#just like having the comfort of loving my favorite character for over half my life the passage of time for my passions is just...idk

[lkblackham]

Warning: this is an angst post about Dragon Age, EA, and the state of the corporate-driven art world in general. I totally get it if you're really over this. I am right there with you. But if you DO read, thanks. You're a peach and I love you.

To begin:

It looks like Dragon Age is done. BioWare has made it clear that the last patch is where they're leaving it. EA was disappointed with the player count, and I'm betting they're not going to greenlight a new entry in the series anytime soon. And that honestly breaks my battered 32-year-old fantasy artist heart.

So imma angst about it for a second because this is now a Dragon Age page and it's all I talk about on here, because honestly where else am I gonna angst about this.

As much as I gush about Veilguard on here, I am actually well aware of its flaws. Believe me, I *know* it's not perfect. When I got the art book, I saw just HOW FRIGGIN MUCH the team had planned for DA4 - and how much they had to cut to finish it, after 10 YEARS of development. I know about the absolute *hell* it went through, the massive number of team members that were fired or left the studio before it was finished, the ridiculous expectations and demands EA executives made that caused the studio to scrap everything and start over several times.

Knowing this, it's incredible that Veilguard is at least *intact* and *playable* and still has that Dragon Age personality (at least to me, personally - I understand why some people do not feel the same way, and that's perfectly valid) (and by valid I do not include the 'anti-woke' brigade, you can fuck right off my page if you're here for some strange reason).

THAT is what I gush about - that feeling is still there, even when it's not perfect and had a very troubled development.

This series has meant so much to me over the decades, and remains my favorite fantasy series, period, overall. It's my comfort place (rather weirdly, considering the blood, gore, and brood mothers) and also served as something of a social simulator for me when I was really young and had social anxiety so bad I literally couldn't say hi to people I knew in public. I was convinced I would do it wrong. So having these pre-constructed interactions with fictional characters that I could go back and redo if I wanted was really therapeutic.

I mean, I did go to actual therapy and take medication as well, but you know, this stuff is important, too.

The example I will always cite (and probably have already on this page but whatever) is Sten. Sten, in Origins, is the huge stoic badass warrior archetype, and I was constantly trying to earn his approval in the game. But I kept FAILING. He kept UN-HEARTING me. And I couldn't figure out why! I was saying all the nice dialogue options! I was agreeing with him on stuff! So what would it take to get some approval from this asshole?

I finally caved and looked up a guide. And I was floored to discover that, actually, Sten approves of you *when you stand up to him*. He wants you to have a backbone, even if it means disagreeing with him. He respects a strong leader who stands up for what they believe in, not a yes man trying to get him to like them.

This concept, the idea that even a *fictional character* like this could exist, was absolutely amazing to me. It sounds really dumb, but seriously, it actually shifted my thinking about how I talk to people and what they expect of me. It was a small shift, but it's still stuck with me all these years later. It's a testament to the power of stories, and how the interactive nature of games can tell stories in a way no other medium can.

I've had many other experiences with other games and books and movies and TV series like that since. But because of that effect it had at that time in my life, Dragon Age has a special place in my heart no other series does.

But... That's not the only reason I'm sad about the outcome with Veilguard. It's really only half the reason, actually.

The other half is my anger at the game development machine as a whole. We all know it. We've all watched it churn and grind several studios into pulp. We've seen big time studio execs - most of whom, these days, haven't ever actually worked in game design and probably don't even play games themselves - treat designers like garbage they can just throw away when they're done with them, or they don't perform their perceived function the way the execs want them to. (I know it's not just execs that do this, but they're certainly the central problem). These people are in charge, but they aren't artists or storytellers. They see things in terms of products and consumers, monetization schemes, player counts. They don't see the value in what they sell, beyond how much money they bring in.

There is a necessary place for people like this in any business, certainly, but they should never, ever, EVER be the ones in charge. If the past three decades have taught me anything, it is this. These people care about how much wealth they can hoard, and nothing else. We now live in a world where creativity is manufactured by an algorithm, because these people don't want to pay actual humans to do it. The value of artists and what they make is reduced purely to profit.

Don't get me wrong, as an artist myself I do like being able to make money. I certainly like being able to do what I do for a living. But I don't do it *just* to earn money. If that were the case, I would have just stuck with my job chopping vegetables at that deli in my hometown that paid way better and gave me health insurance (not that that's a shameful profession - I seriously would have stuck to that job if I had actual business brains). I do art because it's what I love and what I live for. Hell, I am making NO money from my art right now, but I still make it. Even when my projects fail, I still think they're important, and are worth investing in. I go back to those projects, get feedback, see what I can do better, and try again. I grow, and do better, and give those stories a chance to grow as well.

And that's what's missing from not only the games industry, but most creative industries now, at least on the market end: that understanding of art's inherent worth. That willingness to try again, and improve. Giving things a chance to grow, beyond just player counts and profit numbers.

That was what made Baldur's Gate 3 such a phenomenal success, from which (I think) competing studies took the wrong lesson. Larian worked on the game as a labor of love (as well as a labor of money) interacting with the people playing it, taking feedback, and incorporating their own passion for the project over and over again. They went the extra 1000 miles. They let the game grow and do better.

I'm not saying that Veilguard should have done that BG3 did. What I am saying is that it should have been given more of a chance to grow. As it is, right now, there is still potential to do better. But.... it's not getting that chance. It's the first Dragon Age game that isn't getting any DLC, no extra content, no other chances to expand upon the story. And, it looks like, the series as a whole might not be getting any more chances at all. Maybe I'm wrong - I might just be coming over all bitter and cynical (as only an unemployed artist with mountains of student debt can). I understand that BioWare might just be done with it after a friggin decade. But... it just feels unfair. And sad. At least for me.

It is just a game, at the end of the day. There will be other games, other products to consume. But. This product meant a lot to me. Art, of all kinds, means so much to me. And seeing the way art of any kind is treated now, but especially things like this... It hurts. A lot. And it keeps happening.

So. In order to combat that, lest I fall down a despair hole and never come out: I'm going to keep filling in holes. I'm going to make my OWN personal DLC.( Or, um. Just 'C', I guess.) Even if I can't code and model, I can write and draw and comic. I have my own stories in my own self indulgent fantasy worlds to tell, but I'm also going to keep adding to Dragon Age, at least in my own canon. Even if it doesn't mean anything to anyone else, it'll mean a lot to me. And I hope I'll get to see other people continue to make their own DA art and stories, as well as worlds of their own making. We need art - ALL art - right now, more than ever. Seriously.

As Andrew Wincott, the actor behind Raphael in Baldur's Gate 3, said: "Keep being creative. Keep making these worlds, and maybe one day we'll learn to protect the one we're in."

And that's me, angsted out. Thanks so much for reading. If you've made it this far, I have a gift for you:

It's Varric's chest hair. One of my criticisms for Veilguard is that there is not nearly enough chest hair on anyone but particularly not on Varric, which I think might be an actual crime.

[ilkkawhat]

got weirdly nostalgic in the bath just now and just went to my archive blog and holy shit. i've officially been giffing for 10 years.

[earthchica]

adore you

aaron pierre x black, fem! reader {actress}

summary: after wrapping up your movie, you and aaron spent some time together in your hometown, North Carolina, and took your new relationship to the next level emotionally and sexually.

warnings: FLUFF, explicit smut 18+, light teasing, light competitive flirting, dirty talking, sexual boundaries, oral (f & m), making out session, fluff, state fair, boyfriend/girlfriend, actor/actress, not real life, original characters, use of Y/N, words: 6k

note: here's part 2; might do a part 3 Idk lol. I hope you enjoy it because I kinda got carried away, haha.

sequel to { why don't we fall in love? }

-

You and Aaron wrapped up filming your movie a month and a half ago, and you have been enjoying some much-needed downtime at your granny’s beach house in North Carolina.

You both wanted to keep your relationship out of the public eye, so you’ve been having little dates around the beach. You tried to get out of the house and show Aaron your favorites, especially the state fair that was close by.

You woke up to the sound of seagulls outside, but the bed beside you was empty. You felt slightly lonely, but the aroma from the kitchen quickly pulled you from the sheets.

You stretched and rubbed the sleep from your eyes, thinking about how you and Aaron had been trading off breakfast duties. Today was his turn—and you could already tell he was putting in the effort.

After freshening up and going through your morning routine, you went downstairs. As you stepped into the kitchen, the sight of Aaron’s exposed muscular back immediately caught your eye.

He was standing at the stove, flipping French toast like a pro. The way he moved was effortlessly attractive, and you couldn’t help but smile.

“Morning, sunshine!” Aaron said, glancing over his shoulder as you entered. He turned to you, a grin spreading across his face, and leaned in to kiss your lips sweetly.

“Just in time—breakfast is almost ready: eggs, bacon, and some French toast.”

“Ok. Look at you bein’ all chef-like,” you teased, leaning against the counter and crossing your arms. “Smellin’ good in here.”

“Gotta keep my girl happy,” he replied, his eyes twinkling as he slid a plate full of food before you. “Dig in while it’s hot.”

You took a bite, nodding appreciatively. “Mmm, so good! I love a man who knows how to cook.”

Aaron chuckled and sat beside you at the counter, “Thanks, babe.” You smiled, and moments of comfortable chatting filled with the sounds of utensils clinking and food being enjoyed.

After breakfast, you leaned back in your chair, feeling satisfied and content. The sunlight poured through the kitchen window, casting a warm glow around the room.

Aaron took a sip of his coffee from the mug you gifted him when he arrived, glancing at you with a playful eyebrow raise. “So, any plans for today.”

His eyes sparkled with curiosity, and you felt excited at the question. “I’m so glad you asked! I was thinkin’ we could get out the house for a bit,” you replied, your voice filled with enthusiasm.

“I wanna show you some of my favorite spots—places that hit differently for me, ya know?” You said softly, and Aaron nodded, his attention entirely on you.

“Oh, lovely. I’d love that! What you got in mind?” He asked; you couldn’t help but smile, picturing the fun you’d have. “There’s this cute little wine and design place I used to go with friends." you started.

"We’d paint and chill with wine, but we can do that other day. I want to take you to the state fair. You gotta experience our fried food and rides—a whole vibe!”

Aaron laughed, shaking his head playfully. “Hmm, sounds fun!”

“Right? And I was thinkin’ I could invite my sister, Sade, you've met her before, and her man, Erik, too. We could make it a little group thing—call it a fam day,” you suggested, feeling the excitement bubbling inside you.

Aaron leaned closer, resting his chin on his hand with a smirk. “Okay, I’m up for it, but are you sure it wouldn’t be too much? I mean, we’ve been low-key the whole time.”

“Nah, it’ll be chill! We’ll keep it laid-back,” you reassured him, your eyes sparkling enthusiastically. “It’ll be good—kinda like a little break from the house.”

Aaron nodded, a soft smile spreading as warmth filled his eyes. “Alright, anything for you,” he replied, his voice steady and reassuring.

You paused for a moment, a hint of concern crossing your features. “Are you sure? I want to make certain that you’re comfortable with this,” you began, your words laced with genuine care.

With a reassuring glance, Aaron leaned in slightly, his voice softening further. “I appreciate you! And I’m sure, sweetheart,” he responded, the sincerity in his tone leaving no room for doubt.

“Yay!” you said, jumping out of your chair to kiss his lips before pulling away. "Okay, Let me just text Sade and see what they’re up to," you added, reaching for your phone.

Aaron smiled, clearly excited becuase you were excited. Your heart racing at the thought of a lovely day out filled with laughter and new memories.

-

You and Aaron strolled towards the gate's entrance; the energy in the air felt electric. It was a warm day, the sun shining just right, and you could see your sister and Erik ahead.

“Look, there they are!” you said, nudging Aaron with your elbow. He smiled, adjusting his cap, and you approached. As soon as your sister spotted us, her face lit up.

“Y'all finally made it!” Sade exclaimed, her hands moving animatedly as she walked over. “I was starting to think you two would leave us hanging!”

“Never that, big sis!” You laughed, giving her a quick hug. “Traffic was wild.”

Erik nodded to Aaron, and they exchanged a friendly fist bump. “Sup, bro. I'm Erik, Sade's boyfriend. I heard ya, London boy. Are you ready for some fun with country folk?” he grins.

“Definitely,” Aaron replied, his eyes shining. “Y/N told me a lot of great things. I’m particularly looking forward to the local music scene.”

“Nice!” Erik enthused. “You've picked a great time to visit. There's a music festival downtown this weekend. It’s gonna be epic! There are a lot of local bands and maybe even some bigger names. You in?”

“Okay, Okay!” Aaron said, matching Erik's enthusiasm. “What kind of music are we talking about, though?”

“It’s a uh….mix of everything. Sade and I went last year; it was a vibe, and you'll love it,” Erik explained, his face lighting up in memory.

“Lovely! I’ve heard a lot about the food scene, too,” Aaron said, glancing over at you. “I’m looking forward to trying some proper barbecue!”

“Oh, you’re in for a treat,” Sade said, her eyes sparkling. “We’ve got the best BBQ joints around. There’s this little hole-in-the-wall spot that serves the most incredible. And you can’t leave without trying!”

“Now I’m excited,” Aaron laughed. "I guess you will need to roll me out there by the end of the trip!” He said, looking down at you with a smile.

"Mmmm, that BQQ is good, but my BQQ is better. I'll make you some later, boo." You laughed, playfully nudging him. "Oh, really, I'm keeping a note on that," Aaron laughed.

You all continued chatting and walking inside, trying to decide what to do first. Your sister smiled, looking between you and Aaron with that big sister magic.

“I always knew you two would end up togather. I mean, c’mon! You both are perfect for each other! Like a power couple!” Sade whispered to you with a smile.

You felt your cheeks heat a little at her words. “Really? You think so?” you asked, trying to sound casual, even though some of you wanted to jump excitedly.

“Absolutely! Look at you two,” she said, gesturing animatedly. “You look at each other with so much love and complement each other like peanut butter and jelly!”

You chuckled, feeling a little bashful. “I guess we do, and I do. Falling in love with your best friend is the best thing?”

“Yes!” Sade said with a laugh and leaned closer, her eyes sparkling enthusiastically. “And it’s not just that. You both have supported each other through so much."

"I saw how he was there for you during your bad, public breakup with your cheating ex. But honestly, watching you two and seeing how happy you are makes me happy for you,” she added.

You sighed as you recalled your humiliating breakup. “Yeah, that time was hard, and I was grateful for Aaron being there for me. I think that's when I realized I was in love with him.”

Your sister nodded knowingly. “That’s when you know someone’s special. When they can make the tough times feel lighter. So, are you two officially a bf/gf yet?”

A mix of nerves and excitement filled you. “Well, we haven’t labeled it, but… it feels like we’re heading in that direction?” you said with a slightly shy smile.

“That’s great, sissy!” She said, clapping her hands together. “You should talk to him about it; ensure you're on the same page! Don’t wait too long.”

You considered her words. “You’re right, thanks, Sade. I appreciate you.” you pulled her into a side hug. “Of course! I’m rooting for you both,” she said, her voice full of warmth.

“Come on, we’re falling behind.” She motioned to Aaron and Erik, laughing and joking ahead of you like they were old friends. You laughed, feeling grateful for her support.

The four of you went further into the state fair. Bright lights and sounds enveloped you, creating an atmosphere of excitement. The scent of fried food wafted through the air, making your stomach rumble in anticipation.

“First stop: the funnel cakes!” your sister proclaimed, leading the charge. You and Aaron followed closely, exchanging playful nudges and glances.

You reached the stand and ordered a funnel cake topped with powdered sugar, which the vendor handed over with a smile. “Look at this beauty,” you grinned, proudly holding it up.

“Wow, sounds like someone’s ready to get sugary,” Aaron teased, leaning closer. “But can you handle all that sweetness?”

“Oh, I think I can handle it just fine, darlin',” you shot back playfully, taking a big bite. “Can you?”

He raised an eyebrow, his lips curving into a smirk. “Challenge accepted. Let’s see who can eat their funnel cake faster!”

“Okay! You’re on,” you laughed, the competitive spirit kicking in. The two of you found a spot to sit, and everyone gathered around, ready for the showdown.

“Ready… set… go!” Erik shouted, and you both dug into the sweet treat, faces covered in powdered sugar.

The laughter erupted as you both stuffed your faces, trying to outdo each other. “Come on, Aaron! You call that eating?” you teased, a mischievous spark in your eye.

“I’m just savoring it! Quality over quantity, babe. You’re just trying to win!” Aaron shot back between bites, his expression cheeky.

“You’re just scared you can’t keep up!” you shot back playfully, feigning a dramatic gasp. “I’ll even share, but I might finish this before you get halfway through.” you laughed.

“No way! I’m not losing to you!” Aaron said, leaning in, foreheads almost touching, each of you fueled by sugar and laughter. “But if I do lose, what do I get?” he asked,

Your teasing smile is growing. “If you lose, we must go on the Ferris wheel first!”

“Of course, you loved that one!” he exclaimed. “Oh, I do! But you hate it, so it’ll be perfect!” you giggled back, causing him to roll his eyes but chuckle.

The fun continued, and it wasn’t long before Aaron’s plate was empty while you had a few bites left. “I did it!” you cheered, raising your hands like you’d just crossed the finish line.

“Alright, alright,” Aaron said, laughing before feigning defeat with a pout. “But when we’re up there, just remember: I’m the one who got you that funnel cake.”

“True, but just because you did me a favor doesn’t mean you get a pass!” You nudged him playfully, and the four of you approached the Ferris wheel.

As you approached, Aaron pretended to have second thoughts. “Are you sure this is the best idea? Shouldn't we save the Ferris wheels for last?”

“Aaron, just the Ferris wheel!” you teased, raising your phone as if to take a video. Your sister laughed at you two as she and Erik went on next.

“Stop playing!” Aaron laughed, grabbing your wrist gently to lower your phone. “Okay, fine…sorry, but a deal is a deal, boo,” you said, grinning brightly, your heart racing with anticipation.

Once on the ride, the mechanics creaked as it ascended, and your heart skipped a beat. “Look at us, high above the fair!” you exclaimed, pointing at the vibrant colors below.

“I can see the funnel cake stand from here!” Aaron replied, looking out and playfully clutching at the safety bar, his competitive edge still shining.

“Just don’t look down!" you said softly. As you reached the top and the Ferris wheel paused, you turned to Aaron, both of your faces glowing against the sunset backdrop.

“So, Aaron, on a scale from one to ten? How scared are you?” you asked, using a fake microphone phone.

“On a scale from one to ten?" Aaron repeated in your fake mic, looking around. "Uh…I’d say….about a five, in the middle,” Aaron laughed shyly, all cute and handsome.

“But that’s just because I’m with you.” He said with a smile, and your heart fluttered, the thrill of the ride mixing with the warmth of his words.

“Aww, look at you acting so shy and sweet. I thought you were tough, Aaron!” you teased, leaning closer. “Oh…I am…when I need to be tough,” Aaron shot back with a playful grin.

You smiled and leaned in toward him, holding his arm as the side of your face almost touched, enjoying the lovely sun shining on the both of you.

After the Ferris wheel, you felt excitement mixed with the sugar rush from that funnel cake. “Alright, what’s next? I’m feelin’ like we should conquer the next ride!”

Adrenaline pumping through your veins. Your sister grinned, her eyes sparkling. “How about that spinning teacup ride? It’ll be cool! Just don’t lose your funnel cakes sugar up mind in there!”

“Ha! Like I’d let that happen!” you teased back, glancing at Aaron, who had that cheeky grin.

“I’m down for teacups, but I guess we should make it interesting,” Aaron said with his British accent, fluttering your heart every time, and he went on. “The loser has to win everyone a prize at the ring toss.”

“Game on, then!” you shot back, the playful fire igniting. “I ain’t losin’ to you,” you added.

Erik, quietly assessing the situation, threw in his two cents. “Yo, I’ll take that bet, too! Loser treats us all to lunch!”

Your sister laughed and said, “Looks like we got a proper competition here! I hope y’all are ready to lose!”

The colors spun in a dizzying whirl as you approached the teacup ride. You breathed and sat beside Aaron, who leaned in close.

“You know, you goin’ down so hard on this one?” He whispered in your ear, sending shivers down your back, and you shook your head to focus.

“Keep dreamin’, babe,” you replied with a smirk while gazing into his pretty, light eyes, which you came to fall in love with, as you said, “I got skills. You wait and see!”

