#i'll try to be kind and hope they get better

[steddiealltheway]

As soon as Steve hears the phone ring, he sighs.

Robin is away visiting her family in Kentucky for the holidays, and the only other person to ever call would be...

"Dustin," Steve says, his free hand coming up to rest on his hip, "why are you calling?"

There's a pause on the other line before Dustin whines, "How do you always know when it's me."

"Because your irritating energy bleeds through the phone."

Another pause. "You got that from Robin, didn't you?"

Yes. He did. Sue him for wanting to be witty and taking a few notes from Robin. "What do you want?"

"Okay, so..." Oh boy. "I've been meaning to talk to Suzie for a while now, and we made plans not to talk on Christmas because she would be with her family all day, and I knew my mom wouldn't want me to be away for too long so-"

"The point, Dustin."

Dustin mumbles something that sounds suspiciously like multiple curse words before continuing, "The point is that I'm taking Cerebro to that hill, but I'm going to need a ride."

Steve frowns, walking toward the nearest window until the phone cord is fully stretched so he can pull a curtain open. He winces a bit at the bright light. "Dustin, it's freezing out, and the hill will be covered in snow."

"You would've done the same for Nancy!"

Steve's eyebrows raise. "Not the best approach if you want a ride, dude."

"I'm not trying to approach the whole you and Nancy thing. I'm trying to make a point," Dustin emphasizes a little too loudly into the phone. "You would do anything if you were in love! Even sit out in the snow for a few hours just so you can talk to the person you love."

"Have you ever heard of the phone?"

"Have you heard the number of siblings she has that would jump at the opportunity to listen in on our call? Plus, Cerebro is our thing."

Steve really wishes Dustin were in front of him, so he could see the way his cheeks are flushing during this exact moment. "You just like using your Cebro thing because it makes it feel like your love is forbidden."

"I do not!"

"Alright, Romeo," Steve says with a laugh, "I'll give you a ride. If you promise to only be there for an hour."

"Not including the time it takes to get there, set it up, and leave."

Steve sighs and knocks the phone against his head for a second before reluctantly agreeing, "Yes, but you better be bundled up so much that you're sweating out there. I don't want to hear you complain." He also secretly worries about the kid getting frostbite or something, but he'd never admit to it.

"Fine I'll see you in an hour?"

"Yeah, I'll see you then," Steve says as Dustin hangs up. "A thank you would've been nice..."

He really hopes he doesn't regret this.

-:-:-:-:-:-

When Dustin climbs in the car, he's bundled from head to toe but still manages to laugh at Steve who is wearing the same amount of layers as him. "Look in the mirror," Steve comments dryly before driving off.

The drive there isn't too long, and although Steve saw Dustin a few days ago - after Claudia insisted he spend Christmas with them instead of home alone - he's kind of glad to hang out with Dustin again. It's not often he gets a lot of one-on-one time with the kid anymore.

Which is why Steve is particularly bitchy when he pulls up to the familar area below the hill and find a familar van there.

"Dustin..."

"I didn't think you would agree to take me here and stay! So, I asked Eddie to give me a ride back this morning-"

"This morning?"

"And he said he was already going to be in the area and wanted to briefly meet Suzie and my Cerebro, so he's here now! And if you want, you can just drop me off. Think of it as a late Christmas gift."

Steve shakes his head. "And leave you in Munson's capable hands only to find out you two froze to death? No thanks." He gets out of the car with thoughts of a mourning Claudia Henderson on his mind.

"We wouldn't freeze to death!" Dustin practically shouts as he climbs out.

At that same moment, Eddie exits from his van, wearing his usual attire, only with maybe an extra added layer - a leather jacket.

Steve turns to Dustin, raising his eyebrows and gesturing toward Munson. Dustin sighs before going to the trunk to dig out all the different Cerebro parts.

Before Steve can join him, Eddie approaches him with a big smile. "Steve Harrington. Looking awfully toasty."

Steve rolls his eyes in response before openning his car door and reaching toward the back, grabbing the spare pair of gloves and a hat that he keeps whenever Robin forgets the extra layers - which is often. He hands them to Eddie without a word then helps Dustin grab his things before heading to their snow covered destination.

Eddie only lasts a few minutes up the hill before he manages to push into Steve's space while Dustin hurries ahead of them. "So, you look happy to see me."

"Just peachy, Munson."

Eddie snorts. "I'm guessing Dustin didn't tell you I would be tagging along when you got here?"

"And I'm guessing Dustin didn't tell you I was planning on staying."

"Actually," Eddie says, nudging Steve's shoulder, "I told him you would jump at the opportunity to hang out with him, and there was no way you would drop him off to freeze to death."

Steve narrows his eyes as he looks at Eddie.

Eddie shifts things around in his arms to grab his shirt and jacket and lift them up enough to show off some of his scarred skin. "Our matching battle scars will forever bound us, Steve. I wonder if the bats gave us telepathic abilities," he says, way too cheery for Steve's liking.

"If it did, then I would teleport up to the top of the hill right now."

"Telepathic means the ability to read each other's minds. The word you're thinking of is 'teleportation.'" Eddie corrects him without judgement - something Steve's always found surprising.

"Oh. Then guess what I'm thinking about right now."

Eddie hums before leaning in to mumble in his ear. "You're thinking about getting a piece of this."

Steve laughs and shoves him away. He's glad it's cold out so he blame his blush on the cold. For some reason, he's still not entirely immune to Eddie's flirting. "Definitely not what I was thinking about."

"You are now," Eddie teases.

Steve swallows heavily, pressing down those thoughts and many... many.... images. "I think you're confusing my thoughts for your own thoughts."

"Tell me about it," Eddie sighs dramatically.

Steve is relieved when he sees they've reached the top of the hill. He's even more relieved when Dustin doesn't ask for his help to put Cerebro together, but Eddie is all too happy to help while calling Dustin a genius - in various annoying, dramatic ways.

It's not long before Dustin is awaiting Suzie's response while Eddie bounces on his feet. Steve's not sure if it's from excitement or being cold - probably both.

"Dusty bun?"

Dustin's face lights up in a way that is entirely too endearing for Steve's heart to handle. The jedi has learned the art of love from the master - or something like that. "Suzie poo! I'm here with Steve and Eddie for the next few moments. Eddie wants to say hello."

Steve frowns and raises his voice, "I want to say hello, too! Eddie just wants to be dramatic about it."

"Because I haven't had the pleasure of meeting the lady," Eddie argues before turning up the charm. "Suzie, it's a pleasure. I'm sure you've heard nothing but wonderful things about me just like I've heard nothing but wonderful things about you. Unlike Steve over here who you've probably never heard a good thing about."

"Hi, Eddie, it's nice to meet you," Suzie replies, giggling. "And hi Steve!"

"Hey, Suze. Don't let Eddie win you over with his charm just yet. It's bad for his ego."

"You think I'm charming?" Eddie asks, batting his eyelashes.

Steve makes a see? gesture before realizing Suzie can't see him.

"Alright," Dustin says, "Now they're going to leave us alone for the next hour."

"Hour? It's already been at least five minutes," Steve complains.

Eddie grabs him by the shoulders and steers him away. "Don't worry, Suzie! I'll make sure you get the fulll hour!"

Steve lets Eddie guide him a little down the hill, ignoring when Suzie asks, "Do they always bicker like an old married couple?"

When they get a comfortable distance away, where they're out of earshot but Steve can still see Dustin to make sure he doesn't freeze to death, Steve sits on the ground. He glances up after he gets as comfortable as he can get on the side of a hill, only to find Eddie frowning down at him.

"What?" Steve asks.

Eddie shrugs. "Doesn't seem fair that you get to sit on the ground, and I can't."

Steve's eyes scan over Eddie's body. "Not my fault that you didn't wear a long enough jacket to cover your ass when you sit."

"Not my fault that I wasn't born into a wealthy family that can afford those jackets."

Steve's stomach flips, but he knows Eddie isn't looking for an apology. "Why don't you sit in your van then?"

"Wouldn't want to miss my chance to hang out alone with Steve Harrington," Eddie says with a wink.

Steve nearly scoffs and gives him a snarky reply, but his thoughts go out the window when he notices Eddie's teeth chattering. "Shit," he mutters.

"What was that?"

Steve groans and stands up before unzipping his large jacket.

"Am I in a dream?" Eddie jokes, but his voice shakes a bit.

"You're about to be living one," Steve says dryly as he stands in front of Eddie and opens his coat. Eddie just stares at him. Steve huffs out a breath that becomes visible in the cold air between them. "Come here."

"What?"

Steve raises his eyebrows at Eddie before tugging at his coat. But Eddie continues to stare at him with wide wandering eyes. "I'm not letting you freeze to death up here, so come here before I tell Dustin to pack it up because you're cold."

Eddie crosses his arms a little tighter. "I'm f-fine." A shiver visibly runs through Eddie's body.

Steve rolls his eyes for what feels like the hundreth time this day and wraps Eddie in his jacket before he can protest.

He's stiff for a moment, then Eddie relaxes enough to wrap his arms around Steve who is able to close the jacket around them. They linger in each other's arms long enough that Eddie stops shivering and Steve wonders how much time Dustin has left with Suzie.

"Better?" Steve asks to break the silence.

He feels Eddie nod over his shoulder before he pulls back enough to look him in the eye, nose brushing against Steve's as he whispers, "I know something we could do to keep ourselves warm."

Steve's heart beats a little faster in his chest.

Eddie laughs and tucks his head into Steve neck, his lips far away enough from Steve's that it's no longer the only thing on Steve's mind. With the new brain space, he can feel Eddie drum a nervous rhythm onto his back and bounce a little on his face. He wonders if maybe Eddie was onto the whole scars making them read each other's minds thing because he swears he knows the first part of what Eddie's about to say before he says it.

"Sorry if that was too much. No guy has ever let me flirt at them the way you do."

Steve gets stuck on flirt at and, "No guy?"

Eddie lets out a short humorless laugh. "No guy."

And for some reason, Steve has to ask, "Has any guy let you kiss them before?"

Eddie pulls back to look at him with a frown tugging at the corners of his lips. "What are you getting at, Steve?"

Steve glances at Eddie's lips, slightly chapped but they've never looked more inviting. Maybe it's time to listen to Robin's knowing looks whenever Eddie is around and Steve finds himself simultaneously drawn to him while also wanting to run to the bathroom with Robin to have another floor talk. "What if one guy let you kiss them?"

"Steve..." Eddie whispers, his eyes flicking over his shoulder.

Steve turns to find Dustin, facing away from them. Still he loosens his hold on Eddie and says, "Wrap your arms around my neck instead of my back."

Eddie does as he's told, and Steve gives him no warning before saying, "Hopefully this goes alright." Then, he slightly picks up Eddie before falling back, letting the snow break their fall as he lays back with Eddie on top of him.

"That went better than I thought it would," Steve says with a big smile then asks, "Can Dustin see us?"

Eddie glances up and shakes his head.

"Perfect," Steve says, heart practically beating out of his chest when Eddie looks down at him. When he doesn't make a move, Steve can't help but tease, "So you really are all bark, no bite."

"Shut up, Harrington," Eddie says before finally kissing him.

For only a moment, Steve nearly laughs at the fact that Eddie Munson told him to shut up. But then his brain goes nearly haywire yet completely silent when Eddie's lips meet his in what he thinks might be the single most transformative kiss of his life.

His arms tighten around Eddie's back, and Eddie's hands move to cup the back of his head as they deepen the kiss. Somehow, laying in snow, Steve has never felt warmer.

They eventually break the first kiss reluctantly, both of them going back to steal more as they catch their breath, which turns into laughter and giggles between more kisses. Then, Eddie breaks away long enough to say, "You know, the van is seeming like a really great option at the moment."

"And Dustin's a smart kid. He knows how to not freeze to death," Steve says, kissing Eddie every chance he gets.

"You're right. No need to stay here in the snow," Eddie replies.

"Right."

Neither of them make a move to get up, but they both move to kiss again.

It's only a little while later before they hear Dustin yell out, "Guys?" And that's when they finally break away.

Eddie pops up first and calls out, "Yeah?"

"Let's pack up! It's been over an hour! Come on!"

Steve pulls Eddie back down into the snow one more time for a kiss before stomping up the hill. "Alright, alright. We thought you'd be happier that we gave you more time and that we both waited for you."

"it's cold," Dustin complains.

Steve nods, but he still feels warm.

Eddie joins a few moments later, stealing glances at Steve before asking Dustin what they're doing next.

"I'm thinking we change out of our snow clothes and get food somewhere maybe..." Dustin trails off and frowns at Eddie. "Why are you covered in snow?"

"We were making a snow angel?" Eddie hurriedly says.

Steve tries not to laugh.

"One?" Dustin asks.

Eddie nods. "You'll see it on the way down."

