#it's how i feel about connie and how i'm approaching him now

[gabriellessworldd]

Never get yo bitch back!

plug!connie x black fem reader 😛😛

wc- 1.7k!

☆ warnings ☆: mdni! mentions of weed nd alcohol, smut 18+, cheating (established relationship w eren), public-ish sex (bathroom unlocked door), pnv, oral (f receive), Connie and reader have wanted each other for a min, first time writing ever don't drag me y'all pls!! 😓 I kinda want to make this have multiple parts but idk yet. I'm very open to criticism nd I hope y'all enjoy!

"Y/nnnnn, cmon you can come outside for one night!" Your best friend Sasha whined through the screen. As much as you protested, deep down you really did want to go out. Especially because Eren wasn't at home, you really wanted to talk to him since y'all haven't been doing so well recently. Petty arguments, sleepless nights, ig posts, and to top it all off he hasn't been to your house in weeks, not giving y'all anytime to have a conversation.

You check the time and see it's 6:00pm that means you got at least 2-3 hours before you would have to leave. "Girl you right, send me the lo. What you wearin?" Sasha set her phone up to show you the outfit she picked out, "Girl that's cute asf!! Ima match you." Sasha helped you pick out an outfit (1 or 2) that resembled hers. "Okay Sash ima finish my hair nd makeup, lmk when yall otw there." "Bye N/n, i gotchu." Sasha hung up and you continued finishing your hair and makeup.

Once you were in your car you looked at the location, realizing that it was at Jean's house, meaning Connie would be there. There was something so attractive about Connie that you didn't know how to explain, he was just, mesmerizing. You knew you would never be able to approach him tho, him nd Eren had been friends forever, and that was a boundary you wouldn't cross. Nothing being crossfaded couldn't fix..

You pull in front of Jean's house and it's packed, you can hear the music from the street. You text Sasha that you pulled up and fix yourself in the car mirror. "We're waiting for you at the front N/n." You read Sasha's text and get out of your car. When you open the door Mikasa, Annie, Sasha, and some other girls greet you. You scan the crowd feeling a familiar stare, you turn to your right and see a crossfaded Connie Springer and his homeboys sitting on some sofas in the corner. Connie feels you stare back and smirks. 'This finna be interesting.' You think to yourself.

You make your way to the kitchen to take a couple shots, Sasha gets a blunt from Ony, and y'all head upstairs to light up. When the sesh is over you feel amazing, the music is blasting, you're having a great night, and you're a 10, what could be better? You and the girls head downstairs to go dance and enjoy your night. You and Sasha throw ass like there's no tomorrow and Mikasa is right there to catch it. You laugh and stand up straight when you feel the stare of those familiar hazel eyes. "Ima go grab another drink" you tell Sasha and she drukenly nods.

You walk up to the counter where all of the drinks are, "hey connie" you look at him, and smile. He leans in closer to you "wassup mami, you look good. shit, you smell good too." he smiles at you with all of his pearly white teeth and you notice his silver grillz.(#1, #2, #3) God he's so fine. The way his red eyes are hanging low, the smell of his cologne, and his pretty ass accent, triple homicide.

"Where yo man at tho? Thought he was gon come tonight." Connie's confused as to why Eren isn't at this party trailing you like a lost puppy, unless, y'all wasn't on speaking terms right now. He grinned at the thought "Oh um Ion really-" You stuttered out wondering why he would ruin a good conversation. "Nah you ain gotta answer mami, follow me." He held his hand out with a 'hm' and you quickly took it, needing to feel his touch. He lead you upstairs to the first bathroom he saw, he opened the door, "Tu vas primero hermosa" you go first beautiful. You smiled at the sentence and walked in front of him. His eyes naturally trailed down to the best view there was 'Damn.' was all he thought as he watched you walk and felt himself get harder in his sweats.

"So wassup?" You questioned him, almost like a challenge. You leaned your back against the counter and looked into his eyes. "To be honest ion wanna play no games ma, you know what I want." He leaned towards you, muscular and veiny arms on both sides of you, caging you in.

You could feel the tension grow as both of you realized just how badly you needed the other. "Can I?" Connie asks to kiss you 'and he's respectful omg add that to the list' you think, "Yes, you can." As soon as those three words came out of your mouth, Connie grabbed the back of your neck and pulled you to him, his other hand quickly found your ass and squeezed, while your hands slid their way into his scruffy buzzcut. The kiss was passionate but it also had a hint of hunger, longing almost, like both of you waited your whole lives for this. Both of your tongues fighting for dominance, and both of you wanted, no, craved more from each other. Connie's large hand found it's way to your throat and he squeezed softly earning a light moan from you, Connie pulled away, a string of saliva connecting you two.

"Ay dios mio mami" oh my god Connie whispered. Connie littered bites and hickeys down your neck and exposed cleavage, not caring who would see. He tapped on your thigh, a signal for you to stand so he could remove your pants. He then picked you up and set you back down on the counter, he kissed the insides of your thighs and left a trail of bites. He looked up at you for confirmation, and you nodded your head, he pulled your panties to the side. Connie was in a trance, the way your folds were so puffy, the way they were covered in wetness, connie almost came in his pants at the sight. "Fuck." was all he said before he began kissing and sucking on your lips. He spread them open with his middle and index finger, and could've sworn he saw heaven.

He plunged his fingers inside your wet hole, sucking on your clit while he pumped his fingers in you nice and slow. "Fuck con" you let out a soft moan, it was like music to his ears. He worked his fingers a little faster and curled them up grazing over your spot. "o-oh fuck connie mmhm, right there" He came up, bottom half of his face covered in your sweet juices "You taste so sweet, princesa" and with that he went back down and devoured you like you were his last meal. "a-ah mm con. That feels soo good" you whispered, feather light moans. You could feel the knot in your stomach tightening as he pushed his tongue in and out of your hole. "Cmon mami let me hear you." he felt you squeeze his tongue and pull his hair, that was enough to let him know. He pushed his fingers back in and started pumping at an insane speed.

"Go ahead ma, let me taste all of you" Your thighs tightened around his head as you felt your high coming. "ah connie 'm gonna cum, fuck!" you moaned out louder than before, he curled his fingers again, making you throw your head back and squeeze your eyes closed. "Joder, eres tan deliciosa." damn, you're so delicious.

Connie stood up and your hands immediately found the band of his sweats and boxers, in one tug you pulled them both down. "Eager much huh mami? Well I expect you to take it all then." Your eyes widened at the statement but your thoughts were cut short when you heard him speak again. "Turn around for me mami, and don't take your eyes off the mirror." The dominance in his voice made you even wetter. You turned around towards the mirror and he slid off your panties.

He smeared his tip on your folds, collecting your wetness. Without warning he pushed his full length in, starting off with slow strokes. "Fuck mami, you're squeezing me so tight" You arched your back a little more and relaxed. He starts moving quicker and palms the fat of your ass.

Connie props one of your legs on the counter and smacks your ass. "f-fuck connie oh!" hearing you get louder, not caring if anyone could hear you, only riled him up more. He snaked his hand around your throat pulling your head up more so you could see what a mess he made of you. Your lip liner gone, mascara smeared on your damp bottom eyelashes, and a fucked out expression. Connie thought you looked perfect.

"Y-yes mami, take all t-this dick" you hear him stutter his calm demeanor fading away as he fucks into you at an unruly pace. "Ah! Con so good. i-it's so big" He smacks your ass again and continues fucking you.

He pulls out and you pout feeling empty "Calmate princesa." calm down princess He chuckles and flips you on your back then he pulls your hips closer to him. He pushes back into you, not wasting any time. Connie pushes your legs back a little more "Keep 'em right there ma." You hold the back of your knees with your hands, feeling connie's tip hit all the right places, Connie places a heavy hand on your lower stomach and he presses down. "a-ah con please! it feels soo good." You and Connie both feel yourselves about to cum.

"Con 'm about to cum! ah please Connie!" You can feel your thighs starting to shake, "g-go ahead mami, fuck you're so perfect. m-make a mess all over me." Connie rubs on your sensitive bud and keeps fucking you deep. You can feel a wave of pleasure wash over you and your vision turns white. "Ah! Connie fuck 'm cumming!" You yell, "f-fuck me too ma." You notice his voice falter and crack at the end, he sounds so angelic. He pulls out and hot, white, ropes coat your tummy.

Connie begins wiping off your stomach and he leans in to kiss you, but he sees something in the corner of his eye, almost like a, figure. "Shit" Connie says blankly, putting his pants back on. You scramble to put your clothes back on and turn to see Eren standing there looking pissed.

"what.. what the fuck is wrong with y'all?"

Whew chileeeee. y'all did I at least nibble or what 👀 but lmk if I should make this multiple parts, also give me title ideas!! lmk if y'all want to be tagged in the next parts! love u all nd I hope y'all had as much fun reading as I had writing this! (watch nb read ts #embarrasing 😰)

- with lots of love, gabrielle <3

[charlotteswriting]

"I'm Afraid I Might Lose You As Well"

#AOT : Jean x Reader

💌: No one requested this. I'm just having a Jean brainrot and thinking about his and marco's friendship. Prompt is Jean receiving comfort because he needs it. Btw my requests are open ❤️‍🩹

It wasn't easy for you to sneak into men's dorm. But you had to. Ever since the death of Marco, Jean, your closest friend in the cadets, has been avoiding you.

It wasn't personal, you knew it.

You've been observing Jean from distance. You noticed how he didn't talk to anyone. Barely went out during his free time, sat alone while eating, heck, did he even touch his food.

It was like he was a ghost. Like when Marco left, he did too.

You never gave up on him though. Whenever he walked past you, pretending he didn't see you, you would wave at him. Try to stop him, asking how he is doing, even when he didn't answer you.

And now you are in the men's dorm, dressed up like a boy. If they found out you couldn't imagine what they would do to you. Washing the dishes for a month would be the lightest punishment they could give you.

But you didn't care.

Suddenly you didn't want him to ghost you. You wanted to have a conversation. But there was no sight of Jean.

"Psst, Connie."

You called out. Connie's eyes widening with shock as he recognized you.

"Y/n, what the hell are you doing here??"

You closed his mouth with your hand.

"Don't make a scene. I am just looking for Jean, do you know where he is?"

Connie's eyes softened upon hearing that

"Couldn't you pick daytime to talk to him...? You know it's prohibited for you to be here."

"I know I could. But I couldn't help it. I am just so worried about him, alright? Can you please tell me where he is if you know."

Connie huffed, nodding in approval "Okay I'll show you but don't get caught or you'll be in serious trouble."

A smile took over your face. Connie guided you through the way, taking you out, through the forest. You followed him without questioning. After a while you reached a cliff. Standing behind a bush, Connie pointed at the figure who was sitting at the edge.

"There he is. I'll leave you alone now. And you owe me, alright?" He said as he took his leave. You simply nodded, you'll pay back in future somehow.

You approached Jean slowly, careful not to scare him.

"Jean," You called out softly.

He didn't flinch, turning his head.

He looked at you confused, trying to recognize you.

"Y/n?"

You approached him sitting next to him on the edge of the cliff.

"What're you doing here and why are you looking like a boy?"

"I wanted to talk to you."

He tensed up. "Talk to me..? About what?"

"How are you dealing with..." You asked hesitantly. It was a sensitive subject after all.

"Uh. That, I don't know. I'm good, I guess."

"Sorry, I got no say in this. But I am just worried about you."

"You don't have to be worried about me... I am doing alright."

You look at him, furrowing your eyebrows "Since when do you lie to me?"

He looks at you for a moment, before resting his head on your shoulder. "Can we just, stay like this? I don't want to think about anything."

You sigh then relax your shoulders. Enjoying the view with him. You looked up at the sky, each star was shining brighter than the other. Until now you hadn't realized how many stars were in the night sky.

"It's not just Marco..." He spoke up "It's just how pointless this all feels." You listen to him patiently "He wanted to be something big, to serve the king, be safe... and maybe someday create a family... I don't know. All of his dreams were taken away from him. It's just so cruel. And so unexpected. A moment ago he was encouraging me. Even I almost believed we were all going to get out. Safe and sound. It shouldn't have been him.. Supposed to be someone who wasn't so full of life and hope. It was supposed to be..."

"It shouldn't happen to anyone." You cut him off. "Nobody deserves that."

He looks down. Not even a single moment he looked at the sky. It was like he wasn't deserving of it.

"I know. But I can't keep thinking about it. I get so mad at myself..."

You take his hands in yours, at least you try to. His hands are twice big size compared to yours. His cheeks flushed at the sudden move, his eyes finding yours.

"It's all good... time will heal."

"Time will heal?" He looks at you in disbelief, his hands moving to your waist as he holds you close. "I don't want it to heal, I just don't want it happening to anyone else... Especially you. Heck, not even myself." He mutters out hesitantly.

There's so much space between you and him, even though he's holding you close. It's like he's pushing you away on purpose. The more he pushes you, the less he will get hurt.

"It won't happen to me."

His grip on your waist tightened as he heard that.

"Don't make promises. None of us know what will happen tomorrow." He murmurs, tilting his head down "I am afraid I might lose you as well." There was pure pain in his voice as his voice cracked. Until now, he didn't know how to reach out.

You gently hold his chin, tilting his head up to face you.

"You won't." You say promisingly.

His eyes shined with the smallest piece of hope. He hated promises. Forgotten promises. But for the first time, he wanted to believe one. He wanted it more than anything. He leaned close, pressing a peck on your forehead. Sealing it with a kiss.

"I truly wish that."

[zoros-bandana]

Ok ima be specific about this zoro x a science/inventor reader where she used to nice and clumsy with her inventions and hang around zoro until he got mad at her after thriller bark when she was caring for her and then timeskip then once they get back he wonders why she doesn't talk to him and itll be like a steven and connie scenario where there a big party as the others try to make them talk again but take the wrong way until they forgive each other

Hi lovely, I haven't seen Steven Universe so I had to do some research and I'm hoping you were referring to Kevin's Party? hopefully so since that is what I found to pull inspiration from x This was also really fun to write, putting in little bits from various crew-mates POV so thank you for this request

The Banquet

SFW

Zoro x fem reader

Multiple crew POV

Warning: slight Thriller Bark spoilers, slight Sabaody spoilers, slight Fisherman Island spoilers, mentions of threats (usual Zoro/Sanji banter)

Summary: The crews reunion turned sour once you and Zoro shared the same space. There was obvious tension from when you last spoke, hindering on the bitter tone of his words to you. With the crew sick of the avoidance, Nami and Usopp lead a plan to have you reconnect at the King's Banquet, hopeful the uncomfortable avoidance will be resolved.

Word Count: 3,400

"So you think this is going to work?"

"It has to" Nami insisted, turning her head in search of Usopp. She had strategically put a plan into place, sharing the news with everyone except for you or Zoro; giving the best chance of success. "If I have to watch them both ignore one another for one second longer I'm going to lose it! They can only sulk for so long before it gets under my skin!"

