#modernau

[ky0213]

I wanna do a modern Au with The Outsiders as adults. What character would do what? Musical and Book. Mostly focusing on The Greasers

Ponyboy would, of course would be an author.

P.B. Curtis taking after Mother Susie and using initials.

Two-Bit would make a good comedian/ voice actor.

Darry the football player.

Soda the model/moviestar/cowboy

Two-Bit and Ace the UFC or MMA fighters

Can't decide for the rest of the gang what would Steve do?

Johnny?

Dally?

[vickychendraws]

had an au thought and ran with it o/

[itsberru]

elevator kisses 💋💙

[staycait]

HAII sorry I'm not good at explaining but could you do enemy scaramouche x reader where reader was just talking to a boy classmate of hers and scara got jealous so he fucks reader in the schools bathroom ?? SORRY IF IT SOUNDS WEIFD :33 (handcuffs + vibrators if you want to)

- 💫

⊹ 　 ﹒ 　 ❝ 　pretend enemy ! ⠀⊹⠀˚⠀ ౨ৎ

𝜗𝜚 ┈ modern!au!scara x fem!readerㅤ ✦

𝐈. ──ㅤ you talk to your guy classmate to ask questions about the project you and him are doing, not noticing the fact that scaramouche was watching you two, until he pointed it. you shrugged and told him not to think too much about it. but should you really be underestimating your enemy’s jealousy.. ?

𝐈𝐈. ──ㅤ mentions of overstimulation , cream pie , raw sex , handcuffs (fluffy ones) , sex toys , some degradation , && praise .

𝐈𝐈𝐈. ──ㅤ nsfw , smut , english is not my first language, please forgive me , not proofread !!

﹒ thoughts ; HELLO STAR ANONN!!! (Is it ok to call u that?) Thank you so much for requesting 😭😭💕💕 I didn’t have any motivation and I didn’t have ideas either. HOPE YOU ENJOY THIS!! :D so sorry this was late btw 😔😔 BTW THIS IS STRAIGHT UP PORN LIKE FIRST SENTENCE BOOM BOOM POWW jk

ALSO IM SO SORRY THIS SUCKS SO BADDDDDDIDDHHSJW BF

> story right under the cut <

How could things lead to this? You were only talking to a guy classmate for a project, what was so wrong with that?

You tried to grasp on anything you could, the bathroom stall handle maybe, never mind. You had cuffs on. What the fuck has possessed Scaramouche to do this anyway?

This isn’t fair, the fact you were the only one drowning in absolute pain and pleasure while he was taking joy at how you reacted to his touch.

God, his dick was hitting spots inside you that made stars burst behind your eyelids. The way he pounded into you just felt so good that it hurt.

You were sobbing and drooling, where had your clothes done? You didn’t know, and you didn’t care either. His cock was flooding your mind.

How was he hitting inside you so fucking deep? So rough and quick at the same time as well. This should be illegal, you thought.

Where did he get handcuffs? The fur around it was your favorite color too. How did he even manage to bring a clit sucker and a dildo to your college?

You wanted to claw on him, dig your nails into his back and shoulders. He had you wrapped around his finger. You were against the bathroom stall door with your legs wrapped around his waist, he could reach deep inside you, and he knew you wouldn’t complain.

“P-Please.. Can’t take it.. Anymore..!” You manage to mumble out.

“Maybe don’t talk to other guys next time.”

You whine, throwing your head back once he takes off the clit pincher and starts rubbing it.

“It was for the.. Project, damn it!”

“Too bad, so sad. Just keep on taking my cock like the good little slut that you are.”

You didn’t know if you wanted more or if you wanted him to slow down or stop fully.

You were forced to submit—force wasn’t necessarily needed, you’d submit anyway. You’ve forgotten how long you two were in the bathroom. Someone must’ve heard you two by now. Or earlier. Maybe a lot of people have already.

Despite the sounds of your lewd moans and skin slapping against skin being so loud, you could slightly hear it echoing around the bathroom, you hoped that no one heard you two, your dignity would be gone the moment anyone had stepped inside and heard you two.

“Please…” you sobbed.

“You’ll be fine, baby..” he cooed. “You’re about to cum, aren’t you?”

You hated his tone of voice, you hated that he was right even more.

“So fucking tight..” he chuckled.

He drove his cock deeper inside you, earning a loud moan from you. His movements were getting sloppy. So much for being cocky, he was cumming too anyway.

“I’ve to admit.. I hate seeing you with other guys.”

“H-Huh..?-“ Your own moan cut you off.

He leans against your ear to whisper, “I didn’t say anything.” This fucker.

You played along, you didn’t have any energy to say anything, you’d just be babbling incoherent, inaudible words. You tightly shut your eyes, you were so close. So, so, close.

“ ‘m so close..”