Sure enough, on the way down, they all see one horribly disfigured snow angel.

While Steve laughs and Eddie smiles proudly, Dustin shakes his head and mutters something like more curses to himself. In a volume that's able to be picked up by the other boys, he asks, "Eddie, you'll drop me off at my house, and we'll meet back up in an hour at my house?"

"Hour and a half," Steve says. When Dustin opens his mouth to complain, Steve explains, "I need to take a shower so I don't get pnemonia. Plus, I'm not letting my hair freeze on my way to your house."

"Fine," Dustin sighs. "See you then."

"See you then," Eddie echoes to Steve, winking at him once.

Soon after Steve gets home, he hears a knock on the front door, and when it's Eddie on the other side, Steve pulls him in and says, "Maybe you were right about the telek- tele-"

"Telekentic abilities?"

Steve nods as he closes the door behind Eddie and traps him against it. "I definitely know what you're thinking about now."

Eddie cocks his head to the side and wraps his arms around Steve's neck. "Yeah? What am I thinking about?"

"Kissing me again," Steve says, leaning in.

"Actually," Eddie says turning his head away, "I was thinking about a lemon."

"Crazy. I happen to have lemon scented body wash," Steve comments as he grabs Eddie's hands and tugs him up the stairs.

They're both a little late to Dustin's house. And maybe their hair freezes a bit.

But Dustin was right. There's a lot of things Steve would do for love.

[no-thanks-im-goof]

Everyone is totally free to have their own opinions!

But I do think everything is a bit more complex than what it's usually made out to be. I know It's not explicitly said here but the underlying conclusion of this thread is essentially "fuck veganism.” Which your opinions are totally valid! Feel free to think and feel whatever you want, feel free to ignore everything I’m about to say. I'm just some random person. I have no impact on what you think, feel or do. Scroll past this now if you want, and if you do I genuinely from the bottom of my heart, hope you have a great day!

But here's my dumb take…

I think we all frequently do this thing where we regurgitate talking points like "PETA BAD" and "LEATHER GOOD"  that simplify nuanced subjects and end up pushing the narrative that animal products are inherently more natural and more sustainable than any alternatives, and therefore we shouldn’t even try to create alternatives. Maybe I sound like a fucking nut job, and I guess that's fine, but I really feel like a lot of these talking points originate from the industries that actively profit from us buying into them. Kind of like how the Bacon Mania in the early 2000s (that created fucking bacon flavored lube) was started by Pork industry marketing executives. (1) 

There is so much rampant greenwashing going on. Advertising is a massive fucking industry all on it’s own. These companies pay a ton of fucking money to lie to you and to get you to buy their products. I’m just gonna quickly address Wool, Leather, and Bees and the massive amounts of greenwashing that happens for those industries:

Wool: “Animals raised for clothing, like the more than 1.2 billion sheep farmed for wool, or the tens of millions of cows whose skin is processed into leather. Both species, as ruminants, emit massive volumes of methane (the potent greenhouse gas that is responsible for about a quarter of global warming) and take up vast land areas that could otherwise host native, carbon-sequestering ecosystems.” (2) 

Leather: Animal leather's emissions are still higher than synthetic leather and if your not getting vegetable tanned leather, there are still harsh chemicals like chromium that is used in the tanning process of animal leather, which is harmful not only to the environment but also to tannery workers, which if your getting your leather from Bangladesh, might also involve some child labor as well. (3) There are also vegan alternatives to leather that aren't plastic and are fully biodegradable unlike chemical tanned leathers, which again due to the tanning process is for the most part not biodegradable.(4) LEAD researchers also found that the global livestock industry uses dwindling supplies of freshwater, destroys forests and grasslands, and causes soil erosion, while pollution and the runoff of fertilizer and animal waste create dead zones in coastal areas and smother coral reefs. There also is concern over increased antibiotic resistance, since livestock accounts for 50 percent of antibiotic use globally, according to LEAD. (5)

Bees i.e. Honey: While yes agave isn’t good for the environment monocrops in general aren’t, Honey isn’t inherently better for the environment than some of the other alternatives that exist. The Honey industry definitely is not better for native bee populations. Honey bees are one of the only domesticated livestock that can roam freely and end up outcompeting the native bee populations. On top of that habitat loss and deforestation a lot of the time caused by industrial agricultural is one of the leading causes for the decline in native bee populations. (6)

Regarding PETA: I'm not going to sit here and defend PETA, I don't care about PETA but on veganism, the idea that PETA claims to stand for, I'll put in my two cents.

The current definition of veganism is:

"Veganism is a philosophy and way of living which seeks to exclude—as far as is possible and practicable—all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, animals for food, clothing or any other purpose; and by extension, promotes the development and use of animal-free alternatives for the benefit of animals, humans and the environment."

Veganism is a super easy target to strawman and to overgeneralize. It's an imperfect movement that rightly has a lot of things that it can be criticized for, and it should be! Thing's don't get better otherwise! But veganism's core belief of anti-exploitation is something that I think is a good thing actually! and It’s just so wild to me that, for the most part, everyone thinks they’re punching up when dogging on vegans and their beliefs and that veganism is some rich white American hipster shit instead of a radical way of thinking and looking at the world that dates all the way back to the fucking Indus Valley civilization. The majority of people in the world aren’t vegan. Currently vegans only make up 1% of the global population, the highest populations of vegans being in India. The US is not the center of the universe. I think it's honestly sad when otherwise totally radical people buy into the dominant colonial ways of thinking and repeat all these talking points and ideas. 

Back to the subject of environmentalism though, 50% of global deforestation is caused by animal agriculture. It is just point blank, not sustainable. To not engage with these subjects critically is an active disservice to ourselves and our own interests! It lets these monstrous industries, that are literally eating our planet alive, get away with killing us for profit. The worst industry for the environment is of course fossil fuels, but the second worst industry is agriculture and then the third worst is fashion. The agricultural industry and the fashion industry are absolutely horrendous for the environment, animals, the people that work within it as well as for the planet. It’s not just “an industry with problems that can be made sustainable and more humane.” 

Big Vegan™ is not the enemy, it's all these rich ass companies that pay billions to make everything as intentionally confusing, and as hard to understand as possible and they do everything they can to keep us from seeing how things are made and their impact. These corporations do not give af about us, they want us to not care as much as they don't care, so we keep buying their products. We’re all so fucking tired and too busy in our own lives trying survive. Its hard enough to eat sometimes let alone parse through everything you own or buy and make sure things are 100 percent ethical, but we can at least try to do our best and do what we can to try and reduce harm in the world, and to support each other.

If you want handy guides for ethical shopping, check out Ethical Consumer. It's UK based so it won't have brands from all over but a lot of their info and guides are in general really helpful. Here’s an article they did on sustainable fabrics and another on how to help pollinators:

https://www.ethicalconsumer.org/fashion-clothing/choosing-most-sustainable-fabric

https://www.ethicalconsumer.org/food-drink/how-help-bees-pollinators

Shop local if you can, buy second hand items, try to reduce the amount of animal products you use and consume if you are emotionally, medically, or financially able, or donate to causes that make a difference. Every little bit counts.

Sources (1) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4pqRx7OB-Y (2) https://www.vox.com/future-perfect/24008053/wool-marketing-environment-sustainable-claims-sheep-animal-cruelty-fast-fashion (3)https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/ilab/child_labor_reports/tda2023/2024-tvpra-list-of-goods.pdf https://www.ids.ac.uk/news/new-study-uncovers-the-scale-of-child-labour-in-bangladeshs-leather-industry/ https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/bangladesh-leather-factories-child-labor-pollution (4) https://www.ethicalconsumer.org/fashion-clothing/footwear-leather-synthetics (5) https://woods.stanford.edu/news/meats-environmental-impact#:~:text=LEAD%20researchers%20also%20found%20that,use%20globally%2C%20according%20to%20LEAD. (6) https://www.vox.com/down-to-earth/2023/1/19/23552518/honey-bees-native-bees-decline Recommendations: Check out Aoetora liberation league They’re a really cool anti-colonial vegan Māori activist group: https://www.all.org.nz/supportus  https://www.instagram.com/aotearoaliberationleague/?hl=en https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRpWq-KbX6E Other cool orgs: https://foodispower.org/our-work/ https://www.blackvegansrock.com/ Books to check out: Aphro-ism: Essays on Pop Culture, Feminism, and Black Veganism from Two Sisters by Aph and Syl Ko   Racism as Zoological Witchcraft: A Guide to Getting Out by Aph Ko Beasts of Burden: Animal and Disability Liberation by Sunaura Taylor Vegan Entanglements: Dismantling Racial and Carceral Capitalism by Z. Zane McNeill (editor)

Ayoo just to preempt the inevitable dumb takes we’re about to start seeing;

I am PRO-WOOL

I am PRO-LEATHER

I am PRO-BEES

Fuck the idea of replacing durable, sustainable animal products with cheap, flimsy plastic that doesn’t bio-degrade. Agave nectar and other artificial sweeteners are expensive, labor-intensive, and destroy the environment to be farmed.

Do not buy into pernicious marketing campaigns pushed by dickhead organizations trying to stay relevant, like PETA.

[koyoriin]

thank you everyone for your kind words/tags!! ;-; i'm hoping next year will at least be a little better too, but even if it's not better than this year i'll at the very least be trying my best to get my personal project ready to start sharing! o7

[heartsforluigimangione]

Lust and promises

POV: Luigi seeks you out after the 'incident' to hide him away from the world in your apartment in NYC. warnings: smut (with plot), angst??

2340 Words

All thirst aside i really hope he’s okay and nothing bad happens to him, Luigi deserves better💟

The city outside your window was still cloaked in the muted gray of dawn, the faint hum of its waking life barely audible through the glass. Inside your apartment, the air felt heavy charged with the kind of tension that made your skin prickle. Luigi Mangione lay beside you, his broad chest rising and falling in a rhythm that betrayed his exhaustion. His dark hair was tousled, his jaw shadowed with stubble, and even in sleep, there was something dangerous about him. Something magnetic. 

Now, as the first rays of sunlight filtered through the curtains, you watched him stir. His eyes fluttered open, dark and stormy, before locking onto yours. For a moment, neither of you spoke. The silence between you was thick, laden with unspoken words and promises neither of you could keep.

"Morning," he murmured, his voice rough from sleep. He reached out, his fingers brushing against your arm, sending a shiver down your spine.

"Morning," you whispered back, your voice barely audible.

His hand lingered, tracing small circles on your skin. "You didn't have to do this, you know. Letting me stay here... it's risky."

You shrugged, trying to play it cool, but your heart was racing. "What else was I supposed to do? Leave you out there?"

He chuckled softly, the sound low and gravelly. "You're too good for me." His touch grew firmer, more deliberate. "But I'm not complaining."

Your breath hitched as his fingers trailed up your arm, leaving a trail of warmth in their wake. "Luigi..." you started, but he cut you off.

"Don't," he said, his voice firm yet gentle. "Don't say anything. Just let me... just let me be here with you."

There was something raw in his voice, something vulnerable that he rarely let show. It tugged at you, pulling you closer until your bodies were almost touching.

"I'll keep you safe," he promised, his eyes burning with intensity. "No matter what happens, I won't let anyone hurt you."

"And I'll protect you," you replied without hesitation. "You can stay here as long as you need. No one will find you."

A slow smile spread across his face, and for a moment, he looked almost boyish. Almost innocent. But then his gaze dropped to your lips, and the air between you shifted. The electricity that had been simmering beneath the surface suddenly crackled to life, impossible to ignore.

"Fuck," he muttered under his breath, his hand moving to cup your cheek. "I can't help myself."

Before you could respond, his lips were on yours, hungry and demanding. You melted into him, your hands tangling in his hair as he deepened the kiss. It was desperate, urgent, like he needed to remind himself that he was still alive. That you were still here.

His tongue slid against yours, hot and slick, and a moan escaped your throat. He swallowed it greedily, his hands roaming over your body as if he couldn't get enough of you. Your fingers fumbled with the buttons of his shirt, desperate to feel his skin against yours.

"Wait," he said, breaking the kiss just long enough to pull his shirt over his head and toss it aside. "Better?"

"Much," you breathed, your eyes drinking in the sight of him. His chest was muscular, littered with scars that told stories you'd never hear. Stories of violence and survival. Stories of a man who lived by his own rules.

He reached for the hem of your shirt, hesitating for a fraction of a second before pulling it off. His eyes darkened as they roamed over your bare skin, and you felt a flush of heat creep up your neck.

"You're fucking beautiful," he growled, his hands sliding up your sides, leaving goosebumps in their wake. "You know that?"

You shook your head, feeling self-conscious, but he didn't give you a chance to protest. His lips crashed into yours again, silencing any doubts. His kisses were relentless, each one deeper, harder, more insistent than the last. It was like he was trying to erase everything else—the danger, the guilt, the fear—and replace it with nothing but you.

