#no matter how much physiotherapy i got

[dollfaced-lunchboxx]

They forget that being disabled is one of the minorities you can join at any point

Some rando: You should think about stopping your prescription

Me: My pills make me not want to die tho

They: You shouldn’t want to die, that’s not normal

Me: Yeah that’s why I’m taking my pills

[heartilywrites]

Korra x female firebender reader pretty please 💗

It can start off as fluff and turn into smut AUGHAG <33

Obviously, the time is during s3-s4, reader writes numerous letters to Korra, yearning for her (but ofc they just act as very close friends through the letters) and then Korra comes back from the North Pole, but instead of disappearing to the swamp, she go sees reader instead. I think you and I both know where this is going 😻

THANK YOU HOPE THIS IS ENOUGH HAVE A LOVELY DAY <333

،، 𝓜ake it Better ; Korra

request guide | masterlist

resume: where Korra gives you a visit after three years of being away.

content warning: fluff and if you squint enough there's angst ; Korra x fem!reader ; r is a firebender ! ; ¡¡ MINORS DNI !! ; nsfw ; thigh riding ; fingering ; oral (r receiving) ; scissoring ; switch!korra n' r ; after care i think??? i mean, i believe it is some type of after care what i wrote- ; description of amber colored eyes for r ; no use of y/n

wc: 2.8k

a/n: this is my first smut in like,,, 8 months i think, be nice to me i cry easily /j. i didn’t really mention that r was a firebender that much, i got carried away- hope thats okay 🥺 ENJOY THANK U FOR REQUESTING :D

“ If I could figure it out, I'd take you back to my house so we could meddle about.

‍ ‍ ‍ ‍‍ “𝓓earest Korra,

It's been a whole week since you left us, can you believe it? Things here are... not the same without you.

How have you been? I mean, it's been just seven days, but it's just weird, we haven't been this far since I met you. I hope you're doing okay, know that I will be writing you eventually! Everyone says hi, by the way, I'm sure you'll get a letter from them too, but just to let you know. Bolin is the most excited to receive a letter back, I've seen him practice his calligraphy, it's cute.

Write me back too when you have the chance! I would like to read about you.

Sincerely yours,”

Blue eyes read once, twice, even three times the letter with a weak smile on her face. Her fingers caressed your letter and streak your name.

Being back in the south by herself sure got the best out of her, she missed everyone, she missed you, but it was something she needed to do to get better. To be better and feel like she deserved you.

‍ ‍ ‍ ‍‍ “Dearest,

Hey! I'm sorry for not responding back earlier, but it's been hard.

I've been good? I'm starting physiotherapy with Katara and it's something. Thank you for writing me, I can't tell you how much I miss you guys; Three weeks is a crazy amount of time to be away from you, hope you don't miss me much, blaze.

Can I ask you to do me a favor? Don't tell the others I wrote to you, I'm just now finding the correct words to write to you and I don’t want them to feel like I don’t appreciate them. I trust you, commander arson.

Yours always,

Korra.”

A little laugh left your mouth after reading the two nicknames the avatar had always used on you. Your heart skipped at the beginning, how she only wrote dearest without your name... That couldn't mean much, right? She was one of your best friends, even if your feelings for her were strong, your willpower to keep the relationship as it is was way stronger.

Your friends have talked to you about an opportunity were she may feel the same back and it was just a matter of talking it out, but then Zaheer targeted Korra again and all romance–talk went through out the window. It all sank after the result of the war between the red lotus and the whole team, the letter were all you had left of the girl and at that moment you wouldn't risk losing it.

‍ ‍ ‍ ‍‍ “Dearest Korra,

I'm starting to think that maybe this new job is not for me... The people is boring and I'm running out of ideas to keep the fun atmosphere, maybe I should go and work with Asami, don't you think, breeze? My experience on dealing with disasters may be of help if she needs a test subject for the inventions, I'm good at dispersing fire with more fire!

I can't believe it's been a whole year since we last saw each other... How is the physiotherapy going? I hope is going great, don't be so hard on yourself, Korra, I know you. Healing usually takes time and it's okay to go on your own pace... I lo am sending all of my good energy your way, know that I am always here for you, in the good and the bad, please let me know if you need anything. Hopefully we'll see each other soon.

Sincerely yours,”

The night that Korra was reading again that specific letter from you was the same night were she hit rock bottom with her whole healing process. A couple of tears ran down her cheeks after the last paragraph, only the moon knew how much Korra missed and loved you and having you say such words to her knowing how at some point the girl may get burnout from trying was what made the avatar fall in love with you. You knew her to a point where only if she looked in the back on her brain she may find how you were right and that made her feel warm.

  ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍‍ “Dearest blaze,

Hey... I hope you didn't waited too long for me to write you back. I'm so sorry, it has been a really rough time for me and I didn’t feel like burdening you with my problems.

I did receive the last couple of letters you sent and I read them, I'm so grateful to have you with me. Thank you for not giving up on me just yet, you're the best.

Yours always,

Korra.”

Your hand was moving fast over the new sheet of paper while writing your thoughts on the last letter. How could she say she was a burden? You've make sure she never felt that way! Since meeting Korra you always worked on making the girl trust you with everything, you made your mission being her confident, the shoulder she looked for when she needed to cry and reading how she felt bad with herself made your heart burn with pain.

Even if by then two years have gone by, you felt like nothing has changed between the waterbender and you, hell! you could say that the bond was stronger than ever despite your heart's desire.

The letter just kept going and coming every now and then until at one point after six months over the three years, they stopped from Korra's side. You got worried, of course, but thought that maybe the white lotus was training her again to get her back in the game and that made her time very limited. Your mind found another way to keep occupied from those loud thoughts and you keep it that way.

Humming a melody made your throat vibrate and your index finger made a little little flame to lit up a scent candle and accommodate it on the table at your living room, you were getting ready to read a little bit when a knocking on your door made you stand up again.

When you opened your door, your eyes widened and you felt as if someone had hypnotized you. A short haired Korra was in front of you, wearing earth kingdom clothes and with an eye starting to swell, she smiled with a sad aura, but her eyes sparkled a little bit with excitement at finally seeing you again.

‍ ‍ ‍ ‍‍ “My spirits, Korra... I'm– I– what happened to you?” you broke the silence, mumbling at the questions trying to come out your mouth all at once. You took her hand to get her inside your house, she just kept her eyes on you.

You were as beautiful as she remembered, dare to say even more than before. Your fire nation clothes hugging your body and that wonderful scent that characterizes you was what Korra had missed. She took a deep breath in to smell it again and was met with the familiar scent of your house as well, how she missed it.

‍ ‍ ‍ ‍‍ “I needed to see you.” she spoke, her voice sounded deeper than it was, you felt a tiny electric current travel your spine. “I just... I couldn't be far from you anymore.”

A smile began to creep on your face and your arms were quick to hug the avatar, she swallowed a grunt at the sudden hit of your body on hers as she missed that and hugged you back. A small sob was heard.

‍ ‍ ‍ ‍‍ “I missed you so much, Korra.” you whispered sobbing again. “You have no idea.”

‍ ‍ ‍ ‍‍ “I missed you too.” her hand went to your head where she left tiny caresses. “I'm so sorry for disappearing, I've been trying to feel like myself again.”

You distanced yourself from her and looked at her with concern. Your hand reached hers and were fast to guide her to sit at the couch so you could talk to the girl.

For the first time, Korra let out everything she had been feeling and thinking after so many years and you listened to her cautiously, stroking her hand with your thumb to make her feel safe and to convince you that she was there, that it wasn't another one of your dreams. When she finished she looked back up to you and you smiled at her.

‍ ‍ ‍ ‍‍ “I can't even imagine how hard it is to you,” you said in a soft tone, your amber eyes looked down to both your and her hands. “You're so strong, Korra. Physically and mentally, you are the strongest person I know and I know you're capable of coming out of this. You will be okay,” your eyes went back to the blue ones. “You won't have to do it alone, darling, I'm here for you.”

The avatar softened her gaze at you, that was all she needed to hear at that moment. She felt fortunate to have you by her side even at the worst moments.

Her free hand made its way to your cheek were she left strokes just as you were doing with her hand, both colored eyes were fixated to each other with such devotion. Both bodies moved unconsciously to be closer together until the breath mixed, warm and hot meeting. Your mind was cloudy at such close distance, you were sure you hallucinated with her eyes twitching to your lips and were about to move and offer her coffee when her lips clashed on yours in such a unsynchronized way that it was almost funny, you pulled away for a moment surprised to the act.

‍ ‍ ‍ ‍‍ “Shit, listen, I–” she tried to explain herself before you interrupted her with another kiss.

This one was more harmonized than the first one, your hands had left hers and looked to rest on each side of her face, pulling her as close as the anatomy allowed you to be. At first instance, it was supposed to be a sweet kiss of reconciliation with your feelings, but a small moan had vibrated on your throat without your permission and Korra took it as an opportunity to deepen the gesture.

While her tongue was fighting with yours, both her hands moved to your hips and in a quick move she had put you on top of her while still attending your lips. When your lungs burned for air, her mouth was fast to make a trail from yours to your neck.

Your head was thrown back to give her more access, one of your hands tangled with the brown locks on her head. She stopped at a sensitive spot after hearing you sigh with such devotion, smiling a little bit malicious she decided to make a hickey by sucking the skin under her mouth making you do satisfied sounds that vibrated your vocal chords, after admiring her work that she knew would leave a dark mark, she tried to continue but was stopped with the fabric of your superior part, Korra distanced a bit to look at you.

‍ ‍ ‍ ‍‍ “Can I?” was asked referring to the piece, you nodded a little bit and watch her hands take the belt off your waist and helped her to take off the whole fabric and letting it fall to the floor.

When her lips met your neck again, Korra breathe in your scent, delighted to how sweet you smelled. Your hips under her hands looked for more closeness by rocking a little bit to the front and that only action gave the girl an idea.

She pulled away again and made her hands guide your body to sit on only one of her legs, you followed without any complaint; Korra made you start grinding on her thigh, with tiny moans you were obedient to keep the action she did and when the girl raised her leg to apply pressure to your core making you let out a sigh of relief at how good it felt. Foreign lips went back to your skin, she was attending now your breast over your bra, making more hickeys on her way.

The calling of her name in a shaky voice made her look up to your amber eyes drowned in lust. “I need you, please.”

Her mouth took yours in a desperate kiss and was quick to stand up from the couch with you on her arms to make the well known way to your bedroom. Even if the avatar's body felt heavy by the constant fights she had before deciding to visit you, at that moment she didn’t feel exhausted, the hunger she had for you had substituted her tiredness.

With caution, your body was left on the mattress while the kiss continued. Korra made her way again to your breasts, taking off your last piece on the top her mouth attended your nipples making you moan at the sensation of her tongue moving while her hands were undoing your pants. When she got them off, her left hand slipped under your underwear to your intimacy. Iced color eyes looked at you with a smile at the feeling of wetness between your thighs.

‍ ‍ ‍ ‍‍ “All that for me?” she raised an eyebrow, you could feel your face burn and tried to look away, but Korra's free hand made you turn your gaze back at her without harm. “Eyes on me.”

Her middle finger was tracing on top of your intimacy, making you moan in complain, you were about to talk again when one of her digits slipped in you now allowing you to moan with pleasure. The way her pace was slow was driving you crazy, your hips moved over her hand like asking for more non-verbally and she pleased by adding a second finger, the way your walls clutched over her fingers made her giggled a little bit.

She continued her action for a couple more seconds watching your expressions and loving the sound of your moans for her before she completely removed her fingers from you gaining a grunt.

She was quick to remove completely your last piece of clothes and move over to be between your legs, your eyes followed her curious to see how she was going down on you and when her lips got your clitoris along with one of her fingers entering again in your core, a loud moan came out of you.

Raising your back from the mattress, one one your hands went to her hair tangling brown locks to your fingers, another finger interfered in you and her pace got faster. Your free hand reached to squeeze your own breast while you were being taken care off and when a knot on your abdomen started to form you tried to call for the girl to tell her but was only able to moan out her name in a scream followed by your orgasm.

Your eyes got heavy but you forced yourself to stay awake when the avatar stood back up with your juices on her chin and a little bit on her nose, you smiled pulling her on a kiss tasting yourself in the process.

Your hands tried to undress the girl in a clumsy way while trying to comeback on yourself so she did it herself. Korra didn’t know what you tried to do, but surely stripped to her underwear. Just as she did, you took of her bottom piece and now forced her to lay on the bed.

‍ ‍ ‍ ‍‍ “What are you–” you put your finger over your own mouth on a silent expression.

‍ ‍ ‍ ‍‍ “Trust me.” you said hoarsely with a tired smile.

Your hands made her legs open for you to position yourself between them. Still sensitive after your first climax, you rubbed yourself against the southerner with such pleasure that you now were able to finally hear moans from her that made you smile. Korra was calling for your name between moans and heavy breaths she was giving, you folded over to kiss her and let the moans drown on both mouths. When picking a faster pace, both bodies started to feel the same knot on the lower area and after the waterbender got to her climax you followed her, now completely defeated you fell besides her.

Korra pulled you closer to her with her arms and hugged you tight, letting you rest your head on her chest. A couple of minutes were needed for both to recuperate, the avatar was leaving caresses on your head and tiny pecks on your crown.

‍ ‍ ‍ ‍‍ “We'll find someone who can help you,” you spat, still hoarsely, now looking up to her. Amber eyes filled with compasion. “Don't give up just yet, I know we can find someone.”

Cold eyes looked at you with such tenderness and love before Korra pulled you in for a sweet kiss. “I love you.” she whispered over your lips, making you smile big. “You have no idea how much I love you.”

‍ ‍ ‍ ‍‍ “I love you too,” you said back, leaving caresses on her cheeks. “I always have and always will, my love.”

[russellsppttemplates]

It's just the beggining (Oscar Piastri)

Oscar hasn't done or said anything, so you're taking matters into your own hands

Note: english is not my first language. It's my first Oscar piece and I'm nervous posting this, but hopefully you enjoy it! 🫶

Thank you so much to everyone who likes and reblogs, your feedback is appreciated 🤍 and I'm taking requests so if you have any ideas or concepts you want to share, feel free to do so as I'll try to get to them the best I can!

my masterlist

Cw: mentions reader's grandparents' health issues, mentions the situation with McLaren and Daniel, insomnia

Tag list: @myloverjk-blog

"Hey, Y/N!", James called you once he saw you walk by his classroom, "hey", you greeted back, adjusting your books on your arms.

"There is a new kid, I'm sure you know, Oscar Piastri his name is, and apparently he's staying the long weekend too, like you", he trailed off, not knowing if he was stepping further than he should.

"Yes, I am staying, it's okay to talk about it", you gave him tight lipped smile, "well, I was hoping you'd keep him company - he's a bit shy, but he's very fun to be around and the teacher also thought it would be good since you're both staying", he reasoned as you nodded.

You had to stay back because your grandparents didn't live in England, and because of their old age and problems that naturally arose with that, your parents had to fly out and spend sometime with them, meaning you didn't have anyone back home, so you stayed. As for Oscar, you found out that he was staying back because his family was in Melbourne.

"At first, I just had online schooling, but it got trickier to manage and my dad needed to go back to work so I had to stay back", he explained when you asked him why he was there, "and I hope I can focus on racing, but you already know that", he scoffed softly.

"I don't think I do, I'm sorry", you narrowed your eyes, genuinely unaware of what he was talking about.

After he told you all about his career until that moment, as well as his hopes and dreams, he chuckled, "you really didn't know?", he wondered.

"I didn't! The girls said something about you moving here but I didn't listen much, I'm not that into gossip and my memory is like Dory's, I can never keep up with the latest who likes who and who flirted with what's his face", you earnestly replied.

For the first time since he arrived at the school, he felt like he could really trust someone and he could hope for new friendships on this side of the world.

You were there for his final race in F4, clapping at him on the podium, and even F3 and F2 despite your university deadlines, always making sure you could support him in every way you could.

"Hey, Osc", you said over the phone, setting your pen down the desk and swivelling in the chair. You wanted to get as much knowledge and experience as possible, so you applied to do a internship in a physiotherapy clinic near your apartment during the summer.

"Hey, Y/N, how are you doing?", he asked as you could notice the antsyness on his voice.

"I'm good, it's a bit of a slow day here, my supervisor said I could read up on a few articles", you mused, "is everything okay?", you asked.

"I was wondering if you wanted to have dinner tonight", he began, "you can come to my flat if that's okay, I'll order something in since I can't be trusted in the kitchen", he suggested.

"Fine by me, I'd like that, sounds really nice", you smiled, "I'll see you soon, then", you added, not wanting to dwell much on the fact that he didn't answer your question.

When you left the clinic, you walked to Oscar's place since the sun had graced you for the day and it was still nice to be out. Knocking on the door, you waited for him to open it, "I'm still in my scrubs as I didn't see the need to change", you said as you walked inside, hugging Oscar after dropping your backpack on the floor.

"Hey, you look nice, don't worry about it", he smiled as he led you to the living room, "I had to go and get the take out myself, but it's still warm", he said as you sat at the dining table.

"Now can you tell me if there's something wrong?", you wondered as you poured some of the wine he kept for you at his place on your glass.

"I have something to tell you actually", he played with his glass while he fought the smile on his lips, "this weekend I finally had some conversations with McLaren", he began.

"McLaren?", you asked as you served yourself of the food in front of you, taking some bimi brocoli and then some of the warm noodles.

"Yes, McLaren. We finally spoke about contracts and, this morning, I signed the official driver contract for next season", he stated as if he was saying that the sun had been out today.

"You did what? Since when has this been in the works?", you gasped, dropping the kitchen utensils and looking at him intently, "you're driving for McLaren next season?", he nodded, "like, driving on track? Oh my Goodness, Oscar! That's amazing!", you got up and hugged him, "why didn't you lead with that?", you pinched the nape of his neck playfully as you kept the tears from falling from your eyes. This was his dream and he was getting to live it as early as the end of the year when pre season preparations began.

"I didn't want to tell you over the phone", he shrugged his shoulders.

"But how? This is huge, Oscar!", you smiled, your teeth showing and eyes squinting with how high your cheeks rose.

"There were a lot of conversations about it, specially the last few weeks", Oscar explained, "they still want to keep it quiet", he warned.

"So you're driving alongside Lando?", you wondered. You only followed motorsport and the Formula series because of your bestfriend, so the assumption you made was based on what you had seen and read.

"Yes, hence why they want to keep it quiet, I've only told you and my family", he mentioned, "my manager knows that, obviously, but I really need you to keep quiet about it", he smiled.

"Absolutely, don't worry!", you assured, "this is so amazing Oscar! You're going to drive in Formula One! Aren't you amazed?", you beamed.

"I put in the work too, you know?", he dramatically feigned offense as you hugged him tighter, "this is your dream, Osc", you cooed, letting the tears fall freely down your cheeks as you swayed you both around, "I'm so proud of you", you hiccuped, holding his head close to your lips so you could kiss his forehead.

"Let's eat, this is getting cold", your best friend urged as the situation for more intimate and brought you closer and closer to the thing he had been avoiding for nearly a year.

The feelings he had been arbouring for you weren't just friendship. How could he keep himself from being in love with you? You had been there with him and for him when he was alone in a new country, being the other shy kid that spent the long weekend im boarding school, and since then you had been attached by the hip. You were kind, caring, intelligent, beautiful inside and outside and anyone would be a fool to not see why Oscar felt the way he did about you.

.

"I'm just going to a training camp, Y/N, I do these every year!", Oscar reasoned as you groaned.

"Who am I going to complain to about university? Or how noisy my neighbours are? I'm going to die of boredom", you stated, "when you come back, I will have ceased to exist because of boredom and lack of attention", you exaggeratedly threw yourself on your sofa.

"You won't, silly", he chuckled, pulling you up since his trainer was picking him up soon, "you're going to go out and enjoy yourself, okay? You'll barely notice I'm gone", he tried as you helped him with his suitcases down to the door.

"I'll miss you", you muttered as you hugged him, "enjoy your training camp!", you smiled as you pulled away, waving at him before you made your way to your place.

Getting on with the project you had to hand in at the end of the week, you got it all through to the end, leaving time to proofread later.

You clicked on the folder where you kept your photos and videos, looking through them and reliving all of the memories you had in there.

Most of them had Oscar somehow, wether it was a screen grab from one of your FaceTime calls when he was at races, picnics in the park and lazy days at your place.

You had to admit it, for your sake and Oscar's sake as your friendship was on the line. At first you thought it was just the fact that a boy seemed to want to spend time with you, so you put it to that. Recently, however, things changed perspective and you felt stronger feelings and emotions when you thought about him.