"I think it's making its way under everyone's skin; including theirs"

"Which is why this is going to work"

"Shh" Robin laughed, nudging her friend gently. "She's coming over"

———————

"Y/n" Robin waved, shuffling over to make space for you to sit down. You had gone in search of something to drink, the night still very occupied for the King's Banquet in celebration of your crews assistance to defend Fisherman Island. Along your way you kept a weary eye out for Zoro, shifting ignoring every green coloured object in your way.

"There you are... I thought I lost my way for a while trying to come back over here"

You gracefully sat beside your friend, huddling close as the music throbbed to your right. You held the glass in your hands, keeping it close to act as support, knowing the tension in the air that loomed over you. It was obvious since the crews return of the awkwardness between you and Zoro, almost deafening in a room full of obnoxious activities.

"Uh huh" Nami smiled, taking a sip from her wine. "That sounds like a certain person we know. Say, Y/n, have you had a chance to speak to Zoro tonight?"

You scoffed. "Absolutely not"

"Why not?" Robin question, her tone soft as usual. She didn't pry on such events, her usual kindness and concern for her friends making it easy to succumb to her questions.

"I don't particularly want to talk to him after what he said to me, and how he said it. I know he was hurt but there was still no excuse in how he put me down like that"

"What if he apologised?"

"Now we all know that thick headed idiot doesn't even know how to spell that word, let alone know how to make one"

"Y/n, answer the question"

You sighed, glancing quickly over in his direction, walled behind a few of your friends. You had always thought about it, approaching him first even just to get him to talk to you, but you never saw the point. How would he know he was in the wrong if he didn't initiate conversation first?

"I'm not sure" you looked back over to the girls. They shared the same hopeful face, smiling sweetly, making you feel safe in their company. "Maybe?"

"That's good enough for me..." Nami mumbled under her breath, covering her voice up as she took another sip, her attention shifting to Usopp.

———————

"Wait, what's the plan again?" Luffy scratched his head, tilting to one side.

"I already told you!" Usopp snapped, annoyed having to repeat himself for the sixth time in the last hour. "We get Zoro over to Y/n so they can talk it out and stop ignoring one another"

"Oh yeah!" Luffy laughed, "I remember now"

"Yeah, but for how long..." Usopp mumbled, noting Zoro as he sat in the corner; still from when you had all entered hours ago. He was occupied from the bottles of alcohol that surrounded him, clearly intoxicated by the way he moved, his eyes shutting in show motions.

Continuing his search, Usopp caught the eye of Nami, waving her down with a sly signal, letting her know the operation was in place. She returned the signal, turning back towards yourself and Robin to execute her end of the plan.

"Sanji?"

"Mmm?"

"You sure you want to be the one to do this?"

Sanji clapped his hands together, drunk on the thought of Nami. "Anything to please my sweet Nami-Swan!"

"Alright, sorry I asked..."

Usopp swiftly pushed Sanji into Zoro's direction, bracing himself for a clash to unfold. He was surprised when Sanji had volunteered to help, however, now understanding his willingness to help Nami, it became clear he would set aside his pride to be in her good book for a while.

———————

"Oi, Marimo"

"What the hell do you want, curly brow?" Zoro snapped, opening his eye. As he looked up it was if he had sobered up immediately, not wishing to be caught off guard by someone like Sanji.

Kicking the bottle aimlessly, Sanji ignored looking directly at Zoro, disgusted to be in his presence; but determined to obey Nami's wish. "I can't believe you're still just as drunk and useless as before. Or maybe I can, it is you after all... and I expect nothing but disgusting behaviour from you"

"What the hell did you say?"

"Oh, and you're deaf now too? A wonderful addition for the greatest swordsman you so wish to become"

"You better watch what you say stupid cook or the next thing that will be flying out of your mouth is those teeth"

Sanji laughed, amused by Zoro's attempt to sound tough; knowing he couldn't kick his ass if he was even sober. Lighting up a cigarette Sanji let room for a dramatic pause, building Zoro's anger all the more painful. He wanted to let him sweat, bath in his fury in a wish to escape, hoping the rest of his friends were sticking to their end of the plan; not screwing it up for his beloved navigator.

Taking a long drawn out puff, Sanji soothed the smoke around him, clouding Zoro's view. He was prepared to fight back if things turned sour, Zoro obvious to the script given, widening his stance just a bit more than usual.

"Not if I end up knocking you on your ass first, moss head"

———————

Looking up from your drink you noticed a comfortable laugh, meeting Luffy as he sat opposite you; Usopp sitting to his left. In one hand, Luffy had gathered a flowing bowl of food, unusual to the group as food services has ceased mere hours ago. They easily slid into conversation, Nami and Usopp counteracting off one another as usual; Luffy too busy with the food to chime in.

As Robin's eye slid from the group she noticed a commotion caused by Sanji, drifting her attention to where Zoro sat. She half nudged to you, although spoke loud enough for Luffy to hear.

"Zoro looks rather uncomfortable"

You followed her gaze, alongside Luffy, finding the tufts of green behind the stack of bottles and Sanji's tall figure. It was obvious the two were bickering - as usual - their body language intense and stubborn.

Amused by his friends, Luffy took a moment to finish eating, swallowing the chunk of meat wedged in his mouth. His body turned, already forgetting his mission but proceeding out of the goodness of his heart.

"Oi, Zoro!" Luffy called.

The group shifted their attention, looking over to where Zoro sat, apart from you, the grimace on his face a clear indicator of what everyone was looking for; a clear way for him to come over. Everyone around you exchanged a look, proud as Luffy waved his arms around, catching Zoro's attention.

All it took was Luffy's instructions, a simple obedience from the captains right hand man, and the plan would continue the smooth sailing in place.

"Come over here!"

———————

Intruded by the inviting idea of separation, Zoro quickly left from his spot. He ignored the wobble in his legs, grasping his swords tight as he shoved past Sanji, making his way over to where his captain sat.

From his angle there looked to be four of his friends, laughing and having a better time than what he was experiencing currently. He didn't mind if he had to listen to the nagging voice of Nami as she spoke, mindlessly chatting to Robin, who as usual, looked deep in thought. He would be happy to engage with Luffy when he could, making the top of his list for favourite people in a heartbeat, enjoying the pleasant conversation as he joked with Usopp.

As he crashed down into the circle he caught sight of something he hadn't noticed before, sitting to his left, hidden by the figures of his friends. A crushing stutter caught him in a choke, punching the air from his lungs. His heartbeat was horrifically loud, pounding in his ears, not expecting you to be here, so close to him; smelling so inviting.

"Y/n?"

———————

You could feel the group grow quiet, half expecting you to say something, surprised Zoro even spoke to you at all. It had been years since he attempted any form of conversation, the last time ending a lot differently than his current tone now.

"Hi?" you shrugged, looking away from him back to Robin, ignoring the blistering heat of embarrassment across your face.

Zoro grumbled something, half attempting to get up but remembered Sanji, looking over his shoulder as if to keep him in place. He refused to engage in any looming conversation, as much as they tried to include him, keeping to himself as he fidgeted, agitated of this current predicament.

He was trapped.

Once again Robin nudged you, laughing as you rolled your eyes at her now obvious attempt to get you to talk to Zoro. Her face continued to remain hopeful, even attempting to bring Zoro to join in; which he quickly rejected.

"Stop trying to make it happen..." you mumbled to her, leaning in close so nobody would overhear. "He is clearly not going to make things better between us so there is no point in trying to get us to talk"

Grinning innocently she took a sip from her wine. "I have no idea what you're talking about, Y/n"

"Robin, please!" you begged, hoping someone would back you up here. Everyone knew how much he hurt you, unable to hide your raw emotions after the fight, turning cold and almost frightened at his mere presence. And it stung, seeing all your friends ignorant to your feelings, pushing you to do something uncomfortable.

How come Zoro wasn't getting this treatment?

Why wasn't he being pushed to speak to you?

You stood up, unable to take any more of the growing intolerance between you and Zoro. If something was to happen moving forward you were not going to be the one to break first. "I'm going to grab another drink"

———————

Robin watched as you walked away, an added annoyance in your strut as you quickly chugged the remainder of your drink. She sighed, turning to Nami, afraid the plan was getting out of hand. "Nami..."

Nami held her finger up, stopping Robin from counting further, knowing what she was referring to. "I've got this"

She had noticed Zoro's dazed state, realising your disappearance may have unnoticed to him. Thinking quickly she drunk the remainder of her drink, pinching Robin's out of her hand, before finishing that as well.

"Oi, Zoro, go get us some more drinks" Nami extended her arm out in his direction, drinking glasses twisted through her fingers.

Zoro scoffed. "Why would I want to do that?"

"Because you would do anything to get some alcohol in that empty hand of yours, and I told you to" Nami pressed her lips into a thin line, handing her glass over to him. "Now go!"

———————

Mumbling under his breath, Zoro trudged back over to the drink table, slamming the glasses down. The table was still flowing with bottles of various alcohol and barrels of beer, which Zoro was sure to swipe of mug off on his quest.

As he fumbled around the bottles of wine he caught a whiff of you, transporting back to moments ago sat by your side. Actually, he never noticed you leave your spot. He wondered where you went, both as of now and after Sabaody. He missed you terribly, forcing his memory of you to be pushed to the back of his mind, too focused to worry about the addition of his friends. He missed everyone - even the presence of Sanji - but nothing hurt him as much as returning to silence.

Zoro missed your chatter, your laughter, having you accompany him with stupid experiments. He missed how you would annoy him with help, both to rest and to assist with various things in the name of science. He enjoyed your stories, babbling on with terms he didn't understand, but the joy in your eyes was enough to get him through.

He missed having you around.

He would do anything to have you back.

As his hand came over to the barrel, there was a slight touch, gentle and cautious, pulling away as soon as you both touched hands. The voice sung a swat apology, Zoro looking over to grunt at the person, annoyed of their close proximity.

Looking up he was quick to meet your eye, looking away just as fast, embarrassed he didn't see you there. Again.

It was a common theme for him tonight, almost overlooking you like a shadow without means. He was confused, hurt, but knew if something were to happen now would be the time to ask. He needed to know why you were ignoring him.

Maybe attempting to smooth things over wouldn't be so bad?

———————

"Beer, huh?"

"Hmm?" you stopped pouring, setting the mug down onto the table; grasping it firmly for comfort. You refused to look over in his direct, feeling his body do the same, unable to meet each other in an eye lock.

"I didn't think you drank that stuff"

"Well, there's a lot you don't know about me. A lot can change in two years, you know"

He went quiet to that, skipping a beat.

"You still... doing those experiments?"

You turned your body towards him, cocking an eyebrow at his attempt to small talk; wondering what your friends had said to him. Surely Nami had got to him, assuming Robin was too polite to be forceful and direct him your way.

"Is this your attempt to say sorry to me?"

"What?"

"Are you trying to apologise for your behaviour, Zoro? How you treated me? Or are just going to pretend like that never happened?"

"I-" Zoro fumbled, not entirely sure what to say. "What would I apologise for?"

Zoro could see his response hurt, your face dropping, a slight quiver in your lip. Your hand let go of the mug, balling at your side in rage, turning your knuckles a ghostly shade of white. An inconvenient swear parted your lips, furious he had the nerve to even say that to you.

How could he still be so blind and ignorant?

Brushing past him you made sure to hit him on the way, cementing your frustrations. It wasn't enough to let him mentally paint the picture anymore, waiting for some half-ass apology that had no value to his words; only to stop you behaving in such a sour way. It was tiring, exhausting, wondering if maybe you would come back to him the same as he always used to be, forgetting about how he treated you, resuming your friendship, or if he would take the plunge and own up to his mistake.

And unfortunately neither was an option.

Zoro's head followed you, looking over his shoulder as you walked away from him. There was a drop in his stomach, realising why exactly now you were ignoring him; hurt by his actions. But Zoro had no idea why. Until he remembered the fight.

Your face held a familiar look to how you looked before, back in Sabaody; back when he snapped at you. He could clearly remember the whimper and shake of your lip, almost frightened by how he raised his voice at you.

You were scared of him.

He made you retreat from him - afraid to get hurt again.

Swearing under his breath Zoro realised what he had done, realising there was a reason for your blunt behaviour that he hadn't thought about before. He was so blind to his own selfish goal over the two years it never occurred his actions had consequences on you; or anyone else for that matter.

Leaving the glasses on the table, Zoro followed you, struggling to keep up as you darted out of the banquet. He picked up to a steady jog, the only indicator of you the linger scent that curled his toes to think about. A wash of blame fell over him, never understanding why it took him this long to piece together what he did. He had time. 2 years. 2 years to think about everything but somehow this slipped his mind.

He hoped he could repair what he broke.

"Y/n, wait..."

Zoro continued to follow you outside, a deep hazy blue surrounding you as you stood by the doors of the palace. It was quiet, still, the loss of people still hoarding in the banquet giving an almost apocalyptic feel.

As he lunched to you, Zoro's hand gripped your arm stopping you in your tracks, the amount of force made you turn on your heels, allowing him to face you properly. "Is this why you've been avoiding me?"

You struggled to look up at him, knowing if you did you would cry. His grip was strong, although you knew it would be easy to break away from him if you wanted to, giving you the freedom to disappear again. He just wanted an answer.

"I wasn't trying to ignore you. I was going to speak to you... I thought about it, but it didn't make any sense. I wasn't making any sense. I thought, if we are going to talk then I need to get an apology; something sincere from you. And so I came back and I saw you and you said nothing, and any time we were together, you said nothing. And now we're here and you're still not saying anything to me"

Zoro continued to stay silent, hoping you would explain deeper.

"What you said to me back then, how you handled your emotions and lashed out at me for helping you, it wasn't fair. And now I don't know how to act around you and it isn't fair. I don't know how to feel. I'm angry. I miss you. I feel like I'm out of my mind!"

"No, you're not! I snapped at you when you were just trying to help me, care for me, and you didn't need me doing that to you. I was cruel. And I came back and tried to act like it was no big deal, but it was a big deal! I couldn't stand the thought of you not speaking to me ever again, but then I was also doing it to you! I made a promise to myself and it got in the way of how I treated you, and so I'm sorry! Nakamas?"

You smiled up at him, ignoring the stream of tears that clouded your vision. There was only thing you truely wanted when the crew reunited and now you had it, an apology, a genuine apology from Zoro.

"Nakamas"

Your arms flew around Zoro's middle, pulling yourself to him in an embrace, feeling his body stiffen at the contact. You were aware of his strict dismissal of affection, however you didn't care, leaning into the idea everything was okay between you two. And it was.

Zoro reciprocated the hug, keeping you close, his face leaning down to bury into the tuft go hair atop of your head. His body relaxed, engulfing you tighter into his body, pressing the smell of musk and steel against your skin.

He was happy. For the first time in a long time he was happy. It felt so good, so right to have you like this; speaking to him again. It was if the moment he snapped a part of him went missing, your presence dissolving from his life and also a part of him he wasn't sure he could ever get back. But here he was, completely whole, and he refused to let something like that come between you two again.

"I'm so glad I have you back, Y/n"

[casualaruanienjoyer]

post war Jeanpiku?

