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1d1195 · 12 days ago

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The Lottery IV

Read The Lottery here | ~6.2k words

From me: we're getting close to the end I think

Warnings: angsty/fluffy/pining nonsense. Slow burning love

Summary: Harry loves to help her. She loves to help him. The whole town knows he loves her. They wish he would admit it.

Just like Christmas, she was out and about in the middle of the summer solstice festival. She helped organize a wiffle ball tournament for the younger kids and convinced Harry to make hot dogs and hamburgers to hand out in the middle of the field. She was at the diner bright and early making her way behind the counter and grabbing pitchers that Harry used for water to make batches of lemonade.

Why he didn’t say no, baffled her. But to Harry it was obvious.

They were sipping lemonade on the curb outside his diner. They were watching people eat and chat. There was music and dancing. It was warm and the air smelled like barbeque and bug spray. The sun was setting, and she looked so pretty. Tanned, hair pulled back through a baseball hat, and her legs stretched into the road. Harry wasn’t going to sit outside and deal with the festival at all, but she was there, so he had little choice in the matter. But as happy as he felt (inwardly—God forbid Harry smile) he wondered why she didn’t have a happier look on her face. “What?”

She hesitated for only the briefest moment. “Do you... know anything about fireworks?” She asked.

He stared at her. He was already ahead of her and knew exactly where her questioning was going to lead next, but he was a glutton for punishment. Or just really wanted to see her smile because she was happy. “Not particularly,” he mumbled.

She pouted. Her fingers went to the little moon charm around her neck, and she rubbed her thumb over it, like a nervous habit. Or a worry stone. “I guess the person who dropped the fireworks off didn’t get the memo he was supposed to stay to help set them off.”

Maybe if she was touching anything other than the necklace that Harry got her, he would have said no. (Although probably not.) It was like it was a comfort to her and it made him a little too happy knowing she was using it as a coping motion whether she realized it or not. In fact, if it was subconscious, it made Harry like it more—even almost a little possessive in nature. With a deep sigh, Harry pushed off the curb and headed toward where he knew the fireworks were being set off. “You don’t have to help,” she called from behind him.

“Are y’gonna set them off, Peach?” He questioned; his eye roll could be heard without having her look back at him to see it. “You’ll blow y’hand off.”

She smiled sweetly to herself, smoothing her finger over the moon charm once more. “Did you see the moon today?” She asked and pointed toward the crescent that wasn’t much different than the one around her neck.

He looked at it briefly. “S’nice,” he answered sincerely as he could because he was focused on the fireworks and how he would get her away because he would lose his ever-loving mind if she got injured. People called out to her, and she waved like she was the mayor. She was one of the nicest people Harry had ever met so it wasn’t surprising that people adored her, but it was pretty crazy that she chose one of the grumpiest people to befriend. She looked fondly at the moon as they walked, nearly not paying attention to her footpath, so Harry grabbed her wrist before she tripped and fell over another curb.

“Sorry,” she shook her head and focused on their walk and glanced briefly at it once more before. Longingly, like she wouldn’t see it again.

“Do y’know what the outline around the moon is?” He asked, wondering if he could distract her so she would still be able to talk about the moon but not nearly break an ankle on the ground. “I’ve always wondered.”

She nodded. “It’s called earthshine. Basically, the light from the sun bounces off the earth and reflects on the moon that’s not illuminated by the sun.”

“Cool,” he said simply.

She smiled. “I’m a little weird about the moon, hmm?”

“Why do you think that?”

The smile on her pretty face disappeared and she shook her head. “No reason, just... I think I can be a lot sometimes.”

Harry wished they weren’t about to set off fireworks and they were in the privacy of his diner or her house or something. But really what would he have actually said if they were alone? It’s not like he would confess his feelings for her. The anger he felt toward whoever made her feel like a lot made his chest ache. The shyness on her face made him feel sick. She wasn’t a lot. Or if she was, she should have been a lot, proudly.

But they weren’t alone, and Harry wasn’t going to tell her how he felt anyway. “Well, there’s worse thing t’be a lot ‘bout than the moon,” he shrugged.

“Not the pancakes though,” she grinned sweetly, the brief look of sadness in her eyes replaced by her usual playfulness.

The smirk on his lips didn’t match the smile he felt on the inside. “I thought we were talking ‘bout y’being a lot. Not high maintenance.”

“Harry Styles!”

He shrugged, uncaring at his backhanded comment. He continued on trying not to think about how pretty she looked when she talked about things she loved. Tried not to think about the retroactive heart ache in his chest. Or maybe it was predicting the future because someone as pretty and lovely as her could only break his fragile heart.

But he also noticed that the tiniest bit of hope was blooming inside his ribcage because she was so pretty and lovely. It would be worth the heartache. Right? She would be worth it.

So, Harry kept quiet and focused on the fireworks. Hundreds of exploding colorful things and not a single one of them had anything to do with the ones that illuminated the sky a little while later.

Harry’s phone rang mid-evening. He was reading a book and had the football game on from the morning. It was the perfect kind of night. But of course, when he saw that Peach was calling, he didn’t have a choice. She never called. She texted and texted. Sent him pictures of the moon on her grainy camera and the cute little dogs that she saw in the city some days. Sometimes she sent him links to recipes she thought he should try for breakfast and honestly, he was a shitty friend because he typically ignored most of them. Sending only a thumbs up emoji or an okay if she asked for help.

So, Harry assumed she was dying in that moment.

“Hello?” He answered quickly fear starting in his chest before he could stop it.

“I don’t know what’s happening! My washing machine is freaking out and it’s overflowing, and I don’t know what to do!”

Harry was relieved and also halfway out the door the moment he said hello. “M’on m’way.”

There was a knock on the front door about five minutes after she called Harry. “It’s open!” She knew she was going to get a lecture about leaving it unlocked again. But Harry came right in. She was busy with every towel she owned creating a barrier around the floor of the laundry room (a small little space, hardly bigger than a closet) and kept the water from creeping into the hall.

Harry didn’t even come near her he headed straight for her basement. Within moments the water stopped dripping, and she sighed with relief. “I turned y’water off.”

“Fuck, why didn’t I think of that,” she frowned. “Sorry you came all the way over,” she pushed the towels into the closet sopping up the mess as best she could.

“D’you have a wet vac?”

“A what?”

He rolled his eyes. “I’ll be right back.”

Ten minutes later, Harry returned, knocking and walking in. “You don’t have to knock, Harry.”

“S’polite,” he muttered. “Move,” he pushed her gently out of the way, plugged in the vacuum, and sucked up the water. She rubbed her temples as he turned it off and twirled the cord back up into a neat circle.

“I can’t even wash these,” she grumbled. “Oh my God, I used every towel,” she groaned.

“I’ll take ‘em,” Harry shrugged. “Wash ‘em for you,” he offered.

“Harry, I can’t have you do my laundry.”

“S’not like m’washing your underwear, Peach. S’jus’ towels.” She tried not to think about Harry touching her underwear. But it was very difficult. Fortunately, Harry was focused on the task at hand, grabbing a trash bag to put her sopping wet towels in for transport. “Are y’doing some home improvements?” He asked looking at the few boxes of soft close drawer slides.

“I think I put too much stuff in one drawer in the kitchen. It kinda broke. So, I figured I could revamp all of them and that it would make me sift through stuff I no longer need or want. The bathroom drawer was sticking anyway, so it made sense to fix them all.”

“Do y’need help?” He asked. She bit the inside of her lip. It felt like she had been waiting to ask Harry if she could borrow his drill. But that seemed so rude to just outright ask him. He was a busy guy, and she was more than willing to do it herself, but she knew he would insist on helping.

Plus, there was the whole Ronan side of things.

“Peach?”

How long had she been silent while Harry kindly packed up her towels? Why did she feel guilty about dating someone else around him? Was Harry getting hotter by the second or was that a trick of the light?

“We’re... friends right?”

Harry blinked. “I don’t think a stranger could get me t’dress as Santa,” he rolled his eyes and stared at her. “S’matter? I can pop these in for y’in a minute,” he nodded toward the boxes again.

“Well, thank you. But I would really like to do it,” she admitted. “I don’t want to take advantage of your help, and I like to believe I’m independent.”

“Peach, y’own a whole business and house. S’not like y’jus’ wait around for me t’do stuff for you. M’still miffed y’cleaned your own gutters after I said I would do it.”

“Yeah, but it’s gross,” she reminded him. “You had your own gutters to do and everyone under the sun would ask you.”

He rolled his eyes again ignoring her rationale. “We’re friends, of course.”

Her heart skipped a beat. It almost bothered her that they were friends. Only friends. She looked at her feet. “I’m kind of seeing someone. Hasn’t been long. Only four or so dates. Only dinner and movies. But I didn’t tell you because... I don’t know. I didn’t tell anyone to be fair. Just Bailey, actually. I don’t know the protocol for dating around here because it feels like I need the whole town to approve of him like it’s my business venture all over again. And I don’t know, I know that I’m friendly and stuff and everyone likes me, but I think you’re my only real friend here and I don’t think I need anyone else’s approval except yours and I think that makes me a shitty friend.”

It was so quiet she thought that maybe Harry just left while she rambled. She knew why she needed Harry’s approval. It would mean that he didn’t like her in that way. That the way she liked him wasn’t reciprocated and it was a good thing that she was dating. Her pining would be quiet and hidden. The way it had been since she moved to town and made him make her pancakes even though he didn’t want to. Even though she was a pain in the butt and made him dress like Santa and made him set off fireworks when he didn’t really want anything to do with town events.

Finally, she peered up from her feet and looked at Harry and his confused expression. His eyebrows pinched together. His eyes searching her curiously. “Why d’you need my approval t’date someone? S’your love life,” he shrugged. “If he’s nice t’you, I won’t have a problem with him,” she wondered if he knew how much that meant to her. Apparently, she was hoping for his approval more than she truly realized. She nearly choked on the breath she was holding as she released it. “M’gonna put this in m’truck. D’you have a drill or do y’need mine?” He asked hauling the wet towels toward the front door.

“Yours,” she croaked.

Harry shouldn’t have been surprised that she was dating. She was so lovely. Inside and out. There was no other way to describe it. Sure, she was beautiful outwardly, but it only reflected a fraction of how stunning her personality was. Even the annoying parts. It made his chest pinch with jealousy every time he thought of the stupid (that was Harry’s code word for lucky) man that held her affection.

Fortunately for Harry, Ronan didn’t last much longer. “It just didn’t click,” she shrugged over her white chocolate chip and peach pancakes one morning when Harry asked her why she looked upset.

“M’sorry, Peach,” Harry frowned. “S’on me today,” he assured her.

“You can’t give me free food every time I have a breakup. I suspect you’ll lose money at that rate,” she said with a tone of self-deprecation that Harry couldn’t truly believe was coming from her voice. “I think I’m destined to be alone,” she sighed. He snorted before he could stop it. Reached across the counter and squeezed her forearm.

“I simply don’t believe that,” he said reassuringly. She blinked at Harry’s willingness to touch her arm unprompted and before she knew it, he was gone, back to the grill to make more food.

What she couldn’t see was the absolutely delighted smile on his lips—completely on display in private—at the thought of her breakup.

She dated a few guys over the years. But Harry’s confidence in her ability to find someone seemed unfounded. Each one ended in a breakup. Only one in particular made her heart ache for longer than the others. Even Harry treated her differently for that month of moping in her own way. She didn’t banter as much. It made Harry ache with want for her attitude, quips, and annoyingness.

Each time Harry comped her pancakes and reassured his friend that she was destined for love whether she believed it or not.

Small town life wasn’t for the guys she brought to the little place with so many traditions and parties. They didn’t earn the approval of everyone in town but the only approval she needed was that of her best friend.

"When’s Louis coming back?” She asked.

Harry hated when Louis came back now. He used to love seeing his friend and getting to be himself around someone that didn’t treat him differently just because he was heartbroken and damaged the way the rest of the town did.

“Never,” he rolled his eyes.

She frowned and immediately reached for the moon charm on her pretty throat. “I miss him.”

“Well, I don’t like when y’two are together. S’trouble. Y’both are mean.”

“Are you saying that because we make fun of your grumpiness together?” He glared at her over his shoulder and headed to the back to get the pitcher of coffee he made for her the day before as he always did. Despite the fact that she was a pain in the butt and made fun of him with his (supposed) best friend. “You’re different when he’s around,” she said when he returned pouring the coffee into a reusable cup because she would be on the go soon enough. Although, the way she settled in with her laptop, notebook, and everything else spread across the seat next to her and her own spot, Harry wasn’t sure when her reading hour began today. It looked like she was staying for the morning, which would have delighted him.

There was hardly any room for the breakfast he was going to bring out though—fortunately it was a muffin day so she wouldn’t need much room. Today she wore a Dr. Suess hat—like the one the Cat in the Hat wore. She had drawn whiskers on her cheeks and a cute red triangular nose too. She was so fucking cute it was unbearable for Harry sometimes (almost always).

“Different,” he repeated trying to stop the swelling of his heart as he looked at her. He smacked her hand as she reached for the cream and sugar behind the counter, loosening the swell and reminding him not to drool.

“You smile more. Same when Gemma visits. I think you are hiding some nice memories in there,” she poured cream into the liquid and tapped the side of her head with her freehand. “I’ve heard rumors since I’ve moved here that you got some bad ones too,” she shrugged casually as if those bad memories weren’t the reason he was a sour person. “I like when they’re around. I like when other people get to see the real Harry, not the one that’s been hiding behind your grumpy face.”

“How do y’know m’not the real Harry?” As far as he could tell his grumpy persona was the only one that he had left to show.

She shrugged again. “Real grumpy people don’t dress up as Santa or supply lemonade for the whole town. Nor do they do things for their annoying friend and comp her breakfast when she gets broken up with.”

She grabbed the muffin, turned and headed for the exit. “Peach? Your stuff?”

“Oh, I’ll be back. I just have reading hour,” she grinned over her shoulder, truly as chaotic as the Cat in the Hat was.

“You’re not serious,” he followed after her as she crossed the street toward her shop stopping in the middle of the road but it wasn’t like there were enough cars to worry about getting run over. “Y’can’t leave your stuff on the counter!”

“It’s only an hour, Harry. I’ll be right back!”

“M’not watching it! If it gets stolen, m’not responsible!”

“If someone in this town wants to steal my stuff, they can have it!” She shouted without turning around and entered her shop.

But she knew Harry was going to watch it anyway.

“Miss Peach, are you any good at trigonometry?”

She was behind the check out counter, reading from her book monitoring the study group. People were reading and a couple were stacking books in their arms. “Hmm,” she pursed her lips. “It’s been a long while since I thought about trigonometry, Lea,” she headed to the reference section to see if she could find a textbook to help them. She pulled a chair up beside the pair of girls who were working.

Harry was outside, fixing the Christmas lights to the front of her window. “Harry is in love with you,” Lea whispered.

She blushed. “He’s just my friend,” she said and flipped through the pages looking for something useful that would help them solve their problem.

“I wish I had a friend like Harry,” Maryam muttered.

She snorted and then smiled. “He’s a good one.”

“Do you like him?” Lea asked.

“Do I like one of my very best friends? Yes. Of course I do.”

“Miss Peach,” Maryam rolled her eyes.

“Harry’s so easy to read,” Lea whispered. There was a pair of boys at the other end of the big square table. They were “studying” watching highlight reels from yesterday’s game. “You’re much more difficult. Plus, you do the whole dating thing,” she explained.

“It absolutely tortures Harry,” Maryam agreed.

“Hey Peach, d’you have another string of lights?” He asked from the doorway. “This one y’gave me is half out.”

She frowned. “I’ll have to go buy another string later.”

“I’ll go,” he shrugged and headed out just as quickly.

“Smitten,” Maryam sighed.

“Completely,” Lea agreed.

“This looks like the diagram you’re working with,” she diverted back to the textbook and focused on the numbers and letters of her homework problem and not the bit of hope that filled her lungs at the thought of Harry liking her in that way. If there was a chance of having him all to herself,she never would date another man the rest of her life.

