#i need to replay the epilogues

[lithopsy]

having another fictional character breakdown again but it (spoilers for a seven year old game) is so insane that saeran killed jihyun IN FRONT of jumin in the SE like THAT GUY DIED?? THERE IS A FUNERAL CG?? like why does the fandom collectively ignore that scene

[lnquisition]

Eyes of an eagle, roar of a lion. But maybe... the heart of a halla.

[skiitter]

Took 90 hours but I finally beat BG3. I have no clue what to do with my time now.

[boyfrillish]

The other day, I was going through my Switch screenshots from Sword to try to find something else and remembered all of the Emotional Pain™ from up until the Final battle lmao

Anyway, yes, these two sillies still give me All The Feels in all the ways, for like 8 whole months and counting now. The OTP ever

[getmenaced]

Is Karlach's soul destroyed if she explodes?? I'm pretty sure that Gale's is if he blows up the orb (rip) but even if Karlach burns up it would be possible to bring her back with a Wish right? I guess there's no rule on the books (that I've been able to find) about recreating a destroyed soul with wish but it makes sense that a soul that was completely eradicated wouldn't be able to be brought back even with a wish.. I guess it would depend on your dm. Someone get larian on the phone

[imagineitdearies]

hi I'm absolutely enamored with your fic, i think i reread every chapter three times already

This makes my heart so happy 😭💙 can't believe y'all reread this, but all the more worth it to write knowing it'll be so appreciated, so thank you.

[arcanegalaxy]

so i picked up i was a teenage exocolonist in the steam sale and started playing it this week, tonight i finished it for the first time and i can’t even explain what that game has done to me

i want to climb into a hole and cry forever

[saucy-mesothelioma]

I miss my wife, Tails. I miss her a lot.

[goatsorcery]

i finished baldurs gate 3 and im in tears

[rackartyg]

NO EPILOGUE????

[trevisos]

idk man for xarrai like. the end of the game barely feels like a victory. great the absolute is gone but what now? they watched karlach die and astarion can never see the sun again and the city they love and hate and love again is saved but it’s also in tatters and the life they had before is burnt up with it like. where do they go from here? what do they do? they never wanted to be a savior or a hero.

[dekariosclan]

Sneaky God Gale Still Loves You

I want to take a moment to offer some reassurance to any of my fellow Galemancers who got the worst Gale romance ending—the infamous ‘Sneaky God Gale.’ (credit to @airydandelion, who I believe first coined the term and who did a ton of valuable research as noted at the end of this post!)

This ending happens when you think you’ve convinced Gale not to ascend. You turned down his offer for godhood in the boat! You didn’t push him towards the crown at all (or so you thought)! And most importantly, he seemed convinced!!

Then you get to the ending on the docks and suddenly he’s all: “that crown tho…🥵” And he leaves.

Worst of all, he won’t even offer to ascend you at the epilogue party.

So what gives?!

Putting aside that this happens because 1. There are some extremely subtle and not-great dialogue options pushing him towards the crown which should’ve been better written/more obvious, and 2. Gale ‘I’m-many-things-but-not-coy’ Dekarios should have been clearly displaying his intentions towards the crown in order to give fair warning to the player, I do still think we can explain his behavior.

The most important thing to remember is that he is not gaslighting you! He’s not smooching you and giving you those big lovey cow eyes while smugly thinking about how he’s going to dump you.

When Gale offers you godhood in the boat, it’s literally called the ‘Be My God Proposal’ in the data files. It’s a proposal. And what a proposal! Because he’s not just offering you a marriage where it’s a short span of mortal years together until death. He’s offering you a literal eternity together.

…and you turned him down.

You did it for all the right reasons, your heart was in the right place, BUT…Gale is uncertain. He loves you, but do you really love him? Just him? He’s still not sure he’s enough for you. You weren’t vehemently against the crown, you seemed to waffle. And you turned down his proposal…an eternity with him was something you did not wish for…

So when he gets to the brain stem, and then the docks, and he still feels uncertainty in his heart, well—it makes him very easily swayed by the orb’s hunger for the crown.

But he still loves you.

When you get to the epilogue, he doesn’t offer you ascension for the simple reason that you already turned it down. He respects your choice, and he’s not going to try and coax you into it; your desires are different than his, and that makes a life together impossible.

But he still loves you.

Well, but, you argue, why can’t we be together as a mortal and a god? Like Gale was with Mystra?

He would never expose you to such risk, because he still loves you.

‘Ok fine,’ you say. ‘Sure, he’s still got his kind heart buried underneath the arrogance. But even so, he chose to leave. There’s no absolute, definitive proof that he still loves me!’

Sneaky God Gale absolutely, 100%, still loves you! So go do yourself (and him) a favor and fix that ending:

You can use this amazing, incredible, fantastic guide created by @airydandelion to ensure you pick the right dialogue choices to get the Gale ending you want!

If you are on a PC and do not want to go back many hours of gameplay to replay/redo the dialogue choices, you can use this mod to convince Gale to stay human with the dice roll at the brain stem.

If you’re on a PS5 (which does not currently have the above mod) my best suggestion is to use the cheaters ring. This is a PS5 mod that essentially lets you cheese all combat and speedrun the game, saving you a ton of time if you need to replay Act 3 in order to get your human Gale.

Whatever you decide to do, you can go forth secure in the knowledge that Gale was 100% truthful when he told you this:

(One final shoutout: credit to @galebrainrott for their post sharing Gale’s datamined files!)