You felt the knot in your stomach getting tighter, and tighter. Until there was a ringing in your ears. A white noise.

You came, and you felt him cumming inside you as well.

You two stayed there for a good 3 minutes, maybe? Until he finally pulled out. White, thick liquid pouring out of you. And a string of cum connecting him and you together.

“You held up longer than I thought.”

You [playfully] hit him on the shoulder with the little strength you had left.

“What? It was a compliment.”

You rolled your eyes, but despite how you were acting, you let him clean you up and help you put your clothes back on.

You were pretty sure that he thinks you don’t know why he did this. You knew he was jealous.

You smiled unintentionally as you watched him put his pants back on. Maybe you were seeing him in a different light. :)

“Were you even.. Wearing a condom?”

“Hmm.. I wonder.”

As you were talking to your partner, the teacher walks up to the both of you with a sorry smile.

“Hello.. Sorry to interrupt, but [name], you have a new partner.” And come waves Scaramouche.

[spookbooh]

Morning Antics w/ Wriothesley -Wriothesley Oneshot x Reader- Modern AU

⋆꙳•❅ ❅•꙳⋆

Waking up beside your dark haired husband turns out to be quite the soft moment for you two.

The stinging morning glare soaks through your closed eyelids, rousing you from a peaceful sleep. You groan at the daring realization of forgetting to close the blinds to avoid this start to the morning, but your thoughts are silenced when a gentle hold around you tightens briefly, as if to remind you of his existence.

After adjusting to the blinding light pouring into the room, your eyes land on your sleeping husband beside you, chest rising and falling with every other tick of the clock in the hallway. The sun looks befitting on him, skin scarred yet still so soft under your touch. Your gentle grazes on his cheek wake him however, and icy blue eyes meet yours.

“Mmng..” he groaned softly, reaching a rough hand to cover his face from the sun. You chuckle a bit. “…What time is it?”

He reached for your phone on the bedside table, glancing at the time before settling back into his imprinted place on the mattress. He smiled seeing you, though.

“Good morning sleeping beauty,” you say with a snort. His hair was undoubtedly tangled and twisted in itself, though you could say the same for yourself.

“Morning..” he sighed, running and hand through his hair at your mention of it. The top two buttons on his dark grey top were open, practically screaming for you to glance down, which you did with a smile and slightly tinted cheeks. The marks down his neck always had you swooning, even while not bandaged in black fabric. Wriothesley of course, always caught you staring.

“Damn, not even a kiss first?” He laughed. You grant his wish by leaning in and kissing his cheek, though he pulls you right back in to press his lips against yours for a few seconds before pulling away. The sheets made that familiar shifting sound at every move you two made, and still fell on deaf ears per usual.

“How about some coffee and pancakes?” You say with a smile. He nods happily. Despite not being the biggest morning person, you tore yourself out of bed just to spend a little more time with your husband before you both had to depart for work. Often times, the morning antics you two got up to were the highlight of your day- such as the time you accidentally put too much salt on the eggs and left both of you sputtering for water or when Wriothesley tripped over himself while frantically pulling up his work pants because he slept in too long and was then running late for work and you couldn’t stop laughing at him the entire day after that.

Perhaps the only thing you disliked about the morning now was the burning sunlight throughout your shared apartment… and getting out of those heavenly sheets, of course.

While Wriothesley stood in the bathroom brushing his teeth and wrapping up his scars to put on his suit, you couldn’t help but peek in like a child eyeing the cookie jar after they just had their treat for the day. The office he worked in seemed off put when his skin was bare so he started to cover them for the sake of a smooth business environment. You swore you were ready to tear each employee a new one when he started doing this but he assures you every time that he’s not insecure about it and just wants to keep the peace.

You left him alone to get ready in peace while you went to prepare pancake batter so he could at least get some food in his stomach to start the day. While you almost screwed up the batter to water ratio, you cooked a decent plate of 8 pancakes and started brewing his coffee the way he liked- a dash of milk and the slightest bit of vanilla. He preferred to start his day with coffee and drink tea throughout the day to avoid an unhealthy amount of caffeine, which he also bothered you about on occasion.

You nearly had a heart attack when you felt his hands around your waist, a little lost in thought in that moment to realize he had finished getting ready. He laughed softly, feeling your jolt of surprise.

“Relax, relax. Just me,” he noted, resting his chin on your shoulder- be it by bending his back into a uncomfortable position to reach down far enough. “Smells good.”

You turned, hooking your arms over his shoulders and kissing him one more time.

“Your coffee’s almost done. Pancakes are on the counter, too,” you say. He hums softly before moving to the island counter where you put breakfast.

“Thanks, hon. Really,” he says, grabbing a mouthful. “I’ll be sure to treat you to dinner tonight.”

You smile subconsciously, already looking forward to it.

