#rest in peace potato girl

[pinescent-and-gingerbread]

˖✧ Through my eyes

✦ Pairing: Arthur Morgan x Fem!Reader ✦ Summary: Karen explains Mary and Arthur's story to you. Saddened, you're convinced you could never compete with her until the man in question proves you wrong. ✦ Warnings/Tags: Self-depreciation from both sides, kissing, comfort, fluff. Reader has been with the gang for a year. Use of Y/N. ✦ Words: 3k ✦ a/n: This is the answer to this ask by the lovely @crystalofmoon19. I really hope you'll like it, dear! And thank you for your support, you've been really sweet to me and my work! As always, I got carried away and wrote way too much. And as always, please reach out to me if you spot any misspellings. Also idk why I made this in Colter, guess I just feel way too hot rn and want some fresh snow + Arthur's coat is perfect for comfort. Credits. Arthur's pic is from my playthrough. Other pics are not mine found them on Pinterest. AO3

“And in the end, she rejected his proposal, then a few months later, sent him a letter telling she was marrying some wealthier gentleman!”

Your mouth hangs open in the air. Karen’s words enter through your ears and create a nice little nest for themselves in your brain. You had no idea. No idea Arthur had been this close to being married. That their relationship had been so strong, that, according to hearsays, he had reached his lowest after their break up, drunk most part of the day, fighting the rest of the time, obnoxious to everyone, even Dutch and Hosea.

“Y/N? You’re okay, there?” Karen asked you, disappointed her big reveal had left you reactionless.

You focused your gaze back on her. Her blonde hair is softly litten up by the setting sun, her breath exhaling a puff of steam as she breathes. Colter is a cold place, and it probably felt even colder because of the morose mood of the gang. You suddenly remember you’re supposed to be shocked. You are, of course, but in a very bad way. Not in an “Oh my God, I can’t believe this Karen, so much gossip!” kind of way.

How could you ever compete with that?

“Yeah, I’m alright. God, I had no idea so much happened between them.”

“Oh, trust me, it was definitely his biggest love story. Never saw him get into someone else after her. Not even Mary-Beth! Could you believe that?”

No, you couldn’t. You weren’t sure why but every word from Karen felt like an enormous stone falling into your belly and dragging you deeper and deeper into the sea. Your silly little crush on Arthur, when you first joined the gang a year ago, had turned into a way stronger attraction. Denying it at first, you had little by little let your emotions win, cherishing every moment with him, thanking Dutch for assigning both of you to the same missions, loving the quiet evenings where he would just sit next to you around the campfire to scribble in his journal while you would do your little hobby on your own. Silent most, but enjoying each other’s company, and so, so peaceful.

More than your emotions, you even had let your imagination take the lead, dreaming about a selfish future with him, seeing it every time he would give you a smile, or laugh at one of your jokes. A happy Arthur, relieved from his obligations, enjoys life's simplest joys. A house, a garden. Maybe a dog, considering he had loved having Copper. A marriage even. And why not a child? If he would feel ready. Something in you was telling you he would be a good father.

But now, you felt like this dream was rotten, condemned.  Like a broken match. The fire, the very thing it’s designed for,  not being able to be lit. Would never be lit. A wasted potential.

You tried to continue your gossiping chat with Karen, voice light but gaze elusive as you peeled the potatoes you were supposed to prepare while discussing, tedious tasks often ended up less difficult this way when you were working with the other girls. But behind your seemingly normal smile and hollow words, a haunting thought was hanging on to you as strongly as a rock trapped in a thousand-year-old iceberg. 

Arthur never fell in love again after Mary Linton.

Night had definitely fallen on the frozen mountains. After your endless vegetables centered-chores, you had helped Mr. Pearson turning them into a decent meal, his incessant blattering about the Navy giving you some sort of distraction. During dinner and after though, once you didn’t have any goal or job left to do for the day, your conversation with Karen came back into your wandering mind, her speech playing again and again like a used gramophone record.

Never fell in love again...

Sitting at one of the corners of the big cabin you had been sleeping in for the past few days along with the girls and some other gang members which mainly served as a common space, you were looking outside by a dilapidated window. A frozen World spread out before your eyes, every inch of surface covered in snow and ice, the landscape ending up looking like it was coated with a thick strange substance —dark blue colors Queen of this gloomy, misty horizon.

Arthur had returned from a very busy hunting day with Charles. Thanks to them, meat had been added to the vegetable paradise of a meal, resulting in a better-than-usual supper. He should have felt cheerful, but his mood wouldn't lighten. 

He had spotted you from across the room, noticing the hurtful absence of your smile on these sweet lips of yours. Smile he secretly loved. Lips he secretly fancied. 

Hesitating for a long moment, debating with himself, a self-depreciative rambling turning in his head like a well-oiled motor, he had ultimately decided to join you and investigate. Something pretty important must been bothering you, because loosing your usual little grin and eating your plate all by yourself really wasn't in your habits.

Approaching you, his boots and spurs clicking and stomping before you could see him, he plants them in front of you, standing there while his eyes lock on your face.

“Miss Y/L/N? Is everythin’ okay?”

“Oh, Mr Morgan. Yeah, don’t worry. Everything is great.”

He doesn’t believe you and honestly, you wouldn’t have convinced yourself either. And Arthur is a stubborn man. A stubborn, and caring one. He leans against the cabin's old creaky walls, on the other side of the window.

“Come on, don’t lie t’me girl. Everyone noticed you’re not in your right mind.” He honestly doesn’t know about everyone, but he surely did. His words are accompanied by a small, polite smile.

“I don’t think… I don’t think you’re the right person to talk about it.”

Arthur’s entire body froze. The hands he had on his belt as always when he was comfortable, flew to his chest as he crossed his arms, his thick winter coat folding with difficulty. His encouraging smile flattened, his brows pleating in a harsh frown.

“Erm… Alright, I get it. I won’t bother you, I guess.” 

Without loosening his arms, he pushed himself from the wall, taking a step to leave you some space. You couldn’t have missed it. This change of behavior, the hurtful expression he had displayed, as if he was truly pained by your words. Disappointed, maybe even shameful to have thought he could help you at all. He was just a sad, ugly bastard, after all.

You felt like you could hear all of it from where you were, and see it in the shadow that had taken his face and the gigantic mass that seemed to have fallen on his shoulders.

No, you didn’t want this. Didn’t want him to feel like that because of you and your stupid feelings, or your own dark thoughts.

“Wait, Arthur!”

He turned around the second you talked again.

“I’m sorry it’s just…” You sigh and look at him with an uncertain expression, knowing your next words were going to be risky. “It’s about you and Mary Linton…”

His eyes turn into two literal plates, his mouth slightly opening in outer astonishment. This was really not what he had in mind. You could have been sad because of a hundred logical reasons, the death of Davey and the loss of Sean and Mac, the complete fiasco of Blackwater, the hundred of dollars lost, the terrible and tough conditions of the Grizzlies plunging everyone into an unbearable cold and a threatening famine.  Not mentioning Hosea’s alarming coughing, Dutch’s mysterious decisions, and Micah as a whole.

But you, out of all these things, were worried about Mary.

Once his eyes had grown as round as they could, they got back into an interrogative expression, the wave of surprise over.

“Wha’…?! How d’ya even know ‘bout her?”

“Karen speaks a lot when she’s bored…” You briefly explained, trying to sound detached.

Arthur rolls his eyes to the Heavens. Of course, folks talked, and you had to know about it all at some point. But this wasn’t ideal at all. He would have preferred to tell it to you himself, at a time he would have felt comfortable doing so, with his own words. He didn’t want this to change anything between the two of you.

“And erm… What exactly bothers ya?”

You open your mouth to speak, but your words are jammed. Explaining that you feel jealous of what the both of them had shared would just come down to confessing your feelings for him plain and simple. 

You felt completely stuck. 

He’s right there before your eyes, the very source of all your worries and your every joy. Looking at you with those confused blue eyes, wondering what is happening in this pretty head of yours. But the words still won’t come out.  You feel more and more powerless, and instead of a sound, your eyes take over to get something out of your body, slow and sad tears filling them like a lonely glacier fills a mountain lake on its own.

Arthur’s usual frown furrows, his wrinkles more visible, contrasted by the shadows from the warm lights of the fire. Suddenly, his internal melancholic speech shuts down, as if the view of a single tear streaming down your cheek were absolutely intolerable to him. No worries nor anxious self-restraints crosses his mind —it’s now only instinct. He sees you crying. He has to help you. This is as easy as that.

His right hand reaches to you by itself.

It feels warm but coarse. This big, big hand on the side of your face.

“Oh, Y/N. Don’t waste those pretty tears for a sour-faced idiot like me.” His thumb gently wipes the drops of sadness that had overflowed from your two delicate lakes. “Come on, les’ jus’ talk about this somewhere quiet.”

Arthur gently uses the hand he had on your cheek to wrap it around your shoulders, solid arm gently pushing you up. He then leads you through the door, other members throwing curious gazes at the both of you.

But he doesn’t care. His priority, right now, is your well-being, and some privacy to allow him to finally whisper things in your ears he should have a long time ago. Not in front of everyone. Not with the other men looking at your sparkling eyes, and listening to the change in his voice he knew would crack, his usual intimidating persona crushed into a million pieces with only the sound of your own. Or with the other girls hearing the oh-so-important words he had to say. No. You would be the only one to witness this. 

He had brought you to the barn where the horses were kept. The snow was falling lazily, a few flakes passing through the holes in the dilapidated roof. The place is enveloped in a heavy silence, as if it was muffling every sound coming from the outside.

Once Arthur had closed the big wooden doors behind you and before he could do anything else, you finally burst.

“I shouldn't cry, I’m so sorry Arthur, I just… She looked like an incredible woman, so beautiful a-and distinguished, and me well… I'm just… me.” Your eyes fell to your feet. You like everything was coming out of you all at once and you couldn't contain it anymore.

“Stop it.” 

“How could I ever mean something to you? You've been with her for so long and even proposed to her and… and never fell in love again after her and…”

“Stop it, Y/N!”

Arthur cut your blabbering panic by pulling you against him. He held you so tightly you were almost crushed by his powerful arms, but it felt so good. Like he was holding together all the little pieces of you that had cracked, melting them with his warmth and molding yourself again with it.

“Now you l’sten to me, sweetheart. I don’t want ya to say things like this ever again.”

The sudden use of the pet name soothed your heart immediately. You buried your face into the furred collar of his big winter coat, the hairs tickling your nose. There, you can feel a little bit of his bare skin, your cheek finding shelter against it.

You stopped talking.

You just wanted him to continue to. His deep voice seemed to come directly from the inside of his chest, and you could feel it vibrating before actually hearing it.

“Ya know I’m no… Am no poet or, or good with words like Dutch…” He started, visibly unsure of what he was going to say. He’s relieved he had initiated the hug, this way, with your face in there, you couldn’t see his. The worried expression it was carrying, like a burden. “But lemme tell ya just how much I care about ya. Oh, my sweet girl.” 

This is it. He tries not to but his low tone begins to tremble. It’s so strange. It feels like forever since that happened for the last time.

“Yeah, Mary has been a real’ important part of my life, I won’t lie to ya. But it was so long ago, gorgeous. So long ago.” 

He knows he won’t shed a tear. He never cries. But his hands shake. His vocal cords vibrate in a vulnerable, softer, and higher-pitched quaver. His body tenses, heart as fast as if racing with a million wild horses galloping in the Great Plains. Even if his words couldn’t explain just how much you meant to him, you could have guessed by how you were affecting his entire flesh.

“Ya know what? It’s true. Our story ended badly. I never fell in love again after her.”

You sigh, more tears wetting your face and his blue coat, this truth so hard to swallow.

“Until that morning, when I saw you brushing Boadicea’s mane; your hair all covered in hay, the brightest smile I ever had the chance to witness on that sweet face o’ yours. That day, I knew my stupid foolish heart had done it all over again.”

You let out a single chuckle mixed with tears and emotions, so relieved. Even when you felt like you were at your lowest, he succeeded at making you smile.

“Grimshaw had forced me to groom all the gang’s horses to “get used to camp’s work”. Must have looked terrible.” You remembered with a smile, details of your first encounter with Arthur flooding your mind.

“You looked like a goddamn Angel, honey. T’was like the sun was shining jus’ for ya. Jesus, I knew it was too late for me.”

You pulled back from him just a little, enough for you to look at him in the eyes, but not for him to let go of you. Now that they had found you, his hands, still slightly quivering, refused to let go, their place on your back and behind your head feeling so natural and right. Your eyes behave the same way as them but with his face. He looks so moved that you have to pinch yourself internally to make sure you’re not dreaming this whole thing; never in your life you had seen him like this.

“I love you too, Arthur.” You confessed back to him, fingers cupping his cheeks in a delicate touch.

You had to stand on your tiptoes to reach his face, but his arm helped you, your lips gently discovering themselves, brushing against each other in a soft and shy caress. Even if both your mouths were chapped by the biting cold, it was the most gentle kiss you had shared in your life, a satiny embrace that left you completely dreamy and light-headed.

The snowflakes silently swirl around the both of you, Nature the only witness of your souls melting into each other.

Opening your eyes again after this moment out of time, you're met with the happiest smile Arthur ever had on his face. He looked like and idiot in love, and you were sure you looked exactly the same.

“Please darlin’, don’t ever compare yourself to her ever again. What’s in the past stays there. And I wanna have a future with you.”

Your dreams sprang back straight from your heart to your mind. The visions you had about the both of you were more alive than ever, reinforced by his own needs shared with yours.

“You’re sweet, you’re funny, you’re so smart and stunningly gorgeous. And, you wan’ a proof?” He playfully asks you, taking his hat off his head, a thin layer of snow falling from it.

Turning it over, he carefully pull a piece of paper out, hidden between two leathered segments in the inner part of his hat. His cut and reddened fingers unfold it and he gives it to you, his big smile turning into an embarrassed and sheepish one.

It’s a sketch of you.

You’re mesmerized by the details of it, the blades of hay messily tangled in your hair, the sparkling in your eyes, the exact clothes you were wearing that day. This smile, you’re more than certain he drew it way more beautiful than it really is. Arthur even had added some lines traced from your head to the end of the paper, as if you were the Sun itself and were emitting your own light.