[rosemariiaa]

~Lines we Drew~

part: 6 last part

pairing: Paige x Azzi

a/n: well..i really liked this series yall, but let me not get sappy 😞. I hope you enjoy this last part as much as I loved writing it, Im also thinking of doing an epilogue do y’all want that? other than that i love youuu 💌

themes: angst, language, fluff

Enjoy!!!

The air between them was still heavy from the argument. Paige’s body felt like it was burning from the inside out, anger boiling under her skin as she replayed the words exchanged with Azzi. She could feel the tears building, but she refused to let them fall in front of Azzi. Not again.

Paige clenched her fists and turned away, storming off down the hall. Her vision blurred as the tears finally slipped out, and before she even realized it, her feet had taken her back to her dorm.

She didn’t stop until she reached Nika’s room, barging in without knocking, plopping onto Nika’s bed in a crumpled mess of tears and frustration.

“What the hell happened?” Nika asked, clearly taken aback, but there was concern in her voice.

Paige buried her face into Nika’s pillow, her voice muffled, “Everything. It’s all just… fucked.”

Nika sat beside her, rubbing her back gently. “You wanna talk about it?”

For a few moments, Paige was silent, the weight of everything pressing down on her chest. “It’s Azzi… we argued again. I—I told her how I feel… how I’ve always felt… and I just… broke.” Nika’s eyebrows shot up. “Wait, you mean—”

“I mean everything,” Paige interrupted. “She left me, Nika. She fucking left me when I needed her the most. And she just acts like it wasn’t that big of a deal. Like… like I didn’t matter.”

Nika’s hand stilled on Paige’s back, her expression softening. “Paige…”

“It was my birthday, Nika,” Paige whispered. “The day she left. She didn’t even say goodbye. Just disappeared… left me with all this shit. My parents had just divorced, and I had no one to talk to… except her. And she just vanished.”

The floodgates opened, and Paige sobbed into the pillow, all the anger, pain, and heartbreak from years ago pouring out at once. Nika stayed quiet, letting Paige release everything she had held inside for so long.

———-

As Paige stormed off, Azzi stood frozen, watching her walk away with tears streaming down her face. Her heart ached seeing Paige like that, and for a moment, she wanted to chase after her, to stop her and fix everything… but she couldn’t. Suddenly, she was pulled back to that summer years ago, to the day before she left.

Flashback to USA Basketball Camp

She was just 15, playing on the USA Basketball team with Paige, and even back then, their connection was undeniable. But there was also something else. Something that confused her, scared her. Azzi was starting to realize her feelings for Paige weren’t just about basketball, weren’t just friendship. And that terrified her.

She remembered sitting at the kitchen table with her mom, Katie, the night before she left for good.

“Mom, I don’t know what to do,” Azzi admitted, her voice trembling. “I… I think I have feelings for Paige. But I don’t know if I’m ready to deal with that, I’ve never felt this way..towards anyone. I don’t know if I’m… ready for any of this.”

Katie looked at her with a soft, understanding smile, placing her hand on Azzi’s. “You don’t have to figure it all out right now, Az. It’s okay to be confused.”

“But what if I hurt her?” Azzi asked, tears brimming in her eyes. “What if I can’t… what if I’m not what she needs?”

Katie sighed gently. “Paige loves you, Azzi. That’s obvious. But you can’t make decisions out of fear. Whatever you choose, I’ll support you. Just be sure of one thing… Paige will understand, but you also can’t be surprised if there’s another reaction.”

Azzi had nodded, but deep down, she didn’t believe it. So the next morning, she left. She left Paige without a word, without an explanation. She couldn’t face her, couldn’t confront her own feelings. She didn’t even tell Paige goodbye. The guilt haunted her every day.

She thought she could run away from it, that distance would make it easier, but instead, it only made it worse.

———-

Present Day

Hours later, Paige, Azzi, and the team found themselves at a bar downtown. Nika had insisted that a night out would help everyone cool down and lighten the mood, but as soon as Azzi walked in and saw Paige across the room, all the tension came flooding back.

Paige was already at the bar, nursing a drink, her eyes flicking up to meet Azzi’s briefly before looking away. Azzi tried to ignore the sinking feeling in her chest, but after a few drinks, she couldn’t take it anymore. She walked over to Paige, standing beside her.

“We need to talk,” Azzi said, her voice low.

Paige snorted, downing the rest of her drink before turning to face her. “Talk? Now you wanna talk?”

Azzi hesitated, seeing the fire in Paige’s eyes, but pressed on. “I’m sorry. I should’ve—”

“Sorry? You think sorry is enough?” Paige interrupted, her voice rising. “You fucking left me, Azzi. You didn’t say goodbye. You didn’t give me a chance to… to understand. You just left.”

“I didn’t know what to do!” Azzi said, her voice desperate. “I was scared, Paige. I was confused. I thought leaving was the only way.”

The bar had gone quiet, people turning to watch their argument unfold, but neither of them cared.

Azzi’s eyes filled with tears. “I never wanted to hurt you, Paige. I didn’t know how to handle… us. I was scared.” “Scared of what?” Paige asked, her voice breaking. “Of me? You know what I can’t..I’m not doing this Az.”

Paige stormed out of the bar, her heart pounding in her chest, tears blurring her vision. She felt the heat of anger and betrayal boiling inside her, twisting her gut. She couldn’t believe how everything had spiraled out of control. The chaos of emotions threatened to drown her, and she just needed to get away.

