#oui oui croissant or whatever just KISS ME

[pastasilly]

maybe kissing frogs isn’t so bad..

[veralovemail]

general dating hcs for mike, naib, joseph, and wu?

of course!! under the cut for length :D

mike, naib, joseph & wu chang dating hcs! :]

mike morton:

mike is... very chaotic.

to be fair, his alignment is probably chaotic chaotic! ...or chaotic neutral.

he's a little clingy, instantly forgets the meaning of "personal space" the moment you two start dating.

mike is pratically glued to your hip though, where you go, he goes.. with the exception of the bathroom.

he means it in the sweetest way possible though, i swear, he just has some attachment issues here and there.

as much as he doesn't seem like it, mike enjoys being the little spoon. he just likes burying his head in the crook of your neck and taking in your scent on a night, it's really comforting.

your dates are very messy, you can go from having a stroll in the garden to photobombing joseph's latest photoshoot.

you always get dragged into mike's shenanigans, but it's fun!

he always surprises you. you'll just be laying in your bed and mike will burst in and run + launch himself at you at mach speed.

his kisses are short and sweet or long and passionate, there is no inbetween because he can either get sidetracked or carried away.

life isn't dull when mike's around, and it's rather fun!

naib subedar:

how on earth did you end up dating naib...

everyone but you two are surprised that you're a thing.

he's rather cold sometimes, so he prefers just holding your hand when you two are out an about - just to remind him that you're still there.

he's also very protective of you, as he should be.

when you're at your desk writing, or cleaning the dishes, naib will come up behind you and wrap his arms around you.

if you're taller than him, he'll just rest his head against your back. but if you're shorter, he'll most likely rest his chin on your shoulder and watch you do whatever you're doing.

he likes flustering you. when you're in private and he's feeling up to it, he may just hold your face and pepper it in kisses just to see your face go that satisfying shade of red.

naib enjoys curling around you while you sleep. he's big spoon most of the time, but when he has a nightmare or can't sleep, you sometimes you wake up to naib trying to smuggle his way into your arms.

you're really content with him! he treats you with respect and enjoys your presence a lot :]

joseph desaulniers:

joseph is a very serious lover

he takes romance very seriously, but also not really?

joseph adores taking pictures of you in your latest outfits, complimenting you in mixed french and english the entire time.

he's alright with pda, will keep an arm around your waist while you two are making the rounds and may kiss your cheek every so often.

please braid his hair, he's gotten bored of having a ponytail.

if you paint, write or make things he'll flex it to other hunters to no end. he' very proud of you and encourages you to do more.

you two have very planned out dates. they're also very fancy! ...that's because joseph's fancy.

his kisses are always very passionate! joseph wants to savour each one.

you two don't exactly cuddle. One of you is ontop of the other, limbs are everywhere, the duvet was thrown onto the floor ages ago.

however, joseph is a very early riser and will most likely let you sleep in (+ make the bed again for you) longer unless he has something planned for you.

he will teach you french! but you use it for all the wrong reasons. "j'ai mangé mickey mouse," "mon chéri, did you just say that you ate mickey mouse-?" "... oui oui baguette croissant?"

wu chang:

so, you wanted one boyfriend, huh? nah. you get two. *hands you a shittily made star sticker that says 'i have two boyfriends :]'*

we all know the contrast between the two of the guards, really.

xie treats you with the utmost care, whereas fan can kinda wobble there.

they both like holding your hand. at the same time. yes, you're in the middle. yes, you are going to get swung around and accidentally pulled up off the ground by fan.

if you're rather clumsy, both are going to keep an eye n you to make sure you don't mess something up and go flying.

your bedtime goes as follows: you get into your pjs, get into the middle of your bed and then boom! you become a sandwich filler. basically, you have fan on one side, arm wrapped around your waist and xie, who also has an arm wrapped around you. it's not a tug of war, but one time it turned into that and it was rather funny.

sometimes the two make it a competition to see who can woo you. in reality, they both woo you equally.

xie's kisses are gentle and soft, but he does have to lean down to be able to reach you so they don't last very long.

fan most likely lifts you up to be able to kiss you, but they're more rough around the edges, but they definitely last longer because he's not breaking his back leaning down so far.

i'm so sorry if these are short :' god bless my poor soul its 3 am and i just had my soul leave my body by a song that started suddenly and scared me

[mengyan]

Omg hey! I’m so exited to read the Valentine’s Day collab!! I love love loooove your writing so much!! So anyway I wrote my first Carulia fanfic and I just wanted to ask you what you think of this small bit? If it’s bad please tell me-I wanna improve🥺

If you don’t wanna critique it I totally get it, it is kind of long.

..

Julia POV

Warm rays of sunshine brushed Julia’s freckled cheeks, making up for the bite of frost in the air. The sky was a cheerful blue today, reflecting her mood. She was sitting at a street corner, admiring the view of quaint little shops that resembled the cutesy designs of dollhouses.

Saturday morning chatter rung in her ears in soft, eloquent words of French that were so different from the English required for her job. A frenzy of Bonjour’s (hello/good morning) and Comment allez vous? (How are you doing?) could be heard from across the street.

It was good to be home, to have a day off to enjoy the beauty she had forgotten Poiters possessed. As an avid traveller, there was nowhere quite like the city. Nothing could match it’s charming, Romanesque buildings or tranquil solitude.

Julia smiled at nothing in particular, a flaky, warm croissant in one hand and a timeless romance novel in the other.

How long had it been since she had gotten to relax like this? To enjoy the nature of her city and not have to chase a certain red rogue across the globe? The very same red rogue she struggled to protect from her coworkers?

A sigh escaped her lips. Suddenly her mind wandered to someone she hadn’t wanted to think about: Carmen Sandiego. The thief never ceased to plague her thoughts lately. A warm blush tinted her cheeks as she recalled the kiss they had shared in Cairo, Egypt. There was a sort of thrill in knowing it was so, so wrong, and Julia hated the adrenaline rush it gave her.

