#i think i want to pass some of this stuff down to my future children one day too since some things have a bit of value on top of sentiment

[v-tired-queer]

There's something so euphoric about unpacking during this move and actively choosing not to put out the things that set off my dysphoria and leave them packed away until I decide what to do with them 😌📦✌️

[thecapricunt1616]

Vervain - c.b. one-shot

𝓢𝓷𝓲𝓹𝓹𝓮𝓽 (𝓶𝓸𝓻𝓮 𝓑𝓣𝓒): “I want you to fuck another baby in me.” You said and kissed him deeply, grinding against him and running your hands over his chest and abdomen, tugging at the tie of his sweatpants. He moaned in surprise and grabbed your bum, squeezing and spanking you lightly before pulling away after a few more moments of you essentially eating eachother alive to breathe. 

♡ O/S Inspo: Vervain - Use in Protection, purification, youth, peace, healing, sleep and baths. For all-purpose protection of homes and people (especially children).

♡ Summary: You & Carmy had your first baby 8 weeks ago... seeing him being so attentive and such a good father is for some reason inducing a baby fever - again.

♡ W/C: 4.6K+

♡ Posted Date: 05/09/2024

♡ A/N: OOOO hey yallllll! Capri is back - She was written by the writing bug this morning!!! I have other requests i'm still working on but for now - I am swallowing my stage fright, I hope this suffices for what you were wanting future Mrs.Berzatto eek!!! Thank you so much for requesting from me! You can see the request this one-shot is based on right ♡ here ♡ if you aren't following @carmenberzattosgf already I'm quite unsure how you found ME before you found HER go give her a freaking follow!!!I am seriously such a fangirl for her work and was over the moon when she requested me!

♡ Warnings for BTC: Pregnancy stuff, breeding kinks, talking about parenting stuff, Dad!Carmy, unedited (we die like men), NO USE OF Y/N!, AFAB/Feminine reader w/ long hair implied

➵ 𝐂𝐡𝐞𝐜𝐤 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐦𝐲 𝐌𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐭 ♡

➵ 𝘊𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘬 𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 / 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘵 ♡

It had been exactly 8 weeks today from when you’d given birth to your baby girl, Athena. Of course, you weren’t thinking about this yet - because you were peacefully sleeping away in bed, at 8:45 am. Each day you woke though, you were surprised your life wasn’t a dream. 

Being married to your ultimate dream man, with the most beautiful little baby and not a rush in the world. Carmy had known when you got pregnant he’d be taking some time off after you gave birth to care for you, especially since you’d been trying for a baby so he was more prepared to have everything set up. He made your life almost impossibly easy. 

Impossibly meaning it was nearly…isolating how simple your problems were compared to other moms. Since Carmy was like - the fucking golden standard of dad. You weren’t sure where he learned all this shit- especially since his father was never around and you knew for a fact didn’t treat his mother like this. You honestly felt bad complaining about anything to other moms - because in comparison when you did they were needing to do way more then you, and alone - because their husbands simply didn't care, or weren't interested in learning.

He had completely taken over the nighttime feedings, every 2 hours an alarm buzzing him awake on his watch. He would go ease little Athena awake, come back to the bedroom, gently wake you, set a boppy in your lap, help you undo your maternity bra and get her latched, and rub your back through the cramping that breastfeeding brought, whispering sweet encouragements and kissing your temple. 

After she was done eating, he would help you get situated again, bottle up the letdown milk and put it in the mini fridge he’d gotten for your bedroom for this specific purpose before bringing your daughter back to her nursery and burping her, before changing her and putting her back down - just do do it all again an hour and 15 minutes later. 

He took over the cleaning completely - your house was spotless nearly at all times, and of course you were very well fed. He would combat the exhaustion fatherhood brought by passing out next to you in bed after he brought you breakfast on a cute little tray and Athena had her morning feeding before being put down for a nap, baby monitor on his chest so he could jump up the second she fussed. 

“G’morning mama” was what woke you this morning, that and gentle kisses on your forehead. You heard quiet little coos and immediately your eyes were open on instinct, to see little Athena nuzzled up in Carmys arm like a little football and a tray of amazing smelling breakfast in your face. 

“I want my baby” you open your arms and he gently placed her on your chest to which she grunts happily and squirms her little legs, doing everything she can to lift up her head to see you. 

“She’s such a good girl mama she helped me make breakfast f’you this mornin’ she’s the best little sous ever” he cooed, looking at her beaming with happiness as he rubs her little back. 

This was what got you. You weren’t sure if it was the hormones, if it was the fact your husband looked like a fucking Greek god incarnate, or if it was just - you don’t know…human fucking nature?! Literally? But the insane level of need that you had for him - you wanted another one. 

Athena wasn’t even rolling on her side yet and you were already craving being pregnant. Well- Carmy did love your body while you were pregnant. You loved your body while pregnant, you felt sexier and more feminine and pretty and overall like a goddess. Mostly thanks to Carmy and his constant praises, and the way you two were fucking like rabbits during your pregnancy and you missed that. 

“What’s f’breakfast daddy?” You pucker your lips to which he obliges and gives you a sweet peck 

“So this mornin, Miss Athena she decided on an omelette so we have a French omelette with dill-“ he explained and you inturrupt with a giggle 

“Did you? You came up with that all on your own Athena? Such a smart girl!” You joked, kissing the top of her soft head to which she just huffed a breath to your skin and made little baby grunting noises as she wiggled her legs 

“She did! Then we also have a light cucumber salad f’you with fresh herbs ‘f’course, sourdough toast, and a banana smoothie. All made with love” he kissed the top of your head. 

Each morning after her first feeding, he would take Athena into the kitchen with him, baby wear her because he is just that perfect, and explain every little detail to her softly while he would cook breakfast, giving her head gentle kisses along the way and rubbing her back soothingly. He did the same while cooking lunch, and dinner. The first time you saw this you burst into tears at the sweetness and the beauty of creating your own family.

“Wow sweetheart thank you! This looks sooo yummy” you kissed the now drowsy baby’s nose and she smiled softly, causing you to smile and Carmy to gasp happily. 

“Look at that little smile ‘eh? Such a pretty girl” he rubbed her back gently and you carefully picked her up and put her on his chest so you could eat, to which he happily laid back, palm flat over her little back patting her soothingly. 

“Can’t wait to try this bear looks so yummy” you pull the tray in your lap and cut off a bite, trying it and nodding “course a ten.” You look at him and he huffs a laugh as to not wake the baby who was clearly ready for another nap

“Y’always say ten” he said softly and pressed his lips to Athena’s head gently, breathing in her baby smell. “Do you know what day it is?” He mumbles and looks over at you. 

“I’ve been waiting for this day for….eight weeks” you smirk and he shook his head amusedly with a smile. 

“Babe- you’ve been” he covers her tiny ears “you’ve been sucking me dry I didn’t even have a break. This is gettin’ exhausting” he joked and you laugh quietly as to not disturb the baby. 

“Not my fault you’re like- don’t get me started I need to eat and shower and shave and - today is a big day.” You said and sipped your smoothie, humming happily “this is really good seriously bear” you told him and he rubbed your hand gently before pressing it to his lips 

“Alright well that means I better get a move on then and there’s laundry t’do so I better go put ‘er down, you eat. Watch y’show ’er whatever and you can do your shower mm?” He asked and you nodded happily. 

Of course he’d oblige your every wish. He had always been this way, but became even more lenient after you’d gotten pregnant. You made sure many times through tearful guilt that he wasn’t making himself resent you, and he assured you that everything he does he wants to do and only does because of the fact that he wants to, he also assured you he could never resent you or even dislike you, or anything less then be fully in love with you. 

You had a luxurious shower, slathered on your favorite lotion and were even able to blow out your hair, putting on your favorite pair of lacy panties. You were upset you had to settle for a nursing bra, but knew Carmy wasn’t going to mind. You put on one of your comfortable slips, even put in some earrings after doing your skincare. By the time you were done Carmy was just getting Athena up from her nap and changing her diaper before bringing her in 

“Say hi mama” he takes her little hand waving it at you “did you have a nice shower?” He pecked your lips sweetly and helped you get settled with her on the bed so she could eat. 

“Very nice - thank you for taking care of everything sweetheart” you sit back, sighing softly and resting your head back “I love you” you look over at him with a sweet smile. 

“I love you beautiful, how y’feelin any cramps?” He asked and held your hand, lacing your fingers together sweetly and kissing your fingers. 

“No- well…not as bad anymore If anything when she’s not as hungry my boobs start to hurt” you explained and he nods 

“Well y’look beautiful baby, I love these on you” he gently touches your earring bringing a smile to your lips, he always notices the smallest things about you. Like he has you memorized. 

“Thank you Bear” you said softly as the baby makes little gulping suckling noises. Carmy chuckled, rubbing her belly lightly. 

“That’s the good stuff huh little? Mama’s got the golden tap” he jokes and you laughed, holding her securely 

“Stop! Stop making me laugh she’s comfy latched like this you’ll piss her off” you nudge him with your foot gently 

“It’s true! You were the one that forced me to try it. It’s sweet, I see why she likes it.” He said and you scrunch your nose, biting back giggles 

“Yes because it encourages her to eat it.” You gently brush that spot over her nose bridge and forehead, causing her eyes to flutter shut “that’s why when she’s 6 months we can’t let her have fruit for a while cause she’ll think everything’s sweet like my milk” you explained 

“Mmm…read that too in one of the books you got- it’s a good call” he thumbs over her fingers gently that were wrapped around his forefinger tightly like a baby monkey. 

“You should sleep” you told him softly. “You can have snuggles with her I’ll watch you” 

He smiled and leaned in, kissing you lovingly “thank you sweets. I can burp her s’okay. I already got the towel” he said and grabbed it from his nightstand. 

She only took a few more minutes before she slowly stopped suckling and instead went to fall right asleep but before she could you took her off and handed her over to Carmy for burping to which she fussed before she realized her dad was taking her then she relaxed again. 

After Carmy fell asleep, you went to put her down for a nap as well and put away the laundry Carmy had washed. It was about 3 hours before Athena began to fuss again and you went to get her, sitting in her rocking chair after you’d changed her and reading her a book as she ate. 

Carmy came in just as you were finishing up The Very Hungry Caterpillar “that’s a good one huh princess?” He said softly, gently caressing her cheek with his knuckle to which she fluttered her eyes open and smiled slightly before closing them again. 

“Mmhmm, that one always puts her to sleep, she stopped eating 3 pages ago but I like to let her have a little time” you said and gently pulled her off to which of course she fussed. Carmy took her, hushing her sweetly and putting her on his shoulder. 

“Y’mommy spoils you little girl” he told her, gently bouncing her as he burped her, putting a cloth on his shoulder and kissing her head. You smile slightly as you fixed your bra and nightgown 

“I’d say we both spoil her. The doctor says she’s the happiest baby she’s met” you fixed her little sock that she’d managed to wriggle down to her toes before kissing her foot 

“And the smartest and the prettiest and the most perfect “ he told her sweetly patting her back as she let out a big burp “good girl” he said and you giggled 

“That was a good one” you told her and kiss her head gently, seeing him like this with her, especially mixed with a sleep thick voice, no shirt, and messy curls - not to mention the stubble from not bothering to shave as often. He looked…delicious 

“Mmm- such a sexy daddy too” you mused, kissing his neck gently and rubbing your palm over his abs that had gone a bit softer due to spending way less time in the gym, but you loved it. 

“Yeah? Even with throw up on my shoulder mm?” He joked, and usually that would be gross - but fuck. The way he stepped up as a father constantly - everything he did was with the two of you in mind and you never even had to ask. He’d quit smoking for god sakes without you saying a word once he’d found out you were pregnant. 

“Especially. You’re so fucking amazing Carmy. Let me go to the bedroom so you can put her down but we need to talk” you told him and kissed his lips lovingly before heading back to the bedroom so he could work his magic getting her to sleep. 

It only took him 20 minutes before she was out and he came to the bedroom, carefully shutting the door behind him. “Needa talk mm? Got a feelin’ we won’t be doin much talkin’ “ he teased, throwing her spit up towel in the hamper easily and coming to lay down with you. As soon as his head hit the pillow you were straddling his lap, your hands on either of his shoulders like a hungry lioness in heat. 

“I want you to fuck another baby in me.” You said and kissed him deeply, grinding against him and running your hands over his chest and abdomen, tugging at the tie of his sweatpants. He moaned in surprise and grabbed your bum, squeezing and spanking you lightly before pulling away after a few more moments of you essentially eating eachother alive to breathe. 

“Holy fucking shit” he said, chest rising and falling quickly “what got into you- im not complaining but-“

“Get me pregnant. I love it- I love it Carmy. God I feel so fucking hot. And seeing you with our daughter being all attentive and good to her? Holy fuck baby. Mm when people look at me - when they look at us I love it. I love knowing that people know you knocked me up.” You said, kissing his neck and sucking a hickey into the stubbly skin there. He moaned softly, palming your ass and squeezing your upper thighs 

“No baby not yet - not yet mm? Y’need time to heal…we can pretend mm?” He counters and gently brushed your hair back. You whine and pout, pulling back and looking at him 

“No. I want it now get me pregnant now.” You beg and hold his hands “pleeease I’m all healed remember? It’s 8 weeks.” You said and kissed over his tattoos, hoping you were distracting enough to get him to agree.  

“Mm yup you can have me inside you again, but doctor said having another baby so fast would cause them to have low birth weight. We don’t want that for our babe no? Also y’breastfeeding babe. The chances of you getting pregnant are super low” he said and you huff, sitting up frustratedly 

“You really know how to turn a girl off, you know that right? Can’t you pretend to satisfy your wife? Don’t you think I know?! Do you think I’m stupid?” You snip and he raised his brows 

“Y’gettin sassy w’me?” He questioned lowly and squeezed your hips “fix the attitude” he ordered and you bit back a smile. 

“No.” You crossed your arms “I don’t have one” you snip “you’re being mean t’me. Y’being mean to your wife” you teased, shoving his shoulder into the pillow playfully. 

“Ohh” he chuckled a bit “did you just push me?” He mused, grabbing your wrist firmly but not enough to hurt, just enough to show you he was willing to play. 

“What would you do about it if I said yes?” You leaned in so close your noses were touching. 

“You’d be in trouble” he smirked, leaning in and tugging your bottom lip between his teeth and sucking and nibbling it gently the way drove you wild. You moaned softly, your eyes fluttering shut. The feeling went straight to your core, warmth flooding your abdomen and your clit twitching with excitement. 

“Please” you said softly, well as much as you could mumble with one lip the other still being assaulted by Carm who was very much enjoying the way you were squirming in his lap to get any kind of friction you could. 

He finally releases you “please what angel?” He spanks you lightly “what d’y’need mm?” He lifted your nightgown over your ass and squeezed the flesh, reaching under you and cupping your heat. He hummed at the feeling of dampness already soaking the lace, collecting as much as he could on his fingers. 

“I need you t’fill me up again. Fuckin breed me make me a mommy again mm?” You begged, grinding against his hand - not even caring about the whorish filthy moans falling from your lips. You’d been fantasizing about this for weeks now, the relief of his hand- his wonderful calloused, thick, muscular hand, felt like it was enough to send you into a full orgasm just from the pressure his fingers were giving. 

“Holy fuck y’soaked babe- my god” he groaned, pulling your panties to the side and gently rubbing circles into your swollen throbbing clit that was already twitching. Your hips buck and you bit down on your hand to hold in a cry as to not wake the baby. The next 3 or so minutes you couldn’t even remember what you said as he rubbed firm quick circles over your clit and after not having been touched for nearly 3 months - you were cumming on his hand mumbling his name, and profanities that would likely be considered sacrilegious while whimpering and squirming, thighs shivering - the whole 9. 

“Wow” he muttered, and if your orgasm wasn’t so intense you would probably have laughed at how amazed he sounded. “Y’good?” He rubs your stomach gently and you nod quickly, trying to even your breathing. 

“Fuck-“ you said once you came down “I literally blacked out for a second I think-“ you laughed and he followed suit, carefully laying you down after tucking 2 pillows under your hips to keep you elevated and tugging your panties off. 

“Shit babe y’get all soft on me?” He teased, carefully wrapping your thighs around his waist and pushing down his boxers and sweats just enough to let his cock free. You loved this. It all felt so normal, you were worried it would be awkward getting in bed again, but you two were picking up right where you left off. 

“I think you’re underestimating how sensitive hormones make you” you said as he kissed over your stomach and hips, licking a stripe up your heat causing you to gasp and grip the sheets tightly , your core clenching around nothing. Each touch felt like the power of a lightning strike, it was so much better than before. It had to be the hormones, but shit - now that you knew how good this felt you were worried you could never get enough of him. 

“I guess I was. Also y’super sweet now by the way - sweeter then before I should say” he spread you wider with his fingers to lap up more of your arousal and you look down at him, moaning at the sight. 

“God I fuckin missed you between my thighs - you’re so pretty” you smile, watching as he strokes himself as he continues to pleasure you first per usual. “Can you- try inside?” You asked gently and he looked up at you, resting his cheek on your thigh. 

“You’re ready for that?” He asked softly, his lips and chin glistening with slick. 

“Yeah- uh…try one? Maybe just one at first” you said sheepishly and he nodded, licking his lips 

“Course sweetheart, tell me if s’too much yeah?” He assured and rubbed over you gently before easing a finger over your entrance. 

The feeling was…well. 

It was similar to the uncomfort of your first time, which - if that was the case then it would just take a few times to feel good again. “How’s it feel?” He gently sucks your clit as he eases to the second knuckle, curling gently 

“Mm- okay? Not like it used to. But kinda like it used to…maybe it’ll feel better the more we do it” you assure and he nods a bit, flicking his tongue over your sensitive bud in the way that always got you to open up to him and you gasped lightly, back arching and core going lax. He slipped the final knuckle in and placed a kiss to your mound before slowly pumping as to not overstimulate you. 

“Yeah- mmm yeah” you breathe as it started to feel more familiar, the muscles loosening once again and relaxing. “Another- you can try another.” You told him and gently lace your fingers in his hair. He carefully eased in his forefinger, curling them against your g-spot and your thigh twitches, you nearly sobbed at the feeling that shot through your body at the contact. 

“Oh- okay found it-” he chuckled a bit “sorry did it hurt?” He asked and you shook your head quickly 

“Again” you said softly, trying to remain all of your control because you knew as soon as you lost it finding it would be nearly impossible and you two had a sleeping tiny human 1 room over. 

“Y’feel a lot tighter” he said, pumping his fingers slower, curling them against that fantastic spongey spot each time and you felt that coil in your belly tightening rapidly and it was going to snap now, any moment. “Y’like gushing right now” he chuckled, but it fell on deaf ears because your mind was fuzzy with pleasure. 

You couldn’t form a thought even if you tried, the mixture of his tongue sloppily drooling all over your clit as he padded over it, and the jolt of pleasure each curl of his fingers - it was a place long forgotten since your baby had been born since your priorities had both been changed and refocused for the time being. You weren’t able to warn him, you couldn’t do anything other then mutter his name as your orgasm washed over you so hard he had to hold your legs open so you didn’t crush him by mistake. 

“Fuck me- fuck me baby please Jesus- fuck me” you found yourself begging as you fluttered your eyes open and he was looking up at you in amazement like an owl, mouth slightly agape. 

“Holy shit” he muttered “you’ve never cum like that- what the fuck- I thought I almost killed you” he kissed your thigh and you laugh, a real laugh, chest rising and falling quickly as the aftershock of your orgasm reels back mixed with your giggles. 

“Please. Please” you cup his cheeks “cum inside me” you beg. He trailed kisses up your body, meeting your lips and pulling you into a hot, messy kiss. Mixed with clashing teeth and mixing of spit and sucking of tongues, before lining himself up and carefully pushing his tip in. You whimpered into his mouth and he pulled his lips away from yours, a small string of saliva connecting you both 

“Did I hurt you?” He asked worriedly and you shook your head

“Feels so good bear. Keep goin’ fuck I f’got how full I can feel” you pulled your lips back to his and felt him smile into your lips, holding your hand and lacing your fingers as his other hand worked on rubbing circles into your clit. He kept you quiet by making out with you as he thrusted in fully, staying still for a moment so you could adjust to the sensation once more. 