This was impossible this was the same person as you, her beauty was too radiant and fascinating.

But no matter what you thought about yourself, seeing his work curled your lips in the exact same way as yourself on the drawing. With snowflakes replacing the twigs, you had turned into the living recreation of it. Arthur laughed when he noticed, and realized just how much he had loved you and continued to since that morning from a year ago. He bent towards you to put a small kiss on your forehead.

“Arthur it’s… It’s beautiful.” You find it difficult to find another word, speechless once again. 

You also had no idea of how talented at drawing nor attracted to you he was. This day definitely was full of surprises. You chuckled fondly before taking a last look at your portrait and giving it back to your lover. But Arthur’s large palm wrapped around your hand.

“No, please, keep it. This way, you’ll always remember how you look through my eyes.”

More tears threaten to escape your own, even though those were a direct extract from the immeasurable happiness you were experiencing.

“And... Now that I don’t have to hide myself while sketching ya, I’m going to draw lots of new ones.”

tagging: @a-court-of-valkyries Thank you for reading all of this! Also, I didn't know this was a thing but if ever you want to be tagged in my works too, let me know! It would be my pleasure.

[darknight3904]

All Too Well

Joel Miller x Fem!Reader

Summary: As tranquility settles over your life, you wrestle with your feelings for Joel.

Warnings: Langauge, Joel's not-so-secret porn magazine stash.

Word Count: 2k

Previous Part / Series Masterlist / Main Masterlist

June 2024

Peace. It was something so rare in this post-apocalyptic world you lived in now. Despite its rarity, it is something you experience regularly now.

Your days had become calm and almost uneventful. It'd been nearly a month since Adam had shown up in Jackson and Joel had killed The Walrus for you. Whoever The Walrus had as allies in Kansas never showed up. There were round-the-clock patrols still going but Tommy and Joel had both told you many times that they weren't going to show.

Despite the inherent peace, you were still on edge. You knew Adam was dead, you had watched Joel drag his body off into the woods. The Walrus had been tortured and killed yet here you were, still scared that they might appear and rip you away from Jackson in the middle of the night.

These fears had landed where you were now. Instead of staying in your own home like the grown adult you were supposed to be, you had taken up residence on Joel's couch. The past three nights had been spent tossing and turning on the soft cushions. You weren't sure what it was, perhaps fear, or maybe just general loneliness but you found yourself, lying beside him in his bed.

There is a full moon tonight, it shines through the curtains and illuminates the room. The soft creak of the floorboards under your feet alerts him to your presence.

"What's wrong?" He mumbles, barely awake

"I'm cold." You whisper from his doorway.

It's a half-baked excuse, both of you know it's a lie. It's happened three times now, you tiptoe upstairs from the couch and make up some excuse to wiggle your way into his bed.

"Let's get you warmed up then."

The duvet shifts and you shuffle across the room to slip under the covers. You turn on your side to face him, your head resting on his pillow.

"Warm?"

"Mmhm."

"Good."

Joel had yet to address this newfound closeness. You weren't sure what to make of it, all you knew was that you felt safer under his covers listening to his snores.

Luck was never something you could claim to be blessed with. Even at the end of the world, you were unlucky. Todays bad luck once again manifested in the form of the mouth of one spitfired teenage girl.

"So, are you and Joel y'know, together?"

The question has you nearly choking on the glass of water you were sipping on. Ellie was standing across from you in the kitchen, still in her pajamas asking the most embarrassing questions possible.

Joel sighs and plugs his coffee maker in, pressing the start button before turning around to look at Ellie.

"Quit askin' questions and go brush your teeth."

Ellie's footsteps disappear upstairs as she mumbles something under her breath. Joel passes you a steaming mug of coffee before speaking again,

"Got a late-night patrol tonight."

You nod. Late-night patrols meant that he'd be returning in the early hours of the morning, there was no point in waiting up for him to beckon you under the warm duvet of his bed.

"I'm working in the Greenhouse later, going to visit Maria and baby Cailey first."

Joel nods, "I can come by later. You're harvesting potatoes today right?"

"Yeah," You say, "But don't you wanna relax today? We'll have to dig all the plants up, harvest, and then reseed them."

Joel's mouth quirks up into a small smile, "I can think of nothin' more relaxing than digging in the dirt with you."

You roll your eyes and turn away to dig in the fridge for eggs, hiding your blush behind the door as you push a jar of jam out of the way. He was so flirtatious these days, it drove you crazy.

"I don't know what I should do..." You sigh

Baby Cailey coos at his mother as she places him into a small pack n' play someone had hunted down.

"Why not just embrace it?"

Maria made it seem so simple. Embracing the way Joel would flirt with you, it was easier said than done. Truthfully, you were scared. Scratch that you were fucking terrified. You were terrified that it would all be snatched away from you in the middle of the night. Terrified that Adam would rise from his grave in the forest and break into Joel's home in the middle of the night. You were terrified of Joel getting cold feet the way he did twenty some years ago.

"You're insane." You point out, leaning back into her sofa.

She shakes her head in disbelief, "I get it, you're scared."

God, it's like she was in your mind reading your thoughts.

"Look, when Tommy first started asking me out I was scared too. Hell, I avoided him for nearly half a year just because I was scared."

A smile spreads across your face. You remember those days, Tommy had been so distraught whenever Maria would magically disappear from the Tipsy Bison after he tried to approach her.

"We can't let fear rule our lives. In a world like this, we have to live life to the fullest." She says

"And you think by fawning over Joel, I'm living my life to the fullest?" You question

"I do, but don't you already do that?"

You scoff and avoid Maria's smug gaze, she certainly thought she had everything all figured out over there.

"Two weeks ago, you told me you loved his biceps." Maria points out

"I was drunk." You dismiss her comment with a wave of your hand

"Off one glass of wine? Didn't know you were such a lightweight." She smiles

"Yeah, well. I guess I'm getting old." You lie, you definitely weren't drunk.

That had been the day Joel had pushed the couch across the living room and then lifted the TV into a new corner so there was less of a glare when Ellie watched her movies during the daytime. Your jaw nearly hit the floor as you watched from your spot at the kitchen table. God the muscles on that man had to be illegal.

"I don't like Joel. Didn't like him when Tommy first told me about him, still don't really like him now." Maria admits

"Yet you're pushing us together?" You look at her like she's lost it.

"I want to see you happy though." She says earnestly, "Plus, he's my brother-in-law so I feel like that gives me some moral obligation to see that he's living a good life."

You groan and fiddle with a loose thread on the couch cushions.

"It also helps that you act all, well, giddy when he's around."

"I do not!" You say

"Sure you do. It's like your normal personality leaves the room and you're laughing and teasing Joel like you two are high school sweethearts."

You scoff and turn your attention to Cailey who smiles at you when you peer over the edge of the pack n' play. She's got big brown eyes and tufts of dark curly hair atop her head. You're pretty sure Maria had created her all on her own since it looked like Tommy's genes had just given up in the womb.

"She's got your eyes." You point out, turning the topic of conversation.

Maria smiles at the way you observe her baby, "She's got my everything. Tommy was hoping she'd look a bit like him."

"Why? He wants to curse a baby with a life of torture?" You tease

Maria laughs and gently kicks your shin as punishment for bad-mouthing her husband.

"Is she sleeping through the night yet?" You ask.

You don't know much about babies, most of your knowledge came from high school health class when an old teacher named Mr. Klein had droned on and on about how teen pregnancy was the devil reincarnate and that you'd all die if you didn't use condoms.

"If she was, you think I'd look like this?" Maria gestures to her mismatched outfit and unbrushed hair. Her eyes look a bit dull as she stares down at her baby. Truthfully though, even with her odd clothes and sleepless face, Maria looks good.

"I think you look fine." You muse, "Pretty even."

Maria scoffs, "Now you sound like Tommy."

"Well, at least he's right about something."

The greenhouse is humid today. You kneel in the dirt and pull at the tops of the potato plants, ready to reveal the harvest.

"Look at that view!"

You groan and sit back on your knees, your partner for the day is Janet, an older woman who seems to never keep her mouth shut. Her choppy white gray hairs glimmer in the sunlight as she checks the tomato plants. She has to be at least in her mid-70s yet she moved better than you some days.

"Knock it off." You huff in embarrassment

"I'm not the one with those jeans on." She muses, "You said Joel is coming by soon? You're gonna give him a heart attack like that!"

"You're so weird." You sigh plopping a nice-sized potato into the basket on your left

"I know what men think." Janet points to her temple and then to your ass, "Joel is going to lose his-"

You toss a handful of soil at her when the greenhouse door opens, and Joel steps in.

Janet sends you a sly wink as you and Joel kneel in the dirt together, unrooting potatoes beside each other. She also lewdly picks up an eggplant and shakes it in the air when Joel lifts the heavy basket with ease to dump it into a wheelbarrow. You roll your eyes, how has your life become like this?

After nearly three hours of digging in the dirt, you and Joel are on the way back to his home. Your shoulder brushes his and a tingle shoots down your spine. Even now, covered in dirt and stinking of sweat Joel Miller is devastatingly beautiful.

"You sure you're not too tired for patrol tonight?" You ask shyly

"I'll be fine." Joel assures you, "I wanted to give Ellie the house, she and her friend Dina are havin' some Star Wars marathon today."

You nod. You like Dina, she's nice and helps you clean the dishes whenever Ellie invites her over for dinner. Ellie seems to be more content talking the girl's ears off instead of actually scraping the leftovers into Tupperware bins.

"There's nothing worse than an adult hanging around a teenage girl hangout." You smile and elbow Joel's side gently

Joel looks over at you, taking in the wide grin on your dirt-smudged face. You sound like you're alluding to Ellie and Dina getting into trouble together.

"Well, now you're makin' me nervous." He huffs

"You should be." You tease, "You don't even wanna know what my friends and I were discussing at that age."

Joel shakes his head in disapproval, "Don't do that."

"Do what?" You laugh

"Tease me. Ellie isn't at home gigglin' over some...TigerBeat magazine filled with stupid pictures of Ralph Macchio or somethin'. "

"Or is she?" You over-exaggerate your gasp, "What if she got into your porn stash?"

You'd found it one day while Joel was off repairing something at the bar. Under his bed in a shoebox, you had pulled it out, wanting to sweep the dust bunnies from under the bedframe. And, as they say, curiosity killed the cat, before you knew it you were opening the shoebox to reveal three old porn magazines that had to have been from the 80s and 90s.

You had picked one of them up, it was clearly well-loved and flipped through it. Most of it was rather tame, at least compared to some of the stuff that had been on the internet before the fall. One dogeared page caught your eye, A man had a woman on top of him, legs on either side of his hips as she rode him. You couldn't help but notice the remarkable resemblance she bore to you.

"I don't have a porn stash." Joel scoffs, refusing to look at you all of a sudden, yup he was guilty.

"Then what's in the shoebox under your bed?" You ask innocently

Joel's ears have begun to go red as he keeps pace with you, "You're awful, y'know that."

"Don't be a prude." You laugh, "it's natural, Joel."

"Oh is it?" Joel suddenly looks at you, a glint of well, evil in his eye, "That mean you got a stash of your own, baby?"

It's your turn to blush now. Joel had just dubbed a new nickname on you. Baby. Baby. Fuck you liked, no loved the way it sounded coming off his lips. God, it was so him, calling you that.

"No, pervert." You scoff

"You're the one who brought it up, if anything that makes you the pervert." He teases

You huff and cross your arms over your chest, suddenly feeling vulnerable. How'd he turn this into a conversation to tease you? And that new nickname, fuck you wanted to climb right on top of him right here in the middle of Jackson. Instead, you send him a glare,

"You're so annoying."

"Thanks, baby."

Next Part

Ugh, they're so cute, I want to eat them.

My college semester started back up. I'm shaking in my boots and it's only syllabus week :(

Shout out to @heartpatch for inspiring me to introduce the baby nickname.

May I present, what I expect out of TLOU season 2:

Comment to be added to the tag list. This tag list is not chapter by chapter, I carry the tags over to each part.

Tags:

@lunaticgurly  @orcasoul  @snowlycanroc  @freythecrazyfae

@person-005 @greenwitchfromthewoods

@elli3williams @yawnzzzzzzzz @am-3-thyst  @concrete-jungleeee

@cherrypieyourface  @kanyewestest @bambisweethearts

@sarahhxx03 @loveisacowboyyy @amyispxnk @lou-la-lou @dancinglotusbud @superblyspeedydragon @heartpatch

[justasecretflower]

🤍- ouran host club with a Pregnant! S/o

Characters are all older.

Ouran! High school host club

~fluff.

Honey Senpai🍰

- He’s so sweet with you!

- you guys eat cake with each other 24/7

- offers to carry you everywhere if your feet hurt, he’s insanely strong and can lift you up easily.

- gets you all of your cravings.

- lets you hold his bunny when you have mood swings💕

- gets the baby their own bunny before they’re born with the name you picked embroidered on the ear.

- when you cry, he cries.

- you’re crying because you can’t have a craving? So is he, you’re crying because you just saw a video of a baby seal? So is he, you’re crying because you love the baby you haven’t even met yet? So is he, also he’s holding onto the ultrasound with a death grip

- speaks to your belly alllll the time like atp if people are around him they’d think an actual, real adult was speaking to him he’s so engaged in the little conversations with your belly.

“Hmm should we have strawberry or coconut cake first baby…let’s choose both!”

“You know I’ve been so excited to meet you, me and your momma. Look! Here’s a picture of you!” As he shows your belly and ultrasound

“Good morning baby, how are we feeling today?”

“Goodnight baby! Dont give your mommy a hard time this night alright?” He would whisper, kissing your belly goodnight with a bright smile.

- if someone makes you cry or feel insecure about having a big belly he just gives them a look and they run away.

-cries when he sees the tiny baby clothes.

Tamaki Suoh 🌹

- he’s so dramatic 🙄ughhh

- “are your feet tired my love?! You’ve walked 20 minutes already today! Your feet must hurt my baby must be kicking in there ready to rest!”

