#just stood here for so long trying to caption this

[ddeongies]

people died

[sofiawritesstuff]

PLATONIC

part 9

summary: When Lando's "playboy" image is setting a bad reputation for him. He's turns to the person he trust most in this world for help.

pairing: landonorris x bestfriend!reader

warnings: suggestive

part 8

IT'S HERE!!! I apologise for the lack of uploads, I was in Spain and visited family in Italy, my car broke down and the plane was delayed. I was then in work for 5 day straight and I'm in for a further two nights too. No more excuses I will be back more consistently.

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

You with your arm wrapped around Lando's waited at baggage claim at the airport. While he called his brother updating him on how long the two of you would be, you decided to go onto the F1 gossip page.

f1gossippage

f1gossippage Lando already enjoying his week off with girlfriend Y/N L/N. They were spotted this morning at the airport and appeared to be heading back home to the UK. Y/N also posted a picture with her holding a man's hand with the caption "home for the week".

-

"Well we've made it to the gossip pages again, a fan must have took a photo of us at the airport" you show Lando your phone, he looks down and your phone, humming kissing the top of your head.

As the two of you waited for your luggage to appear on the carousel, Lando tried to wake himself up by looking as the gossip pages "Cute picture of us though"

"At least Zak will be happy" you shrug "This is our week, let's not think about him. We will spend the night at Max's apartment, you will go to your meeting, I will pick you up and we will head to my parents. Just us, no Zak"

The noise of the carousel drew your attention to the suitcases arriving, luckily for both of you, your suitcases were the first ones out. You watched as Lando effortlessly lifted both cases off and nod towards the exit.

"Don't worry, I'll take it" he tells you as you go to take your case from him "Thank you, is Oliver outside?" you asked "Mhm, he has the car parked right outside"

The two of you walked out of the airport you saw Oliver stood outside the car "Ollie!" you smile running towards him "Hi sis, how are you" he smiles, hugging you tightly "I'm good how are you, how are my girls?"

"We're all good, the girls are desperate to see you and their Uncle Lala" he teases Lando ruffling his hair "Get off" Lando laughs hugging his brother

"You two have a lot to answer for by the way, Mum has seen the photos and I think her heart could have exploded with how excited she was that you two were finally together" Olivier says putting thr cases in the car

You felt your heart drop, Lando's mother had been like a mother to you for as long as you could remember, someone who had been longing for you and Lando to get together.

You and Lando looked at each other, frowns on both your faces "What?" Olivier questions looking between the you "Uhm" Lando starts "Listen, we're planning to go to Mum's and Dad's tomorrow night. We need to talk to everyone about what's been going on. Can you bring Savannah?"

"Okay, I have just felt my heart fall to my stomach. What's been going on?" he asks getting into the car "We will explain everything tomorrow, I promise you will know everything"

The drive to Max's apartment was nice, empty roads and hearing all about the children's lives, Lando's racing and your work place. You had the music blasting until Lando fell asleep on your shoulder.

"Still a big baby, I see" Olivier smiles, looking in the mirror "Yeah" you run a hand through his hair "He's exhausted, he has only just started to get a goodnight's sleep. Hopefully being back home he will sleep as good as the girls"

"Are you going to Canada?"

"Yeah, that's what my meeting is about tomorrow at work. My boss wants to see me just go see how I'm doing and about working from different places, trying to get a few clients. Get a few more posts on social media"

"Do you still like the job?”

“I like how flexible it is, my boss is literally so amazing but sometimes I wish i didn’t have to work during the weekends, I like just being able to put all of my focus into Lando”

“He appreciates everything you do for him you know, that one time when he was feeling down about the race and he came home to his favourite dinner and snacks. He messaged me telling me how grateful he was for you”

You blush, kissing Lando’s head making him snuggle into you more “He’d do the same for me”

“So are you going to tell me what’s been going on, or do I have to wait until tomorrow?”

“It’s best we tell everyone together” you admit as he brings the car to a slow stop “I understand, if there’s anything you need. Just give me a call”

“I will. Now do you want to do the honours of waking him up or will I?” you ask with a smirk “Give me the keys and I will take your cases inside. He will be less cranky waking up to you rather than me” he jokes, getting out of the car

You watch as he drags the suitcases to the door, you gently shake Lando awake "Baby come on, we're home"

He groans mumbling, wrapping his arm around you "Lan, we can sleep again in about ten minutes"

"That was a quick drive" he says waking up "Yeah for you, you slept the whole hour. Are you ready to go inside. Get some sleep in a bed"

He nods, leaning over giving you a quick kiss just as his brother gets back in the car "You're awake" Olivier says loudly making you two of you pull away "Yeah, thanks for the ride. I'll see you tomorrow" Lando says quickly getting out the car

"Thanks Ollie" you rush out following him. He takes you hand rushing you inside. Closing the door behind him.

You enter the apartment, following Lando straight to the bedroom "It feels good being home doesn't it?" you tell Lando watching him take his shirt and trousers off getting into bed

"Yeah. I love Monaco but it feels good being here. Now come on get into bed"

--

The next morning, you woke up in just your underwear and the shirt Lando was wearing the day previously. You weren't used to the 7am wake up calls, you hadn't been for the past two years.

"What time is it?" Lando asks waking up "Sh, sh, sh. Go back to sleep. I'm going to work. Pick me up at 1pm okay?" you hold his face, kissing him quickly leaving the bed.

You head towards the hall, getting clothes from your suitcase, and got ready for the day. Just as you were about to leave Lando comes into the kitchen fully clothed and putting his shoes on.

"You ready to go?" he asks grabbing his keys "What are you doing up?"

"Taking you to work, there's no way I am letting you get a cab at this time in the morning, plus i'm going to drop our cases off at my parents"

"Thank you but I need to come back here after work to get changed anyway"

“All sorted, I’ve left clothes out for you” he says proudly. You walked into the bedroom to see a pair of jeans and shirt left out neatly on the bed for you.

“Thank you” you smile coming back through to thee kitchen. You grab your bag and follow him out the apartment, getting into the car

"How are you feeling about the meeting?" he asks reversing out of the drive "I'm not nervous about the meeting but I am nervous to go back into the office, so many of the girls hate me"

"They don't hate you"

"No they do, they hate me because you're in my life and not theirs. They only want you for your money and to fuck you" you scoff, he laughs putting his hand on your legs

"They will never get the chance baby, the only person that will ever get to fuck me in that office is you" he squeezes your leg sending you a wink

You look out of the window, hiding your smile. Watching as the weekday morning traffic slowly building up.

“Well I’ve definitely not missed this” you mumble turning your hand to Lando “Neither have I, how long is your meeting today?”

“Mark said I would be done by 12. Meeting starts at 10. I don’t think it will even last that long”

“Well I will be waiting for you at 11:45 where I drop you off. Do you want anything brought in for lunch? I can stop at the cafe just around the corner”

“No, no. I’ll be okay and get something at work. Get yourself something though” you smile rubbing his shoulder

“Will you though?” he asks turning the corner into the car park of your work “Yes. Thank you” you say taking your seatbelt off

Lando looks at you, staring out the window. Takes your hand in his in attempt to calm your nerves “You’ll be okay, I know you will. Go in and ignore anyone that has a problem with you. You know everything you need to do”

“Thank you” you smile “I love you, have a good day and I will be waiting here for you when you’re done”

“I love you too”

He leans in, giving you a kiss to the lips before kissing your head “Have fun” he says as you leave the car, you close the car door, waving at him through the window.

Entering the office, people come up to you greeting you, including your best friend Robert

“I’ve missed you so much, this place is hell without you” he hugs you tightly “It can’t have been that bad” you laugh sitting down at his desk

“Oh it is, I have so much to tell you but first tell me how you’ve been?”

“I’ve been great to be honest, I’ve absolutely loved travelling with Lando. Getting to experience his first win, we’ve tried so many different foods and countries. It’s been so good. We’re staying with his parents this week before heading to Canada”

“Yeah i’ve noticed how much you’ve enjoyed your time with Lando. I’ve seen the photo of you two kissing. He’s finally your boyfriend?” Robbie squeals

“Yeah, he is” you lie staring at the man across from you “So how did it all happen? I need all the details”

Before you can say anything Mark appears at the meeting room doors, signalling you both over. You thanked him in your head. Glad you don’t need to make up another lie.

“Tell me later” Robbie smiles, leading the way to the office “Okay” you nod

Everyone sits around the table, the few girls that you didn’t like sat across from you “Good morning everyone, thank you for those who aren’t here everyday for coming in. Also a big welcome back to Y/N who has been doing an incredible job getting clients in every country she’s been too. How have you been doing Y/N”

“Yes great thanks, so far I have gathered 12 clients and I'm off to Canada next weekend so I'm hoping to meet a target of fifteen then"

"And how are you going to do that attached to your boyfriends hip?" Emma asks with a smirk on her face "Well funnily enough I do have a life outside of my boyfriend, I'm not with him 100% of the weekend, I also use Thursdays to gather clients and have meetings with them throughout the weekend"

"Well we all appreciate your efforts Y/N, we only require you to work eight hours a day Monday to Friday so we are grateful for the overtime that you do and the calls that we have had since you've been away are great"

The hours fly by and before you knew it, it was 11:50. You gathered your belongings, putting them all in your bag. "So how are you getting home? Do you need a ride?" Robbie asks handing you your charger

"No, Lando is outside for me, we're heading back to his apartment so I can shower and then going to his parents for the week"

"That sounds nice" he says opening the door for you, you talk about the week ahead while heading down in the elevator "Well there's Lando and it looks like he brought you lunch too" he nods over to Lando leaning on the car

"Hey Lando!" Robbie waves "Hi Rob" he waves back "How was it?" he asks leaning down giving you a kiss "Better than I thought"

"I'm glad to hear, you had a slice of toast this morning and I know the most you'd have in there was a coffee so I got you a sandwich and a drink"

"Thank you" you lean up kissing him, he walks around opening the door for you "What a gentleman" you smile getting into the car.

part 10

TAGS

@harrysdimple05 @ironmaiden1313 @charli123456789 @alltoomaples @jule239 @panicsinvirgo @cmleitora @imboredway2much @landoslutmeout @obxstiles @morenofilm @formula1mount @dreamercrowd @brekkers-whore @sialexia @bokutos-babyowl @wobblymug @merchelsea @lexiecamposv @lunamelona @nightlockcornucopia

[rispwr]

Hate you - chapter 5 - J.JK

Pairings : ex! Jungkook x ex! Reader

Notes : idc abt the word count anymore lmao. i will accept my fate that i could never get those number word counts lmfaoo. the drama is startinggg- oh hasn't it already began?

Genre : Ex2L, angst, slow burn, fake dating, slice of life, fluff, e2l, corporate rivals, smau, smut

Sypnosis : ‘You were always told that hating someone is the only way it doesn’t hurt but what if you can’t hate him? No matter how hard you try your heart will always find it’s way to his’

2 years after breaking up with your boyfriend of 2 years you were finally on your way to become the ceo of your family’s company your rival turns out to be your ex.

Contents/warnings :

Misunderstood break up, insecurities, mentions of self harms or mental health issues, jk is mean at the start, yelling, sensitive language or words, mentions of family trauma, corporate au, smart (both), mentions of yoongi x oc, mentions of cheating, soon to be ceo! Jk, soon to be ceo! Oc, oc is still named Y/n or {__}, corporate rivals?, fake dating, lack of communication, death of a character, mentions of suicide attempt. not proofread

series masterlist

again?

Jungkook's head pounded as he groggily sat up. He rubbed his temples, wincing at the dull ache. Glancing to the side, he noticed a glass of water and a couple of painkillers on the bedside table. Next to them was a note, its familiar handwriting tugging at his heartstrings.

"You should stop drinking and driving fast at midnight. It's bad for your liver and dangerous."

The note was pinned to a picture frame of the two of you, smiling. He traced his fingers over the image, a small, bittersweet smile forming on his lips.

it wasn't just a note. it was you. It was your concern, your voice, your heart. Even now, after everything. At least you were here, even if only for a moment.

He closed his eyes, letting the ache of longing settle in his chest. This—these fleeting moments—were all he could hold onto now.

Reaching for his phone, Jungkook unlocked it, scrolling through social media out of habit. His thumb stopped dead on the screen as a picture appeared: you and Yoongi, cuddled together on a couch. Your head rested on Yoongi's shoulder, his hand gently tangled in your hair as he smiled down at you. The caption was simple but cut deeper than any knife: "Home."

Jungkook clenched his jaw, biting his lip to stifle the wave of emotion surging within him. His fingers trembled as he stared at the photo, regret burning in his chest. That could've been him. No—it should've been him.

If only he had stayed.

But he hadn't. He had his reasons, though none of them felt valid now. He had convinced himself that leaving was the right thing to do. He hated the gnawing insecurity that whispered he'd never be enough for you, that you deserved more than the flawed, broken man he was. He thought he was doing you a favor by walking away, promising himself he'd come back when he was better, stronger—when he was perfect.

But perfection never came. Time passed, and so did his chances. Now, he was left with nothing but the crushing realization that he had only sabotaged himself. You had moved on, found someone who could give you the love and stability he always struggled to provide.

He let out a bitter laugh, though it carried no humor. He was too late.

Running a hand through his hair, he leaned back against the headboard, the phone slipping from his grip onto the bed. His mind was a storm of regrets and what-ifs, but none of them could change the reality staring back at him.

Jungkook's eyes drifted back to the note, his heart aching with a mixture of longing and acceptance. He'd lost you, but at least you were happy. That's all he had ever wanted for you, even if it meant watching from the sidelines as someone else gave you the love he couldn't.

But it didn't make it hurt any less. 

Jungkook stood up abruptly, his movements shaky yet determined. His eyes, red from tears and alcohol, found yours in the dim light. Without a word, he stepped forward and wrapped his arms around you, pulling you close. The embrace was warm yet suffocating, filled with desperation.

"Kook- what are you doing?" you asked softly, your voice barely audible against his chest.

"Let me," he whispered, his voice breaking. "Just... let me hold you. For the last time."

His words hit you like a freight train. The 'last time' echoed in your mind, twisting something deep inside you. Hesitantly, you raised your arms, almost letting them encircle him, but before you could decide, your phone buzzed in your pocket, pulling you out of the moment.

The vibration was loud, intrusive, and it broke the fragile bubble you and Jungkook had found yourselves in. You gently pushed against his chest, creating some distance.

"Wait," you mumbled, reaching for your phone. The screen lit up with Yoongi's name. Your heart sank further into the storm of emotions swirling within you.

"Hey, Y/N," Yoongi's familiar, comforting voice came through the line. "Where are you? It's getting late."

"Oh, um..." you stammered, your mind racing for an answer. "I'm at a restaurant right now, eating," you lied, hoping it didn't sound as strained as it felt.

"Really? Are you okay? You sound... different," he asked, concern lacing his tone.

You stole a glance at Jungkook, who was watching you closely, his gaze unreadable but intense. His jaw tightened at the mention of Yoongi's name, but he didn't say a word.

"Yeah, I'm fine," you replied, forcing a nervous laugh. "I'm just tired. I'll, uh, see you soon, okay?"

"Are you sure?" Yoongi pressed, his worry evident.

"I'm sure," you said quickly. "I'll call you later. Gotta go!" Without waiting for his response, you ended the call, shoving your phone back into your pocket.

Jungkook took a hesitant step forward, his hand reaching for yours. "Stay," he whispered, his voice raw and pleading. "i don't understand-"

You looked at him, your throat tightening. His expression was unlike anything you'd seen before—hopeful yet broken, desperate yet resigned.

"Kook..." you began, but you couldn't bring yourself to finish.

"Just this once," he said, his voice trembling. "Stay with me."

Your heart ached at the sight of him, but you knew you couldn't. You couldn't let yourself fall back into the same cycle of heartbreak and pain.

"I'm sorry," you said softly, tears pricking your eyes. Gently, you pulled your hand from his and took a step back.

Jungkook's head bowing as if the weight of the world was pressing down on him. He didn't try to stop you this time. He just stood there, watching as you walked away.

As soon as you were out of sight, the tears you'd been holding back spilled over. You pressed your hand to your mouth, trying to stifle your sobs. You hated how much he still affected you, even after everything 

The Next Day

You run your hands through your hair as you waited in the sleek conference room. Today’s meeting was important. a potential collaboration with influential figures in the industry. Securing this deal would not only benefit your company but also solidify your position as a force to be reckoned with in the business world.

You twirled a strand of hair absentmindedly, your mind wandering to the memories of last night. The image of Jungkook’s tear-filled eyes and his broken voice pleading for you to stay was still fresh. Shaking your head, you focused on the present.

The first three representatives had already arrived, exchanging polite greetings and idle chatter as they settled into their seats. You greeted them with a warm smile, but a glance at your watch told you the meeting was running late.

“Where are the last two?” you muttered under your breath, turning to your assistant, who stood nearby.

“I apologize, ma’am,” they whispered. “I wasn’t informed there would be five guests instead of three until this morning.”

You sighed but nodded, waving them off. It wasn’t ideal, but you would manage.

The door opened, and your heart instantly lifted when you saw Yoongi walk in, dressed sharply in a tailored suit. his eyes meets yours, he gave you a subtle smile that sent a wave of reassurance through you..

Behind him came another man. one that made your breath hitch.

Jungkook.

He strode into the room, his black dress shirt perfectly fitted, his expression unreadable, like nothing ever happened last night. His gaze swept across the room until it landed on you.

Your smile faltered, your lips parting slightly in shock as you stared at him. It was like the air had been sucked out of you.

He met your gaze briefly before looking away. He took the seat across from you, and it felt like all eyes were on you now.

Yoongi sat beside him, his expression neutral, though you noticed his jaw tighten for a moment. He glanced at you, his subtle nod urging you to refocus.

Clearing your throat, you forced a polite smile and looked at the group. “O-Okay. Let’s start, shall we?”

You gestured toward your assistant, who quickly connected the presentation slides.

The meeting room had finally emptied, leaving only you and Yoongi. As he adjusted his watch, he turned to you with a slightly apologetic smile.

“I’ve got to rush- urgent family dinner,” he explained, his tone regretful.

You nodded, understanding. “Okay! Tell them I said hi,” you replied with a genuine grin, waving as he turned to leave.

He raised a hand in acknowledgment without looking back, his quick steps taking him out of the building.

You gathered your things and began walking toward the elevator. As you rounded a corner, lost in thought, your heel caught on the edge of the carpet. A gasp escaped your lips as you stumbled forward, bracing for the hard impact of the floor.

But it never came.

Strong arms caught you mid-fall, steadying you. The familiar scent hit you before the voice did.

“You should be more careful, y’know?”

Your heart stopped.

The world seemed to freeze as your eyes darted upward, meeting the face you thought you’d left behind in your mind.

Jungkook.

The murmur of workers broke the moment.

“Isn’t that Ms. Kim and Mr. Jeon?” “Didn’t they break up?” “Are they back together?”

You glanced around, spotting several employees discreetly snapping pictures and whispering amongst themselves. The realization made your blood boil.

Quickly, you pulled away from Jungkook’s grasp, straightening your outfit as you shot him a glare.

His lips curled into an infuriating smirk. “No ‘thank you’?” he teased, his tone as casual as ever.

You rolled your eyes, your irritation boiling over. “Thank you,” you snapped, your voice dripping with sarcasm.

