#lemme simmer on that a bit

[swinging-through-the-stars]

priorities

(btw original caption i said nishiki is just there because nothing bad happened so just go along with it)

[aroace-number-eight]

What if AU where the Garde (including Ella) were all already teenagers when the invasion happened and they had to escape to Earth

[kyurochurro]

i got so used to drawing my small Peanuts eyes here on my tumblr drawings, that when I returned to Instagram to post art, I was shocked by how big the eyes I used to draw were BHSHSSXHJSAHJSA

[ddejavvu]

heyy!!! saw u were looking for outsiders requests and lemme say, MY OBSESSION WHEN I WAS YOUNGER WAS INSANEEEE!! so u get me??

anyways, what abt a cutie lil fluff drabble where dally is mean to everyone but reader and is super protective over them? and maybe like the other guys make fun of his soft spot for r?

anywhore love ur writing cutie!

send me requests for the outsiders!

i'm so glad you get me <33 everyone in my class made fun of me for how much i liked the book but also i kind of deserved it because i was loud and proud about it. i can barely call it bullying because i totally asked for it

--

You've never been naive about Dallas's reputation: his name's always the first people spit out when something suspect happens in town. But you'd never seen him get quite so worked up before- not the way he does when Two-Bit gets a little too extravagant with his gestures mid-anecdote and sends beer flying out of the neck of his bottle dangerously close to your cream-colored cardigan.

"Hey, hey- hey!" You barely register Dally's sudden snarl before a hand locks painfully tight around your arm, yanking you sideways and out of the line of fire. You gasp, more from the shock than from the spill, but Dally's hand is gone before it can do any damage and you're left to rock slightly on your feet from the momentum.

"Damn drunk, throwin' your beer around like that." Dally sneers, "Jesus, man, can't you just sit still for once? Gotta wave your damn hands around, makin' stupid jokes- you almost flung it on her-" He swivels to face you, "-on her pretty sweater." Dallas lets the words fall off of his tongue like he knows they're ridiculous coming from him. They're clipped, staccato sounds as he brushes a stray piece of fuzz from the shoulder of your clean cardigan.

"Damn, Dal," Two-Bit whistles, "Sor-ry. Y/N, your sweater okay?"

"It's fine." You pipe up quickly, your voice sweet to both placate your simmering boyfriend and make up for the harshness of his words, "Really, none got on my sweater. Nothing got on me at all."

"Just cool it, Dal." Darry watches with a guarded expression where he's perched at the table, and you're sure if it had been anyone else in the town, Dallas would have turned on his heel and shown him how cool the edge of a blade could be. But instead Dallas merely scoffs, muscling you over a few more steps away from Two-Bit with the sharp point of his shoulder and guiding you to sit on the corner of the couch.

"'Thing was probably stupid money." Dallas looks sideways and down at your sweater with faux-distaste, like he hadn't just been defending its honor with as much violence as he could get away with, "Soakin' it with beer would have killed you, huh?"

You could have washed it. Sure, it would have been unpleasant to sit in for the rest of the night, but the stain wouldn't have been permanent, and any lingering smell could have been covered up with perfume. But Dallas seems flighty, like an animal desperately trying to cover its exposed underbelly, and you lean against his shoulder instead of jabbing at his soft spots.

"Mhm. Thanks, Dallas." You hum, admiring the way your cream-colored cardigan wraps around the cool black leather of his jacket when you take his arm in your grip, "Glad you're here to watch out for me."

[dragonnarrative-writes]

@charliemwrites infected me with Charmed!Slasher!Ghost. The dialogue is directly from part 4 of their series.

No content warnings for this installment. Please let me know if you need me to add or tag any.

Slasher Handler Masterlist

Not everyone appreciates optimism. Seeing the best in people, you’ve been told on multiple occasions, is naive at best and dangerous at worst. Someone could take advantage of you. People have taken advantage of you. You’re going to get yourself hurt!

The thing is, you’re not naive. You’re old enough to have experienced the casual cruelty of the world. But being cruel yourself doesn’t help anything. Kindness costs very little, and you’re happy to pay a little toward your karma every day. And when people think you’re an easy, bubbly target, they tend to let their guard down.

No one expects you to be observant.

Your new neighbor doesn’t expect you to be observant.

When you almost run into him the day he moves in, it doesn't take long for you to recognize him as the guy who brought you home from the bar. For one, he’s huge and doesn’t bother to hide it. Secondly, his eyes are this flat, empty, piercing blue until you apologize. And then he smiles, and and his eyes go from lifeless tundra to sort-of-welcomingly-frigid, and you know, you know, that this guy is dangerous.

And then he informs you that he’s moving just next door. You probe a bit, and he tells you he’s not worried about your noise, even as he asks about neighbors. You give him a little vulnerability, see how still he goes when you mention that you’re a bit introverted.

“Anyway!” You chirp, slipping back into the bubbly persona before the last test. “Do you need any help moving things in?”

And your new neighbor’s pupils dilate, ever so slightly, even as all the life in them drains away.

“Thank you, luv," he says in that deep voice, "but I’m almost finished. I wouldn’t want to hold you up.”

You feel your whole body flush as your nervous system screams predator-danger-RUN. You look down and away, try not to fidget.

“Well, lemme know if you need anything! I always forget something important when I move,” you say, and hope he doesn’t take your nervousness as an invitation to attack. “I’m the one on the left.”

He says “call me Riley,” so you do. Don’t bother to give him a fake name back, because if he wants to, he can look at the packages on your doormat and get your full name anyway.

You spend the rest of the afternoon chewing on your bottom lip, thinking. People at the grocery store probably think you’re daydreaming, or really worried about getting the right box mix for dessert. A kindly older woman picks out her favorite brownie mix and tells you its her husband’s favorite, just add a few caramel candies. You thank her, genuinely, and add the box to your basket.

Back at home, waiting for the brownies to finish baking, you let the anxiety simmer. Riley is a predator, yes, and you’re potential prey. But he already lives next door. And the neighbor before him was also dangerous, the way all men are dangerous. Admittedly, that feels like comparing a goldfish to a volcano, but it’s true. So you’ll bring him a welcome-to-the-building gift and endear yourself to him.

Being kind doesn’t cost anything. And if he likes you, he probably won’t kill you.

[horriblehooter]

GLORSH!

“Ahhhhhhhh…HIC! Mph…ohhhh, that’s…th-that’s a lot more than I…remember…”

The Saurian hissed softly, his serpent-like eyes looking down with a hint of anxiety, and more than a hint of personal embarrassment. Long, clawed fingers reached down and spread out, groping at the upper curve of his swollen stomach, which stretched out through the rubbery material of his costume’s abdomen. A soft whimper left the reptile, as his tail swept upwards, the snakish tail curling and lifting to press at the underside of his bloated, sagging belly. His gut sloshed and burbled in response to all the attention, and the snake bit his scaly lips, repressing another whimper as he could feel the sensitive skin seem to light up from every one of his own touches.

It didn’t help that, not so far beneath his skin, he could feel the heavy, filling mass inside squirm…he could feel fingers brush against his muscular gut walls, feel feet wiggling and almost tickling his tummy’s tough, sticky, slippery lining. He adjusted his stance to make sure he wouldn’t collapse as the weight of his own midsection swamped his body suddenly.

“N-Nara?” the Saurian whispered at last, almost timidly. “Are…um…are you…uninjured?”

The squirming intensified briefly…then a voice came from the curled-up shape inside the stomach.

“Yeah, I think so,” it answered. It was the voice of a young female, and it was…surprisingly casual, considering its owner had just been swallowed alive like a limp fish. “Doin’ good out there? Not givin’ you a bellyache, right, Hakari?”

“Not yet,” mumbled Hakari, unable to deny that the taut, stretched flesh did feel a bit uncomfortable…not helped by the knowledge that his best friend was the one kicking inside that big belly. His gut let out a deep, garbled growl, and Hakari rubbed over it with both hands to try and settle it, lest the muscles seize up and squeeze Nara more than either liked.

“Sounds like your gut likes me,” giggled Nara, as if she wasn’t inside a carnivorous shapeshifter’s digestive system.

Hakari cracked a small, feeble, worried smile.

“It’s not the only one,” he joked, but the smile soon fell. “Um…are you…sure about this?”

“Yup!” came the reply, followed by the feeling of a hand gently stroking over the stomach wall from within. “Wouldn’t have asked for it if I wasn’t.”

Hakari shivered, feeling a quiver of happiness ripple through him. His tail wiggled, flexing beneath the underside of his stomach for a moment, the tip curling up to cup his belly before twisting downard once again, the rest of the limb pushing into the overhang subtly.

“How…how long do you want to stay in there?” Hakari breathed out, feeling somewhere between pain and pleasure as he winced from a the sensation of his stomach rhythmically churning against Nara’s side.

“Eh. As long as you feel’s safe, I guess”

“Great! Then let’s get you out now-”

“Hakari. This is a trust exercise.”

“Right, and…and you trust me, don’t you? S-So there’s no need to-”

“Who said it was meant to teach me how to trust you?”

Hakari’s jaws snapped shut. His forked tongue flickered out of his mouth. Just once.

“I’m gonna be okay. I believe you. Just…lemme simmer in here-”

“Oh, please don’t use that word…”

“..Maybe for…I dunno, an hour? You’ve said your metal-ball-whatsis-”

“Metabolism.”

“Whatver…you said it’s kinda slow, soooo…an hour ain’t gonna hurt, yeah?”

Hakari squirmed.

“I…I don’t think so,” he peeped, timidly.

“Then one hour in your belly. And after you let me out, I promise I’ll give you all the rubs you could want from the outside. Sound fair?”

Hakari blushed. It was strange to see so green a face gain so much pink suddenly.

“I…suppose that sounds…amenable.”

Nara chuckled and patted the gut wall.

“Good snake,” she teased.

Hakari would have blushed more…but at that moment, his face twisted up in a grimace of discontent. He pressed on the side and the upper curve of his stomach as a soft, almost puppyish whine left him, the pressure making him turn greener in the proverbial gills than usual…then his eyes shot wide open, and his jaw rattled as it flew open. Saliva spattered everywhere, flecking off of his tongue and past his tonsils, as he let out a deep, rumbling, heavy belch.

“BUUUUURRRP!”

Hakari’s blush returned, twice as red and twice as bright, as he slapped one of his hands over his mouth in embarrassment. His gut let out a greasy, low sound that almost sounded like a sigh of relief.

“Um…ahem…p-pardon me.”

Nara just laughed, making the stomach around her wobble. Hakari gave a flustered smile at the sound.

“Good one, lizard lips!” cheered Nara from within.

“Um…actually, I’m more closely related to the subgroup ophidia than laterata or other such options…heh heh…”

“…I dunno what any of that means, but never change, Hakari. Never change.”

Hakari’s smile softened. Using his tail, he patted the side of his belly, a look of affection in his eyes.

“I don’t plan to.”

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

An early birthday present for @belliesandburps! Starring his shapeshifting serpentine ninja Hakari, looking a bit bashful with a rare bellyful of prey...especially when that prey works up some beastly belches he has no chance of muffling. ;)

Hakari's design here is based on concept sketches I made after some back and forth with B-n-B, since he mentioned wanting to update his snek boi's design a while back. Hopefully this is still somewhat up to date.

Happy Birthday, B-n-B! Hope it's a good one, and wishing you lots of cake for you and your favorite anime bois of choice to enjoy. 🎂

Also, big thanks to @twistedtummies2 for writing up the blurb to go along with the art! Go check out his stuff, he deserves the love.

[uselesssomebody]

Oooooo wondering if I request a miguel o'hara x platonic(maybe) shy reader who’s a popular superhero spider person who bonded with venom and has an infant son who’s a mommy boy with her boyfriend Miguel of her dimension. Miguel sees the reader reminded of his dead wife reader of his dimension. Pretty cute her infant son and Mayday Parker having play dates, she’s the godmother of Mayday and Peter is the godfather 🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤

'𝕓𝕣𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕪𝕠𝕦𝕣 𝕜𝕚𝕕 𝕥𝕠 𝕨𝕠𝕣𝕜' 𝕕𝕒𝕪 - dad!miguel o'hara x mom!reader

(or astv's spider society x platonic!reader)

complete masterlist | miguel o'hara masterlist

words || 𝟛𝕜

summary || in which the reader and peter b. have a 'bring your kid to work' day at the spider society

a/n || i have been frothing at the mouth to write dad!miguel so here

➵ anon i'm actually kneeling at your feet for this request; it's so *chef's kiss* unfortunately, i know 0 things about venom, and i forgot about the 'shy' aspect of reader, but otherwise, i tried to nail this request. if you want a shy reader x miguel specifically, just send me another req, and i will have it done.

➵ lemme talk about the spanish real quick: a lot of it in this one thanks to the lovely @spookyanamurdock. quite a bit of spanglish as well, translations are next to the spanish bits

➵ also miguel (both of him) is the only one to speak any spanish. reader is not coded as being able to speak spanish or necessarily being from a spanish-speaking country, but she can understand what miguel is saying.

➵ send me requests if you have ‘em. enjoy!

warnings || fluff

it'd been nine months since she'd had a full night's rest.

guess how old her infant was.

she was jolted awake to the sound of wails and cries and she quickly rubs her hands over her face as she sits up. she looks behind her to see her husband roll in his sleep at the sound, and she smiles, getting up more quickly so that she can handle their child before he wakes up.

she steps into the next room, where their son is rocking in his cradle, evidently upset. she pouts a little at the sight of his chubby cheeks pinched into a scowl, and his gummy mouth open and ignorant to how loud he was being.

