#maybe not even the entire wedding but they want her consultation on some of it

[loneliestpeopleinnewport]

I have this little fic idea in my head that I haven't fully fleshed out but want to write...

I always thought that marissa post s3 stays away from Newport for a bit. eventually becomes a wedding planner (i was attached to the idea of her skills in planning those parties at the school lol) and comes back home to help sethmer plan their wedding.

eventually leading to marissa rekindling her relationship with ryan...

I've watched a lot of rom(coms) lately so it's been on my mind...

[kikyoupdates]

Crushed Velvet ⭑˚🥀⭑ 𝑎 𝑑𝑒𝑣𝑜𝑢𝑡 𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒

yandere!ocs x f!reader

yandere, reverse harem, yandere reverse harem, original characters x fem!reader, slowburn, isekai

Your parents are thrilled to have secured an engagement for you with the royal family. Your suitor, the crown prince, has agreed to be wed to you. It seems as though your entire future has been assured, so why is it that from this moment onward, your life starts to fall apart at the seams?

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One way or another, you’d made it through the engagement announcement, but your life still showed no sign of quieting down.

Ever since word had gotten out that you were Xeno’s fiancée, nobles kept paying your family visits, no doubt hoping to amass favor with you as quickly as possible. Of course, you saw right through their fickle appearances, but you were still obligated to meet with them and pretend like you cared. It was simple politics of the court. You’d been a high-ranked noble all your life, but you still weren’t quite used to being the center of attention like this.

That would have been all well and good, but as was true of most nobility, there were always those who insisted on poking their noses where they didn’t belong.

A certain countess visiting you had said this:

“Oh, my dear. You must be thrilled to be engaged to the Crown Prince. The rumors that you were already seeing a man must have been false, then.”

You’d done a good job of keeping your cool, but on top of her blatant rudeness, it was clear that she was accusing you of having an illicit relationship. Rumors were just that—rumors. Nevertheless, you’d never had there be such lies circulating about you. And surprise, surprise, they’d started just as soon as you’d been revealed as the Prince’s future bride.

You remembered Annalisa’s bitter expression back at the palace a few days prior. She had clearly been boiling with envy. You couldn’t exactly blame her. She’d probably been convinced that she would secure this position for herself, and to suddenly have it torn out of her grasp must have come as a shock. You also didn’t want to jump to any baseless accusations, but it seemed like a fairly reasonable guess to assume that she was probably the one who’d started spreading the rumors.

If she really is, then that only makes me respect her even less.

Xeno had described her as “filthy”, but he hadn’t really explained what he hated about her so much. You were sure he must have had his reasons, though. Especially if she was willing to resort to petty propaganda like this.

“My goodness,” your mother sighed, wiping her brow off with a handkerchief. “It’s been terribly busy. I think we’re going to have to hold off on any more visitors for a while. There’s just been far too many of them.”

“I’ve gotten quite sick of them as well,” you muttered.

“Is something the matter, sweetheart?”

“Nothing too serious. Based on what some of the nobles have been saying, it’s sounds like someone’s been spreading some rumors about me seeing another man.”

She went silent for a few moments, then pursed her lips in contemplation. “Well, that’s to be expected. Many families are bound to be jealous. They were probably hoping to marry their own daughter off to the Prince. Don’t let these rumors get the best of you. We know it isn’t the truth, and without any proof of the matter, you’re untouchable.”

“Yes, I agree. I suppose I’m just a little annoyed.”

“Why don’t you pay a visit to the Temple?” she suggested. “Go pray, take your mind off things. It would be good to have a priest bless your engagement.”

“Hm. Maybe I will.”

It had been a while since you’d gone down to the Temple. Besides the monarchy, which was the main governing factor of the kingdom, the Holy Temple and the High Council were also consulted when it came to making large scale decisions. Ultimately, the crown still got the final word, but a great deal of power was entrusted to these other two organizations. All nobles were required by law to be approved by the Temple before being allowed to serve under the King. You couldn’t say that you were a very religious person by nature, but every now and then, it did feel nice to have a quiet, safe space where you could focus on your thoughts.

You were escorted just outside the Temple by a handful of servants, since you were apparently a “big” deal now, but they didn’t try to overstep and follow you inside. As always, you could feel the entire atmosphere shift the second you stepped into the building. Light still filtered in through the stained glass windows, but the Temple was always softly lit, even with the smattering of candles laid out all around. Being inside here always gave you a chill. There was some sort of strange energy that filled the walls, and it brought you an inexplicable sense of peace.

There were hardly any people at this time of day. Most came in to do their prayers first thing in the morning. Regardless, you weren’t playing on staying for long. Just a few minutes sitting in silence and clearing your head would be good enough.

You made your way around the pews, headed to the frontmost-facing row. Just as you were about to sit down, one of the doors by the altar swung open and a man stepped out.

“Oh. Lady [Name]?”

It was one of the priests, Mihael Veron. He was the youngest member of the clergy, and he was beloved by the people for his gentle smile and kind mannerisms. Even as far as practicing religious men went, he was practically a saint. He was distractingly handsome too, which you berated yourself for thinking every time you laid eyes on him. He’d been working as a priest for just about three years now, and needless to say, you’d developed a bit of a crush on him.

“Hello,” you smiled back, cheeks slightly warm. “It’s very nice to see you, Father Mihael. I feel like it’s been quite a while.”

He shook his head, feigning disappointment. “My, isn’t that because you’re constantly skipping out on your weekly sermons?”

“I-I’m sorry,” you mumbled guiltily.

“Ha-ha. I’m only kidding. Religion is a highly personal thing. Everyone has their own unique connection to God. You should only come to Temple whenever you feel comfortable doing so.”

“Yes, but still… I’ll try to be better about it.”

“Don’t trouble yourself, Lady [Name]. I was hoping to see you soon, though, in order to congratulate you on your engagement.” He smiled warmly. “I’m sure you and your family must be very happy with this arrangement. Though I admit, I was a bit taken aback to hear about the announcement so last-minute.”

You fidgeted in place. “It’s, uh… a little difficult to explain. I don’t really understand it either, but it seems like the King and Queen must be really excited for their son to get married.”

“Well, of course they would be, when it’s with someone as lovely as you.”

It was getting harder and harder to ignore the burning sensation on your cheeks. His clear blue eyes were so piercing, yet calm and reassuring at the same time.

Maybe going to Temple more often wouldn’t be the worst idea.

“Lady [Name]?”

“Y-Yes?!” you squeaked, absolutely mortified by the thoughts currently running through your mind.

Mihael just let out a soft chuckle, looking more amused than anything else. “My apologies. You looked deep in thought, so you must not have heard me. I was just saying, if you’d like, you can light a candle and I’ll read a few passages aloud for you. It won’t be a full sermon, just a little something to bless your union and lead the both of you forth in good health.”  

“Oh, that would be perfect, if it isn’t too much trouble.”

“Of course not,” he smiled. “Here, follow me.”

He picked a fresh candle out of a basket and handed it to you, then gestured for you to light it and place it along with the other lit candles. You did so, and once you’d set it where it belonged, you slowly closed your eyes and allowed the sound of Mihael’s gentle voice to fill the room.

It was a peaceful feeling, perhaps even more so because Mihael was the one reading the passages. There was a reason he was so loved. Initially, the other clergymen had thought less of him because he was so young and inexperienced, but with time, they too had come to cherish his presence. He was the Temple’s pride and joy.

After some time, Mihael’s voice eventually came to a stop. He waited for you to open your eyes and smiled again. “How was that?”

“It was lovely,” you beamed. “Thank you. I’m not all too familiar with most of the passages, but even if I couldn’t completely make sense of all the words, it still filled me with warmth. There were some worries on my mind earlier as well, so I feel a lot better now.”

“I’m very happy to hear that. This is a safe place. If you ever feel yourself becoming overwhelmed, you are always to come here.”

“Yes. Thank you so much.”

Mihael leaned forward, his hand coming to rest just atop your head. You flushed, a bit confused, but certainly didn’t complain when he started gently stroking your hair.

“I am overjoyed for you, Lady [Name]. I will pray each day that you and the Prince have a long, happy marriage.”

He was so earnest, so genuine in his enthusiasm on your behalf, that you didn’t quite have the heart to tell him how you truly felt about Xeno. You just stood there, relishing in the warmth of this gentle, selfless man.

His hand eventually dropped, and he almost looked disappointed as it did.

“I should be going now,” you said. “My servants are waiting outside for me, and there’s a lot I still have to attend to now that word’s gotten out about my engagement. You know how nobles can be.”

“Yes, of course. I wish you the best of luck with all your endeavors.”

You thanked him again, and waved back at him up until you’d reached the entrance. You then turned and pushed the door open.

If you’d waited just a second longer before turning away, you would’ve seen his smile drop.

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[tip-top-cloud-surfer]

Never Have I Ever (Part 4) - Hangman

Pairing: Hangman / Civilian Contractor! Reader (Callsign: Dove)

Length: 3.9k

This work, all my works, and my entire blog are 18+ Only

Warnings: Female Reader with a Callsign and Family, but no Physical Description or Name; Not Necessarily Healthy Decisions/Coping Mechanisms; Slow Burn; Coworkers to Friends to Lovers; Oblivious Idiots; Excessive Pining; Jealousy; Adult Situations

Summary: Phoenix takes Dove out for a girls' day. Jake proceeds to lose his shit.

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3

Master List

“You’re not doing anything with Dove today?” Coyote asked Jake as they jogged their normal route. 

“No, she said that Phoenix was taking her out.” 

“What’re they doing?” 

“I don’t know. Dove didn’t say,” Jake stated, shrugging his shoulders. 

~~~~~

# 44 - Gotten a Pedicure

“So, what are we doing next?” Dove asked Phoenix.

They sat side by side at a nail salon, getting a pedicure together. And Dove, even though salons usually gave her anxiety, was enjoying herself. It helped to have Phoenix with her. 

“I thought we’d start small and work our way up,” Phoenix replied, turning to Dove. 

“Like what?”

“We’ll just have a girls day. Do stuff that you wouldn’t do if Hangman was with you,” Phoenix stated, causing Dove to nod. “Maybe stuff that you’ve wanted to do for a while, but just never got around to doing.” 

“I can think of a few things.” 

~~~~~

# 45 - Bought Fishnet Stockings

“I don’t know what I’ll wear these with,” Dove admitted as she picked out a pair of fishnet stockings from the rack. “But I’ve always wanted a pair.” 

“And that’s why we’re doing this,” Phoenix stated, steering Dove towards the cashier. 

~~~~~

# 46 - Gone Wedding Dress Shopping 

“Nat, I feel bad,” Dove whispered to Phoenix as they looked through the racks of dresses. “There’s actual brides here.” 

“So what? Just pick some dresses. You’re not hurting anyone.”

As Dove continued to browse through the dresses, a consultant approached them. She greeted them kindly and Dove tried to not sweat when she was confronted with the fact that she was not engaged and she was here with a fake engagement ring and a made up fiance. 

“So, you’re the bride to be?” the consultant asked Dove, who smiled sheepishly.

“Yes, I am.” 

“When’s your wedding?”

“Next summer,” Dove stated noncommittally. 

“Oh, so you have time. Tell me what you’re looking for.” 

Dove listed off some details that she had considered for her actual wedding dress. With those details in mind, the consultant led Dove and Phoenix around the store, picking out some dresses and asking Dove about her fake wedding. Phoenix was calm beside her but Dove was not similarly relaxed. 

“So, tell me about your groom,” the consultant stated, causing Dove to sweat some more. “Do you have any pictures of the two of you?” 

“Uh, yeah, of course, I do,” Dove laughed nervously. 

Shooting Phoenix a look, Dove pulled out her phone. The photo of her and Jake from when they were stuck up on the ferris wheel together the night before popped up first and Dove showed it to the consultant to get it over with. 

“Oh, you two are adorable together.” 

“Thank you.” 

“What’s his name?”

“Jake,” Dove answered honestly. Because it was Jake in the photo.

“And how’d you two meet?” 

“We work together.” 

“And how long have you been together for?” 

“Eight months,” Dove lied easily. 

Dove had been at her position at NAS North Island for eight months. It had been eight months since she had been assigned to the Dagger Squad. 

“I know it seems rushed, but—” Dove started to over-explain. 

“—When you know, you know,” the consultant assured Dove, smiling kindly. She lifted up the wedding dresses that they had already picked out. “I’ll go put these in a dressing room. Come back after you’ve done your last look through.” 

“Thank you.” 

The consultant walked away, leaving Dove and Phoenix alone for a moment. Dove could feel Phoenix’s gaze on her, but didn’t meet her stare. 

“Freudian slip?” Phoenix suggested to Dove. 

“Shut up.” 

~~~~~

# 47 - Gone into a Lingerie Store

“I already hate this and we’re only in the parking lot,” Dove sighed, staring up at the store.

“Why?”

“Because the women who work in these stores are the most judgmental, aggressive, and condescending salespeople on the planet,” Dove huffed, turning to Phoenix with an annoyed expression. “Why do you think I stay away from these places?”

“If they act that way, we’re going to tell them to mind their business. Now, come on.” 

Dove sighed, but got out of the car anyway. She followed Phoenix into the store and was relieved to find that it was not overrun with judgy salespeople. Then again it was midday on a weekday and there appeared to only be two salespeople in the entire store. 

“You’ll be fine,” Phoenix repeated, before dragging Dove deeper into the store.

~~~~~

Jake sat around with the other Daggers—minus Phoenix—for a lazy afternoon, floating around ideas for that night. Jake, bored with the conversation already, pulled out his phone and looked at Dove’s list for any updates. 

Pedicure . . . fishnets . . . wedding dress . . . lingerie?

Quickly setting his phone back down, Jake turned back to the conversation, trying and failing at looking casual. And to not let his mind wander too far. 

~~~~~

# 48 - Bought Lingerie

“Buy for yourself, not for anyone else. Buy something that makes you feel good.” 

“I’m just looking for something that I can actually get into at this point,” Dove replied, grimacing as she picked up another set. “I mean, what is the point of all of these ribbons? I feel like I’m going to trip and slam my head into the wall trying to get into this thing.” 

“Just find something that works for you. Don’t worry about all of this extra crap.”

Dove looked through what felt like half a store’s worth of options before she settled on a simpler set. Nothing too crazy, but the lace pattern was appealing and it was surprisingly soft. And the look of the bra alone made her feel confident about herself. 

If only she had something or someone to wear it for.

~~~~~

# 49  - Gone to an Adult Shop

“Come on, it’s no big deal,” Phoenix stated, pulling Dove into the store. “You already bought lingerie. This is just another step in that process.” 

Dove winced when she saw some of the items that were up on the wall. She turned back to Phoenix, practically clutching her metaphorical pearls.

“Where the hell is that supposed to go?” Dove glanced down at her pelvis before turning back to Phoenix with a slightly terrified expression. “I don’t have space for that! No one has space for that. Where the hell are your organs supposed to go?” 

“We’re not going for anything crazy,” Phoenix stated reassuringly. “Just trying to introduce you to some stuff to, uh, help you out a little.” 

~~~~~

# 50 - Bought an Adult Toy

“This one has plenty of different settings, so you can play around with it and see what works for you and what doesn’t,” the attendant explained, causing Dove to nod. “Everyone is different, so there’s no shame in finding what works for you.” 

“Thank you.” 

“See that wasn’t so bad,” Phoenix stated, walking with Dove after she picked up a box.  

“No, it actually wasn’t.” 

Dove was about to turn for the register when she caught sight of some handcuffs. The dainty, fluffy pink fur didn’t spark any interest in her. But when she found a more industrial pair, Dove couldn’t help but pick up a pair to inspect. She completely missed the look on Phoenix’s face at her choice. 

“Well, I guess it’s on sale,” Dove reasoned to herself. 

After a few more moments of quiet deliberation, Dove shrugged her shoulders and walked towards the counter with the handcuffs in hand. Phoenix stood there for a moment, still shocked at Dove’s choice. 

“It’s always the quiet ones.” 

After Dove paid for her items, they made their way back out to the car. Looking down at what she had already purchased that day, Dove quietly had a discussion with herself before turning back to Phoenix. 

“I have an idea. For what to do next.” 

“Of course. What is it?”

~~~~~

# 51 - Gotten a Tattoo

Phoenix pulled her phone out as Dove laid on her side, talking casually with the tattoo artist. When she saw that Jake was calling her, Phoenix excused herself from Dove’s side. Walking out to the parking lot, Phoenix answered the call.

“Yes?” 

“What the hell are you doing, Trace!?” 

“Start over, Bagman,” Phoenix warned him. 

“You’re making her get a tattoo?” Jake rephrased, though the tension was clear in his tone.

“I didn’t make her get a tattoo. This was her idea.” 

“You think that I believe you?” 

“I don’t care what you believe. It’s the truth. She said that she’s floated the idea of getting one for a while and she decided to finally do it.” 

“And you let her?” 

“She is an adult. She can make her own choices about her own body. And no one has the right to tell her that she can’t,” Phoenix warned him. “Including you, Bagman.” 

“What if she regrets it?” 

“She can get it lasered off. And we all know that Dove doesn’t do anything without going through the consequences a thousand times.” Glancing back at the tattoo parlor, Phoenix added, “And when she tells you about it—and this goes for all of you idiots—you’re going to tell her that it’s great. Got it?” 

Dove stepped out into the light as Phoenix wrapped up her phone call. Phoenix spotted her and hung up the phone without so much as a goodbye.

“How do you feel?” 

“It stings,” Dove admitted honestly, pulling her shorts down a little to show Phoenix the bandage, “but I feel . . . I don’t know how to describe it. Just . . . free.” 

“You are,” Phoenix stated, smiling proudly. “You’re in charge of your life. No one else.” 

“Yeah, I am,” Dove agreed, nodding with a wide smile. 

~~~~~

# 52 - Sang Karaoke in Front of Strangers

“And girls! They wanna have fu-un! Oh, girls just wanna have—that’s all the really wa-ah-an-ah-an-ah-ant! Some fu-uh-uh-uh-un! When the working day is done, oh girls, they wanna have fun!” 

Phoenix and Dove shared a laugh as the song finished up. The bar where they were standing was pretty much empty, but the one bartender on duty clapped for them. Dove laughed and waved to them as she hopped off the small stage.

~~~~~

# 53 - Sunbathed Topless

“I need to get softer beach towels,” Dove commented, causing Phoenix to pick her head up and look over at her. 

“Are you planning on doing this more often?” 

The two of them were out in Penny’s backyard to sunbathe in the afternoon. Dove shrugged her shoulders as she laid on her stomach, calm and relaxed. 

“Maybe. If I find safe spots to do it.” 

~~~~~

# 54 - Dyed Your Hair

Putting a trash bag over Dove’s torso just in case, Phoenix started lightly spraying the dye onto her hair. Dove closed her eyes and just let Phoenix work, and missed Phoenix’s concerned look as she finished up the spray. 

“Alright, how does that look? I think I’ll open the window.” 

Dove stood up from the tub and walked over to the mirror to stare at her new reflection and instantly grimaced. The red hair color was fairly bright. It wasn’t quite a fire engine red, nor was it orange, it was some other odd reddish color that Dove was going to immediately wash out of her hair. 

“Well, that’s off the list. Forever.” 

~~~~~

# 55 - Drank Pickle Juice

“Do you normally do this?” Dove asked Phoenix, sitting at her kitchen table with an old towel wrapped around her freshly washed hair. 

The spray on hair dye had come out easily, but she was going to have to scrub her shower later. Phoenix placed a glass in front of her and Dove picked it up to inspect it. Taking a small sip, Dove wrinkled her nose and slowly set it back down. 

“I think I’ve had enough of the food challenges,” Dove admitted, slowly opening her eyes. 

“You’ll have to tell everyone else that. They want to go to a new bar tonight,” Phoenix stated, showing Dove her texts with Bob. 

“A cowboy bar?” Dove read, looking up at Phoenix. “They finally let Jake have his way?” 

“Apparently.” 

~~~~~

# 56 - Ridden a Mechanical Bull

Jake and Coyote walked into the cowboy bar together and started their search for the other Daggers, who had all apparently arrived before them. 

“Found ‘em,” Coyote stated, nudging Jake in the side. 

Jake turned his head and recognized the woman climbing up on the back of the mechanical bull. And even if he didn’t, the fact that Phoenix, Bob, and Rooster were standing around the area and cheering her on would have cleared it up.

Dove focused on the task at hand, locking her legs around the bull and prepared to move her body in time with the bull. Jake and Javy made their way over to the area as the mechanical bull started to move. 

“Yeah, Dove!” Phoenix cheered for her.

“She can really move her hips well,” Rooster commented, staring down Jake as he spoke. “Don’t you agree, Hangman?” 

Jake glared straight into Bradley’s soul before turning back to Dove. She managed to hold on for longer than anyone expected, but with a quiet giggle, Dove dropped onto the mat. Rolling onto her knees, Dove crawled to get off the mat. 

Jake offered her a hand and she took it without hesitation. Hopping down from the mat, she moved to pull her boots on again as Bob climbed up onto the mat to go next. Dove stood up slowly, offering him a smile that seemed to make time slow around them.

“Long time no see,” Dove stated teasingly. “Did you miss me?” 

“Well, my day was a lot less entertaining without you in it,” Jake commented, causing Dove to raise an eyebrow. 

“What’s that supposed to mean?” 

“You make life . . . interesting,” Jake replied, missing the side eye that Coyote and Rooster shared behind him. 

“Interesting?” Dove repeated, causing Jake to wince. Laughing, she nudged him again. “I’m just teasing, Jake. Lighten up. Relax. Have a drink.” 

She walked past him, practically serene, and over to where Phoenix was standing, cheering on Bob, who was still hanging on. Coyote wrapped an arm around Jake’s shoulder and Jake promptly ignored his shit-eating grin.

“You know, of all the words you could have used to describe her, you chose ‘interesting’?” 

“Shut up, Javy.” 

“To think I took advice from you. No wonder I don’t have a girlfriend.” 

~~~~~

# 57 - Given a Fake Name

Dove stood at the bar with Phoenix, waiting to order another drink. The other Daggers were waiting at their table, which they could see from the bar. Folding her arms on the bar, Dove glanced to her right as a man took the spot next to her.

“Have you been waiting a while?” he asked, causing Dove and Phoenix to turn to him. 

“Yeah, but they’re clearly understaffed, so we don’t mind,” Dove returned politely. 

“Have you been here before?” the man continued. 

“No, it was recommended by one of our friends,” Dove explained calmly. She shared a look with Phoenix, who subtly shrugged her shoulders. 

“And what do you think about it so far?” 

“The mechanical bull is a unique touch.”  

“Have you been on it yet?” the man asked, leaning on the bar with a smile. 

“Yeah, earlier.” 

“How’d you do?” 

“I think they said nine seconds.” 

“That’s amazing for your first time up on one.” 

“Thank you.” 

“I’m Jared,” he introduced, offering his hand for her to shake. 

Dove quickly came up with a fake name and introduced herself back to him. Shaking his hand in return, she turned back to the bartender. She and Phoenix shared a side glance before Jared asked her another question. 

~~~~~

# 58 - Been Bought a Drink

Jake glared at the back of Jared’s head, watching the interaction between Dove and the stranger intently. It was a bar and Jared was a random man who walked up to Dove and Phoenix. Jake had every right to be concerned, he reasoned to himself. 

“I’m going up there,” Jake stated gruffly.

“Did he do something?” Payback asked, turning around to look at the bar. 

“He’s loitering.” 

“It looks like they’re just talking. Dove doesn’t even look anxious.” 

“No, he’s bad news,” Jake insisted. 

“Because he’s doing something wrong or because he’s flirting with Dove?” Coyote questioned, turning to his best friend. “Would you react the same way if he was showing more of an interest in Phoenix?” 