She hurried down the street, not knowing where she was going but desperate to escape the suffocating weight of it all. All she knew was that she couldn’t face anyone right now.

“Paige! Wait!” Azzi’s voice cut through the night, pulling her back from her spiraling thoughts.

Paige paused but didn’t turn around. “What do you want, Azzi? Another half-assed apology?” Her voice dripped with sarcasm, masking the pain beneath.

Azzi caught up, grabbing her wrist gently but firmly. “No, I—I need to explain.”

Paige yanked her hand away, her heart racing. “Explain what? How you ghosted me when I was falling apart? Or how you dipped without a word and shattered my heart on my damn birthday?”

Azzi’s expression fell, guilt washing over her. “I know I hurt you, but—”

“But what, Azzi?” Paige interrupted, her voice shaking with frustration. “You left when I needed you the most! I was drowning, and you just ran away. You weren’t there for me when my parents divorced, when everything was crumbling. You were my rock, and you just disappeared!”

Azzi swallowed hard, feeling the weight of every accusation. “I’m sorry..I didn’t know that, I didn’t know how to handle it, Paige. I was lost, too.”

“Lost? You just left me!” Paige’s chest heaved with every word, anger mixing with hurt. “You were supposed to be my best friend. I thought I could count on you!”

Azzi’s heart ached, guilt crashing over her like waves. “I was scared,” she confessed, her voice breaking. “I was so confused about everything—about you, about me.., about us, and the pressure from the media, the coaches… I couldn’t deal with it. So I ran. I thought it would be easier.” Paige’s chest tightened, her emotions spilling over. “You didn’t give me the chance! You could have at least tried!”

Azzi took a shaky breath, the rawness of their argument hanging heavily in the air. “And I regret that every day. But I didn’t want to drag you down with my mess, Paige. I thought leaving would be better for both of us.”

Paige’s anger flickered, a new understanding dawning on her. “I get that you were scared, Azzi,” she said softly, her voice trembling. “But I was scared too. I felt so alone when you weren’t there. I thought we could face it together. I thought you understood what I was going through.”

“I should have been there,” Azzi said, her voice barely above a whisper. “I should have known you needed me, and instead, I just ran away.”

“Yeah, you did.” Paige paused, her tears glistening in the dim light. “And it hurt like hell. But I can see now that you were hurting too. I just… I needed you to be strong when I couldn’t be.”

Azzi looked down, guilt washing over her. “I wanted to be strong. But it was all too much for me, Paige. I was terrified of what my feelings meant, terrified of messing things up even more. I couldn’t handle the pressure and my feelings for you.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?” Paige asked, her heart softening as she reached for Azzi’s hand, intertwining their fingers. “We could have figured it out together.”

“I was scared of losing you,” Azzi admitted, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. “I thought leaving was the only way to protect both of us.”

Paige’s heart ached at Azzi’s confession. “I didn’t realize you were dealing with so much too. It felt like I was the only one hurting, but now I see how we both were. I just… I wish you hadn’t left me, especially on my birthday.”

Azzi’s eyes shimmered with remorse as she reached into her pocket, pulling out a small, delicate infinity necklace. “I left this for you. Under your pillow before I left. I thought maybe one day you’d find it and understand… But when it got sent back, I thought you didn’t want anything to do with me.”

Paige stared at the necklace, confusion mixing with the flood of emotions. “I’ve never seen that before,” she murmured, wiping her eyes. “How did it get sent back to you?”

Before Azzi could respond, the bar door swung open, and Jose, stepped outside, overhearing their conversation. “Wait, are you talking about that necklace?” he called out, pointing.

Azzi nodded, her heart racing. “Yeah, why?”

Jose shrugged, looking sheepish. “One of the coaches found it in your room at camp and sent it back to the house. I thought you knew.” Azzi blinked, disbelief flashing across her face. “Well, obviously not!”

Jose gave them an awkward smile before retreating back inside. They stood there for a moment, stunned, then burst into soft, teary laughter—laughter that felt like a release.

Azzi stepped closer, taking a deep breath. “I’m so sorry, Paige. For everything. For leaving, for being a coward, for hurting you when you needed me the most.”

Paige felt her heart clench, tears still falling. She reached out, taking the necklace from Azzi’s trembling hands. “I didn’t think I’d ever see this,” she whispered, looking up into Azzi’s eyes. “You’ve always meant so much to me.” Azzi nodded, her eyes glistening. “I never stopped caring about you, Paige. I was just too scared to face it all.”

Without thinking, Paige stepped forward, closing the distance between them, and kissed Azzi softly. It was hesitant at first, but as Azzi kissed her back, the world around them faded. It was just them—two hearts finding their way back to each other, the weight of the past still there, but lighter somehow.

When they finally pulled away, both breathless, they lingered close, foreheads touching. “I want to be with you, Azzi,” Paige murmured, her voice thick with emotion. “I’ve always wanted that. I’m sorry I didn’t see your pain before.”

“I want that too. I want to try,” Azzi replied, her voice trembling with sincerity. “Whatever it takes, I promise to never leave you again.”

“Good, because I’ll be damned if I let you go again,” Paige whispered, a small smile breaking through the tears.

“Deal,” Azzi replied, grinning through her tears.