"what's woken you up, baby?" she mumbles, quiet and rhetoric, as she immediately takes him in her arms, rocking him softly on one side while using her free arm to gently pat for where he was feeling discomfort. noticing none, and recognizing his cry wasn't that of hunger, she lifts him up gently, looking in his adorable, curious eyes.

she notices his cries have simmered, a more satisfied and sleepy expression on his features, and she smiles, "did you just want mama to hold you for a bit?" she muses, as she lovingly tucks his head back into her shoulder, quietly pacing the room with him. in another couple moments, he's out like a light once more, and she chuckles to herself as she lays him back down in his cradle, momentarily forgetting her annoyance at losing sleep as she traces a soft finger over his features, beaming at his adorableness, "goodnight, gabe." she murmurs softly, pressing a chaste kiss to his forehead, before she slips back out of the room, and into her bedroom. the clock by her bed reads 3:07, and she sighs, her exhaustion overtaking her once more. she smiles at the sight of her husband, still knocked out in the same position. she lays back down next to him, wrapping her arms tightly around him, as she revels in his large stature and radiating heat, falling asleep next to him almost immediately.

she was a little shocked when she'd gotten a call in for work the next morning. well 'work' is a better way of putting it, as you can't exactly put 'multiverse-hopping for the spider society' on a resume.

she'd worked with the gajillion other spiders in nueva york for a little over 3 years before she'd had to take maternity leave for the little baby she was currently heating up a bottle of milk for. on the other side of the kitchen, her husband was allowing gabe to sit on his shoulders and play with his hair as he tried to clean dishes, and she suppresses a laugh at the sight, plucking gabe off his shoulders. "enough of that, baby." she muses, "you'll mess up daddy's hair," she sets him into his high chair, gently sticking the bottle in his mouth, as her husband comes and sits next to her. she gently runs her hand through his hair, straightening it out where gabe messed it up.

"miguel?" she starts, and he nods, his eyes looking up at hers, "i've gotta go in today." he furrows his brow a little, before realizing what she was talking about.

"¿cuándo regresarías?” (when’ll you be back?) he mumbles, still a little sleepy from the hectic morning. she shakes her head.

"no clue yet. think we can get a sitter for him?" she cocks her head to gabe, who was happily enjoying his bottle himself. miguel sighs, rubbing his eyes a little.

"no creo, cariño" (i don't think so, sweetheart.) he looked stressed, and she looked at him sympathetically, so she shakes her head.

"that's okay, hun." she rubs his knuckles a little, "i'll just take him with me." miguel's eyes widen in worry, and she chuckles.

"it's just a consultation, don't worry." she smiles, "we'll not move an inch from the headquarters." his shoulders relax a little, and a smile finally falls over his tired face.

"uhm, claro. si, suena bien, sure." (right. yeah, that sounds good, sure.) he pauses for a moment, "uh, will the big guy be okay with it?" she looks at him confused, before she bursts out in laughter, making gabe jump a little, dropping his bottle. she winces a little, picking it up for him and mumbling a quick 'sorry' 

"are you talking about other-miguel?" she teases, and he groans with a smile.

other-miguel was her boss, the person in charge of the spider society. it'd been an... experience when she'd first met him.

originally, her recruitment was overseen by spiderwoman - jessica, her lovely friend who she was now coaching through her own pregnancy. because jessica brought her in, she'd not actually met other-miguel until nearly 2 months in.

the first time she'd seen him had been when jessica was at home - or her home universe - and she'd instead had to discuss her next mission with him. she'd gone up to his office, ready with a quip about how he had the same name as her long-term boyfriend - but stopped dead in her tracks when she saw her boyfriend's back in front of her. her eyes widen, and her greeting catches in her throat. other-miguel looks back at her, and he's got a similarly surprised look in his eyes.

"¿cariño?" (sweetheart?) he asks in his familiar, gruff voice. it was tinged in slightly more exhaustion.

"hon - honey?" she stutters out, finally able to clear her throat enough to talk, "what are you doing here?" he blinks in shock, before he sighs deeply, realizing what had happened.

"no - no, no soy…" (i'm not) he inhales, "you're seeing a miguel o'hara?" she blinks.

"honey, what are you-"

"no-" he cuts her off, "i'm not your miguel." her eyes narrow, before it dawns on her.

in the entirety of the spider society, there were countless versions of 'peter parker', a handful of 'miles morales's, and more than a few 'gwen stacy's and plenty of 'm.j.'s. it would be, in fact, more shocking that there wasn't more than one miguel o'hara in the multiverse.

"oh." she mumbles, "oh." a beat passes, "do you - you know someone like me too?"

his face is downcast. it's a touchy subject.

"si. así es." (yeah. that’s right.) there's a silence that passes over them, before his face becomes stern again, and he begins explaining the mission.

it took 3 more missions for other-miguel to open up about the woman she reminded him off, and she, in turn, would point out the differences between him and her boyfriend. they had a strange bond, something that was difficult to properly explain to anyone else, but they felt no obligation to.

she knows miguel found it hard to be around her at first. every time he'd look at her, his face would flash in a pain that she only came to know about later, and one she hoped to never understand. similarly, it made her feel weird to be seeing and hearing her boyfriend, yet having to adamantly remember that it wasn't him. it became better after a while, as it was easier to notice the differences between her miguel and other-miguel.

now, she was good friends with him - at least, as friendly as anyone could be with him.

"yeah, he won't mind," she continues, talking to her boyfriend, "besides, peter brings his little one in constantly. it'll be fine." she smiles, and her husband seems to calm a little.

"perfecto." he rises slowly, pressing a kiss to gabe's forehead, and then her lips, "¿te vere ésta noche?" (i'll see you tonight?) she nods with a small smile.

"yeah, honey." she waves him off as he heads to work, before she picks up gabe, "you ready for some misadventure, baby?" she teases, pressing a kiss to his nose. he coos in response, and she takes it as a yes, pulling out her watch.

after a couple minutes, a multicolored portal opens in her kitchen, and jessica walks in, waddling a little with the large weight in her stomach. she grins wide at the sight of the mother and son, cooing at the adorable child.

"i haven't seen you in ages!" jessica drawls, taking her into a hug, before plucking gabe up, and playing with his little baby hands, "have you grown, gabe? you're so big now!" he giggles in response, as though he's taken the compliment, and jessica laughs, handing him back to his mother.

"how've you been, jess? how's the tummy?" she asks, rocking gabe slowly. jess rubs her stomach, pouting a little.

"they're kickin' and screamin' to get out." they both laugh at the comment, before jessica pulls out a small, baby-sized watch, a visitor pass for baby gabe, "here." she slips it over his small wrist, "don't want you glitching out, do we?" jessica steps back, before looking back at her, "ready?"

she nods, clutching gabe a bit tighter.

"baby's first." jessica jokes, leading her forward. she adjusts gabe on her hip and the watch on my wrist, stepping in. gabe coos in interest at the colors of the portal, and he has to blink a few times when he realizes that the actual h.q. is significantly *less* interesting. he fidgets a little, brows furrowing in confusion, which causes her to soothe him with a hand running along his back.

"it's okay, baby." she whispers in his ear, glancing around at the familiar building and familiar spider-people milling about. a couple of them nod or wave in recognition, and she greets a few, before jessica pulls her along.

"c'mon, miguel and peter b. need us." she nods at jess's statement, tucking gabe's head in her shoulder and following the woman up to miguel's office.

as soon as they walk in, she see miguel and peter, stood on his suspended platform, look back at them, and 4 youngins on the floor look back too. they're a diverse group, teenagers and just older, and of course, she knew hobie and pav. immediately, the two of them come up to greet her, excited to see her after so long.

"you're back?" pav says excitably, and she laughs.

"no - no, not yet, sorry, guys." she clarifies, and gabe's head pops up at the noise. pav and hobie's eyes widen.

"you've go' a kid now?" hobie's accent, strong as ever, shines through. she rolls her eyes playfully.

"why'd you think i left? for fun?" peter's come down to join them at this point, and he engulfs her in a side hug, before taking gabe off her.

"and how is my little godson doing?" he coos, playing with the baby. she smiles at the interaction, before looking around him.

"where's my goddaughter, pete?" she asks curiously, wondering where may's head of vibrant red is. peter cocks his head in miguel's direction, making her look back up to see the infant crawling around on his giant, familiar shoulders. she laughs, and miguel finally comes down to join them. she sees the other two teenagers' faces scrunch in confusion, and it's suddenly evident to her that they're newbies, and they don't yet know that miguel's slow descent is nothing but a fear tactic and, more often than not, he'd use the faster setting to get to the floor in seconds. he comes up to her, a gruff expression on his face, and the teenagers' seem concerned. until, he dons the slightest hint of a smirk on his face. he nods his head in greeting, and she salutes him, and small grin on her face, as may practically slides down from his arm and into her chest, making her catch the baby with an exaggerated stumble and 'oomph!', "aw, you've grown, haven't you, may-be?" she smiles, having given her goddaughter an adjacent nickname to her own child, "what trouble have you been getting into?"

meanwhile, pav and hobie - uncharacteristically - were cooing over gabe in pete's arms. i turn to the teenagers, and jessica introduces me.

"gwen, and miles - visitor." jess clarifies, pointing at both respectively.

"nice to meet you guys." she nods back, looking between them and may, trying to crawl on her shoulders.

after a couple more moments of catch-up, miguel and pete pulled her up to the panel, along with may and gabe, and jessica pulls the other 4 out. miguel begins explaining the reasoning for the call-in.

"so, these 4 are being assigned to an anomaly. the girl's only been here a month - this is her first real mission - and the guy's here to prove himself." she quirks a brow.

"so he's been here less than a month and he's already on a mission?" it's not common - even she'd had to dredge through a month and a half of training sessions and simulations before going on her first mission - and even that was with jessica. miguel shrugs in response to her question, and peter interrupts.

"i vouch for him. he's a - he's a good kid. mentored him myself. we stopped a multiversal collapse together before." he says casually, so casually that she can't help but giggle. it'd been a year since she'd heard about things like 'multiversal collapses', and she still wasn't used to it.

"okay, where do i come in?" she asks, pulling gabe off of a monitor he wanted to play with.

"you can sit right here and just guide them. peter también va a estar aquí, solo, guialos ¿está bien?" (peter's gonna be here too. just... coach them, you know?) miguel explains, and she nods.

"right... sure. yeah, that works." peter smiles, and miguel points to a monitor.

"your station, m'lady." peter jokes, making her laugh. she sits down, gabe on her lap, slipping an earpiece in her ear and beginning to read the data file on the anomaly the 4 were looking to contain. after a couple minutes, she hears the crackle of a girl's voice - gwen - through the ear piece.

"hey! we've just arrived in the universe." she nods at the confirmation.

"perfect. you guys ready?"

the mission was relatively quick to finish, and she had celebrated with peter once hobie's voice had crackled through, saying the anomaly was captured. he stayed behind to monitor it while the three teens headed back, and she sighed in relief, finally picking gabe up from his place crawling on the floor with may.

while her and peter were tensely trying to ensure the kids were safe and everything went to plan, the two infants had been having the time of their life playing with each other. gabe would find it tremendously entertaining whenever may would begin climbing on walls, and he had tried a few times too, only getting as far as a meter up before his mother pulled him off out of her worry. nonetheless, he absolutely was determined to climb onto a monitor, which resulted in a slight hassle when peter lost audio for a moment.

by the time the mission was over and gabe was back in his mother's arms, he was out like a light, exhausted by his long day in the spider society.

after miles, pav and gwen had made it back, peter was sure celebrations would be in order, something that miguel seemed to be staunchly against, and something she had to reluctantly decline.

"sorry, guys, i should get back home. the little guy's already sleepy, and miguel should be back home by now." the sentence confused gwen and miles, as they looked between her and the intimidating boss of the spider society. she smiles at their confusion, but opts to let jessica explain, as she says her goodbyes and heads out. may, distraught at the thought of not being able to play with gabe anymore, makes a daring attempt to escape with him and his mom, only foiled at the last moment because of an attentive miguel. she smiles at the sight, petting her hair and letting may wave one final time at gabe's sleeping form - moving his hand to mimic a wave back - before heading to the portals.

when she tries to hand back gabe's visitor's pass to jessica, it's fruitless, as the other woman insists she keeps it, a certain knowing look in her eyes. she tries to ignore it, smiling in thanks, as the two head back.

correct to her belief, miguel - her miguel - was changing out of his work attire when they arrived and, upon hearing his greeting to her, gabe's eyes shoot open, excited at the thought of seeing his dad after the long day apart. it makes her laugh, and she sets the infant down on the couch to take off his wristband.

"¿qué tal todo?" (how was it?) comes miguel's - maybe perpetually - sleepy voice from behind her as she fiddles with the closing mechanism of the band.

"good. gabe tried climbing on a few walls, met his godsister - if that's a thing - met other-miguel and his godfather. got to meet the kids too." she lists off quickly, taking off the band and placing it to the side, not realizing that miguel is right behind her now.

he wraps his large arms around her, warmth encircling her body as she squeak in slight shock, making gabe laugh.

"and how was it for you, mi amor?" (my love) he asks, pressing a kiss to her cheek, making her smile.

"well, we saved the day. so it was very good." miguel nods, not letting her go.

"muy bien, muy bien," (good, good.) he whispers, seemingly now less interested in the answer to his question and more interested in the fact that he could hold her after his grueling day.

as soon as the hug lasts a little too long, though, they hear an indignant whine of disapproval, making them both laugh after a moment of shock. miguel detaches from her, and she reaches down to sit with gabe, before pulling him into her lap. his face immediately breaks into a smile, and miguel settles next to them.

"¿qué pasa, bebé? (what is this, baby?) you won't let me hug your mom anymore?" he says in playful upset. gabe frowns at his words, settling farther in his mom's arms.

"i think he's a little jealous." she teases, running her hands through gabe's thin head of hair.

"¡increible! (unbelievable!) i knew her first, amigo." the joking annoyance makes her laugh, as she places a big kiss to gabe's cheek and then to miguel.

"boys, boys. there's enough love for me to share." as if hearing her, gabe whines in annoyance again, making her and miguel look at each other with wide eyes.

"o - okay, it's all for you, gabe." she reassures, letting him rest his head on my shoulder. she looks up at miguel. "please don't start whining, now." she teases. he laughs quietly.

"no te prometo nada." (no promises.)

