#just one break. that’s all i’m asking for. someone mysteriously send me $5k and i would be able to be functional like a real adult.

[rachelblairy]

i try really hard to be as optimistic as i can be, all things considered. i know i have a fairly decent life. but i would like things to stop. fucking. happening.

[magicalmarauder]

Broken Trust

Pairing: Jungkook x Reader

Warnings: I did not proof read this at all, so sorry in advance for any errors!

Word Count: 5k+

Summary: What happens when Jungkook betrays the trust of his girlfriend by sharing a highly personal detail about her life with his friends? How do you respond when the one person you trusted above anyone else does the very thing he vowed never to do – break your heart.

Being best friends with seven overgrown man-children was definitely an experience. An experience you hadn’t quite foreseen in your future when you first moved to Seoul, Korea. Nevertheless, it was an experience that you wouldn’t trade for the world. Most days, at least, you corrected yourself ruefully.

Over a year ago, you had made the biggest, most adult-like decision in your life thus far and decided to pack up all that you had, leaving behind everything and everyone that you knew in favor of starting a new journey in a completely different country. You were hesitant when you were first offered the job opportunity, but quickly realized that turning down such an opportunity would be a decision that you would always look back on with regret. And certainly, looking back now, you could definitely say that you had made the best decision of your life in moving to Seoul. Not only had it led you to the love of your life, but also to the aforementioned crazy best friends, of whom your boyfriend was actually one.

You could only describe the meeting as fate as it was truly a scene straight out of a romantic comedy. It had been your first week at your new job, you had frantically been checking the map on your phone, trying to navigate the winding hallways in order to find the room where your two o’clock meeting was being held. In your distracted state, you had failed to notice the man in front of you walk straight into the door that he had been too preoccupied to notice was closed before promptly falling to the ground, serving as the hazard that had caused your own frantic descent to the hard floor.  

The man had been so sweet and apologetic, ensuring over and over again that you were unhurt. You assured him that you were just fine and not to worry, but he had insisted on making it up to you, stating that he couldn’t rest until he offered you what he claimed was the most perfect hot chocolate in the world. Before you could protest, he pulled you through the door, this time successfully opening it before attempting to walk through, and into what looked like a large recording studio area.

He quickly dragged you over to the back corner of the room that seemed to serve as the designated snack area as it was occupied by a mini-fridge, coffee maker, microwave, and toaster oven. He wasted no time in getting to work, pulling out a mug and various different ingredients and before you knew it, he was proudly presenting you with his hot chocolate creation with a large, endearing smile on his face. You had been about to protest, worried about making your meeting on time, but there was no possible way that you could refuse that face. He looked so eager and so, with a rueful smile, you gratefully accepted the warm drink and took a nice long sip, relishing in the rich, chocolatey taste.

His eyes never left your face, eyebrows raising expectantly after you pulled back.

“You were right,” you assented. “Definitely the most perfect cup of hot chocolate I’ve ever had. You have a real gift, kind sir.”

“Why thank you, m’lady,” he responded, giving you an exaggerated bow that set you off in a fit of giggles. This guy was just too adorable for his own good.

Before you could inquire any further as to his name or any other details about him, a loud flurry of noises sounded behind you as a group of boys walked into the room, laughing and joking and shoving one another. However, once they caught sight of you standing in the middle of the room with the man by your sight, their conversations quickly shut off, eyes simultaneously bouncing back and forth between you and the mystery man by your side.

“Who’s this?” One of the men asked curiously, stepping forward and glancing between the two of you with eyebrows raised.

You and the man exchanged quick glances, realizing that you had yet to formally introduce yourselves to one another.

Realizing this, you took a small step forward. “Hi. My name is Y/N. I’m new to the company. I just moved here last week and I literally ran into your friend here in the hallway,” you explained, gesturing to the man beside you, who had a faint blush covering his cheeks.

“Yeah,” the man said, sheepishly rubbing at the back of his neck. “I kind of ran into the door and took her down with me.”

The boys stared at the two of you for a moment before breaking into laughter, seemingly not even questioning the events of the story.

“Awww, such the charmer you are, Jungkookie-ah,” the man who had originally stepped forward to question your presence joked. “Only you could meet a pretty girl in such a way. This type of stuff only happens in movies.”

The man besides you, who you now supposed was named Jungkookie? blushed, ducking his head down to hide his reddening face. “Stop it, Jimin-ssi,” he pleaded, sending a rush through your heart. This man was just too cute.

Taking pity on their friend, the tallest member of the group took a step forward. “Welcome to Seoul and to BigHit, Y/N. It’s very nice to meet you. I’m Namjoon,” he introduced, reaching forward to shake your hand before the others followed suit one-by-one.

Once finished with the group standing in front of you, you turned to meet the gaze of the man at your side, who was staring at you with a sheepish smile. “Hi.” He smiled. “I didn’t get a chance to formally introduce myself earlier. I’m Jungkook.”

You grinned. “Very nice to meet you, Jungkook. Thank you very much for the hot chocolate, it was excellent,” you complimented. “But I really do have to get going. I’m running a bit late for my meeting.”

“Oh, of course!” He flushed. “I’m sorry to keep you. I really should have asked before forcing you to follow me in here.”

“No worries at all,” you reassured gently. “It was well worth it. Now I know just where to come when I’m in the mood for some delicious hot chocolate.”

Jungkook blushed again and you were really starting to believe that that was just the permanent state of his face before the mischievous one who had spoken earlier, and who you now knew was named Jimin, spoke up. “Why don’t you come back here after your meeting, Y/N. We’ll still be here. Since you’re new to the city, I’m sure you don’t know very many people. Let us show you around a little bit!”

The other boys chorused along their agreement with that offer, insisting that you allow them to take you out.

“Let us make up for our little maknae almost maiming you on your first week,” the man who had introduced himself as World Wide Handsome a.k.a. Jin interjected.

You let out a laugh. “There’s really nothing to make up for, but I’d love it if you guys showed me around a little bit. I haven’t had a chance to go exploring yet. I’d love to see your country through your own eyes.”

“Then it’s settled!” Namjoon declared, a broad grin stretching across his face. “Come back here after your meeting is done and we’ll head out!”

“Ok, sounds like a plan,” you nodded. “I’ll see you guys soon then!”

***

And that had been that. At the time you hadn’t known that they were the most famous K-Pop group in the world, which they had teased you mercilessly about. Considering you worked for the company that employed them, they had found it unbelievable that you had had no idea who they were. But all the same, they found it refreshing to talk to someone who knew nothing of their background or their fame, someone they could have a normal conversation with and just be themselves around.

The eight of you had quickly bonded, meeting together often for meals, going out after work to explore the town, or even attending game nights at their shared apartment. Your relationship with each one of them had solidified so quickly, finding your own common ground that bonded you with each member. However, there was one that stood out from the rest. Jungkook. Ever since that first meeting, there was a spark between the two of you, something that the others were quick to pick up on. They were constantly teasing the two of you and scheming for opportunities to get the two of you alone together. So, with all of their plotting, it was no surprise that you quickly found yourself growing closer and closer to Jungkook each and every day. He quickly became your closest friend and greatest confidante. Therefore, when he had finally mustered up the courage to ask you out on a date, you hadn’t wasted a second before agreeing.

It was nothing but history after that. Your date had gone fantastic and you had been together ever since. There was no one you trusted and adored more than Jungkook and vice versa. Although you had never expected to fall in love with an idol, you wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world. Jungkook was your other half, complementing you perfectly. Your relationship came with its fair share of heartaches and challenges, but the two of you were a great team, solving each new trial as it came your way.

The boys welcomed you into their family with wide open arms, agreeing that you were perfect for their little golden maknae. They teased the two of you relentlessly about your relationship, but always out of love and affection for you both.

Despite the fact that you were extremely close with all of the boys, there were certain things that you only confided in with Jungkook – one of which being your relationship experience, or rather lack of. Jungkook was actually your very first boyfriend, something that you tried not to advertise too much. You weren’t ashamed of your past and your decision to prioritize other things in your life up until this point, but you recognized that to the outside world, it was a very rare and weird occurrence that usually resulted in people asking what could possibly be wrong with you if you went twenty or so years without having a significant other.

You tried not to dwell on it too much, after all you had a boyfriend now and you were very happy together. All of the waiting had absolutely been worth it. However, with your lack of experience came a certain shyness. This was all so new to you and you wanted to take things slowly, something that Jungkook absolutely understood and never once made you feel guilty or insecure about. Sex was something that was completely off the table for the moment.  As you probably guessed, you were a virgin and had no plans of changing that status anytime soon. You loved Jungkook more than you could express and taking that step was definitely something you could imagine happening with him, even more frequently now as time continued to go on. However, that was still a huge decision and one you were not yet completely ready to make.

When you had finally opened up to Jungkook about that personal detail about yourself, you had been so nervous as to how he would react. You of course had had entirely nothing to worry about, though. Jungkook had been the absolute sweetest and most understanding person in the world, admiring you for sticking to your convictions and never compromising your values simply because others around you may or may not have been engaging in certain activities.

Although this was a part of your life that you accepted and something that you had had no regrets in sharing with Jungkook, it was also something that you found highly personal and didn’t want advertised, especially to your rowdy group of friends who you loved dearly, but who often did not know when a joke was being taken too far. You had asked Jungkook to keep that personal detail about yourself between the two of you and he had been quick to agree, pressing a sweet kiss to your mouth and promising that your secrets were always safe with him. You had had no reason to doubt him, believing wholeheartedly that he was 100% genuine and would never go back on his word to you. However, that unfortunately all changed one night as the eight of you were all hanging out together as was usual on a Friday evening.

While you and Jungkook were frequently in your own little couple’s world, you never forgot to make time for your best friends as well, not forgetting that if it hadn’t been for them and their incessant meddling, you and Jungkook might never have gotten together. That was why it had almost become ritual for the eight of you to gather together after a long week of work and relax, choosing to watch movies, play games, or simply just eat your weight in junk food.

And this night was no different. You were all gathered on the luxurious couches in their apartment, buried in blankets and snuggled in together. You were pressed firmly into Jungkook’s side, arms wrapped around one another, completely at peace in each other’s presence. Every so often, Jungkook would lean down and press a soft, sweet kiss to your face, alternating between your forehead, cheek, neck, and so on.

“Eh, Y/N?” A voice asked, pulling you out of your Jungkook-bubble.

“Huh?” You questioned, having missed the conversation that had been going on around you entirely. However, you felt like you couldn’t be blamed for your lack of attention. It was all Jungkook’s fault and his perfect, distracting kisses.

“Is that accurate?” Jimin asked, a teasing smirk on his face as he gestured to the movie playing on the screen, which you honestly hadn’t even paid a bit of attention to since it had started. You truthfully weren’t even sure what movie they had chosen. When taking a vote at the beginning of the night, you hadn’t cared too much. You usually spent your movie nights exactly as you were right now, wrapped in Jungkook’s arms and completely distracted and consumed by his presence.

“What?” You asked, looking around the room at the various teasing expressions of your friends, wondering what you had missed. You looked back up at Jungkook’s face to notice that his expression was just as mystified as your own, clearly having been just as wrapped up in you as you were in him.

“Is the movie portraying with accuracy the reality of being a twenty-something year old virgin?” Jin clarified.

Behind you, you felt Jungkook tense up while you merely furrowed your brows in confusion, not yet quite understanding why they were asking you this question; however, as you heard the sharp intake of breath from Jungkook behind you, your mind began to connect the dots, reality setting in as what you had believed to be impossible was actually coming true.

“What?” You whispered, still in a state of shock, your mind trying to catch up to what was going on around you.

“The movie,” Taehyung explained. “Is it accurate? We know Hollywood tends to dramatize these things. I’d never actually met a fully grown adult virgin before to confirm; however. Well, until we met you. I have to say, I was quite surprised though. I didn’t really believe Jungkookie at first when he told us,” Taehyung continued on, clearly not realizing the massive hole that he was currently digging for his friend as you mutely listened on.

“Jungkook told you?” You questioned, still not quite believing it. There was no one that you trusted more in this world than Jungkook. You had never had a reason to doubt his sincerity or trustworthiness, which was why your brain was now having trouble believing what was clearly being spelled out in front of you by your friends and their teasing grins as well as the suspicious silence from the man in question.

Reflexively, you moved away from Jungkook’s embrace, his hands following desperately after you only for you to move further away from him on the couch, silently communicating that being touched by him was the last thing you wanted in this moment.

Namjoon, Yoongi, and Hosoek exchanged glances, quickly realizing what was going on and that this was a piece of information that you had never intended to be shared with the whole group. Quickly, they tried to communicate this to the other members, but with no luck. They were finding too much entertainment in poking fun at you while you just sat there, at a loss for words.

“Hey, that’s enough,” Namjoon finally interceded, no longer able to ignore the look of distress on your face or the utter guilt consuming Jungkook’s own.

Numbly, you finally turned to face your boyfriend, accusation clear in your eyes. He gulped in response, knowing that he was in for it, and rightfully so. However, as you continued to gaze at him, the anger that initially consumed your features was replaced by something so much worse – hurt and betrayal.

“You told them?” You questioned in a broken tone. “After you promised me you understood how personal that was for me to share? That you wouldn’t talk about it with the others?”

The laughter quickly died off as the remaining BTS members realized what was happening, guilt rapidly beginning to form in the pits of their stomachs. They hadn’t realized that this was something you weren’t comfortable with sharing. They had figured that if you had shared that information with Jungkook and he had in turn told them, that it was something you were okay with discussing. They hadn’t meant to hurt your feelings at all. But clearly, the damage had already been done.

“Jagi,” Jungkook began, but then quickly broke off, not having an acceptable answer to your question. He had screwed up, a fact which was made quite clear by the pain in your eyes. Your happiness was one of the most important things in the world to him. He couldn’t stand to see you upset, much less when he knew that he was the cause of your hurt.

“No,” you cried, cutting off whatever useless defense he had been about to muster up. “I can’t believe you, Jungkook. I trusted you. This is exactly the situation I wanted to avoid and you knew that. You expressly told me that you wouldn’t say anything to the other boys, and then what? You go right around and do exactly what you had promised not to. I can’t believe you, Jeon Jungkook.”

“Y/N . . . I – I,” he broke off, completely at a loss, wanting to go over and comfort you, holding you in his arms and gently wiping away the tears that were rapidly forming in your eyes. But he couldn’t do that. Not this time. Not when he was the source of said tears. This was a position he hadn’t found himself in before. You and Jungkook were amazingly compatible. In the months that you two had been dating, you had had very few conflicts and those that you did have were always solved with discussion and an exchange of opinions and feelings. He had never made you cry before and it was a feeling he never wanted to experience again.

“No,” you declared, biting your lip and trying your best to hold in the cries that were trying desperately to leave your body. “I can’t be here anymore.”

Quickly, you stood up, making your way to the doorway and wasting no time in putting your shoes on and grabbing your bag before exiting the apartment, slamming the door with a resounding bang, that clearly communicated you did not want to be followed.

Jungkook was too in shock to even process this as he stared at the doorway you had practically just raced through. The other boys were in much the same predicament, not quite knowing how to respond, not only to your hasty departure, but also to the argument they had just witnessed. As previously mentioned, you and Jungkook never really fought, not in private, and definitely not in public. They were used to you and Jungkook being in perfect sync, the ideal couple, and the perfect counterpart for one another. You completed each other so perfectly that this was a scenario in which they never imagined witnessing, much less being a part of.

“Jungkook…?” Namjoon prompted gently, feeling sorry for the youngest member and the look of despair on his face, completely at a loss with how to process and handle this situation.

“What just happened?” Jimin interrupted. “I didn’t realize that it was a big secret?”

“I hadn’t either,” Hosoek chimed in. “Not until I saw the look on her face.”

“Why’d you tell us that, Jungkook?” Jin questioned, voicing the thoughts of everyone else in the room. “It sounded like she expressly told you not to share that bit of personal information, which I can honestly understand, especially considering that we did exactly what she had been trying to avoid.”

The boys looked down, ashamed at their actions. Yes, they had genuinely believed that this was something you were fine with openly sharing and therefore joking about, but they never should have poked fun at something so personal in the first place. They each resolved in their own minds to apologize to you the next time they saw you, hoping that you weren’t too upset with them.

Taehyung moved over to Jungkook, placing a hand on his shoulder and giving him a slight shake, attempting to rouse him from his bewildered stupor. “Jungkook?”

Jungkook jerked away, coming alive at once and finally tearing his gaze away from the door that you had left through.

After taking a quick glance around the room and the various expressions of concern and guilt on his friends’ faces, he jumped up, grabbing his phone and his keys before rushing out of the room after you, vowing to make this right with you.

***

After about an hour later and having gone to a number of different locations in order to find you, yet coming up empty, Jungkook walked through the entryway of your apartment, desperately praying that he would find you here. He would go insane if he didn’t find you soon and know that you were safe.

“Y/N-ah!” He called, receiving no reply in return.

His heart sank, ready to lose it completely as endless possibilities of what could have happened to you ran through his mind. However, he was able to sink fully into that mindset of despair, he heard a faint sniffle coming from the bedroom. Hurriedly, he stood to his feet, practically sprinting into your bedroom, only to find you curled up into a tiny ball at the center of the bed, surrounded and covered in pillows and blankets. His heart lurched at the sight of you crying and in pain, but at the moment, his relief that you were okay won out over anything else.

“Y/N!” He breathed, rushing to your side and enveloping you completely in his arms, moving the blankets out of the way so he could see your face.

However, he wasn’t expecting for you to push him away. He didn’t think you had ever turned down any sort of physical contact with him. You were usually the one to initiate it, in fact, always grabbing his hand, leaning your head against his chest, snuggling into his side, and so on. You shying away from him threw him off and gave him a feeling that he never again wanted to experience.

“No,” you whined, when he hesitantly reached towards you again. “Please leave,” you begged. “I don’t want you here right now, Jungkook.”

If Jungkook’s heart hadn’t broken before your previous actions, it absolutely shattered at your words to him now.

“Baby, please, I –“he struggled to express, trying and failing to come up with the words that would get you back in his arms, right where you belonged.

“I don’t want to talk, Jungkook,” you cried. “You really hurt me. Maybe you think I’m being dramatic, but this is a really big deal to me. You knew how hard it was for me to open up to you,” you accused, finally pulling the blanket away and revealing your broken form to Jungkook, his heart sinking at the sight of your red, tear-stained cheeks. “You knew exactly how personal that was and how much I wanted it to stay between you and I,” you continued. “You promised that you wouldn’t say anything and then you immediately went back on your word. How much time did it take for you to go running off to tell them? Did you all mock me together?”

“Whoa, whoa, whoa!” Jungkook exclaimed, shocked at where your thoughts were taking you. “Just wait a minute!”

You sniffled, jaw set stubbornly, but making no move to interrupt him surprisingly.

“We did not mock you, I would never do that,” Jungkook began, ignoring your quiet scoff of disbelief at his words. “And I know you have absolutely every right to not believe me,” he noted. “But I truly didn’t mean to break your trust. I did and I do understand how hard it was for you to open up to me and I appreciate and value that trust more than you know. I understand that I betrayed that trust that you had in me, and for that I am deeply sorry. I wish I had a good explanation, but I truly don’t. We were just hanging out one night and it kind of slipped out. I didn’t mean to tell them your private business, but once it was out, I couldn’t take it back, but I knew if I tried to convince them not to say anything that that would make them want to bring it up in front of you all the more. I was hoping that if I played it off that they would assume it was no big deal and never mention it again. Clearly, that was a very stupid plan, and I see that now. I should have been up front and honest with them and with you as well. But Y/N, baby, never doubt that I love you and that I have your back – 100%. I may mess up from time to time, in fact, I know I will,” he corrected. “But that doesn’t mean that I love you any less,” he breathed out, voice and eyes pleading with you to understand, to forgive him.

“I love you so much,” he confessed. “Don’t let my idiocy and insensitivity ruin what we have,” he begged. “I promise I won’t ever betray your trust like that again. Let me show you how much I mean it. Let me make it up to you.”

You simply stared back at him, wide-eyed, not quite expecting such a passionate apology from him.

“Say something,” he pleaded, unable to handle your silence.

“I’m not quite sure what to say,” you admitted, still a little in awe from his words.

“Then say you forgive me,” he requested, hand hesitantly inching forward to grab onto your own, taking it as a positive sign that you hadn’t pulled away from him once again.

You looked down at your intertwined hands, your heart thumping in response to his thumb gently stroking the skin along the back of your hand.

“You really didn’t mean to tell them?” You questioned in a small voice, your anger slowly melting away at both the heartfelt words and the adorable doe-eyes that were begging you for your forgiveness.

“No, baby, I didn’t,” he promised, squeezing your hand. “I would never do that to you intentionally. It was just one of those moments where I wasn’t paying attention to what I was saying and it slipped out. I knew right away that I had messed up, but I didn’t know what to do. I should have come to you right away though and confessed what had happened. We could have avoided this entire situation if I had just been honest with you.”

You nodded, unable to deny that before glancing down at your clasped hands once again. Although you were still upset with him, you couldn’t deny the sincerity in his eyes. You believed him and you believed that he understood the severity of what he had done. You knew that he loved you and would never do anything to intentionally harm you. Your relationship was something that was too precious to the both of you and although you were hurt, you knew that this would be something that you would be able to work through together. Seeing your smaller hand clutched in his larger one, you couldn’t deny that you and Jungkook just fit together. Everything was right when you were with one another.

Jungkook, having must have sensed your anger slowly melting away, prompted you softly. “Do you think you’ll be able to forgive me, jagiya?”

Without replying, you leaned forward to place your lips against his own in a gentle kiss, expressing all that you wanted to without words. And Jungkook, your other half, understood perfectly, returning the sentiment by pouring his own love and sincerity back into the kiss. The two of you continued on in your sweet embrace, allowing all of the hurt and anger to be swept away by each new kiss.

A few moments later, Jungkook gently pulled away, pressing soft kisses to your face, eliciting a sweet giggle from your lips.

Jungkook grinned in return, overjoyed and at perfect peace to be back in harmony with you – his love, his other half, his perfect partner in everything.

“I love you so much, Y/N,” he expressed, eyes gleaming and heart full. You were the only one who could make him feel like this and he wouldn’t have it any other way.

“I love you too, Kookie,” you echoed, once again leaning into him and allowing yourself to be swept away in the sweetness of his embrace, exactly where you belonged.

[1dmonthlyficroundup]

1D Monthly Fic Roundup 

Hi, and welcome to the 1D Monthly Fic Roundup for April 2021! Below the cut you’ll find 17 One Direction fics that were all published this month in the order they were submitted to the blog. We hope you’ll check out these new fics! If you would like to submit your own fic, please check this post on how to submit or visit our blog @1dmonthlyficroundup​. 

To Begin Again by @chloehl10​ / lovelarry10 

[Harry/Louis, 23k, Teen and Up, tumblr post] 

“I, uh, I’m really sorry for yelling at you like I did.”

“Hey, I deserved it and more. I’m lucky you didn’t come and deck me on the nose,” Louis said, holding his hands up as if to surrender. “Seriously, you went lightly on me. If a crazy dog was leaping around me and my kids, I’d have lost my shit long before you did, and it would have been a lot more sweary than yours as well.”

Harry laughed at that, quite liking the man now he was getting to know him. This Louis seemed to have a good sense of humour, and his dog was fairly likeable too, laying there sound asleep, sunbathing.

“Well, I don’t usually lose my temper, so I just wanted to apologise.”

“It’s me who needs to say sorry. My stupid dog ate their bloody eggs, and on Easter Sunday at that. It’s a good job we don’t go to church, Cliff, or we’d both be going straight to hell. Nice ears, by the way. I meant to say earlier.”

*＊✿❀○❀✿＊*

Harry’s ready to spend a fun Easter morning with his two children at the park, but it’s thrown into chaos when an over-excited dog and his owner come barrelling into their lives…

A Small Matter (A Matter of Trust) by @kingsofeverything​ 

[Harry/Louis, 18k, Explicit, tumblr post] 

Harry knows he and his Grindr hookup would be perfect together, if only he could convince him to give a relationship a chance. 

Or Harry has a thing for jock straps. Louis likes to wear them. 

Are you proud of me? by @sadaveniren​ 

[Harry/Louis, 2k, Explicit, tumblr post] 

Louis was completely naked, except for a silk scarf that Harry had never seen before. It was tied around his neck like a bow. His lithe body was cast in dramatic shadows as he descended the stairs and all Harry could think was holy shit, mine, mine, mine.

“Well this is a shame. I was hoping you’d keep the boa.”

Harry blinked in surprise at his voice. He was too caught up in his perfection. “What?”

“I guess the leather will do. I do love you dressed in leather.”

aka I show up 2 weeks late with Grammy Fic

Right Back Home to You by @behindmeday​

 [Harry/Nick Grimshaw, 4k, Teen & Up, tumblr post] 

It wasn’t the first time Harry and Nick were cut off before they really got started talking. In fact, it seemed to be happening more often than not. Nick had an insane schedule that no rational person would choose, but Harry’s was even worse. Between the early mornings on The Breakfast Show and the never-ending time zone changes of tour, it seemed that Harry and Nick weren’t really meant to have any real conversations these days. 

Or, Harry writes Nick a song. 

take my hand (my whole life too) by @beckydoesthings​ / beckywritesthings

 [Harry/Louis, 44k, Explicit, tumblr post] 

“You’re famous?” he asks, deciding to dive straight into the heart of the issue.

Harry winces, dropping his gaze to the table. “Erm… famous is one word for it.”

Well, that’s reassuring. Louis raises an eyebrow until Harry heaves a sigh and continues.

“How much do you know about the British monarchy?”

His stomach drops to the floor in a heartbeat, jaw following suit. There’s no way that what Harry’s insinuating is possible. But as the time ticks by, there’s no change in the deadly serious expression on Harry’s face, fingers twitching steadily on the table as he waits for Louis’ answer.

“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me.”

Or a Crazy Rich Asians AU with a royal twist where Harry is a prince, Louis is most definitely not, and there’s a royal wedding to attend.

Forever Is In Your Eyes by @so-why-let-your-voice-be-tamed​ / we_are_the_same 

[Harry/Louis, 126k, Teen & Up, tumblr post] 

Harry looks fragile in the moonlight, and Louis stands there, pondering, not even sure what it is that he’s thinking of. It’s all just noise in his head, a mix of melancholy and desire, of longing for something that he doesn’t even have a name for.

He wants-

He wants love. He wants to be held and cherished and have a home. Not just a place to lay his head down at night. He wants to be loved the way that Louis had loved creating Harry. He wants his perfect man, but he wants him to be real. He wants Harry to be real-

His lips press against marble, against something cold and unforgiving, and it’s not until his hand comes up to rest against a sculpted neck that his eyes fly open and he stumbles backwards, nearly falling off the stepladder that he’d stood on.

“Jesus Christ.” He whispers, shaking his head and resisting the urge to brush the back of his hand against his lips, erase evidence that isn’t even visible to the naked eye. Harry stands there, as though nothing’s changed, and of course he does, because he’s a statue.

A statue that Louis has just kissed.

Stuck in an eternal spring by @chrysopon​ / flamboyo 

[Louis/Zayn, 4k, Teen & Up, tumblr post] 

Louis is about to go crazy in the silent solitude of London’s lockdown. The only breach into the grey monotony of his days is the hope of catching a glimpse of the dark-haired guy who lives in the building across the street. One night they have their night cigarette together while both in their flats, twenty meters and an empty, quiet street between them. It becomes a habit, but maybe there’s hope for it to become something more. 

It’s Been So Long by @elsi-bee​ / elsi_bee 

[Harry/Louis, 31k, Teen & Up, tumblr post] 

Harry Styles’ first crush was one of his sister’s best friends, a certain someone named Louis Tomlinson. And Louis? He just vaguely remembers Gemma’s younger brother from back in the day. 

A lot can change in ten years. 

Featuring Niall and Liam as Harry’s friends, flirting, fluff, and flashbacks to the awkward days of high school. 

This Dream Lost by @zanniscaramouche​ / zanni_scaramouche

[Liam/Louis/Harry, 5k, Mature, tumblr post] 

It’s a dangerous game to play his Alpha like this, and it gives Harry a thrill through his spine he’s not sure he likes. It’ll be worth it, but he doubts he’ll be pulling any surprises on Louis for a while after this. He can’t fucking stand it as is and it’s not even really for Louis, it’s for Liam. 

Mercy by @zanniscaramouche​ / zanni_scaramouche 

[Niall/Shawn Mendes, 5k, Explicit, tumblr post] 

“I-” Shawn licks his lips, eyes bright and wide with the shock. 

Balls in his court now. He could refuse, step away from the line they’re toeing and laugh it off. But he doesn’t, just like Niall knew he wouldn’t. Because Shawn wants this. They both do, and that’s what makes it so fucking insane. 

Blind Faith by @2tiedships2​ 

[Harry/Louis, 18k, Mature, tumblr post] 

“Harry?” Liam prompted.

“I’m blind,” Harry eventually said, trying his best to keep himself from crying.

Liam was silent for a few moments, before responding, “That’s not exactly news, H. You were blind when I met you a year and a half ago. Have you been in denial this whole time or something?”

“No, Liam,” Harry cut in. “This is different. I’m not legally blind like I used to say. It’s not just my night vision. The tunnel from my tunnel vision has closed. I’m fucking blind! I moved halfway around the world in the hope of finding my soulmate and it’s obviously not happening now. Not even a soulmate is going to want to put up with a blind alpha.“

The Journal by @wait4ever​ / RecycledStardust & @evilovesyou​ / 4ureyesonly28 

[Louis/Harry, 14k, General, tumblr post] 

When Harry finds himself purchasing an antique journal in the ancient bookshop of a town he’s never heard of, he doesn’t exactly want to admit that he has no idea how he got there. A myriad of odd coincidences and a few kind smiles from the shopkeeper have the two of them working hard to solve the mystery of this strange journal that seems to have been waiting for Harry for almost a hundred and thirty years. 

But I’m the Quarterback by @evilovesyou​ / 4ureyesonly28 

[Harry/Louis, 52k, Explicit, tumblr post] 

Harry Styles is the quarterback of Sunny High’s football team, dating the beautiful head cheerleader, and determined to enter his senior year with focus and discipline. That is, until a strange man shows up at his home, makes his girlfriend break up with him, and convinces his parents to send him off to a “reparative therapy camp” over the summer. 

At True Directions, Harry meets four other boys and five girls, all there to be cured of their homosexuality. He has to find a way out of this place as soon as possible—Christ, he isn’t even gay! 

Know a Trick or Two by @sadaveniren​ 

[Harry/Louis, 45k, Explicit, tumblr post] 

The night before Louis is scheduled for a Portkey to begin training with the Vratsa Vultures in Bulgaria he heads into Muggle London for one last night of fun. A few months later he finds out he’s having a child. 

Eleven years ago Harry had a one night stand and now there’s a strange man on his doorstep telling him his daughter is something called a wizard and she’s got a place at the British wizarding school Hogwarts. 

Aka the one where Muggle Harry and Wizard Louis have a one night stand and get more than they bargained out of it. 

Until That Day by @kingsofeverything​ 

[Harry/Louis, 44k, Explicit, tumblr post] 

Harry Styles is days away from walking down the aisle when his previous failed weddings are turned into a public spectacle by jaded London journalist Louis Tomlinson. Hoping to witness Harry leave another groom at the altar, Louis heads to Holmes Chapel, where nothing goes as planned, and he finds himself falling for the serial heartbreaker. 

A Runaway Bride movie AU 

Caught In Your Gravity by @lululawrence​ 

[Harry/Louis, 63k, Not Rated, tumblr post] 

It felt like the blood froze in Harry’s veins even as he got a bit lightheaded. He hadn’t even made it two practices, only one of which he was remotely in charge of, without giving it all away and now he and Liam were both absolutely fucked.

“Shit,” Harry breathed out. “Who all have you told? Does everyone know? I thought I covered it better than that…”

“No, no,” Louis said quickly. “They’ll figure it out soon enough, though, because they’ll get used to you changing things up, but you’re only going to trip over your so called Americanisms for so long before they realize it’s because you don’t actually know fuck all about football.”

Harry sighed. “Yeah. I figured. I just need to bullshit for long enough to allow Liam to get the situation figured out from his end.”

“Right, which brings me to my entire point. I think we can find a mutually beneficial arrangement with all of this.” Louis leaned forward. “You need to learn the ins and outs of the sport incredibly fast. I can help you with that.”

“What do you want in exchange?”

Or, an AU inspired by a 30 second trailer of Ted Lasso that doesn’t actually have much in common with the show at all.

