#like do you not see that the routine is disrupted? do you not think hmm i should see WHY do you not think to check in with your goddamn

[bunnyb34r]

So we have to do two audits this week right? (Got it down from FIVE) and so [relative coworker] and I are tackling the section together and NewLady is down in women's.

Not ONCE did this bitch think to come over and ask what was going on, or even to say good morning. She KNEW we were doing audits and decided to play dumb so she wouldnt have to help. (We didnt want her to help on this one anyway bc it was the smallest section but like still)

Tell me why this bitch fucking waited until 7:00AM!!! to come over and ask what we were doing. Bitch you saw that BOTH OF US were down at ONE table, you saw us walking and COUNTING. You saw us!! Why the fuck did you wait THREE HOURS to ask?!

Like and you fucking wonder why NetflixCoworker hates your fucking guts and is trying to get you fired/moved. You are 61 goddamn years old and you're acting like you're 13. Grow the fuck up

[kidnap-the-series]

INTRODUCTION

Hmm, where do I start?

Okay, ever since the pilot trailer for kidnap was released, I have been really excited for this series. Most of the excitement was from seeing Ohm in a bl again but I really liked the plot too. So, I have been following ohmleng and their events from then. When the official trailer was released, I was way too excited. I still remember rewatching it so many times. Ahh, good times. Anyways I think that was in august and the series started airing in september. This is one of the few series that I have followed from the very beginning and I don't think I'll be dropping it either. This series has really become such an important part of my routine. I never really expected it be that significant to me. I look forward to the new episode every week. They really put a huge smile on my face every Friday after a very tiring week. I also wasn't expecting to get so connected to the characters. But man am I gonna miss them when the series ends. I'm starting this after ep 10, but I really felt like I need to keep my thoughts somewhere. I have some great memories with these characters that I want to cherish. So, that is the background to why I'm writing this blog. I will be writing it episode wise. This is mostly for myself and my memories.

Also, I really want to read the novel. Considering the fact that MinQ are peak romance-novel coded, I think the novel would be good. It also gives more insight on the inner thoughts of the characters from what I've seen on X. So, I NEED that english translation.

Another thing about this series is the amount of tropes they have included. Love at first sight, slight enemies to lovers, sick family member, sleepwalking, trauma, ptsd, towel bath, breakup, and what not at this point. But the main thing is it doesn't feel too forced. You can go with the flow without it being disrupted by the tropes.

I'm just rambling at this point but whatever.

Most of the complaints I have seen about this series is how its not more action based and more rom-com-ish. Honestly, I always felt like it was a love story with an action subplot. Atleast that's what I gathered from the trailer. But again, I am someone who prefers rom-coms with some sappy romance, family drama and stuff like that, so I am enjoying the heck out of this show.

Anways, I'll continue the rest in the episode posts.

0 notes

[akumicchi]

It takes two to love

[Tamaki x fem reader] tw: food.

Just fluff and domesticity

— Do you think we have it all already?— Tamaki had asked, checking the red plastic basket full of groceries — We have the tapioca starch, fruits, milk...

— Yup, but guess what? —she turned to him with a playful twist of her head— You just won a coupon for a free meal cooked by yours truly. And I need some ingredients. The other day you said you were craving some pasta, right?

He swayed his head from side to side, barely containing a smile. Tamaki let himself be pulled further into the supermarket by their intertwined pinkies.

It was late in the afternoon when the weekly errands were finished and they settled back home for the night. It was an odd pretty thing, this routine both had built for their matching days off, whenever it was. It wasn't normally disrupted by a trip to the supermarket, but in Tamaki's book, quality time doesn't need a specific place to occur. The bought goods sat on the counter, while he rearranged them on their rightful places in the cabinet or the fridge. He had taken a pair of tomatoes from the bag, when she shamelessly stole them from his hands.

— Thanks, Tama, you're always such a gentleman —she teased and kissed his cheek before turning to the chopping board, light on her feet.

It wasn't out of the ordinary, but it was peculiar and funny to see her all...bubbly, like clear water from a stream. He laughed at her.

— You really are excited about making that pasta, wonder were that's coming from? —he got close to the sink, rolling up his sleeves.

— Nope, you're not working on this today, Hun —her hand went to his arm, stopping him from filling the pot with water.— This is my way to say thank you for all your hard work, it won't make sense if you're cooking too! This is your coupon, remember?

Tamaki could feel the heat on his face and the pickup of his heart rate.

— I-um... Okay. But at least let me prepare the boba tea. I want to thank you for your hard work too and —he spoke softly in a classic Tamaki fashion, looking at her right in her round eyes. He had become good at holding eye contact with other people. He thought it may have been due to her influence —, for putting up with me all this time.

She sat the knife on the chopping board, and her arms went to hang loosely around his neck— You know I'm not putting up with you, right? I'm here with you because I love you. I wouldn't be who I am now if it weren't for you, and believe me, I like who I am right now. Do you want me to remind you? —her voice was softer, lower like a whispered secret, as her fingertips rubbed his nape.

Tamaki shuddered under her touch and gaze. His nod was short, almost imperceptible under the weight of his shame. She hugged him tight, scratching his scalp and rubbing his nape. He felt himself go warmer after getting a few kisses on his cheek, heart pounding even faster when she whispered:

— You know I've never really had a favorite hero when I was a kid, right? None of them actually made me feel that sense of... admiration, so to speak. But after my time in UA, the internships and all that, I changed my mind. You are my favorite hero, Tamaki. You are my hero.

Tamaki sighed, like a weight had been lifted off his shoulders. He felt petty, needing to be reassured of something he already knew.

They stood there for a few minutes, holding each other tight, swaying slowly from side to side. Then the urgency to eat came over, and both returned to their tasks: Tamaki prepared the boba tea, she cooked the pasta. The mood picked up fast, with her bumping his hips and vice versa. She hand fed him some sauce and he hummed in satisfaction. Soon enough the food was plated and they sat next to each other at the table.

— Hmm! This is good! —Tamaki said, eyes closed in bliss as he chewed his portion.

— Right? Just the best for my baby.

— What? —he laughed— How come I'm your baby when I'm older than you?

— Shush it, silly, you are my baby.

He just laughed at her goofiness again. Then he waited, relying on his hero instincts, calculating the best time for a swift attack, and stole a spoonful of her own pasta, and stuffed it right into his mouth.

— Hey, that was mine!

He snorted.

•••

The dishes were washed and she sat at a small table on the balcony. She was surrounded by plants and had a clear view of the city lights. It was as peaceful as the busy metropolis could be. In moments like this, she wished the days off were everlasting.

Tamaki arrived shortly, holding two glass cups of the boba tea he had made earlier. He hadn't even fully entered the balcony when a fit of giggles bubbled out of his mouth.

— What is it? —she raised a brow.

Her boyfriend didn't answer. Instead, he put both glasses on the table and left the room, only to return with a napkin, which he used to wipe away some remnants of sauce from her lips.

— There, all better. —he found it very endearing, how her cheeks lit up with color and her eyes averted his gaze, visibly embarrassed. Even the way she tried to play it off was adorable, his silly girl.

— Oh, clumsy me... Haha...

— Even if you're clumsy, I'll always be by your side to clean up your little messes —Tamaki smiled softly, crouched in front of her—. It's the least I can do for you.

She hid her face behind her hands, voice tight in a whine— But I don't want you cleaning my messes though? I'm not a kid!

She had always had an ability to fluster him with sincere compliments and cheesy remarks. One of her favorite things to say was that her job was to show him how loved he was, and if it had to be done by flustering him, then the better. His job, on the other hand, on his own words, was to make her feel safe, so safe that not even her own demons could do her any harm. But it was nice to turn the tables from time to time.

Tamaki pryed her hands out, placing them on her chest— This is where I want your hands to be. It's just me here, so don't hide. Besides —he smiled—, you may not be a kid, but you're still my baby.

— Tamaki! That's my line!

He laughed.

[bobbiworks]

Beyond the Bell Chimes | Part 39

Sungchan's morning jog led him to the bus stop, where the familiar routine awaited him. The bus, nearly empty at 6 am, offered him his coveted seat next to the old man who disembarked at the third stop, the same spot where Miyoung patiently waited. Excitement fueled Sungchan's school mornings, driven by the anticipation of seeing Miyoung.

As the old man exited, Sungchan reserved the seat with his bag, eagerly awaiting her arrival. And there she was – Miyoung, with a smile so radiant that it mirrored on Sungchan's face as he waved. Taking his bag off the seat, Sungchan greeted her with a kiss on the cheek, and she responded by hugging his arm and resting her cheek on his shoulder.

"Thank you," Miyoung sweetly said, and Sungchan, lacing their fingers together, replied, "You are welcome." Their conversation continued, seamlessly flowing from breakfast inquiries to discussions about future plans.

Miyoung's sudden inquiry about college applications led to a more serious conversation later with Sungchan's friend Eunseok. Sungchan, burdened by concerns about his family's financial situation, confessed his reluctance to attend college immediately after high school. He shared this worry with Eunseok outside the classroom, fearing that Miyoung might think less of him if he chose to work first.

Eunseok probed, "Does Miyoung know? About your parents?" Sungchan nodded, his internal struggle evident. Eunseok recognized that Sungchan's challenge wasn't about Miyoung's perception but his own self-doubt.

"Are you not confident?" Eunseok asked, trying to understand Sungchan's perspective. Cupping his face, Sungchan struggled with the idea of not being enough for Miyoung, comparing himself to Eunseok.

Miyoung's sudden appearance disrupted their conversation, and her concern for Sungchan's soda intake prompted a humorous interaction. Unbeknownst to her, Sungchan tried to protect his image by blaming Eunseok for the soda, leading to Miyoung declaring her intention to monitor their food intake.

As Miyoung spirited Sungchan away, Eunseok, left alone, sighed over the wasted soda can, reflecting on the complexities of their intertwined lives.

"Hmm? Oppa," he heard and turned to find Jiwoo carrying three boxes of supplies intended for the council. "Don't you have class?" she inquired.

"Not yet, you?" Eunseok replied, effortlessly taking two boxes from her. "How come you're carrying these heavy things on your own?"

"Heh, I'm the only one available. Seunghan hasn't arrived yet," she grinned sheepishly. "I'm glad I ran into you."

"Tsk, you're just taking advantage of me," Eunseok sulked, earning a nudge from Jiwoo. "Ow," he winced.

"I don't like that. If you don't want to help, then give me those," she frowned, ready to take the boxes, but Eunseok's height made it difficult for her to reach. "Hmp..."

"I'm just kidding," Eunseok smiled, ruffling her hair. "You sure are hardworking, Jiwoo." He commented, then shifted the conversation, asking, "Ah, what do you want to do after high school?"

"Hmm? Isn't it too early to ask?" she shot back, but the question lingered in her mind. "I want to be many things... but sometimes I want to be nothing."

"What is that supposed to mean?" Eunseok asked, confused. Jiwoo smiled and shrugged, explaining, "It means that if I can't be many things, then I'd rather be nothing. Just something I've been thinking nowadays."

Concern crossed Eunseok's face. "Don't you have one thing... just one thing that you want to do?" he asked.

Jiwoo smiled brightly, but her answer left Eunseok worried.

...

"It's snowing! It's snowing!" Sohee's excitement echoed through the class as everyone rushed to the windows to witness the first snowfall of the year. Below, Seunghan stood in the snow as a girl approached him. "Look! Seunghan's getting confessed to!"

The class watched intently, but after a brief exchange, the girl walked away in defeat. Sohee sighed, "Aww, another fail. My friend's going to stay single."

Jiwoo, immersed in her book, seemed oblivious to the drama. Sohee approached her, "Jiwoo! Seunghan just rejected another girl..."

"Huh? Really? But why?" Jiwoo asked, unaware of what was happening around her. Seunghan entered the room, still drawn to Jiwoo despite the rejection.

"Ya, are you crazy? That was like the umpteenth girl who confessed to you," Sohee whispered, but Seunghan dismissed it as a nuisance, still fixated on Jiwoo. "You're not helping Jiwoo or yourself, man."

"Just let me be," Seunghan sighed, his mood not at its best.

Sohee sighed, noticing Wonbin's absence briefly. As he was about to mention it, Wonbin arrived with hot chocolate and steamed bread for Jiwoo and Seunghan. Suyoung joined the scene, greeted everyone, and Sohee pulled her away to share the latest gossip.

"What's going on?" Suyoung asked.

"Seunghan just rejected another girl," Sohee revealed.

"And? Doesn't he always do that?" Suyoung shot back, but sensing Sohee's worry, she softened and hugged him. "Let them be, love," she reassured.

"It's not gonna look good for them," Sohee explained, a sentiment Suyoung agreed with. However, she emphasized the importance of friendship over romantic feelings and highlighted how Seunghan, Eunseok, and even Sohee himself were all dependent on Jiwoo.

Spotting Eunseok in the hallway, Suyoung quietly pulled Sohee outside, where Eunseok appeared more distressed. He asked Suyoung for a private conversation about Jiwoo, expressing his concerns about her recent change in demeanor.

"Eunseok, you're scaring me," Suyoung admitted. Eunseok hesitated but requested that Sohee wait outside, deeming the matter sensitive. Suyoung insisted Sohee stay, given their shared connection to Jiwoo and their friends.

Eunseok then revealed Jiwoo's unusual responses during their earlier conversation, expressing a desire to live in a seemingly despondent manner. Suyoung, however, dismissed it as Jiwoo's usual talk.

"No, you don't understand. I feel like she really needs someone to talk to," Eunseok insisted, his worry palpable.

"She has Wonbin, so I think she'll be fine. And oppa, please don't try to overthink things, okay?" Suyoung reassured, but Eunseok, defeated, couldn't articulate his concerns further.

The couple left, leaving Sohee pondering Eunseok's words and resolving to delve deeper into the matter.

...

"Jiwoo!" Sohee intercepted Jiwoo on her way to the library, wanting to chat. Jiwoo smiled and greeted him. Sohee, seemingly hesitant, asked about Jiwoo's well-being and her ankle.

"I'm fine. It's been two weeks since our trip, so my ankle is okay," Jiwoo replied naturally. Sohee continued with questions about her plans for winter break and mentioned the idea of getting a part-time job.

"I'm going to work. I still need to pay Anton for the headphones I broke," Jiwoo chuckled. Sohee, considering a part-time job, jokingly inquired if there were any openings. He even mused about buying a gift for Suyoung. Jiwoo mentioned that Seunghan and Wonbin might also join.

"Maybe I can ask Suyoung to join us? It would be fun," Jiwoo suggested, ending the conversation on a positive note.

"Will the place be too crowded?" Sohee wondered, but Jiwoo shook her head, assuring that the cafe where she was working needed more part-timers for the winter break.

"Jeez, that sounds promising," Sohee chuckled. "Okay! Count me in," he said.

"Why are you two together?" Wonbin and Seunghan's sudden appearance interrupted them, wearing poker faces and an unusual air of quietness.

"Ah, Sohee's looking for a part-time job, so I told him he can join us, with Suyoung," Jiwoo explained, noticing Wonbin's sullen expression. "Is something wrong?"

Wonbin patted Jiwoo's head, smiling, and explained they were looking for Sohee for a band-related meeting with Mr. Park after the period.

"That sounds nice," Jiwoo smiled, fixing a lone strand of hair on Wonbin's forehead. "I'll just leave you boys then," she said and waved as she departed.

Jiwoo continued with her errand of returning books and, on her way back to the classroom, encountered a classy and intimidating woman. The woman, seemingly familiar, scolded Jiwoo for staring and inquired if she was in the same class as Park Wonbin.

"Yes," Jiwoo nodded, hesitating to reveal her relationship with Wonbin. "I'm his friend, actually."

"Hm, quite shabby for a friend," the woman commented before Mr. Park greeted her and took her inside, asking Jiwoo to find Wonbin.

Absorbing Mr. Park's request, Jiwoo walked back to where she last saw Wonbin and the others. However, as she approached, the ground seemed to wobble and melt, leaving Jiwoo disoriented and gasping for air. The world around her started to dissolve, and she struggled to comprehend what was happening.

"Jiwoo... Jiwoo..."

Gasping, Jiwoo found herself standing with Wonbin and the others. Wonbin expressed concern, holding her close, but Jiwoo pulled away, regaining composure. She informed Wonbin about his mom's arrival and insisted he go see her.

"Are you okay? You don't look well," Wonbin worriedly observed her.

"I'm fine. Don't worry," she assured him. "It's your mom; go see her. Hurry."

Wonbin, thinking Jiwoo must have met his mom and said something, tried to pull her with him. However, Jiwoo forcefully pulled her hand away, anger evident in her voice. "I said you should go. How many times do I have to tell you that?"

Wonbin nodded in defeat. "Okay, we'll talk later. Okay?" he said, offering a soft smile as he ruffled Jiwoo's hair before turning away.

"Jiwoo, are you okay?" Seunghan asked, concerned, but Jiwoo remained quiet.

"I'm sorry, but I am not feeling well right now," she said, clenching her hands on the sides. Pulling away from Wonbin had left her feeling conflicted, and she had no desire to return to where his mom was.

Seunghan noticed Jiwoo's discomfort and placed his hand on her forehead. "You're colder," he remarked. "I'll take you to the clinic." Jiwoo gently pushed his hand away.

"Please, don't worry too much about me," Jiwoo requested. In that moment, she needed to be alone, not wanting to sound rude but craving space from people.

[casspurrjoybell-29]

Healing Ties - Chapter 32 - Part 2

*Warning Adult Content*

Fanner eyed Yore's hand where it was still clamped over his throat.

