#probably on the bus to and from games with his team back in the US

[mr-independent]

you know, its not brought up in fics often but ted is extremely well read. he doesnt brag about it, but hes read everything from f scott fitzgerald's b sides to ayn rand's doorstoppers to the sixteen book Ender series, etc etc etc. Ted reads about as much as we see Beard reading (which. in my head is a trait that was passed on, a new focus to sharpen the mind and keep him out of trouble and his mind off drugs, something Ted offered up as a coping mechanism for when his own dad died, a way to have fun and adventure and escape without ending up in jail like Ted himself had a handful of times before, scaring the bejeezus out of his ma.)

this turned into a mini fic and i lost my train of thought but point is, Ted reads So Much and more people need to pick up on this in fics please and thank you.

[theflyingfeeling]

the love of my entire life

[yamumsyadadd]

Sometimes all you need is a little love

At 5, you were loved. Your mum and dad adored you. Everything was about you and your parents.  They worked hard, and in return you got to fulfil your dream of being a footballer. 

At 8, things started to change. Sundays that were usually filled with church in the morning, and Barcelona games in the afternoon slowly started to disappear. 

Your mum and dad were fighting. She was looking frail, unwell, a shell of herself. He looked angry, distant, with marks on his arms, coming home smelling like cigarettes and flowers. It was a weird smell, it would linger in the air for hours to come. 

Gone were the days when they would both come to your football. It was one or the other, sometimes even none of them. 

At 10, you found her. Hanging. You just sat there, watching her. Eventually going to the neighbours you thought you knew. Turns out they moved out and there was a new family. An older lady, Eli. She let you come inside and called for help while distracting you with cookies and her white fluffy dog. 

From that day, things changed. Your father’s love became less and less. His violence and drinking became more. He had a new girlfriend every other month. Barely lasting the entire calendar month. 

By age 12, La Masia came knocking. A full scholarship was on offer. It was your dream. Something you and your parents had worked hard for, together. Expect now it was just you. Forging your dad’s signature, you dropped the forms back off. Transferring to their academy the week later. 

La Masia was hard. Harder than you expect. Maybe it was because things at home were worse than ever before, your dad lost his job, the random woman continued however now there was random men added into it. Home wasn’t a safe place for you or anyone in that case. 

At 14, things hit an all time low, bruises and marks were becoming harder to hide with your promotion to the Barca B team. They were all so close to each other, hanging out after training, getting food or going shopping, their weekends were all spent together. But not with you. As much as they tried you shielded away from it. School and football were the two things that matter - there was no time for anything else, no time to worry about anything else. 

The closest thing you had to a parent was the lady across the hall, every few days there would be a plate of food at the front door when you arrived home. On Sundays it was a bigger meal, you’d divvy it out so it would last a few extra days. The limited money you did have was given to your dad, you’d keep some of it but it wasn’t enough for the bus fare and food. It was one of the other. 

Every morning you would make the one hour trek from your home in Mollet del Vallès, using that time to do your homework, study plays or rewatch games, sometimes even catching a few more minutes of sleep. Every evening, after training you’d stay and help pack away the equipment, sometime just relishing in the warmth of the facility, the endless hot water, the feeling of safety. 

One night, after missing the last bus, you hid in a supply closet. Knowing there was no way you’d get home that night, you huddled around the spare clothes and clean towels. It oddly was one of the best sleeps you’d had in years. The constant security that would walk around the facility made you feel safe. 

After that initial night, there were many more nights of sleeping at the facility. Was it the best idea? Probably not, but it was the safest, and the warmest. 

15 was when things really changed. At some point, your dad just stopped coming home. He’d be gone for days at a time. This time though, he was gone for almost three weeks. You bloomed in the silence. The apartment was clean, airy, in contrast to the dark, stuffy air that usually resides. 

On Christmas Eve things came to ahead. There wasn’t much food left. A few eggs, some bread and some cereal. No milk, vegetables or anything fresh. Biting the bullet, you made your way across the hall to the older ladies door. She had told you before that if you needed anything, to just knock. So you did, rocking back and forth on your heels, you were shocked when the door swung open and none other than Alexia Putellas, captain of the Barcelona Women’s team, 2 time Ballon D’Or winner, was standing there with a smile on her face. 

“Hola pequeña, are you ok?”

“Oh, um, hola? Is Eli here?” 

“Si, come in.” You stood there for a moment, staring at her, “mami a pequeña is here for you!” Eli, the nice, caring older woman was Alexia Putellas mother. Of course she was. 

“Neña! To what do I owe this visit?” 

“I am very sorry to interrupt and be rude, but I was wondering if you had any milk I could please have? My papi has gone away for a bit and forgot to leave some money.” 

“You’re alone? You’re no older than 16?” A smaller but almost identical person chimed in. 

“Si. I am 15”. A shy nod was all you could muster, the energy you previously had disappeared. 

“Well where did he go? Are you alone for Christmas?” 

“Uh, um a work trip? Si, si, a work trip! He will be back at some point, I’m sure.” It was a lie, a terrible horrible lie and everyone in that room knew. All three older women shared a look. 

“Here is some milk Nena. Do you want to stay for dinner?” 

“No no that’s okay. Thank you for the milk, I will give you money when I get some!” 

“Nonsense dear. It’s just milk.” 

Silently you grabbed the milk and started to walk towards the door, leaving the three women staring at you. Eli’s eyes expressed sadness, Alexia’s were confused, she knew you from somewhere but she couldn’t place it, Alba was bewildered, she remembered being 15 and there was no way in hell that Eli would’ve left her home alone, but especially not over the holiday period. 

“She is a good girl. She studies hard, she’s at La Masia. Always very polite but something is off in the house.” 

Alexia’s head whipped around, “she’s at the academy?” Eli nodded, “how does she get there? it’s a 40 minute drive and she’s not old enough?” 

“I don’t know Alexia, tonight was the most she’s spoken to me since she came asking for the ambulance when her mami died.” 

“That was her?” A nod was all alexia received. For the rest of the night they were all silent, you went to bed with a small amount of food in your stomach. The 8 pieces of French toast were enough to get you through until the farmers market opened on the 26th. 

A dread washed over you the following afternoon when there was a knock at the front door. Opening it slowly, and only half showing your face, Alexia and Alba (you learnt her name after googling Alexia), were standing there. 

“Hola pequeña. Mami asked if you and your papi wanted to join us for dinner?” Alexia voice was firm, almost as if there wasn’t room for you to say no. 

“Um, sure. My papi isn’t back yet, but what time does she want us?” 

“Now-“

“An hour-“ both girls spoke at the same time. Alba wanting to give you time to do whatever you needed, but alexia wanted you father to show himself. Unbeknownst to you, she had reached out to the La Masia staff and a few of the younger girls. 

Vicky and Martina had told her the little information that they knew. You were young, talented and a hard worker. You’d catch the bus to and from training, never really talking to anyone and certainly never hanging out with them. They’d offered to help you with your homework, Vicky realising very quickly that you were both in the same grade despite you being two years younger. Both Vicky and Martina felt that there was something off, never seeing your father or anyone supporting you at games, not even at the international friendly with the under 17s that you’d been called up too. 

“Okay? How about half an hour?” 

“That works. See you soon pequeña!” Alba grabbed her older sisters arm, pulling her away from the door. You slid down the back of yours once it was firmly closed. You needed to think of the perfect lie. Maybe you could say he was too tired, or stuck in traffic. No that wouldn’t work, if he was stuck in traffic they’d wait. The truth wasn’t an option. There’s no way you could just blurt out that you didn’t know where he was. 

The dinner was uncomfortable, the food was delicious but the unasked questions were making a lot of tension. You didn’t miss the way Alba and Eli continued to glance at you, or how their eyes went wide when you asked for more. This definitely cemented that something was wrong. 

The loud clattering of Alexia’s fork and knife, stopped you from shoveling more food in your mouth. 

“This is ridiculous. Pequeña, where is your papi?” 

“Don’t know.” You spoke nonchalantly, putting more food into your mouth. Confused looks where thrown around. Eli’s hand slowly reaching for yours and taking the fork, “sweetheart, what do you mean you don’t know?” 

“I don’t know. He could be stuck at work, or in traffic or asleep.” I shrugged. It was a semi decent lie. 

“Does he leave for long periods often?” 

“No. It’s usually just a few days.” 

“Where does he go?” 

To get high, to fuck hookers, to steal, “work trips.” 

Thankfully the subject was dropped as Eli gave you back your fork. It didn’t feel like Christmas, no gifts were exchanged, no decorations or Christmas movies. It felt like a Sunday after church, all that was left was a trip to Camp Nou to watch a game but that wasn’t going to happen. Not now, not ever again. 

Eli sent you home when a lot of leftovers, ignoring the comments from her own two daughters that they would’ve liked to have some too. It was enough food for at least a month. You’d eaten plenty at dinner so the need for food tomorrow would be less. 

The following week was a blur. There was only two training sessions and school was off until after the New Year. Your father had yet to make a reappearance and due to the holidays, you were hiding in the house so you wouldn’t have to see any three of the Putellas women and answer questions. 

It worked, for three weeks, until the night you had planned to sleep in the same storage room as usual. Alexia appeared, fresh out of the shower. 

“Pequeña? What are you still doing here? It’s late.” 

“I lost track of time. I was studying.” 

“How are you getting home? Is your papi coming?” 

“No. I’m catching the bus.” You felt guilty lying to her, but it was the best option. No one would get hurt this way. 

“Let me drive you home. It’s late and you really shouldn’t be catching the bus.” 

Before you could argued, she’d grabbed the straps of your bag, dragging it and you along to her car. It was an awkward 40 minutes. Her car was much more comfortable than the bus, warmer and safer. You were still on high alert, especially when she was asking you questions. 

For the past five years you didn’t let anyone get close. It was easier that way. You didn’t have to explain the tiredness that was evident on your face, the random bruises that happened, the obvious weightless from the lack of food. 

From that moment on you silently agreed to keep everyone further way. You had to be more careful, no more roaming the halls after training. No more asking Eli for milk, or bread, or anything. Leaving extra early in the morning or as soon as training ended. No more being vulnerable. 

The day before your 16th birthday was supposed to be a good one. However your father had other plans. You’d been training with the senior team due to some injuries and then needing players, Jona had told you last night he would play you after halftime. A senior debut on your 16th birthday. 

That night you’d come home so incredibly happy only for it to come crashing down when your extremely intoxicated father decided to start a fight over the lack of money. He didn’t stop hitting you for what felt like hours. You weren’t sure if you passed out from the pain or from the exhaustion but you knew the following day it would be hell. 

The house was littered with used needles, smashed and empty bottles, and it smelt of cigarettes and stale booze. Your arms and legs were covered in bruises as well as a shiner on your face. That one would be the hardest to cover. it took an hour and large amount of makeup before you were confident about leaving the house. The bruise was mostly covered. You didn’t think it was that obvious though. The looks you received on the bus, and even as you walked through the halls, didn’t make you question your makeup job. 

True to his word, jona put you on in the 75th minute, subbing Salma off. It was electrifying, a rush you’d never felt before. Then game ended with a win, of course, there was a lot of praise from the older girls. Mario was incredibly impressed and offered to work with you more if you were interested. Something you immediately said yes too. Your bubble was burst when Alexia came over to tell her Eli was there and wanted to see you. 

The moment you were within arms reach of Eli, she could tell something was wrong. So could Alexia’s girlfriend, Olga, who she had just introduced you too. After chatting a bit more, Eli demanded she would take you home, making you hurry to gather your belongings in the locker room, forgoing a shower as you didn’t bring makeup to re-cover the bruise on your face. 

“Olga you need to help her with makeup.” Alba joked before hugging her sister goodbye. Olga and Eli shared a concerned looked. 

“Why is she wearing make up?” 

“Mami she’s 16. Teenagers wear makeup all the time. It doesn’t mean anything.” Eli shook her head, there was something wrong but she didn’t know what or how to ask you. 

“Ale, keep an eye on her yeah?”

“Olga she’s fine. She’s just a teenager.” Olga’s eyes pleaded with her, “si fine. I will watch over her.” 

Two weeks later things came crashing down horribly. You’d been moved into the senior squad officially, that came with perks. More money was the main one. It would only be a few months until you’d officially graduate high school, that meant you could pick up a part time job as well as football. What you didn’t account for was your father. 

When you walked in the door you were greeted with a random lady and a little boy, no older than 3, your father was very quickly shoving things into boxes and taping them up. 

“What’s going on?” Neither of the adults spared a glance at you. 

“I’m leaving. Thea and I are moving to Madrid.” 

“I can’t leave papi! The season is still going and i haven’t finished school yet!” 

“Good thing you weren’t invited then.” The lady scoffed, flipping her son to the other hip. Your eyes were wide. Not believing what you were hearing. 

“Tomorrow, the moving truck will be here. You need to be gone by then.” 

“Wait! Where will I go? You can’t leave me here!” You yelled after them as they left the apartment. No longer caring who heard or who saw. 

“You’re not my problem anymore. I couldn’t care less about what you do or don’t do.” He turned to leave, “you could do the world a favour and hang yourself like your mother did.” With that he was gone. The apartment was mostly empty. 

You found the two biggest bags that you could carry. Filling one with all your football stuff, the other with you clothes, the few jumpers of your mothers that you had left, a sleeping bag and pillow. In your school backpack you packed your laptop and all the school work, plus your important documents (birth certificate, photo IDs, passport.) 

Though you had no idea where you would go, you knew you’d figure it out. What you didn’t account for was Eli. of course she would notice the moving vans, and the lack of you. 

Every second night you’d leave the training facility, set on finding somewhere that was semi safe to sleep. Even though it was the start of February, you knew the beach would be ok. There was enough light to keep you safe, you also had a little knife you stole from your father along time ago. 

The last morning before it all went to shit, you were sitting with your bags, still in your sleeping bag, watching the sunrise. Barcelona was quiet at this time of the morning. A few runners or cyclists around but other than that it was peaceful. 

“Pequeña? What are you doing here so early?” A semi familiar face dropped in front of you, startling you out of your thoughts. Unable to talk, you just stared at her. “I’m Olga, Alexia’s girlfriend. We met a couple of weeks ago. Do you remember?” 

You nodded, she continued on, “what are you doing here? Did you sleep here?”

“What? No! No I just like coming here in the mornings!” You hurried to get up, quickly shoving your things back into your bags, that’s when the knife dropped on the sand, right in front of Olga. We both stopped and stared at it. 

“Pequeña-“

“I better go. Enjoy your day.” you quickly picked it up and all but ran towards the bus stop. your thoughts were spiralling. She was going to tell Alexia. you wouldn’t be allowed to play, you'd be sent away somewhere else. 

Training was hell. No matter how much you tried to avoid Irene, Marta or Alexia they always appeared. It didn’t seem that Olga had told Alexia or that anyone else knew but it was only a matter of time. All you needed was a few weeks, just to get through the Copa de la Reina final and then you could figure it out. 

Thankfully the week went fast and the game on the weekend was a success. There were no more run ins with Olga, or any of the captains of the team. You went as far to complete ignore Eli, Alba and Olga after the game. Quickly running into the locker room and showering before anyone else. 

It was harder to hide in the facility after home games. It was busy with trainers, medical staff, admin staff, basically everyone but you figured it out. It was a restless sleep, the close call with Olga playing in your mind on repeat. 

Unbeknownst to you, Eli had mentioned it to Alexia at their usual family dinner post match. 

“Nena moved.” 

“To where?” Both Alba and Alexia’s head shot up. 

“I don’t know. She didn’t say anything. I heard her papi say Madrid. I’m assuming she isn’t joining since she’s still playing here.” 

“I’ll find out.” Olga knew in that moment she needed to come clean about finding you on the beach. Clearly you didn’t have somewhere safe to stay. Later that night, when it was just her and Alexia cuddled in their bed she did just that. 

