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ch0llies · 1 month ago

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FOREVER NOW | CHRISTOPHER STURNIOLO. PT.2

oneshot - chris x reader

You and Chris have been tied together by an invisible string ever since you met at 10. As you grew older, Chris became your safe place. He was always there, unknowingly shaping himself into the person you'd eventually fall in love with. By the time you were 18, you had become each other's first everything- first kiss, first love, first promise that neither of you could ever belong to anyone else the way you belonged to each other. And now, standing in the bathroom with ten pregnancy tests lined up on the counter, that promise felt heavier than ever.

story warnings: fluff, smut, pregnancy kink, basically everything that has to due with pregnancy and childbirth, established relationship, etc... if any of these topics upset you... don't read!

word count: 6k

MONTH 2

The sterile scent of the doctor’s office does little to calm your nerves as you sit on the exam table, your fingers gripping Chris’s hand like it’s the only thing anchoring you to the room. The last week had been a blur- between the endless late-night talks, the baby name debates, and Chris spending way too much time researching the best prenatal vitamins- everything still felt surreal.

“Alright, let’s take a look,” the ultrasound tech says with a warm smile, squeezing the cold gel onto your stomach.

Chris tightens his grip on your hand. “You good, baby?” he murmurs.

You nod, exhaling a shaky breath. “Yeah. Just… nervous.”

His thumb brushes over your knuckles. “Me too.”

And then, the screen flickers to life.

At first, it’s just static, a mix of shadows and shapes you don’t quite understand. But then- there.

A tiny bean-shaped figure appears, nestled inside of you. The heartbeat echoes through the room, fast and steady, and your breath catches in your throat.

“Oh my God,” you whisper, tears instantly pricking at your eyes.

Chris lets out a breathy laugh, his eyes glued to the screen, pure awe written all over his face. “That’s our baby?”

The tech smiles. “That’s your baby. And judging by the measurements, you’re about two months along.”

Chris lets out a stunned chuckle, running a hand down his face. “Two months,” he repeats, like he’s trying to wrap his head around it. He turns to you, his expression softening. “We’ve had our baby with us for two months already.”

Tears slip down your cheeks, and Chris leans over, kissing your forehead. His hand stays firmly in yours the whole time, never letting go.

And just like that, the little bean on the screen makes everything real.

You decide that night to invite everyone over and tell them the news. Your apartment is full- packed, really- with family, laughter, and the unmistakable scent of home-cooked food. Your mom, dad, and brother are here, chatting with Chris’s parents and all his brothers. It’s the first time everyone’s gathered together in a while, and they think it’s just a normal family dinner.

But you and Chris have other plans.

Chris squeezes your thigh under the table, shooting you a knowing look. It’s almost time.

“Hey, Mom?” you call out casually, getting up and heading toward the kitchen. “I think something’s burning… can you check the oven?”

Your mom, who’s been deep in conversation with Chris’s mom, Mary Lou, immediately moves toward the oven. “Oh shoot, yeah, of course.” She opens the door, peering inside. “There’s just a… roll?”

Mary Lou tilts her head, coming over. “Let me see this.”

Chris, still seated but now grinning widely, leans forward. “What’s in the oven?”

Your mom and Mary Lou both frown at first, then look at each other as realization dawns.

“A bun��”

Their heads snap toward each other, eyes widening, mouths parting in shock.

Then, utter joy.

Screams, happy shrieks, as they grab each other and start jumping up and down like teenagers. Your mom clutches Mary Lou’s arms, her eyes already welling up.

“Oh my God, oh my God, OH MY GOD-”

Chris laughs, standing up just in time for his mom and yours to practically tackle you in a hug. “Are you serious?!” your mom exclaims, pulling back just enough to look at your face.

You nod, laughing through your tears. “Two months.”

Another round of screams.

The commotion quickly draws in the rest of the family. Chris’s dad steps into the kitchen first, followed by your dad and your brother, then all of Chris’s brothers- Matt, Nick, and Justin, who were mid-conversation and now just staring at the scene unfolding before them.

“What’s going on in here?” your dad asks, looking mildly concerned.

Your mom turns to them, face lit up with pure joy. “THEY’RE HAVING A BABY!”

Silence.

Then, another explosion of excitement.

Chris’s dad claps him on the back, shaking his head with a wide grin. “You little shit.”

Your brother lets out a stunned laugh. “Holy shit, I’m gonna be an uncle?”

Nick lets out an exaggerated gasp. “I’M GONNA BE AN UNCLE TOO!”

“You’re not special, we’re all uncles!” Matt chimes in, and Justin just shakes his head, laughing.

Chris, overwhelmed but beaming, pulls you into his arms, kissing you right there in the middle of the kitchen, his hands cradling your face.

“I love you,” he murmurs against your lips.

Tears still streaming, you smile against his mouth. “I love you too.”

MONTH 3

By the third month, your body is starting to change, though you’re not fully showing just yet. Your lower stomach has a tiny bump, just enough for Chris to become obsessed.

Every morning, before even kissing you good morning, he lifts your hoodie or pajama top to check your belly. “Lemme see our baby,” he mumbles sleepily, pressing a kiss to your skin. He does this every single morning.

At your 12-week ultrasound, you both hear the baby’s heartbeat loud and clear for the first time. Chris records the whole thing on his phone, his eyes misting over as he grips your hand tightly. “That’s our baby,” he whispers in pure awe.

Month 3 was fun but it came with mood swings. And they hit hard. One moment you’re laughing, the next you’re sobbing because you saw a video of a puppy and now you need one. Chris is patient, rubbing your back while hiding his laughter when you cry over the most random things.

Not to mention the weird cravings too…pickles with peanut butter. Chris gags every time you eat it but stocks up on both anyway.

MONTH 4

Your energy is coming back, and so is your sex drive. It’s like a switch flips, and suddenly, you need Chris all the time.

“You’ve been insane, baby,” he teases one night, hands tracing over your growing belly. “Not complaining, though.”

Chris also starts buying baby stuff constantly. You come home one day to find him unpacking an absurd amount of onesies, soft blankets, and a tiny Bruins beanie.

“We don’t even know the gender yet!” you remind him.

Chris just shrugs. “Doesn’t matter. Our kid’s gonna be a Bruins fan either way.”

MONTH 5

One night, you wake up to something- a small fluttering sensation in your belly. It happens again, and your breath catches.

“Chris,” you whisper, shaking him awake. “Chris, the baby just kicked.”

He sits up so fast he nearly falls out of bed. “Wait, what?!” His hands are on your belly immediately, waiting, eyes wide. When he finally feels the tiny kick against his palm, his breath stutters.

“That’s-” He swallows hard, shaking his head in disbelief. “That’s our baby.” He spends the next hour whispering to your belly, telling them all about their parents and how much they’re already loved.

This is also the month you start turning the office into a nursery. You decide not to find out the gender until the baby is born and instead choose a yellow theme- bright, neutral, and happy.

You both spend an entire Saturday painting the walls, music playing, the windows open. Chris is in jeans, no shirt, covered in paint, while you’re in overalls, your baby bump finally visible. He insists on taking a picture of you holding a paintbrush to your stomach.

“For the baby album,” he says with a grin.

MONTH 6

Your bump is really showing now, and Chris is in love with it. He touches it constantly- rubbing it absentmindedly when you sit together, spooning you at night with his hands protectively splayed over your stomach, kissing it whenever he gets the chance.

“You’re glowing,” he tells you one day, watching as you fold tiny baby clothes in the nursery. “Like, actually glowing.”

The nesting instinct is kicking in full force. You’re suddenly obsessed with organizing and cleaning, and Chris is doing his best to keep up. One night, you wake up at 2 a.m. convinced the nursery needs rearranging immediately. Chris groans but helps move the crib- only for you to change your mind an hour later.

“Baby,” he mumbles, flopping onto the rug. “Please. Let’s just go back to bed.”

“No.”

MONTH 7

Your back hurts constantly, your feet are swollen, and even sleeping is uncomfortable. Chris gives you back rubs every night, rubbing your feet and making sure you’re drinking enough water.

Sex is still happening, but it’s… different. Your growing belly makes some positions impossible, limiting you mostly to doggy, but Chris doesn’t seem to mind. If anything, he’s more patient, more attentive- his hands steadying your hips, his lips pressing soft, lingering kisses along your spine. He’s careful with you, always checking in, always making sure you’re comfortable, but there’s something else in his touch lately- something hungry.

And then, one night, as his fingers trace the curve of your belly, lingering just a little longer than usual, he finally admits, “Baby… I think your belly turns me on.”

You blink at him, taken aback. “What?”

He shrugs, but the way his eyes darken as they sweep over you betrays his casual tone. His hand drags slow and deliberate over your bump, fingers spreading possessively. “I don’t know,” he murmurs, voice lower now. “Just… knowing our baby is inside you. That I put them there.” He shakes his head, smirking as he licks his lips. “It’s kinda hot.”

You roll your eyes, but the way your pulse quickens betrays you. Because honestly? It is hot.

“Yeah?” You challenge, your voice playful but laced with something deeper. You tug your shirt over your head, baring your swollen breasts and belly to him, your skin hypersensitive, your body already aching for him. “Wanna show me just how hot you think it is?”

Chris exhales sharply, like you’ve just knocked the wind out of him. His pupils dilate, his jaw clenches, and for a second, you think he might actually lose his mind.

Then he’s on you, hands already reaching, already touching. His lips find your neck, warm and open-mouthed, his breath hot against your skin. “Get on your hands and knees, mama,” he rasps, voice thick with need.

You obey without question, shifting onto your hands and knees, arching your back just enough to give him the perfect view.

You had thought that since gaining pregnancy weight that Chris would be turned off… or maybe even stop finding you attractive completely. But it was the opposite. He loves it.

He grabs your love handles every chance he gets and rubs your thighs and massages your back, not because you asked, simply because he wants to. Because it turns him on.

Chris groans behind you, his hands immediately finding your hips, fingers digging in just enough to make you feel grounded. He spreads his palms over your skin, dragging them down to your thighs, then back up, like he’s memorizing every inch of you.

“Fuck,” he mutters under his breath. “You don’t even know what you do to me.”

You shiver at the heat in his voice, at the way he sounds almost wrecked already.

“Then show me,” you challenge, glancing over your shoulder at him.

His eyes flash dark with something dangerous, something wild, and then he’s moving- leaning over you, pressing his chest to your back as he kisses along your shoulder, his hands never stopping their slow worship of your body.

“You’re so fucking beautiful,” he murmurs, lips brushing the shell of your ear. His hands slide under your belly, holding you, supporting you like it’s second nature. Like taking care of you is just as much a turn-on as anything else.

And when he finally pushes into you, slow and deliberate, a deep groan rumbles through his chest. His grip returns and tightens on your hips, and he drops his head forward, his breath hot against your skin.

“Jesus Christ,” he swears, voice strained. “You feel even better like this.”

A gasp escapes your lips as you adjust to the stretch, your fingers clutching the sheets. Chris moves carefully at first, like he’s afraid of hurting you, but it only makes you want more.

“You don’t have to be so gentle,” you pant, pushing back against him, desperate for more. “You’re not gonna hurt the baby.”

Chris lets out a deep, shaky breath, his hands tightening on your hips as he keeps thrusting into you at an achingly slow pace. His self-control is tangible, the restraint in every roll of his hips almost maddening. Then, suddenly, his hands slide from your hips back to your belly, spreading wide, cradling the swell of it with something so tender it makes your chest ache.

“I know,” he murmurs, his voice rough, almost wrecked. “I just- fuck.” He exhales harshly, thumbs stroking the soft skin of your stomach. “I just love you like this.”

Your breath catches, and before you can respond, he moves- his grip tightening, his thrusts deepening, more purposeful now. He’s still careful, still mindful of you, but the hesitation is gone, replaced by something more raw, more desperate.

“Chris,” you moan, your fingers clutching the sheets, your body arching into him.

His hands stay on your belly, holding you there, like he’s grounding himself in the feeling of you- of the life you created together. His pace picks up, each thrust pushing you forward just enough to make your breath hitch. He’s panting above you, pressing open-mouthed kisses to your spine, his voice thick with need.

“You’re so fucking perfect,” he groans, his grip flexing as he moves. “Carrying my baby, taking me so well.”

The words send a shockwave through you, heat pooling low in your stomach. You whimper, pushing back against him, needing more. He growls low in his throat, like you’re unraveling him, like he’s barely holding on.

“Yeah?” he breathes, one hand sliding up to cup your breast, his thumb brushing over your sensitive nipple. “You like that?”

You nod frantically, gasping as he rolls his hips harder, deeper, hitting that spot that makes you cry out.

“Fuck,” Chris groans, his voice strained, his movements more desperate now. “Gonna make you cum just like this, mama. You ready?”

Chris’s thrusts grow more purposeful, deeper, his control slipping as your body clenches around him. His hands remain firm on your belly, holding you close, grounding himself in the feeling of you- the mother of his child, his woman, so perfect beneath him.

You’re burning, every nerve in your body alight as pleasure coils deep in your stomach. The way he’s touching you, how he’s holding your belly like it’s something sacred while still fucking you so thoroughly- it’s overwhelming, too much and not enough all at once.

“Chris- ” you gasp, pushing back against him, desperate for more. “I’m- oh my God- ”

He groans, gripping your hips again, pulling you back onto him harder. “I got you, baby,” he pants, his voice wrecked. “You feel so fucking good- so tight, so perfect. You gonna cum for me?”

You nod frantically, the tension inside you about to snap. His hand slides from your belly down between your legs, fingers finding your swollen clit, rubbing firm, tight circles that send shockwaves through you.

Your moan is almost a sob as the pleasure crashes into you, your body shaking as you cum hard around him. Your walls clench tight, dragging him deeper, and he groans, losing whatever fragile control he had left.

“Fuck, baby, just like that,” he grits out, his rhythm growing erratic. His grip tightens on your belly again, his forehead pressing against your spine. “Gonna fill you up- fuck-”

You’re still trembling from your own orgasm when you feel him go rigid behind you, a deep groan ripping from his throat as he cums inside you, his thrusts slowing but still deep, still pushing every last bit of himself into you.

For a long moment, all you can hear is the sound of your mingled breaths, heavy and uneven. Chris collapses against your back, wrapping his arms around you, his hands still possessive on your stomach.

He lingers inside you for a moment longer before he finally pulls out, groaning softly at the loss of warmth. He presses a lingering kiss between your shoulder blades before sliding off the bed, heading to the bathroom. You hear the water run, and moments later, he’s back with a warm washcloth.

“Let me clean you up, mama,” he murmurs, his voice still thick with exhaustion and satisfaction.

You sigh as he gently wipes between your legs, being careful with every touch. His hands are slow and methodical, taking care of you like he always does. When he’s done, he tosses the washcloth into the laundry bin, then climbs back into bed, pulling you into his arms.

You melt into his embrace, your back pressed against his chest, his hands instinctively finding your belly again. He rubs slow circles over your skin, his lips pressing lazy kisses to the back of your neck.

Just as you’re about to drift off, his voice cuts through the quiet.

“Baby,” he says, his tone laced with something mischievous.

You hum sleepily, too comfortable to open your eyes. “Hmm?”

“We’re gonna have to record a movie or some shit with you pregnant,” he says, his breath warm against your ear. “It turns me on way more than it should.”

Your eyes snap open as you twist to look at him. “What?”

He grins, completely unapologetic. “I’m serious. You obviously can’t be pregnant all the time… unless I get you pregnant again right after the first baby is out.” He smirks, his hand splaying possessively over your belly. “How do you feel about Irish twins?”

You stare at him, half amused, half horrified. “Chris.”

“What?” he chuckles, nuzzling into your neck. “I mean, just think about it…. another baby, back to back? You’d look so fucking good carrying my baby again.”

You swat at his arm. “Let me get through this pregnancy first before you start planning the next one.”

He laughs, squeezing you tighter. “Alright, alright. But just so you know, I’m putting the idea out there.”

You roll your eyes but can’t help the smile that tugs at your lips. “You’re insane.”

“And you love me,” he counters, kissing your shoulder.

You sigh dramatically. “Unfortunately.”

Chris just chuckles, pulling you even closer. “Get some sleep, baby. We’ll revisit this conversation later.”

You shake your head but don’t argue, letting yourself drift off in his arms, knowing full well he’s absolutely going to bring it up again.

MONTH 8

Your families throw you the most beautiful baby shower. Chris spends most of the day looking at baby items like he’s in awe that they’re for his child.

He’s also officially in full-on dad mode. He refuses to let you lift anything, scolds you for overexerting yourself, and installs the car seat a month early.

One night, you find him sitting in the nursery, staring at the crib.

“Chris?” you whisper, stepping inside.

He looks up, a soft smile on his face. “I just can’t believe we’re gonna have our baby sleeping in here soon.”

You walk over, taking his hand and resting it on your belly. “Me neither.”

MONTH 9

Everything is ready. The nursery is done, the hospital bag is packed, and Chris is on edge 24/7.

Every time you shift in bed, he bolts upright. “Are we going? Is it happening?”

“No, Chris. I just have to pee.”

He starts leaving work early, checking on you constantly. One day, he comes home with even more baby clothes, a yoga ball, and a brand-new breast pump.

“Chris,” you laugh. ��We already have everything!”

“I just… wanna be prepared,” he says, rubbing the back of his neck.

One night, as he’s helping you into bed, he kneels down, pressing his lips to your belly.

“Hey, baby,” he murmurs, voice full of love. “We’re ready for you whenever you are.”

And just like that, the final stretch begins. Any day now, your baby will be here.

MONTH 9, WEEK 1

Lying in bed, your body aching from the sheer weight of pregnancy, you shift slightly, trying to find some comfortable position. Chris, ever in tune with you, adjusts immediately, tucking himself behind you and rubbing slow, soothing circles on your belly.

“We need to talk names,” you murmur sleepily, your head resting against his chest.

Chris hums, his fingers trailing absentmindedly over your bump. “Yeah, we do. We can’t just keep calling them ‘baby’ forever.”

You smile, but then a thought strikes you. “Okay, hear me out- if it’s a boy, I still wanna name him Owen.”

Chris stills for a moment before tilting his head down to look at you. “Still?”

You nod, suddenly nervous. “Yeah. I just… I love the name, and I thought it’d be a sweet way to honor you.”

Chris is quiet, but then his lips press against the side of your head. “You know what, I love it,” he whispers.

Relief floods you, and you nuzzle closer. “For the middle name… I was thinking maybe after my dad or my brother?”

Chris grins. “Perfect. We’ll decide when we meet him.”

You nod before shifting again. “And if it’s a girl?”

Chris chuckles. “Do you remember what my pick was?”

“Aria?” you question, remembering what he had said months and months ago.

Chris exhales, and you swear you feel his heart pick up. “Yes. Aria,” he repeats, like he’s letting it settle. “Do you like it?”

“I love it, baby. And for the middle name,” you continue, tilting your head to look at him, “I was thinking… Lou.”

Chris’s breath hitches. “After my mom?”

You nod, watching as his face softens into something unbearably tender.

“I love you so much,” he whispers, pressing his lips to your forehead. “Aria Lou… that’s perfect.”

And just like that, your baby- Owen or Aria- finally has a name.

MONTH 9, WEEK 2

The first time you feel contractions, they hit out of nowhere. Your stomach tightens, and a dull ache spreads through your back, making you pause mid-step in the kitchen.

Chris notices instantly. “What? What’s wrong?”

You grip the counter, wincing. “I think… I think I’m having contractions.”

Chris immediately launches into action. “Okay! Okay, let’s go- hospital, now!” He grabs the pre-packed hospital bag, his keys, his phone, his soul practically leaving his body as he rushes to the door.

You exhale through the pain, holding up a hand. “Chris. Chris! It’s fine. They’re just Braxton Hicks contractions.”

Chris blinks, still frozen mid-panic. “The fuck is a Braxton Hicks?”

You sigh, rubbing your belly. “False contractions. My body’s just practicing.”

Chris stares at you like you just betrayed him. “Practicing?! Baby, I was ready to sprint down the hall and flag an ambulance!”

For the rest of the week, every single time you shift uncomfortably, Chris is on guard. If you so much as groan while rolling over in bed, he’s wide awake, scrambling for his phone.

You sigh. “Chris. I just have to pee.”

He squints. “Are you sure?”

“Yes, I’m sure.”

You’re not sure how he’s gonna survive the real thing.

MONTH 9, WEEK 3

By now, the baby is almost a month overdue and you want nothing more than to push it out. God must’ve heard your prayers because you wake up to an intense pressure in your lower belly, a sharp pain that pulls you out of sleep with a gasp. For a moment, you think it’s just more Braxton Hicks contractions- until you feel it.

A rush of warmth liquid. A pop.

Your eyes go wide as realization slams into you.

“Chris.”

Chris, who had been sleeping like a dead man, groggily lifts his head. “Mmm?”

You slap his chest. “Chris, my water just broke.”

It takes him exactly three seconds to process that before he shoots upright, fully awake.

“OH, SHIT.”

“CHRIS, GET THE FUCKING BAG!”

Chris dives out of bed, scrambling for the hospital bag while simultaneously pulling on his jeans and trying to call everyone at once. “Okay, okay- uh, shit, okay- baby’s on the way, holy fuck!”

“Chris, breathe!” you hiss, gripping the bed as another contraction rolls through. “Just get me to the-”

And then you glance outside.

It’s snowing.

Not just a light dusting- a full-on blizzard.

Chris follows your gaze, his face draining of color. “No. No, no, NO- Fuck. Okay, hold on.”

He rushes to the window. Your car is buried under the snow, the driveway completely covered.

“Oh no….”

“DON’T WORRY! I GOT IT!”

And for the first time in your life, you see Chris move with the efficiency of a goddamn Olympic athlete.

He grabs his coat, shoves his feet into boots, and runs outside with nothing but a shovel and pure desperation.

You’re standing in the doorway, gripping the frame through another contraction, watching him shovel like his life depends on it.

“CAREFUL, CHRIS!”

“I’M BEING CAREFUL, BABY!” He yells as his left boot slips on ice and he almost takes a tooth out on the frozen pavement.

After what feels like forever, he finally clears enough space to get the car out. Panting, sweating, frost forming on his damn eyelashes, he runs back inside, scooping you up like a firefighter.

“Okay- okay, we’re going, baby, let’s go.”

He gets you into the car, throws the bag in the back, and peels out onto the snowy road, one hand on the wheel, the other gripping yours tightly.

Between contractions, you hear him frantically calling his parents, your parents, anyone will who pick up. “Baby’s on the way! We’re coming- SHIT, THESE ROADS ARE ICY- but we’re coming!*”

“Chris, focus on driving!”

“I CAN MULTITASK!”

But through the excitement, the panic, the snowstorm- Chris still finds a second to glance over at you, his free hand tightening around yours.