Their last interaction had been a week ago, and it had been on an ACME mission rather than the late night visits the thief had begun to pay her. The absence of the red rogue pained her terribly. She missed Carmen. She missed everything about her from her cunning gray eyes to her knowing smile, the light rasp to her voice, and the feel of her lips. She had barely gotten to see the lady in red recently.

Would this be what a relationship with the woman would entail? Random visits sprinkled through the weeks while Carmen gallivanted around the globe and Julia had to pretend she wanted her behind bars? Would she be doomed to live with this uncertainty, this emptiness?

At her inner turmoil, the thief seemed to appear before her with her signature smirk, the curl of her lips forever ingrained in Julia’s memory. Hallucination-Carmen spoke, reciting the promise she had made her not too long ago. “We can have a normal relationship, Jules. We’ll be able to see each other everyday, go on dates, do all of that couple-y stuff. I promise.”

Julia had scoffed at that, of course. Maybe in another world where she wasn’t dating a thief, for goodness sakes. But still she wished there was some way the red rogue could fulfill her promise. Julia knew that what Carmen was doing was absolutely important but....she couldn’t help but be selfish and wish she had her to herself.

On top of that, though, there was the fear that whatever was happening between the two was nothing but physical on Carmen’s end, that this...fling...would be over in a heartbeat and the red rogue would once again disappear with Julia’s heart, only this time she wouldn’t return.

She didn’t want fo think about that.

Trying to take her mind off her worries, Julia reopened her book. The petite woman frowned, nibbling on the last of her pastry and lazily scanning the page for anything interesting. It was one of her favorites, yet she couldn’t bring herself to relax, to forget.

Sighing, she closed the book with a sense of finality, tucking it safely in her messenger bag. It was no use. Nothing could keep Julia’s attention from Carmen for long.

“Partir déjà?” Said Nadia, Julia’s friend and the cashier. The woman adjusted the side of her hijab before opening the cash register. “Habituellement, vous passez toute la matinée ici lorsque vous êtes absent.”

TRANSLATION: “Leaving Already?.....Usually you spend the entire morning here when you’re off.”

Julia smiled sadly. “Quelque chose me vient à l'esprit ces derniers temps, Je ne peux pas me détendre.”

TRANSLATION: “Something has been on my mind lately. I can’t relax.”

Nadia smirked knowingly. “Querelle d'amant?“

TRANSLATION: “Lover’s Quarrel?“

Julia felt her cheeks heat up. Nadia was one of the few people who even knew she was seeing someone, let alone the fact that that someone was a thief. “Entre autres, oui. Il s’agit plus de mon travail.“

TRANSLATION: “Among other things, yes. It’s more about my job.“

Nadia shook her head, making a tut sound. “Tu travailles trop dur.“ She inserted her credit card into the register, swiping twice before the transaction was complete. “Vous savez, les filles et moi allons au Buckingham Club ce soir. Tu devrais venir. Je parie que cela vous fera oublier ... quel est son nom? Carolyn?“

TRANSLATION: You work too hard....You know, the girls and I are hitting the Buckingham Club tonight. You should come. I bet that’ll take your mind off of...what’s her name? Carolyn?“

“Carmen.“ Julia corrected with a smile. “Et Je ne sais pas, pas ce soir. je n'en ai pas vraiment envie.”

TRANSLATION: “Carmen....I don’t know, not tonight. I don’t really feel like it.”

“ S'il vous plaît? Ce sera amusant!?” Nadia replied, making an exaggerated pouty face.

TRANSLATION: “Please? It’ll be fun!”

“Je ne devrais vraiment pas.....”

TRANSLATION: “I really shouldn’t...”

The cashier shook her head, pressing her lips into a thin line. “Oh, Julia, tu es toujours aussi ennuyeuse.”

TRANSLATION: “Oh, Julia, you’re always such a bore.”

Jules simply smiled in response, pushing the rim of her glasses up her nose. “Peut-être la prochaine fois, Nadia.”

TRANSLATION: “Maybe next time, Nadia.”

She said her goodbyes and left the small cafe, the little bell at the door signaling her departure. The cool, crisp air met Julia immediately, the frost already kissing her skin. She turned the corner, making a beeline for her apartment complex when suddenly, a certain beeping sound caught her attention.

A very familiar beeping sound.

She threw a discreet glance over her shoulder before darting into the nearest alleyway, ducking behind the nearest dumpster before removing her pen from her pocket.

Julia clicked the cap, tossing it to the ground as she wrinkled her nose at the stench.

“Agent Argent.“ Chief’s no-nonsense voice came as her hologram blossomed. “I have a new mi-“ She paused, taking in Julia’s location.

“Are you behind a dumpster, Agent?“

Julia felt her cheeks heat slightly “I was in public and had to be...creative...“ She replied curtly, breathing through her mouth.

“Right....anyhoo,“ Chief began again, adjusting her blazer. “I’ve got on assignment for you. I’m sorry to interupt your time off, but you’re the closest agent in proximity.“

Julia smiled sadly, scratching her wrist. “It’s alright, chief. I was feeling restless anyway.“

Chief cocked her head in mild concern. “I’m sorry to hear that, Argent. It’s nothing too serious, but we have reports of some meddling with the security systems at the Louvre. I need you to investigate.“

“Of course. Will Agent Zari or Devineaux be accompanying me?“ She asked, already picturing the splendor at the Louvre. Maybe a trip to the museum was just what she needed today.

“No. Zari and Devineaux are on a case in Santo Domingo.“ Chief said, beginning to pace the length of the alleyway.

“Khadija or Jonas, then?“ Julia replied, referencing two agents she’d been paired with in the past, albeit less frequently than Chase or Zari.

“You’ll be going it alone today. Intel indicates that Carmen Sandiego won’t be present. I trust you can handle a routine check up.”

“I’ll take care of it, chief.“ She answered, giving a small salute to her superior. Internally, Julia released a sigh of relief that she wouldn’t have to tail Carmen.

“Good. Transportation has already been arranged and the details should be on your phone.“ Chief said, crossing her arms. Almost simultaneously, her phone pinged with an encrypted email from ACME.