Harry helped stock books when a new shipment came in, which was great because he was much more focused than she was. She had to read the back cover of any new book, and it took her twice as long to unpack them all. “What do you like to read?”

He shrugged. “Bit of everything.”

“Do you have something to recommend to me?” She asked putting only one lone book on the shelf when Harry had set up at least two whole sections of shelves in that time. She stocked essentially one or two of each book that arrived at her store. It wasn’t a massive bookstore, so space was of course limited. But if someone wanted to buy it she would order more.

Harry watched her reading the back cover of the next book, her fingers around the moon charm once more sliding it gently back and forth along the chain. She looked so at home surrounded by books and so relaxed. She dropped the charm and reached for her coffee to sip it. Harry wanted to take a picture of her because this was completely her element; it needed to be preserved for all of time. “Uh...”

“It doesn’t have to be anything personal. I get wanting to hoard a book that means a lot to you. It’s kind of like asking someone to watch your baby for the first time. You don’t want anything to happen to it,” she offered. “I just thought I’d ask. I don’t really know what kind of books you like,” she smiled. “I would love to stock stuff for you.”

“Uh...” he shook his head struggling to come up with a title. He cleared his throat. “I read sort of depressing books,” he focused on stocking the next shelf.

She frowned, her fingers immediately finding the charm around her neck again. “Well, that’s okay. I prefer the term cathartic, perhaps? Books are meant to make you feel but I don’t think they’re meant to make you feel depressed,” she shrugged. “I read The Tattooist of Auschwitz and that is by far one of the saddest books I’ve ever read but it might be one of my favorites.”

She watched Harry carefully place the books on the shelves. He was taking great care not to bend any covers. He was gentle. This was important to her and ergo it seemed important to him. “I don’t think I have any titles t’share,” he shrugged.

She nodded. “That’s fine, I just wanted to ask.”

“Do y’have The Tattooist of Auschwitz?” He asked quietly. She smiled, nodded excitedly and scampered to behind the checkout counter. There was a pile of books beneath the cabinets—her own personal collection of favorites that she liked to keep there as backups if she wasn’t in the mood to dive into something new. Or if a student at the high school needed a book for a project and she happened to have it and it wasn’t going to be ordered in time.

Or if Harry needed a copy of one of her favorites.

“It’s a pretty quick read, but God does it make you feel.” He turned it over in his hands. Like he was holding her baby in his hands as she had said. This book meant something important to her and she was passing it off to him. “I hope you’ll like it, but I won’t be offended if you don’t.”

Harry couldn’t imagine a scenario in which he wouldn’t like her baby. “How much?”

“Oh, that’s my copy,” she said. “I can order you one, if you want your own. But you can have that one for now.”

He tucked it carefully beneath his jacket on the back of a nearby chair. The box of books in front of him needed organizing. They went back to their quietness of Harry stocking books, her reading the back of one for every row of books Harry completed, and her fingers danced along the chain around her neck.

Like everyone else, she noticed the diner had been closed for three days. It didn’t even have the opening late sign that every once in a blue moon appeared merely because he had an appointment or was sleeping late (because he deserved it! She told everyone who complained) or the delivery was coming in later than expected and it didn’t make sense to open without food or dealing with it partway through the breakfast rush.

But three days with no communication from him of any kind and no sight of him, made her a bit anxious. Harry was often in her house without warning before she arrived home—fixing something for her that she didn’t even know needed fixing. Or because she had mentioned something in passing that wasn’t working up to snuff. Any time she bought a lightbulb, it seemed Harry knew, and he was in her house testing all light switches and lamps to find the culprit.

All of that meant she felt entering his diner without asking seemed like it was only fair (and legal as far as their friendship went.) The silence in the usually bustling little place didn’t feel right though. She missed her friend (and the pancakes). But mostly arguing with her friend and the smack on the back of her hand when she reached for the cream and sugar that dare she say she missed for the last three days.

“Harry,” she sang making her way back toward the apartment behind his shop. “Honey, I’m home!” She cooed. She hadn’t been back here before but found the little hallway that led behind the back of the diner and to the door to what had to be his living space.

She knocked and opened it without waiting for a response.

One look and it hardly looked like he was home. She frowned, feeling bad that she was intruding but then she heard a cough.

“Harry?” She asked.

Slowly his tall body appeared. It was obvious he didn’t feel well. He covered his mouth with the crook of his elbow, his hair in disarray. His eyes shiny with sleep and the exertion of coughing so hard it made his eyes water. He looked exhausted.

“Oh my,” she murmured. “Are you alright?”

“How did y’get in?” It felt like knives scraping against every inch of the inside of his throat to speak. He winced as she pushed past him.

“Jesus. No talking. Come sit down,” but she was already pulling him to his couch. Like she had been here a thousand times even though it was the first time she set foot back here in all the years she had known him. She fluffed the pillows around him and tossed a blanket over him. Harry hadn’t had someone care for him while he was sick since he was young—since his mom and Gem tended to his stomach bugs and during his yearly cold and flu season. “You are so obvious and hide the key under the mat. Thought you were slick painting it black to match but I’ve seen you use it before. Everyone has been worried sick about you—me included. You could’ve let me know if you were sick; I would have been over a lot sooner,” he noticed how disappointed she sounded in him, and he felt sorry that he made her worry. But he didn’t want her help. If she were to get sick, he would feel so guilty. He didn’t want her to feel shitty like he did.

It took a lot more energy to get out of bed than he thought it would when he heard her sweet voice calling for him beyond the quiet space between sleeping and dreaming. He opened his mouth to speak but she shushed him before a syllable could leave his lips. “Uh-buh-uh. No talking. I’m serious. Text it,” she offered handing her phone to him.

This is the first day I’ve been able to get out of bed in three days. My voice has been gone for three days.

She read it and nodded. “Doctor?”

He shrugged. I’ve had it before. She nodded again.

“Alright. Well...soup it is,” she said standing. Harry grabbed her arm before she was out of reach. The exertion did feel like a lot.

He shook his head. You don’t have to do that. I don’t want you to get sick.

She rolled her eyes. “Well, I don’t want you to be sick. No one has made me breakfast in three days,” she reminded him. He smiled despite himself. “Do you have medicine?” She asked. He looked at her phone ready to type out that he didn’t, but he knew that it would just make her madder. She sighed, distaste evident in her soundless tone and breath. “Alright, I’m going to go get food for soup and medicine. Don’t move, yeah? Drink some water.”

If it wasn’t obvious, Harry had no choice but to obey her.

“Where’s your phone?” He couldn’t remember at all, there was a strong possibility it was dead. “I’ll call it,” she said, and she walked around his house listening for the sound of it. “A-ha!” She sounded triumphant. “You only have a peach for my contact?” She giggled. “You know the emoji is slang for a butt, right?” He rolled his eyes, but the motion hurt his head. He winced again at the pain. “Alright, I’ll lay off the annoyingness,” she smiled sadly. She reached for a charger. “I like this table,” she mumbled as there was a plug built into the top of it, so it was easy for her to plug his phone in. “I’ll be right back, but text me if you need something.”

His voice was gone. He looked exhausted from lack of sleep because he couldn’t stop coughing. She made herself at home in his place. She made him homemade soup and he realized he had never had any of her cooking beyond anything she chose to bake and share with the town.

Within an hour he was eating hot soup it felt like heaven on his throat. She sat at one end of the sofa slurping broth and scrolling through her phone and Harry couldn’t help but feel like she belonged in his personal space. It felt so right. He sets his soup aside for a moment. Feeling a little more aware and awake with food in his system.

Not to mention it was fucking delicious.

This is really good, thank you. I didn’t know you could cook...Why don’t you make your own breakfast?

“I wouldn’t get to bug you every day,” she smiled so sweetly and fluttered her lashes at him. He rolled his eyes, and it didn’t hurt this time. “Do you want me to make my own breakfast?”

He answered too quickly. No. That’s not what I mean.

“So, you would miss me?”

He sighed and even though he was sick, she could feel his exasperation as he stared at her with an irritated expression. But it’s one that she loved. She loved his grumpy face because no matter how grumpy he appeared; she could see the smile hiding in his eyes. Every single time. And she’d look into those green eyes for the rest of her life and see those hidden smiles if it meant she could be friends with Harry for forever.

No. I would miss... he paused while trying to finish the sentence before holding his phone out to her to read. annoying someone.

She smiled brightly. “Yeah? That so?”

He nodded.

“Well, you don’t annoy me. So maybe I will make my own breakfast from now on.”

He frowned. The expression on his face changed. It was a bit forlorn. His eyes don’t have the same smile as she could spot a mile away. He knew she was kidding but was he... hurt? By her teasing? He really would miss her?

He didn’t think he would have to say it, but...seeing her every day since she moved to town five years ago...and then...not seeing her? It would hurt. Don’t be like that. I’m sick.

Her laughter filled his little apartment, and he never felt so much adoration for someone. “Don’t worry. I don’t own a coffee maker—you won’t get rid of me that easily.”

Something occurred to him in that moment, and he didn’t want to ask, but he would feel bad if he didn’t. Travis... doesn’t mind you’re here?

She smiled sadly. “Travis didn’t last long. I’m all yours, Harry,” she gave his knee a squeeze and headed to the kitchen to continue being an angel or something more for him.

He smiled and rather enjoyed having someone take care of him for a change.

Or maybe it was just because it was Peach taking care of him.

The following morning, Harry felt a lot better. His throat still ached but it wasn’t as bad as the previous days.

Then Harry realized very quickly that there was noise coming from the diner. A lot of noise. The kind of noise that only the early morning rush could muster. And laughter.

So much laughter that Harry honest to God felt happy, nostalgic, and like laughing for the first time in a really long time. He imagined waking up and hearing the very same kind of happiness and laughter from the other room before he bolted to find his mum and the entire town existing and enjoying the morning breakfast routine.

But then he figured maybe Peach had knocked the sign off when she came in with arms full of food and medicine yesterday and people were waiting for breakfast thinking that he was up and at ‘em again. He put on clothes as quickly as he could with his head feeling like a balloon still. He hurried to see what the commotion was because it seemed weird that everyone would be in the diner when he distinctly had it closed, and he wasn’t there.

When he entered, everyone stared at him. “How are you feeling Harry?” Alice asked.

He blinked in surprise at everyone eating and chatting as if it were normal to be there without Harry. “How did—”

“Hi Harry!”

Ah.

She appeared from the kitchen carrying plates of food and settling them on the tables as she passed. She marched right up to Harry after and pressed her hand to his forehead. If he wasn’t already flushed from being ill, his cheeks would have turned red as everyone witnessed her touching him. No one ever touched Harry. No hugs, no high fives, nothing.

But of course, she was different. Perhaps everyone knew that. They kept their smiles to themselves, and she grinned. “I hope you don’t mind. I told everyone I can make bacon, eggs, home fries, and toast without setting the place on fire. But everyone was missing you and the diner.”

There wasn’t a chance in hell these nice, sweet people missed his grumpy self. They were here for her. Someone who didn’t grow up here but acted like she did. “Can I make you something? I’ll make you tea!” She decided and pulled him toward the counter seat, her counter seat. She hurried behind the counter and busied herself with a mug and hot water. “How do you feel?” She asked.

“Good,” he cleared his throat and winced at the feeling.

She pouted. “Maybe you should go back to bed.”

And miss the delightful show she was putting on? Running his diner as if she did this every day? No way. Was everyone as floored about this as he was? Probably not. They probably knew that Harry loved her in such a way that he never loved anyone else in this town.

Harry reached for the sugar and cream behind the counter, and she smacked his hand away and winked, placing the little plate in front of him. “I can make you eggs,” she offered her fingers touching the moon on her neck. “Are you okay?” She asked.

He nodded and she gave his hand a gentle squeeze before heading off toward the grill.

“Miss Peach any chance you could make those blueberry muffins of yours?”

“Oh! That’s an excellent idea, Ed! Let me get Harry some breakfast and I’ll get right on it!” She called from behind the kitchen.

Harry decided that he might love being sick.

But really, he knew it was just that he was in love.

general taglist: @justlemmeadoreyou @daydreamingofmatilda @sunshinemoonsposts @loving-hazz @likeapplejuicenpeach

@straightontilmornin @freedomfireflies @littlenatilda @kathb59 @babegoals

@angel-upon @lilfreakjez @mleestiles @ameliaalvarez06 @canyonmoondreams

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@lovrave @st-ev-ie @pandeebearstyles @toosarcastic03 @luvonstyles

@tenaciousperfectionunknown @classychalamet @love-letters-to-uranus @emmaawbr @crossyourpeter

@kissitnhekitchen @boopookie @stylesfever @indierockgirrl @michellekstyles

@just-another-reader1098 @hermionelove @tiredinwinter @whimsy-willows @hannah9921

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@emmie2308 @fruity-harry @somebunnybaby @avas-queen-black

I'm sorry if I missed anyone in the taglist. Please let me know if you'd like to join, if it didn't work, if you no longer want to be included, etc. :)

If you like this, check out my masterlist here

#harry styles #harry styles writing #harry styles fluff #harry styles blurb #harry styles blurbs #harry styles smut #harry styles angst #harry styles imagine #harry styles imagines #harry styles fic #harry styles fanfiction #harry styles x y/n #grumpy!harry x sunshine!reader #harry styles x reader #one direction #one direction writing #love at first sight!harry #the lottery

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togrowoldinv · 10 months ago

Text

Love and Baseball

Milf!Wanda Maximoff x Reader

You help coach a little league baseball team and meet the most perfect woman

Warnings: Smut! 18+ please! Kissing, cursing, oral (W receiving), simping

Note: I have missed writing for Wanda. Enjoy this one!

Milf Wanda Masterlist, Main Masterlist

Wanda didn’t mean to fall for you. And she really didn’t even realize she had until she saw you with someone else.

Her twins are on the baseball team you help coach. Your nephew is one of the players, so when they needed another coach you jumped in to help.

The moment she met you Wanda knew she was attracted to you. But she tried to fight it. You’re younger than her. Enough so, she’s pretty sure you never think twice about her.

Little does she know that you find yourself thinking about her all the time. That sweet, innocent single mom of two of your favorite players.

Yes, all coaches have favorites. And Billy and Tommy are two of yours. Maybe because their mom is adorable. Every week she brings snacks and makes sure all of the kids have water.

Tonight, for the first time you see her outside of the baseball field. You internally cringe when you see her walking into the restaurant you’re at. You’re kind of on a date.

She catches your eye from by the door. She’s too polite not to come and say hello once she’s been shown to her seat.

“Y/n, hi,” Wanda greets you.

“Hey, Mrs. Maximoff,” you say. Keeping it professional is a curtesy to her, but really you just love the way she looks at you after you’ve said it.

“Are you enjoying your night off?” She asks.

“Yes ma’am,” you reply. “Just on a date here.”

“Oh, my apologies for interrupting!” Wanda says. “I’ll see you tomorrow?”

“Yes ma’am. Tomorrow night back on the diamond.”

“See you then,” she says, leaving you with a smile.

You turn back to your date and don’t see that Wanda’s smile turns into a frown for the rest of the night. She gets distracted watching you have a good time. Wanda wants to be the person across from you making you laugh.

She realizes she wants you.

The next day Wanda dresses in a shirt that’s a little too low cut for a baseball practice. She surprises herself with how much she wants to go after you.

Practice goes as usual, but afterwards you notice Wanda is lingering. She even sends her boys home with a friend.

You’re kneeling on the ground picking up equipment when she approaches you.

“Could I speak to you for a moment?” Wanda asks.

“Yeah, no problem,” you say, standing up to meet her level. Your eyes do cut to the skin revealed by her shirt. “Is everything okay? Boys good?”

“Oh, yes. Everything’s fine,” she says. “It’s just- well-“ Wanda begins. You have no idea where she’s going with this. “My church is starting an adult softball league and I have absolutely no idea how to play.”

You’re sure she’s lying by the way her eyes don’t quite meet yours. But you don’t care.