“I’m going up there,” Jake insisted, ignoring Javy’s question. 

Meanwhile, at the bar, Dove and Jared had finally waved over the bartender. Dove ordered her drink, but before she could hand over her card, Jared offered to put it on his tab. And even though Dove insisted that she could pay for her own drinks, Jared insisted. 

“My treat. And besides, it’s your first time here. I have to make sure that you have a good time, so you’ll come back again.” 

“Thank you,” Dove replied quietly, quickly moving into unfamiliar territory. 

While they waited for their drinks to be made, Jared continued to ask Dove perfectly normal surface level questions. Dove was analytical by nature and Jared didn’t seem to ask her anything that was a blatant red flag. But she was still cautious. The bartender handed over their drinks before Dove turned back to Jared. 

“Thank you for the drink, but we really should get back to our friends,” Dove stated politely, offering Jared a small smile. 

“Before you go,” Jared stated, causing Dove to pause, “do you think that I could get your number? Or maybe, at least, a dance?”

“Um,” Dove began, trying to find the right words. 

“She has a boyfriend,” Phoenix interjected, causing Jared’s face to fall. 

“Oh.” 

“Sorry, I was trying to tell you before you bought the drink,” Dove replied, half-lying, half-telling the truth. She did tell him that she wanted to pay for her own drink. 

“Do you guys need help?” Jake asked, appearing from the crowd. 

Phoenix rolled her eyes at the subtle territorial display—or not so subtle, depending on who you asked—that Jake put on. Jared, quickly assessing the fact that Jake was built enough to kick his ass if he really wanted to—and Jake looked like he wanted to—slipped away, leaving Dove and Phoenix at the bar with Jake. 

“Are you alright?” Jake asked Dove, who nodded in return.

“Yeah, he seemed harmless. We’re fine.” 

“You’re sure?” 

“I’m fine, Jake.” 

“I’ll take a tequila shot,” Phoenix told the bartender, who nodded and moved to pour one for her. 

~~~~~

# 59 - Danced with Someone at a Bar

“I love this song!” Phoenix yelled, getting to her feet. 

The Dagger Squad had settled around their table, enjoying their drinks and catching up, but Phoenix was itching to move. Phoenix reached over and grabbed Bob’s arm, practically pulling him straight out of his seat. 

“Let’s go dance!”

Jake watched Phoenix drag Bob off her before turning to look at Dove, who was already staring back at him. Turning so that his whole body was facing her, Jake leaned in closer to her so that he didn’t need to scream over the music.

“Do you want to dance too?” 

“Do you want me to make your night more interesting?” Dove quipped back, though she looked unsure of herself. “You know that I have two left feet, Jake.” 

“I’ll lead.” 

“If I fall on my face—” 

“—I won’t let you fall,” Jake promised, causing Dove to pause as her cheeks warmed.

“Alright.” 

Jake and Dove left the Dagger table and walked out onto the crowded dance floor. Dove reached out and kept a tight hold on Jake’s hand, worried about losing him in the swarm. Jake managed to find a space for them before turning back to Dove. She released his hand and smiled anxiously.

“Just follow me,” Jake called over the music. 

Dove nodded and just sort of swayed to the music. The crowd shifted around them and pushed them closer together. Jake put his hands on Dove’s waist to keep her steady on her feet. And Dove, either subconsciously or consciously leaned against him too, letting Jake wrap an arm around her. 

They swayed together to the music as Jake reached for Dove’s hand. Twirling her around gently, Jake wasn’t aware that he was giving her the most genuinely joyful smile and that his eyes never once deviated from her. 

From the way that her nose crinkled as she laughed to the soft look in her eye as she turned back around, he was entirely and completely captivated by her. 

Dove spun around again and laughed as she leaned against Jake, still a bit clumsy. Jake wrapped an arm around her waist, not just to steady her this time. But to unabashedly keep her close to him. And Dove didn’t push away from him.

From across the room, Coyote, Rooster, and Payback sat together, all quietly watching the interaction between Jake and Dove. Coyote appeared tired, not from the night or the alcohol. But from watching Hangman and Dove continue to tiptoe around each other. 

“Have we tried just pushing their heads together yet?” Payback asked, taking a sip of his beer.

“I’m really considering it,” Coyote replied, shaking his head.

“I can flirt with Dove some more,” Rooster offered, causing Payback and Coyote to turn to him. 

“I’m honestly worried he’ll rip your head off at this point,” Coyote stated, turning to Rooster. “He turns almost feral.” 

“I know. But I’m really enjoying pissing him off.”

~~~~~

# 60 - Shown Someone Else Your Tattoo

Standing outside the bar beside Jake’s truck, Dove turned around. She had to unbutton her jean shorts to do it, but she pulled the waistband of her shorts and her underwear down a little to show Jake her tattoo. She had placed a protective clear patch over it for her shower and just decided to wear it to the bar as well. 

“It’s not very large, but I’ve wanted it for a while,” she explained, causing Jake to nod. 

“What made you pick that one?” 

“I was always drawing stars when I was anxious when I was in college,” Dove admitted, glancing back at her tattoo. “And this was just a group of them.”  

“It looks good,” Jake complimented Dove, causing her to smile. 

“Thank you. I’m really glad that I got it, actually.” 

“It suits you.” 

Pulling her shorts up and buttoning them once again, Dove turned around to face Jake. She leaned back against his truck, folding her hands behind her back.

“Are you excited for the team trip?” 

“I guess.” 

“You’re the one who voted for the lake house,” Dove reminded him.

“I just didn’t want to go to Vegas.” Shifting his weight on his feet, Jake met Dove’s gaze once again. “But I was thinking . . .” 

“Yeah?” Dove asked softly.

“Did you want to leave maybe two days before everyone else? There’s a few more things I think that we can knock off the list if we do.” 

“Just the two of us?” 

“I mean . . . yeah.” 

“I’m just teasing you, Jake,��� Dove mused, pushing off of his truck. “Just tell me when I need to be ready to leave, and I’ll be ready.” Offering him a soft smile and letting her touch on his arm linger, Dove added, “Goodnight, Jake.” 

“Night, Dove.” 

Jake turned and watched Dove walk over to her car. He stood there until Dove got into her car and drove home, trying to keep his mind focused. But that was becoming more and more difficult around Dove these days.

[aliciavance4228]

Unpopular Opinion: Demeter Did Nothing Wrong

Alright, maybe the title isn't 100% accurate since she almost wiped the entire human race from earth, but you got the idea.

The thing with Demeter is that nowdays she is demonized/villainized all the time. And the most ironic part is that she is demonized by feminists, which leaves me quite confused, considering the fact that she would technically be a great example of female strength, especially when raporting to "Homeric Hymns to Demeter". But before discussing the myth of seasons, let's talk about her background story:

One thing that is certain about Demeter is that she had horrible experiences with almost all men from her life. Her father ate her. Poseidon raped her disguised as a horse. Zeus raped her as well (which led to the birth of Persephone). Iasion was one of the few men from her life who loved and respected her, and whom she lived with for a while before Zeus became jealous and killed him; yes, he is THAT much of a d-

The only one of her brothers who didn’t hurt her in any way at that time was Hades. And if you take into account the versions of the myths in which Hades was born before her that means that he was the one who took care of her as well during the time when they were trapped in their father's stomach. So it is pretty much implied that he was the only one of The Big Three whom she trusted the most, which makes the discovery that he was the one who kidnapped her daughter even more tragic.

Now, about "Homeric Hymns to Demeter": first of all I want to point out the fact that this myth isn't about Hades and Persephone. They are mostly mentioned in this story rather than actually playing an active role in it, because they have more of a symbolic value above it all. Wheter Persephone came to love Hades in time or despised him for the rest of her eternity is irrelevant, because this myth is not about her but Demeter.

Demeter had already faced some disturbing experiences even before Persephone was kidnapped. And considering the fact that her own daughter was a result of SA, it makes perfect sense why she would be protective towards her and raise her outside of Mount Olympus; every woman that was raped would fear that her daughter would face the same cruel fate.

About the abduction part: it is revealed to us at the beginning that Hades asked Zeus if he can marry his daughter, and he agreed. Hades only needed the approval of the father in order to wed her. Back in the Ancient Greece, especially in the Athens, people had a very patriarchal view on marriage. On short: the marriage would be usually planned between the groom and the father of the bride, her mother not knowing anything about what was going on until her daughter was already taken away from her. This myth is a representation of how the Patriarchy was a dominant system even among deities, with Zeus as its supreme figure.

At this point, the myth of seasons can be already considered a comfort story for mothers who had to endure the loss of their daughters either through death or marriage. This myth, however, has a lighter note as well, and that because Demeter, instead of accepting the fate of her daughter, left her anger free and did anything she could so that she would ultimately convince Zeus to give her daughter back, the last solution being leaving hundreds of humans dying of cold and hunger. This part basically shows how even a patriarchal figure like Zeus can be defeated by a mother's rage (or pure female rage, take it as you wish). Even though this myth is supposed to tell us just how seasons appeared, it can also be used as a moral lesson for men: it is better to consult with your wife and daughter before making a decision, or else there will be GREAT CONSEQUENCES.

And finally, one moment that is indeed very touching yet most people are ignoring for some reason is when her mother Rhea appears in front of her and starts to comfort her after she found out that Persephone ate the promeganate seeds, showing how a mother's mouring over her daughter was a common feeling among most female deities from Greek Mythology.

Now, is Demeter perfect? Absolutely not. And that is okay, because instead of that she is supposed to show in this myth a lot of humane and realistic nuances about what being a woman is like. She is a complex character, and completely demonizing her just because you ship Hades and Persephone is quite disturbing in my honest opinion. Wheter or not you like this couple (I won't condemn you because they are still one of the most stable relationships from Greek Mythology, but that basically shows just how f*cked up myths are in general lmao but anyway....), you have to understand the fact that the "Beauty and Beast" and "A mother's love will always conquer" are two tropes that can co-exist, and that things aren’t just black-and-white.

[marvelwitchergilmore]

Forever Love

Summary: Clark Kent/Superman x Fe!Reader -> Everyone knows you and Clark love each other and despite knowing everything about each other, you both seemed to have missed that shared information. So what happens when Clark overhears something before you're about to get married to someone else?

Disclaimer: Oblivious idiots in love, best friends to lovers, fluff, cute moments, splatters of romantic angst throughout, happy ending, Jonathan and Martha Kent helping meddle...sorta. Set in the 90s Lois and Clark show but can be for any version of Clark/Superman. There might be some spelling mistakes but we're gonna ignore them. Enjoy!

You felt like you were drowning. 

Surrounded in taffeta and organza and another fabric you couldn’t name. For the last two hours, you’d been pushed and pulled out of a wedding dressing room, trying on dress after dress after dress. And you didn’t like a single one of them. 

“I think it needs to be…bigger. And perhaps more veil.” 

You could hear your future mother-in-law behind you as she spoke with the wedding dress consultant and the rest of the entourage she’d surprised you with at ten o’clock outside of the building. 

“No, it’s the beads. Maybe a few more?”

“Ooh! I saw the perfect dress on one of the mannequins.”

“The cream one?”

“No, the off-white. The one with the ruching.”

Under the pile of…whatever fabric you’d been forced into, you sighed. 

“Perhaps you’d like to come back next week?” The dress consultant turned to you before sneaking a look to the rest of your entourage. “We have a new shipment coming in on Sunday. We’ve got an opening for Monday?”

“I think that will be great,” you smiled, touching her arm. 

“Nonsense. We can find a perfect gown today.”

“I think we’ve tried every dress on in the store.” 

Your mother-in-law looked at you and hummed. “Maybe Monday will be best. Right, I’ll call Todd and tell him.”

With a thankful sigh you made your way back to the changing room and kicked the dress to the corner of the room – not that it moved. There was that much fabric, it remained still. 

~~~~~~~~~

“I thought this was meant to be your wedding.”

“It was. It is.” You quickly corrected yourself. “It’s just…it’s not every day your child gets married and she always wanted a daughter. She just wants to…help.”

Clark handed you a coffee. “Do you want me to come with you on Monday?”

You shook your head. “I think that would just make it worse.”

“How?”

“She believes no man apart of the wedding should see the bride in her dress. And since you’re coming to the wedding, and you’re a man, you won’t even get into the parking lot.”

You sighed as you sat down. 

“You look like you could do with a break.”

You nodded. “Understatement of the century. You know, I thought planning your wedding was meant to be…exciting. Stressful, but exciting.”

“Do you want to come with me this weekend?”

“To what?”

“Smallville County Festival.”

Your entire being practically glowed. “Is it that time of year already?”

Clark smiled and you followed him towards your desks. “Yep. Everyone’s gonna be there. Mrs Ingrid is gonna be making her famous jam scones again.”

He was practically teasing you. 

“When do you leave?”

“Tomorrow evening.”

You groaned. “I was meant to be going with Todd to this business gala.”

“You have a lifetime to go to them. Who knows, this might be the last year Mrs Ingrid is gonna make her jam scones. Might be the last year they have the hay-bale toss. Might be the last year-”

“I’ll try and get out of it.”

Clark smiled and you felt yourself relax a little. He’d always had a way of doing that to you; making you relax. Making you feel comfortable in your own skin again. 

That’s what it was like with Todd…sort of. 

You’d met him two years ago at the local coffee shop. You’d run into him and spilt your coffee down his white shirt. You’d apologised profusely but he’d laughed it off and said it wasn’t anything dry cleaning couldn’t fix. Then he offered to buy you a new one. You’d debated him for a while about who should be the one to buy coffee for the other. Before you knew it, you found yourself agreeing to go to dinner with him. 

Two years later, you’d finally met his family and you were engaged and everything was…being sorted. Todd’s mother had arranged it all. The wedding planner, the florist, the catering, the venue. And you liked it. Most of it. Some things you wished you could change, but you and Todd had talked. 

His mother always wished she’d gotten a daughter after Todd but she never got pregnant. If some details weren’t to your ultimate liking, was it really the worst thing in the world? 

So you agreed. 

You agreed to lilies and sunflowers at your wedding. 

You agreed to the sixteen extra layers on the cake for the extra four hundred guests that had been invited.

There was already more of Todd’s family attending, than yours, so what was a few extra friends and business associates. A wedding was an opportunity for networking, just as any other gathering. 

You even agreed to her helping you pick out a wedding dress. And she did take your ideas on board. On all the dresses she’d picked out, there was a lace detail in the band. Even if it was covered in bling and diamonds. 

Todd was a great guy. You were lucky to be able to call him your husband. 

“You should go.”

“Are you sure?” 

Pouring two drinks, he placed the stopper back in the bottle. “Of course. Besides, once we’re married who knows how much time you’ll have to be able to visit? Mother told me about a social event that might be right up your street.”

You nodded. “The wives club? Yeah, she mentioned something today. It sounds..fun.”

Todd smiled, handing you the glass and sitting beside you. “Go, have some fun. Clark will look after you?”

You nodded with a light smile. “I can look after myself.”

“Still. You’re going to be the next Mrs Fifth Richest Man in the World.”

You rolled your eyes. “It’s Smallville, not Wall Street. I’ll be perfectly safe.”

Todd leaned forward and pecked a kiss to your lips. “Good. I love you.”

You smiled. “I love you, too.”

The next day, you were pulling your overnight back from under your desk and following Clark to his car. 

Just as the clock turned ten, Clark pulled up outside of his parents’ farm. 

“Hey, we’re here.” Clark gently shook you awake. 

Stirring, you looked around in the dark. The familiar wooden porch was lit up by the headlights of the car just before it settled back into the darkness as Clark turned the car off. A few moments later, the screen door creaked open and Martha came running outside. 

“Honey, Clark and Y/n are home!”

You smiled as you heard her include you in being home. Truth be told, the Kent’s farm, as well as Smallville, had always felt like home. 

You and Clark had met in the first semester of college. And, after getting caught in the torrential downpour and taking solace in the local library only to get locked inside overnight, you’d found a close friendship in each other. 

That same year Clark took you home. 

You were meant to fly out to England and meet your uncle for Christmas but when he called and cancelled the day before due to his work load, you decided to stay at your dorm. You could get a headstart on the next workload and clean the entire apartment before the new year. 

But Clark didn’t accept your excuse and when he knocked on your door at six in the evening, he wouldn’t take no for an answer. He brought you with him, telling you his folks wouldn’t take no for an answer either. And you’d gone back every year. 

“How ya’ doin’, honey?” Martha asked as she hugged you. “Clark, get her bag.”

“Already on it.”

Taking you by the arm, Martha walked with you inside the house. “How’s the wedding coming along?”

You hesitated to answer, but your hero came swooping in behind you. “Mom, maybe we should keep wedding talk to a minimum?”

“That bad, huh?”

You shrugged. “It’s just…not what I thought it would be.”

Martha and Jonathan exchanged a look which neither you or Clark fully picked on. 

“Honey, the kids have had a long drive. Maybe we should let them rest.”

“Yes, you’re probably right.”

“Busy day tomorrow.”

Martha smiled. “Come on, I’ll show you to your room. Did I tell you I made a new blanket?”

“You did?”

Martha nodded, taking you towards your bedroom. “It took me a while since the wool went out of stock but…”

The conversation travelled away down the hall and Clark and his dad exchanged a look. 

“Son.”

“Not now, dad.”

Jonathan just sighed. “I’ll make some tea.”

After getting changed into your pajamas and unpacking some of your things, you joined Martha and Clark in the kitchen before Jonathan strolled in from the back porch. “Got it.”

Martha took the small jar from her husband before standing and getting a teaspoon from the drawer. Then she handed it to you. 

“Here, this should help with the allergies.”

You smiled and thanked her. She’d been doing the same thing since the first spring weekend you’d spent in Smallville. Martha always swore by a dose of local honey to help with the allergies. And nothing got anymore local than from her own bee hives. 

Just as you lifted the spoon from the jar, Clark dipped his own in and took a teaspoon of it himself. 

“Tastes great, mom.”

“Like home,” you smiled across the table. And Clark smiled back. 

Martha and her husband exchanged another look. 

“Well, I’m glad you both think so. Because I’m selling some jars at my stall tomorrow.”

You looked up at her. “You are? Oh, Martha, that’s wonderful.”

With her hand on your cheek, she brushed her thumb across your cheekbone. “Thank you, my darling.”

It wasn’t long after that you all went to bed. After all, you had a busy day ahead of you. 

~~~~~~~~

It was safe to say that waking up in sheets that smelled of fresh laundry and that home smell that you could never quite put into words, was one of the best feelings in the world. The mattress sunk beneath you the minute you laid down. You were pretty sure you hadn’t moved from the minute you’d fallen asleep. 

With the window on a latch, the fresh air started spilling inside and clearing your lungs of all controlled and forced breathing you’d done in the city. You loved the city, but there was just something about Smallville. 

It was calming. 

In every aspect. 

Waking up, opening doors, talking to people. It was all…bright. Welcoming. 

“Well look who’s awake.” You heard Clark say as you entered the kitchen. Then you heard Martha gasp. 

“Oh, I forgot to mention. I gave one of your shirts to Y/n last night.”

Clark just smiled while you looked down to the old sweatshirt you’d pulled over yourself last night. 

“That’s alright. She looks better in them than I ever do, anyway.”

You were glad you were looking down because the smile and the heat you felt on your face was a new kind of embarrassing. You’d worn his clothes before. And his comment had always been the same – maybe phrased a little differently, but still the same. You should have expected it. 

But he caught you off guard each time. 

“There’s some coffee on the pot if you want it.”

“Thanks.”

Pouring yourself a cup, you sat back at your place across from Clark at the kitchen table. “So what’s on the agenda for today?”

“I’m heading out in about an hour to set up the stall if you’d like to join me. Then I thought you and Clark could head round the festival. There’s meant to be a show at about seven in the town centre. We can all meet up back there?”

You smiled, sipping your coffee. “Sounds good.”

And it was. 

After your shower, you got dressed and met Martha by the shed. Clark carried most of the boxes to the car, but you and Martha helped. Then, driving into the town as the sun started to warm to the sky, you helped set up Martha’s stall. 

The town was buzzing with people. Buying, selling, laughing, joking, running, talking, singing, dancing. Just like every year, except it always seemed to get better than the last. 

“Think you’ll try out at the hay-bale throw again?” You asked Clark as you both manned Martha’s stall whilst she talked with Josie three stalls down. 

Clark laughed, handing over the carrier bag of fresh fruit and two jars of honey. You passed the change back to the customer before starting to bag another customer’s order. 

“I think the coach still had me banned from when I was in middle school.”

Meanwhile, three stalls down, Josie agreed to Martha’s plan. A plan that both you and Clark came to find out about a few hours later. 

“Your mom’s asked if you can go and get some more boxes from the farm. The way these berries are disappearing, there aren’t gonna be enough to last through the lunch hour.”

You looked around. “But I just got another crate from the car.”

Jonathan turned you and Clark around, pushing you out the back of the tent. “I-I think you both better go. Oh, and make sure to bring an extra box of corn. I’ll get the grill fired up. You know how quickly the corn sells out.”

You both agreed, but you shook your head. “I could have sworn I just carried another crate inside.”

“That was weird, don’t you think?”

“You’re telling me. Come on, we should hurry before the lunch rush.”

However, it all became apparent there was no mystery crate since you had carried one into the tent and the entire thing had been a ruse to get you and Clark back to the farm. 

“Now, please don’t yell at me but Clark was telling me about your dress fittings and-”

“Mom!”

“And I just thought I might be able to help. Now, you don’t have to try any on, but I should tell you Josie is inside and I doubt she’ll let you walk away without at least taking a look.”

“Mom, I told you-”

You shook your head and pressed a hand to Clark’s chest. “No, it’s okay.”

“You don’t have to agree.”

You gave a small, yet slightly hopeful, sigh. “It’s okay. Really. Wouldn't hurt to take a look?”

Inside, Josie was running around three different travel racks she’d set up, each filled with different wedding dresses. Each was a different style with different veils and trains. 

“I think I’ve got two of each style and don’t worry about the fit. Martha already told me your measurements.”

“She has?” Both you and Clark looked at her. But she just shrugged. 

“You forget how many times I’ve made you stand on my wooden box when I’ve made dresses.”

You smiled and touched her arm as she linked hers with yours. “Thank you for doing this, Martha.”

She shrugged. “Clark told me how tired you were picking out a dress in the city. I thought you might like a bit of home comfort.”

“What about the stall?”

Martha just waved her hand. “John’s got it all under control. Besides, the Miller’s boy agreed to help out. We can take as long as you’d like.”

For the first time in months, you felt relaxed at the thought of picking out a wedding dress. However, something still panged inside of your chest. 

You didn’t have many people in the way of family, but Clark, Jonathan and Martha had become your family in more ways than one. A small part of yourself had wished you could join their family for real, when you were younger. A small part of you still wishes that now. But it was a young-and-in-love dream you had once. A dream you had to convince yourself to let go before you spent the rest of your life in heartbreak. 

“I-I should probably head back-”

“No, Clark, honey, you should stay. Go on, go and sit on the sofa.”

“I don’t-”

You looked up at him. “Clark, stay. Please?”

He smiled at you. “Okay. But only if you want me to.”

You nodded. “I want you to.”

So he stayed. 

Sat on the sofa, he watched as Josie pulled a dress from the rack and carried it down the hallway and into your room. 

He’d seen some of the photos of you in the dresses your mother-in-law had put you in. The expression on your face, the way you drowned in the amount of fabric she’d put on your head…you looked dejected but he could still see where you were putting on a mask to keep her and her family happy. 

That wasn’t anywhere near the look you had on your face when you walked down the hallway and into the living room/ make-shift bridal runway. 