You loved spending time with him and cherished every single hour he chose to spend with you whenever he didn't have racing related duties. Every time he hugged you, you clung just a little longer to feel hia body against yours and his arms enveloping you.

Whenever someone approached you in the rare times you went out clubbing with your friends, "I have a boyfriend" became more a wish and a need rather than some made up excuse to get guys to leave you alone.

So, to sum it up, you either had an honest conversation with him or continued to dwell on feelings you couldn't keep to yourself.

.

"Y/N just sent me a picture of her notes, can you believe they ask them to know all of that?", he showed his trainer Kim while they had lunch after a strenuous workout.

"I had to learn most of that, too", he said nonchalantly, not necessarily diminishing your competences and intelligence but letting Oscar know that maybe his infatuation with you had a source elsewhere.

"Y/N is very smart, I'm sure she'll do really well - oh, she sent me a picture, she's all dressed up!", he said as he inspected the mirror picture. He assumed it was a requirement for your presentation, as you usually preferred comfy attire, since you had a pair of trousers and a shirt, some small heels on your feet and your bright smile that left him feeling butterflies in his stomach every single time, "she looks gorgeous", he said as he texted you the same words along with wishes of good luck.

"Something you'd like to say?", Oscar quesioned when he felt Kim's eyes on him as he put the phone back on the table, screen down.

"I'm just here wondering why you're not together", the trainer offered simply after he wiped his mouth on the napkin.

"No, we are not together, at least not yet", he mused. The thought had crossed his mind, admitting how he felt about you before the season began. If everything went belly up and you didn't feel the same and didn't see him that way, he would occupy his time and channel all of his energy into racing; if you did feel the same, he would have been worrying for nothing and would have a extra spring up his step for his first season in Formula One.

"Good to know you're working on it", Kim waved his fork at Oscar, "now we need to finish this and we'll do some recovery stretches", he announced as Oscar groaned, prolonging his meal as long as he could.

.

Today, Oscar was coming back from Lanzarote and you couldn't wait to speak to him. Lately, it all dawned on you.

It happened a couple of nights ago, a slight insomnia episode keeping you up when you thought about what things would be like from now on. Oscar would travel a lot more, and he would be in a much public role compared to his previous one. It would seem stupid to other people, but a lot more people would know him, and you were sure they would fall in love with him. How could they not? Hence why you wanted to quit those thoughts while you were ahead of them.

I'm on the cab to your place, it should take another 10 minutes and Can't wait to see you, Oscar texted you just as you finished tidying your living room.

You missed him dearly, so when you threw yourself into his arms, you didn't let go as he kicked his suitcases into your apartment while still holding close to him, "I kind of need to get my backpack off my back, and I can't do that if I don't set you somewhere - only for a bit at the very least", Oscar suggested after trying to balance you against his body with one arm but he didn't feel safe enough to let you go without you falling.

Reluctantly, you got back down, feet back on the floor as he discarded his backpack before he tapped your hip twice, "up again, I want a proper hug", he mumbled as you jumped back, his hands protectively holding your thighs up as he nuzzled his face on your neck, "I need you so, so much", he sighed.

"I missed you too", you replied back, "and I don't ever want to miss you like this when I don't know how to feel about you", you forwarded. Now or never, you thought as you jumped out of his hold and faced him.

"I missed you like I have never missed you before, not even when you go a visit your family or when you went away for triple headers - and I've been trying to understand why and I finally realised what it was. I like you, more than friends like eachother - for Goodness' sake, I'm in love with you", you chuckled nervously as you admitted it out loud to him, "and everyone else will love you too - I just know it -, so soon enough you won't be my Osc anymore and I couldn't not tell you. People - and these gorgeous girls all over the world - are going to like you so much and I won't be able to compete with them, so I'm just telling you how I feel. You can leave if you want or we'll just stay here in silence of that works too, but I needed to admit my feelings", you let out in one go.

Oscar smiled, a big teeth and gums showing smile as his eyes crinkled at your words, "I'm not leaving, and we are not going to be silent - at least immediately - because I want to tell you how I feel", he began, "I'm in love with you too; I have been for about two years and only realised it a year ago, and I don't want to pretend anymore. I want to be able to kiss you, to hug you, to take you with me wherever possible, to sleep next to you, to argue with you, I want all of it. With you", he said, hand cupping your cheek as his eyes asked for consent to kiss your lips.

It was as you dreamed it would be, soft, gentle and caring, lips moving in sync as you held him by his waist, pulling him closer to you.

"I thought I was loosing you to the whole F1 fandom", you chuckled, looking up at him once you pulled away.

"Of course you won't, you're my best girl", he winked, "this is just the beggining for us", he added as he pulled you to cuddle on the sofa, sharing his stories of the past days as you revelled in the feeling of being in his arms.

[maxlarens]

🌎 anddd lando, max, oscar and charles in a college!au

okay ahh alright this is too good!! sorry it took me a hot minute to do:

lando i think is that rich kid who's there because he kind of has to be. he's not an idiot but he doesn't show up to every class and doesn't seem that engaged. i think he'd be doing business? or even something like physiotherapy?

hmm max i think potentially cybersecurity? which is basically IT but you get paid better and don't do so much grunt work. that would fit him. he spends late nights doing coding assignments and has a mechanical keyboard that makes so much noise that it keeps the people he lives with awake.

oscar is undeniably doing mechanical engineering. like i just can't think of anything else that i think he'd want to do. or that fits him. he works part time at a mechanic and always smells like engine grease. his fingernails are dirty no matter how much he scrubs them and 90% of his clothes have stains on them.

charles is an art major for sure! maybe he minors in music theory or something but it's more of a passion, whereas art is serious for him and he wants a career out of it. all his jeans have paint stains on them and his room is constantly full of drying paintings.

is it too obvious to say that i think landoscar and lestappen would room with each other?? i think max and charles are in student housing together, maybe with a few other people drivers but their rooms are right across from each other. charles leaves his door open so the paint fumes don't get him and plays classical music that pisses max off if he's not got his headseat on. but in turn max pisses charles off with his loud keyboard and his wheelie chair that squeaks all night long.

lando's rich so he rents an apartment off campus. it's not massive but it's nice. he and oscar have a class in common in first year and they become fast friends so obvi lando has him move in. they're very harmonious roommates, no real squabbles. they're those roommates who are always spending time together. they even grocery shop together because it's easier. i think they probably host a ton of parties even though oscar hates it sometimes. he can't say no to lando and he usually ends up enjoying himself.

i definitely know how uni works more than college/frats lmao

[euryleli]

I love reading fanfics that don't rely solely on byler interactions.

There's nothing wrong with focusing on mike and will and their dynamic, but I wish we got more byler fics that HEAVYLY feature the party.

Mike and will have lives outside of their relationship. Their bond with dustin, lucas, max and el is not less important just because it's platonic. So let me see them interacting with their best friends, the ones who would do the impossible to keep their party safe and sound, who would be so supportive and so so happy for mike and will.

They're. Best. Friends.

So let me see it. Show will and lucas confide in each other, lessening their burdens and talking through their problems. Show me how much lucas, the boy who risked venturing alone in the woods, in a lab full of the "bad guys", cares about will byers. Show me will being there for lucas, taking care of him when he can't bring himself to get up from max's bedside and rest. And show me mike and lucas actually talking and solving their issues from s4, let mike apologize for missing lucas game, the one that mattered. And let mike have his breakdown for lucas to pick him up.

Show me mike and dustin navigating through their grief, let them cry for eddie and carry his legacy onwards. And for god's sake show me will and dustin, standing side by side ready to carry on to another fight. Show me how much will loves dustin and how much they missed being around each other, because the party needed will in Hawkins and will really needed a trademark dustin hug!

Show me mike and max and their silly little bickering! They love each other and everyone knows that insults and half hearted jabs are just their love language!! Show me how much seeing max in that hospital bed fucked mike wheeler over, let him read to her when lucas can't bring himself to do it, when his voice fails him, let mike help her when she wakes up and has to do copious amounts of physiotherapy, when she wakes up and hates the way everyone treats her like shes made of glass and mike is always there to be a bitch to her - which is their normal. They understand each other, being so similar and all so they call each other out on their bullshit. And please I BEG YOU show me madwise bonding over their shared ud trauma, their complicated family dynamics and let them see how similar (despite their obvious differences) they are. Show me will, max and el being a menace of a trio, let them have sleepovers. Show me will drawing max just like he remembers her - so full of life and movement and color with her fiery red hair and attitude. And show me him finding her again and being a key to get her back from wtv hellscape dimension she went. Let them make jokes at their own expense, use dark humor to cope with the horrors while simultaneously terrorizing everyone with their awful no good actually horrifying jokes - they still think they're hilarious, even though mike and lucas say otherwise.

And finally, show me willel - the wonder twins! - being family, because they're bonded by something much more powerful than blood. Show me the silly little things they did to pass time during their 6 months in California and how will and el went from being strangers with a connection to the ud to no one even questioning their sibling status because after the initial strain, it comes naturally to them. Show me will being the older brother that jonathan was to him, show me willel dancing and singing to 80s pop music, show me one of them having trouble sleeping and the other being there to keep them company - because there's no one else in the world that can understand them better then the other, even with the different circumstances. Let me see el and will help each other through their lonely days in California, let them be each other's anchor.

And let mike and el be friends!!!!! Mike was el's first real friend and that's fucking important too! It's everything! They care so much and it pains me to see fics where after the breakup, mike and el basically don't interact as if mike wheeler didn't love her - just because it's not romantic doesn't mean it's less real.

The kids and their friendship are such an integral part of the show and even then - for plot reasons - the party spends most of it's on screen time fragmented. In s1 we're missing will, s2 it's eleven alone, byler as a duo and henclair + max, s3 is missing dustin and s4 is the same as s2. Still, they're best friends, all of them.

I'm just sad we don't really see them all, I guess. I just want a +100k fic that delves deeply into byler but also everyone in the party because I love them so much and they deserve the world!!

[alsjeblieft-zeg]

088 of 2025

Do you like orange juice with or without pulp?

Without please. Pulp is disgusting.

Do you want to be cremated or buried when you die?

I want to be immortal okay.

What’s something you often end up messing up or breaking?

The rules lol. Especially at work.

Has the gender you’re attracted to ever laid in your bed?

Geez I'm married.

If you were getting a tattoo, what would it be of?

I just got a tattoo 3 days ago and you can see what it is:

It's a way to honour my late cat, the one I loved the most of all cats.

Have you ever named a bug in your house and thought of it as a pet?

Yea, we had a spider and I named him Henry. For real. Until my cat ate him.

Can you eat ketchup, mustard, or mayo right out of the packet/bottle?

Ew no. Too much is too much.

What’s the theme of the calendar that’s closest to you?

Cats. I always buy calendars with kitties.

Have you ever accidently called a teacher mom or dad?

Nope.

Do you know anyone with a lisp?

Yes, myself. A leftover from that stroke, you know. My speech won't improve further.

Out of all your school yearbook photos, which year was your best picture?

We don't have such things in our schools.

Have you ever fired a gun with one hand?

I've never fired a gun, let's start from that.

Do you wear a belt every day?

No. Only on days when it fits my outfits, and even then, not always.

Out of all the people you know, who has the coolest eyes and why?

Nielsje and that taxi driver, and my husband. All three have very pretty eyes, that's just it.

Have you ever worn something as jewelry that wasn’t meant to be jewelry?

I don't think so.

How tall is/are your sibling/s, if you have any?

She's 165 cm tall, I think. Shorter than me for sure.

What color is the majority of your underwear?

Black.

Would you want to learn Russian?

I already know some random words, but no, I would rather learn Polish. Very underrated language.

Have you ever participated in a shaving cream fight?

What, no. Do people really do such things?

What’s the greatest thing you’ve ever heard a little kid say?

I saw it on a video, a woman asks her husband if he would still love her if she was fat, and then their little son says "Mum, but you are fat". It stayed in my head because kids can be brutally honest XD

What was you most recent ex’s middle name?

Guess what, Jeroen. I still feel sorry for him.

How long do you wait to let conditioner settle in your hair?

I don't use conditioner. I'd rather use 2 in 1 shampoo.

What’s the stupidest music video you’ve ever seen?

Where do I start lol.

Can you play Texas Hold'em?

Never played it, so nope, I think.

Have you ever gotten kicked out of a restaurant?

No, there was no reason.

Do you know who/what Slenderman is?

Heard of it, and that's all.

Do you workout regularly?

If physiotherapy counts, then yes.

Have you ever flashed anyone?

Lol no. Why would I.

Do you use bar soap or shower gel in the shower?

Shower gel. Much more accessible with my disability.

Who do you sit near in 4th period (if your still in school)?

I'm not in school anymore.

Have you ever been bitten by a dog?

No, but my mum was twice.

Do you get along with guys or girls more?

Guys, but if I like you, I like you and your gender doesn't matter.

Have you ever left a note in someone’s mailbox?

Yes, I leave Christmas cards in my physiotherapist's mailbox :P

Do you put anything weird on your scrambled eggs? (like syrup)

No. I put some bacon and onions or chives, and mushrooms. Nothing unusual.

What’s your favorite pokemon? (You know you have one)

Pikachu :D also Genesect.

What two thing combined smell terrible to you?

A lot, I have really strong sense of smell.

Have you ever been a victim of a prank? Tell me about it.

Yep. My husband told me I'm gonna be deported if I don't show up at the police, and I wasn't fully awake and I believed him. XD Massive brain fart, because how can you be deported from the country you're a citizen of.

Have you ever bit the inside of your cheek so hard that it bled?

Many times. The worst thing is that I keep biting on it by accident because it's so swollen.

Did you dress up for Halloween last year? If so, what were you?

I don't celebrate Halloween.

What instrument can you seriously not play to save your life?

A flute I guess.

Were you sitting, standing, or laying down for your first kiss?

How should I remember, it was centuries ago.

What’s the coldest weather you’ve ever been in?

I think -20°C.

Have you ever been to Carnival, Mardi Gras, Fantasy Fest, anything similar?

Never heard of these.

Name a good band that you’ve recently discovered.

The most recent was 3 years ago, it's HRFTR. Great French metal band, they have everything I look for in music.

Is your second toe longer than your first?

It is. I've heard it's rare.

Have you ever been in a store or bank while it was being robbed?

No, thankfully.

What’s the background of your computer of?

A photo of my beloved late cat. The cutest tabby girl in the world.

Do you concentrate better on tests with your hair pulled back?

What? I've never heard of anything like that.

Do you have any bruises on your legs right now?

Yeah. I always have bruised legs and I don't know where they come from.

Is your sneeze really loud or is it one of those quiet, held in ones?

I think it's just normal, average sneezes.

Have you ever jumped off a roof and landed in a pool?

Nope, I don't think I would doit anyway.

Would you wear sandals in public without your toes being painted?

Lol I'm a dude and I don't wear sandals. Why would I paint my nails?

What’s one song that reminds you of that little someone when you hear it?

This one.

Can you tolerate the sound of knuckles cracking?

Sure, why not.

[0shewrites0]

Hey Rae! I have a question for you: How would Lucas deal with a partner with autism? There's a spectrum, of course, but if Lucas's partner is a high-functioning autistic woman, how would he deal with her and their relationship?

(I'm asking because, as an autistic woman myself, it's hard to navigate relationships sometimes as many people still are pretty ignorant about us.)

Hey Mercedes, thank you so much for this ask and please forgive me for taking so long to finally post my reply 🙏🏽

So, to be honest, I didn't know too much about autism and all its facets, so I had to do a bit of research. I hope I got it right, but if not, feel free to correct me!

Also, I put the little crowns because Lucas would treat her like a queen. He’s a king like that!

👑 Lucas knows about the autism spectrum well enough and probably came into contact with young autistic patients through physiotherapy, as it’s said it can help with improving social skills and interactions in general among other things

👑 his knowledge of the symptoms, challenges and problems of high functioning autistic people will definitely help him in his interactions with her and their relationship as a whole

👑 when she gets upset because she spilled orange juice, he will come over to her, put his arms around her and nestle his face in the crook of her neck because he knows that will help her focus on him instead of the spilled orange juice in front of her

👑 if something happens that brings down her mood for the rest of the day, he takes care of her and really tries to make her feel good and forget about what happened - think relaxing massages, ordering her favourite food, a bubble bath, maybe a movie if she feels like it and, since he knows that she likes physical closeness from him, he will make sure to always touch her somewhere and hold her as close as possible -> lots of kisses on her forehead and temples, rubbing his thumb over her knuckles to calm her down, or just letting her rest her head on his shoulder while he strokes her upper arm soothingly

👑 he knows there are certain smells she absolutely can't stand, so he makes sure to keep her away from them as much as possible. it doesn't matter if it's food or perfumes or the abundance of different smells in shopping malls - if she's uncomfortable, it’s not happening

👑 lots of checking in with how she’s feeling - are you okay? are you feeling good? you'll tell me if it's too much for you, yeah? promise me you'll tell me if you're not okay

👑 she hates it when strangers touch her (e.g. in the subway/tube) because it makes her nervous and she feels uncomfortable and Lucas knows that, that's why he never lets her ride the subway alone. he drives her to where she needs to be or he calls her an uber. period.

👑 she has a lot of routines and if they get disrupted, it pretty much throws her off, so he'll ask her about them pretty early. you can bet he remembers them so well that he'll never be the reason she gets upset.

she brushes her teeth for exactly two minutes? he buys her the cutest little hourglass with sand in the colour of her choice and puts it in his bathroom for when she comes over.

she always needs exactly 7.5 hours of sleep? he makes sure to wake her up by calling her every single morning - exactly after 7.5 hrs to wish her a good morning. when she’s sleeping over at his, it's a series of kisses starting at her shoulder, then to the side of her neck, her cheek, her temple and finally, because by then she slowly opens her eyes and turns her head, he gives her a light kiss on the tip of her nose

👑 Lucas is a patient man and very meticulous and precise himself. he sees their relationship as a challenge to make her life as easy as possible, but it doesn't take much for him because it comes easy to him and because he loves her so much

👑 sooooo protective of her, goddamn

👑 lots of reassurance and whispered i-love-you’s throughout the day and as they’re trying to fall asleep

👑 he knows how to treat her so she doesn't feel like he's walking on eggshells around her all the time - it's easy for him to adjust to change and adapt accordingly so she doesn't even notice how fast it’s happening because by then it already feels like it's natural for him, like it's always been that way, like she's always had him by her side

[snaills]

How do you live knowing you ruined a 16 years old life to the point it's been 8 years and they can't recover no matter how much meds, therapy and physiotherapy they do/take. your actions years ago ruined someones life. you should go out to advocate and actually help people instead of calling out random cringe teenagers online.

Is this bait I never made a callout LMFAO. and what 16 year old I’m SO CONFUSED HELP ME. I think you got the wrong guy.

Edit: I hope whoever was hurt by whoever you think I am is ok like wth.

[nightmaretour]

I'll tell you a personal story. So, most of my disabilities were caused by medical negligence, when I was just 13 years old. I was misdiagnosed and supposed to have a short stay in hospital for gastroenteritis. Nurses ignored my parents telling them about other worrying symptoms at every turn, saying my symptoms were just me attention seeking or being lazy or my parents imagining it, even when my joints and the side of my head began to swell. That was, until my mum came to see me one morning and found me comatose and seizing.

It turns out I had severe meningoencephalitis as well as sepsis, and they told my mum to gather the family to come and see me because I was probably going to die.

Obviously, I didn't. The septic damage to my knee meant that I couldn't straighten it beyond 90 degrees, and could only get around in a wheelchair. At first, they tried to straighten it through physiotherapy, because it was just because I'd "been in bed for too long". It took them three years to finally accept that the medieval torture devices I had to sleep in and the torturous, agonizing physiotherapy wasn't going to do anything, and I needed a tendon release. Three years of torture, exercises they'd make me do even when I cried and screamed, when they could have fixed it with surgery all along. When I was only 13 years old, just a kid, because they thought I just wasn't trying hard enough.

The brain damage however... they lied to me about for ten years. No matter how much my mum told them about my obvious symptoms, the fact that half of my body visibly does not work, the fact that I have epilepsy, nope. Of course that deadly disease that usually causes significant brain damage didn't do it to me. We're all just imagining it, my epilepsy just happened relating to the illness without any real damage. I didn't get any rehabilitation, in hospital they released me once I could hold a knife and fork, eat, and drink with a straw. I got no real rehabilitation, I was incontinent, they gave me nothing. I only got the aids at home I need because the occupational therapist was the only one who believed us. Ten whole years, all I could do was learn to live with my disabilities myself and with the help of my family, despite my extremely visible paralysis. Meanwhile, my physiotherapist was there trying to force me off of using mobility aids and scolding me when I still came in using them.