-Written by Booh. ^^

Notes;

I love this man I love this man I love this man I love THIS MAN.

[midnighttomoscow]

Going into their last year of study at the University of Manchester, Sirius and Remus have been dancing around a blooming crush for the last few years. Everything comes to a head right before their last fall term together and both boys think they’ve made a terrible mistake.

“What do you think it means?” Sirius’s voice is quiet, just above the music. Remus turns, coming face to face with him. His hazel eyes are glassy, gaze soft as it flits over Sirius’s face.

“What do you mean?” When Remus asks, Sirius’s brows furrow, the slice through his right eyebrow almost disappearing.

“Fate up against your will,” Sirius repeats almost reverently.

Remus bites his lip, the movement drawing Sirius’s eyes towards it.

“It’s inevitable.” His voice is soft, bordering husky.

***

I’ve been writing fanfic for a very very very long time and within the last few years I’ve had the opportunity to meet some of my fave people in my life. 

This fic started as me monopolizing Darcy’s (aka rotten_souldier) question box on her instagram and snowballed into a weird and wild friendship that’s blossomed over the last year. I am so lucky that something I’ve written is graced by Darcy’s drawings and that we get to share it with the fandom! 

Mongrel Minds is part of a Modern universe Darcy and I have created. The series is called Modern Love and there will be three fics within this story arc. I don’t have set post dates so this will be a slow update labour of love kind of thing. 

I just hope you love these guys as much as we do! As always fanfic is free to read on ao3 HERE Illustration by rotten_souldier (Instagram, Tumblr) Beta read by Beanz (Instagram, a03) Cover design by myself

[stannis-is-my-king]

[kalaidekalou]

The bestest boys as depicted in Afterlife (a Cyberpunk AU). Please go read it!

Yes I did half-ass the lower third portion of the pic 😅

[aoedeart]

“On a certain day in the future, Qi Yan would definitely remember.” [Modern day Qi Yan and Emperor Nangong Zhenzhen • Clear and Muddy Loss of Love]

[aprilthearcher]

willow

remus lupin x muggle!reader (who's a Tarot reader). wc: 1,2k. semi-modern!au. no voldermort apparently. warnings: some curse words, mentions of a spirit. short but sweet!

When I heard the echo of footsteps in the hallway and a jolly tune whistled softly, I knew the session had to be finished. Usually, by the time Remus would get home, my last session would’ve wrapped up over half an hour ago, giving me time to collect myself and tidy the mess the studio fell inevitably into. Today, though, was different. The last client of the day, Tilly, a twenty-four year old girl who believed her destiny was to spend the rest of her life alone, was more agitated than she normally would be. A shook up Tilly was, by no means, anything new; yet, this altered shift to her already altered personality was brought on, surely, by the upcoming Holidays. This time of the year has, definitely, a way to get into people’s heads. 

I hand Tilly the last tissue of the box at the same time I’m standing up and putting the cards away. Some might call it multitasking, I call it “telling my client they must leave”. She dries her tears and murmurs how sorry she is that this took up so much of my time. ‘Nonsense, don’t worry about it’, I murmur back like the complete loser I am, because no amount of work has ever made me move on from my people-pleaser tendencies. She did, in fact, take up a lot of my time, more than what the usual session costs; I should have been ready to go by now.

I open the door to the studio and cough loudly and a little bit more than necessary, but it is a precaution I take every time I have a client leaving and Remus is around. The last thing I need is for one of them to see him using his wand. They might believe in what my cards can tell them about their love lives or job opportunities and new horizons, but I don’t want to have my clients obliviated. 

Discreetly, I look around the flat only to catch Remus putting away the groceries he must’ve got on his way home using his hands, thank God. He looks up wearing a comfortable smile on his face and waves at us. Before Tilly can even utter a word, I take her arm and lead her to the door, charging her more than what I usually do. Without complaining, she slides the bills on my hand.

“Is that your…?” Tilly starts to ask before I interrupt her by opening the door and smiling a little bit too much to be genuine.

“Goodbye, Tilly. See you next time!” I shut the door before she could even realise she’s out of the flat.

Making my way into the kitchen, I jump onto the counter, swinging my legs while I grab a biscuit from one of the jars. Remus is finishing with the groceries, but he’s now using his wand. I admire the fridge opening at the same time some dairies jump from the brown bag and float around the kitchen until they are neatly stored inside the fridge. Next, the lid of the cookie jar by my side starts hovering over it while more cookies enter and fill it; the crumbling of the paper is heard for a second and then it falls into the bin. I look back towards Remus, but instead there is a bag of the sweetest candy floating in front of my face, which immediately lights up. My hands try to grab it, but I’m a second too late and the bag is already flying away from me.

“You know, that’s not a nice thing to do to your non-magical girlfriend, you bastard.”