Once the ride started, the cups began to whirl. “Hold on tight!” you yelled, laughter bubbling out of you as you sent your cup spinning even faster.

“You got a secret weapon or somethin’? You tryna make me sick?” Aaron mocked, trying to catch his balance as you controlled the spinning.

“Just a lil’ country charm, darlin’!” you shot back playfully. Erik and your sister were whooping and laughing next to you, caught up in the competitive energy.

When the ride came to a stop, you hopped out and felt the world still spinning. “Who’s ready to win at ring toss?” you said, your heart racing from the ride and the fun vibe.

“Yeah, yeah,” Aaron replied, trying to suppress a smile while shaking his head as he straightened up. “You lot are gonna regret it; I’m a pro when tossing rings!”

“Pro? You sure you ain’t just a ‘no’?” you bantered, elbowing him lightly with a giggle. “Watch it, yeah?” Aaron shot back with a laugh, throwing his arm around your shoulder.

“No one gonna stop me today.” He said firmly. As you approached the ring toss booth, the tension was palpable. “Let’s see who can get that giant teddy bear!”

Your sister urged, eyeing the prize gleefully.

“Just so y’know, if I win, I’m keepin’ that bear,” Aaron declared, a glint in his eye.

“Not if I get it first!” you challenged, stepping up to the booth. One by one, you all took turns tossing rings, laughter bubbling up with every near-miss and triumphant win.

“C’mon, baby sis, you gotta focus!” your sister urged as you lined up your shot.

“I got this, I got this here!” you replied confidently, throwing the ring. The sound of it plopping over a bottle made you cheer. “Yes! One down!” you slapped your hand.

Aaron scoffed playfully. “Oh, nah! Looks like I’m gonna have to bring my A-game.” He stepped up, getting serious as he tossed a ring, which landed perfectly.

“Ha! Do you see that? That’s skills, baby!” Aaron said, sticking his tongue out at you. “You lucky, that’s all,” you shot back, crossing your arms in mock annoyance.

“Just wait till it’s my turn again.” You added.

Erik, now charged up, shouted out. “All right, I’m next! Watch and learn, folks!” He threw, and his ring ricocheted off the bottles with a comical plop.

“Damn, did I just make a fail compilation?” Erk asked; he looked like he was about to crash out, and you all laughed. “Yeah, Erik! We’ll be sure to add that to the blooper reel!” you teased.

After a few rounds, it was down to the wire. You and Aaron were neck and neck, both determined to win that teddy bear. “I ain’t lettin’ you snatch victory from me!” you said, fixing him with a playful glare.

“Bring it on, sweetheart! But if I win, you buy lunch for everyone, and you’ve gotta dance with me in the middle of the fair!” Aaron challenged, eyes twinkling.

“Okay, okay! Deal! And if I win, you buy lunch for everyone, and you’ve gotta dance with me in the middle of the fair, and you have to wearin’ that bear on your head for a selfie!” you shot back.

With the stakes higher than ever, you stepped up. Your heart raced as you tossed your final ring. Time seemed to slow as it swung around before landing squarely on a bottle.

“Yes! I did it!” You squealed with a smile, hugging your sister and Erik, who were laughing at Aaron's expression on his face, but it quickly changed.

"I got to say, well done, love. You’ve got skills!” Aaron said, holding his hand up before coming over to kiss your forehead, which made you feel warm inside.

“Thank you, babe. Now it’s time for that selfie!” you exclaimed, jumping up and down in excitement, grabbing the giant bear as Aaron dramatically slumped.

As you all gathered for a photo, the energy was electric. “You better be ready for that dance later!” Aaron called out, wrapping a playful arm around you as your sister and Erik posed goofily.

“You better believe I am! Just wait until I show off my moves!” you giggled. The four of you enjoyed the rest of your time at the fair, making it one of the best times for you and Aaron.

-

It's been an amazing two weeks for you and Aaron. You spent much time together and showed him around North Carolina. You both maintained a low profile while out, and only a few fans recognized you.

It is your last night before you two have to part ways. You made a romantic dinner and set the table, the scent of rosemary and garlic wafting through the air like an inviting embrace.

Each carefully placed dish was a masterpiece in its own right, showcasing your culinary skills. You could feel Aaron’s gaze on you, a blend of admiration and lust that made your heart race.

There's been some pent-up sexual tension between you two. “Sweetheart, this is amazing,” Aaron drawled with a playful smirk playing on his lips.

“You got mad skills in the kitchen. If I knew you could throw down like this, I would have tried to get you into making me a feast ages ago.” Aaron said, licking his lips.

His eyes sparkled mischievously as he cut a perfectly seared piece of BQQ, savoring every bite with exaggerated pleasure. “Mmm! You're seducing my taste buds.”

You chuckled, pouring two glasses of red wine. “Me? Seduce you? As if I must resort to such tactics when all you do is swoon over me anyway.” You said playfully, setting his glass before him.

“True, you’re stunning, smart, funny, talented, can cook, the list can go….yeah, I’m hooked,” Aaron said, leaning closer. “Let's not forget that little dance you did at the fair. I swear, I got you had me hot and bother watching you twerk.”

You felt heat rush to your cheeks, fighting off a grin as you leaned against the table, arms folded, eyeing him with feigned indignation. “Oh, please! That was just a little shimmy to the music. I can’t help but feel the groove.”

Aaron chuckled, shaking his head in amusement. “Nah, that was more than a little shimmy, babe. That was a full-on performance! You say ‘little,’ I say ‘full show.’ You had me contemplating my life choices and how I could spend it all right here watching you shake it.”

“Is that right?” you asked, tilting your head to one side like a playful cat sizing up its prey. “So, what else gets you all contemplative? Besides my undeniable twerking skills, of course.”

“Honestly?” Aaron leaned back in his chair, hands clasped behind his head like he was settling in for storytime. “It’s the way your laugh lights up this whole place." He starts.

"We could be stuck in the middle of a thunderstorm or something, and your giggle would have me forgetting about everything else. Everything you do puts me at ease.” Aaron paused and locked his gaze onto yours, intensity mingling.

You took a sip of your wine to mask your shyness, feeling the warmth spread through you.

“That's sweet, Aaron, and what if I told you your smile does the same for me?” You leaned in slightly closer to the table, intrigued by the fluttering excitement in your chest.

“Whenever you walk into a room, it feels like someone turns the lights on. I can’t help but feel this little spark of joy, " you said with a smile, and Aaron's eyes widened, surprised yet pleased by the compliment.

“Really? You just saying that makes me want to smile even more.” He leaned forward, closing the distance between you like a secret shared between conspirators.

“I guess we both have ways of brightening up this place, yeah?" He added and you nodded, a smile spreading across your face as you watched Aaron savor the last bites of food.

A comforting warmth enveloped you both, the kind of atmosphere that made everything feel right. Aaron got up from his chair with a smile while looking at you.

“Okay, I have something for you,” Aaron said, his voice a mix of excitement and nervousness. You raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “A gift? For me? You didn’t have to, Aaron,”

You feel a flutter of curiosity in your chest. He went to reach for a bag of something on the couch and pulled out a velvet box, presenting it to you with a playful smirk.

“Just open it,” Aaron urged, a hint of nervous energy in his tone. You took the box from him, your pulse quickening. Carefully, you lifted the lid, revealing a delicate necklace with a small, sparkling pendant that caught the light just right.

"Come here," Aaron said, wanting to put it on you, and you turned around, moving your hair out of the way. You slightly shiver at the touch of his warm, big hands on your neck.

“Oh Aaron, it’s beautiful!” you exclaimed, turning back to him as your fingers traced the intricate design. His eyes shone warmly as he leaned closer, his expression serious yet tender.

“I wanted to give you something special. This isn’t just a necklace, though,” Aaron paused, taking a deep breath. “I want to ask you something important.”

The atmosphere shifted, and you could feel the weight of his words hanging in the air. “What is it?” you asked, putting the box on the table.

Aaron took your hands in his, grounding you both. “I’ve loved every moment we've spent together. You’ve made everything feel so bright for me. So, I want to ask if you….would be my girlfriend.”

The sincerity in his voice made your heart skip, and for a moment, time stood still. Light tears of joy welled in your eyes as you nodded, a huge grin spreading across your face.

“Yes! Yes, of course!” You leaned in, pressing your lips against his in a soft, lingering kiss, feeling the world around you fade. Aaron pulled you closer, his hands at your waist, deepening the kiss.

When you finally pulled back, both of you were beaming with happiness. “I think this moment deserves a dance,” Aaron declared, whipping your tears as his eyes sparkling with love.

“Really?” you chuckled, your heart still fluttering wildly. “Absolutely. We can’t let a moment like this go by without celebrating,” he replied with a light smile.

You nodded and slipped on a playlist filled with old, slow songs like Nat King Cole, letting the smooth melodies wrap around you like a warm hug.

Aaron handed his hand out, and you took it, feeling an electric thrill run through you. Aaron led you into the living room space; he wrapped his arms around you, pulling you close as you swayed gently.

Unforgettable That's what you are Unforgettable Though near or far

The warmth of his body against yours was intoxicating, and you could hardly believe this perfect moment was real.

Like a song of love That clings to me How the thought of you Does things to me Never before Has someone been more

Aaron whispered against your ear. “This is perfect.” You smiled, resting your head against his chest. “It really is. You make everything feel special.” You swayed, lost in the rhythm

Unforgettable In every way And forevermore That's how you'll stay

The music swirled around you, your bodies pressed together in that cozy embrace where time seemed to stand still. The world outside melted away, leaving just the two of you lost in your rhythm.

That's why, darling It's incredible That someone so unforgettable Thinks that I am Unforgettable too

You could feel his heartbeat syncing with yours in an unspoken dance. The tension was electric between you two, a magnetic pull that seemed to drown out the outside world.

Unforgettable In every way And forevermore That's how you'll stay

Aaron pulls away to look down at you, and you look up at him; the music fades in the background as a spark ignites between you, compelling him to lean in and capture your lips with his.

The kiss started softly, a gentle exploration filled with sweetness, but as the moment deepened, it transformed into something more passionate and powerful.

You could feel his hands cradling your face, thumbs tracing the delicate lines of your jaw, and it only made you crave him more. You melted against him, placing your hand behind his head.

Aaron pulled you closer, fitting your bodies together like puzzle pieces. The kiss deepened, and the world around you faded, leaving only his taste on your lips and the warmth of his body against yours.

Lost in the moment, you stumbled back, your legs brushing against the couch until you fell against it, Aaron following you down, never breaking the kiss.

Aaron settled on top of you, his weight both comforting and thrilling. His body pressed into yours, and you could feel every breath he took every heartbeat.

You could feel the sexual tension surging between you, a physical manifestation of everything you dreamed of. Every kiss felt like a conversation, filled with promises and uncharted territories waiting to be explored.

You pulled back slightly, breathless but exhilarated. "Aaron, I…."

Aaron searched your eyes, his expression serious yet soft. "I feel it, too. It’s like we’ve been waiting for the right time to finally let go, to embrace what’s been bubbling beneath the surface."

You nodded, feeling the gravity of his words. "It’s intense, and I don’t want to rush anything, but it’s hard to deny it." With a smirk that played at the corners of his lips, he brushed your hair away from your face.

"Then let's go slow. There's no rush. Just you, me, the music, and whatever comes next." He said as you both shared another lingering kiss, and you melded into each other again.

Aaron whispered in your ear. "You are so lovely tonight, I've been wanting to explore every inch of you. I find those sweet spots, slowly. Methodically. Can I do that, love?"

You shivered at his words, feeling a surge of arousal between your legs. "Mmm, yes, please," you moaned, pressing your lips to his hungrily.

Your tongues danced and taking your dress off and Aaron's shirt for now. His hands began to trail down to your most sensitive areas slowly.

"Okay…good, but first, just a couple questions…do you trust me, and are you clean?" Aaron asked respectfully but firmly. "Yes, I do…I'm clean, and I'm on the pill," You answered with quickness.

"Good. Let's talk about likes, dislikes, and all that really quickly. Yeah….?" Aaron whispered, his voice low and seductive. "Ok, I like light bondage," you gasped.

You were relishing in the tingling sensation throughout your body as his fingers grazed over your dark-brown skin. Aaron's eyes lit up with excitement.

"If you love it, then I love it" Aaron growled softly, biting down on your neck. You couldn't help but let out a small whimper at the sensation, knowing this was the beginning of what would come.

"What about you??" you asked eagerly. "I'm into a little bit of dominant energy….of course, I respect boundaries," Aaron replied, his voice dripping with desire.

"Though I can tell you like it when a man takes charge, huh, love?." He asked, his hands sliding down to cup your curves, sending a jolt of electricity through your body.

"Oh god, yes," you moaned, arching into his touch. "I love being told what to do." You whispered with a moan. "Then you're gonna love what I have planned for us," Aaron said with a wicked grin.

"Please…..w-what's off limits for you?" you moaned, his eyes never leaving yours. "Um…I'm not…" He paused, his hand sliding down your thigh. "I want to see yours first, any hard limits?"

"non-conasll is a big no, nothing too extreme," you replied, trying to keep your breathing steady as his touch sent shivers down your spine. "And no feet stuff."

Aaron chuckled a mischievous glint in his eye. "Don't worry, babe. That's not my thing, either." His hand trailed higher, teasingly close to your core.

"But I do love playing with tits and asses…" Aaron admits, and you let out a gasp as he squeezes your ass cheek, already feeling soaked between your legs.

"Mmm yeah?" you moaned, grinding against him. "Oh yeah," Aaron growled, his breath hot against your ear. "And lucky for me, we're a perfect match."

Aaron kissed you deeply again, his hands wandering over your body as you eagerly reciprocated as your bodies moved in sync and the passion between you grew hotter and hotter.

Aaron couldn't resist whispering those dirty words that drove you wild. "I can't wait to make you beg for this dick," he groaned, his voice rough with desire.

You whimpered in response, knowing this was just the beginning of the mind-blowing night ahead of you. Aaron's fingers danced along your waistband, teasing the sensitive skin.

"Let's get these off, shall we?" Aaron murmured, slowly sliding your panties down. "Tell me more about what gets you going."

You gasped as the cool air hit your exposed skin. "I love being teased," you breathed. "Edging, denial, building anticipation. It drives me wild."

"Mmm, noted," Aaron growled, his eyes dark with lust. "I'll have you begging before the night's through." He tossed your panties aside.

"What else, baby? Don't hold back." He said; you bit your lip, feeling deliciously vulnerable. "I like a bit of pain with my pleasure. Hair pulling, spanking, biting…"

You trailed off as Aaron's hand ghosted over your inner thigh. "Fuck, you're perfect," he groaned. "I love that too." His fingers inched higher.

"Another else?" Aaron asked, stroking your legs. "I like light choking but no smacking in the face," you said firmly and added. "And nothing involving with spit."

Aaron nodded. "Of course!" His thumb brushed your clit, making you moan. "But I do love eating pussy. Is that okay with you, baby?"

"Oh, yes," you whimpered, arching into his touch. "Mmm, I'm gonna take my time with you, love" Aaron purred, trailing kisses down your neck.

"Gonna worship every inch of this perfect body." He said with a smile. You shivered in anticipation. "Tell me more about what you like," you urged breathlessly.

Aaron's eyes glinted mischievously. "I love making the person squirm with pleasure. Edging them until they're begging for release."

His fingers teased your inner thighs. "I like oral - giving and receiving. And I've got a thing for lingerie."

"Mmm, I'll have to model some lingerie for you sometime," you purred. "I've got this lacy red one that would drive you wild."

Aaron groaned, his eyes darkening with lust. "Fuck, baby. Just picturing you in that has me rock hard."

You let out a low moan as his thumb brushed your clit. "I also don't like name-calling or degradation, maybe being called a slut is fine, but that’s it."

"Noted," Aaron murmured, kissing you deeply before working his way down your body. "Now, can you get a taste and eat this sweet, pretty pussy, sweetheart?"

You spread your legs wider in invitation. "Please," you whimpered.

Aaron settled between your thighs, his hot breath teasing your sensitive flesh. "Mmm, you smell divine," he groaned. "I'm gonna make you come so hard with just my tongue."

You placed your hand on the back of his head as he slowly licked a stripe up your slit. Aaron's tongue delved deeper, carefully exploring every fold and crevice.

You moaned and arched your back against the couch as waves of pleasure washed over you.

"Oh god, Aaron," you whimpered. "Your tongue feels amazing."

Aaron hummed against you, the vibrations sending shockwaves through your body.

Pulling back slightly, he murmured, "You taste even better than I imagined. I could do this for hours."

"Please," you begged. "Don't stop."

Aaron chuckled darkly. "Oh, I won't stop, baby. Not until you're a quivering mess." His tongue circled your clit as two fingers slowly pushed inside you.

"So wet for me already. I bet you're aching to be devoured, haven't you?" He questioned.

"Yes," you gasped as his fingers curled, finding that perfect spot as his lips wrapped around your clit. The dual sensations had you writhing beneath him, incoherent pleas falling from your lips.

Aaron worked you expertly, bringing you right to the edge before easing off, over and over, until you were trembling with need.

"Aaron, please," you whined with desperation. "I'm so close."

"Tell me what you want, love," Aaron growled.

"I want you to make me cum, fucking make me cum," you moaned, gripping your breasts, before playing with your nipples. "Please, I need it so badly."

Aaron's eyes glinted wickedly as he looked up at you from between your thighs. "As you wish, my love." He redoubled his efforts, sucking hard on your clit.

His fingers pumped in and out of you at a relentless pace. "Oh fuck, oh fuck," you chanted, your back arching off the couch again. The pressure built and built until, finally.

You shattered, crying out Aaron's name as waves of pleasure crashed over you. He didn't let up, working you through your orgasm and straight into another one.

Your thighs trembled around his head as a second climax rocked through you, even more intense than the first. "That's it, baby," Aaron purred, his voice husky with arousal.

"Let me hear how wonderful I make you feel." He said and you whimpered, overstimulated but craving more. "So wonderful, Aaron. ahh, your mouth is magic."

He chuckled, pressing a kiss to your inner thigh. "Just wait until you feel me inside you. I'm gonna fill you up so good, stretch that tight pussy around me, but that for another day."

A fresh surge of arousal coursed through you at his words. "Please, no, you gotta fuck me, give me that big dick," you begged. "I need you. I need to feel every inch of you."

Aaron's eyes flashed with desire as he gazed up at you. "Patience, love," he said with a chuckle. "I'm not done tasting you yet." He lowered his head once more

His talented tongue explores every fold and crevice. You whimpered and squirmed beneath him, overwhelmed by the sensations. "Aaron, please," you begged.

"I need more. Let me pleasure you, too." You cried, looking down at him with hearty eyes. Aaron paused, considering. "Well, since you asked so nicely…"

Aaron got up and took the rest of his clothes off; you got a sight of his dick, it was big and throbbing while you moved to let him lay down on his back, and you got on top, straddling his face.

"There. Now you can suck my dick while I feast on this delicious pussy." Aaron said low and sexy. Eagerly, you leaned forward and got sight of his dick again.

Your mouth watered at the sight. “So big.” Wrapping your lips around the tip, you slowly took him deeper as Aaron's tongue resumed its delicious licking of your pussy.

“Mm…How does this feel?” you asked softly but seductively. "That's it, so good," Aaron groaned. "Take it all, baby. Show me how badly you want it."

You hollowed your cheeks, sucking hard as you bobbed your head. Aaron's hips jerked upwards, pushing his dick further down your throat.

You relaxed and took him deeper, relishing his guttural moan of pleasure. "Fuck, your mouth feels incredible," he panted. "Such a good little dicksucker. I bet you can't wait to feel this dick stretching out that tight pussy'“

You moaned around Aaron's big dick, the vibrations making him groan against your pussy. His tongue delved deeper, lapping at your juices as his fingers gripped your ass.

"Mmm, you taste so fucking good," Aaron growled. "I could eat this sweet pussy all night long. Want me to make you cum again, baby? Want to feel my tongue on your clit while you swallow my dick?"

You pulled off his length with a wet pop. "Yes, fuck, yes, please," you whimpered. "Make me cum, Aaron. I want to scream your name, please."

Aaron chuckled darkly. "As you wish, my love." His lips wrapped around your sensitive bud, sucking hard as two fingers pushed inside you.