I only found out for certain that they were bullshitting when I received a letter meant for my GP after an emergency scan, when I had a seizure that nearly killed me. The letter said that "(my) brain damage is not significantly worse than it was in 2010" and described that I had moderate multifocal right hemisphere brain damage. Even visible paralysis aside, it was clear in the scans to neurologist after neurologist who confidently lied to my face.

They lied to me for a whole decade, while I was teaching myself to live as someone with a visible physical disability and being told it was all in my head, I was imagining it, I was attention seeking. Only in the past year, 14 years after I acquired it, am I actually under a neurologist who is investigating my brain damage rather than just my epilepsy. They're still giving me mixed answers on the state of my knee after over a decade of wear and tear on my already shredded cartilage, all I've been prescribed is more physiotherapy.

I'm far from the only visibly disabled person who has had an experience. People die because of this. Visibly disabled and severely disabled people aren't just automatically believed, this happens to us too.

Reminder that people with invisible disabilities aren't the only ones who get ignored and accused of dying by doctors. People with visible and severe, even deadly disabilities aren't automatically believed. Some severely and visibly disabled people die because doctors won't believe that they're really sick, accuse them of faking or exaggerating and deny them treatment. This kind of treatment isn't unique to any one kind of disability, it's something that most or perhaps even all of us have faced at one point or another.

[shittyzevra]

4 years of Bliss

A little bird passed by me today and told me that good things should be mentioned behind the person as well, so this is probably long overdue but I'm still doing it anyway.

In the past 4 years, I have been blessed with a partner who has been beautiful, hot as fuck, loyal to a fault and have been nothing short of amazing. I wouldn't have come this far without her help in my career or grow as a person. The relationship has probably ticked a lot of lists on my wishlist!

The reason this writing has been overdue, and it's lack of it's existence:

I pretty much tell her everyday to the point that it's probably too much (dibilang lebay, bias banget, aela) - but I still do it anyway.

I say this to pretty much everyone else I meet. There have been so many instances that I just slip her name here and there and how proud I am to be with her.

To my second point, I hangout with people a lot in smoking areas with the people in my office. If she had just met with Ilham, Jan, Jen, Man, or even Dodo they would defo say the same thing: "I've heard a lot of good things about you". Adding to this, the amount that I talk about her to my business partners is also astounding, do you understand how much you have to talk about your partner to the point that they even check up on your partner?!?!?!? Sher even ask about your race last week.

Those were the reasons why this writing is long overdue, my colleagues, my friends (even the attractive ones), my business partners have heard most of your good things.

But really at the end of the day the question pertains "what sort of good things does he say about his partner" and to that I say, good question!

If you only judge my relationship by the writings I do on my partner here on my tumblr, it probably looks depressing and sad. But that's because the writings here are only my deepest desires that I couldn't really bring myself up to ask because I think they're so stupid and invalid to the point I don't wanna ask of it to anyone or even bring it to said friends. (I think I'll screenshot some of the things I say to my friends about her here).

I think the little bird that passed by me today was wrong, it's important to say those good things behind that person AND also to said person.

Let's take a look at some of the greatest things that happened. These, btw, were rarely shared to anyone else, but I cherish them a lot.

1. The "bb pegel" Anomaly

After she started running intensely in 2019, her legs are pretty much messed up especially seeing how ambitious she has had been. Come rain, storm and hellfire she would look at her running schedule and follow those to a T. I sometimes don't understand this thought process but again it is how it is. I used to hate it a lot but I came to terms with it and I laugh at how silly it is sometimes.

But the best part about it? No matter how many physiotherapy sessions or even massages outdoor, whenever there's a possibility I could massage her she would go "bb pegel, maw pijet" with those puppy eyes and it's the most adorable shit I've ever seen. Even my cat Koko doesn't come close in terms of adorableness.

She hates it when I say it's adorable

But it's so cute and stupid cz it's been so many sessions but it pretty much has become a ritual. It's not even a sensual massage mind you - massages don't work as an aphrodisiac anymore in this relationship - it's purely a favor that she asks because she wants the massage. It sounds weird that this is a part of the relationship that I cherish a lot.

but you don't choose your zing, and apparently this is one of my moments.

2. The ambitions

I was never a dreamer but when I do I aimed low.

But she works differently, and is probably built different as well.

Late last year she got 12th place in a huge running event

12th - that's probably 0.5% top achiever

I only got 0.5% level as Drake's listener last year on Spotify

If that was me, I would've been so proud already and probably just chill for the rest of my life.

but not her, I remember she was quite bummed at that event and thought she could've done so many things differently. She worked harder than before after and didn't reach her goals after. But her obsession with something WHEN she puts her mind to it is amazing.

If it weren't for her, I would've probably done a lot of things in my life differently. No #1 placement in Shopee, no ambitions to go much much higher, not even Bicarakan.id could get that funding and scale.

She has a huge impact on my life, and probably all this has been enough.

3. The Loyalty

I don't see myself as an overachiever or high status or high earner or good looking. So a lot of time I don't really know why she's staying but she's staying anyway.

With how she's built, the achievements she has amounted, I'm pretty sure she can pull someone from high society and live a better life. With probably someone who treats her as well as I do (or even better).

Even then, the people that approached her has been coldly rejected by her and she never made any moves that's dodgy.

She makes me feel safe. Never in the past 4 years of being with her have I ever felt like she was going to betray me or cheat on me. I could trust her 100%.

I like that feeling, I feel safe, I feel like I needed that.

Anyway with all that being said, I also mention a lot of other things to my friends: how hot you are, how you're always very entertaining, how happy I am in this relationship and also how I wanna wife you as soon as possible if the whole religion/family fiasco isn't around.

I cherish her a lot

It's just that sometimes there are things that I wanna ask to her but I feel like I'm asking too much. I've asked her to check my essay, but she's been busy I've been making moves on her but she didn't respond I've been asking her a lot on stuff but her responds have been lukewarm

and I get that it's just a relationship cycle thing, it gets to a long period and probably the magic on her just sort of fizzles out. Like soda in a coke bottle.

I wanna keep it magical and feel that butterfly more, but probably that's just for teenagers. I hope even when it fizzles out, she still feels loved and cherished.

[alastorswifee]

Hello could I make a request that is if you're still doing them. How would the bayverse turtles react to their S/I coming back from getting surgery on their shoulder. I just got surgery on my shoulder yesterday (I had a non cancerous tumor) and I still feel tired and a little weak. Thanks. I'm in no rush so take all the time you need.

Oh I’m so sorry to hear that has happened to you love but I’m glad you got the surgery needed, get better!<3 @pinkeagle

I took so long writing this but I have school and exams and a bunch of stuff going on right now, I really do apologize if each head canon section for the boys are short<3

~

Leonardo

• he’s been worried the entire time, from the moment you informed him that you’ll be heading for surgery to the moments after the surgery is over

• he doesn’t want to lose you and always had a fear that one day he won’t be there to protect you

• when you came back from your surgery and shot him a text that you’re home he was already on his way

• he had stopped on the way to have April pick up your favorite flowers and give it to him

• once he got to your place he knocked on the window before slowly sliding it open

• there you were laying on the bed with a soft smile on your face

• as you were about to get up to greet him he’d quickly walk over and tell you to stay laying down

• “Leo I promise I’m alri-“ “Just stay laying down..I don’t want to risk anything..”

• he would lean down and press his lips to yours, gosh you’ve missed him

• as he pulled away he held the flowers infront you to which you let out a soft laugh

• “for me? Leo please you didn’t have to” “I wanted to..only the best for my hana..”

• hana…such a lovely name

• hana means ‘flower’ in Japanese, he’s given you the nickname because according to him you’re as graceful and beautiful as a flower is

• he sat at the edge of the bed and asked you to tell him about your surgery and how it went, how are you feeling right now

• how long will it be until you’re able to be reckless again tho he wouldn’t want you to be reckless

• but you have your chaotic moments so he won’t put it past you that you’ll accidentally get yourself hurt

• he would press soft kisses on your shoulder a lot and whisper the sweetest things to you

• if you were to feel insecure or be down about your scar the surgery has given you, Leo would be right there to reassure you that you’re beautiful no matter what

• he would love you no matter what happens and no matter how you look he would always see you as radiant

• he tends to visit almost everyday, once he’s not busy he’s always visiting and making sure you’re okay

• he treats you like fine china

• “I’m going to use the restro-“ “I’ll carry you”

• “I’m hungr-“ “ill get you something, what would you like?”

• “my shoulder hur-“ “where are your painkillers hana?”

• sometimes you would give him a pleading look to not be as jumpy and worried

• you appreciate his care and hospitality but sometimes you want to do things on your own and don’t want Leo stressing out

• he understands but always gets worried

• you told him you’ll have to start doing physical therapy(physiotherapy)

• he immediately piped up at the thought of you moving around too much but slowly nodded

• he told you he’d be watching over you everytime you partake in those exercises

• to ensure you’re alright and such because what if something goes wrong

• after you’re done recovering Leos not exactly going to let you off as easily anymore

• he’s going to almost always baby you(unless you object because he won’t push to annoy you)

• keep you away from missions and danger as best as he could and always check up on your shoulder

• “how’s your shoulder hana?” “Leo it’s been a year..”

Raphael

• when you told him of the surgery he internally panicked because his mind went to ‘what if’ situations but he quickly shook it off

• he simply nodded to you and told you that you’ve got this

• he would be worried as hell but wouldn’t show it

• just like Leo he has a deep fear of losing you

• if he showed how worried he was he might worry you or make you feel bad so he decided to tough it out

• if he showed how worried he was he might accidentally psych you out 

• he wouldn’t disregard you but he would tell you that you’ll be okay

• if you need anything, he’ll try his best to help you but cut him some slack cause he has no idea what to do in situations like this

• he will try his best to reassure you because in his eyes you’re beyond beautiful

• if you get insecure of your scar he’ll say it’s badass as hell because it showed that you went through something that some people would be afraid of going through

• if you tell him it’s nothing like his battle scars he’ll lean down, press a kiss to your shoulder and tell you..

• “we may not have gotten em in the same way but yer scar shows how strong ya are”

• he tends to cook for you sometimes so you don’t move too much

• he won’t overdo it and baby you cause he wants you to as I said tough it out and work through the pain

• if the pain becomes too much tho he’ll help you

• “hey hey let me help ya sweetheart”

• he always has your pain killers on standby incase because he hates seeing you in pain

• he tends to watch you during your physiotherapy(physical therapy) sessions

• he wants to push you to try your hardest but there are times you can’t do a certain activities as easily anymore

• he understands and tries to encourage you tho sometimes he doesn’t really know what to say(he’s tries his hardest tho)

• after you’re healed from the surgery Raph would be so happy to finally do normal things with you again

• he acts like nothing happened on the outside

• but on the inside there would be times he’d make sure you’re more careful so you wouldn’t hurt yourself

• like I said he cares about you deeply and wouldn’t want to lose you

Donatello

• when you told him you’ll be going in for surgery and you told him why he’ll wish you goodluck and try to stay strong for you but by the time you walk out of the lair he’s going to have constant anxiety

• once you told him your surgery went successfully he was sighing in relief and asking you when he could come over to yours and see you

• during the time he was waiting for your surgery to be over, he had researched what to do in terms of helping with recovery

• he came over and was holding a bunch of things such as ice Packs or heating pads because using ice and heat compressions on your shoulder should help

• he also brought you take out, your favorite obviously and pain killers tho you probably already had them

• some tea bags as well(they’re probably Leo’s and he didn’t tell him)

• you looked at him in a bit of shock

• you told him he didn’t have to bring you all of this but he insisted

• “no no darling I want your recovery to go as smooth as possible, so as your boyfriend I want to do my part..”

• you could’ve just melted at how sweet he was being

• just like Leo, Donnie would cater and almost baby you

• he’s not as bad as Leo tho, he wants you to try and move around and do things on your own so your shoulder can get some exercise

• he helps you with your physiotherapy exercises

• insecure about your shoulder? You don’t even need to bring it up because donnie had already been telling you how lovely you are with or without your scar

• donnie is that type of lover to reassure you about how beautiful and lovely you are without you having to bring up any insecurities

• after you heal and such, Donnie’s not taking any risks

• the next time he hears you’ve hurt yourself in some way or form he’s gonna be rushing and I mean RUSHING to your side to make sure you’re alright

• did you see the anxiety this turtle went through because of your surgery?

• Naur sweetheart he’s gonna be extra cautious with you now

• “wait wait dove I’ll get that for you!”

• he would stop everything just to grab something from a high shelf for you

• he doesn’t want you climbing up so you can accidentally fall or knock something over or pull a muscle or- you get the idea

Michelangelo

• when he heard about the news of the surgery he actually got really scared like he psyched himself out

• you would panic and assure him that it’ll be okay but let’s be honest..you were internally freaking out

• once you’ve calmed your boyfriend down he’d take a moment before cracking a stupid ass joke to lighten the mood

• “the worst thing you gotta worry about is using your other hand to do everything angel cakes”

• cue his nervous laughter and awkward finger guns

• when you got home and called Mikey to tell him about how your surgery went, he immediately hung up and sprinted to get to your place

• when he got to your apartment, he nearly rammed into your window from how excited he was before sliding it open and hopping inside

• once inside he was about to give you the tightest hug before he paused upon seeing you laying on your bed

• then he remembered, you just came home from the hospital after surgery

• you asked him to hand you the painkillers from the bedside drawer

• he would panic and rummage through until he pulled it out

• he wouldn’t know what to do so throughout your whole recovery he would be making jokes to make you laugh or find any sort of way to entertain you

• he would try his best to help you tho he wouldn’t know what he’s doing

• “what can I do to help you babe?”

• if his jokes tend to be bad timing or hit the wrong way he’d apologize and stop

• he won’t want to make you uncomfortable or sad in any way

• he does cook for you here and there

• you do warn him to not mess up your kitchen or burn the apartment down

• luckily the apartment and building is still standing and there weren’t any messes in your kitchen

• there was this one time tho you were in the middle of your physiotherapy and Mikey walked in chowing down on your cereal like

• “hey angel cakes *munch* what kind of cereal *munch* is this? Can you *munch* buy another box?”

• you’d give him this look like darling honey sweetie babe look at who you’re talking to

• it’ll take him a minute before he goes “ohhhhh” and laugh nervously before sheepishly apologizing

• he watches you sometimes when you do your physical therapy and hypes you up like

• “you can do this angel!”

• “You’re strong!”

• “Look at you go!”

• if you’re ever insecure about the scar the surgery has given you he’d be showering and I mean showering you with compliments

• “but you’re a hottie! That scar just makes you hotter!”

• then he gets hit with a pillow

• eventually tho when you end up getting better he’ll be so excited to finally take you out to do fun stuff with him again

• he will be cautious tho

• “why skate a half pipe when you can skate a sewer pipe!(if anyone gets this reference i love you) Down we go!- oh wait! Hold on tight babe, don’t want you getting hurt!”

• he’s such a sweetheart and he tries his best for you

[cillspropertea]

No Fucking Way

Chapter 3: Doughnuts

Warnings: None.

Y/N finds herself in a unique situation where her heart wants to believe everything but her mind wants her to repress herself to prevent heartbreak. The love of her life is miraculously close enough to touch but everything stops with the question, “Is any of this real?”

Authors note: I apologize beforehand to how medically incompatible this story will be, as I am not a professional doctor, just a fanfic writer with an idea she cannot contain in her head anymore. So, please, bear with me.😇😉

Looking forward to your feedback.✨✨

Word count: 1235

      We were on our way to the hotel Mom and Marie were staying at from the hospital. Cillian was driving the car, completely focused on the road. He had not tried to talk to me again after yesterday, or even tried to look at me. I did try to talk to him when he had returned with Mom in the evening but after calling his name I just couldn’t think of saying anything. What he had heard, must have hurt him. But I cannot deny the feeling in my heart that those words came from a place of honesty. I did feel like he was a stranger. The thought of all of this being real has settled inside of me like a pebble in deep waters.  

    Getting out of the hospital and into the car was a difficult task as somehow the media had found out about me waking up from the coma. After trying to get through the main door several times Cillian’s security had decided to get us out from the back entrance of the hospital. It was utter chaos. Especially when I was walking so danm slowly, not used to the stick I was advised to use for “a little while” at all. I had to get regular physiotherapy sessions and psycho- analysis sessions according to Doctor Benjamin and Doctor Sophia. But when Marie had told them how I wished to travel with them to Istanbul, with a disappointed look on her face, they had asked us to get some more tests done before that. Just to be sure that traveling wouldn’t be an issue. “The sessions would have been much more beneficial here as me and Dr. Sophia know about your case in so much detail Y/N. But if it really makes you feel better than its fine. You can go if the results come in clear.”. The results weren’t due till midnight. Their results determined if I could go tomorrow with my mother and sister or not. “I have a friend there. He’s really good. I’ll try and get a hold of him…” “That won’t be necessary Dr. Benjamin. The best psychologist of Turkey, Dr. Murat has been contacted already.” Cillian cut him off, without a single glance at me. “I did give him your contact information as he needed some certain tests results and details from the time of the accident. I hope you don’t mind.”

    It did hurt a bit. It was as if he couldn’t wait to get rid of me. He was done. Huh! So much for “true love” Marie keeps rambling about. I silently snorted.

   Marie sat quietly next to me with Mom in the front. She hadn’t talked to me much either. This was making me resent Cillian even more. Marie had always been my ally. My friend. We both stood against the world, by each other’s side, no matter what. How could she side with him like that? He had somehow turned her against me, and I was hating it. I was scowling at him when he caught me doing so through the mirror. I quickly looked away.

    Getting the stuff out, Cillian told the bell boy to take it up to the room. Mom hugged him good-bye, so did Marie. I got out but suddenly dizziness made me tumble a bit on my feet. Cillian rushed and caught my arm and shoulder, steadying me on my walking stick. His scent caught me off-guard. It felt so familiar. It was so sudden that I couldn’t stop myself from frowning at him for a moment. But as soon as he knew I wouldn’t get misbalanced on my feet again he let go. I knew things were about to get awkward. Was I supposed to hug him goodbye as well? Wouldn’t that be awkward after what he heard me say? ‘Fuck!’ So I did what I always did. I walked away, in to the hotel. Before anyone could see my heating face.

------

“Just give her some time Cillian, she will come around.” Marie pleaded. Cillian just shook his head, shoving both his hands in his front jeans pockets and shrugged, “I don’t know Marie.” He laughed, “I’ve never felt lonelier in my life. It’s worse than when she was in the coma, y’know. At least I could still call her mine.” He avoided looking at her face, “It’s as if she…” his voice broke, “…she isn’t even there.” Marie rubbed his shoulder reassuringly.

 “Don’t think like that Cill. She is yours. She’s always been yours. Y/N is just lost a bit. She just needs to find her way back. Just a little more patience.” Marie tried to convince him. He nodded, but she knew he did not mean it. Giving a depressive smile he sat in his car and drove away. Back to his home, once more without Y/N.

-------

    The hotel was huge. I followed the bell boy to the room without waiting for Mom and Marie. I knew they must be talking about me. How irritating I’d become, how uncompromising my behavior was, how I wasn’t even trying. What they don’t understand that I want everything to go back to normal more than anyone of them. But I cannot help it. As soon as I think too much about it, focus too much on the empty part of my mind, the hollow pain in my head returns. My mood swings had been getting worse too. One moment I was angry and then in the next I’d be crying my eyes out. But according to doc, it was part of the ‘process of healing’. They get worse when Cillian is around I’ve observed. I had to get a grip on them. I genuinely do not want to hurt him again.

      Sighing loudly I entered the door the bell boy had just unlocked and opened. It was a suite. 

 I noticed how it had nothing of Marie and Mom. “Here you are Mrs. Murphy. Please do take a tour of your room and if you need anything else, just let us know.” It had a lounge with intricate and delicate decorations. The suite was elegant with big windows and sunshine pouring in.. Walking in to the bedroom I took in the huge bed and a big, flat, rectangular box on it with ‘Joan’s’ written on it in cursive. Opening it up, I found a dozen cream filled donuts in it.

 The scent of which made me close my eyes for a bit. Wobbling on my stick I hurried back to the bell boy, “There are doughnuts in there.” I sounded angry for some god forsaken reason. The bell boy must think I had to be insane. A sane person can never get angry at food now could they? “Yes Ma’am. Mr. Murphy had made a special request to us to make them available. He said they are your favorites. They are form your favorite bakery.” I nodded. Walking back I opened the box and bit into the fattest cream filled doughnut I’d ever had. It was absolutely divine! The bite literally melted in my mouth. So my cheeky brain remembered the taste of my favorite doughnuts but forgot all the important stuff eh? .In the box, I saw there was a note as well. I read it after opening it up. ‘Just a reminder, Joan’s isn’t available in Istanbul.’  I but my lip to stop myself from smiling but I failed.

