#i’m genuinely unable to recover from this

[greg-montgomery]

wait blurb requests how did i miss this???

okay i have an idea in case you’re into it 🫣 the first time aaron calls you princess and he realizes you really like it and he teases you for it but also he’s like…super soft and sweet 🥹🥺🥺🥺💗💞

🥹🥹🥹🥹 YEAH ignore the fact that I didn’t rly gaf about princess as a pet name until you started hyping it and I leaned into it and now I’d die for it

Warnings: a lil suggestive

When it happens, you’re in the middle of one of your favourite activities; making out with Aaron.

You’re on the couch in his apartment, one of your legs stretched over his lap and one hand on his jaw as the two of you kiss. Aaron Hotchner kisses like he does everything else; with determination and perfection. Kissing him is slowly becoming an addiction, you think, and you can’t get enough.

“Mm… Aaron…” you sigh out when his head drops, his mouth turning its attention to kissing up your jawline and down the column of your throat.

Teeth scrape your skin ever so slightly, and you feel him grin against you. “Hm?” he murmurs, holding your leg a little closer to him as you move to straddle him completely. “You like that, princess?”

And, wow, you didn’t think you’d ever grind down hard on a man’s thigh over a pet name, but there’s a first time for everything. A needy whimper escapes your lips as you rock against him, and Aaron pauses.

He doesn’t pull away, doesn’t keep kissing. He takes a few breaths, hot air blowing out against your skin. He’s recalibrating, apparently.

“Or you like that,” he teases, pulling you flush against his chest with both hands on your hips. “Princess, really? That does it for you?”

Despite your boyfriend’s casual demeanour, a wave of shame flushes over you. “Aaron, don’t,” you protest weakly.

“Don’t, what? Call you princess? Why shouldn’t I?” He kisses you softly, his eyes twinkling in the dim light. “You are my princess. My perfect girl, my love, sweetheart. And my princess, too. Right?”

God, is he making you say it?

Embarrassment is written plain as day one your face, but you nod hurriedly. “Can we not talk about this?” you plead, and Aaron makes a noise of agreement.

“We won’t talk about it right now,” he agrees, moving his mouth back to the base of your neck and sucking a mark on the skin there. “Right now, I’m very busy. I’ve got to remind my princess who she belongs to.”

[panthermouthh]

A podcaster I listen to just spent an episode describing what his neurodivergent burnout is like for him, and it’s the first time someone’s experience has actually really resonated with me. It affirming and concerning lol

[kavehater]

AAAH I have a mutual who’s 18 and he sorta kinda is flirting with this one guy who is a minor as a joke of course ( to which a concerned anon said that it’s weird ) but I can’t help but flashback to er*s

[beargirlmj]

Hearts at Stake.

genre : fluff

warning(s) : none

Jiminjeong x fem!reader

Previous → part 2 .

Chapter 3:

Sitting in the park, Minjeong and Jimin watched Y/n closely. The tension in the air was palpable, and every second felt like an eternity as they waited for the response that would change their lives. Y/n took a deep breath, seemingly struggling to find the right words.

"I’ve thought a lot about what you both told me," she began, her voice soft but firm. "And I need to be honest with you because you deserve the truth."

Minjeong and Jimin exchanged anxious glances. Both their hearts were racing, bracing themselves for whatever was coming next.

"I like you both," Y/n continued, looking directly at each of them. "But what I feel is… complicated. Because I’ve realized something I didn’t expect. It’s not that I like only one of you. I... I like both of you."

The silence that followed seemed to echo through the park. Minjeong and Jimin were left speechless, unable to process what they had just heard. What Y/n was saying was completely unexpected.

Y/n went on, trying to explain her feelings better. "When you told me you were competing for me, I was so surprised. But as I thought about it, I realized my feelings for both of you are strong, and not in different ways. I’m drawn to Minjeong’s sweetness and sensitivity just as much as I am to Jimin’s confidence and energy. The problem is… I can’t choose."

Minjeong, still trying to process everything, looked at Jimin, who seemed equally confused. "So, you’re saying that… you like us both at the same time?" Minjeong asked cautiously.

Y/n nodded, appearing somewhat relieved to have finally confessed. "Yes. And I know it sounds complicated, but I can’t deny what I feel. I always thought that when the time came, it would be easier, that I’d know right away who my heart belonged to more. But the truth is, I feel complete with both of you."

Jimin, usually quick to respond, stayed silent for a moment before finally speaking. "And… what does that mean, then? Because honestly, I never saw this coming."

Minjeong also seemed uncertain. She looked at Y/n, then at Jimin, trying to grasp what this meant for their future.

Y/n sighed, her expression vulnerable. "I don’t expect you to accept this easily, or to understand right away. But before you make any decisions, I wanted to be honest about what I feel. If you don’t want to go down this path, I’ll completely understand. But if there’s any chance we could find a way to make this work, I’d like to try."

Y/n’s proposal was unexpected, and both Minjeong and Jimin knew it would be a challenge. Up until that moment, both had believed that in the end, there would be only one winner. But what if, instead of competing, they could find a balance that honored all their feelings?

Jimin, the first to recover from the shock, chuckled softly. "I’m not gonna lie, this is completely crazy. But at the same time… I don’t want to lose either of you. Minjeong, you’re my best friend, and Y/n, you’re so special to me. Maybe… maybe we can figure this out together?"

Minjeong looked at Jimin, surprised by her response. Part of her still felt unsure, but seeing Jimin so open to the possibility made her think. She looked at Y/n, seeing the genuine sincerity in her eyes, then back at Jimin.

"It’s crazy, yeah," Minjeong finally admitted, smiling. "But… I don’t want to lose anyone either. If you two are willing to try, I think I can try too."

Y/n smiled, clearly relieved. "It’s not going to be easy. I know this is new for all of us, and we’re going to need a lot of patience and communication. But if we can find a way, I think we can be really happy together."

And so, what seemed like a simple competition transformed into an unexpected and unique relationship. Minjeong, Jimin, and Y/n decided to move forward, unsure of what the future held but confident that together, they could overcome any challenge. What started as a rivalry for Y/n’s heart had evolved into something much more complex but also more beautiful: a deep connection between three people who decided, against all odds, to create something new and special.

The weeks that followed were a period of adjustment and learning. There were moments of insecurity and doubt, but over time, the three learned to communicate better, to respect each other’s feelings, and above all, to value the unique connection they shared.

Minjeong and Jimin, despite starting as rivals, found a new way to relate to each other. They realized that instead of competing, they could support and appreciate the differences each brought to the relationship. And Y/n, at the center of this dynamic, felt grateful to have two incredible people by her side, both willing to try something as unexpected as the love they shared.

By the end of that summer, they knew they didn’t have all the answers, and the road ahead would be full of challenges. But for the first time, they were willing to walk it together, embracing the uncertainties and trusting what they felt. After all, love, in all its forms, can be complicated, but it’s also capable of creating deep and unexpected connections—like the one Minjeong, Jimin, and Y/n had found.

[emma23]

The awkward art of flirting:

Steven grant x reader

————————————————————————

Steven Grant’s heart pounded in his chest, louder than the Egyptian drums that had played in his dreams last night. He stood outside the dimly lit warehouse, a nondescript building hidden in the maze of London’s abandoned industrial district. This was the hideout of one of the city’s most notorious criminals—you.