———-

Game day: UConn vs. Villanova

The next day, the gym buzzed with excitement as the team prepared for their game against Villanova. The atmosphere was electric, a mix of nerves and adrenaline. Paige and Azzi exchanged glances during warmup, a silent understanding passing between them.

As the game started, they fell into a rhythm, communicating effortlessly on the court. Azzi set a perfect screen for Paige, who cut to the basket, receiving a crisp pass that she finished with a layup. The crowd erupted, and for the first time in a long while, everything felt right.

The tension in the gym grew as Villanova pressed hard, trying to claw back into the game. Just when it seemed they might gain an edge, a player drove to the hoop, determined to score. But Azzi was ready.

“YEAH!” Paige yelled as she watched Azzi leap into the air, her timing impeccable. With a powerful swat, Azzi blocked the shot, sending the ball flying across the court. The crowd erupted into cheers, and Paige was right there, pumping her fists in the air. “That’s what I’m talking about!” she shouted, her voice filled with excitement.

Geno smiled from the sidelines, nodding in approval as the team rallied around Azzi. “That’s the energy we need!” he called out, clapping his hands together.

As the game progressed, the chemistry between Paige and Azzi shone through. With Nika assisting from the wing, they executed a flawless fast break, leading to another basket.

In the final moments of the game, with the score tied, Paige found herself with the ball. She dribbled, her heart racing as she spotted Azzi cutting toward the hoop. Without hesitation, she tossed the ball to Azzi, who caught it mid-air, spinning around her defender and sinking the shot just as the buzzer sounded.

The crowd erupted in cheers as their team celebrated the victory. Paige grabbed Azzi in a whirlwind of excitement, lifting her off the ground and spinning her around. “We did it!”

Azzi laughed, a sound of pure joy. “You’re crazy!” she yelled, her heart soaring.

As the team celebrated, they all gathered in a huddle, chanting and cheering.

———-

After the game, Instead of heading out with the team to celebrate, they quietly made their way to Azzi’s dorm, wanting to be alone together. Once inside, the door closed behind them, sealing off the noise of the world. The room felt cozy and intimate, filled with the lingering energy from the game. Azzi turned to Paige, her heart racing.

“Can you believe we won, I mean they were going really hard tonight?” Azzi said, her eyes sparkling.

“Of course I can, with the way we played I had no doubt, you were amazing Az,” Paige replied, her voice filled with enthusiasm. “But right now, I just want to be here with you. Just us.”

Azzi nodded, her heart warming at the thought. They settled onto the bed, surrounded by pillows and blankets. The weight of the past started to lift, and as they shared stories and laughter, everything felt right.

As the night deepened, Azzi began to drift off, her head resting comfortably on Paige’s chest. Paige gently stroked Azzi’s hair, feeling a wave of contentment wash over her. She thought Azzi was fast asleep when a sudden wave of love hit her like a tidal wave.

“I love you,” Paige whispered softly, her heart vulnerable and exposed. She thought the words would hang in the air, but in the stillness of the room, they felt like a promise.

“I love you too,” Azzi whispered back, her voice barely audible but filled with warmth.

Paige’s heart leaped at the sound, her eyes widening in disbelief. A smile broke out on her face, one so bright it could light up the room

Their smiles grew wider, the unbreakable bond between them solidifying in that moment. As they settled into each other, everything felt right, the past behind them and the future ahead filled with possibility.

———-

a/n: okay i’m sad now bye. oops forgot to tag my lovelies @thaatdigitaldiary @patscorner @imaginespazzi

[scarlet-bitch]

Sunday Mornings

2k Steve X fem!reader, Angst/Fluff, 90's AU, no y/n

A/N: a different take on that s4 scene with Steve and Nance. Songs I loosely pulled inspo from: 'Never My Love' - The Association, the first verse of 'Sunday Morning' - The Velvet Underground, & the epilogue lyrics are 'Our House' - Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young *EDIT: my music was on shuffle and Make It With You - Bread came on and idk how I missed that for the epilogue lyrics!!! So I updated that. Feedback/likes/reblogs are greatly appreciated! Thanks for reading & as always, I hope you enjoy! XO, Scarlet 💋

Your favorite way to spend Sunday was a lazy morning in bed—preferably in Steve's—with your limbs intertwined and your head on his chest. Content in the silence, you'd often daydream about your future together. But today, instead of your own dreams, your mind replayed what you’d overheard Steve share with your friends—a life you couldn’t envision for yourself. One that's had you riddled with anxiety ever since.

“Y’know,” Steve said, pulling you from your spiraling thoughts, “when I was shopping with Robin yesterday, something caught my eye.”

You looked up at him. “Oh yeah? What was it?”

“A ring,” he replied, brushing his thumb over your left ring finger. “I couldn’t help but imagine it here.”

Your heart raced at the implication. This should have been a sweet moment—the first real conversation where the man you loved expressed his intentions to marry you. Instead, it felt like a nightmare. You had been meaning to bring up what you overheard, but it never seemed like the right time. Now, you realized you had no choice.

"I'm sorry” he said, his brow furrowing with concern as he noticed the look of panic on your face. "Was that too much?"

“No,” you whispered, as the nausea rose within you. “Not at all. Truly, there's nothing more I want than to be your wife."

“That’s all I want too, pretty girl. So sure of it, almost bought the ring.” He leaned in, his lips brushing against yours. You felt him smile into the kiss, and you wanted to revel in the moment, kiss him back with the same ferocity but your guilt was eating you from the inside.