He made it look casual but there was a trickle of blood running down his arm.

"It's not very bad, is it?"

Yore offered Fanner a small smile, but it looked forced.

"I'll be fine. I'm sorry you had to see that."

"I thought she was going to kill you for a second."

"Hmm, well. Fortunately for me, she's not a killer. She had hold of my throat and I swung my weight into her. She could have dug her teeth in deeper and torn my throat out but she let go instead. I'm not sure she was even aware of making that choice. Honestly, I hope she wasn't because I don't want her to think that mercy is a flaw she needs to harden herself against."

"She seems... I'm not sure."

"Neither all good nor all bad. She leapt at me when I was barely shifted, which isn't normal for these fights. I'll take the situation as a valuable lesson in not letting myself be lured into fights without proper witnesses."

Fanner winced.

"Sorry. She used me to do that."

"That's her fault, not yours."

"It seemed sort of like she only wanted to fight you in the first place because you want to help us."

"Not everyone agrees with my views on that, no. I wish she'd talked to me at least a bit instead of jumping right into fighting me. But... she talked to you about it?"

"A little bit."

Yore nodded.

"That'll probably do more good than anything I could have said."

"I don't know about that. I don't think I said anything to convince her. I didn't even try."

Trying to convince people of things rarely succeeds.

In this situation, the problem is often that people like her have never even met a mage.

They just have abstract ideas of what a mage is like.

Now when she thinks about mages, she won't have an abstract idea in her head. She'll have you, a real person.

They made their way back to the camp and as Yore's cabin was on the outskirts, they were able to slip in unnoticed.

Fanner sat down on the edge of the bed and Yore leant back against the door, shut his eyes and let out a long sigh.

Fanner was used to him being strong and powerful or wise and noble but in that moment he just looked tired.

Vulnerable.

Fanner was afraid that if he even so much as breathed too loudly, it would disrupt him.

Should he even have gone into the cabin with him?

After a few moments, Yore opened his eyes.

"Sorry. I should put some clothes on, shouldn't I?"

Fanner shrugged.

He was no stranger to nudity since Companions were routinely stripped naked to be inspected by potential buyers but it was a little different when it was Yore.

Yore finally let go of his neck.

It had some nasty puncture marks in it but it had mostly stopped bleeding.

He stared down at his blood covered hand.

"Hmm."

"Would you like me to clean you up?"

"If you don't mind. I could go and wash off in the river but it would be better if I could go directly to my mother to talk about this."

"Of course," Fanner said as he stood and approached Yore.

"I'm glad to have the opportunity to be useful in some way. Especially since, well... You've helped us so much and all you're getting out of it is people attacking you."

Yore held his hand out, palm up and let Fanner take it.

"That's something many of them take issue with but they'd be coming after me regardless."

Fanner brushed the blood away from Yore's hand with a small amount of magic and then followed the trail of blood down his arm.

"They?"

"My cousins. They can, under certain circumstances, try to challenge me so that they can inherit our grandmother's position in my place. But they wouldn't do that just because they disagreed with me about supporting the mages. The real reason is that, in order to inherit, I need an heir of my own. A child. I don't have one and I'm getting into my late twenties now, which raises questions."

"Oh. You can't have children, can you?"

Yore let out a startled breath that was almost a laugh.

"Nobody's ever just directly asked me that before."

"Sorry. Is that rude? I just assumed because of the nature of your injuries..."

"Hmm..." Yore's gaze leapt away for a moment, then back to Fanner.

"Don't tell anybody this but... no. I can't. I'm trying to keep my position for as long as I can so that I can do as much good as I can, but it won't last forever. I can never inherit."

"Because you can't have children?"

"Hmm."

Fanner moved his hands in a brushing motion close enough to Yore's chest to feel the heat coming from his body.

"Do you want children, or...?"

"Yes, I do. I always wanted to wait until I was a bit older, until I was sure I was mature enough for the responsibility but now I regret that decision."

"Could you adopt?"

"Raya's my ward, though that's not the same as being a parent but it's been fulfilling. I can't adopt a child in order to inherit, though. That needs to be a biological child."

"Even if, I mean... if nobody knew the child wasn't really yours?"

Yore smiled.

"My grandmother suggested the same thing, though less explicitly. I couldn't do that, though. Maybe it would be for the greater good if I did but I'm not really a 'greater good' kind of guy. It would mean forcing that child to be a part of the lie, whether they knew about it or not. That wouldn't be fair."

"Oh," Fanner whispered.

"Sorry," Yore said, his gaze following Fanner's hands as he cleaned up a smear of blood that had spread from Yore's arm to the side of his chest.

"I suppose, in the end, I'm putting those values above your needs, above the needs of your people. I don't know that this is the best way to be, the best way to lead but I don't think I'd be myself anymore if I compromised on that. I can be self-sacrificing but I won't sacrifice someone else."

"Even if they weren't part of your family or even part of your pack?"

"I wouldn't sacrifice you either, Fanner."

Fanner's eyes leapt up to meet Yore's, startled.

He hadn't expected him to realise it was a personal question but perhaps that was obvious.

Fanner dropped his gaze again and murmured.

"I should clean your neck."

"Hmm."

The puncture marks on Yore's neck were nasty but werewolves seemed to be more robust and quicker to heal than humans were.

He would be fine.

Still, Fanner couldn't help but want to hover his hands over the cuts, push magic into them and wipe away this one hurt.

Unlike all the complex, deep scar tissue, healing fresh, surface injuries would be easy.

He would be done before Yore even realised what was happening.

Of course, Yore would realise what had happened afterwards.

There were old scars covering large areas of Yore's neck as well.

These weren't like the rest of the scarring Yore suffered from.

These were on the surface of his skin, visible to the naked eye, hundreds or thousands of little puncture marks.

Fanner couldn't imagine what it must have been like to have been chained down and fed from by vampires for months.

Yore had seen more than his fair share of suffering.

Yore inhaled sharply and leant away and Fanner realised the tip of his finger had brushed the side of Yore's neck.

"Sorry," they both said at the same time.Yore shook his head.

"No, you're fine. I'm just a bit sensitive about having my neck touched these days."

"Oh, I... no. I understand. Um. I think I was more or less done, anyway. Would you like me to help you bandage it?"

"No, no. I'm sure my mother will want to see the damage." Yore let out a deep sigh. "Thank you. It's nice to have someone around who's outside of all of this. I feel like I don't have to pretend to be invulnerable around you."

"Good. I don't want you to pretend."

Yore put on some pants, considered a shirt, considered the state of his neck and ultimately decided against it.

"Okay, I'll be back in a little while. You can stay in here for now if you like. I'm sure that whole thing was a little overwhelming."

Fanner nodded and dropped his gaze.

"Thank you."

As Yore left the cabin and shut the door behind himself, Fanner sat back down on the bed.

He had a lot to think about.

[grinagoggrog]

The princess was, of course, surprised when the first lock fell mere seconds after this particular knight arrived. To be fair, he was surprised too.

"Hmm," he said, surprised. "I expected that to be tougher."

Raising his visor, he glanced up at the woman with a cautious sort of curiousity and asked, "That really stops some people?"

"You'd be surprised," She responded bitterly, noting, against her better judgement that he had pale brown eyes, the color of her favorite chia once mixed with milk and honey.

"Well, I guess it's best to impart a true sense of hopelessness on the inept," he said, half joking, "I'm sure the next one will be harder."

And it was, but not by much.

-*-

Three days later, the princess frowned down at him as he worked on the 311th lock.

"You know," she said, "The last person to get to that one took just an many days, but five times as much time."

"Oh?" The knight replied, a smile in his voice at the last tumbler rolled into place.

"Yes," she responded simply.

"Is that meant to be a compliment, Princess?"

She considered for a moment before deciding, "No, no it is not. At least the last guy spent most of the day with me. He had a better sense of humor, too."

"Well, not much to be done about that," The knight laughed, "Though I can spend all of tomorrow here, if you like. Arrive early, say half past dawn? I just thought we both had better things to do."

"Better things?"

"Well, I mean..." The knight paused, as if baffled, "This has to be a bit of a disruption, right? I'm sure you have a routine."

"Other then wait around to be rescued?"

At this, the knight laughed again, and responded simply, "Quite."

She princess didn't know what to say to that, so she watched him work the next hour or so until he hit the four hundredth lock. Then, as was quickly becoming custom, he gathered his supplies up, offered her first a wave, then a bow, and said, "Goodnight, Princess."

Then he added, as was not custom, "I'll see you in the morning."

_*_

"Slay a dragon? Ha! No, not at all," The knight responded, working on the 600th or so lock, "I uh, well. That is to say I rather got knighted by mistake. It's a long story, but I can shorten it to this: There was a barn fire, and in that fire, I saw opportunity. I rushed in to, erm. Aquire a steed, if you catch my drift, and happened to find a young girl maybe half our age passed out from the smoke. I might have been a theif, but I wasn't going to just leave her there, and when I exited the building all the local lord saw was a brave man exiting the fire with his daughter and three of his most prized horses."

"Three of them?!"

"Only one was on a lead, mind you. I opened the gates for the others, figured dying running would be better that dying trapped for an animal like that, you see."

"So you're nothing but a common theif?" The princess said, "I imagine if I told my father that, he'd have your head."

"I'd appreciate it if you didn't tell him then, Princess."

She stopped and considered, finding that she really didn't want to. Still, "If you are to be my husband, I think I would like you to be a man of more virtue than that."

"More virtue? I saved a girl! And three horses..." He scoffed before continuing, "Though if it makes you feel better, I have lived as an upstanding citizen of the crown since my knighthood. Furthermore, I actually do the whole vanquishing thing, now. And, I even go on boar hunts! Though honestly those aren't my favorite."

"Boar hunts are boring, are they?"

"Quite," he said, smiling up at her. Without his armor on, she could see he was a small man, though well muscled, with fine dark hair and a cowlick. "Do you have a basket on a rope or something?"

"Why?"

"I mean, you must get food and such somehow."

For whatever reason, the princess frowned, feeling irked by such a question. She did, of course, have a basket on a rope for show when a knight was around. For the most part, though, she get her food from the market, just as anyone else would.

"I do," she said, "What do you need it for?"

"I mean, it is lunch time. Though if you aren't hungry, more sandwich for me! Beef and onion. Oh, and there was a woman selling the most lovely apples, so I got us each one of those as well."

She lowered the basket and raised it moment later to find exactly what he had described, plus a small crock of good mustard. Simple, hearty food, simpler than any knight had dained to give her before, and lacking the customary flowers. The beef was salty, the apple sweet, and she picked at it daintily as the knight below her wolfed his down like a starving street mongrel. Truly, a man of culture, she thought with a smirk.

"What do you vanquish?" She asked, after a moment.

"Well, the last beast was a rapist," he said, and she nearly choked on the statement. Most didn't acknowledge the existance of such things around her. "Before that, a murderer. And before that, a man who sent an assassin after me."

"Not the assassin?"

"Oh, I killed them too, but I didn't really mean to. They were just trying to do their job, you know?"

"Pray tell, what is the alternative?"

"Well, I give them a choice. Imprisonment in my dungeon until I think the won't kill me or a one way trip to the eastern continent."

The princess thought that was a good way to get assassinated, but didn't voice that opinion. Instead, she asked, "Do you have attempts on you life often?"

"Yeah," He said, wiping his fingers off in a handkerchief, "I'm not real popular."

"And why's that?"

"Well, I mean. I kill monsters masquerading as people, you know. Sometimes they're of means, so to speak."

"Judge, jury, and executioner then."

"Only if I'm certain enough."

The princess cocked an eyebrow, "How are you certain?"

"Enough. Certain enough." He frowned, "And I'd rather not get into that, today at least. But I have resources."

He started getting ready to resume lockpicking after that, only to swear harshly when he looked into his pack.

"What?" The Princess asked.

"I forgot I brought pickles, too."

_*_

Eight days later, the knight was on the 3,458th lock and finally experiencing some difficulty. He'd gotten further than anyone else ever had by the end of that third day, and been stuck here for a mere 10 minutes, but still made disgruntled noises like a cat watching a canary.

"Are you alright?" The princess asked.

"Yes, but I think this lock is broken."

"It's not broken just becuase you can't pick it."

He glowered up at her, "How long did the last lock take me?"

"About three minutes or so."

"And I promise you, Princess, once I finish this lock, that the next will take me comparable time. This lock has something wrong with it, and I think I know what it is..."

"Well, out with it then."

"Leaf bee."

"Leaf bee?"

"Yes. Aren't you familiar? Little bee, bundles it's babies up in little, like. Leaf packet things. I don't know, I'm not a bee expert, but they tuck their little leaf-swaddled infants into holes and cracks and such. And, unfortunately for this particular baby bee, one of them decided your lock looked like a good nursey." He flicked something out of the mechanism, "Sorry, baby bee. Anyway."

The lock popped open. The next lock did the same roughly three minutes afterwards.

_*_

"These ones are actually getting quite interesting, Princess."

"Thank you," She said, impressed enough to take it as the compliment it was. There were only a few hundred locks left now, and they had known eachother slightly less than a month. His time was becoming inconsistent at this complexity, which made sense - around 7,000 or so she'd really just started playing with her designs. One he'd open in minutes, the next in hours, the next minutes again. The hardest, he'd actually had to sleep on. She'd actually worried he might not return the next day, despite bidding her the standard "Goodnight, Princess, I'll see you in the morning." before he left.

"How'd you get into making locks, anyway?"

"The same reason you got into picking them: Necessity."

He glanced up at her, "Necessity? No offense, Princess, but you are a princess."

"I am," she allowed, "A princess whose father, I will remind you, locked her in a tower."

He considered this, speaking almost absently, "I thought you did the locking."

"I did," she said, with steel in her voice. Cold and pointed. "But if I hadn't, he would have hired a guard. Perhaps an ogre or a giant. On my 14th birthday he actually bought a manticore egg and hired two beastmasters. Alas, one of them was crooked and stole the thing shortly after it hatched."

The Knight gasped, suddenly.

"What?"

"Nothing," he said, a bit too quickly. The princess stared at him from her perch above until he elaborated.

"I just knew a girl with a manticore, once. Told me a princess gave it to her along with a diamond necklace and asked her to run."

"Is that so?" The princess said, smiling.

"Yes," The knight sighed, "You'll be happy to know that Caramel, Taffy and Sugar are massive thriving. Anyway, back to necessity?"

"Well, I needed to stave of boredom somehow, and me and my parents strictly disagreed on what activities were both interesting and suitable for a young lady. We agreed on dancing, horseback riding, basket weaving, and clock making."

"First of all, basket weaving?!" The Knight said, "Second, I notice lock making isn't on that list."

The Princess shrugged, "Once I was working with metal and fine mechanisms it was easier to branch out, so long as I could make it pretty."

"I did notice these were all rather elegant designs," The knight said with a frown, "You sacrifice utility for it."

"Only for my mother's benefit," She said, "You'll find the last hundred or so are much more utilitarian."

"Mm," he said, "I look forward to them."

_*_

Seven weeks in, the princess had the horrifying realization that she was smitten.

She made this realization by being quite upset the day the knight didn't show.

_*_

"STABBED?!"

"Only once."

"STABBED! You were stabbed! You shouldn't be here at all, you should be resting!"

"Your father is being amazingly lenient allowing me to continue after missing yesterday. According to the rules the two of you agreed to, failing to complete any locks should have disqualified me."

"You were stabbed!" She repeated.

"Yes," He confirmed with a sigh, "I was stabbed. Only a little, though."

_*_

The knight was upset. The princess didn't ask, she thought she already knew.

"Your father beheaded him." He said, after the first lock of the day was off.

"He was an assassin," She replied as he started the second.

He only opened two locks that day.

_*_

The knight reached the last 100 locks around the 5th fortnight. Each lock took him quite a while by this point, yet he still slowed dramatically once he reached them, as though he was savoring them. It pleased the Princess to see this; she'd poured her heart and soul into each and every mechanism by this point, and she loved to see how he loved them.

_*_

When there were only fifty locks left, he started doing only two a day, one when he first arrived and one before he left. Between them, the knight and the princess talked for hours.

When there were only ten locks left, he only did one a day.

_*_

On the day of the second to last lock, the knight didn't start the day by picking it, as he did the last eight days. This surprised the Princess, as she thought he'd learned his lesson of the seventh to last lock, one so tricky that he barely completed it before the stroke of midnight.

In truth, in fact, he hadn't, completing it about 30 seconds too late. The only clocks nearby were in the princess's tower, however. If the royal guard monitering the knight's progress had their own timepiece, they didn't mention it.

But no, instead of opening his kit, the knight sat and spoke with her.

"What will you do, princess, once you are out of your tower?"

"Be your wife, I suppose," She responded dryly, not acknowledging that they had seen eachother briefly in the inn the night before. They hadn't spoken, hadn't even gotten within 30 feet of eachother, but she smiled at him and laughed as his eyes widened, gave a little wave and left with her bottle of cherry mead.

"Sure," He said, "But what do you want?"

"Does your keep have space for a garden?"

"House," He said, "But yes, in fact there's an orchard there already. I quite like apples."

"You don't say?" The princess teased, as he had brought them each an apple for lunch every day but once since the first day they ate together. At some point, she'd taken to tossing her cores at his head once she'd finished, watching him pick the seeds out of it before discarding the rest. He ate his own apples core and all, an act that made her cringe a bit each time.

