#i think i'm doing fine does it sound like it :)

[lamentationsofalonelypotato]

@waynes-multiverse

Hi Wayne!! I was so excited to see your wonderful feedback 💚 I'm also very sorry this took me so long because April was long and May is already starting to spiral 😅

Aww, he’s already saving her. Why do I think that means something? 😂

Maybe.... 😉

Of course he did. Ben really always knows how to talk to the ladies 🙈

I know. He's soooooo charming isn't he? Doesn't he know just what to say to make a woman swoooonnn? 😒

Ooooh I’m sensing he doesn’t want her to walk home alone either. Someone already seems to have caught a little bit of feelings 😏

Pssshhhh... Girl, What? That's crazzzyyyy? Why would SB ever have feelings?

And I love that we have the same HC, Lee! I totally believe too that SB would just obnoxiously stare at a girl he likes – to the point it gets a little weird – and then cover it up with whatever stupid line comes to his mind lmao

Aww yay! I love that too! I honestly believe that the staring would be so uncomfortable- but he's just a baby (not for realsies but a baby when it comes to feelings LOL 🤣) and he doesn't know how to say what he's feeling! Well, doesn't know how to say what he's feeling in a healthy way 😭

Yep 💯 I’m already scared what Kripke will do to him in S5. At one point, is fanfic writers will have a hard time to redeem him 😅

Oh my word- ME TOO! I'm so scared that he's really gonna take him to the unredeemable place... I also feel like SB is gonna do something really bad in Vought Rising too and I'm frightened 😅 BUT that is what's fanfiction is for LOL

Ooooh? 👀 I’m guessing this is the finale at Vought Tower. I’m curious to see how you changed that ending. I always found that super hard due to Ryan (unless we pretend that kid was never there, which I’m fine with lol)

You're right! It is the finale at Vought Tower! 🤗 I don't go into too too much detail on that, but pieces of it are sprinkled through the fic 🥰 AND yes! For me it's kinda hard to write around the finale, because it's pretty set in stone. And I always give Ben the same job after in all my fics 😅 But it's funny because I just realized that I never mention Ryan in this fic at all 🤣 Whoops? Guess I forgot the brat LOL! But yes, let's just pretend he wasn't there 🤣

Oh, burn 😂

I was so proud of that zinger let me tell you 🤣

And I absolutely love her powers btw!!! 😍🌿🪴 Can I tell you a secret? My favorite superhero powers have always been either time or plant powers 😂💚

YES! Plant powers and earthbending powers are my favorite (time travel is super cool too)! I thought it was such a travesty that we haven't seen a plant supe in the Boys yet. I've got my fingers crossed for S5- if they do it justice 🤞🏻

Awwww, I hope she gets it 🥹 I honestly wanna give her a big hug. She sounds a little lonely (but maybe that won’t stay this way for long 😏)

She does deserve that though! I too wanted to give her a big hug when I was writing this. But I'm also happy you highlighted this little snippet, because that's a theme through this entire series. It comes up quite a lot 😅

And that high school boyfriend sounded like a real winner 🙄 (But good for her for locking that douche in a tree lol!!!)

Oh he was terrible 😒

Ah yes! Every woman’s worst nightmare 🙈 I’d be scared shitless for her, but knowing she has superpowers helps immensely with the anxiety. And I have a weird feeling SB will pop up, too, because he still didn’t want her walking home alone because he *cares* 😏💚 (That’s probably a curse word for him lol) And seriously, her powers are so freaking cool!!! 😍💚🪴🌿

Yep. The dreaded walk home 🫣 Oh yeah, definitely, the powers make it a little bit better, but still writing it I was anxiety city. I'm dead at "*cares* 😏💚 (That’s probably a curse word for him lol)" 🤣🤣 It's SO true- the one curse word he won't say.

Knew it!!!! Oh, Ben aren’t you just a fucking softie inside… Why you gotta be like this? 😂🙈💚

He's a big ol' softie- with a black heart of gold LOL. And I just had to drop in the touch her and die trope... because I can't be stopped. It's compulsion at this time point.

Also I love modern family, so watching Gloria beat up Jay like that on the gif was wonderful 💗

Oh, of course! Why am I not surprised, huh, Ben? 😏

He might have been taking a bigger interest in her well-being than he wanted to admit lol.

I’m sorry – you were gonna say? Before what, hmm? Oh, he’s already a complete goner, isn’t he? 😅💕 And of course he gave her an excuse and won’t admit to shit. A stroll? That’s what he’s going with. Who will buy that, Ben? You don’t look like the typical 2am stroller in the rain 😝 And it’s obvious he likes and that she’s at least attracted to his face when his mouth stays closed, but I’m honestly so fucking excited and curious to see how he will pull this off and win her over 👀 And I love his fucking argument of his attempt on her life being already a month ago 🤣🤣 Like bro, it ain’t the magic sentence you think it is lmao

Mhmm, man is already smitten.

Oh definitely... Ben always strolls in the middle of the night in the pouring rain. Doesn't everybody? No? LOL.

She is "attracted to his face when his mouth stays closed" 🤣☠️! I'm excited that you're excited to see how he wins her over! It is a wild ride, I'll say that much without saying too many spoilers lol.

And you're right, Ben is really out here like- it was a month ago, get over it! HE TRIED TO KILL HER! 🤣

Ugh, I hate when he’s a little right 🙄

He is. The one thing about the current century he understands 🤣

Whyyyyy, Benjamin?? Why are you like this? 😩

The toxic masculinity really coming in clutch at this point lol

Because dicks are hard 😏 I see myself out…

Actual footage of when I read this 👆🏻 GIRL STAWPPP, I'M DEAD 🤣🤣

Pffff, this is honestly so cute 😆💕 Yes, you use that excuse, gramps lol

I mean... imagine how awkward that is. THE POWER flickers! And Ben has supe hearing! I mean he's a little bit of a pervert, but I don't think he enjoys hearing that LOL.

Oh, Mike, you poor soul… 😂 And the fact that Butcher mocks him and he’s just oblivious to it all. Seriously poor guy lmao And of course, he was immediate cannon fodder for SB 🙈😆 But it says a lot when even Hughie had a hard time being nice to him lol But honestly, as much as she hated it, SB peacocking as her boyfriend probably gave Mike the rest. I was laughing so hard during that entire exchange 😂

The poor Mike trope is gonna trend this whole fic. Just wait til you meet Jake 🤣 And I know! Mike is one of those people who is just too precious for this world and he doesn't understand social cues like that 😭

Yep. The IMMEDIATE targeting system Ben has when he sees men who might be a little awkward and not so good around the ladies 🤣 I'm still cackling at "cannon fodder"- I love that usage here. BUT yeah, if Hughie is having a hard time then it must be almost impossible.

And yay! I'm glad you liked the exchange (peacocking LOL). It was my favorite part of this chapter- just the awkwardness and Ben being teasing and just (sexy) annoying.

Oh God 🫠🫠🫠 What I’d give to make out with this asshole 😩 (Probably had to give up feminism lol)

Ah yes, the day feminism took a vacation. I think I've seen that special, just like the "The Year Without A Santa Claus." 🤣 But oh yeah, my feminism would have to just shut it's eyes and put noise canceling headphones on.

Dead. I’m wheezing over here, Lee!!! 🤣🤣

Okay, hear me out. I love Mike's mother. She is literally my favorite side character in this entire fic. And she's just so wild, so unhinged (she's all of us). The more you see her in this fic, the funnier it is.

I’m sorry, my boy… but when exactly did we let you move in? God, he’s so fucking obnoxious sometimes 😂 So that’s his plan winning her over? Forced proximity? Why am I not surprised this is the best he could come up with. He probably thinks the Stockholm syndrome will help with his flirting lmao

Not the Stockholm syndrome 🤣🤣🤣 He really is obnoxious and the reader is just an inch away from throwing him off the roof!

I absolutely love that her apartment is full of plants!!! Total boho vibes 😍🌿 But hey, how neat! If they ever get together, she can grow weed for him 😆

Yes! Her apartment is the dream. I love plants so much- I have them all over my house so it was just so wonderful to write a reader like that 💚 And it's funny that you mention weed...

Gaaaah, I’m so hooked! I love their dynamic and can’t wait to see if she gives him a chance, and what he’ll do or how he’ll change to deserve it!!! Such a fantastic start to this series! 💚💚💚 And sorry for not getting here sooner or checking in with you more this month, friend! April was a little rough and I’m still majorly catching up with everything, but I’m so glad I finally get to read this wonderful series 🥰

Yay!! I'm so happy you like this one! It is again, another fic that was supposed to just be one chapter, but I fell in love with the reader and Ben and got turned into a series 😅

And oh no! Please don't apologize! I'm so sorry that I've been awol and haven't been able to read Time After Time! I loved the first chapter so much and I've just been running around like a chicken with it's head cut off for April and it's starting up again for May 😭 But it was so wonderful to read you comments friend! I hope that May is better for you than April 💗

Chapter 1: Are You Always Like This?

Pairing: Soldier Boy x f!reader, Reader POV

Summary:  When you decided to work with Butcher and his merry band of supe hunters to take down Homelander, you never expected to be saddled with a sullen, grumpy, jerk like Soldier Boy when the job was done. The more you’re around him the more you hate him, but you can’t help but wonder, is he really as big a jerk as you think? Reader is a supe with plant powers. This takes place in an AU about a month after the end of The Boys Season 3, in which Butcher has let Soldier Boy continue to work with him on his team. (I'm real bad at summaries, please forgive me!)

Tropes: Enemies to Lovers (Implied/Eventual), Age Difference (Reader is in her 20s), Protective Ben/ Soldier Boy, Fake Dating

Word Count: 7.4 K (OOPS)

Warnings: I'm going to label this 18+/Mature because Soldier Boy (he's a warning and everyone knows it), swearing, mentions of sex, sexual innuendo, sexual tension, violence. Ben/Soldier Boy might be a little bit OOC.

Note: This is told from Reader's perspective. Any references to the reader is made using you or your. There is minimal use of y/n. I tried my best to proofread, but nobody's perfect. If you don’t like, don’t read, but if you do like, you’re my favorite!

Internal monologue is in italics and is in first person.

A/N: I know I know, I should be working on "You Call It Madness But I Call It Love," but this idea was swirling around in my head and I had to write it.

Spotify Playlist 🪴

Masterlist

Take A Chance On Me Masterlist

You Call It Madness But I Call It Love

"Alright Butcher, I'm done." You sigh closing the file in front of you and standing from the worn wooden table covered in empty Chinese food containers and stacks of papers almost as tall as you. "If I read another word about trying to stop an electrical current, I'm going to commit toaster bath and I'm taking you with me."

It was late, past two in the morning, but Butcher had a lead on a B-list supe that had been using his electrical powers to steal cars and run a chop shop business downtown. You had been close to catching him yesterday, so close in fact that your eyebrows were still a little crispy from when he shot a bolt of lightning at your face that you only dodged in the nick of time when Soldier Boy grabbed the back of your shirt and yanked you out of the way. Unfortunately, your shirt hadn't survived, it had ripped and you spent the rest of the day wearing one of Butcher's oversize Hawaiian shirts all the while Soldier Boy told you that it was a waste to keep a pretty little figure like yours covered up.

I hate him so much.

When Butcher had initially asked you to join his team a month ago you were excited, but then you found out that you were going to be stuck with Soldier Boy. The supe, that despite Annie's arguments should be given back to the government and put on ice, was allowed to join Butcher's team after he took down Homelander. Who was currently frozen on ice, somewhere. As long as Homelander was far from you, you didn't care. The guy gave you the creeps.

But the team still couldn't figure out where the electricity manipulating supe was hiding or where he was dropping the cars, which meant you had spent the past twelve hours staring at files and a computer screen so hard that you felt like your brain going to melt out of your ears.

"Do whatever ya want kid. I'm not ya damn babysitter." Butcher grunts, his face hidden behind his own file. His boots were on the table and he was leaning back in his chair so far that you were tempted to tip him over, all it would take was a good solid kick.

You smile at him. Butcher was adept at pretending that he didn't want you around, of course you knew how antsy he got when you weren't there to offer your opinion. You figured that he just liked pushing people away and given his history you understood that.

Annie sits up from where she and Hughie are cuddling on the couch. "Why don't you stay?" Her brow furrows with worry. Annie was big on the whole, "women not walking at home alone at night thing," which normally you didn't, but you figured that whatever was waiting outside the apartment was probably less intimidating than Homelander. And you could handle it.

"Because I'd like to sleep in my own bed tonight and not that godforsaken rickety cot in the corner that Frenchie got. Can't stand that one spring that always seems so happy to see me." You pull your leather jacket off of the back of the chair and whirl it around your shoulders, before bringing your hair out from under the collar.

Hughie snorts.

"Hey, that cot is an antique!" Frenchie crows from his highbacked chair spewing a mouthful of smoke into the air. Kimiko was sitting at the coffee table in front of him working on her writing, a thick black marker clutched in her hand. MM was taking the night off, but you thought he was probably trying to avoid Soldier Boy.

"Yeah well, that cot is about as old as grandpa over there." You gesture to where Soldier Boy is sitting in another one of the armchairs in the corner watching you while puffing on a joint.

He was always watching you and due to your inability to read his mind it made it difficult for you to gauge what he was thinking, but you assumed that it was the usual macho crap he spouted 100% of the time. But he wasn't checking you out, well this time he wasn't. You had caught him staring at your butt more than once, and he'd made several comments about exactly what he'd like to do to you, but right now an emotion glimmered behind his eyes that you couldn't place.

Soldier Boy stands from the chair. He was wearing a dark t-shirt that stretched over his chest and a pair of blue jeans that fit him just right, well, if you were looking at that. You were, but it was easier to pretend that you weren't. It was easier to pretend that he wasn't the most attractive man you'd ever seen in your life.

Damn it, why does someone so attractive have to be such a dick?

 "A lady like you shouldn't be walking home alone this late." He frowns at you.

"Like me?" You arch an eyebrow.

"Good thing she ain't a lady." Butcher chuckles at his joke

You punch him hard on the arm, not enough to break it, but enough to make it hurt.

“Bloody hell woman.” Butcher rubs his sore bicep shooting you an angry look.

Not many people could look intimidating while wearing a Hawaiian shirt, but Butcher pulled it off. Not many people looked good in a Hawaiian shirt either, but Butcher pulled that off too.

"I'm serious." Soldier Boy's eyes narrow.

"Oh now you're so chivalrous?" You cock your hip to the side, planting your hands on your hips. "Didn't you try to kill me last month?"

"To be fair, you were trying to kill me-"

"Because you were trying to kill Annie. Where was the chivalry when you tried to tear me apart with your bare hands?"

"There are plenty of other things I'd like to do to you with my bare hands sweetheart." His grin turns wolfish. "I'd be happy to show you sometime, perhaps you'd like some company?"

"I'd rather spend an hour with that ancient spring than roll around with you." You tap your lip thoughtfully. “Then again I’m sure that cot is the same age as you and it can at least get it up.”

Annie muffles a snort behind her hand.

“Last time I checked everything was working, perhaps you’d like to see for yourself?” Soldier Boy smirks.

 "Can't you keep in your pants for once?" Butcher sighs, tilting the file downward to glare at Soldier Boy.

You can't help but smile at Butcher's response. Butcher might have tried to push you away, but even you could see his protective instincts. That became wildly apparent whenever you went out on a mission alone and although you would think that it was annoying for someone to think they needed to protect you, in Butcher's case you made an exception.

Soldier Boy rolls his eyes. "She shouldn't walk home alone."

You wave your hand over the wilting fern on the kitchen counter, eyes shifting to green for a moment as it perks up. It was the only plant in the house and although six people lived in this apartment, not one ever remembered to water it. "And you shouldn't butt into my business."

Soldier Boy opens his mouth to speak, but Annie interrupts his train of thought.

