#just finished mundane troubles today

[ethernalium]

[milfjuulpod]

Taken For A Ride

Downtown celebrating and socializing with your Abbott friends, Melissa seems to be more affectionate towards you than usual, and enjoying every second of it.

warnings: consumption of alcohol, smut, 18+

A/N: hey pookies long time no see, after taking a long break from writing i finally finished something i enjoyed. i hope u all enjoy reading it as much as i did writing it :)

After the stressful few days that was the smoking fiasco, it was needless to say everyone at Abbott Elementary was relieved when Janine was able to help out the troubled student, even if that meant it included the “no smoking” sign somehow being attached to the brick wall. Mr. Johnson never failed to amaze the rest of the crew.

“You know what would be an ironic way to congratulate Janine and celebrate today working out? Going out for drinks and dancing downtown this Friday,” Jacob pitched to the usual suspects on their way out the door for the afternoon.

“Please, you’ll come up with any reason to get us all out and do something. You’re almost as bad as Janine.” Ava retorted. “But…I do know of some PR event happening that night, I could get us all in after a few shots.”

Unsure of your own decision on Jacob’s idea, you just listened to a few of your friends go back and forth between places to go, before settling on somewhat of a decent plan for the weekend. Looking between faces, a pair of jade eyes met yours. Melissa was already looking at you, realizing that caused a light pink spread across your cheeks. Luckily everyone else was busy caught up in the details of it all. Shifting your eyes away from hers, you walked closer to Ava.

“I’ll be at both this event Ava speaks of and whatever bar you all decide beforehand, but I gotta run. Text me the details?” You asked, picking up your pace once you were met with agreement from everyone.

Truthfully, you didn’t have anywhere special to be, but here in the car was better than being a flustered mess in front of the redhead. Melissa had clearly taken a liking towards you. At first it was innocent, her walls slowly coming down in an effort of friendship. Slowly but surely, her favoritism towards you became more and more clear. She always made sure you were close to her when the two of you were in the same room, she would let her touches linger while she watched your face for any sort of reaction. If you didn’t know any better, you’d assume it wasn’t just curiosity, Melissa liked getting such a reaction from you.

You shook your head to clear your thoughts before beginning the drive home. The evening was filled with mundane tasks, grading, cleaning, planning, nothing too out of the ordinary. The rest of the week was similar, mundane, but easy. That was, until Friday. Shortly after you had gotten home from work and started getting ready to meet everyone out, you got a call from Melissa. “Hey you,” came from your end as soon as you picked up.

“Hey sweetheart, can you do me a favor?” Melissa asked over the speaker. You couldn’t see, but you knew she was twirling the end of her hair and lowering her voice on purpose, she always did when she wanted something.

“What is it now, Schemmenti?” You teased her.

“I need you to get ready as quickly as you can and come to my house.” She answered rather quickly.

“And why is that?”

“Because…I don’t know what to wear,” She admitted.

You couldn’t contain the laugh as soon as you heard her answer. She couldn’t be serious, right? “Mel, why do you need me to come all the way to your house for an opinion on an outfit? Can’t you just tell me what you’re wearing or send me pictures? Or, oh! Just FaceTime me.”

“C’mon hon, it can’t possibly take you long to get ready, you look incredible without even trying. Plus, we can carpool. Save the planet.”

You knew it wouldn’t take long for her to convince you. “Fine, I’ll text you when I’m on my way.”

After a few songs and quick outfit adjustments, you were out the door and on your way to Melissa’s. As far as you knew, the clubs Ava tended to go to were more on the luxurious side, so you hoped your bodycon skirt and baby tee were cute enough to get past security. The drive was nice, but not long enough for your nerves to calm down. You had only been to Melissa’s house a few times, you wondered what exactly you had gotten yourself into just as you pulled into the driveway and went up to her front door.

“Hey, did you at least pick out a couple options? Or am I going in completely blind?” You asked, taking a step into her house. Melissa didn’t answer you, though. Instead she quietly shut the door behind you two and very obviously looked you up and down. “This…This what you’re wearin’?” She asked before giving you a once over (again). 

“I was going to, why? Do I not look good?” You began looking at yourself in the mirror in the hallway of her home, trying to fix any imperfections you could have missed. So focused on fixing yourself up, you missed Melissa sneaking up and getting in your space. That is until you could see her dark eyes in the mirror, her lips so close to your ear as she said, “No baby, you look good. Follow me,” She said, and walked away like she didn’t just turn you into the darkest shade of red. 

Upstairs in her room, she motioned for you to sit on the bed while she went into her bathroom. You took a short amount of time to compose yourself and take in your surroundings. It wasn’t messy, but it was lived in, well loved. It was very Melissa, and you wouldn’t expect anything less of the woman. When she emerged, you realized she had color coordinated the two of you. Her white top underneath her jacket matched yours, and her black leather pants matched your skirt. 

“Looks okay?” She asked, fluffing up her hair in the mirror once more before walking over to you. The redhead seemed to sway her hips more as she came closer, drawing more attention to the pants that hugged her tightly. 

            “Y-Yeah Mel, you look good.” You took the opportunity to stand back up and change the subject. “Are you ready to go? Who’s driving?” 

              Melissa gathered the rest of her things and motioned for you to continue ahead of her. “Barb is coming to pick us up, figured we could plan the rest out later since both our cars are at mine anyways,” she said, closing her door and following you down the stairs. You hadn’t considered that at the end of the night, you would be coming back to Melissa’s. Interesting. 

             The ride to the restaurant was nice, a bit of time to catch up for the work wives before meeting everyone else. You, on the other hand, zoned out for most of the ride. It wasn’t until Melissa turned around that you came back to life. “Hon, you in there?” Both her and Barbara were now looking at you, Barbara just stopping the car. 

       “Yeah, sorry. Just taking some me time before giving all my energy to the kids,” You replied, earning a scoff from both Melissa and Barbara. 

       “Those ‘kids’ are the same age as you sweetheart,” Barbara said, turning off the car and getting ready to go in. 

        “Doesn’t mean they don’t tire me out just like actual kids do,” You said, and shut the door behind you. You joined the two older women in stride, Melissa sneaking her hand on your lower back as you three entered the restaurant. It was easy to find your group of friends, all gathered at the high top closest to the bar. “So glad to see you could all make it!” Jacob enthusiastically said as you all sat down. “I have to say Jacob, I’m not mad at the place, so far.” Melissa teased her friend across the table. She reached for a menu in front of her, and turned to you. “Have you been here before?” She asked. 

        “I have, actually. It’s nice, the bar food is surprisingly decent and the bartenders know what they’re doing, which is a nice change of pace,” You answered honestly. The redhead laughed at your response, but it was clear she was genuinely listening to what you had to say. 

       After a few minutes, everyone had ordered a few appetizers and the first round of drinks, courtesy of Ava. “What? Yall think I don’t have principal money?” She laughed. “But you better make this first round worth it, all of yall. Drink up people!” The first round was quick to arrive, and the second round was close behind. “I’ll get this one, just in case I get too drunk and forget to pay for drinks later,” You said, half to your server and half to your friends. 

       Melissa’s hand snaked its way onto your thigh, squeezing it gently. “Don’t get too drunk now, I don’t want you puking in my bed later,” She said quietly to you. You laughed off her teasing, but couldn’t ignore her lingering touch on your thigh. The combination of the alcohol and Melissa’s touch made warmth spread throughout your entire body. 

        She didn’t stop there either. It seemed with each sip she took of her own drink, she was letting go of those walls and showing you more and more affection. As much as you loved the attention, it was driving you crazy. Every time she laughed she would lean into you, followed by meeting your eyes to see if you were laughing as hard as her. Whenever the redhead had a snarky comment to make, she would nuzzle into your hair and whisper it into your ear. Those times were the hardest to get through. 

        Luckily after the third round, everyone decided to change locations. Barbara was the only one who stopped after her first drink, leaving that version of Barbara for another time—someone had to wrangle in the kids. 

        “Alright everyone, whoever is coming to Ava’s club needs to follow me to my car, I’ll be dropping you hooligans off.” She laughed, but everyone knew she cared and would never hesitate to give any one of you a ride. Ava, Janine, Jacob, Melissa, and yourself followed Barbara’s trail in the parking lot. Gregory, despite many pleads from everyone, decided to head home. Something about getting up early for the perfect gardening weather, your memory was foggy since Melissa was drawing patterns on your back at the time. 

       “Wait, we have one too many…Someone has to sit lap. Couldn’t be me though, I get shotgun since I’m giving Barb the directions,” Ava told the group and quickly took her spot in the front. 

       “You’ll be fine, right hon? Besides, I’m a good seatbelt,” Melissa said to you, walking with you to the car and taking her spot without leaving you much choice. You took your seat, and silently prayed the club wasn’t too far away. As soon as Barbara started driving, Melissa had her hands on you. One splayed across your stomach and the other wrapped around your thigh. Luckily Ava was already in party mode and took over the music on the drive, leaving no room for conversation. If you tried talking, you fear it would be full of stutters and gasps. 

        Once everyone got comfortable in the car, Melissa took advantage of the position the two of you were in. She lowered her hand a bit on your stomach and tightened her grip on your thigh. You could feel her nails through your skirt and you attempted to close your legs more to get her to ease up, but of course it didn’t work. You felt her lips against the shell of your ear for a split second before you heard her voice. 

        “Stop squirming so much baby, or I’ll really have to hold you down.”

        Although the music was loud, you knew Melissa was close enough to hear the whine that escaped you. And if she didn’t, she certainly felt your body’s reaction to her. Just a minute later you were thanking your lucky stars as Barbara pulled up to the club and lowered the music. You knew you were blushing, way too warm, just an absolute mess thanks to the woman underneath you. 

        “Alright kiddos, have fun and be safe! Everyone please get home safely, and make good decisions!” Barbara said her goodbye, and everyone thanked her as they made their exit. Ava led the way to the bouncer, and though you took the opportunity in the cold air to calm down, Melissa stayed close by. Even when Jacob started talking about the famous drinks they had here, she pretended to listen all while keeping her beautiful green eyes focused on you. She was driving you insane. 

       As soon as Ava got everyone to their VIP spot and drink orders were placed, you took off to the bathroom. Cold water and alone time was exactly what you needed. You stood in front of the bathroom mirror obsessively looking yourself over, worried that the whole club would somehow be able to tell Melissa had you wrapped around her finger and was tugging on the string like a play toy. Focused on the cool water on your hands as you began to turn on the sink, you missed the sound of the door opening. 

        “Everything okay, hon? You left pretty quickly. Don’t tell me Jacob’s list of ingredients scared you from the drink you ordered,” Melissa’s voice was heard from behind you. Quickly you turned off the faucet and faced her, your body betraying your mind in an instant. “Please, not much could scare me off from a drink at a place with a bar like this one,” you joked. She took a few steps closer, inching you against the back of the counter. 

        “Then what’s going on, amore?” She asked, but there was a tone in her voice you couldn’t pinpoint. The nickname didn’t help your state either, it never did. “N-Nothing Mel, everything’s okay.” You would’ve walked away at this point if you didn’t feel cornered by such a beautiful woman. 

        As if a switch flipped in her, Melissa put her hands by your sides on the counter and pressed herself against you gently. “Don’t lie to me, I could sit here all night,” she said lowly. 

       “Melissa…” was all you were able to get out. She pushed herself against you harder, her breasts flush with yours at this point. “I’ll ask you one more time. What’s going on?”

       “I…You’ve been teasing me all night,” You felt Melissa put her hands over yours on the counter and squeeze them gently. “Mmm, I haven’t been that mean, have I? I figured most of my attitude tonight was directed towards Janine, not you dolcezza mia,” She tightened her grip on your hands with her last two words. If she wasn’t making your body feel on fire, you would’ve rolled your eyes just then. 

       “You know that’s not what I mean Melissa,” You said sharply, growing tired of this game with her. “Oh, this teasing then?” She asked, and a second later had her thigh pressed against your core, bodies closer than they ever have been. You groaned at the feeling and had to fight every urge to not grind against her in that moment. All you could do was nod, which drove Melissa crazy. You didn’t know it yet, but she loved teasing you until you couldn’t take it anymore, making you beg and plead for what you want. 

         “Aww, you poor thing, let me help you then.” Melissa slowly began rubbing her thigh back and forth against you, and captured your lips in hers to keep you quiet. She let go of your hands and let you touch her, and you wasted no time pulling her closer. The older woman moaned at how tightly and desperately you pulled at her. She broke apart the kiss to continue her way down your jaw and throat, and you felt her use her leg to open yours even more. 

       “Melissa…S-Someone could walk in,” you said between gasps. “No they won’t, I locked the door behind me,” She stopped kissing you for a moment to smile up at you, and you realized Melissa had planned this, and you went right along with it. In your moment of distraction, Melissa had pulled your skirt up, and it wasn’t until you felt her nails on your thighs again you realized it. “God, Melissa, you’ve been teasing me all night…please,” You muttered. 

        “Please what, my love?” You rolled your eyes at her response, to which Melissa dug her nails harder into your skin. 

        “Please touch me, fuck me, I need to feel you. I need you.” At your words Melissa brought her lips back up to yours, ever so slightly brushing them together. “Good girl.”

        Melissa tugged your underwear to the side and slowly drew a finger up and down your center. The bathroom was filled with your moans and Melissa’s gentle shushes and kisses across your body. She didn’t hesitate giving you exactly what you wanted, the feeling of her fingers inside you bringing you closer and closer to the edge every passing second. Her lips felt so soft as they left red and purple marks along your neck, her perfume surrounded you entirely, all you could feel was her. Opening your eyes, you looked at her. Her red hair falling across the two of you, the way her pants looked so good on her tonight, her fingers pumping in and out of you. 

        “Baby I’m s-so close…please Melissa,” You moaned. She kissed her way back up, stopped right by your ear again and said, “Let go sweetheart, let it all go for me.” After a few more touches, you rode your orgasm out against Melissa, overstimulated from the senses. She let you catch your breath, every once in a while planting a gentle kiss somewhere she left a mark earlier. Once you opened your eyes and met her green ones again, she spoke up. “Hi beautiful.”

        “Hi,” you giggled out. You felt higher than ever, post alcohol and orgasm. Melissa took your hands again and helped you stand up straight, adjusting your skirt in the process. It was sweet seeing her like this, so caring without having to say a word. You pulled her back up to you, kissing her again. This time it was less rushed, and you hoped she could feel your admiration and gratefulness in it all. 

         “I guess we should go back out there before our drinks get watered down,” Melissa said once the two of you finally pulled apart. “Yeah, I guess. But only if you let me hear what your moans sound like when we get home,” You replied. 

      Melissa giggled and led the two of you to the door, “Deal.”

[jungwonnz]

stuck?!

feat niki x reader ; genre fluff, forced proximity, cute confessions! ; word count ~ 2.3k ; warnings swearing, miscommunications, my bad grammar

after a failed (?) confession to your friend riki, you get stuck in an elevator with him.

note it’s so hard to write comprehensive stories but i hope you guys can see the vision… i love the forced proximity trope sm 🙏 anyways, thank you for reading! 🥰

“oh my god, y/n, are you actually going to confess to him?!” your best friend, haerin, shouted, as you walked through the hallways to your second period class, ignoring the curious looks the other students gave you two. “shhh!!! do you want everyone to know? and yes, i’m serious.” you ended with a small smile on your face, watching your best friend excitedly squeal.

“finally! i’m so tired of watching you guys flirt, it’s so obvious he’s head over heels for you.” haerin concludes. you give her a playful shove as you both settle into your desks.

today was the day you decided to confess to your longtime crush, neighbour, and (other) best friend, nishimura riki. you met in middle school when he moved into the same floor as you. you always had small talk with him, and you can’t deny that you always found him cute.

when high school began, you both started walking to and from school together, talking about the most mundane things and growing close. you and riki were known for causing trouble in class.

your feelings for him grew more and more over the years. you both were in your final year of high school, and you decided it was now or never. plus, you were 99% sure he liked you back; the way he would blush and get so flustered around you made it obvious. or at least, that’s what haerin said.

you went old fashioned and wrote him a letter, mainly because if you did it in person you would likely become a stuttering mess and run away before you could finish. you were brave, just not that brave.

you walk with haerin to riki's locker right before lunch starts, and with a deep breath slid your letter in. haerin clapped and cheered as you pulled her hand and basically ran from the spot.

you and haerin sit outside on the school field, eating your lunches. you expected riki to come find you and talk to you about your letter at lunch, but he's nowhere to be found. haerin tries to reassure you by saying maybe he didn't see it yet.

as you both walk back around the field, you see him. his tall figure is running around the basketball court with his friends. and his bag is with him.

your heart drops. haerin looks at you, confused as to why you look so upset.

"haerin... riki always leaves his bag in his locker after first period and gets it right before break. that means that he got his bag from his locker, right?"

"if he got his bag from his locker, he must've seen your letter..." haerin realised.

and suddenly, your mind is racing with images of him laughing while reading your confession, laughing at you, and you wonder, how could you be so stupid to think he liked you back? haerin quickly put her arm around you and tried to reassure you. "y/n, you have no way to be sure that he read your letter so don't be sad. why don't you go and confront him? maybe this is all just a misunderstanding."

the rational part of you knew that talking to him was the best thing to do, but you were too scared. you used most of your courage to confess to him. you just wanted to go home and lie in your bed, away from everything. you were embarassed.

you felt yourself tearing up as you ran back inside the school, haerin right behind you. what you didn't see was riki looking at you from the basketball court. his friends followed his eyes. "isn't that y/n? why is she running?" jungwon asked. "yeah, it is. she's been ignoring me all day..." riki replied sadly.

you pulled yourself together in the bathroom, not wanting to cause a scene. finally, the end of the day came. riki would usually meet you at your locker to walk home with you, so you ask haerin if she could quickly get your stuff from your locker and bring it to you.

she managed to avoid him and brought your stuff to you quickly. "thank you haerin. i appreciate your help." you say, giving her a quick hug. you tell her that you'll wait in the library for a bit so you don't see riki. haerin is reluctant to leave you alone, but you reassure her that you'll be fine, so she left to catch her bus, waving at you with a sad smile on her face.

as you scroll meaninglessly on your phone, someone taps you on the shoulder. you look up to see sunoo, one of riki's friends. you feel your heart race.

"y/n! what are you doing here? riki's been looking for you since school ended, he's waiting to walk home with you." sunoo says, looking at you with a confused expression.

"ah sunoo, actually, i'm supposed to retake a test after school today. i was just doing some last minute revision! it might take me some time, so can you tell him to go on without me?" you say, forcing a smile.

sunoo agrees, and leaves you alone again. after a while, you leave the library and start walking home on your own, taking a different route.

by the time you finally reach your apartment and get into the elevator, you're just about ready to pass our on your bed. the walk home seemed like hours without riki's funny commentary, or his random stories about his day. you sigh and quickly press your floor number.

right before the elevator door could close, someone sticks their foot through to stop it. the door opens, and you watch as riki walks through the doors. your breath stops, and you suddenly feel as if you're drowning. your ears burn and you look down at the floor.

riki, on the other hand, is ecstatic to see you. "oh my god. y/n, where have you been all day? you never told me about retaking any test. are you avoiding me?" he asks, waving his hands around.

you don't answer him, anger and confusion boiling up inside you. why is he pretending not to know?

"you can't be serious right? i can't believe you." you scoffed. "i knew you were dense, but not this dense, riki."

now it's his turn to be confused. "so you have been ignoring me? what did i do? i've been looking for you basically all day." he said, the emotion in his voice growing.

"that's all you have to say? it's okay, riki. just because you don't feel the same way as me doesn't been you don't have to pretend it didn't happen. you can just tell me." your voice was cold and flat.

"what do you mean 'feel the same', y/n? am i missing something?" riki says softly, trying to calm you down.

"just leave it. i don't want to talk to you." is all you can say to him before your words catch in your throat. and suddenly the elevator feels suffocating and all you can think is “why haven't we got to our floor yet?” and your vision is tearing up and you try to ignore the way riki is looking at you with the most heartbroken eyes because if he really cared about you, then maybe this situation could be different.

without warning, there's a thud. both you and riki jump, startled. you notice that the elevator stopped moving.

no way. you and riki are stuck. you feel like bursting into tears.

a quick "what the fuck?" slips out of riki's mouth, while you curse your own luck. out of all the times this could happen, it had to happen now?

though it's silent as you both assess the situation, it feels deafening at the same time. you can't hide the feeling of panic growing inside you.

"are we really... stuck right now?" riki says, looking at you nervously.

you look at him out of the corner of your eye. "well obviously we are. this day can't get any worse, can it?" you reply with a sigh, covering your eyes with your hands as you sink onto the floor.

you watch as riki also settles down on the floor of the elevator, opposite from you. the management makes an announcement over the speakers, saying that technicians have been called and the elevator will be fixed soon, and that you both just have to wait it out.

you wonder if you should speak up, address the tension between you two. but you're just too scared. you tap on the floor apprehensively, thinking "why isn't he saying anything?"

as you steal a glance at riki, you realize why. his face is pale, his hands trembling, his eyes shut tight. his breaths are long and slow, as you notice sweat forming at his hairline.

and you finally remember that your best friend hates being in tight spaces.

in an instant, you scooch closer to him, unzipping your bag and taking your water bottle out. "what kind of friend am i? how could i forget?" you scold yourself. you hand him the water bottle, and you swore you could feel your heart shatter in your chest when he looked up at you with the most innocent look in his warm brown eyes.

you sit and hold his hands while he drinks, wiping his face and calming him down. no matter what happened between you two, riki would always be your friend before anything.

"thank you, y/n. i'm sorry about... everything that happened. but please, i genuinely don't know what you mean about... your feelings. did something happen?"

you look away from him and sigh, accepting the situation. "riki, i know you don't like me back and it's okay. i was just upset that you were acting as if you didn't read my letter." you look at him. "you know you could've just told me right? it would've hurt less."

a short pause followed your words.

"y/n you... like me?" riki whispers, his expression unreadable. you roll your eyes playfully and say "yes, idiot. that's what all of this was about."

out of nowhere, riki sits up. "y/n, what letter are you talking about?" he asks urgently.

"the letter that i left in your locker? my confession?" you answer, clueless as to why he's asking this way.

in an instant, riki looks away, his head in his hands. and slowly, you watch the smile on his face grow, his laughs slowly becoming louder, as you watch bewildered.

