waitress wiped the table down, handing them menus with a cheerful “Here you go!” before turning to leave.

Hange chuckled. “You’re such a clean freak, you know.”

“Obviously not, since I live with a slob,” Levi muttered. “Just didn’t want to sit at a garbage dump.”

Hange tugged off their ridiculous hat, letting out a satisfied sigh. But when they ran a hand through their hair, Levi couldn't help but snort.

“Now your hair looks even worse than your hat,” he muttered, leaning back in his seat.

Hange chuckled. “Hey, no need to be so mean.”

Levi just clicked his tongue in response, casting an unimpressed glance at the wild mass of hair.

Hange raised an eyebrow. “What, you don’t think it’s cute?”

Levi didn’t answer, but he stood abruptly, pushing his chair back with a scrape. Unexpectedly, he leaned over the table, reaching for their hair. With soft, careful gestures, he began to smooth out the tangles, his fingers gently carding through the tousled locks.

Hange blinked in surprise at the unusual display, but as Levi’s focused expression softened, a real smile spread across their face -genuine and bright, something that lit up their eyes.

Levi’s nose and cheeks were flushed, his ears red from the cold -though Hange couldn’t help but hope the icy weather was not the only cause. They felt a wave of affection surge through them, their heart beating a little faster as they watched him.

“You’re cute, you know that?” Hange said softly, barely a whisper, as they let their smile widen.

Levi, completely unaware of the adoration in their gaze, mumbled something that sounded like a protest but didn’t pull away.

Just as he tucked a strand of hair behind Hange’s ear, the waitress came back to their table with a bright smile.

 “Well, aren’t you two the cutest lovebirds,” she said, teasing, as she set a small notepad down the table.

Hange giggled at the nickname.

“Lovebirds? How sweet!” they cooed, their face lighting up.

Levi, on the other hand, was clearly annoyed.

“Lovebirds? What the hell?” He grumbled under his breath. “What are we, spotty teens?”

“Oh, sorry, I didn’t mea-,” the waitress started.

Hange kicked Levi’s ankle under the table and smiled brightly at the waitress. “Don’t mind Mr. Grumpy Pants,” they said with a chuckle. “He's a decent little dude once you get to know him.”

Levi let out an exaggerated sigh, but Hange could see the faintest hint of a smile tugging at his lips.

The waitress scribbled down their orders. “I’ll be right back with your drinks.”

As she turned and walked away, Hange and Levi locked eyes, reaching out over the table to intertwine their fingers.

It seemed it had been ages since their first date. Yet, in this very moment, in this very place, everything just felt the same as it had that day.

The golden warmth of the fall afternoon sun bathed the café in a welcoming atmosphere. Outside, the air was crisp, with a faint chill that only seemed to make the cozy place more enjoyable.

Levi had been sitting at a small table by the window for a while now, his expression unreadable, but his gaze soft as he stared outside.

Along the street, beeches and pin oaks were shedding their leaves, fiery reds, oranges, and yellows drifting down in the cold wind to the sidewalk below. A few passers-by, wrapped in their jackets, occasionally paused to admire the beautiful display of fall colors. Levi’s eyes briefly lingered on them in the same detached way he observed everything around him.

Only a few customers were scattered throughout the quiet café. The smell of freshly brewed coffee and warm pastries wafted to him from time to time.

Levi looked effortlessly handsome, in his simple but elegant outfit, his well-cut jacket fitting him just right.

He glanced at his watch for the third time since he arrived and sighed.

He leaned back in his seat and grabbed the menu, his gaze momentarily shifting to the words printed on it. He wasn’t hungry, not really, but the menu offered a distraction while he waited.

As he scanned the list, he remained blissfully unaware of the admiring glances exchanged between the waitress and the cashier girl, both of them casting furtive looks at him from behind the counter.

The café’s door swung open in a burst. Levi jolted in his seat, startled by the sudden ringing of the bell, and his eyes immediately shot up from the menu.

Hange.

A gust of cold air followed them as they stepped in with sparkling energy. A whirlwind.

Their messy hair fluffed by the wind and a wide smile on their lively face, they bounced into the café and scanned the room with excitement.

The waitress and cashier exchanged a quick, amused glance before giggling softly, their eyes trailing over Hange’s disheveled state.

Levi, however, frowned as he watched them, his eyes narrowing at the sight of Hange’s hair sticking out in every direction.

As Hange spotted Levi at the table and waved at him, their smile widening, the girls’ mouths dropped open in surprise.

Their eyes flicked between the two of them, slowly realizing that this was the person Levi had been waiting for. It hit them both at once, their expressions shifting from curiosity to astonishment as they witnessed the connection between Levi, who seemed so quiet and composed, and the exuberant person now making their way toward him.

Hange almost tripped over their own feet as they made their way to Levi’s table, narrowly catching themself before they stumbled. They plopped down dramatically into the seat across from him, speaking loudly as though the entire café needed to hear.

"Sorry I’m late! The wind’s insane today," Hange said in an animated tone.

Levi didn’t reply immediately, but a hint of disapproval flickered in his eyes as he took in their unkempt state, spotting leaves stuck in their wild hair, a tangled mess of autumn colors.

Completely oblivious to their own disarray -and to Levi’s softening gaze- Hange reached into their pocket, pulling out a heart-shaped golden leaf and holding it out to Levi with a grin.

“For you!”

Levi took the leaf, his expression neutral.

“You’re a mess,” he muttered, “and you’re late.”

"So sorry to be late but those leaves are so pretty! I had to find the perfect one for you! You see, the heart shape? This is basically nature’s way of blessing our date.”

Levi looked down at the leaf in his hand, then back up at Hange, his lips twitching ever so slightly as if he held back a smile.

The waitress joined them as he thanked Hange for their unusual gift.

Hange leaned forward to make their order. “I’ll have the pumpkin chai latte, with extra sugar and extra whipped cream, and, oh! Do you have any sprinkles?”

They looked at the waitress with wide, sparkling eyes.

Levi didn’t even blink as he ordered, “Black tea. No sugar.”