Luigi's hands tightened around your wrists as he pinned you gently but firmly to the mattress, his breath hot against your skin. His lips trailed from your mouth down to your jawline, nipping and sucking lightly, leaving a trail of heat in their wake. You gasped, arching into him as his tongue flicked over the sensitive spot just below your ear.

"God, I've wanted this," he murmured, his voice low and rough, sending shivers down your spine. "So fucking long—I couldn't stop thinking about you."

His words were like fuel to the fire burning inside you, and you writhed beneath him, desperate for more. Luigi didn't disappoint. His mouth moved lower, kissing and licking a path down your neck to your collarbone. Each touch was deliberate, calculated, as if he were mapping every inch of you, committing it to memory.

When his lips closed over one taut nipple, you cried out, tangling your fingers in his dark hair. He chuckled against your skin, the vibration sending a jolt of electricity straight to your core. "You like that?" he teased, swirling his tongue around the peak before pulling it into his mouth again.

You could only nod, your breath coming in short, shallow gasps. He moved to the other breast, giving it the same attention, while his free hand drifted lower, skimming over your stomach. The anticipation was maddening, and you squirmed, trying to guide his hand where you needed it most.

But Luigi was in no hurry. He was savoring every moment, every touch, every sound you made. His fingers traced lazy circles on your hip before finally dipping between your thighs. You moaned, spreading your legs wider, inviting him in.

"So wet for me already," he growled, his voice thick with desire.

He slid a finger inside you, curling it just right, and you bucked against his hand, a cry escaping your lips. He added a second finger, lazily pumping them in and out while his thumb circled your clit. The dual sensations were overwhelming, and you felt yourself teetering on the edge.

"Not yet," Luigi whispered, pulling his hand away despite your whimper of protest. "I want to taste you first."

Before you could respond, he shifted down the bed, settling between your legs. His breath ghosted over your slick folds, and you shuddered, anticipation coiling tight in your belly. Then his tongue was on you, long, slow strokes that had you gripping the sheets for dear life.

"Oh God," you moaned, your hips lifting off the mattress as he lapped at your sensitive flesh. He groaned in response, the sound vibrating through you, and you nearly came apart right then and there.

But Luigi wasn't done. He hooked your legs over his shoulders, holding you open as he buried his face in your pussy. His tongue flicked over your clit, alternating between rapid, teasing flicks and firm, steady pressure. It was too much and not enough all at once, and you could feel yourself unraveling.

"Luigi, please," you begged, your voice breaking. "I need—"

He knew exactly what you needed. Slipping two fingers back inside you, he curled them just so, hitting that sweet spot while his tongue worked magic on your clit. The combination was devastating, and you came hard, crying out his name as waves of pleasure crashed over you.

He didn't let up, drawing out your orgasm until you were trembling, oversensitive and spent. Only then did he pull back, sitting up and wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. His eyes gleamed with satisfaction as he watched you catch your breath.

"You're incredible," he said, crawling back up your body to kiss you deeply. You could taste yourself on his lips, the thought making you blush even as it turned you on all over again.

"Your turn," you whispered against his mouth, reaching for the waistband of his pants. He hesitated for a split second before letting go, allowing you to push his sweatpants down his hips. His cock sprang free, thick and hard.

Luigi groaned when you wrapped your hand around him, stroking him slowly. "Fuck, baby," he breathed, his hips jerking into your touch. "You're going to kill me."

You smirked, enjoying the way you could make this strong, dangerous man fall apart with just your hand. But you wanted more. Swinging your leg over his lap, you straddled him, aligning his tip with your entrance. His hands gripped your hips tightly, his eyes locked on yours as you slowly sank down onto him.

The stretch was exquisite, and you both groaned in unison as he filled you completely. Once seated, you paused for a moment, adjusting to the sensation. Luigi's head fell back, his jaw clenched as he fought for control.

"You feel so good," he ground out, his hands flexing on your hips. "Faster, baby. Please."

You obliged, rocking your hips in a slow, torturous rhythm. The drag of him inside you was pure bliss, and you could feel your body tightening around him already. Luigi thrust up to meet you, his pace growing faster, more urgent.

"Harder," you pleaded, nails digging into his shoulders. He complied without hesitation, slamming into you with such force that you saw stars. Every thrust hit that perfect spot, and you could feel another orgasm building, stronger than the last.

"Look at me," he demanded, and you obeyed, locking eyes with him as he fucked you relentlessly. The intensity of his gaze sent a thrill through you, and you knew neither of you would last much longer.

"Luigi, I'm—" Your words were cut off by a strangled moan as your body spasmed around his, pleasure crashing over you in waves. He followed close behind, burying himself deep inside you as he found his own release, growling your name like a prayer.

For a moment, you just stayed like that, clinging to each other as you caught your breath. Then Luigi collapsed back onto the bed, pulling you with him. You lay sprawled across his chest, listening to the steady beat of his heart.

"You're mine now," he said softly, running a hand through your hair. "And I'll do whatever it takes to keep you safe."

You smiled, tracing idle patterns on his chest. "And I'll do whatever it takes to keep you hidden."

Luigi's chest rose and fell in a steady rhythm beneath you, his skin still warm from the intensity of what had just unfolded. The morning light filtered through the thin curtains, casting a soft glow over the tangle of sheets around you both. His fingers lazily traced circles on your back, sending gentle shivers down your spine. You nestled closer, your cheek pressed against the curve of his shoulder, breathing in the faint scent of sweat and something uniquely him—something that felt like safety and danger all at once.

"You know," he murmured, his voice low and gravelly from sleep and desire, "I didn't think I'd ever find someone who'd make me feel like this." His hand paused for a moment before moving to brush a strand of hair away from your face. "Someone who'd make me want to stay."

You tilted your head up to look at him, your eyes locking with his. There was a vulnerability there that you hadn't seen before, a crack in the armor he usually wore so effortlessly. It made your chest ache in the best way. "I didn't think I'd find someone who'd make me feel like it was worth risking everything," you admitted softly, your fingertips grazing the edge of his jaw.

He smiled, but it wasn't his usual smirk—it was softer, almost shy. "Guess we're both full of surprises, huh?" His thumb brushed against your lower lip, and you couldn't help the way your breath hitched. The air between you shifted, growing heavier, more charged.

"Luigi..." you started, but the words caught in your throat as his gaze dropped to your mouth.

"Yeah?" he whispered, his voice barely audible. His fingers trailed down your neck, leaving a trail of fire in their wake, until they rested lightly on your collarbone.

You swallowed hard, your heart pounding in your chest. "I don't... I don't want to lose this. Lose you."

His expression softened, and he leaned in, his forehead resting against yours. "You won't, baby" he promised, his breath warm against your skin. "Not as long as I'm breathing."

Both of you remained wrapped in each other's arms, enjoying the sound of one another breathing as you lay in the tangled sheets. After a while, you stood up to get your morning started. He caught your hand as you pulled away, his fingers warm against your skin.

"Stay with me," he murmured, his voice low and pleading. "Just for a little while."

You hesitated, but there was no resisting the look in his eyes. You sank back down onto your bed, curling up beside him. His arm wrapped around your shoulders, pulling you close, and you rested your head against his chest. His heartbeat was steady beneath your ear, a reassuring rhythm that lulled you into a sense of calm despite the chaos swirling around you.

He leaned in, his lips capturing yours in a kiss that was equal parts tender and desperate. It was a kiss that spoke of longing, of regret, of all the time you'd lost. And in that moment, nothing else mattered—not the danger, not the past, not the uncertainty of the future. There was only him, and you, and the way he made you feel.

[sccrim]

JEALOUSY !

warnings ( really nothing. )

you and rafe were broken up but you couldn’t stand the idea of him with someone else so you try to see who this so call new girl is.

you grabbed a glass of champagne and went to find your friends. you kept looking around to find rafe or at least this girl everyone was speaking about. "have you—"

"seen her? nope." john b looked around once more. "what if i say i found out already, what do i get in return." jj smiled. "one of my dad’s cigars." you stated causing him to hype himself up.

"inside at the bar with rafe, topper, and ruthie."

"relax guys, i'm classy." kiara disagreed with sarah but the boys laughed knowing action was about to go down.

"fifty she starts something."

"sixty, her mom yells at her."

"bet."

the boys all shook on it. you walked inside to see them standing at the bar. you couldn't see her face but she looked about your height, short light brown hair. her dress was short and pink. "pretty dress." you whispered to yourself.

"also you should definitely watch out for y/n." ruthie laughed warning the girl. "who's y/n?" the girl questioned. "rafe, you haven't told her about her? classic." topper air cheered his beer. "i was going too but you just told her so thank you." rafe rolled his eyes. "rafe— who's y/n?" before he could answer you showed up.

"hey rafe, topper, ruthie, and who's this?" you questioned. "fuck." ruthie whispered. "y/n this is sofia, sofia this is y/n." rafe looked around in awkwardness.

"hi."

"rafe you didn't tell me sofia is a cute girl."

"didn't think i had to tell you."

"you didn't but would have been kind to know who you were bringing to my fathers country club." you smiled. "wait youre mr. l/n daughter?"

"mhm."

"this place is very cool. was thinking of signing up for tennis." y/n looked at her up and down then back at rafe. "hope to see you at games."

"rafe can i speak to you." thing about you that everyone knows already is you usually dont ask. it’s more so you tell them and rafe knew that. that's the one thing he loved about you.

"go with topper and ruthie, i'll find you in a bit." sofia smiled and waved bye at you

"i swear to god y/n, you better not start shit." rafe grabbed you by the arm into the locker rooms. "why didnt you tell me? you seen me mostly every night and you couldn't tell me you were interested in someone."

"i didn't tell you because i know how you are. you broke up with me remember."

"you broke up with me too y'know. what happened to mutual break up?"

"just don't start anything." rafe looked at you with this angry look. "does she know you were with me most nights?" rafe just looked at her in silences. "of course she doesn't. you think she'll leave you?" you laughed in his face. "not a bad thing if she left you."

"she doesn't know y/n."

"and why's that?"

"hard to tell someone my ex is a bitch."

"ouch. and to think you weren't a bitch neither."

"oh and by the way, she has one thing coming if she thinks she's with you for a long run." you placed your hand on his chest. "you know damn well if this was reversed you would have beat the shit out of him. just because you have a new girl doesn't mean you aren't the same rafe i dealt with for two years."

"oh and don't forget to tell her before she sees that tattoo you have." she winked and walked out the locker room. having rafe punch the locker.

you saw sofia eye you walking out the room so you smiled— fixing your hair and dress acting like something happened in the locker room causing her to go look for rafe.

sofia had one thing to be careful of and it wasn't rafes anger issues. it was you making sure everyone knew what was yours.

 sccrim — all rights reserved. please do not modify, repost , translate , or plagiarise my content.

[chiseplushie]

Omg, so much has happened to Reader today and the day is barely half over. I don't think she's even had lunch yet. I'd probably be hangry by the time Bucky shows up at her apartment.

Let's list all the things that's happened in the past 6 hours or so (in reader's POV) :

Bad news received in the morning.

Needing to process the events of the last chapter.

Girl's only date possibly being rescheduled.

Boss at work is missing didn't come in.

Work schedule was rearranged without notice.

Another creepy stalker who doesn't respect her boundaries.

Ugh. Crazy.

I know that Bucky wants to be able to answer reader's questions about the bad news they got this morning, but I hope he acknowledges the fact that reader feels left out. After the... How long has it been? Almost 1 week? since meeting Bucky and feeling trapped, lack of automany, her general discomfort... It's all going to add up, especially as Bucky decides to hide things.

Maybe it's just me needing to know everything even if I don't have all the details. "I'll tell you everything later." would bug me the entire day, especially with Bucky's reaction.

A simple "your boss has been kidnapped but I'm going to find out what happened," or "someone came to the club last night trying to be subtle about stalking you (they're not a pro at it like me 🙄) and I need to view the tapes before I overreact, I'll let you know later when I pick you up bc I'll have more info by then", would be nice. I'm more agreeable when I know what's going on so the suggestion of taking a cab home after work instead of walking home wouldn't automatically raise my defenses/contradicative nature.

Ugh I hate it when people do the Nice Guy thing when being pushy. I think reader was letting Clark down easy (but firmly) because she's used to their history of positive interactions, now she's been blindsided by Clark's pushiness that she's willing to write off the interaction as a coincidence. I'm glad Bucky immediately called her out on it. Bucky being the voice of reason. Wild.

Reader is right to want relationship to be more comfortable and less forced. They can't change how it began but they can change their interactions going forward. I think that once she's moved in to the penthouse, he would be willing to slow down a little bit (but not that slow 👀) and really woo/court her.