Hello anon! Thank you for requesting something so tasty!😭 I love Jeanpiku. I've not writted Pieck so I hope I can nail it!

Anyway, onwards!!

Sharing a bed

Jean and Pieck bicker often. So often, in fact, that their tents at Fort Salta couldn't be further apart.

It's only been a couple of weeks since the rumbling and things were still looking pretty unstable around Fort Salta. Armin, now commander, was tasked with organizing everything from resources to communication. They would do manual labour during the day, and meetings late in the evenings.

Jean was Armin's right hand, and he was there to support him no matter what. But tonight there is no meeting.

The catastrophic events of the rumbling had affected the weather, making it extremely unpredictable. Today was one of those days.

The rainfall was short but heavy enough to damage some tents. Armin and Muller decided it would be best to sort out the issue during daylight, so everyone was asked to form groups and share some of the intact tents for the night.

This is why, unfortunately, Jean is now stuck between a snoring Connie and a smirking Pieck. His tent never felt this small before. They had to push two makeshift mattresses together to fit the three of them, and even so it was still very much shoulder to shoulder. Fortunately for Jean, Connie fell asleep the moment he hit the mattress. At least he didn't have to deal with him tonight. Unfortunately, he has other problems.

Jean rests on his back, eyes fixed on the ceiling of their tent. His back feels stiff and he cannot relax for the life of him.

"Look, don't get too cosy in here, alright?" Jean is uncomfortable. Not that those shitty mattresses were ever comfortable to begin with, but at least before all this he had his own space. -Personal- space. Which is now breached by an intruder.

"Aw but Jean, I'm just trying to relax a bit" Pieck teases him. She's resting on her side, awfully close to him.

"Remind me again WHY you had to pick OUR tent to sleep in?" Jean groaned. "Why couldn't you pick Annie's?"

"She's sharing it with her dad, and his reduced mobility means he needs the extra space" she shifts to rest her head in her palm, elbow digging into her pillow. "Besides, I think we need to work on -us- a bit, you know?"

"What does -that- mean?!" He hisses at her, but keeps his voice low. He really doesn't want to deal with two pricks tonight.

"You know, I feel like you don't really like me. And I want to know why". Pieck's hair cascades over her shoulders, and Jean avoids looking at her visible cleavage.

It's not that he didn't like Pieck. After all these years, Jean still didn't know how to approach girls he had a crush on. Yes, Pieck is, unfortunately, exactly his type. Long, black hair, soft eyes and a nice figure. But unlike Mikasa, who was stoic and level-headed, Pieck was seriously driving him nuts: cunning, mysterious and above all, a seductive devil.

She knew exactly what she was doing every time she teased him around camp and every time she tried to hug him tightly. She's manipulative and Jean has no idea how to deal with women like her.

Every other girl he met in the military had always been very righteous, disciplined, well maybe except for Sasha. Pieck is a mystery to him. An alien.

"You're making it very hard for me to like you, quite frankly" he crosses his arms over his chest, sighing. "There's nothing to talk about, we should sleep."

"Ooor, you could tell me what I could do to make you feel more comfortable around me~". She whispers in a low purr, tucking some hair behind her ear.

"First of all, stop that. You always overdo it" Jean manages to look at her, trying to remain calm. But even in the dark she looks so beautiful that he can't help but blush.

"Overdo what, exactly?"

"Y-your flirting. It's not elegant at all." He mutters, looking back up at the ceiling. It's so much easier to talk when her face isn't a distraction.

Pieck's eyes widen. "Flirting? Me? With you??". But her tone is playful.

"Look, if you want something just tell me. I don't enjoy being teased. And I certainly don't like girls who play with my feelings" he shifts, uncomfortable. Now he's done it.

"Is that what you think of me...?" Pieck whispers, sounding somewhat sad.

"Well, you're confusing, that's for sure." He pauses, measuring his words. "Look...guys like girls that are direct." He sighs. "How am I supposed to know if your flirting is genuine or not-?"

"Kiss me"

Jean blinks. Once, twice. His face reddens.

"What?!"

"You want me to be direct? I can be. So kiss me." She whispers, pointing at her lips.

This can't be real.

"Pieck, I swear, if this is another one of your games-"

"Jean, I know you like me"

Silence. Utter silence. Jean wishes he could disappear.

"W-what makes you think that?!"

"You're not very good at hiding it, you know?" She laughs softly.

Jean closed his eyes, thinking of of all the choices that led to this very moment. All the times he found himself glancing her way. The times where they worked together day and night. The way she made him feel like he was falling in love again. He was already a lost cause, might as well go for it, right? "And what if I do?"

"Then kiss me"

💜This fic is now also on AO3 !

[twilovesshuake]

A Modern Au (Part 1)

(Levi Ackerman x female reader)

You joined the Shiganshina Academy not too long ago. You instantly became friends with pretty much everyone. Eren, Armin, Mikasa, Jean, Sasha, Connie and also Hange. But there was this one person you wanted to be friends with more than anyone and that person was Levi Ackerman.

He would always keep his distance from the group and would be by himself most of the time. It seemed like he kept himself a distant from the group. The only close friend he seemed to have was Hange. She was the only one he talked to.

But you always wanted to know and learn more about him. Every time you tried to talk to him he would just ignore you and leave. One day there was this music band setup that was going to take place in the town of Shiganshina. The whole group was going to this event except for Levi. You decided that it's finally time you ask Levi to join with you and you're group.

So, you go to him and tell him to join with all of you. "No, I'm not interested" is all he said and then he left. You felt a little upset about him rejecting you. You won't admit it out loud but ever since you joined the academy and meet Levi for the first time you knew that you have a crush on this man. But you didn't even know if he even feels the same way about you. The guy always keep to himself. Doesn't intract with anyone if necessary.

So, you kept those feelings inside of you and didn't had the courage to tell him how you really feel. But you still wanted to be friends with him and wanted to spend some time with him, get to know him. However it seemed impossible as he was turning down anything you requested of him.

But anyway you decided to go with the group minus Levi to the music band anyway. It was actually set up by your school club. As you were walking to the town you kept thinking about Levi. It was unfair how handsome he looked all the time without even trying. He didn't talk much, but when he did it was music to your ears. Suddenly you were blushing at the thought of this and Eren caught you blushing. "Woah, Y/n is that blushing that I see in your face?". Upon hearing that you quickly turn your face away. "Let me guess, thinking about some boy, aren't you?" Hange said.

N-no, I just just thinking about the weather it looks beautiful today doesn't it?" You said. "Come on now, no one blushes this much over the weather, it's gotta be a boy" Mikasa said. "Come on! just tell us, who is it?" Sasha asked. "I already told you it's no one" You Said. "C’mon don't pester Y/n like this. If she doesn't wanna talk about this topic then we shouldn't force her about it" Armin said. "Alright fineee..." Eren sighed. "Yes! Thank you, Armin" You thought to yourself.

When you arrived there. You and the others were not enjoying this school band music at all. "Ugh this is so boring why'd we even come here?" Jean asked annoyingly. "Yeah none of them can actually play good music. I'm starting to get bored" Connie said. "Maybe we should just leave and go somewhere fun, it's really boring in here anyway" You said. As you all were about to leave suddenly a guy from the band of you're school approaches you

"Hey-y, you're Y/n, right?" He asked. "Yeah I am, what do you want?" You asked. "Um..Well I was wondering if you want to hang out sometime with me, like maybe tomorrow?". You knew this guy, I mean you both go to the same school but just in different classroom. You've talked to him sometimes here and there. He genuinely seems like a nice guy but you didn't really wanna hang out with him like that. "It's ok if you don't want to, I can understand-". But you interrupt him before he could finish talking "It's not like that! listen I would like to hangout with you but it just so happens that I already have plans for tomorrow with someone" You lie to him.

This guy was genuinely a nice person but you didn't wanna outright rejected him, you'd feel really bad if you did that so instead you lied to him. "You do?" Eren asked. “Yes! Uh… me and… Levi are going out for ice cream tomorrow!” You lied again. "Crap, what the hell am I saying?" You thought to yourself. "You are?" you're friends echoed. "Yes, I am! So that’s why we can’t hang out tomorrow, no other reason! We’re just going out as friends, nothing more! Yep, Levi and I, getting ice cream, just friends, haha!"

"Okay…" the guy said slowly. "Well, uh, you two have fun then." "Yep haha" You said."What the hell did I get myself into...now everyone tomorrow will be asking how the hangout went!" You thought to yourself. "Wow I didn't know Levi hung out with you nowadays, well it's good to know that he's finally socializing with some else" Hange said. "Haha yeah..." You laugh nervously.

So, uh, do any of you know where Levi lives?” You ask you're friends. "Huh, that’s a good question. Hey, Hange, do you know where Levi lives?" asked Connie

"Uh, yeah. I know where he… lives." Hange said. "Great, can you me his address?" You ask Hange. "Uh look it isn't going to be that easy, Levi only told me about his home address and promised to not to tell anyone where he lives, he kind of wants to keep that personal" Hange Said.

"Come on, we all wanna talk to him even if he doesn't talk to us that much, we still consider him our friend. So I'd say let's go visit him and brighten his day up a little" Eren said. "I don't know about that, he might get angry if he found out that I told his house address to all of you without asking for his permission first" Hange said. "But it's not like we're gonna annoy him or anything we just wanna go and say hi to him" Sasha said.

"Look, Hange please, I need your help, if he gets mad I'll just tell him that I asked you to tell me about his address and then it won't be your fault" You tell Hange.

"Yeah, we're curious about him too you know? Always keeping himself quiet, we just wanna learn more about him and try to be friends with him" Mikasa said. "Alright fine, I'll take you guys there but behave yourselfs okay? Levi isn't the type to enjoy people coming to his house out of the blue" Hange sighs.

"Alright, you got it!" Eren said.

"Let's go see him then" You Said

"Hope I don't get in trouble for this!" You thought to yourself.

PS: Sorry if my english is not fully correct. This is my first time writing an Au. So you know mistakes can happen. 😅

[arminsumi]

could you do armin with prompt 3 from your wholesome list ❤️ (i love your work btw😙)

Sure thing, dearie! (¯▿¯) And thank you so much, I deeply appreciate it!

Shoot your shot!

"Shy!char confessing to shy!Y/n"

Armin is a shy mess when he finally walks up to you to confess, but he didn't expect you to be, too!

Cws; the fluffiest fluff you will ever read

Notes; gn!Y/n, college au

Rec ♫ : Crushcrushcrush

"Shoot your shot, man!"

"Come on Armin, just go for it. Y/n's right there!"

"You won't regret it! — er — well, you probably will..."

"Shut up, Connie. Armin, go get 'em!"

"Don't overthink it! Go on!"

Mika shoved Armin so that he would move. He audibly gulped. There you were; sitting cool and composed under the arches of the campus' great hall.

All of his friend's encouragement and support echoed in Armin's mind as he timidly walked over to you.

Well, timid isn't exactly right; he had an awkward, staggering gait, like he was approaching a deer in the wild and trying not to scare it.

It felt like the longest walk of his life, even though you really were right there; you sat by the tall archways, taking notes before class.

Every day you pass each other down this corridor on the way to class. It's always an exchange of timid smiles, subtle nods. The only time you two really get to talk together is when you have study sessions in the library. That's when you find yourself dissolving into giggles over Armin's awful puns.

But when he's walking up to you, his mind fills with doubts, his heart races, his palms get clammy, does his breath smell okay? Does he look okay? Are his eyebags apparent?

"Hey, um... Y/n?" He greets you apprehensively.

His shoulders are tensed together; his body speaks volumes about his shyness, but on his face there is a cutely lopsided smile.

"Hey..." You smile up at him. Oh his mind is in disarray now, what was it that he came here to say to you again?

"How — how are you?" He asks. He's trying so hard to be smooth and natural that it's almost obvious what he's here to say.

"I'm a bit sleepy... but alright! Are you okay?" You ask caringly.

"I'm good!" He squeaks, "Uh, I just, came over here because — " He glances back to his friends.

You don't notice them giving Armin thumbs ups.

He continues, looking back at you, " — Because I wanted to ask you — " He chokes up, " — out on a — daaaaaaaaaaa-y out, a day out? Um..."

"Huh?" You blink at him, feeling warmth spread throughout your chest, "S-sorry, what was that?"

"Um..." He looks down, "Um, I — " He stammers terribly. His voice is so quiet that you strain your ears to listen.

You give him curious eyes. You've never seen him so uncomposed before. He's falling apart at the seams.

Before you open your mouth to ask if he's okay, he blurts out;

"Look,Ijust...Ireallylikeyou, doyouwannagooutsometime? Likeonadate?"

It took you a second to decipher what in the world he just said.

"A... d-date?" You blink. It's your turn to stammer, "Like... like a... date date?"

"Yeah?" Armin looks away and rubs the back of his neck.

"I — um, yes! I'd love that..." You agree, and you mumble the next part so quietly that Armin barely hears it, "I — I've liked you for a while..."

The two of you go silent, but your faces are aglow with two timid smiles.

Levi's class bell disrupted your moment, but you gave each other cute glances while heading into the lecture theatre.

Eren and Connie came to excitedly pummel Armin for finally confessing, and Mika took her seat next to you and asked, with a knowing smirk, what had gotten you so flustered.

Armin sat a few rows above you in the lecture theatre, so for the whole class he could look at you. He saw Mika whisper something, heard his name pass, and heard your shy giggle. Oh his heart was thumping, really thumping.

All that ran through his mind was how you said "I've liked you for a while...". It made his chest bubble with affection, and oh boy he couldn't focus anything except that.

[samoankpoper21]

Jealous Levi

A/N A courtesy clerk is basically an entry level position in a grocery store. There will be some terminology that may seem confusing but I will try to explain it within the scenario. It will also be going back and forth between yours and his POV^^ Thanks!

Word count: 2280

You were the light to his world. Literally. Your light shone around all those who came into contact with you; you were known as the happy virus. All the associates in the store could be having a shitty day and once they heard your loud booming voice throughout the small room, encompassing it, it almost felt as if there was a sigh of relief; the atmosphere and mood visibly lifting.

*Flashback*

"Hey Levi," the cashier with a buzz cut named Connie approached. "Erwin wants to see you in the office."

"Tsk." He was just about to begin his shift and wanted the last few seconds of peace before dealing with customers. He clocked in, made his way towards the back of the store through the double doors where the produce department was, and gave two short knocks. "Come in." Levi opened the door and Erwin, the annoyingly tall, blonde store manager beamed. "Levi! Just the person I was looking for."

"What do you want?"

"Glad to see that enthusiasm of yours never curbing."

"Just spit it out. I'm already clocked in."

"We have a new hire starting tomorrow."

"That's above my pay rate."

"I need you to train her."

"What's wrong with Hange? Connie? or even Jean?"

"Because Hange is Hange, Connie is a cashier, and Jean works in the produce department."

