#magic maman

[madebysimblr]

Cordy: How's everyone doing down here?

Arturo: Oh just perfect, this one is such an angel.

[Mae giggles]

Cordy: Is she? that's news to me.

Arturo: [laughs] Don't listen to your Momma, she's just so new to parenting.

Cordy: Staying for dinner? I think Raina is making enough.

Arturo: Ah, no. I ought to take Dio for a stroll. Thank you though. Oh, I did want to ask. Might I bring my friend, Joy along to meet Mae next week?

Cordy: Yeah sure. Mae needs to socialize, right?

Arturo: She does. Good for development. New friend for Mae?

Mae: Fwen!!

Cordy: Sounds like she's game. See you, Dad! Wave good-bye to Grandpa! Good job. Shall we go see what Maman has made for dinner?

Mae: Yah! Yah!

[f14fun]

my own pastry (!baker x op81)

synopsis: in which case y/n meets the infamous racecar driver oscar piastri as she works in her family-owned pastry shop, and she pretends not to know him. little does he know, she's idolized him for the longest time.

smau + prose (2.9K words) ✮ ⋆ ˚｡𖦹 ⋆｡°✩ profile | masterlist ⋆.˚✮🎧✮˚.⋆

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yourusername

liked by yourbff1, yourbff2 and 58 others

yourusername: the feminine urge to own a bakery

view comments:

yourbff1: alright no need to brag, you were blessed with an amazing family business and i'm here stuck with a desk job

yourusername: you laugh at me everytime i come home with flour stuck on my face.

yourbff1: well...😁😁

user1: wait this is so aesthetic

user2: drop the location of the bakery now! i wanna visit 🫶🏽

yourusername: 5512 streetname, monte carlo monaco!

user2: thx babes you will be seeing me in the next week

yourbff2: so we are not going to talk about the mystery guest that showed up at the bakery today...

yourusername: HE COULD BE LURKING. STAY ALERT. DO NOT MENTION HIM.

yourbff1: you mean osc*r p**str*?? 😝😝🥳

yourusername: ASKJAKJEJAE HE'S GOING TO FIND ME NOOO

yourusername: pls delete your comment i BEG.

yourbff2: @/oscarpiastri @/oscarpiastri @/oscarpiastri

yourbff1: @/oscarpiastri @/oscarpiastri @/oscarpiastri

user3: oh my, bless her poor soul 😭

yourusername: DELETE YOURSELF OH GOD

yourusername: I FEEL A SINISTER PRESENCE COMING

oscarpiastri: my presence was called upon?

yourbff1: LMFAO POINT AND LAUGH 🫵🏻🫵🏻🫵🏻

yourusername: hey-y-y oscar... 🥹

oscarpiastri: did you just stutter over a comment 💀

yourusername: i can explain!! 😁

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To be frank, it's honestly quite difficult to explain the series of events that happened about twelve hours earlier.

6:58 AM ~ l'orchidée bakery shop

It was right before opening. Maman had entrusted me with opening shop and making sure it was running smoothly, and knowing that the fate of our family bakery was in my hands today was especially important to me.

It was 6:58 AM, and since business was typically slow in the first half hour of shop opening, employees showed up half an hour after opening. So there it was me all by myself, until 7:30 AM.

I showed up at the bakery much earlier than normal, at around 3 AM, prepping for the day. The first task was to turn on the ovens, letting them reach the perfect baking temperature.

While the ovens heated up, I took out the baguette and croissant doughs that had been proofing overnight. The doughs were soft and slightly cool to the touch, with a subtle yeasty aroma that promised delicious results. I placed the doughs on the floured countertop, feeling their smooth texture as I gave them one last gentle knead, coaxing out any remaining air bubbles.

Shaping the doughs into their final forms was almost meditative. The baguette dough stretched and folded under my hands, forming into long, slender loaves with tapered ends. The croissant dough was rolled and folded into layers, ready to be cut and shaped into crescents. With each turn and fold, I could feel the anticipation of the final baked product growing.

Next, I mixed batters for cakes, muffins, and other pastries, carefully measuring each ingredient to ensure consistency and quality. The rhythmic motions of stirring and mixing were comforting, grounding me in the early morning quiet of the bakery.

With the ovens now hot, I slid in the first trays of bread and pastries. The smell of baking bread began to fill the bakery, a comforting scent that promised a successful day.

On and on I went prepping, while simultaneously listening to music. One thing about L'Orchidée Bakery, is that our surround sound system that covers every square foot of the little coffee shop, works its magic everyday. It is very difficult to hear many outside noises at that.

So imagine my suprise when I'm singing "Slut!" by Taylor Swift on full volume and I turn around, to only find myself face to face (well, behind a sheet of glass) with none other than Oscar Piastri.

"But if I'm all dressed up, they might as well be looking at us, and if they call me a SLU AHH!-"

I screamed slut, as I spun around and ended up making obnoxiously close eye contact with a boy in a black hoodie and unruly brown hair.

The broom in my hand that I was using to sweep the floor crashed to the floor, a one, big, sweeping motion. Scaring myself, and the boy, we both aggressively lurched back.

This is when I got to take a closer look, and I had just realized that Oscar Piastri had just scared the shit out of both of us.

And I was even more embarrassed to see that poor little Oscar was just trying to look at the bakery's menu, only to get a terrible birds eye view of my horrid singing and dancing.

He started to chuckle, his hand brushing against the faint stubble of hair that was growing across his chin. Sheepishly knocking on one side of the glass that separated us, I gestured for him to come in.

A customer is a customer! (even if he does happen to be the Formula 1 driver I absolutely idolize, and on any given normal day, I would be too shy to even make eye contact with him)

Running to the front entrance of the shop, I reach in my pocket to pull out the plethora of keys that dangle from my measly keychain. Fumbling with a golden key with the letters LB engraved on the key's front, I unlock the door.

"Hi, hello! Welcome to L'orchidée Bakery, so sorry for the little jumpscare you got there," I timidly trailed off.

"You mean the singing, dancing, or both," he joked back. Immediately, my discomfort shifted, as the environment had turned playful. Smiling, I responded.

"Hahaha, you think your funny," I rolled my eyes, as we made our way to the register.

"What can I say, I might just be a stand-up-comedian in disguise," he joked, arms crossed, and his eyes crinkled into a vibrant eye smile.

"Well, are you?" I asked, pretending to genuinely not know his occupation.

"Are what?" He nervously chuckled.

"Are you actually a stand-up-comedian?" I asked.

"Wait, are you serious?" His eyes bulged out, not able to hide his surprise, he fumbled with his phone.

"A hundred percent," I replied, playing the game. Trying to make it believable, I put up a mask of utter confusion. "What's your job?"

"Oh, um, I drive?" He lowly said, he voice trailing off, confused.

"You think you drive of you know you drive?" I barked out a laugh, finding it funny that he ended the sentence in a questioning tone.

"Oh yes, I definitely drive," He nodded his head vigorously.

"So like, Uber, Lift, valet services?" I asked.

"Oh yeah, something like that, yup," Oscar replied. It took everything in me to not burst out laughing from his god-awful acting. This boy couldn't lie for shit, his eyebrows and eyes immediately betrayed him.

Pretending to believe him, I continued our conversation.

"So...do you liked driving around everywhere?" I asked. If this boy kept on lying, I just knew the conversation would get so funny.

"Yeah, it's pretty fun, you know? Getting to meet different people, seeing new places," he said, trying to keep up the charade.

"Interesting! Must be quite an adventure. Any memorable rides?" I prodded, enjoying the playful banter.

"Oh, definitely. Had a guy once who insisted on singing Taylor Swift songs at the top of his lungs," he quipped, a mischievous glint in his eyes. Holding a laugh in, I'm not sure whether he was referring to me, Lando, or Daniel.

"Really? What a coincidence," I said, smirking. "Sounds like my kind of passenger."

We both laughed, the initial awkwardness completely dissolved. It was surreal, chatting casually with Oscar Piastri, as if he were just another customer and not the famous Formula 1 driver I admired.

"So, what can I get for you today?" I asked, ready to actually do my job.

"Surprise me," he said, leaning on the counter. "I'm in the mood for something new."

"Coming right up," I said, turning to grab a fresh-baked strawberry-chocolate croissant and a steaming cup of coffee. As I handed it to him, I couldn't help but feel a sense of triumph. Today was already shaping up to be unforgettable.

Looking around, there didn't seem to be anyone approaching the bakery, so as he sat down at the breakfast bar and asked whether I wanted to sit next to him, I immediately took his offer. (I mean seriously, who would not take the offer?)

"So, what brings you to this little bakery?" I asked, curious.

"Well, I heard a lot of good things about this place. Plus, I'm always on the lookout for a good pastry," he replied. "Figured I'd check it out myself."

"Glad you did," I said warmly. "We do our best to keep the reputation up. And hey, if you ever need more Taylor Swift serenades, you know where to find me."

"Good to know," he said with a laugh. "I'll definitely keep that in mind."

The playful banter made me forget, if only for a moment, that I was talking to a celebrity. It was just a normal conversation, easy and light-hearted.

"So, where do you usually drive?" I asked, pretending to be completely unaware of his true profession.

"Oh, you know, here and there," he said, trying to be vague. "Mostly around the city, sometimes longer trips."

"Must be fun, getting to see different places and meet different people," I said, keeping up the act.

"Yeah, it's interesting for sure," he agreed. "And sometimes you get to witness some pretty crazy stuff."

"I bet," I replied. "Like what?"

"Well, there was this one time I drove a bunch of guys to a music festival. They were already half-drunk and started a karaoke session in the backseat. It was wild," he said with a laugh.

"Sounds like a blast," I said, laughing along. This definitely felt like a recounting of a true story, probably along the lines of something that Yuki or Lando would do.

We continued the conversation, laughing and chatting, flirting here and there for the next half hour until my coworkers arrived. When they did, it gave Oscar and I quite a fright, as we both were mid-conversation when the front door swung open.

My coworker gave us morning blessings, and a blush blossomed across Oscar's cheeks, shy, that he got caught. Crumbling up his paper cup and paper wrap that held what used-to-be a croissant, we both knew it was time for him to leave.

"Wait," I said laughing, "We just had a whole conversation and I still don't know your name," I said, still playing into the role.

"Oscar," he said, genuine, and for a second I felt bad for lying to him. But then again, not really, he played into the banter as well.

"Will I see you here again, Oscar?" I asked.

"You might just have to wait and see," he winked. As I held the door open for him as he left, his hand brushed against mine, and goosebumps rippled across my arm. I felt a swirl of butterflies in my stomach when he smiled and wished me a heartfelt goodbye. Oh, brother.

This is not going to end well.

Snapping me awake from my daydream, my coworker whisper shouted. "You do know that was just Formula One driver Oscar Piastri, right girl? You definitely know who he is."

"Oh of course," I laughed, speaking at a normal volume. "But he doesn't know that I know that," I replied.

"Oh good God, this might end horribly, or become an extremely funny story that one tells at family dinner," my coworker said.

"Do you think the next time he comes he will sign my Oscar Piastri poster hanging in the janitorial closet?" I jokingly asked.

"Y/N!!!" my coworker scolded.

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oscarpiastri

liked by yourbff1, user1 and 303,199 others

oscarpiastri: special treat, special day

view comments:

user1: i hate this cryptic ass caption-

user1: OSCAR WHAT DOES IT MEAN

user2: alright we get it oscar, you had some good food and your big backedness made you have a good day

user3: wait... this pastry shop looks so good i might check it out

user4: oscar giving a bakery a free shoutout, absolutely unheard of

user5: the bakery is called L'Orchidée Bakery, and they are based in monaco! hope this helps 🧁💗

liked by oscarpiastri

user6: wait imagine if oscar's sneaky link worked there, that would be hella funny

user7: ainnoway that man pulls 🧍🏻

user8: honestly, you never know 😭

landonorris: we get it, you would not stop yapping about your amazing strawberry chocolate croissant this morning

landonorris: and how amazing, stunning, and beautiful that one girl was-

logansargeant: you forgot to mention that he was practically drooling everytime he spoke of her

landonorris: and he didn't even get her name 😝🫵🏻

logansargeant: what an absolute LOSER 💀

oscarpiastri: DELETE THIS.

oscarpiastri: DELETE THIS NOW.

oscarpiastri: i am not a loser. i very much win in life.

oscarpiastri: PLEASE DELETE THIS.

this comment thread has been deleted

user9: SKSKKSKSREJAJA did you guys see the deleted comment thread omg

user10: that is not real omg, oscar rizzing finally??!

user7: @/user6 i'm so sorry you were so right 😭😭

user6: i just know he pulls hella bitches

user6: you guys are just unfamiliar with his game (awkward white boy rizz)

yourusername

liked by oscarpiastri, yourbff1 and 101 others

yourusername: la dolce vita (he bought me books and flowers, and baked for me)

view comments

yourbff1: yada yada yada, no need to rub it in you bagged your longtime bae

user1: WAIT THATS HER NEW BOYFIE??

yourbff2: what in the soft launch, CALL ME NOW-

yourbff2: PLEASE ANSWER THE PHONE

oscarpiastri: no can do cuz 🥳😝📢

oscarpiastri: i fear she's cuddling with her man right now

yourbff2: YOU STOLE MY GIRL, you GIRL STEALER 🫵🏿

yourbff1: out of context that sounds so, so wrong 💀

user2: babe, your new boyfie is oscar mf piastri. 🧍🏻‍♀️

liked by yourusername and oscarpiastri

oscarpiastri: so sad that you lied to me when we first met

oscarpiastri: heart❤️ been broke💔🤕 so many times⏰ i don’t know❌🤷‍♀️ what to believe 🍃🙏 yeah👍 mama🤰say it’s my👧😣fault🥺😢 my fault😭😞 i wear my heart💝 on my sleeve👕

yourusername: SO SO SO SORRY BABE XX

user3: she's just a girl, oscar 🙄

oscarpiastri: i hope the date was amazing, you cutie patootie

yourusername: of course it was, my hubby bubby

oscarpiastri: ugh, my teddy bear honey bee is so cute in this

yourusername: you're definitely cuter sugar plum baby bear

yourbff1: YOU DIGUST ME

yourbff1: GET TS OUT OF THE COMMENT SECTION

user4: ^^ and INTO the bedroom

liked by oscarpiastri

yourbff2: @/user4 @/oscarpiastri aw HELL NO ❌❌👈🏿

yourbff2: she is my ROOMATE and the walls are THIN 🧍🏿‍♀️

oscarpiastri

liked by yourusername, yourbff1 and 487,120 others

oscarpiastri: i just got wined and dined

view comments:

user1: two posts of the same bakery in a row?! yeah, somethings up

user2: the jig is up oscar! reveal your girlfriend

landonorris: ohhh, so that's why you were gone for dinner

logansargaent: L to you, because i knew where he was the whole time

landonorris: not fair @/oscarpiastri, not fair 📢📢

charles_leclerc: who is this lovely woman oscar?

charles_leclerc: hello?? do not ignore me

user3: LMFAO oscar ANSWER UR FATHER

charles_leclerc: it says that you are active on instagram, i see you

charles_leclerc: i just want to know who my son's girlfriend is

user4: girlfriend?!?!? what have i missed omg, i just left insta for a week

user5: oscar's soft launch era 💀 LMAO, we think he's dating a girl who works at a bakery

user5: he thinks he is being sneaky and subtle but he's really NOT.

user6: wait guys i think i found her @, its yourusername i think

user7: wait it totally is, in one of her posts, she's wearing that exact same white shirt

user8: and the bakery looks EXACTLY the same in both of their posts

user9: SKMSJEOAMSKK SHE'S IN THE LIKES YOU GUYS YOURUSERNAME IS IN THE LIKES

user10: @/yourusername girl stop lurking in the comments i know your reading them 🧐🤨

liked by yourusername

user10: SJEHLSHEILA SEE I TOLD YOU SO

yourusername

liked by oscarpiastri, landonorris and 28,991 others

yourusername: dinner with a side of formula one pic creds: my boyfie ofc 💗

view comments:

yourusername: chat, i blew up so much omg

yourusername: in my famous era i guess

user1: you mean your WAG era ofc...

liked by oscarpiastri

yourbff1: i'm single, and my fist is ready to mingle in your face

landonorris: so this is the girl, huh, she's pretty

oscarpiastri: HOWDIDYOUFINDHER

oscarpiastri: she's MINE to call pretty btw. 🤬😡💢

landonorris: stole ur phone hehe

yourbff2: rip my ass for having to take all these lovey dovey disgusting pics of them.

yourbff2: DO NOT BREAK HER HEART OSCAH 🍴🍴🍴

yourusername: DO NOT THREATEN HIM PLEASE 😭 (ty for taking these pics omg tysm)

oscarpiastri: I PROMISE I PROMISE TO LOVE MY SUGAR PLUM FAIRY SO VERY MUCH

yourusername: awww, i love you too my honey bear bee

yourbff1: and they're back.

charles_leclerc: omg guys i found her instagram @/logansargeant @/georgerussel63 @/lewishamilton

oscarpiastri: PLEAASEEE NOOOOO

yourusername: what, afraid to show your girlfriend off 🤨🫵🏽

oscarpiastri: whatttt, nooo

georgerussel63: i like you @/yourusername, you make oscar scared

yourusername: awww, thx george <33

oscarpiastri: not funny george

oscarpiastri: are we still ignoring the fact that you lied to me when we first met 🤬🧐

yourusername: are we still ignoring that you ALSO lied to me?!

charles_leclerc: kids, kids, get along please!

oscarpiastri: yes, father

yourusername: yes, father-in-law

yourusername and oscarpiastri

liked by yourbff1, charles_leclerc and 1,220,151 others

yourusername and oscarpiastri: hard launches, only.

comments are disabled

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author's note: ty guys for reading this fic! 😍🫶🏾

[paddockletters]

sun and sand | charles leclerc

summary: a christmas getaway with Charles, his family and Leo author's note: hellooo! i'm back after a long time. merry (belated) christmas/new year! here's this story with Charles; i hope you liked it. thanks for reading! 💗💗

The warm glow of fairy lights stretches across the hotel terrace, mingling with the soft hum of waves crashing in the distance. The sun has just dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in hues of orange and pink. You’re perched on one of the loungers, your sandals dangling from your toes, when Charles walks over, carrying two glasses of something cold and sweet.

“Checo wasn’t wrong,” Charles says, handing you one of the glasses. “He said Tamarindo would be the perfect mix of lively and peaceful, and I’m starting to see what he meant.”

You take a sip of the tangy cocktail and hum in agreement. “Remind me to thank him when we get back. This place is magical.”

Charles settles beside you, his arm brushing yours as he leans back and takes in the view. “He also said the sunsets here are unbeatable, but I think he’s wrong.”