Without waiting for his response, you spun on your heel and walked away, your pace hurried as you headed toward the nearest restroom. 

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[ahonice]

lucky; pt.2

part one

luke hughes x fem reader

word count: 8.4k

warnings: cursing, drinking, implications of sex/sexual jokes & situations, slight hate towards business majors, probably definitely incorrect knowledge about pre med shit.

note: since so many people asked for a part two (literally only fifteen but still) i finally got over the grudge i have against series/part twos and i'm here to relieve you all. this is the opposite of planned out, i am writing this as i go along so i hope it doesn’t suck too badly (actually scared no one will like this because of how much love part one got). anyways enjoy, leave feedback, have a great day, love y’all babes <3

italics are flashbacks

+++

you and luke didn’t arrive back at the house until past midnight. neither of you expected anyone to be awake when you entered through the front door, but the sound of multiple voices proved that theory to be wrong.

“i think my brother’s friends got here a little earlier than we anticipated.” luke told you as he opened the door, going unnoticed by the small crowd in the living room. “let’s just get to my room and go to sleep, we need some rest.” you nodded at luke’s words as he moved himself behind you and wrapped his arms around your waist, you knew he was subconsciously attempting to protect you from the group of guys, more specifically his brothers.

we didn’t make it far though, only a few moments later a voice called out at luke, causing everyone else to focus their attention on us. sighing, luke let go of you and moved forward to greet everybody, muttering an apology as he passed by you. 

you stood there awkwardly, trying to decide if you should wait for luke to finish with his tiny game of catch up or if you should just go up into his room and wait for him there. after what happened today luke asked his mother if the two of you could stay in the same room today, she agreed after a little bit of begging on luke’s behalf. before you could make your own decision the room’s attention was no longer on luke.

“who is the girl luke?” 

your head shot up at the mention of you, instantly becoming a bit self conscious because of the number of eyes on you. you made eye contact with quinn for a split second before tears started to build up again, seeing him just reminded you of everything that you had been through in the past twenty four hours.

“that’s my girlfriend, y/n.” luke said, making his way back to your side and attempting to block you from the eyes that were visibly making you uncomfortable. “-and if you don’t mind we would like to get to bed, it’s been a long day. you can all be properly introduced in the morning.” without letting anybody else get a word in, he turned around and guided you up to his room with his hands around your waist.

+++

you woke relatively early, the sun was just beginning to rise so you took this as your opportunity to go outside and spend some time on your own, you needed it. it took a little bit to get luke’s death grip on you loose enough for you to wiggle out of bed, but after you were successfully free you grabbed one of his hoodies to throw on over your pjs and pulled your hair out of your face with a claw clip. 

you silently made your way out of the house and took a seat out on the dock, taking a quick picture of the view as the sky turned shades of pink and orange. you dipped your feet into the water before grabbing your journal, deciding it was best to write your feelings down on paper just for your better understanding of everything that has happened.

as you finished up your journal entry you noticed the sun was now peaking over the tree line, you took a picture of the view, as well as a picture of your legs with your feet in the water and the pink journal in your lap. you opened up instagram and put all the pictures you took this morning and posted them to your private instagram account, captioning it “yesterday was one of the worst days of my life, can only hope today and each day after will be better.” 

you spent a few more minutes in silence, enjoying the fresh air you were getting. your trance was broken by the sound of footsteps on the dock.

“hey dear, what are you doing up so early?” you turned around to look at the man speaking.

“hi jim.” you smiled as he sat down next to you. “i’m just spending some time outside. i felt like i needed some fresh air.” 

jim nodded before speaking, “i’m sorry about everything. i had no idea any of this was going on, and i am sorry that i didn’t pick up on it earlier.” 

“it’s okay, don’t feel bad for not noticing it earlier. i should’ve spoken up when it first started happening.” you told him, giving him a reassuring smile. 

“would you like to join me and ellen today? we’re just running some errands but it could be fun, help you escape the sausage party that has become the lake house.” jim offered, causing you to laugh at his use of the phrase “sausage party”.

“yeah i would love to.”

+++

you had gotten ready for the day without waking up your boyfriend, so you decided to continue to let him sleep. you went to your room and began packing your bags because you would be leaving in two days and you needed to begin getting ready for your departure back home. once the room was all sorted and looked like nobody was staying in it, you put your luggage back into the closet and made your way downstairs, cleaning had always been a way for you to relieve stress. 

“sorry to keep you guys waiting, i wanted to clean up my room.” you told ellen and jim as you made your way downstairs.

“no need for apologies sweetie, let’s go. our first stop is breakfast.” 

+++

you had gone to breakfast with luke’s parents and told them about your plans for after college.

“right now i’m planning on becoming a medical examiner.” you explained as you waited for your orders. “i just have to see if i made it into the pre-med program before i can begin properly planning my future.” ellen and jim nodded, and continued to ask some questions about how your first year of university was going and other school related topics. 

+++

after breakfast they took you to the local farmers/flea market, you were excited as you had been meaning to ask luke to come along with you. as you were browsing your options you saw a couple booths near each other with fabric for sale, you quickly made your way over and began looking at what was all there. after a few moments you found the colors you were looking for. 

you purchased your rolls of cloth as well as some embroidery floss in an assortment of colors because you had been meaning to stock up on it and some yarn for one of your experiments. after getting everything you made your way back towards ellen and jim, telling them what you got. 

the next stop was the grocery store, with jack’s friends arriving early the house wasn’t stocked up for everybody staying over. during your morning with luke’s parents the topic of what happened the day before didn’t come up until your last stop of the day. 

you were looking around a local garden shop, looking for a new plant to bring home, when ellen came up to you.

“i just want to apologize again for what happened yesterday. i am beyond embarrassed for how my sons have been treating you. you mean a lot to me, jim, and luke, and after the talk i had with them yesterday i’m hoping jack and quinn will come around as well.” you smiled at ellen, a couple tears were brought to surface when she said that you meant a lot to her. 

once you and luke were gone ellen walked up to her oldest sons and they immediately knew what was coming.

“mom, please don’t-”

“no quinn! i am going to.” she sighed, “y/n means so much to luke, and for you guys to be so rude and disrespectful towards her is unacceptable. has she ever done anything to make you guys feel that way? or were these assumptions completely based on snap judgements?” ellen took her son’s silence as an answer. “y/n is good for luke, i’ve never seen him happier. he loves her enough to introduce us and allow us to spend time with her, and this is how you pay him back? you two need to figure out a way to fix this, i suggest you start with opening up the presents that y/n spent hours making for you two that you guys never had the common decency to be appreciative about, i think you’ll like what they are.” after giving them one more look of disappointment she walked back into the house to find jim and explain to him what was going on.

“i think they want to open up the gifts you made, but i never got to properly ask because their friends showed up.” you smiled at her. them opening up the gifts wasn’t going to fix everything, ellen knew this, but it was a start. 

+++

it was only eleven when you returned back to the lake house, with how late everybody stayed up last night you didn’t expect anyone to awake yet, you were wrong. ellen and jim had some more places to go but didn’t want to take up your whole day so they dropped you back off at the house before continuing their list of things to do. when you got up to the front porch you heard the voices of multiple people, one being your boyfriend, and they were all yelling.

“this is all your guys’ fault! my girlfriend left because of you two and how you’ve been treating her.” you heard luke shout. you quickly realized you never informed luke of your last minute plans with his parents, you kind of expected ellen to send a message to him or to any of the boys to explain her and jim’s absence when they woke up. 

“luke calm the fuck down. her car is still out front, she obviously didn’t leave.” jack’s voice was heard as you tried to open the front door, of course it was fucking locked. 

“her luggage is gone, her room is spotless, it looks like nobody has stayed in it for weeks.” luke voice was breaking. you quickly knocked, more pounded, on the door needing someone to let you in. shortly after your began hitting the door it was opened, you didn’t recognize who it was so you knew it had to be one of quinn or jack’s guests.

“found her.”

you pushed past him and made your way to the living room where everyone was at, dropping your bags and wrapping luke into a hug. he noticeably relaxed under your touch, he grabbed onto you like his life depended on it and you heard muffled sobs against your neck where his face was buried into.

“i thought you left me.” he said, you were the only one that heard it he was that quiet. 

“i’m so sorry luke, i–” you were going to explain what happened but you were cut off before you could continue.

“where the hell did you go?” you weren’t expecting that question, especially from who it came from. jack looked at you, anticipating your answer. you stood shocked, the genuine worry in his tone was enough to throw you off balance and leave you unable to speak. your silence seemed to just agitate him. “luke was worried sick. i get that you’re upset with me and with quinn, i do, we have been treating you horribly, but pulling this shit, causing us all to worry for you and your safety, just to get back at us is not okay.” 

you felt bad, until he said that. “jack i didn’t run away as a form of revenge, i didn’t even run away, i went out with your parents. they thought i could use a break from everything going on here, and they were right.” you detached yourself from luke, your heart cracking a little bit when he whimpered at the loss of touch, and went to grab your bags from earlier. once they were in your hands again you walked up the stairs, grabbing Luke's wrist in the process. “i don’t owe either of you assholes any further explanations.”

+++

“i thought you left me because of how my brothers were treating you.” once you and luke made it into his room he broke down again, causing the guilt in you to bubble up.

“i’m so sorry baby, i would never leave you. your dad invited me to spend the morning with him and your mom and i thought it would be good to spend some time away from the house.” you said, rubbing his back as you sat in his lap, chest to chest.

after a few more minutes and a couple more apologies luke stopped crying, his sadness replaced with a slight amount of anger.

“don’t you ever do that again. i am your boyfriend, you are my guest in this house, i don’t want this to come off as insanely possessive, but i have a right to know where you are.” you could only nod at his words.

“i’m sorry luke, it didn’t even cross my mind. i wrongly assumed your mom would tell you, or that you would still be sleeping by the time i got back.”

“hey i’m not that lazy.” his joking nature allowed you to further calm down, you both got what you needed to off our chests.

“i can’t believe i called your brothers assholes.” you groaned, knowing that would probably make them dislike you even more.

“they deserved it.” luke said, giving you a kiss right after. “anyways, it was hot.” 

“oh really?” you giggled, a blush forming on your cheeks as his hands began wandering.

“it’s a good thing i locked the door when we walked in.”

+++

it wasn’t for a couple more hours that you and luke went back downstairs, he thought it was time that you were actually introduced to the guests that joined you at the house.

“y/n this is trevor, cole, and alex, guys this is my girlfriend. y/n.” you smiled at them and said a faint hello, they all smiled back except for one. it was the one who asked luke who i was last night and opened the door for me earlier, the one who was now identified as trevor. he quickly went up to me and hugged me, taking me by surprise, i hesitantly brought my arms around him and gave him a slight pat on the back.

“it’s nice to finally meet you, i’ve heard many different things about you but i can already tell most of them were full of shit.” you smiled, knowing exactly what he was referring to. “well we were all planning on going out on the lake for a bit, eat dinner, watch the sunset, you two in?” you and luke both nodded before heading back upstairs to get ready.

+++

the tension on the boat was very evident, you felt bad for the three boys who probably had no idea what had happened just a day before, you’d probably feel even worse if they did know.

luke was quick to gain your attention, talking to you about the most random things. you kept up with his conversation before you noticed that jack and his friends were huddled up and whispering on the other side of the boat, you wouldn’t have been bothered if it weren’t for them constantly looking up at you before going back to their gossip session. you began to feel a little self conscious, you made an effort to cover yourself as much as you could with the one towel you could find near you. luke noticed the shift in your focus.

“is everything okay? you seem distracted, i’m sorry if you didn’t want to be near them so soon.”

“no luke it’s fine, i just feel like they’re talking about me.” you tried to subtly motion towards jack and his friends. luke just glared at them, seeing what you were seeing.

“here come sit on my lap, i’ll wrap my arms around you and protect you from them.” you giggled at his joking tone.

“anything to touch me huh hughes?” you poked at him once you were in his lap.

+++

dinner was served, an assortment of caprisuns and beers as well as uncrustables were on the menu for tonight. you moved up to grab some for you and luke when you got into a conversation with cole.

“so how long have you and luke been together?” 

“ten months, our one year is in september.” you smiled, already excited for whatever the two of you would have planned for that night. 

soon you were whisked away into a conversation, more like interrogation, about your relationship. trevor and cole sat next to you while jack, alex, and quinn sat in front of you. the oldest hughes put your boyfriend on wheel duty so he was on the other side of the boat, shooting you a worried glance each time you made eye contact with him. 

“how did you meet?”

“we were in the same orientation group, we got paired together for this water balloon game.” you smiled at the memory, remembering how horrible luke was at simply catching the balloon.

“what are you studying?” quinn’s question caught you off guard, seemingly since for the past ten minutes all you’ve been asked about was his brother.

“i’m currently hoping to go pre-med, i will find out if i made it into the program in the next couple days hopefully.” you told him with a smile.

“so you wanna be a nurse or something?” trevor asked.

“no. if i wanted to be a nurse i would be in the nursing program.” you told him, taking a sip of the beer you were holding before continuing. “i’m planning on being a medical examiner, conducting autopsies, figuring out the time and cause of death of a person.” you could tell the topic of dead bodies made your small q/a crowd uncomfortable which caused you to giggle. “any more questions? or can i return to my boyfriend now?” the boys just shook their heads in response, so you got up and sat on luke’s lap.

“so how did that go? you don’t seem too tense anymore.” luke asked once you were both situated.

“it went decent, i think, they just asked about us the whole time.” he nodded at your answer. “-oh, but quinn did ask me a question about myself and just myself, nothing that had to do with you.” luke looked over at his oldest brother with a small smile, who returned it before you, unknowingly, interrupted the moment by asking luke to take some pictures of you.

+++

you spent the night in luke’s room again, the boys needed a room to stay in anyways, so you had convinced ellen and jim that staying with luke for two nights wasn’t the worst thing in the world.

“i don’t want you to leave.” luke said quietly, stealing your attention away from the tv screen.

“i don’t want to leave.” you replied, shifting to face him.

“then don’t. i can guarantee my parents wouldn’t have any problems with you staying for another week or two.” 

“luke i can’t, my sewing machine and all my other clothing stuff is back at my house and i’ve honestly gone a little insane just going five days without it–” luke rolled his eyes at your reasoning, giving you a look of disbelief.

“seriously, a machine is the reason you don’t wanna spend more time with your boyfriend?”

“-also i get my pre-med acceptance letter soon, if i get in, and i want to be with my parent’s when that happens and i know that they’re gonna want to celebrate with a party.”

“i think if you want to get closer to my brothers, or at least have them get to know you, you should stay here an extra week or two. they mean just as much to me as you do and i’m not saying you need to be best friends with them, but it would be nice if you guys got to know each other more and spend more time together.”

silence, and eventually sleep, consumed the two of you. both knowing an argument would only start if you continued to talk about it.

+++

you woke up in an empty bed, frowning you got up and looked around the room to see if he was at least still in his bedroom, he wasn’t. you got up and began getting ready, throwing a pink bikini and some jean shorts before braiding your hair.

once you were downstairs your boyfriend was still nowhere to be found, you made your way outside where you saw his brothers and friends, luke was not with them.

“hey guys, do you know where luke is?” you asked the group, hoping one of them had an answer for you.

“he left like two hours ago, didn’t mention where he was going though.” jack answered, you nodded. “if you would like to join us, we were planning on going wakesurfing today, i don’t want you getting bored in the house by yourself.” you smiled at his offer and accepted, telling the group to give you a few minutes so you could grab some things for the boat, sending luke a text on your way back into the house.

to: luke <3

hey, where are you?

to: luke <3

i’m going on the boat with your brothers and friends so wish me luck lol

you packed your bag and joined the boys outside who were already on the boat waiting for you.

+++

an hour later you still hadn’t received a response from luke and you were getting worried.

to: luke <3

are you okay?

to: luke <3

i find it funny that yesterday when i did this exact thing you said you had a right to know where i was at all times, do i not have that right either? 

“y/n do you wanna try it?” my attention was drawn away from my phone to look at cole.

“sure, i don’t know what i’m doing though.” you replied, moving to take off your shorts and put on the life vest.

“didn’t do it before we got here?” alex asked.

“no, i had other things distracting me.” i glanced over at quinn who gave me an embarrassed smile before speaking.

“i’m sorry for that, i really am, it was uncalled for.” you just nodded in response, not really wanting to talk about it in front of everybody.

+++

you sucked at wakesurfing. you were able to keep your balance for thirty seconds at most before you slipped, or the one time trevor tackled you into the water. which of course was filmed and posted onto trevor’s story, the embarrassing scream you had let out was now viewable to his thousands of followers

once you guys got off the boat you quickly made your way inside to see if luke had shown up yet, he still hadn’t. you quickly opened your phone to call him but got no response, now you were mad. you two had talked about the importance of communication and the risks of not knowing where the other was yesterday, and here he was doing the opposite of everything he asked of you yesterday. 

to: luke <3

idk what the hell you’re doing right now but it has now been six hours since i’ve woken up and you’re still nowhere to be found and no one has heard from you. 

to: luke <3

i’m going to dinner with your brothers, so wish me luck, and if i don’t hear back from you by the time it’s dark i will send in a missing persons report.

to: luke <3

just lmk you’re safe.

you weren’t planning on leaving for dinner for a couple more hours so you spent some time getting the proper measurements for some clothes you would be working on, as well as studying up on how to knit a sweater since you would be trying that for the first time when you went back home. 

you didn’t change for dinner, just throwing one of luke’s michigan shirts on top of your swimsuit and putting your shorts back on. soon you made your way downstairs where it was just quinn waiting, everyone else apparently still getting ready. when you saw it was just him you quickly tried to make a run for it and go back to your room.

“you know you don’t have to avoid me, i think it’s about time we talked anyways.” quinn’s voice stopped you from going up the stairs. you wanted to keep walking away, you really did, but you knew you needed to have the discussion. you made your way back into the living room and sat on the couch seat furthest away from quinn. 

“ok let’s talk.” you started once you sat down. “can you tell me why you did what you did?” 

you got straight to the point, not wanting to spare any time. 

“i was just looking out for my little brother, i didn’t know you.”

“-you still don’t know me. the only information you know about me is my name and that i’m an aspiring pre-med student at michigan.” you interrupted quinn, earning a glare in your direction.

“yes. i still don’t know you, but i’m hoping that in the next two weeks that you’re staying here i can get to know you.” he finished speaking with a sigh, like it almost pained him to say those words. 

“wait what? i’m leaving tomorrow to go home, i’m not staying for an extra two weeks.” you were confused, your parents were expecting you home in the next twenty four hours.

“luke told me this morning that there was a change of plans and that you were going to be staying an extra two weeks.” quinn said, equally as confused. “did you not know this?”

you could only shake your head as an answer while you pulled your phone out to text luke.

to: luke <3

i don’t know if you were trying to surprise me with an extra two weeks at the lake house but i told you i couldn’t do that, my parents wont allow it.

from: luke <3

*image*

i’m with your parents right now, they said it’s okay. i’m at dinner with them though so i’ll talk to you later, but please wait to yell at me until i’m back at the lake house tonight. i’m gonna hit the road soon.

“that little shit.” you muttered, making quinn laugh.

“what did he do?”

“he has been ignoring my texts and calls all day, which is a problem on its own especially because of what happened yesterday, and now he is at dinner with my parents five hours away in my hometown convincing them to let me stay here longer than what was planned.”