"What about Eren? He and Mikasa can train her. They're both courtesy clerks anyway." Erwin pinched the bridge of his nose, sighed, and answered with, "Levi, you know how it is with those two: they're a two for one deal. I can't have 3 courtesy clerks off the floor just because one of them is in training. You're the best trainer that I have and I'm not only saying that because you're my best friend I genuinely mean it. All the courtesy clerks that you've trained have become the core reason why this store runs smoothly."

"Armin?"

"You know I have to keep him up in the front as the customer service representative. Come on Levi. Are you done with the theatrics now?"

"Tsk." Levi crossed his arms and sighed in defeat. "Fine. But don't think our friendship has any weight on my decision." Erwin raised his arms in the air chuckling. "Alright, alright I won't. Thank you."

"Whatever."

The next day as Levi was restocking the shelves he heard Erwin's booming voice. "Ah! Here he is. Y/N this is your trainer Levi Ackerman. Levi, this Y/N. She will be shadowing you for about 3 weeks and then she should be good to fly solo. Is that reasonable Y/N?"

"Yes! I will try to pick up everything quickly sir! Just think of me as a sponge!" Levi could feel the urge to roll his eyes at your enthusiasm, the hairs on his neck and arms prickling at how optimistic you were. "That's good to hear. I'll leave you two to it." As Erwin was in passing he whispered to him, "Be good to her Levi."

Your POV

You both watched as Erwin walked out of sight. You turned to the short man who was no taller than you and extended your arm. "Hi! I'm Y/N! Nice to meet you!" Levi stared at your hand as if it was a foreign object to him. Just shake my hand you idiot. My arm is getting tired from holding this position. "Sorry I don't shake hands." his raspy, low voice caught you off guard but you quickly rebounded. "Oh ha ha." you awkwardly put your arm back down to your side. "Let's go." he ordered. The day went by in a blur as Levi explained how the store operated, your responsibilities. As a courtesy clerk you were basically serving the customers and cashiers: go backs were the items the customers no longer wanted and the cashiers left in the next check stand for you to put back in their designated area; collecting carts and baskets, performing sweeps every hour, and changing out the trashes. Levi strongly advised that you memorize where most of the items are stocked due to customers constantly asking whether you have x product and if so what aisle it would be in.

Your mom heard your key turn in the lock and peered around the corner from the kitchen. "Hey honey! How was your first day of work?"

"Uhhhh I don't even want to talk about it." Your mom turned the burner low and approached the dining table where you flopped yourself down. "What happened? That rough huh?" You pouted and began to vent to your mom about your day: how the customers showed no mercy when it came to the fact that you were new - they just wanted to know where the damn paprika was and go! "And to top it off I think my trainer doesn't like me."

"What makes you say that?"

"Well for starters when I tried to shake his hand he looked at me like i was some cockroach and was like 'I don't shake hands'; and then when I tried to ask him for help he keeps looking annoyed and for some odd reason it made me sad. I don't want to be a burden you know?"

"Honey of course the first day's gonna be rough. Everyone is slowly transitioning into this new phase where they have to deal with this new person yet at the same time maintain the same level that they put in day in and day out. Cut yourself some slack but don't be a punk either. As for this Levi kid just do what you usually do: be yourself. Keep saying hi to him even if it seems like he's annoyed. Eventually he just might say hi back and he's probably going through something that you don't know about."

"Thanks mom. I needed to hear that."

"No problem. Now go wash your ass. I can smell your hard work reeking from here."

The next day you went in determined, not only to memorize as much of the store as you could, but to also try and make a dent in that man of steel. "Hi Levi!" you greeted. "Tch. Grab those go backs."

"Yes sir!" You followed Levi and began to do your job.

By the first month you had already memorized a majority of the store and have built a rapport with the cashiers Connie, Historia, Ymir; the produce department lead Jean who sometimes served as cashier when it got too busy, Marco, and Floch; the meat department consisting of Reiner, Bertholdt, and a quiet blonde who showed no interest through her facial expressions named Annie, and the floral department lead named Sasha. Mikasa and Eren, though kept to themselves, were polite to you as well. Armin, the customer service rep was no exception, his warmth extended and enveloped you since you met him. Forgetting your determination to break through to Levi you hadn't realized that you were slowly melting away his cold exterior. He began to exchange pleasantries and, much like everyone else in the store, found himself drawn to you like a moth to a flame.

Levi's POV

He doesn't know when it started but he found himself watching how you weaved in and out the aisles, smiling and leading a customer whenever they were looking for an item, casually talking with the guys as you were doing your sweeps, his gaze lingering longer than usual. He also took notice of how Jean showed particular interest in you: resting his hand on your forearm, leaning down to your level to "get something out of your hair", slinging his arm around your shoulder in the break room, etc. Levi could feel his jaw tightening whenever he saw Jean touch you. He also wanted to be near you and found himself wanting to help you whenever he thought you needed it. "It's alright Levi I got it thank you." you say to him every time.

He was helping a customer load her groceries into her car when he happened to see you switching out the trash. He saw you struggle with one of the trash bins. Your face scrunched up as you hoisted one leg on the bin, both hands struggling to pull the bag out. Before walking towards you he chuckled at your cute expression.

Your POV

Without realization Levi's firm hand encompassed yours and pulled the trash bag out the bin with ease. "Oh Levi," it took a minute for you to recover and process that Levi actually touched you. "It's ok I got it."

"Pft. You were practically struggling with it."

"But it's heavy."

"What's your point?"

"I-"

"Just let me help you Y/N."

With your guys' schedules coordinating it soon became a habit for Levi to walk you to your car. You loved these small instances of peace; within these instances you found out that Levi was an orphan when his mother passed away, that his crazy uncle took him in before losing him to the state where he filed for emancipation at 14, Erwin was one of his closest friends, and that he really, really loves black tea. He too found out small tidbits about you: how you were being raised by a single mother, you have 3 half siblings that are younger than you, how you absolutely adored Sasha, and that you didn't think much whenever Jean or any of the guys "flirted" with you.

Levi's feelings for you were growing and threatening to spill over. Erwin advised him to take his chance and confess because he has a notion that you too reciprocated the feelings. Levi had his mind set to tell you tonight when you both were off, not realizing you too were fighting the same battle. You had also settled on tonight to tell Levi that he was the first and last thing on your mind, that you wanted to know him on a more intimate level, that now he was the reason you loved coming to work. 5PM couldn't come fast enough. As soon as it hit 5PM, Levi rushed to the kiosk, swiped his card, and rushed into the break room expecting you to be at your locker gathering your things. When he didn't see you there he knew that you were making your rounds saying goodbye to everyone.

Your POV

You went to make your rounds of goodbyes looking for your best friend Sasha. She and you were so similar it was uncanny. Connie told you she was in the back making a bouquet for a customer. As you entered the double doors from the produce leading to the back, you felt a hand engulf your wrist. "Jean! What are you doing? Are you ok?"

"I need to talk to you."

"I was just about to head out after saying bye to Sasha. Can you give me like 5 seconds?"

"No, it has to be now."

"Oh um-"

"Y/N I like you."

"Oh I-" before you could answer, you noticed a figure swiftly rush away from the double doors. Levi. "I'm sorry Jean but I like Levi."

You rushed out the door calling out to Levi. Can he not hear me? I'm pretty damn loud. Is he ignoring me?!

Levi's POV

He felt a familiar hand clasp his shoulder. He looked to see you doubled over, panting. "Shit I need to do some cardio," you straightened up asking, "Didn't you hear me calling you?"

"Sorry but I have to go."

"Eh? You're not going to walk me to the car?" you pouted.

"Why don't you get your boyfriend Jean to do it since you like him." he spat out. He saw your lips trembling, your fists balled at your side. "I like you you idiot! I was going to confess to you today but Jean ruined it and now," your voice broke, you sighed and quickly looked away. "Never mind. Forget it. I'll see you tomorrow Levi. Have a good fucking night."

Your POV

You felt so embarrassed. Stupid even. You thought you read the signs clearly. Armin and Mikasa were practically encouraging you, confirming that Levi's gazes lingered longer when it came to you; that it was only you that he helped and showed his "soft" side to. You too were convinced that there was something there, maybe it was just an illusion. Before you reached your car you felt a hand gently, firmly grab your wrist. "I'm sorry."

"It's fine. Let's just forget what happened and move on." His hand gently squeezed your wrist. "I don't want to forget and move on. Y/N I too was going to tell you that I like you as well but when I saw you and Jean, and the way he was holding you, I just assumed that you had feelings for him and got jealous. I'm sorry." You turned to him and brought your hand to gently rest on his face. "I don't like him Levi. I made that clear. I like you. I wanted to tell you but the moment got ruined. "

"So what now?" You leaned forward and gave Levi a quick peck. When you pulled back it took everything in you not to laugh at his expression: his eyes were big as saucers, a blush creeping across his face. "Good night Levi. I'll text you later." Before you could open your car door, Levi spun you back around and whispered in a low tone, "That's not a proper goodbye to your boyfriend." You gasped when he grabbed both sides of your face and passionately kissed you. When he pulled back he was beaming while you were blushing furiously. "Goodbye Y/N I'll text you tonight."

[tetsunabouquet]

Not A Prank - Eren Yeager X F!Reader

You waited at the entrance of the amusement park and you couldn't help but feel like you were being pranked. Because why would Eren Yeager ask you to meet him at the entrance for a date? I mean, you did understand the logistics, his car had broken down last week so you knew he couldn't pick you up just like you knew Eren and Mikasa had broken up last month- the girls at college wouldn't let anyone forget Eren was single. However, why he asked you out was beyond you. You were friends, sort of. Being Sasha's cousin, you've been dragging her and Connie out of trouble since you were kids, generally being the only braincell of the trio. You often were invited to group outings with their friends, but having gone to a different high school it wasn't until college that you actually became part of the group. Eren was a nice guy, even though he could be quite the hothead. Speaking of hot, Eren certainly qualified. As he approached you, his hair was pulled up in the man-bun only the seldom individual could pull off and look hot, his shirt having a v-neck and showing glimpses of the chest that had all the girls drooling, wearing the leather jacket you knew Connie had given him his previous birthday. He smiled to you, "I hope I didn't make you wait too long." "Not at all," you lied. Honestly you didn't knew if you were waiting for a minute or an hour- the anticipation had been agony. He guided you into the park with a grin, children's laughter and the screams of teenagers and adults filling the air. "I really am sorry my car broke down. The line at the Roc Bird's probably hours long at this point," Eren groaned softly and you looked at him, a small smile lingering on your lips. "Ah well, the Formule X never has that long of a line. How about we go there before we buy something for lunch?" Eren grinned from ear to ear, looking at you with such delight that you were surprised. It was such a happy, fond look that all of your musings how Eren couldn't be serious about liking you were discarded. As the two of you walked to the red rollercoaster, Eren nudged you. "You're studying my face like it's exam time. What's up?" "Ah well, I am just surprised." You said, embarrassed, "I didn't expect you to have a thing for me, really." Eren's green eyes softened and your heart skipped a beat. "Well, we haven't been that vocal about it, but Mikasa and I have been growing apart since graduation. Before we knew it our hearts were already moving on. " He scratched his neck, trying to find more words to properly confess his feelings. How in the attempts to ignore Mikasa and Jean's ever growing closeness he started distracting himself with his friends, allowing him to get to know you better. How he'd always noticed you were pretty, but had never noticed you had common ground in things like your shared love for amusement parks or a similar untamable spirit. "Well, suppose I'm a lucky gal then, huh?" You teased lightly, nudging him back. "About as lucky as this guy over here," he said and you smiled broadly at Eren who gave you a moony eyed grin that made you dizzy. "I hope you'll still like me if I end up with my spit flying at the speed." Eren chuckled at your slightly flustered but playful demeanor, "Of course I will. I'd love to see it captured on photo." You looked at him with raised eyebrows. "Are you seriously going to look at how the ride's pictures come out?" "Yes, and I will be buying our photo. Our first shared humilation, is there a better way to start a relationship?" You laughed at the thought, knowing photos taking during the ride were the worst kind of photos- even worse then the stiff faces you had to pull for your ID pictures. "It certainly would be a bonding experience, like wearing matching onesies. Even better if we wore them to class." "Now you really sound like you grew up with Sasha and Connie." You giggled but you couldn't deny they were responsible for part of your brain being fried. "You better get used to it if we're going to date," you told him. Eren tugged a lock of your hair behind your ear. "I think I will.".

[springleggedstarro]

".... Fratello? Tonio?"

Starro opens his eyes groggily, vision slowly focusing as he wakes up. He's still holding Conny close, leaning against the polar bear.... still miffed and disappointed on how the slumber party crashed apart. Nearby, he sees Dunite and Aoki sleeping on a couch, wrapped in each other's arms.... and, illuminated by the just-rising sun, is Icia. Her clothes are a bit dirty, and the tip of her hair seems to have been broken off.

She approaches and kneels in front of him, voice barely above a whisper. "Good morning, Tonio... did you sleep alright?"

He murmurs a bit before responding, stars swirling with a gentle blue and red. "No.... not really. Spent most of the night crying."

"I understand that.... I'm sorry," she replies, looking at him sympathetically. She really is sorry about leaving so suddenly.

"Were you able to find Joy...?"

"Yes, we were.... she was brought to the inn I told you about."

"The one with the really flirty innkeeper with galaxy arms...?"

"Yeah, that place. She's okay.... really scratched up from running. We think she was taken by a being called Remnant."

Starro grimaces. "Any creature with a name like Remnant sounds like bad news...."

"Very much so." Icia looks out the window for a few seconds before turning back to her brother. "Are you alright...?"

Starro stares at her momentarily before chuckling.... it's more angry and miserable than humorous. "What do you think? ... sorry, that was rude of me...."

"It's alright. I don't blame you for being bitter."

He looks down.

"I feel bad for not being more worried about Joy.... just- all this bad stuff happening... and Joy getting kidnapped is probably one of the worst things that could happen.... and it had to happen on my birthday. I'm just.... I dunno. I feel bad but I'm also really upset. I just wanted to have a fun party with my favorite people, and I couldn't even have a full night for that."

"I know.... I'm sorry."

"Don't be. Nothing we can do about it now."

She leans down a bit to try and meet his eyes. "If you'd like, we can reschedule...? Or do something else?"

"It won't feel the same, so no.... thanks, though," he mumbles, turning away.

Icia sits up. ".... well.... if you'd like...."

She reaches behind her and slides the gift bag she brought forward. "You could still open your gift....?"

Starro stares at it for a moment, the blue and red diminishing ever so slightly.

"...."

"You can open it later, of course. But maybe, you can still feel like you have at least a bit of your birthday back now. No birthday is truly complete without gifts, after all."

There's a bit of silence before Starro gently takes the bag out of Icia's hands, staring at it. He feels a lump well up in his throat, forcing himself to swallow back a sob as he reaches his hand inside.

Something plush and furry greets his touch first.... and out he pulls a plush German Shephard.

Starro can't help but smile as he hugs the plush. "You remembered my favorite dog...!"

Icia nods with a smile. "I remember you always talking about wanting one. Even if you can't have a real one here... plushies are easier to take care of anyway."

The remaining bitterness ebbs away as Starro hugs both the plush and a still-sleeping Conny. "Thank you, Viv.!!"