You glance at him, raising an eyebrow. “Oh? What could possibly beat this?”

He turns his head slightly, his green eyes meeting yours. “You.”

You laugh, shaking your head at his cheeky grin. “That was smooth, Leclerc. Did you practice that one?”

“Only in my head,” he replies, his voice low and teasing.

The family trip had started with Checo’s enthusiastic recommendation during a Grand Prix weekend.

“Trust me,” he’d said, a wide grin on his face. “If you want somewhere warm, beautiful, and full of life for Christmas, Guadalajara is the place to go.”

It hadn’t taken much to convince Charles, and now here you were, surrounded by golden sands, lush greenery, and the warm buzz of festive energy.

Pascale had been the most excited, her eyes lighting up the moment you all arrived at the beachfront hotel.

“This is magnifique!” she exclaimed, already pulling out her phone to take pictures.

Arthur and Lorenzo had quickly claimed rooms for themselves and their girlfriends, Jade and Charlotte, while Leo, darted around excitedly, his tiny legs barely keeping up with his wagging tail.

“He’s as excited as the rest of us,” you said, laughing as you scooped Leo into your arms.

“Probably more,” Charles agreed, scratching behind Leo’s ears. “He’s not used to this much space.”

Now, as the night deepens, the terrace transforms into a lively dance floor. The live band strikes up an upbeat tune, and Pascale wastes no time pulling everyone onto the floor.

"Maman, vraiment? I’m not made for this.” Charles groans when his mother reaches for him.

“Non, mon fils, you’re perfect for this,” Pascale insists, practically dragging him forward.

You can’t help but laugh as Charles sends you a look of mock despair over his shoulder.

“You’re next,” he mouths, and you just shrug, thoroughly enjoying the show.

From the sidelines, you watch as Pascale guides Charles through a few basic steps. Despite his protests, he’s surprisingly good, his movements becoming less awkward as he relaxes into the rhythm.

“He’s not bad,” Charlotte comments, sidling up beside you.

“Better than Arthur,” Jade adds, nodding toward her boyfriend, who’s currently attempting a spin and failing spectacularly.

“That’s a low bar,” you joke, making them both laugh.

Before long, Pascale sets her sights on you, and Charles is quick to step in.

“Let me,” he says, holding out his hand and you take it, letting him pull you onto the floor.

“Don’t let me trip,” you warn, only half-joking.

“I’d never,” he replies, his grip firm yet gentle as he leads you into the dance.

The music is lively, the rhythm infectious, and for a moment, it feels like the world consists only of the two of you. Charles twirls you, his laughter mixing with yours as you both stumble slightly, unbothered by the misstep.

“You’re not bad at this,” you say, your breath coming in short bursts from the laughter and movement.

“Don’t get used to it,” he teases, his voice warm with affection.

As the night winds down, the terrace quiets. Most of the family has retired, but you and Charles linger on the beach, the sand cool beneath your feet. Leo is nestled in your lap, his small body rising and falling with each tiny snore.

Charles leans back on his hands, gazing out at the moonlit ocean.

“Checo really knew what he was talking about,” he says, breaking the comfortable silence.

“You think we should send him a thank-you card?” you joke, scratching Leo behind the ears.

“Maybe a bottle of tequila,” Charles suggests, his tone light.

You laugh softly, turning to look at him.

“This really has been perfect, though. Thank you for bringing me here.”

He shifts closer, his hand finding yours in the sand.

“Thank you for coming with me. I don’t think I’d enjoy this half as much without you.”

His words are simple but sincere, and they settle warmly in your chest. You lean your head against his shoulder, your fingers intertwining with his.

“Next year,” Charles murmurs, his voice soft, “we’ll make it even better.”

The family vacation had begun with a bit of a whirlwind.

Now, after a day of exploring local markets and indulging in fresh seafood, the group has gathered for Christmas Eve dinner on the beach. The long table is lit by candles and fairy lights, the ocean a quiet backdrop to the laughter and conversation.

“Alright, best thing about today? Go.” Arthur leans back in his chair, a plate of tamales in front of him.

“Golfing,” Lorenzo says immediately, shooting a smug look at Arthur. “You’ll never beat me.”

“You got lucky.” Arthur groans.

“I think the market was the highlight,” Jade chimes in. “Those hand-painted ceramics were stunning.”

“Charlotte and I bought so much,” Pascale adds, smiling warmly.

Charles nudges your foot under the table. “What about you?”

You pause, pretending to think. “I’d say watching you dance with your mum was pretty high up there.”

Laughter ripples around the table as Charles groans dramatically. “I’m never living that down, am I?”

“Not a chance,” you tease, your smile widening as his hand finds yours under the table.

As the clock inches closer to midnight, the group migrates to the beach for the hotel’s Christmas Eve celebration. A bonfire crackles nearby, and a band plays soft music while couples sway under the stars.

Charles pulls you close, his hands warm on your waist.

“You look beautiful,” he murmurs, his voice low and meant only for you.

You rest your head against his chest, swaying gently to the music. “You’re not so bad yourself, Leclerc.”

He chuckles, pressing a kiss to your temple. “Thank you for being here. For making this Christmas unforgettable.”

“You don’t have to thank me,” you reply, lifting your head to meet his gaze. “I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.”

For a moment, it’s just the two of you, the world fading into the background. He leans down, capturing your lips in a soft, lingering kiss that tastes of salt air and something sweeter.

New Year’s Eve is no less magical. The hotel organizes a gala on the terrace, complete with champagne, fireworks, and a countdown by the beach.

Charles is wearing a sharp white shirt, the sleeves rolled up just enough to make your heart flutter. Leo trots around the terrace, his tiny paws tapping against the wooden floor as he sniffs at everything in sight.

As midnight approaches, the crowd gathers by the edge of the terrace, the ocean reflecting the moonlight. Charles stands beside you, his hand resting lightly on the small of your back.

“Any resolutions for the new year?” you ask, tilting your head to look up at him.

His lips curve into a soft smile. “Just one.”

“Yeah?”

“To make sure you’re this happy every day.”

Your chest tightens, a mix of love and disbelief at how easily he always seems to know what to say.

“You already do that,” you reply, your voice softer than you intended.

The countdown begins, and the crowd roars in unison: “Ten, nine, eight…”

Charles takes your hand, his thumb brushing over your knuckles as the numbers tick down. When the clock strikes midnight, fireworks burst into the sky, their colors dancing across the waves.

He pulls you close, cupping your face as he kisses you deeply, his lips warm and familiar. The cheers and explosions around you fade into a distant hum, and all you can think is that there’s nowhere else you’d rather be.

When he pulls back, his eyes are brighter than the fireworks overhead. “Happy New Year, mon amour,” he whispers.

“Happy New Year, Charles,” you replyl as you lean in for another kiss.

[sophsbookstore]

Exchanged Glances

Charles Leclerc x hairdresser!reader ｡･:*˚:✧｡ 

Masterlist can be found in navigation!

Read pt. 2 here

A/N: Not super edited, I wanted to get it posted before the Grand Prix!

Word count: 1,581

Normally when Charles goes back home to Monaco he has his mom cut his hair. Like clockwork he will arrive at his moms salon, say hello to the various hairdressers and then go to his moms station to get a fresh cut. Only, this time things were different. 

A couple days before he was to arrive home Charles called his mom and asked what day she was free to cut his hair, with the upcoming Monaco Grand Prix it, and with it being his home race he was more available for a haircut than ever.

After their brief greetings to one another Charles’ mom told him that she would be out of town up until the day of the race. For the first time since joining formula one his mom wouldn't be able to cut his hair for him before the Monaco Grand prix.

“Don't worry Cha, I can refer you to another hairdresser at the salon.” She offered, trying to give him another solution.

“I don't know, you've always cut my hair, no one else.” 

“Then this will be a perfect time for you to step out of your comfort zone. Don't worry I know the perfect person, she’s new, around your age and she's magic in the salon.” Trusting his mom this easies Charles' nerves slightly.

“Ok maman.” The driver sighs in defeat.

“Wonderful! When you go to the salon ask for Y/N.'' With that his mom bid him farewell, telling him when to be at the salon, not going into any more detail about this mysterious hairdresser.

Before he knew it the day had come, he was going to step out of his comfort zone and have a complete stranger touch his hair. He hoped his mom wasn't lying when she was hyping up Y/N and her skills, he didn't want to go to the paddock looking a mess.

Charles enters the salon, all the employees giving him waves and greeting him. He's known some of these people his whole life, whenever he stepped foot in the salon it was like he was being greeted by family.

“Hello Charles, what can I help you with today?” The lady at the front desk asked.

"Hello, yes, my mom told me to ask for Y/N?” The boy shrugged in confusion.

“Oh of course! I'll go get her.” The lady that once sat in front of him was now off searching for the mysterious magic woman that was going to cut his hair.

Charles felt like he was waiting for hours, the salon wasn't that big was it? Maybe it was all in his head. He stood to the side of the waiting area, too consumed with stress to sit down and relax. Before he knew it the front desk lady came back, the woman he assumed to be Y/N trailing behind her.

This is when he finally got to have a good look at her. She was beautiful, why didn't his mom tell him that they started hiring part time models at the salon. The two stood awkwardly, both taking in one another, waiting for someone to make the first move.

Y/N cleared her throat. “Hello Charles, I’m Y/N. just follow me back to my station and we’ll get started”

Charles was too dumbfounded to respond, instead the man stuttered silently before nodding and following Y/N to the back of her salon. During the short walk to her station, Charles thought of questions to ask the beautiful girl, desperately wanting to hear the sound of her voice again.

“Thanks for trusting me with your hair today, your mom told me that you don't really let anyone else cut your hair.” She giggled.

“Oh! Yeah, she's been cutting mine and my brothers hair since we were kids.”

“That's so sweet. I understand where you're coming from I don't let anyone cut my hair, only myself.'' This put Charles at ease. Knowing that she thinks the same way he does, even about something so simple as hair.

After some comfortable small talk Y/N led Charles further back into the salon, sitting the boy down in a chair before leaning him back and washing his hair. The driver seemed to melt in her touch as she ran her fingers through his hair.

When Y/N pulled her hands away to apply more product Charles felt incomplete, like he was missing a sense of stability and peace within himself. Just as soon as she removed her hands she placed them back, continuing to massage his scalp with the shampoo.

Y/N pats Charles’ shoulders signaling to him that the wash was done and that they had to make their way back to her station. Y/N led the way, Charles trailing behind the girl before taking his spot in front of her in the salon chair.

“Are you excited for the grand prix?” Y/N questions taking some of his hair between her fingers, beginning the cut

“Very. I have a good feeling and my son will be there, hopefully we secure P1 and P2.”

“You have a son? What's his name?” Y/N questions, his mom not mentioning anything about a grandson.

“Oh! My apologies he's not really my son. He's a driver on the grid that I've somewhat adopted for the race weekend so that he can claim the Monaco grand prix as his home race.” Charles looks at Y/N hoping she doesn't find what he said both weird and confusing.

“HA!” The hairdresser laughed out loud. “Well congrats to him, I hope he has a fun and successful home race as well. I'll be sure to congratulate your maman about her newly found grandson.” 

Charles sat up a little higher in the chair, “Are you coming to the race?”

“I wish I could but I have to work, don't worry though, the salon will be playing the race so everyone can watch.” Y/N stopped cutting for a moment, looking at Charles through the mirror placed in front of them before giving him a warm smile.

Y/N picked up another section of his hair, continuing to snip away leaving Charles to examine the girl through the mirror. Y/N looked up from behind him, making a quick glance at him before the pair broke eye contact, looking separate ways.

Slowly their eyes started moving back to the mirror. The scissors snapping shut as the pair hold eye contact. Charles felt the tip of his ears getting hotter, the pair both noticing one another's subtle hints of red creeping onto their faces.

“Notice anything Mr. Leclerc?” Y/N questions, the corners of her mouth turning upward.

Charles opens his mouth to speak but words don't come out.

“Don't think I haven't noticed the subtle glances, there is either something on my face and you're trying to figure out how to tell me, or something going on in this head of yours.” She turns her attention back to his hair, the haircut almost over.

“I-” he clears his throat, “I was admiring you. You're very good at what you do.”

“I deeply appreciate Charles, truly.” Y/N made her final touches to the haircut. Unbuttoning the cloth that was draped over Charles, before dusting off his shoulders of any hair. “You're all finished, let me find a mirror so you can see the back.”

Y/N walked toward an unknown part of the salon, Charles' eyes following the girl through the mirror until she came back. This is it, if he doesn't say anything now he might never see her again.

The hairdresser came back, handing Charles a small hand held mirror for him to examine the back of his head. He admired her work, impressed with her skills. Placing the mirror down on a ledge near her station he got out of his chair and turned to her.

The two stared at one another, practically chest to chest. “Will you come to the grand prix?” He asked breathlessly.

“Nothing would delight me more but I have to work.” Y/N sighed looking away for a moment before her attention was pulled back to Charles.

“If you can't come to the race can you accompany me for dinner after?” Y/N looked at Charles, her cheeks getting ever so pinker.

“Mr. Leclerc are you asking me on a date?”

“That depends, would you like to go on a date with me?” Charles asked, not missing a beat.

“Yes Charles, I would love to.” 

Charles smiled from ear to ear, desperately wanting to bounce off the walls with excitement, stopping himself before he could embarrass himself. “Then I will see you tomorrow.” He nodded in satisfaction.

“See you tomorrow Charles.” Charles walked away from the hairdresser, giving her a quick glance back before making his way back to the lady at the front desk.

“Hair looks great! What did you think of Y/N?” She asked, ringing him up so he could make his payment.

“She's fantastic, I think maman will have some competition.” The two laughed, Charles paid, giving her a quick goodbye.

As soon as he exited the salon he called his mom, updating her on his post race plans, greatly thanking her for offering Y/N to cut his hair.

[roennq]

Option C is definitely the next best thing after Castiel, lol! Love how your mind works, @highfunctioningflailgirl.

Although they completely forgot to apply Maman d’Artagnan’s magical ointment-that-heals-all when Aramis got grazed by a bullet in Series Three.

Once again... noooOOoO not the face!!!

Oh well, the man is still perfect. 😆💖

[lecl3rcw]

MAGIC IN YOUR VEINS

pairings: Charles Leclerc x sister!reader

summary: Charles comforts his favorite sibling.

warnings: badly translated French, sibling fights, Arthur being a lil mean, just a little tho.

author’s note: this is a lil disappointing, also Thankyou guys so much for 50 followers💗

song recs: none:(

————————————————————————

She didn’t know how a small comment of hers escalated to a full blown argument between her and Arthur.

“Arthur you know I didn’t mean it like that!” She tries to defend herself, “Oh cut the bullshit Y/N, you know how I feel when anyone compares me to Charles, you off all people should know” he yells really upset with his sister’s comment.

“I was just joking! I didn’t Intentionally compare you to him” she sighs out, putting her hand on her face, a little distressed. “No you always have to bring this up, and it’s funny because you’re probably the biggest failure out of all 4 of us, Enzo is starting his own business, Charles is a F1 driver, I’m an F2 driver, meanwhile you can’t even pass a grade 11 exam” he says, finally finishing his rant getting the anger and frustration of his stressful week out.

Her mouth was wide open as tears were visible in his eyes, sure her and Arthur exchanged insults but never had they fought this seriously. “Why are you crying? Cant handle it when it’s directed at you?” He says, “I’m sorry Arthur” she whispered before running to her room and locking the door.

She felt guilty, she wasn’t upset at him because he gave her a taste of her own medicine but it did sting, hearing someone she genuinely looked up to call her a failure was a statement she could never shake off. Although it hurt, it also made her realize that he was right. Once Arthur was cooled down, he did apologize to the girl and she did as well, but despite saying sorry, his words rang in her head. She vowed to herself that she was going to pass this test without anyone’s help no matter what.

“Do you guys know what’s been up with your sister?” Pascale asks placing food on the table, “What do you mean Maman?” Charles asks looking up from his phone, his next race was 3 weeks away so he was happy to spend time with his family, “I don’t know, she seems really distant” their mutters, “I heard she has a big test tomorrow , maybe she’s stressed out?” Lorenzo said, “yeah perhaps, but I would appreciate if you guys could talk to her and make her feel better” she says, the two sibling nodded their heads.

Charles was walking up to his bedroom but he noticed soft music coming from his sister’s room, curiously, he walked in only to find his sister’s head resting on the desk, the dim light of the lamp was the only thing lighting her room up, her papers scattered across her desk. He softly smiled at her, he placed a sweet kiss on her head before turning the light off and letting his sister sleep.

The next morning the girl jerked up in panic, she wasn’t supposed to be sleeping, she was supposed to be preparing for her test. “I’m so fucked” she says her hands on her head. She checks the time and she quickly gets ready to go to school.

“Hey Chérie” Pascale says, “Goodmorning maman” she says rubbing her eyes tiredly, “you alright?” Pascale asks the girl in concern, “I’m good ma, I was supposed to study but I fell asleep” she says, “Oh you’ll do great my love” she says as she goes to give her daughter a tight hug, being in her mother’s arms bright the younger girl a lot of comfort, “I love you Maman, I should be leaving” she says breaking the hug, she gave her a smile before heading out the door.

The rest of the day went by in a blur, after giving her test she actually felt confident, the smile that the past few weeks stole from her made its way back on her face, now all she had to do was wait till 5:00 pm for her results. Charles texted her saying that he could pick her up to which she happily responded.

“Hi Chérie! How was your day” Charles asks, “it was alright” she responds, the siblings talked about irrelevant things the rest of the way, jamming to music, Charles even bought Y/N some food as the two shared the meal. She felt really happy that Charles wanted to spend time with her as he was such a busy man. Unfortunately for her tho, her interactions with Arthur had died down since he was never home, either with his friends or with Carla, which made her really sad.

It was 5:03 when the siblings made it home, “I’m gonna go check my score Charles, I’ll be right back!” She says, “wait! Bring your laptop here, we will check it together” Charles says wanting to be as supportive as ever to which she was more than thankful for.

“Ok…so what did you get” He asks her, the minute she looks her heart drops to her stomach, she felt nauseous, the exhaustion of so many weeks of not sleeping and eating properly catching up to her, she was upset beyond repair, and Arthur’s voice calling her a failure started echoing In her mind.

“I’m a failure” she says mindlessly, before burrying her face in her hands. “What? No you’re not” He says grabbing the laptop. “Oh my god. I’m a screwup” she says as sobs start racking her body, Charles immediately wraps his arms around the girl tightly, her face still in her hands. “I’m so dumb, I studied for nothing” she says as places her head against his shoulder.