[wombatappreciator69]

A weird frame of Nick Wilde getting Grasped in that one scene in the limo

I just think it's funny and I used to like the movie a lot. I have a folder full of icons I think would be funny that I usually shuffle in and out, but I just Haven't changed mine here for some reason

Let's have a profile pic show and tell lmao

I'll go first

It's uh. 3 yogurt pretzels with sprinkles... It was intended to be a placeholder but now it's just who I am on here. I haven't changed it for a long time and don't intend to

[elvisgasm]

May we PLEASE have more like “and devour”??? I am in love with the way you write for him 😍

He watches you from the velour blue couch. A thick cigar threaded between two ringed fingers.

You're rolling about the floor and giggling in a blurry haze.

"I don't feel anything." You hold up a hand, turning it back and forth and back again to inspect the delicate veins and trickling fingerprints that decorate your fingers. "I feel the same."

Elvis chuckles lightly from above you, leaning down to run the tips of his fingers up and down your back gently.

You shiver and shuffle away to sit on your knees. Turning to him, your face falls flat in an unimpressed look – disappointed in the lack of "high" Elvis had promised you.

He smiles at your expression, scoffing lightly before cupping your jaw in a rough hand.

"Lemme look at ya' eyes," he turns you from side to side, letting out a small laugh when the light exposes the heavy black of your pupils.

He leans back with a smile, petting your chin softly before releasing you.

"Let's wait a bit."

Frustrated, you throw your hands up dramatically and fall back onto the carpet with a huff.

"Oh, I know." The sound of his lighter echoes throughout the TV room, "it's just the end of the world, isn't it."

The buzz of the TV tickles you in a gentle hum that echoes off the walls of the room.

Crawling over to the older man, you rest your arms on one of his knees, peering up at him under your dark lashes.

Elvis meets your eyes with a smile, pulling a drag from his cigar before turning his head away from you to exhale the billowing smoke.

"Y'need to go to bed soon." He chides, stroking the backs of his knuckles over your cheek.

A simmering heat floods your chest, and you pout.

Elvis laughs at your blown out eyes pulled down in furrow – you're so high you haven't even realized you've been swaying from side to side at his feet.

"Elvis?" Your voice cracks through a yawn.

"Hm?" He takes another drag.

"When was the first time you got high?"

He looks at you from behind his tinted glasses, thinking over the question.

"Think I mighta' been twenty-one or twenty-two." His knee bounces. "Why'da ask, hon?" He drops his hand down to stroke your jaw to your chin.

You shrug. "I don't think it works on me."

"Oh, trust me, it's workin'." Elvis shakes his head some.

"Elvis?"

"What, honey?"

"If I get taller, will you let me have your clothes and your shoes and all of your pretty jewelry?" You begin to pick at the vanilla carpet.

"You plannin' on havin' a second growth spurt soon or somethin'?" He leans back into the couch cushion.

"I don't know!" You meet his eyes. "M'not tryin' to be funny, Elvis."

"You're not gonna get another growth spurt in your twenties, thirties, forties–"

"Okay, I get it!" You pinch his thigh and he jolts with a faux cry of pain, pushing your hand away.

Elvis soothes out the front of his dress shirt, "but, if some magical unicorn comes down and gives you a second growth spurt – hey, don't pick at the carpet." He leans over to pull your hand away from the floor with a sigh.

"You smell good," you nuzzle into his forearm.

He lets you hold his arm, laughing softly at your inebriated behavior.

"It's bedtime."

[tiredofthehumanlife]

I've been macking on our neighbor. Lemme watch?

Barbie dolls: Locklyle x gn reader

Word:2k

Summary: Lockwood and Lucy both think their neighbor (🫵) is hot and hilarity ensues

Warning: poly ppl, um you and Lucy have sleepovers and kiss, a few sex jokes but like what'd you expect it's me, Lockwood is a bit of a horny perv, he doesn't really do anything he's just got a rabid vibe about him, you wear a sweater, it's insinuated that Locklyle is bi4bi but idk, George doesn't make an appearance, Lockwood is a nerd and can't flirt with ppl

Lockwood hated to say it, but his neighbor was hot. Every day as he went out to get the mail, you were leaving your front yard to walk to what he assumed was work. He would stare. He didn’t take pride in it but his favorite part of the morning was ogiling you. Lockwood pretended not to, pointing his head towards the mail in his hands but staring at you from the corner of his eye. 

Even worse he loved to talk to you. You had said hello once and that sparked Lockwood telling you good morning every day. You smiled and replied before stalking off down the sidewalk. Eventually, Lockwood would go back inside with a grin brighter than the sun, lighting up the kitchen. 

Lockwood wasn’t the only one. Lucy saw you every time she went out to water the front garden. She caught you as you were coming home from work. Even tired you were hot. Once she complimented you on your hair and you smiled so wide Lucy thought she might faint. You complimented her in return but she didn’t hear it the blood pounding in her ears was too loud. 

Then you started talking over the fence when you came home. You told her about your work and Lucy told you about hers. Eventually, she got further than Lockwood. She even reached your bedroom for a ‘friend's sleepover’. Granted she wished with all her heart it wasn’t friendly but you had to start somewhere. Lucy left before you had to get ready for work and by the time you were walking out the door, Lockwood was ready to greet you by the mailbox. 

He was next to travel into the friend zone, even getting invited to lunch with you. Not much happened during the lunch, his hand brushed yours when he handed you the salt but that was about it. You just thought that house, and company, was packed full of friendly people. 

After the third or fourth sleepover, Lucy kissed you. You were both having downtime after socializing for hours with each other. You pulled out a book and Lucy started a game of solitaire on the floor. You were lying on the bed while Lucy’s back was pressed to the side of it. Your hand traveled to her hair when the book wasn’t enough stimuli. You twirled a piece of hair around your finger as she worked on her game. It irked Lucy.

It made her want to live on the floor next to your bed forever. She didn’t want to lean because it might make you move your hand. She didn’t even want to breathe wrong. Obviously, Lucy didn’t want to overstep her neighborly boundaries with you but she didn’t want to wait forever for one of you to finish prancing around the bush. She stood up, your eyes following her in surprise. She tipped your head up with her hand and ducked her head down, meeting your lips. You didn’t waste time, flinging your book away so you could pull her up onto the bed with you. You didn’t make it much further than that, but it was a perfect step in the right direction. 

You and Lucy started flirting over the fence instead and often said good night to her with a kiss. Yet, Lucy still had simmering feelings for Lockwood. And Lockwood still hadn’t figured out how to say much of anything to you. You however were conflicted because how do you tell your hot neighbor you were already macking on your other hot neighbor? 

Lockwood, as lovely as he was, was a hot mess. He knew he liked Lucy, he was pretty sure he liked you, but something strange was happening under his roof. Lucy was acting weird, giggly, and offering to go get the mail. Which she did not get the privilege of doing.

You greeted Lockwood all the same and he decided he did like you. Now what to do with this information he wasn’t sure. How does one go about liking two separate people at the same time? 

They caught a case. It was going to pay well too so Lockwood was quite excited to get started. They were waiting for a Taxi. Once it showed up they would pile all their bags into it and head off for their case. Lockwood was anxiously sitting next to the window, waiting and waiting. Then he saw it, he wasn’t sure if he’d ever seen a more beautiful thing. And then Lucy joined him by the window. She peaked out, pulling the curtain back a smidge. She was currently snacking on a protein bar. She raised a brow at Lockwood and took another bite of her bar. 

“What?” She asked, her voice muffled. Lockwood shrugged, still staring at the mid-afternoon sun catching in her hair. Lockwood shook his head, finally feeling his lungs greet air again. 

“Nothing. You’re just…” Lockwood trailed off, feeling like he shouldn’t voice his feelings if he knew he couldn’t even like one person at a time. Lucy reeled back, furrowing her eyebrows. 

“I’m what?” She asked, obvious hurt lacing her voice. Lockwood quickly leaned forward, realizing his mistake. He shook his arms around, trying to clear the air of her self-doubt as fast as he could. 

“No, no. No. no. No. I was going to say you look pretty but I didn’t want to make you uncomfortable. I just paused at the wrong time. I’m sorry.” Lockwood said, standing straight again. Lucy slowed her bite. She looked Lockwood up and down before nodding. 

“Thank you. You’re um- not horrific to look at.” Lucy said before pulling her heavy bag off the floor and heading towards the door. She poked her head out the door. Lockwood followed after her, stepping out onto the doorstep. They ought to check that it is their Taxi before calling for George, he’d pitch a fit if it wasn’t. They both watched as the Taxi drove right past their door and stopped at the one next to them.

You stepped out onto the stoop, turning around to lock your door behind you. You glanced up at them and waved. Lockwood recognized the sweater you were wearing as the one he saw Lucy wearing last week. He remembers specifically because the way Lucy looked in it made him want to sink his teeth into something and shake his head back and forth. His lips fell apart, glancing at Lucy with a confused look. 

“Isn’t that your sweater?” Lockwood whispered. Lucy hummed. 

“Yeah, we’re-um… Friends.” Lucy said. Her tone made Lockwood raise a brow. You waved your arm harder trying to get their attention. Lockwood was really hating himself at the moment. He liked two people who were apparently already close enough friends to share clothes and Lucy made it sound like you could be more to her. Now he was really up a creek without a paddle. He was flirting and yearning for two people already together. Lockwood and Lucy raised their hands, waving back at you. 

“Hey, beautiful!” You yelled across the distance. Lucy sighed and Lockwood lost his breath. 

“Hey.” 

“Hi.” Lucy and Lockwood spoke together. You paused your hand and smiled falling. Lucy slowly turned her head back looking at Lockwood. He clenched his jaw and shook his. 

“Thought they said-“ 

“What? Lockwood?” Lucy asked sarcastically. Lockwood nodded, letting out a huff through his nose. Lucy hummed and faced you again. 

“I mean, you’re handsome too. I was just referring to Lucy in that moment.” You said voice raised. Lockwood nodded, wanting to curl up in a ball and sob. 

“Are you fucking getting in or what?” A new voice yelled. All three heads turned to the taxi. The driver was sticking his head out the window and staring at you. You quickly made your way across your yard and sunk into the backseat. 

By the time the case was over Lucy and Lockwood were sitting in the Library together. It had been silent up until that moment but once again Lucy couldn’t stand it. 

“You too huh?” Lockwood looked up from his book and furrowed his eyebrows. “The neighbor,” Lucy added. Lockwood pressed his lips together and stared down at his book though now it was obvious he wasn’t reading anymore. 

“Yeah. Me too.” They both let out a dreamy sigh at the memory of you. 

“Yeah. Rough isn’t it?” Lucy asked, staring ahead at the fire. Lockwood snorted. 

“I didn’t know you two were like a thing, I wouldn’t have said anything to either of you if I had known,” Lockwood said, still keeping his eyes on the book. Lucy hummed, tossing a tiny paper ball into the flames. 

“Well, I don’t know if we’re really a thing. Not to mention I think we’re all a little messy right now.” Lucy said, readjusting her sitting position. Lockwood looked up, pressing his eyebrows together and shaking his head. 

“I don’t know what you mean.” Lucy sighed. 

“It’s just like, You like me and our neighbor. I like you and our neighbor. They like you and they definitely like me. I just don’t entirely know what we’re supposed to do in this situation.” Lucy said, sighing again. This time Lockwood could see her shoulders sinking with the weight of her confusion. 

“You know I like you? And the neighbor?” Lockwood asked quietly, feeling incredibly predictable. Lucy lifted her head, raising an eyebrow at Lockwood. 

“Yeah, dude. You know you’re not exactly secretive, right? You get all giggly and blushy anytime I breathe near you. Not to mention I mean you’re basically shining every time you come in from the mail. I just put two and two together.” Lucy said, looking at the nearest book and deciding it was definitely more up George’s alley. 

“Oh.” 

“Before you ask, I know they like me because they kissed me back. I know they like you because I’ve seen you two interact and they got all flirty with you so I once again put two and two together.” Lucy said, dropping her head back. 

“You kissed?” Lucy hummed. “Was it hot?” Lockwood asked, feeling like his eye might twitch. Lucy made a low sound that came from behind her ribs. It gave Lockwood the eerie feeling that she should’ve gone into horror movies, she would make a great antagonist with that sound. 

“yes!” She said, shaking her hands in the air. Lockwood snorted and smiled down at his book. 

A few days later all three of you were standing in your front yard. You had a long conversation on the status of your relationship and by the end of it you decided the best way to solve this problem was for all three of you to date. Lucy wondered why she hadn’t thought of that and Lockwood wondered why his plants in the front yard looked so healthy.

As Lockwood and Lucy were heading back inside, You stopped them. You ran all the way around to their gate and stomped up their steps. You latched onto Lockwood’s tie and pulled him into a kiss.

Lockwood felt the ground dip underneath him as he realized all he wanted to do for the rest of his life was kiss you. Your hand found the back of his head and with your fingers twirling at the hair there Lockwood wanted to faint into your arms so you’d hold him forever. You eventually pulled back and headed for your own home, slipping past your front door before Lockwood’s brain could catch up. Lockwood felt a clattering sound scratch its way out of his chest and slip past the barrier of his teeth. Lucy nodded and patted his shoulder in sympathy. 

“I know, baby. I know. Let’s get you some hot tea, hm?” Lucy said, pulling Lockwood inside the house. As it turns out getting the mail and watering the plants can easily be a two-person job if your neighbor is hot enough. 

[aquaquadrant]

What would the au where tango never got experimented on and as a result never left hels look like

you said that tango would have found his way to timmy eventually and that’s really interesting if they would have been friends I wonder how close they would be

the bond like the one Jimmy and tango have was only possible because tango had spent at least a year in hermit craft learning to open up and jimmy was raised not in hels

even if tango wouldn’t have the experiment trauma he still would have trauma and Timmy well I’m pretty sure he would’ve been open to it

Can you share your headcanons on the hypothetical situation please

(i know i’ve been sitting on this ask for ages but i had to turn the idea over in my mind a few times, like really let it get in there, let it simmer, rearrange the furniture. so uh, here ya go!)

~*~

“timmy,” tango calls urgently, ducking into the netherrack cave.

“yeah?” timmy pokes his head up from their nest. there are a few stray sticks caught in his hair- he must’ve taken a nap like tango suggested, thank god.

