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promenadewithme · 2 years ago

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Glorious

a/n: I'm so sad that I accidentally lost the request for this! Long story short, I posted the unfinished story instead of saving it to my drafts, so I deleted it. It's been too long since I last posted and I promise I'll try to do so more often!! Also, this is my first time writing smut, so sorry if it's terrible!

Request: Cedric smut after quidditch practice

Pairing: Cedric Diggory x Female! Reader

Warnings: smut (obviously), switch! Cedric (mostly sub), switch! Reader (mostly dom), unprotected sex (wrap it before you tap it, people!!), edging, orgasm denial, friends cockblocking ced (poor baby), dirty talk, slight breeding kink, praise and degradation.

Word count: I have no idea, but A LOT. More than I expected, to be honest. I want to say 4k of smut? (Don't come at me, I'm horny)

If you like this, reblog or (if you can and want to) buy me a coffee!

Glorious.

That was the word that came to mind as the one and only Cedric Diggory flew after the snitch. Autumn had just begun but summer has left its heat. And that left Cedric shirtless during training.

He was far away from where you sat, but his lean muscles glowed under the sun, leaving goosebumps on your skin despite the heatwave.

With or without a shirt, seeing your boyfriend train was a huge turn-on. His brows furrowed in concentration, his muscles straining to stay balanced on the broom, his agility and keen eye, the competitiveness of it all.

Of course, in the end, it was just a bunch if people playing with balls of all shapes and sizes. You were particularly a big fan of fondling in the bedroom, so why not cheer your boyfriend on while he did the same?

'Ok, maybe not the same. But we can't all be athletic.' You thought, just as Cedric laid eyes on the snitch.

"Come on, Ced!" You cheered, jumping up and down in the stands along with some of the other player's significant others and Hufflepuff supporters.

He flew quicker by the second, reaching out into the clouds. The golden ball was fast, but Cedric was faster. Soon enough, he caught the snitch and both teams went wild for their seeker.

Even though it was just a practice game, you cheered and jumped. Cedric caught your eyes from the other side of the field and flew toward you.

Every game he did the same thing, it became your tradition. The moment he caught the snitch, he flew your way for a celebratory kiss before touching the ground to cheer with his teammates.

"Hello, darling" he said with a huge grin before connecting his lips with yours.

Cedric deepened the kiss, urging you to part your lips with a brush of his tongue. You felt the saltiness as you swiped your own against his lips, but you didn't mind.

His warm tongue connected with yours a second later, causing a tingling sensation between your legs.

Cedric pulled away entirely too quickly, leaving you closed-eyed and chasing his lips. With a cocky grin and a wink, he flew down to where his team had already started removing their gear.

He would definitely pay for his teasing later. For now, you hiked your skirt a bit higher and went to meet him beside the locker rooms.

The two of you locked eyes and you made sure to sway your hips a bit more. His gaze scanned your body hungrily.

Due to the warm weather, you had removed your socks and tie, as well as opened your shirt. It hadn't been on purpose, but you were glad you did. If looks could kill, you'd be splayed and torn apart on Cedric's dick. Your thighs squeezed together in anticipation.

"(y/n)! Wait!" Exclaimed Luna, trotting down the bleachers.

You cursed under your breath and Cedric laughed before going into the changing rooms.

You loved Luna, she was one of your closest friends, but reading the room was definitely not one of her strong suits.

"Hi" she sighed, going in for a tight hug.

"Hey, Luna" you hugged her back just as tightly.

"Would you like to study potions later? I could use your help"

"Sure." You answered, starting down the stairs again, Luna trailing beside you "Lake or library?"

"Oh, library. The lake has too many distractions, I have to stay focused this time."

"Alright, after Snape’s class?"

"Yes, that will work perfectly." She nodded, wrote it down on her hand and turned to leave before glancing back with a smirk "have a nice time with Cedric, but do try not to get caught."

You stood there gobsmacked.

Purposely cockblocked by Luna Lovegood.

You laughed before heading towards the locker room.

Two players headed out, waving your way, as you leaned against the wall opposite of where Cedric was.

Fifteen more minutes went by and three players had left. You crossed your arms and sighed.

'What in Merlin's name is taking so long?' You asked yourself, patience growing thinner by the minute.

When your watch marked twenty-five minutes since the players went in, the 6th player left and Cedric was still nowhere to be found.

You decided to wait five more minutes.

'You're just being impatient. Calm the hell down, (y/n)' you told yourself, taking a deep breath.

But 30 minutes was too much. Not for you, but for Cedric. He bathes like there's a ticking time bomb in the showers.

'Is he hurt?' The thought crossed your mind and your feet lead you inside.

The air was humid and hot around you.

"Cedric?" You whisper-yelled "I swear to Merlin, if you're dead in here, I'll kill you."

A groan made you stop in your tracks.

"Cedric?" You called out, moving towards the deep breathing.

Rounding the corner, you found a sight picked straight out of your dirtiest maladaptive daydreams.

Your boyfriend was naked and wet. Cedric's left hand tried to grip the wall, beads of water trailing down his tense biceps and lower. It flowed down his torso and lower even, to where his right hand held a tight grip around his cock, pumping up and down in a slow and sensual pace.

"Took you long enough" he said, a smirk on his face.

Striding towards him, you smirked right back. Removing your uniform and shoes, then, ever so slowly, your underwear. A groaning Cedric quickened his pace at the sight of you.

You entered the shower, closing the water, as Cedric released his dick and grabbed your waist, pulling you into him.

He went straight for your lips, just as slow and sensual as his former pace.

Your hands went separate ways. One towards his hair, that pulled the short strands back to break the kiss. The other wrapped around his arousal, stroking till the tip.

The mixture of both sensations had Cedric moaning your name fervently.

"Who said you could start without me?" You whispered in his ear.

"Didn't mean to, didn't think you'd take this long to come find me" he replied, kissing your neck right where he knew your knees would go weak.

"You'll still have to pay for your hastiness."

"You know I love your punishments, darling" he grins and catches your lips in a passionate kiss. Tongues circling, teeth clashing and bodies drawing impossibly closer.

Your hand started stroking his swollen flesh again, drawling low and soft moans from his lips.

"I know, love." You soothed, but your hand only moved faster, your grip tighter.

A string of curses escaped his lips.

"(y/n)" he whimpered.

"You're so close, aren't you?" You cooed.

"So close, so close" he answered frantically.

"Not quite yet, I can't let you off the hook that easily." You said, halting your movements.

He let out a dissapointed groan.

"Don't be ungrateful, darling." You teased, "You'll come soon enough"

A bead of pre-cum leaked from his tip. You gathered it in your thumb and brought it to your lips, sucking the saltiness seductively.

Cedric's pupils were blown wide and an almost primal look took over his features.

You grabbed his neck and kissed him with everything you had, doing all the things you knew would drive him wild, then pulled away. He was left closed eyed, chasing your lips.

But you hadn't had all your fun yet. With a grin on your face, you turned around and headed towards your clothes.

"Darling?" he asked.

You ignored him, putting on your shirt and probably missing a few buttons in the process. You saw Cedric grab his towel, a confused look on his face. You put on your skirt and threw your lace underwear his way. He grabbed them with slightly wide eyes.

"I'd get ready quickly if I were you. If I wait too long for you, I might start by myself." with a wink, you left a bungling Cedric hurriedly drying himself.

You let out a low giggle while strutting out the locker rooms. You were leaving the field when Cedric caught up with you, shirt half open, your lace panties between his teeth, and still buttoning up his pants.

You stifled a giggle at the sight and walked faster. He tripped, but managed to catch himself.

Before long, he was fully dressed and walking fast beside you, glancing your way every few seconds with a giddy smile on his face.

That is, until Harry Potter started calling after him.

His eyes widened slightly, he grabbed your arm and said "Don't you dare stop walking"

With a playful smile on your face, you released your arm from his grip and turned towards the griffindor.

"Hello, Harry!" You smiled widely, mosty because of the impatient look on Cedric's face.

"Hey, (y/n)," he turned towards your boyfriend "Cedric, can I talk to you for a second?" the boy looked at you for a split second before returning his gaze to Cedric "Alone."

"Actually, we-"

"Of course! Take your time, Harry!" You answered, overly amiable.

As you started walking away, Cedric grabbed your arm again.

"(y/n)'s not feeling very well, I have to take care of her. Can we do this another time?"

"Oh, nonsense! You know I can take care of myself." You said, untangling yourself from him, "Besides, I feel much better now. I might even -"

Your words were cut off as Cedric pulled you against his chest.

"I'm sure (y/n) won't tell a soul, there's nothing you can say to me that you can't say to her."

Harry reluctantly started saying something about some girl. Maybe Cho? Ginny? You had no idea. You were too busy feeling Cedric's hard cock against your backside, his hands pressing at your stomach to hold you as close as possible.

You looked up at him and he had a smug look on his face. He knew what he was doing.

His lips were moving, but all you could thing about was his dick inside you, pounding over and over again until your whole body shook.

"What do you think, (y/n)?"

Your name pulls you back from your lustful state and you realise the words came from Harry. He looked doubtful and insecure. You understood him, you'd been in a similar situation after all. Who never has? Pining after someone and not knowing if they'll ever want you back? Too shy and insecure to do anything about it? It was a universal experience.

"I think that I never would have told Cedric about my feelings if he didn't make the first move. I never would have told him how I felt and we wouldn't be together now." You held Cedric's hands on your stomach and smiled at the memory of him first coming to speak with you.

"I think that you will never know how she feels if you never ask. Life is about taking risks. Sometimes it doesn't work out, but that only means that person wasn't the one for you. You are remarkable, Harry Potter. If anyone does not want you it's their loss, not yours. And if they do want you, they'll be extremely lucky to have you."

The boy was blushing by the end of your speech and Cedric smiled down at you.

"D'you really think so?" he asked, but a smile pulled at his lips.

"I do." you answered sincerely.

"Ok, Potter, cheers mate. We gotta go." Cedric said, taking your hand, not waiting for a reply before jogging through the halls, dragging you along with him.

Your laughter echoed through the halls and your stomach clenched in anticipation. Cedric lead you down the stairs and past the kitchens, his face no longer humorous.

He tapped the rhythm to "Helga Hufflepuff" on the right barrel and immediately pushed through, pulling you along with him. You both made your way to his dorm, thanking Merlin once again that prefects have individual rooms.

The click of the lock closing resonated through the room and the only noise left was your heavy breathing as you gazed as one another.

You made the first move, slowly unbuttoning your shirt and leaving it to fall on the floor. Cedric watched, unmoving, as you unzipped your skirt and let it fall as well.

You leaned against the door and he looked at you with a predatory gaze, but you both knew who was in charge.

"Kneel." you commanded and Cedric immediately obeyed, falling to his knees in front of you, holding the back of your thighs.

"Did I say you could touch me?" you asked, raking your hands through his hair.

He removed his hands from you, but begged "I need you so much, please. Can I make you come?" his pupils were blown wide, his brows furrowed, and his erection pressing against his pants.

"Only because you asked so nicely" you answered sweetly and Cedric sighed, his head falling to your mound.

His hands massaged your buttocks as he gave you kisses so close yet so far to where you needed him most.

"Now," you breathed "you are going to give me head and make me cum. Can you do that, baby?"

"Please," he whimpered, kissing your mound, "wanna taste you so bad, darling."

"Go ahead, Ced."

He immediately complied, hiking your right leg over his shoulder and licking from your entrance to your clit. You gasped, steadying yourself against the wall and he moaned against you.

"Always taste so good, my love."

Cedric licked and sucked like a starved man, tearing moan after moan from you.

"Cedric" you whimpered, gripping his hair to bring him closer or push him away. You didn't even know anymore.

He swirled his tongue around your clit before lowering his mouth to your entrance again and plunging his tongue inside. Your groan was loud enough for anyone in the hufflepuff common room and adjacent to hear as he fucked you slowly with his tongue.

"Just like that, baby."

He complied, keeping the same rhythm. In and out, in and out.

Your walls started clenching and warmth spread across your lower stomach, but it still wasn't enough.

"I need more." you said, looking down at him.

Like a good boy, he started stroking your clit with his thumb and worked his tongue faster.

Like that wasn't enough, he looked up at you and just the sight of him on his knees for you, with disheveled hair, eating you out while his spare hand stroked his cock would have brought on your first orgasm.

Your body shook and your knees gave out, but Cedric still held you and kept using his tongue to help you ride out your high.

When it was too much, you pulled his head away from your core by his hair.

"You were so good, my love." You caressed his face "Until you started touching yourself."

"I wasn't going to make myself come, I swear." He stood up "I just wanted to feel good."

"I'll make you feel good, baby." you dragged your finger and nails down his torso, leaving goosebumps as you told him to lie down on the bed.

"Finish taking your clothes off," you said, looking around "I want you naked when I get on that bed."

Finding what you were looking for, you crawled over your boyfriend's body and sat down on top of his erection. The direct contact with your heat made him swear.

You put his arms above his head and bound his wrists to the headboard with your house's tie.

"Please, I swear I won't touch myself." he pulled at the tie "I just wanna touch you, darling."

"Oh, I can't let you do that." you propped your hands on his chest and started a tortuously slow drag of your hips up and down his length, "You've been misbehaving a lot this afternoon. You only get to touch me when you've been a good boy."

"I'll be a good boy, I promise." he whimpered.

"We'll see about that." you answered, grinding a bit faster against him.

His hands were white from pulling at the tie, his breathing laboured and his hips shaking with restraint.

You leaned forward, your breasts falling to his face, "Suck on them."

He leaned towards them and captured your left nipple with his mouth. His nibbling and sucking tore moans from you and made you fasten your pace on his cock.

"Gonna come soon." he managed before turning his attention to your right nipple.

You took his jaw in your hand and kissed him passionately before resting your forehead against his.

His cock started twitching beneath you and Merlin if it didn't bring you an instant from your second orgasm, but you pulled away all at once.

Tears threatened to spill from his eyes and his dick kept spasming, his hips bulking.

Cedric whimpered.

"I know, I know." you cooed "You're doing so good, but I'm not done punishing you just yet."

You connected your lips one last time before making your way to the foot of the bed, caressing his leg as you walked. The growing wetness and incessant pulse between your thighs made you clench them.

"You did so good at training today, Ced." you praised him, "And you looked so handsome, too."

You got on the bed once more, between his legs this time, and he looked down at you.

"Wanted your pretty cock in my mouth the whole time."

He moaned as you started stroking his length, a bead of pre-cum falling onto your hand.

"Please, I want to be inside you." he begged, thrusting into your hand.

"Soon enough, my love." you answered kissing his tip, earning you a hiss "Have patience."

Your mouth watered as you looked at his engorged member, hard against his abs. All flustered cheeks, glistening skin, and shallow breaths, Cedric awaited your next move.

"Glorious." You breathed to yourself, but the seeker flushed even more from the praise.

Your eyes went back to his cock and the vein on the underside was your first target. You heard his moan as you licked him from base to tip, then took him inside your mouth all at once.

His hips bulked and his head hit the back of your throat, making you gag. Your pulse quickened everywhere.

Bobbing your head up and down, sucking harder at the head, you pushed Cedric closer to the edge.

He moaned your name like a prayer, over and over, and you kept up your pace even as tears fell from your eyes and drool spread down your chin.

"Touch my balls." He gasped and you complied, smiling around him.

You cupped and massaged his scrotum, already heavy with cum and you imagined all that inside of you. Moaning at the thought, you gave Cedric one last suck before getting up on your knees to untie him.

His hands flew to your hips and his lips to yours.

"You had your fun, darling, now it's my turn." he said, voice deep and eyes dark. His pupils were so dilated you could barely see the usual grey.

Holding your body to his, he flipped the both of you and looked down at you with one arm holding his weight beside your body, the other hand softly grazing your body.

"Hello, gorgeous." he smiled, diving to kiss you.

You kissed him back, tongues caressing each other and hands roaming.

Two fingers slid from your entrance to your clit and you shuddered.

"So wet for me, aren't you?" he took his digits to his lips and sucked them clean, you bit your bottom lip to contain a moan.

The sight alone could have made you cum.

"I need you to use your words, darling. I'm going to fuck you into the mattress right now, alright?" he said, caressing your face.

The contrast between his words and his tenderness had you squirming "Please." was all you could manage.

Taking his swollen cock, he teased you, dragging the head up and down your slit then circling your clit.

"Hurry!" you whined and he immediately obliged, completely sheathing his cock in your entrance.

Both gasping, your walls clenched around him and Cedric steadied himself against the bed.

Your mingling breaths evened out a bit before Cedric slowly pulled out until the tip and rutted back in again.

One of your hands shot up to hold his biceps while the other splayed against his back.

His length hit deep, hard and slow, making you dizzy.

He moaned your name in your ear, hair brushing the side of your face. Your legs made their way around his waist, letting him hit even deeper and you clenched harder around him.

"Fuck, darling." he groaned, quickening his pace "Need you to come for me, can you do that?"

His every thrust lead you to your second orgasm. How deep he hit, the moans and grunts he let out, how every plunge of his hips rubbed against you clit, the look he had in his eyes.

Every one of your muscles clenched and shook, Cedric moaned, and you let out a cry as blinding pleasure exploded through your body.

Even as you came down from your high, the thrusts didn't stop. If anything, they were harder and faster.

Cedric pulled out and turned you over, bringing your ass towards him. He plunged himself in again and continued his thrusts just as deep and fast as before.

You bit the pillow as he gave your ass a smack, but he still heard your low groan.

"You like that, don't you?" he spanked you again, a bit harder this time, and you cried out "My pretty little cock slut."

You moaned incoherently as he hit just the right spot over and over.

"Gonna come inside you, darling." he grunted.

Grabbing one of his hands placed on your hips, you looked back at him and, as always, the sight was glorious.

Cedric could have been sculpted by the gods themselves, with a layer of sweat that made his skin glow, veins and lean muscles bulging, and sexual prowess you were sure no human should have been made to have.

Interlacing your fingers, he looked into your eyes then shot his head up and his thrusts became sloppier. His dick started swelling inside you and you moaned. He was close and so were you.

"Fill me up, Ced. Wanna be so full of you." was the last thing you managed to say before your walls clenched tightly around him and you let out a silent scream.

Cedric poured out a string of curses and gave one final deep thrust before you felt his release coat your walls. Breathing laboured and bodies exhausted, he fell to his side and brought your body with him.

"You did so good, baby." he praised, kissing your hair, then asked sweetly "Do you need anything? Water, a bath?"

You turned around and curled into him "Just you."

He smiled and kissed your forehead "You'll always have me."

"I love you." you murmured into his chest.

Cedric's heart swelled in his chest and he said "I love you." but you were already asleep.

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thegreateyeofsauron · 10 months ago

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imagining a magical girl game but it's about managing a team of them

you play as the magic power granting mascot beast and you'd have to scout out girls with magic potential, but also make sure they're a good fit for the team. llike do you recruit the girl who is a magical powerhouse but her schedule is so tight that it's a nightmare to work with, or the girl who sucks at magic but she's basically free 24/7 because instead of going to school or working a job she smokes pot and drawe tf2 yaoi for patreon?

thematically it'd be a combination of the football manager games and the charlie work episode of always sunny.

if you can picture a sleep deprived luna hunched over a laptop, surrounded by empty energy drinks cans and coffee thermoses, talking into two cellphones at once, while attending a zoom meeting with the sailor scouts, then you understand.

