#quickly outgrow his friends and family

[tsubasaclones]

So like...

My theory is that the bat queen was the titans palisman (she was a palisman of a giant who lived thousands of years ago, I don't really see what else it could be) but she doesn't remember anything about her owner because it's been so long. King is a titan so he's probably gonna live a long ass time too and now I'm thinking about how he very well could forget his family I'm crying real tears about this rn help help

[melzula]

All I Ever Wanted

pairing: zuko x reader

notes: this was originally requested by an anon but i also took inspiration from mitski’s song “your best american girl” while writing this. give it a listen during your read !

summary: as a peasant and servant girl for the palace, you should have known better than to fall for the Prince

The sun is warm against your skin and the grass is soft beneath you as you land on your back in a fit of giggles. Azula is unamused by your antics, but Zuko finds himself laughing right along with you. It’s a peaceful summer’s day in the palace gardens, and you spend it as you would any other day by playing with your friends.

“I caught you,” you tell him with a breathless laugh after turning your head to face him.

“No way, I was just going easy on you,” he argues with playful grin, his nose nearly brushing against your own due to your close proximity on the grass. Your heart beats fast in your rib cage as you try to ignore the rising heat on your face and play it off as a result of your exhaustion and not your nerves from lying with the Prince. You haven’t realized it yourself, but you have a crush on Zuko, a painfully obvious one that he hasn’t seemed to notice yet. What you also don’t realize is that he reciprocates the feeling, and he shares the thrill that comes with being your playmate.

“Are you two done yet?” Azula finally interrupts with a roll of her eyes as she offers you her hand and helps you up from the ground. “It’s my turn to hide this time.”

“I don’t think we can play anymore,” Zuko notes with a frown as his mother makes her way towards your group. You quickly bow in respect to the Fire Lady, but she waves you off with a smile.

“I’m sorry, y/n, but Zuko and Azula must attend their fire bending lessons now. I’m afraid playtime is over for today,” she informs you apologetically.

“Yes, Fire Lady Ursa,” you reply politely before turning to give both of your friends departing hugs. “Bye Zuko, bye Azula!”

“It’s too bad you’re not a fire bender,” Azula remarks after halfheartedly returning your embrace. “Maybe dad would let us play with you more if you were.”

Her words make your body hot with embarrassment and shame, and though you don’t voice your discomfort Ursa is instantly able to pick up on it. With a scolding glare, the Fire Lady quickly urges her daughter to apologize.

“Azula, that is not a nice thing to say to a friend.”

“But it’s true,” the girl mutters under her breath only to have her mother drag her away before she can get the chance to say anything else. Zuko hesitates then, giving you an apologetic look and promising to play with you tomorrow before rushing after Ursa and Azula.

You’ve never really cared about being a non-bender, but there’s something about Azula’s words that has you questioning your worth. As the daughter of a royal family servant with no title or money to her name, you knew you were lucky to be able to grow up in the palace and play with the Fire Lord’s children. However, you never once realized that you weren’t their equal. They were royalty, a Prince and a Princess destined to become powerful benders and ruthless leaders of the Fire Nation, and you were simply a girl who would one day grow up to live a life of servitude. You had no real future or purpose ahead of you, not like they did, and yet you were the only one unaware of your unfortunate fate.

Perhaps it’s because they never treated you in such a way, and your mother did her best to shield you from your true heritage. For now you could grow up blissfully unaware of the fact that your friends would one day outgrow you.

“Mom?” Zuko asks once they’re safe inside the palace. “Do you like y/n?”

“She’s a sweet girl,” Ursa notes with a faint smile, “and she makes you both happy. So yes, I like her.”

“Then why doesn’t Dad?”

The Fire Lady’s smile fades into a remorseful frown, and she simply ushers her son forward with a shake of her head. “Let’s not worry about that now. You’re going to be late for your lesson.”

Zuko isn’t satisfied with her answer, but he isn’t give a chance to discuss it further with her. For now, he remains content with the fact that he likes you, and his mother likes you.

That is enough for him.

~~~

The day is calm as you carefully hang the clothes to dry and enjoy the warmth of the sun basking on your skin. It’s rare that you get tasked with the outdoor chores, so you savor the opportunity for as long as you can. Doing the royal family’s laundry certainly beats scrubbing the floors of the palace, and you are grateful the spirits have taken mercy upon you today.

You’re freshly fifteen and the summer is just beginning. You’ve grown into a well-mannered young woman, and you’re old enough now to be able to take on some of the work that once fell to your mother. One day you will take her place and continue to serve the royal family until you’re no longer physically able. You’ll never get to leave, but you consider yourself grateful to live on the palace grounds. You will forever have a roof over your head, food on the table, and, most importantly, your friends.

You take great care to pin Azula’s dresses down without getting any creases or wrinkles in the fabric, and you’re so lost in thought that you don’t notice the figure carefully creeping up behind you. You’re too busy reciting the words to an old Fire Nation folk song your mother had taught you to pay any mind to your surroundings, and it gives Zuko the perfect opportunity to catch you by surprise.

“Y/n!” He exclaims with a grin as his hands land firmly upon your shoulders. You nearly jump out of your skin at the act, and your reaction has the Fire Prince laughing so hard his cheeks begin to hurt.

“Zuko!” You scold with an irritated scowl as you chuck a handful of clothespins at him in retaliation. “You need to stop doing that!”

“I’m sorry, you just make it so easy,” he teases with a light nudge to your side before taking it upon himself to pick up the pins you’d discarded.

“Shouldn’t you be getting ready to leave for Ember Island?” You ask him with a quizzical look as you resume your previous work of hanging the clothes.

“That’s actually what I was coming to talk to you about,” he admits with a sheepish smile. “I want you to come with us.”

“What? You’re not serious, are you?” You retort apprehensively, halting your movements to gauge his reaction for any hint of insincerity or humor.

“I am serious. You deserve to have fun once in a while too,” he notes with a careful smile. You’re too oblivious to notice the look of admiration on his face and definitely too concerned with finding a way to let him down gently to realize he’s inviting you because he likes you. Despite your own feelings for the Prince you’ve developed over the years, you’re much too self-depreciating to ever believe Zuko could possibly feel the same. If only you knew.

“I can’t just up and leave! There’s work to be done, a-and my mother would be so upset with me if I abandoned my chores and-“

“Azula will tell our father she wishes to bring you along as a personal servant so you can come with us, and someone else will be tasked with taking on your work while you’re away. There’s no way your mom could be upset with you for serving the Princess, could she?”

“Azula would really do that for me?” You question meekly, a hopeful glint in your eyes as you hang on to his every word. You’re trying your best not to get your hopes up, but you wish for nothing more than to leave the capital city to see the ocean for the first time and feel the sand beneath your feet. As the daughter of a servant and now a servant yourself, you know you’d never get a chance like this if not for the fact that the siblings had grown fond of you over your years of friendship together. You’re lucky, because you know without them you’d truly be nothing more than a floor scrubbing peasant.

“Of course she would, she wants you there just as much as I do,” Zuko assures you. Gently taking your hands in his own, he gives them a comforting squeeze and looks into your eyes with a loving smile. “We leave tomorrow morning. Bring enough clothes to last you three days and a bathing suit.”

“I don’t own one,” you admit with an embarrassed frown, but your friend doesn’t display any sign of judgement in the slightest towards your shortcomings.

“Then I’ll take you shopping myself when we get there.”

Your heart melts at his words, your gaze falling to the ground bashfully as you try not to dwell on the fact that he’s still holding your hands. You’re in love with the Prince, and the Prince is in love with you, and everyone but you has figured out just how much you mean to each other.

Even Fire Lord Ozai, who odiously watches the scene unfold before him from the top of the palace balcony.

~~~

The shores of Ember Island are beautiful.

The waves almost seem to sparkle underneath the moonlight as they crash peacefully against the shore, and down below the lively chatter of your friends carries through the air and fills your heart with contentment. You’ve had the most perfect time here at the beach, and it pains you to know that tonight will be your last night of freedom before you must return home and resume your life as a servant girl.

The wooden doors behind you carefully slide open and closed, and soon a familiar warmth joins you out on the balcony. For a while you say nothing, simply enjoying the closeness of him as you watch Azula, Ty Lee, and Mai practice tricks in the sand below. You don’t know how to thank the Prince for all he’s done for you, for always looking out for you since you were children, for never once treating you as less than for your heritage. You don’t know how to tell him that you love him with your entire being.

So he does it for you.

“I got you something,” Zuko says after a moment’s silence, waiting for you to turn your gaze to him so he may pull out a small clam from beneath his robes. You raise a curious eyebrow at his offering as he gestures for you to take it.

“A clam shell?” You note inquisitively as you turn the gift around in your palms, carefully feeling out its grooves and intricate ridges.

“Open it,” he directs you quietly, anxiously watching your movements with bated breath.

You smile curiously at your friend before delicately pulling the top half of the shell open to reveal the contents inside. Your eyes widen in surprise at the gift that greets you, and you immediately look up to Zuko to ensure this isn’t some kind of joke.

Inside the clam sits a beautiful gold necklace with a dainty sun pendant resting in the center that shimmers under the light of the moon. It’s beautiful, and it’s certainly worth more than your own life, which is why you immediately try to hand it back to him.

“I-I can’t accept this!” You hastily insist with a quick shake of your head as you struggle to return the clam to him. “It’s too nice!”

“You can accept this,” Zuko reassures you as he carefully pushes the gift back towards you. When his efforts fail due to your persistent attempts to give back the shell, he lets out a sigh and carefully removes the necklace from the clam. “Y/n, I want you to have it.”

“But why?” You demand apprehensively, almost flinching away when he moves towards you with the necklace. You’re completely overwhelmed by his gift and unsure of what it means or why you’d ever be deserving of such a thing. You don’t want to take advantage of his kindness or his status, and you feel like he’s done more than enough for you by bringing you along on this trip, so it just feels wrong of you to take it.

“Because you deserve nice things too,” Zuko explains, and after giving you a pointed look you finally allow him to carefully put the necklace on you. The sun rests daintily along your neck, and he thinks it suits you perfectly. “I brought you on this trip because I wanted you to have fun for once, but also because… well, because I love you, and I thought a romantic setting might make it easier to tell you that.”

“You love me?”

“You haven’t noticed?” He retorts with a meek smile. “I’m not the best at words, but I know that I’ve loved you since we were children feeding turtle ducks in the pond and playing tag in the gardens. You have the purest heart of anyone I know, the sweetest smile, you are everything to me. I hope that by accepting this gift, you’ll be accepting me as someone worthy enough to be your boyfriend.”

“Oh, Zuko…” you murmur softly, eyes full of tears as you throw yourself into his arms and hug him as tight as humanly possible. You’re still shocked by the fact that the boy you love will all your heart feels the same, but you try to remind yourself not to look a gift horse in the mouth. Zuko is right when he says that you deserve to enjoy what life has to offer just as much as he does, so maybe it’s time you finally start allowing yourself the chance to finally let your guard down. You can be more than just a servant girl from the palace.

You can be happy.

~~~

You sit quietly before the vanity mirror as your mother tediously brushes through your hair to ensure not a single strand is out of place. The wrinkles in her skin crease with her nerves as she carefully begins to pin your hair back into the perfect top knot. Immediately after your return home from Ember Island, you were informed that the Fire Lord wished to speak with you. You were expected to drop your chores for the day and make yourself decent before presenting yourself to him. His request to see you surprised you considering the fact you previously believed he didn’t even know of your existence, but it made you nervous all the same. If anything were to go wrong during your meeting, you’d be jeopardizing both yours and your mother’s jobs.

“Make sure to sit up straight and no slouching,” she reminds you quietly while stopping to admire her work. “Hold your tongue until he allows you to speak and thank him for all he has done for us. It is a great honor to speak to Fire Lord Ozai, so you must treat it as such.”

“Mother, what could the Fire Lord possibly want to talk to me about?”

She doesn’t meet your eyes at first, looking away as if contemplating carefully what her next words should be. With a sigh, she sets the brush down and looks at you through the reflection. “Word has spread quickly about you and Prince Zuko, and I think he knows.”

You swallow nervously at her admission, absently brushing your fingers against the sun that hangs around your neck. You never once considered what Zuko’s father would think about his son’s choice of a partner; Ursa had always treated you as one of her own, and Azula considered you to be a good friend, but what would Ozai say of the peasant girl who had stolen his son’s heart?

You don’t have much time to mull over it further as a guard arrives to escort you from your quarters to the throne room. All eyes seem to follow you as you walk through the palace, the gold and red hues overwhelming your senses as you do your best to remain calm. You have no idea what awaits you at the end of the hallway, but there’s no escape now as the grand doors open and you’re pushed inside.

Ozai sits on the throne with a wall of flames roaring behind him. His features are stoic but his gaze is menacing as his eyes watch your meager form approach. You immediately bow in respect to the man once you reach him and kneel before his seated figure. Just as your mother instructed, you say nothing until you are spoken to.

“So you’re the girl my son has chosen to be his partner?” He drawls with a raised brow, obviously not impressed by the person before him.

“Yes, sir. It is an honor to present myself to you, my Lord,” you profess as earnestly as possible while adding another bow for good measure. You need his approval not only to continue dating Zuko, but also to ensure you and your mother are both able to continue living behind the palace walls. Even if you are there as servants tucked away in the peasant quarters, it certainly is a better place to be than out in the streets.

“I know who you are, child,” Ozai scoffs callously as he peers down at you from his place on the throne. “You are the peasant girl who managed to worm her way into the lives of my children. You are a lowly servant with nothing to your name and nothing special about you, and yet you have managed to corrupt my only son."

“Fire Lord Ozai, I-I apologize if my actions have upset you,” you quickly try to interject, but he holds a hand up and signals you to halt your pathetic rambling. Ozai does not have the time nor care to hear your excuses or explanations. That’s not what this meeting is for.

“Do you know how poorly it would reflect on me to have Zuko galavanting around the palace with a servant? Do you know how poorly it reflects on him to be seen with you? It’s a disgrace, and it is something I will not tolerate.”

“I know,” you utter quietly, trying to make yourself appear as small as you feel on the inside. Despite what Zuko has told you, you know that his father is right. You are nothing compared to him. He is the sun, the Prince, the heir to the throne. His future ahead is bright, and there is much for him to accomplish. You have no future, no plans for your life, nothing as grand or important as him and Azula. You are not the sun or the moon or even the stars that hang in his sky, you are insignificant, and you will never be worthy enough to be his.

“A future Fire Lord cannot have a maid as a wife. You must break his heart so that he no longer wants anything to do with you, so that he can move on and find a girl more worthy of becoming the future Fire Lady. You must make it appear to be your own doing and not mine, otherwise it won’t work. Have I made myself clear, child?”

“Yes, Fire Lord Ozai,” you whisper softly, a single tear sliding down your cheek as you bow to the cruel man before you. “I understand.”

~~~

The clouds that hang overhead are gray as Zuko makes his way towards the servants’ quarters. It is unheard of for any royal to ever set foot on these grounds, and so all eyes watch the Prince curiously as he approaches your humble home and knocks gently on the door. Movement sounds from the other side, and after a moment he is met with the startled face of your mother. It’s clear that she hadn’t been expecting him, and he takes her by surprise when he bows to the woman in respect.

“I apologize for coming unannounced, but I was hoping I could speak to y/n,” he utters with a look of defeat on his face. His sullen features make his lack of sleep obvious, and his eyes are full of desperation. You’ve been avoiding him for weeks and he has no clue as to why, but he hopes to figure it out soon before he starts to spiral any further.

“She’s…” your mother begins to say, glancing unsurely behind her before looking back to him, “she’s not feeling well. You can come back another time.”

“But-“

“Please, Prince Zuko, we can’t risk you catching whatever it is she’s come down with. You must go.”

She gives him no time to argue before slamming the door in his face. Zuko is stunned, but his shock quickly turns to anger as he lets out a frustrated breath of flames from his mouth before stalking off to cool himself down.

His footsteps fade into the distance as he departs, and you can only sit by the window of your room and watch him walk away. There’s a tightness in your chest that makes you feel as if you can’t breathe, and once he finally disappears over the horizon you break down into an inconsolable mess.

You love Zuko with all of your heart, so it kills you to act as if he means nothing to you. You’re trying to do what Ozai has demanded of you, but it’s agonizing and difficult. You’re too much of a coward to face him and break it off for good, so you’ve resorted to avidly avoiding the Prince at all costs. You hope that by pushing him away he’ll take it upon himself to end the relationship; it would be much less painful that way, but he’s too stubborn for his own good, and he’s persisted despite your best efforts.

The days seem to blend together as you lock yourself in your room while your mother continues to turn Zuko away. You haven’t done any of your chores or worked in days, but Ozai has not faulted you for your incompletion of tasks. Breaking Zuko’s heart is your task, and so long as you keep your word he couldn’t care less what you did with yourself.

After another week has passed, suffocation finally catches up to you and you’re forced to leave your room in order to get some fresh air. You sneak out at nightfall when the palace is quiet and your mother is sleeping so that no one can detect your presence. You retreat to the well out in the back and stare contemplatively into the water below. Clutching the sun that hangs from the gold chain around your neck, you admire the moon’s reflection in the ripples and wish you could be anywhere else but here in the Fire Nation.

“I thought I’d find you here,” a voice utters quietly, causing you to jump in alarm at the intrusion. You turn to meet the solemn gaze of the Prince, and as your back hits the cool stones of the well you find that you are cornered. You can’t avoid him now, and it’s a fact both of you are aware of.

“Zuko, I… I was just leaving,” you stammer hurriedly as you try to push your way past him, but he catches you by the arm before you can get away.

“No, not until you talk to me!” He demands, his eyes full of desperation and despair. “You’re supposed to be my girlfriend, yet you keep avoiding me. Why? Was it something I did?”

“No, Zuko, you didn’t do anything,” you insist despite refusing to meet his gaze. You’re terrified that someone will see you both together and alert Ozai, and you wish he would just release you so you could go back to hiding away in your room.

“Then why won’t you even look at me?”

Slowly, you peek your head up to meet his exasperated face. It seems he’s not going to give up without a fight, so you’re going to have to resort to doing what you’ve been trying to avoid this entire time.

“I don’t love you.”

“W-What?” Zuko stammers in quiet surprise, his hold on your arm loosening slightly. He doesn’t believe what he’s hearing from you, and his mind is scrambling to process your words.

“I don’t love you. I want nothing to do with you,” you repeat firmly, your eyes hardening as you stare up at him and yank yourself free from his grasp.

“Y/n, you don’t mean that-“

“I do mean it! I feel nothing for you, Zuko. I never have. I just felt like I couldn’t say no to you because you’re the Prince, so I had no choice but to say yes to being your girlfriend.”

Hurt flashes across his features and you’re dying inside at having to be so cruel to him. The heart of your childhood best friend is in your hands and you crush it with every word despite how much it pains you. But it’s better for both of you this way, it must be. Ozai will never let you be happy together, but apart he still has a chance to capture the promised future ahead of him. You’re doing him a favor, and you hope one day he’ll be able to see it that way too.

“I don’t understand,” he murmurs weakly, tears beginning to well in his eyes. Then, with frustration clear in his tone, “This doesn’t make any sense!”

“Did you honestly think we could actually be together?” You retort in disbelief. “Azula always said you were a fool, but I didn’t think you were this naive. A servant and a Prince don’t belong together, and you’re the only one who can’t seem to get that!”

“Alright, fine,” Zuko mutters indignantly. His sadness has quickly morphed into anger, and you hate the way it makes you feel. “Can I just ask you one thing?”

You say nothing in response, and he takes your silence as a sign to continue.

“If you don’t love me, then why are you still wearing the necklace?”

Your eyes widen slightly as your hand immediately flies to your neck to clutch the pendant, and your heart slowly begins to sink to your stomach as you realize you’ve been caught in your lie. It’s your turn now to be at a loss for words, unsure what to say as you simply stare up at him with your mouth slight agape.

“You don’t mean what you’re saying,” Zuko says firmly as he moves closer to you. “Someone else is speaking for you, aren’t they?”

“I…”

“What’s going on, y/n?” He presses gently, carefully resting a hand upon your cheek. “Why are you acting this way?”

“I can’t tell you,” you argue weakly, your own eyes becoming full of tears as you allow yourself to melt into his touch. You’ve missed the feeling of his warmth and the comfort of his closeness, and despite your mind screaming at you to remove yourself from him your heart keeps you planted in place.