“Don’t disapoint me, Agent.“ With a terse nod, the hologram disappeared from before her.

Quickly, she darted home and changed into her ACME-issued suit before making her way to the train station. Paris was waiting, after all.

...

No matter how many times she frequented the city, Paris never ceased to amaze Julia with a million new places she hadn’t visited yet. The Louvre, however, was an outlier to the fact. It was Julia’s favorite spot to hit whenever she was in the area.

It had been One-Thirty when her train had pulled into the Paris Saint Lazare, a station settled on the right bank of the Seine and the one closest in proximity to her destination.

The Louvre lay before her in all its grandiose splendor, afternoon sunlight glinting off of the crystal pyramid and casting a rainbow into the burbling fountain before it. The Famed palace of the same name was set on either sides of it, the tasteful renaissance era architecture transporting her into another time.

Julia smiled. She knew every corner of the museum. Every nook and crany was immortalized in her mind from it’s renowned Petite Galerie to it’s extended Egyptian exhibit.

She removed her ACME card from her messenger bag, thumbing it’s side to allow her interpol credentials before going to speak with the security

As promised, a staff member was waiting for her once she got inside.

“Bonjour. Julia Argent, Interpol Britain?“ A tall, skinny man with hooded blue eyes and unkempt blonde hair stepped forward.

“Oui.“ She replied, flashing her badge. “Marcel Cardone?“

“Oui, correct.“ He answered in a thick French accent. “Thank you for coming.“ He said, gesturing for her to walk with him.

Julia smiled. “Bien sûr. J'ai été informé mes supérieurs de la mission. Pouvez-vous me dire quel semble être exactement le problème?“

TRANSLATION: “Of course. I was briefed by my superiors on the mission. Can you tell me what exactly seems to be the problem?“

Marcel spoke as he led her through the halls of the grand building. “Do not worry, I am fluent in English. I do not know the details but the head of security will inform you on the matter.“

“Sounds good,“ Julia said reverting back to English. Her guide stopped at a door with la sécurité (security) written in bold script.

“This is it, mademoiselle.“ Marcel said, opening the door and leading her to the back. Standing before her was another door. Probably to an office, Julia guessed. “Monsieur Toussaint? L'agent d'Interpol est arrivé.“

TRANSLATION: “Mr.Toussaint? The interpol agent has arrived.“

A tall, stocky man with brown skin glanced up, adjusting his glasses. “L'agent? Miss, le problème s'est corrigé juste avant votre arrivée.”

TRANSLATION: “The Agent? Miss, the issue corrected itself just before you arrived.”

“Il n'y a donc rien de mal avec la sécurité?” Julia asked, confused.

TRANSLATION: “So is there nothing wrong with the security?“

“Plus maintenant, non...” Mr.Toussaint answered, scrutinizing her.

TRANSLATION. “Not anymore, no.”

“Mais je suis venu tout ce chemin...” She answered, slightly disappointed.

TRANSLATION: “But I came all this way....”

The man scratched the side of his head in mild concern. “Nous sommes désolés, mademoiselle. Perhaps you would like a tour of the Louvre in compensation?”

TRANSLATION: “We are sorry, Miss. Perhaps you would like a tour of the Louvre in compensation?”

“No, it’s quite alright, thank you.” Julia murmured, tugging at the hem of sleeve.

“Please accept. Nous allons même le rendre gratuit!”

TRANSLATION: Please accept. We will even make it free!”

“If you insist.” Julia smiled awkwardly.

“Good.” Mr.Toussaint lifted the phone on his desk, dialing as he spoke. “Cheryl? Préparez-vous à faire une visite. Oui. Rencontrez-la près des statues.”

TRANSLATION. “Cheryl? Prepare to give a tour. Yes. Meet her by the statues.”

The balding man put the phone down, swiping through the many papers scattered on his desk. “Our tour guide, Cheryl, will meet you out by our Sculpture Department. Please enjoy your day.”

They exchanged goodbyes and thank-yous before Mr. Toussaint returned to the millions of files on his desk and Julia to the swarming museum crowds.

Deftly, Julia navigated the throngs of people, making her way to the modern sculpture exhibit. As promised a woman was waiting before the exhibit checking her watch.

Her dark red-brunette hair was pulled into a pony-tail, and a pair of green khakis and a blue blouse contrasting against her flawless brown skin. From the back of her head, Julia could see a thick pair of glasses settling at the rim of her nose.

She seemed familiar, so very familiar....

And then she spoke. “Enjoying the view, Jules?”

The light rasp, the sultry tone of voice...

The petite woman gasped. “Carmen?”

“Surprise.” The thief said with a smirk.

“What’re you doing here?!” Julia asked, confused. Was Carmen behind the security issue already being solved before she arrived?

“You must have mistaken me for someone else,” The Red Rogue grinned coyly, reaching over gracefully and slipping her fingers between Julia’s. “I’m just Cheryl Vasquez, foreign exchange student and Louvre Tour guide.”

“Of course.” Julia scoffed but played along. “And what would Cheryl Vasquez be doing touring the Louvre?”

“If you’re asking whether I’m here to stop VILE, then no. They aren’t trying to steal anything. I’m here of my own accord.” Carmen replied, her thumb tracing circles along Julia’s palm.

“So I suppose it’s just a coincidence that I was sent here on a mission?”

Carmen winked at her, her rouged lips relaxing into their signature grin. “Yep. A coincidence. Absolutely nothing more.”

A twitch of annoyance flared within Julia. Sometimes Carmen’s games could get tiring. “Well then, since you aren’t stealing anything, I’ll be on my way then.”

“What?” The thief said, for once taken aback.

“You heard me.” Julia began with a smirk, turning in the other direction. “Have a nice day, Miss Sandiego. The Louvre is quite the sight to see.”

“Not so fast, Jules.” Carmen grasped her wrists gently, pulling her in close. Julia blushed, her mouth mere inches from the thief’s. She parted her lips gently, her eyelids sinking lower. Her tongue flecked across the expanse of her bottom lips as she waited to meet the thief’s lips for the first time in more than a week.