Hange raised an eyebrow. “Seriously? You're just gonna drink... sadness in a cup?”

Levi glanced at them, trying his best to suppress the slight irritation creeping into his voice. “Says the one ordering dessert instead of coffee.”

“Oh, come on! It's fall! It’s a vibe!" Hange insisted, grinning. "What’s better in life than whipped cream and sprinkles?”

Levi scoffed, shaking his head. “Not getting diabetes every time you drink coffee?”

“Just let me enjoy my dose of comfort while you sip your bland, depressing beverage,” Hange teased.

Their drinks arrived shortly and Hange started to tell one of their passionate stories, waving their arms dramatically. “Okay, so the other day I was reading this book about quantum physics and-”

Levi listened quietly, drinking in their animated features as he took a careful sip of his hot tea.

“-it’s fascinating!” Hange continued, oblivious to his lingering gaze. “So, what if we could shift our density to one similar to gas and phase through walls?”

Levi rolled his eyes. ”Who the hell would care about something that useless?”

Hange grinned widely. “Well, I find it fascinating. And fun! What about you, huh? What’s your idea of fun?”

“I don’t know… Cleaning, maybe…”

Hange chuckled, but before they could reply, Levi reached across the table, his fingers brushing through their tousled hair. “Got a leaf in your hair,” he whispered.

He gently pulled the golden leaf from the mess of hair, his touch surprisingly delicate, as though he had done this a hundred times before.

Hange froze, blinking up at him, caught off guard by the sudden attention. Their heartbeat quickened. He had never been so close to them, and this all felt somewhat… intimate.

Totally unaware of the effect his small gesture had, Levi sat back to sip his tea.

A blush crept up their neck, but before overthinking Levi’s gesture, they cleared their throat and went back to their story, gesturing wildly as if nothing had happened.

“So, yeah, imagine if we could just phase through walls! The possibilities would be endless!”

Eager to return to their usual chatter, Hange went on blabbering about physics with animated gestures until their hand, in the middle of their rambling, swept across the table, knocking their pumpkin chai latte off.

The drink toppled over, splashing onto the table and spilling across Hange’s sleeve.

“Oh, crap!” Hange grabbed a napkin and immediately started scrambling to clean up the mess, though all they were really doing was spreading the stain.

Levi sighed, pushing his tea aside, then reached into his pocket for his neatly folded handkerchief. Without a word, he slid it across the table toward them.

Hange looked at the handkerchief before meeting Levi’s eyes with a sheepish grin.

“Oh, I’m so sorry, Levi, I swear I’m not usually this clumsy-"

Clearly not convinced, Levi raised an eyebrow.

“And I don't want to ruin your handkerchief.”

“Don’t bother. You’ll probably spill something else on it anyway,” he deadpanned.

Hange chuckled nervously. "Fair enough… I’ll wash it and return it, of course."

Levi leaned back in his chair as Hange wiped their sleeve, and his gaze briefly drifted out of the window, his fingers tracing lightly the rim of his cup. He thought of Erwin, who had been so sure he would get along with Hange.

"Seriously, Levi," Erwin had said a week ago, when Levi hesitated, "I can tell you two are going to hit it off. Just say yes to the invite. You’ll be glad you did."

Levi had been annoyed by the unsolicited advice at the time, but now, as he looked at Hange across from him, he told himself that maybe… Well, maybe Erwin had been right.

His hand brushed against Hange’s briefly as they both reached for the napkins at the same time. A small spark of warmth radiated from the touch.

He glanced over at Hange, still too caught up in cleaning the last traces of whipped cream from their earlier mishap. Levi would probably never admit it aloud, but Erwin was right. He was glad he had said yes.

The conversation resumed, Hange trying to act like they weren't mortified over the spill.

When the waitress returned to clean the table, she winked at the cashier girl who stood by the counter, both of them exchanging a knowing look before focusing on their task.

They had noticed the soft way Levi and Hange’s eyes lingered on each other, the small, unspoken moments that they weren’t quite aware of -the way Levi’s hand brushed Hange’s, how Hange’s smile widened when their eyes met.

It was obvious that something was shifting between the two.

The waitress quickly cleared the last of the napkins and mugs, trying to remain professional, but a small, amused smile tugged at the corners of her lips.

When she reached the counter, the cashier girl leaned over, still watching the couple from afar. “Something’s going on, huh?” she murmured.

The waitress shook her head with a chuckle. “They don’t even know it yet.”

Hange pushed their chair back abruptly, their usual whirlwind energy somewhat coming back. “Let’s go for a walk,” they proposed, tugging at their coat. “I know a park nearby.”

“Ok,” he muttered, rising to go and pay the check.

Levi soon reached the counter and handed over the cash, his eyes drifting toward Hange as the cashier counted out his change. They were near the door, fumbling with their scarf as it caught awkwardly in their coat. However, their smile, bright and unbothered, lit up their face.

He turned away, walking a few paces to the side to slip his wallet back into his pocket.

His fingers brushed the soft edges of the leaf Hange had given him earlier. The absurdity of it -a heart-shaped leaf, of all things, really?- should have annoyed him. But instead, he felt an unfamiliar warmth bloom in his chest.

“They’re cute together,” the cashier whispered as he put on his gloves.

“Definitely mismatched,” the waitress murmured, lowering her voice. “But, somehow, it works. He’s all gruff and serious and handsome; and they’re... well...”

Levi caught enough of their comments to make his brow twitch.

The waitress smirked. “Maybe he has a thing for chaos.”

“The way he’s watching them?” the cashier continued,”Bet he doesn’t even realize he’s totally smitten.”

The word made Levi’s jaw tighten. He wrapped his scarf around his neck and turned abruptly toward the door.

He muttered something under his breath as he walked across the café, his ears burning faintly.

Hange had finally managed to get their coat on and grinned up at him, oblivious to the way he was still recovering from the girls’ words.

“All set?” they asked cheerfully, entirely unaware of his internal turmoil.

“Yeah. Let’s go.”

Levi pushed the door open for them, the sound of the two girls’ muffled giggles following them as they stepped outside.