He started picking the second to last lock, and the princess ran through a mental checklist of all of her important possessions, making sure they were packed away and ready for her move. After three hours or so, there was an abrupt silence down below, and she looked down to see the knight staring at the final lock.

"What is it?" She asked.

"The last lock," He responded, "It's very simple."

"You never noticed that before?"

"I don't look ahead much."

"It's the first lock I made that I was proud of," She offered freely with a smile.

"I see."

Picking the second to last lock took him late into the night, and once he was done, he looked up at her.

"Good night, Princess," He said, sounding almost sad, "I'll see you tomorrow."

"Wait," She said, after he had turned and ambled a mere handful of steps, "...You could pick that lock easily tonight, if you wanted."

"I could," the knight confirmed, "But I don't think I will."

Temultous emotion swept over the princess, but after a moment, she gathered herself and offered, "Well, goodnight then."

_*_

The knight did not come in the morning. The princess panicked at first, then remembered what the knight had said: Tomorrow, not morning. She wasn't certain what he was up to, but she resolved to breath deeply, wait, and see.

When he arrived late in the afternoon, it was without his usual kit, just the royal guard and a picnic basket filled with food. She didn't think much of it, though, knowing that he'd need only a simple pick for the final lock and that they were both well aware of that.

She started lowering the basket for lunch, becoming alarmed only when the knight ran for the tower, took a great leap and started scrambling up the wall like some form of obscene spider. Within a minute, he was sliding into her window, basket slung gaily over his elbow.

"You could do that the whole time?!" She yelled after a moment of shock.

"Well, yes. I was a good enough theif to pick all those locks, you know? Do you really think I never did second story work?"

"You could do that the whole time," she repeated. It was a realization similar to stabbed.

"Yes," He repeated back, "Anyway, lunch? It's emptier up here than I expected."

"I've been packing."

"...Ah."

The lunch was unremarkable, the conversation natural and warm. It was different, being close enough to really watch his face. She wondered if it was the same for him. She wondered if he wanted to kiss her as much as she did him. As the day went on, she found herself growing increasingly giddy, certain the knight was savoring the last day of the challenge.

Near midnight, then, she grew confused when the knight pulled out a gorgeous blown glass apple. A blush of green and red, speckled with yellows the color of sunlight, he handed it to her solemnly.

"To remember me by," He said, after a moment, "Truly, Princess, I think you are one of the most remarkable people I have ever met."

"Remember you?" The princess said, realization cutting through her previous delight, "Whatever do you mean? There's only one lock left, and we both know it's a simple one."

"Your first," he said, not meeting her eye, "And I am sorely tempted, Princess, trust me. But I never came here for you, not really, but rather for your locks. I wanted to see if I could do it, and I think we both know now that I could. However it strikes me that you made each of these locks yourself, and I can't help but trust that was for a reason. Tell me, did you ever want somone to open that final lock?"

"Well, no," she said, "But-"

"Then I would like to think myself a good enough man to respect your wishes. At least you'll have, what, a week or so of peace while the king's men reset the challange?"

"WHAT?!" The princes yelled suddenly, catching them both off guard. "No, you absolute moron, you-"

She stopped, and forced herself to breathe. "You are going to go down and pick that lock right now. You only have ten minutes left!"

"You want me to-"

"Yes! Of course! Go, now - I don't know how long it takes to climb down a tower, but it seems more dangerous than climbing up one."

The knight, however, was laughing sadly.

"What?" She snapped, gesturing to the window.

"I can't," He said, "I didn't bring my lock pick!"

"I'll give you the key!" She shouted, "Just start climbing!"

She ran, then, for her packed bags and began ripping them open, feeling every second slipping by. Alas, she couldn't find her keys! Not a single one, in fact, most were long since lost. The entire point of the challenge was to have the contender open the locks without a key, after all, and she had her own door, hidden, that she used. Near tears, she looked to her clock to see it a mere minute to midnight, and was seized by sudden inspiration.

"I couldn't find the key!" She shouted, "Use the hands instead!"

And with that, she hurled the clock to the cobblestones below. The knight, for his part, was shaking like a leaf, dropping the minute hand twice as he picked it up and ran for the final lock. It took him longer than it should have, the royal guard behind him watching with their own timepiece in hand as the princess chanted her encouragement from above. When the final lock finally opened, it was with a sudden silent stillness, as two pairs of eyes went, instantly, to the royal guard. The royal guard, who smiled at them slyly and put their time peice away without a word. If the knight didn't open the final lock in time, they never mentioned it.

When the king announced she would be locked in a tower, as was traditional, the princess demanded to be allowed to bring her crafting materials.

She made lockpicks, of course, but only used them to evade those coming to rescue her.

The rest of the time she was happy there.

[hidefdoritos]

okay sooooo i went to see a psychologist two years ago and she said that i fulfilled the criteria for autism. but then i went to see another psychologist and she said that i wasn’t neurodivergent. it’s kinda confusing but maybe it’s because in the second assessment i was masking my symptoms a lot more because i was a lot more aware of them???because college has been incredibly difficult for me with the disruption in my routine and also i’ve always had an issue with food and sensory issues. my mum thought that i was autistic when i was 15 because of my problems with food. i also have some hyper mobility and when i was younger i saw a speech therapist and i had additional classes for maths because i found it difficult. i also have bad hand eye coordination and find sports difficult.. also idk if this classifies as a special interest or not but when i was 17 i loved gilmore girls.

i watched it once and then during the summertime i watched it four times back to back, also bought all seven seasons on dvd. another thing about me is that this summer i loved stranger things so much that i would spend hours on end analysing it.

do you think that’s similar to anyone else’s experiences on here ??? i’m a little thrown off because of what the second psychologist said😭 but also maybe this is just me but does anyone on here find that people who are loud and bubbly are overwhelming to be around… because they’re always talking and it can be quite overwhelming… and they can just be so bubbly that it’s hard to keep up… they’re so loud that it’s hard to be around them…

i also find the sound of people eating so annoying like the texture and sound is just too much for me also the smells , i find really hard to deal with unless it’s something nice like chocolate or pizza. i just feel like i can get so attached to people really easily and they just aren’t like that and tend to take advantage of me😭😭 but idk if i’m autistic🫠🫠 does anyone find that this relates to them too?obvi you can’t diagnose me, just wondering if anyone relates.

also, i did a couple of tests on here and here are my results.

autism spectrum quotient: 27 out of 50

RAADS-R: 140 out of 227

empathy quotient: 26 out of 80

clinical partners test: 20 out of 30

aspie quiz: 127 of 200

AQ 10: 5 out of 10

AQ: 23

toronto empathy quotient: 60 out of 64

masking test: 131

Hmm! Well, anon, I'm not on the spectrum and I'm not qualified to speak on the subject. I'm also not sure you intended to land in my ask box, but I hope this connects with you somewhere in the vast land of cyberspace! Anybody have input of relevant life experience?

[dateko]

Satoru does not live with you, but he sure likes to act like does.

Over the years, he has gradually made himself a norm in your daily routines and disrupted all of the schedules you’ve made for yourself. After all, Satoru hates routine. And it’s obvious when he continues to casually invite himself over even when you’re not home. It no longer surprises you when you come home to the sight of him sprawled all over your couch, accompanied with various sugary snacks in his arms. Also, you’ve grown numb to his surprise visits into the bathroom while you’re using the toilet. 

“Can’t you wait?” You ask, embarrassed.

“No can do, sweets. Need to look at you while I brush my teeth.”

“You’re disgusting.”

“Disgustingly in love with you.”

Well, you can’t even complain because you love him too much. At this point, the two of you practically live together. You can’t quite remember when you decided he could have a copy of your key, but because he was so excited that the two of you could have matching Hello Kitty and Dear Daniel keychains, you let him have his moment. Also, he pays for your rent.

You’re still not used to seeing your bathroom sink cluttered with both of your selfcare products or to the sight of his larger shoes neatly aligned beside your smaller ones. There’s a softness in your heart that you can’t quite pinpoint yet. You feel it when you’re working into the later hours of the night and you spot Satoru leaning against the doorframe, asking you when you’ll come to bed with him. You feel it when he reaches the top shelf just to get your favorite cup or when he stocks up your pantry with both of your favorite snacks. The domesticity of it all is getting to you. Maybe you should just get married and move in already, but that’s a thought for another day. 

Adoration is one thing in your heart that you’ve identified and you feel it every morning you wake up beside Satoru. You’ve got too much pride to tell him this yourself and you know it’ll just inflate that head of his, but you really love when Satoru wakes up before you or when he attempts to spoil you with breakfast in bed and you have to tell him that you can't eat anything radioactive until 6pm. 

This would not be a thought you’d be having if you didn’t include what kind of gracious morning the both of you have each day. Well, really, you don’t wake up glamorous at all. You’re groggy, stinky, and have a long trail of dried spit on the side of your face. But today’s morning is a good morning. Sort of. 

A pair of soft lips ghost their way across your shoulder, waking you up. You blindly place a hand on the owner’s cheek, sitting up a bit so you can squint at him properly. The room is silent except for the soft giggles and greetings you exchange with your boyfriend. His hands loosely lay on the side of your waist and he smiles, taking pride in the way you hold each other in the sheets as the morning light slips through the blinds. Whenever he looks at you, your breath hitches every time. They’re a particular blue you could never name. A sight you could never get tired of. It’s like swimming in the deep made entirely of him. Reflective of what it’s like to be in love with him. You like how it feels when you see your own self reflected in his eyes.  

“Like what you see?” He wiggles his eyebrows at you, causing you to throw a leg over his torso and roll your eyes.

You card your finger though his snowy locks with a sigh and he looks down at you with a slightly serious expression on his face. You’ve got an inkling on what he’s thinking about.

“Can I ask what’s on the menu for breakfast?” He jokes, his eyebrows dancing once again. 

Already used to this overused question, you pull yourself up to kiss the corner of his mouth gently. “Hmm… How about me n you?” 

Satoru chuckles softly at you, “You always come up with the best plans, babe.” He brings your hand playing with his ear to his lips, making sure to look at you lovingly as he kisses each of your fingertips and you can’t help but blush. For as long as you’ve known him, Gojo Satoru has always made you blush and you wonder if you’ll be falling in love with him over and over again for the rest of your life. A gasp leaves your lips after his last kiss and he shifts himself so he’s looking down at you in your love stricken expression. You settle back into the pillows with a sigh, thankful for a day off and finally having the time to yourselves in the white sheets and light. 

The blue eyes above you are studying, pleading without needing any words. He’s about to say something while you're eyeing his boxers when your phone rings from the bedside table. You groan, scrabbling for it before Satoru can pick up and tell whoever’s on the other line that he’s literally about to blow your back out and then some. 

It’s work. 

You and Satoru both groan, listening to your boss ask you to come in on your day off. When you end the call, Satoru is looking down at you with a pout. While you wish you could give yourselves ten minutes of indulgence, you rub his arm with a playful and reassuring smile. “Duty calls, baby. Besides, you’re a big boy right? You got it.”

When you kick the duvet off and move to change into your work attire, you’re half expecting Satoru to pull you back and ask you to call in sick, but your boyfriend has already left (teleported) and you wonder if he really did go take care of his little dilemma on his own. 

There’s a loud clunk that seems to be coming from the kitchen and you peer down the loft to find the boyfriend in question hurriedly make an easy lunch for you. Your heart melts. You could get used to this.

Hastily finishing the skincare routine and reaching for your coat, you run down the stairs to grab everything else. But before you can leave, a large hand pulls you back into the kitchen. “Forgetting something?”

“‘Course not.” You plant a chaste kiss on the boyfriend’s lips. “Have a good morning, baby.”

Before you could slip away for the third time this morning, Satoru makes sure to make an announcement in the hallway. “And don’t forget we’re continuing where we left off as soon as you come home, okay?”

[animeomegas]

Hi!!!, first, congratulations on 1000 followers!I wanted to ask you something, could you make a list of omegas that would have worse self esteem during pregnancy.if you can't don't worry, have a nice day and again congratulations.

(Hey, thank you so much for your congratulations!! Hmm, I’m sure I can make a little list~)

Warnings: Insecurities of all sorts, mentions of sex.

Insecure over appearance:

· Itachi – Itachi is worried about how skinny and sickly he is. He’s always been on the small side but pregnancy has stopped him being able to keep much food down, and so he just kept getting smaller and smaller. It’s a small insecurity at first, but he does find himself staring at his reflection and wondering if his mate finds him attractive. Itachi goes a long while without sex because of how sick he gets during pregnancy and after birth, and that feeds the insecurity that his alpha doesn’t find him attractive.

· Tamaki – He’s completely fine until he gets lost in a rabbit hole on some parenting and omega focused forums. He finds all these posts from other omegas about how their alphas don’t find them attractive anymore, and about how they’ve stopped having sex. Now, Tamaki is extremely sexually needy during his pregnancy, so he’s suddenly paralysed with fear. Has his alpha been forcing themselves this whole time? Have they just been doing it to please him without enjoying it themselves? He cries about it quite a bit until his alpha finds out and knocks a little bit of sense into him.

· Asmo – Asmo puts so much effort into his physical appearance. He’s very proud of it and he’s very reliant on his appearance to carry his self-esteem. So, a drastic change of any sort would be extremely distressing. He buys every cream and treatment imaginable to stop stretch marks, and acne etc. but things still change with his body. And because Asmo views his worth through looks, he assumes that his alpha does also. He tries to hide, to turn down sex, but of course, this alerts his alpha immediately to the fact that something is wrong. He never really gets over the insecurities while he’s still pregnant, but his alpha can minimise the effects with copious love and praise.

· Julian – He’s extremely insecure as it is, constantly questioning why his alpha finds him attractive at all but being pregnant adds enough layer on to the pre-existing insecurities. He always tries to reassure his alpha that they don’t have to touch him if they don’t want, that they should leave the room before he gets changed or when he’s bathing because they probably don’t want to see him like that. His insecurities run very deeply, just like Asmo’s, so they can’t be fixed, but they can be helped with lots of comfort and reassurance.

Insecure over abilities (e.g., being weak physically etc.):

· Sasuke – The fact that he can’t go on missions or train pisses him off. And as the months go by, he’s gaining weight and losing muscle definition and it freaks him out because he feels like he’s losing who he is which drops his self-esteem. Training has been a part of his life for as long as he can remember. Just design some softer workout routines for him with a mednin and remind him that he can still practice throwing kunai before he loses his goddamn mind.

· Bakugou – The physical condition of his body changing isn’t that big of a deal for him. He has a very small tummy, especially considering he’s pregnant with twins, and he knows he can bounce back after the birth because he’s super dedicated to his physical routine. What he’s not so confident about is the slipping control he has over his quirk. He has (had) an iron clad control, and the random explosions while pregnant are so embarrassing. Not to mention the disruption that his quirk causes in his nest. He has to replace so many cushions which makes his instincts go wild because significant changes to an omega’s nest while pregnant is distressing. If his friends tease him about the loss of control, he gets genuinely mad about because it’s something of a sore spot.

· Jumin – Jumin tries to keep his life while pregnant as close to his life before being pregnant as possible and in many ways, he nails it. He buys copies of his favourite suits and has them tailored every other week to fit his growing stomach. He buys non-alcoholic wine and drinks it with a grimace. He schedules lots of massages to keep the aches and pains away, so he feels normal. But there is one thing that isn’t so easy to keep normal: his emotions. Now, this fits into this category rather than the one below because Jumin gets insecure about how his emotional control impacts his ability to work. His emotions had never impacted his career before, but now he can’t help but tear up when he gets overstressed, he can’t work long hours without getting lonely and wanting to go home, he can’t take business trips because he doesn’t want to leave his nest for too long. It makes him feel a little like he’s lost himself because these things are things he’s been doing with ease for his entire life. He’s quite irritated by it and it damages his self esteem somewhat.

Insecure emotionally (e.g., unsure about being a good parent etc.):

· Tamaki –Tamaki also makes it onto this category. His insecurities are very specific, but he worries about being a bad role model socially for his pup. If his alpha is very socially adept, I’m not sure he would worry as much, because he knows that his pup can learn from their other parent, but if Tamaki’s alpha is also a little shy or prefers not being around people, then he gets really worried about it. Him being so shy and anxious has really impacted his life and he really doesn’t want it to impact his pup in the same way. He really worries that he’ll be a bad influence in that regard. (but the prospect of an extremely extroverted child is an equally terrifying concept in a different way haha.)

· Lucifer – He is very worried about being a good parent because all he can focus on is the past times when he wasn’t a good older brother. I mean, Satan hates him, and that’s as close to a father/child bond that Lucifer has, so surely that must mean he’s not cut out to be a father? He’s not good at emotions or reasonable punishments or showing affection or… well, point is he doesn’t think he has what it takes to be a good parent, when all he’s ever had is a shitty father himself, and all he’s ever been, is a shitty older brother that drove his family apart.

· Levi – Levi is insecure about most things that have to do with himself, so it’s not surprising that he gets very insecure about being a good parent which drops his self-esteem to an all time low. He can’t even watch any anime that focuses too much on parent/child relationships because he can’t help but compare himself every time, and he works himself up into a mini panic. It’s difficult to calm Levi’s insecurities but his partner can help him somewhat.

· Hawks – Keigo is very insecure about his abilities to protect his pup. His has this conspiracy theory that the hero commission will try to kidnap his child. They were furious when they found out he was pregnant during the peak of his career and they pushed him heavily towards abortion. Keigo leaked the pregnancy news to the public to force the commission’s hands, but he’s still so paranoid that they’ll stage a 'tragic accident' for his pup to force him back into hero work, or try and kidnap and raise his pup as they raised him. He doesn’t have any proof, per se, but he’s terrified that he can’t protect his pup so he really doesn’t like to leave his alpha’s presence. When he’s close to his due date, he’s too insecure with all his conspiracy theories clouding his mind to even let his alpha shower by themselves.