Passing By by @larryyouknow​

[Harry/Louis, 48k, Explicit, tumblr post]

Sometimes, people are in each other’s lives just for the briefest of moments. They meet and then go their separate ways because being vulnerable is scary and it might be easier to not let anybody else in. But some people aren’t meant to be just passing by. Maybe when they open their eyes, they can learn things about themselves they haven’t known before. If they let their hearts speak they will find a way to be together.

Or the one where Harry doesn’t even know he’s into guys until he meets Louis on a boat trip. There’s something more to their friendship but it ain’t gonna be smooth sailing.

[xbaepsae]

5280 feet (m)

“Never in your life have you met such a cocky, yet still strangely attractive, person. His words really struck a chord in you, and now you really can’t stop imagining your legs wrapped around him…or his cock in your mouth.”

[jimin x flight attendant!reader]

genre: mile high club!au, smut, slight pwp, some humor, some fluff (if you squint)

word count: 5.8k

rating: mature

warnings: uhhhh unprotected airplane sex lmao, fingering, oral, cum shot, more unprotected sex, creampie, mentions of alcohol, language

a/n: please tell me i’m not the only one who fantasizes about being a member of the mile high club?? LOL. i planned this fic a while ago, but forgot about it until yesterday. and surprisingly, all 5k+ came pretty naturally; of course, i never intended it to be 5k lol. the plot just kept continuing. xoxo

“I think one of these days, I’m just going to collapse and die,” you say, taking a sip of your coffee. It tasted dark and bitter—much like your mood right now.

“Oh, you’re being dramatic,” Seokjin rolls his eyes, “you love this job.”

He was right—you did love being a flight attendant. It was probably the best decision you’ve ever made, and you’ve made a lot of bad ones. Instead of completing the standard four years of college, you managed one measly semester and decided school just wasn’t for you. The only reason you applied was for your mother’s sanity anyway; you promised you’d try, and try you did. Obviously, your mother freaked because your life was doomed—a fucking college dropout; what good could come from it?

Well, five years later, you’d consider your life pretty successful. Not only have you traveled all over the world, but you’ve met some interesting people. The only downside to this career was the demanding, god-forsaken hours.

Take your predicament right now as an example; you woke up this morning at around four o’clock, dazed and confused, before remembering that you spent another night at a hotel in an unfamiliar city. You’ve never really been a morning person, so you’ve yet to master the early morning calls.

After an entire day of flying, along with an array of rude and needy passengers, you are on the last flight of the day—the flight that is going to take you home to your bed.

Pulling your suitcases behind you, you and Seokjin make it to the gate of your final assignment for the day and greet the pilot. He lets you know that the flight is going to be over two hours and you’re completely okay with that.

“Whatever will get me home tonight, Yoongi,” you smile tiredly, realizing that your coffee is already finished.

“It shouldn’t be a terribly full flight, so I think we’ll manage.”

Yoongi boards the plane first, along with his co-pilot, to make sure everything is working properly, and lets you and Seokjin know that you two can board in ten minutes. In the time you still have to wait, people begin arriving at the gate. You hope Yoongi is right, and that the flight isn’t packed, because you honestly aren’t in the mood to deal with the audacious demands of people right now.

Quickly excusing yourself to the restroom, you freshen up a little and give yourself a little prep talk, “You can do this, y/n—just one more flight and then you have the rest of the week off.”

You are so looking forward to your break. Rarely do you ever get so many days off in-between your schedule, so you’re beyond excited. It was finally time for you and your bed to become reacquainted with one another.

When you get back to the gate, Seokjin offers you a smile. “Looking better.”

“I feel much better; maybe the caffeine is kicking in after all.” Some of your favorite workdays were the days you and Seokjin got to work together. It wasn’t often since your airline has multiple crewmembers, but these last rotation days have been fun—minus today since you’re in a rush to go home. “Got any plans when you get home?”

“I think my wife just misses me, so we’ll probably just be staying at home,” he laughs, and you wistfully sigh at the thought of marriage.

At that moment, you both get a notice to board the plane and you excitedly hand one of the desk attendants your boarding pass. As you both walk through the boarding gate, you can’t help but muse, “Must be nice to have someone to return home to.”

“Weren’t you seeing that one guy…?”

“Oh, Namjoon?” you ask, and Seokjin nods. “Yeah…I was; unfortunately, that didn’t work out.”

“What happened?” he asks.

Shrugging, you say, “I guess it was because I was busy? Being a flight attendant means I’m not always home, and Namjoon wanted someone who could always be around.”

“Are you doing alright though?”

“Oh yeah,” you nod, “I’m fine. Our relationship wasn’t that serious anyway and if I’m being honest, I really didn’t like Namjoon that much.”

Boarding the plane, you and Seokjin stow your bags away and begin preparing the necessities for the flight. After so many years in the business, all of this prep feels like second nature to you. Within minutes, you have almost everything prepped just in time for the passengers arriving on the plane.

As people begin boarding, you wear your best smile and greet them. One by one, you watch the different people boarding—you see everything from families to singles. Although you’re smiling at everyone, you’re not one hundred percent paying attention, that is until you catch the persistent gaze of one passenger.

You aren’t even actively looking at him; but you know that feeling of someone watching you? Well, for some reason, he was staring you down, so you had to look at him. And when you do, an immediate wave of heat rolls over your body. The moment he passes by you, towering a few inches above you in your modest heels, you catch a whiff of his cologne that sends a pulse down to your core.

Good thing you’ve perfected at least your poker face because hot damn that was that a fine piece of man in front of you. You’ve encountered hot passengers on other flights but never has someone affected you like this. Perhaps it was the swagger in his walk or the confidence that permeated the recycled air, but it was intoxicating.

From your peripheral, you notice that he found a seat early on the plane—meaning he was seated in first-class. You didn’t even pay attention to what he was wearing. Was he a businessman? Those are the types that always sit in first-class.

Soon, the doors of the plane shut, and you have to begin with the plane briefing and safety protocols.

“Y/n, for the safety demonstration, I’ll take the back half of the plane and you stay here in first-class, okay?” Seokjin asks from somewhere, but you can’t even focus. You absentmindedly nod before realizing that you’ll be in close proximity with that man from earlier. You’re about to protest when your friend suddenly speaks up again. “Actually, can you stay in first-class and the front of economy today? I’d rather be in the back of the plane.”

Oh, great. “Uh…sure. That’s fine, I guess.”

Beginning the safety instructions, you once again feel the same heated gaze from earlier and wonder if it’s because you look like a mess? Was there something on your uniform? You’ll be the first to admit that flight attending uniforms weren’t the cutest things in the world, but it was the standard, so you have no choice.

After you finish the safety instructions, you move onto the pre-flight service in first-class. You peaked and noticed that mystery man is sitting in the last row of first-class, so you don’t have to immediately talk to him. Even as you bring glasses of champagne and various other cups of liquor to the other passengers in first-class, the feeling of being watched never fully goes away. And eventually, you find yourself in front of him.

“Good evening sir, is there anything I can get you before we take off?” you try not to directly look at him.

“Yes, I’ll have a glass of your best red wine and you,” he says so smoothly, you almost don’t catch the bit at the end.

When you do, your eyes flutter to his. “Excuse me?”

“I wanted you to look at me, doll,” he smiles, and you feel your heart explode. This man was unbelievably attractive. You momentarily glance at his clothing and he is indeed wearing a suit. But he wears it in such a way that isn’t overly stuffy. Underneath his blazer is a simple white button-up, but the top two buttons are open and leave little to the imagination.

“Anything else besides the wine, sir?” you ignore the comment made about you.

“How about your name?” he asks, leaning towards you. Was he flirting with you?

You offer a passive smile, “I don’t think that’s on the menu.”

“Are you sure you’re not on the menu? Because,” he licks his lower lip, “I would love to have those long legs wrapped around me or maybe your sweet lips wrapped around my cock.”

If people could turn into puddles, you’d be a total melted mess right now. Instinctively, your thighs snap together, and you release a shaky breath. You nervously look around and hope no one thinks anything suspicious is happening right now. Quickly, you excuse yourself and air out the top of your uniform. It is too damn hot in here.

Walking back with a glass of red wine, you hand it to the extremely forward stranger. “Here you so, sir. I hope you enjoy.”

“I’m sorry if I was being too forward a moment ago,” he takes a sip of the wine and you watch as he licks a drop off his lips. “But you’re too beautiful and I can’t take my eyes off of you.”

“No, it’s…attractive,” you admit, which not only surprises him but surprises you too.

He gives you another mega-watt smile. “The name’s Jimin.”

“Y/n,” you finally relent just as Yoongi announces that the plane is ready for takeoff. Leaving Jimin with a last look, you go and take your seat as the plane lifts into the air.

***

Once the plane reaches a certain altitude and seat belts can be unbuckled, you begin the process off offering refreshments to the other passengers. You and Seokjin tag team this feat and Yoongi was right, there aren’t as many people on this flight; this makes the whole process much easier. Even though you’re occupied with offering cups of ginger ale and sprite to passengers, you can’t stop thinking about Jimin.

You blame the fact that you haven’t had a proper orgasm in a few days. Mix that with your awful day, and you’re dying for a sweet release. For the last half hour, Jimin has had you all hot and bothered. Never in your life have you met such a cocky, yet still strangely attractive, person. His words really struck a chord in you, and now you really can’t stop imagining your legs wrapped around him…or his cock in your mouth.

“Are you okay, y/n?”

You blink at Seokjin, “Fine—just tired.”

Putting the refreshment carts away in the back, you both do one round of garbage collection before Seokjin excuses himself to the makeshift lounge. On this plane, since it is a bit bigger, there is a little lounge for the crew. However, it only fits one person usually. Pouting, you make your way back to the front of the plane and double check with a few passengers.

As you’re about to pass first-class, you feel your core tighten from the thought of being in close proximity to Jimin again. Even though you feel his eyes on you once again, you ignore the sensation and focus on the other first-class passengers.

“Can I have another glass of champagne?” one woman asks, and you promptly bring her another cold glass.

You continue catering to everyone’s needs before you find yourself in front of Jimin again. Never have you been more thankful for the bit of privacy first-class offers because the pure and unadulterated desire that seeps from Jimin almost has you on your knees. “Can I get you anything else, sir?”

“Are you still off the menu, y/n?” he asks, and the way your name rolls off his tongue makes you weak. Your expression only seems to fuel his desire though. “I’ll have another glass on red wine.”

You practically run to get the wine. As you pour his drink, you honestly aren’t sure if you’ll make it the whole flight feeling this tense. There is still at least another hour and a half of the flight, but your self-control is wearing thin. Maybe if you just quickly slipped into the lavatory…your face heats at the thought. In all of your years as a flight attendant, you’ve never even once considered doing something like that.

As someone working in the airplane industry, you’ve heard of the so-called mile high club—people who have sex on planes. You will admit that the thought has always intrigued you, but to actually participate? Not only would you be jeopardizing your job, but also your reputation.

During your first year as a flight attendant, you heard a rumor about a girl who worked on a different airline that got fired for getting caught having sex on the job. You don’t remember the details of what exactly happened, but all you need to remember is that she ended up jobless and you don’t want that to be your reality.

Walking back to Jimin, you catch him staring at you again and tension once again radiates throughout your body.

“Here you go,” you hand him the glass of wine. Just as you’re about to walk away, his hands move to wrap around your wrist.

“Tell me about yourself,” he prompts, taking you by surprise. “What? Thought that I just wanted to fuck you?”

Your mouth drops at his boldness, and Jimin comments something that sounds like you’re cute.

“I mean, I do want to do that too,” he continues, hand wrapped underneath his jaw. “But I am curious to know more about you.”

“I’m twenty-three and I’ve been a flight attendant for almost five years,” you offer, unsure if that’s the kind of information he wants to know. “I love my job and I couldn’t imagine doing anything else.”

Jimin takes a sip of his wine before saying, “I’m twenty-six and I work in a multi-million-dollar business. I love-hate my job but couldn’t imagine doing anything else either.”

“Is that where you’re headed today?” you ask.

“Yeah,” he unbuttons another button from his shirt and proceeds to take off his jacket. Although you try to be discreet, Jimin catches your nervous swallow. “I do these business trips every month. I have a huge meeting tomorrow morning, which is why I took a flight tonight.”

“Well, if you have a chance, the city is beautiful and you should go sightseeing,” you tell him, surprised that you both are having a normal conversation.

“You’ve been?�� he asks.

You laugh in response. “I live there.”

Jimin’s eyebrows perk up. “Oh, really? I wasn’t sure since I know flight attendants spend a certain number of days working prior to flying home.”

“This is my last flight of this particular schedule,” you don’t know why you feel the need to tell him this, but the words slip out of your mouth before you can stop them.

“Interesting,” Jimin nods. “Don’t you think we should celebrate?”

At his question, your brows furrow. You don’t understand what he means. “Celebrate what?”

“This being your last flight.”

“How?”

Despite the setting sun casting the cabin in golden hour, Jimin’s eyes appear to darken in the light. Something mischievous glints in them and all he says is, “Three taps.”

***

You have no idea what three taps means.

After that comment from Jimin, you walked back to your seat to contemplate his words. There is no possible way anything can happen—there is less than an hour before they land now. What kind of celebration was he even talking about?

Mulling over his words, you do a walk through all the cabins with Seokjin and snicker when you see his bedhead. “Have a good nap?”

“Even though it was only twenty minutes, I needed that,” he smiles sheepishly

“No wonder you wanted to sit in the back.”

You pick up some trash from the passengers and throw it into the trash bag that Seokjin holds. “You can have a quick nap if you want.”

“Thanks, but no thanks,” you shake your head. “The flight’s almost over anyway.”

Checking your watch, there should only be about thirty minutes left of the flight. On your way back to your seat, you slip into the lavatory and splash some water on your face. You are still feeling a bit hot and bothered, but your house was within reach. And being home meant you could use all of your delicious toys tucked away in your side drawer.

Just as you wipe the water off your face, you hear a knock on the door. You yell out that it’s occupied, and even double check to make sure you locked the door. You did. So, who knocked? Throwing the paper towel away, there’s another knock on the door…and then another. Your stomach tightens when you realize there were three consecutive knocks—three taps.

You mouth runs dry at the thought of who might be on the other side of the door. There is also a jolt of electricity that runs up your spine at the thought of what’s going to happen, and even more so at the fact that you could get caught. Earlier, you were worried about getting caught and potentially losing your job; however, now, the risk thrilled you.

So, you decide to say fuck it and unlock the door.

Immediately, Jimin enters the lavatory and swiftly locks it behind him. You open your mouth to say something to him but before you can, he steps forward and pushes you back against the sink. Grabbing your face in his hands, his lips crash onto yours. You moan at the sheer force of his kiss. His lips move over yours as if he’s kissed your lips a thousand times. Like he knows exactly how to set you off.

You don’t know how, but clothes start coming off and you find yourself on your knees in front of him. Your breast are already on full display and he leans down to pinch your nipples before moving to cup your face.

“Suck my cock, baby girl,” Jimin coos, rubbing his thumb over your lips.

Unbuckling his pants, you reach into his briefs and pull out his cock. There’s already precum smeared over the tip and hard shaft, and you wonder just how long he’s been like this.

“I’ve been hard since the flight started,” he seems to read your mind. “The moment I saw that tight ass in that skirt…fuck.”

You take Jimin into your mouth without warning, marveling at his size and how you’re already dripping through your panties. You’re no prude, but you’ve never been this turned on in your life.

As you suck on the tip and work the rest with your hands, the sounds that come from Jimin’s mouth feed your desire. He’s surprisingly vocal—his moans high pitched and needy. “Yes…just like that, baby. You suck cock so well, huh?”

You hum in response, and Jimin’s hands weave their way into your hair. He guides you closer to his groin, his cock hitting the back of your throat. You choke at the sensation, but it’s worth the pleasure that Jimin seems to feel. He begins fucking your mouth; body shaking slightly at the feeling of lips around his cock.

Eventually, he pulls away and lifts you off the ground. Unexpectedly, he brings you close for another kiss—the sloppy, messy kind that moves from your lips to your jaw, and curves to your neck and collarbone. As he sucks bruises into the delicate skin of your shoulder, he raises you up on the sink and pulls your panties to the side.

The moment his thumb presses against your clit, you’re done for. You jerk at the way he works your little nub, nearly crying because you’ve wanted nothing more than release. “Oh my god, Jimin.”

It doesn’t take you long to feel the steady build of your orgasm coming. It really has been so long since you’ve felt this good; and when Jimin inserts two fingers inside of you, finding that g-spot, you come undone instantly.

“Fuck, I’m coming,” you arch back against the mirror and Jimin can’t help but stare at your expression in wonder.

“That’s right, baby,” he continues to rub your sensitive clit, helping you ride out your orgasm. “Keep coming for me, and then I’m going to fuck you so good.”

The second you come down from your high, Jimin pushes his cock into you and you let out the loudest moan. He fucks you hard and fast, hips slamming against your pelvis rhythmically. For a second, you wonder if he dances because there was no way normal hips should move that way. But that thought fades when Jimin pulls your closer to the edge of the sink, and somehow manages to get an even deeper angle.

“F-Feels so good, Jimin.”

“Yeah?” he asks, sweat starting to bead at his brow.

You nod in response and look down to see the way his cock looks entering your wet cunt. The sight alone would’ve been enough to send you over the edge again, but you held it in. More than anything, you wanted Jimin to come too. Wrapping your legs even tighter around him, you begin to meet him thrust for thrust. Soon, his hip movements become jerky and you know he’s close.

“I don’t know how much longer I-I can…” Jimin groans, slowing down. “Are you close?”

“Mhmm,” you moan. “I’m almost there….”

With a few more hard thrusts, and a thumb pressed to your clit, you shut your eyes as your second orgasm rolls over you. The way your walls clench around him have Jimin gasping as he pulls out and shoots his load all over your stomach. You watch the milky white ropes mark your skin, and even lift a bit into your mouth.

“You know, I would’ve swallowed,” you muse, loving the way Jimin’s expression darkens once again.

“I guess we’ll just have to do that next time,” he smirks, causing you to become speechless.

You both clean up in silence, and you try to make yourself look pre-coital. Jimin laughs at the way you attempt to straighten your wrinkled skirt, but you just pout because he looks amazing even with the just-fucked look. “No fair.”

“You look hot,” Jimin swears, pinching your butt a little and making you jump.

Jimin sneaks back out of the lavatory first and you follow behind a moment later, walking as casually as you can to your seat. Thankfully, you arrive just in time because Yoongi announces over the intercom that you’re descending soon, which means everyone needs to buckle up.

As the plane lands in the city, the sky is a gorgeous shade of purple dusk. Immediately, you feel reenergized from being home, and also because you just had the best sex of your life…in an airplane lavatory. You blush again at the thought of Jimin’s thick cock inside of you, and then sigh when you realize you’ll probably never see him again. What a tragedy.

The moment the plane pulls up to the gate, and Yoongi turns the engine off, everyone begins filing out of the plane. You bid each passenger goodbye and wonder why you haven’t seen Jimin yet—after all, he was sitting in first-class. Eventually, you realize he’s the last person to leave and when he stands in front of you, he sticks his hand out.

Instinctively, though confused, you shake it and he leaves without another word. You watch him step off the plane and feel…sad? Although you barely know the man, you were definitely intrigued and wanted to see him again. When you move to grab your bags, you realize that there is a slip of paper in your hand. Wait; did Jimin put it there? Quickly opening the note, you read it and a wide smile stretches across your face.

He gave you his number.

***

After you say goodbye to Seokjin and Yoongi, you waste no time texting Jimin.

9:01 PM | You: hi…this is y/n

9:01 PM | Jimin: y/n. didn’t think you’d actually text back lol

You can’t help but laugh a little at his response. Why wouldn’t you text back? Right now, the only thing you can think about is him.

9:02 PM | You: of course. I want to see you again

You send your next text without even fully thinking it through. It was impulsive and a bit unlike you to be so frank, that was clearly Jimin’s forte, but what was there to lose? If Jimin hadn’t secretly given you his number, there would have been no way you’d see him again.

By the time you make it to your car, Jimin hasn’t said anything back. Doubt and worry fills you—was he tired of you already? Maybe you were bad at sex? No, then why would he have bothered with the number anyway? Your mind swirls through terrible scenarios before you receive another message

9:06 PM | Jimin: me too, doll. Meet me at my hotel?

9:06 PM | Jimin: I would’ve waited but my ride was already here waiting for me, and I didn’t know if you…

Your body pulsates at the thought of seeing him now. Earlier today, all you wanted was to go home; now, the idea of warming Jimin’s hotel bed seemed too tempting to pass up.

9:07 PM | You: okay

***

You pull up to the hotel that Jimin sent the address to and gawk at the posh exterior. There are a number of ritzy hotels in your city, and you figured Jimin would be staying at a nicer one, but it was still shocking to experience.

As your mouth stays parted, someone gently taps at your window. You jump a little and see a man standing there. Rolling down your window, you take in his uniform and are about to ask where you can park.

“I can valet park for you, ma’am,” he says, cutting you off. “You’re with Mr. Park, correct?”

Who is Mr. Park? Before you have a chance to answer, your phone vibrates with a text message. Looking down, you see that Jimin’s texted you.

9:30 PM | Jimin: let the valet take your car

“Umm, okay,” you tell the man and step out of the car. Walking around to grab your luggage from the back, you see that another man has already fetched it for you. Is this what it’s like to have money? You quickly thank them both and make your way inside of the hotel.

As you reach the front desk, the receptionist offers you a smile. “Mr. Park is in the Presidential Suite. It’s on the very top floor, ma’am.”

Your mouth drops again, and you wonder if maybe you had the wrong perception of Jimin. When he mentioned on the plane that he worked for a big business, you figured he was just a normal employee. Yeah, every business has its perks, so you figured that was just the case. However, maybe Jimin is higher up the business food chain than you thought. Also, how did she know you were the person Jimin was supposed to meet?

After thanking the receptionist, you walk in the direction of the elevators. Getting in one, you press the highest number on the elevator and begin to go up. Once you make it to the top floor, you walk out of the elevator and realize there is only one door. You laugh a little; guess there’s no way you can get lost then.

Standing in front of the door, you knock three times and wait for Jimin to answer. Within seconds, he does, and you realize he only has a towel wrapped around his waist. His hair is damp, and you marvel at the droplets that cascade down his body. He laughs at your reaction and ushers you to come inside.

But the second you’re through the threshold, your luggage tips over as Jimin pushes you against a wall.

“Hey, doll,” his breath fans across your face.

“Hey, Mr. Park,” you smirk a little. “So, tell me, just how rich are you?”

Jimin chuckles and begins to pepper kisses along your face and jawline. “I was hoping you wouldn’t figure that out. Tends to make people want to stay, if you know what I mean.”

Grabbing his face into your hands, you tell him, “Jimin, I don’t care that you have money.”

His expression softens at your words.

“And how could I not figure that out when you’re staying in a fucking Presidential Suite?” you continue, pressing a kiss on his chin. “Kind of a dead giveaway.”

“Fuck my money,” he rolls his eyes. “I just want to properly bury my face in your pussy.”

Fire ignites in your core as Jimin pulls you away from the doorway and past the main area. You barely have time to admire the ceiling to floor glass windows or the modern layout of furniture because he drags you into the bedroom. Jimin throws himself onto his bed, and you don’t miss the way his towel barely clings to his body. “Strip for me.��

You are still in your flight attendant outfit; however, you oblige and begin peeling the same clothes Jimin tore off your body earlier. You delight in the way Jimin watches your every move. It’s like he can’t get enough of you. Once you slip out of your panties, fully exposed to him, he pulls you on top of his lap for a kiss.

On his lips, you can still taste the remnants of the red wine he had on the plane. But unlike the rushed kisses in the lavatory, Jimin kisses you passionately now. His tongue dances with your own, and he gently nips at your lips before pushing you onto your back.

Above you, he works a trail down your body; sucking your already hard nipples into his mouth. You let out a shuddering moan when he reaches the sensitive skin above your cunt. He licks the skin there, and then dives into your core.

“A-Ah!” your back arches at the feeling of Jimin’s tongue fucking you.

“Your pussy tastes so fucking sweet, baby girl,” he groans.

Jimin replaces his tongue with one finger, and you’re about to whine at the loss of his mouth when his mouth moves to your clit and doubles the sensation. “Fuck.”

“Just like that, baby,” he coos, inserting another finger. “Are you going to come for me?”

You helplessly nod at his ministrations. He continues to suck on your little nub, bringing you closer and closer to the edge. When he inserts a third finger inside your wetness, it sends you past the point of no return and you cry out your climax.

“Beautiful,” he hums, lapping up your release and you’ve never seen anything hotter. Sitting up, he watches you with a smug grin and starts pumping his hardening cock in front of you. “Get on your side.”

Although your legs already feel like jelly, you do as he says and lay on your side. Jimin moves behind you, and the feeling of your back pressed against his chest sends a shiver down your pack. Gently, Jimin lifts one of your legs over his and slides inside of you.

Just a few hours ago, he was inside of you, but the stretch still feels amazing now. His pace is slow, and he presses chaste kisses along your shoulder. After a few shallow thrusts, he hits you with a particularly hard one and you let out a low moan.

“What do you want me to do?” he whispers into your ear, arm reaching over to fondle your breasts.

“I want you to fuck me, Mr. Park.”

Jimin nips at your ear, “What was that, doll? Couldn’t hear you.”

You repeat you statement louder, and he lets out a satisfied grunt. Jimin’s hips pick up their pace and the forearm holding you up falls at the force of his thrusts. The lewd noises coming out of your mouth are loud and brazen, but the dirty sweet nothings that left Jimin’s lips are enough to make you orgasm a second time—well, fourth if you count the two from earlier today.

“Ohmygod, Jimin.”

“Yes, fuck, doll—you feel so fucking good on my cock.” Clutching the bedsheets through your high, Jimin breathes heavily behind you, “Fuck. Where do you want me to cum, baby girl?”

Even though you just came, you still can’t help the moans that leave your mouth. “Anywhere. I-I don’t c-care.”

“Can I come inside of you?”

The thought of Jimin filling you up with his cum is so fucking hot, you nod and feel him explode inside of you. He leans against your shoulder as he coats your inner walls. When he finally pulls out, you fall back onto your elbows and examine the mess he made.

“Has anyone ever told you that your pussy is a wonderland?” Jimin asks, walking towards you with a wet cloth. You’re about to take it from him to clean yourself, but he ends up doing it for you.

You blush at the action. “Uh…I don’t think so.”

“Well, it is,” he meets your gaze. You feel yourself blush even harder.

Jimin discards the wet cloth and you realize this is the awkward part. At least on the plane, you could just go back to your seat. Here, what are you supposed to do? Getting up from the bed, you slip your panties back on and cringe at how wet they are.

“Where are you going?”

You stop in your tracks. “Leaving?”

Jimin pulls back the covers of the bed and slips inside, beckoning you. “Stay.”

“Don’t you have that huge meeting early tomorrow?”

“So?” he asks, and you slip into bed right beside him—sans clothing. “Besides, I want to fuck you again.”

You roll your eyes as he pulls you closer, “Isn’t twice enough?”

“I think I might be addicted,” he admits, which makes your heart stutter.

You’re about to tell him the same, but you yawn instead. Suddenly, you remember that you’ve been up since four this morning and that you’ve been running on god knows how many shots of espresso.

“Tired?” Jimin takes the words right out of your mouth.

Nodding, you mutter unintelligently. You probably should shower and brush your teeth, but you honestly can’t be bothered since Jimin feels so good beside you. His body is warm and comfortable; before you can say another word to him, you’re already drifting into dreamland.

As you sleep tangled in his arms, Jimin grazes his fingers over your face and thinks about how beautiful you look even like this. He wasn’t lying when he said he might be addicted to you. He only met you today and already had you twice, but the desire to have more of you is insatiable.

You are definitely going to be his ruin.

[stonylovessteve]

SLS 2021 Creator Reveals

We’ve reached the end of the exchange and that means it’s time to reveal the creators of all our works!

Thank you for putting so much love and effort into Stony Loves Steve 2021, you really made it a great experience. We hope everyone loved it as much as we did!

Giftees, be sure to leave a comment and kudos on your gift if you haven’t already. All our creators worked hard to make this event a success, so show them some love.

You can now post your work publicly outside of the exchange. Tag it as #stonylovessteve2021 on tumblr and we’ll reblog you. @ us @stonylovessteve on twitter and we’ll retweet you.

Below the cut is the final list of all the works produced for the exchange and the creators.

Cold as Ice, Warm my Heart by lil_aussie_girl for parkrstark (MCU, 1.5k)

The cold took away one love already, and his greatest fear is that it will do it again - before he has the chance to say those three important words.

Strength Like The Sea/A Familiar Yet Foreign Face by Lacrimula_Falsa for funkyspacegirlfriend (AU, 3k)

There had to be another explanation for the ugly burning feeling in his chest because this wasn’t a rom-com and he’d known Steve for less than a day.

After years of his father fruitlessly searching for one, Tony finally gets to meet a real-life vampire.

· · ·*‒*‒ ‒ ‒*‒ ·*‒ · ‒ ‒

Anthony.

No, not Anthony, because Anthony had crumbled to dust right before his eyes. But this man looked so eerily similar to him, he could have been Anthony’s twin brother. Only the eyes were different, warm brown instead of cold blue. After being woken nearly a century after he went into stasis because the pain of losing his lover Anthony was too much, Steven meets a man who looks just like him.

I Know There is Comfort Where We Overlap by jellybeanforest for ghosthan (Ults, 10k)

As a relic of a bygone era, Steve struggles with feelings of isolation and severe depression made worse by his recent breakup with Jan Pym. He secretly hooks up with random strangers chasing a sense of connection with someone, anyone. Things are going (not) well when he and fellow Ultimate, Iron Man, are tasked with infiltrating a Thai resort serving as a front for illegal arms dealing. Only catch: They must go undercover as a married couple on their honeymoon.

finding steve rogers by jacobby for geekymoviemom (MCU, 6k)

Steve sighs. “Sorry. I wasn’t a very good tour guide. Ma always told me about the town, but she never got into specifics.”

Tony takes Steve’s hand in his and places it close to his lips. “It’s your first time here too. We understand.”

AKA

After a botched mission with SHIELD, Steve takes a vacation with his family to a town in Ireland.

Things are knot as they seem by BladeoftheNebula for DepressingGreenie (AU, 3k)

Everyone assumes Captain America is an alpha and Steve doesn’t see the harm in not correcting them. After all, Alphas command respect while omegas are still considered far too delicate for leadership.

And sure, it sucks hiding his designation when he’s in love with Tony Stark, the hottest alpha he’s ever seen, but what alpha would want an omega who could lift them with one hand?

So it’s fine. It’s not as if anyone was ever going to find out his secret anyway…

A drop of love by CapAL for Perlmutt (AU, Comic)

After sleeping for 70 years Steve wakes up to a world that he doesn’t understand. As an age-old vampire he’s seen a lot of things in his life, but nothing has ever confused him as much as the bubbly Starbucks barista Tony. They meet by chance and Steve stays. He falls for him, even though he knows he shouldn’t, and together they explore modern New York, while Steve tries to hide his true nature from Tony, afraid that he would send him away if he knew the truth.

The Fake Prince and the Cat  by Neverever for Fluffypanda (AU, 5.5k)

Steve is sent in place of Prince Brock to marry the libertine Tony Stark. It's better than he thought it would be, plus he makes friends with a cat.

father to son by parkrstark for HogwartsToAlexandria (MCU, 2.5k)

Steve had been planning on asking Peter to be his son, officially, for weeks now, but he always chickened out because he didn't thik he was good enough for the boy. Funnily enough, Peter had the same idea, but when he showed the adoption papers to Steve, he didn't have the best of reactions.

The Best Half Of Me by Huntress79 for RoseRose (AU, 1.5k)

An encounter with one of his exes at a charity gala opens Tony’s eyes about how much he really loves Steve - and how much he’s looking forward to their future together.

neither here nor there by ghosthan for  Welcoming_Disaster (616, 18k)

Captain America comes back from Dimension Z changed. He has had over a decade of his life taken from him, as well as the woman he loved. Stoic, secretive, and traumatized, much of what he experienced remains a mystery to SHIELD and the world; Tony is there to help him heal, and uncover the truth about how much Steve has lost.

The Eventide Aspect by geekymoviemom for ishipallthings (MCU, T, 12k)

“Yeah, Cap, about that,” Tony says, looking rather sheepish as he scratches at the back of his neck.

“Yeah?” asks Steve.

“Well… remember those half-baked ideas that I mentioned?  I’m afraid this might be one of ‘em,” says Tony.

“Okay.  Care to explain it to someone who doesn't speak technical?”

“Ahh…” Tony trails off, mumbling under his breath again.  “Yeah.  Um… if my theory is correct, I’m thinking that when we stepped through that window, we might’ve entered another dimension.”