“sminor said there were blackcoats at the market yesterday, asking about hybrids.” tango talks quickly, his tone low and impersonal. he crosses over to the double chest they’ve set up, starting to rummage through it. “we gotta go, pack your stuff.”

timmy makes a noise of dismay, sitting upright. “is sean gonna be okay?” he asks tentatively, wringing his hands together.

tango scoffs. “c’mon, you know him. long as he stays outta water, he’ll be fine.” okay, that’s everything he can carry. he pops his ender chest down and starts reorganizing, trying to fit as many resources as he can. “now we, on the other hand, happen to be a bit more visibly obvious hybrids, so like i said, we gotta go.” satisfied with his ender chest, tango mines it back up before turning to face timmy. “now c’mon, scooch, i gotta burn it.”

timmy glances down at the nest, his face falling. “but i just got it how i like it…”

“well sorry, but it’s gotta go!” tango huffs, totally unapologetic, tugging at timmy’s arm. he manages not to scratch him. “now hurry up, get packing-”

“can’t we just hole up here for a few days, til they clear out the area?” timmy asks desperately.

“timmy-”

“you hid this place really well, they’re not gonna find it.”

tango doesn’t let the compliment sway him. he knows he’s hidden their base really well; countless hours were spent mining a virtual labyrinth of tunnels through the mountain, painstakingly shaped to appear as if they generated naturally. the way up to the cave is subtly marked by ever-so-slightly misplaced blocks of netherrack, completely imperceptible to anyone who doesn’t know they’re there.

but if the rumors about the blackcoats are true, that won’t be enough.

“we can’t take that chance,” tango says sharply. he jerks his thumb back at the chest. “last warning. get packed or i’m burning it all.”

sighing, timmy finally relents, climbing over the edge of the nest and shuffling over towards the chest. his head is bowed, mouth pressed into a thin line. pouting, like a little kid. fucking typical.

leaning over the rim of the nest, tango dips his clawed fingers into the brush. he closes his eyes; fire flows from his fingertips, easy as breathing. the stick-and-leaf structure catches light almost instantly. fire crackles and pops in the still air.

timmy has turned his face away as he digs through the chest, shoulders hunching by his ears and wings tucked closed to his body. tango refuses to let himself feel bad for it. it had to be done.

“how’s your hunger?” he murmurs, stepping away from the burning nest.

“hm?” timmy doesn’t look over at him, preoccupied as he sorts his inventory.

tango sighs. “timmy. your hunger.”

“oh, uh- fine?”

“did you even check your comm?”

“i’m pretty sure it’s fine-”

“lemme see.”

“tangooo,” timmy whines, in that plaintive way of his, willing tango to drop the subject.

but tango remains firm, holding out a hand expectantly. after a moment, timmy wilts under the pressure, as expected. he meekly hands tango his communicator, glancing away.

tango quickly scans timmy’s stats. full health. thirty-eight levels (it’s been a while since his last death, tango notes with no small amount of pride). two armor points, cause of the iron boots tango made him last week. and his hunger bar-

“two haunches?” tango hisses. he can almost feel his blood start to boil. “damn it, timmy, how many times do i gotta tell you? you keep it at four at the absolute lowest, in case you have to run or fly. i told you, you don’t have to ration food, if we’re low i’ll go get more.”

timmy gives him a pleading look. “tango-”

“no- no, stop it with the puppy dog eyes! i already- i told you!” tango shoves the communicator back at timmy, none too gently. “do you want the creepy scientists to catch you? huh? want them to experiment on you? you want them to do a- a live dissection- a vivisection on you?”

“hang on,” timmy protests, a nervous tremor in his voice, “we don’t- we don’t know for sure that’s what’ll happen if they find us-”

“what do you think happens?” tango snaps, tasting flames on his tongue. he knows his blaze rods must be spitting fire at this point, but he can’t bring himself to care. “everywhere they go, hybrids disappear. what, you- do you think they’re all just enjoying some super secret hybrid party, joining hands and singing kumbaya? don’t be stupid.”

for a moment there’s silence, nothing but the steady crackling of the burning nest behind them. timmy just looks at him, those big sad eyes shining with tears, and tango’s anger extinguishes.

as easy as it is to lash out at timmy, as good as it feels to get that release, tango always regrets it pretty quickly afterwards.

“hey…” tango exhales slowly, running a hand through his hair. “okay, okay, sorry. you’re not stupid.” he steps closer, carefully taking timmy’s face in his hands. “and- and i don’t wanna leave either. but it’s the only way to keep you safe. i mean- i promised i would, didn’t i?”

“yeah, i know.” timmy sniffles, avoiding tango’s gaze. “there’s… another town fifteen hundred blocks north?”

“no,” tango says, taking care not to let his voice harden. he picks a stick out of timmy’s hair before stepping away. “no towns for a while. we need to lay low til they clear the area. we’ll find a nice mountain in a forest somewhere, okay? maybe- maybe we can even have a little skylight.”

“yeah?” timmy asks, his voice going up hopefully.

“yeah.” tango pulls a cooked salmon out of his inventory, handing it to timmy. “here, eat.”

in hindsight, tango should’ve known they wouldn’t be safe for very long, living near a coastal town. oceans are few and far between in hels, so they get a lot of traffic. but god, it’s so nice to have actual meat for a change. he loathes the thought of going back to rotten flesh and spider eyes.

timmy takes the fish without complaint and starts nibbling on it. satisfied, tango turns to their double chest and breaks it, letting all the excess items and blocks spill onto the floor. a single well-aimed fireball sets the whole pile ablaze, leaving nothing but smoldering netherrack.

lastly, tango mines their respawn anchor. now that their spawn point is untethered, he feels the anxiety start to kick in with renewed force. a death now would strand them at the world spawn, and that would be all kinds of bad. he takes a final look around the cave; there’s no sign they were ever even here.

“alright, let’s get moving,” he says, putting his pickaxe away and heading for the exit tunnel.

timmy follows him out of the cave. they travel in silence for a few minutes, tango keeping an ear out for mobs since the only light they have is the faint flow of his blaze rods. lighting the area up would give them away, so they’ve had to get used to seeing in the dark.

“someday,” tango says quietly, “we’ll go far enough that we won’t have to worry about those guys ever again. and- and we’ll be able to make a little happy house together, nest and all.”

timmy hums, his arm brushing against tango’s in the dark, wing spread around his shoulders. “yeah, a proper home. i like it. we can- uh, d’you think we’ll make like, a farm or somethin’? a little cozy cottage, like a- a homestead, or…”

“a ranch?” tango suggests, feeling a grin pull at his mouth. like they’d ever find enough passive mobs for that. but for some reason, the idea appeals to him.

timmy huffs a laugh, something tango hasn’t heard for a while. “yeah, sure, we’ll be ranchers.”

“ranchers,” tango agrees. his inner fire has dimmed to a gentle warmth, now; some soft, weak thing he doesn’t have a name for. “team rancher.”

~*~

[pendarling]

Prom

Sorry for being ded guys

Another problem with the school was their outlandish events that went further than it was supposed to. 

When prom started, it started hard.

Students left and right fell to their knees for the chance to ask out their seasonal crushes. It was unbearable for the teenage hero. They couldn't stand watching half of their friends do the same despite their claim that "prom is stupid."

Honestly, there was still an entire week left of classes, and nobody even bothered to study for the approaching exams. Libraries would be a hangout hotspot for students looking to skip class and find time to spend with their date.

It pissed them off.

Hero simmered in annoyance and pushed their textbooks to the side of their locker. There was just one more class, and then they'd leave here for the day. 

"Hey Hero~!"

Hero recognized that irritating voice, their callous and predacious enemy, had managed to sneak into their personal life as much as they already existed in their life behind the mask. They couldn't stand seeing them, maybe more than seeing all these lover birds come together.

Hero glared at Villain's relaxed figure as they pressed their body against the lockers and looked at them, almost expecting them to say something back. Anything, as long as it kept them entertained, but today, they wouldn't let Villain become the death of them. They had more pressing issues, and it wasn't just the exams. 

"Aw~ c'mon... you're not gonna say anything to me?" Villain followed behind Hero when they turned to leave quickly. They grazed a hand along Hero's back, begging them to turn around, "Lemme hear that pretty voice, darlin'. I'm starting to think you're still mad at me from last night?"

Villain's hand was slapped off them; piercing eyes stared at their own, "Don't say it like that." They spoke in a harsh whisper, but Villain could barely make out the words under all the traffic in the halls.

"Say it like what?" They jokingly shrugged. 

"You know what I mean..." They mumbled and walked off again, but not until Villain noticed the blush growing on their face. 

Chemistry class was always the hardest to understand, not for Hero; luckily, their gifted supernatural powers came with a bit of science. However, they hated that this was the only class they shared with Villain because it was Villain's worst subject. 

They were forcibly seated next to Villain, with the teacher having high hopes that Hero would somehow teach Villain all they needed. 

As soon as the teacher left the room, they were given a silent period to work on the equations. Of course, the class found this opportunity to do the opposite and erupted into loud conversations and laughter. Hero found that even though they were working, Villain still managed to talk more than necessary. Rambling on and on about... what they shouldn't be in coded sentences. Hero had begun to believe it was Villain's way of making their shared lives outside of school feel more intricate than it really was

"I thought I was a goner yesterday; you totally had me back there--" they chuckled loosely with every obscure phrase. 

They felt the stare of their enemy when their one-sided conversation began to die down. They gave them a slight glance and caught Villain's head resting over their arms on the desk as they stared at them. It was a gaze out of admiration; it made Hero blush momentarily before regaining their senses.

"You-- don't have anything better to do?" Hero finally grumbled lowly, attempting to cover the embarrassment along their face. 

Villain thought for a second; they leaned their chair back and forth, "No one is even working on this crap. Look around!" Hero momentarily lifted their eyes off the page and caught the classroom in its own world; groups of students were talking rather loudly. Strangely, they didn't notice, but perhaps their lack of concern for others and their obsession to get the work done drowned out the noises. 

It didn't bother Hero what everyone else was doing; only that Villain was trying to get them out of their bubble. "I'm not interested. " They returned to the paper. 

"God, you're so boring sometimes y'know? It's like..." They searched for their words. "Two different people. One that's a complete nerd and the other--" Their eyes lit up, "Ooh, the other is a total badass."

They sighed, "Is there a reason why you're still talking to me?"

That sentence gave Hero what they wanted. Silence, Villain ignored them and fiddled with their pencil nonchalantly. They blinked several more times and looked at the ceiling, contemplating their next choice of words. 

Hero frowned when the conversation ended and continued their work in peace for the rest of the class.

Students clamoured out of the rooms as the bell rang. Villain had expertly tidied up their corner of the desk quickly and now observed Hero's hands fumble around for their books. They picked up a few of their spare notes and helped them finish up for the rest of the day. 

It was unusual for Villain to wait patiently by them, their eyebrow raised at what game they were playing this time. 

The class filtered out, leaving just the two of them in the silent room. 

"Hero," Villain called. Their voice began to sound much smaller than usual, the joking yet malicious sounds no longer present. Their eyes calmed for a second and took in their sincerity. 

Could it be?

They never took Villain for a cheesy romantic, but the idea that they were giving it an attempt made their heart soar. A fuzzy feeling grew in their chest at the prospect of being asked out to prom; what would it be like? What would this change?

Villain rubbed the back of their neck sheepishly, looking at the door, worried anyone might casually stroll in and disrupt the moment. "Uhh... Listen, I know you're not much for this sort of thing, but--"

Their hesitation worried Hero; of course, they'd made a few off-handed comments at the ridiculous open shows of affection in the halls, but that was just their first instinct. It didn't stop them from wanting something similar; that wasn't selfish, was it?

"Yea?" They pushed, hoping that they wouldn't quit now. 

"Well, I was thinking, since a lot-- I mean... I don't usually do this, but since it's been a while... and we--"

"Spit it out already." They scoffed and took a step forward. "I knew you would do this, you're so obvious."

"Seriously, lemme get to it." Villain felt flush; they took a deep breath, "Hero, would you like to... go to prom with me?"