“That’s nonsense, of course you can. You’ve always been able to tell me anything, so why can’t you now?”

“Can’t you just believe me when I tell you it’s for your own good?” You plead emphatically despite the wavering of your voice.

“How can this possibly be for my own good?!” He retorts in exasperation. “I’ve been miserable without you. Life feels empty when you aren’t around, and I don’t know how to deal with the fact that the girl I’ve loved all my life can’t seem to stand me.”

“It’s not like that!” You cry defensively as the tears finally begin to fall.

“Then what is it?!” Zuko demands, and you can’t seem to take any more of this torture. The lies are killing you, and you can’t help but to finally crack under pressure.

“I’m not good enough for you!” You finally exclaim as you pull yourself away from his touch. You try to choke back your sobs but the ache in your chest makes the task difficult, and you can do nothing but let your words flow freely after keeping them bottled in for weeks. “I-I have nothing to offer you, nothing that makes me special, nothing ahead of me like you do. It’s an embarrassment to the Fire Lord for you to be with me, and it will be an embarrassment for you to have me as your Fire Lady.”

Stunned by your admission, it takes Zuko a moment to process your words. He steps towards you and you flinch, effectively breaking his heart in the process. It’s clear you’re frightened, but not of him. Your fear is geared toward someone else, and the culprit must be responsible for you now feeling this way.

“Who told you such nonsense?”

“Your father,” you admit quietly much to Zuko’s dismay. His eyes immediately harden and his chest is immediately tight with anger, but he does his best to keep his emotions at bay so as to not upset you further. “He spoke to me when we returned from Ember Island and told me we couldn’t be together. Ozai demanded I break your heart so that you can move on and find another girl more suited for this life than I could ever be. I didn’t want to, I still don’t want to, but I’m doing this so that you can have a better future. I’ll only hold you back, Zuko.”

After taking a moment to digest your words, Zuko carefully steps towards you again. You don’t reject his advances this time, so he allows himself the opportunity to carefully wipe away the steady tears that fall down your cool cheeks. Despite how much of a mess you assume you must look like, the Prince still sees you as the most beautiful girl he’s ever laid eyes on.

“I don’t care what my father says,” he assures you gently as he takes your hands in his own. “You’re not an embarrassment, and there’s no other girl that could ever compare to you. I love you, y/n, and I’m not going to let anyone ever get in the way of that.”

“You mean that?” You ask with a quiet sniffle, holding his hands tight as if he’ll leave if you let go.

“Every word. Let my father and anyone else who disapproves of our relationship say what they want to say. I want to be with you, and I hope you still want to be with me too.”

His looks to you with pleading eyes that seek your reassurance, and for a moment you hesitate. Being with Zuko is all you’ve ever wanted, and now he stands here before you professing his loyalty and his love to you. The boy from your childhood had stolen your heart, and you’d be lying if you said you wanted it back.

You know being with him won’t be easy, especially not with his father’s adamant disapproval of your relationship, but you trust Zuko, and so you have to trust that everything will turn out okay. You meet his desperate gaze and gift him a faint smile, and despite knowing you’ll regret this, you wordlessly lean in to meet his lips in a kiss.

You can worry about Ozai’s wrath later. But for now, you allow yourself to melt into his embrace by the moonlit well as you share your first kiss in weeks. It feels right being in his arms once more after spending so much time apart, and you hope you’ll never have to be without his touch ever again.

| zuko tags: @ilovespideyyy @yiyibetch @eridanuswave @lammello @a-monsters-love @taeeemin @livelaughlovekuni @lovialy @alexatiu

[growingstories]

La vie est belle

Thibault, a 35-year-old with a big chest, strong arms embodies the ex-jock look with his abs covered by the good French life. He lives in a quaint French countryside filled with wine farms that have been in his family for four generations. Thibault is a hard worker who has dedicated himself to weightlifting at his home gym and running the farm. However, he struggles with finding a romantic partner as there are no openly gay individuals in his small town, and he despises city life. Thankfully, his mother and his four loving sisters constantly pamper him.

Despite his weightlifting and because of his mother's delicious food he said goodbye to his abs when he returned home after his economics study. Home made pies, foie gras, cheese boards, stews, etc, all made it impossible to live on just chicken and broccoli. Thibault has always harbored an ambition to win prizes for his family's wines. However, the sudden death of his father left him unable to achieve this dream as his father didn’t get the chance to leave him the family’s wine blending secrets. As a means to gather feedback, Thibault starts dining at a restaurant that sells wines from the region and forms a bond with the owners who pamper him with delicious food. Unfortunately, indulging in these culinary delights leads to him gaining some weight. Mainly around his belly.

After a few years of trying out blends Thibault's fortunes change when he becomes the winner of a prestigious regional wine festival. Thrilled with this recognition, he takes his wines to various other festivals and attends big parties and tastings. However, as he immerses himself in this world, Thibault's belly continues to grow alongside his success.

Thibault's wines gain popularity, and upscale restaurants invite him to bring his wines for menu tastings. His mother, concerned about his well-being, packs snacks for him to enjoy during the long drives. These snacks, along with his indulgence in fatty breakfasts to combat hangovers, only contribute to his expanding waistline. Eventually, Thibault finds himself needing to buy a new wardrobe to accommodate his weight gain.

To combat the effects of his overeating, Thibault starts running. However, his fitness journey comes to an abrupt halt when he injures his ankle, rendering him unable to do anything but focus on exercises for his chest and arms. This setback only serves to bulk up these muscles, causing Thibault to outgrow his gym shirts.

His awarded wines give him to write about his passion in the culinary world. As a food and wine critic for a prominent international newspaper, Thibault finds himself in the perfect position to recover from his injury. His mother aids in his recovery by preparing delectable food pairings for his wine tastings, and farmers from the countryside send him their specialties to try. These days are filled with writing and indulging in delicious meals.

Unfortunately, Thibault's mother falls ill and entrusts her daughters with taking care of him. Each night, a different sister cooks for him, ensuring he has big portions of food to fuel his growing business and appetite. As a result, Thibault's belly expands exponentially, making simple tasks such as tying his shoes more challenging and leaving him out of breath quickly.

Due to his expertise in the wine industry, Thibault is appointed as the chairman of a prestigious wine qualification company. This honorable position brings him recognition from farmers who send him gifts, food, and wine. As Thibault visits various towns for his work, he finds himself surrounded by enticing food and never-ending parties, causing his weight to steadily increase.

Thibault's godson Bernard, the son of his closest friends and neighbors, came back from university in the US. The boy turned into a handsome and muscular young man, expresses a desire to work for his godfather. Thibault gladly accepts and tries not to fall in live with the young man. Wanting to keep his beloved godfather happy, Bernard takes charge of cooking their lunches. Bernard had learned to cook big American meals in dorm combining this with French taste. Thibault, trying to hide his crush, started to eat everything in sight. As Thibault becomes a charitable figure, he is invited to various events and wants Bernard to accompany him everywhere.

While Thibault sleeps off the hangovers from wine filled nights Bernard starts his days with a run and picks up breakfast for his godfather. One morning Thibault looked out of the window and sees his godson shirtless sweating and stretching after his run. The sight is amazing, the young man has sculpted abs and a big chest. Amazingly big legs and a round ass. He feels his dick getting hard, but when he looked down he couldn't even see his feet anymore. Bernard caught Thibault staring and waved and holds up a bag of pastries. Thibault is embarrassed. How can he be attracted to his godson, its just wrong he tells himself. Bernard brings up the breakfast to his room, still shirtless. He gives the bag to Thibault and tells him he bought som extra for the long roadtrip. The trip is tense, Thibault didnt dare to speak and ate all the pastries within in the first hour. Bernard thinks his godfather is just hungry and after pumping gas he returns to the car with more food.

This can’t continue Thibault thinks to himself as he looks down to his massive belly sitting in his lap. Looking at his reflexing in the car mirror, he suddenly realized what happened to him, he wekt from fit college jock to grey haired morbidly obese 43 years old single gay wine farmer.

Stay tuned for part 2

[lee-laurent]

Screaming 'I Love You' At the Top of My Lungs - Luke Hughes

Summary: Olivia (Oli) Jones grows up with Luke Hughes.

content: angst, fluff, kissing, make out session, mentions of sex but no smut, relationships, growing up, puberty, underage drinking

wc: 8.2k

notes: this one has been chilling in a word doc for almost a year now, unfinished... so here we are! enjoy!!

p.s.: part 6 of done trying is in the works for all the fans out there ;)

Emily Jones had been thrilled when the lake house next to theirs had been purchased by a family. It finally meant that her daughter, Olivia, would have someone her age to spend time with over the summer. She was even more thrilled when she and her husband became friends with the parents, Ellen and Jim. This newly formed friendship quickly created a tradition of spending every summer together, growing up together, and forming a bond that would last a lifetime.

~~

The sun was high in the sky, casting a soft glow over the lake as Luke and Olivia splashed at the edge of the dock. At ten years old, they were inseperable, spending their days swimming, racing, and inventing games that only made sense to them. Today's grand plan was to catch the biggest fish in the lake- a challenge they'd taken seriously for maybe ten minutes.

Jack and Quinn were further down the dockl, attempting to escape the craziness of their younger brother and his best friend. They had their own fishing lines in the water, but their focus was more on the competition than the younger two.

"Luke, you're scaring all the fish away!" Jack complained, glancing over his shoulder as Luke and Olivia chased each other, laughing loudly.

Quinn nodded in agreement, annoyance clear on his face. "Yeah, why don't you go play somewhere else? We're actually trying to fish here."

Luke, undeterred by his brothers' grumbling, grinned at Olivia. "Ignore them. They're just mad 'cause we're going to catch the biggest fish.

Olivia giggled, "Let's show them how it's done, Lu!"

The two of them raced to the end of the dock, their feet dangling over the water, and cast their lines. Jack and Quinn exchanged an eye roll but couldn't help watching as the younger pair got to work.

Minutes ticked up in silence, and just as Jack thought that his peace had returned, Luke jumped up, almost falling into the water. "I got one!" he exclaimed.

Quinn groaned, watching his brother intently. "Here we go..."

Olivia jumped up, her enthusiasm only adding to the noise. "You got it, Luke! Woooo! Go Lu!"

Luke finally pulled it up-- a small, wriggling fish that flopped wildly at the end of his line. He beamed with pride, holding it up for everyone to see.

"See? Told you we'd catch one first!"

Jack and Quinn exchanged a look, half-amused, half-exasperated. "Congratulations," Jack said dryly. "Now can you please be quiet?"

Olivia stuck her tongue out at the older boys, unfazed by their lack of enthusiasm. "You're just jealous, Jacky."

"Whatever you say, Oli."

As the two little fishers planned their next big catch, the older boys sighed in unison, dreading the rest of the summer. But deep down, they these moments-- no matter how annoying-- would become part of the memories that formed their childhoods.

~~

The Michigan sun was bright as ever, but the atmosphere around the house had shifted. At thirteen, Luke Hughes and Olivia Jones had begun to outgrow some of their childhood games, but their bond remained as strong as ever. This summer, though, things were a bit different. Jack had brought his friends, Trevor and Cole, to the lake house for the first time, and their presence quickly added a new dynamic to the house.

Luke watched with irritation as Olivia, his partner in crime, seemed unusually interested in the new arrivals. Especially Trevor. She'd giggle at all his jokes, blush when he looked her way, and do everything she could to be near him. It didn't make any sense to Luke.

It was early afternoon, and the group was gathered by the lake, lounging on the end of dock, soaking up the sun. Trevor was showing off, talking about a trick he could do while wakesurfing, while Olivia hung on his every word.

"Why are you so into him?" Luke asked, his voice laced with frustration. He had finally pulled Olivia away from Trevor, getting some time to sit alone with his best friend.

Oli blushed, brushing her hair behind her ear. "He's cool, Luke. Don't you think so?"

Luke frowned, chucking a stone into the water. "He's just a guy. I don't get what's so special about him."

She shrugged, her eyes drifting back to Trevor, who was now laughing with Jack and Cole. "You wouldn't understand."

Trevor caught her gaze and flashed her a smile, which only made Olivia's cheeks redden further. Luke rolled his eyes, feeling a strange, unwelcome pang in his chest. He was used to having Oli's full attention, and now she was distracted-- by some older guy who didn't even notice her in the way she wanted.

Jack, having noticed his little brother's sour mood, followed Luke into the kitchen.

"Hey, Moose, you jealous or something?"

Luke shot him a glare. "Of what? Trevor? No way."

Jack chuckled, ruffling Luke's hair. "Don't worry, Moosey. She'll get over it. Trev isn't interested."

Luke wanted to snap back, but he just crossed his arms over his chest, staring out the window at the lake. He couldn't quite put his feelings into words, but he knew one thing: he didn't like this change, not one bit.

Even as the group gathered around the firepit, Olivia sat closer to Trevor than to Luke. She always sat next to Luke! Luke watched from across the flames, feeling a simmering of annoyance. It wasn't like Olivia to act like this, and it bothered him way more than he wanted to admit.

Why did he feel like this?

~~

Olivia had never been so excited for a trip to the lake house. She was 15 and finally had her driving permit. She was so eager to show off her new found freedom to her best friend. Her parents had given her permission to drive around the small neighbourhood that their lake house was located in. The moment she arrived, she practically dragged Luke to the driveway where her parents' car was parked, keys in hand, her eyes shining with excitement.

"Come on, Lu! Let's go for a drive," she urged, not giving him a chance to protest.

Luke hestitated for a second, glancing at the car. "Are you sure you're ready for this?" he teased, though he was already following her.

Olivia rolled her eyes, grinning brightly. "I've been practicing for months. Don't worry-- I've got this."

They climbed into the car, and Olivia adjusted the seat and mirrors with exaggerated care. Luke couldn't help but smirk at her seriousness, but he didn't say anything. As she started the engine and pulled out of the driveway, he felt both excitement and nervousness. This was new territory for both of them, and it felt oddly significant.

The road around the lake waws quiet, bordered by tall trees that cast shadows on the asphalt. Olivia kept both hands firmly on the wheel, her brow furrowed in concentration as she navigated the path. Luke found himself sneaking glances at her, noticing how grown up she looked while driving.

"You're really into this driving thing, huh?" he asked, keeping his tone light.

"Are you kidding? It's freedom, Lu! We can go anywhere, do anything... well, not really. But you get the idea," Oli replied, flashing him a grin before turning her eyes back to the street.

Luke nodded, though he wasn't really listening. He couldn't quite shake the feeling that this was more than just a drive. There was something about the way she looked at him, the way she drove with such confidence-- it all felt... different. And he wasn't sure he liked how it made him feel.

They approached a sharp curve in the road, Olivia bit her lip in concentration, turning the wheel with a bit too much speed. The car swerved, and for a split second, Luke's heart leaped into his throat. His hand shot out, gripping the edge of his seat as he tried to steady himself.

"Olivia-!"

"I've got it!" she said quickly, her voice a little higher than normal. She corrected the wheel, and the car straightened out, but they were both still a little shaken.

"Maybe I should slow down a bit," Olivia admitted, still laughing.''

"Maybe," Luke agreed, his heart thundering against his chest.

When they finally returned to the lake house, the sun was beginning to set, casting a warm glow over the water. Olivia parked the car, turning to Luke with a satisfied grin. "Told you I could do it."

"Yeah, you did good," Luke said.

Later that night, as he lay in bed staring at the ceiling, Luke found himself replaying the day over and over in his mind. Olivia's laughter, her excitement-- it was all stuck in his head, and for the first time, he couldn't just brush it off.

What was happening to him? Why did he feel this way?

The summer felt different now, and Luke wasn't sure he was ready for it.

~~

The following day, Luke and Olivia found themselves alone at the lake houses, the others having gone into town to grocery shop. It wasn't unusual for them to spend time together, just the two of them (obviously), but today it felt different-- charged with an unspoken tension neither could quite name.

"Want to go down to the dock?" Oli suggested, trying to keep things normal, though she could feel the shift in the air.

"Sure," Luke agreed, grabbing a couple of towels and a cooler of drinks as they headed outside.

They settled onto the dock, dangling their feet in the water. The familiar sounds of the lake-- water lapping at the shore, birds calling from the tall trees-- usually felt comforting, but today, Luke couldn't shake the nervous energy buzzing inside him.

They sat in companionable silence for a while, sipping on cold sodas and watching the water hit against the dock. But it wasn't long before Olivia broke it.

"Luke," she began hesitantly, her voice softer than normal, "d'you ever think about... growing up? Like, how things are changing?"

Luke turned to her, surprised by her question. "What do you mean?"

"I don't know," she shrugged, fidgeting with the hem of her shorts. "It's just... we're not kids anymore. Y'know? It feels like everything is different, even though we're still here, doing the same things."

He swallowed, suddenly aware of the way her shoulder brushed against his, how close they were sitting. "Yeah, I guess I've been thinking about that too," he admitted.

Olivia turned to face him, her eyes searching his. "D'you think... we'll always be like this? Best friends, I mean. Or do you think we'll grow apart?"

His heart skipped a beat at the thought. The idea of losing what they had-- whatever it was-- was somethinghe couldn't bear. "We won't grow apart," he said firmly, though the words felt heavy on his tongue. "We'll always be best friends, no matter what."

"Promise?"

"Promise," Luke replied, though he wasn't sure if he was trying to convince himself or her.

The sun began to dip lower in the sky, casting long shadows across the water, and Olivia leaned her head on Luke's shoulder, a gesture that had once felt so natural now made his heart race.

"You're my best friend, Lu," she murmured.

Luke hestitated, then put his arm around her, pulling her closer. "You're mine too, Oli," he said, though the words felt like they were only scratching the surface of what he wanted to say.

As the sun set and the sky turned from pink to a deep blue, Luke couldn't help but wonder what the future held for them. He had always thought their friendship would last forever, unchanged, but now he wasn't so sure.

But as they sat there, wrapped together, he couldn't imagine being anyone else.

~~

At 18, Luke and Olivia had slipped back into the easy rhythm of their friendship, though there were moments when things felt different-- charged in a way they hadn't been before. But for the most part, they had grown out of the awkward phase that had defined their relationship two years ago.

This summer, however, one major thing had changed. Olivia and Trevor's feelings for each other, once unrequited, were now undeniably mutual. And it drove Luke insane.

He hated the way that Trevor looked at her-- like she was the only person in the room. And worse, he hated the way Olivia looked back at Trevor, as if she were lost in his gaze. It was if they were silently communicating, undressing each other with their eyes, and it made Luke's stomach churn every time he saw it.

One evening, after a long day on the water, the group gathered in the house for a lowkey night. The parents had gone out for dinner, leaving the boys to their own devices. And Olivia was spending the night watching a movie with her parents. The boys sprawled out in the living room, beers in hand, the sound of crickets filling the quiet spaces between their conversations.

Trevor leaned back in his chair, a smirk playing on his lips. "You know," he began, his voice taking on a tone that immediately put Luke on edge, "Oli's really something else this summer."

Luke's grip on his beer tightened as he shot Trevor a glance. "What do you mean by that?"

Trevor shrugged, his eyes gleaming with mischief. "I mean, she's grown up a lot, hasn't she? Not just in looks, but the way she carries herself. Confident. Sexy."

Luke felt anger rise in his chest. He forced himself to stay calm, but his jaw clenched as he watched Trevor. "She's always been confident," Luke said, his voice steady but edged with warning.

"Yeah, but there's something different about her now," Trevor continued, oblivious to-- or ignoring-- the tension in Luke's voice. "She knows exactly how to get a guy's attention. And trust me, she's got mine."

Luke couldn't take it anymore. "Dude, you need to chill," he snapped, his eyes narrowing at Trevor. "She's not just some girl you can talk about like that. She's my best friend."

Trevor raised an eyebrow, surprised by Luke's reaction. "Relax, Hughes. I'm just saying what everyone's thinking. It's not like I don't care about her."

"That's exactly why you should be more careful with what you say," Luke shot back, his voice lower but still laced with anger. "She deserves more respect than that."

The room went quiet, the tension hanging heavy in the air. Jack and Cole exchanged glances but stayed out of it, sensing this was something Luke needed to handle on his own.

Trevor finally shrugged, raising his hands in mock surrender. "Alright, alright. I didn't mean any harm. I care about her too, y'know."