Looking by Robin_tCJ for Vento_Lunar (MCU, E, 4k)

After a raid on a HYDRA base, Steve's body reverts back to the way it was before the serum. Tony still wants him.

You Had Me in the First Half by Corsets_and_Cardigans for Robin_tCj (MCU, E, 2k)

Steve is on his way to meet Bucky for a movie before their football team goes away for a game. Too bad Tony has plans for him! He'll apologize to Bucky for it later.

the rest is history by starksnack for muchmoremajestic (Avengers Academy, G, 2k)

It's Steve's birthday and he usually likes to spend it alone. Of course, Tony has other ideas.

Basically just some soft AvAc fluff.

(Let Me) Love and Be Loved by HeLovedYou for wikketkrikket (MCU, T, 6k)

Steve forgets how to self-sabotage his own happiness.

He also forgets his team, his soulmate and the last three years of his life.

avengers featuring steve’s doppleganger vol 1 (FANCOMIC) by wingheads for jellybeanforrest (616, Art)

tony dates a man who looks a lot like steve. everyone can see it, everyone knows what that means, except tony, who doesn't seem to realize he's dating steve's doppelganger. steve doesn't see the resemblance either and actually comes to like tony's new boyfriend, but then one of the other avengers spills the beans that they look exactly alike to tony, who can't unsee it now and breaks up with the new guy, only for steve to be sad that his baseball-buddy won't be around anymore.

Hart Island by Amber_Skye for lil_aussie_girl (MCU, G, 12k)

Steve is acting out of character, and Tony and the other Avengers can’t work out why.

the soul of dragons by funkyspacegirlfriend for Amber_Skye (MCU, T, 2k)

Steve’s dragon companion is the largest Tony’s ever seen up close. And she captivates Tony from the very first moment.

Just in the Knit of Time by DepressingGreenie for picturecat (Avengers Assemble, T, 2.5k)

Steve only has a week to tell Tony he loves him before his secret is leaked to the world.

Learning Curve by picturecat for Huntress79 (Avengers Academy AU, G, 2k)

Freshly defrosted, Steve Rogers is the newest teacher at the Avengers Academy—an attempt to guide and teach the newest generation of heroes before they have to take on the burdens of their teachers. Steve himself has a lot of learning to do.

First Impression by veryvincible for wingheads (616, M, 7k)

The Avengers find the schematics of a deadly weapon in the hands of an up-and-coming villain. To safely retrieve the data that led to its creation and keep the city safe in the process, they have to take a very subtle approach. The man-- Jack Marshall-- has an eye for hunks and a tendency to get vulnerable with them. The team could use this to their advantage, if they have the right assets.

Enter Steve.

Dandelions and Lilies by Wikketkrikket for CapAL (AU, G, 4k)

Written for CapAL for the StonylovesSteve event 2021.

A summer job in the florists is pretty good, as summer jobs go; and when a handsome guy comes in with some very particular requirements it gets even better.

Or it would, if Steve wasn't lying about the meaning of every bouquet he sold.

Potshot by jellybeanforest for jacobby (AU, T, 2.5k)

In an expansive wasteland infested with hordes of the undead, Steve, leader of a group of ex-military operatives known as the Avengers, searches for survivors and supplies in the ruins of the old world.

That’s all well and good, but Tony would do just about anything for an American cheeseburger.

For Stony Loves Steve 2021. Based on a prompt by jacobby.

Remorse and Rapture by oliverparker for optimusprime13 (AU, E, 6k)

When Steve's mother falls ill, he's forced to move in with the family she works for. He's not thrilled about it.

Shards of Eternities by Perlmutt for starksnack (AU, T, 5k)

Rumor had it that the war would soon be over. It could not end soon enough. Until then, Anthony would wait for Steven. He would wait and protect their child. He would wait and write another thousand letters for his alpha, his mate, his husband, if only he would come home, come for him, come for them.

Two Can Play That Game by JehBeEhh for Becci Barnes (BeccEEE) (MCU, T, 4k)

Tony Stark is many things. Patient isn't always one of them. Especially not when there's a happily ever after at the end of that bout of patience.

Uncovered by mariana_oconnor for Corsets_and_Cardigans (MCU, G, 6k)

Steve didn't think the tip-off was anything more than the usual nonsensical conspiracy theory. He only went to check it out because he was curious. He definitely wasn't expecting it to be a trap.

Build Me Up Buttercup by ishipallthings for BladeoftheNebula (4k, M, MCU)

Tony sees the gold letters spelling “Stark” on the edge of Steve’s hood and his mind grinds to a halt. Steve looks good wearing his name. Too good.

(In which Steve starts experimenting with a new style. Tony does not find this infuriatingly attractive, thank you very much.)

Discovery [Art] by Fluffypanda for captainstars (Art, G, Noir)

Renowned adventurer Tony Stark discovers a carving of a lost civilization's protector.

I left my heart (at home with you) by captainstars for UisceOneLove (2k, G, AU)

It shouldn’t have surprised him as much as it did.

The man grinned at him, wide and beautiful. Steve couldn’t help sneaking another glance towards the heavens. They really lost their citizens fairly easily. Steve would like to say this was the first white robed beauty he had come across until now, but he wasn’t.

(OR)

Steve moved to a cabin in the woods hoping to live the life of a hermit werewolf. When Tony Stark decided to become his new neighbor, it threw a bit of a wrench into Steve’s plans.

(OR)

A werewolf and an incubus cuddling in a tree.

Raspberry Beret (I Think I Love Her) by ralsbecket for oliverparker (4k, M, 3490)

When Steve looked at Natasha, he knew in his heart that she was what put his derailed train back on its tracks. For the first time since they met, Steve felt like he had some semblance of a plan for his future. And he wanted Natasha to be a part of it.

Savior Complex by optimusprime13 for HeLovedYou (18.5k, G, AU)

Wealthy businessman Steve Rogers stumbles into barely-getting-by Tony Stark in a cemetery, and they hit it off immediately. Steve is enamored by Tony’s razor-sharp wit, his startling intelligence, and his penchant for building stuff. He has a problem though - he can’t stop wanting to save everybody around him, especially Tony - who is struggling to make ends meet. However, Tony is too proud and stubborn to accept any help from Steve. But when Tony gets kidnapped to act as bait for Steve, how far will Steve go to save Tony when it means sacrificing himself?

Through His Stomach by RoseRose for JehBeeEh (2k, G, MCU)

Steve decides he wants to try to cook with all the new ingredients he has found in this new time, but he needs someone else to taste-test his creations. Tony is holed up in his workshop, so he makes the perfect guinea pig. The two of them grow closer over several meals.

Iron & Sapphire by Becci Barnes (BeccEEE) for Lacrimula_Falsa (AU, 5k)

Steve can always sense him, long before Tony enters his cave. It makes his blue scales tremble and his big wings flutter in excitement. Tony brings light and warmth into this musty hideout he calls home. And food. And while they may be as odd a couple as you can imagine, that won't stop them from bantering and cuddling just like anyone else.

Man On The Moon by Welcoming_Disaster for veryvincible (616, 7k)

Things haven't been the same since Steve has found out about Tony's secret identity. A mission that goes wrong forces both of them to confront why.

I Love You to the Moon and Back by muchmoremajestic for mariana_oconnor (MCU, 3k)

After Steve gets attacked in the woods, certain changes start happening.

Happy Birthday to America's ass by njava97 for ralsbecket (MCU, 2.5k)

It's the night before Steve's birthday and something is very wrong.

Magic's in the Moving Portrait by UisceOneLove for neverever (AU, 9.5k)

Without his ma, Steve's lost his ability to make art. In walks new wizarding student Tony Stark, who also happens to be his new roommate. All hope might not be lost just yet for him and his brush.

Reach The Sky by Vento_Lunar for njava97 (MCU, art)

Non-serum Steve Rogers saves the world. (And Tony saves him)

[forever-rogue]

The Boyfriend Mission

A/N: This is for @killer-queen-xo, who was one of the Halloween Contest winners! Congrats and amazing job, and I love you! I hope you (and everyone else) enjoys this! It’s a little good old fashioned fake dating fic staring the one and only Ben! Who doesn’t want a sweet old Benny Boy for Christmas, honestly?

Pairing: Ben Hardy x Reader

Word Count: 5k

Warnings: None (fluff)

Masterlist

≪ °❈° ≫≪ °❈° ≫≪ °❈° ≫≪ °❈° ≫

"Y/N? Y/N?" you were frozen for a moment, the phone still clutched to your ear as you heard your mother repeatedly calling your name. Her question had stunned you and instead of finding any type of response, your body had responded with silence, "are you still there?"

"Yes," you finally snapped back into attention, running a hand nervously through your hand as you tried to ignore the question, "sorry almost dropped the phone."

"You didn't answer my question, darling," she already knew what you were doing and you flopped on the couch, groaning internally. You knew you could only blame yourself, realizing now that you should have kept your mouth shut the whole time, "don't try and avoid the question! You know we just want to meet him. You've been gushing about for months now!"

"Gushing is a strong way of putting it," you tried to defend yourself even though you knew you had been playing it up to make it seem like you had suddenly acquired the world's best boyfriend, "it's nothing serious, Mother."

"Don't Mother me, Y/N," she laughed lightly, "just bring him over for Christmas Eve dinner. Everyone's coming and we won't bite. We just want to meet the man who has seemingly won over your heart. Yes?"

"Is it even worth it for me to try and argue?"

"Not really," she insisted, having long already made up her mind. You pinched the bridge of your nose as you knew you had to come with some sort of plan. There was definitely not getting out of this mess...which you more or less had created yourself.

"What if he's already busy, Mum?" it was a last ditch effort but also a valid question...what if this imaginary man already had a plan? It was Christmas after all and people made plans left and right. You could hear her tutting at you on the other side of the line.

"Is he?" she was going to break you down and really wasn't going to let it go.

"I dunno," you sighed wanting to sink into the couch and disappear. Why? Why had you lied? If you had just been honest with your family in the first place you wouldn't be in this position. But no, you just hadn't want to admit that you were still single and receive everyone's pity. And now you were going to have to explain why you lied in the first place and receive that pity instead. What a mess you created for yourself.

"Exactly," you could practically hear the smile in her voice. Although she was pushy, you knew she meant well, "so just ask this mystery boy if he's free and if he that we'd love to meet him."

"Fine, okay," you gave in, ever so reluctantly, "I'll ask him and see what he says."

"Don't make it sound like a death sentence! You always love coming home for Christmas," she reminded as you groaned lightly at her, mumbling under your breath, "what did you say his name was?"

Fuck, you thought to yourself as you tried to come up with a name. But after a couple seconds of fruitless searching you just said, "it's a surprise. Don't want to go and spoil everything!"

"You are a strange little thing," there was a fondness to her voice and you relaxed a little bit, "just find out if he can come and let us know!"

"I will, Mum. In fact, I'll go and ask him right now," you lied, squeezing your eyes shut, "talk to you soon."

"Talk to you soon, love. Can't wait!"

Before she could yet another word in edgewise, you ended the call and chucked your phone across the room burrowed your face into the pillows. It was a terrible mess you had created for yourself and you had no one to blame but yourself. Now you only had a few days to find a solution.

Right now that required a nap, you had decided. A nap probably wouldn't really help, considering it was already later in the evening and you needed to do some serious problem solving. But a nap was a nap and you couldn't argue with the pull of sleep you were experiencing.

≪ °❈° ≫≪ °❈° ≫≪ °❈° ≫≪ °❈° ≫

You woke up in the middle of a dream, sitting up bolt right as you tried to catch your breath and calm your mind down from the unsettling mental images. You ran a hand through your disheveled hair before tying it up and out of your face. Grabbing your blanket, you made a quick decision and headed out of your apartment and down the hall. You realized it was late, probably almost sometime in the morning, and wondered if you should even bother to see if he was awake.

But Ben was your best friend, your rock and confidant, and he was always there for you, as you were for him. That, and the fact they you lived so close didn't hurt either. You knocked quietly on his door, deciding that if you didn't hear anything from the inside the apartment within a few minutes, you'd scurry back home. Part of you hoped he wouldn't be available and part of you hoped he opened the door and would usher you inside.

Just as you were about to give up and head back to your own apartment, he opened the door, a smile immediately crossing his features when he realized it was you.

"Hi love," he rubbed lightly at his eyes, and you wanted to kick yourself when you realized you had most likely woken him up, "to what do I owe the pleasure?"

"Oh Ben," you sighed lightly, "I didn't mean to wake you up. I'm sorry, I should have checked the time. Ugh, I'm just striking out left and right today."

"It's never a bother with you," he insisted, opening the door and reaching for your hand to pull you inside. You weren't about to argue, already feeling better by just his presence.

He led you into the kitchen, and you immediately hopped onto the counter, swinging your legs back and forth as you watched him reach for mugs in order to make some hot chocolate. Ben always knew exactly how to make you feel better.

"Now tell me," he said as he flicked his eyes over to you momentarily, "what's eating you up?"

"I'm in trouble," you sighed as you rested your head against the wall, "big trouble."

"What!?" you heard the clinking of spoons on the ceramic of the mugs as he whipped around and stared at you, very concerned expression on his face, "what happened?"

"Umm, oops?" perhaps you should have specified that it wasn't actual trouble. Judging by his expression, he was ready to stow you away and keep you safe, "it's nothing too terrible, really. I'm not in danger by any means."

"Jesus Christ, Y/N," he let out a sigh of relief went back to the hot chocolate, asking his head lightly at you, "you can't just go around saying things like that without context. Marshmallows?"

"Obviously," you replied watching as he reached into cabinet and pulled out the small bag of mini marshmallows. It was hard not to let your eyes linger on him, watching the muscles of his back and arm flex, apparent still under his sweatshirt. Sometimes it was hard to pretend you weren't absolutely in love with your best friend. Especially when he was so kind, gentle, amazing, handsome, and wonderful. You were so lost in your thoughts, you didn't even realize he was talking to you, holding out your mug.

"Earth to Y/N," he said gently as he nudged your leg with his. You came back to reality and took the cup from his hand, your face heating up under his gaze. Taking the mug from his hand, and bringing it to your lips and taking a drink of the warm, sweet, liquid.

Ben watched you with a smile on his face, silently trying to pick your brain. You were feeling shy all of a sudden, something you rarely experienced with your best friend.

"Penny for your thoughts?" he asked as he hopped up and sat next to you, his body touching yours and sending little jolts of electricity through your body.

"Nothing," you lied as you set the mug down and let out a long sigh. He mirrored your actions as he patiently waited for you to continue on. There was something different about tonight, the way the two of you were interacting that was different. You wondered if he somehow knew that you were in love, if you somehow had spilled your secret. 

You had liked him for some time, and always wondered if he felt the same; but you had talked yourself out of that idea. This was Ben after all, and there was almost no way that someone like him would you like. At least that's what you had convinced yourself. And you were sure of that. Mostly anyways.

“Are you gonna tell me why you’re in trouble?” you had gotten so caught in trying to suppress your feelings for him that you’d completely lost sight of the real reason you’d come to him in the first place.

“Oh! That,” you laughed lightly as he raised his eyebrows at you, “you’re going to laugh and make fun of me…”

“I would do no such thing,” he promised, and it was your turn to give him the look, “fine, so I might. But, as your best friend, I promise to try and help you find a solution to this problem. Now, go on.”

“Okay,” you started and let out a long sigh, “so a few months ago, I was at a family thing and everyone was talking about who they were dating and all that jazz, and then they got to me. I panicked and didn’t want to be the only single one, again, so I lied and said I was dating someone.”

“Wait, wait, wait,” Ben was already cracking up with laughter, his shoulders shaking as he tried to control himself, “so, rather than just admit you were single, you lied and said you were dating someone?”

“Yup,” you admitted, popping the P loudly, “it was a spur of the moment decision that I didn’t really think through.”

“Ahhh, well it can’t be that bad,” he insisted, giving your shoulder a gentle squeeze. His touch was warm, and part of you was glad that it lingered for a few moments longer than necessary, “I’m sure it’ll blow over soon. They’ll probably have forgotten it by now.”

“Umm, well, that’s where the real trouble comes in,” you sighed, bracing yourself for his reaction, “I kind of just kept up with lie and Mum called today and asked me to bring him, my completely fake boyfriend, to Christmas.”

“Oh…boy,” he let out a long breath and you nodded in agreement, “you just couldn’t let it go?”

“You know how I am,” you said, taking another hearty slip of hot chocolate. You noticed that he seemed to tense up a little bit at the mention of a boyfriend. It gave you a moment of thinking that maybe he was jealous. But there was nothing to be jealous of it seemed, “and now I don’t know what to do.”

“How about a breakup?” he suggested and you mulled it over in your mind briefly. It did seem like a solid plan, but at the same time, it would be highly suspicious timing.

“Too risky. A holiday break up? Seems unlikely, and something that would realistically happen after the holidays.”

“Accident?”

“Too dramatic,” you sighed, “people would ask questions and it seems like too complicated of a lie to even start.”

“Already busy?”

“That was going to be my go to,” you confessed, and wondered if you should just go with that plan, “but Mum’s been really insistent and she’s not going to let it go until she meets him. This him that’s totally fake.”

There were a few moments of pause as the two of you sat there in silent contemplation. Without thinking, you put your head on his shoulder and rested it there. It only took a moment before he rested his head on top or yours, giving the crown of your head a quick kiss. Your face lit up at the contact, even though it was just coming from him. Best friends did stuff like this, right?

“What if…you brought me?” he finally said after a few moments, an odd sort of excitement in his voice. He gently got off the counter and tried to read your reaction. You were more stunned than anything else, so you watched him in silence as he took your hands in his, “it’ll be perfect! And we can easily sell the act.”

“But…my family already knows you,” was the only response you were able to get out. The idea of Ben being your boyfriend, even if it was just pretend, was enough to send your heart thumping rapidly. You weren’t going to lie like you hadn’t imagined this exact scenario a million times before, “it wouldn’t really work.”

“Sure it would! You’ll just say that you didn’t want to ruin anything, or give anything away just yet but surprise it’s me!” he had come up with a brilliant plan, even you had to admit that one. His green eyes were shining as he hoped you would agree to it. Little did you know that an idea of his own had most popped into his mind, “besides, your family loves me!”

“But what about after Christmas?” you reminded him, “what happens when we inevitably have to break up and then we remain best friends? Wouldn’t that be weird?”

“We can cross that bridge when we get there,” he promised, but you were still hesitant. It was a good plan, but you didn’t want your real feelings for Ben to get in the way. And even with a fake breakup, you knew it would hurt like hell, “come on love, this will work.”

“I dunno,” you sighed at him, “it might just be easier to admit I lied.”

“Nonsense,” he insisted, “I promise you that this plan is brilliant and nothing will go wrong. Now what do you say? Are you down? If nothing else, think of it as an adventure!”

“Ben Jones, you will be the absolute death of me,” how easily you melted at his smile, the way a single soft curl fell onto his forehead, everything about him made you melt and feel like a blushing school girl more than anything.

“Andddd?” he ask expectantly, and as much as you realized this was going to be interesting, and probably end up hurting more than anything else, you said decided to acquiesce to his request.

“Okay,” you nodded and he let out a small cheer. It seemed odd to you that he was so into this whole plan, but who were you to argue with him? You got off the counter when held out your hand to him, “let’s do this, fake boyfriend.”

“The pleasure is all mine, fake girlfriend,” he took your hand in his much larger one and shook it firmly. You had either just made a huge mistake, or a brilliant plan. It was a fine line between the two, but you were eager to see how it panned out.

≪ °❈° ≫≪ °❈° ≫≪ °❈° ≫≪ °❈° ≫

“You need to breathe,” Ben whispered into you ear as he gave your hand a reassuring squeeze. You looked at him and nodded lightly letting out the long breath you had been holding in. As soon as you had gotten out of his car, nerves took over and you were suddenly regretting your whole plan. 

It was a crazy plan, having him pretend to be you boyfriend in front of your whole family and then spending the night together, trapped in the same bedroom. What could possibly go wrong? Besides everything anyways.

“Right,” you said as you shot him an anxious smile, “my brain’s going a million miles an hour and it’s hard to remember how to function.”

“You’re actually nervous,” he seemed amused by that fact as you glowered at him. It was easy for him to do all this, he just had to play along, but you were the only who had to sell it. He leaned over and kissed the side of your head, getting into the role of doting boyfriend, “although it’s super cute, you have no reason to be. It’ll be fine.”

“I...what?” you asked just as your mom opened the door, her arms already open to pull you in for a hug. But once she realized who you were with, she stopped short, a confused expression on her face.

“Ben?” she looked between the two of you, “you’re dating Ben? He’s the boyfriend?”

“Yup, that’s it,” your eyes widened with fear for a moment, sure she was going to call your bluff, “I’ve been seeing Ben.”

“Oh sweetheart,” she threw her arms around you and gave you a tight squeeze, rocking you back and forth, “that’s absolutely wonderful news! And Ben! How perfect!”

She let go of you and wrapped him up next, not even letting him get a word in edgewise. You knew she had always loved Ben, but you never realized just quite how much.

“You two make a lovely couple,” she pushed the two of you closer together and studied you closely, “I always had a feeling it would end up being the two of you. I had hoped anyways, you were always so right for each other.”

Your heart plummeted at her words when you realized how this meant to her. She thought this was real, and here you were living a lie. You exchanged a quick glance with Ben and he just gave you a smile followed by a light shrug. If you didn’t know any better you’d swear he was in cahoots with her.

“Oh well, you know,” you looked at Ben and waited for him to jump and help out, just he either purposely was ignoring your silent plea for help or blissfully ignorant. You nudged his hip lightly, “sometimes these things take time but work out…”

“I’m so happy for the two of you,” she took a hand from each of you and pulled you both inside the warmth of the house which was filled with all sorts of delicious smells, “everyone’s going to be so happy to hear the wonderful news!”

“Mum, it’s okay, you don’t need to make an announcement,” you tried to stop her, but it was already too late. She left the two of you in the foyer, and momentarily thought about just turning around and running away, but the soft look on Ben’s face told you otherwise. He helped you take off your jacket and beanie, hanging them up.

“Well,” he said as he took off his own gear, “see that went well! I told you it wouldn’t be so bad.”

“You idiot,” you hissed at him, whacking his arm lightly, “why you’d just along with it!? You should have said something!”

“And just what would I had told her?” he threw his hands up in the air, “sorry to disappoint you, but we’re actually just joking?”

“Not that exactly,” you sighed, rubbing at your temples. This was going to get out of control and fast, “I dunno, Benny. Let’s just not play it up too much…it’s going to hurt them enough when I tell them we’re breaking up. I never thought she’d be this into the idea of us. Fuck!”

“I guess at least she doesn’t hate the idea,” he shrugged and you supposed he was right. You nodded and took his hand, pulling him along with you into the living room, where you could hear the rest of your family. This was going to be a long, long day.

Ben hung back for a second, holding onto your hand and keeping you back. You turned to him with a confused expression and wondered what he was doing.

“Ben?” you asked as he pulled you toward him, leaving only a small distance between your bodies. You could practically feel the heat radiating off of him; your heart was thumping wildly and you were sure he could hear it. He reached up and put his hand on your cheek, tracing his fingers over the high points. You swallowed the lump in your throat, “Ben? What’re you doing?”

But he didn’t respond with words, instead he closed the gap between the two of you and pressed his lips against yours. It was soft and gentle, and was much shorter than you had wanted. You found a small, sad little sound leaving your mouth when he pulled away. Needless to say you definitely hadn’t been expecting that, but it had been just as perfect as you had always imagined.

“What was that for?” your voice was small and almost shaky as your whole body got hot. Ben’s cheeks were flushed as he seemed to think you didn’t like what he had done. 

“Just...for practice,” he explained hastily, clearing his throat. If you didn’t know any better, you were almost sure he was lying, “we have to make it look convincing, right?”

“R-right,” you replied, wishing he would look in the eyes. You opened your mouth to say something else, but before anything else left your mouth, your dad walked in, a devilish little grin on his face.

“And hello my darling,” he engulfed you in his arms, and at this point, you had just decided to give in and not even try and argue. Everyone was so set in their own ideas and you likely weren’t going to change their minds.

“Hi dad,” you mumbled as you pulled away and he turned to Ben. There was a gleam in his eye that suggested, much like your mother, he was beyond excited that you and Ben were finally a couple. 

“Young man,” he gave Ben a firm handshake and you totally expected him to go straight into a speech about how he would kill him if he ever broke your heart - you know the typical dad speech. But he didn’t, instead just grinning as he looked between the two of you, “I’m so happy for both of you. Can’t say I’ve been waiting for this one for time, but I’ve been waiting for this one for some time! It’s about time I dare say, how long have the two of you been flirting around now? Years?”

“It’s been a long time coming, sir,” Ben was just eating it up and going along with everything while you just wanted to sink into the floor. You knew Ben always had a little flair for the dramatics, but you didn’t think it would translate quite to this, “I guess we just needed to do it on our own time.”

“All good things take time,” he shot him a wink and you were internally screaming at the both of them. 

“I guess the next question will be when are you giving us all grandchildren?” this time your mouth hung open and you grabbed your dad’s arm and started steering him towards the living room. As much as you found your family overbearing, right now you were looking for any excuse to get away from this conversation. 

“Dad, not the time,” you hissed at him, attempting to give him a stern look, “besides, it must be getting close to time for dinner, right?”

Ben was biting his lip as he trailed after the two of you. If he was being honest, everyone else was basically doing the job for him; he had been planning on finally professing his love for you for some time, but he had never quite knew how to do it. 

When you had first proposed your little plan to him, he had practically jumped for joy when he realized this was it. This was how he was going to finally get you...or so he hoped. He was almost positive you had the same feelings for him that he had for you, but he could never be completely positive. 

But the way you had responded to his kiss and the way you seemed flustered and worried about every little thing told him all he needed to know. He was definitely willing to take the help and bust your family was giving him.

≪ °❈° ≫≪ °❈° ≫≪ °❈° ≫≪ °❈° ≫

The rest of the afternoon and evening had passed in somewhat of a blur, and thankfully no one else had been as pushy as your parents. Everyone else was merely glad to see you with Ben, after a lifetime of friendship, finally together. You got a few little I told you so comments but that was the extend of it. 

Ben played the perfect doting boyfriend, holding your hand and touching you at all the right times. His face lit up whenever he turned to look at you, and it made your heart soar; he was convincing, very convincing and you knew it was going to hurt like a bitch when it had to inevitably end. All you had ever was someone that looked at you the way Ben had been, the way Ben had been talking about you. But it wasn’t real, and you had to constantly remind yourself of that. You did know one thing though - whatever girl ended up with him was going to be very, very lucky.

“Y/N?” you snapped your head in your mother’s direction and waited for her to go on, “I’ve got your bedroom all cleaned up for you. I’m sure you and Ben have no problem sharing it for the night.”

“Oh, no. Of course not,” you gave her a tight lipped smile as Ben played with a lock of your hair, beaming at you. You looked at your watch and noticed that it was already late and realized what she was trying to get across, “well, I guess we’ll retire for the evening. Thank you all for everything, and we will see you in the morning.”

“Good evening to both of you,” she grinned at you as you bid everyone else a good night. Ben took your hand in his and entwined your fingers as you waved to everyone else. 

You remained silent as you walked up the stairs, wondering if Ben was going to let go of your hand as soon as you were out of everyone’s line of sight. But he didn’t; he took the lead, a sort of weird silence falling between the two of you. Normally it was a comfortable silence, but today it was more weird, different from what it usually was.

As soon as you got into the room, you closed the door and locked it, leaning against it as you let out a long sigh, running a hand through your hair. 

“That went well,” Ben flopped on the bed, a proud little smile on his pouty lips. Ones that you totally weren’t thinking about kissing then and there. Definitely not. 

“Ben,” you crossed your arms over your chest, “what the hell was that? You were putting on way more of a show than necessary! They’re going to be crushed when I tell them we broke up. I...I didn’t expect them all to be so into it. Was everyone just expecting, like what the hell?”

“Is it that weird?” Ben felt a rush of nerves, but he knew it was his time to finally confess. You gave him a shrug as you tried to realize what he was playing at. He got off the bed and took a step closer to you, leaving a little room between both of you. 

“I mean, kind of,” you admitted, “we’ve been best friends since we were what? Seven? Eight?”

“Eight,” he confirmed, “twenty long years.”

“Right,” you met his eyes and found that there was an unreadable expression in his eyes, “and if something was meant to happen, then it would have by now, right? I mean we’ve had plenty of opportunities and we’ve dated other people.”

“And how well have those relationships worked out?”

“Not well,” you gave in, remembering your slew of past boyfriends and girlfriends that just never seemed to work out, “but I just...we haven’t found the one.”

“What if we have?” he suggested and while you were hoping you knew what he was referring to, you didn’t want to get your hopes up and have your heart broken, “what if we’ve known for years?”

“What do you mean?” you were playing dumb, but the way he stepped closer to you and the little smirk playing on features were all highly suggesting you that he knew that you knew exactly what he meant.

“I think you know, love,” he was right before you know and ever so gently putting his hands on either side of your face. His touch was warm and you thought you might explode from all the of feelings stirring around inside of you, “I think we’ve both known for a long time, just like everyone else.”

“But we haven’t...” you trailed off, lost for words as you stared at his eyes, watching them study you so closely, occasionally flicking to your lips, “ever said anything...or done anything.”

“Maybe it’s a been long time coming,” he ghosted his fingertips over the high points of your face, “just like everyone’s been saying.”

“Do you...like me?” you blurted out suddenly, feeling more shy suddenly than anything else. He let out a small laugh himself, nodded to confirm your question, “oh? Oh. Oh?”

“I have for a long time, Y/N,” he finally admitted, feeling more free and happy than he had in a long time, “I just never quite knew how to tell you. What if you didn’t feel the same way? I would have made a fool out of myself and then been heartbroken. And then when you mentioned this whole needing a boyfriend for Christmas, I thought it was the perfect idea and time to finally tell you.”

“You like me?” you repeated, the grin on your face spreading from ear to ear, “I like you too, Ben. A whole lot, but I never thought that you’d feel the same.”

“And just why not?” he was amused by your answer.

“Because it’s you.”

“Well, it’s just so happens that I like you very much,” all of the fears you had felt suddenly seemed to leave your body and you felt a sense of happiness you couldn’t even begin to explain, “so I’ll sum this up, you like me and I like you.”

“Yes,” you felt breathless as you beamed at him and he got slowly closer and closer to you, mere millimeters between your lips.

“And now I’m going to kiss you,” he concluded.

“And now you’re going to kiss me,” you agreed before crashing your lips onto his and snaking your arms around his neck and pulling him tightly against your body. His hands went to your hips as he held you close, your bodies melding perfectly into one another. It was a perfect fit, just like you had always imagined. You had always wondered what he felt like, how he tasted, and needless to say it was all that you had imagined, and so much more.

“Hey,” he said as he pulled back after a few moments of frantic kissing and hands roaming each other’s bodies.

“Hey,” you grinned at him.

“I don’t just like you,” he whispered gently, “I’m in love with you. So in love with you.”

“I’m in love with you too.”

≪ °❈° ≫≪ °❈° ≫≪ °❈° ≫≪ °❈° ≫

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[atruththatyoudeny]

Happy 28th! Sending out all my love to the authors and artists in this fandom! ♥ Here are all the fics I read and loved this month:

Ferricadooza! | suspendrs | 1960s - historical - boxing - period-typical homophobia - violence - sexuality crisis - identity crisis - hurt/comfort - Polari - 65k Harry can’t even fathom the idea of surrendering; he’d fight ‘til he died, if he had to, anything to keep from surrendering. Or, the year is 1963, homosexuality is illegal in the UK, Louis owns a gay bar, and Harry’s an underground boxing champion with an unfortunate enemy.

The Little Dog Whisperer | lovelarry10 | strangers to lovers - kid fic - fluff - dog walking - 29k Louis lives alone with his dog Clifford. When he spots a sign in the neighbourhood advertising dog walking services, along come Harry and his son Alfie into his life…

Pretty Please (With Sugar On Top) | angelichl | a/b/o - Sugar Baby Harry - strangers to lovers - mutual pining - miscommunication - soul bond - soulmates - angst - 113k Harry is a sugar baby omega who cons rich alphas for a living. Louis is a rich alpha with too much self-control.

Step Into The Light | lovelarry10 | PWP - established relationship - 13k Harry’s filming his music video for his new song in the humid heat of Cancun, Mexico after dark. Louis watches him with hooded eyes from behind the visor of his motorcycle helmet watching it all go down. How far can Harry push his desire?

Take on Me | haztobegood | magical realism - 60k Actor Harry Styles is preparing for his next leading role as Antonius the Gladiator with the help of Louis Tomlinson, Hollywood’s top stunt coordinator. When the demands of Harry’s career get in the way of their training, the pair head to a secluded cabin to complete their training. Then, Louis begins to share senses with Harry. What is causing this mysterious connection and can Louis and Harry figure out how to stop it before they leave the cabin?