With his arm across the back of the sofa, Martha watched the look on her son’s face change from slightly nervous to, well, completely stunned and annamored. It was a look she saw often on her son’s face when he looked at you, but never as boldly. 

“Wow.”

One word from Clark and you felt your cheeks heat right up. Out of slight nervousness, you looked down at yourself and smoothed the dress out. “What do you think?”

Clark seemed speechless. “You look…you look beautiful, Y/n. Really, really, beautiful.”

Smiling, you said, “Thank you.”

Finally stepping forward, Josie held your arms and helped you turn on the box to face the mirror before she stepped back and lifted the train of the dress out. 

For the first time, standing in front of a mirror in a wedding dress, you weren’t drowning. The gown wasn’t overpowering or filled with a tone of different fabrics that all seemed to have the same name. 

It was simple, elegant and classic. 

With a longer train, a lace detail around the middle and lace off-the-shoulder sleeves; for the first time in a dress, you could breathe. 

“What do you think, honey?”

“I love it.”

In the mirror, Martha looked from your face, to her son’s and back again. Neither of you were paying any attention to her or Josie. In fact, from looking at you in the dress and at each other, it was as if you and Clark were the only two in the room. 

“I do have a few more options we can try, too. Martha told me you wanted a lace detail. Not all of the dresses have one, but I do have a ribbon of lace to tie on if you’d like.”

You nodded and thanked her. 

As Josie carried your train and you walked back to your room, Martha stayed leaning against the kitchen beam that led into the living room. 

“She does make a beautiful bride.”

“She’s stunning. Todd…Todd’s a lucky man.”

Martha nodded. “He is.” 

Then she paused. 

For years she’d seen the same thing happen after moments like this. The dejected look on his face when he realised it wasn’t him she was with. 

“There’s still time, Clark. You can still tell her how you feel.”

Clark shook his head, pretending to pick some lint from his trousers. “It’s not that simple, mom.”

Martha scoffed. “I’ve told you since the beginning, you should tell her how you feel.”

“And risk losing her in the process? She’s happy with Todd, mom. And I’m happy for her.”

“Are you both, though? Are you both happy?”

Clark didn’t have time to answer because the door clicked open down the hall and you appeared in another gown. His reaction was the same. 

His, and your, reaction was the same with each dress you tried on. 

But it was something else entirely when Josie was searching for the perfect veil, only for Martha to appear from her bedroom carrying one you recognised. Well, partly. 

“Clark, honey, can you help me? I’m a little too short still.”

Standing, Clark walked over and helped place to fastener into the back of the makeshift hairstyle Josie had done. 

“I made it a few months ago. I still had a box of material you’d given to me from your mom’s closet.”

Stepping back from the mirror, Clark watched as you became teary-eyed. 

“It matches perfectly.”

You were doing everything you could to stop yourself from balling your eyes out. For the first time, you not only looked like a bride, but you felt like one. 

Standing with Martha and Clark in the one place you’d called, in your heart, home, you felt like a bride. 

From behind you, Josie captured a picture before Jonathan walked through the front door. 

“Well, isn’t that a sight for sore eyes. Y/n, honey, you look beautiful. A blushin’ bride if I ever did see one.”

Taking your eyes from Clark’s, you looked over your shoulder to Jonathan and then back again. 

Making everything official with Josie, she hugged you and promised to have the dress sent to your apartment in time for your wedding. Not a lot of alterations had to be made, just a seam here and there. 

After that, you walked back into the living room, dressed in your normal clothes. However, you couldn’t help but feel as if you’d walked in on a conversation you weren’t supposed to hear. 

“Is everything okay?”

“Everything’s fine, honey. Uh, I think Clark’s waiting outside for you. The show should be starting soon.”

“Oh, okay. Are you coming?” You asked as you grabbed your jacket. 

“We’ll be there soon. Save us some seats?”

“You got it.”

Stepping outside, you found Clark nowhere in sight until you called out for him and heard his voice from under the car. 

“What are you doing?”

“Dropped the keys. Just filled the trunk up with some extra crates. Apparently more people have turned up to the show than expected.”

“Then we better get a move on.”

Arriving back in town, you and Clark relieved the Miller boy from his duty and started to serve the hungry customers of Smallville, together, before going to find your seats to watch the play. 

~~~~~~~~~~~

Just a little after ten, Clark pulled the car up outside of the farmhouse once again. 

“Are you okay?”

It took a moment before Clark’s voice reached your ears. “Mmh?”

He switched the car off completely as he turned and looked at you. “You’ve been quiet ever since you came back after the interval. Are you okay?”

“Oh, yeah. Yeah, I’m fine.”

“Are you sure?” Clark asked again. 

You sighed a little. You never kept anything from Clark. Well, almost anything. 

“What is it?”

“Todd called me.”

“Is everything alright?”

“Everything’s fine. It’s just…we’re getting married next week.”

Clark’s brows furrowed. “But I thought the wedding wasn’t for another two months?”

“It is. It was. But his mom’s put a rush on the dress and an opening has come up for next Sunday.”

Even if Clark hadn’t known you for years, he’d still be able to hear the sad and tired tone behind your voice. 

“So what did you say?”

You opened up the car door and stepped out, Clark quickly following your actions. “I don’t get much of a say. I suppose every bride dreams of having everything being taken care of. All I have to do is show up and look pretty.”

“But?” 

“But I kinda wanted to do it myself. I wanted to tour venues with Todd and for us to pick the perfect one. I wanted to go to cake tastings and talk with other brides. But that’s all been taken care of. And I’m grateful. I really am. It would just be nice to be the one to make the choice every now and again.”

You both walked up the steps of the porch and into the house. 

“Did you tell him you chose a dress?”

“I did. He said he’ll call his mom and tell her.”

“You sound sad.”

You turned around quickly. “No, no. I’m not sad. It…it’s been a long day. I think I’m just tired. See you in the morning?”

Clark nodded. “See you in the morning.”

Then you did something you only ever did when you were practically half-asleep. You leaned up and kissed his cheek. 

It wasn’t like you hadn’t kissed other people’s cheeks. 

When Jimmy finally found a break in your case at the Daily Planet – a case you’d been working on for almost two weeks – you’d called him a genius, kissed his cheek, grabbed your bag and went running out of work and towards the local docs to find someone to corroborate the story. 

But there was something…intimate…about when you kissed his cheek. Maybe it was because he always wished it was, or wished that was how you meant it. 

You were engaged, he reminded himself. You were engaged to Todd and you were happy. At least, he thought you were. When you were just dating Todd, you seemed happy. He treated you well, always called you during your lunch break. Some days he’d come to the Planet and surprise you and take you out to dinner. Todd was also one of the less corrupt millionaire tech people in Metropolis. 

“Goodnight, Clark.”

“Night, Y/n.”

Thing was, Clark never went to bed. As he heard your door click shut, someone spoke. 

“You’re still in love with her.”

Looking into the kitchen, Clark saw his mom sitting at the kitchen table with a cup of tea. 

“Does that matter?” Clark asked, throwing his jacket over the back of the sofa as he passed it. He made his way into the kitchen and sat across from his mom. 

“It does when she doesn’t really love him.”

“Mom-”

“I know what I see in her eyes when she looks at you, Clark. I’ve seen it in both of you since you first brought her home. I heard it in your voice when you first told me about her. I hear it in her voice when she calls your name.”

Clark shook his head as he sat down. 

“She’s getting married in eight days, mom.”

“But not to the right man.”

“Mom.”

“Clark, I know what I saw when I met him.”

Martha had met him when she surprised Clark in the city. She’d arrived at the Planet around the same time as Todd when he was surprising you at work. She shared an elevator ride with him before they reached your floor. 

He was well mannered. Let her on first, pressed the button for her, made polite conversation, let her out first, introduced himself when she realised who he was to Y/n. Then you offered to cook dinner. Todd stayed and helped with the clean up. Martha had talked to him. Todd was a great guy. 

But there was that spark missing. 

You were happy. And you loved Todd. And he loved you. 

But neither of you seemed in love. Not properly. 

“She cares for him. She wouldn’t want to see him hurt. But she’s not in love with him. Not completely.”

“She’s still marrying him. If she didn’t want to, she would have said no. She loves him, mom. That’s the end of the story.”

Martha sighed. She loved her son to death, but by the gods could he be a complete idiot. The same with you. You’d both loved each other for years and yet, for some unknown reason, neither of you had ever done anything about it. 

You’d been friends for the longest time, then you started working together, too. Maybe you’d both waited too long, you thought it was too late. 

“There’s still time, Clark.”

Clark shook his head. “I know you’d like to think there is, mom, but I just think it’s run out.”

Standing, he pressed a kiss to his mother’s cheek. “Go and check on your dad before you go to bed. I think he’s still watching the fireflies.”

Clark smiled. “Okay, mom.”

As the back door shut, along with the screen door, Martha heard a door click open down the hall. 

A few moments later, you appeared in the kitchen. “Oh, sorry. I was just coming to get some water.”

“Can’t sleep?”

You sighed, picking up a clean glass and filling it with cold water. “Not really. How long have you been here?”

“Long enough to hear you’re getting married in a week, tomorrow.”

You sat down across from her. “Todd called me earlier.”

“Are you happy about that? The wedding being moved?”

You shrugged. “It is what it is. Everything’s planned. Todd’s mother has everything covered.”

“You can be excited.”

“I know. And I am. Sorta.”

“But you wished you could plan something?”

You nodded. “The only thing I could get Todd’s mom to agree with was the wedding date. But, I suppose it doesn’t matter when or how I get married. I love him – that’s all that matters, right?”

Martha nodded. “It is. But you have to remember, you’re not just marrying Todd. You’re becoming his family. You know, it’s funny. I always thought you’d be joining our family one day. Officially, I mean.”

You smiled. 

“You’ve been a part of our family since Clark brought you home in college and you will be even after you marry Todd. But, I don’t know.” Martha shrugged. “Part of me always wished something would happen between you and Clark. You were always so close.”

You shifted in your seat a little as you felt a small, nervous, chuckle rise. 

“I’m being serious. I would love to have you as my daughter.”

The sadness in your chest panged again. Daughter. Not just a daughter-in-law, but a daughter. A real family. One with monthly visits, daily calls, laughter, stories, comfort, freedom, love. 

Then you heard yourself admit something you’d never admitted out loud. Not even to yourself. 

“I’d love to be your daughter, too. If I’m being honest, I haven’t not thought about it before. But…” you sighed, turning the glass around in circles. “Clark and I…we’ve been friends for so long…it was easier to try to let that teenage dream go than jeopardise losing him.”

Martha just looked at you. She didn’t seem surprised. But she did give you a brief smile. 

“You still love him.”

It wasn’t a question. 

And for some reason, you wanted to cry. 

“I think part of me will always love him.” 

“Oh, honey.”

Standing, Martha moved to the seat beside you and held onto your hands. “You don’t have to marry, Todd.”

You swallowed and nodded. “Yes, I do.”

“But why? Honey, if you don’t-”

“I can’t keep holding onto a childish dream,” you admitted. “Clark will never see me as anything other than his best friend, and maybe that’s for the best. And Todd’s a great guy. His mother might be a nightmare,” you laughed a little, lifting your hand to wipe the corner of your eyes. “But Todd cares for me. He loves me and I love him. We’ll have a good life together.”

“But will you enjoy it?”

After a moment of silence, you heard the clock strike eleven. You stood quickly as if you’d been caught doing something wrong and wiped your eyes. “I-I’m sorry. I should probably- I should get to bed. I’m sorry for telling you about all this. You don’t need to worry.”

“Y/n?”

You stopped in your tracks and watched as Martha stood from the table and walked over to you. 

She hugged you. 

“No matter what, we’re still your family.”

Hugging her back, you said, “Thank you.”

Kissing your cheek, she left you to walk back to your room before she went towards hers. And just as both of the doors closed, the backdoor slowly opened and Clark walked inside, his heart beating faster than it had ever done. 

~~~~~~~~~~

“And you’re sure she said that? Those words? Specifically.”

Jimmy rushed alongside Clark as they walked through the bullpen. Clark hadn’t meant to tell him; he hadn’t meant to tell anyone. It kinda just slipped out. 

“Yes.” Clark pressed. 

“But this all happened while you were away,” Jimmy pointed out. “So what have you been doing for the last three days?”

“Panicking? Worrying? I don’t know, Jimmy. What am I meant to do? It’s not like she knows that I know.”

“She doesn’t? You haven’t talked to her about it yet?”

“What can I talk to her about? She’s getting married in four days.”

Jimmy stood back. “Oh, I don’t know. How about…” Jimmy pretended to think. “Don’t marry him. Marry me instead. I’m in love with you. I’ve been in love with you since I met you. I heard you talking to my mom and I need to tell you that I feel the same way.” 

Jimmy watched Clark as he sat down at his desk. “I mean, I’m just spitballin’ here.”

Clark rolled his eyes and rolled his chair underneath his desk and from the immediate panicked look on his face, Jimmy turned around and found you walking towards your desk. 

“Hey, Y/n. How are you feeling?” 

Once more, it took a moment before Jimmy’s voice reached your ears. You’d been so distracted for the last few days that you’d somehow managed to run into the same coffee cart not once, not twice, not even three times, but four. Clark saved you from the fifth. 

“Uh, yeah. Good, yeah.”

You sat back at your desk and opened up your computer and started typing. Unaware of the chaos going on at Clark’s desk, you continued to make spelling mistakes and grammar mistakes as you typed away. 

Jimmy kept making signals to Clark. Help her. Talk to her. Talk to her. Now.

“Hey, Y/n, Clark wanted to talk to you.”

Then Jimmy left. 

“You did?”

At his desk, the pencil continued to turn over and over in Clark’s fingers. “Uh, yeah. Just…just wanted to make sure you were doing okay. You…you’ve kinda been distracted lately.”

“Oh, yeah, no. No, I’m fine.”

“And you’re…sure?”

You nodded, trying to make yourself believe it. “I’m sure.”

“You don’t sound it. First wedding jitters?” Cat appeared behind you. 

“Cat!”

“What? Every girl gets nervous before her wedding. Not that you should be. After all, you’ve got the perfect wedding, to the perfect guy, with the perfect life waiting for you. Hell, if I were you I’d be getting ready to pack my stuff up now.”

“Cat!”

“What? It’s not like she’s going to want anything. Fifth richest guy in the world.”

“Fourth now.” Lois corrected as she walked by. 

Then your phone rang. 

“Hello-”

“Y/n, dear. We need you down at the tailors immediately. I’ve just found some more fabric-”

“This is Y/n. I can’t come to the phone right now but if you leave your name and number after the beep, I’ll get back to you.”

As Jimmy passed by, you pulled him down and after a silent argument he made the noise. 

“Beeeeep.”

Waiting for a moment, you put the phone back down before relaxing back in your chair. 

“What was that about?” Clark could almost laugh. 

“I can’t take anymore fabric.”

“Fabric?”

“What kind of fabric?”

“What for?”

“For my new-new wedding dress.”

Clark stood and walked over to your desk. “New wedding dress? But I thought you were wearing the one you picked out back home.”

“Picked out?”

“Back home?”

“You have a new wedding dress?”

You looked back at Clark. “I did. And I do get to wear it. At the reception.”

“And at your wedding?”

Looking at Clark, you gave him a look that worried him to his core. You looked fed up and annoyed as you pulled a large binder that was spilling over with hot glued patches of fabric on a drawn bride. 

“Oh my god!” Was the main reaction in disgust. 

“Haven’t you said no?”

“I can’t get a word in edgewise. She just talks over me and by the time I can talk, I’m drowning in thirty tones of organza and ruching fabric. She’s taken over everything. I’ve tried speaking to Todd but suddenly trying to get him on the phone…I’d have better luck sounding for Superman outside of that window and having him hear me than getting hold of Todd. I just…I don’t know what I’m meant to do. I accepted her help because she’s gonna be my family soon but this week.”

Cat looked horrified. “You’re not thinking about cancelling the wedding are you?”

“What? No.” Though you didn’t sound so convincing yourself. “No, of course not. It’s just….I thought this was meant to be about me and Todd. Not Todd’s mother and all the connections that can be made during the ceremony. Please tell me your mom and dad are still coming?”

Clark nodded, a little defeated himself but he hid it well, before walking behind you and placing his hands on your shoulders. “Of course they are. They wouldn’t miss it.”

Under his warming hands, you relaxed for a moment and leaned back in your chair. And for that moment, you let yourself believed that hideous binder didn’t exist and that you weren’t being waited on by a nightmare mother-in-law who didn’t want to listen at the tailors but rather you were planning on driving back to Smallville at the end of the week to visit Clark’s family with him. 

But the ringing of your phone broke that small moment of calmness. 

“Want me to get it?”

You groaned as you sat up. “No, it’s okay. Thanks Jimmy.”

“If you need another beep, just holler.”

You smiled and sat up, Clark disappearing back to his desk with the others. Saying a silent prayer, you answered the phone. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“And you still haven’t talked to her? Clark!”

“I know, I know. But it’s not like it’s going to change anything. You heard her. She loves him.”

“She cares for him. Deeply. But, Clark, honey. You are the one she’s been in love with. You are the one she’s still in love with.”

Clark shook his head. “You keep saying that, mom, but if she did, she wouldn’t be marrying him. She would have called the wedding off or done something. But she’s agreed to the dress, she’s agreed to the extra hundred guests and she’s agreed to marry him.”

“She’s being pushed to agree and you and I both know that. She said yes to Todd – I get that. He’s a great guy. But she only said yes because she thought you would never feel the same about her.”

“But I do.”

“Then why haven’t you talked to her, son?”

Clark sighed. It was your wedding day. You were hours away from changing your last name and becoming the fourth richest man in the world’s wife. You were hours away from being pushed around by your mother-in-law introducing you to different people with fancy backgrounds and lots of money to spare. 

Resting his head in his hands for a moment, Clark eventually looked back up. 

“Look, maybe she loved me once but that doesn’t change the fact that she’s about to get married. To someone else.”

His dad sighed. “Son, just talk to her. Tell her how you feel. And if she doesn’t feel the same way, and I mean is she truly doesn’t then you know you can move on. But what if you don’t? What if she goes the next however long before she realises she’s made a big mistake and that on her wedding day, you could have put a stop to it all. That you could have both gotten the life you’ve always wanted. Together.”

All of a sudden, Clark’s front door swung open. 

“C.K, she’s asking for you.”

With one final look from his parents, Clark grabbed his jacket and followed Jimmy out of the door. 

~~~~~~~~~

“Clark? What are you doing here?”

Clark looked around behind him and looked at Jimmy as he hung in the doorway. He said nothing. Just mouthed the word: “Talk.” Then he shut the door. 

“Clark? Is everything okay?”

Turning back to you, Clark took you in. You looked beautiful. Well, underneath the layers and layers and layers of fabric. But he already knew that. 

But Clark didn’t have to say anything. Somehow it was like you could read his mind. Something was wrong, but it wasn’t anything material. 

Or maybe it was just your wishful thinking. 

“Clark, is there something you need to talk to me about?”

A million thoughts rushed through Clark’s head. Don’t marry him. I love you. I heard you last week. I wished I could have told you sooner. But then he looked around. It was less than three hours before you were meant to walk down the aisle. You were already in your wedding dress. He could hear a chorus of bridesmaids down the hall. 

He loved you too much to be the jerk who tried to convince you on your wedding day, not to marry a great guy who loved you. 

“Clark?”

He stepped back as you reached for him. “I just wanted to see how you were doing. You must be excited, right?”

You stepped back and put your mask back on. You smiled. “Oh, y-yeah. Of course.”

“Is there anything you need me to do-”

Then he saw it. The mask faded for almost a second. 

“Y/n? What is it?”

Shaking your head, you stepped towards him. You spoke in a hushed tone. “Clark, I-”

The door swung right open. “Miss?” 

You and Clark stepped back from each other, a fraction of the distance from before. 

It was Todd’s mother’s PA, 

“She wants to see you.”

Looking at Clark, your eyes pleaded something awful but you let go of his hand and walked away. 

After waiting for twenty minutes, Clark left the room and headed outside. People were arriving since most things had finished being set up. Some people had found their seats, others were taking pictures. 

But all in all, the wedding was still going ahead. 

~~~~~~~~~~

“I need to tell her, Jonathan.”

He sighed. “Maybe Clark’s right. We should just stay out of it. They’re grown adults. They can make their own decisions.”

“I can’t just stand here and watch her sign her life away to someone who isn’t her forever love.”

“Martha.”

“Jonathan, what if this was me and Clark was you? Would you stand by and let me marry someone just because you thought it was best? Or would you have wanted someone to tell me that the man I loved, loved me back just as much, but he is not the man I was marrying.”

Jonathan thought over the sentence. “But that wasn’t us, Martha.”

“She has a right to know Clark feels the same. Better yet, she has the right to know he knows.”

Jonathan sighed but did nothing to stop his wife from walking away from the wedding ceremony, out of the doors and up the stairs towards the bridal suite. 

She paused for a moment, her husband stood behind her. She had his full support. 

She knocked. 

“Come in.”

Opening up the door, they found you sitting alone at the vanity. 

“Martha? Oh, thank goodness.” 

Standing up, you rushed towards her and embraced her hug as Jonathan shut the door discreetly. “Is everything okay?”

“I…I don’t know anymore.” 

Slowly you walked back to the vanity and sat down on the stool. Martha shared a look with her husband. 

“Well, honey, I…I need to talk to you about something.”

She pulled up a chair with Jonathan’s help and took your hands in her’s. 

“What is it?”

Taking one final look at her husband, who nodded, she looked back at you with a deep breath. 

“Before I tell you, I want you to know that I’m telling you because you deserve the right to know and you deserve a choice.”

“Choice? What choice?”

“Clark knows.” Jonathan spat it out. 

“What?” You turned back to Martha. 

“Last week, when you told me about your feelings for Clark. He was outside and heard everything.”

You didn’t know how to feel. Embarrassed, confused, sad, dejected, hopeful?

“He…he did?”

Martha nodded. 

A few moments passed in silence. “No wonder he’s been so weird this week. God, he heard and now he…he…” Then it felt like a dagger to the heart. “He doesn’t feel the same.”

“No-”

“Honey, no-”

You felt yourself stand and start to pace. “God, how could I be so stupid! I- I knew he never felt the same. I suppose part of me held hope but-”

“You should still hold hope.” Jonathan held you still. “Because he loves you, too.”

You sighed, feeling tears brewing behind your eyes. “It’s okay. You don’t have to-”

“But we’re not.” Martha came to your side. “He really does.”

“If he does, then why didn’t he say anything?”

“Because he thinks he’s doing what’s best. He loves you too much to lose you. When you think about it, you’ve both been protecting each other for so long…even when you might have a chance, you still don’t want the other to get hurt.”

“Todd’s a great guy, sweetie.” Jonathan told you. “And if you really want to marry him I’ll walk you down there myself. But I think you should think about it before you do.”

Your eyes wandered over to where you’d been sitting before they walked in. You’d had a million thoughts running around your head but the main one was that you would rather be any place else than in a bridal suite waiting to walk down the aisle and become the next Mrs. Fourth Richest Man in the World’s wife. 

“But you shouldn’t just do it for Clark, either.” Jonathan added. “He loves you and will support any choice you make. So will we. But the decision should be for you.”

You waited for a few minutes but your mind was already made up. Your heart had made up its mind a long time ago. 

“Can you go and get Todd for me? I-I think I need to talk to him.”

Jonathan and Martha didn’t know what choice you had made but agreed anyway and a few minutes later, Todd entered with his eyes covered. 

“Unofficially, I’m here. Is everything okay?”

Standing and stepping towards him, you lowered his hand. “I need to talk to you.”