"Wait y/n. Coffee tomorrow?" Annie asks ignoring them. She's sitting up from the couch, her body turned towards you with both of her hands on the back cushions. 

She was one of your best friends, well, really one of your only friends. You'd grown up together and when Annie moved to New York you had decided to move and take some college classes in the city while you worked at a small garden shop after class part time.

The owner still couldn't figure out why nothing you cared for seemed to die.

You usually kept your status as a supe on the down low, and only used your powers when you really had to, which wasn't often before you joined Butcher's team. You'd only lasted two semesters before Annie came to ask you for help finding Soldier Boy and after that, Butcher asked you to join his team for shit pay. You accepted but you still worked at the garden shop part-time, also for terrible pay, but you loved it there.

Your powers made it easy to make sure nothing died and sometimes it felt like home being surrounded by plants. Caring for them was the one thing you seemed to be good at, and sometimes they felt like family.

You didn't have much family left, beside your grandmother and your older brother who still lived back in Des Moines, and sometimes it was lonely in the city. Annie was the only person who you'd been able to connect with since you moved, and now that you weren't going to classes the friends you made in college didn't really understand what you were doing with your life.

And telling them "oh I hunt down supes for a living and sometimes kill them" didn't really sound like something you could say in passing. It also did wonders for your dating life… NOT.

"Sorry babe, I'm at the shop tomorrow. But I'm off at 3 if you want to get coffee after?" You hold open the front door of the apartment, looking back at her expectantly.

You hated blowing Annie off, especially since the two of you hadn't been able to hang out outside of missions mostly because she was spending all her time with Hughie.

"Sounds great!" She beams.

And with that you disappear out down the hallway and into the night.

It's raining as you walk down the desolate streets. Cars splash water over the gum covered sidewalks that soaks through your tennis shoes and makes every step against the ground squish. But you ignore it.

You usually loved when it rained, loved to feel the cooling water pool against your skin, loved to hear the soft patter of it against the windows of your apartment, loved the earthy smell that came with the drops, but not tonight. You were still thinking about Soldier Boy.

You don't know why you let him get under your skin so much. You'd met men like him in the past and it was usually easy for you to brush them off, but not him.

I mean yes he is gorgeous, and maybe kind of charming when he's not trying to get into my pants, but I don't want just a one night fling. I want what Annie and Hughie have.

You think about your best friend and her loving boyfriend. You tried not to be jealous, but it was hard when the last time you had a lasting relationship was your first boyfriend back in high school who, when he found out you were a supe, was only interested if you had the power to shape shift into someone 'a little more busty.' The relationship ended with you locking him in a tree and the fire department having to come cut him out. He was fine, maybe a little more green than a normal person, but...

You'd heard that he got a job from the Green Giant Vegetable Company doing cameos as the Jolly Green Giant. So if anything, you helped him have a career?

Annie and Hughie were both head over heels in love with each other, knew everything about each other, didn't have any secrets, and it wasn't just sex, it was a close relationship with someone else who understood every part of you. You wanted that; and as much as you had avoided relationships in the past due to your supe status, you still hoped to find a supe that was kind and didn't think that they were a god for what they could do.

Why do so many have a god complex?

You think again about Soldier Boy. That wasn't the first time he had tried to coax you into bed and it wouldn't be the last, that was for sure. At first you had hoped that he would give up, it had been a month since you'd met, but he was still going strong, despite having a different woman in that apartment almost every night.

Maybe he's just really horny after being trapped in a lab all these years. Then again- You remember all the articles you read about him from the 80s, the ones that recorded his numerous escapades and think about his founding of Herogasm.

Maybe he's always like that, but he never comes on to Annie or Kimiko, only me. And I've threatened castration multiple times. You'd think he would care more about that than anything else.

You consider with a frown, clutching your jacket tighter around you. Rain trickled down from your hair and under the collar of your jacket to soak into your t-shirt. Your once light blue jeans were soaked to a dark navy with the amount of water that splashed up from the road and dripped down your back. For the first time in forever, you wished that it wasn't raining.

Probably should have just gotten a cab, but it's so expensive and-

"Hey baby." Someone calls from behind you.

Can't I just walk home without being hit on? One time?

"Not interested." You shout back, continuing to squish down the cracked sidewalks.

Three shadows peel off the wall of shops to your left blocking your path forward. Each is wearing a dark colored hoodie hiding their faces from view.

Is my luck really this bad? I never hear about Annie getting mugged or Hughie. And Hughie definitely looks wimpier than me.

"Don't be like that baby." The man behind you says.

You half turn your body so you can see all your supposed attackers at once. There are actually two men behind you, both wearing similar hoodies to the three now standing on your right.

Oh look they color coordinated their outfits… cute.

The man opens his mouth again.

"I'm gonna stop you right there." You hold up a finger. "I've been dealing with a horny 104 year old  geriatric man all day long. Please don't push me right now." It was an attempt to warn them, but you knew they probably wouldn’t listen to you.

No one ever does.

"Sounds like you need someone to relax with." The man smirks steeping forward to grab your arm. "I'd be happy to ease some of that tension baby."

"Look. I'm going to give you a chance to walk away. To avoid making one of the biggest mistakes of your life. Because honestly you all have the worst luck in the world." You jerk your arm away from him.

"I like em feisty.” He purrs stepping forward again while the others laugh. “Come on baby-“

He doesn't get to finish his sentence. You grab him around the throat, lifting him in the air like he weighs nothing, your eyes beginning to glow a brilliant green.

“I did try to warn you.”

"She's a supe!" He shouts struggling against your grip.

You throw him backwards into the other man standing to your right before facing the men on your left. Each one has pulled out a knife preparing to rush towards you.

"I get it. Y’all are out late, you bought matching outfits, but do we really have to-“

The first one rushes you, waving his knife through the air in a frantic dance. He doesn't get the chance to make contact with your arm. Vines erupt out of the pavement, breaking through the cracks in the concrete, binding themselves around the man who lets out a savage cry, quickly silenced while the vines continue to wrap around his body until there's nothing left but a mass of struggling green foliage on the pavement and some muffled screams.

He's lucky, could have had him dragged back under ground.

His friends stand there for a moment, eyeing one another as if they're not sure what just happened. You can practically see them trying to decide if you're still worth the trouble.

“Anyone else?”

The battle that follows is swift, the sound of cracking bones and the soft thud of punches landing echo over the soft patter of rain in the night as you dodge their blows and land your own against them. The vines continue to spread outward snatching up the men who fall to the ground in front of you, dragging each one up the street light above that sends yellowed light over the desolate streets. By now each bound body hangs from above like a sack of meat in a meat cooler, moving with the struggling men inside while the muffled cries shatter the still silence of the night.

Sometimes it's really too easy.

And as you begin to turn back someone grabs you by the hair, yanking you into their sweaty embrace. The leader's hot breath sticks to your cheeks, the cool metal of his switchblade pressing down so hard on your throat that you feel the pinprick of blood begin to form under the tip.

“What are you gonna do now bitch?” He snarls in your ear.

"Give you one more chance to surrender." You spit.

Like I'm going to give him the satisfaction of me begging for my life.

"I'm gonna enjoy this-" The man begins to say, pressing the knife deeper into your throat, but the rest of his sentence is cut off with a strangled cry as he's pulled away from you.

 What the hell just-

You turn around, freezing in shock.

Soldier Boy is crouching there in his t-shirt, jacket, and jeans over the man who just had a knife to your throat. His fist rising and falling as he punches the man in the face.

"Don’t you ever touch her." Soldier Boy snarls. His fist is already covered in blood, the man’s face a mass of bloodied tissue and bone.

"Stop you're going to kill him-" You run forward to stop Soldier Boy, but he doesn't stop even when you try to grab on to his hand.

"I said STOP." You shout louder, this time manipulating a vine to wrap around Soldier Boy's arm and restrain it.

Fuck he might already be dead.

"Let me go." Soldier Boy's eyes narrow. The usual green was replaced by a darkened pit with his rage. You'd only ever seen him this mad a handful of times, one of which was when the supe tried to zap you like a fly in one of those insect traps two days ago.

Why is he angry?

"I'm not going to let you go, until you promise not to kill him."

"I should." He snarls back at you.

"What are you talking about?"

He stands from the body, eyeing the last attacker who runs full speed down the sidewalk and vanishes into the darkness.   "I should kill him for trying to hurt you." Soldier Boy says simply.

You wave your hand allowing the vine to let go of his arm. "Where do you come off so high and mighty? You literally tried to kill me last month."

"That was before I-" He shakes his head angrily, eyes still blazing.

"Look I don't need you to protect me. Given what I've had to deal with all day I was looking forward to kicking some ass."

"You did." He smirks nodding his head in the direction of the men hanging from the streetlamp above you. “I just thought that you were outnumbered.”

"Why are you here?" You sigh pinching the bridge of your nose.

"I wanted to go for a stroll." Soldier Boy shrugs. He flexes his hand, before wiping the blood on the front of the sweatshirt of the man on the ground.

"Uh-huh. Well I don't need you to protect me." You say again, crossing your arms over your chest. "I had this handled."

"You sure doll?"

"Look I get it- you think that you're some knight in shining armor because you have this macho complex. But I'm fine on my own." You begin to step around the bodies of the men on the ground moving in the direction of your apartment, but Soldier Boy follows you.

"Where do you think you're going?" You turn to look at where he falls into step beside you.

"You shouldn't be walking home alone."

"Well you're sure as hell not going home with me."

His lip turns up in a smirk, towering over you. Soldier Boy is easily a foot taller than you, so broad that it's impossible to look past his imposing figure. It would be attractive if he wasn't so damn annoying. "Come on sweetheart, I know you want me to go home with you." He purrs with a smile. "I think you'd really enjoy it if I did. And I'll even let you tie me up with those pretty vines of yours." Ben leans in towards your face and you take a step back.

"Hard pass. So what? Is this your big move? Acting all chivalrous just to get a woman into bed with you?"

"That depends, is it working?"

"No. Now go back to the apartment, before I send you there in pieces." You turn back to squish down the sidewalk at a faster pace, hoping he will get a hint and leave you alone. But you knew he wouldn’t stop. He practically thrived on teasing you, had been the bane of your existence since you met him. And nothing seemed to dissuade him.

"What is your problem with me?" He jogs to catch up. "And don't say that it's because I tried to kill you, that was last month-"

"I think that's applicable to this week and the week after that and the week after that." You count out with every finger to further emphasize your point, but you know that Soldier Boy won't give up that easy.

"Are you always this fucking angry?" He almost laughs.

"I don’t know. Are you always this fucking annoying?" You turn to face him narrowing your eyes.

Soldier Boy chuckles at your look, running a hand through his hair that has darkened in the spray of water, his green eyes watching you curiously. They were shinning now, not the blacked pits of hate they were when he was beating the guy two minutes ago. For a second, just for a second, you see how handsome he is all over again.

"Come on, give me a real answer and I'll leave you alone." He's smiling at you now, giving you one of those boyish grins that, if it were anyone else, would make your heart stop.

He just wants sex. He doesn't care about you. He won't ever care about you. Breathe.

"Fine." You sigh. "You might say you're a supe, but you're not a hero. People like you and Homelander, you don't care about anyone but yourself. You use your powers for you and on your own terms. You were going to kill that guy-" You gesture back towards where the body is still on the ground, the man's heart beat is dangerously low.

"He was threatening you. A thank you might be nice." Soldier Boy's cheeks flush as he glares down at you with darkened eyes, his anger surging back in his chest.

"Yes he was threatening me, but I'm okay and you could have just taken him to jail. You didn't have to beat his face in."

"So you're saying if he had been attacking someone else you wouldn't have done the same?"

"I would have subdued him and then waited for the police to get there. The men hanging from the streetlight aren't dead. We aren't the law-"

"Right so those guys can get off with a warning and then go on and do the same thing over and over again." He scoffs rolling his eyes at you.

"It doesn't give you the right to kill them."

"I suppose you don't believe in the death penalty either."

"I believe in the death penalty Gramps. I just don't believe it is our job to carry it out." Your temper was flaring against your skin distracting you from the chill of the rain as it soaked into your clothes.

"Do you have any idea how many women would love to be saved by me?" Soldier Boy asks. He shakes his head as if he can't understand you.

You didn't blame him, most people didn't, that was why you spent most of your time alone.

"I'm not one of them. So leave me alone." You turn to go.

Honestly, why is this the kind of guy I attract? You roll your eyes to yourself. Oh you mean, tall, dark, handsome, gorgeous- The other little voice in your head whispers in your ear. NO. You tell yourself. Please I just want one guy who's not a total dick. Why is that so hard?

"I still don't think it's a good answer." He huffs.

"Of course you don't." You roll your eyes and begin to walk again. The streetlamps above send an eerie yellow glow over the parked cars along the road and over the crackled pavement. If Soldier Boy wasn't here bothering you, you might have stopped to admire the water as it splashed underneath the suspension bridge beyond the crowded buildings, but you wanted to get home. Without him if possible.

You glance over at Soldier Boy again. He looks normal right now, always does when he's not wearing his suit. And when he shut up you could see why people were so in love with him. It was when he opened his mouth that it reminded you exactly why you didn't like him.

You stop in front of your apartment building and force yourself to smile. "Thank you for walking me home." You say through tight lips, hoping that the false sincerity will make him leave.

He gazes up at your building with a frown. "This is a pretty shitty apartment building."

"Thank you. Not all of us inherited millions of dollars from our parents."

He pauses for a moment continuing to look up at the building, before he sighs loudly. "Look, I-." He sighs again. "I can't take listening to Annie and Hughie fucking. They go at it every night and she always makes the power go off."

You knew that already. It was another reason why you didn't like staying at the apartment, because listening to your best friend get railed by her boyfriend was not your idea of a good time.

You look up at Ben, and for a second you see a glimmer of the truth, just a flash of something that wasn't like the misogynistic attitude he usually had and it made you pause. He almost looked, sad and it made you feel bad for him. Of course you felt bad for him before, when you found out his entire team just gave him away to be experimented on and when probably the woman that he'd come the closest to loving really didn't care about him at all.

It must be incredibly lonely to come back to a world where almost everyone you know is dead. Guilt builds in your chest at the thought. I had lost my fair share of people, but not everyone in my life and I certainly didn’t learn about it on the same day.

"You know I think that's the first honest thing you've ever said to me." You say quietly shifting from foot to foot.

He half-smiles. "Maybe."

You chew on the inside of your cheek considering. You weren't afraid of him. You knew that with your powers you could take him. You were stronger than most and harder to kill. And despite the bad things you thought about him and knew about him, you kinda thought he was relatively harmless, well, you didn't think he was a rapist.

"Fine. But you're staying on the couch. And if I wake up and you're anywhere near my bedroom, I'll castrate you." You warn as walk up to the front doors and type in the code to unlock them, with Soldier Boy following behind you.

When you make it to the third floor, you raise one hand to stop him from going any further. It falls against his muscular chest and you fail trying not to admire how it feels beneath your hand.

Why am I so thirsty?

"If you wanted to grab my chest doll, all you had to do was ask-" Soldier Boy begins to say, but you raise the hand to cover his mouth.

"Shh." You hiss. "We have to be quiet or Mike will come out-"

"Who?" He asks, muffled against your hand.

You hear a door down the hallway creak open, spilling yellowed light onto the dark blue carpet of the hallway. "Shit. Too late."

Mike steps out of his apartment with a wide smile as soon as he sees you. "HEY y/n!" He crows, waving his free hand enthusiastically. "I didn't know you were getting in so late, but I wanted to give you this." Mike holds out a giant casserole dish filled with something that you can't identify. It's multi colored with multiple layers, one of which looks suspiciously like rice and the next layer looks like cake.

There's no way I'm eating that. Maybe if I force feed it to Soldier Boy he'll leave me alone.