“Ah okay,” you say. “You need some lessons from Coach Y/n?”

Wanda blushes. “Yes please.”

“Of course. Anything for you, Mrs. Maximoff. Let’s get started.”

You and Wanda walk to home plate to together. All you have is a child’s bat but it’ll do for her to learn the basic movements.

“Let’s see you swing,” you say.

You take a step back and watch Wanda use the worst form you’ve ever seen. No way she’s that bad at it. You hold back a chuckle.

“That was bad wasn’t it?” She asks. You don’t say yes but you don’t say no either. “I’m helpless.”

“No, no. You can do this, Mrs. Maximoff.”

“You know you can call me Wanda,” she says.

“I could, but why would I want to when you blush every time I call you Mrs. Maximoff?” You tease her.

That really makes her blush. You step behind her and help her grip the bat better. Your front presses against her back and Wanda feels a sensation in her entire body.

“Try it this way,” you tell her.

You wrap your hands around hers on the bat and swing together. It’s much better this time.

“That’s it, Mrs. Maximoff!” You say. “Let me get some balls and you can actually hit some.”

“Wait,” she says before you can move.

“Yeah?”

“Um- show me again?”

Instead of doing that, you put your hands on her waist and turn her around to face you. You keep your hands there tightly.

“You know if you want to be close to me, you could just ask,” you say, hoping you read this right.

By the way her breath hitches, you read this completely right.

“I- you’re young,” Wanda says.

“So? If you want this, don’t fight it. Mrs. Maximoff, why deny yourself the pleasure?” You grip her waist impossibly tighter. Your chest is practically pressed against hers.

“Because it’s just- it’s not right,” she says.

“Okay,” you say. “We’ll walk away like nothing happened. Or we could go back to my place?”

Her eyes go wide. She had no idea how you wanted her. She wonders how long she’s ignored the signs.

“I have to be home tonight for my boys,” she says. She glances at her watch. “By 8.”

“We’ll go to your place then,” you say. “Come on. Say yes.”

Wanda hesitates, but she nods. You abandon your clean up job follow her to her car. The drive to her house is quiet. You can tell Wanda’s nervous, but you hope she’s actually excited.

You follow her into her house. There’s photos of Wanda and the kids littering the walls. Along with some of friends and other family members.

“Oh, is this you?” You ask her, pointing to a photo of a young girl.

“That’s me,” she answers. “Do you want a drink?”

“Sure,” you say. You sit on the couch while she pours a glass of wine for you. “Thank you, ma’am.”

“You’re welcome,” Wanda says.

You sit close to her, but you want to be closer. You want to be all over her.

“So, why did you decide to make a move on me today?” You wonder aloud.

Wanda nearly chokes on her drink. “I guess I just- I have been thinking about you for a while.”

“Oh yeah?”

She nods. You set your glass down on the table.

“What have you been thinking about specifically?”

“Um- kissing you,” she says quietly.

You smirk at that. You’ve imagined too what it would feel like to press your lips to hers and run your hands through her hair.

“Wanda,” you say. “Come here.”

You pull her closer to you by the back of her neck and connect your lips. You kiss her hard. Wanda takes a second to catch up, but once she does she settles in.

Her lips part in a gasp and you take full advantage. You deepen the kiss, pushing Wanda back to lie on the couch. You straddle her.

“Y/n,” she mumbles when you move your lips to her neck.

“Relax, baby. Let me make you feel good,” you say.

You move your hands under her shirt and lift the material over her head. You have to withhold a growl at the sight of her bare chest. She’s perfect.

You take one breast in your hand and the other in your mouth. Wanda squirms at the feeling of your mouth on her nipple.

“Oh god,” Wanda groans.

You take off her pants and slip her panties down her legs. She’s dripping wet. You move closer to her pussy, but don’t quite dive in yet.

“Did you imagine this, Mrs. Maximoff? Being all spread out for me?”

“Yes,” she says. “Yes, baby, I did.”

“Fuck yes you did,” you say.

You bury your face between her legs, licking through her folds. You hold her waist down as you eat her out. Wanda keeps her hand on your head as you bring her to her high.

“I’m going to come,” Wanda says through bated breaths. “Fuck.”

“Come for me, Mrs. Maximoff,” you say against her.

The words and the way you’re making her feel so good makes her come in no time.

“That’s it, sweetheart,” you say. “So good.”

You move from between her legs and Wanda sits up on the couch. She smiles at you lazily and you kiss her softly.

“Shit, it’s 7:45,” Wanda says. “The boys will be home anytime.”

“That’s okay,” you say. You’re wearing a goofy grin. All you wanted was to taste her and you got to do just that.

“But I didn’t get to- you didn’t get to feel as good as I do,” Wanda pouts. You think it’s the cutest thing in the world.

“Hey, that’s alright. Another time? Call me later?” You ask her.

“Oh, yes. I will,” she replies.

You stand up but kiss her once more before you leave. You kiss her in a way that leaves her wanting you more than ever before.

Wanda is definitely looking forward to being with you again. She’s glad she fell for you.

#wanda maximoff x reader #milf!wanda maximoff x reader #milf!wanda #wanda maximoff #wanda maximoff smut #wanda maximoff fluff

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ramblinscramblin · 2 months ago

Note

I know you only have one post rn but hsgagshagaghssgahsh I love how you write😭

Anyways, giving you a request since I'm already here :)

Reader who really likes Scout's whole clumsy way of flirting. He's like "I got a bucket of chicken" and the reader is just "😍😍😍😍". Or he stumbles over his words when flirting and thinks he's made a fool of himself, meanwhile the reader is basically swooning right next to him.

Bonus points if Spy is observing this all and is just like:

→Reader who enjoys Scouts awkward flirting!

Genre: Fluff!

Characters: Scout tehe

THANK U FOR THIS. This is incredibly real, he is so so so silly.

Scout

Scout took immediate interest in you.

He couldn’t place exactly what it was about you that just made you instantly attractive.

But it was because of his immediate interest that made him such a colossal disaster in front of you.

He just cannot stop, making a fool out of himself. Going to great and insane lengths to try and impress you, literally getting blown up on the battlefield to try and show you a cool jump he can do.

You find is so so endearing and funny, you always laugh at his silly attempts at impressing you.

He mistakes this as genuine malicious intent, thinks you’re making fun of him and feels like the world’s biggest idiot.

“Hey Scout,” you greet one day, feeling a little bold.

Scout straightens in an instant, now was his chance to put the moves on you, make or break time scout.

“Oh! H-hey. Yeah, wassup,” he says before sniffling “you wanna see my baseball cards?” He says abruptly, already mentally berating himself.

You chuckle a little, and he deflates feeling like human garbage. You bump his shoulder with your arm “sure. That sounds fun,” you say with a smile.

He immediately perks up, shows you his nerdy card collection for way too long. Worries the whole time that you think it’s dumb, really cannot tell if you’re making fun of him.

Spy really does not help his anxiety, makes fun of his attempts extremely outwardly, really confused on why you keep coming around…

After watching a few more of your interactions he is appalled to find out that you actually like him back.

Does not let Scout in on this realization.

Him watching you full send the most intense signals to Scout that you’re interested and it’s just soaring over his head causes him physical pain.

“Hey Scout, I was wondering if you wanted to show me your baseball card collection again?” You asked one day, Spy secretly watching from a nearby corner.

“You wanna see it again? I haven’t got anymore,” he says.

You shrug “oh? That’s a shame, I was looking forward to having you all to myself today,” you simper leaning into him.

He’s already told himself that you’re so not interested (plus he’s got a complex from how hard he was rejected from Pauling) so he hardly even flinches “oh well. Next time ‘den I’ll have sumthin’ new to show.”

Spy face palms, mumbling about how dumb he is as he sneaks away.

You find it really endearing though, total heart eyes over this dumbass.

Eventually when you finally stop torturing him and tell him how you feel he’s so flustered and surprised, like: you actually liked how much of an idiot I was? Cannot believe it.

Rubs it in Spies face so hard.

“Look at this hottie I bagged by bein’ a total dumbass. Hah! I win!” He proclaimed loudly.

No because I’m tweaking I love him so much. Anyways thank u so much for the request I took some creative liberties but obviously I had a lot of fun with this one haha!

#scout x reader #team fortress 2 #tf2 #x reader #tf2 x reader #fanfiction #fanfic #fic #headcanons #tf2 spy #tf2 scout

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atlasthegreatest · 3 months ago

Text

Where it Begins / Yu Jimin x Male Reader

In which, Karina goes on a blind date with Y/n—a long time friend of Giselle. Or, where Y/n and Karina bond over their shared desire for normalcy among their busy lives.

Word count: 4165

A/n: I wanted to try something… I hope you guys like it.

Yu Jimin, better known as Karina from Aespa, sat in a cozy corner of a trendy café in Gangnam, stirring her iced Americano absentmindedly. She wasn’t sure how she had let herself be roped into this situation—blind dates weren’t exactly her thing. But Giselle, her groupmate and close friend, had been persistent.

“Trust me, Jimin. He’s nice, funny, and not the type to be starstruck. He’s a normal guy with a good head on his shoulders,” Giselle had said with a grin. “You need someone who gets you, and I think he could.”

Now, as the soft murmur of café chatter surrounded her, Karina couldn’t help but feel a little nervous. Being an idol came with its own set of complications, and dating was one of the hardest. There were always eyes on her, even now when she wore a simple baseball cap and oversized hoodie, hoping to blend in.

She checked her phone again. He was supposed to be here any minute.

“Hi, Jimin?”

Karina looked up, surprised by the familiar, deep voice. She blinked, taking in the man standing in front of her. He wasn’t exactly what she had expected—but then again, she hadn’t known what to expect. He had a sharp, clean-cut look, with a slight air of confidence about him. His smile, however, was warm and genuine.

“Yes, hi! You must be Y/n?” she asked, standing up to greet him.

“Yeah, Y/n. It’s nice to finally meet you,” he said, taking a seat across from her. “Aeri told me a lot about you, but I didn’t know what to expect.”

“Same,” Karina laughed softly. “She said you were her friend from school, right?”

“Yeah, we met in one of our history classes. I work as a financial consultant now,” Y/n explained. “It’s pretty straightforward, but I like it. What about you? I mean, I know what you do, of course, but how’s life treating you?”

Karina smiled, appreciating that he wasn’t making her idol status the focus of the conversation. “It’s good. Busy, as usual. We’re preparing for a comeback soon, so things have been non-stop. But I enjoy it, you know? It’s what I’ve always wanted to do.”

“I can imagine. It must be intense. I have no idea how you handle all that pressure,” Y/n said, taking a sip of his coffee. “Do you get much time for yourself?”

“Not really,” she admitted. “But I try to make the most of the little breaks I get. I love what I do, so I can’t really complain. And besides, today’s a nice change of pace.”

“Yeah? It’s been a while since I’ve done something like this too,” Y/n admitted. “Honestly, I was kind of surprised when Aeri suggested this, but I figured, why not?”

They both laughed at how Giselle’s insistence had pushed them into this moment, and it eased the lingering awkwardness between them. As the conversation continued, Karina found herself relaxing more. Y/n had an easygoing nature, and despite his polished appearance, he wasn’t intimidating at all. He talked about his work, shared funny anecdotes from university, and even admitted to being a bit of a homebody when he wasn’t working.

Karina, in turn, talked about her passions outside of music, like how she loved writing and finding new hobbies but struggled with having enough time for them. They bonded over their shared introverted tendencies and the desire to find balance in their busy lives.

At one point, Y/n leaned back, watching her with a thoughtful expression. “You’re different from what I expected.”

Karina raised an eyebrow. “Different how?”

“I don’t know. I guess I expected you to be more… guarded? But you’re easy to talk to,” he said, a bit shyly. “It’s refreshing.”

She smiled, feeling a slight warmth spread through her at the compliment. “I guess I’m just comfortable around you. It doesn’t feel like you’re judging me.”

“I’m not. Honestly, I’m impressed. Not many people could handle what you do.”

Karina looked down at her drink, a bit flustered. “Thanks. I appreciate that.”

The conversation flowed naturally after that, and before they knew it, two hours had passed. Karina felt surprised at how comfortable she was around Y/n, and how much she was enjoying herself. The awkwardness had faded, replaced by a genuine connection.

“So,” Y/n said, glancing at his watch, “I know this was just supposed to be coffee, but would you want to grab dinner sometime? No pressure, of course.”

Karina hesitated for only a moment before nodding. “I’d like that. Let’s see how our schedules line up, but I’m interested.”

Y/n grinned, looking relieved. “Great. I’ll text Aeri and let her know the blind date didn’t completely flop.”

They both laughed, and Karina felt a strange sense of excitement. Maybe blind dates weren’t so bad after all.

As they left the café, exchanging one last smile before parting ways, Karina couldn’t help but wonder what this unexpected connection might lead to.

————————-

A few days had passed since the blind date, and Karina found herself thinking about it more than she expected. In the whirlwind of rehearsals, interviews, and photoshoots for Aespa’s upcoming comeback, her mind kept drifting back to that afternoon with Y/n. It wasn’t just the fact that the date had gone well—there was something about him that stuck with her.

Maybe it was the way he seemed completely unfazed by her fame, treating her like any other person. It felt rare, especially in a world where everyone seemed to have expectations about who she should be.

“Jimin, you’re spacing out again.” Giselle’s voice broke through her thoughts.

Karina blinked, snapping back to reality as she and her groupmates sat in their dorm’s living room. They were taking a much-needed break after a long day of practice.

“Sorry,” Karina mumbled, earning a knowing smirk from Aeri.

“You’ve been like this ever since the date,” Giselle teased. “Y/n must’ve really left an impression, huh?”

Karina rolled her eyes but couldn’t hide the small smile tugging at her lips. “He was nice. It wasn’t as awkward as I thought it would be.”

“Nice? That’s it?” Winter piped in from her spot on the couch, clearly interested in the gossip. “Come on, unnie, you can do better than that. Give us details.”

“Well, he’s a financial consultant. Smart, funny, and…” Karina paused, feeling a little shy under her members’ curious gazes. “He made me feel comfortable. I didn’t expect that.”

“You like him,” Ningning sing-songed, earning a playful glare from Karina.

“I didn’t say that,” she protested, though the warmth in her cheeks gave her away.

“It’s written all over your face, unnie,” Ningning added, giggling. “But that’s okay. It’s good to see you thinking about something other than work for once.”

Karina shook her head, trying to hide her embarrassment. “It’s just one date. I don’t know where it’s going, if anywhere.”

“You should give it a chance,” Giselle said, her tone a bit more serious now. “Y/n’s a good guy, and you deserve to have something normal. If it works out, great. If not, no big deal.”

Karina appreciated Giselle’s words, but the thought of dating still made her feel cautious. Her career was at its peak, and dating wasn’t just personal—it was public. Every move she made would be scrutinized, and the idea of dealing with the media’s obsession with her love life felt overwhelming.

But then again, Y/n didn’t seem like the type who would complicate things. He was grounded, and that was rare in her world.

“Okay, I’ll give it a shot,” Karina finally said, her voice soft but resolute. “We’ll see where it goes.”

A week later, Karina found herself waiting outside a quiet restaurant in Itaewon. Y/n had suggested a place known for its privacy, one that celebrities often frequented to avoid being spotted. He’d even joked about how he wasn’t famous, but he figured she might appreciate the discretion.

Y/n arrived right on time, flashing her that same easy smile that made her feel at ease. He was dressed casually in a dark sweater and jeans, his appearance polished but not overly so. It was the kind of look that suited him—effortless but put-together.

“Hey, hope I didn’t keep you waiting,” Y/n said as he approached.

“No, I just got here too,” Karina replied, smiling back. “This place looks nice.”

“I figured you’d appreciate somewhere quiet. You probably don’t get much peace when you go out, huh?”

Karina chuckled softly. “Not really, no. This is perfect, though.”

They were led to a private booth tucked away in the back, and Karina felt the tension ease from her shoulders as they settled in. The dim lighting and soft music created a relaxed atmosphere, making it easy to forget the pressures outside.

