#she can headlock me anytime

[hummingintheback]

There isn't much appreciation post about this Goddess. (WHYYY!?!?!?!?!)

Though she did appear more often this season than the previous one, I hope she gets more screentime and lines for the upcomimg seasons— especially S3 cuz literally it's a war and BoZ better put this woman on the frontline, better not waste this Goddess's title!

And the beef with Ares?!?! GIMME MOREE!!

[mediumgayitalian]

“Oh, fuck.”

The clatter of her practice sword on the ground is almost louder than the crunch that rings out from his wrist. He inhales sharply, biting back a shout — no matter how many times it’s happened, he will never get used to breaking a bone. That shit hurts.

“Fuck, fuck fuck. Fuck, Seaweed Brain, is it broken?”

“Think so,” Percy grits out. He tries for a smile, and Annabeth matches it, small and worried. He leans into the hand she cups over his cheek. “Not too bad, though. If I just dump my water bottle on it —”

“Absolutely not. Water healing leaves you achey when it rains, you know that.” Shifting to wrap her arm around his waist, she helps him stand, shouldering some of his weight like it’s his ankle that’s broken. He lets her, reaching down to squeeze the hand resting on his hip — I’m fine. We’re good. She turns her hand to wrap clasp their hands together — Okay. If you’re sure.

They walk together to the infirmary, taking their time. Aside from the pain pulsing from his arm, it’s not too bad — camp is as balmy as usual, and the spring break energy is practically visible, it’s so potent. The Demeter cabin has plants growing everywhere, flowers and fruit trees blooming as bright as a box of new crayons, and the air is filled with shouts of laughter and teasing. Annabeth’s steps fall in time with his, and she’s a comfortable warmth at his side, pressed from shoulder to hip.

“You still okay?”

“Yep.” He catches her eye, smiling crookedly at her. “Doesn’t even make my top fifty.”

She rolls her eyes, hipchecking him. “Don’t I know it, ya klutz.”

“Not sure I would call being flung from the St. Louis Arch being a klutz. Or exploded in a volcano. Or crushed under the sky. Or slashed by giants. Or chased by —”

“You’re talking, but all I’m hearing is Annabeth, please, please pinch me, as hard as you can —”

“Hey! Get those claws off me, gods you’re worse than an empousai —”

“— and when you’re done pinching me please put me in the tightest headlock you can manage —”

“I am injured! You are beating up an injured person right now!”

“— and then please just bite a chunk out of my shoulder —”

“Cut it out or I’m telling Mom!”

“Wimp,” she taunts, finally releasing him. “I don’t go running to Sally every time I lose a fight.”

“Wha — you do so!”

She ducks through the infirmary door, smirking like she can’t hear him.

“You literally — you snitched on me last week! I got grounded for two days!”

“And you deserved it,” she says primly.

He gapes. “I did not!”

“Anytime you two are done,” Kayla drawls, shoving a clipboard at them. They accept it with matching sheepish grins, cowed at her perfectly arched eyebrow and slowly tapping foot. “I got patients to deal with and older brothers to harass. Let’s get this moving.”

She is shockingly good at humbling people for a thirteen year old. The two of them turn to their clipboard, chagrined, letting her stomp away with an exasperated He’ll be with you soon! Don’t set off the sprinklers again!

“That was one time,” Percy mumbles, ears reddening.

Annabeth pats him on the back. “There, there,” she says mockingly. “The fact that it was one time definitely negates the fact that you flooded the entire Big House because you got jumpscared by a child.”

“Harley can be sneaky, okay. Let me live.”

“Literally no.”

Annabeth does most of the paperwork for him, ‘cause she’s a nerd because his wrist is far too swollen for him to write properly, so it takes maybe half the time it normally would. The infirmary is crowded as Hell, though (he knows, he’s been), so they settle in for the wait, amusing themselves by tearing little pieces off of a blank form, balling them up, and tossing them in increasingly harder places. Percy is winning 7-4, although Annabeth might just pull through if she manages to toss her paper ball into Travis’ wide-open snoring mouth.

“Hey, guys. Sorry for the wait.”

Aw. She missed. Percy was looking forward to that.

“Hey, Will.”

He drags his attention away from the son of Hermes to greet his friend, but frowns before he can open his mouth.

“Woah, dude, you good? You look exhausted.”

Will snorts. “Welcome to spring break, man.” He holds his hand out for the clipboard, scanning it briefly. “Sparring injury? Oh, thank the gods. I could use a break. Here, face me.”

He climbs up onto the minimal left over space on the cot, tucking his legs under his thighs. Percy turns to mirror him, hesitantly sticking out his arm — A break? he mouths to Annabeth, meeting her eyes over Will’s head.

She shrugs.

“Just spent four hours putting Jake’s nose back on his face,” Will mumbles, placing a careful hand on his fingertips and his forearm. Percy flinches — his skin is blisteringly hot. Like someone just dropped a hot stone onto him. “I never want to sing a skin cell hymn again in my life.” He prods at Percy’s wrist for a moment, gentle enough not to hurt. “Okay, hold still, I’m gonna fix ya right up.”

Healing hymns are familiar, by now, but Percy will never get tired of them.

The cool thing about ambrosia and nectar is that as pleasure food for the gods, it’s pleasant. It’s whatever taste you want, whatever you need to have most, you get it. But healing hymns are intentional the way nectar and ambrosia aren’t. Ambrosia and nectar happen to be healing for demigods — healing hymns were constructed to knit you back together, like you mother smoothing a bandaid over a skinned knee. They’re warm and sweet and deeply, endlessly comforting in a way most things simply cannot claim to be. They don’t feel like a medical procedure or a hasty patch job, they feel like someone gripping you tightly and promising you’ll be okay. They feel like getting carried to bed when you fall asleep on the couch. They feel like sitting down after hours of standing, like a drink of water when your throat is drier than sand. Healing hymns draw the pain and sick and ache from your body, and they feel like relief.

But this time, Percy can’t focus on it.

With every word, Will seems to get a little duller. Nothing like the horrible ash-grey he went in the war, dragging the poison from Annabeth’s body, but like his usual sunny disposition was dialed down a few notches. Enough that Annabeth frowns in concern, drumming her hands on her thighs, watching him closely.

“There,” Will says, pulling away. Percy turns his now-healed wrist, noticing the slight pant to Will’s breath, the strain to his smile. The shake of his blistered fingertips.

“You look overworked,” Annabeth says quietly.

Will holds his hands up in a what can you do gesture. “Spring break.”

“You said.”

“It’s just busy, is all.”

“Yeah, but —”

“Guys,” he interrupts, smiling tiredly, “there are two hundred ADHD demigods at this camp right now who have been trapped in a classroom for six months. There are three of us. I’m going to be a little drained; we’re all a little drained. But I’m fine, okay?” He gives them a second to scrutinize his expression, eyebrows raised in amusement. “I have been running my infirmary for years. I know how to pace myself, and I certainly know how to make sure my siblings are pacing themselves. If something goes really wrong, Chiron is a whistle away. I can go longer than you guys without sleep, anyway. Apollo kid health.”

“If you say so,” Percy says reluctantly. “I just — I can wear a wrist brace, man. Not every injury needs to be handled when it happens. You can tell people no.”

“I appreciate that, Percy, and I’ll keep it in mind. Anyways, I’ve got more patients. Stay off that wrist for the rest of the day, okay? It might be tender for a bit.”

Percy turns to Annabeth as Will leaves, frowning. He’s has never noticed the so-called spring break stress before (his camp spring breaks are usually a blast, but now that he’s thinking about it, he can’t think of a single spring break where he spent any time at all with Will, which is odd), but it can’t be good for him. There’s gotta be something they can do to ease some of the bruising under their friend’s eyes.

“I could set off the fire alarms again,” Percy suggests. “That’ll certainly get this place cleared out.”

Annabeth snorts. “I think that’ll cause more harm than good, Seaweed Brain. It’ll just fall in him to clean it all up, after.”

“Shoot.”

Percy counts nine of the forty cots currently unused. Will, Kayla, and Austin are rushing from cot to cot, handing out nectar, wrapping bandages, rattling off hymns at light speed. All three of them look exhausted, squeezing shoulders when they pass each other, knocking hips, exchanging tired smiles. This is so clearly something they’re used to.

Annabeth’s head rests on his shoulder.

“It wasn’t always like this,” she whispers. “When it was fully staffed…”

Percy exhales heavily. Yeah. He remembers. There was a lot less complication, once upon a time. The most chaotic the infirmary would get was when Lee would challenge his siblings to Hymn Karaoke — trying to heal with pop songs. There was a lot more laughter, at one point. A lot more people.

Percy sighs, squeezing his eyes shut. It never does well to dwell, but he — gods, he wish they all had more time. To sit with it, to acknowledge…everything. Siblings. Friends. A camp that’s smaller than it’s supposed to be.

Annabeth squeezes his hand again, and he squeezes back, resting his head on top of hers.

“Hey,” she murmurs after a moment, pursing her lips at the front door. “Look.”

Slinking through the entrance like a criminal is Nico, in all his dork ass black camp shirt glory. He looks around shiftily, like he’s trying to make sure no one sees him, and when his gaze lands on Percy and Annabeth his eyes widen. Annabeth smiles at him, but it does nothing to ease the spooked look to his face, back arched like a startled cat. He turns to leave, but before he can slip back out the door —

“Nico!”

The son of Hades whips back around so quickly he brains himself on the doorframe. Percy ducks his head and bites his lip, hard, because he can feel Nico’s glare at the side of his head like the press of hot coal, and if he laughs as badly as he wants to then the infirmary is about to look like a Spirit Halloween.

Will turns back to his patient, squeezing his eyes shut and rattling a hymn off so quickly it makes a burst of light pop from his whole body, and rushes over to where Nico’s standing. He only trips over two things, which is remarkable for him. Percy would be proud if he wasn’t a little embarrassed on his behalf.

“Nico! Hi!”

“He-ey, Will,” Nico says, voice cracking badly on every vowel. Annabeth shoves her face into Percy’s shoulder, body shaking.

“I didn’t know you were coming! I thought you were in the arena all day.”

Nico shrugs, shoes scuffing the floor. “I am. I just — uh, I got hurt? So. Came to see you.”

Will’s beam is so bright it hurts to look at, a little. Percy squints and realises that’s not just the excitement, actually — he really is glowing, faintly. His hands flap slightly at his sides.

“Well, you’re in the right place, then.”

“Yeah.”

Neither of them say anything for a minute, rocking back on their heels. Will watches Nico closely, biting his lip. Nico looks resolutely at the floor.

“We weren’t this bad,” Annabeth whispers, “were we?”

Percy shakes his head. “Nah, there’s no way.”

“Gods. It’s so — I don’t know whether to smile or take a dip in the Lethe. It’s embarrassing and endearing at the same time.”

“Painful to watch, but I can’t stop looking,” Percy agrees.

“What’d you hurt?” Will asks, finally. “Did you pull your shoulder again?”

A look of panic flits briefly across Nico’s face until he smooths it to something neutral, aloof.

“Yep. Totally. During — sword fighting, I swung — I did this really big thrust, actually. Just — hugely powerful, training dummy exploded on impact.” He clears his throat. “Some might say too powerful. If you can imagine.”

Percy cradles his head in his hands. “Oh my gods — ”

“Don’t laugh don’t laugh don’t laugh,” Annabeth chants, “oh my gods, don’t laugh —”

A light flush dusts Will’s cheeks. He brushes a strand of hair behind his ear, fiddling with his earrings. “Woah, really? I’ve never heard of that before.”

Nico smirks, standing up a little straighter. “Well, it’s not the first time. I tend to go pretty hard.” Remembering his supposedly hurt shoulder, he exaggerates a wince. “Too hard sometimes, I guess. Could you do the — the energy thing?”

“Oh — gods, yeah, sorry. Hold on.” He stares at Nico’s shoulder, hesitating. “It, um, works better with skin-to-skin contact.”

“I have seen crystal vases less transparent,” Annabeth says, aghast. “In two years he’s going to remember this and try to drown himself.”

“I will be counting down the days,” Percy says gleefully.

On rare, rare occasions, the gods answer his prayers. Clearly, both Nemesis and Aphrodite are looking at him kindly today. Percy makes a note to scrape some of the good stuff off his plate for them both today. Hell, maybe he’ll skip the portioning and toss them an entire roast chicken each. Or something. They deserve it.

Will places both hands — interesting, Percy notes, his wrist was snapped cleanly in two and he only needed one hand, wonder why that was — on Nico’s shoulder and closes his eyes, screwing up his face in concentration.

“Huh. I’m not feeling much damage. You said it was your right shoulder?”

“I heal quick,” Nico says loudly. “I mean, some of the damage might have — um.” He clears his throat. His face glows a faint crimson. He clears his throat again. “Y’know?”

Will’s face is a similar shade.

“Right, right. Yeah. Um, brace yourself.”

Instead of starting to sing, Will closes his eyes, holding completely still. After a moment, the tips of his fingers begin to glow; soft, ambery yellow, flickering like lit candles. He opens his eyes again and focuses intently on Nico’s bare skin, tracing patterns around every defined muscle, leaving a trail of light behind. He lingers, for a moment, when he connects the last string of light, waiting until it has faded entirely from Nico’s skin to remove his hands and shove them in the pockets of his coat.

“That better?” he asks softly.

Nico swallows. “Yeah.”

“Good. I’m glad, Nico. It means a lot that you — came to me. When you needed it.”

“I trust you, I guess.” Nico looks away. “You know what you’re doing.”

“I think I just threw up in my mouth a little,” Percy says thoughtfully.

Annabeth laughs, shoving his shoulder. “Don’t be mean.” She pauses. “Me too.”

With a sigh that can only be described as besotted, Will steps reluctantly away.

“I have patients,” he says, in the same tone of voice Percy usually says I have midterms. “So I gotta…”

“Yeah, no, go. Do your —” Nico gestures vaguely. “Doctor thing.”

“Right. Yeah. I’m gonna — go.” He turns, walking back towards a group of Hephaestus kids who appear to be tightly entangled in some kind of net. After a few steps, though, he pauses, biting his lip, then darts back over to Nico, pressing a lightning-fast kiss to his cheek — “Um, bye. Thank you for visiting. Bye,” — and then runs back over to his siblings, shy smile on his face.

Nico’s jaw is brushing the floor of his father’s palace. He stands, still as a statue, for four entire minutes.

“I think he just died,” Annabeth observes, eyebrows climbing higher and higher up her forehead with every passing second “Damn. Survived so much only to literally die because a cute boy kissed his cheek. A true hero’s end.”

Percy, because he is a kind, concerned friend, clears his throat loudly.

“Yo, di Angelo, you alive?”

Nico startles so violently he falls right over. Percy shoves his fist in his mouth to keep from cackling.

“Shut the fuck up,” Nico hisses venomously, scrambling upright. “Both of you, shut the — not a word —”

Percy and Annabeth make the mistake of looking at each other and simply erupt. Percy can’t feel his stomach. His lungs have abandoned ship. He’s glad as hell he’s in the infirmary because he is heaving for breath, tears streaming down his face, entire body convulsing. Nico stands in front of them literally shaking with rage, entire body redder than one of Apollo’s sacred cows, trying and failing to string together a threat that will ease any and all of his suffering. Annabeth screeches, almost falling off the bed as she cackles. Percy cannot even find the strength to catch her, his muscles are so weak.

“I fucking — I hate you! Both of you! You’re dead to me!”

“Your face!” Percy shrieks.

“Percy Jackson, I am going to turn you to fucking dark matter! I despise your very essence! I —” He stomps his foot. “I’m leaving, and I’m going to leave a rotting corpse in your cabin! Screw you!”

“Oh my gods,” Annabeth wheezes, digging her nails into his arm. “Oh my gods, that was —”

Percy wipes a tear from his eye. “I love being alive. I love being alive so much.”

“It really is great.” Composing herself, and biting back the leftover giggles that keep bubbling out, Annabeth looks back towards Will. He stands much straighter, now, smile back to full brightness. His siblings, too, look rejuvenated, snickering to each other and making kissy faces behind Will’s back. “So many beautiful things to witness. I’ve never seen his face go that red.”