Mike was your neighbor, your neighbor who had lived next door to you for the past 2 years and was shamelessly in love with you. And as sweet as he was, there were a few things that you couldn't get past, most namely that he lived with his mother and that he had a mullet.

One time you'd had a nightmare about it ripping itself from his head, breaking in to your apartment, and smothering you in your sleep.

Not fun.

"Hey Mike." You smile tightly at him, dropping your hand from Soldier Boy's mouth. "Yeah I'm sorry I was out with some friends."

"You should have asked me to come! I love your friends." Mike smiles so wide you're afraid that it's going to break his face. “Especially Butcher. He’s so funny. Always joking-"

Poor Mike.

Every time that Butcher had come over to talk shop, he would mock Mike endlessly. And Mike was just too sweet to realize it. Hughie was the only one who actively tried to be nice to Mike, but even he found it difficult. Annie was the worst though, she'd tease you constantly about what your children would look like and had taken to photoshopping mullets onto pictures of babies and sending them to you at inopportune times.

"Maybe next time." You cough out an awkward laugh while Soldier Boy snorts behind you.

You continue down the hallway towards your apartment, the door next to his, and hope that he'll go back into his home, but no such luck.

“My mom made this for you!” He holds the dish out towards you.

“Oh um that’s so nice of her. But I can’t except that-“

Mike's mother comes to stand in the doorway of their shared apartment. She was wearing a bright purple Mumu, her makeup caked thickly on her face and her eyes accentuated with bright blue eye shadow. “Sure you can sweetie. You’re Mike’s special friend.” She winks before trailing her eyes up and down your body. “And you’ve got such a cute little figure.” His mother does a little shimmy as if trying to get you to do the same.

Kill me now.

“That’s what I keep telling her.” Soldier Boy purrs behind you.

“Don’t make me kill you.” You mutter back, knowing full well he can hear you with his super-hearing.

Oddly enough Mike does look suspiciously like his mother, they are both the same height, exactly three inches under you, and have the same mullet, but hers is a shocking blue-gray and his is jet black.

He blushes at her words. “Aww mom.”

Soldier Boy muffles a laugh before disguising it into a cough. You elbow him hard in the stomach.

“Well thank you.” You take the casserole dish with one hand, hoping that you can open the door and usher Soldier Boy in before he makes a comment. "I've had a long day and it's really late-"

“I helped her make this one.” Mike interrupts scooting closer to you, so close that you get a lungful of his terrible cologne, the one that the super sells for four dollars and smells like baby powder and Cheez-its.

“A man who can do it all.” Soldier Boy whispers to you.

Mike looks above your head as if noticing Soldier Boy for the first time. “Who’s that? I thought I knew all your friends.”

“He’s certainly very handsome-“ Mike's mother blushes from the doorway.

“Your brother?” Mike offers.

You can see his expression turn hopeful.

Probably thinking about how he can become friends with "said brother" and that will escalate our "relationship." 

“I’m Ben.” Soldier Boy says, stepping around you to shake Mike’s hand. “I’m y/n's boyfriend.”

Your cheeks bloom a bright pink, unable to respond to the ridiculous statement that he just made.

Murder. That's what sounds good right now.

“Oh.” Mike’s face falls. “I didn’t know you had a boyfriend.” His eyes flick back to you, disappointment swimming in the irises.

You watch Mike’s hope begin to circle the drain.

“Well actually-“ You begin, but Soldier Boy interrupts you.

“Sorry I’ve been out of town for a while. We've been trying to do this long distance thing- you know how it is, late night phone calls-“ Ben trails off with a wolfish grin before dropping an arm around your shoulders. “But I just couldn’t take the long distance. Missed her too much. Phone call isn’t the same as sleeping in the same bed. Definitely not as satisfying. Not to mention there’s only so much my hand can do.”

Your cheeks bloom an even brighter red at his insinuation.  That’s when Soldier Boy does something even more unforgivable, he pulls you tighter against him and kisses you right there in front of Mike and his mother. The kiss is searing, making everything in your mind go blissfully blank. It had been so long since someone kissed you, since someone had held you this close to them without trying to kill you. His tongue teases your bottom lip and before you can stop yourself you open your mouth wider to let him in sighing softly against his lips, while you grip the front of his jacket.

For a moment you can’t remember why you didn���t want him to kiss you, why you denied yourself of this for so long. And then Soldier Boy's hand slides from your back to grab a handful of your ass.

Right.

You slap him so hard across the face that you're sure it would have broken the cheekbone of anyone who wasn’t a supe.

But Soldier Boy only grins wider, squeezing your butt again. “She knows that I like it a little rough.” He turns his lazy gaze back to Mike.

You open your mouth to cuss him out.

“Well we should probably get going.” Soldier Boy breezes. “Probably going to be a long night. If you know what I mean. But we’ll try to keep it down. Then again my girl's a little loud.” He winks at your poor neighbor who looks like he might cry, while his mother stands behind him fanning herself like Soldier Boy is everything she wants in a man.

He's ten for ten with the older ladies I'll say that.

“Oh right. Well I guess I’ll see you around y/n.” Mike turns to go.

“Mike wait-“ You try to say but he’s already vanishing through the door.

“Nice to meet you Mark.” Soldier Boy calls at his retreating figure, getting his name wrong on purpose.

You don’t even use your key to open the door you're so mad, the plants inside let you in. As soon as it opens, you haul Soldier Boy by the front of his jacket through the doorway and pin him to the wall just inside.

The casserole dish lands on your counter and by some miracle doesn’t break.

“What the hell is your problem?” Your hand is fisted in the front of his shirt, eyes blazing with anger and embarrassment.

He only grins. “You didn’t want me to play along? Sounded like that guy had been trying to get into your pants for a while. Unless he already has been or you want him to?"

You flush a deeper shade of crimson. "That is absolutely none of your business!"

“Well if we’re going to be living together doll, I’m pretty sure it is my business.”

“WE AREN'T LIVING TOGETHER I'M JUST LETTING YOU CRASH ON THE COUCH TONIGHT AND THEN YOU'RE GONE.” You shout.

“I think you’re gonna get pretty attached to me sleeping here. Maybe even  you let me sleep in your bed and even fu-“

You knock him back against the wall again. “If you finish that sentence I’m going to throw you out the window.”

“If you keep knocking me around, Mike's going to think you’re into some pretty kinky stuff.” Soldier Boy smirks down at you. “It’s actually turning me on a bit. Is it turning you on?”

“I don’t have to let you stay here.” You growl, releasing him.

“I think it’s because you like me.” He teases.

“I don’t.” You frown grows. “Okay couch is there goodnight.”

You point in the direction of the worn leather couch. You'd hauled it up three flights of stairs with Annie when you first moved in after you found a guy online selling it for nothing. And when you showed up to get it, he presumed to say it would be free if you let him take a picture of your feet. And after, when he had a black eye and a fun story to tell his wife, he gave you the couch for nothing as promised.

“No kiss goodnight?” Soldier Boy pouts his lips innocently.

“You already had one of those.” You snap thinking about slapping him again and trying hard not to think about how much you wanted to kiss him again.

Get a grip.

“Right. You liked it.”

“No I didn’t. And the next time you shove your tongue into my mouth I’ll bite it off.”

“You’re really violent for such a little thing.” Soldier Boy eyes you up and down as if sizing you up.

“And you’re really dick-like for someone who’s supposed to have the wisdom of the ages.” You turn towards the hallway intent on going to bed to avoid any more conversation with him.

"Whoa." You hear Soldier Boy say as he looks into your living room.

It was the reaction that everyone had when they entered your apartment. You had a small one bedroom apartment on the third floor of a building that you believed might be older than Soldier Boy. The kitchen and living room was mostly one room, the kitchen to the left with outdated appliances and a small circular wooden table with three chairs that served as your kitchen table and desk, and was separated by the large leather aforementioned couch that faced the wall that held two large windows. Beyond the front door was a small hallway that held the only bathroom in the apartment and your bedroom.

But that's not what was surprising.

Every open space in your apartment was covered in plants. There wasn't a single piece of unused space in your apartment. There were large standing monstera and fiddle leaf figs shoved into every corner and pots of dark green pothos bolted into the walls trailing vines to the ground so that every wall looked alive. Jasmine crept along the wall behind the tv that sat on an antique credenza between the two windows, sending the bright scent into the living room.

There was a large rectangular box bolted in the space above your sink where herbs and tomatoes hung down, probably a fire hazard, but you didn't care. The vibrant smell of mint, the spicy smell of rosemary, and soft tones of oregano and basil fused the air in your apartment with a life force that was impossible to ignore.

A large apple tree grew in a pot as big around as you next to the couch, with brilliant red apples hanging from it's branches, while a lemon tree and a tangerine tree intertwined their branches just behind the kitchen table.  The refrigerator, once white, was covered in the tangled vines of blackberry and raspberry, hanging with full fruit, while a potted strawberry plant sits prettily on top of the kitchen table, the bright red fruit enticing.

It was a lot. You knew it was a lot, but helping plants grow was the only thing you were good at, the only thing that felt right. One day you hoped that you could move somewhere and open a farmers market, but today you were stuck here, with Soldier Boy, who probably thought that you were crazy.

"I mean. I knew you had plant powers but this is-" He begins to say.

"A lot. I know." You roll your eyes. "The bathroom is down the hall." You gesture with your free hand towards the darkened hallway. "I guess I'll get you a pillow."

Ben is still looking around the room dumbfounded, as if he's never seen anything like this in his life, and he probably hasn't.

He's been in a Russian Lab for the past forty years, I mean he's probably not used to seeing anything this green.

You find the extra pillow in the linen closet along with one of the crocheted granny square blankets you made last year when Annie and you had a Jaws movie marathon, and a towel, before you move back into the living room.

Ben is still standing awkwardly by the couch as if he's not sure what to do, and it's the first time you've seen him look lost.

"Here." You throw him the pillow and the towel before you drape the blanket over the back of the couch. "One night."

"Why are you working for Butcher?"

"What?" The question catches you off guard. You were expecting him to make another pass at you, maybe check you out again. He was looking at you, but it was different, his gaze was softer, curious.

"You don't seem like you-" He gestures around the room. "Like you fit."

You blink for a second. "Um."

"I mean Annie used to be one of the Seven, Hughie does whatever the fuck Butcher tells him, but you you're different." His brow furrows together as if he can't figure you out.

"I really don't want to do this with you."

"This?" He looks confused again.

"Opening up with one another. You're here for one night. That's it." You force yourself to say, but the reality was you were still surprised, surprised that he actually seemed to care.

Stop. He's changing tactics because nothing else worked. He's pretending to care about you because he still wants to sleep with you.

"Please."

You can't answer for a second. It was the first time that he'd said that word in front of you before, or acted this way. It was also the first time that it had just been the two of you, before Butcher had been there or Frenchie or Annie and Hughie, but this was the first time that the two of you had been left alone.

Maybe that's why?

You hesitate before you answer, he was the last person you really wanted to open up to.

"I don't know, it's not all that bad." You shrug. "Before I didn't really use my powers all that much except like this." You gesture around the room for emphasis. "And when I went to college everyone was so serious about their futures and I didn't really like any of the classes. The only thing I enjoyed was using my powers at Please Don’t Die, the plant store I work at. And then Annie asked me to come help her out-" You bite your cheek. "She's my best friend and maybe I wanted to spend more time with her."

"But is it what you really want?" He cocks his head to the side, holding the pillow in one hand and the towel in the other.

You'd never seen him look so calm before, relaxed, like being here with you was washing away any anger or frustration he still had about the past. It was confusing, and at the same time you could feel your heart beginning to betray you. It was hard not to fall for him when he looked so good, eyes soft, dark hair falling into his eyes, clothes still dripping rain on your hardwood floors.

No. I will not fall in love with him, I will not fall in love with-

"Goodnight Soldier Boy. I'll see you in the morning." You turn to go, ignoring his final question.

"You can call me Ben." He almost whispers it, the sound of his voice a low rumble that sends a shiver down your spine.

"What?" You look back at him.

"You never call me Ben. But you can, if you want." He shrugs his shoulders, before he shakes his head as if he's annoyed with himself for suggesting it. "Never mind, just fucking forget about it-"

"Goodnight Ben." You feel the end of your mouth twitch up into a smile and with that you disappear into your bedroom, locking the door behind you.

And deep down you know that it's not to keep him out, but to keep you in.

As always, thank you so much for reading!

If you liked this story be sure to read my follow up fic that takes place in the future:

Open Mic Night!

Or if you'd like to read another series please try:

You Call It Madness But I Call It Love!

If The Stars Wish It So

A/N: I know it's crazy to start another series right now, but I'm kinda feeling this reader and Ben together? What do y'all think about it?

A/N: Update I've made a huge mistake and started another series.

If you'd like to be added to the taglist please let me know!

(Photos for series picture from Pinterest)

Taglist: @roseblue373 @mrsjenniferwinchester

[f1smutwriter]

| 𝐖𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐞 (𝐂𝐋𝟏𝟔, 𝐋𝐍𝟒)

★ :: Experienced!Lando x Experienced!Charles Semiexperienced! reader

Pt1, Pt2, Pt3

★ : Summary :: She realized she needed them both but does she tell them

★ : Warning :: SMUT! masterbating(fem), fingering, oral(fem rec, male rec), riding, unprotected sex (sit your ass down), breast play, anal, making out, teasing, spitting kink, slight spanking, pet names (baby, darling, amour), double penetration at the same time, hair pulling, begging a ton of begging, poly relationship, mentions of uncomfortable situation at the end, more I probably missed

★ : Notes:: Sooooo I haven't written in so freaking long, like 6 months type long. But I'm back and I have so many things I want to write because they are even finer this year. Also so many people wanted a fourth in this series so this is it the last and final part. Your welcome

˚｡⋆ ���♡୧⋆ ˚｡⋆⋆ ˚｡⋆୨♡୧⋆ ˚｡⋆⋆ ˚｡⋆୨♡୧⋆ ˚｡⋆ ˚｡⋆ ୨♡୧⋆ ˚｡˚｡⋆ ୨♡୧⋆ ˚｡⋆⋆ ˚｡⋆୨♡୧⋆ ˚｡⋆⋆ ˚｡⋆୨♡୧⋆ ˚｡⋆ ˚｡⋆ ୨♡୧⋆ ˚｡˚｡⋆ ୨♡୧⋆ ˚｡⋆⋆ ˚｡⋆୨♡୧⋆ ˚｡⋆⋆ ˚｡

“Baby I’m home” Charles called out walking inside the house after the longest triple header ever. When he came in he didn’t hear my usual running footsteps to him. But he heard the faint sounds of your whimpers something that became very familiar. He made his way to the room opening it ever so slightly so he didn’t give away his presence.

He saw me there naked body on top of our shared bed breathless and trying to find my high with my fingers, something I could never achieve without him. “Fuck” he whispered under his breath watching my hips bucking into my hand. His pants got tighter, his breath got heavier, and his hands were yearning to touch me.

He opened the door announcing to me that he was there but he saw my eyes shut trying to rub my clit to the orgasm I was never gonna get to. “This is what you do when you miss me huh?” He hummed out loud making my eyes jolt out and closing my eyes in pure embarrassment. “N-no only when I need it” I muttered out trying to get my heart to calm down but it felt like it was gonna beat out of my chest.

“No” he said in his accent that I loved and made me soaked. Usually he had that cocky smirk or a smile but not this time it was lust. Pure and utter lust. “What were you thinking in that pretty head while touching yourself” he questioned me while he walked towards me. “You” I stammered out. He knew that wasn’t fully the truth that I was thinking about him but not just him. “So we’re lying now” he replied looking at me with a slight smile.

“I’m not” I tried to reason but he knew me too well. “Wrong answer sweetheart” he grinned making his way towards me. “I’ll touch you but what were you thinking of” he whispered in my ear making shivers run down my spine as he slowly had his hand inch up towards my pussy. “Don’t be mean” I whined bucking my hips needing him but that was no use.