"y/n..." he spoke between giggles. "my lock broke this morning. i couldn't get into it all day. the janitor was supposed to open it after school, but i ended up leaving to look for you. i didn't read your letter..."

your jaw fell as you gasped. and the reality of the situation began to unfold in front of you. shocked, you realised that you had been upset and mean to him for no reason.

and you also realised that you had just confessed to him.

"riki... i'm so sorry. i didn't know..." you said, covering your face.

riki took your hands gently, and smiled at you. you looked at him as he began to speak.

"it's okay y/n. you should've just told me. i don't bite, y'know?" you watch as a blush begins to form on his face, and now you're very aware of how close your faces are, and the fact that niki is holding your hands.

"now that i know... y/n. i like you too. i always have, since the day you showed up at my door in middle school and introduced yourself. you've always been there for me since we started high school, and walking with you is my favourite part of everyday. i'm so happy right now..." he spoke softly, never once breaking eye contact.

"and i really hope that's what your letter was about because if not... this is kind of awkward." he finished, laughing.

you couldn't help yourself from tearing up as you broke out in a smile. covering your face, you smacked him. "i can't believe you're laughing at my pain! and yes, silly. that is what my letter was about."

you move forward to hug him, asking him "is this okay?" when he nods, you wrap your arms around him, smiling into his shoulder while you stroke his hair.

"i promise i'll read your full confession when i get it." he says, holding you tight. and you both settle comfortably in each other's embrace, almost forgetting that you both were stuck.

you were just so happy to be with him again.

and soon enough, the elevator began moving and you both were rescued. as soon as you stepped outside of the elevator, you stretched your arms and legs, looking over at the pretty boy beside you, the smile never once leaving your face.

you and riki walked down the hallway holding hands. stopping at your apartment door, you turn to face him, looking up at him.

the fondness in his eyes is undeniable. "y/n, you're so beautiful. i meant it all the times i said it." you noticed the way his hair fell in his eyes, and how he scratched the back of his neck awkwardly.

"can i.. kiss you?" he mumbles.

you nod quickly, closing your eyes. and there, in front of your apartment door, you share a sweet kiss with your longtime crush, neighbour, and (other) best friend, nishimura riki. you both smile into the kiss.

after a few seconds, you pull away, giggling. he pulls you into his arms again, as you allow yourself to drown in the scent of his cologne.

"i can't believe we had to get stuck in an elevator to get to this point." he said, shaking his head. you laugh and pull away, just to give him another kiss. "thank you, riki." you whispered.

he looked at you and nodded, understanding right away. "anything for you, y/n."

[tenjikyu]

𝘝𝘢𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘦 - 𝘓𝘢𝘶𝘧𝘦𝘺

౨ৎ ⋆｡˚ Final timeline , valentines special , gn!reader , reader actually likes Valentine’s Day instead of despising it , reader is apart of the student council , delinquent/school council troupe , idk how many members black dragon had but ik the gang was HUGE so I went w 650 , izana knows he isn’t biologically related to the others for plot convenience , idk how old the kids are so Emma is four, mikey is five and izana is seven.

School was always boring, however the only time you found pleasure in attending your mundane school was during Valentine’s Day.

Girls gushing over the chocolates they’re either giving or receiving, and guys flushed from sudden confessions and giving flowers to their lucky lady.

The air in school seemed more lively with the coming of Valentine’s Day.

You were yet to acquire a partner to share this special event with, however that never bothered you too much. You were a fairly popular face around school, and had your fair share of admires (girls and guys alike).

However you were in no rush to run into a relationship. Your status as vice president of the student council already filled your schedule enough as is, and having some dense and clingy person begging for you attention wasn’t ideal.

And so, you smiled gently as you watched your student council friend get a batch of roses from her crush, hoping the very best for her.

Shinichiro, unlike yourself, was rather desperate to acquire somebody to love. Ever since middle school, he’d trail a pretty girl in the halls and ask if she was interested in going to grab a bite to eat.

And the response was almost the same with every girl.

“Sorry, Sano. I probably shouldn’t go out with a delinquent.” “Sorry Sano, I’m not interested right now” “Sano, please leave me alone this is the 3rd time”

As highschool came and past by, Sano had asked out a total of 16 girls and 7 guys before he eventually gave up. Maybe he just wasn’t meant to find his special someone?

It was in his 2nd year of high school before Shinichiro Sano would end up finding somebody to share his obligatory chocolates with.

It was a day like no other, however instead of pure oxygen, something else seemed to fill the air.

Love.

Couples and pre-couples littered the school. Girls flattened out their skirts and boys fixed their hair in anticipation.

You had decided that you’d come a bit earlier today, as you had some papers you had to finish off before class began. It’s not your fault your mother couldn’t pick up your little sister today, even though she had started middle school already.

“Little girls Like Keiko shouldn’t walk home alone, be a good older brother/sister and walk her home.”

Your mothers was just a liiiiitttttleeee over protective.

Only the sound of motorcycles pulled you from your daze as you stared at the entrance of the school. The bikes wernt an uncommon sound, after all.

The Black Dragons are infamous around school, known for their mischievous yet respected leader. Shinichiro was a celebrity amongst delinquents, a shining star for all to follow. The North Star of the sky, as one could say. He caused trouble, yet always cleaned up after himself. He has bad luck with women, however has been known to defend and fight for girls he’s never even met before.

In the eyes of many, he was a dumb and irresponsible boy who led more men than he could handle (650, to be specific). In your eyes however, he was a good man. Sure he got into trouble and messed around with his friends, but he never once laid a hand on someone who didn’t deserve it.

As the man of the hour walked up to the school, his 3 lackys in tow, he walked past you, a gentle smile plastered on his face.

Perhaps, he could be smiling at you?

As you left the council room, you felt a hand on your shoulder. Looking back, you see the hair of Shinichiro’s closest friend, Wakasa Imaushi.

“Hey, got a minute?” The blonde asked you, his eyes gazing your confused expression. You only silently nod, before following the gang leader to your possible doom.

As you walk through the halls of your school, you ponder to yourself silently. What could a delinquent want with the vice president of the student council?

Alas, you eventually come to a halt, you walk into the room, Wakasa holding the door for you like a gentleman. As you enter the room, an interesting sight beholds you.

Shinichiro is sat on a chair, his other two friends are leaning side by side. He would almost look like a king, if it wasn’t for his dopey expression that rested on his face.

“(Y/N) perfect timing! I have something to ask you.”

HUH???

You aren’t entirely sure why your mind went to the certain romantic event being held today, however the clear expression of shock on your face is enough to have Shinichiro put your mind at ease.

“I’m not asking about valentines, you can relax vice prez. I wanted to ask you about your sister.” He begins, his voice getting slightly more serious.

“Why? Has something happened to Keiko that I don’t know about?” You ask him, wondering that if you were correct, how did he know before you?

“She’s adopted, correct? How did that settle for your family.” He seems serious now, but not his scary and gang leader mode scary.

He’s never allow his crush to see him in such a state.

“Yes, she is adopted. We took her in 3 years ago. Why do you ask?”

“Well, there’s a kid my family had taken in from the orphanage recently. He’s a little older than my other two, and he’s not fully Japanese. I’m worried Izana might feel a bit excluded, given he isn’t related to Manjiro and Emma. I was wondering if you had some advice to give me, so I can discuss this with him without him getting uncomfortable or scared.”

You can’t tell if you’re more shocked about the fact Shinichiro Sano told you a very sensitive fact about his home life, or about the fact he’s taken in another sibling. You’re well aware of the other two.

But he came to you for assistance, and no matter what kind of student they are, it’s your job as vice president to help all students out.

“Well, if you wanted, I could bring Keiko around to talk to him about it? He might feel more comfortable talking to a child with similar experiences to him.”

“REALLY?? That would be AWSOME, (Y/N)!”

And so, you picked Keiko up from school and visited the Sano estate. It wasn’t too far from where you live, maybe a 5-10 minute walk, however the second you opened the door…

“MIKEY LEAVE HER ALONE”

“ITS A DOLL NOT A REAL GIRL SHIN”

A boy with blonde hair, no older then six, is standing on the couch whilst a little girl is sobbing in an attempt to get her doll back. Shinichiro is yelling from the top of his lungs at his brother, but isn’t currently in the main room.

“Uhmm… bad timing?” You peeped out, your little sister shuffling behind you. At once, three pairs of eyes land on you. Then, a fourth pair peep from behind a door. Two lilac iris’ stare into your own.

“Wow, a boy/girl” Manjiro says, taken aback by your presence in the house. Emma only looks at you with excitement in her eyes, seemingly noticing the presence of your sister in the house.

“SHIT! Sorry (Y/N) I completely forgot you were coming over today, please make yourselves at home. Emma, Mikey, BEST behaviour around our guests.”

Shinichiro orders his siblings in an endearing manner. It’s like his gang mode has a switch, and his usual personality shines through the curtains.

He’s such a sweet brother

Introducing yourself to the two gremlins, you eventually make your way to the boy of the hour, who was still watching you intently. You bend down to his height and take his little hands in your own.

“Hello, Izana. It’s lovley to meet you. I’ve brought my sister here to talk to you, wanna give it a shot?” His little head nods curiously, before you guide your sister over. Shinichiro orders everyone out of the living room, in favour of giving the two a comfortable atmosphere to discuss in.

Keiko was a bit older then Izana, with him only being seven whilst your sister was turning eleven this year, however you knew that they would click pretty quickly.

You offer to help make cookies for everyone to share, and with excitement in their eyes, the three sano siblings all eagerly get to work on making the perfect batch of chocolate chip cookies.

You and Keiko became a common sight at the Sano family house, with Izana becoming rather attached to your little sister. Itching at the oppourtunity, Keiko immediately took on her big sister role, and takes Izana out weekly to the park to play.

You find yourself talking to Shinichiro more, and in turn, he ends up coming to school slightly more often. The two of you are a SHOCK to the school, with most assuming the two of you would have it out for eachother. You helped him study, and in turn he made sure you had upmost protection when walking around at night.

You started attending his gang meetings as his honoured guest, and it was made known to the entirety of Black Dragons that you were of UPMOST priority. When you’re in the presence of the gang, not a scratch should lay on your skin, otherwise hell would be waiting.

You loved visiting his family, and his family loved you. Keiko would sometimes come too, for Izana, but it was often just you after school. You made sweets with them, cooked with them, helped them with schoolwork. You went to the arcade with them and even invited the three kids to go to the amusement park with your sister (mainly so you and shinichiro could go hang out together).

And just like that, a year had passed and it was valentines once more.

Love was, once again, floating around in the air. This year though, you had someone you desperately wanted to spend it with.

Shinichiro Sano.

School was nothing interesting. Well, I wish I could say that, however it WAS interesting.

BANG!!

The door to your classroom swings open with a hard hit, and the Shinichiro three lackys come tumbling in, dressed in their formal uniform.

“(Y/N), Let’s ride for a bit, Shin is waiting for us out the gate.” Takeomi grumbles, a knowing smirk on his face. All eyes were on the four of you.

“Boys, I can’t just miss class like you three, I actually have to graduATEEEEE-” lifted from your seat in courtesy of Keizo, you squeal as they abduct you from your learning. Hearing the commotion in the halls, many student come to watch what was going on.

By the time you four had made it to the gates, you had the entire school (including faculty bc let’s be real, they’re INVESTED) watching you.

The student council vice president with the Black Dragons??

Gently placed down, you notice Shinichiro standing tall and proud in his gang uniform. Then you finally see it. The ENTIRETY of the Black Dragon was standing behind him, all standing tall. Looking behind you, you notice his top three standing respectfully, as to not have their back towards their leader.

Nervously, you you walk towards the gang leader.

He meets you half way, and approaches you, a gentle smile on his face whilst still remaining proud.

He truly is mesmerising when he gets serious.

“(Y/N), I’m sorry for having your classes interrupted like this, but I thought “hey, why not invite the whole school watch me get rejected once more.”

HUH??

“Shinichiro, are you-” you’re cut off with the boy handing you a bouquet of roses, glitter shimmering on top of the petals. You’re then met with two men in uniform approaching you, a life sized teddy bear in their arms. Its fur is white with a red bow around its neck. It was massive.

And finally, Wakasa brings out a box of expensive chocolates. They look delicious.

And a slight tear is brought to your eyes.

“(Y/N), be my Valentine?”

[sumicchin]

CHIMES OF THE HEART

❃ a windbreaker (satori nii) reader insert.

CHAPTER 1

Rumor has it that a violent ghost has been plaguing the streets of Makochi. (2.6k words)

content warnings: female reader, mentions of prostitution, let's pretend nothing bad happens after roppo ichiza arc, original characters, swearing, it gets wholesome i swear

"Are you ready to go now, dear?" I feel my caretaker's hands touch my shoulders, light and caring. In front of me was my reflection in the mirror, clad in a white kimono and flower pieces adorning my hair. In the 16 years I've lived, this is the first time I saw myself all dressed up.

It's unfortunate that it had to be for an undesirable occasion.

I let out a small hum, face somber. Hayami, my caretaker since being born into this world, snakes her arms around me while I remain quiet. "If you're worried about us, then there's no need to. We have everything under control," I hear her mutter on my ear. She grasps my shoulders, giving me an earnest smile, "I trust that, you look out for your own."

"You deserve to live an earnest and free life, child."

Footsteps soon pollute the room as men clad in black arrive to escort me. I was to wait in a room alone, soon to meet my 'husband'.

"I wish you all the best. Farewell, my dear."

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My head hung low as I followed them to the banquet hall as was discussed to us a few days ago.

"He'll arrive in a few minutes, stay put."

Unbeknownst to them, we had no plans of actually going through the ceremony.

As soon as the footsteps disappeared, I immediately dashed towards the back exit of the room. Having lived in this shrine for all my life made me aware of the secret passages around, and I wouldn't dare want to know why those were around.

The passage leads to the nearby river where a boat near the docks was placed by Hayami. I rushed towards it, not looking back.

I paddled fast, my mind in a haze, thinking of what could have become of everyone after knowing I escaped.

I can't let their sacrifice go to waste...

Hours passed, my arms tired from paddling nonstop as I couldn't waste a single moment. I just know that they're hot on my trail, I couldn't risk stopping.

Clouds started forming, and soon waves started accumulating. Just my luck.

We didn't anticipate a huge storm today. All I could do is hold my breath as I see a huge wave coming towards my boat.

Images of Hayami's smile before I was escorted flooded my mind.

❋❋❋❋❋❋❋❋❋❋

It was a rainy day in the neighborhood, but that didn't stop the boys of Bofurin to patrol the town.

The representative first years, except Sugishita who decided to help Umemiya with his saplings, all brought their umbrellas as they walk around town while talking about the most mundane things.

"Who in the hell would even go out in this weather," Sakura groans. As much as he wanted to do something exciting (street brawl, for example), the weather warrants a day for rest.

"We just need to do one more round and we can call it a day," Nirei says with a huff. "I really wanted to take notes about the stuff you guys said earlier, but I don't want to risk getting my notebook wet."

"That would cause great trouble for you, Nirei," Suo agrees. He himself has been quiet the whole trip, too absorbed in the rain's ambience. The five of them have been walking around town for a good hour now, with nothing out of the sort. The most exciting part of the endeavor was probably Kiryu almost breaking Tsugeura's neck after the tall lad sneezed in front of him, Suo thinks.

"If we aren't gonna do something fun, then let's at least talk about something interesting while we finish up!" Tsugeura exclaims. Kiryu on his phone doesn't bother to look up at said buff male, "At least talk about something other than your protein shakes and virtues."

"I agree with Kiryu," Suo says with a hint of distaste.

Tsugeoka laughs, "I'll save those for another day! Right now, I'm feeling pumped to hear scary stories! Doesn't the rainy weather feel gloomy and stuff? Perfect vibe!"

"But didn't you say you're scared shitless of ghosts? You're just gonna make yourself piss," Sakura scoffs.

Tsugeura moves past his group and blocks their path with a determined face, "You guys gotta hear me out for this one!!! My friends from the other street have been talking about this 'White Lady' recently, and apparently, they spotted it just earlier!" He shudders visibly.

Kiryu looks at him disinterested, "Wasn't there a similar incident at the rooftop? It was only a black cloth all along."

"You should stop scaring yourself, Tsugeura. It's bad for the heart," Suo laughs, however, the boy next to him is visibly bothered by the story.

"So it is real...!" Nirei, with bloodshot eyes, starts shaking uncontrollably.

"What's real? And why are you shaking?!" Sakura exclaims. The blonde looks at his peers, face pale as he recalls the rumors, "It's said that the ghost had long hair and was wearing a white kimono. Get close to it and it'll attack, they say!"

A manly scream erupts out of Tsugeura.

"And since it's a ghost, you can't fight back!!! Four men apparently were injured ever since the sightings started!"

Another scream erupts from Tsugeura.

Suo's eyes lit up upon hearing the four men mention, "Oh, you meant the wanted traffickers in the red light district? The Roppo Ichiza would be glad to hear about that."

"At least the women can be at ease now. This ghost might be of help to us," Kiryu adds.

The other three boys in the group all just stared at each other for a moment, but Sakura's interest was piqued as soon as he heard 'fight'. The ghost must be tough to beat up four grown men!

Suo hums with concern, "How did the men come across the ghost anyway?"

"Apparently, if you hear the clanks of wooden sandals—"

Clank. Clank.

"Exactly like that one, it's a telltale sign that the ghost is nearby."

Nirei's train of thoughts stop as he looks towards where his group is gazing at.

Long hair with a white kimono.

"AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!" Nirei and Tsugeura cry as they hug each other.

"Well, if it isn't the star of the show," Suo says, eyes wide at what he's seeing.

Sakura and Kiryu look at the figure with curiosity, seemingly wanting to approach it.

"Can we be sure that this isn't a real person," Kiryu trails, "That looks awfully...real."

Sakura steps forward, "Only one way to find out."

❋❋❋❋❋❋❋❋❋❋

Apparently, I survived that storm.

The weather remains gloomy like before, and I assume it's around midnight.

My body feels heavy, my mind is fuzzy, but I had to ignore these and get moving.

I walked until I saw signs of civilization. I was never allowed to go outside of the shrine other than the market, so all I could rely on right now was my intuition and fists.

All the shops were closed, but the street lamps were all lit—they looked beautiful. If I weren't running for my life, I would've basked in this moment for a bit longer.

I needed to get some sustenance and shelter soon, my body has been giving me signs of malfunction.

I walked around a corner and was greeted by four armed men, all huddled together smoking cigarettes.

"That new catch you got is pretty experienced. Exactly the boss' type," I hear one of them say with the rest of the men laughing, saying more vulgar and inappropriate acts.

The mainland has it worse than I thought.

The group of men drop their cigarettes upon looking at the glowing machine in their hands. Apparently, it's past midnight by 10 minutes. Hayami would get angry at me if she knew I stayed up this late.

"Break's over. Let's head back to the bar," a hooded figure says and soon the three other men follow. They walk in my direction and noticed my presence, immediately turning their attention towards me.

"Oh, you there, pretty lady. You tryna catch some guys around this time of the night?"

They laugh.

I just kept walking, ignoring their catcalling. As soon as our paths cross, one of the men grabs my arm and flings me towards them.

His other hand grabs my chin and lifts my face, almost as if inspecting it. A pleased hum erupts from his nicotine reeking face.

"You could make for a fine prostitute."

With all my remaining energy, I send a kick to his abdomen, the man falling to the ground as he clutched his stomach.

"What the—hey! Get this bitch tied up!" All three men charge at me, but they all crumble like a tower of cards.

Four piles of unconscious bodies around me.

"G-ghost!!!"

I heard a woman scream as she runs away, dropping the bag she's carrying from panic.

The people back at the shrine would shun me for stealing, but I'm too starved to think straight. Rummaging through the bag, I come across some leftovers. I nabbed the food and went back to the unconscious bodies, searching for anything useful.

A few coins that can hopefully buy bread or water.

My kimono feels too heavy from all the moisture, but I'd rather endure it than wear clothing that smells like smoke and alcohol.

I ran away as soon as I looted whatever's useful, searching for a place to hide and rest.

Hopefully, tomorrow treats me better.

❋❋❋❋❋❋❋❋❋❋

"Don't do it, Sakura!" Nirei frets, finger pointing at the white figure. "Who knows what that ghost will do to you!"

"I'm not buying the ghost crap, if I get a hold of that thing, then it ain't a ghost!" Sakura exclaims as he approached the finger, dropping his umbrella in the progress.

"Ah Sakura, didn't you just recover from a cold?" Suo says as he picks up the boy's forgotten umbrella.

"I won't be able to fight with one hand."

'That's cringe,' Kiryu grimaces.

Tsugeura, trembling profusely, can only bid his captain all the luck in the world. "I can't watch this!!!"

"So, you're the ghost everyone's been talking about."

He doesn't get a response.

"Those four men aren't part of our territory, but I can't let you running around our town free," Sakura clenches his fist and runs towards the figure. He strikes a fast punch, only for the figure to step aside and appear behind him. He goes for a kick, but the ghost avoided him once more. This goes on for a while, Sakura barraging the ghost with powerful punches and swift kicks, only for naught.

"Why aren't you fighting back?!"

"Maybe it's because it is a ghost!" Suo replies playfully.

Tsugeura, pale as paper, could only look through his fingers, "Tell me when it's all over!"

"Suo, Kiryu, don't you guys think you could help out Sakura? This is getting nowhere!" Nirei says.

"I want to but, I don't really want to get my clothes wet," Kiryu nonchalantly says, "Plus it's fun to watch from here."

"Same here." Suo chirps.

"Why are you guys so chill about this?! There's some paranormal activity going around and you guys are just treating this like it's some circus act—"

A loud thunk was heard, the boys turned their heads over to Sakura who was now on the floor. While the boys were engaging in playful banter, Sakura was suddenly hit by a powerful kick to the back of his head. The force of it almost resembles Togame's punch, he thinks.

The rest of the boys come to his aid, with Nirei acting as his clutch as he catches his breath.

Sakura heaves, "That's no ghost, it's human just like us."

"Fuck, I thought I could handle it myself, but I'll be needing your guy's help. The only objective right now is to capture that thing so it doesn't cause trouble for the town." He's not exactly sure if he's supposed to make a villain out of the mysterious person, but it's better safe than sorry. Before his face got plummeted to the ground, he swore to himself that he was able to clutch the figure's right ankle, cold to the touch.