You cried out in pleasure, rocking your hips against his face. "That's it," he purred. "Ride my face; use me for your pleasure. I want to feel you dripping down my chin when you cum."

His words sent a fresh surge of arousal through you. You took him back into your mouth, bobbing your head faster as you chased your release.

Aaron's fingers curled, hitting that perfect spot inside you as his tongue flicked rapidly over your clit. "Fuck, I'm so close," you moaned, your thighs trembling.

"Don't stop, please don't stop!"

"Cum for me," Aaron commanded. "Let me feel that pussy squeeze my fingers. I want to taste your orgasm on my tongue."

The urgency in his voice pushed you closer to the edge, and you could feel the heat coiling tight in your belly. “Oh God, Aaron, I'm gonna…”

“That's it, babe; let go for me,” he encouraged, his voice thick with desire, sending shivers racing down your spine. With a cry that echoed through the living room, you came undone.

Waves of ecstasy crashed over you as your body seized up around his fingers. The world narrowed down to that delicious moment. You felt your essence spilling out, coating his chin as he greedily lapped at your release.

“Yesss,” he groaned, burying his face deeper into you. “So fucking hot. You taste like paradise, love.” The vibration of his voice against your core sent aftershocks through your trembling body.

You pulled off him and turned your body to face him, panting. “You sure know how to treat a girl right,” you teased breathlessly, looking at him with half-lidded eyes.

Aaron smirked at you, his lips glistening with your arousal. You resume sucking him off, glancing at him through your eyelashes as you stroke him vigorously.

“Mmm, how do I look taking your dick in my mouth, Aaron?" You asked before boobing your head up and down on his dick.

“Fuck, you look so beautiful,” Aaron groaned, running his fingers through your hair. “The sexiest sight I've ever seen.” He pushed your head down, encouraging you to take more of him into your mouth.

“I’m so close, babe; I can't hold back any longer.”

You took him as deep as you could, massaging his balls with one hand. You moaned around his cock, feeling him throb in your mouth. and with a guttural moan, Aaron came.

His hot seed spurts onto your waiting tongue. You swallowed greedily, savoring his salty taste on your tongue. Slowly easing off his softening dick, you licked your lips seductively.

“Mmmm, now that was delicious,” you purred. “Yummy, the best dessert. I wish I could have some more,” you said poutfully. Aaron laughed, his chest heaving as he caught his breath.

“Hmm, I know.” Aaron sat up, wiping the beads of sweat from his brow before pulling you into his arms. “But for now,” he said, planting a soft kiss on your lips.

“I think we both need a break,” he added, and you rested your head on his shoulder, feeling more content than you had in weeks. “You're right,”

You took a breath, snuggling closer to him on the couch. “Don't worry, babe. I’ll give you what you've been asking in no time.” He winked mischievously.

You couldn't help but feel giddy with anticipation at what that meant for you. For now, though, you were happy to be here with Aaron, basking in the afterglow.

part 3??

[trinityobsessesovatings]

Oh My God~! {ARCANE REACTION}

ARCANE CHARACTERS' REACTION TO YOU IN THE VIRAL TIKTOK NIGHTIE!

characters included; VI, CAITLYN, SEVIKA, MEL, and PAP-i mean JAYCE

CONTENT WARNINGS: suggestive themes, cursing, first time writer probably bad punctuation 😔 and lowercase 😔

i would just like to say; thank you to anyone who gives this a chance and reads it! this is my first time actually like, posting anything like this so this is completely out of my comfort zone. feedback is so very much appreciated.

enjoy! 🥰

////////

vi 

speechless pt.1

girl was cooking you guys a nice lil dinner 

i headcanon that she’s actually an amazing cook

i mean she got music playing in the background on low, the lights in y’all little apartment are dimmed

it wasn’t a special occasion or anything she was just feeling like y’all deserved it

she was in her little zone, humming along to song, bopping her head to the music, occasionally actually singing along to whatever she was listening to

then she hears your feet patting along the floor, when she turns around and sees you she deadass drops the plate that was in her hand

JAW DROPPED TO THE FLOOR

y'all know how she could NEVER stop looking from cait’s eyes to her kirammountains

YUH that was her with you, BUT ALL OVER!

you giggle to yourself, as you look at yourself in the mirror. ‘Oh yeah this is definitely gonna go somewhere!’ you thought to yourself, then proceeded to practically skip out of your bedroom.

CONGRATULATIONS YOU PLAYED YOURSELF!

you cute little nightie is ripped up and you guys are down one plate

congrats 😜

caitlyn

ever since your babygirl became a dictator i mean commander 🤭 sorry y'all 

she has been stressed and had to keep beating maddie off with a stick

she’s pulling the pearl; “I’M MARRIED!” 👹

so you decided to pull the classic show up to her place of work covered in a overcoat

caitlyn already knows what you’re up to and she definitely wants that cookie

she saw the nightie in your drawer the other day

but she’s still gonna let you have your moment

“I got something to show you, baby.” 

you tell her being all… seductive, prepared to surprise your girl.

she deadass hit you with a

“that’s nice, love!” 😊

you’re not impressed 😐

that’s alright though you got something for that ass

guess she just has to make it up to you for ruining the surprise 🤷🏾‍♀️

sevika

stress pt 2

speechless pt 2

half of me wanted to make this based off before she joined the council

but i said NAH make it post war councilwoman sevika

anyway

this WOMAN 😩 stay coming home about ready to crash out after having to deal with the other idiots on the council

this poor woman comes home, grabs a bottle of liquor, and lights a cigar

not before cracking a window though, you got on her for that shit and she would rather not face your wrath again

happy wife, happy life am i right or am i right?

ANYWHO

big mama doesn’t even know your home, it's so damn silent

then you strutting into the living room hitting this pose right here

i’m talking; cigar falling out of mouth, bottle booze hitting the floor with a thump, and she’s standing up and walking towards you like she’s under a spell

i’m telling you if this woman wasn’t so speechless AND stoic

she for sure would have let out an “AWOOGA!”

y'all ended up breaking the couch by the way… and dining room table

mel

deadass… y’all had the same exact idea!

like same idea, same day, YALL EVEN GOT THE SAME EXACT SLEEP DRESS

but both of y’all were giggling at the fact y’all both thought the same thing

literally went something like this:

“I have something to show you!~”

you had called from the closet

“Well I have something to show you as well~!”

she would say from the bathroom

then bam you both see each other and are like 🤨🤭🥴💋

like y’all both went all out

mel got body gold shimmery body glitter on, you got your hair did that morning, you both got on each other’s favorite perfumes on…

yeah y’all both matched each other’s freaks fr

jayce

never in my time of watching this show did i EVER think i would write for this man

but pookie lowkey got me rn… that black fit he wore for like 10 minutes in that one episode

YEAH I NEED THAT, I CRAVE THAT 👹

let's get back to our regularly scheduled program sorry about that y'all 😰

so you and jayce have been locked in since BEFORE the whole hextech explosion

LAWD when you heard your man was in the system 

OPEN THE CELL LET MY MAN OUTTA JAIL

is what you were saying

you were at his hearing in front of the council

almost had a heart attack again when they almost banished him

but look at y’all now!

he the man of progress and you all like:

“dats mine” 😌

THEN he calls you talkin bout some

“oh i'm a councilman now.” 😊

that’s when you decided

“yeah it’s time to give this man the ULTIMATE gluck gluck 3000 with the hextech upgrade”

he comes home from his first day as part of the council and this right here

🧍🏾🥴

because there you are

lights dimmed

rose petals scattered

glasses of champagne

nightie ✅ floor length robe ✅ makeup on sultry ✅

yeah he laid it DOWN on you that night

ready to congratulate your man

next thing his mama, the kirammans, and the council know:

he and his NOW fiancée are expecting

CONGRATULATIONS 🥳

////////

hope you enjoyed! ○( ＾皿＾)っ Hehehe…

[sourcherryandsprinkles]

Can you do Conrad with ‘’Is that my shirt?’’

This was the only gif I could find with this shirt...

my taglists are here + you can send requests here at any time

—

It had been thirty minutes since you, Taylor, and Belly settled in front of the TV, yet the three of you couldn't come to a unanimous decision on which movie to watch. Well, truth be told, the indecision was mainly between you and Taylor. Belly was happily munching on popcorn, seemingly unfazed by the movie debate.

‘’Mamma Mia,’’ Taylor exclaimed, advocating for the musical movie choice once again.

However, you were quite tired of musicals and Taylor's less-than-perfect singing renditions, especially after enduring La La Land the night before. 

You shook your head. ‘’No, let’s watch 10 Things I hate about you.’’ 

It was one of your favorite movies. You weren’t a huge fan of rom-coms, but the romance was not too cheesy and the soundtrack was immaculate. Kat’s character was also iconic. You’ll never get tired of watching it.

But Taylor persisted, insisting that Mamma Mia would be a perfect summer movie. She looked to Belly for support and the look on Belly’s face told you you were about to lose this debate.

‘’I haven’t watched Mamma Mia in a long time…’’ 

Feeling somewhat defeated, you let out a sigh, realizing you were outvoted. ‘’Mamma Mia it is then,’’ you reluctantly agreed.

Taylor happily set up the movie, grinning and singing along to all of the songs. 

You were half way through it when the front door opened and the boys returned from their party, making a lot of noises as always. 

‘’Seriously, can you guys keep it down? We're trying to watch a movie here,’’ Taylor scolded them, clearly irritated by their untimely return.

‘’What movie?’’ Steven asked, making his way into the living room, seemingly eager to pester Taylor further.

‘’Oh, is that Mamma Mia?’’ Jeremiah’s face lit up, going off and belting one of the songs as he poured himself a glass of milk in the kitchen. 

You couldn't help but laugh at Jeremiah's enthusiasm. He truly was the life of the party. 

‘’It’s girls only, get out,’’ Taylor asserted, determined to keep their movie time uninterrupted.

‘’I want to watch it too,’’ Steven and Jeremiah protested, plopping themselves on the couch next to Belly and attempting to snatch the popcorn bowl from her.

‘’Absolutely not,’’ Belly retorted, holding onto the popcorn tightly, not willing to share.

Steven's attempt to mockingly tease her was met with a sharp comeback from Taylor. ‘’Did you grow tits while you were at the party, Steven?’’ 

Everyone burst into laughter at Taylor’s witty remark, even Conrad who just entered the living room, walking over to the other end of the couch where you were sitting. 

He sat on the length of the chaise, stroking your bare legs as he leaned in for a quick kiss. 

‘’Did you have fun with the boys?’’ you asked, your attention no longer on the movie.

Conrad shrugged. Being the designated driver sucked…and so did that party. No wonder they came home so early. He would have prefered to stay here and hang out with you, but you had already made plans with the girls. 

You stretched and laid your legs over his lap, settling comfortably into the couch. Conrad shook his head, but didn’t say anything. He liked the weight of your legs over his, the casual intimacy of it. 

Your attention was brought back to your friends when Jeremiah and Taylor began dueting ‘Lay all your love on me’ as if they were part of the movie. Taylor still couldn’t sing, but Jeremiah wasn’t too bad. You smiled at them, amused by their antics, and Conrad smiled back at you, his eyes full of affection as his fingers traced gentle patterns on your skin. 

A few scenes later, his attention was drawn to the navy Cousins rowing shirt you were wearing, and he raised an amused eyebrow. ‘’Is that my shirt?’’ he inquired with a grin, realizing it belonged to him.

You hummed. It was slightly oversized on you, but incredibly comfortable. ‘’We went swimming and I wanted something comfortable to wear after.’’ And it smelled like him. ‘’I hope you don’t mind.’’ 

Conrad shook his head. ‘’It looks good on you.’’

—

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[lieutenantfloyd]

Hi! I'm fairly sure you're taking asks at the moment but feel free to ignore this if you aren't. But would you consider doing a "How they'd react to you on your period" but for the top gun: maverick characters?

How they react when you’re on your period (Headcanons)

Includes: Rooster, Bob, Hangman, Cyclone, Maverick, and Phoenix

Warnings: fluff, domestic bliss, mentions of pain, blood, marriage, and general domesticity— Reader is gender neutral but has a uterus

Authors Note: Life decided to get wild for a minute so this accidentally sat half finished in my drafts for a month and a half along with a Cyclone request I'm now working on again. Also, I included a headcanon each for Coyote and Fanboy at the end as a bonus :)

Rooster:

Bradley, as much as he tries, is still very much "A Guy™"

He's not malicious and he's far from incompetent, he just genuinely doesn't understand what you're going through

He's hesitant to ask questions, so instead he just pays extra close attention to you

If you like to cuddle, he's all over it

And if you don't, he's always lurking nearby, waiting for you to need him

Either way, he's noticing everything, and he's kinda horrified

Once your relationship is fairly progressed, he'll pull you aside and ask all the questions he was too scared to ask before

He wants to know all about your symptoms, emotions, and any way he can make the time a little less miserable

Rooster is such a family fan, and once he has a grasp on what you need, he's jumping head first into action

He shows his affection by being strong for you but also accidentally super clingy

Like he’s genuinely not letting you leave his sight

He's still a little hesitant at first about upsetting you or getting things wrong, but he's the type of man willing to do whatever he can to keep you happy

He isn't the best cook, but he tries

Do you both end up eating cereal for multiple meals? Yes

Does your teasing being met with his apology kisses make them the best bowls of cereal you’ll ever have? Absolutely

Will 1000% get you your favorite snacks though, even if that means making an emergency trip to the store at midnight because you offhandedly mentioned something

Bob:

Your sweet darling angel Bob has zero clue what's happening or how to help, but he's determined to try his absolute BEST

If your relationship is still new and you're staying together when you get your period, this man straight up thinks you're dying

Like obviously he knows how this works—far more than other guys you’ve been around, because that's just how Bob is

But he lives his life always a bit on edge and has a massive tendency to panic

So his mind instantly goes to worst case scenario aka there’s been an accident and you're now bleeding out

He just loves you SO MUCH and he is SO SCARED

It takes a bit of effort to calm him down, mostly in the form of kisses and reassurance, but once you explain everything he's good as new

…minus his still racing heart

Bob is the type to bombard you with questions when he's concerned

"Are you comfortable?" "Are you hungry?" "Do you need anything?"

May or may not accidentally propose when he's initially worried (even if you're already married)

Now you’re both slightly panicking, cuddled up in bed together looking at rings or your wedding album

Bob takes his role as your partner so seriously, and just wants to feel useful in any way he can

You might spend an almost equal amount of time comforting Bob as he spends comforting you, but it nonetheless gets your mind of things

Relationships are about give and take, and a life with Bob is sweet as pie

Hangman:

Hangman, despite his flirtatious personality, is the type of guy parents want their kids to end up with

He’s a total l lover boy at heart, priding himself in keeping you happy at all times

That means he's shockingly well prepared for this, and is genuinely confused if you didn’t think he wouldn’t be

To him it’s basic stuff, simply just “what a good boyfriend does”

And if you try to explain how men typically are about periods, he’s looking you dead in the eyes and saying, “We both know I’m one of a kind.”

The argument pretty much ends there, and he’s right back to being boyfriend of the year—this time without your questioning protests

Shortly into your relationship he’ll ask you out of the blue about your needs and preferences, and ever since then has kept them STOCKED

To him you're the #1 priority, and making sure you have everything you need to be comfortable is just as intuitive for him as knowing what size clothes you wear or adjusting the air conditioner on your side of his truck as soon as he gets in

He'll take it upon himself to make everything he can control as calm and stress free as possible, with laundry is done, dishes washed, and dinner on the table before you can even think about it

If you're feeling up to it, he'll take you on cute little dates to get your mind off things

He stays hyper aware of you the whole time, ready to whisk you away if you start to feel bad or you’re social battery is suddenly empty

He’s physically clingy by nature, and that only triples when he thinks you need some extra love

He's 120% committed to being a gentleman to you always, so he won’t ambush you with cuddles

but he will open his arms any time you look even vaguely in his direction :)

Cyclone:

Whether you're dating, married, or even just friends with benefits, this man is nothing if not a provider

If you are in any way connected to him, he has made it abundantly clear that you are to call him whenever you need anything—no matter how insignificant

He's admittedly out of his element when it comes to periods, but he’s a grown man, competent enough to admit what he doesn’t know and not let that phase him one bit

On days when time got away from you and you’re now out of pads/tampons and the store is closing in thirty minutes, he's in his car the second your text comes through

He’ll show up at your door in under an hour, carrying multiple packs of exactly what you need, along with groceries for the week and frozen yogurt from your favorite shop across town

When you question him about it, he simply says he does it “because he can”

Choosing to conveniently leave out the fact that he knows you have a busy week ahead, and not having to worry about getting to the grocery store is an easy way for him to take a little bit of stress off of your plate

He’s the type to have meticulously organized notes in his phone that list all your favorite things, what's on your wishlist, your go to restaurant orders, etc

This comes in handy not only when he wants to spoil you (which is always), but also when you’re not feeling well and are in need of some extra love and care

Like Phoenix, you’re his number one priority, and knowing something is off triggers both his protective and caregiver tendencies.

He will do anything he can to make your life easier, and gets genuinely angry at the thought of you having to expend any more energy than absolutely necessary

He's shockingly big into quality time, and loves to spend nights with you on the couch or in bed

He runs insanely warm, and while you often joke about him being the human equivalent of a space heater, your complaints become nothing but praise when you have cramps or just want a comforting hug

In the same vein, he gives the best massages ever

His hands are big and just as warm as the rest of him, plus he's strong with fingertips just rough enough to feel great against your skin

He’s not the type to ever bombard you with his presence, but if he’s not working, he’s more than happy to spend all the time he can with you

Phoenix:

this lovely lady would be the absolute sweetest

She's all too familiar with what you’re going through, and is committed to making this week of your life unnotable in the best possible way

Seeing you at all uncomfortable or feeling down sends her protective tendencies into overdrive

Every minute she's not in the air, she's waiting on you hand and foot

Phoenix is such a caretaker, and it comes second nature to her

You’ll have to promise that you really are fine, and while she isn’t 100% convinced, she will at least let you walk your dogs or help with dinner

She absolutely loves taking baths with you, so much that it’s practically one of her love languages

Physical touch and quality time are both such big things for her, and there are few things more intimate than talking about your day while you share a glass of wine and wash each other's hair

At the end of the day she just wants her partner to feel comfortable and loved at all times, and she'll do anything she can to make that happen

Maverick:

When your period comes, this man is certifiably lost It’s not because he doesn't care, he's just a little (endearingly) oblivious

A facet of your relationship centers around how, between his free-spirited personality and after so many years spent dedicated only to his career, Maverick just isn't used to having to think about anyone else

but if theres one thing Mav has proven time and time again, it’s that he isn't one to back down from a challenge

Once he's caught on to your "situation" (as he calls it), he's going to ask questions that total in the hundreds

Asks about your cravings, type and descriptions of your pain, preferences over products and medications, etc

He genuinely wants to know everything, because then he’ll know how to help

He's a bit of a walking disaster, and he'd far too restless to cuddle

but if it’s your thing he’ll try for you, so long as you’re ready to listen to his endless wild stories :)

Instead of simply assuming you're down for his spur-of-the-moment adventures (or just disappearing for days like he used to before you got together), he'll actually come out and invite you along

He also makes a conscious effort to check in with you throughout the day, sending you quick texts to let you know he’s safe and thinking about you

This eventually gets fully implemented into your relationship when Maverick realizes he's very invested in what you do all day—no matter how mundane it seems to you

If you spent all day in bed scrolling your phone, he wants to know all the details about everything you looked at

If you went grocery shopping that afternoon, he wants to know all about what you’re cooking and what new products and snacks you saw while you were there

To him everything has the potential to be an adventure, you just how to have the right outlook

Slowly, you'll start noticing more and more of your favorite things popping up around the hangar

Your favorite snacks and a bottle of your preferred painkillers in the cabinet, extra pillows and fluffy blankets left lying around, a heating pad or two…

You don't say anything and he’ll never address it, but you can't help but notice the soft look in his eyes when he sees you using something he bought just for you

Cyclone:

Whether you're dating, married, or even just friends with benefits, this man is nothing if not a provider

If you are in any way connected to him, he has made it abundantly clear that you are to call him whenever you need anything—no matter how insignificant

He's admittedly out of his element when it comes to periods, but he’s a grown man, competent enough to admit what he doesn’t know and not let that phase him one bit

On days when time got away from you and you’re now out of pads/tampons and the store is closing in thirty minutes, he's in his car the second your text comes through

He’ll show up at your door in under an hour, carrying multiple packs of exactly what you need, along with groceries for the week and frozen yogurt from your favorite shop across town

When you question him about it, he simply says he does it “because he can”

Choosing to conveniently leave out the fact that he knows you have a busy week ahead, and not having to worry about getting to the grocery store is an easy way for him to take a little bit of stress off of your plate

He’s the type to have meticulously organized notes in his phone that list all your favorite things, what's on your wishlist, your go to restaurant orders, etc

This comes in handy not only when he wants to spoil you (which is always), but also when you’re not feeling well and are in need of some extra love and care

Like Phoenix, you’re his number one priority, and knowing something is off triggers both his protective and caregiver tendencies.