#magical girl #mahou shoujo

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greensagephase · 1 year ago

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Nonviolent Communication - Part Six

Miguel O'Hara x SpideyFemReader

Summary: A few weeks after your first mission with Miguel, he shows up at your apartment to show you something.

Word Count: 10,161 (Someone needs to take my laptop away from me. I promise this will be the longest part. I won't let it happen again.)

Warning: Soft Miguel; Sad Miguel; It made me wish for summer to end even more; Some readers may not recognize some food items mentioned but it's not too important for the plot, however, you can find a guide right here if you want to know what they look like; Slight mention of abuse

Music inspo while writing:

"Luna de Xelajú" - Gaby Moreno, Oscar Isaac (I love this song so much. The Gaby and Miguel edits with this song make me want to sob each time 🥹)

Part Six

The trees in your city slowly change colors as the weeks go by. The greenery of summer fades only for nature to offer its orange, yellow, and red hues on your morning patrols. The sun retreats into hiding sooner, while the moon and stars emerge earlier, lighting the early, chilly evenings. It’s finally autumn. Coffee and book shops play autumnal music in the background as quiet and intimate conversations take place in small, cozy corners. The sweet scent of cinnamon and coffee fills the air. People walk the streets wearing cozy and warm apparel, coffee in hands to provide warmth. When you walk on the busy sidewalks of your city to buy groceries, you see the lively colors of autumn behind condensed window displays. You take notice of the faux autumn leaves and twinkling lights. The sight of mums and pumpkins meets you here and there.

You begin to go out to bookshops more often. You spend time with your friends, both outside and during work. Your friendship with them grows stronger. They visit you in your universe as you start inviting them for dinner at your humble apartment. You slowly begin to talk about Peter with them, feeling easier to bring him up each time you do so.

Many weeks have gone by since your first mission with Miguel. It’s not the last one. You find yourself going on missions with Jess, one other person, and him once a week now. You are no longer surprised by it. It’s normal. One week he assigns you to the same side of the city he works on, the next one he doesn’t. It’s a pattern. Each time you work on the same side, he suggests that the two of you swing through the city when you’re both done scanning for anomaly matter.

It's part of the surveillance and learning plan he has implemented, of course. So, this makes perfect sense. Every other week, you find yourselves on the tallest building’s rooftop, overseeing the city. Sometimes you talk briefly. Sometimes Miguel tells you about anomalies that have been caught from that universe in the past, before your recruitment into the Spider Society. Before you knew of each other’s existence. Other times, it’s you who tells him about anomalies you have caught with other colleagues. You listen intently to each other’s words as a form of respect and trust.

You continue to organize Miguel’s lab. With the weekly assigned missions, your time organizing his lab, and the minutes before scheduled meetings that add up, you begin to spend roughly four hours around the founder and commander of the Spider Society each week. You continue to take coffee for meetings, arriving early as always. Miguel sometimes talks to you about the anomalies from the previous week before anyone else arrives, your conversation ceasing when other ears enter the room. Sometimes you take food to him when you arrive to organize the lab. Miguel is no longer surprised like he used to be about the coffee cups, or like the first time you took him empanadas weeks ago. He accepts the food, and thanks you.

Without fully realizing it, there’s a shift between the two of you. So subtle, like the changing leaves of trees in autumn.

It’s the first of November. You walk around your apartment with your fall playlist playing in the background as you do random chores even though it’s ten at night. You do laundry you needed to catch up on. You put away the little amount of Halloween decorations you have. You wash dishes and clean the kitchen. You fix the throw blanket on your couch. You dust your furniture. It’s all a bunch of random chores that you’ve been meaning to do but have been too busy to get done over the week due to missions, patrolling your city, and Halloween. A lot of petty crimes occur on the holiday because people think they can get away with it if they wear costumes.

You’re also hit with a random spur of energy, so you take advantage of it. You move quietly around your apartment, your music filling the space that would otherwise be silent. As you clean, you think about how different this year has been compared to the last three years. You especially think about this as the holidays are right around the corner now. For once in three years, you have plans for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years. Peter and Mary Jane are hosting Friendsgiving at their universe. Mr. and Mrs. Morales invited you and the rest of the group for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day to their building’s party and then again for New Years.

It's been so long since you even celebrated. You found no point since it was just you and you cut off your friends from your universe. You smile as you clean thinking how it will be different this year. You can’t help but stop and stare at one of Peter’s photos on the wall. He would be happy, you think.

You’re in your bedroom now, putting away random objects that have made other areas of the apartment their home for days when a multidimensional portal opens in your living room. You sense it. You walk out of your bedroom just as the floating objects in your living room fall back into place. The portal is fading now.

Miguel stands in the middle of your apartment. His eyes take in your living room, lightly decorated for the autumn season. He spots a few pumpkins and faux leaves on your bookshelf. He can smell the scent of autumn candles as the music plays softly in the background. He finally turns around, looking for you, it seems. His gaze falls on you, meeting your eyes.

“Miguel. Is everything alright?” you ask, as you stand just outside your bedroom.

Miguel looks around for a second at the fallen objects. He gives you an apologetic look before he speaks. “Everything is fine.”

You nod, unsure of what to say. It’s past eleven at night and your boss just showed up. Randomly. Or at least it seems so. You see Miguel’s eyes scan you briefly, probably noticing that you’re still in normal clothes and not pajamas despite how late it is. His eyes meet yours again as he briefly thinks about how this is officially the third time he has been to your apartment. You are officially the only colleague he has visited these many times in such a short amount of time. He doesn’t let himself think too much of it now.

“Are you busy right now?” he asks at last, quietly.

“I was just doing some chores so, no…” you say, unsure of where this is going. He said everything is fine. He is calm. That means there’s no threat to the multiverse. No need to change into your suit right away.

Miguel nods and sighs so quietly, you barely register it. “I would like - to show you something,” he says, still meeting your eyes.

You stand there for a second or two, processing what he just said before you nod slowly.

“Should I change into my suit?” you ask, still unsure of what’s going on, but Miguel shakes his head.

“No need to change.”

You nod. “Oh, okay. Then – I’m ready,” you say quietly, still standing just outside your bedroom.

Miguel nods before he clicks on his gizmo, opening a portal again. The portal opens. Its lights shine brightly around your apartment and objects begin to float again. You quickly grab your own gizmo, sliding it on before you approach him. He motions for you to enter first and as you do so, you briefly wonder if you should’ve grabbed a jacket as your sweater is on the lighter side. Your worry melts, however, as you step into Miguel’s lab, where it’s warm. You sense Miguel right behind you, so you step to the side. Your eyes scan the lab, trying to figure out what Miguel wants to show you, but you see nothing out of the ordinary. Then again, you don’t know what you’re looking for.

Miguel is standing next to you now as the portal’s colors and lights begin to fade away. You look over at Miguel and find him looking down at the floor as if thinking. You wonder then. What is he trying to show you? Whatever it is, it seems that he might be reconsidering.

“If you’re not comfortable showing me, it’s okay,” you say quietly, not wanting him to feel pressured to show you now but he lifts his gaze to yours and shakes his head softly.

“No – I want to show you,” he says quietly, and you nod.

Miguel nods back before he turns and starts walking deeper into his lab. You follow him, giving him some distance just in case he changes his mind. He walks to a side of the lab that’s not usually trafficked by people, behind his platform. Your curiosity grows with each second as you walk around it, a few feet behind Miguel. Your nose is slowly overwhelmed by a rich and sharp scent, but you can’t pinpoint what it is. Miguel looks behind his shoulder as he finally stops walking. You see it then, or part of it as Miguel’s body covers some of your vision because he’s a few feet in front of you.

“You can come closer,” Miguel says, sensing that you’re still too far away.

As your eyes take in what you can see in that moment, you immediately know where the scent is coming from when your eyes fall on marigold flowers.

An ofrenda, as Miguel had said weeks ago when you were celebrating Peter’s birthday. You suddenly remember. It’s the first of November. Dia de los Muertos. Your mind flashes back to that moment. You were cutting Miguel a second slice of cake, feeling embarrassed about the whole thing when he spoke.

“I also…” Miguel said, pausing. “I celebrate Dia de los Muertos, I don’t know if you -” he paused, and you nodded then, indicating you knew what he was talking about as you put the slice on his plate. “I make a small ofrenda for them.” You placed his plate in front of him, meeting his eyes. “So – it’s not – Don’t feel as if…” Miguel said, trailing off and you nodded.

He had shared that with you then, to make you feel less embarrassed. To assure you, you weren’t alone in remembering, celebrating, and honoring Peter even after his death.

Your eyes flicker to Miguel for a few seconds, his attention is back to the ofrenda. You step closer, keeping your eyes on him, as you do so. You stop, standing a few feet behind him still, not wanting to invade his space. Not wanting to invade his ofrenda, his act of remembrance, celebration, and honor for his loved ones.

Sensing your reluctance to walk closer, Miguel speaks in a hushed tone.

“Y/N… you may come closer,” he whispers.

You stand still for a few seconds and then walk closer, stopping next to him. Your eyes take in the ofrenda as you’re able to appreciate it more now that you’re closer to it. Miguel’s ofrenda is absolutely beautiful and you can see the effort he put into it as your eyes take it in.

The ofrenda is made of two levels, both are covered in a bright blue fabric. Sheets of tissue paper in lively colors were cut into intricate patterns and hung from the edges of both levels. You notice the second level holds four photographs, which are in physical, wooden frames. Despite the advanced universe of your boss, Miguel O’Hara still used physical, wooden picture frames for his ofrenda. For some reason, that makes you feel tenderness towards the man next to you. Your eyes move from each picture slowly. The first photo your eyes fall on show an older woman. You take in her appearance, noticing some of her features are familiar. Miguel’s face flashes in your mind. His mother, you realize, knowing nothing about her. No one knows anything about Miguel’s family. It isn’t something that Miguel ever talks about.

Your eyes move to the other end of the level, falling on the photograph of a young man. He was handsome with one of those cheeky, boyish smiles. You notice he looks on the younger side and you can’t help but wonder if Miguel once had a brother.

The two photos in the center show people you have seen before. Two individuals you know a little about.

Gabriella and Miguel’s wife. Your eyes fall on Gabriella, noticing that her photo was more centered on the ofrenda. You notice the decorations then. Small sugar skulls made of clay fill the gaps between each photograph. Marigold flowers serve as a pop of color behind the picture frames and clay sugar skulls. Lit candles light up the ofrenda on both levels. They flicker softly, creating a soft and intimate moment.

Your eyes fall to the lowest level. You still find marigold flowers, sugar skulls, and lit candles but there are other items in front of each photograph. You remember that on Dia de los Muertos, loved ones place food, drinks, and other objects that those who have passed away enjoyed in life. In front of his mother’s photograph, Miguel placed a plate with food, surrounded by fruit like apples and oranges. A glass bottle with an orange drink was placed next to it. When you move to the young man, who you are almost certain is Miguel’s brother, you spot tamales, a drink, and two pink pieces of bread in the shape of a seashell. Pan dulce. There are also these thin, bright yellow candy-sized packages next to his drink. Your eyes almost miss it but there’s a scarf looped around the plates with food. When you look back at the photograph, you notice the young man is wearing that very same scarf in his photo.

You move to Miguel’s wife. She, too, has a plate with food, different from the others. You cannot help but wonder… Did Miguel cook their favorite meals? Once again, tenderness washes over you as you imagine Miguel spending the day cooking and setting up his ofrenda. You finish looking at Miguel’s wife section, seeing some candy and a drink, too.

It's Gabriella’s section that really strikes you, making a bittersweet feeling rush through you as you scan her section. There are three plates of food. You don’t recognize the food in one of them but the other one you do. Pancakes with chocolate chips on top. Your mind flashes back to months ago, when you entered Miguel’s lab after he found out that Lyla had hidden a folder containing photos and videos of Gabriella and his wife. He had mentioned Gabriella loved his breakfasts, especially pancakes with chocolate chips, when he was telling you a little bit about her.

Your heart aches as you continue to stare at the pancakes. You swallow the knot that has begun to form in your throat. You tell yourself to calm down. You know Dia de los Muertos is not about grief. It’s about celebrating those who have passed away. Remembering and honoring them. A night for loved ones to visit and spend time with those who are still alive.

You sigh quietly as your eyes move. You spot more items in Gabriella’s section. There is quite a bit of candy, which makes you smile. You spot small, green and white, bottles with pointy red lids. There are small packs with bright pink tablets, which remind you of gum. Your eyes fall on two lollipops. They have a clown face printed on it, showing a chocolate covered marshmallow with gummies as a face. There’s more candy, like those thin bright yellow packs you saw on the young man’s side. Your eyes move to the last plate. Gabriella also has the same kind of pan dulce found on the young man’s plate: two pink seashell-like pieces of bread.

There are also drinks in Gabriella’s section. You find tiny see-through bottles, almost the height of your pointing finger with a beige liquid and red letters printed on the outside. There’s also a tall glass of what looks like chocolate milk, next to a short, blue container with an animated character printed on it. And finally, there’s a large mug of rice pudding sprinkled with cinnamon. Arroz con leche.

It doesn’t stop there, however. The bright blue fabric covers some of the floor and right there you find toys and other random objects. Your eyes immediately fall on a soccer ball, reminding you that Gabriella loved to play soccer and was part of the soccer team at her school. You smile as you keep your eyes on it for a few seconds. You spot children’s books on the side, noticing that some of them fall under the science genre.

You remember that Miguel shared with you that Gabriella loved science and enjoyed reading. There are other toys of course, like dolls and small animal figures. Your eyes fall on one item specifically though. A small acoustic guitar. You briefly wonder if little Gabriella liked to play the acoustic guitar but of course, you don’t ask about it.

Your eyes take in the ofrenda again, all of it now. Miguel did a beautiful job. You smile softly at the sight and the fact that Miguel went to your apartment tonight to show you his ofrenda. He’s honoring his loved ones in his own way, and he invited you to be a part of it. The same way you invited him to be a part of Peter’s birthday celebration.

Your thoughts are interrupted when you feel Miguel move. He slowly gets on his knees in front of the ofrenda, with a soft sigh before he rests his body over his heels. You notice he’s looking straight ahead at Gabriella’s photo. You slowly drop to your knees, too, and as you stare at Gabriella’s photo you speak, breaking the silence.

“It’s beautiful, Miguel,” you whisper softly in Miguel’s quiet lab.

“Thank you,” he whispers back, softly.

The two of you stare silently at the ofrenda. The candles’ wicks flicker softly, still casting soft shadows on the photographs. You think about Miguel’s loved ones. He has lost so many people even before Gabriella and his wife. You can’t help but wonder now, how lonely was Miguel that he inserted himself in another world?

You have never judged him and never will for this. However, you cannot help but feel heartache for him. He has lost so many people. Why did life take so much from this man? This man, who you have begun to know better with each passing day, who was soft, loving, kind, and caring on the inside? He didn’t show these traits much these days, but you have received his kindness before.

He showed you kindness the day he showed up at your apartment to check on you. It wasn’t Jess who sent him. He had shown up on his own. You still wonder about that. How he had asked you not to bring it up to Jess so he wasn’t caught in a lie. He didn’t want you to know he had done it because he wanted to or because his true, hidden traits had led him to do it. Ever since he lost Gabriella and his wife, he was distant and cold, unwilling to attach himself to anyone again. Except, his true self was still there, hidden under the surface of his coldness and unattachment.

He made appearances sometimes. Like that day at your apartment. Or the day he talked about Gabriella to you when you walked into his lab, not knowing he was having a bad day because of Lyla’s secret. Or on Peter’s birthday. And there were other moments you hadn’t been around for like the time he allowed Gwen Stacy into the Spider Society. Even though he didn’t want her to be a part of it because of her connection with Miles, Miguel allowed her recruitment because of the issue with her father and her Spider-Woman identity.

That version of Miguel made his appearance today. Miguel O’Hara spent his entire day working on his ofrenda for his loved ones. He cooked. He cut the tissue paper. He printed out the photos and placed them in picture frames despite being able to simply display them with screens. He picked out the marigold flowers. He bought drinks, candy, and toys. He put together his ofrenda.

As the two of you kneel before it, there’s a shared understanding between the two of you. There’s comfort. Vulnerability. Trust. A bond between the two of you that has been forming over the last months strengthens.

You sigh softly as your eyes land on the soccer ball again. Miguel turns slowly to you, looking down to see your face. He sees you looking at the soccer ball.

“She loved playing soccer, so I bought her one,” Miguel mutters quietly, and you nod.

“I remember. She played in the soccer team,” you say softly.

Miguel nods, feeling a warm sensation wash over his chest as you mention that fact. It has been many weeks now since he shared that with you. And you remembered.

“I think – she must be very happy to see her favorite breakfast,” you add, looking up at Miguel.

He looks down at you. You remembered that, too. Miguel nods before turning away slowly. He has never shared much about his life with others. Not with Jess or Peter, who were already a part of his life back then. They knew some parts of his life of course but he had never gone into much detail. It had been too painful. It was easier to keep it all to himself, put away at the back of his mind while he exhausted himself with work to keep his emotions at bay.

You are the first one he has shared some of those days with. Miguel can’t help but think about the first day he met you. Jess introduced you and of course, he had thought you were the opposite of him. You seemed so happy and alive despite having lost someone. He had been so wrong about you. You carried your own grief and loss but hid it so well.

Either way, had someone told him that he was going to be opening to you in so many ways back then, he would’ve laughed. He wouldn’t have believed it, but it was true. He has opened up to you. And you remember. You listened to him. You didn’t ask questions. You understood.

Miguel sighs softly, looking at the photographs. You knew of his wife and sweet Gabriella of course but not of his mother or Gabriel. Little Gabrielito. Miguel shakes his head softly at his brother’s photograph, thinking how he left too soon.

Miguel clears his throat, turning slightly to you now. This catches your attention, so you turn to face him.

“The young man – that’s my brother. Gabriel, or as I called him, Gabrielito. He passed away a few years ago,” Miguel shares.

You offer Miguel a sad smile, not speaking. Not wanting to discourage Miguel from sharing.

“He was my little brother,” Miguel says. “He was such – a pain on the butt sometimes but he always meant well. He was always cheery. Kind.”

You nod, wanting to say that you could tell just by the cheeky smile on Gabriel’s face. Miguel notices that you seem reluctant to speak. He thinks about how respectful you always are. Again, you never ask questions. You never overstep his boundary lines. And hell, his respect for you grows in that moment even more. You are a good person. You are kind. Miguel fails to notice it, but his heart beats a bit faster. You are the closest he has to a friend these days even though he doesn’t fully realize it. You are the only person he was willing to share this moment with because you allowed him to be a part of Peter’s birthday celebration. He wanted to reciprocate the gesture.

And, as he stares down at your face, he realizes that he wants to hear your thoughts. He wants to know what you think. He wants you to ask questions because he feels comfortable with you. The firm boundary line he has established and maintained for so long, crumbles in that moment for you.

“You can talk, you know,” Miguel says softly, prompting you to offer him an apologetic smile.

“I’m sorry. I just don’t want to intrude or overstep. I know how delicate and personal these moments are,” you respond truthfully. “Thank you for letting me in on your celebration,” you whisper, and Miguel detects the sincerity in your tone.

He nods. “You made me a part of Peter’s birthday celebration … I wanted you to be a part of mine,” he answers softly.

You nod once again, giving him a brighter smile. “Thank you,” you whisper, meaning it.

Not everyone understood of course but you understood each other. With his words coming back to you, about being able to talk, you sigh softly before you speak.