[simpforchuchu]

Dazai x s/o who is studying physiotherapy

a/n: Hi, i know it is a little bit weird but Im studying pt at university and I wanna write smth like that 😄

Requests are open, if you want me to write something, just let me know 😊

Sorry for the grammer or spelling mistakes.English is not my main language so...

Thank you and love you 🥰

Warnings: none

• You were still a university student and studying physiotherapy

• You crushed Dazai in a cafe and when you saw that his whole body was wrapped in bandages, you got worried and asked if he was okay, thinking you were hurting him.

• He said the bandages weren't because he was injured and said goodbye to you saying it was okay.

• When you met again in the same cafe, you started chatting and as you got to know each other, you fell in love with him, and him with you. He was an agent with ability and you were just an ordinary student

• But he didn't think so

• He admired you even more as he saw you helping people with their injuries and health problems, and he talked about how talented you were every day.

• Especially to Kunikida..

• You got along very well with the agency, especially with Kunikida, who loved you very much and you helped him with muscle spasms and aches caused by hard work.

• Dazai might be a little jealous of this...

• Because even though he was not doing any work, he would come to you every day and say that he was tired and in pain and ask you to massage. He was completely melting under your hands...

• Although he had been taking a break from new suicide methods since meeting you, sometimes you would find him injured and no matter how worried you were, you focused on his treatment and took good care of him. Grateful that you didn't ask questions and that you still love him. He would let you try on patterns, exercises, massages or treatments you just learned at school, even asking you if you were learning something new every day and showing that he was excited about it.

• He loves you very much and cares about you very much.

• Sometimes when he saw you were working out for joint cracks, he would volunteer with excitement and have you crack his whole body. He is at least as interested in your medical books as you are and very pleased that you are studying on them.

• Although he hated to see you stressed and tired during exam weeks, he knew that your lessons were difficult and therefore gave you full support.

• When you fell asleep at your desk, he would lay you on your bed and hug you tightly and sleep with you.

• And if anyone messes with your job or says something bad to you... god help them

[talksungchan]

offside ☀︎ lee donghyuck / haechan

⇢ word count: 16.5k ⇢ pairing: nct's lee donghyuck / haechan x female reader ⇢ tags: football!au, fluff, angst if you squint, summer romance!au ⇢ synopsis: lee donghyuck was one of south korea's brightest prospects coming into the 2018 world cup, up until a season-ending injury just days before their training camp wiped him out. you were a sports medicine and physiotherapy student excited for your summer with NCT FC, but what caught you off guard was being assigned to every step of lee donghyuck's journey to recovery.   ⇢ note: this fic is a long one that means a lot to me. before getting into kpop, i was a football fan and wrote many fics for footballers. i stopped watching and writing about football once i got into kpop, but i started this fic around 2019 and wrote maybe 5-6k before giving up and letting it sit there for 2 years. i picked it back up during the euros and i definitely did not expect for it to stretch this long. however, i lost my momentum around the end which is why there's a lot of time skips and jumps, but i really just wanted to wrap it up and give it an ending and send it out into the world. this is really more of a fic for myself, but if you would love to read it, then please go ahead and let me know your thoughts. there's also a lot of football-specific content, but i hope i explained some things. if you're confused about anything or have any feedback, please don't hesitate to message me!

INFORMATION THAT MAY BE USEFUL TO NON FOOTBALL FANS: - The World Cup happens every 4 years and in 2018, it was held in Russia - South Korea was in a group with Sweden, Mexico and Germany and pulled a shock victory over Germany, who were the winners of 2014's World Cup so, after the group stages of the tournament, Germany didn't even make it to knockouts. Neither did Korea but I mayyy change the results! - The World Cup itself lasts for about a month! But national teams train at training camps for weeks beforehand, often playing 'friendly' games with other teams (they're not friendly, they just don't count to anything) - It's quite unusual for young players to be part of the 11 that regularly plays in a team unless they're incredible - the seasoned veterans are left the task and the young players are just taken for 'experience'. Teams take 23 men to the World Cup but maybe 16 of them get regular playing time - An ACL tear is an anterior cruciate ligament injury, which affects the knee. It's one of the worst injuries a player can get and they may never truly return to the form they were in before the injury. Recovery is like 6 months or more. Typically, it takes about 1-2 years for full recovery, but football players typically take 7-12 months out ;-; Also, not all players need or choose to have surgery and they definitely do not have surgery as soon as the injury is sustained (at least a few days/weeks after to reduce swelling and can even be done after months) but for the sake of this, I chose not to follow that. - Also the Korean top division league season doesn't follow the typical European dates, but I wrote this story as if the K-league followed the usual August-May/June dates that gave the summer for the World Cup/tournaments/breaks/training

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

SET IN 2018, AGED 18

Donghyuck doesn't really remember too much from when it happened. He doesn't even really remember how it happened. One moment, he was juggling the world at his feet, eyes up, looking for his teammates, and the next? He was on the floor, able to recognise only 1 feeling: pain.

Later on, he'd be able to watch in full HD how a fight broke out immediately after, as his teammates tried to gang up on the opponent who caused him harm. He'd be able to watch as his best friend, Mark Lee, was given a red card for pushing and shoving the one who tackled Donghyuck far too violently, and he'd be able to watch how his team lost that game. It didn't matter; his team had already won the league. But the consequences of Donghyuck's injury went deeper than a lost game.

There are a few flashes he can remember- a few spots of light in the darkness that engulfed him. Donghyuck could remember how his captain, Yuta, migrated instantly to his side, leaving it to the vice-captain, and all-around giant, Johnny, to break up the fight that ensued.

He could remember how Yuta's usually hard game-day gaze melted in empathy as he examined Donghyuck's legs and met his eyes. Donghyuck could remember Yuta asking him what kind of injury it felt like, and when Donghyuck was too frozen to reply, Yuta sighed, patted his shin guard and beckoned for the paramedics to come faster.

He was stretchered out from the field alongside Mark hanging his head in shame for instigating the fight, but much later on, this picture on the TV would erupt a smile from Donghyuck and Mark alike.

It was an ACL tear. One of the worst injuries a football player could get.

Donghyuck vividly remembers this one moment as he was carted off in an ambulance to the nearest hospital. The game was still going, but Donghyuck was collapsed in the back of an ambulance, listening as the team's physiotherapist predicted the verdict.

"Don't be so down, Donghyuck. You won't miss much of next season since we just ended this season. You've got the whole summer to recover," Donhyuck noticed the way that his physiotherapist worded his phrases.

"A whole summer, in Korea, and not in Russia," the sound of his heart shattering pierced through the ambulance sirens.

"I'm really sorry, Hyuck," his physiotherapist squeezed his hand as more tears squeezed out of Donghyuck's eyes.

-

Mark Lee was the first to visit Donghyuck in the hospital when the team was given the green light to visit. The whole of NCT FC sat down at their training grounds that morning and devised a schedule for when everyone could visit Donghyuck so that he wasn't too overwhelmed with visitors. Of course, his best friend, Mark Lee, was at the top of the list.

"How're you doing, Hyuck?" Mark asked gently, placing the bouquet of sunflowers on a table near the window of the hospital suite. He also placed Donghyuck's favourite chocolate bar on the bedside table.

"Fine," Donghyuck murmured, "Shouldn't you be on a plane to Austria?

Mark gives him another smile, "Head Coach Shin gave us an extra 2 days to get there. He told me yesterday he'd call soon."

"He already has," Donghyuck states.

Mark bites his lip in contemplation as to whether he should even ask, "Oh yeah? What'd he say?"

"He says he feels sorry that I couldn't make it to the World Cup this summer and that he wishes I could have since he was excited to utilise me. He told me that next time-" Hyuck pauses as his words get clogged up in his throat, "Next time, I'll lead Korea into glory."

"And you will, Hyuck," Mark pats his leg, "I'm really sorry you can't make it there with us. I guess the world isn't ready for you yet. The European and South Americans can have their final chance to gain victory since next time, you'll win the tournament by yourself with your free kicks alone!"

"Mark, stop," Donghyuck's voice wavered, "I appreciate it, but God, Mark- it hurts. We're supposed to do this together. You and me. We joined the academy together, we broke into the professional team together, we broke into the first team together and we were meant to be going to Russia together. Coach said he wanted to use me for the team. That I was in his first 11 plans. Do you know how rare that is, Mark? For an 18-year-old to be playing regular minutes at the World Cup?"

"I know, Hyuck, I know Hyuck, and I'm sorry we can't go to Russia together," Mark decided to shorten his words, not wanting to upset the boy more and instead just be with him.

Donghyuck pressed his lips together and looked away from Mark, "Tell everyone to dedicate their goals to me, okay?"

A small grin had begun to grow upon Mark's face, who ruffled Donghyuck's head in affection, "And every tackle too."

"Every yellow and red card too," Mark beamed.

Donghyuck scoffed, folding his arms, "Maybe yellow but I'm not gonna be responsible for Doyoung's anger issues."

Kim Doyoung was one of the elder members of the team, one of a group who had practically raised Donghyuck, Mark and the rest of the younger players. Although Doyoung was incredibly sweet, mature and kind with a tendency to adopt the mother role in the squad, the minute an opposition did something wrong by him, he transformed into a completely different person as a means of defence.

Mark stayed for a few hours longer, not saying too much and definitely not talking about the impending World Cup. He left at night, citing that he had some important thing to do, but Hyuck knew he was just last-minute packing for Russia, unlike Hyuck who had packed for the World Cup weeks ago and yet would never use the suitcases in the corner of his bedroom.

The next day, his teammates that were on the South Korean National Team visited. All of them packed into a room and made Donghyuck feel a little bit lighter. They themselves didn't mention the World Cup once and instead chose to relive their worst injuries just to brighten Donghyuck's mindset, which was of one thinking his career was over. Johnny and Taeil had both suffered ACL tears too, and they were playing perfectly fine and Doyoung had had surgery before and he too was playing amazing. At some point, Taeyong and Jungwoo FaceTimed Hyuck from Jaehyun's phone in the room and Hyuck had to pretend to miss the Austrian mountains behind their faces from the training camp before Russia.

Taeyong and Jungwoo were ex-NCT FC players, who had ventured out of the continent to play for top-class teams. Taeyong was NCT FC's ex-captain who had just ended his first season abroad at Real Madrid in Spain and felt terrible about how the boy he had practically raised couldn't make it to Russia (there were a lot of tears for a few minutes) and Jungwoo was a good friend he made in the reserve team who was one of the star players for Chelsea, in England.

The day after that, his team captain Yuta visited with their Chinese teammates of Kun, Lucas, Ten and WinWin. Yuta wasn't due to Japan's training camp for another day, while the Chinese National Team didn't qualify for the World Cup. At least he wasn't going to be all alone in Seoul for the summer. They gave him a lot of motivational talks and made him promise not to give up on his World Cup dream.

Then, his other best friends visited. Chenle, Jisung and Jeno were all on the B-team for NCT FC, which was understandable since they were young with Jisung even only being 16. Jaemin and Renjun were ex-academy players for NCT FC and were scouted to play for Borussia Dortmund in Germany, where they were killing it and racking up minutes under their belts in a top league at such a young age. They had arrived in Seoul the day before and arrived to the hospital suite with a myriad of German and European snacks. All of them wept together by the end, squeezing each other tightly and promising they'd all be at the next World Cup together (they prayed for a miracle to happen to the Chinese National Team first for this to happen).

By the end of the visitations, Hyuck had been distracted from his injury a little, and it was only when his physiotherapist came in with an anticipating grin that the world came crashing around him and his lonely, vacant hospital room.

-

"Lee Donghyuck, huh?" you flip through his file, grimacing at the injury description in bold just above a list of all his achievements, "It's a shame."

"We were rooting for him. He's South Korea's most hopeful prodigy and we wanted to show off his skill on the world stage. There is no doubt that offers from the European powers would come in quickly after seeing how he plays. Barcelona offered £20 million for him two months ago, but if he had been in Russia? You could quadruple that price," the team's physiotherapist hummed as he pulled into the parking lot of the hospital.

"He's my little brother's idol," you chuckle, "Can you believe it? He's 18 and has fans. Is he that good?"

"One of the best young stars I've ever seen, to be honest," he replied, "We don't like to tell him as to not boost his ego. I'm really devastated for him."

"Oh well. South Korea has a tough group this year anyway," you shrugged, closing the file, "I can't imagine South Korea beating Germany."

"But Donghyuck is the player that can change the game in one second. I see a lot of Yuta and Taeyong in him. Last summer, the club had a pre-season friendly with Real Madrid. Yuta was on vacation and Taeyong was nursing an injury, but other than that, we had our full 11 and so did they. You know, Ramos and Kroos and everything.  Good players, right? Incredible. We were losing by 2 at halftime. Donghyuck was brought on at the 60th minute and scored 3 goals by himself in 30 minutes against some of the best defenders in the world," he recounted, "You never know how Russia could go if Donghyuck was there."

Your heart falls listening to the physiotherapist, Kim Junghwan, rave about the newest star of NCT FC and the future of South Korean football. You're not a football player nor a crazy ultra, but you were an avid watcher and you do know that the World Cup is one of the most, if not the most, important tournaments in the game. You'll never be forgotten if you make your mark at the World Cup.

"Hey, at least he has an Olympic gold medal," you had read that feat on his sheet, "Exempt from military service right?"

"Oh yeah, the Olympics 2 years ago," Junghwan recalls fondly, "Only under-21s could play in the Olympics and Donghyuck, Jeno, Mark and Jaemin killed it there. NCT FC is lucky to have them."

"Jaemin?"

"Yeah, he used to play for the B-team until a club in Germany, Borussia Dortmund, scouted him. If he didn't go, he'd definitely be the future of NCT FC, but he did tell me that he at least wants to retire here like Taeyong said he'll do too. I think he's just waiting for the older generation, like Yuta and Ten, to start slowing down or transfer because if he stayed, he wouldn't have gotten regular minutes."

"But playing in Europe is any footballer's dream right?" you frown.

"I guess, but NCT FC is a family. All our players now? We raised them up from the ground. All their hearts are in Seoul," Junghwan states proudly, "I just said Barcelona offered for Hyuck, right? The club almost went through with it, but Donghyuck refused it. He refused one of the best teams in the world because he wants to develop here. He's attached."

"Wow," you uttered, impressed at his commitment and growing sadder at his injury, "I can't wait to meet him."

"He's a nice boy."

-

Walking into his hospital room, you were nervous. Of course you were! You were about to meet one of Korea's top stars who was in a very vulnerable and sensitive place in his life, dealing with his first major injury. Sports stars suffered injuries all the time, but it was very rare for it to be as serious as it was, and it was very unlucky for Donghyuck to suffer such a grave injury so early to his career and right before one of the most important summers of his life.

"Hey Hyuck, are you ready to start rehabilitation today?" Junghwan chimed gleefully.

You shut the white door behind you and examined the surroundings. Donghyuck was watching on the portable TV, encased in white walls made brighter by the heaps of balloons, flowers and decorations people had brought him. He sure was popular.

Donghyuck was about to respond as cheerily as he could muster (which wasn't very) but he immediately noticed you behind his familiar physio. His eyes shifted between the two of you and his brows pulled towards his eyes in confusion.

"Oh, this is Y/N. She's just finished her first year of sports medicine at SNU with a focus on physical therapy and rehabilitation," Junghwan explained, "You know that we take in some college students every summer for placement and experience so Y/N will be assisting me all summer in helping you."

The face that Donghyuck had made was one you hadn't expected, "Seriously? Hyung-nim, my injury is so serious! I need to recover in 6 months for the Asian Cup at least if I can't make it to the Olympics. I can't have some first-year college student who doesn't even have a degree yet treat me like her doll to play with!"

"Yah! Lee Donghyuck!" Junghwan exclaimed in displease, "What is wrong with you? I've never seen you act like this! Apologise right now!"

"Why do I need to apologise?" he screeched back, "I'm protecting myself because my whole entire career is on the line!"

"It will be on the line when I tell the head coach you're acting like this and CEO Lee Sooman hears of the way you're acting to someone who wants to help you," Junghwan fought back, "Y/N is incredibly smart and incredibly capable. Hyuck, I care about you and I want you to recover as fast as well, so I would not bring Y/N with me if I didn't think she could help."

"Hyung," Donghyuck groaned out, "Hyung, I need to recover. I need to."

You were stood there in front of the door paralysed as you watched Donghyuck turn into a suddenly angry, arrogant football star into a vulnerable, shaking mess of a teenager. You read the room quickly, judging by the gifts piled up all around the room.

For the past few days that he'd been confined to the hospital room, he had been playing optimistic and happy with any teammate and friend that walked through the doors. He had been putting on shaky smiles to his teammates, assuring them that he would get over this blip in his career successfully when his mind was full of doubts and negative thoughts.

"You're Lee Donghyuck. Of course, you'll recover," Junghwan was brushing the hair that had flopped over Donghyuck's face away and the endearing site caused you to shake out of your frozen statute, "You're the boy who single-handedly defeated the best team in the world-"

"After NCT FC," Donghyuck sniffled.

"After NCT FC," Junghwan chuckled, "And you're Lee Donghyuck who scored the winning goal at 16 in the Olympic final against Neymar's Brazil. You're Lee Donghyuck who shocked the world by refusing Barcelona because you're wise and loyal. You're Lee Donghyuck who is Korea's present and future."

The boy seemed to calm down, but he still wasn't acknowledging you.

"So, Lee Donghyuck, I'm going to leave you here with Y/N and get some food from the cafeteria. You're going to apologise like the nice boy I know you are and we're going to get you started on your rehab," Junghwan broke out slowly, "Okay, Hyuck?"

Donghyuck's warm, teary eyes fluttered over to you before he reluctantly nodded, "Okay. Can you get me some chocolate milk please?"

You let a little sound reminiscent of a giggle through your lips, but Donghyuck hadn't noticed.

"Just this once," Junghwan teased, "Now, apologise."

He quickly left the room and you were left all alone with the boy that has kind-of slandered you just moments earlier.

Donghyuck was squinting at you, and you felt conscious, not knowing if his nice act was all that you thought- just an act. He tilted his head like a puppy, and you could admit that he was cute, "So, are you my noona?"

You grin, "You're not the only prodigy around here, Lee Donghyuck. I finished high school a year early so we're the same age."

He nodded slowly, "Impressive. I guess I'm sorry for the way I lashed out, then."

You took a seat at the chair beside his hospital bed (which was king-sized), "You don't have to be sorry. I understand. If I were in your position, I would be sceptical of me, but please learn to trust me. I know what I'm doing if I do say so myself."

"I'll warm up to you," he presses his lips together in a tight smile, "Hopefully."

"Hopefully."

-

Donghyuck's stay in the hospital after his knee surgery was only meant to be for a week, but considering he was now living alone since Mark had left to prepare for the tournament, no one could take care of him all the time and his family had lives too. That was why the hospital, the club and Donghyuck all agreed on Donghyuck staying for a little longer until he was off crutches and just in a brace, which could take maybe a month, and stronger.

To be fair, Donghyuck had everything in that hospital room. He had WiFi, he had a king-sized bed, he had 24-hour medical care at the press of a button and a 24-hour food supply, even if it was sub-par, bland hospital food. His hospital suite, funded by the club, was twice as big as his room in the apartment he shared with Mark, and it was a lot cleaner.

On the fourth day that you got to the hospital, Junghwan ran a little behind and asked you to walk with Hyuck for a little while around the hospital. However, when you arrived, you quickly picked up on the various voices emitting noise outside his door- he must have had guests.

Reluctantly, you rapped at the door and entered, seeing 3 people in the room.

"Oh, Y/N! I was just telling them about you," Donghyuck greeted you, gesturing to the 3 boys, "These are Jeno, Jaemin and Renjun."

"Hi, I'm Y/N," you smiled politely, "Donghyuck if you're busy I can come back later?"

"No, no. It's fine. Where's Junghwan-hyung?" Donghyuck asked.

"He's running a little late but he asked me to take you on a walk around the hospital or something."

The one you thought was Renjun giggled, "You're like a dog, Hyuck."

"Jaemin, get me my crutches. I'm going to beat Renjun up with them," Donghyuck deadpanned before turning to you, "Yeah, let's go. Let's all walk to the cafeteria; I'm starving."

Jaemin handed the crutches over to Donghyuck as Renjun recoiled away, in fear of just in case Donghyuck would actually hit him (he wouldn't put it past him). You turned to the unfamiliar boy beside you; you hadn't heard his name up to now. You hadn't met Na Jaemin before but Junghwan had noted before who he was.

"Are you a footballer too?" you smiled towards the boy.

"Yeah, I also used to play for NCT FC in the youth squads, but I'm over in Germany with Jaemin these days," Renjun said proudly, "I'm also Chinese, by the way, but I grew up here."

