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#plus the concept of X is being paid to be Y’s friend is a thing in fiction
shadowslocked · 2 years
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Paimon buying Blitzo to entertain his son - acting as his first friend - is more the equivalent of hiring a person but in a shitty way given its Blitzo’s dad handling the deal and forcing Blitzo to go through with it
Comparing it 1:1 to slavery and saying it’s being romanticized is very eyebrow raising when we don’t see the Imps dealing with slavery but a major class divide
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male-reader-haven · 2 years
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❚█═Bulking Up, Eh?═█❚
Y/N pays his best friend a visit after working abroad for 6 months.
Tags: Bangchan x male reader, wholesome
Warnings: Suggestive content
Suggested by @dimensionaldrifter , thank you for the adorable concept, I absolutely loved writing this! <3
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You take a deep breath as you step out from the plane into the familiar atmosphere.
It's good to be home.
You had previously been involved with a hefty internship at a producing company where you were learning skills and being taught under professional and popular producers and just finished the course with flying colors. It didn't seem like a long time while you were working, since you kept yourself busy with projects and taking better care of yourself, but once the plane touched down it all sunk in; six months of hard work finally paid off! You continue walking to pickup your luggage and make your way back to your apartment, eager to unpack and settle in.
Your apartment is just as neat as you left it, which surprises you slightly since you had left a key with Christopher Chan (you called him Chan), your long time friend, so that he could come and check up on things every once in a while. Back when you were in high school together, you being a senior and Chan being a junior, you remember Chan being forgetful and messy, so you feel warm thinking that he put in extra effort to keep it nice and clean for you.
Ah, I forgot to text him that I landed safely...
You pull out your phone and are met with a new text.
Chan: Hey man! Let me know when you get here, we gotta catch up if you're not too jetlagged!
You smile. Chan always checks in with you, even if you are his hyung, and you find it heartwarming how much he cares. You type a response.
Me: Just got to the apartment. Honestly surprised at how nice it is, I half expected it to be a pigsty 😂
Chan: You gotta give me more credit!! I've gotten better since you've last seen me
Me: So should we meet at your place then?
Chan: No! No, its far too messy lol
Me: Lol ok, lets meet at the cafe in an hour then
Chan: KK
You chuckle to yourself and finish unpacking. Sure, you enjoyed your time abroad, but you miss Chan and your hometown more than anything, and you can't wait to catch up.
After waiting only a few minutes at "The Crick" cafe, you notice a figure walk in wearing a black hoodie and joggers and a casual beanie. You immediately recognize him by his curly brown hair and adorable pronounced nose.
"Chan, over here!" You wave your arm to signal him. His eyes light up when he sees you and he rushes over. You practically jump out of your seat and Chan grabs you into a bear hug.
"Wow man, I feel like you've been gone forever!!!!" He is grinning ear to ear.
"Haha, yeah, I missed you too bud." You laugh and hug him back. You both sit down, grinning ear to ear. You genuinely missed this goofball.
"Gosh, you gotta fill me in on what went down. Don't think I didn't notice your gorgeous biceps. You been hitting the gym?" Chan jokingly winks at you. You laugh.
"Yea actually! I've been trying to be healthier mentally and physically, especially since I've been busy at the internship. I'm pretty proud of my progress." As you talk, Chan sits back and takes it all in, still smiling. He looks you up and down. Conscious of his gaze, you find yourself blushing slightly.
"You should be proud. Dude, you're doing it! You're living your dream and doing what you want to do. You lost weight and started taking care of yourself better. I know how much effort and motivation that takes." He leans forward and puts a hand on your forearm. "I am so proud of you, Y/N!"
You are slightly taken aback by the sudden praise and chuckle nervously. He always finds a way to make you flustered, even if you are older than him. His shining excited eyes remind you of a golden retriever.
"Why don't you come over for a few drinks and hang out? I could use the company. Plus, I owe you for keeping my place up." You take a sip of your coffee. "I can show you some of my routine." You wink and flex at him jokingly.
"Haha, of course I'm down." Chan laughs and glances down for a second, avoiding your gaze. You aren't certain, but you think you spot him blushing.
A few hours later and a few drinks in, you both find yourselves laughing heartily and catching up at your apartment and reminiscing on old times and stories.
"Dude, I will NEVER forget when you got into a fight with that Woojin guy, that was intense." You flick Chan's shoulder as he makes his way to a chair, handing you another drink.
"Yeah well, he deserved it. He was being way too rough with Felix. I swear, I knew that guy was a dick from the start." He grimaces and shakes his head at the memory.
"I think it was really cool of you actually, to step up like that. You're protective. It's endearing." You smile, trying to make him smile again. It works, and Chan turns to you with a soft expression.
"I really fucking missed you."
Something about the way he looked you in the eyes with that soft smile and warm expression made your face go red. You can feel his eyes raking over you.
"Y-yeah. Me too." For a moment you just stare at each other, slightly inebriated from the alcohol, but also just because you were drawn to him. Chan coughs, breaking the tension.
"Be right back, gotta take a leak."
"No worries."
You stand up and take your glasses to the sink while Chan gets up to go to the bathroom. Your heart is beating faster than usual and you feel butterflies in your stomach. Something about Chan is just so adorable, and something so obvious is happening that you are just a little bit too afraid to accept.
"Think fast!" Chan bursts out from the bathroom door to throw a roll of toilet paper at you. It bumps off your back and you turn to face him.
"Oh, it's on!" You grab the roll and throw it back at him, engaging in battle. He catches it and attempts to run smuggling it away, but you run up to him and grab him in a bear hug from behind, turning it into a wrestling match. You both laugh and horseplay for a second, you trying to pry the paper roll from Chan who is holding onto it for dear life. You manage to pry it out of his hands and victoriously push him to against your wall.
"Ha! I win." You hover over him, grinning while holding his hands up to the wall. Chan giggles with his squinted eyes and wide grin that make you feel soft inside, and you stand there for a moment.
"Okay, I may have underestimated just how strong you got. I mean look at you." Chan runs his hand across your arm that is pinning him to the wall, feeling your biceps. You aren't sure if its the alcohol kicking in or your imagination, but you could have sworn that your faces were not this close 10 seconds ago. Chan's smile falls into a longer look, tilting his head slightly and eyes on your lips. Before you even realize what is happening, you find yourself in Chan's arms and his lips on yours.
Fireworks.
You bring your hand to his face and kiss him back. You can feel his arms running down your sides and pulling you closer, and you are locked in a passionate embrace. His lips carry the faint taste of the rice wine you were drinking earlier and you can smell his faded cologne. The feeling of his hands feeling your stomach and abs send a rush to your head as you take it all in. Only when he separates to breathe do you open your eyes.
"F-fuck..." You say under your breath, still recovering from what just happened. You look at Chan, whose eyes show passion and a hint of fear.
"Fuck... good?" He cocks his head slightly and smiles awkwardly, awaiting your response.
"I don't know, do you?" You smirk as Chan blushes deeply. He chuckles and looks down, grinning. You lift his chin to make him look back up at you. "Shut up and kiss me, Christopher Bang." He doesn't need to be told twice. He leans in to kiss you again, this time needier. He turns you around and pushes you to the wall this time, trading places, and hastily you both take each other's shirts off. He holds your arms up on the wall and looks you up and down for the nth time that night.
"God you are one sexy motherfucker."
Chan never fails to make you blush.
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Send me suggestions on what to write next! ~ <3
--Masterlist--
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sommerflue-22 · 11 months
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Haunted House | Obanai Iguro x f!Reader
Featuring: Obanai Iguro, Shinobu Kocho, Suma, Tengen Uzui
Content Warning: f!reader, modern setting, university au, cursing
Word Count: 2.7k
A/n: For reference, here's how I picture Obanai in this fic
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It was hard to put on a brave face in front of your friends while standing just in front of the Haunted House. You could hardly open your eyes while watching some mediocre horror films that weren't even terrifying. What chance do you have of surviving a Haunted House?
"Come on, (Y/N). You said that you would do it." Shinobu nudged, pushing you to go inside. "We even paid for your ticket!"
"You didn't say it's a haunted house!" You protested.
"Don't worry, (Y/N). You can just run through the whole thing, keep your eyes on the ground and follow the trail." Suma encouraged. "Plus, I heard Tengen managed to persuade that one senior you like to participate."
Your eyes widened and shushed Suma, not wanting anyone else to know that you're there for a certain someone.
It all started when your two best friends had had enough of your endless sighing when you saw Obanai Iguro, your awkward, 'allergic to women' senior. Even after graduating a year ago, he continued to study for his Master's degree at the same university. Shinobu and Suma realized it wasn't easy for you to talk to Obanai because of his difficult demeanor and the lack of opportunities for you to approach him. Though, they really wanted you to give it a chance and make a move. Hence their suggestion for you to approach him in the university festival. If it turns out that Obanai breaks your heart, they will be right there to support you. If things went well, you owe them dinner at your favorite all-you-can-eat sukiyaki joint.
You couldn't remember what made you agree to their idea, but you ended up following them to the university festival. You prepared yourself to say a few words to Obanai, perhaps in the pop-up restaurant made by the Culinary Art students. But no, you'll (hopefully) come across Obanai in the Drama Club's Haunted House.
"It's just a fake Haunted House." Shinobu rolled her eyes. "Come on, hurry up."
"Is he even in there?" You asked, giving your best puppy eyes to your friends, hoping that they'll forget this idea and you all could go get some ice cream.
"I told you, Tengen said he's in there! Your soon-to-be-boyfriend is in there!" Suma groaned, "Just go! If it turns out you can't find Iguro, or if he breaks your heart, Shinobu will pay for our sukiyaki fiesta."
"What the hell?"
"Shush, Shi-chan. (Y/N) needs some motivation to go in." Suma quickly grabbed your shoulder and pushed you into the haunted house, "Off you go!"
"HEY, WAIT I'M NOT READY—"
It was too late. The person in charge of directing visitors inside has already shut the door. You were surrounded by darkness, with only a faint red LED light on the floor to guide you. You kept your gaze fixed on the ground until your eyes adjusted to the darkness. After a minute, you could recognize your surroundings. A worn-out white cloth hung from the ceiling, as well as properties such as a rocking chair (that moves on its own), a baby carriage, and other items. You weren't sure about the haunted house's concept. It didn't matter because you were only trying to make it to the exit.
You followed the red LED lights, your hands covering your ears and your gaze fixed on the floor. You took a few steps forward and were startled to see a hideous mask on the floor next to your foot.
"Fuck my life," you bit your fist to suppress your scream. You're not going to scream over some ugly mask.
"Breathe, breathe, breathe…" you tried to calm yourself down for a little bit before resuming your journey.
After being shocked by what seemed to be a robot, dressed as a clown, you finally decided to distract yourself by singing.
"I know you guys are hiding somewhere but please don't judge my singing voice!" You yelled, took a deep breath, and started singing at the top of your lungs. "Is this the real life... is this just fantasy... Caught in a landslide, no escape—AH FUCK DON'T COME AT ME!"
The clown, that you thought was a robot, was in fact a man… and he left his place to come after you.
"NO NO NO, GET AWAY!" You backed away from the clown, who had a very scary makeup on. Too scared to actually process what you're doing, you took off one of your shoes and throw it at the clown, making him yelp in pain.
"No escape from reality—OI, NO I TOLD YOU TO GET AWAY!" You took another step back as the clown took two step forwards.
Whoever the clown was, he surely was having a great time because the next thing you knew, he walked faster towards you in such an odd and cryptic way.
You screamed and ran for your dear life, pushing your way through the properties and knocking things over. You could feel and see other people, posing as ghosts, attempting to grab your hand or shoulder. Yet you were terrified, shoving them away as you ran around the auditorium, shouting.
You came to a halt when you were faced with a dead end.
"No, no it can't be!" You touched the wall in front of you, "No! I can't go back! Please let me out!"
You froze as you heard footsteps behind you, coming closer slowly. You pressed your hands harder to your ear and crouched, closing your eyes shut.
"Please, no more, please. Please don't do anything to me…"
"Oi, woman." Whoever that person was kneeled next to you, "Oi."
You opened one of your eyes slightly and saw a silhouette of a man with his hair tied back. He wasn't dressed up in a scary costume; he was wearing a white button-up shirt and dark-colored slacks. You decided it was safe to put your trust in this guy, so you opened another eye and glanced up…
…only to be met with a pair of heterochromatic eyes.
At any other time, you would probably start to blush and stutter. However you're too far gone, so afraid of your surrounding. So you did the only thing you could think of: reach out for his arms.
"I'm sorry." You whisper-yelled. "I'm so sorry, I need help standing. Please help me. I'm scared. Please—"
"Stop saying sorry, I'm here to help you." He hissed and pulled you up. "You didn't trip, did you?"
"No. I'm sorry, senpai—"
"Shush." Obanai grabbed your elbow and leading you back to the right path. "How could a coward like you enter this goddamn room alone?"
"My friends kinda dared me… t-to do it…"
He tutted, annoyed. "And you actually do it?"
You nodded. With Obanai's grip on your elbow, your fear dissipated and changed into nervousness. Suma was right, he was in the Haunted House. It looked like he was one of the 'security' that helped people out.
"I-Iguro… san?" You called out.
"Hmm?"
You actually didn't know what to say, you only wanted to say his name. But you couldn't possibly leave him hanging, it would be awkward.
"T-thank you... for saving me..."
Obanai stole a glance at you, how you were shaking and fear, afraid of your surrounding. His eyes then shifted to his hand, which was still holding your elbow as you two walk through the path.
"It's my job." Obanai let his grip fell, ignoring your small whimper of fear. "You're the only person I have to save today, so far."
"Oh... I'm sorry..."
"Hmm..."
You walked silently behind Obanai, wanting to grip his shirt but not wanting him to despise you. He might have already despised you back then. As far as you know, he never wanted to deal with any girls. He certainly didn't want to have to rescue you from the haunted house.
"You called me senpai."
"Huh?"
"Back then, you called me senpai didn't you?" Obanai asked.
"Oh, yeah... I'm majoring in Chemistry." You answered timidly, not knowing where this conversation was going.
"Hmm..."
Your gaze was drawn to the large red exit sign at the end of the path, and you let go of the breath you'd been holding. Finally, this torment was coming to an end. You couldn't wait to meet Shinobu and Suma outside, even if it meant having to part with Obanai. Overall, it was a horrible idea; Obanai would never consider you as a suitable partner. Maybe he just doesn't like girls? Maybe he's into one of his friends, like Shinazugawa or that gloomy Tomioka? Whoever it was, you knew your chances of being with Obanai were nonexistent.
A few steps away from the exit, you opened your mouth to say thank you once again...
...but instead, you let out a loud scream as someone got a grip on your ankle.
"What the fuck—"
It all happened so quickly. You slipped and crashed on Obanai's back, startling him and causing him to grab your shoulder and shove you away.
You opened your eyes and the next thing you know, you saw familiar figures hovering above you.
"Hey, thanks to your screaming, people are queueing for our Haunted House!" A bulky man with white hair grinned from ear to ear.
"Tengen-san!" Suma pushed him away and turned to you. "(Y/N)-chan! Are you alright? Is your head okay?"
"Suma..." You whimpered and propped yourself up but something's weighing down your torso.
"Iguro, that's enough. Let the poor girl up." Tengen boomed.
You looked down and noticed Obanai had fallen on top of you. His head was on top of your stomach, tilted to one side, but you realized how red his face was.
"Senpai?" You called out.
He snapped out of his own thoughts and quickly stood up, dusting off his pants as he did so. Obanai stared down at you before quietly walking away.
"You're not even going to help her up?" Shinobu sneered.
Obanai stopped right on his track.
"What's with your 'allergic to girls' bullshit, huh?"
"Shinobu, it's alright, I'm fine." You got on your feet, helped by Suma, and held on Shinobu's arm. "Come on let's go, okay?"
"No, (Y/N), I'm gonna rip off that goddamn mask from his face!"
"Shi-chan, let's just drop this okay? (Y/N) probably needs food, she's still shaking." Suma added, totally worried. Shinobu might seemed calm on the outside, but both you and Suma knew she was in rage.
Shinobu stayed where she stood, but her eyes bore into Obanai's. She lifted a finger and pointed at him. "I will not let you get close to (Y/N) ever again."
Without waiting for Obanai's response, Shinobu tugged yours and Suma's elbows, dragging you away from the Haunted House. You looked over your shoulder and grimaced when you noticed Obanai just froze. His eyes were on the ground, hands balled up in a fist.
༻❁༺
It's been a month since the Haunted House incident. Shinobu apologized for what she had said, but she stood by it. Despite Obanai's 'female allergy,' he should have helped you up. You admitted she had a valid argument.
"It's fine," you said. "Makes it easier for me to forget him."
That's not true at all. Even after a month, you still caught yourself staring at him whenever you saw him from afar. In the library, in the cafeteria, across the campus' quad, even in a crowded diner near your campus. Obanai was everywhere. Most of the time you stole a glance towards him when Shinobu wasn't looking. It was hard not to, you've been crushing on your senior for more than a year now.
You sat in your classes, randomly thinking if Obanai found the topic you're currently learning as difficult. You examined your professor and wondered if Obanai hated him. It's even harder for you to forget him since you're majoring the same thing as him.
You stared at the paper in your hand, then at the door in front of you. Your professor had crossed one of your answer, even when you got the right answer. You've checked with your classmates. Thinking it was a mistake, you decided to ask the professor about it.
You knocked on his door and waited. No answer. You knocked again. Still no answer. Just when you're about to knock for the third time, the door opened.
"Hi, Professor, I was wondering if I could talk to... you?"
A pair of heterochromatic eyes stared down at you, mouth covered with a mask.
"Huh." Obanai opened the door a bit wider. "He's not here at the moment."
"I see... Well, then... I'll come back tomorrow." You nodded your head and turned on your heels.
"Wait."
You raised an eyebrow at him.
"Is that your quiz from last week?" Obanai asked, to which you nodded. "Come in."
You followed him in and closed the door. Your professor's office was quite spacious and organized. Tons of books in his bookcase, files and papers on his desk, and Obanai who, for whatever reason, was in there, leaning against the professor's desk. He held out his hand, motioning for you to give him your paper. You gave it to him, standing a few steps away from Obanai.
"Are you the Teaching Assistant?" You asked.
"Yes. I graded yours and your classmates' answers."
"Okay."
The room grew silent, and you took advantage of the opportunity to take a look at him up close. Obanai was just a couple of inches taller than you. He's dressed in his typical black and white striped shirt and has his hair done back in a ponytail. You remembered how he used to let it fall on his shoulder. You loved seeing his hair like that. To be able to see him there in front of your eyes, bathed in sunlight from the window…
Obanai has never appeared more ethereal.
"I made a mistake, didn't I?" He asked, out of the blue. You were caught off guard.
"Uh... yeah, it's that... that one, number eight. I got the right answer, yet you still crossed it."
Obanai took a pen from his pocket and scribbled on your paper. You waited for him to finish. He probably caught you staring, but you didn't really care. Just because you didn't have any chance to be with him, didn't mean you're not allowed to appreciate his beauty, right?
Obanai folded your paper in half and handed it back to you. "I apologize."
You grabbed the paper and waved your hand. "No, it's fine. It's a small mistake."
"I mean for the other day."
"Huh?"
"Back in the Haunted House."
"Ah..." You could feel your cheeks turned crimson. "It doesn't matter, senpai. I'm sorry for the inconvenience and for what my friend said."
Obanai didn't say anything, he just stared at you and nodded slowly.
"Well, then," you cleared your throat, "I better get going."
"Yeah."
He walked you back to the door, something that he didn't really need to do since it was only a few steps away. Obanai opened the door for you and leaned against the doorframe, crossing his arms.
"Thanks again, senpai." You cracked a small smile.
Obanai nodded. "Check again if I crossed any of your right answers."
"Oh, I believe that was the only answer you crossed." You unfolded the paper. "I checked all of them and..."
"Mhmm?"
You were at loss of words. There were a scribble at the end of your paper, something that wasn't there before.
i'm sorry fancy some dinner to make up for it? Text me: 003-XXXX-XXXX
"S-senpai?"
"Don't... call me that." Obanai looked away, a tint of pink was visible on his pale cheek.
"...Obanai-san?"
He sighed. "You're not supposed to read it here."
"I'm sorry." You chuckled, not really prepared to witness your senior being flustered because of you.
"So?" Obanai asked. "Your answer?"
"S-sure." You gave him a thumbs up. It was an awkward move but you just got asked out by your crush for a dinner.
"Text me your address. I'll pick you up at seven." Obanai stepped back and closed the door, a little bit too hard.
You froze in your place, clutching your quiz paper on your chest. Your mind went fuzzy, couldn't comprehend what happened just yet.
"Dinner... at seven... okay..."
You walked away, looking at the scribble Obanai left on your paper. A little squeal slipped past through your lips as you walked faster, eager to reach your dorm and get ready for dinner.
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Thank you for reading! Find me on Ao3 and Twitter
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the-fiction-witch · 11 months
Text
Ice Cold
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Media Love Actually Age Up
Character Sam
Couple Sam X Reader
Rating Sweet + Sad
Concept Second thoughts
I grabbed my case from the taxi jumping out onto the street, I paid and thanked him before I hurried myself inside the tall hotel, I passed the desk without a word and went to the lift pressing the button for the required floor. Once it stopped I got out and headed down the corridor until I found the door I'd been looking for knocking a good few times. I waited a little while before knocking again and on the second round the door opened.
He was leaning on the door, eyes barely open, hair a mess, wearing a old band tee and his blue shorts. 
"Y/n!" He smiled excitedly pulling me into the tightest hug and dragging me inside the hotel room "ummmm my second favorite girl in the whole wide world" 
"My god Sam how hungover are you?" 
"I'm not hungover" he says heading into the room and I was taken back by the utter madness of the once cute hotel room now a messy upturned hell hole "if anything… I'm kinda, still drunk" he says taking a beer from the table 
"Have housekeeping been by?"
"No,"
"Oh thank god. I don't want to even imagine the meltdown if Joanna got the bill for all this"
"It's my wedding to you know" he pouts collapsing on the sofa 
"Okay," I smiled setting my things down going over and wrapping my arms around his neck and shoulders "come on, what's going on in that blonde noggin?" 
"Im getting married tomorrow"
"Yes you are. It's perfectly natural to get cold feet Sam. Especially given your kinda drunk" 
"Just…it's nothing"
"You sure?"
"Yeah, come on we have stuff to do" 
"Alright" I went and grabbed my case and began working, I had been best friends with Sam for forever really, since we were tiny little kids mostly thought the school band where of course he plaid drums and I plaid piano so we often were stuck up the back next to each other on the large unmovable bits of equipment we became very fast friends and had been close forever, I even had a crush on him at one point but he had always been head over heels for Joanna for as long as I could remember and after reconnecting a few months ago they were getting married. It had all been a bit rushed but it was still really sweet. Even if Joanna had been a bit controlling of things, kinda bridezilla is not gonna lie. But the wedding was on a tight budget so to minimize costs the girls were doing there own hair and make up all of them being very skilled in such things and as I did a lot of hair and make up stuff for my photography job she asked if I could be incharge of making the boys look presentable which of course I agreed. So I was here today to prep the room and do a base sort of Sam ready to do him and his groomsmen tomorrow morning. 
"You excited?" I asked as I sat working in his nails 
"Course. Just… nervy is all"
"It's your wedding Sam it's fine to be nervous" I laughed "I take it the bachelor party was fun?" I asked glancing are the hotel room
"Ah. No. you know the rules. No penis no info. Bachelor party for boys only"
"Sam, I'm basically a boy."
"You don't have a penis"
"I have one in my bag then can I qualify?" 
"What Joanna ask you to check up on me?"
"No, I'm just curious"
"It was fun. I had a good time"
"That's good, that's the whole point"
"There weren't strippers."
"Ohh?"
"She'll ask you. I know she will. She was very clear about it"
"Okay, no strippers" I laughed "but…?"
"But?"
"But?"
"No. There wasn't. We most just got really really drunk and plaid video games"
"Awww sounds lovely. So long as you had fun" 
"Oww" he complained
"Ohh don't be a baby Sammy. If you took care of your hands and nails I wouldn't have to put so much work in"
"I don't think I need all this honestly. Just like a brush through my hair tomorrow seems like enough" he says 
"It's your wedding Sam she wants you to look nice for all your pictures and things,"
"What wedding photo is gonna show my nails?"
"I don't know… shot of the wedding rings?"
"Good point"
"plus I wouldn't wanna be holding hands with these callus meat claws for an hour in this state, you need lotion. And to clean all the dirt out" 
"That's fair. Plus it makes her happy to think I did it all"
"Exactly. Anything to make her less angry right now"
"Tell me about it" he sighed "still. It's nice just getting the time to hang with you"
"Yeah it's nice to just be with you too Sam" I smiled we continued in doing various things all to prep him for the wedding tomorrow I made sure his suit was all together and steamed, his hands sorted, his shoes shined, his hang over slowly being cured ready for a six am start tomorrow. he currently sat on his third hangover cure smoothie being misted by the little Steam machine in the middle of the skincare treatment I had done for him to clean his skin up for tomorrow 
"Why is this on such a budget?"
"Joanna doesn't like spending alot of money"
"I guess. Maybe stuff wouldn't be so pricey if you waited a little longer"
"I know but she wants it all over with so we can get on with life you know"
"No other reason?" I asked 
"...no. at least she hasn't told me if there is" he explained finishing up his face and we got sat down watching TV with a drink and some pizza
"Y/n?"
"Yeah?"
"Am I a bad person."
"For what?' 
"For second guessing? The night before my wedding? Shouldn't I be giddy and happy and barely able to contain my excitement and yet… I'm not. Is that bad?"
"No sam, it's fine everyone gets nervous, has second thoughts it's a big thing. It's okay your not a bad person for having doubts" 
"I don't know, everyone says cold feet is normal but… this is like ice cold."
"Do you love Joanna?"
"Yes"
"Do you wanna be her?"
"Yes"
"Do you wanna grow old and have bouncy little babies with her?"
"Yeah"
"Then you're fine." 
"Thanks y/n. I'm happy I'm here with you. Out of everyone"
"Really?"
"Of course you're my best friend." He says "I worry I won't really get to see you much after this"
"We'll still see each other"
"Joanna doesn't like you."
"... I mean. I kinda assumed that"
"Like really really doesn't like you. I had to fight to have you asked to do this for me. She didn't even want you to be invited"
"Seriously?"
"Seriously. She really doesn't like you" 
"I mean I thought she kinda wasn't a fan. Kinda sounds like she hates me"
"I did have to tell her a little white lie"
"Oh?"
"She didn't want you to stay here tonight. So she thinks you got another room."
"Ooooh your gonna be in trouble"
"I wasn't exactly planning on telling her. She already doesn't like you. She's stressed just… not tell her"
"Alright, our little secret."
"Our little secret" he smiled as we finished up our food "can I tell you a secret?"
"Go for it Sam" 
"I used to have a crush on you" 
I choked on my drink a little"what?"
"I did. When Joanna left again. I couldn't help thinking how much I liked you and I thought about asking you out, alot. All the way till I met up with Joanna again "
"Really?"
"Really."
"That's really sweet Sam. You wanna know a secret?"
"Yeah"
"I had a crush on you too"
"You did?"
"Yeah I kinda just assumed you were always just to love sick over Joanna to pay me any attention" 
"So all that time you and I could have?"
"We could. Another life I suppose"
"Yeah… another life"
"Come on let's get to bed early start tomorrow"
"Yeah you okay on the single?"
"I'll be fine. Sleep tight Sam"
"You too y/n" 
I woke to my alarm and immediate got to work setting up a station at the vanity Sam took a little while longer but eventually forced himself up "good morning Mr groom"
"Oh my god. I am… so hung over."
"Hang over smoothie?" 
"God yes. I'm gonna… go and sit in the shower a while"
"Sit in the shower?" I laughed pouring him another hangover smoothie as I had already made a batch ready for this morning
"Yeah in just gonna sit in the bottom and just kinda… exist." He says taking the drink
"Alright, don't be too long the boys will be here soon" I told him as he headed to the bathroom for his shower, soon enough one by one groomsmen arrived all of whom I knew of course, I did hair and some minimal photo ready makeup all while the guys laughed and joked getting themselves ready for the wedding. I was getting a little worried Sam had been in the bathroom all morning and it had gotten to the point now we had to get him out or we'd be late. 
"Sam? You okay?" I asked tapping on the door 
"Yeah, sorry I'm just I'm kinda struggling"
"Sam it's okay to be nervous, just come on out okay and we'll get you sorted" 
The door opened a tiny bit and he grabbed my arm pulling me in the bathroom
"Whoa! What the heck Sam" I complained as he relocked the door 
"Im sorry I'm sorry I just -"
"Sam. Tell me. What is going on?" I asked as I really looked at him dressed into clean PJ's from his shower his hair still wet tears staining his face
"I… I don't know if I can do this"
"What?"
"I know everyone's worked so hard. And we've put so much money and time but I just… I don't know if I can do it."
"Why not?"
"... because. Look I've been up all night, I couldn't sleep after last night. I feel awful I should be happy and excited I should have been too excited to sleep thinking about my wedding but - all I thought about all night. Was you. I spend all night tossing and turning thinking about what might have been." He says 
"Sam, that's sweet but it's your wedding today"
"I know I know. But I can't help it. I'm so sorry I don't mean to put you in a situation like this I just… I didn't realize that my feelings never really went away"
"Aww Sam. I don't think mine did either. But you're engaged to Joanna and you're marrying her today. We just have to move on and try not to think about the other life"
"The life we could have had. Together."
"Exactly. Come on or we'll be late" I told him going to unlock the door but he stopped me 
"Y/n wait" he says pulling my arm close and before I could say a word he leant down and kissed me I blushed hard and even teared up as I felt this firework of passion inside me I'd never had a kiss like that before when we pulled away I never wanted to leave his arms and I know he didn't want me too either "fuck."
