#i'm almost me again she's almost you jack thinks as he's happy in this relationship!

[loving-jack-kelly]

list of hozier songs that should be javid fics. it will come back werewolf au (fully formed in my mind). almost (sweet music) canon era jack dating sarah unable to get over davey feeling very guilty abt it.

[written-in-knife]

Dressing for the Cloudcall

Leona Kingscholar x fem!Reader, pre-relationship

Word count: 4680 (dialogue heavy to start, stick with it, I find a rhythm in there somewhere)

Category: one-shot, fluff, angst if you squint really really hard

Leona's family is sneaky and knows him very well, and you get roped into some Cloudcalling dress up. And maybe Leona is into that.

I loved Cloudcalling on the Savanna but I was a little disappointed we didn’t get even a hinted outfit, and this idea has been bouncing around in my little walnut brain for MONTHS and it finally spilled out in the span of like two hours. Tried to keep Yuu ambiguous, female, hair long enough to braid and put into a bun, and she’s shorter than Falena’s wife. Your Yuu is six feet tall? Cool, Falena’s wife is taller 👏AS👏SHE👏SHOULD👏BE. Reading back, I think I have a crush on my own version of Falena’s wife, as I should. I just imagined the most beautiful woman I could.

Kifaji had to step away to take a phone call while everyone was checking out the food stalls and Leona almost looked grateful to see his back disappearing into the crowd as he handed you one of the baobab hibiscus teas. You thanked him quietly before sipping on the drink, as refreshing as promised. Grim was just about to pull everyone over to a meat vendor-- surprise surprise-- when Kifaji returned, a sly looking smile on his face.

"What's got you so happy, ya old bird?" Leona huffed as Grim drooled over the meat.

"My apologies, but I need to borrow Miss Yuu for awhile." Kifaji said simply, turning his ominous smile to you.

"What for?" Leona practically growled, putting a hand on your shoulder before you could even think to step away from the group.

"On such short notice, we could not procure an outfit for her." Kifaji explained, folding his hands behind his back. "I, however, did not want her to feel left out, so I made arrangements which are now ready. I will return her at your next destination."

"It's fine, Leona." You tried to assure him, patting his hand gently. "I do feel a little left out of the fun."

Leona clicked his tongue in annoyance before releasing your shoulder and crossing his arms.

"We're headed to Ivory Springs after this. Do not be late." He directed the command at Kifaji rather than you.

"B-But, Yuu look at this! And these!" Grim was actually drooling over the meat in the stall, turning back to you with tears in his eyes that practically begged you to let him stay.

You sighed heavily and shook your head. "Vil, can you keep Grim out of trouble for me? I won't be long."

"Of course." Vil nodded, glancing down at the direbeast as he cheered and danced around in a little circle. "I'll try my best to not let him eat through Leona's entire fortune."

"Good enough for me." You chuckled before turning to Kifaji, who smiled again and held an arm out for you to lead the way out of the markets.

You walked side by side with Kifaji to the entrance of the market, only for him to place a hand on your upper back to direct you towards a waiting black car just up the street. As you approached, a beastwoman in full guard regalia opened the back door for you to enter. You thanked her quietly before stepping into the blissfully air conditioned car, Kifaji getting in on the other side.

"It's not that far to the hotel," you chuckled as the driver reentered the car, "and I'm not as prone to heatstroke as Jack is."

"Oh, we aren't going to the hotel." Kifaji said, as if just remembering he "forgot" to tell you about it.

"Oh?"

There was a minute of silence as he didn't answer your unspoken question. A few turns through the city, he broke it, turning to you with a pleasant smile.

"Tell me, Yuu, what is the nature of your relationship with Prince Leona?"

You were shocked for a moment at the bluntness of the question. "Is this because I'm the only girl? Because I can assure you, we're all friends--"

"My apologies, that isn't what I meant." He cut you off with a small chuckle and a lift of his hand. "If you'd humor me?"

"I mean... we're friends? Friendly, at least." You explained, wringing your hands in your lap. "He's helped me out of a few tough spots, I've helped him. We hang out on occasion. He's nice, I dunno." You wouldn't dare say it out loud, especially to the chamberlain, but you sometimes secretly wished there was more there.

He gave you a warm smile, much like a father would give to a daughter talking about her crush. "I see. As you well know, I've seen to Leona since the day he was born, and I haven't seen him so... protective of someone since... well, ever. That boy has never exactly been friendly, let alone "nice" to just about anyone since his mother passed. It's refreshing to see."

You could feel your face getting hotter with each word the chamberlain said. You desperately wanted the subject to change. "S-So, if we aren't going to the hotel, where are we going?"

"The Royal Palace." Kifaji said casually, as if you were on your way to some unnamed park.

"What?! Why?"

"As I said, I made arrangements for your outfit. You need to look the part to represent your team!" He said, another sly smile on his face as he pumped his fist in front of him in an imitation cheer. "And, I regret to say, you stick out like a sore thumb among those boys."

"But-- I-I thought-- we--"

"And here we are. A short drive, is it not? The walk would have been significantly longer."

You looked out the window at the palace, a grand stone building at the top of the hill. It almost looked as if it were carved out of the rock itself. You were startled out of your thoughts as the driver opened your door for you again, the chamberlain outside waiting to give you a hand out. You thanked them both as you took the offered hand and stepped out, following Kifaji closely as he walked.

"So, uh... just pop in, change clothes, and head back down to the market, yeah?" You asked nervously as you glanced at the guards you passed by, feeling eyes on your back.

"Just so." Kifaji assured you, another sly smile as he stopped at a large set of doors already opened, swinging a hand out for you to go first.

You weren't sure what was about to happen. Maybe you'd be thrown in a dungeon for fraternizing with their prince, or maybe they meant to keep you here until Leona himself came to find you, or--

"There she is!" A booming and excited voice came from across the room as you entered, startling you to turn and look.

A mound of long ginger hair twisted into braids was running up to greet you, perched atop a muscle-bound mountain of a man. He was dressed similarly to Leona, but wearing white instead of black, still adorned in gold, an enormous smile on his face. The guards at the door stood at attention as he got to your side of the room, clasping your hand quickly in a firm and enthusiastic handshake.

"You must be the girl Kifaji told me so much about!" He beamed at you, reminding you so much of Kalim in this moment. Wait.

"So much?" You parroted, looking at Kifaji, who simply shrugged.

"Oh, you must tell me how you got Leona to be so... docile? That isn't the right word. He listens to you?! Insane!" The man rambled, still holding onto your hand. "You must tell me everything!"

"Falena, you'll scare the poor girl." Another voice rang out from the other side of the room.

The man, Falena, finally released your hand and turned to see the woman walking towards you. She was elegant and gorgeous and so poised, dressed in similar colors and patterns to her husband, also adorned in gold. You suddenly felt very intimidated as you finally realized just where you were standing.

"Oh, but my love," Falena sighed, still smiling, "think of everything we could learn! What's Leona like at school, anyhow?"

"H-He, uh..." you hesitated as the woman joined her husband’s side. It probably wasn't a good idea to tell them exactly how he was, and it wasn't a good idea to lie. Rock and a hard place. "He's certainly there."

Falena let out a booming laugh at this, his wife joining in with a laugh that sounded like bells in the large chamber.

"We know of Leona's troubles at school." She assured you, holding out a hand to shake. "I am Shani, and I'm sure my husband, Falena, did not introduce himself before launching into his questioning."

"I'm Yuu," you said, gently grabbing her hand and shaking it, "a pleasure."

"Likewise." She smiled warmly at you as you both retracted your hands. "Kifaji has asked me to dress you for the occasion."

"The festival?"

"Leona brought a girl home!" Falena cut in, the smile surely cemented on his face at this point. "A sign things are turning around for my little brother, to be sure!"

"O-Oh! No, wait, I'm--" You practically choked on your words trying to get them out fast enough, feeling your face burning again, "Leona and I aren't a couple!"

"I know! But everything Kifaji told us over the phone just makes it all the more interesting!" He gushed grabbing your shoulders. "Forgive me for being forward, but you smell like him! You must be together often!"

"I-I just keep watch while he naps, it's not like we--"

"Falena. You are making her nervous." Shani said sharply, trying to hide her amused smile as she swatted his hands off you and looped her arm into yours. "Come, we should get you into something else before Leona comes looking for you."

She didn't wait for a response before pulling you off towards the door she came through. You glanced back to Kifaji and Falena, seeing them both smiling at you, though Kifaji's looked nefarious. You faced forward again, looking up at the glamorous woman holding your arm, still amazed that you'd just met the crown prince and princess. Shani led you down the hall and into a large bedroom, turning quickly into a nearly equally large closet. Gorgeous outfits-- if you were to judge just based on the fabric-- lined the walls on either side, the far wall was large, open windows looking over the expanse of the savanna, and the wall behind was adorned with large mirrors. You couldn't help but be impressed as Shani practically floated across the room and picked up a dress that was already waiting on a chair and held it up for you.

"I hope you don't mind, I already picked something out for you." She explained as she approached. "Don't worry about the length, we can work with it however we need. This is going home with you."

"What? No, I couldn't." You said quickly as she deposited the dress in your hands.

"Do you see where we are right now? You absolutely can." She laughed, gesturing to the lines of clothes. "Go ahead and get changed, I'll be right outside, just let me know when you're ready."

Her nose scrunched up adorably in her excitement as she smiled even wider at your for a moment, her hands clapping under her chin once before she exited the room, closing the door behind her. Alone, you sighed at the absolute whirlwind you'd just gone through. You turned to the large mirrors on the closest wall and held the dress up to your body. It would definitely be long, but Shani was a tall woman who seemed to like wearing heels, so you weren't terribly surprised. Resigned to your fate, you began to change out of your current outfit. The dress had very thin straps, so your sports bra would have to go. Once actually in the dress, it fit remarkably well, other than the length. The thin straps spread down into a V neck and stretched to the skirt in the back, the skirt itself starting a little below the bust, similar to a halter top. You couldn't help but notice the patterns on the fabric coordinated to Leona's cloak, bright orange and black not helping the case. You folded your clothes into a neat pile in front of the mirror, honestly a little relieved how well the dress held up to movement, no risk of spilling out the sides or front when lifting your arms or bending over.

"Shani? I'm ready." You called to the door, hiking the skirt up to walk over.

She entered the room again with an excited smile, looking you up and down as you stood there.

"You are definitely shorter than me." She laughed as you let the skirt go, a few inches of fabric bundling up at your feet. "But we can fix that, easy. Ten minutes. First!" She walked over to a chest of drawers, pulling off a length of fabric she'd set on top. "Do you know how to wrap your hair? Keep it off your neck and out of your eyes."

"I do not." You shook your head prompting her to wave you off.

"I can teach you, it's very easy." She smiled, joining you at the mirror again.

She turned you to face the mirror, standing behind you and draping the fabric over your shoulders. She undid the braid your hair was always in, gently combing the knots out of your hair with her fingers.

"I always used to do this with my little sisters." She explained softly as she styled your hair to the top of your head in a large bun. "I love Cheka with all my heart and soul, but I do so hope we have a little girl some day, I miss having girls around to dress up with and do hair and everything."

"What, Cheka doesn't let you do his hair?" You smiled at her in the mirror as she began wrapping the scarf, making sure you were carefully watching her steps.

She laughed brightly. "He does! But as he gets older he may not. Plus, there isn’t exactly a ton of hair to work with, he prefers to keep it short."

"No, I get what you mean though." You said fondly. "I used to have my mom do my hair all the time, but she was always there to fix it when I eventually took it out and complained about it being in my face."

"Where are you from, by the way?"

Your face fell at the question. "It doesn't really matter. Crowley doesn't seem like he's able to send me back anyhow."

Shani looked like she was about to press further, but stopped herself. "There, all done." She said with another warm smile as she smoothed out some of the wrinkles in the turban style she'd done. "Not half bad, if I do say so myself."

"It looks great, thank you." You were smiling again, not pointing out the, again, same fabric Leona had on his scarf. Maybe it was a common pattern? You somehow doubted it.

"Now, I have a few accessories for you to tie it all together." She explained, walking over to a shelf opposite the chest of drawers. "I will have you put these on to see how they look, then you give me the dress and I will hem the bottom up for you."

"Thank you for this, Shani." You said sincerely, turning to look at her with a warm smile. "You really didn't have to go to these lengths."

"Nonsense, a friend of Leona's is a friend of ours." She assured you. "We want to make sure you enjoy your first time to the Sunset Savanna to the fullest."

..

Leona and the others had arrived at the palace, Leona planning to swipe a car to avoid having to take Kifaji with them. However, to his surprise, Kifaji was already outside speaking with one of the guards at the door.

"Oh for fucks sake..." Leona growled as he connected the dots.

"What?" Kalim asked, glancing over to the chamberlain. "Oh, it's Kifaji! Hey Kifaji!"

The chamberlain looked up in surprise at the call of his name, locking eyes with a furious Leona and giving him another sly smile.

"Wait here." Leona snapped at the group, not giving them a chance to protest before marching over to the door. "What the hell?!"

"Ah, Prince Leona." Kifaji said coolly as the guard stood at attention for the prince's approach. "I was under the impression you were not coming home during your visit."

"That why you brought Yuu here?" He spat. "Thought you were goin' to the hotel."

"I don't recall ever saying my arrangements were at the hotel." Kifaji said, though the infuriating smile and raise of his eyebrows suggested he knew exactly what he was up to.

Leona pinched the bridge of his nose, muttering expletives under his breath before looking back up. "Where is Yuu? We're goin'."

"She is changing, currently. You and your friends are more than welcome to wait inside, if you'd prefer."

"Yeah, ya’d like that, wouldn’t ya. Did Falena put you up to thi--"

"UNCA!"

Leona nearly instinctively side stepped the little ball of fiery orange that flung itself into his arms, grunting as the fuzzball impacted into his abdomen. Kifaji, while now safe from the verbal lashing Leona wanted to deal out, was not safe from the deadly glare that was shot his way.

“Quit clingin’ to me like that! Knock it off!” Leona snapped halfheartedly at his nephew who, undeterred by the tone, continued to beam up at him.

“I got so excited when I heard you were coming home!” The boy chirped quickly, grabbing his uncle’s hand and swinging it back and forth. “Can I hang out with you guys?”

Leona ignored the amused muttering of his schoolmates behind him as he rolled his eyes at the child’s antics.

Cheka continued, still swinging Leona’s arm around. “Mama said to be on the lookout for you! Do you wanna come play with me? We could play tag, or hide-and-seek, or--”

“Cheka.” Leona snarled, finally making the boy stop. “What was that about your mother?”

“Oh… I wasn’t supposed to tell.”

“Oh for fff…” Leona let the curse fizzle out into a loud grumble, trying to rub away the headache blooming in his temple. Of course it was Shani’s idea.

“I should go tell Mama you’re here!” Cheka said excitedly, darting off before Leona could stop him.

..

You slipped into the newly hemmed dress, a new length of fabric now flaring out the bottom that, once again, highly suspiciously matched the fabric of Leona's pants. Three times makes a pattern, damn if it didn't look good though. You were about to call out to Shani when you heard giggling through the door, and a boy's voice talking. You waited a moment before Shani knocked, sounding amused.

"All ready in there?" She called out.

"Yeah, ready." You called back, prompting her to enter the room.

Her smile grew ever wider as she looked at your outfit. "I've one more thing, and we need to be quick. Seems we've been found out."

There was a small gasp as Shani walked into the room, a tiny mess of ginger hair standing in the bedroom.

