#open-faced pickle sandwich

[food-understander]

Trader Joe’s tinned mussels, 4.02 oz

Two dill pickles (unknown brand)

Two slices of bread (user is gluten-free, visually similar to Canyon Bakehouse Mountain White sandwich bread)

girl dinner

[steddieas-shegoes]

matches my weird

for @steddielovemonth inspired by the quote "we are all a little weird and life's a little weird, and when we find someone whose weirdness is compatible with ours, we join up with them and fall in mutual weirdness and call it love." - dr. seuss

rated t | 1069 words | no cw | tags: pre-relationship, steve has a crush on eddie, open ending but assume they're gonna kiss later

🥒🥒🥒🥒🥒🥒🥒🥒🥒🥒🥒🥒🥒

Steve knows it’s gross, which is why he never does it when someone else is around. He opens the jar of pickles and the jar of peanut butter.

He scoops out a spoonful of peanut butter because he’s not an animal. He would never risk pickle juice getting in the jar when so many people come over to his house and ransack his cabinets. God forbid Robin try to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and end up with the taste of pickle on it.

She hates pickles almost as much as she hates Vecna. Seriously.

He dips the pickle into the peanut butter and puts it up to his mouth to take a bite.

“What is happening right now?” Eddie’s voice is high pitched and Steve jumps, nearly dropping his snack.

“What are you doing here?” Steve asks. He can’t hide what he’s doing at this point, so he might as well embrace it.

“I left my jacket here last night, remember? I called and told you I would be by to get it before I went to work?”

Eddie is holding said jacket in his hands and looks…not as disgusted as he probably should be. He just looks surprised.

“Oh, right.” Steve does vaguely remember this phone call, but he was half asleep this morning when Eddie called. He can’t be blamed for forgetting.

“Are you putting peanut butter on your pickles?” Eddie asks as he steps closer.

“I obviously am,” Steve replies.

“Bread and butter?” Eddie clarifies.

Steve checks the jar to be sure. “Yeah.”

“You should try it with the dill ones.”

Steve blinks. “Huh?”

“The regular dill ones are really good in peanut butter. These ones are too, but the savory– Oh! And the sweet and sour ones! I ran out of peanut butter once and used chocolate syrup. Wasn’t as good, but got the job done,” Eddie explains as he walks over and takes a pickle from the jar to dip into the scoop of peanut butter.

“Um. What are you doing?”

“I’ve never known anyone else to do this! I did it when I was little and Wayne thought it was gross, but he always kept pickles and peanut butter in the house for me,” Eddie shrugs as he chews.

“This isn’t you just trying to make me feel like I’m not weird?” Steve doesn’t think someone would go to such lengths, especially not Eddie, but who knows.

“No. Who would do that?”

“I…dunno. I didn’t know anyone else did this. It’s kinda weird.”

“Yeah, have you met me?” Eddie laughs. “I’m a pretty weird guy. Wait until you see what I do to my hot chocolate.”

“What do you do?” Steve takes another bite.

“This is Wayne’s fault, but I usually make it with a mix of milk and cola.”

Steve makes a face, but immediately realizes that’s actually probably pretty good. He’s heard of people using cola in chocolate cake before, so why not make hot chocolate with cola?

“I should try that,” he says.

“Yeah, I can make it for you after work if you want. I only have a four hour shift today.”

“I can go get some hot chocolate packets from the store.”

“We don’t need packets if you have syrup,” Eddie says.

“I always have syrup. El and Dustin drink chocolate milk every time they’re here,” Steve sits back in his chair. “But is that really gonna make it sweet enough?”

“Trust me, Harrington.”

“I do.”

It’s a loaded sentence, and Steve recognizes almost immediately that it’s a bit heavy for a very simple discussion about hot chocolate. His face is warm as he reaches over to grab another pickle from the jar.

“So…I can be here around eight?” Eddie continues after a long pause.

“Yeah, man, sounds good.”

Eddie reaches over Steve to get another pickle from the jar. Steve holds his breath as their arms brush against each other. His heart stops for a moment.

“You know, Wayne always says I gotta find someone just as weird as me. I don’t think he meant this, but maybe it’s that simple.”

Steve blinks, staring ahead so he doesn’t do something stupid like stand up and kiss Eddie or pull him into his lap. Now’s not the time to explore the feelings he’s had simmering in his gut for months, not when Eddie has to go to work. They’ve got plans later, maybe he can be brave about it then.

“Anyways! See ya later, Steve.”

Eddie leaves. Steve waits until he hears his truck start up before he throws his head back and groans. He’s ridiculous.

The phone rings and he groans again. He’s almost positive he knows who it is, and her timing is always impeccable.

“Hello?”

“Steve. You have to hear what Keith just told a customer. We would have been fired it it was us,” Robin whispers into the phone.

“Are you calling me while Keith is next to you?”

“Obviously I am.”

Steve huffs a laugh. “What did he say?”

“He told them that if they wanted to watch kid movies as an adult, they should keep that to themselves,” Robin sounds half-crazed. “I promise it sounded more scathing when he said it. The customer left and said he’d never come back. But I always got the creeps from that guy anyway. You know the one who always asks if I turned 18 yet?”

“Gross. Hate that guy. Maybe he won’t come back,” Steve says as he closes the peanut butter jar. “Hey, you know how I have a crush on Eddie?”

“Duh,” Robin says, half-distracted.

“Think I’m gonna do something about it tonight.”

He’s met with silence.

“You there?”

“I’ve been trying to get you to do something about it for a month now. Why tonight?”

Steve looks at the jar of pickles and smiles. “Because our weird matches.”

“O…kayyyy. You’re probably right about that.” He hears Keith say something about getting off the phone. “I gotta go, but good luck with that tonight.”

“Thanks, Robs. Do you like pickles dipped in peanut butter?”

“That’s disgusting, Steve. Seriously.”

“Just checking.”

“Do you?” Robin asks, but Keith starts yelling about personal calls on the clock and she rushes to hang up the phone before he can answer.

Steve hangs up and leans his head back against the wall.

“He matches my weird,” Steve sighs, smiling to himself.

[chugging-antiseptic-dye]

•°. *࿐ jeonghan

◦ words: theory, monster, and sofa (>700 words)

.・゜゜・・゜゜・．.・゜゜・・゜゜・．.・゜゜・・゜゜・．.・゜゜

To put your theory to the test, after breakfast, instead of lazing on the couch, you settle down on the floor in an inconspicuous corner with a book in your hand.

"Wouldn't the couch be more comfortable?" Jeonghan drawled lazily.

"Hmm, it would. But it is too comfortable for me to concentrate, you know? And I really want to get into this today." You replied, making sure to loosen up your body posture and look as relaxed as possible.

If you didn't know what to look out for, you would not have noticed that slowly, over the course of an hour, Jeonghan went from sprawling over the sofa to laying down on the carpet to rolling over beside you to having his head in your lap. All the while pretending that it's a coincidence of course. But more evidence is necessary before you can confront him. Since Jeonghan, himself, is the final boss, one tiny mistake would bring this whole operation to its knees.

Making sure to 'absently' pat his hair for some time, you gently put down his head and stand up to place the book back. All the while you could feel Jeonghan’s eyes burning a hole in the back of your head. But when you turned around to check, all you could see was him still playing solitaire on his phone.

With a hum, you left in the direction of the kitchen. As you were opening the fridge, you heard Jeonghan ask, "Hungry already? Didn’t we just eat breakfast?"

"I know but I am feeling a bit peckish. A little snack won't hurt." You answer breezily.

Grabbing a cold sandwich from the premade pile you prepared just for this, you didn't go back to the living room but rather took a turn into the bedroom. Legs swinging off the bed and your laptop on your lap, you actually check your work emails as you munch on the delicious pickle and ham sandwich.

Just as you almost forgot exactly why you were working on the weekend, the door creaked open and Jeonghan slithered in. Forcing yourself not to look, you feel him sliding into the covers behind you. A second later, hands encircled your waist and pulled you down, making you scramble to hold on to your slipping laptop.

“What do you want?” You grumble as you wiggle to get out of Jeonghan’s arms. 

"I thought I might take a nap." The nonchalance was oozing out of him as he replied but his grip was like steel.

Twisting around to press a soft kiss on Jeonghan’s cheek, you murmur, "Alright, angel. I have some work I need to finish and I know you are a light sleeper. I will be in the kitchen, okay? You have a nice nap.”

Arms tightened around you as you tried to leave again. “Is work that important? I thought we could take a nap together." With a hint of annoyance in his voice, Jeonghan said in a deliberately light voice.

You decided to come clean since your boyfriend was in grave danger of being a sulky mess all day if you didn’t. Setting aside the laptop, you put your hands around his neck to pepper his face with kisses.

“Actually, I don’t have anything to do. I was just trying to check one thing.” You reply teasingly.

“And what is that, baby?”

Tapping your finger on your chin, you adopt a very fake thinking pose. 

“Oh, it’s nothing important. I only wanted to know why my loving boyfriend, who teased me throughout the whole tour for being clingy, is imitating an octopus now.” Raising an eyebrow, you continue provocatively, “Who is the clingy one now?”

“You did all this just to brag?” Jeonghan deadpanned. He received only giggles in reply. But eventually, you admit, “I never have a chance to one-up you. I didn’t want to let the opportunity pass by.”

Shaking his head in defeat, Jeonghan muttered, “It’s my fault. I have created a monster.”

“Who you love very much.”

“Who I love the most.”

.・゜゜・・゜゜・．.・゜゜・・゜゜・．.・゜゜・・゜゜・．.・゜゜

if anyone wants me to write about a specific member, please send me an ask with the member name + three words from this word generator)

[0omillo0]

Yknow how skz is always carrying each other? Remember that one clip where they were all carrying I.N.? Can I request a I.N. x fem! 9th member reader? Where I.N. is like grr im strong too and snatches up reader and starts running away while the other members chase him to "save" the reader from the "evil" Jeongin?

JEONGIN X READER

thank you so much i had so much fun writing this!!

It had been a long day of rehearsals, and you were backstage with Stray Kids, trying to unwind. The atmosphere was lively as everyone chatted, stretched, and joked around. You were seated comfortably on a couch, sandwiched between Chan and Felix, who were scrolling through their phones and sharing memes. The rest of the members were scattered around, lounging or grabbing snacks from the refreshment table.