Luke didn't respond, just stared at Trevor until the other boy looked away, focusing on his drink instead. The conversation moved on, but the uneasy feeling in Luke's chest didn't go away.

As Luke lay in bed later that night, he couldn't stop thinking about the way Trevor had talked about Olivia. He knew his reaction had been intense, but he felt like he couldn't help it. Seeing his best friend with someone else, especially someone who looked at her the way Trevor did, made him want to snap.

He didn't know what it all meant, but one thing was clear: this summer was going to be a lot harder than he'd expected.

~~

The house boomed with the bass of music. With their parents away for the weekend, the boys and Olivia had seized the opportunity to throw a party, and the place was packed with people. Outside, the chaos of beer pong and rowdy games filled the air, while inside, the living room had become a makeshift dance floor.

Luke navigated through the crowd, making his way to the kitchen for a refill. He was in no mood to party- and pretty much wanted to be anywhere else. He slowed when he heard two familiar voices-- Trevor and Olivia. They were standing near the counter, the tension between them palpable. Luke hovered just out of sight, listening closely.

"I can't believe our parents trust us enough to leave us alone for the weekend," Olivia said, her voice carrying a playful tone.

Trevor's laugh was easy, casual. "Yeah, well, they figure we're old enough to handle it. Plus, we've done this before at the Hughes' house, no big deal."

Olivia's soft chuckle followed, and Luke could hear the flirtation in her voice, which made his stomach turn. "You make it sound so harmless, but I know you guys. You're trouble."

"We're not that bad," Trevor replied, his voice dropping a notch, laced with a charm that grated on Luke's nerves. "And besides, trouble's more fun."

There was a brief pause, the kind that made the air feel thick with anticipation. Luke's heart thudded painfully in his chest as he watched Olivia take a step closer to Trevor, her hand reaching out to touch his arm lightly.

"You think you're fun, huh?" her tone was teasing, but there was something more there-- something that made Luke's skin prickle with unease.

Trevor leaned in, his eyes never leaving hers. "Why don't you find out?"

For a moment, Luke thought he might be able to stop what was happening, might be able to step in and pull her away-- pull them apart. But he was frozen, every muscle tense as he watched Olivia smile at Trevor, a soft, almost nervous smile that Luke had seen a thousand times before. But this time, it wasn't meant for him.

"I think I might just do that," she whispered, her voice so quiet that Luke almost didn't hear it. Then, with a slow, deliberate motion, she closed the remaining distance between them. Her lips brushing Trevor's in a kiss that was tentative at first, like she was testing the waters.

Trevor responded immediately, pulling her closer, his hand sliding to the small of her back as he deepened the kiss. And that was when something inside Luke snapped.

It wasn't just a kiss. It was the way she melted into Trevor's arms, the way their bodies fit together like they belonged that way. It was the way Olivia's hands moved up to cup Trevor's face, like she'd wanted to do it for a long time. It was the way Trevor's fingers tangled in her hair, tilting her head to deepen the kiss even further.

Luke's heart pounded so hard he thought it might burst. His vision tunneled, and all he could see was them--Olivia and Trevor-- lost in each other. The rest of the world fell away, the noise of the party fading into the background until all that remained was the two of them, completely oblivious to the fact that they were being watched.

Oli made a soft, contented sound against Trevor's lips, a sound that Luke had never heard her make before. It was intimate, private, and it twisted something deep inside him. He wanted to look away, to give them privacy, but he couldn't. Is feet were glued to the floor, forced to witness something he wasn't meant to see.

Trevor pulled back slightly, just enough to look at her, his hands now resting on her waist. He smiled, and the tenderness of it made Luke's blood boil. "Maybe we should take this somewhere a little less... public," Trevor suggested, his voice husky.

Oli nodded, her eyes still locked on his. "Yeah... let's go upstairs."

The words hit Luke like a punch to the gut, but he still couldn't move, couldn't tear his eyes off them as Trevor took her hand and led her out of the kitchen. Luke's fists clenched at his sides as he watched them head towards the stairs, Olivia glancing back only once before she disappeared from view.

For a long moment, he just stood there, the scene replaying in his mind, the bitter taste of jealousy and anger rising in his throat. He wanted to puke and scream. He wanted to punch something.

He turned and left the hall, weaving through the party, his face masking the storm raging in his mind. The noise of the party, the laughter, and the shouts seemed to mock him as he walked outside. Ignoring the concerned looks from his brothers and Cole, he grabbed a beer and chugged it. All he could think about was Olivia and Trevor, and how they'd left together, their intentions clear. And how he couldn't do anything about it.

~~

The party continued in full swing, with music still blaring and people scattered across the backyard, laughing, drinking, and playing games. Luke sat in a lawn chair near the edge of the group, nursing a drink and pretending to be engaged in the conversation happening around him. But his mind was elsewhere, replaying what he had just witnessed in the kitchen over and over again.

He kept his eyes on the entrance to the house, unable to stop himself from waiting--watching-- for Olivia to return. When she finally did, it was like another punch in the gut. She stepped out onto the back porch, her hair slightly touseled, her shirt askew, and her cheeks flushed. She looked around, her eyes scanning the crowd as if she was looking for something-- or someone.

Luke quickly looked away, trying to focus on anything else. He didn't want to see the confusion in her eyes when she noticed that he was ignoring her, but he knew it was inevitable. He braced himself for it, forcing himself to keep his expression neutral as she finally spotted him.

Her face lit up in recognition, and she started towards him, but her steps faltered when she noticed his lack of reaction. She paused, frowning slightly as she tried to catch his eye, but Luke didn't give her the satisfaction. He kept his gaze fixed on the group in front of him, even though he couldn't hear a word they were saying.

"Hey, Lu," she called out, her voice hopeful.

Luke barely glanced at her, giving her only a nod in acknowledgment before turning back to his drink. She hesitated, her brow furrowing in confusion. She took a step closer, her hand reaching out to touch his shoulder, but he leaned away just enough to make it clear he wasn't interested in talking.

"Luke, what's going on?" she asked, concern creeping into her voice.

He shrugged, his tone detatched. "Nothing, just busy."

Olivia blinked, clearly thrown off by his cold response. She opened her mouth to say something else, but before she could, the back door swung open again, and Trevor emerged, a grin plastered on his face as he joined the group outside. He looked around, his eyes landing on Olivia, and without missing a beat, he made his way over to her.

"Hey, there you are," Trevor said, sliding up behind Olivia and wrapping his arms aorund her waist. He pulled her close, his chin resting on her shoulder as he pressed a kiss to her temple.

Her confusion melted away the instant she felt Trevor's touch. Her race softened, and she leaned back into him, a smile on her lips. For a moment, she seemed to forget all about Luke, her attention fully absorbed by the boy who now had his arms around her.

"Trevor," she said, her voice playful as she tilted her head to look up at him. "You disappeared on me."

Trevor chuckled, his hands resting comfortably on her hips. "Just had to check on a few things. But I'm back now, and I'm not going anywhere."

Olivia beamed at him, her earlier concerns about Luke seemingly forgotten. She reached up to brush a strand of hair out of her face, her fingers lingering on Trevor's arm as if she needed the contact to stay grounded. The tension in her posture was gone, replaced by a relaxed, almost blissful demeanor that made Luke's chest tighten all over again.

Her laugh rang out as Trevor whispered something in her ear, and Luke couldn't help but glance at them. They were completely wrapped in each other, oblivious to everything else. The way Trevor's hands rested possessively on her waist, the way Olivia leaned into his touch--it was like they had forgotten the whole world existed, including Luke.

Any trace of the confusion and worry Olivia had shown just moments before had vanished. It was if Luke's coldness didn't matter anymore, as if she didn't even notice. All she cared about was Trevor, and the realization hit Luke harder than he expected.

He took a long drink from his cup, letting the bitter taste wash away the knot in his throat. The party continued around him, but it all felt distant and unimportant, like white noise. He couldn't stop thinking about what he'd seen, what he'd felt--and how much it hurt to see her look at someone else like that.

But Luke wouldn't let it show, espeically in front of Olivia. He stayed silent, stewing in his own thoughts, while Olivia and Trevor remained lost in their own little world, leaving him on the outside looking in.

~~

The next morning, the house was unusually quiet. Luke was in the kitchen, nursing a cup of coffee, trying to clear his head from the events of the previous night.

His mind was still a mess, replaying the scene of Trevor and Olivia in the kitchen. He hadn't slept well, tossing and turning as he tried to make sense of his emotions, the anger, the jealousy-- everything.

Just as he was starting to lose himself in thought again, Jack strolled into the kitchen, looking surprisingly awake and annoying cheerful. He grabbed a glass of water and leaned against the counter, smirking at his younger brother.

"Well, well, well, Moosey," Jack started, his tone teasing. "I was wondering when you were finally going to make a move on Oli. I gotta say, I'm impressed."

Luke looked up, brow furrowing in confusion. "What are you talking about?"

Jack held up a small, crumpled foil wrapper he'd found discarded on the living room floor. Trevor must've gone to throw it away downstairs. "Found this little guy near the couch. Figure it was about time you two finally, you know... got together."

Luke's stomach twisted at sight of the condom wrapper. He hadn't noticed it earlier, but seeing it now only brought back the memory of Trevor and Olivia all over again. His jaw tightened as he stared at the wrapper, feeling a fresh wave of nausea.

"That's not mine," Luke said flatly, his voice colder than he intended.

Jack's smirk faltered as he raised an eyebrow. "Wait, what? Then whose is it?"

Luke's grip tightened around his coffee mug, his knuckles turning white. He didn't want to say it, didn't want it admit it aloud, but he knew he had to. "It's Trevor's," he finally muttered, the mords tasted bitter in his mouth. "It was him and Olivia."

For a moment, Jack was stunned into silence, his playful expression dropping as he processed what Luke had just said. "Trevor?" he repeated, disbelief evident in his voice. "You're telling me Trevor and Olivia..."

Luke nodded, unable to say it again. The anger and frustration that had been simmering all night was starting to bubble over, and he couldn't keep it in any longer.

"They were in the kitchen last night," Luke said, his voice rough with emotion. "I walked in on them. Didn't even realize I was there."

Jack blinked, trying to wrap his head around the situation. "Shit, Moose... I didn't know." He ran a hand through his hair, trying to figure out how to handle this. "Why didn't you say something? Why didn't you stop them?"

"What was I supposed to do?" Luke snapped. "I didn't want to make a scene. They were all over each other, Jack. She looked so... happy. I just... I couldn't."

Jack sighed, stepping closer to Luke. "I'm sorry, man. I thought... well, I thought it was you and her finally figuring things out."

"Yeah, well, it wasn't," Luke muttered, staring down at the table, the pain of the situation settling in. "And now she's probably going to spend the rest of the summer glued to Trevor, and I'll just have to sit here and watch."

Jack placed a hand on Luke's shoulder, trying to offer some comfort. "Look, maybe it's not as serious as you think. Trevor's... well, he's Trevor. He's probably not thinking long-term, and maybe Olivia's just caught up in the moment. She's getting attention from an older guy. Chicks love that shit."

Luke shurgged off Jack's hand, his frustration too overwhelming to accept any consolation. "I don't care if it's not serious. I just hate seeing them together like that. She's my best friend, Jack. And now... I don't know what we are anymore."

Jack sighed again, understanding his brother’s pain but unsure how to fix it. “Look, Moose, I don’t have all the answers. But if you really care about her, you need to talk to her. Maybe she doesn’t even realize how much this is messing with you.”

Luke shook his head, too angry to think clearly. "What's the point? She's obviously into him, and I'm just... I don't know. It doesn't matter."

"It does matter," Jack insisted. "You can't just sit here and let this eat you up from the inside. If you don't say anything, you'll regret it. Trust me, Moose"

Luke didn't respond, staring down at the coffee cup in his hands, his mind running a mile a minute. He knew Jack was right, but the thought of confronting Olivia--or worse, Trevor--was almost too much to bear.

Jack watched him for a moment longer before sighing and backing off. "Just think about it, okay? I'm here if you need to talk."

With that, Jack left the kitchen, leaving Luke alone with his thoughts. There was still anger and frustration building inside him, but now there was something else--an overwhelming feeling of sadness that made his entire body feel heavy. He wasn't sure what he was supposed to do now. Would things with Olivia ever be the same? Was Jack right and Trevor just wanted a quick fuck? Why was this all so complicated?

~~

Jack had been wrong. Trevor was not looking for something short term with Olivia. And the next summer just proved that even more. It was almost impossible to ignore just how deeply Olivia and Trevor had fallen for each other. From the moment they arrived, they were inseperable. It was like they existed in their own little world, completely unaware of the world around them.

Every morning, Luke would find them wrapped up together on the porch, sharing a cup of coffee as they watched the sunrise. Olivia would sit on Trevor's lap, her arms draped around his neck, as they whispered to each other, their foreheads touching. It was almost as if they'd been superglued together, and it was beyond irritating,

But what really got under Luke's skin were the little things--like the way Trevor would brush a strand of hair behind Olivia's ear before leaning in to kiss her, or how Olivia's laugh seemed louder and brighter when she was with him. Even worse were the marks.

One afternoon, as they all lounged by the lake, Luke noticed a series of faint reddish marks on Olivia's neck when she pulled her hair up into a claw clip. Hickeys.

"Did ya have fun last night?" Jack teased, nudging Oli as they all sat on the dock.

She blushed, giving Jack a playful shove. "Shut up, Jack," she giggled, though she didn't seem embarassed--if anything, she looked pleased.

Trevor smirked, sliding his arm around Olivia's waist and pulling her closer. "Maybe a little too much fun," he joked, kissing her on the temple. Oli just laughed, leaning into him, her fingers absentmindedly tracing circles on his chest.

Luke clenched his fists, staring out at the lake to avoid looking at the happy couple. The sight of them together, so openly affectionate, made him feel like was intruding on something private... something he desperately wished he could unsee, much like the kiss in the kitchen.

As the day went on, it only got worse. During lunch, Trevor fed Olivia bites of his sandwich, and she giggled like it was the most romantic thing in the world. Later, when they were all hanging out in the air conditioned living room, Olivia snuggled up against Trevor's side, her head resting on his shoulder as they watched a movie. Luke tried to focus on the screen, but all he could hear was the soft murmur of their voices as they whispered to each other, completely lost in their own conversation.

When Oli stood up to get a drink, Luke couldn't help but notice the way her shirt had ridden up slightly, revealing another set of hickeys trailing down her side. His jaw tightened, and he quickly looked away, trying to shake the image from his mind.

Late that night, the lake house was quiet, the only sounds coming from the gentle rustling of leaves outside and the occasional creak of the old wooden floors. Luke had finally managed to drift off to sleep when a noise jolted him awake—a muffled laugh, followed by a soft thud against the wall.

His heart sank as he realized the source of the sounds: the room next to his. Trevor’s room.

Luke squeezed his eyes shut, trying to block out the noise, but it was impossible. The hushed giggles, the low murmur of Trevor’s voice, and Olivia’s breathy replies seeped through the thin walls, each sound hitting him like a slap in the face. Then, there was the unmistakable creak of the bed springs, and Luke felt like he was going to be puke.

Luke couldn’t take it anymore. The weight of everything he’d been holding in finally broke through, and he stormed out of his room, needing to get away from the gut-wrenching reality just a few feet away. He found Jack in the kitchen, grabbing a late-night snack, and without warning, the floodgates opened.

Jack turned to see Luke pacing back and forth, his hands tugging at his hair in frustration. “What’s going on with you?” Jack asked, clearly concerned.

Luke stopped pacing and faced his older brother, his face twisted in anger. "You said last summer that it wasn't going to be long-term! That Trevor wasn't looking for anything serious, that he'd move on by now!" he burst out, his voice cracking.

Jack sighed, setting down the bag of chips he's been holding. "I didn't think it would be. I thought they'd have their fun, and it would fizzle out. But I was wrong, Luke. They're clearly serious about each other."

"Serious?" Luke echoed, his voice tinged in disbelief. "They're practically glued together, Jack! They're disgusting, and I don't get it. What does Olivia even see in him?!"

Jack rubbed the back of his neck, not sure how to respond. “Look, I know it sucks to watch them be all lovey-dovey, but Trevor’s a good guy. He makes her happy.”

"Happy?" Luke snapped. "What about me, Jack? I've known her my whole life, and now she's completely forgetten about me because of him. What does she see in Trevor that can't see in anyone else? What's so special about him?"

"Maybe it's just how he makes her feel. Maybe he's the one she needs right now. I don't know, Luke. But it's not like you can force her to feel differently."

"It's not fair! He's always been around, but now it's like he's taken her away from me. And I hate it. I hate seeing them together, hearing them through the damn walls. It's like I'm invisible to her now."

Jack frowned, unsure how to fix his brother's pain. "I get that it's hard, but you've gotta let it go. She's happy, and as much as it sucks, you've gotta accept it. Be there as her best friend. Not a jealous lover."

"I just don't know what he has that I don't."

"Sometimes, people just connect like that. It isn't always about who has known who the longest or who's been there for her through everything. It's about how he makes her feel right now."

Luke just shook his head, not sure how to reply. The thought of Olivia and Trevor being so, so deeply in love made him feel like he was the sickest he'd been in his life. But for Olivia, he'd have to push through.

~~

The following summer brought a strange quiet to the lake. Unlike previous years, Olivia wasn't spending every waking moment with the Hughes family. Instead, she kept to her parents' house next door, avoiding the Hughes' place all together.

Luke noticed her absence immediately. It was hard not to. The usual sounds of her laughter, the sight of her smiling, and the way she'd barge into their house unannouced were all missing. He'd hoped things would return to normal after the last summer, but he was wrong. He felt like he was a wrong a lot when it came to Olivia now.

Jack and Quinn had noticed too, exchanging concerned glances whenever Luke asked if they'd seen her. But Olivia remained elusive, keeping to herself and refusing to join them in any of their usual lake house activities.

Finally, Luke couldn't take it anymore. He needed to get to the bottom of Olivia's disappearance. He made his way to the Jones' cottage, knocking on the door with determination. When Olivia answered, her eyes were red, and she looked like she hadn't slept in days.

"Hey," Luke started softly. "Can we talk?"

She hestitated, but finally stepped to the side to let him in. They sat down, the silence between them heavy.

"I heard that you and Trevor broke up," he wasn't sure how to approach the subject.

She nodded, her hands suddenly becoming the most interesting thing in the room. "Yeah... we did."

Luke waited for her to say more, but she didn't. "Why, Oli? What happened between you two?"

Olivia's face crumpled, and she bit her lip as if holding back tears. "He... he thought I was in love with someone else."

Luke's heart skipped a beat. Who could she possibly be in love with?

"What? Why would he think that?"

She shook her head, voice trembling. "I don't know. I tried to tell him it wasn't true, but he just... he didn't believe me. He said he couldn't be with someone who wasn't all in, who might have feelings for someone else."

"Do you?" he asked cautiously. "Have feelings for someone else, I mean?"

She looked away, wiping at her eyes. "It doesn't matter now, does it? Trevor and I are over."

Luke’s heart ached at her pain, and a surge of protectiveness washed over him. He wanted to ask more, to dig deeper into what she was feeling, but he could see how much it was hurting her to talk about it.

"You know we're here for you, right? No matter what," Luke said softly, reaching over to cover her hand with his.

"I know," she whispered. "I just need some space right now."

"Okay. Just... don't shut us out forever, alright? I'm here whenever you're ready to talk."

"Thanks, Lu. I appreciate that. Especially after I've been such a shit friend."

"Any time, Oli. Any time."

~~

The next night, the Hughes' house was buzzing with laughter and conversation as the boys and few friends hung out on the deck. But Luke couldn't stop staring at the empty seat he'd made the boys save just in case Olivia decided to come over. He hadn't seen her since the day before, and his worry was growing.

Around midnight, the hangout started to wind down, and Luke decided to call it a night. He was halfway up the stairs when he heard the door creak open. Turning around, he saw Olivia stumbling in, her eyes glassy and movements unsteady.

"Olivia?" he called as he hurried back down the stairs.

She looked up at him with sadness and something he couldn't quite place--something desperate. "Luke," she slurred. "There you are. I've been looking for you."

Luke took in her disheveled appearance. Her hair was a mess, her clothes crumpled, and the scent of alcohol clung to her like a cloud. She was drunk, way more than he'd ever seen her.