“Y/N you’re not a failure, who told you that” Charles says caressing her hair, “It dosent matter Charles, the test results tell me everything I need to know” she says tears still running down her face, “why can’t I be more like you, or Arthur, or Enzo” she wails out, “You’re not a failure Y/N, everyone has ups and downs, you can’t base your worth on test scores, or people’s opinions” he says tightening his hold on her, she stayed quiet wanting him to continue. “You can’t be perfect all the time Chérie, and whoever told you that you’re a failure is probably a failure themselves” Charles says getting a little mad that someone (Arthur) called his sister a failure.

“But-” “no buts, You tried Y/N and that’s what matters, you didn’t give up, everyone has bad days, but you can’t let a test score hold this much power over you” he finishes, she sniffles wiping her nose, “you’re right, I’m sorry, maybe this was a bit of an overreaction” she says, feeling a bit embarrassed, “No never apologize for showing emotions, you were disappointed and that’s ok, use this disappointment as motivation, you’re going to kick that next test’s ass” he says shaking her shoulders as she lets out a laugh. “ I love you Charlie” she mumbled giving him a final hug that he reciprocated, “I love you more” he says. “Now tell me, who said you were a failure? I’ll give them a piece of my mind, I’ll get Arthur on them too” he says confidently,

“………”

[sixosix]

YOU MUST LIKE ME FOR ME | LYNEY

notes wc 3.5k, for readers keeping up with the updates as they come, it’s been a while since the last update! so for the sake of understanding this chapter, please reread the previous one !!

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You were starting to regret ever opening your mouth and letting Aether blackmail you into helping him. Maybe if you had insisted on cooking dinner and Rosalie took over the counter, none of this would’ve happened. But what’s happened has happened—and you have a feeling that you would’ve ended up here regardless because fate hated you.

Lyney emerges from the shadows, sliding into the spotlight as if he was born for it. Meant to be there in the middle of the stage with all eyes on him and nowhere else. He has his arms spread wide open, fully welcoming the elated whispers of the audience.

“Welcome, one and all, to Lyney and Lynette’s magic show!”

His voice echoes throughout the opera house, nearly drowned out by the roaring cheers that follow after. Lyney then grins, bowing with half of his body.

The way he moves across the stage—it’s hard to imagine it’s the same guy who stumbled over his steps to make you notice him. It seems like the roles have reversed. Now, the audience is watching each move with bated breath, on the edge of their seats, watching him.

“Please, let me also welcome my sister and my assistant, Lynette!”

Lynette steps onto the stage, her tail flicking at the noises. You swear you heard a kid whisper wildly to his mother that it was a part-cat human, maman! Why is Mr. Lyney not also one if they are siblings, maman?

Lyney may not have the ears and tail, but you remember the way his eyes followed you around like a cat tracking its prey, seconds away from pouncing. He resembled a cat more than Lynette at times.

“Hello,” Lynette says to the crowd and leaves it at that. The crowd loves it anyway.

Lyney grins. Something about it feels so different. He was cute as a kid, but now, with all teeth and sparkling eyes, he’s like a dream far out of reach.

“Are you okay?” Aether whispers. You almost jump out of your seat, breaking from the trance. “If you keep digging your nails in like that, you might rip the dress.”

“Ah.” You haven’t even realized. “Don’t worry about it. First-show jitters or something.”

“You’re not the one performing?”

“Or something.” you insist. Aether laughs under his breath and, thankfully, leaves it.

Back when you were at the House, Lyney could only do simple tricks. Plucking cards from his sleeves or hiding them in between his fingers. He was clumsy with making cards float, revealing doves from his hat, and producing flowers in a snap.

It seems to come from second nature for him this time. He flicks his hand, and a beautiful Lumidouce Bell materializes on his palm. Lyney throws it to the crowd; it lands by your feet.

“Wow, that was so cool!” Paimon gasps as you move to pick it up.

You remember now. This was the only flower Lyney used for his tricks, as they come in bundles when found. Often after dinner, Lyney would perform to practice for the other orphans, and it ended with a mess of these flowers scattered across the ground or left unattended by their beds after presenting it to them.

“Hold on,” Paimon says, “Is he looking at us? Did we miss something?”

Lyney is definitely looking in your direction. He has fallen silent, frowning. You start wishing that he is staring, not because he recognizes you but because you’re drop-dead gorgeous or something.

“Y/N?” Lyney says, his soft voice loud in the pin-drop silent auditorium.

Well.

“Mr. Lyney?” One of his assistants on stage asks. “What’s wrong?”

The crowd starts to murmur; then their fervent whispers grow in volume until everyone is talking loudly. Another accident? Mr. Lyney looks terrified! Aghast! Meanwhile, Lyney stays frozen in his spot; he doesn’t look like he’s breathing. It was the same look he gave you that night. Maybe his face hasn’t changed that much, after all.

“Lyney?” Lynette asks from the side of the stage, her face poking out. Then she follows his gaze, and her eyes widen as well. That’s when you knew—

“Shit,” you mutter, clutching the flower and springing up from your seat. You can’t have this happen while an audience is watching. That would totally ruin the whole point of laying low.

It was definitely not because you’re drop-dead gorgeous, but the fact that he still recognizes you has to mean something, right? Something that you don’t want to think about at the moment. You hurry to the exit, ignoring the dirty looks you get as you brush past.

“Did that girl do something?”

“Where are the gardes?! She must have done something to make Mr. Lyney chase after her’”

Seriously? You cast a glance, and Lyney’s scrambling down the stage, his assistants yelling after him and demanding for an explanation.

“Wait, no!” Lyney exclaims in response to the audience reluctantly getting up from their seats and reaching out to you. “Ah— Not to worry, everyone! I just have personal matters to attend to. Please, just stay—”

Idiot, you want to scream, it’s not so personal if you’re chasing after me in front of all of them!

The Melusine guarding the entrance seems oblivious to the ruckus inside. She blinks up at your haste and asks, “Is the show over?”

You say, “I have an emergency. Uhm—I, uh.”

Her face turns serious. She nods. “I see.”

“What— what are you thinking? it’s—” Your ears pick up on Lyney’s steps, and you wisely decide that it is not the time to save face. You give the Melusine a wave. “Thank you!”

You take a swift, sharp turn once you’ve reached the end of the stairs, stumbling into a dead end, and you don’t get very far.

You wonder if Aether and Paimon chased after you or if they’d pretend not to know you for the sake of the mission. If you die, you hope they would at least still pay you for compensation, and the money would go to Rosalie. Or maybe she would be enraged when she finds out you’re a Fatuus and doesn’t take it. Maybe your story of deceiving Rosalie would make her customers flourish, buying flowers to disguise the intent of asking about the liar residing in her home for years.

“Caught you,” Lyney whispers, his firm grip around your waist. The rushing water is noisy, but his voice is clear to your ears.

Hearing his voice up close is a problem. “Whoever you think I am, you’re mistaken!”

“Then why did you run?”

“You—” You had that look on your face I didn’t want to see again “—I forgot to lock my door. I don’t want my house to be robbed. Which might be occurring at this moment the longer you have me like this.”

Lyney laughs. It sounds like music that has haunted you for years—and with a new one playing, it’ll torment you for years more. He loosens his grip but keeps you caged in, still. You’re twirled around to face him, and something about his expression has you swallowing thickly.

“You’re even more stunning than I remember, ma chérie.”

Your face burns. “Thanks, but I don’t even know who you… ugh, stop looking at me like that…” Lyney’s smile, looking so fond, doesn’t falter in the slightest as if he expects that you would say that word for word.

“You think I’d mistake someone else for you? You’re the only one who runs from me like this,” he murmurs. His gaze feels heavy. 

“Mr. Lyney,” you sigh and turn away. You can’t bring yourself to look him in the eye when he says shit like that.  “Please. I didn’t show my face around anymore for a reason. A good reason.”

“I don’t trust your judgment to believe that.”

“Don’t talk as if you know me. We’ve been apart longer than we’ve been together.”

“Still, your words are as hurtful as ever,” Lyney says with a sad smile. You stiffen when he cups your cheek and touches you, his gloves rough on your skin. “You’re alive.”

You scowl. “Have you such little faith in me? How many times have I beaten you again?”

Lyney laughs again. Somehow, this is much worse than him killing you on sight. 

Lynette appears in your line of sight from behind Lyney, with Aether and Paimon trailing after her. Her steps are slow. Aether has that expression on his face that says, don’t react!

Luckily, Lyney takes your hitch of breath as embarrassment at having witnesses. He tears away but promptly reaches for your wrist as if a leash for a dog. You tug, but nothing happens. For someone who looks so delicate, he has quite the strength.

“Hello, Traveler, Paimon,” he says pleasantly. “Sorry to interrupt your show.”

Aether shakes his head. “I just wondered if something went wrong.”

Does this not look wrong enough for him? You hurl him a blank stare.

Lyney follows Aether’s gaze and glowers. He jerks you to his side and stares at Aether pointedly. Aether looks at you, confused. You don’t know what the fuck is going on either.

“I didn’t know you were familiar with Y/N,” Lyney observes coldly.

“I don’t,” Aether says easily. “I came out here to see if you were okay.”

Still, Lyney doesn’t loosen his grip.

“Y/N,” Lynette says. She interrupts whatever dick-measuring contest is brewing with a small smile on her face. “You’re here.”

“I am,” you wheeze out, still trapped in Lyney’s arms. It’s a little difficult to be anywhere else with your current predicament.

Lynette clears her throat, giving her brother a look. You recognize that one—it’s the one she uses when Lyney is embarrassing her and would give him a stern word about it later. Lyney grumbles and sets you free.

“Traveler, I have something to say to you,” Lyney says, his chin high and his stare cool.

“Alright,” Aether says, brows furrowed. He casts you a glance that Lyney watches carefully. “Come on, Paimon.”

Lynette fixes your sleeves as the boys leave for somewhere more secluded. You follow them until their silhouettes disappear. “How have you been?” she asks.

“I’ve just been in the low, but I’m doing fine,” you say, feeling a little shy. Lynette has grown up as nicely as her brother. Her hair is tied up now; you remember that Lyney used to beg for Lynette to use the hairclips he’s bought, but Lynette insists she doesn’t like them. You offered her a hair tie that day. “It’s been really stressful and all that. Sorry to ruin your show.”

“Don’t worry about that. Or them. You’re here—that’s the most important thing on Lyney’s mind at the moment,” she says, and at the face you’re making, she adds: “And you can’t tell me I’m wrong. You know I’m not.”

“Haha.” You don’t know what to say to that.

Lynette hums. “Are you carrying out missions?”

You start thinking about the danger of confessing to present-fatuis that you are no longer one. As much as you trust them, you don’t trust they hold you to the same level. They have complete faith and loyalty towards The Knave, which you abandoned long ago. The orphans’ trust ran deep, and no one—not even you—could fuck with it.

You nod. “Yes, which is why I’ve been too busy. I’m— you see, I work for Lord Tartaglia now.”

Lynette looks stunned, speechless. Lyney has words to say, though, coming back at the perfect time. You take a peek at Aether, but it seems that he hasn’t followed Lyney back.

Lyney hurries to your side. “Master Childe? Is that why you’re here? We saw him around yesterday… Was it yesterday?” He turns to his sister, who nods.

Just your luck. Of all the Harbingers you thought of, it’s the one currently in Fontaine.

You’re losing confidence, and you hope it doesn’t show on your face. You used to look at the orphans in the House of the Hearth and think that you can beat them easily, without a sweat—right now, it feels as if they’re miles from your reach.

“Is this where Mr. Lyney went?” you hear from afar. “Perhaps they went back to the city!”

Lyney and Lynette’s faces turn exasperated. Lyney drags you further to the corner of the wall, and Lynette has her eyes peeled, scanning the path that leads here.

“Listen, I have to go. I can’t stay here for long.” They report everything to her; you know that well enough. “The— ‘Father’ already knows I’m here, so there’s no need to talk about me.”

Lyney stares at you for a moment too long. “Why?”

You wrack your head for something the twins wouldn’t be able to push. “I’m ashamed to see Father while I’m like this. After our fight, she had to transfer me. My pride and all that, you know?” You put on a timid expression. “Please don’t push.”

It works seamlessly. Lyney’s face falls. “Are you going to run from us again?”

“She might make me leave if she finds out I was talking to you.”

Lyney looks angry. “I’ll make sure she won't.”

“Don’t push,” you remind him softly. You’re a little stunned that he’s going this far. “I thought you hated me.”

“I could never hate you to the point of letting you slip from my grasp again.”

Hmm. That’s a strange way of phrasing it.

Before you can look into it anymore, Lyney takes your hand. “You said to me my loyalty is my worth. Well, by that logic, I’m nothing but valuable to you.”

“…Right,” you murmur, facing away from him and turning to Lynette for help, but she’s looking off to the side as well, still watching out for any gardes, yet her ears are pointed here. “I know that.”

“Y/N?” Lyney’s smiling when he forces your attention on him once more.

“Hm? What?” You need to look for Aether fast. Maybe tell him of the events that transpired and convince him that this was a terrible idea and Aether can arrest Lyney for all you care.

You do care. That’s the whole reason you’re doing this in the first place.

“I’m happy to see you,” he says.

“...I’ll see you around, Miss Lynette and Mr. Lyney.”

It wasn’t difficult to look for Aether and Paimon. You found them easily because you wanted to go there yourself: Hotel Debord.

Paimon’s wolfing down a plate of cake while Aether idly sips on his drink. Aether notices you first, waving you over. You find it strange that as soon as you pad over, Aether gestures to the stairs. You three climb up and find a place at the furthest table in the far corner.

“Lyney performs here sometimes, I heard,” Aether says as you settle in on a seat.

“Let’s hope he doesn’t strike this place with a surprise one while we’re on the most conspicuous seat,” you grumble. Paimon hands you her drink as comfort.

“I’d say that was a success,” Aether says, grinning. “Heartfelt reunion and rekindled feelings— I’ve never seen Lyney like that.”

“Like what?” Remembering Aether’s fixation on insisting on a blossoming relationship between you and the man you can’t even look in the eye, you immediately say, “Never mind. I don’t care. I ruined the plan.”

Aether laughs. “You didn’t, trust me. I learned something valuable today.”

You sip on the teacup. It’s Fonta, and it’s as unbearably sweet as the look in Lyney’s eyes as he talked to you. You’ve had enough of that for today.

“You can never hide it in your face when you care for someone,” Aether continues.

“You have that look on your face,” you say suspiciously. “Don’t tell me you’re also going to blackmail Lyney?”

“What? Of course not. That’s what I blackmailed you for.”

You snort. “And the Outlander reveals his true colors. You seriously still don’t believe me?”

“I still don’t have the information I want to have,” Aether reminds, stealing a piece of Paimon’s cake. She grumbles but doesn’t say anything else. She’s surprisingly compliant when there’s a plate before her. “That’s what you’re also here for, remember?”

“I don’t know, Aether,” you lament, sinking into your seat. “It feels like I made everything harder for me. “Do you still not trust them?”

“I think I blew it, too,” Aether laughs sheepishly. “I don’t think Lyney trusts me anymore.”

Paimon snorts, then quiets down when Aether shoots her a look.

“What did you and Lyney talk about?”

“It was a bit weird,” Aether confesses, then blushes at his drink. “I think Lyney was threatening me. He told me he saw me with someone by an alley.” At your confused look, Aether clarifies, “Doing something scandalous, I mean.”

You never thought Aether was the type, but that’s none of your business.

“Don’t look at me like that,” Aether sighs. “Of course I wasn’t up to anything of that sort. I’m still figuring out what he meant by that.”

“Maybe it’s a metaphor,” you say.

But Lyney doesn’t go lying about things like that. He may have a roundabout way of talking when he’s feeling playful, but ruining someone’s reputation is far too serious for that. And Aether never told you that Lyney was hostile around him—none of this just makes sense.

“All I remember was…” Aether’s gaze cuts down to your waist, and then he falls silent.

You frown. “Aether?”

Aether sighs. “I blew it. It’s up to you now.”

“Do you still see them as a threat?” you ask.

“It’s not that I see them as a threat. It’s just that… if they’re an obstacle I have to overcome between me and my sister, then I will do what it takes.”

Of course, you’re still stuck handling a pair of identical siblings. You could never understand the bond between them, but you have to admit, it’s interesting to see two sides of twins. One still together and one apart.

“Oh, right. Hold on,” Aether mutters, swiping a hand in the air. You watch in fascination as a bag materializes on his lap. He draws out a letter. “Lyney wanted me to give this to you, too.”

You read the contents. Aether asks, “What is it? A love letter? Does it have hearts drawn on it?”

“Stop that,” you say. “It has an address, no hearts.”

Aether gasps. Even Paimon pauses from her feast. “An address,” they chorus.

“It says meet me tomorrow.”

Aether hums. “Maybe this isn’t turning out so bad.”

Lyney’s soft expression flashes in your mind—the flower, the arm around your waist, ma chérie— Seriously, who told him it was alright to go around seducing women like that? You groan, your face falling into your palms. You both blew it. Maybe Paimon has a better chance of retrieving information than either of you.

“You must’ve really liked the Fonta,” Aether says, gesturing to your empty cup. “Want another one?”

You don’t hesitate before saying yes.

The flower Lyney threw you has already wilted by the time you return to the flower shop. It’s past midnight, yet there is still a dim light washing over from outside. You spot Rosalie seated by the chair behind the counter, her posture straightening as the bell chimes.

“You’re back!” She grins, though her eyes look heavy and a little red. She must’ve been sleeping deeply.

“Rosalie,” you greet, a little fond, a little exasperated, “did you wait for me?”

“I told that Outlander boy to bring you home before ten,” she huffs, ambling over to you. She pats your dress and sighs dreamily. “Did you enjoy Mr. Lyney’s show?”

There was no show to begin with. “Yes. I did. It was splendid. Cut a bit too short, though.”

“Were you chosen as a participant?” she asks, hopeful.

“No,” you say, laughing a little. Although Mr. Lyney did chase after me. You wonder what kind of face Rosalie would make if you told her that. She wouldn’t be able to sleep if you did; you’re sparing her quite nicely.

Rosalie smiles. You like her smile; it’s all soft and fond, and she’s always smiling, leaving smile lines on her face. If you got caught earlier and she found out about your true past, would she still smile at you like that? “You should get some sleep. You look tired.”

“Yeah.”

“You’re so cute, mon ange. You look like you’re glowing!” Rosalie squeals, pulling you in for a hug that smothered your face on her neck. “You should go out more often!”

“Glowing?” Rosalie’s hug has your words come out all fucked up. “If anything, I’m drained— maman, your hair is getting on my mouth, please. And I still want to work here, okay? Don’t kick me out so suddenly.”