He will do anything he can to make your life easier, and gets genuinely angry at the thought of you having to expend any more energy than absolutely necessary

He's shockingly big into quality time, and loves to spend nights with you on the couch or in bed

He runs insanely warm, and while you often joke about him being the human equivalent of a space heater, your complaints become nothing but praise when you have cramps or just want a comforting hug

In the same vein, he gives the best massages ever

His hands are big and just as warm as the rest of him, plus he's strong with fingertips just rough enough to feel great against your skin

He’s not the type to ever bombard you with his presence, but if he’s not working, he’s more than happy to spend all the time he can with you

Bonus:

Coyote is the type of guy to ask you to go hiking with him on the worst day of your period. He doesn't see anything wrong with this because "being active will make you feel better".

Fanboy uses your self care time to cuddle up with you, with the ulterior motive of making you rewatch the Star Wars franchise for the millionth time, with fun facts and his original commentary included.

[lavenderspence]

silly poker night reveals | A.H.

Pairing: Aaron Hotchner x fem!reader | Word Count: 1.8K

Content warning: basically just funny, or crack, alcohol mention, gambling addiction mention

Summary: A poker night with the silly crime men gets disrupted when a certain someone decides to prove he's not a psychic.

Characters: Aaron Hotchner, Spencer Reid, Patrick Jane, Richard Castle, Seeley Booth, Harvey Specter

A/N: One day, I just really wanted to write a fic with all my favorite silly crime men and have them be snarky to each other, and that’s what I did. This was literally written for the fun, for the vibes, for the hell of it, and then I just could not, not make it about my husband too. So, even if you’ve only watched one of the shows, give this a read, I think it's fun. enjoy🤭

and thank you to @reidsstargirl for beta reading this 🥺💕

masterlist

“You’re late.” You said after you pulled the door open. A rumpled blond was sitting in front of you - a white dress shirt, a black vest, and a gray suit jacket thrown over his shoulder. 

He flashed you a lazy smile, all teeth, “Yeah, well, when have you known me to be punctual?” He pushed past you, stepping into the apartment, with no care in the world.

His eyes ran around the room, finding it empty of any other presence, “You little minx, you lied to me.” He turned around, eyes running through your body. 

You smiled, eyes sparkling, “Yeah, well, I had to get creative if I wanted you to be on time, Jane. You have just enough time for a power nap, go enjoy the couch.” You threw his words back at him, and then waved a hand around, gusting to the emerald couch. 

You made your way to the kitchen, picking up a half-full glass of champagne. Walking around for a second, you looked at the man on the couch and waited for the 15 minutes until 7:30 to pass, so you could welcome your other guests too. 

You were waiting on Aaron and Spencer - they were coming straight from work, deciding to stay around an extra hour after you to finish up. Harvey was flying in from New York, Castle was driving down, and Jane was already snoring on your couch, and Booth was coming after closing a case. 

You arranged these poker games once every two months, depending on how all your schedules aligned. You’d worked with all of these silly assholes at one point in your life. Sometimes, they needed some time to just goof around and play some games, nothing serious. 

A few other of your colleagues joined occasionally - Rossi and Morgan loved the snark, and Emily was a fan of disturbing the testosterone with you from time to time. But all of them were busy, so it was just you and the usuals tonight. 

12 minutes later, you were welcoming everyone in, and Jane was rousing from his nap, looking even more rumpled than before. 

Spencer and Booth took their usual places in front of the TV, where you’d already queued a baseball game, and left them some snacks. The others each took a place at the table. 

You usually played just one game, so you took your place as the dealer and shuffled the cards. 

The conversation was sparse for a few minutes while you dealt the cards. 

“Why’s Clark Kent not playing?” Rick asked all of a sudden, gusting to Booth with his head. Booth usually joined the gathering every few games, still not entirely comfortable coming every time. His addiction wasn’t something that you’d brought up or were looking to bring up during a night like this. He usually stayed away from the table, engrossed in a game of baseball on tv, or bothering Reid for any useless facts and calling him a squint. 

“Let him be Rick, he needs the night out even if he isn’t playing.” Your answer was vague and it would stay that way as long as Booth wanted to be there and stay away from the game. 

“And the kid?” It was Jane’s voice, and he raised a hand and pointed at Spencer. He was usually sitting the games out too, since the last time you and Hotch had played with him he’d hustled you. 

“Go on, tell him.” You prompted Spencer, as he bookmarked the page he was reading. 

“I’m good at poker.” It wasn’t convincing and it wasn’t the truth. 

You shook your head with a laugh, “Nooo, Jane’s good at poker, Castle is good at poker. What are you good at?” You asked, your eyes meeting Aaron’s for a second. 

“I'm good at counting the cards, and banned from several casinos in Las Vegas, Laughlin, and Pahrump.” Aaron’s lips twitched, a barely there grin appearing for just a second before it disappeared again. 

“Can I borrow him for a poker night with my author buddies? Maybe even Kate? I really need a win.” Castle asked. 

“He’s not winning against Kate, Rick. She will sniff him out before he even sits at the table. Now, Ryan and Esposito, on the other hand, you can easily steal some money from.” You told him as you took a sip from your drink. 

Everyone else was having a drink - whiskey was the preferred drink at your table, Booth was having a beer and Spencer was sticking to water. 

“Anything to drink Jane?” You asked again. 

“Chamomile tea, two sugars please.” 

“You do realize this is a poker game, and not an afternoon tea with Her Majesty, right?” Harvey’s usual snark was making a comeback for the first time tonight. 

“But her Majesty’s sitting right there.” Jane's chin jutted towards Rick. It was no secret that out of every man currently in the room, Rick was probably the most pretentious one, closely followed by Harvey.

“Haha, very funny.”

“I didn't lie, did I? I highly doubt that the Ferrari parked downstairs can be bought on a government salary.” Quipped Jane.

“How do you know it's not Harvey's?”

“Because I'm not a pussy driving a bright red Ferrari around New York City, thank you very much.” Harvey threw a few chips in the center of the table. 

“Well, said Ferrari costs anywhere between 70K and 120K. A Special Agent’s salary is around 135K, and 170K a year for Supervisory Special Agents. So realistically, yeah, we can’t afford it.” Spencer shrugged, turning a page in his book, not even phased by the looks everyone was throwing at him.

“I like this kid, he’s such a squint.” Booth laughed and gave Reid’s shoulder a little pat. Spencer tensed for a second but quickly relaxed again. 

“Dammed it, I overpaid 30K for this one.” Castle scoffed, shaking his head. 

Harvey produced a business card from somewhere and slid it toward Rick. 

“In case you need it. Fair warning though, get on my nerves, and I’m giving you to Louis.”

“Aww he has a heart.” Rick pouted.

“Never repeat that, never.” The brunette warned.

“And a lot of snark.” You smiled, looking around. They all might have serious jobs during the day, but they were all extremely silly when they were off of work.

The game continued on for another 15 minutes, conversion flying by until Booth’s voice rang around you.

“Okay Jane, no offense, but I need to know. What’s your shtick? What made the FBI want to hire you as a consultant?” Seeley asked, turning a sobriety chip in his hand. 

“Ugh, offense.” 

“Oh come on,” Booth waved a hand around, “I’m one of the best sharpshooters out there,” you rolled your eyes and so did Rick, “Hotchner’s an ex-ADA, Y/N’s a weapons expert and a linguist. Reid over here is basically Einstein.” 

“Well, actually, Einstein’s IQ is believed to be somewhere between 160 and 180, and mine’s 187, so technically, I surpass Albert Einstein.” Seeley wasn’t happy being interrupted again, but he let it slide, used to being interrupted by his own team.

“So Jane, what makes you such a special asset to the FBI? You're not still pulling the psychic card, are you?” To anyone, it might seem judgmental, the way he asked, but you knew it was anything but. He was curious, but he also valued his job too much not to ask. 

Jane leaned back in his chair, laying his cards face down and his hands on top of them. He looked on over you, head to toe, and then his eyes focused on your left - to Aaron. 

You saw his eyes shine for a second, and shook your head at him, already knowing what was going to come out of his mouth. 

“There is no such thing as psychics. Just a very good eye for reading people. Like for example, all night Hotchner’s been a broody, quiet bastard, safe for any time Y/N talks. His eyes light up and he relaxes back into his chair.” You watched Aaron’s posture too tight and reached a hand under the table to lay over his leg.

You were glaring daggers in Jane's direction, but once he was on a roll, there was no stopping him. “Earlier, when she put his glass down, his fingers on the hand closest to her body, twitched. His cologne is expensive, freshly applied - he probably has a spear bottle in his office.  He's been checking his watch, waiting for the night to end, so we'd all go home. Not him though, he's staying over.”

He played with the edge of his cards as he watched all eyes turn in your direction. 

“Oh, and the murderous look he's been giving Harvey every time he catches him looking at Y/N a bit too closely. Also, the clenching of the jaw - seriously knock it off, you won't have teeth forever.” Jane warned before he leaned back into his chair, looking just a tad too proud of himself.

The silence was defeating for a few moments, no one dared to utter a word.

“I don't think they wanted that to be shared just yet.” Rick muttered

“No shit.” Aaron's fingers wrapped around your own as he gritted out.

“And I didn't want to be lied to, but alas…” Jane added, flashing you a grin.

“Oh, you petty asshole.” A grin was making its way onto your face and you didn't know why.

“Oh, I'm about to become even more of an asshole - full house.” He threw his card in the middle of the table, close to the chips.

“Awww, you really are an asshole.” Rick leaned back in his chair, defeated and pouting.

“Takes one to know one, Dicky.” He smirked.

“Are you okay with this?” You turned around and asked Aaron quietly, for a moment forgetting the room full of men you’d worked with over the years.

“I'm good, although being profiled wasn't my idea of fun for the night.” He admitted just as quietly, reaching to push your hair away.

“I'm sorry.” He went to close the space between you before you heard the scraping of chairs.

“Okay kiddos, mom and dad need us to empty the apartment. Go on, out the door.” Seeley announced. You rolled your eyes at his bullshit before you started giving goodbye hugs. 

“If Hotchner's the dad, who's the daddy?” Harvey asked jokingly as he pulled you into a hug.

“Ask Louis tomorrow.”

“I didn't need the mental picture, thank you.” He shuddered and walked towards the door with the rest.

“Don't ask dumb questions then.” You called out, before you turned towards the good Doctor, “Oh and Spence? Keep this on the down-low, would you?” You asked, still not exactly ready to share this with your team, even after having the whole thing come out this way.

He smiled sheepishly and scratched at the back of his neck, “Yeah…too late.” and just then both your and Aaron's phones went off. 

There was no question about it, there was a fun morning waiting for you tomorrow. 

Comments and reblogs are greatly appreciated!

[juniperskye]

Without You

Sneak Peek: Aaron and you have been dating for over a year now…the thing is, the BAU team has no idea. When Aaron does something reckless that could cost him his life, will you expose the relationship you have worked so hard to keep under wraps?

Aaron Hotchner x BAU Fem Reader

Angst/Fluff

Word count: 2371

Warnings: One use of y/n, age gap, mentions of anxiety/anxiety attack, some language, canon typical violence, mentions of death, explosion, BAU case details (similar to those of s7e23), severe emotional pain, mentions of Haley’s death, mention of Jack, secret relationship, JJ is still the media liaison (it just fit better for the plot) if I missed any – let me know!

Not edited - please be kind.

I do not consent to having my work translated or reposted to any other site. That being said I do not own the characters portrayed in this story.

Aaron Hotchner had very quickly become your best friend. Your friendship had come so naturally, despite a pretty significant age gap. After two years of what could only be described as painfully obvious yearning from both parties, Aaron finally gained the courage to ask you to dinner. Even though it took two weeks before you could actually act on that invitation, the date had gone better than expected. Aaron had been a perfect gentleman; bringing you flowers, opening your door, holding your hand, paying for your meal, actually listening when you spoke.

That’s why it had been so easy to fall in love with him. Things with Aaron truly had been effortless, falling into a comfortable routine in which you would drive to his place after work, relieve the babysitter, get Jack started on homework while you got dinner going. Since meeting Jack, back before you’d even begun dating Aaron, you were one of his favorite people. You had spoiled Jack since you’d met the boy, he was just so sweet, and he’d reminded you of your nephews…it was easy to spend time with him. Aaron would come home to Jack helping set the table and you plating up the food. He’d wrap you up in an embrace and the three of you would sit and enjoy your meal while discussing how your days went (mostly Jack talking about school).

The one thing in your relationship that had not been effortless was keeping it a secret from your team. There had already been much speculation as to whether or not Aaron and you had feelings for one another amongst the agents. Dave was the one who pestered Aaron the most, constantly encouraging him to take a chance on love, that it wouldn’t always end like it had with Haley. In your case it had been Penelope, she and you had grown close over your time at the BAU, and she could see the tell-tale signs of a blossoming crush for your superior.

The two of you hadn’t initially planned to hide your relationship, but after many late-night conversations about it and a lengthy pros and cons list, you had determined, for the time being, keeping things quiet was the best option. That was nearly eleven months ago. You and Aaron had been together for about a year and a half, living together for four months…things had not been easy. You guys had to work hard to keep your feelings at bay on tough missions. There had been an instance of you getting stabbed by an unsub, thankfully the wound was superficial, and you were fine, but it had taken everything in Aaron not to run to you and take you into his arms. That was one of many hardships you had faced, but none of those would have prepared you for today.

A call had come in to the BAU at 9:53 am. The call rang to Aaron’s direct line, which meant it was a time sensitive case, usually a child abduction or in this case, a hostage situation. Aaron came out of his office swiftly, calling everyone’s attention without even speaking.

“There is a hostage situation at First Union bank. We’ve been called in by Virgina PD, who is already on the scene and SWAT is currently on their way as well. Everyone needs to gather their things and head to the garage” Aaron gave his orders, and everyone sprang into action.

As you all made your way to the government issued SUVs, Aaron continued briefing everyone and he gave out assignments.

“Alright Garcia and Reid, I want you two in the mobile command unit digging into our unsubs, we need to identify them. JJ, I need you to control the media with this, I don’t want any details getting out without my approval. Morgan and Prentiss go check in with SWAT and go over our plan. Y/N and Dave you will take point on the negotiations. Understood?” Aaron looked to everyone for confirmation.

There were collective nods, and everyone went to their separate posts to get started. You and Dave made your way over to one of the command center tents, discussing with the officers there that you would be in charge of the negotiations. They filled you in on what had happened thus far, and you worked to devise your initial approach. Dave and you had made contact with the unsubs, they were demanding a helicopter and one million dollars (a truly ridiculous request on their part). Approximately fifteen minutes later, Garcia and Reid rushed to where you, Dave and Aaron were standing.

“We have identified the unsubs! The two men are brothers, Michael and James Snyder. They are connected to at least eight other bank robberies around the northeastern United Staes. The woman, her name is Katiya Kuznetsov she is not connected to the robberies, but she is flagged under the FBI’s most wanted. She’s thought to be the mastermind behind dozens of explosions in North America from the last nine months.” Garcia explained. Aaron radioed to request the bomb squad.

“Why would she be working with these two? Robbing banks isn’t quite the same M.O. as blowing up buildings.” You questioned.

“We looked into it, and it seems that she may have connections to someone who owns a safety deposit box at this bank. We don’t know what is in it, but we were able to narrow down the list of potentials.” Reid answered.

“This changes things, we need to get in there and apprehend them. We need to get the civilians out. I think our best option would be for us to breach with SWAT and local PD.” Aaron explained.

“Hotch, that seems a little drastic don’t you think? If we just barge in there, who’s to say they don’t just start shooting the hostages. Dave and I were making progress and now that we know who they are, perhaps we can get them to break.” You could feel your anxiety eating away at you, the thought of Aaron barging in there terrified you.

“Sorry kid, but I’m with Aaron on this one. We were making some progress, but not enough and given this new information, I think it is safe to assume that there is probably a bomb in the bank somewhere, the sooner we get the hostages out, the better.” Rossi shut your idea down.

You could feel the bile rising up your throat. Your palms were starting to sweat and your pulse quickening. You knew what was about to happen, Aaron was going to give out assignments which meant he was diving headfirst into danger while he ensured your safety.

“Alright here’s what we will do, Morgan and I will go in the front, try to talk the unsubs down. Prentiss and Reid you will go through the back, with SWAT and the bomb squad try to locate the explosive and disable it. Garcia, I want you to keep eyes inside the bank the whole time, keep us posted of everything you see through comms. Dave and you can stay out here and monitor the phones, I want you to call in to distract them while we enter, I think it might buy us some leeway.” Aaron gave the assignments.

You gave Aaron a pointed look, one that expressed all of your nerves and anxiety. He looked back at you, it was stern as far as any onlooker could tell, but you could see the softness flash across his features. He was silently telling you that everything would be okay, and for a moment, you believed that it would be.

Time seemed to slow then. Everyone was moving, following orders hastily. But you, you were glued to your spot…Dave’s hand on your shoulder is what finally snapped you out of your thoughts.

“He’ll be okay kid.” Dave tried to soothe your nerves.

You called into the bank to try and steal the attention of the unsubs as Aaron had requested, all the while agents were moving through the bank. Suddenly Garcia’s voice rang over the comms.

“One of the unsubs slipped away. I’m assuming to get to the explosive. I am working to get the blueprints of the bank so we can figure out where it is set up.” Garcia rushed.

Gunshots echoed through the air, the comms were buzzing with shouts from Aaron, Morgan, Prentiss, Dave and some other voices you couldn’t pin down.

The fact that you could hear Aaron’s voice helped to calm your nerves as he clearly hadn’t been shot. His next words soothed your mind even more so.

“We have Michael and James in custody, Morgan is walking the hostages out now. I am going to go and assist the others in finding Katiya and the explosive.” Aaron called over the comms.

Dave could see you tense at Aaron’s words; he once again laid his hand on your shoulder in hopes to ease your mind. Morgan walked over to you and Dave after placing the unsubs in the police cars that were standing by.

What happened next brought your world crashing down.

The silence over the comms had been eerie. Everything paused and then it happened. The bank had exploded, right before your eyes. You had been far enough away that the blast hadn’t knocked you over, but it still left your ears ringing.

Had Morgan and Dave’s ears not already been ringing they definitely would have been after the scream that ripped through your body.

“NOO!!!!!” You screamed.

You couldn’t form a coherent thought; you sobbed and lurched your body forward in hopes of going to find Aaron. Before you could make it three steps, Morgan had his arms around your waist holding you back. He turned you around and held you while you pounded your fists against his chest.

“Sweetheart you can’t go in there. I know we have people in there and waiting for them to get out is going to feel like an eternity. But until we get any sort of confirmation, we need to try and stay positive.” Morgan explained.

Garcia and JJ joined you, Dave and Morgan, tears streaming down their faces, all of them silently hoping your team family would make it out unscathed.

You could feel it coming on, the more time had passed. Your breaths were shallow, body clammy, your vision was going blurry, you were having a hard time keeping yourself upright. Dave was the one to notice and lead you away from the group, he held your hands and was saying something about you needing to match his breathing.

“Dave I…I c-can’t. W-what if he doesn’t make it out? I w-would d-die without him Dave!” You hiccupped.

“He’s going to make it out. But remember that you are strong and no matter what happens you will make it through this.” Dave reminds you.

“No! Dave, you don’t understand without Aaron, sure, the rain would fall, the children would play, the tides would change but I-I would die.” You looked away from Dave momentarily “I die without you.” You whispered.

You saw heads start turning in the direction of the alleyway that was adjacent to what was once the bank, as you followed suit, the bile returned – easing its way up your throat.  A body bag, with no other signs of Aaron. Your mind jumped to the worst-case scenario and your legs finally gave out. Dave tried to catch you as you fell to the ground, another gut-wrenching sob ripping its way through you.

