#one thing about me i WILL make characters superheroes. sorry xoxo

[snowangeldotmp3]

'til the end of the line; a fruity four au

(or, possibly the Most Marvel au of these characters i have. sorry.)

you can read more here and here, and the original idea/ask by the one and only @gothbat99 here

first up, we have steve as captain america because, yeah. it's a steve thing. i also thought about harrington in the cap suit from TWS and lost my mind. he's not a one-to-one copy of steve rogers, because steve harrington does not fit that mold at all, it's mostly just a title in this one.

then we have nancy as the hawkeye of the group. this one feels self explanatory.

robin as the black widow! she works as both as a natasha and yelena figure. typical black widow things ya know. (robin and nancy have a prequel before this au! just to establish them.)

and finally!! eddie as the winter soldier. this draws heavy on the whole kas!eddie thing. you know what'll happen here. the whole "who the hell is eddie?" reveal. some gay pining. some gay pain. the works.

[joverflowers]

Hi! I stumbled upon your blog and since i saw you were into Jinmin and Taejin i wanted to ask you a question if you don't mind. I'm not new to the fandom but my knowledge in ships is limited, i'm creating my bts AU right now and i wanted to know wich one of these two ships is better for it. The story is nothing overcomplicated since its my first work, mainly cozy couple fluff and some mentions of dark past for the characters with trauma, it may have a few dark themes but not overly dramatic. I wanted to know wich one of this ships do you consider better for a cozy, keeping to themselves couple. I have trouble deciding since i see both as very cute and cuddly. Thanks and sorry if i disturbed you. (Also as a side note i don't like power dynamics very much, so wich one do you think would be more like partners? I just don't want to make Jin the typical big brother with Tae or Jimin as his little sibling or whatever)

Hello anonie! First of all, I'd like to apologize since I have been barely active on this blog for years and only very recently started reposting stuff. So I honestly do not know whether you sent this post a very long time ago.

Secondly, if you want to keep this certain aspect really close to headcanons, I believe both Seokjin and Jimin are very private as individuals. I was watching the Jack in the Box listening party recently and realized that both Seokjin and Jimin were joking about how they'd rather avoid the crowd. By that logic, I do think that it'd be exciting to write a narrative where they are keeping to themselves as you can observe how they maintain their social battery. And jinmin is so underrated, even compared to taejin that I can't help but lean towards the underdogs of the ship name tags plus there's a jinmin fest going on currently on ao3 that takes creativity to a whole different level.

As for balancing each other out, I think Jin and Jimin has always done that as individuals in a mindful yet subtle manner since forever. Though I do understand that the subtlety makes it harder to pinpoint and pen down, when artfully done its the most beautiful thing ever. There's this fic on ao3 titled 'you reel me in' that made me laugh, frown, sigh at the right times while making me realize that Jinmin might just be the most perfect duo to write as neighbors. Also, Jimin is a nurse and Seokjin is a superhero in the story so in their own way they are both lifesavers who are a little lonely, flawed yet beautiful people who belong together.

There's another work in process on ao3 titled 'how i find my way home' where jinmin are basically partners and are wonderfully balanced out by each other.

I do dislike high power dynamics as well, anon. But rest assured I always love asks such as yours, even when I reply to it a little later than expected. Best of luck for your fic, anon.

xoxo

[moonlit-manifesto]

Heartbreak Red Takeover 2021

Heartbreak Red’s “Delayed April Fools” 2021! This year the Heartbreak Red twitter Q&A session happened on April 3 instead of April 1. (Probably because Tsukino Productions dropped that huge 20 minute April Fools video instead lol). Heartbreak Red answers people’s tweets that have the hashtag #失恋ポスト (#heartbreak post) and are categorized as Advice, Message, Request, and Other.

Sometimes other characters from Tsukiuta or Tsukipro make an appearance too! Reminder that Heartbreak Red is Arata’s alter ego, so he’ll never refer to himself as Arata when he’s in character as Red. Since there are so many tweets, I’ll only be translating the interesting or funny ones. Read below the cut!