“I saw Nena at the beach the other morning.” 

“Likely place for her to be. She has mentioned loving the beach in the past.” Alexia dismissed what Olga was saying, not particularly understanding why that was important. 

“No ale. I think she slept there. She had a sleeping bag and heaps of stuff.” 

Silence encapsulated the couple. “I’ll deal with it.” was all the captain said before rolling over and going to sleep. Expect, she didn’t sleep. She played through every interaction she’d had with you, every imagine of you in her mind. You looked tired, the light behind your eyes was gone, you had fully retreated back into your shell, barely talking at training or games, only answering questions when directly asked. 

Something was definitely wrong, very very wrong. Enlisting the help of Irene and Marta and Olga, they would find out exactly how wrong it was. 

It was evident when you came into training that you hadn’t slept, the truth was that the beach no longer felt safe. Not after that creepy man was watching you. Staying at the facility every night wasn’t an option, neither was staying with a teammate. So you stay at the train station all night. It was relatively safe, but the thought of that man kept you awake. 

You’d gotten half way through the day when you snapped. Usually you’d try and stick to Caro or Keira’s sides. Caro because she was quiet and Keira because she couldn’t exactly understand you and you couldn’t understand her. Unfortunately the gym groups were assigned differently today, meaning you got stuck with Mapi, Pina, Patri and Cata. The group of people you hated being around the most. There was never a quiet moment, they were always loud. So incredibly loud. 

It was after Mapi had ruffled your hair for the third time that you mumbled for her to stop. 

“We can’t hear you gallina. Speak up.” Patri laughed. 

“I said, don’t touch me. And don’t call me gallina.” Your patience was thinning, and fast. 

“Cheer up gallina. We are just playing.” Mapi went to ruffle your hair again, your hands landing on her chest and shoving her back into Cata. 

“I said don’t fucking touch me Maria!” Everyone stopped, turning in horror to see the scene unfold. Tears welled in your eyes, you bolted as fast as you could. 

“Nena-“ Ingrid tried to grab your wrists but you dodged her. 

Alexia, Irene and Marta all stopped what they were doing. It was extremely unlike you to be so aggressive and rude. No matter how shy you were, you always used your manners. They all shared a look before following you to the locker room. 

You rushed through the locker room trying to get your bags packed as fast as possible. You had no idea where you would go, but you needed to get out of here. Far away from the sympathetic looks of your teammates. You were so far in your own head that you didn’t hear the cleats on the floor or the door to the locker opening. 

“Nena? What’s wrong?” Irene’s hand on your shoulder startled you. 

“Nothing I’m fine. I need to go.” You shrugged her hand off you, putting your backpack on and grabbing your duffle that contained your pillow and sleeping bag. 

“Please let us help Nena. We want to help you but we can’t if you don’t let us.” Marta spoke up next, as you looked up you saw that Alexia was standing between you and the door, the only route out of the locker room. 

“Please move. I want to go home.” 

“Home? Where is that Nena? It’s not in Mollet del Vallès. I know that much.” 

You squeezed your eyes shut and took a deep breath, yelling at your captains was a horrible idea, truly horrible. Even in this mental state you knew that, “I do not want to be rude Alexia, but it’s none of your business. I come here, I train, I play, I do as I am told, I don’t make trouble or do anything wrong. Please let me leave.” 

Alexia looked troubled. You needed help, that much was clear, but you were right. You did everything that was asked of you, never complaining or whining about it. She looked to Irene for help, Irene simply nodded and alexia moved. 

“If you need help, somewhere to stay, you have my address and you know where Mami is.” 

A curt nod was all she received and then you were gone. As fast as you could walk without causing any attention to yourself. You spent the next few hours walking around. When it was dark and late, the train station was where you headed. It wasn’t until you were comfy that you realised you grabbed the wrong bag. You left your sleeping bag and more importantly your phone charger at the training facility. There wasn’t much that could be done now, you just had to wait it out. 

As you walked into training, you could feel everyone’s eyes on you. You were late, never have you been late before. The lack of proper sleep, nutrition and your body always on high alert was getting to you. By the end of training you were exhausted. Barely having the energy to walk into the locker rooms to shower. Usually when someone was late without giving a proper warning, they’d run laps. No one told you to run laps so you didn’t. 

A few days later, at the beach, Olga saw you again. This time you looked worse than before. She made her way to a local bakery, getting water, coffee and something for you to eat before making her way back towards you and hoping you wouldn’t run off. 

“¿Niña? Can I sit with you?” She startled you, that much was obvious but you nodded and she handed over everything she bought. 

“Why are you here?” 

“I like the beach.” 

“You’re sleeping here?” She could tell you were scared, it took a while for you to reply. 

“Only sometimes.” 

Olga nodded, the silence settling over the both of you. “Let me take you to training?” 

The drive seem to take forever. It was uncomfortable, Olga wanted to get more information out of you, you wanted nothing more then to be swallowed into a black hole. 

“Niña? If you don’t have anywhere safe and warm to stay, please come to mine and Ale’s? We won’t be mad, or disappointed. We want to help you. Okay?” 

You gave her a small nod, moving to wipe your tears and get out of the car. Unbeknownst to the both of you, Alexia was in her own car a few metres away watching the whole thing. 

It took a day for Alexia to coax all the information out of Olga but when she finally did, she was heartbroken. The thing she had hoped wasn’t true, was in fact true. You were living on the street. Sleeping wherever you could, your papi had left you to fend for yourself. It’s not that you were doing a horrible job at it, but it was obvious you weren’t eating or sleeping enough. 

The night of the El Classico is when things went truly horrible. Alexia had told Irene, Mapi and Marta what had happened but any time they tried to talk to you, you literally ran away.

The streets of Barcelona were well and truly alive. The Madrid fans had left the Johan feeling annoyed, angry and disappointed. Anyone would when their team lost 7-0. It probably wasn’t the smartest idea to sleep on the beach that night, but there truly wasn’t anywhere else. The train station would’ve been worse, the facility wouldn’t be quiet until after midnight, and there was no way you’d go to a teammates house. 

You’d only just drifted to sleep when you heard the group of guys approaching. They were drunk, that much was obvious. Pretty quickly you woke yourself up, but you didn’t dare to move. Maybe they would just keep walking. Your back was facing the sea, and them but as soon as they laid their hands on you, you turned around. 

“Oye, it’s the Barca puta.”

“You’re the reason we lost.”

“We should break her legs!” 

The fear set it. As soon as the hits started, they ended. Not only had they assaulted you, but they had stolen your school bag that contained your laptop, water bottle and phone charger. It look a while for the pain to become tolerable. you could recognise that you were bleeding, your ribs hurt, along with your arm, head and leg. You were scared and alone. 

Abandoning the beach, you made your way to the one place you could think of. The two women who had urged you time and time again to let them help you, you had refused but right now you needed it more than anything. With the help of your phone maps, you managed to get to their apartment. It took a lot longer than it should have, having to stop every now and then to take deep breaths when the pain was too bad. 

You weakly raised your fist to the door, the energy was zapped out of you. It felt like forever before someone answered. 

“Hol- holy fuck. Alexia! Come here neña. Let me help you. ALEXIA!” Olga answered the door, annoyed that someone was knocking so late at night. The minute she opened it, she wanted to cry. You were stood there, bloodied and bruised. Seemingly out of it, looking so small and frightened. 

She starting leading you to the kitchen when alexia finally came, “what? Oh my god, pequena! What happened?” 

“Hurt.”

“Where hurts neña?”

“Head bleeding… arm broken, I think… maybe ribs… leg too. Stole my school bag.” Alexia was freaking out, the usual calm, stoic captain was on the verge of tears. 

“We need to call the police Olga! And mami and Irene and-“

“Ale stop. Neña, drink this yes? Alexia is going to get the first aid from the bathroom and we are going to clean you up. We will need to take you to the hospital, but that can wait for a few minutes.” She gave alexia a pointed look while she opened the water bottle and helped you drink. 

Their apartment was soft. Very homey and not clinical like you imagined. There were photos of Alexia and her family, Olga and hers, then of them both. There were plants scattered around, a few awards here and there but not many, the one thing that seemed out of place was the dog bed and toys. 

“Dog?” Olga’s eyes followed yours, confused as to what you were asking. 

“Nala. She died last year but we haven’t been able to get rid of her things.”

“Sorry”. Alexia arrived back with the first aid kit, phone to her ear and a lot less panicked but a lot more mad. that stressed you out, Olga picking up on it straight away. Things moved fast from that point. Alexia and Olga cleaned you up the best they could but ultimately decided that you needed the hospital. It was all a blur. One minute you were in their apartment, the next you were in a hospital gown sitting in a room. 

Alexia was non stop pacing, you sat there, wide eyed waiting for her to say something. 

“You can say it.” You whispered. 

Both girls stopped and looked at you confused, “say what pequena?” 

“I told you so’ or ‘you should’ve let me help’, whatever you have planned just say it.” You could no longer look at them, staring down at the floor. You missed the look of heartbreak sweep across both their faces. 

“No no pequena. This isn’t your fault. None of this is your fault. There’s no ‘I told you so’ to be said. You came to use when you needed help, we are here now to help that’s all that matters. Okay?” Alexia slowly reached out to wipe the tears from your face. 

“I’m sorry.” That was it. All three of you were holding each other crying. Time seemed to blend into one second. You got stitches in your eyebrow and on your leg, your arm was in fact broken and a cast was put on. The doctor seemed to talk and talk, none of the words making any sense. It was until you saw the two police officers standing outside that you seemed to snap out of it. 

The doctor left the room, seemingly to talk to the police officers and give them a run down. Olga noticed how on edge you were very quickly. 

“Hey, neña, they are only here to ask what happened okay? You aren’t in any trouble.” 

You stood up quickly, grabbing the bag with your blood stained clothes, “no I need to go. This was a mistake.” 

“Go where pequena?” 

“They are going to take me away! I don’t have anywhere to live Alexia! Papi left. He got rid of the house. Mami is dead. I have no where so I’m going to leave before they can take me.” 

“Neña no.” Olga moved to block the door. She is small. You could take her, you thought. “You’re staying with us. They aren’t going to take you because you have a home, with us. You will stay as long as needed.” 

Alexia and Olga hadn’t exactly had the conversation about it, but they both seemed to be able to read each other’s minds. They were going to take care of you, love you like your parents should have. Sure you’re 16, almost an adult. But everyone needs a parental figure, no matter the age. 

“No. You two have your own life, I’m not your responsibility. I can take care of myself, I have been for years.” 

“But you can’t neña. You can’t get an apartment, or a phone plan, or your drivers licence. If you’ll let us, we will take care of you.” You were considering it, really considering it. Having a proper bed, proper meals, somewhere safe? It sounded like heaven. 

“It won’t be easy pequena, it’ll be hard. For all of us. We’ll have to learn to trust each other, and learn how to live with each other but it’ll be worth it. You can decorate the room however you want, we will buy you whatever you need.” 

Before they could continue, the police came in. It took a while to answer all their questions. You could see Alexia and Olga holding hands tightly, wincing slightly when you go into detail. 

“What about my school bag? It has all my school stuff and my laptop?” 

“We will look for it, but there’s no promises it’ll be found. Do you have somewhere safe to stay?” 

“With Alexia and Olga.” You could visibly feel the tension leave both the women. The officers asked Alexia and Olga to step out with them to talk, you took a few moments to gather your thoughts. How had things changed so much. You were just a kid, yet you were forced to look after yourself like you were an adult. You wanted to be vulnerable, to have someone take care of you. Sometimes all we need is a little love. 

Maybe in time, things would get better. 

[firewasabeast]

Just thinking about Tommy Kinard who grew up wishing he was hugged and loved like the neighbors kids were. He’d watch them run off the school bus and right into their mom or dad’s arms and be scooped up and held tight. Sometimes he could smell freshly baked cookies or a pot roast coming from their home as he’d turn the key and walk into his own house. His house where his dad would grunt at him for another beer and tell him to fix them both a frozen dinner (“just don’t eat my Salisbury steak, boy, that one’s mine”). Then one afternoon, when his dad caught him staring out the window at the neighbors all outside playing catch, he gave him a smack on the back of the head and told him to stop daydreaming. Those people were phonies who were never up to any good. Families like that don’t really exist, and they’re never as happy as they seem!

So Tommy buries away the idea he’ll have that. Stops watching the neighbors. Rolls his eyes when he does happen to catch one of their hugs. Grows a bit of a hardened shell.

Then he reaches high school and he thinks things will change now. He’ll have more freedom and friends and maybe he’ll join a club. But his dad tells him clubs are for sissies and he’s gonna be in sports instead. His dad is good friends with the football coach so he doesn’t have to try out. He’s just on the team, whether he likes it or not. And the other guys on the team are crude and constantly taunt and tease each other. Tommy doesn’t join in at first, would rather keep to himself, but that makes him an outcast and a loser and the butt of all their jokes so it’s easier to join in. His shell gets a little thicker.

Recruiters come to the school during his senior year and his grades are good, he could probably get a scholarship or two to a state university, but they promise so much. He’ll get to see the world! They have all these specialized programs he can choose from. They pay well and he’ll have the benefits forever. Most importantly, he’ll be away from his dad. The recruiter doesn’t have to work very hard that day. When Tommy leaves for basic he’s a little scared but mostly excited to be away! And the drill sergeants yell at him and taunt him just like the football team, just like his dad, but he can take it. He can and does prove them wrong.

He’s been wondering things about himself lately. Doesn’t let himself wonder very long though, or his heart races a bit too fast and he panics. There was this one time at basic where he had a moment alone and he jerked himself off but he didn’t use the Playboy magazines the other guys had hidden under their bunks. He thinks of Tyler instead. The guy who was in the bunk above him and had tan skin and muscles all over and a million dollar smile. When he was done, after he caught his breath, he got angry with himself. Put a fist through a wall and got in a good amount of trouble. But the other guys thought he did it because he wanted to show the sergeant how strong he was. They thought it was funny and kinda cool. Even later, as a pilot in Iraq, when he has a moment alone, he’s never thinking about a woman. His shell thickens more.

Then he’s out of the army and he’s becoming a firefighter and he thinks maybe this is when he can relax. So he goes and meets his captain, someone named Vincent Gerrard, and he can tell within thirty seconds of meeting him that this man is a carbon copy of his father. He hasn’t been the butt of a joke in a long time, and he sure as hell isn’t going to start back now, so he plays the game. And he plays it damn well.

These shells keep thickening and thickening until he’s not actually sure who he is anymore. He’s spent years being whoever he needs to be to survive and it’s becoming exhausting. Even when Gerrard leaves and Nash arrives, even when his smile actually starts to reach his eyes, he still feels wrong. So he makes a choice. He leaves.

He goes back to flying, which he loved in the army. The freedom of being in the sky was unlike anything else in life. He hears a coworker talk about therapy and he gives it a try. It’s uncomfortable and stressful but he goes back each week and yeah, okay, maybe it does help. He can feel his posture relaxing a bit at least.

He allows himself to be honest with himself. He looks in the mirror one night and takes a deep breath and says the words “I’m gay” for the first time and then he repeats it over and over and over again even as tears fall down his face.

All the shells are starting to crack.

He gets a call from Howie, who he would do anything for without question, and this particular ask gets him reacquainted with Hen, renewed friendship with Howie, a new friendship with Eddie, and a boyfriend with Evan.

Evan. Evan who meets Tommy at the door whenever he’s there, arms open and a smile on his face, ready to hold onto Tommy like it’s his job. There’s usually delicious food cooking that Tommy can smell from the driveway. Evan, who picks up Christopher or Jee and they head to the park or museum for an outing. Evan, who notices that Tommy really likes to draw so he joins a drawing club for the both of them and even though Evan himself is not great at drawing he’s always so excited for them to go together.