“Your brother – I can tell he was cheerful with that cheeky smile,” you say, turning to Gabriel’s photo.

Miguel’s eyes fall on his brother’s smile. It was indeed cheeky.

“Since a kid,” Miguel shares. “He always had that smile. It never changed throughout his life. There were always at least two girls who had crushes on him when we were kids because of it,” he says fondly, his mind going back to days that were long gone when Gabriel and he were still in school.

You chuckle lowly. “I can imagine it got him into some trouble with the girls,” you say, smiling, unable to stop yourself from also thinking of younger Miguel. You wonder what he was like when he was a teenager. You wonder if he also had girls crushing after him, and you are immediately confident he did. If Gabriel had the girls crushing, there was no doubt Miguel definitely did, too. You have never thought of Miguel in that way but even though you have never thought of him like that, it doesn’t mean you are blind. Miguel is an attractive man to say the least. People, mostly women but even some of the men in the Spider Society, talk about it sometimes. Even if you hadn’t noticed it yourself, you are sure you would’ve at one point with the questionable conversations you overheard sometimes in passing when colleagues thought they were being discreet, except they weren’t.

“Believe me, it did. I once had to come to his rescue because this girl’s boyfriend thought he was flirting with her,” Miguel says, shaking his head, missing his brother. “But he wasn’t like that. He was a good person. A good man.”

Miguel thought of Gabriel when he allowed himself to think about the past. He loved his brother even when there were tensions between them.

“He was the better brother,” Miguel mutters. “He was kind. Unselfish.”

You can’t help but get hung up on the word “unselfish.” Did Miguel think he was selfish?

When he thought about Gabriel, Miguel couldn’t help but wonder what his little brother would have said about what he did. He was so selfless and compassionate. If there is a Heaven, Miguel fears that Gabriel must have disagreed with his decision. With what he did in Gabriella’s universe.

You sense a slight shift in Miguel’s mood, even when your mind is still stuck on the indication that Miguel feels like he was the selfish brother of the two. You feel the urge to keep the mood light. You don’t want to see Miguel sad or upset, so you speak up.

“He sounds like a wonderful person. I think I would’ve liked him a lot,” you start, looking at Gabriel’s photo before looking down at the yellow candy packs. “I see he and Gabriella liked the same candy,” you add softly, hoping to lighten his mood again.

Miguel, staring at his brother’s photo, briefly thinks about what you said, and he agrees. In fact, Miguel can’t help but think that Gabriel would have befriended you was he still alive. You were both warm and happy people. Unselfish, he thought again.

“Gabriel would have liked you,” Miguel says, knowing this is true. “I think you two would have been great friends,” he says pausing for a few seconds. “And yes – they’re called Pulparindos. It’s made from the pulp of tamarind fruit. Gabriel loved them. I swear he ate like four a day. He always had some with him,” Miguel says with an amused tone but there’s no smile on his face. “Imagine my surprise when I found out Gabriella also loved them,” he adds fondly.

You nod, that’s why both Gabriel and Gabriella had the same kind of candy then. You also feel somewhat pleased with the fact that Miguel thinks his brother would’ve liked you.

“We would go to the store, and she always made a beeline for the candy aisle. I could never say no to her,” Miguel says, his voice still laced with that fondness as he thinks of the times they went to get groceries. “We made an agreement. She could have one piece of candy each day but no more. She always respected the deal.”

You stare at Gabriella’s photograph. She’s in the frame alone, smiling at the camera. Again, there’s that toothy smile you remember from weeks ago. Your heart aches for her. For Gabriel. For Miguel’s wife.

For Miguel… who didn’t have the luxury of visiting all his loved ones at the cemetery, you suddenly realize as the two of you remain kneeling on the floor. Miguel couldn’t visit his wife or Gabriella. There were no bodies to be buried. No funerals.

Your sudden realization cuts deep into your soul. You cannot imagine what you would do if you were in his shoes. If you didn’t have at least that small comfort of knowing that Peter rested somewhere in peace. Or the comfort of being able to visit him whenever you wanted or needed to. Or the comfort of talking to him, even when you know your stories are heard by silence.

Miguel had none of that when it came to Gabriella and his wife. Your heart feels heavy with pain for Miguel. You have never thought of this and to be honest, no one else has either. Miguel was expected to move on eventually but how could someone move on when they didn’t even have the chance to mourn properly? How could anyone move on when they didn’t have a place to visit their loved ones?

It has been those small things that you have taken for granted that have helped you during your mourning period. Those comforts that mostly everyone who loses a loved one has but for Miguel… it’s not true. He doesn’t have any of those comforts.

You feel the sudden urge, for the second time in months, to reach out for Miguel. You want to comfort him. You want to hold him in your arms and tell him how sorry you are that this has happened to him. That you are sorry that he has lost so many loved ones. That he lost his wife and Gabriella, his loving family.

You want to tell him that he deserves so much more. That he deserves a family and happiness. And that he’s not selfish for wanting these things. You want to hold Miguel, and take away his grief, sadness, guilt, and any other negative emotion he still carries with him.

You just want to comfort Miguel.

Your hand, which has been resting on your lap, rises slowly, involuntarily, in Miguel’s direction. You freeze for about two seconds, realizing what you are about to do. You bring your hand back to your lap discreetly, or at least you hope it was discreetly.

You cannot comfort Miguel in the way that you usually comfort people because he doesn’t do physical touch. No matter how badly you want to rest your hand over his and let the gesture speak for itself, you know you can’t. Or rather, shouldn’t. You don’t dare break his boundary line as you return your attention to Gabriella’s photo.

Beside you, Miguel also stares at his daughter’s photo. His mind has paused the memories and instead, is overtaken by the fact that you were reaching for him just seconds ago. He didn’t fail to see the way you stopped yourself. He senses it’s not because of impropriety or even changing your mind about it but for another reason.

As Miguel stares at Gabriella’s photo, he wonders how you know. Perhaps it was Jess, he realizes. Perhaps she mentioned that he cannot do physical touch these days. And you, as always, respected his space. He silently appreciates your respect and the fact that you wanted to comfort him. He sighs softly. It’s been so long since he has been comforted by someone physically.

The last time he felt another person’s skin was… with you, he realizes, remembering the day he checked up on you. That day, for once, he allowed his hand to be bare so he could feel your face, to check if you were running a fever. That was the first time he had felt another person’s skin in a really long time, and there hadn’t been any other instances since then. He remembers how natural it had felt to press his hand to your forehead regardless.

Miguel’s thoughts are interrupted when he hears your stomach grumble, making him turn to you. He narrows his eyes slightly as you slowly look at him.

“Are you hungry?” he asks.

You shake your head, embarrassed, thinking about how you had an early dinner and that was hours ago. “No. I ate something a few hours ago. It was just my stomach being – weird,” you say softly and Miguel stares down at you, knowing you’re lying.

Before you know it, he gets up with ease. “Hold on,” he says walking away and around his platform.

You wait there, not knowing where he’s going on, or what he’s doing. It’s a few minutes later that Miguel returns. You hear his footsteps and turn around to find Miguel carrying two cups and two plastic bags hanging from his right wrist. Noticing your furrowed brows at the sight, Miguel walks over to you and hands you one of the cups.

You immediately feel the warmth of the drink before the scent of coffee fills your nostrils when you take the cup from his hand. You look up at Miguel, with curious eyes but he doesn’t say anything as he kneels next to you again, this time much closer than before, you notice. Miguel places his own cup to the side before he pulls the plastic bags off his wrist.

“I only made enough of the food for them…” Miguel says, pausing and nodding at the plates with food. “But I did get extra of this,” he says, opening one of the bags and showing you.

You catch a glimpse of pan dulce, which you have tried before. You meet his eyes again as he moves the bag closer to you. He motions for you to get some.

“I know you’re hungry,” he says quietly, meeting your eyes. “Please.”

You feel reluctant but then again, the pan dulce looks too appetizing to say no to. You nod slowly and reach into the bag, grabbing a pink, round seashell like piece of pan dulce.

“Those are called conchas,” Miguel says as he sees what you chose. He turns to the ofrenda. “Gabriel and Gabriella loved those. Especially the pink ones.”

You turn to the ofrenda, returning your attention to the pink conchas you noticed earlier on Gabriel and Gabriella’s sections.

“Thank you,” you say quietly, holding the cup of coffee and pan dulce, feeling embarrassed. You wonder if this is how Miguel felt the first couple of times you took him coffee and then in the last couple of weeks food.

Miguel’s head turns to the side to look at you. “You’re welcome,” he says softly before he, too, grabs a concha.

He looks away from you as he breaks a piece of the pan dulce to make you feel comfortable. He knows you were lying to hide the embarrassment of your hunger, so he turns away to give you space. He brings a small piece of the concha to his mouth, the pan dulce reminding him of his childhood when his mother made hot chocolate for Gabriel and him. Miguel remembers how Gabriel and him always looked forward to autumn and winter because the food was better. They got hot chocolate with pan dulce; tamales of all kinds, including his favorite ones, which were the sweet ones back then because he loved the sweetness of them and the fact that his mother added food coloring to make them colorful; they also got buñuelos, and pozole amongst other delicious foods.

Miguel brings the piece of pan dulce to his mouth as he thinks of the past, of his childhood. He didn’t think too often about it but when he did, he tried to only think of the memories that included Gabriel. He didn’t like to think of other memories that included the man he once thought was his father. The same man whose last name Miguel still holds to this day. Other memories included his mother as well. Some were from the early days of his life and then from her last years when they had grown closer once there were no more secrets and lies between them.

It was just his mother and Gabriel. Neither his stepfather nor biological father were thought of. Nor were they on his ofrenda. He couldn’t bring himself to add them to the ofrenda that was for those he loved and cherished dearly. Those he missed.

“That was my mother,” Miguel suddenly says once he finishes eating the small piece of concha, remembering he hasn’t talked about her. “Her name was… Conchata.”

You finish chewing the small piece of bread you, too, broke off. You nod. “She was beautiful,” you say as you turn your attention to her photograph. You can see Miguel got a lot of her features, as did Gabriel. You don’t say anything about the fact that there’s no sign of his father, not knowing Miguel had a stepfather as well.

“She was… We didn’t have the best relationship for some time, but things changed in her last years. It was often a problem between Gabriel and I in those years. He always tried to remain neutral. I, on the other hand…” Miguel trails off, thinking of the past. “I distanced myself from her for some time until we resolved our issues.”

You frown a little. Is this why he thought Gabriel was better? Because Gabriel remained neutral in whatever problems Miguel and Conchata had? Despite Miguel indicating that he isn’t as good as Gabriel, even saying he distanced himself from his mother in a negative tone, you can’t bring yourself to think of him any less. You have no right to begin with. You don’t know what happened between them. There’s so much that you still don’t know about Miguel. So much he might never reveal. Either way, you don’t care.

“We all have our reasons for what we do,” you finally say, thinking this was the best neutral thing to say. “You had your reasons for distancing yourself.”

Miguel nods, appreciating your response. “I did,” he says simply, thinking about those reasons. Thinking about the abuse from his stepfather that his mother allowed. About the manipulation. The lies.

He has never shared his past with anyone. The only person that knew of it has passed away, taking those memories with him to the grave. Gabriel. Miguel doesn’t know if he will ever share that. He put it in the past for the most part.

However, he couldn’t help but feel that if he ever shared his past… it would be with you but not tonight. At least not all of it.

Miguel clears his throat. “I had a stepfather and of course, a biological father but I wasn’t close to either of them. They have both passed away, too.”

You notice a slight change of tone. It’s laced with resentment. You put your cup of coffee down.

“You don’t have to talk about it,” you say gently. “Tonight, is for them, right?” you ask softly, motioning to the ofrenda.

Miguel nods. “Yes, but I know the other members talk. About my past. About my family.”

You nod slowly, knowing exactly what he’s talking about. That’s how you found out about what happened in Gabriella’s universe and what happened with Miles. It turns out that despite being superheroes and being part of a professional superhero society, its members were not immune to gossip.

“I didn’t have a good relationship with either of them. That’s why they’re not on the ofrenda,” Miguel continues, feeling like he wanted to get it out of his chest for once.

“I’m sorry to hear that,” you reply, and Miguel nods.

“It’s in the past now. I just wanted to say it – since my mother is on it. And again, I know people talk.”

You nod, feeling sad that Miguel feels the need to share his past life. “Please know that you never have to explain yourself. It’s your life, and you don’t owe anyone an explanation,” you say, surprising yourself with your words and tone but you hope you make your point clear. He shouldn’t feel pressured to share anything just to satisfy people’s curiosity. “But thank you – for trusting me enough to share that with me,” you add, softly again.

Miguel feels stunned by your words, especially your change of tone. It almost felt like you were scolding him. He can’t help but feel comforted while also amused by it. He feels his lips curl upward as he looks down at you. You notice it, of course. The slight curling of his lips. Did you almost make Miguel smile?

You can’t help but stare at his mouth. You have seen his smile in a photograph before and it was… beautiful. You remember the spark in his eyes as he smiled. His smile was such a sight it made you wonder what it would be like to see it in person. You can’t help but feel selfish at this moment. You want – need – to see Miguel O’Hara smile.

You want to see him happy because he deserves it.

You meet his eyes and offer him a small smile, feeling happy that you almost made him smile but Miguel surprises you. Miguel, for once,returns a genuine, small smile.

Miguel O’Hara, founder and commander of the Spider Society, your boss, is smiling at you.

You feel like your breath has caught in your throat suddenly. Miguel is smiling at you. It’s a small one but it’s a smile. You stare at it and meet his eyes. The moment feels much longer than it lasts but in a good way. You abruptly look down at your piece of pan dulce, feeling like you are overwhelmed by the sight of Miguel’s smile. You can’t comprehend your emotions, so you take a piece of pan dulce and change the subject.

“This is really good. Thank you,” you tell him, looking up at him again.

The smile is gone but there’s still a hint of it on his face as he looks down at his own piece of pan dulce. His mood is lighter, indicating that the resentment you detected earlier about his fathers is gone. You realize he found your sudden change of tone, which you now realize may have come off as scolding, amusing and you don’t mind it.

“Glad you liked it,” he says with a tone you can’t pinpoint right now as his smile is still flashing in your mind. “And thank you. For your words,” Miguel adds, meaning it.

You nod at him and take another bite of your concha, thinking. You are never going to forget this night.

The two of you continue to kneel on the floor but it feels like your distance has decreased somehow. You can feel his body warmth much closer as you eat pan dulce and hot coffee. The lab is silent and mostly dark around the two of you, but you find yourselves in a peaceful and comforting silence as the scent of marigold flowers and coffee fills your nostrils. The soft flickering of the candles on the ofrenda creates a warm and soothing mood, spreading that warmness to the two of you on this cold November night.

It is a beautiful moment, shared by two people who understand each other on many levels. It is a moment that will pass, like every other moment you have shared so far but just like the rest, it will be a moment the two of you will look back on. It is a moment that only the two of you will know of as there is an unspoken agreement these moments were for yourselves only.

Miguel eats his piece of bread, quietly. He’s thinking about your reaction to him smiling. It makes him feel a mix of emotions. Was the sight of him smiling, even if it was a small smile, so surprising? Of course, he knows he doesn’t smile much these days, but your reaction makes him feel like the sight of it is a once in a lifetime moment. That was one emotion.

Another emotion is… what is the word? His emotions and thoughts are a bit out of place tonight, making it harder to think but he feels… satisfaction? Is that the right word he’s looking for? The point is that he found some joy in seeing your surprise, and your sudden – was it shyness? Was the sight too much for you that you had to look away and change the subject?

Miguel takes a sip of his coffee as he thinks about how he liked your reaction to him smiling, no matter how small it was. He sets the cup down and looks at the other plastic bag he brought with him. He picks it up, remembering.

“There’s candy here, too,” Miguel says opening it.

You finish eating your piece of bread, making a note to look for some pan dulce in your own universe because it was wonderful, as you turn your attention to the bag. You’re still thinking of Miguel smiling. You watch as Miguel pulls out different candy, holding so much in one hand because of its size.

He shows you the candy, and you recognize it from the ofrenda. He extends his arm out to you, offering you candy. You look up at him.

“What do you recommend?” you ask, and he begins to tell you what each candy is, even when you recognize some of it from trying it before.

You eventually go for a clown lollipop, which makes Miguel raise his eyebrow slightly.

“What? It has three things. Marshmallow on the inside, chocolate on the outside, and gummies,” you say giving him a small smile.

“You got a point,” Miguel says, grabbing one himself.

The two of you open your clown lollipops. You look at your own, noticing the gummies’ placement on the lollipop, which are supposed to signify the eyes and mouth, are crooked, looking nothing like the picture on the wrapping. You frown a little but shrug.

Next to you, Miguel stifles a low chuckle, noticing your frown at the appearance of your lollipop. He shows you his.

“The thing about these is that they never look like the picture on the wrapper,” he says quietly as you look at his crooked lollipop.

You chuckle, noticing his has the mouth upside down. “I was a little disappointed but I’m pretty sure the taste is going to make up for it,” you say, looking at it before you take a bite, making sure to go around the gummies.

Miguel watches, wanting to see your reaction. You chew the small piece you bit off, the chocolate and marshmallow melting in your mouth. Miguel sees the pleasant look on your face.

“Oh wow, this is – I think I’m in trouble,” you say, taking another small bite, still going around the gummies, deciding you’re going to leave them for last.

Miguel raises an eyebrow as he, too, takes a bite of his, also going around the gummies, as you mention being in trouble. You finish eating and look over at him.

“I used to have a sweet tooth. I think this is going to make me return to my bad ways,” you explain as you take another bite.

Miguel feels like smiling again as he sees you go for another bite. He also notices that you left the gummies for last, which reminds him of Gabriella because she used to do the same thing when he bought these lollipops for her.

The two of you spend another hour sharing candy and Miguel tells you about each one. Miguel eats the same candy you choose each time, as if he was trying it for the first time as well. He pays attention to your reactions, noticing which candy leaves the best impression on you. He also shares bits and pieces of Gabriella’s liking for a specific kind of candy. You listen intently when he speaks, appreciating his openness with you. You notice there’s no sadness as he speaks fondly of her. At least not tonight.

“I guess we’re not sleeping tonight,” he mutters as the two of you are now sitting, still on the floor, facing the ofrenda.

It’s past midnight now and the two of you have eaten quite a bit of candy, plus you had that cup of coffee. You both feel awake and alert.

“I don’t think I was planning on sleeping early, anyway,” you say quietly, staring at the flickering candles.

Miguel leans back on his hands, stretching his back slightly. The two bags he bought earlier are between you. The plastic wrappers from the candy you two ate are in a neat pile.

“You were doing chores,” he says, remembering you had mentioned that when he arrived.

You nod. “I had some random chores that I meant to do over the week but didn’t get to.”

“I’ve been keeping you busy with missions,” he says, looking at the photos of his loved ones.

You chuckle lightly. “It’s just the life of a superhero.”

Miguel nods, knowing exactly what you mean. When he lived in Gabriella’s world, he took every chore in the house. He cooked, cleaned, did the laundry, dishes, cut the lawn, and many other chores on top of being a father and a superhero. There were days when it all felt like too much, especially when he was unable to complete some of those chores when his superhero duty called. When he felt like that, when it was all too much, he just reminded himself that it didn’t matter. It was okay if the lawn grew a bit tall. It was okay if he got behind a day or two on laundry. It was okay as long as it meant he got to spend time with Gabriella. Her happiness and comfort were his top priority, and if he had to choose which he often did, between doing laundry or sitting on Gabriella’s bedroom floor playing with dolls because she asked him to join her, he always chose spending time with her.