[MESSAGE] Heartbreak Red-san, it’s been a while! The weather was nice today so I went to an event at the Tobu zoo!! The cherry blossoms were beautiful too, and I had fun *sparkle sparkle*. I made some great memories. Thanks so much  ( ´ ` *) 

Heartbreak Red: “Whoa, thanks! Cherry blossoms, aaaaah I want to go see them too!”

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[REQUEST] I love Arata-kun and Aoi-kun as the childhood friend pair, so can you each tell us something that you did recently?!!

Heartbreak Red: “Eh~ Well, I’m not Uduki-san so here’s Aoi-kun!”

Aoi: “My childhood friend is too busy having fun playing a superhero right now (lol). Recently, Haru-san was telling me about that kaiju film he made [for April Fool’s Day].”

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[ADVICE] I’ve been wanting to feel some springtime refreshment as a break to my daily work grind. Eichi-kun, what kinds of things remind you of spring? I’d like your advice!

Heartbreak Red: “Eichi-saaaaaaan~~!”

Eichi (from QUELL): “Hello! I like cherry blossom viewing, but since we can’t gather this year I’ve been taking a lot of walks by the riverbank where they’re in bloom ♪ “

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[ADVICE] Hello! Right now I’m holding down two jobs and it’s hard to take days off... Please give me some encouraging cheers!

Heartbreak Red: “The force that keeps the economy going is: you----!!!! You’re a force to be reckoned with----!!!! Amazing---!!! But be sure not to overwork yourself, okay?”

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[ADVICE] I’m in love with Okui Tsubasa-kun from SolidS and I have a broken heart. But Tsubasa-kun is so cool, I can’t help but be in love again. What should I do? P.S. I look forward to this day every year, Heartbreak Red.

Heartbreak Red: “Gah~! Hmph!”

Tsubasa (from SolidS): “Hey, what was that, just call for me lololol. Anyways, to the you who is beyond my reach: we may be apart, but I will always love you. I put a lot of feeling into my songs, be sure to listen to them a lot ♪ xoxo”

Heartbreak Red: “As expected from Tsukipro’s best reader of women’s hearts...!! And thank you for supporting my activities!”

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[REQUEST] Yoru-kun! Tell us what you’re making for dinner today.

Heartbreak Red: “Yorurun~! What’s on the menu tonight~!?”

Yoru: “We’re having mapo tofu!!! Sorry it’s not anything super exciting to talk about!!!”

-----------

[REQUEST] Please call Kisaragi Koi over (｡>_<｡)♡

Heartbreak Red: “Pink.”

Koi: “What’s with the lack of enthusiasm!? Anyways - hi there!  ٩(ˊᗜˋ*)و I’m Koi-kun!! Thanks for calling for me! I hope you have a fun weekend!!”

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[MESSAGE] I really like Issei-kun and Ichiru-kun’s costumes from the Sweets Kingdom theme...!

Heartbreak Red: “Same~ It’s a double whammy of beauty and coolness.”

Issei (from QUELL): “Thank you so much!”

Ichiru (from QUELL): “I didn’t think the frills suited me, but when I heard everyone’s compliments I started to think they weren’t so bad (haha). Thanks!”

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[OTHER] That April Fools video was funny! By the way, how did Haru-san come up with the idea in the first place......?

Heartbreak Red: “The day after he slept a lot he proposed the idea for the video with a refreshed look on his face.”

Haru: “Yeah, I had slept well-!”

Kakeru: “It’s a given you'd ask about Haru-san’s peculiar sense of movie direction.”

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[MESSAGE] Whenever I’m feeling anxious or sad and I listen to Growth’s music, it always turns my mood around. I love the music that Mamoru composes and Growth puts out!!

Mamoru (from Growth): “On behalf of Growth, thank you very much! These feelings are like nourishment for the pachira of my soul!”