“Huh?” Julia said in confusion as she felt the other woman’s heat move away from her own.

Carmen was no longer before her, lips moving closer. Instead she darted away from the smaller woman, a smug grin scrawled on her beautiful face. She waved Julia’s ACME gas gun in the air teasingly, throwing her a wink. “A theft in progress is occurring, agent. You’re lawfully required to follow.”

“Carmen!” Julia shouted in shock, not at all caring about the attention they were gaining from their fellow museum-go-ers. “Give it back!”

“Come and get me!” She called with a trickle of laughter, disappearing into the hordes of people.

Julia smiled despite her frustration and ran after her, for once not at all caring that her behavior was extremely unprofessional.

That was what Carmen did to her. She...freed her. Allowed Julia to relax, to sit still, to live in the moment.

Julia felt all the tension that had built up over the course of the week melt away as she pursued the chase and danced across the Louvre court yard.

She chased Carmen out of the museum, nearing the edge of the complex. “Aha!” Julia shouted, finally catching up to her lover and realizing a smile had formed on her lips.

“You’ve got me, alright,” Carmen smiled, lowering her lashes flirtatiously as her voice lowered teasingly. She slipped her arms around Julia’s waist being just tall enough that the shorter woman had to slightly look up to meet her eyes. “Now what’re you gonna do with me?”

Julia answered her with a kiss, feeling the thief’s bright red lipstick smear onto her mouth. The lady in red captured Julia’s lower lip with her teeth, chuckling at the ACME agent’s Yelp of surprise as she tugged. Every gasp that managed to escape her lips was swallowed by Carmen’s mouth as she pulled her closer with passion.

“Mhm, I’ve missed that.” Julia smiled. “I’ve missed you.”

“You aren’t the only one.” Carmen purred against her lips. “You have no idea how badly I wanted to come and see you...but...”

“It’s alright, Carmen. I understand.” Julia whispered, touching her forehead to the Latina’s and lacing her fingers through the thief’s. “Do you plan on telling me why you’re here, though?”

“Can’t I just pay a visit to my favorite ACME agent?” She teased, beginning to lead Julia out of the museum complex.

“At my apartment, yes. But here?”

“Okay fine....” The thief relented, turning away. Julia spotted a tiny tinge of a blush dusting her cheeks. Carmen? Blushing? “I....may or may not have had my team hack the museum security and leave a trace to VILE to get you sent here.”

“Carmen!” Julia hissed. “You could get caught! And for what? Just to see me? You can meet me at my apartment!”

“Hey, hey, what’s done is done, alright?” She said, her arms flying in front of her in attempt to calm her down. Then, she smiled. “Aww you were worried about me. That’s adorable.“

“Thats-Thats not!....Thats not the point!“ Julia tried to fight a blush but it was no use.

Carmen laughed, caressing Julia’s face and tilting her chin up to meet her eyes. “Hey. I know you mean well. I’ll be more careful from now on. Promise.“

“O...Okay.“ Julia murmured, the woman in red’s slate gray eyes catching her off guard.

“But...since you’re already here....we should make the most of it, no?“ Carmen smiled sweetly, for once with no tinge of smugness to it.

“Alright.“ Julia relented with a small grin. “So is this a....date?“

The latina winked, her teeth sliding over her bottom lip. “Do you want it to be?“

“No! I mean...I just thought...“

“Relax, I’m messing with you.“ Carmen said, taking Julia’s hands in hers. “The truth is...Jules...I wanted to prove that I’m serious about this. About us. You...mean a lot to me, and I want us to be about more than just random hookups.“

The petite woman felt herself smiling at the other’s words, and gave the red rogue’s hands a squeeze. “You have no idea how relieved I am to hear you say that.“

Carmen returned her grin, running her thumb over Julia’s knuckles. “Explanations aside, are you ready for the greatest date in the world?“

Julia’s brow tugged upwards along with her lips. “The greatest, huh?“

Carmen threw her a flirty glance. “Hey, I don’t settle for second best.“

“I can see that. Alright then, Miss Sandiego.“ The shorter woman said coyly, “Show me what you got.“

....

ANON!! THIS IS SO AMAZING OH MY GOD?? for your first fic this is incredible and i absolutely love how you write them!! everything is so in character and carmen absolutely would create an entire heist just to meet up with jules 😭

i don’t have much to critique: just a few minor spelling errors here and there and some misplaced punctuation but that’s it, everything else is so good?? i’m serious this gave me so much serotonin omg,,, if you post it on ao3 let me know and i’ll be sure to leave kudos and a comment!! <3

and thank you so much for enjoying my writing, i can say the same for you :D

[splendidlyimperfect]

Written for @fuckyeahgratsu Gratsu Bingo/Gratsu Week 2019; prompt: breathe

Also written for Nonbinary Month 2019 [Natsu + Trans]

-----

When Gray's girlfriend dumps him right before Christmas, he's stuck with a non-refundable, three-week holiday to Paris. Without another choice, he agrees to go with a stranger - a man who is remarkably charismatic, and a lot cuter than Gray is willing to admit. It's supposed to be platonic (Gray's straight, right?), but Paris isn't called the City of Love for nothing.

Chapter Summary:  Paris is beautiful, Natsu is flirty, and Gray's not sure exactly where he stands.

Chapters (3/?): 1 | 2 | 3 Rating: General Audiences Relationships: Natsu Dragneel/Gray Fullbuster Characters: Natsu Dragneel, Gray Fullbuster, Cana Alberona Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Modern Setting, Holidays, Vacation, Christmas, Paris (City), Romantic Fluff, Mutual Pining, Holding Hands, First Kiss, Trans Character, Falling In Love, Strangers to Lovers, Romance, Gray thinks he’s straight but he’s not, Natsu falls in love hard, Gray speaks French because reasons, Tumblr: FTLGBTales

-----

When Natsu wakes up the next morning, it takes him a few minutes to figure out where he is. Instead of the Christmas lights he has hung around his apartment, sunshine pours through a window that takes up half the opposite wall. The bed is three times larger than normal, and when Natsu tries to roll over, there’s an arm wrapped around his waist.