Also I gotta mention that while Bucky knows better than to think, "hey this girl has been nice to me while doing her job, wow she must want to get into my pants."

Bucky isn't much better with, "wow she saved my mom and is selfless and kind, we should have been dating for 4 years already, since we didn't get that I'll just break into her home, introduce myself and act like we do have all that history, she'll fall into my lap no problem."

Bucky is so sweet and wanting movie nights and such. He just wants the domestic life with his future wife.

Hold You Tight: Part 16

Pairing: Club Owner!Bucky Barnes x Female Reader

Fic Summary: The owner of The 107th wants you to be his girl whether you like it or not.

Part 15 | Series Masterlist | Part 17

Chapter Word Count: Over 5.4k

Chapter Summary: Bucky tries to pull you closer when you want to pull away, and someone else in your life my not take no for an answer.

Chapter Warnings: DARK AU, arguing, tension, slight harassment, kissing, reference to stalking, inner turmoil, manipulation, Bucky Barnes (he's a warning, okay?), more warnings to come.

A/N: More Hold You Tight! Thank you for sticking with me! Bucky edit by the beautiful @nixakimbo ❤️ Beta read by the lovely @whisperlullaby but any and all mistakes are my own. Divider by the talented @firefly-graphics. Please follow @navybrat817-sideblog new fics and notifications. Comments, reblogs, feedback are loved and appreciated!

Bucky traded lazy kisses with you as your tears slowed, and you had no idea if it was his mouth that had your heart pounding and the crushing weight of everything that surrounded him. It was so much to unpack. Every encounter with him seemed to be that way. Something blindsided you or suffocated you, but you hadn't been at all prepared for what he just shared. And how could you? He didn't keep photos of his mother around, and you hadn't gone poking around online.

Would you have found out the truth if you had?

He followed your lips when you pulled away. “It’s okay,” he whispered, pulling you back in.

It wasn’t okay. Nothing was okay. Though it partially made sense now why he was moving so fast. He believed if he met you then that you would've fallen in love and been together to this day. Because he didn't seek you out then and lost so much time, he was packing everything into a rushed time span. Dating, meeting his friends, getting you into his place. He was moving things along at an accelerated speed, and you were barely keeping up with the ride.

“No.” The muffled word against his lips somehow rang out loud and clear enough for him to stop, but you put a hand on his chest in case he tried to lean in again. “Why are you punishing me?”

His eyes rounded. “You think I’m punishing you? Jesus, why would you think that?”

“Because of how you went about all of this. I know you were desperate, and I get the drive behind some of your actions now,” you said, which you refused to excuse. You got it but couldn’t excuse it. “Your response of ‘where’s the fun in that?’ when I said you couldn’t just ask me out like a normal person? You almost seemed to delight in intimidating me. Why?”

If you saved his mom, why do this?

“I didn’t delight in that. I played it wrong,” he admitted in a quiet voice, surprising you. “I approached it like…”

“Like everything else in your life where you have everyone under your thumb through fear. You did the same thing to me.” You laughed just a little. “In a way, it worked because I’m officially afraid to try to leave you.”

Had things blossomed between you two organically, you’d like to believe that things would’ve been better. Healthy. There was always the chance that a relationship might’ve come to an end because life was like that. But if he frightened you enough to stay forever, he’d never have to worry. The stars would still align as far as he was concerned.

“I don’t want you to fear me or what we have,” he whispered, reaching for you as you scooted back.

“What we have? Tell me, do you think your mom would be proud of your actions to obtain me or ashamed?” You couldn’t believe that was the kind of man she raised, to put fear into the heart of the person he supposedly loved.

He flinched. Actually flinched. You might as well have raised a hand to him. “She…” He swallowed. “She would’ve wanted us together.”

“Like this? By you not giving me a choice?” you asked, pushing yourself up. “I need to go home.” There would be no getting through to him and this revelation was doing your head in. One cup of coffee wasn't enough either.

He got up to follow you. “Why are you rushing off?”

“I have a shift today, and I have to go home and shower,” you said, grabbing some of your things. “Don’t worry about dropping me off. I’ll get a cab.”

“What? No, you-”

“You put money in my account, so it’s not like I have to worry about paying for it. And it’s not like I’ll be alone either since you’ll have me followed whether I want it or not,” you said as a matter of fact.

“You’re putting a wall up,” he said, frowning as you grabbed your phone charger before he could. “Don’t shut me out, please.”

“I’m not shutting you out. I’m trying to process the gigantic bombshell you dropped on me,” you said, stopping to look at him when he grabbed your arm. “Bucky-”

“This has been a lot, all of it, but we can’t go back and change it, and you know I can’t let you go because we’re meant to be together,” he said, his eyes searching yours. “You feel it. I know you do.”

How many times would he say that until you agreed? “Just because you think fate stepped in-”

“Fate brought you into my club, but I gave it a much-needed push to bring us together after leaving things to chance for so long,” he said, tugging you closer and putting his other hand on your cheek. “You can’t tell me you don’t care about me in some capacity. You’re just afraid to admit it because it isn’t conventional in your eyes, but you don’t have to be afraid of how you feel.”

How could you truly fall in love with him when he orchestrated everything from the start? “Feelings or not you’re still going to force me to move in with you soon, and that scares me,” you said. Your wings would forever be clipped.

“We should’ve been living together and married by now,” he argued, keeping a tight hold on you. “I know I’m making you move in sooner than you want, but beyond safety it’ll give us a chance to really know each other before we get married.”

Talk of marriage had your heart thudding. The man would probably force you to marry him sooner than you wanted. “You said you already know everything about me,” you said. At least he thought he knew you. The vision of you he built up in his mind scared you, too. He couldn’t keep you on that pedestal.

“But you don’t fully know me yet, and I don’t know what it’s like to live with you. The experience will bring us closer together.” His smile was full of hope. “We can read together, do movie nights, dance in the kitchen.”

“Bucky-”

“We can exercise together, in and out of bed,” he continued, your breath hitching as he rubbed his nose against yours. “Don’t you already feel closer to me now that you know we're meant to be?”

A quick knock on the door followed by a long one saved you from answering. “It isn't check-out time, is it?”

“No. That would be Ray,” Bucky headed to the door and kept you back a small distance before he answered. The man really was protective, wasn't he?

“I’m sorry to intrude,” Ray said, giving you a polite nod before he leaned in and whispered something to Bucky. Whatever was said to him made his face harden. The entire change in his demeanor worried you.

“Kotyonok, let’s get your bag and get you back to your place so you can get ready for work,” he suggested, his smile tight.

“What’s the matter?” you asked.

“I’ll tell you later,” he answered, kissing your forehead. “And before we go, I know you suggested taking a cab, but please let Ray take you back to your place. It would make me feel better.”

The hint of a plea in his voice and the look in Ray’s eyes kept you from protesting. “Fine, Ray can take me home. Just give me a second to change out of these pajamas,” you said, a bit surprised that Bucky wasn’t offering to take you home himself. “But you are going to tell me later what’s going on, right?” you asked.

“I will, but I need some answers myself first. Get changed. I’ll get your bag,” he said, gently guiding you to the bathroom so you could change and officially ending that conversation.

Ray was still by the entry door once you came out, looking a bit stiffer than usual, too. You stole a glance at Bucky as the three of you headed to the elevator, catching the anger etched in his features as he gripped your bag handle tight enough that you thought it would rip. They were leaving you in the dark about something. You weren’t sure if you could take any other bombshells.

“Ray may need to pick you up from work instead of me, but I’ll message you if that’s the case,” Bucky said, fixing his hair in the elevator reflection. “And… we may need to talk about your girls’ day out.”

“What about it?” you asked, already knowing where he was going with this.

“If you can cancel or reschedule it,” he replied.

You stared hard at him. Where was that coming from? “No, it's tomorrow, and I’m not cancelling or rescheduling. And don’t you dare use Zemo as an excuse to get your way,” you snapped. Even if it was a valid reason, you didn’t want to hear it.

His jaw clenched, but he looked sad as he glanced at you. “I just don’t know if it’s a good idea.”

“We talked about this. If it’s a safety issue, Ray agreed that someone could watch out for me. That should keep me safe,” you reminded him. You’d be fine. “Right, Ray?”

The blonde stared straight ahead. “That isn’t my decision,” he said apologetically.

Your shoulders slumped. For a short time, you thought he could be on your side or at least help give you some slack. “Right. Because you don't get to make decisions, and neither do I. You’re a bodyguard, I’m just a doll,” you said, looking straight ahead, too, and pulling your hand back when Bucky tried to take it. “Please, don’t.”

“Kotyonok…” Bucky sighed as the door opened. You marched out, not waiting for either of them. “Wait.”

You headed straight for the desk, feeling sadder when you didn’t see Natasha. “Checking out, please,” you said, sliding the room card over to the woman standing there.

“Of course. I hope you enjoyed your stay.” She looked behind you likely at Bucky before giving you a smile. “Ms. Romanoff also wanted to remind you that you have a place here if you need one.”

“I’m sure I’ll take her up on that soon,” you said, turning your head to glare at Bucky. While his expression was stoic, his eyes told you he didn’t want you to be upset with him. “And make sure she adds an inconvenience fee to the damaged wall bill. She’ll know what I mean.”

“I’ll be sure to do that,” she smiled. “Take care.”

Bucky was hot on your heel and you didn't make it two steps out the door before he had a hand on you. “You’re upset with me. Putting up more of that wall.”

You didn't speak until Ray walked past you to get his car. “You’re trying to get me to cancel my day out with my friends, after you went through the whole charade of buying me a new dress for it and everything. And after what you told me about your mom.” You took a breath to try to calm down. “Yeah, I’m upset, and yeah, you’re supplying me with the very bricks to build that wall.”

“I said we may need to talk about it, I didn’t flat out say you weren’t going,” he corrected you. He might as well have. “I know it means a lot to you, but-”

You held a hand up. “No. There are no ‘buts’ in this. For all you keep taking from me, I don’t ask for much. I really don't,” you stated. In fact, you’ve shown lots of restraint. “Who knows how many moments I’ll get like this with my friends once you move me in.” He wasn’t about to take this small thing from you after everything.

He titled his head. “You think I’ll keep you from them?”

“Part of me thinks you will, yes. Because as soon as I think that there’s hope, the second I think that we could be closer together while you loosen the reins, you say or do something that puts me back in your full control,” you said. He had to see that. “And every time you do that, like you are right now, it makes me want to push you away.”

“And you can push all you want, but I’ll just pull you closer,” he smiled, making you huff when he actually did so. “I’m not afraid to let you burn me.”

“You keep saying that. Give me a match or a lighter and we’ll test that theory,” you said. He burst out laughing, the sound loud in the morning air as your eyes widened. “Why are you laughing?” you asked incredulously. How could he laugh when you were still worked up?

“Because even arguing with you makes me happy,” he sincerely stated. “And now all I want to do is find a way to put a smile back on your face.”

You exhaled. He was so in love with the idea of a relationship with you that arguments appealed to him? Anyone else would've walked away by now.

“You’re infuriating,” you whispered when he touched the corner of your mouth and made it twitch in a small smile. “Impossible.”

“I know,” he whispered back, running a hand through his hair. “Listen, you’re tired and you’re overwhelmed, which is completely my fault. Am I right?”

“Yes,” you sighed. He hit it right on the nose.

“And maybe I was rash in suggesting that you cancel your plans, but I need to take care of a couple things before we discuss that more,” he said, leading you to Ray's car before you could protest. “You just have a good shift, okay?”

He was placating you now, and it was sadly working. “Fine,” you said, touching his hand, the metal one. “I don’t think I said so earlier, but thank you for finally telling me the truth,” you said, calmer than you were moments before. He should've told you from the start, but it couldn't have been easy reopening old wounds regarding his dad.

His gaze softened. “Thank you for letting me.”

“And whatever Ray told you or whatever’s going on, just breathe, okay?” you begged.

He took a deep breath. “I’ll just think of you and it’ll help,” he said, adding in a low voice as he pulled you against him. “And this.”

This was nothing like the slow, languid kisses from minutes ago. This was dominant, claiming, threatening to rob you of the air in your lungs, like he wanted you to feed your own breath into him. He either forgot Ray was there, or he simply didn’t care.

By the time Bucky stopped kissing you and helped you into the car, you didn’t want to look either of them in the eye.

“I love you,” he whispered, kissing your temple and shutting the door as your heart flip flopped. God, he was insufferable. Confusing. Obsessed.

“You're certainly keeping him on his toes,” Ray said, not driving off until he made sure Bucky was in his vehicle, too.

“Someone has to,” you said, staring out the window. “I’m going with my friends tomorrow. I don't care if he makes you drag me back,” you said. Unless your life was in some sort of immediate danger, there was no reason for you to skip out on meeting up with the girls.