“We’re about to meet our baby, baby.”

And despite the pain, the stress, the absolute shitshow of this entire night- you smile.

Chris has the gas pedal pressed way too hard, white-knuckling the steering wheel as he simultaneously calls every single family member he can think of.

“Mom! We’re on the way- baby’s coming NOW. I don’t care about the storm, just- just get to the hospital!”

You groan through another contraction, gripping your belly, your nails digging into the seat. “Chris, shut the fuck up and focus on DRIVING!”

He immediately hangs up on his mom and dials someone else. “Dad! Baby’s coming- YES, RIGHT NOW- NO, I DON’T KNOW HOW LONG LABOR TAKES, JUST GET THERE!”

“Chris,” you grind out, trying to breathe through the insane pain in your abdomen. “If you call one more person, I swear to God-”

“Hold on, babe- Nick’s calling.”

“CHRIS!”

“OKAY, OKAY, I’M FOCUSING!”

Chris barely slows the car as he swerves into the hospital entrance. He parks right outside the ER doors, throws it into park, and launches himself out.

“Hang tight, baby, I got you!”

You let out a pained groan as another contraction tears through you, doubling over in your seat. Chris yanks the hospital bag from the back, sprints to your side, and immediately pulls open the passenger door.

“Come on, come on, we gotta go- ” He tries helping you out, but you’re moving too slow for his patience. His head whips around and locks onto the valet guy standing nearby.

“TAKE THE KEYS!” Chris chucks them at him before turning back to you.

“Chris,” you grit out, “I need a second-”

“NOPE, NO TIME, HOLD ON-”

Before you can argue, he sprints inside and grabs a wheelchair.

And when you say grabs a wheelchair, you mean full-speed, NFL linebacker, dodging obstacles, yanks one from the hallway and sprints back.

“Okay, baby, up you go- ” He lifts you carefully, places you into the chair, grabs the bag, and immediately pushes you through the sliding doors, moving like a man possessed.

“WE’RE HAVING A BABY!” he yells to the entire hospital lobby. “WHO CAN HELP DELIVER IT?”

A nurse rushes over, calm and professional. “Sir, please lower your voice-”

You groan, grabbing onto the wheelchair handles, “Shut the FUCK up, Chris!”

The nurse blinks, unimpressed. “Yeah, you heard her. Follow me.”

You’re wheeled into a triage room, and Chris hovers like a nervous wreck as the nurses work quickly around you.

“How far along are you?” a nurse asks, helping you onto the hospital bed.

“Nine months and three weeks.” Chris answers way too fast. “She’s been having contractions for…how long, baby?”

You glare at him through the pain. “CHRIS, I DON’T KNOW, I’M IN AGONY.”

“Okay, okay, right, sorry-”

A doctor comes in, pulling on gloves. “Let’s check how dailated you are.”

Chris freezes. “Wait, check what?”

The nurse gives him a look. “Sir, if you’re gonna faint, step outside.”

“I’M NOT GONNA FAINT,” Chris yells, then immediately looks pale when the doctor starts checking your cervix.

“She’s already seven centimeters,” the doctor announces.

Chris’s eyes widen. “Wait, so that’s close, right? Baby’s coming soon?!”

“Labor can still take time,” the nurse says calmly, way too used to panicked fathers. “Let’s get her into a delivery room.”

Once you’re settled into the delivery room, Chris refuses to sit down. He stands beside you, gripping your hand way too tight, bouncing on his feet like a fighter waiting to enter the ring.

“Okay, baby, just breathe. Remember the breathing exercises? In through your nose, out through your-”

“I swear to fucking GOD, Chris, if you tell me to breathe ONE MORE TIME-”

“Okay, yep, shutting up- ”

The contractions are getting worse. Chris watches helplessly, his eyes flicking between you and the monitor tracking each one.

“Jesus Christ,” he mutters under his breath, running a hand through his hair. “How are you this strong?”

“Because I have no choice,” you snap, panting through another contraction. “Because you put a baby inside me, Christopher.”

Chris gulps, squeezing your hand. “You’re doing amazing, baby. I love you so much-”

You barely register the doctor’s next words.

“You’re at nine centimeters- almost time to push.”

Chris blanches. “WHAT? ALREADY?”

“You ready to meet your baby?” the nurse asks, beaming.

Chris nods rapidly. “Oh, hell yeah, let’s go, let’s do this-”

The doctor smirks. “Dad, maybe sit down before you pass out?”

“I’M FINE!”

You glare at him. “Chris, SIT THE FUCK DOWN.”

And for once, Chris actually listens and sits down in the chair next to your bed.

And then It’s time.

Chris stands up again, gripping your hand both excited and terrified, his forehead pressed to yours as the doctor counts down.

“Push, baby, you got this- Oh my God, I can see the head- holy fuck- ”

You’re exhausted, screaming through the pain, every fiber of your being focused on getting your baby into the world.

And then-

A cry.

A loud, beautiful baby’s cry.

Chris chokes on a sob as the doctor lifts your baby up.

“Congratulations! You have a-”

But Chris isn’t even listening. He’s already crying, already pressing kisses to your damp forehead, whispering “I love you, I love you, I love you so much, baby, you did it-”

And then, they place your baby in your arms.

Tiny. Perfect. Yours.

Chris stares at them, absolutely wrecked with emotion, whispering, “Hi, baby,” his fingers brushing over their tiny hands.

“It’s a girl,” the nurse says softly. “6 pounds and 7 ounces. Perfectly healthy.”

Chris lets out a breathless laugh. “I knew it.”

Tears spill from your eyes. “Aria Lou,” you whisper, and Chris breaks, pressing his face into your shoulder.

“She’s perfect,” he chokes out. “You’re perfect.”

Chris holds out his arms the second the nurse gives the okay, gently lifting Aria from your chest. The moment she’s in his arms, his entire face crumbles. His hands tremble slightly as he cradles her tiny body against his chest, his thumb brushing over her impossibly small fingers.

A shaky breath leaves him as he leans down, pressing the softest kiss to her forehead. His voice is barely a whisper, full of so much love it physically aches.

“Hello, my baby girl. My beautiful, beautiful baby girl.”

Tears slip down his cheeks as he stares at her like she’s his whole world. Because she is.

SIX HOURS LATER

The hospital room is quiet now, the energy finally settling after a whirlwind of family visits. Both of your parents, Chris’s parents, his brothers, your brother- everyone had come rushing in, crying, hugging, taking turns holding Aria.

Mary Lou had sobbed the second she heard the name. “You named her after me? Oh, honey…” She hugged you so tightly you thought you’d burst into tears again.

But now, the room is peaceful.

Chris is sitting up in bed beside you, his arm wrapped around your shoulders as you cradle Aria against your chest. The hospital room lights are dim, and for the first time all day, it feels like time has slowed.

“She has your eyes,” you murmur, staring down at her delicate face. “Your beautiful light blue eyes.”

Chris hums, his hand trailing up and down your arm. “Yeah… but she has your lips. And your nose.” He leans down, tilting his head to study her. “And your little chin. And your cheeks.”

You laugh sleepily, pressing a kiss to Aria’s soft hair. “She’s perfect.”

Chris sighs, completely in awe. “Yeah, she really is.”

An hour later and you’ve fallen asleep, exhaustion finally pulling you under, but Chris stays awake. He sits there, just watching you breathe, his heart swelling at the sight of you curled up beside him, completely worn out from giving birth to the most precious thing in the world.

Carefully, he lifts Aria from your arms, cradling her to his chest. She’s so tiny, so fragile, her breaths warm against his skin.

Slowly, he stands, rocking her gently as he walks back and forth across the room. His fingers ghost over her little ones, his lips brushing against the top of her head.

And then, in the softest, most reverent whisper, he murmurs:

“I’m gonna love you forever now.”

And with that, his whole world is complete.

a/n: dad!chris is literally my favorite thing EVER😭😭😭

tags: @mattsobvimyfav @bernardsbendystraws @ilovejohnnieguilbertsblog @mattsturnii @starstrucktyrantinfluencer @watercolorskyy @strangecatpeach @katie1002 @1ovesiick @slut4christopherr @mattgirl4eva @mayalovesturn @chriss-slutt @sturniolohohoho @courta13 @izzylovesmatt @matthewsturnsgf @aaa-mi @bigbeefybitch @hopelesslydevotedsstuff @wastelandzella @yourmother29 @whore4-chrissturniolo @idefinitelyhateu @madisonnxtdoor22 @user1smvtysturniolo @briisturniolo @sturniololuvz @hesvoid34 @butterflytsblog @mommymomm @mattsbunnyxx @blushsturns @i8kth @annalisesturnioloxo @kenziesturniolo54 @ribread03 @sturnl0ve @grace-sturniolo12 @sophsturns @mattsturnfx @lilyloveschris @milo-the-dog @riggysworld @scrumptiouskoalabasement @tenaciousearthquakeperson @sturnlovematt22 @seros-girl @sofsturnz689 @sturniololuvz @eeyoresturnz

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wazzuppy-writes · 4 months ago

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Making Cookies With Mob and Reigen

Characters: Shigeo Kageyama, Reigen Arataka, Reader

Relationship: Platonic

Type: Headcanons

Warnings: None

A/N: I thought I'd write something simple and cute for my first real post here. Platonic relationships are my absolute favorite thing to write, so I hope you enjoy this as much I did.

Neither Mob or Reigen are good at cooking. Like, at all. Mob can make simple things like rice balls and sandwiches, but he's hopeless when it comes to anything else. Meanwhile Reigen has been eating nothing but microwave dinners for the past twelve years, so any kitchen skills he might've had are gone now.

So when you suggest baking cookies together on their day off, they're incredibly reluctant. It takes a lot of pleading to get them to agree, and even then they still try weaseling their way out. But you're persistent and you have your heart set on spending time with them! They're going to make these cookies whether they want to or not!

Because of their disastrous inexperienced skill level, you have to take the lead while they do their damn best to follow it.

Turns out that they're really bad at following instructions.

"Master, are you sure this is a good idea?"

"Of course it is! Why bake it at 375 degrees for fifteen minutes when we'd save so much more time by baking it at 500 degrees for five minutes? Use your head, Mob."

They were devastated when the cookies came out as charcoal. Well, Reigen was devastated— Mob kinda saw it coming. You're just relieved they didn't burn down the kitchen.

So you guys try again...and again... and again, but nothing comes out right. Eventually you run out of ingredients and have to stop. The boys are really embarrassed and apologetic, but you do your best to reassure them.

"I'm so sorry, Y/n. We let you down... And now you have to go grocery shopping, too..."

"It's no big deal, really! You tried your best and that's what matters. Besides, I'm just happy we all got to spend time together. How about we try again next week?"

"Really? Even after we wrecked your kitchen?"

"Eh. It's cleaner than I thought it would be."

From then on, baking cookies became a weekly ritual for you three. It took a few more tries for them to get it right, but when they did, they were ecstatic. Literally the happiest you'd ever seen them.

Reigen took a dozen pictures of you, him, and Mob posing with the cookies and sent them to all his contacts— like a proud parent. They were cold by the time he was done, but that's okay. He's having fun.

As you ate and celebrated, Mob eagerly talked about all the other recipes he wanted to try. Having something fun to do every week, and with two of his favorite people at that, really meant a lot to him. It made him feel like a normal kid with a normal social life. Reigen tried not to seem as outwardly excited, but it's still clear that he's just as happy.

The three of you continue meeting up every week to bake. You even bring back the leftovers for the others at Spirts and Such! Some of them, like Serizawa and Teru, like to join in on the fun— to varying results— but they're also content to reap the rewards without actually doing any work.

The fridge is constantly filled with leftover sweets and everyone keeps getting cavities, but no one has the heart to say anything. Not when you're having so much fun.

Dividers from here.

GIF from here.

#wazzuppy writes #mob psycho 100 #mp100 #mob #shigeo kageyama #reigen arataka #mob psycho 100 x reader #mp100 x reader #mob x reader #shigeo kageyama x reader #reigen arataka x reader #reader insert #headcanons #x reader headcanons #fanfic #fanfiction #platonic #platonic relationships #gn reader

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roosterforme · 9 months ago

Text

Aim for the Sky Part 9 | Rooster x Reader

Summary: You were trying your best to enjoy the countdown to the arrival of the baby, but your emotions were all over the place. Even on your birthday, you couldn't tell if you were excited or anxious. Bradley planned to surprise you with something special, but he got a different kind of surprise instead.

Warnings: Fluff, smut, angst, swearing, injury while pregnant

Length: 4500 words

Pairing: Bradley "Rooster" Bradshaw x Female Reader

Aim for the Sky masterlist. This was written to accompany my series Is It Working For You? along with a bunch of my one-shots and other series, but it can be read on its own! Check my masterlist for the reading order.

Your parents' departure after Christmas left you antsy and anxious, and you knew Bradley could tell. All the talk about them potentially moving to California had you on edge, especially since everything was beginning to feel very real now. Your due date was creeping closer and closer, and you were starting to remember one solidly scary fact on an hourly basis now: neither you nor Bradley had any clue how to take care of a baby.

Your husband was so excited, it wasn't like you could feasibly bring up this topic of conversation. Every time you tried, he reminded you that he had watched dozens of Youtube videos. He told you that your parents were always just a call away. He assured you that if he was ever going to be successful at anything, it would be taking care of Rosie.

"I'm ready for the Nugget, Baby Girl," he told you as you got dressed to go out to the Hard Deck on New Year's Eve. He was already wearing the pink shirt you gave him for Christmas. The tiny matching one was tucked away in the closet in the nursery which brought a tear to your eye.

"I know you are," you sniffed, "but I'm still scared." You'd had a headache for the last few days, and food just hadn't sounded appealing to you. Your belly was getting enormous as your third trimester wore on, and everything was tender. "She'll be here so soon."

Bradley looked at your reflection in the bathroom mirror, his eyes lighting up as he smiled. "Eleven more weeks, but who's counting? Not me," he said, holding up his phone which had a 'Countdown to Rose' background on the screen. When you didn't even smile, he sighed and said, "I know you're nervous, Sweetheart. I get moments where I'm really nervous, too."

You pressed your lips together and tried to hold back the tears. You already knew how much he struggled with coming to terms with becoming a parent when he hadn't had either of his for such a long time. "The whole thing is going to hurt. And then we have to figure out what to do with an actual baby. Like this is going to be way different from nursing Tramp back to health. And I suddenly feel like I'm going to be terrible at this."

He had you in his arms immediately, and you were trying not to get your smeared makeup on his pink shirt. "It might hurt, but I'll be with you the whole time. And then I swear I'll take care of everything right afterwards so you don't have to. I'm planning on taking a few days off from work after Rosie gets here, and you can relax and be an amazing mom while I clean and take care of everything else."

You looked up at him as a tear slid down your cheek. "You're going to cook, Roo?" you asked, finally breaking into a smile.

His eyes went wide, and his lips parted wordlessly. You laughed at the worried look on his face even as you cried a little bit more. "Well, we can figure that part out. Or maybe you can freeze some dinners? I don't think I should be cooking."

"I agree," you hiccuped, wrapping your arms around him awkwardly with your belly in the way.

You were quiet for a bit before Bradley finally asked, "Would you rather stay home tonight?"

Of course you'd rather stay home. Nothing sounded as good as your bed these days. That was where he fucked you until you weren't horny anymore and then let you fall asleep in his arms while he read to you from the Nugget notebook. "No, I want to go out and see everyone," you told him, because you knew he wanted to go out. "We can sleep in tomorrow and do nothing."

He kissed the top of your head and murmured, "It'll be a relaxing week since we're going out for your birthday on Friday night."

"Are we?" you asked, suddenly feeling excited that he always remembered your day and made it special. "Where?"

"Hot sauce restaurant," he whispered. "And maybe a little something extra."

"A cake?" you gasped.

Bradley laughed as he wiped away your tears. "You want a cake? I'll get you a cake, Baby Girl. Anything you want."

-----------------------------

The Hard Deck was absolutely packed for New Year's Eve, and Bradley was getting worried that someone was going to bump into you. He tried to get you and your bottle of Gatorade tucked safely between his body and Nat's, but there were people shoving through the crowd in every direction.

"I've never seen it this crowded before," you said over the music. You'd just been talking to Jake about three feet away, but Bradley could only pay attention to anyone who looked drunk and unsteady on their feet while he sipped his own beer cautiously.

"Seriously," he replied. "Penny and Jimmy look panicked. That new bartender looks like she's going to cry."

You scanned the room, taking a small step away from him and Nat, and that's when you got bumped. "What the fuck, man?" Bradley shouted to some guy he'd never seen before when you stumbled back against him. "Watch where the fuck you're going."

"I'm fine, Roo," you assured him with your hand on his bicep, but Bradley glared daggers at him until he was out of your vicinity.

"You might be fine, but I want you to be safe and comfortable," he snarled, finally looking down at your pretty face as your straw rested on your lip. "I want you to feel as perfect as you look." Just then someone else bumped you into him, and his fingers curled into a fist.

You reached for his hand and shook it until his fingers uncurled and were laced with yours. "I want to tell you to stop, but you're seriously turning me on right now," you moaned, eyes glued to his face as your pupils grew wide. "Like a lot."

Bradley closed his eyes and took a deep breath as his body reacted to your words and the look you were giving him. His hand came to rest gently on your bump, stroking you through your shirt. You looked incredible right now, and you even tasted and smelled impossibly sweet to him. "It's way too early to leave," he rasped, glancing down your shirt as you took another sip of Gatorade. "But when we do, I promise you'll be well taken care of."

"Mmkay, Daddy," you replied, kissing his neck while Nat made an animated gagging face behind you.

"I was going to ask if either of you wanted to play darts with me, but not if you're going to start doing that all night," she said, but you were already bouncing with excitement.

"I want to play!" you told her, shoving your drink into Bradley's free hand.

Nat grimaced but said, "Okay, fine. But only because you look happy, and the endorphins are probably good for the baby."

For the next forty-five minutes, Bradley acted as a human fence, trying to block anyone from jostling you while you and his best friends played darts. "You want to play, Roo?" you asked him at one point, holding up three darts in his direction.

"Who's going to guard you and Rosie if I play?" he asked, glaring at a woman who came tripping in your direction.

"She'll be fine," Nat told him, but he just shook his head and let you play. This was actually exhausting. He knew he'd be tired once the baby was born, but he hadn't been anticipating starting his protective duties this early. Soon he'd have his wife and his daughter to look after. Not that he minded. He was already living for it, but he didn't want to mess anything up. Your nerves were evident earlier as your hormones were constantly fluctuating, but he wasn't sure he had an excuse here.

"Are you listening?" you asked, patting his abs with the back of your hand. He could feel your engagement ring through his new shirt which made him smile unexpectedly. "It's almost midnight."

"Oh. Should we head home?" he asked, hoping he could get you out of here unscathed. The bar was getting a little wild now.

"Let's stay for the countdown and then head out. Get me a ginger ale?"

He grunted in response, looking for someone responsible to leave you with while he fought his way to the bar, but Bob was already gone on his deployment. Maria hadn't even come out tonight, and Cam was wasted. Bradley glanced at Jake and Cat who were looking quite cozy off in the corner, and he led you in that direction with his hands on your shoulders. "Stay with them," he told you, clearly interrupting the couple as you tried to dig your feet in.

"Hey, Angel," Jake said with a smirk. He had Cat's lipstick on his face and his arm around her waist, but he didn't seem too upset that Bradley dumped you there.

"Can you look after my wife while I get her something to drink? It's a little rough in here tonight. If anyone touches her, just punch them."

"I don't need a babysitter," you complained, but he kissed your forehead as Jake made room for you to stand against the wall.

"Yes, you do. I'll be right back."

Bradley fought his way up to the bar where everyone was reaching for the plastic champagne flutes that Jimmy was pouring. Penny saw him and immediately got him another beer, but he had to lean in and ask, "Can I get a ginger ale too, Pen?"

She shot him a little smile as she reached for the soda gun and a pint glass, and Bradley turned back to check on your current status. This time next year, you and he would be cozy at home with Rose, and there was nothing that could possibly make him want to be out for the night. A soft smile found his lips as he thought about coaxing his daughter to sleep and holding her against his chest while you and he watched New Year's Rockin' Eve on TV with Tramp on the area rug.

"Hey, handsome, you wanna buy me a drink?"

Bradley let his gaze shift down to the woman next to him, and he shook his head as she reached for his hand. "Absolutely not," he replied immediately, annoyed that someone was making his quest to get this drink and get back to you longer than it needed to be. He handed Penny ten dollars and grabbed your ginger ale before heading toward the back corner where you were waiting for him, safe and sound.

"Seriously, as soon as midnight hits, we're out of here, Sweetheart."

You sipped your soda and said, "Whatever you want."

-----------------------------

It turned out you and Bradley wanted the same thing. He had you both undressed by the time you got to your bedroom, and then the two of you stumbled into the bathroom, laughing between kisses. He tasted like beer, and his two day old stubble was rough, and you wanted him so badly you were aching for it. But he took the time to light two of the candles you left near the bathtub for when you wanted to take a relaxing bath, his hard cock bobbing as he walked.

"I'm setting the mood," he whispered with a smile, the scars on his face intriguingly handsome in the candlelight.

"Bradley, I'm always in the mood at the moment," you reminded him. You could probably handle him four times a day right now if he could manage it.

"Just let me try to be romantic," he whined, pressing your butt against the edge of the vanity before spinning you around to face the mirror. "I want to romantically fuck the shit out of you."

Your giggles turned to moans as he guided himself deep into your pussy before stroking your clit with one sure fingertip and bracing his hand on the vanity next to yours. His abs were hard against your back, and his pelvic bones were sharp, digging into your rear end. He pulled out a few inches before thrusting deep once again with a delicious snap of his hips. His eyes looked impossibly dark reflecting in the mirror as he watched your breasts bounce as he repeated that same thrust once again.

"Look at you," he crooned softly, leaning in to kiss the shell of your ear as he fucked you a little faster. "Oh my god."

He dragged his big hand up from your clit to cup your belly softly, kissing along your neck as you already felt yourself pulsing around him. Those rough fingers soon found your nipple, and you gasped, "Bradley," which just seemed to egg him on.

He was sucking on your neck and murmuring sweetly incoherent nothings. "Baby Girl, these tits. Gonna love them. My fucking god. Massive."

Where you just saw stretch marks and oversized body parts, he saw something that made him go feral for you right now. Your boobs were so tender, but there was something about the way he was grabbing at you that made you just want more. His voice was deep as his teeth grazed your skin, fingers kneading into the side of your breast as you clenched around his cock which was once again shoved deep inside your pussy.