His mission? Gain entry, gather intel, and get out without getting caught. Easy, right? Wrong.

Steven wasn’t the sort of man who infiltrated anything—let alone a villain’s lair. Yet here he was, trying to channel every spy movie he’d ever seen, which, frankly, wasn’t many.

"Okay, Steven, you can do this. Just... be charming, be confident," he muttered to himself, wiping his clammy hands on his trousers. He pushed open the door, stepping into the dimly lit room.

The interior was surprisingly cozy, not at all what he expected from a villain’s lair. It had more of a… lived-in feel, with mismatched furniture, stacks of books, and a coffee table littered with half-empty mugs. You were sitting on a couch, reading a book, and looked up as he entered. Your eyes immediately narrowed, recognizing him as soon as he walked in.

“Well, if it isn’t Steven Grant from the British Museum,” you drawled, not even bothering to hide your smirk. “What brings you to my humble abode?”

Steven froze. This wasn’t going according to plan—not that he really had one to begin with. “Oh, um, hello there,” he stammered, trying to recover. “I was just… uh… passing by and thought I’d… pop in?”

You raised an eyebrow. “Pop in? To a villain’s secret hideout?”

“Er, yes?” Steven winced, realizing how ridiculous that sounded. “I mean, no! Not a villain! A person! A very interesting person. I just thought we could have a… chat?”

You tilted your head, amused by his awkwardness. “A chat. With me. Right.”

Steven cleared his throat, trying to summon what little courage he had left. “Yes, I thought maybe, you know, we could, um, get to know each other? Over tea, perhaps? I make a mean cuppa.”

You blinked at him, unable to tell if he was genuinely trying to flirt or if this was some kind of elaborate joke. “What are you doing?” you asked, genuinely curious now.

Steven shuffled his feet, his cheeks flushing with embarrassment. “So… this isn’t working then, is it?”

You sighed, setting your book aside. “No, Steven, it’s not. But I’ll give you points for effort. It’s not every day a museum gift shop employee tries to flirt his way into my hideout.”

He scratched the back of his neck, laughing nervously. “Yeah, well… I’m not really good at this whole espionage thing, am I?”

You stood up, crossing the room to stand in front of him. “No, you’re not. But it’s oddly endearing. What exactly are you hoping to achieve here?”

Steven gulped, realizing he was in over his head. “Honestly? I was supposed to gather intel, but… I think I’ve mucked it all up, haven’t I?”

You studied him for a moment, a smile tugging at the corners of your lips. “Well, Steven, you’re lucky I find your bumbling nature somewhat charming. Otherwise, you’d be in a lot more trouble right now.”

“Really?” he asked, blinking in surprise. “You think I’m charming?”

“Don’t push your luck,” you retorted, though there was no malice in your voice. “Come on, let’s sit down and have that chat. You’ve clearly gone to a lot of trouble to get here, so the least I can do is hear you out.”

You led Steven to the kitchen area, where he fidgeted nervously as you prepared tea. The silence stretched on, punctuated only by the clink of cups and the whistling kettle. When you finally placed a steaming mug in front of him, he thanked you quietly, his voice almost drowned out by the hum of the refrigerator.

“So,” you began, taking a seat across from him. “Tell me, what made you think you could flirt your way into my hideout? Was that your idea, or did someone else put you up to it?”

Steven’s face turned redder than the bricks outside. “It was… er, sort of my idea. I thought maybe if I came across as… friendly, you wouldn’t be so… suspicious.”

You chuckled, shaking your head. “Steven, you walked into a villain’s lair with a nervous smile and a cup of tea as your only weapon. That’s more naïve than suspicious.”

Steven looked down at his tea, feeling like a fool. “I just… I wanted to help, you know? I’m not like Marc. I’m not brave or strong, but I thought maybe I could do something useful. I just didn’t want to be useless…”

Your expression softened. Despite your hardened exterior, you couldn’t help but feel a pang of sympathy for him. “You’re not useless, Steven. You’ve got a good heart. That’s more than I can say for most people.”

He glanced up, surprise and gratitude in his eyes. “You… you really think so?”

“Don’t let it go to your head,” you replied, leaning back in your chair. “But yeah, I do. It’s refreshing, really. Most people in my line of work are either power-hungry or just plain cruel. But you… you’re different.”

Steven didn’t know how to respond to that, so he simply sipped his tea, letting the warmth of the drink calm his nerves. The silence between you two wasn’t awkward anymore; it was comfortable, almost companionable.

“So,” you said after a while, breaking the silence. “What are you going to do now? Go back to your normal life, pretending this never happened?”

Steven hesitated, his mind racing. Part of him wanted to run back to the safety of his ordinary existence, but another part—the part that had brought him here in the first place—felt a strange pull towards you. “I… I don’t know,” he admitted. “I don’t want to keep living like this, not knowing who I really am or what I’m capable of.”

You studied him, a small smile playing on your lips. “Well, Steven, you’re already doing more than you think. You walked into the lion’s den, and you’re still here. That’s something.”

He chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. “Yeah, but I’m not sure how long I’ll last. I’m not exactly cut out for this.”

“You might surprise yourself,” you said, standing up and extending a hand to him. “Come on, let’s see what you’re really made of. Who knows? Maybe you’ll end up liking it here.”

Steven stared at your hand, torn between fear and curiosity. Finally, he took it, letting you pull him to his feet. “You won’t, um, kill me, will you?”

You smirked, shaking your head. “Not today, Steven. Not today.”

As the evening wore on, the two of you settled into an easy rhythm, talking about everything and nothing at the same time. Steven found himself opening up to you in a way he hadn’t with anyone else, telling you about his struggles with Marc, his love of ancient history, and his dreams of a life less ordinary.

You listened intently, intrigued by his honesty and vulnerability. There was something about Steven that made you want to lower your own defenses, to show him a side of yourself that you kept hidden from the world.

Eventually, the conversation turned to your own life, and you found yourself sharing more than you intended. You told him about your past, your reasons for choosing the path you did, and the loneliness that came with it. Steven’s empathetic nature made it easy to talk, and before you knew it, the barriers you’d built around yourself started to crumble.

“Why are you telling me all this?” Steven asked quietly, genuinely curious. “You don’t even know me.”

You sighed, staring into your tea. “Maybe it’s because you’re different. You don’t judge me, you don’t try to manipulate me. You just… listen.”

Steven smiled, his heart swelling with an emotion he couldn’t quite name. “Well, I’m glad I could be that for you. Even if I am a bit of a… bumbling idiot.”

You laughed softly, shaking your head. “You’re not an idiot, Steven. You’re just… you. And that’s not a bad thing.”

For a moment, the two of you just sat there, the silence thick with unspoken emotions. Then, before either of you could think twice, you leaned across the table and pressed your lips to his.

Steven’s eyes widened in surprise, but he didn’t pull away. Instead, he found himself kissing you back, his hands trembling as they moved to your waist, pulling you closer.

The kiss deepened, and soon, the table between you was forgotten as you both stood up, still locked in each other’s embrace. Steven’s mind was a whirlwind of thoughts, but the strongest one was how much he wanted this—wanted you.

The two of you barely made it to the bedroom before clothes started to come off, piece by piece, falling to the floor like discarded memories. Your hands roamed over Steven's chest, feeling the softness of his skin and the faint ridges of his muscles. He was surprisingly fit for a man who worked in a gift shop, and the thought made you smile against his lips.