"I remember you!" Cheka said excitedly. "You're Unca's friend! From school!"

"I am! It's nice to see you again, Cheka!" You replied just as enthusiastically as Shani pulled one more thing off the shelf.

"It's nice to see you too! You match Unca!"

"I knew I wasn't crazy!" You nearly shouted, turning to Shani as your face burned again. She at least had the decency to look a little guilty.

"Yuu, you are a beautiful girl in an unfamiliar place." She explained, walking forward and wrapping something around your waist. "These are recognizable patterns of the leader of the Sunset Warriors, of the second prince, no one would dare do anything to you while you are wearing these."

"Do anything?" You echoed as she fastened the belt, which matched the rest of the boys'.

"Swindle you, pickpocket, worse." She listed grimly as she adjusted your necklace. "Sunrise City is as safe a city as any during a heavy tourist season. We want you to enjoy your time here, not wonder where your wallet may have gone."

"I..." you sighed heavily. "I get that. Thank you, really. This is all very generous."

"You can pay me back by marrying my brother in law." Shani teased as she exited the closet, making your face burn tenfold.

"Hey!"

"YOU AND UNCA ARE GETTING MARRIED?!"

"Oops…"

Cheka insisted you carry him through the halls, Shani nearly telling him to return to his studies before you assured her that it was fine. You spent the entire walk trying to explain to the boy that, no, you were not marrying his uncle. Cheka, however, kept talking about the imaginary wedding and all the things you needed to have there. You resigned yourself to not stopping him. He was talking about the cake when you entered the large room you'd first met Falena and Shani.

"Aha! There she is! A much more appropriate look for your guest, don't you agree, brother?" Falena said, prompting you to turn your gaze from Cheka to him, looking just in time to watch him clap Leona on the back.

Leona said nothing, just staring for a moment before clicking his tongue and looking away. You took this as annoyance for a moment before Cheka spoke up.

"Unca, unca!" Cheka said excitedly from your arms. "When you two get married you need to have a BIG cake, okay? And there needs to be chocolate, and 'biscus, and--"

"Married?" He asked incredulously, turning back to look at the boy, not able to hide the red on his cheeks now, before looking to Shani. "What did you do?"

"Children have impressive imaginations, don't they?" She asked pleasantly, taking Cheka from your arms to hers. "Thank you for letting me dress you, Yuu."

"Thank you for dressing me," you smiled at her, ignoring the burning on your own cheeks, "it was fun."

She smiled before taking your hand and leaning in to whisper to you. "If you cannot go home for school holidays, our home is open to you, just say the word."

You nearly teared up at this, simply nodding and squeezing her hand. "Thanks for everything, Shani."

Falena laughed as you walked over to join him and Leona, who had his arms crossed tightly over his chest. "I'd give you some words of warning, but you seem to know how to handle my brother better than I do at this point!"

"He's not so bad." You chuckled as he pointedly refused to look at you. "It was nice to meet you, Falena."

"You too! Come back anytime!" He beamed down at you before Leona grabbed your arm and started dragging you out of the room.

You waved back to the crown prince and princess as you were hauled out of the room and into the hall. Leona dragged you towards the entrance before making a sharp left a few doors down into another hallway.

"Leona--?"

"Shut up."

Your mouth closed with a clack of your teeth at his words, and you suddenly felt ashamed of your actions. Were you supposed to text him an SOS as soon as you realized where you were? When you realized what was happening? Before you could think about it further, he dragged you into a room at the end of the hall and shut the door, quickly caging you with his arms against it.

"What did they tell you?" He growled low, a dangerous tone you'd only heard a few times since you first stepped on his tail in the garden.

"N-Nothing--"

"Don't play dumb with me right now, herbivore, what did they say?"

"Kifaji and Falena kept saying that you're nice to me, and Shani said if I wore your patterns I'm less likely to get robbed." You said quickly, omitting her comment about marriage. "I was mostly with Shani, we talked about her sisters and my mom and the outfit, that's it."

His green eyes stared into your soul for a moment before he grumbled something under his breath, leaning forward to press his forehead against the wall next to your head.

"Leona?"

"Shani thinks she's funny." He said quietly, you could feel his breath against your ear as he spoke. "Makin' you match me, in public no less..."

"I'm sure she didn't mean anything by it--"

"Are you?" He asked, pulling back to look you in the eyes again, closer this time. "She's making fun of me."

"She's not."

"You don't know her."

"She's not making fun of you." You whispered, not breaking eye contact.

"You don't know what I say in those phone calls home." He muttered back. "Lemme guess, Shani already had that dress picked out for you, as if she plucked it from her own closet."

"...Yes?"

"You think the crown princess would ever wear the second-born's pattern?" He leaned in again, his jaw bumping your cheek as he moved to whisper in your ear. "She had that made for you, on purpose, for the day you eventually showed up."

"W-What do you say... in the calls home...?" You asked hesitantly, resisting the urge to reach your arms around him.

"Too much, apparently." He chuckled softly, lips grazing the shell of your ear. You felt like you would combust into flames any second. "Looks good on you though... suits you."

"L-Leona?"

He pulled back again, close enough to bump noses. "We have to get to the springs, otherwise our resident pretty princess won't play tomorrow." He whispered, still making no move to pull away.

"What..." your wet your suddenly very dry lips, not missing how Leona's eyes flicked down for just a second to catch the motion, "what did you mean by "when I eventually showed up...?""

"I said, don't play dumb, Yuu. You think I let just anyone braid my hair? You think I didn't notice that you do that while I'm tryin' to sleep?" He chuckled again, his grin almost looking like he was just flashing his teeth at you. "I pretend to not notice a lot of things."

"I'm not just anyone...?"

"You haven't been "just anyone" for awhile now." He muttered leaning in just a little closer, his nose brushing against yours gently before he stopped. "We need to go."

He let the moment hang in the minuscule amount of air between you for a second longer before finally pulling away, glancing over your outfit again as he did, making a triumphant little noise.

"Looks good on you." He muttered again before grabbing you by the arm to pull you away from the door.

Once you were out of the way, he opened the door again and walked out into the hallway, leaving you feeling like your knees were about to give out. With a moment to look around the room, you realized he'd pulled you into a bedroom that looked a little too similar to his back at the college.

"Herbivore." He barked from down the hall, kick starting you again.

"Y-Yeah!" You called back before hiking your skirt and jogging to catch up to him again.

If your friends, namely Vil, noticed the similarities between your outfit and Leona's, they were gracious enough not to say anything about it. You were, however, highly complimented on it, Kalim making a point to spin you around to see the dress twirl. Kifaji had a very self satisfied look on his face off to the side, which was quickly wiped away when Leona finally announced his plan to leave him in the dust.

..

Back at Night Raven College, you and Leona went back to your normal routine as if nothing had ever happened. You almost wondered if it had been a very sweet dream until you saw the dress in your closet again. You grabbed the skirt, rubbing the fabric between your thumb and index finger, as if to remind yourself that it was real. It had happened.

"What? You longin' for the Sunset Savanna again?" Grim asked from your bed, you'd nearly forgotten he was there. "I am. You really missed out on that meat, hench-human. I wouldn't mind goin' back."

"Yeah... me neither." You sighed, releasing the dress. You stared at it longingly for another moment before shutting the closet door to continue getting ready for bed. A very sweet dream indeed.

I DO NOT GIVE PERMISSION TO USE MY WORK TO TRAIN AI

MASTERLIST

[shojizbae]

Thinking about...

eddie munson x reader

Eddie had been prescribed antidepressants for around half a year now and things were... fine. He finally felt happy and concentrated at that his body was regulating. All if huis friends and Uncle Wayne could see the change in him. Yourself especially. After taking them his energy had returned, he was motivated to do things again. He thought about repercussions and was working on his interpersonal relationships.

All of that was great on the surface. There was one thing unfortunately that Eddie's psychiatrist had told him that his brain blocked out. At some point she had mentioned, only once 'a difficulty maintaining erection or reaching orgasm' and in his groggy brain he blocked that out completely.

Now he felt like he hit a wall. He was happy that he was certain of, but he couldn't remember the last time he satisfactorily got off. That swarmed him as he watched you circulate the camper.

"I don't know what your deal is man?"

"What did I do know?" he whined from the couch

"You've been on edge all night. You looked like you wanted to strangle me when I suggested putting whipped cream on our hot chocolate." You pointed a palm at him in frustration "So did I do something wrong?" you plopped down on the couch thigh to thigh with him

"No! no it's," he sighed "It's nothing."

"It's obviously something. Is it school?"

"No,"

"Is it me?"

"N-no"

"It is me. What did I take the last of your Lucky Charms?"

"No It's not you (Y/n)."

"Then tell me, Eddie." He didn't like the desperation in your voice so he sighed through his nose and tried to overcome his shame. He took a scoot away from you and raked his hands through his hair.

"You know how I finally got on some antidepressant."

"Yeah Effexor."

"Yeah well when the doc gave them to me she warned me about some side effects. Obviously I wasn't paying attention to them because i was you know, depressed and all I could think of was 'screw your side effects i wanna be happy. So i took em, and then maybe two months ago i just."

"What? What was the side effect Eddie?" you placed a tender palm on his thigh and once again he scooted away "I hate that you're doing that now. Before the pills I would spoon you to sleep and you would just lay there. Is there something to do with that? Is it insomnia?"

"No it's- I can't tell you with you looking at me like that." you put your hand across your eyes. "Not like that." he pulls your hand off your face. "The pills, they uh. They screw with my dick. I can barely get it up and when I do I can almost never get off."

"Oh," you say with light shock, "oh." your voice drops "Wait then why am I aggravating you?"

"Because," he said weakly.

"Because?" You repeat with so much curiosity he feels his stomach turn

"Because!" he shot up "Because you're marching around in one of my shirts and no bra on. You got these sexy little bloomers on and I haven't been this horny since I hit puberty."

"Wait what?"

"Yeah (Y/n), I can't think straight with you around and I haven't gotten off in a good long while. So I'm a little on edge okay."

"Well that's not my fault." You shot up with him

"I know it's not. That's why I'm so agitated."

"Well then maybe i can help you?"

"What did you just say to me?"

"You can't jack off with your typical materials I'm assuming."

"Materials?" He made a face like a prude

"You know pornos and nudie mags." he backed away "Oh c'mon Ed don't act the saint. I know all about your dirty laundry. Youre hiding spots aren't exactly conspicuous."

"(Y/n) you don't realize what you're offering."

"I do Eddie, let me help you." He sighed and nodded his head toward his bedroom.

[sequinsmile-x]

I’d be so so keen to read something about Em coming out as bisexual to Aaron (aware you’ve had an ask for this I just want to stress the interest 🫶🏼)

It’s something I struggle with myself and the validation of being bisexual is something that’s very real. It would be lovely to read something like this as something that seems realistic for Em. The way you write is so beautiful and intricate and I know you’d do a wonderful job.

For anyone else reading this - you are valid whoever you are and whoever you choose to love <3

Happy Fridayyyyy!!!

Hi bestie <3

I've been asked to do this a few times, and as a bi girl myself it is very close to my heart. I wanted to make sure I did it justice so waited until it felt right and now really does feel like the time. It is also coming to the end of Bi Visibility week, so here we are!

This feels oddly personal, almost like I'm putting out some pages of a diary out there for people to read, so I hope this is as cathartic to read for those who wanted it as it was to write.

As always, let me know what you think, I'm nervous about this one because it feels important!

-x-

The Past is Never Far

She’d told herself for years that she’d never mention it. It was, after all, not the biggest secret she had kept.

Emily and Aaron walk into an ex of hers when they are out on a date, and it prompts her to tell him something she's not told him before.

Warnings: Coming out (mentions of past bad experiences doing so)

Words: 3.2k

Read over on Ao3, or the below the cut

Emily hums contentedly as she squeezes Aaron’s hand, her eyes catching his as she looks up at him and smiles, “This is nice.” 

He smiles back, relaxed and content and handsome in the fading light as he lifts her hand to kiss her knuckles, “It is,” he replies, kissing her knuckles again before he tucks their joint hands into his coat pocket to protect them from the chill in the air, “We’re near that ice cream place you like, we could get some on the way back to the car?” 

Date night was something they’d established early on in their relationship. They had so little time just the two of them so it was important to them both to have this one night every month where they could have just that. Jack would spend the night at Jessica’s, often pouting that he wanted to come with them too, something Emily and Aaron would salve with love and assurances they’d all have breakfast together the next day, and the two of them would go to one of their favourite restaurants. The nice weather was fading, summer disappearing into Autumn. It was Emily’s favourite time of year. Not because her birthday was coming up, or because Jack and Aaron’s were too, but because of the cool air and the sun on her face. The ever-present reminder in the wind about the beauty of change as the colour of the leaves started to fade to orange and gold. 

Aaron knew she loved this time of year, so he’d been easily convinced to go on a walk with her around the block before they returned to his car and back to their apartment. She’d moved in with him and Jack recently, the apartment that was once just theirs hers now too, and they were looking for a house. A place they could buy and call home, something they both wanted so desperately and had been denied for so long. 

She smiles, leaning in so her shoulder bumps against his, “It’s too cold for ice cream.” 

Aaron chuckles and kisses her temple. He stops them on the street, the hand not linked through hers on her hip as he guides her backwards so they don’t block the sidewalk. He leans in to kiss her, “You’re the one who told me it’s never too cold for ice cream,” he replies, leaning in to kiss her, stamping his lips against hers once more before he removes his hand from her hip and digs through his other pocket, smiling in victory as he pulls out a pair of her gloves, “Plus, I came prepared. Your hands won’t get cold and you can still have Rocky Road - the best of both worlds.” 

She beams at him and cups his cheek, pulling him in for a kiss before she rests her forehead against his, “I love you.” 

“Love you too, sweetheart,” he says, kissing the corner of her mouth before he pulls back and they continue walking down the street, content and happy in each other's company. 

He buys them ice cream once they make it to the store, a double scoop of Rocky Road for her in a cone and one scoop of coffee in a tub for him. He chuckles at her as a drip of ice cream falls onto her gloves and she narrows her eyes at him, making a point of maintaining eye contact as she licks the remnants of it from the ridge of the cone, her smile wide as she watches him swallow thickly. She’s about to say something, to add to the teasing, when she hears a familiar voice behind her, one she hadn’t heard in years. 

“Emily Prentiss?” 

Her eyes go wide as she turns around, uncharacteristically caught out as she clears her throat, scrambling for something to say as she comes face to face with a piece of her past she hadn’t expected to see again, “Cat.” 

Cat chuckles as she steps forward, pulling a still shell-shocked Emily into a hug, “I thought it was you, Em,” she says, squeezing her before she steps back, “It’s been a long time. 15 years maybe?” 

“Closer to 20,” Emily laughs, the shake to it grabbing Aaron’s attention as he watches the interaction between the two women. Emily looks at him and curses herself internally for getting so flustered, “Aaron, this is Catherine Thomas, Cat, we…” she swallows thickly, her lips pressed together to keep the whole truth back, “We go way back,” she smiles as she turns to Cat, sees a spark in her eyes she hadn’t thought about in years, “Cat, this is Aaron. My boyfriend.” 

Cat smiles and holds her hand out for Aaron and he shakes it, “Lovely to meet you, Aaron.” 

“You too,” he replies, looking back and forth between the two women, curious at his girlfriend’s reaction, at the way her shoulders are slightly tight as she watches them interact. 

“Anyway,” Cat says, looking back at Emily, “My wife is just getting some ice cream. I can’t believe you still come here after all these years.” 