“Well, what you did to your client is also not a nice thing to do.” Ugh, the nerve. “Also, you’re not non-magical.”

“Am I not, in your world’s term, a simple muggle?”

“Yeah, well, my world can be magical but not updated on muggles. You’re not, not in the least, simple.” The final groceries are put away as Remus approaches me, settling one of his hands on my thigh, climbing till it finally rests on my waist, and the other on my cheek, tilting my head upwards so he can see my face. “That’s not what I was saying, though. You,” stressing and stretching the last sound, “are going to be clientless one day if you keep slamming the door on their faces.”

There’s an unimpressed look on my face, probably from just trying to let him talk and not attack his lips after not seeing him for the entirety of the afternoon. I like the way his voice sounds. It makes it harder to concentrate.

“That look would get you into Slytherin in a second.”

“Your magical world should upgrade in all senses, then. Cannot believe they sort you into houses and there’s a whole rivalry round that. Fuckin’ cliché.” He laughs. Next thing I know, the sight of him drawing his lower lip between his teeth makes me dizzy. I hook my arms round his neck, playing with a few strands of his hair while I sit straight and get closer to his face.

“Missed you,” I whisper.

Remus furrows his eyebrows, incredulous look on his eyes and a teasing smile appearing on his face. “Since when do you say ‘missed you’?”

“Since I’ve just spent the whole afternoon listening to a girl that reminded me too much of myself in my twenties. I hated seeing everyone from my friend group with a girlfriend or getting married to the boy they’ve been with since high school while I was alone or getting ghosted by asshats.” 

“I wasn’t much of a dating guy during my Hogwarts years either,” Remus shrugs his shoulders.

“Still, you were learning fricking magic, flying round in your brooms, making love potions. That has to count for something!” My hands stop playing with his hair to rest into their designated place, his back. From under his festive red and green sweater, I draw circles with the tips of my fingers. “Meanwhile, I was learning Tarot and had a spirit or- or something knock over my books every night.”

“A spirit?”

“Yeah, did I never tell you? Had to call the Supreme Sorceresses to get rid of it.”

“Let me guess, your mum and your aunt?”

“Who else?” 

He laughs again, and Remus is sure he will not get tired of his own laugh; not that it is related to his ego or something, but he loves knowing his laughs are a result of her presence. What else is he supposed to do around her other than laugh? She’s joyful and full of mirth, moving through life with a wicked pack of cards and no wand, creating and leaving magic everywhere she goes in her own way. He knew he would follow her to whatever her mind or those cards would take her. 

He bumps her nose with hers and when she closes her eyes with a smile lightning up her face in anticipation of their lips brushing against each other, he knows he has her. He will have her for as long as she’ll have him.

[ysmtttty]

Azris AU where Azriel is a mechanic and has his own service station. And one day Eris comes there because something is wrong with his car (I am into cliche so he drives red Ferrari😈). He is a super rich, super successful lawyer who makes some witty comments and looks so arrogantly like he owns this place, and Azriel just knows — he doesn’t like Eris, at all.

He tells that straightforwardly, but Eris ignores that and still tries to flirt. Because Azriel in mechanic overalls, with a little disheveled hair and muscular forearms? Too much! Brain stops working! Even though Azriel turns Eris down.

But wow, Eris comes back again. On another car. He says something like ‘I have many cars, and all of them need a checkup’, which basically means ‘I will come back until you agree on a date with me’.

[blackforrestpunk]

"He had a heart that could have held the entire empire of the world; and, in the end, he had to content himself with a cellar."

-Gaston Leroux, The Phantom of the Opera

[spicerackofblorbos]

Ice Prince - figure skater!Armin Arlert x gen!Reader

☾ summary ➼ when taking your little brother to an ice skating camp for beginners, you're thrown for a loop. Your brother's coach wasn't just talented, he was cute and adorable as hell. ☾ content/warnings ➼ modernAU, fluff, meetcute, no use of y/n or physical descriptors, reader has a little brother, soft bby armin ☾ wc ➼ ~4.05k ☾ a/n ➼ this is for @crazychaoticizzy and @cinnamon-girl-writes 's full throttle event!! thank you guys so much for inviting me as well as being patient with me. this was so fun to write and i hope you enjoy it!! also i'm posting this from my writing blog lol

A single tug on your hand grabs your attention. Looking down, you see your nerve-wracked little brother, wide-eyed with taut lips. You stop in the middle of the parking lot belonging to your local ice rink, the winter sun beaming down on you two from above.

“Are you still nervous?” You whisper down to him, turning to face him as you bend down to his eye level. You give him a soft smile and a reassuring squeeze on the hand that still grips yours.

“I’m going to be laughed at.” Your brother says in a small voice. His eyes avert from yours.