Percy sighs. “This is genuinely going to carry me through the semester. I think his soul died a little. And Will just — gods, that kid is bold.”

“Oh says you, Mr. Do I Get A Good Luck Kiss.”

“Hey, I earned that.”

Annabeth grins, punching him in the shoulder. He grabs her wrist and tugs her towards him, chasing the curve of her smile. She laughs into his mouth and it taste like strawberries and freedom, and he presses a kiss to her cheek, to her jaw, and the side of her neck, resting there, breathing against her skin. After a moment her hands come up and slide in his hair, gently untangling the knotted mess.

“He is one thousand percent going to put a zombie in your bed, you know,” she says after a moment.

Percy snorts. “Yeah, I know.” He smiles. “Worth it.”

[jaladwolf]

Featherary Day 21: Chase

Cast: Hoppy Hopscotch, DogDay, CatNap, CraftyCorn

Summary: Hoppy is in a Ler mood and the unfortunate DogDay is her target… “DogDay~!”

The sing-song voice of Hoppy echoed through the hallway of the house as DogDay backed away from the young bunny who had her hands raised, fingers in a claw-like stance. The girl was in one of her Ler moods and unfortunately for the sunny leader, he was her choice of victims…

“N-now Hoppy… let’s talk about this…”

But the green rabbit didn’t listen as she suddenly pouched, however DogDay managed to step out of the way before running down the hallway and into the living room. Hoppy followed suit, giving chase as she wasn’t gonna stop until she got her hands on her.

CraftyCorn, who was coloring, looked on in confusion and worry. She’d never seen Hoppy so focused on tickling someone. CatNap, who was sitting on the couch reading a book, looked at the chase in slight amusement.

“Leheave me alone!”

Hoppy just chuckled at her friend’s nervous laughter.

“Nah! And I’m not gonna stop til I get… what l… want~!”

As soon as she said those words, she suddenly charged towards him, tackling him to the ground.

“Ha! Gotcha!”

DogDay looked up at Hoppy with a nervous expression, his smile wobbly as he chuckled nervously.

“U-uhm… truce?”

Hoppy just rolled her eyes as she began tickling his sides, chuckling evily as she watched DogDay squirm in an attempt to get away.

“Ahahahaha! H-Hoppy! Stop it!”

“Stop? I just started, why should I stop?”

She moved her hands up to his armpits, causing him to try and clamp his arms to his sides as he laughed, but it just made things worse.

“Or are you just too scared because you’re so ticklish~?”

DogDay let a yelp as he suddenly felt Hoppy fluttering her fingers underneath his foot. His face was already a bit red from the teasing as he tried to get her to stop.

“Wait waihihit- Hoppy not there-!”

She just ignored him as she placed his foot in a headlock before she began tracing the sun-shaped paw pad and she suddenly got an idea. She looked over at DogDay as she smirked mischievously.

“Hey DogDay?”

The poor pup looked at her, his face still red.

“Whahat?”

Her mischievous smirk suddenly turned to an evil grin as she began giggling. She then turned back to his foot and began playing “this little piggy” with his toes.

“This little piggy went to market… this little piggy stayed home…”

DogDay let out another mirthful yelp as Hoppy began tickling his toes, reciting the nursery rhyme and she did so. When she got to his pinky toe, she looked back at him with a chuckle.

“And do you remember where this little piggy went~?”

DogDay couldn’t even get a proper answer in as he felt her fingers flutter near his pinky toe.

“Ihihi- I don’t know!”

“Wrong! This little piggy went wee, wee, wee all the way home~!”

DogDay let out a squeal as Hoppy traced his foot, trying to pull it out of the hold as he squirmed and laughed.

“Hahahaha! W-waihihit”

He waves a defensive hand at her, the other covering his red face.

"Truce! TruhUHUHUHUce!!" Hoppy stopped tickling his foot before looking at him.

“A truce, huh? Hmmm… sure, we can do a truce…”

She suddenly placing her hands on his stomach as she smirked.

“But only after I’ve had my fill. Sooo until then...”

DogDay looked at her with panic as he sees her hands on his stomach.

”Wait-waitwaitwaitwait! H-Hoppy! No-Hahahaha!”

His protest was cut off by Hoppy’s fingers tickling his belly, ruffling the fur as he banged his fist on the floor. One thing’s for certain, she’s not gonna be stopping anytime soon…

And donezo! Sorry if this is lazy, I’m a bit tired… Still, hope y’all like it!

[heartfullofleeches]

Remember King Devil from the casino? If it's okay, may I kindly hear some more about her? I love big strong butch women who would pick me up and she seems so sweet.

Maybe some general hcs and appearance? Or King and a reader who's like, silly unlimited? 100% goofball ESPECIALLY around her because they get really happy around her?

A bit off topic but MAN one of these days I gotta be brave and doodle something and it send in. You're like my go-to yan writer!! Even if anytime I send in an ask I get embarrassed to the moon and back. You seem like such a cool person and your ocs and writing makes my brain bounce around in my skull.

King is one of many entertainers at the casino and is the star of the ring as a stunt woman in various acts. Her favorite is as a fighter in the medieval themed shows as they're when she's really able to let loose since human guests frame her violence upon others as an act. I don't have much more for design currently than she wears a knight helmet she rarely removes and has scales - possibly a dragon?

• King is a very boastful and loud woman. She's proud of her strength as it is something she lacked in her mortal years and will use it just about anywhere to get her way. Wanna hang out with other people? Gotta arm wrestle her for the free time. Need a jar opened? Maybe a little kiss to her helmet will put her in your favor. This does mean she's not afraid to rock anyone's shit for getting too close for comfort. Choke slams folks as a warning and if things escalate from there they'll likely end up as another stain on the wall.

• King does have a soft side she only shows around you and the handful of friends she's made at the casino. She may be the king, but you're her right hand and she'd be lying if she said she didn't enjoy all the sappy shit you can get up to. She even calls you your higness when she's trying to be cute. Bolts to the crowd whenever she's finished with a show and expects you to be at the seat she saved so she can swoop you up in her arms and celebrate the victory together. Gives bear hugs that'd save most a trip to the chiropractor and parades you around the casino like you're the best thing since sliced bread.

She'll still fling you around like a ragdoll, but she always makes sure you have a helmet and maybe a some cushion before she even thinks about throwing you... which is surprising quite often.

• King is able to manipulate the tattoos she has into tangible objects. The horse she rides in tournaments is a stallion she has inked on her back.

• King would have a field day with a silly/goofball darling. She's not above kidnapping and imprisoning her love, but to have you willing be around her and excited to be so is equally as favored if not preferred. She might drag you into crazy stunts, but not before punking some poor lesser to do it first to verify the safety of whatever she's throwing you into. Cannot start her day or any show without seeing your smiling face her and will brag about you to someone she's holding in a headlock while and long after they want. Lovesick demon lady is very much head over heels with you and makes sure everyone knows it

[sushis-wild-imagination]

Over a Decade Series - Drabble

Let's Play Pretend - Seungcheol X Reader

Summary: Fake dating to stop the questions from nosy aunts at a cousin's wedding.

Part of the Over a Decade Series

Seventeen Masterlist <3

“Just this one time, please y/n”

Seungcheol asked you, no, begged you. 

“You want to pretend to go out because your aunts are going to be on your back about it at a cousins wedding? Cmon” 

You were at Seungcheol’s apartment, you only came by to watch a movie and now here he was, making absurd demands. 

“What’s the deal? It’s just for a day and they know you! You know them, especially that one aunt that gave you those candies you ate and puked when you were 9, remember?” 

You and cheol have been best friends since you were 5. You really knew each other and your extended families. 

You make a disgusting face at the memory. “She definitely poisoned me” you mumble. 

“What do I get out of this?” You ask.

He paces around to come up with a deal you’d take. He suddenly claps his hand, hes got it. 

“I’ll drive you around” he smiles at you brightly. 

He hated driving you around. Damn, He was desperate. His aunts were a work of art, they would really hold him down for hours asking him why a handsome man like him doesn’t have a girlfriend. He was only 24, but they really want the next wedding to be his. 

You give him a look like that’s not enough. 

“For a year” he adds looking at your ll drive you around for a year, anywhere you want, anytime you want” 

You smirk a little bit. Now that sounds like a good plan, Cheol driving you to work everyday for the next year sounded really good in your head. 

“Okay deal” you take his handshake and he jumps saying “YES!” 

“One full year” you remind him again.

“Yes ma’am” he bows and tips his invisible hat. 

It was the day of this cousins wedding, Cheol was driving you. 

You were nervous? For some reason, you didn’t even know why. You were anticipating what kind of questions you’d get. Cheol already told his parents he was bringing you. He didn’t lie to them though, 

“Stop bouncing your leg” he says without looking at you. 

You stop almost immediately. 

“Im nervous, oddly” 

Seungcheol giggles. “My aunt won’t give candies that will give you food poisoning” 

“Oh god, I hope she doesn’t, I’m not taking anything from her” you shudder. 

You finally reach the wedding venue, you straighten your dress out as you get out of the car. 

“Thanks for driving” you bow and talk like a child at Cheol playfully. 

“It’s okay” he bows back, talking back to you like a child and chuckles. 

“We started dating 6 months ago” he reminds you, the lie you set up for his aunts. 

“You liked me first” you add on to the lie, as a matter of pride. He rolls his eyes but agrees. 

“Ready?” He says coming next to you and holding his hand out for you to take. 

You nod and take his hand. 

Let the show begin. 

You walk into the venue, decorated heavily with flowers, its like perfume hit your face as soon as you walked in. But the actual wedding was in a terrace of the building. 

You went around saying ‘Hi’ to people and met Cheol’s parents first. 

“What are you doing here y/n?” His mom asks and welcomes you in a hug. 

“No really, cheol what am I doing here?” You mutter through your teeth once you pull back that only he can hear. He elbows your side to shut you up. 

“She was…” he thinks up a lie. “Bored and free..” 

“So I asked her if she wants to tag along and its free food, why would she say no?” He teases and you almost put him in a headlock infront of all these people. For now only fake smiling did the job. 

“You look pretty Y/N, Seungcheol your aunts were asking for you, they’re somewhere there” his mom says pointing at a direction and both of your eyes wander in that direction automatically to get this deal done with.

Once you greeted his parents and were left alone, it was your turn to elbow him. “Free food? Really?” 

“What else could I have said” He chuckles and drags you by the hand to meet the next set of people. You’re left staring at your hands together.

“Aigoo Seungcheolah” this snap you out of your gaze. 

This older lady spots him and almost runs to your direction, followed by two more women her age. You greet them when they come to you. One of them squished his face telling him how mature and how handsome he looked. 

“And who might this be?” She asks and looks you up and down. 

Seungcheol clears his throat. “My..my girlfriend” 

“Our little Cheol has a girlfriend? That’s lovely, what's your name?”

“Y/n” you softly introduce yourself hiding a little behind cheols arm, clutching on to it for dear life, feeling terribly shy infront of new people. 

“Ah right, I have seen you before, haven’t I?” One of the ladies asks and Cheol nods. 

“She was the kid I used to play it when you had come over for a week a lot of years ago” Seungcheol explains, his hand surprisingly not leaving yours. 

“Ah right, you’ve grown up so well” she says, taking your hands in hers. 

“How is our Seungcheol, does he treat you well? Give you flowers?” One of the ladies asks you and you decide to play around. 

Silence. 

You didn’t know what to say, but you had to say something. 

“No! He never does” you say in full seriousness. 

His aunt smacks his arm. “You should treat her well, get her flowers” 

This almost makes you laugh out loud, you had this power now, you realized. 

“Yes! And he’s always working” you say pouting a bit, acting like you’re complaining to his aunt, taking full advantage, stealing playful glances at Cheol. 

If his eyes could talk he was saying ‘you’re so dead’ 

“Work will keep happening, you have to pay attention to your lover” his aunt scolds him. You couldn’t hold in the laughter anymore. 

“I do- i do pay attent- YAH!” He was trying to form a sentence but looked at your holding in laughter. 

“What is this language yah - ja, it won’t do, talk to her better” one of the aunts repeats and smack his arm again. 

You enjoyed this more than you should have. 

One of the aunties pulls her phone out like she had to get a picture of this solely because the picture she had of the both of you was so old, she said she’d like to update the photo. 

She asks you to stand next to each other. And you did. Like friends would, you almost even threw up a peace sign. 

“You don’t have to be shy, you can hold each other, pretend we’re not here” one of the other aunts teases and you were furiously blushing looking at the floor. “Is this worth cheol the personal uber driver” you mutter to yourself before standing closer to him. 

You could feel his arm snake behind you holding you by the waist as you hesitantly put your free hand on his torso, shifting on your side. 

While they were fanning over young love and becoming nostalgic about their own love lives, you and Cheol stood there awkwardly, not used to being this close so consciously. Usually skinship was easy with Cheol but now that you were pretending to date, the context made things awkward. 

You end up seeing that one strand of hair flying away from the rest of the hair on his forehead, your hand subconsciously goes to fix it only because it bothered you and distracted you. He turns his head to you, not realizing what you’re touching his face for. 

Click! 

“Ah this is such a lovely picture of the both of you” the aunt with her phone out tells you. 

“Kiss him on the cheek, I’ll get another cute picture” 

You both freeze. What? 

You need to be drunk to do this. 

Cheol knows he can’t say no to his aunts, it’ll just go to become a whole conversation about not being affectionate enough with his ‘girlfriend’ he really didn’t want a lecture in love, especially from his aunts. 

He turns his head to you and presses a soft kiss to your head instead. It wasn’t a kiss but it was also enough to get the older ladies off his back. 

“I’ve got such lovely pictures” she says and you walk back over to them to see the pictures. 

They really were very cute pictures. 

“You both look so good together”

You really did look good together. 

You smile at the aunt as you get those pictures sent to your phone. The aunt then slyly hands you a chocolate she probably found on one of the tables. You smile at her while Cheol is holding in so much laughter. It was like deja vu from years ago.

“See you at your wedding” she says smiling and walks off. 

You immediately give cheol a look and he is laughing out loud almost falling to the ground. 

You open the wrap and try to shove the candy down his throat. 

“If I go down, you go down with me, choi seungcheol” 

“You can deal with diarrhoea alone” he says trying to run away. 

[cyantomatos]

Wheel of Writing - Day 12

Pairing: Frankie Morales x f!reader Prompt: “I just love to see you laugh.” Notes: Something something endings are hard.

New relationships are scary. Especially when you've been in one for so long it starts to feel like you don't know how to be with anyone else 

You met Frankie just a few months ago, and fell hard and fast for him if you're honest with yourself. Single for a year after a five year long relationship, you weren't sure how to get back into the game. Frankie had swept in on a night out at the bar, clumsy and unsure and pressured by his friends to *just go fucking talk to her*. He was sweet and sincere and you'd said yes to a date before he could get the whole sentence out.

Three months after that first date and you're already trying to reign in the thoughts of white dresses and wedding bells, telling yourself not to get too far ahead. 

You turn at the sound of a splash, drawn out of the wandering thoughts you'd gotten lost in just in time to see Benny resurface from the pool. Will stands with his arms crossed triumphantly at the edge, smirking down at his brother. "Next time don't try to push me in, idiot."

Benny pouts, immediately turning to you. "Did you see that! He threw me in!"

You hold up your hands, grinning. "Don't drag me into this, I don't want to get thrown in too."

"See? She's smart, you should learn from her example." Will turns back towards the grill, leaving a grumbling Benny to hoist himself out of the pool. 

Frankie drops down onto the pool lounger beside you, two plates loaded down with burgers and chips balanced in one hand. There's two glasses of soda in his other, and you quickly take your glass and plate before he drops them. "Thank you, Frankie."

"Anytime, sweetheart. What did Benny do to get thrown in the pool?" He's looking down at his plate as he speaks, missing the way your eyes go wide at the pet name. Something warm settles in your chest at the casual affection, and it takes you a minute to realize you're supposed to respond. "Oh, uh, I think he tried to push Will in."