Emily nods, “Best ice cream in the city.” 

Cat looks up at Aaron, “Emily introduced me to this place when we first met,” she says, smiling fondly at a memory that was just theirs, “And I bring my wife and kids here now too.” 

Aaron smiles, “My son loves it here too.” 

“Cat?” 

They all turn at the sound of another woman’s voice to see her standing there with two pre-teens, both of them looking relatively irritated at being forced to spend the evening out with their parents, her expression curious as she looks at her wife. Cat nods and indicates she’ll be over in a minute before she turns back to Emily and Aaron.

“Well,” she says, “I’ve been summoned. It was good to see you, Emily. You seem well,” she hugs her again, something Emily returns, careful not to drip ice cream on her back.

“Nice to see you too, Cat,” she says, smiling as she pulls back, her gaze falling on her family behind them, “Your family is beautiful.” 

“Thank you,” Cat beams before she looks at Aaron, “Nice to meet you, Aaron.”

“Nice to meet you too,” he replies. They watch as Cat walks back to her family, gratefully taking her ice cream from her wife as she makes it to her side, saying something they can’t hear, “She seems nice.” 

“Yeah,” Emily says, feeling out of sorts from the flashback to a past life, something from so long ago it felt like it had happened to someone else. A part of her she kept secret, even from Aaron, “She is.” 

“Shall we go home?” He offers, his gaze on her as she smiles at him, a tenseness to it that she doesn’t hide well as her eyes meet his. She nods, shaking her head to rid herself of the feeling that had settled over her the last few minutes. The strange mix of nostalgia for her past when she was young and unburdened by responsibility and everything to come, and happiness for someone she’d once loved, all whilst she stood next to the person she knew was the love of her life, the man she’d spend the rest of her life with. 

“Yeah,” she says, smiling as she presses her lips together, her focus back on her ice cream as she eats some more, “Let’s go home.” 

___

She thinks about it for a couple of days.

She’d told herself for years that she’d never mention it, her relationship with Cat and the other women she’d dated over the years, because it wasn’t relevant. Since she’d come back to DC, still on uneven ground after being Lauren Reynolds and being with Ian, she’d only dated men. It wasn’t a purposeful act, not something she’d particularly tried to do, but it had happened. So it meant telling her friends, her new family, seem unimportant. 

It was, after all, not the biggest secret she was keeping from them.

She’d never even told her mother. Sure that, at best, her reaction would be to tell her it was ‘just a phase.’ At worst, she was sure her mother’s rather selective catholicism would make itself known, and she didn’t want to put herself through it. Instead, she kept the few relationships she’d had with women from her, and the one time she’d met Cat she’d introduced her as a friend, something that she hadn’t known at the time would start to unravel their relationship. The first pull at the thread that held them together, Cat’s confidence in her sexuality so much stronger than Emily’s had been at the time. Cat had been out and proud the entire time she’d known her, and, in the long run, their difference in how they approached it would never have worked. 

There were times when Emily had considered telling the team. When she’d make eyes at a woman across a bar when they were all out together, but she’d always chicken out, even with her tongue loosened and her cheeks warmed by tequila. People, mostly ex-boyfriends, had reacted poorly before. Either telling her that bi-sexual wasn’t a real thing, dismissing something she’d always known to be true about herself, or over-sexualising it, a familiar look in their eyes as they saw how her sexuality could benefit them. 

After Paris, she decided she’d simply keep it to herself. Her friend's view of her had been changed anyway, the person they thought she was dead and gone, buried in the grave that had always been empty. She couldn’t bear to do it again, to once again change what they thought they knew about her, even for something like this, so she didn’t. Even when she started dating Aaron, sweet, kind loving, Aaron who had never been anything but supportive and unflinching whenever she told him anything she hesitated.

Ever since they’d walked into Cat, she felt the need to tell him. To uncover this last final part of herself that she’d kept hidden away. He knew everything about Ian. He knew about Rome. It was time he knew about this too. 

Even though she wants to tell him, she feels nervous. A familiar kind of anxiety settles in her chest as she snuggles up on the couch with him one night, determined to not put it off any longer. Jack was in bed, safe and asleep in his room down the hall, and the TV was on, a movie they’d watched countless times before fading into the background as she sinks into her boyfriend’s side. She presses her face against his shoulder, breathing him in, breathing in the last few moments of how things were before she changed them forever. 

“I need to tell you something,” she says, her words partially muffled by his shirt before she pulls back, her brows furrowed as she corrects herself, “Actually, I don’t need to tell you. But I want to.” 

He watches her carefully for a moment before he nods, reaching for the remote to turn off the TV, ensuring she has all of his attention. He turns so he’s facing her, his knee skimming her thigh as she turns too, her focus on the top of the couch. She tugs nervously at a loose thread, a nervous habit he’s grateful distracts her from her cuticles. He thinks of the ring he has tucked away in his sock drawer, of how he pictures her twisting it around her finger when she is nervous or worried. He reaches out for her, frowning when she jumps ever so slightly when his hand lands on her knee. He squeezes gently, smiling even though she doesn’t look up at him.

“You can tell me anything, you know that,” he assures her, and she nods, her lips pressed together as she continues to pull at the thread on the couch. 

“You…” she swallows thickly, her eyes closed as she trips over the words she’d practised in her head for days, “You remember that woman we bumped into the other day, Cat?” She asks, her eyes darting up to his face as he nods, “She…she wasn’t just a friend. She was my girlfriend. We dated for almost a year when we were both in college,” she blows out a breath, her chest shuddering with it, feeling somehow lighter and heavier at the same time with the admission, “I’m Bisexual.” 

Her words hang in the air around them and she holds her breath, waiting for his reaction, unable to bring herself to look at him, worried about what she’d find. 

“Thank you for telling me,” he says, his words even and calm, his softness so jarring she looks up at him fast enough it cricks her neck, a pain she barely feels as he carries on, “And thank you for trusting me - I know that can’t have been easy.” 

She chokes on a humourless laugh, “Thats…that’s it?” 

He smiles at her, his dimples carved out in his cheeks in a way she loves, and he squeezes her knee, “Did you…want a different reaction?” 

“No,” she replies, shaking her head, choking on something she can’t name - a sound between a sob and a laugh caught in her chest, “No, not at all. I’ve just never had someone react so…well before.” 

He furrows his brow, “What do you mean, sweetheart?” 

She laughs bitterly and shakes her head, wiping away a tear she hadn’t expected until she felt it on her cheek, “I once had an ex-boyfriend ask me if it meant we could have a threesome,” she says, scrunching her nose up at the memory. She looks at Aaron and smiles at the pure horror on his face, his brow furrowing in indignation for a past version of her, “I broke up with him when it became very clear he already had a list of women who’d be ‘up for it’ at the ready.” 

He clenches his jaw, “I’m sorry he reacted like that,” he replies, “You deserved better than that. You deserve better.” 

She presses her lips together and shakes her head lovingly as more tears slip past her lash line, “Well, I have better now,” she says, playing her hand over his on her knee, linking their fingers together, “Do you have any questions?” 

“Have you dated any other women?” He asks softly, curious more than anything, and she nods, running her thumb back and forth over his hand. 

“Yeah, a couple of others but none as serious as my relationship with Cat. And I’ve had a few dates and drunken hook-ups,” she replies, her cheeks burning with embarrassment she knows she shouldn't feel. 

“Have you always known?”

She nods, “Since I was pretty young,” she smiles her lips pressed together at the memory, “Let’s just say, The Dukes of Hazzard was a bit of an awakening. Luke Duke was hot…and so was Daisy Duke.” 

He smiles and squeezes her hand, lifting it to kiss her knuckles, “What made you tell me now?” 

She blows out a slow breath, ��After we walked into Cat, I realised I didn’t want to hide it from you anymore. All the reasons I had for doing so suddenly didn’t make any sense.” 

He pulls her into a hug, his arm tight around her as he kisses her cheek, “I’m glad you told me,” he says, smiling as she turns her head to kiss him.

“I’m glad I did too,” she replies, nudging her nose against his, “I…I was so worried it would change how you looked at me.” 

He frowns and pulls back to look at her, shaking his head as he tucks some of her hair behind her ear, “Never,” he assures her, “Nothing ever could. Especially this.” 

She furrows her brow and tilts her head at him, “What do you mean?” 

He sighs as he chooses his words carefully, “You’ve always been bi, sweetheart, right? It’s been part of who you are as long as I’ve known you, and it’s been part of you as long as I’ve loved you,” he smiles as he reaches out to wipe away a tear from her cheek, “So it doesn’t change anything because it’s always been who you are, even if you hadn’t told me.” 

She leans forward, her forehead against his neck as she breathes him in again, the world the same as it had been before she’d told him, but somehow different too. His understanding of her deeper but everything else unchanged. She takes a moment to hold him close, and she plays everything he’d said back in her head. A conversation she’d remember again and again as a reminder of how much he loved her, how well he loved her. Something she thinks that, after everything, she might just deserve. She furrows her brow as she thinks about it, the way he’d said part of all those wonderful things catching in her chest. Aaron was purposeful in everything. Not calculated, but purposeful. He never said anything he didn’t mean, and she narrows her eyes at him as she pulls back. 

“Wait…you said ‘even if I hadn’t told you…” she tilts her head as he clears his throat, avoiding her eye contact, “Oh my god - you knew?” 

He sighs, scratching the back of his head with the hand not tangled up in hers, “Sweetheart-”

She scoffs and lightly hits his chest, her cheeks burning at the thought that she’d got herself so worked up over something he apparently already knew, “Why didn’t you say anything?” 

He smiles at her indignation, catching her hand before she slaps his chest again for laughing at her. He kisses her knuckles and smiles fondly at her, disarming her ability to be annoyed at him so easily she’s annoyed at herself. 

“It wasn’t my place to, Em,” he says, “It’s your story to tell.” 

She knows he’s right and she huffs out a breath, her cheek against his shoulder as she pouts in a way she’d deny if he brought it up, “How the hell did you know?” 

“As someone who has been in love with you for much longer than I care to admit, I paid close attention to your interactions with anyone I thought might be flirting with you,” he smiles as she tilts her head to look at him, “It didn’t take long to realise you have chemistry with literally every person you ever meet.” 

She suppresses a laugh, her lips pressed together as one more wave of anxiety rolls through her, “And you don’t mind?” 

He shakes his head, leaning in to kiss her, his hand on her cheek to hold her in place, “If anything, it just makes me feel even more lucky that out of everyone you could be with you chose to be with me.” 

She sighs but it catches in her chest, love for him filling her lungs so fast she can’t catch her breath, “Oh, no honey,” she says, placing her hand over his on her cheek, shaking her head as he catches a tear the moment it slips free from her lashes, “I’m the lucky one.” 

[toonice113]

Slut! ⋆ ★ N.Hischier (pt.2)

2. ┊ ˚➶ ｡˚ ☁ But Daddy I Love Him

intro. begin again

pt.1 peace

Pairings: Nico Hischier x FMC (Teddy Wells)

Genre: fluff with a tiny bit of angst

Trope: popstar gf x athlete bf

Summary: Teddy and Nico's friends and family find out about the relationship

Warnings: A little fight between Teddy and her parents, WAGS being mean girls for a bit, but it all gets resolved, not edited.

Word count: 7.1k

⋆˚࿔ tina's note 𝜗𝜚˚⋆ hi! a few things: first, this took so long to finish because I've just started working on my thesis and i've been STRESSED, second, i realized that the timeline is all messed up in this story because im an idiot and never think about that when im writing so don't pay attention to it please, third, this is a longish one and i'm not sure i like it too much but its a crucial step for the next part because everyone in their lives now know about them and now we just have to deal with fans in the next chapter where i swear i will make my babies be happy finally. lastly, like i said i'm currently trying to graduate college and will probably not have as much time to write as i did before so i don't know when the last part of slut! will be out but i will try my best! ◡̈

‘I’ll be home in like an hour but i have a package coming in can you sign for it please?’ 

I look at the message that pops up on my phone screen as I enter Nico’s apartment with a bag full of groceries for dinner, I reply back with a thumbs up and leave my phone on the counter washing my hands to start preparing dinner. A couple minutes after I start cooking my phone rings, it’s my mom so I pick up “Hi mom” 

“Hey sweetheart how are ya?” I feel a warmth fill me as her voice sounds through the phone, she’s been really busy lately and we haven’t spoken nearly as much as I’d like to recently 

“I’m good, what about you and dad?” I ask turning the speakerphone on so I can keep chopping the vegetables 

“Oh you know, hanging in there” She replies “Dad’s in his office, it’s been busy around here” My parents often work together since my mom is a social worker and dad is a retired lawyer who now does private practice now and then, usually taking on pro bono cases mom brings him “What about you? anything new?”

“Mmm not really you know just hanging in there, I’ve been writing a bit but nothing too serious” I tell her and it’s half true, I have been writing yet nothing I’ve felt like I could record yet but there is something new, or not so new anymore I guess, in my life but as much as I love my parents I don’t know if I’m ready to share Nico with them just yet.

“Well, I was over at Aunt’s Lisa today and she wanted to know if you’re making it to thanksgiving I said I’d ask you and let her know” There are two events my family hosts every year that are almost non negotiable except for extreme situations, one of those is a summer reunion we all have at my grandparents’ beach house and the other one is thanksgiving, they are both usually pretty big events as the whole family gets together and there’s around 30 of us that make the trip down to Texas every year.

“Um” A knock on the door distracts me so I take my phone off speakerphone and walk towards it “Hold on there’s someone at the door, I’m waiting on a package” but when I open the door there’s two guys I recognize yet I’ve never met in person before, my cheeks redden as they stand there in shock 

“You’re not Nico” Jack says and I shake my head smiling “But this IS Nico’s apartment” 

“Are you sure? Uh- Maybe we’re in the wrong apartment” Luke tells his brother 

“What do you mean am I sure? yes I’m sure you idiot we’ve been here before” Jack tells his brother and I can’t help but chuckle at the brothers banter 

“Uh yeah you would be correct this is Nico’s apartment but he’s not in right now” I tell them forgetting about my mom on the phone 

“Nico? Who’s Nico? Why are you at his apartment and where is he?” My mom rapid fires questions and I groan internally 

“Mom, I'll call you later, yeah?” I hear her start to complain but hang up before she can get going “Um Nico should be getting home soon if you want to come in? I was just finishing dinner” 

“God yes I’m starving” Jack speaks walking in after I move to the side, his brother following in a little shyer “So, what are we having for dinner…?” he motions to me and I take it as a sign to introduce myself 

“Teddy” I say and he nods “I was making burrito bowls”

“Oh those sound good” He sits on a stool looking at me as I go back to cooking “So Teddy, how did you find yourself cooking dinner at Nico’s apartment on a Thursday? Are you his new chef? Did he hire a chef and not tell us?” The last question is directed towards his brother who stands next to him staring at me 

“You’re Teddy Wells” Luke says, his eyes widening before turning to his brother “You just asked Teddy Wells if she’s Nico’s personal chef” Jack looks at him confused “You are an idiot” 

“How am I an idiot and how do you know her?” Jack asks still confused “Do you know him?” he asks me and I shake my head 

“Sorry I forgot you don’t know artists if they are not country singers” Luke shaked his head at Jack who scoffs “This is Teddy Wells, global artist? her song greedy was number one in every chart for months” 

“Sorry dude, no idea” Jack shrugs and turns to me saying a sorry that I wave away “Why do you know so much about her?” 