“Little sparrow, they will not laugh at you. You’re a beginner, just like them! Falling is inevitable and normal.” You reach over to fix the thick winter coat that warms his little body. “Besides, if anyone laughs at you, then they have your big sister to answer to first.” You smirk.

He searches your face, as if he might find any doubt that would contradict your words. The little boy finds none. He takes a shuddering breath before inhaling deeply one last time. With a determined nod, he squeezes your hand and leads you to the large entrance to the arena.

Upon entering through glass double doors, the sounds of children laughing and metal against ice fill your ears. There’s a booth ahead with a kind looking lady, who is currently reading through a clipboard as you both step up. The woman is unaware as she mutters to herself, so you clear your throat gently.

“Oh!” She pops up, fixing her glasses that had shifted down her nose. “Welcome! I assume you are here for camp?” Her voice is soft, almost fragile.

“Yes. Well, not me. For this little man right here.” You tilt your chin down in his direction, shifting the woman’s attention to the wide-eyed boy.

“Ah, perfect. Name?” She goes back to the clipboard, ready to mark off the newcomer.

“Zachary Simmons.”

“There he is! Looks like he’s in Mr. Arlert’s group.” she says excitedly.

“Which is a good thing, right?” You raise an eyebrow.

“Very. He made it here for once. He’s usually gone for this season for tournaments or other miscellaneous events. He’s a great teacher and even sweeter man. This little one will love him.” She puts down her clipboard and beams towards the both of you.

“Uhh, right. Yes. Thank you. Where is that group?” Your eyes look around the semi-busy arena.

“All the way to the left and back. There should be about five other children in the group, and you’re looking for the blonde-haired man.”

Zach doesn’t hesitate to drag you in the direction without another word, and a bubble of laughter escaping you because of his newfound enthusiasm. On your way through, you see many other children giggling and talking with excitement, ready for the next three days.

“Would you like some help, Dela?” You hear a soft-spoken voice as you turn into a quieter section of the arena. Your eyes snap to the source of it, seeing a blonde-haired man squatting with his back to you, facing a little girl who sits on a bench with her feet propped up on what looks like the man’s knee. It seems he’s helping her lace up her skates. After a moment, he leans back as the little girl swings her feet, testing the tightness.

“Thank you, Armin!” She says gratefully before attempting to stand up with help from the man, his hands holding her by her shoulders for stability.

“Let’s take it slow, okay? Try and walk along the wall to the others.” He instructs. You can hear a small smile in his voice. He stands tall, much taller than you, then turns.

You’re caught off guard.

Mr. Arlert is adorably cute. He has boyish features, bright blue eyes, soft pink tinged cheeks, and a sweet smile. He also seems to be about your age, if not older. He’s wearing a sweatshirt that hangs loose on his lean body, followed by equally baggy windbreaker pants and a pair of worn-out sneakers.

He steps over to where you and your brother stand, offering an outstretched hand. You take it hesitantly, surprised by how warm and soft his hand is. But, despite the delicate and soft features, his grip is strong.

“Hi, you must be the Simmons?” He inquires. Even his voice is soft, soothing even.

“That would be us. This is Zach.” You release your brother’s hand and place it on his upper back, nudging him forward. Once bouncing with excitement, he is now suddenly very shy.

“Hi, Zach.” Mr. Arlert bends down to Zach’s level, resting his hands on his knees as he smiles. “I’m Armin Arlert, welcome!”

“H-hello, Mr. Arlert.”

“Please, call me Armin. I’m so happy to have you in my group.” Armin’s eyes trail to the pair of skates with the laces knotted together, hanging off Zach’s shoulder. “Are you ready to have fun?”

Zach tilts his head up to look at you, as if waiting for permission. You offer a thumbs up with a smile, which makes him crack his own goofy grin.

“I’ll be here the whole time. You’ll be okay.” You mutter down to him, ruffling his hair. You’re met with a grumpy swat at your hand, but even still. Zach smiles and nods to Armin, subtly relaxing.

“Why don’t go lace up over there,” he points to the bench that the little girl was just sitting on moments ago. “While I talk to your mom.” His eyes meet yours, ocean deep blue. You’re so mesmerized by him that you barely catch on to what he said.

“Oh! No, um. Not his mom, I’m his sister.” You wave your hands in front of your chest in a dismissive manner. Zach couldn’t care less as he bounds over, quickly slipping off his winter boots.

Armin stands up, a bright blush creeping up his neck and face. He’s a few inches taller than you, not enough to tower but still enough that you have to tilt your chin to meet his gaze.

“I’m so sorry! That was incredibly rude of me to assume. You don’t even look that old, it’s just habit since most of the kids come with their moms so.” He nervously cards his fingers through his blonde hair, pushing the strands back and away from his face, which inevitably falls back into place.