The satisfaction of done laundry, or a clean sink, never compared to Gabriella’s smiles and laughs. If he could pay to hear her laugh live again, Miguel would give up everything he owned. Even if it was just one more time.

Miguel sighs softly, thinking of Gabriella. Memories of them playing on her bedroom floor flash through his mind. He can hear her voice and laugh. He remembers the way it felt to hold her in his arms. He remembers the nights he had to find a way to fit in her tiny bed to comfort her because she had nightmares. He’d lay there for hours, even if his muscles were tired. Even when his body desperately wanted to stretch to ease the tension, he laid there, guarding her sleep. He remembers the natural father instinct that surged through him. It was as if he had been meant to be a father his whole life.

As Miguel stares at the ofrenda, his eyes fall on the toys, and he silently prays that Gabriella visited him on this Dia de los Muertos. He prays that she forgave him for lying. For replacing her biological father. He prays that she found joy in the toys and food.

“Perdóname, mija.”

“Do you – do you mind telling me more about her?” you ask in a whisper, noticing Miguel’s lingering eyes on his deceased daughter’s photograph. You don’t know what gave you the confidence to ask that and you quickly add, “I’m sorry, I – you don’t have to. I don’t know what came over me.”

Miguel turns slowly to you, looking down at you. Your eyes meet. He’s quiet for a few seconds but his face is calm. He doesn’t look upset, and he’s not. He’s glad you asked. He’s just surprised and comforted by how you asked. It’s strange. Sometimes he feels like you grieve with him. He sees it in your eyes and detects it in your words and tone. He has never felt like anyone could share his grief. Until you. You didn’t even know Gabriella or his wife, or that version of himself.

Regardless of that fact, Miguel feels like you grieve with him. As if you grieve the opportunity of knowing them and a life he no longer has.

Miguel nods at last. “Gabriella…”

And so, the two of you spend another hour or so together in his lab. Miguel O’Hara begins to talk about his daughter and it’s like a door opens. His memories pour out of him, and you listen intently, nodding. He talks about the times she was sick, the time she fell from a swing and the scraped knee afterward, about her playing with dolls and him having to change his voice to be in character. He talks about the car rides back home after soccer matches and how Gabriella would be filled with energy the first fifteen minutes before she passed out asleep, exhausted from the game and her excitement from winning. He tells you so much than the last time. So much more, that you feel like you knew Gabriella yourself. You smile tenderly as Miguel talks about her in a way that just enforces how great of a father he was.

It's a while later when the two of you get up from the floor. You help him clean up, despite his protests. The two of you stand in front of the ofrenda for a few minutes, in silence afterward. You finally turn your head towards him, looking up at him. He notices and looks down at you, meeting your gaze.

“Thank you. I know this isn’t easy,” you say quietly, and he nods slowly.

You wish you could say more. Again, you feel that rush of emotions for this man. You wish you could tell him that he deserves happiness. That he deserves so much more…

“Thank you for coming,” he replies, and you nod with a small smile because you feel that that’s the only thing you can do.

You fall into silence again for a few seconds before you sigh softly.

“I should probably head back now,” you say, looking down at your gizmo to check the time.

Miguel also checks his gizmo, surprised. It’s very late. When he finished setting up the ofrenda and was ready to travel to your universe to invite you, he had no intention of keeping you up this late. He thought it would be an hour or so. Instead, the two of you have spent the last three hours on the floor eating pan dulce and candy, with him talking and sharing details of his life.

For a brief moment, Miguel tries to imagine doing this with someone else. He can’t. No one else pops into his head, for the two of you speak so differently when you are alone. You understand each other.

Miguel finally nods. “I didn’t realize how late it is. I’m sorry for keeping you up.”

You shake your head with a smile. “Don’t apologize. As I said, I was going to stay up to do some chores but…” you trail off and try to put your thoughts together without them coming off wrong. You want to say that you much prefer this. Spending time with him. Keeping each other company. How can you say that without it coming off wrong? You look away from his gaze for a few seconds, trying to think of how to word this and simply having no idea how to do so without giving the wrong impression. You shake your head softly at yourself, feeling silly for being unable to pull your thoughts together. You meet his eyes again, which have been on you this whole time. Miguel can see that you’re struggling to find a way to say what’s on your mind. It makes him want to know even more what you’re thinking.

“What I’m trying to say is that – I’m here,” you finally say and immediately feel like that was not the best way to say it, but it is also not the worst. “I’m here – for you.”

And I don’t mind stopping what I’m doing to be there for you, you silently think but can’t voice that part out loud.

Miguel stares down at you, your words echoing in his head. You’re here… for him. And he knows you mean it as your eyes meet. Miguel gives you a soft nod, his eyes show appreciation.

“Thank you…” he says, with a warm feeling in his chest.

You nod and give him another smile, seeing that appreciative look in his eyes. That will have to do. Maybe in the future you can say more but for tonight, that will have to do.

Miguel wants to say the same to you, but he can’t. The words get caught in his throat. He looks at the plastic bags from earlier. He pulls out two chocolate lollipops and some of the other candy he saw you liked the most, not fully realizing that he perfectly remembers this information. He looks at the bag with pan dulce. There are only two pieces of bread left. He extends his arms, offering you the bag with bread and the candy. It’s his own way of reciprocating your words to him. You look up at him, a little surprised.

“Oh, thank you but you don’t have to do that,” you say not making a move to take the items.

He looks down at you. “I insist… please,” he says quietly with a firm yet breathy tone.

Noticing his tone, you nod slowly and take the items from his hands gently. Your bare fingers brush his suited palm and fingers as you take the individual pieces of candy. The sensation is almost ticklish to Miguel’s palm, but he keeps his hand steady. Once you have everything in your hands, you look up at him again and smile.

“There was no need for this but thank you.”

Miguel nods, wishing he could’ve done this on top of reciprocating your words. Maybe another time.

“I hope you enjoy the other pieces of bread,” he says softly.

“I have no doubt I will,” you reply, still smiling. There’s a few seconds of silence between the two of you before you speak again. “Well, I’ll see you tomorrow. Thank you again… for everything.”

Miguel nods. “Thank you. I’ll see you later today,” he replies remembering it’s already early morning.

You nod one more time at him before you turn your eyes to the ofrenda. Your eyes fall on each photograph, and you say a silent goodbye to them. You don’t celebrate but you hope that they came to see Miguel tonight.

“Good night,” you finally say.

“Good night,” Miguel replies before you walk around the platform. Miguel remains standing in front of his ofrenda. He hears the multidimensional portal open nearby and then it’s quiet again. His eyes fall on each photograph, the flickering candles casting dancing shadows on his loved ones’ faces. He stands there for a few minutes, quietly thinking before he breaks the silence in his empty lab.

“I’m here for you, too...”

_________________

Translation for italicized words: Dia de los Muertos - Day of the Dead Ofrenda - Altar for Day of the Death Pan Dulce - Sweet Bread (Mexican pastries) "Perdóname, mija" - "Forgive me, my daughter." Mija(o) is a combination of "Mi" and "Hija(o)"

For the other italicized food items mentioned by Miguel from his childhood and items described on Gabriella's ofrenda, you can find a food guide right here that I quickly put together.

Ok, so I just want to say sorry for the freaking LONG update. My jaw dropped when I checked the word count once I was done editing (no wonder it took me so long). I don't think any other part will be this long. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed it and that if you love autumn (like me) this brought you comfort. I'm done with this summer heat 😭

I also want to ask how would you guys feel about a short Christmas part? It wouldn't be super long but I thought of Miguel in Christmas time and I just - Imagine Miguel in a chunky cable knit turtle neck sweater!! (Screaming, crying) If not, it's okay. I already have the "next" part mapped out and... I'm not well thinking about it.

As always, thank you for the support. For the lovely comments and asks. Reading them makes me so happy. Thank you 🥹

I love Miguel,

Alondra

Tag list:

@loverlorn @saturnknows @d1lf-loverrr @eddiestitmiguelsbigdick @freehentai @arithestrawberry @scaleniusrm @haradasaya @spidermanismyfav @bitchykittenconnoisseur @thecraziestcrayon @obi-mom-kenobi @natsury-kazuki @rootin-tootin-morgan @coraline750 @edgycatx @safixiovi @sunnyx07 @nxrdamp @rorel1a @oceanstar19 @happishark @carmilla01 @somebodyelsethanyouthink @adora-but-ginger @angie2274 @vampi-amora @tired-writer04 @plzfeedmebread @shadow-pancake9 @tynakub @faretheeoscar @giulscomix @luvstuffies @coffeeauthorvibing @lauraolar14 @bl0osclues @pinkiemme @lil-cinn @mashiromochi @loveletterfrommwah @mandodinstuff @muzansucker @theleftkittycollection @kikookii @www-interludeshadow-com @holographicang3l @aisyakirmann @bucky-to-my-barnes

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harringtons-cupid · 2 years ago

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Taking turns - Steddie x Fem! reader

Based off a conversation with @moonchildquinn

Warnings-18+: breeding kink, threesome, creampies, rope bondage, dirty talk, slight female masturbation. male recieving and male partaking blowjob. Nipple play Ovulation sex. MLM kissing

Tagged: @joeschains @choke-me-eddie @urlbitchin @corrodedcherry @eddiemunsons-missingnipple @mcbeanzontoast @pleasantlycrazyworld @bisexual-byers @imjuststeddietrashatthispoint @hellfiremunsonn @luna-munson83

Masterlist | Buy me a coffee

Steve And Eddie had been keeping tabs on your cycles, documenting it until the week that suspected that you were ovulating.

You woke up on Saturday morning, Eddie’s curly hair was messy against your pillow. Smells of food were wafting through into the bedroom from the kitchen, pulling you out of your slumber.

Wrapping your silk robe around your body, you entered the kitchen to see Steve cooking with nothing but a blue apron wrapped tightly around his body.

He looked good, very fuckable

Smirking at you, he plated specific food in front of you. Describing to you each nutritional benefit of every piece of food, you sensed that something was up as you ate all the food.

Not wanting to press it, you went to see Eddie who had awoken from his sleep and was organising clothes out the wardrobe. Pressing an outfit against the wooden doors with a smirk, you examined it and noticed that it was for you.

It was skimpy, a short skirt with a boob exposing top. With no underwear.

You shrugged and dressed it, feeling confident as you stared at yourself in the mirror. Watching in the reflection as Eddie walked past you completely naked, your clit began to throb against the poof at the sight of him.

Grinding yourself slowly against the poof, piecing two and two together you realised that you were ovulating and they were teasing you. Wanting to push your buttons and it was working.

Moaning under your breath as your clit got wetter and wetter against the material, it was rocking harder. Your eyes tightly closed as you grasped onto the desk for support, not noticing that both boys were hovering over you and watching you.

Just as you reached your orgasm they interrupted you.

“Steve look at her, she’s so horny. Making herself feel good, how naughty” he sneered, making you open your eyes at once.

They grabbed your arms making you squeal from lack of friction and threw you onto the bed. Working quickly to tie you down onto the bed, you whimpered and thrusted your hips aggressively against the bed.

You were soaking, it dripped down your legs as they spread you as far as you could.

“Oh baby, you look so perfect. All tied up, now you can’t touch yourself” Eddie teased, sucking down onto your nipples.

Nodding over to Steve who had ripped his apron off onto the floor, towering over you completely naked. His cock hard and throbbing clasped around his hand, groaning as he stroked it. Twirling his precum with his fingers, his eyes flickered between Eddie and you.

Eddie stopped sucking your nipples and made his way to Steve, dropping to his knees and taking Steve’s cock into his mouth. Warming him up as Steve’s moans echoed into the room, his hands playing with Eddie’s hair as he facefucked him.

All you could do was watch, rattling yourself to get their attention against the bed. Grunting and moaning louder and louder as Eddie choked on Steve’s cock for another minute longer before removing it from his mouth with a loud gasp and pant.

Steve leant forward and kissed Eddie passionately before whispering in his ear, they nodded and walked over to you. Eddie’s lips met yours, they tasted like Steve’s cock.

Moaning against his lips as Steve spanked your clit with his tip, sliding it between your folds and trading your entrance. You whined as he slowly slid inside you, your pussy was soaked around him as his fingers played with your nipples.

“God your pussy is so wet baby, all ready for me to fill you up” he grunted, folding your legs around his back.

Your hips rocked with his as Eddie’s tongue battled with yours, his cock hitting your soft spot as you found yourself slowly edging back up to orgasm.

“Steve, Eds. I could cum” you panted, whining against Eddie’s lips.

Your tits bouncing heavily as he thrusted harder and harder inside you, your clit throbbing as his pelvic bone. Eddie’s cock dug into your thigh, he was loving you being ruined by Steve.

All sweaty and hot for him, waiting for the perfect moment to fuck Steve’s cum deeper and deeper inside you. Your lips were raw and red as Eddie took a breath of air.

“Cum for me baby, cum all over my cock” Steve moaned, his eyes tightly closed as he bent his body back.

You wailed loudly into the room as his cock hit your perfect spot, your body shook heavily as your pussy pulsated. Squirting heavily onto Steve’s cock, coating your legs and the bed with your cum.

Steve didn’t slowly down as you felt yourself cum for the second time, riding the high until you felt yourself get tired. His hands gripping onto every bit of skin, his cock pulsating inside you as he listened to Eddie and you moan together.

“Fuck baby, I’m going to fill your pussy up with my cum. Cum in you until your pregnant, you’d love that wouldn’t you?” He grunted against your body, raising his hand up to your clit and spanking it hard.

You nodded pathetically, your pussy aching from being fucked but your hips thrusted against his as you felt his cock pulsate hard inside you.

Shaking heavily as he grinded his tip against your soft spot, your cum still leaking out your pussy as you felt him edge closer and closer to his orgasm. His moans turning into pants as his nails dung into your skin, he was close and you were ready.

He came hard inside you, filling up your pussy just like he said he would. Not stopping until his cum was deeper inside you, sliding out of you. He kissed your thighs, licking up any loose bit of cum.

When you thought it was over, you hazily watched the boys swap places. Steve’s lips met yours as Eddie wasted no time before he slid his own cock inside you.

Eddie was a little bit bigger than Steve but not by much.

“Don’t worry baby, I’ve been dying to fuck you. This won’t take long, I just gotta fill you with my cum” he groaned, his tip hitting your hot cum filled pussy.

You focused on Steve as Eddie’s cock pounded hard inside you, trying your hardest not to get to overstimulated.

Steve whispering in your ear how good you were for them, he stroked your hair out of your face as you whined against his mouth.

Eddie’s cock twitched inside you, he was right. He did say that it wouldn’t take long.

Already so turned on by watching Steve fuck you that he couldn’t hold his cum in any longer. Thrusting harder and harder inside you, feeling your warm walls slide against his cock.

Throbbing as his tip grinded until his cum spurted out inside you, filling your pussy full of his cum. He shuddered as his cock continued to empty itself inside you, holding onto your body for support.

Your eyes met his as he continued to fuck you harder and harder until all his cum was coated against your walls. Copying Steve, he slid out of you and licked your thighs clean. Nibbling on them before roughly untiring you.

Kissing your body passionately before pulling you closer to him, both boys held you tightly.

“Such a Good girl for us, letting us use your pussy like that.” He cooed and kissed your cheek softly.

“He’s right but you’d better hope that you’re pregnant or else we’ll have to try that again until you are. Got that baby girl?” He wiped your forehead clean before kissing you, nodding at Steve with a wink.

You whimpered at his words, your pussy throbbing with exhaustion and cum. You closed your eyes, with the boys surrounding you.

#eddie munson #steve harrington smut #Eddie munson smut #Eddie munson imagine #steve Harrington imagine #steddie smut #steddie x you #steddie x fem!reader #steddie x y/n #Steddie x Fem!reader smut #steve harrington x fem #steve harrington x eddie munson #eddie munson x fem!reader smut #steve harrington x fem!reader smut

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atheniangrace · 15 days ago

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Things/Songs I Associate With the Deities I Worship

Hello! I'm grateful to those who follow me so far thank you very much, I hope to make my blog a bit more interesting!

For this very short series, I will be posting on the deities I mostly worship, which are Lady Athena and Lady Aphrodite. You can also consider this list based on upg associations, and I hope you enjoy reading this. I also dedicate this post to specifically Lady Athena.

List of things I associate with Mother Athena (might add more);

Medicine/doctors/pre-meds/Medical students/residents in hospitals, and the symbols of a snake around a staff (I know that is more of Apollo's, Aesculapius, Caduceus, and Hermes symbol, but since Athena is also associated with snakes and healing, I also associate her with the symbol).

Other careers such as; Teachers, lawyers, news reporter, historians, nurses, anthropologist, architecture, and fashion design, pianist, painter, biologist, and writers.

College/grad school.

Purple, green sage, blue, and silver.

Cats, owls, dog's, deers, white butterflies, and eagles.

Strawberries, grapes, olive oil, nuts/almonds, rice, chocolate, bread, and tea/coffee.

Dragons (idk why).

Music genre; Jazz, Pop, R&B, Reggaeton, Salsa, and Mambo.

Artists: Bad Bunny, Beyonce, Raveena, The Marias, Fleetwood Mac, Phoebe Bridgers, BTS, and Mitski.

Particular songs; The Chain/Songbird/Rhiannon (Fleetwood Mac), Sienna (The Marias), Ghost in the Machine (SZA and Phoebe Bridgers), Silver Into Rain (Luna Li and Beabadoobee), Would You Rather/Motion Sickness/Scott Street (Phoebe Bridgers), My Rose/16 Carriages/Freedom (feat. Kendrick Lamar)/Diva/Flawless (Beyonce), The way things go and Coming Home (Beabadoobee), Oh Que Sera? (Willie Colon), Sometimes (H.E.R), Salt Water and Stronger (Raveena), Viva La Vida (Cold Play), Rises the moon (Liana Flores), Your Song (Elton John), Let it Be (The Beetles), Happiness/mirrorball/my tears ricochet (Taylor Swift), Good Days (SZA), Slipping Through My Fingers (ABBA), Red Velvet (Big Theif), DtMF/CAFe CON RON/ TURiSTA/BAILE INVoLVIDABLE/LA MuDANZA/LO QUE LE PASO A HAWAii/Solia/La Dificil (Bad Bunny) (there are so many more but I'll stop here).

Epithet UPG (since this whole list is a UPG); Athena Asklepios: I call to her with this epithet (non-historical) when studying for anything medicine related, especially since I'm a student who hopes to become a medical student soon.

Dairies/journal, planners, and watercolor paintings.

Movies; Howl's Moving Castle, The Boy and The Heron, An Almost Christmas Story (an animated short film), and Moana.

Therapy/counseling/talking things out with a friend or mentor.

Libraries, museums, and art gallery.

Smells associations (UPG); Lavender, Chamomile, Lemon, Cinnamon, and new books (my apologies if this is weird lol).

Roadtrips and maps, books, technology, and tea cups.