"Your nipples look fucking huge," he whined, his hips starting to stutter after each fluid movement. "Do you see this?" he asked, hand sliding up the valley between your breasts to grab your chin and aim your eyes upwards until you were studying yourself. Your lips were parted, and he was right, your breasts did look pretty incredible as the candle light flickered. And somehow your swollen belly looked almost cute as he slammed into you from behind and groaned your name. "I did this to you," he whispered, hand resting over your belly button. "But the rest of it is just how fucking sexy you are. I can't get enough."

When you met his wild gaze in the mirror, you let your head tip back to his shoulder, maintaining eye contact as you started to come. He held you tight to his body as his hips met your butt and his cock stroked you exactly how you needed him to. "Oh fuck," you gasped, legs starting to shake as you got closer.

"Good girl," he crooned next to your ear, his mustache prickling your skin as your eyes closed. He fucked you through your orgasm, voice mingling with yours, and before you know it, you were standing there panting while his cum dripped down your inner thighs.

You were a little dizzy, but he kept a firm hold on you as he kissed and tasted your neck, cheek and shoulder. His fingers were stroking your furled nipples, and your skin was on fire with pleasurable little aftershocks that you didn't want to stop. But you were so tired, you needed to get off your feet.

"Roo."

Maybe it was how you said it, or maybe it was the use of that pet name in general, but he seemed to know exactly what you needed with just that one word. He helped you to the toilet and cleaned up your legs while you used it. He brushed his teeth while you did yours, and then he waited for you to remove your contacts and wash your face before leading you to bed. When he climbed in next to you, he kissed your lips and let you get as comfortable as you could before whispering, "I love you both." You were asleep before he turned off his lamp.

----------------------------

Leading up to Friday, Bradley kept trying to sneak off to confirm the plans he made for your birthday. But when he tried to call the lounge in Del Mar first thing in the morning, nobody answered, and if he tried later in the day, there was always an interruption. And that interruption was usually you. On Thursday evening, he finally managed to sneak away to the garage where he planned on working out as soon as he made the phone call.

Once he verified that you were nowhere in sight or within earshot, he had his phone pressed to his ear. When someone answered, he quickly said, "Hi, this is Bradley Bradshaw. I just wanted to confirm my rental agreement for the rooftop space for tomorrow night. I have the hour-long private event planned."

"Yes, sir. The space and the DJ are all yours from nine to ten o'clock tomorrow night."

"Great," he replied, head still on a swivel even though he was pretty sure you were doing a load of laundry inside the house. That's when you came strolling into the garage with a snack in your hand, and he quickly ended the call after a muttered thank you. "Hey," he told you as he awkwardly tossed his phone onto the tool bench and picked up one of his dumbbells.

You stood there in one of his old, stretched out tee shirts and a pair of maternity shorts and chewed on an unsalted pretzel. "Who were you talking to?" you asked. He should have known he wasn't going to get away with you not noticing.

"Uh... nobody," he muttered, and you raised one eyebrow in response. He sighed. "I don't want to tell you, because it's a surprise for your birthday tomorrow, okay?"

You smiled and told him, "Okay, Roo. No worries." You bit into another pretzel, and Bradley realized how tired you looked.

"Did you finish eating dinner?"

"No," you replied softly. "I just want a few pretzels. I have like no appetite."

Your next appointment with Dr. Morris was coming up in a week, and he had been wondering if it was bad that you hadn't gained really any weight since before Christmas. Work had been very busy for you the past few days with the arrival of some sort of new scientific equipment that completely baffled him. You were exhausted after one round of sex now, which was definitely a change of pace from a month ago. He almost blushed when he thought about how the two of you spent your first wedding anniversary.

"I think you need to eat something with some substance or protein or something, Sweetheart."

"I can't," you snapped. "Everything else makes me feel awful. You should try being pregnant, Bradley. It kind of sucks."

He didn't know how to respond, because the last thing he wanted to do was piss you off the night before your birthday. "Okay. Well, will you let me know if I can get you anything?"

You nodded as you chewed up another pretzel before yawning. "I came out to watch you get all sweaty for a minute before I head to bed."

"In that case," he said, laying back on his bench, "let me get started, birthday girl."

You were smiling again as he unlocked his barbell and got to work.

----------------------------

You woke up on your birthday to the feel of Bradley's hand on your hip and his voice in your ear, slowly coaxing you from your dream. "Happy birthday, Sweetheart." You rolled over and were met with his brown eyes and his messy bed head, and he collected you in his arms. "It's my second favorite day of the year."

His body was warm, and the last thing you wanted to do was go to work today. "Pretty soon it will be your third favorite day of the year," you croaked. When his brow furrowed, you guided his hand to your belly and said, "Don't even try to tell me the Nugget's birthday won't surpass it."

Your husband shook his head. "It'll be a tie," he whispered, kissing your forehead as the baby thumped around. "Hey, Rosie is saying happy birthday, too!"

You moaned softly. "Rosie is hungry but doesn't seem to like any foods right now."

Bradley ran his fingers along your cheek before kissing that spot. "I'm hoping the hot sauce restaurant will hit the spot for you tonight. Plus I have a fun surprise for afterwards."

It was worth a try. Hot sauce was one of the only things that didn't sound disgusting to you at the moment. In fact, Bradley poured you a little bowl of your favorite kind for you to dip your granola bar into while he made some coffee, and you did feel a bit better. Your stomach gurgled as he plopped down onto the piano bench to play the birthday song and sing to you.

As ridiculous as he looked sitting there in his boxer briefs with his hair still a mess, you knew you could never love someone the way you loved him. He was going to be such a good dad. He already built the playset and had the nursery almost ready. He had a countdown going on his phone. He picked out an outfit for the baby to wear home from the hospital. And he took care of you all the time.

"I love you, Roo," you promised, wrapping him up in a hug and kissing along the gray hairs at his temple. "I can't wait for dinner later."

As soon as you were dressed in your hideous maternity tent, Bradley drove both of you to work, and you found yourself stifling yawn after yawn. You were beginning to doubt that you could make it through work let alone a whole date night, but you didn't want to tell him that. Not when he was playing your favorite songs and holding your hand while he drove. Not when he had his arm draped over your shoulders as he walked you all the way up to your office and kissed you like his life depended on it.

"I love you," he murmured before dropping down to one knee to press a kiss to your bump. "Be extra nice to Mommy today, little Nugget." You could feel her squirm around as she seemed to recognize his voice. "She's got a busy day planned for her birthday."

Then he was back on his feet, zipping his flight suit up fully, and with one last kiss, he was heading toward the elevators.

After just an hour in the lab, it was evident that the granola bar and hot sauce had not been enough for breakfast. You desperately wanted to sneak back to your office and dig around in your snack reserve in your desk to take the edge off if you could. You were currently waging a war between being hungry and simultaneously appalled by food.

"Are you okay?" Cat asked, nudging your arm with her elbow as Bickel droned on about the equipment that was on loan from Lemoore's engineering department. He was hoping that in the next two months, you and the others would be able to help him build a more streamlined interface for the F/A-18s. It wasn't that you weren't interested, because you were. You just couldn't focus very well at the moment.

"I'm fine," you told Cat who gave you side eye but stood quietly next to you. It would have been beneficial to have taken your birthday off and spent it in bed, but it was too late for that.

After an indeterminate amount of time, Bickel finally stopped talking, but then he called your name. You met his gaze and realized he looked very excited.

"Yes, sir?" you asked him, taking a step forward. You felt awful. Even the sound of your boot squeaking on the floor set your teeth on edge. Your head had begun to pound at some point in the morning, and now it felt like your brain was attacking your skull.

"Come help me test it out," he said, his voice grating on your nerves in a way it never had before.

Your next step was a bit of a stumble, and you tried to reach for the edge of the counter. You were going to throw up. The urge to gag left you reeling, searching for something to hold onto. Cat was calling your name as Bickel's eyes went wide, but when you reached for him, your hand caught on the instrumentation instead. It hurt a lot, but it didn't hurt nearly as much as your knee connecting with the cabinet. You needed someone to reach you before you hit the floor, but you weren't that lucky. You wrapped your arm around your belly the best you could, but as soon as you hit the floor, you were met with blackness.

-----------------------------

Bradley didn't really need practice dogfighting, but it certainly was fun anyway. Especially when he was up against Jake late in the morning. The taunting was comical and getting more absurd by the minute.

"Hey, Hangman, why don't you hang it up, man. You're done," he said as he shot the other pilot down for the third time in a row.

"Lay an egg, birdman," came the response through his helmet that made him chuckle.

Bradley was just pulling up on his throttle to gain some altitude and go again when he heard Maverick's voice crackle through his helmet.

"Wheels on the tarmac. Both of you. Rooster first, then Hangman." The tone of his voice left Bradley wondering what was going on. The weather was beautiful, and he was actually enjoying this exercise immensely. In a few hours, he'd be feeding you anything you wanted off the dinner menu at your favorite restaurant before indulging you in your very own, private silent disco.

But as soon as he touched down and started to taxi back toward the hangar, he saw Maverick and Nat running his way. Then he heard her voice through his helmet. "Open your canopy. You need to get out now. Your wife is in the emergency room."

A chill colder than ice shot through his body. Something was wrong with you or the baby, and he hadn't been there to help you. "What?" he gasped, saliva starting to pool at the back of his tongue, making it hard to swallow. "What happened?"

Nat didn't respond, but as soon as his jet came to a stop, she had his ladder ready for him. The rush of fresh air that hit him as his canopy opened did nothing to make him feel better as she shouted for him to climb down. Something happened to one of his girls. He hadn't been there. As soon as he was able to control his body, he climbed down as quickly as he could, skipping the last few rungs. When Nat reached for his hand, he could see the alarmed look in her eyes, and he started crying.

"What happened?" he asked again, but she just pulled her car keys from her pocket while she grasped his hand, and he ran with her to the parking garage.

--------------------------------

Omg, why am I doing this? I hope Nat can drive fast. Thanks @beyondthesefourwalls

PART 10

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lupinqs · 3 months ago

Text

CHAPTER THREE ━━ Mia, The Menace

❀ ━ pairing: paige bueckers x oc (jo jacobson)

❀ ━ word count: 4.6K

❀ ━ warnings: none i think

❀ ━ links: my masterlist, nobody gets me masterlist

❀ ━ author’s note: sigh another filler i’m sorry guys next chapter is when things actually start happening ….. also will u guys pls lmk if y’all like this series so far bc i feel like i’ve been writing it so shitty i’m sorry 🫠

THE AIR in Jo’s family home feels warmer than she remembers, thick with the lazy ease of summer afternoons in Boston. She’s sprawled out on the couch in the living room, half in Asher’s lap, her back pressed against his chest. The TV hums in the background, some half-forgotten show playing on low volume, but neither of them is paying much attention to it. Instead, their focus is on Mia, Jo’s eight-year-old little sister, who’s commanding the room as she rehearses her dance routine.

The house feels bigger than it ever does when Jo’s parents are home, their absence leaving behind a peculiar stillness that’s only occasionally interrupted by Mia’s bursts of energy. Her parents are celebrating their anniversary weekend in Maine, indulging in some much-deserved quiet while leaving Jo in charge of their youngest child. Jo doesn’t mind; after all, it’s July—her off-month—and she’s back in Boston for a brief stint of home-cooked meals and family chaos before heading back to Storrs in August. Babysitting Mia, however, is proving to be a full-time job in itself—which Jo probably should’ve expected.

Mia’s energy is endless. Right now, she’s twirling and leaping across the living room, her movements surprisingly precise for a kid her age. She’s dressed in a sparkly leotard and pink tights, her hair tied in an elaborate bun she’d made Jo do before this—because, well, if Jo is good for anything, it’s doing hair. During summer sessions, half the team made her do their braids before practice—Paige especially, the blonde hopeless at doing her own—and Jo knows it’ll only get worse when the season starts up.

Jo tries to keep a watchful eye on her sister, but she can’t help but be distracted by her boyfriend. He’s absentmindedly tracing small circles across the middle of her thigh, and she can feel his heart beating against her back. When she glances up at him, she can’t help but grin at the softness of his smile as he claps along with Mia’s haphazard twirls, the way he leans into the couch—into Jo—like he belongs here. Which, he does. He always has.

“Joey!” Mia calls, her voice sharp and commanding for an eight-year-old. She pauses mid-spin to put her hands on her hips, her small frame vibrating with indignation. “You’re not watching!”

Jo blinks, pulling herself out of her thoughts. “I am watching,” she defends, though it’s not quite true. She sits up a little straighter against Asher, nudging him as if to say help me out here. “You’re doing great, Mia. Keep going.”

Mia narrows her eyes, clearly unconvinced. “Ugh,” she groans, glaring at her older sister. “Payton always gives me better advice. You just say, ‘good job.’ That’s not going to help if I want to be the best dancer in the entire world, Jo!”

Jo exchanges a look with Asher, who’s barely holding back a laugh. Payton, Jo and Mia’s older sister, is a professional dancer living in New York City—a career Mia idolizes. Unlike Jo, who’s spent her life on the basketball court, Payton is everything Mis wants to be: graceful, disciplined, and impossibly good at pirouettes. It’s a path Jo has no interest in, which is probably why Mia constantly reminds her she’s the least qualified coach in the family.

“Well, yeah,” Jo says with a shrug. “Payton’s a pro. She’s, like, me in basketball but with dance. I’m just here to cheer you on, don’t really know what to tell you’s right or wrong, Mimi.”

Mia just groans again, even more dramatic this time, launching into another leap across the floor. Asher leans closer to Jo, his lips brushing against her ear as he drops his voice to a whisper. “Tough crowd.”

Jo snorts softly. “You have no idea,” she murmurs back.

Mia finishes her routine with a fluoride, throwing one arm in the air as if she’s just landed a gold medal-winning move at the Olympics. Asher claps loudly, a grin inching across his face. “Amazing, Mee!” he says enthusiastically, though he’d say that even if her performance was outright awful. “You’re getting even better than Payton, I think.”

For once, Mia doesn’t respond with her usual sass. Typically, when it comes to Asher, Mia’s either teasingly threatening him or biting at him or calling him funny names—she’s a menace child if Jo’s ever met one. But instead, Mia actually smiles at the boy, her cheeks flushed pink from exertion. “Thanks,” she says cheerfully, and Jo stares at her in disbelief.

“Wow,” the point guard says, raising an eyebrow, impressed. “You smiled at him. And thanked him. I think that’s a first.”

“Progress,” Asher claims, smiling broadly down at Jo.

Mia, on the other hand, sticks her tongue out at her older sister before collapsing onto the rug, sighing dramatically. “I’m exhausted. Someone get me a glass of water.”

“Get one yourself,” Jo tells her, already pulling out her phone. She scrolls through her notifications lazily, her thumb pausing when Paige’s name lights up her screen.

PB 😱😱

Got a nike event in Boston tmrw morning

Soooo we’re hanging out after

No negotiations

Jo’s lips twitch into a smile.

Ma freshie 💘

obviously

what time?

Paige replies almost instantly.

PB 😱😱

Like noon?

Don’t bail jojo

Jo shakes her head, rolling her eyes to herself. Paige never fails to amuse.

Asher, whose chin is now pressed against Jo’s hair, his gaze on her text. He asks, “So, you and her are really tight now, huh?”

Jo shrugs, because, well, kinda, duh. “I mean, we do live together,” she says, as if that explains everything.

“Yeah, but she’s Bueckers,” he replies, saying her name like it means something. Which, even though Paige would say it doesn’t, it totally does. “That’s a huge deal. She’s, like, insane on the court. Seen all the highlights.”

Jo doesn’t respond immediately. Instead, she lets her mind wander to the past month and a half—the morning runs, the late-night shooting, the quiet moments in their shared apartment, the not-so-quiet playful bickering. Paige isn’t just her teammate or her roommate. She’s… something else entirely. Someone Jo can’t quite put into words—an enigma, maybe. “She’s just Paige,” Jo murmurs finally, her voice softer now.

Asher grins. “I’ve gotta meet her sometime. Best introduce me soon, Jo.”

“You’ll like her,” she replies, confidence threading her voice. She can already picture how Paige would probably charm the hell out of him without even trying—she does it to everyone, after all. “She’s… yeah, she’s cool.”

From the rug, Mia sits up suddenly, as if she’s finally hearing the conversation, her curiosity clearly piqued. “Who’s Paige?”

Jo blinks at her. “My roommate,” she responds simply. “You knew that.”

“And teammate,” Asher adds.

“She knew that, too.”

Mia crosses her arms, her tone all business now, ignoring Jo’s last comment. “Is she nice?”

“Yeah,” Jo answers easily. “She’s great. Super chill, really funny.”

“Is she good at basketball?” Mia fired back.

Jo grins. “One of the best.”

“Bet she’s better than you.”

Jo throws one of the throw pillows on the couch at her sister’s head. “Shut up, Mia.”

Mia just giggles, dodging the pillow with ease. Asher laughs, shaking his head as he watches the two sisters bicker, more than familiar with it.

For all her teasing, Jo can’t shake the warm, almost buzzing feeling in her chest. She’s excited to see Paige tomorrow. For reasons she can’t explain, she’s missed her a lot these past couple weeks they’ve been away from campus. It’s probably just because going from basically spending every waking minute with one another to none at all is a little odd.

Probably.

THE JULY sun beats down on Boston, and Paige feels it’s warmth seeping into her skin as she walks along the tree-lined streets near the Commons. The Nike event she attended this morning went off without a hitch, just a casual appearance with some photos and a couple clips filmed that they’ll probably put into an add. But now, she’s got the rest of the day free. The thought makes her grin as she thumbs out a quick text to Jo.

PB 😱😱

All done 😊😊

Where u at?

It takes Jo less than a minute for Jo to reply, sending a pin for a location that’s about a half mile away. Paige starts walking, but a follow-up text rings before she’s even crossed the street.

Ma freshie 💘

mia and i are by the ice cream shop

hurry pls, she’s losing her mind

The next message is a picture of Mia making a ridiculous face, her lips twisted and one eye squinting in mock disgust. Paige snorts out a laugh right there on the sidewalk, the noise startling a couple walking by. She doesn’t care, though. The kid already seems like a riot, and Paige is oddly excited to meet her.

The stories Jo’s told her about Mia over the past month and a half come rushing back: the eight-year-old’s uncanny ability to get under people’s skin, her endless energy, and her knack for saying the wildest things at the worst times. Paige has been looking forward to meeting her, though she’s still not sure if it’s because she’s genuinely curious about the so-called “demon child” or if she just wants to see Jo in full big-sister mode.

When Paige rounds the final corner, she spots them immediately. Jo is standing near a brightly colored ice cream shop, her arms crossed, her face pinched in annoyance as she talks to a smaller figure—Mia, presumably. Mia, on the other hand, looks completely unbothered, her tiny hands on her hips as she talks back with the kind of confidence that only a sassy little girl could muster.

Paige slows her steps, taking in the scene with a grin tugging at her lips. Jo’s wearing a simple outfit—ripped jean shorts that show off her long legs, a tightly-fitted white tube top, and a Red Sox cap pulled low over her face. It’s casual, but there’s something about the way she looks so effortlessly good in it that makes Paige pause for half a second longer than she should.

Her stomach dips unexpectedly, and Paige frowns to herself. Relax.

Still, as Paige approaches, she can’t help but notice the way Jo’s tan skin seems to glow under the sun, how smooth her legs look. Paige shakes her head, forcing her thoughts back on track. Because, seriously, the fuck is she even thinking about?

Clearing her throat, Paige makes her presence known. Jo turns, her annoyed expression instantly replaced by something brighter—her eyes lighting up, a wide grin spreading across her face.

“Hey, JoJo,” Paige greets teasingly, the nickname rolling off her tongue before she can stop it.

Jo’s grin falters for half a second, and she slaps Paige’s arm lightly. “Quit calling me that.”

Paige smirks. “Nah.”

Before Jo can retort, Mia steps forward, her curious gaze fixed on Paige. The little girl is smaller than Paige expected, with a mop of dark curls and big brown eyes that seem to take in everything. Paige crouches down to her level, offering a hand.

“And you must be Mia,” she says warmly. “I’m Paige.”

Mia doesn’t take her hand right away. Instead, she gives Paige a long, exaggerated once-over, her gaze hard as she studies her. The blonde tries not to fidget, but it’s hard under the little girl’s piercing eyes. Jo wasn’t kidding; Mia’s got this quiet intensity that’s a little intimidating, even if she’s only eight years old and Paige is twenty.

Finally, Mia breaks into a grin and giggles as she takes Paige’s hand. “Hi,” she says, her voice lilting.

Paige relaxes, smiling back easily. “It’s nice to finally meet you. I’ve heard lots about you.”

Mia tilts her head. “From Jo?”

“Yeah,” Paige remixes with a grin. “She talks about you all the time.”

Mia beams at this, clearly pleased, while Jo mutters something under her breath that Paige doesn’t catch.

Paige chuckles a little as she stands. “Sooo, ice cream, right?” she asks.

Mia’s eyes light up and she grabs Paige’s hand like she’s known her her whole life rather than a minute or two. “Yes! Best ice cream in Boston!”

Jo snorts, falling into step beside them, shoulder brushing against Paige’s lightly. “She says that about every ice cream place we go to,” she mumbles, though there’s an undeniable softness in her tone.

“It is the best,” Mia insist, her voice full of conviction.

Paige grins. “Guess I’ll have to see for myself.”

The moment they step inside the ice cream shop, Paige is hit with a wave of sugary air and the sound of chatter. It’s buzzing in here, bigger and more crowded than she expected, almost every table occupied, with kids laughing, parents corralling them. The line snakes almost to the door, and Paige glances down at Mia, who’s still clutching her hand tightly.

“Looks like this place is the best,” Paige observes, smiling down at the little girl. Mia beams back up at her, her cheeks flushed with excitement.

“Told you!” she chirps, voice triumphant.

Paige can’t help but laugh softly. She glances over at Jo, who’s scanning the menu above the counter. The sunlight streaming through the shop window catches on the stray wisps of Jo’s hair that escape from under her Red Sox cap. Paige tries not to let her eyes linger too long on the curve of Jo’s jawline or the way her tube top leaves the expanse of her collarbones and neck exposed.

Jesus Christ, she doesn’t know what’s wrong with herself today.

The line moves slowly, but Paige doesn’t mind. Mia fills the time with a steady stream of chatter, never letting go of the blonde. She tells her about her favorite ice cream flavor (superman), her least favorite vegetables (brussel sprouts), and their family dogs (a dachshund named Dory and a golden retriever named Murph).

Paige listens attentively, nodding and laughing at all the right moments. She’s used to this—her own siblings are just as chatty, and she’s always been good at humoring them. There’s something comforting about Mia’s unfiltered enthusiasm; it reminds Paige of home in a way that makes her chest ache just a little.

As they inch closer to the counter, the line passes by a display of candy shelves, and that’s when it happens. Mia freezes mid-sentence, her eyes locking into something with the kind of laser focus that only a kid ready for a sugar high can muster.