“So, how’s comeback prep going?” Y/n asked once they had ordered.

“Intense, but that’s normal,” Karina said with a small sigh. “There’s always pressure to outdo ourselves with every release. It’s exhausting, but I love it. I just wish there were more hours in the day.”

“I can’t even imagine. I get stressed just from balancing a couple of client meetings in a day. You’re juggling a whole career.”

“Yeah, but you deal with people’s money,” she pointed out with a grin. “That sounds stressful in its own way.”

“Fair point,” Y/n laughed. “But I’m guessing you don’t get much downtime to just… be yourself, huh?”

Karina’s expression softened at the question. “Not really. I mean, I do have my moments. The members and I are really close, so I can relax around them. But outside of that… yeah, it’s hard to switch off.”

Y/n nodded thoughtfully. “I guess it’s hard for people to see past the idol image sometimes.”

Karina glanced at him, surprised by how easily he seemed to understand. “Yeah. It’s not that I mind being an idol—it’s who I am. But sometimes I feel like people forget there’s a person behind it.”

“Well, I don’t want to sound presumptuous,” Y/n said, his tone careful, “but I don’t see you as Karina right now. Just Jimin.”

Her heart skipped a beat at his words. It wasn’t something she heard often—at least not from someone who wasn’t already in her close circle. She found herself smiling, genuinely touched.

“Thank you. That means a lot.”

They continued to talk, the conversation flowing just as easily as it had during their first meeting. Y/n shared stories about his clients and the quirks of working in finance, while Karina opened up about the more human side of being in the spotlight—how she missed simple things like going to the movies or walking around Seoul without being recognized.

The night flew by, and before they knew it, the restaurant was closing. As they stepped out into the cool evening air, Y/n walked her to her manager's car.

“So… dinner wasn’t a disaster,” he joked, rubbing the back of his neck. “I’d call that a win.”

Karina laughed, feeling lighter than she had in a long time. “I’d say so. I had a great time.”

“Same here.” Y/n hesitated for a moment before continuing, “Would it be okay if we did this again? I know your schedule’s probably crazy, but…”

“I’d like that,” Karina said, cutting him off with a smile. “We’ll figure something out.”

Y/n smiled back, relieved. “Great. I’ll let you know when I’m free, and you can do the same.”

As they said their goodbyes, Karina felt a warmth settle in her chest. It wasn’t a grand, sweeping romance—not yet, anyway. But there was something genuine about Y/n that made her want to keep exploring whatever this was.

For the first time in a long while, she felt like she could be herself, and that was worth holding on to.

Bonus chapter:

It was early afternoon, and Aespa had just wrapped up a grueling rehearsal for their upcoming music video shoot. The studio was buzzing with the usual energy: staff members adjusting lighting, choreographers reviewing the footage, and the members catching their breath on the sidelines. Karina stretched her arms above her head, feeling the slight ache in her muscles.

“Okay, let’s take a fifteen-minute break, everyone!” the choreographer called out.

Karina grabbed a towel to wipe the sweat off her forehead and slumped onto the floor next to Winter, who was scrolling through her phone.

“You’ve been glowing lately,” Winter teased, her eyes still on the screen. “It’s either that new skincare routine or that boy you went on a date with.”

Karina gave her a playful nudge. “It’s definitely the skincare.”

“Sure, sure,” Winter said with a smirk. “So, when are you seeing him again? Or are you already planning the wedding?”

Karina let out a dramatic sigh. “One date and everyone’s marrying me off.”

“Hey, I’m just asking,” Winter laughed, tossing her phone aside. “He seems like a good guy. I’m happy for you, unnie.”

Karina appreciated Winter’s sincerity, though she wasn’t quite sure how to describe what was happening with Y/n. It had only been a couple of weeks since their blind date, but they had texted regularly, and their casual dinner had felt… natural. Real. Like something outside the world of cameras and expectations. She wasn’t used to that.

“I’m seeing him later this week,” Karina admitted quietly. “But it’s nothing serious yet.”

Winter gave her a thoughtful look. “You don’t need to rush. Just see where it goes, right?”

Karina nodded, thankful for Winter’s easygoing advice. The conversation was cut short when Giselle bounded over, a mischievous glint in her eyes.

“What are we talking about? Jimin’s love life again?”

“Obviously,” Winter replied, smirking.

Giselle dropped down onto the floor beside them. “Well, I approve of Y/n. And I’m rarely wrong about people.”

Karina smiled. “I think I approve too. So far, at least.”

Later that evening, Karina sat in her dorm room, her legs tucked under her as she looked out the window at the city skyline. She was still winding down from practice, sipping on some herbal tea when her phone buzzed beside her. A message from Y/n.

Y/n: “Hey, Jimin! How was your day? Still alive after all those rehearsals?”

Karina chuckled softly and typed back.

Karina: “Barely! But yeah, we survived. How about you? Long day at work?”

Y/n: “You could say that. Had a couple of back-to-back meetings, and now I’m trying to remember what sleep feels like.”

Karina: “Sounds like you need more than a cup of coffee.”

Y/n: “What I need is another dinner with you. If you’re free this weekend?”

Karina’s heart did a little flip, the simplicity of the question making her smile. She typed back without overthinking it.

Karina: “I think I can make that happen :)”

There was a pause before Y/n responded.

Y/n: “Perfect. I’ll find somewhere quiet again. I’m not trying to end up on the front page of Dispatch.”

Karina laughed, appreciating his understanding of her situation. It was refreshing that he took her lifestyle in stride without making it awkward.

Karina: “Yeah, let’s avoid that for as long as possible.”

Y/n: “Deal. Looking forward to it, Jimin.”

———————-

The weekend came quickly, and Karina found herself back in the familiar rhythm of preparing for a date. She kept it simple—minimal makeup, a casual but chic outfit that could go unnoticed. For once, she felt a bit of excitement bubbling in her stomach that wasn’t tied to performing or being in the public eye. It was personal, and that felt nice.

They met at a small, tucked-away restaurant in Seongsu-dong that Y/n had picked out, a quiet place with an intimate atmosphere. As soon as Karina walked in, Y/n stood up to greet her with a warm smile.

“Hey, you look great,” Y/n said, his voice kind.

“Thanks. You too,” Karina replied, smiling as she took a seat.

Once again, the conversation flowed effortlessly. They talked about their week, shared stories about their families, and even laughed over the little annoyances of their respective jobs. Y/n had a way of making her laugh that felt unforced, natural. Karina could feel herself lowering her guard, bit by bit.

Throughout the evening, they fell into a comfortable rhythm, enjoying each other��s company in a way that didn’t feel rushed or forced. It was easy, and Karina realized how much she appreciated that—how much she needed it.

After they finished dinner, they stepped outside into the cool autumn air. The streets were quieter now, a soft breeze rustling through the trees. Karina wrapped her coat a little tighter around her, and Y/n glanced at her.

“Want to walk for a bit?” he asked. “I know a nice spot by the river not too far from here.”

Karina hesitated for only a second before nodding. “Sure, I’d like that.”

They walked side by side, the gentle sound of their footsteps mixing with the occasional distant hum of traffic. The Han River stretched out beside them, shimmering under the city lights.

“Do you ever get tired of it?” Y/n asked suddenly, breaking the silence.

Karina looked over at him, curious. “Of what?”

“Being Karina. The public persona. The constant pressure.”

She thought about it for a moment, the weight of the question settling over her. “Sometimes,” she admitted softly. “It’s not that I don’t love what I do—I do. But there are moments when it’s hard. When I just want to disappear for a while and be Jimin. No expectations. No spotlight.”

Y/n nodded, understanding flickering in his eyes. “I get that. It must be hard to find that balance.”

“It is,” Karina said, her voice quieter now. “But tonight, I feel more like Jimin than Karina.”

Y/n smiled at that, his gaze warm as he looked at her. “I’m glad.”

They continued walking in silence for a while, the comfortable kind that didn’t need to be filled with words. As they reached a small bench overlooking the river, Y/n stopped and turned to her.

“You know, I wasn’t sure what to expect when Aeri set this up,” he admitted with a sheepish grin. “But I’m really glad we did this.”

Karina felt the same warmth from before, that quiet sense of something real blossoming between them. “Me too.”

As they stood there, looking out over the peaceful river, Karina realized that, for the first time in a long while, she wasn’t thinking about work, schedules, or the next big event. She was just Jimin, standing beside someone who saw her for who she was—and that felt like something worth holding on to.

As Karina and Y/n sat on the bench, watching the river’s gentle current, the silence between them felt more like an unspoken understanding. She rarely had moments like these—where the world slowed down, and she wasn’t the idol, the performer, or the public figure. She was just herself, and Y/n had a way of reminding her that being Jimin was enough.

“Tell me something you missed from before you became… well, you,” Y/n asked suddenly, breaking the comfortable quiet.

Karina thought about it for a moment, her mind drifting back to memories of simpler times. “I think it’s the small things,” she said softly. “Like going to the grocery store without feeling watched. Or taking the subway and people not recognizing me. I used to love just walking through the streets and feeling invisible, blending into the crowd. I miss that.”

Y/n nodded, his expression thoughtful. “That must be hard—to give up those everyday moments. People probably think being famous is all glamour, but they don’t see what you lose.”

“It’s a trade-off,” Karina said, shrugging lightly. “I wouldn’t change my life for anything, but yeah, there are moments where I just want to be… ordinary again. But enough about me. What about you? What do you miss from when life was simpler?”

Y/n chuckled. “You’re assuming my life’s complicated now.”

“Well, it can’t be all easy, right? Financial consultant—sounds intense.”

Y/n grinned. “I guess so. I think I miss having time for hobbies. Back in university, I used to play the guitar. Not anything fancy, just for fun. But now, between work and adulting, I barely have time to pick it up. Sometimes I feel like life’s become all about work and not enough about living.”

“Sounds familiar,” Karina replied, a soft laugh escaping her. “Maybe we need to find more time to live.”

Y/n looked at her, his smile fading slightly as his expression turned more serious. “Maybe we do.”

They shared a lingering look, the air between them charged with something unsaid but palpable. It wasn’t an overwhelming intensity, but more of a quiet, growing connection. Something steady and real, like the slow build of a song that hasn’t reached its crescendo yet.

“Are you ever afraid of people finding out?” Y/n asked after a while, his tone gentle.

Karina knew what he meant. The thought of the media discovering this budding relationship was always in the back of her mind, a constant pressure she couldn’t escape. “I am,” she admitted. “It’s complicated. If people find out, it could affect both of us—my career, and your privacy. It’s not just about us, you know?”

Y/n nodded, understanding flickering in his eyes. “Yeah, I get that. But for what it’s worth, I’m willing to take things as they come. I’m not going to run away because it might get messy.”

Karina felt her chest tighten at his words. It was rare to find someone willing to navigate the chaos of her life without hesitating, without being scared off by the potential consequences. She appreciated that more than she could say.

“Thank you,” she said, her voice quiet but sincere. “I needed to hear that.”

Y/n smiled, and the weight of the conversation seemed to lift slightly as they stood from the bench and began walking back toward the main street. The cool breeze brushed past them, carrying with it the scent of autumn, crisp and fresh. Karina could feel the energy of the city, the hum of life continuing around them, but in this little moment, it felt like they had carved out a space just for themselves.

As they reached the point where they would part ways, Y/n paused, turning to face her. His expression was soft, thoughtful, as if he was weighing his next words carefully.

“Can I be honest with you for a second?”

Karina raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “Of course.”

“I didn’t know what to expect when we first met. Aeri had always talked about you like you were this larger-than-life person, this untouchable figure. And I was nervous—thinking about how different our worlds are. But now…” He paused, running a hand through his hair before meeting her gaze again. “Now, I just see you as Jimin. And I like that. I like you.”

His confession hung in the air between them, and Karina felt her heart skip a beat. It wasn’t that she hadn’t heard people express interest in her before—she was used to the admiration that came with being an idol. But Y/n wasn’t talking about Karina, the persona. He was talking about the person behind it, and that meant more than he could know.

She didn’t trust herself to speak for a moment, unsure of how to respond to such an honest, vulnerable admission. But eventually, she smiled, the warmth of his words settling in her chest.

“I like you too,” she said softly, feeling the truth of it as she spoke.

Y/n’s grin returned, soft but genuine. “That’s good to know.”

They stood there for a moment longer, neither of them in a rush to leave. The world felt suspended in time, the busy city around them fading into the background.

“I should get going,” Y/n said finally, though there was a hint of reluctance in his voice.

“Yeah, me too,” Karina agreed, though she felt the same.

As Y/n took a step back, he gave her one last look, his smile still lingering. “I’ll text you.”

“I’ll be waiting,” she replied, her own smile growing as she watched him walk away.

Once he disappeared into the night, Karina let out a small breath, feeling a mixture of excitement and uncertainty. This was new territory—uncharted, and in many ways, risky. But for the first time in a long time, she felt something genuine, something real, and she wasn’t sure she was ready to let it go.

———————

As she turned to head back to her dorm, Karina’s phone buzzed in her pocket. She pulled it out, expecting a message from one of her members or her manager, but instead saw Y/n’s name lighting up her screen.

Y/n: “By the way, what’s your favorite song right now?”

Karina chuckled and typed back quickly.

Karina: “That’s a hard one. Why?”

Y/n: “I’m thinking of picking up my guitar again. Maybe I can learn it for you.”

Her heart fluttered at the thought, and for the first time in a while, Karina let herself feel hopeful.

#aespa #yu jimin #male reader #karina #karina x male reader #aespa x reader #aespa winter #aespa giselle #aespa ningning #fluff

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lafleshlumpeater · 11 months ago

Note

Luke Castellan x Daughter of Dionysus reader? The show version of Dionysus was funny and I just want to know how the whole interactions would go

i loved this request, thanks sm for sending it in!! i actually haven't watched the show, so if this is inaccurate i'm v sorry </3

warnings: mentions of eating and drinking (no alcohol), fem!reader, established relationship, mild PDA, nickname

luke castellan masterlist

Your boyfriend lovingly nuzzles his nose into your temple from where he's sitting next to you. “Your dad is giving me looks,” he whispers. Your lips pull upwards at Luke’s antics, rolling your eyes and looking over at your father at where he’s sitting next to Chiron. He’s trying to be subtle, you’ll give him that, but there’s nothing implicit about the way he’s eyeing your boyfriend in an attempt at being suavely menacing. With his leopard- print shirt, pot belly and an aluminium Coca- Cola can he’s gripping so hard it’s beginning to crumple, it’s not working.

You take a bite into your wrap. “He is.”

“He’s scaring me.”

This elicits a snort from you, choking slightly on a cucumber chunk. “Luke Castellan, one of the most intimidating campers at Camp Half- Blood, is scared of my dad? The god of wine?”

Luke whines in protest through a sip of water. “Yeah, the god of wine. Imagine, if, like, he got drunk and… I don’t know, whacked me around the head with a baseball bat.”

You snort. “What? Babe, I’m pretty sure he doesn’t even know your name.”

Your boyfriend pouts. “That makes me feel so much better.”

“Baby.” Luke rolls his eyes playfully, relishing in the banter the two of you have managed to maintain throughout your relationship. But his momentary glee is cut short when he realises Dionysus has risen from the table, disposing of his empty can and making his way over to where the two of you are sitting. Panicked, he nudges you.

“He’s coming,” Luke indiscreetly whisper- screams, as if you hadn’t noticed already.

“Relax, nothing’s gonna happen,” you murmur back. You were sure of it. Mostly.

“Luis,” your father greets, suddenly next to the two of you. Luke swallows, afraid to correct him. You’re milliseconds from letting out a laugh aloud.

“Dad, it’s Luke.”

His eyebrows furrow. “Yes. Lucas. That’s what I said.”

You can’t help but purse your lips, both from suppressing an entertained chortle and half in contempt for your father’s annoying penchant of feinting at carelessness for every camper who wasn’t you. Honestly, you were surprised he didn’t give you the same treatment sometimes.