“You either say what you were thinking or you get left with this needy pussy untouched” he smirked slowly brushing over my clit making me whine even louder. “Fine I was thinking of you and lando” I cried out needing it. “Please touch me can’t take it anymore” I added bucking my hips to his hand.

“Good girl I knew you were thinking of him” he smiled slowly rubbing my clit giving me the release I was needing. I gasped slightly trying to guide his fingers in me. “Baby please need them in me” I begged with those eyes I knew he couldn’t resist.

“How about you fuck yourself on them while I call lando. Okay?” He said with a smile making me nod softly understanding immediately what he was planning on doing. I sink my pussy on his thick feelings feeling my eyes close and my head lean back as the tip of them hits my g-spot deliciously.

I moved my hips in a slow teasing motion wanting to build up my orgasm. Charles was calling lando as he watched me fuck myself on his fingers “how’s it feel Princesse” he asked kissing my chest sucking on my nipples giving me the extra source of pleasure. “Tellement bien Charles, ça fait tellement du bien s’il te plaît ne t’arrête pas” I moaned out gripping his shoulders to level myself. (So good Charles, it feels so good please don't stop)

Then we both heard the sound of the ringing stop and through the phone we hear Lando’s wetting British accent. “Hey mate. what’s up?” Lando asked thing Charles was gonna ask him for help with something, which wasn’t far off from the truth. “Do you think you can come over and help me with something” Charles asked giving me a knowing smirk as he curls his fingers right into my g-spot making me let out a whimper moan.

"Ahh, I see can hear her through the phone" he mentioned being able to hear his mischievous smirk on the other side of the phone. "Glad you caught on, front doors open just let yourself in" Charles laughed before hanging up the phone. He gently lays me down before fingering my pussy so hard causing my breath to leave my lungs. I let out the loudest moan that our entire apartment complex pretty much heard.

“Pl-ease” I moaned out gripping his wrist as he drilled his fingers in and out. He smirked softly kissing my neck. “Fuck your so wet and tight can’t wait to fuck you with lando here” he whispered into my ear making my pussy clench around his digits. I felt my cunt get absolutely demolished with just his finger. My mind was in pure heaven as my voice let out the loudest noises on earth noises I didn’t even know I was able to make.

“Close, m’gonna cum please make me cum” I cried my legs quivering the similar feeling in my stomach tightening every thrust he makes. “Then cum baby be a good girl and cum for me” he smiled before rubbing my clit letting my orgasm crash into me like a tsunami. “Wow such a gorgeous sight darling” I hear from the doorway the same nickname I had heard 2 weeks ago, which makes me open my eyes.

I smiled the second I saw him missing his presence. “Miss me princess” he smiled kissing my lips gently . I nod softly as I was still dizzy from the orgasm Charles just gave me. “Did a real number on her leclerc” Lando laughed softly kissing my head.

“So I heard you missed me” he asked softly looking at my vulnerable state making me nod. He smiled kissing me softly causing me to kiss back. “Gonna take care of our girl huh leclerc” he said to Charles while Charles nods biting his lip. “You know the drill Mon amour hands knees like a good girl” Charles told me sternly but softly at the same time.

So I did what I was told not wanting to cross them. I went on my hands and knees feeling so vulnerable and exposed to them almost like I needed to cover up. “So pretty love” Lando said softly kissing my lips as I feel Charles lick my sensitive cunt. I moaned loudly closing my eyes. “Very sensitive pussy” he mumbled into it before pulling away. “Would you like a taste” Charles offered Lando making him smiled before eating me out.

“So good” I gasped out my thighs shaking before he stopped. “Where do you want Charles love” Lando asked me softly. “Anywhere just please” I begged softly needing them. “You take her I want the back” Charles said with a smirk on his face. “Come it on my lap love” Lando told me as he takes his cock out of his pants. I slowly sink down on him causing me to loose all the air out of my lungs.

“What’s wrong darling to much” Lando teased as he bottomed out in me. I shake my head no, my hands on his chest while I bite my lip so hard I was afraid of it bleeding. "So tight babe, even after getting this pretty cunt stretched out by Charles fingers" He teased me before bucking his hips up into mine making me let out the loudest moan ever.

Then I felt the feeling of Charles's finger playing with my other hole. "You think you're ready for both again" Charles whispered into my ear while kissing my neck. I nod instantly wanting them both like last time. Then he put lube on himself groaning at the sensation lightly.

"Let me help mate" Lando offered making Charles look a bit surprised but nodding. He felt Lando's hand wrapped around his cock feeling ten times better than his own. All Lando did was smirk stroking Charles cock faster.

I felt myself giggle at the interaction between them since they've never touched each other only me. "Nice view" I say to them both with a smile as I bite my lip. "Sorry amore" He said thinking I was weirded out. "I liked it I promise" I smiled reassuring them both not wanting them to worry.

"Okay good to know" Lando whispered looking at Charles the same way he looks at me when he wants a kiss. So Charles looked at me for reassurance making me nod softly before they leaned in their lips touching for the first time.

Seeing them kiss for the first time gave me a sense of happiness for all of us stepping a step forward in this. Then Charles slipped in me without any warning feeling myself moan digging my nails in Lando's air. "Ssshhh feel him love, feel how deep he is inside you" Lando whispered softly rubbing my clit gently calming me down.

I nod giving them the green light to start moving, they both slowly moved in and out making sure to go gentle. The way the night started I would have no thought it would have led to Charles and Lando fucking me slowly gently. Way different from the other time we were all together.

Lando was leading while Charles was following him, both of them going in and out almost like a melody. I let out soft moans leaning into Charles chest needing someone to hold me through this euphoric moment. "I got you baby, I got you" He whispered thrusting in and out of me with such passion and gentleness.

Lando watched me and Charles in pure awe seeing Charles care about me and deep in his chest he felt protectiveness between me and Charles. Needing us both not in a 'sex buddies' type way but in a 'I think I love you' type way. But he couldn't tell us not when Charles and me were committed. "Hey what's wrong" I asked softly seeing Lando zone out rubbing his chest.

"Lost you there for a bit" Charles said a bit concerned on him making sure everything was okay. "yeah sorry was a bit overwhelmed, we can finish" Lando said sounding not so sure about continuing. "No tell us whats wrong" I pushed wanting to see what was bothering him. I slowly got off of him siting down next to him.

"Are you not into it or do you not feel good" I asked gently wanting him to feel comfortable enough to tell us. "Yeah no judgement if you're not into it anymore" Charles mentioned to see if that was the problem.

"It's not that, it's just" He started not sure if he should speak how he feels. But then he looked at us the concerned almost loved look in our eyes, not the look you give a friend. Then he gave me a look making me recognized it instantly, the soft gaze his eye brows slightly furrowed. "Oh" is all I happened to muttered out in the moment,"Yeah" He says back. "Okay what is going on I'm so lost" Charles asked with the most priceless look on his face.

"Would you like me to tell him" I say holding Lando's hand softly. He nodded trusting me in this moment all the trust he had. "Lando think's he loves us" I say to Charles as he gives a shocked face, a face I haven't seen Charles give ever.

"Is that true" Charles whispered softly making Lando shiver at the deep voice. "if it helps I feel the same" I smiled at him squeezing his hand. "Why do you think I told Charles he knew before you got here we planned this whole thing" I giggled slightly making him look at us confused. "Wait actually" he questioned not believing us at all.

He looked at Charles while he nodded with a smile on his face. "I hate you both" He chuckled softly shaking his head. "No you don't you love us" Charles teased him poking his side. "Fine fine maybe I do" Lando admitted as Charles when to the other side of him. "Wanna stay for a while" I whispered to him cuddling to his side. "Yeah just a little while" He whispered back looking at us with a different look he had then when he walked into to the house.

˚｡⋆ ୨♡୧⋆ ˚｡⋆⋆ ˚｡⋆୨♡୧⋆ ˚｡⋆⋆ ˚｡⋆୨♡୧⋆ ˚｡⋆ ˚｡⋆ ୨♡୧⋆ ˚｡˚｡⋆ ୨♡୧⋆ ˚｡⋆⋆ ˚｡⋆୨♡୧⋆ ˚｡⋆⋆ ˚｡⋆୨♡୧⋆ ˚｡⋆ ˚｡⋆ ୨♡୧⋆ ˚｡˚｡⋆ ୨♡୧⋆ ˚｡⋆⋆ ˚｡⋆୨♡୧⋆ ˚｡⋆⋆ ˚｡

★ : 𝐍𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐬 :: I really hope y'all like this, its a bit different from my other smuts just wanted to switch it up a little. If you guys like my smuts like this you can always ask for more my request are open. Hope you guys have a good day loves.

[simonghostlovely]

Flirting 101

It's affection, always...

Pairing: Lieutenant!Simon Ghost Riley x Sergeant!Reader

You and Simon have this relationship where your affection for each other is undeniable but also very playful and childlike so when you two are flirting in front of others, they will be oblivious to it. Who can tell if there's something between you two when you don't know if he is flirting with you or if it's just you having a fat ass crush on him and that's how he talks with everyone.

In the field, he always looks out for you, protects you and puts you before himself all the time, you assume these things come naturally with being his teammate and didn't even dare to think your lieutenant has a speacial place for you in his heart. Why would you? But he is even more bossy and controlling than he already is with you, telling you where to go and what to do. Not letting you get out of his sight during opps and seeming even more tense when things don't go according to the plan.

In base, whenever you look at him, you catch him already staring at you. Eyes wandering in the mess hall to spot you and eat his lunch with you. Follows you like a lost puppy everywhere when you're doing mundane chores. When everybody settled in their bed and the base is quieter than usual, he tries to find excuses to spend time with you alone so he either joins you in the rec room drinking coffee, eating pastry, whatching shitty tv shows or when you're trying to catch up on some paper work and create some free time for yourself the next day.

Of course he helps you to ensure you will spend that free time with him but everyone knows he hates paper work. You look at him in awe while he grunts and huffs about his back then he focuses on the papers on your desk.

"You can leave the rest to me, Lieutenant. You seem tired." God, he hates when you call him that. He likes it too much. He glances over at you, his ever-present frown softening just a fraction as his deep brown eyes meet yours.

"I'm fine, love." He grunts, then exhales loudly with frustration. He's clearly not but you leave him be.

Settling into a routine with him, where he helped you with any task you have at hand and you listened to his every order. Sounds easy, right?

Just the next day when you couldn't see him anywhere in the base, you got curious as to where he was, although that had nothing to do with you, you couldn't stop thinking. Not seeing him all day felt really unusual. Your lieutenant really made you get used to his company, huh? This usually silent, brooding, big man, only ever relaxed when he was with you. You loved spending time with him, loved how he was chatty with you.

Sometimes you two talked all night, you wouldn't shut up.

And when it's late you'd say we're still wide awake so...

You loved to talk about how you'd come up to visit him.

And you'd rent a car and you'd drive upstate.

And when it comes to you,

It's affection, always.

Later that night you retreated into your room after a tiring day. You were doing some tidying up, laundry and other chores you were putting off. As you were done with almost everything and plopped onto your bed, you heard someone knocking at your door. You were so reluctant to see someone at this hour of the night already in your pjs, your hair up in a bun with fuzzy slippers on but without thinking, you opened the door. Looked up at your lieutenant with doe eyes,

"Um... Lieutenant?" you looked at him from the slight crack of the door, then you looked at his hands.

"Can i come in?" he looked at you with expectant eyes and a small smile on his lips.

[yuurei20]

Updated Silver Facts Part 34: Silver and Malleus (pt5)

During the White Rabbit Fes event Silver gets a bookmark made from pressed flowers for Malleus. He chooses a black one (“Malleus likes black…”) made from a plant called “black dragon.”

Silver says, “The elegant purple flowers even remind me of him.”

After Lilia announces his intent to move to the Land of Red Dragons, Silver immediately makes the connection that, while he and Sebek will still be able to visit him, Malleus will not. 

Silver insists on going to find Malleus when Malleus does not attend Lilia’s farewell party, despite Lilia’s assurance that that Malleus does not need to see him off.

Silver says, “Yes he does! Father, you depart for the Land of Red Dragons TONIGHT! Once you do, you'll never see him again!,” and leaves. (Lilia: “I don’t even know where that stubborn streak comes from…”)

Silver finds Malleus and asks him to please “spare a few words” for Lilia before Lilia leaves, assuring Malleus that he does not need to prepare a gift. It seems that Silver was not aware of Malleus’ habit of summon snow when he is distressed: he seems to think the blizzard around them (despite how it is spring) is a natural phenomenon until Malleus dismisses it and wonders, “Everyone in Briar Valley knows that Malleus summons lightning when he's angry…did he also cause the blizzard, then? Is he that distressed?”

Silver reflects on how he has only known Lilia for 17 short years compared to how long Malleus and Lilia have been together. Malleus concedes to Silver’s request and actually agrees to attend the party, but Silver tries to send Malleus back alone, as he has begun to cry. Silver apologizes for crying in front of Malleus but Malleus assures him that “Lilia has a fine son.”

Silver responds, “I'm far from a fine son! I can't grant my father the one thing he wished for. He wanted me to send him off with a smile on my face…but I just…”

Malleus reflects on how powerless he is to help them, at which point his tamagotchi-adjacent toy begins to make a sound: it has departed, leaving an egg in its wake.

Silver observes, “That must feel lonely…” and Malleus assures him that it is not, as the it will continue to “live out its fictional life inside this miniature garden...hence, there is nothing to grieve over.”

This inspires Malleus, making Silver the third of the three light-magic users who unintentionally serve as the catalyst to someone’s overblot.

[losver07]

lmao it's fine i wouldnt care much about repeating tbh, i think slowing down a bit might be good for me :)

"why am i always sick? well you see, every full moon i— seriously mate i have a fucking chronic illness, and you have a problem with being nosey. god, i'm not allowed to break bones anymore? for fucks sake"

i mean please look at him and tell me that's not a baby version of timothee. like a special edition lmaoo

oof yea i get that :((

yeah!!! like it happens to me with writing & drawing, my hand just doesn't wanna pick a side lol

obv it makes sense babe we share a braincell

yuppp she's lowkey crazy so it's fun to hear from my bedroom lmao. anyway they've broken up now so ig i won't see her until..... tomorrow probably (and then three days later aprox they'll break up again, so fun)

YES have you seen futurama cause i think there's a chapter where they have a time machine and it's like. the same shit over and over again. like there's a ton of liberty statues buried one on top of each other. gosh that show is my childood

AXOLOTLS ARE SO FUCKING CUTE!!!!! and yea moles are awesome. i identify as a mole when im out in the sun (astigmatism)

oh definitely we should french revolutionise her. and yup the stuff she says does not even make sense?? like did an actual human being say that??? idk it makes me depressed tbh she's having a huge economical impact in the worst stuff when she could be donating to orgs that at least don't harm anybody. like ok, you don't like trans ppl. fine. you can donate to OTHER stuff. idk, help orphan children? she should care about them taking into account hp.

i honestly think she's just stubborn and wants to piss us all off. i took a look at her birth chart some time ago and i think she's a leo so yea. she think she the loudest roarer but we used to screamin our lungs out!!!!

↑ idk what that was i just woke up if you couldn't tell :)

i mean how could i reject a cute doggo pic.....