"What?"
"I really hoped that would make me feel better. I think I just made it so much worse."
"Come on let's just uhhh get you ready" quickly I left the bathroom and took a moment to compose myself he followed suit greeting his groomsmen and taking his seat I struggled a little not to tear up as I for him ready finally giving his jacket a brush and his hair a fix as the boys left to get the car "how are you feeling?"
"Conflicted."
"It'll be okay you just, have to wait. I'm sure the moment you see her in her wedding dress everything will become clear"
"Okay," he nods trying to lean in for another kiss but I stopped him
"I don't think that's the best idea."
"Do you want to kiss me?"
"...I do"
"Then it's a good idea" he smiled giving my lips a final kiss softly and sweetly stroking my cheek as we kissed "I wish I'd done that years ago" 
"You should go Sam"
"Yeah. I need to go" he nods forcing himself away
I pushed my feelings down and just got on with things as usual taking my seat to watch the wedding I wanted to check up on him but I didn't want to put anymore doubt in his mind, the wedding began quickly and I noticed Sam looking at me I did my best not to look back at him when Joanna arrived she did look beautiful and Sam looked so happy to see her, I felt relieved but disappointed at the same time. It all went on as any wedding would 
"do you take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband?"
"I don't."
Silence ran across the whole wedding as everyone sat in a moment of shock 
"Excuse me?" 
"I don't. I do not"
"Joanna? What are you talking about?" Sam asked 
"I'm sorry Sam. I didn't want to do it this way but - I can't marry you. It's not that I don't care for you, I care so much for you but we were childhood sweethearts and were not children anymore you're not the boy I fell in love with and I'm not the girl you loved either we've changed, we've grown and now… all that connects us is being childhood sweethearts. I thought it would all come back, that it would come back and be just like it was but I was being stupid. I can't marry you. You'll always be my first love, my first kiss but you can't be my husband. And… I've been seeing like for the last few months romantically" she explained oh my god I knew something was up about that, nowone goes to the gym together that much 
"You- you were cheating in me? All this time…"
"Yes, I'm sorry Sam"
"Uhhhh okay. If uhhh if you think that's best." He nods "what uhh what do we do then?"
"Well we've paid for everything might as well just have a party?"
"Yeah uhh okay. Sounds good" he nods clearly completely broken but what else do you say to that. And just like that it was over the wedding cleared out into the reception space everyone drinking and eating given everything was already there and had been booked and paid for eventually I found Sam drinking on the patio steps 
"You okay?" I asked sitting beside him
"Fine. Just got stood up at my own wedding" he says drinking some more "makes sense why she wanted a quick And cheap wedding. She wanted it over with hopes it would kick start our relationship again. When she didn't feel fireworks walking down the aisle she called it off."
"I mean, is it really a bad thing? I know it hurts but you were so conflicted about it second guessing for days. I know it hurts now but maybe it's for the best" 
"Maybe you're right. Maybe I was just being stupid. Who really marries first girl they get a crush on and expect them to actually have a healthy marriage" he says "I knew something was up with her and luke I just didn't wanna be a dick. Maybe I'd I had this whole mess could have been avoided"
"It's okay, none of us knew"
"sorry I'm just -"
"It's okay, perfectly normal to be emotional" I told him "come here" I cooed pulling him to lean on my shoulder
"Thanks y/n"
"Your welcome." I smiled kissing his head letting him whine and cry as much as he needed too "hey it's okay, come on. You wanna dance?" He shook his head "you wanna go get another drink?" He shook his head "you wanna go get some pizza and drop red wine down Joanna's white dress?" He nods "okay let's go get some pizza and drop a big glass of red wine down her dress" I smiled helping him up
"Thanks y/n"
"Your welcome,"
"Y/n"
"Yes Sam?"
He simply pulled me close and gently kissed me I smiled and kissed him back when he pulled away I saw him smile again "do you wanna come over and watch a movie together tomorrow?"
"What like a date?"
"Very much a date"
"I'd love too" I smiled giving him a kiss "come on before all the pizzas gone" 
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quartings · 9 months
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Looking back on X&Y's release 10 years ago...
I still remember queueing up in line for the XY release day literally a whole decade ago- my brother, dad, and one of my best friends were with me and we all went out to Krispy Kreme afterwards- I evolved my first Spewpa there to see which regional Vivillon I had!
Nowadays I can't even imagine pre-ordering a Pokemon game, since I have to wait and see if they perform decently, have enough content in them to justify the $60USD price tag, and whether their DLC is good if not. I've become an old, jaded, beaten-down adult since then, haha...
But enough negativity for now- there are so many good things XY had that we should acknowledge!
Fairies are one of the biggest- we've had them for 10 YEARS now, everyone! Remember when they released the XY demo before the game launch and everyone was hitting Sylveon with everything to see how the new type matched up with everything? And now, Fairy has been paired up with all but two of the other types! They've also become the most OP type now (which is an issue they were made to stop) but it could always be worse! Who knows, maybe in 10 more years, the type chart might be unrecognizable!
They even managed to model and animate over 700 Pokemon on a handheld game, plus all their extra forms! Nowadays, Pokemon games can't manage to do that for even 500 Pokemon on launch.
Mega Evolution was the first battle gimmick ever introduced, and to this day it still remains so much better than the others that we're all still hoping and praying it comes back. I know there were some qualms that mostly OP and popular Pokemon got megas, but naturally the solution shouldn't be "No Megas"- it should be "More Megas"! And we all know someday we're going to have to raid Gamefreak's vault for their Mega Flygon concept art- we know it's out there!! Anyways, I'm glad Megas still get respect in spinoffs- Pokemon GO, Mystery Dungeon, Smash Bros, etc. It gives me hope that one day they really will return.
But the more negative things about XY need to be addressed too- while the games themselves were good, a lot of people rightfully agree that they were the beginning of many declines for the games.
The extremely low difficulty for no reason- NPCs and bosses having miniscule teams with less than 4 moves, rarely any held items and a poorly-made level curve. I can't think of anyone before who thinks the games before were "too hard" or that they're now "just right". To be fair, they've remedied this every now and again with actual challenging bosses (Totems and Ultra Necrozma, BDSP Cynthia, Volo, Team Star Bosses, Sada/Turo, Kieran, and the Ogre Clan) but I do hope this issue gets fully resolved one day. It's not fun playing through 90% of the games mindlessly clicking through the same highlighted "super effective" button over and over.
The "overly friendly rival" problem that first started in XY has finally been fixed though- while Gens 6-8 suffered a bit from it, Gen 9 doesn't just have decent rival characters- Nemona, Arven, Penny, Carmine, and Kieran have been some of my favorite Pokemon characters ever!
The lack of postgame areas and things to do first started in XY. While Looker and Emma's story was great, it didn't offer much of a challenge and there was barely anything to do afterwards. And nowadays when we do get substantial postgames in Pokemon they're paid DLC. And as long as we're getting DLC from now on, can we PLEASE have one that contains a Battle Frontier, please???
Mythicals no longer having their own areas and quests also started in XY- so many unfinished areas in the game that should've gone to them.
Kalos is the only main Pokemon region to only exist in one iteration so far- all others were expanded upon with remakes, sequels, third versions, ultra versions, or DLC. I do hope in maybe 5 years or so we do get XY remakes that'll finally do Kalos justice.
Another problem that eventually got fixed is small amounts of new Pokemon- I remember being in total disbelief that Gen 6 only had 72 new Pokemon, waiting for more to get announced someday. But with Gen 9, we finally have generations containing well over 100 Pokemon again, which is a massive relief!
And one more major underrated change that Gen 6 brought to Pokemon- it's the first one to ever have a worldwide release! I still remember spending most of Gen 5 learning Japanese names of all the new Pokemon, moves, characters, etc while waiting for BW's English release. But nowadays we can all enjoy a new generation's launch around the world at the same time! That's another thing to be grateful for!
But yeah, in these last 10 years so many things have changed and many others have stayed the same- for the Pokemon franchise and for my own life! While not all of it has been perfect, it still blows me away how far we've come, and how much more we need to improve on! I was still a nerdy little kid who didn't know how to draw digitally when these games came out- and now I'm an adult who makes animated shorts and works at an animation production company!
I have no clue if I'll be ready in 2026 for SM's 10th anniversary and the 30th anniversary of the franchise overall! Maybe everything will be better or it'll have gotten so much worse. Either way, I'm happy to have made it this far with you all and can't wait to make a similar post for the 10th anniversary of this blog, too!
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Could you write a Draco Malfoy x Slytherin !Potter!reader. Y/N and Draco have been dating since first year but haven’t told anyone because people think she might be the only “good slytherin” and to prevent Harry from freaking out they stay quiet till the Quitage World Cup where she goes with Draco and his father and spent the summer with them rather than the weasles . Pansy and Blaise know about Y/N and Draco because the 4 of them became best friends through the years (and reader won’t be only friends with Harry’s friends) . Harry and Y/N get into an argument when they return to Hogwarts the summer of the Triwizard cup and how she’s a traitor (EVEN tho that’s her house) and a disgrace for being with him. So she accepted that and that he hates her so she spends the next year mainly with her house giving the trio the cold shoulder and when the war happened draco and his mother protected her and hid her so Harry was looking for her that time but she was gon so after the war the 4 (Draco Pansy and blasé) walk into the great hall and the golden trio see that Y/N is engaged to Draco and Harry just apologizes and they catch up after all those years.
The Potter Twins
A/n: This has got to be one of the best requests I've ever seen anyone answer. I'm so gratefully you asked me to write it!! Thank you. Also, I did use lines from the book just to make the story work. I could have probably written a whole series so this is very long, I'm sorry. @loxbbg
"Y/n Potter." Professor McGonagall's shrill voice boomed. Just like that, the whole school's attention was on Y/n.
So many students, so much older than her, all focused on her. Probably, she had only just discovered, because of her last name.
The girl and the boy who lived. Apparently, they were famous.
On their 11th birthday, she hadn't expected a giant wizard man to come and whisk the twins away from the horrible Dursleys. But, he was nice and he knew their parents.
Y/n was always treated better than Harry. Aunt Petunia seemed to love her more, even letting her have a big bedroom.
Hagrid, she found out, had taken them shopping and brought them ice cream. While she thought it was all a hallucination when she was able to run through a wall, she knew something strange was happening.
After that, she had met a redhead, Ron. He was dorky but kind to the siblings. And, he seemed to know a lot about the wizarding world.
Y/n took a few tentative steps before sitting on the stool. She was hyperaware of the fact everyone was watching, not able to keep the blush off her cheeks.
The heavy hat was draped onto her head, weighing her down.
"Hmm, the other Potter. You would do good in Gryffindor." The hat whispered to her, making her widen her eyes. She hadn't expected it to talk. It was an object. How could it possibly talk?
Y/n was amazed at the whole thing. It still felt like a dream. The great hall was phenomenal, and she couldn't wait to explore the castle. It was unreal.
Y/n flicked her eyes to her brother. He was already sitting at the Gryffindor table, smiling at her. She hoped she would get to be with him, even though she didn't grasp the house concept. Plus, he was near the other girl, Hermione.
Hermione seemed to know a lot about wizards, and Y/n wanted to be informed. It was like she had finally discovered her missing part.
"I remember your parents. I think you could do just like them." The hat continued. Y/n kept hoping. Hoping she wouldn't go without Harry. The thought of her parents made her heartache, she knew so little about them, but she had heard so much about them in the last few days.
"Slytherin!" The hat roared. Y/n's eyes instantly widened, looking frantically at her brother. How was it possible? The hat had decided she would do good in Gryffindor. She wanted to be with her brother and Ron and Hermione.
Just like that, the hat was off her head. Y/n was speechless as she wandered over to the Slytherin table. Somehow, they all looked mean.
She hadn't noticed who she sat next to until the boy spoke. "I'm Malfoy. Draco Malfoy." He introduced himself, puffing out his chest proudly.
"Y/n Potter." Y/n introduced, despite knowing he already knew.
"I'm Pansy Parkinson." A girl with short black hair interrupted their conversation. "We're going to be sleeping in the same dorm, do you want to be friends?" She asked. A picture of confidence.
Y/n didn't know what to do but nod. "Yeah."
"Now shove off, Parkinson. We're talking." Draco interrupted the girls.
Y/n looked concerned at Pansy, but she didn't look offended at all. "Don't worry. Dracie and I have been friends since we were kids. He doesn't mean it." She reassured the girl, noticing her surprised look. The nickname made Y/n giggle, recognising the look on Draco's face as disgust.
"We're not friends." Draco joked, stoic face. Pansy hit him on the arm.
Y/n liked them already. She could tell they would be good friends. Plus, they filled the gap she was missing, not having Harry next to her.
Harry managed to get a chance to talk to Y/n after the feast. He quickly wrapped her in his arms, comforting his sister.
"I'm sorry we're not in the same house," Y/n told him, feeling guilty.
Harry shook his head. "It's not your fault. It's that weird hat's."
"It's strange, isn't it?" Y/n giggled, not feeling like crying anymore. "I don't know what so much of this means." She continued, feeling nervous about the whole situation.
"I know." Harry agreed with a nod. "We'll get through it together. I just want to know more about mum and dad, and it's good if we don't have to stay with Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon." Y/n nodded to that. They were horrible people. "We should go to our rooms now. It'll be okay." He comforted her.
She gave him another quick hug. "Thanks, Harry." She told him before turning around to walk off.
"Wait, Y/n!" Harry called, she spun back around to face him. "I've heard Malfoy is bad news, be careful." He warned. Y/n nodded, reassuring him she'd be cautious.
She didn't believe it, though, as she skipped off to the common room.
~
It was only a week into classes when Y/n figured out not everyone at Hogwarts was nicer than the Dursley's. Mainly Professor Snape. For no reason, he seemed to hate Harry. They dissected it later in Hagrid's cottage.
"'S 'cause yeh look like yer mum." Hagrid offered as an explanation. That confused the twins and Ron, who came with them. Hagrid sighed, realising he had to explain it. "Snape loved her, way back, but she married yer dad. He couldn' stand yer dad. Anyway, tha''s all history now. Unfortunately, he's one to hold a grudge. Don' let it bother yeh." He told the children.
Harry just sighed, running his fingers through his hair. "Okay, I'm used to Dudley, anyway." He figured Hogwarts was a lot better than the Dursley's house.
"What about yeh, Y/n, how's Slytherin? They're not pickin' on yeh?" Hagrid asked, switched his attention to the small girl.
"It's alright. I've made lots of friends." Y/n had actually had a rather good week. She'd befriended Pansy and a girl named Daphne. As well as Draco, with who she was very close. That was just in her house. Somehow, she'd managed to sit next to Hermione in a class, Lavender too, and a girl named Hannah Abbot from Hufflepuff.
"Good." Hagrid nodded. "Yeh best be off now." He told them, taking the last sip of his drink.
The 3 of them nodded, getting up and leaving the cottage.
"You know, we've got our first flying lesson next week?" Ron asked the twins, trying to brighten the mood. He could tell they were both thinking about their parents.
Y/n did know. Draco had talked about it nonstop. He was beyond excited.
Harry nodded as well. "I'm not sure I'm going to be any good." He mentioned, lightly blushing.
"I'm sure you'll both be fine. It is in your blood." Ron told them. Y/n and Harry both looked at him with furrowed eyebrows, confused about what he meant. However, he didn't elaborate.
~
Y/n went to watch Harry's first Quidditch practise, despite him telling her not to. He said it was a waste of time when it was just practice. But she was extremely proud of him. She knew their parents would be proud too.
So she hid in the Slytherin bleaches, hoping Harry wouldn't spot her.
It was slightly chilly, the night wind whipping at her skin. That's when she felt the drape on a coat on her shoulder.
Y/n whipped her head around to see who it was, only to be met with the blonde's features. She definitely had a bit of a crush on him. He was cute and the first boy who had ever paid her attention.
Draco took a seat next to her, giving her a smile. "Hi." He whispered.
"Hi, Dray." It was a nickname she had quickly picked up, noticing how it made him blush. "You don't have to sit out here." She assured him.
"I want to," Draco confirmed.
Y/n knew he was jealous. Draco had done nothing but talk about how much he loved Quidditch. And Harry, who he thought was a blood traitor, had gotten all his success. So it was big that he wanted to sit with her.
They watched in silence before Draco spoke. "Did you know Pansy is dating Blaise?" He asked her.
Y/n shook her head rapidly. "I thought she liked you."
Draco stuck his tongue out in disgust. "No, I hope not. I did have a question though..." He trailed off, cheeks heating pink. He was bouncing his knee up and down nervously.
Y/n had never seen him like that. "What is it?" She asked.
"Do you want to be my girlfriend?" Draco asked hesitantly. Y/n immediately nodded, accepting the offer. She had never felt happier and more relieved.
"Of course, Dray." She agreed immediately his face relaxed. Y/n reached over and laced her fingers in his, not concerned about how sweaty his palms were. "We can't tell Harry though." She suddenly realised, remembering her brother's words. Draco had never been kind to any of the Gryffindor's, despite them being her friends.
Draco nodded. "Okay." He accepted. Y/n was very thankful he agreed to her request.
~
3rd year was the most stressful yet, for Y/n. She and Draco were still secretly dating, much to Blaise and Pansy's surprise. They couldn't believe how long it had lasted. But Y/n and Draco were drawn to each other, as friends and lovers.
Summer break was also difficult for Y/n. Aunt Marge's visit had ruined the twins birthday. On top of that, apparently, a psychotic wizard had escaped. The Dursley's didn't understand what that would mean. But Y/n and Harry saw just what dark magic could do to Ginny Weasly last year. It was devastating and powerful.
Y/n ran away with Harry when he blew up Aunt Marge. Aunt Petunia had started being much meaner to her, the older she got. While Y/n didn't know Lily, she thought it might have been the reason Aunt Petunia started shunning her.
So, she stayed at the leaky cauldron with Harry. It was the first time she felt happy to not have parents, there were no rules.
Y/n was hiding something. All the letter her owl, Edwige, was bringing her. All from Draco. She figured Harry was too tied up in his own life to think anything was odd. He probably assumed it was Hermione.
The whole train ride all Harry, Ron and Hermione wanted to talk about was terrifying Sirius Black who was trying to murder the twins.
The train's sudden stop frightened Y/n. As the compartment grew cold, she thought it was Sirius, there to kill them. When the Dementor's bony fingers slide open the door, her heart raced, almost beating out of her chest.
This was it. She was going to die from a faceless ghost. It started to suck the life out of Harry and she froze, not knowing how to help her brother.
Thankfully, the cloaked figure in the corner sprung up, scaring the spirit away.
Y/n rushed to get to Harry, but he had already fainted. He was dazed and confused when he woke, Lupin, as Y/n had come to known, handing him some chocolate.
Once Lupin had re-explained what happened, to Harry, he left.
The Potter twins connection let Y/n feel the fear Harry was in, despite being the braver.
Y/n was more than happy to get off the train, being able to sit next to her boyfriend. The Gryffindor table couldn't see them, so they were free to subtly hold hands.
It didn't feel the same that year. Draco was much darker and meaner. He was mean to Hermione and Hagrid, two of Y/n's companions. She didn't understand it.
Their relationship issues came to a head on the date of Buckbeaks execution. Draco and Y/n didn't agree on the situation but it got worse as she roamed the castle with Harry, Hermione and Ron.
As soon as Y/n saw Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle hiding behind that rock she knew today was going to be her breaking point. She didn't understand why he couldn't just shut his mouth and not say anything.
"Have you ever seen anything quite as pathetic?" said Malfoy. "And he’s supposed to be our teacher!" The look on his face was pure disgust. His eyes flicked up to meet Y/n's, not back down from the remarks he'd made as she stared him down.
It was then she realised it. He cared more about maintaining his arrogant reputation than he did his own girlfriend. The thought broke her heart.
Harry and Ron both marched to him, with Hermione one step ahead. Y/n awkwardly stood there, not knowing how to come between her secret boyfriend and friends.
Hermione got to him first, landing a solid punch to his nose. It was as hard as she could, landing a solid sound.
Draco stumbled back, Crabbe and Goyle rushing to hold him up. He gave Y/n a final look as he ran past her.
Y/n's eyes were already filling with tears. Hermione noticed. "Are you alright?" She asked.
She quickly thought up a lie. "I'm sorry... It's just all of this with Buckbeard is difficult. Can you tell Hagrid I'm really sorry?" She stuttered out, the tears streaming down her cheeks.
They all brought the lie, Harry wrapping her in a hug before they walked off. She stood there and cried for a few minutes, all alone. Like no one in the world cared about her.
It quickly turned to anger, her blood boiling. She stormed off to the Slytherin common room, knowing Draco was too proud to go to the hospital wing.
She found him there, on the couch, Crabbe and Goyle at his side.
"I can't believe Granger," Draco exclaimed, not noticing Y/n. "She's a filthy mudblood I could easily get expelled."
"Tell your father." Goyle prompted. Crabbe and Goyle were the best henchmen, dumb and wanting to cause trouble.
"Goyle, Crabbe, I need to speak to Malfoy," Y/n announced. They didn't understand what she meant. "Alone." They finally understood, scurrying out of the room.
Draco didn't look concerned, his eyes challenging her. "What do you want? Hanging out with your idiot twin, that poor, blood traitor Weaslbee and mudblood Granger." He was just as pissed as Y/n was. Maybe, it was the anger for Granger he was taking out on Y/n.
She couldn't hide it anymore. "We're done." She told him. "I cannot be with you when you hate everyone that loves me."
"Fine." Draco shrugged. "I don't care."
That was the last thing Y/n heard from him as she stormed to her dorm room, a sobbing mess. Pansy quickly wrapped her in a hug, not needing to know what happened.
~
It was the end of term before Y/n even looked in Draco's direction again. She spent all those nights silently sobbing. The slight silver lining was she had gotten much closer to Harry, Hermione and Ron, no longer spending hours with Draco.
He'd trapped her when she was alone in the bleachers, just like he did on their first week.
He didn't place a jacket on her, rather some sunglasses. "Hi." He murmured, hesitantly sitting next to her. Draco was sure Y/n hated him.
"Hey." She replied. The truth was, she missed him. Draco was a part of her, they had grown up in love. They were never meant to fall out of it.
"Enjoying your last day?" Draco asked awkwardly. They felt like they were back in their first year, acting self-consciously.
She nodded, not interested in his small talk. "Yeah, I'm all packed as well." She still refused to look at him.
"I'm sorry." It came tumbling out like he didn't know how to say it. That made her turn her attention to him.
Y/n couldn't help but love him. She never wanted to break up, ever. "Me too." She replied.
Y/n wrapped her arms around him, pulling him in for a hug. He just looked so precious.
"Will you be my girlfriend?" Draco asked, the question was phrased differently this time but it still reminded her of the shy first year.
"Yes." Y/n agreed. She had never known heartbreak like being without Draco.
"Also... I want it to be real this time." That made Y/n worry. She didn't want Harry to find out yet. There was no one Harry hated more. "Will you stay with us these holidays? And come to the Quidditch World Cup?" He asked shyly. That was the bashful boy she adored.
So far, Y/n's plans were to go to the Durley's. She'd just lie to them and say she was staying with Pansy. They wouldn't care because they didn't love her.
'Yes." Y/n told him. "I'm terrified to meet your parents." She admitted.
Draco took her hand in his. "Love, you have nothing to worry about." He assured her. In truth, he also had doubts about his father. Y/n was a Potter.
Once they left the bleachers, Y/n went to see Harry. The trio was in the courtyard.
"Oh Y/n, we were looking for you." Ron pipped up as she took a seat next to them. She tried to not blush too much. "Do you want to come to the Quidditch World Cup with us?" He asked. Uh oh.
"I'm really sorry. I told Pansy I'd go with her family." Y/n lied once again. She felt terrible doing it but she had to. Plus, they weren't going to find out.
"That's fine. Are staying with her the whole summer?" Harry asked. Y/n hated to have to nod. She knew they were keeping a brave face on but they were disappointed.
~
Y/n's lie worked. She made it to out of the station with Draco without anyone seeing.
They got in the car and, from there, they travelled to the manor. It was fabulous. Better than she could ever imagine. Pointed towers and perfectly done gardens, she was in another world.
"Hey, it'll be okay," Draco assured her, taking his hand in hers as they made it to the door. She had already met their house-elf, who carried the bags.
Draco knocked on the door, trying to seem brave. Narcissa swung it open, arms wide open to pull Draco in. Y/n admired how close they were. She had seen Narcissa once before when she came to see Draco. They weren't introduced but Y/n admired how elegant she looked.
"Y/n Potter, right?" Narcissa asked once she had let her boy go.
"Yes, Mrs Malfoy. It's a pleasure to meet you." Y/n politely said.
Narcissa giggled, shaking her head. "Don't be silly, you can call me Narcissa." She said before opening her arms up for the girl. She hugged for just as long as she hugged Draco, making Y/n feel very comfortable.
Lucius walked over, making Y/n's heart race.
"Draco." He greeted his son with a handshake, much less warm than his mother.
Then he turned to Y/n, staring down his nose at her. She had never felt as small. "You must be Y/n Potter?" He held out his hand.
"Yes, sir," Y/n replied, shaking his hand. "It's a pleasure to meet you."
Lucius just scowled. Narcissa interrupted the tension. "Come, kids, we can talk in the living room." Just like that, she was part of the family.
~
The Malfoy tent at the Quidditch world cup was impressive. It was grand and dark like the manor.
Her summer with Draco was the best of her life, not that the others were much to compare to. Narcissa was the kindest woman she'd ever know. When she realised Y/n's birthday was the 31st of July, she insisted on throwing a large party.
She let Y/n pick out all the decorations, taking her on a shopping spree to Diagon Alley. Then, they had a spa day and afternoon tea party with Pansy and Daphne and some of Narcissa's friends. As much as she wanted to, Y/n figured it wasn't right to invite Hermione and Ginny.
That night, they had dinner out with the girls, Draco, Theo and Blaise. It was the best day of her life. It only got better when a massive cake was wheeled out, and a cart for of gifts. She was sure it was more than Dudley had ever gotten.
Draco's was the most special. It was a necklace, a traditional Black family one. On it was their initials.
Y/n made sure to stay in contact with Harry, but things had started to slip. She figured he was just busy but she missed him, and their other friends.
It was difficult for Y/n to get along with Lucius, knowing how close he was to Voldemort, the man who was trying to kill her. Somehow, they just didn't talk about it.
"Are you ready to go?" Draco asked, adjusting his black blazer. She couldn't believe how good he looked, a full black suit. His blonde hair parted in the middle. He had grown into his looks majorly over the summer.
"Yeah." Y/n nodded, putting her last earing in. They were a gift from Narcissa, real emeralds. She had a bad feeling in the pit of her stomach she was trying to shake off as anticipation.
"Okay, Mum has already gone to our box. We're going in with my Father." He told her, walking over to grab her hand. Physical contact was something the couple had gotten used to. It was no longer awkward.
Y/n took his hand, lacing their fingers as they walked out of the tent. Draco was taller than her now, he hadn't been in first year. His slim thumb traced over her knuckles mindlessly.
Lucius didn't seem to mind the two of them being so close. The sky had darkened, and the crowds were already cheering. While Y/n had never been to a muggle sports game, she thought this was better. It was noisy but spectacular.
Draco and Y/n talked as they walked, him occasionally bumping into her shoulder. It always made her giggle.
When she heard Lucius' cruel voice, she looked back at him. He was looking up. Y/n followed his eye line. The Weasley's. Hermione. Harry.
Her brain stopped working, and she froze. The look on Harry's face was pure fury. He was looking between her and Draco rapidly, but it was obvious. They were holding hands, and they had just been giggling together.
Those smiles were long gone. The atmosphere had immediately blackened.
Lucius' threat to Harry made her wince. Harry didn't even look bothered, just furious at her. Betrayed. It physically hurt her, and she gripped Draco's hand.
The Weasley group turned to walk off so did Lucius. Draco pulled Y/n closer to him, wrapping his arm around her shoulder.
"Hey, don't worry. It'll be okay. Harry will calm down." Draco told her. She just hoped it was true. Harry didn't like to be deceived, and she had lied so much. Plus, Draco was never nice to Harry, Hermione and Ron. They probably hated her by association. "My father really shouldn't have said that." He grimaced. That's made her confident in her decision. Draco had changed.
Y/n nodded, trying to choke back the tears welling in her eyes. "Yeah, I know."
Draco stopped in the middle of the bridge. He took her face in his hands. "Hey, I love you." He reminded her before leaning down to kiss her. It was soft and filled her back up with warmth, making the chilling look Harry had sent her go away. She just hoped Harry still loved her.
Y/n tried to put Harry in the back of her mind the rest of the break. She did write him a few letters, but he didn't reply.
~
Harry was too busy to talk to Y/n on the first day of school. She hoped Hermione and Ron weren't giving her the cold shoulder, but they did.
So she spent the welcome feast with Pansy and Daphne. And, of course, her boyfriend.
He confronted her on the second day of school.
Y/n was in the courtyard when Draco and Harry had their quarrel. She always knew Draco was short-tempered, but she couldn't believe the things he was saying to Harry about their mother.
Y/n's shock grew when Harry spat back, knocking Narcissa. He didn't know her like she did. Narcissa had been nothing but kind to Y/n. That was when she knew she couldn't let Harry get away with it.
"Harry!" Y/n yelled, his attention flicked to her. His eyes were even more outraged than they were with Draco.
"What do you want, traitor?" Harry demanded, his voice was angry too.
"You can't say those things about Narcissa," Y/n demanded. Now she knew how mad Draco felt. Her jaw was clenched like her fits. "And, I'm not a traitor. I'm a Slytherin, that wasn't my choice."
Harry rolled his eyes and huffed. "You're sickening. Did you not hear what he said about our mother!?" He lectured her. "I don't know how you could be with someone so vile."
"Draco isn't who you think he is." Y/n defended. Draco loved her. He'd never given up on her like Harry had.