“Oh my gosh,” Mia breaths, pointing to a massive rainbow-swirled lollipop almost as big as her head. She finally removes her hand from Paige’s to start tugging at Jo, begging, “Joey, please, please, can I get it? Please?”

Paige blinks a little at the nickname. Joey. She’s never heard anyone call Jo that before—she thought the only one she had was the one she hates that the whole team’s started using for her (JoJo). But Paige thinks Joey’s cute. In fact, she files it away in the back of her mind.

“No. Definitely not,” Jo says immediately, shaking her head down at Mia.

Mia’s face scrunches up in exaggerated disbelief. “What? Why?”

Paige glances between them, finally seeing what Jo meant about Mia being a demon child. The girl’s dramatic flair is something else entirely.

Jo sighs heavily. “Because the last time we were here, Mom bought you one, and you threw it up on the way home. It was gross, Mia.”

“It wasn’t that bad,” Mia whines, still eyeing the lollipop like it’s the holy grail.

“It was that bad,” Jo counters.

“But it tasted sooo good,” Mia insists, dragging out the words as she tugs at Jo’s arm again.

Jo raises an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. “Did it taste good when it came back up?”

Mia stops short, her small face scrunching up in thought. The gears are clearly turning in her head as she considers this. And just as suddenly as the argument started, Mia lets out a resigned sigh and steps away from the candy display.

“Fine,” she mumbles, sounding defeated.

Jo smiles to herself, clearly pleased, and Paige has to bite back a laugh at the entire sibling interaction.

“Nice save,” she says under her breath, leaning slightly toward Jo as they start moving forward in line again.

Jo glances at her, their faces closer than usual, though she doesn’t seem to notice. Her smile just widens as she responds, “You learn a few tricks when you’ve been stuck around her for eight years.”

Paige chuckles softly, watching Mia bound up to the counter like she’s on a mission, finally their turn to order. The little girl presses her hands against the glass case, scanning the vibrant tubs of ice cream with a dramatic level of intensity.

“I want Superman!” Mia declares, her voice brimming with excitement as she points at the swirled red, yellow, and blue ice cream.

“Please,” Jo adds, giving the employee a small, apologetic smile as she nudges Mia’s arm, giving her that older sister look that Paige can tell means—use your manners. The worker scoops a generous amount of the ice cream into a cup and hands it over the counter. Mia accepts it like it’s a trophy, her eyes and grin wide as ever.

“Can I just have a scoop of cotton candy, please?” Jo asks, her turn now, her voice casual like she’s not about to commit a culinary crime.

Paige can’t help but scrunch up her nose at the brunette’s order. Nasty. She doesn’t say anything—yet—but she stores the information away for later mockery. The worker hands Jo her cone, a garishly bright pink and blue swirl that makes Paige wince just looking at it.

When it’s Paige’s turn, she doesn’t even hesitate, ordering mint chip—her absolute favorite.

They pay quickly, before stepping outside into the warm air, each armed with their chosen flavor. Mia’s already half-covered in Superman ice cream and Jo has her head tilted slightly to avoid dripping the cotton candy monstrosity in her hand.

Paige glances at Jo’s cone and makes a face. “Cotton candy is crazy work,” she tells her, incredulous.

Jo raises an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. “What’s wrong with cotton candy?”

“Everything,” Paige answers, gesturing at the cone like it’s personally offended her. “It’s basically sugar-flavored-sugar. It doesn’t even taste like real cotton candy. It’s just—” She shudders dramatically.

Jo narrows her eyes at Paige’s cone in retaliation. “Says the person eating frozen toothpaste.”

Paige gasps, her hand flying to her chest in mock indignation. “Excuse me, mint chip is a classic. It’s refreshing. It’s balanced. It’s—”

“Minty,” Jo interrupts, wrinkling her nose. “Which is gross.”

“It’s not gross! You’re gross,” Paige fires back, grinning despite herself.

Mia, who’s been watching the exchange with wide eyes, suddenly pipes up. “Okay, I’ll decide!” she declares. She scoops up some of her Superman ice cream for good measure before pointing her tiny spoon at Jo’s cone. “Joey, let me try yours first.”

Jo bends down slightly to hold out her cone, and Mia takes a small bite. She lets it melt in her mouth, her face scrunching up like she’s debating a complex equation. Finally, she nods. “It’s okay,” she says, though she doesn’t look thrilled.

Jo looks affronted. “Just okay?”

Mia shrugs nonchalantly before turning to Paige. “Now yours!”

Paige kneels slightly to hold out her cone. Mia eyes it suspiciously. “Why is it green?” she asks, sounding almost fearful.

“Don’t worry ‘bout the color,” Paige tells her, waving off the question. “It’s good. Trust.”

Mia hesitates for a second longer before scooping up a tiny bite. She puts it in her mouth, and her face goes still. For a moment, Paige wonders if she’s about to spit it out, but then Mia’s eyes light up.

“This. Is. So. Good!” the eight-year-old squeals, practically bouncing in place.

Paige grins, holding out her hand for a high five. “Told you. Welcome to the winning team.”

Mia smacks her hand enthusiastically, ice cream forgotten for a moment. Jo, however, is standing off to the side, arms crossed and pouting like a kid who just lost her favorite game. Paige glances at her and immediately starts laughing.

“Oh, don’t be mad,” she teases, nudging Jo’s arm.

“She’s supposed to be on my side!” Jo grumbles, glaring halfheartedly at Mia. “I’m your sister!”

Mia sticks her tongue out at her, clearly unbothered. “You’re just mad because you have bad taste.”

Paige nearly chokes on her ice cream, laughing so hard she has to steady herself against a bench they’re stood next to. “Dang, Mia!”

Jo shakes her head, though the corner of her mouth twitches upward in a reluctant smile. “You’re lucky you’re cute, you little menace,” she mumbles, ruffling Mia’s hair.

Mia slaps her hand away from her head, beginning to bicker with Jo. Paige watches, quiet now as she bites into her cone. She finds herself unable to look away, a strange warmth blooming in her chest.

See, whatever that is, has to go. She doesn’t like it, doesn’t know what it is, doesn’t understand it in the slightest.

It just—has to go.

THE LIVING ROOM feels cozy in a way that Paige hasn’t experienced in a long time. It’s not her home, not her couch, not her family, but something about it wraps around her, soft and warm. The overhead light is off, leaving the room bathed in the dim glow of the TV. Colors flicker against the walls, shapes shifting across the furniture. Paige doesn’t know what movie is playing—something animated, she thinks—but it’s barely background noise at this point.

Jo sits a few feet away, her back against the armrest of the couch, one leg stretched out, the other bent slightly. Mia’s curled up fast asleep in her lap, her little head tucked under Jo’s arm, one of Jo’s hands running lazily through the little girl’s hair. The motion is slow and deliberate, like second nature, and it’s strangely captivating. Paige finds herself staring, watching the way Jo’s fingers disappear into soft brown curls, touch gentle.

Paige hadn’t planned to stay this long. After Mia had declared mint chip her new favorite ice cream and told Paige she could officially call her Mimi—a nickname that only her absolute favorite people can use—they’d hung out all day, walking around the Commons, then shopping, then getting dinner. After that, they were meant to depart, Jo and Mia going home, and Paige going back to her hotel. But then Mia had looked up at her with those big, pleading eyes, practically begging Paige to come back and watch a movie with them. And Paige is terrible at saying no to kids.

So, she came home with them, to their house which sits right on the outline of the city. The house isn’t massive, but it’s nice—nice enough for Paige to have faintly wondered how much money Jo’s parents make. But it’s still welcoming and cozy, and Paige feels comfortable here. She also likes that she’s got to see all the photos around—the ones of Jo when she was little, some more recent ones that Paige can guess are apart of her senior photos, and a couple of her with her sisters.

The only one that she didn’t enjoy seeing was that one. A nicely framed picture of Jo and her boyfriend sitting on the shelf directly to Paige’s right. They look happy in it. Too happy, in Paige’s opinion, though she doesn’t know why it bothers her so much. Maybe she’s got some sort of jealousy deep down in the part of her heart where her commitment issues aren’t veined around, an envy toward a stable relationship like that. But either way, there’s no reason for her to care. And yet, she doesn’t like it.

Paige shakes the thought away, focusing instead on the conversation. She and Jo have been talking quietly since Mia fell asleep, their voices hushed but easy. It reminds Paige of late nights back at their shared apartment on campus, how they’ll end up in the kitchen at the same time and somehow talk for hours without meaning to. Paige likes those moments more than she’ll ever admit, and this feels no different.

Their conversation drifts, flowing naturally, until Jo starts talking about her sisters. “I admire them, you know,” she says softly, her hand still moving through Mia’s hair. “Payton, especially. She’s… well, she’s incredible. Mia thinks she walks on water, and honestly, sometimes I do, too.”

Paige tilts her head, curious. Jo’s voice has a different quality now—still soft, but there’s something else underneath it. Not sadness exactly, but something close. “What about you?” Paige asks. “You’re incredible, too. And Mia clearly adores you.”

Jo smiles, but—for once—it doesn’t quite reach her eyes. “Yeah, but it’s different. Payton’s a dancer—like, a real dancer. She’s in New York City, with the ballet there. And that’s what Mia loves. That’s what they both love. And, y’know, they connect over it. It’s dance; it’s their thing.”

Paige frowns, the words sinking in. Jo rarely talks like this. She’s always so happy, so upbeat, so wrapped in sunshine that Paige sometimes forgets there might be anything else underneath. “You don’t feel connected to them?” she asks, her voice a little quieter now.

Jo hesitates, her hand pausing in Mia’s hair for just a second before continuing. “Not really,” she admits. “I mean, I love them, obviously. But… it’s hard sometimes. I’ve always been the odd one out, you know? The one who plays basketball while they dance. Sometimes it just feels like we’re on completely different planets.”

Paige doesn’t know what to say at first. She’s surprised—stupidly so, maybe, because she’s never considered Jo might feel this way. But, if she thinks about it, it makes sense.

“I get that,” the blonde finally says, soft but steady. “I mean, I’m so much older than my siblings that it’s hard to connect with them sometimes, too. But… for what it’s worth, I think you’re amazing. And I know Mia does too—whether she says it or not.”

Jo looks over at her then, and for a moment, Paige thinks she might forget how to breathe. There’s something in Jo’s eyes, something raw and unguarded, and it makes Paige’s chest feel tight. “Thanks,” Jo says quietly, barely a whisper.

The moment feels too heavy, too close, and Paige decides to lighten the mood. “So,” she says, changing the subject, her small smile curling into more of a smirk. “Mia calls you Joey?”

Jo’s smile returns, softer this time but more genuine. “Yeah. My whole family does. It’s a much better nickname than that JoJo Siwa shit y’all have come up with.”

Paige laughs, shaking her head. “Don’t shit on the JoJo nickname. It’s iconic.”

Jo raises an eyebrow, her smile turning teasing. “Iconically bad,” she corrects.

“Okay, fine,” Paige says, pretending to think. “But I like Joey more, too. It’s cute. Maybe I’ll start calling you that instead.”

Jo shrugs, but her smile widens just a little. “Anything’s better than JoJo.”

Paige grins, leaning back into the couch, though—for whatever reason—her heart starts thumping a little faster. She doesn’t know why she feels the way she does around Jo sometimes—why moments like this stick with her longer than they probably should. But for now, she doesn’t let herself think about it too much. Instead, she lets herself enjoy the quiet, the warmth of the room, and the easy rhythm of their conversation.

#paige bueckers #uconn wbb #paige bueckers fic #uconn huskies #wcbb #wbb #uconn #paige bueckers x oc #paige bueckers series #paige bueckers fluff #paige bueckers smut #paige bueckers x reader #paige buckets #wcbb x reader #ncaa wbb #wlw #lgbtq #nobody gets me

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butchvampireheimerdinger · 3 months ago

Note

any sevika x butch reader hcs? :P

i see her as soooo butch4butch omg. Transgression is so core to her characterization and I think she would find gender non-conforming dykes soooo attractive. Anyways

Butch4butch! Sevika x reader headcanons

✯ You’ve both got lil peach fuzzy moustaches and neither of u remove ur facial hair so when u kiss ur moustaches tickle each other a little bit.

✯ You’re both rather lesbian obviously and so your love for women n other queer people extends beyond romance. If some dude is bothering some poor chick at the bar, you become the Woman Protection Squad. You’re everyone’s lesbian moms/guard dogs.

✯ Idk who her parents are but she gives off military brat vibes/raised by a strict army father. Now she’s incredibly anti-military (”I didnt always see eye to eye with my old man) but she makes her bed meticulously army style. She’s disciplined like that.

✯ It drives her wild seeing you in “more refined” clothing. Which, for her, means pants without holes that are not jeans, and one of your gay little button ups you probably have. Especially when she becomes a counselor and you show up in Piltover all dyked out in your menswear. Old rich ladies are clutching their pearls and she could probably just take you right there.

✯ Your fav Sevika outfit is the rumpled boxers and wife pleaser combo. Nuff said. Also you share a closet and there’s not a really clear boundary with what belongs to who, except for a few items of clothing that are your “signature.” Like your leather punky battle vest. And her poncho.

✯ You guys would be the punky type of older lesbians that never fought for gay marriage because it was seen as assimilating to a heteronormative society and making queerness palatable to a straight audience. Regardless, you do refer to each other as life partners, domestic partners, sometimes wife. Not really girlfriend unless in a cutesy ironic sorta way.

✯ And as for cutesy nicknames? You call each other “my butch.” Or “my woman” or “my old lady.”

✯ If you did end up having a ceremony with friends and family to celebrate your bond, its double suits fosho. Not exactly matching, but complementary. Maybe borrowed parts from friends and family because who is gonna buy a new suit in this economy? We have a revolution to run!!

✯ It’s at The Last Drop obvs and you hop behind the bar and pour beers, getting your suit all wet. Instead of a bouquet toss, all the single people gather for a rapidfire round of blackjack for who’s the next to get married.

✯ Your “honeymoon” is camping in the nearest wilderness. its all either of you had ever dreamed of. You ride off on your shimmer motorcycle with a billion illegal modifications with cans hanging from it and a sign on the back that says “just hitched.” And you get to watch her chop wood. And she gets to watch you gut a fish. It’s like butchdyke brokeback mountain.

✯ Housework isn’t a masculinity or femininity thing to either of you. She can cook meat, you can do all the plants and veggies cause maybe ur like a gym bro health nut type. Her tendency to load up on protein and nothing else drives you up the wall. “Colorful plate, Sev.”

✯ She does vacuuming and laundry cause she likes to fold stuff a certain way. You do dishes cause neither of you are sure just how waterproof her arm is. And you pick up the clutter so she doesn’t irritate her bad back.

✯ She grills on the barbecue at the summer parties. You pour drinks and set up the trampoline and tetherball thingy/yard games for the kiddos

✯ Affectionate touches include: ruffling each other’s short hair. Pulling you in by the belt loops. Absentmindedly straightening ur rolled up sleeves. You like to rest your head in her lap when its the two of you on the couch and you don’t feel like talking. She uses ur head as a little desk for whatever she’s reading.

✯ You both wear gay little rectangular reading glasses. At night she reads whatever religious text Janna worshippers use in bed next to you and you gab. She peers over her lil glasses at u. Zaun is more religious than Piltover so maybe you both are people of the faith. But if religious trauma exists in this context and you’ve got it, she would always be respectful cause she knows what its like to feel like an outsider.

✯ Obviously you work out together, but neither of you have a consistent routine for that cause ur gay and probably have adhd and her line of work has inconsistent hours.

✯ You have a punching bag in the basement and sometimes the two of you let off steam by punching it back and forth like pingpong. (That’s not how punching bags move, but use your imagination.)

✯ It’s never been a plan for the two of you to have kids and i don’t see formal adoption/ivf/sperm donors being widely accessible in the undercity. But i can see it happening where a disparaged youth on the street adopts the two of you and you become parental figures in that way. Maybe you take in a young trans fellow with a rocky home life. also there’s isha.

✯ If you end up with a younger child in ur care, they call you mama sev or mama vika and mama y/n. Or a cultural name for mom if you have one.

✯ Sevika would be weirdly good with kids because she sees them as people with feelings. She wouldn’t talk down to them or anything. She would be the bad cop but also kind of a gentle parent type. And you know how people sometimes put their naughty kittens or puppies in “air jail?” She is buff enough to do that with her kid one handed until they’re at least ten. And she is the BEST at doing the airplane thing.

Fin.

#arcane league of legends #arcane #arcane headcanon #arcane s2 #arcane fanfic #sevika x reader #arcane fic #sevika arcane #sevika headcanons #vamp does sevika hcs #vamp does arcane hcs

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alwritey-aphrodite · 1 year ago

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“it’s your turn to do the dishes.” “let’s get a divorce.” “we aren’t married yet, my love.” “well we sure as hell aren’t getting married now.”

from the prompts 🥴🤭

Ok reader and Peter are parents in this, and if you’re not into that I will happily write another version for you!!!

Typically, there’s an even distribution of work between you and Peter in your apartment. If one of you vacuums, the other does laundry. If one of you does bath time with your daughter, the other does storytime. It’s easy to switch off so the tasks don’t seem too daunting, too repetitive, and it normally works like a charm, but for some reason, both you and Peter absolutely dread doing the dishes.

Before Charlie May was born, takeout was a frequent staple for the two of you because of the convenience, and even though you’re still young enough that takeout every night seems like a trendy lifestyle choice, it’s not the most nutritious practice to raise your daughter. It’s been hard for the both of you, making changes in your daily life in the hopes of doing right by Charlie, hoping that no one will comment on your parenting abilities or your age or Charlie’s wellbeing.

Cooking fun and tasty and nutritious meals hasn’t been a problem, and Peter is surprisingly skilled in the kitchen, but dishes are a fight every night.

“It’s your turn to do the dishes,” Charlie tells her dad as she sits perched on the countertop, legs swinging and her cheeks rounding in a smile as you squeeze her knee. She loves her dad, and sometimes she acts exactly like him, but she’s always been your little partner in crime. He likes to pretend to be put out by it, but you know that Peter grins behind your back at your scheming and your daughter’s delighted giggles.

“Let’s get a divorce,” Peter says with a sigh, turning towards you to lean an elbow against the counter. Charlie thinks this is the funniest thing she’s ever heard, laughing so hard you need to support her waist in case she tips over with the force of her giggles, even though you’re not entirely certain she knows what the word divorce means. Your daughter’s joy is so infectious that Peter’s faux-serious expression only lasts a second before he’s grinning over at you.

“We’re not married yet,” you remind him, even extending your bare ring finger to emphasize your point. The two of you have discussed your life plans in length, both before and after the surprise arrival of your daughter, and neither of you feel rushed to get married, wanting to wait until Charlie’s a little older and you’re both a bit more financially stable and maybe spending less time swinging above the city. Neither of you truly mind, but in your theatrical fights for the sake of your daughter, it’s nice to have a little pretend-leverage.

“Well, we’re definitely not getting married now,” Peter replies, all exasperation and sorrow as Charlie launches herself towards him, tiny body shaking with the force of her laughter. Peter’s reflexes have made parenting easier in many different ways, but his deftness in catching your daughter every time she launches herself at him never ceases to amaze you.

It takes you a second too long to realize that Peter has carried your daughter out of the kitchen, leaving you all alone to tackle the dishes. Just as you go to call out for them to return, Peter shouts out instead.

“Can’t help, my arms are all full of baby!” And Charlie thinks this is the funniest phrase that has ever left her father’s mouth, her laughing ringing through the apartment and you can’t help it when you smile at the noise, even as you turn on the tap to get started with the dishes. You really don’t mind doing them, and it was your turn anyway, but you’re already plotting your revenge and planning out how to get your partner in crime back on your side.

#tasm!peter parker #tasm!peter x reader #tasm!peter x you #tasm fanfiction #tasm peter parker #tasm!peter imagine #peter parker x reader #peter parker x you #peter parker fanfiction #peter parker

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child0feden · 5 months ago

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DAD AU TIMELINE

- well… here is the rough timeline and some kind of terrible moodboards! again, the kids names are used here but i will never use them in my works just in case you guys do not like them! of course this is not all of the dads but if you guys like this i could make a part two! had to use a white border on the øystein one because i hit the picture limit… arghhh! also i ended up giving bård another baby hehe <3

CALLIOPE AND CASPER OHLIN

- calliope ohlin was your first child and she was born when you guys were 21!

✩ pelle was still in mayhem but after your sudden and unexpected pregnancy, he got much better at controlling his self harm and knew he wanted to be here to meet your child, wanted to be here to meet his child, he knew he needed to be here to support you and knew that maybe, this was a new leaf to turn even if he was so deeply afraid! he stayed in mayhem but did move out of shared band house after the news of your pregnancy and the two of you moved into a small, cozy little one bedroom apartment, it served well enough housing, at least until the baby got older and needed her own room…

- casper ohlin was your second child and he was born when you guys were 25!

✩ pelle and you planned to have your second child, as previously mentioned in moon in the mist! he knew he wanted to his little girl to have siblings just as he had, knew he wanted her to have a lifelong friend, someone who she could protect and someone who would look up to her! but pelle also knew that he was not about to purposely bring another child into this world when the two of you were still living in the one bedroom apartment so you waited until the two of you had a little house with two sizeable bedrooms, purchased outright with saved up funds from mayhem record sales and the help of his parents who were more than happy to help out, especially if it meant getting more grandchildren…

dad! pelle who makes traditional swedish cinnamon rolls for you and his children!

he makes them whenever he feels like it, not just for special occasions or anything like that! he never found himself to be a great cook, the only recipe he could ever remember was cinnamon rolls, it was the only thing he could really supply you with when you were pregnant and craving something so warm, sweet and sickly in the middle of the dark, cold nights! now, he bakes them for the babies too! well, when they’re old enough anyways… he gets more confident in his baking skills when he sees your children stuffing their faces with the sweet treats, watching with a small smile as your daughter holds her sticky hand up to offer him half of the baked good, sulking and putting on her best puppy eyes when he tries to refuse a bite since he still struggles just a little with eating… but who is he to deny your daughter? you and your children truly are the only people who have ever made him comfortable in things, made him comfortable and genuinely happy in his life…

SELENE AND SYLVI EITHUN

- selene eithun was your first child and she was born when you guys were 18!

✩ bård definitely did not plan on having children this young and neither did you! it was an entirely unexpected pregnancy that likely came from unprotected drunk sex after a concert, a birth control mishap or even a condom split! though just because it was an unexpected pregnancy does not mean it was unwanted, especially when it came to bård! well, of course he was slightly terrified and panicked when you first showed him the positive pregnancy test, of course he was worried about how young the two of you were and how his only real income was any emperor sales and the government pay he got but he was extremely quick to come around to the idea of having a baby, of having his own child with you! his fears were almost entirely swallowed up by excitement as he wondered who your baby would look more like, what they would sound like, what their first word would be and all of that…

- sylvi eithun was your second child and she was born when you guys were 32!