Frankie snorts, taking a bite of his burger. "Typical."

The sound of a scuffle draws you attention away, and you turn to see Will dragging Benny towards the pool in a headlock. He tosses the younger Miller in again, throwing his arms up in the air with a grin.

You hear Frankie laugh beside you and turn to look. His head is thrown back, one hand on his chest as he laughs. 

Benny surfaces once again, complaining. You don't hear what he says, presumably something about his brother being mean to him, but you're too captivated watching Frankie laugh.

When he opens his eyes a few seconds later he sees you watching him, a somewhat self-conscious smile replacing the open laughter from before. "What? Do I have something on my face?"

You shake your head, grinning. "No. I just love to see you laugh."

You watch a beautiful myriad of emotions play out across his face as he processes your words, finally settling on a shy smile as he looks down. "Yea, well. I like when you laugh too." 

You lean across, pressing a kiss to his cheek. "Good. We can make each other laugh forever, then."

[meep923]

༻Your Appearance Messed Me Up(yuyeon)༺

Chapter 20/25 + bonus chapter

⚠⚠⚠WARNING⚠⚠⚠There may be certain parts of this chapter that may be disturbing for some readers. Do approach with caution.

Yuqi's POV

It was really draining telling the entire crew and helping them catch up with whatever that has been happening. I knew that Soyeon was angry at me. Partly for not telling her about the things that I kept from her and partly because I told her nothing about who I was and where I went, making her really really worried. I was practically drained so everyone went out except for Soyeon. I think she still feel bad from being the reason behind my wound.

She sat silently at my bedside, holding my hand, ready to help me anytime when I felt painful due to my wound. I felt like as if time had stopped as I looked into her eyes. She looks so cute when she was worried. There was a muffled crash somewhere outside the room. I immediately perked up. What was going on? I quickly got my answer when the door was forcefully smashed open and a large beefy man walked in. He waited at the door, as if he was waiting for someone to come.

Soyeon was already on her feet, she had a dagger in her left hand and was already slowly approaching the man at the door. Damn, she is so hot. I thought, while trying not to lose focus of the situation around me. Then, another beefy man walked in, he took a look at Soyeon and headed towards her. She threw a punch at his stomach with her right hand. The man only seemed to be frustrated. Although Soyeon had skill, the man had brute force, and that was all he needed. The dagger in Soyeon's hands was quickly knocked to the floor. I watched helplessly as she was held into a headlock and moved to a far corner from the room, not too far away, just enough so that I could her, not too close.

Then, a man in a white tuxedo walked in with his cane. "Dad?" I asked, acting. "What're you doing? Let go of her." Song Bin smirked mysteriously. He waved his hand and signalled more of his men to come into the room. I could see Soojin, Shuhua, Minnie and even Mr. Kim being held in a firm headlock by his men. I knew by what I was seeing that the sound of glass breaking that I heard just now was caused by them. The security cameras were probably destroyed. All the nurses were probably either held captive or already dead. All of my friends were placed strategically in different places, such that no one can help each other. 

"My dear little niece, there's no need to hide anymore is there?" Song Bin laughed maniacally. "What do you want?" I spat, no longer having a reason to be nice to him. 

"Oh, harsh. I think I still prefer the old Yuqi. The innocent little girl is gone ain't she?" He mocked. I did not make any reactions to what he said. He held his hand out and the man that was holding the door for him reached into one of the inside pockets and took out an antique dagger that was sheathed. He placed it onto Song Bin's hand. Song Bin looked at the dagger like it was piece of artwork. "Pretty ain't it?" He asked me while looking at the dagger. "It's gonna be a pity to dirty it with that blood of yours ain't it? That dirty blood you have, the one of the 'prodigy', the 'perfect child'" He said darkly.

He slowly turned his head to face me and leaned over the bed and looked at me while the man who held the door dragged me by my hair and pushed my head forward, such that my face was inches away from Song Bin's. I could hear Soyeon's muffled grunts as she tried to break free from the man that was holding her. I looked into those eyes of my uncle's. "Ironic ain't it. Brothers, bound by blood. Similar to every physical feature but who knew. The younger one looks so terrible on the inside." I smirked at the shock that was coursing through Song Bin's face. 

His facial expression changed really quickly. From the shock a moment ago to the hardening of his facial features, like he was angry at me. The man that was holding my hair quickly shifted his hands so that he held mine down. Song Bin quickly wiped that smirk off my face as he slapped me, hard. My face turned quickly to the side. I could feel his hands squeezing my cheeks forcefully as he made me face him. I think the deadly stare in my eyes earned me another slap. 

"Bitch. Slut. A creation of a foul, vile creature." Song Bin seethed. I stared, hard into those eyes of his. It was the same shade of brown as that of my father. The only difference was that there was no sign of humanity, no sign of a feeling in those eyes. The eyes have lost their sparkle. My father's eyes would always have a sparkle no matter how dire the situation was. My father believes, Song Bin doesn't.

"The reason why you are always behind my father is because you've lost all hope in life." I told him, as sincere as I could. It was hard to feel sympathy for such a man. "Hope, what an underrated word. Do you even know what hope is little bitch? Hope is the will to live." He sneered.

"Hope is believing. It's apparent you don't have that." I retorted. He seemed really angry after hearing what I had said. He unsheathed the dagger and held it under my chin, such that the flat part of the dagger was touching my skin. I could feel the coldness of the metal, but it was not as bad as the coldness I felt in my blood. I was childish enough to think that Song Bin was like my father, maybe he could change, I realised tonight how funny that thought was. I am not like my father, I did not have hope all the time. And I knew, deep down, my father died partially because he had a hope, a hope that Song Bin could and would change.

I could feel the blade slowly angling such that the sharp part of the blade slowly, but surely, cut into my skin. It started to sting. I knew any move that I make might make that cut I had fatal. I felt a little bit of warmth against the cold blade. I must've started to bleed. Shuhua, Soyeon and Minnie were probably struggling to get out of the grasp of the big men. I could hear muffled grunts and see Shuhua kicking her legs in the air. 

I made sure that my face looked like as if I had admitted defeat. Song Bin seemed to have fallen for it, he slowly removed to blade and took out a handkerchief to wipe my blood off the blade. Then he looked at me. He held the blade against my cheekbone and slashed a shallow cut for good measure. He turned the blade over and over, admiring it. Suddenly, I could hear the sound of the wind then I felt excruciating pain. (If you are afraid/ feel uncomfortable when the feeling of being stabbed is described, please skip the next paragraph)

He stabbed the exact place where my gunshot wound was. It felt like the stitches that I had were all broken. For a short second, I could feel the coldness of the blade pressing into the flesh of my wound. Then, the coldness was gone, the warmth of blood replaced it. I could feel it seeping out of my wound and staining my hospital shirt. Song Bin twisted blade, causing me to grunt in pain. It felt like as if the blade was trying to tear my flesh apart. Then, he pulled the blade out, harshly, causing me to buckle forward.

I could practically feel the satisfaction that Song Bin was radiating. I knew that he felt smug, seeing me, the daughter of the hated older brother, squirming and held captive by him. I felt the feeling of a wet cloth being pressed over my mouth and nose. I could smell the faint scent of the drug Gamma-Hydroxybutyrate (GHB), then all was fuzzy.

[lilowoof]

I LOVE SAYBELLA <3

[luci-in-trenchcoats]

A Place To Call Home: Canada Trip

Summary: The reader and Jensen are up in Canada a year after their unfortunate accident to have some fun. When the reader starts to question if she’s a little too boring for her age, she and Jensen end up deciding what happens in Vancouver, stays in Vancouver...

Masterlist

Pairing: Jensen x foster daughter!reader

Word Count: 6,800ish

Warnings: language, heavy drinking, drunk life talks, legal drug use, minor frightening incident, fluff

A/N: This part takes place after the Santa’s Letters timestamp. Enjoy!

______

“Sorry we missed the string lights,” said your dad as you walked over the bridge. You stopped and looked down to the water below. “Y/N.” 

“Hm?” you said.

“You’ve been distracted since we got on the plane this morning,” he said. “Are...you did want to come to the canyon park for our trip right?”

“No of course. I love this place, even if we nearly died trying to get here last time,” you said. You walked again, waiting for him to catch up when you got off of it and onto the trail. 

“What’s in that head of yours?” he asked, tucking a stray piece of hair behind your ear. 

“I’m twenty eight. We adopted Allie when we were 25. I got married at 23, engaged at 22. Besides TJ and like JJ, you’re my closet friend and you’re my dad. My fifty one year old father.”

“Sit,” he said, walking over to a bench. You sighed as you sat, watching him settle in beside you, fixing his winter coat. “What’s wrong? Do...we can go home if-”

“Hey. I like having you as a best friend,” you said with a smile. He grinned and his cheeks flushed. “Are you blushing?”

“Shut up. What are you talking about, tall munchkin?”

“Just...did I lose every chance of being a kid and doing stupid shit and...I’m the most well behaved person in their twenties in existence. I lost being a kid and a teenager a lot and most of college was trying to fit in again and figure out who I actually am and…”

“Where’s the but coming?” he asked.

“You did a lot of dumb shit. You had fun. When you were my age you weren’t stressing over your retirement plan and that they moved the fucking chicken at the grocery store again and you didn’t go to bed at ten on a Saturday night.”

“We had very different lives,” he said. 

“Yeah but you were somehow responsible and had fun. I just...I don’t even know what I’m saying.”

“Vegas rules?” he said with a smirk. You raised an eyebrow and he shrugged. “What happens on vacation stays on vacation? We could have some fun.”

“What kind of fun?”

“We could go get drunk and not like tipsy either. I mean like let’s get you hammered, get you to do some karaoke bar or something.”

“I would kill you...but I could get drunk?”

“Alright. Sounds like a plan. You know Thomas could offer to be the designated driver more often, let you cut loose too. There’s not an age limit on fun,” he said.

“Yeah but I don’t like getting that wasted in public. It’s not really safe,” you said. “Not unless somebody’s really watching your back.”

He held up a finger and took out his phone, smiling as he tapped and put it up to his ear. 

“Hey Cliffy,” he said. You made grabby hands and he chuckled, putting it on speaker. 

“Hi Uncle Cliffy,” you said.

“Hey kiddo. Keeping him out of trouble for me?”

“They don’t pay you enough,” you said, getting put in a headlock for that.

“You mind working tonight Cliffy? Kiddo and I want to have a good time but-”

“But need someone to watch your perky ass? Yeah, I’m free anytime after eight.”

“Awesome. We’ll probably grab dinner and then head out. I’ll call you around nine to come keep an eye on us?” he asked.

“You sneak off on me I’ll kill ya kid,” he said. “I’m serious.”

“Mhm,” said your dad as he rolled his eyes. “I’m not forty anymore, Cliffy.”

“The fact you raise children scares me.”

“We’ll catch ya later,” he said before he hung up. 

“So what’d you do what you were forty?” you asked. He winced and you crossed your arms. “Vegas rules, remember?”

“Jared and I may have gotten a little pot on a con weekend. It was Washington so perfectly legal but...not exactly the safest thing to be that impaired in a city you don’t know on your own. He kinda reamed our asses out over it. Made us take a fucking safety course.”

“A safety course?” you laughed. “On what?”

“You know how I got a few restraining orders? Yeah, those kinds of people,” he said. 

“Oh. Like that course they made us take during freshman forum,” you said. He shook his head and slumped down in his seat. “I knew you’ve smoked pot before.”

“Have you?” he asked.

“Yeah. A few houses before yours one of my foster brothers was a dealer. He let us have some sometimes. I don’t like the smoking part of it.”

“I smoked,” he said. “I’m not really proud of that.”

“It is kinda disgusting,” you said.

“Haven’t smoked a thing since I was younger than you.”

“Good. I hope you don’t ever again. But I thought you said you guys got pot.”

“It’s the twenty first century. I can get pot and gummy bears at the same time?” he chuckled. “Double win.”

“Weed’s legal here you know,” you said with a shrug.

“You’re a little fucking degenerate and I’m glad my raising of you is finally shining through,” he said. “One rule though.”

“For the hotel room, duh.”

“I know that, dumbass. I meant nothing and I mean nothing on this trip is ever spoken of to your mother, understood?”

“Agreed. Even if she’s the adventurous one,” you said as you stood up. He stared up at you and you laughed. “Sex off topic?”

“Save that for when I’m intoxicated,” he said. “First though, I have a perfect idea to fill the rest of our time.”

“I can’t believe I went bungie jumping,” you said a few hours later as you were driving back down to Vancouver. “That was so fucking cool!”

“See now when you tell your kids you did that shit when they’re teenagers they’ll just shrug and be like sure you did and you’ll think I was cool you little shit with your phone and fifteen sleepovers planned out like a convention schedule.”

“You glad you got that off your chest?” you laughed.

“Yes, I am,” he said, going quiet as you drove down the other side of the highway past where the accident had been about fourteen months earlier. 

“How’s your leg lately?” you asked.

“It’s good. Muscle mass finally came back in the fall I want to say. Doc said I could go run a marathon on it if I wanted to. Told him good luck with that.”

“They put up a sign,” you said.

“Hm?”

“In the mirror,” you said. “They put up a sign on the other side of the road and a overhead light it looks like.”

“Good. Won’t happen to someone else now,” he said. He was quiet and you turned up the heat when it started to rain. “I never properly thanked you.”

“Dad-”

“You saved my life and I was a dick that first month home when we were both hurt and recovering and I never thanked you and all you did was take care of me and help get the guys to school and games and make dinners and I never thanked you for any of it.”

“You being alive was sort of thanks enough,” you said quietly.

“Someday I won’t be here.”

“Way to make the fun weekend fun,” you said.

“I’m just saying...I’m glad I got to be your dad.”

“102, pops. I’m holding you to what you promised,” you said.

“You gonna be okay if I bit the big one?”

“Eventually,” you said. “Just do it in a less traumatic fashion alright? I know you actors gotta be such show offs.”

“I’m gonna let that one slide and instead you can pick out a restaurant for us to go to tonight.”

“Anything you in the mood-” you said before he slammed on the brakes when the car in front of you stopped. You got pushed backwards, one of his hands gripping the wheel tight, the other shoving you back into your own seat. The car started to drive again and you both took deep breaths. “Why don’t I drive?”

He didn’t argue and pulled over, swapping seats before you pulled out and back onto the highway.

“You okay?” you asked.

“Yeah. You were gonna drive back anyways,” he said. “You alright?”

“Yeah. I was gonna say I was in the mood for a good burger,” you said. 

“There’s a place downtown I took mom to once. Always meant to get back there,” he said. He looked out the window and you changed lanes, going past the person who had stopped before, watching him relax out of the corner of your eye.

“So this place got good dessert too?”

“This burger is awesome,” you said a few hours later. “I see how this sealed the deal with mom.”

“She told you about this place,” he said, dipping a fry in some ketchup. 

“I know you proposed the next day,” you said.

“Almost did it that night,” he said, eating for a moment as you took a sip of his bourbon. “Fell in love with her in a week. Took years to get off my ass and say anything.”

“Still beat TJ,” you said.

“You were young. Don’t know how the boy suffered that long without asking you out to be honest,” he said, picking up a charred jalapeno slice and popping it in his mouth.

“I was his first girlfriend,” you said. “Turns out you’re both shy.”

“Thank goodness for you and your mother then,” he chuckled. “You know that kid loved you from the moment he met you, don’t you.”

“Yeah, at least that part you can’t explain,” you said. 

“When did you finally admit that was there for you?” he asked.

“By the end of freshman year I think I told myself it wasn’t just a crush. I loved my best friend and that was terrifying.”

“It is, isn’t it,” he said with a soft smile.

“I couldn’t lose him, not when I let him in so deep. He didn’t even have to work for it and that used to make me so mad, like he had some free pass and I didn’t understand.”

“Kid’s your soulmate,” he said. “You can’t explain it until you experience it.”

“You really think he’s my soulmate?” you asked, munching on a mushy fry.

“He’s your soulmate,” he said with a smirk.