Jeongin, or I.N as the fans called him, had been unusually quiet. He sat across from you, his gaze flickering between the members with a mischievous glint in his eye. You raised an eyebrow, sensing something was up, but before you could ask, he suddenly stood up and cleared his throat.

“Y/N, I have something to prove,” he announced, crossing his arms and looking down at you with a playful smirk.

You tilted your head, a grin creeping onto your face. “Oh? And what might that be?”

Jeongin straightened up, flexing his arms. “Everyone always says I’m the baby of the group, the one who needs to be taken care of. But I’m strong, too!” His tone was filled with mock bravado, and you couldn’t help but chuckle.

Changbin, who was sitting nearby, snorted and exchanged a knowing look with Hyunjin. “Yeah, sure you are, Jeongin,” Changbin teased, crossing his arms. “You can barely open a jar of pickles without help.”

The room burst into laughter, and Jeongin’s face turned slightly red. “Hey, I’m stronger than I look!” he defended, looking at you with a determined glint in his eye.

Before you knew it, Jeongin had taken a step forward and, in one swift motion, scooped you up and threw you over his shoulder. A gasp escaped your lips as you found yourself dangling upside down, clutching onto him to avoid slipping.

“Jeongin! What are you doing?” you managed to exclaim, though you couldn’t help but laugh. The room erupted into chaos as the other members stood up, feigning shock and outrage.

“Oh no, he’s taken her!” Felix cried, his eyes wide with exaggerated horror.

Chan sprang into action, pointing dramatically at Jeongin. “Put her down, you evil villain!” he shouted, barely holding back a grin.

But Jeongin was already on the move, bolting towards the door. “Sorry, guys, but Y/N’s coming with me!” he called over his shoulder, laughing as he sprinted into the hallway with you still hanging over his shoulder.

The other members didn’t waste a second before springing into action. They shot each other a quick glance, a silent agreement passing between them, and then they took off after Jeongin, their footsteps echoing through the hallway.

“Jeongin, you get back here!” Seungmin shouted, his voice filled with mock urgency. He was trailing close behind, with Han and Hyunjin on his heels. You could hear Chan and Felix not far behind, the whole group chasing after Jeongin like a pack of determined rescue heroes.

As Jeongin ran, you couldn’t help but laugh at the ridiculousness of it all. You were still slung over his shoulder, bouncing with each step he took. He rounded a corner, darting into a narrow hallway that led to the dressing rooms, clearly trying to outsmart the others by taking the least obvious route.

“Are you having fun yet?” Jeongin asked, his voice breathless but filled with excitement.

You laughed, reaching up to lightly smack his back. “You’re so gonna pay for this, Jeongin,” you teased, though you were grinning ear to ear.

“I’ll take my chances,” he replied, picking up his pace as he heard the others gaining on him.

Hyunjin was the first to appear around the corner, his eyes locking onto you and Jeongin. “I see them!” he called back to the rest of the group, pointing dramatically as if he were a soldier in a high-stakes mission.

Jeongin took off again, heading for the exit that led to the outdoor courtyard. He burst through the door, and you both were greeted by the cool evening air. The sky was starting to darken, the first stars beginning to peek through as you made your way outside. He finally slowed to a stop, setting you down gently. You staggered a bit, catching your breath and giving him a playful glare.

“You’re in so much trouble,” you said, folding your arms as you tried to regain your balance.

But Jeongin only grinned, unfazed by your mock anger. “It was worth it,” he said, catching his breath as well.

Just then, the rest of the group burst through the door, surrounding you both. Chan took the lead, hands on his hips as he looked Jeongin up and down.

“Alright, Jeongin, hand her over,” Chan said, trying to keep a straight face but failing miserably as a smile tugged at the corners of his mouth.

Jeongin put his hands up in surrender. “Okay, okay, you caught me,” he said, stepping back with a sheepish grin.

Seungmin shook his head, crossing his arms as he looked at Jeongin. “I didn’t know you had it in you, man. Kidnapping Y/N right under our noses. Bold move.”

Felix stepped forward, pulling you into a protective side-hug. “You’re safe now,” he said, winking at you. “We won’t let the evil Jeongin get to you again.”

Jeongin rolled his eyes, laughing as he looked at the group. “Alright, alright. But admit it, you were all impressed by my skills,” he said, puffing out his chest in mock pride.

Han snorted, patting Jeongin on the back. “I’ll admit, you gave us a good chase. But don’t get too comfortable—we’ll be keeping an eye on you.”

The group started heading back inside, laughing and chatting as they made their way through the hallways. Jeongin walked beside you, occasionally glancing over with a playful grin, clearly proud of his little escapade.

As you reached the lounge area, everyone settled back in, the adrenaline from the chase starting to wear off. Changbin handed you a bottle of water, which you gratefully accepted, taking a long sip as you tried to catch your breath.

Chan leaned back, stretching his arms over his head. “Alright, I think we need to implement some new security protocols around here. We can’t have Y/N getting kidnapped again,” he joked, earning a laugh from the group.

Jeongin sat next to you, nudging your shoulder. “So, how’d I do? Was that a successful kidnapping or what?”

You rolled your eyes, smiling as you shook your head. “It was… impressive. I didn’t think you had it in you.”

Jeongin grinned, clearly pleased with himself. “See? I told you I’m strong!”

Felix leaned over, patting Jeongin on the shoulder. “Just remember, though—you mess with Y/N, you mess with all of us.”

Jeongin laughed, nodding in agreement. “Alright, alright. Lesson learned.”

The conversation gradually shifted as everyone settled back into their usual banter, talking about everything from upcoming schedules to their favorite snacks. The playful tension from the chase had dissolved, leaving behind an even stronger sense of camaraderie and warmth.

The evening carried on, and soon it was time to wrap up for the day. The members gathered their belongings, chatting and laughing as they prepared to head back to their dorms. Jeongin approached you one last time, scratching the back of his head as he gave you an apologetic smile.

“Hey, thanks for going along with my crazy idea,” he said, his tone more sincere now. “I hope I didn’t actually freak you out or anything.”

You shook your head, smiling as you looked up at him. “Not at all. It was fun. I think we all needed a little break from reality.”

He nodded, his expression softening. “Good. I’m glad. I wanted to make sure you were having a good time, too.”

As you left the building with the group, walking down the dimly lit street towards the van, you couldn’t help but feel a sense of gratitude. These moments of spontaneous fun, the ridiculous antics, and the unwavering support of each other—these were the memories that made everything worthwhile.

The van ride back was filled with laughter as the members recounted the chase, each one adding their own exaggerated details and perspectives. Hyunjin insisted he’d almost caught Jeongin, while Han claimed he had a plan to intercept him at the courtyard but got “distracted by a squirrel.”

By the time you reached the dorms, everyone was exhausted but in high spirits. You stepped out of the van, and Chan clapped his hands together, turning to the group.

“Alright, everyone, get some rest. We’ve got another big day tomorrow,” he said, his tone gentle but authoritative.

You and Jeongin exchanged a final glance, both of you smiling as you headed towards your respective rooms. Just before you entered, Jeongin called out to you.

“Hey, Y/N?”

You turned, raising an eyebrow. “Yeah?”

He hesitated for a moment, a slight blush coloring his cheeks. “Next time, maybe you can be the one to kidnap me.”

You laughed, nodding as you opened the door. “Deal.”

As you closed the door behind you, you couldn’t help but smile. Being part of this crazy, chaotic family had its challenges, but moments like these made you feel like you belonged. And as you lay down to rest, you found yourself looking forward to the next adventure with your seven mischievous friends, knowing that no matter what happened, you’d always have each other’s backs.

[gabessquishytum]

bb!hob befriends bb!dragon Dream - they grow together.....and fall in ❤️🩷❤️🩷❤️.

Hob's parents always told him that he shouldn't go into the dark part of forest around the village, that monsters lived in there and would eat him.

Well, Hob wasn't scared! It's a new century and things that used to be considered monsters (like the fairies and the werewolves) are all but integrated into society, besides, Hob was an explorer (he climbed that hill mountain behind the house all by himself!) and he's pretty sure that monsters are just friends he has made yet. Besides, parents are so silly.

So he packs a sack with some sandwiches (he made them himself), a few of his favorite snack cups, some cookies, and some juice boxes - it's a little heavy, but Hob just knows he's going to share.

It takes him half the morning, with his heavy sack to even make it to a clearing. Hob is tired! But he's having fun talking to the trees and saying hi to the pretty flowers. It's as he's opening his first sandwich (tuna & pickles) that he senses, then sees, something watching him sitting in the sun.......

Hob is sooo happy! A possible friend! Everyone always tells Hob to use his inside voice, but he's too excited to be quiet! Hob practically screams his hello, making his new friend duck back behind a tree. But Hob seems to get a better response from his happy waving as his new best friend sticks his head out from behind the tree again.

Hob offers him one of his cookies!

When Hob new best friend comes closer to accept the cookie, Hob sees that he had beautiful marks or what could be scales down the sides of his face and over the bridge of his nose. And when he meets Hob's eyes with his own, it looks that his eyes are full of fire.....it's soooo cool!

They are soooo going to be friends FOREVER!

This is too cute I might explode!!!!!!

I'm imagining a montage of them growing up together. Going through puberty. Dream’s first fire, first flight. Hob’s first... well, he doesn't do anything as impressive as Dream, but he CAN grow a beard by the time he's 18.

They still hang out in the forest, although sometimes Dream sneaks into the village by Hob’s side at market day, when it's busy and he can blend in with other strangers. Hob buys him cakes and sweets and holds his hand so he doesn't get overwhelmed in the crowds.

But they're both nearly adults, and it's time for Dream to fly the nest... his family expect him to do important dragon things, like starting his own hoarde. Dream isn't keen. He does want an adventure, but he wants one with Hob. One where they strike out and seek their fortunes, like in the old fairytales.

Hob doesn't want Dream to leave either. There are still such things as dragon slayers, and Hob is determined to keep his friend safe from those monster hunters. Maybe they could go to the big city, where people and "monsters" seem to live in a better kind of harmony? In which case, maybe they should get married. Just so they don't get accidentally separated, or something! The city really is BIG!