⋆⁺₊❅.

The brisk air was refreshing. As soon as they entered the quiet park, Hange veered off the path, scanning the ground. They crouched to pick up a golden leaf, then another, holding them up to study their shape and texture.

Levi watched them from a step behind, his hands shoved deep into his pockets. The cold wind didn’t bother him when a faint warmth crept up his neck as he observed their overwhelming, almost childish enthusiasm. It was chaotic, messy, yet oddly endearing.

They reached a small pond and Hange stopped, gazing at their reflection in the water with an unusual frown.

“I’m terrible at this,” they said suddenly, breaking the silence. “Dating, I mean. I’m... too much. People don’t usually stick around.”

Levi stopped beside them, glancing at their solemn expression before speaking in a gentle tone. “Maybe you just haven’t met someone who can handle it.”

Hange’s head turned toward him.

They locked eyes and silence hung in the air between them for a while.

Then, a mischievous smile curled on their lips. “Handle it, huh? Are you volunteering for the job?”

Their eyelashes fluttered playfully.

Levi rolled his eyes, but his faint smirk betrayed him. “Tch. Don’t read too much into it.”

They continued walking along the park path, the autumn leaves crunching softly under their feet. Hange slowed every so often to examine a particular leaf or to show him the different species of trees, rambling enthusiastically about them.

Levi followed silently, his hands tucked into his pockets, his gaze never leaving Hange.

They passed a vendor selling small trinkets and plush toys. Among them, a chubby titan plush caught Hange’s eye, and they froze.

“Levi!” they gasped, pointing at it with childlike excitement. “Look at this cutie! I need it.”

“A plushie, really? What are you, five?” Levi deadpanned

He glanced at the stuffed toy. Of course, it was ridiculously huge. However, he thought, he hadn’t brought flowers to his date after all. So, he couldn’t do otherwise than oblige now, could he?

When he handed the plush to a beaming Hange, they hugged it like it was the most precious treasure in the world.

“This will go perfectly with my collection!” Hange exclaimed.

Levi raised an eyebrow. “Collection of what? Ugly monsters?”

“Hey! It’s cute,” they protested, holding the plush protectively. “And you got it for me, which makes it extra special.”

Levi scoffed but glanced away, embarrassed by the warmth creeping up his cheeks.

He cleared his throat before speaking again. “We should go, it’s getting dark out here.”

They crossed the park at a leisurely pace.

“You know, when I told Eyebrows I was asking you out, he gave me this weird smirk, like he’d predicted it or something,” Hange blurted out after a while.

Levi side-eyed them, hands fidgeting in his pockets. “Sounds like him.”

“Actually, he told me, ‘Levi would enjoy your company more than he lets on.’ I think he oversold it.”

Levi chuckled.

“Did he bribe you to say yes?” Hange asked.

“All he said was that you were tolerable,” Levi replied with a smirk, his tone deadpan. “He left out the part where you’d try to drown the table in chai latte.”

“So he did scheme!” Hange exclaimed. “I knew it! Not that I’m complaining though…”

Levi glanced sideways at them again, noticing the faint flush on their cheeks.

They had reached the edge of the park when Hange stopped suddenly at the corner where they had to part ways.

“Thanks for walking me,” Hange said. “I’m this way.”

They gestured toward their street, their hand lingering mid-air as if unsure whether to wave or stay still.

Levi shifted his weight, smoothing down the golden leaf still tucked in his pocket.

 “You’d probably have tripped and stumbled in the mud otherwise.”

Hange laughed, their voice warm. “Sounds like something I could do, yeah.”

The street felt quiet for a moment. Hange looked at Levi, their usual confidence shifting into something hesitant, almost shy.

“Well…” They tilted their head, a small, nervous smile forming.

Before Levi could think it through, his hand moved, reaching out to brush a stray strand of hair away from their forehead. The gesture was brief but tender, catching Hange off guard. Their eyes widened slightly, their cheeks warming as they stood frozen for a second.

Levi pulled his hand back, his expression unreadable except for the faintest hint of something soft in his gaze. “Your hair’s a fucking mess, Four-Eyes.”

The tension just vanished and they both laughed softly.

As Levi was about to turn to leave, Hange surprised him, leaning in and brushing the lightest, most hesitant kiss against his cheek.

“Thanks for today,” they said quietly, stepping back before Levi could reply.

Levi stared at them, momentarily at a loss for words.

His face burned, whether from the cold or something else entirely, he couldn’t say.

“Just don’t be late next time,” he replied, walking away before Hange could see the faint smile tugging at the corner of his lips.

Hange watched him go before turning and heading home, their smile never fading.

Levi and Hange were lost in their own small world at the corner table, the humming of conversations and the occasional clink of porcelain blurred in the background. Steam curled up from their drinks, warming their cold hands and flushing their cheeks.

Hange took a generous sip of their overly sweet concoction and sighed contentedly.

“This really takes me back,” they said, their voice tinged with nostalgia. “It feels like nothing’s changed here.”

Levi hummed quietly in agreement, his black tea cooling in front of him. His eyes drifted to Hange’s hand resting on the table, fingers drumming absently against the wood. Without thinking, his own hand shifted closer, brushing against theirs in a fleeting touch.

Hange glanced up, surprised by the uncharacteristic gesture, but Levi kept his gaze fixed on his cup. “I still have it, you know,” he confessed, his voice low, almost reluctant.

“Have what?” Hange tilted their head, their curiosity piqued.

“The leaf,” Levi said simply, his thumb lightly grazing over Hange’s knuckles now. “The one you gave me that day. Pressed it in a book.” He paused, feeling the heat rise to his face. “Still there.”

Hange blinked, their expression softening into something unmistakably tender. “You’re kidding.”

“Do I look like I’m joking?” Levi grumbled, finally meeting their gaze.

Hange’s face broke into a radiant smile, one that made Levi’s chest tighten in that familiar, inexplicable way. “Levi Ackerman, you always surprise me,” they teased.