“So you’re aware, the suggestion of you moving your day out has nothing to do with wanting to control you. He’s upset because of the news I delivered and he wants to keep you close,” Ray explained, making you feel a little bad.

“So, that news was the reason why you both changed your tune, and you can't tell me what that news is,” you guessed. If you were in some sort of danger though, surely Bucky would’ve said so. “He told me about his mom. How I saved her.”

Silence filled the vehicle. “So, you know the truth,” he said after a minute, his voice neutral. “Are you okay?”

“I’m trying to be,” you answered carefully. You really were.

“That’s all you can do,” he said before adding under his breath, “No good deed goes unpunished.”

You snorted. “I guess I'm living breathing proof of that.” It was ironic how an act of kindness put you on this path. “And as much as I don't like to wish pain upon people, I hope Bucky's dad got whatever he deserved.”

Winnie, from the short time you knew her, was nothing but wonderful. Bucky said the dahlia painting in his office served as a reminder that he would never do to you what his dad did to his mom. He would never set you up to take the fall for anyone else, wouldn’t let someone else hurt you if he could help it. He would forever stand by you.

Was pushing him away doing you any good?

“He did,” Ray promised you. “And I say with complete sincerity that I hope today is very uneventful for you after the time you've had.”

Your nose scrunched as you laughed. “So do I, Ray. So do I.”

Ray was kind enough to wait outside of your place as you showered and got ready for work, and didn't push you to talk more before he dropped you off at the shop. He was even kind enough to stop so you could get another cup of coffee. It helped improve your mood.

“There she is!” Kate smiled when you walked in. “Little miss not-so-single anymore.”

“Hey,” you giggled before you paused. “I didn't know you were working today. Did you switch shifts with someone?”

“God, the schedule’s all messed up. Mrs. Crandle called out for some business thing-”

“Business thing?” you asked, your brows pinched. She hardly ever took time off for things like vacation let alone a business thing without informing her staff.

“Yeah, I’m not really sure about all the details, but Lorraine ended up switching the whole schedule around. Mya’s coming in later, and I had to come in early, and your shift’s ending early.”

“What?” you frowned, checking the schedule to make sure. She was right. Your shift today was almost cut in half. “Would’ve been nice to get a text or something.”

The assistant manager wasn't bad to work with, but she could be a little forgetful with things like that. If Bucky hadn't just put money in your account, you may have been more upset over having half a shift cut. After the night and morning you had though, maybe an afternoon off wouldn't be so bad.

“She probably forgot since you were coming in at your normal time. Who knows?” Kate shrugged. “You know, I half expected Clark to be here waiting for you. Seemed really eager to see you yesterday.”

“Yeah, about that.” You looked toward the door, your body tense in anticipation even though he wasn't there. “Why did you tell him I was working today?”

“He’s kind of a regular, and I didn't really think about it. Then Mrs. Crandle brought up your boyfriend and…” Her face fell as she stopped cutting stems, which made you feel bad when she glanced your way. “Crap, I did something wrong, didn't I?”

You weren’t about to go into specifics regarding your personal situation. “I just don’t want customers to know when my shifts are unless I’m specifically working on an order or event for them, okay?” you said, hoping she understood that it was a general request.

Bucky was not getting in your head about your safety.

“Okay, as long as you aren’t mad,” she said. You gave her a smile to assure her that you were okay. “So, tell me about your new boyfriend.”

You filled her in as much as you could to make it sound believable, just like you had with Addison. Like her and Mrs. Crandle, Kate was excited for you. And they would never know the full truth.

As your shift went on, you were surprised you hadn't heard much from Bucky. It was for the best though. He was clearly dealing with something. As much as you didn't want to defend him in your mind, it had taken a lot for him to talk about his parents. To show you some of the damage done to his body. It was a vulnerable moment. Did you owe it to him to be vulnerable, too?

Wait, why did you owe him anything?

“Heading out?” Kate asked once your shift was up.

“Yeah,” you replied, glancing at your phone. You wondered if you should text Bucky before you decided against it. You'd let him know once you got to your place that you wouldn't need a ride. “Just call me if you need me to come back in.”

“Don’t worry about that. Enjoy the rest of your day!” she smiled.

Satisfied when you didn't see Bucky or Ray’s car waiting for you either, you decided to take a walk. It was a nice day, and you needed the fresh air. You hoped the weather was nice for the winery. You’d have to take photos to look back on what was going to be a fun time.

“Hey!” you heard someone shout after a few minutes of walking.

You stopped when you spotted Clark waving at you from the other side of the street. You barely waved back before he joined you. “Hey. What are you doing here?”

“Oh, I was just in the neighborhood,” he smiled, pushing his glasses up. “You done working already?”

“Yep,” you said, adjusting your bag. “And I should really-”

“Could we talk for a minute?” he asked.

You hesitated before nodding. “Sure,” you said, falling in step beside him.

“You know, I actually went to the shop to buy you flowers yesterday. I was going to buy you some roses,” he smiled.

Oh, God. “You were?”

“Yeah, but you weren’t there and… It doesn’t matter,” he smiled, shoving his hands in his pockets. “But I was thinking… Maybe we could grab a coffee sometime? My treat.”

The hopeful look in his eyes made a pit form in your stomach. “Clark, I’m seeing someone,” you said, his blue eyes dimming. Hadn’t Kate said that Mrs. Crandle brought up that you were in a relationship? “It’s fairly new, and I don’t want to mess things up,” you explained, though he wasn’t owed an explanation.

“I didn’t want to believe it,” he mumbled, kicking a small rock on the sidewalk. “Well, if it’s fairly new, I'm sure you can get coffee with other people.”

“Get coffee with people? Yes. But this kind of sounds like a date, and I don’t think that’s a good idea. I’m sorry,” you said. That would feel like cheating even if you didn't consider it a date, and you weren't that kind of person.

“Then we won’t call it a date,” he grinned.

Maybe you were feeling paranoid, but there was something weird behind his smile. “You just got out of a relationship, and I don’t want to send mixed signals by agreeing to go with you.”

His smile shook a bit. “It's just a coffee.”

“Is it?” The longer he stared, the more odd things felt, and you didn’t like it. “Listen, when you find someone else to give flowers to I’d be happy to pick some out for you.”

“I don't understand.” He laughed, but it sounded bitter. “You’ve always been nice to me.”

“Well, yeah. You’ve always been kind, too, when you come into the shop.”

“Too nice for someone like Bucky Barnes,” he muttered, his smile disappearing completely.

You gaped at him, almost faltering in your step. “What did you just say?”

“I said you’re too nice for someone like Bucky Barnes,” he said louder, his ire clear as day. “You think I don’t know about his reputation? He’s dangerous, and you’re too good for him.”

“How do you know I’m dating him?” you asked. And what did he know about his reputation?

He was quiet for a moment. “Mrs. Crandle said his name, and she has no idea what kind of man he is,” he said, making you feel uneasy. “I don’t think you do either.”

Oh, you knew plenty. “I appreciate your concern, really, but it’s nothing for you to worry about.”

“Well, I do. And I just don’t see why we can’t have one cup of coffee together,” he said, flashing a smile again. “It’ll be fun.”

“Because you know I’m seeing someone,” you said. He knew it before he bumped into you, but was still pushing for you to go with him. “And I also kind of make it a rule not to date customers,” you added, stopping when you got to your building. You walked faster than you thought.

“Well, rules should have exceptions, right? And if Bucky cared so much, where is he? Why wasn’t he waiting to pick you up and take you home?” he pressed, his eyes narrowing when you dug into your purse. “Maybe he doesn’t care about you as much as you think.”

Your next breath came out shaky. He hadn’t raised his voice at you, but you didn’t appreciate the third degree, or the implication that Bucky didn’t care. “Because he’s a busy man who sometimes works both days and nights. I don’t expect him to drop everything just to take me home.”

“If you took a chance on me, you’d never have to worry about things like that.”

You were starting to feel nauseous. “Well, sometimes I like the quiet after the bustle of the shop, so walking helps me decompress. And I can't take a chance on you when I’m seeing someone else.” Why was he being so pushy?

He took a small step closer. “You know, it’s dangerous to walk home alone.”

You took a step back, your keys between your fingers. “You’re right about that,” you agreed. The only reason you did so today was to take back a little control, which didn’t seem so smart now.

“I can start walking you home if you want,” he smiled, towering over you. Was he always so imposing? “When’s your next shift?”

You managed a smile in return, but it was extremely forced. “Clark, that’s really not necessary, but thank you for the offer. Enjoy the rest of your day.”

He gently took your arm when you turned toward the door, worry crawling up your spine when his hand tightened a fraction. You suddenly wish you had Bucky or Ray around. “I really don’t mind.”

“My boyfriend will mind, and I’m sure you can understand that. So it’s a no on the coffee and the walks home,” you said gently but firmly, pulling your arm back and rubbing the spot where Clark grabbed you. He wasn’t listening. It somehow felt worse than Bucky and you couldn’t pinpoint why. Was it because Clark tried to act nice? “It’s been a long few days, and I’m going to get some rest. Have a nice day, okay?”

His eyes narrowed again, but it was his chilling smile that unnerved you. “I’m sure I'll see you again soon. We’ll have to get that coffee,” he said, walking off before you could say another word.

You rushed into the building once he was out of sight, your hands shaking. It may have been from the confrontation or the combination of everything. Maybe Clark was just lonely and latched on a bit because you were nice. Hadn't Bucky done something similar?

But if Clark wanted to see you, why hadn't he just gone into the shop if he knew you were working?

Double checking your locks once you were in your apartment, you took a breath and stared at your phone once you sat down. You had to talk to Bucky. He answered within a few seconds of you calling.

“Kotyonok, is everything okay?” he asked, sounding both happy and concerned to hear from you.

“Yeah, why wouldn’t it be?” you asked, hearing a few other men speaking in the background.

“Because you’re calling me and not texting. And you sound a little off. What’s wrong?”

“Everything’s fine,” you lied. How did he recognize that you felt off? “I just wanted you to know that the assistant manager changed my shift, so I went home early.”

“Wait, you’re already home?” he asked. The background noise suddenly stopped. “Did you get a cab? Please tell me you didn’t walk back to your place.”

“…Fine, I won’t tell you that.”

Bucky let out an impressive string of curse words as you pulled the phone away from your ear. “That’s not safe. You know it isn’t,” he hissed, but you knew he wasn’t actually angry with you. Just the situation. And bumping into Clark today and Zemo the day before, he had a bit of a point. “You did that on purpose, didn’t you? Because I said it may not be a good idea to go out with your friends.”

You closed your eyes. He was not going to make you feel bad. “I just needed a breather, okay? And I made it home just fine.”

“But did you? How do I know someone didn’t follow you?” he asked. Clark’s face flashed in your mind when you stayed quiet. “…Kotyonok, did someone follow you?”

“No one followed me that I know of,” you said. You really didn't have any idea. “But… I did bump into Clark. He was in the neighborhood.”

“Clark? That guy from the shop who tried to give you flowers just happened to be in your neighborhood when I wasn't around?” he asked, fury seeping into his tone as you winced.

“I… I’m sure it was a coincidence,” you said. Placating him in this wasn’t going to work, but you had to try.

“That isn’t a fucking coincidence and we both know it. Did he say anything? Try anything?”

You shut your eyes. It would be like ripping off a band-aid. “He asked me to go get a cup of coffee with him, but I told him I was seeing someone.”

He chuckled humorlessly. “He asked you out?” he asked, making you shift in your seat. “Why the fuck do I not have a file on him yet?!” he snapped at someone in the background.

“I’m working on it, boss!” you heard someone promise. “Should I call-”

“No. I’ll call him myself,” Bucky growled.

Who was he talking about? “Bucky, it’s okay. The guy asked me out and I said no,” you assured him. You weren't going to go out with Clark. “I’m sure women throw themselves at you every day and you turn them down.”

“They don't ‘bump’ into me in my neighborhood. And had you told me you were leaving early, I could’ve made sure this guy didn’t go anywhere near you. I don’t even want him near your shop until I know more about him,” he said, his anger not lessening. “If he tries anything, I will tear him apart piece by fucking piece,” he promised you, the intensity in his tone making your throat go dry.

“That isn’t necessary,” you whispered.

He sighed. “Why would you deliberately put yourself in a spot like this just to prove a point? Be pissed at me, I can take that, but do not risk your safety,” he said, adding in a quieter voice, “I couldn’t take it if something happened to you.”

You bit the inside of your cheek, hating how guilty you felt, how worried he sounded on your behalf. “I’m sorry. I wasn’t trying to worry you,” you said. It was stubborn and dumb on your part, and now you were afraid that Bucky really would try to cancel your day out tomorrow. You couldn’t let him. “I’ll make it up to you, okay?”

“Make it up to me?” he asked. That seemed to get his attention. “How are you going to do that?”