✩ bård knew he wanted one more child with you, at the very least! if we go down the route of him ending up imprisoned just months after selene was born, he just hated how much he missed out on with his first little girl… hated how he missed her first steps and her first word, hated how every time you brought her to visit him she seemed to have grown so much within just weeks… he knew having another baby would not just evaporate all of his regret, his want to have a second child was not just a selfish need to experience all of these things he missed out on by his own fault but he just knew it would be nice to be able to experience it, he remembered how much he loved caring for you during your first pregnancy, thought back on how much your small shared apartment felt like a family home in the days after you brought selene home from the hospital! bård knew he was not just going to forget selene and shove her aside for his second baby after he got out of prison and you fell pregnant again, she would always be his first baby, the first person aside from you who ever made him feel so full of love! the excitement he once again felt rising in himself when you presented a positive pregnancy test to him in your shared bedroom of your new house just days after he was released from prison was oh so familiar, so consistent with the excitement he felt when you were pregnant with selene all those years ago…

dad! bård who buys his six year old daughter, sylvi, so many toffee apples for halloween and freaks out a little when her first baby tooth falls out due to getting stuck in the sticky toffee!

of course, he knows that baby teeth are supposed to come out, he knows they are bound to come out! he remembers all those times when he was in prison and selene would visit with you, proudly showing off the tiny gaps and telling him all about how much money she had managed to score from the tooth fairy, he remembered how you would throw a smirk and a playful eye roll his way when she mentioned the tooth fairy! but he had never experienced it before as a parent, he had never seen it happen first hand… he was so spooked when he heard slyvi let out a whimper and go completely quiet from her once loud rambles around a mouthful of apple, quickly darting his eyes to where she sits on the couch and feeling panic rise in his chest when he sees her holding a small hand to her mouth, sees some slight red on her skin, his mind just shoots to the worst possible scenario as he rushes over to her and crouches down to be eye to eye… it’s only when he looks down at the sweet apple still grasped in her free hand that he sees the tiny white tooth lodged in the golden toffee, only when he sees that is when he begins to calm his mind and realise that it is certainly not as serious as it seems, letting out a relieved sigh as he asks her to move her hand so that he can see her mouth, speaking in such a soft and warm tone as to keep her calm, already seeing some salty water building in her wide eyes, threatening to spill over! only when she hears her fathers soft voice asking to see her mouth is when she’ll move her hand down, allowing him to coo quietly and assure her that everything is okay as he checks over her mouth, seeing the gap now in place between her baby teeth before he stands up from his crouches position and sits beside her on the couch, pulling her onto his lap and pressing a kiss to her head as he explains to her what happened, telling her all about how she’s growing up now… how another tooth will begin to come in and fill the empty space! his small smile slowly grows as he watches the tears in her eyes disappear, as he watches her own small smile spread across her face at the thought of being a big girl now! when you and selene arrive home from shopping and spot them on the couch, bård is quick to explain what happened to you whilst letting you take sylvi from his arms, checking her over quickly for yourself whilst he talks to selene about what she got from shopping…

TOPAZ, TARA AND SEREN SKJELLUM

- topaz skjellum was your first child and she was born when you guys were 20!

✩ ted really just always wanted children with you and all of your children were very much planned, yes even at the young age of twenty! he just loved the idea of a domestic life with you, the idea of having children with you and loving them, raising them… ted knew you were the one and that he wanted children with you within just over a year of dating! he knew you would make a beyond perfect mother, knew that you were the mother he wanted for his children! he was very much open about his desire for children with you and would casually bring it up to you before bed or over dinner and when you agreed? telling him that you would love nothing more than to have a baby with him… especially since you guys were already living in a house, a sizeable little home buried deep in the thick norwegian woods! not to mention that money was not a huge problem at all? he was ecstatic and wanted to get right to baby making, despite being quite young, he was just so… beyond excited at the thought of having a baby with you, of watching your baby grow up and explore the world around her…

- tara skjellum was your second child and she was born when you guys were 21!

✩ ted just absolutely adored life with you and topaz, adored how maternal you were, how beautiful you looked cradling your baby, his baby and just one short month after giving birth to topaz, you were pregnant once again with tara and the two of you could not have been happier that she would be growing up right alongside her sister, so close in age…

- seren skjellum was your third child and she was born when you guys were 32!

✩ ted was beyond happy with just topaz and tara for a long time, he was content with the two of them and you but when he got older, as he watched his first two babies grow up and slowly spread their wings… he knew he wanted just one last baby, knew he wanted to experience all of those baby things once more and knew that now was almost the perfect time since the two of you had moved into a slightly bigger house and darkthrone sales were doing amazing… when he approached you with the idea of having one last baby, you could only ever agree, you knew how much he loved being a father, how much he loved raising his babies and teaching them about the world! since your first two girls were so close in age, topaz never really got a chance to be an older older sister but now, both her and tara would get the experience of being older sisters, of getting to have a baby sister to play with and dress up, to protect and love…

dad! ted who had a christmas baby with you!

it was seren, your last born baby together… she was born in the early, early hours of christmas morning with snow slowly fluttering down from the sky and gently tapping against the thick glass of the hospital windows, she was the best christmas gift both you and ted could ever, ever ask for… the most beautiful christmas gift you would ever, ever receive and the most treasured christmas gift you would ever, ever have in your lives! christmas days after she was born become so much more special to the two of you, with her birthday being on the same exact day, ted takes the chance to spoil her rotten with double the gifts! of course he knows that spoiling your children is not good for them which is why he does not do it all the time, only when they really deserve it or for special occasions like birthdays and christmas, only then does he spoil them with everything they could ever ask for… ted just absolutely loves cuddling up on the couch with you on christmas morning, your children sitting comfortably on the rug in front of the fireplace as it steadily crackles and pops, the flames warming you as your children constantly look up at you and ted, excitedly showing off what they got…

ALVA AND AUDRA AARSETH

- alva and audra aarseth are identical twin girls and they were born when you guys were 23!

✩ euronymous honestly kind of really wanted kids with you! i mean, i don’t believe your twin girls were totally planned but i feel like he secretly really wondered what a domestic life with you would be like whilst still being in mayhem, still being involved in the black metal scene… he had common, reoccurring dreams about teaching his child to play the guitar, teaching them all about his favourite bands and his favourite movies! but he would never admit this to you and would keep his act of just kind of disliking children up all the way until you fell pregnant! only after you tell him that you’re pregnant is when he will soften a whole lot at the mention of children, at the mention of how far along you are and when it turned out to be twins? he was certainly terrified, beyond terrified but again, he kept up an act of confidence and actually often bragged about it, bragged about how he basically knocked you up twice in one! his smug attitude is so strong around your shred friends but when the two of you are just relaxing in your shared apartment, cuddled up on the couch watching a movie, he is a lot less smug and much more soft with his hand gently stroking your rounded stomach and talking to his babies, trying overly hard to get them to kick at the sound of his voice! the two of you were already living together in a pretty sizeable apartment in oslo but he did end up selling helvete around a month into your pregnancy, realising how much the rent was truly costing him and how little he was getting in return! he knew he had a more important priority now, he knew he wanted that money to go towards his babies…

dad! euronymous who stops dying his hair after his babies are born!

because his girls came out looking like his twins, they were born with his natural blonde hair! at first, he just kind of did not have time to re-dye his hair black between caring for you after you had just given birth and between looking after your newborn babies! he was just too tired and too strung out with all of his newfound duties as a father, too busy getting used to this new chapter of his life, he just did not have the time to even think about buying and using more black hair dye when his blonde starting coming through… when he eventually does have the spare time to think about it, to see how his hair has almost completely reverted back to the natural blonde colour, you manage to talk him out of dyeing it again by showing him how much his little girls look like him with their blonde hair, showing him how he so obviously looks like their father and that is enough to sway him away from the black hair dye! seeing how much his twin girls look like him just makes him so full of love, so full of pride and happiness… not to mention some more smug attitude as he shoves it in your face, shoves their resemblance to him all in your face, lovingly…

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welcome-to-headcanons · 3 months ago

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YAYYYYYY NEW BLOG TO BECOME THE CHARACTER ANON TO

hello i am sock anon and here are some of my headcanons

sock has a tooth gap and little fangs, jonathan has braces, and meph has big fangs (kind of like one person drew in the discord server)

Jonathan would listen to MSI RELIGIOUSLY. also sock knows all tha words to material girl by madonna.

jonathan's father is dead. he was a pretty chill fella, he cared a lot for Jonathan but he died of a heart attack when Jon was like 6 or 7. he went to heaven c:

dadstopheles, one day sock called him dad by accident and he never ever ever recovered. he had to take 10 minutes away from work directly afterwards.

sock's love languages are gift giving and physical affection, neither of which he can do reliably for Jonathan. (if you were wondering, Jon's is quality time and words of affection)

jojo died because she was in the wrong place at the wrong time. sock had killed a neighbor's pet, and she happened to be there when the neighbor opened fire in anger. the neighbor is in prison, and sock never forgave himself.

sock's movie tastes are either wreck it ralph or terrifier 3. no in between.

sock grew up in texas, not in the buttfuck of texas but in one of those more accepting nicer towns. obviously this show takes place in a fictional world, because if this were real he would have been dead way earlier for the crime of wearing a skirt.

Jonathan's diet consists of sandwiches and Lay's classic chips, as well as various sodas. And whatever his mom cooks, of course.

sock really loved his parents. he cried for 20 long minutes when he woke up.

Sock's nails are painted always. He usually chooses pastel rainbows. Jonathan's nails are black and he gets called slurs for it in school.

Jonathan is more likely to give the silent treatment.

Mephistopheles will often let Sock hang out in his office while he does work since Sock doesn't really disturb him much. One time Sock fell asleep there.

Providence is slightly irritated that everyone calls her a man all the time. Only slightly. She's more irritated at the way people use her to defend misogyny and such.

Lill would listen to Cool Kids by Echosmith SO MUCH.

Mephistopheles had wings a long time ago. He gets phantom pains often.

I'm a subscriber to the Jojo-Jonathan parallel theory.

sock partially regrets killing himself.

sock often asks mephistopheles what his life would have been like if he kept living. mephistopheles doesn't have an answer for him.

thats all i got!! :D like and subscribe, also guys please make more dadstopheles content im starving STARVING

- sock anon 🔪

Ahhh so many amazing hcs

#w2h #welcome to hell #sock sowachowski #jonathan combs #mephistophleles w2h #jojo w2h #lil w2h #providence w2h #sock anon

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starryevermore · 1 year ago

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begging for you to take my hand ✧ leo campo

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

request: leo campo requests?? did i read that right because yes please!! if you’d like to write something angsty with reader being in love with Leo but Leo loves Nikki? it can or cannot have a happy ending, whichever you feel like (although i am a sucker for happy endings hehe) but yeah and it can be anything you like

honestly anything with Leo you wish to write would be a great read 💙 thank you and no pressure, only if you’d like to - @sunshine-on-my-mind

pairing: leo campo x fem!reader

summary: you loved leo all your life, but he never spared you a second glance. when he finally starts to notice you, his attention is taken just as quickly. you’re ready to forget anything ever happened, but he can’t let you go.

word count: 5,717

warnings?: angst with a happy ending, pining, unrequited love (or so you think), insecurities, miscommunication, misunderstanding, love confession, ending is a little rushed, not proofread

Leo Campo was an easy man to love. What was hard, was not being the only person vying for his attention. And for most of your life, the person who won his attention was none other than Nikki Angioli. You understood, of course. Nikki was everything you weren’t. Beautiful, charismatic, smart as a whip. It was easy for Leo to love her.Whenever you were with Leo and Nikki, it felt like you were a third wheel. After all, they were practically born to be best friends. Their parents worked together, they got to see each other pretty much every hour of every day. Meanwhile, you were just someone they sort of…Well, not tolerated. It was more than that. You were sure they considered you to be a friend. But you were never someone they really sought out. You were there, and therefore you were their friend.

It’s just…it’s hard to be part of a trio. No matter how easy Percy, Annabeth, and Grover made it look, it was fucking hard. There was always, always, always someone left out. And that someone was almost always, probably 99.9999% of the time…You. You weren’t sure that Leo and Nikki meant to leave you out, but it always tended to happy. Perhaps it was because their families worked together for so long, perhaps it was because they were practically branded as besties ever since their mothers got pregnant, perhaps it was because they were twin flames or some cheesy shit like that. Whatever it was, you knew that you could easily fall to the wayside and neither of them would probably notice.

In a lot of ways, they didn’t.

It felt like every time something incredible happened to you, something awful would happen to either Leo or Nikki and all of the attention would be focused on making sure they were okay. If, Heaven forbid, something horrible happened to you, something would great happen to them and how dare you bring down the mood by talking about your struggles. Which—don’t get you wrong—it was absolutely valid to lend Leo and Nikki a shoulder to cry on or celebrate with them. It’s just, they so rarely kept the same energy for you.

The friendship fell apart quite easily. Between the rivalry between their fathers that forced Leo and Nikki apart and you taking on more responsibility at the bakery when your mother died, everyone drifted apart. You were still friendly when you saw them at school or around the neighborhood, and so were they, but it was different. It wasn’t the same, and you weren’t sure it ever would be. As you all got older, the distance grew even greater. Leo took on jobs at both his father’s pizza shop and at Luigi’s. Nikki moved to London to go to cooking school. And you…You stayed where you had been for years, working at your mother’s bakery, hoping that one day you might catch Leo’s eye.

Then, one day, it felt like the stars had aligned and all your wishes had come true.

You were about to close up the bakery for the night when the jingle of the bell above the door alerted you to the last minute customer. You barely looked up from your sweeping, shouting out, “We’re closed! Come back tomorrow!”

“Ah, you’re really gonna turn your best friend away?”

The broom nearly fell from your hands. You tightened your grip on it as you looked up to see the beautiful blue eyes you always dreamed of. (God, this was pathetic, even for a hopeless romantic.) You swallowed hard. “Would you keep Luigi’s open longer just for one customer?”

“If it was for a pretty girl, I might.”

Was that supposed to be directed at you? Was he calling you a pretty girl? Or was Leo just being quippy? Fuck. Just being around the man made you an anxious teenager all over again.

You huffed out a laugh and shook your head. You tried to not make it obvious the effect he had on you, but you weren’t entirely sure you were successful. “I suppose you’re pretty enough. What’dya need?”

“Ma’s birthday is coming up. I was hoping I could order a cake for her?” Leo asked, leaning against the glass case. “She always loved your cakes.”

You propped the broom against the wall and grabbed your order sheet and a pen. “Sure thing. Anything specific?”

Leo shrugged. “Nah, she’ll lover anything you make her. You can have total creative control.”

You smiled a little, jotting down a few ideas on the paper. “And when do you need this by?”

Leo was quiet. Which scared you, because Leo is never quiet. When you glanced up at him, he had a pink tint on his cheeks and he was trying to avoid your gaze.

“Leo…When do you need the cake by?” you repeated.

“Tomorrow? Morning?”

You gasped. Without thinking, you threw your pen at him. Your aim was terrible, so it soared straight passed his head became hitting the ground. But Leo flinched nonetheless, throwing his arms up to shield himself from anything else you might throw at him. “You’re a terrible son!” you said.

“I know! I know!” Leo slowly lowered his arms, trying to gauge if you were going to throw anything again. “I just got busy, ya know? Between Pa’s restaurant, and bartending, and coaching the kids’ soccer team, I lost track of time!”

“It took you all of five seconds to place the order! How hard would it have been to just call? Hell, you could’ve submitted an order on my fucking website!”

“I know!” Leo fully lowered his arms, pouting at you. “I just didn’t know if you wanted to hear from me.”

You were caught between wanting to yell at him more—because what did that mean? he was the one who stopped talking to you!—and wanting to melt into a puddle of goo. Instead, you found the happy medium of letting out a sigh. You said, “Leo, you know I always love hearing from you.”

Leo perked up a little. “So you’ll make the cake?”

“Only because it’s for your ma,” you said. “And you’ll be charged a rush fee.”

“Deal!”

“And you get your pretty ass in the back and help me make it, so I can actually get home at a half decent time.”

A smirk crossed Leo’s face. He leaned back over the case. “You think my ass is pretty?”

Fuck, you hadn’t meant to say that. Fuck, fuck, fuckity fuck. How do you recover from this?

“You, me, and the rest of Little Italy,” you said. A joke, it was. At least that got a chuckle from Leo. As he walked over to the other side of the case, you added, “And if you ever think about making an order the night before you need something, I have no qualms with kicking your ass.”

“Ah, but then my ass wouldn’t be pretty no more, would it? And what a shame that would be.”

“So conceited,” you said. But as he passed you to walk into the kitchen, you couldn’t help yourself from swatting at his ass. Leo yelped, his hands flying to his ass. He turned, looked at you scandalized. “Dunno, still looks pretty to me.”

“You’re awful.”

“Yeah, but you love me.”

Leo stares at you for a long moment. You almost begin to wonder if you took things too far. You’d hardly said more than “hi” and “can I get an amaretto sour?” over the last few years. Was this crossing a line? But finally, he offers you a soft smile. “Yeah. Yeah, I do.”

“Thank you so much, again,” Leo said the next morning when he came to pick up the cake. “I owe you big time.”

You shake your head as you ring him up at the cash register. “It’s for your Ma. I’d do anything for her after all the shit we put her through when we were kids.”

“True, but you really didn’t—” Leo frowned as he looked at the total. “Hey, where’s that huge rush fee you were telling me you were going to charge me?”

You raised a brow. “Are you really complaining about paying less?”

“When I made you stay after work for hours? Hell yeah I am. Charge me like anyone else!” Leo argued.

“Not gonna happen. I already made you pay by forcing you to help me and listen to my Taylor Swift playlist the entire time.”

“Hey, I loved the Taylor Swift playlist! Now, you charge me whatever exorbitant fee you can think of right now!”

“No, no way. Consider it a gift to a friend. Or better yet, use the money you saved from not paying the fee to get your Ma a gift from me. I saw her eyeing a bottle of wine the other day. I could point the bottle out to you—”

Leo leaned over the glass case, narrowing his eyes at you. “Fine. I’ll let you waive the fee and buy Ma some wine. But only if you agree to let me treat you to dinner tomorrow night.”

You laughed, shaking your head. “That sounds like a threat.”

“Consider it one,” he said. His face softens a little as he adds, “And maybe consider it an apology? For me being a shitty friend?”

You reached across the counter and patted Leo’s cheek. “For you? Of course.”

A grin stretched across the face. “Great. Come over to my place tomorrow around five?”

“It’s a date.”

Leo’s eyes twinkled as he confirmed, “It’s a date.”

He picked up the cake and left the store, but before shooting you a goofy smile and waved. You laughed, waving back. You were so engrossed with watching him jog across the street to his father’s restaurant that you didn’t notice Gabbie, your best cake decorator, sneak up beside you.

“A date, huh?” she echoed.

You jumped. How did you not see her before? Had you been that lost in Leo’s pretty blue eyes? Trying to play it nonchalant, you shrugged. “I don’t think he meant it that way.”

She raised a brow. “Are we talking about the same man? Because, lemme tell you, I don’t think he’s ever looked that mesmerized with a girl before.”

Gabbie never saw him with Nikki, you wanted to say. But, instead, you said, “He just feels bad because I didn’t make him pay the rush fee after he ordered a cake last night. He just feels like he owes a debt. Italian men and their pride, ya know?”

“That wasn’t pride and you know it, girlie. Look, if you wanna delude yourself, fine. But I’m telling you, there’s something there.”

What Gabbie didn’t know about you was, you were the queen of delusion. You spend practically your entire childhood deluding yourself with the idea that one day Leo would see you for the woman you are, to realize that you were his soulmate. And you got your heart broke in the long run because of it. You weren’t about to let yourself get hurt again. Leo was not going to break your heart. You wouldn’t let him.

“We’re just friends. That’s all.”

Gabbie eyed you, trying to see if there would be a crack in your resolve. “Whatever you say.”

When you came in to open the bakery the next day, you knew something was wrong. Mostly because Gabbie was standing at the door, waiting for you, with her arms crossed and a nasty look on her face. As you unlocked the door, you eyed her, trying to figure what was the source of her frustration. But all she did was turn her glare to the pizza shops across the street. And, well…Whatever that was about wasn’t good.

You were caught between addressing the issue and waiting for her to finally say what was on her mind. You leaned toward waiting, so you began running through all of the opening tasks. Gabbie would open up soon enough. She just liked to stew in her anger before she vented. So, waiting was the best option. If you pushed, she would only get more annoyed.

Finally, she asked, “You wanna know what I heard from Bella?”

You looked in her direction as you wipe down the counter. “Probably some rumor that could swing either way in its truthfulness.”

Gabbie huffed. “Don’t make jokes right now. This is serious!”

A frown settled on your face as you gave her your full attention. “What’d she tell you?”

“Nikki’s back in town,” Gabbie said as she placed a tray of cookies in the case.

“Oh?”

You wanted to read into it. You really, really did. But you forced yourself to stamp down your assumptions, your worries. That part of you was probably being irrational, anyways. All Gabbie said was that Nikki was back and that could mean anything—

“Rumor has it she and Leo went back to his apartment last night,” she continued. She leaned in, her eyebrows raised. “After getting drunk together and playing soccer in the rain.” Her face screwed up like she was sucking on a Lemonhead. “Isn’t that romantic?”

It felt like your heart dropped to your stomach. Of course. Of course he would take her back to his place. Why wouldn’t he? They were practically destined to be together. And with the family rivalry? It was a star-crossed lovers situation if you’d ever seen one.

You swallowed your hurt. “So romantic.”

“So romantic I could kill him, you know,” Gabbie said.

You squeezed your eyes shut, trying to ignore the pain in your chest. “Don’t. I’m sure it wasn’t what it…I’m sure he…Fuck, I don’t know. But don’t kill him, okay? Not until I get a chance to talk to him.”

“He doesn’t get to make you feel like he’s finally seen you for the incredible woman you are and then welcome her into his bed the second she rolls into town!” Gabbie argued.

“He just said he was making me dinner to make off a debt. And I really don’t think he meant anything when I said it’s a date. Really, it would be my fault for reading into it—”

“I’m going over there right now to give a piece of my mind—”

You grabbed Gabbie by the elbow, stopping her on her warpath. “Don’t. Please.”

She huffed, rolling her eyes. Gabbie looked through the window at the restaurants across the street. If looks could kill, she would probably have exploded those buildings. “You’re too good for him, you know.”

But not good enough, you wanted to say.

The entire day, the questions of what could be happening between Leo and Nikki ate at you. Was there something between them? Were they finally acting on the tension that existed between them for all those years? Had you let your hopes get too high when Leo promised your dinner? If you went to his apartment, would you be left with only pain and heartache?