“What makes you so sure?”

“Because he could hurt you the most but he’s the one person you’ve never been afraid of. You let him in when you don’t let people in. You’d been with us a year and a half when you met him. You weren’t perfect, it wasn’t all better back then. It’ll never be all better. You still called me Jensen back then. But that kid made you smile like you were every other person falling in love. You told him things you don’t tell anyone. He’s the only person in the world you’ve ever willingly told it all to. Honey I knew the first day you brought him over you were gonna marry him.”

“You did?” you asked quietly.

“He was in the room when you started calling me dad. Thomas is special and we’ve always known that.”

You ate the last of your burger and wiped off your hands, your dad sliding the boozy milkshakes menu over to you as he finished up.

“You were different with him after that vacation after the resort,” you said. “You’d always been nice to each other but TJ was...you were both more open with each other. You weren’t just my dad after that to him.”

“Well we both knew odds were very high I was about to be his father-in-law,” he chuckled.

“Dad.”

“We talked one night when you were in bed.”

“Dad.”

“That’s a private conversation between Thomas and I,” he said. 

“Was it cause he asked to marry me?”

“No,” he said, eating the last of your fries from your plate. “He didn’t ask that.”

“If he didn’t ask to marry me what did you talk about?”

“He wanted to know if he was good enough for you,” he said. You stared at him and he smiled. “He didn’t want you to have anything less than you deserved. That told me what I needed to know about exactly the kind of man he was.”

“What if I hadn’t found him?” you asked.

“You would have found him eventually. I met your mother years before we dated. These things have a way of working out the way they’re supposed to. I mean, if you two weren’t together, you would never have found Allie, maybe no one would have. I don’t try to figure out what the plan is, I just hang on for the ride.”

“I have nightmares about that sometimes, if no one had found her,” you said.

“But you did and you gave her a mom and dad,” he said. “A safe place to grow up and be loved. I know you two made some sacrifices to do that for her.”

“I’d give up anything for her,” you said. “Her or Colin.”

“It’s fun when they’re little...and the teenage years are a little rough...but they grow up and they’re pretty cool when that happens,” he said. “Your sister is starting to get out of her teenage angst phase a bit more. Hanging out with dad is cool again.”

“Wait until she gets to college and she goes to a sorority house and she finds a fucking supernatural poster on the wall of hot guys,” you said. He nearly spit out his drink but swallowed it down, cracking up as you nodded. “There is nothing more horrifying in life, I swear.”

“She might be spared,” he chuckled.

“She just started watching The Boys. Soldier Boy, episode six,” you said, sipping down the rest of his drink as he groaned. “Thanks for that warning by the way.”

“Oh...I forgot about that,” he chuckled. 

“How do you forget getting butt ass naked for work?” you said.

“I don’t know but he sure as shit has a hell of an ass,” said a man behind you. You turned and went wide eyed when you saw the man stop at the table, your dad grinning and standing up. “Hey Jay. Been awhile.”

“Hey! You look great. You in town filming?” asked your dad.

“Yeah, head home in a few weeks,” he said, smiling as he looked down at you. “You must be Y/N. You had the awesome Solider Boy outfit for Halloween.”

“Uh, yeah,” you said, glancing down at your lap.

“She loves Homelander,” said your dad.

“I do not!” you said, snapping your head up. “He’s delusional.”

“Oh I learned that years ago,” he said. “I’m Antony.”

“Y/N...but you knew that,” you said, looking down again.

“You got plans?” asked your dad.

“Just grab a drink to get out of the apartment for a few hours,” he said.

“Wanna hang with us?” asked your dad. “We’re having a bit of what happens in Vancouver stays in Vancouver vacation.”

“Now that’s when your parents get fun is when you get drunk with them,” said Antony. He tilted his head and you shifted in your seat. “I wouldn’t want to get in the way of your dad daughter time though.”

“She’s just shy around some of my friends,” said Jensen.

“Well if she is she gets it from you,” he said. “I wouldn’t mind the chance to catch up with an old friend if I’m not intruding.”

“You’re cool,” you said, forcing your head up.

“Wow your face is so red,” said your dad.

“At least my ass isn’t permanently out in the world for everyone to see.”

“I like your sassy child,” chuckled Antony.

“Y/N, scoot over. I’m gonna get a refill. Ant?”

“Whatever you’re buying is fine with me,” he said. 

“You want a milkshake?” asked your dad as he slowly backed up. 

“Yes please,” he said as you held up a hand. 

“Be right back,” he said as you slid over in the booth, Antony taking a seat.

“So how’s your guy’s vacation so far? Do anything fun?” he asked.

“We went bungie jumping this afternoon after we went to the canyon park up North,” you said.

“Really? That’s awesome. I never would have done something like that with my dad when I was your age. Not sure I’d do it now to be honest and this is coming from a Kiwi,” he said. 

“He bought weed gummies for later back at the hotel too.”

“Yeah, your dad is officially cooler than mine,” he said. “You did the set design on The Veranda Project movie right?”

“Yeah, last year. How’d you know that?”

“It’s what I’m up here filming. It’s one of the coolest sets I’ve ever seen. You got a real eye for that sort of thing.”

“I get to use my architecture degree that way still. Plus side jobs like that are fun when the deadlines aren’t so bad.”

“When I was filming with your dad back on The Boys, I think you’d just taken a management job at the brewery? He bragged about you running the place by the time you were thirty.”

“Vice President of Distribution,” you said.

“Oh fancy,” he said. “Is it fun working with your parents? I put up a shed with my dad once and I don’t think I could survive an actual job.”

“They’re more like owners I suppose. I have say over my department and they come in but maybe only a few hours a week. Dad’s always busy acting or making music or producing with mom. They leave me be,” you said. “I say as I see them nearly every single day.”

“Nothing wrong with that,” he said. “I uh...I reached out to your dad after I heard about his accident last year but never heard anything back. He doing good? He seems it but you know how he is.”

“He’s okay,” you said with a smile. “It was rough. He didn’t purposefully not respond, I swear. He was going through a lot. Being in a nearly deadly car accident with your kid will do that to you.”

He stared at you and frowned.

“I forget you were in the car with him. I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have-”

“It’s okay, really. We drove on that very same road today and we were fine. We both ended up being just fine.”

“Kid you kinda held him together like paper mache from what the news said.”

“I have experience in bad accidents,” you said. He cocked his head and you shrugged. “My parents were killed in an accident when I was ten. My parents were my fosters when I was a teenager and then they adopted me.”

“I never knew that,” he said. “He just said he has four kids.”

“There’s no distinction for him,” you said. “Or mom.”

“Kinda hit the jackpot with them, huh.”

“I did,” you said as you saw your dad come back to the table with three drinks. “So Antony. Any secrets you want to divulge about my father I can use for blackmail someday?”

“I was gone like five minutes,” he said. “Milkshakes will be over in a minute.”

“Oh I could tell her a lot,” he said. “So, so much.”

“Come on Antony,” you said with a smirk, your dad groaning. “You can share. What happens in Vancouver, stays in Vancouver after all.”

“Hey dad,” you said a few hours later, Cliff running to grab the car while you waited on a bench outside, Antony headed back to his own place. “You’re kinda giggly when you’re drunk.”

“So are you,” he said, leaning over and booping your nose. He laughed to himself and leaned against your arm, pushing himself up. “We should do this with mom and TJ sometime.”

“TJ’s such a happy drunk,” you giggled, sliding down the seat. “Dad?”

“Yeah?” he laughed, kicking his feet back and forth.

“Thanks for adopting me,” you said. You slumped against his side and gave him a big hug, getting a kiss on the forehead. “I love you.”

“I love you. Thanks for giving us a chance,” he said, a car horn honking. “That’s our ride. Come on. We’re not done with the night yet.”

“We’ll save these for tomorrow,” he said, flapping the bag of gummies in his hand before tossing them on the table. “I have not been this drunk in a long time.”

“Same,” you said from the other side of his king sized bed. “Honestly your friend tonight was kinda hot.”

“Kid, I already knew you thought that,” he giggled. “You’re lucky I kept my mouth shut.”

“Oh I know you knew. But he was just so tall. Fuck TJ’s gonna be a hot old guy, I just know it.”

“Alright Casanova, while I’m drunk enough to ask this question,” he said as he fell back on bed, “Do you think you and TJ are gonna do more fun dumb shit after this experience?”

“I think so. We do have built in babysitters right around the corner...and the twins are even old enough to watch the kids now,” you said.

“What’s the stupidest thing you’ve ever wanted to do with him?” 

“Throw him a hot wheels themed birthday party,” you laughed.

“You’re gonna have to explain that one,” he chuckled. “Hot wheels?”

“His dad promised him a hot wheels part for his seventh birthday. Instead he forgot and thankfully TJ’s mom was able to pull together a normal party but he teased him with getting him this hot wheels set he wanted so fucking bad and his dad didn’t even get him anything.”

“Rick can get fucked,” said your dad.

“I second that,” you said. He held up a hand and you high-fived it.

“Tell me about that hot wheels set when we’re sober.”

“I’ve tried for years to find it online but I couldn’t. Not unless you had like five grand.”

“I have five grand.”

“Don’t be a show off.”

“I can’t buy him nice things?” he asked.

“Dad. Don’t be a celebrity. That’s way too much.”

“Nah. I’m getting it. You can’t stop me,” he said. “You’re small and I’ll wear you down eventually so just give in.”

“You’ve literally never bought me a five grand present.”

“I got you a cellphone, a car, a private college tuition-”

“I paid for half of that technically with scholarships,” you said.

“Half a college tuition,” he chuckled. “A nice wedding, part of your house. Do I need to go on?”

“I’m not jealous. I’m just saying I never got a birthday present that much,” you said. He turned his head and smiled over at you. He pushed up his short sleeve and pressed his thumb against his heart tattoo for you on his bicep. “My present didn’t fit in a box.”

“You can’t buy what you wanted. I know you would give up every single thing I just listed off if you got to keep your family instead. The toy set isn’t about the money. It’s about TJ getting to have a moment back. You’re an adult. You know how rare it is to have those childhood glimpses, forget about all of the responsibilities, all of the stress and aches and being tired and all of it. You get that spark back for a minute. That’s what I want to give him. It’s the same reason you want to get him that set too.”

“Why are some dads so shitty?” you asked quietly. 

“Gotta make the rest of us look good,” he chuckled. He reached his hand over and ruffled the top of your head gently. “I don’t know sweetie. There’s always good and bad. It’s easier to be bad in a way. Sometimes, people just don’t have help or support to find a way to be good. Doing a bad thing doesn’t make you bad just like doing a good thing doesn’t make you good. Day in and day out, that’s who you are. Sure there’s a few really great people and a few evil people but the rest of us just try to get by living in that gray area.”

“I used to be scared of the guy at my third foster house,” you said. He nodded and trailed his finger down to your nose before bopping it. You smiled and he returned it, pulling you in closer to his side. “Me and the other girls in my room, we took turns staying up at night to make sure he didn’t come in.”

“He was someone that was just born wrong I think. He never should have been allowed near you kids,” he said. “I’m grateful he never hurt you. I know that an anonymous tip is what did him in and got you moved.”

You stared at his arm and started tracing over his arrow tattoo while he cleared his throat.

“Y/N, there were a few anonymous tips that came in while you were at your worst homes,” he said. “Maybe it took six months but they came in. You always moved shortly after the investigations. I know it happened eight times. Eight out of fourteen and none of your truly bad homes got tips.”

“So.”

“Cole always knew it was you. I knew it was you. Mom knew. You never once told anyone that you made those phone calls.”

“What’s your point?”

“You had a right to go down a different path in life and no one would have blamed you. You could have let school slide, you could have gotten into trouble and then more trouble. You could have kept your mouth shut and done what might have in the eyes of a twelve year old girl been much safer. But you still left calls, still did so good in school, even getting bullied at your old schools sometimes, even with the crap you dealt with at home...some people are born wrong like I said. But some are born right. I thought you should know after all these years that I’ve always been proud of the fact you protected yourself and those other kids when no one else did. You were born right kiddo and I’m still trying to figure out how to be that way myself. Someday I hope I get there.”

“You wouldn’t have wanted me if I were bad. No one wants the bad kid. No one wanted me except for you and mom and I still don’t know why you took me back after I ran away.”

“You were our daughter. The moment you stepped in the house, you were our child.”

“But I ran away,” you said. You sat up and looked over your shoulder at him. He propped himself up on his elbows and frowned. “I was bad. If I were right I wouldn’t have-”

“Being a good person doesn’t mean you do everything right all the time. You ran away because you didn’t want to, using your words, ruin our family. You thought you were doing something to help us, even if I wish you hadn’t felt that way you were trying to do what you thought was the best thing for other people.”

“I’m not this strong person you always think I am dad.”

“I’m not who you think I am either,” he said. “I fuck up. I get mad and make mistakes and I’m not this person that knew what he was doing all along when it came to you. I was trying not to drown same as you. I was terrified you’d leave in the middle of the night for months and I had to pretend I wasn’t same as you pretending I didn’t scare you.”

“How does doing what I’m supposed to make me a good person?”

“How does doing it make me one?”

“You adopted a kid you didn’t have to.”

“Back at ya. Why are you upset I called you a good person?”

“Because doing what you’re supposed to doesn’t automatically make you one,” you said.

“That’s true but doing what you’re supposed to can get a hell of a lot harder and it did for you. You could have given up. You could have told me and mom to fuck off and left the second you were eighteen. We couldn’t have stopped you. You had your mind made up but you changed it. You tried so yeah, I’m always going to be proud of you for doing that. Your sisters and brother, they don’t know what that’s like. You had to work for it so yes you are strong and you are good and you’ve never been bad a day in your life. When I gave up last year, you didn’t so you are stronger than me and I got shit to learn from you still. That’s all I was saying.”

“You didn’t give up,” you said, laying back with a sigh. “You just...you were hurt and you saw no way to fix it. I barely had a way to fix it. You didn’t give up.”

“You didn’t stop looking for a way to keep me alive while I was thinking don’t let her be out here alone too long.”

“Like I said, you didn’t give up. You were thinking about other things,” you said. 

“I still owe you one for that,” he said as he plopped back.

“Saving your life?”

“Anything you want. Like I said, I owe you.”

“Can I have an honest answer to a question instead since you seem to be incapable of letting that shit go?” you asked. 

“Yes,” he said after a moment. “Go ahead.”

“The night I ran away, my seventeenth birthday, when we got back to the house and we talked, I told you guys I didn’t want you.”

“I remember.”

“When I said that, you took me out to the front porch. Did you regret choosing me? You’d almost lost your ability to be fosters and adopt because of me and then I turned around said I didn’t want to be there. Did it ever, for even a split second, cross your mind that you chose wrong?”

“You can be so stubborn,” he said with a chuckle. “So fucking stubborn. Mom was upset and scared and you said you didn’t want her and it broke her heart. You didn’t care. You didn’t care about hurting us. For a split second, just a second, I wanted to give you a hug. You needed one. You needed one so bad and you hid behind that angry act so well but one actor to another, I saw right through it. That’s why we went outside. So you could know that no matter how mean or much you hurt us, we’d take it because you needed to know that. That’s what your parents do. You can be an asshole and they still love you. You forgot what unconditional love was so we had to learn the hard way. I know you were scared I’d hurt you but then you gave me a hug and I knew it was going to work.”

“I was kinda testing you with that...saying I didn’t want you guys,” you said. 

“Uh, what?”

“On the road that night you said your job was to protect me. So I tried to make you as angry as possible when we got back. If you went back on your word, I knew you were like the rest of them and you were all talk.”

“Why’d you hug me then?”

“You said if I left, you would come get me again. You said you were failing me, not the other way around. You cared. No one cared about me in a really long time so I gave you a chance and mom a chance and I figured maybe they were alright in the end,” you said. You stretched out, feeling a little more sober now, the clock saying it was nearly two in the morning. “I’m gonna head to bed.”

“Okay, munchkin,” he said. You got up and went to the door between your rooms, pushing it open slowly.