“I’ll…” you began, steadying yourself. Natasha said you had power, and maybe you’d have to test that sooner than you expected. “Stay at your place tonight.”

You could hear a pin drop from the quiet. “You’ll stay the night?” he asked, his voice moving like lava through your veins.

“Yes,” you whispered, hammering the nail in the coffin.

“Give me two hours and I'll come get you,” he said, his voice strained, eager. “Be ready.”

“I will be.”

God, you hoped you knew what you were doing.

Oh, Clark. He's a problem now, isn't he? What do we think Ray told Bucky? And what's going to happen when you spend the night? Love and thanks for reading! ❤️

Masterlist ⚓ Bucky Barnes Masterlist ⚓ Ko-Fi

[arcane-vagabond]

Hey again...

So I've kind of already mentioned it, but figured it was time to make an actual post.

A lot of you already know that I've been a participant in fandom for over a decade now, starting out in the original Hunger Games fandom and then quickly working my way to SuperWhoLock and a couple of others over the years. I took a step back from fandom because of different things going on in my life, and it wasn't really until Summer 2023 that I decided to get involved again. This time around, though, I had stories that I wanted to share and used writing fanfic as a way to navigate and cope with how crazy my day to day had become. Writing became my way to escape the uncertainty that had come with losing my job and keeping me sane while I hunted for a new one.

I could never have imagined how a silly, little U.S. military propaganda movie would change my life in such interesting ways.

I've been writing since I was old enough to tell stories, ideas floating in and out of my head faster than the speed of light, and even though my friends told me all the time how much they loved the ideas and my actual writing, I had convinced myself that I'm not a good writer. I held onto that belief for years until a story concerning a blond aviator as a an outlaw in the old west consumed me to the point where I thought I would go crazy if I didn't start to write it. So I did, and then I got the crazy idea to start posting it - just wanting to see if other people would like it too. To my absolute shock and awe, they did! A lot of people actually did! So I kept writing, and I quickly added new stories too which people seemed to enjoy. I made so many new friends, and people really did seem to enjoy my writing which made me so, so happy.

Stories have always been so special to me, and coming up with new ones and sharing them with others has always been a passion of mine. I love talking about them with other people, talking over theories and characters til I'm blue in the face. What's going to happen? Why? How will this affect the other characters? All things I love discussing, but...fandom doesn't like to do that anymore. All it is anymore is an endless sea of likes, which are...okay, but why are people refusing to talk to me? Are they bored? Are they shy? Was that last chapter too lackluster? Should I have added more action? Romance? Surely not because people are demanding more? More scenarios, more smut, more words, more, more more. Maybe I should step away for a day or two, just to give myself a break? Okay, yeah, that should be fine. Okay, what about a week? I have some stuff going on at this new job that I need to deal with. Okay, now people aren't even sending requests in. Now even fewer people are commenting or sending messages in. Why? Did I do something? Was I away too long? Surely people know that I'm a person behind this screen. Oh, now most of my friends are leaving the site...Now I haven't talked to anyone in weeks.

So...what's the point? Seems like people aren't even reading what I'm putting out these days, so why continue writing for a silent audience?

This is all to say these are some of the thoughts that have been going through my head lately, and I've decided that it's not healthy. Demanding attention from people unwilling to give it is not serving me anymore, and neither are the jealous and hateful people who hide behind the anonymous feature. People who have screamed at me since I started because they've been jealous of the attention I've gotten in the past, trying to get me to quit the entire time. Well, you win. You get your wish, congratulations. I hope you feel happy with the number of people who read your fics because surely they'll come read yours now that I'm not posting anything. Hating on me and my work was never going to make you a better writer or person.

As for me, I'll probably still make posts from time to time if I don't go back to my old blog again. I've decided to dedicate time to writing my actual novel that's been in the works for 12+ years now, and I have a renewed excitement for it now that I know my writing is worth reading. Thanks, strangers on the internet! And who knows, maybe TG3 will prompt me to write fanfic again one day.

For now, my stories will stay posted, but that may change as I decide more on what I'm doing, so please don't be surprised if one day they're actually gone. I've already cleared out my inbox, so...sorry if I didn't manage to get to your request.

I'd like to thank @sorchathered @pinguhub and @attapullman for the late night calls and vent sessions. @goldenseresinretriever and @fanficfandomlove for being constant rocks and sources of inspiration for my fics. And @roosterforme for being a solid head to rely upon and gab with. You guys rock, and I hope you'll stick with me for the journey that lies ahead.

Until next time.

Liz~

[benispunk]

Who's That Girl?

Chapter 13: Broken-Hearted

Wade finally meets up with Vanessa and realises she moved on. Some pills are just harder to swallow.

logan howlett x reader

TW: language, D&W.

A/N: hey everyone!!! so...hope you're not too mad at me with the previous chapter...and that you will not be more mad with this one...you know, sometimes everyone needs to be a little sad to feel better the next day. and I'll guarantee you that. this chapter is focused on wade BUT it still helps our hopelessly devoted lovebirds...enjoy!!

→ this fic is inspired by the TV Show New Girl, Wade and Logan aren't Deadpool and Wolverine (no powers/mutant gene etc) but I did take most of their character traits and storyline!!

Masterlist /Previous Part

The apartment was quiet, save for the soft rustling of papers. Y/N and Logan sat across from each other at the dining table, grading papers from their respective schools. It was a normal night, the kind they’d had countless times before, but there was a palpable weight in the air tonight. Logan hadn’t been himself for days now, distant in ways Y/N couldn’t quite explain.

She tried to focus on her grading, but her gaze kept drifting to Logan. He was here, physically, but it was like his mind was somewhere else. She could feel it, the space between them growing despite them sitting so close.

She cleared her throat, breaking the silence. "Logan, are you... okay?"

Logan didn’t look up right away. "Just need to focus," he muttered, his voice a little more tense than usual. His eyes flickered to hers for just a second, but it wasn’t the same warm look she was used to. "Sorry."

Before she could respond, a buzzing sound sliced through the quiet—Wade’s phone. Y/N watched as Wade appeared in the doorway, holding his phone tightly in his hand. He looked like he’d just been hit with a tidal wave of emotions, his eyes wide and his breathing shallow.

"She messaged me," Wade said in a rush, his voice a mix of panic and excitement. "Vanessa, she wants to meet. She wants to catch up, I—I don’t know, it’s been so long."

He was talking faster now, words spilling out in a jumble as he paced back and forth, phone still clenched in his hand. "What if she just wants to catch up? What if—what if she’s moved on and wants to be friends, or what if she wants more? I don’t even know what I want, or what she wants. What if she’s with someone? What if she just—" Wade stopped, clearly on the edge. "I don’t even know what I’m doing. I’m freaking out here."

Y/N was quick to move in, placing a hand on his shoulder to steady him. "Wade, slow down. It’s okay. Just breathe."

Logan, having watched the whole exchange, now stood from his chair. His voice was low, but firm, like he was trying to help ground Wade. "Is this what you want? To meet her?"

Wade stopped pacing, but his eyes darted to Logan, confusion and anxiety swirling in them. He opened his mouth, then closed it, not knowing how to answer. "I don’t know. I—I don’t even know if I should. But she said... she said she didn’t like how we left things. Maybe it’s just for closure? I don't know."

He shook his head, his hands restless at his sides. "But what if she wants something more? What if this is... I don’t know, a chance to get back together? I can’t go back to that. I—I don’t even want that. But—" He faltered, staring at the phone as if it held the answers he needed.

Y/N stepped closer, her voice soft yet steady. "Maybe you need closure, Wade. You never really got that, did you?"

Wade laughed bitterly, shaking his head again. "I don’t know if I need closure. I don’t even know what I need. I—I can’t keep running from this."

Logan crossed his arms, eyes locked on Wade’s, his expression unreadable. "Then you have to do it. But you have to be honest with yourself about what you want, too."

Wade let out a long, shaky breath, looking at both of them, then at his phone. He didn’t know what the hell he was doing, but he knew one thing for sure—he couldn’t keep avoiding this. Not anymore.

"I’m gonna answer," Wade finally said, his voice barely above a whisper, a mix of determination and fear. He tapped out a quick reply to Vanessa, the words coming out clumsily as his fingers shook.

"Okay," he said, glancing up at Logan and Y/N. His expression was conflicted, as if he was asking them to reassure him, to tell him this was the right thing to do. "Is that the right thing? To answer her?"

Y/N gave him a small, comforting smile, her voice gentle but full of support. "Whatever happens, we’re here. You’re not alone in this."

Logan nodded, his gaze softening. "We’ve got your back, bub. No matter what."

Wade nodded in return, his chest tight, but for the first time in what felt like forever, there was a small sense of relief. It wasn’t much, but it was enough to take the first step.

He hit send, and the message was gone, leaving the room to settle back into a tense, uncertain silence.

———

The next afternoon, Wade stood at the entrance of the coffee shop, his hands trembling despite his best efforts to look composed. He had imagined this moment countless times over the years, yet now that he was actually here, all those fantasies felt hollow, empty. His heart was pounding in his chest, and the nervous energy radiated off him like heat from a furnace.

He hadn’t seen Vanessa in six years—well no, technically he had seen her a few months ago but it had been so fast and panic had flooded his system… He just hadn’t had the chance to truly look at her. Back then, he thought he was fine, that he'd moved on. But now, standing here with his breath short and his thoughts jumbled, it was clear that he hadn’t. Not really. Not when the idea of seeing her again made everything feel raw and unresolved.

He swallowed hard, pushing the door open. The soft jingle of the bell above the entrance was a signal that he couldn’t turn back now. The coffee shop, with its warm, earthy tones and soft hum of conversation, felt like a strange contrast to the storm inside him.

Vanessa was already sitting at a corner table, and when she looked up, her eyes instantly lit up. She looked almost the same—her hair, her smile, the way her energy seemed to fill the room—but it was as if time had left her untouched, while he felt like a completely different person. The years had worn him down, had changed him in ways he couldn’t put into words.

Her smile stretched wider when she saw him. “Wade, it’s so good to see you.”

Wade blinked, his smile tight, forcing his hands to steady as he walked over. He pulled out the chair across from her and sat down, trying to ignore the tightness in his chest.

She was already talking—chattering away, as if no time had passed. She filled the air with updates on her new job, her new apartment, the places she had traveled. Everything was light, surface-level stuff, the kind of conversation that didn’t invite depth, that didn’t invite the truth. Wade let it wash over him, nodding when appropriate, keeping his responses polite and simple.

It was like being in the past, and yet, at the same time, it wasn’t. The distance between them felt vast, and with every word she said, he felt more and more like an outsider in his own life.

And then, as casually as if she were mentioning the weather, she dropped the bomb.

“Actually,” she said with a smile, her fingers absently tracing the rim of her cup, “I’m engaged now. My fiancé and I are planning a wedding for next year.”

Wade’s breath hitched in his throat. His eyes flicked down to her hand almost immediately, where a small, gleaming diamond ring sat. His world tilted. He had to swallow against the tightness in his throat, the sudden lump that had formed there, threatening to choke him. Vanessa was engaged. She was moving forward. She had moved on, and there he was, stuck in the past.

For a second, everything in the coffee shop went silent. The sound of the barista making drinks in the back seemed to fade, and all he could hear was the pounding of his own pulse. His chest tightened painfully, but he forced himself to breathe, to keep his face neutral, as if nothing had changed. But it had.

He cleared his throat, his hands suddenly clammy, his palms pressing against the edge of the table as if to hold himself together. “That’s... that’s great,” he said, the words coming out too quickly, too strained.

Vanessa didn’t seem to notice. Or maybe she did, but she didn’t acknowledge it. She was already talking about her wedding plans, what kind of venue they were looking at, the kind of flowers they might have. She was excited, and he could hear the happiness in her voice, but all he could focus on was that damn ring, glittering under the light, a constant reminder of everything he’d lost.

His thoughts spiraled. What had he done wrong? How had they ended up here, so far apart, when they used to be so close? Why had he let it all slip away?

“So... how have you been?” Vanessa asked, her voice softer now, her smile more uncertain as if she sensed the shift in the air.

Wade hesitated, his throat dry, his thoughts scattered. He didn’t know how to answer. "Oh, you know," he said, plastering a grin on his face that felt more like a mask than anything real, "same old. Gigs here and there, still bartending, you know, the usual. Nothing too exciting."

He didn’t tell her about the nights when he couldn’t get out of bed, the overwhelming loneliness that had settled over him after their breakup, or the days when he’d gotten so lost in his thoughts he couldn’t remember how to breathe. The depression that still clung to him, like a shadow, was something he never wanted her to know about. Not now, not here.

Vanessa gave him a knowing look, a flicker of concern in her eyes, but she didn’t press. Instead, she smiled faintly, her eyes scanning his face like she was searching for something, though she didn’t say what. Wade looked away, focusing on his coffee, trying to ignore the pounding of his heart.