“No, you’re okay! It’s a common misconception.” You shake your head, eyes wide. “My mother married his dad, then they had him when I was in high school. It was definitely not something I wasn’t prepared for, but I really like Nick, he’s good to my mom. My biological dad left the picture early on…” you ramble, your fingers fidgeting with the rings that adorn your fingers. “Which… you definitely did not need to know that. I’m sorry.” You laugh nervously as you avert your gaze, your cheeks now heating up in embarrassment.

“It’s really okay, I’m not judging one bit! In fact, I think it’s really sweet how much you care for him. I’ve heard stories of stepsiblings and stepparents not getting along well, so it’s great that you both are so close.”

There’s a moment of silence as you both ingest the conversation that just transpired between the two of you.

“Um,” Armin clears his throat. “I’m going to start with the kids. Feel free to sit over on those benches if you’d like to stay.” He turns on his heel and walks away briskly.

Your eyes travel in the direction Armin has suggested, seeing a myriad of parents either working on hobbies they brought with them or video recording their kids fall on the ice. With a heavy sigh, you make your way over and sit next to a woman who was currently knitting what looked like a winter hat.

You assumed the few hours would pass by playing on your phone, anything to distract from the boredom that would inevitably creep into your bones. But that’s not how it went. Much to your surprise, you’re enamored with how Armin slides across the ice with grace. It’s as if he’d been doing this his whole life.

You finally understand by what the woman at check-in had meant by Mr. Arlert being away every year. He is a talented skater as she said, enough to be medal worthy.

You watch as he instructs the children on correct posture, being patient while taking the extra time to help each individual kid that needed assistance. Not once did a flicker of annoyance or frustration cross his features. If anything, he was having the time of his life by the way he smiled and spoke words full of compassion.

By the end of the day, your brother glows with confidence. His semi-toothless grin beams at you while changing back into his sneakers, the weight of his used skates hanging on your shoulders. He doesn’t stop chatting to another boy sitting next to him on the bench who was also lacing his sneakers. You smile fondly.

“Your brother is a natural, are you sure he wants to stay in the beginner’s class?” That familiar soft-spoken voice pipes up behind you.

You turn to face Armin who was currently using a fluffy towel to wipe the sweat his face. There’s no hint of jest in his features, only sweet sincerity. And true curiosity.

“Oh, he has very little experience. He tried it once when he was much younger, out on the lake in the dead of winter. He hurt himself, and that was it. They tried everything for years to get him to try again, but…” You mentally pinch yourself for rambling on again, a ridiculous nervous habit.

“So, what made him want to try again?”

Now it’s your turn to look at Armin with curiosity. To have someone genuinely interested in what you had to say was not something you come to expect from people you just met. It only makes the small smile tugging at your lips that much sweeter.

“He found an old video of our mom and dad figure skating together a few years before he was born, and he’s been watching every day since then. Our parents met on the ice, actually. It’s where they fell in love. He’s under the impression he’ll find his first love on the ice too. Silly kid.” You chuckle softly as you turn to face Zach again who is talking animatedly about something with his new friend.

“Hm.” Armin thinks for a moment. “So, that must mean you’re pretty talented in skates as well?” You meet his gaze again with tight lips.

“Definitely not. I’ve never even been on the ice before.”

“No? Not interested or…?”

“Never really gave it much thought. I was so focused on my studies, I refused to have anything outside of that since it was a distraction.” You shake your head dismissively before cracking a smile. “But it’s okay. I get to live vicariously through Zach. And, well now you, I guess. You’re a very talented skater, the way you move is very beautiful.” Your words slip out faster than you can stop them, heat rushing up into your cheeks again.

“Anyway!” You chuckle nervously as you back away with your car keys in hand. “I really need to take us home for dinner. Uh, see you tomorrow, I think.” You say quickly before turning and walking straight to where Zach still stands. You mentally berate yourself the whole way back to the car and on the ride home.

The second day of camp came and went faster than you would have liked. Much like the day before, you were enchanted by the way Armin carved into the ice. It was almost as if it required little no effort for him.

Somewhere around noon, Zach collided with another camper which flared up your sibling instincts. Before you could throw off the soft blanket you had brought with you, Armin was there in an instant. He had dropped to his knees to help your brother up, gently gripping his biceps as he steadied Zach's trembling posture.

There was something about the compassionate moment that made your heart melt. It’s not unusual to see someone comforting an upset child, but the way Armin went about it was just as stunning as he was in his skates. At that point, you had left your stuff on the bleachers while you made your way down to the entrance separating the ice and the carpeted floor.

As if nothing happened, Zach clumsily skates off to meet up with his friend. You only see the back of his head so you aren't able to get a good look at his face, but you can imagine the smile that lights up on it like it usually does once he's feeling better.