He grunts, feeling your walls flutter around him and you giggle in response, causing him to moan at the feeling of your walls squeezing around him “shit don’t do that I’ll fuckin cum”

“Then move dummy!” You push your heels into his ass and he chuckled, thrusting slowly in and out, nearly to the tip, before thrusting all the way back in to the hilt- his balls touching the curve of your ass 

“ are y’fuckin kickin me like a horse?” He teased as your back arched off the bed, a whiny moan tearing from your throat and he covers your mouth quickly, “here y’are beggin me t’fuck a second one int’you- y’haven’t even learned how t’be quiet for the first. The baby is sleeping.” He grumbled, and the way he was getting rough with you to protect your baby was enough to throw you into your third orgasm, tears pricking at the corner of your eyes from the overstimulation of your clit, whining and squirming beneath his grasp. 

“Y’gonna be quiet? Er do I have to keep you muzzled ‘mm?” He teased, removing his hand from your mouth 

“Promise- I promise- please please please Carmy - give me another one I promise I’ll be so quiet” you said softly, your voice pleading and begging. He moaned, thrusting a bit harder 

“Can y’take it? Mm? Are y’sure Y’can take me again princess? Last time I knocked you up it took quite a few months a’you face down, ass up, full a’my cum. Nights at a time. Y’don’t remember how you’d whine about how sore you’d get while you were ovulating? Mmm? Fuck you so full y’get sore- fuckin y’four er five times a’day?” he grabs your face, forcing you to look at him with mushed cheeks. 

You whine pathetically, mumbling little ‘yes’ ‘mmhmm’ and ‘please’  you manage to get out an “I miss that so much Carmy” you whimper as he cages you in with his arms, his chain dangling in your face and brushing against your chin as his thrusts get sloppier. 

“Yeah? You miss bein full a’my cum? Y’miss wakin’ up in the mornin’ drippin’ w’me honey?” He mutters into your neck, feeling droplets of your sweat mixing together as your bodies rubbed with his incredibly deep thrusts, nearly laying over you. But Carmy was the most comfortable blanket you could ever ask for. 

“So much- so so much baby. Y’know Athena would be such a good sister- she needs a little friend mm? Y’gonna give your girl what she wants?” You scratch down his back as he pounds right into your g-spot, “oh I’m gonna cum” you whined, back arching and chest pressing flush to his. 

“Fuck - fuck- yes. Yes baby. Fuck m’gonna fuck you full I promise- fuck I’ll give you whatever you want baby I fuckin love you I love you” he moans into your neck, whimpering softly as he shoots hot thick ropes of cum deep inside you, fucking you through your fourth orgasm of the day, rubbing over your belly gently “gonna fuckin stretch this belly out again mm?” He growled hotly in your ear and you giggle, slapping his back playfully. 

“You're so funny talking about wanting to wait” you said and he huffs a laugh into your neck. 

“Yeah yeah. Legs up- Thena’s gonna be hungry soon so Y’can only prop up there f’r like half an hour” he said and helped you put the pillows against the headboard with your hips on them so you were at an angle and rest your legs up on it to let gravity do its thing.  It wasn’t surprising to you, but he absolutely wasn’t opposed to another one so soon after a little convincing.

[steviewashere]

CW: Infertility (Coming from my own experience just...with a uterus.)

Thinking right now about Steve who wants his own family really bad, but finds out he's 100% infertile.

He only finds out after a failed marriage. His first marriage. Has a beautiful, wonderful, just absolutely incredible wife who accepts everything about his past—stuff he won't talk about and otherwise. Yet, the one thing they knew for certain was a definite in their relationship was children. However, for some reason (that I don't have), his wife rejects the idea of adopting children. So they try. They try and try and try.

Eventually, they get their eggs and sperm analyzed. Her eggs are healthy, her uterus is fine, no complications associated with her ovaries.

Steve, in his next visit, finds out he's infertile. It's not genetically caused. His parents were very fertile, just decided to have only one child. And—maybe due to some Upside Down bullshit; bat bites being untreated, injuries being too traumatic—his sperm production and his sperm vitality are completely destroyed.

He's devastated, of course he is. Brings it up to his wife. They agree to go their separate ways because this was something they both wanted, but now can't have.

And then he just floats about for a while. Quiet and disheartened.

He goes back to Hawkins and bumps into Eddie. Now, I'm thinking, personally, that this isn't some romance story. They're strictly platonic in this scenario (for now).

They get to talking and somewhere in the conversation, Steve's infertility comes up. Eddie tries to gently explain to him that there's other options to have children. "Foster care," he says, "it's where I was for a while. You can adopt from an orphanage, from a hospital. There's always the option for surrogacy, y'know. A lot of different"—

"Eds," Steve interrupts, "I appreciate this, but I...I don't want to talk about it anymore. It hurts too much to think about."

"Sorry," Eddie apologizes.

Steve just shakes his head, resigned. "It's not your fault," he murmurs, "guess I'm just upset that my body doesn't work the way it's supposed to."

"Not everybody's works the way it's supposed to, Steve."

"Yeah," he whispers, "but I was sorta hoping my own would."

There's a lull in the conversation. A long while of just silence and a cigarette being passed and the gentle rustle of trees around them. Outside, in the Forest Hills trailer park, staring down a set of rusted swings.

"How do you think I should handle this, Eddie?"

"Hm?"

"This...this body issue. What am I supposed to do about it? I'm, like...like grieving over nothing."

"You grieve, Steve," Eddie answer simply, "you get angry and you cry. That's all you can really do."

"I don't want to be angry, though. I want...I want to be happy. I want my dream to come true! I want"—he sighs and swallows and looks on ahead of him. To a place he once visited constantly when he still lived full-time in Hawkins, not just passing through. Out on a town that he once called home, a place where he couldn't be the person he wanted to be. Couldn't get what he needed.—"I want to love my kid in a way I never got."

And Eddie looks to him. To his profile. Shuffles closer, cigarette out on the porch. Arm wrapping over Steve's shoulders, tugging him in. "I know," Eddie whispers, "I'm sorry, Steve. I'm really, really sorry."

"It's not your fault, Eds."

"It's not yours either."

He keeps staring out. To a place that was hopeful. Where his dreams bared new. When things seemed reasonable and he could face everything head-on and knew exactly what he wanted for himself. A future of laughter and soft lullabies and hugs warm enough to soothe the world.

There'll be other chances. But not now. Not when he's like this.

"I know," he merely mutters, "I know."

[honeyjars-sims]

Part 2 Prologue #3: The Big 2-0

It’s the day of my and Chantal’s birthday party and our dads are helping us set up. We kept it small, just family and close friends. Of course, Paul is coming, too; we’re not super close, but he does live here so it’s only fair to invite him. Plus with Lucy here he won’t feel too out of place.

Pops takes a look around the grounds. “I’ve got to say, I really enjoy it out here. It’s so peaceful. What do you say, David? Can’t you picture us living off the land?”

“Oh yeah, scooping up goat shit is what I’ve always dreamed of.” Dad smirks. 

“Dad wouldn’t last a day here!” Chantal laughs. 

“I guess we’ll stick to visiting, then,” Pops concedes. “Ah, here come Cece and Ben!”

“Happy birthday!” Cece calls out and she gives us both hugs. “How does it feel to be 20?”

“It’s awesome! I finally feel like a real adult!” Chantal replies. Even though we’re twins, sometimes I feel like Chantal is my older sister–technically she is, I guess, by a couple of minutes. She’s always been more put together, more mature, more goal-oriented.

Even though I’ve been doing a lot more planning for my future, a lot of the time I still feel like a kid cosplaying as a grownup. I keep waiting for the day everyone realizes I don’t actually know what I’m doing.

“Not me,” I say. “I still feel like I have a lot of growing up to do.”

“You do,” Dad responds.

“Gee, thanks.”

“I don’t mean it like that,” he laughs. “You don’t suddenly become an adult one day and have it all figured out.”

“You’ll learn and grow, and make mistakes, and learn some more,” Pops adds. “Just like we all will.”

“Well, at least I know I’m not the only one,” I say.

“So, Cece, have you and Ben picked a wedding date yet?” Chantal asks.

Cece groans. “Ugh, not yet. I don’t even know when I’ll have the time to plan anything. We’re going to be traveling so much with the band this year. I don’t want to be engaged forever, but we might have to wait until things slow down.”

“Well, I’ll help out however I can,” Chantal offers. “You know how much I love planning things.”

“Paul’s sister-in-law is an event planner,” I chime in. “Maybe you can hire her, or she can give you some information on vendors and stuff.”

“Thanks, guys,” Cece says. “I need all the help I can get. It’s just so overwhelming.”

“I told you, we don’t have to do anything big,” Ben tells her, rubbing her shoulder. “I don’t think you’d want that, anyway. As long as I get to be your husband, I’m cool with whatever.”

“I know, but I want to do something. Maybe we could have a small ceremony before we leave so we don’t have to put it off.”

“Sounds good to me!” Ben agrees. 

“What are you planning on doing about your last name?” Dad asks her. “You’re already double-barreled, so I’m assuming you won’t be taking on a third.”

“Well, I was planning on leaving it as it is. Ben doesn’t care if I take his and we won’t be having kids, so no need to worry about that.”

“That’s a good plan.” Dad sighs. “You know I support your decision to remain childfree, but it is a shame to think that my family name won’t be passed on.”

“I’m sorry, David,” Pops tells him. “I’m not really attached to my surname, but I know how important your heritage and your family are to you.”

“It’s okay. I have 3 beautiful children, a soon-to-be son-in-law, and a loving husband. I’m blessed no matter what their names are.”

I think about my own name. Like my Pops, I’ve never really felt attached to my last name. I was so young when my mom got married that I barely remember her being an Ayers. Besides, now that I'm no longer speaking to her, I feel even less connected to her side of the family.

Destiny and Trinity were both given their fathers’ surnames, and Chantal plans to change hers whenever she gets married. I guess I can pass the Ayers name down to my kids, but do I even want that? I guess that’s not something I have to think about quite yet.

Right now, the most pressing issue on my mind is when we're going to cut the cake.

Previous | Beginning of story | Beginning of chapter | Next

[12thhausveen]

More astrobservations:

Aquarius placements and always being the sore thumb in the family- what is that? A lot of the time family doesn’t up approve of what their into/ up to and they’re usually very ok with that. At some point they just stop trying to impress their parents and I’ve noticed some just go off the deep end and it seems like it’s spite driven + their urge to not conform rising to the occasion

When water suns are attracted to you those eyes will do all the talking first especially with pisces suns like… are you gonna say something orr 😭

With sun opp moon in synastry the sun can have a fondness for the moon that i think comes from noticing the similar modality they operate with and respecting the moons unique approach to things since the sun is a creative energy as is, once the moon knows they aren’t being stepped on and have their own space to exist these two are some peas in a pod

The dynamic when there’s attraction between a water sun male and a fire sun female in the beginning stages has the most awkward interactions… he could be the most outgoing person (rare) til he gets around her then it’s SILENCE and the weirdest attempt at flirting I’ve ever witnessed ensues. Lmk your experiences with this dynamic if they exist

Cancer placements may not want children or to be a mother but there’s this weird urge to mother or PROTECT more so… i don’t know what it is but we all have our Thing we protect, for me im oddly protective of animals and when someone becomes apart of my crew and my life there’s that urge to protect them from the world 😶

Leo sun (+ cancer placements bonus points) have this rich protectiveness that reads a bit aggressive at times, if they perceive there’s a threat they won’t hesitate to get loud and defend who they love either

Jupiter in the 12th/pisces could enjoy getting drunk/ high/ not being sober while traveling… it’s strange and very true for me

Mars conjunct pluto and hating men… it’s usually not for no reason either

Also men with aquarius placements… why are so many skinny/ lanky?! The amount aquarius placement men/ individuals built like that needs to be studied… also always got some kinda geeky swag and a eccentric beauty either eccentric weird or just oddly charming without trying (see harry styles, ashton kutcher etc and those are just aqua suns)

Libra moons are literally a mirror of their environment… we’re not sweetie pies or moody we’re literally just you 😭 (especially right when we meet new people). Also it’s hard for us to be blatantly mean for no reason, the kid to say ‘guys let’s just stop’ while playing ding dong ditch

No one’s gonna read you on your flaws like a virgo sun/ moon/ (possibly venus)… if you pass the visual test or they don’t stoop that low it’s what about your life is lacking they tend to call out passive aggressively or during a fight and they do love themselves a verbal spar… also I’ve noticed they love to talk about their day and how it went with their person at the end of the day

Also aries venuses (with a fire mars bonus points 😵‍💫) what is it with y’all making rash/ impulsive decisions to feel something or for some kinda validation then regretting it later… and this is coming from a sag mars y’all need to calm down 😭 the energy and zest is nice but channel it into something you KNOW will benefit you in the future

> Just stuff I’ve gathered if you have other experiences lmk i like to learn ッ

[dozing-marshmallow]

chris mclean x reader when reader finds out they are pregnant?? Smth like that or just chris with his and readers baby? How he’d act like a dad or smth

I can’t lie, this motivated me since I always tend to think about how Chris would be as a dad 😭 Daily reminder to drink water and eat well everyone💗!  Enjoy reading!

CHRIS MCLEAN AS A DAD HEADCANONS

Chris definitely has thought about being a parent during his occupation of hosting a show of teenagers.

He just didn’t expect that thought to become a thing so soon.

He used to internally mock a lot of the contestants’ parents for the way some of them turned out. Now here he was, worrying how his seed will bloom.

Having children actually did appeal to him, he’s just aware that being a dad would require a lot from him and he wasn’t sure if he could dedicate himself to that for the next few decades or so, especially at a time where his career was opening so many opportunities for him.

You were excited, holding the positive pregnancy test to him,“Isn’t this amazing, Chris? I’m holding your baby! You’re gonna be a dad!”

“It really is mine, huh?” He blinks, scratching the side of his head,“Sorry if I don’t sound excited or anything... It’s sorta hard for me to feel sentimental about this kind of stuff instantly.”

“Don’t worry.” you kiss his cheek,“You’ll feel something, sooner or later.”

He nods in consensus,“‘Course! But don’t take it that I’m not happy; when you first told me, I wanted to celebrate by pouring ourselves a glass of fine wine...just for me to remember you can’t drink alcohol for the next few months.” he chuckled at the last part.

“Chriiis...” your saliva was now filling the back of your mouth at the thought of that strong daring drink,“Why would you say thaaat?”

“Don’t worry! If it makes you feel better, I’ll give it up for you until the baby comes. Until the baby comes... Huh.” a bemused look crawls on his skin,“Never thought I’d say that.”

“Didn’t you think about having a baby before, Chris?” now it was your turn to blink.

“That’s a question you can ask anyone, (Y/N).” his eyes slide around,“But sure. It’s about time I passed my amazing, talented, good looks down the family tree.”

You made it clear to Chris that while you were in full agreement to spoiling the baby, you wanted them to know about gratitude and patience.

Chris was set on your condition, because there was no way he wasn’t going to spoil this child.

He has money to spend.

Often, you have emotional outbursts, thinking you’re ugly and that Chris was going to leave you for a more attractive woman.

”It’s no fair...” you sobbed,“If my body was going to be made to give life, why is it reacting so dramatically?”

Chris wasn’t cruel enough to involve your side effects of pregnancy with his sadism,“Dramatically is a big stretch... It’s your first time, you haven’t done anything like it before.”

“True... But I’m worried you don’t think I’m attractive anymore. I mean.” She scanned him up and down,”You haven’t changed one bit this entire pregnancy and here I am, a weeping sack of fat. I wouldn’t be surprised if...if...you...saw other girls...”

“(Y/NN)...” he gently lays his head on your tummy,“I know being on TV may have made you super insecure, but you’re still the same beautiful thing I fell in love with. Pregnant or not, no other gal could be as cool as you are.”

He wasn’t going anywhere,“Thanks...Chris.”

Also if you wanna know how the contestants reacted...they were horrified. For a variety of reasons- the future of the child’s life with a dad like Chris, what Chris had to do to even conceive that child etc.

The only ones that properly congratulated you were DJ and...

Yeah, just DJ.

You knew their reasons to be concerned, but you trusted Chris to be a good dad, even if he was eccentric, both on and off TV.

When labour rolls around, you’re clutching Chris’ hand. At contractions, you would bite onto the edge of his shirt. He knows he has no right to tell you to calm down, so he uses his other hand to pet your head and his mouth to tell you everything was going to be fine.

Thanks to all the remedies Chris bought for you during the pregnancy, the birth was bearably fast and you didn’t suffer any complications.

It was all worth it, to hear the crying of your reddening flower, alive and well, seeing the face your and Chris’ DNA fused.

You had never been more grateful for him.

One of the few times he cried. Holding that bawling bundle of love, the paternal sentiment dawned on him at last, in the room of white on a cloudy day.

“So... I’m...a dad now...” he settled, looking down at the scrunched up face of the baby he’s made, wet nose twitching,“Hey there...”

You nod, peering over, whole family in tears,“Welcome to the world, sweetheart.”

He was a lot more affectionate than he thought he would be. He enjoys cradling the infant, keeping an eye on her as you rest, feeding her, as part of his routine.

He always finds a way to include her in any conversation he has.

Even at night, when she cries and he’s woken up, groggy and heavy-headed, it never fails to bring a smile on his face, that it was his baby he’s shushing back to slumber.

The baby loves feeling around Chris’ face and his black hair whenever he holds her on the couch.

And we all know how tight a baby’s grip is.

Well Chris didn’t until his daughter held a batch of his hair in her first for an hour.

“(Y/NNN)! Make her let go of me!” he begged you, holding her away as far as her stubborn arm would allow, having enough.

Rather than assisting him, you remained where you were and chuckled at the little one’s mischief,“She must really like your hair.”

“I like my hair too, but you don’t see me grabbing it for an hour!” he whined.

Hearing her dad’s harmless frustration, the baby giggled and let go.

Chris froze. With his ageing umber eyes, he locks them onto the fulgent new, squinting from smiling, eyes of his baby. Next thing you knew, he juxtaposed what he was whining about ten seconds ago by bringing the soft face of his daughter right onto his, stroking, sniffling,“I have the most adorable baby in the world...!”

Though being a dad did undeniable changes to Chris, he was still him, you know? No amount of children could ever erase his personality.

For example, you’ve caught him several times trying to get the baby interested in violent movies and sharks.

“Chris! You’ll scare her little mind half to death!” you scold, picking her up from his side.

“What, like our generation didn’t grow up with scary stuff? She can handle it, put her back down!” he argued, annoyance gracing his gorgeous face.

Considering she’s Chris’ child, she probably could.

It’s not surprising that Chris would feed any offspring of his the tv show he was most famous for and even bring her on set.

You admit you felt a bit unsure about her being exposed to a lot of the content of Total Drama, but you knew, without a scent of doubt, Chris would keep her safe by all costs.

He’d do this thing where as he’s addressing his viewers on Total Drama, he’d have the baby on his lap and she’s just mindlessly looking around or sucking his hand. He’d give her a remote control to release something dangerous like a bomb on the campers and laugh when she unintentionally activates it by putting it inside her mouth.

Rewatching old episodes though, the child squealed every time Chris came on screen, Dama! Dama! (Drama! Drama!)

You weren’t surprised when she cooed “Dada” before “Mama”.

There you go, she had two names for Chris. You?

Nothing.

Were you upset by it? Eh, maybe a little. You found the more important part being your husband discovering to really enjoy being a dad to a child who really loves him too.

You turn to see Chris playing peek a boo with her.

Mother’s paradise.🌺

[rei-ismyname]

X-Men: The End - Review

Book 1: Dreamers and Demons

In one of Chris Claremont's many ill-advised returns to the X-books, he set about writing a hypothetical and non-canon end to the series. Set about 15 years in the future, the story travels to every corner of the X universe - if briefly - so if nothing else everyone gets an answer for where their favourite character ends.

Greg Land did the cover. I hate Greg Land.

I praise it mostly on a conceptual level. Pretty much every long running corner of the MU received a 'The End' mini, but Claremont split it up into 3 separate miniseries. Captain America and Iron Man both got 5 issues, KISS (yes, the band) got 3, the X-Men got 18. As someone who always wanted characters to die, grow and retire but was often foiled or undone by fiat - I respect that he'd want to do it properly. However, more is not always better. It's fun, cringe, and nonsensical at times. A LOT of people die unceremoniously. Don't take it too seriously.

The first few pages sets up that that 15 years have seriously passed. People are dead and retired, some have kids that look exactly like them, the never aging kids grew up. The Shi'Ar are killing X-Men, like a lot of them, except they're doing it in disguise. Jean Grey has returned as the Phoenix and is hanging out with (kidnapped him while he was doing Letterman lol) Nightcrawler, Carol Danvers' hologram, and Aliyah - the child of Bishop and Deathbird.

Here she is going for an expository jog down memory lane.