The minutes stretched on, each second feeling like it might drag him under. As they finished their drinks, Vanessa stood, smiling at him warmly. "It was really good to see you, Wade," she said. "I’m glad we could catch up. I missed you."

Wade stood too, but he felt a strange heaviness in his chest, like something he hadn’t expected was settling inside him. He managed a tight smile, his voice shaky as he responded, "Yeah, me too. I—I missed you too. It’s... it’s been good."

She gave him a quick hug, and for a brief moment, the world seemed to hold still. He inhaled the scent of her hair, the familiar warmth of her body, but it was different now. She was different. He was different. They were different.

As she walked away, he stayed rooted to the spot, watching her go. Her silhouette disappeared out the door, and Wade felt the weight of everything he hadn’t said—everything he couldn’t say. The image of the ring still burned in his mind, and for the first time in years, he allowed himself to feel the depth of the pain.

He stood there for a long time, feeling like he might collapse right there in the coffee shop. She was gone, and the world was moving forward, leaving him behind. He had no idea what he’d wanted from this meeting, no idea what he’d expected.

But whatever it was, he hadn’t found it.

———

The door clicked behind Wade as he entered the apartment, the sound too loud in the stillness of the room. His chest felt tight, like it was being squeezed, and the quiet hum of the apartment only made it worse. He hadn’t known what to expect from this afternoon, but the reality of it was worse than he could’ve imagined. Vanessa was happy. She was moving on with someone else, and he was still here, stuck in the past, wondering what went wrong.

He didn’t immediately step further into the apartment. He stood at the doorway for a long moment, his shoulders hunched, his hand clutching the doorframe like it was the only thing holding him up. He couldn’t face Logan and Y/N. Not yet. Not after everything. The last thing he wanted was to break down in front of them, but he knew that’s exactly what was going to happen.

Logan was already on his feet as soon as he saw Wade step through the door. Something was wrong. Wade wasn’t talking—wasn’t even looking at him. His shoulders were hunched, his eyes fixed on the floor. He moved like a ghost, like someone who wasn’t really there.

“Wade?” Logan called, his voice careful but firm as he approached him.

Wade didn’t answer, his silence speaking volumes. Logan placed a hand on his shoulder, gently turning him around. Wade still wouldn’t meet his eyes, and that’s when Logan saw it— the glassiness in Wade’s eyes, the way his jaw trembled as he tried to keep it all together.

“Oh, man…” Logan breathed, his heart sinking.

Wade looked up at him then, his voice breaking as he whispered, “I just wanted to matter to her.”

The words cut through Logan like a knife. He felt the weight of them, the raw pain behind them. This was Wade—his best friend, the guy who never let anything keep him down—falling apart in front of him.

“Hey,” Logan said softly, his voice barely above a whisper now. “It’s gonna be okay.”

But Wade just shook his head, his lips trembling as he tried to hold back the tears. Logan let out a heavy sigh, gripping Wade’s shoulder tighter, grounding him. “I’m here, man. Just… let it out.”

Wade didn’t answer with words. Instead, he collapsed against Logan, clinging to him like a lifeline as the dam finally broke. Logan stood there, solid and steady, letting his best friend cry it out.

From down the hall, Y/N had heard the sound of Wade entering, but she hadn’t anticipated the commotion that followed. She was sitting in her room, organizing some papers when she heard Wade’s strangled sobs followed by the soft murmur of Logan’s voice. She froze for a moment, unsure of what was happening, but her heart began to race.

She stood up quickly, moving toward the door almost immediately. When she opened it, her heart nearly stopped at the sight of Wade clinging to Logan, his entire body shaking. She hadn’t seen him like this. Not ever. Wade was always the one cracking jokes, always the one keeping the mood so bright, but now… now he was broken.

Logan looked up when he noticed her at the doorway. His expression was a mixture of concern and helplessness, and when their eyes met, he shook his head ever so slightly. The conversation with Vanessa had gone horribly wrong, he assumed.

Wade looked up when he heard her approaching, his eyes red and puffy, his face streaked with tears. He pulled away from Logan, trying to force a weak smile, though it was obvious that he wasn’t fooling anyone. "I’m not stealing Logan from you, I promise," he said with a sniff, his voice wavering.

Logan rolled his eyes. "You’re an idiot," he said lightly, though the words were filled with affection. "Unbelievable…"

Y/N stepped forward, offering a gentle hand to Wade. "Come on," she said softly, guiding him toward the couch. "Let’s sit down for a bit."

Wade stumbled as he followed her, his feet dragging, his exhaustion visible. When they reached the couch, he collapsed onto it, the weight of everything pressing down on him. Y/N sat beside him, giving him a moment of silence. She didn’t rush him, didn’t press him to say anything he wasn’t ready to say.

Logan disappeared into the kitchen and returned a few moments later with a glass of water and some tissues. Wade didn’t look at him, didn’t acknowledge him. He just stared at the floor, his body tense but too drained to protest.

The room was quiet for a long while, the sound of the TV almost drowned out by the heavy silence. Wade finally broke it, his voice barely above a whisper. "I’m sorry," he muttered. "I don’t know what I’m doing. I thought... I thought I was okay. But I’m not. She’s gone, and she’s happy with someone else, and I just... I’m here. I’m a dumbass stuck in the past."

Logan sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "That’s not true, Wade. You’re just... processing things. That’s all."

Wade sniffled again, wiping his nose, then looked over at Y/N and Logan. "Are you guys tired?" he asked randomly, his voice still shaky. "Maybe we should watch a movie. I don’t know... something to distract us."

It was obvious to everyone in the room that he was trying to change the subject, but no one called him out on it. They all knew he just needed to escape, even if only for a little while.

"Yeah, let’s watch something," Y/N said softly, her hand resting on Wade’s shoulder.

They all settled in, the TV flickering softly in the background, casting muted shadows across the room. None of them were really watching. Wade, utterly drained, fell asleep almost immediately, his head leaning against Logan’s shoulder. Logan and Y/N stayed awake, though neither spoke, the silence between them heavy with things left unsaid.

Logan’s eyes lingered on the TV screen, but his mind was elsewhere. He couldn’t shake the weight in his chest. Every glance at Y/N only made it worse. He’d been avoiding her for weeks, telling himself it was the right thing to do, that it was easier this way. But sitting here now, the distance felt unbearable. His feelings weren’t going away; they were only getting harder to ignore.

Y/N shifted slightly, her hand brushing against the necklace she wore—a small, unconscious gesture. Logan noticed it out of the corner of his eye, and the pang in his stomach hit like a gut punch. That necklace. That moment. He could still remember how her face had lit up when she opened the gift, how she’d thanked him with such sincerity it left him breathless. He knew then he’d made a mistake—pulling away from her, shutting her out. And yet, here he was, doing it still.

The silence stretched between them, unsettling and thick with unspoken tension. Logan felt the words bubbling up in his throat, but they caught there, stuck. He couldn’t keep hiding, but he couldn’t tell her, either. Not now. Not like this.

Finally, he broke the silence, his voice low and rough. “Thanks for being here for him,” he said, glancing at Y/N. “I don’t know how I would’ve managed that by myself.”

Y/N turned to look at him, her expression soft. “You don’t have to do everything by yourself, Logan,” she said gently. “We’re all here for him. We’re all here for each other.”

Logan nodded, though he didn’t meet her gaze. His fingers twitched, wanting to reach for something—anything—but he kept his hands still. “I know,” he said quietly, his eyes flickering back to Wade, who was breathing softly against him. “It’s just... I’m not great with this. With emotions.”

Y/N gave a faint smile, her voice calm but steady. “You guys need to stop beating yourselves up,” she said. “You’ve helped me so many times, Logan. You’re incredible. You always are.”

Logan swallowed hard, her words hitting him in a way he wasn’t prepared for. He wanted to deflect, to make some dry remark, but nothing came. Instead, he just looked at her, his throat tight. “I’m sorry,” he said after a moment, his voice barely above a whisper. “For being distant these past few weeks. There’s just... a lot on my mind.”

Y/N’s expression softened even more. “I’m not forcing you to talk to me,” she said. “But I’ll be here when you’re ready. Always.”

Her words were simple, but they carried a weight Logan couldn’t ignore. He looked at her then, really looked at her, and he felt that pang in his chest again, sharp and insistent. He wanted to tell her everything. He wanted to say how much she meant to him, how much it killed him to keep his distance. But he couldn’t. Not yet. Not like this.

“Thanks,” he said instead, his voice quieter this time. He glanced at Wade, his heart heavy. “You don’t have to stay. I’ll stay here with him.”

Y/N didn’t move, her gaze steady. “I’m not going anywhere,” she said simply.

Logan didn’t know what to say to that. He just nodded, his shoulders slumping slightly. The weight of the night, of everything he was holding back, pressed down on him. And yet, her presence was a balm, even if it made everything more complicated.

The three of them stayed there, the room quiet except for the faint hum of the TV and Wade’s soft breathing. Y/N stayed close. Logan couldn’t stop the feelings stirring in his chest, no matter how hard he tried.

Eventually, exhaustion caught up with all of them. Wade slept soundly, Logan’s shoulder still supporting him, and Y/N curled up on the other side of the couch. Logan sat there for a moment longer, staring at them both, his heart full of emotions he couldn’t name.

For the first time in weeks, he let himself breathe. And even though nothing was resolved, for now, this was enough.

XXX

[wishfulsketching]

What a year, huh.

I'm not going to talk about how everything is going to shit in the real world, that's not what this post is about.

I can remember that before Gotham, I had a bit of trouble trying to get inspired about art. I did end up doing a lot of original art due to that, tho. Gotham was the nice return to a hyperfixation that got me back to creating, which felt like a saving grace tbh. I draw A LOT, you may have noticed. I thank my ADHD for that. So, when I'm unable draw I do struggle spending my time in any meaningful way.

I also started reading again this year. Murderbot Diaries got me by the throat, I love those books so much. I've also liked T. Kingfisher's books so far, haven't read that many yet, tho. I also read in english, not the translated versions, so it's a nice way to "use" my english skills.

I finally started needle felting this Christmas! I've been meaning to do it for yearsss. Bunnydog was my ever first attempt, Slowpoke was my second.

Arcane season 2. Woohee, I had totally forgotten when it was going to drop! It was a good thing tho, I was saved from a lot of painful waiting around, hah. I might've chickened out of the Zaundads fandom back in the day but it's so much more chill now. Well, kind of. I do see people complain a bit in the tags. Plus I bet it's a lot worse in other sites. ANYWAY!

I feel like that in this short time after season 2, I've gotten better at art and got my groove fully back. I am so grateful for people who just keep being so nice and support me here adsfsdfo! I said it back in 2021/2022 I think but I'll say it again: zaundads fandom has been one of the nicest fandom I've been part of. (I have to mention tho, so is riddlebird fandom)

I'm still a bit overwhelmed with all the attention I'm getting, I admit, but I am also so happy I get to share my unhinged love for this stupid little man.

My next year will start with job hunting and balancing my mental health (I've been "in recovery" for years, it's gonna be a adjustment to start working. I am still very much struggling but not as much so I have to find a job that doesn't kill me in a month lol).I've also made one new years resolution which is that I will more actively display and live my preferred identity and not just go "eh whatever, I know how I actually feel like so". Not gonna be easy because I get embarrassed about everything and will want to backpedal so hard at the start but uhhh...I'll try not to? Eh.

Yea. So a lot of new things for the next year and I already feel tired. But hopeful!

I'll end this post by randomly sharing my fave CJU gameplays because his gameplay vids always help me to relax:

I couldn't find the playlist so here's PART 2 and PART 3. I really love the story in this one.

A game I expected nothing from and now rewatch this playthrough ever so often. PLAYLIST

Love the game, love the commentary, love the vibes! PLAYLIST

[befuddledcinnamonroll]

QL Things That Made Me Happy in 2024

It's the end of the year, and people are doing a lot of cute things with superlatives and such, but with my limited bandwidth, I'm gonna keep it simple. Those who follow me know I am here to have a good time, and I like to focus on what brings me joy. 2025 is going to be a rough one, and I know I'm going to continue to need the QL space to help me emotionally cope, so if you'll indulge me, I want to just roll around in the good and the happy for a bit.

(Note, there is also a ton of 2024 content I did not have time to watch, so this does not capture everything good that happened this year!)

Diversity of Genre

Every year we're breaking a little bit more new ground! I'm particularly excited to be seeing more mystery/thriller, for both our BLs & GLs. Robots, vampires, animals turned human, and hopefully soon, mermen. We're getting weirder and wilder, and I am here for it.