Though Gabbie was harboring all of your anger for you, she did her best to try to distract you. To not let your mind wander too far. But it was all for naught. Because, when you left the bakery, all you wanted to do was run home and forget all of this happened. If you ignored this, if you pretended you forgot, you could avoid all of the hurt. You wouldn’t be giving Leo the power to break your heart. And, in some ways, running away made you weak, but at least it would keep you whole.

Nothing could have prepared you to see Nikki standing out when you reached Leo’s apartment. Had Leo forgotten that he had made plans with you? Were you that replaceable? You took a deep breath, trying in vain to steady your nerves, and walked up, hitting the buzzer for Leo’s apartment.

Nikki looked at you, her brows furrowed together. She almost looked like she had something snarky she wanted to say before she realized who you were. “Oh my god! I haven’t seen you in ages!”

“That’s what happens you put an ocean between us,” you teased. You hoped you sounded lighthearted. You hoped bitterness didn’t creep into your voice.

If it did, Nikki didn’t give any indication. She held a hand up in defense. “Hey, you got me there. What’re you doing here?”

You nod at the door. “Leo promised to make me dinner.”

Nikki’s face drops. “Oh, shit. Are you two—”

“He just owed me, is all,” you are quick to add. “He ordered a cake for his Ma after I already closed for the day, and he needed it the next morning. I wouldn’t charge him the rush fee, so he insisted he make me dinner as a repayment.”

“Italian men and their pride,” she laughed. She glanced up at Leo’s apartment. “So, is he…?”

“Seeing anyone? Nah, he loves the single life too much for that,” you said. “What about you? What’re you doing here?”

Nikki raised the soccer ball she had had tucked under her arm. “I just came to see if he wanted to play a game or two. We tried last night, but it was pouring the rain and we were drunk, so not really a fair competition. Gotta see if I can still kick his ass or not, ya know?”

You laughed. “I’m sure you could. His pride gets to him, so he’s still easy to knock down a peg or two.”

“Right?” Nikki’s face dropped. “Oh, shit. I can go? Because you already have plans with him and all—”

Before you could say anything, the door swung open. Yours and Nikki’s head snapped to look at him. Leo looked between the two of you, as if this perhaps was his worst nightmare. His gaze settled on Nikki first. “Hey!”

Nikki smiled. God, she had a beautiful smile. You could see why Leo always had a thing for her. “Hey! I just came to see if you wanted to play a few rounds?”

Leo smiled, too. A part of you wished he would smile at you like that. But that was just the schoolgirl crush talking. It was never something that could actually happen. Not when his heart still sang for Nikki, even after all these years. “Yeah, I’d love to. Let me go get my shoes—” He paused, his head snapping toward you. “Wait. Actually, I already—”

“We can have dinner another time,” you said, already turning to walk away. “Not every day your best friend comes back to town, right? You can just, like, stop by the bakery when you get a chance and we’ll figure it out, yeah?”

“Wait—”

“It’s no big deal, really—” You began to walk away, waving goodbye. “Nikki, make sure you get him some ice packs, yeah? For when you bruise his ego?”

Nikki let out a laugh, waving back at you. “Will do.”

You nearly made your escape when you heard Leo mutter something to Nikki. Your heart stuttered in your chest as you heard him chase after you. Though you wanted to turn, to see if he was choosing you, you kept going. You weren’t going to let him break your heart. But damn him. Damn him and his long legs and his long stride.

Leo quickly overtook you, stopping in front of you, his hands held out in front of him like he was taming a velociraptor in Jurassic World. “Woah, woah. Stop, hey.”

You looked back at Nikki, who was staring at the two of you. “Go, Leo. I’m fine.”

“No, I promised you—”

“It’s Nikki, Leo. You could never say no to her before. I wouldn’t expect you to say no to her now.”

Leo’s brows furrowed together. He almost looked confused. But, how could he be? Was he really so oblivious to how he preferred Nikki over you for all those years? Did he forget in the few minutes that had passed that he was ready to ditch dinner with you to play soccer with her? Did he think you hadn’t noticed all of that? “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“It’s obvious you’re into her. I’m not going to get between that.”

“There’s nothing going on between Nikki and I.”

You raised a brow. Seriously? Was he really going to route? Latching onto a technicality—that they weren’t really together? “But you want there to be. I mean, you have been head over heels for her since we were kids.”

“That’s not true!” Leo almost sounded desperate, like he couldn’t believe you were saying all of this. Was he this in denial about his feelings?

You fought the urge to roll your eyes. “Yeah? Then how come for years you chose to be with her over me? At every field trip, you wanted to be her buddy. For every group project, you chose her. How many times did you two run off without me? Leo, you didn’t even show up after my mother’s funeral because you spent the week helping Nikki look for her lost cat—”

“That’s not fair—”

“Whenever that stupid feud between your families started and you two couldn’t be friends anymore, you stopped hanging out with me. I wasn’t even fucking surprised by it, you know? And that maybe hurt more than you not being my friend anymore. Because you always meant more to me than I did to you. You haven’t spoken to me in years, and you only did because you needed something for your Ma. I’m not your first pick, and that’s okay. But what isn’t okay is you trying to rewrite history when you don’t like being confronted with the reality.”

Leo said your name softly. He reached for you, but you took a step back. You wouldn’t let him do this. You wouldn’t let him hurt you.

You took a breath. “Go, have fun with Nikki. Forget you even promised me dinner, okay? Consider your debt forgiven.”

Leo tried to reach for you again, but you stepped around him. He turned to look at you, but you wouldn’t meet his gaze. “You mean more to me than you think.”

“But not more than her.” You took another breath. You could feel the tears pricking at your eyes. It took everything in you to not cry. Because you wouldn’t. You couldn’t. Not in front of him. “Let’s just go back to the way things used to be, yeah?”

“I don’t want to—”

“But I do. I won’t play second fiddle anymore. I won’t let myself be hurt anymore.”

“I never meant to hurt you.”

“And that might be the worst part.”

You walked away, pieces of your heart leaving a path between you and him. If this was a movie, if this was a silly little romance novel, Leo might have been standing there, trying to collect the pieces so he might put your heart back together again. But, when you were turning a corner, you spared a glance back at him.

He was walking with Nikki, an arm around her shoulders.

The one thing about Leo was, he listened. So when you told him you wanted things to go back to the way they used to be, you knew he would abide by that wish. And he did. The most you ever saw of Leo was when you glanced out the bakery window and happened to catch him coming in or leaving his father’s restaurant, or when you ordered something at Luigi’s whenever Gabbie managed to drag you out. And when you did see him, you would never meet his gaze. You didn’t want to be faced with his hurt, or, worse, his indifference. It was better that you forgot the brief glimmer of hope that Leo liked you in the same way you liked him.

Gabbie would tell you that he was always looking your way, but you felt like she was only trying to make you feel better. Why would Leo bother himself with you? He finally had everything he could have wanted. It didn’t matter that you were not a part of his life, because it had never mattered that you were not a part of his life. If it had mattered, then how could Leo have spent all these years not paying you any mind? Little Italy was little. For Leo to avoid you, he would have had to gone out of his way to do so.

Sometimes, though, when you were in your apartment, you’d look out the window and imagine that Leo was out there, about to confess his love for you like this was one of those cheesy rom coms you held so dearly. He was never there.

If you were honest with yourself, you were a little surprised at how much it hurt. You had been no stranger to Leo’s absence before. So why did it feel like he had ripped out your heart and stomped it? (Damn him. Damn him for giving you a glimmer of hope.)

“Eat.”

Gabbie dropped a plate in front of you on the coffee table. You eyed the slice of pizza, your nose wrinkling. As you pushed the plate away, you grumbled, “Seriously? You break into my home and put pizza in front of you?”

“It’s from across town. Not even a pizzeria in Little Italy. It’s, like, the ultimate form of rebellion.” Gabbie sat next to your curled up body on the couch and reached out to rub your back. “You need to eat something besides the scraps at the bakery. I mean, it’s not even something healthy, so you can be in your eat-junk-and-cry spiral.”

“I would rather just be sad.”

“You can be sad and eat.”

“And I haven’t been crying.”

Gabbie raised a brow. She didn’t look like she believed you. You could hardly blame her. Ever since that day, you had been elbows deep in a shame spiral, trying to forget the hope you felt that Leo might, just finally might, like you the way you always liked him.

“I haven’t. Really, Gabs. I just…want to watch sad movies and pretend that he never showed up at the bakery.”

“You can’t even say his name, you can admit that you’re hurt—”

Gabbie was silenced at a loud knock at your door. She looked at you, her brows furrowed together. But you had no idea who it was either. You hadn’t ordered anything on lately, you hadn’t ordered takeout, and you certainly hadn’t invited anyone over. Gabbie was only here because she had a key to your apartment.

Who else could it be?

“Do you want me—?”

You shook your head, pushing yourself up. No, you had to see this. You had to see who had the audacity to show up. You wrapped your blanket around your shoulders a little more securely and padded over to the door. As you took a deep breath, trying to prepare yourself, when another series of knocks rapped at your door. You reached for the knob, turning it slowly, and pulled the door open.

What stood on the other side made you want to slam the door shut again. And he seemed to know you had that very thought.

Leo reached out, sticking his hand out, stopping the door from shutting. “Please.”

Your lip quivered. Fuck. You had been holding it together so well before. But now that he was here, standing in front of you, all of those emotions you were trying your damned hardest to ignore, were rising straight to the surface. But you couldn’t cry. Not in front of him. Not now.

“I thought I told you to leave me alone.”

Leo stepped closer to you, stepping into the threshold of your apartment. Part of you wanted to push him out, kick and scream, tell him that he didn’t have the right to force himself into your life, to pick you up and act like your friend when it was convenient to him. That you were a person, and you didn’t deserve to be treated like that. But another part of you, the part that still hoped for good things, wanted to pretend this was your rom com moment where the guy makes a grand love confession that sparks the happily ever after.

“You did. And I tried, I really did. But I missed you.” He tried to reach out for you, but you jumped out of the way. “I never wanted to hurt you. I know that doesn’t make this any better, but I’m willing to spend the rest of my life trying to get this right.”

You squeezed your eyes shut when you felt the tears start to prick. “You’re just saying this because you feel bad. You don’t…Look, just go be with Nikki. Don’t feel like you have to grovel or whatever for me. I’m fine. I’m a big girl.”

When you opened your eyes again, Leo looked like he might cry himself. But…That didn’t make anything. Why would he get emotional over this? He was the one breaking your heart? “Nikki isn’t the one I want. I-I don’t know that she ever was.”

A frown settled on your face. That…No, that didn’t make any sense. Nikki had always been the one he gravitated towards. Nikki was the one he always chose. You were just there. “I don’t understand.”

Leo took a step closer to you. This time, you didn’t move away. Not when he stood so close that you could feel his breath fan across your face. Not when he cradled your face in his hands. Not when his thumbs brushed away the tears that managed to fall. “I’m in love with you. I always have been.”

“B-But Nikki—“

“What about her?” Leo took a breath, his eyes fluttering shut. “I thought, once, that she was who I wanted. But, I realized that I was lying to myself. Trying to trick myself into thinking I liked her because I thought she was someone I could be with. I, I never thought I was good enough for you. You’re a fucking angel, and all I’ve ever been is a little shit. I didn’t think there was a chance in hell that you’d like me back.”

You sniffled. “You made me feel like you didn’t give a shit about me, Leo. You followed Nikki around like a puppy, and the second she left for London, it’s like you were finally free of me. Like you didn’t have to pretend to be my friend anymore.”

“I didn’t know how to talk to you. I know that’s no excuse, but it’s true. When Nikki was around, she was like a buffer. If I fucked up, she made sure things weren’t weird. With her gone, I was scared that I would lose you. I didn’t realize that I already was.”

You shook your head. “Then why were you going to ditch me to play soccer with her? Why, why did you take her back to your apartment the night she came back?”

Leo’s brows pinched together. “How, how did you know I—? She was drunk and she wasn’t ready to see her family yet. I offered her a place to stay. But nothing happened, I promise. She slept in my bed, I slept on the couch. That’s it.”

“And why you ditched me?”

“I was just excited to see my friend again, and I acted like a total ass. That was what I was trying to protect you from, because I knew that I would fuck up. I knew I would hurt you somehow without meaning to. I’ve been kicking myself ever since you left that day.”

You shut your eyes, leaning into his hand. You wanted to believe him. God, you wanted to so bad. “What took you so long to say all of this?”

“I was trying to do what you wanted. I was scared to lose you anymore that I already had.” Leo took a breath. “Then I told Nikki what happened, and she chewed my ass out. Told me I needed to get my shit together because you weren’t going to be around forever. I don’t want to lose you. I never did.”

You wanted to argue more. You wanted to push harder. You wanted to ask more questions. Because this didn’t feel real. This was the sort of shit that only happened in movies and romance novels. This wasn’t your real life. But…He was here. And he loved you.

“Kiss me.”

Leo’s lips were on yours in a second. You could feel every ounce of desperation, of love, on his plush lips. He kissed you like a man running out of time. Like if he didn’t do this right, he would lose you. He kissed you like he was dying and you were breathing life back into him. It was everything you ever could have dreamed of.

“Holy shit, this is better than a Hallmark movie.”

You jumped apart, your head whipping around. Shit. You forgot Gabbie was still there. She eyed Leo, like she still might kill him for hurting you. But then she smiled as he tried to hide his bright red face.

“I think you still owe her a dinner.” Gabbie pointed to the pizza still sitting on the coffee table. “She’s starving, and refuses to eat that shit.”

Leo looked back to you, letting out a chuckle. “You want me to make you dinner?”

“Don’t let her tell you no. She hasn’t been eating anything but junk all week,” Gabbie said.

“Gabbie!”

Leo’s brows raised. “Well, we can’t have that, can we? C’mon, let’s go back to my place and I’ll make you something nice, yeah?”

You smiled, reaching for his hand to hold. “I would like that very much.”

You quickly slipped on a pair of shoes and grabbed your keys, ready to leave, when Gabbie called out, “Hey! If you break her heart, I get to break your neck!”

“Good to know!” Leo called back. To you, he whispered, “Your friend is scary.”

“And serious about the threat,” you said.

He gave your hand a squeeze. “Well, she doesn’t have anything to worry about, because I’m not telling you go.”

204 notes · View notes

gingiesworld · 1 year ago

Text

Tis The Season

Wanda Maximoff x GN! Reader

Warnings: Violence. Death. Happy ending

Word Count: 8.8k+

Taglist : @natashamaximoff-69 @canvascoloredin @wizardofstories @louxbloom @wandanats-goodgirl @the-ox-fan20 @ladyqueenxoxo @aemilia19 @wandaromamoff69 @mfd-101 @dorabledewdroop @marvelogic @dopeyouth @karsonromanoff @bimad (if you want to be added to my taglist, please DM me or comment)

18+ MINORS DNI

It is just your normal day in the small town of Westview. Everyone was putting up their decorations. Everything was as normal as could be, just like every year. The kids were playing in the snow building snowmen with their parents or older siblings.

Y/N was walking through the streets with their younger brother Peter. They were meeting their friends at the local cafe for some hot cocoa or coffee. Whichever they preferred. But truthfully they just wanted an excuse to leave their parents and their seasonal madness.

When they approached the coffee shop, Y/N was instantly engulfed in a hug by none other than Wanda Maximoff. Y/N has had a crush on her since grade school.

"I thought you weren't going to come." She said as the rest of their friends smirked at their interaction. Everyone else knew about their obvious crushes on each other but them. Wanda and Y/N were completely oblivious.

"Of course I would come. It's just this one here was too worried about his appearance before seeing MJ." Y/N said as they all started to tease the young Parker boy.

"Well I am sure you don't have to worry about . I am sure that she likes you too." Yelena smirked at her friend as they all entered the shop. They all got their orders and joined a couple of tables so they could all sit together.

"So, I hear that the Harknesses are hosting an ice skating event on christmas eve." Pietro said with a knowing smirk aimed at Wanda and Y/N who were sat together.

"Yeah, that will be fun." Wanda cheered as a few of them agreed as Y/N just shook their head no.

"I can't rollerskate so I know I will be on my ass more times than I can count." Y/N said as everyone but Wanda laughed

"I'll hold onto you." She smiled sweetly at Y/N who went red. Lucky they could say it's due to the snow outside.

"It's ok Wan, you don't have to." They said shyly as Wanda held their hand and intertwined their fingers.

"I want to." She told them firmly. They all decided that after the coffee shop they would all climb up the hill that overlooked the small town with their sleds.

"Ok so two to a sled." Nat spoke up as Wanda instantly latched onto Y/N. Y/N sat down as Wanda sat in between their legs ready for Y/N to push them off to start. When they were gone it just left Nat, Yelena, Pietro and Peter.

"Do you think they will ever tell each other?" Nat sighed as she rubbed her eyebrow.

"I don't think so." Peter replied.

"It's really giving me a headache." Pietro said as they all agreed before heading down the slope. Everyone laughed as Peter and Pietro went straight into the Lassiter's snowman covered in snow.

"Are you sure that neither of you need glasses?" Yelena teased them.

"Everything is covered in snow. It is all the same colour." Peter whined as everyone laughed as they headed back up the slope. They decided to have races down to see who was faster.

"You do realise that the results all depend on the weight distribution and gravity." Y/N stated as everyone groaned.

"The nerd is here." Pietro teased as Y/N decided to pick up some snow and threw it in his face. Everyone erupted in laughter before they started to have a snowball fight. The sleds were completely forgotten about. The laughter and screams of joy were all that could be heard throughout the town.

When the sun started to set, everyone went their own ways home. Their parents or guardians had cooked them a warm meal to warm them up from being in the cold.

But what they all didn't realize was that this was the year that when darkness engulfs the town, evil roams the town.

Through the night walked an evil being with horns and long fingers. No one had ever seen its face. The eyes were glowing red in the darkness. Everything was still as the residents slept peacefully.

It approached the first house on the edge of town. The Lassiters. It flew gracefully to the roof considering it had been dormant for a quarter of a century. It approached the chimney and entered the house. It crept through the house to the children's bedroom. It looked between the two sleeping boys before it smelled the aroma coming from each. It then approached the one who had the most prominent aroma telling it that he was older. It snatched him from his bed and carried him to the window. His brother Timmy opened his eyes just to see his older brother being carried off into the night.

Timmy screamed, alerting his parents. They both ran to their room.

"It took him." He whimpered as he pointed to the open window. His mother went straight to Timmy to hold him as his father ran outside to see if he could find his first born. He alerted the town sheriff about his son's disappearance. The sheriff assured him that he will do everything he can to find the missing boy.

The next day, the Lassiters were in shambles. Timmy was frightened as he described the creature that took him.

"I'm sure that in a few days you will remember it properly." Officer Langden spoke as he tried to keep his smile off his face.

"No. It's what I saw last night." Timmy said frantically. "Why won't you believe me?" He asked them all.

"These creatures don't exist, Timmy." His mother tried to soothe him as he shook his head.

"Well it took him mama. It took him." He cried. Begging for them to believe him.

"We will be back when he is less frantic Ma'am." Officer Langden spoke as Mrs Lassiter thanked him and walked him out. Timmy remained sat on the sofa, snuggled in his brother's blanket crying.

Y/N and Peter woke up to the smell of pancakes. They both loved Aunt May's pancakes. They both raced down the stairs to the kitchen just in time for her to plate them up.

"Thank you." They both said as they kissed her cheek taking a plate each.

"I have work today guys so I am going to need you to help around here." She told them both. "Y/N, you still need to finish the garage and Pete please make sure to help them."

"Yes Ma'am." They both saluted her, making her shake her head at their goofiness. She was being called in because of an emergency meeting and the extra workload they would get since Mrs Lassiter wouldn't be in work until her son is found.

The police went around his friends to see if he snuck out but he was stuck in a leather bag, big enough to hold an adult male. It was old and bloody from the previous victims. Henry Lassiter was trying to get free but he was stuck on a butcher's hook. It was cold and damp where it held its victims. To keep them fresh before it feasts on their organs. It would start with the heart. It thought that the heart tasted it's best when it was still beating.

Y/N was startled when the gang and Peter walked in as they were moving the tools around after building the new shelves.

"Did you hear about Henry?" Nat asked as they all sat and watched as Y/N did their task.

"What happened?" They asked as they found their Uncle Ben's old tool box.

"His brother Timmy is saying some creature took him but I think he snuck out to the city to see that girl of his." Pietro said as he looked around the garage.

"A creature? That's absurd." Peter laughed with Pietro.

"That's what I said." Pietro said as they both laughed earning a glare from Wanda.

"This is a serious matter whether you think he's run away to the city or not." Y/N scolded them both. "So don't make jokes about it." They went back to their task as the two remained quiet.

"What is going on between you and Vision, Wanda?" Nat asked the brunette as Y/N tried to block out the conversation.

"Nothing is going on between us. He likes me but I just don't feel the same." She told them as Y/N let out a breath that they didn't realise they were holding in.

"So do you have your eye on anyone?" Nat asked her with a knowing smirk. Everyone wanted either Y/N or Wanda to slip up but neither would.

"No?" She answered well, more like a question.

"I'm sure that whoever you do like Wan will be honored." Y/N told her as they brushed off their hands as Wanda blushed lightly which never went unnoticed by Nat. Peter and Pietro decided to head inside to have a go on the xbox while the girls stayed with Y/N in the garage.

As the day turned into night, everyone retreated to their homes while the creature lurked in the shadows awaiting it's time to strike at it's next victim in the middle of the cold night before leaving them in the bloodied leather bag hanging like a butcher hangs their dead animals ready to carve limb by limb after skinning them.

Another day and another firstborn child gone. The residents of Westview weren't worried just yet. They were thinking that it's another teen who ran away to the city. But the residents don't remember it happening 25 years earlier.

Everyone was starting to get their christmas gifts as The Lassiters and The Moores were mourning their children. The police still thought that the creature was still a joke even though the Moore's youngest described the same.

"Do you think it's true about the creature?" Wanda asked as everyone walked towards the coffee shop.

"No." Nat laughed as they entered. "Of course not."

"But the first born are the ones that are missing." She reasoned with the three oldest.

"Wan, there are just two teens missing. They have probably run away." Pietro said as they waited for their orders.

"Piet. I'm worried about you, that's all." Wanda huffed as she walked away to the table with Peter and Yelena.

"But should we be worried?" Pietro asked the two.

"I uh I don't know Piet." Y/N said as they were unsure about this situation. "Maybe they just went to the city to see the lights. You know how boring small town celebrations can be."

"Well tell your girlfriend that before she opens her own case file." Pietro said as Nat smirked.

"One. She isn't my girlfriend. Two. She is just worried about her brother, that's all." Y/N told him as he huffed picking up his and Peter's drinks leaving Y/N and Nat alone.