“Bro the only thing I said was that she’s a big artist?” Luke says “But my ex was a big fan” 

“So where is Nico anyways?” Jack changes the subject 

“He said he had some errands” I shrug turning the stove off once the food is fully cooked “He should be coming back soon though” I pull out four bowls and start making two for Jack and Luke passing it to them before I start making mine deciding to leave Nico’s for when he arrives so it doesn't get cold “Did you guys need anything from him?” 

“We were bored so we came to ask if he wanted to go out for dinner with us” Luke says as they both dig into their plates

“But this is better” Jack speaks with a mouthful of food making me grimace and hand them napkins 

“Want something to drink?” I ask, they nod and I swear they look like kids sitting on the kitchen island eating “There’s uh- water, orange juice, pineapple juice, Fanta, sparkling water or Coca Cola” 

“Oh Coca Cola please” Luke says and Jack just nods in agreement as he shoves another spoonful into his mouth 

“You are gonna choke if you don’t slow down, I made enough so you both can have seconds if you want” I tell him and he slows down a bit 

I hear the door open but don’t pay much attention to it, starting to make Nico’s plate instead “Baby I’m- what the fuck?” He stops mid sentence as he sees his teammates sitting on his kitchen island “What are you guys doing here?” 

“We came to ask if you wanted to go out for dinner with us” Jack explains with yet another mouthful of food 

“And Teddy Wells opened the door and offered us food” Luke says 

“Wait wait wait” Jack says, finally dropping his spoon and turning to look at Nico “Did you call her baby?” 

“Well she’s not actually his chef you moron” Luke says in disbelief “Think a little, connect the dots” Jack stays quiet, Luke goes back to eating after shaking his head muttering an ‘idiot’ and Nico and I laugh 

“I’m sorry about them” He mutters into my hair as he hugs me from behind planting a kiss on my head 

“It’s okay” I tell him chuckling “They’re funny” 

“Oh my god you’re dating!” Jack finally snaps out of thought making his brother groan and us laugh “How long were you hiding her from us cap?” 

Nico looks at me with a big smile and I smile back at him “Five months?” He tells his teammates 

“Five months, damn I feel betrayed I thought we had something” The older Hughes says and I laugh again

I sigh as I look at the message on my phone’s screen, it's yet another message from my mom asking if I’m making it to thanksgiving, which I am, but I know as soon as I reply to her text she’ll rope me into telling her about Nico who is currently in the other room doing a podcast appearance or something, looking at the more than 10 texts my mother has send I decide to get it over with and facetime her making sure to connect my airpods to my phone first and leave one out so I’m aware of my voice level as to not disrupt Nico.

“Hi baby, hold on let me just” I see her camera shake for a good 15 seconds and then she reappears “Okay sorry I just had to put the clothes in the dryer” 

“You’re good, just calling to confirm I have bought my flight for thanksgiving” I say 

“Oh perfect! So is it just you or are you bringing a plus one?” I groan, as expected she is about to start questioning me “Well we need to know how many plates of food we need you know? And who knows maybe you’re bringing Aly or maybe someone else you want us to meet?”

She looks at me expectantly and I sigh realizing the facetime might not have been a good idea, with a text I could’ve just ignored all the following questions, now I have to face them “Mom we both know you guys always have enough food for everyone to take leftovers home” 

“Bärli, do you know where I left my keys? I forgot my charger in my car” Nico walks out of the room he was in apparently done with whatever he was doing 

“By the door I think” I point at the table by the door where I saw him drop his keys when he arrived ignoring my mom even though I can sense the look on her face without even having to look

“Oh yeah, thanks baby I’ll be right back” Nico says and walks out I turn to look at my mom who as I suspected is looking at me with raised eyebrows waiting for an explanation

“It’s only me coming so mark me down for one plate” I try to deflect but she doesn’t look like she will just let the fact that a man just called me baby and walked through my apartment go

“Uh huh and who was that?” She asks, I groan 

“That was Nico, my boyfriend” I say and immediately my dad’s head pops into frame 

“Did you just say boyfriend?” He says and I know I'm done for 

“Yeah my boyfriend” I speak once again 

“And were you planning on telling us about this boyfriend or?” Mom asks 

“Well yeah eventually” I say 

“When? On your wedding day? The birth of your child?” I would like to take this moment to say a big thank you to my mother and her dramatics for inspiring me in writing songs, big imagination this woman has 

“Oh please mom, it’s only been 5 months calm down” I let out and immediately regret it when I see my dad scoff 

“Teddy Anne Wells, you've been with this guy for 5 months and you didn’t think to even mention him to us?” My dad speaks and I note the disappointment in his voice 

“Dad I’m 24 years old, I don’t need to tell you guys everything that happens in my life” I start getting angry at their reaction, Nico comes back into the apartment and I guess my face shows my emotions because he frowns and walks towards the couch where I’m sitting 

“You okay?” He asks and I nod and motion to my phone letting him know I’m on a call, he nods back and sits next to me but out of frame setting his hand on my thigh giving me a bit of comfort 

“Is that him? We want to- No we NEED to meet him” Mom says and dad nods next to her 

“Why?” I ask annoyed 

“Because we’re your parents” Mom replies “And we need to meet this guy”

“Okay? And once again I am a grown woman and I don’t need you to do a character judgement of who I’m dating” I know they don’t mean badly by wanting to meet Nico, but after being in a really public relationship that ended horribly I’d much rather keep this one close to me and even though I plan on introducing Nico to them someday, probably even soon, I want to do it in my own terms 

“Well the last one wasn’t exactly great so I think a little character judgement from us wouldn’t hurt” My mom speaks again and that one stings, but I’m too angry to show them how much the comment hurts

“Yeah well you liked the last one so I guess you aren’t a great judge of character either” I say and I see their faces fall, they recognize that they have crossed a line with that comment “I’ll see you guys next week” and I hang up feeling tears sting in my eyes but not letting them fall 

“Bärli-” But I put my hand up, because I’m tired of feeling down every time Lando gets brought up and the last thing I want right now is Nico’s pity 

“Don’t worry about it I’m okay” I say and he nods understanding that I don’t want to talk about it 

“So, we’re having a thanksgiving thing this weekend and I was wondering if you wanted to come? It’s a private thing, just the team and their significant others and kids so I thought you could come and meet everyone?” He changes the subject and I’m glad about it

“Sure, I’d love to go” I say and he smiles pulling me close and into a kiss

“It’s just friendsgiving wear jeans and a cute sweater” Alyssa shrugs from my bed as I look around my closet looking for an outfit to wear to the devils thanksgiving dinner 

“I was looking at one of the girlfriends’ Instagram and I’m not sure jeans and a sweater will do for this” I say 

“You went stalking the WAGs on social media?” My best friend laughs

“I didn’t go stalking” I defend myself knowing well that that was what I was trying to do “I couldn’t” I admit “Most of them have private profiles, but from what I saw they tend to go a bit more high end with their outfits” 

“So, what are you wearing?” Alyssa asks looking up from her laptop where I know she’s organizing my schedule for next week when I’m supposed to go back to work because the label wants new music to be released early next year “You want me to call and see if they can pull out the valentino from the VMAs?” She jokes even though both of us know she could absolutely do it.

“Maybe we save that one for new years” I joke back pulling out a brown leather set I haven’t worn before “What about this” Lyss looks up and gasps

“Absolutely I love that set” I know she does because she helped me pick it out when I bought it “With the black knee boots you know the ones I’m talking about” I nod going back into the closet and pulling them out “YES!” 

A couple of hours later  I’m putting on my earrings when Nico walks into my room, I jump a little at his reflection not expecting him yet “Hi bärli, Alyssa let me in she just left” He says standing behind me giving my naked shoulder a small kiss “You look amazing” 

“Yeah?” I ask “You think this looks good?” I smooth over my skirt suddenly doubting my outfit choice, Nico is wearing black pants and a nice beige sweater.

“It looks great” He kisses my shoulder once more “I can’t wait to see it on my bedroom floor later” He looks at me with a cheeky smile through the mirror “But for now we should get going or we’ll be late”

The dinner, turns out is at one of his teammates’ house and so the thought of having to worry about pictures of us getting leaked decreases but now I worry about meeting everyone at such an intimate event, from what I’ve heard, and I haven’t heard much which proves my point, hockey teams stick together as a family and I don’t want them to feel like I’m trying to infiltrate for bad reasons, the car slowing down and then turning off breaks me away from my thoughts as Nico announces we’re here. We are greeted by a little blonde boy opening the door for us, a group of kids running behind him and a blonde woman tailing them “Hey what did I say about opening the door?” The woman says to the boy who looks up at her with a big smile 

“It’s just Cap!” The boy argues 

“No more opening the door okay?” The woman says and the boy contemplates before nodding begrudgingly before hitting another boy and running away after screaming ‘tag’ the rest of the kids running away too “Hi Nico” 

“Hey Kristen” Nico smiles at the woman “This is my girlfriend, Teddy” 

“Nice to meet you” Kristen smiles but I can tell she’s analysing me “Come in come in, almost everyone is here, just waiting on a few more people” She gestures and we walk in, I will never admit it, but I hide a bit by walking a step behind Nico who squeezes my hand reassuringly, he leads us to a group standing in the living room while Kristen walks to the group of women who I assume are some of the players partners and I try not to pay them much attention yet or else I will have  a panic attack right here 

“Ah you finally made it” A man speaks out when we reach the group pulling Nico into a bro hug, my boyfriend hugs him back not letting go of my hand “Hi nice to meet you I’m Jonas” He introduces himself and I smile at him but before I can speak Nico introduces me 

“This is Teddy, my girlfriend” His voice is a little louder than it needs to be and I imagine it is a general statement for everyone in the room

“Hi Teddy is good to see you again” Luke walks to me and gives me a quick hug that surprises me a little since he seem to be more reserved the day we met but I hug him back regardless

“It’s good to see you too” I say to him “And it’s nice to meet you all” I smile at everyone else, a woman approaches me with a smile 

“Hi I’m Nicole” she introduces herself “Why don’t we go get you a drink” she pulls me away from Nico before I can say anything and walks me to the kitchen “Red, white, something else?” She points at the bottles sitting in the kitchen island 

“White is fine, thank you” I say and she nods pouring the wine into a glass 

“So, how long have you and Nico been seeing each other?” She asks passing me the glass 

I take a small sip before replying “Oh um 5 months” 

She hums nodding “5 months and he hasn't mentioned you once, oh well” she says sipping on her own glass and I’m not sure what I’m supposed to say “You are a singer right?” I nod “Cute” 

“Yeah it’s uh one of the big reasons why we haven’t exactly came out about our relationship publicly” I tell her not knowing what else to say 

“A secret relationship, fun!” But the way she says it doesn’t really sound fun “And you’ve met Luke before, are you like friends with him or something?” 

“Oh yeah him and Jack came looking for Nico one night while he was out and I invited them to stay for dinner” I tell her praying to everything that something, anything, saves me from having this conversation that is more like an interrogation, I can tell Nicole doesn’t like me and that probably means that the rest of the women here won’t like me either. I’m usually pretty good at recognizing that not everyone will like me and that's okay, however these people are technically part of Nico’s family so them not liking me is actually a big problem.

“So, how did you and Nico meet?” Nicole asks twirling her wine, her eyes glued to me, analyzing me just like Kristen did in the entrance, the whole time 

“His sister and my best friend are childhood friends and they introduced us actually” She nods once more and just as she’s about to probably ask another question another blonde woman, because apparently the ‘hockey players only like blonde women’ stereotype seems to be true, interrupts us

“Hey Nic, we need you out here” Nicole gives me one last look over and a smile before leaving to follow the other woman out of the kitchen, I let out a breath and chug the rest of my wine thankful of the closed concept plan of the house before refilling my glass

“Yeah you’ll need that to get through your first time meeting the WAGs” Another blonde woman, this one sporting a more comforting smile, tells me walking into the kitchen “They are actually really nice I promise, just protective of their own” She pours herself a glass of red wine “I’m Arielle, I went through this not too long ago” 

“I’m Teddy nice to meet you” I say to her “I want to believe you so bad but I actually think she doesn’t like me” 

“Trust me, they’ll warm up by the end of the night, but they are definitely googling you and going over your conversation with Nicole right now” I groan and take a big sip of my wine, she laughs a little “Don’t worry once Jack and his girlfriend get here you won’t be number one target anymore” I raise my eyebrows in curiosity “Honestly, she was kind of an asshole when we first met her so now the girls don’t like her” Arielle shrugs “I love your music by the way” 

I smile at her last statement “Thank you” 

“There you are” Nico walks into the kitchen with one of his teammates following behind, the teammate gives Arielle a quick kiss before walking to the fridge pulling out two beers handing one to my boyfriend “Thanks” 

“Yeah I was just talking to Arielle” I tell him and the girl waves 

“Well Jack just got here so I think we’re having dinner soon” I nod holding his hand and we all walk out of the kitchen 

“This is my boyfriend Dawson by the way” Arielle introduces me

“Nice to meet you” I smile at him and he smiles back, I notice he is missing a tooth and make a mental note to ask Nico if he’s ever lost a tooth 

“You too, I heard you make great burrito bowls” Dawson says and I raise an eyebrow “Jack and I were having lunch at a mexican place a couple days ago and he kept saying his burrito bowl wasn’t as good as the one he’d had at your place” 

After a few short speeches we all finally sit down to eat dinner, light chatter flows and I stay talking to Arielle mainly, we very quickly become friends and I quickly move past the anxiety I was feeling earlier with Nicole, when we are done with dinner everyone disperses again and i lose Nico to a couple of the guys playing cards and soon after Arielle to one of the other girls, who introduced herself as Caylie briefly before whisking Arielle away, sighing into my glass of water, because I had another glass of wine during dinner so and have decided that was enough for the night, I look around feeling very left out of place, a tug on my shirt makes me look down, it’s a little girl trying to get my attention, so I kneel down to get to her level “Hi” i say 

“Can you help us get princess hair?” She asks and I nod, I’m not sure what princess hair entails but I still grab her hair and let her pull me to the corner where a few other girls are sitting on a table, hair brushes, little elastics, bos, crowns and some more accessories are scattered around.

“Me first!” One of the other girls says and pulls me down to sit on the floor plopping down in front of me 

“Okay princess, what kind of hair would you like?” I don’t know how long I sit with the little girls but we eventually move from hair to makeup, pretend makeup, and by the time Nico comes to find me I’m sitting between four girls wearing a tiara, three bows and I’m sure my hair is tangled to the max while the girls press brushes to my face.

“I think the princesses have escaped Disney” One of Nico’s teammates who I recognize as Stefan Noesen speaks out picking the girl who approached me first up, the rest of the parents behind him with amused looks making me blush as Nico pulls me up from my place in the ground 

“Hi princess” He whispers with a smile as I pull the tiara off my head and then unclasp the bows as well placing them back on the table with the rest of the things the girls were playing with “Ready to go?” 

Before I can answer Leighton hugs my legs and I lean down to hug her “Bye Teddy thanks for making me a prettier princess” I melt a little into the hug and when she lets go and runs back to her parents I see her mom smiling at me, I smile back and turn back to my boyfriend letting him know I am in fact ready to leave.