“Well, Lucas, it has come to my attention you are dating my daughter.” He nods towards you; you cringe. If he was about to give Luke the ‘take care of my daughter or else’ talk, you were going to run away and never come back.

Luke nods, gulping. “Yes. Sir.”

Trying to save him and yourself from embarrassment, you intervene. “Dad. Please.”

“Oh no, no,” he insists. “I just wanted to have a quick word and say that… the two of you look quite happy. And I’m proud of the two of you.” He turns to the shell- shocked boy beside you. “But I have to mention, young man, if anything changes-”

“Okay dad!” You shoot him a ‘please stop’ look disguised in a beaming grin which he’s on the receiving end of too many times to be oblivious to. “Thank you! You can go now!”

Finally, he wanders off again, muttering under his breath. You catch little of it, something about how ‘teenagers nowadays’ and ‘so ungrateful’.

You turn to Luke; he’s already looking at you with an incredulous look on his face. “What… just happened?”

Like a ticking time bomb, your laughter finally escapes, Luke quickly joining you.

Dionysus looks on, back in his seat next to Chiron, hiding a satisfied smile behind a glass bottle of Coke.

taglist: @doyouknowwhoyouare13 @explosiongamora @brutal-out-here @absolutely-existing @quickslvxrr @bibliophile-dendrophile

READ: this account stands with palestine, and so— i require everyone who interacts to educate themselves, and support/donate. READ THESE; 1 and 2, HELP HERE, BOYCOTT. silence is complicity, do not scroll past this.

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thesassypadawan · 7 months ago

Text

Closing Time (Leo x FemReader)

Summary: Who doesn’t love closing time? Especially when it’s with your very handsome, very sexy coworker.

Warnings: 18+ (mdni), because there sooo much of the smut. Closing time fun and… Leo’s big, fat dick.

Notes: I would love to hear what all you, lovelies, think! If you would like to see more of Leo! If so...I already have another idea in mind! ❤️

- Closing time, your absolute favorite part of your shift. Well, that and getting to work with him.

- You’d be lying if you said you aren’t attracted to him. Those sparking blue eyes, that brilliant smile, tight butt… It was easy to see why you drop a slice of pizza or spill a drink at least once a day…

- “Angel… Angel… Earth to, angel…”

- “Oh, Leo!” You squeak in surprise, broom clattering to the floor.

- Kicking yourself internally, you scramble to pick it up. Trying to act like you weren’t just totally spacing out, watching him prep the dough for tomorrow. Rolling, kneading it…fantasizing it was you instead. “Um, d-did you need something?”

- The sound of his gravelly voice comes floating from the back, a shiver running down your spine. “Yeah, if you’re done cleanin’ up front; I could use some help back here.”

- Popping up, you’re met by the sight of him standing there. Arms crossed over his chest, a mischievous look on his flour smeared face. “Made a real mess.”

- The heat instantly rushes to your cheeks and other places. “O-Okay, I’m com-”

- “Comin’?” He chuckles, eyebrows raised slightly. “Knew I’d get ya to.”

- Flashing you a grin, he returns to his work. Leaving your heart pounding, walls fluttering. Just like always, damn him.

- With a soft huff, you quickly scamper around the counter. Keeping yourself turned away him, you get to sweeping. Minding your own business, doing your best to not focus on the fact that you keep getting closer to him with each brush of the broom.

- Due to the cramped space, you two inevitably end up bumping into one another. Turning, you begin to frantically apologize… “Opps, sorry! I didn’t mean to-”

- …when suddenly he crowds you against the small island and captures your lips in a searing kiss. Nipping, slipping his tongue into your mouth. Hard cock pressing into your stomach. Dirty hands making their way down your sides, streaks of white left in their wake. As they come to settle on your hips; giving them a good, firm squeeze.

- Breaking apart, he mutters in your ear, “Been waitin’ to do that.” Before hoisting you up, sending anything and everything crashing to the floor.

- “And what else, huh?” You giggle, watching Leo fumble with his belt and zipper. While you eagerly shimmy out of your leggings and panties. Eyes growing a bit wide when you see what he’s been sporting this whole time.

- Slotting himself between your legs, he cages you in with his strong arms. Lips trailing over your neck, fat tip running through your wet folds. “I think ya know.”

- Your hands come to rest on the back of his head, knocking his baseball cap off. A needy mewl escaping you when you feel him line up with your entrance. “Don’t tease me.”

- Smirking, he snaps his hips forward. Stretching you out so deliciously, pounding into you wonderfully. Teeth biting at your sensitive skin. “Never tease…not with ya.”

- Speeding up, his thrusts grow stronger. Your body bouncing with every movement and all you can do is hold on. Fingers gripping his shoulders, pussy clinging to him. Panting and moaning like crazy.

- The noise of skin slapping together fills the air, his dick driving deeper. Hitting that lovely little spot inside you over and over. Pushing you swiftly and dangerously close to the edge, along with… “Fuck… Sweetheart… Fuck…”

- One last hard slam and he has you seeing stars. Whole body clamping down, a string of cries flying from your lips. As you gush all over his cock, while he paints your walls white. Some leaking out, mingling with the flour beneath you.

- Slowly coming back down, he presses his forehead to yours. Both wearing the same stupid smile, you can’t help but tease. “Wow, you really did make a mess.”

- “And I’m about to make it into a bigger one,” Leo growls. Mouths colliding, hips starting to slowly rock again.

Tag Lists: @espinathena-17, @myheartwillgoon2022, @wifeofasith, @kenobiskywalkerkestis, @loverforoldermen, @lunarnightt, @adorbzliz, @ahano, @kenmaiica, @freezerbride95, @lunarnightt

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only-luce-the-goose · 7 months ago

Note

Hiii pookie 🫶🥹

it's me again the same anon from Arthur's long fic 😂 i thought it would be nice to thank you again for fulfilling the request, they were all absolutely beautiful and I enjoyed them a lot✨,now proclaimed you one of my favorite Arthur writers ✨🥹🫶

i used to want an Arthur in my life now I NEED him 😭

Also today my mood was so bad but reading the fic distracted me a little from everyday things, thank you once again i send you a hug and kisses 🫶😚🫂💗💗

I hope you have the best days, always and forever !!!🙂‍↕️love ya boo💗

(if you didn't get enough of me, I promise that if I have any more ideas I will let you know so you can use them with your writings about other pilots)

A Bit Off

A/N: Hi Anon!!!!!

I’m so, so happy you enjoyed them and I feel privileged to be your favourite Arthur writer 🥰🥰. I’m thinking I might start writing for other drivers as well.

I swear I need an Arthur in my life too 😫. I’m sorry you weren’t feeling too well today, I’m glad my writing was able to help you feel better! 😘

And I will never get enough of you, message as much as you want!! 🫶🏻🫶🏻

I’ve currently got another Arthur fic and an Ollie Bearman fic in the works. I just wanted to write this little one as thank you for your kind words and requests. It’s also kind of based off how you felt today, enjoy ☺️

Arthur Leclerc x reader

Synopsis: After a bad day, Arthur just wants to make you feel all better

(He’s such a cute, lil smiley boyyyyy 😍)

You woke up on the wrong side of the bed, you felt down and depressed all day for no reason. Unfortunately, Arthur wasn’t around and wouldn’t be back for another 3 days. All you wanted to do was cuddle up and watch movies with him.

You stayed on the couch, drowning in your favourite hoodie of Arthur’s, watching your comfort tv show. You heard the door at the front of the apartment unlock, keys jangling as the door was pushed open. You pulled the baseball bat out from under the couch and crept over to the wall next to the hallway.

You heard shoes being toed off, sock padded feet slowly walking down the hallways. You waited for the footsteps to come closer before you stepped out from the wall. You swung the bat.

“OHHH HOLY SHIT BABY ITS ME” Arthur screamed in his Monegasque accent. You immediately dropped the bat, “oh my god, Arty! You’re not suppose to be here for 3 days!” Arthur smirked when he said “I know. I wanted to surprise you, gorgeous”

Tears sprung to your eyes and you buried yourself in your boyfriend. Your arms wrapped around his neck, your nose pressing against his jugular as you deeply inhaled his cologne. Arthur’s hands firmly wrapped around your waist, he kissed your temple and leaned his head against yours.

He felt teardrops on his collarbone, prompting him to let go for a second. He found you with wet eyes, teardrop stains down your cheeks. “Bèbè, what’s wrong?” Arthur pouted. He raised his hand and wiped your tears. You made eye contact with him and the flood gates opened.

You weren’t sad about anything in particular, you just started babbling about anything and everything. Arthur guided you to the couch and sat down, pulling you on top of him and he laid down. Your legs ended up in either side of his body, your chin rested on his chest, your noses nearly bumping.

Arthur let you get it all out, contently listening. After you finished, Arthur extended his neck and pecked your lips. “It’s ok to feel like this, love” you kissed him again “thank you Arty” you had cried yourself to exhaustion, he could see your eyes started to droop. He pulled the couch blanket over you both as he watched you fall asleep.

“Good night, my love” he said as he kissed your nose, “I love you, bad day or good day, I don’t care.” You lazily smile and confessed “I love you” back to him, drifting off to sleep. Arthur followed you not long after.

#arthur leclerc #arthur leclerc x reader fluff #arthur leclerc x y/n #arthur leclerc fluff #arthur leclerc x reader #f1 fic #f1 x reader #f2 x reader #f2

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darsynia · 7 months ago

Text

Banana (Steve/f!Reader)

MCU MASTERLIST | STEVE ROGERS MASTERLIST | Ro Roll

Summary: Steve unexpectedly stayed over, and you want to make him the best breakfast ever.

Length/Warnings: 1,700 words | sexual contact

It's your ACTUAL BIRTHDAY @ronearoundblindly!! For banaNA, the delicious centerpiece of my 7 Ro Roll stories, we've got an established relationship morning interlude of teeth-rotting fluff. Enjoy!!

Excerpt:

Steve sets his fork carefully onto his plate, lifting up his napkin to wipe his mouth. The look in his eyes is warm. “You’re hoping I stay over more often?”

Two months ago you’d have worried that was some kind of relationship test.

One month ago you would have been scared to admit how much you think about sex with him.

Today you say, “Yes, I am.”

Loving Steve Rogers has made you more confident, and someday you’ll tell him that.

Banana

You really hadn’t expected your boyfriend to sleep over. It wasn’t the traditional date where you dress up in something beautiful and eat out at a ritzy restaurant, then come home and undress to experience something beautiful. It was the kind where he comes by with takeout and the two of you watch movies until you both fall asleep on the couch.

Still, you’d like to make the morning intentionally special for Steve.

You can’t ask him what he likes for breakfast while he's in the shower, but you're sure he has a metabolism-stimulating plate of protein every morning, looking like that. After assessing what's in the fridge, you make the decision to go all-out. He’d been used to mess hall communal meals back in the army, right? Plus, there's a kitchen in the Compound, so he probably makes his own breakfast. You lose a few minutes just picturing that.

Ten minutes later you’ve made him a plate with two kinds of eggs, sausage patties, buttered toast, and a little cup of sliced strawberries. The glass of orange juice ended up using the rest of the carton, but you can always buy more.

You wait with bated breath with your own breakfast, a generous bowl of oatmeal with your favorite fruits garnished with brown sugar. Steve doesn’t need to know those were the only eggs, nor that you made him the last of your sausage.

“Wow that smells great, are you setting up your crock pot or something?” he calls out from the hallway. You grin, excited for the surprise. Soon he’s coming into the kitchen, still drying his hair off with one of your towels. He smells amazing, and everything about the moment is exactly what you’ve always wanted.

Except… he looks uncomfortable.

“Please tell me you’re not allergic to eggs,” you fret.

“Oh, those are for me?”

“Well, yeah, look at the size of the plate! I guess if you want the oatmeal…”

He’s walking into the wide kitchen doorway, disappearing behind the wall for a moment (during which your mind races, thinking of all the things you could have done wrong. Does he dislike pepper? Allergic to citrus? What if he hates sausage? Why did you think this is a good idea!?).

“Are you okay?”

Steve’s got a banana in his hand, along with a fork, knife, and spoon. “Together, we’re a table setting,” he jokes, holding them up.

You almost facepalm-- you’d completely forgotten silverware. “Thanks.”

After the eggs and fruit are gone (accompanied by many enjoyment noises that punctuate your discussion of baseball), he points at the empty bowl of strawberries with a neatly-sliced piece of sausage on the end of his fork.

“You should know, I usually only eat a banana or some sliced fruit like this for breakfast, but this is delicious. Thank you.”

You conjure up the least embarrassed smile you can manage, but inside you wonder whether his honesty is warring with his sense of politeness.

“You’re asking yourself if I’d lie to make you happy, aren’t you?” he asks.

“Guilty,” you sigh. “I’m glad you said something before I made this mistake multiple times in the future.”

Steve sets his fork carefully onto his plate, lifting up his napkin to wipe his mouth. The look in his eyes is warm. “You’re hoping I stay over more often?”

Two months ago you’d have worried that was some kind of relationship test.

One month ago you would have been scared to admit how much you think about sex with him.

Today you say, “Yes, I am.”

Loving Steve Rogers has made you more confident, and someday you’ll tell him that.

He stands, coming over to take your hand and draw you solicitously up to your feet for a sweet, brief kiss. Steve's expression turns more serious, and he looks you right in your eyes.

“I’m hungry.”

You cannot be reading him right. It’s wishful thinking.

“There’s still that bana--”

Steve interrupts you with another kiss. It’s full of passion--a rough hand at your hip, thumb caressing your cheek, teeth scraping out of desperate sloppiness. The man is wrecking your mental health, but you’re right there with him, slowly filling up with heated liquor at every swipe of his tongue. He lifts his head and smiles gently, his lips twitching for a few seconds before he leans his head back and laughs.

Two months ago you would have thought he was laughing at you.

One month ago you’d have nervously played along in confusion.

Now you shove at his shoulder in mock frustration. “Out with it!”

“I can’t pull off that line, I’m sorry! I did my best,” he confesses sheepishly. “I woke up in the middle of the night on the couch with you asleep on my chest and texted Clint about what to do.”

“Oh, God,” you say, trying valiantly to hold back a giggle. “Why Clint?”

He backs up into the kitchen with his hands held up defensively. “I thought I could trust him! I figured Natasha would give me… questionable advice,” Steve says, “--and neither of us wanted me to ask Tony.”

“Oh, God,” you say again, this time in actual dismay.

“Exactly.” He pulls out one of your leftover containers and its matching lid, and holds them up.

He looks so good in his tight pants and form-fitting t-shirt that you gather up all of your Steve-loves-me courage.

“I thought you were hungry?” you say impudently, walking over and taking them out of his hands to set on the counter. Sliding your arms up around his neck, you kiss him with as much fervor as the kiss just minutes ago, letting your hands roam into his hair, down over his arm muscles, and finally to your goal, his waistband. Because you want his full permission before you do anything further, you mouth your way from his lips to his jaw, so he can say something if he needs to. If his enthusiastic participation in the kiss so far is any indication, though, there’s hope he’s up for it.

You circle the button of his pants with your thumb, slipping your fingers past his waistband. He hasn’t put on a belt yet, and there’s something intimate about it that’s beyond anything sexual, like he trusts himself to be not fully put-together around you. Falling asleep on the couch with you is one of those kind of things, too.

Steve whispers your name in a hoarse voice that’s rich with desire.

“Yes?” you question, hoping you’re not pushing too much.

“Yes.”

Arching up to give him a kiss, you release the button and push the zipper down slowly, as much a caress against his groin as anything else. Steve throws a hand out to the side, and you feel a surge of excitement to think he’s so enthusiastic already.

“Here,” he says, throwing the towel that usually hangs from the oven on the floor at his feet, eyes full of amused apology. “Believe me, I’ll want to hold on.”

It’s so Steve Rogers to worry about your knees.

There’s nothing you can say that won’t sound terribly gauche or overeager, so you kiss his chest and pull his pants down to his feet, kneeling as you go. You look up at him, holding eye contact as you tug down his boxer briefs--but you don’t have the bravery to keep his gaze for your first taste.