“Dad.” You turned around and he sat up. “You’re really good at your job.”

“Can I tell you a secret?” You nodded and leaned against the doorframe. “I’ve never felt like a very good father. I’m gone a lot. I miss games and plays and birthdays and so much. I’m a horrible husband. Sometimes I’m surprised your mother still puts up with me.”

“Can I tell you a secret? Just because you’re not there, doesn’t mean you’re not there,” you said.

“What’s that mean?”

“It means tomorrow morning you’re gonna call and grill Arrow on how her soccer game went and you’re gonna ask Zepp how his sleepover was and you’ll talk to JJ about her media paper and you’ll talk to mom and drop hints about making plans for vacation in May when you’re secretly taking her in two weeks and you’re not physically there but you are there, get it?”

“I guess so.”

“You’re not a horrible husband or father. Trust me. I’ve met them. You’re a pretty good role model of what to want out of a parent or stuff to look for in a partner.”

“What quality do I share with Mr. Hanover?” he asked with a smile.

“You both love me for starters,” you said. He rolled his eyes and plopped back in bed. “Enjoy your hangover in the morning, old man.”

“Yeah yeah,” he said, waving a hand. “Night.”

“Night dad.”

“Good morning,” you said the next day when he knocked on the door between the rooms and opened it up. 

“Advil,” he groaned, going over to your purse and digging through it. “For the love of god I need Advil.”

“There’s some on the table,” you said as he dropped the purse. “How’s the head?”

“Horrible. I need a greasy breakfast five minutes ago.”

“I’m almost ready,” you said, pulling your socks on, slipping into your sneakers while he downed the medicine. 

“Good cause I have a surprise,” he said. You narrowed your eyes and he whistled. You saw movement at the door and then TJ was popping his head in. 

“Heard there was a hot girl in here,” he teased. You jumped up and gave him a big hug, barely catching your mom sneak past and give your dad a hug. 

“What are you guys doing here?” you asked. “I thought-”

“TJ and I were having our own little weekend and decided we missed you guys. We called dad late last night and told him we were in town and we’d meet up in the morning.”

“I got so drunk with your mom last night,” whispered TJ in your ear.

“Very similar situation happened here,” you said back. “Who’s watching the kids?”

“My mom actually,” said TJ with a smile. “She offered to come down since she doesn’t see them that much. JJ’s helping out.”

“Good. I’m glad she gets to spend some time with them,” you said.

“My dad’s not there,” he said. “Promise.”

“Well this is cute and all but I still have a killer hangover,” said your dad as he ducked back into his room.

“Give me five minutes and I’ll be ready,” you said. You went into the bathroom and threw up your hair, walking back out to find TJ munching on a bag of gummy bears. “TJ! Stop!”

“I only had like two,” he said, holding up his hands. You put your hand over your face, your parents stepping inside. “You’d think she’s you hoarding gummy bears like that.”

“Oh you sweet innocent thing,” said your dad with a laugh. 

“He only had two,” you said. TJ frowned and picked up the bag, staring at it more closely. “Babe. Those are edibles.”

“Wait. Am I about to get high?” he asked.

“Yup,” you said. “I think you’re gonna have to get that breakfast without us, dad.”

“We’ll do a McDonald’s run,” he said, your mom going over and picking up the bag, popping one in her mouth. “Hey!”

“Call room service,” she said. “TJ honey, take a seat before you forget where the ground is.”

“You were seriously gonna get high with your dad?” he asked.

“I went bungie jumping yesterday too?” you said.

“We’ll be right back with breakfast. Honey-”

“I’ll keep an eye on him,” she said. “Trouble maker.”

“I learned it from you,” he said, sticking his tongue out before he was pulling you out of the room with him.

“He okay eating two of those?” you asked.

“Yeah, he’s fine. He’ll be relaxed by the time we’re back,” he chuckled, heading down the hall with you. “Like your surprise?”

“Oh getting drunk with you is fun but I think today will be something even that can’t compete with,” you laughed.

“Probably not,” he said, stopping at the elevator. “Hey. Want to go to Cancun in two weeks?”

“We have work.”

“No, no you don’t,” he smirked. “TJ doesn’t… the kids are on school break...it’s a win win.”

“Alright then,” you said, getting into the elevator with him, the doors shutting after you. “Dad?”

“Mhm.”

“Next time you have a nightmare, you can come get me. I know yesterday on the road was scary for a second.”

“I wake you up last night?” he asked.

“I heard you and then when you checked on me,” you said. He nodded and hit the button down to the lobby. “Hey dad?”

“Yeah?”

You opened up your purse and pulled out a small first aid kit, a tiny laugh escaping him. 

“Just in case,” you said.

“Mom’s here. No nightmares tonight,” he said.

“You can still wake me up,” you said.

“You mind sending me the link to that hot wheels set TJ wanted?” 

“I can do that,” you said.

“Thanks.”

“If next time you have a nightmare, you wake me up,” you said. He grabbed your pinky with his and squeezed it.

“Got a deal,” he said. 

“Do you remember much from the truck and ER?” you asked.

“Not really,” he said. “I remember you kept squeezing my hand though. I kinda held onto that to stay awake. After getting real tired on the road that’s what I remember until I woke up in bed with you in the one next to me.”

He took hold of your whole hand for a moment and squeezed it before the doors opened and he let it go again, stepping outside.

“Come on, tall munchkin. We got some food to grab before we have some more fun today.”

________

A/N: Read the Best Friends timestamp here!

[onestowatch]

Doechii Channels Creative Mayhem on New "Crazy" Visual

Photo: Vika Petlakh

Can Doechii miss? Between viral TikTok hits and joining forces with TDE, it seems unlikely. It’s been a pretty insane time for the artist since she dropped “Yucky Blucky Fruitcake” almost a year-and-a-half ago, and things aren’t slowing down anytime soon. The Tampa artist returns this week with “Crazy,” a high-octane single accompanied by an even more chaotic visual. Over an unyielding mix decorated with seductive basslines and explosive drum tracks, the visual for “Crazy” is filled with nude dancers, an albino alligator, Doechii wielding assault weapons, and everything in-between.

In the wake of her last single “Persuasive”, “Crazy” suggests that we may be knee-deep in the year of Doechii as she continues to hold music in a headlock. Her performance on “Crazy”, however, is on a totally new level. Alternating between rapping and screaming at a moment’s notice, Doechii expresses an incredible versatility that already rivals, if not surpasses, many of her peers. On the track’s message, Doechii explains “‘Crazy’ is about un-contained power, creativity, and confidence. People call you crazy when they fear you or they don’t understand you”. Seeking to highlight the successes and struggles of the female form as it ascends to creative freedom, the C. Prinz-directed visual is a love letter to strength, perseverance, and unbridled artistry.

If somehow this is your first introduction to Doechii despite her incredible past year, then worry not, as “Crazy” is the perfect introduction to one of hip-hop’s most promising new acts. Having gone 2-for-2 with her last singles, it may be safe to say that Doechii has entered album mode, but until her next release, you can catch me with “Crazy” on repeat.

Watch the “Crazy” visual below:

[al3x1ss]

Just a Friend to You

Chapter 5: Sports

“Y/N! COME GIVE MAMA A SMOOCHIE SMOOCH!”

Y/N pushes open the door with a small duffle bag hanging from her right shoulder to see Kaori and Yukie running at her. Yukie jumps on her, hugging her tightly while Kaori hugs her side, squeezing her stomach.

“You guys act like you didn’t see me yesterday.” Y/N says, rolling her eyes but smiling.

“IT FEELS LIKE WE HAVEN’T!”

“PLEASE BECOME MANAGER AGAIN WE ARE SUFFERING!”

At this point, hearing their two managers crying, the boys stop what they were doing, turning to see the “reunion” between the three girls, seeing Y/N smushed between Yukie and Kaori with a bored look on her face.

“Ya know it never gets boring to see them like that.”

Akaashi’s eyes lift to turn towards Bokuto, seeing him still looking ahead at the three. Akaashi turns his head back, once again looking at the girls. He sees Y/N trying to shove them off, laughing in his head but only a small smile appears on the outside.

“Apparently she was practicing really late last night, know anything about that?” Akaashi turns once again to see Bokuto look at him. Looking back at Y/N he remembers last night and all that occurred, slightly praying that his cheeks and ears don’t give any sort of reaction.

“No, why do you ask?”

“Just that she would’ve told you,” Bokuto shrugged, “while I’m your best friend, she’s your BESTEST friend!” Bokuto smiles at Akaashi, Akaashi giving him back a small smile, both boys turning back to see the girls finally off of Y/N’s body.

“Huh, yeah.”

Y/N places her bag by the wall, then walked towards to the bench so see the coach smiling at her.

“Hello again, L/N.”

“Hey coach, so, how are you guys surviving without me?”

“Ugh,” he puts a hand over his heart, acting in pain, “we’re suffering.” Y/N lets out a laugh, a chuckle following from the coaches mouth.

“In all seriousness, they’re doing very well. I’m surprised Bokuto is taking on the captain role so well, along with Akaashi as his right hand man. But, Akaashi is the one to get Bokuto out of his emo mode the quickest.” Coach says, Y/N nodding along, turning to see the boys practicing again doing spiking drills. Bokuto spiked a ball, it hitting the court then flying towards Yukie.

“eY WATCH IT”

“IM SOOOOOORRY YUKIEE”

Kaori started giggling, grabbing the ball and tossing it to Y/N.

“Y/N”

“WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO DO I THOUGHT I WAS SUPPOSED TO BE RESTING” Y/N whined, stomping her feet like a 3 year old.

“OH BOO HOO SERVING DRILLS, NOW” Kaori said, coming to drag her by the wrist.

“I DONT WANNA” Y/N says, pulling back while everyone watches this unfold. She can hear Konoha basically wheezing at this point, and Yukie smacking something or someone whilst laughing.

Kaori let’s go of Y/N, letting her fall to the ground. She crosses arms and legs, still pouting, when she feels two hands lift her by the armpit.

“Come come.” Y/N struggles, Akaashi basically carrying her like a rag doll, Haruki recording the whole thing while Yamato laid on the gym floor.

Akaashi makes his way to the other side of the court, Y/N still wiggling. He plops her down, her arms crossed and her eyes staring up at him. He looks down at her with a smile, grabbing a stray ball and handing it to her. Y/N let’s out a sigh, her lips finally breaking into a small smile when Akaashi pats her head.

“JESUS AKAASHI WE GET IT WE’RE SINGLE GOD DAMN MOTHER FUCKIN SECOND YEAR HAVING A GIRLFRIEND BEFORE I DO!” The pair turns to see Yamato still on the floor.

Y/N and Akaashi separate, a blush basically tap dancing on their faces with how red it was. Akaashi rubs the back of his neck and goes back to his side of the court. Y/N sighs, holding the ball in her left hand.

“You get 5 serves. If you miss any, you’re doing a flying lap. Am I clear?”

“Yes ma’am.”

The boys missed two of the five serves, Bokuto even screaming at one of them, but the boys just grumbled, sucking it up and doing their punishment. Kaori walked up to Y/N with Yukie, placing her arm around the other two girls.

“It’s insane how they still respect you, despite being younger than most of them.”

“You just gotta work them into shape, but they respect you two as well.” Y/N says, leaning her head onto Kaori’s hand.

“I honestly think Y/N puts the fear of god into them since they know she hits as hard as some of them can.” Yukie says, letting out a chuckle.

“Speaking of, what was that with Akaashi?” Y/N turns to the girls quickly, both of them now standing next to eachother smirking, their eyebrows constantly raising.

“THAT was him treating me like a 5 year old.”

“THAT was him basically confessing to you.”

“I-“

Y/N starts to cough, becoming red once again, Yukie and Kaori busting out laughing at the girl. Yukie sighs, grabbing the other girls hand and beginning to walk towards the bench with them.

“You just gotta do it when the time is right, although please sooner than later this is hurting my heart.” Y/N shakes her head, slightly giggling. She stands, signaling that she’s going to go refill her bottle.

As she waits for the bottle to fill, her phone dings.

Practice ended after another hour, the boys now cleaning up. Y/N sat with some chips as coach approached her once again.

“So, how’s your team coming along?”

“Well, their captain is a bitch, but they are confident that they’ll win tomorrow.” Y/N says, smiling up at him at he laughs.

“Maybe I’ll let off practice, let them see how they can actually play if they don’t fool around.” He says, crossing his arms and shaking his head.

“Oh? I guess I never told you about us using the volleyball net as a race line-“

“yOu DID WHAT-“

After a brief scolding from coach, the boys came over, seeing that their old manager definitely still had a knack for giving their coach a headache.

“Practice tomorrow will be cancelled, however, I do suggest you going to see the girls game. Not only should we support them as much as they support us, but also I do want to see this one as a captain. I’m sure the now 2nd and 3rd years do as well.” The boys nodded along with what coach was saying, then turned to face you.

“Y/N!! Are you a super cool captain like me?”

“No.”

“BAHSHFBF” Bokuto’s hair fell while Kaori laughed, Yukie also laughing but trying to cheer up Bokuto by patting his back.

“I’m not a great captain, I do still fall on my ass, but we both are good captains, Bokuto,” Y/N says, walking up to him and holding out her hand, “No matter how many times we fail.”

Bokuto grabbed her hand, pulling her in for a hug, tears starting to form.

“AWWE Y/NNNNN”

“Since when the fuck were you so inspiring?”

“Yeah, usually you’d yell at us or tell yourself to “pick your ass off up the ground and cry about it at therapy.”

“HEY THAT WAS ONE TIME!”

“4 times actually.”

“I- COACH!”

Y/N and Konoha kept bickering, ending up with Konoha in a headlock and Y/N being pried off by Yamato and Akaashi. Y/N huffed, grabbing her bag along with everyone else, and locking up.

As she saw groups of people beginning to leave, she saw Keiji approach her.

“Let me walk you home today?”

“KEJEHTBT”

Y/N heard a squeal, turning to see Kaori repeatedly slapping Yukie’s arm in excitement, sighing, she turned back to face Akaashi with a smile on her face.

“Fine, but my feet hurt so you’re either taking my bag or we walk slow.”

“Or.”

“Or? What do you mean or-“

Akaashi bent over slightly, putting his bag on the ground. Y/N stared at him for a while, him obviously signaling for her to climb onto his back.

“N/N I swear to god you’re gonna give me scoliosis hurry the hell up”

Y/N climbed on, wrapping her legs around his middle and arms around his neck. He had his bag and hers draped across his shoulders as she laid her head on his back.

“Comfy?”

“Yessir, indeed!”

The two kept up chat whenever something came to mind, even showing him the picture Kaori managed to get of you guys while beginning your walk home. After a while, Y/N climbs off his back, only 5 minutes away from her house.

“Akaashi?”

“Yes N/N?” She sighs, brushing hair out of her eyes. While she debated on confessing tonight, a lot of signs were saying that it wasn’t the right time. Y/N could be anywhere with Keiji and it would be magical, but if he liked her back, she’d want it to be memorable for him as well.

“Are you gonna come to the game?”

“Of course, I want to see you spike some poor girls head again.”

“Kaaasshiiii” Y/N whined, swinging his hand in frustration.

“In all seriousness, it would be cool to see you kick someone else’s ass for once.” Y/N scoffed, giving Akaashi a light shove on his shoulder.

“That’s because you deserve it, asshole.” He scoffed back, placing a hand on his chest in offense.

“I’m the asshole?”

“Mhm!”

“Nu-uh!”

“Ya-huh!”

This went on for 3 full minutes. Bystanders stared at the pair arguing like children, meanwhile they looked like they could be college students.

“IT WAS THE OTHER DAY AKAASHI.”

“OH SO WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO DO PAINT MYSELF GREEN? I AM NOT THE MATERIAL ✨C A S H M O N E Y ✨ Y/N.”

Y/N wheezed, smacking Akaashi’s arm as they walked into her driveway, now realizing how dark it was since they probably took twice as long. Y/N sighed, the last few giggles escaping her lips. She looked at Keiji who had a toothy smile on his face, him already looking at her.

“Thank you for walking me home, Keiji.”