Steven’s hands were hesitant at first, nervous and unsure, but as you guided them over your body, he grew bolder. His fingers traced the curve of your waist, then moved upwards, gently brushing over your ribs before settling on your shoulders. His touch was both tentative and eager, as if he couldn’t quite believe this was happening but didn’t want to stop.

“You’re sure about this?” he whispered, his breath warm against your ear.

You pulled back slightly to look into his eyes. They were wide and dark with desire, yet there was a tenderness there that made your heart skip a beat. You smiled, brushing a strand of hair from his forehead. “I’m sure, Steven. More sure than I’ve been about anything in a long time.”

He smiled back, a relieved laugh escaping his lips. “Good, because I really don’t know what I’m doing here, but I… I want to. With you.”

You chuckled softly, leaning in to kiss him again. “Just follow my lead,” you murmured against his mouth. “I’ll show you.”

With that, you guided him to the bed, gently pushing him down onto the mattress. He watched you with rapt attention as you climbed on top of him, your legs straddling his hips. His hands settled on your thighs, gripping them lightly as you leaned down to kiss him again, this time slower, savoring the feel of his lips against yours.

As the kiss deepened, you felt Steven’s body respond, his hands moving up your back, pulling you closer. You could feel his heartbeat against your chest, fast and strong, matching the rhythm of your own. The connection between you was electric, each touch sending sparks of pleasure through your veins.

You took your time exploring his body, your hands running over his chest, down his arms, over his stomach. He shivered under your touch, his breath hitching when your fingers brushed over sensitive spots. You could feel his arousal growing, pressing against you, and it fueled your own desire.

Steven’s hands were everywhere now, touching, exploring, learning. His fingers tangled in your hair, then moved down your back, tracing the curve of your spine. He was gentle, almost reverent, as if he was afraid to hurt you. It was sweet, and it made you want him even more.

You moved your hips, grinding against him, and he groaned, his hands tightening on your waist. “Oh, bloody hell,” he muttered, his voice thick with need. “That feels… amazing.”

You smiled, leaning down to kiss him again. “Just wait,” you whispered. “It gets better.”

You guided him inside you, taking him slowly, inch by inch, until he was fully buried within you. The sensation was overwhelming, a mix of pleasure and connection that left you both gasping. Steven’s hands gripped your hips, holding you close as you began to move, setting a slow, steady rhythm.

His eyes were locked on yours, filled with a mixture of awe and desire. He was completely focused on you, on the feel of you, the sight of you, the sound of your breathing. It was as if nothing else existed in that moment but the two of you.

The room was filled with the sounds of your lovemaking—soft gasps, quiet moans, the creak of the mattress beneath you. The rhythm of your bodies was in perfect sync, a dance of pleasure that built higher and higher with each movement. Steven’s hands were everywhere, touching, caressing, holding you close as if he never wanted to let go.

You lost yourself in him, in the feel of his hands on your skin, his breath against your neck, his body moving with yours. The world outside ceased to exist; there was only this, only him, only the connection between you.

When the climax finally came, it was like a wave crashing over you, pulling you under, drowning you in sensation. You cried out his name, your nails digging into his shoulders as your body shuddered with release. Steven followed moments later, his own climax tearing through him with a force that left him breathless.

You collapsed against him, your bodies slick with sweat, your hearts beating in unison. Steven wrapped his arms around you, holding you close, his face buried in your hair. You lay there together, the world outside forgotten, the only sound the steady beat of your breathing.

You woke to the gentle light of dawn filtering through the curtains, casting a warm glow over the room. Steven was still asleep, his arm draped over your waist, his face peaceful and relaxed. You watched him for a moment, feeling a strange sense of contentment. It had been a long time since you’d let anyone get this close, but with Steven, it felt… right.

Carefully, you slipped out of bed, grabbing a robe from the floor and wrapping it around yourself. You moved to the window, looking out at the quiet streets below. The world was waking up, and soon, you’d have to face reality. But for now, you allowed yourself a moment to just be.

Behind you, Steven stirred, stretching and yawning. He blinked sleepily, then smiled when he saw you standing by the window. “Morning,” he said, his voice rough with sleep.

You turned to face him, a smile playing at your lips. “Morning,” you replied. “Sleep well?”

“Better than I have in a long time,” he admitted, sitting up and running a hand through his messy hair. “Last night was… incredible.”

You walked back to the bed, sitting on the edge and leaning in to kiss him. “Yeah, it was,” you agreed. “I didn’t know you had it in you, Steven Grant.”

He laughed softly, pulling you into his arms. “Honestly, neither did I. But with you… everything just felt right.”

You rested your head on his chest, listening to the steady beat of his heart. “So, what now?” you asked, your voice barely a whisper.

Steven was silent for a moment, then he gently tilted your chin up, making you look at him. “Now, we figure this out together,” he said firmly. “I don’t know what the future holds, but I do know one thing—I want to face it with you.”

You smiled, a feeling of warmth spreading through your chest. “Together,” you agreed.

And for the first time in a long time, you felt hopeful. Whatever challenges lay ahead, you knew you could face them, as long as you had Steven by your side.

[genderfluid-insomniac]

Hi! Hope you're having a nice, wonderful even, day or noon or evening or night; love your work and how quick you are with it but please don't forget to take care of yourself!

Can I ask for Furina and Wanderer (my two kinnies) with a s/o who usually acts cheerful with them and is the sunshine of the relationship except they have secretly been developing insecurities over time, either because of Wanderer making some comments that didn't really have much meaning to them like her eating a bit more than usual or her hair growing long or from them not being able to cheer up Furina after the whole Fontaine thing blew over and finally; they break down all together, not eating anything, not saying anything most of the time for fear of annoying or boring them and constantly telling them that they can break up with them any time they want as they don't want to force them into this relationship

I am and I hope you're having a wonderful day or noon or evening or night too! Thank you! You’re so sweet!

Furina and Wanderer with sunshine!s/o who usually acts cheerful with them except they have insecurities

Furina

In the days following the Fontaine prophecy coming true Furina could see you were particularly down and she didn’t know why. She tried her best to cheer you up but it was hard when she herself was still recovering from the prophecy coming true and being able to finally relax. To stop pretending to be someone she wasn’t.

Finding her identity and recovering from the disaster while trying to help out her normally peppy now solemn lover was difficult. Furina had tried so many things before it became really bad and turned into a very alarming situation. She brought the both of you to her favorite dessert place which put a smile on her face and faintly saw one grace yours before returning to your normal expressionless one.

Slowly she took a forkful of her cake and brought it up to your lips, smiling hopefully at you now that she would be happy if you were happy and enjoy the new freedom she had to live completely relaxed with you.

“Look I know I’ve been depressed for a while and you probably felt bad about being unable to cheer me up but you were the most important reason for me to try and live my life now. So I want nothing more than for us to have fun and enjoy living so wanna try a bite of my cake? It’s sweet and then we can make macaroni after with your favorite drink.”

Wanderer

Wanderer knows that he makes comments to people that seem insensitive and harsh but people closer to him (or people he didn’t push away) know they almost never had any real bite to them. One or more of his comments must have gotten to you because you haven’t been eating or drinking much and what you have been eating is what he’s been heavily encouraging. He was a bit unsettled at first but as days passed, days he thought would result in your return to your usual bright happy self, you didn’t return to your previous self if anything you got worse.