That will be all :)) 💖 (Credit: Divider by @vibeswithrenai)

All Hail the Owl-eyed and Savior Lady Athena! Xaire🦉 <33

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myalchod · 4 months ago

Note

Kiss prompt: Silrah + nr 36

Why hello there, neglected inbox! I'm so sorry I've been ignoring you. And I'm so sorry it took me freaking forever to write this one, Hillie -- hope you enjoy it! 💙

36. a kiss to give up control - [ also on AO3 ]

He watches as she paces the length of her office. The sound is so familiar he could play it from memory: heels a precise click against the wood, muffling slightly as she steps onto the carpet, then sharp once more before she reaches her desk, pivoting to start the process again. He knows exactly why she’s doing it — this only happens when she’s worked up about something — and he knows why just as well. How could he not, when he knows that today will deliver news that could change everything?

A year ago, this would have been alien to them both — but a year ago their world had not yet shattered. So much has changed; he need only look at her to see that made manifest, the elaborate twisted hairstyles and sleekly professional dresses she wears far more reminiscent of Solaria’s monarch than Alfea’s former headmistress. They suit her, but he wonders how much of her decision was born of distancing herself from Rosalind’s shadow. For such a small woman, their general still looms large over them all.

“What time is it?”

“Two minutes since you asked last.” He stretches out his legs, ignoring the glare she shoots him when he tucks one booted foot against the edge of the low coffee table. It’s good to know he can still get under her skin, but it’s better to find glimpses of his fairy underneath the put-together woman who has served out the year as Alfea’s interim headmistress. He knows she wants this; they’ve talked about it, after all, the two of them alone and also together with Ben, and Farah has made it clear this isn’t just about warding the place where they’d imprisoned Rosalind. Sometimes he thinks he knew how much Alfea called her before she did, when the Farah of before had been so intent on following in Rosalind’s footsteps and proving herself a hardened soldier. But even if she has not admitted it to herself, he can see how much she cares; why else would the decision they sit her awaiting leave her as twisted into knots as she is?

Click, click, and back to carpet-muffled thuds. She stops before him this time; he tips his head back, offers her reassurance along with a smile, watches the corners of her mouth twitch upward for a moment before she sighs once again, tucking an errant strand back behind her ear. “How can you be so calm?”

“Because we’ve done all we can. Either Luna holds up her side of this bargain and we have nothing to worry about, or she doesn’t and it becomes her headache.” The reality is not nearly as simple, when leaving runs the risk of Rosalind walking free after all of their efforts, but he doesn’t think the Solarian monarch is blind to the risks that would pose. She and Farah may have their own fraught history, but she’s not an idiot, and only an idiot could ignore the danger Rosalind Hale poses, knowing what they all now know.

She looks at him for a long moment, but says nothing before she resumes pacing. Saul sighs and leans his head against the back of the couch, closing his eyes and listening to the sound. There is still, by his calculations, the better part of a half-hour before the board will finish, and he’s pretty sure she’s going to wear a groove into the floor before then. And while, if he’s being honest, he’s not quite sanguine about the outcome of the meeting taking place right now, he’s better at hiding it — and better at admitting that they’ve done all they can at this point.

The knot of anxiety in his head pulls tighter with each step. The impact of her heels sets his nerves vibrating in response. If he doesn’t do something soon, one or the other of them may well burst, and so he pushes to his feet, glancing at his watch as he does.

Thirty-seven minutes.

She pulls to an abrupt stop when he plants himself in her path, eyes narrowing. When she shifts her weight to one side he reaches up, hands curling around her arms as he steps in close, closer, until her back fetches up against the bookcase and her chin tips back to look at him. “Saul, what —”

His lips against hers steal the rest of her words. For a moment she stiffens, surprise rather than protest, but when he pulls back just slightly her mouth chases his own until he tuts out a warning.

“Pretty sure in thirty-six minutes you’re gonna be the one in charge. Until they tell us, it’s my turn.”

Her eyes widen for a moment before she laughs, something soft and fond, and leans back against the shelf. “Go on, then, headmaster. Do your worst.”

The twist of nerves is still there in the bond, though, the tension still coiling tight inside her; if he released her, he is certain she would start pacing again. But just because he’s aware of how time is ticking down doesn’t mean he won’t take up the challenge of making her forget the meeting — and everything else he possibly can — in the time left them, and as he nips at her lower lip, the moan she breathes into his mouth only spurs him on.

[ ask me another ] [ all answers ]

#fate the winx saga #silrah #farah dowling #saul silva #winxsource #ftws #farah dowling x saul silva #charis writes #asked and answered #kiss prompts #i don't know how these silrah ones keep ending up on the fluffy side #but i'm not entirely mad about it

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seren1tyhaze · 2 years ago

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Jaemin Cat Dad Drabble

You’ve been thinking about adopting a cat for so long and visit the local shelter frequently to play with the kittens who quickly get adopted and spend some time with the older dogs who you see week after week. The staff is always friendly and happy to have you around, knowing it’s a big decision to bring an animal into your home and appreciate your caution.

One afternoon you are signing in at the desk and a startlingly handsome young man with pastel pink hair struggles with the door while balancing two soft cat carriers and a large iced coffee. He has kind eyes and broad shoulders, accentuated by the thin tank top he’s wearing. When the staff greets him, his smile is blinding and covers most of his face. You feel your heartbeat pick up in your chest as you watch him hand the carriers over and sign some forms on the counter next to you.

“Vaccines for all three of them, I hope they are ready for chaos back there!” he chuckles out, signing his name, Na Jaemin, with a flourish.

“Three? Three kittens?” you ask, having heard high pitched mewls coming from the carrier when he had first walked up.

“Yes, my three little demon cotton balls. They are quite a handful but I wouldn’t have it any other way,” he replies, turning to face you and pulling a strong arm up to lean on the counter.

You get to talking and realize your apartment buildings are on the same street, in a trendy part of town not too far from the shelter. He adopted the kittens a few months ago and hadn’t had it in him to separate the siblings who had already been through a rough journey in their short life. He cared for them alone, with a lot of support from his best friend Jeno and family members who stopped by often.

“Why don’t you stop by sometime to see how it is having a kitten at home,” he offers, holding out his phone to get your number. You blush at this but nod, never saying no to some quality kitten time and finding the charming man in front of you irresistible.

A few days later, you’re laying on his couch with the cats crawling all over you, tails tickling your noses as they purr loudly. You can’t help but giggle as Jaemin shrieks at Luna, who has just pounced on his socked feet that are curled up near his muscular thighs. He’s been trying his best to protect you from their little love bites and in the middle of laughing both of you pause, locking eyes and he gently leans over to you. He draws your face closer to his for a soft kiss until he feels a clawed paw sink into the top of his hand, causing him to yelp and pull back.

Lucy didn’t like the sudden lack of attention and was retaliating with adorable violence. Jaemin leans over to grab her gently and dangles her in front of his face making pouty and kissy faces at her.

“No no Lucy, we don’t do that,” he sings sweetly, dotting kisses to her pink nose set between bright blue eyes.

Your breathing falters watching him with them, tugging your legs up further into the pillow between you on the couch. Luke is tangled up in your ponytail and scratching at the hood of your sweatshirt while Luna has returned to attacking the dangerous socks, this time yours.

You suddenly feel a hand on yours and look up to see Jaemin standing, pulling you lightly by the wrist.

“Why don’t we give them some time to play together,” he smirks as you let him guide you up from the couch.

You’re both breathless as he pushes the door shut to his bedroom having almost slid down the hall in a jog with three fluffy white balls chasing after you. A couple paws are visible under the door, accompanied by small chirping noises as you laugh and collapse against Jaemin’s strong chest. He pushes his hand up the back of your sweatshirt and draws you close to him for another kiss, deeper this time and feeling so much more intimate with your bodies pressed together.

“I think they like you,” he says against your lips, unable to stop a huge grin from breaking out on his own.

“Yeah I think I kinda like them too,” you reply, pushing firmly on his chest to move to his bed as his hands reach for the waistband of your shorts.

first drabble ever?! let me know your thoughts 😅

#jaemin x reader #jaemin smut #jaemin drabbles #jaemin drabble #nct dream #nct x reader #serenity drabbles #jaemin fluff #nct fluff

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caramel-covered-apples · 8 months ago

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hp next gen hcs - the potter siblings

okay my brainrot is actually killing me so here’re some headcanons featuring the potter siblings

james sirius potter

while his namesakes are perhaps the biggest troublemakers hogwarts has come across, james is actually a model student who does well in all of his classes and makes sure to follow the rules

becomes a gryffindor prefect

freddie and roxanne are also in his year and they’re some of his best friends, along with teddy in hufflepuff

quidditch chaser

plays quidditch all the time at home with ginny and sometimes harry

while he is popular at hogwarts both for his personality and his family, he has a lot of muggle-born/muggle friends outside of school who he just hangs out with

oldest sibling activities; constantly watching albus and lily when their parents aren’t home and does the dishes/laundry when his parents are stressed

james makes fun of albus a lot, but he knows which jokes will make albus laugh or which ones will hit a soft spot and he’s very careful about that

when someone makes a joke about albus that’s more of an insult than a joke/something that albus doesn’t like, james makes it clear that nobody gets to do that, not even james

does well in all of his subjects, however, the hands-on topics (charms, d.a.d.a, etc.) are his best, including potions

gets along with literally everybody

social chameleon, matches everyone’s humor and vibes

sees teddy as a cool older brother figure, and hangs out with him a lot - teddy once got him beer without james’s parents knowing, and since then teddy has been solidified as james’s best friend

adhd

bisexual asf; harry and ginny were surprised that he’d date anyone but men (lmao)

masks a lot of his emotions with humor, and he struggles with his emotional intelligence even though he knows he has a whole family, the whole of hogwarts, and like 10 other muggle friends that are there for him

always keeps up on the gossip that the prophet spews out about their family and constantly brings it up at dinner; he finds it hilarious

this man loves rock and pop music

always with lily luna, learnt how to braid her hair and make it look nice and help her with her self-image because the wizarding world isn’t any nicer to girls than ours

tries to understand albus as best he can

inherited parseltongue from harry

albus severus potter

also a pretty good student, does get in trouble occasionally (“mr. potter, please exit the broom closet and do it somewhere else-”) but overall isn’t horrible

talks in slang and abbreviates everything, especially in texts, while scorpius talks very formally which makes their dynamic so funny

wears a hoodie under his robes

he’s best at the classes harry was horrible at (history of magic, divination, potions, astronomy) and albus secretly enjoys this, because it separates him from his father

in his second year, he couldn’t stand people making fun of his name so his family are the only ones able to call him albus

when he’s at school, studying is his coping mechanism, and he tends to hyperfixate on it

has autism

has the most wild, out-of-pocket, crazy ideas

hates quidditch and brooms in general; they scare him because how can you be safe on a stick that’s no thicker than your forearm?

appreciates the small things

tries to suppress his tics (mostly vocal) because people made fun of him for it

inspired from a tumblr post which I can’t find now, but albus is very skilled at mind magics (legilimency, occlumency) and that’s why he likes scorpius so much, because his thoughts are genuine and kind

really big on architecture

coffee mechanics fiend. not even coffee, coffee mechanics. he grinds his own coffee and will use a particle accelerator to get a slightly better cup.

loves muggle bookstores because of their take on fantasy; wizarding fantasy books aren’t very common because the wizarding world is already fantastical, there’s really nothing to imagine

nintendo kid

would really enjoy games like slime rancher, stardew valley, etc.

because middle name severus is literal dogshit, he ends up claiming hagrid’s name, because wtf harry literally loved hagrid and now he’s gone? his new name ends up being albus rubeus potter. the marauders in the afterlife rejoice.

he likes being called arthur instead of albus, but really nobody knows about this other than scorpius.

gay.

has a hard time with metaphors and such (“he wears his heart on his sleeve”, “jealousy is a green-eyed beast”, “x gets under my skin”) and he takes them too literally, which is another reason why he likes scorpius, because he’s direct and doesn’t bother with things like these

nobody can tell if he’s being serious or sarcastic

loves the nyt games, especially wordle, connections, and the crossword.

lily luna potter

the one the teachers should look out for; biggest troublemaker out of the three siblings, completely caught the teachers off-guard when she arrived; she is chaos incarnate

people call her lou or lils, she is rarely called lily or luna.

has her dad’s stubbornness, her mom’s attitude and chaotic energy, and her uncle’s mischievousness

quidditch is perhaps her favorite sport and will always beg to accompany ginny during her championships and the such; seeker

besties with ginny; idk why all the hcs say she’s besties wit harry

inherits parseltongue from harry (i don’t care if that came from voldy’s soul or not, this might be so funny) and shit talks people in parseltongue; nobody knows what she’s saying except james, who also inherited the trait

hates the mornings; her record for sleeping in is 3:07 PM

loves indie music

definitely has a rock/crystal collection

also an astrology/astronomy kinda girl, somewhat in honor of her middle name, luna (which is “moon” in spanish)

does yoga to calm herself down after a particularly hard day

very good at hands-on classes, including potions, d.a.d.a, transfiguration, and care of magical creatures

james and lily is an ultimate duo and everyone fears them

doesn't really mind that she's harry potter's daughter - none of that pressure to "live up to the expectations" gets to her all that much, because both of her namesakes aren't that spoken about

does anything to prove that she isn't a baby that the prophet gets to dress up; she once dyed her hair bright blue and ginny was all for it

super close with roxanne because younger sisters club!!!

she blows through all the boys and victoire highly disapproves of this

once she's older, she's most definitely a reckless party girl who drinks way too much and spends a lot of her mornings hungover

loud chewers annoy the shit out of her

sneaks snacks onto class and takes photos in the bathroom

would be the type of person to love jerky

#next generation #harry potter next gen #harry potter next generation #harry potter #lily luna potter #james sirius potter #albus severus potter #headcanon #next gen headcanon

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sunshine-in-the-waves · 7 months ago

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When the sun meets the waves ; Meet Alexandra!

Hola, I'm Alex. Alexandra to be more specific, but if I hear you call me that, ever, you're dead. On that happy note, I suppose I should introduce myself. Lights, Camera, Action, baby!

㋠

┈─ table of contents ❜៹

︶︶︶︶︶︶

▸ basics

▸ appearance

▸ personality

▸ backstory

▸ relationships

▸ theme songs

❝ 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙎𝙪𝙣 𝙖𝙡𝙬𝙖𝙮𝙨 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙨 𝙗𝙖𝙘𝙠, 𝙢𝙞 𝙖𝙢𝙞𝙜𝙤. ❞

┈─ basics. [ ] ❜៹

︶︶︶︶︶︶

꒰ name ꒱

▸ Alexandra Dolores Rivera ( Formerly Alvarez)

꒰ age ꒱

▸ 18

꒰ gender ꒱

▸ gender-fluid, doesn't mind any pronouns

꒰ sexuality ꒱

▸ bisexual and demiromantic

꒰ godly parent + godly legacy ꒱

▸ Child Of Apollo, Legacy Of Poseidon

꒰ nationality ꒱

▸ Spanish-Indian (and technically half-greek)

꒰ languages ꒱

▸ Spanish, Greek, English, Hindi (only broken), Latin

❝ 𝙄'𝙢 𝙩𝙤𝙤 𝙙𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙞𝙣𝙨𝙞𝙙𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙩𝙤 𝙠𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙢𝙚, 𝙡𝙤𝙘𝙤!❞

┈─ appearance. [ ] ❜៹

︶︶︶︶︶︶

꒰ height ꒱

▸ 5'8

꒰ skin color ꒱

▸ tanned

꒰ eye color ꒱

▸ one bright gold, the other ocean blue.

꒰ birthmarks ꒱

▸ two identical moles under her eyes.

꒰ scars ꒱

▸ many on her arms, one on her jaw.

꒰ accessories ꒱

▸ charms bracelets on her left arm, a trident necklace

꒰ weapons꒱

A bow that can snap into half to reveal daggers: the bow and the daggers:

❝ 𝙄 𝙙𝙞𝙙𝙣'𝙩 𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙖𝙡 𝙞𝙩! 𝙄 𝙟𝙪𝙨𝙩…𝙗𝙤𝙧𝙧𝙤𝙬𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙝𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙨 𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙞𝙩? ❞

┈─ personality. [ ] ❜៹

︶︶︶︶︶︶

꒰ overview ꒱

▸ Alex is defined by duality. On the surface, she's a ray of sunshine – charming, talkative, and radiating cheer. She's the life of the party, quick with a joke and always ready to lighten the mood. But beneath this mask lies a cunning mind, a chronic liar. Her true emotions are a mystery, hidden behind her happy-go-lucky persona. Despite her deceptive nature, Alex possesses unwavering loyalty to those she cares about. She's fiercely protective and would go to great lengths to keep those she loves safe.

꒰ likes ꒱

▸ playing guitar

▸ reading books

▸ her partner <333

▸ driving around, listening to music

▸ coffee

꒰ dislikes ꒱

▸ heights

▸ sitting in one place for too long

▸ her mother and occasionally Apollo.

꒰ Trivia ꒱

▸ Alex's bow and arrows were gifted to her by Micheal on her 12th birthday!

▸ Though she's only a legacy, she has slight control over water, and can breathe underwater.

❝ 𝙒𝙃𝙔 𝙄𝙎 𝙏𝙃𝙀 𝙈𝙄𝙉𝙊𝙏𝘼𝙐𝙍 𝙄𝙉 𝙏𝙄𝙂𝙃𝙏𝙄𝙀 𝙒𝙃𝙄𝙏𝙄𝙀𝙎?? ❞

┈─ backstory. [ ] ❜៹

︶︶︶︶︶︶

꒰ overview ꒱ Her mother was always quite neglectful of her and her sister. Having lost her fame as a pop singer, she resorted to staying in her locked room, drinking her sorrows out and yearning to forget the Sun. Outside the locked door, Alex did her best to look after her younger sister, always putting her sister before herself. It wasn't the best, but it was fine. Until her mother re-married.

Her step-father, Gabriel Alvarez was a horrible person. He mooched off all the money in their household to ''make a business venture'' this included pulling Andrea out of school, and making Alex do most of the housework. Well, when he found out about Alex having ADHD and diagnosed Anxiety, it was time for the boot. At 12, she was alone on the streets , no food and no water. But she found her way to a beach nearby and passed out and ended up waking near the canoe llake in Camp, courtesy of her grandfather, Poseidon. Her experience of life as a child made her really emotionally constipated, and she occasionally feels ostracized because of their general demeanor and Looks being like that of a child of Apollo.

❝ 𝙃𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙞𝙙𝙞𝙤𝙩 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙖 𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙥 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙖 𝙨𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙝𝙚𝙡𝙡…❞

┈─ relationships. [ ] ❜៹

︶︶︶︶︶︶

꒰ mother ꒱

▸ Penelope Alvarez [formerly Rivera]

꒰ father ꒱

▸ Apollo ▸ Gabriel Alvarez [Step father]

꒰ siblings and people I know and love! ꒱

@lesterthesunboy [dad but like..mortal] @apollos-favorite-child [Fav child fr!! go kaylaaaaa<3] @yourfavoriteearthshaker [My sister's girlfriend :)] @thementallyillapollochild [Luna! high five, sis] @thathypnoskid [THE BESTIEEEEE <3 sleeps till 4 in the afternoon] @the-golden-childofthesun [Sister.] ꒰ partner ꒱ @the-better-castellan [GIRLFRIEND AHHHHH <3333333]

❝ 𝙄'𝙢 𝘽𝙞𝙨𝙚𝙭𝙪𝙖𝙡, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙨𝙘𝙤𝙡𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙢𝙚 𝙞𝙨 𝙃𝙊𝙈𝙊𝙋𝙃𝙊𝘽𝙄𝘼, 𝘽𝙄𝙏𝘾-❞

┈─ theme song(s). [ ] ❜៹

︶︶︶︶︶︶

▸ Seven nation army - The white stripes

▸ Run, boy Run - Woodkid

TEMPLATE NOT MINE!!!