And for an hour you and Todd talked. You both talked over everything. Every feeling, every moment, every opportunity. But your mind was made up. 

“I’m so sorry, Todd.”

He smiled. “It’s okay. We would have had a good life together but…you would have been unhappy. And I think I would, too. Eventually. You know, I looked into that room today and all I saw was a networking event. If I couldn’t even stop my own wedding from becoming a business meeting, what would our marriage look like?”

You nodded and he took your hand. “Just do me one favour.”

“Anything.”

“Well, it might be two.”

You nodded. 

“Get yourself into some more comfortable clothes. Ones that maybe don’t look like they’re about to sink you to the bottom of the ocean if you fell in.”

You laughed and looked down at the extravagant wedding dress you were still wearing. 

“And go and find Clark.”

You looked at Todd. You hadn’t mentioned Clark. Just that you gave your heart away a long time ago. 

Todd just smiled. “He deserves to know the truth, and you deserve to give your heart what it’s always wanted. I wish you the best, Y/n.”

“I wish you the best, too.”

Todd smiled, contently, and kissed your cheek. 

Then you both looked down at your dress. 

“Do you want me to get the chainsaw? I’m pretty sure the gardener here has a spare one.”

“I think all these beads would break it.”

It took a long fifteen minutes to get you out of the dress with Martha and Jimmy’s help. Todd had left and ran into him in the hallway as he was on his way to talk to his mother and announce to the guests the wedding would not be continuing. 

Jimmy had run in a few seconds later with a spare set of clothes since you had nothing but silk underlining pajamas. 

“Whoa.”

“Just help me get out of this thing. I need to find Clark. Is he here?”

Jimmy shook his head as he started to undo the buttons from the side of the dress as Marth tackled the otherside. “No, he left.”

“He left? Where?”

“He just said he was going for a walk. Wait, are you going to find him to tell him-”

“She loves him. Yes. Now, hurry up with the buttons.”

Pulling the crew neck jumper over yourself as you ran out of the bridal suite. There weren't many places to walk near the wedding venue and after asking two gardeners if they’d seen someone matching Clark’s description, you realised where he was headed. 

“Come on, I’ll drive you.”

Hopping in the car with Jimmy, he started driving around the city before pulling up outside of Clark’s building. You practically flew through his front door. 

“Clark! Clark! Are you here?!” You couldn’t find him. “Clark? Oh, where are you?”

It was as you stood in the middle of his apartment, spinning in circles, that you heard a small woosh outside. Then a very frazzled Clark came running through the door. 

You just looked at each other. No words were said but a part of Clark was confused – confused at your or the suppressed hope? He couldn’t tell. 

In the silence, he walked down the steps before you ran towards him and hugged him tightly. Your feet were lifted from the ground as he hugged you back, his eyes closing, his senses becoming filled with you. 

“I’m sorry it took me so long to tell you.”

“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you.”

He set you back on your feet, but his hands remained on you, holding you close to him. His breathing was heavy as if he’d been rushing to get to you, too. 

“I went back to try and find you. I wanted to tell you but when I got there, Lois told me you’d run out.”

“I couldn’t wait any longer. I talked it through with you mom and dad, and Todd. I couldn’t marry him. My heart was never in it. Not fully.”

Clark just waited. His body was still recovering from the adrenaline. 

“Clark, I gave my heart away a long time ago. I think before I even knew it, too. Clark, I’m in love with you.”

He was silent. 

“Clark, please say something.”

But he couldn’t. So he did the next best thing. 

He kissed you. 

Holding you close to him, his fingertips digging into your skin enough to let you know he was holding onto you for dear life, he kissed you. Your arms came around his neck and pulled him closer to you. Then, finally, as his hand came to the side of your face and the kiss peppered away, his forehead remained against yours. 

“I’m in love with you, too.”

A year later, the runaway bride story was old news and the announcement of your engagement to Clark being made inside the Daily Planet was published as a short story in the next day's edition. 

It had been purely by accident. Clark did have a plan but after Jimmy searched his desk for the extra copies of the evidence papers, he’d found a box and opened it accidently. 

“Is that an engagement ring?”

“Oh, my god, it is.”

“C.K, I’m so sorry.”

He sighed a little. “It’s okay, Jimmy.”

“What’s going on?”

As they all turned, you and Mr White were greeted with the looks of panic on everyone’s face. In Clark’s hand was the open box with the engagement ring. 

“Great shades of Elvis.”

“Clark?”

A nervous smile was being held back on your face. For all you and Perry knew, it was a part of a missing case. But you recognised the ring. It was the same one Jonathan had given Martha when they got engaged. And in the silent conversation between you and Clark across your friends, he walked around Lois and Cat to get to you. 

“No time like the present.”

You smiled, watching as he looked at you for permission before he got down on one knee. Perry ran around you both, joining Lois, Jimmy and Cat. 

“I want you to know, I did have a plan but-”

“Yes. Sorry.”

Clark smiled. “I figured we’ve both waited long enough-”

“Yes. Sorry. Continue.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes. I promise I’ll wait.”

Clark went to speak but Perry spoke up. “Oh, you’ve both waited nearly ten years. Just ask her already.”

Clark looked around and Perry closed his mouth, whispering a light, “Sorry.”

Finally, Clark looked back at you and had a pleased smile on his face. 

“Y/n?”

“Yes.”

Clark waited a short moment. “Will you do me the greatest honour of, finally, becoming my wife?”

You smiled and nodded. “Yes. I’d love to.”

As the entire bullpen started cheering and whooping, Clark stood quickly and kissed you before finally slipping the ring onto your finger. 

Two months later you and Clark got married on his family farm surrounded by your friends and families, in a small ceremony where Martha had helped you pick out a wedding dress with Josie, Lois, Cat and Jimmy– one which Clark hadn’t seen, but one which you loved. 

It had taken almost ten years but as you slow-danced with Clark on the grass, you kissed him. You’d both found your Forever Love and now you had an entire lifetime to share it. Together.

[amageish]

Thinking way too hard about the queer possibilities of X-Men ‘97

When X-Men ‘97 was first announced, I’ll admit I was kind of ambivelent to the entire project... It felt very nostalgia-focused and was just less interesting to me then an all-new X-Men cartoon that could do its own thing without being burdened with established canon...

...and then I listened to the X-Men 60 Uncanny Years event earlier this year and hearing the executive producer of the series discuss what the X-Men meant to him as a kid as a gay black man in Florida basically changed my mind about the entire project. Now I’m excited for it!

The X-Men are so fucking queer. Even ignoring the ways that the mutant metaphor have been used to discuss queer issues before queer issues could be discussed textually, Marvel’s merry mutants just have... so many queer members and even more when you expand the list to include sub-textual and intended queerness.

So, with all that in mind, I did a little thinking and decided to take some guesses about who could make for queer representation in '97... Let’s dive in!

Part One: The Comic Canon Gays

Let’s start with the characters who are explicitly no-subtext-required queer in the comic books themselves. These are a few of the characters Marvel uses in Pride events and generally parades around every June.

Northstar

Jean-Paul Beaubier may seem like the vanilla ice cream of this rainbow sundae, but there’s far more going on with this character then the “Marvel’s first explicitly gay superhero” title that he is so often boiled down to. A French-Canadian superstar athlete, he’s lived never being entirely sure if his skiing career success was a result of his talent or his mutant abilities.

While his depiction in X-Men The Animated Series just had him be painfully French-Canadian with an on-the-nose accent and French exclamations, there’s a mean catty gay under the surface that is just waiting to be unleashed. They could also adapt his famous wedding arc, wherein he married his husband Kyle Jinadu...

Also he hates cops, so y’know... Maybe Marvel did nail the queer experience on their first try?

Iceman

Bobby Drake is arguably the most famous queer character at Marvel. A member of the original five X-Men, he was famously confirmed as gay when his teenage self was transported to the present and, with some unsolicited help from a teenage Jean Grey, questioned why his older self remaining closeted, even in a world that was (comparatively at least) accepting of queer desire.

In the original show, he showed unrequited interest in Polaris, as he had in the comics before his coming-out. This reboot could potentially give a more grounded and less fantastical take on coming-out then what he had in the comics... or maybe time travel will be involved again - who knows really!

Prodigy

David Allyene, aka Prodigy, is one of the most notable bi men at Marvel with one of the most distinctive coming-out stories. His mutant powers cause him to instantly learn things that other people know, hence the name Prodigy, and, through his powers, he also learned his own sexuality. How’s that for a crazy journey of self-discovery.

Prodigy is a newer character who did not appear in the original animated series at all, so there’s no continuity concerns there...

Mystique and Destiny

Destiny, also known as Irene Adler, met her lover Mystique when he was presenting as male and operating as a consulting detective in Victorian London.

Yeah uh. This is implying what you think it is.

The two of them have been lovers for centuries now, though both took other partners at different points during their relationship. Their love is something special though and together they raised Rogue as a child - as well as maybe sired Nightcrawler together? That was once intended to be Nightcrawler’s origin, but it was famously scrapped due to Marvel editorial not wanting to depict a child that is a product of a queer relationship at the time... but now this November a new comic will explore the “true��� origin of Nightcrawler, so maybe Mystique/Destiny having a biological child is back on the table!

Mystique was, of course, in the original series. I’m not sure the actual odds of her relationship with Irene being acknowledged in ‘97 - partially just because I imagine Marvel would be concerned about backlash to queer villains... but also they’re adorable and good to me so I’d like them!

Captain Britain and Askani

Betsy Braddock and Rachel Summers are two incredibly complicated characters to summarize. Rachel is the time-displaced daughter of Scott and Jean from a hypothetical alternate feature, while Betsy Braddock spent like 30 years of her publication history trapped in the body of Kwannon, a Japanese assassin. While these two characters are some of Marvel’s most actively in-your-face unquestionably queer characters - the last Betsy story had a surprising amount of implied sex for only five issues - they’ve never really had a chance to shine in a multimedia way (well, at least not with Betsy in her own body and not being merged with Kwannon).

In the original show, Rachel cameoed briefly as a prisoner of Apocalypse while Pyslocke appeared without being named - assumedly they didn’t want to bother explaining the body-swap storyline. Personally, if they were to be in the show, I’d suggest that Betsy should be introduced as having inherited her brother’s title of Captain Britain, with Pyslocke of the original show being revealed to have been Kwannon in her own body all along...

Part Two: The New Mutants

There’s so many queer New Mutants that I’m just giving them their own category here... plus, with Sunspot being in the main cast, I wouldn’t be surprised if the rest of the time got (Sun)spotlighted as well!

Note that the sapphics of the first generation of New Mutants can also be mixed and matched when it comes to shipping. I present them based on the pairings that are currently canon/teased in the present comics, but Dani/Xuan, Xuan/Kitty, Kitty/Rahcel, etc. are all valid too and could be within the cards for the show.

Karma & Galura

The first explicit lesbian of the X-Men line, Xuân Cao Mạnh is a refugee of the Vietnam Boat Crisis, a thing which makes no sense when you consider that she is still canonically like 20-something years old in 2023. Her coming-out was a much lower-key affair then Jean-Paul’s, with her friends just casually running into her at the Exploding Person festival (i.e., Burning Man) with a shaved pink haircut and already travelling with her two “girlfriends”.

After the musical festival, she proceeded to fall in love with her roommate Kitty Pryde and then her co-worker Dani Moonstar, both of which were never (textually) requited. Recently, she’s started dating the winged mutant Galura and finally gotten to do stuff like “kiss a woman on-panel regularly” after two decades of being a lesbian denied a girlfriend...

She has cameoed in X-Men ‘92-related media with a design that is truly terrible IMO, but I think she could be rebooted and appear in this series in her full glory... especially after the New Mutants movie left her out entirely!

Mirage and Wolfsbane

Introduced in the original New Mutants run, Dani Moonstar and Rahne Sinclair share a unique telepathic connection, helpfully described as them being “soul-mates.” The Comic Book Code prohibited depictions of queer people, but uh. This first run is incredibly not subtle, even as Rahne nominally has interest her male teammate Cannonball.

Unfortunately, post-Claremont, their relationship was more or less abandoned for a few decades (coinciding with a massive downward spiral in Rahne content in general) climaxing with Rahne being killed off entirely in an allegory for transphobic violence... Thankfully, she recovered from her death and has recently been written by a non-binary author and now a trans author, both of whom have leaned back into the idea that these “soul-mates” may, in fact, have romantic feelings for each other.

Oh, also they were explicitly gay in the movie. So. Good for them for that!

Magik and Shadowkat

Another classic pair of X-Men “roommates,” Illyana Rasputina and Kate Pryde are another Claremont-created “soul-mate” duo - albeit without the telepathic bond. After decades of queer-coding, both were able to do queer-adjacent things explicitly for the first time in the Krakoa era, with Illyana asking a group of people of various gender presentations to make out with her and Kate kissing a tattoo artist who looks suspiciously like her bestie on-panel.

Pryde famously lost the spot of “Teen X-Men PoV character” to Jubilee in the show, but maybe X-Men ‘97 could give her a second chance... plus Illyana is one of the most popular X-Men characters not given a full spotlight in the original show, in spite of her more or less being an A-list X-Men in 2023. I don’t know if Marvel is brave enough to make this one canon, but I do think these two are two of the most obviously missing characters from the ‘97 line-up.

Escapade

Shela Sexton, aka Escapade, is a transgender sapphic who debuted in Marvel Pride last year and has since then had a starring role in the most recent New Mutants series. She has the incredibly unique power of the ability to “steal” things from people - including everything from stealing physical objects like their wallet to stealing abstract concepts like their emotional or physical state. Her character also generally has embodied the intersectional approach to mutant identity which has become more and more prevalent in the modern era - her mutant identity and trans identity are both important to her character, but neither are allegories for the other.

I think she’s probably too new to be added to the X-Men ‘97 cast pragmatically, but maybe they could have snuck in a cameo at the last minute? Idk. I figured I’d include her on the list.

Part Three: Let’s Get Wild!

Okay. Fuck it. Let’s talk about some comic book justifications that could be used to queer up the actual main cast from the original classic X-Men The Animated Series.

Jubilee

Jubilation Lee, the teen PoV lead of the X-Men, has been written as queer a handful of times, but never explicitly in 616. Most notably, she was gay in an AU Runaways story (written by N.D. Stevenson), where she dated a bisexual version of Pixie as well as an ice-powered sapphic named Frostbite. Monet also had a crush on her in the X-Men ‘92 animation-inspired comic book series. In terms of 616 content, her relationship with Laura Kinney has often been read in a sapphic way, especially in Liu’s X-23 series where Laura notably breaks up with her boyfriend only for Jubilee to be waiting back at her apartment to go out with her.

Storm

Ororo Munroe, aka Storm, famously has had a subtextual Sapphic fling with the bundle of chaos that is Yukio. They two met for the first time when Ororo went to Japan and their time together was almost immediately followed by her famous punk Storm era, which is very queer when you consider that context. Yukio was also later made explicitly queer in Fox’s Deadpool 2 movie, though the movie character doesn’t share much of the personality and thrill-seeking antics of her comic book counterpart...

Storm is the central protagonist of the original Claremont Uncanny X-Men and will be central to the ‘97 series as well. It’d be really bold to confirm her as queer, but I’d say this is the kind of move that would be worth it if they want this to stand out among X-Men adaptations.

Wolverine, Phoenix, and Cyclops

Finally, Jean Grey, Scott Summers, and Logan were implied to have been in a poly relationship throughout most of the Krakoa era - though they have fallen on hard times recently in the run-up to Fall of X.

I’ll be blunt: I don’t think there’s a chance in hell that Marvel corporate would approve this being textual... but I’m willing to be proven wrong, I guess!

WHEW. Okay. That’s my list. This is nowhere near definitive of course - I didn’t discuss Shatterstar’s bisexuality, Deadpool’s pansexuality, Gwenpool’s aroace identity, et al - but also basically every X-Men character is either textually queer or could be justified as being queer based on comic book lore. This entire brand has a queer poly energy that even the straightest writers weren’t able to fully shake off of it... so, while this is my list, they could really do anything they wanted (and that Mickey Mouse lets them do, at least)... We’ll see what happens!

[PS: In light of the strike and the general shitty way that megacorporations in entertainment have been treating their workers for years now, I’d be remissed if I made this post and didn’t encourage people to consider donating to the Entertainment Community Fund as well!]

[merrybrides]

How to Deal With a Future Mother-in-Law Who's Trying to Plan Your Wedding

Ah, your future mother-in-law. Maybe you normally have a great relationship, or maybe you don't—but when it comes to wedding planning, there's a good chance she'll want to be involved either way. But what happens if she wants to be way more involved than you're comfortable with? Remember that weddings can be a high-stress time for everyone—you, your family, and your partner's family—and a little help crossing things off your checklist would definitely be a plus. Here's how to get your mother-in-law involved without letting her completely take over.

Tend to Your Self-Care

First things first: If you're not taking care of yourself, you're probably not going to handle problems in the best way. (Yelling at your future mother-in-law or sending a snarky text isn't going to help in the least bit!) Instead, focus on you, then deal with the issues.

Be good to yourself. Eat well, sleep enough, get a massage, and make time for exercise and yoga and to be in nature. You can only control your own energy and mood, so do your best to be in a state of peace and well-being. And when you feel especially triggered, remember to breathe deeply. You can even get a meditation app to get back your zen.

Talk to Your Partner—and Stick Together

The first person you should talk to about issues with your mother-in-law isn't your girls over wine—it's your partner. It's their mom, after all.  Getting married symbolizes creating your new life together so you both need to be on the same page and to have each other's back. Don't gang up on your mother-in-law, but sit down together and kindly and gently inform her of your plan. This way she doesn't come between you.

Involve Her in Ways That Are a Win-Win

Your mother-in-law loves you and probably doesn't mean to be overbearing, so try giving her some duties that help you instead of interfering with your plans. Maybe she wants to call on the RSVPs or go to food or cake tasting with you.

Don't Only Focus on the Wedding When You're Together

Instead of only talking about the wedding whenever you and your mother-in-law are together, take the attention away by spending time doing other fun things. That way she'll still feel involved in your life—just with a little more space. Maybe you don't want her along for the big wedding decisions, but you can do other fun things together. Have a girl's day, invite her to dinner, or go with her to try on her dress. Try and shift the energy from tense to positive and remember your relationship extends beyond this one day.

Set Boundaries and Learn to Say No

Setting boundaries is hard, but if your mother-in-law is trying to plan your entire day and is driving you nuts in the process, learning to say no is the only way to ensure more stress doesn't pile onto your shoulders. You just need to do so in a way that doesn't damage your relationship. You can be kind and polite while still doing things differently, and you can appreciate her advice, but make other choices. Practice saying no in nice ways and also learn how to politely set boundaries on whom is handling what.

Get a Wedding Planner

A wedding planner not only helps you create the perfect day for yourself but is also the perfect buffer between you and an overbearing mother-in-law. Get help from a third party and let her handle the big decisions while consulting you. Just warn her that your mother-in-law has a different taste and let her handle it.

[starryevermore]

home is where they are ✧ stucky

angst city™ library | send in a request (consult request faqs first)

request: Maybe 40s mob Bucky or Steve or Both reuniting with reader and just cuddles?

pairing: mob!steve rogers x fem!reader x mob!bucky barnes

summary: steve and bucky will always come home to you. 

word count: 1,131

warnings?: mob au, slight angst but happy ending, fluff, pet name (sugar), not proofread

You loved your husbands. Really, truly, you did. You loved Steve and Bucky with all your heart. You were proud to have the Rogers-Barnes name, to wear your wedding ring that they gave you, to be a part of their world. But, that was not to say that there were not pitfalls in your marriage. Steve and Bucky’s line of work proved to be dangerous, even for you, someone who still sat on the outskirts of it all. You weren’t ignorant to it all, of course, but your husbands were careful to shield you from the particulars. 

And so, whenever Steve and Bucky disappeared for long periods of time, you never knew if you needed to prepare to be a widow or to not worry because they would come back safely to you ever time. Usually they weren’t gone that long, sometimes a week or two tops. While you still worried, the worry never lasted long. But this time, it felt different. As you were nearing the end of the second week, you couldn’t stop yourself from giving into the anxiety that was quickly overwhelming you. 

You were never the type of person who went out all that much. You were very much a homebody. And when Steve and Bucky were home? It was amazing. Your little corner of the world was the only place you wanted to be. You were happy to just stay home with them, baking new recipes from books they found for you, curling up on one of their laps while they read the morning newspaper, wrapping yourself up in their arms as you fell asleep in your shared bed. 

But when you were alone? God, it almost made you feel sick. Trips to the grocery store were more anxiety-inducing. Having to go out to pick up the mail made you want to cry. It took everything in you to not breakdown when you had to do things on your own. Because, as much as you were homebody, you were not built for a life alone. 

And that, perhaps, was why it was so hard to take Steve and Bucky’s absence. You missed your loves. You missed the way they would take care of you, standing by your side when you needed a helping hand, doing things for you entirely when it became too hard to do on your own. You liked being taken care of, and when you had to be alone? It was hell. 

So when this inkling of anxiety bloomed in the pit of your stomach, it made you want to keel over. You weren’t sure what you would do if you didn’t hav them. Their job was dangerous, you always knew that and you had signed up for this life, but…That didn’t mean that you wanted to consider a future without them. 

All you wanted was for them to come home. To quell this anxiety. To let you know they were safe, they were sound, and that you had them all to yourself before they had to go out and put their lives at risk again. If you could have some peace of mind for just a day, for just a moment, you would be satisfied. 

But this wasn’t quite what you asked for. Coming home from the horrible experience of going to the grocery store, with the noisy buggies and buzzing lights and too many people crammed into a small space and Mrs. Otis screaming at the cashier for not applying her expired coupon, needed to be something that was relaxing. You needed to just put away your items, to unwind that knot built up in the pit of your stomach, to try and find something to calm your mind again. 

So, when you walked in and saw Bucky on the couch, stitching up Steve’s shoulder, Steve’s crimson blood staining Bucky’s fingers? It took everything in you to not collapse right then and there. 

Bucky’s head shot up when he heard you shut the door, the click-clack of your kitten heels echoing off the hardwood floors. “Hey sugar,” he said, the corner of his mouth lifting into a tired smile. “Missed ya.”

Steve twisted his head around, his soft blue eyes lighting up as he saw you. “C’mere, sugar. Need someone to hold my hand, yeah? Buck’s tryin’ to make sure I cry from this, swear to God.”

You surged forward, taking a seat beside Steve. You grabbed his hand, your eyes falling down to the bowl in his lap, a bullet inside. You wanted to throw up. “What happened?”

“Some kid tried to play a game too big for him,” Steve said, hissing as Bucky continued stitching his shoulder. “Bullet barely grazed me, but Buck’s makin’ a bigger deal out of it.”

“Because you know Sugar would want me to make sure you’re okay,” Bucky tutted. “Don’t act like I’m torturin’ you for the hell of it. ‘Cause if I was, this would be a helluva lot more painful.”

“Don’t say that,” you said. 

Bucky’s eyes softened as he finished off the stitches. “I’m sorry, sugar. I didn’t mean that. Just upset that Stevie got hurt.”

“You’re home now, though. You’re safe. You’re home,” you said, watching as Bucky stood, taking away the equipment and the bowl. He walked to the kitchen, washing his hands to rid himself of Steve’s blood. You tucked yourself into Steve’s side, burying your face in his chest. “You’re both home. We’re together, and we’re safe.”

“I’m sorry we were gone so long,” Steve whispered, pressing a kiss to the top of your head. “And I’m sorry I got blood on your new rug.”

Bucky reappeared on your other side, sitting down and reaching out to rub your back. “Shh,” he hushed. “We said we weren’t gonna tell her til I got the stain out.”