“Anytime, N/N.”

Y/N sighed, turning to walk to her door.

“Y/N?”

This mf better not confess right now it was a really good time-

He lifted his arms, making grabby hands at her, Y/N’s head tilting in confusion. She makes her way back over to him, coming into close proximity. He wraps his arms around her waist, turning to stuff his face into her neck. Y/N tenses up, then relaxes, wrapping her arms around his neck.

“What’s this for, Keij?” Y/N releases Akaashi, looking up at him. He turns, beginning to walk away, but turns back to face her.

“Cuz I’m a lonely bitch, Y/N. Jesus get your mind out of the gutter. Premarital hugging? Never.” Akaashi keeps a straight face, Y/N staring back at him to see who breaks first. However, they break at the same time, laughing loudly once again. After a few seconds, the lights on Y/N’s porch flickers 3 times, signaling its time for her to come in. As she goes to go up the stairs, she runs back to him a third time.

Y/N stands on her tippy toes, kissing Akaashi on the cheek, slowly sinking down.

“Thank you once again, Keiji.”

As she finally starts to go up the stairs, Y/N turns her head to face him once again, giving him a small wave which he returns.

She makes her way into the house, slipping off her shoes and running up to her room, falling backwards on her bed with a huge smile on her face.

“Heh, cute.”

Notes

Y/N likes Akaashi

This is not the first time Yukie has called herself mama Yes Y/N has called herself daddy

The girls attacking eachother was a usual occurrence

Bokuto DOES know that Akaashi was there with her, but just wanted to see what he would say

Coach would make Y/N do serving drills last year so that while she skipped her own practice, she was still practicing

Y/N thought the plural of goose was gooses, hence the GC name

This is not based on a true story please do not call me out I BEG 😀✊

Atsumu flirts with Y/N for fun, nothing serious

Everyone has pet names for Y/N, while Y/N just calls them “gooses” as a collective group

Osamu calls Y/N “doll” because the first movie they watched together was “Captain America: The First Avenger”

Osamu does NOT like Y/N

Y/N did not actually use the net as a race line

Akaashi is a VERY calm person around everyone and around Y/N, but once in a while Akaashi does get on the chaotic levels of Y/N, even if it just for a few minutes

Akaashi walked home with his hand on his cheek

Y/N squealed at 1am, remember Akaashi doing the grabby hands so he could get a hug

Y/N also realized that she had kissed Akaashi on the cheek as a moment of boldness Yes, she called the girls and Kuroo

Back to Masterlist

C. 4 <- C. 5 -> C. 6

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[13uswntimagines]

A Misplaced Shovel Talk (Uswnt x reader)

Request: I was wondering if you could do one kinda similar but instead it's where the reader is the younger sibling of a really famous actor/actress (maybe Alycia debnam Carey but I don't mind you can chose who). And the reader is always so excited to watch their show that the team think they have a huge crush on them but then find out they're actually related when they come to either training or a match?

Hey dudes, so i decided to use Melissa Benoist because i’m currently obsessed with Supergirl, and I thought it would be fun to pull in a person from the team as the readers crush. I hope you enjoy and if you have an requests, feel free to hit me up. 

You loved the bus. It was generally noisy and loud but cuddled up to your bus buddy Alyssa, you had never felt more at peace. It was also the perfect place to catch up on all of the episodes of Supergirl you had missed. You were utterly obsessed with the show, and your teammates knew it.

“Oo Who ya smiling at rookie?” Kelley asked, popping over your shoulder. You startled slightly at her surprise presence, before settling back into Alyssa’s side.

“Just Supergirl,” You said offhandedly, smiling back down at the episode playing on your phone screen.

“Haven’t you watched them all yet? You’ve been binging it for like the past 8 camps.” Kelley asked, placing her chin on top of the back of the seat and watching the episode with you.

“Mmm,” You responded, not really paying attention to your teammates, instead, focusing on the blond-haired woman on the screen. You missed the looks your teammates shared. They thought your crush on Melissa Benoist was absolutely adorable, but that didn’t mean they wouldn’t tease you about it.

“Maybe, she’s just not done watching the pretty blond,” Alex suggested, standing from her seat beside Kelley, also placing her chin on the back of the seat to watch the episode.

“That’s right. Our little rookie does have a type,” Kelley laughed, and a blush spread across your cheeks.

“I do not…”  you grumbled,

“So you’re not into superheroes?” Kelley shot back, raising her eyebrows.

“No, she’s into blonds,” Alex laughed, and your cheeks turned a bright shade of pink. Did they know about your crush? They couldn’t, right? You may have fallen for a certain blond midfielder, but you had been sure to not make it too obvious.

“You totally are!! Look at her cheeks,” Kelley giggled back, and you hid your face in Alyssa’s shoulder.

“Leave her alone guys,” She said, protectively wrapping an arm around you. The laughter quieted down, and you refocused on the storyline unfolding on the screen.

“Come on kid, we gotta warm-up before open practice,” Alyssa said, nudging you when she realized that you didn’t notice the bus emptying around you. You nodded, returning your phone to your pocket and heading off the bus. You were practically buzzing with excitement by the time you reached the locker room. Today was an open practice, which meant that your families had been invited to watch you train.

           You were incredibly close to your older sister, but you almost never actually got to see her in person due to her crazy schedule. She was always away filming in Canada, while you were stuck in Huston with the Dash. You knew that she tried her best to catch your games, and you never faulted her when she couldn’t. Sure it had hurt when she couldn’t make the world cup final, but you understood. You were thrilled that she would finally get to see your skills with her own eyes and that you would get to introduce her to the women who had become your family. You just hoped they wouldn’t tease you about your crush on Lindsey while she was there.

The girls watched as you spent the majority of practice glancing into the stands, an impossibly wide smile taking over your face. You had gone harder and pushed farther than you ever had during the scrimmage. You wanted to impress your sister, and with the 4 goals that you had scored for your team, you were sure you had.

The moment Vlatko blew the whistle to signal the end of practice, you were racing into the stands, right into the arms of Supergirl herself.

“You did so well out there munchkin,” She squealed as she pulled you into a tight hug. You sighed contently into her chest, your shoulders relaxing for what felt like the first time in forever.

“I missed you,” You mumbled into her shoulder, unwilling to leave her embrace.

“I know kid. But I’m here now,” She said quietly, placing a comforting kiss into your hair and squeezing you impossibly tighter. You leaned back suddenly, a wide smile breaking across your face.

“You have to tell me, do Kara and Lena finally get together, because there is so much chemistry there.” You rushed out excitedly, and she threw her head back laughing.

“Well,” she started, her cheeks turning a little pink and you laughed loudly at her.

Your teammates watched with shocked expressions as you leapt over the wall, and ran right up to the girl they had been teasing you about for months.

“Maybe it was more than a crush?” Pino mumbled as she came up beside Kelley, her eyes widening when you practically buried yourself in the woman’s chest.

“Damn, Kid’s got game, did you just see the look on her face,” Kelley laughed, taking in the way the woman wrapped herself around you and was blushing. How the hell had you managed to become so smooth? In their experience, you became a stuttering mess anytime anyone flirted with you. Yet there you were, flirting with your apparent girlfriend.

“She has to have something if she’s dating Supergirl. That woman is fine,” Alex Said from Kelley’s other side, wrapping an arm around her girlfriend and staring at you in shock.

“Is it just me, or is Supergirl looking at the rookie like you look at Perry’s kids,” Christen smiled as she walked up beside Tobin, bumping her shoulder and kissing her cheek.

“Definitely not just you,” Tobin smirked, wrapping her arm around Christen. They slowly made their way over to the tunnel, laughing when they saw you practically dragging your blond counterpart in that direction as well. Things were about to get very interesting.

“Hey kid, you going to introduce us to your friend here?” Megan asked as the team crowded around you and your sister. You shot her one of the brightest smiles they had ever seen.

“Everyone, this is Mel. Mel this is everyone,” You gestured wildly with your hands, too giddy to reign in your excitement. Mel laughed and kissed your cheek, and you blushed.

“Aw, you’re such a cutie pie,” Lindsey awed at you, pinching your cheek.

“I’m not cute,” You pouted at Lindsey, slapping her hand away.

“I’d beg to differ,” Lindsey laughed as Emily grabbed you in a headlock and messed up your hair.

“How many times have I told you not to mess with my hair. I’m going to kill you,” You yelled, laughing, as you began to chase Emily and Lindsey around the field. Your sister watched you chase after the women with a fond smile, and the women watched your sister with a very serious expression.

“What are your intentions with Y/n,” Kelley said after a few seconds, glaring in Melissa’s direction. Mel glanced at.

“I think we’re going out to dinner after this,” She shrugged, smiling as you finally caught up to Lindsey and tackled her to the ground.

“No. What are your intentions with her.” Alex said, crossing her arms and stepping directly into your sister’s line of vision. Melissa frowned, not understanding the aggression of the women around her.

“I think there’s been a misunderstanding here,” She started, bringing her hand up to rub the back of her neck.

“There is no misunderstanding. Y/n is crazy about you if her obsession with your show is anything to go by. And it’s our job to protect the baby of the team.”  Kelley said, drawing out each word and accessing the women in front of her. If she was playing the baby of the team, they were going to have a massive problem.

“So we’ll ask again, what are your intentions with Y/n” Alex glared at her, slowly losing her patients with the woman in front of her.

 We’re not dating, she’s my little sister,” Mel blurted out, raising her hands in a pacifying motion, her cheeks turning a deep shade of red.

“Sister?” Alex’s eyes nearly popped out of her head, her arms dropping to the side. Her mouth opened and closed a few times.

“Yeah, sister,” Mel said, cracking a smile, unable to stop the little chuckle that left her lips.

“But she blushes every time we mention a crush,” Kelley said in disbelief. Mel nodded.

“She totally has a crush, just not on me.” She mumbled, watching as Lindsey escaped your hold, and you chased after her again, a giant smile gracing your lips, “That would be weird,” Her nose scrunched and she turned back to the women. The women laughed and followed her gaze. Maybe they had been wrong about the person who your feelings were directed with, but watching you with Lindsey, it became crystal clear.

“How did we miss that?” Alex said in disbelief, her eyebrows furrowing.

“I’m not sure, but if you want to join me for the shovel talk with that one,” Mel said, pointing to where you were leaning against Lindsey, trying to catch your breath. “You’re more than welcome. You guys are scary when you want to be,” She smiled at the women. She was happy that you had people to look out for you when she couldn’t. She had practically raised you, and it killed her that she didn’t get to see you all too often. Now, she could rest easy because you had 23 other people looking out for you.

“I think that sounds like a great idea,” Kelley smirked, a mischievous look spreading across her features as she linked arms with your older sister. This was going to be fun. Tobin, Christen, and Alex shook their heads. With Mel, they were cautious because they didn’t really know her, but all bets would be off with Lindsey.

[lillywillow]

From Russia With Love

Summary: When Steve and Bucky investigate an old HYDRA base left over from World War II, they find something nobody could have ever predicted... A pilot from the legendary 588th night bomber regiment frozen in time.

 Word Count: 2117

 Square Filled: Military Base

 Pairings: Bucky x Female Reader

 Warnings: WWII warfare, slight angst

Written for @star-spangled-bingo

 Author’s Note: Although I will be using real historical people and events, some of the names and actions I will be using are fictional. The 588th night bomber regiment were an all female squadron from Russia in World War II. They were given hand-me-down men’s uniforms and poor, outdated equipment. Their planes were not designed for combat. The planes let out a whistle as it idled through the sky which the German’s thought sounded like a broomstick, giving them the nickname ‘Die Nachthexen’ or Night Witches.

 Germany, 1944. Three Polikarpov U-2 biplanes move silently through the night sky, their engines cut at the behest of the navigators. A soldier was making his rounds about the perimeter of the base when an unearthly scream pierced the air. A chill ran down his spine as he looked around. Suddenly, a shadow of a plane darkens the ground. The soldier abruptly realised what was happening.

 “Die Nachthexen!” he screamed. The base was rapidly brought to life with activity when the air raid siren wailed. Soldiers rushed to man the anti-aircraft guns as the Night Witches dropped the first bomb. Two of the planes broke formation to draw away the ground fire as the third dropped the next bomb. The last plane made a sharp turn and was able to drop the last bomb on the base. With their mission complete, the engines went back on and the planes headed home to Russia.

 Out of nowhere, a German fighter plane appeared. The biplanes were slower but their much smaller size gave them an advantage in the fact they had a tight turning ratio but for one plane, it wasn’t enough. One of the pilots cried out in pain as a bullet grazed her arm. The canvas wings of the plane were ablaze, there was no other option but to bring the plane down. The navigator held the pilot’s shoulders to steady her as they crashed into the ground.

 Dazed by the impact, the pilot held her head, feeling something wet and warm drip down her face. She turned behind her to check on her navigator whose head was slumped to her chest. She reached for her hand.

 “Yelena... I’m sorry...” Black spots swam in her vision before the darkness took over.

...

Germany, present day. Steve and Bucky were called on a mission to investigate what was possibly a HYDRA base left over from WWII. On their way in, they noticed the remains of a downed plane a few miles out from the base that nature had taken over in the course of sixty years give or take. On the surface, it had the hell bombed out of it. Steve managed to find a charred door in amongst the wreckage and went in, Bucky following behind. Underground was a rabbit warren of rooms and passageways, their secrets lost to time, waiting to be uncovered.

 “We should split up,” Steve said, getting out his flashlight. Bucky nodded and got out his own. The duo headed in, checking each and every room for anything that might be of HYDRA origin.

 This place gave Bucky the creeps and bad memories began to invade his mind; memories of when he lost his identity of Sergeant James Buchannan Barnes and given the new one of The Winter Soldier. Room after room they looked in until Steve found something.

 “Buck, you gotta see this...” Bucky made his way to where Steve called him to and whatever he was expecting, this was not it. The room was still lit with sickening fluorescent lights. In the back corner, there were two pods. One was empty, whatever test subject it held was long gone. The other had a woman still cryogenically frozen inside. Bucky placed his right hand on the glass.

 “She’s just like me...”

 “Think you can make sense of these?” Steve asked, holding up a dusty file written in German. Bucky picked them up and read through the notes. It stated the woman’s name and why she was there. There was also information on a second woman, presumably whoever was in the second pod. Apparently, they were going to be used for a programme akin to the Winter Soldiers or the Red Room but the project had been scrapped and only one of the subjects was moved.

 “I’m going to let Fury know what we’ve found.” Steve headed out to make the call but Bucky stayed behind. He couldn’t leave this woman all alone now that he knew she was there.

...

 Feeling a pounding in your head, you opened your eyes. Slowly, you sat up, looking around. You appeared to be back in your base. Funny... you didn’t remember making it back. The last thing you remembered was crashing after completing a mission. Was a rescue sent out and that’s how you got here? You spotted another woman in one of the other beds. Steadily, you got up and went over to her.

 “Come on, Yelena. We’ve got another mission,” you said, shaking her shoulder. As she sat up, you immediately noticed that this was not your navigator.

 “You’re not Yelena...”

 “No, I’m a new recruit. My name is Natalia Romanova,” she replied in Russian.

 “Well I hope you’re a quick study, Natalia. Major Bershanskaya will not make things easy for you. Now get ready. Training for you starts now.”

 As you got dressed, something struck you as very odd. Your uniform fitted perfectly like it was tailored for you and your boots weren’t oversized. It set off alarm bells in your head but you didn’t want to frighten the new girl. As you headed out, you saw an officer standing and waiting for you.

 “Who are you?” you asked, confused as to why this man would be here, especially one who looked so high up in command. Something else that you noticed was that there were planes around the base.

 “I’m your new commanding officer...” That did it. There was no way your commander would leave her girls. You managed to snatch his sidearm but even faster, Natalia had you in a headlock, one hand holding the wrist you held the gun.

 “Who are you?! Where am I?! What have you done with Yelena?! Where is my navigator?!” The pair exchanged a look and conversed in English, something you didn’t understand.

 “I can explain everything... just give me the gun,” the man prompted. Slowly, you handed him the sidearm which he put away and Natalia let go of you.