"He hates you!" Harry spat. He was closer to her now, towering over her. She had never seen anyone that mad. "You're not a Potter. You don't belong in our family." He said so lowly it made her shiver.
Harry was so close she thought he was going to hit her. That's when Draco jumped in the middle of the twins, pushing Harry back and shielding Y/n.
"Watch it, Potter." Draco threatened, glaring down at Harry. He was only an inch taller.
Harry scoffed, fists clench, ready for a fight. He looked around Draco, at Y/n. "Mum and Dad would have despised you. You're just like all those other awful Slytherins. I don't understand how you could be with someone as low as Malfoy." His words sat deep in her heart, and he didn't stop them from coming. "You're not a Potter." With that, he left, not looking back.
Y/n immediately burst out in tears. She couldn't stop it. Draco spun around to her, holding her so she wouldn't collapse.
"Hey, hey, hey. It's okay." Draco told her, wrapping her in his arms so tightly. He just held her. "You know they would be proud of you, Y/n. You're so strong and clever." He comforted her, his hands stroking her back.
Y/n shook her head. "No, I'm a Slytherin. They were all brave Gryffindors." She choked out.
"It doesn't matter what house you're in. You're so kind and talented." Draco reassured her. His heart was breaking, seeing his girlfriend in such a bad state. All he wanted to do was stop her from hurting. "I know how important Harry is to you. We can take a break until this all blows over." He reassured her.
Y/n shook her head, clinging to her chest. "No, no, please, Dray." She said as she cried out. "You're the last good thing I have left."
"Baby." He cooed, tracing her cheekbones. "I'll never leave you." He promised.
~
Draco stayed true to his word. He supported her throughout the whole year. Y/n was always worried for Harry. Despite the shunning, he inflicted on her.
It didn't stop with Harry. Y/n lost half of her friends that day. Hermione, the Weasley's and most muggle-borns refused to talk to her. She was always so kind that it troubled her.
Draco took her to the Yule ball, naturally. She saw Harry that night. They even made eye contact, but he didn't comment on her forest green dress. It matched her eyes perfectly, though, and Harry couldn't stop thinking about one photo of his mother he'd seen. They looked so similar.
She spent the Christmas break at the Malfoy's, receiving a sweater from Molly Weasley. That meant the world to her, despite none of them speaking to her.
When they got back to Hogwarts, Y/n figured out how irrelevant she was to Harry. Ron was the one that was taken for the second task. Everyone noticed. Not his own twin, his friend.
Y/n still remained close with Sirius. They wrote letters to each other throughout the year. He knew how worried she was about Harry.
The truth was, Sirius felt bad, James and Lily were his best friends and he knew they'd be disappointed to see the twins split up. Sirius was also worried for Y/n, he knew what it was like being part of the Black family.
He had hatched a few plans to get them to talk, but none worked. Not due to Y/n's lack of trying.
The third task was the worst thing Y/n had been through at Hogwarts. She could feel something bad was happening to Harry. When he came back through the portkey, she saw it. And it was distressing.
Voldermort was reborn, whether everyone believed it or not. Y/n could feel it was true.
~
5th year was exciting.
Y/n celebrated her 15th birthday before it started. This time, they had dinner with her friends. She didn't write to Harry.
Sirius sent her gifts, and he was starting to ask whether Narcissa was okay.
Just after her birthday, in August, Draco Malfoy and Y/n Potter were made prefects. They both read the letters at the breakfast table.
Narcissa was overjoyed for both of them.
At 11am, on the 1st of September, they got on the train to Hogwarts.
The rest of that year went on normally, apart from Umbridge's rules.
Christmas break was a sign that a darker power was brewing. Y/n heard the whispers under the door and she assumed the other side of the war also had meetings.
Y/n was shocked when Death Eaters escaped from Azkaban. After the Umbridge drama died down, they had to sit their O.W.L.s. That was rough.
One terrible day of June was Sirius' last. Y/n cried in Draco's arms for days over the death. She always thought Sirius was the only person who was going to be able to reunite the twins. And now he was gone.
~
Y/n knew something was very wrong during the summer. Draco told her he was a death eater. They cried about it together all night. The weeks following were stressful, and they weren't even back at Hogwarts. The war had started.
Draco and Narcissa kept Y/n hidden from Lucius' guests. O.W.L results were the first good thing that summer.
Y/n's 16th birthday was smaller than her last. Y/n, Draco, Pansy, Blaise and Theo were all hyperaware of the dementor attacks.
That weekend, they visited Diagon Alley with Narcissa. Y/n was at Draco's side the whole time, unfortunately, that meant she had a run-in with Harry and the Weasleys. It was awkward, to say the least. Her own twin still wouldn't acknowledge her.
Draco's task started at the beginning of the year. Y/n was the only one who knew about it, besides Snape.
Then Christmas, with even more death eater meetings. Y/n barely saw Draco. Narcissa had made her promise to take care of him, but it was difficult to get him to eat.
Draco continued his task during the second semester. Y/n knew that Harry knew about Draco. Their twin insight gave him the power to just know things.
It was getting difficult between Y/n and Draco. They didn't talk as honestly as they used to. He wanted to protect her. And she knew he needed to open up.
One day in May, Y/n rushed to see Draco in the hospital wing, concerned about how he could have gotten there. Did something go wrong with the vanishing cabinet?
"Draco!" She cried as she saw him lying on a hospital bed looking pale.
Draco waved at her, a little smile on his face.
"Potter." Snape hissed, looking down at the girl. Y/n didn't care he was there as she wrapped her arms around Draco. Snape was nicer to Y/n this year, which she didn't understand.
From a photo Sirius had given her, she knew she looked more like Lily than ever. She always kept the picture near her. It was the Potter parents holding up their twins, smiling.
"He's fine," Snape told her. "As for your brother, he's going to be in huge trouble." He continued before walking out of the hospital wing.
"What happened?" Y/n demanded, holding Draco's face in her hands. His cheekbones were more prominent now, and his eyes were more overcast.
Draco playfully huffed. "I was, uh, in the bathroom. Potter came in and used the bloody Sectumsempra spell on me." He complained, his eyes now angrier. She couldn't believe Harry would do something like that. But, then again, she didn't really know him.
Y/n noticed the way his voice faded when he talked about where he was. "Why were you in the bathroom?" She knew him well enough to push for an answer."
"Uh, talking." Draco offered an explanation. It wasn't good enough for Y/n to accept.
"To who?" She asked.
Draco groaned, rolling his eyes. He finally gave in. "Fine, I was crying to Moaning Myrtle." He admitted. His cheeks were pink with blush and he looked guilty.
"Dray." Y/n cooed, reaching down to hold his hand. "You can talk to me about anything you need to, any time." She assured him.
Draco nodded, thankfully. "He's going to get detention for the rest of the year." He told her, a self-satisfied smirk on his lips.
Narcissa was one of the last people Y/n expected to see walk into the Hospital Wing. She was in a black pantsuit.
"Mother." Draco greeted her, trying to move in the bed to get up.
"Stay put, you," Narcissa told him with a smile. She walked right over and hugged Y/n. "Are you okay?" She asked. Y/n just nodded. She knew a storm was brewing, but nothing had happened yet. It was only a matter of time. Then she turned to Draco. "Are you?" She asked him.
Draco already had a witty reply, clearly feeling like himself again. "Aside from my own mother preferring my girlfriend to me." He complained, a faux pout on his face.
Narcissa just rolled her eyes, like mother like son. "I can't help it. You get into too much trouble." She told him with a pointed look.
Draco scoffed. "Wasn't my fault." He complained quietly. The girls just gave him a look he knew too well. "Honestly, what are you doing here?" He asked. When Narcissa widened her eyes, he followed the question up with a statement. "Not that I'm not pleased to see you."
"I've actually come for Y/n." She explained.
Both Y/n and Draco looked at her in shock. "What? Why?" Y/n asked, most concerned.
Narcissa looked to Draco who sighed out an 'oh' and then back to Y/n before speaking. "You know about the cabinet." Y/n nodded. "They need it. The Death Eaters. To get into Hogwarts." That made Y/n worry. They weren't coming in to have dinner.
"You don't know this." Draco started, making Y/n's attention turn to him. "My task is to kill Dumbledore." Y/n's mouth gawked open. She could feel her hands shaking. More than anything, she couldn't believe someone would make a kid do that.
Narcissa grimaced. "It's all about to start." Y/n didn't need to ask what 'it' was. "So I'm taking Y/n away." She told them.
"Wait... for how long?" Draco asked quickly, gripping her hand.
"Draco, you sit in those meetings," Narcissa told him. "You know the plan is for them to take over the Ministry of Magic and persecute muggle-borns." That made Y/n wince. "It's not safe for Y/n to stay at Hogwarts, don't be silly about this." She strictly told him.
Draco sighed but nodded. He knew Narcissa was always right. "Can I still see her?" He asked, now thinking rationally. Y/n didn't like that she didn't have any say in the matter.
"Yes." At least there was that. "No one is going to know where she is apart from Lucius, you and I," Narcissa told them.
"Do I get any say in this?" Y/n finally spat out.
Narcissa turned her attention to Y/n with a pleading look. "You know we have to."
"I've still got a month of school left," Y/n argued.
"I know and I'm sorry we have to do this." Narcissa apologised. "It's all going to happen next month."
"Can't I stay until then?" Y/n asked.
Narcissa shook her head. "I promise you, if I thought you could, I would let you. You're a big part of what you-know-who wants, Harry more, but you must stay far away from this." She told her.
Y/n couldn't not agree. "Alright. We're leaving now?" She asked.
"Yes," Narcissa told her. "All of your things have been packed. Draco can come and see you once it's over." She promised.
Draco wrapped his arms around Y/n as he kissed her. It was one of the things she knew she was going to miss. She also knew it was time to go.
"Bye, I love you," Draco told her, waving from his hospital bed.
"I love you too," Y/n replied before walking out of the wing with Narcissa.
From there, they went out a secret passage, making sure no one saw. Professor Snape knew Y/n had to go, so he was coming up with the cover story.
Narcissa and Y/n finally reached a Slytherin scarf, which took them to a house she'd never been to. "Where are we?" Y/n asked, still holding on to the portkey.
"The South of England," Narcissa told her, making her brows furrow and eyes widen. "It's an old Black family house." She explained, opening the door. It was just as grand as the Manor, smaller, though.
Inside it looked just as gorgeous. All the decor was French country vintage. It screamed old money.
"It's beautiful," Y/n told Narcissa, having a look around the inside. There was so much light streaming into the room with wooden details.
"I'll make some tea. Your room is on the second floor, first door." Narcissa told her. Y/n nodded, walking up the stairs to find the room. It was decorated like royalty belonged there. There was a massive window that looked right out onto the coast.
It was then she realised the house was on a cliff. Y/n hadn't seen it from the angle the entryway was at. But it was spectacular. Lonely.
Y/n could spend her whole life there. She set her bags down and strolled around the room. It was smaller than Draco's was, at the manor. But it was much lighter. Almost the complete opposite of the Malfoy family home.
Once she had finished looking around, she went back downstairs to see Narcissa setting tea up on the coffee table. When she walked into the living room she saw the massive windows, showing the ocean.
"Sit," Narcissa commanded and Y/n did so right away. She poured tea for both of them before also sitting down. They sat in silence for a while, Y/n not knowing what to say. "I can tell you have questions." Narcissa prompted.
"Why is Snape protecting Draco and I?" Y/n asked quickly.
Narcissa sighed before answering. "Do you know what an Unbreakable Vow is?" She asked, and Y/n nodded. "Severus and I made one. He vowed to watch over Draco." Y/n nodded again. That vow must have expended to Y/n.
Y/n suddenly had more questions. "You need a Bonder, right?"
"Yes, Bellatrix was ours," Narcissa replied. Y/n was familiar with Draco's strange aunt. They had never met, out of Bellatrix's loyalty to Voldermort.
"Are you going to stay here with me?" She asked, concerned about being alone.
Narcissa shook her head. "I'm sorry. I can only be here sometimes. The story is you ran away, and no one knows where you are, so I can't be here too much." Y/n didn't know that before. Everyone was going to think she'd left by choice. Pansy, Daphne, Blaise, Theo. Harry, if he cared. She knew none of them were going to be able to know why she was gone.
"Am I safe here?" Y/n asked, now worrying about how she would be safe alone. The tea they were sipping seemed to calm her down.
"Yes, there are charms on the house so no one can get in. But, I'm also giving you this." Narcissa stopped what she was saying and pulled out a necklace. It was a heart-shaped gold locket. Narcissa placed it in her hand. Y/n looked at it. That's when she noticed the initials on it. Draco's and hers.
Y/n thanked her. "That's not it. If you open it like this." Narcissa instructed, opening the heart. Y/n noticed the emerald gemstone. "This stone is a portkey, right to the Manor." So Y/n would be able to get back to the Manor.
"I can't thank you enough, and I don't want to intrude, but I do have a personal question." Y/n was hesitant about what she was going to ask. But she needed to know. "You said before, in the hospital wing, that Mr Malfoy knew where I was staying. And I have a lot of respect for him, so I don't want this to come off badly." Y/n could tell she was rambling. Narcissa could as well, she slid a hand onto Y/n's to calm her down. "Why is it safe for him to know? He's you-know-who's number 2. Eventually, he's going to want me dead." It broke Y/n's heart, she knew it was going to ruin Draco's life. But, his father was going to have to kill her.
"Slow down." Narcissa smiled softly. That comforted Y/n a little. "Do you remember when we met, the summer before the World Cup?" She asked. Y/n nodded in agreement, not sure where it was going. "The night we met you, I knew. I knew Draco was in love with you. And, I knew Voldermort was going to come back and try to kill the Potter twins." Y/n's heart started to race at the mention of her parents' death. "I made Lucius make an unbreakable vow. Snape was the Bonder." Oh, it made sense. Lucius couldn't hurt Y/n, Narcissa had protected her.
She just didn't understand why so she asked. "Why? I mean, I appreciate it more than anything. But you risked your whole marriage." It was true, and Narcissa knew that.
"I've never thought you or Harry should be persecuted. My parents raised me as pureblood supremacists, but killing is wrong." Narcissa told her. Y/n was thankful for her honesty. She filled the place Lily had left, and Petunia hadn't tried to fill. "I love Draco, more than anything in the world. The only thing I've ever wanted is to see him happy. I knew he was happy with you." Y/n understood Narcissa's unconditional love for Draco, she felt the same.
"He's lucky to have you," Y/n mentioned, trying not to think about her parents.
"I don't know if I've ever told you this, but I'm very sorry about your parents," Narcissa told her. Y/n could feel the tears in her eyes.
She let a few of them fall. "Did you, uh, know them?"
"My last two years at Hogwarts, they were there. James was only 11 but he was loud and brave. He would even stand up to me with Sirius." Hearing both their names made Y/n cry more. She was crying for the dad she never knew, and the uncle she only had for a short time. "I noticed you at Hogwarts, I think during second year, and I had deja vu. You looked so similar to Lily. She always wore her hair just like you did." Y/n remembered seeing Narcissa but she didn't remember Narcissa seeing her.
"Would they be disappointed in me?" Y/n couldn't help but ask. Narcissa felt her pain, running deep. She immediately wrapped the girl in a hug, letting her cry.
"No, never for a moment." She confirmed. "I know it's not the same, but I'm proud of you." It wasn't the same, but it meant just as much.
"Thank you." Y/n thanked her again.
"No thanks are necessary. I should go back though." Narcissa stated, looking at her watch.
Y/n nodded, gently opening the necklace so she wouldn't touch the emerald. Narcissa held it, and just like that, she was gone.
Y/n found a good amount of things to do. There were movies and music. She still had some of her textbooks. Plus, exploring the house was fun.
But she did miss Draco. And the rest of her friends. Instead of using an owl, she decided to send letters by muggle post to the Malfoy residence, so Narcissa could send them to Hogwarts.
~
There was a knock on the door a couple of weeks after Y/n moved in.
She peaked out the window before seeing a tuff of blonde hair. It was Draco.
Quickly, she swung the door open, embarrassing him in her arms.
Draco hugged her back, lifting her off the ground and twirling her around.
"Dray, I missed you." She cooed, head buried in his shoulder.
"I missed you too, my girl." He replied, pulling her even closer. It was so tight she felt like she couldn't breathe.
When she pulled back, she had a thought. "How did you manage to come? Don't you have classes?"
Draco shook his head. "Quidditch match. It's Gryffindor vs Ravenclaw, so I came here instead." Y/n was very grateful for Quidditch that day.
They only had a few hours before people would notice he was gone. But they baked cookies together while Draco filled her in on everything she'd missed. As well as lots of kissing.
When it came time for him to leave, she was upset. But Draco made her promise not to cry.
~
Draco came back after the battle of the tower. Y/n knew there was something wrong. He didn't grin as wide when he met her at the beach.
There were already tears forming in his eyes, and it was late.
"Dray, talk to me, baby." Y/n pleaded as they lay together on the couch. It was far past midnight. Y/n was on Draco's chest and they were a tangle of limbs. She had her fingers running through his hair.
Draco sighed. "I couldn't do it." He sobbed out. "I couldn't kill him. Snape had to do it. It was so horrible, Y/n." He continued, tears still falling. "My father was so mad. He cares more about appeasing Voldermort than me." Y/n's heart clenched as she heard his words.
"Draco, he loves you." Y/n tried to reassure him.
Draco tried to accept it, but it was difficult. "I'm scared for what's going to happen." He told her.
"Me too," Y/n admitted. "How's it all going to end?" She asked him.
The truth was Draco didn't know. And she knew that. "They're talking over the Manor." He didn't want to be the one telling her the bad news. "They're going to go after anyone and everyone associated with Muggleborns. I'm not going to get to be here much." He hesitantly admitted.
"You've done what they needed you to do, though!" Y/n exclaimed, feeling outraged.
"I know. I'm not sure what they're going to do with me. Father lectured me and I just came here." Draco explained. It reassured her there might be some hope he could spend the summer there. "It'll be okay, Y/n."
She tried to retain that. "Can you come back on my birthday, at least?" Y/n asked.
"Of course, baby." Draco quickly replied. That brought Y/n some relief.
~
Draco was busy a lot of the summer. Despite having completed the task he was given, he was still Lucius's son.
He told Y/n all about how the Manor had been taken over by death eaters. It worried her. She also spent a lot of time worried about Harry. He was the only blood connection she had left in the world, and she had no idea where he was.
Draco came back on her birthday like he promised. He had more flowers than she'd ever seen in her life. That wasn't where the gifts ended. Jewellery, new shoes, perfume and a big cake.
Narcissa made it as well for dinner. She even insisted Draco stay the night.
By nighttime, they were lying in bed together. Draco's arms wrapped around her tightly. As usual, she lay against his chest. Draco stroking her hair.
When she looked up at him, she knew something was wrong. After all their years together, she could read him like a book. "What is it?"
"What do you mean?" He asked. His voice was a slightly higher pitch. Y/n recognised that as a sign he was hiding something.
"I can tell something bothering you," Y/n explained. "Let me in, Dray." She pleaded.
Draco knew he had to. "I have to leave early tomorrow morning."
Y/n knew that wasn't it. "I need the whole truth." Draco groaned, knowing she knew him better than he knew himself.
"I have to go early so I can be at the takeover of the ministry," Draco revealed to her. "They're going after Scrimgeour because he knows where Harry is." Oh. That wasn't good. Either the minister would give up Harry's location, and her twin brother would be killed. Or, the Ministry of Magic would be run by Death Eaters. Either way, their power was growing. Y/n knew Harry only had a matter of time. Then she would be next.
"So, no one knows where Harry is?" Y/n asked hopefully. Even if he hated her, she would rather he was alive.
Draco shook his head. "He's hunting the Horcruxes, I'd guess. Scrimgeour knows and maybe a few members of the Ministry." That made Y/n relieved, although she wasn't sure how good Harry's survival skills were.
"Am I going to be okay?" Y/n asked, fearing the worst.
Draco took a deep breath as he prepared an answer. "I'm never going to let him get to you, I promise. My Father's vow will make sure he can't either. No one else knows you're here." He reassured her. Y/n just hoped it was true, Draco could read that.
"So you're going back to Hogwarts?" Y/n couldn't help but ask.
Draco nodded. "I think Snape is going to be appointed Headmaster. I'll be safe there." That reassured Y/n to no end. He chuckled slightly, a smile on his face. "We were going to be Head boy and girl." He explained. Y/n's face dropped as she tried not to cry. "Hey, hey, hey." Draco noticed. "It's just the way it happened."
"I know." She nodded. "It just could have been the best year ever."
"When this is all over, we're going to have the best year." He assured her. Y/n tried to hang onto that.
It got difficult the further the year dragged on. Y/n barely saw Draco. She did receive letters about how horrible things had gotten. Hogwarts was gloomier, no one could find Harry, Snape's regime was intense. Y/n was thankful she was away from the whole mess.
Just before Christmas, she found out Luna Lovegood had been kidnapped. Draco had started to detest the cause he was fighting for. He never said so, but she could infer it from what he wrote.
In March, she discovered Harry had been captured. Draco was the one who had to identify him, and he felt horrible about it. He cried on her shoulder, begging her to forgive him when he came to see her. Y/n was never mad at Draco. She was smart enough to know he had to do it. And, deep down, she could feel that Harry was okay.
Draco was in a worse state when they escaped. Not because he wanted Harry to be killed. Because his own aunt had murdered Dobby. While he was taught to hate the house-elves, Dobby was almost his younger sibling.
All Draco could feel was split, unsure of what to do.
Draco told her it was all going to happen on May 1st. The battle of Hogwarts. Y/n spent the whole day riddled with anxiety. She spent a whole 3 days wide awake, waiting for news.
She felt a cursing pain through her head at some point on the 2nd of May. Then the visions started, of Harry and Dumbledore at a train station. She realised she was seeing inside Harry's vision. When he made the choice to return to his body, Y/n knew everything would be alright.
Y/n anxious sat on the couch until 3 people appeared. It was only the early hours of the morning. She immediately ran to Draco wrapping her arms around him. He was unkempt, and his hair was a mess. He hugged her back, pulling her into his chest. She had never seen him looking as disturbed.
"What happened?" Y/n asked, turning to give Narcissa a hug. Much to her surprise, Lucius shook her hand. It was the first time they'd ever done something like that.
"We left," Lucius told her. That was also the first time he'd ever properly talked to her. She didn't understand.
They explained it all to her. How Harry sacrificed himself, how he died, more importantly how Narcissa discovered he was alive. Y/n hung on every word as Narcissa told her how she had lied to Voldermort. She also told Y/n Harry asked if she was still alive. Harry still cared about her.
By that point Draco, Narcissa and Y/n were all crying.
The sun had just started rising when Y/n realised it.
Suddenly, she had a massive headache. The kind she knew Harry used to have. And she knew what it meant.
"Voldermort's dead," Y/n announced, causing all of their eyes to widen. "I just know. I can feel it. Harry killed him." She felt more connected to Harry than she had in years, but she knew.
There were no words any of them said as they hugged. She could feel her head beating rapidly, the same as Draco's.
"Who died?" Y/n finally asked the question she was terrified to ask. Harry was the only one she knew was alive from the good side.
"Bellatrix." Narcissa sobbed out, Lucius immediately pulling her into a hug. It was one of the first times Y/n had seen them acting so intimately.
Draco continued giving Y/n the list. Every second felt like an hour as she hoped none of her friends died. "Fred Weasley." She could only think about the heartbreak that would have caused her brother and his friends. "Snape too." Draco let a few tears fall and Y/n rushed to wipe them. "Lupin and Tonks." Lupin was the last person alive who really knew her parents. Now her chances of knowing about them were over. "There were a lot of others too but everyone else we are close to is okay."
"Good." Y/n nodded before wrapping him in a hug. They stayed like that for a few minutes. Both couples holding each other, all feeling extremely grateful.
"We should go back home," Narcissa told them, glancing at the clock on the wall. "We'll have breakfast." She promised.
Draco enthusiastically nodded. "I'm starving." He mentioned.
Narcissa reached out to grab his hand. "You haven't eaten in days."
Y/n quickly turned her attention to Draco. "Dray." She told him, hitting his arm. "You can't do that."
"I won't, ever again." He promised, his hand wrapping around her waist. "As long as you're there to cook for me." He cheekily quipped, looking at Y/n with a grin. It was the first one she had seen in a while.
Narcissa and Lucius both laughed at the younger couple who reminded them of themselves. "You're dreaming," Y/n replied, bumping into his shoulder. Y/n opened her necklace.
Narcissa, Draco, Lucius and Y/n all touched the emerald. Just like that, they arrived in the Manor living room. It was like Y/n remembered, still as dark. She did feel better about being there, knowing no death eaters were trying to kill her brother.
Over pancakes, they laughed and talked. The world finally felt peaceful again. It was the first time Y/n had been happy in weeks.
An owl knocked at the window, around midday and Y/n took the two letters out of its mouth.
"Dray." She told him, handing his one over to him. "It's from Hogwarts." She told Narcissa and Lucius. They both opened their letters and read them. "In June, they're having an end of year feast," Y/n explained.
"So, we've got a month off school?" Draco looked thrilled by the news.
Narcissa chuckled. "What does it say about your exams?" She asked.
Draco read further down. "Mine says my grades from last year will be considered my grades for this year and I can become an Aurora. Or I can go back to Hogwarts." There was hopefulness in his voice Y/n had missed.
"Draco!" Narcissa cheered, jumping up to hug him. "Congratulations."
"Mine says the same." Y/n realised. "But how is that possible?" She asked, looking at Narcissa.
"I'm not sure." The woman replied, looking just as confused.
"I may have a few words with the acting Ministry when Voldermort was in charge," Lucius reported. All 3 of them were shocked by the confession.
Y/n was overcome with appreciation. "Thank you, sir."
"Please, Lucius is fine." That surprised Y/n but it was nice to hear he might not have hated her as much as she thought. It was the first time Y/n had seen a smile on his face. "What are you two planning on doing with your time off?" He asked the younger couple.
Draco and Y/n met each other's eyes, they hadn't thought about it. "What are we meant to do?" Draco asked.
"The house on the cliff is empty, if you want to spend more time there, Y/n," Narcissa mentioned. Draco grinned widely, nodding his head. He accepted the offer. "Slow down, Y/n?" Narcissa asked, turning her attention to Y/n.
"Yes, I'd love to. Thank you." Y/n affirmed her boyfriend's acceptance.
"When can we go?" Draco asked.
Lucius chuckled. "You don't want to spend time with your parents, son?" He joked. Another first. "You're going of age now, Draco. Y/n too. I think you've both earned the privilege of being treated like adults." He told them.
"You have to be back for your birthday, Draco. We're going to throw a party." Narcissa instructed, raising her eyebrows at him.
"So I'm not an adult?" Draco quipped back.
Narcissa turned to Y/n. "Will you make sure he comes back?" Y/n nodded. "Then you are both free to leave after I get a hug." She informed them, opening her arms up. Draco hugged her first, standing much taller than her.
Then he left to get his stuff. Lucius followed him up the stairs. Y/n walked over to Narcissa, embracing her.
"Thank you, for everything." Y/n mentioned in her arms.
"It's never a problem, sweetness," Narcissa replied, kissing the girl on the forehead.
~
Y/n and Draco took a different portkey to the house. Both of them were buzzing to have a month together after being apart for so long. They finally felt free and independent.
For a few weeks, they just hung out, reacquainting with each other. They spent time in London, seeing muggle sights and shopping. As well as the small, nearby muggle town. It had the cutest cafe.
Draco and Y/n also hung out with Pansy, Theo and Blaise again. They were all thrilled to see her. She explained the whole situation to them and they completely understood.
Between them, it was like no time was lost.
One summer evening, Draco had insisted on cooking Y/n dinner. He explained it was a date. She was to dress up nice like they were going out. Draco was in a full black suit, matching Y/n's sparkling black dress.
He even set the outdoor table, making Y/n sit there and wait for him to bring out dinner.
It was a pasta dish. The same one Narcissa had made the first time Y/n met the Malfoy family.
"Thank you, Dray," Y/n said as they sat, looking out at the view. The sun was just setting and the whole sky was painted pinks and oranges. In the distance, there was the sound of waves breaking on the cliff.
Draco looked nervous, she hadn't seen him like that for a long time. "Uh, I had a question for you." He stuttered out, cheeks turning pink.
Y/n sent him a soft smile, trying to help him calm down. His nerves were worrying her. What could he possibly ask her? Y/n knew exactly what was about to happen when Draco slid off his chair and down onto one knee. Her hands immediately came over her mouth. Tears were already pricking her eyes. He reached into his back pocket, producing a green velvet box.
"I've, uh, I've thought about doing this for a really long time. When we first met I knew you were the one who was always going to hold a special part of my heart. It was everything about you. I never believed in love at first sight until I met you." Y/n was full-on sobbing at Draco's words. They were the sweetest thing anyone had ever said. "I knew from when I met you that I'd always love you. But I had no idea you'd bear to be around me for long enough. I was kind of insufferable." Y/n and Draco both chuckled. "I'm so grateful I even got the chance to know someone as clever, kind, funny and ambitious as you. Once I'd asked you out, I knew I needed you to be mine forever." Draco let a few tears out, stopping to wipe them. "I've done a lot of stupid things, hurt a lot of people and you're far too good for me, I know that. But, I swear, I'm going to spend every day making it up however I can. I'm going to spend every day making it up to you too. If you let me. I think I knew you before I understood myself. You truly are my best friend and the most important person to me in the world." Neither of them could stop the uncontrollable tears they let out. "So, uh, I've got to ask now. Y/n Potter, will you do me the honours of marrying me?" Draco opened the ring box, revealing a huge diamond ring. It looked vintage and the prettiest thing Y/n had ever seen.
Y/n wiped a few stray tears off her cheeks, leaning down to do that same to Draco. "Yes, Draco. A million times yes." He was grinning as wide as she'd ever seen as he slipped the ring on her finger.