We say goodbye to the few people left in the house and I notice some of the girls are a lot warmer towards me now, a few even hugging me goodbye, when we get to Nicole and Jesper the guys get into a conversation leaving me to stand awkwardly with Nicole “Hey” she speaks out, her voice softer than before “I’m sorry about earlier it’s just that well as I’m sure you’ve noticed we’re a family and it’s a little hard to just let new people in, I probably didn’t go about meeting you the right way and I just wanted to apologize for being a bitch to you tonight”

“It’s okay, I understand you wanting to protect your family” I gesture at the few people left, everyone is saying goodbye but it’s clear no one is in a rush to leave, even with sleeping babies in their arms 

“I could’ve been a little nicer” Nicole points out “I’m sure we can be intimidating when you first meet us, but truth is you were also kind of intimidating to meet. I mean you are an internationally recognized singer!” that makes me laugh a little because I actually was really scared to meet everyone and never thought any of them would’ve been nervous to meet me “But we all saw the way you and Nico were with each other, we could see the love between you, and the little girls adored you” The guys finish their talk and turn to us, clearly ready to leave “Well it was nice to meet you, Arielle sent over your number, I hope you don’t mind, so I’ll add you to the group chat and we can hang out soon?” 

I nod “It was nice meeting you too, and of course, I’m going to start getting really busy next week but let me know and I’ll make sure to make a space to meet up with you” 

“That wasn’t so bad huh?” Nico asks when we are in his car driving back home, oh he has no idea, but I just nod with a smile “Now what’s this about you being busy next week?”

“Oh I forgot to tell you! I have scheduled sessions at the studio, and meetings practically everyday until thanksgiving” I say “It’s going to be a lot, but the label wants me to have an album or at least most of an album ready early next year” he nods “Don’t worry I made sure I left some free time for when you are not busy” 

The days leading up to thanksgiving are filled with work for both me and Nico and we see each other way less than I would’ve liked, but his mom is over for the moms trip and we manage to have lunch together in between meetings and studio sessions before they are away for the roadie and since they come back around the same time I leave that is the last time I get to see Nico.

The atmosphere back home is tense, I don’t spend too much time with my parents obviously still not over our last conversation, the thanksgiving dinner is in full swing when we arrive, my aunts immediately pulling me into hugs and asking a million questions in rapid fire that would be impossible for anyone to answer but I’ve dealt with them my whole life so I reply just as fast as they ask, when I first started gaining the attention of the media my manager insisted I got media training, but I like to think I was a couple steps ahead from growing up with my nosy family. 

“Teddy get over here, we need to show you something!” One of my cousins calls out for me as soon as the questions turn to my love life and I excuse myself walking to the cousins table.

“Ay if only you knew” I hear my mom sigh in despair and I chose against fighting tonight so I let it be

“How was my timing there huh?” My cousin smiles

“Could’ve been better” I shrug “You could’ve called before they got to the boyfriend topic” 

“And why are we avoiding the boyfriend topic?” Another one of my cousins walks up to us with her baby in her arms 

“Because mom and dad seem to hate my boyfriend even though they don’t know him” I say holding out my hands so she hands me the baby, half because I can resist the chubby boy in her arms and half because just talking about the topic makes me angry and holding the baby would prevent me from getting up and picking up a fight with my mom 

“Oh? Why?” “Wait, you actually have a boyfriend?” “You have a boyfriend? Spill, Art come over here Teddy has a boyfriend!” In a matter of seconds our table is filled with the oldest cousins all waiting for me to start talking about Nico 

“Really? Is there nothing else to entertain you guys?” I raise an eyebrow staring at the nosy group who all shake their heads “Okay well I’m dating this guy, Nico, we’ve been together for almost 6 months and I hadn’t told my parents because we weren’t really telling anyone but they heard his voice while we were on a call and then they lectured me about it” 

“I think they are just worried about you” Julie says “I mean, they saw you after Lando and they probably don’t want to see you like that again” the rest of the group nods in agreement 

“But Nico is not Lando” I point out “They said I had a bad character judgement and demanded to meet him” 

“And you don’t want them to meet him?” Alex asks confused 

“Of course I want them to meet him, but not if they are going in with judgement already, Nico is like the best guy I’ve ever met” I say distracting myself with the baby in my arms who keeps trying to eat the rings in my fingers 

“Well why don’t you introduce them and give him a chance to prove himself to them?” Alex shrugs 

“He doesn’t have to prove anything to anyone though” I point out 

“I say talk to your parents about it, let them know how you’re feeling, tell them you want to introduce them but that you need them to go into it judgement free” Julie takes the baby from my arms when he starts fussing and we move on to other topics, catching up on everyone’s lives.

“Can we talk?” I ask my parents as we enter the house after the thanksgiving dinner is done, it’s late and we’re all tired but I can’t stand the way things are anymore, my mom looks at my dad and they both nod moving to sit in the couch “Listen, I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about Nico earlier, I was scared of sharing our relationship with anyone because we were working so great in our little bubble that I thought maybe when we started sharing with others it would all come down crashing” My mom opens her mouth to say something but I stop her before she can speak “I now know that fear was irrational, and I’m not sure if knowing this is going to make you more angry or give you some peace but we’ve since shared our relationship with more people, including Nico’s family and everything is still great with us”

“You met his family?” My mom asks and I nod “When?” 

“A couple months ago, they were over to watch one of his games and he wanted to introduce us” I explain 

“One of his games?” Dad asks 

“He is a hockey player” I nod “He’s been with the New Jersey Devils for seven years, since he got drafted” 

“Another athlete Teddy?” I close my eyes, I promised myself I would try not to fight with my parents tonight 

“It’s not about his job, Nico is different, he has been nothing but a gentleman since we first met, and I would like for you to meet him and see it firsthand because he is such a big part of my life now and I love him so much” I’m tearing up now, pleading in my head for them to understand that I need the most important people in my life to get along “But for that to happen I need you guys to go into it blindly, erase all the prejudice you have of him because of my ex and just meet Nico, the man I love putting his job aside” 

The room is in silence for a few seconds as tears slide down my face now before my dad gets up and hugs me tight “Oh my girl” he kisses my forehead and I feel my mom join in the hug “Okay, we’d love to meet him”

“I’m sorry we were so hard on you, we just want you to be happy and after last time, seeing you so broken and feeling hopeless because we couldn’t protect you, we just want to protect you but if you love this boy and he makes you happy, well, we would love to meet him” Mom speaks into my hair 

My parents end up flying back to New York with me after Thanksgiving is over. “Oh is this a new song Teddy?” My mom asks picking up my journal that’s lying by my keyboard 

“Uh probably” I say while looking at the cards on the table “Dad that’s a yellow and the one before was red” 

“But it’s a plus two” Dad argues 

“You can’t use a yellow plus two on top of a red card” I argue 

“You just don’t want to take two cards because then I’ll win” He will in fact not win, even if I take two that means I’ll have six cards while he has well… way too many to count “Just take the cards Teddy” 

I sigh deciding that arguing with the lawyer I call my dad over two cards is not worth it but before I pick the cards my doorbell rings and I know Nico has arrived, normally he would just use the keys I gave him but I guess he didn’t want to this time since my parents are here “Okay that should be him, can you guys like chill a little?” They stare without saying anything but then nod as they stand together in my living room.

“Tell me I’m not late” Nico says in a hushed tone as soon as I open the door “Practice went on for longer than I thought and then Curtis wouldn’t stop talking and then when I got home I realized I hadn’t bought anything to bring but it was too late so I brought this and I hope they like it” He gestures to a bag he’s holding I peek inside and can see a bottle of wine and what I think are some chocolate bars, there’s more but I can’t make it out “Oh and the traffic was horrible too” 

“Okay are you done freaking out?” I stop him before he can keep going “Because I’ve been trying not to freak myself out and stay calm for you”

“Freaking out? Why would YOU freak out? Oh god” If I wasn’t super nervous about this whole thing I would probably laugh right now seeing my boyfriend, who is always cool and composed, the one who usually reassures me, all freaked out 

“Teddy, let's not keep the guy out there in the hallway all day, where are your manners?” Mom speaks behind me and when I turn I see both of my parents standing there 

“Right, come in” I usher Nico and close the door “Mom, dad, this is Nico, my boyfriend” 

“It’s nice to meet you” His accent comes out a little stronger than usual “I uh brought some things, I hope you’ll like them” 

My mom takes the bag “Thank you Nico, I’m sure we will” My dad gives him a handshake and we walk to the living room, my apartment is open concept so my mom walks to my kitchen island and pulls out the items that Nico brought, turns out it's all Swiss things that I’m sure his mom brought on her last visit, things that I know he’s been missing from home and it warms my heart that although it had been a last minute decision to bring them he had still chosen to part with it “Oh it’s this Swiss chocolate?” 

“Yes ma’am, my mom brought it from home on her last visit” Nico says, I squeeze his hand and smile at him when he looks at me “There’s a few more things she brought in there as well”

“Well thank you, these all look great” Mom smiles at him and I smile at her silently thanking her for being nice 

“Nico” My dad says  “Tell me, any chance you like soccer?” 

“I do” Nico replies 

“Why don’t you come over here and watch the game with me then?” I roll my eyes chuckling at my mom glaring at my dad who had been complaining about his favorite team playing at the same time they were supposed to meet Nico “Hey I’m just bonding with my daughter’s boyfriend don’t look at me like that” He tells my mom who shakes her head with a smile threatening to poke through her angry facade 

45 minutes later Nico walks into the kitchen area where I’m attempting to make a charcuterie board I found on pinterest “You know I love you but those don’t look anywhere remotely close to roses Bärli” I feel Nico’s chin on my shoulder and elbow him 

“Who said they were roses?” I say and he points at video on my phone where someone is making roses out of salami “Fine you try and make one” I move to the side and he steps up grabbing the circles and starts fiddling with them, I laugh when he shows me his ‘rose’ and the meat falls out as soon as he lifts it 

“Fine I’ll stick to Hockey and you can stick to being great at everything else other than salami roses” He laughs with me popping a circle into his mouth and offering me another one

“Nico, the game is starting!” I hear my dad call out and with one last laugh at our roses attempts he picks up the board with a hand using the other one to hold mine and walks us to the living room to finish watching the game.

“I think that went well” Nico says, we’re standing in the parking lot by his car at the end of the day “Your dad was saying he wanted to go to a game next time they’re around” 

“I think they liked you” I nod wrapping my arms around his shoulders “Dad has never shown interest in Hockey before, thank you for today” 

“Why are you thanking me?” he asks and I shrug “Well it was great meeting them, I feel like I know a lot more about you now that I’ve met the people who raised you” 

“Oh please tell me they didn’t share embarrassing stories from when I was younger” I cringe at the thought, he laughs 

“Nothing too bad” he says but doesn’t elaborate and I make a mental note to ask my parents about it as soon as I get back up to my apartment “I hate to say this but I have to go, we have media day early tomorrow” 

I nod kissing him “I’ll see you soon” he nods and pulls me in for another kiss, when we separate I pull a chocolate bar from my pocket “Knowing you, you brought everything and didn’t leave anything for yourself so please take this at least for tonight, I’ll save some of the rest” 

He grabs the bar with a smile “Don’t worry I can always get more but thank you” 

He waits for me to get in the elevator and for the doors to close before he leaves and when I get back to my apartment my parents are sitting in my living room “I think we owe you an apology” My dad says 

“We shouldn’t have judged him before meeting him, he’s really nice and you two seem really happy” Mom walks up to me and gives me a hug that I return “I read the lyrics to the song, I’m glad you have him there to help you through it all” 

“Thank you mom” I hug her tighter 

“And your dad really likes him too” Mom says and I turn to see my dad opening a chocolate bar, his second one tonight even though he doesn’t usually like sweet treats 

“Oh yeah, love the guy, father approved” Dad gives me a thumbs up and I laugh, happy that the most important people in my life all get along.

[insxghtt]

(i am obsessed with this man.)

boyfriend!jack thurlow x reader

After everything that happened to him, he would be very insecure about meeting other people. so, when you first moved to the house next door, he wasn't the most friendly neighbor.

You heard some people from the neighborhood talking about him, saying that he was not the most stable person. That was a lie, Jack was doing so much better after being in a hospital for months. He was still depressed, but he was a normal person and he wished people could stop staring at him with pity all the time.

And, well, you did that. So when you went outside to smoke a cigarette and noticed him doing the same thing not so distant from you, you didn't turn away or acted weird. You just shook your head as a "hi", and gave him a soft smile.

Jack was mesmerized and he didn't even know why. Maybe he just forgot how it felt to be treated as a normal guy.

So he nodded back at you.

Even though he didn't retribute the smile, it was clear through his expressions that he was not bothered by your presence.

So a few weeks went by and that was all the interaction you had with him. It was weird, but nice. You would stand outside next to each other in silence as you smoked your cigarettes.

Finally, one day, he decided to say something.

"Sorry, i don't think i ever asked your name", he said.

You looked at him and he felt scared for a second, wondering if he had frightened you.

"No, you didn't", you said. and finally, you told him your name.

He repeated it to himself and nodded, making sure that he wouldn't forget.

"That's a nice name", he smiled and there was silence for a few seconds. "I'm Jack."

"I know who you are, Jack."

Your words made him insecure. What if the neighbors told you about how weird and scary he was?

"Your friend is always yelling your name at the door because she always forgets the keys", you explained and Jack sighed in relief.

"Shanda…", he whispered.

His childhood best friend had the keys to his house because she wanted to check on him at least once a day since he got out of the hospital.

But Shanda didn't have the best memory, maybe because of all the weed she smoked.

Having a conversation with you was easy after that. Every day you would get to know him a little bit more.

When he told you about his story, he was surprised you didn't treat him differently.

"We all have our demons, don't we?". Jack smiled at your comment.

When he first asked you on a date, he was so nervous and felt like he was ruining your friendship. He had invited you to have dinner with him at his house, but he burned the food and had to order pizza instead.

You laughed about it and he felt an immediate relief.

You two talked for hours and hours and at the end of the night you asked him what you've been wanting to ask for a good while.

"So… are you going to kiss me or what?"

Jack stared at you for a second and then smiled at your confidence.

And he kissed you. After that, he kissed you again and again.

Until you two were basically living together but none of you called it a relationship.

 One day you were watching TV on your couch and he walked out of the bathroom after taking a shower with the towel wrapped around his waist.

You looked at him finally realizing that that became a routine.

"Hey Jack, are we like… boyfriend and girlfriend?", you asked.

Jack was suddenly frozen, the reality had finally hit him.

But surprisingly, he didn't feel scared. He liked it. It sounded natural and even beautiful to call you his girlfriend.

"I guess…", he looked at you afraid that you would leave him. "I mean, if that's okay with you. Is it okay?", he almost stuttered.

"Yes. I like that", you nodded.

And obviously, Jack kept you awake all night making sure to show you how happy he was to call you his girlfriend.

Jack was not very good at expressing his feelings. Sometimes, very rarely, you two had arguments. They were mostly about how hard it was for him to share his thoughts over anything.

Not that he was rude, but sometimes instead of telling you the things that bothered him he would just be quiet and it made you confused and anxious.

It happened every time you tried to drag him to a friend's birthday party, for example. He hated places filled with people, but he wouldn't say that to you. He was just weird all night.

"You have to talk to me, Jack! I can't read your fucking mind, what am i supposed to do?"

"Why do you want me to explain every fucking thing that i feel to you?", he snapped. 

But as soon as he saw the look on your face, he immediately regretted his words.

It was hard for him to say "I'm sorry", so he just sighed and held your hand, saying "i love you" instead.

You knew he was doing his best, but you needed words. You needed him to open up like you always did.

So, he hugged you and hid his face on the curve of your neck, finally whispering against your skin: "I'm sorry. I'm sorry, you're right."

He was genuine. Jack was not the type of guy to just say things without actually meaning it. He never once apologized just to calm you down or to just move on from the subject. He was actually genuine about everything. Sometimes, he was so honest that it would hurt, but at least you knew that he would never lie to you.