“Someone get my darling a foot massage and a back massage spa day booked right now please! She must be hurting all over!”

- he’s making sure you don’t move an inch.

- knows more about what you should and should not do pregnant more than you do?

- gets all of your cravings x10. Like, you want some corn? Suddenly, there’s fried corn, corn on the cob, corn off the cob, creamed corn, popcorn, corn and beans, corn on some mashed potatoes. Everywhere, and you best bet they’re the best corn that they could possibly get.

- he finds your bump so cute, you have new maternity pictures every month with a new theme he puts on the wall blown up in size.

- girl dad. Just saying…

- sometimes he just randomly stops his whole charming prince act, gets on his knees and hugs your bump, sighing in contentment.

- spoils the baby rotten before they’re even here.

Kyoya Ootori

-now..you’re not gonna like this but he’s a little disconnected to the child until he meets them irl.

- like, he just finds the kid a tiny bump on his wife’s belly.

-sometimes, you’ll catch him staring at the ultrasound, tracing the outline of the baby carefully.

- he hates getting woken up, but if you’re sick in the middle of the night he’s immediately at your side rubbing your back and asking for some staff to help.

- researches about all of your symptoms, cravings, mood swings, what happens to the body during pregnancy and during the after math in postpartum.

- already has a therapist and a calm down room for you if you get ppd or ppr so that you can simply feel at peace.

-he cares more about you ngl.

“My dear no- you can’t deli meat like that it’s highly risky for salmonella. Put it back now.”

Kaoru Hitachiin

- cries so hard when you found out. Just fell to his knees and started crying.

- he’s more open about his feelings, much softer than his brother, so he’ll talk to the bump and tell you everything he’s feeling, asking in turn how you’re feeling as well and if you need anything.

- very very understanding of your pain.

“I know, I know, you’ll be okay, I understand that it hurts right now though”

“Hey we’ll get through this, what do you need right now?”

When you throw up or are having severe back and feet pains.

- doesn’t let anybody comment or joke about your belly if it makes you insecure. He kisses it and tells you how much he loves you and your belly.

Hikaru Hitachiin

- you’ve never seen him so serious in your entire life.

-it’s like he’s a different person?,.

- he’s extra careful, makes sure you’re protected and feel safe.

-he jokes with you when you feel like you’re in pain or when you’re throwing up to make you feel better.

- finds you absolutely radient when pregnant lemme say..

“It’s so small!” When holding up baby clothes.

- puts his headphones on your belly to have your baby listen to music.

- when you try to do anything that you used to do like play fight or pillow fights he’ll barely even use strength.

“Come on Hikaru you seriously can’t even aim for me anymore?”

“I was! It just went the other way!”

“Hikaru it’s in the bathroom toilet.”

- keeps the ultrasound in his wallet.

Takashi Morinozuka

- 100% your #1 protector

- you’re not lifting a finger near anything that’s easily breakable or that can hurt you.

- one of the times you saw him break the non chalent act is when you first saw the ultrasound. He took a breath in and his eyes lightly lit up

- you’re never on the ground. Like, he’s always carrying you everywhere..

“Mori i can walk you know.”

Mori- “😒…”

- loves to feel the baby kick! He will literally sprint over to you if you say that the baby is kicking

“Mori do you think I’m fat?”

“No.”

“You😭definitely 😭 do😭”

“😟…”

Cuddles, cuddles, cuddles, he cannot get OFF OF YOU!!

- spooning you, he’s big spoon ofc, hugging you from behind, having your legs wrapped around his waist, carrying you bridal style.

Ritsu Kasanoda

-sobbed when he found out you were pregnant

-he’s such a softie like

- he crotchets the baby plushies

- gets the baby blankets, pillows, stuff for their wall, so much stuff, so many toys…

- when he smiles the biggest is when he’s leaning his head on your belly and stroking it gently, talking to the little one inside.

- constantly worried about what’s good or bad for you.

- “hi honey, how’re you feeling today?”

“My precious baby inside of this belly.”

“I’d burn the world for you and I haven’t even met you yet precious baby.”

-his staff is terrified, if they make even the slightest comment about your belly negatively.

-if someone does certainly they’re a rookie because nobody from his syndicate would say that.

- sobs when he goes to ultrasounds with you.

- reads parenting books. Tries to. He can’t focus for that long but when he can he’s reading parenting books.

need requests so bad

Tags

[monalisahyperdrive]

Primarchs and Christmas Classics - christmas songs and festive primarch/legion headcanons.

The final week of the winter semester has run me over so I'm blasting Christmas music to cope & inspire fuzzy warm feelings. This is once again entirely subjective and largely based on my (British, somewhat Catholic) own Christmas experiences. All good fun while I avoid working on these essays. I struggled with some of these so they might be a little off. ⇒ divider by @/cafekitsune

Alpharius & Omegon / Alpha Legion

I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus - The Jackson 5. The most confusing Christmas possible. Don't worry, Alpharius will be home for Christmas! Several dozen of him. You get the distinct feeling that the Alpharius who sat and laughed while playing charades earlier (you lost, badly) is actually not any of the Alphariuses sat at the table for Christmas dinner... but you just can't prove it. Is Omegon there? Of course he is. Which one is he? Good question.

Angron / World Eaters

Lonely This Christmas - Mud. Attempts a quiet peaceful Christmas, fails miserably every year. His sons love him very much, in their own way. He just sort of disappears into his home over the festive period. They come find him anyway. Small groups, well spaced out. They send one or two marines with gifts from a dozen or so every few hours. They don't get invited in, he greets them at the door, often gritting his teeth from the pain. He gets his rest, but he'll never be truly lonely on Christmas. Not anymore.

Corvus Corax / Raven Guard

Santa Claus Is Coming To Town - The Jackson 5. The Raven Guard just sort of... show up to Christmas. Was there even a knock at the door? Well, they're here now. You think. You were sure you just saw Corvus but you've lost him again. The whole thing is a relatively private affair, no real coming and going... as far as you can tell. The Raven Guard present seem to dissipate some time between late afternoon on Christmas Day and the morning of Boxing day. The presents are all freakishly accurate to what was wished for. Don't worry about it.

Ferrus Manus / Iron Hands

Christmas Time (Don't Let the Bells End) - The Darkness. (subject to change) Christmas with Ferrus and the Iron Hands is a rather rudimentary affair. 'For morale', they say. Admittance of actual celebration would be an admittance of weakness. Christmas dinner is served in a mess hall, and largely differentiates itself from the typical nutrient paste with... something that might be mashed potato and the slice of what seems to be the idea of turkey... if turkey was suspiciously nutrient dense and stiff. Presents are largely ignored, as are any decorations beyond the occasional string of lights. Time off is necessary in order to maintain efficiency. They're watching Die Hard for morale. Ferrus is watching along with them... for morale. Shut up.

Fulgrim / Emperor's Children

All I Want for Christmas Is You - Mariah Carey. Of course it's Mariah. The only way it wouldn't be Mariah is if it was Jingle Bell Rock, Mean Girls style. Yes, with the outfit. The Christmas decorations have gone up early and it all matches, right down to the last detail. Think those gorgeous monochrome Christmas trees you see on Pinterest. The table all set for Christmas dinner is both the most meticulously and yet effortlessly breathtaking you've ever seen. If anyone's got festive charger plates, it's the Third. There's singing, there's dancing. There's an elaborate charcuterie board for snacking on on Christmas Eve. Good luck going five minutes without your wine/champagne/juice glass refilling while you're not looking. Matching outfits for the Christmas cards but in an incredible chic way. Probably the classic matching pyjamas approach. Perfection is a must, and Christmas is no excuse.

Horus Lupercal / Luna Wolves & Sons of Horus

Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! - Dean Martin. Cue shit eating grin, singing along, grabbing Lady Lupercal and- oh is that mistletoe up there? He hadn't even noticed. Well since you're already there... might as well? 30k Luna Wolves Horus is leaning full tilt into the Hallmark movie Christmases. The Mournival are even here for Christmas dinner and look they brought presents - isn't that cute? Post Heresy Horus (copium) is still just as meticulous with Christmas but it's a little more... off the rails. Everything is perfect, come sit down for Christmas dinner! Don't worry, he'll do the talking. All of it.

Jaghatai Khan / White Scars

Driving Home for Christmas - Chris Rea. One of the biggest and warmest Christmases, up there with the Salamanders and the Space Wolves. Everyone - and I mean absolutely everyone - is home for Christmas. Don't know anyone's names? Doesn't matter. The driveway is absolutely packed. They're parked out front all down the street, too. The living room barely fits everybody. There's not even nearly enough space for everyone to sit. It's cozy.

Konrad Curze / Night Lords

Wonderful Christmastime - Paul McCartney. Vague lyrics, nonspecific, bang on. It sure is a wonderful Christmastime, just... not what you might be thinking of. Merry Christmas from Nostramo. Please don't call. Sevatar is there. Christmas dinner is... meat, for sure. The fact there's so many Night Lords in the same place not snapping at eachother like a pack of unruly dogs is actually pretty impressive. Don't ask what the wrapping paper is made of. The first rule of Night Lord Christmas...

Leman Russ / Space Wolves

Merry Xmas Everybody - Slade. Primarily inspired by my drunken male relatives stopping everything to sing along and start dancing around the living room. Of course a Space Wolves Christmas would be boozy, it's a celebration isn't it? Feasting and drinking and laughing is the name of the game. All the presents are surprisingly thoughtful. Leman awkwardly hovers in the back while some of the presents are opened and suspiciously vanishes off into the next room with some of the wrapping paper and reemerges with presents wrapped in what he'd scavenged. After that is totally the type to sit by the youngest on the couch and be overly eager to offer his knife for them to use to get into their presents easier. Asleep the second he gets back to the couch post Christmas dinner.

Lion El'Jonson / Dark Angels

Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) - Darlene Love. A man who frankly needs to sit down over the holidays but physically cannot do it. Christmas? Stupid meaningless holiday. You're staying over though right? People are coming for dinner though right? No he's not going to decorate the tree. He's going to stare at you doing it though, and then he'll complain when he has to get up to help you place the star on the top. Acts entirely unbothered by Dark Angels showing up. Would be pacing and staring out the window all day if they didn't.

Lorgar Aurelian / Word Bearers

Mary's Boy Child / Oh My Lord - Boney M. Yeah, you're going to church for the Christmas service. But so is everyone else! And I mean, everyone else. Midnight Mass, Carol service, the whole shebang. Lorgar, however, is absolutely overjoyed! He has several Nativity sets he brings out every year. There's an angel for the top of the tree. He delights in listening to the carollers that come to the door. Has the whole family over for the holiday. Yes, including Kor Phaeron. There's no avoiding it. Picks out a new special ornament each year. Decorating the tree is a family activity that takes hours due to all the reminiscing over all the different ornaments that have been collected over the years and the story that has to be retold after they get carefully unwrapped before they can be hung on the tree. It's sweet, it just takes a while to get done.

Magnus (the Red) / Thousand Sons

I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday - Wizzard. Ah, the bane of my existence at school around Christmastime growing up. The Christmas quiz. If you don't think the Thousand Sons are having the MOST intense Christmas Quiz fighting tooth and nail (intellectually) for those points every year, you may be kidding yourself. Everyone knows exactly who won the year before. And the year before. And the year before that. Need I go on? Magnus himself writes and reads the questions, and it's Magnus who decides whether an answer gets a point or not. Christmas boardgames include Trivial Pursuit, Scrabble, and so on. Scrabble gets heated. The dictionary gets brought out. And a second if the first isn't convincing enough. Every year it's declared to be banned from Christmas. Every year it gets brought out again.

Mortarion / Death Guard

Do They Know It's Christmas? - Band Aid Before Nurgle there is no way in hell Mortarion celebrated. After being taken under Grandfather's metaphorical wing? Oh absolutely. There is nothing Nurgle would delight in more than getting the whole family together. Eat, drink, and be merry! Don't... don't worry about the food, sweetness. Even Typhus has come for dinner, isn't that sweet? Poor tired Mortarion. Best keep him looked after. Not to worry, Grandfather has it all under control!

Perturabo / Iron Warriors

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas - Perry Como, The Fontane Sisters. It's a stupid holiday. What? Of course he's celebrating this year, are you mad? Didn't seem excited for the festive season? Oh he'll show you excited. The lawn, the house, everything is absolutely plastered in decorations. Is this enough Christmas lights? No. No it's not. Hang them on that tree, too. Absolutely has the light up sleigh and reindeer on the roof with the Santa decoration climbing the chimney. Absolute chefzilla in the kitchen cooking Christmas dinner. Best turkey you've ever eaten. Don't worry about the way he'd been fiddling with the oven for the last couple days. In fact, don't even step into the kitchen. He's going to feed his stupid sons who he hates. Spends the rest of the day sat on the couch doing a jigsaw on the coffee table. Don't talk to him, just let him have this.

Roboute Guilliman / Ultramarines

Christmas Wrapping - The Waitresses. Respectfully, I don't think Guilliman - especially 40k Guilliman - would have the energy or time to be particularly festive. Any time off would be spent napping in an armchair in the corner dad style. Do NOT let this man take on any of the Christmas dinner cooking stress, but let him cut the turkey so he can still feel important and valued. He deserves a nice sit down in front of the tv and a glass of Baileys. His sons will handle the rest, and they'll do a damn good job of it, too! Seasons Greetings from Macragge, here is your festive email with an attached picture of Guilliman asleep on the couch in his sweater.

Rogal Dorn / Imperial Fists

Baby It's Cold Outside - Idina Menzel, Michael Bublé. No seriously, baby, it's cold outside, this is Inwit. Dorn's house is the safest possible place to spend Christmas anyway, fortified beyond belief. The Fists show up for Christmas. Sort of. Mostly they come and stand around awkwardly. The most active things get is when Jenga gets brought back out its box - winning is of course a point of pride. Gift favourites are of course, various iterations of building blocks.