They smiled warmly from ear to ear and let the part of their heart show on their sleeve; under the glow of Villain's charm, they couldn't resist. They nodded softly, the idea beginning to take hold of them that it wasn't wrong to be a little in high spirits for prom. 

~~~ MASTERLIST

[kitmoas]

maimed underneath wreckage

TGU--Season 2 Installation 1

Warnings: **18+ ONLY** **MINORS DNI*** Mommy Kink, light talk of breeding, hostage talk, light degrading, talk of weapons and magic

as usual if I missed anything let me know!

Author's Notes: IT"S SEASON 2!!! Hi Hello, the beginning of season 2 is here! It's a day late and I'm sorry. Also no editing cause fuck that shit I'm sorry if there's mistakes. Hopefully its a good intro to the vibes of season 2 :) Lemme know your thoughts even if you wanna stay anon in my inbox

Training Grounds Master List | Navigation Post | Inbox

Flickering, a small flame breathing in air as it grows slowly. Despite the darkness and the isolation, it almost feels as though the world is solid. Firm and rooted in a good foundation, but it won’t take long for that to crumble. Falling, spiraling about as if gravity no longer exists. 

Nothing in this place had longevity, changing within a single breath, a flaw in its creation. The insatiable need for peace drove the inevitable hysteria, and that’s where the structure falters. Slowly everything will become normal once more, forcing a reality check in which will leisurely chip away at the sanity within. 

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The sounds of conversations mixing is a nice change to the beeping of the lab and the clicking of keys in the office, a light wind blowing through your hair as you allow your eyes to laze around your surroundings. The heat lamp next to you allowed for you to sit atop the roof despite the snow along the grass under the balcony. Having spent the past few months keeping your head down after your first semester into your masters, it was nice to finally be back to something a little more normal. A moment between everyone that feels cozy, and you even feel comfortable with the arm that lays along the back of your chair. 

Empty plates are scattered and you know that your brother is confused, and a bit off put, but you try to ignore it. This isn’t where you thought you would be, but it’s okay. Life is a rollercoaster and you need to start understanding that, you cannot control everything nor can you put someone else in control of the levers. You need to move on, learn to take the hits like an adult and live. 

The talk was light the entire lunch, almost cordial which felt weird,and maybe you should have taken that as a sign that this was destined for doom but you shrugged it off. You were here for fun and not everything had to be serious, which made your skin crawl because you knew that wasn’t the same mindset of the girl next to you but it was the one you were stuck in. 

“So have you thought anymore about Peter’s offer?” It never happened on purpose, the dreaded swing back. An end to almost every interaction that you have with anyone at this point, never really detangling yourself from those that left your world rocky. 

You know your brother doesn’t mean it maliciously, but you can’t help but glare at him every single time he brings up the offer. A step into the same world as those that used to be your pillars, the ones that created your world as it once had been. 

Sighing, your eyes divert as you notice the hopeful look of both your lunch companions. “You know I haven’t Cars, you know that it isn’t the only offer I have and there’s no reason to even entertain it. I have school.” Despite the want for your voice to be strong, almost commanding, it wavers on each syllable. “I don’t need another distraction. I want to do well.” 

Before you even finish you can sense the change in his body language, jaw stiffening and eyes rolling. “Personally I think it’s time you stop running from what you’re actually good at.” 

Your mouth opens, just slightly, as your tongue dips out to wet your lips. “You know damn well that I won’t ever truly become part of that world, not full time.” The low simmering anger, the one that exists in you at all times, starts to heat up. You know where this is going, where it has gone for the past couple months. 

“Running from dad and who he was isn’t going to make you happy, we both know that.” The words were out of his mouth, put out into the world, but it was almost like you lost your ability to hear. It wasn’t healthy, your coping mechanism with your father, and you know that but at the end of the day you still weren’t ready to change. It almost felt too familiar, too cozy, and the thought of more change scared you. 

An answer for his statement never came, just your footsteps in the light layer of already melting snow as you walked back into the building. The loud chatter within the food court of your student union masking your emotions, as Cassie stumbled to thank your brother for having a meal with the both of you. Only the brief reflection of them parting indicated what happened at the scene you left behind as you conceal yourself within the wave of people all heading for the coffee bar. 

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A small stack of papers go flying through the air, hand slamming down on the large oval table. “We can’t keep acting like expansion is impossible! The world needs different types of technology so let’s give it to them!” Kate leers over the table, glaring at the projection of their end of year statements. 

You could feel the tension in the room, everyone was just a bit too scared to fight their boss. “Ms. Bishop, what….what would you mother do in this moment?” Apparently not everyone was scared, a single older man raising his hand with a strict look on his face. 

The young girl blinks, straightening her back as she stares down the table. Her jaw sets and she uses the moment of quiet to smooth down her blazer lapels. Kate settles down in her chair, allowing the smooth soft leather to calm her down more before she speaks. “Maybe you should remember where my mother got this company, yes? At the brink of forced federal shutdown, and practically bankrupt when our combined assets were seized. She destroyed the reputation of this company, disruption within the entire field, because she wanted to be rich. When I took the seat, and responsibility, of this company I swore that I would bring it back to what it could be but you all want to stay what my mother created. If that is true then security can escort you out because I will not be working with criminals. Meeting is dismissed and you all are required to go home, do not return to this building until or unless your mindset changes. We are not villains in this company and I will not entertain the idea of such ideals either.” 

Slowly each person leaves, shock on their face after being practically punished by such a young girl. They had always thought that she would be a fun loving kid, the one that was barely a good secretary but they knew she was growing into a good firm CEO. 

Letting the door lock behind the last person to leave, Kate leans back with her feet on the wood table. Sighing she rubs her hand along her face, staring out at the skyline. Her mind drifts as she tries to settle her heart rate. Memories of her favorite times plague her mind.  

“You wouldn’t dare, Mutt!” Her words held no real venom, voice cracking with laughter as she tried her hardest to keep the nerf gun aimed properly. The ginger staring down Kate as she holds you in a chokehold, her own gun against your temple. 

The body behind you shifts, the arm loose around your neck. “Bring it on, old lady, I’ll pull the trigger. I ain’t no scared lil bitch!” Everyone in the room cracks up at your girlfriend’s random accent that she puts on. 

Neither of you noticed Wanda, hovering in the back, eyes gleaming ruby. Just a tilt of her head and the brunette’s nerf gun is hovering above her hand, the two of you separated slowly. Her hands land on you and Nat is tackling Kate next to you. “Well hello, my little one. No one keeps you hostage but me, understood?” Her voice is deep, smooth as her lips move directly against your ear. 

The sight of the ginger straddling the younger girl below you, hand wrapped around her throat as the two kiss messily. You can’t help the whimper that falls from your mouth, teeth tugging at your bottom lip as you try to focus on the feeling of Wanda’s hands on you, but you can’t help as your attention is pulled to the wetness growing between your thighs as you watch the beginning of dry humping. 

“Now, if Mommy’s little girl doesn’t start paying attention I’m not going to be able to take care of that issue growing between your pretty little thighs. Are you my brainless obedient hostage or not?” Her nails grips at your hips now, digging painfully into you as she tugs you backwards into her. Her bulge is prominent as she grinds purposefully into your ass. 

You can’t help but get lost in the sensation, arching your back as much as you can to feel more of the woman behind you. The sound of the witch’s annoyed sigh only turns you on more, as she lets one of her hands claw at your jaw–forcing you to nod your head. “Such a stupid little slut already?” Her other hand is pushing its way into your pants, fingers roughly swiping along your wet folds. “Do you want to play a game with Mommy?” 

Even though you are eagerly nodding your head, the claws that dig into you are forcing your head up and down as well. A sharp whistle makes you flinch, the piercing sound right in your ear as the woman behind you calls for the attention of the others. “It’s time for the puppy to learn how to breed our pretty little fucktoy.” 

Kate practically falls out of her chair at a gentle knock, the door disengaging as her secretary pops her head in. “Are you staying late? I can stay so you're not alone.” Her sympathetic smile makes the young brunette feel almost pathetic. 

Pulling herself up, politely she dismisses her and lets her know that she too is heading out. That she has a busy night ahead of her with some very important plans, but had just lost track of time. The brunette spends the next few minutes cleaning up, taking great care to make sure that her co-worker is fully out of the building before starting her descent down the stairs. A heavy sigh as she pulls up Doordash for some random pizza shop, trying once more to find a place that can take the place of her once favorite parlor.  -----------------------------------------------------------------------

Crickets softly chirp, a sound in the early night that still brings a soft smile to the blonde’s face, under the slowly raising moon. A chill is settling over the dead grass and bare branches, a sure indicator that another night time snow fall is approaching. It’s been a while since she felt like this, everyone around her had been so stressed out and tense but she just wanted the world back as she had fallen in love with it. That’s selfish but it’s what she wanted, even though she knows that the pain and despair she is going through is bare minimum compared to her closest people. 

“You know, when we were younger mom would also find you fallen asleep out here. She used to say that you were meant for the night. Viridescent in the moonlight.” Natasha’s smile is forced, and her younger sister can see it from a mile away. It had been for months now, if not even longer but it’s only gotten worse as each day passed.  

The hum is soft, barely loud enough to even be noted in the noise of nature. “I miss them.” Her voice breaks causing her to flinch at the obvious weakness she displayed, a quick flash too early in the conversation. 

Wrapping her arms around the blonde, the older woman takes a moment to press a kiss to her temple before rocking with her. “They loved you so much Y. You don’t even understand. When you came to us, god, that was it. We were complete and we all wanted to protect you so much. I wish we would have done a better job, we kind of failed there.” Even as the ginger looks out into the yard, a newly installed play gym shines in the dim light, she can’t help but let her mind wander to some of the best years she had in this neighborhood. 

“You…Sha, you say Mama and Daddy loved me and I knew that but why do step straight to them?” Yelena blinks up at her sister, relishing in the first sign of emotion from her. She watches her contemplate for a while, silence filled with the chirping of crickets, before she stutters out a few syllables. It ends in a stubborn snap of her jaw, the muscles there tensing as she clenches her mouth shut. “I just believe that they would enjoy it here. We will reunite with Mama soon and maybe by the grace of the gods Daddy will show, but we have people we love here. They once said that we find love grasp on tight, you remember?” 

Natasha nods, hot heavy tears filling her eyes. Forcing them down, she tries to chuckle. “The idea of that man being graced by the gods is hilarious, if anything that man would make it back to Yav in the form of one of Mom’s pigs.” At the dead end glare she receives the older woman gulps, trying to collect her thoughts. “Okay, I had to walk away. Okay? Okay. I think everyone can agree that I had to. I had no other choice but to remove myself from the situation. It wasn’t fun or nice but I had to. I had to. I had to Y. Okay?” It wasn’t on purpose but her voice was getting louder and her younger sister could see the anger and desperation rising in her. 

Pulling away to sit directly facing her sister, Yelena takes a deep breath as she goes through her thoughts. She knew that it wasn’t going to be easy and that she needed to take her time, but at the same time it had to be direct and quick to make sure that Natasha didn’t run. “The situation did not require leaving, you should never leave and even Daddy spoke to that. Do you not realize that staying would have allowed you to growth instead of leaving and the entire would becoming rubble?” Internally she flinched, the words spoken were harsh but she knew what she wanted out of this. At the end of the day, she herself was angry. Her sister walked away, without a fight, and the blonde knew that she was in the wrong. No matter how much she may idolize her older sibling she has to knock her off that pedestal once in a while. 

The two sit there, for almost an hour, in silence. It’s agonizing and tedious, a feat that almost feels athletic but it ends with Yelena retreating. A gentle kiss to the ginger’s forehead as she sighs, shaking her head and heading back into the house to allow her to have some time in a calm isolation. 

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Your brow was dripping slightly, the back of your hand doing barely anything to stop the droplet from stinging your eyes. A chorus of laughter echoes in your ears as you stare down at the facetime call, both Peter and America are frantically running towards your shared destination. “Okay, whoever gets there first needs to make sure that they try and get them to honor our reservation!” 

The boy yelps as he nods, the world rushing as he swings towards the science wing of campus. “I’m gonna beat you both!” He’s laughing loudly as he flips about, and for a moment everything almost seems normal. Just a couple college friends trying to finish some research, all of you aiming to practically overdose on caffeine. 

Trying to focus on not tripping as you exit the gym and keep up with conversation as America runs across campus, the rapid wind being Peter’s only real contribution to the call, you almost miss running straight into someone. Dropping your phone, the dreaded clatter never came and you realize that the beloved item is hovering within a glowing red orb. 

“You truly are just a clumsy little thing, you know?” Her voice is quiet, almost hesitant, as she looks up at you through her lashes. 

Frantically reaching up to your air pod you hang up your call before your friends can realize who you just ran into, literally, as you try to scramble your brain into thinking of any sort of retort. “Um.. I-” Your vision blurs slightly, but it’s then you realize she’s still crystal clear. The world around her is blurry and fogged, but as per usual she’s the brightest thing to exist. 

She smiles, a sullen thing pulling her lips, and shakes her head. “I just missed you, but you don’t have to reply.” A quick shush stops your arguing and her eyes dim for a moment. “It’s not fair of me but I just wanted to see you, just for a moment. I could never stay too far away from you for long could I?” There’s a slight cocky tone to her voice as she expresses her thoughts, her body straightening as she realizes you still react the same way towards her. 

“Why.. um.. Why didn’t you call me? I would have answered. I always would.” You try to reassure her or maybe that’s all for you, but you can’t help the words as they pour out of you. “You don’t need to miss me, I’m always at your access if you need me. We always promised that and I don’t ever want to break that promise.” 

The older woman chuckles, almost in spite of herself while she takes a few steps away. Her magic forces its way into your hand as it sets your phone there, waiting patiently for you to catch up to what was happening. It’s the last thing you feel, her scent pulling away as she moves farther backwards.