...Hob is definitely acting a little bit desperate, but he's been in love with Dream for about 15 years and the idea of losing him is unbearable. He promised the day they met that he'd be together forever, and he doesn't intend to break that promise! Little does he know, Dream is just as desperate as him - if not more so!

[ros3mari3]

Surprise ?

Spencer Reid x Reader

The BAU headquarters buzzed with the usual morning activity. Agents hurried about, coffee in hand, discussing cases and paperwork. Spencer Reid sat at his desk, engrossed in a stack of files. His focus was so intense that he barely noticed you walking up to him.

"Hey, Spence," you greeted, trying to sound casual.

He looked up, his expression instantly softening. "Hey, Y/N. How's it going?"

You took a deep breath, nervousness bubbling up inside you. You had been trying to find the right moment to tell him your news, but every time you thought you had the perfect opening, something always got in the way. Today, though, you were determined.

"I'm good," you said, placing a hand on your stomach unconsciously. "Just, you know, the usual. Busy with work and… stuff."

Spencer's eyes flicked to your hand, and he raised an eyebrow. "Everything okay?"

"Yeah, everything's fine," you replied quickly. Too quickly. "Actually, I was wondering if you wanted to grab lunch together today. I’m starving and, well, I need to eat a little more these days."

He smiled, closing the file in front of him. "Of course. I'd love to."

The small café near the FBI building had become your go-to spot for a quick lunch. The two of you settled into a corner booth, and Spencer started scanning the menu. You, however, couldn't focus on the food. Your mind was racing with the right words to say.

You opened your mouth to tell him, but just as you started, the waitress came and introduced herself, effectively shutting you down. You look down at your hands.

A few moments of silence pass, when you finally built up the courage again.

"Spence, there's something we have to talk about," You look up at him, surprised at how intently he was looking at you. "I'm pr-".

"Here are those drinks, can I get you started on any food?" The waitress appeared out of nowhere. Frustrated, you grit your teeth. Was it this hard for everyone?

"Just a few more minutes please, thanks." Spencer replied, noting your lack of attention.

"So, what are you thinking?" Spencer asked, looking up at you. His question snatched you out of your thoughts. You huffed.

"Oh, I think I'll go for the… um… the turkey sandwich with extra pickles. And maybe a side of fries. And… oh, they have that chocolate milkshake I like. I’ll have one of those too. Gotta keep up my energy, you know, eating for two and all that." You didn't even notice your slip, but Spencer sure did.

Spencer's hand froze mid-air, his eyes widening. "Eating for two?" he echoed.

Your head snapped up and you felt your face pale. "Oh my God, I didn't mean to blurt it out like that," you said, covering your face with your hands.

He hesitated before he spoke again, licking his lips, "Y/n, are you....are you pregnant?" You nodded slowly, "Yes, Spencer. I'm pregnant."

A myriad of emotions flashed across his face—shock, joy, disbelief. He stood up, moving to sit beside you. He was still in a state of shock when he asked, "Do you know how far along?"

You shook your head, "No, but I'd assume 3 months, considering...." Your voice faded off. Spencer's cheeks blushed, it's been 3 months since the 2 of you had 'personal time'.

He huffed a laugh, and threw his arm around you, "We're going to have a baby." He was grinning ear-to-ear.

You laughed through your tears, nodding. "Yes, we are."

Spencer pulled back slightly, looking into your eyes. "This is amazing, Y/N. How long have you known?"

"A few weeks," you admitted. "I was waiting for the right moment to tell you, but it just kept slipping out of my grasp."

"Well, I think this was the perfect way to tell me," he said, smiling.

You leaned into him, feeling the warmth of his embrace.

As you both sat there, holding each other, the world outside seemed to fade away. All that mattered was the love between you and the new life growing inside you.

[hearts4golbach]

Peanut-Butter and Pickles.

Colby Brock x Pregnant!Reader.

The early morning sun seeped in through the mostly closed blinds. i rubbed the sleepiness out of my eyes before resting a hand on my stomach with the other reaching for my phone. i heard the shower sputter to a start. the walls were so thin in this house, i thought to myself as i shakily stood up. i trotted into the bathroom, knocking twice before entering.

colby peeked out from behind the curtain. "Hey, baby. how are you feeling?" his soft tone slightly echoed throughout the bathroom.

"im good," i placed a kiss on his cheek. "Mind if i join you?"

"Anything to save water." he joked, "of course."

i laughed quietly before stripping and getting in with him. one hand laid gently on my stomach. he ran his thumb in circles soothingly. "She's due in about a month." i said, placing my hand over his.

"Oh, i know." he replied matter-of-factly. "i can't wait."

i hummed, my hands intertwining with his. "me either."

colby washed my body, his calloused hands running over every part of my body gently. he took extra care of my stomach, peppering it in kisses and whispering sweet things to our unborn little girl. he kissed my lips passionately, whispering 'i love you's against my lips. i couldnt help but smile, wrapping my arms around his neck as he hugged me.

i got out, letting his finish washing himself, as he insisted. i stayed in the bathroom, doing my skincare while waiting for him to finish up. a twinge of hunger hit me, but not quite what i was expecting. "colbs, do we have peanut butter and pickles?"

he hesitated, "uh, im not too sure. we havent gone grocery shopping in a while."

"shit," i mumbled.

"why, whats up?" he turned off the water and stepped out, "cravings?"

i sighed, "yeah. honestly, i find them annoying."

"Then, let's go to the store." he offered. "it should be open by now."

"really? this early?" i paused, "and, dont you have to focus on editing today?"

his hand met my waist as he kissed my cheek, "That can wait. I'll just stay up later."

"If you're sure," i smiled.

we walked down the aisles, getting our usual items for the house, as well as looking for new things to try.

whenever we had turned the corner and saw peanut butter sitting on the shelf, i felt as if i could start drooling.

i walked my happy ass over to the shelf and grabbed our favorite brand. "is this one okay?"

"Of course," colby laughed, "that's the one we always get, anyway." he pushed the cart closer to me before i tossed it in.

he picked out a couple more things before we went to the cold section. we chose 2 different types of pickles, the dill pickles, and we decided to try the sweet and spicy ones, too.

i rushed him out of the store, far too excited to get home. colby held a small smile on his face the whole time.

walking into the kitchen, colby asked me, "So, what exactly are you thinking?"

"Well, it's just a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. but instead of jelly, it's pickles." i explained as i put up groceries.

"Easy, I'll make it for you." he rubbed my arms, "Go sit down. I'll get the groceries."

"no, oh my god. i dont want you doing all the work." i leaned against the counter, protesting his request.

"y/n, you're carrying my baby that's due in a month. im gonna take away as much stress as i can." his eyebrows furrowed together.

"It's not that big of a deal, babe." i shrugged, "but I'll go sit."

he thanked me before getting to work on the sandwich. i turned on our favorite tv show and patiently waited for him to come join me in the living room. only moments later, Colby walked into the room with two plates. one containing a normal peanut butter and jelly while the other had peanut butter and pickles.

i was extra emotional, seeing as my hormones were going crazy. “oh my god, i love you so much.” i said, nearly choking back tears.

he kissed my forehead, placing the plate in my lap. “i love you so much more.”

[notbecauseofvictories]

It's always like, a sandwich can't be that good, it's just a sandwich, then you're eating one like, holy fuck a sandwich

I mean, I am a devoted sandwich lover. I love sandwiches laden with vegetables; I love wraps with tofu; I love warm tuna melts and subs stuffed with broccoli and open-faced sandwiches heavy with tomatoes and ricotta. I've got sandwiches for summer (camembert, arugula and apple) and sandwiches for winter (chorizo patty melt with pickled jalapenos). Even just a regular old grilled cheese can be elevated with a green and garlick-y spread.

So really, at any given moment my default state is probably holy fuck, a sandwich, regardless of how long it's been since I last ate one.

[stinkfacestories]

The day you found out you had won Jason Kelces Beard Challenge was the best day of your life. The challenge was simple: put together a snap or tiktok video of how to get a beard as good as Jason and the top winner would win a day with Jason. Your video was a long shot: you made a tiktok showing how if you mixed essence of dwarf, with a bit of neanderthal, and just a splash of viking inside Abraham Lincoln's hat and applied it to your face, you'd look as good as Jason. It did t get very many views but Jason loved it. The next thing you knew you were in Philadelphia meeting the man himself at the airport.

The tour of Philadelphia through Jason Kelces eyes was a lot of stops at places he loved to eat. Steak sandwich, sausage, pizza, ice cream. The man just loved to eat. As the day dragged on just as Afternoon turned to evening he took you to Lincoln Field, his home turf. There was no game and the place was locked down, but that was nothing a few signed balls couldn't handle.

He took you to the locker room, the place where he told you he feels most free to be himself. You both sat down on the bench in front of his locker. He took out a case of bud light and cracked one open. The man drank so much bud lite you swore he was sponsored by them.

He told you to be quiet. To just listen to the sound of the room. To drink it in and become one with the soul of real American football.

The only thing you heard was the bench breaking as Kelce leaned forward and let out a fart with a satisfied grunt.

"Oh, sorry," he said, not sounding very sorry.

"Really? " you said. You looked at him, almost appalled that he would do that with you right next to him.

Jason turned and gave you a wink. "Dont tell me you don't find farts funny. Your a guy. All guys love farts." 

You rolled your eyes. "Not really."

"What about this one," he said and let loose a loud bassy fart.

"God stop it, it's so gross," you said as you slid away, but suddenly found yourself pressed against the wall of the locker room. "Seriously dude. What the fuck?"

"C'mon," Jason said as he moved over towards you. “I warned you. Remember when I ate that large sausage with pickled garlic ave said ‘were in trouble later’? What do you think I meant.” and placed a hand on your chest, giving you a bit of a push. "Don't be a prude."

You were caught between a wall, and a wall of beef holding you in place. "Seriously, stop it".

"Can't stop. Won't stop," he said still pressing you in the wall. His eyes were the kind of dull that only cheap low quality beer can make the."You know I bet you never had an older brother. Between me, my dad and Travis we learned to appreciate farts. My dad told me that the best cure is exposure. So to get you up to speed I think I need to gas you more"

He  pressed into you and lifted up his keg and let loose with a fart so powerful it echied through the empty locker room.. You struggled to get away from the horrible stench, but couldn't escape.