Sanguinius / Blood Angels

A Spaceman Came Travelling - Chris de Burgh. Slightly more niche but the one that makes me think of Sanguinius the most. Christmas with the Blood Angels isn't the warmest fuzziest thing around. There's a difference between being revered and truly beloved and Sanguinius knows it like the back of his hand. It's comfortable, it's quiet. Dante is there. The Blood Angels all show up bearing presents on Christmas day. They fawn over him. He speaks to each and every one of them with a smile on his face. Eventually the knocks stop coming and the doorbell stops ringing, and he can collapse onto the couch and relax. He spends the season with his nearest and dearest. He takes a walk after Christmas dinner. He gives up Christmas day to being humble, and he lets himself be selfish on Boxing Day, with several glasses of... something red and some truly terrible Christmas movies.

Vulkan / Salamanders

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year - Andy Williams. And he damn well means it! Christmas with the Salamanders is incredible. Got nowhere to go for the holidays? Now you do. Decorating starts the second December does. The actual event starts bright and early Christmas Eve morning. Vulkan truly comes alive during the holiday - so many loved ones around! Christmas Eve is all movies and food and board games and jokes and stories by the fire. People even sleep over into Boxing Day. He greets each and every one of the people who'd attended personally, waving them off at the door with a big grin on his face. All his sons have Christmas sweaters that match his own. Expect some incredible Christmas cards in the mail with a whole host of posing Salamanders on the front. Oh well since you're all here already... you might as well stay for the New Year? Outstaying your welcome? Don't be silly.

[modedelagauze]

A Weekend's Rest ⋆.ೃ࿔*:･

pairing: Abby Anderson x f!reader summary: Abby and reader prepare for Lev to stay with Abby for the weekend in Seattle cw: Mostly fluff, Almost smut?? (fondling, hickeys), Surgeon! Abby, College Student! Lev (1.9k) Read the extended version on AO3 HERE

Doorbells seemed to only function within the worst of moments. You were stirred awake by its echo down the eggshell interiors of your girlfriend's home. To your surprise, the burly blonde was sound asleep on your chest instead of being away already, gone early for work. She was smiling in her sleep, absentmindedly running her fingers along your bare skin. You brought up a hand to smooth back her hair for a full view of her peaceful face. The moment was short lived as her newly adopted puppy, Alice, pounced onto the messy sheets of your shared bed, quickly burrowing between the two of you and awakening Abby.

“G’morning,” she yawned into the phrase without opening her eyes. Lacking much effort, the girl shifted to slide one arm over the rambunctious creature, whispering soft words of relaxation and the other arm situated comfortably above your head. Shortly after, her eyes fluttered open. “How long have you been awake?” 

Rubbing your eyes, you answered. “Not very long. Heard the doorbell.” 

After placing a quick kiss on your cheek, Abby pushed herself up from the mattress. “Better go see whatever it was.” You watched the blonde from your elbows as she traveled around the bed and out of the bedroom, how her beautifully defined back was highlighted in the morning light, hair mirroring the sway of her walk. Not long after, you got up to brush your teeth, slipping on the matching shorts of the camisole you routinely slept in. Abby appeared to your left in the reflection of the mirror, standing in the door frame holding a large box. “Has your name on it.” 

As you reached for it from her hands she jerked the box out of reach. “Abby!” you squealed, attempting to save the precious goods from her brutal reign “stop that!” She giggled, holding it over her head and shaking the box a bit. “You are so rude!” 

The blonde then slightly learned down, licking her lips “Maybe for a kiss.”

“Fine.” you sighed, leaning into the girl just close enough for her to lower her guard before snatching your newly found valuables and backing away. In search of a knife to cut the box open you headed into the kitchen. 

“Wow.” The blonde sighed dramatically then trudged into the bathroom to complete her morning routine. 

You heard the girl shout from her bedroom before she reappeared in the corner of your vision. “Your cool, awesome, girlfriend performed numerous successful surgeries last night and you won't even give her a kiss?” She began, leaning on the opposite side of the kitchen island where you were prying open the package. “Real cold, (y/n).”

You rolled your eyes, pointing the knife at the girl for dramatics. “This is a limited edition vinyl, with a poster, postcards, and stickers. You don't get it being this dedicated to something.”

Approaching your figure to press a kiss into your shoulder, she laughed. “Did you forget I’m literally a surgeon? It’s my job to be dedicated.”

You shook your head, lying everything out along the counter as it was carefully unwrapped. “Potato-pohtato.”

Abby pulled away from you, staring blankly at your phone screen which was currently playing random tracks from a playlist featuring music from the artist who’s vinyl you had just obtained. “(y/n) this kind of just sounds like robotic noise,” she laughed dryly. She was very much a classic rock girl through and through. It was actually your second date that she’d dragged you along to an Alice Cooper show and you fell in love with her that very night. 

You giggled at her bewilderment, “You don't get it. Wait for the lyrics to come in.” In the meantime you shifted over to the refrigerator which had been overstocked in preparation for the incoming weekend. Back at the grocery, you'd been sure there was no way in hell so much would fit in the kitchen. “Lev should be here around one yeah?”

Abby shuffled over to the kitchen sink, getting started on yesterday’s mess. “Yeah, I'm thinking we could make cabbage pancakes and tempura shrimp for lunch. Think it could be done in time for him.”

You agreed, ripping open a fresh package of shrimp to begin defrosting, followed by setting cabbage and flour on the counter beside it. You sang along to the music, ‘Relax and ease your mind because you work so much.’ you paused, leaving the open bag of flour unattended for a set of fleeting moments. “You know you really should relax, though.” Sighing, you repositioned yourself to lean against the counter, palms flat against the cold marble at your sides. “I think today is the first time in two weeks that you've been at my side when I woke up.”

Abby turned her head to respond, continuing to finish up the last dirty dish in the sink. “And how do you suggest I do that?” 

You padded over to the girl, wrapping your arms around the her from behind. Resting your head on her shoulder, “I'm not quite sure. I just know that I miss you.” Your neurosurgeon girlfriend-Doctor Anderson, you loved teasingly calling her, had been very hard to get a hold of recently. You loved the way her name rolled off of the tongue. She was sexy as hell in uniform too. On the weekends you'd occasionally turn up to drop off lunch for her. Usually you’d only get in maybe a minute of her attention since it was such a demanding job before she’d be off again with a quick ‘Thank you. I Love you.’ before promptly placing a kiss on your lips then rushing off to wherever she was needed next.

She took your left hand into hers, bringing it to her lips for a kiss on the backside. “I missed you too.”

Abby dipped down to dry her hands on a hanging towel from a neighboring cabinet handle. “Your hands are so cold.” she laughed, turning around to finally engulf you in her heat.

“And you’re always so warm.” You shuddered, settling into her comforting hold as she began peppering kisses along your neckline.

“I bet I could warm you up.” She whispered, resting her chin in the crook of your neck as the two of you swayed to the music, which was now a track from Def Leppard. Her low humming was a special magic to your ears. “I love you.” 

“I love you too.” 

Abby sidestepped your figure, bringing the two of you face to face. Her hands landed on either side of your cheeks, bringing you up into hers for a peck. You could feel her smiling against your lips before another kiss. The girl’s sneaky hands had managed to navigate down your face and to your hips. She muttered quietly for you to jump, catching your form effortlessly as your legs wrapped around her waist in simple muscle memory. Your arms snaked around her neck, kissing deeply and engorging yourself on the blonde as if she’d be gone tomorrow. She backed the two of you up against one of the cabinets which acted as a sturdy backing to distribute your weight when one handed toyed with the camisole hanging loosely on your torso. Her lips attacked the skin behind your jaw, earning a labored moan as she tugged at the strap of your top in an attempt to reveal your taunt nipples.

There was a faint scraping noise, not loud enough to mean anything, but it also sounded an awful lot like a door being tinkered with. “I think I heard something.” You whispered, attempting to separate the girl from your skin.

Now taking her tongue past your collarbone, she was smiling into your skin again. She always thought it was cute how you were so attentive to every detail around you. It was the second night after Abby had moved into her new place that the two of you had fallen asleep watching a horror movie and you were awakened by the sound of falling metal in the kitchen. In fear, you shook the heavy sleeper awake to go check it out only to find that Alice had managed to knock a plate and fork onto the floor and was actively licking both items clean of the earlier dinner’s remnants. She refuted, “It's probably a squirrel or something outside.” Then you both realized it was the echo of both locks unclicking in her front door when you heard it swing open. 

“Abby?” a boy’s voice traveled down the long hall. Delicately, Abby dropped you to your feet before you darted into the nearby guest bathroom, taking a quick moment to put yourself together. The reflection before you was a horror beyond description. Abby had left fresh little splotches along your neck, red with freshness, and your hair stuck out wildly from the claw clip it had once neatly been contained by. Choosing to discard the clip, your hair fell to your shoulders and you played with it, fluffing the dark mass to disguise the indiscreet nature of Abby. During this process you listened to the two of them outside.

“Lev! How did you get here so early?” Abby inquired as you heard the swishing of fabric assumed to be the two hugging. 

Lev’s voice was muffled when he spoke. “Jerry swapped it for a standby so I left an hour earlier. It was supposed to be a surprise, but you didn't answer your phone.” 

 After decidedly spending enough time in the bathroom you peeked around the corner, revealing yourself to Lev. Coming into view, his eyes immediately fixed on you and Abby mirrored him before walking over. “Lev, this is (y/n)”

His slightly annoyed expression grew into a grin, obviously attempting to stifle back a laugh. “Oh, now I know why you were nowhere to be found.”

You giggled, and Abby swatted at the boy’s shoulder. “Lev, you did not just say that.”

His eyebrows raised before shrugging at the girl, “She didn’t do that to herself did she?”

Abby nearly gave you whiplash as she snapped her head around for a look at your neck. You raised your hands in protest. “Hey I tried to cover it up.” Which earned a laugh back from Lev and Abby blushed wildly. She couldn't have her little brother knowing her to be such a vulgar person.

Lev could see this embarrassment and nearly doubled over in laughter. “Abby you're, like, thirty. I don't care.”

She gasped loudly before bringing him in for a bit of rough housing. “You’re four years off!” 

Abby had spent countless hours over the span of your relationship talking about her adoptive brother, describing the intricacies of his character, stressing the most important traits and even the obligatory embarrassing stories that every older sister loves to share. Of course you knew who he was, but to finally have this fabled person materialized in front of you was one hell of an experience. It was exciting and also a little nerve wrecking.

Once the two of them were done, Lev made way for your direction. “It’s good to finally meet you though, (y/n). She won’t shut up about you in the group chat.” What you didn’t know was that Lev had been just as interested in meeting you as you were in him, though he was more concerned with if you were good enough for his big sister to be putting so much time into. 

You turned to the tomato of a girl with a grin plastered across your face, “You’ve been telling your family about me?”

Lev interjected, “All the time.”

You expected the incoming weekend to be one to remember.

[lovelytsunoda]

bah humbug! (well, that's too strong) | liam lawson

summary: she really wants to feel the christmas spirit. the only problem? this year, she can't seem to find it.

pairing: liam lawson x female!reader

warnings: inspired loosely by certain bars of 'christmas wrapping' by the waitresses, reader wears glasses! my girl is just a lil' stressed about the holidays

author's note: originally this was supposed to be a totally different fic but i've really been struggling to feel the christmas spirit this year and i think i like this idea much more than my original idea because it feels more authentic :)

“liam, have you seen my glasses? I need them to drive!”

“kitchen counter, babe! and I thought I was driving?”

she poked her head into the kitchen, where Liam was double checking the fridge for the food items they promised they’d contribute to the family christmas dinner. one apple pie, one tray of lemon potatoes ready to go into the oven.

“I thought I could drive back. that way you can have a few beers with my dad.” she suggested, grabbing her glasses case from the counter before pressing a quick kiss to liam’s lips.

quick as a flash she was gone again, off to the christmas tree to run inventory on her family gifts.

“hang on, hang on.” liam groaned, grabbing her hand. “I thought we’d stay over this year. this way, I can have a few beers, and you don’t have to drive at night. "

he knew his misspoke when he saw the panic in her eyes. all he had tried to do was lessen the stress, but he feared he may have just increased it.

you see, y/n loved christmas, but this year the holiday had caused her nothing but stress. between changed plans, cooking failures and the pressure she was under at work, all she had been able to manage this year was a few fleeting moments of christmas cheer instead of the monthlong joy she was used to. this year, she couldn't even force it.

"okay, we can revisit it later. i know you love your family, but i also know they can be a lot." liam said, his voice soft as he ran his thumb over her pulse. "everything is already by the door. i've got it covered, and all you need to do today is relax."

she smiled weakly, eyes pricking with tears as she thought about how kind and gentle her boy was being. "thank you. that's really thoughtful."

"anything you need, and i'm your man." he winked, pulling her in for a hug. she nestled underneath his chin, breathing in the cologne he was wearing and feeling herself relax under his touch.

they hit the road soon after, with liam's warm hand resting reassuringly on her thigh, just under the hem of her black dress. the auckland sun was so bright that she had the sun visor in her boyfriend's honda down in front of her eyes as he merged onto the freeway.

they were listening to christmas music, but it was the calming and folksy kind that she liked, and not the garish and in your face kind on the radio.

she felt totally at peace, singing quietly along to liam gallgher's 'all you're dreaming of', running her fingertips along liam's smooth knuckles.

"you know i love you, right?" she said softly, turning to look at his side profile. he was gorgeous all the time, but specifically when he drove. he had a pair of ray-ban's perched on his nose, his white collared shirt pushed up over his elbows. she could see the veins in his arms as he switched gears, and it made her run hot.

liam looked over at her, keeping the corner of his eyes trained on the freeway. "of course. and you know i love you, don't you?"