· V – Jihyun sort of convinces himself that he’s cursed when it comes to looking after people (Rika, Saeyoung, Saeran), so he’s very upset by the prospect that he’ll probably fail at raising his child too. He originally says that he wants to give the pup up for adoption to save them, but eventually you talk him around and start working through his problems. He just doesn’t thing he’ll be a good role model. The longer he waits to have children after the more traumatic events of his life, the less these issues crop up.

Miscellaneous:

· Aizawa – Shouta gets insecure when people pay too much attention to him being pregnant. He doesn’t like people giving up their seats for him on public transport, he doesn’t like his students and colleagues asking invasive questions, he doesn’t like those awful shop attendants that try to shoehorn him into buying baby supplies he doesn’t need. He wishes people would just treat him normally. (and he absolutely starts to activate his quirk every time someone tries to touch his tummy without asking first.) But yeah, all the eyes and attention makes him super uncomfortable and it makes him overanalyse everything he does which does impact his self esteem.

· Light – Light has a very specific insecurities while pregnant which revolve around the fear that he’s lowering himself by carrying a pup. All his life he’s had people tell him that because he’s an omega, he should give up on all his dreams and have pups and stay home instead. It really doesn’t sit well with him that he’s doing what all those awful people told him to do (at least it feels that way to him). He feels ashamed and he hates it. He avoids everything stereotypical while pregnant. He’ll kick you in the face if you try to rub his feet, he does everything in his power to avoid giving in to cravings, and he doesn’t make a nest. It all takes a serious toll on his health but it would take one hell of a stubborn alpha to get him to bend on any of that. It puts a strain on the relationship.

[mydemonsdrivealimo]

Questions about your kid!au:

Who is the ex that Jensen had a kid with?

How old were they?

How did having a kid affect Jensen's career?

How old was Jensen's kid when he started dating Bryce?

How did Bryce react when he found out Jensen had a kid? When did he find out?

What is Jensen's favorite thing to do with his kid?

What is Bryce's favorite thing to do with J's kid?

How long did it take for the kid to see Bryce as a father figure?

What does the kid call Bryce?

okay that's all for now lol this is kind of a lot so you don't have to answer them all if you don't want/have time!

(answered half of these and accidentally closed the tab but anyway) i cant sleep so im answering these now :')

also i love all of these thank you <3

Who is the ex that Jensen had a kid with?

miss monica taylor!!! she's one of jensens exes i haven't talked about but she's a sweetheart. they still get along fine and have a lot of respect for one another, they just weren't compatible long-term. they co-parent about 70-30 cause jensen works so much, so it's better for her to be with monica more often

How old were they?

jensen was 22 and monica was 24

How did having a kid affect Jensen's career?

hmm it wouldn't set him back much, but he definitely wouldn't be as much of a workaholic. yes he's dedicated, but not so wholeheartedly committed, which may affect some of his opportunities

How old was Jensen's kid when he started dating Bryce?

stella would've been 4 when they met, and 6 or 7 when they started dating (bryce would've met her when she was about 4 or 5)

How did Bryce react when he found out Jensen had a kid? When did he find out?

i think he would’ve needed an adjustment period. jensen was very open when they started going on more actual dates, so it would've been mid-late intern year that he told him. bryce didn't mind until they started getting more serious (mostly after the poison attack) when he realized he was going to actually be a part of stella's life. it didn't take him long to decide that it was worth it ofc, but he def needed to prepare himself to be any sort of a role model

What is Jensen's favorite thing to do with his kid?

oh he absolutely got stella into boxing. monica isn't a huge fan of it, but stella loves when she gets to practice with the pads (even if she's pretty uncoordinated about the whole thing)

What is Bryce's favorite thing to do with J's kid?

stella Loves the outdoors. she's super curious and loves animals and plant life, so bryce would take her on some small hikes. it's def one of his favorite things cause he likes it and seeing her get all excited about the worms and bugs is so entertaining

How long did it take for the kid to see Bryce as a father figure?

hmm not too long honestly. it took jensen a while to introduce him and the rest of the friend group cause he didn't want to disrupt any of the routine until he was sure they were going to be a consistent part of their lives. after that though, bryce was around a lot more, especially if jensen needed help with anything, so it wouldn't have taken stella long to recognize him as another parental figure. by the time she's 10 he's definitely filled in another parent spot

What does the kid call Bryce?

she just calls him bryce! (the other members of the friend group get aunt or uncle :)

[sugurus-slxt]

emergency request

((t.w. eating disorder))

i am trying to recover from my ed by myself since i don't fit the stereotypical person with ed and it is also expensive... i would love to get some comfort/support from haikyuu boys (kindly include tsukishima pls) <3

Haikyuu Boys Comforting Their S/O with an Eating Disorder (emergency request)

A/Note: I’m really sorry that you have to deal with that but if you ever need to talk I’m here, or just listen; my Inbox and Asks are open. I don’t think that anything should have a ‘stereotype’ especially not this, anything can happen to anybody, I anyway. These things don’t just pick and choose and honestly, I’m probably stating the obvious. I’m sorry but I just want you to know I believe in you and that you can do it. I do also apologise if this does not come out the way you wanted, this is honestly my first time writing for a situation like this so I did a little research, and I hope it was enough. I hope you like it. Love <3 ~ Sar-chan

Warning: eating disorder

Tsukishima Kei

I think the first time Tsukishima found out you had an eating disorder he was silent for about a couple seconds. It’s not because he’s angry at you, he just needs to process it, and he needs to figure out what to say. He knows sometimes he can be harsh and he knows right now you don’t need that.

He’ll make sure to wrap you in his arms and tell you, “Hey, it's ok. It’s ok. We- we can get through this. I’m gonna be here to help every step of the way. I’m sorry if I ever made any comments that make you feel a type of way. I love you ok and I’m here.”

He’d apologise because he didn’t know if he’d ever said anything to affect you. He’d be more careful with his words from then on because you mean the world to him and he truly wanted to help you get through this.

Tsukishima definitely did some research that night when you went to sleep. He wanted to be sure about what he could do to help and that he wasn’t mixing up his information.

He’d make food for both of you and eat the same things you were eating, to ensure you didn’t feel any type of way about it and you wouldn’t be eating alone. Kei isn’t a five-star chef but he’ll look up recipes and listen to the prep on his headphones while he cooks.

If you wanted to work out, he would totally take you with him to gym or practice, sometimes he’ll take you on his morning run if you’re not too tired.

Tsukishima would pay your fees without you knowing to help out. Like you’d go to pay and they’d tell you they were already covered. He doesn’t want you to argue with him about this especially because he just wants to help. He didn’t know how to bring it up to you so he kind of just opted for doing it this way.

I think when he takes a break at lunch he’ll call to eat with you over a video call. Yamaguchi helped him come up with the idea.

-----------

“Hey shortcake, I’m sorry I’m late for lunch. Practice ran a bit late. How you doin’? Hmmm” he said through the phone as he wiped the sweat off his forehead and removed his glasses. “I got a bit hungry but ummm. I was going to start but I wanted to wait for you. I’m sorry,” you apologised looking down at the food in front of you. “You … know… you could have eaten without me. I wouldn’t mind,” he gulped his water and glanced at the screen to see your saddened expression, “Hey, I’m not mad at you. I like eating with you ok. Though if you are hungry you should eat because you could get stomach pain, ok. But I am proud you got your food and you’re ready to eat.” Both of you proceeded to eat lunch but Kei spent most of his time smiling at you as you ate. Every time you’d look up he’d look down at his food never want to let you see the way he looked at you. When he came home he made sure to talk about his day over dinner and ask you what you’d like for breakfast tomorrow.

Kozume Kenma

Kenma is pretty straightforward sometimes and he doesn’t change that when approaching the situation. He’ll tell you, “Hey kitty come here, I need you to remember that is normal, ok. You are more than your eating disorder and all that matters now is that you’re recovering. I’m gonna help you, I know it’s not the same but maybe you can remind me to eat too hmm? We can eat together.”

When Kenma’s in his game room and you’re with him he’ll make sure to keep some snacks that you like around, he’ll also make sure to keep some healthier things on hand if you’re really worried about it.

He’ll be more observant of your eating habits and try to improve them. He’s always keeping an eye on you to make sure you’re all right, even if it doesn’t seem like it.

When he finds patterns in your habits he’ll find times within the day to ask if you’d like a snack or something to drink.

Every breakfast, lunch, and dinner time he has a reminder on his phone to eat.

When the time comes he’ll make home-cooked meals with you and eat together. This way he knows that he’s encouraging you and that you know he is trying too.

When he’s on stream and lunch or dinner time happens to creep up on him he’ll apologise and tell his viewer he’ll be right back because he knows that it’s important that you stick to a routine so that you don’t disrupt your progress. However, if you happen to be hungry earlier he will not hesitate to leave then either.

Kenma has no problem playing your fees but he knows this is your process so he will ask first before he does anything. If you want to take turns he’ll gladly do it with you.

Sometimes you guys will play rock, paper, scissors, or play Mario Cart to see who gets to choose what’s to eat or who gets to cook. He however doesn’t make it any problem if you prefer something else or want him to cook.

If you’re ok with him telling his viewers and you explain to them the situation he’ll let you. He wants them to be educated but he thinks it’d be nice for you to have the extra support and get some pent-up thoughts or emotions off your chest.

-----

“Guys gimme a second,” Kenma mutes his mic and turns to where you sat on the bed. “What is it KenKen?” you ask, a confused look washing across your features. “I just wanted to know if you’re hungry baby. Any snacks? Water?” he asks. You think about it for a second, “Maybe a little bit, but we can wait till dinner. It’s not far,” you wave your hands in front of you not wanting to disturb his stream. “Thank you for telling me but I’m a little hungry though. Plus if we get started now it’ll be ready for dinner time and maybe after you can game with me on the stream,” he takes off his game and takes your hand, and walks to the kitchen. “Let’s cook together today. I’m proud you did good today, keep taking it a step at a time,” he wraps his arms around your waist and kisses the top of your head.

Akaashi Keiji

Akaashi I very calm about the whole thing, he’ll sit you down and talk about it in detail if you want to share with him. If you can’t he’ll simply hug you, “Hey, I’m really proud you told me and that you’re working through this. I’m going to be here along the way to help but I believe in you darling. You are so strong and I know you can.”

He’s a pretty organised person so maybe he’ll help you make a meal plan for the week, snacks and all.

Keiji will talk about your day every time he comes home and asks if you’ve eaten well. Even though, he’s called you at breakfast and lunch already to check up on you.

I think Akaashi surprises you with a bento and a tumbler cup, that he’s drawn characters from your favourite manga/anime on.

Sometimes when he comes home from work he’ll surprise you with dinner from your favorite place for doing well all week.

He never forces you but he does encourage you because he does want to see you grow and improve, but he will let you take that at your own pace.

He is always researching and checking to learn new things every day. He’ll make sure he knows what you need and always offers words of appreciation and express how proud he is of you.

I think he’ll work out payment plan with you and will subtly bring up splitting the cost with you, if you’re open to it. He just wants to ease your stress and he hopes he can help.

Whenever you need to talk he’ll drop everything and be there for you. Akaashi is always going to be your number one supporter and if you want to keep it under wraps for the time he will support your decision but always make sure to keep you motivated and reassured.

-----

“Good Evening darling, let’s go on the couch,” he’ll sit and pat the seat next to him. When you sit he’ll pull you close and peck your cheek. “So was today good? Did you follow the plan? But most importantly how do you feel?” he’ll ask giving you a warm smile as he strokes your hair. When you tell him about your day, he listens to everything you have to say and if there were any hiccups in the plan he assures you it’s alright. He knows that it isn’t going to be easy, so he encourages you to make tomorrow better and that he’s proud of you for doing your best today. “I heard you paid in advance this month and well I already put mine in for next month so we’re set. So how about we relax, we can watch a show and if you have anything else to tell me you can. But when you’re ready ok darling,” he’d say before grabbing the remote.

Again I'm really sorry if I did this wrongly but remember my inbox is always open if you want to shoot me a message.

[deleteddewewted]

Ok, this is my last request, I swear and scout's honor...I'm sorry for bothering you and being annoying, please forgive me!

Uhm...how about a fic or headcanons on Monoma with a female s/o who's short (as in, 4' 11"...I think our boy is 5' 7", but I could be wrong) and is a coffee-addict, and it gets to a point where Monoma's worried for her addiction and health, so he tries to keep it away from her for a few days, please? He can also like, tease her about it and play the height bully since she's a shrimp compared to him when she tries to get her coffee back?

Like last time, I don't mind if what you write is sfw or nsfw. I just need more blonde copycat boi in my life, lol! Thank you! 😊 I hope you have a good day/night/weekend!

I’M SO HAPPY YOU CAME BACK!!! Don’t ever feel like your annoying, i love hearing from you.

It took me a bit to make this, sorry about that. Hope you enjoy!

Caffeine Rush

Monoma x F! Reader

Note: H/c (your hair color)

W: Mentions of NSFW, Monoma Being Absolutely in Love With You

TW: Vomit, Addiction

Monoma’s favorite thing to do each morning is to wake up to your beautiful face. You always tell him that it isn’t but he gladly disagrees with you because you’re wrong. He would watch you sleep for a few minutes, hours if the day before was truly exhausting for you, and just sigh like the lovesick fool he was. That peace becoming disrupted when the alarm in his phone would go off indicating the beginning of the weekday.

“My love, wake up.” Monoma leaned down to shower you with kisses, even as you swatted him away with your hand. The attempts that were made to cover yourself with the blanket didn’t stop him from attacking you with hugs. Warm and inviting rest but quickly changing to panic as he lifted you from the bed and walked out to the common area blanket included. Your other classmates were already up doing their usual morning routines. They found your relationship with Monoma adorable, concerning but adorable. The way Monoma brags about you and your achievement was sickening.

“Nei! Put me down, please. I was comfortable and warm.” Monoma laughed at the whining and placed you down on the couch.

“No can do my love. You need fuel in that body of yours. A healthy meal makes a healthy body. A healthy body makes a healthy mind.” You rolled your eyes at your boyfriends’ poetic speech and made yourself comfortable on the couch, laying down and covering yourself again with the blanket he wrapped you in.

“What do want for breakfast, my love?”

“Give me coffee, no sugar. If there are any muffins, give me one please.” Monomas posture deflated a little to the request.

“Coffee, again?” He questioned. You nodded your head and drifted back to sleep. The rest of the class watched as Monoma begrudgingly made the coffee you requested. The entire time he was mumbling something under his breath, something about how you loved the tar drink more than him.

You thanked him once he handed over your drink while Monoma sat down next to you with his meal. He leaned into you and ate in peace. He kept grumbling from time to time and chewed violently when he took another bite.

“Monoma? What are you doing?” You asked him.

“Nothing.” Was his only response before continuing to shovel food into his mouth. Once finished, he took your empty cup and his plate to the sink to wash. You on the other hand had other plans.

“Neito, I’m going out. I’ll see you later.” Monoma said goodbye to you and let you go. He knew what you were planning on doing and he wasn’t happy about it. Honestly, it was ridiculous how much you seemed to depend on it. It was the weekend, so there was no harm in leaving campus.

You got dressed back in your dorm room and said your goodbyes to your classmates who were still in the common area. As you headed into the city you went straight to your favorite shop. It was a small business run by a college kid who had too much money and too much time to burn. You weren’t about to complain, the coffee was good and the environment was pleasant to be in. Once there you ordered your usual coffee variant and sat down to enjoy it, not being aware that you were being watched the entire time.

Monoma was fuming. Another cup of coffee right away? You just drank your first a few minutes ago, why would you need another one? It wasn’t like you didn’t work hard, that wasn’t the problem. You were dedicated to training and your relationship with him. He understands that he could be a hassle sometimes and he’s very grateful for the opportunity to be with you, but this was just ridiculous. He didn’t want to destroy your piece but it had to be done.

“Y/n, what are you doing?” You turned towards the voice and watched as your boyfriend walked up to you. He was marching, an interesting choice but he was him so it wasn’t out of character.

“Hi, Nei is there a problem? Also, why did you follow me?” You asked amused. Monoma didn’t bother to sit down once he was next to you instead, he opted to bend down to look at you. He wasn’t happy.

“I followed you to see if you were going to buy another cup of coffee. Do you want to guess what happened Y/n? Hmm?” You giggled at him and took a sip from your drink.

“I bought coffee.”

“Yes, you bought coffee!” The other customers in the shop turned to look at the scene Monoma was making and the sudden attention filled you with embarrassment. You didn’t think Monoma would make a huge deal out of something so meaningless.

“Nei, cut it out!” You whisper yelled at him. You tried pulling him down so he would sit, instead, Monoma grabbed your cup and your hand. He dragged you out of the shop and walk with you to the train station.

“Where are we going now?” Monoma didn’t bother to respond to you. He just stared ahead of him and kept your coffee cup away from you. Once the train arrived he practically picked you up and took you inside. It was a bit empty so he was able to find seats for the both of you, he wrapped an arm around you as he kept the cup in between his legs and out of your reach. He pulled you up once you got to the correct stop and took you to the entrance of the mall.

“Whats this Nei? A last-minute date?” You teased. Monomas face flushed and just ignored your stare.