YES IM CONVINCED ITS THEIR REINCARNATION!!!

lmaooo im suuuuch a shakespeare (im not i say dumb shit so the occasional smart shit sounds exceptional)

YAY ill be listening tomorrow hehehee

lol no please god i cannot let my tumblr comments be better than my actual writing jsbckdbckd

okay i can confirm the brush is not that bad. but the expensive ones last years and this one is probably gonna last two months at best (again, can't complain for 4€)

REMUS REEINCARNATION???? we need to find the rest. it's a quest.

sorry did i hear shark tooth collection???? 1. yes that smells like neurospice 2. THAT IS SO FUCKING COOL WTF

in my case i think both my parents have something going on lol, like i very clearly got the ocd from my mum but my dad has over 2k books and probably around 100 game consoles at home so..... (also he has like 6 copies of the divine comedy which is fun cause of course you need six of em dad, sure)

anyway not complaining cause i can play street fighter in a big ass arcade machine :)

not sims but if i wake up from a coma and they tell me i've been dreaming everything since 2020 i would fully believe it. literally every single aspect of my life changed that year. crazy. a lil too crazy...

nuh uh i totally didn't adapt my fashion sense to a fandom.... that's embarrassinggggg......

WE THE FUKIN BEST!!!!

oh shit we already do that LMAO, i have one w a wolf howling at the moon (cause we're cubs but also.... rjl) and one w just the cover of the dark side of the moon. and i have a bowie one in my scarf but that's second hand shopped i fear. we have a lot of meme pins it's scarily funny (the most popular one is the "I DONT SELL COOKIES" one)

you ARE a disney princess like whatttt that's so sweet!!! poor birdie i hope it's okay :(

this is one of the best interactions in the history of tumblr btw. like wtf

"my child is fine" ma'am your child prioritises memorising every single full moon that happened in 1975 over their schoolwork

[cityofmeliora]

Secondo the impostor? 🤨🔍🇮🇹

seems like the main topic for my posts tonight is how the Papas AREN'T Italian (because my last two posts were about how Nihil's family are probably actually Hungarians from Transylvania and the only time TF ever said anything about the Papas being Italian was him specifically describing them as stereotypes of Italian American dads), so while i'm on this topic, i want to make a post about a terrible truth that even i'm quite disappointed by, but i want to share because i think it's interesting:

Secondo was not a fluent Italian speaker. not for long, anyway.

and i know what you're going to say: "but Secondo spoke Italian for the entirety of Papaganda part 1 and part 2!" yes, that's true! but just listen to me for a minute, okay?

in 2013, TF gave an interview in-character as Nameless Ghoul with UnderRadioRock, an Italian music website.

INTERVIEWER: Papa Emeritus Secondo speaks, almost perfectly, Italian. Is that one– I was wondering if it was one of the features that the Papa must have? NAMELESS GHOUL: Not necessarily. We tend to go for warm-blooded, passionate guys, so therefore it feels natural to go South, I guess. INTERVIEWER: Yes. No– because usually the language of the clergy, no matter where a Pope comes from– but he has to learn Italian, usually. So I was wondering if, for your church, it's the same. NAMELESS GHOUL: We have a similar approach, yes. Yes, that is– it's for the art. UnderRadioRock (December 29, 2013)

the interviewer remarked on the fact that Secondo spoke Italian very well in Papaganda, and asked Nameless Ghoul if that's a requirement to be Papa. Nameless Ghoul misinterpreted the question, thinking the interviewer was asking if Papa must be Italian, and Ghoul said Papa does not necessarily have to be Italian. then the interviewer clarified, explaining he meant to ask if speaking Italian was a requirement to be Papa. Nameless Ghoul says yes, the Ghost church "has a similar approach" and that they do it "for the art."

so from this interview, we know that just like the real-life pope, Papa doesn't need to be Italian, but he does have to learn to speak Italian. and what really catches my attention is Nameless Ghoul saying Papa has to learn Italian "for the art."

see, it makes sense that the real-life pope has to learn Italian, because the catholic church is based in Rome, Italy and that is the local language and the working language of the vatican. but for Ghost, that is not the case. Ghost was based in Sweden in Eras 1, 2, and 3, and was based in Los Angeles in Eras 0, 4, 5, and 6. Italian isn't the local language in any of those places, and Ghost's work language has always been English. so when Nameless Ghoul says The Clergy requires Papa to learn Italian "for the art", he's saying Papa has to learn Italian because it's part of the band / church's aesthetic as a satanic parody of catholicism. The Clergy requires Papa to learn Italian for The Bit.

initially, it seemed like Secondo was pretty diligent in his studies! he spoke Italian for the entirety of Papaganda, but as for the question of his level of fluency.. while i don't speak Italian, i've asked a bunch of people who are native / fluent speakers, and this is what they've told me:

Secondo is speaking legit Italian (he's speaking properly and not using made-up words and such), but he's not speaking good Italian.

he uses some odd word choices, like calling Papa I "the old president".

mixed reviews on the accent- some have said he sounds fine and some have said he sounds off.

as for his mannerisms, he definitely comes across as a foreigner who is trying to speak / act the way he thinks an Italian man would speak / act.

personally, i don't know much Italian, but i DO know that Secondo is a fucking troll, and he does do some obvious trolling in the video too. one part that always makes me laugh is the part where the translator voiceover calmly says "... and Frank Sinatra." and then you can hear Secondo's voice in the background clearly saying "E FRANKIE!"

so, overall, Secondo was pretty committed to The Bit. he spoke Italian for all of Papaganda, and he said "Ciao!" when saying goodbye to the audience at the end of 'Monstrance Clock'.

HOWEVER, when it came time to try really speaking Italian with a live crowd, he couldn't do it.

in 2014, less than a year after giving a full interview in Italian in Papaganda (2013), Secondo admitted to his audience in Milan, Italy that he is not actually a fluent speaker and asked the audience to keep it a secret.

he said, in very bad Italian, "My Italian is not good. I speak… a little Italian. Not good." (and one of my friends has noted the fact that he uses personal pronouns while speaking definitely indicates he's not fluent / not a native speaker.)

and then, in English, he said "But you know... I know you know. Thank you very much. That is a special thing between you and me. This is our secret, so keep it."

so in less than a year, he was totally out of practice and lost pretty much all his proficiency in Italian, which isn't unrealistic if he wasn't speaking Italian regularly (and he probably wasn't). OR he was never actually proficient to begin with and Papaganda was scripted.

i think Secondo was being honest about not speaking Italian fluently because unlike Terzo, who lies about whether or not he can speak Swedish and speaks bad Italian confidently, Secondo makes it pretty obvious when he's joking (like his trolling in Papaganda and when he speaks "Swedish") and will ask the audience for help / correct himself if he gets something wrong (like when he speaks Spanish).

so yeah. Secondo was not really a fluent Italian speaker, despite his (pretty successful) attempts to fool everyone. and i think that's funny.

[lihhelsing]

"Do you wanna go on a date?"

It's what Eddie asks Buck on a regular Wednesday morning.

Buck, for his part, takes it very well. He definitely does not spit his juice and almost chokes on his own saliva. Because that would be pathetic. 

Truth is, Buck has been waiting for Eddie to ask him out for a while now. Eddie told him that after his time in El Paso he had figured a few things about himself. 

One of them being that he would like to know what it feels like to kiss a guy. 

Which, yeah, it was no big deal for Buck. Except for the fact that when Eddie was in El Paso, Buck had also figured out a few things about himself, and one of them was that he would like to kiss his best friend. 

On the mouth. With tongue. 

So yeah, no big deal. 

"A date?" Buck says as if they both don't know he's stalling for time. "What exactly would that... date entail?" 

Eddie laughs so openly that it tugs at Buck's heartstrings. Something about his best friend accepting joy in his life or whatever. 

"Oh, you know. The usual? I'll pick you up. You'll dress nicely because you want to impress me. I'll take you to that restaurant you've been wanting to try? Maybe we'll drink a bottle of wine to make it less awkward." 

Buck smiles; he can feel himself yearning for that already. "Yeah? And then?"

Eddie frowns slightly, "Then I'll bother you with some small talk so I can practice. You know, for when I do go on a date with a guy." 

Oh. 

Oh, no.

"Uh," Buck says eloquently. 

"I know! I'm sorry! But you're my best friend, and I don't know how to do this and I thought practicing would be better than making a fool of myself. No one wants a 30-something who doesn't know what he's doing."

Buck doesn't point out that he once was a 30-something with no clue of what he was doing and how he had embarrassed himself in front of his ex more than once. 

"Eddie, it's fine, you know? We all gotta start somewhere." 

Eddie groans, and Buck pretends the sound doesn't rattle in his brain. 

"I know. But I just... please? I know I have to do this for myself, but I'm scared and you always make me less scared." 

Shit. Maddie is going to have a field day with this one. 

"Yeah, sure. I'll go on a, uh, date, with you. For research purposes." 

Eddie grins, "thank you! You're the best!" 

And he's glad Eddie thinks so, because he's about to be so miserable because of this 'date'.

[alltimecharlo]

meet the family from each of them, they aren't dating yet but the parents think they are

stop i love this idea soooo much. i rushed to write it!!! fic under the cut <3

Mack is nervous.

He’s not even sure why. It's not like this is a date — it's just Will meeting his family. Casual. Normal. Friends meet friends' families all the time, right?

Still, his palms are a little sweaty as he pulls into his parents' driveway, Will riding shotgun, looking stupidly handsome and relaxed, tapping a beat on his knee with two fingers like he doesn’t have a care in the world.

"You good?" Will asks, flashing him that easy grin.

"Yeah. Fine," Mack says, voice cracking slightly.

Will laughs and claps him on the shoulder. "It's not like I'm meeting the President."

Mack mumbles something and kills the ignition.

Inside, his mom practically tackles them at the door.

"You must be Will!" she gushes, pulling him into a hug before he can even say hello. Will goes pink, laughing nervously but hugging her back, and Mack watches, heart doing something dumb and squishy in his chest.

"Mom," Mack mutters, embarrassed.

"Oh, let me have my moment," she says, waving him off. "You’re all I’ve heard about for months."

Will raises an eyebrow at Mack, who promptly wants to die.

"In a totally normal way," Mack says quickly.

His dad and his siblings — Aiden, RJ, and Charlie — are already waiting in the living room. Charlie immediately launches into questions about hockey and college, peppering Will with so much enthusiasm Mack barely has to speak. RJ throws in sarcastic comments, and Aiden keeps elbowing Mack with these smug looks, like he knows something Mack doesn’t.

"So," Aiden says, grinning, as they all sit down for dinner around the big wooden table. "How long have you two been dating?"

Mack chokes on his water. Will blinks at him, startled, then at Aiden, confusion writ all over his face.

"We're not—" Mack starts, voice strangled.

"We're just friends," Will finishes, laughing awkwardly.

Mack's mom, however, lights up like it’s Christmas. "Oh, please," she says, waving a hand like she’s dismissing the technicalities. "You’re adorable together. You sure you’re just friends?"

Mack’s ears are on fire. Will looks like he’s trying not to laugh again, sending Mack a little amused glance like, good luck digging out of this one.

Even Charlie chimes in, "You should date! You'd be like, so powerful."

Mack buries his face in his hands. Will just beams, like he’s absolutely thriving on the chaos.

Later, when they're slipping out the front door under the excuse of "heading back early," Will bumps his shoulder against Mack’s.

"Your family loves me," Will says proudly.

"They love to embarrass me," Mack grumbles.

Will throws his head back and laughs, the sound warm in the cool night air. Mack has to bite back a smile.

---

A couple of weeks later, it’s Mack’s turn to meet Will’s family.

He’s a wreck.

Will keeps giving him shit for it the whole drive over. "Dude, relax," he says, grinning. "They're gonna love you."

"You're, like, their golden boy," Mack mutters. "I'm just some guy."

Will snorts. "Yeah, some guy who once carried me over a ditch because I sprained my ankle and bitched about it the whole way."

"That was one time," Mack groans.

"But memorable," Will teases.

When they pull up, Will's mom opens the door and immediately pulls Mack into a hug, no hesitation. She’s got the same warm, open smile as Will, and Mack finds himself returning it almost automatically.

"You must be Mack!" she says brightly.

"Told you," Will says smugly.

Inside, Will’s sister, Grace, bombards him with questions — about hockey, about college, about whether Mack thinks Will is actually cool. Mack laughs and does his best to keep up.

Will’s dad, however, sizes him up silently for a good long moment before clapping a heavy hand on his shoulder and leading him to the kitchen to "help" with drinks.

"So," Mr. Smith says, fixing him with a look that could probably fell trees, "I just want you to know — if you hurt my boy, there’s a shovel and a lot of open ground out back."

Mack freezes like a deer in headlights. "Sir, I—"

"Dad!" Will calls from the dining room, horrified. "We're not dating!"

Mack whips around, heart hammering, to see Will’s red face poking through the doorway.

Mr. Smith just raises an eyebrow, unbothered. "Mhm."

"We’re friends," Will stresses, throwing an apologetic look at Mack.

"Sure you are," Will’s dad says, but he claps Mack on the back again — a little rough, but not unfriendly. When Mack meets his gaze again, Mr. Smith gives him a very serious, very approving nod.

Mack stumbles back to the table feeling like he’s been through the wringer.

Later, Will slides into the seat next to him and mutters, "I’m sorry. My dad’s nuts."

Mack just laughs breathlessly. "It’s fine."

"Seriously," Will says, a little softer, a little closer, "he likes you. They all do."

Mack glances sideways and catches Will looking at him with that same soft, crooked smile from before, and warmth pools low in his stomach.

Maybe he’s not doing so bad after all.

♡

[you-wanna-save-the-corn-nuts]

TaiVan Scene Analysis!!

!!Yellowjackets s3 spoilers!!

*cracks knuckles*

So, I was rewatching Yellowjackets instead of paying attention to homework again and got to that lovely scene where Tai approaches Van and goes "Hey if we go back we can't be together anymore can we?" and I was thinking about it in the context of what Liv said about Van making up stories to get herself through things- and while yes, this episode is Van's turning point to realising her little stories could be entirely wrong, she's not quiittteee at that point yet. Before Kodi dies, she's still fine with her self-gaslighting. So, looking at this scene with that lense.....it breaks me, a little bit.

First off:

Look me in the eyes and tell me this ain't other Tai. I'm like 99% certain this conversation is Other Tai which almost makes it more interesting- (bro wrote this before i finished rewatching the scene it was explicitly other tai because the eyeless man is there i forgor) Anyways, Tai and Van are talking:

"Do you really think the world has changed that much?"

"I'm optimistic."

"Why?"

"Because.........me."

When Van says the initial "I'm optimistic" her voice is low, she's sounds a little annoyed, its more of a demand than it is an answer. "this is okay, it has to be okay, we're okay" If she can convince Tai, she's done her job, she's kept everyone happy and positive and safe, and she can believe it too. But when it comes to the "Because......Me" there is a noticeable shift from this stern, demanding tone into something a little softer. You can see her search for a moment, trying to find a reason she can latch onto- but she can't find one, she can't find any reason to think the world is suddenly all good with people like herself and Tai, so she pretty much blatantly says the only reason she has going for her: "Me." because that's what she does. She picks whatever "truths" keep her and everyone else going and doesn't even consider an alternative. The "Me" statement is both a moment of introspect almost, and a callout for the audience to her habits. She's picked her story, that they can go back, and everyone will be fine with them being together, or they can just hide like they did before, and it'll be all good.

And then there's Tai. Standing there, telling her all the reasons, that this inaccurate! She's breaking the illusion! Back off, other Tai! We like denial in this household!! But here's Tai telling her why her stories are wrong and I find Van's reactions incredibly interesting (especially in contrast with their card scene in episode 10)

She's sitting there looking at the invisible camera in the office like "guys are you seeing this-" and at one point, even looks slightly amused. Given what we already know about Van, and how she uses humour as a coping mechanism, I would not put it past her to be a nervous laugher (speaking from personal experience). Van's reaction is akin to if Tai had just said something like "oh btw misty just turned into a squirrel"- she's in disbelief, finds it a little amusing, and slightly stupid. Because to her, the answer is obvious- It's not a problem, its never going to be a problem, we're going home and its all fine.

"Why is nobody thinking about this?"

"Because getting rescued. And going home. Outweighs- all of that."

"So just...go get a bag, and lets put some shit in it!"