Baby Steps in Representation

I know, I know, we all want it to get all better right now, but as someone in my fifth decade of life, I've also seen how small step after small step over the years can lead to huge changes. And in a world where a lot of people are trying to drag us backwards, it's important to keep pushing forward, and celebrate each successful step, even when it feels like it's not enough. (And keep advocating for more, of course!)

Continuing to Give Friendship Its Due

Amazing friend groups are fortunately a QL staple, and this year was no different. We got so much good friend representation this year!

Japan Being Japan

The very top at efficient story-telling, whether it be hitting your heart or tearing it apart.

Taiwan Being Taiwan

Never change Taiwan. Just keep feeding me, pretty please.

Acting Highlights

Wow, did we get some incredible performances this year. Way more than I can list here, but here's a few that came immediately to mind.

Special Mentions

ie stuff that didn't fit under one of the above categories.

A year of TayNew

Step one, be the absolute most in the cutest shit ever. Step two, queer up a found family story. Step three, celebrate owning 2024. (And we get more of them in 2025!)

Big getting his due

We've been chomping at the bit for a Big Thanakorn lead role for ages, and our man delivered! And we're gonna get more next year!

A win for creative independence

I've said it before and I'll say it again, I am so fucking proud of Yin and War. They did something incredibly difficult at great personal cost, and made something genuinely unique. Jack & Joker had a lot of layers, including a lot of cultural depth, along with social commentary. That kind of thing is always going to alienate some people, but that's part of what impressed me so much. If they wanted to make something to appeal to the most generic possible audience, they would have done it. They swung big, and made an impact, and I hope it opens up so much more opportunity for them.

When talent grows exponentially

One of my favorite things about having been into QL for a while now is getting to see actors grow and develop past their initial roles. Often the raw talent is there from the beginning, but as in all careers there is a benefit from experience, the right kind of support, and the right opportunities.

2 Moons 2 was a largely forgettable series that managed to land some unforgettable talent, and both Joong and Pavel were highlights. They've both done so well, but in this particular case, I need to rave about Joong's growth in his performance as Fadel. The entire cast is rocking it in Heart Killers, Dunk is also doing incredible, but I have such a soft spot for the boy I immediately fell for way back in my first year of BL, and seeing him steal scenes from some of my all time favorite GMMTV actors. Well done, bebe, well done.

In summary

This doesn't remotely encompass everything (I didn't even get to all the delightful spice from this year!), I am limited by time and image restrictions per post, but as always, I am so grateful to have discovered this arena of media and this space in which to squee about it, and I am endlessly grateful for the people in this space who bring positivity, nuance, grace, compassion, caring, open-mindedness, humility, and curiosity to my dash.

Happy New Year, y'all.

[karokawwo]

I don't think his hair is his grayest feature

[dirty-droid]

So I played through some more dbh last night and woke up thinking, God, there is a good reason Markus and Kara, and their respective companions never got as popular as Connor and Hank. Literally The Bridge is surrounded by the most *do everything for absolutely no reason* chapters, and there's no comparison.

First the Kara chapter wastes your time, she barely gets any small talk in with Luther, then the car breaks down, then you're just doing tiny tasks, doing a shitty sum up of her story so far when Alice asks you to make one up- they could have done something interesting with that story but they chose not to, literally anything specific anything that would function as a parallel to their journey would have actually had some value. Then you barely start a conversation with Luther, where are you maybe get a hint of his personality before we're back to just talking about the plot and Alice, but then it's over again and you meet the Jerries and you learn almost nothing about them.

It is a chapter where you do nothing interesting, and you learn almost nothing about the main characters, for a downtime chapter, I expect character development and get barely a sneeze of it. There is so much room and so much time for you to really push and question your main characters but it just doesn't get used.

Honestly I think the protagonists all could have probably really benefited from the audience getting to hear their internal monologues if they weren't actually going to talk to their companion characters, but even that would just be a substitute for decent writing.

Either way, after that, we come back to Connor and Hank, who do almost no tasks in this chapter, *but spend the entire time TALKING.* They talk to each other in a constant volley back and forth for the entire length of the chapter and it's probably one of the best chapters in the game, it's certainly one of the most important in their story. You spend the entire bridge scene learning more about Hank and Connor's inner worlds, and how they think, and how they feel, you spend the whole chapter learning so much about their perspectives, this chapter is all about asking the hard questions about both of their individual characters, and the tension is high, it's a straightforward chapter to play, and it really fucking feels like your choices matter here, there will be immediate consequences, not just walking through your environment trying to find the right answer, or being dragged through an interaction. It's just plain good.

And then Markus infiltrates the Stratford Tower, and you get the most boring and useless and frustrating chapter in the game that doesn't seem to serve any purpose beyond looking cool. If Kara's last chapter was only to gain sympathy and create some soft and fuzzy feelings, this chapter is only about looking cinematic. This is probably my least favorite chapter in the game, honestly I've just gotten lost on that yellow ass office floor building too many times, even though I'm very familiar with the game now I still managed to get lost again last night.

I will admit that eventually it does become an opportunity to decide between pacifism and violence but that seems to be the only real development for Markus, and it wouldn't have been hard to make that kind of opportunity in another setting. Because we get next to nothing watching him get past the front desk, or from walking around that floor, just some outfit changes and pretending to be a machine and a little more Android hate in the background, Markus is almost completely silent yet again, there is almost no talking with North once she appears. We actually get more about North's personality here than Markus', she just feels like she has more lines somehow, because sometimes she just talks without it being connected to the plot and Markus never does.

This bit is more speculative, but my fiance and I were going off last night about whyyyy did they have to break into the tower? We're never given any reason for what the steps are and why they are important, just usually pretty important in these mission impossible type scenes, they're usually explaining in a voice-over why they are taking the steps that they are taking. But we get no explanation for why he needs to go to the 47th floor or whatever, No explanation for why he needs to change into a maintenance Android uniform, why North was in the stairwell, how Josh and Simon got in, it's all just handwaved, and whyyyyyy they couldn't have just?? Made a recording and then hacked the station's broadcast remotely and basically just posted the speech? I don't know, it's just a particularly frustrating chapter to play, personally, but it isn't strong.

Either way, you've got two chapters with next to no character development, that just have a lot of empty space and time where the characters could have been talking or could have been doing something else, but didn't because the vibes were more important, sandwiching a simple scene with ten pounds of character development and it just feels weird. And once I noticed it, it just made the Kara and Markus chapters look incredibly weak and poorly written... And conversely, make the Connor and Hank chapter look much, much stronger in comparison.

It's like Detroit become human almost needs it's own type of Bechdel Test, just to show how much they fail Markus and Kara. "Do they talk about something that isn't the plot?"

"Do Kara and Luther talk about something that isn't Alice or getting to Canada?" "Does Markus talk about anything besides his speech for this chapter?" "Does Alice talk at all beyond basic communication with Kara?" "Does Markus or his buddies talk about anything that's not the revolution or just Markus himself?"

... They don't pass a lot.

It's just hard to take these characters above simply *likeable* when they just, don't, ever, talk. There's little to no development for Markus or Kara, and because they've just become deviants, there's hardly any character establishment in the first place, they barely even get the chance to just be flat, because if they don't really know who they are, we don't really know who they are.

Connor and Hank's friendship is more functionally the main plot, more so than the deviant investigation, and for Markus and the team, and Kara with Alice, that's simply just not the case, there is hardly any relationship, they're just in the same boat. This is why Connor got astronomically more popular, and why he and Hank have the staying power that they do.

Markus and Kara just don't ever talk, and Connor does. And I'm fucking mad about it. The amount of time that was just wasted in their stories, I could probably take a damn stopwatch to all the moments where there could have been a little something-something, and nothing was put there. It's not to say Connor doesn't get some quiet moments too but he always gets the chance to make up for it.

Even at the beginning of the Stratford Tower chapter, I noticed that they could have had Simon and North talking about something maybe unrelated when Markus walks up, but there's nothing, only silence until Markus comes in with a plan. And of course we know about every time Luther tries to bring up the fact that Alice is an android, only to be shut down and walked away from. It fucking kills me how much time Mark is has the focus of the camera but it's only so he could look cool for a minute, and share no thoughts of his own, none of his new feelings, everything is only implied and then followed by the action where he is only allowed to be the leader of the revolution and never just Markus. There's a tragedy in that, but they could have driven it home harder by *pointing that out.*

[jewish-microwave-laser]

once again, "i think it's bad when someone dies" is a hot take

[deeplyshalllow]

If you think that all Fiyero has in terms of characteristics in wicked, then I would encourage you to re-watch the musical because you've missed quite a lot! I'll give you that some of it's a bit subtle because he's not in very many scenes but we get quite a lot from him

- as you said he presents like he doesn't care when he does - I don't think that's that shallow a personality trait though? It leads to quite a lot of questions about why he is that way, what has made him, a boy who has come from even more privileged than Glinda, care so much more about the Animals and generally making the world a better place than her? Why has he felt the need to hide it? Is it some degree of childhood trauma (the San Francisco previews of the musical has him state that before Elphaba he didn't believe that love was real)? Is it an inability to make a difference? Does he have some learning difficulty like ADHD or dyslexia which has made him not very book smart so he felt better pretending not to care? It's also so wonderful to see how his interactions with Elphaba inspire him to make this change.

- he's incredibly smart, somewhat ironic given he becomes the scarecrow, but I think he's the most intelligent of the group! He basically runs act 2. If it was not for him, Elphaba would have been captured in the throne room (possibly Glinda too as she tried to help her escape), Elphaba would have been captured in the cornfield and Elphaba wouldn't have had the plan to fake her own death. Honestly, his girls would be lost without him! Elphaba inspires him to do good, but Fiyero is needed as her calm, to help her think before her actions and to keep her safe.

- he's the best politician of the group, he's the only one with any degree of impulse control, while both Elphaba and Glinda tend to react and think about consequences later, Fiyero takes a step back, works out what to do and what best to say to people to get what he wants, even if it means appearing on the wrong side. It's sort of sad that, after doubtless driving his parents mad by flunking school, he would have probably made an excellent king.

- morso in the movie than in the musical, but he's just incredibly kind! Unlike Glinda, he doesn't judge Elphaba by her skin colour, works out remarkably quickly that she's wearing a mask too and tries his best to get her out of it. He doesn't want her to change, or temper her feelings to fit with what is normal (like literally everyone else in her life) and loves her for exactly who she is. This is why he works so well with Elphaba, here's the only person, who will sit and tell her to be herself and mean it, he is the person who can tell her that she is valuable and is allowed to do stuff for herself, rather than just trying to help or please others. We also see in the musical, a concerted effort to make it up to Glinda after running away with Elphaba, he expresses straight after "as long as your mine" that he hopes someday they'll all make up and apologizes to her in the next scene.

I don't really think you get much less personality from Fiyero than Glinda really? I mean when you boil down Glinda's traits you get privileged and spoilt, somewhat spiteful but not overly unkind (though I would argue her initial befriending of Elphaba is almost as rushed as Fiyero's love for her), a very set plan of what she wants in life, a little impulsive, and cares a bit about doing good but not enough to uproot her own life.

You have to look slightly harder, but it's all there in the text, Fiyero is a nuanced character, with his own personality, ambitions and goals. They just tend to align with Elphaba's, as the two of them share such similar morals.

Also, I think it's a little unfair to say that Elphaba longing to be with Glinda as well, makes Fiyero any less important to her, considering she sung a whole song about how terrible her life was and that she was going to give up, when she thought Fiyero was dead!

Fiyerabas love to get on Twitter and tumblr and say stuff like “well fiyero would’ve went with Elphaba in a heartbeat” and act as if that’s a groundbreaking statement. We know what happens in act 2. We know he leaves everything behind for her. The reason why Glinda can’t do that is because she’s an actual nuanced character that has depth to her. She has something to lose. We see how she was brought up in the world. We know that she is a coward. Why WOULDN’T fiyero go with Elphaba? Nothing about his character is complex enough for that to be an option.

Fiyero’s whole character is built on a single characteristic (pretending not to care when he actually does) that is so underdeveloped it’s actually laughable. Why does he pretend not to care? There is not a single thing about him that actually tells us why he acts like that. It just comes out as him being an annoying jerk, even in the movie. His whole character arc is pretending not to care and then caring because of Elphaba. OF COURSE he’d go with her. That’s what his whole personality is based on.

Not to mention the fact that even with him being Elphaba’s ride or die, he’s still boring and his decision to be with her is incredibly unmoving. No one would expect anything else. And even with them ending up together, Elphaba still longs to be with Glinda. She still longs to tell her she’s alive. Fiyero is a boring annoying consolation prize that is a flat and undeveloped “what if” twist on Glinda if she wasn’t as much of a coward as she is. Idgaf

[redbean-nom]

watched the first 2 episodes of acolyte and so far i like every character except for the main one lol. (also is her name osha as in occupational safety and health administration??)

[transgirltrish]

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