“you don’t want to stay here longer? is it because of me and jack? because i meant what i said on the boat, i really am sorry. no matter what the circumstances were, i took it too far. i’m shocked it took you so long to call us assholes.” quinn’s last comment makes you laugh.

“i’m not gonna lie, you two are partially why i want to leave, but also because i know that next week more of your guys’ friends will be here and that ellen and jim are leaving, i just don’t want to intrude.” quinn nodded at your reasons.

“well if you do stay i think it would be a good time for me to properly get to know you, i would say that we could just start over and forget everything that happened…” he trailed off waiting for an answer from you.

“-not a chance. what you, and jack, did was not okay. i forgive, but i don’t forget.” before quinn could say anything in response the rest of the boys came downstairs and we all headed out to the cars to go to dinner.

+++

dinner was another interrogation, but this time it was almost all questions about you.

“so what do you do for fun?” that can be a loaded question, alex asked you it in hopes to be able to spark more conversations about things that might tie to your answers.

“well i like to design and create clothing, or add things to a boring sweatshirt from the thrift. i do lots of upcycling with things i find at goodwill.” you answered, not knowing how they would respond.

“do you have any pictures of things you have made in the past?” cole asked this time, you nodded and got out your phone. showing them some pullovers you had embroidered things onto, the swimsuits you had made from scratch for you and luke, the apron and hand towels that were gifted to ellen, as well as the ties and matching pocket squares that you made for the hughes boys.

“oh that’s the set you made for my dad.” jack said before pausing, noticing the embroidered initials and numbers on the ties next to the one his father owned. “were those our gifts?” he had gotten so quiet you were shocked you were able to hear it.

“yeah they were, still are if you want them, luke told me the colors of your teams and i went from there to make them.” you told jack before looking at quinn who had a matching look as his brothers.

“can’t believe you ever made gifts for them after how they had treated you.” trevor’s joke made you wince, it seems like they don’t know the full story. 

“well i didn’t do it to get on their good side, i did it just because i thought this would be something they would enjoy, something personal to wear before games or at events, and creating things for people is something i really enjoy.” you kept your head down while talking, not wanting anyone to see the emotion in your face. the waitress soon brought everyone’s food out, you thanked anything and everything that lived up above as something was there to distract everybody for the time being.

+++

once back from dinner you went to hangout by the docks and watch the sunset, the boys had dropped you off per your request because you desperately needed some alone time. after the sun had fully set and you were pleased with the photos you had taken, you decided to go for a swim, stripping off your shirt and shorts, shivering as the cold breeze of the night came over you. you didn’t give yourself time to rethink your actions and jumped into the lake, you were freezing but it felt good. the cold being exactly what you needed.

you don’t know how long you were out there before you heard the sliding door open.

“babe are you out here?” luke’s voice brought immense comfort over you, it felt like it had been days since you’d last seen him. slowly swimming towards the steps you made yourself known.

“yes” you shouted, stepping out of the water and onto the dock. luke quickly made his way towards you, stopping once he was at the end of the dock and could see what you were wearing.

“you look really hot in that swimsuit.” you blushed at his compliment, and at the way his eyes were raking over your body. “you shouldn’t be able to look this hot babe.”

“oh really?” you said stepping closer to him, looking at his lower half to see if he had anything in his pockets, he didn’t. “well, we should do something about that then.” you reached out to grab his shoulders and turn him around, leaning in for a kiss, but before your lips could touch you shoved him into the water. “that’s what you get for ignoring me all day.” 

you jumped into the water a few moments later, luke’s shocked face making you laugh harder. 

“what the hell y/n.” luke asked once the shock from the cold died down in him.

“it seemed like you needed some cooling down, also you spent the whole day ignoring me and then went behind my back to get me to stay an extra two weeks.” you replied, swimming up closer to him, wrapping your arms around his neck.

“i have a surprise for you when we get back inside to make up for it.” luke’s arms instinctively wrapped around your waist. 

you stayed like that for quite some time, luke filling you in on his day and vice versa.

“so quinn apologized to you and said he wanted to get to know you during the rest of your stay?” you nodded at his question, making luke’s smile grow wider than it already was. “that is so great y/n.”

as you were about to add something to what luke had said the sound of footsteps made you close your mouth.

“yeah mom they’re out here.” jack yelled back in the direction of the house. “you two are in trouble, get inside.” 

+++

“so luke, do you see you and y/n lasting? like once you start in the NHL?” 

you weren’t sure when you fell asleep, but you knew that you had woken up while luke’s brothers were grilling him about our relationship. you didn’t open your eyes, you knew it was wrong to eavesdrop, but they should know the risks of talking loudly while someone sleeps a few inches away from them.

“i do see us lasting, for a long time. i know you guys might think this is premature but i can see myself spending the rest of my life with her.” luke’s words made your heart rate pick up, “i want her to come to new jersey, but after she has completed all her schooling. i can’t ask her to give up her education for me, it means too much to her.” 

“but if she goes pre-med she will have a lot more years of school, it’s an extra four years and usually more. could you wait about ten years for her? is she worth it?”

“y/n is absolutely worth it, i don’t care how long it takes for her to finish school she is it for me.” tears had started to well up in your eyes, you couldn’t pretend to be asleep anymore. 

you shot up from your spot on the couch and tackled luke in a hug, you had never doubted luke’s commitment for you, but to hear him say it, especially to people who aren’t the biggest fan of you meant a lot.

“i love you luke.” you whispered, a few tears spilling out. 

“i love you too baby.” 

you both missed the look his brothers gave each other, a look that said “maybe she isn’t so bad”

+++

 you didn’t make it into the pre-med program. your parents had opened the letter with you over facetime, you were crushed. yes you could apply next year, and every year after that until you got accepted, but you didn’t want to do that, you wanted to get into the program after one try and that didn’t happen. 

luke was there for you, he held you while you cried, comforted you when trevor accidentally got you a congratulations balloon thinking you were accepted, and stayed with you during the days even though you knew he wanted to spend time with people that weren’t you.

one day you did force him to go out on the lake, dylan and mackie had arrived that morning and you know he wanted to hang out with them, even though he told you he was happy to spend the day with you. you spent a lot of the day cleaning, with ellen gone the house started to look like only teenage boys were staying there. once you were done with that you made lunch and headed back upstairs to finish your next task. after plenty of talks with your parents, and a few emails with your advisor, you decided to change your major to business. all your life you’d been making clothes, you thought you might just make a career out of it because you enjoy doing it so much. you hadn’t told anyone other than your parents, you were scared to. you didn’t want anyone, more specifically luke, to think you were giving up on becoming a medical examiner just because you got one rejection letter. and you did what you did best when you were anxious about something, you made clothes and cleaned. when luke went back to your hometown last week he grabbed your storage tote full of all the essentials, your sewing machine, the brand new embroidery machine your parents bought you to celebrate completing your first year of university, and way too many fabrics. while you’ve been bunkered up in luke’s room, not wanting to face the world just yet you’ve made lots of items. ties for jim, a sweater for ellen, another bathing suit for luke, and today you were determined to make matching shirts for you and luke. you started with making basic white tee, you could’ve easily bought them but there is no fun in that, and then you decided to do a heat transfer of the design you picked out.

they were gonna be gag gifts, every year one of the frats hosts a “twin” party where you and your date show up in matching outfits and this year you and luke were going together. your shirt would say “i 🩷 my boyfriend” with an image of the two of you on the back, and his would be the exact same but with girlfriend instead of boyfriend. the creation of the shirts didn’t take as long as you thought it would, so now you were looking for more things to do, you weren’t able to make a decision as luke’s door was opened by jack. 

“hey me and quinn are going to get ice cream, would you like to come?” you accepted their offer, knowing that you needed to get out of the house. 

it didn’t hit you that this would be the first time you would be alone with luke’s brothers, ever. sure you had your conversation with quinn the other night, but now that jack was here it made you just as fearful, a bit more even.

+++

“so what did you do today? i know that luke went out with dylan and mackie, we haven’t been seeing you much.” jack said once you all sat down for ice cream.

“well i assume you guys heard that i did not make it into the pre-med program so i’ve just been in a small slump lately–” you were cut off by quinn.

“we actually didn’t know, but that makes sense why trevor felt so guilty about the balloon he got you.” 

“yeah, but today i actually switched my major. i’m gonna study business now, possibly entrepreneurship, i decided to pursue a career more based on starting my own clothing company.” you told the boys, who glanced at each other.

“well that is amazing, congratulations. have you told luke yet?” jack asked, beating quinn to speaking.

“no, you guys are actually the first people i’ve told, trying to avoid others thinking i’m giving up on pre-med.” the boys nodded at your reasoning, quinn decided to fill the silence this time.

“luke told us he brought up your clothing stuff, have you made anything?”

“yeah, i’ve made a couple ties, some shirts, a sweater, and a swimsuit.” you laughed at their shocked faces. “i’ve had a lot of free time since i haven’t been leaving the house.”

+++

it had now been five days since you switched your major and you still hadn’t told luke, even if you wanted to tell him you probably wouldn’t have the time to since he has been with dylan, mackie, and the couple other michigan players that have arrived at the house. this is one of the reasons why you didn’t want to stay any longer than a week, you knew luke was going to become distant when his friends showed up.

waking up to an empty bed became normal, luke and the other boys would do some training in the mornings. so like you did yesterday, and the day before, and the day before, you got up and made your way downstairs to make breakfast. quickly distracted by the mess that had been made from what you assumed were smoothies or homemade protein shakes. you silently cursed whoever made the mess while you cleaned it up, then moving on to do some laundry. towels and swimsuits had been piling up in a very overfilled basket and you knew none of the boys were gonna do it. once the load was in you moved on to tidy up the living room, folding blankets, fluffing pillows, vacuuming. 

“stress cleaning?” you whipped your head around to see jack sitting on top of a freshly fluffed pillow and unfolding a blanket.

“no, why would you think that?” you said, while walking over to get him off of the loveseat to make it presentable again.

“because you still haven’t told luke about switching majors and the more you hold off the worse you think he is going to react.” jack stated, “also, you just kicked me out of my seat to do whatever the hell that is.” pointing to you as he sat down on the floor.

you scoffed and stopped karate chopping the throw pillow once it looked nice enough. “you don’t know what you’re talking about.” 

 “just tell him y/n, i’m serious. he is only going to be more hurt the longer you take to tell him, and you don’t wanna hurt my brother, i’ve just started to like you.” he smirked when you glared at him.

“haha very funny jack.” 

“what’s got you so scared to tell him anyways?” jack asked in a much softer tone of voice, patting the spot on the carpet next to him. 

you sat before sighing. “i don’t want him to think i’m giving up on something just because of one small hardship. all the time i hear him bragging to his teammates and friends about how his girlfriend is super smart and is gonna be the best doctor for the dead in the world one day, i’m scared to disappoint him.” you felt a couple tears in your eyes before you continued to speak. “i’ve seen him researching med schools near newark, one’s that have the best program for medical examiners. he believes in me, he knows i could do this even if i don’t, and i don’t want him to think i’m dumbing myself down to a bachelors in the most basic study field ever.” by the end of your small rant the tears had begun falling, they weren’t sobs but they were there.

“y/n, luke loves you so much. you getting a four year degree in business is not going to change that, yes he is your number one supporter when it comes to you becoming a medical examiner, but that doesn’t mean he won’t be your number one supporter when it comes to you being a fashion designer, or whatever it is you want to do i’m a little confused.” you laughed as jack continued. “do you know how much shit me and the guys have given him for some of the things he wears, we don’t even call him luke anymore he is just “simp” to us now, but he doesn’t care about that, he cares about you and your happiness, and if getting made fun of for wearing matching swimsuits with you or wearing a hat with your initials on it means making you happy, he is going to do it. he will be there for you no matter what because he loves you, and i can see why he does. you’re an amazing person y/n, and i’m so sorry for how i have been treating you over the past ten months. i know that sorrys aren’t enough to make up for what we did to you, but i hope it can be a start to us becoming friends because i need more people to bother luke with me.” you smiled and pulled jack into a hug, thanking him for the apology and kind words as well as forgiving him.

“one more thing, did he really refer to you as a future doctor for the dead?” jack asked, laughing a little.

“yes, it was so funny.” 

+++

you and jack decided to watch a movie while you waited for luke to come back from training, quinn soon joined you two on the floor after he had woken up. it was nice, there was no awkward tension, no glares being thrown in your direction, you felt like you were all getting along for the first time and that made you smile.

“um why are you all on the floor?” dylan’s voice cut the peacefulness that had come over the three of you, all three of you quickly looked away from the tv to see the boys all back from training. you made eye contact with luke who was looking at you with a shocked, but very happy, expression. you just smiled and gave him two thumbs up, before turning towards jack and quinn to excuse yourself. you made your way to luke and gave him a kiss and grabbed his hand to take him upstairs, but not before telling jack to switch the laundry loads for you.

+++

once you were in luke’s room he began asking you questions about what he had just walked in on.

“well i was stress cleaning and jack walked in on me doing it and somehow got me to tell him about all my problems, if hockey doesn’t work out for him you should tell him to join the counseling field, but after i went a mini rant about what i’ve been fixated on lately he apologized and we talked everything out and i think we are officially on good terms.” you said in one breath, smiling as luke wrapped you up in a hug.

“what about quinn? is everything okay between you two?” you nodded and explained that you had talked it out with him a couple days ago. 

+++

you and luke started getting ready for the dinner party that the hughes brothers were invited to and you were going as luke’s plus one, you didn’t fully understand what it was for but all you knew was that it was a semi-formal event, making it the perfect opportunity to have luke wear the tie you made him a few days prior, the one that matched your soft pink dress. 

as you were doing your makeup luke spoke up again, going back to your conversation from before.

“wait babe, you said that you were stress cleaning. what are you stressed about?” luke asked, walking into the bathroom and leaning against the counter. you looked at him through the mirror and continued applying mascara as you told him.

“about a week ago, after i got the rejection letter, i switched my major to business and entrepreneurship, to pursue a career in fashion. i didn’t tell you because i was nervous on how you would react, and the longer i kept it from you the more stressed out i got. i’m sorry i didn’t tell you sooner, i know how excited you were to be dating a genius and now i’ve let you down.” you looked at his face to see his reaction, but his face wasn’t telling you anything. 

silence took over the bathroom as luke tried to find the right words to say.

“you could never let me down y/n, yes i am a little upset that it took you so long to tell me, but i understand why you did it. i am proud of you and everything you have accomplished so far. so med school isn’t for you? you are going to kick ass in the fashion industry babe, they won’t know what hit them.” he smiled at you before wrapping his arms around your waist and placing his head on your shoulder. “i love you y/n, never doubt that.” 

“i love you too luke.” 

+++

you and luke sat in the living room waiting for his brothers to come downstairs, you began to get a little antsy as you feared you would be late if you didn’t leave in the next five minutes.

“would you two hurry up! y/n is pacing back and forth cursing you guys for making us late.” luke yelled up to his brothers, who quickly made their way downstairs.

“sorry we weren’t sure how to tie these ties.” quinn said once they were both at the bottom of the steps.

you looked up at them and instantly began smiling. “you’re wearing them.”

jack and quinn looked at you, both with huge grins on their faces, before pulling you into a hug. they were wearing the ties you had made them for the holidays, nearly a year ago. 

“we love our gifts.” and “better late than never” were said but you weren’t sure who said which.

you quickly called for luke to stand with his brother so you could take a photo of the three of them. 

“you better post that on your main y/n, show the world you have the coolest future brother in-laws ever.” jack shouted as he raced luke for shotgun. 

you don’t know how you got so lucky.

+++

note: OMG it’s done. this was a bit hard to write because the whole time i was horrified it would flop or people wouldn’t like it, and i’m still horrified lols (the ending is so rushed i don't like it). anyways i hope you enjoyed, feedback is so greatly appreciated. it lets me know what i’m doing that people like and what i could be changing about my writing. just hoping this one does number like lucky did. have a great day, love y’all babes <3!!

[queen-of-reptiles]

𝚂𝙰𝙽𝙳

description: In which chloe kelly's girlfriend is giving all she's got at the world championships of Athletics 2023 - especially after being so close to gold last year

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chloe kelly x female reader

disclaimer: this is all fiction! Do not take any of this seriously, i am in no way saying chloe is bi-sexual or gay!

warnings: language, cuteness, slightly suggestive

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y/n just posted

liked by, chloekelly, bun_bun10 and 1.3 million others

y/n Smiles and Sands :)

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username1: BODYYYYY 🔥🔥

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username2: 🫣🫣

username3: so excited to see you jump!!!!! 👏👏

username4: COME ON Y/N!! ❤️

username5: ❤️🔥

username6: will the author respect anyone who gets the reference of the post's caption??

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username7: yeah I think so ;))

chloekelly: babyyyyyy 😩

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y/n: my loveeeeee 😏

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chloekelly: killing me here! 😫😫

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y/n: get your ass to Budapest then! 😚

bun_bun10: Go y/n!! 🩵

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y/n: love ya! 🩵

lauren_hemp: wooooo! goooo y/n!!

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y/n: 🩵

username8: forgot how much the man city team love her lmao!

alexgreenwood5: 🩵🩵

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y/n: 🩵🩵

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chloekelly just posted on her story

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y/n just posted on their story

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twitter/X

username1: ITS SO FCKING CUTE - CHLOE AND HALF THE MAN CITY TEAM + ALL OF THE LIONESSES ARE IN BUDAPEST RN !!! 😭😭😭

username2: chloe's shirt of 'y/n's my girlfriend' 🥺🥺

username3: throwback to y/n wearing her shirt and screaming in the WWC crowd! 😂

username4: every time the camera zooms back in the crowd to the players the cheers and then the commentators trying not to laugh! 😂🥺

username5: y/n's first jump is up next - I'm so nervous for her!!

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y/n let out a sigh as she stared down the ramp, her lover was watching her with quiet breaths, barely feet apart as the rest of her friends and teammates quietened.

The stadium was silent for a moment, before y/n's hand's clapped, the audience copied and she did it again, and the stadium now boomed with rhythmic claps.

y/n's feet took off, her legs pounding against the track. She was 5ft 9, short for a long jumper, but she was quick, and light and as y/n's foot hit the board, she flung herself forward.

Her legs piked as she pushed her hips forward her body travelling as she was pushed down by gravity, landing on the sand below. She jolted as she landed but instantly stood up and rolled off.

She looked at the measurement, waiting for the green light of valid to appear, which it did. y/n shouted in happiness looking over to her coach who nodded as she moved over to wait for the measurement.

"7.17." The voice called.

y/n screamed in relief, hands flying to her head as she realises the record she had broken in her first jump, the British record. Her competitors all paled at the large first jump but patted her on the back none-the-less.

"Go on kid." The accent of Tara said as she patted the girl on the back and y/n grinned at her. "Got sick of coming second aye?" The American joked and y/n laughed.

y/n moved to the crowd, leaning into her lover who lent over the barrier and whispered words of calming encouragement in her ear as the rest queued up to jump.

Pats on y/n's back from Lauren, Georgia, Leah, and Keira echoed as she and Chloe pulled away. The blonde pressing a kiss to her lover's cheek.

"Jump harder." Lucy said as she and her close friend did their usual handshake.

"Always." y/n grinned as she went to take her seat and prepare for her second jump.

y/n's second jump was 7.15, her third, 7.16. None as good as her first and yet somehow, all still winning jumps. Tara and Ivana followed her into the top three, and at their last jump, the three were proud of what had been done.