We spend a little time getting to know her, as she's the closest thing to a viewpoint character. She's inexperienced and way out of her depth, but her heroic instincts are sharp. Interestingly she 'doesn't really care about the Shi'Ar.' Aliyah lives on the Starjammer with a pretty impressive holodeck, she's never met her dad, her mum is holding the Shi'Ar empire together and her best mate is holo Danvers. Lilandra is apparently 'mad.'

Immediately Kree slavers approach Chandilar and Claremont begins clearing the board. Madrox and Siryn die for real, Nocturne is a hound and Aliyah manages to knock her out and take her to the ship. Phoenix comes out of nowhere and begins wrecking shit and the Kree do the same.

Also, WarSkrulls.

If it sounds like confusing nonsense, that's because it is. The first third of the miniseries is about establishing Aliyah and checking in on various X-Men before killing most of them. Seriously, it's easier for me to list who lives rather than who dies. It's confusing but I think it works as front loading the deaths so books 2 and 3 have a more manageable cast of characters. If you plan to stick the landing, it's going to be easier to trim the decades of bloat/worldbuilding the X-books have received.

We get a brief overview of Earth stuff before they start to die, though everyone in these panels lives (mostly hehe). Kitty Pryde is running for president with Rachel as her campaign manager! Storm and Logan live together and he's her full time caretaker. Emma and Scott have two kids. Cable hunts terrorists apparently.

Here's the Summerses. A lot of people wear speed dealer sunnies in the future, with Cyclops even saying SPEED right there. Coincidence? Also their children are boring.

You'll note the daughter may as well be a clone of Emma (she isn't but you know what I mean.) The baby is called Alex after long dead Havok, definitely tempting fate there. I'd sooner call my child Omega Red, but I'm not a parent. Chuck pokes his big bald head in and Emma tells him to beat it. Scott checks in with folks all over the globe, many of whom die. He is concerned of course.

Told you. Rogue and Gambit live and they definitely saw The Matrix. This isn't plot relevant - this is just how they roll apparently.

Hank and Cecilia McCoy live and they do *something* in Africa. Doctor stuff I think? This book moves so damn quickly. They live but everyone around them dies. Hank is right about the mutant problem. The named X-Men body count is at 18 by book 3.

Hey Yukio! Come to homoerotically kill Ororo, huh? DW, she wins despite full paralysis. Don't fuck with Storm. At this point we find out ALL these assassins are WarSkrulls sent by the Shi'Ar. Storm's powers have wrecked her body btw to the point Logan feeds her and she kinda wants to die. 😭

Madeline Pryor, Stryfe, and some weirdo I don't know come for the X-Mansion. Dust dusts Maddie Pryor. That dude getting punched by Not!Stryfe is the son of Colossus and Polaris. Yeah he looks exactly like Colossus. Nice to get confirmation of Polaris' awful taste in men. She does have a dope butch short hair look that slaps, so it's not all bad choices and emotionally stunted communists.

Nearly everyone else not pictured is dead as a doornail, ash and bone at best. Claremont was pretty damn thorough - 90% of the X-Men and their allies dead. Apocalypse bit the dust too, in a pretty embarrassing way. Of course Sinister lives because he's working with the Shi'Ar but has his own agenda, as usual. They're starting to realise that the Shi'Ar sent the WarSkrulls, but the preemptive strikes were super effective. Book 1 ends on the Starjammer with the passengers realising Cassandra Nova has been Lilandra all this time.

I'm sorry, CHUCKY sends me. No cap. I could write an essay on this panel and invite speculation.

The last page has the Xavier Institute's singularity power core exploding after that lot end up also being WarSkrulls sent by the Shi'Ar - looks like having the school be built mostly from Shi'Ar tech backfired. The school is definitely gone - along with at least the state of New York but I suspect much more - then a smash cut to this masterpiece. Callisto with fucking tentacles for arms saying 'Chucky?' as Chuck is overwhelmed by grief. I'm assuming they're in a polycule with Mags over here, but it must gall him to be the third most dramatic person in a scene. It's just too much to respond without some kind of levity, but if it wasn't clear by now - the stage is being cleared ruthlessly. Northstar was at the school, so maybe some people survived but Claremont is not half arsing it. This is definitely a whole arse situation, maybe even more.

DUN DUN DUN 🫠

Wait what? Chuck's evil twin, the Mummudrai? Hectic! So we know we've just seen Cassandra Nova send many WarSkrull strike teams after X-Men in the form of people that will hurt them psychologically and it was very successful. Hmm... it's 15 years in the future - does that mean she's been leading Bird Gang this whole time? No Xandra in this timeline but the X-Men interact with the Shi'Ar a lot. That's some wild patience for Cassandra Nova, and the notion that she's been preparing all this time is terrifying. My God, all the X-Men are going to die aren't they? Maybe, though I can't stop thinking about how Lilandra Nova would have handled a booty call from Chucky. Ughh gross.

I think it's worth saying that the high amount of action is a YMMV sitch - I personally can do without no punching at all in a book, and get frustrated when a mandated and arbitrary fight happens just because that's what cape comics do. Just because action has to be special to wow me doesn't mean I don't recognise its value, mainly I believe we can demand more from our comics - as an evolved art form instead of the pulp it began as. What I said earlier about front loading the death applies to the action too. I suspect your enjoyment of this book will come down to your feelings on action or ability to appreciate it ironically/unseriously.

I'll leave part one there, though I want to point out that Sunspot is whitewashed so badly he looks like Shawn Mullins. At least he dies - I love Bobby Da Costa but I'd prefer no Sunspot to dorky white guy Sunspot. Stay tuned for part 2 and thank fuck that's over. Spinning a coherent narrative from a book without one is a challenge, especially with only 10 pictures to work with. I considered counting and listing all the deaths, but I got to 30 and realised I wasn't enjoying it and doubted anyone else would. I'm not a wiki, and hopefully I've done my job while leaving some meat on the bones for folks who still want to read it. Don't worry, Kitty's presidential run is still live and it's implied she won the primaries. Independent? As if. Definitely a democrat, because the X-Men are mostly centrist bitches. Still, I hope she wins and First Lady Rachel and her achieve something.

I haven't been doing much long form lately so I welcome any feedback you might have. 💜💜❤️

[rayshippouuchiha]

Thank you! So here I am to infodump, full of gratitude, and you can post this if you want no problem it's just a bunch of scattered ideas so yeah. Feel free to chuck suggestions at me too! I really don't know what to do with these... building blocks just yet.

Akatani Mikumo is Midoriya Hisashi.

Toshinori gets sandwiches by the Midoriya couple and it turns into an OT3 but that's much later down the line.

Hisashi is a journalist, keeps getting into everybody's business and Knows™ more than he frankly should.

Hisashi is a Cryptid™. But of a different energy from his son who is all lightning-in-a-bottle jittery On The Verge Of Throwing Hands feral sort of cryptid, Hisashi is mostly of this... supernaturally unflappable blank-faced chill entity.

Who keeps spooking people bc No Footstep sounds.

And might possibly be partially mute or just ridiculously soft-spoken bc when he tries to speak at normal volumehis fire-breathing quirk goes ballistic.

Might or might not have bloodline relations to AFO. Origins ambiguous, Inko just literally plucked the (then) teen off a back alley like he was a stray cat.

Also might or might not have more than one quirk, see the probable AFO connection.

Izuku got his mumbling thing from Hisashi.

A cryptid man who seems normal enough except a little off-kilter, like two inches to the left of what's a “normal” man? Weirdo but nobody can pinpoint how or why. That's the sort of vibe I want with this Hisashi.

And some Wack™ backstory lore I came up w for Hisashi, I dunno what I'll do w it but:

Cw: mention of infant murder, bc I'm Me™ and I was thinking about Yotsumegami (it's my favorite game) and how my version of Hisashi would tie in with it.

Yanno how in Yotsumegami “unwanted children” (children with disabilities, the younger of a twin pair or every sibling except the eldest in triplets or higher, etc) would be killed (it's a real historical practice in Japan, mabiki, they called it) or something like that? Would be kinda fun if an offshoot of that variety existed in the BnHA world, even if it's not outright child murder kids would be abandoned, especially in the chaos of the Dawn of Quirks. People who were scared of quirked people would abandon their quirked child, quirkist folk abandoned their quirkless children, it's chaos.

It would be more prominent during the initial chaos, though I guess laws and stuff would've been passed later on to prevent it or at least cut down the numbers— and the practice fizzled out but there's still a few remote rural villages who accept “unwanted” children.

One such secret community could be like, giving the surname “Akatani” (red valley, for the red of spider lilies used in mabiki in times past) to the children that were discarded at their metaphorical door. Do they still practice mabiki? Debatable. But it's like a giant secret orphanage with questionable, cult-like mentalities.

Akatani Hisashi was one of those until he miraculously escaped and tried to survive in the outside world.

Or maybe he didn't have the Akatani surname at first bc nobody in the remote village had any surname but once he got out he might've created the surname as a way to hm, not quite honor but carry his origins into his new life.

(maybe Yoichi was almost mabiki'd too, like I said I'm still not entirely sure where I'm going with this)

So Izuku gets to grow up w two parents who care a great deal for him. Maybe they move away, resulting in Izuku not having to deal w Bakugou in his childhood. Maybe Izuku makes friends with some other future 1-A classmate.

The Commission keeps trying to track down this one rogue “vigilante reporter” whose name is unknown. And they keep failing because Hisashi (along with his son and excessive gaggle of... comrades? followers? does the Midoriya family accidentally create an organization of rabid info gatherers?) is a certified cryptid.

Izuku has his hands in so many pots. He's a lot more nosey than in canon probably?

Endeavor had better be prepared bc his entire way of life is about to go up in smoke

I don't know why but I just have this very strong feeling that Stain doesn't like Hisashi for one reason or another.

I... wouldn't be entirely opposed to the AU just chucking Bakugou out the window so that he's not in 1-A (or in UA at all, fuck that pomeranian) and instead is replaced by another loud blond...

Fucking Monoma, LMAO.

A lot of the AU is just ?????? for now and most of it is Hisashi backstory but hnnnnng I want to do something with these jigsaw pieces I just don't know what

Also I'll be sending in Hisashi's design in a non-anon ask but could you append it to this ask's answer instead? Thanks!

I adore everything about this!?!?!

Also I didn't get another ask, anon or not, so Tumblr might have eaten it

[cowboyemeritus]

Il Suo Campione (Copia/Reader)

Chapter Three

Series Masterlist

Summary: Copia has a meeting with his father while you try your best not to think about him.

Content Warning: implied gang violence, mild sexism (nihil is a gross old man)

Read on AO3

Notes: we’re keeping on with this series! i hope this chapter isn’t too dull; i don’t want to have smut in every installment and needed to establish a few Plot Things, if that makes sense. i didn’t actually have the plot fully planned out when I decided to make this a series, so that will likely bite me in the ass in the future. cooking up some spicy stuff for you all in the next few chapters though. stay tuned ;)

lmk what y'all think about the new header! graphic design is not my passion, so i'm worried it sucks lol.

feedback is always welcome! enjoy, friends!

Copia tugs at the collar of his shirt. It does nothing to relieve the choking feeling that’s been plaguing him all morning. The walk from the car is short, but sweat prickles across his back and under his arms as he climbs the front stairs. He takes a second to compose himself, one final moment of peace before the onslaught to come, staring at the obnoxious goat head knocker. Its square pupils bore into his soul, mocking him. Copia scoffs at the brass monstrosity, finally reaching for the ring between its teeth. It’s almost in his grasp when the door opens, startling him.

“Were you going to stand out here all day?” Psaltarian asks, a look of exasperation already plastered across his aged face. Copia swallows, shoving his hands in his coat pockets.

“I was not,” he quips. A beat passes. “Didn’t realize the old guy promoted you to doorman.” Psaltarian rolls his eyes, beckoning Copia to come inside with a wave of his arm. The foyer, as always, smells vaguely of cigar smoke, though today there’s a hint of chemical cleaner as well. The Persian rug at the center of the room catches his eye; it’s clearly new, the colors too rich and bright for this dismal place. On the opposite wall, a framed photo of Copia and his brothers as children hangs askew, the glass cracked. Glancing upwards, he finally notices the man sitting in a chair at the top of the stairs, a large gun laid across his lap. His finger rests on the trigger.

“Shit,” Copia mutters, shrugging off his coat and hanging it on a stand near the door. “What-“ Psaltarian is already halfway down the hall, and Copia has to power-walk to catch up to him. “What happened?”

“An uninvited guest dropped by last night,” he says. “That’s all.”

Copia nods, wringing his hands. He’ll be in a bad mood. As the two pass by the basement door, he can’t help but pick up on the screaming emanating from the dark, musty labyrinth beneath the house. Whoever is down there… He chooses not to dwell on it any further. They’ll get what they deserve.

His father’s office is at the very end of the long, narrow hall. It’s not wide enough for him and Psaltarian to walk side-by-side, so he follows the old bookkeeper quietly. This part of the house has always reminded Copia of a livestock chute, pushing him through to the slaughterhouse at its terminus. Portraits of long-dead Emeritus patriarchs hang on the walls, their attire becoming progressively more antiquated the further he travels. He has never been able to shake the feeling that their eyes follow him, silently passing their judgement. Approaching the door, Copia recalls his words to you the night previous, the false assurance that his father would be pleased by your performance. He realizes now that he said it more to make himself feel better than to praise you.

When they arrive at the door to the office, Psaltarian steps to the side, looking at Copia expectantly. It’s awkward as he squeezes by the older man, turning his body so as to not brush against him. Fighting back a groan, he gingerly raps on the door.

“Yes?” Even through the thick wood, the frustration in Nihil’s voice is evident. Hesitantly, Copia opens the door enough to stick his head in. He finds his father sitting at his antique mahogany desk, hands clasped in front of him and looking at his youngest son disapprovingly.

“Hey, dad.” Copia smiles nervously as he steps into the room. “You’re looking well today.” The old man, unimpressed, scowls.

“Sit down. You are late.” Glancing at the clock on the wall — one of those stupid ones that spins and plays a song every hour — he sees it’s only two minutes past the designated meeting time. Knowing better than to say anything, Copia takes a seat in the rickety wooden chair across from the desk.

“So, eh… What’s up?” Nihil sneers, slamming his hands down on the desktop. Copia jumps a little.

“What is ‘up’ is that you refuse get your head out of your ass and participate in this business. Instead, you go galavanting around like you’re some sort of showman, putting on these silly cat-fights.” Copia is thankful his father is nearly blind, eyes so clouded with cataracts they look ghostly. He’s sure the indignant expression on his face would earn him an additional tongue-lashing.

“I am participating,” he objects, crossing his arms. “People pay good money to watch these fights, and we get a sizable cut of what the bookies make. Our dealers get good business, too; just ask Primo or Secondo.” Despite having intimate knowledge of the Family’s ledgers, Psaltarian, it seems, has been doing him no favors.

“Who wants to watch a bunch of girls fight anyway?” Nihil questions. “They can’t hurt each other like men can.” Copia rolls his eyes. If the geezer could see you fight, he’d know that’s horrifyingly false. “Now, Terzo? He’s got the right idea. He knows what kind of work women are suited for.” Copia cringes, knowing his brother would probably kill the old man for saying that. “You would make some real money if they wore bikinis.”

“Ahi, dad! We are not in the Dark Ages anymore.” Nihil scoffs.

“Don’t try and change the subject. There are serious matters at hand.” His father sighs, worry finally showing on his wrinkled face. “The other Families, they are growing bold.”

“I noticed the remodeling,” Copia says. “Who was it? The Sicilians? The Russians?” Nihil waves him off.

“That is not important right now. The point, son,” something about that word makes his stomach churn, “is that I will not be here forever. When the time comes, I need the assurance that you and your brothers can protect what this family has worked so hard for. As it stands, I am not convinced you have what it takes, not until you start taking this seriously.” Copia is used to this treatment, but the words sting nonetheless. “Would you stop that?” For a moment, he’s confused, but then realizes he’s been bouncing his leg, causing the chair to squeak rhythmically. Copia sighs, stilling himself.

“Look, you may not think so, but I am serious about this. If we want to be able to hold our own against the other Families, we need to diversify.” Nihil still looks skeptical. “These events are only getting more popular, and more lucrative. With the right resources, we can expand the operation; more fights, more often, better venues, more money in our pocket. Believe me, this is worth investing in.” Nihil stokes his chin for a moment, glancing out the window contemplatively. He sighs, shoulders dropping.

“Convince your brothers that is the case, and maybe you will convince me. Maybe. This is a business, Copia, not the circus.”

It’s not a no.

“Alright, fine.” Copia rises from his chair. “I’ll do that.” Nihil rolls his eyes.

“Ragazzo testardo,” he mutters. “Proprio come tua madre.” Copia pretends not to hear him, making his way back to the door.

“Lovely to see you, dad,” he says, ready to get the fuck out of there. “Take care of yourself, yeah?” Nihil grunts.

“Yeah, yeah. You as well. And, son?” Copia looks back at his father, his hand on the doorknob. He raises an eyebrow. “Don’t think I do not know about that pet of yours — the girl. If you disappoint me, I will see to it that she finds better management.”

Copia’s mood instantly turns.

You wake up late. Copia is already gone, presumably at his meeting. On the coffee table is small plate bearing a blueberry muffin and more ibuprofen. Next to it is a stack of bills, the fifteen hundred dollars you won last night, and a handwritten note. In elegant script, it reads:

Dolcezza,

There’s coffee in the kitchen. Swiss is here and can take you home. You will find the full amount of your earnings here, plus a small bonus from me. Think of it as an expression of gratitude for all that you do.

Excellent work as always, mia tigressa. I will be in touch soon.

XO, C

P.S. Make sure you get some rest!

Fuck that.

After dry-swallowing the pills and absolutely devouring the muffin, you go to the kitchen. Swiss (you don’t know his real name) is sitting at the counter, a newspaper laid out in front of him. He perks up when you enter the room, flashing you a pleasant smile. He’s grown a mustache since the last time you saw him.

“Morning, champ.” You nod at him, awkwardly shuffling over to the cabinet where Copia stores his coffee cups. “Heard you kicked some serious ass last night.”

“I guess so,” you say, pulling out a mug decorated with a map of Florence.

“Bet that nose hurts like hell, though. Believe me, I’ve been there.”

“I’m used to it.” Please stop talking to me. You don’t dislike Swiss; you feel the same level of indifference toward him that you do with most people. He’s a decent guy considering his line of work, there’s just something about him being here, knowing you had a “sleepover” with his employer that’s just… ew. Thankfully, he seems to get the memo, returning to his reading as you sip your coffee in painful silence.

Once the caffeine hits, you’re ready to engage with him for real. “Can you take me to the gym, please,” you ask, placing your mug in the sink. Swiss grimaces, the skin around his dark eyes crinkling. He shakes his head.

“Sorry, but no can do. Boss wants me to take you home. Says you need to rest.”

That fucker.

You feel your temper flare, but quickly work to suppress it. Swiss is just doing his job, and you imagine Copia would be pretty displeased if you had it out with one of his guys. Taking a deep breath through your nose, you nod, muttering out a quiet “Okay.”

“Alrighty, then.” You don’t think you’ve ever seen him in a bad mood. “If you're ready, let’s get going.” Swiss grabs a pair of keys from a wooden bowl on the counter and heads for the garage. Following him, you're able to catch the headline running across the top of the newspaper.

DRIVE-BY AT THE WHISKEY LEAVES TWO DEAD.

As soon as Swiss leaves, you walk to the gym. You get a few weird looks on the street and end up having to pull down the hood of your sweatshirt to hide your busted-up face, but otherwise, the journey is pleasant. The guys at the gym don’t ask questions, and have learned �� some the hard way — to leave you be. Without distractions, it’s easy for you to get into a groove, and you soon find your mind wandering as you go to town on the bag.

Stupid Copia. Stupid Copia and his stupid fucking face. Stupid Copia and-

“Where would I be without you, il mia campionessa?”

Your knuckles are bleeding again.

A handful of hours later, you’re rounding the corner of your apartment building. You took the long way home to, in your mind, spite Copia. Trying to imagine him in place of the punching bag had been unsuccessful, your fist stopping itself a fraction of an inch away. This is as good a substitute as you’ll get, even if he has no idea you’re doing it.

There’s a swarm of pigeons waiting outside the front door. They flock to you as you approach, cooing and fluttering their wings in a frenzy. Your landlord has tried everything to get rid of them, from hanging strings of old CDs to putting up those fake dummy owls. You’re sure you’ll get another notice warning the residents of the building that “anyone caught feeding them will be receive punitive action.” So far, he has yet to suspect you of anything.