Rosalie’s frozen, her smile wiped off her face. You look up and blink at her curiously. “Rosalie?” you ask.

She stammers, “Oh—ah, it’s nothing. I just thought— Oh, you’re right. I’m tired, too. Don’t stay out so late next time if you don’t want my face having eyebags!”

As much as you hate to admit it, seeing Lyney and Lynette did feel a bit nice.

notes !!! new chapter yay :D lmk what u think !!

akagi back at it again with giving us bangers like its NOTHING. look at this scene of lyney recognizing reader in the audience!! the details... aughhh + THE EXTRA ART IS SO FUNNY

PLUS PLUS LOOK AT AKAGIS ART OF LITTLE LYNEY AND GROWN UP LYNEY AAAHHH

TAGLIST.

@thenyxsky @aeferkssr @1mewo1 @lacrimae-lotos @meigalaxy @hyacinth-daze @miwafei @popochakku @svasilios @heyhazelnut101 @kruinka @waveto-earth @superstar-ethereal @mxplesyrvp @achilleas-dream @episodecete @jellifizz @auranny @motherscrustytoenailclippings @iawaaaaaaa @rionah @cherryig @kzhwaif @mystiquemare @unknownlololol @sanluvssu @blvdmrcnry @kascar-chronicle @idontevenknow129 @tarathecogsci

[maryleclerc]

𝐫𝐨𝐲𝐚𝐥, 𝐜𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥 — charles leclerc

pairing: prince!charles leclerc x reader ; prince!charles leclerc x princess!reader ; prince!dad!charles leclerc x princess!mom!reader

summary: in which prince christian arthur first day to school and i guess it’s went well

warning: english is not my native language, use google translate, i did not own any of these images. this is just a imagination, please do not take it too serious!

read my royal series here

charles_leclerc

Liked by y/n_leclerc, pierregasly and others

charles_leclerc Brunch with my mamma and papà

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y/n_leclerc My mamma and papà 😂

⤷ charles_leclerc Our mamma and papà

everythingdif Notice how Charles called his parents in-law in Italian is so so so sweet. It’s really proves the relationship between them is very good, once when Prince Charles Leclerc and Y/n were just engaged, a few reporters asked Mr. Y/l/n about Prince Charles, he said that he really thankful to know that his soon to be his son-in-law because Prince Charles Leclerc is not only kind and polite but also very caring and especially the way he treat his daughter, Y/n.

⤷ charles_leclerc I love them too, they are the most fun people to be around with

y/n_leclerc

Liked by arthur_leclerc, kellypiquet and 452,033,711 others

y/n_leclerc Baby bump update and having a brunch date with my husband and my whole family (sadly without Christian, he’s not so happy if he know that we went to visit nonna e nonno)

and during brunch today I just discovered a secret that made me want to cry but Charles never told me (crying happy tears). It was my father who told me, he said that when Charles was about to propose to me, Charles went to my parents' house and asked their permission to let him marry me. I just keep loving him more and more.

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charles_leclerc And thankfully papà give me his permission

⤷ y/n_leclerc You’re his favorite now, Prince Charles Marc Hervé Perceval Leclerc of Monte Carlo

⤷ charles_leclerc Oh I… I know, you don’t have to type my full name like that Princess Y/n

⤷ y/n_leclerc 😂 haha you scare huh?

⤷ arthur_leclerc No, he’s not scared BUT I AM

⤷ y/n_leclerc @charles_leclerc 😂😂😂

kellypiquet Your baby bump is so 🥰

⤷ y/n_leclerc I know I know 😂

pinkblushh How is your baby doing Y/n?

⤷ y/n_leclerc It’s doing great, and keep craving for Charles cooking 😂

euginemckayla REAL GENTLEMAN 😩🤌🤌

charles_leclerc

Liked by landonorris, y/n_leclerc and others

charles_leclerc Y/n and I just picked up Christian from kindergarten, I have to say I feel like he'd rather go to school than stay at home with his parents. As soon as he got into the car, he said to us in a very excited voice, “maman, papa, I had a lot of fun going to school today? I've made a lot of friends… there's a girl who's very beautiful, when I grow up I want to marry her.” Y/n was in shocked and turned to see her smiling... Maybe he just like his father 😂

I don't think Y/n expected him to have a girlfriend fast, even faster than his father. He even “suggested” us to let him go karting with his father, we accept his “suggestion”.

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y/n_leclerc Exactly like his father, got so much attention from women in all ages

milanie My daughter told my that she had a crush on your son Prince Charles Leclerc

⤷ y/n_leclerc You’re Carlotta mother?

⤷ milanie Yes, I am 😂

⤷ charles_leclerc Oh gosh he talk about Carlotta all the way home

george_laurent Uhh I can’t handle the cuteness of this family

TAGLIST: @xcinnamongirl @jaydaaasword @heartsfromtaeyong @bladacci1 @magical-spit @champomiel @greigreyhiyyih @cherrieverstappen @okurtics @georgiagasly @booksobsess

[acesofspadess]

New Roads

Pt.3 of All Roads Lead Here

Part 1 || Part 2 || Part 3

a/n: the last, but certainly not least... another long one, comment down below if you liked this sub series or if you just like the AG5 universe in general

warnings: none??

summary: hungover, then drunk again, proposed, then proposed too again.... and her birthday....

The night was a blur of celebration, laughter, and champagne-soaked madness. After the Constructors’ Championship win and Lando’s unexpected proposal that left Ace in tears of joy, the McLaren team was whisked away to Bahrain by none other than the crown-prince himself.

 By the time they landed, the group was already buzzing with excitement, though the real party was just beginning. The DJ was already spinning a mix of bass-heavy tracks that shook the room. It was exactly the kind of place you’d celebrate the double victory of a lifetime.

Ace and Lando, now officially engaged, were inseparable on the dance floor. Ace had ditched her racing overalls for a simple dress she always packs for emergencies like this, while Lando stuck to his signature outfit—a half buttoned linen shirt and some jeans. They twirled, laughed, and occasionally stopped to kiss amidst the crowd. The McLaren team surrounded them, equally swept up in the joy, raising glasses and shouting over the music about how this was “the best damn night of their lives.”

“Here’s to Ace, the comeback queen!” Zak Brown bellowed, lifting a glass of whiskey high.

“And to Lando, the fastest fiancé in the paddock!” someone else shouted, prompting raucous laughter and cheers.

Rounds of shots appeared like magic, and soon the entire group was letting loose, throwing inhibitions to the wind. Champagne bottles popped like fireworks, the golden fizz showering everyone in proximity. Lando and Ace took turns pouring champagne into each other’s mouths, their grins so wide they could barely drink properly.

The prince, gracious and clearly thrilled to host the victorious team, had ordered an endless supply of drinks and food. Ace found herself sipping on an exotic cocktail—something blue and impossibly sweet—while Lando goaded her into joining him on a makeshift karaoke stage. Together, they belted out an off-key duet of “Don’t Stop Believin’,” with their team roaring in approval.

At some point, they stumbled back to the dance floor, where the night turned into a haze of bright lights and uncontainable joy. Ace, with a tiara someone had randomly placed on her head, clinked glasses with her mechanics, “Are we drunk yet?” Ace teased, leaning against Lando as they swayed to the music.

“Not even close,” he shot back with a laugh, his arm securely around her waist. “But don’t worry, we’ve got all night.”

They did not have all night. They had until the morning when they had to fly back, very drunk. They stumbled into their hotel room barely getting their clothes off before they were in the bed and sleeping heavily cuddled into each other.

Ace woke up to her phone buzzing relentlessly. “Happy birthday fiancé.” She lifted her head from Lando’s side to look up at him already on his phone. “I could get used to that name.” She smiled sleepily. “Don’t, I plan on making it ‘wife’ soon.” He said smugly. Ace rolled her eyes with a small chuckle before rolling over him to get to her phone.

She looked at the time first, it was already 1 in the afternoon. “We’ve slept so late.” She gasped. Her bottom which was over Lando’s lap was now exposed to him which he took advantage of.

“Yeah, but dinner isn’t until 8.” He said now using his hands to play the drums on her bottom. Ace was entirely used to it though. “Yes, and for that I thank you.” She said kissing his arm as it was the only thing she could reach. 

She opened some text first, from her friends and family:

Maman: Joyeux anniversaire chérie, je suis tellement honorée d'être appelée ta maman. Tu es devenue une belle jeune femme. Je t'aime chérie. (Happy birthday darling, I am so honored to be called your mom. You have become a beautiful young woman. I love you darling.)

Charlie: À ma meilleure amie et petite sœur. Joyeux anniversaire petite étoile, je savais quand maman est entrée dans le salon de coiffure et t'a donné à Enzo que nous serions coincés avec toi quoi qu'il arrive. Je savais qu'à partir du moment où tu t'asseyais sur les genoux de Jules, tu suivrais ses traces. Il serait si fier de jusqu'où tu es venu. Je suis si heureuse d'être dans ta vie pour une autre année. Je t'aime petite étoile, ne sois pas en retard pour ton propre dîner s'il te plaît. (To my best friend and little sister. Happy birthday little star, I knew when mommy walked into the hair salon and gave you to Enzo that we would be stuck with you no matter what. I knew that from the moment you sat on Jules' lap, you would follow in his footsteps. He would be so proud of how far you've come. I'm so happy to be in your life for another year. I love you little star, don't be late for your own dinner please.) 

Max: Happy Birthday Frenchie. (I’m monegasque not french, you’ll say) You were a menace in Renault and you haven’t changed one bit. It’s odd thinking I knew you and Lando before you two even met, now you’re engaged 🤢. You know I love you, and I’m proud to see how far you’ve come since 2018. You deserve it all.

Alex: Joyeux anniversaire à mon partenaire criminel! 🎉 nous avons traversé une année folle, des petits sourires à l'abandon de Charles et Lando l'un pour l'autre et maintenant vous êtes ENGAGÉS (!!!). Je suis tellement fière de la personne incroyable que tu es devenue, même si tu seras toujours la fille qui vole mes croissants et qui appelle ça "partager". Voici pour vous célébrez aujourd'hui : votre gentillesse, votre feu et tout ce qui fait de vous, vous. Je t'aime pour toujours, ma meilleure amie. 💕 Now go make Lando spoil you like crazy! See you later for cake and champagne. 🍾❤️ (Happy birthday to my partner in crime! 🎉 we've been through a crazy year, from little smiles to abandoning Charles and Lando for each other and now you're ENGAGED (!!!). I'm so proud of the incredible person you've become, even though you'll always be the girl who steals my croissants and calls it "sharing." Here's to celebrating you today: your kindness, your fire, and everything that makes you, you. I love you forever, my best friend. 💕)

Kelly: Happy Birthday, Ace! 💖✨ You are truly one of a kind. Watching you grow over the years has been such a joy—from the little firecracker cheering on Charles and Max, to the unstoppable woman and soon-to-be Mrs. Norris! We are so lucky to have you in our lives. P adores her Aunt Acey, and I can’t wait for you to meet her baby brother or sister soon—you’re going to be the most amazing godmother. Today is all about YOU, so soak up the love and celebration. You deserve the absolute world. Love you, gorgeous! 😘💐

Lily: Happy Birthday, Ace! 🥳💛 The queen of the track, and absolute sunshine to everyone who knows you. I hope you know how loved you are today—and always. You’ve been a badass both on and off the track this year, and watching you crush it has been amazing. Let’s make tonight one to remember (or maybe forget, depending on how much champagne we drink 😂). Wishing you the most magical day, babe! Big hugs and see you soon. 😘

Kika: Happy Birthday, Ace! 🎂💜 What a year you’ve had—championship winner, and you said yes to the man who adores you! I hope today is filled with as much love and excitement as you bring to everyone around you. I still can’t believe we all kept the proposal a secret—honestly, it was SO hard! 😂 But seeing your face last night was everything. Let’s make today just as unforgettable. Can’t wait to celebrate you properly—don’t worry, I’ve got the champagne ready. Love you, babe! Cheers to another incredible year ahead. 🥂❤️

Rebecca: Happy Birthday, Ace! 🎉❤️ The most fierce, kind, and absolutely hilarious person I know. You’ve been the glue that holds this group together, and I feel so lucky to call you my friend. And let’s be real—you deserve a weeklong celebration after this year! Lando’s proposal was the cherry on top of what’s already been a legendary season for you. Carlos and I are beyond excited for what’s ahead. Love you so much, and I can’t wait to celebrate with you. 🥂😘

Pierre: Joyeux anniversaire, Ace ! 🎉 Honnêtement, je n’arrive pas à croire que tu as un an de plus. J'ai encore l'impression qu'hier tu volais mes collations dans l'enclos et que tu agis comme si l'endroit t'appartenait. Oh attends, tu fais toujours ça. 😏 Mais sérieusement, tu es comme la petite sœur agaçante que je n'ai jamais demandée mais que j'ai quand même fini par aimer. Vous voir écraser la F1 cette année a été irréel : vainqueur du championnat et fiancée de Lando ?! Ne laissez pas cela vous monter à la tête, ou je commencerai à vous appeler Mme. Norris juste pour t'ennuyer. J'ai hâte de fêter ça ce soir : les boissons sont sur Lando, non ? Je t'aime, soeurette. Faisons la fête ! 🍾😂 (Happy Birthday, Ace! 🎉 I honestly can’t believe you’re a year older. It still feels like yesterday you were stealing my snacks from the pen and acting like you owned the place. Oh wait, you still do that. 😏 But seriously, you're like the annoying little sister I never asked for but ended up loving anyway. Watching you crush F1 this year has been unreal: championship winner and Lando's fiancée?! Don't let this go to your head, or I'll start calling you Mrs. Norris just to annoy you. I can't wait to celebrate tonight: the drinks are on Lando, right? I love you, sis. Let's party! 🍾😂)

🦁: LIttle Lion, I’m been trying to come up with words to send to you today, but that’s mainly because I’m hungover. Watching you grow up for so many years has been a pleasure. You are right where you belong, the best of the best. Knowing you has been a journey, whether a fun one I’m still figuring out. I love you little Lion. I’ll have more words when i’m no longer hungover 😊

Danny Avocado: Ace of Spades!!!! Happy Birthday little one. I’ve been watching you grow these past two years and damn, you are good.  You deserve everything that has happened to you, and you deserve everything that’s coming next. I’ll see for sure in March, but until then. I miss you and am so proud of you. 

Lewis: Happy Birthday, little sis! 🎉 Ace, you’ve had one hell of a year—championship winner, newly engaged, and still the most stylish woman in the paddock. You’ve grown so much, and watching you conquer the world while staying true to yourself has been incredible. I’ll never forget all the laughs, flights, and deep talks we've shared. You know I’ve always got your back—whether it’s on the track, on the runway, or when the world gets too heavy. Love you, Ace. Here’s to celebrating you properly tonight—leave some champagne for the rest of us, yeah? ❤️

Martin: Happy Birthday Ace! Playing your favourite songs tonight just for you!

Franco: Happy Birthday paddock mom! Thank you for taking me in these past few months. Hopefully we’ll race together soon!

My sons: Ollie- Hi mum! We love you! Happy Birthday! Kimi: Happy Birthday! We will still need handling next season 🥰

Ace was crying softly in Lando’s arms by the end of it. “You’re so loved baby.” He said, rubbing her back. “I need tea, I’m too hungover to be this emotional.” She laughed at herself. Lando chuckled at her, shaking his head. “I shall spoil you to your heart's content.” He said before standing up with her in his arms. Ace laughed as he was dramatic with steps, almost as if he were slow dancing. 

“You’re an idiot.” She laughed as he sat her down on the kitchen counter. “You’re idiot.” He tilted his head at her. “Whatever.” She shook her head at him as he set the kettle. “Did you want to do anything before tonight?” He asked, stepping between her legs and rubbing her thighs.

“Just be with my fiancé.” She said holding his waist. “You never told me if you liked the ring.” He said taking her left hand from his waist and thumbing at the ring. It was a ‘toi et moi’ ring with two pear shaped diamonds. “Lando,” she said breathlessly. “I love it.” She said with sincerity in her voice. “You’re not just saying that?” He assured making her smile as she shook her head. “No Lan, I really love it. I really love you.” She said moving her hand to hold his cheek. He nuzzled into her hand, eyes closed and a dopey smile on his face. “I love you.” He told her softly. She pulled his face down to her and pressed her lips to his.

He hummed in slight shock but let his hands slide up her thighs and to her hips pulling her into him. Ace could feel him through his sweatpants, she knew he wasn’t wearing anything under them. She dipped her fingers into his waistband and pulled away from her. “Don’t start something you can’t finish.” He warned.

‘Finishing has never been a problem.” She replied back. He licked his lips with a cheeky smile. “I’m aware of that fact. But you know what else I'm aware of?” He asked, biting at her neck. “What?” She said softly. “The fact that we won’t make it anywhere tonight the moment I’m inside you, you’ll beg me not to stop, and you know I won’t.” His hand was tilting her head up exposing her neck.

“Up or down?” He asked. “Down.” She answered before gasping at Lando biting and sucking at the side of her neck. “Lan…” She squeezed his waist, trailing her fingers up his exposed abs. The beep of the kettle rang through the steamy aura in the kitchen.

“Figure out what you want to do today?” He asked again. “Yeah.” She nodded. He raised an eye brow at her. “Get you a ring.” He scoffed out a laugh. “After all of that, that’s what you want to do?”

“No one can see these, so yes.” She said tapping his abs. He looked down and saw that she had lightly scratched ‘A’s’ over his front. “Fuck that’s hot.” He groaned. “Tea time.”

Instead of going to the mall, where they knew it would be crowded, they decided to wait until they were back in Monaco on Wednesday to get it. They decided to nurse the hangovers they had by watching a christmas movie in the free time they had.

Every so often one of them would get a call from friends or family congratulating them on the engagement or wishing Ace a happy birthday. 

Ace gave herself extra time to get ready for the Lando factor. The Lando factor was Lando stopping her any time he thought she looked so gorgeous he couldn’t physically help himself from kissing her– or so he says.

She put on her dress, the white one that Alexandra and Rebecca had convinced her to get and there was Lando, arms around her waist and tongue in her mouth.

She had just finished diffusing her curls, shaking them out, so they could fall naturally. There was Lando, hands around her neck, and kissing her lips swollen.

He tried again after she had just put her makeup on and she denied it. “I’ve just put my makeup on amour.” She tried. “Just one.” He asked with a doe look in his eyes. Ace couldn’t say no even if she tried. “One.” She compromised. He smiled so hard his eyes closed and she giggled. She pecked his lips but he grabbed her thighs lifting her up and carrying her to the bed. “Lando no!” She laughed.