 “You have been asleep for over sixty years...”

 “What?! How?! We... we were just there... and... Yelena! Where is she? Is she okay? Is she safe?” The pair exchanged another look.

 “You were the only one we found in the base...” You broke down sobbing and straight away the man held you up as you trembled. He rubbed your back and stroked your hair which you found strangely comforting. How could you have been asleep for sixty years? It was only hours ago you were flying to drop bombs on German bases.

...

 A few hours later, you were sitting by the window of the room which had been set up for you thinking over all the new information which had been given to you. They had given you new clothes but the only ones who spoke your language were the ones you met at the fake base camp. Your thoughts were interrupted by a knock on the door.

 “May I come in?” A male’s voice asked.

 “Yes...” The man who you came to learn was named Bucky walked in with a plate of food.

 “I thought you might like something to eat...”

 “I’m not hungry...”

 “I know what you’re going through but you still need to eat...”

 “How could you possibly know what I’m going through?! Do you know what it’s like to be with friends one minute and find out they’re all gone?! To wake up in a strange place with strange people?! To have no idea what the hell is going on?!” He was quiet for a few moments.

“Actually... I do.” You were taken aback from his response. Bucky sat down on your bed and began telling you his life’s story.

 He told you about his best friend Steve who always used to getting in trouble. He enlisted in the American army the moment he could. His time in the Howling Commandos. About how he fell off the train and became a weapon for HYDRA for decades. As he spoke, his eyes began to ghost over, reliving the old memories that you could see were haunting him. You sat next to him and held his hand. Bucky hastily wiped his eyes.

 “What about you? Tell me your story...”

 You smiled softly. You told him about your father who died defending Osowiec Fortress and how it inspired you to fight for your country. When the call went out for women to fly bomber planes, you and your best friend Yelena Belsky both applied and got in, you as a pilot and she as a navigator. You flew many sorties together. Your commander Major Yevdokiya Bershanskaya was stern but fair with you girls but taught you everything you knew. You spoke about your last mission, the one you were on when your plane was shot down.

 Bucky listened to your every word, looking at you with total admiration. Most of the men looked at you with pity or distain. You couldn’t help but blush a little under his intense gaze.

 “I, um... I think I’ll have something to eat now,” you mumbled, taking the plate he brought with him. “Thank you...”

 “Anytime... if you ever want to talk, you can always come to me. Nat should be available too...”

 “I appreciate that.”

 To Bucky, those memories were a lifetime ago but to you, they were only like yesterday. It somehow felt good to share those stories with someone who understood what it was like to go through the same thing you were.

...

 The months flew by and before you knew it, a year had passed. Between Natasha and Bucky you were now fluent in English. They taught you hand to hand combat and other things you would need to join The Avengers, although, you were pretty much an ace pilot when it came to the jets. Natasha became your best friend and you frequently spoke in Russian with her. You formed a bond with Steve too once the language barrier came down, sharing war stories with each other but the person on the team you were closest to was Bucky. He taught you a lot over the months and it wasn’t long before you started dating. It was inevitable.

...

 One night, you were standing on the balcony, looking at the moon and thinking about that fateful night you were assigned to bomb that base all those years ago. You wondered if your friend was dead or alive. The team had told you they would help you find her, searching all HYDRA archives they came across and Bucky helped you to follow every lead. Your heart hoped for the best but you knew to expect the worst.

 “Hey, Doll.” You turned to see Bucky standing in the doorway. He walked over to you and put his arm around you, kissing your head. “What’s on your mind?”

 “Yelena... I can’t help but hope that I’ll find her one day. She was like my sister. Natasha has been wonderful, you all have but it’s hard being stuck in the past...”

 “Tell me about it,” Bucky muttered softly. “You know... it’s been just over a year now since we met...”

 “So it has,” you wistfully replied. “Time sure flies...”

 “It sure does... and I don’t want to waste any more of it.” You looked confused as Bucky pulled away from you.

 “When I was called on that mission to uncover an old HYDRA base, I never thought I would meet the love of my life. You’re one of the bravest, strongest, most incredibly women I know. Will you marry me?” Bucky got down on one knee and presented you with a beautiful ring. You couldn’t help but tear up.

 “Yes, Bucky, I will!” Bucky smiled and stood up, sliding the ring on your finger and kissing you.

 Who knew that a German base lost to time would connect two military personals so perfectly together?

[221bsunsettowers]

TK/Carlos: I Shake and I Shiver Just to Watch You Breathe

(Takes place during Season 2, Episode 6)

As their car pulled in, Carlos leapt out, churning up dust as he took off running. The minute he spotted the 126, he knew.

Oh. Yep. Love of my life. Following a duffle bag, spray paint and a prayer across an active loaded minefield.

And then TK leapt onto the first circle.

In which Carlos ends up at the minefield right as TK starts his journey across.

Takes place during episode 2x06, because Carlos should be in every episode, and because there was so much potential for Carlos to be there watching TK jump through an active minefield.

CW for a few swear words, panic, anxiety, explosion, fear. No blood, injuries, or medical procedures are described.

Thanks so much to @buddie-buddie  who once again was an amazing support system for me to push through the self doubt and just keep writing.

Title from Run by Matt Nathanson and Sugarland

Can also be read on a03

It definitely wasn't a secret to Carlos' coworkers he was in a serious committed relationship with a firefighter from the 126. When he could, TK would stop by the station to bring coffee and a kiss, especially if he knew Carlos was having a hard day, and Carlos was constantly being good-naturedly teased about the apparently epic heart eyes between him and his boyfriend anytime they were on the same call.

If somehow anyone didn't know by that point, the framed picture of him and TK on his desk would have given that one away.

So Carlos found his cell phone pinging over and over in the seconds before the news came over the radio. His fellow officers had tried to warn him what was coming, not that he could take much comfort in that with what he was hearing.

126. Minefield. Two firefighters attempting a rescue.

His partner didn't even hesitate before responding that they were on their way to the site.

As their car pulled in, Carlos leapt out, churning up dust as he took off running. The minute he spotted the 126, he knew.

Oh. Yep. Love of my life. Following a duffle bag, spray paint and a prayer across an active loaded minefield.

And then TK leapt onto the first circle.

Carlos felt that morning's breakfast rising in his throat, battling with his lung's sudden amnesia regarding breathing, and he was doubling over, head swimming, until he felt a pair of hands on his shoulders.

"We gotcha," Judd's voice rumbled soothingly in his ear, and Carlos suddenly found himself perched on the back of the truck, Tommy's kind eyes meeting his as she reminded him to breathe in and out. The rest of the 126 had pressed closer together, and Carlos felt Paul's shoulder tap reassuringly against his own.

"I--what even--" Shaking his head, Carlos gave up on even trying to ask how they now all found themselves at the scene of this unbelievable situation.

"They needed a medic," Marjan explained softly.

"TK said you guys filled that spot though..." Carlos turned his head to find the eyes of a man who sure as hell looked like a paramedic quickly darting his gaze away. "You son of a bitch," Carlos growled, and that was definitely not a sound he knew he could make, but that bastard stood on this side and TK was on the other, and whose fucking fault was that then.

"Carlos...." Paul's arm was around his chest, gently tugging Carlos back, and Carlos sagged, because that medic was worth nothing and TK was worth everything and wasn't that what really mattered anyway.

And then, as if on cue, explosion.

Smoke shot everywhere, and Carlos felt his knees buckle, and by the time he hit the ground they still couldn't see a damn thing. So he knelt there, holding his breath, trying to will TK's way out of the ashes, and it wasn't until Tommy's radio announced the news that Carlos let out a gasping choke of air.

Rising, Carlos dusted his uniform pants off as the Bomb Squad pulled into view and the injured teenager on the field woke up. He nodded his head at the officers he recognized, tried to smile for his patiently waiting partner, kept his shaking hands concealed inside his pockets and his relieved sobs clenched tight inside his throat. He knocked shoulders with the 126, and he knew they knew him far too well at this point to believe he was fine, but they also knew him well enough to know he was one soft touch away from crumbling.

And TK was suddenly walking towards him, that beautiful sunshine grin quickly shifting into concern as he took in Carlos.

"Los," was all TK got to say before Carlos had his arms around him, hard enough to carry him back against the rear of the engine. Carlos was whimpering, another sound he had no idea he could produce, and TK was holding Carlos together, a tight embrace and soothing murmurs and a kiss to the side of Carlos' jaw.

"Aren't you supposed to be the one shaking here?" Carlos tried to joke, eyes closed as he nosed along TK's hairline, breathing him in.

"Adrenaline crash hasn't happened yet," TK assured him, clutching his fingers in the curls at the nape of Carlos' neck. "Right now I'm worried about you, baby."

"I had to watch that whole thing, Ty," Carlos whispered into TK's skin, the crook of his neck, the curve of his shoulder. "I love you so much and I'm so mad at you."

"I know, sweetheart, I'm so sorry," and TK's hands were clutching at Carlos' back, gripping his uniform tight enough to tear, and Carlos was nodding into TK's shoulder, drawing breath in.

The crew, the Bomb Squad, the kids from the field, everyone was out of sight, blurry visions around the corner from where TK and Carlos now stood. Pulling back slightly, Carlos wiped his eyes, crossing his arms over his chest, looking down at their dust-covered shoes.

"TK, just imagine you're standing on the other side of a fence, and there I am, about to enter a field full of, let's say, snipers, to try to save someone who's already been shot.  And every time I move I throw a rock, and if that rock misses the nearest sniper, I get shot." Carlos choked out, shaking his head violently. "That's what that felt like for me to watch you on that minefield."

"Please don't ever make me imagine that," TK's voice was shaking, and Carlos met his eyes, saw them tear-filled, saw the way TK's trembling hands reached for him, and he swept TK up in his arms again.

"Please stay safe for me," Carlos whispered back, words settling along their skin as they both nodded in unison, Carlos knowing TK needed the hopeful promise just as much as he did.

"Are you still mad at me?" TK's voice was so quiet, quivering in uncertainty, and Carlos pulled back just enough to cup his boyfriend's face in his hands.

"You saved a kid's life," Carlos said, voice full of awe and so much love as he brought his forehead to bump gently against TK's. "I knew what I was getting into, Tiger, may not have seen a minefield coming, but still."

They both laughed, TK's head doing that adorable little tilt to the side, just far enough to lay a kiss on Carlos' palm. "I love you so much," TK promised, wrapping his arms around Carlos' waist, leaning into Carlos' waiting arms.

"I love you so much too," Carlos vowed back, pressing their lips together into a soft, steady kiss. Before stepping back, Carlos murmured, "And you better believe I'll be expecting a full body massage tonight since you just took ten years off my life with that stunt." He grinned as TK blushed, giving him no warning as the rest of the had been extremely patient 126 came barrelling over, and TK ended up in a combination headlock hug tackle.

"See you at home!" TK managed to squeak out from where he was currently pinned. "Love you Carlos!"

"Love you too baby," Carlos grinned, shoulders shaking with laughter as TK's hair was forcibly ruffled by Judd's hand. Turning to his also extremely patient partner, Carlos squeezed her arm gratefully. "I owe you the biggest coffee we can find."

"Oh you owe me at least three giant coffees, Officer Heart Eyes Emoji," she bantered back with a laugh and a smirk.

"New nickname for the win!" Marjan crowed, TK shrugging sheepishly as he emerged from under Mateo's arm.

Laughing as he slid back into the car, Carlos just caught her next words before the door closed. "Oh don't worry, we would never leave you out, the Heart Eyes Emoji Formerly Known as Strand!"

@i-had-bucky @bikingthroughhawkins @officereyes @highqualitykhakis @meloingly

Let me know if you would like to be added to my Tarlos tag!

[astrodances]

**SLIGHT SPOILERS for “The Fight for Castle McDuck!” ahead!**

Because writing Goldie and Louie texting is so much fun.

*****

Yet Another Secret of Clan McDuck!

Goldie both loves and hates room service.

She loves the anticipation of knowing that a nice, hot meal that she didn’t have to make herself can and will arrive at any minute, ready for her to dig into after a long day of going after her next mark. But at the same time...she hates the actual waiting.

Still, it gives her time to freshen up, relax a bit. Maybe get a movie started on the TV, or text a certain green...nephew.

Only a week ago now, Goldie found out from her sources (while heading down to the Underworld to get a certain fallen wreath) that Louie had been at The Spice-A-Torium in Instanbull the week before that, facing off against Rockerduck himself, with the help of yet another kid to add to the family list (how many did that make now?). Of course, Goldie had texted him right after hearing that to see how he fared (she knew things could get spicy at those dealings), but what she didn’t tell him is that her source had said that Louie had used her as a reference in a couple of side deals, calling her “Aunt Goldie,” and that now, people were identifying him as “O’Gilt’s nephew.”

She really should’ve reminded him not to throw out ties that casually, that people could use it against him, or even her, but...they both have reputations that protect them (and if not, well, they’d be messing with the wrong aunt then). And, if she’s being honest with herself...she likes the way “O’Gilt’s nephew” sounds.

Not that she’s going to tell him that anytime soon.

Goldie sinks into her room’s couch, her phone already out and opened to her texts, and wills her heart to ignore that increasingly-familiar familial warmth bubbling up once again. Scrooge and the kids are staying in Dismal Downs for a couple of days, and it’s bad enough that she’s planning on sneaking into McDuck Manor before they get back not to steal something, but to surprise Scrooge and Louie when they get there.

But that doesn’t mean her heart has to make a big deal out of it.

Goldie: How’s the castle, kid?

It’s getting close to midnight in Scotland, so Goldie won’t be surprised if she doesn’t hear from Louie until tomorrow on the half-chance he’s already asleep. She drops her phone to her side and picks up her water bottle from the end table, taking sip after sip.

After a minute, her phone buzzes with a message, then another, making her smile more than she has any right to.

Sharpie: Cold as ever. And y’know, we found some magical bagpipes, saved them from some bad guys, and had some statues of our ancestors come to life. Typical day. 😝

Sharpie: Also we met our Aunt Matilda.

Goldie smiles again, this time though over Scrooge’s sister. She’s met her exactly twice, both times by circumstance (her past self would never have let her get close enough to Scrooge to willingly want to meet his family), but each time ended up being a riot as Matilda would tease Scrooge for having a girlfriend, thus helping her give him hell (yet another trait of her past self). Looking back between those meetings and the first night she met the triplets, Goldie now knows exactly where the boys get their teasing gene from.

Goldie: I like her. Give her my regards.

Goldie looks up and finally takes stock of what’s on TV. Whatever channel she put it on has delved into a new movie, some comedy from the forties. She can live with it, so she turns her attention to the time on her phone just as a new message comes in.

Any minute now. Food.

But for now, she’s looking at a selfie of Louie with Matilda leaning over his shoulder, waving at the camera. They’re surrounded by bits of concrete and other debris, with their sleeves rolled up and their clothes covered in dust, and Goldie can just make out the back of Scrooge’s broadcloth coat in the background as he lifts something onto a pedestal of some sort.

Sharpie: She’s right here. She says hi!

Goldie grins and nods silently at her phone, happy to see both of them looking well, but surprised at how...awake everyone seems to be in the castle at their hour.

Goldie: Hi Matilda!

Goldie: Also: did a twister take a wrong turn in Glasgow?

Sharpie: Right. The statues? They kinda made a mess of things, so we have to fix them. There was...a lot of fighting here tonight.

She doesn’t press it, not now. She’s about to eat, and everyone there seems to be happy for now. Luckily for her, Louie saves her from having to think of something to say in response.

Sharpie: Wait, oh man, hang on.

Goldie does as told, watching with renewed interest as a few seconds pass before those three little typing bubbles pop up. Briefly, she considers that the statues have come back to life.

After more than a minute of on-again/off-again bubbles, she finds herself getting interested in the movie and drinking her water again. Just as she takes a long sip, a new text chimes in.

Sharpie: Aunt Matilda wants me to ask you, how are things in Goldieburg?