SB and PB's had been set and Ivana was at 7.14 and massive jump for the young girl. y/n had to push, use up all she had. She started the clap once more.

She waited, then she threw her arms down, silence echoing the stadium as she then raced down the track, the sound of her foot hitting the board echoed and she leaped.

y/n hit the ground hard and rolled, her hips groaning as she covered herself in the sand, hoping praying as the green light lit up and she gingerly stumbled off the sand.

"7.30." The call ran out.

y/n's head snapped back, her body buckling as she tried to comprehend what had just happened. Screams echoed as Tara groaned aloud, knowing she nor Ivana were going to beat that.

Chloe screamed for her lover as y/n grinned at the crowd, shouting in what she knew was a sure victory. And after Tara had jumped and her gold was confirmed, y/n screamed once more.

The gold which had avoided her so long, which had always slipped from her grasp from a last ditch effort or harsh injury, finally she had it, she had the title which had evaded her. World Champion.

Chloe jumped the barrier, y/n grinning as she caught the blonde who wrapped her legs around her waist. y/n grinned up at her before the blonde lent down and pecked her lips.

"Proud of you." Chloe mumbled into her shoulder as y/n walked her back to the stands, her hands firmly on Chloe's thighs keeping the blonde wrapped in her.

"Couldn't have done it without you lovely." y/n promised her as she placed her back over the barrier. They pulled away and Chloe suddenly groaned.

"I'm covered in sand!" She protests and y/n chuckles as the blonde tries to shake it off, and shake it at a laughing Bunny who shrieks and scrambles away

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chloekelly just posted

liked by, bun_bun10, leahwilliamsonn and 654, 222 others

tagged y/n

chloekelly my baby's got a gold medal... what's yours got?

view 109, 236 comments

username1: they're so cute my heart! 🥺🥺

username2: the way she shouted in victory had me sobbing 😭

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username3: Chloe's face as well 😭

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username4: all of their faces

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username5: her falling to her knees - I CANT 😭😭

lucybronze: we are all very proud of her! 🩵

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chloekelly: that we are! 😭❤️

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y/n: ily both sm omg ❤️

stanwaygeorgia: I think I could do it tbf 🤷‍♀️

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y/n: I'll throw you that far stfu 🙄

bun_bun10: Chloe got me sandy :(

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chloekelly: ooops …

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username6: hahahahahahaha 😂

leahwilliamsonn: I don't get how your legs move like that tho 🧐🧐

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y/n: fold like a deckchair - like you when you had that ninth drink at Maisy's! 😝

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leahwilliamsonn: istg ! 🙄

lauren_hemp: WOOOOOOOO!

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y/n: WOOOOOOO

y/n: ily baby <3 sm

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chloekelly: ily more!

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lucybronze: 🤢🤢

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keirawalsh: LUCY!

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END

fun one on this one boysssssss

I used to b cracking at Long Jump cannae lie

-

queenie xox

[mercymaker]

i spent quite a bit of time thinking, considering my options and wondering if i should even respond to the 'apology' to begin with, but i feel like i've been here before, in this exact same position (i didn't respond to his original 'apology' because it felt off how he omitted the fact that he pretended to be the victim for a whole week, but even then i decided to not say anything and just let the dust settle and give him a chance to learn and do better) and doing nothing eventually just caused more harm. even if i can't reach the other side and find common understanding, i wanted to at least express what's been on my mind for such a long time.

i always try to approach people and situations with understanding and try to assume ignorance instead of malice when someone says or does something i consider questionable or wrong. but i also know we all have our limits. we are all human. and you can't take the heart out of the equation.

one thing in this 'apology' that really stood out to me was this:

how is it not malice to completely disregard another creator, hell, another person and their wishes and feelings when they have made it very clear that your actions are causing them harm?

how is it not malice to outright lie and misrepresent other people and situations in order to portray yourself in a better light?

how is it not malice to disrespect the people you've stolen from and then, after they (by your own words!) rightfully address it and try to bring your actions to light, you then turn around and vilify them to your friends and followers? portray them as bullies and gatekeepers?

all while repeating again and again how the whole experience made you stop creating? as if your actions didn't force people out of this space, this fandom? have you ever sat down to think how the person that made you a 40 minute video tutorial on gif making, the person that taught you so much, no longer makes anything at all because you turned your back on her and copied her sets? kept doing it after she blocked you? after she made text posts expressing how upsetting your behaviour was? you didn't care and kept doing it anyway. even saying things like 'i always credit where credit is due' in response to copying numerous sets from @minthara, down to the caption without ever crediting her.

and if that wasn't enough harm, you then took it a notch further and straight up lied to the people around you, trying to vilify petra and i by saying how the whole thing should've been dealt with in private. how is it not malice to omit the fact that I DID, in fact, reach out to you privately. that i did it in a civil manner. that i tried to explain to you how your actions were wrong and were rightfully upsetting other creators. how you ignored everything i've said and when i expressed that your response (or lack of it) made me uncomfortable and that because of it i couldn't give you permission to 'recreate' (copy) my work, you then insulted me and told me that it didn't matter what i wanted? that you would do as you please and there was nothing i could do about it? how you then immediately blocked me so i couldn't even respond? how is that not malice?

and then this was from your apology back in march:

and you insist that after this 'apology' you've learnt and were never doing anything wrong again and yet you are saying the same thing again in your new 'apology'. how after the march events you went to @galedekarios anyway, asking for permission, didn't wait for her response and posted your copy of her set anyway. which just makes me think that you've never learnt. it just makes it seem that asking people for permission never stemmed from a place of respect and understanding, but from the need to cover your ass in case someone brings the fact that you're still copying up. which someone did, apparently.

at the end of the day, this is my opinion and i might be wrong, but following all of your words and actions, it just seems like you chose notes and attention instead of people. that you kept lying and misrepresenting things and throwing us under the bus for your own gain. and that you only stopped because enough people eventually found out, not because you suddenly felt remorse. and this 'apology' was just another 'ask for permission from a creator', all just for optics. you couldn't even bother to unblock us before posting the 'apology' which just shows how little you were actually thinking about any of us.

[eminentzayn]

went on chatgpt to imagine something and here it is. while it may not happen like this, or may not happen at all, this made me bawl.

ot5. forever AND ever.

A year passed, and life took them all in different directions again, but the loss of Liam had left a lasting impression. Slowly, the boys began to reconnect in small ways—a quick text here, a shared photo there. It felt fragile but comforting, a reminder that the bond they’d built wasn’t so easily broken.

Then, one day, Harry suggested something in the group chat.

“Let’s all meet up for a weekend. Just us. Like old times.”

There was a moment of hesitation as everyone read the message, each of them knowing it would mean facing a lot of feelings, good and bad. But one by one, they all agreed, and the date was set. They chose a quiet seaside cottage, far from prying eyes, a place where they could truly be themselves without the world watching.

When the day arrived, Zayn felt a mixture of excitement and nerves as he pulled up to the cottage. He hadn’t seen everyone together like this in years, and a part of him worried that things wouldn’t be the same. But as he got out of the car, he heard a familiar voice shouting, “Zayn! About time you showed up!”

It was Louis, standing on the porch with a smirk and a glint in his eye. Beside him were Harry and Niall, waving him over with smiles that held a warmth Zayn hadn’t felt in years.

“Come on, mate,” Niall said, clapping him on the back as he joined them. “We’re not letting you sit in the car all day.”

They all walked inside, and Zayn felt a strange sense of comfort as he looked around. It was like stepping back in time—no cameras, no fans, no expectations, just the four of them. They spent the first few hours catching up, talking about their lives, the places they’d traveled, the music they were working on. But as night fell, the conversation naturally drifted to Liam.

Louis cleared his throat, his voice softer than usual. “I still can’t believe he’s gone. It feels like he’s just… on tour or something, you know?”

Harry nodded, his gaze distant. “He’d probably be here laughing at us right now. Telling us to stop being so sentimental.”

The others chuckled, and the room filled with a bittersweet warmth as they shared stories about Liam—his terrible dad jokes, the way he’d always try to keep everyone together, how he’d check in on each of them even when they hadn’t spoken in a while.

“I always thought he’d be the one to pull us all back together someday,” Zayn admitted quietly, glancing around. “But maybe… maybe we’re doing that for him.”

Niall smiled, eyes misty but warm. “I think he’d be happy to see us here. Like this.”

They spent the night reminiscing, laughing until they cried, letting themselves remember the good without shying away from the hard parts. There was a healing in the air, a sense that the years apart had faded in the face of the love they all shared.

As dawn broke, they stood together on the porch, watching the sun rise over the sea. Without a word, Louis raised a hand, and one by one, the others joined in, forming a quiet circle.

“To Liam,” Louis said softly, his voice steady. “To family.”

They stood there in silence, letting the weight of the moment settle. And in the quiet, Zayn felt something he hadn’t in years—a sense of peace, of unity, of coming home.

For the first time in a long time, he knew that this wasn’t the end but a new beginning. They would go their separate ways again, but now they had something to carry forward—a bond that had survived everything life had thrown at them and come out stronger.

Months after their emotional reunion at the cottage, the idea began to stir among them—tentative at first, like a distant echo of something familiar. It started with small hints and jokes in the group chat. Niall would drop a cheeky “When’s practice, lads?” or Harry would send a throwback clip of them singing in perfect harmony, captioned with a nostalgic “Miss this.”

Then one night, Harry brought it up seriously: “What if we did a proper reunion? For us, for him… for everyone who’s been with us through it all.”

The group chat went silent for a moment. Then, Louis replied, “He’d love that, wouldn’t he? Us back on stage, doing what we did best.”

Zayn was the last to respond, but after a long pause, he finally typed: “Let’s do it. One more time. For Liam.”

The planning began in earnest, and the excitement was infectious. Each of them felt a mix of nerves and anticipation as they worked through old songs, rewrote harmonies, and thought about how to honor Liam in a way that felt true. They kept the news close, wanting to rehearse quietly without the public’s eye, but the anticipation grew with every session. Zayn felt a mix of nostalgia and healing in the rehearsals, finding himself laughing and harmonizing with the others as naturally as he had all those years ago.

Then came the day of the concert. They’d chosen a modest venue—a surprise show for a small, intimate audience of fans who had been with them from the start. The night was dedicated to Liam, with the stage bearing his initials subtly woven into the set design. Backstage, as they gathered before going on, they took a moment in silence, letting the enormity of what they were about to do sink in.

“Ready, boys?” Louis asked, his voice carrying that familiar confidence they’d all relied on.

Harry put his arm around Zayn, pulling him into a huddle. “One last time,” he said, his eyes shining with both excitement and a hint of tears.

When they stepped on stage, the crowd’s roar was deafening. They started with their classics, the music filling the space like it had never left, voices blending in harmony as naturally as breathing. And through it all, they felt Liam’s presence in every note, in every shared glance.

In the middle of the set, they took a pause. Harry, standing center stage, addressed the audience. “This one’s for our brother, Liam,” he said softly, the crowd falling silent. “For everything he gave us, and everything he stood for.”

As they sang a song in his honor—a heartfelt ballad they’d written together during rehearsals—the audience lit up the venue with their phones, the lights flickering like stars. The moment felt eternal, a tribute not just to Liam, but to everything they’d been through together.

The night ended with a sense of triumph, of peace. Backstage, they hugged, laughter and tears mingling, feeling like they’d finally come full circle. The show had been more than just a concert; it had been a celebration of everything they’d shared, everything they’d overcome.

In the end, they knew that they didn’t need to officially reunite as a band to keep their bond alive. They had each other, their memories, and the strength to move forward. And as they left the venue together, they felt the presence of their fifth member, still with them, always.

After that intimate tribute concert, word of the boys' reunion spread like wildfire. Fans flooded social media with posts, sharing stories and photos from that unforgettable night, begging for more. The response was overwhelming. Every comment, every message carried the same sentiment: “Come back. We need you.”

For weeks, they each sat with the idea, trying to figure out if they were ready to take this journey together again. It wasn’t until one late night call—started by Niall, who had “a bit too much wine” and ended with all four of them on the line, laughing, joking, and reminiscing—that they decided it was time. They would reunite, for real.

They met in London to discuss logistics. Sitting around a table that reminded them of their early days, they made plans with a mixture of excitement and nerves. They talked about what a tour could look like, how they’d balance it with their solo projects, and—most importantly—how to honor Liam in a way that felt true to their history and to him. They decided on a tour, a mix of their old classics and new songs they’d write together, dedicated to the journey they’d shared and the brother they’d lost.

The announcement came on social media one afternoon, and it shook the internet. Their joint message read:

"It’s been a long road, and we’ve been through it all. We’ve laughed, we’ve cried, we’ve grown. And now, we’re ready to come back—together. This is for us, for you, and for the one who’s with us always. See you soon."

The world erupted. Fans around the globe shared their joy, disbelief, and excitement, calling it the return they’d always hoped for. Ticket sales were staggering, selling out in minutes, and the demand was so high that they added more dates across cities they hadn’t visited in years.

Rehearsals were intense, bringing back the camaraderie and the late-night laughs, but also reminding them of how far they’d come. The memories were everywhere, and they poured their hearts into preparing, sharing ideas for new songs and ways to celebrate their roots. Zayn, feeling both nerves and excitement, opened up more than he had in years, reconnecting with each of them on a deeper level.

When the tour finally kicked off, they walked onto the stage to a sea of screaming fans, their familiar faces lighting up the arena. It was electric, like no time had passed. They launched into their first song, and it was as if all those years of separation melted away, their voices blending, their energy sparking as one. Every performance, every harmony carried a weight and a warmth that wasn’t there before. They were different people now, yet somehow exactly the same.

One of the most powerful moments came each night when they’d dedicate a song to Liam. A spotlight would shine on an empty mic stand, and the crowd would sing along, filling the space with love. It became the emotional core of each show, a way to honor him and remind everyone of the bond that had brought them all together.

As the tour rolled on, they found something they didn’t know they’d lost—a renewed sense of family, of purpose. And as they played their last show, they knew that this reunion wasn’t an end, but a new beginning. For them, for Liam, and for the millions who had been part of their journey all along.

From his place above, Liam watched it all unfold, a soft smile tugging at his lips. There was no pain here, just a warm, endless peace that wrapped around him, yet somehow, he could still feel the love, laughter, and even the ache of those he’d left behind. Watching his brothers find their way back to each other felt like the best gift he could have received.

He saw them in that first reunion at the cottage, each of them carrying their own burdens, their own memories of what once was. He watched them sit around that old table, sharing stories and finally letting go of the hurt they’d all kept hidden. He felt pride swell within him, so big it seemed to fill the heavens. It was strange—he couldn’t touch them or speak to them, yet somehow, he knew they felt him there, just as he felt every bit of their love.

When they decided to go on tour, to finally reunite for real, Liam found himself caught between laughter and tears. He knew they’d joked about it before, that he’d always been the one trying to keep them together, like an unspoken glue. And here they were, taking that leap, not just for him but for themselves, for the brotherhood they’d built. It was like watching a dream come true, one he didn’t know he’d been holding onto even here.

Every show, every rehearsal, he could see the sparks rekindling—the way they laughed with ease, the glances of unspoken understanding. It was as if those years apart had only strengthened their bond, filling it with a depth he knew only came from real love and shared loss. And when they dedicated that special song to him each night, he felt an indescribable warmth that seemed to fill all of heaven. He could hear every word, feel the energy of the crowd as they sang, filling that empty space where he once stood.

From up here, he whispered to them in his own way, sending little signs they’d know were just for them: a familiar tune playing on the radio when they least expected it, a glimmer of sunlight breaking through on a rainy day, the comforting feeling that they were never truly alone. And each time they felt those small, serendipitous moments, he saw their eyes soften, knew they felt his presence too.

As he watched them finish the tour, their final show carrying every ounce of love and joy and heartache they’d been through, he knew they’d be okay. He’d always be part of them, a silent thread in the music they’d continue to create, the memories they’d continue to make. And though he couldn’t be there in body, he’d forever be with them in spirit, in every harmony they sang and every stage they stepped on.

And as he looked down, his smile grew wider, knowing they would keep him alive in every note, every laugh, every shared moment that lay ahead. Heaven was beautiful, but there was nothing quite like the magic they made together—and Liam knew that, somehow, he’d be with them forever.

[marcelloshdz]

surprise, surprise

summary: marcello surprising you at work requested by anonymous.

you were sitting in your trailer on set, after what had already been a long morning. you were coming up on the end of your movie shoot, and unfortunately, that meant for longer days on set as you were going through reshoots and the director and producers were trying to wrap everything up. 

you were reading lines fron one of the scenes you were shooting today. fortunately, it was a shorter one for you, so you didnt have to be on the screen much. you were in the middle of a line when you heard a knock on the door, which you presumed was a PA grabbing you to head back to set. 

you opened your trailer door, eyes widening and jaw dropping as soon as you laid eyes on who was standing there. 

“marcello!? what are you doing here?” you exclaimed, excitedly jumping into his arms. 

“i needed to come see you. youve been having such long shoot days, and ive missed having you at home.” he said, a small pout pulling on his lips. you pulled out of the hug and pressed a sweet kiss to his lips. 

“im so happy to see you.” you said, fighting tears. 

“so? are you free? can i take you to lunch?” he asked you. just then, a PA came by and announced that everyone was breaking for lunch. 

“i guess so.” you smiled. 

marcello took you to lunch at a near by restaurant, the two of you enjoying your meal. you hadn’t realized how much you actually did miss spending time with him like this while your movie was shooting. the shooting schedule had already gone longer than expected, and you were unfortunately pulled away from home for long periods of time. usually, he was okay with it, since he had a busy work life too, but he’d had an unexpected amounts of time off recently that he wished he was able to spend with you. 

after your meal, marcello took you back to set and walked with you back to your trailer. 

“thank you for lunch.” you said to him as you stood outside your trailer door. 

“me too.” he said, wrapping his arms around you and pulling you into him. he leaned down and pressed a kiss to each of your cheeks. “what time do you think you’ll be getting home?” he asked. 

“hopefully not too late. i really dont think we have that much left to do around here, so should be around dinner time.” you said. “i’ll text you when i leave and i can pick us up something to eat.”

“sounds good.” he smiled. you shared another kiss and said your goodbyes as you had to get back to work. 

later that evening, you were finally wrapping things up on set. you were fortunately able to leave a bit later than you expected, so you text marcello and let him know that you were on your way home. you stopped for food at a restaurant close to your house that you and marcello frequented, and they knew you there. you ordered your usual meals, then you were finally home. 

you walked into the living room to marcello lounging on the couch watching tv. you joined him, spreading out your food on the coffee table. soft chatter began flowing between the two of you as you ate and watched the show. 

later that evening, you eere laying in bed, mindlessly scrolling on your phone. you were on tikok, when marcello came up in your following feed. 

“come with me to surprise my girlfriend at work” the captions on his video read. you smiled to yourself, immediately replaying the events in your head. 

you watched as he went through his morning routing, got dressed, and made his way to the set. he’d text someone he knew who was also working on the movie to help get him past security and lead him to where you were actually shooting. you were getting giddy all over again, watching him make his way to your trailer, you reunion and leaving with him. you were surprised he’d made it that far and you never even realized he was filming any of it. 

you were reading through some of the top comments, everyone saying how cute the two of you were and how happy they were to see this moment between the two of you. you couldn’t believe that so many people had already seen the video in the couple of hours it was up. 