Evan, whose kisses linger on his body like a prayer. Whose touch burns his skin in the best way. Who gasps and grunts and grabs and whispers in his ear as their sweaty, muscular bodies practically meld into one. There’s laughter and smiles afterward, as they hold onto each other and fall asleep pressed against one another.

Evan, who makes loving easy to do. Who gives his whole heart and then some. Who breaks whatever was left of Tommy’s shell and makes him realize that the type of love he wanted all those years ago, even as a little kid, was real. It was possible. And he had it.

[paladin--strait]

Could you do brothers best friend with Sidney Crosby? Maybe reader is mackinnons younger sister or something

master plan - sidney crosby

also:

all you were to him was his best friends little sister.

-

the years flew by of knowing sidney, watching him grow into the player he is today seemed to pass by quickly. my bags are packed and by the car, ready for me to take my leave. i've been staying with nathan in colorado for a few years at his apartment, having transferring high schools.

but now that i've got a transferred to a university in pittsburgh, sidney offered to let me stay with him until i was able to get my own place and have a stable lifestyle. nathan frowns, looking at me. "i'll miss you, be safe." he says, placing both hands on my shoulders.

"i will, don't worry." my words come out barely reassuring, and i can tell by his face he's not the happiest about the situation. "sidney will be here soon, please don't give him that really long 'take care of my little sister or there will be consequences' talk. he's your best friend, he wouldn't do that."

"i just want to make sure you're gonna be safe and not exposed to anything you don't need to be exposed to." his arms cross, his eyes squinting a little.

we bicker back and forth a little before we see sidney walking towards us with a smile. they hug and laugh a little, then they both turn to look at me. my backpack is slung over my back, a large suitcase in my hand.

"you ready, little nate?" asks sidney, a smile on his face.

ah, there it is. the dreaded nickname that sidney gave me years ago and it's stuck ever since he joked about it and got a bunch of laughs. i nod, smiling awkwardly. he helps me with my suitcase, letting me say goodbye to nathan. "bye baby sis, be safe and be happy. don't stress too much about school, i know how you get. i love you." he rants, pulling me in for a tight hug.

"i'll be safe, i promise. i love you, nate." i whisper, hugging back. it's gonna be weird moving away from my brother, since we've been together practically our whole lives. "i'll text you when the plane lands."

"you better. and sid, i better not hear anything about you not taking care of her and keeping her safe." his words stern, pointing a finger at sidney. "i know shes grown, but she needs taking care of too."

sidney nods with a smile, my suitcase still in hand. "i won't let anything happen to her, i promise." he gestures for me to follow him, and i wave goodbye to nathan. the door to nathan's car shuts after he waves, my lips pursing together as we walk towards the bus.

the ride is awkwardly quiet between us all the way to the airport, with a question here and there. but, once we get to the airport and walk towards the plane with the rest of the team, i can't help but feel a little nervous. i'm grateful that their managers let me fly back with them after the penguins game in colorado, just a perk of being a players sibling, i guess.

i take a seat in the front, knowing the players will probably want to sit in the back. i pop in my earbuds, listening to the playlist of my downloaded music. i stare outside the window, watching the plane leave the ground.

i wake up about an hour later, pulling my earbud out to look over at who tapped me on the shoulder. it's evgeni malkin, looking at me with a cheesy smile. he invites me to play cards with his group of people he's sitting with, hoping i'll say yes. i sit with them, laughing and cracking jokes as we play a lively game of cards.

the rest of the flight goes by quickly and i stand, walking back to my seat to collect my stuff. i thank the group for the fun game, walking off the plane with tristan jarry. we got to talking during the flight, we seem pretty similar so we got along pretty well. i hand back, waiting for sidney.

he walks up to me, his coat blowing in the wind. "have fun playing cards, little nate?" he asks with a smile. "come on, we still have to take the team bus back to the arena so we can get to our cars." i huff, just ready to get to his house, ready to sleep in a comfortable bed.

the bus ride goes by smoothly, about 20 minutes of quietness. the players are now tired, the moon high in the sky. they don't typically travel at night like this? but since the plane ride was so short, they just decided to come on home after the game.

we finally get in sidney's car, him turning up the heater. he sighs, driving back to his apartment. i look out the window as he drives, admiring the lights of the city at night. the car ride is silent, with a yawn or sigh here and there.

we soon arrive to his apartment, the car doors opening from both of our sides. i look around the parking garage, grabbing my luggage from his car. most of my stuff was shipped here already, having been here about a week.

sidney helps me with a few of my things, leading me to his apartment. the door squeaks a bit as he unlocks it, kicking it open.

-

it's been a few weeks since i moved in with sidney, and we've ended up becoming pretty good friends. i go to most of his home games, we eat dinner together, we play board games and card games when possible, he helps me with my homework, it's all been so fun being here with him.

at first i thought i would hate living with him, but it's actually made me pretty happy. he knows just how to cheer me up, making me my favorite meal or spending time with me when i'm sad. i do the same for him, and now we practically do everything together.

i slip on my crosby jersey, sighing. i fix the rest of my outfit and hair, grabbing my wallet, phone and keys. i make my way outside, unlocking my car and getting in. sidney bought me a car for my birthday last week, a gift i never expected, especially from him. i begged him to take it back, but he insisted that i kept it and stop taking ubers everywhere.

my phone connects to bluetooth as i get in and buckle up, and i press a few buttons on the wheel, calling nathan. his voice comes through the speakers a few seconds later. "hey baby sis! how's it going?"

"good! i'm on my way to the penguins game. how's it going with you?" i ask, pulling out of the parking garage.

"good, practice was terrible today. everyone seemed off..." he says, sighing.

"everyone gets in a slump here and there, i'm sure it'll be okay." i reassure, smiling. we talk for a bit until i pull into the parking lot at the arena, "okay, i'm at the arena so i gotta go!" we say goodbyes and i excitedly make my way into the arena, grabbing a drink and snack before i make my way to my seat.

the penguins are playing the rangers tonight, so it should be a pretty entertaining game. i set down my drink and take a seat, munching on my snack while i wait for the game to start. i throw away the trash just as warmups start, making my way back to my seat as fast as possible.

i smile as the players make their way onto the ice, i clap and cheer a little, watching both teams do drills and stretches. i see sid skating over, a smile on his face and a puck in his hand. be throws the puck over, and he laughs when i can't catch it. i pick it up and put it in my pocket, smiling at sidney.

he gestures for me to take a photo with him, so i grab my phone and turn around, smiling as i click the capture button, showing him the photo. he gives a thumbs up and waves, skating back to warm up. i laugh, sending the photo to nathan.

once the anthem is over, the game begins soon after. the puck drops, and they players work hard to get the puck in their offensive zones, trying their best to score. i make sure to take a lot of pictures so i can post them later, it's been a while since i last posted so i want some content.

-

i wait up for sidney, editing the pictures on my phone and uploading them to instagram. i tag the penguins in some the photos, then tag sidney in the picture we took together. the pictures are posting when the door clicks open, a loud and tired sigh filling the room.

i turn, seeing sidney walking in. i give him a smile, congratulating him on his win over the rangers. he thanks me and gives me a hug, when his phone dings.

he looks down, clicking on his phone and checking his notifications. "you tagged me in a photo?" he asks, laughing as he clicks on the post. he smiles warmly as he scrolls through the photos, and there's a hint of something unreadable in his eyes when he stops on the selfie of us during warm ups.

"do you not like it? i can take it down if you want me to." i ask, looking at his phone.

"no no, i love the photo. send it to me?" he smiles, looking at me.

i nod, pulling out my phone and sending it to him. his phone dings a few seconds later, signaling he got the picture. he thanks me and gives me a hug, wishing me goodnight.

i go to bed as well, yawning as i change into my sleep clothes.

-

the next morning when i wake up, i smell bacon and eggs. i shoot up in bed, not even bothering to change. i rush into the kitchen, "is that bacon?" i ask excitedly.

sid laughs and nods, flipping the pieces of meaty goodness with the kitchen tongs. he lets them cook, moving to stir the scrambled eggs. "do you need any help?" i walk over to him, looking at all the delicious food he's cooking.

"you can set the table if you want." he smiles warmly, gesturing to the plates on the counter that he's yet to set. i nod, grabbing the plates, silverware, and napkins and bringing them to the table.

i'm placing everything in its spot when his phone dings, "can you see who that is?" he asks, still working on breakfast. i nod, walking over to his phone. i click the on button to see who texted him, only to be met with the photo of me and him set as his lock screen.

"y/n? who is it?" he calls out, wondering why i'm so quiet. "is something wrong?"

"no, nothings wrong. i just...spaced out." i lie, smiling softly. the phone automatically turns off, so i turn it on again. "it's geno, he wants to know if you want to hang out later and eat dinner."

"tell him i'm busy," he says, bringing the pan of bacon to the table and putting a few pieces on our plates. "me and you have plans to go to that new restaurant, remember?"

"are you sure? we can do that some other time."

"no!" he says, almost a little too quickly. his tone is suspicious, "i mean, no. i had to make reservations for that restaurant, they book up quickly and it's be over a month before we can get in again."

"oh, alright..." i eye him suspiciously, before texting geno back. he puts a thumbs up on the text, and i set sid's phone down and join him at the table. we eat in a comfortable silence like normal. "sid, this is amazing. i swear, you get better every time you cook."

he laughs, eating a piece of bacon with a shrug. "i have practice later, but i'm showering and changing at the rink so be ready to leave when i get home. remember it's a fancier restaurant, so wear something nice."

"i will, i already have it picked out." a laugh leaves my mouth, then i continue to eat.

-

the door opens with a creak, just like it did the first day i moved in. sidney walks in, looking at me. i swear i can see the faintest blush on his cheeks, a happy grin now plastered on his face. "you look amazing. are you ready to go?"

i nod, standing up and following him to his car date he locks the door behind us. he opens the door for me, a cheeky grin on his face. i laugh, sitting down in the plush, leather seats of his car.

the drive is mostly quiet, with soft music filling the silence. we ask each other questions here and there, with the occasional joke, cough or yawn. once we pull up, he quickly gets out and opens the door for me. i smile and thank him quietly, following beside him into the restaurant.

the waiter sits us at our table and sets down the menus, asking us if we would like any drinks. we answer with our preferred drinks of choice, the waiter giving us a polite nod as he goes to get them. i open the menu, scanning the pages.

after a moment of silence between us, i break it softly. "sidney, this place is awfully expensive. i'll pay half."

"no need." he laughs, adjusting his jacket. "you're worth it." his words make my face flush red, a dumbfounded look on my face.

"sidney..."

"y/n." he begins, waiting for the waiter to leave after he brings our drinks. "i need to tell you something." his tone and face suddenly serious, making me set down the menu as he does the same.

i nod, willing to hear him out. "of course, anything."

"just, don't freak out, okay? you have to promise to hear me out." he says, and i agree with a nod.

"listen y/n, i thought you moving in would be a mistake. that you would bother me and make my life a living hell." he sighs, and my face drops. "but, i was wrong. completely wrong. you have made this the best time of my life. you always know just the right thing to say and when to say it, always take care of me and my friends. i guess what i'm trying to say is...i really like you. like, a lot."

my jaw drops slightly, my hand coming up to fidget with the necklace he got me.

"if you don't like me back, i understand. but, just know, i already talked to nathan, and he's okay with this, if that's what you're worried about."

i shake my head, "sidney, i like you too. i've liked you for so long, but i never saw it." i admit, a smile gracing his face at my words.

he laughs softly, reaching into his coat pocket. he pulls out a little box, with a beautiful ring inside. i'm about to speak, but he cuts me off. "don't worry, i'm not proposing. this is a promise ring, to signify that i'll always take care of you and love you."

i smile softly as i look at the ring, the silver shining in the box from the light. i slip it on my finger, the band fitting me perfectly. it's decorated in small gems, different colors all over it. "it's beautiful...thank you."

he nods with a smile, putting the empty box back in his pocket. his stomach grumbles loudly, making both of us laugh. "well, i guess we should order now."

i nod, picking my menu back up while we're both still laughing. i peek out from the top of my menu, looking at him. he's still grinning, his eyes scanning the menu.

i snap a sneaky picture of the ring, sending it to nate with a message attached, 'promise ring!! 💍' i smile as it sends, the message soon popping up as read.

he texts back quickly, his message making me laugh. 'it was all part of my master plan to get you two together...😈'

i show the message to sid, his laugh bellowing out across the quiet restaurant. it draws a little attention, something i would normally be embarrassed about. but with him, i could never be embarrassed.

[pheracy]

Hiii your kuroo headcannons were so cute! Could you do some for kenma plzz?

Kenma Kozume ✦ headcanons

He always wears his phone charger with him, God forbid he sees himself at a social event without the possibility of scrolling incessantly through his weather app.

He doesn't know why, but he always mysteriously wakes up with his feet outside the blanket.

He gets sick very often, but he usually doesn't mind since that gives him the excuse to stay at home.

He has the most awesome underwear, all thematic about a game or series he likes. He especially loves the Minecraft's creeper one and the one with little Pac-Man ghosts Yamamoto bought him as a birthday gift.

He is so sensitive to the cold that as soon as he steps out on the street, his teeth start chattering nonstop.

He is very good at using chopsticks.

You know he has a collection of plushies he's had over the years. When he's very sad, he buries himself in a pile of them and other stuffed animals.

He stays awake at night as long as he can, so when he can't take it anymore, he's so exhausted that when he gets in bed, he falls asleep almost immediately because his brain turns off.

He usually eats 2 pop-ice per day in summer, loves the coke flavour and the lemon-orange flavor.

He showed Kuroo what kpop and asmr are.

He's into Heartsteel (LoL music boygroup) and of course, his favorite character is Ezreal.

He matches the energy of Tomorrow by Together's music.

He dedicated their song "Cat & Dog" to Kuroo as a way to make fun of how he always seems to want to be around Kenma like a dog despite being in a team well known as cats.

Kuroo not only dedicated their song "PS5" back at him but also sings the verses everytime Kenma chooses to play with the gameboy rather than going out with him. He's soo dramatic about it.

‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎ ─── ⋆⋅♫⋅⋆ ───

It's me or the PS5

Tell me how you wanna spend your night

Tell me which of us is more your type

Seems like you can't decide

So if it's not me, then I'm probably gonna run it over

─── ⋆⋅♫⋅⋆ ───

He can't for the life of him catch a bus on time; it's like they run away from him.

He changes his wallpaper and lock screen image every week since he can't find one he likes enough to keep it for a longer time.

His handwriting is illegible. According to Lev, it looks like hieroglyphics.

His hair gets greasy real quick.

He only wears the glasses with blue light protector Kuroo got for him while he's there just not to get told off by him. After a while, he realized his eyes don't hurt that much so he wears them more often. He'll never tell Kuroo about it.

He's too lazy to cut the food with a knife and fork, so he eats it in bites.

He has the MOST beautiful laugh, the entire Nekoma nearly cry when they heard it for the first time. Kuroo did.

He convinced Shoyo to ask Asahi where he got his hairband because he's considering getting one or maybe tying his hair up. Shoyo doesn't want him to get bald.

He doesn't know how to swim. He's like a gremlin; you just don't get him wet by any circumstance.

He'd let his partner pluck his eyebrows for him; he'd find it relaxing.

You haven't seen a person who gives less of a shit about sports besides volleyball.

He ends up swallowing the chewing gum almost every time. He forgets he has it inside his mouth after a while and just gulps.