Don’t Move In (Don’t Move Out) | 2tiedships2 | a/b/o - friends to lovers - mutual pining - misunderstandings - fluff - 14k Only one more week and Harry would be living under the same roof. Gone would be Liam’s alpha scent, quickly replaced with Harry’s. All Harry. Louis was going to fucking die. You’d think Louis would be used to it by now, that Harry’s scent would simply fade into the background like Liam’s did. But Louis had a feeling he would simultaneously be living in Heaven and Hell once Harry moved in. Louis was pulled out of his thoughts when Niall smacked him on the back of his head. "The fuck was that for?" Louis asked, rubbing his head and looking at the bloody Irishman he called his other best friend. "You were basically drooling, mate,” Niall said. “That was a courtesy smack to keep your daydreaming from seeping into your pheromones."

It's A Never-Ending Helter-Skelter | runaway_train | Circus - Desert Island - strangers to lovers - 8k The one where Harry winds up on a desert island with a bunch of circus performers and it might just be the best thing that's ever happened to him.

So...how's parenting going? vol. i: the case of the imaginary friend | thealmightyavocado | crack - established relationship - fluff - 8k Harry and Louis’ three-year-old son has an imaginary friend that is making their life a living, breathing hell.

Ad arbitrium | star_k ❶  Find what you love | a/b/o - soulmates - one-sided attraction - pining - angst - 26k Harry learns 16 years is a lifetime to be in love with someone else. ❷  And let it kill you | a/b/o - pining - miscommunication - 19k Louis doesn't believe in fate, but rather in choice. There's nothing romantic about being stripped out of his own.

Lambing Season | HelloAmHere | Farm AU - comfort - fluff - 24k “Shut up,” Louis says, an involuntary grin tugging at his mouth. It’s not every boy who will stand in the middle of a cold barn in a suit and play musician trivia. “I’m Louis.” //lambing season brings sleep deprivation, noisy alarms, cold barns, demanding animals, and warm strangers.

Its Mutual We (All) Discussed It | nikogda | a/b/o - polyamory - omega/omega/alpha - slow burn - soul mates - 28k Two omegas in a committed relationship are ready to start a family. In the process, their alpha donor becomes part of the family too. Every part of their relationship may be unconventional but all of them have never been happier

Promise in the Sky | Throwthemflowers | friends to lovers - slow burn - religion - sexual repression - internalized homophobia - homophobic language - angst - suicide attempt - implied conversion therapy - healing - acceptance - 99k AU in which Harry Styles, a naïve, repressed, socially awkward Midwestern highschooler tries to navigate his fundamentalist evangelical parents and radically progressive older sister. He’s doing an okay job of this until the Tomlinson family starts attending Lakeside Baptist Church and a boy named Louis changes everything. Harry is forced to come to grips with his true self when Louis becomes more than just his best friend; but their relationship opens a can of worms and sends them on the most painful, heartbreaking journey of their young lives. They risk everything and nearly lose, and Harry learns that perhaps only one Bible verse is true: that perfect love casteth out fear.

This Glorious Mess | theweightofmywords | mpreg - miscommunication - post-break up - 14k His head lolls to the side, and his eyes float open to focus on what used to be his bedside table. It’s empty now, devoid of the framed photo of the two of them. And Louis knows that he has no right to feel hurt, but somehow, this only confirms what this really is. “This is the last time,” he cries, his voice breaking both from pleasure and pain. “I know, baby,” Harry breathes, burying his face in Louis neck.

(It's New) The Shape of Your Body | FallingLikeThis | mpreg - enemies to friends to lovers - angst - hurt/comfort - fluff - mention of abortion - misunderstandings - mutual pining - 18k Taking a deep breath, Louis tears open the packet and holds the test in his hands. Deep down he already knows what it’s going to say. He can feel the certainty of it in his bones but he needs to see it. He needs confirmation. Movies always make it look like you have to wait a bit to know, like you have to set a timer and give it a few minutes, wringing your hands for an answer. Even the box says it’ll take time, but it actually only takes a second after Louis pees on the strip to see the two pink lines appear that tell him what he already knew. He’s pregnant. “Oh god,” he breathes, staring down at it. And just like he’d known the test would be positive, he knows now that everything about his life is about to change.

If We Have Each Other | ishiplouis | mpreg - One Night Stands - friends to lovers - angst - fluff - miscommunication - 23k AU where Harry is a single father and a one-night stand is going to change his life forever.

Little Miracles | Summertimebutterfliesandhome (RoseDaggerLouisHarryLS_28) | mpreg - IVF - infertility - 9k Harry and Louis have been trying to have a baby for ages but they haven’t been lucky yet. The doctors tell them IVF is the only way but when that doesn’t work either they give up. However, some little miracles happen.

We've got a lifetime to kill | louislovesharry | mpreg - kid fic - minor pregnancy complications - 5k Harry and Louis have a three year old daughter, Evie, who is their whole world, and another little girl on the way. When Harry falls and is put on bedrest for the remainder of the pregnancy, Louis and Evie must adjust - but it is all worth it for their newest addition to the Tomlinson family.

Lost in Leeds | Open_Direction | mpreg - camping - fluff - 8k After a couple of amazing nights together at Leeds fest, Harry and Louis get separated with no way to contact each other. This might be less of a problem if Harry didn’t end up pregnant.

Dirty Little Secret | Dont_Stop_Larry | mpreg - secrets - 10k The one where Harry and Louis fall in love, but can’t figure out how to tell Gemma. That is, until Harry gets pregnant, and they don’t have much of a choice.

This I Promise You | xDnicki | mpreg - friends to lovers - friends with benefits - 34k A long awaited boys night out leads best friends Harry and Louis go further than they ever have before. It also leaves them with a surprise pregnancy that will help neither of them to forget that night.

Come In and Change My Life | lightswoodmagic (sarah_writes) | mpreg - a/b/o - fluff - 12k Harry and Louis become friends when Harry looks after Louis' cat during away games, until one night at a party changes everything between them. It's just a shame Louis' going to be away for the FIFA World Cup for three months.

My Sun and Stars, Moon of my Life | OhHarold | mpreg - Game Of Thrones Fusion - arranged marriage - 7k Harry was used to the luxuries of Kings Landing and then Pentos but when his brother is desperate for the crown he is entitled to, Harry must be part of an arranged marriage to a ruthless Khal of a Dothraki tribe.

Dancing With Masks | messofgorgeouschaos | mpreg - fake/pretend relationship - One Night Stands - pining - fluff - 18k With awards season coming up and new films on the way for both of them, Harry and Louis' managers decide it's time for them to date for publicity. They don't mind, given that they are best friends and have known each other for ages. Besides, years of sexual tension built into a fake relationship for press, what could possibly go wrong?

You Wouldn't Believe the Dream I Just Had About You & Me | larryatendoftheday | mpreg - college/university - friends to lovers - slow burn - memory loss - 21k After a back-to-school bash and a few too many drinks, Harry finds himself pregnant from a one-night stand he doesn’t remember. His best friend Louis is the only one who knows about the baby. Together they try to find the father of Harry’s baby, but they keep looking in all the wrong places.

[alarriefantasy]

Hey there! Do you have any punk au recs? Can be either or both boys! I know you have a bad boy Harry rec but I’m hoping for a little Louis mixed in too! Thank you so much 💕

Here you go, darling!!! :) Hope this is enough, but let me know if you want more! :)

                                            Punk H/L Fic Rec

Punk Harry

oops, i like you by say_thanks

Words: 5k

He thrives in the attention, at the knowledge he makes these boys with their tattooed dicks and pierced whatevers, so hot and bothered. These boys with their confident smirks and broad shoulders and hands, touching Louis wherever they can. Louis reduces them all to a wet, moaning, mess, every time.

Usually he doesn’t see those guys again. It’s not generally part of the plan.

But then Harry tightens his grip on the back of Louis’ neck and Louis ducks his head to taste the sweat beading under Harry’s chin, kissing the ink curling up Harry’s neck, then kissing his way down to get his mouth on the god forsaken nipple piercings. He listens to the way Harry breathes his name, and for the first time silently asks, Can I keep him?

Clusters of Stars by Hazzalovescarrots

Words: 5k

Louis doesn’t have the best history with guys. When Harry shows up, totally different and covered in tattoos, things change. Liam and Zayn don’t really approve but it’s none of their business ey?

leave this house and i’ll burn it down along with myself by orphan_account

Words: 6k

“So I’m simply your guest, am I?” Louis asks, before leaning up and kissing Harry.

“Nope. You’re not,” Harry mumbles into his mouth, and he tries to ignore how Louis’ body arches against his, “you’re not even my living partner. You’re the princess I captured and now I’m going to keep you here, in the forest, all for myself.”

Purr Like a Cat by floatingsalad (orphan_account)

Words: 6k

harry wears eyeliner and listens to loud music and lives in a constant mess and sprays his hair with fifty cans of hairspray every morning when zayn interrupts his perfect sleep. this changes when the innocent cat-boy named louis enters into his life, flipping everything upside down.

It’s In The Love. by SS98

Words: 19k

AU in which Harry is sorta punk and never stops staring at Louis.

These Constant Stars by stylinsoncity

Words: 31k

Louis’ career has nowhere to go but up. He’s living at the height of New York City on the precipice of an epic promotion. Life is good and only getting better. And then one day, things turn disastrous.

Can I Make It Any More Obvious? by slashter

Words: 35k

[AU where Louis does ballet and Harry is the epitome of everything Louis’ friends want him to stay away from]

Beauty Behind The Madness. by ZiamsLarry

Words: 59k

Harry doesn’t meet the worlds perspective of looks, causing him to be judged every time he leaves his house. He never lets it get to him, because he knows that when he gets home at the end of the day he has the most beautiful little girl waiting for him.

So with just her and the lovely old lady down the hall who babysits her, Harry thinks his life is good enough for him.

Of course it all changes when the appartment across from him gets new attendants.

A Place To Call Home by Snowy38

Words: 90k

Louis rides a BMX and works in a diner all the hours god sends to keep his little brother Alex with him. Since their parents died, Louis has become mother and father to his sibling but he’s missing out on love.

Harry is a motorcycle gang member with a mysterious past but his vulnerability soon becomes evident as the two men’s worlds collide.

Louis becomes embroiled in a more-dangerous way of living but he helps Harry finds what he’s been missing all along- a place to call home.

Baby Heaven’s in your Eyes by theboyfriendstagram

Words: 120k

Or a sixth form!AU where Harry is the fucked up bad boy with too many problems, Louis is the perfect rich boy with too much money and their schools are right across from each other. They meet at a party and that’s the last (and maybe the only) thing they need.

Punk Louis

Sun-kissed Hurricane, Perfect Storm by iwillpaintasongforlou

Words: 7k

Harry is the quiet kid in the back of his statistics class who writes a lot and dreams about Louis’ cheekbones . Louis needs a statistics tutor ASAP before he flunks and the quiet kid in the back of the class seems like a good choice. Harry wants to help Louis however he can and Louis wants to see how much he can make Harry blush.

Forget Your Ex by PwoperNinjaElf

Words: 9k

When Harry’s boyfriend of two years leaves him for someone else, it’s fair to say he’s rather a bit upset, but his friends have a solution for him. Nick and Niall are hosting a start of term house party at their flat, having invited everyone they know from uni. Who knows, with a bit of luck Harry can find a rebound shag and finally forget his ex…

but he cant be what you need (if he’s eighteen) by lingerielarries

Words: 10k

the one where harry is sick of getting bullied and casts louis as the hot punk boyfriend to scare them away. louis needs harry to return the favor.

Opposites Attract by louisgrindsonharry

Words: 11k

Or, the AU where Harry’s an innocent little preppy kid and Louis has lots of tattoos and piercings and Harry wants wants to know why he cant’ stop thinking about the boy who walked him home.

In All Its Imperfections by BriaMaria

Words: 15k

From: Louis TomlinsonTo: Undisclosed Recipients

Hello!

I’ve asked the front desk and you lovely folks are the ones who are on the same level as me in the car park. I found a to-do list today that looked somewhat important because it has lines of poetry scribbled at the bottom that seemed like they might be for a card project. The stationary has a moose in a canoe at the top of it (and he is quite adorable). Let me know if it’s yours!

Cheers!

“Oh. My. Fucking. God,” Harry whispered, his eyes darting over the sentences again willing them not to make sense. They did, they did make sense. “Oh. My. Bloody. Fucking. God.”

The next thing he knew he was on the floor, staring at the ceiling, with a very concerned Liam hovering over his head.

“What happened, mate?” Liam asked.

Harry just pointed to his computer.

Liam bent over Harry’s desk to read the email. “What? This isn’t bad. Is that your to-do list? Did you finally come up with the inside text for those cards?”

“Leeyum" he groaned. “It’s what’s on the list.”

“Oh,” Liam paused for a beat. “Is it dirty stuff?”

Harry nodded.

There was more silence. And then, “Dirty stuff with Louis?”

You’re So Square (Baby I Don’t Care) by mmaree 

Words: 15k

Or a summer camp au where Louis tries to sort out whether he wants to murder or snog his perky co-counsellor.

Can We Talk for a Moment? by lululawrence

Words: 15k

Or the one where Harry is a shy, nerdy alpha, Louis is a loud omega punk, and there’s more to both of them than their reputations.

Saturday Detention by FallingLikeThis

Words: 15k

Five boys with nothing in common end up together in Saturday detention. Maybe if they can get past their first impressions, they’ll realize they’re not as different as they thought.

Or The Breakfast Club Au that was dying to be written.

the love is ours to make (so we should make it) by lingerielarries

Words: 19k

the one where louis takes some time off from life to return home, only to be met with a strange boy in pink and a flowercrown as the nanny of his siblings.

The Moments When My Good Times Start to Fade by paintsplatteredteardrops

Words: 23k

Where Harry is a flower child who works in a bakery and Louis is a guitarist who has no idea what it is he wants.

In Dreams by dolce_piccante

Words: 23k

AU. When Harry moves to a new city, his new flat come with a number of sweet, anonymous gifts and surprises that brighten his days. Could it be a friendly ghost? Another friendly presence in his new building is his tattooed neighbor, Louis, who seems determined to put a smile back on his face.

i’d burn this city down to show you the light by you_explode

Words: 23k

Harry’s a sheltered rich kid and Louis’s a punk with a heart of gold. They meet when Louis breaks into Harry’s house, Harry obtains an instant and all-encompassing crush, and they spend the summer falling into a whirlwind romance.

Life Saver by objectlesson

Words: 30k

Louis is a sweetheart punk with a theater background and a heart of gold, Harry is an inexperienced nerd who plays by the rules. Classmates, lab partners, and eventually friends, what happens when Louis knows he’s in love, but doesn’t know how tell Harry?

Open Up Your Broken Heart (and Keep on Wanting) by alistoney

Words: 49k

Louis works in a tattoo shop and rides a motorcycle

Harry wears flowers in his hair and does yoga in the morning

Somehow they fit

if my heart was a compass, you’d be north by cheekiestcheeky, heartsoftlouis

Words: 55k

Or the one where punk Louis likes to think he’s not clumsy, but he suspects he’ll have to accept it when he falls face first into a relationship with a head full of curls and his tiny human.

Give Me Truths by iwillpaintasongforlou

Words: 110k

Or, the one in which Louis falls in love with a fragile boy and tells him every beautiful truth in the world, as long as it makes him happy.

Lights Will Guide You Home by Cafelesbian

Words: 137k

Louis Tomlinson is his school’s resident bad boy and easily the most liked person there. He’s loud and confident and popular. He spends most of his time abusing his parent’s money or partying or playing football. He also spends a good deal of it obsessing over the quiet curly boy in his English class, but no one really needs to know that.

Harry Styles is more or less invisible at the same school (unless he’s being harassed). He’s shy and painfully insecure and quiet. He spends most of his time crying on his bedroom floor with a razor pressed against his skin or trying (and failing) to think of reasons to stay alive.

So, of course, it’s inevitable that they fall for each other.

[whitewolfbumble]

A Year of Firsts - Part One (Bucky x Reader, Request)

Summary: It wasn’t supposed to be a year of firsts, but then you met Bucky and everything started to fall into place.

Request: Can you do a Bucky x Reader college AU?

Pairing: Bucky Barnes x Reader

Warnings: None! Just pure, cotton candy fluff here!

Word Count: About 5k

A/N: Thank you for the request darling! I wrote out a full fic with Bucky and the reader in college but it got dark and I didn’t love it. Maybe it will see the light of day sometime but not yet. This one is less college-y (a lot less... like very much so… I do apologize) and so much fluffier. We get some Soft Bucko trying to re-enter the world post-Hydra, because I needed some healing cuteness in my life! 

MY MASTERLIST // SEND ME A REQUEST

Your first conversation:

Working part-time while being in school full-time was a balancing act to be sure. And yeah, maybe you weren’t just out of high school anymore and taking on such a cost and time commitment was going to be insanely hard, but you were determined to do it. It was now or never and you had promised yourself you weren’t going to hold back anymore.

You had thought last year that getting into your first year of business school would be just a complete year of firsts and a massive life change. Well, it was nothing compared to your second year and it all started with one particular customer.

You had seen him about six times now, always sitting in the far corner facing out to the rest of the restaurant. His back was always to the wall and looked as though he wished to slink back into the shadows completely. But to be honest he was impossible not to notice coming in anyways, his frame and size just about making you drop your tray of linguini the first time he zoomed passed you exiting the kitchen.

Your little Italian restaurant (well, in the year since working here you had come to think it as yours and not merely a part-time job) was on a small New York side street, soft white string lights illuminating the always unused patio and red checkered tablecloths inside. The place was dotted with little candles, the warmth in the flames combined with the rich wood floors and exposed brick walls with delicate homey touches to create a beautifully intimate space.

It was never busy, never chaotic, never changing. Kinda just how you liked it.

Your regulars filtered in and out, talking amiably to you. All but the new guy that had been coming out recently. You guessed he was considered a regular now and when you had a moment to pause and watch him, you tried to work him out.

And try as you might, you could never figure out who the hell he was meeting here or why, with a different person as his dinner companion every single time.

One time it was a tall gentleman he met with, bookish and looking like a kind of professor. Another time a woman, pretty but much too old for him. Then someone much too young. They were all shapes and sizes and genders and types. No pattern, no rhyme, no reason.

It was so confusing.

He was a quiet kind of person, non-fussy, and left a great tip too. He kept whatever conversation he was having low and generally unheard by you. And you left him alone as much as you could (since it was clear that was exactly what he wanted) while still doing your job.

“Anything else I can get you?” you asked this mystey man.

“No, thank you.” he said quietly, sitting alone now that the grey-haired, leather jacket wearing guy had left him. Your new regular always stayed maybe half an hour after, thinking and ringing his hands.

“Who can I expect next time?” you said venturing another question and prying just a little as you carefully cleaned up the table, the man leaning way back from you, as he always did. At first you thought you had smelled bad, but over the weeks you figured it was just him. His personal bubble must just be a little larger than most.

“Not sure myself.” he said, looking down with a silent huff, clearly not impressed. It made the long ends of his hair fall down around his face, hiding him from view a little.

That response got a frown from you, but you left it there.

“Well,” you said lightly, plopping the tray on the empty chair and pulling out a clean cloth from your back pocket. “Keep this for the next time, just in case.”

He looked at the white cloth quizzically, slowly taking it when you didn’t pull it away.

“Why, exactly?” he questioned, brows furrowed and looking more than a little skeptical.

You grabbed your tray and shrugged. “Next time your company is less than stellar, wave that white flag in my direction and I’ll coming running to save you.”

You winked at him with a warm smile on you face, grabbing your tray of dishes and leaving the surprised looking man behind.

Your first smile from him:

From there, slowly, you got to know him a little more as the days went on.

His name was Bucky, he was a Brooklyn native, and loved spaghetti (which was just about the most boring and mediocre dish they offered here in your opinion, but you didn’t judge). And despite his rampant awkwardness and attempts at keeping everyone and everything at arm’s length, you thought you were breaking that shell a little.

It was late and the restaurant was empty now, just the kitchen staff in the back and the owner counting the till in the back room. Besides that it was just you and Bucky out on the floor, who was sitting quietly in his usual hidden corner at the back.

“So, there’s a mystery I’ve been trying to solve,” you started lightly, walking up the table. “And I think you are just the man to help me.”

“Me?” he asked you, confused but with a hint of cautious curiosity.

“It’s about a new regular of mine. Well, maybe he’s not new, but he always comes in at the same time, twice a week, sits at the same table, orders the same meal. The most boring one we have, by the way, but that’s besides the point. The only thing that’s different are the people that meet him.”

You smiled softly, raising your eyebrow, the twinkle of the little lights in your eyes. You tried not to tease him too much or make him feel awkward with your questions, but you just had to figure this out.

He shifted in his seat a little, luckily seeming slightly more chatty (for him anyways) after his boring looking session with a rather silent pregnant woman.

“The team thinks I need some… socialization.” he muttered, looking either embarrassed or uncomfortable. Probably both. Poor guy.

You had wondered before if he was writing a paper or doing research, but had no clue how the subjects would connect. And moreover he was never writing notes or anything. You had thought through and imagined him at the same college you attended, wondering what kind of program someone like him would take and what kind of research he was doing. But it just seemed more likely that this was just as simple as conversations with strangers.

You leaned back where you stood with your gaze narrowed, sizing him up as he watched you from the corner of his eyes, cheeks a tinge of red under your scrutiny.

“I’m gonna guess hockey or football… Probably football,” you said, nodding his way absently. “Actually wait, no, you look more like a rugby kinda player. I’ll bet a hundred bucks on rugby.”

You ended up beaming smugly at him, confident in your assumption, though it was met with another confused look and furrowed brows from this enigma of a person.

“What’re you talking about?” Bucky said.

“The team. Your team you talked about, getting you to socialize,” you said, picking up his empty glass and cutlery, noticing for the first time in all your (or any) interactions that he didn’t lean away. “I’d guess you play rugby and it’s your rugby team.”

A smile broke out on his face, forcing its way passed his constant reservations. You maybe thought you heard a breathy chuckle as you stepped back and he leaned forward closer to you, elbows on the table.

“Sorry, you lost that bet after all. It’s a uh, much different kind of team.”

“Hmm,” you hummed, frowning. “Well, it’s just you have quite the… I mean your arms… But like, your shoulders are…”

You gestured awkwardly to your own shoulders, eyes animated and trying to convey just how much of a body builder type this guy looked (but also tried to hide it? Weirdly enough. Like why do all that work to hulk out, just to shy away for showing it off? Well, maybe hence the socialization. But anyway.). As you did, the dishes placed precariously on your tray teetered back and forth, Bucky reaching up reflexively and stabilizing them for you while you spoke.

“Well,” you said with a shrug, ignoring the helpful gesture much to Bucky’s now growing smile. “Whatever team you’re on, I’d like to watch you play. I’m sure I could win a lot of money betting on you.”

You left him be, not seeing the faint and far lingering of a smile on his lips.

After throwing the few dishes left in the ancient dishwasher and turning it on, you walked out to the front just as Bucky was reaching the door to leave.

You ran up to him without really thinking about it, grabbing his arm to stop him. Bucky turned immediately looking at your hand on his bicep, rather seeming surprised by the connection.

“Listen,” you said quietly to him. “I feel the need to say this here, that I’m not a gambler? Like, I know I just made a lot of comments tonight to the contrary. I promise, the generous tips you give me at not thrown onto a race track or something like that, I swear.”

Again, he looked at you trying again to hide a smile growing largely. After a second he snorted, shoulders shaking a little with the breathy chuckle, running a hand through his hair.

“Your secret’s safe with me, Y/N.”

“Oh please,” you said good-naturedly, rolling your eyes and pointing a finger at him. “As long as you don’t make the rambling, gambling waitress your dinner topic on your next non-date. Got it?”

“Yes, ma’am.” Bucky nodded, grinning still as he left, little bell on the door chiming gently at his parting.

From then on when the restaurant was empty (which was often) and after his strangers left, you and he began to talk.

Your first date (well, kinda):

It was Tuesday night, and you were in a foul mood.

Usually Tuesdays meant seeing Bucky. You’d spend all day guessing who you would see at his table, thinking up wild stories and crazy outfits for them, though you were always way off. As soon as they were gone, you’d sit with Bucky who would fill you in on their conversations, leading to conversations of your own.

But your ever-punctual favourite customer was late. And after two hours past the time he usually walked in, you figured he just wasn’t coming at all.

You told the kitchen staff you had a bad day at school to account for your disposition, plastered on a smile for the few other customers that came in, but you couldn’t shake the gloom or disappointment.

The last of the couples in here eventually left, and after cashing them out and cleaning up, it was just you, alone and cranky, re-wiping the already clean tables.

But the little doorbell chimed and a burst of fresh air entered the little space. When you looked up, ready to greet the entering customer, instead you saw him.

“Hey stranger,” you said, not hiding your shock at his unexpected entrance, with the dark cloud that shrouded you instantly lifted. “What’re you doing here so late? I was getting worried, thought you had moved on to a different restaurant.”

That usual reserved, almost stoney look Bucky had to him dissolved at seeing and hearing you, his expression turning soft in the fairy lights.

“I was just outside-”

“Oh god!” you frantically said interrupting him. “Don’t tell me you were the first person ever to want to use our mini patio, and I completely neglected you?!”

“No, no, I was just waiting for people to leave.” he said quickly before swallowing, hands in his pockets, as though that something he shouldn’t be sharing.

“Oh…” you said, pausing. “Why?”

“I waited,” he admitted, his ocean blue eyes locked on yours, reserved but unwavering. “Because I wanted to talk with you tonight.”

You.

Not someone else. A random stranger. But you.

“Oh,” you said dumbly, a little shocked. “Oh… well, okay.”

You unconsciously rubbed your hands on your apron, looking around the empty restaurant. You shrugged to yourself, untying the back of it and wadded the apron up.

“There, I guess I’m off duty. Free to chat.” you said with a smile, nodding him back to his usual table.

Deftly he followed you back, the two of you taking a seat at the little table. But the moment you sat down, you immediately sprung up again like a shot. “Wait, no!”

Bucky watched, surprise and upset clear on his face, but just as seeing you dissolved his last expression, so again he settled into a more content look as you appeared back with two plates of spaghetti and drinks.

“Alright you creep, watching me through the window,” you teased, noticing a bit of heat on his cheeks, though he didn’t try to deny the accusation. “How did the crowd in here look tonight?”

“Hopefully generous…?” he said, swirling the pasta on his fork without looking. Usually he stared at his food with the other strangers he met. It oddly made you well up with a bit of pride he was watching you instead.

“Well, their tips won’t pay off my college tuition just yet, but give it time.” you said.

“How’s that jerk in your political science class?” he asked casually, sipping from his glass and eyes still locked on you. But you smirked at him knowingly, despite his demure expression.

“I mentioned that in passing and what, probably forever ago?” you teased lightly.

He had been paying a lot more attention than you thought.

He nodded with a shrug. “Yeah, a few weeks ago. He still being a jerk?”

“No,” you answered, not wanting to tease him too much for so diligently remembering your little conversations. Because all in all that was pretty freaking cute.

You paused just watching him for a second, a thought bubbling up in you mind; clearly he didn’t need help socializing with you. Again, a pleasant pressure of emotion built in your chest at that.

But you swirled your pasta and carried on.

“Our female professor demolished him last week when he made this stupid, douchebag kinda comment. I don’t think he’s said a word to anyone since. And the entire thinking world heaves a collective sigh of relief, let me just tell you that.”

So you rambled on and he listened, then he rambled and you did the listening (well, as much as someone like Bucky could ramble… which wasn’t much, but you still held on to every single word).

He talked about his best friend Steve and growing up in Brooklyn, and you talked about business school and your work here, juggling both responsibilities. It sounded pretty boring to you, but he listened in enraptured. Even when he looked down at his food, you could tell every ounce of his focus was still on you, he nodding slightly and wheels turning behind those ocean blue eyes of his.

And despite the lousy spaghetti- which he seemed to enjoy immensely- it was about the best dinner you had ever had.

The kitchen staff had long left as closing time had come and gone, but neither of you seemed ready to let go of this night quite yet. You ended out your time with Bucky listening in to your school friends baby daddy drama, while you washed the few dishes and he dried. It was pointless to run the washer just for this, and Bucky didn’t mind, saddling up right next to you as you chatted on, suds up to your elbows.

When it was time to lock up, you cranked down the window gate and shut off the lights. Grabbing your keys before locking the front door, you turned to him.

“So Thursday, will you be late and with me or on time with a stranger?” you said, poking him in the chest. “I’m a big enough person to admit my little heart can’t take all this “will he, won’t he show” stuff, alright? It just throws off my whole day.”

You couldn’t see him flush a little in the dark night, little streetlights not doing much down this little alley by way of light.

“I’ll be here on time with some character we can talk about after, I promise.”

You smiled to yourself, locking the door.

“Good, or I’ll feed you something other than that lousy spaghetti.” you jokingly threatened.

The first time he walked you home:

Thursday had been the highlight of your week. Yes, you actually loved your classes and your job, but to be honest, when you weren’t with him, you were thinking about him.

Tonight was just the same as the others. Waiting for everyone to leave before sitting down and chatting about everything and anything.

As always you locked up, saying your goodbyes with a tease or a smile from you and a crooked grin from him.

Bucky walked down the dark street, head down and hands in his pockets, making his large frame smaller, as he always tried to do. But he turned around before turning the corner, to take a last look at you before his usual visit next week. He saw your face illuminated by your phone screen, frowning into it with a sigh. You clicked it off, shifting on your feet and looking around the dark side street, unsure of something.

“Hanging out here tonight after all?” Bucky asked, walking silently back up to you.

For some reason he stayed back, as though his friendly presence in the dark night wouldn’t be a welcome one. That couldn’t be farther from the truth and you took an unconscious step closer to him.

“My ride just ditched last minute,” you admitted. “I don’t particularly like the idea of spending my tip money on a cab considering I’m not too far from here. So I decided debating the pros and cons in an ill-lit, sketchy-looking New York street was the best option until I undoubtedly get mugged and my dead body found in that dumpster, gnawed on by raccoons and crazed junkies.”

“Lemme walk you home than,” Bucky offered. “And we can go through that pro and con list on the way.”

You hoped the night masked how bright your face shone in that moment, but it could’ve been seen a mile away.

“Sure, alright.” you said, sounding demure and sweet, before setting off down the street. “I wanted to cycle back to that complete weirdo from last week anyways. Has he shown up at your door, yelling at you for salting your meals yet?”

“No, not yet,” Bucky smiled, trying to keep his shoulder from brushing you on the small sidewalk. “But I’m not convinced he won’t. God, he was crazy.”

“I have never heard someone yell so much over salt. Of all things!” you said chuckling to yourself, not noticing how Bucky watched you, eye sparkling at your laugh. “So what other food do you blasphemously and with malicious intent salt unnecessarily?”

It wasn’t long before you two stepped in time with each other, the walk a few blocks to your apartment the most pleasant way you could think of to end your day.

But it had to end eventually, your steps slowly down slightly as you two walked up a sketchy side street to you lowrise apartment building.

“Do you want me to walk you up?” Bucky asked, looking at the building a little concerned.

The building was run down certainly, yells come from one apartment, music blasting through an open window from another, a seedy looking pair drinking something out of paper bags against the side wall.

“It looks sketchy, but generally harmless,” you leaned into him pointing to an open window on the first level, just by the entrance. An old woman was there watching everything, shouting at the two men loitering by the building.

“That’s Grammy Rodrigues,” you started quietly. “She’s a bulldog and keeps an eye out. I promise, she’ll look after me.”

Bucky gave a quick wave as the woman who had turned narrowed eyes to him, more than a little venomous. You waved a little more emphatically than he did, smiling brightly at the old woman.

“Here, just in case she has her hands full.” Bucky said to you, reaching in and pulling on a piece of paper from his pocket, placing it in your hand swiftly.

You took a quick look at it, taking a second to realize his phone number was scribbled on to it. You face moved from confusion to a warm glow.

You didn’t comment on the fact that he already had that written down, like it had been waiting in his pocket for the right time to give it to you. The gesture was far too sweet for you to tease him about it.

“Thanks, I’ll use it for emergencies only…” You continued before he could interrupt. “But maybe also non-emergencies. So pretty much for anything. Meaning you will most definitely live to regret this moment right here, Bucky. Sorry pal, but no one to blame but yourself for this.”

Bucky pursed his lips, trying not to let that crooked grin break into an all-out smile. Still, it completely did.

“Deal.” he said, a little flushed and beaming, find something suddenly quite interesting at his feet.