"Oli, what're you doing here? You should be home, resting," he tried to lead her towards the door.

But she shook her head, pulling away from his grasp. "No, I don't want to be there. I don't want to be alone," her voice cracked. She reached out, her fingers brushing against his arm. "Please, Luke... I need you."

Luke froze, his breath catching in his throat as Olivia leaned in closer, her lips inches from his. She was so close, and for a brief moment, the temptation was almost too much to resist. But then he saw the tears in her eyes, the way her hands trembled, and he knew it wasn't right.

"Oli, you're not okay," he stepped back, taking her hands in his. "You've had too much to drink. Let me take you home."

"You don't want me anymore, do you? Because I'm... used. I'm not good enough now."

"Olivia, no. That's not true. You're amazing and I-" he paused, thinking over his words. "I care about you so much, but this... this isn't the right time. You're hurting, and I don't want to take advantage of that."

Olivia's shoulders slumped in defeat. "I'm sorry, Luke. I just... I don't know what to do anymore."

Luke pulled her into a tight hug, holding her close as he cried into her chest. "It's okay, Oli. I'm here for you, no matter what."

He hated seeing her so broken and lost. She needed time to heal, to find herself again. And he'd just have to be patient.

~~

Olivia woke up with a pounding headache and a foggy memory. She groaned, rubbing her temples as she tried to piece together the events of the previous night. Everything felt like a blur--a messy tangle of emotions, confusion, and too much alcohol.

She shuffled downstairs to the kitchen, hoping a cup of black coffee would clear her head. But as she sat down, a sense of unease settled in her stomach. Something had happened last night, something important maybe, but she couldn't quite grasp it.

But before she could dwell on it, there was a knock at the door. She frowned and set her mug down to answer it. She was surprised to find Luke on the other side, looking quite serious.

"Hey. Can I come in?"

"Uh, yeah, sure," she replied. She watched as he walked into the living room, his hands shoved in his pockets, brow furrowed. "Luke, what's going on?"

"Oli, do you remember anything from last night?"

"Not really... I remember drinking a lot and... that's about it. Why? What happened?"

Luke sighed, running a hand through his hair. "You came over to our place. You were really upset and... you tried to, uh, make a move on me."

"I what?!"

"Yeah," Luke said, his tone gentle but firm. "You were really drunk. And I could tell you weren't in the right headspace, so I stopped you."

She felt her face heat up in embarrassment. "Oh my god, Luke, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to-"

"Don't apolgize," he stepped closer. "You were hurting, and you needed someone. I just didn't want you to do anything you'd regret."

"But... why did I do that? I mean, why you?"

Luke hesitated, taking a deep breath. "Oli, I think it's time I'm honest with you. I've... had feelings for you for a long time. Probably longer than I even realized. But I didn't want to mess things up between us, so I never said anything. And then you and Z... I thought I'd lost my chance."

"Luke... I didn't know."

"I know," he said quietly. "And last night, when you came to me like that... it wasn't because you wanted me. It's because you were hurting, and I don't want to be the guy you turn to when you're upset."

"I thought... I thought you didn't want me because I'm 'used.' Because I've slept with Trev."

He gently lifted her chin so she could look at him. "That's not true, Oli. I've never thought of you that way. You deserve so much more than what Trevor gave you, and if I could be the one to make you happy, I would. But only if that's what you really want."

"Luke... I- I don't know what to say."

"You don't have to say anything," he whispered. "Just... think about it. If you don't feel the same way, that's okay. But if you do... I'm here."

For a moment, they stood in silence, the weight of Luke's confession hanging in the air. Then, without thinking, Olivia closed the distance between them and pressed her lips to his.

The kiss was slow and tender, filled with all the emotions they'd both been holding back for so long. When they finally pulled away, Luke pressed his forehead to hers, both of them gasping for air.

"Oli," his voice thick with emotion. "I've wanted this for so long."

"Me too," she whispered back, her hands clutching onto the fabric of his shirt. "I just didn't realize it till now."

Olivia gently tugged him towards her bedroom. Luke hesitated for a second, searching her eyes for any sign of doubt.

"Are you sure?"

She nodded, her heart racing. "I'm sure."

And with that, they fell into bed together, finally giving in to the feelings they'd both kept hidden for so long.

~~

Luke and Olivia finally crossed the line they had danced around for years, everything felt different. The sun streamed through the curtains of her bedroom, Olivia stirred awake, feeling content. She must've finally gotten the rest she needed. The warmth of Luke's presence beside her was undeniable. He was already up, sitting on the edge of the bed, his back to hers as he tied up his sneakers.

"Morning," he turned to shoot her a soft smile.

"Morning," Olivia replied, sitting up and pulling the covers up around her.

"Are you okay?" he could sense her hestiation a mile away.

"Yeah, I think so."

"We can talk about this later. Just... take it easy today, alright? No more drinking."

She nodded and he walked over to press a kiss on her forehead before he left.

"I'll see you later?"

"Yeah, sure," she forced a smile. Luke lingered for a moment, as if he wanted to say more, but then just nodded and left, closing the door softly behind him.

As soon as he was gone, Olivia sank back into the pillows, her mind racing. She couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong--terribly wrong. The more she thought about it, the more her insecurities began to take hold. She had slept with Trevor, Luke’s friend, and now she had slept with Luke. What did that make her? A puck bunny? The thought made her stomach turn. She didn’t want to be seen that way, didn’t want to be the girl who bounced between hockey players, even if Luke was different, even if she had real feelings for him.

By the time afternoon had rolled around, Olivia was overwhelmed by doubt. Every time her phone buzzed with a new text from Luke, she ignored it, burying herself in the puzzle her parents had started. She couldn't face him when she felt like this.

Luke was growing concerned. The day before had been a turning point, but now he was being ignored again. Her silence was gnawing at him. He sent another text, that she ignored, and decided to make his way to hers.

He knocked on the door, just as he had the day before. Olivia answered, looking even more stressed than she had been.

"Luke, I..."

"Whatever it is just tell me... please."

"I just... I don't want people thinking I'm some sort of... you know... puck bunny."

"What? Olivia, nobody would ever think that about you."

"But they will, Luke! I was with Trevor, and now we're...you know. People are going to judge, they always do."

He placed a hand on her arm, "You're not a puck bunny, Olivia. You're everything to me. I don't care what anyone else thinks. And if they do judge, that's their problem. Not ours."

"You really mean that?"

"Of course I do," he replied without hesitation. "You're not just someone I'm hooking up with. You're my best friend, and I want you to be my... girlfriend."

Her fears melted away almost instantly. "I... I want that too."

Luke pulled her into a tight hug. "Good. Because I'm not letting you go. Ever."

As they held each other, Olivia couldn't believe how perfect things felt. Life wasn't easy, but with Luke by her side, anything was possible.

[charlie-lec-stories]

Drama King // CL16 & MV1

Pairing: Charles Leclerc / Original Female Character / Max Verstappen

Summary: Already used to Max's shenanigans, Y/N finds out that Charles with the flu can be quite a challenge.

Warnings: None, this is fluff, fluff and even more fun. (Only one paragraph about homophobic Jos Verstappen)

Author’s Note: Gees, there's nothing worse than a guy with the flu. Also, there's a little introduction of Max and Y/N's parents and the relationship they have with their children. Rate: PG

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She was used to Max being a drama queen, after so many years being friends, she already knew how he could turn a minimal problem into a world-ending alarm. His computer froze for 5 seconds? It was probably broken. He couldn't find his phone? He probably lost it forever. He was hungry? He couldn't function until he ate. She had fun with that, because Max's little drama stunts were never something that came without a good laugh for her. She would watch him run around the room looking for his phone, or quickly throwing a tantrum when his computer'd go slower than he'd like it. Charles was a lot more composed, which was also funny because he was the one that go into serious trouble more often. He set his dinner on fire? It wasn't that bad, he's not afraid of fire. He's at the police station because he tried to jump the fence when he forgot his keys? Just a little inconvenience and he made new friends! He hurt his hand trying to fix the toaster he just broke? Well, he has a lot more blood in his body, nothing to worry about. Sometimes she wished that Charles would take the bizarre situations he got himself into a little more seriously.

But she takes that wish back, dear God, she takes that back.

It all started with winter break, they were off season and they had been together for a year now, their first anniversary on the 26th of December. Charles, who loved to spoil his partners, decided that they deserved a week for themselves, before they all had to part for New Year's celebrations with their respective families. Plus, they knew that Max was less than happy to have to spend the holiday with his father, so the idea of chilling together, somewhere away from the world was more than appealing. The Monegasque made a reservation at a very private cabin complex, where they could be alone in the middle of nowhere, in Germany. From the 25th at night all the way to the 31st at noon, they would turn off their phones and ignore the rest of the world. Max was more than happy for that, he needed to recharge batteries before facing his father, and Y/N knew that this little trip was perfect for her to sleep all the hours she missed that season. It was the perfect plan, and it went amazing. They relaxed in the woods, lit a bond-fire, swam on the lake, and the cabin even had a jacuzzi, which they used every day. But, when they finally went back to reality on the 31st, happy memories weren't the only thing that Charles brought back home with him.

"Tu es pâle, mon garçon". (You look pale, my boy). Pascale, Charle's mother, said when he arrived at her door for New Year's dinner.

"Je vais bien, ne t'inquiète pas, Maman". (I'm fine, don't worry, Mom). She wasn't convinced, and she was proven right when Charles started coughing in the middle of their meal. The poor man started his new year with a fever.

Arthur called Lando, who made up an excuse and called Max. The Red Bull driver was supposed to spend a week with his father, Jos, the two of them going on a "healing" trip to "help Max outgrow his queerness". The moment he got the call from Lando about "Sassy being sick", he canceled his plans with his father and flew back to Monaco. His father was more than displeased with that, and didn't believe a thing his son told him, but he decided to keep his thoughts to himself. He had an already difficult relationship with his father, coming out as having two partners and having to tell him that they were his rivals was not something he needed to do at the moment. Jos Verstappen hated Y/N with passion, and it was a mutual feeling. He believed that the girl wanted to distract Max on purpose, to take advantage of that on the races. He also believed that she was trying to get into Max's pants to "trap him" with a kid. But, he would rather have her as his daughter in law than a man. He had never been as mad as when he discovered that Max was bisexual, the idea of having his son dating another man was his worst nightmare. He made it his life goal to "cure" Max and his son knew that if his father ever knew that Max was skipping his trip with him for Charles, he would straight up force Max into an asylum. Jos disliked Charles the most, after Lewis Hamilton, so if he didn't like the idea of Max dating a man, he would probably lose it with the fact that he was dating Charles.

Max made it back to Monte Carlo on January 2nd, but he called Y/N to let her know that he could take care of Charles and she should enjoy her time with her family. She had a big one, and she didn't get to see them much, he didn't want her to miss that chance. He could deal with Charles for a week, how hard could it be? She thanked him and let him know that she could fly back if he ever needed her, but he assured her that they would be alright. At the airport, he was welcomed by Lando, who coincidentally came back home from England to prepare everything for his New Year's party, a tradition he started two years prior and that was the most awaited event of the grid. The brit offered Max a ride and, together, they made their way towards the apartment that Max shared with his partners. Lando lived just a block away and offered to help out if he and Charles needed anything. He also let Max know that Oscar, Alex and George were flying to Monaco on the 4th, to help him out with the party, so there were going to be some extra hands. Max felt grateful, even if his father was not there for him, he had his grid family that loved him for who he was.

"Charlie? I'm home!". He called out when he opened the door. Usually, Charles would drop whatever he was doing to greet him and ask about his day. He was an active listener and enjoyed asking people things, but this time he was greeted by the faint sound of a cough and the pets, Pete, Charles' golden retriever, and his two cats. He dropped everything he had in hand and quickly walked to the bedroom followed by Pete. "Hey, Poepie, how are you feeling?". (Sweetie),

"I think I'm dying". Max had to actively do an effort to suppress his laugh. Charles was on the bed, the blanket up to his neck and his voice was barely over a whisper, but he was definitely not dying.

"I think you're doing pretty well!". Max said with a smile and sat on the bed next to Charles, but he pushed Max away. Pete jumped on the bed.

"Don't get close!". He yelled as loud as he could and then coughed again. "You'll get sick too and this is a nightmare".

"Charlie, it's only the flu. I'm Dutch, I'm used to cold weather and never get sick". He placed his hand on Charles' forehead and noticed that his boyfriend was burning up. "Don't worry about me".

"At least you got away from your dad". Charles said as he did the best he could to sit up. Max helped him a bit.

"Yeah, your stuffy nose definitely saved me from that". Charles smiled, his eyes shining in a mix of sadness and fever. He hated Jos for everything he put Max through.

"I'm your knight in shining armor, even when I'm sick". Max laughed out loud and Charles followed, but started coughing again.

"Okay, Sir Charles, let's make you some tea to warm up that throat".

The first night was terrible, Max didn't sleep, not even one second, Charles turning around and whimpering all night, uncomfortable and bothered by the fever. He was cold and hot, all at the same time, so he was pulling at the sheets constantly. Max wanted nothing more than to go to sleep on the couch, but he couldn't leave Charles alone. He turned the Monegasque around and spooned him to keep him from moving too much. They slept through the morning hours, until the pets woke them up asking to be fed. Max got up at lunch time to feed them and make some soup for Charles. He had two big black spots under his eyes and every now and then, a yawn would escape his mouth. Y/N texted him, asking about Charles and how he spent the night. Max didn't want her to worry, so he told her that Charles slept like a baby. It wasn't exactly a lie, never specified which type of baby, he slept like a possessed baby. Charles' fever went down through the day, but he still felt like he didn't have any strength. The medication was doing its magic, but he was probably going to get a fever again at night. And Max was right, Charles' fever came back the second night, sentencing Max to another sleepless night.

"If I die, I leave my sim to Y/N and my underwear to you". Charles told him at 3 am as they were cuddling. Max snorted, almost offended.

"I'm the one taking care of you and I get the underwear while she gets the sim?". Charles looked up at him in the dark, his eyes narrowed. "Make your own soup tomorrow, traitor".

"My underwear it's all Ferrari!". Max already knew that. "It's really important to me. I don't know what you're complaining for".

"It's a good thing you're not dying". Max chuckled and they fell silent for a few minutes.

"If I die and you don't wear that underwear, I'm haunting your ass". And he knew that Charles meant every word.

On the 4th, Lando called Max to let him know that the boys had arrived and offered to stop by and help out a bit. Charles was in a good mood, after Max promised to use the Ferrari underwear if he died, meaning that the visit was a good way to keep up his good spirits. While they waited for their friends to arrive, Max called Y/N to give her an update. She scolded him for refusing to wear the Ferrari briefs, and then she thanked him again for taking care of Charles all on his own. She was convinced that it was an easy task, Max was the drama king after all, but she was grateful anyways. Max decided not to tell her how much of a pain in the ass Charles could be, he would rather have her believing everything was alright. He took Pete out for a quick walk and then went to feed his little demons again, Sassy and Jimmy already planning on eating Charles if he let another minute pass without feeding them. Lando arrived with Oscar, George and Alex, and they all ran to the bedroom to say hi to Charles, but he had a fever again, and what they found was anything but festive.

"You look like shit". Lando said without thinking, and Max hit the back of his head.

"You don't, Charlie". But the Monegasque was already mentally writing his will.

"It's okay, dying must be the only thing that doesn't look good on me". Max rolled his eyes.

"We should help you get better". Oscar added, willing to help. The other three looked at him with their noses scrunched.

"I think we're all more useful at a safe distance". Alex looked around the room as he made the comment, looking for a place he could sit down and not get too close to Charles.

"It's just the flu, stop acting like he's got a deadly disease". But they all ignored Max as Oscar organized them to cover all of Charles' needs.

"Alex, you'll make the food. George, you'll bring Jimmy and Sassy, since Pete's already here. Lando, you'll pick a movie. I will gather all the blankets I can find. And Max...". Oscar looked at him, unsure of what Max could do. "You'll comfort him, but please, keep it decent".

"I'm not doing that while you guys are here". Max said, annoyed.

"Just making sure!". Lando laughed as he remembered the situation in the hotel room.

Oscar's plan was kind of chaotic, as always. While Max laid on the bed with his sick boyfriend, he could hear Alex fighting with the kitchen, George chased the cats around the house and Oscar opened every closet in the apartment looking for blankets. To add to that, Lando just couldn't pick a movie, going through all the streaming platforms and genres. Charles still acted as if he was dying and even though Max loved every person in that house, he was too sleep deprived to tolerate the chaos. After an hour, George walked in with Sassy and Jimmy, his shirt covered in holes and wearing kitchen gloves. He placed the cats on top of Charles and they both snuggled on his chest, purring and relaxing against their Papa. Max looked at George worried, as the brit just kept a wary eye on the cats. He couldn't help but chuckle at the situation, Sassy and Jimmy were the most loving cats in the world, but they loved to drive people crazy. Alex brought to the room the worst soup Max had ever tasted, but Charles was so sick that he couldn't even taste anything, so it wasn't a problem. Oscar placed all the blankets on top of Charles and, even though Max thought Lando would never pick anything, he actually did, and they all sat in the room to watch it together. Charles was finally asleep after 30 minutes and Max had never felt more relieved.

Around 6 pm they all left and Max took the pets to their beds. Pete slept on a pretty fancy bed that Charles had brought for him, it had Ferrari's emblem all over it, still, the dog loved his Red Bull toy, no matter how many times Charles took it away from him. Max gave Pete the toy and the dog curled up on his bed, ready to sleep, hugging the toy. Jimmy and Sassy had high beds, ones that Max had attached to the wall so they could sleep as up high as possible. He told them to go to bed, in Dutch, since it was the only language they understood, and they both obeyed instantly. If there was something that Max loved about their pets was how well behaved they were, George might not agree with that, but that seemed like George-problem to Max. After everyone was on their beds, Max went back to his room and lied next to Charles, his little snores making Max smile. Maybe they could finally sleep for a few hours. But they didn't. Charles' fever came back and he started moving around again. At some point, Max even heard him crying.

"Charles, are you okay?". Max asked as he turned Charles around to look at him and see if he could find what was hurting. "Does anything hurt?".

"I don't know!". Charles said, already done with being sick. "I just feel like shit and I'm tired and my head hurts... and... and my throat is sore!". Charles complained in between sobs. "And my nose is so stuffed! I just want to feel better and do my things, like training and going out. And I miss Y/N too".

"Charlie, it's okay". Max tried to comfort him, ignoring his own tiredness as best as he could. "Be patient, you'll feel better soon. I promise".

But Charles kept turning around all night again, coughing, mumbling, sighing loudly, blowing his nose. Max was close to losing it. There is so much time one can spend not sleeping and Max was close to his breaking point. At 4 in the morning, he got up and decided to call Y/N. She was in Buenos Aires, so it would be around midnight there, she was definitely up, no one slept early in Argentina. He felt terrible calling her to complain about their boyfriend, but Max just couldn't take it anymore, he needed to sleep and their friends were too loud and energetic to actually help. He confirmed that the day before. So she was his last resort. He sat on the toilet with the lid down, looking at his phone and re-thinking about calling her or not. She was having fun, spending some time with her family, people she missed all year round, he didn't feel comfortable ruining that, but he didn't know what to do. He heard Charles cough from the room and dialed his girlfriend's number. It rang a few times, then, he was met with the sound of music and people speaking loudly.

"Hey, Maxie, it's everything alright?". She greeted him. He could hear her friends mocking her, saying "Maxie" over and over again, her grandmother scolding them, and Y/N laughing at the situation. "Wait! It's like 4 am there. Max, is Charles alright?".

"YES". He quickly reassured her when he noticed how worried she was. She sighed in relief. "I just...".

"What is it?". He heard the noise turn down, she had probably moved away from people so they could talk better.

"I lied to you. Charles has not been easy to deal with. At all! He's terrible, and I miss my sleep and we miss you and he's coughing all the time and the guys came by and it was a mess...". He kept rambling about how the last few days had been horrible for him and she patiently listened to him. It was bad that Charles was still with a fever, that wasn't normal, since he was taking medication for that, but Max was also someone who could escalate a situation pretty quickly, so it was hard for her to know exactly if the situation was that bad. Nonetheless, she let him let it all out, once she noticed that he was done, she offered a solution.