You didn’t register the loss of Dave’s arms around your shoulders, not until he moved to pull you up off the ground and turn you in the direction of the group of agents making their way towards you. You tried to protest, telling Dave that nothing mattered anymore, until he physically turned your chin towards them.

“Aaron?” It came out as an exhale, below a whisper.

“Aaron?” This time was a bit louder, gaining your voice back.

“Aaron!” A shout this time as you could see his eyes scanning the crowd for you.

His gaze snapped to you as you ran towards him, looking him over to ensure that he is unharmed before you launch yourself into his arms. He lifted you fully and allowed you to wrap your legs around his waist, he could feel your tears soaking the collar of his shirt. He gently shushed you assuring you that he was okay and that everyone was safe.

“T-the b-body bag, I-I thought it. I thought it was you, Aaron.”

“It was Katiya, she was trying to detonate it when we found her, we had just enough time to get to some sort of vault, but when it went off, the debris trapped us in. Honey, I am so sorry I scared you. I’m alright though, not even a scratch.” Aaron brushed his hand over the back of your head as you brought your feet back to the ground.

He looked into your eyes, he could tell that your brain was trying to process everything, all the emotions you had just been feeling, along with the relief you must be feeling now. He couldn’t help himself when he leaned in and kissed you. It was a kiss that said I was terrified of losing you but we’re safe and here together now. As he pulled away, you rested your foreheads against one another’s.

You knew that there would be tons of questions from the team but honestly in this moment you couldn’t care less because Aaron was safe and back in your arms. This moment that you were sharing allowed a few things to become clear for you and Aaron. You knew that he was the one for you, nobody else, and you were sure you wouldn’t survive losing him. He came to realize that it was time for him to pull that ring from the back of his sock drawer and finally ask you for forever, he thought that maybe it was time for him to step back and take that promotion Strauss had continuously offered. All he knew was that he couldn’t risk what you two had. Without you…he couldn’t even finish the thought because that wasn’t even an option.

[amethystarachnid]

Hello! Could I ask for Steve Rogers for your Marvel Christmas specials? Number 23 (Santa’s Little Helper  – You and your character end up volunteering together at a local holiday charity or helping out in a Christmas toy drive.) please.

I don't know why, but I think he's the perfect match for something like volunteering for charity, especially if it were for kids in need. Just some sweet sweet fluff, I know the kids would love to play around with him (climbing all over him y'know)

A PLACE TO STAY - part I

⤷ STEVE G. ROGERS

ᯓ★ Pairing: Steve G. Rogers x fem!reader

ᯓ★ Genre: fluff, some angst, more fluff at the end

ᯓ★ Request from: MARVEL Holiday special

ᯓ★ Story type: one shot

ᯓ★Part II

ᯓ★ Word count: 9k (I told you the fic wrote itself)

ᯓ★ Summary: Steve and y/n decide to buy some gifts for the kids in an orphanage, what they don't expect is to have a little girl attached to the hip. how will they leave now?

ᯓ★ TW(s): mentions of abandonment and abandonment issues

ᯓ★ I'm so sorry I know you asked just fluff but I swear the fic wrote itself, and I will sure as hell write a second part where Steve and Y/n adopt Olivia because I'm crying.

ᯓ★ My Masterlist

ᯓ★ MARVEL Holiday Special

ᯓ★ MARVEL Multiverse - choose an AU, pair it with your favorite character and make a request!

ᯓ★ Songs & Superheroes tales - The Game (to make a request, follow the rules on the link!)

ᯓ★ MARVEL Bingo

ᯓ★ English isn’t my first language

The soft hum of Christmas music plays from the speaker tucked into the corner of your apartment, filling the room with warmth and a sense of the season. Outside, snow falls lazily, blanketing Brooklyn in a pristine sheet of white. Inside, the two of you are curled up on the couch, a fuzzy throw blanket draped over your legs and a half-empty mug of cocoa forgotten on the coffee table.

Steve’s arm is slung over your shoulders, his fingers tracing idle patterns on your upper arm through the fabric of your sweater. It’s a lazy December evening, the kind where the world feels a little slower, a little softer, and you can’t think of anywhere else you’d rather be than here, in this little pocket of warmth with him.

“You comfortable?” he asks, his voice low and rumbling, a touch of amusement in his tone as he looks down at you. You’re nestled against his side, your head resting on his chest, listening to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat.

“Mhm,” you murmur, not bothering to lift your head. “I could stay like this forever.”

His chuckle vibrates through you, deep and rich. “Not a bad idea. We can hibernate till spring.”

You tilt your head up to look at him, catching the teasing glint in his blue eyes. His hair is slightly mussed, one of your favorite looks on him, and his sweater—a soft navy one you’d insisted he get because it matched his eyes—clings to him in a way that makes you want to tug him even closer.

“I think you’d get stir-crazy after a day,” you say, smiling. “You’re not built for sitting still, Rogers.”

“Maybe,” he concedes, a small grin tugging at the corner of his lips. “But if I’ve got you here with me, I think I could manage.”

Your heart squeezes at the way he says it, like it’s the simplest truth in the world. You don’t think you’ll ever get used to the way Steve looks at you, like you’re the most important thing in the room, in his life. You reach up to brush a strand of hair from his forehead, letting your fingers linger against his temple.

“I love you,” you say softly.

He doesn’t answer right away; he never rushes when he looks at you like this, like he’s savoring every second of it. Then he smiles, that slow, sweet smile that makes your knees weak even when you’re sitting down. “I love you, too,” he says, leaning down to press a kiss to your forehead.

For a moment, you let yourself sink into the quiet comfort of it all—the faint crackle of the fireplace app on your TV, the weight of his arm around you, the glow of the tiny Christmas tree you both decorated a week ago. Then Steve shifts slightly, his hand moving from your arm to rest on your thigh, and you catch the thoughtful look in his eyes.

“What’s on your mind?” you ask, tilting your head to study him.

He hesitates, which is rare for him. Steve’s always been the type to speak his mind, but you’ve learned that sometimes he takes his time when it’s something that really matters to him.

“There’s something I’ve been thinking about,” he says finally. “Something I wanted to ask you.”

“Okay,” you say slowly, sitting up a little so you can face him better. “What is it?”

He runs a hand through his hair, glancing toward the window as if he’s searching for the right words. When he looks back at you, there’s a softness in his expression that makes your heart ache a little.

“You know how much I love Christmas,” he begins, a small smile tugging at his lips. “And not just the lights and the music and all that. It’s always been about... giving back. Doing something meaningful.”

You nod, already feeling a warmth spread through you at the direction this is going. “That sounds like you,” you say, your smile matching his.

“Well,” he continues, his fingers brushing against yours, “I was thinking. This year, maybe we could do something together. Something for kids who don’t have as much. Like in orphanages, or shelters. We could bring them gifts, spend some time with them. Make their Christmas a little brighter.”

Your chest tightens at the sincerity in his voice, the way his eyes hold yours like this idea means the world to him. He’s always been like this—big heart, bigger dreams. And he’s always thinking about how to make the world a better place, one person at a time.

“That’s a beautiful idea, Steve,” you say, your voice barely above a whisper. “Of course I’ll help. I’d love to.”

The way his face lights up is enough to make you forget the chill outside, forget everything but him. “You mean it?” he asks, like he can’t quite believe you’d say no but still needs to hear you confirm it.

“Of course,” you say, squeezing his hand. “We’ll make it happen. Whatever you need.”

For a moment, he just looks at you, his smile soft and grateful. Then he leans in, cupping your face with one hand as he kisses you. It’s slow and sweet, the kind of kiss that makes your toes curl under the blanket and your heart feel like it’s trying to escape your chest.

When he pulls back, his forehead rests against yours, and you can’t help but smile at how close he keeps you. “You’re amazing, you know that?” he murmurs.

“I try,” you tease, though your cheeks are warm from his words.

He laughs, a sound that feels like sunshine breaking through the snowstorm outside. “We’ll need to start planning soon,” he says. “I was thinking we could make it a mix of things—gifts, maybe some activities. And definitely food. Can’t forget the food.”

You nod along, already picturing the two of you wrapping presents and brainstorming ideas together. “Sounds perfect,” you say. “And you know I’m good with organizing stuff. Just tell me what you need.”

Steve’s grin widens, and he pulls you back against his chest, holding you close like he can’t quite let go yet. “What did I do to deserve you?” he asks, half to himself.

“You saved the world a couple of times,” you reply with a grin, earning another laugh from him.

“You make it sound so casual,” he says, shaking his head.

You just smile and settle back into his embrace, letting the warmth of him and the moment wrap around you like a second blanket. Outside, the snow keeps falling, and inside, you know this is going to be a Christmas to remember.

The following weekend, after a week of planning and buying supplies, you and Steve are seated together at the kitchen table in your Brooklyn apartment, an array of colorful gift bags, wrapping paper, and toys scattered around you. The room is cozy, the hum of the heater mingling with the faint sound of the radio playing a Christmas song. It’s the perfect kind of atmosphere, warm and inviting, for the task you’ve set out to do.

You unwrap another toy—a little plush giraffe—and place it carefully into one of the gift bags. Steve does the same with a toy truck, grinning as he reads the label on the back. “I’m just saying, I’d be pretty excited if someone gave me one of these,” he says, giving the truck a little shake as though testing it out.

“You’re 100% a kid at heart,” you reply with a laugh. “But yeah, I think they’re going to love these.”

Steve shoots you a sideways glance, eyes glinting with mischief. “Are you calling me immature?”

“Not at all,” you tease, sticking your tongue out at him. “I’m just saying you’re very easy to shop for.”

He pretends to look hurt, dramatically clutching his chest. “Ouch, that cuts deep.”

You can’t help but giggle at his theatrics, your heart swelling as you watch him. You’ve always known Steve had a playful side, but it’s moments like this that remind you how much you love his ability to make even the most mundane tasks fun.

The two of you have spent the last few hours going through the kids’ wishlists, some of which were surprisingly simple, while others tugged at your heart. One little girl, age seven, asked for a "doll with long hair." Another boy, maybe around ten, wrote that he wanted "a toy airplane, but one that could fly like a real one." You’re constantly amazed by the purity of their wishes, the things they dream of that seem so small yet are filled with so much hope.

“That’s a pretty big ask for a toy airplane,” you say, looking over at Steve. “What do you think? Should we get him something that flies, or...?”

Steve rubs his chin thoughtfully. “Something that actually flies?” He grins at you, his eyes twinkling. “You know I’m always down for a challenge, but I think we should stick with something more realistic. How about a remote-controlled one? They’re fun, and it’s not like the kid’s asking for a jet.”

You nod, smiling at his practicality. “Good call. We’ll grab one of those.”

After a few more hours of sorting through toys, checking and double-checking the lists, you and Steve are finally finished. You stretch your arms over your head and look at the pile of wrapped gifts you’ve managed to create. It’s a satisfying sight—brightly colored paper, neat bows, and the satisfaction of knowing these toys are going to bring joy to kids who might otherwise go without.

“I think we’re done here,” you say, smiling at Steve, who is just finishing the last bit of wrapping on a small box.

“I think you’re right,” he says, glancing around at the festive chaos of wrapping supplies scattered across the table. “This is actually kind of fun. We should do this every year.”

You beam up at him. “Agreed. And next year, we’ll probably need a bigger table.”

After packing everything up into several large bags, Steve helps you load them into the back of his car. The trunk is already half-filled, and as you stand side by side, looking over the pile of gifts, Steve wraps an arm around your shoulders.

“You’re pretty amazing, you know that?” he murmurs.

You glance up at him, your smile softening. “Right back at you. You came up with this idea, remember?”

“Yeah, but you’re the one who made it happen,” he says, brushing a stray lock of hair behind your ear. His touch is gentle, his gaze soft as he studies you. “I couldn’t have done any of this without you.”

Your heart skips a beat, and for a moment, you forget about the gifts, the plans, everything except Steve’s presence. “I love you,” you whisper.

He smiles, leaning down to kiss your forehead. “I love you, too.”

The drive to the orphanage is peaceful, the streets of Brooklyn decorated with twinkling lights and signs of holiday cheer. You both chat about your plans for the rest of the day—maybe grab a coffee afterward, or walk around the city—but the closer you get to your destination, the more your thoughts turn to the kids and what they might be like. You wonder if they’ll be excited, nervous, or shy. It’s all a bit of an unknown, but you’re both determined to make it special for them, no matter what.

As you pull up to the orphanage, a large, older building with a faded red brick exterior, you can see children peeking out from behind the windows, their curious faces illuminated by the soft glow of the Christmas lights draped across the building. You grab the bags of gifts from the trunk, and Steve takes the lead, walking toward the entrance, holding the door open for you.

The building’s interior is warm, with a low hum of activity—kids running around, laughing, some playing with older toys, others reading books in the corner. You both stand in the doorway for a moment, taking it all in.

A woman who must be one of the caretakers approaches, her face lighting up as she sees you both. “You must be Mr. Rogers and Miss Y/n,” she says warmly. “Thank you so much for coming. The kids are going to be so excited!”

Steve smiles, a little bashful as always, but his voice is confident. “We’re happy to be here. We’ve got lots of gifts for them.”

The caretaker’s eyes flicker between you and Steve, and you can see a hint of surprise, though she hides it quickly. “It’s really kind of you,” she says. “We don’t get many visitors, especially not ones with such... generous hearts.”

“We’re just glad to help,” you reply with a smile, adjusting the strap of your bag.

With the gifts handed off to the staff, you’re introduced to the children. There are a lot of them—some shy, others enthusiastic, but all of them curious about the strangers in their midst. You and Steve work together to hand out the presents, and there’s something magical about seeing the kids’ faces light up as they unwrap their gifts. A shy little girl squeals in delight as she pulls a stuffed unicorn from her gift bag, and a boy nearly trips over his feet in excitement as he gets his remote-controlled airplane. The joy in their eyes makes the whole experience worth it.

But there’s one little girl who stands out from the crowd.

She’s tiny, maybe three years old, with soft, curly brown hair and big, brown eyes that never seem to leave you. She’s holding a teddy bear close to her chest, and when you kneel down to give her a gift, her gaze flickers between you and Steve, her lip trembling.

“Hi there,” you say softly, offering her a brightly wrapped present. “This is for you.”

Her eyes widen as she takes it, clinging to her teddy bear with one hand while carefully unwrapping the paper. You watch her closely, noticing how she seems a little unsure of everything—her speech not quite clear as she murmurs something unintelligible under her breath. You don’t mind, though. You’re in no rush. You’re here for her, for all of them.

Steve squats down beside you, his large hand hovering just above her shoulder in a quiet show of reassurance. “What’s your name, little one?” he asks gently.

The girl looks up at him, her eyes wide as she shifts her gaze from you to him. After a beat, she gives a little shrug, her brow furrowing as if she’s unsure how to respond. You smile softly and tilt your head toward her.

“It’s okay,” you say, your voice gentle and soothing. “You don’t have to tell us if you don’t want to. But we’re really happy you’re here.”

Her eyes stay fixed on you, still uncertain but drawn to the calmness in your voice. She pulls the ribbon off her gift, her tiny fingers fumbling with it for a moment before she manages to untie it, revealing a small, colorful doll.

A smile tugs at the corners of her lips, and she looks up at you, her eyes a little brighter. Her voice is soft, but you can just make out the words she stumbles through. “Doll... for me?”

You nod, your heart swelling. “Yes, sweetheart. That one’s all for you.”

She hugs it close to her chest, glancing back and forth between you and Steve, before shyly reaching out for your hand. You gently take it, your heart swelling at the small but trusting gesture. She might be too shy to speak much, but her little hand in yours speaks volumes.

Steve’s gaze softens as he watches the interaction, his hand resting lightly on her head. “She’s got a good grip for someone so little,” he murmurs.

You nod, smiling at the way the little girl is clinging to you, her eyes softening as she curls into your side. “She’s a sweet one,” you say, your voice low as you kneel down beside her, letting her feel safe and calm in your presence.

As the day goes on, the room fills with more laughter and joy, and the connection with the children deepens. But it’s this little girl, the one so small and yet so full of trust, who tugs most at your heartstrings. She doesn’t speak much, but when she reaches for you or Steve, you know she’s found a quiet comfort in both of you.

The morning slips by in a flurry of laughter, bright eyes, and the shuffle of little feet. The toys you and Steve brought are scattered all around the orphanage’s common room, and the kids are absolutely absorbed in them—trucks zooming across the floor, dolls being tucked into makeshift beds, and a few kids giggling as they watch the remote-controlled airplane soar through the air.

Steve, of course, is in his element, kneeling down beside the boys to help them maneuver their toy trucks. The grin on his face is enough to make anyone believe he’s reliving his own childhood. You can’t help but watch him, feeling that familiar warmth spread through you at the sight of him. He’s so good with the kids, so patient, so kind. He’s always been a hero, but in moments like this, you see him in a new light—he’s not just Captain America; he’s just a man who wants to make the world better, one small moment at a time.

As he engages with the boys, you turn your attention back to the little girl who’s been quietly following you. She’s still clutching her doll close to her chest, her eyes a little unsure, but there’s something in the way she watches you—something soft, something tentative, that tells you she’s starting to feel a little less guarded. You smile gently, crouching down to her level, and the moment your eyes meet, she ducks her head shyly, clutching her doll even tighter.

“Hey there,” you say softly, trying to coax her out of her shell. “You like your new doll?”

She looks up at you then, her dark eyes wide, as if she’s not quite sure what to make of your question. Slowly, she nods, her gaze flickering between you and the doll. Her little fingers run over the fabric of its dress as she hugs it to her chest.

“Pretty,” she murmurs in a soft, childlike voice, the words almost too quiet to hear.

You smile, feeling a warmth spread in your chest at the sound of her voice. “Yeah, she’s pretty. Just like you.”

The girl doesn’t respond, but she looks up at you again, her lips curling into the faintest of smiles. It’s enough to make you feel like you’ve won a small victory. The quiet way she’s speaking, the way she’s reaching out to you, is a sign that she’s starting to trust you, even if only a little.

You reach out slowly, letting her take her time. “Do you want me to hold her for a while?”

The girl hesitates, looking down at the doll and then back at you. Slowly, she reaches out and hands you the doll, her fingers brushing yours. It’s a small gesture, but it means so much to you. You cradle the doll in your arms, and for the first time, the little girl seems to relax a little, stepping a fraction closer to you.

“Thank you,” you whisper, your voice full of quiet admiration for how brave she’s being.

Just as you’re about to say something else, a loud burst of laughter rings out across the room, and you turn to see Steve kneeling on the floor with the older boys, showing them how to make the remote-controlled airplane do loops in the air. One of the boys is cheering, clapping his hands in excitement, while the others are watching with wide eyes.

The sight of Steve interacting with the other children seems to pull your attention away for just a moment, and when you glance back at the little girl, you’re surprised to find her standing right next to you, her gaze fixed on Steve with a mix of curiosity and wariness.

“Steve’s fun,” you say, offering her a gentle smile. “He’s really good at playing.”

The girl looks up at you with a small frown, still holding onto her doll but inching closer to you. “Steve?” she repeats softly, as if testing the name on her lips.

“Yeah, Steve,” you affirm, your voice gentle. “He’s a good friend.”

Her gaze flickers toward Steve, who’s still helping the kids with their toys. His laughter rings out, so easy and light, and the girl takes another step closer to you, her fingers tentatively reaching for your hand. You smile softly, taking her hand in yours.

“That’s Steve,” you say again, nodding toward him. “He’s nice.”

At first, the girl hesitates, but after a few moments, she seems to relax a little, still clinging to you, but her eyes on Steve now. It’s like she’s testing him in her own way, trying to decide if she can trust him, too.

“Play?” she asks in a tiny voice, pointing toward Steve. Her words are still so soft, and her speech is still uncertain, like she’s not yet comfortable with the world around her. But there’s an openness in her that makes your heart ache a little.

“Do you want to go play with him?” you ask, kneeling down to her level again. “You can. I bet he’d love to play with you.”

The little girl looks at you, and for a long moment, it seems like she’s not sure. But then, she takes another step closer to Steve, her doll still firmly clutched to her chest. You watch her with a quiet sense of hope, feeling your heart swell with the tiniest bit of pride. She’s trusting you. And now, it seems like she’s starting to trust Steve, too.