He tossed her down lightly and continued kissing her. “Lando yes.” She hummed into his mouth thoroughly happy. “But we have to go now.” She said tugging at his hair in pulses. “Keep doing that and we won’t.”

“Let's go, you slut.”  She teased making him giggle at her.

The warm glow of candlelight flickered across the elegant outdoor setting in Dubai, the private dining space bustling with the laughter and chatter of friends. A long table stretched out under the night sky, its surface adorned with fresh flowers, golden accents, and glowing lanterns that cast a soft light over the scene. The Burj Khalifa stood proudly in the distance, illuminated against the night like a quiet guardian of the evening’s festivities.

Ace glanced around the gathering, still trying to process how this incredible evening had come together without her lifting a finger. She wore the sleek satin gown Rebecca and Alex bought with her, its bell sleeves catching the light beautifully. It was understated and timeless—just like her. As everyone settled into their seats, she turned to Lando, who was mid-conversation with Max and Charles, laughing about a particularly chaotic moment from the race the day before.

“Did you really plan all of this?” Ace whispered, leaning closer to him.

Lando grinned, his eyes sparkling. “Well, I had some help, but yeah. You deserve it all. Every bit of it.”

Ace’s heart swelled. Despite his easy going demeanor, she knew how much thought Lando had put into tonight. Even if he’d already proposed in the most spontaneous, heartfelt way after their win in Abu Dhabi, tonight felt like a continuation—a celebration of all they were and all they were becoming.

Nearby, P sat on Max’s lap, clutching a tiny bouquet of flowers she had insisted on giving Ace the moment she arrived. “Do you think Acey is a princess now, Maxie?” she asked innocently, her big eyes darting between Max and Ace.

Max chuckled, smoothing down her braids. “She’s been a princess for a long time, P. But maybe tonight, she’s a queen.”

Ace overheard and smiled full of emotion, mouthing a silent ‘thank you’ to Max as P beamed proudly.

The evening carried on with a relaxed rhythm. As courses of food were served, the group fell into their usual dynamic—jokes flying between Pierre and Charles, Kika and Kelly teasing Rebecca over her insistence that Carlos had become a “food snob,” and Lily swapping stories with Ace about the chaos of race weekends as a wag. The atmosphere was vibrant but intimate, the kind of gathering that felt like family.

Midway through dinner, Lando gently tapped Ace on the arm. She turned to him, her fork paused mid-air. “Can I have this back for two minutes?” he asked, gesturing to the ring on her finger.

Ace frowned in confusion but slid the ring off, handing it to him with a curious look. “What are you—”

“Just trust me,” he interrupted softly, his voice carrying a warmth that sent a ripple of excitement through her.

Lando stood, the soft hum of conversation fading as everyone turned to look at him. He took Ace’s hand, gently pulling her to her feet. She followed, her heart racing as he led her a few steps away from the table, where the city lights stretched out endlessly behind them.

“I know I already proposed yesterday,” Lando began, his voice steady but filled with emotion. “And that moment was everything I ever wanted. But this—this is what I had in mind when I started planning. I wanted to do it right, to say the words I’ve been holding in since the day I realized I wanted to spend the rest of my life with you.”

Ace’s eyes widened, her free hand coming up to cover her mouth. The table had gone completely silent, every pair of eyes locked on the couple.

“Ace,” Lando continued, his thumb brushing over the ring in his hand. “You’ve been my biggest cheerleader, my partner, my calm in the chaos. From the moment you stepped into my world, you turned everything upside down in the best way. I’ve never met someone who challenges me, inspires me, and loves me the way you do. And through every lap, every lifetime, I want it to be you.”

Tears streamed down Ace’s cheeks as Lando dropped to one knee, holding the ring up to her. “Will you marry me, again?”

She nodded, barely able to speak through her tears. “Yes, of course, yes!”

The table erupted in cheers as Lando slid the ring back onto her finger, pulling her into a tight embrace. The words engraved inside the band—through every lap, every lifetime—glimmered in the candlelight, a quiet promise between them. 

Once the moment settled, Ace found herself swarmed by the girls. Kika grabbed her hand to examine the ring more closely. “Oh my gosh, it’s perfect. And the engraving—Lando really thought of everything.”

“He’s setting the bar way too high for the rest of us,” Rebecca joked, nudging Carlos with a grin.

Kelly, her hand resting on her baby bump, leaned in with a smile. “P is going to be so excited to tell everyone her ‘fairy godmother’ is getting married. And let’s be honest, so am I.”

Ace laughed, her heart full as she held out her hand for them to admire. Even Lily, who was usually the calmest of the group, squealed in delight. “I knew he’d nail it. Lando doesn’t do things halfway.”

The boys eventually drifted over, unable to resist the commotion. Charles playfully shoved Pierre aside to get a better look at the ring. “Let me see what we’re all crying about.”

“You mean what you’ll have to match someday?” Pierre shot back, earning a groan from Charles.

Max, who had been holding P again, smiled softly. “I have to admit, it’s a pretty great proposal. But we all knew Lando had it in him.”

Back at the table, Carlos stood and raised his glass, calling for everyone’s attention. “I’m not much of a speech guy,” he began, his voice carrying a hint of nervousness. “But tonight deserves one. I still remember the day Lando texted me about Ace. It wasn’t anything big—just something like, ‘I think I’ve met someone who gets me.’ And from there, I’ve had the privilege of watching you two grow into something so real and beautiful.”

Carlos glanced at Ace, his smile softening. “I’ll admit, I wasn’t Ace’s biggest fan at first. On track, we were rivals, and I let that get in the way of seeing how incredible she is off-track. But once I did… well, I get it now. I was also the first person you two told about your relationship, and I’ll always be proud of that. Lando and Ace, you’re proof that love and partnership can be as strong as any championship. To Ace and Lando!”

“To Ace and Lando!” everyone echoed, raising their glasses.

Dessert arrived shortly after—a stunning cake adorned with fresh flowers and candles. P clapped her hands excitedly as everyone began to sing “Happy Birthday” to Ace. Lando slid his arm around her waist as the area filled with joyful voices.

When the song ended, Ace leaned forward, blowing out the candles as everyone cheered. P gasped, her little hands flying to her face. “Did you make a wish, Acey?!”

Ace smiled, her cheeks warm. “I didn’t need to. Everything I could ever wish for is already here.”

Lando kissed her temple before cutting into the cake with her. As dessert was passed around, the conversation shifted to winter break plans.

“So, what’s next for you two?” Charles asked, fork in hand.

“Skiing,” Lando replied. “Ace has been talking about getting back on the slopes for months. Figured it’d be a good way to spend the holidays.”

“And the wedding?” Kelly asked, her eyes alight with curiosity.

Ace exchanged a look with Lando before answering. “We haven’t talked about much of it yet, but we’re thinking summer. Something warm, outdoors, maybe in Monaco, use the break as a honeymoon.”

“That’s going to be stunning,” Rebecca said with a dreamy sigh. “A summer wedding by the sea… I can already see the pictures.”

Ace laughed, taking a bite of her cake. “We’ll figure it out. Right now, I’m just trying to soak this all in.”

The night stretched on, full of laughter, toasts, and the kind of moments that turn into cherished memories. The stars above seemed to shine a little brighter, as if celebrating the love that had brought everyone together in this magical place.

"Better drink some tea or coffee." Max said draping his arms around the couple. "Why?" Lando asked into his drink, which Max took from him. "Because you both have testing tomorrow."

"Fuck."

landonorris posted a video

‘good morning it’s sunday and I wanted to film this for me and Ace and maybe you guys should we decide it, but I’m going to propose to Ace tomorrow night at her birthday, and today is a big day, but I just wanted to film our last moments before we’re engaged.

Then the scene cut off and Lando was grinning with a tired, hungover smile panning down to Ace's hand interlaced with his, her ring on broad display and head on his shoulder. “Plans changed.” She whispered kissing his jaw.

liked by carlossainz55 and others

landonorris every lap, every lifetime

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acegiovanelli my forever lover

landonorris my lover forever

user31 this is so Ace and Lando coded

user33 i love them

user36 this is so cute i can't

carlossainz55 This makes sense coming from you two, congratulations again!

maxverstappen1 Congrats again you guys!

charles_leclerc Thank you for making my sister happy, congratulations!

pierregasly Congratulations! Can’t wait for the wedding

acegiovanelli posted

liked by alexandrasaintmluex and others

acegiovanelli maman, i found who love is

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landonorris love found me first

acegiovanelli it’s impossible to not love you more every second of every day

user53 the standard all women should have

user56 this caption is going to make me cry

alexandrasaintmluex congratulations amour!

iamrebeccad so happy for you! congratulations!

lilymhe so special to be apart of! Love you and congratulations!

kellypiquet so excited to see what married life is for you both! Love you so much!

maxverstappen1 posted

liked by landonorris and others

maxvertsappen1 my little lion isn’t so little anymore. Congratulations AJ, the moment Lando asked me if he could marry you, I knew you had found your person. 

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user12 lando asked max 🥺

charles_leclerc he asked all of us that grew up with her, or were very important, even pierre

user15 i’m actually crying

acegiovanelli love you lion, will always be your little lion,

landonorris thank you for trusting me with her

charles_leclerc and 3 others

liked by pierregasly and others

charles_leclerc Arthur, Lorenzo and I were blessed with Ace at such a young age, and we wouldn’t change it for the world. Then Pierre also got stuck with her. Nous t'aimons petite étoile.

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arthur_leclerc couldn’t be prouder

pierregasly sister I never asked for, but one I love with everything

acegiovanelli i love my brothers so much 🥺

lorenzotl we love you êtoile

user162 ace and lando are so loved

maxfewtrell posted

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maxfewtrell I knew them both before they knew each other, I feel like I can say I made this happen

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user76 max😭😭

landonorris but you never introduced us….

acegiovanelli ever….

maxfewtrell don’t gang up on me just because you’re getting married

user78 😂😂😂

user73 I live for this trio

•••

taglist: @unlikelystay

[nerdanel01]

Death

Emmrich Volkarin/F!Rook 1.5k+ wc | SFW Possibly as a result of the massive breach in the Veil to the south, the Necropolis is more dangerous than ever. When Agnes is wounded while on patrol, Emmrich is forced to take drastic measures to protect her. EXCERPT: Impossible not to feel it, then. Emmrich’s magic, coursing through her body. Emmrich’s hands, firm on her chest, pushing her spirit back into her flesh before it got too far away—pushing air into her lungs, pushing life back into her veins. 

Agnes tried to speak, but her throat was so dry she had to swallow and try again. “Was I dead?”

9:42 Dragon

High heat of summer in the west, the rashvine-in-snow just beginning to bloom—ladybugs and fireflies seeking refuge from the sun in the cool pockets of the flower’s petals. Agnes, plenty cool herself, her skirt soaked through with mud to her waist, sang an invented song under her breath, her tiny hands sculpting the mud around her into taller and taller spires. Maman towering above her, driving into the fertile earth the wooden stakes she had sharpened herself, gently girding the dahlias against them for support. Young, loved, and protected. Still wrapped in the romantic fiction mother had woven to shield her from an uglier truth: that her father had loved her mother; that he was a kind and gentle man, employed in the stable of a neighboring estate. 

“Ma chère,” her mother called her. Agnes looked up. But the noontide sun was directly overhead, silhouetting her mother’s sunhat, obscuring her face in shadow. “You are being called.”

Agnes only felt it when her mother called attention to it: a strange nagging, an unwelcome plucking feeling in the center of her chest. 

“Agnes! Agnes Gallatus!”

Who was shouting after her so rudely, when she was having such fun with her Maman? A childish, resentful pucker on her face, she cast her eyes downwards in the direction of the voice. The mud beneath her had vanished, and Agnes found she was hovering above a narrow, vaulted chamber, flanked on either side by high columns of quartz, carved in the image of skeletons holding the roof aloft. A figure was hunched over on the stone tile below her, a tempest of powerful magic crackling in the air around them. 

‘Emmrich…?’

The moment Agnes recognized him, the plucking feeling in her chest swelled and snapped.

Someone’s hands pressed too firm against her chest. 

Violent gasp of breath. 

Agnes wrenched herself upright, heaving, fighting the oxygen-starved ache in her muscles. Blinking the darkness from her vision, her eyes rolled wildly around the room as she fought for air. When her heart began to beat anew, pounding madly, the last ebb of adrenaline washed over and through her. Something was terribly, terribly wrong—

“Agnes, thank the Maker! No, dear, don’t fight it, relax, lie back down…”

Emmrich’s hand was firm on her shoulder, supporting her as she lowered herself back onto the cold Necropolis floor. His other hand bunched his leather overcoat behind her head, a makeshift cushion to pillow it against the tile. 

But Agnes could not relax. Pain wracked every inch of her body, and she could not shake an overwhelming sense of impending danger and doom. Emmrich’s words were reassuring, but his tone was anything but—she was not sure she had ever heard him sound so uncertain, or so frightened. He looked absolutely wretched, perspiration dripping down his face, his expression lined with grief and determination in equal measure. A phosphorescent flame was fading fast from his eyes, but Agnes caught it, nevertheless.

‘Oh.’

Impossible not to feel it, then. Emmrich’s magic, coursing through her body. Emmrich’s hands, firm on her chest, pushing her spirit back into her flesh before it got too far away—pushing air into her lungs, pushing life back into her veins. 

Agnes tried to speak, but her throat was so dry she had to swallow and try again. “Was I dead?” The words came out as a hoarse, thin rattle. An almost spiritual look of relief washed over Emmrich’s face when he heard her voice.

“You are alive now. That is all that matters. Keep breathing, you should begin to feel better in just a few minutes…”

Alive now. Implying quite strongly there had been a period—Agnes could not say how long—that she had not been alive. She struggled through the fog of pain to recall what exactly had happened.

The ride down into the Necropolis in the morning… she remembered that. That was how every day started, now, after all. No more weeks-long research expeditions among the crypts and tombs. Ever since the Breach had opened in the south months ago, the disturbances within the Necropolis had grown too frequent and too great for such a risk. All of the Watchers were now deployed in shifts, with the express and sole purpose of policing the halls. There had always been a risk of encountering demons in the Necropolis, but lately, the peril had multiplied.

And then, it all came back to her in flashes: the pride demon they had found prowling among the tableaus of the dead, and the fight that ensued. The demon’s lightning that had shattered her barrier and struck her square in the chest, stopping her heart. The world growing dark, the demon’s fist raised to strike her down for good. Emmrich’s shout, the glow of his eyes, the crackle of magic tingling in the air as he seized possession of his thrall.

The forceful push of Alfred’s bony hands, flinging her down and out of the way of the pride demon’s strike.

‘Oh, no.’

“Emmrich… I’m so, so sorry.”

Emmrich looked at her quizzically. “You have nothing to be sorry for, Agnes.”

“But Alfred…”

She turned her eyes pointedly to the pile of splintered bone and dust just a few feet away: all that remained of the thrall after the pride demon had struck it down, his pitiful, characteristic wailing silenced forever.

“...you had been working on him for years. Emmrich, you must be devastated.”

Emmrich’s face tightened, eyes narrowing, brows knitting together. The muscle in the corner of his jaw gave a little jump. “You cannot be serious,” he said, shaking his head. His gaze had never left her face; he had not so much as glanced at Alfred’s paltry, decimated remains. In fact he looked concerned, as though he was suddenly doubting how thoroughly he had reanimated her, for her to think such an absurd thought. “Agnes, Alfred was a project. A beloved project, to be sure, but a project nonetheless. I can begin again. Begin better, this time.”

Then Emmrich leaned over her, lifting his hands to frame her face. His palms were so warm against her skin, his thumb so gentle as it traced the plains of her cheekbones… his gaze so impossibly tender and wounded. 

“But you… if I lose you, I cannot get you back.” 

There was a terrible crack in his voice, as though he was close to tears. Agnes did not know if she wanted more to embrace him, or to sink through the floor and disappear entirely. She was so moved at how deeply he cared. She was so mortified at how her incompetence (she should have seen the lightning coming, should have reinforced her barrier before it hit) had caused him such pain and fear.

An unsteady exhale shook him. The glow had left Emmrich’s eyes entirely, now, and they were wholly brown, wholly warm, wholly honest with her.

“You are more precious to me than any experiment.” He spoke in a low whisper, as if he was afraid that if he spoke at a greater volume, he would not be able to hold himself together. “I would not trade you for one hundred, one thousand Alfreds.”

And then, Agnes saw it: how much it had taken out of him to restore her; the way it had aged him. For in all the time she had known him, Emmrich’s hair had always been dark: now, it was streaked through with white and grey—not entirely salt and pepper, yet, but markedly lighter than it had been.

He must have noticed she was staring at him. “What is it?”

‘You nearly killed yourself trying to save me.’ “You’ve lost a bit of color.”

“Oh,” Emmrich said, indifferently, reaching up to run a hand through his hair. “Have I?”

“It looks good,” Agnes told him, forcing a thin smile. “Elegant. Distinguished.”

Emmrich laughed low in disbelief. “You flatter me. I look more like an old man than ever, now, I am sure.” He lifted his other hand from her face and stretched, joints cracking as he did so; Agnes repressed the urge to catch it, to hold it fast against her face. “I certainly feel like an old man after that effort. Agnes, I dearly want to get you back to the other Watchers as soon as possible—you should visit the infirmary, just to be safe—but, forgive me, I need to rest first, just for a moment.”

Slowly, wincing as he did so, Emmrich lowered himself to the filthy floor next to her, a little cloud of dust kicking up when the back of his head came to rest at last on the tile. Emmrich was not quite as draconian in his need for order as Agnes, but he liked to keep things clean; he must have been truly exhausted, then, if he felt the need to lie down in the dirt to recover his strength. His eyes slipped closed, and his breathing slowed. Agnes thought he might drift off to sleep.

“Thank you,” she said, interrupting him before he could. “For saving my life.”

Emmrich’s upper lip gave a small twitch, then his bottom lip began to tremble. Even with his eyes closed, he looked so terribly upset. Without opening them to look at her, his hand quested across the dusty tile floor until it found her own, and closed tightly around it.

“For a moment,” he confessed, “you were entirely beyond my grasp, beyond my ability to reach. I was not sure I would be able to bring you back to me. You have no idea…” his voice trailed off and he squeezed her hand. “How good it feels, now. How reassuring. To feel you, to hear you, warm and breathing next to me.”

At that, Agnes was thankful Emmrich’s eyes were closed. She could not control the emotions raging across her face; could not imagine how deeply they betrayed her, with all Emmrich’s words pirouetting through her head. How he had called her precious, held her face, was still holding her hand. This sweetness, this intimacy–she had always longed for it. Still longed for it. But each breath she took still felt like knives cutting into her lungs; a reminder with each inhale of how close they had come to losing one another for good. 