He stood up, holding her face in his hands. "I love you." He told her, leaning down to kiss her gently.
"I love you too," Y/n replied, eyes closed with her forehead intimately pressed against Draco's. When she moved her eyes she looked down at the ring. "It's so beautiful, Dray."
Draco nodded before explaining the story. "It's, um, a Black family heirloom. If Mum, Aunt Bella or Aunt Andromeda were boys, they would have gotten it. Luckily for me, it skipped a generation."
"It's stunning." Y/n leant back up to place a kiss on his lips. "Now, what have you cooked for dessert?" She asked, giggling lightly.
Draco rolled his eyes. "Your favourite, of course, but only because you said yes." He revelled.
~
Y/n woke Draco up on his birthday with an assortment of gifts. After they ate breakfast and unwrapped presents, they went to the Manor.
Y/n knocked on the door happily. Draco's left hand entwined with her right one. Narcissa swung it open and embarrassed Y/n in an enthusiastic hug. She quickly grabbed Y/n's left hand, looking at the ring.
"I knew it would look perfect on you," Narcissa mentioned, tracing over the ring. Y/n grinned at her.
"It is perfect," Y/n said, grinning at Draco.
"You're perfect." Draco simply replied. Narcissa chuckled at the two of them. "Can I have my hug?" He asked Narcissa.
Narcissa dropped Y/n's hand hesitantly to pull him in. "18 but you're still acting like a petulant child." She joked making Draco pull a face of mock offence. "Happy birthday, Draco."
"Are you keeping them in here, Sissy?" Lucius asked, walking around the corner. Narcissa rolled her eyes at him. "Happy birthday, son." He said, wrapping Draco in a hug. "Y/n." Lucius turned to her.
"Mr Malfoy." Y/n greeted. She thought she was in trouble when he raised his eyebrows and shot her a pointed look. The smile on his lips assured her she wasn't about to be told off. "Lucius." She corrected herself.
Y/n held out a hand to shake his but he shook his head, opening his arms. "You're my future daughter-in-law, come here." He insisted, and Y/n hugged him, trying to avoid showing her shock.
After they had lunch and Draco opened more presents, Pansy, Daphne, Theo, Blaise, other friends and several Malfoy and Black family members came over. It was a phenomenal party.
Pansy raced right over to Y/n, flinging her arms around the girl.
"Hi Pansy, it's actually my birthday." Draco sarcastically greeted her.
Pansy rolled her eyes. "Happy birthday, you big baby." She said, giving him a hug too. "I'm sorry I missed my best friend." Draco faked offence.
Theo, Blaise and Daphne all came to hug the couple as well. Neither Y/n nor Draco had realised they didn't know about the engagement.
They all quickly got flutes of champagne, raising them to toast each Draco.
That's when Pansy saw it. "Oh, Merlin. Is that an engagement ring!?" Pansy shouted, grabbing Y/n's left hand.
Both Y/n and Draco awkwardly laughed. "Yes," Y/n confirmed as Pansy admired the ring, showing Y/n's hand to Daphne and the boys.
"That's not just any ring. That's a Black Family ring." Blaise noticed.
Y/n furrowed her eyebrows. "How did you know that?" She asked, looking back at Draco.
He was blushing pink. "Loverboy, here, has been talking about giving it to you since 1st year," Theo informed Y/n. "He wouldn't shut up about it most nights." Her eyes widened as she looked at a red-faced Draco.
"You never told me that," Y/n mentioned, nudging his chest. Draco groaned, wrapping his arm around Y/n's waist.
"Because it's really embarrassing." Draco quietly stated.
Daphne pattered Draco's arm. "Y/n used to talk about you in her sleep." Daphne declared. That made Y/n's cheeks heat. Draco and the rest of the friend group burst out laughing.
~
It was finally the day of the final Hogwarts feast. Y/n didn't ever think, at 11 years old, it was going to end like this. In 7 years, she had learnt so much more than most people learnt in their lifetime.
"Pans, Blaise." Y/n opened the door of the Black's seaside house to invite Pansy and Blaise in.
Pansy and Blaise were both dressed in formal clothing as they hugged Y/n. She was wearing a deep green dress that matched Draco's suit's tie.
"You look lovely." Pansy complimented her.
"Pansy, look at you!" Y/n returned the compliment, instructing Pansy to do a spin of her silver dress.
"Are we ready to go?" Draco asked, walking down the stairs. He was in a full black suit aside from his green tie. He bro-hugged Blaise and gave Pansy a hug before wrapping an arm around Y/n's waist.
Y/n nodded. "Let's do it."
Y/n hadn't seen how destructed Hogwarts was, but it now looked just like when she left. She couldn't help but feel sad at the tragedy that had occurred a month ago.
"It's odd being back," Pansy spoke what they were all thinking. Everyone gave her a nod of agreement.
The two couples walked into the great hall, hand in hand. Everyone was surprised to see Y/n. They still had no explanation for why she was gone.
Naturally, Y/n's eyes met her brother. She noticed how faded his lightning-bold scar looked. But she didn't go over to him, she just went to her house table.
McGonagall spoke, about the losses they had faced and how good always won in the end. Her speech was inspiring. Everyone was still distraught about the battle, it was evident on their faces.
They ate, laughing at their tables as the sky fell dark. Y/n had missed being at Hogwarts, it was like home to her. The couple finally made their way through the castle to go home when it was late.
"Y/n!" That was a voice she hadn't expected to hear. She hadn't heard him say her name in years. Harry. His voice was much deeper now.
Y/n stopped in her tracks, quickly turned around to look at him. She still looked like she remembered. "Hi." She greeted him, awkwardly rocking on her feet.
"I'll give you a moment," Draco mentioned, unlacing his hand with Y/n's and walking off.
Now, neither of them knew what to say. They were family but so disconnected.
"How are you?" Harry finally asked.
Y/n softly smiled. "I'm alright. And you?"
"Good." Harry stuttered. Silence fell again. "I'm so sorry." He blurted out. "I never should have said the things I did in 4th year. I was so angry about what Malfoy was saying and I couldn't believe it."
Y/n nodded. "I know, Harry, you don't need to explain it or be sorry."
"No, I do. I shouldn't have refused to talk to you for 3 years. It was childish and hurt you." Harry insisted. It made Y/n feel like the weight was off her shoulders. A weight she had been hauling for years. "I looked for you when I left Hogwarts for a whole year."
That was new information but it warmed Y/n's heart. "Harry, I had no idea." She replied, tears swelling in her eyes. "Narcissa told me you asked about me."
"I felt the worst I had ever felt. I was immature, and mum and dad would have been disappointed." Harry admitted.
Y/n shook her head, finally letting the tears fall at the thought of her parents. "Harry, no, please. They would be so proud of you for everything. I'm so sorry about everything I said as well. I just need to know if you hate me." She begged, looking into his matching eyes.
"I never hated you, not for a minute. I was mad but I was also stupid and prejudice." Harry told her, finally allowing her to relax. Y/n pulled him in for a hug without thinking about it. "I missed you so much." Harry was sobbing too, hot tears on Y/n's back.
"I missed you too. Ron and Hermione and the Weasley's too." Y/n told him, pulling back. "Would you maybe want to hang out sometime. Talk?"
Harry couldn't nod quick enough. "Yes, please. I'd really like that. We've missed a lot of time."
Y/n pulled him back in for another hug. It was like the two puzzle pieces were finally together. The part of her heart that was missing was now filled.
"Is your scar okay?" Y/n asked, running her left forefinger over Harry's forehead.
Harry nodded, glancing up at her finger. He noticed the ring. Harry grabbed Y/n's hand, examining it in front of her. "Oh my." He exclaimed.
"Please don't be mad." Y/n winced, breath shortening.
"No, not at all," Harry told her. "I just want to be a part of your life. Draco's as well." He told her honestly. Y/n had never felt better than she did right then.
"Thank you," Y/n told him. "Are you with Ginny?" She couldn't help but ask.
Harry smiled as he nodded. "Yeah. This ring is phenomenal though." Harry mentioned, smiling as he met Y/n's eyes.
"I know." Y/n agreed a giddy smile on her face.
Today just might have been the best day of her life. She had a twin brother she spoke to and an amazing fiancee. Life was perfect.
493 notes · View notes
nejibaby · 3 years
Text
Small Details
Pairings: Neji x Y/N
Summary: Neji was a man of few words, even more so with you, and when he sees you with Naruto in a compromising position, he has troubles expressing himself.
Word Count: 3.2k
A/N: And I finally managed to finish this! It took me so long! Today, I offer you a flustered Neji... 👀 I hope y’all enjoy it because I may or may not have melted after writing this 😚
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✨Photo taken from this post by @yul-is-sparkling ✨
Naruto was finally back after two years of training with Jiraiya. Being one of his closest friends, you were excited to meet him and to see for yourself how much he’s grown.
Naturally, you challenged him to a duel the first time you saw him again. It was kind of your thing with Naruto — competing with each other on who’s faster, stronger, better in ninjutsu, anything really. Mainly because Sasuke, who he often referred to as his rival, would rarely indulge him with such things, and you did. You were both competitive like that.
In no time, you were both alone on the training grounds. You could already tell how drastic his improvements were within the start of the battle.
You were in awe at how the Legendary Sannins could bring out the best in their apprentices. But despite not being trained by them, that didn’t mean you were lagging behind.
In those two years when Sasuke seeked Orochimaru for power, Naruto trained under Jiraiya, and Sakura learned from Tsunade, you were the only one in Team 7 who remained under the supervision of Kakashi sensei.
Kakashi sensei may not be a Legendary Sannin, but he was a formidable shinobi — one of the best during his generation even. However, truthfully, he infuriated you at first, not because of how late he always was — you were pretty used to it to the point that you don’t question him anymore about his whereabouts and he stopped coming up with excuses as to why he was late — but because there were times when he was too laidback.
Sure, there were moments when he was hands-on: teaching you different jutsus, lecturing you about certain concepts, informing you on what you should always look out for, drilling your body past exhaustion, and the like. But more often than not he would be saying something like, “Find it out yourself” or “I can’t exactly tell you how” as he leisurely sits on a tree branch while reading the stupid Icha Icha books.
You were dumbfounded and furious at first but when your initial annoyance subsided and you had adjusted to his teaching style, you flourished.
That’s why you could take on Naruto even after his training with Jiraiya.
What started as a serious duel between you and Naruto was reduced to playful banter the longer the fight dragged on. At one point, both of you would just tease each other while throwing kicks and punches halfheartedly.
Both of you had your guards down. That was a mistake on your part, because just as Naruto aimed to kick your face and you bent over backwards to dodge it, you slipped. You lost your footing all because of a rock situated near your right foot.
It was a rookie mistake.
Naruto was quick to notice that you were falling so he immediately grabbed ahold of your hand. The problem was he failed to pull you back up. So you ended up falling down with him. And somehow, he ended up with his arms on the sides of your head so he wouldn’t crush you as you were underneath him.
You were both shocked. You were just blinking at each other. It took awhile for the two of you to gather your bearings. When you did, you both immediately laughed out loud. Naruto moved his body so he was lying next to you as you both continued laughing your hearts out.
“What the hell was that, Naruto?!” You feigned exasperation. “You wouldn’t be able to save a fly if you tried.”
“At least I wasn’t the one making rookie mistakes like that,” Naruto shot back. “Plus I tried to help, that’s what matters.”
You snorted. “Yeah, right. You could’ve at least focused your chakra on your soles so we didn’t fall!”
“And you could’ve paid attention to your surroundings, Y/N!”
You bickered with each other as you stood up and helped Naruto get up. What the two of you didn’t know was that your boyfriend Neji had watched the whole incident.
Neji wasn’t really the type to get jealous. He’s a very understanding boyfriend. He’s aware that you and Naruto have been best friends even before he met you. He even knew about Naruto’s feelings for Sakura. However, any sane person wouldn’t want to see his significant other beneath someone else, right? Granted, it was an accident, but still… It was such a compromising position to find you in.
He made his appearance as you playfully punched Naruto in the gut.
You instantly noticed him approaching. Your smile widened even more at the sight of your boyfriend. “Neji!” You called, skipping your way towards him. You would’ve tackled him in a hug if Naruto wasn’t around.
He maintained his stoic expression as he greeted, “Y/N. Naruto.”
“Oi Neji, it’s been a while,” Naruto waved.
Neji only gave a curt nod in response.
You asked, “What are you doing here, Neji?” but just as you ended your question, the answer immediately clicked on your mind. “Oh my god, I’m sorry I forgot!”
Over your excitement of Naruto’s arrival, you forgot that it was a Tuesday. Tuesdays were your lunch dates and sparring sessions with Neji.
“It’s okay.”
“Hold on.” you told him and then faced Naruto. “Gotta go, Naruto! Bye!” you said as you grabbed Neji’s hand out of habit.
Neji flushed, not exactly expecting your action, but you didn’t notice because it was something that you’re used to doing, although not in the presence of someone else.
“See you later!” Naruto waved.
When Naruto was out of sight, you dropped Neji’s hand unconsciously. “Sorry, I forgot about lunch. What time is it? Have you eaten?” You asked Neji.
He quickly responded and told you he hasn’t eaten anything yet.
“Well then, let’s go. I’m starving.”
Neji and you walked side by side out of the training grounds.
“So…” you started saying.
Neji stared at you. “Hm?”
“How was your day, baby?”
He cleared his throat and looked away almost instantly. Very rarely would one find Neji flustered, but calling him “baby” always worked. He wasn’t quite used to the endearment and every time you addressed him as such with tenderness laced in your voice, he would blush. You use it all the time just to see his cheeks tinted pink. It was a cute sight.
“What’s wrong?” You playfully asked while trying to get into his line of vision.
He refused to meet your gaze until he regained his composure. When he did, he told you — in an impassive manner — what he had done in the morning before he went out looking for you.
Despite his expressionless face and his rather hushed tone, you listened intently to the words he was saying, the smile on your lips never leaving your face. Neji was a man of few words even until now that you were together so you made sure you paid attention every time he spoke, not wanting his words to go to waste.
He wouldn’t admit it to you but he loved that about you. You would remember even the little details of his stories, which in itself was a big deal considering you tend to forget a lot of things. You treasured his words, sentences, thoughts, ideas and plans, and kept them enclosed in your memory.
Neji loved that you focused on him. You made him feel like he was important and worthy, and that he mattered, in a completely different way than the others’ view of him.
The others only saw him as important because he was an asset both to the Hyuga clan and to Konoha. He only mattered to them because he has the strength and ability to protect them.
But you didn’t see him that way. You saw him as his own person — a man with a brilliant mind, a great moral compass, and a heart of gold. This was further confirmed when you told him that if his circumstances were different — if he was not a Hyuga or even a shinobi — you’d still fall in love with him as long as his character remained the same.
He knew you love him, there was no doubt about that. It was known; it was an irrefutable truth, an indisputable fact. But why did seeing you with Naruto trigger his insecurities that you had previously put to rest?
His mind was reeling, but he tried his hardest to be in the moment with you.
The thing was, he might have misread you a little. Because the attention that you gave him wasn’t solely focused on his words. In actuality, it extended to his actions and mannerisms as well.
This was how you knew that there was something that was bothering Neji today.
Unwelcome thoughts swarmed his mind, leading him to absentmindedly reach out to you. He was walking beside you closer than usual, with his hand on your lower back. While there was no doubt that he was listening to you when it was your turn to tell him about your day with Naruto, he had a faraway, vacant look on his face.
You may have missed the presence of a rock a while ago, but you certainly wouldn’t miss these small details about Neji.
These might come across as something normal for other people, but for someone like you who dedicated a lot of time admiring and memorizing every little detail of the certain Hyuga boy, it was easy to tell that something was on his mind from the way he was taking up a portion of your personal space. Almost as if his own restrictions were non-existent.
Normally, it would’ve been easier to confront him about it, but you were a shinobi, and if there’s something you learned from Kakashi sensei, it was that you have to gather more intel before actually making a move.
But you could only think of one way to confirm if there was something bothering your partner, and it was through his hair.
On regular days, Neji wouldn’t allow anyone to touch his hair, including you. But when there was something that was bothering him, or if he had a particularly rough day, he wouldn’t mind it if you threaded your fingers through his hair. In fact, he wouldn’t admit it, but he preferred it if you did that. It was something that calmed him down.
So while you continued telling him how your day went, you subtly angled your body towards him. Then you tentatively reached for the tips of his hair with your hand that was closest to him. You managed to grab a few strands of his hair between your thumb and index finger. You twisted them between your fingers.
You looked up to him to check if he was bothered by it, but it seemed like he didn’t mind at all. This certainly meant that his mind was elsewhere, despite the fact that he was nodding in the right parts of your speech and even correcting you when you used the wrong word to describe something.
You retracted your hand after coming up with your conclusion. You even stopped talking as you were thinking of what could’ve happened for him to be this distracted. Neji didn’t even notice you stopped talking mid sentence.
Somehow this just felt different from the times he was frustrated or anxious before, and quite frankly, you were worried.
By the time you had both placed orders and seated in a random restaurant, you decided to confront your partner. “So, Neji, baby, are you going to tell me what’s bothering you?”
He choked on nothing after hearing your question. Was he really that easy to read? Or was it easy just because it was you reading him?
He cleared his throat and feigned ignorance, “What are y-you talking about?”
You opted to give him a pointed look instead of a verbal response.
He didn’t stare back, looking anywhere but you. Most times, Neji would face you head on until you conceded; with you, he was comfortable being stubborn and unyielding because it came without repercussions. But today, he wasn’t up for the challenge. And if you looked more closely, he was once again sporting a faint color on his cheeks.
You waited a moment for him to answer, or at least to look back, but it was to no avail. With a sigh, you said, with the softest tone you could muster partnered with a reassuring smile, “Would you let me know when you’re ready, at least?”
Surprisingly, Neji looked at you then. “It’s nothing… It’s just… something silly.”
You gently grabbed a hold of his hand. “Don’t tell me it’s silly, I know it isn’t if it bothers you, baby. You don’t have to tell me now if you aren’t comfortable yet, hmm? Just know I’ll be here to listen to you.” You gave him a genuine smile and a small squeeze to his hand before letting go.
Neji’s eyes hadn’t strayed from then onwards. He had to admit sometimes he would forget how incredibly kindhearted you were, even more so when it came to him. You always made sure he was comfortable. You never forced him into doing or saying things that he wasn’t ready to do or say. You allowed him to make his own decisions and respected them, something that rarely came from being a subordinate of Konoha and a member of the branch family of the Hyuga clan.
Life as a shinobi was sometimes constricting, but you were his breather from all that.
It was your turn to be bashful from his stare. You could feel your face warming up from the unexpected, scrutinizing gaze. “Neji, stop it.”
“What?”
“Stop looking at me like that.”
“Stop being beautiful, then.”
The words that came out of Neji’s lips startled you. It wasn’t everyday he would actually use words to tell you you’re beautiful. The way he expressed his appreciation to your beauty would come in the form of fluttering kisses or gentle brushes on your body parts — coincidentally, or not, on parts where you feel the most insecure about.
Fortunately for you, the food came at the right moment, since you weren’t exactly sure how to respond to his unexpected compliment. You both ate in silence then, occasionally peeking at each other  — almost like how it was when you first started dating each other.
When you were done with lunch, you expected to take the route towards the training grounds like you both usually did, but Neji’s hand has taken solace on your back once again and this time with intent to guide you to a different direction.
You were confused but you followed anyway. “Where are we going?”
“To my place.” A pause. “Is that fine with you?”
“Sure” was all you could say. Admittedly, you were quite tired from the duel you had with Naruto earlier and you didn’t really have enough energy to spar with Neji, considering he never went easy on you.
By the time you had entered his place, he graciously offered his couch to you, as if sensing your exhaustion. You immediately plopped down on his couch after setting aside your footwear by his front door.
“Tired?”
“Very,” you mumbled.
He handed you a glass of water, knowing you weren’t quite fond of tea. He sat down beside you just as you thanked him and sipped on your drink.
Setting aside the glass, you leaned back on the couch, only to be welcomed by Neji’s arms. A small smile automatically crept into your lips from the gesture. You snuggled into him as a reflex.
It was moments like this with Neji that you treasured most. While you enjoyed tagging around with him and the rest of Team Guy on missions, you preferred spending time with him peacefully like this, without the imminent threat of danger looming over your heads. It was rather a rare occurrence, after all, for two shinobis like you both were.
Neji was first to break the comfortable silence. “I saw you with Naruto a while ago.”
“You did? When?” You excitedly asked while trying to pull away from his embrace to look directly to his face. But for some reason, he kept you in place, your cheek pressed to his neck. “Did you see me kick his ass? Like literally.”
“Yes,” he answered flatly. It was a response that sounded so… dry. Usually when you both talked about Naruto, there would be a fondness from his tone. “But… I also saw something else…” he trailed off.
You raked your mind, trying to remember what had happened earlier. Then the memory of falling down flashed on your mind, and suddenly you felt embarrassed for Neji having to witness such a mistake. “Oh no!” You jumped out of his grasp, startling him in the process. “You saw me fall down! That’s so embarrassing!” You covered your face with your palms.
“Well, yes… but—”
You snapped your head at the tone he used. He didn’t sound like he was going to tease you for your mistake, in fact, it kind of sounded like he was worried.
“I’m fine though, if you’re worried,” you offered, assuming he thought you got hurt from the fall.
“I’m glad you are not hurt,” he said. Not long after you noticed him visibly gulping.
You could tell there was something else in his mind, and whatever it was, you had a feeling it might’ve been the thing that was bothering him a while ago. You tried to come up with guesses as to what it could’ve been. As you recalled how the conversation started and considered how he was acting, a plausible answer popped into your mind.
“Are you perhaps… jealous?” You hesitantly asked. He was the first one to initiate this conversation so you were assuming he was ready to talk about it. Despite that though, you didn’t want to force him to talk so you carefully and reluctantly asked him. He was always allowed to drop the topic if he wasn’t comfortable and he knew that.
Neji cleared his throat as soon as the words left your mouth all the while avoiding to meet your eyes once again. “Maybe,” he almost inaudibly said.
You were surprised by his answer. It wasn’t always that Neji got jealous. The only time he was was when a stranger was blatantly hitting on you in front of him while you were on a mission together.
“It did not sit right with me seeing you in an… inappropriate position with someone else.” He explained. The tone he used sounded like the one he used with the Hokage when he was taking responsibility for something that went horribly wrong on a mission.
“Don’t make it sound like it’s wrong,” you said softly as you cupped his face. “You don’t have to feel guilty about feeling jealous. Your feelings are valid.”
The gentleness and warmth in your voice made his heart flutter. If this was a conversation with someone else, he was sure he was going to get teased for feeling this way, but it was with you, and you had always been different.
“I love you, Neji,” you said before you kissed his lips.
It was amazing how the three words you used that preceded his name could easily wipe out the jealousy that had brewed inside him. This was another testament of how well you knew Neji — not only did you know the small details about him, but you also know the right words to ease his worries.
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anyoneseenadam · 3 years
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Home: Chapter Seven
azriel x reader (acotar)
summary: (y/n) is a daughter of Persephone, still recovering from the trauma of her fall into Tartarus and doesn’t have time for a stupid, handsome, annoying, stunning, injured man. But now they’re stuck together in the middle of nowhere and there only chance of getting home is if she can heal him, and fast.
warnings: big spoilers for mark of Athena and house of Hades, also for the acotar series, eventual smut, blood, PTSD, graphic descriptions of violence, injuries and torture, enemies to lovers so az is a bit of a dick to start, swearing, 
word count: 3.9k
a/n: I’m entirely writing this to distract myself from the real world but honesty I’m having a great time, I think there will be one more chapter after this one and maybe an epilogue but asides from that, also feel free to message or ask if you want to be tagged :)) anyway enjoy and pls comment and shiz :)
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Azriel had once joked that you were like an actual flower, needing water and sunlight to use your powers. At the time you had laughed but now as you stood in front of the mirror, wiping the tears from under your eyes, and preparing to walk into the world of all things dead, you understood. The dress you wore was one of the few fancy ones you reserved for the dinners you were often dragged to before your fall. It was lavender, with tulle cascading down your legs from the waist, paired with a tight corset top and tulle off-the-shoulder sleeves. As you sat with a ‘humph’ and started applying your makeup, your stepbrother walked in.
“Well you look cheery,” Nico said, sitting on your bed.
“I look like an evil power puff girl,”
“You look like you are a princess, which you are so my dad is going to be pleased.”
“I really don’t care what he thinks,” you snapped, and Nico help up his hands. He was wearing all black as usual, simple dress pants and a loose black shirt tucked in, his belt matched his rings, and his dark hair and even darker eye bags made him look every bit the Underworld prince. “Sorry, I’m not mad at you,” you said turning back around to carry on with your makeup.
“I know, it’s stressful for you,” he moved to sit next to you, resting his head on your shoulder and you applied eyeliner.
“I don’t wanna get sick again, I have things to do. Plus I’ve got to convince your dad to let me ask for this favour. I just feel like it’s all going to go to shit.”
“I get it, you’ll be fine though. Also I’m pretty sure your mum is going to do anything for you if it means you’ll speak to her again, so she’ll be on your side at least. That’s three vs one.” He nudged you as you put down the eyeliner.
“That’s true.” You bit the inside of your lip and Nico, sensing your worry, changed topic.
“Tell me about Azriel,” He said, and you caught his eye in the mirror.
“Huh?”
“Well I gotta make sure that when you become his problem it will be permanent, I don’t want you coming back,” he joked.
“Fuck you,” you laughed shoving his shoulder and he giggled, rolling onto his back.
“I don’t want to do thisssss,” Nico said in a sing-song voice lying flat on the floor.
“Me neither but I’m not going in alone bitch,” you laughed, starting to feel slightly better. It was moments like this that made you regret pushing your friends away, the thought of seeing them was always scary but when you were with your brother again you remembered why you loved them so much. You assessed your outfit in the mirror and sighed.
“What?” Nico asked, sitting back up.
“This would look really nice with a dark red lip,” you said, biting your lip.
“Do you have one?” he asked, and you nodded. He was quiet for a second before reaching out and ruffling through your makeup, finding your favourite red lipstick. “Do you wanna try?”
“Yeah, but if I cry it’ll mess up my eyeliner.” You said with a shaky laugh. He laughed quietly handing you the lipstick and you looked at him in the mirror, taking in a shuddering breath. You were stronger than this and you could handle it. You closed your eyes for a minute, counting your breaths, before opening the lipstick.
Once it was applied you lifted your chin, staring down the girl in the mirror. Nico grabbed your hand softly and you tore your eyes away, standing and pulling on your shoes.
“Are you ready?”
“As I’ll ever be.”
--
Azriel was in a shit mood. He was 90% sure that you had cast some sort of spell on him when he was with you, something that made him happy and relaxed, because now that you weren’t here he pretty much wanted to throttle everyone.
Amren had been helping him look for a way to get back to you. The first thing they had tried was winnowing, he pictured your face; your smile, the way your hands felt in his, but no matter how hard he tried he couldn’t reach you. So they had been scanning books since then, reading up on every theory and myth. Nesta had brought him to speak to Gwyn who had told him about the theory that there could be up to at least 20 other worlds. Amren had also made him talk through every detail about this world he could remember, writing diligent notes as Cassian gave him weird looks when he spoke about Bucky Barnes.
“He’s a character, it’s a simple concept.”
“Yeah but how do you get an emotional connection to a character?”
“Shut up both of you.”
The pain in his chest was only growing as well, and he came to the daunting realisation that if he failed this; if he couldn’t get back to you, or get you back to him, he would probably have to deal with it for the rest of his long, long life.
He felt bad for taking his frustrations out on his family who were just worried about him, but he had never felt this way before. All he could think of was the way your eyes cleared when the realisation dawned on you. The way you had gone from sobs to a different, all-consuming kind of pain, just for a second, your eyes clearing as you realised you might never see him again. He hated himself for not being strong enough to put up a fight, he knew he wasn’t a match for a god, but he should’ve tried, he was too shocked at the time, too heartbroken, but now he was terrified that you might think he gave up on you. He had to get back to you, he was afraid what you might do if you were alone again. If you were alone after having the bond dangled in front of you, only to have it ripped away moments later.
It was almost 3am and everyone else in the house had gone to bed, but Azriel didn’t sleep well normally, and he especially wouldn’t while he was apart from you. He looked up from his book when he heard someone clear their throat, his head whipped up an incredulous smile gracing his features when he saw you sitting there.
“Baby,” he started moving forward but you held your hand up, stopping him.
“Oh that’s just too sweet, you kids are giving me so much content,” you dabbed at your eyes, and Azriel frowned.
“(y/n)? what’s going on?”
“Oh I’m not (y/n) sweetie, but that’s just adorable. My name is Aphrodite, Goddess of love and beauty, I often appear as whoever you find most beautiful.” Azriel’s heart dropped, the brief happiness he felt seeing your face gone as the lady spoke.
“Aphrodite? Hermes mentioned you.” He said, tensing as he realised he was dealing with another god. “In fact he said it was your fault this all happened.”
“Oh Hermes, always blaming someone else. You should be thanking me.”
“And why would I do that.” Azriel knew the look on his face was deadly, but something about seeing a god cower under his gaze was feeding his ego.
“Haven’t you worked out why you can’t travel back to her.” She raised her eyebrows at him, her expressions may be on your face, but as he paid more attention she seemed like a completely different person. “I have the power to move through world’s, you do not. I just thought that poor, sweet girl had been through enough that she should get to meet her soulmate. I waited for you after your mission and then just made you forget and let the two of you fall in love naturally, I mean I get teary eyed thinking about it, you’re just too cute!”
Azriel’s shoulders relaxed slightly, “So why are you here? Are you going to bring her to me?”
“Hmm I could, but I’d get in so much trouble, plus she’s very smart and I want to see if her plan works. You people are so very entertaining.” Her face rippled for a second as she turned, and she briefly looked like Mor, then Elain, then back to you. “But you, poor boy,” He chose to ignore the condescending tone, “You were dealt a very bad hand love wise, so maybe if she doesn’t succeed I could pull a few strings, but I do have a holiday planned so it may be a few decades.”