Everyone nods in agreement, understanding the assignment. By this point, their umbrellas all dance on the floor as they prepare to catch their target.

"I'll overcome my fear for the townspeople's sake!" Tsugeura roars, taking his stance.

He charges towards the figure and tries to go in for a grab, but he ends up catching air.

Suo and Kiryu now taking the whole situation seriously follow suit and try to get near the figure with haste. Kiryu tries to corner the figure, but it starts to use the wall as leverage and makes a run to escape. Suo notices this and was able to predict the person's landing, only for his shoulder to be stepped on.

Their target soon makes its escape, not even allowing the boys to regain their composure.

Nirei, who was watching by the sidelines, was able to discern which direction the figure went and relayed this information to his Bofurin peers. They decided to assimilate it in their group chat as well to make the task easier.

Highschoolers hunting for a 'ghost' in the middle of a downpour made headlines that day.

❋❋❋❋❋❋❋❋❋❋

The students of Bofurin all get word of the hunt. Needless to say, everyone was joining for the hell of it.

"So you're telling me, this ghost is not actually a ghost?" Umemiya says, slightly disappointed. His hope of meeting the occult, shattered. Everyone sweats a drop at their leader's statement, except Sugishita who reflected the same feeling of disappointment. Students who were available that day all gathered at Furin's rooftop, to which the crops and seedlings all glistened at having been watered by mother nature. All grade captains and the four kings were present, indicating the severity of the situation.

Or that they didn't really have anything going on for the day.

"Anything else we need to know about the target?" Hiragi asks the first year boys, to which Nirei perks up.

"U-uhm, I was watching the whole time so I think I got a good look at them. Other than the long hair and tattered white kimono, height-wise I think they're about my size," he nervously says, flipping pages of his notebook. "Sakura also said that the skin was cold as ice due to being exposed to the rain for days. I don't think the target could've gone far after our encounter with it since they might've been suffering from hypothermia by now!"

'So he was jotting down details the entire time...how diligent,' Suo thought to himself, acting like a proud father.

Everyone takes in the information and is about to head downstairs until Kiryuu's voice reaches everyone, halting their steps. "I don't want to get ahead of myself, but are we sure the target isn't a girl or something? I mean, I know a girl when I see one. Don't you agree, Suo?"

Leonardo DiCaprio nodded his head with a smile, "I thought so as well, but I was afraid Sakura would hold back once he heard about it."

Cueu steam coming out of said boy's ears.

"If that's the case, then let's proceed with caution everyone! Don't act like savages if you come across the girl," Tsubaki suggests with Umeyama agreeing. "Make sure to keep communication open once she's on sight so that everyone can close down the area."

Needless to say, Tsubaki was worried ever since Kiryuu and Suo suggested that they were to capture a girl.

"Are y'all done with the chitchat? If we don't move our asses then we can kiss goodbye to the whole thing," Kaji interrupts, already looking impatient and raring to go.

"Welp, you heard the man. Bofurin, roll out!"

winbre brainrot real ;-;

[stardust-falling]

Old Memories, Old Wounds

requested by @gaywarcriminals on ko-fi

Fandom: SVSSS Pairing: Shen Jiu + Yue Qingyuan Summary: The pain from Yue Qingyuan's old injuries is flaring up. Shen Qingqiu, despite himself, is concerned. Words: 1.6k

“… Shixiong. Zhangmen-shixiong.”

Yue Qingyuan lifted his head, reaching up to rub at his eyes as he propped himself upright on his desk once more. That voice was familiar…

“Qingqiu-shidi?”

He was a little surprised. Shen Qingqiu rarely visited Qiong Ding Peak, and even more rarely were those visits unannounced. Yue Qingyuan didn’t think he’d called a meeting with his shidi today…

But there he was regardless, standing just before Yue Qingyuan’s desk with a folding fan held up to shield his face, dark eyes glistening like sunlight on a raven’s wing cool and distant as always. Shen Qingqiu was always like this, his chin tilted up and his expression impassive, looking down on the world around him— right now, he was looking down on Yue Qingyuan too.

The sect leader didn’t mind.

He smiled, though it was a bit stiff. “Was there something Shidi wished to ask me?”

There had been a peak lords’ meeting earlier in the day. Nothing out of the ordinary, just the usual mundane business, such as mediating An Ding and Qing Jing Peaks’ endless squabbling over resources. Thinking about it, though Yue Qingyuan’s present headache had been going on for a few days now, it had really gotten much worse during that meeting.

He’d needed to finish up some work afterwards, though, so he’d pushed it aside and gone back to his study… but it seemed like he had fallen asleep at his desk, since it was now late afternoon. His head was still hurting, and the dull ache had spread out through his limbs, radiating down into bones and ligaments that had once been broken and still felt the echoes of that pain. Yue Qingyuan was used to this sort of ache, of course— it never fully went away, after all, and he’d endured it for many years already. Usually, though, it wasn’t this bad.

Usually, he didn’t end up asleep on his desk in the middle of the day.

And, usually, Shen Qingqiu didn’t come to Qiong Ding Peak.

One of these things was far more important to Yue Qingyuan than the others.

Shen Qingqiu didn’t seem to be in a very good mood— in fact, instead of answering Yue Qingyuan’s question directly, he instead rapped his fan against the desk, earning a barely-suppressed wince from the sect leader as the sound rattled up into his head, sending further stabs of pain down through his body.

“Ah… Shidi?”

The scowl on Shen Qingqiu’s face only deepened, and then without any further warning, one of Shen Qingqiu’s hands reached out to snatch Yue Qingyuan by the wrist, fingers pressing lightly into the underside. Before Yue Qingyuan had the chance to protest, he felt a sudden influx of probing spiritual qi, forceful and unyielding just like Shen Qingqiu himself, rush through his meridians, weaving through his body as if searching—

Just as abruptly, Shen Qingqiu pulled back, still scowling and practically radiating irritation.

“Zhangmen-shixiong…”

“… yes, Shidi?”

“Tch. You’re a mess,” Shen Qingqiu muttered, and shook his head, reaching to press his fingers against his brow. “I thought something seemed off in the meeting earlier. You didn’t speak nearly as much as usual, and I found it strange that you didn’t try to convince me to stay for a cup of tea.”

Yue Qingyuan frowned at that. It wasn’t so much that he tried to convince him, but instead that he simply wished to extend the offer. Perhaps there would come a day when Shen Qingqiu actually wanted to accept— perhaps a foolish hope, but he was loathe to give it up. Now, though, the one day when he didn’t invite him to stay, Shen Qingqiu had come anyway…

“What happened?”

The question was so abrupt that the sect leader was taken aback— and it was one he wasn’t sure how to answer. Yue Qingyuan knew well enough the source of the trouble, it was just that… it was far too much to explain to Shen Qingqiu, especially in a situation like this. So, he simply took a breath that was slightly shakier than he’d like. “I… encountered some difficulty in my cultivation,” he replied. Technically, it was true.

“Difficulty?” Shen Qingqiu echoed, and for some reason, he seemed a little flustered. “You’ve clearly injured yourself, Zhangmen-shixiong. Shall I call for Mu-shidi?”

“No— No need,” Yue Qingyuan hurriedly shook his head, wincing a little as the movement set off a new bout of throbbing.

Shen Qingqiu simply sighed and crossed his arms, turning and leaving without another word. Yue Qingyuan was a little confused— but he couldn’t exactly say he was unhappy. It was… always good to see Xiao-Jiu, especially in moments like this. He’d almost been able to see a glimpse of his old friend beneath that mask he always wore.

…or was that just a delusion of his pain-addled mind?

Either way, he still had some work to get through, and tomorrow he needed to leave the mountain for a meeting with the other sect heads. It seemed as if whatever Shen Qingqiu needed wasn’t that important after all.

A few moments and a few papers later, the door opened again. Shen Qingqiu was back, and this time he had a jar of medicine that he placed down on the table with a light thump.

“Take this,” he demanded, and he seemed rather upset about it too.

Yue Qingyuan glanced at him, then at the medicine— it was a simple painkiller and strengthening solution, and the jar was half empty. More likely than not, it was what was left over after Shen Qingqiu’s last qi deviation. “Qingqiu-shidi… I have medicine of my own…” the sect leader protested, but he was cut off before he could continue.

“Then why didn’t you take it earlier?”

“It’s because… well, it was just a bit of a headache this morning,” Yue Qingyuan sighed, grimacing at the pain that laced down one of his arms… it was like he could still feel that sharp snap of the bone breaking.

Shen Qingqiu sighed again, and picked up the jar, opening it up and taking out a pill. Which he promptly pushed up against Yue Qingyuan’s lips.

“Take it,” he snapped, “Then go lie down.”

Yue Qingyuan felt his face flush a bit— well, in this case, he surely couldn’t refuse, so he took the pill and swallowed it. That second bit, though… the idea of climbing the stairs to his sky house right now was rather daunting. Less comfortable though it may be, he preferred to just stay here, wait it out. Surely, this bout of pain would pass just as all the others before it had.

“Shidi… I assure you, I’ll be fine,” he insisted. Why was Shen Qingqiu so concerned now? He could admit that he didn’t exactly mind it, it was just unusual.

He hadn’t thought that Shen Qingqiu really paid him that much mind, these days.

Or maybe he really did look the worse for wear.

“Nonsense,” Shen Qingqiu snorted, and stepped around Yue Qingyuan’s desk. He seemed to spend a moment in internal debate before reaching out and taking hold of the sect leader’s arm. Much to Yue Qingyuan’s shock and surprise, he then looped it around his shoulders, lifting Yue Qingyuan up from his seat— and then he went even further than that.

Yue Qingyuan could hardly believe what was happening. He must still be asleep— this certainly could only be a dream. There was no way that Shen Qingqiu had just scooped him up, carrying him in his arms like he was some kind of helpless maiden that needed rescuing.

“Shidi, really— I’m quite alright.”

“Shut up.”

“But I”—

“Hmph.”

Shen Qingqiu, still holding his taller shixiong in his arms, carried him out the back door of Qiong Ding Hall, summoned Xiu Ya with a flick of his fingers, and flew him back up to the sky house nestled near the peak’s highest point, before depositing him unceremoniously— but still not roughly— upon his bed.

“Zhangmen-shixiong, your role in the cultivation world is quite prominent,” he muttered, even as he set Yue Qingyuan’s head down on the pillow. “If you must suffer a lapse in your cultivation, the least you can do is make sure that you recover well afterwards.”

It wasn’t a new problem, but, well, now wasn’t the time to talk to Shen Qingqiu about that. Especially since his mood seemed so strange right now. He didn’t take well to any of Yue Qingyuan’s protesting, so the sect leader could only sigh deeply and murmur, “Very well, very well, Shidi. I’ll be more careful.”

Shen Qingqiu paused from where he stood next to the screen, glancing back over his shoulder at Yue Qingyuan. His expression was still rather unhappy, but there was an odd look in his eyes, that almost made him look a bit anxious. Could he possibly… be worried about Yue Qingyuan?

Quickly, Shen Qingqiu looked away again. “I’ll fetch you some tea,” he muttered. “Don’t even think about trying to get up right now. Honestly… do you always have to be so impulsive?”

That last bit is spoken under his breath as he leaves the room, and Yue Qingyuan pushes himself up on one arm, only to let himself fall back a moment later. The pain is still radiating through his body, but it’s lessened a bit now… and in the end, he really doesn’t mind that much, does he? If this is the sort of thing that happens when he feels this way, then it might well be worth it.

Ah, Xiao-Jiu… I’ve truly missed you.

[ritzylate]

@saradika-graphics made the lovely dividers and also taught me what dividers were.

This is from a huge fic I'm writing and I'm posting entirely out of order. I plan on posting the whole thing on a different AO3 eventually. this is just the start of just one part of the story. I cut out the worst of the NSFW content. I'm saving that for AO3. Kinda wanna feel out the crowd to see if my writing is something people would enjoy reading.

"Caught" A Harvey x reader fic - NSFW

NSFW 18+ MDNI MDNI MDNI MDNI I literally cannot say this enough. This is not for you.

Super dialog heavy.

Content warnings: Past relationship trauma, trauma and sadness in general, established relationship, adult entertainment, getting off. You get the idea.

AFAB!reader.

Word count: 3200 ish

I have trouble with tenses so I'm sorry if this is ass to read. I tried.

“So you're staying at Harvey’s then?” Robin asked.

“Yeah,” you say, slinging your bag over your shoulder.

“That's great,” she says with a smile. “How are things going between you two? Good then?”

“Yeah,” you say with a little more conviction. “It's going really well, actually.” 

You feel a smile spread across your face.

You hide your embarrassment by staring intently down at the pebble under the toe of your boot.

“That's so great!” Robin cheers. “Harvey is such a great guy, and he's not too bad to look at either,” she says with a wink.

You let yourself get lost in the thought of him for a moment before clearing your throat.

“I best be off,” you say. “I don’t want to get there too late. I don’t want to keep him from opening shop too late.”

Robin laughs to herself.

“Of course. Well, have fun. Don't do anything I wouldn't do.”

“Robin, you're too young to lecture me on what to do,” you joke. 

Robin throws her head back in a laugh and waves goodbye.

The short drive to Harvey’s place allows you time enough to think of how you want to thank him. A few obvious ideas cross your mind, but you shake them free, wanting to offer something special and more thoughtful than just that.

“Hey!” Harvey stands out front of his office, the morning sun bright and beaming.

You hop out and sling your arms around his shoulders.

“How are you doing darling?” he asks, holding you in a tight warm hug. The fall air smells of sweet leaves and honey.

“I’m good,” you smile. “Robin’s started on the renovations. Should be done in a few days. It really means a lot to me that you wanted me to stay.”

Harvey chuckles. 

“Are you kidding? Of course I want you to stay. I’ve been waiting for today all week.”

Harvey leads you inside and up the stairs to his flat. 

“You can put your bag anywhere. Make yourself comfortable. I’ll make us some coffee.”

As nice as a good breakfast or coffee sounded, you had to get back to work. 

“You’re so sweet,” you say. “But I need to get to work, I have a long day ahead of me.”

“You need to eat,” Harvey said, flatly. “You can’t work if you don’t have enough energy. So sit. I have some pancake mix. I bought it just for today so if you don’t have any I’ll be sad.” 

Harvey tosses you a sarcastic smile as he reaches into the cupboard.

“Okay, okay,” you say reluctantly, sliding onto the bar stool at the counter.

“So,” Harvey starts. “What do you have planned today?”

You sigh. 

“A lot. I have some weeding to do, probably cut some trees down. Could use the firewood.”

Harvey nods as he listens to you spell out your mundane day.

“What about you?” you ask him over the rim of your coffee mug.

“Not much, honestly,” he says. “I have a few patients. But nothing big.”

A timer dings signifying the pancakes are ready. 

“Here you are, dear,” he said, sliding the pancakes onto a plate. 

“Thank you, Harvey,” you say earnestly. Your stomach rumbles at the idea of a pancake breakfast.

Harvey takes your plate and throws it in the sink as you finish your last bite.

“I’ll get to it later,” he says with a shrug.

“That was really kind of you,” you say shyly. It was hard for you to accept such kindness.

“Happy to do it.” Harvey watches you for a moment before drawing his attention to the clock.

“I better get down there,” he said with a heavy sigh. “Or Maru is going to tear me to shreds.”

You wipe the syrup off your lips with the back of your hand.

“Breakfast was lovely, Harvey, thank you,” you say again. You feel like there isn’t enough thanks in the world to express how much his gestures meant to you. 

Harvey places his hand on the small of your back.

“Don’t work too hard today,” he says as he nudges you, giving you a kiss on your cheek. 

When you arrive back at the farm, Robin is knee deep in her project. It’d only take three days, she said, but you have trouble imagining how such work could be done so quick.

You set to work at the farm. Your cows needed milking, your chickens needed feeding, there were new fruits found in the cave. But your mind wandered. 

Wonder what Harvey is doing right now?

If Robin was paying any attention to you, she’d laugh at how blissfully unaware you were of your surroundings. 

The sun sits high in the sky when you lean down to start plucking at the weeds biting at the base of your crops.

You yank at the greenery when you feel a tightening in your calf, followed by a sharp, sudden pain.

The pain catches you off guard, and you reach down to grasp at your leg. 

You fight to stay on your feet, but before you know it you fall to the dirt.

“Are you okay??” Robin calls out. You hear her boots hitting the metal on her ladder. 

“Oh what happened?”

“I don't know,” you say honestly. “I think I pulled something. I stood wrong or something. I'm fine.”

“Well. It's a good thing you're fucking the doctor, huh?”

You try to laugh, but the grimaced pain on your face won't go away. 

Robin rubs your back. 

“I'm sorry, I shouldn't joke. When a farmer stops working because of pain, you know it's serious.”

“It's not serious,” you say. “I'm fine. But…maybe it wouldn't be the worst thing in the world to stop early.”

Robin wraps an arm under you and lifts you up. You hobble to your car, Robin helping you open the door to shuffle you in.

“I can drive you,” she offers.

“No no, I'm fine, I can make it. It's all good.”

Robin looks after you with a worried, motherly look on her face as you wave to her through your open window.  

You pull up to Harvey’s clinic. The windows darkened except for a distant light shining through the hallway door leading to the stairs. . 

The pain comes and goes, but either way, you really weren't getting that much work done. And you’re already here. No sense in returning only to have the pain spike again. You might as well call it a night.

You push the front door open into a near silent office. The only sound being a slight hum from the heater.

“Harvey?” But no one answers. 

You close the door quietly, locking it behind you. 

There are slight sounds emanating from beyond the stairs but nothing too distinct. Just enough to let you know he's home. 

You climb the stairs, holding onto the wall for extra support. 

The handle to Harvey’s flat sticks slightly, but gives way to a click with enough force. 

“Harvey?” you ask again.

You move to peer round the door, not wanting to spook him. You press your knuckle to the door to give it a knock, but take pause when your brain catches up to what you're hearing.  

Heavy breathing, soft moaning, the creak of Harvey’s leather chair.

You peek your head around the door just long enough to see Harvey at his desk. His laptop opened, the screen obscured by his bare chest.

Harvey’s head rests on the back of his chair, knees barely visible on either side of him. 

“Oh fuck,” he breathes.

Your eyes widen from the shock. From this angle, you can't see much, but you still feel your cheeks flush.

You can see enough to watch him bring a hand to his forehead, running his fingers through his hair. He grabs a fistfull of his auburn locks, tightening them into a fist.

You shut your eyes, turning from the door. But the sounds of Harvey still wash over you like a wave. 

You feel breathless yourself. What do you do? Do you say something? Interrupt? Do you turn and leave? And even then, what next? Wait a few minutes, then come back? Do you pretend you only just arrived, give him a shout up the stairs to give him warning? Do you lie and pretend you didn't see anything?

You decide that leaving would offer the most ideal situation for him. Leave, wait downstairs for a little bit, then come back up. He doesn’t have to know you were here. You pull the door towards you to slowly shut the door. As it swings shut, your boot catches the edge, causing the door to bounce off the rubber. The hollow squeak sounded louder than church bells in the current situation. 

Harvey’s head whips around, his eyes widening in horror.

“Oh Yoba!” Harvey shouts, fumbling with his laptop screen. His hurried, frightened movements cause him to trip over himself, nearly knocking over the bookcase and all of its contents. 

“I- it- oh my- I can't believe, I-” Harvey’s panicked voice rushing over his words.

“Hey, hey, it's okay!! Harvey, it's fine!” Your race to issue as much reassurance as you can through the half closed door. 

“I wasn't, I mean, I was but, shit this is so embarrassing oh Yoba I don’t know what to say.”

You close the door over and hide even further behind it, teetering on the edge of the stairs.

You can barely make out Harvey's figure as he fumbles to pull his pants up around his hips before the door shuts completely. You hold onto the handle with one hand, your knuckles turning white from sheer panic.

“Harvey, really, you're fine! It's okay!!” you call through the door. “I'm so sorry I didn't mean to walk in on you, this is my fault, I'm so sorry.”

“You're just here earlier than I expected, I’m so sorry, I can’t believe-” Harvey pulls the door open, looking at you with a beet red face. You stumble over your feet to catch your footing. 

 Harvey narrows his eyes. 

“Are you okay?” The panic in his voice fading immediately. 

You don't say anything, feeling your own embarrassment sneak in. 

“Your leg? What happened?” Harvey's voice shifts from anxious to concerned medical professional immediately. 

You didn't realize you were still rubbing your calf.

“What?” You almost forgot. “No, I'm fine, I think I just strained it or maybe a charley horse, I'm fine. I thought maybe it was my sign to come back a little early. I should have texted you, I'm sorry.”

“Yes you should have!” 

You feel a wash of shame at his voice being raised. This was all your fault, none of this had to happen if you had just been responsible and texted him first. 

“You shouldn't have walked on it, I could have come and gotten you. That's what I'm here for. To help you.”

His words softened and by the end his voice was soft like satin.

“No, no, I’m sorry. I shouldn't have just let myself in. There’s nothing wrong really. I can go,” you offer.

You stand up straight, putting your weight mostly on the other leg. 

The pain fades into a dull ache that feels more like a memory of an injury.

Harvey walks to you, placing a finger under your chin. He pulls your eyes to meet his.

“Hey, no, stay here. You don't have to leave. Let's get you off your feet.”

Reluctantly you follow Harvey into his flat, feeling a flush of panic and shame for having created such an uncomfortable situation. 

“You don't have to do everything yourself, you know,” Harvey said. 

You laugh to yourself, thinking of all the times you were really injured, and probably should have called upon him for help, but didn't. Of all injuries this was hardly the one you'd bother him with.

“I've been through so much worse,” you say, before realizing that was probably the last thing Harvey wanted to hear you say. 

“It's just a muscle cramp. Really.” 

You try your best to assure him, but the worry still sticks to his face.

Harvey runs his hand down your arm.

“Why don't we get you some water, sit down, relax a bit. If you're getting Charley horses you might be dehydrated. Or you're overworking yourself, but either way, water isn't a bad idea.”

You feel yourself blushing at how Harvey rushes to take care of you.

You don't say anything out loud at first; you just take a seat on your favorite stool.

“It seems we're both not used to having someone else fuss over us.”

Harvey reaches for a glass, his pj's riding down on his hip slightly. 

“Whatever would give you that idea?” Harvey jokes. 

Harvey’s voice returned to normal, but his eyes still held worry. His brows stitched together in concern. Concern for which one of tonight's events was a toss up. Probably both, realistically speaking. 