You turned your head, narrowing your eyes out at him. “Just because I’m happy you’re home doesn’t mean I won’t chew you for stainin’ my rug, Mr. Barnes.”

“My apologies, Mrs. Barnes. How may I repay you?” he asked, leaning down to kiss you. 

Steve cleared his throat. “Ahem, it’s Mrs. Rogers-Barnes.”

“And it might just be Mrs. Rogers if you keep bein’ mean,” you said, a teasing lilt in your voice. 

Bucky gave a dramatic gasp. “You wouldn’t!”

“I just might!” you laughed, your giggles overwhelming you as Bucky began pressing kisses all over your face, trying to smother you in his love. “Okay, okay, I won’t! I won’t!”

“Good,” Bucky said, pressing a final kiss to your lips. “Cause I ain’t lettin’ you go.”

“And neither am I, sugar,” Steve said, kissing you, too. “Cause you’re our home, and we will always come back to you.”

“And my home is where you two are.”

[merakiui]

I was reading through your tags and you mentioned at some point the kazuscara roommates finding your onlyfans and I think I completely combusted—thus i present to you my brain rot of late: you attend the same school as them but you’re not actually friends, all you know about kazuha is that he’s the friendly regular at the cafe you work at, who makes polite conversation every now and then but otherwise is nothing of note. In reality he’s been stalking you for weeks ever since your first encounter, and is dead set on the idea that you’re this innocent, weak thing that needs to be protected (maybe he stepped in when you had a bad customer and your meek reply helped fester his delusions?). Scara, on the other hand, is only aware of your presence since you’re his favourite cam model that he recently found. (Since he’s a harbinger he’s probs loaded) Weeks of funnelling money towards you cause him to feel this unwarranted possessiveness, believing that since he’s been providing so much in your “relationship” that it’s time you reward him in turn. However, despite the unbridled interest they have toward you neither are aware of each other’s feelings for you— that is, until you happen to run into the both of them heading to your class. While both are known for maintaining their stoic masks, they’re friends for a reason— and instantly can tell the attraction their roommates have towards their own “lover”. After kazuha finds your onlyfans he’s certain that you’ve been coerced and wants to save you, while scara thinks it’s time that he’s stopped letting other plebeians look at his possession—so, despite their initial reservations, come together to form the ideal plan. When you find yourself waking up groggy in a room you don’t recognize, all they can do is look on with glee whilst planning their next course of action with their new belonging. They’re friends after all, and good friends share though, don’t they?

This is v long srry lol you can ignore this ofc!!

AAAH, ANON!! YES!!! <3 I couldn’t resist writing more on this concept. orz They make for such a terrifying pair when they work together!

(cw: yandere, stalking, nsfw, implied kidnapping/drugging, unhealthy behaviors/relationship, delusional thoughts, savior complex, implied violence)

What if Kazuha and Scara were just acquainted with one another and actually became closer through their mutual obsession with you? Yes, they’re roommates and ought to get along because they’re living together but they haven’t exactly clicked yet. They talk every now and then and know little things about each other. Nothing too special. They don’t really hang out outside of their dorm either, what with their class schedules being vastly different. And Kazuha’s always out of the dorm doing who-knows-what. Most of his time is spent at a café, where he’ll write and read and stare at you while you work. On the other hand, Scara prefers to stay inside if he doesn’t have a good reason to go out. He likes his alone time. Although he has enjoyed going to the library every now and then to study.

So maybe they need to find some common ground. Maybe they need a push in the right direction before they get closer.

Kazuha likes to stare. Talking to you is great, but he worries he’ll say too much and then he’ll be a nuisance, or you might not want to talk to him at all since you’re working. But you always regard him with a warm smile, happy to scribble his name on the plastic cup because you remember him. Because you recognize his familiar face and soft, gentle eyes. He’s the one who saved you from that rude customer, after all, and he’s a polite regular. Why wouldn’t you know him? You might look like you can handle those types of situations, but what Kazuha saw that day was something entirely different. You were nervous—so soft-spoken and scared. He absolutely has to protect you from those kinds of people now, doesn’t he?

And he does exactly that. He’s your second pair of eyes—your valiant knight in shining armor—who sees and hears all. Sometimes he goes to the café with the intention to simply watch over you and make sure no one’s bothering you. He can recall one time when a customer was speaking rudely about you because her drink hadn’t been prepared in a ‘timely manner.’ In reality it’s impossible to make a drink within a few seconds, especially when you’re already preoccupied with making another customer’s drink. She must’ve woken up on the wrong side of the bed, or maybe she’s just a hateful person in general. You didn’t deserve to be on the receiving end of such fiery insults, though.

Her eyes just can’t see your perfection and therefore she does not deserve to see out of them.

Kazuha’s willing to wrestle with all of this darkness if it means you’ll stay safe, oblivious, and pure. You’re like a defenseless kitten, unable to protect yourself from the scary world. He writes about you a lot in his journal; you’re his muse—someone who constantly shows up in poems and short paragraphs where he tries to describe what your dream date might be or what type of wedding you’d prefer. Things get darker the deeper you delve into his writings, where you’ll find entries in great detail. Kazuha writes a lot and he doesn’t even mean to. He just has to get all of his thoughts on paper before they abandon him and he’s left with emptiness.

Everything you do is pure; you’re almost an equivalent to a holy being. Your smell is pure. Your body is pure. Your actions are pure. Your smile is pure. Even when you’re on the verge of crying from harsh customers or when you’re turning down a confession, you’re still pure. And Kazuha likes that about you because it’s special. There aren’t many people in his life who are completely pure. He’s been through a lot of rough things and has seen firsthand how impure people can be. It’s only fair that he gets a chance to protect purity itself.

He might have some impurities, but that doesn’t deter him from watching over you. As gentle and unassuming as he is, there are times when even he loses his composure. Not many are privy to these dark emotions of his. His smiles are sharp and venomous and his eyes fill with a gloom so dark it can swallow you whole. You’ll never see this side of him; he won’t allow it. Instead you’re treated to his sweet, calm side, where he feigns perfection in hopes of catching your interest.

As for Scara… He doesn’t really care about Kazuha in the beginning. He’s just someone he has to live with. It’s not a big deal and as long as he doesn’t try to make lots of pointless conversation everything will be okay. He prefers the peace and quiet, considering he’s acquainted with people who are far from peaceful and quiet. Scara’s relieved that Kazuha leaves the dorm so often because it gives him an opportunity to watch his favorite cam star’s most recent video. He’s your most loyal follower—someone who’s paid lots of money just to have access to the highest tier of rewards and such. He even got a private video where you addressed him and moaned out his name with lustful thoughts of him. Having lots of money comes in handy.

When he finds out that you go to the same school as him, he’s a little shocked. He didn’t expect you to be so close. You’re practically within touching distance. If only he knew your schedule. If only you were in one of his classes. It’s really annoying that he only knows your online presence and not who you might be in your personal life. The last thing he’s going to do is consult Childe, that popular athlete who knows literally everyone in the school for whatever reason. Surely he knows you. But he’ll die before he ever asks Childe for a favor.

Scara loves you out of every other cam model because you’re different. You’re not just trying to get fast cash. You’re genuine. You listen to your subscribers and their feedback. You do your best to improve and do even better streams than the previous ones. All of your hard work is overlooked by the other fools who watch your streams, but it isn’t overlooked by him. Scara appreciates your attention to detail and the way you’re able to hook him with your breathless voice alone. You’re very skilled at what you do, so it’s only fair you get paid for it.

But buying your services isn’t enough. It’s not a real relationship, but it certainly feels like it when he buys preferential treatment. Private shows, special requests, odd favors—you do it all because he pays for it. But this relationship isn’t going to be one-sided forever. You’ll have to pay him back in full eventually. Scara likes to think he has patience and that waiting is fine. It gives him more time to plan his next move—to figure out what he should do to finally have you all to himself. So that those private shows he watches through a screen can finally be real.

Scara finds the journal sitting innocently on Kazuha’s bed, its maroon cover and maple leaves pulling at his curiosity. He might not know everything about Kazuha, but he’d recognize this journal anywhere. His roommate almost always has it on his person. Scara wouldn’t be surprised if he slept with it. To say he’s curious would be absolutely correct. He can only wonder what Kazuha writes in that thing. Perhaps it’s just notes for a class. That’s what anyone would think, right?

Scara opens it and flips through the first few pages. They’re normal for the most part. Just a bunch of haikus and other useless scribbles. When he skips over some pages, he starts to find things that are far more interesting than poetry and doodles of cats. He finds the majority of the journal is comprised of information. More specifically, there are facts and other knowledge about you—the cam model he’s been obsessed with ever since he stumbled upon your onlyfans. He reads through as much of the journal as he can and instantly learns so much: your address, your roommate, your workplace, your friends’ names, names of any potential exes. The list goes on and on.

Scara doesn’t have anything against Kazuha. His first impression of him wasn’t anything groundbreaking. He thought he was a pushover at first. But now that he knows what this journal holds… Well, it sheds an entirely new light on his roommate.

Just days before Scara took a peek inside his journal, Kazuha discovers your secret online life. He snoops through Scara’s laptop when he steps out, having left it open and unlocked. He’s just trying to find what could have caught Scara’s interest, as he’s almost always glued to his laptop on specific days at specific times, with his headphones on and his gaze unyielding. He doesn’t intend to find the file of one of your private videos—something that was meant only for Scara’s eyes.

He clicks on the video out of interest. He’s not sure what he was expecting to see, but it definitely wasn’t this. Kazuha sits there and stares at the sight before him. You’re dressed in skimpy lingerie and you’re muttering the dirtiest things while coating your fingers in lube. And your hands are stroking a thick toy and you’re addressing Scara and you’re lining it up to your hole and— He shuts the laptop before it can get even more explicit than it already is. He’s so conflicted, fraught with a betrayal so strong it weighs his heart down.

Why would he have this sort of video on his laptop? Did you give it to him? Did he make you do this? Are you in danger? Are you still pure?

Kazuha can’t kill on campus. It’s way too risky and he’d be one of the first suspects if Scara’s body is found. Besides, it’s not like he has the full story. He doesn’t know whether or not Scara���s done something that’s worthy of death. You could just be in a tight spot. He knows how easily you give in when you’re under pressure. Maybe you’re just doing this because you feel like it’s the only thing you can do. Not to worry; Kazuha will save you before Scara can ruin your purity with his twisted fantasies.

They confront each other when the time feels right. Kazuha struggles to keep a smile plastered to his face for the sake of politeness, while Scara holds in his raging temper so that he can bear some semblance of cooperation. Neither of them is happy to hear that the other went through their stuff, but they force themselves to make up because a more pressing issue is at hand: their connection to you.

Kazuha says he’s your secret admirer. Scara says he’s in a relationship with you. There’s no way you’d ever date someone like Scara—Kazuha knows this for a fact. Yet he falters at the confidence in Scara’s tone. That can’t be the truth, right? Despite this, Kazuha still strikes up an offer: If they work together to get what they both want, they’ll be unstoppable. With Scara’s riches and his influence and Kazuha’s charisma and clever thinking, they can easily get their hands on you. Of course this means they’ll have to share, but it’s not a big deal when they’re already in so deep. They both know the other’s secret; now they’re swearing to keep it in the pursuit of having you all to themselves. And luckily Scara agrees to the deal, but that doesn’t give Kazuha a reason to lower his guard.

However despite how well they work together when it comes to planning the kidnapping and actually executing it, they both have their own reasons for wanting you. Scara wishes to make his relationship with you a reality—to toss aside the screen that once held him back and finally do all of the things he could only do in his dreams. Kazuha seeks to protect your fragile heart, lest you crumble under Scara’s intense way of doing things and cling to him for salvation. You can’t do those sorts of things with Scara; he won’t allow it. Your purity is meant for him and no one else.

But sharing is caring and some have to learn that the hard way. It definitely brings Kazuha and Scara closer together, even if neither of them will admit it. If they look past their desires, they can be friends. And soon enough they’ll have to accept this new friendship if they want to avoid any unnecessary complications.

However there are times when they’ll cooperate in order to do things with you. They’re a packaged deal you can’t get rid of.

[dinosaurtsukki]

pro-volleyball player!atsumu + taking care of his pregnant wife

anon: Hello I saw your kita fic with pregnant reader and it was so cute, I loved it 👉👈 can I request something similar for the Miya twins? (In Atsumu's case I have to imagine it was an accident haha)

a/n: i’m so touched that you guys really enjoyed my farmer!kita + taking care of his pregnant wife headcanons and requested for an osamu and atsumu edition. i just know that these are going to be long so i’ll be doing atsumu’s first and then osamu’s so i hope you like this !!

of course i have to talk about how you guys got together because they’re one of my favorite parts to write 

you and atsumu probably met through online dating. atsumu normally has a very busy schedule but he also wanted to date and therefore online was the way to go

surprisingly, he was more into the idea of dating someone rather than just meeting up to have sex. sure, he enjoys that but it’s different from sitting down and getting to know someone

eventually, he matched with you and he was charmed by how funny you were and that you didn’t mind his busy schedule. it wasn’t long until you went on your first date and the first time atsumu laid his eyes on you, he just had this feeling that your relationship was going to be a good one

the two of you would go on dates in your spare time but because he was often busy and tired after practice, you two would just hang out in his apartment and eat take-out

once in a while you like doing something special and cooking a home meal for him and atsumu just knows you have no idea how much he’s touched that you would cook for him

the two of you have so much fun by yourselves in your little at-home dates. one time, you and atsumu decided to marathon dreamworks movies and had a heated debate over whether shrek or megamind was better

omg you were practically yelling at each other and it was so dumb but after that, atsumu was just like ‘oh shit i have to marry her’

he ended up consulting kita and osamu for advice because this is some serious shit

anyway, he did buy a ring but he just couldn’t think of the right time to propose. atsumu ended up proposing on the spot though after the MSBY jackals won a really important game and you rushed to the court to congratulate him

your proposal was caught on TV and it was just magical

the two of you planned your wedding to take place while it wasn’t volleyball game season so atsumu was able to devote more time in helping you plan

osamu offered to be a caterer but atsumu was all ‘we can’t eat onigiri the entire night’

atsumu wanted your wedding to be quite big. he invited a lot of his past teammates and friends and he knew you had a lot of family to invite too

ngl when he saw you walking down the aisle he got impatient because you looked so beautiful and walked down to meet you halfway

‘atsumu, you kiss the bride after you say your vows’

‘i don’t care it’s my wedding’

the reception was fun. osamu was being a little shit and kept clinking his glass while you two were about to eat until kita scolded him

atsumu has definitely always wanted to take care of kids and he just knows he’s gonna be a fun dad so the two of you definitely plan to have a child

after finding out you were pregnant, you wanted to surprise/prank him. you pretended to be sick and asked atsumu to fetch you a thermometer

he got it and was like ‘this is a weird ass thermometer’ before he realized that he was holding your pregnancy test

‘oH MY GOD WE’RE HAVING A BABY????’

cue atsumu crying and hugging you tight and also spinning you around and later getting worried that he spun the baby and now the baby was also dizzy

despite the fact that he has a busy schedule with practice, atsumu still finds time to come home and take care of you

he insists on doing the cooking this time and ngl he’s not as good as his brother so osamu had to come help him out a bit. you find it sweet tho that your husband puts in the effort

atsumu already has some weird preferences for food in the first place so your pregnancy cravings don’t really bother him. like, you want a jar of pickles to yourself? atsumu is getting TWO jars so you could eat together

when he comes home after a very tiring practice he wants nothing more than to just lay down with you on the couch with his head on your lap (even though there’s not much room for him anymore)

atsumu’s definitely the type who loves to rub your baby bump and whisper things to your baby. the first time he feels your baby kick he’s just completely astounded

once he came across an article about how playing music and putting headphones on a pregnant belly will help the baby become smarter and he had i d e a s

you: atsumu, we are not making our baby listen to the shrek soundtrack

atsumu: not even fairy godmother’s cover of ‘i need a hero?’

you: okay, maybe one song

atsumu was worried that your due date was right in the middle of game season and he’d make multiple precautions to make sure you’d be able to get to a hospital safe even when he was not around

aka this meant calling kita and osamu (and even suna) and asking if you could be one of your contacts just in case

and it ended up coming in handy because you had your first contraction in the middle of an MSBY jackal game. luckily suna and osamu were beside you

osamu was basically pushing people out of the way yelling ‘PREGNANT WOMAN PLEASE MOVE’ while suna was keeping you steady

kita agreed to meet you all at the hospital and atsumu, who noticed you were gone from your seat, heard from his coach that you had gone into labor

and then bokuto and hinata were all OKAY LET’S FINISH THIS GAME QUICK SO ATSUMU CAN MEET HIS BABY

i swear to god it ended up being the MSBY jackal’s best game ever. hinata and bokuto’s power was over 9000. even sakusa got into the whole frantic energy

they didn’t even celebrate once they finished the set they all just left the court and piled into sakusa’s car

sakusa may have ignored a few traffic rules and stoplights otw but he did it to help in his own way

lmao imagine you’re in the hospital and the FOUR STAR PLAYERS OF THE MSBY JACKALS WALK IN 

by then, though, you had already finished giving birth and was now resting in your room. atsumu visited you to check if you were alright before he went to see his baby in the nursery

i swear he almost cried right on the spot when he saw his child sleeping peacefully in their crib

you woke up to the sight of your husband sitting beside your bed, smiling while cradled your child and you just knew your baby was going to be so loved

***********************************************

taglist (still open to anyone who wants in!): @montys-chaos​ @miyumtwins​ @strawberriimilkshake​ @pocubo​ @sugawara-sweetheart @akaashisbabydoll @laure-chan​ @therainroguefanfiction​ @atetiffdoesart @stephdaninja @oikaw-ugh​ @charliefredb​ @dramaqueenweeb1469 @tremblinghearts @applepienation @doodleniella @haikyuu-my-love @tpwkatsumu @waitforitillwritemywayout

[mandoalorian]

Borrowed Time [Din Djarin x F!Reader]

ੈ♡˳‧₊*: • Chapter 7: The Wedding ✩࿐ ˚.✧

Summary: You are the princess of Mandalore, held hostage on your own planet by Moff Gideon and his army of Imperial troopers. Left with no choice, you send out a distress signal; a plea for protection— and who comes? None other than Din Djarin, a foundling of The Death Watch. He, by creed, is your sworn enemy. And where you have asked for his protection, he has been told by his mentor that he must marry you and gain the ability to restore Mandalore to its former glory.

Word Count: 2000>

Warnings: arranged marriage mention, angst angst angst + feelings! SO MUCH HAPPENS IN THIS CHAPTER.. IT’S A RIDE AND A HALF SO FASTEN YOUR SEATBELTS.

AN: Please reblog to spread this around! It’s not showing up in tags! :( i think i’m still semi-shadow banned:(

Series Masterlist

This was not how you imagined your wedding day.

Eloping wasn’t necessarily a big deal for Mandalorian’s, however, it was a big deal for Mandalorian royalty. Typically, the ruler would announce a colourful festival filled with vibrance and happiness to celebrate the occasion, and the entire planet would be in joy. There would be no conflict; just smiles and laughter and love. But ever since the Imperials took over, you honestly didn’t think you’d ever see the day of a marriage. You remembered when you were a little girl, dreaming of the dresses you’d wear on your special day. You weren’t very particular about Mandalorian gowns, although your mother, the Duchess, donned some beautiful ones. You preferred the seamstry of Nabooian dresses, even consulting with one particular handmaiden of an old queen who would send you materials to create your own garments with.

Part of you wished it had been different, but you understood that this marriage wasn’t going to be like any other. It was a marriage to protect you, to keep you safe. Marriage was typically a celebration of love, two people committing to one another for life. And Din didn’t love you, did he?

You contemplated it for a few moments but shrugged it off. Sure, he’d shown you a strange level of kindness and protection over the past few days, and he acted like he’d known you forever, but no, of course he didn’t love you. He was simply just doing his duty as a Mandalorian to protect the Mandalo’r. Only, you weren’t exactly the Mandalo’r. He still didn’t know the truth about you. You were marrying this man, and honestly? Your life as he knew it was a lie.

But Maker, you were so afraid. If he learned who you really were, he’d never protect you. He’d have no reason to. And you had to put yourself first. You had to escape Moff Gideon’s pursuit and restore Mandalore to its former glory. You couldn’t afford distraction. And Din… was probably more of a distraction than you’d care to admit.

You combed your fingers through your hair, attempting to make yourself look somewhat presentable for the ceremony. Taking a few sourberries, you squished them between your fingers and applied the pink paste it had created to your lips, adding a little colour to your face. You weren’t as glammed up as you’d like to be, but it was certainly better than you could’ve expected, given your lack of resources.

To your surprise, Grogu came waddling in, holding a bunch of pink Sachi blossom flowers. He presented them to you with the most adorable smile on his face, his small teeth poking out from the corners of his lips. Babbling away, he crawled into your lap and nuzzled his green face into your tunic.

“Din… got me these?” You asked in disbelief, unable to even imagine the Mandalorian going out of his way to pick them for you. Grogu explained that they were wildflowers which grew around Nevarro, and Din chose these ones because, well, they were pink. Your favourite colour.

He was so thoughtful.

Grogu explained to you that Din and the Armorer were ready and waiting for you by the altar, in the depths of the covert. This was it. You were about to swear your life away to this man.

Din was nervous too. He rocked backwards and forwards on his heels, the knot in his throat tightening considerably as he waited for you. The Armorer, as his mentor, did her very best to comfort him and assure him he was doing the right thing. Marrying the Mandalo’r would come with so much duty, and Din just didn’t believe he was good enough for you.

He reminded himself to push his feelings to one side. You were marrying him for your own safety. Not because you loved him. When Din heard your footsteps enter the room, his heart began to slam against his chest. He turned to face you, and was completely blown away. Suddenly, he was looking at you in a completely different light. You looked like a real-life angel. He didn’t know what it was… perhaps the way the amber candlelight basked you in the most perfect glow, your blush lips, or the way you held the flowers he’d picked especially for you, tight against your chest. Part of him thought that maybe you wouldn’t show. You were a runaway princess, afterall.

Grogu led the way as you slowly walked down the short aisle, trying your hardest to relish the moment. You offered Din a small smile of reassurance by the time you reached the altar, so he knew that you were still okay with this.

The ceremony began with the Armorer bestowing a beaded necklace, decorated with Din’s clan emblem; the Mudhorn, in sparkling silver beskar. She placed it around your neck, and explained the meaning of the Mudhorn signet. She then turned to Din, and told him that his clan of two was now officially, by Creed, a clan of three. 

As the ceremony progressed, you couldn’t help but wonder how something so wrong felt so right. You imagined your body to be rife with nerves. After all, you were marrying into your rival clan to a man who you’d only known for mere days. But you weren’t afraid and for the first time in a long time, you didn’t want to run. You were happy, here with him. You were happy to be uniting with a man like Din. 

“Have you prepared vows?” The Armorer asked, taking a step backwards and ushering for you and Din to break your distance with one another. Din slid his mustard coloured gloves from his hand and stuffed them into his utility belt. You thought, for a split second, that you saw his hands shaking, but nevertheless, he held them out for you to hold. And so you did. They were warm and calloused, the pads of his thick fingers slightly rough.

Your own fingers interlocked with his and just for once, you wished that you could see him-- see the face under that damned helmet off his.

“No,” Din said, not tearing his gaze from you. “We were going to do the traditional Mando’a vows.”

“Very well,” The Armorer replied. “Whenever you wish.”

Din swallowed thickly and squeezed your hand again. 

“Mhi solus tome, mhi solus dar'tome, mhi me'dinui an, mhi ba'juri verde.” (“We are one when together, we are one when parted, we will share all, we will raise warriors.”)