She chuckles. "There's one more thing in there.... I think you'll really like this one."

He tilts his head before peeking into the bag.... a very familiar pattern and color combo catch his eye, fabric made up of red and black plaid.

"..... Viv, where did... where did you find this...?!" He utters, pulling out the flannel shirt.

"Just the clothing store in Candleton. But I immediately remembered... this was Dad's shirt. And you loved wearing it, it was your favorite."

"I.... I did.... after you disappeared, I basically claimed it as mine." He unbuttons the shirt and carefully puts it on, making sure to not wake Conny up as he adjusts the collar and rolls the sleeves up past his elbow.

Icia smiles more. "It just felt right to get. A little part of who you are.... and now we both have something of who we are."

She shows him a simple black bandana.... identical to the one from the crate during the kingdom rescue.

"You went and got the bandana..? From the dungeon?"

"Oh, gods no, I simply decided to make an impulse purchase while shopping for you. Now we both have a little more of ourselves here." She puts the bandana back in her pocket before smiling at Starro.

"Happy birthday, baby brother."

He smiles even more, golden yellow shining through his stars.

".... Thank you, Vivian."

He yawns, leaning back against the polar bear and hugging Conny as Icia checks on everyone else. His mood has substantially lifted, and knowing Joy is okay has also helped. Everything feels more or less better.

"..... Hey Viv?"

"Yes?"

"..... I think I only have one wish that I wasn't able to get fulfilled. I don't even know if I can."

"And what might that be?" She picks up a pillow, fluffing it a little.

"I wish I knew who our relative here was. So I could talk to them. And know who else is my family."

Icia freezes dead in her tracks.... if it weren't for the sudden, gentle crack of ice on the marble floor, Starro would have never thought twice. But the sound echoes slightly through the lounge, causing Starro to freeze.

.... I heard that wrong, he thinks. There's no way.... that's impossible, right? There's no way she knows....

He looks over. Her expression, while blank, is... conflicted. As if she's debating with her own mind on her next words. Starro's eyes widen.

".... oh my god, you do know who it is..." He manages to whisper.

Icia slowly walks back over, sitting on the nearest chair.

".... I was waiting for the right time."

"Well, everyone's asleep now, it's just us awake. Come on, tell me who it is!!"

"They won't be asleep for long if you don't keep your voice down!"

Starro takes a deep breath, his heart racing. He can't believe it. He's actually about to learn who his relative is.

"So who is it..?!"

".... you're not going to be particularly happy with the answer," Icia warns.

"Viv. I've been wanting to know for months. Please, just tell me who it is. I can take it. I want to know. Please."

There's a long, tense silence.

"..... the former king."

The former king? Who-

Starro freezes.

".... wait. You mean.... Slyn."

She nods.

"The former king Slyn."

She nods.

"The abusive former king."

She nods.

"The man locked in the dungeon right now for basically betraying all the kingdom's residents, and who was in love with the worst villain in the history of villains. The man who beat everyone here, including you, out of petty, spoiled anger. The man who helped drive all the fear into everyone's minds. The man who used his title as 'king' for nothing more than to spoil himself and an excuse to hurt or scream at anyone.

"That man is our sibling."

"He's our older brother."

Starro stares at Icia for a very, very, very, very long time before groaning quietly.

"There's really just.... not one normal person in our family, is there...?"

Icia shakes her head, hands folded in front of her. Starro runs his hand through his hair, a rainbow of emotions mixing through his cheeks. Out of all people, it had to be Slyn. Of course it did.

".... are you okay, Tonio?"

"Yeah."

"Are you sure."

"Yeah, I'm fine, just.... a lot to take in."

He takes a deep breath and looks at Icia, head spinning. He really doesn't know how to react to this.

"So.... what now?"

"... you're going to think I'm crazy."

"I've done and heard of a lot of crazy things in my life, Viv. I can take it."

Icia takes a deep breath. "..... I'm going to try and help him."

"... what?"

"I'm going to try and.... I suppose... 'reform' him. There's a lot of issues going on, but... I don't know, it's difficult to explain, I just.... I don't want him to be locked away forever, especially since gods know how long 'forever' really is here."

"... you feel sympathy for him, don't you."

Icia nods. "I suppose so. In my defense, I had this plan for even before I knew we were related."

Starro sighs and lays his head in his hand, rubbing his forehead. "Alright, you're right... I think you're crazy. This feels like that "I can fix him" trope in stories and movies."

Icia shrugs. "I've known him for a long time... and I still have much to know. I don't believe he's completely irredeemable, though. He had sympathy. He wants to help people. He wants to be better. He just doesn't think he can yet. Related or not, I'm going to try and help him."

Starro sighs, a long, dramatic, exasperated sigh. He doesn't necessarily like this plan.... then again, he doesn't even fully know what this plan is yet.

".... would you like me to introduce you to him at some point, still?"

He thinks for a long time before nodding.

"Does he know?"

"He does. And he hates us. He views us as replacements."

"Of course he does...."

"Hey.. he doesn't know what Ma put us through. I'm not saying he should be glad he didn't grow up with us, but there are some things we went through that I wouldn't wish upon anyone. Not even him.

"We all were screwed over by our mother... there's a common ground there. Only we know what she was really like, and we've all seen different sides of her."

Starro nods, looking down. Icia sighs a bit.

"I don't know.... we only have each other, though. And Slyn should have someone there for him too, having experienced... whatever he did from our mom. If no one else will treat him with at least some degree of decency and try to help him, I will."

"Alright, alright, I get it, y'don't gotta convince me with your fancy royal monologuing, heh."

Icia chuckles a bit. "I'll find a time after the kingdom celebration for us all to meet. Alright...?"

"Okay.... thanks, Viv."

"Of course. Now go ahead and get some more sleep, you still look exhausted. I'll close the curtains for you." Icia walks over to the giant windows and unties the giant curtains that reach all the way to the ceiling, yanking them closed. It's extremely heavy and tough to pull, but she still manages to pull them closed enough for Starro to not have the sunrise in his eyes.

He cuddles back up to Conny and the bear, feeling the flannel over his arms and squeezing the dog plush softly.

Okay.... maybe this birthday wasn't a complete bust, he thinks. I did have fun while it lasted... even if all of that other stuff happened... and I got to learn who my... brother is. Even if he's the most hated man in the kingdom right now.

.... meh. If Viv can work with that, I probably can, too.

He slowly drifts back to sleep, his stars a gentle, hazy yellow.

[foressfaction]

:Ticci Toby:{A Rewrite}

CHAPTER 5

WARNING:: This story contains EXTREMELY triggering topics such as Domestic/Child/Substance abuse, Death, harsh language, GORE and dissociation triggers. This story mentions mental illnesses and disorders such as Depression, PTSD, ADHD, and Tourette's Syndrome. !!TICS MAY BE TRIGGERING!!

Chapter five

Toby heard arguing the second he opened the door to walk in. Expecting that it was just his parents, but no, Lyra was home? And she was also yelling. Toby dropped his bag and ran over, stopping the man from raising his hand. "Don't touch her!" He growled. Lyra gasped slightly, looking over at their mom. The woman staying further away in the corner of the living room, she was scared to death. She had tried to stop the man before but that earned her the red mark on her face now.

"Stop d-doing this!" Toby screamed, holding his dad's arm back so he wouldn't swing at the girl. Due to the man's advantage of size, it was easy to slam the boy back and off of his arm. Slamming Toby into the wall behind the two.

"Dad, stop it!" The girl yelled, seeing the man pick up one of the bottles that sat on the counter. He then approached the boy on the ground. "You've grown the nerves, boy, maybe i have to remind you who's in charge!"

"Dad, please!" Lyra screamed, covering her mouth knowing she couldn't do anything to really stop the man whose looks could kill.

Toby was still dizzy from hitting his head against the wall. He did manage to realize what was about to happen. However seconds before he could react, the glass shattered against his head, causing him to flinch and huddle up slightly, expecting more kicks and punches.

"Oh now you don't want to act like a hero!" The man spat, dropping the broken bottle neck next to Toby, stepping over the glass to head outside and smoke like nothing ever happened. His breath smelled so bad..

Toby stayed huddled up, holding his head where he pulled off blood, looking at his fingers. The rest of the family, his mom and sister stood frozen in fear and shock. The phone on the wall had been smashed as well..neither of them could call the cops, or they would've by now.

"..Mom?.." Toby called out, vision blurry and going red.

The woman rushed over and pulled him close, holding his bleeding head. She could tell her son was suffering from a minor concussion. He didn't expect this, but he never could expect anything. Everything was unpredictable.

Lyra huddled around the two, holding a rag to his head that suffered a deep cut. "We need to get him to the hospi-" Connie cut Lyra off quickly, shaking her head. "We can't  afford questions, please, please let's just treat it here."

A tear left one of Toby's eyes, blood mixing in with it. "I'm okay, i-i can't feel it." He still wasn't completely there. The room was spinning and he could see multiple of his mom and sister.

Toby was picked up and carried up to his room before he finally lost consciousness upon being laid down. The wound on his head was treated and literally being held together by bandages and tape. Hey if it worked it worked. Toby would never forget waking up with a pounding headache. Toby would never forget that day in general.

For the next week and a half, all Toby got were stares from the kids at school, and the bullying didn't stop. His mom stayed quiet about what happened to him, and warned if he was to tell a teacher, she couldn't control how angry his dad would get about that. Out of pure fear, he stayed quiet about it. If anyone asked, he fell.

"Hey ticci!"

A voice called out from behind him, seconds before his face was slammed into his lunch tray. Toby just laid there after they walked off laughing. He didn't even lift his head. Toby had a headache all day, that just made it worse. He finally lifted his head, smashed potatoes and gravy covered his face and hair. He rubbed it from his eyes and spat some of it out.

"Just thought you could use more food, you look like you need it." The kid added, making the entire table indent of him laugh.

Toby couldn't exactly help the fact he was malnourished. He could never eat enough to gain a healthy weight, and if he finally did, he lost it almost immediately, like water weight or something.

Toby only laughed with them, his laugh having a hint of inner pain. He just got up and threw his tray away, taking the back way out of the cafeteria and into the hallway.

Toby washed his face off in the bathroom. It was absolute hell getting the food out of his hair, it made it all sticky and matted. Kids were so lame, at this point he was almost convinced he was cursed.

Toby brought his hands up and gnawed on his knuckles until they bled. He just wanted to taste the blood and feel the skin within his teeth.

'if they hurt you, you hurt them, if they hurt you, you hurt them'

he repeated to himself through his mind.

Toby left the bathroom and started to inch back into the cafeteria, locking the same kid who angered him in his sight. Toby walked towards him, glaring sharply before he was interrupted by the bell, dismissing lunch.

I guess you could say this kid was saved by the bell.

Toby ticced a little, the sound of kids getting up and rattling trash made him experience sensory overload.

Toby turned quickly and left, squeezing past everyone else. He really was going to strangle that kid. This made him realize how bad his anger could get.

Toby stopped in the middle of the crowded hall, thinking he saw something in the window that led to the woods the school was built in front of. He just stood there, staring closer. He could see a figure as tall as the trees. He couldn't see a face at all, yet felt its 'eyes' staring back at him.

However the moment he blinked it was gone.

He knew what it was, he wondered if it liked his offering months ago..he hasn't seen it that much since then. "You're back…"

•••••

[esthersarahhh]

characters; Marco Bodt x gn!reader, past Jean Kirstein x gn!reader

summary; After Jean’s insensitive rejection of Y/n’s feelings, he starts wondering if he made the wrong choice.

word count; 1,4k (1463)

content warning; my constant switching between you and i 😿

notes; i am SO SO sorry for taking so long with updating 😭 school is really stressing me out!! Do you guys want a part 3? If yes, should it be Marco x reader, Jean x reader, both or something entirely else?

Also important! this is a part 2! so i recommend reading the first part before reading this one. you can find part 1 here

———————————————————————

After your not-so-successful confession to Jean, you’ve pretty much avoided him. It wasn’t all too hard the first few weeks, and since he was still head over heels about Mikasa, i think he hardly noticed.

You’ve spent more time with the other cadets and made good friends with them. You’ve become closer to Marco than ever before. You also still shared the same bed together with Marco a lot. Not necessarily in a romantic way but not entirely un-romantic either.

Most boys in the dorm didn’t mind you there, in-fact they liked your presence, and luckily Commandant Shadis didn’t know because if he did God knows how many laps he’d have you run.

Tonight was a night like every other. As you were walking to the boy dorm you noticed that Jean was walking before you. You hadn't talked to him since the whole '' confession '' thing, and you didn't feel like talking to him now. You just kept walking behind him, hoping he wouldn't hear you. He didn't and he went inside the dorm. The same dorm you were going to.

' Why am I suddenly caring if Jean is there or not? He's been in there while I was as well countless times before. ' You thought to yourself. Did you still miss him? Were you only so close with Marco to drive out any leftover feelings you had for Jean?

No. You couldn't think like that. What would Marco say? What would anyone say for that matter. All of your other friends whom you had told the story to said the same thing Marco said. That Jean is stupid and that you shouldn't try to even befriend him again.

But Jean was lonely too. After what he did both Marco and I had stopped talking to him. Me, because I obviously didn't want to talk to him, and Marco because he wanted to focus on me. Jean didn't have any friends exept for us, and seeing him alone in the lunch barracks broke my heart, one piece at a time.

You shaked off the thought you had, turned heel, and went back to your own dorm. You'd have to apologize to Marco later for not showing up like you promised.

_

You apologogized next morning, as you were eating breakfast in the barracks. Marco said he understood, that even though you hadn't thought about Jean for a while, that doesn't mean you never had feelings for him in the first place.

'' I suppose you're right. '' You said, taking another bite of food.

'' I always am. '' Marco replied which made you snort. Your eyes wandered the hall. You saw Mikasa, talking to Eren and Armin. You saw Sasha, stuffing her mouth with more food than she could chew, and Connie laughing at her. Annie, Bertholdt and Reiner were sitting with Mina, Thomas and Daz just talking and laughing together.

Jean was sitting alone in the fathest end of the hall. His food laid untouched on his plate as he just stared at the table before him. You suddenly felt a deep pit in your stomach as you watched him. He looked so alone. You turned to Marco, only to see him talking to Nac next to us. You figured he wouldn't notice if you slipped out for a minute.

So you did just that. You stood up and walked over to Jean's table. As you approached he looked up from his food and looked at you. You stood there, fidgeting with your fingers as you tried to think of what to say.

'' ...You looked alone so I thought I'd ask you to come sit at our table- '' You said but were cut of as he said '' I'm fine! You don't have to pretend to care about me. ''

Half of you wanted to scream at him and make a scene, the other half wanted to be polite to him. The polite half won. '' Well umm.. the offer is open. '' You said and as you were about to turn around and walk back, you turned around again. '' ..Please. '' You looked at him and he looked back at you. He picked up his plate and you frowned in defeat. He was leaving. You closed your eyes and let out a deep sigh. As you opened your eyes again Jean was standing infront of you with a confused look on his face. Then he started grinning.