Gentle vibration that you cling to, but you never got to say goodbye as the entire world melts into nothing.  -----------------------------------------------------------------------

The door closes behind her, a barely warm pizza in hand. It doesn’t smell very appetizing, but anything with cheese should do the trick nowadays. The feeling is instant, the box hitting the counter without a sound. An arrowhead slips down her fingers almost at an instant, swinging around the young girl tries to play her paranoia off casually but her shock is something she can’t. There bent over the chair is Wanda, almost in a frantic state. Her face is flushed and wet with tear stains. Her demeanor is nothing like the CEO is used to but she knows their lives have changed a lot. “W-Wanda? Are you okay? What happened?” Her concern for not only the woman in front of her, but those that connect the two takes over. 

“Please I just want to see someone, anyone. Please. Where is Tommy? Billy? I’m begging you, I’ll do anything.” The woman is sobbing, the words slurring together as she struggles to stand up. There were dark circles under her eyes, and her frame was thin. It almost looked like she had spent weeks searching for these people, but Kate was completely confused. Who was she even speaking of? Did she find a whole new group in just a couple of months? 

Taking a step towards the crouched older woman was a mistake, causing her to practically fling herself backwards. For the first time the young girl stopped, head tilting in confusion and her hand falling to her side, Wanda was scared. It was something that she never saw before, and felt like even on the battlefield she had never even seen an ounce of hesitation from her. 

Slowly Kate slips to the floor, setting the arrowhead out in front of her so that she could seem less like a threat. “Hi, Wanda? Do you know who I am?” She was starting to think that maybe she suffered some kind of brain injury or maybe she was on some sort of drug. 

The frantic woman’s bloodshot eyes snap to match the calm dark waves, and it seems to help her breath a bit better. She shakes her head, pushing away until her back can hit the wall. “I don’t… I don’t know who you are. Am I supposed to?” 

It was a possibility, a small chance, and Kate knew that it was there but hearing it stung. A woman that not only did she look up to but also had grown a large liking to doesn’t know who she is. Though the hurt was sharp, and overwhelming, the young hero tried her hardest to ignore it. She had to save the woman in front of her, she had to make sure that she was taken somewhere that they could restore her memory. 

As gently as possible the archer reaches out, palm upwards. “Can I touch you?” Her voice was soft, almost as if she was talking to a sleeping baby. At the shy nod of Wanda’s head, she smiles. It’s not a beam or bright, but almost like the beginning rays of the sunrise–soft and warm. 

Her hand never makes it there, never touching what looks like a soft sweater, instead the world blacks out and it almost feels like Kate falls into a black hole. 

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Natasha had grown accustomed to darkness, the time of day when even the moon goes to bed. It happened to be one of her favorite times of the day, a peace that was laid over her like a blanket. When everyone else wanted to do everything during the day, she just wanted to wait for the shadow of night. She worked and thought best at the latest of times, and sometimes that backfired on her; as it was currently. 

She knew that her world was crumbling, but didn’t the destruction start two years ago? The daily life she had created was put on a pause and when she was able to hit play again, the script was rewritten. She was so far behind on rewrites and the new cast members that catching up was impossible, so she went along with what she knew. 

It’s not like she didn’t enjoy everything, nor did she not finally fall into a groove but the foundation she created was not the one everyone stood on. No, instead it had almost felt like a bridge–one laid upon the old foundation. It was strong but it was heavy upon the slowly cracking stone holding it up, time was the only thing in the way of the wreckage. 

For now this was her life, time in the neighborhood that could have been her identity. She could have been part of that family across the way, the one that is sleeping soundly currently and will wake up and get their children to school before heading to work. Maybe she would have been part of the couple that have three dogs and a cat, and work remote jobs so that they can travel the world together. 

Gulping down a thought, she hates to have the visions cross her mind. It could have been her and maybe someone else. Someone else right next to her, smiling and laughing; crying and healing. They could have survived the world together, but the fights would be corporate life and monthly bills. The two of them could have dogs and a cat or two, maybe even a kid if they really wanted. It’s a vision she sees every time she lets her eyes scan the backyard, fairy lights now twinkling dimly to allow enough lighting for safety. 

It’s then when she sees two small crimson orbs, floating. A sense of dread and urgency sinks in her stomach, her fight or flight kicking in and the need to grasp at her widow bites strong. As the circles approach, the figure being illuminated by the string of twinkling dots, Natasha realizes the familiar feeling. Taking her back to Sokovia twelve years ago, she realizes Wanda is the one once again hiding in the shadows; but this time Strucker is not a part of it. 

“Well hello Agent Romanoff.” Her voice was deeper, a bit of that old rage still there. “What are you doing out here, all alone?” 

Despite the girl being far enough out that Natasha could easily escape her, she still felt an overwhelming sense of danger. She knew what this Wanda was capable of, even if it was barely a fraction of what current age Wanda could do, and that was enough for her to let her widow bites activate. She doesn’t give the young girl the sense of pride to speak back to her, just stand at the ready. She couldn’t let her have a moment of the upper hand, she refused to feel her hex again. 

Wanda tilts her head, a mockingly curious look on her face. “Why do you seem so scared, aren’t you the great Black Widow?” She smiles widely, every single one of her teeth shining a faint red as her eyes pulse with her magic. “Or maybe it’s because your best friend Tony Stark isn’t here?” 

Blinking, slowly, Natasha tries to piece together what was happening. What does she mean? Did she lose her memory in the past couple months? Originally she had thought that maybe her magic had consumed her and that it reverted her back to a darker sense of dress, but the way she speaks isn’t something she understands. 

The one thing she is conscious of is the growing ruby orb rolling around in Wanda’s left hand, and the rapidly expanding magic glow around her. The presence of the magic was stronger than almost every moment Natasha had ever seen of the other woman. It scared her and that was the only thing that saved her as she jumped out of the way of the impending attack. 

Except it never happened, the world blurring almost as if her magic stole the ginger’s sight. 

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Chaos, that’s the only word that can really describe what is happening. It’s only a moment after the world blacked out, only a moment since three lives were blurred and melted back together. 

You didn’t really understand what happened, just a moment ago you  were staring at Wanda for the first time in months and now you were in some random room with people freaking out all around you. She was standing, somewhat away, trapped in a box. She looked confused, but almost at peace, and you wanted to help her. She had been caged before and you never wanted her to ever feel like that again. You didn’t even get to take one step towards her before you watched her start to glitch, almost like a computer screen, before she just disappeared. 

Swinging your head around you tried to find someone who would tell you what was happening, but that’s when you saw her. Kate, your archer, wait no. Kate. Just Kate. She was on her knees, talking to another Wanda who was curled up in a ball crying. It was only another second before that one turned to static. You watched as the brunette frantically stood up, begging for help from the first person she could find. 

Next to her, with shocked eyes, stood Natasha. Her arm is held up by the CEO as her voice gets caught in her throat, but her other hand is outstretched to where a crimson fog is dissipating. The two stare at each other for a moment before Kate apologizes, trying to leave the situation in a professional way. 

In the crowd you blend in, hiding yourself as agents and other Avengers run around. There’s screens and machines all around, things you don’t really understand as everyone is trying to piece together what could be happening. You almost couldn’t tell if you wanted to be seen by the other girl, or even by the widow. Your soul and heart craved her attention, and you knew that your body would relax just from the sight of the ginger’s eyes, but how could you look at them? You had destroyed their lives and now you must live in the ruins of it. 

“ENOUGH!” The loud voice of Dr. Strange freezes everyone, and for a time you think you’re safe. It’s until everyone turns to you, the summoning from the stupid wizard, that for the first time you drown in the salty blue of the eyes you missed most. It was pain, a stabbing through your soul that you knew you would never survive. The need for her attention, even the most miniscule amount of it, was like oxygen. You need it to live, and for the past few months you had none. 

You weren’t sure what any one spoke of, people pushing and shoving not only you but the other two to the center of the floor. A large table there that now seated the rest of the Avengers, three empty chairs left. Even though there is yelling and arguing around, you can’t help but stop. You want to just look at them, forcing your eyes away from Kate was a mistake as you struggle to stay still. You wanted to run to the widow, get on your knees and beg her to come back. 

It was a clearing of a throat that interrupts your thoughts, stern and firm. “We need to discuss Wanda.”

[cerismo]

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE

masterlist

PART 8 . . .

⭑.ᐟ characters . . . toxic!rafe x toxic!fem kook!olivia wilson

.ᐟ.ᐟ genre . . . angst to fluff. slowburn.

꩜ .ᐟ warnings . . . cussing. arguing

ᝰ.ᐟ mo yaps . . . damn you guys i’m so sorry for how long this is… lemme know yall opinions on rafe. ALSO i just realized it’s only 10 pics allowed bro 😔 btw school is tomorrow guys so i dont know how my uploading schedule will be i’ll try to make it like 3pm

Liv entered her house, the weight of the day pressing down on her as she climbed the stairs to her room. Her mind was still spinning from everything that had happened with Rafe. She couldn’t quite put her finger on it, but something between them had shifted. She found herself replaying their conversation, the way he had looked at her, and the unexpected softness in his voice when he had thanked her. It was all so different from the usual back-and-forth banter and the heated arguments that had defined their friendship for so long.

As she reached her room, she collapsed onto her bed, staring up at the ceiling. She wasn’t sure what to make of it all. Were they really on the verge of something more, or was she just imagining things? They had been friends forever, but lately, it felt like there was something else simmering beneath the surface, something neither of them had been ready to acknowledge. She let out a long sigh, trying to push the thoughts aside. There would be time to figure things out later. Right now, she just needed to decompress.

But as she lay there, her phone buzzed on her nightstand. She reached over to check it, half-expecting another text from Rafe. Instead, it was from Sarah.

Sarah: Hey, are you okay? I heard everything. Do you want to talk?

Liv hesitated for a moment before replying.

Liv: I’m fine. Just a lot to process. Rafe is really going through it with his dad.

Sarah: I know. It sounded pretty bad. How’s he holding up?

Liv: He’s putting on a brave face, but I can tell it’s eating at him. We talked for a bit, but I don’t think anything’s going to change unless he stands up to Ward.

There was a pause before Sarah’s next message came through.

Sarah: You know, I’ve been thinking… You two have been through so much together. Maybe it’s time you both admit that there’s more to this than just friendship.

Liv’s heart skipped a beat. She wasn’t ready for this conversation, not now. But Sarah had always been perceptive, and it was hard to dismiss her words.

Liv: What are you talking about?

Sarah: You know exactly what I’m talking about. Everyone else can see it, Liv. You and Rafe are more than just friends. You always have been.

Liv stared at the screen, her mind racing. Was it really that obvious? She had always known there was something more between her and Rafe, but she had never allowed herself to fully explore it. It was too complicated, too risky. They had been friends for so long, and she was afraid of ruining that.

Liv: It’s not that simple, Sarah. We’ve always been this way. We fight, we make up, and then we move on. That’s just how we are.

Sarah: Maybe But don’t you think it’s time to break the cycle?

Liv didn’t know how to respond. She wanted to dismiss Sarah’s words, to brush them off as just another one of her friend’s attempts to play matchmaker. But deep down, she knew Sarah was right. There was something between her and Rafe, something that had always been there but had never fully surfaced. Maybe it was time to face it head-on.

Liv: I don’t know, Sarah. I need time to think.

Sarah: Take all the time you need. Just don’t let fear hold you back. You deserve to be happy, Liv. And maybe Rafe is part of that.

Liv sighed, setting her phone down. Sarah’s words lingered in her mind as she closed her eyes, trying to push the thoughts away. But they kept coming back, unbidden and relentless. Maybe it was time to stop running from whatever it was she felt for Rafe. Maybe it was time to finally confront the truth.

————

The next morning, Liv woke up to the sound of her phone buzzing incessantly. She groggily reached for it, expecting more texts from Sarah. But when she saw Rafe’s name on the screen, she sat up, her heart racing.

“Hello?” she answered, trying to sound more awake than she felt.

“Hey,” Rafe’s voice came through, sounding tired but relieved. “Sorry, did I wake you?”

“It’s fine,” Liv said quickly, brushing a strand of hair out of her face. “What’s up?”

“I… I stayed the night in my car,” Rafe admitted, his voice tinged with embarrassment. “I just couldn’t go back home after what happened with my dad.”

Liv’s heart ached for him. “You should have come back. You know you’re always welcome here.”

“I didn’t want to impose,” Rafe said, but there was a softness in his tone that told Liv he was grateful for her offer.

“Rafe, you’re never imposing,” Liv said firmly. “You’re family.”

There was a pause on the other end of the line, and Liv could almost picture Rafe’s conflicted expression.

“Thanks, Liv. I needed to hear that,” he finally said, his voice barely above a whisper.

“Why don’t you come over now?” Liv suggested, trying to lighten the mood. “We can grab some breakfast or something.”

“Yeah,” Rafe said after a moment. “Yeah, that sounds good. I’ll be there in a bit.”

————

By the time Rafe arrived, Liv had made coffee and was idly scrolling through her phone, trying to keep her nerves in check. When the doorbell rang, she jumped up, nearly spilling her coffee in the process. She set the cup down and hurried to the door, opening it to find Rafe standing there, looking a little worse for wear but managing a small smile.

“Hey,” she greeted, stepping aside to let him in.

“Hey,” Rafe replied, stepping inside and glancing around as if expecting to see her mother lurking somewhere nearby.

“She’s out, on a business trip,” Liv said, reading his thoughts. “It’s just us.”

“Good,” Rafe said, visibly relaxing. “I don’t think I could handle the mom interrogation right now.”

Liv chuckled, leading him to the kitchen. “Coffee?”

“Please,” Rafe said, sinking into a chair at the table.

She poured him a cup and handed it to him, sitting down across from him. They sipped their coffee in silence for a few moments, the tension from the previous night still hanging between them.

“So,” Liv finally said, setting her cup down. “How are you feeling?”

Rafe sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Like crap, honestly. I don’t even know what I’m doing anymore, Liv. I feel like I’m just… stuck.”

Liv nodded, understanding all too well. “Maybe you need to take a step back, Rafe. Stop trying to live up to your dad’s expectations and start figuring out what you want.”

“I don’t even know what I want,” Rafe admitted, his voice full of frustration. “I’ve spent so long trying to please him that I’ve lost sight of everything else.”