"Your Korean is amazing," you complimented as Donghyuck began hobbling out of the door, "Donghyuck stop putting so much pressure on your other leg. Your injured leg can still hold some of you and use the crutches properly please."

He turned back to you, squinted his eyes and stuck his tongue out at you before huffing and following your orders.

"Y/N, you must be so smart," Jaemin grinned at you, appearing on your other side while Jeno walked up ahead, "Finishing high school a year early and being at university already. We're all the same age here."

"You seem even smarter because Jaemin is failing all of his classes right now," Renjun snorted.

"Hey! It's really hard getting your high school diploma while playing for a huge team abroad and learning German too," Jaemin whined, "We can't all speak a billion languages! Hyuck dropped out of high school ages ago- at least I tried!"

"He did?" you murmured.

"It's not like he needs it," Renjun shrugged, "He'll get a trillion-dollar transfer offer soon, I think. What happens to us if we fail? I mean, I know me and Nana got scouted but there's always that possibility. With Hyuck, it was all or nothing and we couldn't talk him out of it."

"Is there anywhere he wants to go especially?" you asked, curious to know more about the boy you were gonna help treat for the next few months. Donghyuck seemed oblivious, having a loud, animated conversation with Jeno up ahead.

"If it was his choice, and the best choice for his career, he'd stay," Jaemin answered, "But Europe is where the money's at. Donghyuck doesn't even care about money, but people are willing to pay big money for him and eventually, the club will have to do it. The club's a business at the end of the day. I'd love to have him at Dortmund, but they don't do big money moves; they only ever receive the big money."

"I'd like to think he'll enjoy it in England," Renjun added, "Or Spain, actually. Maybe with Taeyong-hyung at Madrid."

"I don't think he'd ever leave Mark though. It's probably a clause in his contract that Mark has to come with him if any club wants him," Jaemin continued, "But Mark and Hyuck are electric together. Clubs probably would want them both."

"I haven't met Mark," you smiled fondly at how much Hyuck raved about his best friend, "But I feel like I have."

"Yah, you three are so slow," Donghyuck stopped and whined, "What are you even gossiping about?"

"You," Jaemin quipped, "I'm telling Y/N about that time when we went to Jeju and you-"

Donghyuck made the motion to swing snd throw his crutches and Jaemin yelled out and cowered away.

"Don't. You. Dare." Donghyuck threatened through gritted teeth, "Ya, Y/N come in the elevator with me. The rest of you- wait until it comes again or take the stairs."

The three boys groaned in protest and began talking at once, to which Donghyuck shushed them firmly before beckoning you into the open elevator and waiting for the lift to close.

You looked at him, puzzled, "We all could have fit."

"I know," he smirked, "Do you find either of them attractive? Nana and Renjun? They've taken a liking to you it seems."

Your face contorted into a mix between confusion and bewilderment, "We've had 1 conversation together!"

"Yeah but girls like Nana a lot," Donghyuck shrugged, "Nana's flirty and Renjun has some weird spell he casts over girls. But don't do it- they live so far and the time difference is hard to keep up with. We can barely hold proper conversations."

"I'm not about to date your teammates right now, Donghyuck," rolling your eyes in humour.

"Do you have a boyfriend?" he pressed.

"Well, no, but-"

"Then be careful. Na Jaemin is lethal," he snarled jokingly, "They might be around a lot this summer. Nana and Renjun and Jeno chose not to go anywhere this summer, even before I got injured. They might've gone over to Russia to catch a few games, but other than that, those losers wanted to come home and kick it back here in Seoul. Wouldn't put it past them to be kicking a ball about in a random park somewhere on sunny days. Anyway, do you know when hyung is gonna be here and what we're gonna do?"

"He said he was gonna run an hour late," you shrugged, "And I think just your basic stretches and practising walking like now to get your strength back up, which is the main thing."

He sighed as the elevator doors parted, "It's gonna be a long summer, Y/N-ah."

-

Donghyuck wasn't having one of his better days. Today, he was groaning and non-compliant and whiny. You guessed that it was because you were progressing into the next phase- walking without the support of crutches around 2 weeks after the surgery.

"It hurts," he hissed, throwing himself onto his bed, "I don't want to do this anymore."

Junghwan patted him on the back as he sat back up, "I know Hyuck, but we really need you off the crutches. I know you're strong enough too. Do you want to break up for lunch now?"

You glanced up to the clock that read about half-past 12. Usually, Donghyuck got hungry around 1, so it wasn't such a strange time. The footballer sighed and nodded, "Are we going out for lunch today again?"

Junghwan chuckled, "You're complaining about exercising and doing your stretches to get off your crutches yet you'd go out for lunch?"

"But food," Donghyuck humphed, "The temporary pain it'll bring me to walk to the car and to the restaurant will be alleviated by the food. But I guess you could go grab the lunch and we could eat here?"

"I'm not your personal assistant Donghyuck," Junghwan caught his glance to you, "And neither is Y/N. I'll go get lunch for us, but I'm picking. No fighting kids."

You bid a quick goodbye to Junghwan, offering him some money to which he refused and then you were suddenly left in a silent room with the boy.

"Did you watch the match against Sweden last night?" Donghyuck began, readjusting himself on his bed so that he was sat up with the top half of the bed supporting him.

"Yeah, it was a good game."

You still veered on the fence of cautious around Donghyuck about the World Cup, because you still hadn't fully gauged his feelings about not being there. It was obvious that he had been upset about it primarily, but you weren't sure if he had yet accepted it and taken it in his stride to get better and just focus on that while supporting them. He seemed in fine spirits anyway, other than the newfound stress that his knee was undergoing.

"Oh c'mon Y/N," he rolled his eyes playfully, "I know you like football. I heard from Junghwan that the physio students could choose which sport they wanted to intern with this summer."

You laughed, relaxing in your seat, "Taeyong did score a really good goal, I must admit."

"I bet we're going to beat Germany," he chided, "Imagine how amazing it would feel to beat the current World Cup winners. I FaceTimed Mark in the dressing room after the game and they're so pumped up! Coach is happy with the 2-0 win."

"Johnny made really good saves last night to keep that clean sheet," you nodded, recalling how the goalkeeper had saved a penalty that one of the centre-backs clumsily gave away.

"To think he almost played for America," Donghyuck chided as he crossed his arms, "He wouldn't have half the talent in the team with him. Anyway, did you see how angry Jaehyun-hyung got when Rowoon-hyung made that tackle against the other team?"

"It was kind of scary, but at least Johnny's a great keeper," you recalled, "Rowoon doesn't play for NCT FC right?"

"He plays for a different club in Spain. I can't remember which," he shrugged.

Over the past 2 weeks, Donghyuck had warmed up to you as he had hoped, and you found that there wasn't a single flash of that boy that had snapped when you first came into the room. He was truly incredibly sweet and cheeky and determined to get back to playing, most of the time. He was still an 18-year-old boy, so you gave him some passes on a few tantrums, given that he was injured. Other than that, he made great company on your breaks and made nice conversation. He always asked you questions as if he was genuinely interested in what you learn and what you want to do. To be fair, he had told you that he stopped receiving proper full-time education by the time he was 15 to focus fully on his career, so he lived the university and high school life vicariously through the stories you told. You found it endearing- how not self-absorbed you originally were scared he might be.

"Y/N. Y/N. Y/N-ahhhhh," he whined, recapturing your drifting attention.

"Oh, I zoned out."

"Duh," he joked, "What do you think my prognosis is looking like?"

You chose your words carefully, "Well, I'm not a doctor, but I've sat in some of the meetings with the club and hospital doctors and physios-"

"And I wasn't invited?" he shrieked.

You shot him a pointed look, "We're probably talking at least 6 months out. It's not the severest case NCT FC has seen, but severe enough to constitute a surgery. You'll hopefully be back after the winter break."

Donghyuck winced, thinking about the ACL tear that kept Taeil out of the squad for a whole season in the first season that Donghyuck played with the first team, "Why does it feel like there's a but?"

"But it all depends on how hard you work for it," you sighed, "And how your body responds. It's under a lot of stress with all of this. It's your first major injury."

"I'm determined," he huffed, "There's nothing else I want more in the world than to be back out there. Football's my first love. Fuck the World Cup, fuck the league. I just want to know that I'll still be able to play in any capacity."

"Don't be dramatic, Donghyuck," you laughed, patting the cast, "You'll be okay."

He looked up to you with his large, glittering eyes as you towered above him after getting up from your chair, "I trust you."

His words sat a little funny in your stomach, but you just gave him a tight smile and prayed for Junghwan to return a little quicker.

-

You rubbed your eyes as your other hand reached up to the door to knock, "Donghyuck, it's Y/N," you called softly as you then pushed open the door.

He was fully off crutches now, but still in the hospital room for at least a week longer to ensure he was settled with the new phase of physical therapy. You didn't see him every day, though he did take up a large majority of the time you spent at your placement with NCT FC, considering he had the most serious injury. Even still, your placement was with the club and not with Lee Donghyuck, so you spent around 1 or 2 days a week at the club with the other physiotherapists and players, and 3 days assisting Junghwan with Donghyuck. Even Junghwan didn't see Donghyuck every day and just trusted that he followed the recommended exercises and instructions for rehabilitation.

Today was one of the days that Junghwan was at the club with the other players, but he had asked you to be with Donghyuck today to just monitor him as he could not come in a couple of days before.

You were surprised to walk into a dim room, with blinds drawn and no noise other than the air conditioning whirring. You frowned as usually by 9 AM, Donghyuck was bright and cheery and it was already 10:30 AM.

Donghyuck's top half was curled and cuddling a pillow adorably, but his bottom half remained straight and still, restricted by the thick brace hugging his knee. The duvet was pulled up to just above his nose and you could hear his deep breaths as you approached.

He looked really peaceful- really calm; a stark contrast to his stitched eyebrows and frustrated expressions as you and Junghwan continued to push him harder as per his rehabilitation plan. You hated to wake him up, but you gently gripped his shoulders and lightly shook, "Donghyuck, wake up. It's Y/N."

You repeated this a couple more times until he drew in a sharp breath and stirred. Light sleepy groans came out of his mouth as the duvet slipped past his chin. He continued shuffling before his eyes fluttered open, "Y/N? What are you doing here? Isn't it yours and Junghwan's day at the club?"

"You just have me today. I didn't come in the other day remember? On my other day at the club? So he asked me to come in today here instead of at the facility," you explained slowly as you watched him wake to consciousness.

"Yay," he smiled, still sleepy. You thought his messy hair and tired eyes were adorable.

"Why are you still asleep? I'm not saying you can't but usually, you're up and ready to go by the time we get here in the morning," you queried.

"Up all night until 3 or 4," he clicked a button on his remote that caused the bed to move upwards so he could sit up, "Match was at midnight, then Taeyong-hyung called me and I talked with everyone for a bit."

"Oh my God, I completely forgot. I was too tired to stay up and watch and I forgot to check the score this morning," you gasped, "How did we do?"

"Childsplay," a grin took over his face, "3-0 to us courtesy of a Jaehyun-hyung header, a tap-in from Mark and then a screamer from Jungwoo. You have to watch the highlights, Y/N! In fact, I'll get it up for you while I go brush my teeth and change."

Before you could even protest, Donghyuck had pulled his laptop from the bedside table, opened it and loaded up the match highlights. He looked up at you with those big, puppy-like brown eyes that you had gotten used to over the past few weeks, "Sit," he commanded, patting his bed while he whipped off the duvet and wiggled to get out.

He saw your hesitation and narrowed his eyes at you, "Don't get shy now, Y/N-ah. You're just sitting on my bed."

You hid the warmth rising to your cheeks and obeyed, taking the laptop from his grip as he got up and placing it on the bed as he walked to the toilet. He was right- it seemed like a great game from South Korea as you expected. The highlights not only showed the goals (it was indeed a screamer from Jungwoo into the top left corner) but also Johnny's phenomenal saves.

By the end of the 7 minutes of highlights, Donghyuck was freshly changed (when did he take his clothes out of his wardrobe?), with brushed teeth, a washed face and combed hair. You liked the messy hair anyway.

"What do you think?" he asked.

"I think that Germany has it cut out for them for the match in 4 days," you nodded, proudly, "Considering they lost their opening game, I think that South Korea has a really good chance of topping the group."

Donghyuck's bright smile blinded you, "I'm so proud of them. I knew this was our summer."

You held your breath, waiting for even the slightest of inclinations that sadness was about to overcome him, but that moment never came. Donghyuck puffed up his chest and carried the pride of his nation as he folded his laptop away and looked at you expectantly, "Let's go get breakfast in the canteen? Have you had breakfast?"

"Not yet," you uttered, still anticipating his smile to even drop.

But instead, he grinned wider and hooked his arm around yours, "Then let's go down!"

Lee Donghyuck was constantly surprising you with his sunshine personality and positive outlook despite this whole situation being the worst thing that's ever happened to him. You kind of admired him a lot for it.

When you opened the door, you were met with surprise as a giant loomed over you, with a fist raised that was about to knock.

"Oh," he said, also surprised, "Who are you?"

"Yukhei!," Donghyuck exclaimed, "You didn't tell me you were coming! And this is Y/N, Junghwan's student this summer. Haven't you seen her around the club?"

"I've been on vacation," he explained, "It's nice to meet you Y/N! I'm Lucas or Yukhei- your choice."

You smiled back and replied the same, looking him up and down and noting his muscly arms and tanned skin that indicated a few weeks out sunbathing on yachts and white sand beaches.

"We were about to go down for breakfast. Did you wanna come?"

"Oh I'm starving!" he grinned, "Hyuck, are you okay walking? Do you have to hold on to Y/N still while walking? Where are your crutches?"

Donghyuck visibly recoiled, slipping his arm from yours and sighed, "No, I'm off crutches now. I was just dragging Y/N to the canteen. Where did you go on vacation?"

"I spent a week visiting my family in Hong Kong then like a week in the Maldives with a few friends," Lucas replied, "It was really nice and so hot."

"Looks like it! Your tan looks so nice and I literally look like a raw pastry," Hyuck whined, "I need to get out more."

"You're the one that doesn't wanna go on our walks outside and would rather do laps around the hospital corridors," you teased.

He sneered playfully, "But it's hot!"

"You're stupid," Lucas nudged him softly as you packed into the elevator.

Eventually, the three of you found yourselves in the familiar canteen, where Donghyuck sat himself down on an inconspicuous table neither in the middle nor too close to the door. You usually got the meals both for him and for you, just because Donghyuck found the queue clunky and awkward with his large cast and one time, a kid had quite literally crashed into Donghyuck excitedly and caused a crash that sent apples and bread flying everywhere.

"Do you get his breakfast for him?" Lucas asked you, "I'll get food with you."

You indicated to Donghyuck that you were going to get the food and he just made a noise of acknowledgement before dropping his head onto the table.

Lucas grabbed a tray and walked a half step behind, "Did Hyuck say you're working with Junghwan? So you're the resident physio student this year?"

"Yeah- I study sports medicine with a focus on rehabilitation and physical therapy. I was always gonna be at NCT FC this summer, but it just made the summer all the more interesting working with Junghwan on an ACL recovery case. Obviously, I'm not glad it happened to him," you nodded, grabbing items off the food shelves.

"No, I get you. That's pretty beneficial to you, but obviously not to Hyuck. Do you come by the club?" he was a pretty conversational guy, even when scanning the breakfast items with focus.

"Usually twice a week, so I'll see you there when you train?"

"Of course. You can come and get lunch with me at the club too; I'll treat you," he grinned, making your face heat up from his tone, "I'll never complain having lunch with a pretty and intelligent girl."

You were back by the table by the time he had finished his sentence. Donghyuck had found the strength in him to lift his face from the cream table and was now sitting with a scowl on his face.

"She's here with us to learn and gain experience this summer, Yukhei," Donghyuck stated. You couldn't place the tone of his voice- whether he was serious or not, "Not get a boyfriend."

"Hey," Lucas smirked, "There's no harm in making friends, Hyuck. You should try it sometime."

"I have plenty of friends," Donghyuck huffed, stabbing his spoon into the porridge you had bought him, "Thanks Y/N."

You didn't reply, dumbfounded by the slight tension in the air between the two.

Thankfully, it didn't carry on for much longer after you moved the conversation to the matches they had watched during the World Cup. The two were obviously in their comfort zone talking about football- so much so that any tension dissipated almost instantly once Lucas started talking about France and Croatia and Belgium looking strong.

Eventually, after the three of you returned to Donghyuck's suite, Lucas excused himself to head to training for the first time after his vacation. Donghyuck had pouted, wishing to be back at the training grounds, but you had reminded him that he was going to return to the training grounds the following day to start sport-focused rehabilitation.

"Do you like Lucas?" Donghyuck had asked you once the tall boy had left.

"Are you going to ask me if I'm going to fall in love with your friends every time I meet one of them?" you rebounded, "I just met the guy."

"Lucas' effect on girls is like Jaemin's but on crack," Donghyuck snorted, "Have you seen the guy?"

"Okay, so you date him then. So what if I get lunch with Lucas and get closer to him?"

"You can't date him," he huffed. Donghyuck pouted often; you were used to it by now.

"Why not?"

"So you want to?"

"I didn't say that. But why not? Or any of your teammates. I don't officially work for the club. I'm only here this summer."

"But you're mine," he whined.

Now that knocked the wind out of you. What did he just say? Your pupils were dilated and your cheeks pink as you took in what he said.

Donghyuck coughed, then scrambled to correct himself, "I mean, you're my physiotherapist. Well, you spend the most time with me and what if you fall in love with one of my friends and you won't care about me and you won't help me get better."

You interrupted your silence with a light chuckle, "My main focus this summer is helping Junghwan, so that includes helping you. And you know I'm not doing much for you like Junghwan and the doctors and other health professionals are. I'm just here to remind you to stretch and walk and force you to not give up."

He crossed his arms, "But without you, I wouldn't do those things."

You nudged him playfully, "You've got me all summer long, Hyuck."

-

You couldn't believe you were doing this. Not at all. Sure, no rules were broken by the simple act of you standing on the doormat outside of Donghyuck and Mark's apartment, but it still felt wrong.

"You're here!" Jaemin exclaimed loudly as the door swung open. He took the drinks from your hands and ushered you in.

Even from down the corridor when you exited the elevator you could hear the ruckus in the apartment. It wasn't a surprise that 6 boys packed together in a small apartment were noisy and excitable. After all, South Korea were playing the current World Cup champions.

"Y/N!" they all exclaimed in unison. You sat on the space Donghyuck had patted and motioned for you to sit in- right beside him.

"Oh, this is Chenle and Jisung. They're babies," Donghyuck pointed at the two younger boys that you hadn't met yet.

"I've met them at the club," you reminded him, saying hi to the boys, "What's with him?" you nodded over to Renjun who was pouting with his arms crossed, watching the pre-match commentary.

"He's still deciding who to support. He's not Korean and he doesn't play in Korea but he plays in Germany and he plays with a bunch of the German players, like Reus," Jeno explained from the other side of you.

"You're a traitor if you support Germany," Jisung jabbed playfully.

Renjun let out a long groan and threw a pillow at the pink-haired boy, "I just won't be on either team. If only China qualified."

"And who's fault is that?" Jaemin snorted.

"Hey, at least we actually play for the national team!" Chenle cried out, huffing and pouting like his countryman.

China didn't hadn't had the greatest reputation in terms of international football- at least not in the last few years. It was definitely still a lot more hopeful more recently, with a sudden sprout of young and talented players being cultivated abroad.

"Shut up! It's starting!" Hyuck yelled, silencing the room as you all watched the players walk out of the tunnel.

Donghyuck had invited you over to watch the match with him and his friends, though the invitation was encouraged by his friends who had taken a liking to you at the training grounds. You had almost declined, given that the match was at 11 PM and would go on late into the night, but you didn't have any other plans and were most likely going to watch alone, so you accepted and offered to buy drinks.

"Taeyong-hyung looks nervous," Jeno noted, examining the tight expression on the national team captain's sharp features.

"They're all nervous," Donghyuck added, "Germany got to the semi-finals at the Euros and they're still a strong team no matter what."

"So are we," Jaemin exhaled.

You could sense how the nervousness in the players' faces reflected onto the expressions of the boys in the room with you. How could it not? These people they were watching play were their best friends, colleagues, brothers, captains and teammates.

You weren't going to lie; your stomach was churning.

The whole match was tense, for you and the boys and the players on the field. It was surprising, though- Germany just couldn't get the ball in the back of the net. Header after header and volley after volley, the ball just wouldn't slip past Johnny Suh, who caught, punched and kicked every ball away. You could practically hear the whole nation crying out in relief every time he dived and slapped away the ball. Even though Germany were tall, they were no match for Johnny.