“i love you so much. 🥺🥺” you commented. you watched the video one more time before closing out of the app and putting your phone on the charger. 

marcello had finally joined you in bed, and you made yourself comfortable in his arms. you felt him press a kiss to the top of your head before wishing you a goodnight and turning out the light. he tightened his arms around you, both of you drifting off into sweet sleep. 

[thebunnednun]

Whispers of the Heart Dracule Mihawk x Fm! Reader (Part 4)

I do not own the artwork its by: @xuchuan25 Tell them they're amazing y'all!

Chapter 4 in the building y'all!!!! I just needed to see my Buggy.

Part 1 can be found: Here

Part 2 is right: Here

Part 3: Right over yonder

Don't be afraid to send me any requests my loves and if you are waiting for the next installment I have another Mihawk story:

*Shadows of the Blade (Dracule Mihawk x Assassin reader)

If you like sexy swordplay and themes of overcoming trauma then this is the story for you!. If you wanna skip to the good stuff try chapter 3.

Backstory:

You've been Dracule Mihawk's personal maid and housekeeper for what feels like an eternity. Let's cut to the chase – you're a badass, sweetheart. Sexy, cool, and confident, with a reputation that precedes you. Been friends with the stoic man for eons by now.

Everyone knows you or knows of you, and it's not just because you keep Mihawk's castle running like a well-oiled machine.

So what happens when you develop feelings for your old friend and boss?

What does he do when he comes home to find you in his room without your panties?

Also, muneca-chan= baby doll

ON WITH THE SHOW!!~

________________Chapter 4: A Clown's Counsel___________________

"Everything is going to be fine," you murmur softly, your voice echoing faintly into the open air. 

Your heart pounds with a mixture of excitement and nervousness as you stand alone in the vast, empty waters of the ocean. With a determined expression, you whisper reassuring words to yourself, trying to quell the rising tide of anxiety.

"You've locked down the castle securely. You just need to make this quick trip and return before Mihawk, Perona, and Zoro even realize you're gone." Taking a deep breath, you glance around the dimly lit deck one last time before turning your attention to your bag.

With meticulous care, you rummage through its contents, double-checking that you have everything you need for your journey. Each item holds a significance, a memory of past adventures and encounters that fuels your determination.

'I am a pirate queen of all the oceans. I was raised on an island in the Grand line and chose to live a life of peace. I can fucking sail a boat!'

After hanging up with Shanks last night, you decided to get up and moving if you were going to make your trip in time. Mihawk rarely ever sent word of his return home, unless he wanted a specific dinner and wine waiting for him.

You knew you'd have anywhere from a few days to two months before you saw him again. With a long sigh, you held your face in your hands for a moment of calm. 

The weather had turned for the worst overnight leaving you to sail the nearby waters in the middle of a rain storm. But, you honestly didn't mind one bit. It reminded you of your home island and like the homesick tall-child you were, you stood there on your little boat without a jacket or umbrella.

Call you crazy, but you wished for it to rain harder so all the confusing emotions inside you could be washed away somehow. Looking behind you, your eyes caught the slight glimmer of two familiar objects looking out of the bag behind you.

"Mhm," walking over, you reached inside, allowing your fingers to grasp the handle of two familiar old friends. The golden ridges caught the light from your dimming lantern.

Two identical machetes gleamed back at you, a parting gift from your mother. Your native tongue etched into the blade, they possessed a soft hum, almost whispering out to you. The temptation to harness your belt on and feel them resting on your hips again was almost irresistible. But instead, you drew your bag closed over them and set it down once more.

Constantly fighting for your life and the life of your crew mates was not something you missed about the old life. Yes, battles of honor were fun and sometimes even lead to creating new friends, however, there were too many attempts of pure murder. 

As a caption, you very much followed Gold Rodgers example of what a pirate should be. However, you also believed in not looking for fights. Now, you weren't out of practice by any means, Mihawk would never allow that.

But you could feel yourself adjust instantly to this old way of living and it kinda bothered you. However, resisting the temptation let you know that you were still you. 

You really have come so far in life. <3

Satisfied that you are well-prepared, you make your way to the shores of a nearby island, your footsteps echoing softly in the silence of the night. As you reach the edge of the water, you pause, your gaze scanning the horizon with a sense of anticipation.

Knowing that discretion is key, you reach into your bag once more, retrieving a carefully crafted cloak. The rumors of your death would fool the general public, but not other pirates or worse- fame hungry pirate captions.

You disappeared under the deck for a moment to find an old mirror. Then with practiced precision, you transform your appearance, concealing your identity behind a clever facade. As you adjust the final details of your disguise, you feel a surge of confidence wash over you. A small smile reaches your lips before a giggle slips out.

'Shanks would love this.'

With your transformation complete, you set off along the shoreline, your eyes scanning the surroundings for any sign of activity. This island was Buggy's last known location, and you are determined to find him. Every step brings you closer to your goal, your senses heightened with anticipation.

'Now or never.'

As you navigate the sandy shores, the salty breeze caresses your cheeks, invigorating your spirit with a sense of adventure. The moon hangs low in the sky, casting a soft glow upon the landscape, guiding your way through the darkness.

With each passing moment, your anticipation grows, fueled by the promise of reunion and the thrill of the unknown. Your senses are sharp, attuned to the subtlest of sounds and movements, as you scan the surroundings for any sign of life.

And then, in the distance, you catch a glimpse of movement—a flicker of movement amidst the shadows.

A big top. 

Without a second thought, you take off running in that direction. Unworried about the rain, you can barely hear the sound of your feet hitting the muddy ground over your pounding heart. Your breath quickens with excitement as you draw closer, your footsteps quickening with each stride.

"No you fucking shit head, it's WRONG!"

"Found you!"

Finally reaching the tent, you poked inside to see where that lovable asshole was. Ducking under the bleachers, you watched as a tall familiar figure threw a barrage of insults at some huddled performers. Several freaks were passing and going throughout the chaos to practice their acts and hone their talents. 

Amidst a flurry of activity, stood Buggy, his presence commanding attention amidst the chaos. You pause for a moment, watching him rehearse with his performers, a fond smile playing at the corners of your lips.

"If you can't get the lion to dance by this Friday, I am going to eat him. I don't give a FUCK how chewy he is!"

There stood a timid man with an animal that cowered before the infamous caption of the East Blue.

Ever the drama queen, Buggy's appearance was as flamboyant and eccentric as ever. He stood tall and proud, his colorful attire adorned with sequins and feathers that shimmered in the light. His hair, a riotous explosion of bright blue curls, framed his face in wild abandon, adding to his larger-than-life persona. His eyes, usually twinkling with mischief and charm, were now almost bloodshot and darted around the room, taking in every detail with a keen sense of curiosity. 

You can't help but chuckle at Buggy's theatrics, a familiar warmth spreading through your chest at the sight of him. Despite his bombastic demeanor, you know there's a soft side to him that few ever see.

As the chaos around him continues, you take a moment to compose yourself before stepping out from your hiding spot. With a mischievous grin, you call out to him in a teasing tone:

"Now that's not nice and you know it." 

Buggy's head snaps up at the sound of your voice, "We're closed right now!"

"Oh, this dumbass." You roll your eyes under the hood before pulling it from your head. His eyes widening in surprise before a wide grin splits his face. Without a moment's hesitation, he strides forward, his arms open wide in welcome.

"Well, well, well, if it isn't my favorite troublemaker," he replies, his voice carrying a hint of amusement. With a dramatic flourish, he strides over to you, sweeping you into a tight hug that almost knocks the breath out of you.

Finding yourself unable to keep your composer, you giggle into the chest of the shockingly 6'5 man and snuggle into his chest to quil the ache in your heart, returning his embrace with just as much intensity.

"How've you been, sis?" he asks, his voice filled with genuine concern as he pulls back to look at you, his hands resting on the apples of your cheeks.

You relish in the familiar comfort of his presence. "Oh, you know, same old same old," you reply, trying to play it cool despite the category 8 hurricane of emotions swirling within you. "Just thought I'd drop by and say hello."

Buggy quirks an eyebrow at your casual tone, his eyes sparkling with amusement. "Oh really? Or is there something else on your mind?" he teases, giving your left cheek a playful pinch with his fingers.

You roll your eyes, unable to suppress a laugh at his antics. "Maybe a little bit of both," you admit, your voice softening as you meet his gaze.

"I've missed you, Buggy. It's been too long."

Buggy's expression softens, his eyes reflecting the sincerity of your words. "I've missed you too, [Name]," he replies, his voice gentle as he squeezes your shoulders affectionately. "But something tells me there's more to this visit than just catching up."

You let out a sigh, knowing you can't hide anything from Buggy. "You know me too well," you admit, a small smile tugging at the corners of your lips. "There's something I need to talk to you about."

As Buggy's eyebrows furrow in concern, his gaze searching yours for any hint of distress, you take a deep breath, gathering the courage to confide in him. "What's wrong?" he asks, his voice filled with genuine concern.

You glance briefly at his performers, then lock eyes with Buggy again, a sense of urgency gripping your heart. "Got a place where we can chat in private?" you inquire, your voice barely above a whisper.

Buggy's expression flickers to something fierce, a glint of determination in his sea-green eyes as he analyzes you. Without a word, he stands tall, his shoulders squared, commanding the attention of his crew.

"Everyone is to keep performing," he announces firmly, his voice cutting through the air like a whip. "And when I come back, that lion better know how to tap dance or I'm making good on my promise!" His crew responds with a chorus of "Eye Sir's!" before Buggy ushers you away, leading you to a different part of the tent.

With swift efficiency, he pushes you inside a dressing room adorned with a star, the blue clown's symbol adorning the door. As you step inside, the door closes behind you with a soft click, enveloping you in a cocoon of privacy.

Taking a moment to collect your thoughts, you brace yourself for the conversation ahead, knowing that Buggy's keen intuition will leave no stone unturned. As you await his prompting, you can't help but feel a sense of gratitude for his unwavering support, even in the face of your deepest secrets.

The dressing room is a small, cozy space adorned with whimsical decorations that reflect the flamboyant nature of its occupants. The walls are painted a soothing shade of sky blue, with colorful streamers cascading from the ceiling, adding a playful touch to the atmosphere.

In one corner of the room, a vanity table sits adorned with an assortment of makeup and accessories, its surface gleaming under the soft glow of a dim lamp. A large mirror framed in ornate gold stands at the center, reflecting the room's eclectic charm.

Against the opposite wall, a row of hooks holds an array of costumes, each garment more vibrant and extravagant than the last. Sequins sparkle in the light, and feathers flutter gently as if caught in an unseen breeze.

In the center of the room, a plush red armchair beckons invitingly, its cushions adorned with polka dots in varying shades of blue. A small side table sits nearby, stacked with magazines and trinkets, offering a glimpse into the eclectic tastes of its occupants. The air is tinged with the faint scent of powder and perfume, a lingering reminder of the performers who call this space their own.

Despite its small size, the dressing room exudes an undeniable sense of warmth and camaraderie, a sanctuary where secrets are shared and dreams take flight.

Walking over to the vanity, you plucked a familiar red lipstick off the dresser before turning it in your fingers. "Ya know, I used to hate when you'd steal my lipstick," Buggy joked softly, crossing his arms over the swell of his chest. 

Upon hearing his words, your fingers instinctively squeeze the familiar red lipstick perched on the edge of the dresser. You hold it tighter, feeling its smooth texture against your skin, a sense of nostalgia washing over you. Looking up in the vanity mirror, you make eye contact with Buggy. His eyes sparkle with fond memories, a playful glint dancing in their depths.

You chuckle softly at his remark, a smile tugging at the corners of your lips as you remember the countless times you had playfully raided his makeup collection. "Well, you always did have the best shade of red," you tease back, your voice laced with affection.

Setting the lipstick back down on the vanity, you turn to face Buggy, the warmth of his presence filling the room. Despite the gravity of the conversation looming between you, his easy demeanor brings a sense of comfort, grounding you in the present moment. 

(You know shits bad when you gotta go to the crazy killer pirate clown for advice and comfort. Love and life advice at that!)

As you lean against the vanity, the soft glow of the lamp casting a warm hue across your features, you find yourself lost in a moment of quiet contemplation. Memories of past adventures with Buggy flood your mind, each one a vibrant snapshot of the bond you share.

"You know," Buggy begins, his tone softening as he meets your gaze, "I've missed having you around. Things just haven't been the same without your antics to liven up the place."

His words stir something deep within you, a mixture of gratitude and longing intertwining in your heart. Despite the passage of time and the distance between you, the connection you share with Buggy remains steadfast, a beacon of light in the darkness.

"I've missed you too," you admit, your voice barely above a whisper.

"It's been lonely without you."

A flicker of sadness crosses Buggy's features, his gaze softening with empathy. "I know, sweetheart," he says gently, reaching out to gently brush a stray lock of hair from your face. "But you're here now, and that's all that matters." You gently grasp the back of his hand that cradles your face. Almost afraid that you'll wake up in that cold and empty castle again. The warmth of Buggy's palm anchors you to the human world.

In that moment, as you stand together in the quiet intimacy of the dressing room, you are reminded of the strength of your bond with Buggy. Through thick and thin, laughter and tears, you know that he will always be there for you, ready to offer his support and unwavering friendship.

No matter the situation, you'd always been there to defend Buggy and build each other's esteem up. Even Mihawk knew not to slip up when talking about the Flashy Jester if he didn't want to be shanked again. 

Speaking of Mihawk-

"So, you gonna tell me why you showed up all of a sudden instead of sending a letter or are we gonna stand here quietly together?" His voice snapping you out of your thoughts with the buzz of its low tone.

"Don't get me wrong muneca-chan, I love seeing you." He softly muses, stepping closer towards you until he pulled the stool from under the vanity out and sits you on it before dropping into his own red chair. 

"But something tells me there's more to this visit than just catching up."

You let out a sigh, knowing you can't hide anything from Buggy. "You know me too well," you admit, a small smile tugging at the corners of your lips. "There's something really important I need to talk to you about. Shanks already knows before he called me last night, stop making that face, and you can't tell anyone else under any circumstances!"

Buggy's eyebrows furrow in concern, his gaze searching yours for any hint of distress. "What's wrong?" he asks, his voice filled with genuine concern.

Taking a deep breath, you gather your thoughts before speaking. "It's about love," you begin, your voice barely above a whisper. "I... I think I have feelings for someone, Buggy."

"I think I'm in love."

Buggy's eyes widen in surprise, his expression shifting from concern to understanding.

"Ah, love," he murmurs, his voice soft with sympathy. "Love can be a tricky thing, especially when it comes to matters of the heart."

You nod, grateful for his understanding. "I just don't know what to do," you admit, your voice tinged with uncertainty. "I'm torn between staying here and following my heart."

Buggy places a comforting hand on your shoulder, his touch grounding you in the midst of your turmoil. "Listen to me, [Name]," he says, his voice gentle yet firm. "You can't let fear hold you back from pursuing what makes you happy. If you have feelings for someone, then you owe it to yourself to explore them, regardless of the outcome."

You take in his words, feeling a sense of clarity wash over you. "Thank you, Buggy," you say softly, your voice filled with gratitude. "I needed to hear that."

Buggy gives you a reassuring smile, his eyes sparkling with warmth. "Anytime, sis," he replies, giving your shoulder a comforting squeeze.

"Now, let's hear who the lucky one is!" 

Your smile stiffens before you whisper out quietly. Buggy frowns and leans closer from his chair.

"What's that, starshine?" 

As you gather your thoughts, the weight of your confession is lingering heavy in the air. Buggy's concern deepens, his brow furrowing as he leans in closer, his eyes searching yours for any sign of hesitation.

With a sigh, you summon the courage to speak, your voice barely above a whisper. "It's... it's Mihawk," you confess, your words hanging in the air like a delicate thread.

Buggy's eyes widen in surprise, his expression a mixture of shock and understanding. "Mihawk?" he repeats, his voice tinged with disbelief.

"As in, Dracule Mihawk?"

You nod slowly, feeling a sense of relief wash over you as the truth finally comes to light. "Yes, Mihawk," you confirm, your voice steady despite the turmoil raging within you. "I... I think I'm in love with him."

Buggy's initial reaction catches you off guard. His eyebrows shoot up in surprise, and for a moment, a look of concern flashes across his face. "Wait, hold on a second," he says, his voice tinged with disbelief.

"Are you serious?"

You nod, feeling a pang of uncertainty creeping in. "Yes, Buggy," you reply, your voice barely above a whisper. "I know it sounds crazy, but... I think I might be in love with him."

Buggy's expression darkens, his features contorting into a mixture of shock and concern. "Are you feeling okay?" he asks, his voice laced with worry. "I mean, have you been feeling sick or something?"

You shake your head, a sense of frustration bubbling up within you. "No, Buggy, I'm not sick," you retort, a hint of irritation seeping into your tone. "I'm serious about this."

Buggy lets out a frustrated sigh, running a hand through his wild blue hair. "Look, muneca-chan," he begins, his voice taking on a more serious tone. "This isn't something to take lightly. Mihawk is... well, he's not exactly the most approachable guy, you know? And besides, he's your boss, for crying out loud!"

You feel a surge of defiance rising within you. "I know all of that, Buggy," you say firmly, your voice unwavering. "But I can't help how I feel."

Buggy's frustration mounts, and suddenly he's popping his hands off in a fit of anger.

"Has he been trying to feel up on you? OW- OKAY! PUT THE PALLET DOWN THAT ONE WAS EXPENSIVE!" 

While you were holding his makeup hostage, the clown was now rubbing where his hair brush had struck his pectoral. Slowly, you sat back down in the chair as he regarded you like a wild hellcat. A pit of dread now knotted your stomach. 

"I'm not joking Buggy, I need thoughts!" 

"And prayers, you're gonna need them with that eagle- NOT THE FUCKING FACE!" You lobbed a jar of hair cream at him before breaking down in the vanity stool. "Don't be an ass okay! I didn't say anything about you and Shanks!" You gasped, hoping that your voice wouldn't crack any further. 

The weight of your words hangs heavily in the air, and you realize just how much you've been holding back. "I... I'm sorry," you stammer, guilt washing over you as hot, fat tears slip from the corners of your eyes.

Before you can even register it, Buggy has crossed the room in a few quick strides and scooped you up into his strong arms, returning to his chair and settling you onto his lap like a small child.

With your face pressed into his striped shirt, you let the dam burst, unleashing all the pent-up tears you've been holding back. Buggy's hand runs soothingly over your back, cradling your head to his chest as he murmurs comforting words.

Reaching into his sleeve, he pulls out a ridiculously long handkerchief, prompting some weak laughter from you despite your tears.

"You've been doing that corny ass joke since we were kids," you sniffle, gingerly wiping your nose before he tosses the hanky into the wastebasket.

"Yeah, well, it still gets a laugh outta ya, so I'ma keep on with it," Buggy replies with a soft smile. He gazes down at you with those piercing eyes of his, scanning your face with a mixture of concern and affection.

Buggy lets out another exasperated sigh, his frustration evident but tempered by genuine worry. "Look, muneca-chan, I get it," he says, his voice gentler now. "Love can make you do crazy things, feel crazy things. But you need to be careful. Mihawk... he's a complicated guy. He's got a lot of walls up, and he's not exactly known for being... well, open-hearted. I know you guys are friends and I was shocked he let you stay with him. But love is a whole different ball game."