"No, don't do this," you said as it overwhelmed you.

He turned around and pressed his huge soft center lineman ass in your face, the soft fabric of his shorts spreading across your face like warm dough. It was too much, and you were powerless to stop it. His asshole flexed and relaxed as it sent out a long drawn out series of wet sounding farts. You gagged as the air around you filled with the horrid odor.

"Fuck that was a good one," he said, not budging an inch. “Three point stance just rips these farts out of me.”

"I think I'm going to puke," you said, trying not to vomit.

"If your gonna puke, aim that way, I like these shorts." he said pointing. "Do you think it's funny yet?"

"No!" You coughed.

"Alright you asked for it" he presses his ass harder, wedging your nose on his cheeks. He let loose with a rapid fire volley of farts that left you breathless and coughing. He backed away, chuckling at you.

"God, fuck, that's rank!" You coughed. You tried to breathe fresh air but the locker room had been total polluted by Kelces ass.

"Come on. You don't have to love them, but you gotta at least admit they are funny and manly now. How can you like football and not think farts are funny." he let you stew and come up with an answer.

"Fuck...no," you say.

He shrugged. "Ok. Your loss," he said and pressed his ass in your face again.

"No! Please. God. No. Fuck!"

"What's it going to take? Do I need to pull my shorts down and give you a bare ass stinkface?" He said, pressing even harder.

"No! No more. Fine. They're fucking funny," you cried.

"What?" He said. "I couldn't hear you"

"They're funny!"

"Now are you just saying that to make me stop?"

"No, I mean it. They are funny and they are manly."

"Well, if it's funny you won't have a problem asking me to do it a few more times so you can properly laugh. Right?"

"Uh...fine. Sure. Just, please, no more, I can't take it."

He turned and farted once. "Laugh. Laugh hard and long and deep." He was getting frustrated that you weren't laughing. "Seriously come on guy. This is just as bad for me as it is for you. It's hard to hold this position and if I keep farting I'm going to have to take a dump soon"

"Oh god no!"

"Laugh dammit!" He yelled.

"No, no, I can't."

"Fine then," he said. He pulled you down and set you face up on the bench. He loomed over you. "Ok big fucking guns time" he pulled down his shorts and hovered his raw hairy bear ass over your face.

"Oh shit, dude please don't!" His as was a beast. This close you could make out the rough skin. His ass had taken a pounding over the years and looked like a hefty bag overfilled with cottage cheese. The hair on his crack was dense and black. 

"Do you think this is funny?"

"Yes, yes, fuck, yes!" You were sobbing, your body convulsing.

“Good. Then you'll find this hilarious.” he sat down. He sat down hard. He rocked back and forth, the wiry hair of his ass crack scouring your face. He dug deep like he has an itch he was trying to scratch.

"Laugh. C'mon. Laugh, laugh like a big boy." He said, simultaneously belching and farting.

"Ahahaha!" You started crying and laughing.

"Oh fuck. What a fucking cry baby. Laughing at farts is supposed to be funny. Not sad."

"I'm sorry," you sobbed.

"Just...fucking stop," he said, standing and pulling up his shorts as he got off you. "Baby can't handle a grown man's ass. Jesus fuck"

He sat down next to you. You were still shaking a little, tears coming from your eyes. "I'm sorry," you said.

"It's fine, it's not the first time I've gassed someone like that," he said. "your not the only one who cried either "

You sniffed, still wiping tears away. "It was just so...overwhelming. The smell, and the sound, and the pressure..."

"It was a lot. It was," he said.

He drained his bud light and crushed the can. "Ok second chance to get it right." He leaves forward and farted, then looked to you to see your reaction.

You laughed. A genuine laugh. "Fuck, dude."

He smiled and farted again. You kept laughing. "It's funny, isn't it?"

"Yeah. It is," you said, laughing some more.

"Now you" he said 

You panicked. You didn't have to fart. You were to nervous.

"What the hell. Do it"

"I don't know if I can," you said.

"Come on. Do it. Do it" he chanted.

"I can't."

"You trying to make me mad? You're a guy. You should always be ready to let rip"

"But I'm not drunk like you are. And I'm not a fucking monster with an ass like yours."

"Fine, then, let's fix that." He reached down and ripped a huge one. He reached for his phone and placed a call "Trav. Yeah we got an emergency. Yeah get that chili defrosted and get some real cheap beer. Ooooh and some gas station food. Yeah he's a wimp. Didn't laugh. No he did. Fuck no she can't come to.  Alright. Love you. No homo" he hung up the phone.

"Your brother's coming over?"

"Yup. And he's gonna be pissed if you don't laugh when he cuts one. He loves farts. And he's got an ass that could kill a guy."

"Wait..."

"We're going to our man cave. It's a cabin in the woods. Just guys. Strict no pants policy. You better hope Trav remembered his boxers. You are gonna learn to love being a man like us and become the third Kelce brother, or you ain't leaving that shack."

"What's it going to be like," you said, afraid, but also excited.

"Oh, you're gonna hate every minute, and you're gonna love every minute."

"Fuck. I'm going to get wrecked, aren't I?"

"Oh definitely. We will probably fuck up your head so much. You're going to end up with a fetish for this."

You laughed.

All you could do was laugh.

[petermorwood]

This is - or more correctly these are - Garlic-Stuffed Chicken(s) for a Darthene "autumn table" as mentioned in "The Door Into Sunset". There's more in-world info, and an our-world recipe, at the link.

*****

What happened was this:

We'd taken some okay photos for the first iteration of this recipe, but since then we've got actual photography base- & back-boards, more props in the form of dishes, glasses, cutlery etc. and, TBH, better photography skills as well. :->

So when @dduane decided we should take a second run at the pictures, she went for the smaller roast chickenS (plural) as mentioned In The Text, rather than the single large one of last time. This was not only more accurate, but allowed for photos showing One Carved, One Untouched As Yet.

What with one thing and another, they were prepared and cooked quite late in the day. Neither of us felt like eating a roast chicken dinner just then, despite a scent, and judicious not-seen-by-the-camera samplings which indicated that These Were GOOD.

In any case the daylight of an overcast mid-September evening was already beginning to fail. We've got a pair of small, cheap photo LEDs, but haven't yet started to make proper use of them. TBH it's time to haul them out, plug them in and do a batch of practice shots. That way we don't have to rely on the natural light of which we'll be getting less and less between now and Spring.

*****

So the chickens were popped into the fridge until morning, then hauled out and left to come back up to room temp. They've have been great hot from the oven, but eaten cold didn't matter since that's how they'd have been presented In The Text.

(The Middle Kingdoms may have some way to keep foods hot - the Romans certainly did - but since that's not mentioned, we didn't worry.)

There was an additional benefit from their very long post-cooking rest: everything including the stuffing had stablised, so the chicken we carved sliced like bread and gave us this wonderful image.

The tracklement to the left is (are?) Sweet & Hot Pickled Orange Slices, as mentioned in the 90,000-word novella "The Librarian", currently in its final stages of completion, while the country-style bread is the same as was used for the stuffing, there to either chase gravy and juices, or be the base of an open-faced chicken sandwich.

*****

Idle thought. Is it really a sandwich if there's no top slice of bread and, since the Earldom of Sandwich is in England not the Middle Kingdoms, who cares? Far better to have another, this time with more garlic stuffing. You have to keep the vampires who are moving west on Ventura Boulevard at bay somehow...

This chicken is indeed excellent as part of a cold collation, but to confirm my notion of the night before I made a gravy from the pan juices, then reheated a generous slice of meat and stuffing by invocation of a small Wreaking through the mystic powers of our Molecular Agitation Cabinet.

In other words, I gave it about two minutes in the microwave.

It is, frankly, even better hot, because the scent of garlic is that much more pronounced. However, the stuffing fell apart. One minute a picturesque slab of variegated marble, the next a random disassembly of tasty chunks.

Carving one of these chickens hot from the oven might have a similar result, but no matter. IMO the multiplicity of absorbent surfaces are perfect for catching more gravy so, as usual, what's not a bug is a feature.

Or however they'd say it in Darthen.

[briefinquiries]

Luke Alvez x Reader: Hormones

Description: You're feeling not-so-yourself during your pregnancy and Luke reassures you. 

Word count: 1.2k

Warnings: none

You were sprawled out on the couch, head resting on Luke’s lap. One of his hands was softly stroking your hair while the other rested lightly on your baby bump. The baby gave a little kick, causing the both of you to smirk.

“You hungry?” Luke asked in a raspy, tired voice. You sighed a bit. You had been a bit bummed out with all the baby weight you’d been gaining. And despite the growing human inside of your belly, you couldn't help but wonder if you should be trying to cut back. But between stress, hormones, and cravings, you were continuously losing that battle.

“I guess.”

“So, yes?” Luke chuckled. You nodded and lifted yourself off from him with a groan.

He quickly got up and looked down at you.

“Any requests?”

“Sandwich, please,” you offered him a weak smile.

Luke nodded then kneeled down. He placed his lips on yours before standing back up and walking into the kitchen to get the food.  

You grabbed the remote to turn up the volume of the TV, barely hearing Luke return shortly after with a sandwich. 

He placed the plate on the coffee table. “Anything else, baby?“

"Do we still have chips?” You asked. He smiled and nodded. “Oh and those pickle spears you bought,” you quickly added.

“Yes ma'am.”

“And can you grab the peanut butter?” By this time Luke turned around to look at you, an amused smile smeared across his face. “Oh and…..and….” You couldn’t continue talking as tears started to cloud your eyes. Almost instantly, your face crumpled, tears spilling the second you blinked. By instinct, you cover your face with your hands, hiding your embarrassment to the best of your ability.

“Baby–” Luke quietly muttered as he walked towards you. He got on his knees in front of you, splaying his large palms across the tops of your thighs. “Hey, hey, hey.”

"God… I’m so– Damnit, I don’t even know,” you sputtered, shaking your head.

“So what, baby?” Luke moved his hands from your thighs to your wrists. He gently tugged, attempting to move them away from your face. “Hey, look at me.”

Sighing defeatedly, you let Luke guide your arms down, showcasing your tear-stricken cheeks and pouty lips. 

“What’s this all about?” he asked gently, eyes concerned, yet still adoring as they raked over you. God, even in the state you were in, you could tell how much this man loved you.  