'' Are you going to stand there with your eyes closed or are we going to sit over there? '' He said, still grinning. You let out a small chuckle and walked with him over to where you were previously sitting. Marco looked at you and Jean, and then put a welcoming smile on his face.

_

You and Jean were neutral after that. Well, you wouldn't call it neutral. You just said hi to each other when walking past each other, not much more than that. You did however have a conversation with Marco about him.

It was a few nights ago, you were both on the porch just looking at the stars when Marco suddenly said '' Why are you talking to him again? '' it sounded more like a statement than a question and he sounded the slightest bit jealous.

'' To who? Jean? '' You questioned, just to make sure. He nodded in response. '' Well he looked alone and it made me think of before i joined the cadets. I was also alone and no one would talk to me. The only company I had was my family. I didn't want Jean to feel the same lonelyness I did. ''

It was quiet after that. You looked at Marco but he looked away. You finally broke the silence by saying '' Are you mad at me? For talking to him again? '' He still wasn't looking at you but he shook his head no.

'' Then why aren't you saying anything..? '' You ask again. Marco turned his head to face you. He had tears in his eyes. You almost broke down right then and there. Seeing Marco cry was like the world was on fire. You leaned into him and put your head on his shoulder, whilst wrapping your arm around him. He took a few deep breaths and then said '' Do you still like him. '' He sounded like he was about to break out into sobs again.

'' No! Not at all. I.. I like someone else. '' His eyes glistened from the tears. You didn't want to say right out that it was him you liked, though it was pretty obvious that he liked you too. You looked into his eyes and he looked at you, then he leant in and kissed you. You kissed back but it didn't last as long as you would've liked. As you pulled apart you felt the presence of someone behind you.

Marco felt that feeling too and you both turned around, only to be met with Jean. You couldn't quite figure out what Jean was feeling from the expression on his face, but from the fact that he was holding flowers and a handwritten letter, you could tell it wasn't good.

'' Congrats. '' Jean said, unimpressed. He dropped the flowers and the letter, and turned around. He walked away. Not to the dorms, but to be somewhere alone. You picked up the letter and gave the flowers to Marco, so he could hold them while you read the letter.

'' Hi Darling Dearest Dear Y/n. I wanted to apologize for my behavior. I wanted to say this to you in person but Im afraid of what you will say so I decided to write this instead. I haven't been fair to you.

You liked me while I barely talked to you because I was so obsessed over Mikasa. I regret everday that I ignored you when you wanted to talk to me that day. You were still nice to me even after what I did. You invited me to sit with you and even though it might not seem like a grand gesture, it meant a lot to me. Im not asking you to forgive me, I just want you to know how sorry I am. Hopefully we can still be friends, and I would do anything for you to give me a second chance.

-Jean ''

You gave the letter to Marco and let him read it as well. After he read it you said '' I um.. need some time to think about this. Sorry I'll see you tomorrow. '' You mumbled as you walked away, back to the girl dorm.

What do you do now?

[shingekinomyfeelings]

what you really are // 2nd installment

Reiner finds that his first sexual encounter with a girl he truly cares for brings up a lot of memories and conflicted emotions. Loving a Devil is wrong, right?

warnings: none yet; explicit sex in later installments. characters are cadets here, but aged up to 19. honestly minors dni I'm so tired of y'all reading my porn just go finger paint or something

notes: listen, I've recently learned that Reiner being a tsundere man-baby is very, very funny to me

“They’re not our friends. They’re Eldian devils. I’m just gaining their trust for our advantage.”

Reiner had almost believed himself when he’d said those words to Annie, time and again. It’s easier to pretend he really means it when he’s talking about Eren, or Connie, or Sasha. He can pretend his jovial big brother routine is a mask. He can pretend he doesn’t really care about how much they look up to him, and that the sense of camaraderie is just a facade, most of the time...

But then she’d wiggled into his line of perception, somehow, little by little. Catching one another’s eyes now and then had turned into exchanging smiles, and smiles turned into shared observations, and quiet jokes, and tiny, happy waves upon seeing each other from across the mess hall. And then a feeling had appeared that really troubled him.

At first he had told himself that it wasn’t really happening: pretending that his growing curiosity about her was his merely gathering intelligence; that she was a useful pawn, or a game he was playing; that it didn’t really matter to him when he saw her physically and emotionally exhausted; that the strange, flipping feeling in his stomach the first time she’d hugged him was disgust.

When he realized he couldn’t convince himself, he tried to convince Annie and Bertholdt.

“It’s so troublesome the way she follows me around.”

“She really has a thing for me. Looks like I’ll have to play along, huh?”

“It’s kind of funny that she thinks this is real, isn’t it? It’s a little pitiful when she leans against me, I almost feel sorry for her.”

Gradually, as months passed, his attempts grew in some sort of petty desperation.

“I’ve spent so much time with her, I’ll be pissed off if nothing useful comes out of it.”

“Did you hear her joking around today? I had a hard time pretending to laugh.”

“She’s not as cute as Thomas always thinks she is.”

“She hugged me again and it almost made my skin crawl. Eldian devils really are totally different from other humans.”

“Sounds like you’ll really be relieved when she’s eaten alive on her first expedition outside the walls,” Annie had finally said one night, her voice caustic and bored. “Maybe you’ll even get to see it. But, if she survives and you’re disappointed, I can crush her in one hand for you. Touching her won’t make my skin crawl.”

Her impassive gaze when Reiner turned to her with a defensive fury only made him even angrier, and he’d stomped off into the night, aiming a splintering kick at the fence post Annie had been leaning against.

Still, he hasn’t complained to them about the girl since then.

When outright denial had failed him, Reiner had tried to simply will the girl out of his life, which had been an unmitigated disaster, because after nearly two weeks of him avoiding her gaze, excusing himself when he saw her approach, and even once or twice making a point to talk over her as if by mistake when she spoke, she went and turned it right back on him.

During training one afternoon, Annie had thrown her, far harder than she needed to. Whether it was deliberately to provoke him or out of simple meanness, Reiner wasn’t sure. She’d rolled to her feet and shaken herself off, looking at Annie with wonder.

“Can you teach me how to do that?”

Maybe neither one of them saw the way Reiner had started towards her to check on her, stopping himself short after three paces, nor the way Reiner’s face fell when he greeted her with concern after training, only to have her breeze by him as she talked to Annie as if he weren’t there.

It seemed less likely that she didn’t see him when he laughed a little too loudly at a joke she made in passing during dinner the following night at the mess hall, and he knew she saw him when he tried very hard to act casual two days later as he stepped out of a corridor at just the right moment for her to nearly collide with him, but even then she had just blinked as if he were merely a door flung open in her path, and sidestepped to walk towards Connie and Sasha with a cheerful wave.

After four days of this, he had waited to catch her leaving one of Hanji’s lectures and followed her down the hallway, while she acted like there wasn’t a huge guy trailing behind her like a dog with its tail tucked.

“Ah- listen, I just-- if I’ve done something to offend you, I--” The words had died on his lips as she turned to him in an instant, face flushed with anger, and then she’d layed into him like he was a training dummy, except that instead of with blades, she proceeded to eviscerate him verbally right there in the hallway. If he’d looked like a dog with its tail tucked beforehand, he was sure he’d looked like something a dog had chewed to pieces by the time she’d finished.

Well, maybe it wasn’t a completely unmitigated disaster, he figured later, because in that moment, acceptance of the situation had finally hit him like a brick, and he’d apologized, and stammered, and said a few things that barely made sense, and finally confessed his feelings with an utter lack of grace in the middle of the hall.

She’d looked at him with an uncomfortable stare, and then told him to get bent and walked away.

A day or two later, though, as he’d wallowed in the kind of dejected, confused misery that can only be brought on by acting like a jackass in front of one’s love interest, she’d met his gaze and greeted him tersely in passing. And then, much like before, small things like that turned into bigger things, and one day she’d kocked him to the ground during training with a technique he’d seen Annie use a thousand times, and while he was breathless in the dirt, she’d confessed her feelings, too – albiet with a degree of raw annoyance in her voice instead of an apology.

“I really wanted to tell you, right around the time you started being a dick, you know.”

“I uh... yeah, I know. I’m so sorry...” His meek voice and utterly abashed expression had made her laugh after a moment, and she’d offered her hand to help him to his feet.

“I’m not still mad about that,” she tells him with a lopsided grin, amused when he apologizes for it yet again. “That was months ago. It’s kind of funny now.”

“Uhh, glad you think so? It wasn’t one of my better moments.”

“I know, you were being so fucking stupid. But, it made me realize you weren’t as perfect as everyone thinks you are.” She laughs when he fixes her with a deep pout. “I mean that in a good way, quit making that face. You always seemed so out of reach, like someone who could only really be matched up with somebody... ideal. Like the couples you see in picture books.”

He watches her say this with what he thinks is a cool, interested expression, but his eyes are clearly asking what the hell that means. She gives a little huff of what might be amusement or mild exasperation.

“I just didn’t think you’d really be interested in someone who’s...” She trails off, suddenly unsure how she wants to finish that sentence. Reiner doesn’t wait for her to decide, though, ruffling her hair over her face with his hand, pulling her close and pressing his lips to her temple. He doesn’t say anything, just sighs very, very softly against her, and she lets him stay that way for a moment before pushing her hair out of her face and lifting a hand to gently brush the backs of her fingers along his cheekbone.

“I was kind of relieved to see you really are just a regular, flawed person like the rest of us are.”

It makes his heart flutter a bit, but for a reason he can’t quite pinpoint, it makes him sad, too...

[asktheghosthost]

Some scattered thoughts on the 2023 HM movie

Maybe I'll do something more in depth later after the wide release and when I'm not so exhausted

But for now, here's some notes. There are a couple of minor spoilers, so I'll still put this under a read more. Be warned.

I really enjoyed the Easter eggs. I'm looking forward to getting the blu ray and pausing it every five seconds to see what I spy in the background.

Our mortal crew is very likable. Ben is definitely the stand out character for me. His arc is lovely and sympathetic and he almost made me cry.

I liked how the film approaches grief and loss and love. It felt sincere. And it was handled in a way that I think most kids would get, too. If anything, it may help open up conversations for some of the younger audience.

Lots of character cameos, and multiple new ghosts created just for the film. Really appreciated the new spirits. They fit right in. The extras and supporting cast playing these quirky ghosts were great. ... Pay them. Pay them what they're worth. You couldn't have this massive menagerie of the macabre without them

I've seen a lot of reviews say the jokes can fall flat. Most of them hit for me. "It'll cost you... three dollars," still made me giggle.

Hatty... I'm so glad Disney finally made a proper outright villain again. Not a twist villain. Just a straight up murderous, power hungry, manipulative, absolute asshole. It's been way too long. Pay your writers, and pay them well so we can get more of this.

The way the Mansion would change and rearrange itself was great. I love that the house is a character all on its own. It has a backstory. It's its own entity in a way. Love that. Properly pay your animators and special effects team, because their work is the only way that kind of thing is accomplished so well.

William Gracey is a total sweetheart and I love him. His backstory is actually super similar to Edward's, so that might bug some people. But he's different enough in his demeanor, I think, that maybe it won't be really obvious if you're not thinking that hard about it. But, yeah, there are a couple of things that feel repeated from the 2003 movie. I don't know how much of that to chalk up to tropes, or if it was some intentional reworking. This isn't a remake, it's still its own thing, but it's easy to see some inspiration from the previous film.

Loved Connie. No thoughts in that head except "WHACKITY-WHACK!" She's chaotically vicious for the sake of it, and that's fun. My perfect Constance is Debbie from Adam's Family Values. Or a slightly sympathetic schemer, for a more grounded route. But I'll take maniacal seriel killer Connie, too. One moment with her actually got the biggest laugh from me.

Thinking about it, it also borrowed plot elements from the 2003 video game, too. But did those elements better. For the most part.

That's all that's coming to mind right now. Might talk more about it later. I had a good time. I do recommend it. Are there things I'd do differently? Well, yeah. I still want something where the ghosts are the focus. But I guess I'll just provide that myself. And the IDW and SLG comics also give us that.

I look forward to discussing it more with the fandom once the film has been out a while longer. I think there'll be a lot of different opinions on it.

[firefly--bright]

all my daughters.

jean kirstein x gender neutral!reader (modern au)

summary : the crushing weight of everything and everyone changing is a bit too much. jean wants to bear the burdens with you.

warnings : hurt/comfort, mostly just therapy for my crumbling mental state, amateur symbolisms (?), established relationship, no use of y/n (im trying smth new) not proofread!!!!!

a/n : this is kinda like flaws but worse? idk I just needed to write something to comfort me and I'll be nothing if I don't use my writing to fix me <3 anyway! self projection as always but I love you if you relate to this and I'm always here to listen if you need someone to talk to. I'm also probably gonna take a hiatus after this fic but we'll see (I'm here to talk to regardless of that!) <3 i honestly don't expect this fic to get that much traction but anyway! enjoy!

taglist : @holding-ishu-and-a-book , @mrsnobodynobody

masterlist is linked in pinned post! ✿ requests for jean kirstein are open! ✿ enter my taglist ✿

inspired by these songs : all my daughters (demo) by dodie

ajib dastan hai yeh by Lata Mangeshkar

you were used to contradictory sentences. double negatives that were only meant to confuse you, double positives that you thought meant anything but, adorned with a sarcastic smile and a roll of the eyes that left you needing to figure the meaning out yourself.

jean was a walking contradictory sentence. he was a walking double negative, one that you didn't know how to understand. he was blunt but sweet, cold and warm, never being in one spot with his feelings, always on his feet but not running away. somehow he stayed.

all your friends were moving on. every one - sasha was moving out with her boyfriend niccolo, a chef who she had become extremely close to over the past year and who treated her in the highest of regards. your other roomate, Mikasa, was also moving out, but not with her boyfriend, eren, as you had suspected but instead for a chase of starting a new flourishing business of selling handcrafted oxidised jewellery online. that and being closer to eren, she had explained to both you and sasha.