"Listen, Amor, give me two days. Tomorrow I will say goodbyes and then I'll be on the first plane I can catch, okay?". She heard him let out a breath he had been holding. "We'll take care of him together".

"Thank you, Schat, thank you so much". He said, feeling a lot better.

On the 6th, around 8 pm, Y/N finally got back home. She slowly opened the door, Pete went to her to greet her. She patted his head and scratched the back of his ears, earning a little huff of approval from the dog. Sassy and Jimmy went next, rubbing against her legs and meowing, showing their Mamá how much they missed her. She tried to shush them, noticing that Max and Charles were probably sleeping. Quietly, she dropped her suitcase by the door and took off her shoes, walking around the dark apartment towards the bedroom. The door made a minimal cracking sound as she pushed it open softly and she cringed about it, but she discovered that her boys were wide awake inside, completely unbothered by the sound of the door. Charles was in a semi-awake state, his eyes glossy and forehead shiny with sweat, probably still with a fever. Max was next to him, his eyes tired and the bags under them prominent, like he hadn't slept in days. The Dutchman's eyes light up with her presence, the tiredness still there but now mixed with relief.

"Schat!". He jumped up and ran to her, picking her up and spinning her a few times, before he set her back down and kissed her, like his life depended on it. Maybe his sanity did. "You're here!".

"Yeah, how have you guys been?". Max was frowning at her instead of answering her question. "What?"

"Weren't coming back tomorrow?". She was the one frowning now. "I told you we could wait, I can't believe I made you leave your family so soon".

"No, Amor, I said two days, that was the day before yesterday". She went to the bed and sat down, placing her hand on Charles' face and caressing his cheek.

"No no, today's the 5th, Schat".

"Max, it's January 6th". She took her phone out of her pocket to show him the date. "When was the last time you slept?"

"I don't know...". Y/N looked at him, worried, taking into his pitiful state. Charles was still out so she got up and dragged Max to the living room. They sat on the couch and he rested his head on her shoulder.

"You should sleep here tonight, I'll look after Charlie". He hummed in agreement. "Did you guys eat already?". Max nodded. "Good, then lie down and rest".

"Thank you, Schat".

Max lied down and closed his eyes, falling asleep instantly. Y/N walked back to the room, changed for the night and got into bed with Charles. He had the flu, how bad could it be? Really bad, she discovered that night. The Monegasque spent the night complaining, she wasn't able to close her eyes for a minute. Between Charles' never ending turning and how tired she was from the trip, she was wishing she could go to the living room with Max. When the morning light came, she was still awake and extremely tired. Charles was the most annoying patient in the world. If he was complaining like that for the flu, what would he do for a stomach bug? They were lucky that Charles rarely got sick. Max went to the bedroom around 11 am, better rested and ready to treat his girl better than last night. But she was looking just as miserable as he did the past few days. Charles was finally asleep, so she got up and the two of them went to the kitchen for breakfast. Max, with more energy than her, made some Stroopwafels, while Y/N just rested her head on her hand, slumped over the table.

"I think it's time for Charles' meds, Amor". She told him after a few minutes in silence. "Where are they?".

"First drawer, my nightstand. It's a bottle that says-"

"Paracetamol, I know, my mother's a doctor, remember?". He noticed the pain in her voice, under the tiredness, but he chose not to keep up the conversation about her mother, she was not rested enough to talk about that woman. She walked back to the bedroom and opened the drawer, the bottle being the first thing she saw.

"Here's a glass of water". Max told her as she walked up to him, the bottle in her hand.

"Have you been giving Charles this?". She showed him the bottle.

"Of course, every 8 hours". He proudly answered.

"It's expired, Max". His smile dropped instantly. "This expired in 2020".

"You're fucking with me". He took the bottle from her and inspected it. "It can't be expired".

"This is so old I wasn't even in F1 when it stopped being useful". She ran her hands down her face and sighed. "I'll run to the pharmacy and buy a new one. Of course he's not feeling better, the meds don't work once they are expired, it's like giving him nothing".

Y/N brought a new bottle of medication and Charles was already feeling better that night. They all finally got some proper sleep. The next morning, Charles was a new man, back again with his good spirits and big smiles, as if he hasn't been the most over dramatic person for the last few days. Max and Y/N were still exhausted as he walked into the kitchen for breakfast.

"I can't believe you flew all the way back here just for the flu, Amour, it wasn't that serious!". He told Y/N as he took a bite of his Stroopwafels. "And I took it like a champ".

"Yeah, sure, Corazón". She said, condescendingly.

"Get sick again, Charles, and I'm personally burring you with your Ferrari underwear, you fucking Drama King".

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

This one is pretty long, but i had fun writing it! Hope you guys like it!

[havenesc]

the "everything is the same but jason was a low-key horse girl AU" (bear with me here this is what i call....niche)

jason doesn't take anything for granted when he's newly minted as bruce wayne's newest ward, fresh ink on his adoption papers and no complaints towards the long hours of training that it takes to be molded into robin, boy wonder. he's granted access to everything he could ever want, everything he ever wanted to be. his biggest hurdle is the private school, with the children of the upper echelon, who cannot and do not want to relate themselves to him aside from what bruce's name gives him. the feeling's mutual; he can't relate to them any more than they can to him, and he oftentimes struggles with social situations. it's incredibly isolating at times, but he's batman's robin, so most days, it's enough.

batman and robin end up working on a case with a string of animal thefts when a murder turns up at the local stable yard not far from wayne manor. when batman is investigating, or interviewing the nightcheck crew for the yard, robin ends up having a moment with one of the horses who hangs his head over his stall door and tries to nip and nibble on robin's hair, his ear (tickles), his cape, his costume, until jason relents and gives him attention.

"sorry," one of the night checkers says, when robin barely stifles a laugh as the animal lips at his cheek, "he can be a handful."

this becomes a habit for the duration of the case -- if robin is looking for clues, or in general in the vicinity, he will seek out his nosy-ass four-legged friend with quiet eyes and a penchant for being too in his personal space.

all of this does not go unnoticed by the batman.

bruce, for what it's worth, has minor investments in the racing industry. it's a good way to get leads on bookies and crime cases, as horse racing tends to be rife with corruption and embezzling funds in gotham city -- that, and the first boy wonder saw 1979 classic The Black Stallion and briefly took an interest in horses himself when he was small enough to entertain the idea of jockeying. the wayne family had a string of polo ponies in the early 40s and 50s, and alfred grew up watching foxhunts in england. bruce is also aware how beneficial equine therapy can be, and in jason's case, how it may help him have an outlet that is not violence but is also not a thinly veiled attempt at networking through sports like tennis and lacrosse.

bruce asks one morning at the breakfast table, "would you like to learn to ride?" and at first, young jason snorts and waffles a little on his answer, because it's mostly girls at the stables, and he would encounter the same issues of upper echelon, but bruce simply says, "it could be a good skill to know," framing it in context of their other work, and it's enough for jason to be convinced that it's alright to want to be at the stables.

so he takes lessons after school, once a week first, then quickly switches to twice when he learns fast and outgrows his first lesson horse. alfred takes him -- he quickly becomes the old butler all the horses recognize with nickers when he comes down the alleyway, because he carries peppermints in his pockets, and where jason is, alfred-the-treat-bringer usually follows. bruce comes to watch here and there when he can, but he also wants it to be something jason has to himself. something jason enjoys, not because bruce asked him to do it.

jason finds that he does -- he likes riding. he likes the smell of the hay, the sound of animals chewing grain, the science of biomechanics in riding and how the horses are usually better companions than people. he starts helping out here and there at the stables where he can, and the workers grow fond of the wayne heir. he likes being there when he needs to cool down after a long day of school, he likes sneaking out to sit in the loft after a night of patrol or maybe the unsettling arguments with bruce. he sits in the stalls and he listens and even, yes, still gets harrassed by the same horse that initially introduced him to horses. it helps him regulate his emotions more when he's robin. it gives him the outlet bruce hoped it would.

moreover, he's good. he can ride out hot horses without fear, channel that abundance of energy into something productive and competitive. people start asking him to take on problem cases, or timid riders ask for tips from the fearless kid with guts and a velcro seat. the first time he ever competes, he sweeps his classes. even dick hears about it when alfred sends him a photo of young master jason, smiling and proud and holding a blue ribbon next to his infamous cheeky horse, and then another photo, when jason's face is buried in the neck of his horse, because bruce revealed that he bought it for him.

(this also leads to dick showing jason the same movie that had enamored him as a kid, and for a brief moment jason thinks of alec ramsay washed up on that island all alone, and feels in some kind of way a kindred spirit.)

even when bruce and jason begin to butt heads, and the fights increase in both frequency and tenacity, jason still finds solace in the stables. he never stops being offered horses to ride. he makes the time to compete, even when he has to get up at 6 a.m. to braid his horse's mane, but patrol ended at 4. his anger doesn't reach him in the smell of hay and sweet feed.

and then he dies.

bruce never sells the animal. can't make himself do it.

he doesn't visit -- visiting the stable aisles feels like visiting a crypt, and he can't snuff his grief long enough to reach the golden plaque that engraves JASON TODD as the owner of the horse. alfred comes by every once in a while, but not as often as he used to. the horses stop turning their heads in recognition.

when jason comes back as red hood, it takes him a long time to make himself go back to the yard. but when he does, an old friend still turns his head to him, ears pricked, eyes quiet but looking for attention all the same.

[dreamwritersworld]

Outgrown…(miles morales x reader)

Miles and Y/n always walked hand and hand growing up. They were best friends…secretly in love…but then came in Gwen.

They fell into arguments frequently..

“Y/n you don’t get it! God! I just wish she was here all the time!”

Silence stayed between the two. Tears slipped from Y/n ‘s eyes.

Rio and Jeff heard everything miles said and how much Y/n just tried to remain calm and comfort him. They didn’t understand about what or why but they assumed he was just missing a girl Y/n couldn’t be.

“ok..ok you’re right I’m not her…and I don’t get it..I’m so sorry I can’t be her or won’t ever be her.”

Sorry.

that was all Y/n ever knew to say. The girl was so good at overthinking with her heart. Too needy for her own good…Miles knew that and he didn’t have to say it for Y/n to feel it.

“yea..so..just ugh just realize it. you don’t understand what I’m going through ! I just wish you got that.”

“I do..i do. Please stop. I’m just trying to comfort you. Remember that I was always here before Gwen and after Gwen. It was always me miles.”

“Well…I’m sorry but I just don’t want your comfort: Whatever you’ve got to say..it won’t make me feel better.”

Y/n loved Miles but he never accepted her affection or friendship anymore…they were outgrowing each other and it physically hurt her heart.

Whenever she hung out with him she shouldn’t have to feel this way…she felt horrible and felt like everything was a competition between her and Gwen. He compared them all the time now. This wasn’t how it was supposed to feel…not when they spent what? Their whole life together.

“ok..that’s ok..I have to go, goodnight Miles.”

that’s all Y/n could settle on saying goodnight and go.

Y/n opened the door to both parents listening in the living room. She quickly dried her tears before they fell.

“oh honey…”

Rio rushed up to Y/n hugging her as she shed tears on her shoulder.

Jeff spoke softly and tried lighting up the mood for the young girl.

“It’s ok! We’ll get him to come back to you! You’re our favorite Y/n. He’s just not thinking straight, I’ll knock his senses straight!”

“oh…it’s ok Mr.Mórales. It’s just the way he feels and that’s fine. I’ll be just fine, I won’t be around for awhile..I wish the best for you two. I love you guys!”

Y/n gave both parents the sweetest hug before letting go and walking out the door.

That was the last time the family and her spoke.

Miles thought about all of it for the next month. He couldn’t feel anymore guilty, now that Y/n made it clear she didn’t want to talk anymore…little did he know the sweet girl couldn’t bother to open his texts cause all she kept on hearing her as his voice yelling at her repeatedly

Miles: Y/n

Miles: I’m sorry

Read 11:09 p.m.

Miles: I know you opened my text

Miles: you know i didn’t mean it

Delivered

this wasn’t the first time Miles reminded Y/n she no longer had much importance to him..she couldn’t bare forgiving him again only to get hurt.

Y/n was precious to Miles, but she no longer compared to Gwen and he was too blind and upset to realize..she’s exactly what he needed. The girl who he grew up with knew everything about him, knew how to hold him down, and love him the way he was supposed to…for the longest Y/n was his breath of fresh air.

In many ways it was because Y/n never had powers like him..that’s the biggest thing she didn’t have that Gwen did. But was it really that beneficial? Y/n would pull him back to a normal life…to reality.

Miles kept Y/n in his orbit, rather she realized it or not. He smiled every time he saw her. Even though he knew he hurt her, he loved her from a far. All Miles needed was for Y/n to shut him out and not talk to him, leaving him in the dust..that last month of no contact with her broke him. That’s when he realized he could complain about missing Gwen but he wouldn’t actually do anything about it..not like the way he would with Y/n. She was where his heart resides.

Y/n always worked late to help her mother keep food on the table and her siblings shoes well kept. So, Miles followed her when she did her walks home…he could see the stress she was going through, how desperately she needed a way out.

When Rio visited the corner store Y/n worked at she never failed to mention Miles

“Ay Mija he misses you! I miss you! You were the brains behind all his projects..now that boy can barley think.”

The sweet girl smiled and respected Rio for her support always, but it hurt her hearing about him. By the end of the day Y/n’s body was so sore and her mind was fried..Miles wasn’t there, so she had more times for shifts. Y/n made sure she was going to graduate valedictorian, top of her class. Show her younger brother and sister that they can do it too…she’d set a higher curb. Her mother couldn’t be any prouder.

The hard work and sweat is what seemingly caught Miles attention. Y/n knew what she wanted and she was going to go for it.

That, was something Y/n had that Gwen didn’t. His best friend always remained humble and kind to everyone. Never once called his parents out there name…never once raised her voice unless she was really frustrated. Truth was he never heard her yell so..he would never know. Y/n never once betrayed him or turned her back to him, not like the way Gwen did. Of course he forgave her..but when you mess up as bad as he did..do you deserve forgiveness?

After awhile of missing her, needing her. He’d figure he would follow her example. Go for what he wanted, go for the idea he constantly pushed away… and so he knocked on the door of her apartment hoping it’d be her.

“Lita! Ve a bañarte y de ahí vas a tu cuarto and I’ll be there.”

Miles could hear her sternly mother voice and hear chairs shift. Then there was a little girls voice..Lita’s the exact copy and paste of younger Y/n.

“Why did he yell at me? I hate him!”

“I’m sorry Lita! I was just upset!

His confidence went down the drain immediately hearing the little sister yell and the silence the brother got from his response. It’s obviously wasn’t the same argument and situation but it was frustrating because all he wanted was to take back the girl he took for granted.

Miles waited out the door with roses knocking one more time to get Y/n’s attention. When chains from locks were coming undone and the door finally creaked open, Y/n was taken by surprise…

!❤️💙!

i just wrote this up because i needed something to do with this song, it been stuck in my head! nothing too serious :)! the whole thing Lita said and her older brothers response was supposed to be a cute parallel of y/n being mad at miles for yelling and miles apologizing

Tag list: @justleila @tati-the-fangirl @kxllanxtdoor @abbersreads @abislays123 @not-aya @usernamepasswordsstuff @moralesluvrr @inluvwithneteyam @twinkletwinklenotastar @ilystarz @vodoo-heart @papichulo120627 @mashiromochi

[serene-sun]

𝔐𝔲𝔰𝔥𝔶 𝔐𝔞𝔶 𝔇𝔞𝔶 24: “𝔞𝔠𝔱𝔰 𝔬𝔣 𝔣𝔯𝔦𝔢𝔫𝔡𝔰𝔥𝔦𝔭”

Pairing: Aether/mountain

Sum: earth ghouls are very emotional after being summoned

MUSHY MAY BY @forlorn-crows !!!

“He’s crying again,” ifrit says

“Yeah,” Aether sighs as he moves the curtain out of his view of the window again, “He wont come inside either, even when it’s raining.”

“Well, he must come in at some point to eat, just have to wait him out.” Dewdrop says as he also looks out the window.

The newly summoned earth ghoul had been crying under the weeping willow tree for more than two days now. Earth ghouls were known to be extremely personal and protective over friends and family. Just like quintessence ghouls, they held deep bonds with things they loved. So it was a point to time they called “the weeping willow phase” of when the earth ghoul mourned the loss of both their habitat and their people.

It could be hard for them to find a new beloved, so this period would last until they bonded with their new pack mates.

“He doesn’t have to eat, remember?” Ifrit nods as he unfolds his arms, “Earth ghouls are so stubborn, they always find a way to outgrow their issues but still get so emotional.” He says as he puts a hand on aethers back, motioning that he was leaving.

After Ifrit left, Dewdrop looked up to Aether, “What are we going to do? It was easy to bond with Ivy because he didn’t like all of the ants getting on him so he stayed inside. But I’m afraid our new friend will run off.”

“I know…” Aether sighed again as his vision relaxed into the golden red sky that caressed the ministry as the sun started to fall into the mountains.

“I’m not the best at….talking….but you-“ Dewdrop thought, “I mean you were kind of made for talking to others.” The water ghoul smiled awkwardly, they weren’t the best at talking one on one as most of them were either shy or anxious if not both.

“I’ll talk to him, just tell Papa that we’re still trying before he gives up on us.” Aether chuckled at the end, he rubbed the base of his horn in frustration on the situation.

Terzo was a great leader, but he was known to grow impatient rather quickly.

“It’s getting a little chilly out here, why don’t you come inside?” Aether said softly as he walked up to the earth ghoul.

With a flinch, the whimpering ghoul peaked a teary eye out of his tucked arms from his knees. He looked at aether, not with fear, with sadness as another cry strung out of his sore throat.

A gently breeze hushed the sounds of the ministry as the long strand of vine and leaf from the willow tree blew like hair in the gentle summer breeze, Aether kneeled down beside him.

“I know it’s difficult, but you must continue.” Aether said with a frown as he placed a hand on the ghouls shoulder.

The earth ghoul was large, tall as a matter of fact and long eyelashes that collected his tears of his puffy eyes. The ghouls hair was dark, a sort of brown that shifted green highlight in the flittering light of the setting sun. Skin, a neutral green with darker pigmented spots as his veins showed through his pale skin like small vines that blended in with the moss that spread across his finger tips and around his joints. His ears pointed, many chips and cuts that covered him like a story book. His eyes were a piercingly soft purple like a cluster of amethyst. The earth ghoul curled up into a ball more as he rubbed his nose, a tear falling down the apple of his cheek.

Aether sat beside him against the hunk of the tree, “if you come inside, I will get you better clothes and you wont have to get all wet from the rain like you did last night.”

The ghoul couldn’t deny that sounded wonderful, but he couldn’t get the images of his life in the pit out of his memory. But something urged him to let a hand slowly fall from his own embrace and trail down into the dirt to pick one of the flower bulbs. He held it in his hand gently, brining it up beside Aethers face as it suddenly bloomed a white blossom that swirled with life as it paralleled the quintessential ghouls white iris.

Aether was amazed a little, his heart fluttered and ached for the sadness dripping from the ghouls aura, soiling the soil and atmosphere.

“It’s beautiful, we have plenty of plants in the greenhouse.” Aether strikes a conversation, “But tell me, why must you stay attached to this fair tree?”

He lays the flower back on the ground, the bloom quickly fading as his touch leaves the plant.

“Salix Babylonica,” the ghoul finally speaks a soft but deep whisper as he rubs a tear from his porcelain face, “Mountain is covered with them this time of year.”

“Your right, they are,” Aether smiles as he looks up the tree and it’s branches draped with green, “Mountains, like you, are very strong and steady.”

The earth ghoul shakes his head, “I was I was like a mountain, sturdy and responsibility, beautiful and peaceful.” He traces a root in the ground with his finger, “But im not, im emotional and unwise.”

“I simply doubt that, if anything i think you are more a mountain than any other earth ghoul I’ve met.” Aether says, placing his hand on the ghouls

Earth looks up at Aether, “I’m not sad to loose my life in the pit, I never knew anyone there who was nice.” He admits solemnly.

The quintessence ghoul looks at him with pity, he knew the pit was rough even fore ghouls, “Then why must you weep?”