He looks down at the arm – dark brown skin and a leather bracelet around the wrist. Natsu frowns at it for a second before he remembers.

He’s in Paris with Gray.

It takes Natsu’s heart about 0.2 seconds to go from completely relaxed to something resembling a broken metronome. Gray’s pressed up against his back, one arm under the pillow and the other wrapped tightly around Natsu’s waist. His knee is tucked between Natsu’s legs, and he’s still fast asleep, breathing evenly.

Natsu holds as still as possible. If he moves, he’ll break the moment, and he wants to stay like this for as long as he can. The contentment that settles in his chest next to his pounding heart is unfamiliar and so very welcome. It’s been a long time since someone has held him like this.

Natsu lets out a soft, slow breath and relaxes back against Gray, hesitantly placing his hand over Gray’s on his stomach. Part of him feels guilty – Gray doesn’t know they’re cuddling, and Natsu’s not sure what he’d do if he did. Gray’s hard to read, and Natsu tends to hope for too much.

Natsu’s about to start overthinking everything when Gray makes the most adorable snuffling sound and nuzzles the back of Natsu’s neck, pulling him closer and letting out a contented sigh. A shiver runs through Natsu and he brushes his fingers over the back of Gray’s hand. Gray makes a happy sound, then yawns and mumbles something unintelligible as he starts to stir.

Continue reading on AO3

“Hey,” Natsu says gently, wondering if he should quickly extricate himself from Gray’s embrace before he wakes up for real. Gray grumbles something that sounds vaguely like morning, then yawns and presses his forehead to the back of Natsu’s shoulder.

Gray is clearly not a morning person.

Natsu’s just about to lift Gray’s arm off him when Gray mumbles, “time issit?”

“No idea,” Natsu says. “We’re in Paris, remember?”

“Paris?” Gray’s voice is suddenly a lot clearer, and suddenly the blissful morning moment is over. He pulls his arm away from Natsu and sits up, rubbing his face and looking around the room. When his gaze finally lands back on Natsu, his expression transforms from confused to mortified. “Oh my god, I’m so sorry,” he says, pushing himself up off the bed and looking anywhere but at Natsu.

“It’s okay,” Natsu reassures him, sitting up and stretching. As comfortable as cuddling was, sleeping in his clothes has left him feeling grungy. “I think we both were pretty tired.”

“I didn’t mean to...” Gray starts again, but Natsu waves him off.

“You hungry?” he asks, changing the subject. Gray’s still looking at the floor, but he nods, crossing his arms over his chest. “Good, ‘cause I’m starving. Just lemme shower and we can go find somewhere to eat.”

Gray doesn’t say anything when Natsu grabs his clothes and heads into the bathroom, but as Natsu closes the door, he hears an embarrassed groan and a whisper of what the hell?

~

Gray spends the rest of the day feeling off-kilter. The embarrassed flush never seems to leave his cheeks, and every time he looks at Natsu, he feels like he’s falling.

It turns to be just past noon by the time they leave the hotel, so they eat lunch at a little café where a breakfast of croissants and espresso make Gray feel a bit more human. But when Natsu’s foot touches his under the table, Gray gets that feeling again like he can’t quite breathe.

“So,” Natsu says, brushing the last of the crumbs off his lap, “what’s the plan for today?”

The question catches Gray off guard. He did have things planned, for when the trip was with Suki – romantic stuff like the Pont des Arts and the Champs-Élysées. There’s a part of him that whispers, you could still do those things with Natsu.

“I…” Gray fiddles with the handle of his coffee cup. There’s so much going on in his mind right now that it’s hard to figure out what he wants to say. He can’t decide whether he wants to hold Natsu’s hand, or if they should go their separate ways for the day so Gray can figure out why the hell he suddenly feels like he’s fourteen with a crush on the pretty girl in homeroom. “We can do whatever,” he says eventually. “If you wanna—you don’t have to hang out with me if you don’t want to.”

Natsu kicks Gray’s shin gently under the table, and when Gray looks up, Natsu raises an eyebrow at him. “Do you really think I want to be alone in a place like this after yesterday?” he asks. Gray frowns, then realizes Natsu’s referring to his anxiety attack on the Métro.

“Oh,” he says. Natsu’s foot is still touching his shin. “Sorry, I didn’t…” He can’t make a complete sentence and he bites the inside of his cheek in frustration.  

The waitress appears next to their table and reaches out for their plates with a smile. “Avez-vous aimér?” she asks.

“Oui, c’était très bon,” Natsu says, handing her his empty plate. “We actually just got here yesterday,” he continues in French.

“Oh!” The woman smiles, looking between them. “Have you been to Le Marais?” Both of them shake their head and she gives them a conspiratorial smile that Gray doesn’t quite understand. “You should go. I think you will enjoy it.”

~

Le Marais turns out to be the gay district of Paris. Gray stares at the rainbow flag hanging in the window of the boutique store next to them, and the overwhelmed sensation in his chest returns full force. A couple walks past them – two young women, holding hands and laughing at each other – as Christmas music plays from the speakers near the storefront.

“Guess she was onto me,” Natsu says, nudging Gray’s shoulder. When Gray looks back at him, Natsu gestures to the rainbow pin on his bag and laughs. Gray can see something else in Natsu’s expression, but he’s not quite sure what it is. “You okay?” Natsu asks.

“Yeah,” Gray says, shaking his head and pulling his coat closer around him. It’s chilly, and tiny flakes of snow are beginning to drift down around them. Natsu’s cheeks are pink from the cold, and his eyes are bright with excitement.

“C’mon,” he says, grabbing Gray’s arm and pulling him down the street.

They spend the better part of the afternoon wandering in and out of stores that sell everything from designer jeans to antique lamps. Natsu’s enthusiasm is contagious, and by the time they stop for dinner, Gray’s feeling a lot less flustered.