Marco wasnt moving, per say, but he was already applying for his masters in law to broaden his perspective, and there was a prospect of him going abroad for his soon to approach future. he was currently visiting his extended family. Connie, surprisingly, was the first of your friend group to actually get a job at a marketing firm, and even if it was sort of exhausting, people praised Connie's charms and puns that made people buy the products. he was also helping Mikasa with her business, alongside eren and armin.

jean, currently making dinner for the pair of you in your mostly empty apartment, was also interning for an architectural firm. well, he hadn't started yet, but he did get accepted with the interview he gave last month.

and you? even though you were currently looking for new roomates to occupy the now empty spaces in the apartment, you felt lost. sure, you had a plan, and had also applied for a handful of internships, but that didn't mean you knew what you were doing.

you were used to keeping things and people in boxes. it started ever since you were in middle school and had just heard about books like Harry Potter and divergent, books that had a clear distinction of which people belonged where. you'd define people with those distinctions so it was easy to figure them out; it was easier to think of someone in a faction or Hogwarts houses or godly parent instead of actually trying to figure them out with all their complexeties. eventually it graduated into astrological signs that were probably all bullshitted anyway, and into MBTI types. there was always an explanation for something, and if it wasn't given them you'd find it out for yourself as you always had. but you couldn't go by those simple classifications anymore. they were too narrow and too claustrophobic.

but you also hated too-wide expanses that came with simply existing. the expanse of your unknown lifespan, the limitlessness of unlimited time, the enormous amount of things you had yet to learn. it was easy to get lost in nothing. how did your friends and family and all the people around you ever manage to make a clear path for themselves with a multitude of stops and landmarks when you didn't even have the basic gravel and stone and concrete to get started on making a road for yourself? would you be yet another chapter that ended in a fullstop in their thick books that they'd flip away from? the change - the uncertain steps - were never something you looked forward to.

helping mikasa and sasha move out was a challenge, another full stop in their books, helping Connie by teaching him how to properly format professional emails was another landmark that he passed, seeing Marco off at the airport before he caught his flight was another certain step.

the wide tumultous blue of the sea that you were floating in and it's unnerving depth used to be somewhat manageable. you had been swimming with your friends for a long time until your fingertips got all shriveled up, but now it seemed as though they had all swam away from you and towards a shore they were looking forward to, but you werent. the horizon line was all you could see, and you dared not to open your eyes underwater to see how deep the water was.

you were happy for them, ofcourse you were. you loved them with all your heart, and sections of your essential heart were left only for them with their names carved into the ridges of your brain. but the change was too much, too empty, too wide, too limitless, too uncertain.

a knock on the wood of your bedroom door made you turn your swivel chair towards the noise, and jean stood there against the doorframe, leaning on it. "dinner's ready. didn't know which movie to watch, though." he said, and only half of his words are registered by your ears.

you nod, your lips quirking up only slightly. "I'll be there in a bit," you say, watching Jean's brows knit closer together. you loved the way his forehead crinkled in obvious worry and concentration, but you didn't have the tongue to speak out your admirations.

he tilts his head. ever the observant, he asks, "what's wrong?"

his tone is patient. his words demand acknowledgement.

you sigh a little, knowing you can't hide anything from him. you thanked that quality of his, even if it was a little inconvenient at times, because his unrelenting persistence was the reason you felt so loved today, the reason you and jean had gotten closer in the first place.

your shoulders slump, "i dont know how to explain it," you say, because it's true, but also because even if you could explain it, you wouldn't know where to begin. but you begin anyway, even though you know it would end with you trailing off. jean would understand anyway as he always had. "just.... everything's changing... and I, i dont know, i dont really like change, I guess." there's a pause and you refuse to look at his face which you're sure is observing yours carefully as he always does. "it's just...too much." you say, shrugging at the end. "it's too much and I don't know how to deal with this. like everyone's dealing with it better than I am and I don't even know if I've....if I've grown much, if at all. i dont know what I'm supposed to do. i dont know what my role is, like i just, i wish there was an author writing my life so I'd know what to do because I don't know how to...how to do everything myself. i-" you didn't know when the lump had formed in your throat, refusing to be swallowed down anymore after being ignored for months on end. "i dont know anything, jean, and it's scary." you say, and your eyes don't shed tears even if theyre stinging. you wish you could cry just to get it over with.

you were probably overreacting. everyone was doing so great with themselves, and at the end of the day, it wasn't a big deal. so what if everyone would move on with their lives? wasn't that what was supposed to happen? so what if your friends would probably forget you? shouldn't you be glad that you had them in the first place? wasn't it better to have felt alive for the first time than to not have felt it in the first place?

warm and sturdy arms wrapped around your unshaken frame, and you were pulled away from your rolling chair to sit down on your bed. the mattress dipped comfortably under you as it always had and jean smelt like he always did and you took comfort in the predictability. your sheets would smell the same today and tomorrow and the day after, your clothes would be in the same closet, your mirror would be in its same place in the bathroom and jeans arms would always hold you softly.

he held you for a couple minutes as you wallowed in your own sea. your legs were in his lap, leaning your weight on his arms. your eyes were closed, and you felt his warm hands rubbing circles in their place on your thigh and on your back.

you speak again, feeling the need to be understood even though you already were. "i just wish that... that I could freeze time whenever I have a good day." you say, and it's the final nail in your coffin and the final scoop of dirt on your grave. it's all you have to say, it's all jean needs to hear as he holds you a little tighter.

he hums in thought, no doubt thinking of a proper response. sometimes you wish you could take a peek inside his head, just to see, even for a useless moment, what he was thinking about. and more selfishly, if it was about you.

but that didn't matter because who was jean if he didn't speak his mind? his cheek rests on the top of your head and you can feel his warmth, and you wish you could let his warmth spread all over you, you wish that it would ignore the barrier of your skin and go straight to your organs and muscles because your warmth hadn't felt like it had been yours for a very long time and Jean's heat would be much more than welcome. but that was wishful thinking and you feel him kiss the top of your head instead, and you accept it.

"you know," he finally starts, and you can hear his heartbeat. "when we first met I had one of the moments you're talking about. the want to like.... somehow freeze the moment and just relive it forever." he says. you don't move, you don't dare remove your head from his shoulder afraid that if you did, he'd be another thing lost to the depths of your mind.

he continued. "what I'm saying is, i know what you're scared of. that your friends will forget you and move on without you. but... i dont think they will. i dont think anyone can. don't you think just like you have parts of them in you that they have parts of you in them? I've seen it. sasha started talking like you like a month after you guys moved in together. Mikasa likes buying flowers now. Marco texts like you. Connie has so many jokes that only you'd understand. and i-" he says, cutting himself short with a small breathy chuckles that makes your heart dangerously stutter, "i dont think that, god forbid, if we were to ever not be together, i dont think that i would ever be able to forget you. but that's probably because I'm in love with you and that's not changing for atleast this lifetime," another short laugh, "i dont think any of our friends, any of your past friends could ever forget that you existed. i mean, you'd always be there. youd always exist even if it is in the back of their minds.

"and you don't have to know everything. it's not a race. it's just...a nice walk, if anything. you don't have anyone or anything to catch up to. you can take your time, love, and i know it's hard convincing yourself of that, but you can. and if it's any consolation," he says, grabbing your hand that had formed into a loose fist on your knee, encasing your hand in his, "I'm...I'll be here. even if we aren't talking, which I'm pretty sure won't happen, but even if it does, I'm here. i will be." he says, squeezing your fist.

his words breathe comfort into your lungs that rested inside the prison your ribs had become. your chest felt a little lighter, the stubborn knots in your stomach were slowly undoing themselves and maybe his words didn't undo any damage nor did they paint over it but they did help heal.

you breathe in deeply, burrowing yourself even further in his shoulder, and he thankfully gets the message as he holds you tighter, like he's the only twine holding you together. you nod, and he kisses the crook where your shoulders meet your neck.

"thank you," you whisper, something that could get lost in his clothes but he catches it and shakes his head. you know what he's going to say before he even says it and you smile a little.

maybe jean was a contradiction to himself, a double negative, a not not persistence. and maybe you did feel lost, maybe time had swam away from the desperate deathgrip you had on it. but jean was there. he wasn't a fullstop or a chapter, he was more of a "okay, and," sentence, something that continued over with a comma, and he wasn't a guide that held your hand towards the shore, but he was more of an insistent presence that helped you not drown by holding your hand. he wasn't the shore itself, but he did provide the comfort of finding footing against the depths.

not a race, not a stand, just a walk. a walk with your hand in Jean's, a walk with uncertain but hopeful steps.

not a book, not a chapter, just scribbles of incoherent but excited writing in a diary.

[kleoyeager78]

10 things I hate about you | 11

I sighed getting out of bed.

I had a major headache. I always got them when I was thinking too hard about something. I opened my nightstand to get an Advil and then got up to get ready for school.

Like normal I didn't go all out, I got on a simple outfit and started my walk for school.

It was very windy today for some reason, but I guess I can't be surprised because like everything else in Paradis the weather was unpredictable.

I made it to school, met up with Annie and we made our way to class.

I saw Eren when I walked into class but ignored him and put my head down.

"Cheer up buttercup, you aren't happy to see me?" Eren said as he sat in front of me.

"Eren leave her alone." Armin quickly came to his side to defend me.

I put my head up and was face to face with Eren. Today I didn't feel like crying. I don't know why but I was just tired. Today I felt like I was a zombie just existing to exist with no other purpose and I don't think anyone could change that, not even Eren.

"Come on Armin we're just talking, right y/n?" Eren looked at Armin then back at me but I just put my head back down.

Eren was about to say something about how I was acting today but was soon stopped by Mr. Smith coming in the classroom and that Sasha girl shouting.

"Mr. Smith you forgot to put the partners on the board" Sasha said.

"I'm sorry Sasha. After you guys, I had five classes, so I did forget. But in order to simply assign you partners this morning, I did spend time yesterday writing all of your names on popsicle sticks. Mr. Smith stated with a small smile, but when he saw that the class wasn't interested, his expression returned to normal.

"I'll read them now," he said, mixing up the cup of popsicle sticks he had.

He pulled out two popsicle sticks and began to read the names off of them. "

"Connie and......Sasha" He read, making both Connie and Sasha get a big smile on their faces.

Lucky them, I thought to myself. I knew I wouldn't get a good partner because everyone in this class hated me except for Annie. But the chances of getting her were unlikely since, when has life ever been that good to me?

"Annie and..." Mr. Smith said, reaching for another stick. I crossed my fingers and hoped it'd be my name he called but of course, "Armin"

I mentally sighed when I heard I wasn't getting Annie but what I heard next was much worse. "Y/n and......Eren"

I literally slammed my head on the desk. I didn't even mean to; it was just a reflex but still.

It's been confirmed my life really is a circus and sadly for me I have to be the clown to entertain everyone. I mean come on it's crazy how everyone else gets the people they want, and I get Eren fucking Yeager. The guy who hates my whole existence.

After Mr. Smith said I would be partnered up with Eren I zoned out. I didn't care to hear anything anymore.

I didn't notice how long I had been zoned out until I felt a tap on my arm.

The tap came from Annie's side of my body, so I knew it was her. Eren wouldn't dare put his hands on me near Annie.

"We have to start working with our partners" she informed me and just as she did Eren turned his chair around and began staring at me like a hawk.

Armin also turned his chair around and flashed me and Annie smiles.

I sent him one back and then faced Eren. I thought I was okay working with him but as soon as my eyes met his I just felt drained.

I got up and walked to Mr. Smith's desk which made Eren confused so he watched my every movement.

"Hi Mr. Smith" I said when I approached his desk. He looked up at me and put down his stack of papers.

"Hello y/n, how can I help you?"

"Well, my stomach hurts really bad and I really need to go to the bathroom." I said with a frown while rubbing my stomach.

Mr. Smith reached for the bathroom pass and then handed it to me. "Here you go"

"Thank you, sir," I walked out of the classroom.

In truth I wasn't going to the bathroom, I was going to the library to rest. I was extremely tired and would much rather sleep than see Erens dumb face.

-

Erens Pov

It's been about 20 minutes and y/n still aren't back. It's not like I care but I am trying to pass this class and I can't really do that if I don't have a partner.

"Eren, can you come here for a second?" Mr. Smith asked, making me get out of my seat and walk over to him.

"Yes sir?"

"Y/n has been gone a long time. Can you go check on her? I'm a bit worried." He said scratching the back of his head.

"Uh sure sir. Where is she?"

"She's in the bathroom, Thank you"

I made my way out of the class and to the bathroom where y/n was supposed to be.

Since it was the girl's bathroom I couldn't just go in, so I knocked on the bathroom door but got no answer. "Y/n" I called but still no answer. "Is anyone in there?" I said but didn't get an answer. I decided to just walk in the bathroom to see if she was there, but she wasn't. All the stalls were empty.

I was about to walk out of the bathroom when I bumped into someone.

Historia.

"Eren" she beamed. "You must've gotten my message about meeting me here. I mean it was 20 minutes ago, but you came and that's all that matters." She smiled and hugged me.

I didn't know what the hell she was talking about. If I'm being honest, I've had her blocked for a week now so I definitely wouldn't have gotten her message.

"Ah no actually I'm looking for y/n" I said getting her off me.

"Oh," she said, trying to hide the dirty look that was trying so hard to reach her face. "Why would you do that?" she said with a smile, but I could tell she wasn't being genuine because her voice cracked.

"Mr. Smith asked me to" I said, rocking on my heels. The conversation was awkward.

I saw instant relief on her face when she saw I wasn't looking for y/n on my own freewill. "Do you think we can hang then?" She asked me and began to get a little touchier which let me know by "hang" she meant fuck.

"Oh no I'm actually trying to get back to class, maybe later though."

She sighed and gave me her best puppy dog eyes. "Please Eren, I need you." She whined.

Her begging did nothing but annoy me. I tried to keep my cool, but I could feel myself getting ready to tell her to fuck off. "I'm sorry but I really have to go."

I didn't even give her a chance to beg. I just left.

I didn't know where y/n was. For all I know she could be anywhere so I texted Armin and asked if he could ask Annie or something.

He told me that she was most likely in the library, so I headed there.

Sure, enough when I went into the library the first thing, I saw was a sleeping y/n.

I was going to go up to her and wake her up, but as I got closer, I changed my mind. I'm not sure why, but I didn't want to wake her. She appeared to be sleeping peacefully, and something told me she needed the rest.

On a normal day, this would have only made me want to mess with her even more, but something felt off. I really only messed with her to see if she would break, but today she just didn't feel breakable.

I didn't mean this in a way that suggested she was too happy for me to break through; rather, I meant that it seemed as though she had already been broken.

I decided to just sit and wait for her to get up.

-

Third person Pov

About 10 minutes later you finally decided to get up.

You extended your arms and glanced in front of you when you saw the brunette seated across from you looking at his phone.

You jumped a little startled from his presence.

"What are you doing here?" You spoke quietly because you were in a library and your voice was raspy from just waking up.

He put his phone back in his pocket before looking at you. "Great, you're finally awake." He gave you a smirk and flicked your forehead. "Mr. Smith was worried because you were gone for so long and wanted me to check up on you. He thought you had overdosed in the bathroom or something" Eren stated going back on his phone.

"Oh" was all you said. You started to get up ready to make your way back to class when Eren grabbed your arm.

"Where are you going?" He asked.

You looked at him like he was half stupid and then pulled your arm away. "I don't know Eren we are in a school, and I have class, I think you can put the pieces together"

Eren rolled his eyes. "Damn you're real sassy today" Eren grabbed your arm again but this time he pulled you down towards his face. "If you don't fix that attitude, I may have to fix it for you." He said with a flirtatious smirk on his face. He reached his other hand up to touch your face, but you instantly smacked it away.

You walked out of the library and sat on the ground next to the door.

It was still windy outside, but you didn't mind because you needed the breeze.

You were seriously considering skipping the rest of school, but then you remembered you'd have to deal with your dad when you got home, which you didn't want to do, so skipping wasn't an option.