“Goodnight Buck, and thanks for the walk home.” you said, giving his arm a squeeze.

The pair of you walked off in opposite directions, and for the first time ever you wished you lived much farther from work.

You walked up the steps, leaning on the rail to say hello to your ever watchful neighbour. But your eyes were on the back of Bucky, who pretended not to hear Grammy Rodrigues skipping hellos and remark on how she approved of you not inviting a boy up to your apartment.

Your first text to him:

You flopped into bed, that little piece of paper in your hand. You debated texting for just a second or two before shimmying down, decision made. It didn’t take long for you to add him as a contact and opening up a new text conversation.

Your first time talking about his past:

The next time he came in, you had a hard time not constantly glancing his way. In your defense, he was doing the same to you, stealing glances while his dinner companion chatted on. Whatever the conversation was tonight, it wasn’t half as interesting or enthralling as he found you. You couldn’t help but admit to yourself that you were in the exact same boat, barely paying attention to anything (or any other customer) but him.

Again and as always, he stayed after his companion left, waiting to end the night talking with you.

Immediately when the place was cleared, you sat down, leaning on the table with your head in your hand, smiling at him and heart brimming full of contentment now that you could be with him again.

“Hello, Mr. Barnes.” you said, oozing that bit of contentment.

“Hey Y/N,” he said with a smile, before stopping still as he was leaning in, expression dropping. “Wait… you know my last name? You know… you know who I am?”

You didn’t move from your close and casual position and your good spirits didn’t falter, even if his seemed to be plummeting in front of your eyes.

“I do,” you responded, sounding soft and confident. “I figured it out somewhere along the lines. And I decided I wanted to know you, the guy working to get back into the world. Who eats the worst thing on the menu and seems pretty sweet and unassuming.”

His eyes flitted back up to yours from their downcast position, a swirl of intense emotion happening behind them. It briefly caused your heart to flutter in your chest. His stare held a thousand unspoken words in that moment, and a couple you could guess at. Relief. Joy. Fear. Longing. But he remained silent.

“Can I ask you something?” you said, figuring now as as good a time as any. Any transition would be a little jarring, and this had been weighing on you, however selfish it seemed to swing the conversation back to something about you.

“Anything, Y/N.” he responded immediately, determined.

You wondered what he thought you would be asking him. It wasn’t anything serious exactly or related to his history. It was just kinda… personal, maybe was the right word. You tried to play it off as best you could though.

“You uh, called me beautiful, in your text message. Is that like a thing you call every girl, or just the employees of your favourite restaurant?”

Clearly that wasn’t the question he figured you would ask after revealing you knew who he was. He answered just as determined though, but definitely with some added sweetness.

“Just you, beautiful.” he stated, the little pet name making your heart suddenly flutter all the more.

He said it like everyone called you that. Like you had heard it a thousand times. Like it was fact everyone recognized. Well, none of that was true. Yet somehow here he was, saying it like it was both nothing and everything.

“Well…” you stumbled, composing your face to something neutral (and probably failing). “I can uh, agree to that. I guess.”

“How about another date while you’re at it, maybe?”

You looked back up to him, body leaning across the small table, his baby blues intent even if his words were said casually. For the hundredth time you heart fluttered and sputtered in your chest.

“I think I can manage that too.”

The first night he stayed over:

“Hey,” you whispered into your phone, barely audible. “I uh, I’m sorry for calling so late. I just… Remember how you gave me your phone number for both non-emergencies and emergencies?”

You swallowed, trying not to let sheer panic overtake you.

“Well, I’m just calling to say that I’m in my closet.” you whispered, quiet and hoarse. “My bedroom closet if that makes a difference. Probably not. I tend to ramble in an emergency so buckle in for this one. Because I think this is an emergency. Or maybe it’s not. The point is I don’t know. I mean, either a pigeon or something got into my apartment again, or a person did.”

You huddled down even closer to the floor, arm wrapped around yourself and eyes wide in the total pitch darkness.

“Bucky, there may be a person in my apartment. And like, there really shouldn’t be, if there is. I don’t usually allow randos from off the street break in to rob or murder me or whatever.”

You took a deep silent breath, ears straining to hear another from outside your bedroom.

“So anyway,” you continued, trying to make your voice sound lighter though it most came out sounding pained if anything. “I’m here, in an emergency, calling you. You know, so maybe call me back? That would be cool. Or come down and save me from this murderer. Either or. Also, I really hope you are not sleeping and listen to this in the morning only to find me dead. Okay, sorry, I’ll stop rambling. Thanks, bye.”

You clicked to end the voicemail and tried to think of a way not to either implode from terror or get horribly, horribly murdered.

An endless minute or two later a squeak erupted from you in a petrified shock as your phone buzzed so loudly you thought the whole neighbourhood could hear. Another squeak, this time of sheer delight, almost escaped as you saw the caller was Bucky. 

Answering as fast as you could with your heart absolutely racing, you instantly were confused at unintelligible mumblings and noises on the other end.

“Hello?” you asked hushed and confused into the dark claustrophobic little space.

“Sorry, I’m coming!” he said rushed, sounding like he was running. “I called while I was pulling on a shirt, but I’m outside now and I’ll be there in a few minutes. Don’t move! I’m coming, I’ll be there. Just don’t move.”

You stayed on the line, barely breathing while he rambled on constantly, stringing together more words than you had ever heard him say, telling you where he was and how long he would be every few seconds. His voice was rushed but thankfully trying to stay calm. It inturn kept you somewhat calm and able to not completely lose your sanity while you sat alone in an apartment with a potential intruder.

“I’m at your door now, but it’s locked.” he said, almost making you cry in relief. “If you can’t let me in I’m going to break it down.”

He took a deep breath in like he was about to punch the thing in when you quickly piped up to stop him.

“No!” you said in a frantic whisper. “The landlord would kick me out if he didn’t just flat out kill me first!” 

You struggled to your feet, nerves about stopping your heart as your hand hovered on the closet door.

“I can do this.” you whispered more so to yourself than Bucky, before pushing open the door and full out sprinting like your life depended on it.

“Don’t kill me! Don’t kill me! Don’t kill me!” you shrieked as you bolted through your apartment in the utter darkness, throwing yourself at your front open and retching it open.

You about slammed into Bucky, racing past him to the far side of the hall, block yourself from view with your body.

“Hey Buck,” you whispered rather dully at him, exhausted and relieved, clutching on to his arm for dear life. “Why don’t you come on in. I’ll make some tea while you scare or maim any intruders, huh? That sound good to you? Great let’s just go ahead and do that. Or you know what, we can just burn this building down and forget this whole thing. You know, either or.”

“Stay here,” he said, bending his head down to yours and squeezing your hand a moment, before walking into the pitch black apartment like a man on a mission.

It was a couple stomach twisting minutes before a light flicked on and he emerged.

“So pigeon or murderer?” you asked fidgeting, nervous eyes locked to his. “What’s the verdict?”

“I want to say pigeon,” he said, expression and tone unreadable. Oh god, that did not fill you with a lot of confidence on the pigeon possibility. “Since you did leave your living room window open…”

You groaned, rubbing your face. “Okay, on second thought, I don’t want to know. Because I don’t know if a psychopath or a disease laiden bird running rampant in my place is worse, and I don’t want to know.”

“I can definitively tell you having a murderer in your apartment is much worse than a bird, Y/N.” he said with a frown, blissfully and silently agreeing not to confirm if anyone had been in your place. “C’mon, let’s get you settled back in.”

Bucky led you around your apartment, hand comfortingly on your back the whole way aw he walked with you. He made sure you saw and knew that no one was there, hiding behind a couch or in any closets. 

Soon enough the two of you were back by the front door.

“Windows are locked tight, and I’ll come ‘round sometime to add another lock to your door.” he said, hesitating where he stood. Awkwardly, even while exhausted from interrupted sleep and panic, you were doing the same. “Unless that’s… Well, if you don’t me to uh, go or anything… I… well…”

“No, no,” you said, looking down, brows pulled together. “You should probably… well, I mean… I’ve ruined enough of your night already so…”

You made an effort to smile at him however weakly while you held onto your elbows, absolutely hating the fact that he was about to leave you here alone. It wasn’t fair that you called him at all, and the last thing you wanted to do was make him stay if he didn’t want too, so you tried your best to reassure him. Though it was him that did the reassuring.

“You did not ruin my night,” he said adamantly. So much so you believed him, even though running over in a panic to your apartment in the middle of the night could hardly be deemed as pleasant.

Bucky took a step closer to you, warm hand on your arm. “If you need something or if you’re scared or in danger or just anything, you call me. Always. I’ll be there.”

You swallowed, sleepy eyes getting lost in those calming blue ones. You weren’t sure exactly how much time passed with you just swimming in those blue pools, and Bucky wasn’t aware of his fingers rubbing comfortingly across your skin.

“Can you stay?” you whispered, not aware you had really asked until it was too late to take it back. “I mean, my couch isn’t terrible to sleep on and… I mean, I don’t want to be that dick who calls you twice in one night for no reason, both times because I’m too much a scaredy-cat to survive on my own.”

You watched tension melt from his muscles, with his body relaxing and corner of his mouth turning up a bit. Instantly his response relaxed you too.

“Good, cause I don’t want to be that dick who stays up outside your front door like some overbearing jerk.”

Getting him settled out in the living room with pillows and blankets took all of a couple minutes, the two of you trying not to show to other how much better felt with Bucky staying the night. But that was about all the energy you had left, barely managing to keep your eyes open.

“Okay,” you said, stepping right up to Bucky with your hands up on his shoulders, forgetting both about personal space and proper etiquette in your sleep-drunkenness. “If I forget you are here and you make a sound, expect a call that another pigeon has landed, okay? You can just find me in the closet.”

“Okay, Y/N” he said, face brimming with fondness. You nodded once, turning towards your bedroom.

“Goodnight, you overprotective jerk.” you said sleepily.

“Goodnight beautiful.”

Your first kiss:

Sneaking out because of an early morning class was the hardest thing you had done in a long time, not because of minutes of sleep you got but completely because of the handsome drink of water you left on your living room couch.

He was curled up in a tangle of blankets in the dim light, breath even and face a blank, beautiful expression. It took all you had not to wake him up so you could kiss those soft looking lips, see the hazy sleep in his eyes, feel the warm in his stare and from his skin against yours.

Yeah, leaving had been hard.

But the least you could do was let him sleep after stealing so much of it from him, however much it made your heart lurch in pain. You thankfully didn’t have to wait long to see him though.

Despite it very much being the middle of the week and the middle of the afternoon, Bucky arrived to the restaurant just minutes after you did to start your shift. The place wasn’t technically open yet but you couldn’t think of a better person to see opening that door.

He grinned to you as he walked up to you, and you did the same, forgetting your task of placing cutlery on the tables as soon as you locked eyes on him. The pair of you just stood there a moment before speaking.

“Hello.” he said eventually, low voice like velvet.

You watched the corner of his mouth turn up ever higher, unable to focus on anything but his lips in that moment. Your heart might have been pounding harder than it had the night before, but you steeled your resolve all the same. You had regretted not doing it this morning, and wouldn’t make the same mistake.

“Stand there,” you whispered to him seriously. “I should have done this before, but I’m going to do it now instead.”

You were already close to him, but you took a breath, slowly taking another step closer. It meant your body was now against his, your warm and soft frame to his large, muscular one.

You locked your gaze on his, trying to anchor him there while you pressed yourself against him, wondering and silently demanding that he not break away from you. Bucky stood rigid, body tight and his breath held in his chest. You could see in his eyes his nerves, his longing, his tension. You wanted to see bliss there instead, nothing but pure happiness. All the wonderful and beautiful and safe things he made you feel.

You brushed your fingers along his cheek, his head moving down ever so slightly towards you yet not all the way, hesitant to make the final move.

Instead you raised yourself up on your tiptoes, the length of your body moving like liquid against his. The movement caused him to slowly and unconsciously blink, like he was briefly savouring that feeling of you sliding along him.

Your lips hovered just a fraction above his, parted and licked wet by your tongue, with you taking a moment to build the anticipation of this first kiss. Warm breath mingling together, the heat you were both feeling spilling out into the air around you.

The moment you closed the distance and set your mouth to his, you melted. You went from confident to a love-drunk puddle in his arms. This kiss was sweet like the finest honey, as fiery as the blood pumping through you, as intoxicating as you had ever felt. It wasn’t neat or chaste, but warm and deep, the feeling completely consuming you both.

The moment your parted, hungry lips connected with his, Bucky’s stilled breath and body came to life again. Your soft body against his, your unspoken longing and gentle heat crashing through him like a euphoric shock to his system. Where he was hesitant and rigid, he was now molded to you trying to breath in every piece of you, trying to kiss deeper and harder and as intensely as his bursting heart could handle. His tongue begging for entrance into you, arms enveloped you, heart and body and soul unwilling to let you go.

The tiniest little sound was caught in your throat, the smallest whispered release of longing breathed out into his mouth. At that little moan he lifted across the room and pushed your back against the coarse brick wall, trying with everything to be and contain your whole world. Just as in that moment you were his.

The only thing that could split you apart save death in that moment was the need for oxygen, the two of you somehow needing it at the same moment. Breaking apart was almost painful, everything in you desperate to find your way back to his lips as fast as possible.

You breathed, gasping silently on his shoulder, trying and failing to both catch your breath and shake out the dizziness that was clouding your mind, that overwhelming intoxication. He couldn’t either, clinging to you like he wasn’t ready to let you go, chest heaving against yours, drunk and electrified by your touch.

Completely at the mercy of the best first kiss of your life, the two of you waited and held each other in blissful, intoxicated and bewildered silence, alone in that little restaurant.

PART TWO

A/N: If you want me to write more “firsts” and add on another chapter, let me know! Thanks for reading!

Permanent Tags: @dontpanc, @smodvocate, @bunsterjonez, @buckybonky, @marveloustrashpanda, @hangirl93, @captainrogerrsbeard, @friendly-neighborhood-lich-queen, @thisgirllikeme, @jjsoccer11, @innerpandablizzard-blog, @fanatic-fanfic, @mdgrdians, @christinky, @universal-death-of-a-fangirl

Bucky Barnes Tags: @bexboo616 @kaaatniss

[gffa]

One of the best things about STAR WARS fic is that there’s almost always something for someone, whether you want something plotty or more time travel, whether you want to cry about how sad Leia Organa’s life is or revel in how strong she is despite it all, whether you want to dive all the way back to the prequels or if you’re here for the sequels, whether you’re here for the big name characters or the more minor characters that fandom will try to flesh out, there’s going to be something that appeals. It’s one of the reasons I’ve stayed as long as I have, because something will appeal, no matter my mood! Sometimes I want something more hopeful, sometimes I want something that will break my heart, sometimes I’m tired of one era or just more hyped for another. I appreciate that fic helps further the world of the Saga, beyond just the story of Anakin Skywalker! I appreciate that sometimes it still really, really is about him! I appreciate that there’s fic that appeals to my shipping heart, I appreciate that there’s fic that appeals to my gen-loving heart, I appreciate that there’s so much variety that it seems next to impossible to get bored with Star Wars, not when I have so many new branches that fandom will help me explore! STAR WARS FIC RECS: TIME TRAVEL RECS: ✦ Let’s Try This Again by Nny11, obi-wan & anakin & ahsoka, time travel, 11.7k wip    Anakin’s life is shaken up when he finds a small togrutan toddler hiding in a dingy alleyway, after all, she did create a Force bond with him and is apparently his future Padawan. Wizard! ✦ In Time by Ripki, obi-wan & anakin & cast, time travel, 27.1k    As the Clone Wars drags on and the secrets between them grow, Anakin and Obi-Wan have begun to drift apart. When a mysterious holocron sends them through time, they don’t only have to confront their past and future – but the present as well. ✦ A Future in Crisis by WolfMarauder, obi-wan & anakin & ahsoka & & padme & cast, 7.6k wip    Ahsoka has a vision that may change the course of the future. She just needs to keep her master from falling, keep his wife from dying, and the Jedi Order from dying out… That’s all. The first step is returning the the Jedi Order and she finds she has more friends than she thought. ✦ Palimpsest by PorgParty, ben & obi-wan & anakin & ahsoka & cast, time travel, 21.5k wip    Kylo Ren, newly-crowned Supreme Leader of the First Order, finds himself flung back through time to the era of the Clone Wars. He decides to capitalise on this opportunity and insert himself into the life of his beloved grandfather Anakin Skywalker. Together they will rule the galaxy with an iron fist. Unfortunately, Kylo has never been very good at being evil. ✦ Old Man Luke by scarletjedi, obi-wan & anakin & luke & leia & ahsoka & asajj & cast, time travel, 41k wip    Obi-Wan narrowed his eyes. “Who are you?” He asked, hoping a direct question would yield answers. The old man seemed adept at side-stepping information when asked a bit more deftly. “I’ve never heard of a Master with your level of talent.” ✦ Unexpected Awakening (The Rewrite) by Rhiw, obi-wan & cast, time travel, 6.4k wip    The life of General Kenobi is cut short at the hands of his Padawan, but the sight that greets his eyes upon awakening is not that of blinding light of the Force, but the Jedi Temple he knew when he was still a youth. As he struggles to understand the path laid out before him, Obi-Wan unwittingly captures the attention of a singularly unusual Temple Guard, and that of a reluctant Qui-Gon Jinn. ✦ Rewind, Repeat by tulomne, obi-wan/satine & qui-gon & cast, time travel, 23k    And just like that, Obi-Wan Kenobi dies. But death is just the beginning, he realizes as he wakes as he once was, Padawan braid and all, alongside Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn and Satine Kryze. Visions of the future, just out of his grasp, plague the young Jedi as the three traverse the galaxy, avoiding the dangers that follow the Duchess of Mandalore. PREQUELS RECS: ✦ Domo Arigato, Mr Roboto by amarielah, anakin & sam & dean & cast, crossover, 13.7k    When Sam and Dean investigate a spate of Vader sightings in a remote Wyoming town, they discover that – this time – they’re hunting the real deal. Vader, meanwhile, has to adjust to a world that seems designed to piss him off. All while trying his best not to strangle the Winchesters. ✦ The Living Force; Parables for Padawans by glorious_clio, obi-wan & cast, 6.1k    Since infancy, younglings are taught the Jedi Code, “Emotion, yet peace. Ignorance, yet knowledge. Passion, yet serenity. Chaos, yet harmony. Death, yet the Force.” Obi-Wan Kenobi learns these tenets backwards and forwards again. But even as a child, he is interested in nuance. And so his teachers tell him parables. ✦ The Great Galactic Politics Mess-Up by iomccoy, obi-wan & anakin/padme & dooku & mace & cast, 6.8k wip    Obi-Wan Kenobi asks Count Dooku if he actually has any evidence. He does. It gets messier from there. ✦ A Future Unlived by AlexTirZeng, obi-wan & katooni & cast, 1.8k    Just because a war was on didn’t mean people didn’t dream of a future; if anything, it made them long for what would come after. Obi-Wan was no exception. He’d hoped to see Anakin raise Ahsoka to knighthood. He’d hoped to take another padawan of his own. ✦ Remedial Jedi Theology by MarbleGlove, obi-wan & anakin & mace & cast, 31.2k wip    Let us consider the fact that the Jedi Order is a monastic religious organization based out of a temple, with five basic tenets of faith. ✦ Lessons Learnt by Sweven, ahsoka & kit & cast, 2.4k    As a kid, Ahsoka struggled with many things. Sometimes you just need someone to lift you up and give a word of encouragement. ✦ The Ryloth Excursion by Icarus_is_flying, obi-wan & ahsoka & cast, 2.9k    After a surprise Separatist attack, Ahsoka and Obi-wan find themselves stranded on Ryloth’s plains. Now master and padawan must work together to make it back in one piece. ✦ Duet by Silver Sky 1138, oc & cin, 2.3k    Asha Scarsi, the Jedi Padawan who feels the Force through music, isn’t half as good at lightsaber combat as she is at singing and mindtricks. So she’s a little nervous when Battlemaster Cin Drallig calls her to the training room after class. ✦ Luminous Spirits by Pandora151, obi-wan & ahsoka & cast, 5k    Ahsoka and Obi-Wan, before and after everything changes. ✦ a choice made and made again by Sweven, obi-wan/satine & qui-gon & cast, 4.1k    A glimpse into the year on the run ✦ We Have Lost by ReneeoftheStars, barriss & luminara, 1.9k    It has been a long time since Barriss Offee was imprisoned for bombing the Jedi Temple. Not one to break, she has survived it. One day, she receives an unexpected visit from one she thought long gone from her life. ✦ The Sisters of the Little Kindness by ambiguously, ahsoka/asajj, NSFW, 4.4k    Ahsoka isn’t alone as she goes into hiding. ✦ The Talk by B_Radley, shaak & ahsoka ( & background barriss/ahsoka), 1.9k    A Jedi Master gives someone else’s Padawan The Talk ✦ The Only Home We Know by ReneeoftheStars, katooni & petro & ganodi & byph & gungi & zaft & cast, character death, child death, 2.4k    The Jedi Temple is under attack. Determined to fight for their home, younglings Katooni, Petro, Zatt, Ganodi, Byph, and Gungi make their way to aid the Jedi Masters in defense of the Temple. But the situation is far graver than they expected. ✦ Darkest before Dawn by AceQueenKing, padme/mon mothma, 2.3k    “I want my babies,” Padmé whispered, leaning into Mon’s shoulder. Mon tightened her grip on the younger woman, trying to reassure them both. Padmé, glorious flower of the Senate, was wilting fast in her arms, and it scared her, scared her more than she’d like to admit. ✦ Departed by Pandora151, obi-wan & anakin & vokara & bant & dooku, character death, 3.1k    One was too late; the other was taken too soon. ✦ Obi-Wan Kenobi’s Lady Friend by Sulis57, obi-wan & anakin & rex & cody & boil & waxer & cast, 3.2k    Anakin Skywalker just wants a quiet night at home by himself. Unfortunately, a group of unexpected visitors arrive bringing a potentially destructive acquaintance into Skywalker’s home. ✦ The Probability of Failure: The Mother by B_Radley, shaak & obi-wan & cast, 1.8k    A huntress and Knight struggles to find peace in the wake of devastating loss. Several beings attempt to help her. ✦ Or has time rewritten every line by ambiguously, anakin & ahsoka & kaeden, 4.1k    Ahsoka gets a message from an old friend that leads her to an older friend. ✦ Flickering Sunlight by Pandora151, obi-wan & anakin/padme & cast, 1.5k    In the aftermath of Order 66, Anakin comes to a decision. OBI-WAN/ANAKIN RECS: ✦ Equinox by lilyconrad, obi-wan/anakin, NSFW, sith!obi-wan (sort of), d/s, 95.9k    During the Clone Wars, Obi-Wan and Anakin crash on a remote planet and take shelter in the ruins of a grand estate only to find they are not alone. ✦ Little Moments by darlingamidala, obi-wan/anakin/padme, 2.8k    This is a series of obianidala-focused drabbles, prompts, and shortfics. ✦ WANTED: DEAD OR ALIVE by anecdotalist, obi-wan/anakin & bail & ahsoka & cast, 30.1k wip    War has broken out between the Republic and the Separatists. But that is of no concern to Ben, one of the best bounty hunters in the galaxy. All he’s focused on is his next target…until he’s invited to a tournament of hunters on Serenno. There, he meets a young Jedi Knight—the Hero With No Fear, Anakin Skywalker—who’s disguised as bounty hunter Rako Hardeen. ✦ Unmoored by lilyconrad, obi-wan/anakin, ~1k    In every world Anakin and Obi-Wan will find their way to each other, but this time it just might be too late for both of them. ✦ within us, through us by allourheroes, obi-wan/anakin, nsfw, ~1k    The Force is everywhere. Obi-wan helps Anakin understand. ✦ a spring haze by bell, obi-wan/anakin, NSFW, 3.2k    Obi-Wan kisses Anakin back because he believes in him. ✦ Three Bodies In Orbit by rainglazed, obi-wan/anakin/padme, 4k    A collection of ficlets and drabbles I’ve written for the obianidala suggestion blog, now posted to AO3 for easier viewing. ✦ These Three Remain by shadowsong26, obi-wan/anakin/padme, 27.5k    Immediately after the Festival of Light (and Obi-Wan’s stint undercover as bounty hunter Rako Hardeen), Anakin and Padme leave Coruscant on impulse, in response to an anonymous tip sent to Padme’s office about vital intelligence hidden in a cache of stolen goods. But things go terribly wrong, and they find themselves stranded and injured, with limited resources and no one knowing exactly where they are. ✦ Intently by zarabithia, obi-wan/anakin & cast, 2.2k    Five times Anakin thought about kissing Obi-Wan in order to distract him. ✦ Tumblr Prompts by Darlings (FromDreamstoEmpires), obi-wan/anakin, NSFW, human au, 1.4k (for this chapter)    A collection of prompts that I’ve filled on Tumblr. ✦ Satisfying Victory by zarabithia, obi-wan/anakin/ahsoka, nsfw, time travel, 3.4k    The Force gives and Ahsoka takes. (Or, Ahsoka goes back in time and is totally going to fix everything. But there’s another order of business to attend to first.) ✦ untitled by themoosejthm, obi-wan/anakin/padme, NSFW, toys, 2.3k    Anakin whimpered as he lowered himself onto the toy, his eyelashes fluttering and his toes curling. ✦ Soft now by Gondolin, obi-wan/anakin/padme (pre-ship?) & cast, 3k    Luke and Leia saved the galaxy before they were even born, Obi-Wan saved them and got aggressively adopted by the Naberrie-Skywalker family. Bonding with dads (plural, yes, Obi-Wan) is important and Padmé needs a nap. ✦ Addictions by lilyconrad, obi-wan/anakin, human au, mafia au, 3.4k    A Sith AU with three-piece suits: Ben is a “negotiator” for the mafia and Anakin his faithful, frightening enforcer. ORIGINAL TRILOGY RECS: ✦ In Which Vader Discovers He is a Father by glompcat, anakin & luke & leia & cast, 27.7k    A collection of (mostly self-contained) AUs where Vader learns about his kids earlier than he did in the canon timeline. Exploring both that moment of initial discovery, and the way the story unfolds after Vader finds Leia and/or Luke. ✦ The Princess Who Remembered Her Name: An Alderaani Faerie Tale by glorious_clio, leia & cast, 6.3k    “Once upon a time, there was a kind and clever and courageous Princess,” Bail begins his favorite story, and Leia is excited to share this with him. She goes through her life with the story in her mind, and tries not to read too much into it. ✦ The Hermit’s Son by landsail0r, obi-wan & luke, 1.2k    AU where Obi-Wan raises Luke. ✦ Hope is a Four Letter Word by laniew1, obi-wan & luke, 3.2k wip    Obi-Wan’s life is simple; he wakes, he eats, he meditates and on some mornings he watches Luke (or the Obi-Wan raises Luke instead AU). ✦ may you inherit his light by notbecauseofvictories, anakin & leia & bail, 2.5k    In this, as in many things, Leia is her fathers’ daughter. ✦ for the hint of a spark by egelantier, luke & leia, 5.1k    This is the gift she wants - her brother, her valiant brother, and the word is sweet on her tongue - and the price she doesn’t want to pay, the legacy she doesn’t want to accept. Her father’s body is burning, and she’s glad. ✦ How to Be Dead by victoria_p (musesfool), obi-wan & anakin & padme & luke & leia & han & rey & cast, 2.7k    You lose everything. You give up. REBELS RECS: ✦ Untitled Rebels Fic by Mirror and Image, zeb/kallus & cast, 11.6k    Kallus, on Yavin IV, sees a Lasat that isn’t Zeb. Things go as expected. ✦ Eidolon by Mira_Jade, han & hera & cast, 4k    Captain Solo and General Syndulla, on the subject of shipcraft, idealism, and love. In no particular order. SEQUELS RECS: ✦ Of Worth by celeste9, rose & poe & bb8, 1.4k    After Rose assists BB-8 with repairs to Poe’s ship, she gets an unexpected thank you. ✦ What They Grow Beyond by rain_sleet_snow, rey & anakin & cast, 7.1k    The war is spluttering to a halt, and Rey goes to Tatooine to build a lightsaber. FULL DETAILS + RECS HERE!

[oddcoupler222]

Hi can you recommend some of your favorite fanfics

Since you didn’t specify which fandom you want my favorite fics from, I’mgoing to give you ALL OF THEM

Sanvers: (Alex Danvers/Maggie Sawyer - Supergirl)

by InspectorBoxer -

The Lighthouse Technique - Kara grinned. “I already have a plan. A foolproof technique, in fact, to get Maggie Sawyer’s full attention.” pre 2x08/Sanvers getting together (complete - 4 chapters, 5k words)

also she has tons of short and sweet oneshots and all of them are entertaining and worth reading. And she co-writes:

I Can’t Believe We’re Here - “I don’t know how to tell you this, Detective, but I’d like to introduce you to Jamie. Your daughter.” A post 3x05 fix-it fic, in which Maggie has a surprise daughter and the characters and plot are all A+ (currently incomplete but READ IT ANYWAY. 12 chapters, 71k words)

The above fic is part of the you and i collide series, all comprised of very well-written and in character reunion fics, written by zennie.

More by Zennie -

Worth the Fight - After the kiss, Alex and Maggie struggle to get back to friendship and maybe more. Also, Maggie is targeted by assassins and Alex is protective (complete - 7 chapters, 28k words)

Headstrong - Maggie challenges Alex to a race. It doesn’t end like either of them planned. (incomplete technically, but leaves off in a good place. 6/7 chapters, 11k words)

Also has a ton of one shots/shorter stuff worth reading

by performativezippers -

Spin Doctor (Grown Ass Woman) - Maggie doesn’t really talk to other people while she’s at the spin studio – she’s not, as they say, there to make friends – but everyone tends to do friendly nods and say hi, especially in the locker room, and she does the same. So she’s gotten know most of the teachers and many of the other morning clients by sight. So she’s sure this is the first time she’s seen this new woman. She’d definitely have remembered someone like that. (complete, 9 chapters, 37k words)

Lexie (Five-Inch Heels) - “I’m Lexie,” she says, and it’s clearly a fake name but that doesn’t bother Maggie. She’ll only need to know a legal name if this girl ever gets booked and Maggie has to intervene. She hopes it never comes up.

“Nice to meet you, Lexie.”

Lexie just stares at her, and Maggie can’t tell if she’s smirking of if it’s a trick of the light.

“Sure it is,” she finally says, and oh, yes, she was smirking.

Maggie decides to forgo delicate, and asks her next question bluntly, her hands back in her pockets. “What brings you out tonight?”

“Astronomy.” Lexie deadpans. “Been a while since I’ve last stargazed; thought I’d commune with nature and all that shit.” (complete, 4 chapters, 10k words)

by ReaderExtraordinaire -

Science Fairs and Spring Breaks -

What if Alex and Maggie had a chance meeting at a high school science fair? How much of an impact can one long distance friendship really have? After all, who meets their soulmate at 17? (complete - 18 chapters, 90k words)

by cairophoenix -

Track Changes - Alex is an editor at a New York publishing house, and that means her life is going right. She has her apartment, and the gym, and Kara a subway stop away. So if her apartment’s always empty at the end of the day, that’s just how things are. She spends a lot of time at the office, anyway. She’s making it, and that’s something she can be satisfied with. And then a mysterious book arrives. (Complete - 1 chapter, 44k words)

by colourmeblue -

there’s a piece of me that i’ve been seaching for - The first time she sees Maggie Sawyer, she’s not that impressed. A fake relationship AU (complete - 4 chapters, 30k words)

every inch of me there is to trace - Maggie contemplates Chinese food, beer and Netflix as her evening plan. The proximity to her previous life requires a distraction that only alcohol can achieve. Her mind does flash to Alex, though. What she’s doing tonight. How easy it would be to just call her. Or even see her, if she still lives at the same apartment. However, she’s immediately turned away from that idea at the thought of someone else answering the phone or the door. (incomplete, recently updated. 4/10 chapters, 13k words)

by bltbackwards -

Red Fish Blue Fish - Alex Danvers is the head marine biologist and veterinarian at the National City Aquarium, where Maggie Sawyer is the new night guard. One chance encounter leads to two, which leads to meetings not at all by chance. OR The one where Gertrude is a dolphin, Maggie’s got a prosthetic leg, Alex is a brilliant nerd that keeps food in her lab coat, Kara is the literal ray of sunshine everyone adores, and Lena is a genius who loves marine animals. (complete - 10 chapters, 35k words)

by Roadie -

Ashes and Embers - Fairytale AU. Wherein Alex is sort-of-but-not-really-Cinderella, Maggie is sort-of-but-not-really-also-Cinderella-crossed-with-a-fairy-godmother, James Olsen is the nobility we all know him to be, and Gertrude is a horse sidekick. (complete - 5 chapters, 12k words)

by alittlelesspain -

no hiding place -  So far in the past week, Maggie has been kidnapped, stunned, shot at, and now she has gone and put a considerable amount of professional and personal trust in the woman who had been doing the kidnapping, stunning, and shooting. She should be terrified. Instead, Maggie feels the most alive that she’s felt in years.