As much as you hated to admit it, taking a load off felt nice.

The two of you fixate your gazes on the tap filling the glass. You wondered which one of you would break the silence first. 

Harvey turns the tap off and leans over the counter to slide you your drink.

“Thank you,” you say quietly. You take a modest sip trying to draw out the silence until one of you finds the strength to speak.

To your surprise,  it’s Harvey.

“Listen,” Harvey starts.  “I-I would feel better if we just…forgot about what you saw. I honestly-I can honestly say I have never been more embarrassed by anything in my entire life.” 

Harvey fixes his gaze on the floor, wearing away at an already thread barren towel sitting on the sink.

“Harvey.” You try to soften your voice as much as you can without sounding like you're patronizing him. You want to tell him you’ll forget all about it. You want to tell him there’s nothing to be embarrassed about, but you know that won’t help the situation.

“I've always felt this weird, I don't know, shame? About that." Harvey makes a wide motion with his hands towards the corner of his room with his desk. 

“I know all the facts, I know it's not weird and it’s common for a lot of people.  I hear the shame and fear from patients myself, all the time! And I reassure them that, scientifically, it's not only safe but healthy. And if that doesn’t help and they still have concerns, I’ll suggest a therapist I know out of town, and they’ll come back to me telling me how much it’s helped them. I know all that. But…” Harvey trails off, tracing a finger along the edge of the counter. 

“I find myself feeling weird about it too. Like, I don't…” Harvey shifts from foot to foot. 

“Like you don't what?” You reach out, taking his hand in yours. 

“I feel like I don't deserve it. I feel like, okay, sex, at least someone else is getting something. I'm serving a purpose. But by myself it's just me, and I struggle with the idea that I deserve it.”

You sit in silence, letting Harvey take his time and say whatever he feels comfortable saying. 

“I'm sorry,” he said. “I don't know why I'm telling you all this. This just made this even more embarrassing.” 

You take a beat before speaking again.

“Thank you for telling me. You can always tell me whatever you want, and I want you to know how much I appreciate you sharing that with me. I know it can be hard.”

You reach a hand towards him, inviting him to your touch. He obliges, leaning into your cupped hand. You gently stroke his cheek, feeling the flush of his skin. 

“But we don't have to ever talk about this again if you don’t want to. You have my word. I will speak of it no more.”

Harvey went quiet for several minutes. The only sounds coming from the ticking grandfather clock and the hum from the radiator. 

You don't look away, keeping a soft gaze on his face. 

“You don't think I'm weird for it?” Harvey’s voice was small, almost weak. 

“Yoba no!” You exclaim. “I'd be a hypocrite if I did. My vibrator gets more use than my farm tools. My bottom drawer is as colorful as a rainbow.”

You offer him a lighthearted smile as your eyes search his face. 

Harvey closed his eyes and nervously tapped his foot against the linoleum floor. 

“That's really a relief to hear,” he says with a nervous chuckle. “My biggest fear was that you’d be upset.”

“Upset?” You tilted your head to the side. Upset? Upset about what? The very idea would never have crossed your mind. 

“Yeah,” Harvey drawls. “One of my past partners felt a certain way about it. Certainly didn't help me with my own hang ups.”

“I'm really sorry to hear that.”

“Eh,” Harvey shrugged. “We were young. I wasn't exactly the most reasonable person either. It was just a bad time.”

You nod. We've all been there you want to say. 

But instead you say, “just know that I’m here to listen. And if you want to stop, we stop. But I’m here to listen for as long as you want.”

This time Harvey is the one to nod. You can practically see his thoughts racing behind his eyes. 

“It’s okay. We can keep talking. This is good.”

You settle into your seat and take a breath in. You open your mouth to speak, but just offer a smile, a nod, and a small squeeze of his hand instead.

“So you don’t think it’s weird?” he asks again, continuing to nervously shift around.

“I think it's hot,” you say with a shrug.

“Really?” Harvey’s surprise both visible and audible. 

“Yeah,” you chuckle. “I would have been open to watching if that had been something you wanted. I panicked, and I didn't know whether to say something, leave and come back, pretend I didn't see anything and call out like I had only just arrived…”

“I would have picked the last one if you gave me the option,” Harvey said, putting his head down laughing.

“I'm so sorry,” you plead. “I was turning to leave, but I made too much noise. I’m truly sorry, I wasn't there for more than 5 seconds, I swear. I wasn't even sure what I was seeing at first, it was that quick a glace. If that helps.”

Harvey inhaled deeply. 

“That actually does help,” Harvey chuckled. 

“But-” he stuttered. “I'm kinda glad you didn't. Leave, that is. I'm kinda glad we're talking about this. Really glad, actually. Not just to clear the air, but because this feels like a really good conversation for us to have.”

Your heart beats out of your chest, you feel so warm and fuzzy.

“I really like you,” he says softly. Harvey looks up at you over the rim of his glasses. 

“I like you a lot, so, this feels like something I should share with someone who I really, really like.”

“Oh Harvey,” you say, placing your hand over your heart. You had a million things you would have liked to say. But all you could do was sit there, staring at the man you were falling in love with, thinking about all the ways you wanted to kiss him.

“This is, I guess, my first real, mature, established relationship since college. And even then, I don't know if I can call any of those relationships mature or real.”

“I'm really honored to hear you say that,” you say in a voice closer to a whisper. You can barely hear him over the sound of your heartbeat in your ears. 

Harvey closed his eyes and took in another deep breath. 

“I guess that's the plus side of dating in your 30s, huh?  We're all a little experienced.”

“A little traumatized,” you add. You sound like you're joking, and even though you both throw your heads back in a laugh, you both know you're right. 

There's some more silence between you, but the air feels lighter. 

Harvey rounds the corner of the counter and wraps his arms around you. He holds you in a tight hug. His heart sounded like a war drum.

“Thank you,” he says. His voice deep and echoing in his chest.

“You deserve to be happy, Harvey.” you say, absentmindedly running your fingertips down his back. 

“I’m starting to believe that, now,” he said, pressing his lips to your forehead. 

[milaisreading]

Misunderstandings

Pairing: Itoshi Sae x Reader

Warnings ⚠️: none in particular. Reader uses she/her. Requests are open

⚽️Blue Lock belongs to:Muneyuki Kaneshiro and Yusuke Nomura⚽️

(Y/n) was in Japan for something Blue Lock related while her friends were still across Europe in their teams. The first few days were pretty uneventful with her doing some paperwork and preparing some documents to bring back to Germany. Well, today was the day in which her mundane stay in Japan would pretty much change. One moment (Y/n) was minding her business at the JFU building, waiting for Ego and Anri to finish their meeting, the other she was startled by a reporter, asking her weird and personal questions about Sae and herself. Questions like 'How did you two meet?' and 'How do you feel about being official?' flew around... Wait!

"What do you mean with official?" (Y/n) asked, obvious confusion laced her face as the reporter raised her eyebrow and took out her phone.

"Now don't play stupid with us, the news of your relationship have been the main topic in Japan and Spain for days." (Y/n) chocked on her saliva as she looked at the screenshoted articles, varying from Japanese to Spanish ones, showing one specific picture of Sae and (Y/n).

'Not this one!' The girl thought as she remembered the incident. Well, it was nothing scandalous, but the media made a stupid twist of the whole situation.

Flashback...

'Bachira, Otoya please hurry up. I am so hungry.' (Y/n) yawned as she waited for her two friends. She was visiting Spain for the weekend and it just so happened that Barcha and Real played against each other. The game was fun to watch, (Y/n) loved seeing her friends on the field, seeing how much they developed and the great scores they made. She was also left in awe but not in surprise when Sae would show his skills, how fast he was and how well he reacted in every situation. The game ended in a tie and (Y/n) was left with a lot of adrenaline in her body, she really wanted to watch them play more.

"Why are you alone?" The girl turned around, surprised to find Sae approaching her, his stoic expression present as ever.

"Ah, Sae-san! That was a great game, it's always nice watching you play!" (Y/n) said, sending the redhead a smile. Sae's face turned red and he cleared his throat, nodding his head at the compliment.

"Thanks. I didn't know you would be here today. Did Bachira invite you?" The boy raised his eyebrow.

"Yes! Bachira and Otoya called me, since I am on a short visit here."

"How long are you staying in Spain?" Sae asked as an idea hit him.

"I am going back to Germany Monday morning, why?"

"Great. I will take you sightseeing Madrid tomorrow. It's my day off, anyways."

"Oh? That's really nice of you, Sae-san. But I already thought of a few places I could visit on my own-" (Y/n) cut herself off as she saw Sae shake his head and take something out of his pocket.

"And let you walk into tourist traps? I know Madrid very well and a lot of the more exciting parts are never recommended. We can exchange numbers, I will text you later about the plans." Sae said nonchalantly. Although he had a completely neutral face, on the inside he wasn't calm at all. His stomach was doing flips and heart was racing as (Y/n) finally gave in. She gave him her phone and she took his, then typed down her number.

"Thank you, I am sorry for the troubles-"

"It's not a trouble. Don't worry." Sae interrupted (Y/n) and gave her a small smile. The girl just nodded confusedly, wondering if the expression she was seeing was real or not.

Present time...

'This can't be for real!' (Y/n) shook her head and looked back at the reporter, shaking her head.

"T-this is a misunderstanding!" The girl defended, groaning when she saw the look on the reporter.

"Really, we are just good friends. Sae-San just offered-"

"I offered what?" The reporters eyes widened in delight and (Y/n)'s in horror as they turned to look at the said redhead walking up to them.

"Itoshi-san, it's so nice to see you back in Japan." The reporter greeted as (Y/n) just kept her mouth shut, face flushing up in embarrassment.

"Yeah, yeah." The older Itoshi nodded, focusing his attention on (Y/n).

"So, why did you mention me?" Sae wondered, standing next to (Y/n), who showed him the articles nervously. The player kept quiet as the girl calmed down a little. Knowing that Sae will deny it to brought her some peace.

"So? Is there any truth to the rumors, Itoshi-san?" The reporter asked.

Sae kept quiet as he returned the phone to her and shrugged his shoulders. (Y/n) jumped a little as the boy wrapped an arm around her shoulders.

"I will let you decide that."

"What?!" (Y/n) yelled out as she saw his smirk, but Sae said nothing and started walking off with her.

"Excuse us." The boy said, leaving the reporter and (Y/n) flabbergasted for a moment.

"Wait! It's not true! Sae-san is just joking!" (Y/n) yelled at the reporter, internally crying when she saw the woman take a few pictures of them.

"Why didn't you say anything like 'no, it's not true'? Now everyone will think we are dating!" (Y/n) cried out as Sae kept quiet for a moment.

"Didn't feel like it."

The next day (Y/n) watched on in horror as the articles about her dating Sae were the hot topic for not just Spain and Japan, but in multiple other countries as well. She let out a small cry, knowing she will never hear the end of it from Kaiser once she returns to Germany.

'I need a refund in life!'

Bastard München...

"Eh? Noel,we have a small issue." One of the players approached their coach, looking terrified.

"What is it?" The man asked.

"Well... Kaiser broke his phone, Ness somehow got his hands on a knife, Kunigami broke one of our lockers-"

"What?" Noel asked in shock, but the player kept on going.

"That's not the worst part! Isagi keeps on glaring at everyone and Gagamaru is just throwing insults at anyone who keep approaching the goal. Yukimiya refuses to come out and play. Meanwhile Kurona and Hiori are just ignoring everyone. Kurona even tried to bite someone for approaching him."

"Why are they like this?" Noel facepalmed as he went to see the commotion himself.

PXG...

"So... (Y/n) will be your sister-in-law now, Rin?" The younger Itoshi spat out his water as he looked at Loki in horror. This caught Karasu and Shidou's attention as well, since they were nearby.

"What?! Why would she be my sister-in-law?" Rin asked in horror as Loki raised his eyebrow and fished out his phone.

'If anything, (Y/n) will be my wife.' Karasu and Shidou walked over, wanting to hear what was going on.

"What's the tea?" The tanner boy asked as Karasu leaned against Rin.

"Did our Rinnie make a scandal or something?" Karasu teased, earning a glare from the said boy.

"No, the whole of France is talking about Sae and (Y/n) dating tho. Some tabloids even said a wedding day might be revealed soon." Loki answered, scrolling through his phone.

"What? You are joking, right?" Shidou asked, feeling like throwing up all of a sudden. Karasu had a blank expression on his face as he looked through the articles Loki was showing them.

"Rin, you will be brotherless soon." Karasu threatened as the younger Itoshi said nothing. Rin looked blankly at the phone, feeling lightheaded all of a sudden.

'I am beating him up. I am done.'

Was the last thing Rin thought before fainting. Panicked Loki went to call a paramedic as Karasu laid him on the ground.

Barcha...

"This is a tragedy,this can't be for real. My sweet, cute (Y/n) would never date a barbarian like Sae. These have to be photoshopped." Otoya cried out as he fell to the floor. He just opened his phone to look something up, only to come across an article saying that wedding bells might be ringing for Sae and (Y/n). Bachira walked in on Otoya and had a confused expression at his behavior.

"What happened? We need to go, practice will start soon." Bachira said.

"Forget practice! How can I practice when my sweet (Y/n) is held hostage?!"

"What?! What happened?!" Bachira asked in worry as Otoya showed him his phone.

"(Y/n) has to be blackmailed or something, there is no way she would willingly go out with Sae of all people."

Bachira kept quiet as he read some parts, seeing the pictures of them together made something snap in him and he ran out of the locker room.

"Lavinho, can we cut practice short?! I need to visit Madrid!"

Ubers...

"Sae, you little piece of shit! How can you do this to your bro?! You know I like her." Oliver cried out on his phone as Sae picked up the call. The news of him and (Y/n) 'dating' hit the Italian sites today, leaving 4 players in particular in a foul mood.

"Give me that phone, Aiku. Sae, I am beating your ass for just touching her like this." Baro threatened as he tried to take Oliver's phone, which just caused a fight between the other two. Meanwhile Niko and Aryu were desperately trying to reach (Y/n), wanting to hear her side.

"Why isn't she picking up?! Do you think she is ok? Should we leave and go back to Japan?" Niko asked nervously as Aryu bit on his fingernails.

"I swear if one of Sae's crazed fangirls is harassing her, I will kick a football to his face. My dear, little (Y/n)... what sort of taste do you even have?" Aryu pouted as Niko fidgeted around nervously. Meanwhile Lorenzo and Snuffy were trying to stop the fight between Oliver and Baro.

Manshine...

"Forget it! I am not in the mood!" Chris sighed as Chigiri slammed the door shut. Ever since they arrived at the stadium, neither him, Reo or Nagi were in the mood to play. Right now, all three barricaded themselves in the locker room, not willing to gear anyone out.

"They will get over it... Ego, who did you even send me to play?" Chris cried as he cursed the said man out.

Meanwhile Reo was making calls to whoever he could, asking for a possible transfer so that (Y/n) could be their manager instead.

'Those incompetent losers couldn't keep Sae away, I knew leaving her with them was a mistake.' The purple-haired boy thought.

"(Y/n), please tell me that article of you dating Sae is a belated April fool's joke. I am so close to braking someone's jaw." Nagi said as (Y/n) finally answered her phone. The albino was stressed out over it all, sleep and games were the last things on his mind. He just wanted to hear from (Y/n) that none of it was true and that she just had eyes for him.

"Give her to me. I will talk some sense into her. That fake redhead is no good for her." Chigiri pouted, already making plans to fly her out to Britain.

[kolyasangel]

you've got such a sweet tooth

synopsis: you and sigma bake cookies together...

content: fem!reader, tooth-rotting fluff `(˶ >﹏< ˶)′

Ever since you discovered what your boyfriend's favorite food was, you've been on a mission, searching the internet for the world's best cookie recipe to impress him. You found it absolutely adorable how Sigma loved cookies more than any other food. You cherished how his eyes lit up whenever you surprised him with freshly baked cookies, whether because he had a stressful day at the casino or you simply wanted to bake a sweet treat for him. 

Sigma loves all types of cookies- the classic chocolate chip, shortbread, snickerdoodle, the heart sugar cookies with strawberry jam, etc. Of course, he could buy cookies whenever he wanted to at a store or bakery, but his favorite ones are the ones you make for him. Your baking skills are simply unmatched! Nothing compares to the heavenly taste of your homemade treats, especially when you make something just for him. Sigma happened to be free today, creating a perfect opportunity to spend the day with him which also meant finally getting the chance to bake with him. 

So here you both were- standing in the kitchen as you prepared all the ingredients while Sigma was tying his hair up into a pretty ponytail. Though you were distracted from your task by the way his nimble fingers moved delicately through his silky hair. What a heartthrob. He had already styled your hair beforehand in a half-up, half-down hairdo and added a pastel ribbon to give it a lovely touch, giving you a quick kiss on the cheek after he finished. He always treated you like a princess, delicately and with the utmost tenderness. 

Today was Sigma's day off, one he had needed for a while. Sigma didn't like the idea of not being at the casino while it operated- it felt like leaving a baby unattended to him. However, his employees kindly insisted that they would take care of everything and that he should take a day off for himself, which he eventually agreed to. It worked out in the end anyway, as he would be able to spend the whole day with you. As much as he cared about the casino, he would do anything to spend more time with you when he got the opportunity. He let out a grin as he recalled the phone call between you both before his arrival.

"Oh, you're free today? Come home quickly! Pleaseee?"

Home. He had heard that simple word spill from your lips many times before, but it still sends shivers up his spine like the first. 

You had already set the oven beforehand and now you were adding all the dry ingredients together, carefully ensuring that every measurement was precise. While you were busy with your task, Sigma began to prepare the wet ingredients. He began to gather the ingredients, but not before noticing the cookie recipe on the fridge with a note in the corner that says "His favorite ♡ He likes it with an extra dash of vanilla." There was a warm feeling in his stomach, knowing how much you considered and cared about what he liked made his heart full.

"Can you help me open this?" You ask, making his attention turn to you.

"Of course darling." He says as he notices you having trouble opening a jar and takes it from you. 

It was such a mundane task, but your knees still felt weak as you watched him open the jar with ease. Strong hands yet such a gentle heart.

As Sigma mixed the dry and wet ingredients to form the dough, you dipped your finger into the flour and put some on his nose. You knew it would make him flustered, and you were proven right as his ears and cheeks quickly blossomed with red. He stammers your name and looks at you with his soft grey eyes before putting some flour on your cheek and giggling, leaving flour streaks on your face. 

"Hey!"

"You did it to me first!" He continued to laugh.

Sigma's adorable laughter and sweet smile made you feel warm inside. His laughter was like music to your ears. When you first met Sigma, you noticed that he didn't smile often, let alone let out a chuckle. But finally seeing him be comfortable around you makes you feel bliss. You take a paper towel and wipe the flour from each of your faces while still giggling with each other. 

You watched as he rolled up his sleeves and began to form little balls out of the dough. His exposed pale arms caught your attention as his soft muscles and veins made themselves visible with every movement. It was impossible not to stare. You were so mesmerized and wanted nothing more than to amorously trail your lips along his arms covering them with kisses, not leaving an inch of skin untouched. In an attempt to ease your flustered state, you hug him from behind and press your cheek against his back.

"Something wrong dear?" Sigma asks as he continues to work on the dough. He smiles to himself as he feels you pressed up against his body. 

"Nothing, you're warm." You don't dare to speak about how he made you feel hot and bothered by performing such a simple task. Your eyes closed for a second, enjoying the warmth your boyfriend provided. That was until the oven made a "beep!" noise to indicate it had finished preheating, causing your eyes to open again and taking you away from your blissful state.

"All done?" You ask as you notice Sigma finished rolling out the dough balls. He nods, and you let go of him as he carefully places the cookies in the oven.

As the cookies were baking in the oven, you contemplated what to do in the meantime. That is until Sigma pulled you to the couch and held you close to him so he could cuddle you. You lay on his chest and relax against him, enjoying his heat once again.

"Sigma, what's your love language?" You randomly ask him. 

"Love language? What's that? It sounds sweet." He asked as he looked up at you wide-eyed, eager to know the meaning. 

Your heart melted at his innocent curiosity. How was it possible for someone to be so incredibly cute?

"It's a way that you like to receive and show love to your beloved." You explained each love language, to help him understand better. Sigma carefully listened as you spoke, intently listening to everything you had to say. 

"Hm.. I like all of them, but if I had to pick one I would say words of affirmation! It makes me so happy when you tell me I'm doing a good job. I feel more confident in myself and want to continue to improve for not only myself but for you."

You smiled at his heartfelt words and gently stroked his bangs.

"What about you, love?" He asks as he leans into your touch.

"Well.. I like a little bit of everything, to be honest. I've noticed that you show your love in many different ways, and I feel so lucky and grateful to have a guy like you. You treat me so well and I couldn't ask for anyone better."

His cheeks reddened as you uttered praises about him. He leaned closer before his lips connected with yours. You smiled against his lips, enjoying this moment and the closeness between you both. 

Not too long after, a delicious and sweet aroma hits your nose.

"Want to check on the cookies?" You ask Sigma shortly after pulling away from the kiss.

The both of you looked at each other for a few seconds before getting up and racing to the kitchen, giggling like children. You and Sigma end up sitting in front of the oven to watch the cookies bake.

"Oooo"

You giggled at Sigma's childlike fascination. 

"I'm so happy." The sheer happiness on his face was something that couldn't be wiped off whenever he was with you. His eyes had a glimmer in them that told you he was happiest whenever he was with you, and you only. He turned to you as he felt your fingers brush against his cheek.

"When will they be ready?" He asks.

"They still have a few more minutes to bake."  

"Can we stay here?"

"Of course! The cookies will get lonely if we don't sit with them." You say enthusiastically.

The both of you continued to chatter as you eagerly waited, excited to taste the delicious dessert. Before you knew it, the remaining minutes passed, and it was time to take the cookies out of the oven. The smell of freshly baked cookies filled the room as you carefully set them down to cool for a little. While you allowed them to cool, you took the time to prepare two cups of tea to go with the cookies, selecting just the right blend. You chose delicate floral-printed plates and cups, setting everything on the table neatly and with great care. You poured tea into both cups and placed three cookies on each plate.