Liv reached across the table, placing her hand on his. “Then maybe it’s time to find yourself again. To figure out what makes you happy.”

Rafe looked at her, his eyes searching hers as if trying to find the answers he needed. “What if I don’t know where to start?”

“You don’t have to do it alone,” Liv said softly. “I’ll be here, every step of the way.”

For a moment, they just sat there, their hands still clasped together, the air between them charged with something unspoken. Liv’s heart was pounding, her mind racing with thoughts she had tried so hard to suppress. But as she looked at Rafe, she realized she couldn’t deny it any longer.

“Rafe,” she began, her voice trembling slightly. “There’s something I need to tell you.”

Rafe’s eyes flickered with curiosity, his grip on her hand tightening slightly. “What is it?”

Liv took a deep breath, her heart in her throat. “I… I think I’ve been lying to myself. About us. About how I feel.”

Rafe’s expression shifted, a mix of surprise and confusion crossing his features. “What do you mean?”

The tension between them was palpable as they stood in the kitchen, their hands still clasped together. Liv's heart raced as she confessed her feelings, her voice trembling slightly. “I think I’ve always felt something more for you. But I was too scared to admit it, even to myself.”

Rafe’s eyes widened with shock, his grip on her hand loosening. For a moment, he didn’t say anything, the silence between them stretching on uncomfortably. Liv’s heart sank, fearing the worst, but she held her breath, waiting for his response.

“I’ve felt it too,” Rafe finally admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. He looked away, as if gathering his thoughts, before adding, “But we can’t do this, Liv.”

Liv’s brow furrowed in confusion, her breath catching in her throat. “What do you mean?”

Rafe let out a shaky breath, his expression hardening. “I mean, this—whatever it is you’re feeling—it’s not real. We’re just caught up in the moment. It’s probably just some leftover feelings from when we were kids, but it doesn’t mean anything.”

Liv’s eyes widened, hurt flashing across her face. “Rafe, don’t do this. You know it’s more than that.”

But Rafe shook his head, forcing himself to stay firm. “No, it’s not. You’re just confused, Liv. And honestly, I’m not interested in making things more complicated than they already are. We’ve been friends forever, but that’s all we are. That’s all we can ever be.”

His words were like a slap in the face, leaving Liv reeling. She stared at him, her eyes brimming with tears as she tried to process what he was saying. “You don’t mean that.”

Rafe forced himself to look her in the eye, even though it hurt more than he could ever admit. “I do. This… whatever this is, it’s not going to happen. We’re not right for each other, Liv. You need to move on.”

Liv’s heart shattered at his words, the rejection cutting deeper than she’d ever imagined. She felt a surge of anger and pain, and before she knew it, she was pushing him away, her voice shaking with fury. “Get out.”

Rafe hesitated, his own emotions threatening to overwhelm him, but he knew he couldn’t stay. Not after what he’d just said. “Liv…”

“Get out!” Liv repeated, her voice cracking. “I don’t want to see you right now. Just go.”

Rafe’s face tightened with regret, but he forced himself to turn away and leave. He didn’t want her to see how much it hurt him to do this. As the door closed behind him, Liv stood there, the silence of the house pressing down on her.

Tears streamed down her face as she reached for her phone, her hands shaking as she dialed Sarah’s number. She needed to talk to someone, someone who would understand.

Sarah picked up after the first ring, her voice bright and cheerful. “Hey, Liv! What’s up?”

Liv tried to speak, but her voice caught in her throat, a sob escaping instead.

“Liv? What happened?” Sarah’s tone instantly shifted to concern, and Liv could hear the worry in her voice.

“Sarah,” Liv managed to choke out, her voice trembling. “I need you.”

“Okay, I’m coming over,” Sarah said quickly. “Just hang tight, Liv. I’ll be there in a few minutes.”

Liv nodded, even though Sarah couldn’t see her, and hung up the phone. She sank to the floor, hugging her knees to her chest as the tears continued to fall. She had always known her feelings for Rafe were complicated, but she had never expected him to shut her down so harshly. It felt like her heart had been ripped out, leaving a gaping hole where their friendship used to be.

She didn’t know how she was going to face him again, how she could ever go back to the way things were. But for now, all she could do was wait for Sarah, the one person she knew she could count on, the one person who would understand just how much this hurt.

————

Liv sat on the floor of her bedroom, her back against the bed as she hugged her knees to her chest. Her eyes were red and puffy from crying, and her body shook with the aftermath of sobs. The room felt unbearably quiet and cold, and the only sound was her ragged breathing.

The door creaked open, and Liv looked up to see Sarah stepping inside. Sarah’s expression softened with concern when she saw the state Liv was in. Without a word, she crossed the room and sat down beside her best friend, wrapping her arms around her tightly.

“Liv, I’m here,” Sarah whispered, pulling Liv closer. “What happened? Talk to me.”

Liv leaned into Sarah’s embrace, her body trembling with a fresh wave of tears. She tried to speak, but the words caught in her throat, coming out in broken, choked sobs.

“Sarah, I—” Liv’s voice cracked, and she buried her face in Sarah’s shoulder, her tears soaking the fabric of Sarah’s shirt. “I was so wrong. I thought… I thought Rafe felt the same way, but… he doesn’t. He told me it wasn’t real, that it’s all in my head.”

Sarah’s heart ached for her friend as she gently stroked Liv’s hair, trying to soothe her. “Oh, Liv. I’m so sorry. He really said that?”

Liv nodded, her tears falling faster now. “Yeah. He said… he said it was just leftover feelings from when we were kids and that we’re not right for each other. He made it sound like… like I’m crazy for even thinking there could be something between us.”

Sarah’s jaw clenched in anger at Rafe’s words. She knew her brother could be stubborn and difficult, but she hadn’t expected him to be so harsh with Liv, especially when she knew deep down that Rafe did care for her. But this wasn’t the time to voice that; Liv was already hurting enough.

“Liv, you’re not crazy,” Sarah said firmly, holding Liv a little tighter. “You’re not imagining things. You’ve known Rafe for forever; you know how he is. He’s always been afraid of his feelings, and he probably panicked because he didn’t know how to handle what he was feeling.”

Liv shook her head, tears streaming down her cheeks. “No, Sarah, he was really clear. He told me we’re just friends and that’s all we’ll ever be. I thought… I thought there was something more, but I was wrong. I’ve been fooling myself this whole time.”

Sarah pulled back slightly to look at Liv, her eyes filled with empathy. “Liv, I know this hurts, and I’m so sorry he made you feel this way. But don’t let what he said make you doubt yourself. You’re not wrong for having feelings. You’re not wrong for wanting more.”

Liv’s breath hitched as she wiped at her eyes, her voice breaking. “But what if he’s right? What if I just imagined it all? Maybe I was just desperate for something that was never really there. I feel so stupid, Sarah. I should’ve known better.”

Sarah shook her head, gently cupping Liv’s face in her hands. “No, Liv, you’re not stupid. You’re one of the smartest, strongest people I know. It’s okay to want love, and it’s okay to be vulnerable. But you didn’t imagine anything. Rafe’s just too scared to admit his own feelings, and instead of facing them, he pushed you away. That’s on him, not you.”

Liv’s lip quivered as she tried to hold back another sob, but it was no use. She broke down again, crying into Sarah’s shoulder. “It just hurts so much. I feel like I’ve lost him, Sarah. Not just whatever we could’ve been, but our friendship too.”

Sarah’s own eyes welled up with tears as she held Liv tighter, her voice thick with emotion. “I know, Liv. I know it hurts. But I’m here for you, okay? No matter what happens with Rafe, I’m always going to be here. You don’t have to go through this alone.”

Liv clung to Sarah, her sobs gradually subsiding as she drew strength from her friend’s comforting presence. “Thank you, Sarah,” she whispered, her voice hoarse from crying. “I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

“You’ll never have to find out,” Sarah replied softly, brushing a stray tear from Liv’s cheek. “We’ll get through this together. And whatever happens with Rafe, you’ll be okay. You’re stronger than you think, Liv.”

Liv nodded weakly, her heart still aching but slightly less heavy knowing she wasn’t alone. As she sat there with Sarah, she realized that, while her feelings for Rafe were undeniable, she couldn’t let this crush her completely. She had to find a way to move forward, even if it meant doing it without him.

For now, though, she was content to stay right where she was, wrapped in the warmth of her best friend’s embrace, letting the pain slowly start to heal.

————

The past two weeks had been agonizing for Liv. Every time she passed Rafe, she couldn’t help but glance his way, hoping for even the slightest acknowledgment. But he never looked at her, not once. It was as if she didn’t exist to him anymore, and that hurt more than anything. The cold shoulder from someone she’d been close to for years left her feeling lost and abandoned.

Rafe, on the other hand, had thrown himself into work, trying to make the best of the opportunity his dad had finally given him at Cameron Development. Ward had extended a tentative olive branch, and Rafe knew he couldn’t afford to mess this up. But no matter how hard he tried to focus, Liv’s face kept creeping into his thoughts. Every time he passed her and forced himself to look away, it felt like a tiny piece of him was crumbling inside.

Liv had tried everything to get over him. She’d spent hours pacing her room, talking herself into and out of the idea that she was better off without him. Sarah and the Pogues had been her constant companions, trying to cheer her up and convince her to move on. But the weight of Rafe’s rejection lingered in her chest, making it hard to breathe, let alone forget.

The invitation to the party had been the last thing she wanted to accept, but Sarah and the others had been relentless, hounding her for days until she finally caved. Maybe, she thought, if she tried hard enough, she could make Rafe see what he was missing—or at least convince herself that she could move on.

————

The night of the party, Liv stood in front of her mirror, staring at her reflection. She’d spent extra time on her makeup, making sure she looked perfect. If Rafe was going to see her tonight, she wanted to make sure he couldn’t ignore her. She wanted to prove to him—and herself—that she could move on, that she didn’t need him.

She had a plan, one that had been forming in her mind since she’d agreed to come to the party. JJ had always been a close friend, and if anyone could help her distract herself from the pain, it was him. Maybe if she made a move on JJ, Rafe would finally feel something—anything—other than indifference.

The party was already in full swing when Liv arrived with Sarah and the Pogues. The music was loud, the house packed with people dancing and laughing. Liv could feel the nervous energy in her stomach, but she pushed it down, plastering a smile on her face as she greeted her friends.

JJ, ever the charmer, was quick to offer her a drink and keep her laughing. He had no idea what Liv had planned, but he was more than happy to keep her company, making sure she was having a good time.

As the night went on, Liv started to feel a little more relaxed, a little more like herself. She caught glimpses of Rafe across the room, talking to a few of his friends. He looked good—too good—and her heart twisted every time she saw him. But he never once looked her way, never acknowledged her presence.

Finally, Liv decided it was time. She was done waiting for Rafe to notice her. She turned to JJ, her heart pounding, and leaned in close. “Hey,” she said softly, her voice almost drowned out by the music. “You wanna dance?”

JJ grinned, clearly pleased by the attention. “Of course,” he replied, taking her hand and leading her to the dance floor.

They moved to the music, their bodies close, and Liv tried to lose herself in the rhythm. She could feel JJ’s hands on her waist, his breath on her neck as they danced, but all she could think about was whether Rafe was watching.

And he was. From across the room, Rafe had spotted them, and the sight of JJ’s hands on Liv’s body sent a surge of jealousy crashing through him. He clenched his fists, trying to keep his emotions in check, but the anger was building, bubbling up inside him until he couldn’t contain it anymore.

He pushed his way through the crowd, his eyes locked on Liv and JJ, and before he knew it, he was right in front of them. The music seemed to fade as Rafe grabbed JJ by the shoulder, yanking him away from Liv with a force that made everyone around them stop and stare.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Rafe spat, his voice low and dangerous.

JJ stumbled back, his hands raised in a gesture of surrender. “Chill, man. We’re just dancing.”

Rafe’s jaw tightened, his fists clenching at his sides. “You think you can just put your hands on her like that?”

Liv stepped in between them, her heart pounding. “Rafe, stop,” she demanded, her voice sharp. “What are you doing?”

Rafe ignored her, his gaze still fixed on JJ. “You know damn well she’s not yours to touch.”

JJ’s expression hardened. “And who the hell are you to say that? You made it pretty clear you didn’t want her.”

The words hit Rafe like a punch to the gut, but he didn’t back down. He took a step closer to JJ, his eyes blazing with anger. “Back off, JJ. I’m warning you.”

But before things could escalate further, Liv shoved Rafe back, her own anger flaring. “What the hell is wrong with you, Rafe?” she snapped, her voice trembling with emotion. “You literally turned me down and told me to move on, but when I try to, you just get all fucking jealous? Why is that?”

Rafe was stunned into silence, the weight of her words crashing down on him. He opened his mouth to respond, but nothing came out. He didn’t have an answer, not one that he was willing to admit, even to himself.

Liv shook her head, tears of frustration and hurt welling in her eyes. “You don’t get to do this, Rafe. You don’t get to push me away and then act like you care. If you didn’t want me, then why are you here now, trying to mess this up for me?”

Rafe’s chest tightened, his mind racing as he searched for something—anything—to say. But all he could do was stand there, his emotions a tangled mess inside him.

Liv took a step back, her voice quieter now, but no less filled with pain. “Just go, Rafe. I’m done. You made your choice, and I’m making mine. Leave us alone.”

JJ stepped forward, his gaze still wary, but his hand reached out to take Liv’s. Rafe watched as Liv allowed herself to be led away, his heart shattering with every step she took. He wanted to stop her, to say something that would make this right, but the words wouldn’t come.

As Liv walked away, Rafe felt the full weight of what he’d lost—and what he might never get back. He had pushed her away, thinking it was for the best, but now all he could feel was the gaping void she’d left behind.

Liv, meanwhile, forced herself to keep walking, her hand gripping JJ’s tightly. But as soon as they were out of Rafe’s sight, she let go, the tears she’d been holding back finally spilling over. She turned away, her shoulders shaking as she sobbed.

“Liv…” JJ began, unsure of what to do, but Liv shook her head.

“Just… take me home,” she whispered, her voice breaking.

JJ didn’t argue. He wrapped an arm around her shoulders, leading her out of the party and into the night. As they walked, Liv’s mind was a whirlwind of emotions—anger, sadness, regret. But beneath it all was the deep, unshakeable pain of knowing that Rafe didn’t feel the same way she did, and that maybe he never would.

Back inside, Rafe stood alone on the dance floor, the echoes of their confrontation still ringing in his ears. He had thought he was doing the right thing by letting Liv go, but now, as he watched her leave with someone else, he wasn’t so sure. The jealousy, the anger—it was all too much, too confusing. But one thing was clear: he couldn’t get Liv out of his mind, no matter how hard he tried.

And now, he might have lost her for good.

————

The next day dawned with a gray sky, the overcast weather mirroring the heavy mood that had settled over both Rafe and Liv. Liv had barely slept, her mind replaying the events of the night before on a relentless loop. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw Rafe’s face—his anger, his jealousy, the way he’d looked at her when she confronted him.

She had woken up feeling like she’d been hit by a truck, her eyes swollen and puffy from crying herself to sleep. She didn’t want to get out of bed, didn’t want to face the world and the reality that Rafe Cameron didn’t care about her the way she’d thought—hoped—he might.