How lucky she was! To have Emmrich’s love in any capacity. For if there had been any lingering doubt in her mind that he did, indeed, love her, it was now banished. That he did not, perhaps, love her in the way that she truly desired, did not make her cherish that love any less. 

And all she wanted to do, more than hold his hand or touch his face in return, was reassure him. To remain warm, alive, and breathing beside him, for as long as she possibly could. 

“It’s alright now, Emmrich,” Agnes said, and squeezed his hand back. “Rest as long as you need. I’ll keep watch until you’re ready."

---

This piece is Part VI in a series of 11. [ Start from beginning ] [ Read Part VII ] [ Nerdanel's Fic Masterpost ]

[mostmagical]

writing year in review

one excerpt from each month of the year. tagged by @bittersweetresilience. hehe. I can post this now that I shared pitfall.

I THOUGHT I filled every month using my drabbles, despite my two mass effect playthroughs-sized gap, but I forgot May. which is, yeah. yeah. the month I played ME3 for the first time. head in my hands.

01 JANUARY

Consequences of Dating Blindly (Miraculous Ladybug - 4,078 words)

A chorus of giggles broke her concentration, drawing her eyes to a gaggle of girls a couple tables over. They were whispering excitedly and pointing in the direction of the same mop of blond hair, all with cell phones raised. A sudden wave of heat ran up Marinette’s spine as she realized they were ogling him. She wasn’t surprised that girls were looking at him. Chat Noir was the cutest, most handsomest boy in the world, so of course they would. But that was her cutest and most handsomest boy in the world.

02 FEBRUARY

tear-stained (Miraculous Ladybug - 100 words)

Marinette shot up from her bed with her heart in her throat. Bile threatened to make its way up, up, and out, but she pushed it down against the klaxon blaring in her head.

03 MARCH

magical (Miraculous Ladybug - 100 words) my favorite drabble btw

Her throat grew tight as she realized where they were standing. Their rooftop. It was shielded well from the street, providing asylum, but it drained poorly due to the raised gutters. Chat Noir was always apologizing, always covering it with torn blankets and tarps. She never cared, of course. He was there, and they were together, and they were safe.

04 APRIL

Can I Just Kiss You (Miraculous Ladybug - 4,218 words)

The liquid in his delicate cocktail glass was dyed pinker by the spotlight he stood under, so she couldn’t tell if he was actually drinking anything as passion fruit-flavored as the color, or if it was just straight liquor. Her breath caught as he removed his hand from the water-beaded surface, lifting it to adjust the thick-rimmed specs he wore and reminding her of the sparkling green eyes she’d spied earlier. Blond hair. Green eyes.  She wondered if it was some cosmic joke that this always happened to her. Even the cat ears were suspect, but she was trying her best not to acknowledge that.

05 MAY

*loud sobbing*

06 JUNE

Bridges (Miraculous Ladybug - 430 words)

Adrien glanced over his shoulder only briefly, quickly turning his gaze back to the skyline. “I like watching the moonrise,” he answered, shrugging. “I usually– well, I usually don’t have the opportunity to see it from down here.” Félix cast a slow step closer. “Moonrise?” he repeated. “Not the sunset?” The corner of Adrien’s lip twitched in secret humor. “I’ve become a bit of a night person.”

07 JULY

crescendo (Miraculous Ladybug - 100 words)

Chat Noir’s laughter reaches crescendo as Ladybug reaches the end of the block. It echoes off the walls and traces the smile on her face.

08 AUGUST

Get A Little Lonely (Miraculous Ladybug - 2,422 words) technically... this was a zine piece posted on the 1st... so I did not write any of it in August... but shhh

Adrien had once gone on a hike in the French Alps with his mother and Nathalie—before the illness had riddled Maman bedridden. He had marveled at the way Nathalie had used nothing but a compass and a map to chart their course as they went, carefully noting landmarks and any elevation. He had watched with curious eyes, hanging onto every word as she’d explained how she did it. Watching Loveybug fall apart felt like trekking over that terrain with a broken compass. Everything was uncharted territory. Cat Walker hoped he could figure out how to cover it.

09 SEPTEMBER

Heartbeating (Mass Effect Trilogy - 3,600 words)

She fit into Garrus’s angles like a puzzle piece, twisting and turning until they lined up, just right. Maybe the edges had to be folded over a little, but they always fit, eventually. “You know, you humans are bonier than you look,” Garrus commented, wincing as her elbow pressed against an unarmored hip. A smile curled her lips. “Just trying to make you feel more at home,” she teased, a playful lilt to her tone as she finally found her previous position against his chest.

10 OCTOBER

waiting room (Mass Effect Trilogy - 6,565 words. to be cont.)

Shepard watches Kahlee’s rounded fingernails trace over the grooves in the book’s cover. They’re neat. Clean. No trace of dried blood in the nail beds like she knows her own do. The leather must be well-loved, soundlessly absorbing every scratch.

11 NOVEMBER

can't breathe (Mass Effect Trilogy - 629 words)

“Garrus!” he thinks he hears, somewhere over the ringing in his ears It’s hope, he knows—but he shouldn’t have let himself hope He didn’t deserve to get that second chance Why, when they can’t? His lungs’d filled with hope, now he can’t breathe

12 DECEMBER

pitfall (Mass Effect Trilogy - 805 words)

“Wish you’d stop looking,” Garrus sighs, but she can’t stop; she never could. His eyes ask the words he still won’t: Please, Shepard, doesn’t it hurt? Of course it hurts; that’s the point. She’s earned each and every prick, for every unit’s soul she couldn’t save, and for EDI, lain in an imaginary crypt.

if you opened my read more and you're reading this right now, 🫵 you're tagged. gotcha.

[ellieclaireblack]

sanctuaire | sanctuary

sanctuary | noun your safe and peaceful haven a comforting place of refuge and rest in a noisy, chaotic world

{brother's best friend | fem!reader x james potter} ⪼ warnings: mentions of abuse, eating disorder, mentions of suicide ⪼ word count: 2k

part four: troubles playlist

story: sanctuaire | sanctuary

“y/n” My mother spoke to me. I had to suppress a shudder trying to rock my body. Her stone cold voice made the hair on my skin stand up. My poster got a little straighter, though that was hardly possible anymore. 

Regulus was standing beside me, we were home and Maman looked as displeased and frightening as always. 

“Yes, Maman.” I answered her. Putting on my best blood supremacist voice. Careful to not smile or frown. Neither were accepted by her. As a Black you had to look flawless and superior to everybody all the time. Making sure everyone knew your status. 

“Come and let me inspect you.” My mothers voice tore through the otherwise silent house. My Papa is nowhere to be seen or heard. He was probably in his office. Not wanting to disrupt mother welcoming us. Beside my siblings he was always an alliance in the house. Though a silent one. Only helping when mother didn’t notice. I knew that even though he meant well it was toxic. He was the man of the house, he was Lord Black and still didn’t dare to stand up to his wife. If angered you didn’t want to cross paths with Lady Walburga Black.

Her cold fingers raked my body and I tried hard to stand as still as possible. Letting my mind wander to think about Sirius, about happiness. Anything but my reality. “Regulus Arcturus you are dismissed for now. y/n and I will try on her ballgown.” A pained expression flicked over Reggies face, but was gone by the blink of an eye.

My mother flicked her finger motioning me to follow her and I obliged. My dark green dress lay on my bed and with the help of my personal house elf Amélie I put it on. My whole world shattered when Amélie whispered a quiet “I’m so sorry Mistress”. Before I could even register what was happening my mother stood before me. 

“y/n it looks like you’ve gained some weight. What are we going to do about that? You need to fit in your dress.” Before I could react she pulled her wand, shouted ‘Crucio’ and I screamed. Loudly. The name of my brothers. Anything. I was trying to fight the spell but had no chance.

“y/n. y/n. Come on, wake up!”

Suddenly I was even colder than before and my eyes shot open. A pitcher of cold water had been dumped over my body. It was all just a dream. I was in the infirmary and both of my brothers looked at me. The same scared expressions mirroring their faces.

“I’m sorry. Did I bother anyone? Oh Merlin, did anyone besides the two of you hear?” It was then that I noticed James and Remus standing behind Sirius. How embarrassing. 

“y/n, you can’t be for fucking real. I thought you were dying and you’re worried that anybody heard you. I haven’t been that scared for a long time.” Sirius raised his voice slightly, I winced remembering our mother shouting at me. He looked at me with a painful expression and took one of my hands in his. “Do you want to talk?” He nearly whispered now. I shook my head but didn’t let go of his hand. Regulus took my other hand and James and Remus looked visibly uncomfortable. Not wanting to disrupt our sibling bonding moment. With a nod and some wandless magic I let some chairs appear and the both of them broke out in a grin sitting down in a split second.

Sirius was sitting on Regulus’ bed and me still in my chair, in the same position I fell asleep in. I only now noticed how my whole body hurts. Sleeping in a chair does that to you.

Suddenly the doors to the infirmary were pushed open and three familiar faces ran inside. Florence, Theo and Adam were sprinting towards me. Relieve filling them as they spotted me. “By Merlin's balls, y/n don’t ever just leave without telling me where you’re going. For a second I thought you jumped off the Astronomy tower, since you left this there.” Florence held up the letter from my mother. 

“She wouldn’t die in winter.” Sirius and Regulus said at the same time as I said “I wouldn’t kill myself, it’s winter.” And the three of us broke out in laughter, even though it’s not something regular people would laugh about. We Blacks were a bit strange about sensitive topics. Our friends had puzzled expressions on their faces and looked like we were completely insane. 

“You wouldn’t get it, Prongs.” Sirius told James who just opened his mouth, so he closed it again. Reminding me of a fish and sending me in another fit of giggles. When I calmed down I was reminded of the seriousness of the situation. 

The doors opened and Madam Pomfrey walked in. I took a deep breath and put on my ‘Black face’ again. A face of coldness and superiority. I loved Poppy Pomfrey, but I wouldn’t let a teacher see me vulnerable. Madam Pomfrey was shocked to see so many students in the infirmary at the crack of dawn.

“Everybody who isn’t the young Mister Black out now!” She ordered. I shot Reggie a small smile, squeezed his hand and all of us left the infirmary. While Poppy Pomfrey was the nicest human in the whole wide world, you didn’t want to get on their bad side. Remus stayed back for a second to pass a few words with her, she had a soft spot for him. I knew about Remus’ condition. When Remus was sick after two full moons in a row I had gotten suspicious. 

The first few months of first year had been hard on me. I had never spent so much time apart from Sirius and when I wanted to talk to him he was always with stupid James Potter. The first three years at Hogwarts I had resented James with all my heart. But he was hard to hate, after three years he weasled himself into my heart and now I was proud to call him my friend. Still in first year we couldn’t quite get along. That’s why Sirius didn’t talk to me as much anymore. I didn’t like his new best friend and he hated it.

I found myself spending lots of time in the Astronomy Tower. A side effect of that being always aware of the moon cycle. When I noticed Remus getting sicker towards the full moon and looking horrible a few days after. I spent a whole day researching in the library and finally got to the conclusion that he was a werewolf. I didn’t tell anyone of course. While I resented Sirius some days I couldn’t do that to his friend. So on the third full moon I faked an injury so I could spend the night in the infirmary. I heard Remus talking to Madam Pomfrey, heard her fussing over him and when the word wolf fell I knew I was right.

“Hey y/n what’re you thinking about?” Theo bumped his hip into mine and snapped me out of my thoughts. He knew the troubles of growing up with strict pureblood parents, nearly every child of the Sacred 28 knew how hard it was. Some were better than mine, but all Pureblood supremacist parents were a handful to deal with.

“My mother.” I answered with a half lie. I couldn’t tell my Slytherin friends about Remus. Theo and I shared a look of deep understanding. His mother was quite sweet, but his father was bloodcurdling. My Slytherin friends knew that about the relationship I had with my parents. They didn’t know about the torture and abuse. I made sure to hide it from them, since even though I trusted them I wouldn’t want their parents and the whole pureblood world to find out. My mother would explode.

────────────────  ⋅ ∙ ∘ ☽ ⋆ ☾ ∘ ⋅ ⋅  ──────────────────

The Great Hall was filled with chatter and I plopped down besides Flo. My thoughts on my family. Regulus, who was still in the infirmary. My mother, who cared more about my looks than my health. My father, who never showed up at the right time. Sirius, who was sitting a few tables away, yet seemed unreachable sometimes. 

I pushed the food on my plate around and took some bites, but my stomach and mind were at war. I constantly heard my mothers voice inside my head. Do you really want to eat that? And even though she wasn’t here I could feel her sitting next to me constantly, judging my every move. 

I glanced over to the Gryffindor table. My brother and his friends were all deep in conversation. James was trying to woo Lily Evans again. Remus and Sirius looked so deep into each other's eyes, it seemed they didn’t notice anybody else. Pete was talking to Mary and Alice and they all had smiles on their faces. Their happiness radiating off and bouncing around the whole Hall.

I ignored the way my heart clenched. I wanted to sit with them, to share laughs, to feel so completely pressureless. But I couldn’t. Ignoring the pointed stares of my friends I got up and made my way to the dorms. Not standing another second of being in the Great Hall. 

Back in my room I grabbed my skates and bundled myself up in warm clothes. Since I was a small child I was enamoured with figure skating. Luckily my mother had a good year when she let me start doing the sport. Lots of Purebloods approved of it, so I didn’t need to be ashamed of it. Still to this day I spend lots of my free time skating. Next to reading it’s the only thing that gets my mind to stop overthinking. 

The Black Lake froze until mid March every year since scottish winters were bitter cold. I put my skates on, with a flick of my wand music was playing and I drove some circles to warm myself up. Spins and jumps seemed to clear my mind of every problem. And only after an hour I noticed I had gathered a small crowd. It was mostly Slytherin and Hufflepuff first years and when I went and drove to them some broke out in an applaud. I smiled a content smile. And Adelaide Greengrass, younger sister of Lucinda Greengrass, ran over to me.

“Wow Ms Black that was incredible.” I smiled at the name she chose, we had talked lots of times, but sometimes she used to call me Ms Black referring to our Pureblood ways of courtesy. “Hey Addy, thank you. Do you want me to teach you sometime?” I asked her as I removed my skates and could swear they were sparks in my eyes. I took that as a yes.

In the back of the small crowd stood Regulus. I ran over to him and could barely contain myself from wrapping him in a tight hug. Physical affection in public was a big no-go to my mother and most Pureblood families. With the events of the past few days I wouldn’t want to stir any rumours. “Reggie” I breathed out. The relief and joy of seeing him healed washed over me.

“y/n you needn’t worry about me. I’m fine. Did Maman send you a letter too?” He asked as we made our way back to the dormitory. “Yes. She did. It was as unpleasant as one can imagine.” Reg shot me a pained look. He knew about the strict ‘dietary plan’ Mother expected me to follow. 

He opened his mouth but I held my hand up, to stop him. “Reg, I know you worry about me. You mustn’t. Please. We’ll survive the next few weeks and after the ball we’ll be fine again. Just make sure to not get too close to Sirius. Narcissa and Bella are watching and I know a handful of other people who would love to report every “wrong” step of us to Maman.”

“I know y/n. Still be careful I can’t risk losing you to her.” He took my hand and I squeezed it with a silent promise. I knew I couldn’t make any promises aloud, they were just going to be broken anyway.

a/n: hey guys i'm sorry it took foreveeever to finish this chapter. it's not a 100% proof-read, but i'm way to tired today to proof-read it. next chapter is already halfway done and i'm hoping to be able to upload it as soon as possible.

lot's of love to wherever you are <3 xoxo ellie

p.s. as always: my inbox is alway open for feeback and requests. more james action next time. i just enjoy writing slow burns. sorryyy :)

[ladyofthenoodle]

you don't even know me at all (but i was made for loving you)

They didn’t remember each other. The hospital told them there’d been an accident—brain damage—but Alya had told them the truth, later. Who’d they’d been to each other. What they’d given up, and why.

They didn’t remember Alya, either, but Marinette remembered her Maman and Papa and Nino, and all of them said she could trust Alya, and so she did. She didn’t know why Adrien believed her, because he didn’t have anyone he remembered to vouch for her.

(She didn’t realize until later that it was because he didn’t have anyone at all, besides them. That his choices were either to believe Alya or accept being alone.)

Alya’s story made sense of the strange patchwork of memories they did retain over the last 10 years—graduating lycée, starting their first jobs, who they’d voted for in the most recent election—and the memories they didn’t: graduating collège, their first kiss, signing the lease on their current apartment. It didn’t fit any pattern that made sense to the doctors, who’d eventually thrown their hands up and called it “trauma.” 

The magical explanation fit perfectly.

Anything related to the Miraculous—anyone related to the Miraculous—was wiped.

read the rest on ao3

[monochromefilms]

Ma Belle Evengeline

Ma Belle Evangeline~

Rook angst, canon characters are aged up!, You’re dead (non threat), there will be some of rooks kids, I made this to make a friend cry/j, meant as AFAB reader and uses Maman, uses Lover, uses partner, I originally wrote this for an Ex, it has been a full yeah since I originally wrote this

Summary: you became the star you always had dreamed to be.

The night sky was dark, the only thing illuminated were small and faint lamps on the ground that surrounded a picnic blanket. The children and their father watched the night sky as the stars sparkled and danced a crossed it. There was only one star that stayed. One star that looked back.

The family that sat looked alike, all with blonde hair, and a slight dirtied complexion from playing outside.

Even if each child had the more dominant looks of their father, they also had small details that reminded him of his lover.

Lucille had big beautiful e/c eyes. The twins, Bishop and Pierre, may be a spitting image of their father with blonde hair and face shape yet they had your personality. And then, there’s the youngest, Boris and Bambi. Each of the kids held your courage and ambition.

Looking at them their father was always reminded of the person he had married. The person that fought endlessly with surviving in a new world without magic. The person that had beauty and grace.

They watched the star that stared back at them. The one lone star that had illuminated the sky.

“Is Maman there?” The six year old looked in awe at the sky. “Yes, She is that one right there.” Rook pointed up, “ Look how she lights up the sky.” The children tilted their heads to were their father was pointing at.

“Ma belle Yuu.”

[zapreportsblog]

A Glimpse of Light

➥ summary : Uramichi Omota comes to work for once genuinely happy, wonder why

➥ a/n : this is the third time I’m writing this, tumblr do better. I see why Uramichi Omota is the way he is now with his outlook on life :)

➥ Uramichi Omota x reader, Life Lessons With Uramichi Oniisan x reader

The alarm clock blared at its usual early hour, and Uramichi Omota, known for his perennially gloomy demeanor, begrudgingly dragged himself out of bed. As the host of the children's show "Together with Maman,” he was accustomed to putting on a bright and cheery façade for his young audience. However, behind the scenes, Uramichi was often a picture of exhaustion and disillusionment.