You tried to take a steadying breath, otherwise you’d never be able to speak. “I have gained,” you said slowly, “so much weight lately. And I just…” more tears slid down your cheeks. “I don’t feel– I don’t feel pretty anymore.”

“Baby–” Luke murmured agonizingly, his eyebrows furrowing into a fine line.

“I’m huge, yet I still can’t stop eating.”

“You’re pregnant,” he said simply, as if that explained everything. 

“I’m huge even for a pregnant lady,” you said decidedly. “I’m disgusting. I feel it– I look it. I just… I don’t know how I’m supposed to do this for another three months.”

Luke sighed. “I know it’s not fair you have to do this part alone,” he empathized. 

“What if–” you opened and then re-closed your mouth quickly, snapping it shut animatedly. 

“What?” he urged you to continue. 

You shook your head. 

“Babe, please talk to me.”

Finally, you sighed. “What if you’re not attracted to me after all of this. I knew things would change, but my body is going to look entirely different. What if you don’t like it?”

Before he had a chance to answer, you continued. “It’s just– I’ve gained so much weight, and not just in my stomach–” you slapped your hands against your legs. “My legs rub. God, I’ve gone through like five pairs of leggings because I keep wearing holes in the thigh.” 

Luke scoffed, “I’ll buy you an infinite supply of leggings.”

“That’s impossible,” you pouted back. “And my boobs–” you moved your hands so that they cupped your breasts. “My boobs are exploding.”

Luke smirked. “If you’re waiting for me to complain about that one, you’re going to be waiting a while.”

Your face dropped. “Did you have complaints about how they were before?” You felt the tears starting to well up in your eyes again as the hormones rushing through your body took absolute control. 

“What?” Luke asked, bewildered. “No, baby, that’s not at all what I was saying.”

“What if they go back to normal after I have this baby, are you not going to like them anymore?” Your cheeks grew hot as you continued to cry.

“C’mon,” Luke said helplessly. He gave you a pleading look. “Of course I will-”

“What if I get saggy–” You continued to ramble, practically hysterical at this point. “What if my stomach gets even bigger after I have the baby because I stress eat? What if–” you swallowed a hiccup. “What if you don’t like me anymore? What if you’re not attracted to me anymore?”

“Baby, stop,” Luke said sternly, finally getting you to snap your mouth shut. He let go of your hands and moved to cup the sides of your face. “C’mon, baby. I love you so much. I love your body, too. God, you are so, so beautiful. And I’m always going to love it, even when it changes. Not just for how it looks, but because it’s part of you. Your body is what lets me hold you, it’s what lets us do things together. I mean, Christ, it’s growing us a child, right now. That’s so fucking amazing– your body is fucking amazing. And as long as your body lets me do this,” Luke leaned forward and planted his lips firmly against yours. It was a quick kiss– executed purely to make a point. But even still, when he pulled away, you felt breathless. “As long as your body lets me do that, I will love it in any size, shape, or form it wants to be in.”

And because he knew you were stubborn, he continued, “That means I’m going to love every inch of you, forever, no matter what. Fat, skinny, saggy.” 

He wiped the tear that was falling down your cheek. “I know your body doesn’t feel like yours right now. And I know you’re tired and uncomfortable, and I also know that even though I know all of that, I don’t understand it. And I’m sorry that I can’t do anything to make any of that better. But I love you and I will always want you.”  

Your lips trembled, your voice breaking as you spoke. “Promise?”

Luke let out a shaky laugh. “I promise. I promise with everything inside of me. I mean, you’re carrying my baby, my child.” He leaned down and pressed a kiss to your stomach. “You’re gonna make me a dad– I’m going to owe my whole life to your body. Cause that’s what you and this kid are going to be, baby. My entire life.”

You were teary eyed, but for a different reason this time.  

“I’m sorry I get so crazy sometimes,” you whispered. You reached for his hand, lacing your fingers through his. 

Luke lifted your knuckles to his mouth, where he placed a soft kiss against your skin. “You’re not crazy, you’re pregnant,” he said. 

[thescarletnargacuga]

Okay so like I know you don’t do art but like could we have a short fic of Raceway Pomni trying to eat a burger in piece while literally everyone interrupts her?

I am slightly obsessed over your raceway au….

A/N: I have actual tears in my eyes. You're the very first person to submit an ask about Raceway! You have no idea what this means to me. A part of me was starting to think that Raceway was too boring to be engaging... Thank you