Steve catches sight of her moving toward him and offers a warm smile. “Hey there, little one,” he greets her softly. “You want to play with us?”

The girl looks at him for a moment, her eyes still uncertain, but she nods slowly, taking another cautious step toward him. Her tiny hand reaches for his, and Steve gently takes it, kneeling down so he’s at her level.

“Want to fly the airplane with me?” he asks in a calm, kind voice.

The girl looks at the airplane, her gaze lighting up for just a moment before she looks back at you. She’s still holding onto her doll, but she’s looking at Steve now, waiting for his next move.

“It’s really easy,” Steve continues, gently guiding her to sit beside him. “You just press the button here, like this.” He presses a button on the remote, and the airplane zooms into the air.

The girl watches, eyes wide with awe. She turns to you, her gaze searching for approval.

“It’s safe,” you assure her with a smile. “Steve’s really good at it. You can try it, if you want.”

After a long pause, she turns back to Steve, a little more confident now. “Try?” she asks, her voice a little stronger this time.

“You bet,” Steve says, his voice full of encouragement. “I’ll show you how. Just press this button.”

With a tentative hand, the girl reaches out, her tiny fingers brushing the remote. Steve guides her hand gently, and when the airplane soars into the air again, her face lights up with joy.

You watch the interaction with a quiet sense of happiness, but at the same time, there’s something pulling at your heart. The little girl is so small, so fragile, and yet she’s starting to trust not only you but Steve as well. It’s like she’s blossoming before your eyes, and it feels like a privilege to witness it.

But as the day goes on, a small pang of worry starts to creep into the back of your mind. You know how these moments go. You know that sometimes, when kids get attached, it can be hard for them to understand why people leave.

As you’re helping a few of the younger children color pictures, one of the caretakers—an older woman with kind eyes—approaches you. She’s got a solemn expression on her face as she quietly pulls you aside. Steve’s still busy with the other kids, so he doesn’t notice the exchange.

“Miss Y/n, Mr. Rogers,” she begins, her voice low and cautious. “I’m so grateful for the gifts and for everything you’ve done for these children today, but… there’s something you should know about the little girl who’s been sticking to you.”

Your stomach tightens. “What’s wrong?”

The caretaker looks over at the little girl, who’s still playing with Steve, her focus entirely on the remote-controlled airplane. “Her name is Olivia,” she says quietly. “She’s been here since she was about one, and… well, she’s had a hard time with attachments.”

Your heart sinks a little. You try to keep your voice calm. “What do you mean?”

The caretaker hesitates for a moment, glancing at the girl again. “She was abandoned. Left at the hospital when she was a baby. And ever since, she’s had a difficult time trusting people. She gets attached easily, but when people leave her, she—” The woman trails off, clearly not wanting to say it out loud.

When she speaks again, it’s with a quiet sense of warning. “She’s just starting to open up to you two. But if she gets too attached, if she starts to think of you as her… family, it could break her when you leave.”

You look at the little girl—Olivia—playing with Steve. She’s so innocent, so sweet, and the idea of her being hurt is almost unbearable.

“I understand,” you say softly, feeling a knot form in your throat. “We’ll be careful.”

But as you glance back at Olivia, sitting on Steve’s knee, her eyes wide with wonder, you know that it’s already too late. She’s already attached to you both in a way that no one can truly predict, and as much as you want to protect her, you know there’s nothing you can do to stop the inevitable heartbreak. The heartache that will come when she realizes you’re not staying.

And yet, despite the warning, despite the ache in your chest, you find yourself taking another step toward her, watching her smile up at Steve, her tiny hand resting in his. Some part of you knows that whatever happens, whatever heartbreak comes next, this moment, this tiny piece of joy, is worth everything.

As the day continues, the laughter and excitement in the orphanage grow louder, the sound of children’s voices mingling with the cheerful chime of Christmas music in the background. The toy airplane flies through the air again, spinning in dizzying loops, and Steve’s gentle voice guides Olivia’s small hands as she tries to control it, her grip still unsure but filled with an eagerness to learn.

You watch the two of them from the corner of the room, your heart swelling as you see how Steve is patiently showing Olivia how to work the controls, guiding her small hands with the same careful attention he always gives everyone. Olivia, in turn, seems captivated, her wide eyes focused solely on the airplane as it soars and dips. She lets out a small giggle when it flies low, and you can see a flicker of something like trust beginning to settle in her features.

A soft pull at your sleeve draws your attention, and you turn to find Olivia standing right beside you again, her big brown eyes wide and expectant.

“Y/n,” she says in a soft voice, and the way she says your name makes your heart ache. It’s still so fragile, so tentative, but there’s a quiet confidence behind it. “Pick up?”

You blink, surprised. For most of the day, Olivia has been content to stay a few steps away, observing, watching as you and Steve interacted with the other children. She hadn’t made any real attempt to get closer to either of you, and the fact that she was now reaching out in this way is a small but significant shift. Your chest tightens as you realize what this means.

“You want me to hold you?” you ask, your voice soft and full of tenderness.

Olivia nods, her tiny hands reaching up toward you, and there’s a quiet plea in her eyes—one that says she’s seeking comfort, seeking warmth in the middle of the excitement, something that’s just for her.

Without hesitation, you bend down, scooping her up gently, being careful not to disturb the doll she’s still clutching. Her tiny body relaxes as she’s lifted into your arms, and she nuzzles against your chest, her head resting on your shoulder. You feel the weight of her trust settle in your arms, and for a moment, you close your eyes, savoring the feeling. She’s so small, so fragile, and yet she has placed her trust in you so completely.

“Is this okay?” you ask, your voice barely above a whisper as you hold her close.

She responds with a soft, contented hum, her little hand wrapping around your neck, clinging to you as if she’s afraid you might disappear. You tighten your hold on her, making sure she feels safe in your embrace.

From across the room, Steve watches the two of you, a soft smile on his lips as he continues to play with the other children. But his gaze flickers back to Olivia now and then, his protective instincts flaring in ways you can only imagine.

You shift slightly, carrying Olivia toward the group of kids Steve is playing with. As you approach, Steve looks up and gives you a quiet nod, his smile widening when he sees how Olivia has settled into your arms.

“She’s getting more comfortable, huh?” Steve says, his voice soft, but there’s a hint of both pride and concern in it.

“Yeah,” you reply, your tone full of quiet wonder. “She really is.”

Olivia doesn’t say anything, but her fingers curl around your shirt, her head still resting on your shoulder. It’s as if she’s found a place she can finally feel safe—something that, up until now, might have felt impossible for her. There’s something in the way she’s clinging to you that makes your heart ache with a mixture of love and fear. She’s so little, and the world can be so big and unpredictable, but right now, in this moment, she’s holding on to you with everything she’s got.

Steve moves closer, kneeling down to be at her eye level. He reaches out a hand, gentle and steady. “Olivia,” he says softly, his voice full of warmth. “You want to play some more? We’ve got a lot of fun toys.”

Olivia looks up at him with big eyes, her small face still somewhat wary. For a moment, she seems unsure. But then, she surprises you both by shifting her little body in your arms and turning toward Steve. There’s a softness in her gaze now, a hesitant trust that wasn’t there before.

“Play,” she says in that tiny voice, her words still so soft but filled with a quiet determination.

You let out a small breath of relief, your grip on her loosening just enough for her to be able to step away from you. But even as she moves toward Steve, she reaches back for you with a small, almost imperceptible gesture. Her fingers brush yours, seeking that connection.

You smile, touching her hand briefly before letting her go to Steve. It’s a small step, but it’s one that means everything.

Steve, ever the patient one, offers his hand to Olivia, guiding her toward a small table where the other kids are building with blocks. As he walks with her, his smile never fades, even as she seems to shy away slightly from the other children. He gives her space, letting her explore on her own terms.

“You wanna help me build a tower?” Steve asks her, his voice warm and encouraging.

Olivia looks up at him, her lips curling into a shy smile. “Tower?” she repeats, sounding out the word carefully.

“Yeah, a big one,” Steve affirms. “I think you’re gonna be great at it.”

She nods, her focus now entirely on the colorful blocks in front of her. She picks one up carefully, turning it over in her small hands. You watch her from where you’re standing, a quiet sense of pride swelling in your chest. This little girl, who had been so withdrawn just hours ago, is now actively participating, engaging with the world around her.

As you step back, you join the other children who are sitting on the floor, coloring pictures or playing with dolls. You try to keep an eye on Olivia without hovering too closely, giving her the space she needs to grow and trust on her own terms. It’s not easy, though, because your heart keeps pulling you back to her. You can’t help but worry about her, about what’s going to happen when the day comes to an end and you both have to leave.

For now, though, you try to focus on the present. The kids around you are still deep in their own activities, and there’s a sense of joy in the room, one that you can feel radiating from them. It’s infectious, this energy, and it makes you grateful for the opportunity to spend this time with them, to give them a small piece of happiness.

Olivia, it seems, is growing more comfortable with Steve. She’s fully immersed in building a tower now, and when she picks up another block, she looks up at him for reassurance. “More?” she asks, and Steve chuckles, nodding.

“Of course, more. We’ll make it the biggest tower ever.”

Her eyes light up, and she enthusiastically starts stacking more blocks, the tower growing taller and taller with each passing moment. Steve doesn’t rush her, doesn’t push her to go faster. He simply watches her, offering encouragement when needed, making sure she feels proud of every little step she takes.

The sun is beginning to dip below the horizon, casting long shadows across the orphanage as the day winds down. The cheerful chaos of children’s laughter and playful chatter starts to quiet, the toys being gathered up, the Christmas music fading to a gentle hum in the background. The once-bright room is now filled with a soft, melancholy glow, signaling the end of the day.

You can’t help but feel the bittersweetness of it all. The day has been filled with so much joy—so many smiles, so much laughter. And yet, as the clock ticks on and the children begin to gather their things, a heavy weight settles in your chest. You know what’s coming. You know that the moment you and Steve walk out the door, you’ll be leaving behind a part of yourself, a piece of your heart, with these children, especially with Olivia.

As you stand near the door, watching as the children slowly start to gather their jackets and shoes, your gaze drifts to Olivia. She’s standing near the coat rack, her tiny hands reaching for her jacket with the same determination you’ve seen in her all day. Her wide, trusting eyes are fixed on you, and for a moment, you forget to breathe.

Steve is at your side, his expression equally heavy, his hand resting on your shoulder as you both watch the little girl from a distance.

“I think she’s getting ready to leave with us,” you whisper, your heart aching as you see Olivia struggling to put on her coat, her movements clumsy, her tiny fingers fumbling with the buttons. It’s like she’s already made up her mind that you’re going to take her home with you.

“Yeah,” Steve replies quietly, his voice rough, filled with a quiet pain that mirrors your own. “She’s really attached.”

You take a deep breath, but it feels like there’s a lump lodged in your throat. The promise you’d made to her—to come back and see her again—feels almost impossible in this moment. How can you leave a little girl who’s already started to trust you, to care for you, when all she wants is to stay with you?

Slowly, you step toward her, trying to keep the tears at bay. Olivia has finally managed to get her jacket on, and now she’s walking toward you, her small legs moving with a determined little waddle. When she reaches you, she lifts her arms up, holding her jacket out to you with a hopeful look on her face.

“Go now?” she asks, her voice small but insistent, her lips trembling with the effort of saying the words.

You kneel down to her level, your heart hammering in your chest. You swallow hard, forcing yourself to meet her eyes. “Olivia, sweetheart,” you say softly, your voice barely above a whisper, “we can’t take you with us right now.”

Olivia blinks up at you, her eyes wide and confused. “But go now?” she repeats, her little hands clutching at her jacket, her expression one of complete innocence and trust.

Steve crouches down next to you, his own heart breaking as he reaches out to gently rest a hand on Olivia’s shoulder. “Sweetheart, we can’t take you home with us today,” he says gently, his voice full of warmth but tinged with sorrow. “You have to stay here for now. But we promise we’ll come back. We’ll see you again soon, okay?”

The words come out easily, but the promise feels like it’s weighing a ton on your heart. You know she doesn’t fully understand, not in the way an adult would, but she’s heard the word "promise" before, and she’s holding on to it as though it’s the most important thing in the world. Her face scrunches up, and her small lips tremble.

“No,” she says, shaking her head frantically. “Stay with you. Please.”

Your heart cracks at the desperation in her voice, at the sheer helplessness in her small form. You reach out, wrapping your arms around her in a gentle embrace, holding her close as her body trembles in your arms.

“Oh, baby, I wish we could,” you whisper, your voice thick with emotion. “I really do.”

Olivia clings to you, her little arms wrapped around your neck in a tight hug, as though she’s trying to hold on to you for dear life. The small, helpless sob that escapes her lips pierces your heart, and for a moment, you feel like you’re going to break. You rub her back gently, trying to soothe her, trying to tell her everything’s going to be okay.

But it’s not okay. It’s not okay for her. Not when she’s so desperate for love, for safety, for someone to hold her and take her home. The tears in her eyes are a reflection of all the things she’s been through, all the abandonment, the fear, the loneliness. And now, she’s finally found something she can hold on to, someone who loves her, even if just for a short while. And the idea of losing that… of losing you… is too much for her to bear.

“Please,” she whispers again, her voice cracking as she pulls away slightly, looking at you with tear-filled eyes. “Don’t leave me.”

You feel your own tears begin to fall, and you quickly swipe them away, trying to be strong for her. “Olivia, we’ll come back,” you promise again, your voice breaking slightly. “We’ll come back and see you. We won’t forget about you, okay?”

But even as the words leave your lips, you can see the doubt in her eyes. She’s been abandoned before, left alone by the people who were supposed to take care of her. Your promise feels like just another thing she’s heard before, another empty promise that’s been broken. And that realization, the understanding that she’s already been through so much and still doesn’t trust that anyone will come back for her, makes your heart break even more.

Steve kneels down beside the two of you, and for a moment, he doesn’t speak. His hand rests on Olivia’s back, and his eyes are filled with the same sorrow that you’re feeling. He doesn’t know how to fix this, how to ease her pain. All he can do is be here, offering her comfort, offering her warmth in this moment.

“I know it’s hard,” Steve says softly, his voice filled with quiet tenderness. “But we’ll come back. We’ll be here again, and we’ll make sure you’re okay. You’re not alone, Olivia.”

But the little girl doesn’t seem to hear him. Instead, she pulls away from you completely, her small hands pushing against your chest as she backs away, her sobs growing louder.

“No, no!” she cries, her voice shaking with the force of her emotion. “I want to go with you!”

The sound of her tears rips through you like a blade, and you’re not sure how to react. You want to hold her, to comfort her, to make everything okay, but you know that this is a hurt you can’t fix. Not right now. Not in this moment.

Steve stands up, his hand reaching for you as he gives Olivia one last, long look. You see the same look in his eyes—one of helplessness, one of sorrow. You know he’s feeling the same thing you are: the ache of leaving this sweet, innocent little girl who’s finally found something to hold on to.

“We’ll be back, Olivia,” you say one last time, your voice breaking. “I promise.”

The words sound hollow even to you, and you know that the moment you leave, she won’t understand. You can only hope that in time, the promise will mean something to her.

With a heavy heart, you turn away from Olivia, feeling as if you’re leaving a piece of yourself behind. Steve follows you, his hand brushing against your back as you both make your way to the door.

The sound of Olivia’s sobs follows you all the way to the exit, echoing in your ears as you step out of the orphanage. And with every step, it feels as though your heart is breaking just a little bit more.

When you finally get to the apartment, the silence feels deafening. The weight of the day, the weight of Olivia’s tears, is still heavy in the air. You try to focus on something else, anything else, but all you can think about is the little girl you had to leave behind. The little girl who just wanted to be loved.

You sit down on the couch, your hands shaking as you remove your coat, and Steve follows you, sitting beside you, but there’s a coldness in the room now, an emptiness that wasn’t there before. You can feel the tears welling up in your eyes, and you try to hold them back, but the weight of it all is too much.

“I don’t know how we’re supposed to do this,” you whisper, your voice trembling as the tears finally fall.

Steve pulls you close, wrapping his arms around you as you bury your face in his chest. His hand strokes your hair gently, and for a moment, neither of you says anything. There’s nothing to say, really. The pain is too raw, too fresh.

“I know,” Steve says quietly. “I know. It’s hard. I don’t know how we’re supposed to do this either.”

But as you hold each other, you know there’s nothing else to do except try to keep your promise. To keep coming back. To keep showing up for Olivia, even if it means facing this heartbreaking reality every time.

For now, though, you let the tears come. And when you close your eyes, you can still see Olivia’s face, the way she cried, the way she reached for you, and you know, deep down, that she’ll stay with you in your heart. Forever.

The days following that heart-wrenching goodbye at the orphanage were difficult, but in a way, they also brought a sense of purpose. After the promise to Olivia, you and Steve began returning to the orphanage as often as you could, every other day, just as you’d said you would. It wasn’t always easy to make time for those visits, but seeing Olivia’s face light up the moment she saw you both made everything worth it.

Each visit began to feel like part of your routine. The orphanage became a second home of sorts. You and Steve would walk through the doors, already expecting to be met by the eager eyes of the other children. But it was Olivia who always sought you out first, her face breaking into a wide, joyful smile the moment she spotted you.

“Y/n! Steve!” she would call, running to meet you with her arms wide open. The joy in her voice was unmistakable, the sparkle in her eyes shining as brightly as the Christmas lights still twinkling above the doors.

Every time you saw her, you couldn’t help but feel your heart swell. She was growing more comfortable with you both, more trusting. You would spend hours with her, building towers, drawing pictures, playing with the toys you’d brought, anything that made her happy. And in return, her love for you both seemed to deepen with each passing visit.

There was something undeniably special about Olivia—something that pulled you in every time you saw her. The way she would snuggle into your arms for comfort, the way she’d tug on Steve’s sleeve when she needed help, and the way her face would light up when either of you showed her affection. She had an innocence that you couldn’t help but protect, something about her that made you feel like she deserved all the love the world could give.

One afternoon, as you and Steve walked into the orphanage, you immediately spotted Olivia sitting on the floor, playing with a puzzle. She looked up when she heard your footsteps, and her face broke into a delighted grin.

“Y/n! Steve!” she called excitedly, rushing over to you both. Her little arms stretched wide, and you both knelt down to meet her, your arms open as she threw herself into your embrace.

It had become a comforting routine. Every time you walked in, the other children would eagerly welcome you, but it was always Olivia who seemed to run to you the fastest, her need for connection clear.

You and Steve made it a point to always be there, every other day. Sometimes, you’d bring toys, other times you’d just spend time with her—drawing, building things, or even just sitting and watching her play. It felt like the more time you spent with her, the more you understood her. The more you could see the layers of hurt and fear in her small eyes, but also the joy and hope that began to bloom in her as she spent time with you.

She had learned to trust you. And you had learned to love her.

One of those days, after spending the afternoon together, you and Steve walked with Olivia as she held your hand tightly, her small fingers curling around yours with a confidence she hadn’t had when you first met her.

“Are you ready to go home, sweetheart?” you asked her gently, your voice soft as you knelt down beside her.

She nodded eagerly, her face lighting up. “Home!” she repeated, the word a simple declaration that seemed to hold all the hopes and dreams of a little girl who had never truly known what it was like to have a place to call her own.

And in that moment, it hit you—the weight of it all. The idea that Olivia was waiting for someone to take her home. To give her a real family. You hadn’t expected it, but you had grown attached to her, deeply and irrevocably. The thought of her leaving the orphanage, of her being taken away by someone else, made your heart ache in a way you didn’t fully understand.

You looked at Steve, your heart in your throat. He was watching Olivia too, his eyes filled with the same love and tenderness that you felt for her.

“You okay?” you asked softly, your hand brushing against his.

He nodded slowly, his gaze never leaving Olivia. “Yeah,” he said quietly. “I just… I don’t know. I feel like we’re doing the right thing. Being here for her.”

You didn’t need to say anything more. You both knew what you meant.

The visits continued. Every other day, you found yourselves back in that small, brightly lit room with Olivia, spending hours just playing and talking with her. She was growing so much, and you could see the progress in her. She had become more confident, more comfortable. And every time you saw her face light up with that smile, you couldn’t help but think about her future.

As the weeks passed, you and Steve found yourselves more and more immersed in the routine of visiting Olivia. The orphanage had become a place of warmth and hope. You both began to talk about her future more—what she needed, what she deserved. You both had formed such a deep bond with her, and yet there was a nagging feeling, a longing, that neither of you could ignore.