“Tch. Don’t get used to it,” he deadpanned. However, he didn’t pull his hand away, his thumb slightly brushing their ring instead.

Hange hesitated, their fingers curling around the edge of their mug as they shifted slightly in their seat. Their eyes flickered between Levi’s face and the steam rising from their drink before finally settling on the view outside the window..

“That first date. I still think about it often.”

Levi watched them quietly, his brow furrowing slightly at their uncharacteristic hesitation. “You do?” he asked softly, as though he wasn’t sure if he should press.

Hange nodded, their gaze dropping for a moment before they bit their lip, a faint smile playing at the corners of their mouth.

“Yeah. Especially…” Their voice trailed off as they glanced again toward the window to watch the soft snow falling outside. “The plushie you got me.”

Levi’s lips tugged upward as he thought about the ugly stuffed toy sitting in Hange’s office. “Don’t know why you’ve kept that thing all this time.”

“It’s sentimental,” they add in a whisper. “You got it for me and I love it.”

They fell silent, the weight of their words hanging in the air for a while.

Levi gently squeezed their hand and their eyes met.

Then suddenly, as though deciding something, Hange leaned down, fumbling among the paper bags resting by their feet. They picked up the red one, their fingers tightening on the handles as they placed it on the table in front of Levi.

He blinked at the bag, then at Hange, who was now watching him with a nervous expression.

“What’s this?” he asked, narrowing his eyes slightly.

“I was going to wait until Christmas,” Hange began quickly, their words tumbling over one another. “But this… this just feels like the right moment.”

Levi raised a skeptical eyebrow but pulled the bag toward him, carefully lifting out the contents. His movements stilled when he realized what it was: a soft, absurdly detailed titan onesie.

For a moment, Levi said nothing, simply staring at the tiny outfit in his hands. His thumb brushed over the fabric, lingering on the little details -the ridiculous hood, the tiny mittens. Then his eyes flicked up to meet Hange’s.

Their heart pounded as they studied his face for any reaction, their own nerves fraying with each passing second. “It’s, uh, a little… symbolic,” they started, biting their lip again.

His lips parted slightly, and for a fleeting second, Hange swore they saw a flicker of emotion in his usually composed expression. 

He cleared his throat.

“You… You’re serious?” he asked, almost breathless.

Hange simply nodded, their nervous smile giving way to something warmer, more certain.

Levi’s gaze dropped back to the onesie in his hands. He clicked his tongue, but the corners of his mouth turned upward, the faintest hint of a smile breaking through.

“A titan onesie. Of course you had to make it weird, Four-Eyes.”

Hange laughed, their shoulders relaxing as relief and joy washed over them. “Would you expect anything less from me?”

Levi didn’t answer, but smiled instead, his eyes still on the onesie as his fingers brushed over it again, this time more gently.

The room was quiet, save for the soft ticking of the clock on the bedside table. The flickering glow of the street lights peeked through a crack in the curtain, painting patterns and shadows on the walls.

Levi lay behind Hange, his arm draped protectively over their side. They were sound asleep, their breathing slow and even, their hair a messy halo over the pillow.

He could feel the gentle rise and fall of their chest beneath his arm, a steady rhythm that usually lulled him to sleep.

But tonight Levi’s eyes remained open, his gaze fixed on the ceiling. His mind raced with a muddle of thoughts he couldn’t quite organize.

A dad. He was going to be a dad.

The thought alone sent an odd mix of feelings coursing through him -anticipation, fear, uncertainty. What the hell did he know about being a father? Could he even do this?

His chest tightened, but before the doubts could spiral further, he shifted closer to Hange, burying his nose in the crook of their neck. The faint earthy scent of their skin and the warmth of their body slowly shushed his anxious thoughts.

His hand brushed gently over their belly. He let out a quiet breath, and started to whisper in the dark as if the baby could somehow hear him.

“Oi, brat. Hope you get the color of their eyes. Or their brains. Or maybe their enthusiasm, I don’t fucking know…. Whatever, you’ll be amazing like them anyway.” He chuckled. “Don’t tell them or Four-Eyes will never let me hear the end of it.”

He pressed a kiss to the back of Hange’s neck, soft and lingering.

“Don’t know how that works but I’ll do my best. We’ll do our best. And I’ll love you just as much as I love them. I promise.”

As he kissed their warm skin again, Hange stirred faintly, letting out a quiet sigh before settling back into sleep. Levi closed his eyes, letting their presence soothe him.

For now, he would let the worry go.

For now, he would just hold them and cherish this moment.

All graphics by me

🎀❤️ REBLOGS APPRECIATED ❤️🎀

The titan plushie & onesie are a reference to THIS ADORABLE FANART

[violet-ophelia-boss]

This is for the: "hermit secret Santa"! gift for: @renp0d

(sorry for the mistakes in this fic)

On the hermitcraft server, there was a calm sound of the cold winter wind and the various machines they had made. Mumbo woke up and looked at his window: the snow was everywhere, not in a bad way of course, and so he knew Christmas was getting closer and closer. He checked his mail: various lawsuits as usual, tax fraud, neck kisses from his neighbors… and a letter with attached a big box. It was from Ren. It said: “Hello, my fellow friend! I heard you needed these redstone materials for one of your shops and some future projects. So here ya go mate! Hope you choose them wisely. When you use them, think of me also :]. -Ren the diggity dog”.

When mumbo opened happily the box, he saw 2 stacks of redstone dust, 30 redstone blocks, 10 redstone comparators and a stack of redstone torches. The guy was shocked. How did he make so many? Did he farm them or do them by hand? Mumbo then happily took the materials and secured them in a chest, then going straight to grian’s base. “GRIAN, GRIAN, GUESS WHAT?” shouts happily while shaking the other, which was reading a book while sitting on his chair. “I know mumbo, I know. You got redstone stuff from Ren. You messaged me 2 seconds ago about it. He gave me some materials so I can ‘finish the back of my building’ as well" says grian, tired. His friend giggled a bit, making him laugh it off the situation. “We should give him a gift, just like he did with us, I think” says mumbo to the other, who was closing his book and position it on the table. Then he put his hands on the other’s shoulders, looking at him in the eyes and asked “are you freaking saying that we should give him a Christmas present?”. “Yeah, why shouldn’t we after all?” responded mumbo, fixing his mustache. “Fine. But we both don’t have anything good that we could give him.” Accepted grian, looking around his chests. “Guess we have to search” says mumbo, already preparing his elytra and fireworks in hand. Then they both started flying, going where no one built something or took materials from. !Then they both landed, they immediately started brainstorming something good to give him, something rare, that he would be excited for.