Your hair had grown not that you cared and you’ve been muttering how you don’t want him to be forced into a relationship, how you’d be okay if he broke up with you which sounded insane. Wanderer had found the person who genuinely cared for him and who he cared about as well and now you were suddenly alright with abandoning him again. No! He wasn’t at all going to leave you or let you leave him!

So one night he had enough of his half-assed plans and dragged you out to Sumeru City, gathering ripe fruit and tea leaves that catered to both of your tastes. He then helped you up the great tree to a sizable platform that stuck up and had a great view of the sky, something he knew was fake but it was just as beautiful as you.

“I don’t I probably said something dumb that might have offended you but I hope you know I didn’t mean it at all. You have stayed with me despite how harsh I come off as and like hell I want this relationship to end. Not when you’ve stayed with me and I care about you a lot. I’m sorry I said something that hurt you.”

[sourcherryandsprinkles]

hiii i’m thinking you do 1/4/25 with rafe!!

maybe rafe and y/n broke up but rafe really didn’t have a say bc the reader broke up with bc he was toxic and or bc of drugs and he rlly misses her and constantly try’s to get her back, and then maybe the story can end in soft smut.?

if you don’t choose to do that it’s ok!! ❤️❤️

 ‘’I don’t care we broke up, I still love you.’’ + ‘’Tell me this love is worth the fight.’’ + ‘’Don’t push me away.’’

I sort of forgot about the smut part, I'm sorry anon

—

Spring was coming up, so you were helping your parents getting the country club ready for the new golfing season.

You spend the whole afternoon at the golf shop and the adjacent stock room, tidying the rental equipment and ensuring nothing was missing or broken. The person who put everything away last fall did a terrible job and now you were the one fixing their job.

After sundown, there was a knock on the glass door of the golf shop. You turned around, expecting your dad, but instead your gaze fell on a pair of blue eyes you hadn’t seen in a long time. Your throat went dry, unable to look away from him as he walked in.

‘’W-what are you doing here?’’

Your question could come off as rude, but you were genuinely confused to see him at the country club. His whereabouts of the past months were unknown to you, but you knew he had left the island since he didn’t attend Ward’s birthday dinner event or the annual golf tournament.

‘’I'm visiting for Wheezie's birthday.’’

Visiting. That confirmed he had moved out.

‘’How are you doing?’’ you asked. He looked more posed and clear-headed than the last time you saw him.

A soft smile curled on his face. ‘’Better than I ever was.’’ His smile fell and he pulled his eyebrows together while biting his lip. ‘’I…I’ve been to rehab in Charleston. I haven't touched any drugs in six months.’’

The last time you and Rafe spoke was about his addiction. That conversation — and the bag of cocaine you found in his jacket — had been the final nail to the coffin for your relationship. Addiction changes a person and cocaine had turned Rafe into a completely man; the person you called your boyfriend was no longer the man you fell for. You put up with it for a while, knowing the real Rafe was underneath, but the mood swings, the irritability, the constant lying and the violent behaviors had led to your and Rafe's end.

Now, he was standing before you, sober.

‘’That’s great, Rafe,’’ you said, proud of him. Recovering from addiction must not be easy.

‘’Yeah.’’ He fidgeted with the sleeve of his gray zip up, seeming a bit nervous. ‘’I'm seeing a therapist now. She's good.’’

‘’That’s great.’’

‘’It's strange to be home. To see all that I left behind, all that I ruined.’’ His eyes shifted to you. ‘’In rehab, we’re encouraged to apologize to the ones we hurt during our addiction. My mind would always go to you.’’ He stepped forward, closer to you, and took your hands in his. ‘’I’m sorry. I’m so fucking sorry.’’

You glanced down at your hands together. You missed the physical contact.

‘’I need to stop trying to please my dad and go live my life. So, here I am, trying to gain back what I’ve sabotaged.’’ He brought your intertwined hands up to his mouth and kissed them. ‘’Give me — us — a second chance.’’

‘’I don’t know, Rafe…’’ You stepped away, but Rafe didn’t let you.

‘’Don’t push me away. I get why you did it the last time and it was a valid reason, but what drove us apart is no longer part of my life.’’

It would be so easy to fold and give him a second chance, but you had given Rafe so many second chances that you weren’t sure if you wanted to take the risk again. He was sober now, but a lot of addicts fall back into their old demons.

‘’I don’t care we broke up, I still love you. And I know you do too. If you didn’t, you would’ve told me to go away when I showed up at the door.’’

You sighed, torn between listening to your heart or protecting yourself from another possible-coming wave of pain. ‘’Of course I still love you, but—’’ 

 ‘’Then give us a second chance. Tell me this love is worth the fight.’’

—

OBX taglist: @moralina @eudximoniakr @toylewestinnyc @rottenstyx  @sweeterheartxamerica  @jordierama @viridwityy @izzy-laufeyson @kenzi-woycehoski @lilaconner @Katsukis1Wife  @hawkegfs @mommyruuetrue  @acornacreacure

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[sris-skies]

RESCUE SHELTER- junghoon xikers

it was odd. there was only one other person from her course who volunteered at the animal shelter, and yet the two had never spoken in the three months that they had been working together. sure there were the unspoken conversations during the volunteer hours at the animal shelter, mainly along the lines of ‘pass me the kibble?’ or ‘that’s where the nail clippers are’, leaving her with (infuriatingly) no clue on what this cute stranger’s name or interests are.  

she pushed open the door of the animal shelter, the bell above the door tinkling softly as if to announce her presence to the animals. she moved to the staff room, dropping her bag into a locker and putting on an apron and sanitary gloves. huh, the cute guy’s things aren’t here, that’s weird, he was always on shift with her, maybe he just wasn’t scheduled for today… 

she shook her head, erasing her thoughts, they wouldn’t help her whilst taking care of stray animals. her shift was quiet and uneventful, some of the animals put up a fight when taking their medicine, but that was about it. the cute boy never showed up throughout her whole shift, dampening her mood- not that she’d ever admit it. 

over the next three weeks, the cute guy didn’t show up once to his shifts at the animal shelter. she tried so hard to spot him in all of their shared classes, only to spot nothing. his unexplained absence was driving her near crazy, to the point where her friends had even picked up on her strange behaviour, begging her to tell them what was going on. once she caved and confessed that she was curious where he was, her friends laughed at her troubles, most unable to understand why she hadn’t asked his name or even tried to talk to him during their shared classes or even at the rescue shelter. 

she took a deep breath, the group of laughing boys making her feeling nervous. her friends had- after they’d stopped laughing- helped her find out who his friends were so that she could ask them about how he was doing. the cute strang- junghoon- she couldn’t keep calling him the ‘cute stranger’, especially not to his friends, was apparently very close to nine other boys at the university, all doing different courses, so hopefully, at least one of them would know where he was. 

she finally approached the group, clearing her throat softly to try and get their attention, freezing for a split second when they turned to look at her, the weight of nine pairs of eyes on her feeling intimidating. “uhm, hi, sorry to bother you guys but uhm, I volunteer with junghoon at the animal shelter and share classes with him and I haven’t seen him in a couple of weeks and I just wanted to know if he was doing ok” she said, words almost blurring together from her nerves. 