Raise warriors. You looked down at Grogu who’s dark eyes were wide with curiosity as he witnessed the ceremony. After you repeated the vows, you and Din exchanged beskar rings. 

“I’m glad I met you, Din.” you told the Mandalorian quietly. 

Din’s heart blossomed in his chest at your revelation. You hadn’t even realised that you’d been holding it in for so long. So long that ‘like’ was beginning to feel like an understatement. 

“I now pronounce you husband and wife,” The Armorer declared. “I shall leave you both in peace for the night.”

She bowed down to both you and Din before whisking Grogu away and leaving the room. 

“So… I’m a prince now?” Din asked cautiously.

Your lips curled into a smile that he’d grown to adore so much. “Yeah, something like that.” you laughed. If he remained married to you after you reclaimed the Mandalorian throne, you’d be queen and well, he’d be king. Your smile quickly fell from your lips when you realised how foolish it was for you to think he’d remain married to you even after this was all over. 

“I can’t believe we’re married,” you revealed quietly, your voice shaky. Din muttered something that sounded like agreement but what he said wasn’t exactly clear. You turned away from him, feeling shame well in your stomach. “But, it’s for the best, right? And I mean, we can always separate once this is all over.”

You felt Din place his hand on your shoulder and squeeze it gently. His touch was like magic. Sure, you felt safe when he was near… but when he touched you? That was like a whole new unfamiliar sensation. You turned around to face him, and he brought both of his hands up to his beskar helmet.

He was going to take it off.

He was going to reveal himself to you.

Although you didn’t necessarily agree with the ways of the Watch, you knew that unmasking himself would be a huge deal for Din. It was only in marriage, could a Mandalorian reveal themselves to another living person. And even though your marriage to Din was extremely unconventional, he still felt the need to take off his helmet. You didn’t understand why he was voluntarily going to take off his helmet, because he certainly didn’t have too. You didn’t understand why he trusted you so much when, of course, you’d been lying to him.

The shame you were feeling flooded your entire body and became over-bearing. You didn’t think you could take it anymore… living like this with your husband and pretending to be someone you weren’t.

“No!” You blurted out, moving your hands to his helmet and stopping him from taking it off. Din stiffened up when you raised your voice in that panic tone. You noticed his change in demeanor and took a deep breath, making a conscious effort to calm down so you wouldn’t worry him. “No… I can’t let you do that.” you said.

Din was puzzled as he tried to search for answers in the expression on your face… but you weren’t exactly easy to read. 

“You-- you don’t want to see my face?”

Was he hurt? Offended? You shook your head quickly, your eyes going wide. “No, I mean yes-- I mean… I want to see your face. I’ve thought about it a lot. Believe me.”

“You’ve thought about seeing my face a lot?” Din quizzed curiously, a teasing lilt to his voice as he tilted his head. 

You scrunched up your nose and began to nervously pick at your fingernails. “Yeah, uhm-- I just… I know how important the sanctity of an unmasking is to your culture. It’s a trust exercise, is it not? To do with your loved one?”

“To do with your partner,” Din corrected. “And we, by Mandalorian Code, are now partners. A Clan of Three.”

Kriff, he was right. He was always right.

Your stomach was twisted in knots, realising that this man married you to protect you. He trusted you enough to show you his face. The same face he’d kept hidden from the rest of the world for the past thirty or so years.

He was wrong to trust you. You couldn’t let him do this, no matter how much you wanted to.

“Din,” you looked away from him, trying to avoid choking up. “I haven’t… I haven’t been completely honest with you.”

Din stood and stared at you in complete silence before proceeding. “What are you talking about?”

Why was this so hard? You wanted to scream, or curse out loud. It shouldn’t have been this hard. It’s not like you loved him. Right?

“I’m not who I say I am.” you explained, your voice shaky.

You wished now more than ever you could see his face under that damn helmet, and get some kind of judgement of how he looked. You could feel your lips trembling as tears pricked the corners of your eyes. Maker, you felt sick to your core.

“I don’t understand…” Din said wearily, his voice completely modulated and monotone.

You had to do it. Just come clean.

You had to tell him the truth.

He deserved the truth.

“Din,” you sighed, exasperated and looking at him completely helplessly. “I’m not the Mandalo’r.”

_________________________________________

Borrowed Time taglist in the replies!

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[sequinsmile-x]

Serendipity

This was originally a prompt on here that I promised a follow up to, but got carried away.

The original prompt is in italics, so you can refresh yourselves on what it was!

Words: 3.6k 

Rating: Mature

Read over on ao3, or below the cut. 

Let me know what you think! 

It should never have happened. Emily hadn’t intended for it to, and she knew Aaron hadn’t either. They hadn’t meant to fuck at JJ’s wedding, hidden in Dave’s guest bathroom as Aaron’s girlfriend danced with his son downstairs.

Things shifted between them that night. The dance they had shared, his hand in hers and his breath against her neck had ignited her skin, set something on fire that she had tried to ignore. Emily had tried to walk away, to put some distance between them. Aaron had followed her, knocking softly on the bathroom door when she had been in there a little too long.

Emily wasn’t entirely sure who kissed who first, but she remembered him pressing her up against the counter. How it felt when he pushed her dress over her hips, her own hands not idle as she undid his shirt, wanting to feel his skin against hers.

The aftermath had been awkward, but that hadn’t stopped it from happening again the following day. Him coming to hers for the coffee they had promised each other, ending up on the couch instead, clothes shed and desperate hands palming against each other's skin.

She stiffened when he said he had broken up with Beth, the gentle hope in his voice breaking her heart. Emily still remembered the look on his face when she said she was still going to London, his cheek against her hand.

She had been in London for two months before she called him, lied and said she was in town for a consult. Aaron obviously didn’t believe her, but he came to her hotel room anyway. Emily realises she should have known it would be inevitable, that they would have sex again. She wants him as much as he wants her and she has spent so much of her life denying herself the things she wanted. It isn’t lost on her that this is the first time they have done this in a bed, and she sits up as he gets dressed, the silence in the room deafening. She pulls on one of the robes hung up in the wardrobe, pulling the tie tight around her waist.

“Aaron, we still need to talk.”

He looks at her, his face stern. “Are you staying?”

Emily opens her mouth, unsure how to even begin to answer that question, to say what she needs to say. Aaron takes her hesitance as an answer, shrugging on his jacket as he shakes his head at her.

“I should go.”

“Aaron, please.”

“Give me one reason why I shouldn’t leave.” He says, his voice full of defeat and she hates that she's the one that put it there. That she caused the man who she cares for more than she should to feel anything other than happiness. Aaron turns to leave, his hand on the door of her hotel room and a heavy sigh escapes him. “See you next time you’re in town, Emily.”

Emily closes her eyes and wraps her arms around herself, pulling the robe she had put on tighter, as if it could hold her together in the soft material whilst she tells him what she came here to say. What she couldn’t bring herself to tell him on the phone.

“I’m pregnant.”

Aaron turns to look at her. Her eyes are fixed on the floor, her arms crossed tightly across her chest.

“Emily.”

She looks up at him, a small smile on her face. “I think it goes without saying it's yours.” She clears her throat awkwardly when he just stares at her, clearly trying to figure out what to say next. “We should sit down.”

She moves over to one of the armchairs in the corner of the room. She curls up into the chair, pulling her knees up to her chest and wrapping her arms around them. Emily feels relief ease some of the tension in her chest when he joins her, sitting in the chair next to hers.

“Are you ok?” He asks, and it makes her smile. Any frustration he had aimed at her had melted away, replaced by confusion and something she couldn’t quite place.

“I’m ok.” She answers. “Although morning sickness is the most poorly named thing on the fucking planet.” He laughs at that, and it’s nervous, making her raise an eyebrow at him. “Are you ok?”

He nods. “I think we have a lot of things to discuss.”

“Yeah.” She replies, swallowing against the lump in her throat. “We do.” ____________

The flight back to London is rough. Her constant nausea makes the hours drag by, her desperation to just be on solid ground almost overwhelming her.

She’s never been more grateful to see her apartment, the place still not quite feeling like home yet. She sinks into her couch and groans when her cell phone immediately rings, rolling her eyes when she sees Clyde’s name on the screen before she answers.

“Do you track me or something? I’ve only just made it back.”

“That's for me to know and you to wonder about, darling.” Clyde says, smugness in his voice that made her smile despite herself. “How did our dear Agent Hotchner take the news that he’s going to be a father again.”

“Quite well given the circumstances.” Emily answers, unwilling to divulge anymore of her conversation with Aaron to her friend, knowing if there was one person on the planet he wouldn’t want her to talk to about this it would be Clyde Easter.

“You’re going to go back aren’t you?”

Emily laughs, frustrated that he could read her so well even over the phone. “I don’t really have a choice, do I?”

“You always have a choice.”

“Not now.” She replies. She looks down at her abdomen, still flat with no indication of the life growing underneath her skin showing yet. “I can’t keep the baby from him, or him from the baby. He’s a great dad.”

“You left DC for a reason.”

Emily places her hand on her belly and smiles to herself. “And now I guess I have a reason to go back.” ____________

Aaron visits her a month later. His insistence on coming to London for a long weekend made her laugh. She feels nervous when she picks him up at the airport, but it fades away when she sees him.

It’s strange, having him there in her apartment, like two very distinct worlds were colliding. She liked it though, couldn’t help but smile as he walked around and made himself familiar with where she lived.

“I had a scan this morning.” She says, smiling at him nervously when he turns to look at her, his hands in the pockets of his jeans. “Would you like to see the picture?”

“Of course.”

She beams at him as she digs the scan photo out of her purse and hands it to him. “Everything looks good, even if I am a ‘geriatric mother.’’ She said, using air quotes as she spoke.

Aaron has the gall to laugh at her, which makes her raise her eyebrows at him. He steps towards her, ultrasound scan still in hand, and he hugs her. She hugs him back, breathes in the scent of his cologne. She pulls back enough to look at him, and before she can think better of it she leans forward and kisses him. It crosses the delicate line they hadn’t crossed since he had left her hotel room a month ago, still reeling from the life changing news he had told him. They’d been in contact every day since, exchanging texts and phone calls around both of their gruelling work schedules. They’d been acting like friends, nothing more, but her hands grasping the back of his head, pulling him closer to her, changed that.

“Wait.” He says against her lips, pulling away so he could look at her. “Is this a good idea?”

Emily heaves in a breath and licks her lips before looking at his. “Maybe not.” She presses another quick kiss to his lips. “But it’s not like you can knock me up again.”

He stares at her for a second before pulling her back into him, kissing her fiercely as she drags him to her bedroom. ____________

They don’t talk about anything important until the day he leaves, neither of them wanting to ruin the little bubble they had created in her apartment. It’s him that tentatively brings up her plans over the breakfast they had ordered in.

“When are you coming back?”

“In three months.” She says as she takes a sip of her tea. “That’s when my replacement can start here, and when the role at the DC Interpol office opens up.”

Aaron frowns at her. “The DC Interpol office?”

Emily nods. “It’s essentially what I’m doing now.” She senses his confusion and clears her throat as she sets her mug back down. “I was never going to be coming back to the bureau, Aaron.”

“It’s your choice, I just thought you would have mentioned it.”

Emily can feel her temper flaring, annoyance rising up in her before she can stop it. “We’re not in a relationship, Aaron. Just because we fucked a few times and accidentally made a baby doesn’t mean I have to run everything past you.”

He stares at her, a hard look on his face. It seems to take him a moment to speak, and the way he carefully chooses his words pisses her off even more. “Would you even be coming back if it wasn’t for the baby, Emily?”

She looks at him, her fury written all over her face. “No. I wouldn’t be.”

He leaves pretty quickly, claiming he needs to get to the airport even though his flight isn’t for another 12 hours.

____________

After that they speak less often. She updates him on the baby and he asks her how she is, how both of them are doing.

When she starts to show she takes a photo of her bump and sends it to him. The next day a package from Amazon arrives full of pregnancy skin care, a gift note from Aaron that tells her Haley had sworn by the bump cream. The tenderness of the gesture makes her cry, the affection she feels for him almost bursting out of her chest.

She calls him when she finds out they are having a boy, her enthusiasm seeping down the phone and filling his voice with wonder.

As she boards the plane to DC 3 months after she last saw him, all of her belongings shipped, she feels something a little bit like hope bloom in her chest. ____________

Aaron comes to visit her at her apartment almost as soon as she gets back, a smile on his face and a bag of takeout in his hand.

“Hi.” She says, almost shyly as she lets him in.

“Hi.” He kisses her cheek before he thinks about it, pulling her into a hug. He steps back and looks down at her abdomen. “Wow.”

Emily laughs, her hand landing on her belly. “Yeah, he’s getting big.” She takes the bag of food from him. “We should eat.”

They eat and make conversation, and it’s as if 3 months of awkward conversation between them hadn’t happened. He asks her about Sergio, and she says Penelope would be keeping him for now, but that she had full visitation rights.

Aaron clears up the plates, and she rolls her eyes at him as he tells her to put her feet up. She feels the awkwardness seep back in when he sits on the couch next to her, the unanswered questions hanging in the air.

“I’ll get you your own key.” Emily says, tearing her eyes from her lap to look at him. “It makes sense for you to just be able to come over, see the baby whenever.”

He nods, an awkward smile on his face. “I’ll get you one to my place too. Jack keeps asking when you’re coming over.”

“That’s sweet. I missed him.”

“He missed you. We both did.” It’s awkward again for a moment, and she can see the second he decides to simply say whatever he had been holding back for months. “What are we, Emily?”

She sighs. “I don’t know, Aaron.” She grabs his hand and squeezes it. “I care about you. So much. But if we hadn’t had sex at JJ’s wedding we wouldn’t even be here right now. How is that the foundation of a relationship?”

“By itself it might not be, but we have a lot more than that.” He cups her cheek. “We’ve known each other for years. I know I’m not the only one who has felt that there could be more between us.”

Emily closes her eyes and rests her forehead against his. “There is so much more at stake now.” She puts their joint hands on her bump. “We can’t mess anything up for him, or Jack.”

“Don’t we owe it to them, to us, to try?”

She pulls back enough for her nose to brush against his. Emily decides that she’s going to let herself have what she wants. She nods before she kisses him, sighing as they both lean further into it. She breaks off with a laugh when she feels the baby kick against their hands.

Aaron looks down at her stomach in wonder. “He’s kicking?”

She nods at him. “He’s kicking.”

For the first time since the test came back positive she genuinely feels like everything might work out. ____________

By the time she's 8 months pregnant she is spending the vast majority of her time at his apartment, even when he was away on a case, and she tries to ignore what that means. That she’s 2 months into a relationship with a man and practically living with him and his son. Whilst being pregnant with his second son.

Her mother had always told her that she didn’t do anything by half.

Emily is sitting on a park bench, watching Jack play on the swings, with her hand pressed into her belly when she feels it. The familiar feeling of being watched. She feels a shiver run down her spine, goosebumps raising over her body.

Her first instinct is that it’s Ian. All of her logical thoughts that he was dead, that she’d watched him die, being beaten by the anxiety coursing through her. Every reason she had left DC in the first place comes flooding back and she has to take several deep breaths. The feeling doesn’t go away, she looks around the park quickly. She can’t see him, can’t see anyone that looks like they’d be associated with him, but she feels like she needs to leave. Like she needs to get Jack, and her baby, back home as quickly as possible.

She’s about to walk over to Jack, make him leave his friends so she could take him home, when she hears a familiar voice.

“Emily?” She whips round to see Beth standing next to her, an awkward look on her face as she takes in Emily’s appearance. “I saw you from across the park, I thought it was you.”

“Beth. Hi.” She tries to smile. “How have you been?”

“Good.” She nods. She looks at her again, eyes landing on Emily’s bump. The unspoken understanding from the other woman that she was pregnant with Aaron’s child. “You look well.”

Emily’s smile falters. The last time she had seen Beth had been at JJ’s wedding, the night she’d had sex with Aaron when his girfriend was just downstairs. Beth would know that. Emily knew that Aaron was a good enough man to have told her everything when he broke up with her.

“I am really sorry, Beth. For how everything happened.”

Beth laughs and sits on the bench next to her. “That is almost exactly word for word what Aaron said when we got back to his place after JJ and Will’s wedding.” Beth looks over to where Jack is playing and smiles. “I knew something had happened, neither of you were very subtle.”

Emily feels her baby roll in her belly and she presses her hand to it, hoping the gentle circles soothe her son as well as herself.

“I...I guess saying we didn’t mean for it to happen won’t mean much.”

“It doesn’t.” Beth says, a wry smile on her face as she turns back to Emily. “But are you both happy?”

Emily doesn’t even have to think about it. “Yeah. We are.”

“Then maybe it was all worth it.” Beth says as she stands. “I should get going, tell Jack and Aaron I said hi.”

“You should say hi to Jack.”

“It’s ok. I don’t want to confuse him.” Beth smiles at Emily one last time. “Tell Aaron I’m glad he’s happy.” ____________

Aaron gets back to his apartment, the case he had been on two days too long for his liking, to find Emily fast asleep on the couch, wearing one of his shirts and a pair of leggings, with her hand pressed into her stomach. He smiles as he hangs up his keys and sets the alarm, setting his briefcase down on the side. He walks over to the couch and sits on the edge of it, gently waking her. She opens her eyes and looks at him.

“You’re home.” She murmurs, the roughness to her voice giving away that she’s been asleep for a while.

He hums in his throat as he strokes his hand over her head. “Why are you on the couch, you know it doesn’t do your back any good.”

“I was waiting up for you.” She sits up slowly, accepting his help to get her upright. Emily leans against his side as he sits next to her, smiling when he puts one of his palms on her belly and kisses the top of her head. “I missed you.”

“Missed you too.” He tilts her head and kisses her properly, feeling her smile against his lips as the baby rolls in her stomach. “How are you?”

“Good.” Emily answers. “My entire body is sore. But good.”

He hums his sympathy and rubs his hand over her stomach, the baby forever active in a way he knew had caused Emily to lose sleep.

“I’d like to take you on a date.” He says, smiling as Emily pulls back from him, a look of curiosity on her face. “I realised today that I've never taken you on one.”

“Aaron.” She replies, a smile on her face. “I’m 8 months pregnant with your son, I think we’re a little past dating.”

“True, but you have only just agreed to be my girlfriend.” He laughs when she scrunches her nose at him, leaning down to kiss the tip of it. “What?”

“The word ‘girlfriend’ makes it sound like I’m 14, not in my 40s.”

Aaron smiles at her again and kisses her, smiling against her lips. “Well, I’d propose to you so you could call me your fiancée, but I worry that would send you running back to London.”

Emily laughs, kissing him again quickly. “I wouldn’t run away, but I might check if you were feeling ok.” She rests her head against him again. “I saw Beth today.”

He stiffens, his arms tightening around her. “How was that?”

“Awkward.” She answers, turning her head to kiss his shoulder through his shirt. “But she was very nice. Nicer than I might have been in her shoes.”

“I’m glad.” He kisses the top of her head. “What else?”

“What do you mean?”

“What else happened?”

She scoffs. “Can’t keep anything from you.” She sighs. “I could tell someone was watching me, and before Beth came over I thought it was Ian.” He doesn’t say anything, and it spurs her on. “I know he’s dead, that I don’t have to be afraid anymore, but I was for so long.” She feels her emotions rise in her chest, tears flooding at her eyes as she was at the mercy of her hormones. “And I have so much more to lose now.” She wipes her face. “You, Jack. The baby.”

He kisses the top of her head again, then her temple, holding her impossibly tighter. “You aren’t going to lose any of us, sweetheart.” He tilts her chin so he can kiss her properly. “This is it now. Forever.”

She ignores the voice in her head that tells her he can’t promise her that, and she nods.

“If that’s a proposal I’m leaving.” She jokes and it makes him laugh, his forehead pressed against hers.

“Trust me, baby. You’ll know when I’m proposing.” ____________

He takes her on a date the following week. She lets him take her to a restaurant and spoil her, and he doesn’t make any comments when she orders enough food for at least 3 people for herself.

He takes her for ice cream after, going into the store and getting it himself so she doesn’t have to get back out the car, her ankles sore and swollen.

That night they lay in his bed, the one she really knows is theirs, and as he runs his fingers up and down her bare spine she drifts off to sleep.

“I love you.” She whispers into the room, the first time she has said it to him.

She stays awake long enough to hear him say it back. ____________

It should never have happened, but when their son, Benjamin, is born three weeks later Emily is so glad it did.

[just-here-for-the-moment]

For the DIFFERENT POV GAME:

I want Javi’s POV on this whole adorable scene.

Okay, my Queen @quica-quica-quica, I want you to know that I suuuuucked in a huge breath when I saw this Ask, because I was entirely unsure if I could do this. It seemed like a really hard challenge, but FOR YOU I’ll try anything.

I dug in to see what I could do, and of course because I can’t just write succinctly I had to start waaaaaay back in the beginning of the story to get Javier where I needed him for the phone number scene… hope that’s okay!!

Thank you for challenging me this way! This went from scary to amazing in just a few days! I love you so much, my friend!!!

---

Coffee Shop Girl (a companion piece to “For Now” told from Javier’s point of view)

Word count: 3000+

Rating: mature, 18+ only

Outline: Javier Peña x “You” (Austin coffee shop barista; cis/het female reader; “blank canvas”/no physical description/no name/no use of “Y/N”)

Warnings: slow-burn; references to previous hiring of sex workers; cigarette smoking; Javier masturbating

Javier Peña felt like he was at loose ends. Not for the first time in his life, but it’s different feeling ��lost’ as a young man than feeling ‘lost’ when you’re on the wrong side of 40. At least a teenager can still expect their whole life ahead of them. Since leaving the DEA and the fight in Colombia behind, he had been feeling directionless.

Spending some time at his dad’s ranch in Laredo had helped, the way that hard labor and sweat always does. It left him too tired to ruminate, to sink into the blues and feel sorry for himself. He had lined up a teaching job at a university in D.C. but it didn’t start until the fall semester, and Javier wasn’t looking forward to an entire blazing-hot summer on the ranch. So when his friend Bill called from Austin and offered a short contract job doing consulting for one of the state agencies, he jumped at the chance.

Javier landed at Mueller Airport at 2:00 in the afternoon on the second Saturday in June. He made his way out of luggage pickup to the Hertz desk and signed for a rental car. It didn’t take him long to find the apartment complex where Bill had arranged for him to stay. Bill’s coworker’s son had graduated from UT Austin in May, and the lease wasn’t up until August, so everything worked out perfectly. Javi could sublet for the remainder of the summer, and the apartment complex was close enough to the office that he could take the bus, meaning he wouldn’t have to put too many miles on the rental car or pay for parking downtown. A small, blandly furnished one-bedroom apartment near work was perfect. He could make it work for two months, and he had certainly lived in much worse places during his years traveling.

On Monday Javier was introduced around the office and given his portfolio of cases to consult on. He also found out that the coffee in the office was total shit. He had spent too many years drinking government-grade slop at the DEA and other agencies to put up with it now. He wasn’t one to complain, or to order any of the frilly new designer coffee drinks that seemed to be making the rounds among the ladies in the secretarial pool, but he had noticed a coffee shop between here and the bus stop. Some local place, one of those Austin things where they boasted about fair trade and locally roasted beans. If they made a decent cup of black coffee he could splurge, buy a cup on his way into the office each day.

The bus dropped him off at the corner at 7:45, so he could grab a coffee and still be on time to work at 8:00. Punctuality wasn’t always his strong suit, but Javier wanted to at least make a good impression while he was consulting. You never knew who might be a network contact to something good, and he didn’t want to screw Bill over after he had recommended him for the contract.