But the world moved on, even when you felt like it shouldn’t. Liv eventually forced herself up, took a shower, and threw on a pair of sweatpants and an oversized hoodie. She needed comfort, and the idea of trying to look put together felt impossible.

Downstairs, Sarah was waiting with two cups of coffee, her expression a mixture of concern and determination. “You’re coming with me today,” she announced, handing Liv one of the cups.

Liv groaned, slumping into a chair at the kitchen table. “Sarah, I can’t. I just want to stay in bed and forget about everything.”

Sarah shook her head, sliding into the chair across from her. “Nope. I’m not letting you do that. You need to get out of your own head for a bit. Besides, I have errands to run, and you’re coming with me. We’re going to distract you with some much-needed retail therapy.”

Liv sighed, taking a sip of the coffee. She didn’t have the energy to argue. Sarah was relentless when she had her mind set on something, and Liv knew there was no getting out of this. Maybe it would help, she thought, if she could just stop thinking about Rafe for a few hours.

Meanwhile, across town, Rafe was having a morning of his own. He had barely slept either, his mind plagued by the memory of Liv walking away from him at the party. The gnawing feeling in his chest wouldn’t go away, and he couldn’t shake the image of her with JJ from his mind. The jealousy had taken him by surprise, and it scared him. It wasn’t supposed to be like this. He wasn’t supposed to care this much.

But he did care, more than he was willing to admit, even to himself.

Ward had noticed his son’s distant demeanor over breakfast, but he hadn’t pressed the issue. Rafe’s relationship with his father was still tense, even after their tentative truce. Ward had given him the opportunity at Cameron Development, but the pressure to perform—and not screw up—was ever-present.

“Got a meeting with the contractors at noon,” Ward reminded Rafe as he stood by the door, ready to head out. “Don’t be late.”

Rafe nodded, barely registering the words. “Yeah, I’ll be there.”

Ward hesitated for a moment, eyeing his son. “Rafe, you’ve been distracted. Is there something going on?”

Rafe shook his head, forcing himself to meet his father’s gaze. “No, it’s fine. I’m fine.”

Ward didn’t seem convinced, but he let it go. “Good. Just make sure you’re focused. This deal is important, and I’m counting on you.”

As his father left, Rafe sank into the couch, rubbing his hands over his face. He knew he needed to get his head in the game, but every time he tried, his thoughts drifted back to Liv. He kept replaying their argument, hearing her voice accusing him of jealousy, and he couldn’t deny that she was right.

But what was he supposed to do about it? He’d already pushed her away, convinced himself it was for the best. He didn’t deserve her, didn’t deserve the mess of feelings he had for her. But seeing her with JJ had stirred something in him that he couldn’t ignore. And now, all he could think about was how he’d lost her.

————

Later that afternoon, Liv and Sarah were out at the mall, wandering through the stores. Sarah chatted away, trying to keep Liv’s mind occupied, but Liv was only half-listening, her thoughts still stuck on Rafe. Every now and then, she would catch herself scanning the crowd, almost hoping she might see him, even though she knew how ridiculous that was.

“Liv, come on,” Sarah nudged her, holding up a dress she’d found. “This would look amazing on you. What do you think?”

Liv blinked, pulling herself out of her daze. “Huh? Oh, yeah, it’s cute,” she said absently, though she didn’t really care.

Sarah frowned, dropping the dress and turning to face her. “Okay, enough of this. What’s going on in that head of yours?”

Liv sighed, leaning against a rack of clothes. “I’m just… I don’t know, Sarah. I’m trying to move on, I really am. But every time I think I’m getting somewhere, I just… I can’t stop thinking about him.”

Sarah’s expression softened. “Liv, I know it sucks. But you can’t let Rafe get to you like this. He’s not worth all this pain you’re putting yourself through.”

Liv bit her lip, tears threatening to spill over. “But what if I was wrong, Sarah? What if I just imagined everything? Maybe he never felt the same way, and I was just deluding myself.”

Sarah shook her head, pulling Liv into a tight hug. “You weren’t wrong, Liv. I’ve seen the way Rafe looks at you. He’s just too damn scared to admit how he feels. He’s an idiot, but that doesn’t mean you’re crazy.”

Liv clung to her friend, the tears finally breaking free. “He told me it wasn’t real, Sarah. He said I should just move on, but I can’t. It hurts so much.”

Sarah held her tighter, letting her cry it out. “I know, I know. But you’re stronger than this, Liv. You’ll get through it, even if it doesn’t feel like it right now.”

Liv pulled back, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand. “I just… I wish things could go back to how they were. Before all of this.”

Sarah smiled sadly. “I know. But sometimes, we can’t go back. We just have to keep moving forward.”

Liv nodded, though it didn’t feel like much of a comfort. She knew Sarah was right, but it didn’t make it any easier. She wasn’t sure how to move forward when every step felt like it was leading her further away from Rafe—and the life they used to have.

————

As the days passed, Liv tried to take Sarah’s advice to heart, but it was easier said than done. Every time she saw Rafe around town or passed him in the hallways, her heart would ache, and she’d find herself sinking back into the same spiral of confusion and hurt. The distance between them was unbearable, and yet she couldn’t bring herself to bridge it.

Rafe, on the other hand, was struggling just as much, though he refused to let it show. He threw himself into his work at Cameron Development, determined to prove to his father—and maybe even to himself—that he could handle the pressure. But no matter how hard he worked or how many deals he closed, he couldn’t shake the gnawing sense of emptiness that had settled in his chest.

Two weeks after the party, the tension between them was palpable, a thick fog that neither of them could see through. It was as if they were both waiting for the other to make the first move, but neither was brave enough to take that step.

On a particularly gray morning, Liv woke up with a knot in her stomach. The weight of everything that had happened in the last few weeks felt heavier than ever. She hadn’t seen or spoken to Rafe in days, and the silence was driving her mad. She couldn’t keep living like this, trapped in a limbo where nothing made sense.

She spent the morning pacing her room, trying to decide what to do. Should she call him? Should she just let it go? Every option seemed fraught with the possibility of more pain, and she wasn’t sure she could handle that. But doing nothing felt even worse.

Meanwhile, Rafe was sitting in his office at Cameron Development, staring blankly at the stack of paperwork in front of him. He’d been doing his best to focus on his work, but today, it felt impossible. His mind kept drifting back to Liv—her face, her voice, the way she’d looked at him the night of the party. He couldn’t escape the feeling that he’d made a huge mistake.

By noon, Liv couldn’t take it anymore. She grabbed her phone, scrolling through her contacts until she found Rafe’s number. Her finger hovered over the call button, her heart pounding in her chest. What if he didn’t want to talk to her? What if he just ignored her? The thought was terrifying, but she couldn’t keep living in uncertainty.

Before she could change her mind, she hit the call button and held her breath, listening to the dial tone. It rang once, twice, and then—

“Hello?”

Rafe’s voice on the other end made her heart skip a beat. For a moment, she was too stunned to speak, but then she forced herself to respond. “Rafe… it’s me, Liv.”

There was a brief pause, and Liv could almost hear him trying to decide how to react. “Hey, Liv,” he finally said, his tone guarded. “What’s up?”

Liv took a deep breath, steadying herself. “Can we talk? I… I can’t keep doing this, Rafe. We need to figure this out.”

Another pause, and this time, she could hear the tension in his voice when he replied. “Yeah, okay. Where do you want to meet?”

Liv glanced at the clock. “The beach? In an hour?”

“Okay,” he agreed. “I’ll see you there.”

When she hung up, Liv felt a mixture of relief and dread. She had no idea what she was going to say, but at least they were finally going to talk. It was a step forward, even if it felt like she was walking into the unknown.

————

An hour later, Liv stood on the beach, the wind whipping her hair around her face as she stared out at the ocean. The waves crashed against the shore, and for a moment, she let the sound of the water calm her nerves. She had always loved the beach, and even now, it was the one place where she felt like she could breathe.

Rafe arrived a few minutes later, his hands shoved into his pockets as he approached her. He looked different—tired, maybe, or just worn down by everything that had happened. But then again, she probably looked the same.

“Hey,” he said, stopping a few feet away from her.

“Hey,” she echoed, her voice barely above a whisper.

They stood there in awkward silence, both of them unsure of where to start. Finally, Liv took a step closer, her eyes searching his for any sign of what he was thinking.

“Rafe,” she began, her voice trembling slightly. “I don’t know how we got here, but I hate it. I hate that we’re not talking, that we’re avoiding each other like we’re strangers. I miss you. I miss us.”

Rafe’s expression softened, and for a moment, Liv thought she saw a flicker of the old Rafe, the one who had been her best friend for so many years. But just as quickly, his guard was back up, and he looked away, his jaw clenched.

“I miss you too, Liv,” he admitted, his voice low. “But I don’t know how to fix this. I… I don’t want to hurt you again.”

Liv took another step closer, reaching out to touch his arm. “You’re not going to hurt me, Rafe. We’ve both made mistakes, but that doesn’t mean we have to keep hurting each other. We’ve been through too much together to just… let it all go.”

Rafe looked down at her hand on his arm, and for a moment, Liv thought he might pull away. But instead, he reached up and placed his hand over hers, his touch warm and familiar.

“I don’t want to lose you, Liv,” he said quietly. “But I don’t know if we can go back to how things were.”

“Maybe we don’t have to,” Liv said, her voice soft but determined. “Maybe we can figure out something new. Something better.”

Rafe looked at her, his eyes filled with a mix of hope and fear. “Do you really think we can do that?”

Liv nodded, squeezing his arm gently. “I do. But we have to be honest with each other. No more games, no more pushing each other away.”

Rafe hesitated, then nodded slowly. “Okay. No more games.”

They stood there for a moment longer, the tension between them finally starting to ease. It wasn’t a perfect resolution, but it was a start—a fragile truce that they would have to work hard to maintain. But for the first time in weeks, Liv felt like they might actually be okay.

They walked along the beach for a while, talking about everything and nothing, just enjoying each other’s company. It felt almost like old times, and for the first time in a long time, Liv felt a glimmer of hope that maybe they could find their way back to each other.

But the next day, reality came crashing back down on them.

Rafe had to return to Cameron Development, where the pressure from his father was ever-present. Ward wasn’t satisfied with Rafe’s progress, and every day felt like a battle to prove himself. And then there was the tension with Liv, still simmering beneath the surface, waiting for the right moment to boil over again.

Liv, on the other hand, was struggling with her own demons. Despite the tentative peace she and Rafe had found, the uncertainty of their future weighed heavily on her. She couldn’t shake the feeling that something was still unresolved between them, something that needed to be addressed before they could truly move forward.

But for now, they both tried to push those thoughts aside, focusing instead on the fragile connection they were trying to rebuild. They weren’t quite there yet, but they were trying—and maybe, just maybe, that would be enough.

tagged: @flouvela, @monroesturnns, @pankowblues, @venusxsturnio

[catiuskaa]

i have a request - currently having an immense brainrot over chan/minho trying to make it fit but he's too big 😔😔😔 PLEASE i can't get it out of my head, getting frustrated that it's not working to the point of tears and them going "it's okay baby, don't worry, I'll make it fit" rraaaaaahhhh

RAAAAHHH INDEED POOKIE HOLY SMOKES

lemme come up w something cause i 100% fw this i just need to let it simmer in my mind

for the sake of having any resemblance of a plot i’m making this the unnoficial 2nd part of this fic because it’s literally these two wreckers and like damn if you’re going to be in my head all the time at least offer to pay rent smh

ok so like it’s a bit short but i wanted to post it before i give it too many second thoughts hehe, here you have it baby!

[kayakoto-enterprises]

🛌 - do you and your f/o sleep in the same bed? if you do, do you have a favorite and least favorite thing about sleeping together?

🎇 - do you and your f/o have a favorite holiday to celebrate together? what is it? do you have different holidays you like celebrating?

🥧 - have you and your f/o tried to bake something together? how did it go? what did you make?

Hai hai wrennnn I'm on lunch break so lemme run through these <3. Thank you!

🛏: Julianne initially bought a bigger bed. She was already hoping she'd settle in with someone while she stayed in Woodbrook. Her persuing Sam only came after they developed a friendly acquaintanceship so in terms of any sleeping arrangements, Julianne was more than ready.

SINGLE METAL BED FRAME😭😭😭 Initially Sam and Julianne just sleep on the floor or couch together because there's no way THAT will accomodate them both so they prefer sleeping over at Julianne's apartment. I dunno. Even into the relationship, Sam has the mindset that they'll eventually end up as an expendature she can move on from. But sometimes you just get so numb and powerless you buy another metal bedframe to connect the other to and she can finally sleep over at your house more.

I get so emotional over beds and sleeping arrangements!! It circles back to Stuffed Animal where Lesley doesn't need to sleep since she's already a doll and The Illustrator does. It's more on tapping into each other's humanity and recognizing that living beings need adequate rest and a comfortable bed to sleep in..for House Guest it's improving those living conditions or having set them already because you care enough for your partner to rest well. Julianne didn't plan on dating Sam on day one but it's probably coinscidence and a pattern she got a bigger bed not knowing how big her partner will be eventually.

Ahh them sleepin together is super comfortable but they have pet peeves about how the other sleeps. Julianne is an active dreamer and squirms, rolls, kicks, or bumps in her sleep. She also sometimes just Doesn't Sleep and starts kneading on Sam's arm. It's especially annoying when they both have work the next day and one ends up with a sore arm and one's barely alive at 2 pm.

Sam is Perpetually Warm and it's great when it's fall or it's winter but it's Bad during the Summer especially around June (for. Reasons.) Around that time she's extra physical and handsy so Julianne who's usually a hot sleeper finds it a bit annoying. Sam also hogs the blankets which would be fine most times but it's bad timing after exercise or during the winter. They both enjoy everything else so nothing here is that big of a deal.

🎆: Ohhh it's between Christmas and this springtime fair Woodbrook hosts!! Christmas reminds Julianne of her home since they like to celebrate Christmas big, and she's just lucky to celebrate Christmas with someone on her first year!! Let alone her crush!! As for the fair, in the Philippines, schools have spring fairs from February to March. One that's prominent is the Antipolo Fair I attend quite often so Woodbrook having a smaller scale version would be fun. I imagine in that one month Sam and Julianne didn't talk, it happened just outside Julianne's apartment. She people-watches from her window, her eyes obviously searching for someone. In the next year they go together as a date!!

🥧: I used to bake a lot during the pandemic lockdown so I think Julianne likes baking but now just doesn't have time. She bakes pies, cakes, some local recipes, but she mostly bakes cookies for Sam during the pining stage. It's fairly easy to do in between work and you can keep the batter in the fridge for days plus it keeps its shape in the oven when refridgerated. They have tried making sourdough together early into the relationship after Julianne attempts it and it goes awry. It's another fic idea simmering because sourdough is such a hard bread to bake and I get intimidated by most bread recipes. I dunno. Maybe it means something somewhere hehe