“junghoon? yeah, he’s just at home recovering, why?” one boy answered pretty quickly, seemingly genuinely confused why she was asking. “oh! you’re y/n! you volunteer at the shelter with him, don’t you? junghoonie always ta-” a different boy piped up enthusiastically, getting cut off by someone’s hand over his mouth. that was odd, how did junghoon even know her name? she didn’t even know his until half an hour ago! “uh yeah, I am y/n, I just got a bit worried…” she said hesitantly, feeling a little nervous as the group of boys began grinning kinda mischievously. “yeah, he’s just recovering at home, why don’t you drop by and pay him a visit, I’m sure he’d love that” one of them snickered, another already pulling up his address to give to her, the whole interaction becoming a fast blur that even she could barely keep up with. 

the sound of the doorbell ringing echoed in her head. ‘oh god, what if those guys were just playing a joke on me? what if this is just some random person’s house and not junghoon’s. what if he thinks i’m weird for just showing up, oh my god i am weird for showing up, i should just leav-’ her thoughts were cut off by the door opening, revealing junghoon, looking, understandably, confused as to what she was doing here. “u-uhm hi junghoon, uh, you didn’t come into the shelter or to class for the past three weeks and I got a bit worried about you so I asked your friends if I could check up on you” she said, internally cheering as she managed to get through her words without stuttering too much or sounding too much like a creep. she hoped. “oh, right. I had surgery on my knee and was told to stay at home.” he answered bluntly. his blunt answers scared her slightly, her thoughts running a little too fast for her liking. “ah, I see, well uhm, I brought you some chicken soup and a copy of my notes from the classes you weren’t present for” she said, handing over the items for him to take. he took the items, a faint smile tugging on the corner of his lips. “thanks, y/n, I should be back next week. I’ll see you then” he answered, nodding his thanks to her. catching the hint, she bid him goodbye, walking quickly away, internally cursing herself for how cold the interaction seemed. 

he watched her walk away, his smile growing a tiny bit more as he put her gifts on his table, throwing away his own notes that he’d taken from the past three weeks, having watched the online lectures instead. she really was cute, and he couldn’t wait to get better. 

-

happy birthday almost twin haha! hope you feel better soon and rejoin, we miss you!

[kanatajelly]

don’t ever leave me again

yandere!wanderer x f!reader

warnings: general yandere themes, unhealthy relationships, mention of past kidnapping, implied stockholm syndrome, spoilers for the 3.3 archon quest

word count: 1388

“Don’t ever leave me again.”

“...What?” said the Wanderer, turning his full attention to her. His indigo eyes were open wide, and his voice lacked the usual sardonic edge that it had to it. She looked back at him, clutching at her chest. “I said, don’t ever leave me again,” she repeated. Her eyes held unshed tears in them. Upon seeing this, the Wanderer’s breath hitched momentarily, before he recovered his composure. “What do you mean by that? It’s not like you to be so cryptic,” he asked, his expression and tone both as serious as could be. She shook her head violently, strands of her hair flying about in the light wind. “It was so selfish of you to try to erase yourself. If I weren’t from another world, I might not have remembered you at all! Would you have been happy with that?!” she said, her voice increasingly elevating in volume towards the end.

The Wanderer looked back at her in surprise. He’d always thought that she hated him for all that he’d done to her. But there was genuine hurt laying in her eyes, which were now brimming with tears. “I…” he started, but was unable to finish. He felt his throat constrict, as if something was stuck in it. Seeing that she had caused discomfort within him, her expression softened slightly before she took a deep breath, turning away from him and whispering, “Forget I said anything. I’m sorry.” 

He refused to take this sudden dismissal, and stood from his spot on the grass, moving to sit next to her. She tried to turn her head away again, but he seized her chin and forcefully turned her towards him. “Look at me,” the Wanderer demanded, but his tone held none of the venom that it may have had in the past. She looked into his eyes silently, waiting for him to say something. “Why weren’t you happy when I left? As Scaramouche, I locked you up and kept you away from everyone… I hurt you… And I deprived you of your freedoms. I’m not any better than Dottore. He did the same for me. I hate Dottore, so… Why don’t you hate me? Why did you feel the need to run around so hastily, going so far as to ask the Traveller and Lesser Lord Kusanali for their help? Why did you want to take me back?” 

She was silent for a moment before her hand came up slowly to rest on his, which was still clutching her chin. She removed his hand from her face and set it down, before her hand went to cup his own face, much more gently than he had done to her. “You are not like Dottore,” she began, her voice holding that kindness that he was so familiar with, “Dottore’s only goal is to further his twisted experiments. The things you did to me… Although they were horrible, I know that you did it for a reason, and not one as impersonal as Dottore’s. You did all those things because you were scared. You didn’t want me to leave like the others. I am certain that you loved me, that you still do, no matter how you decided to show it to me. I’m not sure why it is, but… I can no longer imagine my life without you. Maybe I have come to love you too, in some strange way. That’s why… When you disappeared from the world, I felt no happiness or satisfaction. I just wanted to get you back… Because when you aren’t here, I feel like there’s a piece of me missing. That’s all.”

The Wanderer was silent, but tears had begun flowing from his eyes. It had been so long since he’d cried, yet it didn’t feel the same as it used to. In the past, whenever he cried, it had been because of a deep, gnawing sadness that threatened to eat him whole. But now… He didn’t feel that sadness trying to consume him. He felt warm. He felt as if there was finally some worth to continuing his cursed existence. Overwhelmed with this emotion, sobs began to wrack the Wanderer’s body, his shoulders and his lips beginning to shake. Wordlessly, she took him into her arms, one of her hands hugging his waist, and the other resting on the back of his head as he cried into the crook of her neck. His own arms encircled her body, his hands clutching desperately at the back of her shirt, as if his life depended on holding onto her.

The gentle wind enveloped the two as the Wanderer continued crying into the comfort of her embrace. It felt difficult for him to breathe properly. She seemed to notice this, and started stroking his hair gently. Somehow, this grounded the Wanderer slightly, and he felt the pain in his heaving lungs gradually subsiding. As his tears began to dry up, his mind felt like a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions. ‘She loves me… She actually loves me,’ he affirmed to himself, taking in a shaky breath, ‘Maybe… Maybe I’m not as bad as Dottore after all. Yeah… If she loves me after everything I did, then that has to be the case… Right?’ While the Wanderer sorted his tumultuous thoughts, she noticed that the shaking of his shoulders had begun to calm, which made her smile lightly. 

Once his tears had dried up, the Wanderer reluctantly pulled himself away from her embrace. She attempted to make eye contact with him, but he averted his eyes. Eventually, she gave up on the eye contact, and instead moved her hand to hold his gently as he spoke, “I don’t deserve you. I tried to break you, to devour your spirit, to make you mine… Yet you harbour no hatred towards me. Instead, you have come to yearn for me as I do you. I don’t understand. How can you love me when I’ve done nothing but bad things to you? All you did was care for me, and I responded by… by ruining your life.” After he’d said this, he sucked in a deep breath, biting his lip nervously. His shoulders had started to shake again, and he still refused to look at her. She sighed and placed her free hand on one of his shoulders, holding his quivering body still. “That doesn’t matter to me anymore. I’m willing to move past that. Because I love you, Kuni.”