Thank you so much for this request! Thanks also for enjoying the hcs about Kuroo^^ Since I watched the Haikyuu movie, Kenma has grown on me as a character, so coming up with these was super fun. I love that we got to know him better, his struggles and thoughts, and oh my, that POV scene was simply cinema! He's so cute, and honestly, I see myself in him in many aspects; he's so relatable as one of the few introverted characters in Haikyuu. I hope you find these headcanons kinda accurate and entertaining <3 ⏤⏤ headcanons masterlist 🧭 navigation 📬∿ Requests are open and much appreciated! You can check my fandoms to ask for a poem, hcs and more about your fav characters and ships in Eng or Spa 𔘓 Credits: divider by @uzmacchiato ♡ banner template by @tinytowns

[missmaymay13]

serendipity - m.celebrini w.smith

⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻

m.celebrini x fem!oc | 2.5k

Summary: the two young sharks rookie decide to have an adventure before a game and end up getting lost. desperate and with no way back to the arena, they enlist the help of two girls who happened to be at the right place at the right time.

a/n: let me know if you guys would want a pt.2!

masterlist

⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻

The bus wasn’t even supposed to pull in for another two hours, but apparently, someone had either seriously messed up the schedule—or more likely, Will Smith had just misread it entirely—and now the San Jose Sharks found themselves standing awkwardly early outside Climate Pledge Arena. They looked like a group of over-dressed teenagers dropped off way too early for prom, loitering around the team bus in full game day suits, checking their phones, yawning, and stretching like they were about to step into a cage match instead of a professional hockey game.

"We are so painfully early," Macklin Celebrini muttered under his breath, tugging at the collar of his dress shirt like it had suddenly become sentient and was trying to strangle him. His gaze slid sideways toward Will, who stood a few feet away with the unearned enthusiasm of someone who clearly hadn’t gotten the memo that it was still barely morning.

Will’s eyes were practically sparkling with the energy of a golden retriever that just saw its leash. "This is fate," he announced dramatically, stuffing his phone into his pocket and turning to face Mack with a grin that could only mean trouble. "We’re exploring. There’s this TikTok-famous coffee shop, like, two blocks from here."

Mack raised an unimpressed eyebrow, already regretting every life choice that had led him to this moment. "You mean the one that’s always packed and impossible to find?"

Will’s grin only widened, that dangerous little glint in his eyes shining brighter. "Exactly. Come on, we’ve got time."

Mack groaned audibly. "We’ve got pre-game in two hours."

"Exactly!" Will beamed. "Time for a little adventure."

Against every rational thought in his brain, Mack followed him.

Thirty minutes later, the adventure had devolved into a slow-moving disaster. Will was spinning in circles on a cracked sidewalk like a malfunctioning GPS, pointing at random buildings. "I swear it was right here! This is exactly what it looked like in the video."

Mack, already freezing in his too-thin suit, tugged his jacket tighter around himself and leveled a withering glare at Will. "That video was probably filmed in 2022. There is no coffee here. There is no cozy aesthetic or magical TikTok oasis. There is only windburn, the smell of questionable alley hot dogs, and the creeping terror of being late to warm-ups."

Will waved him off with the blind confidence of a man who’d never admitted fault in his life. "We’re close, I swear. I’ve got this whole mental map."

"Your GPS skills are a hate crime," Mack muttered. "You've pointed at three identical brick buildings in a row and said 'it’s definitely that one.' I’m beginning to think you just want us to die before the game starts."

Will spun around, scanning the street again like it might suddenly reveal itself if he blinked hard enough. "Look, if we just take one more left—"

"You said that three turns ago. We’ve taken more lefts than a Nascar driver."

"Okay, rude, but fair," Will replied, unbothered, still leading them deeper into architectural nowhere.

Mack sighed deeply, the kind of exhale that carried the weight of regret and frostbite. "I’m never letting you near a map again. Ever."

Will glanced down at his phone and frowned. "Okay... Uber says the nearest ride is thirty minutes away."

Mack inhaled deeply, slowly, and said, "I hate you."

Will patted his shoulder like they were on a sitcom. "You love me."

"In the most begrudging way imaginable."

And then they turned the corner—and walked straight into fate.

Or rather, directly into two unsuspecting women holding coffee cups.

"Oh my god—are you kidding me?!" the taller girl yelped as she stumbled backward, miraculously managing not to spill a single drop of her drink. Her friend, a petite brunette with the sharpest blue eyes Mack had ever seen, caught her arm to steady her and immediately zeroed in on them with an unimpressed look.

"Dude, watch it—Jesus," she said, squinting up at Will and Mack like she was already ranking them on a scale of stupidity.

There was a silence. Not the regular kind. The kind that was drawn out, socially awkward, heavy with the weight of two people realizing they just knocked into two complete strangers while wearing thousand-dollar suits.

Will blinked. Mack looked like he wanted the sidewalk to swallow him whole.

Then Will tilted his head in a very exaggerated, very obvious way. Mack gave him a death glare. Will widened his eyes meaningfully. Mack sighed like a man who had resigned himself to whatever chaos was about to happen.

"Are you guys... having a stroke?" the short one asked, brows raised high.

Will grinned with zero shame. "Slightly. But actually—we were wondering if maybe you were headed near the arena? Like, soon?"

Mack practically hissed, "Dude," under his breath.

The taller girl, who was now regarding them with skeptical eyes, narrowed them even further. "This is a bad idea."

"We’re going to the game anyway," the shorter one—Issy—shrugged. "I mean, if you don’t mind sharing a backseat full of gym bags, thrifted records, and like, three water bottles that may or may not be from last week."

Will clapped his hands like she had just offered him a golden ticket. "You’re angels. Literal angels."

"This is how people get murdered," Mack muttered as they followed the girls toward a tiny hatchback parked nearby.

The inside of Issy’s car was best described as... lived-in. The backseat was an eclectic jungle of bags, clothing, a yoga mat, and something suspiciously glittery. Will, of course, had called shotgun before the door even opened. He was already playing with the aux cord, grinning like he’d won the lottery.

"Issy," he said, dramatically turning to her as she buckled in. "Do you believe in the unifying power of early 2010s pop?"

"Only every day of my life."

Mack climbed into the backseat, folding himself like a pretzel. Ari slid in after him, careful not to knock over the chaos occupying most of the seat.

"Sorry about the mess," she whispered, cheeks already turning pink.

"It’s fine," Mack replied quickly, eyes fixed on the back of the front seat as if avoiding eye contact would help his ears stop burning.

Issy peeled out of the lot like she was trying to qualify for NASCAR. Will screamed.

"DEAR GOD, USE YOUR BLINKER!"

"I LITERALLY DID!"

"THIS IS HOW I DIE!"

In the back, Mack gripped the side handle like a man on a rollercoaster. Ari tried to keep herself steady, but when Issy made a particularly sharp turn, she toppled sideways, colliding gently into Mack’s shoulder.

They both froze.

"S-sorry!" Ari stammered, pulling herself upright with comical speed, only to find her hand accidentally landing on his.

Her fingers touched his.

Time paused.

Her head snapped up, her eyes locked with his, and for a moment, the entire car disappeared. Then she yanked her hand back, face flushed to her ears, and turned to stare at the window like it had personally betrayed her.

Mack, meanwhile, was trying to remember how to breathe.

"You’re bad at directions," Issy said casually, breaking the moment from the front seat.

"You’re bad at driving," Will retorted.

"You screamed when I made a legal U-turn."

"Because you did it in front of a semi!"

Ari let out a soft laugh that warmed something in Mack’s chest. He glanced at her again, and when she looked back at him, they both smiled—shy and slow.

"You guys are something," she murmured.

"That’s one way to put it," he said, voice quiet, amused.

They screeched into the arena parking lot with a minute to spare. The boys practically fell out of the car, straightening their ties and brushing down their suits like they hadn’t just risked their lives for a cup of coffee that never even existed.

Issy leaned out the window, grinning. "You’re welcome for the worst Uber ride of your life."

Will winked. "Five stars. Would almost die again."

Mack turned to Ari, who was brushing crumbs off her lap. "Thanks... for not judging too hard."

She smiled, teasing. "Too late for that."

They laughed. It was quiet, awkward, and warm.

Then, as if coordinated, the boys whipped out their phones.

"Instagram or Snapchat?" Will asked.

"Both," Issy said, already pulling out hers.

Ari blinked. "Wait... are you—"

Will cut her off, voice smug. "If we win tonight, it’s because of this."

Ari rolled her eyes. Mack was still watching her.

She looked away.

He smiled.

The game hadn’t started yet.

But something else had.

⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻

The arena buzzed with pre-game energy, a low rumble of chatter and anticipation rippling through the crowd as Arabelle and Issy found their way to their seats. They were a few rows up behind the Kraken bench, with a perfect view of the ice and, more importantly, the chaos that was bound to ensue once the puck dropped. Issy flopped dramatically into her seat, taking a massive sip of her soda before turning toward Ari with a smug grin.

"Sooooo," she sing-songed, eyebrows waggling. "You and the Macklin were pretty cozy back there."

Ari didn’t even look at her. She just rolled her eyes and muttered, "Pretty sure that’s because we were jammed in next to a yoga mat and half your closet."

"Uh-huh," Issy said, all knowing. "I saw the moment. You touched hands. There was eye contact. Blushing."

Ari groaned. "Oh my god, you were watching us? No wonder we were swerving all over the place—you were too busy spying instead of looking at the damn road."

Issy burst out laughing, unapologetic. "Guilty. But seriously. Did you think he was cute?"

Ari hesitated for a second, then sighed. "I mean... yeah. Obviously. He’s gorgeous."

Issy turned, fully facing her now with wide, expectant eyes.

"But he lives in San Jose, Iss," Ari added quickly. "He’s an NHL superstar. I’m just some random girl who gave him and his buddy a ride because they were too dumb to plan ahead. He probably has a thousand girls throwing themselves at him every day. He’s not interested."

Issy snorted, but before she could respond, the lights dropped and the arena erupted in cheers.

The game began, and with each shift, Ari tried to keep her focus on the action—on the Kraken, the fans, anything that wasn’t the fact that every single time Macklin Celebrini skated near the bench, he looked up. And not just a passing glance. It was direct. Intentional. Like he was checking to make sure she was still there.

And every time it happened, Ari felt her cheeks heat up in an embarrassing, impossible-to-ignore way. She’d duck her head, biting the inside of her cheek to keep from smiling, but Issy noticed. Of course she noticed.

"He’s looking at you again," Issy whispered.

"Shut up."

"You shut up. I think he just smiled."

"Issy."

"I’m just saying!"

The game ended in a tight 3-2 win for the Kraken, and as the final buzzer sounded, Ari clapped and cheered with everyone else. But there was a little pang of disappointment she wasn’t expecting as Mack disappeared down the tunnel.

"We are not going home yet," Issy declared, grabbing Ari’s hand as they exited the arena. "There’s this bar like two blocks away that always has cheap drinks after home games."

"I’m not even dressed to go out."

"Neither are half the people there. Let’s go."

Ari, too emotionally drained to fight it, followed.

The bar was cozy, crowded, and loud—the kind of place where conversations happened over thumping bass and neon signs. About an hour in, they were nursing cocktails and split fries when the door opened with a gust of cold air and a sudden shift in energy.

A group of men stepped in, all tall, all effortlessly cool in jeans and jackets. And very, very familiar.

"No. Way," Issy whispered, her eyes locked on the door.

"What?"

Issy reached for her phone, typing furiously. "That’s them. That’s like—half the Sharks. Oh my god."

Ari’s stomach flipped as she scanned the group. Sure enough, there was Will, laughing about something, and right behind him—Macklin.

Before she could fully process it, Will spotted them. He grinned, said something to Mack, and the two peeled off from the group, heading straight toward their table like this was totally normal.

Will dropped into the chair next to Issy without hesitation, throwing an arm across the back of it like he belonged there. Mack approached more slowly, still a little cautious, and took the seat next to Ari.

"Hey," he said with a shy smile. "Didn’t expect to see you here."

"Seattle’s a small town," Ari replied, her heart doing somersaults. "Or you’re just following us."

"Maybe a little of both."

Meanwhile, Issy and Will had already descended into a whirlwind of laughter, bickering about music, road trips, and something about cheese fries.

Ari and Mack sat in their own little bubble of quiet. It wasn’t uncomfortable, but it wasn’t exactly effortless yet either. After a few beats, Ari leaned in slightly.

"You played great out there. Sorry you guys lost."

Mack shrugged, smile sheepish. "I knew what I was signing up for when I signed that contract. Sharks are a work in progress."

"Still," she said. "You looked good."

He looked down for a second, then back up at her. "Thanks. That means a lot."

The conversation started to flow from there—easier, looser. They talked about Seattle, about the road schedule, about how exhausting it was to live out of hotel rooms. They talked about Ari’s job, her favorite places to eat in the city, how she used to play rec soccer before an ankle injury sidelined her. Gradually, they leaned in closer, shoulders brushing now and then, smiles wide and easy.

Then—WHACK.

A large hand clapped Macklin’s back, nearly sending him face-first into the table.

"There you guys are!" William Eklund, clearly a drink or two in, leaned heavily on the table. "Come play pool. We need more people. Come onnnn."

Will was already dragging Issy toward the tables before either girl could protest.

"You in?" Mack asked, glancing at Ari.

"I guess I don’t have a choice."

They stood together at a nearby high-top as Will and Eklund went head-to-head in a truly chaotic round of pool. Ari and Mack stayed close, still chatting, their laughter blending easily into the noise around them.

Ari glanced up at him, his face lit by the neon overhead light, smiling in a way that felt entirely too dangerous.

Oh god, she thought. This is not good.

She couldn’t catch feelings for a guy who lived thousands of miles away. Who belonged in a different world. One where cameras followed him, fans adored him, and his time wasn’t really his own. She was just... Ari. A girl with a beat-up car and a spontaneous streak. This couldn’t be anything.

Right?

As the night wound down and the crowd thinned, Mack leaned a little closer, his voice low.

"I really enjoyed getting to know you tonight."

Ari’s breath caught. She tucked a piece of hair behind her ear, trying to play it cool. "Me too."

Before anything more could be said, Will and Issy reappeared, cheeks flushed from laughing.

"Ugh," Issy groaned. "Why does the night have to end?"

Will turned to the girls. "What are you doing in February? During our All-Star break?"

Ari blinked. "We’re going to Boston. Visiting a few friends. Probably going to the Beanpot."

Will and Mack exchanged a look and smiled.

Ari squinted at them. "Why are you smiling like that? It’s weird."

Mack tilted his head. "We’re going to be in Boston too. Watching the Beanpot."

Issy gasped. "Shut up."

"Seriously?" Ari asked.

Will nodded. "Guess we’ll see you there."

Before the girls could even fully process that, Mack added, "We’re doing a quick golf trip to Arizona the next week too, during the break. You guys should come."

Issy looked at Ari. Ari looked at Issy.

The look said everything: Why not?

They grinned.

"Sure," Ari said. "Why not."

Whatever this was—it was just beginning.

[sugrhigh]

BOY NEXT DOOR 2 - ( c.s )

part one

summary- you and your roommates live beside a bunch of senior hockey players, one of them being the infamous team captain chris sturniolo. he’s effortlessly flirty and undeniably attractive, but he’s also a pain in your ass. you find that you have to fight between lust and hatred as you finally get to know the boy next door, whether you want to or not.

warnings- swearing, kissing, that’s it i think

neighbor/hockey!chris x fem!reader

a/n: PART TWOOOOO!!!! i hope u guys like this series i’m having a lot of fun with it (and s/o to my girl @cutenote for letting me use her name). self-indulged this chapter and made the reader a flyers fan so SRY but anyways, enjoy! next thing im putting out is a matt request and then i’ll be working on this series and the tattooartist!reader x matt series. if you have other reqs, questions, confessions, etc, my inbox is open 🫶🏻

@cutenote @mattsmunch @mattybsbitch @breeloveschris @st7rnioioss

your stomach flips as you stare in the mirror, twisting and turning every which way to make sure you look alright. you’re in one of chris’s jerseys, repping the scarlet and white colors of boston university, complete with the little ‘C’ emblem for captain.

he left it in your mailbox earlier on his way to the arena, demanding that you wear it instead of the BU sweatshirt you had planned on going in. so you listened to him, even though you’re not really sure why.

your hair and makeup are all done, contrary to the last time chris saw you, when you were in his house threatening to call the cops. it feels performative, getting all dressed up for something you don’t even want to go to.

but what the hell, you hadn’t seen the team play at all this year, and if you look your best you’ll feel your best. at least, that’s what you convinced yourself would happen.