He really did his best to be with you. He wanted to make you feel good because he was aware of how precious you were. so, every week he would go to therapy to make sure that he was being the best version of himself, not only for you but also for him.

Jack wouldn't be the type of guy to propose to you on a fancy dinner. No, he would do that in the middle of the night, after you two were absolutely exhausted from work. He would just look at you, with no ring and no flowers, and decide that you were the one that he wanted to be with for the rest of his life.

"I wanna marry you", Jack said and you stared at him in shock.

"What?"

"I want to marry you", he repeated and you smiled.

"Alright", you whispered. "Well, that's really ironic because I actually wanna marry you too."

Jack kept staring at your eyes and then brought his attention back to your lips.

"Good", he nodded.

 "Alright, we can get married then", you opened a big, beautiful smile and he didn't say it, but he felt like he was in heaven.

Jack would never understand why you chose him. He was broken, imperfect and confusing. But he was glad that you did and he hoped that even with all his flaws, you'd continue to choose him.

[selene-moonie]

Reiner Braun is one of the best written characters I've watched in years, and this is the tale of how I fell in love with him.

It started with his crush on Historia. Sis brought their horses back during the Female Titan arc and he was like, "I'm gonna marry her." We love a man who knows what he wants. He found out she and Ymir were in love and he was still talking about how he wanted to marry her. And he kept that going till the end, talking about, "Her letter smells so nice," like SIR YOU HAVEN'T SEEN HER IN 4 YEARS and she's married. That was so stinking cute.

To be fair, most of the time he was kinda annoying. All that happy yet serious energy and, "Wow this is the third time I've almost been eaten by a titan," dude stfu. I do not want to hear you after the adult soldier's dying wish was to drink the alcohol Historia just wasted on your auto healing arm. You don't need to be that happy or grateful. It's ok to be grim given the circumstances.

His cognitive dissonance is what I found really interesting. I do love seeing a character lose their mind and have to restructure their belief system. There was no way he was just a titan. He trained, ate, slept, and fought with these people, but he's also the reason why some of their families are dead? There had to be more to him than what I was seeing.

I knew he was insane when he told Eren about his titan. I carried back the episode more than once to make sure I heard correctly when he said, "I'm Armoured, and Banana is Colossal." I think I got up, ran away, screamed, told my brother and sister, watched it again, then continued the episode. I was like, there's no way you just told your greatest threat about your titan. But he had.

Seeing him flip between his two identities, like when he was making racist comments about his Paradis cohorts like he didn't just train with them for the last three years made me realise that he was fighting his own demons. How he damn near lost his mind by asking Eren to come along with him, then realising he had to take him by force - yeah I saw that cognitive dissonance dissonate.

I connected to him a lot because while I wasn't fighting to improve my family status or risk further discrimination for failure, I grew up believing that people who didn't believe in my religion deserved to die, and I definitely projected that toxicity onto others when I was a teenager. I obviously, did not give that to myself, it came from the authority figures in my life, similarly to how Reiner's decisions were actively shaped by the adults around him, turning him into a child soldier.

(I call it soldier, because I feel like warriors have more free will than soldiers ever will, and ironically, he was the warrior with the least amount of free will despite having all the context while his friends had more freedom than he, they just didn't know the truth.)

So even before s4, he was one of my favorite characters because I knew his actions and thoughts were eating him alive. I loved him because I knew how hard all that was.

But when adult Reiner debuted, I was in love with him. The first reason was that he had finally seen how problematic everything was. He knew he'd just been a child when he'd committed his life to being a Marleyan warrior and improving his family's status. He knew his decisions were wrong, and there was so much blood on his hands. He knew he'd been stuck between a rock and a hard place, but he still hated himself for it.

And, my friends, is what we call a self-aware man. That is a hard smash. All that rah-rah about how weird Sasha was for eating a potato on their first day at cadet training - he just thought she was weird, which is true. That's not hatred, that's an observation.

The second reason I fell in love with adult Reiner was his looks. I'm an adult, so watching a bunch of teenagers run around being angsty is entertaining because I was one as well, but I'd never considered that attractive or relationship material. They don't know jack shit or understand how consent works, which is why Reiner being a 'warrior' is such bullshit because he wasn't old enough to understand what that life commitment really meant.

But yeah. Isayama put crack into that man's visuals and I have not recovered since. While I do have a thing for fictional blonds (a la Erwin Smith, Sanji and Chat Noir), Reiner looking like a tired dad in s4 is all I've ever needed and wanted in life. Heck, I'd have his kids and I don't even want kids. Also, I just know he wants kids. And he'd make a great dad. I can't explain why I know this, but that's just the vibe he gives off.

Reiner Braun was the second man I fell in love with in this series, and he's probably the one I love the most because of the depth of his character and the fact that he moved forward even after everything he had done.

I could do an actual critical analysis of this man, not just the things I thought were hella cute/attractive about him. Or someone else could. I'd love a deep dive on his character because he was so beautifully written.

[whiteraven87]

Driven by Love: Rebirth from the Ashes - 25. Return to Scotland

-----------------------

The Unstoppable Series - Masterlist

Part 3: Driven by Love. Rebirth from the Ashes

Prologue

Nightmares

For Her, I'd Do Anything

Shared Nights

I Thought It Was the End

Scars

Say it again

Pleasant Views

Oh My God

Together

A Shared Trip

The Boss's Girl

I'm Back

She's mine [18+]

The Fight Continues

I Bloomed

Something's Going On

No Brakes

City of Sin [18+]

Title Defense [18+]

FIA Gala

Home and Christmas

Just Us [18+]

A Dream I Don't Want to Wake Up From

Return to Scotland

The Woman Who Blossoms

Return to the Paddock

Media Circus

Total Domination

Marathon

The Limits of Restraint [18+]

The Unexpected Guest

Fear of Loss

The Truth I Didn't Want to Say

I Won't Let You Go

A Promise I Couldn't Keep

The Truth I Couldn't Tell Her

The Last Evening

The Darkest Day of my life

Epilogue

---------------------------

Warnings: slow burn, age gap (23 years), woman racing in F1, boss/driver relationship, sex scenes,

---------------------------

25. Return to Scotland

Scotland, February

POV Miriell

When Toto told me he wanted to visit Susie and Jack's grave, my heart clenched. I knew this time of year was coming—the moment when sorrow wrapped around him like a shadow. The third anniversary of their passing. Over the years, I had learned to notice the subtle changes in his behavior. He became more pensive, sometimes lost in his thoughts, staring at the photos he kept in his office or going on long walks as if searching for solace.

I wasn't surprised that he wanted to visit them. What surprised me more was that he told me about it himself. Until now, he had not returned to the cemetery. The last time he had seen that grave was when he laid Susie and Jack to rest.

"I'll go with you," I said almost instinctively.

He looked at me with a gentle smile, but in his eyes, I saw hesitation.

"You don't have to, Miriell."

"I know I don't have to," I replied softly. "But I want to."

Toto was silent for a moment. I knew what he was thinking—that this was his grief, his pain, something he had carried alone for years. He didn't want me to feel obliged to share it with him. But Susie and Jack were like family to me. Susie had believed in me when no one else did, and Jack... Jack was my godson, my little ray of sunshine. I had lost them just as he had.

Toto reached for my hand, and when he took it, he squeezed it gently.

"I'd like you to be there with me," he admitted finally. "Susie would have wanted that. She would have known that because of you..." He trailed off and smiled sadly. "Because of you, I'm happy."

I didn't answer, just slipped into his arms, holding him tightly.

London greeted us with its usual gloomy weather. The early morning, when we boarded the private jet, was rainy and cold. The flight to Scotland passed in silence. I sat next to Toto, holding his hand, but I didn't try to force a conversation. I knew his mind was filled with a thousand thoughts.

Eventually, we landed in Edinburgh, where a car took us to the village where Susie and Jack were buried. The cemetery was small and quiet, set on a hillside overlooking the rugged Scottish landscape. The wind lashed against our faces, but despite the chill, I didn't want to pull up my hood. I wanted to feel everything—the cold, the gravity of the moment, the weight of the air.

Toto walked ahead of me, his steps slow, as if every meter of this path weighed a ton. When we finally reached the gravestone, the silence became almost tangible.

Susie Wolff & Jack Wolff

Beloved wife, beloved son

Together forever.

Toto took a deep breath before kneeling down to place two white roses by the stone. I watched as he lowered his head, his shoulders trembling slightly, though I knew he was fighting to hide it.

I didn't know what to say. What words could ease this kind of pain?

I knelt beside him and gently touched his arm.

"Susie..." he began softly, his voice rough. "I'm sorry it took so long."

He didn't say anything else, but he didn't need to. I knew what he felt—that he carried guilt, that he was afraid to come back here because it meant facing the past, the lost future, the life that was never supposed to end this way.

"I miss you," he whispered. "Both of you."

I placed my hand on his back, saying nothing. I knew he could feel it—my support, my presence.

After a long moment, Toto lifted his head and looked at me.

"Susie would want us to be happy," he said quietly.

I nodded, feeling a tightness in my throat.

"And we are."

He looked at the gravestone once more, then simply pulled me close, tightly, almost desperately, as if making sure I was really there.

"Thank you for being with me," he whispered.

"I always will be, Toto. Always."

I knew that for him, this was a step forward—the first in three years. It didn't heal the wounds, but it finally allowed him to breathe.

I was here, beside him. Forever.

----------------------------------------

NEXT -> 26. The Woman Who Blossoms

----------------------------------------

"I put my armor on, show you how strong I am."

Read the story here:

AO3 Unstoppable Series

Wattpad: Part1 I Part 2 I Part 3 | Part 4

🇵🇱 Dla Polskich czytelników [for Polish readers] [PL]:

Seria Niepowstrzymana AO3

Wattpad PL: Part1 I Part 2 I Part 3 | Part 4

[verdemoun]

What Mitski song do you think each of the gang members would resonate with if they listened to it (if you don’t listen to Mitski than replace her with any emotional/vent songs to associate with them) Also do you think Kieran and Molly would bond over being somewhat hated in the canon timeline? (Fun fact! Kieran helps Molly out of the wagon when the gang arrives at Shady Bell :])

I will respond to all asks I promise but this sent me into a tailspin because @themodernpr0metheus and I talk about this regularly. Also I don't think you're legally allowed to be gay And depressed without listening to Mitski.

People who actively listen to Mitski: Arthur, Javier, Sean, Lenny, Jenny, Karen, MOLLY, Trelawney, Annabelle, Jack, Isaac, Abigail Jr.

Molly and Kieran are besties I love that scene I want to believe they were almost-friends in canon era just with Molly usually sulking at the edge of camp when she was mad with Dutch meanwhile Kieran sulked at the edge of camp to avoid being physically or verbally assaulted. They text constantly and Molly will always send Kieran a photo of a horse whenever she sees one.

Dutch: I Bet On Losing Dogs (very specifically reminded of his last canon interaction with Arthur) and I'm Your Man (his relationship with John, his favorite son). Mental breakdown levels of distress first time he heard those songs. Walking up to his nurses asking to be sedated levels of distress.

Hosea: Me and My Husband. He loves his wife infinitely. That doesn't mean he won't always love Dutch too. It really was always just him and them together. He really did bet it all he had on that.

Arthur: Two Slow Dancers. As much as he loves that he gets to grow old with Charles he is terrified of getting old and aging bit Mitski makes that fear okay.

John: A Pearl. He knows Abigail has always tried to understand how he struggled to move on from VDL era but sometimes she doesn't get it and he feels the need to apologize for the way he is.

Javier: Love Me More. Absolutely blames John for him having issues with needing constant validation and affection in relationships. Kieran is happy to supply though they are very happy and secure.

Bill: Shame. Someone tell him internalized homophobia went out of fashion.

Micah: Everyone. Not that he would ever admit to listening to Mitski. Micah thinks he is a victim and had no choice but to become the villain everyone thought he was. I think Micah is a jackass.

Charles: My Love Mine All Mine. He is soft and in love with Arthur and it is beautiful.

Sean: Remember My Name. Sean, to everyone's surprise, is actually the one who deals with the most existential dread over the fact the legend of the VDL gang was already mostly forgotten by modern era. Feels like his life has been too hard to just be forgotten, y'know? But definitely knows his completely average modern life is nothing memorable to anyone other than his found family and feels like he's already lost his five minutes of fame being an outlaw in 1899.

Lenny: Stay Soft. Between being on the run for murder as a teenager, being a young black man in 1899, and losing every meaningful relationship in his life (Father, Jenny, Sean), he actively has to learn to be soft again and be emotionally available in timewarp era.

Sadie: Because Dreaming Costs Money, My Dear. Because she always has and always will find a way to make things work so her darling soft husband never has to worry about a thing in the world.

Karen: Nobody. Look me in the eye. Watch the music video. Imagine Karen Jones. Also, asking Sean to see her when they borrow John's tent at his party?? She gets it.

Uncle: A Horse Named Cold Air. Will pick at banjo strings to play creepy tune at campfire, with strange southern warble in his voice howling the 'ooh's.

Abigail: I Don't Smoke. Look she knows it is unhealthy but sometimes she's just gotta romanticize those shit years with John pre-1907.

Grimshaw: Square. Dutch doesn't mean to do it but he absolutely infects anyone he's in a relationship in ever with a brain worm where they still feel themselves faulter under his gaze or attention. She didn't stay all those years just for the sake of the gang. She stayed for Dutch.

Strauss: Fireworks. He still has a lot of angst about losing his sister and family immigrating to America.

Trelawney: Pink in the Night. Bouncing through time just to kiss his wife humming strange tunes she's never heard because he's such a romantic.

Kieran: Drunk Walk Home. He likes the screaming. Had very dangerous edge in his voice when he sings you know I wore this dress for you and the gang are too afraid to ask.

Molly: Why Didn't You Stop Me? Very much about no one physically trying to stop her in Beaver Hollow when she was clearly drunk and saying shit just to get Dutch's attention.

Jenny: Townie. She holds onto a lot of anger over being abandoned by her parents as a teen, dances like a wild spirit when Townie plays and is utterly entrancing.

Annabelle: I Guess. It was her early timewarp anthem when she was coping with finding out Dutch turned so evil and became everything they both hated while she held onto the ideals he inspired in her. It is simply her song.

Bessie: I Will. Heavily based on her efforts to keep Hosea with her when he has his moments of hating getting old, self-loathing, or the itch to do outlaw activities. And when she thinks about him leaving in canon era to continue being an outlaw while they were married.

Jack: I Don't Like My Mind. Word for word was written for him. Might be awkward being around the gang being so much older he doesn't remember a lot of them clearly but would rather have that awkwardness than be alone with his thoughts.

Isaac: Last Words of a Shooting Star. He's got a lot of feelings about death and relates to wanting that relief of knowing when he's doing to die.

Eliza: Old Friend. Both her modern era friends and some members of the gang do not understand how her and Arthur can be just friends when they have a child together so when they want to hang out as friends it is very secretive which makes it feel even more obnoxiously like an affair. Charles always knows because he naturally one of the few people who understands they are just friends, who both love their son, and Eliza adores Charles.

Jake Adler: Star. Makes Sadie dance with him whenever it plays which she hates (no she doesn't she loves it. If they get married again it's going to be their song).