The sound of scraping startles you, paired with Armin's lean body gracefully holding on to the half wall to stop his slide. He looks at you with a soft gaze and kind smile. From his position, you can make out the subtle light freckles that scatter on the bridge of his nose and fade out towards his cheekbones.

“Your brother reminds me a lot of myself when I was his age.” He states.

“Clumsy?” You laugh under your breath as your eyes trail back to your brother. He's currently working on starting and stopping with a wild grin.

“Yes,” He chuckles as well. “and determined. He's a fighter.” The sincerity in his compliment draws your eyes back to his.

“What made you want to start skating?” You rest your forearms on top of the half-wall, leaning forward onto the balls of your feet.

“Well, let's just say something traumatic happened when I was a kid, and I found that figure skating distracted my mind. It became therapeutic, and then it just stuck.” He shrugs as if that was that. In all honesty, you wanted to ask more. You wanted to know more about this soft spoken man before you.

“I'm really sorry to hear that.”

“Oh, it's fine really! I found something I love because of it.” The way his eyes scrunch when he genuinely smiles almost kills you. “What do you like to do in your spare time?”

At the time, you assumed this was polite small talk. Something to pass the time while the kids practiced starts and stops. To Armin, though, this was him trying to learn as much about you as he could.

“Well, it's nothing exciting as skating, that's for sure.” You prop your chin up on a palm as you continue to lean on the wall. “I like to write.”

“That can be very exciting depending on what you write! Can I know?” There's that genuine and sincere curiosity again.

“Well, it depends, I guess. I'm working on a murder mystery right now.” You purse your lips in thought, thinking back to the last paragraph you had outlined.

“That sounds extremely exciting!” His eyes widen, soft blue eyes filled with wonder. “Have you published any?”

“No, I don't think I will. It's more of a hobby if anything.” You shift your weight onto the other foot.

“Still, it’s great that you write. I love to read, so if you ever publish it I'd love to read it. Having a best selling author live in my town? That's a pretty cool fun fact.” Despite Armin's confident words, his face turns a pale carmine red. It's adorable on him. Your face heats up as well, his words resonating through you.

“O-oh, well. If I ever do, I'll make sure to give you a signed copy.” Another nervous laugh leaves you.

A resounding thud sounds behind Armin, followed by a child’s cry. “Ah, shit.” He whispers under his breath. His blue eyes meet yours and gives you an apologetic smile before pushing off the wall and skating over to the fallen beginner.

A heavy sigh escapes your lips, finally able to breathe normally. There was something about being in his presence that left you dizzy. He was calm. Peaceful. Refreshing.

The third and final day was more than you bargained for.

Considering it was a three day camp, perfect results were not expected. If anything, this camp served as a way to teach kids the basics of skating and if they liked it and wanted more, there were sign up sheets for lessons that started in about a month.

The way that Zach talked about the camp at the dinner table, it was clear he wanted to continue to practice. Your parents were elated, of course. As were you, but for an entirely different reason. The last two nights consisted of you thinking about Armin against your will. There was just something about him.

So, when your little brother comes bounding up to you with the seasonal sign up forms with his request to be in Armin's class, you could feel your heart leaping up into your throat – either from anxiety or excitement, you couldn't tell. You just know that you'd be the one transporting Zach, which meant you could see Armin every week. You roll your eyes at yourself the moment that thought crosses your mind.

“Are you sure this is what you want?” You ask Zach as you read through the sign up sheets and waivers, your eyes glancing up at him from the overwhelming amount of words that swim on the page. You'd let your parents take care of this, you decide.

“Yes! I really like him, he's a good teacher. He said he liked my skates too!” His ice skates were slung over his shoulder like they usually were. The red and orange flames on the side of them make your eyebrows quirk, because it's the first time you've seen them like this. “Plus, I think you like him too!” He giggles at the way your body language changes from being flustered.

“You don't know what you're talking about! Shush!” You give him a look, scrunching your nose.

“I see the way you look at him!”

“Stop!”

“Are you going to kiss him?”

“Zachary I swear to-!"

“Zach!” The friend that your brother had made calls him over, standing next to his mom. They're both smiling in your direction, waving politely. With permission from both moms (and a physical meet up of course), a little playdate and dinner were set up to celebrate.

Honestly, you could have just dropped him off in the care of the mother at the beginning of the day. But, then you wouldn't be able to see the way Armin smiled every time he hit the ice.

“Just go.” You pinch the bridge of your nose. Despite the annoyances, you still grab him and pull him into your chest for a final hug. “Don't forget to call if anything happens. And if you're ready to come home earlier than planned, please let us know. Do you have your jacket and everything?” You say down to him, finally releasing him from your grip.

It was his turn to scrunch his nose at you.

“Yes, yes, and yes. Can I go now?” He nods, clutching the little drawstring bag he brought with him in his little hands.