“No, no food today.” Wading through the dense sea of birds is a challenge, and you nearly lose your balance trying to avoid stepping on one. Eventually, though, you make it up the stairs to the door, unlock it, and step in, shooing away a particularly bold pigeon that tries to follow you inside. The elevator is always broken, so you take the stairs. They creak with every step. You have a few hours until you need to be at work. A nap, and then maybe a shower seems in order. Anything to distract yourself from the thought of stupid, stupid Copia.

You’re so busy trying to not think about him that when you insert the key into your apartment door, it takes you a second to realize it’s already unlocked.

[cal-daisies-and-briars]

Hi Cal 😁😁😁😁 may I request a few sentences please? 🙏🙏

🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊

🌌🌌🌌🌌🌌🌌

⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️

🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨

📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚

🩸🩸🩸🩸🩸🩸

🦮🦮🦮🦮🦮🦮🦮🦮🦮🦮🦮

🔮🔮🔮🔮🔮🔮🔮

SO EXCITED TO READ YOUR WORDS AS ALWAYS 💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞

HELL YEAH I LOVE A CHALLENGE.

27 for 🌊:

---

The only complication was the lack of his memories. The way it made Eddie feel that perhaps Buck wasn’t Buck. But he is. And that person is impossible not to love. 

That word settles over Eddie with more ease than he might have expected. Love. He’s in love with Buck. It’s not just attraction or infatuation. It’s not just good sex and good dates and good conversations. He loves him. He wants a future with him, where neither of them are lonely. 

Maddie seems to read Eddie’s thoughts, judging by the knowing smile on her face. 

“As I suspected. You’re good for him.” She winks. “Plus, Christopher is delightful.”

“Thank you,” Eddie smiles back. “I’m lucky, he’s a good kid. And, Genevieve is great, too. She was confident as hell calling my work and asking around until she got me.”

“She’s really come out of her shell here,’ Maddie nods. “Just like my brother, I guess.’

Like Eddie, too, he supposes. 

He doesn’t get to say so, though, because Buck comes back through the door, balancing three wine glasses in his hands like a practiced bartender. 

“Whatcha talking about?” He asks, passing Maddie hers first, then moving to sit next to Eddie.

“You, obviously,” Maddie teases.

---

18 for 🌌:

@steadfastsaturnsrings

---

Letting Chris think this was nothing more than a dream is dishonest and he hates lying to his son. And yet, thinking about this from a harm reduction standpoint, saying, actually, no, all of that happened and was horrifically upsetting doesn’t seem like a better parenting decision. So Eddie doesn’t contradict Christopher’s completely rational explanation for what he remembers. 

“Yeah, it was. Are you having a fun weekend hanging out with Buck?” 

Right. Because Chris actually thinks Eddie is with Buck, getting over his breakup with Marisol. Because he definitely didn’t tell him the truth about that, either. He couldn’t say it to himself, so he hadn’t figured out how to say it to Chris. He wants to spill right here, on the phone, but that might also be a mistake. He should probably explain it all face-to-face. 

“Uh, yeah,” Eddie replies. “You know, he and I… Well, we’re talking about some big stuff. Stuff that I’m going to talk to you about when I’m home.”

“Okay,” Christopher responds, not sounding too bothered or too interested. Well, at least he’s not worried. “Say hi to Buck for me, then?” 

“You got it,” Eddie promises.

---

21 for ⚡️:

---

Eddie smiles softly. “Yeah, I think so too.”

“So, turn down the stress a bit, Eddie,” Bobby advises. “He’s going to be okay. Maybe you can try to enjoy the festivities, too.”

Eddie sighs. “Don’t expect me to be nice to them.’

Bobby smirks, just a little. “I don’t expect me to be nice to them.”

Then they’re at an understanding, Eddie realizes. Who Margaret and Phillip Buckley are, to someone they both love so entirely and without reservation, is abhorrent to them. Eddie wonders, for Bobby, having lost his children, how agonizing it must be to watch others treat their own as disposable. 

“That being said,” Eddie relents. “I think I’ll go refill my drink, and grab him a new one.”

He doesn’t have to wait around for Buck like a security detail. He can let his guard down, just a little. 

“Good idea,” Bobby smiles. 

Eddie stands. “Okay, be back.” As he crosses the yard to the cooler of drinks, Eddie fails to notice a tactical response to his own - maybe overdone - guard dog behavior. Rather than cornering Buck, the Buckleys corner him.

---

24 for 🚨

---

That’s the answer, isn’t it? He realizes it with a crash of disappointment. There will be no more boundaries crossed between them this morning. Eddie can’t answer that need until the more important matter is settled. He has work to do.

Hating himself just a tiny bit, Eddie slowly untangles his body from Buck’s. His sore body complains at the movement. As he begins to pull away, Buck makes a small moan of complaint, and clings a bit tighter. It takes everything in Eddie not to fold right then and there. But Eddie persists, slipping away from Buck, grabbing his phone off the nightstand, and disappearing to the bathroom. 

Eddie takes a long shower. Longer than he would usually take. A water-wasting-ly long shower. He takes care of what he needs to take care of if he is going to have any ability to think today. Even then, his intellectual capacity is probably a little reduced. It’s been a very long time since he’s had sex and he woke up next to his literal dream man. Sue him for being flustered. 

When he’s done in the shower, Eddie spends a good minute looking at his naked body in the mirror. Not for any sort of vanity. Rather, because he looks absolutely beaten. He’s bruised and scraped all over. Places he hadn’t even realized he’d been hurt. Dark, hideous welts from falling and having the earth rain down on him. God, maybe it’s a good thing he didn’t throw himself at Buck this morning. 

---

30 for 📚

---

“Hey, speaking of which, I hear fire companies are kind of like a big family. Is that true?” 

Ravi’s stomach drops. He lifts his head to meet his brother’s eyes. Anil is watching for this exact reaction. He knows exactly what he’s saying and exactly how Ravi will take it. He knows exactly what he’s threatening. He always does this. He can’t just let Ravi have anything. Ravi is out of his life, not bothering him at all. What must he need or want to come into Ravi’s home and threaten his stability? Or is it still so abhorrent to Anil that anybody would want Ravi around? 

“It becomes true,” Bobby answers. “In some stations more than others.”

“This one?” Anil asks.

“Yes,” Buck replies tightly. “We’re a family.”

“So you all know a lot about each other?” Anil asks.

Ravi’s throat tightens. 

This can’t be happening. This really can’t be happening. 

“What are you trying to ask?” Eddie narrows his eyes.

“Anil, I’m sure you came to speak with Ravi alone,” Hen interjects. “Not  to be rude, but-”

“We all have station chores to do,” Bobby agrees. 

Buck looks at Ravi very intensely. Like he’s waiting for Ravi’s opinion to chime in. Ravi won’t meet his eyes.

---

18 for 🩸:

---

“You see your guy?” Kurt asks, flipping through grainy images of strangers who happened to pass by his houseboat. None of them look like Eddie.

Sophia shakes her head. “No. I don’t.”

“You know this would be a heck of a lot easier if you left me with a photo of him,” Kurt points out as he continues to click. 

Buck bristles at the thought.

“Aw, Kurt, you know why we can’t,” Sophia says gently.

“Yeah, but you can trust me, Sophie,” he protests. “I’d never do you dirty.”

Yes. He would. If the price was right. He’s made a career of opportunism in the midst of crisis. 

“I know that,” Sophia says, squeezing his arm. “But what if you got raided, huh? I don’t want photos of him anywhere.”

They’ve not shown a single person Eddie’s picture.

---

30 for 🦮:

---

“Okay,” Maddie says quickly. “What are these dogs trained to do?”

“I don’t exactly know,” Buck admits. “They want me to meet with the trainer.”

Maddie nods. “Well, I think you should. And here me out, okay?” 

“Okay,” Buck sighs. He takes a hefty sip of beer as compensation. 

“Two nights ago, by the time you got home from work, you were too sore to get up and cross the room to grab the remote.” Maddie says. “Using your prosthetic all day wears on you.”

Well… That’s true.

“I’m still getting used to it,” Buck protests. Which is also true. 

“A week ago, you dropped your keys at a certain angle to your left, and struggled to bend over and grab them.” Maddie continues.

“Well, yeah. Okay. I still have some limitations, but won’t having a dog around be more work?” 

Buck has seen the kind of breeds they use in service work. Labs. Goldens. Collies. Shepherds. Poodles. Active, upbeat dogs. Not like a mellow giant or something. 

“And I think you’re lonely,” Maddie adds, holding firm eye contact. 

Buck feels cold. 

---

21 for 🔮:

---

“Buck.” Bobby exhales. 

“Uh, hi, Bobby.” Buck replies, a little too quickly. Like he’s trying to speed through an uncomfortable interaction.

“How’re you doing?” Bobby asks.

Because he misses him. He misses him so badly. He misses him more than the others, though he would never say it. He can’t subside on sad little updates from Eddie. He can’t continue to throw small, not very subtle questions Chim’s way. He needs to know. From the horse’s mouth, as it were. 

Buck’s mouth twists with what Bobby knows is frustration. He sighs as he shrugs. 

“I’m fine, Bobby.”

But that doesn’t seem like the truth.

“Are you?” Bobby asks. 

Buck’s mouth twitches. “It’s whatever.”

He sounds like May or Harry. 

---

I WANT YOU TO KNOW THIS WAS OVER 1500 WORDS

[yuseirra]

I've always.. been bugged about the "god who loves people" and the "god who loves absurdity and unreasonableness" ever since that idea was introduced in the story.

At this point and the series nearing its end... I guess no further characters would be introduced and if having that idea even meant something..; I.. think the "god who loves people" would have really been Ai. In that case, Hikaru may be the latter(it's sad;; I really did not want to come to that conclusion because okay, I admit, I must really like him. I care for him a lot.). If he is indeed Sarutahiko, he's supposed to be the exact opposite of that description. He's the god of justice/right direction/reasonableness, as they say. He protects people from going astray. He was supposed to be like that.

But he really may have been so flawed to become essentially the opposite of what he should have been. The lyrics of Fatal actually indicate such things, he wasn't supposed to be that way but he's fallen. stripped of his feathers and all that. That was because Ai passed away and he started struggling to try and meet her again with everything he's got, and that's a story that..started out-connects to the story of the song Mephisto from the first season. Those two songs are connected. He's gradually become insane over time from the longing and desperation. He probably searched for ways to bring Ai back to life but he realized it was all in vain...; then he started looking for ways to become closer to her and reach her. That's probably what he'd been doing all his life upon having lost her. Seeing how he is, I figure he really was almost there. This close. Aqua stopped that from happening probably, right before he had some sort of fruition (was killing Ruby really the last..key to it..? I just.. but-but he was watching her show~~~~ could he really kill her like that watching through his phone screen through his godly powers or what??? seeing what he's capable of, it's funny how that actually can happen although I don't think he'd have gone after his own children he had with Ai!!!! Maybe everyone else in the world but; oh I can't say unless they tell us directly in canon about this one.)

I do think Kamiki had some sort of power that could tamper and interfere with people's futures. That must be how Aqua was so sure he could ruin Ruby's. He.. originally should have been the one to give out blessings along with his wife(Ai). If he's turned out THIS flawed, is it on him to blame?? I don't think so. People tainted him, abused him, tore him apart, neglected him, reaped away the only light of his life, and murdered her. Again, for having HIS children. There is no way he'd have been able to love the world anymore even if he started out as a saint. He just suffered too much. If Ai's death is not on him... then...I say he does have the right to be angry and just stop caring altogether. I'm not saying he's right or justified to hurt others if he's done so. But he doesn't have to be that benevolent and righteous, noble god anymore, it's not more about "having to be", actually, it's more like he "couldn't be". He wanted Ai back. But what could he do? He probably did EVERYTHING he could within his powers but even with all he's had, he couldn't make that a reality. So what does he do? Probably... all the stuff he's done may have been a way to achieve some type of result. He seems pretty smart.

Yeah. You never mess with a god who's devoted to his wife. I personally feel he'd have tried to endure things if it were to be about him, he just couldn't take people having hurt Ai because of him, that must have broken him down.

I hope this is the case~~if he's the one who hurt Ai I just. Don't understand what this whole manga would be. That'd be MY last straw about this manga.

[zoeykallus]

Ahola! Zoe how are you? ✨✨

Can I request some HC on how batchers would react to their children going through puberty? And how they would comfort and explain to them how it works and they would probably be upset because their baby is growing up 🥺🥺

Oh, interesting question...

The Bad Batch HCs - Puberty And Its Pitfalls

Puberty - How do our boys deal with their kids going through one of life's most difficult phases?

__________________

Hunter

He senses something is coming before it really gets started and takes his offspring aside to have a reasonable conversation.

"There are some changes coming your way. Physically but also mentally."

His child looks up at him critically.

"What kind of changes?"

"How well are you being educated at school? Have you talked about puberty yet?"

The child rolls their eyes, "Oh, you mean that. We learn all about it in school."

"I don't think you really learn everything," Hunter says doubtfully.

"The Holonet knows the rest. Dad, I don't really want to talk to you about it."

Hunter sighs and says, "Listen, just one thing, okay?"

"Alright"

He looks at his child urgently and says, "There will be days when everything will be too much for you, you will feel overwhelmed, feel many intense things at once. But that phase will pass. If you ever want to talk, you know where to find me, okay? You can always talk to me, you know that."

Another eye roll, but then, a smile, "I know, Dad".

Echo

He got material, reading material, An audiobook and some handouts.

"You should take a closer look and listen to all of this in the near future."

His child looks at him questioningly.

"If you have any questions about it, come see me".

Echo waits several days, but his child doesn't ask questions.

"And did you read the stuff I gave you?"

"Yes"

"And?"

The child shrugs and says, "Dad we learn this in school and things that are unclear can be looked up in the Holonet"

"You don't have any questions for me?" he asks, puzzled.

With a shake of their head, his offspring answers in the negative.

Echo sighs.

"Please don't grow up too fast"

The child laughs, "Relax, dad, just because I can handle this on my own doesn't mean I don't need you anymore."

Echo smirks and says, "You're smarter than your old man."

Wrecker

He feels a bit insecure and overwhelmed. His child's changing moods are getting to him, but he knows where it's all coming from. Tech has given him some good tips and provided reading material.

Wrecker is open and warm; his children, despite what they may be going through, find it easier to open up to him and seek advice or help in an emergency. Patience, understanding and caring, characterize him as a father.

"It seems like yesterday when I couldn't get you off the animal merry-go-round at the fair," he says wistfully.

"Dad, that was 11 years ago."

Wrecker sighs.

"It was still only yesterday to me. You grow way too fast, it's like you're getting married and moving out tomorrow"

The child laughs and squeezes him warmly.

"Oh, dad, I'm still here".

Wrecker squeezes his child and sighs again.

"You know you can talk to me about anything, even boys and girls and stuff".

The kid laughs, "I'll be fine dad, but if I'm not, I know where to find you."

Tech

He showers his child with reading material and gives one lecture after another until the child's ears almost bleed. It is very likely that Tech will have to be slowed down a bit by his partner or another family member.

A child going through puberty is a challenge that Tech takes seriously, too seriously, perhaps. He really exaggerates his efforts. He has read far too many reports of other parents' experiences and has been unsettled by many a horror story.

Theoretically, he is prepared for all eventualities. Even for the absolutely most improbable cases, for which he nevertheless admits a certain percentage of probability in the back of his mind. He is prepared. At least, he hopes he is.

"It's probably going to be scary," he says seriously.

His child says matter-of-factly, "I'm already educated, Dad."

"I meant for me"

Crosshair

He leaves as much as possible to his partner. The whole thing is an unpleasant, embarrassing topic, he thinks. So he tries to avoid big conversations about it.

But he has a basic conclusion.

"It's going to be exhausting, for all of us, but especially for you. You'll have the wildest ideas and thoughts. At best, don't give in to them. If someone touches you against your will, you tell Daddy, so he can kill the person"

"Um, okay Dad"

However, if his children really do seek his advice, he will of course try as hard as he can. But he doesn't tell anyone that he is sad about how fast his children are growing up, and tries to hide it in any case.

Ko-Fi (If you feel like giving me some coffee)

@rintheemolion

@andyoufollowyourheart @clone-whore-99

@brynhildrmimi @kaliel2310

@misogirl828 @tech-deck

@meshla-madalene

@chxpsi

@thebahdbitch

@nahoney22 @ladykatakuri

@darkangel4121

@ttzamara

@arctrooper69

@padawancat97

@agenteliix

@allsystemsblue

@palliateclaw

@either-madness-or-brilliance

@ortizshinkaroff

@andy-solo1

@hunterssecretrecipe

@heyitsaloy

@greaser-wolf

@extrahotpixels

@hated-by-me

@hunterxcrosshair

@malicemercy

@bebopsworld

@echos-girlfriend

@cpnt616

@dangraccoon

@jediknightjana

@pb-jellybeans

@antishadow2021

@sleepycreativewriter

@starwarsnerd111

[dyinglikenarcissus]

Chapter 5. You come to me on my wedding day?

11k words

Warnings: 18+ only, more oral, cannon level violence

Please like and reblog if you enjoy ☺️

The next week is a whirlwind of excitement. Steve doesn’t seem to be around much for it but his hand seems to be in everything. You finally meet wedding planner, Steve’s friend, Scott.

He’s sweet. He has a daughter that seems to be in her twenties that’s actually running the show while he supervises. Apparently they planned Jethro’s birthday party. You pull them both into a hug after learning that. He’s a good father. And it reminds you of Steve’s family planning conversation.

You definitely weren’t ready but it didn’t stop you from wondering what Steve would be like as a father. How you would be as a mother…

He’s older than you, over 10 years. What if he wants a baby sooner than you? What if his biological clock starts ticking? Do men have biological clocks?

You ask Sam this as he takes you to your dress fitting.

“That is a good question,” he muses as he navigates the city traffic. “I think so. I don’t think it’s as stifling as a woman’s biological clock. You guys actually have a set time when you can’t have children naturally anymore. We don't but I don’t think anyone wants to be 70 and chasing around a toddler.”

You nod in agreement and stare out the window as the city passes by.

Bucky decided he was bored with you or he legitimately had something else to do but he opted out of today’s trip so it was just you and Sam. You kind of preferred his company anyway.

“Do you think Steve’s biological clock is ticking?”

“Did he ask you about kids?” You nod and Sam lets out a weary sigh. Its so much like Steve’s, it’s uncanny. “He wants kids. He always has. Him and Peggy tried until she was diagnosed. But this is different. You were forced into this. If you aren’t ready, tell him ‘no’. If you don’t want anything to do with him like that, tell him ‘no’. We’ll have this ceremony and you can move back to California and live out your life if you want.”

You give him a blank stare. You never thought about it like that.

“Is that what Steve wanted?” You finally ask.

“It’s what he expected. I don’t think he meant to get this close to you.”

“So, h-he does like me too, right?”

“Princess, he fucking loves you.” The words drop on you like a ton of bricks. He loves…? “He hasn’t said it,” Sam continues, “but he hasn’t acted like this since Peggy was alive. Like a love struck puppy. His golden retriever starts coming out when you’re around and he has a hard time reeling it in,” Sam chuckles.

“I like him, too,” you admit. “I’d love to have children with him! But he seems so distant most of the time.” Sam takes a deep breath to reply but you interrupt. “I know you’re going to say he has a lot going on but is it too much for your future wife to just know where you’re going everyday?”

Sam remains silent until he finds a parking spot and turns his attention to you.

“Steve’s marrying you to protect you and himself. It’s not that he doesn’t trust you, it’s that he can’t trust you. Once you’re married and you two have that protection, I promise he’ll open up. But right now, you just have to trust that he knows what he’s doing.”

“How can I trust him if he can’t trust me?” You whisper.

“It’s gotta start somewhere, princess,” Sam sighs simply. He’s right. That night of intimacy, the trust started. He told you things no one knew. You can’t betray it under any circumstances or it will all be for nothing. All of that bonding goes right out the window.

You nod and make a vow to yourself: you’ll never take his trust for granted.

Your dress is sent to Steve’s Hamptons house the next day and a hair dresser showed up at Steve’s door to take down your locs and put in some boho twists. Friday morning, the two of you went to the vital records office for your marriage certificate. Then Steve tells you pack your stuff for the weekend because you’re going to spend the night at the venue.

It’s all happening so fast all of the sudden…

You gather all of your things and start to get Jethro’s stuff together when Bucky surprises you with a knock at your bedroom door.

“Does the pipsqueak have any special instructions I should know about?”

“Pipsqueak…?” At the name Jethro comes out of hiding and greets Bucky, rubbing against his legs happily.