You knew the Korean team were great- you watched them so often, but you hadn't had the chance to see them in action against the big European sides before since they more often played their games with the AFC nations, so you weren't sure where to place them in world standings. Of course, you wanted them to win and of course, you wanted to feel the pride surging in you for a few games more, but you were nervous coming into the game.

"What happens if we lose?" Jeno had gulped in the 90th minute, seeing the heaps of extra time added on, "We still go through, right?"

"Yeah, but it's just that we have to play Brazil next since we'll go through as second place. It's ideal to win so we can play Switzerland instead in the round of 16," Jaemin explained, "I'm nervous."

"Quiet," Donghyuck's voice was commandeering as he watched Mark line up the ball at the corner flag and look up to scope his prospects.

You all watched eagerly. It was as if everyone sensed something was going to happen. That's what it felt like. It was the 92nd minute- 2 minutes into extra time, but you still felt like the game had a lot more to give. It wasn't going to end in a draw- you knew that much.

And in a flash of the sound of the ball being kicked and another thud of the ball hitting a skull, you blinked and opened your eyes to the ball in the back of the net and the 6 boys around you screaming and jumping. You were frozen to your seat as Donghyuck grabbed your arm and shook it- he couldn't quite jump with the boys with the restriction around his knee.

Jaehyun had started running, arms spread towards the Korean end of the stands, but he had been halted by a flag being raised and an uproar of boos by the Korean fans.

"What's happening? Jisung cried out desperately.

"The ref's motioning to check VAR," Renjun furrowed his eyebrows, "It might've been offside."

The boys started groaning, calling out profanities towards the situation as the incident of Jaehyun's flick from Mark's corner replayed with a focus on the ball's course to Jaehyun's feet at the far end of the post.

You all watched in anticipation as you watched the replay. It was as clear as day that the ball struck the floor and hit Niklas Süle's feet before it ended up miraculously at Jaehyun. All Jaehyun had to do was adjust and kick it past Manuel Neuer, who was too close to Jaehyun to adequately save it. The referee blew his whistle, indicating that he indeed was awarding the goal to South Korea, and the players all rushed onto the field, including all those on the bench. The 6 of you celebrated like Jaehyun had just scored again and the adrenaline was pumping through intensely.

"Oh my God, they're going through to the round of 16!" you exclaimed, "Oh my God!"

"They deserve this so much," Jeno smiled emotionally. Even Renjun seemed like his heart was gonna burst from pride, watching the boys who raised him celebrate like that.

But it wasn't over. Germany was desperate. They were bullying the South Korean's off the ball, and aggressively making half-hearted attempts at shooting, to no avail. They were never going to score that way- it was too angry the way they played.

By the 96th minute, just as the match was about to end, Manuel Neuer took his sweeper-keeper role to the extreme and dashed past the halfway line. He was playing as a midfielder- not even a defender! What was unfortunate for Germany was that Kim Doyoung caught wind of this and launched the ball at his feet all the way forwards to end up in front of Lee Taeyong. The defender guarding Taeyong cursed everyone and their families in his head as he knew that he could never match the speed of the blonde-haired boy. With a casual side knock, the ball hit the back of the net and the Korean players had collapsed onto the ground and were thanking the heavens. The referee eventually put Germany out of their misery and blew the whistle.

The 6 of you were celebrating as if South Korea had won the whole tournament, but this was enough. The non-European and non-Americas teams rarely made it out of the group stage, and South Korea hadn't been great since 3 tournaments ago when they placed 4th in 2002. Korea were the underdogs to the whole world after it was revealed they were in a group with Germany, but the team just proved the whole world wrong and made their entire country proud.

"I can't believe this," Donghyuck had said in awe beside you, "I'm so happy."

The camera panned to Mark sat cross-legged on the floor, looking up at the fans in the stadium. Johnny had approached, hugging the boy and chucking him a red jersey. Mark spread it and found the nearest camera and screamed, "Donghyuck, that was for you!" while holding up a jersey with Donghyuck's name and number.

And Donghyuck started bawling.

-

Jaemin eyed the door nervously and warily. He handed you the cup of warm hot chocolate and nudged you, "I think you should talk to him."

"Me? You're his best friend," you were confused why you were being sent out to talk to the inconsolable boy.

"We're all footballers, Y/N. I'd feel exactly how he'd feel if that were me. He needs an outsider perspective. And you're good with making him feel better," Jaemin sighed, "Please?"

You hesitated, staring down at the flurries of steam escaping the mug, "Okay."

It was around 1:30 AM, and after Mark's gesture, Donghyuck had excused himself to the balcony to continue crying. The 5 of you had sat dumbfounded and confused, not knowing how to interpret his reaction. Was he happy? Sad? Angry? The TV was left running with the post-match commentary as you all settled your emotions after the game. Jaemin had taken the initiative to make hot chocolates for everyone.

"Here," he handed you another mug, but for yourself this time.

The balcony door was slightly ajar, but far enough from the living room that Hyuck probably hadn't heard you speak.

"Hyuck? Can I join you?" you asked softly, leaning against the glass.

You heard strong sniffles and his sleeves rubbing at his eyes as he made a sound of acknowledgement that you took as permission. You nudged his arm with the hot chocolate and he took it without a sound, still not meeting your eyes. The streets of Seoul were lit up, and you could see far into the cityscape. This was unusual for 1:30 AM, but South Korea had just beaten Germany in the world cup a few time zones and a flight to Russia away.

"How are you feeling? What's on your mind?" you uttered cautiously, not wanting to upset the boy more.

"That I should be there with them," he stated, "God, it sounds so cocky but-"

"No, you deserved it, Hyuck," you cut in, "You deserved to be there. You deserve to be winning with them."

"I didn't ask Mark to do that, you know? I didn't even know they made World Cup team shirts for me. They're printed there, not before, so..."

"I wish you could've made it there, Hyuck. They do too," you sipped on your hot chocolate, "You're still young though. You have at least 2 or 3 more world cups in you."

"I know, I know," he sighed, "But after the season I just had? I wanted to keep that momentum going for the rest of my career, but this stupid goddamn injury just knocked me ten steps back from the 1 step I made forward."

You weren't sure what to say, but you just let out a sigh to match his, "I'm really sorry, Hyuck. But I just hope you know you have your friends inside there to support you. And me too."

He finally met your eyes and your heart melted at his glassy gaze, "Thank you for being there for me, Y/N. I know we've only known each other for a couple of weeks, but thank you."

"Friendships can be built in hours, Hyuck. A couple of weeks can be a lifetime," you chuckled, "But no worries. I'm here to take care of your health physically and mentally too."

"You smartie," he finally cracked a smile, before uttering a sentence that completely caught you offguard, "You're so pretty too, you know that right?"

Your eyes widened slightly as you stuttered to find the right words to say, "Hyuck!"

"I'm just being honest," he shrugged, "And honestly, i'm really glad you're here right now."

He was now staring straight into your eyes, gaze soft and all guards down. Your eyes flickered away from his, landing on his lips, and it seemed he had the same idea.

Donghyuck stepped closer, one feet and then two until he was stood right in front of you. He was in closer proximity than ever before and you could feel your heart beating intensely inside your chest.

"Donghyuck," you whispered, "What are you doing?"

His stare remained on your parted lips, "Will you let me, Y/N?"

"I don't know if you're in the right mind. I want you to be sure."

He exhaled, his breath fanning over your lips so that you could almost taste him, "For the first time this summer, my mind has never been as clear."

You gripped the mug between you tighter as your eyes fluttered closed and as Donghyuck pressed his lips to yours in front of the glittering Seoul landscape.

-

You hadn't seen Donghyuck in 2 days. As the Korea-Germany match ended late at night and Korea had won, the club gave everyone the day off, which you greatly appreciated with the headache that woke you up on Donghyuck's couch. After waking up that morning, you had dashed out to avoid any awkward conversations in case he woke up. Donghyuck and Jaemin and Chenle had slept cuddled up in his bed, while the other 3 crammed into Mark's room. They had a comfortable sofa bed, which they let you take by yourself.

But it was the day after and you knew that you were going to see him eventually. You were one of the first people that arrived to the training grounds bright and early, and met Junghwan in the rehabilitation room.

"Hi Y/N! Did you enjoy watching the match?" he smiled over at you. Junghwan had been a great mentor all summer.

"I did, thank you! That was a crazy game. Actually, Donghyuck and the boys invited me to watch the game with them so I went over and we watched together," you admitted shyly, "Is that okay?"

He laughed, "Y/N, you're only a student on placement here for the summer. You don't work for the club so date them all if you want. Even still, that's not forbidden so don't worry."

"That's not what I meant," you grumbled playfully, helping set up the room, "What's the plan for today?"

"We're going to hold a meeting with Hyuck today to review his rehabilitation plan as he finishes his 3rd week," he told you, "There shouldn't be any major changes to his plan currently, but we need to set out the future."

"Usually around 6 weeks that he has full range of movement right? And you can start doing drills again?"

"Good job for doing your research," he complimented, "Yeah, that's the plan. He's only here at the training ground because I know he misses the company of his teammates and there's a larger place to walk about."

"What time is he coming?" you were a bit nervous seeing him since you hadn't talked to him since he told you goodnight. You were too scared to text him and weren't even sure what you would have said.

Junghwan looked at his watch, "He's late, as usual. He's probably out in the changing rooms with the boys. Can you wanna go wait outside for them until they come out to start training and drag Hyuck by his collar? Shouldn't be too long."

You gulped, but nodded. You were determined Junghwan not find out anything that you and Hyuck had gotten up to, or will get up to, but you were doubtful anything more would happen. You were still unsure about the incident on the balcony. He wasn't drunk, but maybe his mind was cloudy and emotional after what Mark did. At the same time, he assured you his head was clear so did that mean that he really wanted to kiss you?

The NCT FC training grounds were as lavish as their stadium. State of the art, top facility with everything a player needed and wanted, down to a cinema room to watch football matches, but also films. You navigated to the communal area outside of the most commonly used changing room for the first team (there were multiple) and Junghwan's theory seemed to be correct judging from the noise coming from the other side of the door.

You waited patiently and nervously, not sure what you were going to say to Donghyuck, but choosing to stay professional on the training ground and talking about it some other time.

The boys eventually began filing out, and you found out from Kun that Donghyuck was indeed inside. The boys that came out all greeted you good morning as you became familiar with them over the time you spent at the grounds. Some of them even stopped to chat about the World Cup, but eventually, Donghyuck and the boys came out last.

"Y/N-ah, good morning! Why didn't you stay for breakfast?" Jeno pouted.

"I was called away by my family," you lied, "Sorry about that!"

"We should do it again," Renjun smiled.

Renjun and Jaemin were hanging around the NCT FC football grounds after being given permission by Borussia Dortmund. They were given the summer off until after the World Cup final, but the two still wanted to be around with their former teammates and friends. Somedays they participated (they weren't allowed in team tactical meetings though), and some days they remained at the edges, accompanying each other and waiting for the players' breaks.

Donghyuck lagged behind the group and smiled softly at you when you made eye contact. You were guessing that the boys didn't know what happened, or else they might've mentioned it or at least insinuated to the situation as a means of teasing by now.

"Hyuck, you're late for our meeting," you told him.

He rolled his eyes playfully, "Junghwan expected it. Plus, it's so early, but fine. Let's go. See you later."

He had said goodbye to the boys, who veered off into a different direction onto the pitch to start warming up, leaving you alone with Hyuck.

"How's your knee?" you asked cautiously.

"Fine, I just want the brace off," Hyuck answered, walking beside you to the room.

"Well, Junghwan suggests to only have it on for a few weeks longer, so it'll be soon," you shrugged, "And to be honest, studi-"

"Do you want to get lunch with me?" he interrupted, "Sorry for cutting in but I'm kind of going crazy, Y/N. We should talk."

You avoided his stare, "Yeah. Here or outside?"

"Let's get lunch out. Anywhere you want to take me," he commanded as you neared the door to the rehab room.

You nodded, a sudden wave of nervousness and butterflies overcoming you.

-

The drive to a nearby cafe and brunch spot was quiet but comfortable with Hyuck choosing to rest his head ok the window of the passenger seat while looking out. It was only a few minutes drive, but you didn't want to lose time walking over.

The two of you quickly found a corner table away from the busy centre of the café and ordered your food before sitting down.

"I meant it, you know? When I said my mind was clear as day?" Hyuck reassured you. It was strange- you hadn't seen him as serious like this, "And don't tell me you didn't like it- you kissed me back after."

You blushed at the memory. After Donghyuck planted his lips on yours, and you were initially too frozen to move in response, the boy had begun pulling away, but you captured his lips between yours before he could even part multiple inches away. The two of you kissed for what felt like an eternity on that balcony.

"I just want to make sure you were in the right headspace. I knew you were vulnerable."

"I wanted it to happen so badly, Y/N," he pressed on, "Don't worry."

"So what now? I mean, you're not obliged to anything. People kiss all the time in the heat of the situation-"

You were rambling and cut off by Hyuck's adorable giggles, "Y/N, it's okay. I like you. But we should do it all over again properly. Will you let me take you on a proper date? When this cast is off in a week's time?"

You looked down at the coffee in your hands. You cannot believe that Lee Donghyuck, Korea's superstar, was asking you on a date. But to you, right now, it just seemed as if Donghyuck was an ordinary guy with extraordinary talent.

"Of course, Hyuck."

He had smiled at you brightly- that famous smile that everyone in the nation adored. That famous smile he cracked every time he scored a goal, melting every household in the country. But he was smiling at you.

"Don't get shy around me, Y/N. I know you're not that shy," he giggled, "Did my luscious lips cast a spell on you or something?"

You rolled your eyes, cutting through the food in front of you, "Just eat, Hyuck."

"I like it when you call me Hyuck," he said nonchalantly, "You call me Donghyuck more often."

"I never know if I'm allowed to use it."

"It's just my nickname, Y/N. Everyone used it and you can too," he affirmed, "You think too much."

"And you're so impulsive," you jabbed.

"We balance each other out then," he winked.

The two of you ate your food in silence caused by your hunger and utter focus on the food in front of you, until you broke the silence.

"Do the boys know? About what happened?"

"No, I didn't want to tell them without your permission. And we can keep it between us for now if you like. Sneaking is fun!"

"Just for now," you nodded.

It wasn't that you didn't want the boys to know, but you just wanted to be more sure of the situation yourself first. Was it going anywhere? Would it work?

You gazed at the boy in front of you, happily eating his food. You enjoyed his company and you admired his strength and drive. He was funny and caring towards his friends, but was still in touch with his emotions to show weakness, which you considered an act of strength yourself. He was genuine on and off the pitch (from the replays of matches you had seen anyway) and Donghyuck seemed like a great guy. He had been confusing your feelings accidentally with his slightly flirtatious nature and these tiny incidents and phrases had you all the more falling for him. You asserted that if you didn't want to and didn't have a reason to kiss him on that balcony, you wouldn't have. But you did, and that said it all.

-

South Korea bowed out of the World Cup in the quarter-finals, beaten by a solid England side. They had made it past Switzerland easily in the round of 16, and gave the quarter-finals their best shot. This year, it wasn't meant to be. Still, they had gone further than anyone had anticipated and through this made their nation so, so proud. Upon arrival at Incheon, they were met with whoops and screams and just pure pride.

The training ground was waiting in anticipation for the team to arrive, with the outdoor area prepped with tables and tables of food and rewards. All of the players were coming straight to the training grounds from the airport to celebrate for lunch, even those that didn't play for NCT FC.

You had been invited, of course, since you had been spending the summer with the team and were a part of the club for the summer. Hyuck was beside you, with Renjun to the other side of you.

Donghyuck, who was cast free (and still date-less), was bouncing his leg up and down nervously. It was going to be hard to see the team, but he also missed them even if it was only a month or so. He had confided in you when Korea lost that this was the time he wished that he had been there. You never know what he could've done and it wasn't for certain he would have helped Korea through, but it was the fact that he couldn't do anything that pained him and made him feel helpless.

"Hyuck, are you okay?" you touched his arm in concern, which halted his bouncing legs.

He dropped his head onto your shoulder, "Mark texted me that they're pulling up. I'm scared to see them. I haven't seen Taeyong-hyung and Jungwoo-hyung and coach in so long either."

"It's okay, Hyuck. They're still the same people," you patted him.

You heard a sudden surge of noise and an increase in footsteps. Suddenly, everyone began cheering and clapping on their feet, prompting you and Hyuck to do the same. They didn't have a trophy in their hands, nor a medal around their necks, but it felt like they did in the way everyone was cheering. They had done something so memorable at the World Cup that was now ingrained in the memories of young and old Koreans alike.

Suddenly, you heard a yell rip through the cheering, "Donghyuck-ah!"

And came bounding towards you, was Mark Lee, who engulfed his best friend into the tightest, but still careful, hug.

"Aish, Mark, you act like we're lovers seeing each other after the war," Donghyuck grumbled, but it was blatantly obvious that he missed his best friend too.

"Shut up. Here, I brought this for you," Mark handed over a plastic bag. Donghyuck slipped out a stack of red jerseys- 5 of them in fact. Each one had his name on the back and the game and date for which the jerseys were made.

Donghyuck gawked, then closed his mouth before looking up at Mark, "Thank you. I appreciate it."

"You should talk to coach later. I think he wants to talk to you," Mark advised before noticing your presence and turning to you, "Hi! You're Y/N! It's so great to finally meet you."

Before you knew it, you were being engulfed by the midfielder into a hug. He seemed so friendly and the perfect complement to Donghyuck.

"And you as well. We haven't spoken but it feels like I already know you," you chuckled. Donghyuck liked to talk about his best friend and roommate a lot.

"Likewise, Y/N. Thanks for everything that you do for Hyuck. Hopefully he's back on the pitch soon," Mark smiled, taking a seat across Donghyuck after greeting the other boys at the table.

"Donghyuck-ie," the ice-blond boy you had seen tearing up the pitch on TV was now stood in front of you with a smile.

"Hyung," Donghyuck whimpered, tackling his former captain in a hug, "You did so well, hyung."

"Thank you, Hyuck. Next time, you'll be there with us," Taeyong squeezed him before letting go, "Yuta's not here yet, is he?"

"Still on vacation in Japan. When do you go back to Madrid? I think you'll be able to catch him," Hyuck replied.

"In a week, so I think so too."

Taeyong and Yuta were best friends- the first versions of Mark and Haechan. After being scouted, they trained together in the youth academy after Yuta moved from Japan and broke into the reserves and first team together. Taeyong and Yuta eventually became captain and vice-captain of NCT FC for a long period, until Taeyong was bought by Real Madrid the season prior.

"How's Madrid? You're doing so well. What's it like playing with Cristiano Ronaldo?" Renjun tugged at Taeyong's sleeve, also hugging him. Even though Renjun and Taeyong failed to play often together, Taeyong had adopted a mother-like role towards everyone in the club, including the B-team reserves.

"He's good- a real world-class player mentality. Don't tell anyone though, but he's leaving Madrid this summer and is going to sign a contract in a few days," Taeyong teased, "Don't tell anyone!"

The group of you laughed at his serious order and nodded. Taeyong was living the life in Madrid, but he admitted that he really missed everyone at the club and missed home a lot. It wasn't easy going home to Korea often since Madrid was so far.

Donghyuck introduced you to the rest of the team that you hadn't met yet, including Jungwoo who played abroad but also came from NCT FC. You met Johnny, and was in even more awe of how big of a presence he had since he was so tall. You had guessed anyway from the way he commandeered the goal and box. Jaehyun was as nice as you expected him to be- a real gentleman- and Doyoung had the same motherly vibe as Taeyong had. Taeil was one of the eldest, but was still so youthful at heart. You were glad to have met them, since they seemed like such incredible, humble players.

Eventually, you were led back to the original table so that you could eat and converse with Mark, who made himself comfortable catching up with Jaemin and Renjun especially.

"Aren't they nice? The hyungs?" Donghyuck smiled proudly to himself.

"I already knew how great this team was, but they just reinforced it. I can see why everyone wants to stay or come back or retire here," you said. This team really did seem like a family.

"I'm very proud of this team," Donghyuck stated, "Both NCT FC and the national team. It's okay, Y/N, I think I'm going to be able to move past all this."

You smiled gently, "I'm really happy for you."

-

"I can drive if you want," you offered for the 5th time as you approached his car.

"Y/N. I'm fine. I can drive. I don't have a knee brace anymore and I've driven a few times this week," he affirmed, getting into the driver's seat.

You slid into the passenger seat, crossing your arms after buckling the seatbelt, "You'll tell me if it's too much right? So we can swap?"

"You're too worried," he rolled his eyes jokingly, "For someone who's a physio student, you sure aren't up to date with what I can do at 6 weeks."