Her laugh made him feel sick and he glared at her, “What did you say about her plan?”
“Oh yes! She’s going down to the underworld to try find a solution,” Aphrodite was moving around the room gracefully as Azriel sat back down, the weight of Aphrodite’s easy words hitting him. She picked up one of the books laying on the desk and made an unimpressed noise, throwing it back down carelessly.
“That’s where the dead go right?” he asked, silently praying he was wrong,
“Yup! Don’t worry though, her mother lives there too,” she said ‘mother’ with a slight snarl, but Azriel ignored her. “You know I get why she likes you, you’re very pretty aren’t you?” She walked over to him, swaying your hips and he had to remind himself it wasn’t you as she sat down in his lap, forcing his hands to stay clenched at his side. She ran your hand along his jaw, tilting her head with a smile as she stroked his face. Her thumb rested on his bottom lip as he glared at her with murderous rage, trying to reel it in as he remembered she was possibly the only one that could help him.
“Well I guess I better go,” She sighed dramatically then pressed a perfectly polished gold coin into his hand, “Flip this if you need me, emergencies and sex only.” She winked at him, before kissing his cheek and standing, waving seductively before vanishing. Azriel sat for a few minutes, reeling from the interaction he just had. Is this the world I’ve entered now? Gods who can do whatever they want? He wondered if that’s why you avoided talking about the Gods, if maybe growing up with this had made you bitter to them. He wanted to ask you and talk to you about it, or anything for that matter but instead he just pocketed the coin and stood, winnowing to his room, and collapsing on his bed.
--
“Sweetie, you look beautiful,” Your mother cried out as you and Nico arrived, you were leaning heavily on his arm, while surrounded by death, the coldness of a lifeless place seeped into your bones and weakened you, you had learnt as much the first time you visited. You gave your mother a tight-lipped smile and hugged her awkwardly.
“Oh I missed you so much dear,” she stroked your hair, and you fought the urge to roll your eyes.
“You could’ve visited.” It was hard to keep the bitterness out of your voice, after all you had gone through and she hadn’t visited once. A look of shock passed over her face but before she could reply Hades thundered in, his usual outfit, ‘the robes of death and despair’ as you fondly called them, were replaced by a dark suit, his hair slicked back from his face. He came to Persephone’s side and rested a hand around her waist pulling her in slightly, and despite yourself you felt a little jealous of their closeness as your mother looked up at him with doe eyes.
“Nico, my son, how are you?” Hades deep voice silenced the room, the very air seeming to stand still, and Nico flushed red as he was put on the spot. The four of you exchanged pleasantries as you made your way to the ridiculously long table, Hades sat at the head on one side, Persephone on the other, with Nico and you facing each other in the centre. The wood was dark, but the table was covered in all sorts of colourful food and you all helped yourselves while making small talk, only managing to hear your parents due to the eery silence of the room, dead guards not needing to make any noise.
After the first few courses and once you had consumed enough white wine to gain some courage you turned to face your mother.
“Mum, I think I need a favour if that’s okay?” you asked with great caution, extremely aware of the powerful forces surrounding you.
“Well that depends dear. What is it?”
“After the battle and the… fall, I never got my reward remember, I instead asked to be able to come get it when I needed it.”
“Yes of course, I thought that was very smart!” your mother spoke cheerfully but you could feel Hades’ gaze on your back, burning through your skin and bones to the very essence of your soul. “Let me guess, you need it now?”
“If that’s okay, some things have changed recently and I now know what I need,” you smiled at her, “I met a man, well actually he’s a faerie. Aphrodite wanted us to meet because we’re soulmates and after my fall she thought I deserved to see him, but since he’s from another world he had to go back, and we can’t be together.” You wiped away a few stray tears you forced out; this was your game. Your mother didn’t visit you often so she had never seen this side of you, the side that could manipulate even a god into giving you what you wanted. “So I thought, maybe for my reward I could become Fae and be permitted to live with Azriel in his world, and maybe come and visit my friends occasionally?”
“Oh that sounds lovely dear! That’s so alike me, I had to beg my mother and even then she didn’t let me stay here,” your mother rattled on and you smiled at her, but your shoulders were still tense as you knew you hadn’t won yet. You turned to where Hades sat, rubbing his temples.
“I get it. I do. But I really don’t think my brother would allow that, it’s too much.”
“Too much?” you asked, a bitter laugh escaping.
“I understand you went through a lot,”
“Do you?” you couldn’t stop the biting words, “Because the last I checked you both sat and did nothing while I was tortured down there. You could’ve done something, but you didn’t, you made a choice not to, and now I ask for ONE thing, and it’s too much?” Hades’ glare was murderous, but you weren’t going to back down.
“I mean if you really think about it, I’ll be out of your hair if you agree. One less demi-god always seems to be a win for you guys.” Nico said your name in warning, but you slowly stood. “I am not asking for much, I am asking to be allowed to live a life with the man I love and after all I have been through, fighting YOUR battles, I think it’s the least I deserve.”
You held Hades’ gaze for a few more seconds until he spoke. “Are you sure your not a child of Nyx?” he asked, and you grinned, cocking your head to the side.
“Why would that be?”
“You have a pure evil streak in you girl and uncharted power. You better learn to control it, before someone catches on.”
“We won’t have a problem I’m presuming?”
“I’ll see what I can do,” he said gruffly, going back to his meal and you relaxed, moving to hug your mother goodbye, whispering thanks to her, before linking arms with Nico and leaving.
--
The next day you awoke to a golden invitation to Olympus, and you smiled, soon. You’d be with him soon.
--
Olympus looked much nicer since Annabeth had gotten involved. You may have been biased but it seemed to hold a sense of home it never had before, the clinical cleanliness now feeling purer and more loving. The throne room however had remained much the same.
You stood alone in the middle surrounded by the arc of thrones, but you refused to take your eyes of Zeus. You had received a wink from Apollo and a smile from Aphrodite as you walked in but beside that it had been eye contact for at least five minutes. You knew better to speak before you were spoken to but the way they surrounded you and stared down on you was bringing up bad memories and you were really fighting a panic attack.
Seemingly sensing this Apollo cleared his throat, “Perhaps we should start father?” While you were grateful a part of you hated how well the flirtatious god knew you, he was the first to tend to your wounds when you first escaped, healing them enough so you wouldn’t die from blood loss but not enough for anyone to suggest he was picking favourites. His warm hands had provided a sense of comfort you thought you had lost entirely.
Zeus nodded slowly, a letter appearing in his hand, “So these are your terms? Transformation into high Fae, permission to live in a new world with visits back to this one twice a year?” you presumed Hades, or your mother had written the letter, neither of them present currently. You nodded clearly, not entirely trusting your voice.
“I guess it’s only fair, but a full transformation will hurt,”
“I’m sure I can take it.” you lifted your chin, holding your shaking hands tightly in an attempt to conceal them.
Zeus laughed, not taking his eyes of you, “I’m sure you can. Does anyone have any major oppositions?”
Aphrodite raised her hand, “I’d like to add that during her transformation, her womb changes shape so she may birth Illyrian children.” You shot her a grateful look, still not entirely sure why she was suddenly so invested in ensuring your happiness, but you wouldn’t complain.
Hera was the next to speak and you fought the urge to roll your eyes, “Why is she getting special treatment again? What did she do that was so different?”
“She was tortured for days!” Athena exclaimed,
“So?” Ares now.
“She was a child, it was brutal.” Apollo jumped to your aid and soon the chamber was filled with shouting voices as they argued over your fate.
“SILENCE.” Zeus quieted the room instantly and every eye turned to him, but he remained focused on you, “Well then? Answer the question girl, what makes you so special?”
You thought for a second before answering, “I don’t consider it special treatment. After the battles I’ve fought and the pain I’ve endured to help your causes, I’d consider it a form of retirement.” You kept Zeus’ gaze and let a streak of the evil Hades had warned you off show, smiling when his smug smile disappeared. He waved his hand, “Very well then, High Fae with altered womb and permission to live in their world and visit our occasionally, that is all?”
You nodded and he assessed you before holding out his hand, his gaze darkening. You furrowed your eyebrows as your limbs started to tingle before pain took over your entire body.
--
You had felt pain so many times before, pain that left more than just physical trauma, but this was different. You felt as if your blood had become fire and every bone was breaking as new ones reformed. You didn’t have any sense of time or place, all you could feel was pain. At one point you thought it was over only to open your eyes, feeling impossibly soft sheets beneath you, and see Apollo hovering over you, sweat dripping from his brow as he took some of the pain away, even for just a moment.
When you finally awoke you were on the ground. You stood up quickly, almost knocking yourself over as your movement were much faster than usual. You were outside a glowing city, it didn’t have skyscrapers like New York, but it was so comforting to look at you felt yourself being drawn in. As you crossed the border however, a beautiful man with dark hair appeared, his eyes narrowing.
“Who are you and why are you trying to get in here?” A shot of fear went through you as you felt his magic, it was thick in the air and powerful.
“I’m not going to hurt anyone, I’m just looking for someone,” you explained, swallowing down the lump in your throat. The handsome man’s gaze turned vacant before softening after a moment.
“I apologise, I’m Rhysand. Let me help you find whoever it is, what’s their name?”
“That’s okay, really. His name is Azriel, but I don’t think he’s expecting me.” Rhysand stopped, his head turning towards you, “what is it?” you asked.
“(y/n)?”
“How do you know my name?” you stepped back but he held out his hands,
“No, no I’m Az’s brother, let me take you to him.” he grabbed your arm softly and suddenly you were standing in a warm room facing Azriel. You felt tears fill your eyes as you stared at him, he uttered your name in question and you nodded running into his arms, completely engulfed by his scent, tears of joy running down your face when you suddenly realised something, pulling away.
“Did you say brother?” you turned to Rhysand, feeling all the plants in the air respond to your calls, when Azriel tugged you back to him.
“Not biological don’t worry.” He whispered and Rhysand laughed.
“I like her.”
“Hmm I was two seconds away from castrating you,” His eyes widened slightly and you laughed, turning back to Azriel as he looked over you.
“How- you, you’re Fae?” His eyes were filled with worry again, afraid he was being tricked.
“I never got my reward remember, I knew I would need it in the future,” you smiled at him as he cupped your face and leaned down to kiss you. You pulled apart, Azriel growling when you heard catcalls, turning, and seeing the room had practically filled. A shot of fear went through you as your eyes landed on another man who had red siphons, and Azriel followed your gaze, a hand stroking your face in reassurance.
“So this must be (y/n), welcome to our home, I’m Feyre,” A beautiful woman stepped forward and clasped your hand in hers, which you noted were stained from paint. Everyone else soon made introductions and they urged you to sit as you found out about this makeshift family Azriel was in.
“Oh! That’ll be Nyx, I’ll go,” Feyre said when a baby started crying in the distance,
“Wait what did she say the babies name was?” You asked, holding in a laugh.
“Nyx?” Rhys said,
“Oh, course, cool cool cool,”
“What?” Azriel asked, looking at you strangely.
“I’ve kind of met her,”
“Oh.”
“Yeah, she’s like the evilest deity there is, and she did not like me,” Rhysand stared at you with a look of shock on his face, but before anyone said anything else, Amren was laughing loudly.
“You must tell me all about these Gods girl.”
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tags: @tastedlikedamnation
65 notes · View notes
retrievablememories · 4 years
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like you | jungwoo
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title: like you pairing: jungwoo x black!reader genre: fluff, college!au request: “Hi. I’m requesting a fluffy imagine where Y/N is a senior in college and Jungwoo is a freshman in college. Y/N gets upset because people keep picking on him because he is asian and she defends him. This causes Jungwoo to get extremely clingy/flirty and develop a crush on Y/N. Y/N is not used to recieving affection so she feels skeptical” word count: 3.8k warnings: cursing, instances of racism a/n: this one was pretty fun to write, i love writing college-inspired stuff for some reason lol. tumblr fucked the image quality but whatever. the title comes from the song off story op 1. stan kim jonghyun girlies!
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“Who’s that guy in your Medieval History class?” Your roommate, Mira, randomly asks you one day. She’s hanging off the edge of your bed, her textbook on the ground in front of her as she fists her hands in her hair and tries to comprehend the words swimming on the page in front of her.
You turn away from your desk to look at her. “That’s a random ass question. Have the words finally fried your brain? I don’t even know what guy you’re talking about.”
She looks up at you, crossing her arms in front of her and resting her chin on them. “Fuck this homework man, I’ve had enough. I wanna know who’s the guy in your History class, the black-haired one? The Asian dude?”
You think for a moment. You do remember who she’s talking about; he sits closer to the front of the class, though you’re not sure how she knows him. She’s not even in the same class. He has cute features, though you haven’t paid him much mind—you know from the first day’s icebreaker that he’s a freshman exchange student, but any other details have escaped your mind.
“I don’t remember his name at the moment...what about him?”
“He seems kind of awkward, like...I’ve only really seen him with one other boy. It’s kinda sad...he could use a friend or two.”
“You’re assuming he’s awkward? Maybe he’s just shy, or doesn’t want 800 different friends,” you say, turning to another page in your notebook. There are only a couple of reasons why she’d ask you about a guy, and you can guess what her plans are. “If you want to be his friend, you can. Ain’t nobody stopping you.”
“Well, shit, can’t you like...introduce me? I don’t wanna be a weirdo going up to a total stranger!”
You laugh incredulously. “Girl, he’s a total stranger to me too. If you really want to be friends, just say so...or say you’re with that Freshman Committee who pairs upperclassmen mentors with the new students. I’m sure that’ll work well.” In actuality, you’re not entirely serious or sure about that, but it’s better than listening to your friend complain.
Mira sighs, going back to her textbook. “Ugh, you never wanna help me get guys. Fine...I could try it, but if I end up looking like a fool I’m blaming you.”
You only have Medieval History on Tuesdays and Thursdays, so you have to wait another day before returning to class again. After keeping your ears open for the roll call, you figure out that the guy’s name is Jungwoo.
He appears to be really into the subject and participates often, asking and answering questions whenever the professor engages with the students. You’re only taking Medieval History to fill out the last credit for your Social Studies electives, so you never expected to be all into the subject; but the teacher does a decent enough job of making the class not totally boring. 
Jungwoo has a pretty proficient grasp of English, which makes you wonder if he did a lot of studying before he got here. He mispronounces a word when asking the teacher about a certain concept in the reading material, though, and a couple of girls who sit behind him laugh. You furrow your eyebrows at that, wondering what their problem is.
Later, when you’re leaving class, they pass by you and you hear a bit of their conversation.
“Shit, if you’re gonna move over here you should at least know English first,” one says, screwing up her nose.
“Seriously, it’s so embarrassing. I thought Asians were supposed to be geniuses or something?” Both girls laugh at that, and you roll your eyes at the ignorance. They’re gone only seconds later, although your mind keeps drifting back to their comments for the rest of the day.
Over the next week, you notice that those same two girls seem to spend more of their class time giggling over Jungwoo’s mannerisms and speech than actually participating in the class. It quickly begins wearing your nerves thin; you’ve never gotten along well with people who are assholes just for the sake of being mean.
If Jungwoo notices—which you figure he must, because their cackling is too obvious not to pick up on—he doesn’t acknowledge it. This only makes you more irritated, knowing that he probably isn’t interested in picking a fight with these girls; but that doesn’t mean he should continue being disrespected.
You reach a point where you can no longer stay silent during a lecture on Medieval cuisine, where the girls keep whispering silly jokes about Asian food. You clear your throat loud enough to make a few heads turn, including the girls doing the laughing. “Excuse you, I can’t hear the teacher over the noise,” you say pointedly, crossing your arms. They both give you salty looks at that comment, and you have to stifle the urge to throw something at the backs of their heads when they turn around.
This is going to be a long semester.
Things come to head one day when you’re all waiting outside the classroom for the professor’s last class to leave. Jungwoo is standing beside the classroom’s door, while you’re seated on a nearby bench, trying to stay awake after studying until 2 a.m. last night.
The two girls walk into the hallway, including a boy you don’t recognize; you figure he’s probably a friend or boyfriend. You kiss your teeth at their entrance and try to return to your thoughts, but you’re quickly taken out of them again when you see the trio stop in front of Jungwoo.
The first girl, who seems to be the ringleader, speaks. “Hey, what’s your name again—Ching? Jing?”
“We need some homework help! And since you seem to be the teacher’s pet…” Both girls look at each other and laugh at that. Jungwoo furrows his eyebrows, an unimpressed expression on his face.
“I don’t think that’s—” Jungwoo starts, but the other guy cuts him off, putting his hand to his ear in an exaggerated gesture.
“What was that? We need you to enunicate, no one knows what the fuck you’re saying.” This time, all three of them break into laughter. 
The tiredness drains from your body faster than any caffeine could achieve as you watch the scene unfold. Some of your other classmates look on, shifting uncomfortably, but no one moves to say or do anything. Before you can really think about it, you’re already up on your feet and walking towards the group.
“Maybe if your miserable asses spent more time studying the lectures instead of shitting on a fellow student, you wouldn’t have to beg for help.”
All three of them, plus Jungwoo, turn their heads in your direction with varying expressions on their faces. The main girl speaks up, putting her hands on her hips. “Who the fuck do you think you’re talking to?”
“You, bitch! Who else? Y’all love picking on someone you know is too nice to say anything back. That’s weak as hell and says more about you than it ever could about him.”
Your voices start getting louder as the girl gets up in your face, and before anything can pop off, the professor comes storming through the classroom door.
“What the hell is going on here?” he shouts over the arguing.
The girl backs down after the professor makes his appearance and turns to look at her two partners in crime. “Girl—got the damn teacher out here, come on, we ain’t got time for this shit.” They both walk away in a huff, their male friend trailing behind them, and some other students give them sideways glances as they pass. The guy throws you a dirty look before he leaves, and you don’t hesitate to flip him off.
“That’s an unexcused absence on your record!” The professor calls after them, shaking his head. Meanwhile, Jungwoo has been watching the whole scene with shocked eyes, and he keeps looking at you as you shrug and head into the classroom.
The next time you have your Medieval History class, the two girls don’t show up. Maybe they’re too embarrassed to come back to class, but whatever it is, it’s above you now.
After the professor finishes his main lecture, he flips through his copy of the class textbook for the day’s assignment. “Everyone, turn to page 273 in your books. I want you all to read and analyze this text on Romanesque architecture, then answer the 3 discussion questions on page 275. You can get into groups of no more than 3 if you wish, but everyone needs to turn in their own individual answer sheet.”
Sighing, you open your notebook and rifle through your backpack for a writing utensil. When you look up, you jump a little from shock; Jungwoo is standing near your desk with his things in his arms.
“Hi...could we work together?” He gives you a gentle smile.
“Oh, sure, that’s fine with me!” Jungwoo takes the empty seat beside you and you push your desks to be closer together.
“I never got to say,” he starts, “but thank you for doing that last week...you didn’t have to.”
“Well, I would hope any decent person would...I didn’t want to just sit there and watch you be insulted. It’s so unnecessary...” You quickly flip through your textbook, completely overshooting the assignment page and having to go back. You feel a little flustered at this kind of attention, because you weren’t really doing it to be noticed or heroic.
Jungwoo smiles at your modesty, though he doesn’t try to push the matter.
At the end of class, after you’ve both turned in your assignments, you and Jungwoo leave together.
“Thanks for partnering with me today,” you tell him, and he nods in acknowledgement. “I guess I’ll see you next class?”
“Actually, do you want to eat lunch with me? I mean, at the cafeteria today?” he asks. His eyes seem to literally sparkle in anticipation of your answer, and you find it hard to turn that face down. Plus, he seems nice enough; this could be a good way to introduce him to Mira.
“Sure,” you say, grinning.
You and Jungwoo head to the dining hall for lunch, talking about anything that comes to mind along the way. You find out that him and his roommate, Jaehyun, have been best friends for awhile before deciding to go overseas for college; his roommate has been to the U.S. before, but this is his first time. He talks a lot more than you expected him to, but you figure some people just need time to warm up before they get comfortable.
It doesn’t take you long to find Mira after you get to the cafe, and you plan to let her take the reins with the conversation, but Jungwoo continually does his best to keep you roped into the dialogue. You realize you don’t mind that, though—it’s nice to have someone who actively engages you rather than lets you fade into the background.
Jungwoo quickly makes the desk beside yours his new spot in class. He sticks close to your side during lectures and even when you walk to the cafeteria or back to your dorm, always thinking of something new to tell you about. With any other person you’d quickly get tired of this borderline clingy behavior, but something about him keeps you interested, even when you’re talking about stuff that would be boring to others—like Medieval History.
The two girls eventually make their return, glowering silently at you and Jungwoo but not saying a word. Their object of laughter and mockery is no longer available for harassment; who knows who they’ll try to terrorize next, though you hope the answer is no one.
“You don’t mind that Jungwoo always wants to hang out with me, do you? Since I know you kinda liked him and all.” You ask Mira at lunch one day, when Jungwoo leaves the table to get the straw he forgot. You feel a bit sheepish. You didn’t mean to “steal” her prospective man away from her, but you and Jungwoo have taken a liking to each other, and you enjoy being in his presence.
“Jungwoo? No! I actually have my eye on another guy in my Nursing class now, he’s really funny and he owns a collection of vintage records…” You snort, unsurprised that her attention has drifted already. Mira launches into a whole spiel about this new dude, even detailing how the color of his irises is just shy of being “true hazel green.” She pauses in her speech to bat her eyelashes at you. “Besides, it seems like you two have something going on already. I wouldn’t dare get in between that.”
You almost drop your food in your lap. “Uh, what?”
“Don’t be shy. You two are practically tied at the hip, and Jungwoo already talks to you like you’re his girlfriend. It’s only a matter of time at this point.”
“I seriously doubt that,” you say, suddenly feeling very put on the spot. You don’t think Jungwoo sees you like that at all, and you’re a little irritated that your roommate would suggest it, jokingly or not.
She sighs and shakes her head. When she spots Jungwoo walking back to the table, she tries to act casual and wrap the subject up. “Suit yourself, but I’m always right about this kinda stuff. Watch.”
Every year, your college throws a Welcome Back party on the last Friday of the first month in the semester. You initially didn’t have plans to go, much preferring your friends’ kickbacks where you don’t have to avoid sweaty and horny stranger dudes all night. However, Jungwoo turns to you one day after class ends and brings it up.
“Y/N, there’s gonna be a party on campus at the end of the week...are you going?”
“Hmm, probably not...Welcome Back parties are always lowkey messy and filled with freshmen who don’t know how to act…” You momentarily forget that Jungwoo is a freshman, and you have to walk your comment back a bit. “Not saying you’ll be like that, though!”
He waves it off. “It’s fine. It’s just, me and Jaehyun are going and thought it’d be fun if you came too.”
“Well…”
Jungwoo rests his head on your shoulder and hugs your arm. “Please? I want the prettiest girl in school to be my date.”
You pat his hand and laugh off his comment, unsure how to accept his compliment. “Since you asked so nicely…I’ll go. But I’m bringing Mira with me. It’s been awhile since I’ve gone to a campus party.”
“Yes!! That’s fine, Jaehyun will probably like her,” Jungwoo says, smirking. You still don’t get how they haven’t formally met yet with how your friend circles overlap, but you know it’s coming soon. Obviously, Jungwoo knows something you don’t, judging by the look on his face, but you don’t inquire about it.
You and Mira spend the night of the party getting ready with Megan Thee Stallion and City Girls blasting through your dorm room. She was a little resistant to the idea at first, insisting that campus parties were too corny for her taste, but you eventually convinced her to go. 
As the hour approaches, there’s a knock on your door. You’re still putting the finishing touches on your makeup, so you tell Mira to answer it. When she does, Jungwoo and Jaehyun are standing there.
“You guys are here already? Who let you in?” she says jokingly, though you wonder the same thing; you can’t get into a dorm you don’t live in without a key card.
“Some guy downstairs. Maybe your dorm needs better security.” Jaehyun laughs. “I tried to tell Jungwoo it’s still early, but he was ready to leave.”
“Walking in on two girls getting ready, how presumptuous of you,” Mira giggles, pretending to shove Jungwoo’s shoulder. You roll your eyes hard and try not to laugh in the mirror. “But you’re here now, so might as well come in.”
Jungwoo makes a beeline straight to you, placing his hands on your shoulders like he wants to give you a massage. “Hi pretty girl.” He smiles at your reflection, and you almost drop your lip gloss on the floor.
“Oh, h-hey, Jungwoo! The party tonight better be fun...if not, you owe me,” you say, trying to play off your nervousness.
Jungwoo acts reluctant about it, placing his hand in his chin and thinking deeply. “I owe you? Well, okay...anything you want.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
“You can have my heart first, if you want.”
This time you really do drop your lip gloss, and Mira and Jaehyun watch with amused fascination as you mourn your lost makeup. But right now, you just want to avoid thinking about what Jungwoo has just said, and how it makes you feel.
The gymnasium where the party is being held is just as packed as you expected it to be, even at your group’s early arrival. It’s only going to get more crowded from here, but you don’t think about that as Jungwoo all but drags you to go dance.
You genuinely enjoy yourself for the first time in a while, and you’re surprised at just how much fun you can still have even with drunken dudes bumping into you every few minutes.
You’re too caught up in dancing with Jungwoo to notice, but Mira and Jaehyun are nowhere to be found. You only realize this after you two take a break during a slower song and you can’t spot her anywhere on the gym floor. You send her a text message, but you don’t expect to receive an answer anytime soon.
“Shit, they didn’t waste any time,” you laugh, and for some reason you can’t stop laughing at the situation. Jungwoo joins you until you’re both outright cackling, and some of the other party-goers give you odd glances.
You and Jungwoo spend most of the night dancing and partying with some of your other classmates. You both leave the gym one hour before the party ends, wanting to avoid getting caught in the huge rush of people who’ll be looking for fast food places to hit up. Instead of heading back to your dorms, you two decide to walk around the campus for a while, enjoying the still night air and the sounds of crickets all around you. You’re glad for the open air, because you were burning up in the gym with so many bodies around you.
Neither of you speak for a while, simply taking in the scenery and retracing your footsteps on paths you walk everyday to get to class. Jungwoo finally breaks the silence when you pass through a long path flanked on both sides by rows of flowery trees; this part of campus is so picturesque that it almost seems out of place.
“Tonight is really pretty,” he says, glancing at the starry sky.
“I know, right,” you agree. “It’s so nice outside. I’m glad you convinced me to go to the party.”
“I’m glad too. I really like being next to you...” Jungwoo’s eyes linger on your face for longer than you expect them to, and you look away nervously, unsure what that could mean. “But, there’s something I have to tell you.”
“Oh? What’s that?” The sudden change in tone makes you a bit anxious, and you half expect him to tell you he has to return home after this semester ends. That thought makes you more disappointed than you anticipated. Your stomach curls into a knot.
“Y/N, I like you.” Jungwoo’s face is earnest, but your brain has a hard time catching up to the meaning of his words. You feel like you’ve been kicked in the chest—or maybe that’s your heart trying to knock its way out of your ribcage. You stop walking and simply look at him, unsure how to approach his confession. He stops too, turning to face you with gentle eyes.
“I-is...this a joke?” You finally blurt out. Jungwoo’s face draws into a confused expression. He shakes his head, his hair waving as he does.
“It’s not a joke at all. You are funny, nice, cool, brave, pretty…”
“A...are you sure this isn’t just because I defended you? Like, maybe you just feel really grateful about it—a-and we’ve only known each other a month—”
“Y/N, I know how I feel,” Jungwoo argues, grabbing your hands. He pauses for a moment as if he’s trying to come up with the accurate words to express himself. “I just...I don’t need a reason or excuse. I just like you.”
This is all far more than what you’re used to. You pull your hands away from Jungwoo’s for a moment, embarrassed and overwhelmed. You tentatively reach for his hand again after seeing the hurt look on his face, but you hesitate.
“I’m...sorry, it’s just…” You don’t really want to admit something so personal to him, but you don’t know how else to avoid completely hurting his feelings tonight. “I’m, uh, not really used to this kind of stuff…” Jungwoo raises his eyebrows at that.
“Used to...what? Someone liking you?”
“Well damn, when you put it like that…” You try to laugh it off, but you feel corny and sheltered at best. What must Jungwoo think of you, as a senior who’s never had a genuine love interest? You’ve had more than one college boy’s lust directed at you one time or another, but true affection is another thing entirely. That has been a much rarer find.
“Then...you can get used to it now. It’s never too late to experience love.”
“You really believe that?” you say softly, allowing yourself to feel a little relieved that he’s not laughing you out of town. But of course he wouldn’t. He’s not that kind of person, anyway.
“Don’t you?” You let him take your hand this time as he steps closer. “You deserve someone who will treat you nicely, tell you funny stories, carry your books for you..”
“Someone...like you,” you finish for him, thinking back to all the times he’s done those exact same things for you. You’re unsure how to approach the intense newness of this situation, and you’re a little afraid of him holding your sweaty palm, but you decide none of that matters when Jungwoo’s lips meet yours, his hand carefully holding your face.
Right now, the only thing that matters is this moment under the stars.
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garciaswebhistory · 4 years
Text
Crushed; Reader x Spencer
warnings: mentions of torture, rape, possible death
summary: the one time you take off a case and your boyfriend goes, he ends up as a hostage inside of a violent, religious cult
based around S4, E3 timeline “Minimal Loss”
Vacation time. An unknown concept of a job for an FBI agent, especially a BAU member. Every day, the air was sick with energy and adrenaline as the constant cases flooded in.
Of course, as you looked down at your wrapped up foot that had been itching like crazy for the past five and a half weeks, you realized how boring vacation was. Especially when your boyfriend had gone back to work, even though he hadn’t wanted to. 
But his job needed him and his brain more than you needed him to give you a massage every five minutes and follow you around like a lost puppy.