"always." she smiled, bringing his knuckles to her lips and kissing them softly.

her parents' house was a mess of soul music and cooking, the smells of stuffing, gingerbread and melted butter enveloping her like a comforting hug as she walked over the threshold, liam's arm draped over her waist to pull her close. her nephew was running around the kitchen with his nerf gun, her sister's border collie barking at her reflection in the mirrored christmas ornaments.

it was chaotic and occasionally stressful, but being here today brought her immense peace. she went around the living room, saying her hellos before helping herself to a mug of hot chocolate, and a beer for liam.

liam took both drinks from her, wordlessly placing them on a side table before pulling her in for a dance. she giggled shyly, resisitng the urge to hide her face as her lover gently swayed their bodies to rod stewart and dolly parton, who were crooning baby its cold outside in the background.

she rested her head on liam's shoulder, relaxing into his hold. when the song ended, they were still rocking side to side, too wrapped up in each other to notice until the dog began to bark at them, and her cousins started clapping.

liam pecked her on the forehead before the pair settled in on the leather couch to watch everybody open presents. of course, the little kids went first, her two nephews overjoyed with their new marvel toys.

when it was her turn, her m other passed her a box decorated in floral scrapbooking paper, a golden bow tied around it. she opened the box, pulling out a crisp white album with a white lace bow on the front. she flipped through it, liam's arms around her waist and his chin on her shoulder as he looked with her at the pages upon pages of pressed photos and card cutouts.

"mum, is this every picture i've ever sent you of me and liam?"

her mom smiled. "and a few that your father and i took. i figured you could show it to your kids one day."

"that's really sweet, mrs. y/l/n." liam smiled, tenderly and sincerely. "it's beautiful."

the book opened with the first picture that yn had ever sent her parents of her and liam. they were sitting next to each other at a steakhouse in auckland, and liam was looking at her with such a lovestruck expression in his eyes that she thought she would melt.

it was the first time anybody had ever looked at her like that.

later that night, after dinner and dessert and her cousin's drunken toast, she was sitting outside on the patio, watching the sun set over the water. she had a wine colored cardigan over her dress, and a border collie curled up in her lap. one of her airpods was in, playing some music that was decidedly un-christmassy, but was helping her decompress from the stress of the day, the week and the year.

liam knocked against the open patio door, waiting for her to turn around. "hey, i'm looking for the most beautiful girl at this party? i think she's wearing a sexy little black dress and ankle boots, but i can't seem to find her."

she smiled over at him, getting out of her chair. the dog in her lap bounded over to liam, jumping up on her hind legs and trying to get him to scratch her behind the ears. "just needed a minute to myself. care to join me?"

"of course."

liam sat down in the wicker chair she had just vacated, humming contentedly as she settled in his lap. he pulled her warm body against his, keeping her safe and close by. he dotted kisses along her shoulder blade as they sat there quietly, watching the sun go down and enjoying each other's company.

"we can still stay over, if you want. my dad will probably make us leave the door open, though."

"are you sure? i've only had one beer, i can drive us home." liam asked gently, thumb rubbing circles over her skin. "if your social battery is dead, i don't think we should push it."

she looked back at him, a smile on her face. "yeah, i'm sure. they may be nuts, but they're my family and i love them. besides, jake is taking the kids back home tonight, so it will be quieter come eight thirty."

"i love those little dudes."

"i can tell. you still have a nerf dart stuck to your shoulder."

liam frowned, watching as she reached over his back to unstick the suction cup. "how did that get there?"

"my nephew is a menace, that's how." she laughed before kissing him. "merry christmas, liam."

"merry christmas, pretty girl." liam beamed, kissing her cheek. "but we might want to stay out here a little longer. your cousin got the karaoke machine out and your mom is trying to get me to sing crocodile rock with her."

[wolfiesmoon]

The TWST boys and their number 1 princess

reader is fem! and is a bit of a bratty princess typa girl😌

i already wrote this on my haikyuu blog a bit back but somehow the song world is mine fits with like every character ever (defo reccomend listening to the song while reading)

seriously it's so fun imagining the song with different characters

Characters featured: Silver, Leona, Riddle, Jack

₊˚⊹♡ Silver

"Siiilver!~ Where aaaare you?" you called out to him in the courtyard. Lilia told you he would be there so you're beginning your search, well, there.

Why you're looking for Silver in the first place? To hold his hand, of course. None of the subtler methods have worked so far, much to your chagrin.

Holding his hand is the first step to making him your prince, you see. You've spent countless nights fantasizing about him kneeling down and kissing your hand while singing praises about your endless beauty.

Oh, how exciting it is to see the future play out in front of your eyes! You even got endorsement from Lilia for the wedding!

You eventually found him laying in the green grass, peacefully asleep. He really does sleep a lot, huh? You just can't get enough of his face, especially when it's so relaxed and at peace.

Wait... now that you think about it, in a lot of fairytales where princesses are asleep, their problem is solved by true love's kiss. Maybe his issue can be solved by it too....

Forget holding hands, you have a curse to break (atleast you assume it's a curse, since Lilia has told you he can't control it at all)! And being the top princess, you can break it, of course!

You kneel down next to him, quickly checking your breath. Probably smells fine. It's now or never!

As you lean in, his eyes gently open and you immediately jump back, pretending you weren't just about to kiss him. Out of all the times he had to wake up, it was now... You were this close!

"Ugh... I fell asleep again...?" Silver seemed to be bothered, like he always is when he wakes up.

"You did! And I was kind enough to wake you up! You should be glad I happened to stumble upon you!" you tried your best to look unbothered and collected. Silver pouted slightly at your tone.

You got up, placing one hand on your knee and extending the other towards him to help him get up. He silently took it, getting up with your help. "Thank you." he said curtly, expression softening at your happy little grin.

Wait... He just held your hand for a moment there! He really did!!!

The wedding dress! You have to pick out a wedding dress, as soon as possible!

₊˚⊹♡ Leona Kingscholar

"Hmph! Won't you just say something already?!" For some reason, he looked nervous when he heard the anger in your voice. His eyebrows creased in worry for a moment before returning to their normal resting position. He's definitely not asleep then.

You finally got fed up with the lack of acknowledgement from Leona. Practically everyone but him complimented you on your outfit today.

You even dressed up all pretty just to impress him and get him to notice your outstanding appearance. Not that you need pretty clothes to impress. Any guy would be begging at your feet even when you're in your at-home shirt and your old worn out shorts.

Leona should consider himself lucky in that regard. You've fallen for him. He has to act fast or you'll be swept away by a much more noble prince before he can place a ring on your finger.

"Hmmm...? What are you yapping on about?" Leona opened one of his eyes, acting like he has no idea what you mean. He definitely noticed the outfit. He's just choosing not to mention it.

"The dress! You're supposed to mention it!" you stomped your foot on the ground, annoyed with him.

"Oh, I don't really care. It doesn't matter if you're wearin' the finest silk or a potato sack when you're a pain in the ass anyways." he closed his eyes again, sighing with annoyance.

"Ugh! You know what? I don't care about you anymore! I'll go find a guy who can appreciate me properly!"

You were totally bluffing, but you might actually start considering it soon if he keeps acting so annoyed around you.

A great princess knows when to give up, too. Unreciprocated love brings tears, and tears ruin cute makeup.

As you turned on your heels to stomp off to Vil for more makeup advice, you felt your wrist being grabbed roughly.

"Stay here. Just stay quiet and you can stay." He squeezed your wrist, his face looking like the very definition of annoyance and... jealousy?

This is certainly a turn of events. "Fine, I'll stay." You huff. "But ONLY if you say I'm pretty in my dress." You smile smugly, watching him sigh and furrow his brows.

"You look... beautiful." He said it as if he was forced to, but somehow you could sense some truth behind those words.

You never asked him to call you beautiful after all, he definitely could have gotten away with a three-quarter hearted 'you look pretty in that dress'.

₊˚⊹♡ Riddle Rosehearts

"Hiiiii, Riddle!~ Hi Silver, hi Sebek." You greeted Riddle cheerily, treating the other two Equestrian club members like an afterthought. Riddle is much cuter in comparison, after all.

You're here for a poetically romantic reason. You see, ever since you learned that Riddle knows how to ride a horse, a certain fantasy has been visiting you in your dreams every night. Ideally, you wish he had a princely white horse, but you suppose a brown one can fulfill its duty well enough. The fantasy of him taking you on a romantic horse ride is the same no matter what his horse looks like.

Which speaking of, you visit the Equestrian club every day so you can convince Riddle to let you ride his horse, to make your dream a reality. So far, no luck. Actually, you've been trying to get closer to Riddle in general recently.

He isn't the most receptive to your flirting attempts but he makes adorable faces of anger when Cater or Trey tease him about you. Truly, a prince deserving of your attention.

"Hello. Have you come to watch us again?" Riddle asked with no particular emotion behind his voice. Surely, he knew what was coming by now. No need to ask such foolish questions.

"No, I came to ride your horse with you. You should know that by now." You are equally calm and collected in your own request. You try to put on your most cute, charming smile to lure him in.

You have been getting close to Vorpal, since you knew some horses are untrusting of unfamiliar riders. You researched every known piece of horse-related literature you could get your hands on in the library just to impress Riddle with horse facts. You're very prepared.

"You..." Riddle sighed.

"Just let her." Silver placed a hand on Riddle's shoulder, probably getting a little sick of your nagging too.

"...Fine, if I must." Riddle said after a short pause and you damn near passed out from excitement right then and there.

"As you should. I cannot believe you made me wait this long." You kept it casual on the outside, not wanting to let your excitement show too much.

Once you were properly sat on the horse with Riddle behind you, you felt like you achieved something great. You still almost can't believe how many refusals it took for this to happen. But a princess always gets what she wants in the end.

"Just don't be tense. Horses can sense that and it puts them in distress." He instructed. When you turned back and smiled cheekily at him, you noticed his cheeks were pink.

"What is it, my prince?" you gave him puppy eyes.

"D-Do not call me that, or look at me like that. It's distracting." His face got even redder. Yikes, even Vorpal can sense that he's panicking right now.

₊˚⊹♡ Jack Howl

"Get me food. Something sweet." You crossed your arms, raising your chin smugly. This is a non-negotiable matter.

"I don't think I'm indebted to you right now." that was his gentler way of saying he's not doing it. Why he doesn't just straight up say "no" to you is a mystery. Perhaps he knows the proper way to respect a princess such as yourself.

You sighed in annoyance. Seems you have to pick up the charm.

"But Jaaaaack, I'm just so hungry!~ And I can't run around in my pretty heels..." you put on your best puppy dog eyes. Surely, you can convince your future prince to do a simple favour for you.

Future prince...

The fact that wolf beastmen have one partner for life has been keeping you up at night, in both a good way and bad way. That means once you get him hooked, he's there for life, BUT! He can easily get stolen away by another and then you lose all your chances.

Truly, a challenge befitting of someone like you. That's why you're hanging around him so much.

"You know, you make it really hard for me to say no sometimes." Jack scratches the back of his head. "Doesn't mean you succeeded this time, though." he smirks slightly at you.

You would squeal (internally) over his smirk if you didn't feel slightly dissapointed right now. Oh well, you suppose you can't demand everything from your future prince. He is your equal, after all.

Upon seeing your slightly sad face, something bubbled up within him. It doesn't look right.

"I'll go get it. Do you want anything in particular?" he got up suddenly.

"Huh? Jack, you don't have to. I changed my mind." He felt a strange sense of unease to see you acting so... gently. It wasn't a bad thing neccesarily, it just felt wrong. And besides, you'd never 'change your mind' about sweets. He knows you enough to know that.

"I'll still do it.... Not because I feel bad, though. Don't get the wrong idea." he huffed, turning away before you could notice the slight pink dusting his cheeks.

[woso-story]

Lake Day

Lena Oberdorf x Reader

The morning sunlight seeped through the curtains as you stretched out in bed, the soft hum of Lena in the kitchen letting you know she was already awake. Today was a rare off-day, and the two of you had made plans to spend it with some teammates by a nearby lake. You couldn't have asked for a better way to unwind.

Lena appeared at the doorway with a bright smile, holding two cups of coffee. “Morning, sleepyhead. Ready for our day?”

“Always,” you replied, taking the cup and leaning up for a quick kiss. Three years into your relationship, and she still made your heart skip a beat. You took a moment to just admire her as she leaned against the doorway, her hair slightly messy from sleep and her eyes sparkling with excitement.

---

By the time you finished packing the cooler and grabbing the blankets, Lena had the car ready to go. She took the wheel, humming softly to the music playing from the radio. The drive was relaxing, the kind where silence didn’t feel awkward. Instead, it was comfortable, punctuated by moments where Lena’s hand would reach over to rest on your knee or you’d glance her way to find her already looking at you with a soft smile.

Soon, you pulled up in front of Lea’s house, where she and Tuva were waiting outside, both grinning as they hopped into the car.

“Lake day, here we come!” Lea cheered, her excitement infectious. Tuva, sitting in the back with you, leaned forward to share a story about a prank she had played on Georgia during training. The drive was smooth, filled with laughter and playful banter. Before you knew it, you arrived at the beachside, where Klara, her boyfriend Simeon, and Sydney were already set up with blankets and snacks.

“Took you long enough!” Klara teased as she waved you over.

The setup was picturesque—a cozy collection of blankets under a few trees for shade, snacks laid out in the center, and the lake glistening just a few steps away. Caro rode up on her bike shortly after, her energy as vibrant as ever, and Giulia arrived hand-in-hand with her boyfriend, Constantin. The group’s energy was light and cheerful, and soon everyone was chatting, laughing, and soaking up the sun.

As the boys headed off to swim, you and the girls sprawled out on the blankets, enjoying the warm sunshine. Lena, however, was never one to sit still for long. She poked your side, interrupting your peaceful moment.

“What do you want?” you asked, opening one eye to see her grinning at you.

“Come swim with me?” she asked, her voice almost pleading.

You shook your head, laughing softly. “Nope. Ask Lea. She’ll definitely go with you.”

Lena’s grin turned mischievous. “You’ll regret this,” she said before turning to Lea and whispering something. You didn’t bother listening in, figuring they were plotting something harmless.

---

Not even ten minutes later, your peaceful slumber was rudely interrupted. With a sudden yelp, you found yourself being lifted off the ground.

“Lena!” you screamed, struggling as she threw you over her shoulder like a sack of potatoes. She was laughing uncontrollably, sprinting toward the lake. Before you could protest further, you were plunged into the cool water. When you surfaced, sputtering and laughing, Lena stood there, her grin impossibly wide.

“You’re impossible,” you said, splashing water at her. She laughed, dodging your attempts and pulling you into a hug. Any frustration melted away at the sight of her happiness.

“You weren’t going to get away with ignoring me,” she teased, her wet hair sticking to her face.