"It's not about timelines, it's about feelings," you grumbled as he set off.

"And i'm feeling okay," he grinned cheekily.

It was about 2 weeks after his cast was taken off, but this was the only date you were able to coordinate in your days off together. Hyuck had been pondering where to take you on your date for weeks, and he only just settled on an idea. The location wasn't even far, so you were worrying about nothing. He had been stressing what kind of vibe to go on- did you want to have an adventure, activity-filled date? Or a more laid-back chill one? Or somewhere in the middle?

The two of you continued in casual conversation on the drive there. You found out that he was from Jeju Island and was scouted at 11 to come and train at the NCT FC academy where he then lived since. His family remained in Jeju, so he considered those at the club his family in Seoul. He found out that you lived in England for a few years during your adolescence, but chose to come back to Seoul 4 years later to study at university. This then led to a laughing-fit inducing conversation that Hyuck tried to hold with you in just straight english. He wasn't bad, but he made everything he did humorous in order to brighten up the world.

Eventually, Donghyuck pulled up in the parking lot of a pretty, but relatively quiet park on the outskirts of the city. You both got out, and you lost sight of the footballer until you realised he had circled to the boot of the car and was now carrying a traditional woven picnic basket.

"We're having a picnic?" your heart melted; Donghyuck was so soft.

He grinned, "Yes, but not here. We have a little bit of walking to do."

Donghyuck then rested the basket on the crook of his arm and took your hand with the other. Every time he did this, it made you blush like crazy and you wondered if this boy would ever stop making you feel so flustered. Hyuck seemed to always just take your hand on instinct if he was taking you somewhere. It was like it was so natural to him, but it always made your head spin. Maybe you were whipped for him.

Donghyuck led you through the main park and then got to the edge where there was a large wall of bushes. He followed the bush to the corner edge, where there was a narrow break in the bush that was easy to miss if you weren't looking. On the other side was another large field that stretched on further than the pristine park, but this time, the field was a little overgrown and the best part- it was blooming with flowers.

"This is so pretty," you gasped, "How did you find this?"

"One time, me and the boys were kicking a football about in the main park and then Chenle accidentally kicked the ball into here. I come here for peace because it's so pretty. C'mon, there's a river over there."

The two of you continued further down to the right where the ground sloped down and you could see a pristine stream splashing against the rocks. The grass shortened down and the slope flattened out to a perfect place to have a picnic.

Hyuck fished a large blanket out of the basket and laid it down before taking off his shoes and inviting you to do the same.

He was now sat cross-legged in front of you, eyes wide and expectant, "Do you like it? Is this okay?"

You squeezed his hand, "More than okay, Hyuck."

The two of you hadn't been alone together outside of the facility other than when you got coffee together once after training and you drove him home. It was nice to be able to spend time with each other and really determine how you felt and where you wanted this to go. You knew how you felt, but you were still cautious to fall in case he didn't reciprocate. Why wouldn't he though? He kissed you first and he asked you on a date and he was the one that made all the moves.

Donghyuck began dishing out the food and drinks in the basket and you noticed how he brought some of the snacks you said were your favourite.

"Do you miss them already? Nana and Renjun?" you asked.

"Not enough to willingly admit," he squinted at you, "But I do only get to see them once a year in the summer- twice if we meet up for the winter holidays. It would be so much easier if they were just in the same league or country or continent, even. Instead, they're a 15-hour flight away. But their best chance for their career is Dortmund- Dortmund develop young players into superstars, and I know that's what they will be."

You sighed in agreement. Jaemin and Renjun had left a few days earlier to return to Germany and restart their training. It had been an emotional goodbye between the boys when Nana and Renjun dropped by the training grounds with their rolling suitcases and a sad smile.

"It's a testament to your bond and friendship how close you remain even from afar," you said, "Real brotherhood."

"That's what 7 years of trauma being told to kick a ball rain or shine does for you," he snorted, passing you a small brownie, "I'm kidding. I love my job."

"Everywhere I go, everyone talks about how great you are- how you're Korea's future. Doesn't that get hard?" you were wary asking, but you wanted to know.

He sighed and glanced down to his knee that was now free from a cast but still not to full strength like before, "I never thought it could be hard. Sure, I have game days that I don't play my best- everyone does. But I knew that was normal so I never beat myself up about it. I've only been starting for a season and a half, but something in me always steps up for my club and country when they need it. This though?" he jabbed at the knee, "This has been the hardest thing I've ever gone through in my life. Any severe injury like this will always be. I don't want to be kept out of the squad for 6, 7, 8 months. I don't want this so-called rest that everyone's telling me about. The hardest part about this is that I can't play."

You stared at him in awe. Maybe it was because he was only 18 that the fire in his eyes was still lit up. Maybe the multiple years of fouls and defeat and failures hadn't overcome him yet, but you loved the way he talked about football like it was his first love- because it was. You were yet to find anyone else in any other profession to love their job this much.

"Why are you staring at me?" he broke out into the familiar whiny Donghyuck tone.

You giggled and leaned in close but not close enough to touch him or even feel his breath on your face, "I think you're so adorable."

Donghyuck felt a strong surge of bravery as he closed the gap between your faces and pecked your lips swiftly, "And I think you're beautiful."

You pulled away in a little daze, cheeks painted red like they had been so often since you met the boy, "Hyuck!"

"Do you not like it?" he pouted, sipping his drink and sulking. He knew the answer, but he loved having his ego stroked.

"I hate you," you mumbled as you leaned over again and captured his lips.

This time, Hyuck tightly wrapped both muscular arms around your waist and hoisted you from your cross-legged position to fall on top of him. Donghyuck leant back so the two of you were lying down on top of the blanket, lips attached and moving freely together.

"I really like you, Y/N-ah," he mumbled against your lips as the two of you caught your breath. You hummed in acknowledgement, parting his lips with yours once more until he pulled away, frowning, "I want to hear you say it. You haven't."

You chuckled at the boy, "I like you too, Hyuck. You know I do."

"Yeah, I do," he smirked, pressing his lips to yours for what wouldn't be the last time that day.

-

What ensued after your date was some of the most fun you'd had in a long time. While your relationship wasn't forbidden by a long shot, the both of you thought it would be fun to sneak around and act like teenagers (which you both were) in high school sneaking around their friends. It was just for the experience, but it was exhilarating.

The butterflies in your stomach fluttered whenever you'd catch Hyuck's knowing and teasing gazes at the training ground and your heart sped up uncontrollably when he'd pull you into a dark corner away from cameras to give you a peck and let you go before you passed him and parted your separate ways. On the days that you were working with him and the physiotherapists, Donghyuck's touches would linger just a few seconds longer and he was much more comfortable towards you observably. Even the boys didn't know because Donghyuck wondered how long he could keep such a big thing from them. Mark was definitely suspicious- Donghyuck knew that much- but it was hard to keep a secret when Donghyuck had a loud laugh that would ring out through the walls every night when Donghyuck would call you and you'd fall asleep on the phone together.

The secret touches and quick kisses were enough for you to go crazy and spiral down the hole of falling for Lee Donghyuck. While he hadn't asked you to be his girlfriend, you felt like it and you were content with what you had.

Soon enough, August rolls around and Donghyuck's training began intensifying 2 months after his surgery. He was doing much better and was at the gym of the facility more often doing weight training and exercises to keep his fitness up. Soon enough, he had been doing light jogging on the treadmill unassisted by a brace. He knew that he had a long way to go- he wouldn't return before 6 months as to not risk his knee. He surely wouldn't be able to play a full 90 at least until the seasons change and the year comes to a close, but he was taking it one day at a time. That's not to say that it wasn't frustrating that he hadn't so much as kicked a football in two months because, by God, it was the most frustrating thing that had happened to him, but he couldn't reverse time and instead just had to accept and look forward to healing.

Today, you were given the morning off to return to the university campus for some paperwork to do in order to start your second year, but you came in after lunch bright-eyed with an iced coffee in hand. You quickly learned that Junghwan didn't like iced coffee all that much and was very particular in how he took his coffee, so you left the coffee making to him for himself, and Hyuck got too jittery before crashing if he had a lot of caffeine in the afternoon.

"Hi," you furrowed your eyebrows in confusion as you saw Junghwan stood outside the clinic that was on the way to the gym where you usually met up with him and whoever he was taking care of at that present moment, "Is anyone hurt?"

Junghwan sighed deeply and pressed his lips into a thin line, "Donghyuck took a knock on his other leg earlier. It's not severe- it'll only set him back a week at most, but I think he's in shock. He doesn't want to talk to me, that little brat, but maybe you can try."

A chuckle replaced the shocked and worried expression on your face, but inside, your stomach was churning in hurt for the boy, "I'll try my best and see what I can get out of him."

Junghwan stepped aside and let you knock. You heard a low grumble of "Hyung, I said leave me alone!"

You called out, "It's Y/N, Hyuck."

You might've imagined the faint "oh" that escaped his lips, but you took his pure silence as permission to come in. He could always tell you to leave anyway.

When you walked in, Hyuck was curled up on the clinic bed, with his eyes closed and his breaths deep.

"Hyuck?"

"I'm sleeping."

"No you're not."

"Yes I am," he curled up tighter and faced the wall.

You sat on the edge of the bed, "What happened Donghyuck?"

"I don't want to talk about it," he mumbled into the pillow he was hugging, "Can't I just have a day off and rest?"

"That's what you're doing anyway," you teased, "I'm also here to help with your rehab, Hyuck, so I'd really like it if you told me what happened and how you're feeling."

He sighed and moved the pillow away from his face so that he wasn't muffled, but he still neglected to face you, "I was jogging and my other leg gave out. It's just strained because I've been putting all the pressure on the other leg while trying to keep pressure off my injured knee."

"It's not serious, Hyuck," you reached up and stroked his hair, "Are you okay though Emotionally?"

"When I felt the pain surge through, I thought I re-injured my knee- that I pushed it too far. I'm scared shitless of re-injury because that's what keeps players out for years, if not ending their career. I'm just recovering from the shock."

"You're okay, you're okay," you cooed, running your hands through his hair comfortingly.

He pouted, "Can I have a kiss?"

You chuckled, remembering that there were no cameras in the clinic to protect patient confidentiality. You leaned down and met his pouting lips with yours.

"Hyuck, we heard what happened. Oh my God are you oka- OH MY GOD!" five boys burst into the room, and were quickly halted to a stop by what was in front of them.

So much for keeping the secret.

Yukhei folded his arms and laughed, "Is this why you were so protective and jealous at the hospital when I visited?"

Mark, Chenle, Jeno and Jisung gawked, mouths agape.

"I suspected you had a girlfriend, but Y/N?" Mark uttered.

You moved away from Hyuck, your face resembling a tomato with the red reaching the tips of your ears, "It's not what it looks like."

"Are you sure? Cause it sure looks like you're ready to devour Donghyuck. Your hands were in his hair!" Jeno accused.

"You guys are nasty," Chenle scrunched up his face, "At the training facility? Really? On the clinic bed?"

"We weren't doing anything like that," Donghyuck launched a pillow at the Chinese boy, "You're the nasty one."

Jisung closed the door behind him and you prayed Junghwan wasn't still hanging around. While he said you could date the team, you didn't want to create a different dynamic than the perfect one you had already set up with Junghwan and Donghyuck as a trio.

"How long has it been?" Yukhei pressed on, completely intrigued by the situation. Sure, he thought you were pretty, but he had no problems backing off if you were taken.

"We kissed at the apartment when Y/N came around for the game against Germany," Donghyuck reluctantly admitted. You were still quiet and still flushed.

"So what you're saying is you have us to thank for inviting Y/N since your coward ass didn't want to," Jeno placed his hands on his hips and smirked, "Is this even allowed?"

Mark punched his arm, "We're not idols; we don't have a dating ban. Plus, Y/N's only here for the summer right? The rest of the month?"

You nodded slowly, trying to take in how casually they took it.

"Then it's fine," Mark affirmed, "Have you told hyung?"

Donghyuck looked past Mark as if Junghwan was stood on the other side of the door, "No. We'd prefer if no one did either. We just want to stay lowkey to maintain the environment we have already."

The boys nodded slowly before Chenle came to a realisation, "Wait! We literally forgot why we came here. Hyuck what happened?"

Donghyuck started laughing at their forgetfulness, "I'm fine, guys."

Sensing their concern for their best friend, you took it as an opportunity to leave and give the boys their own time. Junghwan hadn't been standing outside the door when you exited, so you made your way to the gym to see if he was there or if there was anyone that you could help. To your luck, Junghwan was already working with Jaehyun and seemed as if he had been there a while.

"How's the little drama queen?"

"He's fine. He just got a bit scared like you said and the boys are there now so they're sure to cheer him up. What's the plan looking like, then?"

"Well, the season's coming into full force now and I keep reviewing his plan and trying to aim for mid-January at the earliest to get him to play on the pitch. I think we're looking good, fingers crossed. What's your take?"

You appreciated that Junghwan was a considerate mentor and even asked you of your opinion and views, "I think Donghyuck is really working hard to get back and I'm only here for another couple of weeks, but I keep telling him to make sure to not work himself too hard or else we'll keep getting incidents like today. Overall, I've never seen someone more determined to recover and I've only been shadowing injuries for a year," you explained your thought process carefully.

"I've been doing this for decades and even I agree with you," Junghwan nodded, "That Lee Donghyuck is a special boy."

-

Two weeks later, you were standing in the middle of the communal room with a box of chocolates, a bouquet of flowers and a folded up NCT FC T-shirt with your name on the back. It was your official last day at the club and it was fair to say that you were emotional. Although a lot of your time was spent with Donghyuck and his recovery, you had also spent time with everyone else at the club and formed amicable relations that you would never forget. Who could say that they formed bonds with some of the most famous football players in Korea over the course of one summer?

Your now boyfriend Donghyuck was holding a gift bag filled with other goodies and keepsakes to remind you of your time at the club, and NCT FC's coach had been telling you all through your farewell event how you should come and watch a match for free any time you wanted at the grounds. You were definitely going to take advantage of that.

Junghwan was also emotional to see you go, never having had a student so engaged in what they were doing. He was going to miss your help around the club and expertise at reigning in a moody or excitable Donghyuck. Speaking of- he had been jokingly disappointed when the two of you revealed your relationship to him, but he also noted that it was kind of obvious or inevitable.

"She'll be coming with me to all the matches I come and watch this season, won't you?" Donghyuck slung his arm around your shoulders, "And then she'll be there watching when I get back on the pitch."

You poked his cheek, "Of course. And I'm going to miss you all so much! I have to get back to lectures and deadlines and studying so this will definitely be the most fun I'll have all year."

You looked fondly at everyone around you, from the staff who welcomed you so warmly, to all the players who trusted you generously. It was the summer of a lifetime and you felt so blessed to come out of the experience with so many more friends, knowledge and life skills.

-

The ambience within the stadium grounds was nothing short of electric on a chilly clear night. The media had been building up to this night for weeks and weeks, and fans were decked out in their best NCT FC gear. The stadium was vibrating with loud cheers and chanting as the players emerged from the tunnel and lined up in the middle of the pitch. There was a sea of bright green wrapping around the stadium, only interrupted by the shirts and flags of the opposing team's fans. It was derby night; two rival teams were going head to head and it was always an exciting, coveted night.

Last out the tunnel, with his hairs standing up all over his body as he stepped out onto the pitch, was Lee Donghyuck. The glimmer had returned to his eyes and his heart was beating for the excitement he felt after months and months of longing for this moment. His best friend clapped him on the back once they finished lining up and a grin invaded his previously anxious face.

This was it, he thought looking around at the bright green shirts, flags, banners and painted faces- this was home.

Nothing felt better than slipping on his jersey with DONGHYUCK 10 on the back. Chills ran through his entire body when his face appeared on the broadcast screens and the entire stadium erupted in roars for how much they missed their club's generational talent.

Somewhere up in the boxes was you, holding your little brother's hand a little too tightly in anticipation of Donghyuck's first match and return to the pitch. It was unusual to not have Donghyuck beside you in the box. Instead, you were relying on your sharp vision and the screens to show you the boy who deserved this moment more than anything else. He had been talking about his return seriously for a couple of months, and this match felt like the one to return to as a full-circle moment, as this was the team they were playing when Donghyuck was injured at the end of the previous season. Thankfully, the player that had injured him was sent off on loan to a different tea, and Donghyuck wouldn't have to face that team until the end of the season.

Once Yuta and the other team's captain made all the decisions on which side to shoot and who was kicking off, Donghyuck made his way to his position, right at the centre and heading the team. With Ten on his right and Yuta on his left and Mark right behind him, Donghyuck felt safe and comfortable and all he really wanted was the ball at his feet under their loyal supporters' hopeful gazes.

In a split second, the whistle blew and as if his instincts had not diminished over the past 7 months, his body raged into game mode.

After the game, it felt as if Donghyuck was in shock. He was looking around aimlessly, trying to latch himself onto something concrete to settle his brain. Once changed, he exited the dressing room and found you waiting expectantly.

You crushed him in a hug, "I'm so proud of you."

The boy finally relaxed his tense muscles and wrapped his arms around your waist, "That was amazing. I'm so happy."

"How's your knee feeling, you superstar?" you teased, "You're a bit of a show-off aren't you?"

"My knee is achy but just the normal post-match kind of ache all over the body," and then he smirked, "I had to give them payback and show the fans what they've been missing all this season."

Lee Donghyuck, like the showoff he was, decided to net a hat-trick of 3 goals solely in the second half of the game. Maybe the defenders weren't prepared to work in the way Donghyuck made them work, especially after a long injury, but Donghyuck proved he was again incredibly fit and harboured the same talent even after 6 or 7 months.

"You are amazing," you scrunched your face at him and tightened your hug around him.

Lee Donghyuck exhaled in relief. If you had asked him 7 months ago on that night that he sustained his injury, he wouldn't have been able to imagine his life 7 months down the road. He wouldn't have said that he would have a girlfriend or even that he was happier than ever even after missing so much of the season. After tonight, he knew that speculations would go up and rumours would start and the price tag over his head would increase. He knew that people would already be looking forward to the next Asian Cup, and heck, even the next World Cup, but at this current moment of time, with your arms wrapped around him and your head nuzzled into his neck and breathing words of praise into his ears, he was content.

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

author's note; if you read this to the end, i want to thank you so sincerely. this work is my baby and i feel so protective over it. as you might've been able to tell, it was a bit all over the place with its pacing and its characterization and the switching between donghyuck and y/n's pov was a bit frustrating for me. however, football is something that i love so much and i wrote books on wattpad with hundreds of thousands of reads that mean so much to me and gave me the foundation for all my writing on this blog. this fic was so hard to finish and i still had so many ideas (like, where was donghyuck going to end up at the end of the season? would he transfer? what would happen to their relationship?) and i wanted to explore more of y/n's character as i focused more on hyuck and y/n is a bit mary-sue-ish but as i said, i wanted nothing more than to be done with this story and get it out. if you have any thoughts, let me know and thank you for reading <3

[gaylmet4ever]

Cheers.

Rowan & Devon

*****

Rowan finds Devon outside, sitting on the stairs to the porch of the cabin. There's a couple of books opened in front of him and he's playing the guitar in his hands while reciting the name of a disease and its causes and treatments. Or at least thats what she thinks it is.

She clears her throat in an attempt to catch his attention.

"Hey Devon, you asked for me?"

"Yeah, yeah, I did. Come sit," he says, when he turns to face her, a welcoming smile on his face.

There's something about Devon that Rowan can't really place. But it makes him different, from any person she's met.

He's battle-worn and weary, more than any 22 year old should be; the vulnerable pieces of himself are carefully hidden away, none visible out in the open. There's a sharpness to his gaze, intelligent eyes and a very confident way of speaking, like everything he says and does comes after a lot of deliberation. And yet, there's also a warm aura and ease encompassing him.

She's slightly jealous, and if nothing else, desperately– to be, or rather, to seem so at peace.

"You okay?" he asks, as she sits down, fiddling with her ring.

"Yeah. What did you need?"

"Just wanted to talk. Ask how you're doing. I realise I haven't exactly been the best host."

Rowan blinks, looking at Devon who looks slightly sheepish.

"Oh that's no problem, we all got a lot going on. College?" she asks, gesturing towards the books in fromt of them.

"Yeah. Physiotherapy."

"Physiotherapy, huh. What made you choose that?"

He shrugs, "it's nice helping people get back to their one hundred percent."

He doesn't ask about her own college plans. It's like he understands her hesitance, but doesn't really want to be another person to add their input of following her heart. She's grateful for that.

"I don't know, what exactly got you knee-deep in this Power business– but I just want you to know that you'll find your balance and your calling sooner or later."

He's closing his books, and returning his hand to his guitar, playing a soft melody. It goes well– with the relative silence, only accompanied by the sound of crickets, the rustle of leaves and the whoosh of the late night breeze.