You crossed your arms on top of your knees and put your head down. "When is this hell going to end?" You mumbled to yourself.

You sat there for a few seconds before you heard the library door open.

You put your head up a little to see who it was and of course it was Eren so you groaned and put your head back down.

"y/n we only have 15 more minutes of the first period so i'm going back to class do what you want." Eren said and then walked away.

You inwardly cursed yourself for sleeping for so long. You didn't even realize you'd slept for that long; you believed you just slept for 20 minutes. You stood up and began walking to class. However, you took a different path than Eren. You didn't want to walk with him and listen to his negative remarks.

Your route was slightly longer than Eren's, and by the time you arrived at class, he was already sitting in his chair.

Surprisingly Mr. Smith didn't seem upset about your disappearance and when you tried to go up to him to explain all he said was, "Eren already told me. I understand these things happen, don't worry about it." with a smile

It made you wonder what Eren had told him but then again, your headache had taken over all your thought process, so you nodded and headed to your seat.

When you started approaching your seat Eren didn't notice you because he was turned around talking to Armin and Annie. While approaching your seat you overheard a bit of their conversation.

"Annie, how could you be friends with someone so selfish like that?" Eren said.

"You're one to talk." Annie said defending you like usual.

"Oh what's that supposed to mean? When i'm partners with someone I dont go running off just to fucking sleep."

"And you give her every reason to do so." Annie said.

Eren didn't say anything, he just remained looking upset.

"I mean, Eren, you can't be that upset. Perhaps if you weren't so cruel to y/n, she wouldn't have run away from you. plus, she appeared to have gone through a lot this morning, so maybe she couldn't deal with you." Armin said, attempting to see everything through.

"Whatever" Eren huffed. "I don't even know why I covered for that bitch."

"Who the hell are you-" Annies sentence was cut short as you finally got to your seat.

Everyone went silent but you just put your head down. This made Eren suck his teeth.

"Was 30 minutes not enough rest for you? What was the point of coming back if you were just going to sleep again" he groaned.

"Eren I wish you would shut up for at least 20 minutes" you said with your head still down and with a sleepy tone.

"Aww how cute. Sadly i'm not a genie so get your ass up." he retorted

You sighed and put your head up, knowing you wouldn't be able to sleep because he insisted on talking. "Yeager, what can I do for you?"

"Oh thank you so much y/n for being so sweet and finally collaborating. I don't know you can start by working on your side of the assignment, ''he said sarcastically.

"And what might that be?" you said genuinely confused. Annie had told you but of course you forgot.

Eren let out another sound showing he was aggravated. "If you would get off your ass and listen-" He took a deep breath to refrain from saying anything that might earn him a kick from Annie. "Ugh we are supposed to write ten things about our partners."

"That's simple, why didn't you just say that." you said confused on why he had trouble saying the simplest thing.

"Yeah, it is simple that's why you could have heard it for yourself. But anyways don't just put ten things on a piece of paper Mr. Smith wants it to be in a creative way. "

"Okay let's get sta-" you were about to start but the bell for next period cut your sentence short.

Eren groaned and sent you a death glare. "You gotta be shitting me." He whispered.

"Don't worry class these aren't do for a while, so you'll have plenty of time to finish" Mr. Smith shouted.

"Great." Eren stated. "y/n meet me Saturday at the park at 1 pm you better be there." He said getting his backpack and walking out the door with Armin and Mikasa.

You rolled your eyes and began packing your belongings for your next class. When you were finished, you went to find Annie, who was, of course, waiting for you by the door, so you went to her. "Hey, are you ready? " She asked.

"Yeah"

"All right, let's go." Annie began walking, and you followed, but you soon discovered she was walking in an entirely different way than our next class.

"Annie, this isn't the way to our next class."

"I know, we aren't going to it"

"Huh? Where are we going then?"

"Were skipping"

"What why?" you were getting scared and confused at this point. You and Annie might have stayed in the bathroom for like half a class but never did you guys skip.

"Because y/n you need rest. You're obviously tired and you can't get the rest you need here."

"No Annie I can't"

"I didn't ask," Annie stated firmly, letting you know she would drag you if she had to. But you definitely weren't letting her win this because you truly couldn't skip. You would be too scared to go home.

"Annie, you know I can't. My dad would be mad if I showed up at home at this time."

"Who said we were going to your house?"

"Where are we going then?"

"Mine. My dad isn't home and won't be for the next 3 days so you should be able to get some sleep before having to go home."

"Aww Ann-"

"Shut up"

you giggled at her being unaffectionate as always.

Our walk came to a stop, and you noticed that you had made it to the parking lot. you got in Annie's car and headed to her house.

Annie's house was nice; it was middle-class, like yours. You'd only been here twice before, so it's not like you hadn't seen it before, but you liked how neat Annie kept things. You wished you could keep your stuff as tidy, but Angie usually messed them up. But it's not like you gave a crap.

"Thanks again," you said, sitting on her bed.

"No problem, I know it's probably hard to get sleep since you have a lot on your plate at home."

You sighed. "Yeah"

"You're a busy woman y/n and I respect you for that so i'm not going to let you work yourself more than you have to"

You chuckled at Annies statement and put your head in your hands, hanging it low. "Annie I don't deserve someone like you" your voice cracked.

"Don't say such dumb things y/n"

"I mean it," you said as you lifted your head to gaze at her. She froze as she saw the tears streaming down your cheeks. "I've met a lot of people in my life, and none of them have ever believed in me, except you and Levi, and that's why disappointing you guys hurts the most."

"y/n what's wrong with you today? This seems like more than just a few missed hours of sleep"

Her worrying only made you cry harder "I'm so sorry Annie"

Annie didn't know what to do. She knew you were having a mental breakdown but this one was more serious than the usual ones. She immediately got you some tissues.

When she was handing them to you you pulled her shirt and hugged her while you sobbed. She didn't care for affection but she sensed you needed it and rubbed your back until you stopped sobbing.

"Now tell me what's the matter y/n"

You took a deep breath. "Where do I start, Annie."

You ended up telling her everything that happened yesterday from the time you got home to the time you woke up.

"I wouldn't take it personally, y/n," Annie remarked after you finished describing everything to her. "Angie is young, so she doesn't comprehend how bad your father is. And I'm very sure Violet's words from yesterday prompted her to say what she said. She was probably projecting her rage and trying to attack you where it hurt because Violet taught her that.

"You're right Annie."

"I know," she said, making you giggle.

"When are you ever wrong" you shook your head smiling.

"I can't recall." Annie pointed at her chin looking up at the ceiling.

You laughed. "What would I do without you?"

"You would go insane with your crazy mind," she stated.

"Hey" you looked over at her with your hand over your chest looking offended. "

I mean you're not wrong but ouch."

Annie giggled. Which made you smile on the inside.

Before the two of you realized it you were on top of Annie tickling her and she was beneath you squirming and giggling. How did you end up here? Who knows, all that mattered was the two of you were having fun.

"Say it" you shouted.

"Never" Annie said giggling while trying to get you off of her. You knew she was having fun and joking because if not she would have been kicked you off of her.

"Say it Annie." you started tickling her more.

"No y/n" she continued to giggle.

If someone saw the two of you they would think that you two were a bunch of goofballs but little did they know this was the rarest sight they would probably ever witness.

You tickled her even more and she finally cracked. "fine , fine i'll say it"

"Then say it"

"I can't if you're on top of me"

"Oh. you're right" you giggled and moved.

Annie seemed out of breath from all the giggling so she seemed like she was trying to speak, that is until she pushed you and ran.

You got up almost immediately and started chasing her. You chased her all over the house until she made it to the bathroom and locked the door. "Annie, you can't stay in there forever."

"Like hell I can't," she giggled.

You sat down next to the door and gained your breath. You didn't know how you were going to catch her but you knew you were. That's when you remembered there was a window in the bathroom. You weren't sure if it was open but you were sure going to find out.

You made your way outside and to the window. Surprisingly when you made your way outside you saw Annie escaping out the window.

You made sure she didn't see you and then when she came walking in your direction you waited until she was too close to run and jumped at her. You landed on top of her and made sure her head didn't hit the ground.

"You think you're getting away that easy, without saying it" you laughed.

You started tickling her again and of course she became a laughing mess under you.

"Damn I really can't get away from you." Annie said in between her laughs.

"Nope"

"Fine then i'll say it"

"Good and im not getting off you"

Annie sighed. "y/n is my favorite person in the world." Annie said defeated.

You began to kiss all around her face which made her laugh. "y/n I didn't agree to this the hell" she said but couldn't even keep a serious demeanor seeing how happy you were.

To her it was a relief to see you happy because today you truly were not being your normal self.

While you were pampering her face you noticed out of the corner of your eye something furry near her fence. It was a dog.

You stopped pampering her face. "Annie look" you said looking directly at the dog.

"He looks disgusted." Annie said.

"He's like damn you homosexuals" you added making yourself and Annie laugh.

After that, you and Annie went to pet the dog, then returned inside, where you two lost track of time and napped, and the day ended there.

a/n - yesss y/n x Annie era lol jk but I love them. I missed yall! I'm sorry I haven't updated but my brain has been on E I literally couldn't put anything into words. But yeah. Did you like this chapter? Just wanted to let you know this side of Annie is extremely rare and you probably will barely see it again but slay I love yall so much.

[frogsare-friends]

I'm Not Built for Helping Myself

chapter index | chapter 1 (you are here)

- JEREMIAH -

Nothing at the summer house felt the same without her there. That was the one and only thing I was confident would never change. Sometimes I wished I was back in Boston, with too many bad memories to make it a happy place. There I could be mad at her, at Dad, at Conrad, even. Here all I can picture is her smile, the one reserved for summer, for Cousins. The rest of the year were tight-lipped, plastered on smiles that never reached her eyes. I couldn't blame her, though. I wore the same one. Dad and Conrad, however, prefered a blank slate. Cold and bitter, telling everything and showing nothing.

I almost think that if I could leave, I would. I would go and never come back, never remember her smile, or the dresses that were still hung in her closet. When I was little Belly and I used to sneak into her room and play dress up. Belly wore her button down (the only one Susannah had owned) and made me wear her heels and her frilly dresses she'd buy for the fancy dinners Dad took her out to. They had stopped doing that when I was 12, they started back up as apology dinners when I was 14. We'd leave the place a mess, and looking back, Mom definitely knew what we were up to when we'd run off scheming, giggling to ourselves — unbeknownst to us that we were giggling to everyone else, too. Dad found us once, I was dressed in my mom's favorite shade of blue, Belly and I putting on her brightest red lipstick. I haven't touched makeup since, made Conrad put the contents of her vanity in a tote to go in the attic.

I think that if I ever really did leave, Conrad would kill me. I don't think Conrad could ever let people know how much he cares about them, not without hurting them. He's trying, I have to remind myself. Maybe he wouldn't kill me, maybe he would track me down and never stop texting and calling. Not to convince me to come back, just to yell at me. Just to hurt me enough to make sure I know Conrad cares about me, but not to care about me enough to make sure I know I hurt him. Maybe if I couldn't read Connie so well that approach would actually work.

"That's stupid," I think. I don't even make sense in my own head. I get why everyone wants me to be happy all the time now, it's so much less confusing for everyone.

"Jere, c'mon man. Liam's having a party tonight. You're the DD!" Steve yells as he runs past me, not waiting for me to object. I'm excited, excited to get out of my head a little. Spend some time with my brother, Steven, and — mainly — Belly.

I should go check on her. I'm so in love with her that sometimes I think it might kill me. I've never felt anything good so strongly, nothing that hasn't crushed my lungs. I know Conrad feels that way too, know about the panic attacks. Maybe I'm a bad brother for not telling him I know, but Conrad has always shut down when people notice things about him. The problem with me is that I never stops noticing, but I know how to pretend. I'd help, though, in a heartbeat. If I was there when he had one, mysterious older brothers be damned, I would help him. Would ask him for 5 things he can see. I don't have the heart to tell Conrad that anxiety is genetic, that I get them too. I can't tell him about how I get sick when I'm anxious, how I sit in bed and cry and have panic attack after panic attack when the weight of this house and the last get to be too much.

I want to. I want to look at Conrad and find what used to be there. But I can't. I try and bile rises up my throat, and really, that's the problem in the first place. So what's the point? I've never been one for holding grudges, and I'm not. If accused of it, I wouldn't deny it, but that's not what this is about. It's about trust. I trusted him, I needed him. And he wasn't there. I knows it's not fair, not fair to ask Conrad to take care of me, look after me, care about me. I know it's not fair, but I can't help thinking that I do it every time. Conrad thinks he's the only one that carries everything, but he isn't. I'm the one there to pick up the pieces and glue them back together whenever Conrad drops it. I've always looked up to Conrad, but more, I've always looked after Conrad. When Dad went to London for two weeks because he was mad at me, I was there for Connie, not the other way around. It's not fair, it never has been. But I can't help but want Conrad to care about me the way I care about Conrad. I know he cares about me as much, but I don't care how much he loves me if he won't say it, won't talk about it. I want more than for Con to love me a lot, I want him to love me well.

By the time I get upstairs, Belly is already dressed and putting on her makeup. God, I'll never get over how I can't breathe in a good way whenever I see her. Not like the world stops, like I stop. Because in the entire world all I'm thinking about is her. The world is still there, I just couldn't care less when she is too.

Then she turns around. And she's wearing the same dress that Mom used to love. The same one Dad once caught me in. The first of two times Adam Fisher ever laid a hand on either of his sons. And suddenly that good feeling of can't breathe, of too much is very much a bad feeling.

"Jere, what's wrong?" But I can't, I can't, I can't. She always could read me too well.

"I-" and I don't get the time to finish my sentence before I'm running to the bathroom. Pulling up the seat and dropping to my knees in front of the toilet. There's a soft hand on my back, rubbing it while her other one grabs a hair tie, pulling my hair back for me. God, I love her.

"It's okay, Jere. Shhh, it's okay. Let it out, I got you" she continues to whisper sweetly into my hair, kissing my head when the worst of it's over. I'm panting, trying to get rid of that feeling of not being able to breathe.

"Ew guys, no being in the bathroom togeth- Oh. You okay man?" Steven walks over, looking like he wants to help but would also rather be anywhere else. He does have a fear of throwing up, afterall.

- BELLY -

"It's fine Steven, he'll be fine. I don't need you throwing up on the floor, get out of here. You and Conrad go, we're not gonna make it." I'm not mad at Jere for being sick, how could I be. But I will be mad if Steven doesn't get out of here and throws up all over the floor because of it. I'm not cleaning it up, and I'm definitely not rubbing his back.

"Are you sure you don't want us to stay here? We can go out and get some crackers," Steven offers, his back turned but still listening intently.

- JEREMIAH -

"No, you go man, I'm good. You've been looking forward to this all day, have a good night" I'm practically begging him. I like to think that if things were different, if I wasn't sobbing over a toilet, begging him to go, Steven would stay. I don't usually get what I like though.

"Yeah, alright dude. We'll see you tonight?" Steven walks out before he gets an answer, I wasn't sure he was really asking a question though.