The restaurant is a cozy placed called L’Aller Retour, and when the waiter offers up wine with their meal, they both raise their eyebrows at each other, then grin and shrug – why not?

After a couple of glasses, Gray’s feeling warm and bubbly and brave.

“… so the other tattoo artist ended up holding my hand ‘cause it hurt like a bitch,” Natsu says, tipping his wine glass toward Gray. He gestures vaguely to his hip and Gray feels himself blush.

“That’s… it’s a sensitive spot,” he says, cheeks tingling as his mind slips to an image of him running his fingers over Natsu’s tattoos. Or his tongue. Maybe both.

“Yeah,” Natsu says, and when he licks a stray drop of wine off his lower lip, Gray realizes he’s staring.

“Shit,” he says softly, then shakes his head. “Sorry, I’m a bit…”

Natsu laughs, and his foot brushes Gray’s leg under the table again. “’s okay,” he says, downing the last of his wine and waving for the waiter. “Me too.” 

~

By the time they get back to the hotel it’s nearly midnight, and they’re both still tipsy. Natsu trips over himself trying to kick his shoes off, and when Gray grabs his arm to pull him upright, he dissolves into a fit of laughter.

“Sorry,” he giggles, grabbing Gray’s shoulder. He tugs off his jacket and tosses it on the bed, then pulls off his sweater too. Then he turns back to Gray and raises an eyebrow.

“What?” Gray asks, sitting down on the bed and shrugging off his own jacket.

“I said I’d show you the rest,” Natsu says, and Gray’s mind blanks out for a few seconds before Natsu clarifies, “tattoos. The rest of my tattoos.”

“Oh,” Gray says, because it’s the only word he can get out around the tightness in his throat. He nods, and Natsu gives him an unreadable look before grabbing the hem of his shirt and tugging it over his head.

The tattoos on Natsu’s hips dip down under his jeans, and curl around his ribs to the middle of his back. He’s wearing a binder over his chest, but above it, an intricate set of flowers are inked across his collarbone. They continue up both sides of his neck and behind his ears, and two colorful dragons wind down both of his arms.

The tattoos are gorgeous, and so is Natsu, and before Gray can stop himself, he says it out loud.

Natsu looks surprised, then gives Gray a shy smile. “Thanks,” he says. A yawn appears to catch him off guard and he stretches, back arching as he brings his hands up over his head. Gray knows he should look away, but instead he traces the muscles in Natsu’s back with his eyes, wishing it were his fingertips instead.

Maybe it could be. Part of him is tempted to reach out, to touch Natsu, to see what it’s like to kiss a boy because he never has but now, he really, really wants to. But he holds himself back because they’ve only just met, and if Gray fucks this up, they’re stuck with each other for three weeks and things could get awkward.

“I’ll be right back,” Natsu says, tossing a quick glance at Gray before heading to the bathroom.

As soon as Natsu closes the door, Gray shakes his head to try and clear the tipsy fog from his mind. He pushes himself up the bed, shoving the pile of pillows around into something comfortable before yawning and laying back into it. He’s warm and content, and by the time Natsu comes back, he’s nearly asleep.

“You should get changed,” Natsu comments, sitting down on the edge of the bed. He’s wearing boxers and a baggy t-shirt now, and his hair is down around his shoulders instead of pulled back into a ponytail. “You’re gonna regret sleeping in jeans again.”

Gray grumbles, but eventually undoes his jeans and kicks them onto the floor, then turns onto his side and tucks his arm under the pillow. He had been planning on putting pillows between them tonight, so he didn’t embarrass himself by waking up wrapped around Natsu again, but when Natsu flops down onto the bed, Gray can’t bring himself to put a barrier between them.

“I forgot my brush,” Natsu says, rolling to face Gray and running his fingers through his hair. They catch on a knot and he tugs at it, making a face. “It’s gonna be a mess tomorrow.”

The tipsy buzz still flowing through Gray’s mind makes him brave enough to reach out and touch Natsu’s hair. Natsu looks surprised, then gives Gray a soft smile and shifts closer.

“’Okay?” Gray asks quietly, combing his fingers through Natsu’s hair. He gently untangles it, then tucks it behind Natsu’s ear. He’s pretty sure he’s crossing a line right now, but Natsu doesn’t seem to mind.

“Yeah,” Natsu says sleepily, curling up so his knees are just touching Gray’s and his hands are tucked under the pillow. “’s nice.”

“Okay,” Gray says as Natsu yawns and makes a soft, contented sound.

Natsu falls asleep quickly, but Gray stays awake, combing his fingers through Natsu’s hair and matching his breathing to the rise and fall of Natsu’s chest.

[ptersparkers]

You're the Kindest Person I've Ever Met

A/N: Holy heck, this is little long. It’s like, 2.6k words. I saw a gif of Steve offering some popcorn to a girl, who rolled her eyes and Steve looked so upset I was like??????? My poor, innocent, and kind angel. I wanted to write a pre-serum Steve imagine to make myself feel better after watching that gif lolololol. Also I don’t speak French and I used google translate so I hope these are accurate translations (and I’m so sorry if they aren’t). Happy reading!

The restaurant you worked at was bustling with customers. You had to sacrifice your ten minute break due to the lack of staff as well as the amount of people pouring into the building. You passed your friend, Rosemary, on your way to the kitchen. 

“I swear, people are getting so fussy about not getting a table. I’m one person trying her best,” she huffed before grabbing three menus and escorting the family to their table. You chuckled and threw your cloth over your shoulder, entered the kitchen, and reached for the food in front of you. 

Your mother owned the infamous restaurant. It had been known for its pies and breakfast scrambles, but there were other delectable food options people enjoyed. The restaurant had been word-of-mouth type of advertising, and your mother was a popular lady in the neighbourhood, so it was no wonder when the restaurant became busy every day. You worked here when you had some free time on your hands. Usually, you’d be taking classes at medical school to become a registered nurse and working at the diner helped you pay for your tuition as well as other things. Your mother had no issue paying for both your salary and your tuition. 