Tuesday Javier tried the coffee shop and found out that their coffee was not only decent for the price, it was actually good. Wednesday he went back again, this time brushing fingers with the pretty barista by accident. He offered her a “thanks” and then went on his way. Thursday he walked in and stood patiently in line behind two stoner kids trying to make up their minds between breakfast tacos and blueberry muffins. The pretty barista was there again, and she waved him over with a smile, indicating he could skip to the counter and leave the hippie kids in line.

“Black coffee, right?” Her smile actually reached her eyes, and for a moment Javier was very glad for all of the body language and psychology classes he had ever had to sit through. It was nice having a pretty lady smile at you to start your morning, and even better that this one already knew his order. She was quick, he figured, and good at her job if she had his order memorized after only two days as a customer. Not that ‘black coffee, to go’ was a difficult order, but he hadn’t expected to become a regular so quickly.

He smiled and nodded, “That’s right. Thank you.” He looked for a wedding ring and then for a nametag on her black apron, but didn’t see either one. He slid a rumpled $5 bill across the counter, larger than the singles he had paid with the previous two days, but she was nice. “Keep the change.”

He thought he saw her bite her lip as she turned away, and while she was fixing his cup he took a moment to check her out. He wasn’t some kind of pervert who would goose her from over the counter, but from what he could see she was attractive. Hell, most women were attractive to Javier. He suddenly realized it had been a while since he’d gotten laid. His last relationship was years past, and he no longer visited prostitutes regularly. Javier wasn’t a ‘reformed man’ by any means, it was just that that habit had been limited to a specific time and place in his life where he wasn’t stable enough to have a long-term relationship, and it had the added bonus of gathering intelligence.

The barista turned back to him with the cup and when she handed it off their eyes locked and their fingers touched again. He saw her pupils dilate and recognized the little spark that turned over in his own gut. Damn, she really was attractive. But Javier didn’t want to be the kind of lecherous guy who hit on a woman while she was working. Too many men mistook the minimum of customer service friendliness for a sexual invitation. Or worse, like the men who hit on waitresses on purpose since they couldn’t be outright rude to stop them. Javier suppressed a smile and took the cup from her, nodding his thanks.

On Friday when he breezed into the coffee shop he saw the pretty barista smile from behind the counter, and she immediately turned and started pouring his to-go cup. She turned back and gave him the ‘what’s up’ chin nod while holding his cup up. Javier walked up and he slid a few singles across the counter to her.

Javier gave her a warm, “Thanks,” and winked at her. That was at least a harmless bit of flirting, in line with her bright smiles and her friendliness so far. If she liked it, great; and if not, then at least he hadn’t made her uncomfortable by asking for her number or hitting on her directly. When he said, “See you next week,” she smiled that bright smile back. Javier noticed that it again reached her eyes, lighting them up just a bit more than last time. A good sign.

The weekend dragged but Javier filled it up with errands: a run to HEB for groceries and to Highland Mall for a new shirt. If there was the possibility of a date sometime in the next few weeks he at least wanted to wear something other than his work clothes. Saturday night he ordered pizza and watched a movie on TV, some lame action movie with giant muscled guys shooting way too many bullets, and of course all the curse words and a sex scene edited out for network TV. Can’t let the kiddies hear the word ‘shit’ while they’re flipping channels, but watching Stallone blow a guy’s head off is good for their growing brains. He finished his pizza and a cigarette and then felt that tug, the loose ends, a little bored.

Javier took a shower and his mind went to the pretty barista, that smile, the sparkly eyes. He thought about those eyes looking up at him through her lashes, or down at him from on top. He wondered what her skin felt like, imagining the rest of her naked, spread out, touching him all over. He felt a little bit creepy touching himself to the thought of her, hoping it didn’t make him a bad person, hoping he would see her again on Monday. But fuck it, he needed the release. Javier came, spurting hot in the steamy shower as he leaned his head on his forearm and groaned into the cold tile wall. He wished he at least knew her name.

Sunday Javier slept in and then did laundry, tidied up the apartment, and took a jog around the neighborhood. He tried to talk himself out of a repeat of Saturday’s shower. It didn’t work.

On Monday Javier lit up as soon as he stepped off the bus. The first week of the consulting gig had gone well, but today was a big meeting and he knew the agency was not going to like his recommendations. He was constantly trying to quit, but at least he had cut back recently. He was down to a pack a day and only one cup of coffee. That had to count for something, right? Maybe his doctor would finally get off his back about that.

He smoked as rapidly as he could on his way to the coffee shop, and stubbed the cigarette out as soon as he reached the big window that overlooked the street corner. He tucked his sunglasses into the top pocket of his blazer and opened the door to the coffee shop.

The pretty barista was smiling, looking right at him and already holding up his cup of coffee like a game show model holding a prize. Javier felt his heart give a little squeeze, and he smiled and winked at her again as he approached the counter.

“You psychic or something? Or am I just that predictable?”

“Both, maybe.” She wiggled her eyebrows at him and gave him a toothy grin.

Javier opened his wallet and saw that his smallest bill was a $10, but he decided not to ask for change back. She was attentive to her customers, she had surprised him by having coffee ready, and she was cute. “Great service, keep the change.”

Her face lit up and she turned to put the money in the register. Javier turned and exited the front door, and then decided to look back through the big plate glass window. She was looking at him, and Javier realized that meant that she had watched him leave. He hoped he wouldn’t have to tip $10 every time to get that look. He lifted his cup, nodded at her, and then made his way to the office.

Tuesday she had his coffee ready again, so he gave her another wink with his smile, and he thought that she purposely put her fingers in a spot to touch his as she handed the cup over. He paid with a $5 bill again, and then thought about her smile and her touch all the way to the office a few blocks north. He didn’t want her to think that the overtipping was him trying to come on to her; it really was nice to have his order ready to go every day.

On Wednesday she had his coffee ready again as soon as he walked in, but Javier supposed that was a testament to the bus schedule more than his own punctuality. This time he paid with singles. But he didn’t want her to think the smaller tip was because of anything wrong with her customer service, so he smiled a little more warmly, turning the charm up as much as he dared without just outright hitting on her. He noticed she was looking again through the glass as he left. But of course the only reason he knew that was because he had looked, too.

On Thursday Javier decided that it wouldn’t hurt to flirt a little more obviously, but to give her an out in case she wasn’t interested. He didn’t want to make her uncomfortable or fuck up his supply of good coffee, so he decided to take it a little slow. When he got to the corner he glanced into the window of the coffee shop and saw the pretty barista looking right at him. He took that as a good sign that she might be receptive to his flirting. He opened the door and let someone exit, then walked up to the counter. She pointed at his cup sitting on the counter in front of her, smiling that bright smile.

He arched an eyebrow up. “You trying to get rid of me? In and out so quickly?”

She grinned at him. “Depends on how long you were planning to stay. We close at 1:00 a.m. after open mic tonight. After that you gotta go somewhere else.” That was the most that she’d spoken to him yet. Javier decided to take his chance.

“And what time do you get off, after the morning shift?”

“Depends on who’s asking.” She winked and then bit the inside of her lips, like she had said something she shouldn’t have.

Javier decided to be direct. At least that would give her the chance to say ‘no’ if she wasn’t interested. He locked eyes with her and said, “I am.”

He was relieved to see her flash that big smile, all pretty soft lips and sparkly eyes. “I finish at 1:00, after the lunch rush.”

“Good to know.” He stuck his hand out to shake. “I’m Javier, by the way.” She continued to smile as she gave him her name. When she took his hand she gave a good firm shake, not like one of those women who went limp as soon as they shook a man’s hand. Javier liked her even more.

He fished a few bills out of his wallet. “Can I maybe stop by after your shift, take you to lunch sometime?”

“You can do me one better than that.” She reached down to grip the lid and spun the cup. He saw her name and seven digits scribbled in Sharpie. “My phone number’s on the cup.”

Javier gave her the eyebrows, very much enjoying how direct she was. It was nice to get a clear signal from a pretty lady, instead of having to play guessing games and worry about overstepping. He pursed his lips and nodded in approval.

“You do that for all your customers?”

“Just the best tippers.” And there was her pretty smile and her wink again, so soon after the first one.

Javier decided to give her both barrels. He put his hand out again, palm up instead of a handshake. When she put her hand in his he lifted her knuckles to his lips and pressed a soft kiss, giving her a look from under his eyelashes before he let go.

“I’ll see you tomorrow.” Javier picked up the cup and left, and gave her a warm smile through the glass as he walked away. As soon as he got to the office he jotted her name and the number on a scrap of paper and tucked it into his wallet. He felt hopeful in a way that he hadn’t for a long time, and he rolled the cup endlessly between his palms while he considered his options. Options. Something he sometimes had taken for granted in life, until those moments where they suddenly ran out.

Javier drained the last of the coffee and then scribbled over her number with a Sharpie before tossing the cup in the trash. No sense in letting her number out into the world where some creep might find it. He smoked his third cigarette of the day out on the plaza and thought about her smile, the brush of her fingers on his, the way she approached him directly. He could use a friend in town, one who wasn’t a guy at the agency or an old college buddy. One who was soft and sweet and might be open to a date… or more. He checked his watch and calculated the hours until 1:00 p.m.

Normally he wouldn’t go back to the coffee shop until tomorrow morning, but it wouldn’t hurt to pop back over there today at the end of her shift, see if she wanted to grab lunch, right? He hoped it wouldn’t scare her off, going back so quickly. He stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray by the lobby door and jogged back up to his office, taking the stairs two at a time. He wanted to finish up, get this meeting over with, see if he could get over to the coffee shop before she left. He sat in the meeting, watching the clock hands spin slowly, listening to someone drone on about a budget issue that didn’t impact his work, and which could have been a memo in the first place. He felt his irritation creep up the longer the meeting went on.

Finally the meeting closed and Javier hopped to his feet. He told Bill he was headed to lunch and then jogged back down the stairwell instead of waiting for the elevator. He walked the few blocks to the coffee shop, keeping an eye on his watch. He hoped he wouldn’t miss her.

When he got to the coffee shop he opened the door and let his eyes adjust to the dim light for a moment. And then he saw her, slinging her bag over one shoulder and coming out from behind the counter. Javier smiled.

She stopped a foot away and smiled softly, “Hey.”

Javier realized he was still wearing his sunglasses, no wonder it was so dark. He took them off and slipped them into his blazer pocket. He really hoped she wouldn’t think it was weird, him coming back so soon.

“Hey, I’m glad I caught you. Are you busy, or can I take you to lunch today?”

Her face lit up. Good sign. “No, I’m not busy. I’d love to go.”

She gestured out the big window, “There’s a sandwich place around the corner, and a park we can go sit in.”

Javier felt his face split into a wide grin. “That’s perfect.”

---

Just-here-for-the-moment’s masterlist

The only tag list I have: @quica-quica-quica @anaaaispunk @justanotherblonde23 @gracie7209 @nicolethered @honestly-shite @driedgreentomatoes @dihra-vesa @1800-fight-me @the-queen-of-fools @juletheghoul @kesskirata @honeymandos @silverwolf319 @mourningbirds1 @greeneyedblondie44 @spacedilf @maxwell–lord @anxiousandboujee @cevvie @sherala007 @writeforfandoms @libellule2001 @deadhumourist @mandoalorian @javierpinme @eri16 @mandocrasis

[seijorhi]

Ok so YouTube keeps recommending anime clips from that one rent a girlfriend anime and now all I can think of is reader renting a boyfriend just to have yandiere bokuto or maybe hajime become infatuated with her and immediately touching her way more than what the contract has written on it 💦

I am on a Fukurodani kick this week, so let’s go with our darling boy Bokuto 😌

Once again Rhi learns that she is actually incapable of creating a ‘short drabble’

TW implied non-con

It’s embarrassing. You can’t even get a date to your ex boyfriend’s wedding. The fact that you’re even going to your ex’s wedding is bad enough as it is- you’d tried to wriggle out of it, but considering the girl he’s marrying is your cousin, your attendance is apparently ‘not optional’ according to your family.

But you’ll be damned if you show up to watch them tie the knot alone. Finding a date however, is more difficult than you think. Your male friends are either busy, taken, already going with somebody else or close enough with your ex that he’d know you were just bringing them along for show. Basically, you’re screwed. It’s not even that you want to prove that you can one-up him - it’s the pity he’ll give you. He thinks he ruined your life when he left (he didn’t) and that you’re still desperately pining for him (you’d rather throw yourself off a cliff than get back together with him).

It starts as a joke with a friend, you’re both a few wines deep, bemoaning your struggles when she suggests those Craigslist’s ads. “You know, the whole rent a boyfriend for a night thing, and then when you meet he’s actually kinda cute, and then you kiss him as part of the act but you both secretly want more and then you guys end up sleeping together and then-”

Ok, she’s clearly had one or two more than you, because that is definitely not how those stories go, but it does get you thinking. You’re not going to use Craigslist - you value your life and safety thank you very much - but there are sites out there that offer those... services.

Which is what leads you to Bokuto. The website seems reputable enough - at least for a boyfriend for hire kind of a deal, and the reviews don’t look too frightening. Actually, they’re glowing, and maybe that’s what gives you the final push to arrange a ‘consultation’ with the man.

“It’s an overnight thing,” you tell him over the FaceTime call, only for your eyes to widen and your cheeks burn as you realise what it sounds like you’re implying. “Not that I’m asking you for sex! I’m not, I know that’s against the rules, it’s just that-”

He cuts you off with a warm laugh, “Don’t worry about it. Overnight is fine, though we do charge extra for that.” You’d expected as much - at this point you value your pride more than you care about the small fortune you’re going to end up forking out for this whole thing. “Just tell me exactly what you’re wanting out of this, what you are and aren’t comfortable with, and then I guess we can start talking about how we met, come up with some meet cute story that’ll make everyone else super jealous.” He winks and your heart skips a beat.

The call that’s supposed to last twenty minutes goes on for almost an hour, but you feel strangely relieved when it’s done. Well, relieved and maybe even a little excited? Bokuto’s attractive and funny and he didn’t seem like a creep. It’s a ridiculously stupid idea, and you should probably be horrified that you’re even considering it, but a girl’s gotta do what a girl’s gotta do.

He arrives at your place on time, which you count as a win, looking particularly fine in a nice suit with a tie that compliments the colour of your dress (as you’d discussed). He’s somehow managed to reduce you to a blushing and stammering mess as you sign the paperwork - and he hasn’t even done anything yet.

“Relax, baby,” he says, grabbing your hand and bringing it up to his lips for a kiss. “I’m gonna take good care of you tonight, just follow my lead.” His smile is beaming, but there’s a flicker of unease at the affectionate gesture. You’d agreed that posing as a ‘couple’ meant you’d have a show a little bit of PDA, but you’d thought he’d at least wait until you were actually at the wedding to start...

But he’s probably just trying to ease you into it. It has to look natural between the two of you, right?

To say that your family are impressed in an understatement. He’s tall, fit and handsome, and there’s this kind of bright, shining exuberance that just seems to draw people in. He’s like a puppy, almost - a super friendly golden retriever desperate for cuddles, and it’s sweet. Dutifully he sticks by your side the entire time. A little too close, maybe - following you every time you go to get a top up of your drink or a bite more food, reaching out to take your hand in his, but you suppose he’s just playing his part.

And he’s more than aware of your ex, who seems mighty interested in your new boyfriend, particularly for a man on his wedding day. You’ve just finished the entree course when all of a sudden Bokuto grabs your chin and tilts you back into a kiss, his tongue sliding between your lips to deepen it as you gasp in surprise. It only last for a moment, but when he pulls away there’s a distinctly satisfied look on his face. Your stomach twists into a knot, your cheeks warming under his heated gaze. You know that you said kissing was okay, inevitable at some point, but... it just took you a bit by surprise.

“What was that for?” you ask him quietly, trying not to frown as he toys idly with your fingers.

“Hm? Oh, your ex has been staring at us for the past five minutes. Figured I’d give him something to look at.”

It wasn’t a bad kiss by any stretch of imagination, but you can’t deny that it made you a little uncomfortable.

You know he’s only doing what you both agreed on, so you push down on those feeling and offer him a small smile and a nod, “Just, maybe warn me next time?”

He leans over and pecks your cheek, “Of course, baby.”

You choose to let the endearment slide.

It only gets worse as the night wears on. Bokuto’s reluctant to let you slip too far away. When your friends swarm to try and get you to come dance with them, Bokuto follows. He pouts when you ignore him in favour of dancing with the girls, and the very moment they turn their attention, he’s resting his chin on your shoulder, arms looping around your waist.

“Dance with me,” he whines, and you fight back a sigh.

He holds you close as you sway with the music, his broad hands resting just south of what’s considered appropriate, but you have to keep reminding yourself that he’s playing the role of your boyfriend, and if he really was your boyfriend, you wouldn’t be making such a fuss.

But when those hands start to wander, fingers grazing your sides, a hand dipping to rest on the curve of your ass, you have to put a stop to it. You don’t want to cause a scene, not when you can feel the eyes of the groom burning a hole in your back, but this doesn’t feel right anymore. He’s not exactly breaking any of the rules you set out, but there’s clearly been some miscommunication, because this is pushing right past your boundaries. “I just need some air,” you tell him with a tight smile, prying his arms off of you so you can make a hasty escape.

It’s both a blessing and a curse that you’ve booked a room in the hotel. You’re not relying on him to get you home, but there is absolutely no way in hell that you’re feeling comfortable enough to spend the night with him in the rooms you’ve booked - adjoining or not. It’s not his fault, you rationalise as you wait for the elevator, key in hand. Maybe this is how all of his engagements go - but fake boyfriend or not, he’s still a stranger, and this whole night has been too much.

You figure that you’ll slip away now, call an Uber back into town. There has to be a bus or something you can catch the rest of the way back home, even at this time of the night. You’ll text him once you’re on your way, letting him know that he’s welcome to the room (both of them, if he wants - they’re already paid for) and that he can expect the rest of his payment tomorrow as agreed. This was a bad idea, but you’re not going to be a bitch about it. You just want it over and done with.

You’re halfway through changing out of your dress when there’s an insistent knocking at your door. It must be your mother, you figure, or maybe one of your friends who saw you all but flee the dance floor downstairs, so you hastily re-do the zipper and try and right yourself before answering the door.

A pair of hooded, golden eyes greet you. Bokuto is grinning lazily, leaning up against the doorway with an arm braced against the frame, boxing you in. You hadn’t realised earlier just how big he really was - not just tall, but muscular - he dwarfs you without even trying.

He barges into the room before you can even try to protest, kicking the door firmly shut behind him.

“If you wanted to ditch so bad, baby, all ya had to do was say so.”

[my-unmanageable-mischief]

Arranged Marriage Part 1

For the Anon who requested : Hey! Can I request something where Draco's parents arrange a marriage for him, and at first he's pissed, but then he meets her and she's pretty and his type and he winds up really enjoying her? Thank you so much!!

Part 2, Part 3

Draco Malfoy x Reader

Draco slammed the door to his bedroom, he was seething. He’d just gotten home from Hogwarts for Christmas holiday when he was bombarded by his mother, who was in the middle of planning their Christmas ball. However, she had other news as well. He was, against his wishes, engaged. He was absolutely livid with his parents, he hadn’t even been consulted. Not to mention the fact that he was only in his sixth year. He was sixteen years old for Merlin’s sake! And on top of it all, he still had his duties to carry out this year, he didn’t need more stress. And that’s all girls were; stress. 

Apparently he would be meeting her, and they’d be announcing their engagement at the ball this year, he kicked his desk chair out of frustration and it skidded across the room, toppling over.

“Fuck me,” He muttered to himself, thinking about the few details his mother had given him. Her name was Y/N L/N, a fellow 6th year at Hogwarts in Ravenclaw. Her father worked for the Dark Lord as well, along with his own parents. Pure-blooded and pretty according to his mother. Any girl his mother thought was pretty was probably a troll. He cursed again and tossed himself onto his bed, staring at the ceiling. He tried to rack his brain, thinking of her name, and going through the 6th year Ravenclaw girls he could remember, seeing if he could match a face to the name. 

“Y/N,” He spoke and the name sounded foreign on his lips. He could vaguely remember a girl in his potions class that went by that name with Y/Color/Hair. She wasn’t a troll but she wasn’t anything special either. A quiet bird who mostly kept to herself and sat towards the front of the classroom, typical Ravenclaw he scoffed to himself. This was ridiculous. Marriage! What next? Babies?! He hadn’t even graduated yet! 

He wound up falling asleep on his bed, above the covers and shoes still on. His nap was plagued with visions of frilly white dresses and senseless dancing. When he woke up it was dark, and his family’s house elf had left him a dinner plate on his nightstand, but he wasn’t hungry. How could he eat at a time like this? 

The week passed by agonizingly slow, and he spent most of his time being forced to help get the manor ready for their ball. His mother took him to Diagon Alley to purchase new dress robes. They were nice, black with all black accents. He looked at himself in his bedroom mirror, listening to the music and chatter from below. He was supposed to be downstairs an hour ago but he couldn’t bring himself to leave his room. He looked handsome, he knew, his pale skin and white hair popping elegantly with the all black ensemble.  Yet he didn’t want to go downstairs where he knew his new fiance was waiting for him. 

His house elf popped into his room and he looked away from the mirror with a glare.

“Missus said it’s time Mister Malfoy made his way downstairs. Guests are waiting.” Draco turned on his heel and walked towards the door taking a deep breath. He wasn’t nervous, Draco Malfoy did not get nervous. He was pissed and put out, still thinking this entire thing was ridiculous. He walked down the grand staircase, seeing his mother at the base, glaring at him.

“You’re late.”

“Sorry, mother.” She nodded her head in response and attempted to fix his collar but he jerked away from her, doing it himself. Suddenly the french doors leading from the ballroom to the foyer swung open and a girl stormed through like a winter storm. She was wearing a brilliant emerald green dress that hugged her curves and went down to the floor, there was some light beading on the bodice but nothing over the top. Her Y/C/H was up in a fancy array of braids and her Y/C/Eyes were red and slightly swollen. 

“I’m not getting MARRIED! Are you daft!” She cried, the man following her looked just like her, same eyes, same hair, much different demeanor. 

“Watch your tongue!” He bit out, grabbing her wrist and yanking her towards him with a snarl, “Is that any way to talk to your father?” He looked over at Narcissa and Draco and smirked slightly down at his daughter, “Is that any way to speak in front of your future husband?” Her head snapped around to look where he was looking and she openly glared at him. She was pretty, Y/height, and Draco found himself smirking at the display. 

“My sincerest apologies,” She gritted out between clenched teeth, “Malfoy,” 

“Call me Draco,” He responded easily. Her father released her and she gripped her wrist with her other hand, holding it to her chest. She stood awkwardly between her father and the two present Malfoys. Narcissa cleared her throat and smiled, greeting the man by his first name. 

“Why don’t we rejoin the party, I’d love to speak with your wife about wedding arrangements, and Lucius has some business to discuss with you.” He knew his mother wanted to let them be alone, and while he didn’t particularly want to marry the girl, maybe he could score a sneaky snog out of this. The man nodded curtly and took Narcissa’s arm as they went back through the doors, shutting them behind them. The girl continued to just stand there, glaring in Draco’s general direction. 

“Did he just tell you?” He asked, trying to start a conversation. You winced slightly and nodded your head.

“Yes. He didn't think I’d come if I knew. He was right.” Draco laughed and you mustered up a half smile. 

“My mother told me when I got home for Christmas.” 

“Good for you.” you muttered, looking down. When you looked back up again your face was blank, “I don't want to marry you.” You stated bluntly. He sized you up, mildly surprised by your brashness. 

“Listen princess, I don’t exactly want to marry you either, but your father seems pretty deadset.” 