“You didn’t think he was going to the Hamptons, did you? He’s going to have a long play date with Alpine.”

“He can’t come?” You frown at the brunet.

“Princess, you're getting married. You don’t want your kid there getting traumatized while Stevie wrecks you.”

“Oh my God,” you mutter in embarrassment at Bucky’s words and he just laughs.

“Plus, the wedding will be at the house. He’ll be terrified with all these strangers.” He has a point but still…

Steve walks by as Bucky attempts to steal your cat. “Steve, Bucky says Jethro can’t come!” You whine.

“He can go if you want, but you probably won’t be able to walk after tomorrow. How will you take care of him?” Steve smirks and continues on to the kitchen.

“You two are the worst!” You pout.

“He’ll be in good hands, star!” Steve calls.

“You promise nothing will happen to him?” You frown up at Bucky.

“I promise. Him and Alpine will have a great time. They can destroy my house and plot world domination.” Jethro does love play dates…

“Okay,” you relent and explain the cat’s feeding schedule.

That afternoon, Steve pulls up to a beach front mansion.

“This is it?” You whisper.

“This is it.”

A door man opens your door and Steve leads you up to the house. It’s beautiful. Old Victorian charms with all the modern amenities you could dream of.

“Wow,” you breathe as Steve takes you through the house for the ocean view.

“Will this work for the wedding?” He asks pulling you into a hug.

“This is perfect!”

There were already decorations in the lawn: tents and flowers and tables and chairs. You wonder through them and notice all of your specifications for the grand wedding were just scaled down. The color scheme and the center pieces were all present.

“It’s perfect. Thank you, Steve.” You turn and press a kiss to his lips.

“You’re very welcome.”

You wonder around the house and find that one of the guest rooms has been transformed into your bridal suite. The room is filled with soft colored roses and your dress hangs on one of the walls still in its bag.

You thought it’d be more stressful to have an at home wedding but everything really was taken care of.

The two of you retreat to the master bedroom to unpack but the view keeps calling you. Steve finds you leaning against the railing on the bedroom’s balcony, staring off into the bright sky.

“Do you like it out here?” Steve asks and wraps his arms around your waist.

You hum softly. “It feels comfortable. Slower maybe? I don’t know. There’s just some kind of peace here. I’ve lived in a city my entire life. I never thought I could look out window and see just the ocean,” you muse. All your life, there were always buildings in the way but this was beachfront. Steve agrees and presses a kiss to your temple.

“I’m Ubering some dinner. Ramen?” You light up at that and quickly take Steve’s phone to type in your order.

You finish unpacking and get ready for bed before the food comes and Steve starts a fire in one of the fire places. You curl up in an arm chair and text your friends back. They landed safely and Bucky picked them up to take them to a nearby hotel.

“We have food!” Steve announces places the take out bag on a side table.

He sets up the pillows on the floor and the two of you slurp up your ramen.

“Oh!” You cry and pull something from your pajama pocket. “I have your phone!” You announce, finally handing him back the black square.

“Ugh, don’t you want to keep it a little longer?” He asks dipping his tempura into his soup.

“Nope, you’re the boss again,” you smile and place a kiss on his cheek.

He groans again and takes the phone. He doesn’t even look at it. He just pockets it and goes back to his food.

“You aren’t worried about missed calls or anything?”

“Nope,” Steve replies simply.

“No emails? Texts?”

“Nah.” He picks at his bowl for a moment. “You have any noodles left?”

“Go for it,” you smile and push your bowl towards him. “This phone celibacy thing has been really good for you.”

“Right? I feel better.”

“Maybe I should try it,” you sigh and steal one of his shrimps. “Do you want my phone for a couple of months?”

“Star, you couldn’t survive an hour without your phone.”

“I can!”

“I took your phone for a week. You immediately got a new one,” he argues.

“I had to get back to California! All my confirmations and everything were on that phone!”

“You could’ve printed them out at your hotel.”

“And kill all those trees?”

“That’s, what, a couple sheets of paper? Do you have any idea the amount of damage that little square is doing to the environment?”

You huff and cross your arms over your chest. Steve just laughs and pulls you into his lap. You wrap your legs around his hips but keep your arms crossed. “How was I supposed to get home from the airport?”

“You don’t know your way home from the airport?”

“Not if there’s construction or something...”

“You can’t follow the street signs?”

“I mean, I could but I don’t want to get lost…”

“How long have you lived in Anaheim?” He pulls your arms apart once more and places them over his shoulders before wrapping his hands around your waist.

“Since my mom died,” you admit resting your forehead against his.

“Three years and you can’t get yourself home from the air-“ You silence him with a deep kiss. His grip on your waist tightens as he holds you close. You start to pull away and he chases your lips.

“Stop teasing me,” you breathe.

“Never,” Steve smirks and pulls you back into another kiss. Before you know it, he lifts you up into his arms, holding you to him and he never breaks the kiss.

“You’re so strong for a disabled person,” you joke.

“I could easily drop you off of a balcony,” Steve threatens as he walks up the stairs.

“You would miss me too much.”

He drops you on the bed before falling over you to press kisses to you neck and what’s exposed of your chest. He squeezes one of your breast making you whine and writhe against him.

He nips at your throat and one of his hands slides under your shirt to fondle your nipple.

“Steve,” you whimper as he lifts your shirt and to suck on your breast and leaves little butterfly kisses down to your navel. Your hips lift to grind against him.

“Do you need your disabled husband to make you feel good?” He goads making you giggle despite how turned on you feel.

He starts to pull off your shorts when a thought comes to mind.

“Steve, wait! What time is it?”

“Who cares?” He mutters against your core. He pulls back the hood of your clitoris and sucks at the bundle of nerves making you cry out.

“S-Steve! Please!” Your brain can barely function as you attempt to get him to stop. You press his shoulders and he finally pulls away.

“Okay, okay. What’s wrong, star?” He questions sitting back on his heels.

“What time is it?” You repeat as you attempt to catch your breath.

He pulls his phone from his pocket for a quick glance. “11:47.”

“You can’t be here!”

“What do you mean I can’t be here? Are you about to turn into an ogre or something?” He chuckles softly, running his fingers through his dirty blond hair.

“No,” you can’t help but laugh. “We can’t see each other before the wedding.”

“Oh my God,” Steve groans. “Are you serious?”

“Yes!” You cry, crawling out from under him. “You have to leave.”

“This is my house!”

“Go sleep in one of the guest rooms,” you insist.

“I’m not going anywhere,” Steve grunts crossing his thick arms. God, you just want them wrapped around you but your convictions keep you in place.

“Fine, I’ll go to a guest room.” You roll out of the bed just for Steve to grab your hand.

“You stay. I’ll go,” he sighs. “Let me just brush my teeth and take out my contacts.” You nod and he goes to the bathroom. He returns in his thick Coke bottle glasses making you smile.

“Oh, you really are blind,” you giggle.

“Shut up,” he grunts and places a kiss on your head. “Go to sleep, little star. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Goodnight,” you wish and watch him close the door behind him.

You let out a soft sigh and go to brush your own teeth before tucking into bed.

You turn off the light but stay sitting up in the dark unfamiliar bedroom.

It was huge, larger that Steve’s bedroom in the city. And out here, so far from the city, it was stiflingly dark and incredibly quiet.

You blink in the darkness.

It’s okay. You can sleep alone in the dark quiet gigantic bedroom in an unfamiliar house the night before you get married.

All alone.

You didn’t even have Jethro to curl up with…

You lie down and close your eyes and try to relax.

And your mind just rushes through everything. Was everything ready for tomorrow? The make up and the nail lady were coming at eight and Kahhori was going to style your hair. There was a hair lady coming to do the rest of the girls hair at nine. Your dress was here, your shoes were here. You got the flower accessories for your hair which were here. Everything was here and accounted for. Everything was ready. You wish you confirmed that there would be breakfast in the morning for everyone…And your signature cocktails! You decided to be cheeky and have the drinks you had on your first date but you wished you had time to taste them beforehand.

And the cake!

It was coming from California! What happened if it fell? Would the sprinkles be the right colors?

There were so many moving parts!

You were never going to sleep like this…

After so much time spent spiraling, you finally check your phone for the time. 12:43. You let out a deep sigh and get out of bed.

You grab your vibrator. Maybe you can cum and lull yourself to sleep…

Well, that didn’t work.

1:17.

You sigh again.

You shouldn’t have kicked Steve out. You just want this marriage to be perfect…

You go through the rooms and find him relatively quickly in the first guest room you check.

You attempt to close the door quietly and sit on the side of his bed.

“What happened to not seeing each other until the wedding?” Steve mutters, he doesn’t bother turning over.

You smile and slide into the sheets with him. “I couldn’t sleep.”

He sits up and pulls you into his arms. “So, when you have a problem, you can just come running to me?” Steve jokes, curling over you.

“Shut up,” you whisper and press a kiss to his jaw. “It’s just too quiet and dark and lonely out here.”

“That sounds like a you problem,” he mumbles and earns a soft smack on the arm from you making him chuckle.

“You were awake, too!”

“We aren’t talking about me,” he laughs and kisses your forehead. “I was having a hard time sleeping, too,” he admits. “Probably because my new wife would’t let me cum.”

“I just finished,” you goad.

“We could’ve gotten our frustrations out together.” You can hear the smile in his voice.

“I-I can help you,” you whisper. “If you want me to…”

He kisses you deeply, pinning you under him. Your hands fall to his shoulders and slide around his back pulling you closer. Steve’s hands instantly grip your hips, lifting them to tug your shorts down and toss them away somewhere. He presses his own sleeping pants down his hips before rolling you both over so you’re on top of him.

“Not wasting any time tonight, Mr. Rogers?” You smile, pressing kisses to his jaw and just behind his ear.

“I know what we both need. Unlike some people,” he jabs before holding your hips in place as he grinds his hard on between your folds, his tip bumping into your clit so deliciously.

Your breaths come out in irregular huffs but you still manage to get your own jab in. “Can you even see me without your glasses?” You earn a spanking from him at that.

“You are insufferable,” he chuckles.

“Get used to it,” you smile.

He sighs and tugs on your legs. “Come ‘ere.”

You slide your body a little higher up to sit on his stomach. “All the way up here,” he laughs.

“What?” You giggle in disbelief.

“Do I have to spell it out for you? Come sit on my face.”

“Really?” You laugh. You thought that was just something they did in smutty fan fictions.

“Yes! Come here!” He tugs a little more forcefully and you’re forced to move up to his chest.

“How do I-“

“Knees up here,” he instructs, patting the pillow near the headboard. “You can hang on to that.”

“Why would I need to hang on?”

“The last time I got you off, you practically had a seizure,” Steve jokes.

“Okay, okay,” you laugh in defeat and follow his instructions.

“Like this?” You whisper, hovering above his head.

“Just like that,” he sighs right into your core and you instinctively jolt away. “Don’t run away from me,” Steve mutters and grips your hips. He pulls them back down and holds them just over his face. He lifts himself to lick a stripe up your slit making you cringe away again but his hold on you is so strong. You don’t get very far.

You let out a loud whine as his nose bumps into your clit and you finally grip the headboard.

You need to just start listening to him. He knows what he’s doing.

You feel his tongue wiggle inside you and your knees get weak making you fall against his face. You can’t help it but the groan he admits tells you he loves it. He squeezes you tighter to him. You fleetingly wonder how he can breathe then his lips wrap around your clit and you quickly forget just about everything.

“Steve,” you whine. You can’t help but grind against his face. It feels so good!

Another soft whimper escapes your lips as you grip the headboard for dear life. Your hips start making small waves against him while he hits all the right places. The euphoric feeling inside you continues to build until it hit the edge. You let out a hoarse scream and cum flooding into his waiting mouth.

“Steve,” you pant, continuing to grind against him, attempting to keep the high of your orgasm as long as possible. Steve starts to lick against your slit again, keeping you stimulated but it eventually starts to fade. You try to catch your breath and Steve spanks you softly to make you move. You lift your hips but you’re still a little too weak to move.

“Fuck. Look at that pussy, fucking gushing for me,” Steve mutters and he pulls you back down to him.

“Nhhgg,” you grunt at the sudden manhandling. He gets right back to it, finding your clit and that soft spot inside you, pressing against them together and getting you right back where you just ended. “Can’t! Too much!” You whine.

He just ignores you as he slurps you like you’re his favorite meal.

-

You wake up hearing a far away but familiar voice. You curl a bit tighter against the warm body you’re against.

You yawn and blink seeing Steve’s toned chest. You stretch and wrap your arms around his narrow waist, snuggling a bit closer.

The voices continue and the room suddenly get brighter.

Steve groans and one of his arms pulls away from you as he stretches.

“Are you two going to get up or just keep ignoring us?” A female voice asks.

“Get up! It’s your big day!” This voice is male and you’re vaguely aware that you’re completely nude. Steve’s hand pats around your hip and the white sheets cover you up to your chin.

“You better not be staring at my wife’s ass, jerk,” Steve mumbles.

“Don’t worry. He didn’t see anything,” the woman’s voice assures him. You can’t help but scrub your eyes with your hands. You were sleeping unusually deeply. You felt so groggy this morning. Well, you didn’t get much sleep…

Because Steve ate you until you passed out!

You jerk awake to meet Steve’s bright blue eyes.

“G’mornin’,” he smiles sleepily, making you relax slightly.

You watch him for a moment, taking in his features. He looks so beautiful in this early morning light. Hair and beard mussed, eyes half lidded, lips so kissable.

You finally give him a small smile.

“Hi.” You lift yourself up and press a kiss to his lips. Steve moans and cups your face in his hands, keeping you close. The kiss quickly deepens making you whine against his lips.

“Hey! Stop! You two are already running late!” Your brain starts to recognize Bucky’s voice.

“And your friends are waiting for you,” the female voice says which you finally recognize as Natasha.

“We had an alarm set,” Steve groans and stretches again.

“You mean on the phones that are in the master bedroom which you two aren’t in for some reason,” Bucky goads.

“What time is it?” You yawn.

“8:30,” Natasha says.

“8:30!” You cry and go to throw the blankets back but Steve stops you. “But we were supposed to get up at 7!” You argue.

“Everyone out,” Steve groans holding his head in his hands. “Out!”

“Okay! Shit!” Bucky barks back and the door closes behind them.

Steve lets out a deep sigh. “Walk around here like they own the fucking place.” You still try to press away from him but he’s so strong. “Stop! It’s alright. Let me talk to you.”

You relent and sit up, waiting for him to join you. “How’d you sleep, star?”

You smile to yourself at the ridiculousness of his question. “Great, once you knocked me out.”

Steve chuckles and tucks his fingers under your chin to direct you into a proper kiss.

“How did you sleep?”

“Like a baby,” Steve mutters against your lips.

“You were able to get to sleep…afterwards…?”

“I fucking passed out,” Steve laughs. “I put in a lot of work.”

“But I didn’t even make you cum,” you protest, resting your hands on his thigh.

“You still wore me out,” he smirks. “But, I won’t stop you if your really want to.”

You stare up into his blue eyes for a moment. “We’re already so late…”

“Star, everyone is here for us. They can wait.”

You giggle. “Are you sure?”

“I’m funding this entire outfit. If I need everything to stop so my wife can suck me off, it’s going to fucking stop.”

You can’t help but laugh again before falling back into his kiss. “Does my husband need me to suck him off?” You ask coyly.

“He does,” he smirks and pulls you into another kiss.

Over an hour later, Steve finally walks you to you bridal suite. You ate Steve like a lollipop then showered and brushed your teeth then Steve had you crying with his face buried between your legs and you both had to wash your faces again and now you were finally ready to get ready.

“Oh my God! We were starting to get worried!” Kamala cries as you enter the room.

“I’m sorry,” you laugh. “We over slept.”

“James told us,” Kahhori sighs then they finally seem to notice the man behind you. “Is this him?”

“Yeah,” you giggle shyly. “Girls, this is Steve. Steve, this is Kate, Kamala, and Kahhori,” you introduce.

“A lot of Ks,” Steve laughs. “Nice to meet you, ladies.” He shakes each of their hands. “I know you’re are running behind so I’ll let you get to it.” Steve pulls you by the hand gently into his arms. “I’ll see you at the alter.” You nod and share one last kiss before he disappears.

You close the door after him and meet your friend’s gazes. “Awwww,” Kamala starts.

“Stop!” You cry with a soft laugh. You pull out your phone and start recording the moment.

“It’s the wedding day!” You grin before filming your girls. “Not the girls meeting Steve the day of the wedding,” you giggle. “We’re running a lot a bit behind but we’re doing hair and nails and there’s the dress! I’m getting married in two hours!” You pass off the phone to Kamala.

“It’s happening!” She laughs into the phone.

It takes a few minutes for the nail artist to finish Kahhori’s nails before she starts on you. In the time it took for you to finally arrive, everyone else’s hair, nails, and makeup were done meaning the next two hours were just for you.

You sit back and close your eyes while Kamala documents the process and Kate and Kahhori tag team your hair. You wanted big braids. You wanted elf. You want forest nymph. So they put in elaborate four strand braids and twist in your flowers and hair decorations.

Makeup and nails are going at the same time and you realize you have nothing to do. You can’t help but doze off.

“Babes! The groom is calling!” You hear Kate call. You blink awake and find that one hand is done and the nail artist is working on the other while the make up artists mixes a custom lipstick shade.

You take the phone and answer it.

“Hey,” you greet.

“Hi, Steve!” The girls chime in behind you making you giggle.

“Hey, ladies.” You can hear the smile in his voice. “How you doing, star?”

“Um, it’s going,” you laugh, looking down at the progress on your nails. “How are you doing?”

“The barber just finished cleaning me up.” You hear the smug grin in his voice.

“Good. You needed it.”

“You would know.” You gasp and quickly take him off speaker to press the phone to your ear. You hear Kamala snicker behind you and you slump in your chair in embarrassment.

“Oh my god,” you whisper.

“Did everyone hear that?”

“Yes!”

“Good.”

You bristle at his smugness. “Well, now you’re stuck at home until it grows out. You know that, right?”

“No, I don’t know that. What are you talking about?”

“You got a hair cut. Now you can only be at home or go to work. Nothing else.”

“What are you talking about?” You giggle at his confusion. He has so much to learn.

“Is Sammy there? He can explain.”

“Sam!” You hear Steve call. “My little star says I can’t go anywhere because I got a haircut.” You giggle while listening to him explain it and hear Sam join in you laughter.

“You’re married again, Cap. That’s not your haircut. It’s her haircut. And you can’t go around showing it off.”

“Tell him, Sammy!”

“Home, work, and maybe church, Steve,” he elaborates.

“Are you two fucking serious? Why does he know this? Did you two rehearse this?” Steve asks.

“He simply knows the rules,” you laugh.

“You have a lot to learn, Cap,” Sam laughs.

“Whatever. I was just calling to check on you, be a good husband, and this is the thanks that’s I get.”

You can’t help but smile at his words. “Thank you for checking on me.”

“Go back to getting dolled up,” Steve sighs.

“You too, handsome.”

He ends the call and you smile to yourself for a moment.

There’s another chorus of awws. “Oh my gosh,” you laugh.

“He loves you,” Kahhori sighs and tugs your head back. But you know the truth. This was all a facade to satisfy some part of his life. It was hard not to fall for it, though.

“I guess he’s marrying me for a reason,” you laugh knowing the reason is far from love.

“I had my doubts after, well, everything,” Kate sighs. “But you two seem to work.”

You just hum and let everyone go back to their hard work. At least for a short moment.

“Is that Tony Stark?” Kamala shouts from the window seat.

Everyone in the room rushes to the window, including your nail and makeup artist leaving you with wet acrylic.

“Oh my God! And Thor’s here!”

“And Loki!”

“Did you know they’d be here?”

“No idea,” you laugh. “I know Steve knows them but I didn’t know they were close enough to come to our wedding.”

Maybe his business ventures spread much further than you imagined…

You tug out your phone while the wedding party gawks at your celebrity guests.

Why is Tony Stark here? You text to a group chat Steve, Bucky, Sam, and Natasha.

He’s an old friend Nat texts back immediately.

He’s a business partner Buck replies and adds a thumbs down response to Nat’s message.

Do you want him to leave, Star? He wasn’t invited. Steve asks replying to your first message.

Half of these freaks weren’t invited Bucky texts.

No, it’s ok. I was just wondering why I wasn’t told that half of Hollywood would be here…

I wasn’t told either if it makes you feel better Steve replies with a side eye emoji.

You’re suddenly starting to feel like a fish on display. All these powerful people were here and you were an absolute nobody. Sure you have a social media following but that just meant that a majority of gen Zs knew your name. These are real celebrities…

You were marrying into something completely unknown.