BURGER

A RACEWAY AU ONESHOT

AU by yours truly

WARNING: NONE

~~~

Pomni stood in front of the dining room table in the racer's garage. Hands in her hips she calls for the bubble chef. "Hey, could I get a burger?"

A bubble assistant wearing a chef hat appeared. "Why, yes you can!" A single beef patty materialized and plopped onto the table.

Pomni gives the bubble a deadpan glare. "I would like more than just the burger patty. Please."

"You'll have to be specific." Bubble said with a toothy smile.

"Fine. Lettuce, onion, pickle, ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise, cheese. That specific enough for you?"

The listed condiments piled onto the burger patty unceremoniously. Pomni facepalmed. "The bun, bubble. The bun."

"Well, why didn't you say-"

"JUST GiVE ME THE [%$!#] BUN!" Pomni snapped.

"Yeesh, someone's hangry."

A bun popped into existence, sandwiching the pile of burger together neatly. Pomni grumbled to herself as she took her burger towards the lounge to eat in comfort. "Annoying little- you know what you're doing. Wasting my burger time. How dare."

The door to Gummigoo's room on the second floor loft flew open, startling Pomni. She looked up to see the gummy gator covered in marker and absolutely fuming. He stormed to Jax's room and pounded the door. "I know you're in there you sugar snorting son of a glitch!"

Pomni heard a sniggering voice from the kart line behind her. "Hehe...no, I'm not."

Gummigoo heard and turned to glare over the railing and down to Jax relaxing in his kart seat. "Stop coming into my room and drawing on my face!! So you know how hard this is to remove!?"

"Uh, yeah. It's called permanent marker for a reason." Jax smirked. "Of course, if you'd rather do something else when I visit... I'm open to suggestions." He winked.

Gummigoo's face flushed and he snorted. "You think you're funny!?"

"And fabulous." Jax taunted.

"Oh my GOD would you two get a room!?" Zooble loudly complained from her favorite pinball machine in the lounge.

"Gummigoo said I could have his." Jax grinned, enjoying every second Gummigoo was flustered. He was too easy to mess with.

"YOU WISH!!" Gummigoo shouted, blushing beyond belief.

Pomni did her best to ignore the shouting and had a seat in one of the plush recliners. She opened her mouth to have a bite when she felt something crawling up her back. She jumped out of the chair and brushed herself off in a ick-ed out panic. A bead necklace looking bug, fell off to the floor. "Ugh...KINGER! I FOUND MELISSA!"

"Oh, yay!" Kinger popped up from behind the pool table. "She's been missing all morning. Thank you, Pomni." There was a smile in his eyes as he collected his favorite insect.

Pomni sat back down in a huff and tried to eat. A piece of paper blocked her mouth from touching the burger.

"Look what I drew you!" Gangle proclaimed, holding the art directly in Pomni's face.

Pomni tasted the crayon and spluttered. "Bleh- um...thanks." It was a rather nice drawing of her. She took it and gave Gangle a small smile. Gangle skipped away happily over to Zooble to watch them play pinball.

Pomni looked both ways and behind her to see if anyone else was going to interrupt her meal. Satisfied that everyone else in the garage was busy doing something else, she went in for a bite.

"Pomni!" Ragatha called as she rushed over.

Pomni squeezed her burger so tight, it almost fell apart. "What??"

"I have such an exciting thing to tell you! Caine confirmed that Loo will be integrated into every track from today onward because he saw how happy she made me!! Caine is finally taking a hint, ha! Things are actually improving around here!" Ragatha stomped her feet excitedly.

"That's great." Pomni said flatly. It was not burger-interruption worthy news.

"Isn't it!?" Ragatha giddily continued, oblivious to Pomni's silent annoyance. "I could see Loo every day!"

"No one cares about your candy flavored girlfriend, dollface!" Jax heckled.

"Like you're one to talk!" Ragatha snapped back.

"It's not like that, it's just hilarious how angry he gets." Jax looked away.

"I highly doubt that! You tick people off all the time, but he's the only one you openly flirt with and then call it teasing to cover your tracks." Ragatha put her hands on her hips with a satisfied smirk as she watched Jax's face flush a bit.

"Watch it , rags! Or you'll find Carl on your pillow tonight!" Jax growled.

"YOU PUT THAT CENTIPEDE ANYWHERE NEAR ME, I SWEAR-!"

Pomni shot up out of her seat and stormed out of the garage. Enough of this. Enough of everyone. She wants to eat her goddamn burger in peace. She crossed the lawn to the default track. It was a quiet, breezy day. Very peaceful. Artificial wind blew through the grassy indefinite hills, creating shiny waves of green.

She crosses the track to the empty audience stands and throws herself into the first available open seat. Pomni was alone, just her and the refreshing digital day outside. She took a calming breath and went to eat.

"Hello, my dear!" Caine popped into existence next to her.

"AAH-!! WHAT-!?" Pomni tossed her burger. It splattered on the ground in front of the stands.

"Nice day for an outdoor lunch?" Caine raised a brow, confused as to why she just threw her food.

"I wouldn't know." Pomni said, defeated.

"I'm glad you're not busy, because there's something I've been wanting to ask-"

"Race me." Pomni needed to get her frustration out somehow. The track was calling to her raging spirit.

"What?" Caine gasped.

"You heard me. Everyone wants to talk to me so bad, to the point that I literally lose my lunch! You know what, you want my attention? Earn it."

Her intense look gave Caine chills. She was always beautiful to him, but especially when she was fired up. He snapped his fingers and their karts appeared at the start line of the track. "After you."

Pomni marches from her seat to her kart. Caine flew over, his kart starting on its own when he took his seat. The start line comes alive, lighting up with colorful displays. Engines rev as Bubble appears to do the honors of the start lights. "Racers ready?"

Caine and Pomni look at each other with determined smirks and nod.

Bubble stuck out their tongue, the starting light hanging from it.

First light...

Pomni gripped the steering wheel tight.

Second light...

Another rev for good measure, the roar of the engine exciting her.

Third light...

She catches Caine's glance again at the last second and kisses at him.

GREEN!!

Caine is completely caught off guard and bungles his start. Pomni takes off laughing. He shifts gears with a grin. "God, I love her." He puts the pedal to the floor, his tires scream and golden flames fly out of the tailpipes as he rockets after her.

[hsuhaohsuhaohsuhao]

Im coming to u guys with a deal, and im coming to u guys first because I trust that u arent going to screw me on this one. To cut it to the chase I invented a new kind of sandwich that I think could be very big, and very very big for your wallet if you get in on the ground floor of this.

Point is, the sandwich is called the three tenets, which are the three pickle slices u can see on the sandwich, and by the way the sandwich is open faced. Under it is a melted cheddar cheese, and some butter, which is more crucial than u could ever imagine.

Its really easy to make, u dont even need a SLICE of cheddar cheese, a HUNK will work as well, since when u throw the whole tuing in the microwave the hunk will melt down to the shape u see in the picture anyway. I wanted to get a more intimate second shot of the sandwich but I ended up taking a bite, irresistible sandwich u can tell...

Margins on this are awesome. Its really cheap to make, if ur making sandwiches it only takes one slice of bread which means double the sandwich and pickles which most people r asking for u to take off anyway i bet and cheese is goodstuff, yeah, but thats the only expensive bit not meat or anything. I bet u have plenty of butter laying around too, or a butter substitite like margarin. Dont worry, i wont tell. Different cheeses, doesnt have to be cheddar...any tenet will work as well but i highly dont recommend using something other than pickle, hard to get your hands on a lot of really salty stuff like it, which u need to keep people coming back for more, basically addictide. Another about this sandwuich is how versatile it is - just like the deal im offering U...;

This is exclusive on the up+up, u cant sell this sandwich without my permichin, so im selling permichin. The margins on this are so good, u wont even notice taking my cut on your sandw sales.  

So what do u say, are we doing this ..?

[pinkhoneydrop]

The Pickle Theory

[ A/n ] - something quick i thought about after i saw a video of Harry saying he likes pickels lol

[ Pairing ] - Harry Styles x Reader!

[ Genre ] - fluff

[ Masterlist ]

One Saturday a month you and Harry spend the entire night on the couch in your apartment watching A random show. This month you decided on a romcom. You also switch off on who makes dinner. Tonight, Harry made his “famous” sandwiches. How are they “famous” you ask? He never tells you and you always laugh because they just taste like regular sandwiches. But how could you say that to him? He’s so sweet when he announces it from your kitchen. The sound of the fridge opening and closing in the background as you flip through Netflix.

“You’re so cute when you do that.” Harry’s laugh filled the air as you looked down at your sandwich. Two slices of bread, two slices of chicken, some lettuce, a slice of tomato and pickles. You made a face as you adjusted the plate in your lap and set the food down.

“Do what? What did I do?” Your expression morphed quickly at his statement. Harry just continued to laugh as you looked to him to continue. Nothing more was said and after a few more attempts you gave up going back to your sandwich. Harry watched with a cheeky smile ignoring the movie playing in the background.

First you open it, inspecting the contents and then moving about the insides. Methodically lifting lettuce and moving the meat slices to get to the culprit of your dissection. Your nose scrunched up and you took the green bits between your fingers and set them aside.

“That, you made that face when you tasted the pickle. Little nose goes all scrunched and you frown, s’cute.” Harry spoke between bites as you removed the pickles from the other side as well. Peering at him through your peripheral vision you uncrunched your nose and sighed.

“What’s so cute about how I feel about sour bits in my sandwich?” You were dead serious. You’ve had an aversion to them since you were small and never grew out of it. To you there was nothing worse than a giant pile of pickles on a sandwich. Or even when they get wedged beside a burger. The odd part is that Harry knows this about you. So why would he put a pickle on your sandwich anyway?

“Nasty little things.” You shut the sandwich and took a big bite to punctuate the thought. Harry smiled and reached over. His fingers pulled them from your plate and put them onto his own. He basked in your distaste and reveled in your discovery.

“Well, I like the nasty little things just fine.” A flat smile lined his lips as you stared at him. Your eyes followed as he copied you in reverse and added the sour slices to his sandwich. Shaking your head, you took a sip of your shared drink. Another couple tradition the two of you started.

“We know you like them. But why are they on my sandwich?” You grumbled playfully as you looked up at him with your sandwich gripped in one hand.

Harry chuckled to himself again.

“Know you did it on purpose.”  You mumbled into a straw you placed at your lips before taking another sip of the drink. With a soft roll of his eyes Harry watched you drink more.

“Stop hogging the lemonade.” Harry made a playful frown and reached for the cup before you finished causing dribbles of juice to land on your chin.

“Y’know you do that a lot.” He started as he set the cup down.

“What? Hog the drinks we’re supposed share.” You laugh while wiping the droplets off your face. Harry shook his head before he replied.

“Take the pickles off of everything. Why don’t you just tell people to leave them off.”

“We’ll, I don’t like them, but I know you do. that’s why I get them.” You looked at him and smiled. You wondered to yourself how many times he’s caught you making that face when you accidentally eat one. The thought makes heat rise to your cheeks. You weren’t kidding when you said you get them because he likes them. You’ve been doing that since your first date. Harry just looked at you as you smiled at him.

“That’s why I did it. Were like Marshall and Lily, it’s what makes us a good match.” He spoke smoothly and sat back further into the couch. You nodded doing the same with a smirk on your lips. So that’s where he got this idea from. The fucking olives from How I Met Your Mother. The two of you binged a few episodes that month.

“Never letting you watch How I Met Your Mother, ever again.” You joked and took the cup of lemonade for yourself.  While his idea was a little far-fetched being that it’s supposed to be about olives not pickles, some part of it felt like it could be true. Something so insignificant as sharing a pickle on a sandwich bringing people together.

“Yeah, yeah just finish your sandwich. Slaved in the kitchen to bring you high quality meals.” Harry raised his brow dramatically and his dramatics almost rivaled that of the actors on the screen.

“Oh hush, you’re lucky I like you.”

“And you’re lucky I like pickles.”

[rahuratna]

Get that Bread, Sir

Written for the Foodies and Goodies challenge, created by the amazing @tsukimefuku !

Ijichi hummed tunelessly, his fingers tapping out a rhythm on the steering wheel. Today was going to be a relatively stress-free day, a rarity in his line of work. And it was a Monday too. A stress-free Monday … practically unheard of! He owed it all to his overly diligent handling of the paperwork from the missions last week. He’d put in some overtime and managed to complete all outstanding tasks before the end of the day on Friday.