“Okay, okay. Go have fun.” With a smile, you watch him run off. He's never been great at having friends, so the sight of him laughing so freely with someone else is nice.

You turn to head out the large double doors, checking your pockets and hands to make sure you have everything. Wallet, phone, earbuds, sign up sheets, waivers… keys? You pat around all of your pockets, hoping maybe that you put them in a different pocket than usual.

Nothing.

With a deep groan, you turn around and head back to the back bleachers where you were sitting just moments before. At this point, the arena was next to empty. The only people left were mingling camp and venue staff, and they were all up front tidying everything up.

After five minutes of deep searching in every crevice of the nasty seats, you sit up with a frustrated sigh. The thought of someone stealing your keys and driving off fills your mind, dread slinking its way through your body like a snake.

“Ugh, what am I going to tell mom…” You whine into the air with your hands thrown up in defeat.

“Um. I assume these might be yours?” The soft-spoken voice behind you creates goosebumps down your arms.

You turn around slowly and see Armin looking at you with your car keys dangling from his lithe fingers. The relief that crashes over you is palpable, so much so that you aren’t aware of how quickly you threw yourself off the bleachers and almost on top of him.

“Oh my gosh, thank you Armin! You just saved me hours of being yelled at by my parents.” Armin drops them into your open palm with a shake of his head.

“It’s no problem. I’ve been looking around for you anyway, so this works out.” He smiles at you as if what he just said wasn’t that big of a deal. Again, despite his confident and unwavering expression, the red around his neck and face tells just how awkward he must be feeling.

“For me?” You tuck your keys and other belongings in the shoulder bag you brought. “Is everything okay?”

“Oh, yes! Everything is fine. Um,” he runs his fingers through his blonde locks as he looks down at you with a shy smile. “I was wondering if you’d like to learn how to skate while you were here.” His voice slowly gets quieter. The way he lifts his arm to rub the back of his neck nervously gives a good display of his lean muscles and milky skin under the bright fluorescent lights.

There’s a moment of silence, him waiting for your response and you slowly comprehending his question.

“Learn? Like, me…? Get out on the ice…?”

A soft huff escapes Armin’s lips, the nervous smile now an amused grin.

“Yes. I’m here, I promise I won’t let you fall.”

“I don’t think you want to see that. And, I don’t even have skates.”

“There are ones you can borrow from the rental booth.”

“Don’t you have to pay for those?”

“So, is that a yes?” His blue eyes sparkle with enthusiasm, excitement even at the proposition of spending actual time with you outside of professionality.

“I-I don’t know. I’m not very balanced.” You step away slightly, feeling your face heat up yet again.  

“What if I promise that you won’t fall and that I’ll buy dinner after? If you do fall, then we can promise to never see each other again.” There’s a small playful smirk that threatens to tug on the corners of his mouth.

You purse your lips at him, fingers intertwining with each other as you weigh your pros and cons. On the one hand, you could finally indulge yourself with what might happen between the two of you. On the other, you’d have to lace up some skates and pray your jeans don’t rip.

“Do I get to choose the restaurant?” You meet his gaze with a quirked eyebrow.

“Sure.” He chuckles. From his voice to his laugh to the delicate features on his face, you wonder how anyone could say no to him.

It takes you a while to find skates that fit you comfortably. They were very used and even smelled like it too, much to your disdain. Armin makes sure to hold you by the arm as he leads you back to the rink entrance, letting go so he can step on the ice first then holds his hand out to you to take.

“I never got your name, by the way.”

You take it in your own hand, pleasantly surprised yet again by how warm it was. Your fingers tighten around his palm as he gently pulls you into him. Already you can feel your legs trembling under you – but was it the nerves or the lack of skill, you didn’t know. Regardless, you give him a smile.

“That’s because I haven’t told you yet. Buy me dinner first, then I’ll talk.”

[shoia]

They are husbands your honor!

Modern! Au

Xie Lian – professor of history

Hua Cheng – President of ghost city and FlowerLover in one face

–––

× In Xie Lian outfit Xua Cheng – matter details

× in Hua Cheng – neat accents

Xie Lian is 💅ice latte💅 type of professor

Bonus:

Hua Cheng in His let's_spit_the_Tea (the hardest espresso in whole China) era💅

[lavender-honey-arts]

My rendition of a modern au cause i rewatching a few episodes and am still satly about the ending

So totally not brainrotting about Eclipsa again......(the character that's on her bg is supposed to be Wrathmelior! toms mom)

[bythepen98]

Zutara ❤️💙│Modern Au

I wanted to see them wearing modern outfits and since I am a fashion disaster, I hit up pinterest and this was the result :)

…I hope the angle of the legs don't look too weird bc they were driving me crazy the whole time.

shameless plug in: I'm broke so if u want to support me, please do 🥺https://ko-fi.com/i/IO5O0MSQFR