“are you done up there? we need to leave, games gonna start soon!” one of your roommates calls from the living room.

you sigh and turn away from your own reflection so you can head for the stairs. cassidy and ramona are both waiting for you on the couch as you round the corner, also decked out in BU merch.

you’re just lucky you had been able to convince them both to come with you, so you don’t have to stand by yourself.

“took you long enough.” cassidy mumbles under her breath as she stretches her legs and stands up.

mona mimicks her movements, but not without shooting her a glare. “be nice, she’s obviously nervous.”

“no i’m not!” you protest, and now they both give you an eye roll as they pass you to get their coats from the closet.

“your voice just went up ten octaves.” cass snarks.

you are anxious, but it’s just because of the unknown. you still haven’t figured out what chris is angling at, besides maybe sleeping with you, which isn’t gonna happen. well, probably not at least.

no, not ever. oh my god.

“i’m not nervous. i just wish i could back out.” you double down, turning to see them both pulling on their big winter jackets.

“you used to love hockey, you just don’t like chris. one game won’t kill you.” ramona replies.

“and you also didn’t have to agree.”

this accusation makes your face flush, in embarrassment and in denial. “he wouldn’t have stopped that party if i didn’t. and you know i could never actually call the cops.”

ramona stays silent as cass laces up her shoes. “whatever you say babe. you look cute in his jersey either way.”

“cassidy!” you whine in exasperation.

“i’m honestly not sorry.”

the entire walk to the get to the game is spent harassing you, which is a solid twenty minutes because you live off campus. ramona does try to keep it to a minimum, though you can’t really blame them for the questions. you have them too.

it’s always been weird with you and chris. you hate his attitude, how people fall to his feet like he’s some sort of god. you can’t stand the way he talks to you like he can read your mind, or how you always catch him staring at your lips just so he can pretend like he wasn’t.

he does it to every girl, and you don’t know why he’s taking all of these extra steps to try and get you into bed.

maybe because you see through it, and you don’t want any part of him. he said it himself, he doesn’t want a relationship, and you’re not looking to get an STD, so you don’t know why he’s bothering.

you finally arrive at the facility, and your stomach flips. tons of people are out tonight, of course. the sun is long gone with it being winter and all, so the lights are extra overwhelming as you step inside.

you head through security and scan your passes, ones that are specifically right beside the student section in the very front. chris gifted them to you for free since you didn’t get season tickets, right by the glass so he knows where you are.

even when you were a pain in the ass and insisted you needed two more for your roommates, he made it work. it was a little impressive.

you find your seats, and the boys are already on the ice warming up. you spot chris from the jersey number, 3, and you can see his long hair poking out from underneath his helmet.

he’s focused on taking a practice shot, but as he skates by the glass afterwards you see him looking, like he isn’t sure if you showed up. but then he finds you, and you can actually see his stupid smile.

he waves, just a tiny one, before he goes right back to drills. you’re thankful he didn’t make it dramatic, because you know there’s plenty of girls in the stands who want him, and have probably already been with him.

you each take your coats off and hang them on your chairs. you know the fact that you having his last name plastered across your back doesn’t help the attention, but people can think what they want.

you don’t give a fuck. cassidy was right, it’s cuter on you anyways.

they head into the locker room quickly after your arrival, and even more people fill in to watch the show. the student section is loud as the facility finally goes dark, and the team skates back onto the ice moments later.

spotlights flood the stadium, highlighting different players as both teams line up along the neutral zone. you cheer extra loud when they announce the starting lineup and call chris’s name, even despite your vendetta against him.

no use being a shitty fan if you’re already here.

they get ready for the face off after the national anthem, and BU gets the puck. it’s back and forth for a while, and you find yourself groaning and cheering with the rest of the crowd during every play.

the first goal of the game is scored within fifteen minutes, by one of his other roommates ben, of all people. you and your friends are jumping around like maniacs, and you can see him laughing at you guys after they’re all done celebrating on the ice.

it makes you wonder if chris told them you’d be here, but you force yourself to eat the popcorn cass bought and stop thinking about it.

the second period begins and BU keeps possession for most of it, pretty much dominating their opponent. in the final thirty seconds, chris drives down the rink to score another goal.

you throw your hands up without thinking, and you let the excitement take over. “fuck yeah!”

cassidy and ramona are screaming too, shaking you by the shoulders wildly.

he comes skating over, pointing right at you as he does a lap near the student section. heads turn, and you can literally feel people staring at you now, even despite the noise and the chaos.

but you’re alive, and you can’t get enough of this environment, so you keep cheering for him regardless of the burning feeling of eyes on you.

“that was cute.” ramona nudges you with a genuine smile, and you’re fighting your own grin as you shake your head.

“whatever.”

the rest of the game is swift. your goalie makes a couple great saves, and a guy named dylan, who you’ve met before at parties, scores the final point of the night.

it just twists the knife further, because it’s a total shutout. the fans go wild as the final buzzer sounds, and you’re right there with them. you relish in the lights, the feeling.

you really did miss watching hockey in person. and you can’t even say you necessarily hate watching chris anymore. there’s just something about the way he skates, so locked in on the game.

he’s a threat, to be completely honest, and you kind of love it.

“that was fucking crazy.” cassidy is beaming happily as you guys gather your things ten minutes post-game, and ramona nods along.

“we’re gonna have to do this more often.” she glances at you with hope.

“hey, don’t look at me. i’m in it for the free tickets, and i’m not sure how long that’ll last.” you’re lying through your teeth, because you enjoyed it just as much.

but again. who knows what he’s really trying to do here.

“you could give him the benefit of the doubt.” mona suggests dryly.

“does he really deserve it? he’s going to think he’s the shit either way.” you point out, and she goes quiet.

“maybe that’s true, but i’ve never heard of him doing whatever that celebration was with other girls.” cassidy takes over, and she’s honestly check-mated you.

it is strange, because when you watched games last season, before you had chris as your neighbor, before you even really knew of him, you hadn’t ever seen that. and from current knowledge, you’re pretty sure he had a short term girlfriend during one of those months.

“touché, i guess.” you grumble, and as if right on que your phone vibrates in your pocket.

chris

wait for me, 15 mins max

ramona and cassidy take the bus home, leaving you on your lonesome as the crowd clears out slowly but surely.

you can hear girls whispering about you as they walk by, but it’s not even worth it. you’re not scared of what they have to say. maybe when you were younger, you would have reacted, but it’s just displaced jealousy anyways.

they don’t even know the truth.

finally, after what feels like a painful amount of time, you get a text from chris with directions toward the locker rooms.

it’s far more quiet now as you make your way to the ground level of the arena, headed to the section of the rink you know is closed off to pretty much everyone else. there’s a guy standing there, dressed in his black shirt with the facility logo on it.

he goes to stop you, but chris comes strutting through the hall, out of uniform now. his brown hair is all messy, and he’s dressed down in a matching black sweat set.

“she’s cool, i have a pass for her.”

he walks right up to you, looping a red lanyard over your head. his fingertips brush the skin of your neck as he collects your hair with his hands, flipping it out from underneath the string for you.

it’s a small thing. his touch is barely there, and yet it still burns.

the security guy smiles at you as you follow chris down the hall. you’ve never been back here before, and you have to admit it’s kind of cool.

you can see where the arena workers go on and off the ice, and the large garage type doors that let the zambonis in and out.

“so.” he breaks the silence, and you almost jump at the sound of his voice.

you were in your own world, and you kind of forgot what was actually going on here.

“so.” you parrot, waiting for him to continue as he leads you around a corner.

“looked like you actually had fun for once.” chris jokes, and you shove his shoulder half-heartedly.

“shut up, i’ve always liked hockey. you though? i’m not so sure.” you give him a look and he opens his mouth like he’s shocked.

“come on, i pointed you out after my goal and everything. you’re telling me you didn’t like it even a little?”

you liked it more than you care to admit, so you don’t. “it’s gonna take more than that to impress me, christopher, but i will say it was a good game.”

“you might just be our lucky charm.” chris glances at you out of the corner of the corner of his eye as he slows to a stop in front of the locker room.

you cross your arms over your chest. “now you're just patronizing me.”

“always assuming the worst.”

“well, you make it easy.” you tease.

he pauses to look down at your defensive stance, at his jersey all scrunched up around your body, and you can tell by his smirk that he’s loving it a little too much.

you clear your throat to try and alleviate some of the tension and chris snaps out of it, turning to head through the little entryway.

“i’m gonna grab my bag, don’t go anywhere.”

“you’re my ride, dumbass.” you remind him, and you hear his chuckle reverberate against the walls as he disappears.

a few players head out as you wait, ones you don’t recognize, and they nod at you politely as they chat amongst themselves. it actually takes you by surprise, but you try not to show it.

chris comes back into the hall a minute later, bag slung around his shoulder. he’s got a black bruins beanie on now, and you raise an eyebrow instinctively.

“why are you looking at me like that?” he asks, waving his hand so you follow him further down the wide corridor.

“your hat.” you point, and he looks offended.

“what’s your problem with it?”

“not everyone who goes to school here is actually from boston, genius. i’m a flyers fan.” you smile at him sweetly, and he literally groans.

“how did i not know this?” he asks as you guys reach the door that leads to the team parking lot.

“because you don’t know me.” you reply swiftly.

chris pushes the door open and holds it for you, another move you don’t expect. “i know more than you think.”

you shiver slightly as you step past him into the cold, wrapping your coat around yourself a bit tighter.

“if it helps you sleep at night.” you chirp over your shoulder.

you know his car, a black jeep grand cherokee that you’ve always been a little jealous of, and it’s sitting in the middle of the lot. not many others are still here, and you can hear both of your feet kicking up gravel as you walk.

chris picks up his pace so he can beat you there, swinging the passenger door open before you can do it yourself.

“wow, chivalry’s not dead.” you say blankly, sliding into the seat so he can close you in.

“what can i say, i’m a real gentleman.”

the interior smells like a pine air freshener, which actually isn’t a bad touch. chris walks around so he can toss his bag in the back and get behind the wheel, starting the engine and peeling out of the spot.

it’s quiet for a moment, aside from the music, and you can’t help but peek over at him sitting across from you. the shadows accentuate his striking features as he mumbles lyrics under his breath, nodding his head along ever so slightly.

he looks pretty, and you don’t like it one bit.

“i can feel you staring at me, you know.” chris turns to glance at you for a brief moment before he puts his eyes back on the road.

it makes your palms sweat, because he caught you in the act and now there’s no shying away.

deny, deny, deny.

“just wondering why your face looks like that.”

“what, devilishly handsome?” he smirks.

“i was thinking gremlin-esque, but sure.” you deadpan, and he just shakes his head and laughs lowly.

“so scared of your own feelings. it’s cute.”

it’s a major call-out, and it normally doesn’t phase you. but tonight it’s different. he’s being so fucking strange, and it’s clearly been messing with your head.

“i’m not scared of shit, because the only thing i feel is sorry for all the girls who have actually fallen for this.” you retort, and the frustration is clear in your voice.

“other girls don’t get the princess treatment like you do.” his self-satisfied demeanor doesn’t falter for a second, even despite your low blow.

“yeah, right. i’m sure i’m really special.”

chris grips the wheel tighter as he turns onto your street, and you have to rip your eyes away from his long fingers.

“well you’re the only one who’s ever worn my jersey, so that’s something.” he admits, scratching his neck absentmindedly.

you’re not sure whether you believe it, but this time he actually does sound genuinely nervous. well, nervous for chris.

“and i wear it best too.” you brush some imaginary dust off of your shoulder as he pulls up into his driveway and puts the car in park.

“won’t argue on that one.” he shrugs, shooting you an easy grin.

“that’s surprising.”

you step back out into the crisp night air, slamming the door shut behind you. you meet chris at the front of the car and try to move around him, headed for your own place.

he takes a step to block you, eyebrows furrowed in confusion. “where are you going?”

you put some distance between your bodies, because he’s once again too close for comfort, and it’s hard to focus on your words when he’s inches from your face.

“home, obviously.”

“why? i thought we were going to hang out.” he frowns.

“nothing good ever happens in your house past nine p.m.”

this makes him smirk. “very good things happen in that house past nine p.m.”

“your charm is irresistible, truly.” you bite back sarcastically, maneuvering around him as you try to ignore the fire burning in your stomach.

you’ve only taken two steps before chris grabs your arm, pulling you back into his chest quickly. his other hand goes to hold the side of your face, tangling in your hair as he leans in close.

his lips ghost over yours, just barely. you can smell the cologne he must have put on after the game, can feel his slight stubble scratching your face, and it’s all too much.

you haven’t been kissed in so long, and right now it doesn’t matter that it’s chris, and that it goes against everything you stand for. your eyes flutter closed and you fill the gap, pressing your mouth against his hard.

it shocks him, so much so that he almost forgets how to do this properly. chris can taste your berry chapstick, and your lips are so much fucking softer than he even imagined.

his tongue slides against yours skillfully, deepening the kiss as he presses his body flush against yours. you can feel his thumb brushing your cheek as your mouths clash together continuously. its passionate and angry and intense, and you can’t believe it’s happening.

why is this happening?

the thought snaps you out of it, and you put your hand on his chest to force him away roughly. chris is surprised, and you’re both slack-jawed and breathing heavily as your body tries to catch up with your brain.

“i…i’m gonna go.” you mumble quietly, because you have no idea what else to say.

“or you could stay.”

“i don’t want to.”

“you’re a terrible liar.” he counters, and you can see how raw and red his lips are even in the moonlight.

you shake your head and turn toward your own front porch. it’s too hard to continue meeting his fiery gaze, because he’s looking at you like he actually needs you.

“goodnight, chris.”

“this isn’t over, you know. one day you’ll finally admit it.” he calls after you, and you don’t gratify him with a response.

there’s nothing that’ll change his mind, especially after you had actually caved in during that moment of weakness. it was so unwarranted, and you’re angry that kissing him didn’t feel as wrong as it should have.

you take the steps two at a time and hurry through the door, closing it behind you and pressing your back to the wood.

your fingers dance across your lips, and you swear you can still feel his mouth on yours.