Another hour went by and your mother granted you and Rosemary your missed breaks. You thanked her for not letting you die of exhaustion, to which she said you were being over dramatic. You laughed and went into the back room, grabbing a glass of water before sitting on the small couch. 

“How’re you and Bucky?“ you asked Rosemary. 

"We’re doin’ just fine. I’m not sure if you’d call us boyfriend and girlfriend yet, but we go on lots of dates,” she replied. 

“Have you guys kissed yet?" 

"Twice, actually.” You wiggled your eyebrows and Rosemary swatted you with the back of her hand. “It’s not like that. I wish it was, but, I don’t know,” she huffed. 

“Hey,” you began. “Any guy would be lucky to call you his girl. You’re a beautiful woman and Bucky would be absolutely crazy to let you go.” Rosemary blushed and reached over to give you a hug. 

“How about you? Any men in your life? I feel like I haven’t asked you that question since you started med school." 

You shook your head. "No men, Rosie. It’s hard enough balancing school and work. Plus, I’m afraid the men will chastise me for wanting to become a registered nurse. Women can’t do anything nowadays,” you said, frowning. Rosemary patted your knee. 

“You’ll find someone. Don’t rush, okay? I don’t want you to feel like you have to just because Bucky and I are going out.” You we’re grateful for Rosemary. Your break ended much quicker that you’d like and you went back to serving more customers, trying to make this night end faster. 

When the night did come to an end, there were only a few people scattered everywhere. The diner technically closed in ten minutes ago, but you couldn’t kick anyone out until they were done with their meal. Rosemary asked you to take the order from the two men sitting in the booth near the jukebox and you grabbed your pen and notepad. 

“Hello, welcome to Roxie’s. I’m Y/N, and I’ll be your server tonight. What can I get for you boys?” you inquired. The man who wore a uniform looked up from the menu briefly and pointed to the pastry in French. 

“I’m not sure how to pronounce that,” he said. 

“Croissant d'amande avec glaçure au sucre. I’ve told you this how many times since we’ve been going here?” Almond croissant with a sugar glaze. The other man beside the man in the uniform said. 

“Tu parle français?” you asked. Do you speak French? The man shyly nodded. “Est-ce que vous parlez couramment?” Are you fluent? 

“Oui,” he replied. Yes. You smiled. Not a lot of people spoke French, your mother’s native tongue, here in your part of Brooklyn. 

“Voulez-vous une boisson ou quelque chose à manger?” Do you want a drink or something to eat? 

“Just a chocolate shake and a chocolate croissant,” he replied in English. You nodded and wrote down the order before returning to the kitchen. 

Steve was absolutely baffled that you hadn’t tried to flirt with Bucky. He was the talk of the town and every girl wanted to be his. Steve, on the other hand, barely got noticed by anyone other than people who wanted to best the crap out of him. Girls never looked in his direction and he was so intrigued as to why you did. 

You came out moments later with their order and placed it on the table. Soon, they were the only two customers left in the diner. 

“Eat up, you two. We’re closing soon.” You laughed and smiled at Steve, who tried to return the smile. When you left, Bucky playfully hit Steve on the arm.

“She seems to be interested in you,” Bucky teased. Steve shrugged. 

“Maybe she’s trying to use me to get to you. It wouldn’t be the first time that’s happened.“ 

“You sell yourself short, Steve.” He shrugged once again and drank his shake when the girl returned with her friend. 

“Bucky, meet Y/N. Y/N, this is Bucky,” Rosemary introduced. 

“So you’re the famous Bucky I’ve been hearing about,” you teased. You held out your hand and shook Bucky’s hand. 

“Y/N. That’s a nice name. Rosie here talks about you like you’re her damn lifeline, or something.” You chuckled and your eyes wander to Steve, who was avoiding your eye. 

“That’s Steve. He’s Bucky’s best friend,” Rosemary said. Steve looked at you and you offered a small wave accompanied by a grin. 

“It’s nice to meet you, Steve,” you said, holding out your hand. Steve hesitantly shook your hand. 

“The pleasure’s all mine, Y/N." 

The pair finished their food pretty quickly, mostly because they felt bad that they were keeping you guys from going home. Your mother let you go while she finished some paper work. The walk to your apartment wasn’t too far, since you moved out of your childhood home, but you wanted to lay on your bed and sleep the night away. You walked towards the front to meet the trio after grabbing your coat from the back room. 

"Y/N! You should come to the carnival with Bucky, Steve, and I tomorrow night. Tomorrow’s the last day it’ll be in town,” she urged. Bucky was too busy paying attention to Rosemary and Steve was looking at the ground. He was sure you would object the offer because he felt that you didn’t want to be alone with him. To his surprise, you agreed. 

“Sure. It sounds like a lot of fun. I could use a break from studying, too,“ you said. By now, the three of you were outside. 

"Let’s meet at the entrance?” Rosemary questioned. 

“Y/N and I can meet you by the red flag pole." 

"Sounds good, doll,” Bucky said before flashing her a smile. He leaned down and pressed his lips against hers before turning to leave. Steve didn’t say anything but followed Bucky. 

“Bye, Steve,” you said with a wave. “See you tomorrow.” Steve returned your wave and turned back around to follow Bucky. 

You and Rosemary walked to your apartment complex in which you both were neighbours. 

“I don’t think Steve likes me very much,” you confessed. Rosemary shook her head. 

“He’s just self-conscious, is all. He told me he’s not very good with women. I think he’s a little surprised that you’re showing any interest in him.“ 

“I hope so. He seems like a really nice person. Plus, he speaks French.” Rosemary wiggled her eyebrows and you stuck your tongue out at her before bidding your goodbyes, promising to meet each other in the lobby the next day.

You found yourself grimacing as soon as you saw Rosemary and Bucky embrace, which soon turned out into a make-out session. 

“Okay, kids, I really don’t need to see this,” you joked as you left to enter the carnival. Steve was beside you, not wanting to be the third wheel. You all paid for your tickets and decided what you guys wanted to do first. 