These words hit the Wanderer like a slap to the face. It had been so long since he’d heard her use the affectionate nickname that she’d bestowed upon him when she’d first learned of his true name. Her confession repeated over and over again in his head, and he found his guilt melting away. Finally, he looked at her, and was momentarily taken aback by the soft but firm emotion in her eyes. He sighed heavily, then started speaking once again, “I… I love you too. And I’m sorry about everything… Recently, I have realized that no matter how hard I try, I cannot change the past completely. I won’t ever be able to atone for what I’ve done to you… But still, will you stay by my side?” For a few moments, nothing could be heard except for the song of the wind brushing by the two. Then, she smiled. “I will stay with you, Kuni,” she assured him, “But you must promise me one thing. At my side, you will change. If you cannot erase your past, you must instead change your future. And I will be there with you as you do so.”

Kuni smiled, looking at her fondly. Then, his expression changed into a teasing smirk. “Obviously,” he remarked, his usual sass returning to his voice, “After all that you’ve said, if you think you’re ever going to be able to leave, you’re wrong.” She laughed, the sound making something in his chest flutter. “It’s not like I’d want to, anyway,” she said, embracing him again. He returned the embrace, his arms circling her gently, but protectively.

Even though the sins of his past still bore into him, Kuni figured he’d be okay. Because now he had someone by his side. And together with her, he could change his future for the better.

[ticklenight]

Second kiss

Hawks wasn’t sure what was wrong with him. He wasn’t usually like this—awkward, tongue-tied, and blushing like a lovestruck teenager. But when it came to Dabi, something about the villain just short-circuited his brain.

They were sitting on the rooftop of an old building, where they often hung out away from prying eyes. The sun was beginning to set, casting a golden glow over everything. It was quiet, peaceful, the perfect moment for… something. Hawks couldn’t stop glancing at Dabi, his stomach doing flips every time he caught sight of those intense blue eyes or that lopsided grin.

The first kiss had been unexpected but perfect in its own messy, chaotic way. They hadn’t talked much about it afterward, as if both were content to let it be what it was. But now Hawks wanted more—no, needed more. The memory of Dabi’s lips, surprisingly warm despite his quirk, haunted him. He wanted to feel that again. But asking Dabi for a second kiss? Well, that was another story.

“You’re fidgeting again, birdie.” Dabi’s voice snapped Hawks out of his spiral of thoughts. He turned his head, only to realize Dabi was staring at him with that same unreadable smirk. “Something on your mind?”

Hawks swallowed hard, trying to play it cool, but his wings betrayed him, twitching slightly. He opened his mouth to respond, but what came out wasn’t the suave, casual remark he’d intended.

“I, um… I—well, y-you see, it’s—”

Dabi raised an eyebrow, clearly amused, and leaned in a little closer, his smirk widening. “You’re not usually this flustered. What’s got you all worked up, Hawks? Cat got your tongue?”

The teasing tone only made Hawks’ heart race more, his mind racing in circles as he tried to find the words. The problem was Dabi—he was just *too* handsome, too cool, and way too much for Hawks to handle sometimes. How was he supposed to ask for something as simple as a kiss when Dabi looked at him like that?

Dabi, apparently sensing Hawks’ internal struggle, tilted his head. “You look like you’re about to explode. Just spit it out.”

Hawks couldn’t help it—the blush creeping up his neck flared across his face, and he ducked his head, rubbing the back of it with a nervous laugh. “It’s not a big deal… I just—um…” His voice dropped into a mumble. “... want another kiss.”

It was quiet for a moment, the sound of the wind ruffling Hawks’ feathers the only thing filling the space between them. Hawks risked a glance at Dabi, who looked slightly surprised at first, but then his expression softened.

“Is that what’s got you all worked up?” Dabi asked, his voice gentler now, though there was still a trace of that playful edge in it. “You’ve been acting like you’re asking me to fight the number one hero or something.”

Hawks shifted awkwardly, his wings fluffing up around him as he tried to recover some of his usual confidence. “I’m not usually like this, you know. You’re just… too—” He trailed off, unable to find the right word.

Dabi chuckled, leaning in closer, his breath warm against Hawks’ skin. “Too what?”

“Too hot,” Hawks muttered before he could stop himself, immediately regretting it. The heat in his cheeks intensified, and he buried his face in his hands. “Oh my god, I can’t believe I just said that…”

To his surprise, Dabi didn’t laugh. Instead, Hawks felt a hand gently pull one of his hands away from his face. When he looked up, Dabi was right there, close enough that Hawks could see the faintest hint of colour on Dabi’s scarred cheeks.

“Don’t hide, birdie,” Dabi murmured, his voice soft in a way that made Hawks’ heart skip a beat. “If you want something, just ask.”

Hawks blinked up at him, his breath hitching as Dabi’s thumb brushed over his cheek, tracing the edge of his blush. “Another kiss, huh?” Dabi whispered, his lips curving into a small, genuine smile. “That’s all?”

Hawks nodded, his mouth suddenly dry as he found himself caught in Dabi’s gaze, unable to look away. Dabi didn’t make him wait long. He leaned in, and Hawks’ breath hitched just before Dabi’s lips met his.

The kiss was softer than Hawks had expected, gentle but still firm, just like Dabi. It was slower this time, less rushed, as if Dabi was savouring it—and Hawks did the same. His wings fluttered behind him, and he felt himself melting into Dabi’s touch, completely swept up in the moment.

When Dabi finally pulled away, he lingered just close enough that their foreheads touched. Hawks blinked, a little dazed, his heart still pounding in his chest.

“There,” Dabi said quietly, his voice low and soothing. “Was that so hard to ask for?”

Hawks let out a breathless laugh, still blushing but feeling a lot more relaxed now. “Maybe not. But you make it kinda difficult when you’re standing there looking like that.”

Dabi chuckled softly, brushing a strand of Hawks’ hair back. “I’ll try to tone it down for you, birdie.”

Hawks smirked, his confidence slowly returning. “Nah, don’t do that. I kinda like it when you’re impossible to handle.”

Dabi raised an eyebrow, amused. “Is that so?”

“Yeah,” Hawks grinned, leaning in a little closer. “Guess I’ll just have to keep asking for more kisses until I can handle it.”

Dabi laughed, a rare, genuine sound that made Hawks’ heart skip again. “Good luck with that, birdie.”

[fatesundress]

hiiii love i’m so sorry if this is a rude question but i was wondering if the title of ‘for the love that used to be here’ is from a song or any other inspiration or if you came up with it yourself? (if you did i love your brain if you didn’t i still love your brain omg it’s such a beautiful, gut wrenching and well written piece) bc that fic has such an insane chokehold on me i’m genuinely unable to recover. and if possible i’d like to know everything about the Lore behind writing it :D no pressure about answering this!!! <3 hope you’re having a beautiful day and it just keeps on getting better 🤍

thank you so much!! you’re too sweet i hope you have the best day <3

i wish i had come up with the title, as far as i know it originated from this post and that’s where i found it :)

[return-to-twisted-wonderland]

🔆anon

Dusk had a bad day. It started the previous night when he was watching all of his brothers talking to Lilia and he left to go to Savannaclaw. He saw it a lot, but for some reason it hit him hard that time. He left and was unable to fall asleep until he passed out of sheer exhaustion, his body desperately needing to recover after he used the magic his body wasn’t ready to cope with yet.

The whole next day he was snappy with everyone, even teachers. It got to the point of Dusk making an explosion in Crewel’s class and being held back to clean up the mess. He was even instructed to write an essay on why you should follow proper procedures in the lab, being banned from science club until it was handed in.