You nod, feeling a bit more grounded by his words and presence. "I know he's complicated, Buggy," you say, your voice steadier now. "But I can't help how I feel. I just needed to tell someone, to get it off my chest."

Buggy holds you a little tighter, his grip reassuring. "Well, you've told me now, and we'll figure this out together," he promises. "Just don't go making any rash decisions, okay? Take your time, think things through. And remember, no matter what happens, you've got me in your corner."

His words, laced with both caution and encouragement, bring a small but genuine smile to your face. "Thank you, Buggy," you whisper, leaning into his embrace. "I don't know what I'd do without you."

"Anytime, starshine," he replies softly, pressing a gentle kiss to the top of your head. "We'll get through this, one step at a time." He wipes the tears from your face with his warm thumbs, "But promise me you'll be careful, okay? I don't want to see you get hurt."

You can see the genuine concern in Buggy's eyes, and it touches your heart. Despite his gruff exterior, you know that he cares deeply for you, and his protective instincts are kicking in full force.

You nod, grateful for his understanding. "I just don't know what to do," you admit, your voice tinged with uncertainty. "I'm torn between staying here and following my heart."

Buggy places a comforting hand on your shoulder, his touch grounding you in the midst of your turmoil. "Listen to me, sis," he says, his voice gentle yet firm. "You can't let fear hold you back from pursuing what makes you happy. If you have feelings for Mihawk, then you owe it to yourself to explore them, regardless of the outcome." Your eyes glance over his right pec, knowing what picture was hidden inside that pocket. 

"But here's the thing about love, [Name]. It's not always easy to understand, and it's certainly not always convenient. But when you find someone who makes your heart skip a beat, someone who makes you feel alive in a way you've never felt before, well, you'd be a fool not to hold onto that with both hands."

Buggy's gaze softens, his features morphing into a look of genuine empathy. "Love is a complicated thing," he murmurs, his voice filled with compassion. "But if Mihawk is the one who holds your heart, then you owe it to yourself to pursue those feelings."

He gives you a reassuring smile, his eyes reflecting the depth of his friendship and loyalty. "You'll figure it out, sis," he says, his voice filled with confidence. "And remember, I'll always be here for you, no matter what."

His words struck a chord deep within you, resonating with the turmoil of emotions that had been swirling inside you since Mihawk's departure. Suddenly, everything seemed to fall into place, the confusion and uncertainty giving way to a newfound clarity. Buggy gives you a reassuring smile, his eyes sparkling with warmth.

"Anytime, [Name]," he replies, giving your shoulder a comforting squeeze.

You nod, grateful for Buggy's understanding and support. "Thank you, Buggy," you whisper softly , a sense of gratitude flooding your heart. "I needed to hear that."

As you stand wrapped in Buggy's embrace, you feel a sense of relief wash over you. His arms are strong and comforting, a reminder of the unwavering bond you share. But as he pulls back, a toothy grin spreads across his face, and you catch a glimpse of a familiar, sinister gleam in his eyes.

"And if he fucks up," Buggy says, his voice low and menacing, "there's gonna be one less Warlord in the sea."

The way he says it sends a shiver down your spine, and you can't help but chuckle nervously. Buggy's expression is a mix of protective determination and a hint of madness that you've come to recognize over the years. His blue curls frame his face, giving him an almost theatrical appearance, but you know better than to underestimate the seriousness behind his words.

His gaze sharpens, and for a moment, the room seems to grow darker as he continues. "I mean it, muneca-chan. Mihawk might be a badass with that big-ass sword of his, but he's no match for my flashy tricks. One wrong move, and I'll make sure he regrets it."

Buggy's eyes glint with a dangerous intensity, and you can tell that his big-brother instincts are in overdrive. Despite his eccentricities, you know that he would go to great lengths to ensure your happiness and safety. You reach out to place a hand on his arm, squeezing gently to remind him that you appreciate his concern.

"I know you would, Buggy," you say softly, a smile tugging at the corners of your lips. "But let's hope it doesn't come to that. I just needed to talk to someone who understands."

Buggy's expression softens at your words, the sinister edge fading as he looks at you with genuine affection. "Yeah, yeah," he mutters, rolling his eyes playfully. "Just remember, I'm always here for you, no matter what."

With that, he pulls you into another tight hug, his embrace warm and reassuring. You know that no matter what challenges lie ahead, you'll always have Buggy by your side, ready to offer his unwavering support and friendship—even if it means taking on a Warlord of the sea.

"I don't know what I'd do without you."

"Probably live a very boring and un-flashy life."

"Oh no~, what a nightmare, HEY!"

He flashed you a smile as you held your recently pinched side. 

"Now, let's get you set up to spend the night. We've got a lot to catch up on." 

______________________________________________________________

And that wraps up chapter 4 of this series. Oh I am going to make you all work for 'that' delicious chapter.~

Part 5 is now posted.

At the time of this being posted, 5/19/2024, there is a poll ongoing for what, you, the lovely readers, would love to be called. Be sure to cast your votes!!

Make sure you check out the a03 account by the same name. Everything I have posted here is there in chronological order. I also have a few Buggy the Clown x Reader's posted in the masterlist! Give it a read if you please!

Be sure to check out my other works and leave likes and comments, they really help. Drop a follow as well if you please. Don’t be shy to leave me a little reblog if you want.

I promise I bite~

Seen you soon my loves!!~ <<33

[lnfours]

summer loving (ten) ⎸t.h

⌙ summary: your mom and tom’s mom grew up together, swearing that their kids would be life long friends. and it was true, the holland boys were a special part of your life. but on the annual trip to their beach house this summer, everything feels different. and that’s because it is.

⌙ au: based on the book and tv show ‘the summer i turned pretty’ by jenny han. childhood friends to lovers

⌙ wc: 3.7k

⌙ warnings: fluff, fluff, and more fluff. mentions of anxiety/panic attack, some language, tom is a certified softie, idk. i love these two so much.

⌙ pairing: tom holland x fem!reader

masterlist ⎸ chapter nine  ⎸ chapter eleven ⎸ listen

                                ─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

you felt your heart jump into your throat as you stood up, ignoring tom’s voice calling your name. a group of people have gathered around your table, asking if you were ‘shawn mendes’ mystery girl’. people were staring, looking back and forth from their phones back to you, trying to piece it together.

because if you were supposedly with shawn mendes, why were you out with tom holland?

you pushed past the people crowding around you, awkwardly saying ‘excuse me’ as phones were pushed into your face. you made your way outside of the pub, letting out a gasp as you realized you had been holding your breath. you jumped when someone put their hand on the small of your back, turning around and seeing sam.

“you okay?” he asked sweetly. you nodded, catching your breath.

why? why did he post that?

“you don’t look okay,” he said, rubbing your back.

“i just-” you cut yourself off, “i don’t know-”

tom walked out of the bar, a group of girls screaming after him as he made his way over to you, “y/n? what happened? are you alright?”

“i think she’s having a panic attack,” sam said, “we gotta get her out of here.”

tom nodded at his brother, the two of them walking with you to tom’s car. once the two of them helped you into the car, he started driving.

“where are we going, tom?”

“i don’t know,” he said, “somewhere where there aren't a lot of people.”

you closed your eyes in the backseat of tom’s car, tears threatening to spill as you tried to steady your breathing. once inside an empty parking garage that was nearby, tom climbed into the back seat with you.

“you okay, love?”

you shook your head. he placed his hands on your cheeks, “open your eyes, darlin’.”

your eyes opened, meeting his brown orbs, “give me your hand.”

you let him take your hand as he placed it over his chest, his heart beating under your fingertips, “just focus on my heartbeat and breathe with me, okay?”

you nodded as you followed his movements to steady your breathing. after a few minutes, he wiped the tears that had fallen from your eyes with the pads of his thumbs, “what’s going on, love? you can talk to me.”

you licked your lips, “shawn posted a picture of me on his instagram story, a-a picture he took when we were dating last summer. people think he and i are dating.”

he furrowed his eyebrows, fishing his phone out of his pocket as he opened instagram. he clicked on the story icon, reading the same caption you had read 15 minutes ago.

missing summer with you! <3 @/y/ny/l/n

sam’s eyes widened as he looked over at tom’s phone, “this dude really can’t take a hint.”

tom sent him a look, eyes traveling back to his phone, “why did he post this?”

“i don’t know,” you said, “i-i told him we could still be friends and we got lunch when he was in new york a couple months ago, but he knows i chose you. he knows that we’re together. i just don’t understand-”

he cut you off, “hey, it’s okay. it’s not your fault. we’ll figure it out, alright?”

he pressed his forehead against yours and you nodded, his hands rubbing small circles on the top of your hand. your phone was buzzing and lighting up with notifications left and right, which made tom grab it and turn it off.

“trust me, it’s better if it’s off right now.”

you nodded, “can we go home?”

“yeah, baby. let’s go home.”

after getting back into the driver's seat, tom made his way back to the house. he tried to lighten the mood by playing your favorite songs, which did put a small smile on your face. soon enough, he was pulling into the driveway and the boys led you into the house.

“i’m gonna tell the others we’re back,” sam said, holding up his phone, “just so they know where we are.”

tom nodded and you gave him a smile, hugging him. he was caught by surprise for a second before hugging you back.

“thank you,” you said, “for everything.”

he nodded, rubbing your back softly, “always.”

you pulled away and tom nodded his head towards the staircase, “c’mon, love.”

you two made your way into tom’s room. you immediately kicked your heels off and started rummaging through your suitcase for a pair of pajamas. you grabbed a tanktop and a pair of pajama pants out along with your toiletry bag, joining tom in the bathroom as he brushed his teeth.

you sent him a small smile in the mirror, “so, i’ve been thinking.”

he raised his eyebrow, “oh no,”

you swatted his arm at the joke, “shut up.”

he chuckled, turning to look at you as you started taking your makeup off, “what’s that pretty little head been thinking about?”

“so, i’ve talked to kat and my mom about it,” you said, “and i know you said you were coming to new york to film starting next year, but after graduation, what if we…”

he smiled, leaning against the counter, “what if we what, love?”

you knew he knew what you were about to ask, but he just wanted to hear you say it.

“what if we moved in together?”

the smile still pulled at his lips, “as in, you move to london?”

you nodded, “i've done a bunch of research, and i've started contacting companies to see if they’d want to hire me this summer. when i get back, i can start shipping my things here little by little, or we could get our own place? i don’t know-”

“babe-”

“i know it’s really early and i know you’re going to be away filming a lot of the time, but i feel at home here. i don’t want to have to keep timezones in mind when i want to talk to you about your day. i want you, all of the time.”

he didn’t say anything, he just kept smiling at you. you sent him a confused look, starting to worry about what his answer would be.

“i have a house saved on my computer that i actually was planning on going to look at tomorrow,” he said, “maybe we could go look at it together, hmm?”

you smiled back at him. you didn’t know what to say as he pulled you into his body, his warmth radiating through you as he pressed a kiss to the top of your head, “sound like a plan?”

“definitely.”

“good,” he said, pulling away from you to look at you, “i think you’ll like it, actually.”

“yeah?”

“mhm,” he hummed, leaning down as he pulled your hips closer to his, “picked it with you in mind.”

you smiled, “i love you.”

“i love you most.”

he pressed a kiss to your lips, the both of you pulling away as tessa barked at the both of you. you giggled at the staffy, bending down and petting her. she wagged her tail happily, accepting the attention.

“you’re coming too, tess,” tom laughed, ”‘don’t worry, love.”

you both finished getting ready for bed. you turned your phone back on as the thousands of notifications caught up, more ringing in as you plugged it in.

you looked over at tom, “what should we do with my sudden rise to fame?”

his eyes shifted towards your direction, seeing that you were on your phone. he grabbed it from your grip, placing it on the nightstand next to you after turning on do not disturb,  “we’ll deal with it, tomorrow.”

you sighed, “i just don’t want to be known as someone that i’m not.”

he nodded in understanding, “here, i’ll let you in on a little secret,” he said, sitting up on his elbow as he looked over at you, “as hard as it is, let the negativity roll off your back. half the time, people who send hate don’t have any valid reason to hate you other than the fact that they’re jealous. as long as you know who you are, and those you surround yourself with know who you are, no one else matters.”

you nodded, “easier said than done, huh?”

he nodded, “yeah, but you’ll learn.”

you smiled, watching as he moved back onto his back. you laid your head on his shoulder, “thank you for being there for me tonight. i thanked sam, but i never thanked you.”

“because you don’t have to thank me,” he said into your hair, “it’s what i’m here for.”

you smiled up at him as he spoke again, “wanna watch something?”

“sure. your pick.”

“alright, how about a nice, wholesome movie,” he said. you watched as he clicked on netflix, putting on a movie the both of you had already seen. you looked up at him, his face illuminated by the blue light of the tv, the rest of the room dark.

he looked down at you, a smile tugging on his lips, “what?”

you shook your head, “nothing.”

he leaned down and kissed your forehead, pulling you closer to him, “i love you.”

“i love you, too.”

                                ─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

the next morning you woke up, rolling onto your side as you snuggled into tom’s warmth. he wrapped an arm around you, scrolling through his phone.

his comment section had flooded, his messages blowing up, and when he went to your instagram he saw you had gained thousands of followers within the past 12 hours.

he couldn’t even scroll through his socials in peace without an account turning what happened last night into a headline.

‘shawn mendes posts about mystery girl who’s later seen out and about with tom holland at a pub in london’

he clicked on your instagram, your posts erupting with likes and comments. he couldn’t help himself as he clicked on the bubble icon, scrolling through.

‘i feel kinda bad for her :/ she was living a normal life until now all because she was posted on someone’s story’

‘so, is she dating tom or shawn?’

‘she’s pretty! doesn’t matter who she’s with, they’re lucky to have her :)’

he was thankful that most were positive messages, his fans calling out those who said anything unnecessarily negative. shawn’s fans did the same, however each side wanted that one big question answered.

was she with tom or shawn?

it took everything in him not to post pictures he had taken of her throughout their friendship and relationship, it took everything not to show her off and openly claim her as his.

it wasn’t his place. he wasn’t going to do it without you knowing.  

instead, he did the next best thing he could think of.

he climbed out of bed, tucking you back in as he pressed his phone to his ear. he walked out of the bedroom, cracking his bedroom door open slightly as he stepped into the hallway.

“hey, sorry if i woke you, i just realized what time it was over there,” he said quietly.

“hey, tom,” kat's voice chirped through the other end of the line, “it’s alright, can’t sleep, anyways. but, how’s y/n? is she okay? she hasn’t responded to my texts and it says her phone is on, do not disturb.”

“yeah, uh, she had a panic attack last night but i helped her through it,” he said, peeking into the bedroom to make sure you were still asleep, “she’s tired, mentally, i can tell.”

“yeah,” kat sighed, “i just don’t understand why shawn would post something like that. i mean, he knows the two of you are together. i just don’t get it.”

“maybe he gets the strong urge to treat her better than i can?” he joked and she let out a laugh.

“trust me, you’re doing pretty good in my book right now,” she said, “can’t believe at one point that i was team shawn.”

he smiled, letting out a soft chuckle, “at that time, i couldn’t have blamed you.”

there was a soft chuckle from her end of the call, her smile audible. he was thankful that you had someone like kat in your life, someone to keep tabs on you, who cared about you as much as he did.

“so, how's house hunting going?” she asked. of course kat knew. she was the one person who was told everything, all the secrets, the plans, all of it.

“good,” he nodded, walking down the steps, “she mentioned moving here last night and i told her everything. i think i might've found a potential house, as long as we both agree on it.”

she smiled on the other end, evident in her voice, “she’s mentioned it to me a couple times, just as ‘what-if’ scenarios. i'm glad she finally talked to you about it.”

“what about you, though? gonna stay in the city?”

“nah, probably not,” she said, “i’ve been looking for an excuse to leave for a while now, y/n thinking about moving to london just gives me an excuse.”

“where do you think you’ll end up?” he was genuinely curious.

“who knows,” she sighed, “was thinking about finding somewhere not far from my parents in jersey. city life is exhausting.”

he let out a laugh, “i think you mean american city life is exhausting.”

“okay, whatever, london boy.”

“seriously, what is everyone and this taylor swift song?”

she laughed, the noise of the tv filling the background, “i’m gonna try to get some sleep, but text me if you need anything.”

“sure thing, thanks.”

“always,” she said.

he hung up the phone and put it down on the counter, starting to make some coffee as he felt a pair of cold hands wrap around his torso. he jumped a little at the feeling, relaxing quickly, “good morning, love.”

“‘morning, tommy.”

he smiled at the nickname before turning around in your grasp, “what’re you doing up already? didn’t expect you to be awake for another hour or so.”

you shrugged, cheek pressing into his chest, “it got cold.”

he chuckled softly, “i could tell by the ice cubes you call fingers.”

you playfully rolled your eyes at him, looking up to meet his eyes, “what time do we have to leave for that showing?”

he looked down at his watch, “around noon,” he brushed a few strands of hair from your forehead as you continued looking up at his brown orbs, the chocolate color sparkling in the early morning sunlight, “figured we could go down to that little cafe you like and get some breakfast before hand. how’s that sound?”

you smiled up at him, “the one with the strawberries and cream crepes?”

he smiled, “that’s the one.”

“sounds perfect.”

he smiled, “good, it’s a date then,” he chucked and you both smiled as the kettle started to whistle quietly. he fixed two cups of coffee for the both of you, handing you yours which you graciously accepted.

your peace-filled morning was interrupted when someone came barreling down the steps, “ooh! coffee!”

you smiled as tom handed harry his mug, reaching up to grab another one, “it’s like you know when i’m making coffee.”

harry shrugged, “keen senses,” he looked over at you and smiled, “how are you feeling this morning? any better?”

you nodded, smiling back at the boy, “a lot better, thanks.”

he nodded, snapping his fingers as he bummed, remembering something as he looked over at tom, “oh! almost forgot, mum and dad want us to have dinner with them tonight.”

tom nodded, “alright, what time?”

“dunno, probably around five,” he said, “apparently sams helping out with dinner.”

“thank god,” tom sighed, “i love mum but i'm not in the mood for dry pork chops.”

you snorted, “leave nikki alone.”

“no, you’re just lucky you don’t have to put up with mum's terrible cooking as much as we do.” harry said, putting his mug in the sink.

tom nodded in agreement and you rolled your eyes at the two holland boys. you sipped your coffee smiling down at the blue staffy as she finally decided it was time to wake up.

“morning tess,” you cooed, petting her head as she wagged her tail, happy to see you, “did you sleep well, baby?”

tom smiled as he watched the interaction, you leaving the room to let tess outside. harry nudged his brother’s shoulder, speaking up in the comfortable silence of the kitchen, “so, when are you going to ask her?”

“ask her what?” the eldest brother didn’t tear his eyes from you. he wanted to wake up to this every morning.

harry looked at him dumbfounded, “ask her to marry you, you div.”

he looked over at his curly haired brother, “i don't know. there’s so much left to do.”

harry smiled, “and you know you both want to do them together, so what’s the hold up?”

tom shrugged, “just waiting for the right time, i guess.”

“oh c’mon,” harry laughed, “we all know that it’s always been you. has been ever since she was eight years old. even mum has a bet with dad going on about how long it’ll take you.”

tom chuckled, sipping his coffee before turning to his brother. his cheeks turned a light shade of pink, trying his hardest to keep his secret.

his dirty little secret? he already had a ring. he just needed to pick the right time.