It wasn’t long before the other girls joined you in the water, everyone splashing around and enjoying the refreshing dip. The lake was the perfect temperature, cool enough to be refreshing but not freezing. You floated for a while, holding Lena’s hand as the two of you talked about everything and nothing, the world around you fading away.

---

When you returned to the shore, you all gathered for a picnic, sharing the food everyone had brought. Klara’s brownies were a hit, and Giulia’s fruit salad was gone in no time. The atmosphere was perfect, filled with smiles and lighthearted chatter. Lena kept stealing bites from your plate, her cheeky grin making it impossible for you to be annoyed.

Later that afternoon, someone suggested heading to the nearby volleyball court. Teams were quickly formed, and you and Lena found yourselves on opposing sides. The competitive streak in both of you flared up immediately. Every point was hard-fought, with neither of you willing to give an inch. Sydney proved to be an excellent teammate, her spikes impossible to block.

---

In the end, your team clinched the win, and you couldn’t contain your excitement. Jumping into Tuva’s arms, you laughed as she spun you around.

“Maybe you should be with a winner instead,” Tuva teased loudly, kissing your cheek as she set you down. You laughed, catching Lena’s reaction out of the corner of your eye.

“Excuse me,” Lena said, walking over with an exaggerated pout. “Tuva, hands off my girlfriend.”

Tuva grinned, unbothered. “Maybe she wants to upgrade,” she quipped, winking at you.

“Maybe I do,” you added, playing along as you grinned at Lena. She gasped, placing a hand over her heart in mock offense.

“Fine,” Lena declared, turning dramatically. “I’ll just find someone new.” Spotting Lea, she called out, “Schüller! You’re my new girlfriend now.”

Lea approached, utterly confused. “What?”

“Y/N replaced me with Tuva, so now you’re my girlfriend,” Lena explained, draping an arm around Lea’s shoulders. Lea blinked, processing, before shaking her head.

“Congrats, you two,” Lea said dryly before turning to Lena. “But I’m not interested. Good luck with that.” And with that, she walked away, leaving Lena looking even more offended.

You and Tuva burst into laughter, and soon even Lena was chuckling. Back on your blanket, Lena still had a playful pout on her face, but after you kissed her repeatedly, she couldn’t help but smile again.

---

That evening, as you lay in bed together, you turned to her. “Today was perfect. We should do this more often.”

Lena nodded, her arm draped around you. “Agreed. But you and Tuva really need to stop this flirting thing. I’m serious,” she said, though her grin betrayed her.

You laughed, knowing full well that Tuva’s flirty attitude extended to everyone. “Don’t worry. You’re the only one I want.”

Satisfied, Lena kissed you goodnight. Moments later, the two of you drifted off to sleep, content and happy in each other’s arms.

[suicidalt33n]

LAZY DAYS | JJ MAYBANK

---

The salty breeze drifted lazily through the open window of John B's living room, carrying with it the distant hum of crashing waves. The old couch, though a little worse for wear, was the perfect spot for JJ and Y/N to spend their rare lazy day.

JJ had one arm draped around Y/N’s shoulders, holding her close against his chest. His free hand toyed absentmindedly with a strand of her hair. Y/N's head rested against him, her eyes half-closed as she traced small patterns on his tanned arm with her fingers.

"You know," JJ began, breaking the comfortable silence, "if I had to pick one thing to do for the rest of my life, it'd be this."

"Cuddling on John B's couch?" Y/N teased, a soft smile tugging at her lips.

"Yeah," he grinned, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. "I mean, look at me. I've got the prettiest girl in the Outer Banks snuggled up to me. Why would I ever need anything else?"

Y/N laughed softly and turned her head to look up at him. "You're ridiculous."

"And you're beautiful," he shot back without hesitation, his blue eyes twinkling mischievously.

She shook her head, fighting the blush creeping up her cheeks, and turned back toward the window. The afternoon sun filtered through the trees outside, casting golden streaks of light across the room. The sound of Sarah and Pope laughing faintly echoed from somewhere down the dock, but for JJ and Y/N, the rest of the world felt far away.

"You hungry?" Y/N asked after a moment, her stomach softly growling as if to punctuate the question.

JJ smirked. "Always. Wanna raid John B's kitchen and see if we can throw something together? Or, like, we could just eat chips and call it a meal."

Y/N sat up slightly, giving him a mock-serious look. "Chips do not count as a meal, JJ."

"Says who?"

"Says me. And basic nutrition," she quipped, poking his chest playfully.

JJ chuckled and reluctantly let her slip out of his embrace as she stood. "Alright, chef. Lead the way."

Together, they wandered into the tiny kitchen, rifling through the cabinets and fridge. They managed to piece together a half-decent sandwich spread, complete with a side of slightly stale potato chips JJ insisted on including.

"See? Balance," JJ said triumphantly, holding up his sandwich. "Protein, carbs, and... chips for flair."

Y/N rolled her eyes but couldn’t help laughing as they carried their plates back to the couch. They settled in again, sitting cross-legged as they ate. JJ, of course, kept sneaking bites off Y/N’s plate, earning himself swats and exasperated glares that quickly melted into laughter.

When their plates were empty and the sun began to dip lower in the sky, they returned to their previous position—JJ sprawled across the couch with Y/N tucked against him. This time, he had a threadbare blanket draped over them, and his hand found hers beneath it, their fingers intertwining.

"I wish every day could be like this," Y/N murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.

JJ pressed a soft kiss to her temple. "Me too, baby. But hey, lazy days or crazy ones, as long as I’m with you, it’s all good."

Y/N smiled, her heart swelling at his words. The sound of the waves, the warmth of JJ’s arms, and the gentle rhythm of their breathing soon lulled her into a peaceful doze.

And there, in the fading light of the Outer Banks, they stayed—wrapped up in each other, completely content.

○~○~○~○~○~○

[peacheeeliz]

ROCK YOUR BODY

profiles ⤏ ateez

SAN CHOI @ mounteverest : 1999. was peacefully minding his business, when he comes across y/n while she's making her next tiktok. he's a little overwhelmed by her... outgoing behavior (despite what he's like with the boys).

YEOSANG KANG @ sangiemon : 1999. a close friend of y/n after mcing alongside her back in 2021. used to her antics and he's so done with her, but she's still one of his closest friends.

WOOYOUNG JUNG @ sexywooyo : 1999. closest to san, so he just wants the best for him. helps him out when it comes to befriending other idols, so he's more than happy when y/n come into the picture.

YOONA LIM @ sidedish : 1999. yunho's "secret" streamer girlfriend, as well as close friend to the rest of the members. wants nothing more than to help san with his girl troubles.

YUNHO JUNG @ yuyuswag : 1999. a retired streamer who spends all his free time loving his girlfriend. as the taken member, he loves giving advice to san when it comes to y/n.

HONGJOONG KIM @ captainpokjoong : 1998. the stressed father. just found peace after yunho's streaming scandal, but with san's troubles with y/n, he feels he'll never truly feel peace.

SEONGHWA PARK @ hwaseong : 1998. stressed father 2.0. but he still shows nothing but love towards his members (online anyway...), always posting pictures of them as well as his newest figures or lego sets.

MINGI SONG @ princessminki : 1999. yucloudz number one third wheel, basically yoona's child. very active, but usually off in his own little world.

JONGHO CHOI @ littlebear : 2000. barely active now that yunho's not streaming, but still loves to sit back and enjoy the drama of his members' lives.

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[rianavi]

this is me trying…

luke castellan x artemis!daughter!reader

part 1, part 2, part 3

summary; you try to express your feelings to luke’s in your own twisted way

series masterlist

the days that followed were quite peaceful, you trusted luke much more now that you knew he actually cared about you. you guys seemed to be even more inseparable than before, no one ever found one of you without the other.

in his eyes, he noticed that you seemed more trusting toward him, you smiled more and even laughed at some of his terrible jokes. he was quite happy and couldn’t stop smiling.

“what’s got you in such a good mood?” chris sat down across from him during lunch.

luke looked up with a bashful smile on his face. he was playing with his food before, he swore he could see your face in the mud of mashed potatoes. “huh?” he responded when he realized he was being asked a question.

“i said, why are you so happy?” chris retaliates with a joking roll of his eyes. “something happen?”

“no, it’s just-“ he’s cut off when he hears your voice. stretching his neck, he finds you talking to a girl from your cabin in the line to get food. you’re not smiling or laughing - like you did with him - you’re just talking about archery, offering tips to the younger girl next to you. still, it’s enough to get luke’s attention.

he’s grinning sheepishly, eyes blown wide, and cheeks dusted with a crimson shade of pink. when you get your food and turn toward your designated table with luke you smile softly and if it’s even possible, he grins wider.

when you sit down next to him he turns toward you and speaks so quietly so that chris can’t overhear him. “hi,” even the smallest word out of his pretty mouth has you smiling and pink rising up your neck. “hi,” you mimic before turning to look down at your food.

“oh, i see now.” chris speaks up, he’s uncomfortable now, feeling like he’s intruding into your guys’ own private world.

in all honesty, you didn’t even notice that he was there. “what?” luke speaks up after you both stare at him for a minute. “oh nothing,” he rolls his eyes again before clearing his throat and getting up, moving to a different table.

you turn to luke with a confused face “what was that about?” he shrugs and turns back to you, not being able to stand looking away from something so beautiful in his eyes. “i don’t know, it doesn’t matter. how has your day been?” he asks, a smile taking over his harsh features.

you fight off the urge to trace his scar - now scrunched up slightly - with your finger. “it’s been fine, quite boring actually, haven’t had anything to do.”

luke on the other hand fights off the urge to make a dirty joke, you could do me, is what he wanted to say, instead he settles for, “we could go back to your cabin, none of your siblings are ever there anyways.” he suggests.

you agree briefly then stand up and make your way to the fire pit, luke trailing right behind you like a protective dog.

when you guys arrive at your cabin, you find it empty, indifferent from most days, unless it was raining then your siblings would be found outside, and even then it didn’t stop them.

you make your way over to your bed and just before you’re about to sit down, luke comes running and jumps onto the bed. groaning dramatically and spreading his limbs out as far as he could, the twin beds not allowing much room to sprawl out.

you roll your eyes at him, forcing down a smile and poking at the side of his chest. “move over,” he just looks at you and smiles wide ignoring your request.

you shove at his shoulder with very little force, “move over,” you drawl out the r. “there’s room,” he looks away from you, taking your pillow and adjusting it under his head.

before you could overthink it, you flop down onto the bed - well onto luke - and he groans. you’re facing him, arms pulled in between you and his chest, head resting on his arm, while your legs are resting between his.

once you realize how close you are, you attempt to move away from him to create some sort of room. before you can, he turns to face you and wraps his arms around your waist, forcing your head onto his chest.

it’s comfortable like this, you think, and out of instinct you move your head to look at his face. to your surprise he’s already looking at you with wide, twinkling eyes. your faces are so close and the silence becomes overwhelming.

after about a minute of staring at each other, his eyes flicker down to your lips and you stomach twists - something that only happens when you’re with him - and you start to feel hot, as if you want to crawl out of your skin.

he starts to lean in slowly and you can’t help yourself.

the silence, the heat, the close proximity, it all becomes too much and you lean back.

you fall off the bed with a soft thud, your elbow is tucked awkwardly underneath you and it sticks into your side. you groan and close your eyes, not being able to bring yourself to look at luke.

he feels embarrassed, thinking he did something wrong, did him trying to kiss you really make you fall off the bed, is it that bad for you. thoughts of worry flood his mind and he doesn’t even think as he stands up off the bed and scratches behind his neck.

you feel embarrassed, you’re laying on the floor still and too scared to open your eyes. you grimace at the thought of him laughing at you and don’t even realize his paranoid state as he speaks.

he can’t take it anymore and stumbles over his words as he excuses himself. “um- i- i’m gonna go, i- i have something to do.”

the sound of his voice has your eyes opening automatically and panic courses through your body - something you’ve only felt one time before. -

“w-what, why are you-”, you’re cut off as he scrambles away from you and out the cabin, leaving you by yourself, on the floor and alone, again.

[kingconia]

okay um very strange request but... there is a scene in harry potter movie when ron gets hurt and he is all delirious and there is lavanda who stays by his side and tries to say hermione to go away?? but then ron calls for hermione through his sleep? can you do that this scene with malleus and leona separately where reader is pomefiore student who gets hurt and vil is mad at malleus and leona for hurting you somehow or just allowing it to happen so they try to send them away but reader calls for them through sleep?,, preferably fem!reader but tbh your wish (sry for bad English)

A/N: Hello. I've got you.

Also, we are having a 100 followers here! Wow! Maybe, I should do something special to thank you?

MALLEUS DRACONIA & LEONA KINGSCHOLAR WITH FEM!S/O, WHO CALLS THEIR NAME IN A FEVER

Leona Kingscholar. 💛

— He swore it was an accident. He just got distracted by conversation with Ruggie for a few minutes, and then, some Savanaclaw students attacked you with magic, when you simply tried to train with others;

— He instantly ran to your side. Instead of fighting two freshmen—he planned to do that after you will recover—that he left on Ruggie's and Jack's mercy, Leona took you to the healer;

— You were alive, you were fine, but still, it seemed like you were slightly delirious, tossing blankets around, murmuring something, being under some spell;

— And then, of course, your overprotective housewarden appeared. And nothing got better for Leona, when Vil was around.

•

”Get away from her, beast. Or I will ask Hunt to shot you,” Vil hissed, hands gently resting on your forehead, trying to check the temperature. ”I knew that she will get in troubles because of you, I told her so!”

Leona gritted his teeth.

Usually he was more of less fine with Vil Schoenheit being against your relationship—Leona never cared, actually; what his word meant to him, after all?—but right now, wasn't his best moment.

Though, Leona was aware that you were fine, he felt tired and disappointed in himself for not being able to keep you safe. He genuinely panicked when you fell on the ground, painful sounds, escaping your lips. He thought he will lose you.

So, yes, Vil's words were too... Much for now.

He knew he was a trouble. For his family, for his kingdom, for this school, too.

But—

”Seriously,” Vil added, voice sounding still furious, ”leave.”