“We haven’t gone on a date in some time-”

“We had one yesterday.”

“So I thought that this would be nice and I also get to spoil you, so don’t complain.” He took your hand and brought you inside.

It was bustling with life. People walking around looking for things that they need and buying others that they don’t. It was a pleasant scene yet your body would disagree with you. The throbbing that you felt in the front part of your skull wasn’t pleasant but it was constant. It’s been like this for a few weeks. You read that coffee could help with easing it, something about it probably the throbbing being due to some visual exposure. Monoma had taken your drink so that was no longer an option. Knowing him, he probably takes a small sip and then spits it out while berating you on how your taste buds must be dead if you didn’t react as he did.

“So where to?” You asked him. Monoma laced his hand with yours and walked you to a clothing store. He looked at different articles of clothing and asked for your input. Most of the things he picked out were simple in design or minimalist, nothing that needed consideration. Yet he asked and you being the ever caring girlfriend gave some input.

“This would look nice with um, with some light blue jeans” The throbbing in your head was beginning to get worse and it wasn’t helping that the bright light within the store was the only thing to look at. It was too much for you.

“Hey, Monoma. I need to go to the bathroom, ok?” You left Monoma in the middle of the store as he just watched you go. He spoke to you but you couldn’t hear him.

He had tried reaching for you but you were already too far for him to grab. Monoma. You called him by his last name instead of his first. In the times that you both have had arguments, you always called him by his first name no matter what the situation was. You’ve been acting odd for some time and it was worrying him. He was aware that you drank more than the recommended when it came to coffee, so it wasn’t surprising that you felt ill. Monoma was no stranger to bad habits, he was being too clingy and overly competitive. You reassured him that he wasn’t clingy and that you found it endearing more than anything. Regarding the competitiveness, he could tone it down a little bit when it came to arguing with the other hero course. He felt like he was annoying to you and that you only started dating him because you felt pity for him after he fell on his face as he was running up to you. His nose was bleeding but that didn’t stop you from kissing him on the lips and accepting his date offer. He loved you, he’s known this since his first year. Seeing you sick was upsetting, he felt like a lost boyfriend for not helping you. He tried, he hides the coffee grounds, he hides your wallet sometimes and even started having you sleep in his dorm to ensure you slept.

Monoma waited outside of the store for a moment, waiting to see if you would come back once you were done in the bathroom. You never came back which lead to him going towards the bathrooms. He was met with a line of women waiting for the bathroom and a few people waiting outside of the all gendered bathroom.

“Hello. I’m sorry to interrupt you but did you by any chance see a woman who looked ill come by here?” The person turned around to look at Monoma.

“Was it someone with h/o hair?” Monoma nodded his head and the stranger pointed at one of the bathrooms that were occupied. Monoma thanked them and knocked on the door gently.

”Y/n. It’s me, are you ok?” You tried answering but the sound of gagging and something liquid hitting the toilet was indicating that you wouldn’t answer him. Monoma quickly asked around to see who had a quirk that allowed him to help you. He found someone whose quirk allowed them to change their fingers into any key, interesting quirk, and he opened the bathroom door. When he closed it he saw you slumped over the toilet throwing up.

“Nei- I can’t- breath.” You hiccuped. Monoma pulled your hair back and rubbed your back in a soothing motion.

“It’s ok, I’m here.” You continued to throw up everything in your stomach. Almost everything that came up was liquid and smelled heavily of stomach acid with a touch of coffee. Monoma watched in horror as you emptied yourself. He felt useless. He couldn’t do anything other than making sure that your clothes stayed clean.

“Y/n, let me take you back to the dorms. You need to get checked by Recovery Girl.” You felt too dizzy to protest and just lifted your arms and had him carry you out.

On the train, Monoma draped his jacket over your head, hiding you away from any light that could worsen your headache. He kept you close, your head laying on top of his shoulder and his hand on the side of your head keeping you steady as the train rocked. Once off, he picked you up and carried you to Recovery Girl. She asked him a multitude of questions about what happened and asked him to step outside of the infirmary. She sent you to your dorm to rest with a bottle full of medicine and Monoma picked you up again to make the trip easier on you.

At your dorm, he laid you down on your bed and went down to the kitchen to get you a glass of water. You sat yourself up on your bed and took some of the liquid medicine. It was bitter yet sweet, it soothed your aching throat and helped ease your agitated stomach. When Monoma came back he crouched down in front of you, handing you the glass of water he had gotten for you.

“How do feel?” His face was showered with concern. This wasn’t uncommon for him when it came to you or any of his classmates. He didn’t like seeing you hurt nor sick, so this was overwhelming his heart a little bit.

“My throat burns a bit but I’m ok.” You smiled weakly. Monoma didn’t believe anything you were telling him but he also didn’t want to start an argument.

Monoma decided to pull you into bed and lay next to you. He covered your body with his arms around your waist as he tangled your legs with his own. He gave you a quick kiss on the lips, then placing his chin on the top of your head.

“Rest my love. You’ll feel better tomorrow.” You didn’t attempt to argue with him. Your head was hurting badly and your body was still tense from the vomiting you did earlier. You made yourself comfortable within Monomas chest and used him as an anchor. He was warm and welcoming, how couldn’t you take advantage of this.

The morning came and so did the sunlight that invaded your room. Monoma woke up ready to look at your beautiful face, a smile already forming as he imagined how you would look that morning. Ethereal as always he believes. Yet, when he opened his eyes you weren’t comfortably placed in his arms. You weren’t even in the room. He shot up from the bed and went rushing down to the common room.

“Y/n! What are you doing!?” Monoma watched you as you were seated on one of the tables. With a cup of steaming coffee. Again.

“My head hurts, the coffee helps it feel better.” Monomas eyes widened as he walked towards you.

“I understand, but couldn’t you have taken some pain medication or have at least told me?” He stood next to you and looked at how much coffee you still had left in your cup. It was at halfway. He made an executive decision and grabbed it from you.

“Neito, what are you?” You tried to reach for the cup but it was immediately raised above you.

“Nei, that isn’t funny. Give me back my coffee!” Monoma only grinds at you.

“No, it isn’t my fault you’re the shortest person in our year.” You used your quirk to try and inflict some damage onto him but to no avail. He just raised it higher.

“Nei! I swear you’re all legs and arms. How are you this tall!?” Monoma could only laugh at your silly attempts to reach for the cup. He leaned down enough for your faces to meet.

“I’ll give it back if you promise me something.”

“Sure, what is it?” Monomas grin softened around the edges. His eyes looking briefly at your lips and back to your eyes.

“For one, limit your coffee intake.” You frowned at him.

“Didn’t you just hear me? It helps with the headaches.”

“And for two,” He got closer to you. His mouth inches from your own. “For every time you minimize, ill give you whatever else you want.”

You cocked a brow up and returned the sly grin.

“Oh, like what exactly Neito Monoma?” He shivered at the mention of his full name. A tint becoming present on his cheeks.

“I don’t know, maybe kissing.” He leaned closer. Your lips touching but just by a little.

“Or maybe something more.” He added in. You decided to take the lead and closed the gap between the two of you. His lips were surprisingly soft, must be because of the religious chapstick use.

He became impatient and pushed his tongue into your mouth. He sighed into the kiss and pull you in closer by placing a hand on your lower back. You kissed back with fever and played with his tongue a bit. You made him moan, the hand holding the cup lowering to place it on the table. You quickly snatched it from him and backed away from the kiss you were sharing. A  wet popping sound made itself present once you parted from him, a light string of saliva attached to your once connected lips. Monoma looked confused, his eyes hazy from the euphoria of kissing you.

“What?” He asked confused. You just giggled and walked away with the cup of the now lukewarm coffee. Monoma quickly trailed behind you, hand reaching out to take the cup. You walked to the sink and dumped all of the coffee down the drain.

“I know I should stop. I know.” You turned towards him and place your hand on his cheek. You admired him for a moment. His face was still red and his chest was still expanding slowly trying to get more air in. You gently caressed his lips with your thumb and quickly gave him a peck on them.

“But I’ll only stop because you asked me to.” You kissed him deeply. Monoma wrapped his arms around your waist, holding you in place.

“I love you Nei.” Monomas face flushed deeper and he hid his face on the crook of your neck. He had to bend down to do so but it was worth it.

“I love you too Y/n.”

[whatsmyline-pb]

Saw this for the first time today and just about died. Then this happened:

https://archiveofourown.org/works/32013415

(Edit: a big thanks to @stevieshelby for a much better quality picture.)

Alfie Solomons does not run. Ever. Men who run, in his opinion, are silly and weak; either running from or to something and either way showing far too much desperation in doing so. Alfie is a firm believer in acting with as little urgency as possible.

He knows, of course, that most people running are doing so for the sake of exercise. But it’s a bloody foolish way to achieve fitness, if you ask him. Likely does more harm than good, slamming your joints together against hard pavement. Swimming is a much more sensible form of exercise.

Point is, Alfie doesn’t run.

—

Leave it to Tommy Shelby to ruin Alfie’s first true holiday in years. It’s summer and it’s Margate and Alfie is altogether content to let work fade into oblivion and get some much-needed rest. But of course, he can’t get one fucking moments peace before the little prick is calling him, demanding that they meet, that it’s urgent, cannot be discussed over the phone, and what’s Alfie’s rental address, he’ll be there first thing in the morning.

And mornings, right, mornings are sacred to Alfie, especially when on holiday. He likes to take his fucking time, stretch languidly while the last remnants of sleep slip away, stay in bed however long he pleases and not leave a moment sooner. And then, when he deems himself ready to rise, make his way to the terrace with coffee and biscuits and a book and cigar. Greet the day with leisurely intent.

And fuck if he’s gonna let Tommy interfere with that pleasure. So the next day he goes about his morning just as he normally would, and when Tommy pulls up in his sleek Royce he’s just opened his book and taken his first sip of coffee.

“Just come on up, for fucks sake,” he hollers down when Tommy knocks on the front door. Moments later Tommy is standing in front of him, looking incredulous. Or really, looking entirely impassive, if you don’t know him. But Alfie does, so, yes, it’s definitely incredulity swimming behind those flat eyes.

Thing is, another part of Alfie’s morning routine is not getting dressed. Dressing really defeats the point of lounging around, doesn’t it? It’s boxers and a loose robe for him, and there’s nothing like the feeling of the warm morning sun on your bare chest, is there?

“You forget I was coming, Alfie?”

“Naw mate, how could I? Been anxious for my groceries, haven’t I?” He’d texted Tommy as soon as they’d hung up last night, Be a dear and stop by Kosher Kingdom before you leave, followed by a rather extensive grocery list. Just to be a prick, really; hadn’t expected any follow-through. But Tommy’s holding a grocery bag.

“Those ‘em?” He asks and grabs it from him. Tommy pays this no heed.

“You didn't think a business meeting warranted, I don’t know, putting some trousers on? Maybe a shirt?”

“Business meeting? Naw. I’m on fucking holiday, ain’t I?” He says it into the bag, busy shuffling through the contents. Only half his requests are in there. “Where are my bourekas?” He asks, looking up.

Tommy glares at him and pulls out a cigarette. His eyes flit unwittingly over Alfie’s bare torso as he lights it. Alfie suppresses a smug grin.

Could be that not wanting to disrupt his normal routine isn't the only reason Alfie declined to dress for Tommy’s visit. Could be, yeah, that they’ve been in business together for seven months and those seven months have felt like a fucking eternity, all of them spent with Alfie not so secretly lusting after Tommy and Tommy, cunt that he is, determinedly ignoring his advances (even though Alfie is damn sure his desires are reciprocated). So yeah, he stayed half-naked to make a point about holidays and respect and all that, but also to taunt Tommy.

Rather transparent. Could be he’s getting a bit desperate.

“So what’s this big emergency, then? You finally set the factory on fire smoking those godforsaken fags? Tear a hole in that favorite suit of yours, hmm? Someone finally snap and off Arthur? Out with it, treacle.”

Tommy sighs as he slides into the seat opposite Alfie. “How’s it you’re even more fucking irritating on holiday, Alfie?”

Alfie just smiles.

“Alright,” Tommy says, pulling some papers from his briefcase and onto the table. He launches into a story, and Alfie immediately forgets to listen. Thing is, there’s a lot going on in Margate in the summer, even this early in the day. Folks are up and about and Alfie can’t help it if he’s an avid people-watcher. Not really in the headspace for business, is he?

Alfie’s somehow getting away with not paying attention to Tommy when the group of runners pound by. They look equally smug and miserable and he can’t help but mutter, “Ridiculous fucking hobby.”

This stops Tommy mid-sentence. “You hear a word I just fucking said, Alfie?”

Alfie nods. “Yeah, mate, sure. Something about a shipment and a fuck up.”

Tommy’s jaw clenches, his eyes narrow. He looks from Alfie to the runners and to Alfie again. It’s a long, heavy silence. Long enough that Alfie grabs the grocery bag again and begins pawing through it. He can practically feel the annoyance radiating off Tommy.

“You remember when you set me up with that cousin of yours?” Tommy asks, an eternity later.

Alfie can’t help it, he breaks into a toothy grin. He remembers it. Often and fondly. It’s not every day Tommy is in need of a last-minute date for an important business dinner and turns to Alfie for help. And really, Tommy should have known better. Of course, Alfie was going to hire an escort to accompany him, paying her extra to pretend to be his cousin. Of course, he was going to relish the opportunity to fuck with the great Tommy Shelby, delight in the knowledge of him prancing proudly around London with a high-end prostitute on his arm.

Hadn’t expected him to ever find out, at least not until a few years later when he’d randomly decide to let his duplicity slip. Hadn’t anticipated that there’d be an adversary present at the dinner who knew just who his ‘cousin’ was, did little to hide it and, in fact, outed Tommy on spot. Alfie can’t quite regret this, though. Would never have gotten to see his cheeks flushed so darkly, red with rage and embarrassment, the next day, would he have? It made the fist to the face and ensuing month of stony silence entirely worth it.

“Course I remember, treacle. One of my finer moments. Really though, you were rather ungrateful, weren’t you? Just trying to give a mate a pleasurable night and all I get in return is a black eye and broken nose.”

Tommy is looking at him with that look of his, the one that means there’s a scheme brewing and you’d best brace yourself.

“Tell you what, Alfie,” Tommy says, leaning forward and stamping out his cigarette. “You make it to the pier and back in under a minute, and I’ll return the favor.”

“What, you’re gonna hire me an escort?” Alfie asks, amused.

“No.” His eyes bore into Alfie, the blues in them much darker than usual. His meaning, suddenly obvious, clicks.

There’s not many things that can stun Alfie into silence. He blinks stupidly at Tommy for a few beats, then leans back, dragging his hand over his beard.

“Let me get this straight. I go for a quick jog and we fuck?”

“Think it’ll have to be more of a sprint, Alfie.”

Tommy knows Alfie’s feelings about running. Knows them because Alfie had told him, can never keep his fucking mouth shut and stop the landslide of damning information that falls out.

A run for a fuck. It’s tempting, for sure. But Alfie has his pride. There’s lots of things he’d do for a fuck, but running definitely ain’t one of them, no matter how desperately he wants it.

“Naw mate. Don’t feel like getting dressed, quite yet.” Tommy quirks an eyebrow.

“Didn’t say anything about getting dressed, did I?”

Alfie laughs at this. Of course, it’s his unkempt appearance that Tommy thinks adds an extra punch of humiliation to this bargain. But Alfie could give a fuck, and Tommy should really know better. He’d meet the Queen in his boxers and robe, head held high, wouldn’t he? But running? No.

“Tommy, sweetie, it’s not going to happen. Now, isn’t there some world-ending urgent reason you are here?”

Tommy shrugs and starts over.

Alfie listens. Or tries to. Tommy himself proves to be the distraction this time. First, he takes off his suit jacket, and fucking well he should, he’s got too many layers for this heat, so that’s just fine.

Then he starts to roll his shirt sleeves upwards. Not in the messy, rushed way that Alfie shoves his own up, but slowly, methodically, one careful fold over another. It takes a tedious amount of time for his forearms to emerge and Alfie tracks the progress hungrily. He’s always had a weakness for those arms, which Tommy, of course, well knows. Another stupid thing he’d let slip. But no matter, they’re just arms, after all.

The lazy recline against his seatback is definitely unexpected. So unlike Tommy, to don a posture of such ease. Yet it suits him, stretches his body out more fully, allows Alfie a more substantial view. And there’s the leg too, that has slid out as result, and is now pressing firmly against Alfie’s own, calf to calf. It’s not moving or anything, so, really, it’s no big deal.

Tommy keeps talking and Alfie keeps listening. Problem is, Tommy’s doing this thing, and it’s definitely the most distracting of all the things. He keeps slipping his eyes from Alfie’s face, raking them over his body, slow and deliberate, licking his lips as he does. And that, well that is just fucking sinful and cruel and underhanded and right up Alfie’s alley.

A run for a fuck. It’s ludicrous, yet…

The leg next to his gives a forceful nudge.

“Asked you a question, Alfie.” There’s a drop of sweat running down Tommy’s throat, spilling onto his clavicle. When had Tommy undone the top two buttons of his shirt?

Maybe, maybe, just one, short run won’t kill him. He clears his throat.

“A minute, you say?” Tommy blinks, then nods, trying and failing to keep his lips from twitching upwards. The hair on his forehead has begun to curl slightly in the humidity. Alfie wants to run his hand through it, brush it away, feel how soft it must be.

“Fuck it. Where are my goddamn trainers, then?”