“xp bottles?”, “that’s lame as fu-”. “An Elytra?”, “He has at least six of them mumbo!”. “An orange sheep?”, “He can literally steal one from Xisuma…”. “Diamonds?”, “mumbo, it’s like we’re giving him money to buy stuff. He needs something better!”. After a lot of arguing later, they both found something he’d like: custom discs, some which he can personalize and normal discs, which he can enjoy. Now there’s a problem: how can they have these disks, especially the custom ones? “A skeleton and creeper farm” says mumbo. “You sure?” asks grian. “Yes, now let’s get to work!”. They did a structure made out of many layers if stone and a lot of hope the creepers won’t blow up in their face, with a stone roof so they can break the spawner and take the discs without being hurt too much. After a lot of hope and time, the plan got just as planned. They took the disks, which were 12, with 4 that were a copy of another. They will be the ones who are going to be blank. “Mumbo, you know how to do that right… RIGHT?”. Mumbo was shaking, thinking what they should do. Eventually, Xisuma helped them, without asking why the heck they need that feature. So, after nearly blowing up a disc, many and many deaths by mumbo and moments of insanity later, they did it. They re- named the 4 discs, and put all of them into a shulker box, waiting for Ren to wake up.

Eventually, on the 22nd of that snowy December, he woke up. Then he saw grian and mumbo at his doorstep, saying “happy Christmas, Ren!”. “Aww thank you guys, you didn’t’ have to…” says Ren, blushing for the embarassment.” Wow! Music discs! With customed ones. Thanks guys! You could’ve just gave me flowers, but thanks!” says Ren, hugging the other two. Afterwards, grian and mumbo got to Big Ron’s shop and started contemplating the wall, cursing their idea of giving Ren something that good, still thinking about what he said.

Hope you enjoyed the fic :D

[andorerso]

A YEAR IN FICS - 2024

Happy New Year! I'm back with my favorite tradition: taking account of the fics I wrote in the past year

be my once in a lifetime: “It’s exhausting,” she admitted with an exhale. “I’d never do this.” Cassian tensed up next to her, a frown twitching on his lips. “Never?” “God no!” (1/1) Written for Rebelcaptain Fluffbruary

and pray for the thunder: A shelter, an argument, and a storm raging outside... This can only end well. (1/1) Written for Rebelcaptain Fluffbruary

objection, your honor: Cassian Andor hasn’t lost a case in two years, but what he doesn’t know is that neither has she. And Jyn decides he needs to be knocked down a peg or two.It’s so much more satisfying to win as the underdog. OR, Jyn and Cassian are rival divorce lawyers who also sometimes hook up. This can only end well, right? (2/3) Modern AU. chapter 2 written in 2024

Siren's Song: Cassian has been held hostage for nine days when help arrives. (1/1) Written for Rebelcaptain Smut Month

i want you so much (but i hate your guts): It’s infuriating, how easily and thoroughly Joreth Sward managed to ruin her. (1/1) Written for Rebelcaptain Smut Month

The Dildo Dilemma: How do you ask your boyfriend if your favorite dildo was modeled after his dick? (1/1) Written for Rebelcaptain Smut Month

Amas Veritas: Jyn's a young witch who's just trying to keep her head down. But when Orson Krennic returns to town years after he allegedly killed her father, she can't help feeling like this is her chance to get some payback. What's supposed to be a harmless hex quickly turns deadly, and Jyn must now make sure no one ever finds out what she did or risk going to prison. But the pull she feels towards Cassian Andor, the private investigator the Krennics have hired complicates matters, and it doesn't help that she's sworn off love years ago due to a nasty love curse that sits upon her family. On top of it all, Krennic's ghost might be haunting her... This Halloween is shaping up to be the worst one Jyn's ever had. (7/7) Practical Magic AU. chapter 7 written in 2024

Owl Hoot Trail: “I have a job,” she said. “And I need the bettermost sharpshooter I know.” He glanced down at the headline again. “What’s the job?” OR, Jyn and Cassian are 19th century outlaws. And also ex-lovers. (1/6) Written for the Rebelcaptain Secret Santa exchange

Total works: 8 (6 new ones)

Total wordcount: 42 522

The positives? I organized a fandom event for the first time in my life, and I finished Amas Veritas. The negatives? By far the lowest wordcount since I started this tradition, I didn't do any prompts/requests this year, and by far the most tragic, I didn't even touch Blood Red Rose at all. I try not to be too disappointed because it was a hard year, personally and professionally, and I think that reflects in my writing and lack of inspiration. But I'm hoping/praying for a better next year!

[lahjakaaryleet]

Hi everyone! It's happening, the Secret Santäärijä Käärijä Anon Gift Exchange is starting!

Here are some Important informations :

Fill this google form to sign in

The sign ins end November 30 at midnight

The 1st December I assign everyone their lahjakääryleet, so make sure you're not too late to register!

The 15 December I will check in with everyone and ask to see your WIP, to see how it's going, if you need any help to finish your gift, if you think you can make it for the deadline, etc.

Once your gift is ready, you have until December 22 at midnight to send it!! (please send your gift as soon as you can once it's done, it will be easier for me not to have everything come up at once on the 22nd lmao)

Feel free to send anons to the person you've been assigned, as long as you don't blow your secret santa cover!🎅🪄

Once your gift is ready, send it to my email address, (I will give it to you in DM), and i'll handle the gift distribution, that's it!✉️

I will use the tags #secret lahjakääryleet 2023 and #lahjakääryleet23 so I don't flood the main käärijä tag, feel free to use the tags when you publish your gifts on here and AO3 after the holidays!!

for AO3 users, i made an AO3 collection named Lahjakääryleet - Käärijä Anon Gift Exchange 2023 you can add your fics there!