Van's line here is pretty reminiscent of how she talks to Travis about eating Javi. It's authoritative, almost rehearsed, like she's said it to herself a million times. "We're getting rescued. We're going home. And don't worry about anything else because this is the only important thing." It's a statement that she could easily tell herself and likely has been telling herself to keep her going. And it's the same thing she'll tell Tai because she's the storyteller, she is the one who keeps them all calm, and that's her job. Just wanted to point out how this plays into my previous Vanalysis about her gaslighting herself with narratives of how everything is justified and will play out fine. Van then directly contrasts this rehearsed, demanding tone with a more lighthearted "go get a bag, lets pack". She's trying to shift the conversation back to "yayyy rescue!!!" because that is the narrative she's decided on and that is the narrative everyone else is gonna hear from her.

And yet, when Tai "walks away" and Van thinks she's alone?

She's pretty distressed (this screenshot doesn't capture it super well but you get the idea). Because Tai is, technically, right. The like....yearish they've been here so far? It's not gonna make a difference to everyone suddenly accepting gay people. Not to mention everything Tai said is technically right- they are all gonna have to be on the same page. They probably will have to kill Kodi and Hannah- And I think this scene overall says a lot about Van as a character and the whole path she's about to go down. The entire time, she's been picking her narrative and sticking to it, she's being firm with others and making sure they're all on the same page, they're all in the same story, so nothing can break the illusion. But that doesn't mean she doesn't hear what the others are saying. She definitely hears it- and then crafts a new story, directly on top of it, and keeps going.

[utilitycaster]

because this has been stuck in my mind since I listened to the Ultimate RPG Podcast episode discussed here I just wanted to go over it:

Huge caveat that I'm not familiar with what work Friedman was referring to, so ultimately, I cannot judge if player agency was violated; my point is just to outline as best I can what I believe player agency means (and that this example does not clearly state the violation, which again, could have occurred and simply not been accurately described).

In the podcast, the example of player agency violation was a game in which all the characters had amnesia and had blank character sheets, and as they found out more about themselves, pre-recordings from other people (ie, not the players) would play. This was run in D&D.

This is not in my opinion automatically a violation of player agency! As D'Amato noted, this is the premise of some indie TTRPGs, and I would add that while this isn't the inherent premise of D&D, the fact that it was run in D&D doesn't mean it's violating player agency. It would be a violation if the players showed up with a fully made character sheet and the DM said "actually that's not who you are, here's a blank sheet." But if the players were told "so we're going to play a D&D game but you don't know who you are or anything about yourself - you will learn these details through gameplay. Sound cool?" and the players agreed (and safety tools are present, and by safety tools I include "players are allowed to just nope out", that's fine! If I lock you in a room in my house for an hour because I think you suck, that is violation of your agency; if I run an escape room and you say "hell yeah I'd like to do this" and voluntarily go in (and are told where the emergency exits are) and are locked in a room for an hour, that is fine.

Ultimately, the core of player agency is setting accurate expectations and getting consent. D'Amato also notes that it's very hard to tell if player agency is violated without being at the table and I would agree: if everyone at the table as described above agreed to that game, there is no violation of consent: they consented to playing an unknown character with amnesia and the DM creating their character for them. On the other hand, a super standard D&D game in which you fight a beholder is a violation of player agency if one of the players said "hey, I am really triggered by beholders, they upset me, and I don't want to have them in the game," and the DM said "ok, sounds good" and then threw one at the party and ignored the player's discomfort. It is not about letting players do anything they want; rather, it is about ensuring players understand the rules of engagement within this system and not violating that, nor needs of those players to which everyone has agreed (lines/veils, etc). [This is also why people whining about D&D not respecting player agency are stupid - if you agreed to D&D, you agreed to the rules of D&D. You can wish for a game that grants more freedom of action for player characters! That is not the same as player agency; indeed I think a lot of people conflate player agency and character agency.]

I think KolloK, at least as described, actually feels like FAR more of a violation of player agency. In the same podcast, Friedman notes that Zac Eubank has said that he is ultimately not at all focused on player experience during the game but rather on end product, which is at least a bad sign for respecting player needs and agency! I will again admit I watched an hour of KolloK and found it both utterly unimpressive unless you are easily wowed by camera filters, and also excruiciatingly boring (and also people talked about that set like it was not a blackbox theater with a slowly rotating rock. Emperor's New Clothes-ass situation) so I am disinclined to be generous towards it, but this really sounds like a pretty open and shut case of player agency not being prioritized (especially since there's explicitly not an open table policy). Now, we're in a murky area because I assume the players are all aware of this and like, were not forced at gunpoint to be on the show, but it's still Not Great in my opinion, particularly since the first example of the amnesiac D&D game sounds like it could be an incredibly fun and healthy experience and KolloK sounds grueling and unpleasant even if you agreed to it.

So just to recap:

Player agency: almost entirely a metagame concept. Do you abide by the rules of the game you and your players agreed to (even if those rules involve a degree of ceding character agency) and respect the safety tools agreed upon? But also: do you let players take a break without asking you? Do you explain why they can't do something they want to do in a way that treats them as people with brains and feelings?

Character agency: what can characters do within this game? Violating character agency is fine provided it does not violate player agency, ie, Dominate Person in D&D is fine as long as your player agreed to play D&D and did not nix this as an option in your session zero safety discussion.

Player agency is in no way compromised by any specific TTRPG system provided players are aware of the expectations of said system; Character agency can be. Players are real people and violating their agency is pretty unambiguously a problem; characters are not and violating their agency can be an important part of storytelling.

[luvseisagi]

— not too much, just enough.

ft. michael kaiser x reader. wc. 4k

summary. on endless nights that feel like drowning in your own mind, you know michael kaiser is the only one who truly understands. content. gn!reader, no pronouns used. established relationship. hurt/comfort, toxic relationship turned healthy. mentions of emotional manipulation and gaslighting. kaiser had a redemption arc (so ooc because hes super sweet). reader is dealing with mental health issues —depression, anxiety, self harm in a way (nothing explicit) + has avoidant attachment style. other than that, i think it could even be fluff. author's note. i had an episode and i was sad as fuck so i wrote this cause the only character i think would really understand it is kaiser since he's had it even worse. so yeah. here you have !

𝜗𝜚 english isnt my first language, so any corrections or advice are highly appreciated, as well as feedback (please) ! enjoy

the room is dark, the air so hot its difficult to breath, yet so cold it chills you even under the pile of blankets. the blinds are still up, window cracked open, but it's past midnight. no moon tonight, so nothing but the faint light of your phone screen on the bedside table illuminates the closed space.

you’re sitting on your bed, back against the wall, legs crossed. your pajamas stick to your skin, uncomfortable, but you have no strength left in your body to change clothes, too drained to move or even adjust the blankets over you.

you tried to sleep, because you feel exhausted, but your mind doesn't seem to want to cooperate. your eyes are wide open, and from where you are sitting, you can see all the notifications on your phone —a reminder of all the messages you’ve been ignoring.

today's been a rough day, but you don't even know why. you didn't do anything. didn't even leave the house, or your room —not today, not the whole week. so why do you feel exhausted? why does it feel like the worst day of your life, if nothing happened at all?

you did nothing but rot in bed for hours, gathering the very little strength you had left to drag yourself to the bathroom, splash some water on your face and eat whatever you could find in the kitchen that didn't get you nauseous just from the smell. and even that had been a struggle.

you are not fine. 

actually, you haven't been fine for a long time now. however, u are able to ignore it most of the time —your busy everyday life has you distracted enough to avoid the dark thoughts, usually. but there are times when it’s just too much.

when everything's too much is when you feel absolutely nothing.

you always say you are a pretty logical person. it's one of the things you like about yourself: always taking in every perspective, always finding rational answers for your emotions. that's why these episodes hit so hard —they don’t make sense. you can’t even grasp them, can’t analyze something you can't understand. it drives you crazy. it makes you want to cry.

it chains you to your bed for hours, for days and even weeks —when silence becomes too loud is when your mind can't quiet down.

and still, all you feel is emptiness. 

a soft knock on the door is the first sound to fill your room in days. it startles you, and you flinch.

"are you there?" 

the voice on the other side of the door is low and sweet, almost honey in the way it slides so easily from under your door to the edge of your bed. 

your throat feels dry for not speaking for days. 

there's no answer from you. you can't grasp even a trace of your voice.

"i'm coming in, okay?" 

you don't say anything, but he doesn't need you to reply. the door opens, and your boyfriend enters the room.

"hi, love. i've brought you dinner, in case you’re hungry. and water too." 

you can only watch him in silence as he walks in, setting his bag down on your desk —the food is there, you assume, given the smell. 

you swallow, but at least you don't feel the urge to throw up. the way your stomach growls, you're pretty sure hunger won this time over anxiety.

“here."

he hands you a bottle of water after opening it for you. is cold, and it calms the itch on your skin for a moment.

"thank you." you manage to mumble, avoiding his gaze. 

he's seen you in so many ways —completely naked, just waking up, ugly sobbing, and sick and feverish —but for some reason, embarrassment gathers on your cheeks when he sees you like this.

it's not that you don't look good. it's that you look vulnerable, and broken —and you hate it.

you manage to take a sip of water.

"wanna talk?" he asks then, sitting beside you on the bed.

there are no sheets, the pillow is on the floor, and you have nothing but the blankets over you and other things you didn't care to set aside scattered on the bare mattress —your headphones, the phone charger, the laptop with no battery because you didn't want to get up to plug it in. one of his hoodies is there too, wrinkled and tear-stained. you had taken it off in a heat attack that had left you choking on air last night. or maybe this morning. you are not sure.

one of his hands goes to your arm then, and caresses your skin softly. that brings you back to reality.

"i don’t know." you tell him, answering his question. "i mean, i can talk. but i don’t know what to say. i don’t know why this is happening.”

he stays silent. meanwhile, the tips of his fingers run down your arm until they reach your wrist. then they stop —he waits for you to be the one to grab his hand.

you do it immediately, but when he squeezes it to confirm you that he’s there and he’s not going anywhere, you flinch.

kaiser raises an eyebrow, but he doesn’t say anything. his gaze shifts down to your hand, and, even though he knows what he’s going to see, he feels his chest swell with worry at the sight. he sighs quietly.

“love…”

“i know. i’m sorry, i… i didn’t…”

you try to let go of his hand, but he’s grabbing it firmly —enough strength to keep you from letting go, enough gentleness to avoid hurting you.

so you pull your knees up and bury your face between them. short flashes of pain run through your whole hand when kaiser brushes your knuckles with the tip of his fingers, skin red and purple throbbing under his touch.

it’s not the first time you do this, nor the first time he’s found you like this —alone in your room, gaze lost in the darkness, purple knuckles covered with dry blood and traces of a red stain on your wall. you swallow, a wave of shame flooding your throat, chest and stomach. 

you don’t know how to excuse yourself, how to justify that pain is the only way for you to feel alive, like you’re still there, sometimes. —when reality is so distorted you need something, anything, to anchor you to reality. 

luckily, you boyfriend doesn’t feel the need to say anything. he just holds your hand, and brings his other hand to your cheek. slowly, his fingertips caress your cheek, index and thumb holding your chin delicately. he tilts your head up slightly, and waits for you to look at him.

when you lift your eyes to meet his, you feel your whole soul breaking.

michael kaiser’s beauty is breathtaking, and right now, the sadness in the depth of his blue eyes knocks all the air out of your lungs. 

and that hurts even harder than saying anything.

because you can deal with him scolding you —you’d just nod, fake that you’re listening, and start a new day as if nothing had happened—, you can deal with him telling you he’s disappointed, that you shouldn’t do this to yourself, or whatever people would say after finding out about it.

but he doesn’t do that. he just holds your gaze, eyes locked on yours while he caresses your cheek with his fingers. and then he places a gentle kiss on your dry lips.

a salty tear forms on your low eyelashes, which releases it on michael’s hand. a crystal-clear drop runs down the back of his hand, his wrist, and ends up spilling onto the blanket.

he kisses your cheeks, now wet with your silent crying, and your heart shatters just a little more.

kaiser knows more about pain than anyone in this world —and you know it. even so, he thinks nothing could ever be as painful as watching you cry in front of him.

if someone told you that you’d be in this situation a year ago, you would have called them crazy. your relationship with kaiser had been complicated from the start —the flirting and the teasing were fun until real feelings got involved, and neither of you knew how to manage them. becoming an actual couple and learning how to love each other had been a very long, thorny journey.

at first, he loved you so much it pleased you —he was sweet, thoughtful, gentle. he brought you flowers after your shifts, welcomed you home with dinner and very expensive wine, wrapped you in his velvety robe at night and covered your body with kisses.

you weren’t really dating, but everyone in your lives thought you would end up in a relationship sooner or later. the few times a month that you could see each other, due to your schedules, were truly the best days of the week —like coming back to a five star hotel where you could fully relax and empty your mind.

but a five star hotel, even though beautiful, is not a home. the exclusivity becomes boring after a while, when it stops feeling like a gift and becomes something that’s just there. all the time.

you started to lose interest, and he realized it pretty quickly.

so he loved you even harder —loved you so much, it scared you. 

kaiser became obsessed with you, needy for your attention —throughout his life, he had been used to being the one in charge of the relationship. the one his partners depended on, although it was him who really needed them. and he had never had a problem with using the worst, most toxic traits known to humanity to practically force them to stay with him, convincing them that, without him, they would be lost forever.

you weren’t like that.

if he didn’t reply to your text for a couple of hours but post on social media, you would ignore him for a few days. if he told you he was hanging out with other people, reminding you on purpose that you weren’t dating yet to make you jealous, you would just answer with a “fine, have fun” and show him you didn’t really care. if he canceled your plans at the last minute, you would just take a walk alone and send him some pictures.

so he tried the opposite approach, but the result was the same —when he tried to shower you with affection, buy you presents, take you on expensive dates or just cancel his whole agenda to spend the entire day with you —you’d tell him he was being a bit too much and you needed space.

none of his old methods were working on you —not the intense lover behavior, which was supposed to make you fall irremediably hard for him, nor the avoidant partner traits, which technically would make you crawl back to him, begging for at least a bit of his attention.

he was stunned. he was confused, and, before he could realize it —he was the one who needed you so badly it could kill him.

and it seemed like it didn’t bother you at all.

of course, that wasn’t true, but his behavior had been driving you mad, and since you didn’t know how to react to his unconditional love on some days and apparent indifference on others, you just tried to convince yourself that you didn’t actually care about him. 

oh, but you did care about him.

for the almost four first months you had been going on dates, hanging out, and really like a couple, kaiser had completely fallen in love. and you knew it, but you were still not sure —not about loving him, really, because that you did. 

even if you didn’t really want to, after getting to know him better and seeing his most vulnerable, broken side —a few weeks ago, following a very heated argument that ended in angry cries and bitter kisses—, you could not not love him. 

but you were not really sure you could give him the kind of love he deserved.

walking away was easy at first —it wasn’t the first time you had done it. you tended to run away from everything, anything that started feeling important for you. from everyone who started loving you too much —which was exactly what michael was doing.

you usually made it look like you didn’t care at all, but it wasn’t exactly that —you were terrified. scared of being liked and not being enough, scared of loving too much and ending up hurt.

frightened of being known by someone —really, deeply known— and being so repulsive on the inside, no one could ever love you after that.

so you pushed him away. constantly. when he sent bouquets of flowers and when he invited you to germany, when he hugged you from behind or tried to hold your hand. 

when he started calling and texting you daily because you hadn’t shown any sign of life for a whole week.

you remember it vividly, it was about six months ago —the first time he saw you the same way you are now. 

kaiser showed up in your apartment after five days with no response. and, truthfully, he had learned to give you your space —especially lately, when you seemed to be stressed by even the slightest physical contact. however, when he asked your friends, they didn’t know anything about you either, and you lived alone, so he was really worried about you.

so, he showed up at your door, with a lot of questions on his tongue and a single blue rose on his hand.

kaiser kissed you as a greeting that day, on the cheek, a salty kiss that stained his lips forever —it was the first day he tasted your tears. then he asked, he asked so many things you can’t even remember them all. and, at first, you didn’t even try to answer —but then he sat next to you on the same bed you are now, and words started spilling from your mouth. even you were surprised to be able to explain something not even your own mind could understand.

later, when he gave you the rose, you had tried to blame the blood in your hands on its thorns. and yet, instead of feeling repulsed, kaiser had kissed each of your fingers —each of your bruises, each of the wounds still bleeding. 

and then he cleaned the red stains in the wall, helped you make the bed and raised the blinds on your window to let the pink sun rays of the sunset enter your room.

he asked to stay the night, and you let him. then, for the first time, he told you about his past. 

the last memory you have of that night, is your fingertips wiping away his tears softly, both hiding from the world under the freshly made sheets —and your lips muttering a very sincere, though slightly shaky, i love you over his mouth.

and you were still terrified, but he made it look a little bit easier. not loving him, exactly —but letting him kiss you back, and tell you he loved you too.

your relationship got better after that —it got official, actually. there were still arguments from time to time, and some nights weren’t easy —but you were learning to be together. to be there, at least.

and what is love if not that?

because he had exploded against you a few more times, screaming at you, belittling you, slamming doors and blaming you for things you didn't even know about. and you had stayed there, rational mind intact and a hand he could hold onto when reality hit him and he finally collapsed in front of you. you didn’t go. you never left him alone.

and you’d had three more episodes like the one you’re having now since that day, ignoring him and the world, hiding in your room and even seriously considering breaking up with him, thinking yourself undeserving of his care —and after each of them, kaiser had stayed there, eyes sad and kisses that reminded you that he would never stop loving you. he would never leave you.

neither of you left when yours wasn’t really love, but obsession, and need, and pent-up trauma. neither of you ran. instead, you stayed. you worked. you held on, not to what it was, but to what it could become.

and slowly, it did —a little purer, a little more beautiful—and much more fragile, too.

so here you are now, for the fourth time —weak, vulnerable and broken. your boyfriend looking at you as if he were watching the most precious thing in his life fall to pieces in front of his eyes, and he could do nothing about it.

kaiser places one last kiss on your cheek, then decides it’s time to help you feel a little bit better.