Heartbreak Red: “We’re looking forward to more amazing music!”

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[REQUEST] I’m not feeling confident in myself, and I’m worried about my future. I’d like to hear some words from Shun-sama so that I can live with my head held high!!

Shun: “Be proud that you were able to catch my eye with your request. Someone that is proud no matter their appearance, upbringing, or place is strong and beautiful.”

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[REQUEST] I’m worried about entering high school. I want to be encouraged by youthful SOARA!

Heartbreak Red: “Hey! SOARA!”

Sora (from SOARA): “Okay everyone, let’s go! Bursting~!!”

SOARA: “Youth!!!”

Morihito (from SOARA): “Be sure to make a lot of memories in high school!”

Heartbreak Red: “So refreshing!!”

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[ADVICE] Good evening, Red-san~ I’m a third year student at an overseas college. I study Japanese for six hours each day in addition to studying for my actual major, but I don’t think it’s a very efficient way to learn Japanese. I’d like to ask the two Six Gravity seniors if they know of a more effective study method.

Heartbreak Red: “Come on out, you two!”

Haru: “Six hours is a lot! Japanese seems like a difficult language to learn, but it makes me happy seeing you put so much passion info it♪"

Hajime: "I think you should study while having fun and use media you're interested in to help learn. Why not try watching movies with Japanese subtitles or reading manga as a study method? It will hold your interest and allow you to take a breather from regular studying."

Heartbreak Red: "Good luck with your studies!"

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[MESSAGE] Shou-san, every time I see you, your hair looks so fluffy! Do you have a shampoo recommendation?

Shou (from ROCK DOWN): "Thanks for your kind words. The shampoo I use is... whatever Haruto picked out... What was it called again...?"

Heartbreak Red: "Are all the white-haired people like this???"

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[ADVICE] I love Sakuraba Ryota-kun too much~ Help me, Heartbreak Red and Pool of Blood Red!! [Pool of Blood Red is Ryota's red alter ego] Ryota (from Growth): "I don't know anything about pools of blood, but if you're mind's made up about submitting your entire being to that deep sea I wouldn't mind."

Heartbreak Red: "So aloof, Pool of Blood R-"

Ryota: "That's not me!!!!"

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[OTHER] Good evening, Heartbreak Red-san! I've been waiting for this year's April Fool's Day! I noticed a lot of Uduki-san's visuals last year had his tongue showing, so I was wondering if this trend will continue? If Red-san were to do that too, it would be super cute~ Looking forward to supporting you in the future.

Heartbreak Red: "(´ڡ`)＜So you like me like this, do you?"

--

Heartbreak Red: "Ah, I'm not Uduki-san though."

You: "This is confusing."

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[REQUEST] Heartbreak Red-san! I want to ask what Dai-chan's favorite dessert he's had recently is!

Heartbreak Red: "Dai-chan-san!"

Dai (from SolidS): "Recently... Shiki brought back some souvenir snacks. It had cream cheese in it and since then I've been addicted to them. So those are probably my recent favorite."

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[OTHER] Roa-kun! Rei-kun! Let's have a remote flower viewing drinking party together!

Roa (from Infinit0): "Do you have any drinks on hand?"

Rei (from Infinit0): "While looking at the cherry blossoms..."

Heartbreak Red: "Cheers!"

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[REQUEST] I'm finally a college student~! Registering for classes is so difficult, but I'll try to fit in all my credits! I'd like to hear some encouragement from people who've already survived college!

Survivor Shiki (from SolidS): "College life aged me."

Heartbreak Red: "Please say something more supportive lololol."

Shiki: "The possibilities are endless. Make sure to enjoy the experience."

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[REQUEST] Good evening, Gaku-san! What's something that made you happy recently?

Gaku (from ROCK DOWN): "I went into this random restaurant on a whim yesterday and the pasta was really good... (beams). And the cherry blossoms I saw around town were pretty. It's those little things that I enjoy~♪"

Heartbreak Red: "Now I'm hungry..."