Steve’s holding himself rigidly still, but you can feel his leg muscles tighten up even more when you take him into your mouth. It’s validating as hell. You pull back, sucking, loving the feel of him, warm and vibrant and wanting you.

At that point you let yourself bliss out, eyes closed and fully attuned to him. When he makes a guttural little sound of need after you do something, you add it to the rotation, and when he starts to rock his hips forward, you quicken your pace. Everything is perfect; the crease of the towel digging into your knees, the taste of precum in your mouth, the searing ache between your legs, and most of all, how alive Steve is under your tongue, against your hands, in your throat.

“Ahhhhh,” he groans, and slams a hand onto the counter. You realize you’d hummed in happiness, and god, he’d loved that. You let out a little moan of pleasure of your own at the thought of just how wet you’ve got to be by now.

As a reward for you both, you hum again.

That sends him, starting a glorious chaos of holding on and taking it all in. When Steve reaches down and flails at your hair and shoulder, you let him pull you up and into his arms. Steve holds you tight to his chest, right each there against the counter with his pants around his ankles, each of you pulling as much oxygen and approval into your bodies as you can.

He pets your head and leans down. “Want to know what Clint said to tell you if the first line worked?”

Two months ago you were sure you weren't good enough for him and it could never last.

One month ago you’d have worried this levity was a sign you'd done a bad job.

Now, you glare up at him in utter adoration.

“If it’s something about being barefoot in the kitchen, Rogers, I’m going to go to the bedroom and finish by myself.”

“Never mind,” he says, moving sideways just long enough to get a hand on his pants to tug them up. He does the button but not the zipper, then picks you up, heading into the hallway. At the doorway to your bedroom, Steve fucking Rogers looks down at you with a loving expression and says, “Don’t worry. I’d never leave you behind.”

#steve rogers x reader #steve rogers x f!reader #steve rogers fanfiction #steve rogers smut #fluff #established relationship #captain america x f!reader #captain america x reader #captain america #steve rogers #mcu #mcu fanfiction #marvel #steve rogers imagine #steve rogers x you #captain america x you

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thollandsgirl2013 · 2 months ago

Text

𝐌𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐑𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭

Parings → Peter Parker x Reader

Warnings → fluff, angst, it's really rushed :(

Summary → Peter Parker’s secret as Spider-Man causes complications in his relationship with Y/n, but after an emotional confrontation, they reconcile and move forward together.

(gif not mine)

It was a typical evening at Peter’s apartment. You and Peter were lounging on the couch, chatting about everything and nothing while the TV played softly in the background.

As you talked, the news came on, and to your delight, they began reporting on Spider-Man’s latest heroic act. Peter knew you were a huge Spider-Man fan, but he had never told you that he was Spider-Man himself. It was a funny little secret, and he enjoyed the way you gushed about his alter ego.

You immediately grabbed the remote and turned up the volume, squealing in excitement as you watched the footage of Spider-Man saving some kids earlier that day. Peter was taken aback by your reaction, surprised by how much it affected you.

"You really are a big fan of Spider-Man, huh?" Peter asked.

"Fan? I’m in love with him, Peter. He’s so kind and hot. Just look at him." He should have stopped you there, should have told you that he was Spider-Man, but he stayed silent.

That night, as you walked home from Peter’s place, you felt someone following you. You started to speed up, but suddenly, someone yanked you into a dark alleyway. "Give me what you have right now!" the mugger shouted, holding a knife to your throat. "Please let me go; I don’t have money. I only have books in my bag."

He pressed the knife harder, and you whimpered. "Then there must be something else you can give me." Before he could touch you, he was yanked back and webbed up against the wall. "You think you can get away with talking to a lady like that?"

Spider-Man then turned to you, noticing your shaking form. "Hey, you okay?"

You hugged him tightly. "Thank you, Spider-Man," you whispered into his chest. He hugged you back. "Come on, let me take you home."

You silently nodded. Yes, you were in love with this superhero, but you were still shaken by the incident. Spider-Man walked you back home. Peter was grateful that he had followed you in his suit to make sure you got home safely. If he hadn’t been there, who knows what might have happened. He didn’t even want to think about it.

_____

The next day at school, you couldn’t stop talking about your encounter with Spider-Man. You were absolutely glowing as you recounted every detail to Ned and MJ. Peter, meanwhile, sat there, trying to remain calm, though every time you brought up Spider-Man, his stomach twisted in knots.

"You should’ve seen him!" You gushed, practically bouncing in your seat. "He just swung down out of nowhere and webbed that guy like it was nothing. He’s so cool!"

Ned smirked at Peter, nudging him when you weren’t looking. "You hearing this, man?"

Peter gave him a tight-lipped smile, internally screaming. "Yeah... she’s really into him."

MJ, on the other hand, rolled her eyes. "Alright, enough about Spider-Man. Can we talk about something else?"

Peter was internally spiraling. He knew he should’ve told you the truth by now, but each time he tried, something stopped him. And the more you talked about Spider-Man, the more his guilt grew.

_____

Tonight wasn’t exactly Peter’s night. He was badly injured and knew he couldn’t go home—Aunt May would freak out, and the Avengers compound was too far away. His only option was to come to your place. He knew it was a risky and potentially dangerous move, but he needed help.

You were nearly asleep when you heard knocking on your window. At first, you didn’t pay much attention, but when it got louder, you reluctantly got out of bed, grabbing the nearest weapon—a baseball bat. You approached the window and, when you pulled back the curtains, you were shocked to see Spider-Man sitting on your fire escape.

You quickly opened the window, and he clambered into your room, clutching his side, which was stained with blood. "Oh my god, Spider-Man! What happened?"

"Hey, I could really use some help if you don’t mind," he said casually, despite the blood on your floor.

"Sit on the bed. I’ll see what I can find to help you," you said, trying to stay calm as you left the room.

Peter sat on the edge of your bed, doing his best not to wince. His side was throbbing, but he could feel his healing factor kicking in. He might just need a few stitches.

You returned with gauze, stitching supplies, cotton balls, and rubbing alcohol. "You’re lucky my mom’s a nurse, so I know a bit about first aid," you said as you laid everything out on the floor in front of Spider-Man and looked up at him from your position.

"Um, you need to take off the suit," you said, your cheeks flushing slightly.

"Oh, right." Spider-Man pressed a button on his chest, and his suit started to loosen. You helped him remove it and let it hang around his waist. You focused on patching him up, trying not to let your eyes wander to his perfectly sculpted torso.

He hissed and winced a few times as you stitched him up. You muttered apologies each time, feeling a pang of sympathy for his discomfort. After you finished, you began to clean up the medical supplies and put them away.

When you returned, Spider-Man was still sitting on the bed. The silence was getting awkward, so you tried to break it. "Um, my name is Y/n, by the way. What’s yours?"

"Nice try," he said with a sincere tone. "But thanks for patching me up."

"It was worth a try," you said with a small smile.

"I should get going and let you sleep," Spider-Man said as he stood up and started pulling his suit back on. He climbed out of your window and gave you a wave. "Goodnight, Y/n."

And just like that, he was gone.

After that night, Spider-Man started visiting regularly. He wasn’t always injured; he said he enjoyed your company. Your feelings for him grew stronger with each visit, as you cherished the moments you spent together, even if they were under extraordinary circumstances.

_____

After the ferry incident at Staten Island, Spider-Man stopped coming to your fire escape. You worried about him, but there was nothing you could do. The silence from his side was unsettling, and you missed the way he had become a part of your life.

Peter, too, seemed to be in a perpetual state of sadness lately. You did your best to cheer him up. You spent time building Legos with him and Ned, listening patiently as he ranted about his crush on Liz, even though it was painful for you. You had your own feelings for Peter Benjamin Parker—your crush on Spider-Man had evolved into something deeper. Meeting Spider-Man in person had made the idea of being with him seem like a possibility, and it only made your feelings for Peter more complex.

Despite your own heartache, you focused on supporting Peter. You hoped that by helping him through his struggles, he might eventually notice the way you cared for him and, perhaps, find solace in your company.

______

Peter finally mustered the courage to ask Liz to homecoming, and his happiness was evident. The gym, where the homecoming party was held buzzed with excitement. You, MJ, and Ned were chatting together when you noticed Ned waving at someone behind you. Turning around, you saw Peter entering the gym. But his face looked pale, as if he had seen a ghost. He approached Liz, said something, and then ran out of the gym toward the lockers.

Without hesitation, you followed him. You spotted his tie lying on the floor and searched a few classrooms until you found him in one of them. There he was, dressed in his old Spider-Man costume, which looked like an onesie.

"Peter?" You whispered, shocked.

Peter turned around, his eyes widening in surprise. "Y/n."

"How? Y-You’re Spider-Man? All this time, it was you?" Tears started streaming down your face.

"Why didn’t you tell me? You knew I liked Spider-Man! Why didn’t you stop me from falling for you?" You were crying uncontrollably now.

Peter began to panic. He had to stop the Vulture, but he couldn’t leave you like this. "Y/n, please look at me." He gently held your face in his hands. "I promise I’ll come back and answer all your questions. But I need to go now and stop the Vulture. Please don’t hate me." With that, he hurriedly left the room.

You went to the bathroom, cleaned yourself up as best as you could, and called your mom to pick you up, saying you weren’t feeling well. Despite the whirlwind of emotions, you texted Peter to let him know you were home, hoping he might come by to talk.

The weight of the evening hung heavily on you as you waited, unsure of what the future might hold but desperate for answers and closure.

_____

You waited for what felt like hours, but exhaustion eventually won, and you fell asleep. You woke up to knocks on your window at 3 in the morning. Rushing to open it, you were shocked to find Peter, covered in blood and bruises. Tears welled up in your eyes at the sight of him.

"Hey, hey, Y/n/n, I’m okay, I promise. Please don’t cry," he said, trying to reassure you.

"What happened?" You asked, your voice trembling.

"I caught him finally. Do you know who he was?" Peter said, his voice heavy.

"Who?"

"Liz’s dad."

"What? Oh my god, Peter!" You were stunned by the revelation.

"I know, I know. I don’t know what I’m going to tell her when I see her next."

Your expression hardened at the mention of her name. "Why did you play with my heart, Peter?" Your voice was cold.

"I-I didn’t mean to, I swear, Y/n. I liked you a lot. I still do. But when you started gushing about Spider-Man, I felt insecure. I felt like I wasn’t good enough for you."

"So you thought flirting with me as Spider-Man was a good idea? While you, Peter Parker, were planning to take Liz to homecoming?" Your anger flared, and you barely noticed his confession of liking you.

"No! Y/n/n, I swear it was never my intention. Asking Liz to homecoming just kinda happened. Yes, I had a crush on her, but to be honest, I thought getting her would be easier than getting you."

You were taken aback. "Wait, did you say you like me?"

"Yeah," he said, avoiding your gaze.

"You should have told me! None of this would have happened!"

"Well, you never showed any interest. All you did was talk about Spider-Man."

"Peter Parker, are you jealous of yourself?" you laughed, realizing the absurdity of the situation. You two started bickering like an old married couple.

"No, I’m not."

"It’s okay, Petey. Spider-Man is cool and all, but Peter Parker is a big deal to me."

"Really?" He asked, his tone softening.

"Really." You leaned in and kissed him gently on the lips, smiling as you pulled away.

Peter’s face lit up with a relieved smile, and he hugged you tightly. "I’m sorry for all the confusion and for keeping things from you."

"It's okay," you whispered, holding him close. "Let’s just focus on making things right."

‎∗ ࣪ ˖༺ 𓆩☆𓆪 ༻˖ ࣪ ∗

#peter parker x reader #peter parker fanfiction #peter parker x fem!reader #peter parker x y/n #peter parker x you #tom holland #tomholland2013 #thollandsgirl2013 #tom holland spiderman #spider man #peter parker #tom holland fanfiction

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newtonsheffield · 3 months ago

Note

“this is not his real number not his real number”

“hello is this my number one fan?”

“omg”

Kate would die when she realizes it’s his real number and will have to answer yes to all of her dad’s questions

Kate genuinely expected to be contacting his people when she finally got up the courage to call him the next day.

“Is this my number one fan?”

His voice was rich and deep and prickled down her spine and her lips parted in surprise before she cleared her throat. “Is that how you always answer the phone?”

“Obviously.” He laughed, “And usually it’s my mum so I’m dead on.”

Why was he so charming? Why?

“You um… took a pretty big swing putting your phone number on a bat. I could sell this on eBay or post it online and you’d be bombarded.”

“Sometimes you have to take a swing. The question is: Did I miss?”

“You didn’t miss.”

“And if I asked you to come and watch again tonight?”

Kate’s stomach lurched, “I would tell you that I need to start paying you for the tickets. And I’d have to bring my sister because she’s seen us all over social media and won’t leave me alone.”

“You can pay me by having a drink with me after.”

Kate’s stomach twisted, “Okay but your ego will have to survive the fact that I won’t be wearing your jersey. It’s in the wash.”

“Ah, deal’s off then.” Anthony tutted before he laughed, “The tickets are already waiting for you. I’ll see you tonight!”

She arrives a little later that night, still a little sure nothing would be waiting for her and Edwina trailing behind, already with a snack in her hand.

“God, I forgot how much I loved baseball food”

“We aren’t even inside yet. It’s… semi baseball food at best.” Kate rolled her eyes as she approached the desk smiling awkwardly at the same woman. “I might have some tickets again? Kate Sharma.”

The woman didn’t look through the system this time, but she smiled curiously, sliding an envelope across the counter. “Mr Bridgerton would also like you to have this.”

The woman passed Kate a bag, branded with the team logo. Kate peered inside even though she already knew what it would be, Anthony’s number and signature staring back at her against the blue pinstripes. She plucked the note out of the top of the bag.

Something else for you to sell on eBay.

Wave to me if you recognise me.

Anthony

“Jesus he’s fucking smooth.”

#baseball au #kathony #anthony x kate #kate sharma #kate sheffield #anthony bridgerton #molly’s asks and answers

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tbyfandoms · 1 year ago

Text

Flowers | Austin Butler x Reader

Pairing: austin butler x f!reader

Word Count: 3k

Summary: after making a quick run to the store, austin comes home with a surprise for his favorite girl in the world (requested)

Warnings: none

Masterlist/Request Form | Ask/Tell/Request

A/N: I swear it takes the bare minimum for me to go off in delulu land and create a whole scenario of some cute domestic ish about one of my faves lmao! thank you to the anon who requested I write this, you truly fed into my fantasies and I appreciate the excitement. I know it’s been a while since I’ve uploaded a fic so I figured I’d finally try to sit down and write something quick and get it out for the last day of austin’s birth month! I hope you guys enjoy sentimental aus and the dash of horndoginess I threw in there. after finding out about a certain *ehem* tidbit, I saw an opportunity to include the fact austin is an ass man-ANYWAYS! as always lmk what you think! <3

also important side-note! for right now I think I am going to hold off on accepting any new requests for a while. I have quite a few backed up in my ask box that I really wanna get out for the people who sent them in and are patiently waiting! I can’t stop ya’ll from sending things in, but please know that at the moment the requests I have on my currently writing page are my current priorities and it might be a while until I get to yours!

“God, there’s literally nothing on,” you grumble after skipping past yet another movie preview on Netflix.

It’s both yours and Austin’s first off day together in such a long time and all you want to do is cuddle and watch a good film, but it’s like nothing is catching your attention, and at this point you kinda just want to rewatch a comfort film and call it a day. You doubt Austin will put up much of a fight.

The blonde did leave you in charge of finding something to watch while he went off to gather snacks, so he can’t complain too much if you two end up watching a movie you’ve both seen a hundred times, right?

While an idea starts to form in your mind and you quickly scroll to the search bar, soft footsteps from the kitchen make their way to you.

“Baby, I’m headin’ out the store really quick, I just need to pick up a few things before we get started. D’you need anything?”