I just thought you’d like some old friends to witness your big day Natasha messages with a shrugging emoji. This must be what Steve means by keeping her at a distance.

It’s your wedding. If you want them gone, say the word Sam finally messages.

It’s fine both you and Steve text at the same time making you smile. Even if it’s not love, you definitely have something.

I’m going to kill her Steve texts just you making you giggle.

Nah, she’s useful for somethings. Like finding wedding venues we don’t get to use

Before you know it you’re buttoned into your dress and final touches are made before you’re left alone in the house, waiting for your cue to walk down the aisle. A small four piece orchestra plays in the yard while your friends walk with Steve’s friends to the alter. You inspect your boutique and notice the tiny star shaped sparkles littering the flowers. He really does think of everything.

“Mrs. Rogers,” Scott calls from the doorway. “Are you ready?”

You nod and step up to him. He smiles. “You look absolutely beautiful. Cap’s a lucky guy.”

“He is, isn’t he?” You giggle.

“Take your time walking. Here’s tissues just in case.” You tuck them into your dress pocket. “If you get nervous, just imagine everyone in Superman underwear.”

“Why Superman?”

“You know? ‘Cause he wears his underwear on the outside.” You can’t help but smile. He is helping with the nerves.

“Dad!” Cassie hisses and steps in from a side door. “I’m hearing a lot of cringy jokes and I’m missing my bride.”

“Got her right here!” Scott grins and opens the double door for you. “Go get ‘em.”

You take your place at the doorway and finally see the vision you planned for your big day. You thought it would be harder, coming out here with people worth millions of dollars in the yard of a multimillion dollar property that just became partially yours. But you can’t even bring yourself to give it a sparing glance.

Steve has your complete attention.

He stands waiting for you at the end of the aisle. He looks amazing! A dark navy blue suit with burgundy accents that just seem to work for him.

He is amazing.

A grin broadens his lips when he sees you and you notice his freshly shaven face. You thought you liked the beard but you may like this even more. Your eyes finally meet and you’re instantly grateful for those tissues Scott just handed you.

You attempt to blink away the tears while you watch your new husband. His grin turns into a soft chuckle and he mouths “come ‘ere”.

You can’t ignore his call even if you tried.

You take a deep breath and take the first step into your new life.

-

“Just one dance, star?” Steve asks softly while you sit at the head table. “It’s tradition.”

“I’m really not a dancer. But you go have fun. Please.”

“All those dancing TikToks but you’re not a dancer?” He jokes and presses a kiss to your cheek.

“I’m not,” you giggle. “At least not like party Dancing. Give me a choreographed trend any day.”

He sighs watching you for a moment. “Okay, teach me a dance.”

“Really?”

“Yes! I want to dance with my wife. If this is how then so be it.” You giggle and stand up to join the small group dancing in the yard. You were used to being a public nuisance so doing a little 90 second dance didn’t bother you.

Plus it was such a small group of guests.

“Okay, so, start like this,” you cross your arms and shake your hips on each side. “And then like this,” you lift your arms over head and shimmy them down to your sides. “Then a circle.”

Steve copies you perfectly making you grin.

“Oh! Are we making a TikTok?” Thor asks popping out of nowhere with a beer.

You glance at Steve before giggling, “Sure!”

Before you know it, everyone is lined up learning the dance. You can’t just not record it.

“Alright guys, this is the official one,” you announce propping your phone on a table and making sure everyone was in the shot.

You count it down and you all dance to a viral K-pop song.

“Cut!” You call giggling to a applause and cheers from the group. “You guys were amazing!”

“You’re amazing,” Steve grins and pulls you into a kiss.

“Okay, I danced,” you laugh as he pulls away.

“Thank you, star.” He kisses you again and releases you to mingle with your friends.

Cake is served and Bucky and Sam give a very sweet speech about how much the two of you have grown together.

Before you know it, you left alone to watch the party from the sidelines. You prefer it this way. You smile as Kamala and Kate chat with Bucky. Kahorri’s managed to strike up a conversation with Tony. Despite the rush and the extremely late start, everything seemed to be going beautifully.

You find a empty table to take a quiet moment to sip your cocktail in peace and let out a soft sigh.

You’re kind of ready for all these people to leave and get some quiet.

“How’s the new Mrs. Rogers doing?” An unfamiliar voice asks. But you were quickly getting used to everyone being unfamiliar today.

You plaster on a fake smile and turn to greet your guest.

Oh? He’s kinda cute…

“He actually took my last name,” you joke.

“You young people are so progressive,” he laughs but it doesn’t really reach his eyes.

You don’t remember seeing him during the ceremony but a lot of people just come for the food, right?

“How do you know Steve?” You ask.

“I don’t know him, actually. Never met the guy.”

Oh?

“Well, then you must know me?” You introduce yourself. “Welcome to the family.”

“Wade,” he shakes your hand. “You know you look amazing in that dress. You wanna get out of it? Find some place quiet?”

You laugh at the audacity of his question. “I don’t know if you missed the whole aisle thing and the ‘I do’s but I’m married.”

“We all know it’s a show,” he sighs and glances around.

“Excu-“

“He only married you so golden boy wouldn’t get a life sentence for murder. But us? We could go places. Like a Mexican restaurant!”

The playful air quickly drops and you frown at him. “Why are you here?”

“I was supposed to replace him. Pretty, blond, ‘American’,” he air quotes for some reason. “I could never replace that ass though. What’s his gym routine? He must do so many squats…”

“What do you mean ‘replace him’?”

“I mean I was supposed to kill him but the man is like Fort Knocks.”

You blink at him and open you mouth to call your new husband but his strong hand wraps your waist.

“Wade? I don’t remember sending you an invitation?” Steve smiles, pulling you slightly behind him.

“Must have gotten lost in the mail or something. Can’t trust the U.S. postal service anymore.”

“Get off my property.”

“How did you get past security?” Sam questions stepping to Steve’s other side. Bucky just steps in front of you and crosses his arms over his broad chest.

Wade bursts in laughter. “You think those hired thugs can stop me? Oh, Cap! I missed this! Us joking around and having a good time.”

“We’ve never wasted our time on you,” Bucky grunts.

“We could’ve, though! In my mind, we’re best friends and we get smoothies together.”

“You’re delusional,” Steve sighs. “Stay away from my wife.”

“Okay, fine. I’ll stay away from her.” Wade grins.

“But?” Sam seems to be the only one to care about your well being with this crazy person.

“But I can’t guarantee everyone will stay away from her.”

“What would you do with her? Kill her? She’s your only witness. Put her on trial? She can’t testify against me.”

“Captain America Rogers. Can I call you Steve?”

“No,” all three men say at once.

“Mr. America, you’ve made the biggest mistake of them all. You’ve fallen for her. I don’t need to do anything with her. I just need to take her from you.”

You gasp as a hand grips your forearm. All the talk has you on edge and you rear up to back hand whoever put their hands on you only to slap the only face you think is prettier than the one you married.

“Loki!” You gasp, retracting your hand. “Oh my god! I am so sorry!” You cry watching the giant man place his hand to his cheek.

He lets out a frustrated sigh. “It’s not the first time. I doubt it will be the last. Let’s get you inside. This won’t be pretty.”

You let him tug toward the house.

“Hey! Keep her inside.” Steve instructs after the two of you but that is the last thing you’re worried about. You just desecrated a national treasure!

You place a bag of ice to his face while concern mars your brow. “How’s that feel?”

“Slightly better than being backhanded,” Loki sighs and pulls the ice away for a moment.

“I’m sorry,” you repeat.

“Stop apologizing. I shouldn’t have startled you. I know a turf war when I see one. I wanted you out of it.”

“Thank you,” you smile sadly. “Everything was going so well…”

Loki sighs. “That is what comes with this lifestyle: You’ll never have to want for anything again but you might have to deal with the occasional death threat.” You smile at his words.

“How’s the new show going? King George?”

“Oh, it’s wonderful. You two should see it.”

“Steve offered to take me but I wasn’t feeling up to it.” After today, you’ll go see all of his performances. “Maybe after all the excitement dies down…”

Loki hums and presses the bag back against his cheek.

“How long have you known Steve?”

“He’s been close to my brother for years. We only go to each other when we need something. I think he’s a bit of a fool to be honest. Nobel but foolish.”

“Why?”

“He thinks he can save the world by killing it. Thinks he’s cracked the code. Sells drugs that give the weak an edge, weaponizes the underprivileged, mobilizes the downtrodden. He’ll change the world into one great riot before he fixes anything. I’m just glad I have the money to sit back and watch.”

You never heard Steve talk about it like that. You just assumed he was supplying the local gang bangers.

“Giving the weak an edge is why we have people like Wade Wilson crawling around.”

“What are you t-“

Your question is cut off by the sound of a loud bang against the glass doors the yard. You let out a gasp and rush over to see Steve standing over Wade and beating the complete shit out of him.

“Steve!” You cry and attempt to run toward the door but a hand wraps around your wrists stopping you.

“Loki! Let me go!” You scream back at him.

“I’ve never been one for listening to people’s request but Steve said to keep you inside.”

You watch for a moment before Wade turns on Steve.

“I don’t want to see this.”

“Then don’t look.”

You take a deep breath and turn back to the kitchen as the commotion seems to escalate outside.

“Oh my god! Oh my god! They’re going to kill each other!” Kamala cries as your friends rush into the house around the chaos.

“What the fuck is going on?” Kate demands to you.

“Go do something! Your husband is getting the crap beat out of him!” Kahorri shouts at you.

“I’m calling to cops!” Kamala states wiping out her phone.

“You will certainly are not.” Loki plucks the phone out of her hands. “There’s are far too many high profile people here to get the police involved.”

Your group of friends look to you for guidance. You stare at the stone countertop for a second. You married into the mob. This was your new normal…

You shake your head and a tear slips down your face.

“Okay. This has to stop! She’s fucking crying!” Kate shouts at Loki. “Can’t you do something?”

“I’m on Broadway! I can’t risk ruining this face!”

“I’ll ruin it if this doesn’t stop,” Kahorri threatens.

“Alright,” Loki holds up his hands. “Just make sure she stays here.”

“Like we’re going back out there,” Kamala laughs humorlessly, pointing at the chaos outside.

“I’m taking his poster off your wall when we get back home,” Kate promises you once he’s gone. “What’s going on?”

“I don’t know. I guess that guy came to cause trouble,” you exhale. Your heart is hammering in your chest. Are you about to have a panic attack? You can’t handle this right now…

“Does Steve have a seedy, dark past or something?” Kahorrri questions and pulls herself up to sit on a bar stool.

“He’s got something.” You laugh but it doesn’t reach your eyes. “I don’t think I can talk about it.”

“Why?” Kamala asks. “Is he a murderer and that loud guy is out for revenge?”

You’re eyes widen at how true her statement is. You can’t help it! It’s an involuntary reaction.

Kahorri doesn’t miss a beat.

“Oh my god! He is forcing you to marry him! We have to get out of here!”

Kate grips your arm and attempts to tug you away but you just shake your head.

“We’re already married. I love him.”

“Honey, that’s called Stockholm syndrome. Divorces are easy to get. Especially when your husband is a murderer. Now let’s get you back to California and get the best restraining order money can buy.”

You know better. If you leave, he won’t bother you. If you wanted him to leave you alone, he would. That’s never been the problem.

You don’t want him to leave you alone.

You shake your head again and a tear slips down your face followed by another.

“He’s my husband.” You tug your arm away and step away from the group.

At that moment, Thor opens the door and pushes your husband inside the house.

“Stay put!”

“Steve!” You cry and rush to him. “Oh my god, baby,” you whine seeing his cuts and bruises. “We need to go to a hospital!”

“No! Banner’s on his way,” Sam grunts and tucks an arm around Steve’s chest. He’s only a little less beat up. “Let’s get him in the bed. You gotta walk for me, old man.”

Steve spits out a bit of blood on the hard wood. “Who you calling old?” He wheezes and a smile ghosts across his lips.

You rush to tuck yourself under his other arm to help get him upstairs but Kate calls your name.

“We’re leaving. Let him go. We’re going home,” she insists.

You shake your head and attempt to help Sam when Steve wheezes again. “Star. Go.”

“But-“

“This is no place for an innocent thing like you. I want you safe and safe is far away from here.”

“No.” You can’t control the tears anymore as the run down your face. “No, Steve! I’m staying right here!”

“You need to go.” You shake your head looking up at him. “I can’t bear to loose your right now. Do you understand?” A soft whine escapes your lips and you just want to wail out in tears. This is your wedding day! You were supposed to be with your husband right now. Not dealing with whatever this is!

“I hate that Wade guy,” you whimper.

“I’d kill him but he’s like a cockroach,” Steve smirks then gives you a once over. “I’m so glad I married you.” He presses a kiss to your temple before pulling away from you and pushing you toward Kate. “Go. Now. Scott, take them!”

“On it, Cap,” the man calls and rushes the four of you off to a waiting town car.

And everything is silent. You press yourself against the window, squeezing your eyes shut. Hoping if you wish hard enough, this is all just a horrible nightmare and you’ll wake up next to your husband safe and sound.

But you were a mob wife now. Safe and sound was a pipe dream.

The silent tears start to fall and soak your dress.

Everyone else in the car seems to respect your need for silence and the dull rumble of the engine is the only noise you hear.

Scott finally comes to a stop in front of the hotel your friends stayed at the night before.

“Ladies, this is our stop,” Scott announces and gets out of the car to open the doors.

“I’ll have flights booked for you all in the morning. Steve would want you as far away from this as possible,” he directs to you.

“Wait! I need to get Jethro! He’s at Bucky’s place.”

“Jethro?”

“The cat,” Kate explains.

“Shit,” Scott curses softly.

“I have keys,” you whisper.

“That’s not the problem. That place will be crawling with Wade’s guys. And Logan hasn’t even shown his face yet. If he’s anywhere, he’s at the penthouse waiting for you.”

“No! I need my cat!”

“Okay. Okay. I’ll let Steve know.”

“Fuck it!” You hiss. “I’ll let Steve know. Causes all this shit on my wedding day! Then kicks me out?” You pull out your phone and wait for him to pick up.

“Star? Is everything okay?” He answers on the first ring. His voice is full of concern but you can hear the pain still there.

It takes everything in you not to be the doting wife right now. You take a sharp inhale. “Jethro’s at Bucky’s place.”

“You and that fucking cat,” he groans. “Are you at the hotel?”

“Yes, I’m here. I’m fine. We’re all fine. I just need my cat.”

“Okay. I’ll send Bucky.” You can’t even manage a thank you. You just hang up and stalk toward the lobby.

You get your own room and hold yourself up in it. You can’t deal with the questions or the judgement or anything right now. You curl on the bed in your wedding dress, staring out the window to the harbor.

You want to go home.

But not to California.

You miss the pent house. The comfort you felt there. Everything was perfect there. The two of you shouldn’t have left. Just gone to the courthouse and called it a marriage.

You should get up and change but you don’t even have anything to change into.

You just smother your face further into the pillow and let the tears fall.

Your phone pings with a text message well into the night from Bucky asking you to open the door.

You find him in just as bad a shape as you left Steve in. “Oh my-are you okay?” You gasp and usher him into your room. He places your duffle bag on the floor and Jethro’s carrier on the couch before slumping next to it.

“I’ve been better,” he jokes.

“Is Steve okay?”

“Banner got him all patched up. He’ll live.” He groans and leans back on the couch, covering his face with his metal arm.

“What’s going on? What happened?”

He peeks out from behind his arm. “Steve would kill me if I told you anything.”

“Please.”

Bucky sighs and stares back up at the ceiling. “Wade’s handled. Logan’s handled. Stark has his drones all over the city sniffing out the rest of Wade’s band of misfits.”

“Why is he doing this?”

“Apparently he aligned himself with Rumlow before he died. He’s loyal. I’ll give him that.”

You watch the brunet for a moment. “Is anyone else going to come after us?”

“Fuck if I know. Wade’s as big a threat as they come. And don’t you dare tell Steve I told you anything. You heard it from Scott. He’s got a soft spot for that guy anyway.”

“Thank you,” you whisper. You watch him for a moment and go to Jethro’s carrier. “Mommy had an exciting day,” you explain to the cat and hear Bucky laugh gruffly.

“Today was one for the books, little man.”

You hear a phone buzz and ping which Bucky promptly ignores then another ping and another. “Fuck,” he groans and finally pulls the phone out of his pocket. “I better get out of here before Sammy has a conniption.”

“Thank you, Bucky,” you repeat and watch him get up slowly,

“Your flight is at noon. Scott will send your tickets out soon.” You nod. Bucky sighs and watches you for a moment. “You need a hug?” You nod again. “Come here, princess.” You fall into his chest. “You’ll be alright. Steve won’t let anything happen to you.” But what about him?

“Hey, I got Sarah’s number,” Bucky grins as you release him.

“Well, shit,” you smile weakly. “It’s about damn time.”

“You wanna break the news to Samuel for me? He likes you better.”

“I think that’s something that should come from you. But I’ll come for moral support.”

“You just want some drama.”

“That too,” you giggle.

You watch Bucky leave and stand there battling tears for a moment. Alone again. Until Jethro’s meows snap you out of it.

You let Jethro out of his carrier. “Let’s get you situated and I’ll tell you all about it.”

You finally shower and change and stare at the lacy set of underwear you had picked out for tonight. So much for that.

You squeeze your eyes shut to stop yourself from thinking about Steve and if he’s okay and if he misses you because you miss him so much.

Another tear escapes your eye but that’s all you allow and you blink away the rest.

Now that you’re cleaned and comfortable, you finally build up the courage to face your friends.

You text the group chat if they’re still awake.

Kamala test back first ‘Obviously’

‘Just waiting on your invitation’ Kahorri messages.

‘Come over.’

They show up at your door less than five minutes later with tight hugs and love which makes the tears come back with a vengeance.

“Wait a minute, you have two rooms?” Kamala asks after you calm down. “How come you get a suite?”

You let out a watery laugh. “My husband’s funding this outfit.”

Then the truth comes spilling out. Everything that’s gone on for the past few months comes to light and you can’t stop yourself.

But it feels good to get it out in the open.

“Honey, why didn’t you tell us?” Kate starts but then interrupts herself. “Well, okay, I get why you didn’t tell us. But why?” She exclaims at the situation. “Why you? Why him? What the fuck!”

“I get it. This whole thing has been a shit show. But…I can’t say I don’t like him.” There are chorus of groans from the three women. “Can you just hear me out?”

“He kidnapped you!” Kate cries.

“And forced you to marry him,” Kamala continues.

“A won’t tell you the truth about what’s actually going on,” Kahorri mutters.

“I mean, I get it. I couldn’t keep this from the three of you and I tried really hard! Imagine if he told me how he murdered someone. I’d probably tell it to the news somehow. I don’t blame him for not trusting me.”

“You didn’t ask for this lifestyle. You don’t need to be trustworthy,” Kate argues. “You don’t owe him anything.”

You don’t owe him anything?

Sam did tell you that right before the wedding. It wasn’t your first time hearing it. You don’t need to be loyal to him. You don’t need to give him anything. You don’t even need to like him. All he did was string you along to keep himself out of trouble…

But you still want him to trust you. You still lo-

“So, what are you going to do?” Kate interrupts your thought. “My mom knows a divorce attorney. You can tell the court everything you’ve been through and they’ll toss his ass in jail for life.”

“I’m not doing that,” you scoff.

“No, you are. We hate this guy!” Kahorri insists.

“I love him!”

The three of them watch you for a minute.

“Sweetie,” Kamala whispers. You know when she puts on her quiet voice, she’s getting serious. “He kidnapped you, threaten to murder you, forced you to marry him, invaded your space, endangered your safety. Endangered all of our safety! And made you live in New York and you hate New York. Should I keep going?”

“No,” you quickly deny.

“Are you even listening to her?” Kahorri asks noticing how far away you start to look.

“Yes, I’m listening! I lived it! I saw it all! He drugged me, stole my stuff, broke into my home, forced me to relive my mother’s death, empathized with me, learned about me, provided for me, gave me everything I asked for, laughed with me, held me-”

“You need a therapist,” Kahorri sighs.

“I’m not crazy,” you mutter.

“You are! Because you fell in love with a psychopath crime lord and you don’t seem to see anything wrong with that!”

“There’s definitely something wrong with it. I just got over it, I guess.”

“You got over it?” Kate questions with an eye roll. “I-I’m at a lost for words. I’ll need therapy just to compartmentalize all of this.”