"You do realise that the Lassiters and Moores are neighbours." Nat whispered to Y/N.

"I know." They replied. "Pietro is only two blocks away from them."

"And if it is true about this creature, he has at most a week." Nat stated. Y/N was starting to worry about their friends. They knew that something wasn't right with this town.

"Uhm, I have to go." Y/N said as the five pairs of eyes landed on their standing figure.

"Why?" Wanda asked with furrowed brows.

"I promised Aunt May that I would have the garage finished before she finished work today." They said as they held their cup in their hand and finished.

"But we were all going to hang out today." Pietro whined as Y/N smirked.

"I know but I promised her." They told him. "And I don't break my promises." They said as they left the coffee shop and walked home.

"What was that about?" Yelena asked as they all watched Y/N walk home. They were wondering why they were acting weird.

As Y/N entered the garage, they saw Aunt May admiring their hard work. There was space for her car and all of Ben's things were neatly organised on a new set of shelves that Y/N had built.

"It looks good here, Y/N. Thank you." She beamed at them as she hugged them

"It's no problem." They smiled. "You've been given more work haven't you?" They asked her.

"I have. The Moore's have been frantic trying to find David and Debbie's workload has been passed onto the rest of us." She spoke tiredly.

"You should rest Aunt May." They told her as she shook her head no.

"I have to go back to work and I need to check on you and Peter." She said.

"Peter's at the coffee shop with everyone." Y/N told her as Aunt May let out a breath.

"You know I love you Y/N. More than anything." She said as she pulled them in for a hug. "You will find answers in Uncle Ben's boxes." She whispered before she left leaving Y/N confused and intrigued. They wanted to find answers and they looked at Uncle Ben's things on the shelf.

But they didn't realise that Wanda was coming with Pete and Pietro. So as they sat on the floor of the garage with their Uncle Ben's boxes.

"What are you doing Y/N?" They heard Wanda ask from the doorway making them jump slightly.

"Just some research." They mumbled as they looked through old papers. Wanda joined them and looked at the papers over their shoulder.

"What are you hoping to find?" She asked them.

"Answers." They said as they put the useless papers in a pile.

"For?" Wanda asked as she watched them concentrate.

"The disappearances. May said to look in his old boxes for answers." They told her.

"So you think that there is something." Wanda asked them as they sighed, putting the papers back in the box.

"Yes. I do." They said as they grabbed another box. They didn't want to tell Wanda that they were worried for her twin. They didn't want to worry her more.

They kept on doing their research until after the twins had left and they kept coming up with nothing but a name.

Bobby Sinclair.

So Y/N decided to do some research and found that he lived just outside of town. It was already dark out and they couldn't wait for answers. They got their jacket and hat and made their way across town. The only lights illuminating the streets were the colourful Christmas lights that everyone had hung. People were out caroling like two kids hadn't gone missing. Kids having snowball fights or making snowmen. Everything seemed as normal as can be but everything was far from normal. These disappearances were far from normal.

Y/N had approached an old run down house. There were dim lights shining through the curtains telling them that he was home. They remembered Bobby being labeled as the town crazy but they had no reason why.

They nervously approached the door and knocked three times. It was probably a stupid idea but they had to try. They needed to make sure that their friends would be safe.

"What do you want?" He huffed as he answered the door with a loaded shotgun pointed at Y/N.

"Hi. Uh I'm Y/N Parker. I have been going through my Uncle Ben's things and I saw your name come up quite a few times." They introduced themselves as calm as they could considering there was a 12 gauge aimed at their chest.

"I remember Ben, he was a great man." Bobby spoke sadly.

"He was." Y/N agreed, thinking back to before he got shot. That was the reason Aunt May packed them up and moved them to this small town where they met their friends.

"Come in." He said as he stepped aside allowing Y/N inside. They were met by the foul body odor and alcohol as they stepped inside. Bobby looked around his property before closing the door behind them. He led them through to his dimly lit living room. They saw articles of disappearances.

"These are dated 25 years ago." Y/N stated as Bobby nodded. "How?"

"The disappearances happened 25 years ago too." He said as he poured himself a glass of whiskey.

Y/N looked over the articles and another name stood out. James Parker. They picked it up and recognised the picture from moments earlier from inside their Uncle Ben's belongings.

"Why is there someone called James Parker here?" They asked him as he sighed.

"He was Ben's older brother. He was Jack's best friend. Jack was my brother." He told the teenager. "After they both were taken, your grandparents took Ben and your father and moved to Queens."

Y/N was shocked by this news so the Parker's lived here before Aunt May had them move here. But Y/N also noticed how he said taken as they saw one article:

25 children disappeared. FBI and Local Authorities set up search parties but came up empty handed.

"So this has happened before." Y/N stated as Bobby nodded. They saw a picture of an old sewer entry. "So they never found any of them?"

"No. They closed the case after the new year knowing that they weren't going to find them. 25 families have gone on not knowing what happened to their children. 25 younger siblings got called delusional with wild imaginations." He said harshly. "Your Uncle and I were one of those children." He moved around and got a file of older paper clippings. "But I have been doing research over the years. It is a cycle. It's a quarterly cycle. It has been going on for generations." He said as he handed Y/N the older clippings. He was finally happy that someone believed him.

"Did you find out anything on where it would store them?" They asked him as he sighed.

"All I know is that it likes cold, damp and dark places. And there aren't many here." He sighed regretfully.

"What about the sewage systems?" They asked him as he shook his head no.

"I went down there myself and I came up with nothing." He sighed as they looked at a map of the Town.

"But don't these old towns have an unused sewer system? One that hasn't been used in centuries?" Y/N asked him as he smiled at them.

"You know your stuff kid." He smirked at them.

"I did my research on the place we were moving to." They shrugged. "But clearly not enough research."

"That's ok kid. Towns like this one have their secrets." He told them before he looked at the time. "You should head home before it gets too dangerous. I will work on getting the old sewer entrance location and we can hopefully work together on getting this thing."

"Yeah." They sighed.

"Are you doing this for anyone? A sibling maybe?" He asked them as they sighed.

"My best friend. Her brother is only a couple blocks away so maybe in the next few days it's going for him and I want to stop it before it happens." They told him

"Do you have an older sibling?" He asked them as they shook their head no.

"I have a younger brother." They told him and his heart broke knowing that if they don't stop it, they will also fall victim to it.

"We will get this creature Y/N." He reassured them as he waved them off. Y/N walked through the dark streets not realising how late it was. When they arrived home, Aunt May was sitting on the sofa, a furious expression on her face.

"Where were you Y/N?" She asked them sternly.

"I was getting answers about what is going on." They told her as she sighed.

"Who did you see?" She asked them.

"Bobby Sinclair." They told her as she sighed.

"Did you find anything out?" She asked them.

"It's a cycle. Every 25 years it comes for the first born. It collects one teen a night for 25 days until the day of the winter solstice.” They told her. She was shocked at their knowledge.

"We have to get you out of here." She said frantically.

"No. We aren't leaving. My friends are here." They told her.

"You do realise that it is coming after you." She told them as they nodded.

"Yeah I do." They shrugged.

"I can't lose you Y/N. You and Peter are my everything." She told them as they gave her a soft smile.

"If I have a chance of stopping this Aunt May, I will do my best to stop it. Before it takes my friends." They told her.

"But what if it takes you in the process?" She asked them as they shook their head.

"Then it takes me." They told her. "If I can protect my friends I would die for them." They said before they headed off to bed.

The creature was slowly approaching the next house for its next victim while Henry and David tried their hardest to get out of the leather bags but they were too strong. They both realised that this is it for them. The creature will come back and take them from this realm placing them in their hell. They were mainly frightened of the how.

Y/N woke earlier the next day to her the news of another disappearance getting closer to the Maximoff residence. They wanted to get to the bottom of this as they made their way across town.

"So do you definitely believe this creature story?" Nat asked them as she approached Y/N.

"Yes." They said as they entered the library. They went to the old news spread section and collected papers from 25 years ago.

"So don't you think it's best that we all leave?" She asked them as they shook their head no.

"You guys all can. In fact, take the twins too." They said as Nat scoffed.

"And what about you?" She asked them.

"I am staying. I am taking this thing down." They told her. Nat noticed their Uncle's name on the current article that they were reading.

"Y/N. This is personal isn't it?" She said calmly as Y/N sighed.

"I need to do this Nat. For my Uncle Ben. He saw it take his older brother when he was a kid." They told her as she sighed.

"Ok. So where do we start?" She asked as she sat beside them. Y/N looked at her confused. "It's going to be coming for Pietro, you and me before christmas and I am sure that I want to be there to eat my christmas dinner." Nat stated making Y/N chuckle.

The pair sat and read old articles all morning, ignoring the vibrations of their phones from missed calls from their friends.

"So there is an entrance." Nat stated as she got up from her seat to show Y/N. "It has a location too."

"Well let's go." Y/N said as Nat shook her head no.

"We don't know what we are going after. It already has three. There is twenty two left. Pietro is in a few days and we need to know how to kill it, whatever it is." She told them.

"Ok, let's go and see Bobby." They told her as she shook her head.

"They're the town drunk Y/N." She told them.

"Nat. They also saw it. They have spent their life trying to find it. He was the one who gave me all of this information. He was Uncle Ben's best friend." They told her as she sighed as they both got up and made their way out of the library. Wanda and Yelena saw them both from the coffee shop as Y/N and Nat walked well, practically ran towards Bobby's place.

"Why are they in such a hurry?" Yelena asked the girl beside her.

"I don't know." She answered her, confused as they watched the pair disappear.

Y/N and Nat raced across town and soon found themselves knocking on his door. He let them both inside the same as he did last night.

"Do you always answer with the 12 gauge in your hands?" They asked him as they followed him into the living room.

"More or less." He shrugged. "So who's your friend?"

"This is Nat." They introduced their friend who just waved shyly. "We have a location for the old sewer entrance." They said as they handed him the paper.

"That's great. We just need to know what we are dealing with." He stated.

"You don't know what it is?" Nat asked him as he shook his head no. "You have been researching this thing your whole life and have no idea what it is?" She scoffed.

"I'm sorry that I had inserted "mourn my brother" into my already busy schedule." He shot at her as she laughed. Y/N couldn't help but smirk at his answer.

"Do you have any idea who might know?" Y/N asked him as he thought for a moment.

"The Harknesses. They have lived in this town longer than most folk here." He informed the pair. "Ask for Agatha." He told them as they thanked him. "Also when you find out what it, come for me and we will take it down together." He told them as they nodded.

"So you believe this?" Nat asked, still skeptical about the whole situation.

"I do, Nat." They told her. "I knew my Uncle Ben lost one brother when my parents died but found out that he lost another. I just don't want this to happen to anyone else."

"Anyone else meaning Wanda." Nat smirked.

"Anyone else meaning Wanda, Yelena and Peter." They told her as she nodded realising it wasn't just Pietro in danger.

"Then why are we going for it? Let's just get out of here." She told them.

"And in 25 years it will be back and maybe it will be our kids in danger if we're still living here." They pointed out as Nat sighed knowing she wasn't going to sway Y/N from their mission that they took on themselves.

They gulped when they approached The House of Harkness. They always thought it had a creepy Addams Family vibe to it.

"This house always gives me the creeps." Nat mumbled as they approached the door. Y/N chuckled as they reached for the huge brass knocker and knocked. They waited for someone to answer but it was a big house.

"Hello children." Agatha spoke as she greeted the pair. "What can I do for you?"

"We've heard that you can maybe help us." Nat spoke nervously.

"Do you know about the creature that takes its first born?" Y/N asked her to get straight to the point.

"You want my mother but she isn't returning to Westview until the weekend." She informed them.

"Is there no way that you can call her? It's urgent." Y/N said.

"I'm sorry. But I can look through her journals and see if I can find what you seek." She told them both softly. "So come back in a couple of days. It will give me time to do the research."

"Thank you Ma'am." Both teens said as they walked down the steps back to the street.

"I just hope we can get it in time." Nat said, worried herself for Pietro. "Do you think we should tell them?" She asked Y/N.

"No. Not yet at least." Y/N sighed as they walked back to their homes bidding farewell. Y/N didn't want to give up so easily just yet because they want to get to the bottom of it before anything happens to their friends.

Over the next few days, Y/N waited impatiently for Agatha to call them. Tonight was the night it was coming for Pietro and they are afraid that they may be too late. They lay in their bed staring at the ceiling unaware of a guest approaching their room.

"Hey Y/N." Wanda greeted her best friend as she lay beside them.

"Hey." They said as their eyes never moved to look at the girl beside them.

"Why haven't you returned any of my calls?" She asked them to get straight to the point.

"I have been busy Wanda." They told her as she scoffed.

"With Natasha." She snarled as Y/N jumped to their phone as a social media notification came through.

"Do you think your parents can take you and Pietro out of town today?" Y/N asked her.

"Why? So you and Nat can have a date without the twins and children in the way?" She scoffed as Y/N laughed. "What?"

"I don't like Nat like that. She's like a sister to me." Y/N told her which made the brunette feel slightly better. "It's just there's this thing going on and I just want you two to be safe."

"So you do believe this creature story." Wanda stated as she sat beside Y/N who nodded in reply. "And you think Piet is next."

"It fits the pattern. I just want you to be safe ok." They told her as she shook her head.

"What about your safety?" She questioned as they chuckled.

"I will be fine." Y/N told her as she shook her head.

"It's taking the first born. In case you have forgotten you are a first born." She told them as they just shrugged. "Y/N this is serious."

"I know it is serious Wanda. It is very serious. It is the 10th December and Pietro is next Wanda. He is next and if he doesn't get out of town he will be taken and probably killed." Y/N told her sternly as they stood up. "Do you want that to happen?"

"No but I don't want to lose you or Nat either." She told them. Y/N just sighed before wrapping their arms around her.

"You won't lose us. We are so close to getting answers and we will take it down." They told her as she just nodded. She hated the idea of leaving them to take care of this.

"I'll see what I can do." Wanda told them. "But I can't promise anything. You know what my mum is like this time of year." They just nodded before they pulled away when their phone started to ring. Wanda watched as Y/N answered it. She soon found out that it was Agatha. She watched as Y/N moved as fast as she had ever seen. They also sent a text to Nat to meet at the House of Harkness.

"I have to go. But please do as I ask." They told her as they kissed her forehead before they left her a blushing mess in their room.

Y/N got there at the same time as Nat. They both sighed as they approached the door but before they could knock, Agatha opened the door for them and let them in.

"Did you find anything?" Y/N asked her as she led them towards the dining room.

"Oh yeah. I found something." She smirked as she showed them a journal. "It is Streega. It's kind of like a witch. Hunts on a cycle." She told them as they looked over her shoulder. "They store the food for days and have a feast on the 26th day."

"So you're saying that the others will still be alive." Nat asked as Agatha gave her a sad smile.

"No. Some would have died from starvation or before that happens, they could start their feast." She said.

"You don't sound so sure?" Y/N stated as Agatha just shook her head.

"No one has gotten close enough to even see what it looks like. All it leaves behind is a ripe smell of death in its wake." She told them both.

"Any idea on how to kill it?" Y/N asked her.

"It's complicated." She told them. "You have to get close enough to stab it in its heart with a blade made of raw iron."

"Where are we going to find raw iron?" Nat asked as Y/N remembered something.

Y/N sat on Uncle Ben's knee as they had found his knife collection. He decided to show them the collection.

"This is a collection made of raw iron. Passed down from generations of Parker's." He told them.

"Really?" They said with a wide smile.

"Really. So when I die these will be yours." He told them as he smiled at the case with a velvet lining.

"I know." Y/N said as they left after thanking Agatha for her help. Nat chased Y/N as they ran through the town. When they reached their house, they ran straight up to their room.

"What are you looking for Y/N?" Nat asked as she rested her hands on her knees as she caught her breath.

"The knife set that Uncle Ben gave me." They spoke from under their bed.

"And how is that supposed to help?" She asked them as Wanda walked up behind Nat.

"The blades are raw iron." Y/N smirked at the red head. "Hey Wan."

"We're not going anywhere." She said sadly as Y/N sighed. There were three knives in the set. One for them, Nat and a spare. They took one out and gave it to Wanda.

"It's raw iron. It can kill it if you can get close enough to stab it in the heart." They told her.

"And you expect me to do it?" She asked them wide eyed.

"Ok then. We will have a sleep over at yours. I will stay with Pietro and Nat with Wanda." They said as the girls nodded in agreement.

They all settled in the Maximoff Residence. They had all told Pietro what was happening which he wasn't phased at all. He never believed any of them.

"You do realise how pathetic this is?" He asked the three.

"This isn't pathetic Pietro. We are trying to keep you safe." Wanda told her twin who just chuckled.

"This thing isn't real." He laughed as all three of them glared at him.

"It is Pietro. I don't care what you say anyway, I am staying here." Y/N stated as they settled in the chair for the night. Y/N was starting to wonder if this was a good idea. They made sure they had the blade secured in their boot.

"Do you think they will be ok?" Wanda asked as she and Nat settled for the night in her bed. Neither of them could sleep.

"I'm sure it will be fine Wanda." Nat reassured her even though she wasn't sure herself.

"Isn't Y/N older than Pietro?" Wanda then asked as the pair sat up and they frantically ran to Pietro's room.

"Hey where's the fire?" Pietro asked as he rubbed his eyes.

"Where's Y/N?" Nat asked him.

"They were on the chair?" He said as he pointed to an empty chair.

"Fuck!" Nat exclaimed.

"They probably just went home." He shrugged as Wanda shook her head at him.

"No they wouldn't. They would have told one of us." She told her twin.

"You still can't say that you still think this thing is behind all of these disappearances." He told them both as they both huffed and went back to her room.

"We need to look for them Nat." Wanda said as she paced her floor.

"We have to wait until the morning. We don't know if this Streega is stronger at night or not." She told her as Wanda started to panic.

"Oh god. What if we're too late. What if I never get to tell them." She said as Nat rolled her eyes and stood up. She placed her hands on Wanda's shoulders to stop her movements.

"You will be able to tell them that you're in love with them." She told her. "We just need to see Bobby first and he will help us." Wanda just nodded as Nat led her to the bed. Wanda couldn't sleep at all that night. She was worried for Y/N. She didn't know where they were or how they were.

Meanwhile Y/N soon woke to the sound of David screaming as the Streega reached in his chest and pulled out his beating heart before his eyes. They realised that it was feeding on them 8 days after they had been captured.

They flinched at every crack and rip they heard coming from David's body. Every bite which sounds like a greedy man biting out of a chicken leg. This was the first time they were actually scared. They were scared for their life. Nat's life. Maybe Pietro if it catches on.

They searched their boot for the blade only to find it gone. They could feel their eyes fill with tears as this was the end for them. As much as they talked a big game about taking this creature down but they never thought that they would be caught.

As they listened to the thing eat its way through the flesh on David's bones. Wanda and Nat were restless. As soon as the day started, they raced towards Bobby's and Nat knocked on frantically.

"Where's the taller kid?" He asked them both.

"The thing took them." Nat told him.

"Do we know how to kill it?" He asked them as they followed him into the living room.

"Raw iron blade to the heart." Nat informed him as he nodded and took a blade from his own knife collection.

"Well this may be tricky to get close to it." He said as they both nodded. "But with three of us we will have an amazing chance." He said with a smile.

"Nope. Wanda isn't in on this." Nat said as Wanda scoffed as she glared at the red head. "Y/N would kill me if I let you go in there."

"We have to do everything to get them back, Nat." Wanda told her as Nat shook her head.

"The two of you are fucking oblivious." She sighed as Bobby watched the interaction between the two.

"What is that supposed to mean?" She asked her as she crossed her arms over her chest.

"The two of you. It's getting exhausting to watch how you love them and they love you." Nat blurted out as Wanda chuckled.

"They wouldn't love me like that Nat." She said as she shook her head as Nat sighed.

"Just think Wanda. Especially to these past couple of weeks." She told her as Wanda did. She remembered how Y/N hated hugs but they welcomed them with ease from the Sokovian. They always had a soft spot for Wanda and came to her defense whenever they had to. They always made sure that she was safe no matter what. They even tried to get Wanda and Pietro out of town.

"Do you think it was their plan all along to be caught?" She asked Nat as she shrugged.

"I don't think so. I think they wanted to take the creature down before it took Pietro but none of us thought that it would take them in his place." Nat told her sadly.

"We have to get them back, Nat." Wanda said as her eyes started to sting as they filled with unshed tears.

"We will Wanda." She said as she pulled her in for a hug.

"Ok we will have to come up with a plan. And we can only execute it during the day." Bobby told the pair as they got talking of a plan while Y/N tried their hardest to get out of the leather bag that was hung on a metal hook.

Y/N continued to swing on the hook hoping the bag would fall. Although they didn't know how far the drop was. They didn't care either, they just wanted out so they continued to swing as hard as they could until they heard a snarl and felt a blow which caused them to hit the wall behind them and fall.

Wanda, Nat and Bobby were walking towards the old sewer entrance. The three of them looked at it before they all used their strength together and opened it.

They all had torches as they walked through the unused sewer. It was cold, damp and dark. The smell was no better either. It smelt like Pietro's room after Y/N had been taken.

"It's here." Bobby whispered as the three covered their noses.

"It's going to take forever to find them." Wanda said as Nat held her hand.

"And we will take as long as we have to to find them." Nat said as they continued to walk.

"These old sewer systems usually have an octogonal passageway where it connects each sewer." Bobby informed them

"So do you think they may be there?" Wanda asked hopefully.

"I hope so kid." He sighed as they continued to walk along the never ending tunnel. Rats were running in the opposite direction, like they were running away from something. Wanda spotted something shiny in the distance. When they approached it she remembered it as Y/N's blade.

"It's Y/N's." Nat stated as the three of them looked at it.

"That means they are here." Bobby stated as Wanda put the blade in her other hand ready for when they found Y/N.

"Fuck." Y/N groaned when they made impact with the floor. They felt an excruciating pain up their left arm as they landed on it. "That's going to leave a mark." They groaned as they tried to move it but it only caused them more pain.

They tried to wriggle the bag open with their good arm to get out. They jumped back when suddenly the bag was ripped open and they felt cold bony fingers around their throat. They tried with all of their might to get it's cold hand from their throat but it was so strong. Inhumanly strong.

"Let me go." They rasped out as they gasped for air with their airways constricting due to the pressure that the streega applied to it. They completely forgot about their already broken arm as they punched and kicked the streega which then threw them across the room. "I hate christmas." They groaned as they managed to get into a sitting position.

"Did you guys hear that?" Wanda asked the pair as they listened again until they heard another thud.

"We heard that." Bobby stated as the three started to run to the source of the sound.