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[MESSAGE] To Hokekyo-kun: Thanks for healing me all the time with your cuteness! I love you! - From A Hokekyo-kun Fan

Heartbreak Red: "What an amazing fan mail!!"

Hokekyo (Haru's pet bird): "Ho~~~~Hokekyo!!!" [the bird is named after the sound it makes]

Haru: "That chirp was more perky than usual♪"

Hokekyo: "Hoo~ ❤️"

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(@tsukiuta1)

[inscribeddiatribes]

Steve Rogers Fluff Alphabet

—

A/N: I decided to change the template that I used for the Paul Lahote alphabet to this one. I hope you enjoy it! This template is by @snk-warriors.

I redid this, so hopefully my tags will actually work this time.

—

Activities - What do they like to do with their s/o? How do they spend their free time with them?

Since Steve is so well known, he tries to steer clear of popular places. One of his favorite things to do is take you to hole in the wall restaurants. Steve’s also a big fan of staying home with you and having you show him entertaining stuff on the internet.

Beauty - What do they admire about their s/o? What do they think is beautiful about them?

Steve loves how you’re willing to stand up for what you believe in. People often tease him about being “too moral”, so he feels like you’re the only one who understands where he’s coming from.

Comfort - How would they help their s/o when they feel down/have a panic attack etc.?

Steve himself has had a few breakdowns, and has spoken to a therapist about it, so he often uses what his therapist has said to help you. If that doesn’t work, he’ll stay with you and try to distract you.

Dreams - How do they picture their future with their s/o?

Steve definitely wants to get married. It’s one of the customs from his time that he’s still holding on to. He’d want to have kids and pets, but his job at Shield and being a superhero doesn’t really leave enough time to raise a family. Eventually, he’ll pass on his title and will be free to go wherever and do whatever you both desire.

Equal - Are they the dominant one in the relationship, or rather passive?

Steve is more in the middle. At times he feels like he should take control because that’s what men did in the 1940s, but he gets tired of being dominant because he’s constantly in control at Shield. He’s very adaptable, so his role depends on yours.

Fight - Would they be easy to forgive their s/o? How are they fighting?

Steve’s very forgiving. In his line of work, he’s had way too many close calls to hold a petty grudge. He wants to make every second with you count, so he doesn’t want to waste them fighting. He always tries to diffuse any arguments before they can become too serious.

Gratitude - How grateful are they in general? Are they aware of what their s/o is doing for them?

Steve is extremely grateful. He knows what it’s like to have people who only want him because he’s famous or for his appearance, so he was very pessimistic about finding the right one for him. However, you completely changed that. You showed Steve genuine kindness and loved him for him. You allowed Steve to experience actual love for the first time in years, and he’s forever grateful for that.

Honesty - Do they have secrets they hide from their s/o? Or do they share everything?

The only secrets he hides are about missions and some of his feelings. Steve could get into a lot of trouble by sharing mission details with you, so he tries to keep the missions to himself.

Steve comes from a time where showing certain emotions were considered “unmanly”, so he’s used to keeping his emotions to himself. However, he started opening up more to you after you proved to him that you wouldn’t judge him.

Inspiration - Did their s/o change them somehow, or the other way around? Like trying out new things or helped them overcome personal problems?

Yes! Prior to meeting you, Steve basically put on a show for the public by behaving the way that they expected him to. You showed him that it was okay to be whoever he wanted to be, which no one had really done after he woke up.

Jealousy - Do they get jealous easily? How do they deal with it?

Steve does get jealous easily. At times, he still views himself as a skinny, little kid from Brooklyn that no one took a second glance at. Steve would never bring up his jealousy and tends to suffer in silence (until you reassure him).

Kiss - Are they a good kisser? What was the first kiss like?

Steve is freakishly good at most things, kissing being one of them.