Sigma couldn't help but grin as he watched you arrange everything on the table neatly and in a cute manner, finding every detail about you so charming. Everything from how you moved oh so gracefully to the way your expressions changed as you were focused on your task. He also couldn't overlook how that ribbon in your hair just had to make you look even more princess-like, making a mental note to buy you more. He wanted to say something, such as "you're beautiful", he would get to see your cute blush once again. But nothing left his lips as words could not do justice to your beauty. He had to wonder if you were really this perfect all the time. 

"Thank you, darling, this is lovely." He tells you as you take a seat at the table. Sigma takes a bite of his cookie, immediately struck by the exceptional flavor. They were perfectly soft and chewy, with just the right amount of sweetness. 

"These taste amazing, love! Your cookies never disappoint." Sigma tells you as he relishes his cookies and tea. He felt like he could just drop down on one knee and ask for your hand in marriage right now. Soon, my love. Spending the rest of eternity with you wasn't even a second thought to him.

You smile at his compliments and playfully wave him off, not wanting him to flatter you too much. 

"Thank you, Sigma.. I appreciate it." You couldn't help but let out a laugh as you felt so comfortable in this moment. Happily enjoying your cookies and tea, spending time with your sweetheart boyfriend, what more could you possibly ask for? There was nothing else in life that could compare to this feeling. The feeling you get when he's with you. 

[perhaps-in-anotherdream]

[CN] Li Zeyan’s Mundane Date (Eng Translation)

“I bet that you will still remember this day, this moment, even decades from now. Just like I will.”

⌚Warning⌚ This post contains detailed spoilers for a date, 琐碎约会, that is yet to be released on the global server! ♡

•─────⋅◍♡◍⋅─────•

【Subbed Video】

──────────────

【Chapter 1】 

Big Screen: “In order to welcome this festival dedicated to love, our channel is presenting a special program named 《The Vow at Fingertip》.”

Big Screen: “We’ve collected a plethora of stories about the ring, exploring its deeper meaning beyond the ceremonial contexts…”

It’s early morning on Valentine’s Day, and the streets are already bustling with noise and excitement. Li Zeyan and I stand quietly at the entrance of the supermarket, watching the program previews displayed on the shopping mall’s large screen.

LZY: [laughs like a proud s/o ✊] Well, this is quite impressive. The prime spot throughout the whole day is going to be occupied by your show.

MC: Granted, it’s thanks to the sponsorship from the brand, but I’m really satisfied with this show.

LZY: In that case, let’s get through the checklist quickly and head back early to enjoy your masterpiece.

Finishing his words, he then takes my hand and leads me into the supermarket.

Given Li Zeyan’s personality, he had actually prepared the ingredients at Souvenir well in advance. But due to a phone call this morning, we had no choice but to make last-minute changes in our plans…

–

───── [FLASHBACK STARTS] ─────

Mr. Mills: Manager, sorry to trouble you so early in the morning.

Mr. Mills: While I was out for a walk just now, I saw a notice posted on the door of Souvenir stating that there’s a circuit malfunction in this area and the power has been out for the whole night.

Mr. Mills: I checked the refrigerator, and it seems those ingredients of yours may have gone bad.

LZY: [his voice really tends to drop to a different softness when he talks to Mr. Mills 🥺]  Thank you for taking the trouble. I’ll take care of it later.

Mr. Mills: But you prepared these for MC, right? Would you still be able to work out your plans for today?

Li Zeyan glances at me, who’s peering over from beside him, and a small smile tugs at the corners of his lips.

LZY: [while looking at you]  You don’t have to worry. I have a compensation plan in mind.

Watching as Li Zeyan ends the call, his expression composed, I hurriedly lean in and ask him about the situation.

MC: Did something happen at Souvenir? Should we go to the restaurant first and check it out?

LZY: It’s alright, let’s celebrate the festival first.

LZY: The menu won’t change, but we need to grab a few things to make up. I’ll make a quick trip to the supermarket later.

MC: I’ll come along with you!

–

───── [FLASHBACK ENDS] ─────

As each item from the list is placed into the shopping cart, I steal glances at Li Zeyan and study his completely unruffled expression, inwardly sighing to myself.

His plan fell through, and it even resulted in some damage. Yet, he hasn’t uttered a single word of complaint, appearing to have a well-thought-out plan in advance as always.

MC: [muttering] He certainly deserves the title of being the number one in emotional stability.

Li Zeyan seems to have heard my mumbling, prompting him to turn around and meet my gaze.

LZY: What’s the matter? Why are you zoning out?

MC: I was thinking, you are really good at switching your mood. If I were in your shoes and found out [MC’s Company Name] had run into some problem, I’d spend half a day just feeling upset.

LZY: Not like it’s something that can’t be remedied. What’s there to feel upset about?

LZY: It’s a nice holiday, and I don’t wish to see a certain dummy shooting her mouth off to the sky.

He gently lays his hand on top of mine and, together with the shopping cart, leads me forward.

LZY: If you zone out again, we won’t go to the snack section.

MC: I absolutely won’t! Let’s go, let’s go~

—

•─────⋅◍♡◍⋅─────•

—

【Chapter 2】 

The warm music of the show flows through the room, but it’s soon drowned out by the clinking and clattering sounds from the kitchen.

MC: Is there anything else you need me to do, Boss?

LZY: Help me with the sauce.

In order to increase efficiency, I volunteer to help Li Zeyan and find myself busy following his instructions, frantically running around in circles.

LZY: Pass me the thermometer.

LZY: Set the stopwatch to one minute for me.

MC: Roger!

Ding––

The oven’s timer sounds, and I consciously put on the heat-resistant gloves and pull out the baking tray.

MC: Isn’t it time to turn the sweet potato tart?

LZY: Right. If it’s tricky to turn, try lifting a corner first to test it out.

MC: Uh… it does seem a bit tricky to flip.

With gentleness and cautiousness, I proceed to operate, afraid of ruining the shape Li Zeyan has crafted so meticulously.

As I reach the last three, a reminder sounds from behind me.

LZY: Turn them faster; don’t let the oven temperature drop too much.

LZY: Don’t worry so much about the shape. For a dummy, it’s tasting delicious is what matters more.

His voice, carrying with it a smile, alleviates my nervousness a little. I turn them over and slide the baking tray back into the oven.

With the oven resuming its operation, I breathe a sigh of relief and walk back to Li Zeyan’s side, taking a sip of water.

LZY: [laughs softly]  Tired?

MC: How could I be tired? I can handle this amount of work just fine.

MC: It actually feels like that cooking game we played before. Though, I wish we could have three heads and six arms… [1]

MC: Speaking of which, do things get this chaotic when you cook by yourself?

Li Zeyan puts the lid on the pot and turns down the heat, then rubs my head with his free hand.

LZY: It doesn’t seem as chaotic when I’m on my own without anyone “helping out.”

LZY: But my sous chef here has made quite a lot of progress; at least nothing got messed up.

MC: That’s because my boyfriend doesn’t only cook incredibly well, but he is also a generous mentor!

LZY: [chuckles teasingly] I was here simply trying to better the food I cook for a certain dummy. I did not realize she was secretly taking notes.

LZY: Since you’ve been learning well, tell me, what do we need to add when we take the lid off?

I freeze for a moment, not expecting that he’d really ask questions. Resorting to thinking on my feet, I quickly pounce on him and lock my arms around his neck.

MC: Well, naturally… adding a little extra love would make it even better!

I plant a kiss on his cheek, then swiftly dash away before he can react, turning up the volume of the show.

LZY: [laughs helplessly]  Running away when you can’t answer, huh?

MC: [giggling gleefully]  What did you say? The music is too loud, I can’t hear you clearly~

Shamelessly feigning ignorance, I stand in front of the TV, grinning while casually casting a glance at the progress of the show.

At this moment, the interview with a young couple begins. The girl raises her left hand towards the camera, showing off her wedding ring.

Girl (on the show): On the day my husband proposed, he hid the ring in a dessert, saying that the dessert that day was infused with a unique formula of love.

Girl (on the show): As a result, when I took a bite, I chomped directly into this “formula of love” and ended up breaking my tooth…

Girl (on the show): We had to rush to the emergency room in the middle of the night. The pain was so excruciating that I almost refused the marriage proposal right then and there.

MC: Pfft…

I can’t hold back my laughter and glance over at Li Zeyan, who’s just a short distance away.

MC: Did you hear that, restaurant manager? You should take this as a cautionary tale.

LZY: [chuckles helplessly]  It’s clearly the gluttonous dummy who should take this as a cautionary tale.

Just as I’m about to retaliate, the doorbell suddenly rings. I pull a face at Li Zeyan and hurry off to answer the door.

Delivery Guy: Excuse me, is this Mr. Li’s residence? I’ve got a Flash Delivery package for him.

I accept the rather sizable cardboard box, then curiously glance towards the kitchen.

MC: What did you order?

LZY: Why don’t you open it and find out?

I carefully open the box and find an unexpected item inside––

──────────────

[Tidbits]:

[1] It’s a reference to Li Zeyan’s “Home Visit Date!” 

—

•─────⋅◍♡◍⋅─────•

—

【Chapter 3】

MC: “Chocolate fountain machine for home use”?

As I look at the name on the instruction manual, I read it out loud in surprise.

The supermarket’s holiday chocolates are already vying for attention with their romantic beauty, but I didn’t expect Li Zeyan to have an even more surprising design up his sleeves.

MC: Wow… isn’t this something you’d usually find only at hotels or fancy gatherings?

LZY: Mm-hmm. Given the unusual circumstances today, I’d have to slack off for now.

MC: “Slack off”?

Li Zeyan meets my puzzled gaze and places the machine on the table, then proceeds to gesticulate the patterns of the fountain.

LZY: Since it’s liquid, it simplifies the project by skipping several steps and can’t be stored. Once prepared, it’s only enough for a single serving.

LZY: If a certain someone has any objections, I’ll make a better one for you another day.

MC: Not only do I have no objections, but I also want to “redress injustices” on behalf of the chocolate fountain.

I wedge myself between him and the bar counter, pretending to be angry as I place my hands on my hips.

MC: How could you ever consider something as amusing and creative as this chocolate fountain as “slacking off”?!

MC: Moreover, regardless of how simple the procedure may be, Restaurant Manager Li’s creations are always one-of-a-kind.

Li Zeyan gives me a look and curls his lips into a smile.

LZY: Seems like this choice has turned out to be exactly something a certain someone would’ve liked. Since you’re so interested, why don’t you join me in making it later?

–

The “home version” of the Valentine’s Day feast still lives up to Li Zeyan’s high standards. After having our fill of eating and drinking, we finally bring the chocolate fountain to the table.

I skewer a strawberry, coat it with chocolate sauce, and take a bite. The rich aroma of chocolate blends harmoniously with the strawberry’s fresh sweetness, causing me to squint my eyes as if  I were in paradise.

MC: So, so yummy!

LZY: Easy there; be careful not to let the chocolate sauce drip onto you.

Li Zeyan fetches a sheet of paper and places it on my lap, then takes a toothpick to help me skewer the strawberries.

A warmth blooms in my heart. I lean in and hug his arm.

MC: Every dish today has been a hit, plus there’s also a certain handsome guy winning over with his attentive service. I think I ought to give it at least a four-star Michelin rating.

LZY: Is that extra star a reward for yourself?

MC: Hehe, didn’t you just say earlier that your little sous chef did a good job today?

LZY: Indeed, and the dining experience was neater than usual, too.

MC: Those who are capable do the most work, and those who work most deserve extra serving at the table! [2]

Li Zeyan smiles as he listens to my nonsense and pushes a plate of chocolate-coated strawberries in front of me.

LZY: [the indulgence hhh]  Alright, “capable one,” today you’re allowed to have a little extra.

MC: Why are you giving them all to me? Aren’t you going to have a taste?

LZY: There’s a certain dummy who’s been looking forward to this for so long, so let’s let her have her fill first.

As I take another bite of a strawberry, I keep pondering which words to persuade him to taste it. When I look up, I find that Li Zeyan has had his eyes fixed on me the whole time.

MC: What’s wrong?

LZY: It’s nothing.

LZY: I was just thinking, with the sudden change of plans today, are you genuinely okay with it?

MC: It wasn’t something within our control. Besides, just the location got changed, that’s all.

LZY: But it did eat into our time, and we missed the beginning of your show.

MC: I didn’t realize CEO Li was looking forward to my show this much, huh?

LZY: [laughs helplessly]  I wonder who kept promoting it non-stop next to my ear every day.

Grinning, I lean sideways onto his shoulder and reach out to poke his cheek.

MC: You somehow pulled off such a complicated feast to make up for it. What could I have to be dissatisfied with?

MC: Besides, the most important thing today is to be glued to the person you like; it doesn’t matter even if the time hasn’t been used efficiently.

Picking up the dessert tray, I skewer a strawberry and feed it to him.

MC: In order to make you truly understand how I feel, I warmly invite you to taste the flavor of bliss for yourself. [3]

LZY: Dummy, you’ve already mentioned the “taste of bliss” at least five times today.

LZY: Why do I get the feeling that you always seem to find “bliss” in everything you eat?

MC: That conclusion seems to be a bit of a sweeping generalization.

MC: There may be an abundance of delicious food in the world, but there are only two kinds that can truly bring me a sense of bliss.

MC: Home-cooked meals made by family members and the food you prepare with love.

Li Zeyan takes the plate and gently holds my now-empty hand.

LZY: Was your father very skilled in the kitchen?

MC: He…

MC: He was too busy with work, so there weren’t many opportunities for him to showcase his skills… but the flavors in my memory are very warm; it was the taste of home.

LZY: No wonder a certain someone has a good palette; apparently, she was nurtured well since childhood.

MC: Hehe, but I believe happiness doesn’t just stem from the flavors; the particulars are crucial, too.

LZY: What do you mean?

MC: For example, when Dad came home late from work and would accidentally add too much salt to the quick dishes he prepared, we’d end up laughing it off together during the meal.

MC: For instance, when a certain someone’s own plans went awry, he still prioritized taking care of my feelings.

MC: Like when that certain person could have simply settled for making regular chocolate, but instead, he went out of his way to design a chocolate fountain.

MC: I’m not someone who eats anything at any place without preference. Restaurant Manager Li, please don’t get the wrong idea.

I wink at Li Zeyan. He stares at me for a while, then suddenly breaks the silence.

LZY: Do you know why Souvenir always gives you special privileges?

MC: Why?

LZY: Because while a certain person isn’t very skilled in cooking, she sure is an excellent eater, and she equally excels at “paying the debt for the free meals with her words.” [4]

MC: Nonsense! That’s called showing gratitude, alright!

Unwilling to back down, I stuff another strawberry into his mouth, blocking any potential retort.

MC: Some people’s sweet words don’t last more than three seconds. As punishment, I’ll make you eat more chocolate to make amends.

LZY: [laughs helplessly]  …Dummy.

──────────────

[Tidbits]:

[2] The original sentence said by MC here was “能者多劳, 劳者多吃!” The first part of it is actually an idiom: lit. meaning, “it’s the most capable people who do the most work.”  The idiom is intended as consolation for the overworked, or flattery when making a request etc. The second part is a word-play on the idiom, so I tweaked the translation to fit the play here!

[3] The term MC uses here is “幸福,” and I had to sit on this one for a while to use a term that is not too wordy but still carries a closer meaning to the CN term. While it essentially does refer to “happiness,” the term carries a deeper connotation than 开心 (happy) / 快乐 (joyful), which refer to short bursts of bright emotions. Whereas “幸福” refers to lasting, fulfilling happiness and holistic contentment~

[4] The term Li Zeyan uses here is “吃人嘴短,” which he’s cleverly re-generated from the proverb “吃人嘴软, 拿人手短” to get his message across efficiently. I’m just too tired to explain the inside joke here LOL, so I opted for a wordy translation to try to get the message across nonetheless.

—

•─────⋅◍♡◍⋅─────•

—

【Chapter 4】

Host: Auntie, how do you usually store your ring?

Granny: Store it? I’ve never taken it off. I keep it on even when I’m working.

Granny: In our generation, we didn’t fuss over all those things. Besides, life inevitably keeps throwing urgent matters at you, so there’s little to no time to ponder over such matters.

While listening to the conversation on TV, I hand the last plate on the table to Li Zeyan.

After a quick rinse, he loads the plates into the dishwasher. Just as he straightens up, I hug him from behind.

MC: We just finished eating; why not rest for a while?

LZY: [chuckles indulgently] What? Are you saying eating can tire you out, dummy?

MC: …don’t you feel a bit sluggish after eating too much?

LZY: [that indulgent tone intensifies x10]  No wonder I feel like I’m carrying extra weight on my back.

Hearing the obvious laughter in his voice, I let out a couple of “hmphs” and continue to lean against his back without a care in the world.

LZY: A certain someone here has eaten her plate clean so thoroughly, lightening the load quite a lot, so this shouldn’t take too much time.

MC: That’s an essential skill for a Souvenir diner! But every time I see you being so diligent, I feel a tad embarrassed.

MC: It’s one thing not to procrastinate at work, but how can you not be lazy in your everyday life as well?

LZY: Wouldn’t it be more of a hassle if everything piled up at once?

LZY: Taking care of things immediately when they happen also helps avoid any unexpected complications.

Thinking back to how he methodically rearranged everything this morning, I can’t help but sigh with a twinge of envy.

MC: I’m so lucky to have you around; it’s what could make today so delightful.

LZY: Even after having to do so much work, you still consider it delightful?

MC: Yep! Cooking with you is like playing a game, but without the need to worry about failing any levels!

LZY: Dummy has a knack for turning any place into an amusement park.

MC: Then you’re the amusement park manager!

Li Zeyan finishes washing his hands, turns around, and boops the tip of my nose.

LZY: [in the softest of tones]  It seems that with you around, I’ll never have to worry about being unemployed.

LZY: Let’s go. Let’s focus on watching your show.

—

Li Zeyan pulls me to nestle into the couch. The show has now reached the interview segment, and the host is asking the elderly woman about the happiest moment of her life in the decades that have gone by.

Granny: If I had to choose one, it would be one night before going to sleep, when my husband touched the ring on my hand and said, “It’s all scratched up.”

Granny: When we calculated, we realized we’ve been wearing our rings for several decades.

Host: Those rings must be bearing many traces of life, wouldn’t you say?

Granny: Yes, that’s right. At first, I wanted to reprimand him, to show him how much work I’ve done. But then I touched his ring, and it was just the same.

Granny: At that moment, I suddenly felt, this person next to me has been by my side for a very long time.

I snuggle into Li Zeyan’s embrace, intertwining my fingers with his and stroking them.

MC: If it were the two of us, your ring would definitely be the one to wear out first.

LZY: Not necessarily; we also have to take into account a certain someone stirring up trouble and acting silly.

MC: Perhaps in a few decades, I’ll have grown smarter already!

LZY: Then let’s make a bet. We’ll see if you still remember this statement in a few decades.

MC: Alright, you’re on. But we’re both in this, so it wouldn’t be fair to put only me to the test.

LZY: Go on, what plan are you hatching now?

I roll my eyes and wriggle out of his arms.

MC: You watch the show; I’ll be back in a jiffy.

I trot over to the pantry and open one of the low cabinets. Owing to the Valentine’s Day themed program, I have received quite a few chocolates from our collaborators.

I take out the heart-shaped box placed at the top and return to Li Zeyan’s side.

–

MC: Li Zeyan, I have a small gift for you.

LZY: What, haven’t had enough chocolate yet?

Li Zeyan glances at the box in my hand, then raises an eyebrow at me. I smile but don’t say anything, opening the box and putting it into his hand.

MC: Hold on~ Let me do a magic trick for you first.

MC: Close your eyes, and then just pick any chocolate from inside.

LZY: [gentle, helpless chuckle]  What kind of stunt are you pulling this time?

Despite saying this, Li Zeyan still closes his eyes and follows suit. I take the chocolate he hands me and gently tear open the wrapper.

The golden foil paper is extremely delicate and prone to tearing if handled with even the slightest bit of carelessness. But by now, I’ve already become skilled enough to roll it up smoothly.

During the filming of this show, chocolate almost became our only snack. Every time I was on the phone with Li Zeyan, I would chat with him while casually rolling the candy wrappers.

I didn’t expect the “practice makes perfect” proverb to come to fruition like this, but inadvertently, I managed to craft this paper “ring.”

MC: Done! Now, extend your hand again.

He doesn’t seem to quite understand what my intention is, so he reaches into the box for another chocolate and hands it to me.

Seeing him so cooperative, I can’t help but laugh out loud, giving his fingertips a squeeze as I hold up the “ring” I have just created.

MC: You can open your eyes now!

–

LZY: …?

Li Zeyan looks at the small ring in my hand and blinks slowly.

LZY: [YOU CAN LITERALLY HEAR IN HIS TONE THAT HE’S CAUGHT OFF GUARD 🥹]   This is…?

MC: As you can see, an exclusively customized ring from 24-karat pure gold!

MC: Handcrafted from start to finish, Mr. Li Zeyan is the only one in the world who has the opportunity to own it.

Li Zeyan is momentarily taken aback, then glances at the torn-open chocolates on the table, before suddenly breaking into a smile.

LZY: Even such a brief moment as this is ample for your creativity to soar.

MC: I’ve been planning this for a long time. You can’t just whip up such a rare ring on the spot.

MC: Since you’ve made that bet with me, I must also reciprocate.

I straighten up and slowly slide the small ring onto his ring finger.

Li Zeyan’s gaze also remains fixated on my fingertips until the ring moves past his second joint, then he lifts his eyes to stare at me again.

Under the sunlight, those deep, enigmatic eyes of his shine even brighter, an expectation as clear as crystals surging within them.

I gaze fixedly at him, his cheeks now tinged with a gentle blush, and find myself unable to suppress the smile that steals across my lips.

MC: I bet that you will still remember this day, this moment, even decades from now.

MC: Just like I will.

After a few seconds of silence, Li Zeyan tosses the chocolate in his hand aside and tightly clasps my hand with his broad palm.

Seeing that he still hasn’t said anything, I press on and ask once more.

MC: How about it? Do you want to make this bet with me?

LZY: Sure, but…

Even before the words have fully left his mouth, a sudden force on my wrist yanks me towards him. I can’t help but cry out in surprise, only to find myself falling into his arms.

A warm breath immediately envelopes me as he locks me firmly in his arms, and I find myself slowly consumed by an intense yearning.

LZY: [nearly breathless] If you want me to remember, you’ll have to up the ante.

Without waiting for me to respond, he continues kissing me, effortlessly subduing any possible protest I could have.