“And your parents aren’t?” You questioned, raising a delicate eyebrow at him, arms crossing over your chest. He shrugged. 

“They are, I assume. Or they wouldn’t be going through all this trouble. We haven’t really talked about it, I’ve just been told the gist. We-” He gestured between the two of you, “Are to be married, don’t know when, don’t know why.” 

“Probably at Voldemort’s request.” You replied and he flinched slightly. 

“Don’t say his name.” You smirked. 

“Why? Afraid he might come swooping in at any moment?” Draco didn’t want to comment on the amount of times the dark lord had been in his house, and he definitely didn’t want to admit that yes, that was his first thought. 

“Call him by his title, the dark lord.” 

“Are you a death eater?” You asked, curiously. He shook his head no, unconsciously glancing down at his arm where his soon to be mark would reside. 

“Not yet.” You nodded then shook your head. 

“Better you than I, I’d never be.” You spat the words out. Merlin, who did his parents want him to marry?

“Well you’ll be married to one.” You shrugged.

“Or maybe I’ll just run away.” You mused aloud, glancing around the foyer, eyes lingering on the door. He looked towards the large front door with you and laughed. 

“Run away? With what money? Where would you even go?” 

“Paris.” You answered easily, “I’ll make money. I’d be fine.” 

“They’d hunt you down, Y/N,” He spoke your name for the first time to you and it felt odd coming from his lips, but not bad. You simply shrugged again. 

“It would be worth it,” You whispered. They stood in silence for a few more moments. He wanted to say something but he had no idea what he wanted to say. Again, the french doors opened and Lucius stood in the doorway. 

“Draco. Come.” He ordered and he felt his feet moving towards his father on their own accord. He stopped next to you, glancing down. “Bring her. This ball is for you. I will not have you two insulting your mother by spending the entirety of it in the corridor. You will dance, eat, and socialize. That’s an order.”

“Yes father.” And with a swish of his cloak the man was gone again, back into the bustling crowd of pure-blooded wizards and their children. Draco offered his arm to you and you took it with a small sigh. 

“He’s charming.” He shushed you, not wanting his father to overhear you. Together you entered the ballroom, Draco leading you towards the bar area. 

“Can I get you a drink?” He asked and you nodded with a soft hum, “What do you want,” 

“I’ll have a Witch’s Heart.” You spoke, keeping your arm linked with his but making sure there was as much distance between your bodies as you could manage. Did you dislike him that much? He ordered your cocktail and a Firewhiskey on the rocks for himself, thanking the bartender when he handed the drinks over. Draco led you over to a table of familiar faces and pulled your chair out for you before sitting beside you, both hands wrapped around his glass. 

“Alright, Malfoy?” Blaise Zabini greeted, clasping the man on the back raising his glass towards him and then you, it was obvious he had already had a few. “Congratulations to the happy couple.” Draco laughed, knocking his glass against the other boy’s.

“Thank you, thank you.” He responded, placing his arm loosely around the back of your chair, you leaned away from him slightly and he frowned, shrugging. Pansy Parkinson glared at you openly and venomously from across the table.

“Y/N, right?” She asked, you nodded your head. 

“Hello Pansy.” Her glare deepened. She said nothing more to you, crossing her arms over her dress. It was a similar color to yours, Draco noted, not surprised Pansy had opted for a Slytherin green dress. As much as he was proud of his house, sometimes she had too much house pride. It did surprise him however, that you were wearing the color. He had a feeling your parents had something to do with it. Draco and Blaise talked, Pansy occasionally saything something snippy here and there. 

“Draco,” She batted her eyelashes at him from across the table, leaning over so her cleavage popped. Slag, you thought to yourself. 

“Yes?”

“Care to dance?” Draco looked at you, and you gave a small shrug. You didn’t care what he did. He wasn’t your husband, and would never be if you got your way, which you were beginning to doubt you would. 

“No.” He answered simply. Her face fell and you couldn’t help but smirk, she turned her eyes to you and glared darkly. 

“Don’t think you’ve got him, Y/N.” She spat.

“Pardon?” You asked bored. 

“He’ll never love you, hell, he’ll never even like you.” She hissed and Draco frowned, about to step in when you laughed loudly. 

“Doesn’t matter if he does or doesn’t, love. I’m marrying him, not you.” Pansy was livid. She stood up, hand twitching.

“Hag!” She cried. 

“Oh Pans,” You replied, falsely sweet, “Don’t talk down on yourself like that, you’re barely even a hag.” Draco thought she might punch you, Blaise laughed, slapping a hand against Draco’s back. 

“Feisty! I love it, you’re lucky mate, you should meet the boring bird my parents want me to marry.” Blaise glanced past Draco and sent you a wink, “Unless you care to switch.” 

“I’m alright.” Draco smiled slightly, “Go cool down Parkinson.” Pansy was bright red with anger, she looked at Draco, then to you, then to Draco again, her face softening. She turned with a huff and stalked off to go Merlin knows where. 

“She’s a delight,” You commented. Blaise laughed again, standing up.

“Can I get you lot another round?” 

“Sure,” You smiled, handing him your glass, Draco followed suit. Once they were alone again Draco turned to you, smiling slightly. 

“Sorry about her,” You shrugged and shook your head.

“It’s alright, I’ve dealt with worse, I deal with my mother daily.” 

“You don’t get on with your parents?” He questioned and she raised her eyebrows.

“Do you?” 

“Enough.” 

“I don’t, not much. Probably why they’re trying to shove me off on your family.” He chuckled and nodded, arm still around the back of your chair. He was quiet for a moment, making eye contact with someone from across the room. You followed his gaze and saw his father glaring at the two of you, ah, yes. Your new darling father-in-law. Draco withdrew his arm and offered you his hand. 

“Care to dance?” He asked, watching as you sighed and frowned before nodding your head. 

“Alright, but I have two left feet as a warning.” He chuckled again and nodded his head.

“It’s alright, I’ve got you.” You felt something in your stomach flutter when he looked at you like that and spoke so tenderly, and Draco honestly couldn’t believe the words had come out of his mouth. He watched as you gathered your dress and took his hand allowing him to lead you out to the dance floor. He placed a hand on your waist and took your hand in his other one, and you snaked your free arm around his neck, keeping a comfortable distance. You began to sway to the music, Draco leading you in the traditional dance the rest of the crowd was partaking in. 

“How’s your school year going?” He asked suddenly, needing to break the silence. 

“Alright I suppose. Can’t believe they’ve got us preparing for NEWTs already.” Draco nodded with a small laugh. 

“Don’t worry too much about it, it’s not like it matters.”

“It’s my future,” You replied confused. Draco nodded his head towards the large grand room around them.

“This is your future. You won’t have to work a day in your pretty little life.” 

“And if I want to?” You asked him and he faltered slightly. Wasn’t it every woman's dream to be rich enough to sit on her arse all day? 

“What would you do?” He asked, genuinely curious as to what could be better.

“I want to be a healer,” You admitted, stepping on his foot, “Sorry, told you, can’t dance.” He adjusted your position and pulled you slightly closer so he could better lead you in the dance, these shoes were expensive. 

“Noble.” He commented. You shrugged. 

“I’m good at it, and I like it.” You stated simply and he didn’t press the topic. If you wanted to be a healer, he wasn’t going to argue. At least until you had children. Children!? He shook the thought from his head, Merlin, he didn’t even want to meet you a few hours ago and now he was entertaining the thought of having children with you? He must be mad. Or ill. Mad and ill. The song came to an end and he released you, taking your hand again. 

“Shall we find our parents? I’m sure they’d like to see us getting along.” He decided. 

“Are we?” You asked him, “Getting along?” 

“I’d think so, you haven’t hexed me yet.” You chuckled and he found he liked the sound of your laugh. 

“The night is young.” He held your hand as you walked towards your parents who were chatting with several other wizards. You passed Pansy as you went and you couldn’t help but to throw her a smug look, knowing she had been watching you two dance. You might not be thrilled to be marrying the bloke, but you couldn’t deny he was handsome, and you seemed to be getting along, at least for now. And if you could rub it into the snotty little girls face, you would. For fun. She glared in return and you chuckled, causing Draco to look at you, then to the direction of Pansy, smirking himself and tugging you slightly closer to him.

“Jealous?” He asked and you snorted.

“You wish,” As you got closer to your parents you took a deep steadying breath, the hand in Draco’s becoming clammy. He squeezed the hand, noticing your sudden nervousness. Together you would face your parents, he decided, he would make sure you were safe. Afterall, that’s what a husband is for.

[asterroidd]

sho the todorki

↬ pairing: shouto todoroki x reader

↬ synopsis: you like him, he likes you. the problem? sho's in the friend zone and so it's up to mina, the resident match maker, and company to give you guys a lil push.

alternatively: sho being a dork, hence the title

↬ warning/s: profanity lol, a lot of second hand embarrassment, two insufferable idiots, idk if this is too ooc of shouto but just take this dorky version of him

↬ note: a fic dedicated to @puredivinity​ that serves as a welcome gift for joining the sho simp club. luv u mara despite all the cursed images i send

    Class 3-A has four unspoken rules:

    Number one: never play music out loud beyond 8 pm (tried and tested by Denki himself, got blown up by Bakugo)

    Number two: don't leave your room at 2 am or a certain grape pervert would harass you

    Number three: refrain from mentioning crocs to Kirishima. Just don’t.

    And number four: never tell you or Shouto that both of you like each other (just for the sake of entertainment)

    It had become customary to not break these four rules or those who dare break it is rumored to have a thousand year duration of bad luck to be passed down generation after generation.

    That said, Mina was fed up with the mutual pining you and Shouto clearly exhibit. For two years she watched both of you shy and fluster with one another. His face beet red while you a fumbling mess. Truly a sight to behold. It was like watching a romance movie in real time, but without the stupid opening track. 

    At first she thought it was cute, it all started one morning during her first year in U.A. You forgot your jacket that day after waking up late and thus have to rush to get on time. Aizawa would have your head if you weren't there in homeroom. So in your idiocy and frantic state, you forgot most of the essential stuff and that includes, of course, a warm jacket.

    Mina watched as Shouto stared at you from across the room.  With tense shoulders as his gaze constantly drift from your form to his jacket. Her mouth curled upwards, interested with the current situation. It was not every day one could see the infamous Todoroki Shouto so nervous.

    She eagerly kept her attention on him, watching as Shouto got up from his seat and slowly made his way to you with shaky legs. Shouto, barely uttering a word, shoved his jacket to you and rushed back to his seat. At that moment, Mina already knew something was blossoming between you and him.

    And so it basically became her life mission to make sure you and Shouto end up with one another. She made the promise two years ago, and yet here you both were, two dorks that has a crush on each other but couldn't confess even if the world ends that very moment.

    Was it difficult to watch? Yes.

   It took all of Mina's entire being to not push his head into yours. She knows the consequences if one breaks the fourth rule. Two years had already pass and graduation is around the corner, she refuses to accept that both of you aren't a couple. As Class 3-A's resident cupid and match maker, she is more than determined to make sure you and him both end up together. Mina would not be inherently breaking rule number four, just gonna give you guys a lil' push with the help of a friend. And that friend is one that possesses an electrification quirk.

    "Okay, what do we tell (____) tomorrow?" Denki asked.

    Shouto looked over his written notes one last time before nodding and giving his answer, "I'll ask them if they want to have coffee."

    "Good! Make sure to?"

    "I'll make sure to keep eye contact and. . ." he halted, going over his notes once more. "And make sure that I'm smiling."

    Denki flashed him a grin. Clasping a hand around his shoulder and lightly patting it afterwards. "Now, don't forget the lesson I've taught you today. It is important that your date goes smoothly with (____)."

    Shouto eagerly nodded, stars dancing in his eyes. His heart clamored inside his chest, beating in a quick tempo comparable to that of allegro. Sweat accumulated on his palm, in which Shouto then hastily wiped it on his shirt. Despite nervousness bubbling inside his stomach, Shouto admits that he is excited to ask you out.  "Do you really think (____) and I would be a great couple?"

    "Of course, dude! Right, Mina?" Denki turned to his friend. She gave him two thumbs-up, giving fuel to Shouto's confidence for tomorrow's event.

    Now that Denki is done giving him an hour-long lesson about asking you out and things to do in a date, Mina was sure everything would go smooth as butter. Like, what could go wrong? Despite Shouto being a dork and foreign to the concept of love, he still has that natural charm that had some swooning for him.

    Though, she spoke all too soon.

    Mina facepalmed, dragging her palm across her face as Shouto stood frozen before you. She and Denki should've seen this coming.

    "(____)," he started, his voice cracking at the end. Suddenly the discoloration and grime in between the cracks of the wall looks interesting. He kept looking everywhere but you.

    You tilted your head to the side, "What's up, Sho?"

    Heavens above, Shouto loves that nickname.

    The male fiddles with the ends of his shirt, his tongue twisting and throat closing which makes it hard to speak. After class had ended, Shouto came up to you asking if he could talk to you somewhere private. He led you to the area behind the gym where no students are on sight. Well, that is except for Mina and Denki who closely followed behind to make sure Shouto wouldn't mess up his chance. The two stayed low, making sure they are well hidden behind the bush nearby.

   This was now the moment; the perfect chance for Shouto to ask you out after practicing his lines over and over again. It was a simple question: ‘Do you want to have coffee with me this weekend if you are free?”

   Should be easy enough right?

    "I- well- uhh. . ." he scratched the area behind his ear. "D-do you maybe want to free?"

    Shouto paled, he'd done messed up.

    "Wait that's wrong—" he took a deep breath. "Are you coffee this weekend?"

    Really? Really Shouto?

    "Shit— wait! Coffee this free??"

    Can someone take this lost child away?

    Denki bit his inner cheek, hands tugging his hair from second hand embarrassment. He had fate on him; had fate that Shouto had rehearsed enough the night before in asking you out. Guess he was wrong.

    "What do you mean by that?" you voiced out. You were beyond puzzled, unsure what to make of the situation. First he asks to speak with you in private, now he's a stuttering mess. Could it be that he's confessing? Asking you out?

    Your heart quickened at the thought. You were ready to say 'yes'.

    "What I mean is uhh. . ." Shouto wished he has his written notes. "Are you weekend for this coffee?"

    "YES!!" you shout without thinking.

    Wait, what? Hold up.

    "Aight, I'm forcing these two to kiss each other." Mina announced. That’s it. She lost hope for the both of you. You and Shouto need professional help. She adjusted her position, ready to get up and intervene. That is until Denki lay a heavy hand on her shoulder.

    "Wait," he motioned his head to you. Mina huffed, sitting down once more.

    "Sho. . ." you start, a soft smile on your face.

    "Y-yes?" damn, Shouto is such a stuttering mess.

    "Do you want to grab a coffee this weekend? I mean, if you are free?"

    He blinked, your words slowly being registered in his brain. There was a buffer, like an old computer processing 10 kilobyte worth of data. His brain was stuck on 78% in the progress bar. Then, it dawned on him; the cogs and gears turning. It took a full minute for Shouto to understand. "I-. . .I’d love to!" he managed to stutter out.

    Welp, at least that did the job. Denki and Mina released a sigh of relief. High-fiving each other despite the obvious fact that Shouto failed his task.

    But hey, beggars can't be choosers. All's well, ends well.

    You can't believe it.

    You have a date with Shouto. THE Todoroki Shouto. The guy you've had a crush on since your first year in UA. The one that swept you right off your feet the moment you laid your eyes on him. The friend that always had your back. With him struggling to ask you earlier, could it mean that he likes you more than a friend?

    You let out a squeal, pressing the pillow flush against your chest. In total, you've replayed the scene from memory for over fifty times already. You couldn't even concentrate in doing your homework. So you thought instead of doing your responsibilities, you opted to celebrate by screaming and running around your room in glee.

   It wasn't everyday you'd get a douse of serotonin.

   You’ve waited for this day since forever. Day dreaming about Shouto being your significant other; holding hands with him, wrapping your arms around his torso, and kissing his lips.

   The thought brought forth another pterodactyl squeal from you.

   Oh gods, what would you wear? Should it be casual? Semi-formal? Formal?

   A wedding dress??

   No one told you a date was this stressful. You groaned, prying opening your wardrobe cabinet to quickly plan out an outfit. You can’t afford to look stupid and, dare you say, cheap when you’re on a date with the most sought after male in UA.

   Meanwhile, Shouto is also panicking.

   “Look man, you messed up once but that’s okay!” Denki cheered him up. “Experience is the best teacher.”

   “I know but. . .” Shouto took one deep breath, burying his face in his hands. “I-. . .I just froze up the moment I was in front of them.”

   “And that’s normal!”

   The moment you and Shouto parted ways, the male immediately went to Denki for some follow up consultation. Sure, he can fight villains face-to-face without batting an eye. Could freeze half of his enemies without a drop of sweat. Unleash an inferno of fire to defeat his oponent. Tolerate a bunch of fans shoving cameras up his face to get a close-up picture.

   But Todoroki Shouto, for the love of god, couldn’t ask you out without freezing in place and become a stuttering mess.

   “Lighten up man!” Denki nudged his shoulder. “Unleash the tiger inside you.”

   “But I don’t have a tiger inside me. That would be anatomically incorrect.”

   “Look—that’s not the—. . .what I mean is—uhh. . .nevermind. . .” the blond struggled with his words. He had to be careful with what advice he throw at Shouto. That man takes things way too literately. “What I mean is, toughen up. Have confidence on yourself. You’ll have (____) falling for you before you knew it.”

   Which will be easy since (____) is a simp for him, Denki thought.

   Shouto raised his fist then clenched it, determination washing over him. He gave one brief nod to his mentor (that is the personification of Pikachu).

   He can do it. Todoroki Shouto could do it.

   He’d go over his lines a thousand times before the date. He’d make sure he is 110% prepared before the weekend. Denki had made a dent in his schedule just to tutor him how to make you fall in love with him. Shouto wouldn’t let this go to waste.

   Yes, this man is prepared and is on a mission he couldn't possibly fail.

   Scratch that, Shouto’s a mess.

   He pulled the end of his sleeves, his legs bouncing up and down. The male bit the inside of his cheeks, was the weather hot or was it just his insides burning up. Shouto couldn’t sleep the night before, his mind kept him up. It was like 17 browser tabs are open, with three of them frozen, and he doesn’t know where the music is coming from.

   Due to the jitters getting the best of him, Shouto arrived at the agreed destination. . .two hours earlier than what was expected.

   Which wasn’t a problem anyway, since you did the same.

   You huffed, doubling over and placing your hands on your knees. You had ran from your house all the way to the cafe just to make sure you weren't late this time. In attempts to catch your breath, you’ve failed to notice your date standing just a few feet away from you. The minute Shouto laid his eyes on you, fire sparked deep within his heart. Someone pinch him and tell this wasn’t a dream.

   “(____),” he walked close to which startled you.

   “Sho! You-. . . you’re early!”

   “So are you. . .”

   Then silence fell between both of you. Talk about awkward. Who’s idea was it to get these two idiots in a date? If anything, both of you should’ve just left it on mutual pining and save it as a story for the grandchildren.

   Shouto cleared his throat, hands scratching the back of his neck. “Well, since we’re both early. Why won’t we enter the café?”

   You nodded, your voice box failing you. Inwardly, you were screaming your heart out. The embarrassment was just too much for you to handle. You doubt that Shouto would want a second date at this point.

   And so you lagged behind him, keeping a feet distance away from the male. You have a hard time looking at him without making a mess for yourself. Blood rushing your cheeks, it was hard to ignore the butterflies fluttering inside your stomach.

   The café was quite small. A handful of potted plants hung outside, the store’s name written in calligraphy, and a few customers visible from the window. The establishment was newly built, Ochako introduced it to you about a week ago. The cheesecake they sell is to die for—it was definitely worth the hefty price.

   A small chime went off as Shouto opened the door. Then it hit you; the strong smell of coffee. You were not a big fan of the beverage, but you’ve got to admit that the scent was pleasant. Without prior warning, Shouto lightly held your hand in his. His thumb gliding over the back of your hand a few times. You took in a sharp inhale, eyes widening at his gesture.

   This is what they do in dates right? Shouto recalled his notes.

   So this is like a DATE date?? Not a friendly date? Somebody pinch me right now, you thought.

   “We should find a table,” he spoke, eyes refusing to make contact with yours. You’ve managed to stutter out an agreement, too occupied with the feeling of his hands. It was so warm—just the way you imagined it throughout the years.

   You could finally die now in peace. Goodbye cruel world.

   Soon enough, you and he are situated on a table near the window. Neither of you dare start a conversation, because god forbid another awkward interaction. Years worth of watching romance series could have never prepared you for such an instance. You wished you should’ve consulted some of your classmates—especially those who have experience in the topic of dating—before coming here yourself. You could try and message them, but you wondered if it would be rude to pull out your phone and ignore Shouto. No, you wouldn’t take the chance.

   “Uh- So how are you, (____)?” he asked, pulling you out of your thoughts.

   “Oh, uhhh—. . .” how does one even speak again? “I’m doing well, I guess. . .?”

   That was lame, (____). Lame.

   “How about you?”

   Shouto was silent, you figured he didn’t hear you so you repeated yourself once again. All the while not looking at his direction. It would be better if you don’t see his face or you’ll turn into a puddle of mess.

   But seconds seem to drag to minutes, and that got you concerned.

   “Sho—“ you cut yourself short, realizing that he was staring at you with a lovestruck expression. He looks at you rather softly, like how one would look at a small pet one happens to cross by while walking. The way Shouto kept his gaze at you made you insecure. Was there something on your face? Hair? Shirt? Oh gods, did you smell?

   You wished that, right then and there, the earth would swallow you whole.

   “Sorry I was just. . .” he faltered in his sentence, gulping down his saliva. Shouto then turned his head to the side, a blush ever so present on his cheeks as well as the tips of his ears.

   "Sorry, you're just—just so cute in that outfit that I can’t help but stare."

   His voice was quiet, barely a whisper but you heard it, ironically, loud and clear. Your hand found its way on your mouth, blood rushing to your cheeks as a result of his compliment.

   “Tha-thank you. . .” you’ve managed to croak out, looking down and fiddling with your nails.

   Just. WOW. You can’t believe it. Never once did Shouto commented on your appearance throughout the duration of your friendship with him. What he did was just. . .just so unexpected from him. You find it hard to believe yourself.

   All these years, you’ve hidden your feelings for him. Trapped it inside a chest and swallowed the key yourself. Him falling for you is comparable to that of pigs flying; it was impossible to happen. Yet both of you sat there, like two dorks, a blushing mess while refusing to make eye contact with one another. For once, maybe this time, you could tell him how you feel.

   “I like you. . .” you voiced out your thoughts. It took you a minute to realize what you've done. You let out a small gasp and directed your attention to Shouto. He was also looking at you, baffled. He went silent, his jaw went slack, and eyes wide open, trying to find the words to reply.

   Oh boi, did you made a mistake?

   “(__—“

   “BECAUSE YOU’RE MY FRIEND!” Your jaw tightened, declaring it all too loudly just in case he rejects you. “I like you because you’ve been a good friend to me.”

   You hope you were doing this right.

   Unbeknownst to you, Shouto felt his heart break into two after hearing your added comment. His shoulders slumped down, sadness clouded his features.

   “I. . .I see. . .” he muttered. “I like you too,” he said after a pregnant pause.

   Your whole face lit up. Now it was your turn to look at him with a baffled expression. There was a twinkle in your eye, is this it? The moment of your life?

   “Because you’re my precious friend.” Shouto plastered a smile on his face.

   Oh. Welp, Mina and Denki tried.

   RIP to both of you, forever pushing the other in the friend zone.

ya’ll want a bakugo version of this? (. ❛ ᴗ ❛.) ✧