“listen, love, we are gonna do the following:” he says, gently pulling you by the hand that's holding his, forcing you to stand up. “first, we are going to take a shower —i’ll help you wash your hair and dry it afterward. then, we’ll put on clean pajamas, and i’ll change the sheets of your bed while you have dinner —brought your favorites for you to choose from. after that, we can watch a movie, or sleep, or talk, if you want. is that fine for you?” 

you nod, slowly, and the blue of his eyes shines softly as he looks at you. then he gently kisses your hairline, as if reminding you he’s going to be there for every step —he’s still as obsessed with kissing you as the first day.

so you walk together to the cramped bathroom in your apartment, still holding hands, and he helps you take off your clothes tenderly —delicately, as if scared of breaking you if he’s to harsh, but firmly, for you to know that he’s there if you need to break on your own.

then he takes off his own clothes and the two of you step into the shower, barely large enough for two people. you stand still as the water soaks your hair, trails down your skin. you let yourself open your eyes and look directly at him. 

blonde, irregular strands of wet hair stick to the sides of his face, blue tips brushing his chin. his skin is pale, but soft, and the rain of the shower slips over his muscles, traces the silhouette of the blue rose on his neck, down his arm. his gaze is still intense, but he smiles softly at you.

he looks like a sacred image, too surreal to be standing before you —you try to reach for it.

your hand goes to his cheek, little bit flushed from the warm water. you trace his features with your fingertips —the curve of his chin, the corner of his lips, the tip of his nose, the tattooed red line under both his eyes. 

michael kaiser is very much real, standing in front of you.

still, you can’t help but think you’re in presence of something blessed, something divine, as you watch the round water drops rest between his eyelashes. when he blinks and they fall, it looks as if he’s crying. 

but it is you, you realize, the one who’s crying, when he brings the shampoo to your head and starts washing your hair slowly, it’s your tears falling from your eyes as he massages your neck, your shoulders and you waist when he spreads the gel all over your body. 

you don’t say anything at all during the whole process —but your body leans into every stroke, like it’s slowly surrending to the touch of love.

after the shower, kaiser takes turns drying your hair and his, and he lets you braid the long blue strands of the back of his head absentmindedly while he brushes yours. 

time moves quickly after that —at least, faster than it has during this whole week. you watch him as you have small bites of the food he brought you, now a little more talkative than before, dressed in the clean clothes that smell like his fabric softener —as he changes the sheets on your bed and cleans up the mess your room had become.

the room has aired out while you were showering. the window is now closed, and the blinds are down. all the light, instead of coming from your phone —now turned off and forgotten on the nightstand, at least for tonight— comes from the starry lights hanging on the wall over your bed.

now it looks a little more like your room and a little less like a pit of despair.

your boyfriend has changed clothes too. he's no longer wearing his street clothes —which he's neatly stored in his space of your closet— but the silk robe he usually leaves at your house. his blond hair is pulled back in a half-updo at the nape of his neck, unruly blue strands sticking out. he's also put on his glasses —the ones he used to avoid wearing, but never forgets now since you told him you like how they look on him.

the air doesn’t feel heavy anymore. it’s warm, you think, as you let him wrap you in the freshly made blanket next to him. it’s comfortable, now that he’s here.

“so?” he asks, and then kisses your neck, and your chin, and your nose. you let out a soft giggle, and he feels his chest explode with affection for you “what’s it gonna be? movie, talk, sleep? or any other ideas?”

you smile faintly, and you snuggle up against him. his arms now surround your waist, his chest serving as your pillow. you can feel the rhythm of his pulse on your cheek.

“can we just stay like this for a while?” you whisper, voice small, almost unsure —but soft in a way it hadn’t been for days.

kaiser chuckles under his breath, and kisses the top of your head.

“that’s exactly the plan i was thinking about, love,” he murmurs, his lips brushing against your hair, “wish granted.”

you laugh —a small, sleepy laugh that feels almost foreign to your own ears after the week you’ve had. but it’s real, and it makes kaiser’s hold around you tighten just a little.

there’s no need to talk anymore. no need for a movie or to pretend everything’s okay. the only thing that matters right now is the weight of his hand resting gently on your back, the warmth of his body against yours, the quiet rhythm of your breathing finally syncing in peace.

and, a few minutes later, when you ask to yourself why is he so kind to you —how does he know exactly what you need, just the way you need it— you remember that first night you spent crying together, curled up on your bed —when he emptied himself in front of you, confessing everything he had never told anyone out loud.

you open one eye, and you shift your gaze to the desk, where you find a single blue rose in a fine, clear glass vase. then you understand it —he knows, because he’s had it even worse. and he would never allow someone he loves, someone who loves him, go through the same thing he did.

kaiser is asleep behind you, wrapping you in between his arms as if scared of letting you go. 

but you don’t feel the need to run away anymore. you draw a faint, calm smile for the first time in the week, and snuggle up against him. then you kiss his hand, that's softly resting close to your neck —he’s not trying to hold you down, just hold you close. 

for the first time in a while, neither of you feels like too much —just enough, for each other.

masterlist.

pls lmk what u think in the comments, reblogging, through messages, asks or wtv!! feedback is important to me in these first posts and i'd appreciate it a lot 🤲🏼

﹫luvseisagi, may 2025.

[forsaken-headcanons]

pr3typriincess....look at how they massacreted my gril

ANYWAYS VARIOUS PR3TYPRIINCES HCS CUZ IM COPING <//3

She plays with bluudud and i think she watched their streams

Does not give a FUCK about if someone came out (She made a 50 dollar donation to bluudud when they came out as nb)

Her voice sounds like the mako audition.... Im coping...

If she ever knew 226w6 was her parent (APPARENTLY ITS CANON SHE DOESNT I LIKE IT LOL) she'd try to kill them at the last second

(Also she also doesnt know what shes doing but she is very sassy)

Oughhh non canon pr3typriincess my daughter 💞💞💞

trans anon (SORRY IF THIS IS TOO IDK LIKE COMPLAINING LOL)

I'm starting to take a liking to pr3ttypriincess the more I read about her hcs hi

I need to know more about her and 226w6 I have 0 idea about either of them. Where do I learn more

Its perfectly fine btw trans anon!!

[firstelevens]

Hi, if that prompt list helps to distract you from your WIPs, might I humbly request "we'll get through this" kisses + SamBucky?

43. “we’ll get through this” kisses

here's a little jaunt into an AU for your troubles

Sam tips his head back against the wall, letting out a slow, quiet breath as he listens out for any noise coming down the hallway. Beside him, Bucky listens, too, head cocked and a wariness on his face that Sam has almost never seen in the field.

They've barely spoken all day, both braced to spring into action at the first sign of trouble. Twenty-four hours ago, Sam was sipping coffee on the porch and watching the sun come up, and now he's so on edge that he managed to forget where his phone was while it was literally in his hand. There's an ache in his elbow that won't let up, and his neck is killing him, and he stepped in something earlier that he's actively choosing not to think about because it ranks thirty-fourth at best on their list of imminent concerns.

"You okay, sweetheart?" whispers Bucky, and even that makes Sam flinch a little bit.

He steadies a little as Bucky's hand lands on his forearm and covers it with his own. "Fine," he murmurs. "Don't worry about me."

Bucky huffs. "You look like you're gonna pass out, Sammy. You should have taken the out when Nat gave it to you."

"And left you here to deal with this alone?" hisses Sam. "You really think I would do that to you?"

"No, but you should have," Bucky says, his voice barely above a whisper. "You deserve a break."

"We both do, and we'll take it together once this is done," says Sam. "For now, we can just...appreciate the quiet together."

A snort. "And the scenic view?"

"What do you need a scenic view for when you've got these perfect cheekbones to admire, huh?"

"Good point." Bucky leans over and brushes a kiss to one of the aforementioned cheekbones. It shouldn't make Sam's face heat up the way it does.

Sam turns to kiss Bucky properly, but they both freeze in place as the wind picks up outside, rattling the windows and making the roof creak ominously. Inside, it stays quiet for half a second, and then thunder booms so loudly across the sky that Sam feels it in his teeth.

Beside him, Bucky mumbles a string of curses, pushing to his feet as the sound of crying carries down the hallway. "Well," he says, as he helps Sam up, "it was nice while it lasted."

"At least we managed to eat something," says Sam, setting the half-finished sandwich on the coffee table. He nods towards the kitchen. "You go get the teething rings, and I'll--"

"You'll go get the teething rings," Bucky says, cutting him off. "You've been carrying him around all day, and you're starting to favor your left elbow. Let me take over. He can gnaw on the vibranium for a while; he likes that."

Sam sighs and drops his head to rest on Bucky's shoulder for a second. "Am I a bad dad if I can't wait for teething to be over?"

"Sure," Bucky says flatly. "Everyone knows the first sign of a bad dad is someone who can't bear to see his kid hurting."

"I still kind of feel like one," mumbles Sam.

Bucky tips his chin up, presses a reassuring kiss to his lips. "You're not," he says, his voice firm. "You're just sleep deprived and hungry."

"I'm just sleep deprived and hungry," repeats Sam, pinching the bridge of his nose. "And Sarah said it gets easier."

"And she's not in the habit of being wrong," Bucky says, fast enough that Sam knows Bucky has been repeating it to himself. "We're going to survive this, and so is Jack, and we're not gonna traumatize him in the process."

"Well, as long as one of us is sure," says Sam, then leans in for one more bolstering kiss before they separate at the sound of a particularly sharp cry. "Now come on. If you won't let me hold Jack, I'm just gonna stand there and smell his head until I feel better."

[littlecandyman]

There's something about the way the carnival lights glimmer in your eyes that makes bestfriend!Choso glad he asked you to come out tonight.

The dirt crunches beneath your feet as you stroll through looking at the snack and game options. There's music coming from the attractions, screams of joy and the sound of rides zooming by. A chill in the air keeps you firmly pressed to Choso's side as you walk.

He stops you by the ring toss and wins, handing you the prize. A teddy bear in your favorite color.

"I didn't think you'd win," you joke as you walk away, holding your bear firmly to your chest with one arm.

"There was no way I was going to lose," he smiles as he laces his cold fingers with yours, pulling you back into him.

You step up to a mirror maze and pull Choso in behind you, leading the way through.

"You know, if you keep your eyes-" you cut yourself off when you turn to face him. His eyes are on you, his features soft as he listens, a little smile forming on his lips. A blush heats your face and ears and you're suddenly very grateful for the darkness of the attraction. "um, your eyes- if you keep them..." You lose your train of thought and just turn back around running directly into a mirror.

"Shit, are you okay?" He grabs your face, turning it side to side to check for injuries. Your nose hurts, but there's no real damage. He pulls you into his chest and kisses the top of your head. Your blush intensifies tenfold and you're grateful once again that he can't see your face.

"I'm okay," you murmur, wrapping your arms around his torso. "If you keep your eyes on the floor you can see the way through. It looks different in the mirrors." You finish your earlier thought.

"Let's get out of here then," he says, releasing you and taking your hand again to lead you out.

You let him pull you along and once you're out he checks on you again. You reassure him that you're fine and suggest the ferris wheel next. There's a bit of a line but it moves fairly quickly.

The cart is wobbly and a little scary but you're already strapped in and the ride is moving. "Do not let me fall out of this thing," you say to Choso, both hands gripping his arm like a vice.

"You're not going to fall out." He removes your hands from his arm and wraps it around your shoulders, keeping you tight against his warm body.

As you near the top, your body relaxes and you rest your head on his shoulder. You can see the entirety of the bright carnival, all the people milling about. Everything is small and quiet.

"It's peaceful up here," Choso says, mirroring your exact thoughts.

"Yeah, it is." You turn your head to look at him, locking eyes immediately. You smile and look away, your blush returning with no shield to hide you from him this time.

When you look again, he's got that soft look on his face again. Butterflies swell in your stomach when you notice his eyes flicking between your eyes and your lips. The ferris wheel has started its descent and it's now or never you tell yourself.

You lean forward at the same time Choso does and press your lips to his. Your put your forehead on his when you part, staring into each other's eyes, hearts practically forming in his.

"Let's go home," you say as you walk away from the ferris wheel, hand in hand once again.

dividers by @/cafekitsune

[dr-spencer-reids-queen]

With Friends Like These: Final Part

Pairing: Spencer Reid x Female!Reader

Word Count: ~2.6k

Warnings: canon violence, canon language, canon talk of death, methods of kill

Summary: In the aftermath of Emily's death, everyone is grieving in their own way. This case forces Spencer to face the truth about his own well-being and the well-being of his mother.

Season Six Masterlist

Author’s Note: I do not own anything from Criminal Minds. All credit goes to their respective owners. If any warnings exceed the normal deaths/kills from the show, I will list them.

x

You two walk back into the main room, and you give Hotch a nod to let him know he can begin.

"We believe our unsub is a white male paranoid schizophrenic who suffers from hallucinations. Since schizophrenic breaks usually occur in your early twenties, we believe he's around this age and that he lives nearby." Spencer becomes worried so you put a hand on his shoulder to let him know that you're here for him. "We think this unsub is hypervigilant, and in this condition, he's unable to travel very far from his home."

"He kills at night and is extremely violent. During the day, he's most likely a loner. Someone in this state probably can't keep a job. We believe something happened to our unsub in his childhood. The childhood voices are telling him to kill, or he's misinterpreting them as doing so."

Spencer starts playing with his fingers nervously, so you rub his back in comfort.