“I’m sad because I don’t have anything to loose, and now I must live in a world where there is more life to remind me of how lonely and out of place I am.” He says, letting down his guard now that aether was that close to him.

Earth ghouls were usually very short and small, smaller than water ghouls. He was abandoned from his pack due to them thinking he was a water ghoul for his height and quick growing hair.

“That doesn’t matter now, if I had room to say amongst all of the people here than id say you fit perfectly among these misfits we call ourselves.” Aether laughed softly as he stood up, “Come, I think you would enjoy some fresher clothes.”

Earth stood up with a soft smile, “If you say so, but…I don’t even have a name..how will i belong?”

“I think I found one,” Aether says as he takes his hand and walks with him on the brick path to the ghoul quarters.

“I think Mountain is a great name,”

[letsgoletsgetit08]

fireflies

summary: Wooyoung has been gone for over a year - backpacking across Europe to find himself. Yeosang meets him at the Jung's summer country house upon his return. Will their nearly two decade long friendship be able to pick up where it left off?

warnings: mdni, 18+, smut, drinking, loss of virginity, unprotected sex (don't you dare!)

pairing: gentle dom!kang yeosang x bratty sub!jung wooyoung

word count: 4,430

ao3 link: fireflies

fireflies

The country lane turned to dirt and Yeosang slowed his motorcycle down, always having thought this part of the drive was pretty - old growth forest with trees and rocks covered in moss, and every shade of wildflower lining the road that led to Wooyoung's family's summer house - but also, despite not wanting to admit it, Yeosang was biding his time. Nervous. He couldn't really put a finger on why, either. Wooyoung had been his best friend for nearly 20 years now, they were practically raised together, but he'd been away for over a year now. Backpacking across Europe, sending Yeosang pictures of all the food he was trying, the landscape, the varying degrees of sketchy to safe hostels he was staying it, different friends and acquaintances (possibly lovers, but his stomach turned at the thought, so he didn't let it fully form) smiling behind him in nearly every new location. Yeosang had stayed home. Bartending to support himself through grad school. He was excited to be on this path - he was going to be an art therapist - but he still envied Wooyoung a little. His freedom, his ease. His ability to flourish no matter where the wind blew him. Yeosang was scared he would outgrow him, despite him being the older of the two. He had always been there for Wooyoung growing up. Showing him the ropes in his subtle way because if Woo had caught wind of Yeosang trying to help in any way, he would never have allowed it. Independent, stubborn. Defensive about being younger. And bossy, always getting what he wanted. At least as far as it went with Yeosang, who was always happy to oblige. Even if he pretended to resist sometimes.

A memory came flooding back as he went around a curve in the road, the trees opening up to fields of clover and wild lavender, he could see the big three story stone house in the distance, remembering playing out in those fields when he was 9 and Wooyoung was 8. Chasing fireflies. Letting Woo direct which exact bug needed capturing for a (short) life in the jar with holes poked in the top.

“No, Sangie, not that one, the one down there, by the dandelion! Its light is brighter!”

Yeosang had rolled his eyes, smiled to himself, “You already have one, Young-ah. Why do you need a second one?”

Wooyoung had looked hurt, lip pouting, “This one would be lonely. I can't let him be lonely, Yeo.”

“Okay, okay,” his hands had closed around the bug of Wooyoung’s choice, “Got it!”

Wooyoung’s laughter had peeled through the humid late spring evening air, excited at the long awaited capture of a friend for his other pet.

“Now they'll never be alone.” Yeosang had said, carefully releasing the bug into the jar Woo was holding.

“Just like us, right, Yeosang?”

“You'll get tired of me eventually.”

“No way,” Wooyoung's eyes had tears threatening to spill over at this statement, “You’re my best friend. Forever. Promise?”

“Okay, fine. Promise.”

And Woo had tackled him to the ground in a big hug, never having been one to shy away from physical affection. Yeosang had struggled, pretending to hate it, but gave up quickly, never admitting he loved the warm, verging on too tight embrace the younger had him in.

But that was 16 years ago. And 14 months was a long time to be away. He was worried how things might have changed.

He slowed his bike down to a crawl as he pulled up the last stretch of the driveway, lined with peach trees, and he flipped his visor up so the smell could reach him better, the fragrance, between the fruit and flowers in the field, was intoxicating. Wooyoung had always smelled a little like it, even though he and his family only stayed out there three months of the year. It lingered. Peaches, clover, moss, and wildflowers.

His nerves subsided for the time being as Kyungmin - Wooyoung’s younger brother, now nine himself - bounded out the front doors, down the steps, and launched himself at Yeosang right as he had fully dismounted his bike.

“SANGIE HYUNG LOOK!” he backed up from the attack (a hug, really) and pulled his bottom lip aside, showing him a back molar that was wiggling slightly, “Wooyoung says it's not ready but you'll help me pull it if he won't, right?”

Yeosang couldn’t help but grin wide, kneeling to Kyungmin's height and gently patting him on the head, “Of course I will, Min, but let's give it another night, okay? It will hurt really bad otherwise.”

Kyungmin pouted for a second (a family trait, apparently) before taking his hand and pulling him inside, “Come on hyung! My stupid brother has a stupid tattoo he's been showing everyone.”

Yeosang let himself be led inside, nerves returning, pausing a little too long to untie his black boots, setting them gingerly next to a slightly smaller pair of beat up black Vans, biding time again.

He followed Kyungmin through the foyer into the kitchen, following the smells of saffron and seafood that were waiting through the air.

“...and that's why it's not paella unless it's cooked for this long” Wooyoung was facing the stove top, stirring something in a comically large pan, explaining about the food he was making to his parents, who were standing around the kitchen island, snacking on several charcuterie boards and drinking wine, listening to Wooyoung ramble politely. Seeing him nearly knocked the breath out of Yeosang. He looked the same, of course, in a large black t-shirt and faded black jeans, but his skin was the color of honey, tan, one forearm covered in a sleeve of tattoos he had evidently been collecting during his time abroad, and his hair was long, tied half up, the bottom part skimming his shoulders. Yeosang had grown up accustomed to people praising him for his looks. His features were fine, delicate, fair skin, round cheekbones, sparkling eyes, lithe body, “a living statue” an ex had told him once. But Wooyoung… the look behind his eyes always made you feel like you were in on a secret. Everything about him drew you in, like a moth to a flame.

He turned, then, to continue yapping at his parents, but stopped short upon spotting Yeosang, dropping the wooden spoon he was holding onto the countertop carelessly, running over to his best friend.

“Yeosang-ah!” he exclaimed into the elder one's ear, arms around his neck, trying to pepper kisses on his cheeks, Yeosang moving just enough out of the way every time to deflect the kisses, an old game they had always played. Yeosang always pretended to hate the affection but deep down he craved it.

“Youngie, you're choking me.” He chided him, contradicting himself as he finally returned the hug, letting Wooyoung land a kiss sloppily on his cheek at last. Ignoring the flush to his cheeks that followed it. He felt himself breathe deeply for the first time since he started his two hour long motorcycle ride to the country house, breathing in Wooyoung’s familiar scent, realizing that nothing had changed.

“Mmh I don't care, I missed you so much, hyung.”

He let himself relax.

Dinner passed fast, all of them listening to Wooyoung's stories - the cat who followed him from Greece to Italy to Croatia until a friend he made there decided to adopt him, how he lost his shoes in Switzerland, high and lost on the streets of Amsterdam before being adopted by a somewhat famous band passing through town who let him stay at their hotel for the night, dancing in the streets of Barcelona with a handsome stranger, etc. By the end of it, Yeosang's sides and cheeks hurt from laughing.

He helped Wooyoung clean up the kitchen as his mom started trying to convince Kyungmin it was bedtime, yes he still had bedtime during the summer, and his dad went off to put the ducks and chickens away for the night. Yeosang was at the sink, washing dishes, lost in thought, and suddenly felt Wooyoung’s presence behind him, wrapping his arms around his waist, just tall enough to rest his head on his shoulder, breath tickling the hairs at the back of Yeosang's neck. Yeosang tried not to tense up at the contact, it had surprised him, but what surprised him more was the way his stomach flipped at the contact. If he was completely honest with himself, he would admit that his feelings for Wooyoung had changed in his absence. Still friendly, always friendly, but seeing his pictures with others, hearing his stories, especially the ones that he was pretty certain he had edited for his family's sake to leave out the parts where he had hooked up with people, Yeosang couldn’t help but feel jealous. Not at the experience itself but at people having access to Wooyoung. His Wooyoung. Not that he could claim that title, really. But he wanted to.

“I wish you would have been there, Sangie.” Wooyoung sighed into his back.

“It looked like so much fun, Woo, but you know I couldn't take that much time away from school or work. Plus, it seems like you had plenty of company without me.” He felt a little bad adding that last part on, hoping it didn't come off rude.

“Yeah but those were just some guys. Everywhere I went I kept thinking, ‘Sang needs to see this.'”

Wooyoung let go then, taking the wet plate from Yeosang's hands and drying it with the dish towel before putting it in the drying rack.

“Mmh. I missed you too, Young-ssi.” He felt himself smile thinking about Woo wishing he would have been there, then quickly snapped out of it when he felt Wooyoung’s eyes on him, face serious again as he handed him the last dish to dry.

“You're not jealous are you, hyung?” Wooyoung poked him in the side.

“What? No. Why?” Yeosang thought he had done a better job of hiding it.

“Hmm,” Wooyoung studied him, “I'll be right back, stay here.” he instructed.

Yeosang did as he was told, and noticed a bottle of wine unstoppered and only half finished sitting on the island. He didn't want to do more dishes, so he drank some straight from the bottle. It left his mouth dry and he looked at the label, Cabernet Sauvignon. Yuck. He much more enjoyed the sweet sparkling Cava they had had with dinner. He took another drink anyway. Trying to erase the images his mind was creating of Wooyoung pinned beneath faceless men and women, blushing as he pictured the faces and sounds he would make.

Footsteps broke him out of his daydream. Or daymare more like. Wooyoung was carrying a big plaid blanket, a small cooler, and a Mason jar, “Let's go outside, Sangie.”

Wooyoung was sitting criss-cross on the blanket out underneath the big sycamore tree where they had spent so many nights together as kids during the summer. “Yes, right there, hyung-ah!” he all but squealed as Yeosang was closing in on his firefly of choice, tipsy on the lillet blanc he had brought outside with them. Yeosang kept sneaking in splashes of soda water into his glass. Not only because Wooyoung was getting a little past tipsy, but also in hopes of softening the blow of the headache he would wake up with drinking something so sweet. It was good though, he had to admit. Over ice with the fresh peaches they had picked from the trees on their way out there, slicing them for their glasses. The French preferred orange slices, Wooyoung had informed him, but how could they pass on the sun ripened peaches already at their disposal?

Yeosang brought the fireflies over to place them in the jar, having somehow managed to catch two at once, knowing Woo would insist on him catching a pair so one wasn't lonely. He flopped down somewhat harshly next to Wooyoung, leaning back on his hands as Wooyoung screwed on the lid with holes in it onto the jar. He picked up his drink and tilted his head back, finishing it, and tapping the bottom to encourage the peach slice to fall into his mouth. He felt eyes on him and moved the glass down, embarrassed. Wooyoung took the glass from his hands and fished the peach slice out, holding it in front of Yeosang's mouth, who took it, feeling the juice spill down his chin, but Wooyoung was there to wipe it for him before he could.

“Messiest eater I've ever met, Yeo.” Wooyoung smiled at him fondly, the corner of his eyes crinkling. To his surprise, Wooyoung brought the finger that had just captured lillet infused peach juice off his chin up to his own mouth, licking it clean while maintaining eye contact with Yeosang.

“Did you bring me out here just to make fun of me, Wooyoung? Did that work on what's-his-name from Barthelona?” He half-joked, half-snipped in poorly disguised jealousy. The lisp in Barcelona also half because he himself had a slight one and half making fun of how people who went to Spain once always returned saying the name of the city.

Wooyoung's smile faded, and his eyes turned away, suddenly very focused on the fireflies in the jar, both helplessly signaling with their lights, trying to communicate that they would like to please be let out, wishes that went ignored by the two boys who were responsible for their distress.

“No,” he said quietly, “I brought you out here because this is one thing only you and I share. I thought you would appreciate it. Since I got to do so much without you.”

“Oh, Wooyoung, I'm sorry, I do appreciate it, I-”

Wooyoung cut him off, “And you're jealous for no reason, by the way. I didn't sleep with that guy.” He started picking up the jar, the cooler, the glasses, and storming off inside.

Yeosang sat in stunned silence for a minute, laying back on the blanket and staring at the stars, wondering what was so terribly offensive about the joke he had made.

After a little while, he was starting to get cold, so he got up and wrapped the blanket around his shoulders, headed inside.

He padded up the stairs and turned left towards “his” room at first and then stopped, pivoted, and walked right into Wooyoung’s room without even knocking.

“What the fuck?” Wooyoung was fresh out of the shower, hair wet, wearing only boxers, “Yeosang, go to bed. I don't want to talk to you right now.”

“No,” Yeosang said, sitting on the edge of Wooyoung’s still-made bed, “I'm staying here until we talk, Youngie.” Wooyoung huffed and went to the other side of the bed, sitting down and folding his arms, staring straight ahead instead of looking at Yeosang, “Fine. Talk.”

Yeosang wasn't used to being the one to start, but cleared his throat and swung his legs up on the bed so he was closer to Wooyoung, “I'm sorry. For being jealous. I think I really just missed you.”

He could feel Wooyoung roll his eyes even if he couldn't see it, “Oh, sure. And that's the only reason?”

Yeosang's breath shuddered in his chest, “Yes.” Wooyoung’s head turned sharply away, “Or. Um. No. I don't know.”

“Figure it the fuck out, Kang.”

Yeosang leaned his head back, frustrated, hands fiddling with the comforter, “Wooyoung. I was jealous because I wanted to be there with you. I think… I mean I realized while you were gone. I have feelings for you, Young-ah.” He said the last part barely above a whisper, looking over at Wooyoung, eyes pleading to look back at him. He did, finally, “You do, hyung?”

“Yes. I definitely do. Seeing you again only confirmed it. But I wanted to be happy for you if you were sleeping with other people while you were gone. I want you to have the best life, Woo. With or without me in it.”

Wooyoung gave him a sympathetic look, “Sangie. I don't want my life to ever not have you in it.”

“Really?”

“God, yes, I'm obsessed with you. I could have slept with plenty of people while I was gone. I went in the first place partially because I was running away from my feelings for you, I think. I didn't ever dare dream you would return them.”

Yeosang's heart was on fire, “How could I not return them, Young-ah? You're my favorite person in the whole world.” He reached over and tucked a piece of damp hair behind his ear, hand shaking slightly, “God, you're so pretty, no wonder all of Europe was trying to sleep with you. Why couldn't you do it, honey?”

He was in love with him. Had been for at least a year. Probably longer.

Wooyoung’s eyelids fluttered at his touch, “Not just them, hyung. I've always turned people down. I think…” he looked up at Yeosang, “I think I always wanted it to be you.”

Yeosang felt his cock twitch in his pants, “Wooyoung… are you saying… You've never…?”

“Never, hyung.”

His thumb traced over Wooyoung’s cheek, his jaw, “And you want me to be the one, jagi?”

Wooyoung leaned in closer, “Please, Yeosang. I don't want anyone else. Will you?”

Yeosang closed the gap, his lips fitting perfectly over Wooyoung’s, kissing him slowly, lightly, tasting better than he had ever imagined, his smell intoxicating, “Yes, baby” another kiss, “I'd be so honored,” another, “you're so perfect, Young-ah.”

He deepened the kiss then, sliding his tongue in between Wooyoung’s already perfectly parted lips, tasting, teasing, letting Wooyoung’s tongue into his own mouth, sucking on it a little, which elicited the most delicious whine out of the younger one's mouth.

Yeosang wanted to take him right then and there but this was special. He wanted to make it so good for him. Perfect.

He slung a leg on top of Wooyoung, straddling his hips, grinding down, already able to feel the other's dick getting hard through his pants. “Oh fuck baby,” he said through increasingly deep kisses, “you feel so good like this.”

Wooyoung moaned into his mouth, hips bucking already, reaching for the hem of Yeosang's shirt, “Mmh hyung, please,” quieted by a kiss for a brief minute, then, “hurry. Please. I need you.”

“Oh, Young-ah, baby, you're going to have to be patient,” breaking away to remove his shirt, “Can you do that for me?”

Wooyoung’s gasp as he finally got the skin contact he was searching for, “Yes, god. Yes. Anything you want.”

A nip at his collarbone, “Oh, good boy. You're going to be so good for me, aren't you, darling?”

“Yes, hyung.” He whined.

Yeosang was so hard. He stood up to remove his jeans, his boxers tented with his erection.

Wooyoung’s eyes were half-lidded, sultry, needy.

He removed his boxers, too, almost an afterthought, suddenly desperate for Wooyoung to see him, touch him.

“Fuck, Yeosang,” Wooyoung’s eyes studied his body, “You're so big. I'm not sure I can-”

“I'll get you ready to take me, baby, don't worry,” a kiss on his cheek as he climbed back on top of him, “And we can always stop. But I'll take care of you, I promise. Can you trust me?”

Kisses down his jaw, collarbone, sucking and marking him as he traveled south.

“Mmh, yes,” a sharp inhale as Yeosang bit playfully at his nipple, “Yes, Sangie, I trust you.”

“Good boy, Woo. You're so exquisite, honey,” he all but purred as he finally was kissing his thighs, “Do you have lube, Youngie?” he said as he pulled the younger one's boxers off, taking his time and enjoying the *thwack* of his dick being released from the waistband, hitting his stomach. Hard and flushed, gorgeously proportioned and shaped, it was already leaking precum and it was all Yeosang could do not to lean down and lick him clean. Instead, he resumed his kisses on the soft flesh of his stomach.

“Drawer- hnnng oh god, hyung,” he moaned as Yeosang could no longer resist not having his mouth on him, lightly trailing his tongue up his length, licking clean the salty pearl at his cleft, “You're gonna make me cum too fast,” he whined, fingers curling into the comforter.

“No, jagiya,” Yeosang's voice was low, rumbling, as he reached up to grab the lube and a condom out of the bedside table drawer, “I'm going to make you cum exactly when I want you to,” he stopped on his way back into his position to kiss him again, deep, working his way across his jaw, landing on his earlobe, which he pinched between his teeth lightly, giving it a small tug before releasing it and planting a kiss there in its place.

Wooyoung was squirming, impatient underneath him, “Please, Sang-ah,” he begged. It was hot.

“Please, what, baby?” a hand on his cock, “tell me what you want”

“You,” a moan as Yeosang stroked him gently, taunting, “I just want you. Everything. All of it. Please-hnnng. Fuuuccckk.”

Yeosang's mouth was around the head of his gorgeous cock, tongue stroking against the underside of the tip, a lube-slicked finger tracing his entrance. He came up for air for a second to say, “Just try relax, angel. I've got you.” Before dipping his head down again, taking him further into his mouth as he started working his finger inside his tight rim simultaneously. When he felt him loosen at his presence there, he added another finger, slowly, knuckle by knuckle, waiting to feel the pressure let up that had returned, removing his mouth when it did, not wanting to overstimulate or drive him to the edge too fast.

Wooyoung whined when his dick was no longer being occupied but it quickly turned into a low moan when Yeosang curled the two fingers inside him slightly, stroking his prostate delicately, steadily. He didn't figure he had too much time before his gorgeous lover was ready to explode, so he added the third finger, scissoring his fingers, making sure he was properly prepped. Wooyoung was already babbling nearly incoherently when Yeosang pulled his fingers out, reaching for the condom on the bed, but was with it enough to stop him, “Wait, Sangie. Can we do it without the condom, please? I wanna…” he trailed off, embarrassed.

“Wanna what, love?”

“I wanna,” he found eye contact again, “I want to feel you cum inside me.” He was pouting. How could Yeosang deny him? Plus, he knew how incredible it would feel. It's not like he had had any partners in the last year. And Wooyoung, fuck, it hit him again that he was taking Wooyoung’s virginity. What a privilege. His best friend. The love of his life, he thought. Who else?

“Oh, Youngie, sweetheart, of course. God, who told you you could be so hot?”

A smile lit up Wooyoung’s face. His favorite smile in the whole world. This would never get old.