Your first kiss was very gentle and sweet. Steve had asked for permission to kiss you after your first date, so with your approval he proceeded to kiss you at your front door.

Love Confession - How would they confess to their s/o?

He confesses that he loves you when he’s in the hospital. Steve had gotten hurt on a mission and you went to visit him. He knew that he would heal quickly, but the thought that he could have died before he got to confess made him want to immediately tell you. So, he told you that he loved you as you held his hand.

Marriage - Do they want to get married? How do they propose? What would the marriage be like?

He wants to get married, but actually settling down and living a slow-paced life might not be an option for him at first.

Steve proposes at home because he felt like a lot of good memories were created there, and not to mention that it was away from prying eyes.

You both decide on a small wedding. Steve manages to find a not well known chapel for your wedding. Bucky even gets ordained to perform the ceremony!Overall, it’s very quaint, but full of love.

Nicknames - What do they call their s/o?

Doll. It was a popular nickname in Steve’s day that he found to be pretty fitting for you.

On Cloud Nine - What are they like when they are in love? Is it obvious for others? How do they express their feelings?

Steve may not think he’s being very obvious, but it’s quite clear to others. He looks at you a lot and often gets distracted. Steve expresses his feelings through acts of service. He believes one of the best ways he can show you he cares is by being useful.

PDA - Are they upfront about their relationship? Do they brag with their s/o in front of others? Or are they rather shy to kiss etc. when others are watching?

He lets fans know that he’s taken, but he never mentions you by name. He’s way too protective to want to risk you getting hurt by a crazy fan or villain.

Steve is pretty shy about kissing you in front of others, but he’ll never reject a kiss.

Quirk - Some random ability they have that’s beneficial in a relationship.

His remembers everything! It’s made for some embarrassing moments for you, but it’s ultimately done more good than harm.

Romance - How romantic are they? What would they do to make their s/o happy? Cliché or rather creative?

Steve loves going all out for you. He never really had any partners growing up, so he feels lucky that you actually like him. He’s more cliché... roses, chocolate, jewelry, the whole nine yards! He’ll definitely tone it down if you ask him though.

Support - Are they helping their s/o achieve their goals? Do they believe in them?

Definitely! Steve is your biggest fan. He’ll often motivate and encourage you to continue pursuing your goals when you feel like giving up.

Thrill - Do they need to try out new things to spice out your relationship? Or do they prefer a certain routine?

Steve is a huge fan of routine. He doesn’t mind switching things up from time to time, but he usually isn’t the one to initiate any changes. The only exceptions would be birthdays and if he thought you were getting bored.

Understanding - How good do they know their partner? Are they empathetic?

Steve knows you very well, but whenever you have a sudden mood change it might take him awhile to pick up on it. However, once he does, he instantly becomes concerned. He’ll do anything to make things better.

Value - How important is the relationship to them? What is it’s worth in comparison to other things in their life?

Your relationship is extremely important to him. Steve feels like he doesn’t have many people he can call friends, but he knows that he can always rely on you to be there for him, which is one of the reasons he fell in love with you. So, he’s determined to maintain your relationship.

Wild Card - A random Fluff Headcanon.

Steve essentially remembers everything you mention to him, which he often uses to his advantage. On your first anniversary, Steve wanted to surprise you by recreating your first date. The food and music were exactly the same. You ended up in near tears from laughing after witnessing Steve’s attempts at serenading you. By the end of the night, he most definitely scored major points in your book.

XOXO - Are they very affectionate? Do they love to kiss and cuddle?

In public, Steve is more reserved, but he’ll gladly hold your hand.

When alone, he definitely loves to kiss and hug you. He often tells you he loves you out of the blue.

Yearning - How will they cope when they’re missing their partner?

If he’s missing you, Steve will usually try to call you. If he’s unable to, he’ll bust out his sketchbook and draw you. That way he’ll at least have a piece of you with him.

Zeal - Are they willing to go to great lengths for the relationship? If so, what kind of?