At the very end of the day Sebek, Dusk’s classmate and brother came to confront him.

Sebek: Dusk! What is wrong with you today?

Dusk: Don’t you always have some issue with me?

Sebek: Today you were completely out of line! You snapped at anyone going near you, even teachers!

Dusk: Isn’t that normal for me?

Sebek: No, not like that. You are rude and coarse, yes, but you don’t go out of your way to randomly snap at people who did nothing to you beyond bump into you or correct you. I would think you would know better.

Dusk: You should have heard my reputation in the magicless world. It was exactly that. It was even that at the start of the of the year here.

Sebek: I thought you were taking your position here more seriously?

Dusk: Position? I’m not going to become a stupid guard for my little brother.

Sebek: You are a Vanrouge! You should hold yourself to a higher standard.

Dusk: And what does my last name have to do with any of this?

Sebek: You are the son of General Lilia- *remembers who he’s talking to* I- uh- wait!

Dusk: AM I JUST LILIA’S SON TO YOU?! WHAT MATTERS IS MY CONNECTION TO HIM?! NEWS FLASH! YOU, MALLEUS, AND SILVER HAVE BEEN MORE HIS SON THAN ME! ARE YOU TRYING TO FLAUNT THAT IN FRONT OF ME, OR DO YOU GENUINELY THINK I SHOULD ACCEPT EVERYTHING?!

Sebek: NO! That’s not-

Dusk: THAT’S WHAT YOU SAID! *huffs, turns around, and starts to leave* Just leave me alone.

Sebek, no....

[monkeytrick]

ausuweiueuiwqiu12

Sorry I pretty much only make posts like this rn and thnaks to everyone who reads them this is like. So much. But I’ve been freaking out so much lately bc I’m in a much better albeit temporary living situation than I’ve ever been in but I feel like I’m like. Genuinely way too depressed and scared to actually do anything since getting here. Which like I guess I can sorta defend bc I’m recovering from previous situation but I also kinda just feel like it’s how I’d be behaving regardless ☹️I got hired for a job at least but I’ve spent like every day I’ve been here essentially jsut pacing around and then getting really drunk and/or high to avoid thinking about any of the shit I actually need to do and then going to sleep at like 5 am. And I feel so much worse about it bc everyone here actually has been really kind and helpful about trying to help me get things on track but I feel like I’m just unable to do anything I need to do unless I have someone watching and helping me the entire time and I don’t want to put anyone in that position. I am basically like not speaking to anyone at all rn except for the people I live with and a select few internet friends and I have so much shit piling up on here and from people I knew irl in Wisconsin that I just haven’t answered at all. Ptsd symptoms have been getting worse since I first got kicked out and a little before I left for here I was regularly having days where I’d get like genuinely triggered in the most clinical sense from things I can’t really remove from my life and it would lead to me freaking the fuck out and fear vomiting and beyond that I’ve been so stressed that I just can’t eat anything at all without throwing up a lot of the time. I tried looking up if that particularly could be related to ptsd and I found so many people being like ‘yeah that’s a symptom I get it just never went away ever and I lost 80 pounds’ which scared me so fucking bad — I have some solace bc I don’t think it’ll be like that for me, since I got here it’s been like. Ebbing and flowing and I’ve had some days like that but some days where I’m like insanely fucking ravenous for no reason. Which makes me hope so fucking bad it’ll eventually go away but vomiting or getting nauseous being my response to so many things is making me so upset bc i already have really fucked up teeth and I know it’s damaging them so much more I am incredibly close to reaching the point where my upper teeth are just straight up all going to be actively rotting which I feel so disgusting and ashamed of talking about but I don’t know what I can even do to prevent it at this point unless I just full on get dentures or something. I know they’re like. Very obviously snd visibly fucked and I think people are generally polite about it but I feel like it impacts every interaction I have with people irl and all this happening is making me so much more insane and insecure about it. I had multiple really awful ptsd scary days consecutively like immediately after getting here which like, I kind of was prepared for bc I know it can actually get worse when you’re in a safer place but I didn’t expect it to hit so hard so fast and I’m afraid of it continuing to get worse. I’m literally like. In a better place than I have been since I was a small child basically and a MUCH better place than I was immediately before coming here and I’m trying really hard to remind myself of that but it’s so hard to like register anything at all other than being like fuck I need to die they need to kill me etc. I hope so bad I can take the steps to just like get my life together and hopefully get medicated for shit but it just feels so hard for now to exist and be alive at all I wish they could put me in a tube that would give me nutrients or something man

[hetalianskywalker]

Day 10: My Dream

Pairing: Mer Gregor x Pirate Reader

Summary: Gregor tells you he’s leaving.

Author’s Note: I love this man a lot. I hope I did him justice. I genuinely hurt myself with the dialogue.

Word Count: 776

Warnings: Mostly just cursing.

Mando’a: vercopa- wish/ dream

Prompt: Every captain, pirate or otherwise, seeks a Stormseer for their crew. They can sense winds, rains, and wretched emotions too, brewing hot in mutinous hearts.

Prompt 2927 by deepwaterwritingprompts.

“I’m leaving.” You don’t turn to face him. In fact, you make no movement at all; you just continue to lean against the bow of your ship. The full moon shines on the still ocean water and there is nothing but water as far as the eye can see.

“Say something.” You squeeze your eyes shut at the sorrowful way he says it.

“What do you want me to say, Gregor?” You want it to come out angry, but instead it’s bitter and resigned. You had known this was coming, but you had tried almost everything to stop it.

“Aren’t you…” His nervous laugh lingers in the air for a moment before he continues. You wonder if he grimaced at it or not this time. “Going to try and stop me?”

Your nails dig into the wood railing of the ship. You have been trying to. The moment you found him on Abafar, you had thought your life was changing for the better. You had found a stormseer: a closely guarded subgroup of both the Mer of Mandalore and the GAR who could sense the coming weather and emotions of your crew. Sure when you found Gregor, he had just barely survived an explosion and was recovering from serious head trauma. It had been a gamble and a long recovery, but for the man you got out of it, it had been well worth it.

You had fallen for him all too quickly as he recovered. His humor, strength, flirting, and kindness, especially after everything that had happened to him, just enamored you. Soon underhanded tactics were out the window cause you didn’t want him to hate you. You had genuinely thought you could convince him that it was worth it to remain as part of your pirate crew. It was a futile effort.

“I have.” Your eyes well up with tears as you finally turn to face him and suddenly the anger hits you full force. “I have tried everything I can think of to make you stay. Gold, riches, adventure, freedom, love. But you..” You break off into an awful laugh, but it’s aimed at yourself.

“Yet you still would rather go back to the Republic!” You want to throw something.

“My brothers need me. I have a duty.”

“Then just fucking go! Stop standing there expecting me to play the villain! I’m not going to imprison you so I can always know when a storm is coming! If you're going to leave, then just leave. Let me mourn…” You squeeze your eyes shut again and more than anything want to take back that last sentence. You open them as you take a deep breath and meet his wide ones. “Let me mourn and move on.”

“I love you, ner vercopa.” The phrase lingers in the air.

“What?” You whisper, staring at him disbelievingly.