Even after all this time, he still kisses me with the same uninhibited passion as he did the first time. The distant time and unspoken words all melt away in the gentle caress. [5]

The sound from the television gradually fades away, and the stories of others drift beyond my consciousness.

Even without this bet, I would find it impossible to forget this moment.

After who knows how long has passed, Li Zeyan gently releases me, lowering his head to rest his forehead against mine.

I look into his eyes, so close and within reach, and feel a surge of emotion in my heart.

MC: Li Zeyan.

LZY: Hm?

MC: Will you–– [6]

Before I can say anything further, he promptly raises his hand to cover my mouth.

LZY: [HIS PANICKED TONE HHHH]  Wait.

LZY: I’ve accepted the world’s most creative ring, but please don’t say anything more.

LZY: This is something that I should be the one to take care of.

I pause for a moment, then quickly understand what he meant, unable to suppress a laugh as I hold onto his hand.

LZY: Why are you laughing?

MC: Hahaha, although I really don’t want to spoil the atmosphere, but actually, I wanted to ask––

MC: Li Zeyan, will you wear this ring to work?~ ^^

───────────────

[Tidbits]

[5] Unnecessary, really, but still a refresher– it’s the callback to his first kiss aka “Dazzling Date.”

[6] Although obvious from Li Zeyan’s reaction, I still wanna clarify– he cut MC off when she had only gotten to “你愿不愿意—” (will you/ would you be willing to)-- and the rest of that sentence typically is “(will you) marry me” (你愿不愿意嫁给我吗), which is why LZY doesn’t even take any chances and goes, “nope not happening, I wanna do it” 😂❤️

───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────

【Personal Ramblings】

Remainder of One’s Life Date: here!

─────────────────────────────────

[infinitegalahad]

AMERICAN PROMETHEUS AND HIS ATHENA - CHAPTER 4

Pairing: J. Robert Oppenheimer x Female Indentifying! Reader

Summary: The implication was subtle, yet the weight was felt. Your shoulder tensed as you pursed your lips, dropping your plate into the sink. You knew, and so did Robert. It was blatant.

Word Count: 4.1k

Warnings: Sorta poorly written smut (i'm a virgin guys it's very obvious my expiernece is well..smut) and praise kink and a slight virginity/purity kink.

Notes: Hardest part of posting this? The writing, naw. Finding the perfect hot gif of the father of the atomic bomb? Yah! Oh boy...folks, it's here! Baby's first actual smut. I know I sound like a broken record, but seriously y;all, your support is absolutely amazing thank you so much for it! You keep me not just writing, but happy and afloat. Today has been nuts, so I was glad I could get this out. It's my first smut, so sorry if it's not good. This is the last part of the first part of the series, Ch.5 will move more into Los Almos, the bomb, and Kitty and Jean. Trouble will start brewing in paradise, the drama is en route! As you can tell, cliffhangers are my kind of thing #imunwell

Taglist: @forgottenpeakywriter @queenshelby @kodzuvk

Taglist | Masterlist

Dinner is a mostly silent affair. 

Minus the clattering of cutlery and soft puffs of cigarette smoke, you and Robert are silent. You notice the furtive gazes from Robert that scan your body. Crossing your legs and crumpling your napkin in your lap, you hope not to be noticed yet, at the same time, be noticed since the attention makes you feel aroused. 

You take up your plate, and as you are about to wash it, you feel that Robert is going to speak, which he does. 

“Your gift is upstairs in the bedroom if you wish to want it.” 

The implication was subtle, yet the weight was felt. Your shoulder tensed as you pursed your lips, dropping your plate into the sink. 

You knew, and so did he. It was blatant. 

Once you finish washing your hands, you walk by Robert, refusing to look down at him. You want to look, but the heavy sensation in your lower area skips whenever you see him. You can feel his intense stare on your back as you walk by. 

“I’ll be in the living room,” He says as if it’s a reminder. 

You stop by the kitchen door and turn to look back, but you resist the burning desire. 

The house is small enough to navigate, and you find yourself in Robert’s bedroom. It’s mundane and straightforward; a bed, a nightstand with books, and an ashtray, a dresser with cigarette boxes. Minus these menial things, there’s the pink satin bag from earlier on the edge of his bed. You walk over and sit down, grabbing the bag and taking out the paper. 

It revealed a box, in which, in your arousal, you nearly tore up. Once you placed the box and bag down on the ground, you gently removed the surprise; lingerie. 

It wasn’t really a surprise, but you pretended it to be such for the anticipation of it. The material is silk, and you make sure to be extremely careful with the material. The Lingerie is a satin navy two piece; a a sheer bralettle that would define your nipples and lacey knickers that could looked like they would barley cover your bum. Your thumb plays with the soft satin as your face goes red, knowing what will come between you and Robert. 

Sliding into the soft material, you check yourself out in the material. It’s the most skin you have ever shown to a man. The shorts cling to your thighs, and the bralette accentuates your nipples. A close look and your privates were revealed, covered by a sheer sheet of satin. You loosen your hair and fluff in, anxiously rubbing your hands together; you didn’t want to keep for long, knowing that Robert was just as aroused as you were. 

You slowly ascend down the stairs to the living room, illuminated by a fire that Robert lit while you were changing. A mesmerizing dance of flickering flames unfolds within the fireplace, casting a warm, comforting glow that envelops the room. You spot Robert on the couch, and he is reading the preface to one of the Greek myths you picked out in Sausalito. 

Reaching the bottom of the stairs, you step into the living room, the captivating ambiance of the dancing flames drawing you in like a moth to a gentle fire. The soft light casts an enchanting aura, accentuating the delicate features of the room and adding a touch of mystique to the moment. Your gaze finds Robert seated on the couch, engrossed on the preface of the Greek myth you had chosen in Sausalito. The flicker of firelight dances across his features, casting intriguing shadows that play upon his countenance.

As you take a cautious step forward, the sound of a closing book reaches your ears, causing a shiver to traverse your spine. The air feels charged with palpable energy as you wrap your arms around yourself, an instinctual gesture that adds to the allure of the scene you're entering.

Your steps are slow, deliberate, every movement conveying a mix of vulnerability and intent. Each footfall on the soft carpet is a rhythm that mirrors the steady beat of your heart, a drumroll leading up to the moment of connection. The distance between you and Robert seems to dissolve, leaving only the sensation of his magnetic pull.

As you draw nearer, the firelight and shadows play upon your form, casting alluring patterns upon your skin. His gaze roams your body, a smoldering intensity that ignites a spark of longing within you. The anticipation becomes a tangible force, binding you both in a shared unspoken understanding. The room seems to hold its breath, the air thick with a mixture of desire and the timeless allure of the moment.

Robert's attention is drawn away from the pages as he puts out his cigarette, acknowledging your presence with a glance that sends a ripple of warmth through your veins. His gaze meets yours, and the intensity within his eyes is like a current that pulls you closer, your heart pounding in response. The weight of his gaze is electrifying, and for a brief moment, he seems to hold his breath in awe, sharing the same desire that lingers in the air.

 "My beauty," Robert breathed, his gaze tracing the contours of your form with an intensity that sends a flutter through your chest. His voice, a velvety timbre that seems to wrap around the very atmosphere, spills forth in a cascade of words that hold the power to mesmerize. 

With a tender touch that speaks volumes, he gently removes your arms and puts them by your side, presenting your nearly nude body to him. His fingers envelop your skin in a caress that ignites a spark of warmth. As he holds your arms, his touch is both a physical reassurance and a silent proclamation of his admiration.

"Your presence is just as I imagined," he continues, his voice a whispered promise that hangs in the air, "it's like a beacon that draws me in. Raw beauty in his most natural form."

His grasp tightens, in which you bite your lip too. Your hand rest on his chest, unable to form coherent thoughts, lost within a hazy gaze of arousal. 

“Oppie,” is all you manage with a soft breath equivalent to a moan, feeling like you could sink into his hold. 

Robert holds you and guides you to the couch. Your hand remains in his as he picks up one of the myths to examine it. 

“I began to read the preface of Hades and Persephone. I understand this one you were highly fond of,” Robert pronounced as he looked at you. For a brief second, his eyes once again captured your body, and he looked at you like you were an angel.

“Would you like to read this one?”

Gently smacking your lips together, you nod your head, “Yes. Quite frankly, I think it would best suit the current mood.”

Subtle communication is a form of love between you. Only you two can understand it. Despite its actual meaning not being viral, it echoes within the room between you two. 

Something flickers in Robert’s eyes as he sits down on the couch, bringing you to sit on his lap. Curling up on his side as you rest on his thigh, you grab the book as he snakes his hands around your stomach. He takes a long breath and throws back his head, savoring your smooth skin. The side of your thigh feels something move within his pelvic part. You were not experienced, but you knew that was an erection. The sheer thought of his made you both nervous and excited. It had hit you that this was no longer a fantasy; it was very much indeed a reality. 

You clear your throat and open the book, trying to distract from Robert’s not-so-private erection bumping into the outer part of your thigh. Robert lets out a long sigh and leans forward, his chin resting on your shoulder with his nose in your hair. As he sniffs your perfume, his hands draw those mindless patterns into your stomach, making you slightly shift your feet in excitement. 

“Read to me,” He purred into your hair. 

Biting your lip to contain a noise you were embarrassed to make, you open the book and begin reading with a slight stutter. 

“It was a beautiful day like all the others in this land, the sun shone brightly in the sky, the hills were lush and green, and flowers blossomed from the earth. The lovely young maiden, Persephone, frolicked with her friends upon the hillside, as her mother Demeter sat near by, and her father Zeus peered down from the sky above. Laughter could be heard in between the young girls' whispered secrets, as they gathered handfuls of purple crocuses, royal blue irises and sweet-smelling hyacinths. Persephone thought to bring some to her mother, but was soon distracted by a vision of the most enchanting flower she had ever seen. It was a narcissus, the exact flower her father hoped that she would find. As she reached down to pluck it from its resting place, her feet began to tremble and the earth was split in two. Life for Persephone would never be the same again.”

Robert’s breath hitches against your ear. With one hand you hold the book and the other resting onto of Roberts, stroking his palm. 

“From this gaping crevice in the ground emerged the awe-inspiring God of the Underworld, Hades, and before Persephone could even think to utter a word, she was whisked off her feet onto the God's golden chariot. As the crack of the whip upon his majestic horses brought her to her senses, she realized she was about to taken into the black depths from which he'd come. The thought of this brought terror to her heart, yet any screams of protest were soon lost within the darkness, as they descended quickly into the Underworld below.

“While Persephone's cries could not be heard above the ground, the pain in Demeter's heart quickly alerted her to the fact that something was terribly wrong. She searched high and low for her dear daughter, who had vanished from both the heavens and the earth. Consumed by depression over the loss of her child, she soon ceased to remember her worldly duties as Goddess of Grain and Growth. As she watched the plants wither and die all around her, she felt her own hopes begin to fade as well. At the same time, deep down in the realm of the dead, Hades hoped to explain his actions to the sweet Persephone. Professing his love, he told her of the plan her father helped deploy and begged her to stay and be his wife. Yet, Persephone longed for something more, the comforts of her mother's home and a view of the lush green grass and blue sky up above.”

Reading these words, a realization hits you. Something about this myth resonates not just with you, but with Robert. Hades and Persephone are death and regenration embodided. Is that what you and Robert are; death and life drawn together in your ever chaning world. The gifts, the flowers, the poemnegrates, the sweet nicknames, it was all to drag you in. At first you couldn’t bare accept. But now? You didn’t know if you agreed with your past self. 

“Yet it didn't take long for Demeter's happiness to be replaced with rage, as she recalled the disappearance of her daughter. She flew to the home of Zeus and demanded that Persephone be found at once. She also questioned every immortal she could find and eventually uncovered Zeus' plot. In an attempt to appease Demeter's growing anger, he dispatched a messenger to retrieve their daughter from the depths.”

“Upon his entry to the Underworld, the messenger Hermes was amazed at what he found. Instead of finding a frail and fearful Persephone, he found a radiant and striking Queen of the Dead. She had adjusted well to her new position, saying she had even found her calling. The Goddess was now in charge of greeting the new arrivals and helping them adapt to their new life. While she wished to see her mother up above, she was torn by her desire to remain Hades' wife.”

Your past thoughts and sudden releevations were proven by the text. Your breath shudders as you feel one of Robert’s hand inch up your chest, similar to last time. Instead of siquriming, you sink within his hold. Your hand topples his as you guide him to your breast, letting his hand protrude on your linergie to gently caress and grasp your breast. 

A moan escpaesd your lips as you lean back, feeling Robert squeeze your nipples. He calms his touch as he resorts to stroking the edge of your breast, letting you continue to the climax of the myth. 

“Hoping to comfort Persephone in her confusion, Hades came to his Queen's side. He gently kissed her forehead and urged her, "Do not fret, eat instead from this fruit I know you will like." As she pressed the red pomegranate seeds to her lips, she listened to his words. He told her he would miss her very much, but her duties as a daughter mattered too. So, she climbed into the chariot and bid her husband farewell, as Hermes sped them off to the middle realm of mother earth, the home of her devoted mother.

You saw the last two paragraphs of the myth, also seeing Robert’s hand make it’s way down your stomach to your short. Your hand guides him slowly and gently to your womanhood. 

“The flowers sang joyfully of her return, while her mother beamed with pride. Yet, the child that she had born and raised had changed while she was gone. She had grown into a goddess, one both beautiful and wise and the more that Demeter inquired about her experiences below, the more she came to worry that the life they knew was gone. She recalled a declaration Zeus had made from the heavens up above: in order for Persephone to return to the home and life she had known, the young goddess must be as pure as the day she left her mother's side. However, the ruby stain upon her lips spoke of the beauty's fate. Persephone had tasted of the fruit of life. It could not be erased.”

Robert buries his nose into your shoulder with his hand stopping at the edge of your pants. He hesitates, afraid to hurt you. But you know, and feel, that Robert would never do such a thing. You push his hand towards the waistband on your knickers, sliding Robert’s hand down your knickers and towards a place that no man was ever touched until now. 

“Even so, Zeus loved his daughter too much to send her back to Hades without the hope of returning to her mother's abode above. So, each spring Persephone comes back with the flowers that pave her way, to tell the story of rebirth, hope and harmony. And each fall when she leaves again for the Underworld below, her mother mourns and winter comes, while she waits for her return. Yet, for Persephone there is no remorse. She looks forward to the time she spends as Hades' Queen and wife, and to guiding those who have lost their way to the next phase of their life.”

You let out a sigh and threw the book down. It blocked your view of Robert’s hand down your navy knickers. You hold his arm and go red, goosebumps hovering over your skin with his electric touch. 

“Y/n, sweetling,” Robert coles into your ear. His fingers are like a ghost, hovering over the curls of your rapidly moistening vulva, waiting for your approval, “Speak to me. Tell me.” 

“Robert,” You arch your head back to plant a peck on his forehead, “Please.”

“It will hurt since it’s your first. If it does, please tell me,” Robert, in his most vulnerable state, begs you. 

You hum and bring your foreheads together, giving him the green light. “If it hurts, I rather it is with you, Robert. I wouldn’t want it to be anyone else.”

Your words made Robert choke on his breath as his hand traveled his way through your curls, finding your vulva. He circles the area around your finger, seeing you stretch back, digging a hand into the side of his salt and pepper hair. Placing a kiss on your cheek, his finger enters your clitoris. 

Letting out a curse, you arch your back like a cat as you let out a noise you wouldn’t want anyone to hear but Robert. 

“You’re so tight,” Robert says into your hair. His finger moves around, causing the nerves from your vaginal wall to give goosebumps of joy. He smirks as his hand on your stomach brings you back closer to him. “You kept it all for me to unwrap. How sweet of you.

“More,” You breath as you softly grind his thigh. 

He hums and asks, “More?”

“More, please. Pretty please.” 

Your beg makes him chuckle as you feel another finger circling around your clitoris. 

“Another? Are you sure?” 

Another shockwave rides up your body, making you rapidly nod your head. The second finger circles your hole, but Robert doesn’t insert it yet. 

“Words, sweetling.”

“Yes, yes, please. Pleas-”

As the second finger enters your clitoris, you gasp and scrunch your toes and fingers, the ecstasy running through your veins. 

“Oppie,” You moan his name, which makes his erection move below you. He fingered you for the next few minutes, a gentle rhythm dancing inside you. It hurts initially, but the pain subsides as Robert’s fingers mold to your insides. A creamy substance leaks from your vagina, covering Roberts’ and. He eventually removes his pale hand covered by a pale substance. You take his hand and bring it to your face, admiring what is your reaction for your desire and love for Robert. 

“Can I?” You turn to Robert, looking at his cum over his fingers.

Robert’s breath hitches and he nods and leans back. He watches you suck on his finger, licking and inhaling the cum. He strokes your hair and leans back, soaking in the experience. Once you finish, he grabs your chin to admire you. Your faces and bodies are illuminated by the fire, which shows both of your burning desires for one another. 

“You are a beautiful creature, y/n,” He confesses, wiping a bit of cum from your lip, dragging your lip down.

“You’re handsome,” You reply to his compliment by giving one to him. Your hand goes to the collar of his shirt, signaling for him to undress so you can truly get down to business. 

The two of you help undress each other. As carefully as you put on the bralette and shorts, Robert slides them off and throws them onto the loveseat. You, too, help him undress; helping unbutton his shirt and unbuckle  his belt. He slides down his pants and underwear, revealing his throbbing erection. It was a suprie to you, for such a slender spectre-looking man, his cock was large; fluids running down the tip. He’s got a faint trail of hair that goes up to his stomach, which makes your womanhood feel like a lush paradise. 

Robert moves you in front of the far, far enough not to get burned but close enough to be warmed. He handles you with the delicacy of a china doll, resting your body on the carpet. Your arms fall behind you as his hand grabs one of yours, with the other resting on the indent of your waist. Robert climbs onto of you, sitting ontop of your area as he admires your body, a soft and genuine smile on his lips. 

“Look at you,” He said in awe, “You are more beautiful than in my dreams. I knew you would be. Your simply perfect.”

“There is no true perfect person, Robert.” You blush and softly giggle. 

“I’m afraid that is a lie, y/n. You are.” 

His erect cock rest on the inner part of your thigh, edging towards your vagina.

“Are you sure you want this?” Robert asks, his tone still loving but also serious. For the first time this night, he looks hesitant. Scared, even, “Are you sure you want this to be with someone such as me?”

To soothe Robert’s nerves, you bring a hand to cup the side of his cheek. It’s a small physical touch that you known drives Robert mad. He sighs and leans into your touch, closing his eyes as he basks in your sweet touch. 

“Of course, Robert. I want it to be you. I’ve wondered for so long of who it would be to do this. And Robert, well, it’s you. It’s always been you. I knew it when I first saw you. And now I want it more then ever. So Robert please, be the one to take me.” You gently confess.

He opens his eyes and covers your hand on his cheek. 

“I’ll feed you my seed, Persephone,” Robert purred, a tint of possession to his voice, “And then? You’ll be mine.”

His member neared your wet vagina. He heistated, awaiitng for your nod.

You never had nodded faster in your life; it felt like you were dependent on the touch of his cock. Robert made sure to give you the thing you were most craved and wanted; which was him.

He fucks you infront of the fire. At first, it hurts. He’s very gentle, whispering kind words as you cry in both pleasure and pain. He slowly grinds against you as as you bury your hands into his hair, digging your nails deep through his hair. Robert cooes into your ear, calling you his deity and his Persephone. As he hungirly humps against you all while holding your hand and saying sweet words of pet names and reassurance, it leaves you to think.

Through the humping, moans, and grunts, the myth you could barely read earlier comes to mind. In your story, your Persephone, and he’s Hades. Like how Hades took Persephone from her world, Robert snatched you from your crowd at Berkeley. Not that you felt satisfied within it, but he took you every Friday and weekend into his home and world, keeping you among him and spoiling and adoring you as a way for you to fall in love with him. You did fall for him, but a part of you hesitated. Robert was thirty five and you were freshly eighteen. The age dfiference and power imbalance was more then evident. 

But now, you were able to look past that. 

Like Hades had done to Persephone, he gave her the seed to keep her to him. 

Robert had done the same to you, his warm cum feeling inside of your aching stomach. 

 With a heavy exhale, Robert fell beside your, gathering you in his arms. He holds you close, and like it’s routine, return the favor and curl into him. 

Hatomi was right; the theory of social change perfectly applies to you. 

Time passes, and within that tie, you and Robert lay together nude in front of the fire. After cleaning you, he fetches one of your Greek Myths and a cigarette. The two of you share puffs from the cigarette as he reads the tale of Prometheus to you. Robert holds himself up with one arm, the other wrapped around your waist, his hand resting on your stomach. You stare into the fire, stroking his hand that rubs your stomach, listening to his velvety voice read the myth. 

“After the Olympian gods emerged victorious, Zeus tasked Prometheus and Epimetheus with creating humans and giving them unique qualities. Epimetheus, meaning "afterthought," began distributing various attributes among the animals, giving each species-specific traits to survive in the world. However, when it came to humans, he had given away all the positive qualities to animals, leaving humans vulnerable and defenseless,” Robert read the paper as he stroked your hair, “Prometheus to intervene. He stole fire from the gods and gave it to humanity, along with other gifts such as knowledge, craftsmanship, and agriculture. Fire symbolized not only warmth and light but also technological advancement and the ability to cook food, which was crucial for human development. Prometheus shaped humanity out of clay or mud–”

A piece of wood falls in the fire, and you curl your knees into your stomach. 

“–and Athena breathed life into his clay figures.” 

[brickeater712]

neighbours on sloane street (intro)

spreading the garodela gospel. i love the idea of two old women taking care of each other

cw: none. only fluff,,,,,,,,,,

a/n: they make me cry

snip, snip, snip. 

the sound of the scissors resound in the quiet salon. the owner is focused, clipping up and cutting down her client’s hair. 

an everyday practice for adela. 

her clients, usually, are talking about their troubles. but perhaps today is not as usual as the rest. 

“miss adela, have you heard?” adela’s client shifts their topic, all of a sudden.

adela hums. “hm?” she waits for a response. 