Your boyfriend’s voice immediately takes your attention away from the black and red screen you’ve been staring at for the past ten minutes. Needless to say the interruption and new view is much appreciated. You swear to yourself that Austin could walk out of a place wearing just a trash bag and he’d still be the most beautiful man you’ve ever laid eyes on.

He looks so soft and cuddly in his cotton shirt and track pants that it makes you sad at the idea you’ll have to wait even longer now to wrap yourself in his arms.

“Did we eat all the snacks again already? I swear neither one of us is home enough to go through food that quickly and yet somehow we always do,” you say as you shake your head lightly.

Austin’s soft chuckle drifts through the air. “It blows my mind too, sweetheart.” The actor moves closer to the front door and begins to put his shoes on—grey and black Adidas with the white stripes, his latest favorites. “I mean we have stuff but I wanna get you some of those candies you like to have when we go to the movies, I figured we could really make it our own little film experience, y’know?”

You scrunch your nose in fondness at the sentiment and get up off the couch to meet your boyfriend at the door. He grabs one of his many baseball caps and settles it atop his blonde waves. You notice how thick Austin’s hair is getting, the hat sliding snuggly over his head.

“Awh, Aus, I’d love that, that sounds amazing,” you grin, stepping forward and wrapping your arms around his neck. “Now, tell me, how would you feel about me picking a certain favorite Gosling film for our movie?”

You grin cheekily at Austin, seeing the flicker of realization in his eyes as he understands exactly which film you’re referencing. Between the two of you, there really is no other Ryan Gosling film it could be besides—you guessed it—The Notebook.

“You’re really gonna make me cry on my day off?” The blonde teases and you roll your eyes jokingly in response. After you and Austin started dating, it didn’t take long for the two of you to go in depth about your favorite films—I mean, it was only fitting—and it was only then did you discover his love for The Notebook. Although written off as a typical, cheesy romance film, it’s so much more than that and Austin was one of the only people to see it as such. The both of you talked for ages about it and no matter how dumb it sounds, that conversation—among many other things—convinced you wholeheartedly that Austin was the man of your dreams. It’s been years since your relationship with Austin started and that film is still one of you forever favorites. You and Austin make sure to rewatch it together at least once a year, tears and choked back sobs included.

“C’mon, baby, you know you want to! It’s about time for our rewatch anyways! I’ll be there the whole time to console you during all the sad parts, and then you’ll be there to console me right after that! I’ll even bring the tissues,” you laugh.

Austin shakes his head and because of your closeness to him you can feel his chest rumble as he laughs along with you. It’s an odd thing to find comfort it and yet you do.

“Fine but only because I love that film—and you—so much. I mean crying in my girl’s arms over a Gosling movie sounds like a day well spent to me anyways.”

The blonde inches closer and rubs his nose against yours, grinning broadly at your giggles that ensue. He swears if he could bottle up that sound and keep it forever, he would.

“Alright, I’m goin’,” Austin says as he steps back and begins to open the door. “You didn’t answer earlier, did you need anything from the store?”

Shaking your head, you respond, “Nope. All I need is for you to come home to me as soon as possible so I can wrap myself in your arms and cry over Noah and Allie with you.”

You’re met with that thousand watt smile again and you can’t help but to return it. “I promise I’ll hurry back, I wouldn’t miss that for the world.”

Before Austin steps fully out the door, he stops and turns back towards you, reaching out his hand to cup your cheek and connect his lips with yours.

The kiss is soft and sweet and the second Austin pulls away you want more than anything for him to kiss you again.

“I love you,” he says before sneaking in another quick kiss, this time on your cheek, and then proceeding out the front door.

The lock clicks into place and as you stand there in the hall, the only audible sound being Austin’s car pulling out of the driveway, you sigh and reach your fingers up towards your lips. It doesn’t matter how long you and Austin have been dating, the whimsical and electric state he leaves you in after each time he kisses you will never, ever get old.

*****

It’s probably only been about fifteen to twenty minutes since Austin left when you hear keys jangling in the door knob.

You figured it wouldn’t take him long considering the store you always go to is right down the street, but the time apart was still long enough for you, so you leap off the couch and hurry to meet your boyfriend as he walks through the front door.

Instantly you notice the small plastic bag Austin’s holding in his hand that he used to open the door. You can already see the wrappings of all your favorite treats peaking through the top and that alone gets you excited. So excited, in fact, that you don’t even notice the way Austin’s holding his other hand behind his back.

The blonde holds out the plastic bag towards you and you squeal in excitement as you begin to dig around in it. “Ah, no way! They actually had them this time!? When I went last they were sold out.” As you grab at one of your favorite snacks, you watch as Austin angles himself awkwardly to try and close the door. It’s like he doesn’t want to turn his back towards you and it’s at this time that you notice he’s holding something out of your line of sight.

“Austin what are you doing?” You giggle, quirking your eyebrow at the way he stands there with a mischievous, yet fond smile on his face. You hear a distinct crinkling sound and you know it’s not from your own bag. “What d’you got there?”

“After I grabbed all our snacks and was headin’ up to the register, I passed a display and saw these.” Your boyfriend brings the hidden object from behind his back and you gasp at the sight of it. “They reminded me of you so I got ‘em for you. Pretty flowers for a pretty girl.”

Austin hands you the bouquet and your eyes instantly well with tears. They’re the most stunning blush colored roses you’ve ever seen and they smell absolutely incredible. There’s a small card sticking out of the side of them and as you read the words written in Austin’s handwriting, your heart swells with adoration.

For my favorite girl

Love, Austin

“Aus,” you whisper, not trusting your voice to withstand anything else. “They’re beautiful. Thank you so much. You didn’t have to do that.”

The actor can tell how emotional you are right now, can tell how much this means to you. He’d do anything to let you know how much you mean to him, to let you know how much he loves you. He’d buy you flowers every single day if it meant he’d get to see that look on your face. That look where your eyes get real big and sparkly and your smile is so wide it makes your eyelids crinkle at the corners. That look that makes Austin want to give you the world.

Careful not to smash the bouquet held delicately in your hands (the bag of snacks now laying on the floor), Austin reaches out and hugs you with one arm, planting a soft kiss on the side of your head. “I know I didn’t have to, sweetheart, but I wanted to. I love you so much and you deserve to be appreciated.”

With the right words to say completely escaping you, you do the next best thing and instantly close the gap between you and the man standing in front of you. One of Austin’s hands finds its place on your lower back, pushing you closer to him, and your own hand without the bouquet in it finds its way to the nape of his neck—fingers twisting in those thick waves you took notice of earlier.

“I love you so much more, Austin Butler,” you breathe out as you break apart from your boyfriend’s soft lips.

“Mmm, whatever you say, baby,” he mumbles against your mouth as he goes in for yet another kiss. You nearly drop your flowers as you get caught up in Austin again, so you break apart before you can do any real damage to them.

“As much as I’m enjoying this right now, I need it to stop for like five seconds before I completely lose myself in you and ruin this gorgeous bouquet,” you giggle, before reluctantly taking a step back from your boyfriend in order to go find a vase in the kitchen to set the flowers in.

“Would that really be such a bad thing?” Austin calls after you. It doesn’t take long for him to meet up with you in the kitchen, his tall figure leaning casually against the doorframe. “I think having rose petals all over the floor would actually be quite romantic. It’d really…set the mood.”

In between spreading out the roses in the vase you found, you glance up at Austin and can see the way his eyes have clouded over just slightly. His intent and emphasis on the last few words of his sentence become abundantly clear, and you try to fight the heat you feel rising up your neck.

Making your way around the kitchen island, you stop in front of your boyfriend and lean lightly into his chest, your hands basking in the warmth radiating through Austin’s white shirt. “You do realize it is your birthday month, right, Aus? Why am I the one getting all the special treatment?”

There’s a soft smirk playing on your lips and you revel in the way Austin tilts his head to the side, his own smirk quirking up at the corner of his mouth. “Who’s to say I’m not getting my own type of special treatment? Looking after my girl and seeing her happy sounds like a pretty nice birthday gift to me.”

Burying your face in Austin’s chest, you barely contain the squeal threatening to spill out of you over the actor’s words. This man somehow always knows the right thing to say to make you melt. “You’re such a heartthrob you know that?”

“I am a man of many talents,” Austin beams. The two of you laugh and you push lightly on his chest to get him to move back towards the living room.

“C’mon, think of the snacks waiting for us! I won’t let your incredibly smooth sweet talking make us miss out on our plan for an at home film experience!” No matter how tempting, you think.

“Trust me, sweetheart, I am thinking about my snack. Mine just isn’t in that little bag you got there.” As you bend down to pick up the plastic bag you haphazardly threw to the side at the reveal of your surprise flowers, Austin comes up behind you and lightly smacks your ass, causing you to let out a sharp gasp.

Jolting upright, you fake annoyance and watch as your boyfriend turns towards you and holds up his hands in innocence. You reach into the bag and throw one of the packets of candy at him. The blonde winks at you as he catches it with ease and then plops down on the couch.

“You’re right though, I did say I wouldn’t miss this for the world, and I am also a man of my word. So c’mon, Ryan’s waiting for us,” Austin grins as he pats the spot next to him on the couch.

Unable to keep up your feigned irritation, you let the smile that’s twitching at the corner of your lips break through as you hurry over to Austin. No matter what happens, you’d never turn down an open invitation from the man you love with all your heart.

Cuddling up to Austin’s side you sigh in the satisfaction of finally getting to relax with him. Sure you two are able to see each other relatively often considering the fact you live together, but it’s rare when you get to just sit together and do absolutely nothing besides enjoy each other’s company. No cameras, no expectations, just you and him.

If anyone were to ask you, you’d say that’s what you’d call pure heaven.

As Austin presses play on the movie and the opening credits begin to roll, you watch as he rips open the bag of candy you threw at him. You take in how he eats one and then sets it aside, beginning to set up the rest of the treats he purchased for you. The reality of it all settles in as it does every so often and you feel a tiny squeeze in your chest as you take it in.

Having someone love you so deeply, having someone who knows practically every part of you from your favorite types of candy to what flowers you would like, having someone who sees your happiness as enough satisfaction for them and truly mean it, is just incredibly unbelievable.

You wonder practically every day how in the world you were lucky enough to find someone like that. To find someone who you love wholeheartedly and who loves you just the same, if not more. The material things—the flowers, the candy—are nice, but nothing beats the feeling you get when you’re with Austin, and you thank your lucky stars that the universe brought him to you. You truly don’t know where you’d be, who you’d be, without him.

“Austin,” you start, looking into his clear blue eyes as he turns towards you, a soft smile already adorning his lips as he catches sight of you. “Thank you for…”

You can’t even begin to think of where to start. You’re sat here looking at this man that’s staring at you with such a fond, loving expression and it’s like words won’t even dare try to form in your mind in a way that would express everything you feel for him. There aren’t enough of them, there aren’t any right ones.

“For what, sweetheart?” Austin whispers as he reaches out and tucks a piece of your hair behind your ear, the warmth from his fingertips leaving a trail of goosebumps in their wake.

“For the…flowers,” you say before letting out an airy laugh. “For the candy, for staying in with me and letting me coerce you into watching this movie for the thousandth time, for just being you, and a million other things I don’t think I’ll ever have the right words to express.”

“You don’t have to thank me for any of that, my love, but you’re welcome anyways. I do it all because I want to, there isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for you just like I know there isn’t anything you wouldn’t do for me. I hope you know how much I appreciate you. I love you.” Austin leans down and plants a kiss on your forehead before pulling you even closer to his side, wanting nothing but to have you wrapped in his arms.

As your boyfriend turns his attention back to the movie and begins to rub his hand soothingly up and down your back, you feel a sense of content wash over you. When you’re with Austin, it feels like no matter what happens, as long as you have each other, everything will be okay. Nothing is certain, but you’d bet everything you’ve got that this love is.

“I love you too, Aus.”

#austin butler x reader #austin butler x y/n #austin butler x you #austin butler imagine #austin butler fanfiction #austin butler fic #austin butler fluff #austin butler #requested

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heartedbysunoo · 2 months ago

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INTERVIEW

JAY: “I feel a sense of responsibility to work hard and not lose these people”

ENHYPEN ‘ROMANCE : UNTOLD -daydream-’ 컴백 인터뷰ENHYPEN ROMANCE: UNTOLD -daydream- comeback interview

2024.11.21

JAY loves Oasis, so I asked him what their song “Wonderwall” means to him. Everyone who hears the song has their own interpretation, but for JAY, the title of the song meant “support.” Read on to learn who he relies on for support more than anyone—and who he feels compelled to look after for the same reason.

You visited your hometown, Seattle, for the first time in eight years during your world tour earlier this year. How did it feel to go back as an artist?

JAY: It felt great. It felt like I was being welcomed back on home soil. There was even an article about it in The Seattle Times. (laughs)

You threw the first pitch at a Seattle Mariners home game with the group and received a surprise video message from player Jay Buhner.

JAY: My dad was thrilled. (laughs) He talked about how he absolutely loved baseball even when he was a kid. I was happy because it felt like it wasn’t just my dream coming true, but my dad’s dream, too. I visited the Mariners’ home ballpark when I was really little, so I can’t remember it too clearly, but I made lots of new memories this time. Getting to throw that first pitch for the team that represents my hometown felt like a reward for all the hard work I’ve done up to now.

Quite the triumphant return. (laughs) You also filmed a vlog for ENGENE while there. What were you hoping to show them?

JAY: People these days are really into vibes and aesthetic, and there’s something uniquely chill about the ambience in Seattle. There are tons of famous jazz houses and old theaters, so it gives off a chill, antique vibe, which I wanted to give ENGENE a chance to share in, even if indirectly. I tried to show as much as I could within the time constraints, but there’s still so much I couldn’t show off.

In a live episode of JAY-FASHION with SUNOO focused on fragrances, you mentioned one you’d like to wear if you ended up going to Seattle. Did you actually wear it in the end?

JAY: That was the plan, but I started using all sorts of different fragrances in the meantime. (laughs) I used a different one that I bought when I was in Europe. It’s a rose and leather scent. Since Seattle gets a lot of rain, there’s lots of roses growing there, and during the rainy season, it seriously rains nearly five days out of the week. Anyway, that’s why roses remind me of Seattle. I don’t usually like the artificial rose smell, but I love perfumes that put their own spin on the smell of roses. I prefer fragrances with a hint of earthiness and a certain weight of natural smells.

Most of the fragrances you’ve introduced from your collection have heavy scents. Is there any reason for that?

JAY: I feel like a fragrance should bring out the positive qualities of the person wearing it, so I buy mine hoping they’ll give me an image as someone who’s deep. I tend to have fairly heavy, serious conversations, but when I’m with the group, we’re so close that it usually doesn’t end up that way. (laughs)

But you do always seem serious about performing. You talked about how you picked up the electric guitar for fun in your interview last year, and it seems like you’ve been practicing really hard, seeing as you played it onstage a number of times.

JAY: I’m still just a beginner, honestly. Lots of people reach their goals step by step as they learn something new, and I’m the same way, making my way toward the goals I set out for myself as I learn and experience a lot through guitar. I watch my old guitar videos to better understand where I’ve improved and what I still need to work on. I’m not good enough at guitar to make it my main thing, so I think I need to improve technically and as far as stage presence goes.

What gives you the motivation to keep practicing guitar despite your busy schedule?

JAY: I see it as a clear-cut goal that I want to personally achieve. When I practice, I look at guitarists I love and respect and who inspired me to play, like Stevie Ray Vaughan, and even though I know I’ll never reach their level, I’m going to at least learn to imitate them. I just try and make sure there’s always at least one guitar in my line of sight wherever I go. It’s important to put in the effort to keep up with something continuously, but having a guitar always within arm’s reach is the key. Plus, playing is the best way for me to deal with my emotions. I’ve always been the kind of person who needs to vent emotionally. Before I started learning guitar, I tried working out, and one time I even tried just shouting. (laughs) Playing electric guitar feels similar to screaming “aaah!” at the top of my lungs, both in the sound it makes and how I make the sound, just it doesn’t hurt my throat.