Friday afternoon had seen him exhausted, but happy and accomplished. He’d even managed to enjoy his weekend. And today … well. Nanami had requested his assistance on a mission in a quiet suburb, located an hour away from Shinjuku. The research had been run-of-the-mill and the file he’d compiled was handed over to Nanami with confidence that the information would guide him well.

Now, all he had to do was ensure that Nanami reached each location on time and make sure that the hard working first grade sorcerer had something to eat when he returned to the car. Speaking of which …

Ijichi checked his watch and nodded. It was almost lunch time. Nanami would probably complete his work at the marked location within the hour. It was time to go and buy him a meal.

Setting the car in gear, he pulled away from the kerb and drove slowly through the town centre, searching for any restaurants or seven-elevens that looked promising. Ijichi knew that Nanami preferred sandwiches, but was also partial to most food, provided that the ingredients were of good quality. He exclaimed softly as he spotted a small, but neatly kept deli on the corner, adjoining a bakery to the right. It looked like the perfect place to buy Nanami what he preferred.

Pulling up, he parked and hopped out, glancing up at the awning over the deli. It read “Sugimoto’s Slice of the Day”. The small board standing outside advertised that day’s specials: a pork cutlet sandwich, served with salad and a free coffee, and a baked cheese and corn with a pickled garnish and tea. Ijichi’s mouth watered at the thought of the cheese and corn on a cold day like this. He was also sure that Nanami would appreciate the sandwich.

Tugging slightly as his scarf, Ijichi pushed open the door of the deli, a small bell over the entryway tinkling musically as he made his way in. There were a few people in the shop, and he had obviously missed the lunchtime rush. He ordered his cheese and corn at the counter, turning to browse the shelves as he waited. He found some delicious looking croissants, along with a selection of freshly baked madeleines that he had always been partial to. Searching further, he breathed out a small sigh of relief when he saw that there was still one of the pork cutlet sandwiches left. As much as there were other options, this one looked particularly succulent.

As he reached for the sandwich, the bell over the door rang once again. Someone brushed brusquely past him and snatched the sandwich off the shelf, the same one he had been about to grasp. Ijichi turned, indignant, but the sudden hush that had descended over the store gave him pause. The person who had grabbed the sandwich was a stunning woman in a fitted maroon top and dark jeans, the sparkling diamond earrings she wore offset against her lush raven hair. She was obviously known in the area, because the quiet in the store was quickly broken by whispers and glances in her direction. The woman in question was looking at Ijichi as if he were a worm that had crawled out from under a rock.

“Problem?” she questioned, archly.

Now, Ijichi was normally a well-mannered, placid man who would not court trouble of any kind. Under other circumstances, he may have backed down and exited the store without comment, but there was something about this woman’s manner of speech and the way she looked at him, with that small, mocking smile, that rubbed him the wrong way. Not to mention, Ijichi had had to face down Gojo on a daily basis at work. Whoever this lady was, she certainly wasn’t in the league of the strongest sorcerer of modern times. This fact was what made Ijichi’s posture straighten, and his brows draw together.

“Yes, ma’am, there is a problem.”

She had been half turning away, but his words stopped her in place. Turning to him, one of her perfectly drawn eyebrows raised so high it almost disappeared into her hairline.

“And what, pray tell, may that be?”

“I was about to take that sandwich when you grabbed it. In a very ill-mannered way, might I add. I’d appreciate it if you put that sandwich down.”

She looked at him incredulously.

“Do you know who I am?”

The whispers around them were growing in volume. Ijichi’s mouth drew into a stubborn line.

“No, I’m afraid I don’t.”

The woman uttered a sharp bark of laughter. She didn’t bother responding to Ijichi, merely jerking her head at the burly man who seemed to be her companion. Ijichi noted that the man carried what looked like high-end filming equipment, an expensive video camera in his hand. ‘Muscles’, as Ijichi dubbed him in his mind, turned and shoved his bulk behind the woman, allowing her to progress to the counter unhindered.

Oh no. No, no. Not today.

Ijichi was not quite sure what came over him then. Perhaps it was the fact that they were in a small town which he was not likely to visit again. Perhaps it was the fact that none of the other sorcerers or any of his work colleagues were nearby. Maybe the miso soup he’d eaten for breakfast contained some special ingredient that gave him daring.

Grabbing one of Muscle’s elbows, Ijichi manoeuvred past him with ease, his sorcerer training coming in handy. In the same motion, he snatched the sandwich out of the woman’s hand, giving her no time to protest before he slapped some money down on the counter, grabbed his order of cheese and corn, and dashed out the door.

“Hey! You – “

“What the – “

“Get back here!”

“How dare you! Satou, get him!      

For all their posturing, Ijichi was a lot faster than Muscles, who he now knew as Satou. By the time people had been pushed out of the way and the bakery door slammed open, Ijichi was already behind the wheel, pulling away from the kerb, swinging the steering expertly. In his rearview mirror he saw the woman grab the video camera away from her companion as they clambered into a white van with some kind of mural on the side. He noted that she had lifted the camera, from where she sat in the passenger seat, and seemed to be filming his car.

Oh no, you don’t.

Accelerating away, Ijichi took one hand off the wheel, raising his index and middle finger in front of him.

“Emerge from the darkness, blacker than darkness … “

Of all the jujutsu techniques, summoning a veil was the one that Ijichi was most proficient at. Although not possessing a huge amount of cursed energy, control and manipulation of the little he had had always been his strength. He could manipulate cursed energy to the point that he could make smaller, condensed curtains over objects and people of his choice. He used that ability now to shroud his car, such that any identifying factors would be impossible to record on camera.

Eat that, lady.

The country roads were winding and empty, allowing Ijichi to use his far superior driving skills to navigate the tricky turns and sharp bends with ease. Although his pursuers would probably be far more familiar with the area, they were no match for a Jujutsu Tech assistant determined to leave them in the dust. Ijichi eventually lost them, pulling to a stop in slightly concealed cul-de-sac. He consulted his GPS, nodding in satisfaction when he realised that he was not far from Nanami’s pick up point.

Emerging slowly from the cul-de-sac, Ijichi drove to Nanami’s location. Standing tall and intimidating in his longer-length warm coat, blonde hair gleaming in the winter sun, Nanami cut a distinctive figure standing on the sidewalk. Ijichi hoped that nobody would connect their arrival in town with the … incident.

Seeing the car, Nanami raised a hand and approached, clambering into the back seat. He exhaled heavily and worked the tension out of his neck.

“Successful mission, Nanami?”

“Yes. No issues. All targets at the location have been exorcised.”

Succinct as always, Nanami relaxed into the cushioned seat with a sigh and rubbed the bridge of his nose. Having known the man for this long, Ijichi knew that there was only one thing that could fix that fatigue. He was one of the very few who was privy to the sight of Nanami surrounded by breads and snacks of various kinds, the chiselled, angular face bulging slightly at the cheeks like a hamster as the sorcerer helped himself to the things that made him most happy.  

Contrary to the stoic and cold demeanour Nanami showed most others, he was kind and generous with many things, including his food. He would often share with Ijichi and had even remembered all of Ijichi’s favourites. This was why Ijichi had gone through such lengths to procure that sandwich today. This man, of all sorcerers, was worth the effort. Reaching for the parcel in the passenger seat, he handed the wrapped sandwich to Nanami.  

“Here you go. It’s a pork cutlet sandwich, with salad. There’s also coffee in the cup holder and some croissants. Still warm!”

“Ah, thank you.”

It was extremely subtle, but Nanami perked up immediately and unwrapped the sandwich, taking a large bite followed by a quick, satisfied sip from the coffee cup. Ijichi smiled and put the car in gear once again, heading for the interchange that would lead them back to Tokyo.

“Have you eaten, Ijichi?”

“Err … not yet. I’m not that hungry. I’ve got something for myself though, so I’ll warm it up at the next stop.”

He couldn’t exactly let Nanami know his reasons for wanting to book it out of that town as soon as possible.

____________________________________________________

Of course, things never worked out that smoothly for him.

Somehow, the story reached even a few news sources in Tokyo. The strange tale of the well-known morning magazine show host, Maeda Yoshino, who had been robbed of her sandwich by a mysterious dark-suited man. What drew the audience in wasn’t so much the bread snatching, but the fact that on the recorded footage, the car had been obscured by a dark cloud that was shaped suspiciously like a raised middle finger.

Yoshino and her assistant had insisted that they hadn’t seen such a cloud surrounding the car during the chase, but had never closed the gap enough to take the registration number. Yoshino appeared on TV, indignantly describing how the man had grabbed the last speciality pork cutlet sandwich right out of her hand.  

Ijichi tried his best to avoid Nanami at work, knowing full well that the wily sorcerer would take no time at all to figure the situation out. It appeared that he had not been entirely successful there either. Coming in to work one morning, he paused as he noted a parcel on his desk. Opening it, he found a beautifully prepared pork cutlet sandwich with a note stuck to the packaging.

Next time, we’ll just go for yakiniku.

Nanami.

@strawberry1042 @darkfaerietails @Jay220a @fattybattysblog @suguru-nugget @senseifupa @aleigant @gigiculona

[staciesometimeswrites]

Right as Rain - A Buck/Tommy Fic

Thank you to @rowsandrowsofnothing for a prompt to help me get my mind off the shitshow that is the US right now. (If you'd like me to not tag you please let me know.)

Prompt: “cat distribution system hits Buck”

It was midafternoon when Buck checked the clock. Tommy had left for work hours ago, and seeing as he had the day off, and had been spending more time here than at his loft, Buck decided to help Tommy out by doing a few of the things on his ever growing laundry list of chores. Being a first responder himself, Buck understood just how hard upkeep could be and he lived in a loft; he couldn’t even imagine having a whole ass house to take care of.

Being just after noon, Buck decided that it was probably time to stop and eat lunch, so he finished polishing the kitchen counter he’d been working on before dumping his cleaning rag aside and setting the cleaning chemicals a safe distance from his food prep area. Going into Tommy’s fridge, he pulled out supplies for one hell of a hoagie, multiple deli meats and cheeses, pickles and black olives and who knew what else. What? He was a big boy with a big appetite and he needed to eat.

Piling the split bun high, he returned everything to the fridge and grabbed a beer, one of Tommy’s fancy craft beers that he loved so much. (And that Buck was coming to appreciate; a Coors was good but he could appreciate the nuance of… better beers.) Snorting, he used the bottle opener under the counter to pop the cap and took a swig as he sashayed his way out of the kitchen towards the back door. On the way, placing his beer in the crook of his arm, he picked up the book he’d been working on. With a grin he pushed out the back patio door and headed straight for the lounge chairs.

Tommy had a few super comfortable lounge chairs long enough to accommodate their huge bodies with a small hand carved wrought iron table between them. Setting his beer and book down, Buck cozied himself up on the chair he was beginning to think of as his, the one on the left facing the lawn, before placing his food in his lap. He tilted the chair up just right, not straight up and down but not laid out on his back either.

Not a few minutes later he had his book held out in front of him with his sandwich alternating with his beer at his mouth. It tasted just as amazing as he thought it would. The sun felt warm, not hot, against his neck, and the air was quiet except for the occasional flutter of bird wings or the chitter of a squirrel. Buck was at maximum relaxation.

That was until he heard a familiar, yet not, kind of sound from the bushes that fenced in his boyfriend's backyard. The first time he heard it, he looked up and shrugged before returning to his book - things were just heating up - when thirty seconds later he heard it again. Being a first responder, his ears had been trained to pick up on the faintest signs of life. Frowning, he snapped his book closed and set his plate down on the patio table. Slinging his legs over the side of the chair, he stood and approached the bushes slowly, straining his ears hard.

There it was again. A pitiful, mewling sound. His heart picked up speed.