Once everyone has been assigned a lahjakääryleet, I will DM all of you with the info about the person you've been assigned. Please make sure your DMs are open. And if you’re open to receiving asks from your secret santa make sure anon asks are open. 💌

(this game is strictly online for obvious logistic and budget reasons, but if by the end of the event you want to send a physical item to your assigned person, please contact them directly )

And the 25, everyone receives their gift in their mailbox🎁

If you have any question, you can send me a DM or an ask or even comment it here!

🎁Have fun, yes yes!🎁

kudos to @katinkulta for coming up with lahjakääryleet <3

[ahummingbirdwitch]

OH MY GREAT HEAVENS your Cypher are so good,, I would love to request a fluffy Cypher x Reader fic, possibly one where he tries to DIY a gift for you (it ends up looking not as he expected)

Thank you sm anon!! Here ya go :)

Makeshift (Cypher x F!Reader)

Summary: Cypher DIYs a gift for your birthday. So sweet it’ll give you cavities.

Pairing: Cypher x F!Reader

Rating: Teen

Word Count: 944

Warnings: none

Notes: I had the same Reader character in mind from my usual Cypher fics but y’all are free to imagine anyone you like!

Your birthday was coming up, and your gift had to be perfect.

Cypher wasn’t one to brag, but he liked to consider himself the best gift-giver in Valorant. There was no competition, really. He had every agent’s passwords, to all their devices and accounts; he knew what kinds of sites they perused, what things they added to their carts while shopping online, so when birthdays and holidays came around, he was practically Santa Claus. It wasn’t a secret how he knew what his friends wanted, but they were all grateful nonetheless.

The ones he cared about, anyway. Sova got a lump of coal every Christmas.

You were no different. He knew pretty much everything you liked, all your favorite sites and items and things you were saving up for. He could easily just buy you the first thing on your wishlist or have your favorite meal delivered to HQ, but you weren’t just any agent to him, and this wasn’t just any birthday. You were his girlfriend, and this had to be special. You deserved something straight from the heart.

So, after much deliberation, he’d decided to make something himself.

He’d made plenty of gadgets in his life, all for work, but he’d never made anything of that nature for someone. Nothing meant to be a gift, anyway. He’d thought about making you something practical, like a hair dryer or an electric massage stick, but nothing seemed personal enough. You needed something sentimental.

You loved bears, so at last, he decided he’d make his first real robot: a little bear-shaped friend.

In all honesty, Cypher struggled to put it together. He was good with tech, that much was true, but his devices weren’t nearly as advanced as Killjoy’s. He’d thought about asking her for help more than once, but ultimately, he’d stuck to his work and pressed on alone. This was his gift to you, and he could do it himself. No challenge was too big.

The night before your birthday, it was finally finished. He wiped his forehead and took a step back, admiring his handiwork. It wasn’t as flashy as something Killjoy would’ve made, but that was okay. He’d done it all himself.

He just hoped you liked it.

^ ^ ^

“Alright,” Cypher said, guiding you towards your desk chair. “Sit down, and close your eyes, dear.”

“Ooh, is it time for my surprise?” you asked, giggling as you took a seat.

“Yes. Come on now, close them.”

“Okay.” You did as you were told.

Cypher removed the bear from its box, taking a deep breath before holding it out to you. “Okay. Open them.”

You obeyed. The second you saw the bear—a miniature version of your teddy bear in white and blue colors—your eyes nearly popped from your skull. “Aww, Amir!” you exclaimed, accepting it from him. “It’s my Teddy! But he’s little!”

Cypher’s face flushed under his mask. “Do you like it?”

“Like it?” You were grinning from ear to ear. “I love it! He’s so cute!”

His heart warmed, fluttering with love and relief. “I was calling him Mini-Bear,” he said. “But you can call him whatever you like.” He took a step closer, taking the bear from you gently so he could feel around the back. “He… also speaks.”

He pressed a button, and his own voice came out of the bear: “I am always watching you, my dear.”

You stared in awe, looking absolutely delighted. “Oh my God. That’s so sweet!” You took the bear back from him. “You really made him all by yourself?”

Cypher chuckled. “Yes. It was… a bit tricky, I’ll admit. But I think he turned out okay.”

“He turned out great.” You hit the button again, beaming when another line came from the bear, also in Cypher’s voice: “Thinking of you, sokar.”

Cypher blushed. “Maybe don’t run through all of them right now…”

You gave him a cheeky grin, then hit the button again. “Sleep well, princess,” the bear said.

“Princess?” You smiled coyly. “I haven’t heard that one before.”

Cypher scratched the back of his neck. “It is… cheesy, I know. But the bear said it, not me!”

You laughed and hit the button again. “Goodnight, my dear,” the bear said. Suddenly, it began to stutter. “I—I love—love—love—”

Cypher froze, panicked. “Shit,” he muttered. He hurried to grab the bear from you. “I—oh no. Oh dear. I thought—I thought the voice box was stable.”

You looked up at him, eyes round, still smiling. “Hey, it’s okay! It just glitched for a sec.”

“No, no.” He looked over the bear, wanting to phase through the floor and disappear. “Shit. I can—fix that. It was—not supposed to do that.”

Especially not when he’d been in the middle of saying… that.

“Amir.” He felt your hands on his, and slowly, he allowed you to take the bear. “It’s okay, I promise. I love it.” You cradled Mini-Bear in your arms, blushing as you smiled down at it. “That line… were you saying what I… thought you were saying?”

Cypher looked at you, heart full. Embarrassed as he was, he could see as clear as day how happy you were, and relaxed. “Yes,” he murmured at last. “I have… been meaning to say it. For some time now.”

You got to your feet, leaving Mini-Bear in the chair before wrapping your arms around Cypher. “Thank you, Amir,” you whispered. “I love him. But I love you most.”