Abigail Jr: Strawberry Blond. She can't wait to be old enough to be in love and subsequently ruined by it. (this is John's rule she's not allowed to be in love until she's at least 18)

[insomniac4000]

A pot of Gold Part 1- ChrisMD

I'm posting the first couple of chapters here but please see my Wattpad for all the chapters when they're posted

Mae Murray was a Youtuber who grew up with another Youtuber Ethan Payne. They were close as kids going to the same Primary school, grew apart a little as teenagers but when they discovered they were both trying to do Youtube they struck up a friendship again. Life had been tumultuous for both,  there was Ethan with his weight and his mental health. It was Mae who went out in the early hours searching for him with Tobi, she sat with him for hours calming him down and got him help. In more recent times it was Mae who needed help, she had been with her boyfriend Jack since they were seventeen as they had met in sixth form college. They got engaged at the beginning of 2022 and soon after found out they were going to have a baby. Ethan was also incredibly happy that his kid would also have a play mate but sadly it wasn’t to be. Tragedy struck when in August of that year Mae went into labour four months early, despite best efforts the baby who they named Aria was not strong enough to survive. To add insult to injury further complications from the birth have made conceiving another child difficult. Mae went into herself and was utterly depressed, when she found messages from other women on Jack’s phone she fell off the deep end and ended up needing psychiatric intervention. She spent the rest of 2022 and a couple of months of early 2023 working on herself and getting herself and her life back together, returning to Youtube in March 2023 and releasing well received content since but she still had struggles but managed them for the most part, she was working hard and started to date again while she was contented she wouldn’t say she was completely happy.

Mae had struck up good relationships with all of the Sidemen as well as other Youtubers, when she first returned to the platform everyone rallied around her and welcomed her into their videos as a sign of support. Jack was also a Youtuber but it was obvious where the majority of people’s loyalties were. She was now awaiting her latest appearance which was on The Fellas Podcast to promote her newest venture, a BB3 documentary on child loss and mental health.

She discussed the show and to a point her own story with grace and decorum but when the topic of conversation moved to her Youtube channel she managed to crack jokes like no serious conversation had just taken place, it was a wonder to watch her suddenly relax and smile. 

“Honestly it was the weirdest shoot of my life, I look to my left and there’s a fucking bollock naked Harry,” Mae says placing a hand on each side of her face as she talked about the latest sideman shoot she was out. Freezy and Chip couldn’t hide their laughter as Mae continued.

“I know many women would die to be in that position but honestly not something I needed to see.”

The interview ended and to her surprise there was a lot of clapping when they had wrapped up, it was more noise then Cal, Chip and the producer could make. She looked around to see she had now amassed an audience, people were really keen to hear what she had to say not in a nosey but in a supportive way and as the fellas podcast was recorded in an office which was shared by a lot of other Youtubers so she had a lot of support in the room.

“I didn’t know I had an entourage,” Mae commented slightly embarrassed by the fan fare.

“We’re just proud of you,” Simon commented as he embraced the small woman.

“I appreciate it, but you’ve all got to stop pandering to me sometime, otherwise my head won’t fit through the door.”

“It’ll almost be as big as George’s,” Chris replied pointing to his housemate next to him who gave a ‘hey!’ Mae giggled and hugged the boys each in turn as she made her way down the line.

“How are you feeling? I think I need a break after hearing it, it was a lot of stuff” Cal asked Mae once everything had calmed down.

“I’m okay, some days are better than others when I’m okay I’m happy to talk,” Mae admitted with a small smile. She then felt an arm sneak around her waist and looked to her right to see Chris.

“Some of the boys and I are going to grab some lunch at Nando’s if you fancy it?” He asked, Theo and Harry looked on, they had a suspicion Chris was harbouring a small crush, he had pretty much told them so but Chris wasn’t the kind of person to jump on someone when they were vulnerable so he pushed it out of the back of his mind. Now Mae had expressed an interest in getting back out there; they were surprised he had yet to make a move however.

“Sounds good, talking makes me really hungry,” Mae replied with a small laugh as she looked at Chris, she had to admit she was really loving his new hair and his beard, it made him look older but in a good way. When the first met she assumed he was younger then he was but he had a boyish charm about his looks but he had now grown into a very attractive man.

Overall it was Mae, Chris, Harry, Theo, George and Arthur who went for lunch, they all squeezed themselves into a booth as it was surprisingly busy for a Wednesday afternoon. Mae was inbetween Harry and George Chris was sitting opposite her, the group deciding that the two smallest people should go in the middle.

“All I’m saying is I’ve got more cake than Arthur so I don’t see why I’m in the middle,” Chris complained.

“Shouldn’t be such a fat bastard then,” Theo replied causing the table to laugh.

“Speak for yourself!” Chris retorted as he sat in the seat grumpily. Mae was typing her order in Harry’s phone as he was closest to the counter, as she handed it to George the brunette looked down as he felt a breeze from Mae swinging her legs slightly. 

“Do your legs not touch the floor?” he asked with a smirk.

“Shut up,” Mae snapped as she looked down at them only to see a pair of white shoes opposite her just hovering above the brown floor.

“Do your feet not touch the floor either?” Mae said to Chris causing everyone to look in that direction.

“Oh for fucks sake,” Chris exclaimed banging his head on the table.

“Does your height bother you?” Mae asked now feeling quite guilty in case she had upset Chris. After the break up with Shannon Chris could get a little crabby, he confided in Mae that his depression and anxiety got the better of him a little but he was doing better now. Mae really appreciated Chris being honest with her about his own struggles in a you’re not the only one going through things so don’t be embarrassed way.

“Not usually, I filmed a video yesterday, like a vs 100 models thing and after hearing “you’re short” from about half the women it grates on you a little,” he admitted sounding a little deflated.

“Well if it helps from a pixie to a hobbit height doesn’t bother me,” Mae said in an attempt to cheer Chris up but she did also mean it, Chris was an attractive guy and his height didn’t bother her in the slightest.

“Thanks.” His eyes brightened up slightly as he sat up, Harry gave Theo a knowing look while handing the blonde his phone for his own order.

The group ordered and ate, ice was thrown at one point and some even landed in Mae’s bra which caused a scream and of course that attracted attention to them. Some fans came over and asked for photos causing everyone to squeeze in more in order to get into the photo. There was one photo in particular where it was a group of three needing to all squeeze in so everyone had to get up close. George had an arm around Mae’s shoulders and from the angle it looked like his hand was on her knee but in reality it was simply laying in the very small space between them. The pair could laugh it off, Mae having had far worse rumours and truths out there especially after the year or so she had, and George being perpetually single being linked to a woman could become a big source of humour for him and his content. It was only a rumour.

[inkblackorchid]

Hello! First off I want to thank you for these amazing stories you’ve written! Admittedly the best Yusei/Aki stories I’ve ever read, in my opinion. This is actually how I discovered 5d’s. I came across your story ‘Snapping jaws and piercing horns’ and no kidding I thought Yusei and Aki were a couple in the anime. (I was also confused on how Aki lost against Andre - you wrote it so precisely I thought it happened in the anime also!) However, I was wondering if you could make a scenario where they have an argument, which of course happens in relationships. I wanted to see what they were arguing about and how they dealt with it. Thank you and have a nice day!

Hiiii! Thank you for reading my stories, I'm glad you enjoy them! And wow, that's really, really high praise. It makes me super happy to hear the stories almost tricked you into thinking they were canon, haha. (I'll admit I wrote them wishing they were, lol.)

Now, as far as an argument between Aki and Yusei is concerned—I'll admit the idea has tickled my brain from time to time, but believe it or not, that's harder to set up than you think. And not because I don't think they argue (everyone does, whether they're a couple or not), but because of the understanding I have of the canon characters and the way my stories play out. I have a feeling this answer might get longer than it strictly needs to be, so uh... Hope you're up for that.

Here's the thing: I think these two have fairly different tempers when it comes to arguments and fairly different priorities in that regard, too. I'd go as far as saying it's canon that Aki definitely has the shorter fuse between them. She's more likely to get worked up at all, and she's more likely to get worked up about things that may not be super important, either. Meanwhile, as far as my memory of canon serves, it's hard to get Yusei worked up at. all. Full stop. And that's not because he doesn't get angry, but because it seems like he only expends the energy to argue with someone when it's about a really big thing. We see him argue with the Goodwin brothers about fate. Big thing. We see him argue with the prison chief about the value of cards. Big thing, because we know believing no card is worthless is a central aspect of Yusei's character. We also see him argue with Rudger/Roman about the Zero Reverse, which is a very big thing, because it's the most personal topic in the entire show for Yusei by far. However, we don't see him partake in any of Jack and Crow's squabbles or otherwise argue about minor things. You get the gist.

What's more, we only see Yusei argue with Aki, specifically, a whopping three times in the whole show, maybe four if we're being generous. Two of those times are during their two big duels, where Yusei's arguing with Aki for the sake of her own well-being, because he's trying to convince her she's not a monster, the third time is when Aki is literally jumping from a moving vehicle to another because he's—understandably—concerned for her safety, and the fourth time is when he's technically arguing with the whole 5Ds team by insisting he should go to Ark Cradle alone, which everyone else justifiably insists is a terrible idea. (What's noteworthy is that this is, again, a matter of safety. So we know there's one thing that reliably gets Yusei worked up: The worry that people he loves might be in danger.)

Here's where my personal interpretation of these two comes in, then. I think that frankly, for any person with a halfway "average" temper, Yusei is an absolute nightmare to argue with. Because unless the topic's big enough to get him worked up, too, he just won't argue. Worse yet, if someone's just picking a fight to let off steam, I see him as the type of guy who immediately figures out the underlying issue and starts talking about that instead. And if you've ever been in the position of wanting to snap at someone about nothing because you needed to let off steam, you'll know that a person like that is the worst. target. of all time. for that kind of outburst. Because they start poking at the vulnerable thing you didn't want to talk about instead, and this is exactly how I see Yusei. This is the same guy who, within his very first duel with Aki, figured out that try as she might to pretend she does for Divine's sake, she doesn't actually enjoy hurting people with her powers, after all—something we know she wasn't thrilled to hear at the time.

Aki, on the other hand, I could see occasionally get frustrated with something and then short-tempered with other people because of it. I don't think she can be moved to an outburst of truly catastrophic proportions unless it's about something big, either. But Aki would be a hundred times quicker to snap at someone without really meaning to, and wouldn't need world-shaking reasons to start arguing with people, either. But with Yusei on the other end of the argument? Unless it was about something fundamental, she wouldn't get much of a reaction because he'd be quick to guess she's actually upset about something completely different than she claims to be. He'd see right through her, which would possibly only piss Aki off even more.

So, let's finally get back to your central question: In what scenario would these two genuinely argue, then? The closest to it I've personally ever gotten in my stories was in chapter two of Be Careful what you Wish for, and that was similar to what I described above: Aki was high-strung for a completely unrelated thing and wanted to kick off an argument to let off steam. Except that time, she caught herself because she knew she'd basically be yelling at Yusei for no reason.

If I wanted a situation where they'd genuinely fight, though, it'd have to be about something big. About some moral dilemma, about someone's safety, or hell, about one of the few topics that get under both their skin. Something even Yusei would consider worth the effort to get worked up about, and something that isn't a front for something else. I don't think it'd be the most explosive argument, at least not from both sides, and I don't think it'd be overly drawn-out, either, but it certainly wouldn't be any less heart-wrenching for it. Because when you argue about big things, you inevitably argue in the worst of ways. Aki would probably be louder and meaner, but Yusei's arguments would cut deeper. I think they'd both feel bad about it fairly quickly, too, but who would apologise first would depend on what the argument was about, I think, and whether either of them was more "in the right" from a purely logical standpoint. I think generally speaking, Aki would be a little more hesitant about apologising, not because she can't admit she's wrong, but because she has a harder time swallowing her pride than Yusei when she knows she's wrong. Between the two of them, I think Yusei is also less likely to hold a grudge; when he forgives someone, he forgives them, period, whereas Aki sometimes has a slightly harder time letting go due to her own past experiences.

But yeah! That's how I see these two, at least. As for whether a full argument between them will ever feature in my writing, that depends on whether I could properly set it up. (It looks like there might be an opportunity to let them clash in the fic I'm currently writing... maybe. If the rest of the plot doesn't end up taking up an unreasonable amount of space already.)

Sorry for the long answer, these kinds of questions just really make me think ^^"

[softhairedhotch]

another hotchgan fic, this time they've been married for some time. rest of the fics for this month will go back to being aaron x reader fics so keep an eye out for those :)

comfortember day eight: grief/mourning

aaron hotchner x derek morgan

derek visits the graveyard and aaron finds him there.

word count: 1k

content/warnings: mentions of death, insecurities, doubts, but there's comfort at the end <3 established relationship

comfortember masterlist here!

also on ao3!

visitor

Derek finds himself at the graveyard. He's not sure why he's there, it just feels right at that moment. It takes him a few minutes to gain the confidence to leave his car, drowning out the calling of birds and wind alike with music to calm his nerves. Finally, though, after he tells himself that there's nothing wrong with what he's about to do, he switches off the music, grabs the flower from atop of the dashboard, and jumps out before he can talk himself out of it again.

Finding the grave is simple enough, remembering the route from the funeral as if it happened yesterday even when it's been years. The hard part is getting himself within ten feet of it without feeling guilt claw viciously at his chest. Deciding that he's close enough for now, he stares at the headstone with a heavy heart. 

"I'm gonna talk to you from here, if that's okay," he says out loud, feeling embarrassed. "I just wanted to… thank you. Not for dying or anything, no, but for giving me the chance to get to where I am now. With Aaron." He huffs out a laugh, fiddling with the stem of the flower. "That's basically just me telling you I'm glad you're dead, isn't it? Well, I'm not."

There's no reply, although that's no surprise. 

"Aaron still talks about you all the time. And Jack. He misses you; they both do. I'm not sure why I'm here, to be completely honest with you, I just… I needed… I don't know." 

Derek takes a few tentative steps toward the grave, anxiety bubbling low in his gut. He doesn't like feeling this way. Like there's a weight on his chest that may never go away. 

"I think I'm here to see if, well, if what I did was okay. Dammit, that makes it sound like I killed you or something. That's not what I mean. It's…" He shakes his head in anger. 

Birds fly overhead, singing a tune he's heard countless of times. His mind wanders to Gideon and he smiles solemnly when he imagines the man telling him the species and what their cries really mean. Probably something along the lines of you're not alone or everything's gonna be alright, he thinks, although he's sure the man would have made that up just to ease his mind. 

Taking another few steps forwards, he finds himself parallel with the bench in front of the headstone. He figures that, since he's already made it so close, he may as well sit down, too. Taking a deep breath, he leans forward and gently places the flower down onto the ground. 

"I just hope you're okay with this," he whispers after sitting there in silence for a few minutes. "I mean, your sister is, but she's not you, and I feel like I need your permission. I don't know. Aaron and Jack are happy, I think, with me. In their lives. But… it's not you, I can't be… you." 

"And I'm not asking you to be her." 

Derek jumps, turning around on the bench so fast he gets whiplash, and he chokes on air. "Jesus, Aaron," he almost yells, hand moving to hold in his beating heart. "Warn a man next time!" 

"Warn a man when I'm coming to visit my ex-wife's grave?" He asks, a small smirk on his lips. 

"Well, no, I, no, I mean, dammit, sorry." 

Aaron smiles, sitting beside him. He reaches out for Derek's hand, bringing it to his lips and pressing a kiss to his knuckles before dropping their joined hands over his own thigh. "You don't have to be sorry, Der." 

"You're not mad at me for being here?" 

He hums in response, eyes reading over the text written on the headstone before him as if he hasn't already read it a million times over the past ten years. "'Course not. Why would I be? Haley would be happy to have visitors."