“Hello?” He called out as he began pawing through the brush, wishing he’d brought his phone so he could use the flashlight to see into the shadows. There was no response and he began to think he’d misheard when he heard it again, much clearer. A plaintive, pained, mewl of an animal. “Shit.” He breathed, eyes going wide. Frantically he began to push aside the branches, not caring about the way that they scratched up his bare arms. “Here kitty, kitty. I got you.” He tried not to sound panicked. Although he was a bit more of a dog guy, he was an animal guy at heart and he would never leave one to suffer if he could help it. And this baby sounded like he was in pain. “Where are you sweetheart?” He hissed, checking every nook and cranny but coming up empty.

Until he saw them - a gleaming pair of bright green eyes attached to a void that blended in so deeply he’d have missed it if the poor thing hadn’t had them open. His pupils were blown so big that there was only a rim of green visible. When the cat spotted Buck, he howled and scrabbled for him, reaching out a paw that was covered in muck and… Blood. That was definitely blood along its claws. Buck drew in a sharp breath as he felt his heart cracking in two.

“It’s okay, buddy. I’ve got you. Okay? Just hold on. I’ve got you.” Using his broad shoulders he pushed aside the bushes until he had a clear shot before reaching out to wrap his hands around the tiny body. Immediately he knew that the poor thing was likely malnourished, and possibly even dehydrated; Buck could practically count its ribs and every knob along its itty bitty spine. Tears pricked in his eyes but he held them back by sheer force of will. With trained precision, he extracted the creature from its possible tomb, cradling it to his chest. One of his, Buck checked, paws hung at an odd angle and he had been right about the blood. It seemed that the baby had been trying to claw his way out for who knows how long, or had possibly been running from something before getting stuck in the brambles.

Buck’s heart melted when he turned his head and stared up at him, mewing quietly as his one good front paw attempted to make biscuits on his pecs. “Oh aren’t you just the cutest little thing. What the heck happened to you?” Cooing, Buck petted the creature from the tip of its nose, all the way down its spine. “What should I do with you?” He sighed. “I guess we should at least get you cleaned up and take you to the vet. See if you have a chip or anything.” The cat slow blinked at him, and Buck felt when his little engine started to roar, vibrating his entire little body. Grinning, Buck shook his head and made his way back inside, leaving his lunch out on the patio. The local wildlife could have what was left of it.

In one of Tommy’s bathrooms, he made the cat comfortable on a pile of towels as he half filled the sink with lukewarm water and some Dawn dish soap. He kept a watchful eye on his new friend, making sure he didn’t seem to be in too much pain while he waited. The pitiful thing just kept on purring and making tiny little biscuits, occasionally chirruping when he saw Buck watching. Cursing his soft heart, but not really, Buck once more picked up the cat, grabbing gently at his scruff as he lowered him into the water. To his shock, the animal didn’t fight him in the slightest. He even seemed to breathe out his own sign of relief. Buck could only assume the heat felt good on its aching front limb.

For the next forty or so minutes, Buck scrubbed and scrubbed at the cat's fur, refilling the sink innumerable times as the dirt, grime, and blood sloughed off. When the water eventually ran clear, Buck bundled him up into the fluffiest towel he could find, which wasn’t all that fluffy, as Tommy seemed to subscribe to the idea that men used sandpaper, and not clouds, to dry off. He couldn’t help but chuckle at that as he squeezed out the excess water before gently wrapping the little one up into a purrito and setting him on the counter to dry as he made some phone calls to find a vet that would be able to get him in immediately.

Once the cat was mostly dry and had been fed half a can of fresh tuna, and drank down an ocean’s worth of water, they were off to the vet. In the front seat, still bundled in a blanket, the cat fell fast asleep as if it knew it was safe. Taken care of. At every stop sign or light, Buck would reach over and scritch behind its velvety soft ears or run his finger down the bridge of its tiny baby nose. Once at the vet, the little bundle was received as well as a pallet of gold. The techs cooed at him and consoled him over his hurt little paw, lamenting how anyone could do such a thing to such a sweet baby. He lapped it up, head bunting anyone that so much as looked his way.

Once in their room, the vet came to take a look. “Well,” he was an elderly man with graying hair and kind brown eyes - his brown skin leathery and soft with sun exposure and accent think - “this little guy is lucky you found him. On its own, it’s nothing too serious, but if he had continued to struggle for much longer, I’m afraid either the damage would’ve been irreparable or he could’ve gotten an infection from all the micro cuts on, and near, his claws.” He stroked down his back, grinning. “I don’t know why they say black cats are bad luck because I’m pretty sure you’re the luckiest kitty alive.” The cat squinted at him and purred louder. Chuckling, the vet turned and grabbed a small apparatus from the counter behind him. The screen lit up as he explained, “We’ll do a quick check to see if he’s chipped and then I’ll bring him back to get a cast to set that front paw. After that, assuming he has no owner, you’ll be set to go.”

Buck nodded but for some reason his chest squeezed tight as the doctor ran the chip detector over the cat's neck area. They’d only been together for a few hours but Buck wasn’t sure if he could let the small creature go. It was the owners fault, after all, that the cat ended up this way. Not a minute later the little screen blinked red and Buck let out a relieved breath. “So…?” He didn’t want to get his hopes up but…

“No chip. He’s all yours.” The vet gave him a knowing smile as he bundled up the black cat into his arms. “Now, I’ll be borrowing your sweet little friend,” he scratched under his chin, “for a short while so my techs and I can set his arm. Sound good?” Buck nodded and slumped back into his seat.

The rest of the appointment went by in a whirlwind. While Buck waited for the doc to come back, he started doing his due diligence by making lost and found posts on Facebook and Instagram, and all of the local lost animal pages he could think of. He didn’t want to, but considering how he felt right now at just the thought of letting him go, Buck would never do that to someone else who had a pet they loved. (Even though he still thought they were bad owners for letting their cat out in the first place without supervision.)

If no one responds by midnight tonight… He thought, hitting post on the last message board. Just then a tech came back with his new furry friend, bringing a small card reader with her.

“What a sweetheart!” She exclaimed as she readied the machine. “So for the chip exam, all of his vaccines and the cast…” She laid out the cost. Buck winced a bit at the price tag but he happily paid for it anyway knowing that the innocent thing would get better.

While the machine thought Buck asked, “Do you know how old he is?”

She smiled softly at him. “The doc's best guess is about seven or so? Not elderly but definitely not a youngling either.”

He nodded again. Once he’d gotten the receipt, and they’d said their goodbye’s, they were back in his Jeep and headed for the nearest pet store to spend even more money. And Buck spent like he knew that this baby was his for good. Oh. Did he forget to mention he still hadn’t talked to Tommy about him, and that his loft didn’t allow pets? He hadn’t necessarily been ignoring his phone but his mind had been occupied by other things the last four or so hours!

Both of them exhausted, Buck pulled into Tommy’s driveway. Grabbing only the bare necessities - litter, litter box, and a few toys - both boys dragged themselves into the house. Buck set the little guy down and watched for a minute as his natural curiosity took over and he hobbled around, sniffing at everything. Then Buck grabbed up the litter and such and went to find someone unobtrusive to set it up. To his surprise, his little shadow followed along after him, chirping and meowing all the way. Grinning happily, Buck stopped every few feet to let him catch up and to give his head a pat.

When that was all said and done, Buck went to the living room and made himself comfortable, flipping on the TV as he opened a few of the toys - a crinkle ball and a wand toy. The cat went immediately for the crinkle ball and it was hilarious watching him having to bounce to balance on his back legs while using his good paw to bat it to a fro. Settling in, Buck grabbed the throw blanket that rested on the back of the couch and prepared to veg out until his wayward other half came home.

-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-

“Evan, I’m home.” Tommy called as he dropped his keys into the dish at the door. He’d noticed Evan’s car in the driveway and had been a little surprised to find it still here. Sure, the man had been spending a lot of time at his house but he usually went home for a bit on his days off just to grab the mail and do some cursory cleaning. When there was no reply, he frowned. He could hear the TV so Evan was definitely downstairs.

On soft feet he made his way through the kitchen, past the back door where he spotted an empty plate upturned on the patio and a half full beer bottle on the table, and turned to go into the living room. He stopped cold when what he saw finally registered. His boyfriend was sprawled out on the couch, the tiny throw blanket thrown haphazardly over him, one foot dragging on the floor and the opposite arm bent against the back. But that wasn’t what took him by surprise.

No. That was the furry void curled into the tightest little black hole Tommy had ever seen, minus the neon yellow cast on the paw that stretched out in front of it. Even from where he stood Tommy could hear it as it purred, content and cool as a cucumber. “Evan.” His voice cracked. “Evan.”

“Hmm?” Evan mumbled sleepily as his eyes blinked open, confusion written on his expression before remembering where he was. “Tommy?” He rubbed the sleep out of his eyes and craned his neck back so Tommy could see his baby blues. “Welcome home, babe.”

“Evan. Why is there a cat?” Looking just as confused as Tommy felt, Evan looked down at the fluffy terror on his chest and then back at Tommy.

“I saved him.” He said as though it should be obvious.

Sighing, Tommy approached and crouched down next to the man, running a hand through his curls. “I can see that but… Why is he still here?” Evan’s lips turned down into a frown and oh how his heart squeezed. The Buckley pout was absolutely no joke and Tommy would fold in seconds if he didn’t hold strong.

“Because he had nowhere else to go.” Ope. And there was the bottom lip, even quivering a little just to dig the nail even deeper. “I couldn’t just let him back into the wild.”

Sighing once more, Tommy’s lips turned into a soft smile as he leaned in to press their foreheads together. “Why not bring him to the loft?”

“Because they have a no animal policy.” Tommy felt Evan shift so he could pet the cats back.

“You realize we’re first responders, right? We don’t have time to take care of an animal. Especially not when it's healing and we’ll both be away most of the time. What if something happens when we’re not here?”

Evan stayed quiet for an exceedingly long time before he muttered, so quiet Tommy wasn’t sure he’d heard right, “What if I just… stay here. Then someone will almost always be around.”

He sucked in a sharp breath and pulled away, caught off guard by Evan’s whimper of protest. “You… want to live here?”

“At least temporarily? Or you know… For longer.”

Tommy didn’t say anything for a long… long… LONG… time before conceding, knowing he would never win. “Did you at least post some pet lost and found posts?”

“Of course!” He pet the cat more aggressively until it lifted its head and nipped at his fingers, overstimulated. “If no one claims him by midnight I’m keeping him.” His tone brokered no argument.

Sighing, Tommy stood and crossed his arms over his chest. “You’ve named him already… Haven’t you?”

“Maybe.”

Grinning wryly, he asked, “Okay, let’s hear it. What’s its… his… name?”

Finally deciding to sit up, Evan stood in a less than graceful series of movements, so he could stand face to face with his boyfriend. He looked like a kid on Christmas with how happy he was. The cat clung desperately to his sweatshirt and Tommy couldn’t help himself as he reached out to pet him. His fur was downy soft, but he was most definitely too skinny. Tommy could see lots of treats in the future and a very spoiled animal. To his silent delight the cat purred louder, bumping into his hand for more pets.

“Rain.” He proclaims proudly, puffing out his chest. “Because I found him in your geranium bushes.”

Tommy snorts and throws back his head as he laughs. Evan pouts and steps back so Rain is out of Tommy’s reach, much to his displeasure. “Hey! Don’t punish the cat just because you’re mad at me.”

“No. No more pets until you admit my naming skills are awesome. Isn’t that right, Rain?” He kisses the tiny bit of white on the cat’s head and snuggles him closer.

Rocking on his heels Tommy says, though he’s not sure he totally agrees, “Okay, okay. Rain is a great name. So does this mean we’re cat dad’s now?”

Beaming, Evan says, “As long as I don’t get any messages before midnight.” Kissing his new fur child once more he says, “We’ll be the best cat dad’s ever, isn’t that right, Rain?” The kid chirps and licks the tip of Evan’s nose which sends him into another fit of laughter.

Eventually the two of them settle back onto the couch after Tommy whips something up for dinner; Evan doesn’t want to let Rain out of his sight for long enough to be safe while cooking. Once cozy, and feeding the little black void a piece of meat here and there, they flip to one streaming service or another to watch a movie.

Not one single message pings on Evan’s phone before midnight.

Everything was right as Rain.