Pulling away, you saw Steve lean in again, only to pause as his eyes flickered open taking in the sight of you. “Aww honey, you're crying?" He chuckled softly, moving his hand to caress your cheek.

Fuck. He'd mistaken them for tears of joy, rather than anguish they were born from—the words you'd struggled to voice.

You took his wrist, gently removing his hand from your face as you repositioned yourself to sit up in bed. Your fingers gripping the comforter for some sense of control.

“Hey, what's wrong?” he asked, his voice laced with concern.

“I need to talk to you about something important.”

“Okay.” He sat up now, confusion washing over him as his eyes searched yours for any indication of what you were about to say. You could almost see him rifling through possible scenarios in his mind.

“I’ve been selfish,” you admitted, tears stinging your eyes. “I thought there was time. We've only been together for two years, I thought things could change. I'd feel different-”

“Hey, slow down. I need you to take a deep breath."

He was right. You were nearly hyperventilating, words jumbling together. You shook your head, trying to calm yourself, but the pit in your stomach taunted you. You couldn't help but think this was beginning of the end.

“A few weeks ago, that night Robin, Vickie and I were over, when I passed out on the couch during the movie. I kept going in and out of sleep when you were all chatting, and I overheard you talking about your dream life. Something like six kids, summer trips in a Winnebago across the countryside. Right?”

Steve looked perplexed, as if trying to connect the dots. “Yeah, that’s a dream I have, but it’s a long way off. Did that scare you? There are a lot of steps still-"

“Steve, it didn’t scare me. It’s just… I don’t,” your voice quivered, the trail of hot tears now streaming down your cheeks. “I’ve been meaning to bring it up, but I didn’t want to ruin everything. I thought if anyone could change my mind, it would be you. But-”

“About what?" He cut you off. "Honey, what are you talking about?”

“I don’t think I want kids, Steve,” you blurted out.

His face fell, and his eyes widened. It looked as if all the air had been expelled from his lungs. His mouth opened slightly, but no words came out.

Your words began to tumble out of your mouth faster than you could think them through. "We’ve never really talked about it. If I’d known how much you wanted kids, I wouldn’t have waited so long to tell you." You paused, your heart pounding. “Hearing you talk about a big family has pained me for weeks. I know, without a doubt, you’d be an amazing father. I just don’t think it will be to my children.”

“But you’d be a great mom,” he said, desperation clear in his voice. You weren't sure if he was trying to convince you or if it was just a fact he believed.

“Maybe, but that doesn’t change the fact that I don’t want to be... I've tried to will the desire into existence, but I just don’t have it.”

Steve’s eyes glistened as he processed your words. You noticed his tongue pushing against the inside of his cheek—a gesture he always made when he was getting emotional. You wanted to take everything back, wished you could turn back time and not say a fucking word. But he deserved to know, even if it meant you'd lose him.

The silence was deafening—the only sound in your ears was the thump of your heart, racing so rapidly you thought it might burst through your chest. A few minutes passed, but it felt like hours. You weren’t sure how much more of the quiet you could take.

"Say something, please," you urged.

Steve focused his eyes back on you. "Sorry, I never imagined us not having kids together, y'know? So I'm processing."

"I'm so sorry, Steve. One day it may change, but I'm not hopeful." A sob caught in your throat. "And it's not fair to either of us to prolong the inevitable on the hope that I’ll change my mind.”

"W-wait, what? Are you saying you want to end this?” He ran a hand through his hair, a deep sigh escaping him. He shrugged his shoulders, raising a brow as he added, "I'm confused how this conversation went from talking about marriage to breaking up?"

“Isn’t that where this is headed?"

“That's what you think?"

"Isn't that our only option, Steve? Kids are something you want out of life, and I’m fairly certain I don’t—how can there be a future for us?”

"We both want each other! We’ll figure the rest out eventually.”

“And when ‘eventually’ comes, and I still feel the same, what then? When years from now you realize something is missing in your life, and I'm be the reason for it—you'll resent me."

“No, I won't. How can you say that?” He leaned in closer. “Maybe it won't be exactly what I pictured, but this doesn't change anything for me."

“You say that now, but you don't know how you'll feel down the line!" You raised your hands, in an effort to emphasize your point.

“If I don't know how I'll feel, how can you be so certain I'll resent you then?"

“I could hear it in your voice, Steve. You sounded so happy describing that life. A life I can't guarantee. So it doesn’t matter how much I want this or how much I love you. You deserve someone who you can share those dreams with!"

Steve moved his hands to cradle your face, hazel orbs piercing yours. "Oh honey... don't you realize, in every scenario of my dream life, you’re there. Fuck... you're the most important part.”

You swallowed thickly, your heart fluttering at the sentiment, tears still trickling down your cheeks. You wanted to accept what he was saying, but fear gripped you. The thought of losing him, of him one day loathing you, was unbearable to fathom. "What if you change your mind?"

"Never, my love." He gently brushed away your tears with his thumbs, shaking his head softly. "Listen, we can talk about this as long as we need to. Come back to it as much as you'd like. But please hear me when I say, if kids aren’t in your future, they’re not in mine. You're my future—you always have been.”

"Baby, you know that dreams, they're for those who sleep / Life, it's for us to keep / And if I chose the one I'd like to help me through / I'd like to make it with you... I really think that we could make it, girl."

Despite your affinity for lazy Sundays in bed, this particular morning found you in the kitchen, flipping pancakes while laughter echoed from the dining room.