 Always a conference call, neighborhood serial killer, an issue with the public media, or the occasional terrorist kept everyone on their toes, and it was addicting. How or why would anyone ever want to leave?
Sure, seeing a dead body at least twice a month, or the occasional fear of being taken as a hostage was always there. The fact that your life was more at risk than others, or that it was more common to get shot than not on the daily?
 Again, good reasons. But that was what kept you coming back day after day.
You were 25, having joined the BAU three years ago, and like the adrenaline junkie you were with a thing for men in uniform, you fit right in. Not to mention your team that was more of a family then your biological relatives, and your wonderful boyfriend and now fiancé Spencer Reid.
He was 30, with a baby face, sharp jawline, and curly brown hair. He was a doll baby, sweet and sensitive but could take down someone if he had to. You two were just perfect for each other, and it was obvious to everyone who saw you two in the same room. 
You gravitate towards one another, smiling, winking playfully, giggling, and playing footsies. You two were like small children with one another… best friends and the love of each other’s lives.
Just two nights ago, he had proposed to you after 15 months, 2 weeks, and four days of being together (you knew this thanks to your lover boy computer), so you had given him the obvious answer. 
Some would have said that you were moving too fast, but that was just the life of a federal agent who put their lives on the battlefield for the sake of others on a regular occasion. Never once had you questioned him being your soulmate, and you never would. 
After him being kidnapped and shot multiple times, and you being raped and tortured horribly on separate occasions, life just was too precious for you to beat around the bush. Plus, even 
Rossi said that he knew what a failed relationship looked like, and that failed relationships didn’t cook with one another, draw faces on each other while sleeping, or put their lives at risk for one another. 
Again… soulmates. :)
Maybe that was why you had been so happy when you had taken a pregnancy test just minutes ago and had now found it positive. You ran to the couch, trying your best to ease your broken foot that was so close to healing. 
Grabbing your phone, you opened it to dial your boyfriend’s number when the tv in front of you caught your attention. You always kept the News on when Spencer was gone, fearing you’d miss something. Plus the missing people reports and traffic jams in your city were no news to you.
“Here I am, right outside of an underground facility in La Plata County, Colorado that is said to be hospitalizing a cult. Among the cult are women, children, and three child services agents held hostage who went in earlier to do a wellness check. Federal units are doing their best to get everyone out safely but so far the progress has been minimal. I will have more on this story as we continue this.”
You stopped cold, remembering JJ give the evaluation of the case to everyone just hours before you had to say goodbye to the team. It was a call from a teen girl about underage marriages and Cyrus, the cult leader, taking advantage of his young, female followers. The cult was on a ranch, and was its own society basically. 
You had wanted to go, but had been told to stay home by everyone on the team. Spencer had wanted to stay with you, but he was a valuable part of the plan. He was to go with Pretniss and a real child services agent to disguise themselves and not cause any panic. But now… He was a hostage.
You dialed Garcia’s phone, knowing that she would be the one most likely to have their phone and not be preoccupied, although that was already a long stretch. Fortunately though, you remembered that you were Garcia’s third favorite person after her boyfriend and Morgan. 
“Thank you for calling Fairy Godmother and Gizmos, your fairy godmother speaking.” She chimed in, sounding stressed but like she was trying to put on a brave face. “Hey, it’s Y/n. I’m sorry to call like this but I need to know what’s going on.”
You could head typing on her keyboard before she cleared her throat. “Alrighty, here’s what we know but it’s not much. Reid and Prentiss went in with another agent to check out the call and then there was a raid we weren’t aware of. Right now, they don’t have any reason to hurt any of them. I- What? Oh god, oh god.”
You suddenly became terrified, screaming into the cell phone as your eyes laid glued onto the tv screen. “Garcia? What? What is it?” You asked as you heard her heavy breathing on the other side. “Hotch gave me access to their radio so I can listen in, and… they just… Oh my god.” You hated the pause, wanting to both hug and kill her in that moment.
“One of the agents got hit in the raid, but they’re not saying which one. Hold on, I’ll forward you to Hotch.” You heard her clicking her keyboard even more. “Oh and Y/n? Whenever you get in touch with our boyfriend, tell him I’m going to kill him if he doesn’t come back in one piece.” 
“Not if I do it first.” You heard Garcia chuckle at your response, but you didn’t feel like smiling even though she was trying hard. Spencer was in danger. You stayed on the phone until you heard Rossi’s deep tone.
“Hello? Agent Rossi.” He picked up on Hotch’s phone, and for a second you thought Hotch was in trouble too. “Rossi! I… I need you to tell me what’s going on. The news isn’t giving me anything and I… I don’t know what to do. I knew I should have come.” You began crying, letting the hormones control you.
“Hey, listen to me. Reid needs you strong. We all do. Reid is in there, but we have no reason to think he’s been injured.” He tried to explain, but it didn’t help the tears streaming down your face. “What about Cyrus? He said one of them got hit.” You heard a sigh from Rossi and began crying even more.
“Yes, the agent Pretniss and Reid went in with died. But it wasn’t the cult’s doing. I don’t think they’re going to hurt him.” Rossi tried to make you feel better, and he did, but it only gave you more questions.
“What do they want with them?” You asked as Rossi sighed. You could tell he was just at a loss like you were. “If we get the women, children and our agents out, Cyrus knows that we will have no reason to hold back. He has to keep them alive or else he’s as good as dead.” 
“Just… bring him home Rossi. All of you better be at the agency tomorrow at 7 on the dot. Please. I’ll call you back if I hear something happens.” You began to hang up before you heard Rossi chuckle lightly. “Yes mam.”
You sighed in relief as you grabbed a pillow and hugged it against your body, squeezing it tightly. All the times you had taken Spencer for granted, telling him to go to work and not waste his time with you. 
Now, all you wanted was to be in his arms. You wanted to comb through his hair with your fingers and give him a massage for once. Did he know how much you loved him? Did he know how obsessed you were with him? How you would trade places with him right now without a second thought. 
God, you should have gone. Fuck your bad foot, you could stand there and watch. You could watch a building from a safe distance like all of them were doing. You could even go in, and maybe they would take it easy on you and not suspect anything if they saw you were injured.
Anything was better than having your one and only in a building of armed, mentally disordered people with secrets and something to die for. You gripped the pillow tighter, and began silently crying again. You just wanted him there. Was that too much to ask?
Finally, the News updated. “Live from the source. After speaking with the federal agents, it is known that one of the two alive hostages right now is an FBI agent. I am looking right now at the ranch, which is circled with SWAT vehicles. We can only hope that this won’t be the bloody battle it’s leading up to.”
You froze, dropping the remote and watching the back of it snap off, sending the two batteries rolling across the floor in opposite directions. Your immediate reaction was the call Rossi, and with your hand shaking, that’s exactly what you did. 
“We saw Y/n, we saw. I don’t know how they knew that but it’s… it’s not good.” Rossi confessed. losing your attention for a minute. “H- Is he going to die? Are they going to kill him? Rossi answer me!” You yelled into the phone, hearing muffled yelling but no answer.
“I’ve got to go Y/n. I’m sorry. I’ll call you back when any of us can talk.” And he hung up on you, leaving you feeling empty and alone on the couch that you had once sat on with Spencer, in the apartment you both paid for. You glanced at your stomach and sighed, putting your hand on it.
It looked normal now, but in just weeks it would become obvious. When would you take off work? When would you tell the team? Who would be the godfather and mother? When would you tell Spencer? Would you ever even be able to tell Spencer?
No. You slapped your hand. You can’t think like that. You have to be strong. For Spencer. For yourself. For everyone.
You held your legs to your chest and put your phone down, staring at the tv and then at your phone. Please give me an update. Please give me something. 
Hours passed, and although the News did hourly updates, the only change was that it was now nighttime. Finally, you picked up your phone and dialed JJ, knowing she’d be updated on everything and possibly free.
“Y/n? How are you holding up?” She asked, and you again were reminded why JJ was the BAU’s voice to the public. Her soft voice could almost convince you that your boyfriend and team’s life wasn’t at risk.
“Nobody is answering my calls and I’m so scared JJ. I… Just tell me straight. Please.” You explained as you heard her sigh on the other end. “Reid and Pretniss were questioned and Pretniss confessed that she was the FBI agent. She got beat up pretty bad.”
You felt relieved, but also guilty for feeling such. Poor Emily had confessed to save your boyfriend from a painful fate, and you would remember to give her a nice gift if and when she came back. 
“They gave us almost half of their people, and we don’t know why. Right now, we think they’re going to commit mass suicide. There’s no evidence that they’re going to hurt Reid. Just… Just relax.” JJ tried to comfort you, but you still felt uneasy. 
“I just… I…” You stared at the tv as they were doing another hourly update. It looked like nothing had changed. That was, until a large light hit your tv. You put on your glasses with regret of taking your contacts out, and then stared at the tv screen in horror.
A large explosion replaced where the church had sat, and it took a moment to register that the explosion had been the mass suicide JJ had just told you about. “Oh my god!!” You screamed, dropping your phone as you raised your hands to your mouth.
“Y/n? Y/n? Answer me!” You heard the phone click as JJ hung up, but you didn’t care. You stared at the tv, and couldn’t help but feel your heart drop. Spencer was inside. Pretniss was inside. JJ would have told you if either of them had come out. He would have called you surely.
“N-No.” You stuttered, unable to grasp the concept that he was gone. He was hurt. He was… dead. No… You were about to cry out, but your phone began buzzing, snapping you out of it.
You grasped it slowly and brought it to your ear with your shaking hand. “Hello?” You spoke, feeling your voice quiver from the sobs threatening to come out. “Y/n? It’s Hotch.” You nodded, realizing the let down when you realized it wasn’t Reid, but your boss.
“Everyone is okay. I just called to tell you that.” You froze, just holding the phone without noticing the man on the other line trying to get your attention. “What time are you getting to the airport?” You asked, already getting your shoes on. 
“Six thirty, why?” Hotch asked, but you had already hung up. You fixed your hair, put in your contacts, and grabbed the keys, ready to go.
The car ride to the airport was long, but the wait inside the building was even longer. Every minute felt like an hour, and every brown-haired man in the building looked like Spencer from afar. You just needed to see him. You wanted to see him.
You would have called him or texted him, but you now knew he was on a plane, and you just had to wait.
Finally, though, six-thirty came, and you prayed that Hotch would stick to his word like every other time. You waited at the gate, and after checking it three times in five minutes, you knew you just had to play the waiting game of misery. Around you, airport security and employees gave you pitiful glances as you paced, sniffled, and tried to hold yourself together.
Slowly though, you began to sink into your seat and drift off into a light sleep, only to be awakened by your boyfriend. “Hey Baby.” You murmured before closing your eyes again.
Wait.
“Oh my God, Spencer!” You jumped up and wrapped your arms around him, dangling like the shorty you were. “I… Oh my… I hate you so much.” Spencer laughed lightly, feeling your grip around him tightly. “I… I thought you died. I thought… I’d never see you again.” You began crying, finally letting all your emotions resurface. You felt his grip on you tighten as he lowered you back to your feet.
“You were inside and then I saw the bomb and I-” The tears kept you from talking as you buried your face into his chest. “I hate you so much.” You whispered, holding onto his shirt tightly. “Don’t ever leave me again. We need you here.” You looked up at him as he stared at you with confusion. “We?” 
You patted your stomach and grinned slyly. “I-I’m pregnant.” You confessed, watching his eyes light up with happiness and surprise. “Y-You’re kidding. That’s… Oh my god!” He looked overjoyed, lifting you up by the waist and twirling you around.
“I’m going to be a Dad!” He shouted, the few other people around the terminal giving applause. “Oh my gosh, there’s so much to do. So much to buy. So many people to tell. I have to read all those parenting books!” Spencer began to pace around before you brought him back to reality with a hug. “Just kiss me to start.”
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karajaynetoday · 4 years
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everybody's got their demons, even wide awake or dreaming | part one
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Photo credit: Jess Gleeson 
Hello friends! Hope you’re having a lovely day wherever you are in the world. Thank you to everyone who voted in my little Google form thing on what they’d like to see me write next. Here’s Part One of my 5SOS x music journalist story. It’s a little angsty, and as the first chapter this is a lot of introduction to the OC and her story, but I hope you like it! It’s the first time I’ve written an OC into a fic, so I’d love to know your thoughts and if you’re interested in reading more about Lizzie and her adventures interviewing 5SOS.
Shout outs to @wheniminouterspace and @calumrose​ for helping me sense-check this concept, and @spicycal for giving me feedback on it in its draft stages. You’re all gems! 
Word count: 5.1k
Warnings: Fem!OC, minor swearing
More writing here | send thoughts/feedback/suggestions here | if you’d like to be on my taglist go here
Lizzie Lawson was having a bit of a day. Her train had been late, she dropped her coffee moments after receiving it from the cute barista downstairs (and broke her favourite keep cup in the process), and her work computer had decided to run updates the moment she sat down at her desk. Maybe she shouldn’t have bothered to get out of bed this morning.
Her colleagues were tapping away at their keyboards, answering phone calls, and discussing upcoming story ideas with each other - the usual tasks, especially for a Monday morning. Lizzie, computerless and caffeine deprived, had to settle for a cup of instant coffee from the kitchenette, and had taken to tidying up her desk while her computer was restarting over and over again but still somehow not ready for use. She was on the floor, sorting through the snacks in her bottom desk drawer (crackers that were two months’ past their expiry date, some gummy worms, and what seemed like hundreds of cans of tuna) when James, the music editor, stuck his head out of his office and called for her.
“Lawson! Where are you?” James sounded confused. He could’ve sworn he’d seen Lizzie at her desk moments ago, and then suddenly she popped her head up like a meerkat.
“Jimbo! Here. What’s crack-a-lackin?” Lizzie responded, standing up and brushing herself off as she headed towards where James was standing in his office doorway.
“Got a pitch for ya. Step into my office, if you’re finished with your spring clean.” James chuckled as he stepped back inside and sat down on the couch opposite his desk. 
A number of journalism awards were displayed on the shelf above the couch, and the floor to ceiling window overlooked Sydney’s CBD and its tall, grey buildings, with a glimpse of the harbour ocean in the distance. Lizzie had to admit she’d imagined herself in James’ desk chair more than a few times; the music editor of one of Australia’s leading youth and pop culture publishing companies, regularly travelling the world to interview award-winning artists, and assigning and guiding well-crafted investigative pieces on the entertainment industry and those within in. 
But, in reality, Lizzie had only recently worked her way up to being in the music department, after a couple of years on the news desk and a series of casual internships at different publications around the place. But music journalism, and the passion she had for live performances and watching artists grow and develop their sounds and aesthetics over their careers, was where Lizzie had always wanted her career to go. She was grateful to James for having her on the team, but she also knew that he didn’t recruit just anyone - so her writing must’ve been strong enough to get her here. James was a good boss, salt of the earth, always had his team’s back, but he was also a little mysterious, and this morning’s meeting was one of those where his face was giving absolutely nothing away as Lizzie joined him on the couch in the office. 
“So, what’s up?” Lizzie said, trying to hide the nervousness in her voice.
“Well, Lawson. You’ve only been on deck for a few months, but turns out my gut instinct about you has paid off. That profile you did on the 1975 last month has gotten some good feedback and traction out and about.” James spoke in a measured tone, pulling his laptop off the coffee table and opening it.
“Oh! Well, that’s… good, right?” Lizzie still couldn’t figure out exactly why she was in James’ office. Or why she was so nervous. 
“Correct, it is good. It’s been great to see you come into your own a little bit, and develop your interview style. I also really appreciated you stepping in to cover the Matt Corby interview for Hannah the other day, when she had that stomach bug.” James continued, seemingly searching for an email or something on his laptop as he spoke. 
“No worries! Hannah’s notes were really thorough, plus I definitely had a Matt Corby phase when he was on Australian Idol back in 2006! Oof, that fringe, you know?” Lizzie cringed internally when she heard herself starting to babble. 
James snorted, before clearing his throat. “I’m sure Matt was glad the 2006 hairstyle didn’t take up too many words in the final profile piece. He was pretty happy with it though, and his management were too, according to the label. So happy, in fact, that they’re requested you to profile another one of their artists.”
James had Lizzie’s full attention now, and she still couldn’t read his expression. “Really? Me? Who’s the artist?” She asked, trying not to get too excited too soon.
“Yes, indeed, you. 5 Seconds of Summer, or 5SOS. They’ve got a new album due out in a month or so, and their publicist is keen to fly you out to LA for a few weeks to follow them around while they wrap things up in the studio, and do a profile piece on their journey to date. Are you familiar with their stuff? They’re offering us an exclusive, something about the album being linked to their homeland or something, so they wanted to go with an Australian media outlet first.” James set his laptop back down on the coffee table and angled it so Lizzie could see an email on the screen that had a few lines of text and a photo of a band onstage.
5SOS. Was Lizzie familiar? Oh yes, she was familiar. Lizzie Lawson hailed from the western suburbs, and 5SOS was the area’s biggest success story. Aussie boys made good, with millions of albums sold, billions of song streams, thousands of concerts played all around the world, that was their career to date. But for Lizzie, 5SOS were always a bit closer to home. She’d attended the same high school as three of the band members, and Michael Clifford was someone she called her best friend, once upon a time. Ashton had also befriended Lizzie’s older brother Lachlan when they’d worked together at KFC. That was years ago now, and they’d all fallen out of touch, because sometimes that’s just the way the universe works. You grow up and you move on and you don’t keep the same friends, because sometimes they move to the other side of the world and get super famous as successful musicians. Or something like that. Even if they know your deepest secrets, or biggest fears, or hopes and dreams, or you trust them more than anything, sometimes they still leave you. 
Lizzie’s previous state of intrigue quickly became panic, because what if she wasn’t actually being chosen based on the merit of her work? What if the 5SOS team knew about her connection to the band, and were going to use it to manipulate her writing in some way? What if it was all a ploy to get her and Michael in the same room so he could finally call her out on what had gone down between them all those years ago? What if - 
“Lawson! You on planet earth still, or wait?” James snapped his fingers in front of Lizzie’s face to get her attention. She shook her head to clear it, and wrung her hands together in her lap.
“Yep, I’m familiar with their work. A little fuzzy on the most recent work, but I have a bit of knowledge on a lot of their early stuff. And Youngblood, of course. Everyone knows Youngblood. ARIA song of the year, a billion streams, etc etc.” Lizzie spoke, meeting James’ gaze as he cocked his head at her curiously. He knew Lizzie had a tendency to get a little nervous when she was put on the spot, but there was something about her right now that was a little more unsettled than usual that he couldn’t quite put his finger on.
“Good. Well, if you’re down, the label will cover three weeks accommodation in Los Angeles. Labels don’t usually do that kind of thing, but their manager is super keen for you to get enough quality time with the band to build up a solid profile piece. We’ll cover your daily expenses, I’ll send you instructions for the claiming app, and then we just need your passport to get the flights booked. Sound okay?” 
“Y-yep. Yes. Okay. Right. When would I be leaving?” Lizzie pinched her thigh through her jeans to double check that she wasn’t dreaming, and that yes, this was actually happening. 
“Friday midday. We’ll put some feelers out in LA, and see if there’s any other interviews you can do while you’re there, but your focus will be on 5SOS because they’re picking up the bill for your stay. But that being said, don’t let that sway what you write. They’ve requested you because they like your deep, detailed, open style of profiling, so don’t be afraid to ask some curly questions to get the answers that will craft the right piece, you know?” James spoke firmly, looking pointedly at Lizzie who quickly nodded in response.
“Right, well, I’ll cc you into this email chain with their publicist and manager, and we’ll go from there. You can hand over your other pieces to Hannah, you’ll need to spend the next few days prepping for LA and doing whatever research you need to feel ready. You’ve got this, Lizzie. I know you can do a great job.” James was trying to be encouraging, as he stood up and opened the door to his office, but Lizzie’s heart was pounding with nerves and she barely hear his words. 
She walked back to her desk in a daze, and Hannah had to literally poke Lizzie in her side to get her attention and ask what James had said in the meeting. A few excited squeals and a bear hug later, Hannah was off and running talking about lists of things Lizzie needed to organise before her international adventure was due to begin in a few days’ time. Lizzie, on the other hand, still couldn’t believe it. What the fuck was happening?
--
The next few days flew by in a haze of emails, life admin, last minute shopping trips and a lot of deep breathing on Lizzie’s part, and before she knew it, she was wrangling her suitcase out of an Uber and into the international terminal at Sydney Airport. Lizzie, as a generally anxious person, had arrived the full three hours early for her flight, but her parents had treated her to a flight lounge guest pass (because they wanted her to know they were proud), so she was able to deal with her nerves by eating far too many complimentary croissants and hash browns. 
Soon enough, the time to board the plane arrived, and Lizzie was grateful that she ended up in an empty row of seats, by some miracle. Praise be to the airline gods, or whichever higher power had decided she’d be able to at least try and get some sleep in the next fourteen hours. She’d set her phone and watch forward to Los Angeles time, so she could try and adjust her body clock accordingly, which meant that she’d have to stay up for a few hours at least.
Lizzie tried to be productive, and tapped away at her research notes on her laptop for a little while, before she found herself opening up the band’s instagram page in her browser. The four men staring back at Lizzie through the screen seemed a million miles away from the gangly, excitable teenagers she’d known all those years ago. There was an interesting intensity about them in the photograph, steely gazes and defined bodies under carefully selected clothing, but there was also a peacefulness in their poses beside one another. Like being together, in this moment captured minutes before heading onstage, was the most natural thing in the world. Lizzie found her eyes drawn towards Michael; his dirty blonde hair swept across his forehead (not dissimilar to the style he’d had in their high school days, to be honest), and it was accompanied by some scruffy facial hair and a dangly cross earring in one ear. His grey-green eyes seemed to peer right into her soul, and Lizzie involuntarily shivered at the thought of seeing him again in person in a day or so. 
She was still anxious about whether or not this entire thing was a scam, but nonetheless, she was going to try her darndest to be a consummate professional, and write the best profile story of her life. In her research, Lizzie had reviewed some previous 5SOS interviews, and she’d cringed her way through their Rolling Stone interview from many years prior. She remembered reading it at the time it was published, unable to believe some of the words attributed to the boys she’d once called her friends, and the intense aftermath that followed. Understandably, they’d avoided in-depth profile interviews since, so Lizzie was incredibly curious as to why they’d changed their mind. Why now? Why her? She closed her laptop and drifted into sleep, curled up across three airplane seats and tucked under a thin blanket. 
Lizzie’s shoulders and neck were stiff when she awoke, an hour or so before her flight was due to land. She used the in-flight wifi to check her emails quickly, and noted a new one from 5SOS’s publicist Danielle, which welcomed Lizzie to Los Angeles and explained that she should catch a taxi to her accommodation at the address listed, and that she should give her a call once she was checked in. Right. That seemed straight forward enough.
LAX customs were intimidating as ever (god, Lizzie was so nervous), but Lizzie made it through without incident and was able to quickly make her way into a cab with a driver who seemed familiar with her accommodation address. They drove her to a boutique-looking hotel, and when Lizzie checked in and made her way up to her room, she was pleasantly surprised at how nice it was. A queen-sized bed, a good desk for working at, a nice view from her balcony of the Hollywood Hills, a small kitchenette with a fridge and microwave, and a glorious bathroom that had a very enticing bath tub in it (Lizzie’s shoulders and neck were already thankful for the idea of being able to soak in some nice hot water for a while). 
After checking the room for serial killers (better to be safe than sorry, right?) Lizzie had a quick shower and changed out of her travel trackies and oversized hoodie into a pair of jeans, a clean shirt and a blazer, before opening up her phone and scrolling down to Danielle’s contact. A few deep breaths were required before Lizzie built up the courage to press “call”.
“This is Danielle!” A cheery American accent answered on the other end of the line.
“H-hi Danielle, this is Lizzie, from Junkee Australia. You said in my email I should give you a call once I was all checked in, and I am, so…” Lizzie found herself giggling nervously and facepalmed.
“Lizzie, of course! How was your flight? Long and boring?”
“Yep, that about sums it up!” Danielle’s enthusiasm made Lizzie feel like she had to perk herself up a bit in conversation.
“Well, I’m sure you’re gagging for a nap, but we’ve got to get you adjusted to the timezone so we can make the most of your time here. I’m just finishing up something in the office, but I can swing by your hotel in about 45 minutes, and we can go over your story pitch and the band schedule for the next few weeks, and figure out your interview time slots and other things you can go along to observe, if that works for you?” Lizzie could hear Danielle’s keyboard clacking as she spoke.
“Sure, well, you have my number now, so just text me when you get here. I’ll try my best not to nap in the meantime.” Lizzie’s somewhat dry response got a laugh out of Danielle, who agreed and bid her farewell, ending the call.
Placing her phone down on the bedside table, Lizzie looked around the hotel room that was set to be her home away from home for the better part of the next month, and spotted a coffee machine on top of the mini fridge. If she was really going to keep her no-nap promise, caffeine was definitely in order. 
True to her word, Danielle arrived at the hotel within the hour, and soon Lizzie found herself sat beside Danielle on a fancy couch tucked in a corner of the hotel lobby. Danielle had opened up her laptop, and also pulled a plastic folder of documents out of her tote bag.
“Okay, so… I’m sure you’ve done your own research, but here’s a few hard copies of the band bio, album press release, and a few other tidbits from the label, along with a hard copy of the band schedule. It’s all confidential and coded, the electronic version I’ve emailed you will have the proper locations for everything, but I thought a print out might be handy anyway. The boys are recording some stuff at the studio Calum has at his house tomorrow, so I figured we could introduce you there and then after that figure out what else you’d like to get done. There’s an industry showcase for some of the new songs at the end of the week, and then they’re doing various promo and album prep things, finalising mixes, photoshoots, etc, so there’s a bit of variety for you. Any initial thoughts on how you want to do the interviews for your profile?” Danielle rattled off, gazing at Lizzie expectantly when she finished speaking.
Lizzie blinked at her a few times before collecting herself. “In my research, I found it really interesting to hear the band and some of the fans talking about how 5SOS has evolved into the collective effort of four individual artists, not just the band as one artistic music entity, so I was hoping, if possible, to interview them individually, as well as observing them as a group. Would.. Would that be okay, do you think?” 
Danielle pursed her lips, before breaking out into a smile. 
“I think that sounds exactly like something the band would be willing to do. Damn, Matt Emsell was right - you do know your stuff.” She chuckled, handing the folder of documents over to Lizzie and pulling out the schedule that was on top.
“So studio at Calum’s tomorrow from 10am, I’ll swing by and collect you so we can do introductions, I’ll stick around for a bit just to make sure you’re all good but otherwise I’m just going to let you do your thing. The band have been doing this for long enough now, they don’t need their publicist hovering.”
The curiosity was killing Lizzie. She couldn’t not ask. 
“Danielle, I’ve got to ask this, sorry. Do the band… know me? Know that I’m the one coming to interview them?” Lizzie managed to get out, avoiding eye contact.
“What do you mean?” Danielle cocked her head to one side, clearly confused at the question. “I sent them the Matt Corby piece you did, and they liked that, so that was one of the reasons we asked you out here. So they’re familiar with your work, if that’s what you’re asking?”
“No, um… oh god, I’ve made this super awkward now.” Lizzie laughed dryly, wringing her hands together. “I mean, I know them. Personally. Or at least I used to. I’m from Sydney, and I went to school with Luke, and Calum, and… Michael. So I was just wondering,  um, if they realised that it was me and that was part of why I was asked to come to LA for this…Not really sure why that would make them choose me, but I just wanted to make sure we were all on the same page before tomorrow.” Lizzie finally dared to look up at Danielle, whose expression was unreadable.
“Hmm, well, that is interesting. As far as I know, that wasn’t a factor at all. We all genuinely liked your writing style, so whether or not the boys made the connection, I have no idea. They’re not super keen on any irrelevant personal life stuff making it into this piece though, so if this is going to be a problem for you, we should deal with it now.” Her tone was slightly less warm than before, and Lizzie could sense the protective publicist side of Danielle kicking in.
“Definitely not a problem. I entirely intend to be fully professional, and like you said, my writing will speak for itself. Just wanted to put it all out there. Not a problem for me.” Lizzie spoke up, willing herself to sound more confident than she felt.
“Good. We have no problems here then. I’ve got to run, but text me with any questions, otherwise I’ll see you at 9.30am tomorrow for the drive to Calum’s!” Danielle’s tone was nice and bright again, as she shut her laptop and gathered her belongings, patting Lizzie’s shoulder in what she assumed was some sort of attempt at calming her nerves.
It didn’t work though. Not a problem for Lizzie? Bullshit. Not a problem for 5SOS, and Michael in particular? Seemed unlikely. 
--
Lizzie was worried she’d have a restless night’s sleep because of her overwhelming anxiety about the next day’s reunion, but the exhaustion from her travelling overtook her and she almost slept through her alarm. A quick shower and a shot of espresso later and Lizzie was downstairs waiting for Danielle to pick her up to head over to meet the band.
“Morning! How’d you sleep?” Danielle chirped as she rolled into the car park, her car window down. 
“Very deeply, thank you! The room is really comfortable. Thanks again for organising.” Lizzie mentally urged herself to keep up the small talk as a way of hiding her nerves.
The car ride over was mostly quiet, but when they pulled up outside of what Lizzie assumed was Calum’s house, she definitely felt like she was about to vomit.
“Just so you know, I flagged our conversation last night with the band. About your pitch around the individual interviews, and also about your little… connection to them. Ashton didn’t seem to think it was a problem, so it should all be fine.” Danielle mused, as she opened her car door and hopped out. All Lizzie could do was nod, because her throat was dry and she was starting to panic. She blindly followed Danielle through the front gate and around the side of the house to a building in the backyard, Lizzie strained to hear what sounded like raised, male voices floating towards them as they approached. She couldn’t make out what they were saying, but it didn’t entirely sound positive.