—

Alfie runs like the wind, or so he’d like to think. It’s not far in that he first considers, with slight panic, that this distance might not be doable in under a minute, not for an avid non-runner, such as himself. But there’s no fucking way he’s not getting his reward for this ridiculous exercise in humiliation.

He picks up his pace, stiffens his hands, pumps his arms with vigor. He runs like the devil’s chasing him and there’s a naked Tommy Shelby jumping and cheering his name at the finish line. He can only imagine what he looks like, face set with anguished determination, robe billowing behind him.

Tommy’s holding in laughter, eyes brimming with tears, when he heaves to a stop beside him, gasping violently, his hands on his knees. He’d silence him with a righteous punch to the dick if he could only catch his breath.

“Well?” He asks, a moment later. Tommy holds out his phone to him.

“Minute three seconds,” he says.

“Fuck off,” Alfie breaths, but the timer indeed reads as Tommy says. Three fucking seconds. “This goddamn robe, too much resistance.”

Tommy laughs. “Nah, I must have hit the start a bit too soon,” he says, and closes the distance between them, wrapping an arm around Alfie’s waist and kissing him vigorously.

—

And so that’s how Alfie finally managed to get Tommy Shelby into his bed. Still fucking hates running. Hates it with unyielding passion and will never partake again. But, he figures, just that once, it had been worth it.

[pi-cat000]

BNHA: Kakashi dimension hops crossover (4)

Summary: Kakashi gets dumbed into the My Hero Academia universe through random plot devise.

Characters:  Kakashi Hatake

Fandoms: My Hero Academia and Naruto

WARNINGS: Mentions of violence/injury

START  / PREV / NEXT

Doctor Wada makes an unscheduled appearance the same morning. Kakashi has the doctor’s schedule memorised and knows the man usually spends his first work hour in his office before checking in with various patients. The change is not unexpected.

“Ms Iori finished her rounds, marked everything as normal and handed the ward off without incident.” Wada and one of the floor’s morning shift nurses talk, voices lowered, too quiet for a regular person to pick up.

“It was called in around 4:15 am. We confirmed it as a burst blood vessel behind his quirked-eye, but we don’t know what triggered it. Without examining the eye itself it is hard to draw any definite conclusions. Since we don’t know what his quirk does, we didn’t want to risk staff safety without a specialist on hand.”

“Nothing else? No other symptoms?” Wada asks.

“No external bleeding. No signs of irritation around the eye socket. Clear, coherent verbal responses from the patient. Vitals are stable.  The dressings on the eye were changed yesterday, and nothing was flagged then either.”

“I see. Thank you.”

Depressed at the thought of what amounted to a forced long-term infiltration mission, Kakashi’s attention drifts away from the hushed conversation. Kakashi has never been assigned to any extended infiltrations. Long, tedious things that they were. Jōnin were usually too valuable to waste on them. Even before he had made jōnin, his skillset lent itself to tracking, assassination, ambush and one on one combat not undercover assignments. It was just his luck -or maybe it was karma-that he had been shunted into one. Three years of ‘mingling’ amongst these soft-acting civilians, waiting to build enough chakra for an attempt at a technique he wasn’t even sure would work. It was enough to make even the most battle-hardened shinobi depressed. 

Maybe he should run off and hide somewhere. He would skulk around for three years avoiding the locals. Less of a hassle that way. Kakashi lets out a weary breath.

“See if you can bump up that MRI. We need to make sure this isn’t anything serious,” Wada’s voice breaks through his musing as the doctor starts in the direction of Kakashi’s bed. The nurse he is talking with nods and leaves.

“Well, you have certainly had an eventful night,” Wada greats when he draws near, leaning in to visually scan Kakashi, “Let’s see what we have going on. Can you close your left eye for me so I can unwrap it?”

 He habitually pushes down his natural discomfort at having a stranger close to his sharingan as the doctor reaches to tilt Kakashi’s head to the side for better access. If he was going to be stuck here then he should maintain his complacent, harmless persona. At least, until he leaves the hospital. Besides, if they had wanted to hurt him, they would have done it while he was unconscious.

“No swelling around your quirked-eye and the bleeding has stopped, that’s a good sign. We’ll run a few tests and get to bottom of this, not to worry.”

“Yeah. About that,” Kakashi rubs the back of his head to look sheepish and apologetic, “I might have tested out my, eh, quirk. You know…I wanted to see what it would do…”

There is a beat of silence, the older man drawing away, too surprised to respond.

“I think it lets me memorise things it sees?” Kakashi continues. Even if he wasn’t 100% sure about what he would do next, he is not about to abandon his shaky amnesia cover story.

“Of all the reckless, irresponsible decisions!” the doctor snaps out of his surprise moving straight into anger, “I expressly told you to wait and not to mess with it. You had no idea what sort of quirk it was! What if you had injured someone or yourself.” The concern seems pretty genuine and Kakashi almost feels bad for manipulating him.

“Young people these days…honestly. No patience.”

Young? It had been a while since anyone has called him that. Kakashi is practically ancient by shinobi standards. The response prompts a semi mournful, almost amused sigh from him, “I know, I know. I just wanted some sort of clue as to how I got here.”

The doctor takes a frustrated breath, calming “Yes. I know it’s frustrating, being restless and hold up in this bed for three straight weeks, but there is a procedure to these things. You got lucky that the only side effect was a burst blood vessel. Next time you want to test your quirk we’ll make sure it is in a controlled environment with an expert on hand. I don’t care if you have some sort of passive regeneration, quirks can be dangerous. The hospital has offsite testing facilities for a reason.”

“Yes. I understand. I won’t do it again,” he says dutifully and gets a huff of disbelief and a head shake.

“You better not.”

A pause.

“So.”

“So?” Kakashi raises a brow.

“So what did you discover? Explain it to me again.” Wada motions, impatient, repositioning a nearby chair so he can sit comfortably beside the bed.  

“It lets me remember things…” Kakashi had given a lot of thought to what he wanted his fake ‘quirk’ to do without giving too much away, “I’m pretty sure I remember anything it looks at perfectly.”

A somewhat true explanation, in that recoding information and prefect recall was one facet of the sharingan; a side effect of its primary function which was to copy ninjustu and taijustu. The explanation also played into the diagnosis Wada had already written into his medical files, making it more believable.

“Then, lucky for you, something good came of your reckless behaviour.”

Kakashi just smiles which elicits the beginnings of another lecture. “Not that you should ever take quirk safety lightly. Quirk licenses exist for a reason. People can’t go about throwing their quirks around willynilly. A licence, I might add, that you don’t have.”

“Sorry. Sorry.”

After witnessing several televised reports on police arresting people for quirk misuse Kakashi knows the people here, for whatever reason, are leery when it comes to using their abilities. To the point where they actively outlaw it. He is banking on Wada being sympathetic enough not to push the matter.  

Wada sighs again, “I’ll write it up as accidental use this time. Now. If your quirk lets you remember everything perfectly then what about your past memories. Any change on that front?”

“No. Still gone.”

“I see. That might mean the part of the brain linked to its memorisation function was damaged, disrupting the memories stored by the quirk,” Wada rubs his chin thoughtfully, “We’ll have to run a few more tests…a lot easier now that we know what it does I suppose.” Good. That was the conclusion he wanted Wada to come to.

“Alright, before we get to testing, were there any other side effects. Aches, pains, fatigue?”

Even as the man asks, he is pulling out a familiar penlight to shine in Kakashi’s regular eye.

“No. Nothing.”

What follows is his standard check-up routine. His vitals are recorded, his head checked over, the area around his sharingan examined thoroughly. Again. Well, as thoroughly as it could be examined without uncovering it. Next is an inspection of the chest wound he now knows is from Obito alongside a glance over his shoulder, arm and leg. Wada nods to himself as he goes, signalling that all is well.

“Your blood pressure is a little high for my liking. I’m guessing you didn’t sleep much last night what with how you were messing around with your quirk. Make sure you get a good night’s sleep tonight,” Wada instructs as he fits Kakashi with a padded eyepatch instead of the usual wrap of bandages. He pauses to wait for a nod of confirmation.

“I will,” he blatantly lies. Kakashi hasn’t had a proper night sleep since waking up the first time, dozing for shortened intervals only. With so many squishy doctors around he doesn’t want to accidently hurt one of them should he be woken from a nightmare. It did put additional strain on his body.

Doctor Wada peers at him, “We’ll give you another week of monitoring then get some authorised quirk testing done. A brain scan as well. Depending on what we find, we’ll see what we can do about getting you a diagnosis and then discharged.”

“Hmm,” he answers, noncommittally. Not like he has anywhere else to go until then. If this were Konoha, he would have taken off long before now and seen to his remaining injuries alone. This would be the first time in a long while that he is waiting for an official discharge. 

Guess he would be finding out how the hospital dealt with amnesiac patients after they healed. In Konoha, a displaced citizen would be given a menial labour job as part of the village’s many reconstruction projects and sent on their way. But this wasn’t Konoha and he should really stop with the comparisons.  

He needs to decide what he wants to do: Take off, find somewhere secluded and wait the years out. Or hang around to try and salvage the situation. This world did have a lot of interesting technology so there might be value in getting a better feel for the society here. Maybe he would find something useful to take back as an apology for abandoning everyone…

What a mess this all was.

...

...

...

The following week has Kakashi splitting his time between gathering supplies for a chakra storage seal and reading through Wada’s patient files to get a sense for his upcoming quirk tests and ‘brain-scan.’

He also takes the time to read through everything else Wada has in his office - mainly medical journals - to better understand the biological differences inherent in a place without chakra. Primarily, the people were physically weaker. However, there were a lot of mutations or ‘secondary quirk factors’ which reinforced the body to better deal with the stress of the primary quirk. All interesting and potentially relevant information to remember when he got into fights. Once he knew a person’s quirk he would be able to guess how their body was reinforced and act accordingly. A fire quirk would make someone naturally heat resistant but not impact resistant, is what Kakashi concludes as he re-reads the profile of current number two hero ‘Endeavour.’ The magazines gifted to him by Iori all contain a statistical breakdown of the top 10 heroes, their strengths, weaknesses, and their criminal apprehension and crime prevention rates. It is a list that rarely changes between issues. He commits it all to memory, idly planning out combat strategies that didn’t involve obvious ninjutsu or chakra use. It helps pass the time when he is not trying to make sense of what he sees on television or stalking various people around the hospital. 

At the end of the week, he steals Wada’s fountain pen, adding it to his growing pen hoard which he stashes in a vent on the roof. The storage seal he wants to make is complex and would need ink to complete.  A mix between a chakra-draining-seal-trap and a storage scroll, it is well on its way to completion. 

The seal would drain his chakra at a consistent and manageable rate, store it efficiently,  and give him a way to turn the chakra drain off and on at will. Also, as a precaution, he includes an emergency stop in case his chakra levels became dangerously low, so it didn’t accidentally kill him if he fell unconscious.

The seal would need to be positioned somewhere on his body in a spot where the doctors wouldn’t immediately notice. He doesn’t what to explain why he suddenly has a tattoo.  If he had had access to properly made fūinjutsu ink, the seal would be invisible. Alas, he would have to make do with chakra-infused pen ink.

Kakashi manages to keep himself busy enough that he expertly avoids making any concrete decision on what he wants to do with the next three years.

.

Note: this is slowly turning into a medical drama

NEXT

[rolandtowen]

Kiss It Better

Sokka builds a blanket fort. Zuko info-dumps about ADHD and chronic pain. Fluff ensues.

Read it under the cut!

"Sokka?"

A mess of brown hair and blue eyes peers out from underneath a carefully constructed cocoon of blankets. Zuko's standing in their bedroom doorway, holding Sokka's medication organizer.

"When was the last time you remember taking your meds?"

"Hmm... Thursday?" Comes Sokka's voice, muffled by the blankets.

Zuko flipped through the pill pockets. "No, looks like Tuesday."

"How bad is that? What day is today?"

Zuko sits on the edge of their bed, close enough to hold Sokka's hand but not close enough to disrupt his carefully crafted fort. "Well firstly, today is Sunday." Sokka groans and brings his free hand to his forehead. Zuko presses on, squeezing his other hand. "Secondly, taking your meds is morally neutral. Forgetting doesn't make you a bad person, it just means we need to find a routine that works better for you."

Sokka nods and Zuko can see the gears turning in his brain.

"Can I ask why you're in a blanket fort? Is it your knee?"

As a kid with ADHD, Sokka played a lot of sports: hockey, basketball, even tennis. But football is what did him in - in his senior year in high school, an unfortunate tackle tore his ACL, dislocated his left knee, and created hairline fractures in his calf bones. The Dancing Dragons won the game, but Sokka spent the rest of his senior year recovering. After almost five years, all it takes is one bad twist during a rush in the coffee shop and Sokka's down for the count.

"What gave it away?" Zuko looks up from their joined hands to see Sokka smiling at him, his bitterness at his body softened by Zuko's presence.

"Well, for one, the heating pad was mysteriously absent from our med drawer - and you're also in a blanket fort." Zuko squeezes Sokka's hand. "May I join you?"

"But of course, my love," Sokka pulls back the comforter, slapping the empty mattress beside him. "By all means, come on into Fort Chronic Pain."

Zuko laughs, settling next to his boyfriend and curling into him. "You're ridiculous."

"That's why you love me." Sokka starts combing his fingers through Zuko's long hair. "How were your classes today?"

Sokka knows that if he can get Zuko talking about school, he won't be so worried about Sokka's knee.

"Are you trying to get me to stop worrying about you? It won't work." Sokka sighs.

"Maybe, I think your med school classes are interesting."

Zuko, for all his worrying, had passed the MCAT, graduated summa cum laude, and was now studying for his M. D. at the prestigious Beifong Medical School. Sokka hadn't doubted him for a second. Zuko never gave up and never backed down. The man could grapple with the Sun and win unscathed.

"-oned?" Zuko's voice comes from below him.

"Huh?"

"I asked, 'are you zoned'?"

"Yeah, I'm sorry, I-"

Zuko waves him off. "What's the last thing you remember? I can start over."

"I remember asking you about classes, and you wrongfully accusing me of trying to distract you."

Zuko snorts. "My favorite class by far has been Mental Health and Physiology. I think it's highly admirable that med schools are starting to integrate mental and physical health, and not teaching them separately."

"What kind of things have you learned?"

"Like, people with anxiety may present with back pain that doesn't correlate to an injury; the excess stress can really do strange things to your muscles - and we should still holistically treat patients without just dismissing them and telling them to relax."

Sokka nods. "That makes a lot of sense, baby. You're so smart."

"Oh, shut up." Zuko can feel his cheeks warm at the compliment. "But, we also talked about ADHD and chronic pain, which I thought you might like to hear?"

"Of course, turtleduck. Amaze me." Sokka rests his hand on Zuko's hair, running his thumb across the curve of his head. "Info-dump away."

Zuko takes a deep breath in. "Okay, so, there are significant studies that show that people with ADHD experience chronic pain at a higher level than the average population - there are a few theories as to why this might be. Many people with ADHD experience hypertonia, or muscle overactivity. This can make it really difficult to fully relax tense muscles, and increases chance of injury. Additionally, low dopamine is considered to be one of the causes of ADHD, and dopamine regulates chronic pain signals. Most of the research has only been done in the last decade, so it's going to be really exciting to see what new treatments develop - previously, dopamine wasn't really known to be connected to pain regulation at all." Zuko turns to look up at Sokka. "You never know, there might be an effective treatment for your leg in the next decade."

Sokka wants to be hopeful, he does, but he's been trying to treat his chronic pain for five years, and he's had limited success. Going to a chiropractor helped a little, the physical therapist gave him some great exercises for strengthening the tendons supporting his knee, and cutting back on inflammatory foods lessened the pain level whenever he entered a flare - but he still got flares. A hike could knock him off his feet for weeks; a rainy day could be agonizing. He just wishes there was a simple solution - but as much as homeopathic Karens in the coffee shop try to convince him, there's no one-step solution. No, Janet, as good as your essential oil blend smells, it isn't going to take the place of physical therapy, preventative care, and lifestyle changes. Just like for his ADHD. It takes dedication to a process of self-care to make improvement in either arena.

And if the off-schedule pill organizer in Zuko's hands is any indication, dedication to a process can feel fucking impossible with ADHD. 

"Can I do anything to help?" Sokka looks down to see Zuko's amber eyes staring up at him, offering comfort no blanket fort could provide. 

"Can you..."

"Yeah?"

Sokka swallows. "Could you, maybe... kiss it better?"

Zuko's eyes practically sing his answer: "Of course I can."

Zuko gingerly moves the heating pad from its spot on Sokka's left knee. He tips his head down, pressing a featherlight kiss to Sokka's kneecap. He murmurs something under his breath. 

"Sorry, what was that?"

Zuko looks at him sheepishly. "I said, 'the patella'. 

Sokka can't hold back the laughter that bubbles out of his chest. "You're using me for anatomy study?"

"Seems like a fair trade. You get kisses and I get to study at the same time." Zuko drops another kiss to Sokka's knee. "Both the elbows and the knees are constructed with hinge joints." Zuko presses a firmer kiss to Sokka's thigh. "This is the femur, the thighbone - the longest and strongest bone in your body."

Sokka opens his mouth to make a joke, but Zuko beats him to it: "If you make a joke about your dick, I'm donating you to my cadaver class." Sokka's jaw snaps shut. 

Zuko drops another two kisses on either side of Sokka's calf. "Tibia and fibula," he whispers. "These are the ones you broke senior year."

"Only hairline fractures," Sokka corrects.