"I'm not sure she'd like her ex-husbands new husband visiting her, though. Practically stole you from her." 

"Now we both know that's not true," Aaron sighs, squeezing his hand. Derek avoids his eyes. "Hey, look at me. Please?" Derek hesitates before looking up at him. "She died before we even so much as acknowledged we had feelings for each other, and even if she hadn't, we'd still have been divorced. She'd be happy for us." 

"But… yeah, she would." 

"Then why are you here?" 

Derek shrugs. "Guess I've been having doubts lately." 

"About us?" Aaron asks, unable to hide his hurt. 

"What? No, no!" Derek turns in his seat, a panicked look on his face. "That's not what I mean at all. I mean… I don't know what I mean." 

Aaron sighs and nods, wrapping his arm around Derek and tugging him into his side. Derek hums and rests his head on his shoulder, looking at the grave. "You feel like you've forced your way into a family that already existed."

"How do I stop feeling guilty about that?" 

"I don't know what to tell you, Derek. But just know that I love you, and Jack loves you, and whether you feel like it or not, you are a part of this family. You didn't force your way in, we let you in. We allowed you into our lives because you make us happy. You have a place here. With us."

Derek's chest feels tight and it takes him a few moments to collect himself enough to speak. "You really mean that?" 

"Of course I do. Wouldn't say it if I didn't." Aaron presses a kiss to the top of his head. "You know I love you, right?" 

"Mhm. I love you, too."

"I'm glad. Now let's go pick up Jack from school, okay? He has a big project he needs help with." Aaron stands up and gently tugs Derek up by his hand. He presses a kiss to his index and middle finger before lightly pressing the on top of the gravestone for a few moments. "Hope you're okay," he whispers. "Miss you." 

Derek watches sadly, an ache in his heart. 

"So," Aaron says, turning back to him and beginning the walk to the car. "How do you feel about making a fake volcano?"

tag list: @hotchs-big-hands @criminalskies

[eastralyn]

Continued

Trigger warning; domestic violence

My first memory of my dad was a picture and my mom saying "that's your dad, that's what he looks like". I think she showed me the picture and told me to keep it so I wouldn't forget what he looked like until he came home next. I remember vividly that picture, from his large moustache to the white uniform he was wearing. In every picture I remember, he's on a ship. There's always ocean, there's always a ship and there's always him in these photos.

What I remember just as vividly is how he wasn't the person in the photo when I got home. He was always just similar to the pictures I had, but colder. More distant. I could never tell if he was happy to be home and I could never tell at the time why he never stayed. And that's how it's always gone with him. Glaring absences with sprinkles of presence. He always seemed miserable when I was young, the few times I remember with him.

I'd be so excited when he was coming home; so why wasn't he? Why wasn't he excited to see me? He seemed so annoyed with me wanting to soak up his every detail because I knew one morning he'd be gone; he'd morph into the voice on the other end of the phone and it would be another 6-8 months before I saw him again. He'd leave tons of presents for me and my mom before heading back to work. I have more memories of the things he bought me than himself as a person.

Still, my mom and I would follow him. It seemed random though; we'd spend almost a year in Miami so he could get education for his job. We'd spend time in Texas so he could have an easier time getting on the ship. We'd wind up spending a year in the Caribbean, which was the worst year for all of us. And each time, he'd leave or we'd leave, always back to New York. And I thought that's how it would always go; we'd leave together and then my mom and I would come back to New York alone.

The last memory I have of my dad in New York is the first time I realized my parent's relationship wasn't quite right. They has always argued a lot, but I would try to get them to hold hands, ask them if they still loved each other. But not this one night. This one night, my mom was cutting food in the kitchen and my dad was in there too. I think they were screaming at each other, which wasn't abnormal. But it seemed different this time. My mom would get so angry and he would get so angry; they would say horrible things to each other. This time, it escalated. I think my mom might have said for him to get away from her. There must have been a commotion I was disassociating from because all I remember next is my dad sitting in the living room in the dark, a hole freshly bleeding in his arm. My mom had stabbed him and was now losing her mind in the kitchen. I didn't know what to do as my dad sat there silently; tears streaming down his face.

I thought I could fix it. In my 4 or 5 year old wisdom, I thought I could make him smile. I'm his only daughter; if I can make him see how much I care, then we can care for each other and fix all this mess.

I climbed on his lap; no reaction.

I started asking questions; no reaction.

My mom is in the background alternating between saying don't touch him because he has diseases and losing her mind that she stabbed her husband. She eventually called the cops on herself, because my mind flashes to the next memory. Police are there and they want to see my cereal. My dad is just gone, my mom is just gone. I don't know where they are. And I don't know what happens next.

That's where the memory ends. It's taken me years to understand all the gaps, silences and skips are erased in the murky waters of trauma. Where did my parents go that night? Did they take my mom? Where did my dad go? Why does he always disappear in my worst memories?

He exists as a phantom in my mind. He's there but you can't see him. You can hear him calling, but it's as easy as discerning whispers on a breeze. He shows up in a blinding flash of light, and leaves just as quickly. His presence is a chaotic lightning strike hitting random spots on the map of my life; he leaves marks but he's too quick for you to actually notice he had been there.

[lunar-years]

re: “the jamie factor” to the roykeeley resolution in the finale, they really do have to do something about it because they heavily implied that keeley still had feelings for him multiple times at the beginning of the season and that was… never resolved? unless they intended the resolution to just be that she wanted to be friends with him?? but (and maybe this is just my shipping goggles) I don’t feel like that really explains how she was talking about him to shandy and jack

Exactly.

This is one of the few things that will actually hack me off if it's done incorrectly in the finale (read: Roy/Keeley getting back together and Jamie is neither mentioned nor shown. Or, 1000x worse, if they do show him finding out/one of them telling him afterwards and he's just like "Oh I'm so happy for you guys! my two best friends who I absolutely don't also have feelings for! together at last! :)" because WHAT). I'm pretty confident they won't do that because of how little sense it makes but like. It's still an illogical fear of mine.

And look, I'm all for an ambiguous ending in which ot3 isn't defined. I don't really need any further confirmation beyond what we got last week. But the fact that the narrative did start (and subsequently interrupt) an "I don't want to just be friends" conversation between Roy & Keeley makes it an almost certainty that they're going to finish said conversation. In which case, I don't see how Roy and Keeley could make any choice about their relationship without thinking about/including Jamie. The only route to ambiguity I can see is Keeley turning Roy down (maybe after some more glances in Jamie's general direction to suggest to viewers with eyes that he's part of the reason) and then the three of them shown briefly as friends again.

As you say, there's been several moments in the season where it's been made pretty clear Keeley is thinking about Jamie in that way again. And even in the moment where Roy/Keeley are talking and Jamie interrupts them, Keeley 1) does not look like she's about to give a resounding yes to Roy and 2) drops her hand SO fast the moment Jamie walks through the door. How else are we supposed to read this, like ?? We know Roy still loves Keeley, there's been nothing to indicate Jamie isn't still in love with Keeley (as he told her last season) and everything Roy/Jamie this season has not been subtle development... the dots are connecting in a way that the writers absolutely have to not only be aware of but also intentional about at this point.

Not to mention that last week the entire Jamie Roy Keeley plot was however many minutes of "there is no heterosexual or monogamous explanation for this" so uhhh. yeah. I can only conclude that ot3 is going to be addressed.

[lynn-the-lynn]

My aro life has opened a new chapter. And that chapter is called "oh dear God why do I feel so conflicted." (Rant ish post ahead)

I have three best friends. Let's name them Eric, Merida, and Flora.

Merida started dating this boy that I'm low key scared of. She told me about some of the decisions she's made with him and I went 😨. Nevertheless, happy for them.

Flora is someone I haven't known for long, but she started dating their childhood best friend not too long ago. Happy for them.

Merida set Eric up on a date with another guy. From what I've heard, they hit it off pretty well and are very interested in each other. Eric got his phone taken. I can't talk to him about it. Still. Happy for him.

Hell, my brother has a girlfriend

I am terrified of them treating me differently. I may start sixth wheeling soon. Please get me off of this biblically accurate bike omfg

Being Cupioromantic-Caedromantic-Aroflux-whatever as everyone around you is falling into their flowery highschool romances is terrifying. Maybe I'm just scared of growing up. Maybe that's why I bury myself in my cartoons and I still sleep with my plushies.

But, underneath the fear, I'm more comfortable accepting that I may not be capable of, or want to feel, that kind of love. Especially in highschool.

Highschool relationships baffle me.

Merida and Eric want to set me up on a date as well. I like the idea of not falling, but gently sitting down in love. But then again, I couldn't handle a wlw highschool breakup.

I've always been able to fluster the two of them with stories and hypotheticals. They have never been able to fluster me. "He has a good smile~" Eric is DEAD. "He's JACKED and GOOFY." Merida is DEAD.

"Shes... Nice?" Ok nice try 😭

Maybe what I want is a QPR that's not labeled as a QPR. Maybe what I want is my small business to lift off and Ill never have to worry about this. Maybe I want to go back to therapy.

I'm so happy for all of my friends. Especially Eric. That man has grown so much, and I've held his hand almost every step of the way. I know I'll let go soon. And that's ok.

Sigh. This usually goes into a discord server with Merida and Eric in it, but they're busy. And I don't think I want to talk about how scared, repulsed, intoxicated, and how yearnful I am for a relationship all at the same time.

So, I'm sending this into the void. I hope it finds someone who resonates with it. So you know that you're not alone in this feeling. So you know you're valid. So you know that it's okay to feel the way that you do.

And this was super cathartic to write, 10/10.

[mikimeiko]

Ok, so, thoughts on Ted Lasso finale and on season 3 as a whole:

Ted going back to Kansas was always the only possible ending. He has a son! He had a dad who abandoned him in the worst possible way and fucked him up, he HAD to go back to his son! (and no, Henry moving to London was not the best solution. Even if Michelle was actually ok with moving as well for some reason, uprooting your kid is not… the best move.)

(And sorry but I don't really agree with "Ted is leaving is support system in England!" and even less with the idea that he has built a found family there. He integrated in the community to a point, and he started doing it on day 1. And he has good, strong work relationships with all the people at Richmond. But! Most of the time when he is outside of work is either with Beard or by himself. He accepted Rebecca's help with that first panic attack, but he never reached out to her (or anyone else outside of doctor Sharon - who is a professional) in moments of distress. He made himself available to the people around him, but it's always been kind of unidirectional. (Ted has a wall around his core. He started chipping away at it in therapy but I would say that for now it's all very internal, he's really not ready to share. "It's just like I… It's like I'm scared sometimes to, like… to get close to that little boy. 'Cause I know he's gonna leave." This is about Henry, but it's really not just about Henry). So anyway, yes the show could have handled it better - maybe even just showing us a scene of Ted in Kansas going around with saying hello to everyone like he did in London, to let us KNOW that he is also present in that community, but anyway it doesn't feel so jarring to me). Also: I don't think going back to where you came from is necessarily a regression.

Staying in Kansas for a bit, I hated the Dr Jacob storyline. It made no sense, it was unpleasant and had no point, and I hated it.

I loved that Rebecca almost sold the team and then realized that she could be a force of change in a better direction for the game. I loved the fact that she sold the shares to the fan, I LOVED Keleey proposing a women's team because it felt SO RIGHT. I didn't particularly like the idea that they paralleled these choices to motherhood, because it's the stupidest idea ever, I'm sorry but just no. Also: I'm very sad that dutch man came back. I profoundly enjoyed the idea that Rebecca could have had that one night out of place and out of time, that it had a profound impact on her and changed the trajectory of her life a bit, while staying contained to that one night. Instead it turned into a love at first sight, happily ever after story. Ok, then? Sorry, not as interesting.

I'm so sad and upset and disappointed by how they handled Nate. I hated that it went from episode one (in which he was end-of-season-2 Nate, bitter and cocky in his new position) to episode four and he was old Nate again? Funny, clever, sweet, a little shy, basically full of love. What?! When did this happen? Where's the "be careful what you wish for cause it may come true"? Where's the disillusionment in Rupert and that kind of club culture? Where's the realization that what Nate thought would make him happy was actually not what he wanted at all? Where's the fight to make things change? ARGH. Also: that ending? Coming back to Richmond to be Will's number 2? What is going on. (I enjoyed A LOT every bit with his family. The conversation with his father! So tender.)

Also Keeley. I don't know, she felt so lost and then she actually lost everything (but it was because of her relationship with Jack) and then she didn't actually lose everything (but it was because of her relationship with Rebecca) and? Also Shandy's storyline was such a shame, when it could have been about finding the right balance to be the boss of your friend in a way that made you both shine more. But even though I liked her with Roy and hoped they would go back together (I also would have found the throuple interesting), I appreciate that her endgame was not, after all, a relationship. She's happy and she's thriving with her new weird, bloodthirsty coworker/friend and that's good to see.

Roy was so uneven. I have no words. I'm sad. I cried when he learned to ride a bike with Jaime, and at his Diamond Dogs speech. I wish they could have found a better way to show that unlearning shit and changing is hard.

Jamie definitely had the longest, better executed arc of the season and of the show (only Rebecca's is comparable). I hated him and now he is my precious bean. I actually loved Ted's speech on the field of letting go of the rage and the hate for his father for himself. I'm not enraged that they showed him reconnecting with his father, but I would have liked that part more if he hadn't immediately reached out to him (it was not supposed to be about his father).

What was Zava doing there in the first half of the season? I really thought that a character like him could have had a better story. But the answer I found is this: they needed that part when the team keeps losing to get to the revelation of total football with Jamie as the director; but they also needed Richmond to have enough points to almost win the whole fucking thing. So they got a star player that got them (alone, with no need to integrate into the team) to the top of the league, and then they made him leave suddenly. At least they made him more interesting that I thought he would be in the beginning.

Sam was also relegated to a much minor role this season (on one hand, the show has a big cast, and if you want some secondary characters to have more space - I'm thinking of Colin especially - you have to take out something else; but on the other, this could have been handled better). "His" episode felt so empty that you could take it out without changing much of the narrative structure of the season. His father was everything we thought he would be and more, and kudos for him not being a Ted-like character.

I kinda wished they would have ignored Rupert after the Akufo episode. I hated that they were showing his human side, but at the end of the episode I thought they were actually going for a very clever choice: he was this larger than life villain in Rebecca's mind, but in the end he's just an aging man, losing power and influence, fading out of everyone's memory. But no, they had to have the wife and mistress rebellion, the re-evilification, the loss of control, the crowd yelling "wanker" at him. I get the parallel, but I don't like it.

I am actually quite happy at Tedbecca not being canon. They had this amazing connection, they changed each other (though as I said above… it was mostly Ted changing Rebecca, not so much the other way around), their relationship was a life altering event. And it was NOT romantic. Sorry not sorry but I love this. I love a show that says that you don't have to be in love to love someone.

Also in general the season felt a little cartoonish. The characters were always on the brink of being caricatures of themselves (and, in the case of the himbos, many times it was not just being on the brink). Amazingly poignant moments followed by silly jokes or wildly out of characters stuff.

I watched the season finale on my way to work wednesday morning because I just couldn't wait. When the episode ended I was crying on a bench, filled with emotion. I know that probably reading what I wrote above it seems like I disliked a lot of things, but I also didn't? There were a lot of good things as well. A lot of love. This show will always have a special place in my heart, no matter the disappointments.

I just wish they could make a season 2 and 3 that fulfilled the promise of season 1. But I also think it was nearly impossible because… season 1 was written pre-covid. It was a different world.