Danielle knocked loudly on the door and shot Lizzie a reassuring smile, before the shouting subsided and it swung open. Calum Hood stood in the doorway, and Lizzie sucked in a breath. It’d been eight years, maybe more since she’d last seen Calum, and even then, had they spoken? She couldn’t remember. 
Calum smiled at Danielle, and then his eyes flickered over to Lizzie, not quite carrying the same happiness, but not entirely losing it either.
“Morning, ladies. Welcome to casa di Calum, come on in.” He spoke with that scratchy, deep voice of his that Lizzie had reacquainted herself with when watching hours of interviews during her research. 
Danielle stepped passed Calum into the room, and she indicated for Lizzie to follow, which she did. Lizzie could feel Calum’s gaze on her as she brushed past him, but the minute she stepped inside, any sense of warmth or welcome she’d felt before vanished. 
Luke and Ashton were standing over by the sound recording panel, turning to look at Lizzie and Danielle as they entered. Lizzie thought she saw a hint of a smile on Luke’s face (they had survived Year 8 Maths together, after all… that had to count for something, right?), but Ashton was unreadable.
Entirely obvious, though, was the look of bitter disdain on Michael Clifford’s face when Lizzie finally spotted him hunched over on the couch along the wall. Those grey-green eyes were staring her down with a harsh glare. It had familiarity about it, Lizzie realised, but not in a good way. 
Danielle cleared her throat in the silence, and turned to Lizzie.
“Well, I believe introductions might not be required, but in the interest of professionalism and courtesy - “ Lizzie didn’t miss Danielle’s pointed glance towards Michael, who was still scowling silently towards everyone - “Lizzie Lawson from Junkee, I would like you to meet Calum Hood, Ashton Irwin, Luke Hemmings and Michael Clifford, also collectively known as 5 Seconds of Summer or 5SOS.” 
Lizzie waved, and then immediately cursed herself for being so goddamn awkward.  She received a nod of recognition from Ashton, and small smiles from Luke and Calum. From Michael, more scowling. This was going to be a long three weeks. 
“So, Lizzie, why don’t you go through the pitch for the profile that we discussed yesterday? The boys already have a bit of an idea, but I’m sure they’d love to hear it from you.” Danielle was being overly encouraging, but it worked, and Lizzie took a deep breath before speaking.
“Thanks, Danielle. And thank you to you guys, honestly. I know this is a little strange for all of us -”
“Fucking oath it is.” Lizzie heard Michael mutter under his breath, but she continued, undeterred. 
“But, I’m really excited to have the opportunity to interview you and pull together this story. Especially on behalf of the Australian music media. I know they haven’t always given you the recognition you deserve, but I think this piece is a chance to overcome that. Anyway, the specific pitch I’d love to go with is reflective of you as individual artists, as well as the collective band group. If it’s suitable, it’d be great to have the chance to speak to each of you one-on-one as well as a group, to give a holistic view of your journeys as people and as musicians and what you’re trying to achieve with this album. So… yeah…” Lizzie trailed off nervously, clenching her hands at her sides.
“I love it. We’re happy you’re here, Lizzie. I really loved the Matt Corby piece Danielle sent us, and like you said, it was really important for us to have the perspective of an Australian journalist for this story and where we’re at right now.” Ashton’s calm voice broke the silence, as he nodded at Lizzie in agreeance. Luke and Calum nodded too, and Lizzie tried not to look towards Michael because no doubt he was still glaring at her.
“Great! Everyone’s on the same page. I have to dash off to a meeting, but Lizzie has my number if she needs it, otherwise all of you please behave and don’t scare her off, nor say anything that means I’ll have to destroy her tape recorder. Sound good? Good!” Danielle rattled off quickly, moving out the door and shutting it behind her. 
The tension in the air was thick, and it was all seething from Michael’s direction towards Lizzie. She closed her eyes for a moment, before reaching into her bag and pulling out her phone, notebook and pen. She spotted a chair behind her, and turned back towards Luke and Ashton.
“Well, where do you want to start? A group sit down, some general thoughts on the journey so far and what the album experience has been like?” Lizzie offered, trying to make herself sound enthusiastic, but also in control and like she knew what she was doing.
Luke, Calum and Ashton all murmured in agreeance, and moved themselves over to sit by Michael on the couch, while Lizzie dragged the chair she’d spotted over to sit facing them.
“Right. All good if I audio record this?” She asked, hitting record on her voicenotes app after three heads nodded at her.
“So, the album. Where did it begin? Did anyone or anything influence or kick off the sonic direction or the start of the exploratory process?”
The conversation was flowing quite well, Lizzie though. Ashton dominated most of the responses to her questions, but Luke and Calum chipped in their perspectives throughout. Michael didn’t say a word, even when Calum poked him in the side, and instead of glaring at Lizzie he was now staring blankly at the wall over her shoulder. An improvement, sort of, but still not ideal from a journalist and interviewee perspective, let alone when the interviewee was someone who used to be Lizzie’s best friend. 
Before she knew it, an hour had past, and Ashton stood, remembering a meeting they had scheduled with the label and their management team, and bringing the interview to a close. 
As Lizzie was packing up her equipment, she cautiously brought up the topic of the one on one interviews. 
“So, does anyone in particular have free time in the next few days, so I can start on the individual profiling part of the story?” Lizzie asked, her tone hopeful.
Michael’s response was to push straight past her and walk out of the studio, muttering to himself and slamming the door as he went. The loud noise made Lizzie flinch, and she realised her heart was racing and her hands were a little shaky. 
“I’ve got time, LL Cool J. I’ll meet you at Joan’s on Third for lunch, say 1pm?”  Lizzie smiled at the pld nickname Calum slipped into his quiet response to her question. 
“Works for me, C Dizzle Swizzle. Thanks again for your time today, I really appreciate it. Not to sound like a broken record, but I’m really excited for this piece and the chance to tell your story.” Lizzie found herself grinning like an idiot as she met Calum’s warm gaze, and noted that Ashton and Luke were also smiling at her.
“We’re excited too, Lizzie. Even if… some of us might not quite be as enthusiastic as they should be. But, don’t worry. He’ll come round.” It was Luke that spoke this time, his striking blue eyes somehow staring straight into Lizzie’s soul as he looked at her. 
“Here’s hoping.” Lizzie tried not to sound too dull in her response, but it was a challenge. 
Because honestly, how the fuck was she going to do a profile on all four members of 5 Seconds of Summer, if one of them could barely stand being in the same room as her?
Time will tell, Lizzie thought to herself as she walked out of the door to Calum’s studio and into the warm California sunlight. Time will tell. 
Taglist: @suchalonelysunflower​ @blackbutterfliescal​ @redrattlers​ @loveroflrh​ @spicycal​ @notinthesameguey​ @metalandboybands​
More writing here | send thoughts/feedback/suggestions here | if you’d like to be on my taglist go here
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the-fiction-witch · 1 year
Text
Mr Sangster p2
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Media irl
Character Thomas Brodie Sangster
Couple Thomas X Reader
Rating sweet af
Concept my daughter's teacher
I blushed hard sat on my bed Luna fast asleep in her bedroom, I was texting Thomas back and forth as we had been for weeks almost non stop even sending each other little pictures from our days, of our coffee, what we wore today, his paperwork, the garden, all sorts of things back and forth with each other. 
How was work today?
Ughhh- I don't even want to begin
Sorry for asking
No no, Thursdays are hard. Got a few of the kids forced to be there so it doesn't make a good environment
Ahhh poor you X
Yeah poor me, atleast I have your sweet messages and pictures to cheer me up X
You like random pictures of my coffee mugs that much?
Ummm I do X plus it reminds me to go refill my own coffee
Maybe I should send you nicer pictures in Thursdays 
Well they'd be appreciated X 
I should let you get some sleep
It's okay, I don't mind staying up and chatting with you besides I miss you days I'm working I don't get to chat as much
I miss you too, but I just don't want to bother you
Your never a bother y/n X
Your too sweet to me
Well stop being so cute then X
I can't help it
I know you can't, I wanted to ask you something actually
Oh?
You mentioned, Luna is going out tomorrow night? For a sleepover?
Yes why?
I was wondering as she'll be out all night did you wanna maybe go out to dinner with me?
Really?
Absolutely, 
I'd love too X
Great, how's about I pick you up at six?
Sounds perfect xx
I sat finishing up at my vanity Luna long at her friends house for the evening, I heard the door so I gave my hair a last minute check and sprayed my perfume before heading down handbag in hand and opening the door 
"AHH there you are" Thomas smiled on my doorstep in his black suit and red shirt his jacket on his arm the shirt open to expose his chain as always
"Sorry"
"No worries, I'm happy to wait I'd your going to look that beautiful" he smiled "for you" he smiled moving a hand from behind him revealing a beautiful bouquet of roses 
"Awwww there beautiful, thank you very much"
"Your welcome"
"Let me put these in some water and we'll go" I smiled quickly getting them in some water to arrange properly tomorrow "shall we?"
"Absolutely" he smiled offering his hand so I happily took it locking up as he lead me to his car.
It was a wonderful night sitting in a circular booth together laughing and chatting all the while he slowly got closer not that I minded as I did it too we talked about everything and nothing much like we usually did though letters and texts 
"I'm really happy I met you y/n"
"I'm really happy I met you too Thomas"
"Did you want to… go out with me again?"
"Absolutely, so long as you wanted to go out with me again"
"I definitely would like to" he smiled giving my cheek a kiss "in fact I your not too busy tomorrow night? I'd love to take you to a movie"
"That would be nice but Luna"
"Of course. Just let me know when your free" 
"I will"
"I uhhh I really like you y/n"
"I really like you too Thomas"
"You know, Dan the science teacher at school says that couples often decide within the first few seconds of a date weather or not they want to see the date again and if they can imagine a…relationship with them"
"I think that's true subconsciously at least"
"I think it's true"
"You do?"
"yeah. I think within the first few seconds of meeting you on that parents evening I think I decided I liked you. And wanted you to be my girlfriend"
"You did?'
"Yeah, sorry that probably sounds a little crazy'
"No no, not at all. I think it's sweet" I smiled giving his cheek a kiss "and maybe in a few more little dates I wouldn't mind you being my boyfriend" 
"You wouldn't?"
"No"
"Well I'll make sure to plan out those dates then" he smiled
We shared desert and he paid even if I tried to protest and we took a nice slow drove home in the sweet darkness at points I almost fell asleep against his shoulder with his jacket wrapped around me to keep me warm he even walked me to my door 
"Here" I said trying to give back his jacket
"Keep it, give it back to me next time"
"If you're sure, it was a wonderful night thank you very much Thomas I had a lovely time"
"I did too. Just let me know when you have a free night and I'll take you out again we'll go see a movie"
"And ill pay this time"
"We'll see" he laughed "well have a nice night y/n"
"You too drive safe Thomas" I smiled
"I'll try, just for you" he smiled back I blushed a little looking at him and he blushed a little too before closing the gap between us pressing his lips to my own I happily kissed back even if all the heat was rushing to my cheeks till we each pulled away "I'll text you in the morning"
"Yeah I'll text you in the morning, bye"
"Bye" he smiled, giving me another kiss before he returned to his car.
I smiled as I woke gently, snuggled with the pillow where I had rested thomas' jacket even though we had been on lots more dates. He wouldn't take it back but it was nice. I liked still having it, especially as it smelt like him. I heard my alarm so I forced myself up and got dressed for today as today was going to be a very important day I made sure I looked pretty and did my usual perfume, I quickly texted him before I hurried downstairs making sure everything was as perfect as it could Luna sat at the table in the conservatory doing some drawings.
"Morning sweetie"
"Morning mama. You seen happy today"
"I am dear. Very happy today" I smiled getting apple for breakfast 
"Why are you so happy?"
"Well, we have a guest today" I smiled sitting at the table with her 
"A guest?"
"A guest. That mummy likes very much and I think it's important to make sure my little lady likes him too" I smiled "especially your going to be a big thirteen year old this October and you'll be allowed to be at home all by yourself at least during the day" 
"So I get to meet your lovely boyfriend"
"We'll be introduced too" I smiled and the door knocked so I rushed over answering it quickly and he stood in his jeans blue button down and his motorbike jacket his helmet in hand 
"Hi honey" he smiled giving me a kiss
"Hi, you got here fast?"
"I was only in town, had to pop to the bank" he shurgs 
"Alright, coffee?"
"Ohh thank god yes! I'm dying" he says setting his helmet on the side wand his jacket on the usual hook the space I had made for him and his motorbike stuff when he visits 
"Alright come on though"
"Psst"
"Yes?" I giggled heading to the kitchen to make coffee
"Where is she?"
"Conservatory"
I made us each a coffee and even made Luna some juice taking them all to the table in the conservatory sitting them in the table she noticed immediately the additional mug across from her so I could sit between them taking my seat and generally indicating for him towards the chair, he nervously came and took the chair across from her and begrudgingly she didn't look up for a few moments, she hadn't met many of my boyfriend's in her life mostly because I haven't had very many but she was never thrilled about it so she sat drawing waiting for him to begin the conversation. But after a minute or two or was obviously he wasn't going to start so she looked up and seemed immediately confused glancing at him, then at me, then back to him 
"Hi, Mr Sangster"
"Hi Luna" he smiled
"....why are you in my house?"
"Well your mother invited me"
"Mr Sangster is your boyfriend?" She asks me and I nodded she glared at him a moment deep in her thoughts "okay"
I let out a sigh of relief
"Do you have any stickers with you?"
"I don't sorry Luna."
"Fine. But you can't tell me when to do my homework"
"I'm not going to, I mean I can recommend you do your-"
"No"
"Alright. I accept that as a boundary. And I can't tell you any answers. We have a deal?" He offered his hand to her 
"...deal" she agreed giving it a shake "how will this affect school?" She asks 
"Well, unfortunately I won't be able to be your English teacher next year but I've made sure you're going somewhere good your going to Mr Brown's class. There will be… information you learn about me that you'll have to keep secret. And I'm not allowed to help you with anything" he explained
"That makes sense, do you like my mama?'
"I do very much"
"Will you be nice to her?'
"I'll do my best'
"Alright, or we will have problems" she says going to get more juice 
"I feel very threatened" 
"She's twelve?"
"You haven't seen her fight in the yard I have. I am every right to be afraid" 
"But you seem to be accepted at least for now"
"For now. I'll have to make sure I look after you"
"You will" I giggled leaning my arm on the table and my chin on my arm 
"I'll do my best" he smirked doing the same before leaning in to give me a sweet kiss 
"Weird" Luna says from the doorway 
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Text
get away ~ roman godfrey;hemlock grove
word count: 1265
request?: no
description: when you decide to go to a house party, you find yourself the victim of some drunk guy’s unwanted attention, and a certain someone steps in to save you.
pairing: roman godfrey x female!reader
warnings: swearing, harassment, a little violence but nothing too bad
(y/f/n) = your friend’s name
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Parties weren't usually your scene, mainly because you couldn’t stand any of the assholes at Hemlock Grove High that threw parties. But you felt obligated to go to the house party one of the popular girls was throwing. All the seniors at Hemlock Grove High were invited, celebrating the beginning of their final year of school. Your plan was to go, stay close to your friend the whole night, socialize the best you could with drunk assholes, then go home and watch Netflix for the night.
Upon arriving to the party at 10:00, it was obvious that everyone was already very drunk, or high.
“So this is a popular party, huh?” you said as you scrunched up your nose and looked around. Nothing looked particularly...desirable. Everyone was huddled in their cliques, like they were in the school hallways, drinking and being way too loud for how close they all were. Some awful techno music was blasting through the speakers while one of the jocks tried to seem like a DJ but was obviously just drunkenly dancing and pressing buttons to start up the next song, meanwhile the rest of the jocks were roughhousing with each other.
“Apparently so,” your friend responded. “We’ve really been missing out. How are we ever going to live knowing we missed this excitement?”
“I might die on the spot with sadness,” you responded. “Let’s see if they have anything decent to drink.”
You both pushed your way through the crowd of people to the kitchen, which was surprisingly kind of empty. You both found a cooler placed on the counter with bottles of alcohol stuck out of it. You both grabbed a bottle of rum and a can of Pepsi each and mixed your drinks. As you took your first sips, the party host, a cheerleader named Charlotte that was everyone’s friend to their faces, stumbled into the kitchen.
“(Y/N)!” she exclaimed excitedly. “(Y/F/N)! I’m so glad you two came! You never come to parties!”
“We’re never invited,” (Y/F/N) responded. “Something about not being popular.”
Charlotte giggled. “That’s bullshit! I like you both. I’m gonna invite you to all my parties from now on!”
Before you could both could protest, Charlotte threw her arms around the both of you before stumbling back out of the kitchen, mumbling something about looking for the bathroom.
“Yeah, now I really regret missing out on this stuff,” you said with a nod. “I’m gonna take my drink outside for a second, I already feel like I need air. You gonna come?”
“I’ll be out in a second, I’m with Charlotte on the bathroom thing.”
You nodded and opened the sliding door that connected the kitchen to the patio. The minute the cold air hit you, you sighed with relief. You didn’t realize how stuffy it was inside of that house, but it made sense with how many bodies were packed into the one house with no windows open.
You sat yourself down on the steps of the deck and sipped on your drink. You were more than content to sit here for the rest of the party, joined soon by (Y/F/N), and then leave and never come back to another party. Unfortunately, a couple of asshole jocks had a different plan.
You didn’t even hear them come out until one sat himself down next to you. “Well look who we have here. Miss. Antisocial herself decided to join us at a party.”
“Fuck off Mark,” you muttered before sipping your drink again. The smell of beer coming from him, from the three of them, was so strong you wanted to vomit.
“Don’t tempt me,” Mark responded with a wink. “You look good tonight, (Y/N). Who knew you had such a sexy figure.”
His words made you squirm uncomfortably. (Y/F/N) had to be coming soon, right? She’d save you from these jerks.
Suddenly, Mark’s hand was on your back, causing you to jump. “You know, Charlotte has quite a few empty rooms up there if you’d like to blow this joint for a while, or other things.”
Fully disgusted, you quickly stood. “I wouldn’t fuck you if you were the last guy on Earth, Mark. Now, if you guys will excuse me.”
You turned to walk away when Mark’s two friends stood in your way. You glared at them and tried to walk around them, but they put hands out to stop you, grinning as if it were all a joke.
“We don’t need a room, baby, I don’t mind doing it out here where everyone can see us.”
Mark grabbed you and shoved you against the railing of the patio, trying to grab a hold of your clothes. You fought back against him, hitting him hard and attempting to kick him. His disgusting jock friends merely watched as if this were an okay thing to be happening.
“Get the fuck away from her!”
Suddenly, Mark was thrown off you and almost thrown through the glass sliding door. Your surprising saviour was none other than a very pissed off Roman Godfrey.
“What the fuck, Godfrey?!” Mark snapped. “If you wanted a turn you could’ve just asked!”
“You get the fuck away from her,” Roman hissed. “All three of you. You get far, far away and never come near her again or I will fucking kill you!”
The jocks got up and walked away, grumbling something about Roman ruining their fun, slamming the glass door so hard you were sure it would shatter into a million pieces.
Roman turned to you, the anger on his face melting into concern. “Are you okay? Did those fuckheads hurt you?”
“What do you care?” you asked. “You’ve never paid the slightest attention to me before.”
“Just because I haven’t tried to get in your pants doesn’t mean I was about to let you get raped by a waste of human conception like Mark,” he retorted.
You sighed, realizing how ungrateful you sounded. Obviously Roman had just saved you from something very bad. You crossed your arms and stared down at your feet. “Thanks.”
“Wow, did that hurt?”
You couldn’t help but chuckle. “A little bit, yeah.”
The two of you stood in silence for a while. You noticed your discarded drink on the floor, dropped and spilt in your fight with Mark. Pity, that was the only thing that was going to get your through this party.
“Wanna go somewhere?”
Your head snapped up to look at Roman. “Wait, seriously?”
Roman shrugged. “Yeah sure, why not? Doesn’t seem like your scene, and it’s not really mind either. I brought my car, wanna go for a drive?”
“I’m kind of here with someone,” you responded.
“Well tell them you’re leaving.”
You couldn’t help but smile as you raised an eyebrow at him. “You’re not used to people saying no, are you?”
“Not really, no.”
He was right that you didn’t want to be there, but should you really go running off with the residence ladies man of Hemlock Grove? The guy who’s fucked just about every girl in Hemlock Grove High, maybe even every girl in the town. The guy who just openly admitted he hadn’t tried to get into your pants (yet).
But then again you couldn’t just judge a person by the rumors  that were spread about them. Plus, Roman was really good looking. What would one little drive hurt?
“Have you been drinking?” you asked.
“Nope, I just got here,” he responded.
After a brief moment of pondering, you shrugged. “Fuck it. Lead the way.”
I’m totally going to do a part two, I was going to continue this imagine here but I kind of want to make the second part its own thing
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lie-to-me22 · 5 years
Text
Summer Camp (Matty Healy x Reader)
A/N: sorry for such a long wait, i doubt it's worth it but hopefully you all enjoy anyways!
Summary: Y/N has been a loner for most of her life, her mom works all day long and her dad isn't there. But all that changes once her mom decides it's a great idea to go to camp for the summer. It's where she meets Matty and the rest of the gang and is that where she finds her best friends, maybe even more?
Word Count: 4,336
⧮⧯⧮⧯⧮⧯⧮⧯⧮⧯⧮⧯⧮
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The note your mother left you before you left read 'You'll be missed!' in horribly sloppy handwriting. Your mother had to be in work by 5, so she couldn't tell you goodbye in person. She wanted you to enjoy the summer and not have to be locked up in your room with nothing to do, she searched for options. You could've been a lifeguard, not a junior but an actual lifeguard. You despised the junior lifeguard program, you had been forced to join and you hated every second of it. It was just hot weather and running, those two do not go hand in hand. She gave you the option of being an actual lifeguard, but you ruled that option out very quickly. The only option left was summer camp, bugs and unsanitary bunks, you were so looking forward to it.
You finished combing your hair and started to put on your sneakers. Suddenly, the wind blew open your curtains, so you closed locked them shut. You had finished now putting on your sneakers and so you walked out of your room and into the living room, where you left the bags you packed last night. You wanted to leave a note back, informing her that you'll miss her, but you were already going to be late enough, so you advised yourself not to. You rushed yourself and carried all your bags outside, you had to drive yourself. As you were loading your personal baggage into your car, the mailman through mail at your feet.
"Here Y/N, it's the mail. Leave it inside for Karen if you can, hope you enjoy camp!" The mailman said surprisingly enthusiastic, this made you question his motives, because no one, absolutely no one, is that enthusiastic for no reason.
"Shit," you said, you left your car keys inside. You ran back in, praying to whatever deities you could think of in that short amount of time, that you forgot to lock the door. Thank you Allah, you thought and marched into the unlocked door of your house. You grabbed the keys off the kitchen counter and marched back out. Your baggage was now all packed inside the trunk, so you could finally leave. The site where you'd be dropped off isn't that far, you could've walked but you chose not to. But because you didn't, your mom has to come and pick it up with her extra keys tonight. You drove and blasted some of your favorite songs, this would be the last time you'd be able to do that for a long time, there'd probably be no service and no electronic use there anyways. The car in front of you decided that it would be a great idea to stop fifteen feet from where you're supposed to stop.
You mumbled some profanity under your breath as you slammed your hand against the steering wheel, honking your car. Whoever was in the car finally woke up from their idiotic daze and drove. You had an awfully wonderful idea and chased the car, the lady didn't notice at first but once she did, she sped. As she sped, you sped even faster, you both were back to back, neither of you caring how many reds you passed. All you cared about was beating her, your competitive nature kicked in and pressed on that pedal even harder. You passed her, you turned your head around and saw her flipping you off, you just laughed. It didn't take much longer until you got there.
You arrived at the meet up site, this is where the buses are going to pick you up. You dropped your luggage off next to all the counselors, they'll be the ones to pack it in the bus. You observed the people around you, you knew no one. You paid attention to how the friends that were there together acted, the way they talked to each other, the way they laughed when someone would crack a joke. You were very obviously bored out of your mind, and that's when the head counselor, or at least what you thought was the head counselor, caught everyone's attention.
"Now attention pricks and dicks, and to all you lovely ladies out there, listen up. We're boarding the buses now, so grab all your belongings and we'll board you in alphabetical order." You didn't appreciate her language when getting the boy's attention, but you've said worse. It's just that she's the head counselor and you weren't so you could say whatever you'd like, she has a reputation, you don't, actually you've probably already made yours by staring at everyone and not saying a word. You would have thought you were weird too.
"Yeah yeah, thank you Denise," you heard a voice behind you, it was a boy with light brown hair and a boy with dark brown curly hair. You guessed they were brothers, you could see the slight similarities between the too. But you wondered why the boy called his mother by her first name, but you weren't going to ask.
"Bye boys!" Denise said and the boys headed right next to where you were. You took notice in how abnormally large the suitcases of the boy's were. Denise headed back to her car, it was a rental and now you were wondering what happened to her other car. The boys didn't look or act like they were from here, which now you figured they weren't.
"George, shut up! Sorry to break it to you mate, but she'll never like you," the dark brown haired one said, you know knew that the other was named George. You now noticed their heavy accent, very British.
"You don't know that!" George said, very defensively. He looked over at one of the counselors, you noticed the way he looked at her, the look you give when you're in love. Except, George couldn't have possibly known her for more than five minutes, and in those five minutes, he hadn't even spoken to her.
"Believe me G, I do," the other boy said, George just ignored the boy and went back to looking at the girl. The girl had curly blonde hair, she was pretty but she seemed to have no personality, nothing that'll help support her looks. But that's what George was into, who were you to judge? The head counselor was still on the C's of the list, then finally the D's.
"George Daniel, Reshida Daol." George was now forced to sit next to some girl, he didn't look very pleased, he wanted to sit next his mate. I paid attention to each name she called, patiently waiting for my own to be called.
"Y/N Hadler, Matthew Healy," you stepped up to the bus, not noticing who you'll be seated with. You took your seat right behind a boy you remembered to be named Adam, he also had a surname that began with H. You looked outside the window, noticing there was still a bunch of camper's names to be called, you didn't see George's friend. Your seating partner finally went in on the bus, it was the dark brown haired boy, he was who you were gonna sit next to for the rest of the bus trip. The boy made eye contact before he sat right beside you.
"Matty, what's your name love?" he said, his British accent very easily noticed.
"Y/N, I thought you heard already," you said, you figured he was paying attention to the counselor when she was calling names.
"I did, I just wanted to hear your voice," Matty said and leaned into your ear to whisper, "plus I was talking my mate out of shagging one of the counselors."
His comment made you laugh, you did hear their conversation, but you didn't want to sound like some sort of stalker, so you didn't mention it. "Who?"
"Well you see, if you're asking me who'd I'd wanna shag, that'd be you but I don't think you're asking me." His comment caused you to blush, Matty noticed that real quick. "I'm guessing you'd pick me too."
"And why I ever? Fuckin' twat," you said, clearly not being serious, but you didn't like him like that, you just met him for God's sake anyways.
"Alright alright, calm yourself love, no need for that kind of language here." You laughed as he said that, which caused him to smile. "So, her name's Winny, blonde curly hair. But as you can see," he pointed at George who was staring directly at the girl, "my plan has failed miserably. He still wants to shag!"
"How does he know her?" you asked, still laughing.
"He doesn't! That's another thing, what baffles me the most is that he hasn't even spoken to the girl yet," Matty said. You didn't understand how love at first sight worked, no, you didn't believe in it. How could someone fall in love with someone they haven't even said a word to? Or someone who they've maybe only had one conversation with? It doesn't make any sense to you.
"Don't you find that odd?" you asked, seeing if he agreed with you.
"What do I find odd?" he asked you, you guessed you weren't specific enough. That or because you had a conversation in your head, that the question was random to him.
"Love at first sight. How can someone fall for someone they've known for less than a few seconds? I don't understand the concept," you said.
"I think I get it, I like that idea. It gives me hope. I don't think I've truly been in love before, I've became completely infatuated in many women. Although not one of those many I can say that I've truly loved." Matty wanted to love someone, but he couldn't. He would go from female to female, not ever really loving them.
"I guess I get that, I've never been in love either, I've never found someone that I'd want to spend the rest of my days with," you said. Matty nodded his head, acknowledging and agreeing with your statement.
The counselor's were finally finished with taking attendance and seating arrangements of the campers. You took a swift glance outside and took noticed in all of the parents waving goodbye to their sons and daughters, it made you envious. But the thought gradually went away as the time passed, you chatted with Matty for the whole ride, you noticed how charming the boy was and had such an eloquence to his speech. It made you slightly self-conscious but because you did enjoy your conversation you two were having, you brushed it off. The bus trip was long, but it didn't seem nearly as long as you thought it would be, if it had to be anyone, you were grateful that it was Matty that sat next to you for the ride.
"Alright, listen up!" The head counselor called for everyone's attention, only half the kids paid attention though, you were one of them. "We will be giving you your cabins and counselors, then you guys are allowed out. Do not get out when the doors open."
The doors flew open and you saw campers try and hop off the bus, but then she yelled once again that that's not what you are supposed to do.
"Think we can get the same cabin?" you ask him hopefully.
"Chances are slim, although we might. You never know," Matty says and gives you a wink.
"Remember, cabins are split up between genders. Don't want anything happening, if you know what I mean," the head counselor says. Shit, you think. You and Matty had forgotten about that rule. You guys still have a chance of being in the same team though, which left you with a tinge of hope that you'd see him more. You didn't know any of the girls there and that worried you, you didn't know if you'd still enjoy your cabin because of that. "George Daniel, Adam Hann, Matthew Healy and Ross Macdonald are going to be apart the 'Bear Cabin,' which is going to be in cabin 1A."
Matty got out of the seat and gave you a wave goodbye. You still sat paying close attention so you can watch out for your name. You listened to the cabin names, some were Bunny, Gopher, Horse, and Lion.