So, that's me, I guess.. come talk to me, if you'd like. Can't gurantee a super-warm welcome though. Because I'll be at the bottom of the ocean.

tags: #alex in the water - ic #sun sets at the sea- lore #someone stole my headphones - ooc

DO NOTE: SOMETIMES IM EXTREMELY OOC, IT'LL USUALLY BE MARKED WITH OOC: !

#alex in the water #sun sets at the sea #someone stole my headphones #pjo oc #pjo hoo toa #pjo rp #pjo tv #pjo fandom #percy jackon and the olympians #heros of olympus #pjo headcanon #percy pjo #percy jackson #pjo series #pjo #pjo tv series

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abirdie · 4 months ago

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Gael García Bernal Doesn’t Believe in Skincare

The actor talks about Mexican coffee, his rock collection and reuniting with his Y tu Mamá También co-star Diego Luna.

From the Wall Street Journal, Oct. 14, 2024 8:00 am ET

By Lane Florsheim

(source) When Gael García Bernal landed a role in Y tu Mamá También in his early 20s, he didn’t know his career was about to take off. It was a small-budget film, and Mexican cinema had yet to break through in the American box office.

But the steamy 2001 movie, about best friends on a road trip through Mexico, was a hit. It became one of the highest-grossing Spanish-language films in the U.S. And it anointed García Bernal and his costar, Diego Luna, as leading men.

The two actors had known each other since infancy, growing up together in Mexico City. “Anything I say stays short of all the complexities of the love and the brotherhood we have for each other,” García Bernal, 45, said of Luna. Together, he said, “we learned that to make cinema, you have to misbehave a little bit, but be humble as well.”

García Bernal has gone on to star in a variety of Spanish and English projects, including The Motorcycle Diaries, Babel and the TV adaptation of Station Eleven. All the while, he and Luna have remained close collaborators. The actors run a production company together called La Corriente del Golfo. And this month, for the first time in over a decade, they’re reuniting onscreen. Their new show, La Máquina, features García Bernal as an aging boxer and Luna as his flashy, corrupt manager.

Now available on Hulu, La Máquina is the streamer’s first original Spanish-language series. “It was about time,” García Bernal said. “We’re very happy that it’s happening like this.”

García Bernal lives in Buenos Aires and Mexico City. Here, he shares his most prized possessions, how he got into character for his latest role and advice from a Nobel laureate.

What time do you get up on Mondays, and what’s the first thing you do after waking up?

Naturally, I wake up very early. My ancestors must have been people who worked the land. I hate when I wake up late. Sometimes I go straight to having a coffee or reading the newspaper or even, heroically, exercising. But that doesn’t happen so often because I always wake up very hungry.

What do you eat in the morning, and do you drink coffee?

Mainly fruits. In Mexico, there’s really good coffee. I do a pour-over.

What do you do for exercise?

I’ve been into boxing for a long time. I jump rope, go run, sometimes I hang from things. And I love playing football and baseball.

What about skin care?

Nothing. I think it’s better actually. The washing-your-face industry has created a lot of problems for skin. I think it’s too much soap.

How did you prepare to play the boxer Esteban in the new Hulu series? Did you model the character on any real life boxers or athletes?

It was an amalgam of many boxers that I admire. We took a lot from all of them, but at the same time, there was something that came out, which is the boxer I have inside. It’s a bit like the clown in acting. We all have a boxer, we all have a clown.

How would you describe your boxer?

What I found is that I’m really good at receiving punches. I think I read the ring really well. I’m able to figure out what’s going to happen, how to move around. The problem is that I run out of stamina very easily from hitting hard. Something happens after 10 punches. My punches start to become complete butter.

Diego looks so different in this role, with his spray tan and a face that appears full of fillers. How did you keep a straight face while playing opposite him?

We had to try really hard not to laugh, but we managed. He made a big sacrifice as well. It takes a lot of time to do all of that, and it’s uncomfortable.

There’s a great karaoke scene in the series. What’s your go-to karaoke song?

I’m very promiscuous with my karaoke tastes. Most of the songs that I would end up singing in karaoke are older, like from the 1980s—the time of a man or a woman and a microphone. Nowadays it’s more complicated because a lot of songs have autotune.

Your characters from Y tu Mamá También, Julio and Tenoch, would be around 40 years old today. What do you think they’d be doing now?

I think maybe my character would be in government in Mexico right now. Diego’s character would be, I don’t know, a successful lawyer somewhere. I always wonder, where did they end up? Maybe because those are the characters that are closest to our upbringing as well, the closest we’ve ever been to playing ourselves.

The movie captures so well the feeling of being young and having your entire life in front of you. How do you look back on it?

Our voices sound different. It’s actually very tender because we were very innocent. We didn’t feel like it when we were that age, but I hear us: We sound hopeful and interested and also brave and wanting to experience [life].

What’s your most prized possession?

The notebooks I write in. The stones I gather. On every journey I make, I put stones in my bag. They weigh a lot, but I have a lot of stones. Certain photographs of my family. And there’s a football and some shoes that remind me of my childhood.

Do you have any hobbies that might surprise your fans?

I do a lot of jumping rope, I can do a few tricks with that. I juggle. I play a lot of chess.

What’s one piece of advice you’ve gotten that’s guided you?

José Saramago, who was a Nobel Prize winner of literature from Portugal, and I did a play together at a book fair in Guadalajara, where I’m from. I introduced him to my family. I’ve got a huge family. He was fascinated by my grandmother and the amount of kids she had and all the many, many, many people in my family. Before saying goodbye, he said, “You would be very stupid if you missed all this. You would be such an idiot if you have it and don’t experience it.” I grew up in a loving environment, and I was very lucky to be born into it.

#gael garcía bernal #ggb interview #la máquina press tour #gael garcia bernal

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jake-whatthefisgoingon-kiszka · 9 months ago

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Part 3!! I had a good time writing this chapter as well, and it’s another doozy. Hope you enjoy!

Pairings: Jake Kiszka X Danny Wagner ***slash

Warnings and tags: 18+ only please!! Adult themes including: very brief mention of past partner death, very brief mention of marriage problems, some crying, some insecurity, my sad attempt at flirting, very slight suggestive talk, dad Jake AU, uncle Danny

Word count: 5.5k

Mondays were hard for everybody, but this particular Monday seemed to be kicking Jake in the ass.

First he spilled coffee all over his pants so he had to change after already being a little behind on getting up and getting both himself and Luna ready. That made them end up at the back of the line for drop off at the elementary.

He was speeding over to the office after getting her to school. Normally it wouldn’t matter so much if he came in a little late, but someone had the bright idea of scheduling a meeting at nine am on a Monday and he still needed to go over a few things with his team before it started.

They had a big fundraiser coming up soon that he’d spent nearly six months preparing for. One of the local orchestras had offered to put on a concert and donate the ticket sales to the foundation. The event wasn’t going to be too big, but they had managed to secure a guest singer, a couple of soloist, and even a live band to agree to play afterwards while they had drinks and hors d'oeuvres.

Jake was excited about this particular fundraiser because the sales and any extra donations were going to go to giving students private music lessons, a program he’d been working on launching for quite a while now.

Though Jake had been working for the foundation for a few years already, this was the first project he’d put so much of himself into, feeling particularly strongly about the accessibility of musical education for children as a passionate musician with a child himself.

Even after his wife’s passing, Jake’s home was still filled with music to share with his daughter. His record collection specifically ranged anywhere from dusty old vinyls he had inherited from his parents house, to mint condition collectibles and limited editions he probably never would have found without his connections. His prized possessions however, were the first pressings of his and June’s album when it first came out.

The few copies they’d kept for themselves stayed tucked safely away on the corner of the highest shelf where they sat untouched since her passing, Jake still too tender to hear her voice again. Someday though he knew Luna would want to listen to them, and he only prayed he would have himself prepared enough by then.

By the time the meeting was over Jake decided to head back out for an early lunch. With the rush to get out the door this morning he hadn’t packed anything to eat so he decided to treat himself at his favorite restaurant- a spot he didn’t frequent too often since it was in what he considered to be a sketchier part of town.

Since it was just him he didn’t mind making the drive over, at least that was until his dashboard suddenly lit up with about three different warning lights. Of course he would be having car trouble today of all days.

With an annoyed huff Jake pulled over to the side of the road, leaving his car running because he was too scared that if he turned it off now he wouldn’t be able to get it back on. Being a little unfamiliar with his surroundings he pulled out his phone and googled where the nearest service shop was, finding one simply called Rudy’s Custom Auto just up the road he’d hoped would do the trick quickly and without charging too much.

His car managed to make it to the mechanic in one piece- though the sputtering of the engine misfiring was about to give him a heart attack.

The shop was nothing more than two bays behind old garage doors with a small office attached to the side. One of the bays was already occupied by an old body truck stripped of all its paint and covered in multiple patches of bondo. Jake pulled up to the next bay and waited a moment for someone to come out.

When nobody came he braved turning off his car, gripping the keys tightly in his palm as he slowly tread into the open garage. Once he stuck his head in he saw a pair of dirty work boots on the other side of the truck, but the dated stereo system that sat on top the workbench on the far wall kept the person at work from hearing Jake arrive. Jake cleared his throat and called out above the sound of Steely Dan playing loudly, “hello? Are you open?”

“You scared the shit out of me!” The person inside answered him, then their boots started to make their way around the front of the truck.

Jake stood awkwardly at the threshold of the doorway, waiting to see what kind of character worked at a place like this, but oddly enough he felt like he’d heard their voice from somewhere.

“What can I do for you?” They asked with their back towards Jake as they paused to turn down the stereo. Finally he turned around and a huge smile spread across his face when they both realized who it was. Danny was just as shocked to see Jake here as he was, but he also looked really excited.

“You work here?” Jake asked, thinking it was a stupid question as soon as it slipped out. Of course Danny worked here, he was standing inside the shop in a pair of navy dickies covered in oil and white dust with a just as dirty white t-shirt (this one without any modifications to it) tucked into his waistband and tightly stretched across his chest and arms.

“Off and on. Rudy’s a friend of mine he lets me do some body work when I need a job”.

“Oh,” Jake looked around the shop aimlessly, mostly just trying to keep from staring at the tattoo he now knew peaked out just underneath Danny’s sleeve. “There’s umm… something wrong with my car. Could you take a look at it?”

“Well, I’m not much of a mechanic but Rudy is out on lunch right now. For you though I could do some digging around and see if I can’t at least figure out what your problem is”.

Jake knew Danny was giving him special service as he lifted the hood and bent over into the engine. He never once thought having an admirer would come with many perks, but as he stood with his arms folded loosely across his chest as Danny checked hoses and looked for leaks the frustration towards the whole situation started to wear away. By some strange stroke of fate the car he so tediously took care of, nearly never missing an oil change, happened to break down in the same neighborhood he had no idea Danny worked in.

“Hey! Don’t break it any more!” Jake hollered, stepping up next to Danny to see what all the banging around he was doing was.

“I think I might know what it is” Danny popped his head back out, startling Jake as he suddenly came face to face with the other man. Another shock came when Danny grabbed his hand and shoved it down into the engine. “Feel that?”

Jake wanted to rip his hand away, all he could feel right now was the residual heat from the parts around his forearm, his fingers blindly searching for what Danny may be talking about, and the way his chest pressed against his shoulder as they both leaned over so Jake’s shorter arm could reach. Finally he felt the warm liquid and realized the smell he got a whiff of was gasoline.

“Must have a leak in your fuel injectors” Danny backed away, letting Jake pull his own hand out and offered him a rag from his back pocket to wipe it off with. “Gonna be a bitch to get replaced. Let me call Rudy see if he has any spare parts otherwise he can pick some up on his way back”.

Jake wasn’t sure exactly what that meant, not being too familiar with the inner workings of an engine himself, but he figured he should probably start making some calls of his own starting with work. After letting them know he probably wasn’t going to make it back from lunch Danny came walking out of the shop again.

“Good news, he can get the parts and he’s on his way back. Bad news, I could only sweet talk him down to a couple hundred bucks”.

“Right! Of course that’s fine, let me just-” Jake bent over back into his front seat, bracing himself on the cushion with one arm as he searched the console for his wallet. After a few seconds of not finding it he was struck with the realization that he’d had his wallet in his pants this morning. The ones he spilt coffee all over. “Fuck” he grumbled to himself, backing out of the car to see Danny looking away quickly. Was he staring?

“Well actually, I think I left my wallet at home. This Rudy guy doesn’t take ApplePay does he?”

Danny chuckled and shook his head, “no, this is not the kind of place for that. Don’t worry I’ve got you”.

“Oh no, I couldn’t ask you to do that” Jake tried to quickly figure out how he could get the money before Rudy returned. Maybe he could call Josh to swing by his house and get his wallet, or bring some cash. Fuck how long was this going to take anyways? He might have to ask Josh to pick up Luna from school too.

While Jake’s mind was racing Danny turned around and walked back into the shop to get back to work on the sanding he was doing before Jake happened to show up.

“Let me see what my brother is up to right now, he might be able to bring me some cash. How much exactly is it?” Jake followed Danny inside this time, not paying much attention to where he was going as he pulled his phone out.

Abruptly he was stopped when Danny’s hands wrapped around his forearms and pulled him out of the way before Jake could walk into a tool box sitting in the middle of the floor. He looked around the inside of the shop now, seeing the entire place was quite a disheveled mess. Tools were everywhere between the ground and the workbench, and oil pans that looked like they’d been used one too many times were piled into the corner of the second bay. It was like navigating a minefield to get somewhere he could stand and wait.

“I said don’t worry about it” Danny replied once he had Jake situated in a safe place. “Besides there are plenty of ways you can pay me back”. Danny gave Jake a flirtatious wink from where he sat back on his rolling stool on the other side of the truck.

“Excuse me?” Jake scoffed, too astounded by Danny’s suggestive response to focus on making the phone call now.

“Yeah, like a date” Danny continued as he picked up his scrap of sandpaper and started to go over his most recent bondo covered spot.

“A date?” Jake blinked a few times, wondering if he’d heard him right since the radio was still playing quietly in the background. “You want me to take you on a date?”

“Well I was going to say let me take you on a date” Danny chuckled again, keeping his eyes focused on his work, “but if you want to take me out I’m not at all opposed to that either”.

“I- I mean- ” Jake was stumbling over his words, in utter disbelief and embarrassed by his lack of composure right now. He didn’t understand what had gotten into him.

“What? Are you not into guys or something?” Danny let his eyes flicker back over to Jake this time, catching a slight blush creep into his cheeks.

“No, that’s not it…” Jake replied sheepishly. It was true, from a young age he didn’t put much thought into sexuality or gender for that matter. He was always more attracted to the person and how deep of a connection he could make rather than just what was on the surface. Though he’d never actually dated someone of the same sex before, it was never out of the question for him.

“Then what is it?”

The sound of Danny’s sanding stopped as he waited patiently for a response. He had a suspicion he knew where Jake’s reservations were rooted from, having already heard a few details, but he hoped Jake would feel comfortable enough to tell him himself.

“Dates have been hard for me,” Jake began, fiddling with the rim of his phone case to distract himself from mentally screaming stop shut up if you tell him he will only pity you- “since my wife died a few years ago”.

“I know,” Danny replied without hesitation, making Jake realize- of course he knew, his sister was one of Jake’s closest friends, “and I’d respect your boundaries if you said it was still too soon”.

Jake leaned against the work bench behind him and let his head fall backwards, huffing a breath out through his nose, staring up at the ceiling as he thought for a moment. His eyes felt dry and prickly, but he absolutely could not tear up right now. No he’d told himself a long time ago that he was done with that.

Danny seemed to be one step ahead of him on this, already understanding what he was getting himself into when asking Jake for a date. “What if I said it wasn’t too soon?”

“Hmm?” Danny didn’t quite make out his question, either because it was being directed towards the ceiling instead of him, or maybe because Jake was actually only asking himself.

“It’s not too soon” he rephrased as he looked back over at Danny again, a little more resolve in his demeanor. “Are you free this Friday night?”

Danny’s face lit up in a smile, having thought there for a moment Jake was going to officially tell him to fuck off. “I can be”.

A cocky reply, Jake thought, smirking himself a little. “Alright then. Friday night, I’ve got an event to go to. You can come”.

“An event? For your job?” Danny questioned in return as he once again got back to work. “Doesn’t sound like much of a date to me”.

“Look, do you want to come or not?”

“No, no, I’ll be there,” he assured him quickly, “thanks for inviting me”.

It’s not really like I had much of a choice. The truth was he could have declined, could have told Danny to shove it and stormed out of the shop to wait in his car for Rudy to return. He didn’t though, and there was possibly even a part of him who was excited he’d invited Danny.

Originally he was supposed to be going with Josh, but then his brother had something come up that weekend that he couldn’t get out of. Josh’s partner booked them a little mini vacation not realizing the dates conflicted with Jake’s concert, and the hotel and airfare were nonrefundable.

Jake promised him he didn’t mind, ‘It’s just going to be a local group playing a few songs, nothing too special. You guys go have fun’. He was more anxious about it than he’d led onto Josh though. At least now he wouldn’t be going alone and he’d have something to distract him if he got too nervous- Danny being easily very distracting.

“What are you even doing? You’ve been sanding the same spot this entire time” Jake tentatively stepped a little closer until Danny waved him over.

“I may not know too much about engines, but I know a lot about the body” Danny replied with a smugish half smile that made Jake roll his eyes. “Come here, you have to get right up close to see what I’m talking about”.

Jake moved to stand next to Danny, leaning over slightly as he stared at the white blob on the fender of the truck. Danny stood up and got behind him, barely grabbing at his waist as he positioned Jake to get the right angle. Jake’s body stiffened and froze, unused to being freely touched so often without any warning.

“You see how smooth it looks?” Danny muttered behind his ear making the hairs on the back of Jake’s neck stand up. “Run your hand across it now”. Jake did as he was told and placed his palm on the cold metal, feeling a small ripple as he swiped it slowly over the surface.

“You see sometimes things look perfect from the outside, but when you get your hands on it you find tiny little flaws. I’m a perfectionist, I’ve got to get every little dent and scratch out. Sometimes that takes days of just filling and sanding it back down until I run my hand across and it’s smooth as can be”.

“Doesn’t it get annoying?” Jake asked, thinking about how long and tedious that process must be.

“I’m very patient” Danny shrugged, letting go and sitting back on his stool.

Jake couldn’t help but let his mind wander in this moment as he watched Danny from just a foot away now. He wondered what Danny might think if he ever got an up close look at him. Sure maybe from the outside he looked put together, just like this fender solid and sturdy, but once he got his hands on him he’d be able to feel all his flaws- the cuts that dug deep into his very being and had scarred over.

Only about ten minutes later Rudy returned and Danny took a break from what he was doing to help get Jake’s car back in good working order. Thankfully they were done just in time for him to get to the school and pick up his daughter without having to call in reinforcements.

“Wait, could I get your number?” Danny stopped Jake before he could drive off, hoping but also confident that their fix worked. “So we can coordinate the date?”

Jake looked over Danny’s shoulder, seeing his boss tossing more tools around, not even bothering to clean up and not paying attention to what his employee was doing- clearly harassing customers. He gave him his number anyway, finding a text presumably from Danny when he got home. Just a simple wink face emoji.