One evening, as the winter air settled over Brooklyn and the two of you sat on the couch in your apartment, a quiet moment of stillness passed between you. The Christmas lights twinkled softly in the corner, casting a warm glow across the room.

Steve was the first to break the silence.

“Y/n,” he began, his voice low and contemplative, “I’ve been thinking a lot about Olivia lately.”

You turned your head to look at him, your heart beating a little faster. His eyes were filled with the same seriousness that you’d seen before, but this time, there was something else there—an undercurrent of hope, a quiet kind of yearning.

“I know,” you said softly. “I’ve been thinking about her a lot too. I think about her every day.”

Steve took a deep breath, his hands resting on his knees as he leaned forward slightly. “What do you think about… about becoming her parents?”

Your breath caught in your throat, and for a moment, you weren’t sure you heard him right. You looked at him, trying to read his face, searching for any sign that this wasn’t what it sounded like.

“What do you mean?” you asked, your voice barely above a whisper.

“I mean… adopting her,” Steve said, his words slow but firm. “I can’t stop thinking about how much she needs us. How much she needs love. And I want to give that to her. I want to give her a family. I want to be her father. And I know… I know you’ve felt the same way about her.”

Your chest tightened, the weight of his words sinking deep into your heart. You had thought about it too, many times, but the reality of it, of truly becoming her parents, seemed so overwhelming. There were so many things to consider, so many uncertainties. But the thought of it—of giving Olivia a family, of offering her a real home—made your heart swell with an emotion you couldn’t describe.

“I… I do,” you said, your voice thick with emotion. “I love her, Steve. I love her like she’s my own. I just didn’t know if we could actually do it.”

Steve’s expression softened, and he reached for your hand, his fingers lacing through yours. “I know it’s a big step. But I think we can do it. Together. We’ve already built such a bond with her. She trusts us. She’s already looking to us for that love and security. We can give her that. We can be her family.”

Tears welled up in your eyes as you looked at him. You never imagined that this was where your life would lead—to a point where you could offer a child the one thing she needed most: love and stability. And yet, as you looked at Steve, you realized that it was the one thing you both were ready for. To build a life together, with Olivia at the center of it all.

“I want to do it,” you said, your voice breaking. “I want to give her everything. I want to adopt her. I want to be her mom.”

Steve’s face lit up with the most beautiful smile you’d ever seen. He pulled you into a tight hug, his arms wrapping around you with a sense of finality. “You’re sure?” he asked, his voice soft, full of love and relief.

“I’m sure,” you whispered, clinging to him as if your life depended on it. “I’m sure, Steve.”

And in that moment, as you held each other close, everything else faded away. The doubts, the fears—they didn’t matter anymore. All that mattered was the love you both had for Olivia, and the life you were about to build together.

“Yes,” you said again, more firmly this time. “I want to adopt Olivia.”

Steve pulled back, his eyes shining with happiness and gratitude. “We’re going to be her parents. I can’t wait to give her the family she deserves.”

You smiled through your tears, your heart full of hope. This was the beginning of something beautiful, something real. A family, a future—together. And you knew, with all your heart, that this was just the beginning of the rest of your lives.

[getawayfox]

My favorite reclist of the year! It’s the best excuse to reread beloved fics and shout about them again. I couldn’t wait any longer to post it, so, without further ado: here are my personal favorites from 2023 and why I love them, along with a banner I’m really pleased with. 

Thank you, sweet writers, for giving us your wonderful stories. Wishing everyone a happy December and an amazing and soft new year!

I Fall On Grass by @tackytigerfic Drarry, T, 3.1k

I adore stories with mature characters and this one is no exception. It’s so charming: gentle pining over the years, throughout the realities of life and parenthood, written with such a light hand. And lovely worldbuilding of a slow life that they built for themselves, which left me smiling the whole day after reading it. It feels like a soft caress for my soul.

It’s Me or the Peacock by harrows Drarry, T, 4.6

Do you ever feel like reading a fun, lighthearted fic that will have you grinning all day? Look no further, this is the one. Picture this: established Drarry taking the plunge to move in together, except Draco is bringing his “avian third wheel” with him, adding a feathered twist to the mix. Harry can’t quite believe what’s happening and that’s not even the half of it. This fic is a delight!

Sun Shower by @moonmanatee Drarry, T, 6k

Meet Orkie (short for Snorkel), the delightful cat who loves his boy Harry very much. They share a special bond, silently understanding not to delve into the origins of their pasts. What matters most is their companionship and the comforting routine they’ve woven together. Now, enter Draco Malfoy, a fashion icon with phenomenal outfits, his mud-loving dog, Hubert, and a dash of mouthwatering culinary creations. Your heart will grow three sizes by the time you’re done reading; mine certainly did.

Birds Behaving Badly by @peachpety Drarry, E, 10.5k

Oh, this fic!! I swear my whole body was wiggling with delight when I read it – it’s hilarious and hot and so witty. Draco has a type, which leads to a fun case of mistaken identity, all artfully resolved with the intervention of a conniving seagull, Kevin. Brace yourself for some sassy Slytherin banter, side characters so vividly portrayed they’ll steal your heart (Goyle, I’m looking at you), and the enchanting backdrop of a magical Brighton in the summer. Cue the squeals of delight! 

A Saviour’s Guide to Manners and Decorum by @wolfpants Drarry, E, 13k

I have read every fic Wolf has written this year and, let me tell you, choosing just one feels like an impossible task – I wish I could include them all. But here is my pick, and it’s not because it happened to be my birthday gift. This fic is a gem, seamlessly blending humor with a soft, wistful touch (oh, and do I need to mention it’s also incredibly hot?). It resonates because Harry just wants to be accepted for who he is, refusing to change for anyone (as he rightly shouldn't!). Enter Draco, who is here to help, and not to “fix him”. Sprinkle that with a subtle hint of D/s dynamics, a generous serving of UST, and a sensual shaving scene, and you have got the perfect fic. LOVE!

I only want the ones I envy (I envy) by @porcelainheart3 Drarry, E, 13.5k

This fic is so stunning! A coming-out story with writing so clean and sharp it made me laugh out loud through (lots of) inevitable tears. It has a very competent magical inventor Draco, who wears sock garters(!). It has Harry on a self-discovery journey that feels so very real; with a heart-wrenching childhood flashback that will leave you shattered. It has the most supportive friends. It has banter and flirting and so many wonderful details (look closely at the newspaper in the fic for an extra dose of laughter). And let's not forget the most incredibly emotional blow job; talk about smut with feelings! It’s one of those fics that made me read the rest of the author’s catalog immediately (and trust me, you should too!).

A Time, Dark and Divine by @moonflower-rose Established Drarry, Draco/Ron/Harry, E, 17k

Oh boy oh boy oh boy, this fic is so scorching hot. And their dynamic is so complex: jealousy and possessiveness wrapped up in a delicious package of a boys' trip in Thailand. A stunning Ron POV filled to the brim with complicated history and tension, incredible characterization for all three of them, culminating, inevitably, in hot-hot-hot sex. I couldn’t get this story out of my head for days. If you, like me, like feelings with your smut, this one’s for you! 

Waking Up Slow by @sweet-s0rr0w and @ihopeyoubothstaysafefromharm Drarry, E, 22k

This story is so charming and whimsical! First of all, this Draco is such an utter delight that I fell in love with him right away. He’s so entertaining! The concept of Christmas in July gives the story a wonderfully atmospheric and slightly wistful tone. Add to it a very domestic and playful dynamic between Draco and Harry, top-notch dialogue, so many creative details, and an absolutely delicious and intimate sex scene. From beginning to end, this fic is so warm and touching; a gentle romance that feels as if it was enchantingly sprinkled with a cheering charm.

the first in line by @oflights Drarry, E, 29.5k

This fic is hilarious, mischievous, and sexy all at the same time. And also a little bit unhinged in the best possible way. It had me in its grip from the very first sentence: “When the clock strikes midnight on his 25th birthday, Harry is having a threesome with a werewolf and a vampire.” (chef’s kiss!) and it didn’t let me go. We have a reluctant and grumpy Veela Harry, an over-the-top Draco, summer vacation vibes, a magical yacht, wooing with a hot air balloon (and more!), plus an absolutely delightful non-monogamous background Romione. Gah!!!

Of Magical Beings Being - Magic by @rockingrobin69 Drarry, E, 30k

What’s actually magic here is Robin’s writing. It’s… wait, I don’t think I have words for how rich and full this world is, how special! There’s pining and soft angst and an unreliable narrator and exes to lovers, but somehow all that doesn’t even begin to describe what this story is. It’s witty and fascinating and soft and playful. It’s about loving the other person so much that you do the wrong thing because you think that’s what they want, even though it hurts you. It’s about manifesting them in everything you do until they come back. It’s about Love, about Happiness. It knocked the breath out of me. It’s unbearably lovely.

Winner takes it all by @skeptiquewrites Drarry, E, 41k

This fic is absolutely devastating in a sort of gentle way. My heart broke a million times for this wonderful, hardworking, cornered Draco – who’s looking after his mum – as well as for a whole bunch of beautifully written side characters. The story starts with a bet, and from there, it unravels with Tee's razor-sharp writing, infused with nuance that makes the narrative incredibly rich and undeniably real. If you're in the mood for a cathartic cry, followed by a sweet, happy ending, don't walk – run to this fic!

[lynnaredfield3383]

Bokuto's GF - P3

Not my characters. Aged up 21. Fem reader. Warning!!! Weight Insecurities. Chubby reader. Swearing.

This is the night Y/N is going to meet the Mosby team at Onigiri Miya. This is the first time reader will face Atsumu since 2nd year.

Outside Onigiri Miya, Atsumu waited with Hinata for Bokuto to show up. As soon as he heard your laugh, his body tensed. Atsumu's eyes landed on you and to his annoyance, he was still attracted to you.

"Hey, hey, hey!" Bokuto waved to his teammates.

"Bo!" Hinata greeted his friend in a half hug.

"Hey, uh, do you think I could talk to Y/N for a minute?" Atsumu rubbed the back of his neck.

Bokuto kissed the top of your head, knowing if you didn't want to you wouldn't.

"See ya in there," Bokuto smiled.

You didn't want to seem standoffish, so you kept your arms at your sides. Atsumu ran a hand through his hair nervously.

"I'm sorry. I treated ya like shit and ya never deserved that. I was going to apologize and confess, but ya transferred."

Atsumu wanted to see if there was any reaction about the confession part. You gave him nothing.

"Apology accepted. I really care for Bokuto, so please don't mess this up for us. I guarantee whatever feelings you had in high school are gone."

"Ya said care."

You had started towards the door, but stopped and looked back at Atsumu.

"Huh?"

"Ya said ya care about Bokuto. Ya didn't say ya love him. So, I still have a chance."

You silently glared at Atsumu for a while. Once you realized he actually believed what he'd just said, you lost your patience.

"Holy shit. Pull your head outta your ass. I don't want anything to do with you, Atsumu Miya. You have no chance in any universe."

You breathed out to calm yourself down before entering. You were immediately pulled against Bokuto as he introduced you to his MSBY teammates. You ignored Atsumu the moment he came in.

Akaashi pulled you away at one point to discuss Bokuto's upcoming birthday.

Atsumu pulled Bokuto aside as soon as you disappeared with Akaashi.

"Everything good?" Bokuto asked brightly.

"Yeah. Well, the thing is, man. I still have feelings for her. I...I just want to be straight with ya. Not tryna steal her or anythin."

Bokuto laughed until he realized Atsumu was serious.

"It is her choice if she dumps me. I'm not worried about what might happen."

Bokuto walked back to the loud, rowdy table, his eyes searching for you. Atsumu's words had upset him, and now he just wanted your arms around him.

"Hey babe. You okay?"

Though he was smiling and getting on with the guys, you could tell he was off. Just by how he squeezed you tightly and nodded during the conversations.

It was one am when you and Bokuto got back to your apartment. He pulled you down onto the bed with him, pulling you as close as he could. You made him so comfortable and happy he couldn't imagine life without you.

"Y/N. Babe, I need to tell you something," Bokuto's thoughts were getting to him.

You rolled onto your back half awake to look up at him.

"What's wrong, Kou?"

"Sumu told me he still likes you."

You were angry with Atsumu, but your only priority was Bokuto. You cupped the side of Bokuto's face as he leaned over you.

"Kou, that was high school. Who am I with?" You asked gently.

"Me."

You had learned quickly to treat Bokuto like the child he was, so things were always clear between you two.

"Hmm. Why am I with you?"

Bokuto's golden eyes lit up, his smile growing wider as he thought about all the reasons you'd told him in the last 8 months.

"Because I'm kind, gentle, sweet, honest, trusting, gorgeous with an amazing ass and sexiest back you've ever seen," Bokuto finished with his favorite reasons.

You laughed knowing he was always goofy like this, and you loved it.

"Kou, why am I with you?"

Bokuto's expression melted completely.

"Because you love me. Because you want to choose me every day."

"Exactly. Now go to sleep, gorgeous."

"Yes, ma'am."

Bokuto happily resumed your spooning position, burying his face in your neck. It was rare when Bokuto wanted to be the big spoon, but when he did you enjoyed it as much as he did.

[ceaselesswatchersspecialboy]

Heyo! Got a question or two. (Or six-)

- Do you ship Mabifica? Or Dipcifica for that matter? I personally like the former more but I'm just imagining Bill's reaction to having to deal with the fact the girl who insulted Mabel is now dating her/her brother.

Actually, even if you ship neither, I just want his reaction the the Pine twins now being friends(?) With Paz.

Would he try to scare her off? Would he warm up to her?

(If you couldn't already tell, Pacifica is one of my favorite characters, just below Mabel.)

- Does Stan and Ford ever get as close as they did at the end of the show? I mean, Ford must be reeling, sure. But.. Do they ever get on that boat?

- Does Bill make an effort to reconcile with Ford? Even just a show of apology?

- And does Ford bond with the twins? Would he just see them as another thing Bill has tainted?

- Also. Are you planning to make fanfiction of this? Or a comic? Or any media that tells the story? It's now become an integral part of my life.

- Last one! What other bonding moments does Bill have with Wendy? We've got the bets, yeah. But is that all?

(I found your au an hour and a half ago, and I'm already this invested. That is absolutely amazing, considering I don't really latch on to things. (Thanks a lot, autism) I love the art, and I love the tidbits. If it ever gets too overwhelming, don't be afraid to take a breather!! ><)

Hello! I shall do my best to answer!

— I’m personally a Dipcifica enjoyer myself! I don’t see them getting together this summer, so it’s less of a dating thing, but Bill would be decent at recognising the signs of a crush forming thanks to Mabel exposure all summer. He’d be completely against it. He’s listing every reason why the Northwests suck to Dipper, all the times Pacifica has done something to make Mabel feel awful! He’s maybe a little dramatic about it, in true Bill fashion, and is taken aback when Mabel insists it’s okay.

Pacifica’s changing, they both say! Mabel fully intends to be Dipper’s wingman!

Bill finds that idea ridiculous. People don’t just change. Humans are known for staying the same once they’ve settled into their body — that’s just how it is.

Pacifica has proven to be the opposite of everything Bill has taught the twins, and so he sees the blooming friendship as a threat and doesn’t like it. It doesn’t help that it’s around the time his fear of changing is at an all time high, so he’s maybe projecting a little onto Pacifica.

He definitely tries to scare her off initially, and when that doesn’t work, he settles with threatening her should she ever make Mabel upset against. His threats are… very intense and it’s clear the issue runs deeper than just Pacifica. He really goes for her insecurities. Honestly, this may be one of his worst moments in front of the twins? Stan ends up having to intervene and try to figure out what’s going on in Bill’s head beyond just being protective over Mabel.

(Pacifica girl I am so sorry)

He doesn’t warm to her per se, not yet, as much as he learns to tolerate her sometimes being around. She does her best to avoid him anyhow.

— Still working out the exact details so I don’t have much to say right now, but yes, he does. A verbal apology from Bill is also kind of a big deal. Like Stan struggles saying Please, and Ford struggles saying thank you, Bill struggles saying sorry.

— Ford does bond with the twins! I think I mentioned in a post a bit ago that Dungeons Dungeons and more Dungeons is like a gateway for their relationship, and it helps Ford become more comfortable around them and vice versa. Though the general unease still lingers at times, Dipper starts to get comfortable asking him more and more questions about Gravity Falls, and Mabel knits him a few sweaters and tries to catch him up on all the pop culture he’s missed etc. Sometimes he snaps at them when he needs space, and he tends to hide behind Stan some days, but they do get to know this new Ford, and begin to get closer to him bit by bit before Summer ends.

I think he does see them as something Bill has tainted, but not in an irreversible way. If anything, it motivates him to try and get to know them more once the initial fear has settled, to try and re-instate himself as Ford Pines, and be their Great Uncle.

— I don’t plan on making a fic or a comic, mainly because I am busy right now and juggling a lot. It just isn’t something feasible for me and I notoriously don’t do well managing long projects. But, I am hoping to do art and maybe mini comics for it, once I defeat my art block and style crisis, perhaps some one-shots too if I can also defeat my eternal writers block. I’m honoured you think that way of it though!!

— They generally have a very positive relationship! Bill is seen as the cooler Stan by her friends, mainly because of the fact he doesn’t really act his age, and happily enables anything they want to do, and so whenever she needs something, she tends to go to him. (“No hard feelings Stan!”) And If Stan taught her how to shoplift, Bill probably taught her how to get away with murder, not that she’d really need that, the thought still counts. They also share similar music tastes, so when Bill’s around the shack, he’ll ask Wendy to blast some AC/DC while they work. He’s also taught her all the ways to get under Stan’s skin, because he knows for a fact she’ll use them.

I think this AU too, he’s the one who showed her the rooftop spot. He encouraged any form of rebelling against the system, even if that means slacking and getting Stan to shout at both of them.

Thank you so much!? That means a lot to hear and I hope you continue to enjoy it!! And I appreciate it, I’m trying to take it slow and answer whatever asks I can and when I can, to avoid getting overwhelmed.

[samsno1]

Surprise

Sam Winchester x F!Reader

I'm a littleeeee late for his birthday one-shot but I did it! Happy Birthday Sammy, the biggest comfort character that I have and the reason for my obsession with a 15 season TV show

Summary: The morning of Sam's birthday didn't go according to planned - in the best way possible

Warnings: PURE FLUFF, naked-ness and hints of sexual intercourse but literally nothing happens, english is not my first language

WC: 1.7k

enjoy!

It was hilarious. The way Sam tried for so long to not bother you about his birthday. Brushing it off, claiming it was nothing, saying you never needed to do much for him because just your presence was enough to make him happy. It was cute but you never bought it, this year was the same thing.

You had woken up later than him that morning, noticed when you didn’t feel the warmth of his chest on your bare back and his hands holding you close like he did the night before. You wondered how he did it, the man kept you up all night and still was able to get up at six for his morning run. Either way, Sam usually went on runs early to clear his head and you knew his birthday was somewhat of a taboo for him – damn John Winchester. He wasn’t very open about it but, from what you knew about his father in the years you knew Sam and Dean, you could have an idea of why he didn’t take his birthday as an important date.

You got up, discarding the sheets, the cold hitting your naked body making goosebumps rise over your skin. The room was an absolute mess, your clothes and Sam’s scattered all around, half the sheet on the ground along with a pillow that you probably pushed off the bed to make up some space. You smiled to yourself feeling the warmth on your cheeks – it has been three years since you started dating Sam and five since you met him and he still managed to make you feel like it was your first time all over again.

You gathered some clean clothes of yours and decided to hop on the shower to really wake up and, since Sam never ate breakfast before a run, you wanted to start his special day with his favorite breakfast – made by you. Sam always appreciated anything you did for him, be it the simplest thing as breakfast or complex things such as, well, saving his life. Dean always teased about Sam being madly in love with you ever since he first laid his eyes on you. Little did he know it was practically the same for you too. The pining was terrible and you only noticed how embarrassing it truly was after you started dating. You assumed, though, it was always like that, what matters is that it worked out and it was one of the best decisions of your life to start a relationship with Sam Winchester.

You thought about all kinds of things you could do to surprise Sam later. He wasn’t much for parties and only drank casually – unlike his brother. He liked Celine Dion but you thought it would be too dismissive to buy a vinyl of hers for his birthday. To sum it up, Sam was a hard guy to buy gifts for because everything he told you when you asked what he liked to get was I don’t need much sweetheart, just give me anything and I’ll be more than happy. Ugh, such a cliché thing to say to your girlfriend.