Hearing those sweet words from you made all of his work worthwhile, even if it hadn’t all turned out perfect. He held you closer, hugging you tightly as he closed his eyes, savoring the moment. “I love you too, sweetheart.”

[strawberriesinbloom]

That Kind of Day, Huh?

MJ/Peter/Miguel

Summary:

Miguel flinched as his breathing wobbled. He placed a hand over MJ’s hand, which had accidentally wandered a little too close to his side. “Ah, not there,” he muttered. It didn’t take an observant individual to notice the way he had stumbled over his words.

“What? You ticklish, buddy?” Peter asked while crossing his arms. 

Miguel scoffed. He lifted his head to give Peter an unimpressed glance his way. Refusing to dignify Peter’s question with a response, he rolled his eyes and laid back down. 

Word Count: 2037

A/N:

Happy holidays, @tickly-tufts. I'm your Secret Santa for @squealing-santa. This was a cute idea. I hope you enjoy :)

This is a tickle fic btw

~🍓~

Peter B. Parker had just finished putting his daughter to bed. He snuck one last kiss on her forehead before quietly leaving the nursery. Although he loved spending time with Mayday, she could be a handful at times, and Peter was more than happy to have some quality downtime with his wife.

‘Wife’ he repeated in his head. God, he missed that word.

Peter practically pranced into his bedroom. A pet name was already rolling off the tip of his tongue when he was suddenly shushed. Peter faltered slightly, stopping in his tracks with his hand still on the doorknob.

MJ was sitting up in bed with her back resting against the headboard. Her index finger was raised to her lips. Her cheeks were puffed out, as though preparing to shush him again.

But, that wasn’t the weird part. The weird part was the fact that Miguel O’Hara was lying in MJ’s arms with his head resting on her chest. 

Peter cocked his head to the side. “Miguel?”

Usually, he texted before stopping by the Parker’s place.

The dopey smile on Miguel’s face vanished as he flashed Peter an irritated glare. He turned his head, so he was no longer facing him.

“He had a long day,” MJ explained, now that silence was no longer a pretense. Her long nails gently scratched up and down the expanse of Miguel’s back. If Peter listened closely, he swore he could hear the guy purring. “So, I expect you to not get into any of your usual antics, alright?”

Peter let out an amused huff of air. “Antics? Since when have I ever gotten into any ‘antics’?” He grinned as he sauntered over to the bedside next to MJ. “I’ve never done anything of the sort in my entire life.”

MJ rolled her eyes playfully. “Okay, okay, whatever you say.” She laughed a little when Peter leaned down to kiss her.

“So, what has gotten this whiny baby in such a mood?” Peter asked once he straightened back up.

Miguel sucked his teeth. “You do realize I can hear you, right?” He scrunched up his shoulder blades a little once MJ started to caress the upper parts of his back.

MJ teasingly tousled Miguel’s hair. “He won’t say,” she told Peter. “I just think he needs some comfort tonight.” 

Miguel flinched as his breathing wobbled. He placed a hand over MJ’s hand, which had accidentally wandered a little too close to his side. “Ah, not there,” he muttered. It didn’t take an observant individual to notice the way he had stumbled over his words.

“What? You ticklish, buddy?” Peter asked while crossing his arms. 

Miguel scoffed. He lifted his head to give Peter an unimpressed glance his way. Refusing to dignify Peter’s question with a response, he rolled his eyes and laid back down. 

“Aw, come on, Miguel. You aren’t even going to answer me?” Peter began poking and prodding at Miguel’s side. He delighted in the way Miguel jumped at each jab.

“Peter…” MJ said.

Peter grinned. “I’m just trying to help him feel better. They don’t say that laughter is the best medicine for nothing.” He turned his attention toward Miguel. “So, come on, let’s hear that laugh of yours.”

Without warning, Peter squeezed Miguel’s waist, causing Miguel to curl up in on himself. “Stop that!” he growled. Miguel’s voice was low and gruff, but his tough persona was softened by how hard he was trying to avoid Peter’s gaze. 

The corners of Miguel’s lips began to perk up when Peter’s fingers started digging into his hips. He grabbed his wrist in an attempt to pry him off of him, but, interestingly enough, Miguel’s grip was loose and half-hearted.

Miguel gasped, as his eyes widened in fear. “M-MJ…!” he choked out. He began to thrash around, and Peter looked up to see MJ drilling her fingers inside Miguel’s armpits.

“What? I can’t have you having all of the fun,” she said when she noticed Peter’s expression. MJ continued her assault on Miguel’s sensitive skin. He tried to push himself up and presumably get off of her, but MJ was quicker than him. She hooked her legs over his back, trapping him in place.

Miguel barely managed to choke out MJ’s name again before using both hands to clamp his mouth shut. Peter clawed at Miguel’s stomach, which was driving him up the wall. His cheeks flushed, as Peter focused his attention on a particular spot that made Miguel writhe in place.

“Wow, you sure are stubborn, Miguel,” Peter said, enjoying the glare he was shooting him. “Not even a giggle?”

MJ’s fingers traveled down Miguel’s body and settled against his ribs, where she used her long nails to her full advantage and scratched at such a sensitive spot. As though to answer Peter’s question, Miguel tossed his head back and shrieked. He burst into loud laughter that almost made Peter flinch.

“AHAHA! Stahap! Stahahahap it! Both ohof you! EheEHEhehe…! Th—this isn’t funny!” Miguel’s eyes were squeezed shut as a wide smile overtook half of his face.

Peter wasn’t sure if he had ever seen the guy smile before, much less laugh, so this was a welcome sight. Miguel’s laughter wasn’t what he was expecting to come from a guy like him, either. It was loud, boisterous, and almost a little frantic. Miguel’s smile was a little lopsided from him desperately trying to stop himself from laughing.

“You have a nice laugh, Miguel,” MJ said, “It’s a shame we don’t get to hear it more often.” She shoved her fingers against his neck. He started to giggle and scrunch his shoulders up before she even had the chance to tickle him there.