Before he could save the number in his contact list though, Luna called for his help in the kitchen and he dropped his phone off on the bar. Completely forgetting about the little message left on read.

It wasn’t until Thursday night after he’d gotten off the phone with Josh that he received another text from the unknown number.

What should I be wearing tomorrow?

10:34PM

Jake waited a moment to reply, he’d just about concluded that maybe Danny had forgotten about the ‘date’ because he hadn’t heard from him since leaving Rudy’s shop Monday afternoon. When Danny didn’t show up to Wednesday’s soccer practice either Jake was a little discouraged, but he told himself to get over it. He walked Emma home and her mom looked like she’d had a rough day so Jake didn’t bother asking about her brother's whereabouts. Should he really care anyways?

Something nice but not too formal

10:48PM

No jeans and a crop top

10:49PM

Crop top?

11:00PM

Wait, that’s my favorite shirt

11:00PM

Good to know. Don’t wear it.

11:02PM

Ok I won’t, but you remember it?

11:02PM

Jake panicked for a second as he read the text. Why did he have to bring it up? Stupid mistake.

Danny continued to text while Jake stumbled for a reply, writing something out then thinking it sounded stupid and erasing it, knowing Danny was probably watching him type.

Did Luna see the video I sent her? Of the soccer ball slime? I thought she’d like that one

11:05PM

If Jake didn’t already feel awkward about bringing up the crop top, now he felt even sillier about having thought Danny had sent that video to him. Of course it was meant for Luna.

He debated not responding, just closing the messages app on his phone and going to sleep, but he knew that would be rude- a little white lie might be better.

Yes, she liked it

11:08PM

I’m glad, sorry I wasn’t at practice this week

11:09PM

Danny didn’t offer a reason why he was absent, but at least he’d thought to apologize. Not that he had to, it’s not like Jake was hoping to see him there or anything. Again he didn’t know what to say; it was getting late Danny had to know he was probably in bed right? Before he could reply again another text came in.

I’ll let you get to sleep. I’m excited to see you tomorrow. Good night Jake

11:11PM

Good night

11:12PM

Friday was a frenzy, hustling around between the office, the venue where the orchestra and band were getting to practice with the soloists for the last time before the show, and then home to get Luna ready to stay at Emma’s house while he was out.

The air was heavy at the venue when Jake left, some issues with sound they were able to get a tech to fix, and some tiny adjustments to the breaks in the program had everyone tense and on edge. Jake knew it was just pre show nerves though and he had full faith that the night was going to go over well.

The confidence in his peers didn’t exactly extend to himself however, as he held his breath when he rang the doorbell, Luna standing at his side excitedly.

“Daddy you’re going to a party?” She asked, ever curious about what he was up to.

“I’m going to a work party” he explained to her again, having already told her she was going alone to play at Emma’s house tonight for just a couple of hours.

“Will there be presents and cake there?”

“No presents, but there might be some cake. Do you want me to save you some?”

“Me and Emma?” She asked, grabbing his hand and looking up at her Dad with a pleading smile.

“Of course, I’ll bring you both some” he returned the smile down at her until the front door opened and she bounced inside off to find her friend.

“Thank you for watching her tonight” Jake told Emma’s mom as he waited around for Danny to show. He’d text him when he was on the way, offering a ride since he was coming over anyways.

“Of course any time” she kept the door open, also aware who Jake was waiting on. The silence was a bit uncomfortable, how much did she know about them anyways? The two seemed to be close, but he worried if she thought it was a little strange her friend and her brother were going out together.

“I know someone who gives piano lessons will be there tonight. I can ask them if they have any space for Emma” Jake offered, just to fill the time.

“Oh, that would be nice. We’ve got a lot going on right now though so we might wait until next year”.

“No worries, I can just get her contact information. Has Michael been having to stay late again?” He didn’t want to pry too much, but after a couple of years of knowing them he could tell there seemed to be some new unresolved tension coming from the household.

She sighed and shook her head, obviously frustrated but biting her tongue. He realized there might be a little more to her irritation than just her husband working late, but before she could break and spill her worries Danny finally emerged from the hallway.

“Sorry for making you wait, I was ironing my shirt”.

Jake’s eyebrows shot up when he saw Danny in the doorway, the light from inside the house casting his long shadow across the porch Jake stood on. He was wearing a dark colored button up with a diamond pattern, the sleeves rolled a quarter of the way up his arms with subtle gold chains across his wrists and neck. “Is this okay?” He did a little spin, holding his arms out so Jake could get a good look at his outfit.

“Yeah it’s great. You look great” Jake cleared his throat and adjusted the collar of his own shirt, glancing over to see Danny’s sister watching them with amusement in her eyes.

“Well you two have fun. Jake don’t worry about hurrying home we’ve got the kids”.

Jake nodded and Danny gave his sister a quick side hug before joining Jake on the porch. She shut the door behind him and Danny gave Jake a big eager smile.

“You look great too. I like this” he ran his thumb across the lapel of Jake’s suede coat he’d chosen for the night, already knowing it got cold at the venue they were going to. “I like these too” Danny’s fingers moved next to one of the necklaces that sat against Jake’s chest, picking up the circular charm and examining it.

“Thanks, they were a gift” Jake replied, trying to remain as still as possible and keep his breathing steady.

“Well, shall we?” Danny gently laid the pendant back down and retreated, clasping his hands behind his back like he was reminding himself to behave.

The ride over was nice. They talked about music finding out they had similar taste, Jake leaning more towards blues and Danny towards folk but both sharing a passion for the classics of old rock n roll.

When they arrived at the event Jake had plenty of people to greet and thank for being there. He worried Danny might feel out of place or get bored, but every time he glanced over to him Danny was lit up with a smile and conversing with those around him. Soon it was time to take their seats; Jake showed Danny where they would be at the back of the room, and waited by the stage for his quick speech before the concert started.

Jake held the mic tightly in his hands, not having felt that weight in his grip in years. He’d always had a bit of stage fright, but getting up in front of a crowd with June had never been less than amazing and he tuned into the memory of that feeling when he stepped in front of the audience tonight.

“First of all I’d just like to thank everyone for taking the time out of their weekend to be here with us. For those of you I don’t know, my name is Jacob Kiszka and I work for the foundation who put on this event. All of our ticket sales from tonight are going towards our new program that offers students free private music lessons. I really hope you enjoy the performance. Over the past six months I’ve been overseeing this project, I've gotten the opportunity to know some of these brilliant musical minds and promise they have some treats in store for you. Again, thank you so much for coming and after the show please feel free to check out the live band and refreshments we will have in the conference room next door”.

The crowd clapped for him as he exited the small stage and scurried off to rejoin Danny at their seats. They had the last row reserved to themselves, and with the venue not being close to full there wasn’t even anyone sitting anywhere near them.

As soon as he plopped down next to Danny the lights dimmed, getting darker where they were compared to the stage lights that focused their intensity on the musicians down below and the first song on the program began.

Jake’s focus stayed on the stage, but he felt Danny shift closer to him and whisper into his ear. “You did a good job”.

Just as easily as he’d leaned over, Danny sat back in his seat and enjoyed the performance, letting Jake do the same. Despite any hiccups they’d had earlier, the soloists were flawless, the transitions between pieces seamless, and the audience was loving every minute of it, clapping enthusiastically after each final note.

“Isn’t she amazing?” Jake asked Danny when his favorite performer finished by far the hardest song of the night, The Habanera from Carmen. It was her idea to include it in the program, and although Jake worried it might be too difficult for an intermediate orchestra, he was blown away by their hard work and dedication to the art.

“I actually can't believe I just heard that in real life” Danny’s mouth was agape, his eyes glittering with sheer delight.

Jake’s smile faded as he observed Danny watching the performance now, but it wasn’t because he was upset or anything. Quite the opposite, he was suddenly being filled with an overwhelming sense of relief and reassurance. He expected Danny might like it otherwise he wouldn’t have invited him. Even if he didn’t that would have been ok, but Danny seemed to be genuinely appreciative of his time here and that made Jake even happier he’d come.

Feeling like he was being watched, Danny looked over and made eye contact with Jake who was sitting on the edge of his seat. A shiver broke through undeather his coat when Danny’s eyes took him in next, looking him up and down through hooded lids and finally settling on his hands in his lap.

Internally Jake was screaming at himself to move, say something, do anything, but on the outside he was as calm as ever when Danny reached over and grabbed one of his hands, intertwining their fingers together and giving it a squeeze. Jake let out a shaky breath as his eyes fell to his lap, hoping Danny could not feel his heart pounding in his wrist.

“Jake…” Danny muttered his name in the dark, swiping his thumb over the back of Jake’s hand making him look back up again, only he didn’t look him in the eye this time. Jake found himself staring at Danny’s lips, hoping he’d be the braver of the two again.

Before either of them could make the next move though their moment was cut short when Jake heard someone else start speaking over the microphone.

“This last piece was not included on the programs, it is a special thanks to our Director Jake for all the hard work he’s put in. We hope you’ve all had a great night and be safe”.

Jake snapped his head back towards the stage, shocked and completely unaware of this secret addition to the performance. He gripped Danny’s hand tighter when the song began to play and he instantly recognized it as a rendition of one of his own.

The singer started in after the acoustic guitar opening, and Jake was taken aback when he heard his late wife's lyrics bleeding through the speakers for the first time in over three years.

He could feel the sting but he didn’t even register the tears rolling down his cheeks until Danny sat forward as well. “Hey, are you okay?”

“Yeah, I just-” he felt his voice crack, his face and chest burning hot as he shook his hand free from Danny’s and excused himself.

Jake went out into the hallway to collect himself, furiously wiping at his cheeks until they were rubbed red and drying his palms on his pants. Thankfully he was alone, until he heard the sound of the door behind him allowing someone else out.

“I’m sorry, that just caught me off guard” Jake’s knee jerk reaction was to apologize, suck it up, and walk back in with his head held high. All of that flew out the window though when Danny silently came from behind him and wrapped his arms around Jake’s shoulders, pulling his back against his chest and resting his chin on the top of Jake’s head.

More tears began to pool along his lash line when Jake reciprocated the touch by wrapping his hands around Danny’s forearms and pulling them tighter around his shaking frame.

“Don’t apologize. You’re allowed to feel every emotion coming to you right now” Danny muttered behind him.

Jake shook his head and nuzzled his face into the forearms folded across his chest, waiting for the moment to pass before he popped his head back up and inhaled sharply.

“Ok, I’m going to go to the restroom. People will be coming out soon. Will you wait for me in the conference room?”

“Yeah, I can do that”. Danny released his hold and took a few steps back to give Jake some space now. Though as he watched Jake cover his mouth with the back of his hand and walk away, he wished he’d let him follow.

Tags: @lyndz2names @gracev0609 @lipstickitty @sanguinebats @kultavalo

A/N: So there really is a program called Austin Soundwaves that does offer free private music lessons for children in that area. I was able to go to one of their concerts and the performer really did start belting Carmen, it was awesome. Support your local musicians 👏

#greta van fic #greta van fleet #danny wagner #jake kiszka #janny gvf

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paracosmicparadox · 2 years ago

Text

So, I'm falling back into the FFXV kick, and I have decided that I disapprove of how little complex character development Square Enix has given the guys?? Like where is the emotional depth beyond surface-level cutscene angst?? So I took matters into my own hands and have compiled a handy little list of headcanons / expanded canons that I think make sense.

Noctis: Has clinical insomnia and frequent lucid dreams (sorta a given, but bear w me bear w me)

Feels the weight of having to take so much on from such a young age much, much more than he lets on

Loves to argue

Would've been happier if he and Luna stayed as childhood best-buds rather than betrothed fiancés (controversial, ik, but it just didn't seem like he cared that much for her romantically to me?? Like he obviously cared about her, but it seemed like a really strong penpal vibe rather than a "We're-gonna-get-married-and-be-the-next-hotshot-couple" vibe. If you disagree, coolio, I'm not gonna debate w you on this one)

Has a natural sadness to his eyes regardless of what he's feeling

Went through an anime phase (possibly still in his anime phase, idk)

Social anxiety for the win

Severe RBF

Prefers tea over coffee (black tea is best---particularly lavender earl grey)

Can play the cello (practicing tho?? Don't know her)

Writes the most beautiful poetry when The Motivation™ strikes him (usually when he's home sick and half-delirious)

Prompto: Has ADHD and clinical anxiety, but is undiagnosed and doesn't take any meds for either of them.

Is legit like SO SMART, but can never focus, so not many people take any notice

Wears contact lenses (he had glasses as a child and I refuse to believe he had some high-tech corrective surgery to eliminate the need for them when lenses are cheaper and less risky)

Doesn't drink caffeine because it makes him jittery

Doesn't drive the Regalia when the guys are around because having other people in the car distracts him from the road. Also he tends to drive like a speed demon, which worries Ignis to no end.

Sunburns insanely easily

Could legit become a hitman if he wanted to with the amount of gun-knowledge he has. It doesn't matter what firearm you put in this boy's hand---pistol, SMG, sniper, rocket launcher, you name it. He can and will hit the target every single time.

Addicted to adrenaline

Pansexual

Has a lot of self-loathing (we see a bit of this in Ep. Prompto) and talks with an online therapist about it via text whenever his lows hit him. He's making great progress in learning how to heal and how to accept himself for who he is beyond the mask he wears for others

Ignis: More than a little bit of a control freak, and works very hard not to be too overbearing or critical about his friends' misgivings

Hypochondriac

Wants to protect everyone all the time and mentally kicks himself when he doesn't get there fast enough

Is SO PROUD of Noctis's journey and felt a stronger hatred towards Ardyn than anyone else in the group for what he forced Noct to go through (he stayed up at night sick to his stomach with hollow rage and baked nonstop to take his mind off of it)

Can verbally obliterate a man, but only rarely chooses to do so bc he's classy like that

After losing his eyes, he notices so much more beauty in the world than he used to (the sound of rain on the Regalia's roof, the specific gait of each of his friends, the smell of salt on the wind in Galdin Quay, the flawless feel of one specific silk tie he has in his repertoire, etc)

His internal compass is never wrong

Regularly takes antacids for his stomach

Has the straightest teeth you've ever seen

Demiromantic

Gladio: Hates being wrong: it's his way or the highway

Actually so much smarter than the musclehead jock front he puts up

A little vain and easily jealous (this man has a Jealous Face like no other)

Thunderstorms are his favorite; his ideal place to be is at a campsite, during a storm, with a well-worn book and a mug of Irish coffee in hand

Would throw himself in front of a bus for any one of his friends

Would beat up kids for the folks he cared about in middle school and spent the time he wasn't training to be a Crownsguard sitting in detention with the most unrepentant, smug, and-I'd-do-it-again look scrawled across his face

Can make a better smoothie than anyone (except maybe Iggy)

Spotify junkie

Had a dinosaur phase as a kid and can still name random facts about them whenever the opportunity presents itself

Avid technology-hater and only has a phone to make calls and join the others in playing King's Knight since they begged him so profoundly (he's sure the thing's going to be his downfall)

Gets most of Prompto's pop culture references

#prompto #noctis #ff15 #noctis lucis caelum #gladiolus amicitia #ignis scientia #ffxv #headcanon

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harringtons-cupid · 2 years ago

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Just wanna be yours -BFB! Eddie Munson x Fem!Reader

★ Best Friends brother! Eddie Munson x Fem!reader. ★

Sorry this is so short! This is part one of a potential fic!

Wc: 1.5k

Warnings - 18+: Fluff: Mutual pining, kissing, suggestive looks, hand holding. Establishing a relationship.

Tagged: @munsonsbaby @pleasantlycrazyworld @bisexual-byers @wroteclassicaly @urlbitchin @moonchildquinn @eddiemunsons-missingnipple @joejoequinnquinn @86munsonsblog @luna-munson83 @nojerama1996 @harringtons-hellfire @mcbeanzontoast

02 | 03 | Masterlist | KO-FI

Eddie was your brothers best friend, you had known him for years.

It was a stupid crush that all your friends grew out of but not you. You had to keep drooling everytime he was near you, their band played loudly into the night.

One morning you woke up early, tiptoeing across your landing in your nightgown. Sleepily fumbling in the dark, as you heard his soft voice quietly at the bottom of the stairs. He was talking on the phone, sat crossed-legged with his back to the wall. Peering through the wooden beams, breathing quietly as you listened to his voice.

As you crouched down to get closer to to him, your foot extended and knocked over the china vase next to you. Hissing “shit” under your breath, you stayed still for a few moments hoping that he hadn’t you.

“You can come down if you want, it’s your house” it was hoarse and quiet as he whispered beneath you.

Blushing in the shadows, you quietly moved from your spying spot. Nerves filling your veins as you grew closer and closer to where he was sat, noticing the phone was hung up back onto the receiver. You sat down next to him, trying to leave enough of a gap between you both.

“Who were you calling at this time of morning?” You whispered straight in front of you, still shaking in the dark.

He noticed this and placed his hand on top of yours.

“My ex girlfriend, she doesn’t want to break up with me” his voice was rough and slightly annoyed.

“Oh” you squeaked, dipping your head to your chest.

Eddie chuckled, his hand still firmly on yours. Squeezing it between yours, you shuddered at the sparks that flushed through your body.

“Shall we get some coffee or something?” He cleared his throat, turning to you in the dim light.

Nodding before shuffling to get up, Eddie was standing in front of you. Extending his hand out, biting your lip before taking it and feeling his strength as he pulled you into him. You giggled as your body fell into his, the strong smell of his cologne wafted up your nostrils.

He looked down at you, his hand was holding onto your waist. The sunlight began peering through the curtains behind him, you could see his eyes deeply staring at you.

Staying there for a second, you felt him lean forward towards you. Holding your breath as you felt his lips hover over yours, feeling yourself go dizzy at the close contact.

Chanting “kiss me kiss me” in your head as you closed your eyes tightly and met him halfway, his lips were on yours. You felt like you were on fire, they were rough and callous.

Trying to suppress your real feelings, you melted into him as much as you could but felt resistance on his side. Feeling embarrassed, you pulled yourself out of the embrace and walked away from him.

Cursing yourself under your breath for thinking that he felt something too, quietly organising the coffee into the pot. You heard his footsteps follow you and hesitate behind you, as if he waiting until you placed it back into the machine.

The wurring noise hid your squeal as he grabbed onto your arm and pulled you around, crashing onto his lips. That rough feeling made you weak, he was wearing some of your brothers spare clothes. They didn’t suit him.

Noise creaked above you both, startling you apart. Turning back to the coffee, you stood on your tiptoes to reach the cups but felt Eddie’s body behind yours. Your hands met again, making you shiver as he got down two cups for you both and placing them down.

Smiling at you before moving back to the breakfast island where he watched you pour the coffee, your lips still tingling from his lips. Your cheeks were flushed red as you carried them to the counter, perching yourself on the tall counter chairs next to him.

Watching your coffee slow down from being stirred, the milk was sitting in front of you. The noise upstairs followed across the ceiling before the creaking of the stairs begun and you sighed heavily.

Blowing onto your hot coffee, yours eyes shifted to Eddie who shrugged and winked at you as the living room door opened. Your brother looked between you both before walking further into the kitchen.

“There is coffee in the pot” you mumbled, making eye contact with him as you jumped down from your seat.

Leaving the room, you paused between the front door and the stairs.

“You and my sister have coffee every morning do you?” Your brother spoke, you heard Eddie laugh.