“I love you.” Gregor laughs. It starts as the nervous one he can’t really control and shifts to have it’s own twing of bitterness, finding humor in the irony. “I think I have loved you for a long time.”

“No. No! You don’t get to fucking do that to me!” You screech. You stomp up to him and jam a finger at his chest. “After everything I did, you don’t get to just say that and still leave me! It’s not fucking fair!”

You feel your legs give out under you and thankfully he catches you. Any of your pride as a pirate captain fades to the back of your mind as you finally fall apart, banging your fists on his chest.

“I’m sorry.” Gregor just hugs you close as you sob. “I swear I will come back.”

“Liar.” You hiccup against him, clinging. “Don’t give me false hope.”

“After the war, I’ll come back.” He squeezes you tight. “I swear on the sea itself. I will come back.”

You linger on deck about a year later, unable to sleep, when you hear a splash. You turn around and there stands your stormseer.

“Gregor?”

“Hi.” He starts sheepishly, scratching the back of his neck. “I would have come sooner but I was stuck training…”

“Gregor!” You launch yourself at him. He cackles as he allows the weight to let him fall back on the deck. You just squeeze one another close. “You’re back.”

“I am. I had a promise to keep, mesh’la.” You continue to hold one another. And you have never felt so content; all the treasure you had ever stolen combined never made you feel this way.

“I love you, Gregor.”

“I know, but it’s nice to hear you say it.” He smiles, leaning his forehead against yours.

[softpine]

oh god i'm spiraling thinking about how this is going to make elaine feel after she hears asa did this as soon as she dropped him off! and beth and cara? danny and casper? stevie maybe being the one to find him?? IM LOSING IT

seriously i feel so bad for elaine, she has the least context of anyone in this situation. all she knows is that asa was acting weirder than normal and very secretive, then she takes him home and within hours he takes his life. she'll be rethinking everything he told her that day, i mean he literally said “If I can’t help anyone, then… I don’t know why I’m even here. I don’t know how much longer I can stand to be so useless.” she's going to feel so guilty :(

beth, who has been battling with herself over whether she should let asa be a normal kid with privacy and agency, and who only just convinced caroline to ease up on him a little. and cara??? this is quite literally her worst fear:

danny and casper, who both chose to pursue something for themselves instead of putting their family first like they always have in the past, who are terrified of being far away when their family needs them.

stevie, who convinced asa to look for finn in the first place, and who already has guilt over the way she froze up and watched a woman die because she couldn't jump into action quickly enough. stevie, who will have to be the one to intercept asa's parents at the door if the paramedics haven't gotten there yet.

jada, who we aren't sure how much she saw or knows yet, but the sheer amount of guilt she has weighing her down is already so so heavy. i can't even imagine how responsible she would feel for potentially being unable to save her best friend since the literal day he was born.

and finn??? the real kicker for me is that finn would/will be horrified when he finds out what asa put his family through, all for him. he got upset when asa did something as innocuous as burning family pictures, because asa's family loves him so much and he hates that asa has put such a strain on their relationship because of finn.

but i hope i've made it clear enough that this isn't really about finn. asa hasn't been cycling through antidepressants and seeing countless doctors since he was 12 for no reason; he genuinely does struggle with severe depression, losing finn was just the last straw. asa's ability to see ghosts has caused him so much pain over the years, but finn alone made it worth the heartache. without him, he feels entirely helpless. he's surrounded by people every moment of every day, but he can't connect with a single one of them. so while his motivation here may not have been to die and stay dead, i also can't say that he had a clear enough mind to be worried about the emotional impact this would have on the people around him. he knows that if caroline found his body, she would never recover from that, but even that is only a short-term consequence – he's not thinking about how his loved ones will feel in a week or a year or the rest of their lives. i can't really fault him for that. but the whole thing is fucking tragic :(

[crowderiva]

"taking the other’s hand to look for injuries" zahariel/dorian. a classic for any warrior/non-warrior pair

Zahariel hates when Nailah is angry with him, and not for the first time in the last year he has to admit that this was an earned anger and not some trite sibling spat that could be mended over their favorite Dalish dish.

“Amatus?” Dorian’s voice sounded on the other side of Zahariel’s door, and for a split second Zahariel considered telling him that he didn’t want visitors. He was in a foul mood, and he didn’t want Dorian to have to deal with it. But it’s Dorian. It’s not like Dorian would take the silent treatment laying down.

So Zahariel opens the door, and no sooner than the door opens he’s falling into Dorian’s arms, burying his face in Dorian’s neck. Dorian let’s out a small huff, probably not expecting the taller, broader man to lean the full weight of his body against him, but the moment Zahariel had seen his concerned hazel eyes he’d been overcome by an exhaustion he could feel in his marrow.

Dorian must intuit this, because he helps Zahariel stand at full height again, turning him and marching him towards his bed.

Once they’re sitting down together, Dorian takes Zahariel right hand in his and inspects the back of it, eyebrows knit in concentration.

“What are you doing?” Zahariel asks, resigned to the inspection.

“Checking for injuries. The apostate’s cheeks are sharp, I am trying to make sure they didn’t cut you,” Dorian quips, trying to make light. And normally, Zahariel would appreciate that about him. He’s come to love Dorian’s little remarks to mask the concern buried just underneath the surface to anyone who cared enough to look for it. But today, Zahariel can’t muster the energy to laugh at it.

“I made a mistake, Dorian.” He admits, and Dorian’s other cups Zahariel’s cheek tenderly, moving his face so that Dorian can look him in the eyes.

“Don’t we all?” He asks, genuine this time, and Zahariel can feel the tears well.

“Nailah is angry with me. And I don’t blame her. I’m angry with myself for going off like that I just--”

“Wanted to protect her from being hurt?” Dorian asks, and Zahariel sighs, leaning his forehead against Dorian’s.

“How do you do that? See right through to the heart of me every time? It makes it exceedingly difficult to try and play coy like you do.”

Dorian laughs, low and deep, and pulls away from him just enough to look into his eyes again. “Oh, amatus. You are an exceedingly earnest man, I fear you couldn’t play coy if your life depended on it.” Zahariel opened his mouth to try and rebut that, but he found he couldn’t. Dorian just smiles.

“I remember several months ago you were willing to do just about anything to make sure my family crest was recovered for me, even when I had insisted that I would take care of it myself. You would do anything to protect those around you, and your sister knows that well. But this is something, amatus, that you’re going to have to let her work through on her own. This is a battle you cannot fight for her.”

Dorian’s right, and he knows it. He hates it, but he knows that Solas leaving her is something Nailah is going to have to reckon with. It still doesn’t diminish his anger with the other elf, the fact that he’d taken his sister to Crestwood just to end things like that…the way Nailah had looked when she’d gotten back before she’d buried herself in being the Inquisitor again, trying to pretend nothing was wrong. Cole was her only confidant now, and that was only because Cole could read her thoughts anyway. And he’d fucked things up further by doing this now.

“Will you stay with me?” Zahariel asks in lieu of continuing the conversation. He was too tired to keep spinning, unable to think of a way he could make it up to Nailah. To beg her to open up to him.

“Of course, darling. I’ll stay as long as you’ll have me.”

And Zahariel may not know much about what he’s going to do or how he’s going to get Nailah to talk to him. How he’ll begin to apologize to Solas for hitting him. How he’ll make things right again. But he knows the answer to that. A wish more than anything else, and they both know it.

“Forever would be nice.”