“I’m sorry, guys,” you whisper. Kahorri sighs and falls back on the couch.

“What do you like about him?” Kamala asks.

“What?”

“Besides the kidnapping and being a gang member-”

“Mob boss,” you correct.

“Being a mob boss,” Kahorri corrects. “What do you like about him?”

“Beyond the obvious?”

“That’s he’s fucking hot? Yes, beyond that,” Kate laughs.

You can’t help but smile. “Okay. Big one, Jethro really likes him but you know that. He’s interested in me, he listens to me. I think I kind of calm him down. I never really have to ask for anything. It’s just there. While I was still in California, he’d send flowers once a week. He remembers my favorite food and coffee orders which is really complex so I really appreciate that-“

“So, he’s a mediocre boyfriend?”

“I mean, he’s my husband.”

“A mediocre husband?”

“How is he mediocre?”

“Isn’t remembering the little things about your partner, like, the bare minimum?”

“And he almost got us all killed at your wedding.”

“He did not! You’re just being dramatic.”

“Maybe I’m being a little dramatic but how often do mob fights break out at weddings?”

“Isn’t that what happened in the Sopranos?” The three of you give Kamala a look at her statement. “It’s the line! ‘You come to me on the day of my daughter’s wedding’,” she mimics in a raspy voice making you all giggle. “Then they all start shooting? I don’t know. I never saw the movie.”

“Is it so bad to just enjoy his company?” You finally ask, dropping your arm over your eyes.

“He must give some amazing dick,” Kahorri scoffs.

You can’t even respond to that.

“You’re still a virgin, huh?”

“Yeah,” you sigh. “Tonight was supposed to be the night.”

“Aw! You waited until you were married?”

“That was the plan. It was how my mom would’ve wanted it. You know, she was old school like that. Maybe I’ll just go hire an escort now,” you laugh. “I could probably ask Loki. He’s been trying to get in my pants since I met him.”

“Are you serious?” Kate gasps sitting up abruptly. “You turned down Loki Laufeyson, your life long celebrity crush, for Steve?”

“Yeah,” you answer slowly.

“You really do love him.” You throw up your hands in exasperation at the whole thing.

“I’m glad we all figured this out after already telling you that I love him,” you mutter. “I’m starving. Like seriously starving. I don’t think I ate anything but a bite of cake. Room service?”

“Yes!” Kamala cries. “Enough about Steve. He sucks!”

“He doesn’t suck,” you mutter, grabbing the hotel information book. “There’s a watermelon caprese salad!”

“Fucking salad? What’s on the dessert list?” Kate asks, grabbing the menu from your hands.

“Have you told him you love him?” Kahorri asks. She always sees through your bullshit.

“No, of course not,” you sigh. “And he hasn’t said it either. We really haven’t gotten there, I don’t think. Or it would’ve been tonight. I don’t know! Everything’s a heavily guarded secret with him.”

“Probably for the best. You did kinda blurt out the fact that he’s a hardened criminal who murdered someone,” Kamala shrugs.

“But I didn’t make a TikTok about it!” You argue.

“That’s true. You make TikToks about everything,” Kate sighs. “Cheese pizza and chocolate cake? This is on Steve’s card, right? Maybe we should get a pepperoni, too,” she muses.

“Just get me a salad, please,” you sigh and stand up to go to the bathroom.

“Don't play healthy! You’re going to eat the pizza, too!” You laugh as you continue out of the room.

The four of you enjoy your food and watch some television, update yourselves on the newest internet drama, before finally calling it a night well into the next morning.

You yawn and set an alarm for 10am to have plenty of time to pack.

You curl into the hotel bed with Jethro and attempt to put everything aside to get some sleep.

…

Or not.

Since when could you not sleep without Steve?

You turn over once more and stare at the abstract picture hanging on the wall illuminated by the lights outside the window. Maybe it was a building through a fish eye lens. Or a disco ball…

It was kind of ugly whatever it was.

Then you hear a noise that sounded suspiciously like the door opening. You gasp and sit up causing Jethro to go running in the nearest direction of safety.

The door crashes against the chain lock before there’s a soft knock.

Everything in you says to ignore it.

“Star! Come get the door. I know you’re awake in there.”

“Steve,” you whisper. You rush out of the bed to the door. You quickly whip open the door and rush into his arms. “Steve!” You cry.

“Easy,” he laughs, holding you lightly.

“Oh, shit! I’m sorry! Are you okay?” You ask pulling away and giving him a once over. He was dressed in a black hoodie and sweats.

“A couple of cracked ribs, broken collar bone, I’ll have a black eye in the morning, but I just wanted to see you.”

You smile and pull him into the room. “I’m really starting to think I can’t sleep without you,” Steve sighs as the two of you step into the bedroom.

He sits in the bed with a soft groan and pulls you between his legs.

“I’m so sorry about today,” Steve mutters. “I know you wanted it all to be perfect.”

“Yeah,” you whisper. “It’s okay-“

“No, it’s not. I owed you one thing: A nice wedding. I can’t get anything right with you…”

“Steve,” you whisper.

“I’m really trying to do this right, to make you happy. But it seems like at every turn, I’m getting it wrong.”

You smile and run your fingers through his hair gently. “You don’t have to be perfect for me. I like you just how you are. I am happy.”

He smiles faintly and pulls you into his arms, smothering his face in your chest.

“Before…everything, it was beautiful,” you continue. “I think we had a pretty convincing kiss.” He he grins. “And you looked so handsome in your tux! I never got a chance to tell you.”

“You always look beautiful but now I understand all the fuss around your dress.” You giggle. “And everyone said they loved you. You even got Tony in your video. You’re making a good impression.”

“That’s good,” you smile. “You think they’ll be able to handle having me around for a while?”

“If they can’t, we’ll just get rid of ‘em. Or you can just yell at them, too.”

“I’m sorry about that,” you laugh. “I just needed my little boy!”

“You and that fucking cat,” he hums in response, keeping his face hidden in your nightgown.

“Do you want to lie down? Get comfortable?”

“Comfort is a little difficult right now but yeah. Can you help me with my shoes?”

You nod and sit on the bed to untie his shoes and help him slip them off before he gingerly scoots onto the bed.

You catch him staring at the photo on the wall. “It’s hideous, right?” You smile.

“It triggers my fight or flight somehow,” he agrees. You giggle and slip from the bed. You find a towel and cover it making him smile.

“Come here.” He pats his lap.

“You sure?” You ask, sitting on the edge of the bed.

“I want you close.” You smile and slide up to his lap.

“Let me know if I’m hurting you.” You rest your hand on his thigh and he lets out a hiss of pain. You jerk your hand back.

Your gaze meets his and a slow smile spreads across his lips.

“I can’t fucking stand you!” You hiss back.

Steve chuckles softly. “Shit! It hurts to laugh.”

“Good!” You bark but it only makes him laugh more.

He leans back and takes a few deep breath trying to get the laughter out. He lets out a heavy sigh and grips your hand. “Come ‘ere, star,” he repeats and bites his bottom lip. He pulls you to straddle his lap. “You’re so fucking gorgeous.” You sit up on your knees to meet his lips. He hums positively and grips your hips pulling you closer as your hands cup his face.

You eyes flutter open to meet his gaze. You rest your forehead against his.

“This is a goodbye, isn’t it?” You whisper.

He sighs. “Am I that easy to read?”

“For me? I think you’re getting there.”

“I’m sorry.” Your eyes start to sting. “It won’t be forever, I promise. But I don’t know how long. It’s the only way to get this to stop. I need to keep you safe. Yesterday was too close.” You let out a soft sigh and pull away to sit back on his thighs. “Listen, I don’t want you to wait for me.”

“Steve-“

“I want you to go out and explore. Figure out who you are.”

“Steve-“

“Star, listen to me-“

“No, you listen to me!” You’re voice raises above the whisper the two of you have been talking at making his eyes widen slightly. “Steve, there wasn’t anyone before you. Why would you think there would be anyone after you?”

“I just don’t want you waiting for me.”

“I think I’ve spent my whole life waiting for you. What’s a few more years.”

Steve smiles and shakes his head.

“Well, if you want to explore, you have my blessing.”

You pull your lips to the side in irritation that he’d even suggest such a thing. Then you smile at a thought. “I think Bucky would be willing to break me in in your absence.”

“Anyone but Buck,” Steve frowns making you giggle.

“Sammy?”

Steve takes a slow deep breath as he thinks about it. “Sam’s okay. Sam will take good care of you.”

You give him a hard look. “Scott?”

“No.” You smile. “And not because I don’t like him. It’s because you won’t like him.”

“You don’t know what I like!”

“Alright. Go on a date with Scott. Don’t blame me. And don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

You can’t stop the laughter at this point. “I’m not going anywhere, Steve.”

He smiles and presses a kiss to your lips. “I just need to get this trial over with so we can disappear for a few years.”

“Disappear?”

“Uh-huh. Go to one of my islands or I own this little hotel in France, and a ski resort in the Alps.”

“We can do all of that. Start a travel vlog.” You pause and glance at his lips. “Maybe start family vlog one day.”

“As long as we can exploit our children for money and physically and psychologically torture them.”

“Oh, we’ll spend several years living in a camper and driving to all the national parks. No internet, no TV.”

“No kids their age, cramped living quarters. Oh, they’re going to fucking hate us! Just nature and the open road,” Steve grins and tries to suppress a laugh while you giggle. “I can’t wait to do all of that with you.”

“Me too.” You watch his for a moment while rubbing your fingers across his stubble.

“We should try to get some sleep,” Steve suggests. You nod and crawl out of his lap to his side.

He eases down against the pillow and you wrap your arm over his waist. “Is this okay?” He hums positively and wraps his arm under you, holding you close. “Goodnight, Steve.”

“Goodnight, star.” You finally start to doze off against him. He softly whispers something you can barely hear.

“I’m so sorry.”

“I love you,” you mutter into his chest and fall asleep almost instantly.

Steve stays pretty quiet the next day. He greets you and presses a kiss to you forehead when you wake up still wrapped in his arms. An egg and a bagel and an egg white omelet show up at your door and the two of you share a quiet breakfast.

Steve drives you to the airport while Scott drives the rest of the girls. He makes sure your bags are checked at skycap and placed in the first class storage of the plane. He surprises you and goes with you through security to a private waiting area.

He tries to carry Jethro but you shoo him off, reminding him that he’s injured. Instead he holds your hand, wraps his arm around your waist, pulls you against his shoulder while you sit.

But he remains so quiet.

It’s so out of the ordinary for him. Like he’s holding something back.

Answering questions with clipped answers or just a simple ‘yes’ or ‘no’. You start to ask him what’s bothering him but he looks at his watch right as you open your mouth.

“We better get to your plane.”

You just nod and follow him to the gate. Everyone boards while you wait in Steve’s arms, smothering your face in his chest.

You don’t want to go.

Your eyes start to burn while you wait there. The flight staff finally call your name. And you pull away from him.

“I’ll miss you,” you whisper.

“I’ll miss you more.” He presses a kiss to your forehead. You pull away and start to walk away.

Steve catches your hand again and pulls you back into a searing kiss. You moan into his lips as you relax into his chest.

When he finally pulls away, he whispers a soft, “I love you, too.”

He presses another kiss to your forehead and presses your toward the plane.

You walk away. Turning back one last time before you step into the boarding tunnel.

Steve waves and you quickly turn back toward the plane.

You take your spot next to Kate in first class.

“There you are,” Kamala, grins from behind you. “We thought Steve kidnapped you again.”

“I wish he had,” you whisper.

Oh. This is going to be so hard…

Chapter 4 | Master List | Chapter 6

[kimbappykidding]

Previous Parts: Part One, Part Two and Part Three.

After your talk with Choonhee, you and Sehun headed down to the car like scolded school children. Part of you didn't know why you'd let yourself be so reckless and was angry at yourself. You'd let your guard down and vowed never to let that happen again...but then Sehun turned to you and asked if you were okay and you knew that was an empty promise. Sehun patted your leg with a half smile and drove you back to his. When you got back to Sehun's he sat on the sofa and looked at you "Y/n we need to discuss what happened" and you nodded ready to implement some new rules at work but Sehun had something else on his mind. "I can't be the reason you get fired...I can't ruin your life so I'm not sure I can carry on this with a good conscience". You paused blinking "I...oh you want to end it?". Sehun shook his head "I don't want to but Y/n what choice do we have? Why did you never tell me how bad things could go if your manager found out? I would've never made it as obvious as I did". You sighed "I figured you knew and if you didn't well...I didn't tell you because it doesn't affect you directly so I didn't think I was harming you". "So?" Sehun asked "don't you think I'd want to know if something we did could hurt you?". You paused before shaking your head "honestly no...I didn't think you'd be happy or anything but I never thought you'd care".