You really seem to love rock music. Has rock shaped your values in any way?

JAY: I think rock is among the genres of music that have changed the world. I feel it’s shifted listeners’ attitudes to create a more liberated world—one where more people can freely express themselves with dignity. People still have to be careful not to hurt others’ feelings when expressing themselves, of course.

As a fan of guitar and bands, being part of GLAY’s 30th-anniversary concert must have been very significant for you.

JAY: It made me realize that my passion for what I’ve loved for so long has gotten through to someone and that I have to hold onto that passion in the future, too. Even though I don’t play in a band, the mere fact that I said I like rock made this great band want to nurture my passion and teach me. Seeing artists respect other people’s music has been an invaluable experience for me. It was clear to me there was something to be learned from GLAY that could only be learned from them, and I wanted to do that so I could improve more. Not only did my passion never wane, but it eventually got through to some else, too, and that made me confident enough not to be afraid of pursuing my passion further.

What influence has that experience had on your musical tastes and what you’ve been trying to do since?

JAY: I love guitar in and of itself, and I’m really interested in rock music and different bands, so I’m trying to work in as many different styles as I can. I have a ton of ideas, but there’s a limit to what I can do with my hands and with my voice, so I’m working on the countless ideas I get from listening to different kinds of music one by one at the speed I’m able to.

In “No Doubt,” the lead single off your repackaged album, you used the same great rough vocals you used in your GLAY collaboration “whodunit” and your cover of the L’Arc~en~Ciel song “HONEY.”

JAY: From the minute I heard the demo version, I knew I had to sing it with rough-sounding vocals like that. Not everyone thinks so, but I feel like my voice sounds better when it’s rougher instead of soft and resonant. That was something I looked into to make my vocals sound a little better, so it was fairly intentional. (laughs)

Both “XO (Only If You Say Yes)” and “No Doubt” are love songs, but your persona in each feels different.

JAY: I come across as a little younger than I really am on “XO (Only If You Say Yes),” while on “No Doubt,” I guess you could say it’s a love that’s a little mature for my real age—liking and yearning for someone, but also having a hard time, and having all these thoughts swimming around in your head. What it’s ultimately about is a love that never changes, even in the face of all those feelings and difficulties. The message of the repackaged album and the mood of the song show what a slightly more emotionally mature ENHYPEN looks like.

How did you seek to express ENHYPEN’s more mature take on love while recording your vocals?

JAY: “No Doubt” is a song filled with complex emotions, I think. Thinking about that other person can feel good but also be difficult, and your head’s swimming with thoughts of desperate longing, but you’re certain in your resolve. What I had in my head when I recorded was, “You’re the one for me.” I ultimately look at recording vocals and performing onstage as forms of acting. That’s why I always immerse myself in songs and performances by placing myself in the story.

In the fan dedication song “Highway 1009,” you wrote the lines, “Just trust me and tag along / Just look at me and come along.”

JAY: We’ve received so much from fans since we debuted by going through the show I-LAND. They give their hearts to us, like, “You’re so amazing. I’m gonna stan you!” So I feel like I need to continue living up to the faith ENGENE has shown in us since then. I feel a sense of responsibility to work hard and not lose these people. I hope one day we surpass expectations and change the order of things so that we prove ourselves first and only then does ENGENE show us love. They’ve followed us and said good things about us back from when we were nothing, so it’s our job to turn ourselves into something.

You mentioned in 2023 ENniversary MAGAZINE about wanting to take the hard path with ENGENE, not the easy path.

JAY: I don’t think there’s anything so easy to lose as hearts you had won over easily. If you get something effortlessly and just say, “I’m happy. The end!” then it becomes easy to lose in any number of ways, like through excessive pride, ignorance, or indifference. What I need to do now is be sure of why ENGENE loves me and keep moving forward, to make what’s happened to me truly mine.

That sounds like exactly what you meant on Weverse when you wrote, “It’s our job to give you that smile, so just believe in us. It’s ENGENE’s job to smile.”

JAY: What keeps the world turning is the countless people on this planet whose lives are all interconnected like pieces of a puzzle. It’s my belief that people fulfilling each other’s needs is what makes the world go round. ENHYPEN is one cog in the machine and I think, when it comes to people who rely on us, our role is to alleviate their negative feelings, like loneliness and anxiety, to whatever degree we’re able. Obviously, as we go through life, unexpected things come up, and no one knows what slip-ups might happen. There are also going to be times when the world, or other people, force us to face our worries and anxieties. And I think, whenever that happens, it’s our job to give ENGENE the courage to live a happy life, and to make them feel better even when misfortune finds them. Whether ENGENE loves us forever, a short time, or leaves and comes back, I just want to make sure they don’t regret the time they spent with us.

What do you do to make sure of that?

JAY: I try to live an upright life, even when no one can see me. If you’re going to really earn people’s trust, you have to have your own rules and clear standards for life and put them into practice, even when no one’s watching. That way, I think I can influence and convince others, too, when I need to sometime in the future. It’s nice that even more people give me love and I become even more famous by working hard, but I think it’s more important to be a good, upright person first. If I can do that, then ENGENE will naturally come to trust and follow me. That’s why I need to lead by example.

Do you think these values you hold are also why you always take such good care of the people around you?

JAY: Oh, I mean, I think taking good care of those around me is a given. My philosophy is, you have to be good to your people, since they’re your people, and if you can’t, then you shouldn’t make them your people at all. And I’ve always been someone who wants to help a lot of people and share what I have. (laughs) And I have to be upright and capable to do that. I work on my self-improvement specifically so I can look after others. My life motto is, “I want to make my people happier. I want to make the world a happier place.” Making the most out of life, working hard, being good to the people around me—these three things come together as a bundle for me.

What kind of happiness do you hope to bring to ENGENE through your efforts?

JAY: I have just one wish. I think our main responsibility is to make sure ENGENE doesn’t come to regret whatever effect we have on them. They might love us forever, or just a short while, or come and go then come back again. I hope everyone who’s been with us, even those who are only with us for a short while, is always happy and has a positive view of the world. That’s exactly what gives my work purpose and why I look on it with pride. (laughs)

#kpop #enhypen #weverse #interview #enhypen kpop #enhypen weverse #jay #jay enhypen #jay park #park jeongseong #enhypen jay #제이 #엔하이픈

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rabbitsrams · 1 year ago

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Stella!! Tomorrow is Schlatts birthday :D (for me atleast, idk what time zone nyc has) Could you do something about him and reader? I’m thinking about how reader would just ABSOLUTELY spoil schlatt, or just like on any holiday. Doesn’t even have to be a holiday bro. But specifically on his birthday!!

Big guy turning 24 ‼️‼️💪

KASEYYYY YESSSS OMG <3333 i was planning to write a little smthn to celebrate his bday but time slipped away😭like i almost forgot it was this soon😭

it's still the 9th as im writing this but i will schedule so it's posted 12am austin time so HAPPY BIRTHDAY BIG GUY <33333

little bit of suggestive stuff under the cut but mostly bday fluff <33

♡ okay. so.

♡ september 10, 12am. you and schlatt are probably already awake (night owl moment) but once the clock hits 12, you're all over him

♡ "HAPPY BIRTHDAY J!!!!"

♡ just showering him in kisses and hugs

♡ schlatt's not really a big birthday guy. doesn't really want to make a big deal about celebrating or anything. as long as he's with you and the cats that's all that matters.

♡ but not you. you've got a whole day planned.

♡ he wants to get back to editing but you're dragging him to your bedroom to give him his... first gift. (wink)

♡ BIRTHDAY HEAD LET'S FUCKING GOOOOOOO

♡ he falls asleep after and because he's a deep sleeper (lowkey he gives deep sleeper but correct me if i'm wrong), you take the time to bake him a little cake.

♡ box cake, yes, but his favorite flavor of box cake :)

♡ and besides, you've got another one hidden in the freezer.

♡ you take an hour to frost it with his little ram guy (as best as you can draw it)

♡ it's the schlake!!!

♡ also as the cake is baking you take the time to decorate the house with silly little decorations (happy birthday banners, balloons, etc.)

♡ after all that you go to sleep

♡ he ends up waking up earlier than you

♡ is super surprised but happy to see the decorations

♡ doesn't want to wake you cuz you sleeping soundly by his side, head resting on his chest is the perfect gift.

♡ but he knows he has to eventually since jambo and the other guy paw at him so he can feed them

♡ him just marveling at the decorations all around the house

♡ he laughs so hard (in a happy way) seeing the schlake your decorated cake

♡ that causes you to wake up hehe

♡ you rush to the kitchen and see him just so happy🥺🥺🥺

♡ "do you like the cake?"

♡ "i love it." then he takes you into his arms <3

♡ this man loves you so much

♡ and you love him so much

♡ cake for breakfast!!!

♡ again he doesn't really wanna do too much but u insist on taking him to a batting cage <3

♡ smthn simple, yes, but you know how much he loves baseball :))

♡ it's kinda hot to watch him hit the baseballs ngl

♡ then going to dinner his fav korean bbq place :)))

♡ then going back home to have a chill rest of the night together

♡ opening presents too <33 getting him a ton of sweatshirts u found on ebay <333

♡ again i don't rly see schlatt as someone who wants to rly celebrate his bday

♡ but he still very much enjoyed the day with u <33

♡ happy birthday big guy ilysm <3

#jschlatt x reader #jschlatt imagine #jschlatt fanfiction #jschlatt x you #schlatt x reader #jschlatt x y/n #schlatt imagine #jschlatt smut #schlatt smut #jschlatt fluff #schlatt fluff #jschlatt fanfic #jschlatt fic #schlatt fic #schlatt fanfic #kasey <3

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skyfallslayer · 10 months ago

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Should We Stay or Should We Go? || Prologue

-A ST Rewrite Feat. Steve Harrington x Henderson!OFC-

Main Masterlist || Series Masterlist

🎲Summary: On the night of November 6th, 1983, Stephanie Henderson decided to walk her little brother’s friend, Will, back home. However… they never arrive. Now, Dustin, Mike and Lucas, and soon the exception of the girl’s ex-best friend, Steve, must band together to find out what happened. Meanwhile, Steph and Will must fight for their survival in this nightmarish version of Hawkins, Indiana.

🎲Chapter Summary: When they interlocked their pinkies none of them ever expected the weirdness that follows the years after. None of them ever expected to start growing apart. None of them ever expected the red string to stay attached. And none of them ever expected that they would be out saving the world with a baseball bat and wings. Yeah... you can’t make this stuff up.

🎲Pairings: Will x Platonic!OFC; Dustin x Sister!OC; Slow burn! Steve x Henderson!OFC (Ex-bestfriends to Lovers); Slow burn! Byler

🎲Rating: Teen-Mature

🎲Word Count: 921 (Small Introduction)

🎲Date: 3/6/24

🎲Warnings: Angst; Swearing; Implied Broken Friendship

🎲A/N: Extremely small chapter, hence why it's just the prologue. I just wanted to show my readers what the big picture is of this story, which is the Steve x OC relationship. However, just like above, this will contained the loving sibling relationship of Dustin, and even Will, between OC. This story also contains Jopper (a personal fav), Jancy, Mileven and the slow burn of Byler (I got to give this boy some love and if you think Will has been a background character for the last few seasons like I have then don't you worry! I'm giving Will a time for him to shine throughout this fic). Anyway, don't want this paragraph to be longer than the actual chapter. Lol. Enjoy!

Pinky Promise.

It’s a bond between two people, a vow that’s taken so it shall not be broken. Childish, you know, but to a small kid it means everything. When they locked their pinkies together, muttering their promises to one another, they both had barely turned five, barely ready to take on the world head first.

But a promise was a promise— Yet a pinky promise was so much more. It holds so much more weight than crossing your heart or giving a handshake.

At least it was to these two very best friends…

“Wow.” The blue eyed girl said, genuinely surprised (She can’t even believe their conversation is so calming in a situation like this). “That explains so much. And… you never mentioned that to me before?”

“Well, can you blame me?” He asked, with a small smile and laugh. “I think it kinda does. I think, like, right out of the gate, like, I’m super confident. But I’m also, like, an idiot. Which is just…” He shrugs. “I mean, it’s a brutal combination. But, I mean, the good news is, I get a big enough thump on my head, I can change, you know? I can learn. I can crawl forward.”

She noticed his pace was slowing, and his brown eyes of his were becoming distant. “Steve?”

“Listen–” He stops them both, face looking like a lost puppy now. “I guess what I’m trying to say in a really stupid, roundabout way is, um… is thank you.”

She tilts her head, confused. “Thank you?” She watches him nod, adding fuel to her emotion. “For...?”

His face softens. “For giving my head the biggest thump of its life two years ago.” He chuckles. “Nancy, you know, she gave me the push, but you, Stephanie, gave me the thump I needed. It’s changed my life. And now I’m crawling forward in a way I never thought I could achieve. Slowly.”

And now he’s frowning, looking down at himself, engulfing himself in the glum. “I just wonder sometimes... you know, if... if I had just opened my eyes before I met Nancy, would things have been different? Like… part of me thinks we would’ve made it without our relationship falling apart.”

“Steve–” She croaks, teary eyed and shocked.

“And… you know what the craziest… most messed up part of the story is?”

“What?”

His lips curled up just a bit. “Remember the dream I told you about? About the Winnebago? Seeing the country with my six lil’ nuggets? It’s all true. Every last word. But… the mess up part?” He swallows, also getting emotional. “The mess up part is when I first thought of that dream… is that… you’re there. You’ve always been there.”

“Steve–”

“And that…” He smiles. “That’s my pinky promise to you, Miss Stephanie Henderson.”

The creature shrieked above, its claws waving around frantically –trying to get a nick out of him– as he held it back with some piping. He watched the pupils go all ‘cat-like’, fangs coming out that he swears were growing with each scream.

He was struggling, he knows this, and he knows he has to buy the kid some time to get a radio signal out to his girlfriend, but he was slipping, fuck it. However, he knows deep in his heart he can’t back down from this.

His jaw clenched and his eyes flash with determination. “I don’t care what you’ve become! I ain’t leaving you, Henderson!” He shouted, hoping his words would get through to her. “That’s a pinky promise.”

“I’m helping you and Dustin out.” He insisted, knowing damn well that she didn’t even want him near her brother, let alone near herself.

She sends him a look, skeptical, on edge. “Why?”

“Look, I know you don’t want to talk–”

“Damn, right.”

“Steph.” He says, stepping in front of her way to get her attention. “We’ll just put this on the backburner. Right now, and I mean it, I just want to help you and Dustin, keep you guys safe. Pinky Promise.”

“Steve–”

“I’m not going anywhere.” He says, while playing with his hands, nervously, worriedly. “Not until I know you’re okay.”

She frowns apologetically. “You know that might be a while.”

“I know.”

“I have Dustin and my mom, you don’t have to stay here.”

“I know.” He breaks eye contact. “But what if I want to?”

That made her chuckle. “Well… if you want to.” She says, making them both smile. “Fine sleeping in a chair?”

He nods. “If that’s what I’ll have to do.” He replies, making her hum.

She raises an eyebrow. “Is that a pinky promise?”

“Yeah.” His expression grows. “Pinky promise.”

But what if you break it? The promise? What if you don’t follow through? That is the unfortunate part of this story. The promise was to stay together forever, to make their friendship last a lifetime. For them, they were two peas in a pod, polar opposites that still attached themselves to one another… until they couldn’t.

When the boy decided to become a King, the girl became a peasant. The boy was showered with love and affection, and the girl was on a quest of loneliness that became bitter.

This was a story about Steve Harrington and Stephanie Henderson.

A story, where no matter what happens, the red string still stays attached to their pinkies despite their attempts to take it off.

This was story where the two of them decided to save the world–

Their families–

Their friends–

And their friendship.

(TBC)

A/N: I was so surprised when everyone was asking to be added in just a few short days. Makes me really happy :D

-Taglist is Open-

@ladygrey03 @poppet05 @tooearlyforthis @lovesfics @lordzzz

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