Rowan sighs, covering her face with her hands, "How do you do this? Be so at peace, so normal."

She removes her hands and looks at him. She wants a solution; some sanity amongst all the insanity and right now, he seems to be the only one to have a similar life experience like her.

"I wasn't always. In fact, I still aren't most days. But... it's easier now."

Devon keeps playing his guitar, as if the universe will reveal its secrets in the notes of the song.

"When we were eight, my best friend was murdered by the Power in front of our eyes," he finally says, a faraway look in his gaze, "the Power haunted me for almost my entire life."

Eight?

Wow. That's a very long time.

Rowan sharply inhales, her eyes widening, "seriously?"

Devon smiles, "to be fair, i didn't remember much of the Power until quite later- all I knew was she was dead," his music does a diminuendo, "My friend, Dan, says that sometimes the mind does that–hides stuff away. Stuff that hurts."

"That's still horrible."

"It is. And I do get nightmares– as I'm sure you do too, and for so very long I didn't think I could move on– I didn't want to move on. But now, after we finish this spell... whether it works or not, I'm going to move on. I'm ready."

He reaches out and pats the back of her hand, "so, what I'm saying is that– it's okay. No matter what you do, or how long you take to climb this mountain, whatever is meant to happen will happen. Que será, será."

Rowan reaches out and hugs him, god knows they both need it. And huh, he's a really good hugger.

She laughs bitterly, "why is it that innocent kids are always subjected to the worst of the world?"

Devon sighs, "I wish I knew."

"I think...I wanna tell you about my family... but maybe not so soon."

He nodded, "whenever you want to, I'll listen."

"Gimme moment?," Rowan asks suddenly, a thought popping into her head, and she let's go of him, quickly scrambles up and rushes inside before hurriedly returning with a plate of mac n cheese.

Devon shoots her a questioning glance.

"We both have bad eating habits, so I figured, if neither of us really feels like eating– at least we'll do it for each other's health."

He hesitates, and Rowan knows that he's been surviving on energy bar breakfasts and salad dinners– she's been doing that too; but he nods, and picks up a fork that she offers to him.

"Cheers."

Maybe this was a start to a great friendship.

******

@itlivesproject here's a little gift from me for the lovely creation of ilw

[queenshelby]

The New Assistant (One Shot)

Pairing: Cillian Murphy x Reader

Warning: Smut

Words: 3985

Summary: You are Cillian Murphy’s new assistant for Season 6 of Peaky Blinders.

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

Your First Day at the Peaky Blinders Set

‘Mr Murphy, I am Y/N, your new assistant’ you said as you stood 1.5 feet across from him, complying with the social distance requirements.

‘Please, just call me Cillian’ Cillian said with a smile before telling you that it is nice to meet you.

‘Sorry Mr Murphy, uhm Cillian’ you said, causing him to laugh.

‘So, here are the scripts for today and a coffee’ you said. ‘Rose told me that this is how you drink your coffee, but if you like something else just let me know’ you added.

‘Thanks Y/N, it’s perfect’ Cillian said as he took a sip and getting on with his work.

You only recently began watching Peaky Blinders as you applied for the job and you couldn’t believe that, when you met Cillian, he had as much charisma as he displayed on camera.

His piercing blue eyes and smile were almost hypnotising, yet he seemed kind and down to earth.

You noticed that he was lost in his own little world as you observed him work for the morning. It was like he transformed into Thomas Shelby and, every time he spoke to you, it took him a little while to lose his Birmingham accent.

After you accompanied him on set for five hours, he asked you whether you could prepare the scenes for the next day for him.

You drew up a schedule for him, putting together transcript for each scene. You made two copies and placed them in small folders.

You were very organised and he appreciated it.

‘Two folders? Please tell me that they are not both for me’ he said with a slight worry as he stepped back into his trailer after finishing off for the day.

‘No, just one is for you. The other one is for me. Rose said that you like to rehearse your scenes in advance’ you said before offering him to rehearse the scenes with him.

‘Yes, but I usually do this alone’ Cillian said with a smile.

‘You sure? I mean, I am not a good actor but I did take some drama classes back in high school many years ago and I could point out any mistakes with the lines as I read along’ you said with some slight laughter as you pointed at the script.

‘Well, I suppose why not. This could be fun’ Cillian said, gladly accepting your offer. After all, it was better to have some company than talking to himself in the mirror.

‘Alright let’s do it then’ you said as you sat down on the small lounge in his trailer, giving him little time to prepare.

After Cillian took 15 minutes to read the scripts, he put the folder down on the table. You couldn’t believe that he remembered the lines already.

‘Alright Y/N, Scene 7, let’s go’ he said with a cheeky smile, waiting for your acting skills to surface.

‘Thomas, you cannot be serious’ you said putting in a terribly bad Birmingham accent, causing Cillian to a have a slight chuckle. You tried very hard to stay serious.

‘You should know that I am serious Lizzie’ Cillian responded, having memorised his script, Tommy’s thick accent surfacing.

‘You are going to get us killed Thomas. But you don’t care, do you? You never cared’ you said, improving slightly in your tone.

‘When have I not cared for you Lizzie, ey?’ Cillian said before continuing on with his lines.

The script was slowly moving towards the intimate scene between Tommy and Lizzie but you were only rehearsing the words, not the actions. A shame you thought, but you knew you had to remain professional.

‘Lizzie, you need to understand that this is what I need’ Cillian said as he went on. In the script this would be where Tommy steps closer towards Lizzie, wearing nothing but his black suit pants.

‘Oh trust me Tommy, I know what you need. Just fucking kiss me already’ you said, biting your lips and feeling slightly awkward as you spoke the line with such passion. Your thoughts wandered to the scene, playing it out in your head.

‘You should consider a career in acting Y/N’ Cillian smirked as he didn’t continue with the script. He became to notice that you were feeling slightly awkward.

‘I don’t think so’ you said shyly as you starred into his deep blue eyes. There was an awkward silence between you until Cillian finally spoke again.

‘Can we do this again?’ Cillian asked as he noticed that he missed a couple of words within his lines. You didn’t want to point the mistakes out to him as, in your mind, he was perfect.

You agreed to another round of rehearsals and all went smoothly the second time around until you reached the final line.

‘Oh trust me Tommy, I know what you need. Just fucking kiss me already’ you said, inhaling deeply before taking a break.

‘You sure do Lizzie’ Cillian said as he finished off the script for Scene 7, causing you to simply stare at Cillian.

‘And then Tommy gets to romp Lizzie’ Cillian said laughing before he suggested that you rehearse the next scene with him.

‘Lucky Lizzie’ you giggled just before you realised what you had just said.

‘I am not so sure, it looks pretty rough’ Cillian said as he flicked through the script.

‘Well, some women like it like this’ you said.

‘So I’ve heard’ Cillian said, not sure where this conversation was going.

‘How do you do it, acting scenes like this?’ you asked curiously, causing Cillian to laugh.

‘Well, you just switch off and do it, I suppose’ Cillian chuckled.

‘You know you still missed a word here’ you said shyly. ‘Do you want to try again?’ you said, causing Cillian to nod.

Without missing a single word, Cillian acted his entire script for the scene until your line came up once again.

‘Oh trust me Tommy, I know what you need. Just fucking kiss me already’ you said.

‘You sure do Lizzie’ Cillian responded, but you weren’t finished with your script this time.

Having read on from the last time, you knew what was happening in the script. Tommy and Lizzie were getting it on but not before Tommy grabs hold of Lizzie’s throat, looking into her eyes without speaking a word. His eyes were doing the talking in the end of the scene. So, you went on, finishing Lizzie’s final line before the cut.  

‘Don’t you want to fuck me?’ you asked with your eyes full of fire.

‘What?’ Cillian asked surprised.

‘That’s Lizzie’s last line and the final line in the script for Scene 7’ you answered.

‘Right, yes’ Cillian said, blushing slightly before an awkward silence erupted once again.

‘Shall we go the next scene now?’ you asked, causing Cillian to nod.

Acting it Out

The next day, you got to watch the scene you had rehearsed with Cillian the evening before and you couldn’t help it but be amazed by his acting skills.

At the same time, you were somewhat turned on by watching him with Lizzie, roughly throwing her onto the bed before taking her from behind.

You would have loved being in her shoes for a moment, but for real.

‘I watched your scene with the script in my hand, it was perfect’ you smiled as you gave Cillian some clothes to cover his half naked body.

You couldn’t help it but gaze over his freckled chest as he stepped closer and he was sure to notice.

‘Well, I had some good practice’ he smiled, not bothered by the fact that he was half naked and that you were clearly staring at him.

‘I am always here to help Cillian’ you said as you handed him the script for the next scene.

‘Thanks Y/N’ Cillian said before getting ready for the next scene.

The day went fast and Cillian pretty much disappeared to his apartment right after the day was finished.

As you went into his trailer to get your handbag, you noticed that he left his notes.

You knew that he was going to look for them to rehearse before tomorrow and decided to drop them off to him.

You were staying at the same hotel building so it wasn’t an inconvenience.

As you arrived at the hotel, you knocked on his door and he was quick to open.

‘You left this on set’ you said as you handed Cillian his notes.

‘Thank you Y/N’ he said before taking a pause.

He noticed that you were gazing into his apartment through the open door and raised his eyebrows slightly, smiling at you. It was like his eyes were asking you what you were doing without his mouth actually moving.

‘Oh sorry, I was just trying to see what the score was. I don’t have pay tv in my room’ you said with embarrassment, pointing at the TV.

‘Uhm, right. Would you like to come in and watch the game with me? I’ll even put on a shirt’ Cillian asked with smirk.

‘You know we aren’t allowed, with social distancing and so forth’ you said.

‘I won’t tell if you don’t’ Cillian said with a chuckle. He knew it wouldn’t have mattered as you spent a lot of time together already.

‘Alright then, it can stay our little secret’ you said as you walked inside his studio apartment.

Cillian was quick to put on a t-shirt, although you would have preferred if he didn’t.

‘You never mentioned that you liked soccer’ he said.

‘It never came up’ you responded, still somewhat nervous by his presence, being in his apartment.

But, you soon relaxed and sat down on the lounge with him.

Cillian offered you some wine as you were watching the second half of the game.

It was a tight finish with a score of 1-0. The last goal was scored in the final 10 minutes and it was nerve wrecking.

Cillian’s team won and you couldn’t help it but be a little disappointed as you were cheering for the opposite team.

‘Tomorrow is going to be a busy day’ you said as the game had finished, not knowing what else to say.

‘Yes, I am not looking forward to it’ Cillian said leaning forward to pour some more wine, cringing a bit as he moved.

‘Are you alright?’ you asked as you noticed that he seemed uncomfortable as he leaned forward.

‘Yes, I just hurt my back earlier during one of the scenes’ Cillian said.

‘Where does it hurt?’ you asked as you began tapping over his back, causing Cillian to look at you with surprise.

‘Oh god sorry’ you said, removing your hands quickly. ‘Bad habit’ you were quick to say.

‘Bad habit ey?’ Cillian asked with a smile.

‘Before COVID I was a physiotherapy student’ you explained. ‘I like to fix people’ you added with a laugh.

‘Right’ Cillian responded with a warm smile.

‘Would you like me to take a look and see if I can fix the pain?’ you asked.

‘Now that would defiantly break social distancing requirements’ Cillian chuckled.

‘I won’t tell if you don’t’ you said with grin on your face, causing Cillian to laugh.

‘Alright then, give it a crack’ he said.

‘Take off your shirt’ you said, causing Cillian to raise his eyebrows again before obliging with your request. It wasn’t like you hadn’t already seen him half naked.

You climbed behind him and couldn’t help but stare at his freckled skin again as you began to run your hands over his back, pressing hard on several trigger points until he eventually cringed.

‘Is that where it hurts?’ you asked.

‘Yes, fuck’ he said after you pressed down on the area harshly.

‘Sorry, but this might hurt a little’ you said while beginning to massage the area.

After about two minutes, the pain subsided but Cillian didn’t think to tell you. Instead, he let you continue with the movements. He began to enjoy the massage you were giving him.

‘That feels better’ you said, noticing the tension in his back disappearing slowly.

‘It does, but I don’t think I want you to stop now’ Cillian said jokingly.

‘I can keep going, if you like’ you said, moving your hands to other regions of his back while breathing in the sweet scent of his aftershave.

As your hands moved to his shoulders and over, slightly towards his chest, Cillian could feel a tingling sensation emerging in between his legs.

Hoping that you wouldn’t notice what was building up in between his legs, he placed his t-shirt across them, hiding his emerging erection.  

As you continued the massage for a few more minutes and he noticed that his erection would not go back down, he felt the need to tell you to stop, but he couldn’t bring it across his lips. It felt too nice and pleasurable.

Your hands were roaming across his back, up and down and you began to notice his breathing getting heavier.

As your hands suddenly stopped on his lower back he looked back over his shoulder, not realising that this was exactly where your face was at this moment.

His blue eyes gazed into yours for a moment as there was an awkward silence between you.

As you starred at him, your hands moved up again, causing him to breath in heavily once more.

In that moment, with your hands still wandering up his back, you leaned forward in sixty-degree angle, pressing your chest against his back and brushing his lips with yours.

Cillian gave into the kiss, turning around slightly to caress your face and pull you closer towards him. The kiss was intensifying and became more urgent with every moment.

‘I think all of the social distancing is out of the window now’ Cillian chuckled as your lips drifted apart and you climbed away from behind him.

Within just seconds, you pulled your t-shirt over your head and climbed onto his lap with one leg placed on each side of him before leaning in for another kiss.

Cillian ran his hands over your back as you exchanged a passionate kiss and you could feel his erection beneath you.

‘Let’s take our rehearsals a bit further, shall we?’ you said in between kisses as you grinded yourself against him.

‘We shouldn’t, you are my assistant’ Cillian responded while running his hands over your breasts, without any intention of stopping.

‘I won’t tell if you don’t’ you giggled as you stood up, taking off your jeans as well and letting them drop to the floor.

Cillian gazed over your body, taking in everything and admiring your curves.

‘I suppose it can stay our little secret, although I think it’s a bad idea Y/N’ Cillian said as he stood up in front of you, pressing his lips against yours while you reached for the zipper of his jeans.  

‘I think it’s a great idea. We both want this and need to get it out of our systems so that we can work well together. Despite, you are stressed, let me be a good assistant and relief that stress of yours’ you smirked as your hand ran beneath his briefs, taking hold of his erect cock.

Without responding to your comment, he pressed his lips onto yours again before guiding you backwards towards his bed.  

‘If I'd have known we'd be doing this I wouldn't have worn this’ you added, looking down at the underwear.

Cillian grabbed your chin lightly and pressed his lips to yours for a short moment.

‘It’s coming off anyway’ he winked at you before reaching behind you to unclip your bra. His gaze dropping to your small but perky breasts.

He took them in his hands grabbing onto them gently before pushing you onto the bed.

Next his hands went to your panties and pulled them down your legs and before you knew it you were laying on his bed completely naked and Cillian’s deep blue eyes devoured you.

You didn't feel self-conscious like you usually would because you could tell from that look in his eyes and his facial expression that he clearly liked what he saw.

Cillian’s eyes locked on yours as you sat up against the pillows and his fingers went into his waist band pulling down his briefs.

His erection stood proudly pointing at you and you weren’t disappointed with that either, he sure was packing down there!

He climbed onto the bed and pulled your legs apart, kneeling in between.

‘Is it bad that I’ve been fantasising about this?’ Cillian asked, still gazing over your naked body.

‘No. I've wanted this too’ you admitted, your eyes fixated on his hand moving up and down that cock of his.

‘I always had to touch myself whenever I went to bed because I wanted you so much’ you said.

‘Show me’ he breathed out, your eyes closing at his words and then opening as your hand slid down your body and stroked through your already damp folds.

He groaned as you pushed two fingers into your wetness.

With a quickness you had never witnessed before he grabbed a hold of your wrist and raised your fingers to his mouth, his eyes closing as his full lips wrap around your fingers sucking off your juices.

He then grabbed onto your other wrist and pinned them both above your head as he leaned down and ran kisses over your breasts and trailing them all the way down to your wet folds.

His hand went in between your legs, instantly finding your clit. He began to rub it, in small slow circles while his tongue ran through your wetness.

‘Fuck, Cillian’ you moaned as your hands reached down and grabbed onto his shoulders.

His movements became quicker and he increased the pressure, pressing down harder and harder. He then replaced his finger with his tongue on your clit as he shoved two fingers inside you, pumping them slowly in and out.

‘You're so fucking wet Y/N’ Cillian groaned, his eyes never leaving yours.

His fingers soon curled upwards against your g-spot as he continued to pump them in and out of you.

You gasped out at the sensation and could feel yourself racing towards your first orgasm of the night and you had a sneaky feeling that it most definitely wouldn't be the last.

As his force and speed increased so did your moans and you reached down and gripped his hair, pulling on it.

‘That’s it, oh god’ you moaned loudly as your walls began clenching around your fingers while your orgasm washed over you.

Cillian slowed down the finger action and let go of your clit then wickedly flicked his tongue against it once more making you flinch.

He grinned at you as he moved up your body and then took your mouth in a deep kiss.

You shoved your tongue into his mouth, tasting your own arousal and then somehow flipped him over so you were straddling his hips.

You tasted the skin of his neck. Then you made your way down that freckled chest, gently biting his left nipple on the way down.

You licked at his toned abs and then reached that hard as steel erection that was already oozing precum. His breathing was becoming deeper as you encircled your hand around him and pumped a couple times before flicking your tongue against the head.

‘Fuck’ Cillian moaned as his hand reached for your hair while you began bopping up and down his shaft.

You enjoyed the taste of his precum as you continued your movements for several moments while using your fingers to play with his balls.

He loved every moment of it but, after a while, had to ask you to stop for obvious reasons.

You obliged. You wanted him inside of you badly.

Cillian then reached for the bedside table, grabbing a condom from the draw and putting into his hard cock.

Before he could change position you climbed on top of him.

‘No need to be gentle, I like it just like Lizzie does’ you smirked, causing his eyes to roll into the back of his head as your pussy slid over his hard cock and you guided it inside of you.

You were unbelievably tight causing Cillian to moan out load on that first stroke.

Your hands were resting on his chest as you slowly raised yourself up and then dropped back down over and over teasing him to the point where his hands were digging into your thighs.

You began to quicken your pace, riding him faster and faster.

Cillian held onto your hips as he thrust his up to your stroke by stroke unknowingly getting faster until he was holding you up and thrusting into you so hard and fast that you were crying out his name.

It was obvious to you that he also liked it rough and, as soon as your walls began to contract around him, he flipped you over onto your back.

He wanted to take control and you were absolutely fine with that.

Your legs wrapped around his waist as he continued to thrust into your tight hole for several more minutes.

Unhooking your legs from around him, Cillian leaned up and rested them over his shoulders before increasing his pace.

His hand reached down and began rubbing your swollen clit, making you cry out once again continuously.

‘Oh god yes’ you moaned as you were so close again.

Just as your walls began tightening around his hard cock, he pulled out of you.

‘Not yet’ he smirked before he told you to get on your hands and knees.

‘Please Cillian, just fuck me’ you pleaded as he was tasing your entrance with his hard cock from behind you.

‘As you wish’ he said as, all of a sudden, with one deep thrust, he buried himself inside of you again.

You cried out as he entered you and his thrusting was slowing down for a moment as he pushed his hips into you as deep as humanly possible.

The thrust was hard and deep, but he soon picked up pace again.

‘Oh god yes. Fuck me hard’ you groaned out into the pillow beneath you.

That was all he needed to hear, his hips slamming into you harshly as you pushed your back.

Second later, remembering the scene between Tommy and Lizzie, he grabbed a handful of your silky hair and pulled on it, making you arch your back as he fucked you from behind.

‘Yes, don’t stop’ you moaned as his speed picked up more and more with each thrust.

‘Fuck Y/N’ Cillian groaned, his hands regaining their grip on your waist.

‘Oh my god Cillian’ you moaned, your voice muffled by the pillow and your walls tightening around his cock.

Your orgasm came running over you like a speed train as you screamed loudly, sending Cillian over the edge also.

Within seconds of your own orgasm, Cillian found his release, his thrusts slowing down as he rode out his orgasm.

‘Fuck’ was all he managed to say as he pulled out of you and disposed the condom filled with his sweet cum.

You were still huffing, your body limb just as he collapsed next to you.

‘Feeling better now?’ you grinned.

‘Yes actually’ he smiled before giving you a quick kiss.

After you spent about ten minutes curled up with each other it was time for you to leave. After all, you both had a busy day ahead.

‘So, just let me know if you ever need some more stress relief’ you smirked as you said goodnight.