Sehun went really quiet and ran his hands through his hair "why did you think that? Have I been rude and dismissive towards you or something?". "No of course not" you said and Sehun frowned "so why didn't you think I'd care?". "I don't know!" you cried "because you're an idol and even though you're a good person you're aware of how valuable you are...plus it's not like we're dating or anything. There's nothing about what we do that says you have to care about me". "But of course I care about you!" Sehun replied his voice rising "I like you Y/n and this isn't just hooking up for me...I like you" he repeated and you blushed "you do?". Sehun nodded "of course I do! We've spent a lot of time together and you're so much fun! Not just in the bedroom. I love how honest you are and how you don't get intimidated by me. You're talented and so good at what you do, I love watching you work and sometimes I imagine things...". "Like what?" you asked and Sehun shook his head "just silly things, I had a dream we were living together and you had a textiles room full of all your stuff in our house. It was just a dream so please don't get put off...but it was nice and when I woke up for a few seconds I started imagining it". You blinked because that was incredibly sweet and you had no idea Sehun was thinking of a future with you. "I...might've had similar dreams" you admitted "and that was one of the reasons I reacted to Nalah’s advances so strongly...I like you too". Sehun smiled at that before pausing "and now I really don't want to end this".     You weren't one to beg for something and Sehun knew this so he looked at you "what do you think we should do? Is there really no way we can be a couple without the company kicking off?". You parked Sehun's comment about you being a couple for a time when you could process it better and thought about his question. "I've never known anyone get a pass for sleeping with an idol" you admitted and Sehun nodded "so what if it wasn't sleeping? If I told them you were my girlfriend...if you wanted that of course" he said blushing. Apparently, Sehun wanted you to process this now and all you could initially do was smile and blush. "I'm...not sure, do any of your members know? Surely they've considered dating a member of staff before". Sehun nodded "they're all at the house, should we go ask them?". You paused because you'd never met his members casually before but figured you hardly had anything to lose at this point so nodded and took Sehun's outstretched hand. Sehun drove you there and then paused outside the main door. "You ready?" he asked and when you nodded he opened the door and left you inside. You could hear noise as soon as you went in and were surprised only 3 members were in the living room. Kai, Baekhyun and Xiumin. They spotted you and Sehun immediately and you saw their eyes linger on you in particular, but they quickly smiled at you making it more friendly. "Y/n!" Baekhuyn said "Sehun finally quit hogging you huh?". You blushed and Sehun rolled his eyes "what he means is it's so nice to see you" and Kai nodded "yeah can we get you anything?". You shook your head "it's really good to see you all too and I'm fine thanks". Sehun nodded "actually we kind of need to discuss something with you guys, do you know where the others are?". Baekhyun nodded "I got this" and went to the bottom of the stairs and screamed for everyone to come down. That got everyone assembled and you felt a lot more nervous with 6 guys in front of you (Chen wasn't here). "So what's up? Are you okay?" Suho asked and the guys all sat up a little straighter. "Yeah we just need to pick your brains...I don't know if guys are aware but they're really hard on the staff and Y/n can get fired for getting involved with me". “How harsh?” Kai asked and Sehun explained they could fire you. “Shit, I’d joked they could do that but I had no idea they actually would” D.O. said. Most of the members seemed similarly unaware except Lay and Xiumin. "I knew" Xiumin admitted "there was a girl I liked a few years ago who worked in our makeup team but when the management saw me give her my number she disappeared. I never knew why until I saw her backstage working for another group about a year later. I made a whole joke about how she didn't have to leave the company to get out of calling me back and she told me she'd been fired...because of me". You froze and Sehun saw you turn pale and took your hand. "Woah really?" Kai asked and Xiumin nodded. "But that doesn't mean it's going to happen to you" D.O. said "there has got to be exceptions". The guys all nodded but you weren't sure. "Lay what happened to you?" you asked. Lay sighed "well my contract was slightly different to all of yours and in my contract, it mentioned if I dated it could be terminated. My lawyers were furious and I managed to get it changed when I proved it was unfair". "Okay and how did you prove that?" Sehun asked. "I asked to look at your contracts and saw it wasn't in there. They didn't have a leg to stand on because mine was the only different one. So they can change contracts but I don't know if they will" Lay said "sorry". "No it's good to know it's possible" Sehun said "what are your guys' instincts? If I tell them we're not just hooking up but are a couple do you think they'll bend the rules?". Baekhyun looked down sadly "honestly? No". "I think they might" Xiumin said "when they fired my girl it was years ago. Now we're pretty big and have sway. They need us as much as we need them and might be willing to bend the rules for you". "I think it depends on how far you're willing to go Sehun" D.O. said "if you threaten to walk if they fired Y/n they might try and call your bluff and still fire her but I don't think they'd ever let you follow through with it...it's if you're willing to take the chance". "No" you said before Sehun could reply "you can't you've worked too hard" but could tell from Sehun's expression his mind was made up. "I'm doing it" he said "you've risked so much for me I can take this for you. If I can scare them into treating you right then I will". You blushed and slowly nodded. "I think you going to them will really help" Suho said "you can hold all the cards and even have lawyers present if you want to show them you're serious". Sehun nodded "I'll do it all! They're not sacking Y/n" and the guys all cheered. You ended up staying for dinner and left several hours later feeling very touched but also had something on your mind. You walked to Sehun's car but before he could get in you grabbed his hand. "Sehun I just wanted to say you don't have to date me just to protect me. I know what the risks were and I'm a big girl who can handle any consequences for my actions". Sehun nodded "I know that, you're way stronger than me and I'm not asking you to be my girlfriend just for that, I like you and I'd like you to be my girlfriend...the added protection element just gave me an excellent excuse to say it". You smiled "okay but you didn't actually say it" you said and Sehun frowned "what?". "You never asked me" you said and Sehun laughed "oh didn't I?". "Nope!" you said purposefully not looking him in the eyes and Sehun chuckled. He put one hand on your waist and with the other brought your eyes to his "Y/n would you be my girlfriend?" he asked "pretty please?". You smiled "yes although the pretty please sounded sarcastic..." and Sehun laughed "oh shut up" and kissed you. "That was our first kiss as a couple" you said breaking away and Sehun nodded "it was and that gives me an idea of lots of other things we can do for the first time as a couple". You smiled and looked at Sehun "you've got a room here right?". Sehun nodded "yep" and grabbed your hand hurrying you back inside. He quickly waved to his members and then rushed upstairs much to the member's confusion until they heard the door lock. "Nothing's as strong an aphrodisiac as challenging authority" Baekhyun smirked and Suho nodded "yes...let's just hope it's a quiet one" and he turned up the television volume. The two of you planned to tell management 3 weeks later. Sehun spoke to several lawyers and found one who had defended kpop idols before. The lawyer analysed all your contracts and thought considering your contract had only been re-written 4 months it should be able to be adjusted again to exclude that clause. She had her whole presentation ready and met you both outside the office. "Ready?" Sehun asked and you both nodded heading inside. It was your day off so they wouldn't be expecting you and Sehun had requested the meeting without having to state what it was about. The receptionist of course recognised Sehun and told him to go up to the top floor where the CEO's office was. They were waiting for you when you got there and you could see the upper management staring at you trying to work out why they recognised you. Sehun went first, then you and then your lawyer. There were 3 managers and they shook all your hands before telling you to sit down. Sehun did and leaned forwards "so thank you for seeing us, of course you know Y/n from our textiles department and this is Ms Naylor, she's our legal representation". You couldn't tell what was more surprising to them, that you worked here or that you'd brought a lawyer but they recovered quickly. "Y/n of course how good to see you again" the main one nodded "you of course know us and Mr Tapang at the back is our lawyer". You looked at the well-dressed man nervously but Sehun smiled "great now introductions are out of the way I can tell you why we're here. Y/n and I are dating and want her dating clause removed from her contract so there's no question of her being reprimanded". "You're dating?" the man asked looking between you both "for how long?". "3 months" Sehun replied without missing a beat. The man nodded "and I take it Y/n is your stylist, is that how this happened?". Your lawyer had advised you to make it clear you were both remaining professional so Sehun shook his head "no, we of course met here but I first approached Y/n outside of work when her car broke down. You can corroborate this with my members" he said passing them across statements that the members all signed to say this started outside of work. "But you work together...surely there's been some overlap?" another one asked, trying to argue you couldn't do your job properly and date Sehun. Sehun shook his head "not at all, I'll admit I've been visiting Y/n at work and in my breaks come and spend time with her but it has never hampered her work and here is a statement from her manager backing that" Sehun said passing another piece of paper across. You'd told your manager you had a job offer from another company and asked if she'd suggest the management match the competitive salary by stating how good your work had been lately. Your manager agreed quickly as she did not want to lose you. Of course, Sehun had helped you with your work but they didn't need to know that. "However I understand people may judge my visits and so I will not be visiting Y/n in her workspace anymore. It was always me who came to her and never Y/n's fault" Sehun said knowing they'd be less likely to blame him. The men looked at the documents and then sighed "look Sehun we all like you and are happy for you and Y/n. We appreciate you coming to us but we can't just change Y/n's contract". Now this was what you'd brought your lawyer in for. "Actually you can" she replied and started her presentation. She talked for 5 minutes citing cases where contracts could be adjusted and evidencing several companies who had done just that and also a few who hadn't and had lost idols in the process. Anytime the men tried to deny something or throw her off she simply showed the lack of logic to their words and carried on. "So I guess we're giving you guys two options, move with the times and be the progressive company we know you are or risk losing one of the most successful groups of all time" your lawyer finished. That made them all sit up and Sehun spoke "if you fire Y/n over this the second my contract is done I'm out. If she goes I will not be renewing next spring and that's a promise". The men all exchanged looks and the main one sighed "you're twisting our arm here Sehun, if we change the rule for you everyone will expect the same". "Good" Sehun replied "I do think you should change the rule for everyone but right now all I'm asking is for you to do it for my girlfriend. You won't notice any changes and we can all move forwards together". The men leaned into one another and the main one turned back to you "we need to discuss it with our CEO and reconvene after that". Sehun nodded "should a week be enough time?". "Can we get back to you?" one of them asked and Sehun shook his head "no, this has caused the two of us lots of stress and I want to know if I need to look for a new company sooner rather than later". The men blinked and then whispered again. "One week, same time same place?". Sehun nodded "excellent, thank you gentlemen" and you all bowed and left. Afterwards, you went home and Sehun stayed at work but he appeared at your door an hour later. "Suho said I could go home because I looked stressed" he announced and you nodded "yeah I felt so bad for you having to go back to work, come and sit down". You took his arm and led him to the sofa. You wrapped a blanket around him and held his hand "so how are you feeling?". Sehun smiled "I should be asking you that". "Well I asked you" you said squeezing his hand. Sehun signed "I'm not sure...I'm pleased it's over and think it went well but I also can't stop thinking about it and ways it might not happen". You nodded and hugged him "you did a lot today and were so brave. You stood up for me and I can't tell you how much that means to me". Sehun wrapped his arms around you, pulling you tighter against him "of course I'd stand up for you. No matter what happens I will never regret that". "Really?" you asked "you won't hate me if they fire you? Because it's not too late for you to tell them you've changed your mind". Sehun cut you off with a kiss "shhh I'll hear no more of that. Now how are you feeling? What did you feel when you got out of there?". You paused "the same things as you mainly. Relieved it was over, anxious about what they'd do but there was also something else...I thought you were so cool and impressive". "What? Me? How?" Sehun cried and you laughed "what do you mean how? Look at you! You went in there and owned that conversation. You didn't let them discredit us or lead us into any traps. You were on it for the very start and were so solid and unwavering". "Really?" Sehun asked looking pleased and you nodded "yes it was very cool...and hot".  Sehun got even more pleased "hmmm really please tell me more" he said moving so he could see your face. You blushed a little but nodded "you were like some cool lawyer from a kdrama. To the point and badass. Not to mention you know I love you in a suit...". Sehun smiled "so the whole time in the meeting you were just checking me out?". "Not the whole time but I noticed yeah, you got a problem with that?" turning to face him. Sehun shook his head "not at all and actually that gives me a great idea for how to get rid of all this tension". You acted like you had no idea what he meant and Sehun grinned pulling you onto his lap. "Just what might that involve?" you asked and Sehun smiled "how about I show you?".   A week later you were back in that room with your future hanging in front of you. "We just want to check, she isn't pregnant is she? Is that why you're doing this" one of the managers asked not 10 seconds after the pleasantries were over. As if reading your mind Sehun raised an eyebrow "she's sat right here, if you're going to ask personal questions atleast do it to her face". The man looked at you and went to repeat his question when you shook your head "no I'm not pregnant". "And you're not engaged or anything?" he asked looking between the two of you. You and Sehun shook your heads. "May I ask the relevance of those questions?" your lawyer asked and the man looked at her "were merely checking some terms before making a deal". You got excited as he said that and sat up taller. You felt Sehun also stiffen but both remained as calm as possible outwardly. "We are willing to amend Y/n's contract and remove the part saying she cannot date a member of this company. Instead, we suggest replacing it with this" he said pushing a piece of paper towards you "it states there can be no reprimanding but there must be complete professionalism and no dip in workload or productivity". Your lawyer read it over and seeing no obvious objections turned to them "will you excuse me and my clients for a moment?". The men left the room and you both turned to her. "The amendment is good, I will argue to make the wording more specific, that is if you're happy to go ahead?". You and Sehun looked at one another and smiled "let's do it". Your lawyer finally got it changed to "there can be no reprimanding due to a dip in workload or professionalism directly caused by a relationship with a member of SM". You signed the new contract and Sehun also signed a provisional agreement that he would resign with SM when his contract ran out. You remained professional and calm in there but the second you got in the car park you both cheered. Sehun let out the highest-pitched noise you'd ever heard him emit and pick you up and spun you around. You hung onto him laughing and when he set you down were dizzy so gripped onto him. "Woah" you said struggling to stay upright and Sehun wrapped his arms around you securely "sorry I got excited". You smiled "it's fine" and watched as his face finally came into focus "I'm pretty excited to date you too" and kissed him. 1 month later Sehun had now been your boyfriend for over a month now and so much had changed and at the same time nothing had. You work up on Saturday morning to hear a crash and shot up in bed. You blinked your eyes open to see Sehun was coming back into your room and had knocked over a pile of books. He winced and looked at you "sorry". "You're lucky you're cute" you told him and Sehun smiled "cute? I'm downright gorgeous" making you smile "you are" and Sehun came back to bed. "So are you...and now you're up maybe we can do something to celebrate that". Sehun kissed you and you soon got lost in the sensation before a thought occurred to you "did you knock those books over on purpose just so we could do this?". Sehun smiled "not just a pretty face you know" and you grinned "you mischievous little devil". Sehun just shrugged "punish me if you want" and you nodded "oh I will". At work everyone now knew about you and Sehun and Nalah's face when she found out was hilarious. She quit a few weeks later and you hadn't seen her since. Your manager wasn't too pleased to hear that was why Sehun had been hanging around so much but once you promised her it wouldn't be as regular and you'd always be professional she agreed to let you keep Sehun as your client as well as Chanyeol when he came back. Chanyeol claimed a lot had changed but particularly Sehun. You saw him a few days after he'd gotten back at the Exo house and noticed him watching you and Sehun. You worried he might not approve of your relationship, mixing work and love and he finally said something hours later. "You know it's weird being back because you've changed so much" he said to Sehun. You were sat on Sehun's other side but were listening to Kai and Baekhyun argue...until now. You didn't turn around but listened in and sat very still. "No I haven't" Sehun laughed "I'm still the same person!". Chanyeol shook his head smiling "no you're not but that's not a bad thing. You're pretty happy huh? You seem it with Y/n". You heard Sehun chuckle "that's an understatement". "I figured as much for you to challenge the management for her, just the way you look at her reveals how you feel". You could picture the adorable blush on Sehun's cheeks and resisted the urge to spin around and look. "I....really like her" Sehun admitted "I had no idea what this was going to be when we first started but we've ended up in a very happy place and that's all I can think to describe it...happy". Chanyeol patted him on the back "well I'm pleased for you, just make sure to tell Y/n that". "Don't worry I heard" you said and Sehun's blushed and Chanyeol laughed. "He's so cute when he goes pink, right Chanyeol?" you asked hugging Sehun and Chanyeol got him from the other side "totally Y/n!". "You're my best friend and girlfriend, aren't you meant to fight for my attention or something?" Sehun asked but you and Chanyeol looked at one another and then shrugged "nah". Sehun pouted but he was only kidding. You getting on with Chanyeol was literally the last pre-requisite and seeing the two of you happily chatting or joking around warmed Sehun's heart. He was very thankful he'd met you and that he'd gotten naked at work because it led to this moment right here. He took your hand in his and basked in the moment. Things were pretty great.

[gimmiesomehoneynsugar]

It Lead to this

Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3

Rocket/Gn Reader! Word count 2087 updated version oops

A week has passed since you’ve seen Rocket, you’ve texted him the odd amount with photos of your lunch and little plants you find around your job, and he replied with either the thumbs-up emoji or just left on read. This would’ve annoyed you before but now with everything cleared up between you two, all you can do is accept it and sigh continuing your shift.

As the hours fly by, you pack up your stuff and say goodbye to your coworkers, you slowly walk down the street and through the plaza, and you see the local bars and restaurants open up it’s been a while since you’ve gone out by yourself, and you were craving a milky fizz vodka and roasted zargnuts.

You head to your apartment, you got out of your work clothes and into your favourite tight black shirt n pants, you look in the mirror and realise the only reason you felt confident in these clothes was Rocket boasting about you in the clothes all while complimenting you.

His eyes wouldn't leave you until you left the room, even in a crowded space he could spot you out of the corner of his eye that's how infatuated he is with you. You sighed into your hands then throwing your head back you thought to yourself, tonight is about you, not some guy who's not interested.

You put on some light makeup, mascara and highlighter, you felt confident, stunning even and with your shoes on and your wallet in your hand you leave, now walking to your local bar.

You walk through the door yelling at the bartender for a Milky Fizz Vodka and some zargnuts roasted, they give you a thumbs up and as you walk to the corner barstool you hear some familiar voices coming from the booth beside your seat. You turn your head slightly and in the corner of your eye, you see Drax, Nebula and Rocket all in a booth chatting it up.

You think to yourself ‘You gotta be kidding me,’ as the bartender hands you your food and drink. You quickly turn your head back, you'd leave the by now or say hi but a little bit of you wants to snoop you can’t help but eavesdrop, also tonight is about you, and self-love, you don’t want to involve yourself with Rocket right now.

“Drax, Nebula I don’t know how you deal with all those little demons, dealing with all the animals is easier than those... kids,” Rocket speaks in a sarcastic tone taking a swig of his drink.

“Rocket there are our children, they have names, I’d like you to respect them,” Nebula scoffs, crossing her arms.

“You have over fifty children! How am I supposed to remember them all?” He exclaims gesturing with his hands.

“I’ve memorised all my children's names, you're just incompetent Rocket, Although I do wish Mantis was here with us,” says Drax, grabbing a fistful of zargnuts.

“Well she gotta discover herself yknow, maybe she got a lover or a hobby, who knows she might even visit us in the future,” says Rocket as he signs looking out the window all while swirling his drink.

“Hahaha! You seem to think she's doing better than you?” Drax practically yells while Nebula shakes her head in disagreement.

“What, what are going on about, I’m doing great, fantastic even?” he asked, focusing on the conversation.

“I say that Mantis might already have a mate Rocket, you should look for a suitable life partner too, you might be small but some people can get past that” Drax claims as he downs his drink, all while Nebula rolls her eyes.

He looks a little shocked at first but after a second of silence looking at his drink.

“Well… maybe, I have thought of that kinda stuff,” he says, sipping on his drink and avoiding eye contact with Drax and Nebula.

Overhearing their conversation on dating leads to you choke on your drink, you grab a napkin and cough into it still trying to overhear the convo. But honestly, it’s pissing you off more than you realise, you were now okay with not dating Rocket or being that close to him but now his attitude of wanting to date utterly infuriates you.

What was the point of the whole conversation you had with him if he was gonna turn around and say this? Maybe you just weren't what he was looking for other than to screw you. But why all the gifts and dates, was I a hooker?

As you are about to pay for your drink and go home in a salty mood, a random man sits next to you.

“Are you an alien?” He says leaning one hand on the bar looking you up and down not hiding the fact he is staring right at your chest.

“Cause you abducted my heart the moment I walked in,” he says while smirking thinking he nailed it, what kind of confidence does he have to think that would really work?

You couldn’t help but crack up giggling trying to cover your mouth. Just the sheer amount of cheesiness is enough to make you cringe in a laughable way.

“Don’t you think that a bit racist?” you asked looking at him fully, seeing he was clearly drunk, not bad looking but a little too sloppy drunk for your taste all while Rocket, Nebula and Drax saw, Rocket's jaw dropped as he realised you’d been there the entire time and heard everything, he gulps thinking he should pretend he doesn't know you for the sake of him not having to explain his whole confusing relationship with you.

You quickly glance at the three of them with a grin, looking at Rocket's nervous face made you grin and now all you wanted to do was to mess with him.

“Just Kidding, care to buy me my next drink?” you asked, smirking with your lip now on the cusp of your drink, signalling to this guy he could have a chance. He sighs in relief of not offending you and calls over the bartender.

As Nebula n Drax continue their convo about how their children are, Rocket can’t help but stare in anger at you talking to this stranger, he’s more pissed than anything but realised he kinda caused it a little.

He mumbles under his breath ‘If he tries any more flirty shit with you i’ll rip him a new one’. Rocket was staring so sharply at you he could burn a hole between both of your heads, you again glance over to see Rocket seething showing off the bitchiest bitch face you’ve ever seen.

You honestly couldn’t help but smirk at him biting your lips softly and quietly moaning into your cup at him. If any of your teasing was going to rile up Rocket it’d be this.

He sees you clearly teasing him, he is just one moment away from pulling you out of that bar or dragging you into an alleyway to devour and punish you.

“So what’s your name dolly?” The guy asked you, slurring his words.

“Don’t call me dolly my name is-,”

“Whatever lemme tell you dolly about my weapons, I’m a bounty hunter and I enjoy the hunt of shitheads you know,” he interrupts you now going on and on about his recent bounties he’s completed, nothing impressive just the average thief, while drinking the milky fizz he bought for you.

“Ah okay…” you say now ready to leave, as you get up basically sneaking past this guy, he grabs your forearm.

“Where do you think you're going dolly?” He asks, squeezing your arm tight, enough for it to hurt.

You crunched your face, ‘what a slob’ you thought.

“Mind letting go asshole?” you said loudly pulling your arm out of his grasp, leaving a sore red handprint.

“What’s the problem babe? We were having fun,” he scoffs frowning.

After you pull away now everyone has either glanced over or just waiting to see what happens next, Nebula and Drax looked over a little concerned but they go back to their conversation, yet Rocket snapped over this.

With the most infuriated look on his face, he jumps off his booth seat now hopping up to the seat you were just on, getting between you and the guy.

“Who the fuck are you to boss them around, also don’t call them dolly!” says Rocket, bearing his teeth with his hand hovering over his holster.

“Rocket what are you doing? I can handle this myself!” you walk around to face him, can tonight get any worse?

“Yeah listen to Dolly Rodent, I'll call them whatever I want, and what even are you some kind of monster?” he chuckles looking at Rocket curiously, trying to figure out what he is through his beer goggles.

“The fuck you say?” you slam your hand down between them separating the both of them while Nebula and Drax stare while eating zargnuts it’s first-class seats to this confusing drama.

The man flinches back a little after your burst of rage, yet after the acts of aggression to his life, he still has the audacity to ogle at your chest. You’d have enough, with all your anger you swing a punch to his jaw causing him to fall off his seat, your knuckles now bruised up with torn skin, “Piece of fucking shit,” you say as you spit on him and pay the barkeep.

You’ve just seen your hand, it’s started to bleed after you handed over the units. ‘Shit’ you mumble as you grab your stuff, quickly glancing at Rocket before rushing out of the bar.

“Wait, where are you going, wait!,” Rocket yelps chasing after you, forgetting all about Nebula and Drax who are still eating and enjoying this drama.

As Rocket follows you to the dock for the ships he questions why you would come here. You paced over to your ship, it wasn’t anything fancy, your ship wasn't big or shiny just comfy enough for you to travel long distances. You click your remote and a bridge comes out and the door to your ship opens.

“What are you doing, where are you going?!” He asks you huffing, catching his breath completely confused.

“Rocket I’m confused you confuse me, I don’t get you I’d admit I don’t understand you,” You look back at him with frustration riddling your face.

“What are you going on about, you’ve gone crazy,” He says confused and worried, like you could do something drastic.

“What you said at the bar to Drax and Nebula, then defending me, I thought you didn’t want to date me but, fuck man I feel lead on I don’t get you.” You yell at him, and everyone around is now staring, they probably think of this as a lover's quarrel.

“That’s! That’s.. look I admit I don’t know what these feelings are but whenever I see you with someone else like that dickhead calling you dolly ugh! It infuriates me. I nearly killed that bastard if you didn’t punch him, speaking of which doll why did you punch him?” He asked you now with his hand on his hip.

“Well, news flash Rocket, I LIKE YOU,” you yelled so loud it has a slight echo through the dock.

“I like you so much Rocket and from what you just said, I think you do too! but you need to realise that yourself and I ain't not waiting any longer, I'm out!” You say to him now with your hands on your hips.

“Out what do you mean out?!” he asked tilting his head.

“I’m going to stay at my sister's for a while on Terra, Earth!,” you exclaimed throwing a small tracking device to him.

“When you figure out your emotions for me and yourself come get me, if I don’t see you in a month well we're through," now wiping away a small tear of your cheek, you walk over to him and kiss his forehead holding his face.

You walk back onto your ship looking back at him, he seems quite shocked and confused you can see the cogs turn in his brain with a hopeless look on his face.

You shut your ship's door, and a waterfall of tears burst from your eyes, you pace over to the cockpit sitting down on your lonesome chair and as you start the course for Terra, home.

[hexfloog]

2021 - 2022 - 2023 - 2024 - 2025

Can you believe there's barely 10 days left to the year?? Because I can't! Time to lay my feelings bare again!!!

So I definitely slowed down quite a bit compared to 2022, but I still made enough to fill the template and, in spite of everything else, lots of life development things happened these last 365 days that I think makes 2023 one of my best years in recent memory :)

I have less to say about the art this time. The drop in quantity checks out when I stop to reflect on just how much time I spent on each one. I definitely don't have as many sketchy works to show off this time either (probably in no small part due to the fact that I've also slowed down on Detco) - and that's probably owed to having spent most of my art effort this year drawing for other people, be it commissions or fan projects, and I already know that I'm more inclined to take risks when I have just myself to please. It's not a bad thing, that's just how it is.

I suppose my one observation of this year's body of work is that the vast majority of it is quite ambitious. Real pushing-my-comfort-zone stuff, but it's more of a polished brand of risk rather than the kind you get sketching ideas on the spot. Some examples:

February - both a collab and a thing that became a fan cel intended as an autograph piece at a con

April - simultaneously a gift and a very personal piece

June - silly comic (anything humorous is automatically out of my comfort zone)

August - community project + comic page redraw that really tested my ability to find a new style to play with

September - made to become tangible merch (it did)

October - redraw of my very first digital piece

November* - character design from text description only and formal reference sheet commission (my first ever)

December* - digital watercolor + fake children's paperback cover

*active WIP, not yet complete

It's not that much (really, it's average output for me) but I will take my wins where I can get them, especially since this is pretty much the scope of my art projects this year. Didn't really have much time or energy to write, or make more models, or scan more cards, because... ya girl was too busy getting a promotion/raise, moving out, enjoying the best con experience of her life (so far), volunteering, meeting lots of new people, dating again, having general fun, eating good food, trying new things, finishing a monthly art challenge for once, playing creative romhacks, waking up to new career opportunities, etc. etc. etc! It feels like so much happened this year!!

I tend to be harsh on myself and often feel like my life is not going anywhere, but this year really made me feel like I'm finally gaining some momentum again. And like... I don't expect (or want) to live life in the fast lane or anything, but stagnating isn't good, either, and with every passing year I have to ask myself with a little more sincerity what my future looks like.

So all that said, thanks very much for sticking around and suffering me another year <333 Who knows what 2024 will bring!! But for the first time in a while, I think I am looking to it with more than just a resigned "meh" and I hope the same for anyone reading this, too.