“Nah man, she caught me on the phone to my ex” He huffed into his coffee, wanting to drop the conversation.

Realising nothing more about was going to be said, you tiptoed up the stairs. Trying to avoid spilling your coffee.

As you sat on your bed, you wondered if he thought the kiss. Your mind was racing, it was still early. Sighing, you closed your eyes and thought about the things you wanted with Eddie.

Feeling sleepy, you drifted off to sleep. A couple of hours later, a soft knock landed on your bedroom door. Mumbling, your eyes still closed as the person fumbled into your room. The door closing behind them, they cleared their throat making you jump up.

Eddie was stood awkwardly in front of you, staring at him. You blushed red, instantly began tidying up your appearance. You usually had time to make yourself presentable when you knew that you were seeing Eddie.

“What are you doing here?” You stuttered, your hands in your lap as you stared at them.

“Well your brother has gone out to see his girlfriend, I wondered if you wanted to do something?” He seemed shy, his eyes flickering between you and the window.

“Me?” You squeaked again, his eyes meeting yours.

Eddie rarely asked to see you, you had watched tv together but your brother usually joined later on. Your heart was racing, feeling excited. You nodded quickly with a smile, your eyes were sparkling as you looked at him.

“Yeah, well we are friends and we used to do things when we were kids didn’t we?” He smiled af you.

There it was, that word “friends” your heart sunk and nodded. The smile was wiped off your face as you began to move under the cover, your feet were ok the floor.

“Yeah you’re right. Well mind if you go downstairs whilst I change? We can go to the movies or something” you shrugged, feeling slightly hurt and disinterested.

He nodded and slowly left the room, turning to steal a glance at you before the door shut.

You wanted to scream and cry as you sat your makeup desk, he didn’t see you any differently. Despite kissing you, you felt angry at his attitude. Sighing to yourself as you did your makeup, once satisfied you routed inside your wardrobe.

Picking out the most revealing outfit you could find, a short mini skirt with thick knee high socks. A blue turtleneck top that brought out your gold necklace, your boots were small and black.

Grabbing a jacket, you looked at yourself once more before leaving your room. A smirk was on your face as you entered the kitchen where Eddie was sat, he was subtly ogling you. Unable to muster up any words as he walked towards you, inviting you to leave the house before you.

You knew that he was checking you out, as you walked to his car. The van was chilly as you sat next to him, his hand was close to your thigh on the gear stick.

“Uh, im sorry for kissing you earlier. I was sleepy and it was inappropriate of me” he stuttered, not making eye contact with you.

You blushed red with embarrassment, you hadn’t thought about the kiss in a while.

“Oh” you whispered, feeling that twang of disappointment in your stomach.

“You still look good though” he bit his lip as his eyes shifted onto you.

Keeping your head forward as you smiled out the window, Eddie’s eyes flickered between you and the road. Knowing that he loved your outfit made you vibrate from adrenaline.

He paid for your ticket to the movie theatre, you vibrated with the same adrenaline and nerves as you fumbled your way through the dark with him. As you sat down next to him, you felt his hand meet yours against the chair. Holding your fingers together as you watched the film.

As the light flickered from the movie on screen, he noticed your smile as your hands squeezed together in the dark. His thumb rubbing your skin in circular motions, trying to focus hard onto the screen in front of you.

You began fidgeting at the closeness of your hands, he let go cause you to pout. He smirked in the shadows before resuming the position with his fingers.

#eddie munson x fem!reader #eddie munson #eddie munson x reader #eddie munson x female reader #eddie munson fan fiction #eddie munson imagine #eddie x y/n #eddie munson smut

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beanusu · 4 months ago

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word count: 3.4k ← part 2 · part 4 →

In the studio, Loki just finished rehearsal with the director and the actors. He stayed behind, discussing the script with the director, flipping through the pages. As he turned to leave, still talking over his shoulder, he wasn’t looking at what was ahead. Not that it mattered, or so he thought.

Luna, eyes on her phone, was coming into the room, replying to some emails—something about equipment she’d requested for the set they were working on, barely looked up. She wasn’t even thinking about where she was walking, not that she had time to think much these days.

They had encountered each other many times all week, but always with the wrong timing. Or maybe the Norns were pulling some kind of trick on them. First, when Loki was getting his fitting with wardrobe, Luna was brushing past on her way to a tech run. Then again, outside the meeting room, where she had just finished going over sound notes. They were both aware of that, but every time, something would drag them away before they could actually talk.

But this time, right by the door, they collided.

“Sorry,” Loki said immediately, hands instinctively moving to steady her. His eyes flicked down, and there she was, looking back up at him with surprise.

“Mr. Ashford, I—sorry,” Luna said. Her voice had that polite edge, as if she was trying to smooth over the awkwardness.

Loki could practically feel himself cringe at the name. How had it come to this, hiding behind this persona? Something about hearing Luna call him that—it stung more than usual. Why did that name even bother him so much today? He hated it. Hated that it wasn’t him. Maybe it was because this was not how he wanted to be, but then the real him–it would’ve scared her, maybe worse. Would she despise him for who he really was?

“Please, just—call me Luke,“ he said, forcing a casual smile.

Luna nodded, her lips curling into a faint smile, almost like she was apologizing again. “Luke,” she said quietly.

That’s better... right?

Something inside Loki ached at hearing it. Why did it still sound wrong? She had no idea who he truly was, and yet... maybe that was the point. She was different.

Loki stared at her for a beat longer than he should have. Her lashes were long, casting soft shadows on her cheeks. There were faint freckles dotted across her nose, so light he almost missed them. And her lips—no, those eyes. Emerald and alive, like gems. Like hers—No. No, don’t go there.

Realizing he was still holding onto her, his hands dropped quickly.

Luna shifted awkwardly, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. “Sorry again,” she said, a little softer this time.

Loki shook his head, jaw tight. “No, it’s fine, really,” He could feel the weight of her eyes, but he couldn’t hold it anymore. His gaze faltered.

As she turned to walk further into the room, he stood there, frozen for a moment. Come on, say something. He used to be good at this, so why was his brain not working now?

“Wait,” he blurted out, then cleared his throat, trying not to sound so desperate. “You’re Luna, right?”

She stopped mid-step, turning her head slowly. “Yeah,” she said, almost curious now.

Great, what now, genius?

“I–uh,” he cleared his throat, “would you...maybe like to grab a coffee with me later?” He cursed himself internally for how awkward that sounded. “I mean, I was hoping to bump into you after the...incident, you know, on the street. I wanted to, uh, make up for it. Are you free?”

Luna blinked. She hadn’t expected that at all. Why was she considering this? She hesitated, glancing down for a second before she looked back at him. “Uh... sure?” she answered quietly, more like a question than an answer. She still didn’t know why she said yes. “But I need to drop something off to the director and talk for a bit. Can you...wait for me? Maybe like ten minutes?”

“Yeah, of course.” Loki nodded, a faint smile playing on his lips, trying to appear casual. “I’ll wait for you here.”

“Okay,” Luna said, glancing at him briefly. “I’ll be quick,” she said, catching the way his smile almost softened for a split second, and his eyes scanned her face like he was looking for something but didn’t quite know what.

Loki watched her go, his thoughts a tangled mess. He should’ve said something more. Something better. Something that didn’t make him sound like an awkward idiot.

Luna was talking to the director, but her mind wasn’t really there. She’d nodded at all the right moments and agreed to something about the technical, but she wasn’t processing much.

Did Loki just... ask me to grab a coffee?

She mentally shook her head. No, no, don't drill into it. It’s just a coffee, two colleagues. Casual. Except he’s not just a guy—he’s the lead actor on this movie. Or, you know, the literal god of mischief. Or one of the most attractive bachelors on this planet.

No big deal, right?

She took a breath, feeling that little knot of nerves settle in her chest, and turned back towards the door. It’s fine. It’s just coffee. Colleagues grab coffee. She tried to reason with herself, but it wasn’t helping. Not when every second of that brief conversation had left her feeling a little... off-balance.

She saw him immediately when she stepped back outside. Leaning against the wall, one hand scrolling through his phone. As if this wasn’t completely surreal.

Her heart skipped, and she hated how predictable that felt. Of course you’re flustered. He’s literally a god. Not just any god, either. He is Loki.

He’s good looking, everyone knows that, no surprises there.

She hesitated for a second before stepping forward, feeling the weight of her own thoughts and a sudden uncertainty. “Luke,” she said softly, trying not to overthink her tone. Just casual. Keep it casual, Luna.

Loki’s head lifted slowly, his eyes meeting hers. For a split second, she thought she saw something flicker behind his gaze, something more than the actor everyone else saw. But it was gone just as fast, replaced by a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes, but was charming all the same.

“You’re back.” He slipped his phone into his pocket, straightening up from the wall. “I thought you might’ve gotten roped into another meeting,” he teased lightly, like he wasn’t too sure how to carry this either. But it was better than silence.

She chuckled, “Nope, just some quick notes,” she said, her heart doing that stupid flutter again when he turned his full attention on her.

Why is this weird? she thought, mentally rolling her eyes at herself. Just coffee. It’s fine.

“So… are we going to the same coffee place everyone else goes to?” She gestured vaguely toward the direction of the café everyone on set seemed to love.

Loki nodded, “Shall we?”

They walked together, though it was almost unspoken. The street bustled with life as people gathered at the corner, waiting for the light to change. Loki pulled out his sunglasses, slipping them on with the ease of someone used to being watched. Luna tucked her hands into her jacket pockets, trying not to think too hard about how normal this would feel. Just two coworkers grabbing coffee. Simple.

Except it wasn’t.

As they waited, Loki’s phone rang. She could hear it before he even looked down at it, the subtle vibration echoing in her hypersensitive ears. Then she caught the voice, the distinct sound of his manager talking about ads, magazine covers, work stuff. It felt... intrusive, though not intentionally. She couldn’t help it. To everyone else, he probably looked like just another actor handling business, but Luna noticed the slight tension in his posture. The way his fingers ran through his hair told her he wasn’t entirely relaxed.

He muttered something sarcastic—something about how they could at least pick one flattering photo for the cover instead of the usual staged nonsense. Luna smiled a little at the sarcasm. Of course, he’d hate that part of his job.

The light changed, and people began to move, the crowd around them surging forward. Luna hesitated for a second, watching Loki still absorbed in his call, standing still as everyone started crossing. It seemed rude to interrupt, but they were going to get stuck if he didn’t move.

“Uh... Luke?” she tugged gently at his sleeve, giving him a small nudge forward.

Loki looked down at her, the faintest hint of a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. He nodded slightly, acknowledging her, but just as they began to step forward, someone in the crowd jolted into Luna. Her balance faltered for a second, but Loki’s hand shot out, catching her by the arm to steady her. “Careful,” he murmured, his voice low, steady.

“Thanks,“ Luna mumbled quietly, trying to hide how much her heart was racing.

His call had finally ended after they were across the street, standing on the other side, where the crowd began to thin. Loki tucked his phone back into his pocket, exhaling as if letting go of whatever tension the call had caused. “Sorry about that,” he said, his tone softer now.

Luna shook her head, waving it off. “It's fine,” she said, offering him a small, understanding smile.

And then there was that quiet again.

Luna decided to break the silence, something inside her pushing her forward. She turned, walking backward now, facing Loki as they moved. “I thought people like you had assistants to fetch coffee for them,” she said, tilting her head with a teasing grin.

Loki raised an eyebrow, but a smile played at the edges of his lips. “You wounded me, Ms Hayes. I’m perfectly capable of fetching my own coffee,”

Luna laughed, light and carefree. That sound—it hit him in a way that he wasn’t ready for. It wasn’t just the laugh, it was the way she laughed. The way it felt... familiar. It echoed something from before, something he hadn’t heard in what felt like lifetimes. Hers.

He shook it off before it could pull him under. “You’re... different,” Loki said, still watching her.

“Different?” She slowed for a second, the confusion clear on her face. “What do you mean?”

Loki nodded, trying to play it off lightly. “You don’t seem to care that I’m... you know, Luke Ashford,” he said, adding a touch of teasing to hide what was lurking just under the surface. “Most people can’t seem to stop themselves from reminding me.”

“Should I care?” Luna shot back, her expression playful but curious.

“No,” Loki said quickly, his voice softening. “I like that you don’t.”

Luna turned back around to face the street ahead, her pace matching his. “Well, if it makes you feel any better, I think I like this Luke more.” She gestured toward him, “This... less curated version of you.” Her fingers flicked like she was talking about his whole being. She glanced sideways, trying to gauge his reaction, but those sunglasses—his damn sunglasses—made it impossible to read him.

The less curated version. He wasn’t sure how he's supposed to feel about this, was that a compliment or a reminder of the mask he’d been wearing for too long? He wanted to respond, to say something, anything that would keep this easy back-and-forth going, but instead, he just nodded, feeling more exposed than he’d like to admit.

“You like this Luke,” he murmured, almost too quiet for her to hear. But what would you think of the other me? The real one, the one buried under all these layers.

As they walked, Luna’s thoughts drifted. She didn’t even know what she was saying, didn’t understand why she was being so honest with him. The line between Loki and Luke was blurring, faster than she’d expected. He wasn’t the same god from the battle, the one locked in a cage meant to hold the Hulk. This version of him, standing here with her, felt almost... approachable. Maybe too approachable.

Loki could feel the mask slipping, just a little. Around her, it was harder to keep up the act. He didn’t know why. Maybe it was her laugh. Maybe it was that she didn’t treat him like everyone else did. But something in him—something deep—itched to let go of it all. To just be him. But that was dangerous, wasn’t it?

Luna’s hand found the handle as they reached the café. Before pushing it open, she paused, her gaze flicking to the side. A car parked along the street caught her eye. The windows were tinted, but there was definitely someone inside, watching. Her brows furrowed.

“What’s wrong?” Loki asked, his voice low, following her gaze. But his eyes didn’t land on anything suspicious. He wasn’t sure what he was supposed to be seeing.

“Nothing,” Luna muttered, shaking her head. Stop overthinking.

They stepped into the cafe. It was quieter than usual—just a few customers, scattered at different tables, a peaceful kind of quiet. Weird, she thought, but didn’t dwell on it.

Loki broke the silence between them. “What can I get for our sound mixer today?” Luna’s eyes were glued to the display case. “Black coffee, please,” she murmured, distracted by the array of cakes that seemed to be calling her name.

Loki noticed her lingering gaze. A slight smirk tugged at his lips. “Grab us a seat,” he said and turned to the barista, ordering two black coffees and, with a slight smile, a slice of chocolate cake. He knew she didn’t ask for it, but somehow, it felt right.

Luna found a table and sat down, her eyes following Loki as he stood by the counter. He pushed his sunglasses up, his eyes locking with hers for a brief second, but then his focus shifted. His posture tensed, eyes narrowing slightly. Something was off.

Luna felt it too, before she even turned. The shift in the room. A subtle stir. Then she heard it—movement. People were standing, but they weren’t regular customers. The sound of guns being drawn was unmistakable, followed by a voice crackling into an earpiece with protocols that sounded too familiar.

“Target located.”

S.H.I.E.L.D.

“Shit,” Luna muttered under her breath, her pulse quickening. She stood abruptly, moving toward Loki, hoping—no, needing—to stop whatever was about to happen.

But it was already too late.

Loki had conjured his dagger in a flash, the sharp glint appeared in his hand. The baristas screamed and darted to the back, knocking over cups and trays in their escape.

Luna stepped in front of him, her heart pounding. “Loki, don’t. Please, don’t do this..” She realized, too late, she’d called him by his real name. Not Luke. Not Mr. Ashford. Loki. She winced inwardly.

Loki’s eyes flickered with confusion, his grip on the dagger tightening. “You knew?” His voice was steady but laced with suspicion. “Are you with them?” His gaze hardened. “Who are you?”

Before Luna could answer, one of the agents moved closer, gun raised. “Drop your weapon!” His voice boomed, too loud, the sound slicing through Luna’s hyper hearing. She winced, her head snapping to the side, an annoyed sound escaping her lips.

Without thinking, she grabbed the agent’s arm, twisting it sharply until his gun clattered to the floor. The agent yelped, backing off.

“I’m not with them,” she said, turning back to Loki, her voice firm but breathless. “I just... work with sound.”

A voice cut through the tension, calm and familiar. “And she’s also a former S.H.I.E.L.D. agent.”

Luna’s eyes widened as Nick Fury emerged from the back of the cafe, arms crossed, as if this whole mess was just another day for him.

“Great,” she muttered, feeling her stomach twist. “Just great.”

Loki’s gaze shifted between them, the dagger still in his grip. “Luke—Loki—no, Your Highness,” she stammered, unsure of what she should even call him anymore. Nothing seemed right. “Look, yes, I was with S.H.I.E.L.D., but I left. I’m not part of this. I didn’t even know about this until—” She glanced nervously at the dagger still in his hand. “I’m not here to hurt you, okay? So, before you decide to stab me, I—”

Loki cut her off, stepping closer, his brow furrowed. “I would never stab you.” His voice was quiet but firm, almost as if the idea offended him. Why would she think that? He had no intention of harming her. Not her. He didn’t know why, but the thought struck something deep in him.

That response caught Luna off guard, the honesty in his voice pulling at something in her chest. She swallowed, trying to steady herself. “I played along because I–I thought you wanted to be Luke Ashford. I didn’t say anything because it wasn’t my place to out you. It wasn’t my secret to tell.” She could hear the plea in her own voice, begging him to understand. “Please don’t be mad. Or... or seek revenge, or whatever it is you do.”

Loki’s grip loosened on the dagger as her words sank in. He didn’t like how her voice sounded so uncertain, like she was afraid of what he might do next. He didn’t want that. Not from her. His eyes softened, just a fraction. He wasn’t even sure what to say, caught between his instinct to protect himself and the strange, unshakable feeling of not wanting her to be afraid of him.

His dagger disappeared with a flick of his wrist, but his gaze stayed locked on hers as he took a step closer. “Luna, I’m not going to hurt you,” he said softly, almost as if he was reassuring himself as much as her.

He would never hurt her. Never.

Loki wasn’t entirely sure why he came to that conclusion so quickly. Maybe it was how similar Luna looked to her, or maybe it was the way Luna had just told him everything. The fact that she knew who he really was and yet never tried to take that away. She didn’t push, didn’t expose him. She let him be Luke Ashford, even though she knew he wasn’t.

What does that mean? He thought. His mind spun with too many questions, none of them making sense, yet all of them felt too important to ignore.

Then Thor’s words echoed in his mind, as clear as if his brother was standing beside him. “And what if she’s just... her? Just a woman who looks like someone you lost. What then? Will you still fall in love with her?”

Loki blinked, his chest tightening. Love? Was that it? Had he crossed that bridge without even realizing it? Or was he standing right on the edge of it, about to step into something he couldn’t undo?

His gaze never left hers. Luna’s face, her eyes, everything about her was so painfully familiar, and yet... she wasn’t Eirwen. She was someone else, someone with her own story, her own secrets. But gods, she was pulling him in, making him feel things he wasn’t ready for.

His hand moved before his mind could catch up, raising slowly, fingertips brushing against her cheek. It was the lightest touch, but it sent a ripple through him. He felt her freeze under his touch, her breath hitch just slightly, but she didn’t pull away.

“I must be going crazy,” he muttered under his breath. His thumb traced along her jawline, his voice tinged with disbelief. He was letting his guard down—for what? For someone he barely knew?

← part 2 · part 4 →

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