"Y/N Hadler, Trish Ye, Brenna Lane, Jeana Cortez are the Wolves and are taking cabin 1B." It's going to be the cabin connected to Matty and George, and you liked that. At least you didn't have to be with the girls for too long, the girls were allowed in the cabins whenever as long as it's before the night. You walked out of your seat on the bus and waited outside for your bags, you eavesdropped into the girl's in your cabin's conversation.
"Is she going to be in our cabin?" one of those girls asked.
"I think so, is there anything wrong with that Brenna?" another girl asked who you figured out was Brenna.
"No it's just..." Brenna trailed off. You didn't like how they were speaking of you, but you were practically used to this by now. Once you grabbed your items, you left the rest of your cabin members and headed straight towards cabin 1B. You walked along the trail that lead to both parts of cabin 1. You saw Matty and George chatting, and you assumed they'd be out there for a while longer, so you'd put your own bags away first and then went out to speak with them. You took the bed right next to the farthest door, it was the closest to the entrance of cabin 1A. You set up your blankets on your bed and headed out. Right when you left the door, you saw the rest of your cabin approaching the door. You walked out of their way and walked towards the two boys still talking outside.
"Hey boys!" you said walking towards them. You might not have talked to George but he seemed to recognize you right away.
"Hi Y/N!" Matty and George both said unanimously. Matty asked, "would you care to join us doll?"
"Not sure why'd I'd deny such a lovely offer," you said sarcastically, it made both you and the boys chuckle.
"I'm guessing that's a yes then," Matty said. You reach the boys, and just to teaae them so you started walking off. As you started walking away, Matty grabbed your arm and put you into playful headlock.
"I guess I'll leave you two alone.." George said and you noticed him being slightly uncomfortable.
"Alright, bye Georgie!" Matty said and George just rolled his eyes. "Nah I'm just messin', I'll allow you to stay."
"I'm honored, thanks." George said obviously not meaning it.
"Well what's up love?" Matty asked you as he gradually let go of his headlock.
"Nothing much, just not really enjoying my cabin so far," you said, "what were two talking about before I came?"
That caused George to smirk. "You actually," he said.
"Oh really? What about me?" you asked curiously. Matty's eyes went wide but before he could speak, George did.
"Oh well, just Matty talking about how much-" George got interrupted by Matty's hand to his mouth.
"Of a great friend you are," Matty says and gives you a suspicious smile which made you curious as to why.
"Hmm, sure Matt," you said.
"It's Matty if we're gonna do this properly," he says. You laugh while apologizing for calling him Matt. "Just remember for next time alright love?"
"Alright Matt," you said, this caused Matty to roll his eyes. "I'm just playing."
You gave Matty a big smile and in return he gave you an insincere one.
"So, Y/N where are from?" George said to break the silence.
"Oh I'm actually from where we met up for camp, so Fort Collins. You guys?" you said.
"We're from Manchester. Matty and I are going to be going to college out there for music production," George said.
"That sounds wonderful! I always wanted to work in music, whether that be a band or working behind the scenes I always found it very interesting, so it's cool that you guys are doing that," you said.
"Definitely, glad you understand our passion for it," Matty said. You nodded as you saw the counselor George wanted to shag.
"Oh yeah, Matty told me George," you gave him a wink as she walked past the three of you. George's face went bright red as he was very obviously embarrassed.
"Told you what...?" George asked double checking to see if he knew.
"You know," you said and nodded toward the girl.
"Oh..." George said and was now sure of what you meant by that.
"It's alright George, I say you go for it," you gave him words of encouragement unlike his mate would've.
"She won't like him though Y/N!" Matty said.
"And how exactly do you know that?" you asked him.
"George, yes you're handsome and dreamy and you got those eyes, like posh chocolate," Matty says then interrupts himself, "no sorry, that's me. But none of that matters anyways 'cause she isn't gonna like you."
"First of all, back off mate, I'm not interested," George says chuckling, "and second of all, you're not giving me any insight to why she isn't gonna like me."
"I can just tell okay?" Matty told him.
"And why should I believe you? You haven't had a girlfriend longer than a week!" George said defensively.
"Geez," Matty said, he looked completely devastated by George's comment on his love life. "Don't expect me to help you when she breaks your little heart George!"
After that Matty ran off, down and into somewhere in the woods. He didn't know where he was going, he just ran, passed the trees and now far away from the campsite. Normally the campers go out there with counselors and tour the nature, but because they just got there, Matty has no idea what he's doing. He stopped, he just stayed there and sat down, with George's comment still fresh on his mind. Although, he didn't have much time to contemplate for there was footsteps coming closer and closer to him.
"Fucking bollocks man," Matty whispered. In this moment, he remembered how much he hated nature. He prayed, even though he's not religious, that it was just a camper. His heart was beating faster, and it only got faster as the footsteps appeared to be near. They become faster and that's when Matty ran again, he didn't even pay attention to how fast his heart was racing, he was just focused on running away from whatever that thing was. He hid behind a large tree as he didn't hear the creature anymore, he figured it must've been gone so he sat back down again.
"Fuckin' hell, my best mate calls me a man whore and I almost get killed by-" Matty said, talking to no one in particular but himself, that's the creature was back and now Matty knew exactly what it was. A wolf, a grey, an out to kill him wolf. Matty was now leaned up against a tree as the wolf became closer, he found himself scooting more into the tree than he could. He had to climb, the tree was far too big for him to just go around. If he did go around, then the wolf would have a better chance of catching up to him. So he start climbing it, the wolf started coming closer, but Matty just became faster. He put his leg up on a slightly uneven part of the tree, making sure he was sturdy and then brought up the other one. As he climbed faster, the wolf ran to make sure that it atleast hurt him. All the was left was for Matty's leg to get up all the way, but in that moment Matty froze and looked right in it's eyes. He noticed how cold and heartless they looked, as if their only goal was to kill, maybe that's not true, maybe it was because he had the aggressive urge to kill him, that that is what Matty noticed. Then the wolf clawed his leg, three deep gashed now located directly on his shin. Matty winced in pain from the cuts, but he was grateful that the wolf didn't catch up to the rest of him. The wolf tried getting up the true a couple of times, but failed everytime, so it decided it'd be best to leave him alone, for now atleast. Matty made a sound of relief as the wolf ran off somewhere into the woods, just as Matty had before the wolf chased him. He was officially lost, no where to be found and he was very sure that no one would come looking for him anytime soon. Matty sat there, on top of the tree in only God knows territory. He could just cry and wait until or if anyone came looking for him, or he could try and make his way back. He decided against the latter, so he cried. The trees were shaking due to the wind, he listened to the breeze and it stopped him from crying for a bit.
The wolf has been gone for quite a while now, so Matty finally climbed down the tree. He wouldn't go far in case someone did come looking for him, which started to doubt. At last, he reached the ground, but in that moment he regretted ever coming down. On the ground there was a body, a dead body of another wolf. The tears started flowing again, Matty had a close relationship with nature, of course not close enough to run and join a wolf pack, but close enough that he cared that the wolf died, on fact he cared a lot. That could've been me, he thought. The thought didn't make much sense because well, he was a human, but he did believe it still. It should've been me, he thought, I just lost my best mate over a girl! Now what's Y/N gonna think of me too? No one cared enough to come so might as well have been me.
"No, it shouldn't have," Matty looked up as he heard the voice, tears were still falling down his face. You sat beside him, next to the tree. He thought he was thinking, but it turns out he was talking out loud, "Matty, I'm sure George didn't mean it and I'm not mad about that, I don't think you're like that."
"Well I am, and I would love to change! But since I've been doing it as long as I remember, I don't think I can. I'm a cliché, that's all I am. I've got the leather jackets, I smoke, and as George said 'I can't keep a girlfriend longer than a week.' All of that's true, I came out here looking for a change, my mum thought it'd be a wonderful idea to go summer camp while I was at it. So I did, and now I met you and I saw something in you, something special, I don't know what the hell it is just yet, but I'll tell you when I do. But besides you, it's not starting off as lovely as I'd thought it would be. Of course none of what's happened has been detrimental, except maybe that," he pointed to his cut, "so I guess what I'm trying to say is I will stay here and deal with it as I always do, thank you for listening love."
You were still trying to understand all of what he said, he called you special and in your heart that meant a lot, but you didn't take it as a romantic gesture, but more of as a friend. Although in that context, it could mean either one.
"Look Matty, you're special too, ever since I met you, there's so much more to you than just a cliche and I truly to mean that," you looked Matty into his eyes, you had this odd urge to kiss him, although you didn't, "you're not going to deal with anything on your own anymore, I'm here with you and for you for as long as I can. I'm sure George will apologize when we come back, for now I'm here and I hope that's enough."
"That's more than enough Y/N, I'm glad it was you who came," He left it at that and rested his head on your shoulder.
"I'm glad it was me too, be careful next time okay?"
"Okay," he said, you dropped his head off your shoulder for a second and held him in a embrace, just a warm, secure embrace, as if you were saying that you cared. Even though you'd only met that day, you really did care about it. He started to cry once again, Matty wasn't usually this emotional, especially around others, but he couldn't help it and he figured that he could trust you enough to. He rested his head against your shoulder again, this time you wrapped your arm around. Your hug lingered for a while, but you didn't pay much attention to it since him being okay mattered more than whatever you were feeling towards him. Besides, he probably doesn't feel the same way, right?
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petertingle-yipyip · 5 years
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Saturday Nights - Peter Parker
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//Requested by @mixed-fandoms-girl: Peter Parker x reader Peter Parker x Smart! girlfriend! reader she’s the smartest kid but doesn’t go to midtown and when flash is making fun of Peter at Liz’s party and talks about his imaginary girlfriend, she shows up and proves flash wrong //
//Warnings: Language. Pairings: Peter x reader//
You laid in Peter’s bed and read over your math assignment, waiting for him to get home from school. Dating someone who was as smart if not smarter than yourself was great. The only thing that made it a struggle was going to different schools. Your parents wanted to send you to Midtown School of Science and Technology, but you were adamantly against it. You had nothing against Midtown or the kids that went there. It would’ve been a great fit for you academically. You just liked being at a normal, public school that had a little bit of everything, not just the typical “smart” subjects. Your current school was a more social environment, more lax and fun.
Often, you went to Peter’s after you got out of school. You ended school about an hour before he did, but after picking up snacks for you two to study with and the walk to his apartment, your arrivals were only about twenty minutes apart. Aunt May always welcomed you in, joking that you might as well get a key. She absolutely loved you being with Peter, saying it made him so happy.
“Hey!” He said happily as he entered his room and tossed his backpack by his bed. You rolled over, pushing yourself to sit up and tossed your assignment aside. “Working on homework?”
“Nah, just looking at it.” You shrugged. “You know Calculus kills me and I avoid it for as long as humanly possible.”
“I can always help you, you know.” He offered, dropping to lay in his bed with his head in your lap. “I’m actually really smart.” He said proudly.
“I never would’ve guessed.” You teased, tugging on the Midtown sweatshirt he was wearing. “Besides, I’m pretty smart myself in case you hadn’t noticed.”
“What’s the topic?” He laughed.
“Derivatives.” You said, handing him your assignment. “Literally the worst part of Calc.”
“I always thought logarithms were worse.” He countered.
“Don’t even get me started on logs!” You said with a laugh. “Those are literally the devil of mathematics. Honestly, why do they even exist? But derivatives are torture. Who say around and thought that derivatives needed to be a necessary concept? What do they prove? They prove how useless they are, that’s about it. And then there’s anti-derivatives and those really make me wanna hit myself in the face with my textbook.”
“But your face is too cute to hit with a book.” He said with a stupid grin and he reached up with his other hand and patted your cheek affectionately.
“You are so cheesy.” You laughed.
“Maybe.” He shrugged, letting his hand drop to his chest. “But you like it. You find it endearing.”
“Your vocabulary is astounding, my dear.” You nodded. “But have you ever stopped to contemplate the philosophy that I, as a female, was just so infatuated with your virtue, your true innocence, that I could not help but swoon and give my heart to the lovable virtuoso that is, Peter Parker?” You said, using your best scholastic voice.
“Yes, Ms. Y/L/N. I have gone over the possibility oh so many times.” He said with an exaggerated sigh. “Alas, there is not enough evidence to prove such a theory. Being that this virtuoso you speak of can only attract someone with a similar talent and aptitude, what else would be so outstanding about one, Peter Parker?”
“An interesting question, indeed.” You stifled a laugh. “Maybe it’s the suit.” You winked.
Of course you knew Peter was Spiderman. He didn’t mean for you to find out. He did everything in his power to hide it from you. You found out by accident. You had been staying the night at his place and restlessness had taken over. You couldn’t sleep and had rolled over to find an empty bed. You figured Peter had gotten up for water or needed to use the bathroom so you paid it no mind. But once his window opened and he crept through it carefully, your mind tried to convince you it was a dream. The next morning, you asked Peter flat out if he was Spiderman, and his stammering and lack of excuses proved you right.
“Oh, is that right?” He raised an eyebrow as his cheeks turned a slight pink.
“Yeah.. I mean, have you seen yourself in the suit?” You laughed.
“Have you seen yourself in that denim skirt?” He replied with a cocky smirk.
“Touche, Parker.” You nodded with a smile still.
“Hey, are you busy this weekend?” He asked suddenly, dropping your work on the floor.
“Actually, yes.” You nodded, gently running your fingers through his hair. “But I can easily cancel my plans for you. What did you have in mind?”
“No, if you’re busy it’s okay.” He shook his head. “I just thought you could use something to ease your stress..”
“Peter, what did you have in mind?” You repeated your question with a soft smile. “I’d cancel plans with anyone to spend time with you. Plus, I only made these plans cause you and I didn’t have anything planned. Besides, there’s a few different ways you can help with my stress. ” You winked. His cheeks flushed pink again.
“It’s just.. Liz is having a party this weekend and I was hoping that you would want to come with me..” He said with a small shrug, as if it was out of the ordinary for you two to do things together. It reminded you of when he asked you out for the first time and it brought a soft smile to your face and a warmth to your heart.
“Liz, isn’t she the girl you liked before me?” You questioned.
You had no issues with Liz. She never made you feel insecure in your relationship or with yourself. In fact, you were rather curious in regards to her. You never met her, but had heard all about her. You knew Ned and met Michelle on a few occasions. But never Liz.
Peter jumped up quickly, causing you to jump slightly. He turned to face you, taking your hands in his tightly. “Not like that! Not like that at all!” He explained quickly. You were still surprised by his quick actions and you couldn’t stop your laughter.
“Pete, I’m not worried about Liz. I never have been.” You explained with a smile. “Of course, I’ll go with you. I finally get to meet her.”
“Wait, you want to meet her?” He asked in shock.
“Yeah, I mean why not?” You shrugged, letting go of one of his hands to lean down and pick up your math work. “I can finally see who you liked before you met me... Now, help me get through these derivatives and we’ll talk more about it. Or we can start a different stress reliever.”
“You don’t need my help and you know it, Y/N. Except maybe for the stress relief.” He laughed, taking his own backpack off the floor. “You’re the smartest girl I know.”
“Maybe...” You hinted. “But it’s cute when you explain things for me. I mean, you are pretty smart after all..”
The night of Liz’s party, Aunt May offered to pick you up. You told her it was fine and your mom could take you since you needed a bit more time to get ready. You texted Peter, telling him you’d be there soon as you hopped into your mom’s car.
At the party, Peter and Ned wandered the crowd.
“She’s gonna be here soon.” Peter assured his friend as he checked his phone and saw your message.
Leaving right now. mom’s dropping me off but i’ll probably go home with you if you dont mind. be there soon xx
“What are you gonna do till she gets here?” Ned asked. “Everyone doesn’t believe she’s real. Everyone even thinks the pictures you have are photoshopped!”
“I’m just gonna be myself.” Peter shrugged slightly.
“Peter, no one wants that.” Ned said in return.
“Hey!” Flash announced on the microphone. “It’s Penis Parker! Hey dumbass, where’s your girlfriend? Is she studying for this ‘other school’ she goes to?” He tormented.
“Told you.” Ned sighed and Peter rolled his eyes.
“She’ll be here.” Peter assured. “She’s on the way, I swear.”
You stepped out of the car in front of Liz’s house, the bass hitting so hard you could hear it on the street. Your mom asked when you needed to be picked up, but you waved her off, saying you would go home with Peter. You pulled your phone out to call him as you entered the house.
“Did your imaginary girlfriend bail on you? When I say Penis, you say Parker. Penis!” A boy said, the crowd following his instructions.
“That must be Flash.” You muttered as you pushed through the people. You saw Ned’s hat over the top of the crowd and made your way over there.
“Hello, Lover Boy.” You smiled widely as you finally found your boyfriend. You kissed him quickly before greeting his friend. “Hey, Ned. Nice hat.” You wrapped an arm around Peter’s waist and his arm came around your shoulder. You leaned into him slightly and used your other hand to reach up and lace your fingers together.
“Thanks Y/N!” Ned smiled.
“So, I’m guessing the asshat on the mic is that kid Flash?” You asked the boys, glancing to the DJ booth.
“Yeah, that’s him.” Ned confirmed.
“He’s a bitter little boy, isn’t he?” You joked. “Oh! Sorry I’m late, by the way. I couldn’t decide between the blue and red stripes or the black and green stripes to match the denim skirt.”
“The blue and red is nice.” Peter said kindly.
“Like Spiderman!” Ned exclaimed.
“Uh, yeah... I guess.” You replied with a smile.
“You have a crush on Spiderman!” Ned said in amusement. “So does she..” He nodded to something behind you. Before you could question, you were greeted by a friendly voice.
“Peter, Ned!” A girl said as she came up and joined the group. “I’m glad you could make it.”
“I told you we’d be here.” Ned said happily. “Oh, Peter. Introduce her!” He said quietly.
“Right! Sorry.” Peter laughed slightly. “Y/N, this is Liz. Liz, this is my girlfriend, Y/N.”
“Girlfriend? Wow. Hi. Sorry, I didn’t mean it like that or anything I just didn’t know Peter had a girlfriend.” Liz said with a smile. It was a sad smile, as if she was upset Peter had a girlfriend. Maybe she was harboring some feelings for him.
“From what I can tell,  no one believes he does.” You laughed and nodded towards Flash. “Apparently, I’m imaginary.”
“You look pretty real to me.” She laughed. “I’ve never seen you around before. Are you new or-”
“No, I actually don’t go to Midtown.” You shook your head. “I had the option before this year started but I didn’t want to. It’s too... focused for me, I guess is the best way to put it. I just like the range of classes a regular high school offers.”
“But she’s a genius!” Ned interjected.
“I wouldn’t say that but I’m alright.” You said modestly.
“Alright? Y/N, you’re the smartest girl I’ve ever met!” Peter countered.
“Really?” Liz questioned with a bit of bitterness in her voice. “That smart, huh?”
“So they say.” You shrugged. “Sorry if this is weird but you are really pretty.” You complemented honestly.
“You think so? Thank you! I love that top. Red and blue look so good together!” She replied. “Well, I have to make my rounds so have fun. Drinks are in the kitchen, if you need anything.” She nodded with a perfect hostess smile before leaving.
“I don’t think she likes me very much..” You commented as she walked away.
“I thought I was the only one picking up on that.” Ned agreed.
“What are you guys talking about?” Peter questioned. “I think that went okay.”
“Okay, but Peter, there’s an unspoken rule between girls that when a girl compliments you, you compliment her back.” You explained. “It’s a whole thing focused on women supporting women.”
“But if it’s unspoken, how is every girl supposed to know?” Peter questioned.
“They just do. It’s practically in our DNA. I’ll show you.” You said, turning to see Michelle not to far away.
“Hey, Michelle!” You called for her attention. “That dress is cute!” You smiled.
“Huh? Oh, thanks.” She said casually. “Your skirt looks good.” She nodded.
“See what I mean?” You said to Peter.
“I can’t believe you guys are at this lame party.” She told the boys.
“But... you’re here?” Ned replied, just as confused as the rest of us.
“Am I?” She said before disappearing into the crowd.
“She’s interesting...” You thought out loud. “I like her.”
“So wait, is there an issue between you and Liz or...” Peter asked.
You giggled slightly. “No, not an issue. I just don’t think she likes me.”
“Well, Liz has a crush on Spiderman.” Ned explained. “But it kinda seems like she has a crush on Peter, too.”
“Alright, how much is he paying you?” Flash asked as he suddenly stood in front of you.
“Excuse me?” You said in offense. “Fuck out of here with that.”
“How much did Parker pay you to show up and pretend to be his date?” Flash clarified.
“He didn’t pay me, you ass. He asked cause I’m his girlfriend.” You laughed in annoyance. “Which I’m assuming is more than you have based on your immaculate personality..” You added sarcastically. “You’ll catch more flies with honey... I’m just saying.”
“So you’re Y/N Y/L/N?” He asked.
“Yes.”
“The genius that doesn’t go to Midtown?”
“Yeah.”
“Prove it.” He challenged. “Or are you just some above average public school kid that actually has more than three functioning brain cells?”
“What do you wanna know, dickwad?” You said confidently.
“What is the most abundant protein in the human body?”
“Duh, collagen. 25-35 percent of the human body is collagen, which forms connective tissue like the ligaments, tendons, and skin. Next.”
“What’s the anti-derivative of a cosecant squared?”
“I hate calculus. Negative cotangent of x plus the constant, k. Don’t insult me by asking kindergarten questions.”
“Definition of antiestablishmentarianism.”
“Not much of a challenge. EVen though I doubt you can even spell antiestablishmentarianism.” You laughed. “It’s a political philosophy that views a nation's or society's power structure as corrupt, repressive, exploitative, or unjust. It’s basically opposition to the conventional principles of society.”
“Who introduced the theory of punctuated equilibrium?”
“Obviously, Gould and Eldredge. And that’s all the time we have for today on How Can This Random Asshole Ruin This Date With My Boyfriend featuring This Random Asshole.” You said in a gameshow host type voice.
“And you’re seriously dating him?” He pointed to Peter.
“Obviously.” You sighed in annoyance. “And you go to Midtown? Maybe I should transfer that way someone can actually challenge Peter on an intellectual level and not compensate by being a physical challenge. I mean, who does that anymore?”
“Are you blind or something?”
“No, cause I can see exactly how ugly your personality is, but then again I’m not a genius, remember? Above average public school kid that actually has more than three functioning brain cells, I believe is what you called me.”
“How did you even meet? He’s a total loser.”
“What’s it to you?” You laughed. “Your dumbass didn’t believe I was real five minutes ago. Plus, you’ve been getting on my last nerve so if we’re done here, you can leave.”
“Why would you even consider dating him? You’re hot enough that you could date like, young Leonardo DiCaprio or something.”
“Who wouldn’t wanna date Peter?” You said as if it was obvious. “He’s peak boyfriend material.”
And to you it was. Peter was beautiful. He was sweet, kind, smart. He held the door open for you and stayed up late on the phone with you until you fell asleep. He offered help with your homework and asked you to stay with him almost every other night. He made cheesy jokes that you couldn’t help but laugh at. He was shy and awkward. But that’s what made him so perfect to you.
“Are you convinced yet, cause I’m growing rather uninterested with you.” You said plainly.
“You’re lying.” He crossed his arms, refusing to believe you. “There’s no way Penis Parker scores a total babe like you.”
“Tell me then, Flash, since you seem to know my life. If I was lying, would I do this?” You said slowly, turning to face Peter.
“What are you doing?” Peter whispered, slightly nervous.
“Just trust me.” You said in the same hushed tone with a small chuckle.
You took his face in your hands and pulled him to you. Your lips met softly at first, you pulling away a few times to tease him. He smiled against your lips as his hands fell to your hips and gently pulled you closer. You two kissed each other deeply, enjoying the intimacy of the moment. When you were out of breath, you pulled away and smiled. Peter’s cheeks flushed a bright red, a shy smile graced his face.
“See? I told you to trust me.” You winked before you turned to face the bully who stared at you two in shock.
“So not only are you Peter’s alternate for the academic decathlon, but he has a girlfriend before you do.” You laughed. “You talk a big game for someone in second place.”
“I.. But you’re- And he’s-” Flash stammered.
“Bye, now.” You wiggled your fingers and Flash slowly walked away, still muttering an incoherent response.
“That.. was.. hilarious!” Ned said loudly. “I’ve never seen Flash look so flustered!”
“It’s what he deserves.” You shrugged with a proud smile. “Now, why are we standing around still? This is a party after all! Let’s dance!” You said happily as you dragged Peter to the dancefloor.
“No, Y/N I- I don’t- I don’t really dance.” He said nervously.
“No one really dances at parties!” You said over the music. “Everyone just jumps around or find the closest person to grind on. No big deal. Just go with it, Pete.”
You spent the rest of the night on the dancefloor with Peter. Ned came and went but you were focused on Peter. His hands on your waist. Your hands on his arms.
“This is cute.” You tugged the top of his flannel that he left unbuttoned. “You always look cute in a flannel.”
“Thanks.” He smiled, a red tint finding his cheeks again. “Hey, thanks for coming.”
“Anything for you, Peter. Anything for you.” You said softly as you leaned in to kiss him gently.
275 notes · View notes
iehnsherrs · 6 years
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prom night.
peter x stark!reader (fluff?)
summary: remember that one spongebob episode when he took pearl to prom? yeah, that’s what this is
warnings: bullying, 1 cuss word, tiny bit of implied smut
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❝ that’s how you eat your pizza? you’re so weird parker. ❞
❝ i thought everyone ate their pizza like this? ❞ 
it was prom night, and here you were, eating junk food in expensive outfits instead of dancing the night away with your fellow peers. 
you and peter went to different schools ; but that didn’t stop you guys from hanging out at stark tower. your (adopted) dad, tony stark, had introduced you two when peter first got his ‘internship’. he loved and hated the fact that you guys became attached quickly, you weren’t exactly loved by the kids in your school ; in easier terms, people assumed you were stuck up and snobby because you were the child of a painfully rich man. they tended to judge you or tease you when you forgot your lunch money or something of the sort. your dad just told you that they were jealous and threatened to teach them a lesson if they ever made you upset. although, you really didn’t mind sitting by yourself at lunch or hanging out by the lockers, reading books or playing games on your phone. your dad has offered to let you go to the same school peter went to, but you refused.
but prom was approaching fast, and pepper was making you attend it. you constantly reminded her you didn’t want to go, you had no date and the concept of prom just seemed ridiculous to you. you finally caved in, only because she had already spent a bunch of money on your outfit. pepper nagged at tony to get you a date, tony refused the first few times, responding with:
❝ i’m not ending some random boy to go to prom with my child. ❞
❝ then just ask that parker kid! if you do it, i’ll do that thing you’ve been wanting to do in bed.. ❞ pepper murmured, smirking against tony’s neck.
❝ alright, alright. i’ll call the kid. ❞ 
tony had called peter in two weeks before the prom, taking him shopping for a nice tuxedo that would match your outfit. however, tony gave him 3 rules to keep in mind during the prom. 
1.) no funny business.
2.) i will have the avengers patrolling tonight, no need to swing off and leave my kid on the dance floor alone. 
3.) under no circumstances will you ruin my kid’s prom night. 
peter agreed to all three rules, promising his mentor that he would not ruin this night for you.
prom night had come sooner than expected and here you were, with wanda and pepper, finishing the final touches on your outfit. after everything was set up, you walked downstairs, immediately making eye contact with peter.  
‘ god he looked so handsome, ‘
you shook your head, erasing those thoughts from your mind, walking up to him and taking his hand.
❝  we should get going, i don’t want to keep the limo driver waiting. ❞
❝ there's a limo waiting for us? that’s so cool ❞
you giggled, waving your dad and the rest of the team goodbye, they all waved back before getting ready for their nightly patrol. 
❝ we better be gettin’ paid double for this, ❞ sam grumbled while heading to the changing room.
----
prom had not gone as excepted, peter ended up starting a food fight and ran into the wrong bathroom while trying to clean up. he had accidentally photo bombed people’s prom photos, which resulted in him almost being beaten up. 
you both had been kicked out, walking to the nearest fast food restaurant. you guys had stumbled upon a vintage-looking pizza & fried chicken restaurant. you ordered some pizza and he ordered some large fries and a burger, sitting on opposite sides of the booth waiting for the pizza to be made. 
there was a long silence along with awkward glances at each other before he spoke up.
❝ i-im so sorry. god, mr. stark is gonna kill me when he finds ou- ❞
❝ peter, calm down. i had an amazing time. ❞ 
❝ b-but we got kicked out!
❝ and? i hated all those kids in that fucking gymnasium to begin with. plus, i’m with you, so i’m pretty happy. ❞
peter blushed at the last statement, rubbing the back of his neck.
❝ hey, as my date, you are obligated to share some of your food with me ‘cause i’m broke. ❞
❝ with mr. stark as your dad? that’s funny. ❞
you rolled your eyes, smirking slightly.
❝ fine. i’ll do it, only because i like you. ❞
the awkward silence returned. somehow, you had gained courage to get up and sit on his side. he looked at you, slightly startled. 
❝ did you mean that? ❞
❝ w-what? ❞
❝ the part where you said you liked me. ❞
❝ y-yeah, of course i did! ❞
❝ alright. i have one question. ❞
❝ shoot. ❞
❝ do you like me as a friend, or as something else? ❞
peter immediately broke eye contact, looking at his sparkling shoes. the wave of courage came back once more as you smirked and lifted up his head, leaning in and giving him a soft peck on the lips. you were about to retreat when he grabbed your face a deepened the kiss. you both eventually pulled away, slightly breathless.
❝ i have no idea where that boldness came from,❞ peter laughed breathlessly.
you giggled softly. he gave you a lovesick smile.
❝ so, are you free on saturday night? ❞
❝ yeah, you wanna go on a date? ❞
❝ of course, parker. ❞
a/n: hi! so this sucked and i’m really sorry but this has been in my drafts for a while now and i wanted to just finish it; 
also i tried to keep this gender neutral so if i made any mistakes, please let me know!
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