“i’m just gonna see where we’re at when she graduates this spring,” he said, “and then go from there.”

harry nodded at his eldest brother, patting his shoulder, “for all of our sakes, please don’t keep us waiting too long. it’s the most anticipated wedding of the whole family.”

he laughed as harry smirked, making his way back up the wooden steps. as if on cue, you and tess walked back into the house. he smiled at you as you made your way into the kitchen, it was obvious he was staring but he didn’t care.

“what?”

he shook his head, “nothing,” he let you lean into his chest as he wrapped an arm around your back, “ready look at our potential future home?”

you nodded, a smile plastered on your face, “of course.”

                                ─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

the showing went really well, the house was damn near perfect. it wasn’t far from where he was currently living, had a big backyard for tess to roam around in, had a great open floor plan for entertaining all your family and friends.

it literally checked all the boxes. everything you and tom wanted in a home. however, it would take a little bit for you to be granted uk citizenship, so you decided to sit on it a little.

part of the whole thing made you a little bit nervous, like how long it would take for you to be able to officially be granted citizenship? would the house of your dreams still be available? how would you move all your things over?

tom noticed how quiet you had gone on the car ride home, placing a hand on your knee. you were pulled out of your trance as you looked over at him with a gentle smile.

“you okay?”

you nodded, “mhm, just thinking.”

he nodded, “about anything in particular or…?”

you shrugged, “not really, i guess. just life. how fast everything is changing, it’s like i can't keep up mentally at the moment.”

“we could always wait a little longer for the move-”

you shook your head, cutting him off, “no, no, i want to move. i want to move over here as soon as i can, it’s just going to take a little bit of getting used to, y’know?”

he nodded, “i do.”

you brought his hand up to your lips and kissed his knuckles, smiling as he squeezed your hand.

“i love you.” you said, the cool metal of his ring pressing to the inside of your fingers as he held your hand again.

“i love you more.”

another beat of silence before you spoke up, “god, i don’t want to go back to new york city.”

he chuckled, “think of it this way,” he said, “after the holidays, i’ll be there for filming and we get to spend a few months together. a little trial run of living together, y’know?”

you nodded, “yeah,” you smiled, “i suppose you’re right.”

“always am, love.”

you shoved his shoulder softly, laughing. you couldn’t wait to spend all the time in the world with him.

you checked your phone, your social media popularity still buzzing. you did your best to try to ignore it, but you couldn’t help but be curious.

you hadn’t talked to shawn ever since he posted that photo. you didn’t know what to say to him, to be honest. you didn’t want everyone to think that you were his girlfriend who was also seeing tom holland, but what else could you do?

unless…

“hey,” your voice broke the silence for the third time on this car ride, “i’m going to say something possibly a little crazy and i’m gonna have to have you hang with me for a second.”

he cocked a brow, “what’s that?”

“post me,” you said, “post whatever picture, or pictures i guess, you want. make it clear that i'm yours and that you’re mine.”

he looked over at you, “you sure you want to do that right now?”

“how else are people supposed to get over the whole fake love triangle they think we’re in?”

“i don’t know,” he sighed, “i just don’t want any more backlash to come your way.”

“fuck anything negative someone has to say,” you said, “i love you. i’d scream it from the rooftops if i had to. you’re mine, and i'm yours. for my own sake, i need everyone to know that.”

the car was silent for a few seconds as tom was contemplating his answer.

“okay. i'll do it.”

                                ─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

💌  beings my tagged list has gotten so long that tumblr literally won't let me add it, the tagged list is temporarily closed until i can figure it out. in the meantime, be sure to follow and turn on notifications for @toms-gf to be notified whenever i post imagines :)

[marco-newgate]

Marco X CisFem Reader

2

The color drained from your face as you stared at the picture on your phone. It was posted that morning. The way the brunette cuddled up to him made your blood boil. Even if she was nothing, he fucking lied.

How many other dates were cancelled because he was out doing...whatever the fuck this is? How often was he not actually working? The phone tumbled to the table from your trembling had as you shot to your feet.

You needed to get to the bathroom.

"What the hell just happened?" Thatch turned watching you sprint out of the room.

"No idea." Marco muttered flipping your phone over, his half lidded eyes widening as he looked over the photo, "I'll kick his ass."

"Who? What?" Thatch crossed the room to look over his brother's shoulder, "Who's the broad? Wait...weren't they supposed to have a date last night?" He asked scanning the caption one more time.

Marco took a screenshot and opened your text fulling intending to send it to himself and take care of your Sanji problem.

"Don't." Thatch snatched the phone away, "I know you're protective but F/N has to decide what to do about this."

"If I kill him she won't have to worry about it." Marco growled.

"You aren't killing anyone. But you should probably go check on her." The brunette pushed him out of the kitchen.

Marco started down the hall that lead to the den passing the clusters of family photos, a lot of which you were in. Light spread against the linoleum in front of the bathroom door.

"Uh you OK in there yoi?" He asked pressing his ear to the wood.

You turned the knob leaving it slightly ajar. He took it as permission to enter quietly closing it behind him. You'd thought you were going to be sick instead you just stood there trying to remember how to breathe. Marco watched you huff for a moment before deciding to pull you into his chest. He hadn't given you an actual hug in a very long time. You assumed because he wasn't a touchy guy. Since the crush incident it was side hugs and light punches for you. But someone had to comfort you in Ace's absence.

"I wasn't trying to pry but I saw your phone." He murmured resting his chin on your head as you burrowed into his shirt.

"You guys warned me." You said weakly.

"I'm not here to gloat yoi." He began to sway, "You're an adult. He gave you every reason to trust him."

"I just feel really stupid." Your eyes began to burn.

"You? Stupid? Are you kidding? You're the smartest person in this house right now." He scoffed, "Look, I know you...love him, but Sanji doesn't define you. And he is definitely the stupid one here. You're just too precious and he doesn't know how to handle you."

"You have to say that." You whimpered.

"Says who? I also know what a shit you are. Don't forget that." A dry laugh squeaked passed your lips.

"Thanks Marco."

"So what do you wanna do about this yoi?" He placed his hands on your shoulders gently pushing you back to face him.

You stared up at his forever sleepy face, "I'm not sure. We were supposed to sign the lease for our apartment next week. And my lease is up on the 28th."

"You have a room here. Don't worry about that. I mean what are you going to do about him? Because I have a few ideas."

"No killing anyone... Yet."

"F/N!" Ace shouted from the kitchen.

Marco stepped back opening the door for you.

"Stop screaming idiot!" The blond called tugging you out of the room.

You were halfway down the hall when Ace scooped you up.

"I'll kick his ass." The ravenette muttered squeezing you tight.

"You guys have to let me get to him first."

_______________

"What the fuck is this?" You shoved your phone in the blond's face making him back into his apartment door.

His eyes widened in surprise, "Wha – what are you...."

"You lying sack of shit." You sneered.

It had been two days and you had only managed to get angrier.

"I-inside." He stammered fiddling with the door knob.

Ace and Marco sat in the car ready to intervene if things got too heated. 

"Let me explain."

"I'd love to hear why you felt you could sneak around behind my back without me finding out." You jabbed a finger in his chest, "Be honest. Did I not give you enough? You think I'm an idiot?"

"N-no...of course not. I just..." His voice trailed off.

"What?" Your stomach dropped.

Maybe you didn't want to know the rest of what he had to say. You suddenly didn't want to have any of your questions answered. You weren't prepared for how much it would hurt. 

Fight was fading away and flight was kicking in.

"I just ... don't think I can be with just one person." He lowered his gaze. 

That was it?

Before you knew it your fist was colliding with his jaw sending him to the floor. 

"Two years!" You reeled back for another blow.

He didn't flinch or shy away. He just took it.

You stood and stepped back wiping your face on your sleeve smearing your makeup.

"Just drop my stuff off at pops'." You breathed between sobs.

"I'm sorry." He whispered.

"Fuck you."

You slid across the back seat slamming the door and slumping over.

"What happened to your hand yoi?" Marco asked climbing over the front seat.

You weren't capable of responding. Your chest was constricting, squeezing all of the air out of your lungs.

Marco sat down laying your head on his thigh calmly rubbing your shoulders and back while you sputtered.

"You punched him yeah?" Ace chirped proudly glancing in the rearview as he shifted the car into gear.

You nodded.

Marco slouched out of his black flannel shirt and wrapped it around your bleeding knuckles, "Let's get you home yoi."

[cryingabtab]

Save Me A Spark - Part 14

Warnings: Angst, Crying, Cursing

Pairing: Austin Butler x Cassie Hale (OC)

Word Count: 1070

“Believe nothing you hear, and only one half of that you see.” ~ Edgar Allan Poe

Austin had to fight the urge to throw his phone across the room after Rory had hung up on him. He opted to set it down next to him while he curled into a ball and sobbed into his knees. Had he really been given wrong information? Did Rory mean it when she said that Cassie loves him? That Cassie wasn’t just using him? That’s not what he had been told three days prior during an emergency meeting that his manager had called. 

~3 days earlier~

Austin walked down the hallway to his manager’s office with a pep in his step. He knew he should probably be feeling anxious about this emergency meeting, but he couldn’t bring himself to care. He was happy. He missed Cassie, of course, but he loved that he got to text and call her. He was excited to get back and see her. 

Upon opening the office door, all of his previous pep dissipated in an instant. There, talking to his manager, was his ex girlfriend, Claire. They both turned to look at him. “Austin,” his manager addressed him. “Have a seat.”

Austin hesitantly sat down in the chair next to Claire. “What’s this about? Why is she here?” 

His manager sighed. “She has brought something to my attention that I think you should know about,” she began. “That girl you’ve been seeing? She’s using you.” 

Austin’s face scrunched up, “What? That’s absurd.” 

“The floor is yours,” his manager said to Claire. 

Claire nodded before turning in her chair to face Austin. “We know she’s not famous. Of course, that’s not necessarily a bad thing. However, in this case, it is. She’s trying to get famous. You’re all part of her plan.” 

Austin scoffed, “How could you possibly assume something like that? You don’t know her.”

Claire nodded. “You’re right. I don’t know her. But I can tell she doesn’t care about you. She never talks about you and the only thing she’s ever posted of you is a picture with her band on her band’s account. I also did some digging and found out that she and the guy at the recording studio she uses are a thing.”

Austin’s face dropped, “What?”

“Yeah, on her personal Instagram account there’s pictures of the two of them together,” she pulled her phone out to show him. “See, she’s kissing his cheek here, they’re hugging in this one, and the caption on this one says ‘I love you Matty’. It doesn’t look good for her.”

For some reason, that sold Austin. He went completely silent as he tried to hold back tears. 

His manager spoke up again. “I’m so sorry, Austin.”

Austin didn’t respond to her. 

“Austin, I care about you. I still love you,” Claire said softly. “We can get you through this. She’s not worth it.”

~Present Time~

Austin knew he had to find out the truth. And there was only one person that he could talk to in order to get it. 

That person was Cassie.

He stood up and walked to the bathroom, blowing his nose before splashing cool water on his face in an attempt to calm down. He wanted to get as much out of this conversation as he possibly could, and he couldn’t do that if he was bawling his eyes out and hyperventilating. It took him around an hour to finally calm down enough to even pick up the phone. 

Austin pressed Cassie’s contact and his thumb hovered over the call button. He sucked in a deep breath and pressed it, letting out a long, shaky exhale as he brought the phone to his ear. He listened as the phone rang…and rang…and rang. She didn’t pick up. Instead, he got her voicemail. “This is Cassie, leave a message.” 

He cursed under his breath and hung up the phone, quickly calling her number once more as he began to pace along the floor, rubbing the bridge of his nose between his thumb and forefinger as he listened to the daunting ring of the phone. After the fourth ring, he heard a trembling sigh, followed by a sweet, but sad, voice. “Hello?” 

“Cassie,” Austin breathed. “I-I’m so sorry.” 

There was a long pause on the other end. “Look,” Cassie said, voice pinched and small. “If you didn’t want me, you could’ve just said so.” Quick, shaky breaths could be heard from her line. It broke Austin’s heart. 

“No, no, no, please don’t cry,” his panic was evident in his voice. “I’m so sorry, Cass. That’s not the case. Please. Hear me out.”

“You have three minutes before I hang up,” she sniffled. 

With a quick sigh of relief and thank you, Austin got to work explaining everything. He was able to explain it all with a minute to spare. 

Cassie sighed and he could hear her soft sniffles. “That’s fucked up,” she mumbled. “You should have just talked to me. I would’ve told you that it was all bullshit. And by the way, Matty is just one of my best friends, and probably the band’s biggest supporter. He’s done a lot for us. All of us have pictures and posts with him just like I do. Plus, I’m pretty sure he’s had the hots for Hazel for like…ever.”

“I-I’m sorry. I know, I should’ve talked to you first. I-“ Ausrin was interrupted. 

“I wasn’t done,” Cassie said coldly, a sudden change from her previous upset. “You need to learn to think for yourself. Don’t believe everything you see. Don’t believe everything you hear. I cannot forgive you. And I sure as hell can’t trust you.” 

Austin began to tear up once more, “Cass, please,” he whispered. “Let me make up for this.”

“If you want to make this up to me,” she started, venom in her voice. “You’ll stay the fuck away from me. Goodbye Austin.” She hung up the phone with a quickness. 

“Cassie? Cass?” Austin called frantically into the phone. He pulled it from his ear and realized she had indeed hung up. He sat down on the floor and looked up at the ceiling, tears streaming down his cheeks before he could even begin to realize he was crying. 

He needed to make this up to her. He needed her in his life. He couldn’t let her go. And he needed a plan.

[spideysbruh]

Piece Of You

they're not public yet!!!

~

Whenever Shawn isn't around, Alex and Brian get along just fine. They've known each other a pretty long time and so things were never awkward around the apartment when Shawn left. They’re always comfortable together and Shawn loved that. But lately, he's been feeling weird about it.

Like take today, Alex is sitting at the table, eating cereal while Shawn is making himself breakfast when Brian sits down next to Alex and scoots his chair closer to her and shows her a TikTok on his phone. That's not the whole problem, the other part is that when she was watching the TikTok, Brian rested his head on her shoulder, a big smile on his face. 

Shawn eyed him and watched as he sat back up, laughing with Alex. When did they get close like that? Whatever, he's just being paranoid. He hasn't been home in a while, he just forgot what the two are like together. But then Shawn once again sees how close Brian gets to her throughout the day, like him play fighting with her, or sharing drinks, or resting his head on her lap. It is too much, isn’t it??

Later that night after Alex falls asleep, Shawn quietly goes on his phone and clicks on Brians Instagram, scrolling through and trying to find pictures with Alex in them. He succeeds and clicks on the post he published for her Birthday, the pictures are nice. There's one just of her out on the balcony, the next one is an older picture, from when they first met it looks like. But the last one is what gets him.

He shouldn't even be mad, it's not like they're kissing or doing anything questionable, but he's still pissed. 

The photo is of Alex and Brian, but Brians arm is wrapped around her shoulders, his hand just above her left boob, and his other hand squishing her face as he's laughing. "What the fuck?" He whispered, scrolling down to see the caption. 'Happy birthday to one of the best people this world has to offer. Here's to 21, Al.' He looked back at the picture and Alex was smiling big, her eyes bright like they always are whenever she and Shawn are together.

Shawn looked through the comments and saw that Alex commented 'Thanks bestie 🥰 Love ya!' Shawn scoffed and clicked on her account, scrolling to find a picture of them on her account. It'll make him feel better. One of the most recent pictures all the way up top, she posted it yesterday. They’re in the car and Alex was grinning while Shawn had his peace sign up with a big smile on his face as well. The next slide was a video she took of them listening to the Tangled soundtrack. Shawn quickly lowered the volume down and smiled at the video, she was laughing as Shawn was singing 'I've Got A Dream' incredibly off-key. The video ended with Shawn saying something about some post on his feed and he remembered that someone else had posted something with her recently. He went to his following list and clicked on their mutual friends. 

Is this going too far? Who knows.

He went on Jons page and saw that there was only one picture with her, it was simple enough. No big deal. He went to Matts and saw a few as well, one of them, though, his arms were wrapped around her neck as she stood in front of him, smirking at the camera. The caption being 'Two tens at a party for sixes.' 

Shawn huffed and opened his notes, quickly typing a few lines. 

'It's so hard, but it's true.'

'Everybody wants a piece.'

~ 

The next morning when Alex wakes up, the bed is empty and the place is pretty quiet. She gets off the bed and walks to the bathroom, washing her face and brushing her teeth. When she gets out, Brian is on the counter eating some eggs, "Hey, Al." 

"Good morning Brian!" She smiles, standing by the counter next to him, "There still bacon?" She asked, turning around and grabbing a piece of bacon from the stove.

"Yup. Shawn's writing by the way." He said, setting his plate in the sink.

"Oh yeah? That's cool, have you heard any of it yet?"

Brian shook his head and jumped off the counter, ruffling her hair, "Just the piano notes so far, he went to get something apparently."

That wasn't entirely true, Shawn was in their parking garage deep diving Instagram and twitter, looking at videos and photos that people have posted of Alex, for inspiration. It's like everyone is in love with her. It looks like even people she's met once were infatuated with her. He sat in his car as he saw fan edits of her on twitter and there was one titled 'Celebrities being in love with Alex Gonzalez for three minutes straight' he clicked on it and watched everyone from Tom Holland to Dua Lipa eyeing her up and down and smiling really big at whatever she said. He was also in it a few times, but as he should. Even just random people who they've never met. Only he can act like that with her. He quickly types in his notes, ‘I get reckless. I’m obsessive.’ 

"Mmm alright, well, I have some time today, wanna watch something?" 

“Sure.” Brian shrugged, following her to the couch.

Alex sighed and put on some show they were in the middle of.

Shawn came back up to their apartment a bit later and saw Alex and Brian lounging on the couch, a show playing on the TV in front of them, Brian snacking while she sits with her Spider-Man . “Hey! I’m writing a song, baby.” He said as he walked over to Alex and kissed her lightly.

“Mm, I heard. How is it so far?”

“It’s uh, good so far. You know that everyone is in love with you right?” He said, making her snort.

"I think I could name a few people on Instagram that don't." She laughed and Brian chuckled.

"No no no! It's true! Look." He said and pulled out the video, letting her hold his phone. Brian scooted closer and watched as well, an amused smile on his face. Shawn eyed him suspiciously and Brian noticed.

"What?"

"I'm watching you." He said, Alex rolled her eyes and continued watching when Florence Pugh popped up.

"Guys shut up Florence Pugh is in love with me."

"Oh my god, I love Alex! But I am not in love with her. Ya feel?"

"Zendaya?!!" 

"Whatever you say, Brian. Just know…"

"Oh my god Daniel Kaluuya?!!!"

"She's like my sister, Shawn. That's just weird." 

"So fucking weird- LAKEITH STANFIELD?!!" 

"I'm telling you, baby, everyone-"

"Wants a slice of that ass." 

"Brian!" Shawn yelled, Alex laughed and shoved Brian away.

"What's wrong, my love? You jealous?" She grinned, getting up to kiss him. Shawn kissed back and pulled her closer.

"Oh god." Brian groaned, getting up to throw his trash out.

Alex ignored him and looked up at Shawn, "You jealous that Lakeith Stanfield likes me?" She smirked, and Shawn pouted, "You don't have to worry, baby. I only got eyes for you.” She finished and kissed his lips lightly.