If you’re at the beginning of your relationship, then he might not. If you’ve been dating for awhile, then he’ll definitely do whatever it takes to keep the relationship going. He basically went to war for Bucky, so he’d definitely have the same energy with you. I feel sorry for the person who tries to get in the way of your relationship.

—

I don’t own these characters, songs, or lyrics, nor did I create any of them. This work is strictly for fair use/ entertainment purposes. No money has been received from this work.

Check out my masterlist, you might find something you like! Reblogs are welcome!

Masterlist

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[thegreatestsorcerertoeverserve]

Also if you want to you could do number 12. I think that's pretty cute for merthur in like a modern setting. I just started following your blog and it's pretty cool. Sorry if this is a hassle. Xoxo

Love it! You’re never a hassle, my friend. 

Merthur in #12 situation from this list: Character A hadn’t noticed but their sweet, funny, goofy best friend,Character B, was kind of hot, especially since they’ve been on this fitness kick.

(This became ridiculously long. Enjoy! High School AU)

Merlin and Arthur were inseparable all throughout high school. They were best friends, and though their dynamic was always that of a dynamic duo, both of them were aware it was a Superhero and Sidekick situation than a Unstoppable Partnership.

And everybody knew who was who. Arthur, the gorgeous, charming, football and fencing captain, was pursued by almost every girl and guy who looked at him. Merlin was the Robin, the likeable, down-to-earth straight A student who was a god in chemistry and headed his Boy Scout troop (amazingly, this did not earn him too many points with his fellow high-schoolers).

Arthur was aware of the discrepancies in their popularity statuses, but he mostly chose to ignore it. After all, he had more important things to think about. And he didn’t really ever look too closely at Merlin at all. Life was always continuing, you know? Not much time to sit and stare at your best friend.

That is, until he made time. 

Merlin was pretty much immediately available to Arthur. Usually, they’d get together after football or fencing practice, and Arthur would watch Merlin study or work (he worked as a janitor at the school) while they hung out. Now, half the time Arthur tried to reach him, it seemed Merlin was busy.

“Merlin, what do you do everyday? Feels like I haven’t seen you in weeks.” 

Merlin grinned. “Why? Miss me?”

Arthur shook his head and made an effort to repress his own smile. “Never. But my chemistry grade is in desperate need of your magic.”

“You know me, I’m always there to save your neck. Although, to ease your concern, I’ve been at the gym a lot lately.”

Arthur stopped dead in the middle of the hallway, causing people to swear and part around him. “You? The gym? I’m sorry, have I been transported to some alternate universe?” 

Merlin grinned and punched him in the arm. “Come on, we’re going to be late for P.E.”

They practically ran the rest of the way across the school, panting when they got to the locker rooms. Maybe Arthur was making it up, but it seemed like Merlin was less out of breath than he usually would have been. He poked Merlin in the ribs once they got to their lockers.

“It’s good that you’re going to gym now, Merlin. Finally dropping that beanpole aesthetic of yours.”

Merlin shook his head, grabbing his PE clothes from his locker and turning to Arthur before he tugged his shirt off. “I’m hoping it’ll inspire you to give up your clotpole aesthetic, but I think that may be ambitious.”

Merlin’s shirt dropped to the floor, and he bent down to pick it up. Arthur couldn’t help but notice the way the muscles in his shoulder blades moved when he outstretched his arm, or the way his shorts fell slightly to reveal the waistline of his underwear. Arthur turned away, flushed. 

“Arthur? Everything alright?”

“Me? Everything’s fine.” Arthur squeaked. He winced. Merlin laughed.

“Alright there, puberty man. But if you don’t start getting dressed, I’m going to have to help you. And neither of us want that.” Arthur squeezed his eyes shut. Did Merlin always flirt with him like that? Was that flirting? Or was he just thinking of the curves of Merlin’s body and the action going on in his pants right now and letting his mind run wild?