[multiheadcanons]

PACK A BAG WITH THE MERCS

scout: tiny black backpack. holds his gun and twenty bucks. a comb, a compact mirror, and two condoms. his ID, his passport, and a prepaid gift card with 37 cents on it. a comic book, an extra mag, and a crumpled piece of paper with his family’s phone numbers on it. an extra set of engineer’s goggles. an extra set of sniper’s aviators. a broken pencil and a bottle of unlabeled pills. it’s aleve. a pack of gum and one loose cigarette.

soldier: fanny pack but he carries it like an orc’s club. his ID, his checkbook, a gram of cocaine, a used syringe missing its needle, and $100 bucks cash. aside from these things, it is filled to the brim with rocks, animal teeth and bullets, used and unused.

pyro: hello kitty novelty ita bag. packed with pins. coin purse full of pennies, no silver coins. minimum of five lighters in different colors. matchbox. aerosol spray can. pack of colored pencils. small bottle of water, smaller coloring book. hair barrettes. dog ty beanie baby. pack of stamps. a charcuterie fork they stole from a restaurant. two loose bandaids, some hydrogen peroxide, an open pack of mike and ikes, and three mints.

demo: a fanny pack and he wears it correctly. his checkbook, his ID, his shit list, and a dud of a prototype of a small bomb that he abandoned the ideals of long ago but he tells himself he’ll come back to it. a pen, and two rolls of quarters. the deed to a lake house in michigan he won in a poker game. a walkman, and five shooters of various liquors. a large folding knife, a set of small bolt cutters, and an extra black eyepatch. in case he loses the one he has on.

heavy: small cooler bag he wears across his back, “misha” neatly embroidered in red. two water bottles, a bag of cheez-its, and a sleeve of peanut butter crackers, a couple oranges and a small bag of grapes if he made a stop at the grocery store recently. $50 bill. ID, debit and credit card, and a checkbook. passport. a white feather, two pens, and a box cutter. small flask of vodka. two unused shotgun shells, a keltec PMR30, and a loose earring. microfiber cloth, small notepad littered intermittently with russian, not written on the lines.

engineer: a simple brown leather pouch he attaches to his belt loop with a carabiner. he keeps his ID, his checkbook, his passport, anywhere from ten to thirty dollars in cash, various amounts of change, the keys to his truck, and a couple extra bullets in case they’re ever needed. he’ll occasionally slip a small screwdriver or wrench in there for on the go fixes, but he is usually also taking his toolbox wherever he’s going.

medic: black leather satchel. contains $250 american cash in small bills; and €150 euros. and a roll of quarters. a travel first aid kit, a shooter of vodka, a bottle of water, and a biohazard trash bag. ibuprofen, acetaminophen, and either two tabs of acid, an eight ball of cocaine, or a loose, unlabeled pill. probably xanax. could also be tylenol. he will take it regardless. a white feather, a small pocket knife, his passport, and a wallet, containing an old photo of times long gone, a photo of the team, a fake ID, and three credit cards that do not have his name on them.

sniper: his pockets. wallet containing his ID, his american driver’s license, his insurance, up to $500 cash and a small photo of his parents. keys in opposite pocket. sometimes a receipt or two. everything else is in his van, and if he’s going somewhere, he’s taking his own vehicle.

spy: mid size clutch purse. two packs of cheap cigarettes, one menthol one not. $50 american dollars. a baby photo and a photo of a woman in a blue dress. three separate passports with different names, four credit cards with other names. none of them are his. his knife and revolver. pocket atlas, and a faded contact book of numbers that don’t work anymore. an out of date bus pass, and a ticket to a concert he never went to.

[sunarots]

taste ━━━ suna rintarou & miya osamu

11. people change ♡

"Hey, wake up."

Your eyes flutter open as someone lightly nudges you awake, a hand rest on your knee. You lift your head from Osamu's shoulder, rubbing the sleep from your eyes to wake yourself up. "Sorry, was I asleep for long? You should've woken me up." You wait for Osamu to get out of his seat before shuffling from the window seat, taking your rucksack from him as he grabs his own.

"Wake you? I'm not that dumb. I've heard the stories," he scoffs, leading you off the bus. Though he's not looking, he knows the exact look on your face.

You follow him with a scowl. "I'm not that bad..."

"You are," Kuroo agrees, hauling your suitcase and his towards you. "You have the itinerary handy?"

You nod your head and rummage in your bag, pulling out the crumpled sheet of paper. You lead Kuroo to the front of the group, comparing the time on your phone to the timeline on the sheet. "Damn, we lost some time. I said to everyone to use the toilet before we left, but did they listen?"

"They never listen to you," Kuroo teases, lightly nudging your arm.

Rolling your eyes and dismissing his comment, you wait for everyone to gather around you and Kuroo before proving him wrong. "Okay, everyone! We're late to the games but we're in time for dinner. You all have your room assignments, drop off your bags and get settled. We'll meet in the common area in ten minutes with Sendai's team and make our way there together. Be on your best behaviour, just because coach is sick doesn't mean we can slack off and misbehave. Any questions?" You spot Bokuto's hand shoot up, already knowing what he'd ask - again. "No, Bokuto, you cannot share with Akaashi. We've been over this. Now, go get settled. If you need me, I'll be in room seven with Sendai's manager. I'll see you all soon."

You hang back, waiting for Osamu to send his brother off into the unknown so he can walk you inside. Atsumu goes bounding off ahead, almost tripping up a step on the way. You bite back a laugh and turn to Osamu, now by your side. "Maybe he'll get lost."

He switches his case from one hand to the other to drape it around your neck. "One can dream. So, who are you rooming with?"

"Sendai's manager. We've met a couple times, all the managers have a group chat...well, the girl ones. Kuroo keeps up with the guys," you explain, smiling at the student holding the door for you both. You lead him past the common room and towards the dorm.

"Why does Kuroo keep up with the men?"

"Because they're just so... Weird. They act crazy." You glance over your shoulder to make sure no one's following. "So, what's the plan? With me and you, I mean. We need to try make it really convincing for everyone. Well, I'll probably tell Kiyoko because we're always gossiping, but everyone else needs convincing."

"Well, I think if I kiss you on the cheek at some point when people are looking it could give Iwaizumi a stroke," he comments, a smile tugging at his lips at the thought. "I know he's not the target, but it would be funny."

"That would be funny." You knock a couple times on the door to the dorm room, turning to face him. "We can do that tomorrow morning. That would wake everyone up."

"Or kill someone..." He pauses in consideration and turns to you as the door opens. "Worth it."

"Who are you killing? I'd rather not harbour a fugitive." Kiyoko keeps one hand on the door as she eyes you suspiciously. "Unless it's Rubi. In that case, I can be your alibi."

"See? This is why Kuroo deals with the men and I befriend the women. We stick together," you tell Osamu before properly greeting Kiyoko. "Thanks for letting me room with you again!"

Kiyoko waves a hand and opens the door for you to step inside. "It's no problem. I like not having to share my dorm, but it's nice to have a guest once in a while."

"I'll see you in the common room with everyone else, okay? If Atsumu's late, kill him for me." You flash Osamu a smile before closing the door to the dorm, leaning back against the door.

Kiyoko has her arms crossed over her chest, a smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "Is that pretty boy? He's cute."

"Hey, back off! You have one already." You lightly swat at her arm, pulling your case over to the empty bed and setting it on top. "How is he?"

Kiyoko sits on her bed, eyes scanning over the pictures on the wall. "He's good. He's enjoying his course and likes being able to have more control in the team. I think he was excited to see Iwaizumi-san and exchange tips." As she speaks, she watches you pull out a bag of toiletries from the case. "But enough about Ryu. How is Osamu?"

Instantly, you press your lips into a tight line. "Well... We're pretending. No one knows but you. Also, Ugly and Osamu has a fight and Osamu called him Ugly."

Kiyoko's jaw drops open as you speak, scouring her mental dictionary for an appropriate reaction. "Oh my- You're faking? Is that a good idea?"

You shrug your shoulders after a moment of thought, settling at the edge of the bed. "I mean, maybe?"

"Is this because he doesn't like you back?"

You gasp more dramatically than intended, hand on your chest. "I'll have you know that he liked me when I first started dating Ugly."

"But does he like you now? People change, y/n."

# fun fact !

kiyoko tries to stop y/n from getting too lost in her perfect world after hearing about suna

masterlist. previous | next

summary. when your ex starts dating your least favourite person on campus, your ex-best friend from high school, you can’t help but feel a little betrayed. you quickly realise a way to get back at him: his best friend.

taglist (open!). @v3nusplanetofluv @mdmraz @thoughtswithbbg @fireinyoureye @wakashudou @jisookdays @tespho @frootloopscos @gigiiiiislife @walllflowerrrsss @tangerinelovr @datonegaybestfriend @sturnprincess @jpegarchives @justanotherweeb666 @1yeah1 @rrosiitas @yuu-via @zazathezaer @softpia @animenaces-world @loveelylani @punkhazardlaw @to-dino @nanamis-right-tiddie @aboutkiyoomi @arusio @aloore @dailyakira @alexithemiyatic

[holyblonded]

Kyra bothering everyone in the tillies camp and then hiding behind chickie so as not to get scolded because no one stays mad at chickie

— kyra is relentless in camp, like a bored little sibling with too much energy and not enough outlets. she’s poking people during stretching, flinging grapes at sam during lunch, hiding mini boots, and stealing steph’s coffee just to see what’ll happen

— whenever someone finally snaps and turns around to scold her, kyra is already halfway behind chickie, casually holding her arm like “i’m innocent actually” while chickie just stands there blinking like a confused deer

— chickie, bless her soul, has no idea what’s going on 90% of the time. she’s like “why’s everyone looking at me like that” and kyra’s peeking out from behind her with the most smug grin

— steph will march over all stern and ready to lecture, but then chickie looks up at her with those big guilty eyes even though she didn’t do anything and steph just sighs, rubs her temples, and mutters “you’re lucky she’s cute.”

— macca doesn’t even bother anymore, she just points at kyra and says “you better get your little menace away from me” and chickie’s like “she’s not that bad” while kyra is actively untying her shoelaces behind her back

— sam is onto kyra’s tricks though. she’ll be like “chickie, move” and chickie’s like “what? why?” and sam deadpans “so i can yeet kyra into the ocean”

— once kyra accidentally locked ellie in the bathroom stall and when ellie finally got out and came storming into the hallway, kyra just jumped behind chickie like “protection please” and chickie, totally unaware, gave ellie a lil wave like “hi!”

— kyra almost got them both in trouble with caitlin once but chickie looked so panicked at the thought of getting scolded she immediately folded and caitlin ended up apologizing to her somehow while kyra stood there grinning

— whenever they’re on the bus, kyra’s the one starting games like “let’s prank call our coaches” or “truth or dare but if you don’t answer you have to sing in front of the whole squad” and chickie’s just like “okay!” because she has no idea she’s being dragged into chaos

— eventually the whole team just accepts that if chickie’s nearby, kyra is probably up to no good and using her as a human shield. leah once called it “emotional camouflage” and honestly, it’s accurate

[midnight1nk]

So, this week's episode...

[spoilers below cut]

Casino plot?! LET'S GOOOOOO

It's giving WOTFI 2023 (one of my fave wotfi's) so I respect the hustle :)

...wait, why isn't "SMG4:" in the title anymore? Team, why isn't it there? Team? TEAM?!

(the following is my live reaction:)

why is Mario's face so me rn like ???

Brothers, your honor

it's so realistic how siblings turn something so casual into a competition only bc there are stakes now, we love to see it (hey, it takes one to know one)

...oh. huh. "Why are you taking it so seriously? It's just 4 memeing." I know. It's just, uh.... [*flashback noises*]

[SMG4 Episode Concept #5 // X _ X ]

...we gotta go 🏃‍➡️ GET OUT GET OUT /ref

OH GOD THE TEAM KNOWS! THEY READ MY FIC! IS THIS WHAT I GET FOR WRITING A GOOP!4 TIMELINE?

no no, i'm joking. I'm sure it's just 4 live memeing, that's all. but hey uh Team, I wouldn't mind if you leak the script/storyboards to me. For research purposes ofc, and totally not to keep my sanity at bay or make it worse somehow

(at this point, chat, just shove me in the basement. just do it)

what if i start crying? then what?

is it really that easy to get me hooked? yeah probably. all you really gotta do is serve me (found) family and I'm in

LET'S GO GAMBLING ᕕ( ᐛ )ᕗ

YEP, it really is giving Casino Paisano (ik it's not really, but still)

oh hey, 3! whatcha doing here?

g r a b

also 3, while it is incredibly wholesome of you to think of your son's education, you shouldn't be gambling (i seriously think he used all the cafe's income for this smh /affectionate)

now i'm just imagining Eggdog going to school and Three getting emotional, "That's my son right there, so smart and talented! Just like his dad :)" and shows off his PhD in psychology (written in crayon) to probably 4

actually, seeing 3 here, i was half-expecting him to be in his wotfi suit (listen, i ADORE those wotfi suits)

money money money

look at this dude:

:D

I wanna squish him like playdoh 💙

well, I mean, he's not wrong. it did work last time:

Applying a cheat in the rigged game cancels each other out, and leaves you with luck and chance

Truly a win-win. The more you know 💫

LET'S GO GAMBLING ᕕ( ᐕ )ᕗ

AYYY we got some cameos here in the background!! Let's see: Waluigi and Wario, Karen, Bob, Melony, and Kaizo! Good to see them again

I do love the idea of Bob and Melony being besties. honestly, personally hc that they're found siblings (and I will write them that way)

y'know it's really bad when 3, of all people, telling you that you're betting too much smh

welp time to fade away ✌️

HOLY SHIT MARIO IN LEGGY FORM

i honestly did not see that coming. i think it might be a one-time bit but who knows? the same was said with Leggy and here we are

oh hey it's Cube (the penguin). here to gamble too?

(sooooo cube, about the showgrounds map...)

hey! no snitching, Mario didn't even win!

LUIGI?! (why am I surprised? I shouldn't be)

...yeah that makes sense

KEANU REEVES?!

rules are rules, Mario. just bc you're his brother, it doesn't mean you get a free pass

final boss: connect 4

IT COMES BACK FULL CIRCLE BABYYYYY

damn he really is good, game over bro

YES I CAN, WATCH ME [*explodes into confetti*]

oh wait, give me a sec:

writer!ink: "And eventually, Luigi played so well that the next move Mario makes, Luigi would win regardless with another line of his chips he strategically prepared." producer!ink: "Wow, well, I bet it's going to be hard for Mario to turn this around." writer!ink: "Actually, it's going to be super easy, barely an inconvenience." producer!ink: "Oh really?" writer!ink: "We're just going to bring back the cheat tactic 3 brought up earlier."

producer!ink: "Oh, I guess it really was that easy." writer!ink: "Yeah, by throwing 3 under the bus. :)" producer!ink: "What?" writer!ink: "Anyway, Mario's going to pull that move from one of those Pixar animated shorts and switch the game up."

this could literally go so many ways with Luigi, i don't even know

OH, Mario won? well ig congrats(???)

"only in the SMG4 universe 😀👍" [*insert laugh track*]

at least he gets to have his hat back

hate to break it to you, Luigi, but ✨NOPE✨

LET'S GO GAMBLINGGGGG ᕕ( ᐛ )ᕗ  ᐠ( ᐛ )ᐟ ᕕ( ᐕ )ᕗ

HOLD UP, is that who I think it is?

ENHANCE.... YEP, Shadow, I knew you animated this part LOL

I mean, I already did based on Mario's expression but sneaking in a Waggy cameo here... I respect the hustle, dude. big fan of your AU 💙

Congrats to ggf0ur for your art being featured in the end credits🎉 *chess kiss*

.・-: ✧ :--: ✧ :-・.

Such a good episode we got, just a silly casino adventure with a side of cheat tactics on the side. And hey, a main focus on Mario, Luigi, and 3! we love to see it :)

But one day, we'll get a girlies-centered episode (happy international women's day). screw it, i might write it!

Oh, the mystery of the title? What is up with that anyway? There has to be a reason why it's excluded this time. The most probable is that they forgot to add it in, pretty reasonable. But the speculation I had was that (starting from this year btw) it's a split of timelines and at least one of them should be considered canon. Ever since the No TV episode and the Team being lured into Mr Puzzles' trap, the titles haven't been the same. And who's to say we returned from the OG timeline? But that's crazy me saying this, I've been thinking of multiverse stuff lately. Another could be a fight of control over the channel. Who's to say? Like I said, it could be an honest mistake, but it'll be best if we keep an eye on that, ok?

[EDIT: well it turns out, the prefix is now added to the title. maybe the Team forgot to add it in lol. still, having it included in these recent episodes is still spooky, ooooooh *spooky hands*]

as to my earlier freakout about 4's meme and my fic, here's a post from my collab partner of the Goop!4 theory, funkii [link]. looks like I wasn't the only one :)

a legit photo of goop!4 enthusiasts talking about the theory:

we're not delusional, i swear /silly

I actually have a bit of hc for the end there with Luigi: I would like to think that Luigi did know that Mario cheat but he let Mario have this one. After all, all Mario would win is his hat (and life) back. Basically how one of your siblings got in trouble and you kinda have to lecture them but because you care for them, you let them off easy. Yeah, like that. Luigi is a good sport and forgiving, as seen from the beginning, he's just choosing not to say anything. But Luigi did hope that Mario learned his lesson... which Mario didn't. welp, sorry dude

moving on to 3, maybe don't gamble your cafe's income for your son's tuition. you got a cafe for that. save the gambling for another moment.

on that note, chat, gamble responsibly!