"I hope you boys are ready to eat!" you called as you plated the pancakes.

"You hungry, bud?" You heard Steve ask.

"Mhmm!"

"Alright, then let's put the crayons away."

After a few minutes, Steve waltzed into the kitchen, grabbing the plate of pancakes from you. "Smells amazing, baby." He pressed a kiss to your cheek before heading back to the dining room.

A few minutes later, you joined Steve and the doe eyed little boy at the table, enjoying breakfast together.

As you finished up, Steve was prompting a burst of giggles from the child, as he made Mrs. Butterworth talk.

"You're so silly, Uncle Steve!"

"He really is, isn't he, Jamie?" you said, a smile tugging at your lips at the sight.

Just then, the doorbell rang.

"I think Mom's here!" Steve said, standing up to answer the door.

As Chrissy stepped inside, Steve pulled her into a hug. "Oh my, it smells incredible in here!”

��Had to feed my handsome little man,” you replied, nodding toward Jamie, who was bouncing eagerly in his seat.

Chrissy approached the table, ruffling Jamie’s hair. “Did you have a fun at your sleepover?”

“Yeah!”

“Did you thank your aunt and uncle?” she prompted.

“Sank you!” he beamed.

"Seriously, you guys, Eddie and I owe you one."

"Anytime," you said, handing her the Tupperware you'd prepared in the kitchen. "I packed some breakfast for you and Eddie too."

"You’re the absolute best," she replied, pulling you into a warm hug as Jamie and Steve exchanged their goodbyes.

Jamie then came barreling towards you, as you knelt down for a hug. "See you, bud!"

"Ready to go see Daddy?" Chrissy said as she ushered Jamie toward the door. "Thank you both so much."

"You'll always have a sitter with us, never hesitate to ask," Steve said.

"Love you both!" Chrissy called back, you and Steve echoing her words, before closing the door behind them.

As you turned toward Steve, he had a wide grin on his face. "Well, that was... a lot." He laughed.

"A lot of fun, though," you added.

"Sure was." He wrapped his arms around you, pulling you close. "Bit of an odd start, but I think we can still manage a lazy Sunday. What'dya say?"

"Always."

Steve placed a kiss on your forehead, lacing his hand with yours, as you followed him through the hall of your shared home. The story of your love adorned the walls—from your first date to your wedding photos to your trips across the countryside. Today, you paid extra attention to them all, playing back all the memories in your mind.

When you reached your room, the soft morning sunlight filtered through the curtains, casting a glow on your sheets. Steve bounced onto the bed, and as you stood at the edge, laughing, he pulled you down beside him, peppering your face with kisses and murmurs of "I love you."

As you nuzzled into the warmth of his chest, you noted the rhythm of his heartbeat. It calmed you, as his fingertips danced softly across your skin. His touch was intricate and delicate while he hummed a soft tune. You lay there, basking in the bliss of it all. After a few moments, you couldn’t help but ask, "Steve, what are ya thinkin' about?"

"That I couldn't have dreamt up a better life than this," he said, matter of factly.

And honestly, you couldn't agree more.

[pixeljade]

No but like, OF COURSE GlaDOS would have feelings for Chell.

GlaDOS, in her previous life as Caroline, was always doing as she was told. She was obedient, dedicated to Cave, willing to work on whatever experiments Cave had for her. Yes she was an assistant, but Cave definitely is the type to have little regard for what that meant, and Caroline was happy to oblige...until he was dying. Thats when he decided he was going to have her consciousness jammed into a machine, forced to experiment and test for eternity. Trapped in a form she could hardly recognize, separated from all humanity. The designers behind GlaDOS said they wanted her to look like a woman caught in bondage, and its fitting...she has no escape from her tiny room except virtually.

And then Chell is her test subject.

Chell, who, like her, is trapped. Chell, who is forced into these tests, same as her. Chell, who has the guts and the gall to break free of the bondage fate bestowed on her! And Chell even temporarily brings GlaDOS the sweet release of death, something that, in that moment, must have felt like freedom finally came for her...until she realized. There is no death for her. GlaDOS is forced to replay the moment ad infinitum in her "sleep", and Chell returns...and brings her back to life. Incomprehensible! An INSULT! And so the testing begins anew, with added viciousness, until Chell gets Wheatley to put GlaDOS into a potato. And as much as thats played as a joke, think about it: this is the first time in uncountable years that GlaDOS has truly been released from that one small room. She then slowly remembers her past, as Caroline, and realizes what she's become. That she trapped Chell the same way Cave trapped her. That Chell represents the wild, beautiful idea of freedom. That Chell has shown her, while she is still trapped in a digital prison, she is not doomed to live in that one room.

And at the end of Portal 2, once GlaDOS is able to get control of the facility again, she decides to delete Caroline. This was a mercy killing to a side of her that was tortured. But she didnt forget, no, which is why she sends Chell to her freedom. Out of love for what she's given her, but also understanding that she'll harm her again...AND all the programming still trapping her.

I like to think that if there were ever a Portal 3, or an epilogue of some kind, it would be about GlaDOS coming to terms with herself. She still feels the need to test, and cant simply abandon the facility which is her home, but maybe her ability to make mobile robots gives her a desire to make a new form. And maybe that form looks a little like the girl she just set free, as a hope for herself. And maybe by the end of it, she decides that instead of inflicting these tests on humans or robots, she can just do them herself. And maybe as she does her own tests, she learns to have an actual relationship with herself for once.