"Can you still feel it?"

Sokka shakes his head. "It's the ACL that still bothers me the most."

"Do you want some lidocaine?"

"Spirits, yes." 

Zuko rummages through their nightstand, pulling the blessed tub of Icy Hot out of the top drawer, and spreading a thin layer over Sokka's knee. He traces soft patterns into his knee as they wait for the lidocaine to kick in. 

"If you say 'patella' again, I'm going to smack you." Sokka eyes him from where he's leaning against the headboard. 

"Of course not," Zuko takes Sokka's right hand into his and presses a kiss to the back of it. "Metacarpals."

"You fucker-"

"Don't get riled up and undo all my hard work." Zuko massages the palm of Sokka's hand. "Is the leg better?"

"Much better."

"So we still have the original problem."

"The meds?"

Zuko nods. "So I know you've been trying to take them as soon as you wake up..."

"But?"

"I think you should task-stack it," Zuko says, running his thumb absent-mindedly over Sokka's knee. "You should pair with something you do everyday."

"Like what?"

"You make yourself a wicked pour-over every morning. What if you kept your meds by the kettle and then took them while you waited for the water to get hot?" 

Sokka face pauses, processing. "Huh."

"Would... would that work?"

Sokka smiles, beaming at him. "That's a brilliant idea, turtleduck." He opens his arms up, patting the space underneath him. "Come up here?"

"If you insist," Zuko quips. "Do you want me to make fried rice tonight? I can even bring it to you if you want."

"You're literally the light of my life."

Zuko laughs. "I'll take that to heart." He snuggles up under Sokka's chin. "Do you feel better?"

"So much better." Sokka pushes back Zuko's hair from his face and presses a soft kiss to his forehead. "Thanks to you."

"Frontal bone," Zuko murmurs. 

"Seriously?!"

Zuko cackles. 

[berrynarrybanana]

Babyhoney

A/N: I’m sorry that I am a day late for my own challenge everyone, but it’s been a hectic week! I would like to thank everyone who is participating in The Sex Bucketlist Challenge first off. It’s been so nice chatting with everyone and seeing what they’ve come up with. I admittedly have done more plot than smut in this, but I hope the smut is still worth it lol. Thank you to my sweet group chat angels for reading over the doc I shared with them and making suggestions and edits and I would especially like to think the lovely @fromyourstrulyh​ for correcting all of my mistakes and @soullikestyles for setting me straight and making some wonderful suggestions. 

Word Count: 6982

Warnings: Smut (obvs), secret relationship, fifties!auPrompt: Against a tree, cockwarming, drive in! 

Links: Nightie | Car | Ring | Summer Dress 

 June 15, 1952 | 9:15 AM

It wasn’t my alarm clock that woke me up on Friday morning. 

Three weeks into summer and I was living in sinful bliss with the man of my dreams. After graduation and my eighteenth birthday, my life slipped into a peaceful routine. I would sleep in until nine-thirty before waking up slowly. I would join my Mother downstairs for coffee and we would spend an hour talking about our plans for the day. This particular Friday morning, my Mother had an appointment that pulled her away from our daily coffee routine. That left me with a little more time to sleep in before I actually had to start my day. 

Or so I thought. 

When I opened my eyes, the bright sunshine beaming into my eyes, I heard a series of tapping from my bedroom window. I groaned, sitting up slowly before I glanced over to see the one person I least expected. I scrambled out of bed, quick to push my window up so that Harry could fall into my bedroom before anyone in the neighborhood saw him. I looked back at him with wide eyes when he fell into my room, reaching out to grab my arms as a method of steadying himself. It took him all of ten seconds to trail his eyes over the nightgown that I had chosen the night before. It was a light blue material that was definitely more sheer in the daylight. I cleared my throat, crossing my arms over my chest as he flashed me his signature smirk. 

“Well what do we have here?” He said softly, brushing his fingers down the material as my face grew hot. “Do Mummy and Daddy know that you sleep like this?” 

“Don’t start teasing me, Harry.” I pouted my lips out. “I’ve just woken up, barely opened my eyes before I heard you knocking at my window like some kind of burglar.” 

“I’m sorry babyhoney.” He lowered his head, pressing a soft kiss to my forehead right below my hairline. “Will you forgive me for disrupting your beauty sleep?”

“I suppose.” I grumbled, fighting off my smile as he chuckled. “I thought we were meeting up at the park?” 

“I couldn’t wait.” He shrugged, sliding his hands up to grip my sides tightly in his long fingers, he pulled me forward, brushing his nose against mine. “Missed my girl too much. Couldn’t wait any longer to see her.” 

“You’re ridiculous.” I sighed, tipping my head back as he kissed gently over the apple of my cheek. “I shouldn’t have told you that my Mother was away this morning. Then again, I didn’t know you’d turn into such a desperate man at the prospect of spending time in bed with me.” 

“Who said anything about spending time in bed?” He pulled back, lifting a hand up to cup my cheek with his palm, brushing his thumb over my hot cheek. “I’ve changed you, haven’t I? Turned you into a sex crazed little honey.” 

“I am no such thing Harry Edward Styles!” I gasped, playfully pushing at his shoulder as he chuckled along with me. “You take that back.” 

“I will not.” He shook his head. “Now give me a proper kiss babyhoney, my lips are feeling a little lonely.”

“Tell me why I should kiss you after a statement like that?” I pouted, pulling my head back as he leaned forward. “Give me one good reason and I’ll give you a very nice, slow kiss.” 

“Hmm, because you love me?” He asked, raising his brows. “Is that good enough?” 

“Well, I guess.” I let out a dramatic sigh, rolling my eyes at him. He chuckled, shaking his head before he leaned forward. 

I carried out my promise, kissing him soft and slow. It was just how he liked it, something I learned within our first week of dating back in junior high. We had been together for nearly five years now, our entire relationship a secret to the outside world. I pulled back from our current kiss, shaking my head as a whine broke from Harry’s throat. I opened my eyes, looking up at him with a soft smile. It took him a second to open his eyes, basking in the afterglow of our kiss for as long as he possibly could. I kissed his chin before pushing up on my toes, kissing up his jawline.

 He tilted his head to the side, digging his fingers into my sides as I looped my own arms behind his neck. It didn’t take long before Harry was pushing me back towards my bed, his lips finding mine once more. When I fell back onto my bed, Harry wasted no time before dropping to his knees. His palms massaged over my outer thigh as he pressed soft kisses over my kneecaps. I smiled down at him, lifting a hand to push the long hairs at the top of his head back. 

He glanced up at me, a cheeky grin on his mouth. 

“Do you have work today?” I asked softly. “I don’t want to disrupt your schedule?” 

“I go in later.” He said softly. “I promised you lunch in the park, remember? M’gonna give you just that.” 

“But I thought we were going to the drive-in tonight?” My brows furrowed as he slipped his fingers higher up, hooking them in the waistband of my panties. “dreamboat, you promised we would go see the new film with Grace Kelly. You know that I love her.” 

“I know, babyhoney.” He cooed softly as I shifted on my bum, allowing him to slip my panties down to my knees before he pulled them off of me completely. “We’re gonna go to the drive-in, I promise.” 

“Okay.” I said softly, sliding my fingers from his hair to grip his chin. “We don’t have time for this, dreamboat. You’re gonna be late and we won’t get to have our picnic.” 

“Baby, stop being so anxious.” He mumbled, turning his head to kiss my inner wrist. “I have enough time for a little taste, I promise.” 

“Well...if you’re late don’t blame me.” I said softly, releasing his chin as he shot me a toothy grin, his dimple carved out just for me. “I suppose a little taste wouldn’t hurt.” 

“Think it’s better than breakfast if I’m honest.” He started to litter soft kisses to the inside of my thighs, his hands pulling my legs further apart as he made his way up. “Really is a good way to start my day.” 

“I do quite like the glow I get after we fool around.” I giggled, dropping my upper half back onto my bed. “Can’t buy that in a bottle, that’s for sure.”

“Oh honey.” Harry laughed loudly at my statement. “What am I going to do with you?” 

12:00 PM 

Harry kept his promise to me. 

When I hopped on the back of his motorcycle, there was a small picnic basket attached to the back that didn’t normally sit there. We went to a park outside of town that we frequented. The locals knew us there, but we never ran into anyone from our own town during our trips. He confessed that he stole his Mother’s kitchen tablecloth and he worked with Gemma to fix up lunch for both of us. There was a full spread laid out in front of us. Harry took great care in making sure my favorite dessert was tucked away in his picnic basket. When we were done eating, I curled into his side while he read aloud from his favorite book. It was like a small piece of heaven, lying in the sunshine with him. I loved to hear his voice reciting romantic words from the likes of Jane Austen and Emily Bronte. My eyes started to slip shut when he neared the end of a chapter of Emma, the current romance novel we were indulging in together.

“Babyhoney.” Harry kissed the top of my head several times. “You need to keep your eyes open, my sweet little sloth.” 

“So tired, Harry.” I let out a loud yawn, turning in my spot so that my face was hidden in his side. He chuckled softly as I groaned. “Your voice lulls me right to sleep.” 

“S’that a compliment?” He asked, a teasing lilt to his voice. 

“Yes, dreamboat.” I let out a heavy sigh, pushing up on my arms before pressing a sloppy kiss to his lips. “Love you.” 

“I love you more.” He rubbed the tip of his moan against mine and I giggled. “We better get going, I need to be at the shop in an hour.” 

“Alright.” I let out another sigh before sitting up. Harry stood up as I started to put things back in the basket. When I was finished, I looked up to see Harry with his hand extended out. “Thank you, dreamboat.” 

He pulled me to my feet, catching my lips when I stumbled into his chest. It didn’t take long for our innocent little kiss to turn into something more. My fingers found themselves tangled into his hair around the same time he was hoisting me up with a low grunt. I wrapped my legs around his, giggling as he started walking us towards whatever flat surface would support me. I broke the kiss with a giggle when he pushed my back into a wide tree trunk. 

He wasted no time ducking his head down to kiss up my neck, suckling softly at the soft junction of my jaw and my neck. I tilted my head back, letting out a soft sigh as he nipped softly at the already wet skin. It didn’t take long for Harry to slip his hand under my dress, pushing aside my panties before he brushed his fingers up my wet folds. I closed my eyes, clenching around nothing as he brushed his fingers over my clit softly. He smirked into the skin of my jaw as he rubbed in soft circles, ignoring my desperate pleas for him to sink his fingers into me. After a few moments of his fingers circling over my clit, he dipped his forefinger into my entrance. I gasped when he hooked the first half of his digit up, massaging that soft spot inside of my walls before he pulled his finger away. I was seconds from complaining, my mouth ajar as I snapped my head up. I was quickly cut off by Harry adding a second finger into me. 

My heartbeat picked up as he grunted softly, adjusting so that my back was firmly pressed against the tree. There was no way he could hold me up anymore. 

“Harry, please.” I dropped my forehead to his, my breath fanning over his face as he looked up at me. “Fuck me.” 

“Are you sure?” He gulped, pulling back to glance around the park. “Honey, someone could walk by and see us.” 

“I don’t care.” I whispered, brushing my fingers over his cheek. “I need you now, dreamboat.” 

“Bloody christ, woman.” He whined, closing his eyes tightly for a second before he was nodding. I tried to conceal my triumphant grin, but it was no use. “Who taught you to be this naughty?” 

“You, Harry.” I let out a soft laugh as he shook his head, mumbling a soft curse under his breath. “Thought you needed to be at the shop in an hour, dreamboat? Are you sure you have time?” 

“Gotta give my girl what she wants, don’t I? Gonna have to make this quick.” Harry mutters.

I look back at him with a mischievous smirk on my face. “Then, stop talking and show me what you can do, please.”

It took him a few minutes to maneuver around holding me and pulling his pants down, but when he finally got them down, he wasted no time sinking into me. It took my breath away when he settled against me, the tip of his cock brushing so deep in me that I clenched down around his shaft. He groaned, dropping his head forward before he pulled back. I whimpered at the empty feeling, but it didn’t last long. Harry settled into an impressive speed as I tangled my fingers in his hair. We were fucking against a tree in broad daylight as if it was perfectly normal and something about that turned me on even more. I closed my eyes, sliding one hand down to press against my clit as Harry continued to drive his hips into me. 

“Gonna play with yourself for me, babyhoney?” He gasped, lifting his head up as I moaned softly in response. “That’s my sweet girl.” 

“M’your sweet girl.” I opened my eyes, pressing my forehead to his. “I’m so close.” 

“Yeah?” He asked, licking over his bottom lip. I took the cue, leaning down to press my lips to his in a desperate kiss. “Go on babyhoney, let go for me.” 

His words sent me over the edge, my body picking up on his demand as I clenched around his shaft. I let out a loud gasp, burying my face in the crook of his shoulders as he bucked his hips a little harder. His thrusts turned sloppy as I started to come down and I knew that he was close. It didn’t take long for him to grunt, pressing his forehead against mine as he spilled into me. I would worry about the consequences of it later, my eyes and mind focused on Harry’s face as he tried to keep himself quiet. When he was finally finished, he pulled out slowly. When he hissed out in discomfort, I whimpered at the empty feeling left in the pit of my stomach. 

“I need to keep an eye on you.” Harry chuckled lowly, shaking his head as I giggled. “You’re starting to get a little too wild baby.” 

“Only for you dreamboat.” I lifted my hand up to pinch his cheek. “Now we absolutely have to get back to my house. You’re going to be late for work.” 

“I’ll be fine, baby.” He brushed his nose against mine before pressing a soft kiss to my lips. “I actually have something I want to ask you.” 

In all the time that I had known Harry, I’d never seen him nervous like this before. I could tell he was nervous by the shifting of his eyes and the deep frown pulling between his brows. My heartbeat started to pick up as I watched him fumble for his words. He cleared his throat, tapping his fingers against my thigh. I slipped my legs from around his waist, pressing my feet flat to the ground. He shifted around, sliding his pants back up over his hips before buckling them up. I smoothed my hands over my dress after readjusting my panties. Harry let out a deep sigh before wiping his hands over his trousers. I watched with raised brows and wide eyes as he looked up towards the sky before looking back down at me. 

“You know that I love you, right?” I nodded at his question, crossing my arms over my chest shyly. This felt more like a breakup speech than a confession of love. “You’re my entire world, honeybaby. I adore you.” 

“I love you too, dreamboat.” I gave him a sad smile, stepping forward. “Is everything okay? Oh no!”

“What?” His eyes grew wide as tears started to pool in my own eyes. “What’s wrong?” 

“You’re moving back to England, aren’t you?” I sniffled, my heart breaking. “You’re going to leave me here and go back to that stupid old country and I’ll never see you again!” 

“Honey, no!” He cried out, moving forward to wrap his arms around me. “I’m not going anywhere, I promise.”

“Why would you scare me like that!” I groaned, pressing my palms over my face as I leaned into his chest. “You sounded like you were about to break up with me dreamboat!” 

“I - what?” He pulled back, reaching up to wrap his fingers around my wrists. He pulled my hands away from my face and I sniffled, trying to control the tears flowing over my cheeks. “Never, babyhoney. I wouldn’t...I was trying to-fuck.” 

“What?” I asked, my brows furrowing as he reached into his back pocket with one hand. When he brought his hand back into view, I noticed the small velvet box immediately. “Oh my god.” 

“I had a speech prepared but…words aren’t enough when it comes to you.” He said softly, reaching over with his other hand to open the box with shaky fingers. “You are the reason I wake up every morning. You’re the reason I smile at nothing in the middle of a conversation with someone else. You’re the reason I wake up in the middle of the night, petrified because I don’t have you by my side.I know you still want to go to Harvard to earn your degree and I want to be there to support you every step of the way, as your husband.”

I didn’t even look at the ring, my eyes trained on Harry’s. 

He was tearing up as well, the rims of his eyes red and the light green shade just a little darker. 

“Will you marry me?” He asked, his voice breaking a little. “Please, babyhoney. Say something.” 

“Yes.” I whispered, nodding my head. “Yes I will.” 

“You will?” His frown was replaced with a smile, his eyes lighting up as a few tears fell onto his cheeks. “You didn’t even look at the ring.” 

“You could have proposed to me with a piece of string and I would have said yes.” I chuckled. I moved forward, tossing my arms around his neck before another round of tears released from my eyes. I turned my head, pressing my nose into his shirt as a soft sob broke free. “I can’t believe I let you make love to me against a tree before proposing to me.” 

“That’s what are you crying about?” He laughed, sliding his arms around my waist. 

“No, I’m crying because I love you so much.” I pulled back, pressing my lips to his. “I’m going to love you until my heart stops beating dreamboat. I know it.”

5:00 PM

The plan that I had told my parents was a complete lie. 

They thought that I would be going to the drive-in theatre with my best friend, Imogene, and her boyfriend Tommy. It wasn’t completely a lie. Imogene and Tommy would probably be at the drive-in tonight, but I wouldn’t be with them. I would be with Harry, pressed against his side as I watched Grace Kelly on the silver screen. We would split a strawberry shake like we always did and I would steal half of his fries. He never complained when I did it though. When I kissed my Mother and Father goodbye, I told them not to wait up for me. They never had a problem with me staying out late when I was with Imogene. She was a good girl with a good head on her shoulders as my Father would always say. It was half of the reason I used her as an alibi. She never knew I was with Harry but she knew I was off having a secret love affair with someone. 