Leona stared at your pained expression for a while, lips thinning as he eventually gave up. Just as usual. He couldn't find powers to fight for the throne, knowing that no one wished to see him here. And he couldn't find powers to fight for you, knowing he made it worse.

So, Leona turned to the doors.

He almost left, when you weakly murmured something, making both of housewardens to froze on their places.

”Stay...”

His ears perked up a little. Had you heard the conversation? Did you speak to him?

”What is it, my sweet potato?” Vil murmured, almost in the gentlest motherly tone. ”Tell me what is it.”

”Leona... Stay. Leona.”

Vil's worried expression hastily shifted into disappointed one as he raised his eyes on the said beastman. Leona, from the other side, felt how his tail swayed from one side to another, nervously. Even his heartbeat became faster.

Could it be... Ah, of course. Of course, his stupid girl cared about him even now, when she was one in pain.

Finally, Leona's body relaxed.

”What?” He couldn't help but feel a little smug as he mocked Vil. ”I am allowed to stay here now, your highness?”

”...If it is her wish,” Vil answered reluctantly.

But Leona actually didn't care about his permission. He already dragged chair closer to your bed, and took your free hand in his, fingertips brushing your knuckles. And as soon as you felt his touch, your face eased, becoming more peaceful.

Though Vil didn't leave until you woke up, Leona couldn't care less. Very soon he fell asleep himself, keeping your hand in both of his, forehead pressing to the matters.

Despite everything, his sleep was peaceful. How couldn't it be, if Leona knew that you loved him so dearly, after all?

Malleus Draconia. 💚

— You really want this man to suffer, don't you?

— Malleus was always nervous about your safety, waiting for something to happen. But when it actually happened, he couldn't believe that it was under his roof. Oh, how he loathes himself for it;

— Though, the fault laid mostly on Sebek's shoulders, Malleus still blamed himself for not being around when you truly needed him;

— Malleus was definitely panicking on the inside, but outside he acted rationally, taking you to the healer instantly. For some, he even appeared to look cold and indifferent;

— He knew how protective your housewarden was, and though he and Vil never fought personally, he was ready for some aggression from his side. However, he couldn't expect to hear such words...

•

”Listen, Draconia, I understand that our lives mean nothing to you. Our whole lifespan is hardly a quarter of yours, but, perhaps, you can keep at least one person, who for some reason chose you, safe?!”

Malleus was standing in the middle of the room, unmoving. Though, he looked calm and collected, these words hit him exactly on his open wound.

Your lifespan was always one of his main concerns. As he spent time with you, all of his thoughts were busy with counting how much time were left for you to live in this world. And Vil was right, for him, it was nothing. It wasn't enough.

”I am genuinely sorry,” his voice quiet, hardly a whisper. ”I assume, I merely should leave her alone.”

He wasn't sure if he meant for now or generally.

”Yes, you should.” Vil nodded, sitting up on your right side.

Malleus was almost outside, when he heard your voice. It was weak, weaker than usual, and you clearly was still unconscious. Yet, somehow, you managed to croak:

”Malleus.”

He instantly was running to your side.

”Mhm?” Vil stroked your hair tenderly. ”What did you say, my sweet potato?”

”Malleus... Don't go, Malleus.”

Malleus felt his heart shattering in two pieces as he heard you almost pleading for him to stay. He fell on his knees wordlessly, crossing his hands together, almost as if he was praying.

”Once again, I apologise,” he addressed Vil. ”But her wish is my only command.”

And though man in front of him clearly wasn't happy—Malleus could sense that—he gave up, leaving both of you alone, taking from him a promise to message him as soon as you wake up.

And Malleus spent all his night like this, not moving even from an inch, aching to touch your pale hand, but never allowing himself; punishing for being so uncareful with someone he held so dearly in his heart.

Ah, little did he knew that you never blamed him for anything...

[snk-smartpass]

TEXT Vol. 23 Mikasa’s Recipe

The “new Squad Levi” had made a remote home into their base of operations. There they hid Eren and the highly important Historia from a society that had been thrown into chaos as they feared the Titans who appeared within the

Walls, preparing to make their next move.

[Potatoes, carrots, meat, milk, flour, butter.]

[Wash vegetables well and cut into equal-sized pieces]

[Start simmering the toughest vegetables first…]

“Hm? Is this yours, Mikasa?”

“What…?”

As Mikasa performed ab exercises despite the injuries she’d sustained in the earlier battle, Sasha noticed a scrap of paper that had fallen out of her belongings and picked it up.

••••••

Mikasa trained atop the bed where she was supposed to be resting her wounds. Having realized that she had dropped something, she went to pick it up.

“Was that a scrap of paper from your notebook? It looked to me like something that had to do with cooking…”

Just as the ever-hungry Sasha said, it was a note that Mikasa had written carefully about ingredients and instructions for a recipe. She’d kept it in her military notebook, but it must have fallen out as she organized her belongings in order to live life undercover in civilian clothing.

“I don’t want to forget it, so…”

“I didn’t think you’d need to take notes to remember how to cook in the barracks. You had such good grades in our classes.”

“This dish… doesn’t have to do with training…”

On the inside, Mikasa was glad she’d found the note. She put it back in her belongings and recalled the time she learned to cook.

••••••

“Listen, Mikasa. You need to be careful when using a knife. Especially with meat… Yes, very good.”

Mikasa was still young that day. She’d joined Eren’s family for a short while after her parents had been taken from her, and there she lived in peace and quiet.

“What about this flour…?”

“You dissolve it into the butter and milk to thicken the broth. Be careful not to let it burn. Once the vegetables and meat are simmered, you mix it all together.”

Carla, Eren’s mother, was even kind to Mikasa, being every bit the mother to her as she was to Eren. When Mikasa asked to help her in the kitchen, she even taught the girl her specialty.

“This used to be popular at the store I worked at, too. The trick is to stay calm and mix well.”

“…Okay.”

As Mikasa awkwardly did her best to follow directions, the rest of the family gathered around.

“I’m home! Hey, something smells good!”

“Call your father over before you start stealing any bites, Eren.”

“Okay,” said the energetic voice, followed by footsteps running toward the underground office.

The young Mikasa wrote the recipe down when it became impossible for her to ever return to this home again, keeping the memories of her second mother alive .

••••••

Though Mikasa had been reminiscing all on her own, Sasha, who was sharp-eyed only when it came to food, seemed to figure out that when she said the memories had “nothing to do with training,” she meant they were from before the Walls came down.

“Yeah, some of those ingredients are really valuable now. It couldn’t be a recipe you learned in the military.”

“You read it…?”

“Just what I got a glimpse of!”

There was no particular problem in it being read, but it did seem somehow embarrassing. Like Sasha had pointed out, Mikasa understood most things after being told them once, so this seemed unlike her. Regardless of Mikasa’s expectations, though, Sasha smiled.

“There are a ton of recipes that I used to be able to make before the Walls were destroyed that I can’t eat now… Seeing that took me back.”

Sasha’s hometown would have thrown away their traditions because of the Titan invasion. As hunters, they must have had unique dishes.

“It’d be nice if you got to make that sometime. I bet it tastes great if you thought it’s worth writing down.”

“I… don’t know if I could make it well. But… when the person who taught me it made this… it was so…”

“You’re still in here?! The meeting’s about to start.”

“Oh! We’ll be right over!”

Though she was interrupted by Armin, who had come to call them over, she wasn’t bothered. Sasha was right. It would be a joyful thing if the day came when she could make the recipe again and serve it to someone else.

For now, though, it was still a distant dream. Mikasa made sure that her body felt alright before carefully leaving her bed behind.

••••••

SOURCE: Attack on Titan: Short Stories 3

TRANSLATION: Ko Ransom

[seneon]

月光 ݁ ˖ MOONLIGHT ── CHAPTER ONE. THE CRUEL AND LONELY AFTERMATH OF A GREAT WAR BETWEEN NATIONS.

CONTENTS. warnings of dead bodies, slight gore (slicing through the skin), suicide of an enemy party. wc of a thousand.

moonlight series masterlist ₊ 𓂃 chapter two

𝐈𝐓 𝐖𝐀𝐒 𝐃𝐀𝐑𝐊, night-time, right after the evening where the golden hour turns into dusk. the sun has set completely, allowing the moon to rise and take up on its duty for the rest of the night. it was only a few hours ago that humanity officially ended a war between nations. chaos ceased right then with only one victor left standing.

Y/N, nobody but a mere girl who was turned and twisted to be in the war not by choice, but by the lack of freewill. nobody but a daughter of a swordsmith. nobody but a daughter of a lady who sells potatoes and sometimes mooncakes during mid-autumn festival by the streets to make a living. you are nobody... but a doll of the battlefield, simply selected by some soldiers to be made into a weapon on the rough battlefield.

woe to you who survived through the hellish nightmare of watching your comrades get their chest pierced by spears. woe to you who survived the cuts all across your limbs by the blades of the other innocent souls, also forced to be on the battlefield. woe to you who was the only living being standing amongst puddles and mountains of corpses. and woe to you, for you had to lay a finger on your last standing enemy who eventually unalived himself for the sake of surrendering.

you still remembered the scene of the man standing in front of you, crying his eyes out and begging you to kill him. as the last person standing, shouldn't there already be some sort of peace? you didn't know why but before you could even say anything but to touch his shoulders, he used his blade and run it across the skin of his throat, allowing the substance you despised so much to swiftly flow out.

now venturing on your own after leaving thousands of corpses behind, you walked and walked and walked through forests, meadows, riverbanks, and eventually your journey halted as you stepped forth into a huge mountain.

you unsheathed your sword, pointing it at the direction where you sensed a presence lurking around. "who are you?!" you exclaimed at the person, a man with half a yellow and black hair. he possessed such blank golden honey eyes, almost as if you could drown in the dew, consumed by the sweetest of emptiness.

something about him doesn't feel right though. he is man, but he feels something more than man. something closer to a divine being that harbours magical abilities. why would a man be in the middle of a huge mountain anyways? why is the man dressed in such fine clothing and is alone in a mountain? is he a nobleman to be clothed such a way? what intrigues you the most is the two line that runs from his eyes down to his cheeks.

the grip on your sword tightens, ready to offense and defense for anything that might happen.

"what may a mighty warrior such as you be doing here?" he finally spoke, furrowing his eyebrows. the man spoke with authority, as if you aren't supposed to even step foot in this mountain. his honey eyes scanned all over your body, taking notes that you obtained cuts, stabs, and hurts all around. "you are injured. physically and mentally. perhaps you seek solace in this mountain. that is why you are here."

this man had read you like a book. the grip on your hilt tightened even more, before it loosens and you drop your arm. your eyes slowly dropping to the ground too. "you're not human. what are you?"

"the god of this mountain. rayne ames. i know the very inner being of any living creature that sets foot in my mountain," the mountain god said as he lifted his hands up and a group of fallen petals arise and danced along the wind. rayne spun his hands in a circular motion, the wind following to dance around you. then, the flowers slowly and beautifully flow down all around you. "everything of this mountain belongs to me."

as he uttered those words, a petal fell right at the palm of your hands. you gently held your hand out. even though it has fallen from its origins, it remains as beautiful and fresh as it first blossomed, unscathed even. the petal then jumped right out of your palm and flew away along the wind.

"if everything in this mountain belongs to you, may i... stay here and be one of yours..?"

rayne ames' eyes widened just in the slightest way, before it shuts, locking away the sweet honey dew. "i refuse. descend the mountain and return to your people."

"but i have no people!" you shouted. "i thought you knew that, stupid god..." that came out as a whisper, merely decipherable to one.

as much as rayne feels so much sympathy for the hurt, he cannot allow a human to live in the mountains with him. it is simply impossible. but your words strike him in a way that he couldn't quite understand. the words ‘i have no people’ reminded him so much of himself. just like how he is a mountain god and always alone.

"what is your name?" rayne asks, letting out a sigh.

"y/n."

"y/n, you may stay," he turns around and walks away. "but if you spill poison in the soil and roots of this mountain, i will cast you out." relief embraced you as worry left you when his words filled your ears. "you are now mine, y/n."

you are his, rayne ames the god of this mountain. the moment you spoke to him, the moon has already sent the stars to form a fate between the two of you. moonlight belonged to a mountain god who accepted a human girl and a mighty warrior who seek solace in the haven of a divine being.

NOTES. omg what an exciting fic!!! jokes anyways happy valentine's day! this series will be updated every day 🖤

TAGS ݁ ˖ @kyoghurts @anqelically @caelivir @bbladie @ansbobcar @rjasmin2021 @lunareclipses-moments

© SENEON￤MOONLIGHT 2024. do not alter or repost.

[strangersteddierthings]

No Regrets - Part Two

TW: OC Character Death (dude doesn't even get a name). Steve reflects on killing both demo-creatures and humans with detachment. Mentions of Major Character Deaths but as a reminder, they don't stay dead! (Well, Chrissy and Fred do)

Part One🦇 Part Two🦇Part Three🦇Part Four🦇Part Five🦇Part Six

Maybe he should feel bad about watching Robin grow smaller in the rear-view mirror, her face a mixture of disbelief and anger. Maybe he should feel regret for his actions, for the betrayal Robin probably feels right now.

He doesn't.

Looking at the bigger picture, at the regrets he actually does have in the waking world, this is small potatoes. A non-issue. Robin will forgive him in the end.

War Zone is like a ghost town compared to the first time Steve was here. Though, that should have been expected. The panic hasn't swept through town yet. So far, it's just one dead girl. Fred'll join her sometime this afternoon. Evening? Sometime later today.

Nineteen-year-old Steve would hate himself for not trying to help. For not doing his best to save Fred.

But.

Well, Fred dying will help Dustin, in the long run. Will help Eddie. And that's more important. That's the goal. The dream, if he's allowing himself to be cheeky in his own mind.

Steve's not heartless, or anything like that. Robin, his Robin in the waking world, still calls him a softy and worries his kindness will get him killed on the daily. He always puts the safety of the group above himself. The first to volunteer on supply runs or for scouting or taking watch through the night. He knows he can run on empty for much longer than anyone else he knows.