Anyway, Shadow, anything you want to say about that cameo? X

[*evil laugh >:)*] Oh my god, the reactions are priceless. [*chuckle, then clears throat*] Um, hi there, SMG4 Twitter! I just wanted to make a thing really quickly, seeing literally all of my feed blowing up after the Mario Gambles His Life video went up earlier. Um, I just wanted to make this clear right now: yes, I'm the one who slipped Waggy or the Team Killer Ink Leader, whichever you prefer to call her, into the ending of the video. That was me! [*chuckle*] I just wanted to admit that right now, but the other thing I also want to say is like, uh, please don't look too much into it! Again, Waggy being there was solely just a background thing, just a cameo I thought I could get away with. And wouldn't you know it, I did [>:)]. So, don't look too far into it, that was just a silly thing. I just wanted to say that. Even still, all of your reactions are priceless, as always. [*another evil laugh >:)*] That's all I wanted to say, so...

...well, i'm going to take it at face-value bc I know you're planning something big for your AU (please let the girlfriends have a happy ending) and it's understandable to be excited about it.

I would be evil-villain laughing at my plotting too.

And hey, a perfect example of a creative member adding a "signature" to their scenes.

But like I said for Anaidon's Shadow Man, any of the AU/villains people of the Team working on the side could very much be proposed to be canon in the show, as an idea. I'll keep an eye on it and yall choose what to believe.

Well, anyway that's all from me. I'll see you all next time and remember: numbers go first!

Wow, last episode resembled a lot of IGBP ,and now this one with a bit of wotfi 2023, that's fun.... wait........

[glamourscat]

the years between us | Nishinoya Yuu x reader

mention of time skip | a bit angsty (?) in the middle | fluff ending | hinata being oblivious | the rest of the team being Noya x reader n1 shippers | I wrote this at 4am but I love it

SNAPSHOT 1

Ever since you could remember, Noya had been a rather peculiar guy. Unapologetically loud, energetic and with a laugh that could fill an entire room with warmth. He wasn’t known for being tall, sure, and maybe not for being the prettiest. But Noya had a way about him. The way he carried himself confidently, yet underneath the bravado, he was almost shy. And there was nothing you liked more than catching glimpses of those rare but heartwarming moments.

Like when you flirted back at his terrible pickup lines. When, during a bus ride after a game, his head rested against your shoulder as he slept peacefully, cozy in your warmth. Or maybe it was the way he used his short height to his advantage just to tackle you.

Either way, every moment spent as one of Karasuno’s team managers felt like a blessing. Filled with laughter, joy, a bit of chaos, but so much love. Love for a specific person too.

SNAPSHOT 2

If Asahi had to pinpoint a moment, he would say it was during nationals. That was it. That’s when he started—well, when he, Daichi, Suga, and Tanaka— began to notice the change in Nishinoya. He was a bit calmer. Too calm for his standards. At first, they brushed it off as tension and nerves. They were playing at nationals, after all.

But then they started noticing more and more. The way his eyes followed a certain manager longer than usual. The way his smile turned almost shy when talking to her. Hell, if he could have, he probably would have giggled and kicked his feet from how giddy he looked. And they had just… never seen him like that before, not with such evident heart eyes.

He was no stranger to getting crushes. To parading around declaring, “I think I’ve found the woman of my life,” only to cut to him drooling over someone else the next day.

This, though, was different.

And it was as clear as the summer sky. Noya had a big, fat crush.

SNAPSHOT 3

Graduation came fast. Too fast. The memories blurred together. Glimpses of Sugawara, Daichi and Asahi coming back to see them and maybe, just maybe, shedding a tear or two, despite being only a year older. 

Glimpses of Kiyoko talking to a very flustered but noticeably more laid-back Tanaka. The two having a somewhat normal conversation. 

And then, them.

Even the old group, Kiyoko included, despite her usual quiet nature couldn’t help but comment.

“Did Noya and Y/N have a falling out?” she asked in her usual calm, collected voice, though a tinge of worry slipped through.

“It’s complicated,” Tanaka sighed softly, his gaze drifting back to the duo who were trying, badly, he should add, to avoid looking at each other.

“Something happened. Even I don’t know the whole story. Noya refuses to open up. I suspect they dated in secret for a while, but it’s unclear. They never confirmed or denied it. But one day… the atmosphere in the gym was tense, they weren’t even talking. Even Coach Ukai was worried. Eventually, she quit being a manager before the season ended.”

SNAPSHOT 4

As the years passed, the once Karasuno High members went their separate ways. Some went to college, others straight into work, some pursued volleyball careers. A few even got married.

Despite the distance, the group never failed to see each other. Not always with everyone present. More than once, if Noya was there, you weren’t. And vice versa. Whether it was fate or a deliberate choice, the others never quite figured out.

But time went on and things changed. Eventually, at some point, you two started showing up at group hangouts at the same time. And once became twice. Twice became thrice.

Things weren’t like before. But they weren’t bad either. And the most perspicacious out of the bunch, was able to pick up on the shift that was happening. 

They had all moved on, met new people, become new people. Yet despite the years, despite looking so much like their younger selves, just a little older, they weren’t who they used to be.

Loud personalities had softened, though they still carried that familiar explosive energy. Quiet and introspective ones had grown more outgoing. But at the core of it all, they were still the same bunch of kids from a school in the middle of the countryside, chasing a dream.

Just without a volleyball this time around. 

And despite the years on their faces, now in their late twenties, things were good. Their shared group chat was livelier than ever.

Especially now.

December 31st. As everyone, whether still in Japan or scattered across the world, sent their early New Year’s messages, one in particular made the chat explode.

From: Noya, 00:20

To: All

→ one attachment

Happy New Year, everyone! From Rome with love. (P.S. She said yes, by the way ❤️)

Attached was a picture of you two, smiling in front of the Colosseum. You were showing off your ring, a hint of a soft fading purple bruise on your neck and cheeks caressed by glistening streaks of happiness.

From: Hinata, 00:21

To: All

“WAIT A MOMENT, SINCE WHEN WERE YOU TWO TOGETHER?!?!?! WHAT DID I MISS, GUYS, WTF.”

© GLAMOURSCAT (all rights reserved. do not share, modify, translate and re-upload my work outside of tumblr)

[maybe-a-dinosaur]

seijoh bus to and from away games or whatever they’re going somewhere what’s going on

iwaizumi hajime right side aisle seat earbuds in eyes closed straight back against the seat. dont let it fool you he looks asleep he is never asleep he is always vigilant. there’s yelling and throwing shit around him probably he never acknowledges Any of it still as a statue but the Second anyone tries to mess with him prank him draw a mustache or whatever he opens one eye and Glares. he has a sixth sense he just knows he’s burning a hole through whoever he’s looking at they’re far too scared to try anything now. he’s bumping music he’s getting his head in the game but he Never lets his guard down. mr cool calm and collected slash always on his villain origin story arc. this is his default state.

oikawa tooru next to him by the window. he wants the seat cuz he wants to look outside as they’re driving he dreams of a dramatic movie moment gazing out the window as it rains and wistful music plays in the background but he can’t just sit there for longer than a minute nono nonooo he’s a busy man. he spends maybe 1/4 of the ride looking out the window/checking his social media/maintaining his composure and the rest of the time he’s head over the back/front of the seat or laying across hajime (or stealing one of his earbuds) to join a conversation across the aisle. he Insists on window seat but just Has to interact with people throughout the entire bus he makes his inconvenient location everyone else’s problem it’s kinda great. announcement for the team he kneels on his seat bc standing is a little too unsafe he projects his voice a little louder than necessary tells everyone to drink water Right Now or everyone runs extra laps at practice tmr. getting off the bus before a game he closes his eyes takes 3 deep breaths makes sure he’s the last one off the bus no one is left behind he’s so ready.

hanamaki takahiro back of the bus next to issei usually aisle seat they mix it up sometimes but always back row. he can’t stay in a single position also tall mf his legs don’t fit in the seats catch him pretzel twisting. his default state is feet up on the back of the seat in front of him like slumped down feet planted knees at acute angles. when he’s in his own seat he also hits the feet propped up on the armrest of the seat across the aisle sometimes he’s criss cross sometimes his legs are on issei’s lap sometimes he manspreads or straight out legs crossed tripping people in the aisle he just can’t sit right. he stays in his seat for the Most part but also bounces around just generally causing trouble he often sings too loudly and finds ways to put shit in tooru’s hair. his earbuds are tangled in his bag if he wants to listen to music he steals issei’s or plays music out loud like hood on resting bitch face slouched in his seat phone balanced on his thigh paramore on aux. his name is signed somewhere on every single seat on the bus plus some other places good luck finding them all.

matsukawa issei perpetually next to takahiro. often window seat but that’s on hiro’s whim issei sits wherever hanamaki doesn’t. he spends a lot of time looking out the window spacing out he will give his opinion in bus-wide discussions or color commentate conversations going on around him (much to hiro’s enjoyment). he blinks lethargically when tooru’s head Appears over the seat to look down at him they chat for a while they’re discussing tomogatchi until hanamaki starts kicking the seat and oikawa complains and iwaizumi starts yelling. on really long trips issei will forgo the seat and sleep on the floor generally at least half of his body is in the aisle when circumstances become dire he uses his shoes as a pillow (socks stay on tgif). headphones always on his person always playing music not always in his ears he leans his head against the window bsbbshdnemmwlelfoejehnemmmrrpppp sits up breathes on the glass draws a penis. he is a simple man.

[imsuperhungry]

the game

"I hope we can get off this bus soon—it smells awful in here," I said, covering my nose and making a dramatic gagging gesture.

"They never clean this place, no wonder," Maggie said, grimacing at the surroundings. "The seats are probably soaked in sweat. It's like they're trying to make the ride as unpleasant as possible. Ugh, I can barely stand it."  

Maggie's complaints about the unclean seats were a stark reminder of the uncomfortable ride I was enduring on my way to the next cheer game. As I shifted uncomfortably in my seat, I couldn’t help but hope that the game would be a success.

The six other cheerleaders and I were on the bus, heading to the game, while the eleven boys were on their way to play in the football match. We were representing our highschool team, the Eagles.

Maggie was sitting by the window, while I took the aisle seat beside her. I clutched my duffle bag, which contained my cheer outfit, pom-poms, and all the other essentials I needed for the game. As the bus bumped along the road, I glanced over at Maggie, who was staring out the window, lost in thought. I couldn’t help but feel a mix of excitement and nervousness for the game ahead.

"Psst, (y/n)!" I heard someone call out from across the aisle.

I turned to look at him with a smile, curiosity piqued. "What is it, Seb?"

"How about a bet?" he suggested, a mischievous grin spreading across his face. His eyes sparkled with a devilish glint, hinting at some playful trouble he was plotting.

"Sure, what do you have in mind?" I asked, intrigued by what he was about to propose. I leaned in slightly, eager to hear his idea and see what kind of challenge he was planning.

"If we win the match against the Lions, you’ll have to go out with me. What do you say? It’ll be a fun way to celebrate our victory, and I promise it'll be a great time."

I rolled my eyes playfully at him. Honestly, I should have expected this was just another one of his silly attempts to get me to go out with him. I couldn't help but be slightly amused by his persistence.

"Alright, why not? But just so you know, I'm only agreeing to get you off my back. Honestly, you're not even my type." I say with a giggle

He dramatically dropped his mouth open and placed a hand over his heart.

"I'm everybody's type!" he exclaimed, gazing directly at me.

"Not mine," Maggie chimed in from beside me.

I burst into laughter, which made Seb crack a smile as well.

"No, you just know you don't have a chance with me because you look like a rat." he said as he looked at Maggie.

It was Maggie's turn to look shocked, her eyes grew wide as saucers, and her mouth fell open in disbelief.

"Fuck you, Seb!" she shouted at him, faux anger in her voice.

"Nah, I think I'll go with (y/n)." he said, looking at me.

I rolled my eyes and looked at Maggie, who was laughing.

Before I had a chance to say anything, the bus abruptly jerked to a stop, causing Seb to tumble out of his seat and land in the aisle. He let out a surprised yelp as he scrambled to get up, while laughter erupted from the rest of us. 

"Damn!" he shouted as he picked himself up.

"Get the hell out my bus, you're here." the bus driver said, pointing to the building we had stopped in front of.

What the fuck is he doing?" I heard Maggie, looking out the window.

Following her gaze, I spotted what I assumed was their mascot—a tiger—dancing by the doors and waving at the bus.

“Dancing, you idiot,” Seb said. "Duh"

I giggled and began gathering my bag, ready to leave the bus like the other kids. As I walked down the aisle toward the exit, Seb came up behind me.I giggled and began gathering my bag, ready to leave the bus like the other kids. As I walked down the aisle toward the exit, Seb came up behind me.I giggled and began gathering my bag, ready to leave the bus like the other kids. As I walked down the aisle toward the exit, Seb came up behind me.

"Ready to wave those pom-poms for me?" Seb asked with a smirk. "When you're cheering, make sure to spell out my name and declare your love. We all know you’ve got a thing for me."

"Ugh, as if! No one wants you or your three-incher, Seb," I said, pushing him aside. I walked off the bus, leaving the driver to laugh at him.

We followed the mascot into the entrance of the school, making our way through the bustling hallways. The mascot, guided us to a locker room where we could change. Once inside, the room was filled with rows of lockers and benches, the air buzzing with anticipation. We quickly began swapping out of our casual clothes and into our cheerleading outfits, preparing ourselves for the upcoming game.

"Hey, do we just pick any of the stalls to use?" I asked Maggie, feeling a bit confused.

"That’s what I was planning on," she replied, as she started to open the door to an empty stall.

I made my way to the stall adjacent to hers and closed the door with a soft click. Inside, I stripped off my shirt and sweats, tossing them onto a nearby bench. I pulled out my cheerleading uniform from my bag, carefully unfolding it. With a quick, practiced motion, I slipped into the bright, cheerful outfit, adjusting it to fit comfortably as I prepared for the game.

Lastly, I applied a fresh layer of lip gloss, giving my reflection a final touch-up in the small mirror mounted on the stall wall. I then gathered my sweats, folding them neatly before stuffing them into my duffle bag.

The uniform was a vibrant pink, adorned with white cheetah prints on the skirt. The top featured our school logo, with a ribbon intricately tied into the design. To complete the ensemble, we were given stockings embellished with silky white bows.

I grabbed my bag and stepped out of the stall, searching for Maggie. As I navigated the bustling locker room, I accidentally bumped into another girl, who looked up at me with a surprised expression.

She was dressed in a red cheerleading outfit, adorned with a lion emblem on the top. Her long, black hair was pulled into a high ponytail, secured with a red ribbon that matched her outfit perfectly.

"Excuse me," I said, trying to maneuver around her.

"Hold on, do you cheer for the other team?" she asked, stopping me with a frown and a look of surprise.

I looked at her, puzzled, but decided to answer her question anyway.

"Uh, yeah, why? Does it matter?"

"No, I just wanted to let you know that you’re really pretty," she said, smiling warmly at me.

"Oh, uh, thanks. You do too," I replied, offering a quick smile as I walked past her towards Maggie’s stall.

She seemed... nice?

I knocked on the stall where I heard Maggie’s voice and asked, "Are you done in there?"

"Almost done, I just need to put my stockings on," she called out, her voice carrying just enough for me to hear.

I stood outside her stall, listening to the rustle of fabric and the sound of her bag zipping as she got ready.

When she finally emerged, she adjusted her skirt and gave herself a final once-over to ensure everything was in place.

"You ready?" I asked her.

"Yep, let’s go," she replied, flashing a confident smile.

_____________________________________

The air outside was warm and refreshing as we stepped out. The boys were already in the midst of their game, and the match was nearing its end, signaling that it was almost time for us to take the field and perform.