Or, the one where Alex is supposedly a criminal, Supergirl is supposedly dead, Lex Luthor is actually President, and Detective Maggie Sawyer has to deal with it all. A canon-divergent Sanvers AU. Slowburn. (complete - 13 chapters, 150k words)

by Lurkz -

I Just Want To Change My Future - Maggie was just hoping to finally have a stable enough job that allowed her to continue helping aliens and maybe finally meet someone who would decide she was worth sticking with. She wasn’t really expecting her new job to involve suspicious acting scientists that happened to be related to her new boss’s girlfriend.

All Alex wanted to do was work in her lab, finish this pseudo-undercover duty at L-Corp, destroy Cadmus, and find her father. She didn’t have time for nosy ex-detective security chiefs. (incomplete/still being updated. 16/? chapters, 77k words)

by thrace -

but the fruit is sweet - Sometimes doing the right thing sucks // Or, Maggie can’t figure out why Supergirl is suddenly giving her the cold shoulder. Post 2x06. (complete - 1 chapter, 15k words)

by seaunicorn -

Cursed - Alex’s sixth year at Hogwarts is thrown for a loop when her father Jeremiah is killed that summer.  It seems the only thing that makes her feel normal anymore is her newfound friendship with longtime quidditch rival (and Hufflepuff’s new team captain) Maggie Sawyer (complete, 1 chapter, 26k words)

To Build A Home - Maggie’s apartment is on fire, so she shows up on Alex’s doorstep… and Alex could never say no to Maggie. (complete - 3 chapters, 15k words)

(and a handful of other good little oneshots)

by izzie456 -

pizza and pajamas - Alex’s finger froze in place and her eyes widened as, under “Special Delivery Instructions,” she read:“send your cutest delivery girl, please ;)”A beat of silence. Then:“Oh. My. God.”“Alex, please don’t–”“What the  hell,  Kara?”

An AU where Kara tries to get Alex to start dating again with an unusual plan, and Maggie is a pizza delivery girl (complete - 4 chapters, 35k words)

by adieu_sweetamaryllis -

communion - Four years — she’d made it four years without having Maggie Sawyer in a single class of hers despite them both going to the same school. If she hadn’t seen her once or twice across campus she would’ve thought the girl never actually ended up attending National City University, despite both of them getting acceptance letters a few weeks before — well, before everything went up in flames. (incomplete - 18/21 chapters, 126k words)

by DisplacedWarrior -

I would move mountains to make you smile - Alex was just looking for a way to handle her giant crush without talking about it, she had no idea creating an anonymous Instagram account for her cheesy sapphic poetry would cause this much of a stir.  It has half the school starry-eyed but what about the one girl it was intended for?  (complete 1 chapter, 10k words)

by swanmills -

let me be your goodnight - alex meets an annoying new agent in the batch of this year’s trainees. alternate meeting au  (complete, 1 chapter, 4k words)

handfuls of other short/sweet oneshots by this author

and because I’m a masochist who is branching out into being a sadist, I’m going to recommend a very much incomplete story that I doubt will ever be finished but I reread it often and bemoan that it’s incomplete because it was SO GOOD and I want to drag everyone else down memory lane with me

wildfire -  Alex has seen beautiful women before, her sister is one of them, but not one has ever taken her breath away so quickly it felt like she was being knocked over.  Maybe it was simply the shock of seeing another person here when the school had seemed so desolate.  Or maybe, maybe, it was because that was the most beautiful woman that Alex has ever seen.or the one where alex teaches chemistry, maggie teaches history, and they teach each other a little something about falling in love (so incomplete. 3/? chapters, 25k words)

by lordvoldyfarts, who also has several shorter oneshots that I adore

moving on!

General Danvers: (Alex Danvers/Astra In-Ze - Supergirl)

Sword of Damocles - Canon divergent from 1x13: When Hank shows up on the rooftop to stop Astra from activating Myriad, Astra manages to outmaneuver him, taking Alex hostage as a means of escape. Now, Alex finds herself a prisoner at the hostile Fort Rozz base, but as time goes by, she and Astra begin to form an unexpected bond, challenging each of their beliefs, and loyalties.(complete - 27 chapters, 134k words)

Occupational Hazard - A comedy of errors in which Astra seriously misinterprets things. Seriously. Misinterprets. Things. This is a Human AU, so she doesn’t even have the excuse of being an alien to justify her Serious Misinterpretation of Things. She’s just that socially awkward of an Environmental Sciences professor who is head over heels for the obliviously charming-as-all-hell medical school dropout Alex Danvers.Basically, everyone is confused, smut runs rampant, as do silly tropes, stupidly oblivious mutual pining, and eventually, Feelings. Also Non is a surprisingly effective wingman, even though he very honestly had no intention of being one. Seriously, everyone is just so confused. (technically incomplete but read it, that is an order. 7/? chapters, 42k words)

Sweet Dreams Are Made of This - In which Astra watches TV for the first time, falls asleep, and has a series of seven very bizarre dreams, each of which ends with her falling in love with one Alexandra Danvers. Which is just silly. Humans are ridiculous. Why would General Astra In-Ze ever fall for a human, even a human as brave, and clever, and kind, and strong, and impassioned, and protective, and brilliant, and beautiful and…damn it. (complete - 7 chapters, 36k words)

all by uisceB. Just read everything this person has authored. Just do it.

Anyway, I have a whole GD fic rec already done! It was done almost a year ago, though, so I would recommend checking out anonymississippi and alittlelesspain to see what they’ve done in the meantime!

Sansaery: (Sansa Stark/Margaery Tyrell - Game of Thrones)

I can provide you with my past fic rec for that here and also with a handful of more recent fics than that first one, here!

Faberry: (Rachel Berry/Quinn Fabray - Glee)

Sooooo many fics! Enough for two previous rec lists here and here!

Bechloe: (Beca Mitchell/Chloe Beale - Pitch Perfect)

Here is a whole rec list :)

Jetra: (Jane Villanueva/Petra Solano - Jane the Virgin)

marry me a little by celaenos - Petra swallows, remembering the night in the stairwell. Thinking about how it was the first time Jane had felt real to her since the day they met, and how she didn’t want it to end, and how that was so, so dangerous. To want like that.(Or, Jane marries Petra to save her from Milos. And things start to get real complicated after that.) (complete - 18 chapters, 110k words)

Cartinelli: (Peggy Carter/Angie Martinelli - Agent Carter)

the mothering of us by QuickYoke and ratherembarrassing - The Black and White Ball was a masquerade ball held on November 28, 1966 at the Plaza Hotel in New York City. Hosted by author Truman Capote, the ball was in honor of The Washington Post publisher, Katharine Graham. – Director Carter attends. (one of the best fics I’ve ever read. Complete - 3/3 chapters, 60k words)

Living Arrangements by netgirl_y2k - Angie almost says, I think Peggy and me are basically married, and I don’t think she’s noticed, just to see the look on Jarvis’s face. (Complete - 1 chapter, 3k words)

i broke my bones playing games with you by mooosicaldreamz - Captain America wakes up and causes quite the scene too, bursting into the middle of Times Square and turning circles around in wonder. The video plays over and over on the news, which Angie watches then, over and over, at the diner. There’s the gorgeous Peggy Carter, at the center of a storm of suits and Escalades, staring up at the big lights. She doesn’t look a day over 26, and honestly, Angie thinks she looks beautiful. Modern day AU where Peggy is Captain America. (complete - 2 chapters, 22k words)

Tony and the Gal Pals by comicbooklovergreen - “Hey Peg, you here? You’re never here early. Should I be worried?”Tony froze, looking to Peggy for direction. Only then did she think that perhaps she should’ve consulted Angie before absconding with Howard’s child and bringing him to their home. Or, the one where Peggy gets tired of Howard’s negligence and does something about it. (complete - 3 chapters, 16k words)

Faithfully Yours by nofearqueerhere - Angie sends a letter overseas in a “write to our boys” campaign for the war effort. She doesn’t count on it falling into the hands of Agent Carter of the Strategic Scientific Reserve. But she doesn’t exactly complain, either. (complete - 13/13 chapters, 18k words)

Shoot: (Root/Sameen Shaw - Person of Interest)

the domestic hell series by enginerd - The machine has a funny sense of humor when it gives the team a new setof ID’s.  Suddenly Root and Shaw are married in the New York suburbsplaying house.  What happens when the machine puts you in a house that wasthe block Halloween Party house for years?  

OR: Root and Shaw are in suburbia throwing a Halloween party. God helpthem. (4 words in the series, all one shots between 10k-15k)

Kismet and Other Movements by aelysian - She can’t see her without craning her neck, but she can picture themischievous gleam in brown eyes, the sharp cuspids that add bite to the flirtysmile.

 “Are we playing, Sameen?  You haven’t told me what the rulesare.” Soulmate AU. (complete - 5 chapters, 17k words)

The 32nd Annual IFTEC by ionizable - University AU where Root and Shaw have been forced to work together to plan and run their school’s engineering competition. In no particular order, there will be: “oops I accidentally fell in love with you” Root, an excruciatingly slow build, jealous Shaw, jealous Root, donut thievery, eventual smut, backstories, nerdiness, things moving right along to the complex plane after the midpoint, and most importantly: cheesy science jokes! bad puns and corny jokes! (complete - 12 chapters, 41k words)

connective tissue by bightly_bightly - “In a world where you can always find something to die for, Root gives you everything to live for."Root and Shaw, feelings and sex. This started out as me wanting an excuse to write the line "If you want that, you’re gonna have to do better than pancakes and light bondage” and it just sort of… evolved. (Complete - 14 chapters, 50k words)

Natural Selection by kesdax - They keep their heads down. They survive. Until their number comes up. Post Season 3 finale. (complete - 14 chapters, 55k words)

Fish Out Of Water by donteatmyfingerprints - Completely AU. A mermaid. There is a mermaid in front of her. (Sooooo au, but so weirdly good. Complete - 3 chapters, 15k words)

Swan Queen: (Regina Mills/Emma Swan - Once Upon a Time)

Send Up a Signal (that everything’s fine) by coalitiongirl

Emma Swan is catapulted into stardom, the newest lead actress on asanitized show featuring modern fairytales. Regina Mills is a long-underminedstar with a chip on her shoulder and a thousand reasons why she’s invested.Naturally, they loathe each other on sight.

Their characters’ fanbases, however, have other ideas. (complete - 21 chapters, 117k words)

and everything else by coalitiongirl. Really there are just too many to name.

step into my office baby by foxbones - This is what you get for doing the nice thing, Emma thinks. You do that whole Pay It Forward bullshit - you buy a lady some coffee and you pretend like it isn’t totally motivated by how she looks in a pencil skirt - and she goes and insults your business card and turns out to be your company’s new Executive Director. Real fucking cute.From now on, she is drinking tea. or, the one where they’re in an office. (complete - 16 chapters, 41k words)

Wedding Crasher by misscanteloupe - “My sister, Zelena,” she spits out the name like it’s poison, “Is getting married this weekend in California. My mother is potentially the biggest pain in the ass when it comes to who I take in as lovers. I need someone who will aggravate her to no end and keep her from meddling in the future.”

Emma blinks. “Why me?”

“My mother hates blondes.”

“Oh,” Emma says slowly, and god. She gets the feeling she’s signed herself up for one fucked up family reunion. “Cool.” (complete - 1 chapter, 6k words)

Deliver Me by wistfulwatcher -  “I was told a double rush order would be here in twenty minutes or less,” she said coolly, and gestured to the clock on the wall beside them. 

Looking over, Emma saw the face reading 6:45, just a few minutes past the twenty minute deadline. Eyes narrowing slightly, she licked her lips. “Yeah, it’s just a couple minutes past,” Emma said, and shifted her weight to one hip.

Tilting her chin up slightly she repeated, “Twenty minutes or less,” and Emma felt her head start to pound. What a way to end the day. (Complete - 5 chapters, 38k words)

A Fine Line by hunnyfresh - Upon Regina’s banishment, the small town of Storybrooke becomes protected once again by an enchantment that prevents anyone from leaving or entering Storybrooke. Emma and Regina find themselves on the edge of the town, wishing for a way to the other side. (Complete - 3 chapters, 18k words)

… I’ll see myself out. I hope you enjoy some!

[shemakesmeforget]

15 fics under 1K kudos

We all know how tempting is to sort fics by kudos, so I'm doing that lol I hope you all enjoy this underrated gems. I might do a part 2, I'm definitely posting a list for wips tomorrow (these are all completed fics btw). I have some moodboards coming, but for now you can check here and for other fic recs here. Okay, let's go!

How to Surprise Your Fiancé With Pork: An Honest Walkthrough by Viktor Nikiforov by Orchids_and_Fictional_Cities (@orchids-and-fictional-cities)

Canonverse, Rated T, 5K 

The thing with Viktor is that once he’s set his mind on something, there is a very very minuscule chance of him not following through on said thing. 

He wants to do something for Yuuri: partly as a Valentine’s Day gift, partly as a prelude to Worlds, and partly ‘just because’. It’s somewhere between dwelling on the abstract thought of Yuuri’s hunger as a competitor, and watching the younger skater on Facetime with his mother back home, that an idea starts to form.. 

-- 

This is how Katsuki Yuuri, the love of his life, the apple of his eye, the fire of his loins et cetera, ad infinitum, finds Viktor when he walks into the door: standing precariously with one foot on a barstool and the other on top of his counter, frantically fanning at his smoke detector with a magazine. 

• This is hilarious, sweet Viktor... he tries so so hard (also I relate to this more than I would like lol)

voices carry by spookyfoot (@spookyfoot)

Canonverse, Rated T, 4K

God Chris is loud, Victor thinks, half of his glass of vodka sloshing onto the floor as another rhythmic thump sounds against the shared wall between his and Chris’ rooms. Would the hotel allow him to change rooms so late at night? He could probably manage it no problem, but his toiletries are spread all over the bathroom and by the time he packs those up Chris and his…guest should be finished.

He’ll have to wait it out.

A moan floats through the wall. Victor’s not sure if it’s approving his plan or warning him to give up while he still can.

He pours himself some more vodka.

“Fill me up,” Chris's Fuck Buddy (CFB) says.

Oh god. Victor takes a long pull of vodka from his glass.

For once, Chris is quiet enough that Victor can’t hear anything beyond a murmur. And he thinks that’s that until—

“Fuck a baby into me,” Chris’ bedmate moans.

Victor chokes on his drink.

_____ 

Meet cute by way of pregnancy kink 

• *heavy breathing* seriously?? You're giving us Yuuri doing the walk of shame and YUUCHRIS??? beware I laughed so hard I cried, so much secondhand embarrassment.

Lay Your Head by kiaronna (@kiaronna)

Canonverse, Rated G, 2K

By the time they end up sharing a bed, they’ve already slept next to each other everywhere else.  

• I LOVE this trope so much omg, you’re in for a treat A DELIGHT.

overture for two (me & you) by oh_fudgecakes (@asideoftrashplease)

Canonverse, Rated E, 21K

Plagued by his poor performance at the GPF, Yuuri’s disastrous free at Japanese Nationals ends not just in eleventh-place, but deals him with a lasting injury, resulting in him retiring before the events of the show. He becomes a commentator, determined to move on from his uneventful skating career. Yet, a series of chance meetings with a smitten Viktor and his own yearning for the ice keeps drawing him back to competitive figure skating. 

In which everything's different, but it all ends the same anyway. 

• Commentor!Yuuri owns me lol (all Yuuris own me), a great balance between angst and humor.

Lead Me To You by luni

Canonverse, Rated E, 68K

Victor Nikiforov, Russia’s living legend of figure skating, is forced to take most part of the season off because of a rather serious injury. A comeback, no matter how exciting or unexpected, is never easy- especially when the person who is supposed to help Victor through most of it is none other than Katsuki Yuuri, former ace of Japan, now retired.

• Role reversal!! Coach Yuuri!!!! angsty af but oh dear they're crazy for each other. 

Ode To Apollo 13 by cerebella (@badkisser)

Space AU, Rated E, 66K

Yuuri Katsuki has his first and only breakup, and reacts the only way he knows how: board a starship and live out the rest of his life in outer space, millions of light years from the home planet he loves. 

It doesn't work.

• Getting back together is a trope I really enjoy, also friends with benefits *praying hands emoji *  Particularly I like the flashback to their school days and, if you squint, you have some sweet yuuchris too <3 

were stars to burn by xylophones (@xyloophones)

Space AU, Rated T, 7K

How should we like it were stars to burn

With a passion for us we could not return?

“I’ll call,” Viktor promises, “I’ll write, I’ll send holo videos, I’ll–– I’ll–– I’ll––”

He doesn’t say “I’ll stay if you ask” but he thinks it. He thinks about asking Yuuri to wait for him.

He won’t.

(But he thinks about it: Yuuri, pointing up at the night sky and saying “there’s the love of my life, among the planets, among the streaks of light above us.”) 

• I dont wanna say I cried like a baby because that would be insulting to babies. So sad and beautiful.

Follow Me Down the Milky Way by Skowronek and voxofthevoid (@kaja-skowronek and @voxofthevoid)

Space AU, Rated E, 17K

When decorated space officer Viktor Nikiforov is sent on a mission to bring down an infamous smuggler, he does not expect to be swept off his feet by a pole dancer as mysterious as he is deadly.

Yuuri Katsuki simply tries to make the galaxy a better place with as little collateral damage as possible, but that's easier said than done when a fleet commander's son sneaks into his ship and a pretty officer with a thigh fetish is after his head and dick both.

• BAMF!Yuuri <3 finally Yuuri's thighs get the appreciation and love they deserve. Very sweet and funny!

quantum entanglement by minsyah (@pockybugi)

College/Coffee Shop AU, Rated T, 17K

For some reason, the man—Viktor—sits in front of him, silver hair flouncing as he settles comfortably into the chair, introducing himself as Yuuri’s new math tutor with an easy smile.

And Yuuri, 25 years old with a Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics…doesn’t correct him.

(Viktor mistakes Yuuri for a high school student struggling with Geometry. Yuuri’s too awkward to figure out how to tell him otherwise.)

• I'm still laughing so hard. The ultimate meet cute! Yuuri is a dork, my sweet child.

Can you, not? by shereadsthestars

College AU, Rated M, 7K

"Stop moving," Yuuri hisses.

"I'm not moving," Viktor hisses right back, causing Yuuri to roll his eyes.

"Yes, you are," he says, adjusting himself to the best of his ability so as to accommodate Viktor's incessant shifting. "Or I wouldn't have told you not to."

"Whatever," Viktor breathes, then, without missing a beat, "Go out with me."

"No." 

• Viktor is so in love, Yuuri tries very hard to not fall in love but everything works out in the end. Cute angst? cute angst!

faking in secret by DefiantDreams (@gia-comeatme)

College AU, Rated T, 14K

It gets kind of difficult when you’re simultaneously fake dating and dating in secret at the same time.

Yuuri and Viktor make it work—until they don’t. 

• FAKE SECRET DATING GOOD GOD. This Yuuri omg!!!! oblivious heartbreakek to the max. Adorable and hilarious.

Foresight, not just foreplay by myoue (@cofferi)

Roommates AU, Rated M, 6K

There’s no way I could have casual sex, Victor says, I’d fall in love immediately. 

• Friends with benefits is my weakness and oh?? This fic???? I adore how they dance around each other. Just wonderful!

life with the dull bits cut out by thishasbeencary (@yoyoplisetsky)

Actors AU, Rated T, 9K

Viktor Nikiforov and Yuuri Katuski have been best friends since acting school. Viktor got his big break early, and brought Yuuri on to every exciting event and premier in his career. As Yuuri's career takes off, he does the same with Viktor. They do everything together, and act like they've known each other for their entire lives.

Their fans think they're in love.

(Spoilers: They are.)

• This fic literally made me cry at work, friends to lovers is my favorite trope ever and mutual pining AND OMG THIS IS SO CUTE I WANNA CRY AGAIN, amazing.

The Viktor Nikiforov Affair by YankingAwry (@rvancoogler)

Heist AU, Rated T, 13K

Viktor tries wooing Yuuri. Yuuri will not be wooed. And then there's the small matter of Viktor being a Russian master criminal art thief extraordinaire, Yuuri being the Interpol agent assigned to handle him, and the imminent theft of a hundred million dollar painting.

There's tension throughout the whole fic, Yuuri tries do hard and Viktor tries the hardest.

• The fic I didn’t know I needed BUT I DID, such a good read! this Viktor must be one of my faves, hands down. 

Comes Love by Multiple_Universes (@witharthurkirkland)

Burlesque AU, Rated M, 46K

People in the audience would crane their necks to watch Yuuri sit and calmly sip his drink. He’d raise the glass to his lips and down its contents slowly, as if the gold liquid was honey and not champagne. Or he’d get a cocktail and drink it through a straw in a way that would make the men around him break out into a cold sweat. Then he’d cross his legs and recline in his seat and it didn’t matter what was happening on the stage: every eye in the room was on him. The regulars often said that no one could cross their legs like Eros did.

That night he sat in his usual spot and watched the stage with unseeing eyes. Two weeks of someone leaving a bouquet of roses would make anyone curious. He’d always find them in the same spot. There were always seven of them. And they always came without a note. But Yuuri knew they were all from the same person.

A Burlesque AU with Yuuri as a performer and Victor as his admirer.

• Are you ready to experience the best visuals of your existence? *fans self* This Yuuri is just too powerful, def too much to handle (praying for Viktor). Strip and fluff is now my new religion. It was angsty at times but overall it was very sexy and cute, so lovely.

[missabigailhobbs]

i once was lost (but now i’m found)

A Qulia commission fic for @qulia-quest! Romantic, sexy, enemies-to-lovers. 5k words.

Do you want your own custom fic? Send me an ask, and I will write you your very own fic, with whatever you want! Enjoy :)

The music was thumping in Julia’s ears, and she was drunk enough where that was pleasant. Fuck magic. Fuck Brakebills, fuck the whole damn thing. Someone had been breaking into her apartment and leaving her book on magic, as if she wanted that. Brakebills had rejected her, why would she want a painful reminder of that? She already had an ugly scar down the inside of her arm, and that had been fun to explain to everyone. Long sleeves really were a blessing.

She was talking a little bit with some people online, other people like her who believed magic was real. Sometimes she thought this was all one mass hallucination, but there were things about it she couldn’t reconcile with the world that she understood to be real. Like her scar, and the books.

They kept piling up, but she refused to read them. Curiosity killed the cat and all. She’d sworn off magic; it had only hurt her before. Fucking Quentin, telling her that she should lay off, that magic wasn’t for everyone, whatever. Fuck him. No good had come of chasing fucking fairytales and she goddamn refused to go down that rabbithole again.

So that was why she was at this party. To get drunk. To forget, and try to move on. Maybe go back to school, although that life seemed a million years ago. Maybe she’d get a psychology degree, try to psychoanalyze why she’d fallen so deep into fucking fairy tales, why she and her former best friend had had a shared hallucination that he was still somehow engrossed in. Something about those fucking Fillory books she and Q had read as a kid, but it all seemed so hazy now, through the blur of four or so drinks and a small handful of Xanax.

She collapsed in a beanbag in the corner of the room, her head spinning. The music thudded and people brushed past her legs, and she had to tuck her legs under her to avoid an accidental broken ankle. Someone flopped down beside her and she squinted at him.

Her heart stopped in her chest.

“What the fuck are you doing here?” she asked, voice dripping with acid.

Quentin put up his hands. “I didn’t know you’d be here,” he said, trying to defend himself in case she started swinging at him or something. “I guess we just have a…. A mutual friend or something.”

She leaned back in the beanbag chair, eyes narrowing at him. “You better leave, Quentin. Get the hell out. I’m done with you, with magic, with all of that shit.”

He gave her that hurt puppy expression, and it just made her want to punch him even more.  “I was just trying to help, Julia…”

“Get out!” she growled, and he got the fucking hint this time. When she woke up, she was back in her bed at home, and she cursed him. Fucking magic.

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Bleary eyed and hungover, she made coffee and leaned against her kitchen counter. She poked listlessly through her fridge, finding nothing of even moderate interest. She’d been losing weight, but it was hard to find the energy to go grocery shopping when you had lost interest in nearly everything.

Scanning her kitchen, her eyes fell on the stack of books. In a fit of maybe-still-drunk bad decision making and a bit of leftover anger at Quentin, she opened the one on top.

Six hours later, she found herself on the floor, surrounded by books and notes and sketches. Where had the time gone? She was starving; it was like she had entered a fugue state, drawn into the enticing world that magic offered. She wavered, realizing she was on the edge of a dangerous precipice. To dive back into the world of magic now would likely mean never seeing the other side again. How could you go back, knowing that magic was real, that you could do it, that it was literally at your fingertips?

Julia thought it over while she made herself another pot of coffee. Checking the computer, she saw she had over 200 messages on the forum for other people like her, experimenting with the idea of magic, asking themselves if this insane thing could possibly be real. If magic, real magic, could really exist, and if so, could they really do it?

She flipped through one of the books and found one that didn’t require any special ingredients, just a series of hand movements. It was supposed to do something with temperature, make it a few degrees cooler or something like that. She tried it a few times, and almost gave up with frustration.

But then her vision narrowed. This was a comfortable, familiar feeling. When Julia really set her mind to something, there was absolutely nothing that could deter her from it. She practiced it again, and again, until her hands ached, and then -

She saw her breath in the suddenly chilly air. Holy fuck. This shit really worked.

She went over to the computer and typed a simple message: “Magic is real and I can prove it”.

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Over the course of the next week, a half dozen or so collection of misfits showed up at her apartment. They didn’t explain themselves, nor did they have to. Julia let them in without a word. Some came bearing gifts, of pizza or booze or coffee, and some came with nothing but backpacks full of notes and hopefully a spare change of clothes. They worked for days on end, trying the spells in the books Julia had amassed through her mysterious donor.

“We missed you,” one of the women said to Julia quietly. “We thought you’d given up on us.”

“I had,” Julia replied without looking up from her notes. “But now I’m back. So let’s work.”

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It had been three days of solid work and Julia was fairly sure she hadn’t slept much, if any. Maybe some quick catnaps between work sessions, but nothing of substance. She was running on cigarette smoke and caffeine, and some kind of amphetamine pill someone had brought. It really kept her awake, but it made her a little jumpy too, which was why the quiet snick of the window and the subsequent slide had her up faster than she could blink, a big knife from the kitchen in hand.

Julia jumped into the spare room, where she’d heard the noise, knife pointed straight ahead of her, and was greeted by a very unmanly scream. “Quentin?” she asked, astonished to see him here. “What the fuck?”

He dropped the book he’d been clutching and tried to back out the window in one motion, mostly succeeding in just banging his head on the window frame. “Ow! Fuck! I was just bringing you a book, don’t stab me!”

Julia sighed and picked up the book. It was new, something about transfiguring objects. She narrowed her eyes. “Have you been bringing me all the books?” she asked, giving him a hard stare. “After you told me to give up magic? Why?”

He wavered, still seeming to be on the cusp of deciding to just bolt out the window and attempt to take flight or something. Maybe he could fly, who knew anymore.

“Quentin, get the fuck in here. You’re letting my AC out and you look ridiculous,” she snapped after a few moments of him being completely frozen in the window.

Sheepishly, he crawled inside. “So, um… you didn’t know, who was bringing you the books?” he asked, rubbing the back of his head. She used to find that habit somewhat endearing, him looking like a six year old like that, but she was finding it harder to feel anything much these days.

Julia paused. She supposed she should have figured that out - it’s not like books could just appear out of nowhere. But she’d almost figured it was someone fucking with her, trying to lure her back into magic. It had worked, eventually, but she wasn’t thinking about that too much right now. “Why?” she asked, after a long moment.

“Well, I mean… I was trying to help,” he said, hesitant, turning to close the window. “You couldn’t get into Brakebills so… I mean, I couldn’t teach you or anything, but I just wanted to help. Cause you were right, you know, about magic being real and stuff… so I was just trying to help,” he finished lamely.

Julia stared at him for a long moment. “Well come help. We have lots of company.” She left him alone then. He would either follow or not.

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With Quentin’s help, they progressed through the spells much faster. Turns out that stupid pretentious magic school was actually useful. Eventually, Julia had been awake for something going on a week and she collapsed on the sofa, notes falling from her slack fingers.

When she awoke, there was a heavy weight on her lap. She blinked, squinting down. She rolled her eyes - fucking Quentin. “Get off of me,” she grunted, pushing him off. He tumbled nearly all the way to the floor, missing cracking his head on the coffee table by an inch.

He winced, sitting up slowly. “Good morning to you too, Julia,” he said dryly, getting up carefully, touching his head to make sure that he hadn’t actually injured himself. She stayed sitting, watching him. The warmth in her lap… it felt nice. She hadn’t really had anyone… close to her in a long time. She rubbed her palms on her thighs and got up, wandering around.

Most of the others had left by now, having gotten what they needed from Julia’s books. Back to their own research or maybe they’d decided that magic just wasn’t for them, that this wonderland was more than they could handle and they wanted out. She didn’t blame them. There were a few stragglers, mostly those who had come later to the party, who were still taking notes and writing their sketches on her kitchen table.

“You guys need to get out tomorrow,” she said, going to her coffee maker. “I need my apartment back.” I need to be alone with Q, is what she didn’t say. She’d had so many complicated feelings about that boy of late. It was like the five stages of grief in reverse or something. She’d felt betrayal, anger, acceptance, and now… maybe something like forgiveness, or even a semblance of their former friendship.

The others couldn’t really complain. It was her apartment, after all. “And you need to tell the others not to come back. At least not for a while. I’ll post about it if I have something new,” she promised, when they started to protest a little.

“Where did you get all this stuff anyway, Julia? This is… like some high-level shit right here,” one of the young men said, a geeky type with huge glasses and bad skin.

She shrugged. “A friend.”

Quentin was hovering near the living room threshold, not wanting to intrude on Julia and her… friends? But he heard her refer to him as a friend, and that was certainly an upgrade from ‘Fuck you Quentin, I never want to see you again’. He smiled, and went back to sleep on the sofa. The magic they were doing was pretty basic for a Brakebills student, but to see Julia’s smile when she mastered Popper #50 made him too happy to even consider bursting her bubble.

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The next day, Julia bid a firm farewell to her new guests. With a minimum of complaining, they packed up their notes and took cups of coffee for the road, and she was finally alone. Well, alone with Quentin, who could presumably pop off to his magical Hogwarts any time he liked. She had absolutely nothing to do with his comings and goings, and that suited her just fine.

He was asleep on the couch again when she found him, and she poked his arm. “Quentin. Get up.”

He startled awake, clutching his chest like a damsel on the cover of a bodice ripper. She snorted. “Good morning, sunshine. It’s 2 pm, would you like to join us now?”

He looked around, bewildered, like he couldn’t remember how he’d gotten to his current location. After a moment, he relaxed. “Where’s everyone else?”

“Gone,” she replied shortly. “I kicked them all out this morning.”

Quentin’s eyes widened a little, and he looked slightly uncomfortable with the prospect of being alone with Julia. Their relationship felt a bit like walking on eggshells these days; he knew he shouldn’t have told her off like that before, that magic wasn’t real, and yeah, breaking into her apartment was kind of creepy, but he’d just been trying to help.

“So, um… find anything useful in the books?” he asked, brushing his hair out of his eyes and standing up to stretch.

“Yes,” she said, looking at him evenly. “Lots. Thank you. Still looking for some of the more esoteric ingredients, but we’re getting there. And I have friends in a lot of strange places, turns out.”

“Um… yeah,” he said, nodding awkwardly. “I’m glad that it… it helped. Listen, I’m starving, do you want to go get some food?”

She considered it. “Are you buying?”

Quentin cracked a smile. “Yeah, my treat. Let’s go to that noodle place we used to go to all the time.”

She nodded. “Okay. Let me shower and then we’ll go.”

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Before she had decided to reinvest in magic, she had been feeling so empty. Her life felt purposeless, boring, utterly mundane. Now she had an invigorated sense of herself, of a mission in life, and… surprisingly, she had Quentin to thank. When he’d left, she’d more or less written him off. They had been extremely close friends, to be sure, but with the complete lack of communication and his dismissal when she’d tried to plead with him for help with her burgeoning powers, she’d decided she was better off on her own, and later just forgetting about magic altogether.