He grabbed the lube again, applied it liberally, fingering Wooyoung one more time before placing his dick at his entrance, “Just breathe for me baby, okay?” his tip started to push inside, “And tell me to stop any time. You will never have to ask twice with me, I promise.”

Wooyoung moaned his acknowledgement, already taking him so well. Yeosang couldn't figure exactly where to look, it was all so glorious. His eyes flitted over to Wooyoung's tattoo sleeve, the national flowers from every country he visited, but nestled in the middle, between a bunch of lavender and a peach tree flower, was two fireflies. He could have cried had he not felt so fucking good right now. “Young-ah, you're doing so well, honey, I wish you could see yourself taking me, fuck.”

He was buried to the hilt, testing the waters by circling his hips slowly.

“Fuuucckk, hyung, I'm so full, you feel so good, please, pleeeeaaase, mmnhhhh.” He was babbling.

Yeosang started to set a rhythm, “God you're so tight, baby, you feel amazing,” he cooed, grabbing his hands and interlocking their fingers, pinning them up by Wooyoung’s head, the change in angle making his hips buck, needy.

“Mmh, so close, please… ”

“Please, what, love?”

“Please can I cum?” He whimpered.

“Do you think you can do it without me touching you, baby?”

“Mhm so close already, please.”

“Okay, sweetheart,” he thrusted a bit harder, “cum for me, angel.”

And he did, messy, all over his own stomach. He was so gorgeous, the sight of him coming undone, sweaty, desperate, was almost enough to send Yeosang over the edge. He knew Wooyoung was probably overstimulated but as if he could read his mind - he probably could at this point - Wooyoung cried out, “No no no please don't stop,” moan, “wanna feel you, please.”

Yeosang readjusted, pulling him up into his lap, Wooyoung’s legs grasping around him, ensuring there was as little space between them as possible.

The change of angle combined with staring into his love's gorgeous siren eyes set Yeosang over the edge quickly, so much hot liquid that it was already leaking out of Wooyoung. He pulled out gently, guiding them down onto the bed, pulling Wooyoung close, planting kisses all over his face, cooing, “Oh, you did so good, baby. You're amazing, really, I'm so-” a kiss finally landing on his perfect mouth, “I'm so in love with you, Wooyoung.”

Wooyoung looked like he had just been told he'd won a lifetime supply of free Dunkin Donuts, “You are?”

“Yes, baby. Completely,” another kiss, “stupidly, irrevocably,” another, “in love with you.”

Wooyoung was giggling, returning his kisses with glee, “Yeosang-ah, I'm in love with you too,” a kiss to his jaw, “I've been in love with you.”

“You got a firefly tattoo.”

“It was the first one I got,” he curled up into the crook of Yeosang's neck, “I got it the day after I landed in London. I missed you so much already.”

“It's perfect. I love it, Wooyoung. I'm tempted to get a matching one.”

Wooyoung sat up, “Really?!”

“Yes, baby,” Yeosang laughed, “I think I'd do anything for you.”

“Oh we're SO getting matching tattoos,” Wooyoung tossed a leg over him, possessive, sticky. He didn’t care. He loved it. He sighed, content, “I'd explode the world for you, angel.”

“I just want fireflies.”

“Then I'll catch you every firefly you ask me to.”

“I never want to go anywhere without you again,Yeosang.”

A kiss to the crown of his perfect head, “You never have to, Wooyoung.”

[starberrrry]

Probably finalized designs for my Chaos Quest au! I love how these look! I'm going to talk about it now because it plagues my mind every second. So if you want more info read below! vvv

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Chaos Quest is my au of Sonic which is basically set in a fantasy rpg! These five are the main "heroes" of the story with other side stories that tie into the overall story. The gist is the Master Crystal has been shattered and a prophesied hero must gather them along with the 7 Chaos Crystals to unite the 7 kingdoms and defeat an evil darkness plaguing the land. Very tropey but I love rpg tropes. :)

Below is some basic info about each character. vvv

there are probably typos and weird wording because my proofreader isn't with me atm so bear with me

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~Sonic~

Class: fighter

Weapon: Ringblade - Multi-blade (can be a single blade, propeller sword, or dual sword)

Icon element: wind

Backstory: found alone and unconscious on the beach of South Island, Sonic was adopted into the Prower family with Tails becoming his little brother. He remembers little, but doesn’t let that bother him much. Sonic and Tails enjoy helping other islanders with menial tasks and taking care of occasional monster appearances. One day a storm wreaks havoc on South Island and Sonic hears a mysterious voice.

~Tails~

Class: artificer

Weapon: Cyclone Cannon (powered by chaos drives)

Icon element: lightning

Backstory: Tails was bullied for his abnormality of two tails but his new brother put an end to that quickly. He and Sonic quickly bonded after Sonic was adopted into their family. Despite being a little bit anti-social, he loves helping his neighbors with inventions and testing them out by fighting monsters. He usually follows along with Sonic’s adventures, but some seem crazier than others.

He can be timid and anti-social but he is ready to help where he can. Despite his gentle heart he had a habit of giving sarcastic remarks. He is very intelligent, but lacks street smarts and is very naive about the world.

~Knuckles~

Class: Brawler

Weapon: Iron Arms 

Icon element: earth

Backstory: After his parents died, Knuckles was left alone on the floating Angel Island. He takes care of the creatures and old ruins of his ancestors. His sole duty is to keep guard of the Master Crystal. He often prays and calls out to the spirits of the island but no one answers back. One day strange shadowy monsters attack the island and shatter the Master Crystal, causing the shards to scatter into the world. Without the Master Crystal, the island falls and Knuckles is left calling to his ancestors to find out what to do.

~Amy~

Class: Paladin

Weapon: Heart Smasher

Icon element: fire

Backstory: Amy grew up with a great sense of care for others, that’s why she joined the Heroes Guild. Despite her drive to help others, she is often underestimated and taken advantage of, which is why she hasn’t advanced in the ranks. She often takes circumstances at face value and sometimes it can get her in trouble. She still takes every small task she can if she believes it will make a difference. When Sonic and his party arrive in Stella City, Amy convinces them to join her so she can ascend the ranks help them with their quest.

~Cream~

Class: healer

Weapon: Angel Staff, Cheese the Chao

Icon Element: water

Backstory: Cream and her mother Vanilla manage a chao dragon reserve outside of Stella City. Her soft and kind heart for everyone pushed her to join the Heroes Guild with her best friend Amy. She’s usually the voice of reason for Amy when her ambitions outgrow her capabilities. 

--

Thank you for reading!

[jahayla-parker]

You Are The Sun : Nikolai Lantsov x Reader

Part 1

3.15k wc

Previous parts can be found here.

Y/n lifted the fabric of her dress as she lowered herself to a seated position on the balcony. She knew Genya and Zoya would have her head if she’d managed to scratch or rip the satin ball gown they’d forced her into. Y/n had wanted nothing more than to sit inside her bedroom and read one of the latest novels Nikolai had obtained for her. Yet, her friends demanded she attend the party the King, Nikolai, was holding instead.

It still felt strange to refer to Nikolai as King. Not wrong, just different. Nikolai had always been y/N’s closest friend, someone she cherished and loved for as long as she could remember. To see him take over the Ravkan throne was somewhat unexpected.

Nikolai more than deserved the title, and would undoubtedly excel at the responsibilities it held. However, for as long as Y/n had known him, he’d been somewhat cast aside by everyone else since he wasn’t the first in line. For that to completely change within such a sort time was enough to leave one’s head spinning. What made it worse was that suddenly everyone was interested in him.

Y/n had harbored an ill-fated crush on Nikolai since they were little. She knew it was hopeless and figured she’d someday outgrow it. Much to her dismay, the feelings only grew stronger over time. And now, y/n found herself irrevocably in love with her best friend. The same best friend that y/n had recently watched propose to her sister.

Y/n and Alina had been separated early on. Y/n was only around 10 years old when she was first tested. Alina had fallen and scraped her arm and leg the day before so she wasn’t subjected to the testing. This was before either girl even knew what the testing meant or why it was being done. As such, they didn’t know what was coming. Y/n recalled being so nervous that morning when the examiners came, she was worried that she would once again be overshadowed by Alina.

Alina and y/n weren’t far apart in age but Alina always seemed to have it easier. She made friends easier, and not just with Mal, but also with others who wanted to be friends with her before they’d inevitably leave after being tested. But still, Alina made and had friends. Y/n couldn’t figure out why she couldn’t seem to do that. In the long run, it helped her be okay with being by herself, but it wasn’t easy. She hated being jealous of her sister. They were all they had left of their family. But it didn’t help that Alina was obsessed with Mal. And quickly, despite her bubbly personality, y/n found herself being excluded from their relationship. She could and did make friends, but she could never shake the label of being Alina’s sister. People always wondered about the girl who had chosen to have only one friend in the orphanage, the girl who was willing to fight anyone and anything for that friend. Some were curious in judgmental ways. But they were all still drawn to Alina and others were curious to just know Alina. The fact y/n didn’t know what it was that made it that way drove her crazy because she couldn’t do anything about it, she couldn’t fix whatever it was that made her less worthy than Alina.

So, when the examiners came and took Y/n from the orphanage, from Alina, it produced mixed emotions for her. Emotions that only the rambunctious Prince Nikolai seemed to notice. While everyone whispered about how she left behind a sister to come here, as if it were even a choice she’d been given, Nikolai saw all of y/n’s excitement to be somewhere new and her determination to try her best at The Little Palace. Her positivity was refreshing as was her lack of knowledge or concern as to who he was or his position compared to his brother Vasilly.

Nikolai knew y/n had a sister, but only learned it was The Sun Summoner once he let the name Alina slip in front of Y/n while they were aboard his ship. As soon as she heard the name, Y/n practically wanted to throw herself overboard but also felt pulled to race ahead to find her sister. She missed Alina, of course, she did. Yet, she worried she’d be overshadowed again. But, she suspected enough time had passed, and she now had her best friend Nikolai after all. After all, Nikolai hadn’t known it was her sister they were looking for, so y/n knew she hadn’t been brought along only because of that.

Y/n's happiness over seeing Alina lasted up until she watched Nikolai propose to her. She couldn’t believe that the one person she allowed herself to get close to was stolen away from her. And by Alina nonetheless. It was pure torture.

Nikolai had been quick to notice y/n’s withdrawn state after the proposal. He made sure to check on her and explain that it was purely political. He wasn’t sure if that was what she was upset about, as she’d clearly shut him out from reading her emotions. But, he needed her to know that it wasn’t anything personal or romantic. That he wasn’t interested in Alina outside of political considerations. He didn’t know why he felt so strongly about making sure that was clear to y/n, but he did.

Y/n wasn’t sure if Nikolai’s explanation made things better or worse. She’d always seen Alina as better than her, so it didn’t change the sense of inadequacy. Sure, it was nice to think Nikolai didn’t have feelings for Alina in a romantic way. But Y/n was sure that would change as time went on, it was Alina after all. Everyone loves Alina.

Y/n tried to be happy for Nikolai. After all, he was her best friend so if he was happy, she would have to find a way to be okay with it. All she wanted was for him to be happy, she just never imagined that it would happen like this.

Nikolai forced another polite smile as he listened to Federhoff drone on endlessly about their opinions on the Ravkan economy. He couldn’t care less what this foreign dignitary had to say. But, he was forced to listen as Alina was adamant that he heard the man out.

As the man rambled incoherently about Ravka’s trade routes, Nikolai’s eyes searched the area. He was seeking out one particular person, his person. The one person Nikolai actually wanted to be spending time with right now.

Nikolai finally located his subject as he scanned the balcony. He unconsciously smiled to himself, the way he always did when seeing her. When there was finally a reprieve from the conversation with Federhoff, Nikolai excused himself. He snuck up to the balcony area, playfully sneaking up behind Y/n. “What is a gorgeous girl like you doing up here all alone?” He flirted.

Y/n sighed quietly but forced a smile nonetheless aa she faced Nikolai.

Before y/n could answer Nikolai’s question, he commented on her reaction. “What’s wrong?” He asked with audible concern. “That’s not the authentic Y/n smile that I know and love,” Nikolai stated.

Y/n shook her head, flustered. “Shouldn’t you be introducing Alina to the Council?” She redirected.

Nikolai’s eyes narrowed at his best friend and he stepped closer. “Y/n,” he sighed softly, “what’s troubling you?” He’d seen her uncharacteristic reaction and he was not about to let it go.

“Nothing,” y/n replied emotionlessly.

Nikolai raised a brow as he gave y/n a knowing look. “You never lie to me,” he pointed out. “Please do not start now”.

“Sorry,” y/n murmured quietly.

Nikolai frowned and shook his head. “Don’t be sorry, just help me understand”.

“I just…” y/n began hesitantly. She looked over and saw Zoya giving her a warning look. Y/n was drawing Nikolai’s attention away from his responsibilities. And if it continued she’d never hear the end of it from Zoya. “Never mind,” she corrected with another fake smile.

Nikolai followed the path y/n’s eyes took and his frown grew. He reached down and took hold of y/n’s hand. He gently helped her up. “Let’s go for a walk, hmm,” Nikolai suggested.

“Nikolai-,” y/n stated to protest. She could feel Zoya’s eyes on them.

“Your King has requested that you join him for a walk,” Nikolai teased with a smirk.

Y/n laughed quietly at her best friend’s antics. She nodded and linked arms with Nikolai as he lead her away from Zoya’s eyesight.

Once they were out of sight and earshot of Zoya or any of Nikolai’s other Triumvirate members, Nikolai slowed their pace. “None of the eligible bachelors catch your eye?” He asked, ignoring the unexpected sour taste it left in his mouth.

“What?” Y/n scoffed with barely hidden disgust.

Nikolai glanced over at y/n. “There’s plenty of generals, merchants, and other potentially high ranking suitors at this party,” he noted. “Are none of them worthy of your interest?”

It was an innocent question. A common one among friends. Yet, y/n couldn’t help but roll her eyes. “They’re not my type,” she confessed.

“No?” Nikolai smirked. “And, just what is your type?” He asked as he nudged y/n’s shoulder. “Damnably handsome, brave in battle, smart as a whip, an excellent dancer, an even better shot, and perhaps a privateer by night?” Nikolai teased.

Y/n knew Nikolai was playfully insinuating himself. She rolled her eyes in a weak attempt to hide her embarrassment.

“Truly though,” Nikolai continued. “I heard Zoya and Nina murmuring about Hans Erig,” he recalled. “Not even him?” Nikolai asked. He wasn’t sure why he felt the need to ask. Hans Erig was known to be one of the more attractive and sought-after young merchants. So, if y/n said yes, it shouldn’t come as much surprise. Yet, he found himself wanting to know the answer for certain nonetheless.

“Why do you care so much?” Y/n grumbled.

“What?” Nikolai asked, thrown off guard by the question.

Y/n stopped walking and turned to face Nikolai. “Why do you care if I am interested in any of them?” She inquired.

Nikolai frowned slightly. “Because I care about you,” he admitted. “I can tell something is bothering you, I just don’t know what”. “I figured maybe this was it…” Nikolai stated; a half truth. It was part of the reason he had asked, but not the full reason.

“I’m fine,” y/n argued.

“We both know that’s a lie,” Nikolai defended.

“It’s not because I need some man to make me happy, Nikolai,” y/n stated, giving him a firm expression.

“I never said you did darling,” Nikolai quickly reassured y/n. “It’s hardly a necessity when you emblazon the world with your happiness all on your own”.

Y/n tried to cover her uncontrollable scoff with a fake laugh. She began walking, needing even the slight distraction of a change in scenery to keep her calm.

“What?” Nikolai pressed, eyes narrowing as he studied y/n. He kept steady pace with her as he tried to analyze her facial expressions.

“Nothing,” y/n replied quickly.

Nikolai shook his head. “Nuh-uh. Talk,” he demanded gently.

Y/n sighed quietly to herself. “You don’t see the irony there?”

“No?” Nikolai meant it as a statement, but his confusion made it into more of a question.

“You’re engaged to Alina,” y/n reminded the King. “And you’re saying that I light up the world?”

“Yes?” Nikolai nodded. Another answer that came out as a question.

Y/n stared blankly at Nikolai’s profile. “She’s the literal Sun Summoner, Nikolai, don’t act so dense,” she groaned.

“Y/n stop,” Nikolai huffed. He stopped their walk to turn and look at her directly. “What are you getting at?”

“Nothing,” y/n said as she unhooked her arm from Nikolai’s. She crossed both arms over her chest shyly. “I’m sorry,” she apologized. “How was the merchant's tea? I heard that-,” y/n began in an attempt to change the topic.

“No,” Nikolai stated simply. “Do not change the topic,” he complained, having easily caught on to y/n’s intention. “What is going on between you and your sister?” Nikolai inquired.

“Nothing,” y/n lied.

“Y/n,” Nikolai scolded.

“I don’t want to talk about it,” y/n replied, looking at her feet.

“Too bad,” Nikolai rebutted.

“Nikolai,” y/n complained. “I’m serious, okay?” She groaned.

“So am I,” Nikolai defended.

“Y/n, there you are!” Nina’s voice called out. She tried not to snort as both y/n and Nikolai’s heads snapped towards her simultaneously. She quickly shook it off as she remembered the reason for her interruption. Nina smiled brightly as she took hold of y/n’s hand, “ready?”

“Nina,” Nikolai said, his voice both a soft sold and a plea. “Y/n and I were having a discussion. We need a moment, please,” he requested.

Nina shook her head as she once again recognized the look in y/n’s eyes. “You can catch up later! She's my friend too!” She shrugged. “You have things to do anyways, Your Highness”. As she tugged y/n away from the King, she shot an innocent smile over her shoulder. “Plus, Zoya is looking for you,” she added.

Y/n sat sloppily in the golden yellow oversized chair in the sitting room of her chambers within the castle. Nina didn’t have to explain why she’d pulled her away from Nikolai so abruptly. Y/n knew why she had unexpectedly interrupted them, the look on her face was answer enough.

"I still want him,” y/n admitted hopelessly. She gazed over at the window, looking through the slightly parted royal blue curtains. Sometimes staring into the distance made these conversations a lot easier; as if she were somewhere far away and not trapped in the same house as her crush and his betrothed; who just so happened to also be y/n’s sister.

“But, I also want to get over him,” y/n added. She’d been wishing for that practically since the moment she’d realized her feelings for her best friend. It wasn’t that she felt he was undeserving of her feelings. Rather, she knew it was one-sided and she’d never been one for false hope. “And neither one is happening,” y/n complained.

Nina sighed, a deep frown taking over her normally cheerful face. “I know,” she whispered tenderly. “I’m sorry,” Nina consoled as she sat on the armrest of the chair her friend was in.

“I should’ve known I didn’t ever have a chance,” y/n reprimanded herself quietly after a few moments of silent contemplation.

“Y/n, that’s not true,” Nina argued.

“Nina!” Y/n exclaimed. “It’s Nikolai we’re talking about,” she pointed out, “he’s always been out of reach.” She sighed as she looked back out the window from her seat next to Nina. “But..I mean, Saints! He’s now the King, for Saint’s sake!”

Nina pressed her lips into a fine line as she fought off a laugh. Y/n was so blind. “So?” She asked rhetorically. “He’s also your best friend,” she reminded y/n. “Well, besides me that is,” Nina smirked.

Y/n tsked and shook her head. “Everyone’s always been more interested in Alina,” she recalled out loud. “Ever before her,” y/n waved her hands around in the air aimlessly, “abilities, or Sainthood, or whatever they’re calling it now”.

Nina sighed and set her hand on y/n’s leg.

“I know I sound jealous,” y/n acknowledged. She huffed loudly. “And you know what, I am”. Y/n stared blankly at the wall as she pictured the various times Alina had outshined her. “I had worked through it awhile ago, as I had my own life again,” she mused nostalgically as she reflected on her more recent past. “But, now…, she’s here and…”.

“And?” Nina questioned quietly.

“She’s already begun to take everything from me,” y/n deflated, slumping against the back of her chair. “And I can’t even be mad! Because she doesn’t mean harm by it,” she recognized. “Plus, he’s not even mine, in that sense.. and-“ y/N’s voice shook.