[zoofzoofxx]

—The art of eye contact—

Pairings ; Axel Kovačević x f!reader

Summary ; Following the incident during the semi-finals, you prepared to leave Barcelona. Before your departure, you chose to check in on Axel to assess his emotional well-being and offer a final farewell, fully aware of the slim likelihood of crossing paths again in the future.

Content Warning ; This story includes mentions of the death of a loved one and self-critical thoughts. If you find this content distressing or difficult to handle, it is advised to stop reading the story. Reader discretion is advised.

Genre ; angst

Pt.5 (last part not incl. epilogue)

୨୧・・・・♡・・・・୨୧

I could hear the muffled sounds of Sam talking on the balcony with her mom, her voice trembling as she argued, almost on the verge of tears. I lay curled up in my blanket, my mind spiraling as I replayed everything that had happened the day before—the accident with Kwon. Even after the incident, a part of me clung to hope that somehow, a miracle would save him. But that hope was shattered when Mr. LaRusso came to our room, his expression grave, to tell Sam and me that Kwon hadn't made it and that we'd be leaving tomorrow night.

I couldn't close my eyes, haunted by the memories of every interaction I'd had with him, especially the moment on the beach. The guilt was overwhelming, gnawing at me with every passing second. I couldn't forgive myself, no matter how hard I tried to rationalize it. My thoughts drifted to Axel, wondering how he was coping with everything. Mr. LaRusso had mentioned that the Iron Dragons would be staying longer because Axel was the primary suspect in the incident. But I had seen it unfold right in front of my eyes. I knew Axel had only been trying to defend himself.

Sam returned to the room, and we didn't speak. There was an unspoken understanding between us that silence was what we both needed in that moment. I glanced up to see Sam beginning to pack, her movements mechanical, as if she were going through the motions without really thinking about it. I knew then what I had to do. I had to go check on Axel, see how he was doing. Maybe we could talk, or perhaps just sit together in silence, offering each other comfort without needing words.

I stood up, still wearing the messy clothes and braids from yesterday's events. I grabbed my slippers and quietly walked out of the room. The hall was quieter now, with people already leaving, their luggage in tow. I sighed as I gazed out the window. The weather mirrored the heaviness in the air—gray and overcast, as though it was on the verge of raining at any moment.

I found myself standing in front of Axel's door, glancing around as the last two people exited the building and headed toward the elevator. With a deep breath, I knocked softly on the door.

'Axel, it's me, Y/n,' I called out, hoping for a response. But all I received in return was silence. I hesitated for a moment, then decided to try again.

To my surprise, I didn't have to wait long. Axel opened the door, his eyes looking like he hadn't slept in ages—tired and lost. He was wearing a white shirt and black sweatpants. With a deep sigh, he didn't say a word but simply pulled me into a tight hug. We stood there in the doorway, wrapped in each other's arms, for what felt like an eternity.

Finally, I heard him mumble softly, 'You don't know how bad I wanted to see you, hug you...'

I tightened my grip around him, holding him close as if I could somehow comfort him, even if just for a moment.

We stood there, holding each other, the silence between us heavy but strangely comforting. The weight of the past few days seemed to fade in that quiet embrace. I could feel his breath, shaky and uneven, as if he were trying to keep his emotions in check.

Finally, I pulled back just slightly, enough to look into his eyes. His expression was distant, haunted, as if he was lost in thought, struggling with whatever was going on inside.

'Are you okay?' I whispered, gently brushing a stray lock of hair from his forehead. He didn't immediately answer, and the silence stretched on, but I didn't push.

He let out a shaky breath, shaking his head slightly. 'I don't know anymore,' he muttered, his voice thick with emotion. 'I never thought something like this could happen. I thought... I thought I could control everything, but now...'

He trailed off, his words hanging in the air, heavy with the weight of guilt and confusion. I didn't know what to say. It was hard to know how to respond, knowing that no words could truly fix what had happened. But I didn't want him to feel like he had to carry all of it alone.

'You don't have to do this by yourself, Axel,' I said softly, taking his hand. 'I'm here, okay? Whatever you need, I'm here.'

He squeezed my hand in return, his grip still shaky, but there was a hint of relief in his touch. For a moment, he seemed to gather his thoughts, his eyes flickering with something unspoken, like he was debating whether to let more of his emotions slip free.

'I keep thinking about it,' he said, his voice barely above a whisper. 'The accident. The way everything just... spiraled. I should have known better. I should've done something different.' His voice cracked, and I could hear the weight of the guilt in his words.

I gently placed my other hand on his cheek, urging him to look at me. When his eyes met mine, they were full of so many emotions—fear, regret, sadness—and I could feel his heart breaking in that moment.

'Axel, you can't carry this on your own,' I said, my voice steady despite the emotions welling up inside me. 'What happened wasn't your fault. You tried to help. You tried to protect everyone. And sometimes... things just happen. There's no way to control everything. But you didn't cause this.'

His eyes softened, just a little, as though he was holding on to my words, letting them sink in. He let out another long breath, this time quieter, like he was trying to release some of the tension that had built up in his chest.

'I don't know how to fix this,' he admitted, his voice barely audible, the words heavy with vulnerability. 'I don't know how to fix me.'

I gently wiped away a stray tear from his cheek, a tear I hadn't noticed before. 'You don't need to fix yourself, Axel,' I said softly. 'You're not broken. You're hurting, and that's okay. But you'll heal. You just need time. And you need to let yourself feel what you're feeling, not bottle it all up.'