“the shophouse next to you. someone’s moving in today.” the girl in the chair talks excitedly. “what do you think they look like? where did they come from? oh, i wanna meet them when they arrive!” 

adela nods along, motions visible in the mirror. she wonders too, of course, but reserves her questions for the time being. but her client doesn’t catch the way her eyes flit to look outside the window of her cosy shop- she wants to meet the new person too. 

and there she sees it. out of the corner of her eye- a woman with purple hair, outside her shop. she’s looking around, presumably trying to find her new home. 

and then, her eyes settle on adela’s shop. they drift from the sign, to the glass, and finally, adela herself. but before they can lock eyes, adela quickly looks back at her client- she doesn’t want to be caught staring. 

“-you think they came here for? gosh, hopefully they arrive before i have to start on dinner!” her customer finishes rambling.

adela takes a few seconds to respond. “...i hope i see them, too.”

________________

“thank you miss adela! i’ll see you in a couple of months!” the girl waves goodbye to her, bell clinking as she leaves the shop. adela smiles and waves back. just as the door closes, the belltower rings. 

6pm, she thinks. time to clean up. 

she first moves to clean up the tea off her counter. 

…mm. there’s still some left over.

perhaps a cup of tea is enough to greet her neighbour.

cup steady in her hands, adela leaves the salon. she walks over to the shophouse next to hers, and peers in the same, glass windows that her own shophouse has. there she sees her- the beautiful woman, inside, pulling clothing out of a suitcase. 

a new neighbour, adela smiles. the shophouse has been empty for ages. she pushes the door open. without even missing a beat, the woman turns sharply to face her, with incredible reflex. her eyes are wary at first, but she recognizes her- the hairdresser next door- and loosens up just a bit.

“hello there.” adela starts, with a smile. “i heard someone was moving in today. that’s you, i assume.” 

the smile is returned. “that’s me. moved from somewhere near 5th avenue. here to set up my tailoring business” she puts down the fabric she held in her hands. “i saw you. you’re the hairdresser next door, yes?” 

adela nods. she moves forward to hand the cup of tea to the woman’s now free hands. “for you. figured you’d want something to drink after travelling here.” 

“i appreciate it.” the woman accepts it gratefully. “my name is garofano.” 

“i’m adela.”

pretty name, both of them thinks, but neither of them let it show on their faces. 

“thank you for the tea, adela.” garofano giggles.

“you can return that back to me tomorrow- i’m sure you’d like to rest now.” 

garofano hums in agreement. “indeed. perhaps you’d like to come over tomorrow instead? i’d love to get to know more about the neighbourhood.”

the invitation is warm- like a bright light in the fog. 

adela agrees. 

perhaps this is a new mundanity she could get used to.

________________

adela finds herself standing in front of garofano’s shophouse. just for the teacup, she thinks. that is, until she sees the warm smile through the window. she goes in.

garofano is humming something, a tune unfamiliar, while moving fabrics around. the creaking of the door makes her turn her head.

“adela! you’re here.” garofano beams. “is your work day over? how would you like to spend more time here?” she’s bustling around the shophouse, moving supplies here and there. “as you can see, i still have a lot of work before my shop is set up- i’d love a little company.”

adela agrees, without hesitation (much to her surprise), and soon finds herself rearranging needles in a container. she glances back, every so once in a while, to observe the older woman arranging furniture. a certain feeling blooms in her heart- she’s not quite sure what it is- but she figures that it’s all part of the new mundanity. 

they exchange little conversation, accompanying each other in a comfortable silence, occasionally broken by garofano’s humming. both of them move about, but there’s only so much work that can be completed in a day. 

the sky outside is dotted with stars when they decide to rest for the day, laying on garofano’s couch conveniently in front of the windows. adela’s brought over tea once again, steam rising in front of their faces as they sit next to each other under the calming moonlight. 

they’re close to each other- so close, their shoulders are almost touching, but adela doesn’t dare move closer, though her heart tells her to do so. 

“i wonder, what will life here be like?” garofano giggles, staring up at the sky. “it’s been such a long time since i’ve had the time to relax like this."

adela nods, following the conversation. “well, i do quite hope you enjoy your time here… perhaps, the belltower will be the only thing disturbing your relaxation.” she teases lightly, earning a laugh from the older woman. 

“it wouldn’t, for the most part. after all, when it rings six times, that’s when i know that you’re free to come over.”

it’s a subtle comment, sure, but lights a certain spark in the fog nonetheless. adela lets out the palest blush, thankful that garofano doesn’t turn her head to witness it.

by the end of the night, adela bids garofano a goodbye, and a goodnight. she stays outside the shop until she sees her disappear into the back. 

she goes to bed that night, with her worries set aside. she’ll get used to the change in her schedule- she’ll look forward to the booming of the belltower at 6 PM. and the fog lifts, just a little more. 

[love-anddeepression]

Haven't I? - Part 1

They’re here.

Even though he’s been doing patrols for months here and is more than capable of himself, you can’t help but worry when it comes to Tommy.

Call it a sisterly instinct, but whatever it may be, you’re relieved Tommy’s back. 

The sound of horse’s hooves rouses Marie from her sleep and she rests her hand on her growing stomach. She’s at least three weeks along and the occasional morning sickness made her tired, but her bull-headed self refused to rest until absolutely necessary.

 You hand her her coat and put your mask on.

 The snow crunches beneath your boots and you can see Tommy walking back from the stables. His eyes soften as Maria’s footsteps fall faster.

There’s a mixture of bitterness and love when you look at them embracing. It’s painful to think of him. He probably thinks you’re dead. You clench your jaw and force the thought of him to the furthest corner of your brain. Leaving it among the memories that you don’t think about. Sarah’s laughter. Dancing together while making pancakes. Your wedding to her father. How she was only six and the flower girl, throwing petals with the most adorable smile on her face. The smile on your husband’s face when he said ‘i do.’

No, those were memories you never thought of.

You’re shaken from your thoughts as Tommy’s arms fall around you, “Told you I wouldn’t die.”

Scoffing, you reply, “Can’t blame me for worrying. What with your shit aim, I had no choice but to be worried.”  

Maria laughs as an indignant snort falls out his mouth as the three of you begin walking back towards the house.

He leans towards and murmurs, “You know you don’t have to always wear your mask.”

“Tommy, I scared a child a few days ago. Don’t talk shit.”

He just sighs in reply.

—-

Sleep doesn’t come easy, but when it does, all you dream of is the growls of the wolf.It had been after a child in your travelling group. And when you had run to save her, it decided to come for you instead.

When you’re not dreaming of that, you’re dreaming of your husband’s broken face when the both of you were separated in the mob.

This was when the QZ in Texas eventually became full of infected and you had to evacuate. The crowd was so huge and you were holding his hand right. 

“Honey, hold on! Be fucking careful!” His voice was harsh in the chaos and the grip he had on your hand was bruising.

Suddenly, in the rush your hand slipped. It slipped from his own. And you were screaming his name. 

Fire was all around you, the sounds of bells and sirens ringing, the screams of infected and terrified people filled your ears as you jogged in no particular direction to avoid being trampled alive.

You could hear your name as well, in the distance, his voice sounded raw and worn. 

You were roused from your sleep by Tommy shaking you awake, calling your name loudly.

You shot up, “What? What the hell happened Tommy?”

“Good morning to you too, sunshine” He pats your shoulder and leaves a bottle of water on your table, “We’re finishing those bannister’s today, and I’d appreciate your help.”

You stiffly nod, “Ok partner.”

He chuckles at the nickname, ever since you had met him, he was your partner in crime against his brother, and it stuck through the decades.

“See you, Trouble.” He says and leaves the room.

The walk to the bathroom to freshen is exhausting and you’re pretty sure you want to choke on the toothbrush rather than do anything else, but Tommy needed you. If no one else did, Maria and him always did.

It’s freezing. The snow still crunches under your boots, like it does everyday. Perhaps it’s the mundaneness of the act that fascinates you but the crunch is always so satisfying.

“You’re here, you old fucker” Tommy grins at your groans of pain as you attempt to climb the steep metal steps to the platform.

You flip him off and he laughs as you take the drill from another helper, “ I see Maria went out on patrol today.”

The grin is wiped off his face as he sands the wood, “Yeah.”

You can see pieces of his brother in him, in the way he does his work. 

“Fuck!” You wince. 

“You okay?” Tommy asks.

“Yeah, a fucking splinter. I’m going to go get this shit out.”

You’re walking back towards the house, mask down and sucking on your pointer finger, when the gates are being opened earlier than normal.

They’re back. Early.

But if they’re early it can only mean two things:

Someone’s dead, or there’s newcomers.

The horses are walking slowly and there’s no sign of commotion, so yes it is newcomers.

You’re able to see a girl riding on a horse, next to Maria and you can see Danny and Luis and then-

 No.

Oh god no.

It’s him. It’s the man of your dreams and the subject of your nightmares. He’s right there and he’s looking around in awe. The snow, the Christmas tree, the children. 

And his eyes fall on you.

And then they move on to someone else. 

That is when you see the other woman, she seems to be in her late thirties or so, her brown locks are  tied back and her face is tired.

But lord, she’s beautiful, and she’s got her arms around him.

Who is she?

You’re happy, you suppose, that he’s moved on. He’s happy, of course you would be. But you’re devastated. And your heart that’s been slowly piecing itself back together shatters completely and you turn to run back to the bannisters where Tommy is.

“Tommy!” 

With your call another’s voice mingles, and you want to hurl a rock at something.

Tommy looks at his brother and then at you, who is frantically motioning towards yourself and him.

Don’t tell him I’m here.

“What the fuck?” He manages to say when he’s on the ground.

“ Go, idiot!” You all but push him towards his brother and it takes everything in you to walk away.

And then he’s laughing. And you turn.  Because after everything you’re still weak.

His arm is around her shoulders and she’s looking at Tommy with distrust. The girl on the horse stares at the scene and you’re able to recognise her expression. Because you’re feeling it too.

The fear that you’re going to be left alone again.

—-—————-—-———————

You stare at her name  on the chalkboard and  it seems to glare at you in the silence of the house. The candles flutter almost as if they’re alive. 

The candles are more alive than your daughter. And you want to break them, throw them out into the snow and watch as they snuff out. As they die a death that won’t mean anything to anyone else. Just a sad inconvenience.

It’s lunch hour, and they’re all away.

He didn’t even look at you.

You scream into the cushions on the couch. It’s childish, but you welcome the raw searing pain and you let it flow through you. For everything you’ve done and for everyone you’ve lost and for all the pain you’ve gone through. All the memories you locked away, because you didn’t know what to do with them.

Her smile is all you can think of and his laughter is all you can hear. He’s twirling her around the kitchen and you laugh because this family is all yours. Your daughter and your husband and your house. The pancakes are fluffy and the sun is shining. 

“Mom, help me!” she giggles and starts laughing out loud when he begins tickling her. “No! Dad!”

Her shouts start to become more painful and it’s suddenly night.

“Mom! Help me!” she wails, “No, Dad it hurts!” her whimpers start to become more pained and her eyes are wide in fear.

You’re pressing down on her wound as Joel tries to shift her and she screams.

Her breathing is slowing and you’re shouting at Joel to let her down because she’s sobbing.

You’re hugging her close to you when both you and him feel her breathing stop and you know your life has stopped as well. All you do is hide your face in the expanse between her face and shoulder and sob. You put your arms around him and her corpse is enveloped between the both of you. It’s ironically just like how you used to hug her when she’d climb in your bed after a nightmare. 

Your screams have turned into sobs and you’re kneeling before the fireplace like it’s an altar and you’re begging for forgiveness. You rock back and forth like you did when you were holding her. 

When your sobs are finally spent and your head is throbbing, you get up and put your mask on. It’s past lunch and they’ll be back soon.

Part-2

[marblemoovt]

Take Care - Whis/Reader

MASTERLIST

Rating: Teen

Word Count: 2.5k

Warnings: Fluff, A sprinkle of angst, Mentions/depictions of anxiety and depression. Anything else is in the tags <3

SUMMARY:

Sometimes it’s easy to forget when to eat or do basic care, but it becomes an issue when it happens frequently. And Whis has started to notice that something is wrong. When subtlety doesn’t cut it, a confrontation is required, and sometimes hidden feelings are revealed in the process.

------

“Nobody has seen you in days,” and he states it like a fact.

Any excuses that I’ve created disappear from my mind, and I have no ammunition against his claim.

“The others have started to notice. They’re—I’m worried.”

I stare blankly, before bursting into laughter. “You? You’re worried about little old me?” I grin and shrug off his hand. “Thanks, but I’m doing perfectly fine. I was planning to visit today.”

“I can see that you’re troubled,” he says, and I squirm underneath his penetrating gaze. 

I avoid his eyes and shrug my shoulders. “This is my normal resting face,” I say with a lazy grin. 

Whis holds my hands. “Just know that I’m here to help because I care.” He clears his throat and switches topics. “Now, let's get you something to eat.”

NOTE:

Hello! The last time I posted a finished fic on this site was October of last year (°ー°〃)

I did not experience any life-threatening situations. I didn't survive an accident and upload this from a hospital bed on the verge of death as I struggle to type this all out. My life is not that chaotic, and I appreciate that it's 'mundane'

Life happened and I got a bit burnt out. I have other hobbies that also take up a lot of my time and commissions that are prioritized over stories I write for myself.

That being said, this story was a commission and they graciously allowed me to share the fic publically. I don't often write in first-person, but expect any subsequent Whis fics to be in the same format.

Also, just a fair warning that I know absolutely nothing about Dragon Ball other than what I was able to gather from the Wiki and a few clips.

Happy Reading! ヾ(•ω•`)o

“This is delicious. Try some,” Whis says, offering his plate to me. 

The squeak of metal cutlery against porcelain pierces my eardrums as I push my food around. It takes great effort to maintain my smile. “No thank you,” I decline. I can barely stomach what I already have. Accepting his offer would be a waste of his kindness thanks to my absent appetite. 

It’s not like I didn’t want to eat, but more that I couldn’t. There was no desire for food. And if there were, it would be forgotten once another task consumed me. My limbs ache for the comfort of my bed, weary after a long day at work. 

The chatter around me becomes grating to my ears, and every cell in my body screams to run, hide, and be alone. I glance at my friends, admiring their energy compared to my low social battery. The food is tasteless on my tongue, and I set my fork down, forcing myself to swallow the last mouthful. 

“Are you done already?” Whis asks, and he almost looks… surprised?

“People normally stop eating once they’re full,” I say, pushing away my plate—still full of food. 

Beerus snatches my plate and dumps the contents into his mouth, shrugging at Whis’s look of disapproval. “What? They said they were done,” he says.

I stand up and wave goodbye to everyone. With no remaining evidence of my recent eating habits, they all respond like usual. Some even suggest I take a break from work to hang out more.

The only one who’s different is Whis.

“At least take some for later,” Whis says, handing me a small bundle. I peek inside and see a variety of snacks. 

“Thanks,” I say, hoping the exhaustion doesn’t slip into my smile. 

The mask doesn’t come off until I arrive home. I set the snacks down on my desk but decided it would be safer to refrigerate them. The bright white light sears into my retinas, and I blink until my vision clears. There’s no competition for space, and the bundle looks lonely in the fridge. 

I shut the door and hope I don’t forget about it. 

After staring at the list of chores I promised myself I would complete, I opt to just sleep.

The same routine repeats. Over and over—until Whis appears at my front door one day.

“Beerus sent me on a hunt for delicacies, and I absolutely cannot carry it all. I was walking and remembered you live nearby,” Whis speaks behind a tower of food. It’s honestly impressive how nothing has fallen yet. 

“An almighty being such as yourself can’t handle a bit of manual labour?” I snark, biting my lip to contain the laughter.

“Even if I can’t see your face, I can still tell you’re making fun of me,” he says. “Will you help me or not?”

I glance behind at the dust building up on my floor and the cleaning supplies that sit abandoned in the cupboard. 

“Why not,” I say with a nonchalant shrug, shutting the door behind me. “I can take time out of my busy schedule to help.”

Lies, but they came out of my mouth with such ease. At least today I won’t lay in bed and realize hours have passed in the blink of an eye.

The journey is silent as I balance a stack of cookies and chocolates. But the lack of conversation makes me sweat. Am I being too awkward? Maybe I should say something, but my mind is blank.

“I haven’t seen you at the dinners lately,” Whis says.

I nearly stumble in my steps. “What?”

“Your absence has left a profound emptiness at the tables.”

His face is still hidden behind boxes and bags. 

I purse my lips and say, “Work has kept me busy lately.”

Whis’s thoughtful hum fills the gap in our conversation. “Pace yourself. Nothing good ever comes out of overworking,” he says.

I stare at him, unable to decipher his tone. He sounded—dare I say—concerned for my well-being? There’s no way. This is Whis we’re talking about. To him, I hold the same significance as a bug crawling on the ground.

We continue in silence. Worries that I did something wrong plague my thoughts. But Whis makes no further comment and thanks me when we reach his destination. He offers some of the food as a reward.

A companion for the lone bundle that still sits in my fridge.

Life continues in its monotonous cycle, with each morning harder than the last. Some days I’m lucky to even get out of bed. 

Working overtime becomes automatic at this point and my attendance at gatherings is now sporadic. Sitting at home, the sunlight reveals tiny particles floating in the air, and laundry has begun piling up in the hamper. Did I remember to shower today?

Despite all this, I can’t bring myself to do anything about it. But seeing myself slide down that slippery slope of neglect further propels my anxiety, which fuels worries over my inability to just get things done. It’s a vicious cycle. Neverending. It leaves me ragged, too exhausted to haul myself out of the depressive pit I’ve dug myself into.

How long has it been since I’ve seen my friends? I need to visit soon; I don’t want to worry them. Otherwise, they’ll come to visit me, and then they’ll see how pathetic I really am.

A knock on my door sends my heart leaping into my throat. I sit up, my limbs tangling in the sheets. 

“Is anyone home?” A voice calls out. It’s muffled by the door, but I recognize it immediately. 

Maybe if I keep quiet, he’ll go away?

“I know you’re in there. I can sense your presence,” Whis says. A rap knocks against the wood. “Please open the door before I resort to more… intrusive methods.”

I scramble out of bed and run to the door, flinging it open.

Whis’s eyes widen, and he stares at me without a word. He lets out a low whistle and asks, “What happened?”

“Why do you care?” It comes off more snappy than I intended, but I can only beat myself up for it later.

He ignores my question and steps around me to enter inside. “I knew you weren’t eating well lately, but this is… getting out of hand.”

“And how would you know that?” I scoff and cross my arms. Whis is indifferent; it's a core part of his personality. The destruction of entire planets doesn’t phase him. Now he’s going out of his way because I skipped a few meals here and there?

“My powers of observation are quite astute. I deduced something was wrong due to the discrepancy between the amount of food you and other Saiyans consume,” Whis says, placing a gentle hand on my shoulder. 

I flinch but do my best not to recoil from his touch. The uneasiness gives way to a comforting warmth. I want a hug, but I’d rather die than tell him that. 

“Like I said, work is hectic, and I haven’t had much time to cook or eat,” I say.

Whis doesn’t look like he believes me.

“Nobody has seen you in days,” and he states it like a fact.

Any excuses that I’ve created disappear from my mind, and I have no ammunition against his claim.

“The others have started to notice. They’re—I’m worried.”

I stare blankly, before bursting into laughter. “You? You’re worried about little old me?” I grin and shrug off his hand. “Thanks, but I’m doing perfectly fine. I was planning to visit today.”

“I can see that you’re troubled,” he says, and I squirm underneath his penetrating gaze. 

I avoid his eyes and shrug my shoulders. “This is my normal resting face,” I say with a lazy grin. 

Whis holds my hands. “Just know that I’m here to help because I care.” He clears his throat and switches topics. “Now, let's get you something to eat.”

The fridge pops into my mind. “I still have those snacks you gave me.”

Whis wrinkles his nose and says, “Those must taste dreadful by now. I’ll have to dispose of them before you attempt to eat any.”

“I wouldn’t eat cookies that have gone bad!”

“No, but you would leave them in your fridge until an entire bacterial colony grew. Let me take care of you today. Go. I’ll prepare a meal while you cleanse yourself.” He waves me off to the bathroom.

I grab a change of clothes, sighing at the laundry that awaits me. “Whis?” I turn to look back at him.

“Yes, darling?” And I swear my heart nearly flops out of my chest. I fight to keep the fire underneath my skin under control.

“Thanks,” I mumble, hiding my face behind my hair.

“Anything for you. Anything.” 

And somehow, I can feel that he means it. 

I step out of the shower, and the air is cool against my damp skin. I feel better; my thoughts are clearer and less jumbled. The smell of cream and garlic wafts through the house, and I immediately start salivating. 

I speed walk to the kitchen, where Whis adds chicken to a skillet and stirs in some cheese. There’s an ache in my stomach, and I can’t remember the last time I felt this hungry.

He doesn’t say much, only smiles and says that it’ll take a few minutes for the sauce to thicken. I watch as he plates the pasta, trailing after him to the dining table.

“Have a seat,” Whis says, patting his legs. 

My eyes feel like they’ll pop out of their sockets. “On your lap?” I ask.

“I must ensure you eat an adequate amount.”

I stare at him, waiting for him to say he’s kidding or that it was a joke. But he waits in silence, smiling wider when I stumble over my answer. “Um, well—ok?” I say, sitting down in a daze.

Strong arms wrap around my waist, and Whis’s breath tickles my ear. “I won’t release you until you consume everything on this plate.” His tone is firm, and he teases me with a squeeze.

I’m glad he can’t see my face well. I clear my throat and pick up a fork, twirling a generous amount of pasta before shoving it into my mouth. The milkiness of the cream and cheese, combined with the garlic, makes for a rich sauce that complements the chicken. I can’t contain the content noises as I continue eating.

“Someone’s happy,” Whis chuckles. 

“I’m not.”

He hums and leans back. “That’s not what your tail tells me.”

Only now do I notice my tail is wagging back and forth. I have to make a conscious effort to keep it still, willing it to stay down. 

“I don’t even like Chicken Alfredo,” I say.

“Then why is it always the first dish you eat when it’s available?”

He’s close. Too close.

His skin feels like ice against mine, and I struggle to hear anything over the thundering of my heart.

“And how would you know that?” I ask, squirming in his hold.

Whis keeps me locked tight in his arms. “Because it would be disrespectful to not know the favourite food of the one I love.”

“You… love me?” I whisper, feeling an ache in the back of my throat. 

“I do, and I want you to love yourself just as much. So please let me help. Please confide in me.” He rests his chin on my shoulder, and his presence envelopes me with comfort and peace.