“Why don’t you and Steve go wherever you want and Bucky and I can be by ourselves. I’m sure you don’t want to see us be all couple-y all the time,“ Rosemary said. Steve looked at you, not sure of what to say because he didn’t want to make you uncomfortable. 

“That’s a great idea, Rosie. We can meet back here for dinner at seven?” Rosemary and Bucky nodded, leaving you and Steve alone. 

“So, what do you want to do first?” Steve asked, hesitantly. 

“Let’s just walk around. We can see what we want to do while we walk.” You both walked in silence for a while. You could practically hear Steve’s thoughts jumping out at you from the way he kept glancing at you. You stopped and faced him. 

“Did I do something wrong?” you asked. Steve furrowed his eyebrows. 

“No. Why would you think that?” You crossed your arms. 

“You haven’t said a word to me since we left Bucky and Rosie alone. I don’t want to make you uncomfortable, or anything,“ you said in a soft tone. Steve couldn’t believe a girl cared about how he felt and he found himself speechless. "It’s okay, let’s just keep walking.” The both of you began walking again. 

“It’s stupid,” he said. “I don’t want to ruin your day by telling you what’s on my mind.” You shook your head and put your hand on Steve’s arm, signalling it was okay. 

“I don’t mind, really. It’s better than seeing you brood.” Steve sighed and struggled to get the word out. 

“All the girls chase after Bucky and usually leave me on the side. I was surprised that you didn’t pay attention to Bucky last night and I figured you were playing hard to get. I was even more surprised that you agreed to come with me,“ he confessed. "I’m not used to being around girls, let alone a girl who wants to actually be around me.” Your facial features softened and you stopped walking, stepping in front of Steve once again. 

“You’re worth more than whatever people tell you, okay? I don’t want you to feel like I’m only with you to get to Bucky. I wouldn’t do that to you and I wouldn’t do that to Rosie,” you said. Steve smiled and savoured the feeling of your hands grabbing his. Boldly, Steve let go of your hands and offered his arm to you, which you took. 

“Isn’t it the guy who’s supposed to be telling the girl comforting things?” You chuckled. 

“Times change. I believe a woman should be able to be her own person.”

“That’s a great way to think. Be your own person, Y/N.” You smiled at him. All your life, you met boys who never once agreed with you. They always wanted to be the big man and they wanted women to be inferior. Your father almost had a heart attack when you said you wanted to enrol in medical school, but with a lot of convincing, he knew you wouldn’t give up your passion. 

“You’re the kindest person I’ve ever met, Steve Rogers. I’m finding it hard to believe you don’t have a girl,” you said. Steve’s cheeks turned into a shade of light pink as you spoke. He shrugged and kicked the dirt with his shoe. 

“Well, I can’t really answer that. I’m not as strong or muscular as other guys,” he said.

“I don’t think that should matter. You’re a very nice person.” Steve looked at you and smiled. 

“I’m glad you think so. You’re very kind yourself." 

The night went on and the both of you met Rosemary and Bucky to grab some dinner before heading your separate ways again, promising to meet at the exit by nine. The night seemed too short and you found yourself telling Steve stories and secrets, and him doing the same. At one point, the wind made you shiver, and Steve insisted that you wear his coat. You tried to protest, but he slung his jacket around your shoulders and you sent him a smile in return. Steve was so nervous in the beginning, but you made him feel as if he was one of the strong guys he aspired to be. You boosted his confidence and gave him a reason to smile. 

You both agreed that the ferris wheel would be the last ride you two went on before meeting your friends. The line wasn’t very long and you sat in a cart, awaiting to stop at the top. Somewhere during your time together, Steve had found the courage to slip his hand in yours. You didn’t look at him, but he could see the grin you wore on your lips when he did. You sat next to each other and you felt the night breeze whisk through your hair. You laughed when a sudden jerk of the ferris wheel sent you in Steve’s direction. He held onto you until you two were parked at the top. 

"I had a fantastic time tonight, Steve,” you said. "You were the perfect gentleman.“ He grinned at you. 

"Forgive me for being forward,” he said to you, mustering up even more courage than he had when he held your hand, “but may I kiss you?" 

You nodded and closed your eyes. Steve pressed a small, sweet kiss on your lips. You could tell he was inexperienced, but it didn’t matter. He closed his eyes as well and you both relished in the moment. He put his hands on your neck and kept you there for a short while, but the ferris wheel jerked and you both pulled away, startled. You both looked at each other and laughed before finding yourself being taken off of the ferris wheel. This time, it was you who reached for Steve’s hand. He smiled a genuine smile and followed you as you led the way out of the carnival. 

You met up with Bucky and Rosemary. He walked her to the car you both came from, leaving you and Steve alone for the third time that night. 

"I had a really nice time, Steve,” you said. 

“Me too. You made me feel like I was worth something. I’m really grateful for that,” said Steve. You smiled and reached out to put your hand on his chest. 

“Is there any way we could continue seeing each other?” Steve perked up when you asked. He wasn’t sure where the night was ending or if he’d ever see you again outside of the diner. 

“Y-Yeah, of course,” he said nervously. You smiled and slowly lifted yourself to press a sweet kiss onto his cheek. 

“Thank you for tonight. Oh, and here’s your jacket,” you said, sliding off the jacket from your shoulders. Steve took the jacket from your hands and turned to Bucky when he yelled his name.

“Way to ruin the moment,” Steve muttered. You laughed.

“Just ask for me if you ever find yourself at Roxie’s. I want to be the one who greets you,” you said.

“Got it. I’d like for you to be the one who greets me.” Steve smiled at you and waved as he walked to Bucky. You blew him a kiss and he laughed, mimicking a catching motion and pressing it to his heart. You walked to Rosemary, who stood there, smirking.

“It seems like you and Steve got along pretty well,” she said.

“You know what? Yes, yes we did. Tell me whenever Steve comes to the diner. I want to be the first to greet him,” you said as you climbed into her car.

“Whatever you say, lovebird, whatever you say.”