"Our unsub has probably been coping until now, but a recent stressor brought him back to that childhood incident and is causing him to act out. Our unsub spends his days wandering, trying to fight the desire to kill, yet he feels trapped by his hallucinations. No matter what he does or tries to do, the hallucination's power is greater than his own. Because of his limited social circle as a child, it is our belief that the incident involved close friends or family. Once we figure out what happened when he was a kid and the stressor that recently triggered a relapse, we'll be that much closer to narrowing down the killer's identity."

"Reid?" Hotch asks.

Spencer snaps out of his trance and grabs a map of the area with shaky hands. His confidence drops several points and is more quiet than usual. This whole case is throwing him off and it makes you sad to see it.

"We need you all to start searching in this area. Based on previous kills, we know that he strikes at night and will not retreat until we find him. Excuse me."

Spencer leaves and heads to the bathroom while the rest of the team finishes the profile briefing. When you're done, you approach Derek who also has a look of concern on his face.

"Is he okay?" he asks.

You shake your head. "Maybe you can talk to him."

Derek walks into the men's bathroom and sees Spencer looking at himself in the mirror.

"You know, that profile kind of makes it sound like schizophrenia leads to serial killing," Spencer sighs.

"That's not what we said at all, Reid."

"My mom has schizophrenia. There are many different types."

"I know that."

"Catatonic, disorganized... Just because someone suffers from an inability to organize their thoughts or can't bathe or dress themselves, it doesn't mean they'd stab someone in the chest thirty times postmortem," Spencer says angrily.

"Reid, what's really going on?"

"Our unsub's hallucinations aren't fractured like a typical schizophrenic. They're vivid and clear, leading me to believe that we're missing an important variable. Rather than making crazy conjectures, I think we should be trying to figure out what it is."

"I know this is a scary age for you. It's when schizophrenic breaks happen. Have you talked to anybody about this?"

"Y/N."

"Listen to me. That woman loves you. Even I know that if you went down that road, she'd stick by your side. You have a support person in her. Lean on her. That's what she's there for."

"Yeah, I know," he whispers.

"Have you seen a doctor?"

"Yeah. Multiple ones. They all say I'm fine.

"Then why don't you believe them?"

"Because predicting one's chances of developing a genetic condition is like finding a penny in an ocean. I have terrible headaches. I can't sleep at night. I can't focus on our cases. I only read five books last week."

"Come on, kid, you gotta cut yourself some slack. You're also depressed about Prentiss, and I get it... We all are. Reid, I miss her every day, but if your mind was splitting, do you really think you'd be able to figure out that this team is missing a variable?"

"I'm just speculating that we are. You need to prove it."

"Then you do that. The moment you are wandering around the streets aimlessly, that's when I'll be concerned about you. Come on, Pretty Boy. Let's get to work."

Both men leave the bathroom, and Spencer sees you waiting outside of it casually. Derek walks off and Spencer approaches you with a tired smile.

"Are you going to be okay?" He nods and kisses you. "What was that for?"

"For always being there for me."

"You never have to thank me for that. I will always be here. Maybe after this case, we can go to another doctor if you want."

"No, I just want to spend it with you in bed."

"I can do that," you grin.

You sling your arm through his and start walking back toward the others.

"I only read five books this week."

"Want to make it six? It can be my turn to read to you."

"Yeah," he smiles. "I'd like that."

Penelope is on the phone when you enter the conference room.

"Because of HPPA laws, I can't get information on twenty-something-year-olds who've had schizophrenic breaks."

"Check police records. Maybe he's been arrested."

"Oh, I should have thought of that. Blame the fumes." She types. "Six kids have been locked up in the last month within a forty-mile radius."

"Any of them for theft?"

"Mugging, lewd behavior, and car theft."

"Go through personal information. Maybe they've had run-ins with the law when they were younger."

"Yes, sir, I am on that."

"You know, at the grocery store where Holly was shopping the night she was murdered, the clerk said the unsub was buying water and a lot of salt. Now, it can be used to remove blood from clothing, but think about this. The visions that schizophrenics have can be interpreted as demons. What do some people do when they think they have demons inside of them?"

"They get an exorcism," Derek answers. "Holy water and salt are used in exorcisms."

Spencer looks for the Yellow Pages and sifts through the book.

"What are you looking for?" Ashley asks.

"The number of churches in the comfort zone. There are three."

"Let's see if any of them keep their doors open late," Hotch says.

Only one of them is open late so you and Spencer immediately head over to it before they close. The only person inside is the priest who looks a little shaken up. Either he was just involved in something heavy or the unsub paid him a visit. Considering you see the stretched-out energy, it's the latter.

"He came here in duress about two hours ago," the priest says after introductions.

"What did he say?" you ask.

"He said... He said voices were blaming him for a fire, and he needed me to get rid of them."

"Did he ask you for an exorcism?"

"Yes. He claimed his mother had taken him to get one when he was young. I couldn't do it. Throughout history, people have confused possession with mental illness. Some still do. Nowadays, most churches turn people like him over to medical professionals."

"I'm assuming he didn't take your rejection well," you say.

"He was very angry."

"He didn't attack you? He didn't threaten you in any way?"

"No."

"He's probably gotten help from the church before," Spencer says to you. "Was there anything else about his behavior that you found odd? Like something he maybe said or did?"

"No. I told you everything. Oh, there is one thing. He had a stutter."

You and Spencer leave and call Penelope to tell her the new information. She will get on it right away since this has been a problem in the unsub's life for so long.

"Psychogenetic stuttering begins in the area of the brain that controls thoughts and reasoning. It's most commonly associated with mental illness," Spencer explains, "which means it's either caused by the schizophrenia medication or maybe it's situational."

"The presence of it along with the fire information should help Penelope narrow down her list."

Reports of another murder come in and since you and Spencer are closer to the scene, you two head over there immediately. Detective Colbern meets you there with the crime scene unit. This time, he's murdered an elderly woman in her bedroom. The same energy as before is everywhere inside the house only this time, it's messier than before. It's only a matter of time before he'll hurt himself to get the hallucinations to stop.

"This victim's a lot older than his other ones, Y/N. She must represent something to him. Maybe his mother who had him exorcised? Now that he can't get one, he's taking his anger out on a surrogate."

You look at the body and frown when you see another imprint in the blood.

"No, why?"

"There's a body imprint next to her. Why would the unsub lie down next to a person he's just killed?"

"He slept here," Spencer says. "Look at the number of stab wounds." Spencer counts them. "Seventy-one. Do you know how physically exhausting it would be to stab someone seventy-one times? It's hard enough to stab someone ten times, but seventy-one? He'd be completely worn out."

"He's accelerated wound counts which means he does it intentionally."

"Why?" Detective Colbern asks.

"Wait, that's it. If you add the increased number of stab wounds and the fact that he slept here to the vivid hallucinations and the unexplainable onset of stuttering, you get the missing variable. This guy's an insomniac."

"Just as adrenaline makes a person love the feeling of killing, once it leaves the body it makes them tired."

"He does this all to sleep?"

"The insomnia is what makes the hallucinations so clear, and sleep is the only release that he has from them."

Since it's so late and you don't think the unsub will hurt anyone else tonight, you have to pick things up in the morning. You only get a few hours of sleep but it's enough for the time being.

"Okay, here we go," Penelope says. "I looked at that list of schizophrenics that have been recently arrested in that forty-mile radius. I cross-checked it with ones that have gone to local pharmacies to get schizophrenia medication like Thorazine or Prolixin. There is only one person. Ben Foster."

"It's likely he uses the money from the stolen items to buy the pills," Ashley says.

"What's his background, baby girl?"

"He moved to Portland three years ago. A month ago, he was in an apartment fire after which he got a sleeping pill medication because his insomnia began again. Oh, my. When he was ten, he was questioned during an investigation about a fire that killed three people. I'm looking at the police report right now. It turns out that two months before, his mom had a local minister perform an exorcism on him, and the three people who were killed in the fire helped perform that exorcism."

"Was Ben charged?" you ask.

"No, he was acquitted in juvie court."

"Do you have an address?"

"2627 Halden Way."

You don't waste time in getting to his house. "Be careful! He's aggressive and highly violent. He will lash out."

You and Derek head to the right side of the house while Spencer and Detective Colbern take the left. Rossi and Hotch go through the house. As soon as you turn the corner, you see Ben fleeing from the home... alone.

"He's out back!" Derek yells.

You and Derek follow Ben as fast as you can, but he's a bit faster than you. The neighborhood has tons of houses on either side of the alleyway so there are a million and one places for Ben to hide. You see him jump the fence into the alley and start sprinting away. There is a locked gate that's blocking your way so you have to go around. By the time you get to the alley, Ben is gone.

With his energy, there is no hiding from you. His energy leads into a random house through the back, and you point to the house.

"He's in there. There are two children there. Hotch, do you copy?"

"On our way."

When everyone gets there, he takes the font while, Spencer takes the back, and you and Derek take the side. Inside, he's holding a little girl and her younger brother at knifepoint.

"Ben, drop the knife," Hotch orders.

"Shoot me," he cries.

"Ben, we're not gonna shoot you, but we do need you to put down that knife, okay?" There is no reasoning with Ben so Spencer tries a different tactic. "Where are the other people in this room, Ben?"

"Right there," he points behind Spencer. "Do you see them?"

"Were they there for the exorcism?"

"Mm-hmm. I didn't kill them, though. I didn't do it." He looks behind Spencer. "I'm not lying!"

"Ben, they're dead and they can't hurt you anymore," you say.

"They can't?"

"No. Your mind is playing tricks on you. Once you get help, it'll all stop."

Ben looks at the spot behind Spencer as if his hallucinations are talking to him. He shakes his head but then cries.

"Alright, I killed you. I set the fire!"

"Ben, listen to me. It's okay. We're gonna get you a doctor's help. I promise you that."

"No. The... The only way that you can help me is if you do it... If you kill me."

"Ben, that's not true," Spencer says. "Listen, the only way we can help you is if you drop the knife."

There is no reasoning with Ben, and the only way you're going to get him to stop is if you force him. He won't go on his own.

"Are you sure that'll work?"

"Don't reason with him," you warn.

"Oh, I'm absolutely sure of it. Put that knife down, okay?"

Ben nods and he pushes the kids away from him gently, and the kids run behind Hotch. Ben only takes a second before lunging at Spencer. You're way ahead of him and shoot his shoulder which is enough to take him down.

"We need an ambulance," Spencer says to the cops outside of the house through his earpiece.

His hallucinations might never go away but you hope they get better in time. The case took a lot out of Spencer so when you two get back home in your own beds, all he wants to do is snuggle and listen to you read. You open to the first page of his favorite book and begin reading, and he rests his head on your chest.

Frank watches you through his cameras, a smirk adorning his face. This couldn't go better for him if he tried. Emily dying makes his life so much easier because it's easier for him to take it out on you. For the entire time you were away, all he could think about were Spencer's words.

"I've thought about turning back to Dilaudid."

He picks up his phone and dials a good friend. It pays to have friends in different industries, and he makes sure to make as many friends as he can.

"You only call for one reason and one reason only, Frank, but I'm hoping this is a social call."

"Your hope is poorly misplaced. Are you still a pharmacist?"

"You know that I am. How else do I supply to you and all of your friends? My drugs come in handy when parents know their children are in danger. I like it when they fight hard," he chuckles.

Frank chuckles at the memory of a particular mom who wouldn't give up. He still has the scar on his face from where she dug her nails into him.

"Can you get my Dilaudid?"

"It'll cost you."

"How much?" Frank sighs.

"Oh, you know I've been wanting to adopt one of your kids for a while. That's what you're calling it these days? Adoption?"

Frank clenches and unclenches his fists. If Kyle was here, he'd punch him in the face for manipulating him.

"Fine. You can have one," he grits out.

"Good man. How much do you need?"

".1mg."

Frank doesn't want to kill Spencer. Not yet. For now, he just needs to scare you.

"It is not his enemy or foe that lures him to evil ways." - Siddharta Buddha

x

Want to be tagged? Follow my library blog @aqueenslibrary​​​​​​ where I reblog all my stories, so you can put notifications on there without the extra stuff :)

[lususnatura]

blamore, although he himself didn't have a medical degree, had worked rather hard throughout graduate school — for he was working about the equivalent of a full-time job in TA hours and also working on his dissertation, so that meant he was constantly swamped with work almost every week he was in graduate school. it typically brought home-cooked meals to eat for lunch and such at the campus, but that was mostly because eating out was a luxury for blamore at that time; not that he really minded eating stuff he cooked himself. it was honestly kind of better that way, he thought, because the less time he spent commuting to get things like food? the more time blamore could spend on completing it's dissertation.

but yes, it too felt like it could relate to harley in ways it didn't expect at first. because yes, graduate school and med school were both in leagues of their own considering the kind of work they encompassed as well as how much work they gave you... there seemed to be a mutual understanding here that they wanted to better themselves and also help others at the same time. blamore wasn't really interested in surpassing any of his peers during graduate school, so much as he felt he needed to focus on just making sure his work was the best quality possible, and that it was defendable in the first place. and this was something that carried on into the present for the creature. because its ego wasn't a part of the equation whenever it came to surviving getting its PhD, in order to eventually pave a way for it into the mental health field.

but in any case, blamore uttered a soft 'nice' at harley's acceptance towards his request of playing uno. he gave her hand a soft squeeze as kovac introduced a seed that looked suspiciously identical to the kind that he distributed throughout gotham as a part of his power-broking business. but considering that it was made using special technology, it wondered how the hell its body could've made it within him. i mean, was this just another part of its mutation that had just now become apparent for some reason? blamore tried to squeeze the rounded seed in between its fingers, but it had a rather strong casing, just like the actual 'seed' it had been distributing once more. blamore had pretty much unintentionally tuned out kovac and harley's conversation from then on as he moved his body to the side to have his legs hanging over the bed.

it stood up then before kovac was about to answer harley's question, only for his attention to be diverted to blamore proceeding to the restroom. ❝ hey, is everything okay? do i need to get a nurse to help you walk or...? ❞ he murmured a soft 'i'll be fine' and closed the bathroom door behind himself. the botanist rose an eyebrow then as his eyes were trained on the door even as he continued speaking, ❝ ahh... honestly, it could just be that blamore's body has created a whole new entire species of plant, and i'm just worrying over nothing. but there was something that slightly concerned me about that seed. and i know this might sound bizarre, but although i couldn't positively identify it, there were some abnormal proteins in there that could... possibly cause some ill effects.

but right now, i would think of it as suspicious because i've never seen anything like it. i would just advise you and blamore himself to keep an eye on his plants density on particular and make sure they aren't getting any thinner or are starting to wilt. if that does happen, though, i would suggest giving me a call so i can rule out any other factors that might cause that besides those seeds. ❞

Harley well remembered her logged clinic hours. There had been some restless moments and times she wished she had brought a lunch or something more than the money for the crappy machine coffee. She hated thesis papers on top of work logs that required her to run after assisting doctors that had to sign her off on duties.

Turning her attention to her lover, she felt bonded in ways that she didn't thing were possible. Anyone that had worked in her profession always seemed to want to rival or express some desire to be ahead of the game. It was always some game, but with Balmore he never once made her feel inferior. She greatly appreciated that. In his moment of need she would have done just about anything, which made food and uno cards rather hilarious a request.

"Yer' on... besides it's been ages since I've played a chain reaction game of Uno," she said smugly just as the doctor came in to see them holding hands.

Knowing doctor confidentiality, Harley wasn't sure if she would be welcomed to hear everything, but Kovac was right he wasn't just a consultant and didn't have the authority. Listening intently she gauged what she expected until a seed was produced. In the heat of the moment Harley scoffed trying not to giggle, as she could soon see the other two's reaction. She had some comedic lines bubble up into head, but damn if now was not the time to say them. Reading the room she only came to the understanding when Kovac mentioned the seed being benign. "Ughh... I thought seeds were a good thing? Is it like a tumor or a blood clot...? I need to know what to do goin' forward if somethin' seems off?"