But now they were walking side by side, talking, chatting as if no time had passed at all, to a noodle place they used to haunt regularly when they needed a break from studying. They sat at a small table in the corner, knees nearly brushing, and Julia felt… some small spark of something she hadn’t thought about or felt in a long time. Something that made her care, made her want to make irrational decisions because she could and nothing in the world could stop her.

Quentin was talking about something - he was always talking about something, honestly, always running his mouth about whatever topic had interested him today - and she cut him off. “Do something,” she murmured, low enough not to be heard over the chatter of the other diners and the staff. “Do some magic. Right here, right now.”

His eyes got big. “Now, Jules? What if someone sees us?”

“I don’t care. Just do something, come on,” she urged him, grinning.

He hesitated, but then did a complex series of movements with his fingers and all the tableware rose six inches off the laminated surface, the forks and chopsticks floating next to the hot sauce and salt. She grinned, and he gave her a hesitant smile in return. She was looking a little manic, but he’d take this version of Jules over the dead-eyed woman who had tried to stab him with a kitchen knife.

They talked for hours over noodles and soft drinks, and then a bottle of wine, until they were both pleasantly buzzed and laughing, like nothing had ever changed.

Quentin told her stories about Brakebills, about Eliot and Margo and the challenges they’d faced even getting into their cottage, and Julia told him about the other hedges, about how there was a thriving magical society in New York, people learning from each other and scrabbling for any bit of information they could get their hands on. It made her sad, that they had to fight over scraps while people like him had the keys to the kingdom, but they’d just have to figure it out.

They stumbled home arm in arm, laughing as they tripped over the curb, holding each other up. Julia managed to get the key into her apartment door, with Quentin doing some kind of spell to help guide it into place.

They tumbled into Julia’s apartment, Quentin falling on top of her. They both hit the floor ungracefully, and laughed. Julia suddenly stopped laughing, looking up at Quentin. In certain lights… in this light, maybe, he was… really beautiful. Maybe even something more than that. Definitely more than a friend. Was it the magic that made him look so… ethereal? Or was it just something about him she’d never noticed before?

She reached up, tangled her fingers in his hair, and kissed him. He made a surprised noise and braced his hands next to her head.

“Jules…” he tried to warn her, but she shook her head.

“Q. Shut up. Just kiss me.”

You had to give it to him, Q at least knew how to follow instructions. He pressed her down against the floor, her hair tangling under her shoulders, and kissed her until they were both utterly breathless. They broke apart, laughing.

“Want to go to my bed?”

“Jules, fuck, I’ve been dreaming about you saying that since we were kids,” he admitted with a laugh, cheeks flushed from kisses and wine.

“Time to make your dreams come true then, isn’t it?”

They tugged on each other’s clothes as they made their way down the hall, stopping every few feet to kiss and laugh as they stumbled over each other and the clutter of a half-dozen manic houseguests in Julia’s apartment. Their coats dropped together into a pile on the floor, and Julia’s hands were nimble getting Q’s sweater up and over his head.

“Whoa, should we...slow down?” Quentin asked, although his hands were making quick work of Julia’s shirt.

“No,” she nearly growled, pushing him more forcefully towards her bed. He fell into his back on the mattress, looking up at her with those big eyes. Fuck, she wanted to just devour him.

She held his wrists down, and he didn’t protest. In fact, he whined and pressed up against her. Julia grinned, feral and wild. “You like that, huh?” she purred, leaning down to nip and bite at his neck.

He gasped and rocked his hips against hers. “Yeah, I… I think I do,” he said, sounding startled.

“What, do they not have sex at magic school?” Julia taunted him, dragging her teeth down his neck.

“No, they do!” Quentin squeaked, squirming underneath her, flexing his hands under her grasp and finding he was held fast. “It’s just… um, I don’t. Very often. And rarely sober.”

“Well we’re not sober now,” she pointed out with a smirk, unbuttoning his shirt with her teeth. It was a little messy, sure, but he didn’t mind. In fact he rather seemed to enjoy the extra brushes of her lips against his skin as she worked his shirt open. “Keep your hands where they are.

Surprisingly, or perhaps not - he’d always had a submissive streak - he kept his hands up over his head while she got his pants open and slid her jeans off. “You just lay there, okay?” she panted, fishing in her nightstand for a condom. She didn’t know what kind of abomination magical abortions might be, and she really didn’t want to find out. She might be drunk enough to have sex with Q right now, but she definitely wasn’t here for the baby thing.

After that, it was a series of familiar movements - her tossing her head back, him grabbing tightly to her hips, both of them panting, sweating, moving. At one point he even flipped her over to be on top, which surprised her, but she wasn’t complaining. The new angle felt even better, and she didn’t have to do any work.

The rest of the night passed in a blur of shouts, spots of pleasure and pain. It was more than a little awkward at times - he accidentally yanked her hair, she kneed him in the stomach - but both of them were still buzzed enough to laugh it off. They enjoyed each other, and the night, and collapsed into a tangle of sweaty limbs once they were utterly spent.

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They woke up together the next morning in Julia’s bed, her head on his chest. Julia blinked, taking several long moments to remember what had happened. Within the space of a few breaths she’d pieced it together and she squeezed her eyes together tight. What the hell had she been thinking? But she turned her head to look at Quentin and… she couldn’t feel regret. He was beautiful, and she felt amazing, if a little sore. He might be a geek but… he wasn’t exactly small.

She turned over onto her stomach, looking at his sleeping face as the morning sun made his hair shine, making him look peaceful for once. When he was awake, he always had that little frown between his eyebrows, some dissatisfaction that made him look stressed out. But now… he looked utterly at peace, calm and relaxed. She smiled and rested her head on his chin until he startled awake.

“Good morning, Q,” she said dryly. He looked at her, naked, and then down at himself.

“Am I dreaming?” he asked, gasping. “Am I in the Twilight Zone?” She laughed. “Not dreaming, Q. We slept together, glad to see I made such an impression,” Julia said with a smirk.

“No, you did, it’s just… um, I never thought this would be… actually real?” he said, blinking and sitting up slightly.

She snorted and sat up, ignoring it as he got an eyeful. “Well, believe it, Q. Relatively wine-drunk, we slept together last night.” She got out of bed and wrapped a robe around her body, throwing an old t-shirt at Quentin. It would probably fit him, it was left over from one of the guys who’d raided her apartment for magic, giving her what pitiful spells they had in return.

She went into the kitchen and put on a pot of coffee, letting Quentin follow in his own time. He was probably having an existential crisis in there, and she would let him have that in peace. True enough, almost exactly seven minutes later he came out in the borrowed t-shirt and his boxers, looking like he’d maybe been pacing around, taking lots of deep breaths to steady himself.

She pushed a cup of coffee into his hand and leaned against the counter, crossing her arms. “So. Last night was a thing, and we’re gonna have to reconcile with that at some point. The fact that…” Julia paused, choosing her words very carefully. “That I like you, and I’m pretty sure that you also like me, and probably have for a while.”

Quentin rubbed the back of his head, hesitant. “I… um, yeah. I’ve been sort of in love with you since we were like… twelve?” he admitted. And there was Alice, yes, but she was always cold and distant and… honestly, so far out of his league. Jules was home, she always had been. And she loved magic, the same way he did, he’d seen that spark in her eyes when they were practicing the spells from the books he’d brought her. Sure, it wasn’t like he could provide a Brakebills education all by himself, but wouldn’t it be amazing to do magic together? Who knows what they could do!

“Q.” Julia’s voice cut off his grand fantasizing. “You’ve gone quiet. Not really something you do after admitting you’ve been in love with someone.”

“Ah… right. Well, yeah, I mean I have been and still am in love with you, and I can’t take you to Brakebills but I can come back, like, all the time and teach you as much as I can? Leave you my notes and stuff? Your, um, your friends and stuff, they can’t see it, they can’t know it’s me or I’ll get kicked out and I hear they erase your memory? So then I won’t be able to do magic and that would really suck - “

Julia interrupted his rambling with a simple raise of her hand. “Q. It’s fine. I don’t need you to be… to be magic. I like you. I just like you, okay? And it’s fantastic that we can do magic together, that’s… that’s amazing, I love it. And please do keep bringing me books if you can, that would be great, I… I need to keep practicing what we’ve got, of course, but… you know if you need any help with anything…”

She sighed and tried again. These words weren’t coming out right, but what did you say when you accidentally fucked your best childhood friend?  “Okay. So… we had sex. That is established. We may, at some point, in the future, have sex again. How do you feel about that? Magic aside.”

Quentin choked on his coffee. “How do I feel about that? I feel great about that, Jules, I’ve been completely in love with you for ages and you’re… you’re fucking beautiful and you’re powerful and amazing and… holy fuck, yes!”

She smirked at his enthusiasm. “Okay then. Maybe we will, if… if it works out. What about the magic? How much can you teach me?”

He hesitated. He hadn’t read the contract too closely, but he was fairly sure there was a clause about not teaching people who didn’t go to Brakebills magic just because you were in love with and/or fucking them. “I will teach you… as much as I can,” he said, hedging his bets a little. “I have to check how much is allowed, I don’t want to get either of us in trouble.”

Julia ran her fingers along the spine of one of the books Quentin had brought, one of the very first ones, a primer on how to move one’s fingers to achieve certain spells. “That’s fair,” she decided after a long moment of deliberation. “How soon do you have to get back to school?”

He glanced around for a clock, then out the window to see what season it was. The time difference between the real world and Brakebills - although the line between “real” and “unreal” was blurring to a dramatic degree these days - was always disorienting. “Um… soon. Probably sooner rather than later. The time in Brakebills, it’s… it’s weird? Like, it’s summer here, so it’s fall or winter there. It’s like four months off, something about the wards… oh, right, wards! We should set up wards, on your place, before I go. Because you’ve got all these books and people know about it now… yeah.”

She nodded. “That’s probably a good idea.” She set down her cup of coffee, standing resolute, even if she was only in a bathrobe and he was half-dressed. “Where do we start?

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They got dressed and then spent the next three hours casting wards around Julia’s apartment - or more accurately, setting up the wards only took an hour, and the other two hours were spent with Quentin showing Julia how to put them up and take them down, and then her practicing until they were both satisfied she wouldn’t accidentally blow herself up. Magic was way too dangerous to be played with frivolously.

They then spent an hour playing frivolously with magic, casting minor charms that did silly things like cause books to float, or make the other’s hair temporarily turn white. They laughed, and if they touched perhaps a little too freely for friends, well...that boundary had already been crossed.

They were lying together on Julia’s floor, looking up at the ceiling, drawing lines in the dust motes and making them dance as they twisted their fingers, creating little ballerinas in the sun rays.

“I really have to get going,” Quentin said softly, although he was loathe to leave the warmth and comfort of Julia’s side. This was everything he’d dreamed of, and he was an idiot for leaving it, and they both knew it.

“I know,” she said quietly, reaching down for a moment to hold his hand. She gave it a light squeeze, sighing. “Go learn all your magic so you can bring it back to me, okay?” She gave him a small smile.

He gave her a huge grin in return. They stood, and embraced, and Julia held him for a moment too long before pressing a lingering kiss to his lips.

“See you soon,” she said, giving him a bigger smile. He nodded, unable to stop grinning.

“I’ll be back soon. I promise,” he told her, pressing a kiss to her head, and then to her lips. “Get Popper 56 down and we can do that levitation spell you liked, okay?”

She nodded, smirking. “Can we have sex while floating in midair?”

He almost choked, laughing. “Yeah, of course we can. We can have sex however you want, Jules.”

“How about at Brakebills?” she shot back, raising an eyebrow.

He just rolled his eyes. “We’ll see. Take your wards down?”

She concentrated, brows knitted together, and in a few moments the apartment was unlocked, both in the mundane and the magical sense. “I’ll see you soon, Q.”

Quentin reached into his pocket, pulling out his student key that would allow him access back into Brakebills. “See you soon, Jules.”

He gave her one final kiss, just for luck, and in barely the blink of an eye, he was gone.

[copyrightedsnakes]

This River Is Wild

Title: This River Is Wild 

Length: ~5k

Summary: Phil decides to attend a show put on by the circus traveling through town. When he stumbles across a boy with brown eyes and bruises, he knows he has to do something.

Warnings: cursing, violence/abuse, mentions of alcohol, Dan and Phil are kids for a large majority of the fic (is that a warning? idk)

Author’s Note: will I ever write a normal phanfic again? here’s to hoping. anyway, here’s a oneshot. it was inspired by the song this river is wild by the killers (though the song and the fic aren’t similar at all so idk how that happened. I still ended up putting song lyrics at the end bc I’m a loser) annnnnnd yeah. I don’t really know what this is but I hope you guys like it anyway.

​As a seventeen year old with rent to pay, Phil knows he probably shouldn't have bought a ticket to the circus. After seeing posters for the event all over town however, childhood nostalgia took over and he couldn't help himself, getting off the train and heading down to the fairgrounds. The ground is thick with fallen leaves, colors of orange and red and brown swirling around him as he walks, approaching the giant red tent on the horizon, where a slightly unsettling clown on stilts is collecting tickets and smiling down at children. He and an abnormally muscular man in suspenders are guarding the open gate, the only visible entrance or exit in the portable fence surrounding the event. Phil i​​s granted entry without a second glance, heading into the big top to watch the performance.

He's arrived rather early, able to watch as spectators fill the stands. His proximity to the ground enables him a few peeks behind the curtains whenever someone walks past too fast behind them, and seconds before the show starts Phil sees the face of a young boy peek between the curtains, seeing his big brown eyes for only a moment before he disappears again. Then a drumroll begins, a spotlight falls on the center of the tent, and the boy strides out. He has on a too-large suit, complete with a top hat pulled over his shaggy brown curls, slightly ragged coattails, and black shoes shined within an inch of their life. He raises his arms to the surrounding crowd.

"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the show!" His voice rings around the tent from a portable headset, the microphone a black sphere near his mouth.

He's the ringleader, to Phil's surprise. He can't have been more than thirteen or fourteen though he looks much smaller, his baggy clothes doing more to extenuate his tiny arms and legs than to hide them. He's obviously talking from a script but he does rather well, only a few stumbles to his bright voice, every gesture large and sweeping for everyone to see. And the performances go without a hitch, with clowns and acrobats and little dogs doing tricks.

"Please welcome Pierre, our fearless lion tamer!"

A hush falls over the crowd as a genuine, larger than life lion walks out, led on a thick rope by a man Phil assumes is Pierre, a white tank-top tucked into his orange and red pinstripe pants. Spotlight hits the lion's face, and he growls.

"Pierre can't do this trick on his own." The ringmaster says, as Pierre curls his goatee with a spindly finger. "We will need a volunteer!"

Hesitant chatter breaks out, no one seemingly keen on getting too close to the beast, and Phil finds himself raising his hand. The ringleader meets his eye for a moment before waving him over. There's a smattering of applause as Phil walks out, a second spotlight following him.

"Our fearless volunteer will now place his head inside the lion's mouth!"

Phil didn't know that was what he'd agreed to, turning to the creature and being met with the large maw opening, it's teeth sharp and it's tongue very red. Obediently, Phil lowers his head, hot breath surrounding his face.

He feels the lion move before seeing it, ducking away, a loud snap and rumbling growl echoing throughout the tent as the lion's jaw closes fast, being yanked harshly up on its hind legs by the lion tamer. Phil stumbles back, his wrist grabbed tightly by the little ringleader, who tugs him into a bow. Stunned applause crashes over them, the lion being pulled back into submission as Phil glances over to the teenage boy in the coattails. He's surprised to see a huge, hand-shaped bruise wrapped around his tiny forearm as his sleeve falls back to lift Phil's arm into the air. He also can't help but notice how his smile, slightly gaunt upon closer inspection, doesn't reach his eyes at all as he thanks Phil and sends him back to his seat. It's concerning and distracting and Phil can't think of anything else, his mind still troubled on his walk back home. He shoves his hands into his pockets, freezing on the spot at the extra space for his fingers. His wallet is missing. He knows he had it upon entering the fairgrounds but that's as much as he can remember, turning tail and beginning to walk back. It has to be somewhere at the circus.

A few floodlights is all he has to see by as he approaches, night already heavily fallen. The gate is locked but that's barely a surprise, Phil walking around the perimeter before he finds a stretch of tent that's dark and on the outskirts, scaling the chain link and dropping down behind a set of barrels. He's about to move when something--someone, he realizes a second later--stumbles out of the tent nearby, falling into the dirt. The muscular gatekeeper he'd seen before follows out after, his footfalls heavy under his weight, fisting a meaty hand into the first person's shirt. He has to grab a large amount of the material, pulling the person up to their knees, and Phil finally sees his face. It's the tiny ringleader from the show.

"Th' hell wassat?" He says, shaking the boy. His voice is thick and sluggish, and he sounds drunk.

"I--" The boy begins, a 'smack!' ringing through the air and he's hit across the face.

"There was almost blood on our hands today becaussa you." The man growls, and Phil is reminded of the lion from earlier in the most horrible way.

"But that was Pierre, not--" The boy falls silent again, but not from being hit; he's caught Phil's eyes in the darkness, averting his gaze a second later. Phil knows he needs to do something, about to move when the boy is thrown back to the ground, the man turning away.

"Good fer nothin'." He grumbles, heading back to the tent he came from, his walk uneven from intoxication as he tromps away on his thick legs. The boy stays there in the dirt for a few minutes, his bangs obscuring his face as he lays on his side. Phil wants to go to him to help, but the boy is in plain view of the tent entrance, and the last thing he wants is to cause more trouble.

Thankfully, the boy does sit up, wiping furiously at his face with the back of his fists before moving over to Phil's hiding place.

"What are you doing here?" His eyes and nose are red and while he isn't crying anymore, he still looks scared. "If you're caught they'll kill you."

Phil doesn't know how real that threat actually is, but his wallet has all of his money and the key to his apartment, so there's no point in going back home without it. And he tells the boy so, who gives him a look before turning away.

"I'll help you, follow me."

They weave behind tents and through shadows to avoid being caught in the lights, and Phil can't help but feel that the boy has done this before. It's not until they reach the large tent where the show had taken place earlier that day that he relaxes, and Phil feels safe to speak.

"What's your name?" He asks as they walk towards the spectator stands. "I'm Phil."

"Daniel." The boy replies, glancing up at him for a moment.

"How old are you, Dan?"

This questioning look is held longer, but still Dan answers.

"Thirteen." He says, and Phil isn't surprised. "You look old."

"I'm seventeen." Phil tells him, stooping down to start looking under some seats. "I just graduated from high school."

He spots his wallet sitting nearly exactly he'd expected it to be, on the ground near where he'd been sitting. He grabs it, and as he straightens up he hears the unmistakable grumble of a hungry stomach. He knows the sound isn't him.

"You haven't eaten dinner yet?" He asks Dan. Dan wraps his little arms around his torso, avoiding Phil's eyes.

"I don't get food tonight, because the lion almost ate you." He says quietly. Phil's mouth opens in indignation at the unfairness of it all.

“Nobody is giving you dinner tonight? But you need to eat.” Dan is much tinier than he should be already; his shirt is an adult’s, dwarfing him, tucked into a pair of shorts that are cinched up so tightly that they’re bunched up on all sides. Dan doesn’t look at him, simply shrugging. Phil wishes he had anything to give Dan to eat.

“Where are your parents?” Phil finds himself asking. Dan just shakes his head.

“I live here.” He says.

"So why don't you leave?"

"Leave?" Dan echoes, his eyes going wide as he finally looks over.

"They're not feeding you, and I know they abuse you. I saw it." His eyes go back to the bruise on Dan's arm, the mystery of it now solved. Dan sees his gaze and does a motion that looks like an impulse, an attempt to tug his sleeve down over his hand, but the movement is futile; his shirt, stretched and worn, has short sleeves.

"I don't have anywhere to go." Dan finally says. "But you have your wallet now, so you should leave."

Phil wants to protest, or do something, but Dan just slips between the tent curtains and back out onto the fairgrounds and he has to be quiet. He's led to a stretch of fence more out of the way and optimal for climbing, Dan giving him a last look and disappearing into the darkness.

By the time Phil wakes up the next morning, knows he has to do something. He can’t just stand by and let the circus roll out of town with Dan in tow. He’s unsure of what plan he’s actually going to put into motion, but he mulls over a few options as he gets dressed. If Dan has any family, he should live with them, but Phil feels that he probably doesn’t, not if he’s living with a traveling circus troupe. Or he could take Dan to an orphanage, but the thought of not knowing what could happen to Dan yet again makes him uncomfortable. He’s leaning towards his last option, the one the most far-fetched and unrealistic. He thinks Dan could come live with him.

He knows he probably doesn't make enough money to support both himself and another person, and that his pathetic apartment isn't optimal for raising a kid, even if the kid is already in his teens, but he also knows that his twin-sized futon, lawn table and chairs, and reused plastic dishware is better than malnourishment and abuse. He packs a bag of snacks and clothes that don't fit him anymore and heads out, his resolve in his plan strengthened​.

He doesn't make it to the fairgrounds until noon, but the area is still closed to the public as the show doesn't start until evening. Thankfully there aren't many people milling around, Phil climbing the fence easily. It's that moment that he realizes he has no idea where to find Dan, eventually deciding to simply poke his head in a tent nearby and hope for the best.

Dan isn't in there, met instead with the sight of a single man sitting at a table. His back is to Phil, a sponge in hand and halfway through applying white face paint, bent nearly double in front of a small mirror. Phil's shadow alerts the man of his presence, but thankfully he doesn't turn around.

"The hell are you doing? Go and get ready." His voice is nasally and grating.

"I'm looking for Dan, do you know where he is?" Phil asks, hoping the man doesn't recognize the unfamiliarity of his voice.

"Still cleaning up after lunch, probably. What d'you need him for?"

The man begins to swivel in his chair so Phil ducks out, leaving before he's seen. He doesn't know when lunch is served either, but now he has something to look for instead of just ducking his head in every tent he comes across.

The smell of food helps, and before long Phil sees him, washing dishes in a trough-like metal bucket.

"Want some help?" Phil asks him, unable not to smile as Dan's eyes go wide. Dan however, doesn't smile back.

"Why are you here?" He asks again, but his voice isn't as hushed this time, much to Phil's relief.

"I brought you some things." Phil says, digging through his bag. "Some clothes, some food... It's not much, but I thought you might need it."

Dan's face is a mask of full surprise, dropping the last of the dishes on a towel in the grass and accepting the bag when Phil offers it. He looks at Phil questioningly, but doesn't ask anything.

"Let's go to my room." He says instead. "No one will look for us there."

Dan's room is less of a room and more of a cramped corner behind a curtain, the floor space just enough room to sleep. There's no mattress, or comforter, or anything like that, just a mess of thin blankets and old clothes strewn about the floor. Dan plops himself down in the middle of the mess, Phil doing the same and watching him rummage through what Phil brought. He holds up each piece of clothing to see how it fits, Phil noticing that many of them are too large.

"They're a bit big, sorry." He says, but Dan's enthusiasm doesn't fade in the slightest and Phil realizes that these clothes, despite being a few sizes too big, will still fit better than what Dan already owns, the holey adult-sized shirts and sweatpants cinched incredibly tightly around the waist that drag along the ground.

"Dan, I need to talk to you about something." Phil begins, having no idea how to proceed. Dan pulls himself from his exploration, meeting Phil's eyes.

"What?" He asks. There's a small bit of light in his eyes that Phil's never seen before, though he gets the feeling it's not from a lack of noticing.

"This is going to be strange, because we don't know each other well, and I know that, but... I can't leave you here like this."

Dan simply blinks at him.

"I think you should leave, and I want to help to get you out of here. To the police, or a relative, if there's someone you could live with." He feels there probably isn't, if Dan is here instead. He stops again, but Dan is still simply watching and listening, able to tell he isn't finished. "Or if you want, you could live with me. I have my own place, and it isn't much, but it isn't this." He gestures around. Dan's eyes fall to his hands in his lap, fingers curling around the pair of blue shorts he's holding.

"You can still keep those." Phil says quickly. "They were a gift, sort of. I don't need them anymore."

"I just... I can't go." Dan's voice is quiet. "I can't leave."

"And why not? Other people can learn your lines, or wash the dishes."

"He..." Dan trails off for a moment, Phil knowing he's probably referring to the man he'd seen throwing Dan around the day before, the man seemingly in charge. "I should be grateful. These people took me in when I didn't have anywhere to go. That makes them my family, right?"

These words sound like a regurgitation of things Dan has had said to him, possibly by the owner that throws him around, and it makes Phil’s blood boil.

"Nobody that hurts you is your family." He says vehemently. "Whether you’re related to them or not. That's not what family does."

Dan falls silent, his eyes still on his hands. They hear someone stumble in, Dan's head shooting up and his eyes widening as he places a finger over his lips, telling Phil to be quiet. Phil nods back.

"Danny boy!" Yells a gruff voice. "You in there?"

"Yes sir!" Dan yells back.

"Get your ass ready, we have a show tonight! And make sure you practice your damn lines this time."

"Yes sir."

The intruder leaves, Dan's chest falling.

"I really should get ready." He says, getting to his feet. Phil bites the inside of his cheek to keep himself from protesting, despite how much he wants to. This has to be Dan's decision.

"Well, just... Just think about it, okay?"

"We don't have a show tomorrow." Phil reaches up to pull back the curtain and make his exit, but Dan’s words stop him. "So if you wanted to... To visit me, or something, you could."

"Do you want me to?" Phil asks carefully.

"Yes."

"Okay, I will."

Dan finally looks at him, a small smile on his face.

"Okay. See you tomorrow, Phil."

Phil smiles back before stepping out, only one thought on his mind. I have to save this kid.

As he's walking out he passes by the circus owner. His fist clenches without him realizing but he doesn't dare swing; this man towers over him in height and brawn combined, and Phil isn't supposed to be here, anyway. His attempt to simply slink past the man doesn't work either though.

"Hey!" The man stops him, grabbing hard on his shoulder. When Phil looks over, the man's eyes are traveling over him, narrowed, the rest of his face bunched up in a way that suggested he was smelling something particularly foul. "Who the hell are you?"

"Nobody." Is all Phil can still think to say. The man shoves his chest, Phil stumbling back a few paces.

"Okay, smartass. Get the fuck off my property."

Dan meets Phil outside the fence the next day, a small ways down the road. He's wearing all new clothes and Phil is pleased to see that they at least fit him a bit better, but the comfort from that revelation is completely dampened by the cut Dan is sporting on his left cheekbone. It isn't deep, more of a scrape, and Dan tells him he got it from falling. There's a greenish purple bruise that's blossomed out from the ripped skin, and Phil can't help but wonder if Dan fell on his own. But Dan is smiling, so he doesn't ask.

"Where do you want to go?" Phil asks, and Dan just shrugs back as they start walking. Phil starts walking into the city, figuring he'll think of something when he gets there.

It's amusing in a sad way, how Dan looks around and points in wonder at the most mundane things, Phil realizing that while Dan has probably been to most of the country--if not the continent--with the traveling circus, he probably didn't see much outside fairground. It gives Phil a few ideas.

"I think we need milkshake​s." He tells Dan, leading the way to the newest fast food joint. The smell of the food is too enticing though, and the end up getting full meals and sitting inside. Dan's injured face and disheveled appearance gets them a lot of looks from a lot of people, and maybe it's the stares that has Dan reaching up to hold his hand as they exit with ice cream. Phil's​ already spent more than he should this week but he can't seem to help himself with Dan there, exiting a shop more than once with a few new knick-knacks in Dan's pockets. Phil keeps an eye on the time, and about a half hour before sunset they start heading back, Phil presuming that it would be easier to sneak back in near dark. He tries not to think about what they're returning to, but it becomes impossible as he watches the full, genuine smile that grew on Dan's face about an hour ago slowly wither. Then it dies completely, Dan stopping in his tracks, the slight tug on Phil's hand making him stop too.

"I don't want to go back." Dan says, his voice barely more than a whisper. "Leaving home is scary, but... I don't want to go back."

"You don't have to." Phil says, and suddenly he's scared too, scared of the responsibility he's giving himself. Scared of failing Dan. "You don't need to go back there ever again."

"I want to live with you."

Phil lets himself hear the words, lets them fully crash over him before kneeling down in front of Dan so he could properly look him in the eye.

"Are you sure?"

Dan's lip quivers--he looks as though he's about to cry--but he bites it, and his voice is steady when is answers.

"I am."

"Okay." Phil straightens up, and he can't help but smile. "Let's go."

But still Dan doesn't move, even when Phil tugs him in the other direction. Phil gives him a questioning look, and Dan looks apologetic in response.

"I'm sorry, but... The clothes you gave me. I want them."

"Couldn't​ that wait until tomorrow?" Phil doesn't want Dan going back; the owner will have doubtlessly have noticed his little ringleader's absence, and the possible repercussions scare Phil.

"We're packing up tomorrow and... And leaving." Dan explains. "This is really my last chance."

Phil looks down at Dan's hopeful face before sighing.

"Okay." He says. "Let's make it fast."

Dan gives him the tiniest of smiles, and they set off again towards the circus grounds. The sunset is ahead of them as they arrive, but it seems far off, dusk already settled in around them. They both scale the fence, Dan nimbler than Phil himself, but they've barely gotten their feet on the ground before a roaring growl reaches their ears.

"Where the fuck is that little shit?!"

"Run." Phil hisses, but Dan isn't moving. Phil can see his silhouette shaking, realizing he’s probably too afraid and doing the moving for him, grabbing Dan’s hand and breaking into a run. Phil doesn't know where he's going but thankfully the pull spurs Dan into action and he leads the way, his little legs moving so fast that Phil actually has a hard time keeping up.

They duck into Dan's room to find it thoroughly  torn apart. Dan runs around, gathering clothes in his arms, and as Phil finds the bag and holds it open, all he can think is that this isn't worth it at all.

"Okay." He closes the bag once Dan puts the last piece of clothing into it and loops it around the boy's neck. "We need to go."

Dan nods--his jaw is clenched, his eyes wide and scared, taking Phil's hand and exiting the tent. He goes out first and crashes into the owner, unable to stop in time, the collision knocking him off his feet. Phil catches him under the arms, looking up at the giant man. He looks back at Phil, his eyes narrowing as recognition crosses them.

"You!" He growls, jabbing Phil in the chest with an unsteady finger. "You're stealing 'im from me."

Dan scrambles a little to get his feet under him, but when he does he doesn't try to bolt like Phil wishes he would; he's paralyzed, staring up at the giant man breathing down at them.  He lunges forward and grabs a fist full of Dan's shirt, who begins whimpering out apologies.

"I oughta slap you silly, boy." He says, his voice dangerously low. "I oughta teach you a lesson, you ungrateful little tick."

"Let him go!" Phil yells, swinging his arm and hitting the man in the jaw. Pain shoots up his arm from his knuckles and he bites down a yell of agony. He can tell he's hurt himself more than the circus owner; he’s poked the bear with a stick, the man red faced and furious, his eyes flashing dangerously. He throws Dan aside, the boy landing heavily, sprawled in a heap in the grass. But he's out of the owner's grip now, and that's all Phil really cares about.

He has to duck quickly as the owner's fist flies towards his face, jumping aside. The man is strong, but all the muscle makes his movements slow. Phil is able to dodge him but not much else, hoping Dan will soon get up so they can make a break for it. A crowd has gathered, everyone peeking around tents and pretending they're not watching, making no attempts to intervene.

Phil decides he needs to help Dan to his feet, getting as close to the owner as he dares and jabbing two fingers towards his face. The man closes his eyes but Phil's fingers still meet their mark, scratching at his eyelids, and he howls like a wounded animal, lurching away. Phil, shocked to find blood on his hand as he pulls it back, tries to ignore that and runs over to Dan instead.

"Can you get up?"

"My ankle..." Dan starts, but a wild roar cuts him off, and Phil is hit squarely in the stomach, flying off his feet. He rolls on his side and wraps an arm around his torso, struggling to both breathe and to not throw up.

"I'll kill you, you fucker!" There's blood running down the side of his face from a cut under his eyebrow that Phil's nails must have made, his face having gone from red to purple in anger, his veins bulging. He lurches forward, and for a wild moment Phil thinks he's going to tackle him, but then  he crashes to the ground next to him instead, falling to his knees.

Dan's standing behind him, extremely pale and unsteady, a large wooden board falling from his hands. Phil doesn't waste any time waiting for the man to get up, grabbing the board from Dan's grip and smashing it into the back of the man's head. Phil swears he hears the man's nose crunch as he hits the dirt and thankfully he doesn't move to get up, writhing and cursing on the ground. Phil takes a full breath in, taking Dan's hand to get him towards the gate. Dan is hobbling, favoring his left ankle, but he's hobbling quickly.

"I hit him." Dan says. He sounds breathless, like he's on the urge of panicking, and Phil is reminded all over again just how young Dan is, how small he is and how innocent he's supposed to be, and feels a heavy rush of emotion. "The board I hit him in the knees with... I think it had a nail in it."