"Don't you think it is kind of funny that we are running to the thing that wants to kill Y/N, Pietro and I." Nat laughed earning a glare from Wanda. They hoped that they would get their in time before the Streega killed again.

As Y/N tried to get up, it struck a blow to their chest winding them. They soon ended up on their knees hurled over as they held their chest feeling the pain from the blow. They yelped as it gripped their hair and started to drag them to the table where it was still covered in the blood from Henri and David. Y/N tried to get free but they had angered it. They had fought back. Something that none of its victims had done before.

Before it could reach into Y/N's chest, Bobby fired a raw iron bullet in its arm. It yelped as it stumbled away from Y/N. He kept shooting it as Wanda moved to help Y/N up off of the table. Nat went to help the other teens down from the bags.

They all watched as Bobby got close enough to it and stabbed it in its heart. They watched as it screamed out in pain as it turned to ashes. Bobby stood there over the ashes as he had finally done what he had wanted to do all of these years.

"Hey, Y/N. You need to see a doctor." Wanda said as she looked at Y/N who looked out of it. She was worried about her best friend as she moved their arm over her shoulders causing them to cry out in pain. Wanda was extremely worried about them as Bobby walked over to them.

"Help Nat with the others." He told her as she nodded. "Come on kid." He said as he used their right arm and put it over his shoulders. He and Y/N trailed slowly behind the others as they exited the old sewer system.

Bobby and Y/N were falling behind as Y/N kept losing their footing and stumbling. When Y/N had completely gone limp he picked them up before they managed to reach the others as they all sat down. Bobby lay Y/N down as Wanda and Nat rushed over to them.

"I called 911." Nat said as Bobby nodded.

"Thank you." Wanda told him as he smiled at her.

"It was all them." He said as he pointed to Y/N. "They sought me out. I gave up but they made me want to fight again for Jack and those kids who were in our shoes." Wanda sat beside Y/N and handed Nat the blades.

"Yelena is on her way to take the knives home to keep them safe for them." She told Wanda who nodded. Y/N was out cold and Wanda was worried about them but soon enough those worries will be put to an end as they heard the sirens coming closer to them.

"You'll be ok Y/N." She whispered as she kissed their forehead.

The other teens were treated for dehydration since they hadn't been fed or drank any water in days. Meanwhile Y/N had fractured ribs and had to have pins put in their left arm. They had bruised lungs and a bruised back.

The Lassiters and The Moores were devastated at the loss of Henry and David. But the other families were happy to have them back.

Y/N sat on the hospital bed as Aunt May went to sign their discharge papers as Peter sat beside them.

"What actually happened Y/N?" Peter asked as Y/N turned off the TV. They placed the remote back on the side before shaking their head no. They didn't want to talk about it. They wanted to forget it all happened.

"I'm not talking about it Peter." They told him angrily as they got off the bed.

"I was only asking Y/N because it has clearly affected you." He said as Y/N just chuckled dryly. It was Christmas eve and their friends would be spending it with their families. They wouldn't get to see them until after Boxing Day.

"Are you ready to go home Y/N?" Aunt May asked softly as she entered the room. They nodded as they went to pick up their bag but Aunt May beat them to it. They walked out behind May and Peter towards the car. "Y/N is in the passenger seat Peter." She told him sternly as he huffed and got in the back with a scowl. Y/N struggled to sit in the seat as they were still in pain. They were healing but too slow for their liking.

When they got home, they just went to their room to lay down. They hated the memories of it eating David. They could still hear his screams and the sounds of his body being torn apart. They could still smell that awful smell of fear and death.

They wanted to sleep but they didn't. It was around 10pm and they decided to call Nat. They know that Wanda's parents can be strict on the holidays.

"What can I do for you Y/N?" Nat greeted them.

"I can't sleep Nat." They said quietly. Nat was shocked to hear them speak like they were so small and frail.

"What's going on Y/N?" She asked them softly.

"I can still hear them." They spoke shakily. "The screams and the sounds and the smell." They said as tears fell down their cheeks. "I can't sleep because I am back there everytime I close my eyes. There's no one to talk to without being called crazy."

"I know Y/N." She spoke softly. "I've seen the news."

"It's ridiculous Nat. They're saying it was an overdose that killed Henry and David and that the rest just wanted a place to party and get high before the holidays." They said as they sat up. "It infuriates me that they still don't believe us."

"I understand Y/N." She sighed and then she came up with an idea. "When are you going to tell Wanda?"

"Tell Wanda what?" They asked her, playing dumb.

"You know what Y/N." She scolded them as they chuckled.

"I'm tired Nat." They told her as she sighed.

"Well go to sleep." She suggested as they took in a deep breath.

"I can't Nat." They whispered with tears in their eyes.

"Well, think about the things you love the most about Wanda." She teased before hanging up. That was when Y/N decided to ask the brunette to meet them in the Town Square.

"Where are you going?" Aunt May asked Y/N as they put on their shoes and jacket.

"I need to see Wanda." They said before they left the house. Aunt May smiled at them as the door closed.

Y/N stood under the Christmas lights as they waited patiently for her. They smiled as she walked through the crowd of people. The snow fell perfectly as she walked with a smile on her face.

Their smile widened when she got closer. They admired how her eyes sparkled under the multicoloured lights.

"Are you ok Y/N?" She asked them concerned as she approached them.

"Yes. No. Maybe." They stumbled over their words. "I will be." They smiled at her as they tried to hide how nervous they were. "This is so hard to say."

"Just take your time." She smiled at them. They soon caught her family just beside the ice rink.

"I'm so sorry you're out with your family." They said with wide eyes.

"It's ok Y/N." She laughed which made them lighter. "So what did you want to say?"

"I uh well. I am in love with you. I have been in love with you for however long I can remember. And when I was there, all I could think about was I never got to tell you. And I need to tell you. Even if you will never feel the same. I just have to get it out because it's eating me alive." When they finished, Wanda just gazed at them with a fuzzy smile on her face.

"Y/N. I was worried that I would never get the chance to tell you how I feel either. You are my most favourite person in the world. My world literally spins for you and I would be so lost without you." She sighed before she reached up to cup their face. Their cheeks are cold from the winter air. "I am so in love with you too."

Y/N smiled down at her as they could feel their heart fill with joy. They both leaned in and let their lips meet in their first kiss. A kiss that sent warmth throughout their bodies as it became passionate as each second went on.

When they pulled away for air they heard cheering and clapping from their family and friends who had all decided to sneak out and watch as Wanda hid her face in Y/N's chest. Y/N rubbed their good hand up and down her back as she wrapped her arms around their middle. Just enjoying their embrace and happy to get all of that off of their chests after a hard couple of weeks.

They both soon joined their friends and families to celebrate christmas eve together. Everyone together is happy and safe.

"This is my favourite christmas eve." Wanda whispered as they watched everyone ice skating.

"Next year we will skate." Y/N stated as Wanda smiled up at them. They leaned down and gave her soft peck before they both opted to go for a walk around in the snow.

They had finally overcome every possible obstacle they could have ever dreamed of and only came out stronger.

#wanda maximoff x reader #wanda maximoff #marvel #elizabeth olsen #wanda x you #elizabeth olsen x reader #wanda x reader #wanda x y/n #wanda maximoff x you #natasha romanoff

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after-hours-art · 27 days ago

Text

Fake it till we make it

Pairing: Lev Haiba x reader

Genre: fluff

Warnings: x

"It's okay. You don't have to love me".

Those were the exact words you heard from him three years ago when you first met Lev after graduating from high school. Neither of you knew by that time about the arrangements made by your parents and despite your reluctance to the idea, you two still got married. You couldn't be more different. While you buried yourself in studies at Tokyo University, he dropped out the second year and started his modeling career. A pretty successful modeling career. In merely a year you moved out from college dorms as he managed to purchase a two-level penthouse and pay off all your student fees. Soon, you couldn't do as much as walk to your favourite library without someone asking about him after he mentioned in some Vogue interview that he is married to Y/N Haiba.

//14.02.2021//

You wake up to your alarm clock, surprised that Lev isn't beside you in bed. You sigh and shake your head, slowly sitting and stretching your back. You slide your feet into fluffy slippers, throw silk robe over your shoulders and make your way downstairs. To your surprise instead of Masha, your maid, by the stove you find your husband.

- Lev? - you walk up to him, a little confused by the man whom you never saw in the kitchen, is making eggs.

- Oh, hi. Crap. You weren't supposed to be up yet. - he looks a bit panicked.

- What? Brought a mistress last night and scared I'll find her? - you joke, walking over to the filter jag and pouring yourself a glass of water. Awaiting his answer, you slice a lemon and put one slice in your glass, putting the rest in the fridge.

- What? A mistress? No. Never. I just... do you even know what day is today, Y/N? - he asks, carrying on with the cooking.

- Umm... Sunday? - you murmur, checking on your phone. You roll your eyes at all the DM notifications asking about Lev. Ever since he said your name in that interview his fans found your account, trying to get to him through you.

- Yeah... that too. But what else? - he hums, handing you a plate. You frown confused at eggs shaped like a heart, with some peppers and avocado toast on the side.

- Thanks... - you murmur while taking the plate, full of suspicion.

- You really have no idea what day is today, Y/N? - he follows you to the dining table. - It's Valentine's day, dummy. Happy Valentines, wifey. - he says and kisses the side of your head.

- Oh, right. Happy Valentines, Lev. - you murmur without enthusiasm. Your husband sighs and brings his own plate to the table. He takes his seat by your side, his eyes don't leave you for a while.

- Y/N... - he starts quietly and takes your hand. - There's a thing. I know we don't really celebrate Valentines since we're not in love or anything but... the W Magazine asked to do 'A night with' article with me and... my manager didn't run the idea through me before agreeing so...

- We're stuck together on the holiday created by paper card sellers? Faking a perfect image of lovebirds in marriage or something? - you ask, making him chuckle. You are always so down to earth.

- Yeah... basically that.

You roll your eyes. Valentines never meant anything in your calendar. Just another random day. Obviously, Lev took you out every Valentine's day and brought you red roses and you got him some small gift of something that you knew he wanted but never got to actually buy it, like volleyball match tickets.

- We... I can try to back us out. Think of an excuse or something. - Lev tries to reassure you, though deep down he's somehow sad that you don't want to actually celebrate with him. He reaches his hand to you and takes your hand.

- You... W Magazine will probably be pissed and might end the contract with you... - you mutter.

- Yeah but... you being comfortable means more to me than W Magazine. I still have some othe-

- Lev. - you cut his words. - I'll do it... You always do so much for me and I... I might not be a dream wife and I know it. We're not in love but it doesn't mean that I don't like you at all.

- Y/N! - he gets off his chair and steps to the side of your chair. He leans down and hugs you from behind, his hands crossing on your collarbones as he kisses the side of your neck. - Thank you, thank you, thank you. I promise it won't be annoying. My manager already called your boss so you have a day off.

You sigh. It appears to be a very long day.

You walk down Dior's alley with Mina, an interviewer from W Magazine, following you with a camerawoman. Your eye catches a beautiful pink dress that takes your breath away. It's not a lie when they say that it's visible when a designer loves women. Christian Dior definitely did.

- So, is this how every Valentine’s looks in the Haiba household? - the interviewer asks, not even trying to hide the jealous expression on her face when she sees the price of the dress. You swallow, not turning around for a while.

- Lev definitely has a romantic soul. - you say with a smile, finally facing the camera. - Each year it's something that comes straight from his heart.

- Must be a dream to be married to such a romantic man.

- Yes... it is. - you murmur. It would be if it wasn't an arranged marriage. It would be if you would be more accepting towards each of his gestures. If you haven't stated it clearly when you got married that you're doing it for your parents and don't seek for love.

- What do you think he prepared this year?

*a plan he told you this morning so you wouldn't get surprised and mad*

- I don't know. But I'm sure it'll be great. Like every of his gifts.

*gifts that you never accept.*

- How does it feel to be married to one of the most successful models of the last few years?

- It's... magical.

*magical since the marriage is basically on paper and between your parents' businesses.*

- Very. Every day is... like a new adventure.

- Adventure you say? - Mina smiles and follows you as you move on to another dress.

- Yeah. - you sigh, wondering why you agreed to the stupid idea of this article. - You never know what idea he'll come up with next. - you say, calling over your favourite shopping assistant. - I'll take this one. And the pink one. - you sigh. You watch the interviewer shift her attention to the dress, asking the shop assistant for specific details to possibly describe it best later in the article. You reach into your bag and take out your phone, checking for the nearest Harry Winston. It is Valentines after all, and Lev knows how much you adore a new piece in your jewelry collection. Access to high jewelry is definitely one of the things that you very much enjoyed about being married to a man with such high income as Lev.

You smile at your intuition failing you, when you're greeted enthusiastically by the Harry Winston staff member when you enter the store, even when you're accompanied by the nosy interviewer and cameras. They have known you for a year now, always very pleased to welcome you, as well as your husband's money.

- A, Mrs. Haiba, here. Your husband made a call and we prepared something *just* for you. - elderly man guides you to one of the tables. - He had reserved all the pieces from our Winston With Love collection. Each letter represents each stage of love, yet Mr. Haiba said that it doesn't matter on which stage you are because you just adore our pieces and might as well get all. - he chuckles at his own words, placing some of the jewelries on the satin pad. - It's a lot of pieces, but we were suggested to show you necklaces. And... Mr. Haiba also suggested Secret Collection.

You smile, looking at the colourful pieces from the Love Collection. You pick a beautiful diamond necklace, one with rubies, pink sapphires, spessartite garnets and yellow diamonds. The necklace is so *happy* that you just can't help yourself and smile.

- This is the Brilliant Glow Necklace. Allow me... - elderly jewelry gently takes the necklace from your hands and carefully puts it on you. You turn to the nearest mirror and smile. Happy colours on a technically happy day.

- The Brilliant Glow is the first stage of love. - the jeweler says as you keep on admiring the shining of the diamonds. - All the gems express excitement and light. Like with newfound love. - he smiles, carefully taking it off your neck and placing it back on the pad.

- Put that one aside, please. I might get back to it. - you ask, looking at the remaining jewelry.

- Yes, Mrs. Haiba.

You looked at the jewelry for a while longer, admiring the diamonds, yet your eyes kept returning to the Brilliant Glow. You can't help but smile at the colours, smiling at the idea that Lev in fact did call in and knew you'd like it. You look down at the assistant as he packs the necklace for you. You start to wonder what Lev would like. It's not like you don't talk to each other at all. You do. But you just happen to not know your husband at all, while he knows so much about you. Your favourite designer. Jewelry you'd love. Your favourite food, coffee brand, places, cities. All you know is his job. You don't even know his favourite colour. Deep in your thoughts, you wander off to the station with watches.

- Excuse me? - you turn to the elderly jeweler. - This watch? - you point at white watch with a blue leather band. The man smiles and walks over to assist, spotting the occasion that both camerawoman and interviewer focus on the diamond jewelry around.

- This, Mrs. Haiba, is our Ocean Biretrograde Automatic. 18 karats white gold. Blue alligator leather. Very popular. From our The Ocean Collection. Automatic watch, very nice and classy.

- You... seem to know my husband very well. - you say turning to the man. - You think Lev would like this?

- Oh, Mrs. Haiba. I can assure you that your husband will love anything that will come from you.

- How do you know? - you ask suspiciously.

- Because I am a man in love myself. - he says with the brightest and proudest smile you have ever seen. - And I love everything that my dear Yuri gives me. See, Mrs. Haiba... - he walks closer and shows you golden cufflinks with a purple, flower-like pattern. - She got it for me when I started to work here 30 years ago. And tell you a secret, I've always hated purple. But I still loved those cufflinks. Even more when I learnt that she painted them herself. And since then that minx gives me things with purple accents. Before I knew it, I fell in love with the colour equally to how I fell in love with her.

- So... - you stare at the cufflinks, admiring his wife's handy work. - He'll love anything?

- I saw his eyes and heard his voice when he came here to purchase something for your first anniversary. He said that you were too stressed with work to even know what day it is. He wanted to make you happy.

You hold your breath for the moment, not knowing what to say.

- Pack the watch, please. - you mutter nervously, in your head going over a list of things you have to do. You pay for the watch, completely forgetting about the necklace. You bow politely to the jeweler and practically run out of the store. You put your phone to your ear as you get in the car.

- Alisa? I'm gonna need your help.

Lev laughs with the interviewer as he enters the apartment. Today is only getting more challenging for him. First he finds out that the dry cleaner ruined his suit for tonight's Valentine Evening that he planned on inviting you for. Then he finds out that the restaurant he planned to take you to before the party cancelled his reservation with some absurd excuse.

- Usually Valentines are less complicated than this year's. You know, you try to make a good image to press and the universe does the oppos.... - he stops talking when walking deeper into the apartment as enters the living room, which makes it connected to the kitchen. His eyes lighten up, his smile growing when he sees several types of oinarisan on the table and you standing next to it. Your hair is tied up, pink Dior dress hugging your body, emphasising all the right places. Lev walks slowly in your direction, still taking the whole sight in. He puts a huge bouquet of red roses on the table before he gets to you. He wraps his arms around your waist, holding you tightly, your face buried in his chest.

- Y/N.... why...? - he whispers quietly. - I know you, you wouldn't pull something like this without a reason. All that because of the W Magazine?

- No. - you murmur against his shirt. - I just... I wanted to thank you somehow. For... for being in love with me when I was chasing my career rather than make our relationship grow.

- Y/N, sweetheart. You don't have to love me. - he whispers, his accent suddenly appearing attractive to you.

- I know. But... you love me. And I was too blind to see it and then the jeweler told me that you know my taste in jewelry, that you'll love my gift and...

- Stop, you'll hyperventilate... - he chuckles, pulling away a bit, gently placing his hand on your cheek. - The jeweler made you do all this? Cook and staff?

- I just... I never realised how much you do for me. From the beginning I saw our marriage as a piece of paper to help our families' brands, you as a roommate or something. I had no idea that you actually loved me. You never said anything.

- I didn't say anything because I thought you don't want me to love you. - he admits and kisses the top of your head. You sigh and look up at him as he isn't wrong here.

- I'm sorry... - you say quietly.

- Don't be sorry, Y/N. Forcing people to love each other is... well... wrong. Our marriage is probably questionable, morally speaking since we were young when we got married but... I guess I grew into loving you. You're smart, determined, elegant, funny, just perfect. - he cups your cheeks and pulls you gently into a kiss. Warm feeling spills through your body, your stomach twisting in excitement, your heartbeat quickening as you press your lips against his. Lev deepens the kiss, one of his hands moving from your cheek to the small of your back as he pulls you closer. The time seems to slow down for you two as you savour the first real kiss, both wrapped up in the sensation. Lev finally pulls away in order to catch a breath, his lips hovering close to yours, his warm breaths hit your skin.

- Wow... - you say quietly, as that's the only word you can think of now.

- Wow indeed... - he whispers. His thumb gently caresses your cheek. You look at him, your gazes locking for a longer moment, that is until you remind yourselves that you're not exactly alone. You look at the interviewer and camerawoman behind your husband, visibly surprised and happy with just recorded candid material. Lev let go of your, taking a step back. He reaches to the table, taking a jewelry box from it. You already know what is there.

- For you, love. - he opens the elegant box and presents you The Brilliant Glow necklace you chose for yourself earlier today. - Exquisite taste, baby. - he whispers, putting it on you. - And it looks so lovely on you... and with this dress. - he gently guides his fingers along the diamonds on your neck, touching onto your collarbone occasionally.

- Thank you. - you smile and reach for the watch you picked for him. - I know your electronic one broke down. So... I got you something more reliable. - you smile, making him chuckle. He thanks you with a kiss on your cheek, as you put the watch on his wrist, blue leather elegantly hugging his wrist. Your eyes meet again, this time the intensity of his gaze makes you blush as if you're a high school girl with a crush.

- I think that's where the interview should end... - Lev says and turns to Mina and the camerawoman. - I think W has enough material and... me and my wife would rather dive in oinarisan feast she prepared than attend a boring party.

- Understandable. - Mina smiles and nudges her coworker to stop recording. - Happy Valentines, Mr. and Mrs. Haiba. - they bow politely and walk to the door.

You bow too in respect and turn back to face your husband, who's already checking out the food you've made.

- Lev?

- What? - he asks with his mouth full, seeing him like that makes you chuckle.

- Thank you. For being a good husband and everything. - you take a seat next to him and smile. The gentle light of the setting sun makes the diamonds in your necklace glow. Lev chuckles.

- Brilliant Glow indeed. - he smiles and looks at you with the soft glance of a man in love.

- So... what now? - you ask between bites of oinarisan. - Since I called off the reservation you made and Kenma no longer expects us at the party...

- We can... watch a movie? Talk? - he suggests. - We never really talked, you know, how couples do. We don't really know much about each other aside from where we work, what food we eat and what brands we wear. - he caresses your cheek.

- Okay... so... when you fell in love with me? - you ask curiously. Lev chuckles and looks over at you softly.

- When you came home after your midterms, third year. I just came back from the paycheck after a gig with Dior. You were exhausted, almost passed out at the doorstep. You yelled at me that you study so hard and still doubt yourself, your career choice, while all I do is look pretty in front of the camera. - he chuckles.

- You fell in love with me when I said that? Like degradation much?

- No, dummy. But you let me carry you inside, make you tea. We watched around fifteen minutes of that movie you like and then you passed out on my chest. That was our first hug since the dance at our wedding. - he says. - You looked so small and I just couldn't stop looking at my strong, independent wife in such a vulnerable state. All I wanted to do at that moment was to take care of you forever. - he smiles. - When you fell for me?

- I feel for you? - you raise your eyebrows.

- You. I don't know much, but I know for a fact that a person who isn't in love doesn't kiss the way we kissed.

You sigh and look at the wedding band on your finger.

- I guess it was it all. Breakfasts, considering my opinion in everything you do, the little things you do. - you murmur, playing with the golden ring. - And the elderly jewelry at Harry Winston said that you love me. I don't know why, I guess a stranger saying that you know what jewelry I'd like and how said that you'd love anything I'd get you for Valentines because he can recognise a man in love.

Lev chuckles.

- Really?

- Really... he said that you sounded like a man in love when you called them. - you try to somehow defend yourself and your logic, making him laugh.

- I'm just teasing, Y/N. - he says, taking your hand and giving it a reassuring squeeze. - Man in love... he wasn't wrong, though.

You drop your gaze at the wedding bands on your and his finger.

- I guess we faked it till we made it, huh?

- We faked being in love? - he chuckles.

- I mean for press and such.

- Then I guess we did. - he kisses the side of your head, his arm wrapping around your shoulders, holding you close. - Now tell me more about how you made all those oinarisan. Since Masha has a day off I know it was all you.

#fluff #haikyuu fluff #haikyuu x reader #haikyuu fanfiction #haikyuu #lev haiba #lev haikyuu #lev haiba x reader

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