Arthur giggled nervously and tugged his normal shirt off in favor of his PE shirt, tucking his boner up in his waistband and sending up a special curse to whatever god created puberty.

“Good to know the only thing I have to do to get you to do something is threaten to start ripping your clothes off. I’ll use that more often.”

Arthur laughed shortly and ran a hand through his hair. Great. Bloody great.

Now that Arthur had looked at Merlin that way once, it was practically all he could think about. And chance wasn’t helping either, the bastard. It seemed like every moment that Arthur managed to get Merlin’s smile out of his mind, he was slapped in the face with a reminder of how great he was in other ways. 

He saw Merlin running on the track shirtless, while he was at football practice, and nearly got decked for the moment’s distraction.

He didn’t pay attention to a word of Merlin’s description of their chemistry lesson because he got lost thinking about how blue Merlin’s eyes were.

It was relentless. 

Just when he thought Chance could not spite him with anything else, he was proven wrong.

Merlin was wrapped around Arthur’s chair turned backwards while Arthur sat, frustrated, on his bed. Merlin’s arms were bulging subtly as he gripped his history notebook in front of the chair’s back. Those arms were all Arthur could think about as he tried desperately to remember the specific ancient Greek philosophy he was supposed to have memorized.

“Plato?”

“No! God, Arthur, I know history isn’t your strong suit, but come on!”

Arthur groaned. “I can’t help it, Merlin. I’m a kinetic learner, I need to-” He jumped up and landed too close to Merlin to trust himself. “-do something.” Merlin looked up at him, puzzled. 

“What exactly do you propose we do?”

Arthur sat back down on his bed. “I don’t know! I just- I can’t study anything with you here!”

Merlin laughed. “Arthur, no offense, but I think the only time you actually study anything is when I’m here.”

Arthur was cross. He just couldn’t fucking concentrate. “You’re too distracting! Leave!” 

Merlin stood up, flabbergasted. “Arthur, what are you talking about? I’ve been sitting in this chair. How on earth is that distracting?”

Arthur groaned again in frustration. “Because! Your eyes are blue and they’re staring at me, and when you sit in that chair your arms look great, and when your run your jaw does the thing it does whenever you don’t know the answer to a question on a test, like you’re determined to solve something that you can’t begin to comprehend. How the hell am I supposed to get anything done when you’re sitting around doing that all day?”

Merlin’s blue eyes were wide and unmoving. His mouth was open slowly in shock, and Arthur ducked his head, feeling his face burn in embarrassment. How could he have made himself look like such a fool? And to Merlin, at that.

“Arthur, I had no idea you felt that way about me.” Merlin’s voice had obtained the soft quality that he always used when he felt Arthur was in turmoil. It simultaneously comforted Arthur and made him feel more ashamed. Merlin was his best friend. How could he ruin this?

“I… I didn’t. At least… I don’t think I did. But- recently you’ve…” Arthur stopped. What would he say? That Merlin had started working out and Arthur had finally realized he was hot and witty and funny and smart and everything he was looking for? No, no. He couldn’t find the right words. But he had to. He was great at speech class. He could find something eloquent and simple to come up with, right? “I have always held you as a great friend. My best friend. And I can’t bear to lose you. So please. If my feelings are… ill-received, please ignore them.” 

Merlin shook his head, a small smile crossing his lips. “Are you kidding me? Ignore them? What do you think I’ve been trying to make you realize for the past three years? Why do you think I bust my ass in the gym everyday, to keep my figure up for Gaius? Why do you think I spend every waking moment helping your dumb ass ace history tests?”

Arthur sputtered. “Merlin, are you saying that you-” 

“Get over here and kiss me, you big idiot.” Arthur stood jerkily and took one long stride to Merlin. Merlin put a finger on his lips to stop him as he was leaning in. “By the way, we were talking about Socrates. Cabbage-head.” Arthur hadn’t finished laughing before Merlin’s lips met his, their first kiss one of many over a late-night study session.