The end of the world has a way of skewing what kindness and softness are, though. Those first few months were the hardest. Steve wanted to save everyone they came across. Help as many people as possible, but rations run dangerously low that way. Clean water can become contaminated quickly by ignorant people. Not everyone handled the apocalypse with grace.

The first harsh lesson Steve had learned was two months into the end of the world. They'd ventured to Indy to find supplies. Medicines. Try and stock up on things they didn't need yet but wanted around for the just in case of it all. They'd found some survivors, which wasn't surprising in itself. The surprising bit was that these guys had made it on complete luck it seemed. They were loud. Jumpy. Panicky.

When Lucas and Mike, on scout duty, had reported back demogorgon activities nearby, one guy started to panic. Got loud and couldn't bring himself back down. Steve was closest, tried to shush him but he wouldn't be quiet.

"Move," Murray (may he rest in peace) whispered, seeming to have appeared from nowhere, shoving Steve away, nudging him out of the way. Murray stepped behind the guy, one hand covering his nose and mouth, the other arm around his neck. It made the guy panic more, fighting Murray and then Murray just-

Steve remembers he flinched at the noise, turning away to cover his mouth and calm his own panic. The noises stopped though. Steve had shot a horrified look to Hopper, but Hopper wasn't looking at Steve. He was looking beyond, at Murray and what he'd done, nodding his approval.

The demogorgons didn't find them that day.

"You can't help everyone, Steve," Murray said, once they'd started the trek back to Hawkins. "The safety of the group comes first, over just one person."

Lesson heard. Lesson learned. Lesson put to use four months later.

So. Fred must die, for the good of the group. Patrick, too, if Steve can't get to Vecna in time. He should be able to. Vecna will try and take Max first, tomorrow. Patrick the day after. If everything stays the same.

The clerk doesn't even blink at what Steve buys, or the quantity of what he buys, but his eyebrows do go up a little at the total.

Steve hesitates just a bit over the checkbook his parents gave him the first time they'd left him home alone at fourteen. For emergencies only, Steven. It's been sitting in his glove box, unused, since he turned sixteen. He's never wanted to have to explain what he'd used it for. Nothing had ever seemed like enough of an emergency to warrant explaining it to Richard Harrington.

He does find it a little odd that his mind is conjuring up the concept of money. Of all the little things to think about while he sleeps, he really didn't think his subconscious would bring capitalism back.

Steve rips the little check out of the booklet and hands it over. The clerk looks it over before giving a nod and finishing the cash out. Steve takes the receipt when it's offered, shoving it into the checkbook before shoving that into his back pocket.

The parking lot has one other person in it, who Steve is aware of the entire time he's loading the trunk of his car with gallons of lighter fluid, weapons, and padded camouflage. It's only after Steve's slammed the trunk closed and shoved the cart back towards the front of the store that the guy watching him speaks.

"Must be some bonfire you're planning."

Steve rounds his car and opens the door before answering. "It's spring break, man." He slides in, the door falling closed after him. He buckles up, starts the car, and heads home. The house will be empty, he knows.

He works in silence, unloading the car and organizing his haul in the dining room, eyes flicking to the clock. There's still a couple of hours before dark. Before he should go check if Eddie's still in the boathouse, or if the police did go find him.

He sets the timer on the stove for an hour and flops onto his couch and sighs. Just as comfy as he remembers. He can have a nap before making sure Eddie's in jail. Surely his dream will allow him that?

-

"Mmhm," Steve mumbles as his neck protests movement. He's slow to wake. His head feels like white noise. He thinks he was dreaming but he can't quite grasp at what it was... oh. Family Video and War Zone. Reliving a memory. He wonders if Robin is still mad at him for that day, ditching her with Dustin and Max. It'd been for a good reason and- Steve wrinkles his nose as he sits up, head still static-y. Was it for a good reason? He can't remember what else happened after that....

"He rises," Robin whispers next to him, spooking him. She comes into focus as he sits up straight, leaning out of her space to look at her. She gives him a smile, judging by the crinkle around her eyes and her cheeks rounding. The gas mask prevents him seeing her real smile and he misses it. He thinks about his dream, and getting to see all of Robin's face again.

Dreaming is bittersweet.

"I miss anything?" He asks, because it's a safe question.

"Scouts radioed. The way should be clear in another," Robin grabs his wrist and twists so she can see the time on his watch, "another twenty minutes or so."

The mention of the radio makes him think of Dustin, and how much he misses him. And thinking of Dustin makes him think of Eddie. Steve knows it's irrational for him to miss someone he never knew but that doesn't stop the ache. The almost of it all sits heavy in his chest.

"Right," Steve says. "Want to see how many rounds of Rock, Paper, Scissors we can get through in twenty minutes?"

Robin shuffles sideways to be facing him and holds her hands up. "You always lose but okay."

They get about twelve rounds into it before Steve finds himself asking, "Hey Robbie. Do you remember Spring Break?"

Her hands freeze in the air, an aborted motion to make paper to beat Steve's rock. She locks eyes with him for a moment and he can see the worry there. "I- Steve. Is it- did you take a hit? Is it your head? Should I not have let you nap?"

No. No, he doesn't think he got hurt on this run. Well, his shoulder hurts from when he stumbled and slammed into wall during the last loading of the truck, but he hadn't hit his head. He thinks. "I don't know... I hit the wall hard, shoulder hurts, but I didn't hit my head. I don't remember hitting my head."

Robin stands immediately and begins jabbing her fingers around his skull. "Anything tender?"

"Nope. Just a messed up hairdo," Steve swats her hands away.

"Well, you can never be too sure. You are precious cargo. Why did you ask about the start of the apocalypse?"

Steve shrugs. What can he say? That he's forgetting the start of all their horrors? He can't say that, not without coming across like he's either crazy or bragging. Remember the week that ruined our lives and gave us all enough trauma to fill an ocean? Yeah, well, I don't so ha!

He can't be sure but he thinks Robin frowns beneath her mask. "We'll have to have someone look you over when we get back. Steve, if you're losing your memories..."

"I'm not losing memories," Steve lies. Head trauma is serious and he knows he can't take one more hit to the head. He won't be able to continue helping with supply runs or patrols if he is getting worse. If he starts getting migraines, they'll reassign him for sure. Something that doesn't let him leave the safety of their home base at the high school.

"Steve," she warns. He knows it's a warning.

He shakes his head. "I just. I had a dream about Saturday. Very vivid. Just made me think about it, is all."

Robin softens, sinking back down to sit beside him. She finally answers, "yeah. I remember Spring Break."

"I miss everyone," he confesses, because it's true. Because it's safe.

"Me too," Robin says, leaning her mask against his.

They wait in silence until the scouts call the all clear and they can head back home.

They make it back to Hawkins before night falls but just barely. The gates get rolled shut behind them and the unpacking gets started. The whole community has gathered for their return. This is their longest run to date with how far they had to go this time and Steve doesn't blame anyone for needing to see their loved ones as soon as possible.

"Robin!"

Steve turns just in time to watch Vickie launch herself at Robin. Robin must have seen her running, though, because she's already braced for impact and catches Vickie easily, arms grabbing at Vickie's thighs to support her weight as she wraps them around Robin's waist. Vickie places her forehead to Robin's as their excitement switches to tenderness and Steve averts his eyes to give them privacy in this moment.

"Steve, here," Ted Wheeler offers up a box to Steve, who takes it without question. "For the Daycare."

"You got it."

The Daycare is actually a wing of the school that used to be where the language arts classes were held. Daycare doesn't quite sum up what they use the area for, but calling it the Orphanage was too dark. Steve waits through the decontamination process. Once through, he takes the time to pull his mask off and enjoy the feeling of an artificial breeze on his face before heading to the Daycare.

"Please tell me there's something useful in that box," Annie Click says when Steve pushes his way into one of the rooms they use for school. Another room is dedicated to being a daycare, kids too little for learning, another is schooling for kids who would be in middle school, and the last room is lines with beds.

"Sorry, Mrs. Click, but I didn't pack it," Steve says apologetically.

"My problem to sort out then," she stands and Steve can see the determination in her through the weariness. She'd been a bitter old lady as his teacher but the world ending must have shifted her priorities. There's no one better suited to look after the kids than her, here.

Except maybe Joyce, but she's got bigger things to deal with.

He heads for the door when Annie calls out to him, "Since you're here, would you mind checking on the kids for me? Holly's supervising bedtime but she's lenient with her friends."

"Will do."

He heads across the hall and down a door to the sleeping room. The lights are dimmed and peeking in he sees a lot of kids sleeping, or pretending their best to be. Holly is sitting in a rolling chair near the door, one leg bend and pulled up on the seat as she rests her head on it.

Steve clears his throat to get her attention. She must have heard his footsteps because she doesn't spook. Just uses the foot on the ground to spin the chair to face the door. "Oh. Hi Steve."

"All good here?" He whispers.

"Yeah. Everyone's asleep."

"You can probably head home now. Your dad's back."

Holly shrugs one shoulder at him, spinning the chair back away. "Maybe later."

Steve takes the hint and backs away. His chest aches for Holly. All the kids had to grow up fast, given the state of the world, but Holly's hurts him most. He knew her in the Before, and she was there when Karen... Well, she's got a lot of weight on her shoulders at barely eleven years old.

To think. If they'd have been faster on that Spring Break. More diligent, thorough. Holly might have never known about the Upside Down at all.

More regret he can carry, he thinks, as he shoves his mask back on and heads back to the truck. There's more to be unloaded, and always work around to keep him so busy he doesn't have to think of the regrets.

He works so late into the night that once he gets back to his cot and collapses into it, there are no thoughts let in his mind as sleep claims him.

-

@i-less-than-three-you @nburkhardt @afewproblems @skepsiss @music9009 @apomaro-mellow @soaringornithopter @reighnofdreams @eddie-munsons-lunchbox @sirsnacksalot @livelifeliketheresnotomorow @sageclipse @schnukiputz @mbloggotdeletedsothisismybackup @lumoschildextra @juleswashere3 @yet-still-more-banched @cinnamon-mushroomabomination @yearningagain @starlight-archer @andrew-mini-ard @chaosgremlinmunson @aol19 @goodolefashionedloverboi @gutterflower77 @moomkin77

[demigodsanswer]

Prompt: Thanksgiving and Percabeth pregnancy!

Set in the same future canon as this fic.

Conceiving Sophia had taken a year of careful, strategic trying, prenatal vitamins, ovulation tests, and a very serious conversation with an OB about potentially looking into fertility tests.

Conceiving their second baby had simply taken Annabeth forgetting to bring her birth control on vacation, and Percy forgetting to pull out once or twice.

They hadn't planned to get pregnant within a year of Sophie being born, but there they were again. And this time, Annabeth had had to suffer the slings and arrows of the first trimester during a New York August. Percy felt terrible for her.

But the temperature had dropped, she'd entered her second trimester, and Percy was pretty sure she'd nearly eaten the entire Thanksgiving turkey herself. At five months pregnant now, she had a sweet little bump and the same beautiful face Percy always wanted to kiss.

Their toddler was a different story. Turns out, a fifteen-month-old mini-Annabeth has a lot in common with drunk Annabeth: a lot to say, but with less-than-great communication skills, prone to running off without warning, and plenty of crying. At least drunk Annabeth was potty trained. Sophie might have started manipulating plumbing at three months and talking at eight months, but she didn't seem to be in any rush to the next milestone. Not that they'd be free of diaper bags any time soon anyway.

Sophie had spent most of dinner combining handfuls of potatoes with cranberry sauce and making a great mess. That her doting grandparents only cooed at, as Percy tried to wipe her down

But now Sophie was down on the couch between Grandpa Paul and Grandpa Fred, watching The Godfather II.

"Is this appropriate for her?" Fred had asked.

"We let Nico babysit a lot. She might find it comforting. All these old school Italians," Percy joked. Nico was taller than him now, and he looked like a young Al Pacino. Whatever. Percy had a beautiful wife and perfect baby.

He walked back into the kitchen to help his mom clean and found her in a battle of kindness with Annabeth.

"--Sweetie, we've got it. Go sit --"

"--Sally, really, I'm fine. Let me help --"

"--That's what my two kids are here for --"

"--They helped cook --"

"--So they can help clean."

His mom looked at him, pleading as if to ask: Can you talk some sense into her?

Percy smiled and shook his head. As if he'd ever been able to do anything of the sort.

"Come on," he said, wrapping his arms around her from behind and resting his hands on her belly. He felt their baby kick against his hands, and Annabeth made a small opmh noise. The baby had started kicking last month, and she always seemed extra active after Annabeth ate, or (Percy argued) when he was around.

"See, even she wants you to sit down and relax," Percy said. Another girl. He couldn't wait. Maybe it was sooner than they expected, but he wouldn't trade this little girl for anything.

"Is she kicking?" Sally asked. Annabeth nodded. "Can I?"

Percy moved his hands, and Annabeth guided Sally to where she could feel.

"i can't believe this was me only ten years ago," Sally said. "Now I have two more babies!"

"Grandbabies," Percy corrected.

"Oh, shush," Sally said. She still hadn't made peace with being a grandma. "I can't be a grandma. I have a middle schooler."

"Maybe by baby four or five, you'll be more comfortable," Annabeth joked.

"Five?!" Sally said. Percy and Annabeth just shrugged. They hadn't planned a final count. They'd just ... see where nature took them. "Well sweetie, if you're planning on doing this three more times, then you should really get your rest in now," Sally said, shooing them both to the living room.

They both came to a dead stop when they reached the living room. Both gradnpas and Sophie had fallen asleep, all with their heads tilted back, mouths open.

"Food coma," Percy whispered.

"I'll say," Annabeth said, before snapping a few pictures. 'Want to lay down in the guest room?" She asked.

"Sure," Percy said, giving her a gentle kiss. When the door closed behind them, he asked: "Should we get a head start on babies three and four?"

"Cheeky. But I feel like a stuffed turkey," she said, climbing under the covers.

"You're a turkey I'd love to -- actually I'm just going to apologize immediately for that," he said as she laughed, rolling onto her side away from him. "Just snuggles?" He asked as he wrapped an arm around her and resting a protective hand on her belly.

"Yep," she said. Their baby kicked in agreement.