The last wall in my defence crumbles. 

It all spills out of me. Everything I went through in the past few weeks, how hopeless I feel, the anxiety that gnaws at my ribcage like a greedy little rat. He listens to me, nodding and offering words of comfort.

“You’ll be alright,” Whis says, stroking my hair. His cuirass is streaked wet with my tears, something I apologize continuously for, to which he reaffirms that it’s ok. “You won’t feel this way forever, and you don’t have to endure it alone. Asking for help is not shameful. I think it’s brave. To ask for help is to admit your faults and acknowledge that you seek improvement.”

“It is?” I sniffle, not wanting to add snot to the mix.

“You have your friends, and, most importantly, you have me,” Whis says. His expression is tender—shy. Can you imagine? The indifferent immortal shy?

I didn’t know he could hold so much affection in his eyes.

I wipe my face with my sleeves, feeling lighter than I have in days. “Can you make me Chicken Alfredo every day then?” I ask.

Whis gives me an incredulous look. “Every day? Won’t you get sick of it?”

I shake my head, smiling at the thought of seeing him in my kitchen daily. Maybe I could buy him an apron?

“On one condition,” Whis says, and I wait with bated breath. “You allow me to aid you in cleaning your house.”

“Oh, I don’t know…” I trail off, sinking my teeth into my bottom lip. 

A tug on my tail surprises me. “You’re so cute when you’re excited,” Whis laughs, holding the animated appendage in his hands. He kisses my burning cheeks and says, “I know you would appreciate my company.”

I take the last bite of my pasta and show him the empty plate. “I’m done eating, can you let go now?”

Whis releases me, raising his hands in surrender. “I’ll take that as a yes then,” he says.

We spend the rest of the day together, cleaning around the house. I tackle my overdue laundry and Whis washes the dishes that have piled up in the sink.

By the end of it all, I was exhausted but happy. The house looks great again; it looks like it did before I stopped cleaning. Seeing how orderly my environment became actually eased some of my anxiety, which is a huge weight off my chest. 

“Thank you, Whis,” I say with as much sincerity as I could muster.

He pats my head and says, “It was no trouble at all. Don’t worry, I’ll always be there to catch you if you fall.”

Heat prickles my skin, and the apples of my cheeks tingle.

“Does this change anything between us?” I ask, fidgeting with my fingers.

Whis tilts my chin up to meet his gaze. The corners of his eyes crinkle. “Only if you want it to,” he says.

I stare at the wall behind him. “Only if you do,” I mumble.

Whis claps his hands together. “It’s settled then. Now sleep, I'll make you breakfast in the morning,” he says, pressing a kiss to my forehead.

I nod, following him in a daze as he leads me to the bedroom. Whiz’s laughter echoes through the hallways, and I end up holding my tail to stop it from swishing. No force in the universe can stop my tail once Whis climbs into bed with me.

“I’m making sure you rest well,” is his excuse, but I know better. 

Sleep comes easy to me that night, the spot on my forehead still tingling. Whis’s arms keep me warm and I inhale his scent as I’m pressed against his chest. His gentle voice lulls me to sleep and I dream of food, Chicken Alfredo, and Whis and his affectionate gestures.  

END NOTE:

This fic might become a series. I'm not sure whether I'll upload it as one (chapters) or individual one-shots. Probably the latter as I don't think they'll directly happen after each other.

I'll see you guys at my next hyperfixation! (。・∀・)ノ

Taglist: @lovecats123451

[dandylovesturtles]

Just felt like visiting my 100ft boys this morning

This takes place during Recovery Arc because I’m just jumping all around the timeline

CW: suicide… implied? but it’s just a misunderstanding

———

Blue looks grumpy, leaning against the wall with his hands shoved in the pockets of his hoodie and his glare fixed on the opposite wall. Of course, Blue always looks grumpy when Orange isn’t around, and asking him if he’s alright has about a 50/50 chance of getting snapped at.

Splinter decides to brave it anyway.

“Everything alright, Blue?” he asks, padding down the walkway toward him. Blue looks down, and the pout he gets on his face is adorably childish. Perhaps Splinter will not get snapped at today.

“Donnie’s been hogging the bathroom for like, three hours,” he whines, and ah, that would certainly make anyone grumpy. The mundanity of the situation almost makes Splinter smile, but he manages not to, or he really will get snapped at.

(It’s just nice for his boys to have simple, normal problems that Splinter can actually do something about.)

“Three hours? What has he been doing in there?” Splinter remembers taking over the bathroom for hours at a time as a teenager, but that’s because he was fixing his face and styling his hair. And he’s pretty certain that is not what Purple is up to.

“I dunno. He said he was taking a bath.” Blue throws his hands up, frustrated.

“Alright, alright. I will get him to wrap it up.”

Splinter walks the rest of the hallway to the bathroom, Blue padding along quietly after him. As he’s said, the door is closed, and Splinter knocks.

“Purple? Are you in there?”

“He won’t answer,” huffs Blue. Splinter waves him off, knocking louder.

“Purple, your brothers need their turn! Finish what you are doing and come out.”

Nothing again. “See?” says Blue.

Splinter frowns, glancing back at his other son. “You’re sure he’s in there?” He can’t even hear movement from inside.

“Yeah, he’s in there.”

Splinter feels a sense of foreboding come over him. The bathroom is far too silent to be inhabited by a teenage boy, unless…

Fear grabbing at his heart, Splinter grabs the doorknob. “Donatello! I am coming in!” he calls, before turning it.

It’s unlocked, which saves Splinter the immediate trouble of kicking it in.

He rushes inside, and at first glance the room seems empty. He approaches the tub, and finally finds…

A body at the bottom of the water, perfectly still, unmoving…

In a panic, Splinter jumps into the tub, grabbing at Donnie’s shoulders and pulling him up. His heart is thudding in his chest, his mind whirling over what had he missed, what hadn’t he noticed-

Purple blinks the water out of his eyes and then gives him a big, lopsided smile. “Hi Dad!”

Splinter stares at him for a few moments, uncomprehending. He’s fine? He’s fine. He certainly seems fine…

“What were you doing?” Splinter manages to ask.

Purple looks unbothered by Splinter’s state - he just shifts around to be more comfortable. “I was taking a nap.”

“Taking a nap?” Splinter repeats stupidly. But, slowly, the research he’s done on his boys’ species floats back to him. Right, softshells live most of their lives under water. He isn’t sure how long Purple can hold his breath for, but he knows it’s far longer than a human, or even his other sons.

So he really was just taking a nap. Splinter sags in relief.

“I see. You were taking a nap.”

“Yes.” Purple looks between him and Blue, who is peeking around the doorframe (he quickly ducks back out of sight). Finally, it seems like Purple is catching on to the mood in the room, because his smile falls. “I did something wrong.”

It’s not a question. Splinter rushes to reassure him. “No, no, you didn’t. It’s just that Blue needs his turn in here.”

“Oh, he can come in. I left the door unlocked.”

“I think he would like privacy.”

Privacy itself had been a foreign concept to all the boys at first, and only Blue and Orange seem to actually value it so far. That much is clear by the confusion in Purple’s eyes, but he relents, standing up in the tub. “Okay. I can leave.”

“Good boy. Now let’s get dried off.”

Two fluffy towels later, they relinquish the room to a still grumpy Blue (who does not say thank you - something to work on later) and walk together to the kitchen. Splinter goes about making tea while Purple sits at the table.

“My son, may I ask why you were napping in the tub?” he asks.

“It’s easier to sleep in the water,” says Purple like this is obvious.

“How so?”

This takes him a moment longer to answer. Splinter guesses he’s never had to explain this before.

“…Out here is… inconsistent.” He taps his fingers against the table. “There are all kinds of sounds. Like the air conditioning turning on and off. Or Raph snores sometimes and sometimes he doesn’t. And there’s different feelings. Sometimes the sheets are wrong. Or my pillow is wrong. Or Mikey wants to sleep in bed with me, but other times he doesn’t.” He runs his hands over his arms. “The water is the same feeling all the time. I like it under there.”

Splinter thinks he understands. Purple has shown the most sensitivity to textures and noises and lights. Staying underwater must help with all those things.

He pours the tea, then brings a mug to Purple before sitting down across from him. “Sleeping in the water makes you feel safe?” he summarizes, and Purple nods.

“Sometimes I can’t sleep out here. So I sleep in the tub instead.”

“I see.” Splinter turns it over in his head. This is one of the rare problems that has an easy solution - he’s gotten lucky today.

“Well, you cannot hog the bathroom when your brothers need it too,” he says, and Purple slumps in his seat. “So how about we get you a small pool for your room?”

Immediately he brightens again. “Just for me?”

“Just for you! I think an inflatable kiddie pool should be big enough.” He holds out his hands in demonstration. “You can fill it up when you need it and put it away when you don’t.”

“They make those?” Purple asks in awe, and Splinter nods.

“They do! Surely we can find a purple one for you.”

Purple shakes his hands the way he does when he’s excited, and Splinter has to reach out quick to save his tea from being overturned. “Can I go look now? Online?”

“Yes, but don’t buy anything until you show it to me first, alright?”

“Right.” Purple jumps up from the table, tea abandoned. “Thanks, Dad!”

He runs into the other room. Splinter hears him yell, “Mikey! I get a pool for my room!” And then Mikey yell back, “What!? Cool! Can we have a pool party!?”

Splinter sips his tea and smiles, listening to his boys talking like excited children as they look up inflatable pools. It’s the best sound he’s ever heard.

[shawty-writes-a-little]

Mundane longing 4.

[series list]

Spencer Reid x fem!reader

word count: 2.8k

-

Weeks were commonly long in a suburban living, nothing unusual and soft life. Later that week, y/n was called in at the bureau on her leave day, for some sign off on a paperwork that needed to be sent to another unit and the process would be very slow without her. New superintendents of neighbouring units were rather combative of competence. Petty.

It was just going to take an hour or so and since she was called in as an urgency she didn’t bother dropping Julian home and brought him with her directly from his school game. From the looks of it, she had a big supportive sports jersey on with the same colour as Julian’s and his football shoes. However a grumpy pout adorned Julian’s face as she walked in with the boy, “I’m really sorry it was last minute” Emily said as y/n shook her head dismissing the trouble of it.

“It’s fine really, the game was over anyways” she shrugged as she took the file from Emily glancing through its contents. Julian, with crossed arms and a face of frown evident of his anger crossed to y/n’s desk and sat on her chair.

“What’s up with him?” Derek asked as Spencer joined too when he passed a grumpy Julian who didn’t say hi to him.

“School football.” She replied with a sigh, half attention still on the file she was going through with Emily.

“Let me guess, his team lost?” Emily inquired.

“Worse, they won but he was benched the whole time.” Y/n replied with a bit of a regretful look on her face “I somewhat embarrassed him too” she told them as she turned around to show the back of her sports jersey which had Julian’s name in big letters with his number.

“Wow, y/l/n.” Emily remarked with raised brows, regardless they got back to work.

“It’s alright though, he’ll come around” She shrugged in Spencer and Derek’s direction getting along to finish whatever she was required for at urgency with Emily.

In the meantime Spencer decided to approach Julian on y/n’s desk who was spinning around on the chair. His legs didn’t reach the floor so he had to use his hands with the support of the desk to spin and again and again had to unfold his crossed arms, display of being upset. “Hey there” Spencer spoke gently as he leaned on the desk beside him.

“Did y/n send you?” Julian asked with a scoff and a best attempt to roll his eyes, he surely had his auntie’s temper.

“Of course not, I don’t follow orders from her.” Spencer clarified and stoped Julian’s spinning so he could see him “I came by myself.”

“Then you can curtainly leave by yourself.” Julian mentioned.

“You mean certainly?” Spencer asked as a small chuckle escaped him. “Why I just wanted to talk, why are you so mad?”

“Football…” Julian told him with a sigh. “I didn’t even want to join their stupid team or go to their stupid practise or wear this stupid tshirt!”

“Then? Why did you?” Spencer asked, he was naturally very patient with children.

“Y/n made me. Just because I like messi and football doesn’t mean I’m good at it. I don’t even like any of it anymore” He confessed as his tiny brows furrowed.

“So you’re saying you don’t like messi anymore?” Spencer asked full well knowing the answer, people children idolise are difficult to let go off.

“I’ll always like messi…” Julian trailed off with a dejected sigh “Just football.”

This time Spencer knelt down so he could see eye level with Julian who sat on the chair, “You don’t like football because you’re not good at it? You’re just a beginner yet, beginner in football and even in life. You’re just seven. You got selected to be on a team at seven, that’s a huge deal already. When I was 13 I wasn’t even selected to volunteer for our school football team.” He recalled laughing a bit to himself.

“Yeah but…” Julian trailed off with a sigh “Everyone gets selected at my school team, everyone got to play today and I was just on the bench as an extra. I really did want to play.”

It was sad to see his spirits so dampened, it would be easier to convince and console an older kid with words, Julian being as young as he was had superficial hurt “hey now, you’re going to part of teams much bigger than that, where a coach who favours some kid whose mom sent cookies on practise days won’t get to decide who stays on the bench and who gets to play.”

“Y/n was so excited for me, she should’ve gotten to see me play…” Julian trailed off with a little hurt in his tone.

“Are you kidding? Y/n will forever be excited for whatever you do Julian. You are her absolute favourite and she loves you unconditionally, if you get benched or play or loose the game. It wouldn’t change anything for her since you’re you.”

“You kinda make sense” Julian nodded as a little smile formed his face, his tiny legs dangling, he giggled even more when Spencer tickled him. “Stop!”

“There’s that smile again” Spencer added laughing along for a while. Derek too came in, conversing with the little man. The two of them even got offered to come to the amusement park with him and y/n later once she was done with the work. Derek apparently had to refuse because he did not have a half day unlike Spencer.

“I don’t think y/n would really agree” Spencer told Julian about him joining the two of them to go to an arcade.

“Agree to what?” She asked from behind when she was done with the last minute file work she was called for, packing up her desk. It wasn’t as messy given she was there for just an hour.

“Can red come with us to the amusement park?” Julian asked her with big eyes.

“It’s Reid.” Y/n corrected him with a suppressed laughter “Uh I don’t know I-“

“See. She doesn’t get along with me you know because I’m bet-“

“He’s not better or whatever, he’s probably just busy right now. I get along with everyone.” She added feeling dismissed of her credibility of ‘making friends’ since she didn’t her last lesson to Julian about being nicer to his nemesis at school. She could be nice to Spencer, kids learn from actions.

“I’m not busy.” Spencer huffed.

“Can he join us then?” Julian asked raising his brows at y/n.

With a pause of contemplating how annoying Spencer was as it is on her work day, now she’d have him around even on her day off. She masked to be pleasant about it anyways “Sure thing!” She said as as Julian jumped out of his seat with a big ‘yes!’ Y/n was surprised he got over his prior hurt so fast.

She raised her brows at Spencer correlating if he had something to do with Julian’s lifted spirits. Spencer nodded a yes with a blink of his eyes and an understanding smile. Somehow that was a hit heartwarming to y/n. It was unexpectedly cute how well Spencer got along with Julian, because Julian was very reserved and y/n herself was always bickering with Spencer. They had a record of ‘fighting’ through a 3 and a half hour of flight. The reason they were going to the amusement park was because every time julian was having a bad time y/n liked to do all she could to change it. Spencer had already become a catalyst to that.

-

It was a beautiful evening at the amusement park, Friday crowd wasn’t huge and the lines were short. Julian and y/n just did the typical rides, the cup and saucer, the cars, some arcade games. She was terrified of the big machine rides which weren’t even that huge, but any ride with her feet off the ground was a big no so Julian never got to ride them.

But since Spencer on his side, the scenario was changed. It was generally y/n dragging Julian away from the big rides now it was different “It’s not even that high up what are you afraid of?” Spencer asked, the swing ride wasn’t even that high in truth.

“I’m not afraid” y/n said wanting to appear completely neutral to it as Julian tugged at her legs to come join them too.

“Don’t be such scaredy cat!” Julian whined at her.

“I’m not a scaredy cat, just-“

“Oh you’re most definitely scared” Spencer had a good laugh along with Julian. “Come on it’ll be fun” he said attempting to hold her hand to come with them since Julian’s tugging was futile.

“No!” She exclaimed “I will remain on solid land, ground, where I put and where I am intended to be you guys carry on..” she said, Spencer and Julian seemed very sincere to have her join them so dropping the I’m-not-afraid act she instantly folded.

“She always does this!” Julian sighed giving up sharing a look with Spencer.

“Scaredy cat.” Spencer said as he held Julian up in his arms so the two of them could go along.

She rolled her eyes at the two of them having a fun jab at her, “I’ll wait for you guys on the bench.”

She walked back to the bench carrying loads of stuff Julian had on him, the stuff Spencer won him from the claw machine. With a faint smile on her face with how Julian and Spencer were laughing. She waved at Julian who was getting buckled up on the ride as she sat on the bench, an elderly man next to her who witnessed the whole interaction.

“Kids…they’re very adamant!” He remarked laughing softly.

“Tell me about it” Y/n added offering the old man a smile.

“My wife and I used to take our son to the carnivals, back in those days they were very frequent around the holidays. No matter how many times we’d go my wife would never climb on the ferris wheel!” He laughed recalling the memory, “It’s too high, too untrustworthy she’d say…my son and I would have a good laugh about it.”

Y/n couldn’t help but laugh as well as she nodded, “I relate to her.”

“We sometimes come here with our grandkids, it’s the same story even today…” he talked to y/n about his wife, family. Showing her pictures of his grandkids on a phone he didn’t know his way around but his wallpaper were the kids.

“Aww they’re adorable!” She exclaimed as she saw the picture the old man showed her.

“You and your husband have a beautiful family too!” The old said with a smile, talking about Spencer and Julian who were still on the ride.

“Oh-“ y/n paused for a second. She was always seen as Julian’s mom, being his god mother auntie and parent figure she mostly never corrected anyone. But her and Spencer well, “Thank you!” She accepted with a smile instead of correcting him. It wasn’t a long pause but she contemplated why she just did that? She couldn’t simply clarified they weren’t married, maybe on the spot how she never corrected the family dynamic assumptions with Julian was why she didn’t correct him. Because she was used to it.

But Spencer? Really? She’d be so irked if anyone mistook them for even friends. ‘We’re just people who have to work with each other.’ was her line followed by his annoyed eye roll. Why did just accept that. That to be with a smile or prolonged hesitation.

Her and her husband’s beautiful family: Julian? It did not sound as bad, she thought about the old man’s life. Growing old with Spencer going to such rides she would be too scared to be on. Growing old on inside jokes and a grounded domestic life. Envisioning a life with Spencer amongst hers, waking up next to him, stupid conversations and a twenty four seven fun fact box within him she secretly cherished which wouldn’t be so secret if they were married no? She realised how closely she knew Spencer despite it all, to vision a life with him not just so superficially she actually knew him that well? Perhaps he did too beneath all their petty fights. To be loved is to be known is it not?

No. Stop it. What in the actual world? Some sappy old man just going about his day with absolutely nothing to do but sit at benches and talk to strangers about his kids and grandkids would not induce some feelings for Spencer in her. Feelings what feelings, what even was that no? She suddenly pulled out of that train of thought feeling heavily awkward with her own self. Genuinely uncomfortable the life she was off to imagine. There was no reality where that was possible with the annoying Spencer.

“Oh they’re back!” The old man informed her of what he saw, when Julian and Spencer were getting out of the ride.

“Right…” she trailed off with a smile getting out of the bench, “have a good day sir.” She told him leaving the bench as if she was guilty of something, she somewhat was. Not planning to tell Spencer about the interaction nor planning to have that conversation with herself ever again she greeted the two normally. Them going off about how fun the ride was as Spencer carried Julian and they walked through the park to its restaurant.

Going through the menu as y/n announced she’d try something different, Spencer suggested an item on the menu with a reasoning of her taste. Which was absolutely accurate. He remembered that? How did he know this? To be loved to is to be known. No. Rubbish really stop. That was so inane, he was a profiler, it was his career to notice and know things him noticing her preference through lunch and dinner does not mean it’s romantic. It’s barely platonic they don’t even like each other that much.

She felt like she was disgracing herself with how far her mind could think, too embarrassing. Thinking about your coworker like that. As someone who’s raising a child having a teenage girl day dreaming segment in your mind was ridiculous she had to pull herself out of this before it gets worse.

-

Later that night Spencer dropped off Julian and y/n back at her place, hugging his goodbye to spencer Julian was the first inside. Leaving y/n and Spencer on the porch, street light illuminating above the houses in a line and her yellow light from the swing on the porch on the two of them.

“You don’t want to come in?” Y/n asked politely, completely courteous, like a professional. She added those adjectives for herself in her head. “Cup of coffee?”

“Weren’t you off of coffee though?” He asked puzzled remembering how she told him she was on a coffee detox on his last visit.

“Two whole days. New record.” She told him with a sarcastic smug at the irony of it, gaining a small laugh out of him.

“Remarkable.” He added soothing his laughter “Later I guess…I plan to sleep tonight so” he said.

“Right of course” she nodded with a smile, “good night then” she told him. Awaiting his goodbye and goodnight but neither of them said anything nor moved. He didn’t, for some reason and y/n’s mind wandered to what it would be like if he just kissed her right here. On her porch like in the movies, she was somewhat paralysed in that state with a small smile adoring her face. Evident of her wandering mind having good thoughts.

Just then Spencer closed the gap between crashing his lips onto her. It took her a while to register she wasn’t going mental and hallucinating this, it was actually happening as his hands held her in his. Pulling her close through her waist, she had already instinctively kissed him back. To keep up she smiled into the kiss enlacing him in her arms. It was a passion filled kiss with tender touching of holding and wanting to be held.

After a while when she pulled away to breathe, the smile hadn’t left her and how she was naturally flushed brought a smile on Spencer’s face too. Neither saying anything after that long and passionate kiss.

It was all in the haze of new romance until it dawned on her, the upcoming misery marathon. No no no no. What? What did she just do? “That was-“ before Spencer could finish his sentence she immediately looks for a way out.

“I uh I have to walk my laundry…” she said hurriedly as the awkwardness burst into both their faces. To over explain much much more poorly she added “And wash my dog…” she said with urgency and opened the door behind her to inside her house. “Good night.” She greeted him and ran inside shutting the door behind her.

Eyes wide and for once the genius’s mind worked too slow to comprehend her.

-