I’m not going to lie, I don’t know much about football at all; I just really enjoy cheering.

A referee blew his whistle, and all the players on the field halted their play, making their way to the benches to grab some water. We were ahead by 10 points.

Maggie sat next to me, and we talked about our dance and how it was going to go, the rest of the cheerleaders talked amongst themselves. I mentioned how I wanted to get ice-cream after the game and Maggie said she wanted to tag along; we might even invite Sebastian if he doesn't say anything that would drive me away.

Sebastian is a friend of ours, he kinda just tags along wherever we go.

I would be lying if I said he isn't kinda cute...

I looked up and noticed that the cheerleaders from the opposing team were starting to gather in a huddle, discussing their routine. Since they were set to perform before us, they were likely preparing and getting into the mood.

Maggie and I watched as the opposing cheerleaders lined up in a single-file line at the center of the field, each one positioned directly behind the other.

"L-I-O-N-S, here's a fact, we're the best!" the girl at the front shouted, waving her pom-poms energetically. I recognized her as the girl who had called me pretty in the locker room and watched as she led the rest of the cheer.

I zoned out, unable to focus on the cheer, as my mind wandered to what I wanted for dinner. Another girl started shouting a rhyme, but my mind kept drifting, making it difficult to concentrate.

I glanced at Maggie, who was watching the girls with an unamused expression. Sensing my gaze, she turned her attention away from them to face me.

"We could definitely do better than that," she remarked, glancing back at the girls with a critical eye.

I searched the benches for Seb, but instead of his dark brown eyes, I found myself looking into a pair of light blue eyes that resembled the sky.

I locked eyes with the boy for a few moments before quickly looking away, nearly forgetting about the girls' cheering in the background.

He glanced at me for a bit longer before chuckling to himself and then turned to chat with his friend, who was also looking my way.

When I finally spotted Seb, he was looking at me too. I waved, and he waved back. We exchanged a glance before one of the boys on our team tapped him on the shoulder.

He held up his index finger, signaling for me to wait a moment. Leaning in, he listened as his friend whispered something in his ear, causing Seb to shake his head.

His friend then glanced at me, winked, and mimed holding a phone to his ear with his hand.ar.

Seb playfully smacked his friend's hand away from his ear, and I couldn't help but laugh. Letting the boys bicker, I glanced back and noticed the girls had finished cheering as the crowd applauded for them.

A person I didn’t recognize waved us down from where we were standing and told us it was our turn to perform.

Our group quickly gathered, finding our starting positions on the field. The energy was electric as we aligned ourselves, each of us taking a deep breath to focus. The anticipation in the air was palpable as we readied ourselves to deliver the cheer, muscles tense and hearts pounding in sync with the rhythm we were about to create.

We burst into our routine, every movement sharp and synchronized. The rhythm of our steps, the snap of our arms, and the chorus of our voices blended together, filling the field with energy. Time seemed to blur as we flowed from one formation to the next, each cheer building on the last.

Before I knew it, we were in our final stance, breathless and beaming, as the crowd erupted into applause.

I stood back-to-back with Maggie, facing the crowd. One hand rested on my hip while the other held a pom pom high in the air, waving it energetically.

Soon after, the crowd erupted in applause and cheers. I spun around to face Maggie and wrapped her in a big, enthusiastic hug.

We waved to the crowd and made our way off the field, returning to the bleachers to watch as the boys prepared for the remainder of the game.

I sat back down in my previous spot and told Maggie how great she had performed on the field.

"Hey," I heard a familiar voice say from in front of me. I looked up and saw Seb, grinning at me like a goofball. "You looked amazing out there," he said, his eyes sparkling with admiration. I felt a warm smile spread across my face as I thanked him, the sincerity of his compliment making my cheeks flush slightly.

"Thanks, Seb. You played really well too," I said, my smile widening. "Do you want to join me and Maggie for some ice cream after the game?"

"Ohh, is this your way of asking me out on a date?" he teased, a playful glint in his eye and a crooked smile tugging at his lips.

"Seb, it's a simple yes or no, you doofus," I said, giving him a playful glare.

"Well, if you wanted to go out with me, you could've just asked," he said with a wink, sliding his safety helmet into place.

"IT'S NOT A DATE, SEB!" I shouted after him as he dashed off to join the coach for a huddle.

I rolled my eyes and turned to Maggie, who was wiggling her eyebrows at me with a mischievous grin. "What was that about?" she asked, her smirk widening.

"Nothing! I was just inviting him to tag along with us," I said, trying to defend myself.

"Lies! I saw how nervous you were around him—admit it, you like him!" she said, shaking me by the shoulders with a teasing grin.

"What?! Me? Like him? Ew!" I exclaimed, scrunching up my face and acting grossed out by Maggie’s attempts to get me to admit my feelings for Seb.

"Oh, come on, girl, it's sooo obvious!" she squealed, her excitement barely contained.

I swallowed hard and glanced at her. Maggie’s smile was wide, and her eyes were locked onto mine with a playful glint. Her enthusiasm was almost palpable as she waited for my response.

"Okay, fine! I may or may not have a crush on Sebastian." I admitted, meeting her gaze with a mix of embarrassment and resignation.

"Oh my god, this is amazing!" Maggie gasped. "I could totally set you two up! I know he—"

"NO!" I interrupted, cutting her off with a frantic shout.

"Sorry, I just think we should wait before I say anything to him," I said, trying to calm the situation.

"Ohhh, so you're scared," she stated, her eyes twinkling with playful curiosity as she looked at me.

"What! No! I just—" I started, but Maggie’s unimpressed look made me falter. "Yes. I'm very scared," I admitted with a sigh.

"Why? You know for a fact he likes you back!"

"That's the thing, I don't. What if this is some kind of joke he's playing?" I said, the uncertainty clear in my voice.

"Girl, shut the hell up and ask him out," she said, fixing me with a determined look. "Either you do it today when we get ice cream, or I’ll do it myself."

I hesitated before answering, my mind racing with doubts.

What if he doesn't feel the same? What if this is just part of some cruel joke he's playing?

But then again, I shouldn’t jump to conclusions. There's also a chance he really does like me.

"Fine, I'll ask him out." I said as I sighed and rubbed my cheeks.

"Great! I’m so happy!" Maggie said, resting her head on my shoulder with a contented sigh.

I rolled my eyes and glanced back at Seb, who was smiling at me as the game started. I felt my face warm up, and I returned his smile, letting it grow a little. _____________________________________

I held hands with Maggie as we walked back to the front of the school. Our victory in the game had lifted everyone's spirits, and our moods brightened noticeably.

We were still wearing our cheerleading uniforms, but Seb and the rest of the team had changed into different outfits. Seb was on my right, while Maggie was on my left.

He was rambling about the adrenaline rush he felt out on the field.

"It's just, I've never so scared and excited at the same time!" he exclaimed.

"Seb, we get it. You love playing football," Maggie said, rolling her eyes.

"I do! I fucking love it!" he yelled again, his enthusiasm unabated.

"Alright," I began, "There's an ice cream shop just down the street, within walking distance, is that where we go?"

Seb and Maggie both nodded enthusiastically, which made me laugh.

We all walked hand-in-hand, heading in the direction of the ice cream shop.

_____________________________________

Maggie and Seb took a seat at the retro red table in the corner of the shop while I went up to place our orders.

Maggie wanted a "Candy Craze," which was essentially a heaping mix of M&Ms, chocolate pieces, cookie crumbles, and fudge piled on top of vanilla ice cream.

Seb just wanted strawberry ice cream—plain and simple, but incredibly good.

I told the cashier our orders, and she confirmed them, saying they’d be ready in 5 to 7 minutes.

I smiled and thanked her before heading back to my friends.

I’ve always had this rule: be kind to waitstaff, cashiers, and other retail workers. They deal with so many rude people each day; why not spread a little kindness?

I sat down next to Seb and across from Maggie, who were still engrossed in conversation.

I pulled out my phone and began scrolling through my notifications, feeling bored.

Snapchat...

News station...

Subway Surfers...

James? The fuck-

"Hey!" Maggie whisper-shouted, drawing my attention away from my phone.

"What!?" I whispered back, my curiosity piqued.

She waved her hand, signaling for me to lean in closer to the table, and I complied.

Then, she placed her mouth a few inches from my ear and began to whisper.

"I'm going to the bathroom for a few minutes," she whispered. "While I'm in there, I want you to ask Seb out." She pulled away and looked at me, her gaze intense and expectant.

I tried to protest, but she had already made her way to the bathroom, leaving me no room to argue.

When she left, I looked back at Seb, who was already staring at me.

"Listen, (y/n)," he began, his gaze steady. "I really do want to go out on a date with you. After all, we did win."

Oh, so he's going to ask me out instead? Alright then.

"Honestly, I really think I'd make a great boyfriend," he said with a grin, jokingly flexing his arms. "I've got the looks and the personality."

"Looks, sure. Personality? Eh," I said, jokingly." But since I agreed, I accept," I said with a smile. "I'll go out on a few dates with you."

His eyes widened in surprise, clearly not expecting me to accept after all the previous hesitation and rejection. A look of genuine delight crossed his face as he processed my response.

"Do—uh, do I have permission to kiss you?" he asked, his voice tinged with hopeful uncertainty.

"Why not?" I replied, gazing at him intently.

He leaned in, hesitating as he debated whether to kiss me, suspecting it might be a trap for some reason.

I rolled my eyes, realizing it would take forever if I left it up to him. So, I placed my hands on the back of his head and gently guided his lips to mine.

Our lips met softly at first, a tentative brush that sent a spark through both of us. His breath was warm against my skin as he leaned in closer, and the kiss deepened, growing more assured with every passing second. His hesitation melted away as our movements synchronized, the gentle pressure of his lips gradually becoming more passionate.

The kiss was a blend of sweetness and intensity, leaving us both breathless when we finally pulled away.

I gave him a small smile and excused myself, mentioning I needed to reapply my lip gloss.

I stood up from the booth and headed to the bathroom, just in time to see Maggie stepping out as I approached.

I bumped into her, sharing a quick giggle before I continued walking past her into the room.

I locked the door to the single-stalled restroom and stood in front of the mirror, frowning at the state of my lips.

My lips, once perfectly coated in a glossy sheen, were now smudged and slightly swollen from the kiss. The vibrant color had faded unevenly, leaving patches of gloss mixed with bare skin.

With a small sigh, I reached into my bag, ready to fix what had been undone. 

I reached into her bag and pulled out a sleek tube of lip gloss, twisting it open with a practiced motion. The gloss spread evenly, restoring the shine and vibrancy that had been lost. My lips appeared fuller, the gloss catching the light and adding a subtle, alluring sheen.

I walked back to our table and saw our ice cream sitting there, with a plastic red spoon sticking out of it.

I took my seat next to Seb and took a deep breath. 

“Did you have to run to the bathroom or something?” Seb asked.

“Seb!”

_____________________________________

I lay on my plush bed, my right cheek resting on the pillow and my face buried in the covers. Despite the comfort of the bed, I felt like an idiot with the huge grin stuck on my face.

My mind wandered back to the events of the day—Seb's kiss, his request to see me again, and the whirlwind of emotions that followed. The memories replayed in my mind, and I couldn't help but smile even more, replaying every detail of the moment.

Maggie's mom came to pick us up and drive us home since we didn't live to far away from eachother.

As I was drifting off to sleep, exhausted from the day's events, the ringing of the phone interrupted my peaceful moment. The sound cut through the blur of my thoughts, pulling me back to wakefulness as I groggily reached for the phone.

RING

I groaned and rolled out of bed, landing with a thud on the carpeted floor below.

RING

After a few seconds, I picked myself up from the floor and dragged my feet toward the living room, where the phone was still ringing.

RIN-

"Hello?" I asked, my voice thick with sleep.

"Hey (y/n)," came the familiar voice from the other end of the line.

"Oh, hey Seb. What's up?" I asked, feeling a surge of alertness as the sleepiness quickly faded away.

"I just got a question to ask you," he said.

"What is it?" I asked, my curiosity piqued.

"Do you maybe want to come to my house tomorrow? I just found one of my favorite old movies, and I was thinking it could be our first date."

"Sure, what movie?" I asked, twirling the phone cord around my finger

"That's to find out later, it’s a surprise," he said, his smirk evident in his voice.

"Whatever, what time?" I asked, trying to keep my excitement in check.

"Around 8. I've got some errands to run tomorrow," he replied.

"Alright then, I'll see you then," I said, biting my lip and smiling

"See you then, cutie."

[catsushinyakajima]

I’m sitting by a trash can at the bus stop waiting for the bus for the past TWENTY minutes and I am also late to class (my own fault for going to the gym instead of heading to class early :/) SO ANYWAYS-

Voltron headcanons (realistic and college AU, also inspired by my own college misery):

- they’re all stem nerds. All of them. I know a lot of people HC them as liberal arts major which is great! but they are canonically astronauts (one part of canon that I like)

- Lance would be the kind of guy to be like “WE GOTTA HIT THE GYM EVERYDAY THIS SEMESTER RAHHHH” and then dip the second midterms start. Every single semester. Without fail.

- Keith found lectures useless since he could just “read the textbook”. He never showed up to a single class except for exams and somehow passed. He only stopped the habit when multiple friends scolded him for it.

- Coran would be in twenty different clubs. Correction: he would be PRESIDENT of twenty different clubs. No one knows when he joined them. The clubs range from archery to competitive coding to mental health awareness. (“Hey Coran are u free tonight?” “No sorry, the Roleplaying Ancient Romans club is having a bake sale tonight” “the what-)

- hunk would do a LOT of volunteering. He’s probably cook for shelters but I can also see him tutoring underprivileged kids in engineering :)

- Pidge would have a surprising amount of school spirit. Not bc she likes the college or the sport. She just wants to hate on the other teams. Also if her tuition is going to the football coach’s salary, she might as well be passionate about it.

- Allura is a triple major. Maybe even a quadruple major?? She’s the girl you see constantly stressing about their schedule. “Okay so should I take this class…that makes me have eight classes total all back to back” “WHAT” “what if I did a minor in psychology?” “Allura how tf are you going to fit that in there”

- Shiro is a TA (teaching assistant) for calculus or physics or something. Because the world hates him it’s an eight am class where the professor teaches wrong content and then dumps twenty hours of grading on him. “So you find the derivative under the curve” “Professor that’s not-“ You will never see him without a coffee.

- Hunk has beef with the Dining halls. They don’t season their food and they don’t even have much to begin with. On the other hand, Lance practically lives there. He’s making the most of the meal plans he paid for.

- At least he sticks to tastier things. Keith, who also practically lives at the dining hall, will eat salt and pepper chicken four times a day (“it’s protein”)

- it’s how Keith and Lance have had most of their meals together. Notably, also alone.

- aside from living at the dining hall, Keith also lives at the gym. This explains why he’s never at class.

- pidge has a car on campus. It’s Matt’s car or whatever. Not only can she not park for her life, she also can’t stop getting parking tickets. She uses the tickets as wall decor for her dorm.

- Lance skateboards. He’s pretty good at it. He’s only fallen twice, and both times had been in extremely public settings. Once was in front of a bus stop with fifty people. He tried teaching Coran how to skate and Coran accidentally slipped and launched the board towards the main road.

- Pidge plays clash royale in class. Shiro roasts her for it but then secretly also plays word games in class

- on top of having four majors, Allura also has four internships??? Everytime she posts about something that seems relaxing, it’s misleading. She’ll post herself getting drinks and SIKE it’s a networking event. She’ll be going hiking SIKE it’s a colleague bonding trip. Girl cannot take a break.

- Keith hates frats. Even educational ones with job opportunities. Even if he knows all frat boys aren’t shitty, he refuses to budge on his stance

- Shiro is the kind of guy you’d be talking to and ten people come up to him to say hi. Everyone knows him. Even if he doesn’t know them.