When I walked out of my house, I turned my head to the left expecting to see Harry’s motorcycle parked down the street. Sitting there in its normal spot was a pink and white car with white wall tires. I knew that wasn’t him because he didn’t actually own a car despite the fact he was working in an autoshop. I was just about to retreat back inside when I did a double take. My jaw dropped as I watched my fiance step out of the car, ruffling his hair slightly before turning my direction. I could see the grin on his face from my parent’s front porch and it made me shake my head in disbelief. I jogged down the steps before running down the sidewalk. I crashed into Harry at full speed, giggling as he wrapped his arms around me. 

“Whose car is this?” I asked breathlessly, looking over at the Ford Fairlane convertible with wide eyes. 

“It’s ours.” He said. “My boss bought a newer model for his wife last week and he promised me this one if I pulled some extra hours at the shop when he asked.” 

“Really?” I looked back at him, my smile so wide that it actually hurt my cheeks. “I can’t believe you have a car!” 

“We have a car.” He corrected me. “What’s mine is yours, remember?” 

“Oh my god we have a car.” I cheered, jumping up in excitement. “You’re already the best husband a girl could ask for.” 

“We’re not even married yet.” He chuckled, reaching down for my hand. “Come on, let’s get you fed before you get grumpy.” 

“I am not grumpy!” I frowned, my brows pulling together. “You take that back right now.” 

“Come on babyhoney.” He kissed my cheek before leaning down to open the passenger side door. “You’re already turning into a sourpuss.” 

5:30 PM 

Halfway through our split strawberry milkshake, Harry pressed his hand against my thigh. 

Part of me wanted to wear pants to the drive-in because I knew when the sun went away, the air would get colder. The other part of me wanted to drive Harry crazy with a beautiful, yellow summer dress that I bought on clearance months ago at Sears. Harry always loved when I wore yellow, even if I disliked how the color looked on me. As his fingers softly brushed against the sensitive skin of my inner thigh I found that I couldn’t care less about the color yellow. As long as I got this kind of reaction from my dreamboat, I didn’t care if I was in a paper bag. When Grace Kelly appeared on the screen, I gasped. Harry let out a soft chuckle as I moved forward in my seat to get a better look at her. His hand slipped off of my thigh momentarily and I passed the shake back to him before I reached down to turn the dial on the radio higher. 

“She’s so beautiful, isn’t she?”

“Think you’re much prettier, babyhoney.” He pressed his palm against my lower back and I let out a soft chuckle before leaning back into his embrace. “I bet you would be a much better actor, too.” 

“I don’t think I was meant to be on camera.” I shook my head at his words, glancing back at him with my nose scrunched up. “That’s more your speed, I think.” 

“Why do you say that?” He chuckled. 

“You’ve got such a handsome face.” I cooed, reaching up to pinch his cheek as he groaned. “And you’re so charming. Like Cary Grant.” 

“I wouldn't want to be an actor either.” He mumbled as I pressed my palm against his chest. “I think I would want to be a musician. I’d be happy as a backup singer or something.” 

“Dreamboat,” I rolled my eyes at his words before shaking my head. “You’d be the frontman, I know it. You have such an amazing singing voice.” 

“Alright, you’re gonna blow my head up.” He patted my hand softly, trying to distract me from the pink dusted across his cheeks. “Pay attention to your movie.” 

“Suddenly I’m not very interested in the movie, dreamboat.” My soft whisper was enough to pull his gaze from the screen, his attention back on me as I grinned. “I think there’s something else I would rather be doing right now.” 

“What’s that?” His voice was strained as he spoke and I felt his warm palm land back on the skin of my thigh. 

“Can I have a kiss?” I asked, brushing the tip of my nose against his. “It’s been so long since you’ve kissed me.” 

“Kissed you for ten minutes when we got in the car.” 

“Not the same.” I whispered, shaking my head. “I want a really good kiss, dreamboat.” 

“Baby, I don’t think I know what you mean.” He hummed, pursing his lips out as if he was deep in thought. “Show me?” 

“My pleasure.” 

I pressed my lips to his seconds later and he gripped my thigh tighter in response. 

I let out a soft sigh of content, tilting my head to the side before pressing up in my seat. I slipped the hand I had resting on his chest to his neck. I let my fingers trail over the skin of his neck softly as I tried to deepen the kiss. I slipped my tongue over the seam of his mouth, but he didn’t budge. I let out a frustrated whimper when I felt him smirk against my lips. 

Before I could pull back to scold him, he cradled the back of my neck with his own hand. My hand fell back to his chest, my fingers sliding down the fabric of his baby blue sweater before I pushed it up. I rested my palm on his tummy, my heart fluttering when I felt him tense beneath my hands. 

It was my turn to smile into the kiss as he tried to guide my hand closer to his cock. I didn’t give into his needs, sliding my hand up towards his nipples instead. I brushed my thumb over his right nipple, pulling my lips away to trail over his jawline as I tweaked it gently. Harry let out a breathless moan, tossing his head back as I kissed over his Adam's apple. 

“Babyhoney?” His voice was deep and raspy and I wondered if I had anything to do with the change in mood. “Please touch me?” 

“I am touching you, Dreamboat.” I whispered against the skin of his neck as I moved my fingers to his left nipple. “Touching you just how you like it, aren’t I?” 

“Yes, but-” 

“But?” I pulled back, a faux pout settling on my lips. “You don’t like it?” 

“You know I love it.” He let out a frustrated chuckle, shaking his head. “Want your hand down my pants babyhoney. Wanna feel you touch my cock.” 

“Oh.” I pressed my lips together, nodding my head at his words. “Do you want to show me how?” 

“You know how, baby.” He whimpered, shuffling his hips around. “Pull me out, sweet girl.” 

“I wasn’t quite finished kissing you.” I sighed dramatically before dropping my hand down to the waistband of his pants. “I guess that will just have to wait.” 

“Yes.” He nodded, licking over his bottom lip as he lifted his hips up. I smirked at his eager attitude, popping the button on his trousers before I tugged the zipper down. “Want you to put your mouth on me. Want you to show me how good you can really be, baby.” 

I wasted no time pulling him from the confines of his boxers, wrapping my fingers around his shaft firmly before giving it a few tugs. It never took me long to get him hard. When I brushed the pad of my thumb over the tip of his cock, I felt the wet traces of his pre-cum on my finger. I glanced up at him with soft eyes, shuffling myself a little bit further away so that I could lean down. I pressed a few, soft kisses to the tip of his cock before flattening my tongue out. I slipped it further down his shaft before closing my lips around it. I could tell that Harry was having a hard time staying composed above me. He had already slipped his fingers into the hair at the nape of my neck,  tugging softly as I tried to push myself lower onto his cock. I pulled back, quickly, hollowing out my cheeks. Harry gasped, bucking his hips to chase the feeling of my mouth. 

“Baby,” Harry tugged at my hair gently as he tried his best to pull his hips away. “The carhop is coming.” 

“Fuck.” I groaned out, sitting up before I swiped the back of my hand over my lips. “Just...sit still, okay?” 

“What?” Harry furrowed his brows as I climbed into his lap, hovering over him before I reached down to grab his shaft. “Fuck, baby. Are you going to sit on my cock?”

“Yes,” I gasped when he pushed his hips up, the tip of his cock pushing into me. “I can’t...don’t want the carhop seeing you. You’re mine.” 

“M’yours.” He grasped at my hips, steadying me as I let his cock stretch me out. I let out a low whine when I settled into him fully, his fingers digging into my sides. “Feels so good to be in you like this. Can’t….all I feel is you, babyhoney.” 

I rested my hands over his, linking our fingers together as I tried my best not to move my hips. I needed to sit absolutely still if we were going to get away with this. When the carhop finally made it to our car, I smiled over at her the best that I could. Harry pressed his chin onto my shoulder, pretending to watch the movie as I waited for the carhop to finish speaking. 

“We’re done with everything.” I tried my best not to gasp when I absentmindedly shift my hips, the tip of his cock sending a shockwave through my body. “Thank you.” 

“Have a stellar night you two!” She called out before walking off to the next car. 

“Fuck.” I gasped when Harry shifted under me, his hips pushing up and catching me off guard. My thighs tensed up as Harry bit into my shoulder, sliding his arms around me. “I just...we’re missing the movie, Harry.”

“I don’t care about the movie.” He growled, shifting his hips up again. “I need it...know you do too, babyhoney.” 

“I have to watch the movie, dreamboat.” I sighed softly as he sponged a few wet kisses up my neck, stopping at my jawline. “Gotta tell Mama about it when I get home.” 

“We’ll come back tomorrow.” He tried to reason with me, sliding his palm over my lower stomach before pressing down. “Feel how full I make you? That’s me in your belly, babyhoney.” 

“I know.” I bit my lower lip, rolling my eyes up towards the ceiling in attempts to control myself. I wanted so badly to move my hips, but listening to him beg was worth the wait. “Gotta be good for me, dreamboat.” 

“Baby.” He whimpered in my ear. “Please don’t leave me hanging.” 

“Shh, Harry.” I turned my head to look at him, ignoring the soft blush on his cheeks and the furrow in his brow. “I’m watching the film.” 

Harry let out a frustrated sigh, but he didn’t say another word. 

I kept my eyes on the screen, watching Grace float around each scene. I wasn’t really paying attention to what was happening, the feeling of Harry fidgeting behind me a distraction. Every few moments, he would move his hands. From settling on my thighs to my hips to my stomach to my sides. He moved them so much that it almost felt like he was making sure I was still okay. A few times, I squeezed my walls, shifting around to keep him on his toes. Each movement earned a gasp joined by his fingers digging into my skin through my dress. When we were nearing the end of the movie, I decided that enough was enough. I couldn’t hold out any longer, my hips moving on their own as I inhaled sharply. It didn’t take long for Harry to catch onto my motive, his hands falling on my hips as my body moved. 

The stretch of his cock sent a shockwave through my body with each rise of my hips and by the time I fell back onto him, he was already praising me. My movements were slow and unsure, the confidence I’d had at the beginning of the night completely gone. My legs were starting to grow sore and I wasn’t sure that I could carry myself to an orgasm in this position. Something in the way Harry leaned forward, gripping my hips tighter, told me that he was aware of my struggle. He leaned forward, kissing up my neck before lifting my hips up. When I started to settle back onto him, he pushed me back up to the awkward crouching position. 

“S’enough of that baby.” He grunted. “Want you to lay down for me, yeah?” 

“Someone will notice.” I shook my head, looking back at him. “Just let me turn around, please? I want to...I want to finish making you feel good.” 

“You make me feel good no matter what position we’re in.” He let out a soft chuckle as I turned around, climbing over his lap. “Babyhoney, I know your legs are tired.” 

“They are.” I nodded, pressing my palms to his cheeks as he brushed his fingers up my bare thighs. “Maybe you can help me with that? Be a gentleman like you promised me, dreamboat?” 

“Okay.” Harry nodded as I reached down with my right hand, holding his shaft before I slipped the tip past my entrance. “Don’t sit all the way, just...wait right there.” 

“Why?” I asked, my brow furrowing as I settled towards the middle of his shaft. 

My answer was a sharp thrust from Harry’s hips nearly knocking me over. 

The air left my lungs in the form of a loud moan and I ducked my head down, burying my face in his shoulder as he pulled back out. The feeling before was good, but this was so much better. Harry lifted his hips again with a grunt, angling them slightly different and holding himself in me for just a few moments longer. I laced my fingers behind his neck, holding onto him as he started to find a steady rhythm. It wasn’t fast, but it felt so good. I could feel my own wetness starting to coat my thighs and my fingers started to slip apart, slick from perspiration as Harry pushed my closer to the edge. I knew that I was done for when he opened his mouth, his words sending chills down my spine. 

“Gonna be such a good wife to me, I know it.” He grunted in my ear and I nodded. “Gonna be my partner, yeah? Gonna treat you like a bloody queen, baby. Gonna fuck you like this every night.” 

“Harry.” I lifted my head up, pressing my forehead into his. “I’m close.” 

“Yeah?” He let out a breathless chuckle, licking over his bottom lip. “Hold tight for me, baby. Gonna get you there, gonna make you cum.” 

He did as promised, driving his hips up into me at an impressive speed. He had to kiss me to keep me quiet, the moans ripping from my mouth far too loud for our little rendezvous. When I came, it felt like the world stopped. Harry pulled my hips down flush against his, spilling into me with a grunt of his own. I rolled my hips forward, welcoming the soft sting as I continued to pulse around his cock. I pulled back from his mouth with a loud chuckle, tossing my head back. 

“Surely someone saw that.” I let out a heavy sigh, trying to catch my breath. 

When I finally felt calm enough, my chest no longer heaving, I lifted my hips up. Harry winced when his cock dropped back against his stomach and I kissed him softly as an apology. When he was tucked back into his trousers, I kissed him again. 

 “I can’t believe we just did that.” I chuckled into his mouth. 

“You’re something else.” He shook his head before dropping it back to the seat behind him. “I’m gonna have to keep a close watch on you. Putting that ring on your finger has changed you, huh?” 

“I just want to make my husband happy.” I hummed softly, pressing my lips to his. “Are you happy?” 

“So happy that my heart could burst right out of my chest.” He whispered. “I can’t wait for it to be official.” 

“I would go to the courthouse tomorrow to say ‘I do’, you know I would dreamboat.” I whispered, pulling back to brush my thumb over his chin. “You tell me when you’re ready and I’ll meet you at the altar.” 

“I want you to have a proper wedding.” He frowned, his brows pulling together.  “Everything we’ve done so far has been....it’s not been by the book. You deserve to have something normal and proper.” 

“Harry, I-” 

Before I could get the words out of my mouth, I heard my Father’s voice. 

My blood ran cold as I looked at Harry, my eyes growing wide. Harry’s look mirrored mine, his fingers digging into the skin of my thighs before I slipped off of his lap. I was quick to grab the door handle, getting out of the car. I cursed when I felt the wetness between my legs. It slipped my mind that Harry didn’t pull out, his release still inside of me. I quickly rushed around the front of the car when I saw my Father barreling towards Bertha. My Mother was hot on his heels as Harry stepped out of the car, settling by my side with his hand on my lower back. In the distance, I could see Imogene and Tommy standing there with shock on their faces. 

“You better get your hands off my daughter, you hoodrat.” My father was dangerously close to Harry, pointing his finger at him angrily. 

“Daddy, it’s okay!” I said quickly, sliding between the two men. “It’s...Harry is harmless, I promise. He’s my boyfriend, Daddy.” 

“Johnny is your boyfriend.” My Father didn’t take his eyes from Harry’s. 

“He’s not.” I swallowed around the lump in my throat, closing my eyes as I took a deep breath. “I broke up with Johnny a long time ago. He’s with someone else now.” 

“How long have you been lying to us then?” My Mother asked quietly. 

When I looked over at her, she was clutching her pearls with sad eyes. 

“I’ve been with Harry for five years.” I whispered. “I really love him, Mama. I swear that I do.” 

“You don’t know what love is!” My Father snapped, his eyes finally landing on mine. I felt Harry stand up straighter behind me, his chest brushing my back as he rested his fingers lightly on my hip. “You’re just a child.” 

“I’m not a child, daddy.” I whispered, the familiar burn behind my eyes catching me off guard. “I love him.” 

“We’re going home.” My Father said, reaching down for my hand. I pulled it back, holding it to my chest. “Y/N we are going home, you don’t have a choice.” 

“Sir, maybe we can take this somewhere more private.” Harry spoke up behind me. “We can all talk this out and-” 

“You don’t speak to me.” My Father snapped at Harry before looking back at me. “Let’s go.” 

“I’m not a child anymore. If you insist on making me choose between you and Harry, I’ll pick him. I will always pick him. He’s my soulmate.” I said.

“If you don’t come home with us right now, there’s no coming back. There will be no university in the fall or summer trip to the beach.” My Father seethed, but I didn’t budge. “You would give up your family for a lowlife like him.” 

“Yes.” I didn’t hesitate. “I’m sorry that you don’t believe me, but Harry is my soulmate and I...I can’t leave him. Not even for you.” 

It was silent for a minute, the whole world standing still as my father and I stared at each other. I tried to hold it all in, hiding my fear behind a deep scowl. The only thing keeping me grounded and steady was Harry’s touch. I waited, watching my Father’s face turn red with anger with each passing second. It didn’t take him long to turn around, booking past my Mother. I looked over at her, my face softening as I realized that maybe I shouldn’t have kept it from her. She stared back at me with a look of sheer disappointment in her eyes and it nearly broke me. She looked back at Harry, letting go of her pearls as she let out a heavy sigh. 

“He’s going to need time to adjust.” My Mother said quietly. “I’ll pack up your things. You can come pick them up on Sunday after church.” 

“Okay.” I croaked out, reaching up to lace my fingers with Harry’s. “I’m sorry.” 

She didn’t say another word, turning on her heels before walking away. 

When she was out of sight, I stumbled back into Harry. I pressed the fingers of my freehand to my lips, muffling the sob that burst out of my chest as I watched my parents peel away. Harry wrapped both of his arms around me as my knees started to grow weak. I turned in his arms, burying my face in his chest as he cooed softly above me. 

“It’s going to be alright.” He said softly. “They just need time, like your Mother said.” 

“I don’t think time will fix it.” I hiccuped, looking up at him. “Are you...are you okay?” 

“I’m alright, babyhoney.” He smiled softly, reaching up to brush his fingers over my wet cheeks. I sniffled, nodding my head. “Stop your cryin’, alright? Let’s go home. I’m sure Mum will be excited to have another girl around.” 

“You don’t think she’ll be upset?” I asked. 

“Never.” Harry said softly. “You’re family now.”