Miguel giggling? Now, that was funny. It was, dare he say it, cute to see the way MJ could elicit such high-pitched noises from Miguel. At some point, Miguel squeaked. He stilled himself for a moment before burying his face in the crook of her elbow out of embarrassment. MJ only laughed, as she kept tickling him.

“This ihihisn’t fair! Hehehe…hehehaHAHAHA!” His laughter grew an octave or two when Peter started to spider his fingers against Miguel’s ribs. This was a sensitive area for him, which meant that this little weakness had to be exploited as much as possible. Miguel growled again, as he flailed about until he was on his side. “Peheheter! Peheheheter, I’ll—I’m going to kihihihill you! Ahahaha!” The threatening nature of his threats was drowned out by the desperation in his voice.

“I’d like to see you—oh, hey, wait, are those fangs?” Peter’s previous train of thought was left forgotten once he noticed a pair of rather sharp incisors sticking out of his mouth.

Miguel pressed his lips together in another attempt to stop himself from laughing. MJ tickled him underneath his chin, causing him to erupt in soft giggles once again. “Yeah, they are fangs,” MJ said, “That’s cute!”

“Very cute,” Peter agreed right before he vibrated his fingers against Miguel’s ribs. 

“Grr…ahahaha! I’m warning you, Peheheter!” He jutted his leg up, and it took Peter a moment to realize that Miguel was trying to kick him away. Peter stepped to the side and grabbed both of Miguel’s legs. Miguel gasped when Peter swung his leg over and sat on Miguel’s knees. “What do you think you’re doing?”

“This,” Peter answered before squeezing and pinching Miguel’s thighs. Miguel screamed. He screamed before melting into a loud cackle of a laugh. “Whoa! Calm down!” Peter shouted after he was almost bucked off, but he held his ground. He might have found Miguel’s most ticklish spot, and he wasn’t going to go down that easily. 

Peter kept skittering his fingers along Miguel’s thighs and occasionally drilled his thumbs into his hips just to keep him on his toes. Miguel shrieked every time he did that. MJ tickled his neck, sometimes choosing to flick the back of his ears, which made Miguel tilt his head side to side repeatedly in a futile way to get away from the sensation.

“Hahaha! This is toohoohoo much! Stahahap this instahAHAha—” Miguel swore when MJ decided to jab her fingers inside of Miguel’s armpits again. 

Just as Peter was about to tickle Miguel’s sides, Miguel grabbed both of Peter’s hands. Miguel glowered at Peter, who was trying to give up the biggest, most innocent doe eyes he could muster. Miguel paused for a beat before unceremoniously throwing Peter across the room.

“Peter!” MJ shouted, a hint of amusement at the back of her voice. She unhooked her legs from Miguel and tried to stifle a giggle. “Are you okay?”

Peter grunted when he landed on the floor, but he was quick to get up and dust himself off. “Never better,” he said, pretending to flex his arms. Now freed, Miguel got up and slowly crawled over to the other side of the bed. When Peter noticed this, he smirked. “Oh no, you don’t!” He ran over and tackled Miguel to the bed.

Miguel snarled but didn’t try to break free from Peter’s grip. “What’s wrong with you?” He looked at MJ, who was trying her hardest to hide her smile. She was failing quite badly. “Both of you! What’s wrong with both of you?” He was breathless, and a sheen of sweat glistened on his forehead. 

“Aww, don’t be like that Miguel. We were only trying to cheer you up.” Peter clasped his hands onto Miguel’s sides. Miguel gave him a wary look but didn’t say anything. “Besides, don’t think MJ and I didn’t notice how you didn’t even try to stop us in any capacity.”

“Except for when he tossed you off the bed,” MJ chimed in.

“Yes, except for when you tossed me off of the bed,” Peter responded, a little miffed at his cool moment being dampened. “But, other than that, you didn’t do anything. I mean, you’re a Spider-Man! You have more than enough ways to stop us if you wanted to.” Peter slowly massaged Miguel’s sides, earning some soft and awkward laughter from him. “That’s the key phrase, isn’t it? If you wanted to.”

MJ shuffled over so that she was sitting right next to them. “Miguel,” she said, tracing his cheekbone with her thumb. “Do you like being tickled?” Her tone wasn’t particularly accusatory. It was kind of sweet, as though she was asking how Miguel’s day was.

“Mhmhmm…I—I don’t ehehe…I don’t…mmph!” Miguel laid his hands on top of Peter’s hands once they started to wander too far up his torso. Peter could tell that Miguel was searching for some sort of excuse or way to get out of this predicament. “I, uh, didn’t wahahant to hurt MJ.”

“You gotta give yourself more credit than that. You have great control over your abilities. There’s no way you’d accidentally hurt anyone,” Peter said.

When he couldn’t think of anything else, Miguel sighed and accepted defeat. “Okahahay, maybe—maybe just a little…” He mumbled that last part but Peter could hear him loud and clear.

“Oh, that’s adorable,” MJ said, leaning in to kiss Miguel on the cheek, “Are you feeling better now?”

Miguel pried Peter’s hands off of him. He stared at the bed, refusing to make eye contact with either of them. “Yeah, I guess,” he said quietly, “More or less.”

“I knew it would!” Peter said. He grabbed Miguel’s face and gave him a messy kiss on the cheek. He stopped when Miguel’s groan suddenly turned into quiet giggles.

“Your stubble,” Miguel explained, rubbing his cheek. “It tickles.”

“Miguel,” Peter said in awe, “How ticklish are you, buddy?” Peter expected Miguel to make another snarky comment. He did not expect to be completely flipped over on his back. “M—Miguel?” he repeated, as his threatening figure loomed over him.

“Not as ticklish as you,” Miguel simply responded before digging his fingers into Peter’s armpits.

“Wahahahait! Hahaha! Let’s talk this out!” Peter shook his head back and forth. He lifted his hand to try to push Miguel out of the way, only to immediately clamp his arm down when Miguel’s tickling increased tenfold. “Hahaha…AH! MJ!” Peter screeched when he felt something skitter along the undersides of his feet. This was going to be a long night.