While you were cooking the eggs you heard the loud noise of the metal door to the bunker closing and immediately smiled to yourself knowing your birthday boy had arrived. He ran down the stairs and you were able to hear his tired breaths from afar. You always wondered why he liked running so much, catching yourself thinking of all the different reasons why he might feel the need to run every morning. Maybe it was just great to workout, maybe he just needed some time alone, maybe he just likes the fresh air from time to time, either way, you weren’t by any means going to complain about waking up on an empty bed every now and again – it was one of the things he enjoyed, you weren’t going to ruin it for him.

You felt strong – and slightly sweaty – arms wrap around your waist from behind and soft lips kissing the side of your neck, a light hum coming out of his mouth as he smelled your perfume. “Good morning, Sweetheart” He whispered against your skin.

“Good morning baby, I’m making breakfast for you birthday boy” You said.

You felt him smile over your neck, and one of his hands snaked up and grasped your chin, turning your face to him. He quickly looked at your eyes, then your lips, leaning in to leave a long peck over them. You sighed dreamily through your nose, turning your body around completely to him, making him adjust his other hand on your waist. When he pulled away Sam was looking at you with the most loving eyes you had ever witnessed – well, he always looked at you like that.

“You didn’t have to”

“I wanted to, don’t start” You countered. You would’ve ran a hand through his hair, hugged him tight and showered him in kisses but, first, he needed an actual shower – his front strands were shining with sweat. “Now” You laid a hand over his chest “go take a shower so that I can greet you properly and for you to eat”

He lowered both his hands to your waist again and you felt his thumbs under your shirt, caressing your bare skin. He seemed to not have registered a word you said as he just stared dreamily at your face.

“Thank you” He said suddenly. You felt a seriousness in his tone, something more than just thanking you for making him food. The words hung heavy on his tongue and in your ears, your brain trying to process what he really meant by them. You knew that in ‘Winchester’ – or better, the way Sam and Dean spoke about feelings – ‘thank you’ could mean a thousand different things and emotions and this time it definitely wasn’t just for the eggs.

Sam noticed the confusion on your face, your beautiful eyes trying to read through his and figure it out. You were a smart woman, Sam knew that. He also knew you would not just take that thank you as something simple, specially with the way he said it. Truth was, Sam wanted to say so much more, to drown you in his words, to fill your body with emotions but he was just too scared. Every time he felt the need to tell you more, the constriction in his throat was stronger, the nervousness in his body was overwhelming and he would just not say exactly what he wanted to say. The velvet box hung heavy in the pocket of his shorts.

“For what?” You asked, almost in a whisper, eyebrows furrowed.

“For being you” He said and watched as a beautiful smile opened in your face. It’s now or never Sam, do it, fucking do it.

He let go of your waist, still smiling at you. Sam had told you before that nothing was a better gift for him than having you in his life. He meant that. He meant every single word. So, yeah, Sam Winchester faked going for a run this morning. Sam Winchester actually went to pick up a ring he had ordered a week ago. Sam Winchester wasn’t actually sweaty, he had thrown water on his front strands to fake it because you were so smart to the point you’d notice that he didn’t go for a run if his hair was dry.

Sam Winchester was on his knees in front of you, a beautiful golden ring inside a velvet box in his hand.

You were frozen as tears started to well up, your eyes glossy. “Sam..”

“You’re one of the many reasons I’m still here” He began “You make every breath I take worth it, you turned my world upside down the moment I saw you, you make me aspire to be better every single day. I look at you and I see life, a future and the forever love of my life” He took a breath, the constriction in his throat wasn’t beating him now, it wasn’t going to stop him. “I can’t see myself without you anymore so, please, if you’d give me the pleasure…____ ____, will you marry me?”

Your heart was beating so fast and so loud you could feel it in your ears, tears were falling down your cheeks as Sam held your shaky hand in his. You’ve never felt happier, you’ve never wanted to scream this loud or cry this much. He was going to be the death of you.

“Yes!” You nodded aggressively, smiling wide “Yes, yes, God, a thousand times yes!”  You said loudly and Sam stood up with the intention of putting the ring around your finger but you just couldn’t hold back your happiness. 

As soon as he was up, you threw yourself at him, your arms around his neck and he almost lost his balance, swaying on his feet. You sobbed on his shoulder as he hugged you tight to him. You pulled back to look in his eyes and saw nothing but love, nothing but happiness and gave him a long kiss.

You pulled away and finally let him put the ring around your finger as you stared emotionally at it, the gold shining beautifully against your skin. When he looked at your face again he smiled, his dimples showing and his cheeks red.

“I was supposed to surprise you today” You said with feigned anger as you stared into his eyes. Sam shook his head and chuckled.

“I told you, there’s no gift I’d rather have than you”

“You’re so corny”

“You love it”

“Yeah, I love it…I love you”

“I love you” And he kissed you again, his hands holding your cheeks as if you were made of glass. You held his wrists to keep him there…Until the smell of something burning hit your nose and you pulled back with wide eyes.

“Oh Jesus Christ, the food!” You said desperately, turning around to turn the stove off. Sam just laughed at you, his fianceé, trying to swat the smoke away with your hand as you poured water over the brunt eggs. Yeah, best gift ever.

A/N: Notes and reblogs encourage me to keep writing, feedback makes those writings better. Thank you for reading XoXo

[a-dumb-sarcastic-bisexual]

Nimona headcanons cause I love this chaotic little family

I’ve seen a lot of people say Ambrosius is a morning person and Bal is a night owl 

And I have to respectfully disagree 

Will Bal pull some all-nighters in the lab? Absolutely 

But this man is the most early bird coded character I’ve ever seen in my entire life 

When he isn't fully invested in a project he can't stay up past 10 pm

He wakes up at 6 am refreshed and barely needs caffeine 

I’ve also seen a lot of people say he’s a dedicated coffee drinker but something about this man screams “Coffee gives me migraines” 

Ambrosius on the other hand 

That’s an insomniac if I’ve ever seen one 

He’ll get ready for bed around 9 and then stay up til 3 in the morning

Poor babe needs coffee in an IV

He used to wake up really early back in the institute cause he was forced to run a mile every minute he was late to class 

And he’s a heavy sleeper so after the wall came down and he quit being a knight he wouldn't wake up before 1 pm even with Bals help 

And Nimona is just as bad 

Most nights Ambrosius will leave the room because he moves a lot when he can’t sleep and Bal is a light sleeper 

He’ll sit in the living room watching tv while trying to sleep and most of the time Nimona will join him 

Every once and a while Bal will find them laying on top of each other on the couch and will take them back to their respective beds 

And if you’re wondering what their favorite show to watch together is it’s those house-flipping shows 

But not for the reason you think

Most people watch those shows cause they think it’s inspiring 

Ambrosius and Nimona talk about how terrible these people are at their jobs  

They’ll go on hour-long rants about how these people are stripping the houses of everything that made them a home

(Ambrosius is a sentimental bitch and would be a maximalist after leaving the institute prove me wrong)

When Nimona is bored she’ll go into the city disguised as Bal or Ambrosius 

And she’ll fool literally everyone it’s a pretty common occurrence for the boys to be at home and then they hear the other swearing like a damn sailor because there are already news articles about it

The only people she can’t fool are Bal and Ambrosius 

Bal will shut them down almost immediately 

They’ll walk over to Bal and won’t even get a word out before Bal says “Shift back Nim you’re freaking me out”

They always make a big deal out of being caught making big decorations like “I’m getting better and one day I’ll fool you” 

And he’ll hum in agreement but he knows that it doesn’t matter how good he gets or how observant he is he’ll be able to fully copy every little detail 

The details that Bal has spent the past decade and a half remembering  

You know the little things like how he can’t say Bal or Nimona’s names without smiling even when he’s pissed

Or how he scrunches his nose when he laughs 

Ambrosius always acts like Nimona tricked him

He’ll let them get comfortable in the character and then he’ll drop the bomb 

Something small and inconspicuous like “Hey Nim do you want pizza for dinner?” and they’ll excitedly proclaim “Hell yeah pizza!” 

It takes them a second to realize they’ve been played and when they do they never make a big deal about it

They normally just mumble a curse or two and walk away with their tail between their legs (literally)

The first time Nimona tried to trick Ambrosius was when he was having one of those days 

You know the days when even breathing feels like a fucking battle

This was in a really awkward period too

Like right after Nimona and Ambrosius started trusting each other but right before they really started to get to know each other 

But she knew the boys well enough to know if Bal came home to a sad Ambrosius then he’d be in a bad mood for the rest of the day 

And she knows that the only thing that can cure a mopey Ambrosius is Bal 

She walked into the room and started talking to Ambrosius and was kind of surprised and a little bit peeved about how well she was fooling him

Until he said “You can drop the act Nim I know it’s you” 

They kind of just sat in that silence for a minute until Nimona said the first thing that came to her mind 

“You want me to find my sax?” 

Bal shouldn’t have been surprised to find Nimona disguised as him serenading Ambrosius with the worst freestyle jazz he’s ever heard (which is saying something)

He didn’t even say anything he just sat down and cuddled the love of his life while watching their kid try and play the sax while breakdancing

[draculasfavoritewife]

Idle Hands

Summary: Whenever Tony forgets to go to bed, it's always been up to you to bring him back to your side.

Pairing: Tony Stark x fem!Reader

Warnings: Heavy on the softness compared to most of my other stuff; I was in a very sentimental (read: sad and touch-starved) mood back when I wrote this lol. Tony Stark is a TEASE both in word and deed -- I have said it is canon therefore it is now. The feral way he makes me feel should be illegal. Also you can read the...implications of my vague wordings towards the end as tame or as smutty as you wish ;)

I feel the need to mention here that Tony Stark has been my most favorite comic book character since I was but a mere 11 years old. He holds the distinction of being my longest-running fictional crush/object of my obsessions and I love him so deeply and for so many little reasons that I could write a PhD dissertation on him. So please enjoy my little love letter to the man that has held my heart for nearly a decade and a half <3

It's that point of the night where you really can't decide if it should be counted as ungodly late or ungodly early. 4:00 am does tend to scramble the thoughts.

You've been drifting in and out of an uneasy sleep for what feels like forever, and as you roll away from the digital clock display on the wall with an annoyed sigh, you suddenly see why.

The other side of the bed is utterly untouched.

He hasn't been here with you at all.

You sit up, trying to remember if he had plans tonight. The calendar app on your phone has no record of a gala, awards ceremony, board meeting, or anything else that might have taken up his time.

Which means he's probably down in the lab again.

Briefly, you contemplate trying to call him, but you know from experience that he probably isn't taking calls right now, even if FRIDAY tried to put one through for you. He's in that zone that only designing and building can put him in, the one mindset where his too-busy brain is crystal clear and the world at last makes sense to him.

So you pull yourself out of bed, throw one of his old sweatshirts on over your cami and pajama shorts (he keeps the AC cranked all the way whenever it's warm outside) and pad out of the bedroom and on your way downstairs.

His lab is awe-inspiring as always, no matter how many times you see it. The purring thrum of the generators and the comforting pulse of dimmed lights, the heavy, electric feeling of the air itself -- he's described his workspace to you as having a life of its own before, and you can understand so well why time escapes him down here.

You just hope he's not using it to escape from other things as well.

He's deeply absorbed in his work on something at a station opposite the door, and your heart skips a beat even as you smile fondly at the familiar sight. Clad in sweatpants and a black tank through which you can just barely see the blue glow of his arc reactor, he looks all at once more human than usual and like some being from another world entirely.

It's the Stark curse, he told you once, and you recall the wry slant of his lips as he said so. To know you're a god trapped in a mortal body, an infinite mind with a finite number of years to use it. It's the reason behind all his greatest triumphs -- and all his harshest falls from grace.

And somehow, you were lucky enough to be the one he fell in love with.

It still feels like a dream sometimes.

Realizing he isn't going to look up on his own anytime soon, you stifle a yawn and knock sharply on the doorframe.

"Tony?"

He stiffens as if he's been shocked (always a possibility, when he's rewiring) and shoves the safety glasses high up on his forehead. "That would be yours truly. Everything alright?"

With a laugh, you cross the room, warmth rising in your chest as he immediately sets down his tools and steps out from behind the table to meet you. And damn, he always looks good -- he is Tony Stark, after all -- but there's always something about him when his hair gets all unruly and he has THAT look of intense concentration on his face that really drives home to you all over again just how gorgeous he is.

You cuddle up to him, and he kisses the top of your head.

"Asked you a question, Honey."

"Do you know what time it is, Tony?"

There's a prolonged moment of answering silence as he glances up at one of his nearby monitors. "Crap. Well, why are you up?"

Pulling back slightly so you can tease the protective eyewear off his head, you give him a look. "Can't sleep."

An eyebrow tilts; he's playing dumb.

"And that's my problem why?"

"Jerk." You take your time playing with his glossy dark hair, neatening it back up before raking your fingers through it to mess it up again. "Maybe because you love me...?"

"Oh, so you're down here looking for sympathy, got it." He smirks at you, a well-practiced and infuriatingly handsome look. "In that case, sorry about your insomnia, Beautiful. There's melatonin in the drug cabinet upstairs." He snares the safety glasses from your fingers once more and makes as if to return to his work. "Sympathetic enough for you?"

You wrap your arms around his waist from behind, stopping him from going any further, though the smug son of a bitch starts tinkering with his new designs again even through your persistent clinging. It mesmerizes you for a couple seconds, always has, the way his hands work with such delicate precision and dexterity, and you can't help selfishly wishing he would turn them towards other, less...mechanical endeavors at this moment.

He probably would, in all honesty, but Tony Stark is the king of making you work for it. Philanthropic he may be, but some things even you have to earn from him when he's feeling particularly devilish.

"I don't want your pity," you hum, pressing a sleepy kiss to his shoulder. "I was lonely without you."

"Perfectly understandable. I've been told by many that I'm scintillating company. You can, by all means, stay and watch me work, you know. Feeds my humble ego."

You roll your eyes and impatiently reach up under his shirt, feeling his muscles tense at the unexpected coldness of your hands.

That finally gets his attention and makes him turn around. Before you can even fully comprehend it, he's swept his work out of the way and lifted you up onto the worktable instead, restless fingers drawing intricate patterns on your inner thighs, though his eyes never leave yours, crystalline blue pinning your attention to his amused face instead of his very distracting hands.

"That," he grins, "was adorable. Sleepy version of you is so much more demanding. Maybe I should stay down here too long more often."

You try to frown at him, though his sparkling gaze and mischievous touch make that impossible. "How dare you."

"I do a lot of dumb things to see where they get me. You know that." He nods at the thick gray sweatshirt still keeping you warm. "Why don't you take that off for me, Sweetness. You make me cold, I get to return the favor."

Unable to come up with something snarky to say in return with the way his hands are making you shiver now, you do as he suggests with little resistance, the exposed skin of your arms and chest prickling at the much cooler air.

He leans in to tenderly kiss your neck, and your breath leaves in a sigh at the way his facial hair scratches at your throat. He's always been a helluva kisser and the meticulously maintained goatee is just the icing on the cake. Making out on his worktable was not the original plan when you first came down here, but even by his own admission Tony's best plans are usually improvised.

And you're certainly not complaining.

"What did you want from me again?" he murmurs, close to your ear.

The absolute audacity of him.

"Mmmmmmm," seems to be about all you can manage at the moment, and you know very well what's coming next.

He pulls you closer to him, the movements of his fingers turning agonizingly slow and prompting a slight gasp from you.

The smile that gradually spreads its way across his mouth is absolutely wicked.

"What was that, Sweetheart? I didn't quite catch it."

You try to reclaim some semblance of coherence, but his firm hold on you prevents you from escaping his delightfully systematic torture, so instead you grab on to his well-defined shoulders, your forehead resting against his chest. The mechanically-stabilized beat of his heart echoing beneath his skin a brief reminder that he's alive, despite everything he's been through, and he is yours. There's no one else on his mind, no one else he's let this far into his messy and often painful world.

The world may know him as Iron Man, the one who has saved them more times than they could ever count, but how many people really know the Tony that you know?

That same Tony who now raises one hand to tip your head back, whose sharp eyes soften with affection for the slightest of seconds before the anticipated words fall from his tongue, the words he knows will always unravel you.

"You just have to tell me what you want. Come on, Princess. Use your words."

You shudder and lean in to beg for another kiss.

"You, Tony. Always you. Please."

He kisses you back with renewed intensity, leaving you completely breathless.

"There we go...was that so hard?"

[toggle1-mrfipp]

Chapter 182 I think is one of my favorite chapters in all of P2 because it does such a fantastic job with each of the three characters.

First, Yoru. I've said it before, but I love how this last arc has been for Yoru, giving her an emotional depths that she never had before, and showcasing just how unprepared and ill-equipped to deal with said emotions she really is. I've seen people saying that she's only trying to manipulate Denji and Asa, but I don't think that's the case: Makima spent the better part of a year manipulating varying governments around the world to turn Denji into Pochita, but Yoru can't go a single date without trying to turn him into a weapon. She is impulsive, spontaneous, immature, she acts purely on instinct, and we see just how wild she can be. In only a few chapters she goes from trying to blow his head off, to trying to beat shit out of him, to kissing him because she thinks he's cute and genuinely trying to motivate him to keep on moving. She's flying by the seat of her pants with no clue what she's doing, a complete loss of control on her part. A few chapters ago she was the embodiment of the fear of war who just killed possibly hundreds of people, and now she she can't look at the guy she just kissed like the tsundere she is. And to loop it back to her "I got over it line" and how unture that has to be. Her powers are fueled by guilt, the more guilt she feels in something's destruction the more powerful it is, and considering the sheer scale of destruction her Gun Devil Arm brought, the guilt she had in killing the Gun Devil, her self-proclaimed child, must be immense, but she says she "got over it", and I don't believe her.

Next, Asa. She is someone who has a lot of negative traits, and a lot of time they tend to overshadow her good trait. She is selfish, she is more concerned with looking like a good and moral person instead of actually being one, and her entire role in the Church was her ignoring any and all red flags, no matter how obvious they were, because she was obsessed with being a micro-celebrity, because she wanted to play out the fantasy of being Chainsaw Man's hero, to give her life meaning and to justify her own existence. At the core of all of that however, Asa does genuinely want to do good, she does want to help the people she feels that are important to her, and her trying to relate and comfort Denji was one of the few times that people had one something like that for him, one of the few she's gone out of her way to comfort someone, She was at her lowest, but he saved her, so she wanted to return the favor inn a way she thought would help, she just got caught up her own head along the way. Her speech at the end then made me realize something, that while it's been alluded to a few times, such as her death and the Falling Devil attack Asa has never actually vocalized what it is she actually wants, and it leaves me wondering what she was going to tell Denji before he threw up the Snow Devil.

And finally Denji. When to comes to trauma Denji shuts down and he distances himself from his problems; KIll his dad in self-defense? Hide those memories. Reze tells him that the life he lived wasn't good? Change the subject. Sad that Reze never showed up? Hey look it's Miss Makima! Killed Aki? Time to be a dog and not think again. Power's dead? Time to die. Can't date Asa? Time to fight a super big devil for the fans! I half-expected Denji to just lie there and take whatever Yoru was about to do to him, but instead he pushed her off of him, he resisted someone who was using sex against him, something he and never done, and it's clear that he is reaching his limit with Asa/Yoru and how he has gotten nothing but mixed signals from them. I really do feel like we're getting so much closer to him learning the truth about them. And then there is the end! Denji does not think about his trauma, he pushes it to the side so he does not have to think about it, we saw this with the Falling Devil attack where to not think about Aki and Power's death, he slices his brain up. I do not think that he has given either of them too much thought since the end of P1 because all he can think about is their deaths and the "role" he was forced into regarding them. But the snow made him think of them and that trip to Aki's family grave, it was a trip they had fun on, the last time they were all together before things turned out the way they did. Those were good and pleasant memories he had of Aki and Power, of the family they had with one another, and him reflecting on them is good. Aki said it himself on that trip, that he didn't think about the bad stuff because he had Denji and Power around, and while I feel like we're only just getting started with how messy this process will be for Denji, I do think this might be a good first step for healing for Denji.

Denji, Asa and Yoru each displayed amazing characterization in 182, and I can't wait to see where this will lead the three of them.