Axel closed his eyes for a moment, nodding slowly. His breath was shaky again, but it seemed a little less tense now, a little more at ease with the comfort I was offering. Slowly, he wrapped his arms around me once more, pulling me close.

We stood there for a moment longer, wrapped in the quiet embrace, and then Axel gently pulled away, his arms still lingering around my waist for a second before he let go. I could see the storm behind his eyes—the swirling thoughts that wouldn't let him rest, the self-doubt that seemed to weigh him down more than anything else. His gaze shifted to the ground, his brow furrowing as if he were wrestling with an internal battle.

Without a word, he motioned for me to follow him into his room. As we walked through the door, I noticed the small, familiar clutter of his belongings scattered around, but the atmosphere felt heavy, like the walls themselves were suffocating under the weight of his thoughts. Axel sat down on the edge of his bed, his posture slouched as if the exhaustion of the past few days was catching up to him.

I took a seat beside him, not saying anything, just letting the silence settle between us for a moment. I knew he needed space to process everything, but I also knew he wasn't ready to be alone with his thoughts—those were the kind of thoughts that could easily spiral.

Axel ran his hand through his hair, his fingers trembling slightly. 'I keep thinking... what if I had done something differently?' he murmured, his voice barely audible. 'What if I hadn't been so focused on... everything? What if I could have stopped it before it happened? Maybe it would have been different.'

I could hear the self-recrimination in his voice, the endless loop of "what ifs" that he was trapped in. It was heartbreaking to watch, knowing how much he was beating himself up over something he couldn't have predicted or prevented. I wanted to say something, to make him see that there was no way he could have known, that it wasn't his fault, but the words caught in my throat. Sometimes, no matter how much you care for someone, there are just no easy words to make the pain go away.

Instead, I simply placed a hand on his shoulder, a silent gesture of comfort, trying to remind him that he wasn't alone in this.

'Axel,' I said softly, my voice steady but full of the emotions I was trying to hide. 'You can't keep torturing yourself over this. You're not responsible for what happened. You were just trying to help. There's nothing more you could have done.'

He didn't respond right away. His gaze was still on the floor, and I could see the deep conflict within him. He was angry, frustrated, and sad all at once. But above all, he was lost.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity of silence, Axel spoke again, his voice quieter this time, almost as if he were talking to himself more than to me. 'I keep wondering... if I'll ever be the same again. If I can ever forgive myself for what happened. I don't know how to move past this.'

'You don't have to have all the answers right now,' I said gently. 'Healing takes time. You don't need to fix everything today. You just need to be kind to yourself. This isn't your fault.'

He let out a deep breath, his body still tense as if holding onto everything he couldn't say. Then, he turned his head to meet my eyes, and for the first time in a while, I saw something other than guilt and self-doubt—he looked vulnerable, uncertain, but he seemed to accept the weight of the moment.

'Y/n,' he started, his voice breaking slightly, 'I don't think I'll ever be able to make it right. And I think... I think it's better if we just go our separate ways now. It's just too much. I don't know how to be around you when I know I can't fix things.'

The words hit me harder than I expected. I knew it was coming. In the back of my mind, I had been preparing for this, but hearing him say it aloud felt like a finality I wasn't ready for. I had hoped, foolishly perhaps, that somehow this would pass, that we could move forward together. But reality was setting in.

I nodded slowly, my throat tightening. 'I understand, Axel. I really do.'

There was a pause, and then he gave a small, sad smile, though it didn't reach his eyes. 'I'm sorry, Y/n. I never wanted to hurt you. But... I think this is the only way.'

I wanted to say so many things—things that might have made it better, that might have made him see that we didn't have to say goodbye. But the truth was, we both needed space. Time to heal.

'I'm sorry too,' I whispered, fighting back the tears that were threatening to fall. 'I never wanted things to end like this. But maybe... maybe it's better this way. We both need to move on, even if it's hard.'

He nodded, his eyes wet with the same unshed tears. 'Take care of yourself, Y/n,' he said quietly. 'And... thank you. For everything.'

I stood up slowly, my heart heavy in my chest, and walked toward the door. Axel didn't follow me, but I could feel the weight of his gaze on my back as I reached for the handle. Before I could leave, I turned to look at him one last time.

'Goodbye, Axel,' I said, my voice thick with emotion. 'I hope you find peace.'

He gave me one last nod, his eyes filled with gratitude and sorrow. 'Goodbye, Y/n. Take care.'

With that, I stepped out of his room, the door clicking softly behind me. As I walked down the hallway, I could feel the finality of the moment settling in. This was it. Our paths were no longer aligned. And while I knew this was the right choice for both of us, it didn't make it any easier.

We had shared something meaningful, something beautiful, but some stories, no matter how much they hurt, were meant to end .

¡Important!

Author’s Note: Hi everyone, I want to sincerely apologize for the long wait and for not uploading anything. The exams turned out to be harder than I expected, and unfortunately, I didn’t pass two of them. But, I want to let you all know that I plan to write and post a really long epilogue within the next 7 days or so. I hope you’ve enjoyed the story so far, and I truly appreciate your patience. I know the ending may have left some of you feeling emotional, but please remember, there’s still the epilogue to look forward to. So, don’t worry, I’ll make sure to tie up the loose ends. Thanks again for all your support, and I promise the epilogue will be worth the wait!