Nina slid down the inner portion of the soft yellow armrest until her butt was next to y/n’s in the chair. She wrapped her arms around her friend and held her. She rubbed y/N’s back as she slowly decreased her rapid heartbeat, “I’m sorry. It’ll get better though.” Nina wasn’t sure when. She and Genya had both bet on Nikolai seeing the way he felt about y/n by now. “Besides, he’s not truly interested in Alina that way, didn’t he say so himself?” Nina encouraged. It was a wimpy attempt at helping ease y/n’s hurt, but at least it was something she could cling to.

Y/n nodded slowly in appreciation. She let her hands trail down Nina’s arms as she stood up. She silently moved to stand by her window. “That doesn’t matter. She still has him,” y/n repeated.

Nina nodded with a frown even though y/n’s back was to her. “You could still have him though too.”

“Nikolai wouldn’t do that,” y/n defended quickly. “Not after what his parents had done”. She knew and understood this well, having seen and heard from Nikolai himself the way he viewed consorts. “Plus, I can’t have only part of him,” y/n admitted. She shook her head. “And I won’t have him in secret. I accept it’s a foolish longing I’ve had for him, but I won’t have him just to be able to say I have him while I meanwhile have to go around pretending he isn’t married to my sister.”

“It’s not a foolish longing, beautiful,” Nina sighed.

“Yes it is,” y/n rebutted.

“No it’s not,” Nina argued.

“Yes it-“ y/n murmured.

“No,” Nina replied, cutting y/n off.

“Nina!” Y/n half-shouted as she spun to face her friend.

“What?!” Nina replied in the same tone, a mischievous grin on her face.

Y/n smiled faintly and scoffed. “You and I both know he and I are just friends. That’s all we’ve ever been, and all we ever will be.” She shrugged as she made her way back to Nina. “It’s not a consolation, but… it still hurts,” she licked her lips. “Because I can’t help but want more.” Y/n took a deep breath as she worked towards acceptance. “But, it is what it is.”

Nina sighed. “You don’t see it,” she complained dramatically.

“See what?” Y/n questioned warily.

“The way he looks at you,” Nina answered, staring intently at y/n to gauge her reaction.

“He doesn’t look at me as anything more than a friend,” y/n said firmly, hoping to shut down the possibility of Nina arguing.

“Yes, he does!” Nina declared. “Genya sees it too, he-“

“Nina,” y/n whispered. “I love you, but can we please just talk about literally anything else?” She’d had more than enough talk about her sadness and unrequited feelings.

“Okay,” Nina nodded.

Y/n squinted at Nina in suspicion. “That was easy…”.

“Did you see Hans Erig?!” Nina gushed, propping her feet up on the footstool in y/n’s sitting room. “That man looked almost as tasty as waffles with strawberries and ice cream,” she stated dreamily as she wiggled her eyebrows at y/n.

“Nina!” Y/n squeaked before she and Nina burst into giggles.

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[rottenrewards]

( NICK ROBINSON .  MALE .  HE/HIM )  - the  chicago  resident , ELLIOT WEAVER ,  was  heard  blaring  END OF BEGINNING / DJO  this  morning  .  the  TWENTY-NINE  year  old  is  a  lottery winner   in  the  city  &  has  lived  the EAST  tower  for  TWO MONTHS .  since  being  here  ,  they  have  been  told  to  be  GLUM  ,  but  also  GENEROUS ,  i  guess  we'll  find  out  soon  !   [  MAD, 27, THEY/THEM, PST  ]

Name: Elliot Timothy Weaver Nicknames: Eli, Ellie, E.T. Age: 29 Birthday: October 15th, 1994 FC: Nick Robinson Gender: Male Pronouns: He/Him/His Sexuality: Bisexual Height: 5′11 Blood Type: A+ Build: Medium Vices: Cannabis, Alcohol, Cigarettes Favorite Colors: Red & Orange

History

Elliot grew up entirely average. Greatness wasn't in store for the middle Weaver child. His older brother was a football star and his younger sister was a pageant queen and as a result his parents attention was usually used up in pursuing his siblings dreams. Elliot never minded much. His nose was typically buried in a book as he was dragged along for support to his siblings endeavors. As he grew up the more Eli branched out on his own. He found himself friends with the band geeks and nerds more than the popular crowd his family was drawn to. He was never prom royalty but he also never wanted to be and he was entirely content. He had a girlfriend whom he loved and friends who he could depend on, what more could he ask for? When Elliot graduated high school he decided to stick around in Amarillo. The town might be small but it was his home and after a few years at the local community college he got a job in auto insurance. He was still with the same girl from high school who he proposed to at the age of twenty-six after being together for ten years. Life was good for Eli and he saw his whole future ahead of. Marriage, a couple of kids running around, and a small house he'd call home, maybe even a white picket fence. All of that changed one fateful afternoon in August of 2023. Elliot came home on his lunch break only to catch his fiance with another man. He was heartbroken and the simple life he'd had planned for himself was ruined. The engagement was off then and there and Eli quickly spun downward.  Life had gone to shit. His fiance moved out (and in with the guy she'd been cheating with) and Elliot spent most nights drinking and wallowing in self pity. Things couldn't have gotten any worse and miraculous it didn't. Almost two months after his break up Elliot's life would change again. He was never much of a gambler but one night when buying cigarettes he decided to purchase a lottery ticket from the gas station. Never in Eli's wildest dreams did he expect to actually win but he did. 16.8 million dollars to be exact. His life changed overnight once again. His achievement became the biggest story to hit Amarillo history in the last 20 years and it seemed everyone who'd ever known Elliot was coming out of the woodwork including his ex.  Everyone put a bad taste in his mouth and after he'd been coerced into giving away nearly a million dollars to various different people in a very short period of time Elliot went into hiding. He could no longer trust the people closest to him as they all seemed to turn green with envy or fat with greed. His new found wealth made him incredibly lonely and forced him to outgrow his town he'd once called home. Elliot settled on Chicago because he'd always wanted to visit the city and wanted a complete change of pace and be somewhere he could blend in.

Headcanons

Elliot's life is a mess. He's still recovering from his recent breakup over the summer and now that he's a millionaire he really doesn't know how to act. One minute he's celebrating and the next he's crying because his Spotify Wrapped playlist reminds him of home.

He is the embodiment of the meme "If I ever win the lottery I won't tell anybody but there will be signs". He doesn't boast about his wealth but he's definitely treating himself and is very generous with his money. He has been known to give 50% to 100% tips at businesses around town.

He's stopped doing laundry all together. Now he simply donates his clothes and buys new ones when he needs them. Laundry has always been his least favorite chore and now that he doesn't have to clean his clothes he won't.

He spontaneously drops twenty dollar bills around just to brighten people's days.

There's always a pile of packages waiting for him at his mailbox. Half the time he doesn't know what he's ordered because he's developed a late night spending habit whenever he can't sleep.

[fatefulfortune]

Welcome to Aurora Bay @aurorabayaesthetic, [ELLIOT WEAVER] ! I couldn’t help but notice you look an awful lot like [NICK ROBINSON]. You must be the [TWENTY-NINE] year old [LOTTERY WINNER]. Word is you’re [GENEROUS] but can also be a bit [GLUM] and your favorite song is [END OF BEGINNING BY DJO]. I also heard you’ll be staying in [AURORA BAY DRIVE]. I’m sure you’ll love it!

Name: Elliot Timothy Weaver Nicknames: Eli (preferred name), Ellie, E.T. Age: 29 Birthday: October 15th, 1994 FC: Nick Robinson Gender: Male Pronouns: He/Him/His Sexuality: Bisexual Height: 6'1 Blood Type: A+ Build: Medium Vices: Cannabis, Alcohol, Cigarettes Favorite Colors: Red & Orange

History

Elliot grew up entirely average. Greatness wasn't in store for the middle Weaver child. His older brother was a football star and his younger sister was a pageant queen and as a result his parents attention was usually used up in pursuing his siblings dreams. Elliot never minded much. His nose was typically buried in a book as he was dragged along for support to his siblings endeavors. As he grew up the more Eli branched out on his own. He found himself friends with the band geeks and nerds more than the popular crowd his family was drawn to. He was never prom royalty but he also never wanted to be and he was entirely content. He had a girlfriend whom he loved and friends who he could depend on, what more could he ask for? When Elliot graduated high school he decided to stick around in Amarillo. The town might be small but it was his home and after a few years at the local community college he got a job in auto insurance. He was still with the same girl from high school who he proposed to at the age of twenty-six after being together for ten years. Life was good for Eli and he saw his whole future ahead of. Marriage, a couple of kids running around, and a small house he'd call home, maybe even a white picket fence. All of that changed one fateful afternoon in August of 2023. Elliot came home on his lunch break only to catch his fiance with another man. He was heartbroken and the simple life he'd had planned for himself was ruined. The engagement was off then and there and Eli quickly spun downward.  Life had gone to shit. His fiance moved out (and in with the guy she'd been cheating with) and Elliot spent most nights drinking and wallowing in self pity. Things couldn't have gotten any worse and miraculous it didn't. Almost two months after his break up Elliot's life would change again. He was never much of a gambler but one night when buying cigarettes he decided to purchase a lottery ticket from the gas station. Never in Eli's wildest dreams did he expect to actually win but he did. 16.8 million dollars to be exact. His life changed overnight once again. His achievement became the biggest story to hit Amarillo history in the last 20 years and it seemed everyone who'd ever known Elliot was coming out of the woodwork including his ex.  Everyone put a bad taste in his mouth and after he'd been coerced into giving away nearly a million dollars to various different people in a very short period of time Elliot went into hiding. He could no longer trust the people closest to him as they all seemed to turn green with envy or fat with greed. His new found wealth made him incredibly lonely and forced him to outgrow his town he'd once called home. Instead Elliot decided to travel until he figured out where he wanted to call home next. That was how he wound up in Aurora Bay. He'd always heard the weather was nice in southern California and he figured it was as good a place as any to relocate for the time being.

Headcanons

Elliot's life is a mess. He's still recovering from his recent breakup over the summer and now that he's a millionaire he really doesn't know how to act. One minute he's celebrating and the next he's crying because his Spotify Wrapped playlist reminds him of home.

He is the embodiment of the meme "If I ever win the lottery I won't tell anybody but there will be signs". He doesn't boast about his wealth but he's definitely treating himself and is very generous with his money. He has been known to give 50% to 100% tips at businesses around town.

He's stopped doing laundry all together. Now he simply donates his clothes and buys new ones when he needs them. Laundry has always been his least favorite chore and now that he doesn't have to clean his clothes he won't.

He spontaneously drops twenty dollar bills around just to brighten people's days.

There's always a pile of packages waiting for him at his mailbox. Half the time he doesn't know what he's ordered because he's developed a late night spending habit whenever he can't sleep.

Elliot moved into a "small" mansion off Aurora Bay Drive. He's still furnishing it and frankly doesn't know what to do with all the rooms the home has to offer. It's slowly but turning into the ultimate bachelor pad while he saves at least one bedroom to be used as a guest room whenever his family comes to visit.

[klaineccfanficlibrary]

I was so close to a full bingo.

1. Express Yourself by esperantoauthor​

2. Lost Boy by myownpatronus my-own-patronus

3. Miles To Go by hundredindecisions thnxforknowingme​

4. A “Safe” Choice by izwordsoup special-bc-ur-part-of-it​

5. Wild Child by dreamcatcher klainedreams34​

6. TBA

7. Scenes from December by spaceorphan spaceorphan18​

8. My Heart, It Pounds, Yeah You Got Me by nineofhearts nineofhearts4​

9. Plucking Daisy Petals by hundredindecisions thnxforknowingme​, although I am not sure if it counts, since it isn’t a Klaine fic but it is Klaine-adjacent? But uh, it is Blaine/Quinn, hence the whole “Genre/Trope I don’t normally read”. If it doesn’t count, that’s fine and y’all don’t have to add it to the collection.

Klaine Bingo 2023 - last day of bingo cards! Thank you for this Anon. ~Jen

1. Debut fic: Express Yourself by @esperantoauthor

When he was 4, he didn’t notice it. When he was 6, he hoped he could outgrow it. When he was 14 he thought he could ignore it. When he was 16, he tried hide it.

When Blaine is attacked for being different, he transfers to a new school where he meets a cadre of misfits called The New Directions, who seem very impressed with his singing and very curious about his past. Blaine just wanted to fit in but maybe he will find something better: his voice.

[A canon-divergent story in which Blaine transferred to McKinley rather than Dalton after being attacked at his old school.]

2. Page turner fic: Lost Boy by myownpatronus

On September 20, 1999, Pam and James Anderson's world was shattered when their youngest son, Blaine, was abducted from a local park. Twelve years later, after pain, healing, and tireless searching, the family is reunited in a most unexpected way. But the boy who comes home to them isn't the same one they lost so long ago. Each member of the Anderson family has to learn to change and grow together as a lost boy is found once more.

3.Fanfic that made you reach for a box of tissues: Miles To Go by hundredindecisions @thnxforknowingme

In the wake of Finn’s death, Kurt struggles to keep up with schoolwork at NYADA or engage with his life in general. He finally finds purpose again when he decides to spend the summer venturing west, to scatter Finn’s ashes in the Pacific Ocean. The road trip is long and lonely and challenging, but Kurt’s luck starts to turn around when he meets a handsome man named Blaine, who’s heading to California for his own reasons. After crossing paths in Colorado, they decide to travel together. As they get closer to the west coast they start to let down their walls, learning more about each other and revealing what they’re really seeking on this trip.

4. Fanfic where on has an unusual occupation: A “Safe” Choice by izwordsoup @special-bc-ur-part-of-it

This one is already in our list under this category!!

5. Fanfic - wild card/your choice: Wild Child by dreamcatcher @klainedreams34

Tired of his son rebelling against him, Burt Hummel sends Kurt off to boarding school in England, hoping it will straighten him out. There, Kurt makes friends, gets involved in shenanigans, and just maybe finds the boy of his dreams! Heavily based on the movie of the same name!

6. Summer story: TBA

7. Written for a challenge: Scenes from December by @spaceorphan18

An exploration of Kurt's life throughout various Decembers. The story of family and how the definition of family changes over time.

Written for Klaine Advent 2022.

8. Fic that made you laugh out loud: My Heart, It Pounds, Yeah You Got Me by @nineofhearts4​

This one is already in our list under this category!!

9. Genre/trope you wouldn't normally read: Plucking Daisy Petals by hundredindecisions @thnxforknowingme

Blaine Anderson and Quinn Fabray meet during their first year at Yale, and quickly bond over shared experiences. They become best friends, then roommates, and eventually start dating. Blaine cares for Quinn so much, and everyone else thinks they belong together - so it has to be right, doesn't it?

Inspired by Ljubim te by maanorchidee.

This fic is entirely thanks to maanorchidee and her fic Ljubim te, in which Blaine and Quinn are dating before Blaine meets Kurt while in Slovenia. I was super fascinated by the idea of Blaine and Quinn falling into a romantic relationship during college, because they're both so desperate for affection and sort of don't know any better. So Yuè very kindly gave me permission to write a quasi-prequel (and also gave me the idea for the title!). That being said - I created this independently, so it may not entirely line up with the canon of Ljubim te. It's meant to compliment Yuè's story, but her fictional universe is her own, so there may be inconsistencies.

[mwolf0epsilon]

By the time word gets out to Obi-wan and Alpha-17 that Cody seems to have taken ill quite suddenly, and that he's currently in Abuela's house resting, the issue of Cody's subconscious size shifting is becoming a bit of a predicament...

He's completely crushed the bed and whatever furniture was in the guest room, and there's no telling just how big he's actually going to get. But from the stories she'd heard previously about the "Grey Beast" she's estimating he'll probably be big enough to not only destroy her house but also half the town.

Now, call Abuela a paranoid coot all you want, but she knows the people of Anchorhead aren't going to react positively to a sleeping giant accidentally destroying part of their neighborhood and livelihoods. Especially not while he's so vulnerable and unable to defend himself from whatever attacks they might begin on his person as a form of retaliation.

She likes Cody. He's become a surrogate son to her after her own family all but abandoned her. And she's not about let the poor lad suffer through any injustices over something he clearly has no control over. Gray Rot is a terrible sickness and his body seems to only be trying to fight it off in the ways it can. If it's best defense is to grow then who is she to judge him for that?

She's still waiting on her medic friend to bring her the medicine and she's all but tapping her foot on the floor, chin upon one hand while the other taps in sync with her foot on her elbow. Deep in thought as she is, she manages to count the seconds in between each growth spurt.

It started quickly but the larger he gets the slower the process seems to be. Obviously Abuela doesn't know that he's had issues before with his growth spurts, and also doesn't know that when he's asleep it's a little less of a sudden process than when he gets startled, angry or even when he sneezes a little too strongly. Shifting size while asleep is less intrusive and less energy consuming.

She doesn't know any of this but she does know how to keep track of time, and as Cody's growth slows down she realizes she can make a rough estimate of when exactly he'll end up outgrowing the room he's in completely. It gives her enough time to push the furniture from other rooms around to give the lad some space (and maybe avoid her having to get new furniture on top of a new house once this is all over). It also gives her time to collect her thoughts a bit and decide on the next course of actions she'll need to take.

He's growing while he's sleeping, so clearly he's unaware of it. Perhaps (even if she's loath to awaken someone who's ill and clearly in need of rest) if she wakes him up he'll be able to stop it before he obliterates her little home? And he might as well be awake anyway. He'll need to eat something before he takes his medicine (which she's sure should arrive soon anyway), and she was preparing him a nice rich stew to help bolster his energy reserves anyway. If he's going to overcome his ailment he'll need a full belly. Although that said she might need to make a few more pots...

Meanwhile Obi-wan is gunning it to Anchorhead in a panic thinking this might be it and that Cody is going to be discovered. Alpha-17 is fruitlessly trying to get the man to calm down before he gives himself an aneurysm, while Silas the Eopie really wishes his master wasn't such an anxiety riddled hermit of a man that seems to like forcing the poor space camel to run needless marathons.

Never a dull moment on Tatooine.

[maytheoddshq]

Mercuria Trout (she/her). Tribute. District Twelve. Twenty. Isa Briones.

What was their childhood like? Mercuria grew up knowing her place was to work in the mines. Both of her parents had done so, and her mother had died in them. Her father, now nearing the end of his life due to coal dust at a much-too-young age, has become her sole responsibility. Her childhood was little more than the mines and the caretaking. Her small frame made her an ideal mine scout - she was quickly relied upon to explore small crevasses and find coal veins. However, her shifts got slashed in the past year, leaving her with less and less money to care for her dying father, who often cannot even lift himself from bed. She considers herself grown, but anyone around her still sees her as a child, unfortunately outgrowing her usefulness in the mines, and struggling to care for her father. That was before Vox entered her life. The whispers around town were hardly that - sometimes they were full speeches in the town square. She joined - perhaps stupidly - by putting her name on a piece of paper. She went to the meetings, she met the people, but ultimately had a job to do and a father to care for. So what could she do to help? Other than lend her voice and eagerness? As it turned out, very little. But she knew her time would come. At some point, she will have her moment to really make a mark and help.

How do they feel about the Games? She hates them. Every piece of Capitolite propaganda worked in reverse for her. They were meant to "remind the Districts of the costs of rebelling," but the Capitol did nothing to help them. The Games gave her reason to rebel. The barbarism, the false imagery, the decadence that surrounded them... all of it made her sick to her stomach. Add in any number of friends and family who had lost their lives to the Games. When was the last time a D12 Victor had emerged? When was the last time one was allowed? More than that - why must four citizens be shipped to their death year over year?

What is their personality like? Mercuria hasn't quite figured the world out yet, but you couldn't tell her that. She is of quick decision and unfortunately, easily swayed. Whereas the circumstances of her life may have made other people mature too quickly, Mercuria has done the opposite: she approaches her life as a check list of repetition. "Mom always said sweep the front step, so I'll do that." "Dad needs to sit up to eat, so I'll do that." Never mind that she hasn't learned how to make anything other than a simple stew in all her years, and she doesn't know how to fix the broom that's been falling apart for ever. Eager to learn? Perhaps. Capable of it? Perhaps not. She's a strong decision maker in the sense that all decisions to her are "Yes" or "No," and if they require more complexity than that, she relies on those around her to help choose.

What is their district token? It was going to be a button from her father's jacket, but the Peacekeepers ripped it from her hand as she entered the Capitol building.

Three strengths and three weaknesses. + bold; eager; straight-forward - naive; gullible; bull-headed

PENNED BY: M