“Yeah?” He mumbled, his lips brushing against hers, Alex nodded, “You’re mine?”

“As long as you’re mine.” She smirked and Shawn kissed her again.

“Lemme show you my song.” He grinned and pulled her to the piano.

“Nice! Can I hear too?” Brian chuckled, walking along with them.

“No.”  Shawn closed the door on him and Alex giggled and sat on the piano bench. “Kay, are you ready?” She nodded and watched as he pulled out his notes app, finding the right keys. 

~

About an hour later, with some help from Alex, (the song rasing her ego quite a lot) Shawn had part of his first verse and chorus done. He came out of the room with Alex right behind him and Brian looked bored out of his mind. “Fucking finally! I thought having two roomates would be nice, because if one of you is gone, there’s another one to hang out with, but then you guys started f-”

“Well, we’re here now, Bri. What do you wanna do?”

“Oh I dunno.”

Shawn snorted and kissed his girlfriends head before sitting on the couch next to Brian, “I’ll order some food. Don’t feel like cooking today.” Shawn said.

“Sounds good.” Alex replied, tossing Brian the remote.

“Al, you’re trending on twitter by the way.” He said and pat her leg before she sat down.

“Oh yeah? Why?” She wondered and pulled out her phone, Shawn cleared his throat and wrapped anarm around her.

“Probably cause you’re so gorgeous, babe. C’mon let’s pay attention to… Brian what'd you put on?"

"The Offi-" 

"Oh my fucking-"

"It's being taken off netflix this year!" Brian yelled, Alex laughed at the boys and opened twitter, immediately seeing people talking about her and Shawn and his newest Instagram post. "What the?" She whispered and went onto Instagram. 

(pictures here)

@shawnmendes Baby, i'm so into you, it hurts.

"SHAWN MENDES!"

*

[ohyoufool]

I love supporting journalism but NYT is paywalled and we all need some GOOD NEW QUEER COMICS so posting the full article under the read more!

Original Article

By George Gene Gustines

June 9, 2023

‘The Dog Knight’

Frankie Jude Bryant is a nonbinary middle school student who is dealing with identity, the usual academic challenges and, oh yes, trying to become the Dog Knight, a champion for humans and canines. Despite the presence of magical talking pooches, this journey of heroism and self-discovery feels grounded thanks to captions that get into the head of Frankie, who prefers they/them pronouns. On the first page, they think, “Do you ever feel like you don’t make sense?” Later, Frankie muses about their frenemy Dallas, who misgenders them: “She gets it wrong on purpose just to make a big deal about correcting it.” And when Frankie finds their tribe, “For the first time in a long time, I look in the mirror and I don’t feel a pain in the pit of my stomach.” Written by Jeremy Whitley, drawn by Bre Indigo and colored by Melissa Capriglione.

‘Marry Me a Little: A Graphic Memoir’

The cartoonist Rob Kirby chronicles his 2013 march down the aisle in Minnesota with his longtime partner, John Capecci. The story highlights where gay marriage stood at the time (each state was making its own rules before same-sex unions became the law of the land in 2015) and looks back at Jack Baker and Michael McConnell, who somehow were able to obtain a marriage license in Minneapolis in 1971. The personal recollections are powerful and honest: Rob remembers when he first casually used the word “husband,” which felt like “a small but genuine political act.” He also acknowledges the white, middle-class privilege that allowed him ambivalence about getting married. His ultimate conclusion: “Marriage does not define a relationship. Unless you want it to.”

‘Gatsby’

The messages of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby” — about social status, love and chasing dreams — are revisited in the present with a racially and sexually diverse set of characters in their 20s. Gatsby is a Black tech millionaire looking for a love who got away, and Lu Zhao, the stand-in for Nick Carraway, is visiting from Singapore and summering on Long Island (where a $5,000-plus afternoon shopping spree highlights the casual wealth). The main characters are refreshingly blasé about their sexuality: Lu’s girlfriend, Alexis, asks, “How do you identify?” But Lu’s answer does not really matter as Alexis says, “I love being on this journey with you. I’m here for you no matter what.” Written by Jeremy Holt, drawn by Felipe Cunha and colored by Dearbhla Kelly. 

‘Hex Americana’

The cartoonist Bree Wolf spins a tale about auto racing, teen romance, monsters and ghosts. Flesh-and-blood Ken forms an unlikely alliance with Dante, who died in a previous race and haunts his car as a ghost. A successful partnership will allow Ken to compete in the annual Grand Prix and help Dante move on to the afterlife. The more than 300-page story packs in a lot of character growth, action, flashbacks and drama. The relationship between Ken and Karen, his mother, is particularly nuanced. Karen is supportive of her son, who is gay, but she struggles with how to correct her overbearing friend James when he makes thoughtless jokes about Ken. (Iron Circus Comics. Aug. 30.)

‘Death Drop: Drag Assassin’

The Gayborhood, as it is called in this five-part series, has seen better days. Thugs feel empowered to assault young gay men, and a drag queen named Lunaira has gone missing from the club Posterior Delusions. Residents have little faith in the local police. Enter Death Drop, a former hit man and current drag queen, who is pushed by Mother Henny, the hostess of the club, to find Lunaira. “She’s a queen of color who has been missing for more than two days,” Mother Henny says. “You do the math.” It helps that Death Drop and Mother Henny used to date. Let the investigation begin. Written by David Hazan and drawn and colored by Alex Moore. (Scout Comics. June 14.)

‘Turtle Bread’

Kim-Joy, a British baker and cookbook writer, teams up with the artist Alti Firmansyah for this story about Yan, who is struggling with low self-esteem and social anxiety. When Yan finds a local baking club, she is plagued by doubts about whether she will fit in or be liked, but she soon learns that everyone struggles in different ways. Yan eventually becomes confident enough to rally the club members to seek out and support one of their fellow bakers who needs it. Yan would qualify as an ally, but there are characters with significant roles in the story who are gay and lesbian. And there are recipes, including one that gives this story its title. (Comixology Originals. Available now.)

Original article

[sushiosims]

Billy and Morgan - Chapter 3

Before long, his dad stumbles through, glaring at Billy. 'Where you been? Late again?' he mutters, throwing himself down into a chair

'I got dinner at a friends' Billy says, getting ready for another argument. He hates arguments. Why is everyone just coming for him just now?

'How nice for you, did you think of your old man, waiting at home, worried, going hungry. There is no food, the lights aren't working...I had to stay in bed all day just to keep warm' Dan moans

'Oh poor you' Billy mocks, 'Must have been hard for you lying on your ribs, doing nothing all day'

'And the lights and heating don't work as you have not paid the bill' Billy reminds him tersely, his anger bubbling up

'Are you answering me back!?' Dan roars 'The lack of respect from you...if you want the power back on, go out and get a job, earn your keep! You have been carried too long!'

Billy feels the fight go out of him, and he just nods, 'Yeah Dad' and he heads down to his room

He lies on his bed, listening to music and thinking of the last couple of days. He thinks of Morgan's house again, and feels himself recoil in shame. Imagining his home through her eyes. He had to stop thinking about her

But he remembers the sadness in her eyes...and that jolt of...something. It was like a bolt of lightening, took his breath away and made him dizzy. He had never felt a connection like that before, and he knew she felt it too

He wonders if she is thinking about him too...

He is getting up to get ready for bed, when his phone vibrates...he checks it and smiles 'Looks like she is thinking of me after all' he thinks to himself, as he sees the friend request from Morgan on SimChat. He quickly accepts, and sees her typing straight away

She sends him a picture of a starry sky with the caption

Morgan- 'Guess where I am?'

He smiles, recognising the coastline and the clear skies 'The Bluffs' he says to himself, starting to get up, and pulling on his boots

Billy reaches the Bluffs, and this time finds Morgan lying on the snow, letting the flakes land on her, and melt into her skin. She looked beautiful.

'Is it creepy and stalker-ish that I came?' he asks

She smiles 'Is it bad that I don't care?' She stands up, and they head to the swing set

'So what's up?' Billy asks lightly, feeling a nervous tension emenate from her

'Nothing, its just, well, be careful with Bruce, he has a temper, and is not used to people standing up to him, or disrespecting him. He is pretty powerful here, I don't want you getting into trouble'

Billy laughs and starts to swing back 'I have dealt with bigger and badder bullies than Patman' he says 'Don't worry about me'

She looks at him, smiling in spite of herself at his optimism and devil may care spirit. She had never met anyone like Billy before. 'Just be careful, he's spiteful, and once he decides to ruin someone, it's pretty much a done deal' she warns him

He is touched by the genuine concern on her face, and smiles to reassure her 'What can he take from me? I have nothing' he says simply Morgan feels her heart ache for him. Its not fair, how she and Bruce have so much, and there are people like Billy, who just never stood a chance

They head over to the seating area, and Billy teases 'So why did you want me here? I thought this was where you came from your quiet time?' he asks her 'Just to warn me about Big Bad Bruce? Do you want me to leave now?'

'Please, don't' she says quickly 'I like my quiet time, but I think I would like to spend my quiet time with you if that's ok?'

'That's fine by me' Billy replies. The two of them settle into a comfortable silence When she is disturbed by her phone, he feels the tension from her again, and decides to try and distract her 'Hey' he says 'Do you know much about stars?'

She shakes her head 'Erm no'

'Do you want to learn a bit?' he asks

'You know space stuff?' she asks, laughing

'Yeah, I know space stuff' he smiles, and the two of them go lie in the snow, and for a while, they look up in silence. Taking in the vast expanse of sky above them

He pulls her to her feet and leads her to the clearing 'Lets start off easy. That is the Big Dipper, consisting of seven bright stars of Ursa Major, the constellation of Ursa Major is seen as a bear, see it? Once you find the Big Dipper, you can navigate the skies more easily'

He tries to act casual as she links his arm through his and starts searching the skies, suddenly she shouts in excitement

'Oh I see it! Is that it there? Where those three bright stars are in a line?'

Billy nods, glad she looks like she is enjoying herself 'That's right!'

'Look!' There was a shooting star, did you see it? Did you?' her eyes shining with excitement

'Yeah I seen it, did you make a wish?' he asked quietly

She catches his eye, and looks down, 'Yeah, I did'

He nudges her, 'Well, what did you wish?'

'Can't say, won't come true'

She shivers and he gestures to her, 'Can I?' he asks, before putting his arm around her, pulling her closer, she nods, and slips her arm around his waist Billy feels his knees go weak, tries to stay cool as he continues to point out constellations and tell stories about each one

They sit for another hour, sometimes chatting, but mostly silent, watching the sky, making wishes on shooting stars, and marvelling at the expanse of the universe

'You know, you're really, really smart, I don't think I have met anyone as smart as you before' Morgan says suddenly

'Thank you, I read a lot. My dad...well he wasn't around and I used to just be left alone most days, I spent a lot of time hanging around libraries, they were warm, and the ladies that worked there usually looked after me, even got me lunch!' Again, Morgan's heart broke

He jumps up, seeing the sympathy on her face, he did not want her to feel sorry for him.

'Come on, its after 1am, your parents will be freaking out' he said, pulling her to her feet

'Shit how did it get so late!' she laughs 'Thank you, its been a lovely night' she adds, shyly

As she got to her feet, the two are standing facing each other, their cold breaths mingling in the frigid air. They are silent, the air electric. All it would take would be one step forward, but instead, she takes one step back.

'Bye Billy' and heads off towards the treeline

Morgan gets home at almost 2am, she tries to sneak in the door, but hears her mum thunder down the stairs. 'What time do you call this Morgan? I have been calling you all night! I thought someone had kidnapped you! Do you have any idea how worried we have been?!'

'Mum, I am almost 18, please, give me some space' Morgan groans 'I'm fine, no-one kidnapped me, I was just at the bluffs watching the stars, stop treating me like a child!'

'You are a child! You are my child, and while you are under my roof, you will abide by my rules! You know you have to be in for 10.30! If you get in trouble, you know what that means for me? My reputation, ruined! It will be in all the tabloids! Stay out of trouble young lady!'

'The tabloids? Its the Windenburg Gazette! Get over yourself mother, and why is it about you and your reputation all the time?' Morgan bites back 'What about my life?'

Moira covers her daughters mouth 'I am stopping you before you say anything you regret, my house, my rules, and if you want your trust fund, then you will live by them, got it?'

'And who were you with? I know it wasn't Bruce, he has been calling all night!' 'I was with friends mum! I am allowed to have friends other than Bruce!' Moira scoffs, 'You are lucky to have that boy Morgan...his father is very important you know!' Morgan rolls her eyes

'Very rich you mean' Morgan mutters 'RIGHT! THATS IT!' Moira shouts, 'I am not taking this from you! Get upstairs to your room I don't want to look at you. You are grounded!' 'Mum! You cant ground me! I'm 17!' 'I don't care, you will not leave this house unless its for school'

For Chapter 4 clicky clicky right...HERE

[kelmcdonald]

I'll Be at Emerald City This Weekend!

Crossposted from my newsletter.

Hey everyone! Hope you had a good February. I'll be at Emerald City Comic Con this weekend! Cautionary Fables and Fairytales will be at table 20815! There is a nice map up top (I took Kory Bing's image of our booth because I didn't have time to make my own.)

Emerald City is the big thing this month. But Failure to Launch is still crowdfunding! It goes until March 9th. Me, Spike, and Amanda will do a special Iron Circus Geekshow to close it out. That will be Thursday March 9th, at 6pm PST. Grab it while you still can!

My discord is still doing the full moon movie will be March 7th at 5pm PST. We will be watching the movie Cursed (2005). It's not a good movie but it is a fun movie. Anyone who wants to join, is free to sign up for my discord and join us.

As always I'll be streaming art on Twitch. My schedule is currently the following:

Tuesday 8pm-10pm PST

Wednesday 8pm-10pm PST

Thrusday 6pm-9pm PST (during the Iron Circus Geekshow)

Last month I was a guest on War Rocket Ajax. I was promoing Shards of Reflection and the Fame and Misfortune live reading. But really we mostly talked about videogames.

I also did a live reading on twitch of Fame and Misfortune. It was fun and I want to do more live readings. But it turned out my mic was broken. So I'm gonna redo it. You can give the first try a listen, but it will get auto-deleted in about a week.

I got a bad sinus infection last week. So I haven't really had time to work on Blue Moon. It's getting to the point where I think I might have to put You are the Chosen One on break again. I don't want to, but right now it's the comic that takes the most time (mostly because it's in color). I'm gonna see how much I get done this month when it comes to Blue Moon. Then I'll decide. If it goes on break, it will be after the current chapter is done posting (in July).

Getting sick really threw off my exercising. I'll get back to it after Emerald City. Kinda a double whammy of sickness and then con to mess up the routine. It's a shame because I was getting used to/forming a habit until I got sick.  But sick meant I watched more stuff. Last month this section was kinda long. Maybe I should post these on my blog more frequently and just link to those posts? Anyway here's what I watched and read:

Posthumous Education (book 8 in The Utterly Uniteresting and Unadventurous Tales of Fred the Vampire Accountant) by Drew Hayes - The vampire accountant series is one I always grab as soon as it comes out. It stood out to me because most urban fantasy books are about magic cops or magic detectives. The series as a whole are episodic short stories and I like that they are mostly small stake conflicts. Like this volume the main character is teaching a business class at a supernatural college. The first story is about him trying to convince students how important learning basic contract knowledge is, not just for dealing with humans but also the fae and really any supernatural that makes deals. The series as a whole has bit about how higher ups abuse these legal tricks to control the inexperienced. I'm definitely gonna keep up with the series because small scale stories like this are harder to find.

Woke - This is a hulu show that is loosely based off the K Chronicles by Keith Knight. I didn't know much going in and wanted to see how Keith's work was turned into a TV show. I ended up really enjoying it. The first season is about what an artist's responsibility to the world. Like if you have an audience, how much do you have to use it for talking about important topics vs using it for escapism? And then how does commerce tight into an artists work. It was very funny and clever. It also uses Keith Knight's hand letterer for all the captions, text messages, and another another thing that needs a pop up label. It gave the show a unique look that helps tie it more to the comic it is based off of.

Baby Driver - Another thing with a unique look was Baby Driver. I like Edgar Wright movies but never got around to see Baby Driver until now. Basically, when it came out I was only interested in it because Edgar Wright was the director. Like everything I heard about it made me think that it might not be for me. And my instincts were right. While Baby Driver was a very pretty/stylish movie, the story and characters kinda fell flat for me. I might revisit it if I want to mimic it's specific look in an illustration, but for now it just made me want to rewatch Hot Fuzz.

Puss in Boots: Last Wish - To continue the line of stuff that is stylish and looks interesting, Puss in Boots: Last Wish is much better than it has any right to be. I mostly saw it because everyone was telling me it was much better than you'd expect. That is 100% true. The usually Shrek style was dropped in favor of something that is more stylized like Into the Spiderverse. The whole cast is after a fallen star they can make a wish on is the main driver of the story. That's a simple plot that allows for a lot of cool action and slapstick humor. So they can put the new style to good use. Then since the plot is so simple, there is also room for the characters to grow and change. Which means, unlike Baby Driver, you have a very strong sense of who everyone is and why they are involved in the story. Maybe I like it so much because I had low expectations, but it was very surprising in how good it is.

The Banshees of Inisherin - My favorite stories are ones that are funny and sad at the same time. The Banshees of Inisherin is just that. I think it's also a great example of how you can make something that seems small feel like the most important thing in the world. If you don't know, it's about two men in a small Irish town that have been friends for years. The starting incident is one telling the other he doesn't want to be friends anymore. The other can't accept that. I like that while you watch these two men argue about whether or not they should be friends there is an underlying heart and sadness that isn't spelt out. The man who doesn't want to be friends says the other man is dull and he is wasting his life listening to the other guy. So he is clearly wrestling with how short his time is on earth. And for all his desire to do something "important" with his life, he is spending a lot of it arguing with this former friend now. And the other guy is so upset that he is bringing his donkey into his house. The donkey is making a mess of his house but it's something for him to cuddle while depressed and lonely. Both situations are a combo of sad and funny. This is a movie I'll probably think a lot a bit and will revisit.

Aggretsuko Season 5 - I have some mixed feelings about Aggretsuko's last season. I really liked the first 3 seasons, but the more the show pushed Retsuko and Haida as a couple the more I lost interest. So season 4 and now season 5 giving him more scene time made me lose interest in him. It seems like a shift to try and justify him as a love interest. Also Haida's brief bit of being homeless felt like something the show wasn't prepared to properly address. Like the show wasn't to be sympathetic, but gives reasons for why the homeless characters are "stuck" that way. So it wants to be sympathetic while blaming the homeless for their situation. And then that story line is kinda tossed aside for Retsuko to run for office. I like Retsuko running for office, but didn't really like that she was strong armed into it. She has been repeated pushed into important plots each season. I wish the last season changed that. It would have been a nice way to end a series of her being so passive. Like the whole show has been realizing her unhappiness with the system and seeing others also unhappy under it. I would have liked her to make an active choice to try and change the system. And then maybe tie the homeless plot line into that more. As is, the two plot lines don't mesh with each other super well.

I've also been listening to the podcast Mangasplaining. It reviews manga and guides people through a wide variety of series. It makes me want read more manga. But only so much time is in the day. Either way, there might be more manga in these write ups. I at the very least should reread Akira (it's been like 15 years). 

Thanks as always for your support this month. Have a good one everyone.