•••

But on this particular morning, something was different. Uramichi found himself inexplicably energized and with a genuine smile on his face. He hummed a cheerful tune as he prepared breakfast, a stark contrast to his usual grumpy self. His co-hosts and fellow staff members couldn't believe their eyes when they saw him arriving at work with a bounce in his step.

"Hey, Uramichi," one of his co-hosts, Mitsuo, called out, skepticism evident in his voice. "Did you win the lottery or something?"

Uramichi chuckled, a genuine mirth filling the air. "No, I didn't win the lottery, Mitsuo. I met someone, and she's not a complete disappointment."

His colleagues stared at him, jaws practically hitting the floor. Uramichi was infamous for his jaded outlook on life, and his pessimistic comments had become a staple in their workplace. To see him in such a bright and jovial mood was nothing short of shocking.

As they got ready for the day's shoot, Uramichi's newfound energy and positivity permeated the set. The children's show, "Together with Maman,” was usually a hectic affair, with Uramichi guiding the young ones through various lessons and activities. But today, everything seemed to flow more smoothly than ever before.

The children were captivated by Uramichi's animated storytelling and playful interactions. Even the usually rowdy kids were surprisingly well-behaved in his presence. His co-hosts couldn't help but be drawn into his infectious enthusiasm, and the crew found themselves working with a renewed vigor.

During the lunch break, Uramichi's co-hosts gathered around him, curious to know more about the mysterious woman who had managed to brighten his day.

"Tell us about her, Uramichi," Mitsuo prodded, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Who is this magical person that's turned you into a ray of sunshine?"

Uramichi blushed slightly, a rare sight for everyone present. "Well, her name is (y/n)," he began, a soft smile forming on his lips as he spoke about her. "We met at the park yesterday while I was feeding the pigeons."

The others leaned in, eager to hear more about this newfound romance.

"She's kind, caring, and surprisingly funny," Uramichi continued. "We spent hours talking about random things, and it was... refreshing."

"Sounds like she's had quite an impact on you," one of the crew members remarked, genuinely happy to see their usually brooding colleague experiencing a brighter side of life.

Uramichi nodded, his smile growing wider. "Yes, she has. I can't remember the last time I felt this way. It's like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders."

The rest of the day went by in a whirlwind of laughter and genuine enjoyment. Uramichi's co-hosts and the crew marveled at the transformation they were witnessing. The children's show had never been more lively and engaging, and Uramichi's positive energy seemed to be contagious.

As the day came to an end and the set cleared out, Uramichi found himself reflecting on the events of the day. He couldn't help but feel grateful for the unexpected encounter that had brought (y/n) into his life. For the first time in a long while, he looked forward to the future with a sense of hope and anticipation.

Little did he know that this encounter was just the beginning of a beautiful journey, one that would challenge his pessimistic worldview and open his heart to the possibility of happiness and love. Uramichi Omota had found a glimmer of light in the darkness, and he was determined to cherish it and see where it would lead him.

[mochegato]

Most Magical Place on Earth

Marinette observed the people jostling around her and Emma in barely contained chaos.  If this was the size of the crowd this early, then paying for early admission to the Magic Kingdom was definitely worth it.  It might be a bit insane at the moment, but she couldn’t imagine now much worse the chaos was going to get in half an hour.

A joyous cheer rose up through the crowd when they finally opened the gates and started scanning cards.  Marinette giggled at the loud whoop Emma let out, not really sure why everyone was cheering, but excited to join in the ruckus.  She kept a tight grasp on Emma’s hand as they made their way through the gates and onto Mainstreet, which was rather unnecessary since Emma had a vice grip on her hand so she could drag them down the street toward Cinderella’s castle.

Marinette heaved a bemused sigh as she focused on keeping them from either tripping or bumping into anyone, but she almost fell when Emma suddenly stopped and yanked her hand toward herself to get Marinette’s attention.  “Maman!  Maman!  Look!  He has a Thomas O’Malley shirt, Maman.  Maman, it matches ours!”

Marinette looked over in the direction Emma was pointing, toward the man leisurely strolling next to them, his hands resting casually in his pockets, clearly in no rush, unlike the people bustling around them.  Her eyes caught on the shirt stretched across his chest.  She had to force herself to focus on the cat design on the shirt rather than the way his arms and chest bulged under the fabric.

After an inappropriately long period of time, she lightly cleared her throat and turned back to Emma with a smile.  “He does.  Good observation, kitten,” she praised and tried to encourage her to move forward, but Emma had other ideas.

Instead, she pulled Marinette toward the man and slowed down to match his pace.  “Hey Mister!  I really like your shirt.  It matches mine!”  She held out her Marie shirt for him to see.  “Do you like Aristocats too?”

He blinked in surprise but grinned down at her.  “I do.  It was the first Disney movie I ever saw.  Did you know it’s based on a real family of cats in Paris that inherited a butt… uhh…” he shot a Marinette an apologetic grimace, “bunch of money?” he recovered quickly.

Emma gasped, her eyes wide in wonder, missing Marinette’s snort at his lapse.  “It is?  That’s so cool.  What happened to them?  Can we visit them when we go home, Maman?”  She jumped up and down in front of Marinette as she begged.

Marinette raised an eyebrow at her, but her lips quirked up in amusement.  “New York is our home now, kitten.  Remember?”

Emma deflated instantly.  “Oh, right.”  She looked down with a dramatic pout for just a second before looking back up, eyes bright again.  “But what about when we visit Grandma and Grandpa and Aunt Alya and Uncle Nino and…”

Marinette chuckled and ran her finger along her jaw affectionately before bopping her nose.  “Sorry, kitten.  I don’t think we can.  That was a long time ago, before even Maman was born.  I don’t think we can visit them anymore.”

“Oh,” Emma pouted to the ground for a few seconds but soon turned back to the man with wide eyes.  “Do you watch it a lot?  It’s my favorite movie.  Who’s your favorite character?”

“Oh, that’s hard,” he crossed his arms over his chest and stroked his chin as he pretended to think about it.  Marinette had to force her attention forward rather than the way that move accentuated his biceps.  “…but I think I like Thomas O’Malley.”

“Abraham DeLacey Giuseppe Casey,” Emma sang as loud as she could.  “Thomas O’Malley, O’Malley the alley cat.”

He chuckled and smiled warmly at her, keeping his focus entirely on her and Marinette even as he shoved another man with black hair and blue eyes, who had been drawn over by Emma’s singing, ahead of them.  “Good memory.  Who’s your favorite?”

“Marie,” she answered instantly as she motioned to her shirt again.  “I want to get a Marie stuffie while I’m here.  Maman likes the mommy cat, see?”  She pulled at Marinette’s shirt.

The man looked Marinette up and down once, eyes lingering on the cat on her shirt before realizing he was staring at her chest.  “Sorry,” he chuckled and looked away quickly, a blush just dusting his cheeks.  “She’s a good character too.  Strong and supportive.  A good mom,” he looked over at her kindly.

She smiled back at him and opened her mouth but before she could respond she was cut off by someone calling toward them.  “Jaybird!  Where’d you go?”

The man groaned and shook his head.  “Sorry.  My family.  Big kids, the lot of them, except the kid, which is a problem actually.”  He flashed them a brilliant smile.  “Have fun, yeah?”

“Come on, Jay!  We have to get to the Seven Dwarfs Mine ride before it gets too long!” one of them called.

He threw his head back with a groan.  “More than I’m going to have.”

Marinette giggled and squeezed Emma’s hand to get her to meet her eyes and laugh too.  “Good luck.  Maybe we’ll see you around.”

He smiled back with a nod but before he could answer, another man grabbed him by the shoulders and pushed him back toward the family with a small smile and nod to Marinette and Emma.

Marinette snorted out a laugh at the Aristocats fan’s expression but waved.  She watched his back for just a moment before looking back at Emma with a grin.  “Ready, kitten?”

“Yeah!  Come on, Maman!”  She had pulled Marinette just a few steps before she gasped loudly.  “Maman!  Maman!  We need a picture in front of Cinderella’s castle!”

“Okay.  Okay, slow down,” she laughed despite doing nothing to slow Emma down in the slightest.  They wove through the crowd until they found the perfect spot.  They just had to wait a few minutes for the people in front of them, who also agreed it was the perfect spot, to get their pictures as well.  The wait passed by quickly, with no complaining from Emma, which was a good sign for the rest of the day because this was likely the shortest wait they would have for the rest of the day.

It wasn’t until the last people cleared the spot that she realized the error of her plan.  She had nobody to take a picture of the two of them.  She just started to look for someone when Emma solved the issue for them.  “M. O’Malley!  M. O’Malley!  Can you take a picture of us?”

The man froze crossing in front of them like he’d been caught but relaxed when he saw who it was.  “Hey!  Long time no see.”

Marinette smiled shyly at him.  “Would you mind taking a picture of us?  With the castle in the background?”  She motioned toward the castle with her phone as if there were any question which castle she was referring to.

He shrugged.  “Sure.”  He took her phone with a teasing grin.  “Trust me with your phone?  This relationship is progressing quickly.”

She snorted but grinned back as she got herself and Emma into position.  “No offense, I think we should slow this down.  Maybe take a break for a bit to reevaluate.”

He snickered but quickly schooled his face.  “It’s not you it’s me,” he agreed with a sage nod.

“No, it’s definitely you,” Marinette chirped.

He barked out a laugh at the wicked grin she shot him and looked down with an exaggerated grimace.  “Not the first time I’ve heard that.”  He looked back up with a grin to let her know he was joking.  “Okay, you two ready?”

Marinette and Emma met each other’s eyes and nodded to each other then to him.  “Ready,” they said together.

“Okay.  One, two, three.  Smile!”  He took several pictures.  Some at different angles and different zooms.  “There you go,” he said as he handed the phone back to her.  “Let me know if you want more or those don’t work for you.  I don’t have a great eye, but they looked pretty perfect to me.”

Marinette smiled shyly again, her cheeks darkening slightly, and had to look away as she pocketed the phone.  “Thank you.  Would you like a picture?”

He looks up at the castle as if considering it for the first time and turned back to meet her eyes.  “Sure.  I guess I probably should since I’m here,” he said with a shrug.

She looked at him expectantly for a few seconds, keeping eye contact as her eyebrows rose with each passing second until they were almost at her hairline.  When he still hadn’t moved, she snorted inelegantly, her face split into a brilliant grin.  “Did you want a picture?  With your phone or…”

“Oh!  Right.”  He looked down longer than strictly necessary when he grabbed his phone to let his cheeks cool down.  By the time he looked up again, his cheeks were back to normal, or at least he was desperately hoping they had.  Whatever progress he made by taking a breath was lost when their fingers brushed as he handed her his phone, the contact sending tingles through his fingers and up his arm.

She smiled softly at him for a second before it turned into a smirk.  “Now we’re exchanging phones.  This doesn’t feel like it’s slowing down.”

He barked out another laugh at the comment, caught completely off-guard, throwing his head back as he laughed.  She grinned up at him from his phone.  “Perfect,” she said quietly.  She started to hand back the phone but stopped and looked around instead.  “Do you want your family with you for one?”

He grabbed the phone gently, careful not to brush their fingers this time, it wasn’t good for his concentration.  “Nah.  They’re already past the castle.”

“Oh!  I’m so sorry,” she gasped.

His heart twinged at the guilty look in her eyes, which he obviously couldn’t allow to stand.  “Oh, that has nothing to do with you,” he assured her.  “I left them there.  Now starts the hide and seek portion of the trip,” he grinned and waggled his eyebrows.

“Ooohhh, I love hide and seek,” Emma popped up, bouncing in excitement at the idea.  “Can we play too?”

“No!” Marinette exclaimed loudly.  She cleared her throat lightly and took a breath before pasting on a smile.  “Sweetie, remember what I said about walking around here?”

“Stay close to you.  Hold your hand if I can.  And always stay in your line of sight,” Emma replied lifelessly, like it was a mantra she’d had to repeat often.

Marinette got down on her knees and softly brushed Emma’s hair over her shoulder before settling her hands on Emma’s shoulders.  “That’s right.  Great job remembering.  There’s a lot of people here, kitten, and it’s easy to get lost for real.”

Emma pouted but nodded in understanding.  “Maybe you can help me hide later if you see me,” the man offered with a sympathetic smile.  “My family is really good at hide and seek and I might need some help.”

“Yeah!” Emma grinned.  “That sounds great.  I’m a great helper.”

He suddenly lurched toward them, just barely stopping himself from bowling them both over when someone bumped into him without bothering to apologize or even acknowledge the hit.  “Wow,” he grumbled, but quickly turned on a smile for Emma.  “Guess they’re in a rush,” he chuckled.

“Must be trying to get to one of the rides before the lines get too long,” Marinette agreed, her voice intentionally light.  She pulled Emma a bit closer to herself as she watched the other man walk away.

“Yeah, I guess I don’t blame them.  The lines can get pretty long,” Jason nodded with a sigh.  “I should probably get going myself.”

Emma’s eyes widened in excitement.  “Are you going to get in line now?”

“Yeah, I’m doing TRON first,” he motioned vaguely toward the Tomorrowland portion of the park.  “Get it out of the way before the line gets too long.  I’ve been told it is extremely popular.”

“I wanted to do TRON first,” Emma pouted, exasperation clear in her voice, “but I’m not tall enough.”  She huffed and roughly shoved the hair out of her face then crossed her arms over her chest for good measure.

“But,” Marinette cut in brightly, “we can check out the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad before that line gets too long.”

“Ooohhh.  Let me know how it is,” he asked, matching Marinette’s brightness.  “That’s on my list.  I’ll be counting on you to know if it’s worth it.”

Emma immediately brightened and nodded solemnly.  “I will.”

Marinette smiled proudly at her as she took her hand.  Her smile softened as she looked up to meet his eyes.  “Enjoy your day and thank you again.”

“Anytime,” he said warmly with a slow nod.  He watched them as they walked away but called out to them just before they got too far away.  “See you around!”

Marinette turned around while still walking, now backwards.  “That appears to be a dangerous thing to say,” she warned with a giggle then turned with a nod and a wave.

He grinned at her back.  “Not so dangerous,” he said quietly to himself.

><><><><><><>< 

“Hey! It’s Thomas O’Malley!”

Jason froze and a grin spread instantly on his lips as he looked around for the bubbly little girl, finally spotting her running toward him.  He raised his eyes to find her mom trailing a bit behind her and couldn’t help the pride in his chest when she relaxed at seeing him.  “Hey, Marie,” he chuckled.  “How was Thunder Mountain?”

“Amazing,” she gushed.  “And we did the Jungle Cruise!  It was so fun.  The driver was so funny!”

Marinette smiled.  “It really was worth it… Thunder Mountain, I mean.  Actually, the Jungle Cruise was a lot of fun too, but in a different way.”  She shrugged and looked away, with a far away look in her eyes.  “But then again, I have a very soft spot for puns, so I enjoyed the captain a lot.  If they’re not your thing, it might be a miss for you.”

He groaned dramatically but there was a sparkle in his eyes.  “I don’t know if I’d be able to handle it.  My brother is a pun master.  We can’t get him to stop.  It might give me flashbacks.” Jason shuddered for Emma then mussed her hair.  “Thanks for the review, kiddo.  I’m heading to Thunder Mountain now.  I may have to stop by the Cruise too.”

“I’ll tell you how Tom Seer Island is!” Emma chirped.  “That’s where we’re heading now.”

“Tom Sawyer Island,” Marinette corrected with a chuckle.

Emma nodded sheepishly.  “I’ll tell you how Tom Sawyer Island is,” she corrected quietly.

His face shifted to a serious look, and he crouched down in front of her to meet her eyes.  “I wasn’t sure if I should go there so I’m counting on your insight.”

Her face split into a brilliant grin and she nodded.  “Will do.”  They gave each other curt, determined nods.

Marinette chuckled and took Emma’s hand.  “It was good to see you again.  Enjoy the ride!  We have to get back into line,” she rolled her eyes but smiled.

Jason met her eyes with a smile.  “And you,” he nodded.

“See you around,” she called over her shoulder with a wink.

Jason stared at her back for a few seconds.  Finally, he chuckled to himself and shook his head before heading to the Big Thunder Mountain.

><><><><><><>< 

Jason looked around intently.  Stephanie and Duke had just walked by and if they were there, the rest of the family was probably close by, he just wasn’t sure if they were at the end of the line or in the middle of it.  They couldn’t have been leading, that was definitely Dick and Damian; Damian purely because Dick would be keeping him there.

He cautiously stood up and walked out from behind the display barrels and was almost knocked down when something attacked him.  He held in the squawk of surprise until he saw who it was, then let it out louder than was realistic and fell over dramatically with her on top of him and his drink safely held to the side.  “Thomas O’Malley!  Thomas Sawyer Island was amazing!  You should definitely go!” Emma crowed.

Jason grinned as he sat up.  “Well, now I have to go.  I always did fancy myself a pirate.  Seems like somewhere I’d fit in.”

Marinette rushed up to him and immediately offered her hand to help him up, which made Jason chuckle internally.  There was no way he wouldn’t take her down if he actually let her take his full weight.  He took the hand anyway but pushed himself up with his other arm, keeping his drink secured and straight.  “I’m so sorry.  Are you okay?” she asked as she dusted off his back stopping herself just in time to prevent getting the grass off his finely toned behind.  She almost jumped back pulling her hands to herself.

Jason waved her off.  “Don’t worry about it.  That was the nicest tackle I’ve gotten in a while.”  He froze for a second then sent her a disarming smile.  “Brothers,” he explained, partially truthfully.  “They’re all a lot bigger… well, except for Damian.”  He rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly.  “So, Tom Sawyer was fun?” he asked Emma.

She grimaced slightly.  “It was fun with a kid, but speaking of fitting in, it might be a bit…” she motioned toward his shoulders and his height.  “There’s some more confined areas.”

“Ah,” he nodded.  “Got it.”  He squatted down in front of Emma.  “Well, you were right about Thunder Mountain.  It was a lot of fun, so I trust you when you say it was great.  For my part, I recommend these,” he held up a pineapple whip.  “They are amazing!”

Emma gasped and looked up at Marinette with wide, hopeful eyes.  “Can we, Maman?”

Marinette rolled her eyes but nodded with a smile.  “We can get some before we wait in line for the princesses.”

“Yay!” Emma yelled as she fist pumped.