"Good." Phil says, trying to breathe himself. "How is your ankle? Are you okay?"

"I can walk, I think."

They're far enough away that Phil feels a little safer, slowing their pace to a more comfortable walk for Dan. Phil's mind is reeling, caught up in disbelief about what he'd just done, but when he thinks about it he finds no remorse or sympathy for the bloody, balding lump they'd left behind. He takes the bag from Dan to carry it himself, and Dan looks up at him.

"Where are we going?" He asks. Phil sighs, filling his lungs with the crisp autumn air and giving Dan a small smile.

"Home."

A light fall breeze comes in through the window, gently tossing the curtains and running nicely over Phil’s bare shoulders. His hand fumbles at the bedside table for a moment before finds his glasses with his fingers, picking them up and putting them on. The movement causes the blankets to stir though, and he hears a slight sigh from his left, glancing over at the man next to him and unable not to smile.

Dan is waking up, the late morning sunlight hitting his face and making him look wonderful. He catches Phil staring, smiling a little bit before rolling to press his face into Phil’s neck and wrap an arm around him.

“Stop looking at me like that.”

“I can’t help it.” Phil confesses, laughing a little. He feels Dan smile wider, and there’s a comfortable silence, Dan burrowing a little deeper into the blankets.

“I love sleeping on a mattress.” He says, Phil looking down at him in surprise.

“It’s been awhile since you’ve told me that.” He remarks, wondering if he should worry. The existence of a mattress, and the ability to sleep on one was something Dan thoroughly enjoyed when he first came to live with Phil, a significant improvement over the pile of clothes on the ground he had in his tent. As he’d grown though, the novelty had worn off. They’d both grown, lived and worked and flourished, and somewhere along the line, years later, they realized they also had fallen in love. “Are you okay?”

“Me?” Dan asks, lifting his head. His hair is everywhere, obscuring his face, Phil reaching down to fix it. “Yeah. I’m just… I don’t know. Thinking about stuff this morning.”

“A dream?” Usually, when Dan’s thinking back on his childhood, it’s because of some nightmare. Dan frowns, shaking his head.

“No, nothing like that. I’m just…” He presses a kiss to the closest part of Phil he can reach, the skin on his neck, right under his chin. His voice is soft. “Thanks for saving my life.”

“You don’t need to thank me.”

“I know.”

“So how many times do I need to tell you until you believe it?” Dan’s brown eyes find his and he laughs a little, looking slightly abashed, Phil leaning in to give him a kiss. “I’m just glad I found you, Dan.”

“Yeah.” Dan sighs, collapsing back onto the pillows and Phil watches him, watches his gaze on the leaves falling outside. “I’m glad you did too.”

I just want to show you what I know // and catch you when the current lets you go 'Cause it's a long, long, long way down

[hellohollydolly]

20 Things To Love About Our Albert Lea Community

im·prove·ment / noun.  The action of improving or being improved.

1. We try hard, & we are persistent a bunch. We had the old Wal-Mart sit vacant for just a “few” years. Many whispers of new tenants floated around over time, & then one fine day last year, a 12 year lease was signed to Bomgaars. Thanks to efforts of Hoffman, ALEDA & I’m certain many other small & large working parts, shit got done, together. 2. The movement isn’t like wild fire, it’s more methodical. Wind Down Wednesday came to life about 5 years ago. Since then, it has grown & become a Summer event that’s marked on everyone’s calendar. It has spurred other events downtown, & continues to thrive. By hands, brains, time, & work of Albert Leans. Tami, Susie & everyone on deck thru the years, continue to break their backs on events like WDW because seeing Albert Lea thrive fills their hearts. When you really care, you take an active role.

3. Our restaurants are only as successful as their patrons make them, & we’ve got some awesome ones. Places like B&B, The Elbow Room, Taco King, 112 on Broadway, AND Crescendos have almost cult followings, I know this, because I “drink the kool-aid” from all of these places. These owners took chances on Albert Lea, took the leap, dove into OUR community head & heart first. In the first year of a restaurant business, they are more then 90% likely to fail. We know what we like, be it pancakes, tacos, or seared tuna, & thankfully they are just up or down the street! 4. A dog park! A splash pad! Holy crap! Sometimes the movement IS like wildfire. Sometimes people saddle up, grab the reigns & plow thru adversity for the better of the community. Sheila & others did this because our four legged pals needed to have a park for us to enjoy with them too! (In case you haven’t counted yourself, I think we are over 40 park/rec areas just in town!) And a freaking splash pad just around the corner for Summer?! The committee itself is filled with DOERS, but the outpouring of outside support has been an awesome example of what coming together can accomplish! I mean, there’s those tshirts & sweatshirts, that I know you either have a few of, or want a few of. And then there was a dunk tank, a 5k, & countless BIG donations. These things are perfect examples of needs being met. 5. LAKES! Please direct all excitement for our improvements in our local waterways to the fine folks down at the Shell Rock RWD, also, Laura & her crew with the Lakes Foundation. They are in the trenches, fighting for our water, YOUR water. 6. Oh, do you need something fun to do on the lake? The Boathouse has you covered! Canoes, kayaks, paddle boards for the Summer, & snow shoes in the Winter. Archery too! Scott has a passion for bringing new, different, & fun things into our hands. Could you imagine if everyone took that sort of initiative? In case all of those things listed above aren’t for you, there’s still ice skating, rock climbing, pickle ball, swimming, horse shoes, biking, tennis, fishing, ok, ok, I’ll stop...geocaching, roller blading, boating... you know, things you have to DO, actively. 7. There’s something going on every day, you just have to look. I’ve found the search for activities has actually gained me some pretty awesome friends, as well as activities. Did you know you can snag a game night weekly & monthly downtown at The Interchange & the Legion? Jenni always has her hands working on something for the kiddos thru the city, the theatre continues to expand it’s calendar beyond the great ACT performances, & volunteerism is a two way benefit, you could always try that, call Ann! 8. Our arts community is growing! Obviously the apple of my eye, the arts, are coming along beautifully! The feedback I get from families at my collective creative arts space (Meraki, yes that plug just happened), is a feverish “MORE”. Our families are flourishing, whether it’s guitar lessons, dance lessons (young & old), or our newly added cartooning courses. Our families did not just say thanks, they are asking for more. They are hungry, & this fuels my passion for fulfilling that need. Join me, in building our arts community. It’s in need of unity, but more so, it needs you. 9. Our streets are pretty! I’ve seen & heard the effort that has gone into making our downtown the beauty that it’s becoming. Through oppositions, & the normal set of barriers that change brings, it continues to get more friendly & glorious, from outdoor seating options at the coffee shop, Legion & 112, to all the blooming pots & colorful banners! It’s in the details, & sometimes we don’t appreciate how much time & money the little stuff takes! 10. Rock hunting; it’s a real thing Kari & Dori graced our community with this great, active, family AND budget friendly game! Anytime I see a painted rock hidden next to my studio door or by our flower pot, I smile. How many times has AL Rocks brought a little joy into your day? Probably more then you give recognition to! They saw a way to share joy & leaped at the opportunity to give it wings! 11. We’ve got a ton of really great community service peoples. You know at least 5 men & women that serve as a fireman, first responder, nurse, dispatcher, or policeman. They are real people, involved in countless other ways, besides the obvious, to help our community. Knowing that someone is just around the corner, any corner, willing to help with knowledge & heart, puts us all at ease.  

12. Shred at the Skatepark I couldn’t find the birthdate of the skatepark, but over 10 years is a certainty. Anytime I drive or walk by the beach, there’s more action at the skatepark! This gives a place for our youngsters (how freaking old am I, that I’m using that word?!) to go and feel free. Not only a positive for the kids, but for everyone as they’re not tempted to trespass on other areas of town to get some boarding in. 13. Shop Local Yes, we don’t have the stores of Burnsville Center, BUT we do have fabulous clothing retailers that NO ONE else has, like Country Soule, Between Friends, & BG Loft. Toys R Us doesn’t hold a candle to the personal service Tami & her dolls will give you at Celebrations. The list goes on; Pet Authority knows it’s customers by name, The Color Wheel is filled with local artisan gifts & beautiful decor, and Junction Market allows us to pick up all our Pinterest-loving-ideas, without having to actually dip a brush in paint. 14. Our City wants feedback. It seems our city officials always have an ear to the ground, which is not as common as you’d think in other cities. They hold Mayor Mondays, & send out newsletters with events concerning citizens on a variety of levels, of the serious kind, or pleasure. You can even watch the council meetings on youtube from the comforts of your couch, if you can’t make the meetings in person. They care for their business owners, knowing that only together, can we do great things. 15. Everyone knows you, and that’s a good thing. I sometimes scurry out to Walmart or HyVee looking like quite the disheveled un-showered human, and ALWAYS run into at least 3 people I know. But I find comfort in that. There’s no cloak of mystery here, people I sit in professional meetings with during the week, are the same people I run into at Harold’s having a few beers on a Friday night. You can be real. People here really get to be themselves, & you’re never really alone. 16. Evolution of the mall. Remember not that long ago when Skyline was the dead zone for retail space? And now, it’s pretty cooking!? Yes, Northbridge has seen brighter days, but malls in general are having to completely evolve in order to make it “work”. I have no fear that over the next 10 years, it will get it’s groove back into something better then before. Showing patronage to the current stores doesn’t hurt either, so go grab a tan, get your nails done, then sip a margarita (or two), & catch something on the big screen! I feel like that could be a fun afternoon, add that to the activities list! 17. Area small towns, call this their town too I grew up in Alden, and I know anyone from Glenville, Geneva, Hartland, etc. will all say the same thing when you’re 50 miles from home and asked “where are you from”, response: “Albert Lea”. I mean, it’s where we get groceries, where we come to get our hair done, when we’re sick we come for help, it’s all of ours. That’s what community means.

18. 30 under 40 Our community is at the cusp of something pretty awesome right now, the next generation is stepping up, planting roots, investing in us. I know this, because my husband & I fall into this category, and so do a lot of our friends. While there will always be people, young AND old, that will shit on the work of others, we’ll still be here working our tales off for the better of the world. Millennials aren’t so bad, neither are the Generations Xers, or Baby-Boomers, there’s just rotten eggs in any age group. It’s our job to put our heads down, & keep putting in the work, together.

19. Perspective can alter the course of everything. While in the last few years I’ve found myself back on this soap box, my guilt is lessening each time I start to type or speak. No I don’t think it’s necessary to rebuttal in the effort I have here, every single time, but I do think the opposition to Albert Lea shaming needs to be felt at every negative word or comment made. Being silent, when someone is being bullied, has equal the damage. Stand up. Be proud. Make your voice be heard. Do great things here.

20. If you leave, you’ll most likely be back....I did. I graduated high school, was around for a year or so, and then took off to the cities. I stayed up there for about 3 years. I loved my job, but in the end, I couldn’t find a decent space for myself & my Louie dog to stay, so I came back. I was uncertain how I felt about it, but I did know, I always called it “Home”. And it continues to feel more like mine, each day I’m here. Each time I glance out my office window and see families walking the lake, or neighbors going to grab a bite to eat on their lunch break together. As the wings of Meraki catch flight, I realize that in order for it to be Meraki, it needed to be here. This is home. I chose it, & in return, it chose me.

[beast-bae]

Sterek Fic Rec (last updated 21.2.17)

Stiles is used to selling himself to make ends meet. But it's getting harder to keep those ends meeting, and there's only so much of Stiles to go around. Until a too-fancy car shows up in his neighborhood, and he meets Derek Hale.All Derek wants is Stiles's time, someone to stay on his arm for events and smile for the cameras. It's the easiest job Stiles has ever had, the best-paying one he's ever had, and he's more than happy to sign up.Derek is everything and nothing Stiles expects him to be, with his tailored suits, sharp mind and his quiet way of caring. But it's just a job and Stiles never meant to fall in love.Hey :) because I’m always searching for new sterek fanfics on tumblr and I love seeing Sterek Fic Recs  I decited to make a post with all of my favourite (can I get this word even bigger? bc I love those fics to death!) Sterek fanfics. 

I will continue updating it ;) and I would really appreciate it if you could send me links to your favourite Sterek ffs <3 

All of them are on Ao3! Also all of them are complete (except for Home by  TheTypewriterGirl but there is only one chapter missing )!!

Also there is no specific order!

Also I try to find the authors on tumblr so you can visit them <3

This is gonna be a LOOooOOoONG post

Have fun reading :)

________________

Prince Among Wolves by  tylerfucklin (Deshonanana) | 101k, Explict | kid fic |

Looking for full day/evening sitter. 2 twin boys age 4. Must have exp. w/werewolves. Must be human. No pedophiles. No teenage girls. Pay negotiable. 

Home by  TheTypewriterGirl  | 160k, not finished yet 17/18!! |  @stiles-and-the-sourwolf |

January seventh. Seven days since the start of 2015, and seven days since his father’s death.

The bastard, he thinks bitterly. The past year Derek Hale had made it blatantly obvious that he hated his scrawny guts, taking every given opportunity to shove him up against a wall, growl threats in his ears and roll his eyes whenever he stepped into the room, muttering some snide comment about how spastic or idiotic he was.

So why did he fucking volunteer to take him in?

Move a Mountain by  ZainClaw | 69k, Explict | road trip/biker fic | @zainclaw |

Stiles goes camping with his friends in New Mexico after graduation where they befriend a biker gang led by Derek: a guy whom Stiles can’t decide if he will be either relieved or devastated to never see again once their week is up.

my wings a hurricane by  kellifer_fic | 20k | dracon fic | @kellifer-k |

Stiles had been like any other kid growing up in the era of dragons. He'd watched the cartoons, the news stories, had the lunch box. When his screening at Beacon Hills High had come up negative, he'd been disappointed but unsurprised. His positive results were returned three years too late for it to be in any way convenient or cool.

Or, the one where they ride dragons.

Fly a Little Faster by mirrorkill | 32k | time travel fic | @mirrorkill |

Everyone knows when you go back in time, you shouldn't step on an ant, just in case you accidentally kill your own grandparent or something. But what happens when you go back in time and, uh, accidentally interrupt the one event that apparently made the Grumpiest Alpha in Town into a ball of mindless manpain?

Well, if Marty McFly can do it, so can Stiles Stilinski. All he has to do is get Derek and Paige to fall in love before he gets pulled back to his own time. And before he makes anything worse. That's easy as pie, right? Right?

Sweeter Than a Cherry Pie by  kitsunequeen | 5k | pretend relationship | @stilesbansheequeen |

When Cora asks Stiles to be her pretend boyfriend for a New Year's family dinner, he figures he can do a friend a favor. When he hooks up with an incredible guy, Derek, the night before, only to wake up alone in the morning, he supposes he can handle that too. But when he shows up at Cora's house and Derek turns out to be her brother, well... that's a bit of a bigger problem.

Hale of a time by  jamesm97 | 3k | halebait!stiles | 

Stiles knows that his werewolf family are acting weird around him, not that that's strange they are werewolves after all but they don't know that he knows they are. They seem to be getting progressively touchy feely as his 16th birthday approaches.

HALEBAIT! STILES STILINSKI - where all the Hales are attracted to Stiles, but only one of them is insanely in love & lust with him

Settle down by  wearing_tearing, whatthehale | 153k, Explict | mpreg!!| @hoechliniseverything ( whatthehale) @dylansneck (wearing_tearing) |

Stiles is a struggling author barely making ends meet.

Derek is a successful architect whose biological clock is ticking.

Enter a surrogacy agency, two packs, and a particularly sticky and toe curling heat week and you get a match made in heaven.

Stilinski’s Home for Wayward Wolves by  owlpostagain | 35k | 

“At least your puppies knock first,” Stiles snorts. “Here I thought their alpha raised them to be well-mannered.” 



“There’s a sign,” Derek responds stiffly. 



Stiles, whose curiosity outweighs even his hardest of grudges, abandons his chilly façade of nonchalance in a heartbeat. He jumps right up and all but pushes Derek out of the way in his effort to get to the window, and sure enough when he leans outside there’s a laminated strip of cardstock duct taped to the vinyl siding: 



DON’T FORGET TO KNOCK Stiles gets cranky when we scare him

---

Or, in which Stiles Stilinski moves to Beacon Hills for his junior year of high school and accidentally adopts a pack of teenage werewolves.

I Was Present While You Were Unconscious by  CharWright5 | 19k, Mature | @kitstiles |

Stiles had often thought about how he'd meet his soul mate, the literal muscular man of his dreams. He just didn't ever imagine finding him on Facebook where a friend had shared a news article about a werewolf John Doe in a coma after a car wreck four hours out of town. And he also didn't expect to bond and fall in love with the guy's family before ever saying two words to him out loud.

But Not With Haste by  uraneia | 21k, Explict | x-man AU |

It's been years since Derek escaped from the hunters who killed his family and bound him in his human form. He travels solo, never staying in one place, keeping under the radar--until a skinny, smart-mouthed kid stows away in the back of his truck.

Four months ago Stiles's first kiss put his best friend in a coma. His dad gave him a couple hundred bucks and a hug and told him to run. By the time Stiles witnesses the cage fighter known as Wolverine take out a shotgun and its wielder with his bare hands, he's got a plan. He knows there's a school in New York for kids like him. All he has to do is get there.

OR, in which Derek is the werewolf version of Wolverine and Stiles is Rogue and the plot of X-Men progresses accordingly, with a few notable deviations.

Cornerstone by  Vendelin | 84k, Explict | @ljummen |

Suffering from PTSD, ex-Marine Derek Hale moves back to Beacon Hills to open a bookshop and find a calmer life. That’s where he meets Stiles, completely by accident. Stiles is talkative, charming and curious. Somehow, despite the fact that he’s blind, he’s able to read Derek like no one else.

just to know your name by  bibliosexual | 3k | @bibliosexxual |

They're about fifteen minutes into the Skype call on Tuesday night when this guy wanders straight out of one of Derek’s wet dreams and into the frame, wearing nothing but black boxer briefs and a tight grey Guns N’ Roses tee. He’s lithely muscled, with a cute upturned nose and some of the most beautiful bone structure Derek has ever seen. Derek can see his nipples through his shirt. He feels all the blood in his body rushing to his dick.

“There should be a note about that on page nineteen,” Scott is saying, distantly, while Mystery Guy yawns adorably, nose scrunching, and runs a hand through his messy hair. He looks like he’s totally oblivious to Scott’s webcam, or to Scott. He looks like he just woke up. He looks like something out of an underwear ad, or softcore porn.

Mystery Guy bends down, thigh muscles flexing, and starts digging through Scott’s dresser drawers for a pair of sweatpants. Scott doesn’t ever turn around. He just keeps talking about… something. Something unimportant.

Mystery Guy has a mole high up on the back of his right thigh and Derek wants to lick it.

Bite Down Hard by  KuriKuri | 26k, Explict | @authorkurikuri

For a moment, Derek can’t breathe.Because moles aren’t the only thing marring the pale skin of Stiles’ neck. Oh no, that’s –– that’s a bond bite. A bond bite which Stiles definitely did not have yesterday, and which appears to have roughly the same dimensions as Derek’s own mouth.Shit.

(Or: In which Secret Service Agent Derek Hale accidentally gets bonded to First Son Stiles Stilinski. Oops.)

Tangled Up In You by  Morgana, Winchesterek | 105k, Explict | BDSM! | @sterekbros

Something is missing from Stiles’ sex life. Maybe it’s the fact that none of his partners share any of his kinks. While doing laundry over Thanksgiving break at Berkeley, Scott finds a flyer adverting, “WALK ON THE WILD SIDE! LET US TAKE YOU INTO THE DARKNESS AND BRING YOU SAFELY OUT AGAIN! EXPERIENCE PLEASURE AND PAIN AT THE HANDS OF ONE OF OUR EXPERIENCED, DISCREET PROFESSIONALS.” Stiles thinks it’s his kinda thing, but doesn’t have the money to pay for a session. Scott offers, only if Stiles refrains from telling him all about his kinky needs, so Stiles agrees. Enter Derek Hale, professional dominant. Stiles has his first session with Derek and can’t get enough (plus, Derek is HOT and Stiles just wants him all for himself).

It’s a Schlong Story by  floatingstark | 33k, Explict | ex-porn star Derek | 

"Do you like him?"

"Of course I do, he’s great!"

"Then what is the fucking problem?"

"My dick!"

-or-

Ex-Porn Star Derek Hale has a lot of issues but Ice Cream Parlor Owner Stiles Stilinski is not one of them.

I Might Be A Fool by  prettylittlementirosa | 35k, Explict| College AU |  @bisexualbcky

The thing about Stiles, though, is that for him, turned on and angry are not mutually exclusive feelings. He may be painfully hard but that doesn’t mean he’s not also ready to strangle Derek for having the audacity to act like this is something that’s happening to him, not something that is almost entirely his fault. So when Derek let’s out what must be his hundredth long-suffering sigh, Stiles snaps.

(or the one that was supposed to be a GRΣΣK AU but is mostly just a study in the gratuitous and inconsistent use of punctuation)

Expiration Dates by  KaliopeShipsIt | 227k, Mature | mpreg! | @kaliopeshipsit 

When 13-year old orphaned Derek Hale tests positive as a male carrier, his newly appointed guardian and uncle Peter uses his influence to make the test result go away, aware that in their deeply carrier-phobic society his nephew’s status could prove to be the downfall of the family company.

16 years later Derek is pressured into firing eight months-pregnant Danny Mahealani, creating a publicity scandal that, as the Equal Rights for Carriers movement gains more and more ground, results in an unprecedented media outrage targeted towards Hale & Argent Publishers.

A very reluctant Derek finds himself forced into defending his company’s prejudiced views on national television, facing off in heated debates against Stiles Stilinski, a guy he happened to have a one-night stand with months ago and has been pining over ever since. Stiles is a disgruntled former Hale & Argent employee, a staunch supporter of the ERC movement, he hates everything Derek stands for … and, courtesy of an expired condom, he’s also, unknowingly, the father of the child Derek wasn’t even aware he could carry in the first place.

Between Dusk and Dawn by  impalagirl, wilddragonflying | 19k, Mature| vampire fic | 

He's in the middle of a crowded bar when he smells it. For the first time in fifty years, Stiles Stilinski's mouth begins to water, and he's suddenly on high alert, twisting in his seat to scan the room with sharp eyes. Of course, it doesn't take long to spot him. He's as gorgeous as ever, tall and broad with dark hair and light eyes. He's wearing glasses this time, and damn, he looks good with a beard. Stiles had almost forgotten that; it's been so long since he's seen him with more than yesterday's stubble.

Marks and Mics by  DLanaDHZ | 70k, Mature | Soulmate AU | @dlanadhz

Hale siblings Derek and Laura have been hired to run security for Stiles Stilinski's music tour. Business as usual, except someone is trying really hard to prove they're incapable and hurt Stiles. Derek finds himself curious about Stiles' bitter attitude and a strange illness that plagues the singer. And on top of that, Derek's soulmate remains elusive.

I Hunt For You With Bloody Feet by CharWright5 | 200k, Explict | SoulmateAU Stillinski Twins | @kitstiles

“Mates don't always mean happy ever after.”

When twenty-year-old born omega werewolf Stiles Stilinski received that cryptic email from his twin brother—who'd been missing for two years exactly—in a language the two of them had made up, his drive to find Stuart is doubled. The search leads him to Oak Creek, the most secured and heavily fortified city in all of California, where he finds that not only is his brother dead, but also the literal alpha of his Dreams in Derek Hale—who just happens to be his twin's Mate and the main suspect in Stiles' eyes. Despite an agreement to fight mutual feelings, the two are still drawn to each other as they try to solve the case themselves, uncovering a plot that goes deeper than the murder of just one wolf.

Hidden Omega by  Akinasky | 107k, Explict | College fic | 

As Stiles leaves for college, he must hide who he really is and then he meets his roommate and likes him ... a lot only there is no chance for him to fill the needs that Stiles has as an Omega. Then he also finds his Alpha, Derek Hale (of course) and they all struggle to find their way and learning more about the special aspects of being an Omega and trying to have a unique relationship that will never be typical especially with Stiles, pushing and bossy Stiles as the Omega.

Fucked Up Like You by  damnfancyscotch | 38k | @damnfancyscotch

The boy was dirty. Very dirty. Most likely from the trap he’d been found in, the leg snare Derek figured, even though Peter hadn’t mentioned what type of trap it was. Mud dried and flaked off in patches on his left forearm, caked into the front of his sleeveless rough-hewn tunic and threadbare pants, up from his bare feet all the way to his knees, a dark streak painting the right side of his neck and continuing up into his clumsily cut brown hair - clearly he’d done it himself with a knife and perhaps no reflective surface, though judging by his appearance, a pond or puddle could have done just fine for him. Derek realized a lot of the spots he assumed to be mud were actually moles that dotted all along the boy’s skin.

Derek watched as the boy studied him back in silence, sitting with his arms wrapped tightly around himself. He stared hard at the crescent-shaped insignia picked out in silver and green sewn onto the dark gray fabric over Derek’s heart, a slight frown wrinkling his brow. The boy had to know about the Hales if he was part of the Argent pack.

“What’s your name?”

“St… Stiles.”

I Could Be Long Gone by  idratherwrite | 26k, Explict | A/B/O-Dynamics | @ashleighblogs

Humans alphas and betas are used to treating human omegas like objects. Stiles and his father have managed to hide for years the fact that Stiles is an omega. When Stiles arrives at Beacon Hills he meets one Scott McCall and his friends and family, who are hiding an even bigger secret.

It's almost everything that Stiles wants.

Baking My Way Into Your Heart by theSilence | 178k, Mature | College AU | @effinlemon |

Derek is an uptight college student, all work and no play. His carefully scheduled life is thrown kilter when his regular barista is replaced with someone new.

A Princely Claim by  kaistrex (weishen) | 40k, Explict | Royal Stiles | @kaistrex

In a world where werewolves die if they’re unable to Claim their mate and to refuse them is classed as murder, Alpha Derek Hale makes his very public Claim for Crown Prince Stiles of Beacon. The Royal Family are left with no choice but to accept, no matter the Prince’s imminent marriage to Princess Lydia of Kanima, to whom he’s been betrothed since birth. After having already faced the future of one loveless marriage, Prince Stiles is determined to make things with Derek work.

Kaleidoscope by  Vendelin | 54k, Explict | @ljummen

Stiles spends a year before college working at the all-night coffee shop in town. It's nice and quiet, until one dark and brooding Derek starts coming in every morning, ordering coffee so strong that it should not be fit for human consumption. Ever. Stiles tries not to be affected by the mystery guy, but it's not like anything else happens around here, so really, what did you expect? And when he's already in too deep, he realises he might even be in way over his head...

Play Crack the Sky by  WeAreTheCyclones | 122k, Mature | Rock Band AU | @wearethecyclones

Excerpt from “Hale Pulls the Plug on the Future of Rock,” Rolling Stone, Issue 1203 – Oct. 2014 “Fans and music industry vets alike are left reeling in the wake of bassist Derek Hale’s sudden departure from Smokes for Harris. At a time when the foursome from Beacon Hills, California seems to be on the cusp of rock superstardom after just one double platinum record, Smokes has everything to lose.”

Excerpt from “Smokes for Harris: Gladiator,” SPIN.com – Feb. 2015 “Smokes for Harris gives in a little to the pop punk of yesteryear in their sophomore effort, but rather than pandering to fans of a lost era they elevate the genre in a way that hasn’t been seen in quite some time. Frontman Stiles Stilinski works double duty as singer and primary songwriter and proves that he can handle the task even without former bassist Derek Hale."

Grey Rainbow by  LoveActually_rps | 13k, Mature | @loveactually-rps

“Stiles?” Derek glanced at Stiles’ sleeping form. He didn’t even twitch. Derek continued. “If we…” his lips curved in a fond smile, fingers moving to smooth the creases of Stiles’ eyebrows, his voice coming as whisper. “... as in, you and me - If we get a chance someday… any day, to be together, y’know? I wouldn't mind you wooing me with flowers and all that cliched romantic shit. And you can even flirt with me. I approve.” He gazed at Stiles’ calm face for a long while before drifting off into quiet slumber with the sound of Stiles’ soft snoring in the background.

[aka, after pinning for his best friend for four years, Derek learns his teenage crush is easy, but his life isn’t]

Animal Instincts by BlueRunawayMoon | 262k, Explict | 2nd part is NOT FINISHED | @

Things are not going well for Stiles. Not only is he drifting from the pack, but he cant sleep and hardly eats, and its never been more clear to him that being a human leaves him at a major disadvantage. As if things weren't bad enough, he and Malia are on the rocks, and then there is the fact that Derek wants to kill him, of course. Derek, who he dreams about every night. Derek, who is losing control of his inner wolf, when said wolf seems to want Stiles dead.

But because Stiles is the universe's bitch, a new, terrifying and seemingly unbeatable monster arrives in Beacon Hills, and the pack have no idea how to stop it. When people start going crazy and attacking others, the Pack learn the creature is involved somehow. Now, with Stiles life in jeopardy, they must find a way to cure him before its too late.

Slow burn with lots of sexual tension and build up.

*There is a Stiles/Original Character pair up, but end game is Sterek. Pinky promise :) *

Strong Alpha, Strong Pups by  Snare | 7k, Explict | A/B/O -Dynamics | @4fuxake​

Omegas are weak. Stiles is an Omega, but Stiles has magic. Stiles is strong.

Stiles is strong, so Alpha needs to be stronger. Strong Alpha, strong pups.

Stripped & Polished by  Morgana, Winchesterek | 77k, Explict | 

Stiles is 17 and he’s sick of being a virgin. The last two and a half years of trying to get laid by every guy in the school (both straight and gay) haven’t worked out and the time he came onto his long time crush Jackson Whittemore blew up in his face. That was it. He was going to go out to a club and find someone to fuck him and they would be just as good as anyone else he was trying to have sex with. He goes to Jungle to scope out his prospects.

Just to See You Again by  MellytheHun | 15k, Explict | @loserchildhotpants​ 

A sterek college!AU where writing student Stiles specializes in love letters, runs a blog about it and can be commissioned to write love letters on behalf of lovers who are at a loss for words.

He makes some cash, he’s good at what he does (especially when he gets to be a little more explicit in his letters), it pays for his textbooks and that’s all he’s really looking for and life is fine. That is, until someone anonymously commissions him to write a love letter to mathematics student, Derek Hale.

Reach Out by  weathervaanes | 20k, Explict | @weathervaanes

Or, In Which Stiles Falls in Love Twice...With the Same Person

-0-

Stiles sees the flyer on his very last day at Beacon Hills High School. It’s hanging, unassuming, in the hall near the front entrance along with bulletins and other flyers, advertisements, posters for free student concerts, but the fact that the word “sex” is written in a font two times larger than the rest of the page catches his attention.

It’s an advice hotline for a whole range of things, from teenage angst to how to deal with your parents telling you you’re adopted and a whole mess in the middle. Stiles thinks it’s funny, though, that they offer advice on sexuality and sex education. It makes sense on the one hand, since high school sex ed does jack shit for actual learning, but anyone who really wants to know stuff has an infinite source of knowledge right on their phone—the internet.

So it starts off as a joke.

What I Did On My Summer Vacation by  grimm | 118k, Explict | @coyotoqueens

There's something weird about Beacon Hills that Stiles can't quite put his finger on. The way everyone in town knows his name the day he arrives. The way they insist the melancholic howling that echoes through the forest every night is just a dog. The way his dad denies getting a dog, even though Stiles comes home to find one sprawled across his bed, some big black thing whose eyes gleam red in the right light. The way that massive oak tree out in the woods vibrates under his touch, pulsing with sickly life.

There's something weird going on in this town, and Stiles is determined to get to the bottom of it.

One life stand by  Vendelin | 84k, Explict | @ljummen

Stiles is used to selling himself to make ends meet. But it's getting harder to keep those ends meeting, and there's only so much of Stiles to go around. Until a too-fancy car shows up in his neighborhood, and he meets Derek Hale.

All Derek wants is Stiles's time, someone to stay on his arm for events and smile for the cameras. It's the easiest job Stiles has ever had, the best-paying one he's ever had, and he's more than happy to sign up.

Derek is everything and nothing Stiles expects him to be, with his tailored suits, sharp mind and his quiet way of caring. But it's just a job and Stiles never meant to fall in love.

Can’t rely on me by  Littleredridinghunter | 116k | 

Set at the end of season 2, Gerard beats Stiles up, but it's a lot worse than anyone knows.

The pack let him down, that's not really a surprise lately.

When Danny finds Stiles nearly bleeding to death the next day it's the start of a beautiful friendship.

Can the pack make amends before it's too late? Will Stiles ever forgive them for not being there for him when he needed them the most?