Marinette chuckled.  “Thank you.  And thank you for the…” she motioned to the ground where he’d fallen.  “That was incredibly thoughtful.  Actually, everything has been.”

He shoved his hands in his pockets and shrugged, his gaze drifting to the ground.  “No problem.  It’s been fun for me.  It’s what this place is supposed to be about, right?”

She nodded with a pleased smile.  “And family.  Speaking of which, how goes your game?”

He whipped his head around, eyes wide with panic.  “Fuuuu… Oh!  Almost forgot,” he corrected quickly.  Once assured they were not around, his shoulders relaxed, and he gave her an easy smile.  “So far so good.  I saw a few of them just before you guys came over.  Think I’m safe as long as I head that way,” he motioned the direction they were going.  “Actually, that’s where the whips were.  I can show you where to get them before I move on,” he offered.

Marinette smiled sweetly at the offer and nodded.  “That sounds nice.  Thank you.”

“Come on!” Emma urged.  She grabbed both their hands and pulled them down the walkway, all of them laughing as they moved.

><><><><><><>< 

Marinette and Emma had just made it into Fairytale Hall when something collided with the wall next to them.  Marinette pulled Emma behind her and eased into a defensive stance before she recognized the intruder, instantly relaxing her body.  “M. O’Malley!” Emma cheered and gave him a hug while he was on the ground and therefore her height.

Marinette instantly checked through the stained-glass window for the source of his fleeing and spotted another black-haired, blue-eyed man searching the area.  “Marie!” Jason cheered back.  He quirked head to the side.  “You changed.”

Emma twirled for him, letting the skirt of her Cinderella dress flare up.  “I’m a princess!”

He snickered.  “You certainly are.  Duchess,” he nodded to Marinette with a charming smile.

She snorted but nodded back.  “Thomas.”  She looked back through the glass and accidentally met the gaze of the man.  She instantly shifted her focus to the mice in the stained-glass and pointed to them for Emma.  “Hey kitten, do you remember the names of the mice?”  She lifted Emma up and pointed to the mice again.  The man continued to watch them for just a few more seconds before continuing on.  She let out a breath as Emma named off Cinderella’s mice.  “Good job, kitten.  You have such a good memory,” she praised as she set her down.  “He’s moved on.”

Jason stood cautiously, making sure to keep out of direct line of the clear portions of the windows as he checked for any more family.  Seeing no signs of them, he breathed a sigh of relief and turned to Marinette, but his breath caught again.  Her face was lit up by the light through the stained-glass, like the sun was shining just for her, like she was a prism, drawing in all the world’s magic and refracting it back out in a shimmering, mesmerizing beauty.

“Thanks for that,” he managed to get out breathlessly until a thought occurred to him.  “Mind if I hang out with you guys for a bit?  That was Dick, the pun-lover.  He’ll be at the head of the line.  The others won’t be far behind.  It would be a good idea to lay low for a while.”

Marinette snorted and shrugged.  “Suit yourself but it’s likely at least another half an hour before we get to see the princesses.”

Jason slowly looked around and took in the line for the first time.  “Wow, that’s dedication.”

“That’s just for Cinderella.  There’s another line that’s just as long for Rapunzel,” she said quietly.

Jason turned his wide eyes to the line on the other side of the hall, tracing it from the front, which he couldn’t see back to the opposite side from them.  “At least it’s not the same line.”  He met her eyes with a grimace.  “I may not wait with you for that one.”

Marinette snickered and bumped shoulders with him.  “Can’t say I blame you.”

He smiled sappily down at her until Emma bumped into his thigh with her shoulder to get his attention.  “But, that explains the costume change,” he said brightly.

“I’m wearing Cinderella’s dress and she’s going to be wearing Cinderella’s dress, because she’s Cinderella, so we’ll match!”  She spun again for him causing him to chuckle.

“That makes sense,” he agreed and mussed up her hair again.  “Couldn’t get your mom into one too?” he asked, his eyes sliding to Marinette with a teasing gaze.

She narrowed her eyes at him.  “No.”

He snickered as they shuffled forward by a few feet.  “So, we have a bit of time…”

“Maman and I have been playing hand clapping games while we wait,” Emma cut in, jumping up in front of him.  “I can teach you some!  They’re in French though because that’s what I learned them in.”

Jason nodded and mirrored her position.  “And I can teach you an American one.  My best friend’s daughter taught me one called Lemonade.”  He looked up just before they started and caught Marinette watching them, a soft look in her eyes, and shot her a warm, charming smile.

><><><><><><>< 

Jason did not appreciate being as exposed as he was currently, but there was no way around it.  The line for It’s a Small World stretched along one of the main walkways and there was no hiding.  He contented himself by shrinking down as low as he could without looking odd enough to attract attention.  The downside was it made it harder for Marie and Duchess, he really needed to learn their names the next time they ran into each other, which he was fairly confident would be any time now… or at least hoped it would be.

As if on cue, he heard a small cry rapidly coming at him.  “M. O’Malley!”  This time, he braced himself obviously, as if the forty-pound girl could move him since there was no room to fall over.  He gave a loud ‘oof’ when she tackled his leg in a hug.  He looked around quickly to make sure Duchess, he groaned internally again, he really needed to learn their names, knew where they were and relaxed when he saw her slowly making her way to them, a bemused smile on her lips.

“Marie!” he exclaimed patting her back while she still clung to his leg.  “I know I say it's a small world, here, but this is ridiculous.”

Marinette stopped just short of him, on the other side of the chain for the line, with a groan, but Emma giggled hysterically.  “That’s such a dad joke,” she eked out between giggles.

“Yes, definitely one Papa would have loved,” Marinette agreed quietly.  She took a breath and smiled sweetly at him.  “I swear we’re not following you.”

He smiled back at her for a few seconds until Emma tapped his arm.  “You okay?” she asked, looking over his face very seriously.  “You didn’t answer.  It’s rude not to answer someone.”

He had to fight the smirk at her chastisement.  “Sorry.  Got lost for a second.  Thanks for checking on me.”  He turned back to Marinette.  “You know, I think I’d be okay with it if you were.  Honestly, at this point, it seems like fate or magic or something.”

Marinette hummed and eyed her purse.  “Right, or something,” she mumbled.

“You need sunblock?” Emma offered.  “Maman was spraying me when I saw you.  If you’re having trouble focusing, it could be too much sun,” she noted sagely.

He snorted.  “I’m pretty good. Thank you so much for watching out for me.”

Marinette quirked her head to the side studying his face.  She reached out like she was going to feel his head but redirected her hand to smooth down Emma’s hair instead.  “She might be right.  I think you might be getting some sun.  We have plenty of sunblock if you want some, but at least take this,” she insisted holding out a bottle of water to him.  “We haven’t drunk from it at all yet, so it’s clean.”

“I don’t want to take your water,” he objected weakly.

She waved him off.  “It’s nothing.  Can’t have my ex passing out from dehydration.  It’s not a good look.  The local vigilantes would come looking for me.  It would ruin our entire vacation.”

He froze as he reached out for the water but covered it with an awkward chuckle.  “Local vigilantes?  Are there vigilantes around here?"

Marinette shrugged and looked around.  “Aren’t there in all the American east coast cities?”

He shook his head with a snort.  “No, no there are not.”  He opened his mouth to ask her about her assumption but was cut off by her sudden hiss “Get down!”

He ducked instantly, his eyes darting around.  “That’s one of your brothers, isn’t it?” she asked quietly as she moved in front of him and started spraying Emma again.  “The one from this morning?”

Jason moved just slightly to peek between the two of them and spotted Tim.  “It is,” he confirmed and quickly ducked back out of sight, or at least as much as he could.  He was far too exposed where he was and there was no wall to hide behind this time and he wouldn’t be able to dive through the people in line without disrupting them and attracting attention.  He let out a light groan, just about ready to give it up, when he coughed instead.

The air was suddenly saturated with something making his eyes water and his lungs burn.  He didn’t have to look far to find the source; Marinette.  He half-snickered, half-coughed as she filled the air around them with aerosol sunblock, causing people to avoid their area, giving them a wide berth to avoid the burn.

He waited until Tim had moved on, coughing and waving his hand in front of his face as he passed them, before he stood up again.  He looked back at Marinette impressed with her quick thinking.  “That was brilliant!” he said in awe.

She grimaced and tucked the can away.  “I don’t think the others agree with you,” she muttered, eyeing the people around them in line, who were also eyeing her disapprovingly.

He glowered at the people but softened his expression when he turned back to her.  “Well then they would be wrong, because that was amazing.”

She smiled brightly at his praise.  “I’m just glad we were able to help you hide.”

Emma gasped.  “We helped you hide?”

“You did,” he confirmed.  “You were terrific.”  She beamed at his comment, looking up at her maman to make sure she heard and was proud too.  Jason looked around to make sure there were no other family around then stared at the spot Tim had disappeared to.  “Funny, I think that’s the third time I saw my, like ten, family members but I’m seeing you everywhere.”

Marinette blinked and looked down at her purse again.  “Yeah… funny.  Sorry about that.”

“Don’t be sorry!” he insisted.  He waved his hands disarmingly and shot her a radiant smile.  “It’s not a bad thing.  I’ve looked forward to seeing you between rides.”  He looked down at Emma.  “And getting your recommendations.”

“Ooohhh,” Emma perked up instantly, “M. O’Malley!  You HAVE to do the Little Mermaid ride!  It was amazing!  It was so much fun!”  Marinette shook her head behind Emma and mouthed ‘No, it wasn’t’.  “Wasn’t it great, Maman?”

“Yep,” Marinette chirped with a bright smile for Emma but as soon as she turned around, she shook her head for Jason again.

Jason snickered.  “Well, that sounds like a ride a pirate should investigate.”

Emma gasped.  “That’s perfect!  Because she’s a mermaid and lives in the sea and pirates sail on the seas.”  She quirked her head to the side.  “But you look more like Price Eric, not a pirate.”

Jason scoffed but puffed his chest slightly at Marinette’s appraising look.  “I’m no prince, I can assure you.  I’m more of a street rat.”

Emma furrowed her brow and shook her head.  “No, you definitely don’t look like Aladdin.”

Marinette snorted but tried to hide it with a cough and waved her hand in front of her face as though it was a delayed reaction to the sunblock.  Jason gasped dramatically before narrowing his eyes playfully.  “You know, for a very short period, I had red hair so…” he motioned toward his shirt, “maybe I should have said street cat.”

Emma giggled hysterically for a minute.  When she calmed down, she eyed him critically.  “I don’t know if that would be good for you.”

“Emma!” Marinette gasped.  “That was rude.  You need to apologize right now.”

Emma’s face immediately fell.  “I’m sorry.  I didn’t mean to be rude.”

Jason knelt down in front of her with a soft smile.  “It’s okay.  You were right.  Trust me, it wasn’t a good time for anyone.”

He looked up and met Marinette’s eyes, getting lost again until the sound of a throat clearing behind him interrupted.  Marinette blinked and let out a breath.  “Come on, kitten.  M. O’Malley needs to get going.  We’re holding up the line.”

Jason let them get a step away before he stopped them and let the family go ahead of him in line.  “It’s Jason.  Jason Todd.”  She turned back slightly startled but quickly smiled tenderly at him.  “I figured you should probably start calling me by my real name at this point.”

Her smile widened and she stepped closer again.  “Marinette Agreste and this is Emma.”

“Nice to meet you,” Emma chirped.  “Well, not meet you because we’ve been talking all day, but it feels like meeting.”

“It does, you’re right,” he agreed.  He met Marinette’s eyes as he spoke.  “Those are beautiful names.  It’s nice to meet you both.  You could… join me, if you wanted.  I mean, if fate’s going to keep throwing us together, we might as well embrace it.  No use fighting fate.”

Marinette smiled for a second before shaking her head.  “No, we couldn’t impose like that.  I’m sure there are rides you want to go on that we can’t.”

“No, not really,” he assured her.  “I think Tron is the only one Emma couldn’t ride, and I’ve already done that one.  And really, it’s more about the experience than anything else.  Unless you don’t…”

“Can we please Maman?” Emma begged, her eyes wide with hope.

Marinette pulled her lower lip between her teeth and shyly brushed a strand of hair behind her ear.  “I’d like that.  I mean, we might as well.  If you’re sure.  We just had Space Mountain, the Buzz Lightyear ride, and visit Mickey and Minnie at the Town Square left on our list, then we were thinking about getting dinner somewhere, but if there were rides you wanted to go to or things you didn’t want to go to, we can adjust.  The only things we definitely need to do are get dinner and buy a Marie stuffie,” she babbled.

“No, that sounds brilliant,” Jason interrupted with a smile and held up the chain for them. “I’d love to do all of that with you,” he continued as they stepped ahead of him in line.

Marinette smiled playfully and opened her mouth to respond but Emma bounced up between them.  “Lemonade!  Let’s do lemonade!” she cheered.  Jason and Marinette chuckled at her enthusiasm, meeting eyes for a moment before he winked and got into position to play.

><><><><><><>< 

“There you are, Jaybird!” Dick exclaimed.  He ran up to him and threw his arm over his shoulders.  “We missed you all day!  You missed so much fun.”

Jason grudgingly let Dick pull him closer but made a show of grumbling and scowling at him.  “Yeah, yeah.  I’m here.  Just in time for the pool at the hotel or whatever.”

Dick grinned at him and clapped him on the back.  “I’m going to hold you to that.  We missed you all day.  I’m going to keep you extra close tomorrow.”

Bruce patted him on the shoulder as he passed him.  “We missed you today.”  He looked around quickly and leaned in closer. “But I get it and am a bit jealous.”  He patted him again before catching up to Dick and Damian.

“Soooo,” Tim drawled coming up next to him.  “The woman go home then?”  Jason froze, his eyes widened fractionally but he quickly schooled his expression.  He opened his mouth but before he could ask what Tim was talking about, Tim continued.  “I figure she must have if you’re back hanging out with us.  The little girl did look pretty tired the last time I saw her.  Adorable, but tired… which I assume is why you were carrying her,” he added.  “Or so she could see the parade better.  That spot on your shoulders was a pretty good vantage point.”  His voice was smooth but his eyes were teasing and knowing, like he had something up on Jason.

Jason quickly eyed the other family members to see who else was giving them a knowing grin.  “Don’t worry,” Tim chuckled.  He looked around quickly as well to ensure the others’ attention was still elsewhere.  “Nobody else saw.  I managed to redirect them whenever we got close.  Some easier than others.  Hanging out right along the walkway was not the most helpful.”

Jason turned toward him, eyes wide in shock.  That was not something he expected.  He studied Tim closely as if he could see what he was up to.  After a few moments he nodded to himself and turned back toward the exit.  “Thank you,” he said quietly.

Tim nodded curtly, his eyes still on the shop windows around them.  “You going to see her again?”

Jason nodded.  “That’s the plan.  Emma, that’s the little girl, she wants to see ‘Harry Potter World’ tomorrow,” Jason smiled proudly as he thought of Emma telling him about the stories and quizzing him on different elements about the books and which house they would all be in.  “Marinette really hates 3D rides and there are a bunch at Universal so I volunteered to go with them since I’d be there tomorrow anyway.”

A bemused smile spread on his lips.  “She’s really upset she can’t go on the Velocicoaster.  Emma, that is, not Marinette.  Though she is too.  That kid LOVES rollercoasters.  She made us go on Space Mountain three times.”

“Made you, huh?” Tim teased.

“You haven’t seen her eyes when she’s begging… or Marinette’s when she’s happy.  It’s like a spell.”

“Emma sounds like a little daredevil,” Tim nodded.

Jason grinned proudly.  “She is.  So is her mom.  And brilliant too.”

“Wow, you’ve got it bad,” Tim scoffed and shot him a knowing glance and teasing smile.  “So, you’re going to completely rearrange your schedule so you can go with them tomorrow.”  It was a statement rather than a question.

“Yep.”  Jason’s voice was proud, refusing to be embarrassed by the teasing.  “You’d understand if you’d spent time with her.”

“Well, she was definitely beautiful,” Tim offered.

“Beautiful, funny, kind, smart, thoughtful,” Jason continued for him.

“Wow.  What are you going to do when she goes home?” Tim asked carefully.  He watched Jason from the corner of his eye.  Jason was a romantic.  Everyone knew that about him.  He let his heart lead him, sometimes into dangerous territory.

“I’ll visit New York a lot more,” Jason answered without missing a beat.  “It’s a short trip.  Lots of work there.”  Tim turned slowly to look at him, his eyes wide in shock.  Dangerous and unverified territory apparently.  “Relax,” Jason snorted.  “I’m not going to move there next week… although I do have a safe house there…” he added slyly.

He watched Tim’s eyes, which had just started to return to normal size, widen again.  They rapidly narrowed upon hearing Jason’s chuckle.  “I’m just replacing our chill day, which let’s be honest was really a Steph and Dick shopping day, with something that will be objectively more fun.”  He rolled his eyes at Tim’s skeptical look.  “It’s been one day.  I’m not going to rearrange my whole life after one day.”

“Really?” Tim asked suspiciously.

Jason huffed and rolled his eyes.  It was like his family had no faith in him.  “I’m not stupid.  No.”  He shrugged after a few steps.  “I don’t think she would let me even if I wanted to.  She wouldn’t shift her daughter’s world that much without being absolutely certain and I wouldn’t want her to either.”

“But she’s okay with you rearranging your entire vacation schedule?”  He fixed him with a pointed look.

“She doesn’t know, otherwise, yeah, she would have a problem with it,” Jason growled.  He was used to getting questioned by his family, but he wasn’t about to let them question a completely innocent and sweet woman who had done nothing to deserve it.

Tim studied him for a few moments before nodding and returning his attention ahead of them.  “Good.  Just… be careful, okay.  For both of you.”

“All three,” Jason corrected.

“All three,” he amended easily.  They walked in silence until they were past the Main Street Station and Tim broke the silence with a sigh.  “I swear I’m not trying to be an ass.  I just don’t want you jumping in too quickly.”

Jason pursed his lips with a huff.  Well that just made it impossible to be mad, didn’t it?  “I’ll be careful, but she’s magic, Timmy.”  Tim’s eyebrows jumped to his hairline.  “Not like that!” Jason groaned quickly.  “I just meant…”

“Yeah, yeah, I’ve done the whole love at first sight thing,” Tim waved him off, “I get it.”

Jason scoffed and pointedly refused to look at him, finding anything and everything else of interest.  “Love,” he mocked.  “Now who’s moving too fast.”

“Still you,” Tim teased.  He patted Jason on the back before rushing up to walk with Duke.

Jason glowered at his back but then caught sight of a stuffed Marie in one of the stores and smiled softly.  “Yeah,” he mused to himself.  “Still me.”