Goldie does a spit take, her water spraying out into the room and all over her phone screen. Whatever brain cells she has left are used to automatically wipe her screen across her sleeve to dry it, because she’s otherwise occupied with her face heating up and Louie’s last word echoing through her head.

Goldieburg???

Matilda’s teasing. It must be her teasing, though...Goldieburg...is definitely a new one. One she can’t even begin to imagine the origins of, though she suspects that Scrooge’s face is probably just as red as hers right now. She also suspects that another fight is starting up, and judging by the fact that Louie was able to send his last text, she’d wager that Matilda is winning.

A knock on her door draws Goldie’s attention away from her phone, but does little to calm the growing turmoil within her. Of course her food would arrive at this moment. She spares a final gawk at her phone before getting up and throwing it to the couch cushions.

It takes all remaining ounces of her self-control for Goldie to ignore the bellboy’s questioning stares at her frenzied appearance as he pushes her room service table into the room, pops open the wine for her, and tells her that she can call the front desk at anytime for them to come get the table when she’s done. She doesn’t know how much she actually tips him, but judging by the wide, bubbly grin that replaces his stare as he rushes out, her mind was far from her wallet when she opened it.

Food. Also far from her mind, for now.

Goldie snatches up her phone as soon as the door is locked again, hoping that there’ll be some explanation waiting for her.

It’s not that she’s embarrassed by the teasing - heaven knows that she’ll be the first to tease Scrooge, for any number of reasons - but this one seems so...personal. So specific. She supposed she should be flattered to affect Scrooge so much that he came up with this, whatever the circumstances. And perhaps that’s it - maybe it’s not the shock of the...uniqueness of “Goldieburg,” but rather it’s that stupid schoolgirl-crush-like warmth creeping through her veins at the idea of Scrooge getting flustered about her around his family, of him telling them about her - however involuntarily or distractedly, it seems - in a way other than a cautionary warning.

That, and Louie knows about it. Somehow, she has the feeling that this is going to be so much worse than him - any of the kids, really - calling her “aunt.”

There are notifications for seven new texts and a photo.

Sharpie: Uncle Scrooge says for you to totally read that last text and to definitely bring it up next time you see him

Sharpie: And that Goldieburg is his favorite place in the whole wide world

Sharpie: and that I should stop texting if I wanna stay in the will

Sharpie: wait what??

Goldie notices a time jump between the last text and the next.

Sharpie: Good news, I’m still in the will, thanks to Aunt Matilda.

A picture follows, of Matilda holding Scrooge back with one arm looped under his shoulder and the other holding him in a headlock. There’s a dead-seriousness in Matilda’s eyes but otherwise she looks like she just won the sibling battle to end all sibling battles. Scrooge, meanwhile, is redder than his coat, missing his hat, and looks ready to break Louie’s phone, even though there’s no way in hell he’s getting out of his current predicament, especially considering that an emu is holding one of his legs in its beak. Still, the photo seems to have been taken from a safe distance away.

(Goldie will have to ask about the emu later, when things aren’t so....chaotic.)

Sharpie: Sooooo...does this make you the mayor of Goldieburg? Or is Scrooge the mayor and you’re the leading citizen? 😂

Sharpie: Oh! Apparently there’s a Goldiesota, too!

Goldie is now very certain that she is on fire, especially with that penultimate text. It seems that she and Scrooge are both definite victims of teasing here now. She buries her head into her free hand and rubs it down her face, pausing to type out the only response she can manage right now.

Goldie: I no longer like Matilda.

Louie’s response is immediate.

Sharpie: Awww

Sharpie: But she likes you! In fact, she says she would *love* to live in Goldieburg.

Sharpie: I would, too! I can just imagine it - cons and schemes widespread, with no laws getting in the way. Infinite gold that holds its value. It’d be paradise!

Sharpie: Though I’m sure Uncle Scrooge has something different in mind.

Sharpie: Wait ew. No. Nevermind.

Sharpie: But you know what I mean.

Sharpie: 💛💛💛💛💛

Goldie rolls her eyes, and takes a deep breath. Suddenly her appetite is back, and the movie seems very captivating. She needs a distraction right now, anything to quell the butterflies. She may be warming up to the idea of family, but right now, she feels like she’s being pulled straight into the heart of the castle across the ocean, and that’s a little too much.

So she throws her phone on silent and wanders over to the room service table, taking a swig of wine straight from the bottle before lifting the tray cover on the center plate to see the juiciest-looking steak one could ever hope for, still steaming.

Culinary bliss.

By the time she finishes eating, Goldie is certain that all of Castle McDuck is asleep, or that they should be. She saw enough debris in those pictures, they’ll need the rest to finish cleaning up tomorrow. So she dares to turn her phone face-up again and take it off silent mode.

Handfuls of texts from multiple people, and several missed calls.

She delves into those from Scrooge first. As much as she doesn’t want to talk to him yet about all this - and she’s sure he feels the same way - if he tried to reach out to her, then she knows he’s going to at least provide the basic facts, without any teasing. An anchor point for her to refer to in her other texts.

Sourdough: Don’t listen to any of them, the hellions! I swear it’s not what you think. Whatever it is you’re thinking.

Sourdough: We can talk this over if you want, dear. Whenever you want.

Sourdough: Or not talk it over. I personally would like to forget Matilda ever opened her big dumb mouth.

Sourdough: Correction. Matilda does “not have a big dumb mouth and tell her that I am the best sister you could ever hope for, or I’ll serve Emu-tilda her breakfast in your hat.”

That text earns a particularly amused snicker from Goldie. She can just imagine the giant bird she saw in the picture earlier staring Scrooge down as he typed that.

Sourdough: Look, can I call you?

Goldie surmises the missed calls from Scrooge happened here.

Sourdough: Never mind. We’ll catch up after this trip. When I’m *not* surrounded by these...troublemakers. Good night, love.

The butterflies have moved from Goldie’s stomach to her heart, and an entirely new anticipation fills her with excitement. If she was a schoolgirl in this situation, she imagines this would be like having to wait over the weekend to talk to her crush on the playground on Monday. Never mind the fact that she’s not even trying to figure out how to get out of this, at least not yet, she realizes belatedly.

There’s one more text from Scrooge, sent after a time jump.

Sourdough: Do NOT believe anything you hear about Clan McScrooge!

Goldie has to stifle a laugh at that, and guesses that she’ll definitely be seeing more of “Clan McScrooge” in her other text messages. But first...

Goldie: Good night, Scroogey. 😘

She’s so tempted to send “Scroogey McScroogey,” but between that and “Goldieburg,” she really shouldn’t tempt fate when they’re all each other has in a boat surrounded by teasing family.

It takes all of five seconds for Scrooge to send back a response, one that’s so simple but enough to tune out the night’s noise for a few moments.

Sourdough: ❤️

She imagines him fumbling to put his phone back on his nightstand next to some big ornate medieval-style bed, his mind already luring him back to a deep sleep. Never mind the whole “Goldieburg” thing, it sounds like he already had an exhausting night between the fighting and the statues and the bagpipes. And the emu.

As she swipes back to see her conversations, Goldie immediately notices an unknown number with a few texts waiting for her. After reading the first one, she makes a contact for it.

Emu-tilda: Goldie! This is Matilda, Scrooge’s favorite sister.

Emu-tilda: Louie gave me your phone number to help make sure you’re okay.

Okay? Goldie pauses, a wave of uninvited guilt washing over her, and she fights every instinct to immediately switch to Louie’s texts. Instead, she wills herself to read through Matilda’s, if at a faster speed.

Emu-tilda: I’m sorry about Goldieburg and all. When I saw that it was you that Louie was talking to, I wanted to get under Scroogey’s skin a bit, so I told the bairns a tale from ages ago.

Emu-tilda: I’m sure Scrooge will fill you in, and if not, I’ll be more than happy to.

Goldie makes a mental note of the offer, and of the ensuing picture of a smiling, somewhat frazzled-looking Matilda with her arm wrapped around her emu, posing for the camera. She’ll respond to her texts later, but for now, she switches to her conversation with Louie, having to scroll back up to where he left off.

Sharpie: An update: Uncle Scrooge got out of the headlock, and is now chasing Aunt Matilda on her emu around the room.

Sharpie: Matilda’s on the emu, that is. Scrooge can’t catch his breath.

Sharpie: Oh! Now they’re in the hallways!

Sharpie: And Scrooge has a sword from the wall.

Sharpie: He’s totally defending your honor.

A blurry picture follows of Scrooge from behind, wielding a sword as he runs after his sister, a scowl clear on the visible side of his face. Goldie saves the photo - she can definitely use this later.

Sharpie: Wait no, now the emu has the sword!

Another picture, this one much more stable, follows again. Indeed, the emu has  somehow gotten ahold of Scrooge’s sword and is now chasing him through some sort of dining hall. Matilda herself even looks surprised and worried as she clutches at the feathers on the bird’s back.

Another keeper for the camera roll, if only for the sheer hilarity of it all.

Sharpie: Ok, Great-Grandma Downy is awesome. She totally just yanked the sword right out of the emu’s mouth while she was still running. Emu’s confined to Matilda’s room for the rest of the night. We’re all having some hot chocolate around a fire.

Sharpie: So, all’s well that end’s well.

There’s another time jump before the last batch of texts.

Sharpie: Right...?

Sharpie: Aunt Goldie?

Sharpie: You’re not mad about all this, are you? We’re all sorry for teasing you and Uncle Scrooge, and I know he didn’t mean anything bad by Goldieburg.

Sharpie: Are you ok?

Judging from the next few texts, Goldie guesses that this is when the missed calls from Louie came in.

Sharpie: I’m guessing you’re busy. At least, I hope so.

Sharpie: Again, it was all just some family teasing. Y’know how it is.

Sharpie: If it makes you feel any better, you can bring up Clan McScrooge the next time you talk to him.

Sharpie: Goldie?

Goldie blinks up from her phone, overwhelmed by the growing panic radiating from the texts and the guilt rekindled in herself. The idea of Louie, let alone anyone in Scrooge’s family, being this worried about her, even if there’s no actual cause for it, makes it hard to swallow and she finds herself quickly reaching for her water, chugging down the last third of it.

Y’know how it is.

She can’t say that she does. Her own family was never this close, never bounced back this easily after fights. They never...cared like this.

Maybe her heart’s right in making a big deal out of this.

After a few deep breaths, Goldie finally answers Louie.

Goldie: I’m ok, Sharpie. Was just eating dinner, had my phone on silent. Didn’t mean to scare you.

She’s very much surprised and totally-not-touched when he immediately texts back. He should definitely be asleep at this point.

Sharpie: Oh good. So, you’re not mad?

Goldie: Mad? No. Curious about the emu? Most definitely.

Sharpie: 😂😂 Understandable.

Goldie: You should be in bed though.

Sharpie: Oh I am! Couldn’t sleep yet though.

Goldie: Uh-huh. Love you too. Now go to sleep.

Sharpie: 🥰😴💛

Goldie: 💚

Not even half an hour ago, Goldie would have sworn off her impending trip to McDuck Manor in the name of not wanting to face Scrooge after the revelation of Goldieburg. But now the trip is back on, and she can’t deny to herself that she’s eager to see the ones she cares about.

That, and pay a visit to Scrooge McScrooge, mayor of Goldieburg.

[kyber-crystal]

Maybe It’s Meant To Be

Pairing: Steve Rogers x Reader

Words: ~3.7k

Summary: Sometimes, love finds people in unexpected ways. In this case, fate has extra special plans for America’s golden boy and one of SHIELD’s best agents in history. And you know there’s no running away from fate once she’s set out your futures for you. 

Warnings: mentions of violence and blood, angst, and once again, soft steve :)

A/N: I haven’t attempted a soulmate AU in over a year. this is one of my fav works but it’s really poorly written rip. The age gap between you and Steve is ~3 years. 2017 AU where they made up after the Accords :) Steve’s back with his WS look bc that suit was hot af

Tags: @pies-writes-and-more​ this is for you! THANK YOU FOR ALWAYS BEING SO ACTIVE ON MY BLOG AND FOR YOUR SWEET AND SUPER ENCOURAGING WORDS. I LOVE YOU SO MUCH. AND @marvelsswansong BECAUSE YOU'RE MY IDOL AND I LOOK UP TO YOU YOU'RE AMAZING

Soulmates.

You'd heard plenty about them growing up. Seeing your parents' perfect relationship blossom over the years piqued your interest, and for the longest time, your only wish was to find someone who could love you with their whole heart and soul and mind, like the way your Mom and Dad loved each other.

Unfortunately, as all stories must come to an end, love stories had to find their ending. And not all of them ended on a high note.

Their jobs should've kept them apart from the beginning. Your mother was head surgeon at one of the best hospitals in Brooklyn, and your father was head of SHIELD's navy division. Constantly out and about, they were rarely granted any time to rest. Yet they still found a way to make things work; and it all started because of a run-in at a café around the corner.

Then when you were fifteen, you got word that your father had been deployed overseas again, but this time, he wasn't coming back.

You had to stand there and watch your mother slowly fall apart, breaking down a little more each day until she fell gravely ill. A mere week after her diagnosis of cardiomyopathy, she passed away in her sleep.

A person's soulmark didn't appear at a specific time. It could show up at any point in their lives, when the Gods believed the time was right for them. When those Gods felt the time was right for you to find out who it was, you'd feel a slight tingle where the mark was etched into your skin.

Some people didn't receive the soulmark at all. Along with this came a sense of freedom to fall in love with whoever they pleased, but often times it would end in a loveless relationship. But they were additionally granted the ability of being able to carry on by themselves.

If your soulmate got injured in any way, you would feel the same pain that they endured. And if they died, you would carry a weight around with you for the rest of your life that slowly progressed into a disease. So ultimately, those left in the world without their soulmate would also die in the end, further proving the claim of humans being unable to live without love.

One by one, you watched your friends find their match. They would excited come up to you, goofy grins on their faces as they showed you their marks. You were happy for them in the beginning, of course. But as years went by, and you passed adulthood with still no sign of your designated soulmark, you slowly began losing hope. There was no point in looking forward to the future when you watched one fall apart before your very eyes.

Maybe it was because of your job. None of the Avengers had received their soulmarks either, asides from Tony and Pepper. But they were an exception. Everyone could see it coming from the day they first met, judging by the way they lovingly gazed at each other from across the room. It was a match made in heaven.

You believed that maybe, just maybe, you were destined to be alone. So when you woke up one morning with the burn mark on your wrist, you were taken completely by surprise.

"Hey, Tony? Bruce?" you asked, walking into the lab with a frown. "I need to ask you guys a quick question."

"Ask away, Killer," Tony nodded, using the nickname he'd given you years ago when you first joined the initiative. "What's on your mind?"

"So, um..." you fiddled with the sleeve of your sweatshirt for a moment, before pulling it up to reveal the mark, "this happened."

"That's a soulmark," he stated.

"Yeah, no shit, Sherlock," you rolled your eyes. "But why would it appear now? I don't see any sign of me meeting them anytime soon."

"When did it appear?"

"I don't know. I woke up this morning and saw it."

"Let me take a look at that," Bruce carefully took ahold of your wrist, squinting as he adjusted his glasses to peer at the mark, "huh. So it appeared last night...have you felt any side-effects?"

"Not that I know of yet, no..."

"If you start feeling any severe symptoms, I can prescribe you some medication to deal with the pain, though I doubt that's going to happen. In the meantime, we need to figure out who this could be."

"Imagine if it was someone who already died, and I'm slowly dying right now," you joked.

"No, if that were to be true, you'd be lying in a hospital bed right now."

"Does the symbol have any specific meaning?"

"That I'm not so sure about," Tony shrugged.

Bruce was silent as he began typing away for a bit, before turning the screen over to you.

"I've checked out over a dozen different sites about this, and..."

"And what?"

"Well...once both people discover their mark, they have a week to find each other before both of them disappear off the face of the earth, forever."

"Sounds like a damn time bomb to me," you muttered. "What the hell? I thought that the point of this whole thing was the gods trying to push us with someone else! Not the other way around!"

"I don't know, Y/N," Bruce sighed. "Feel free to do your own research, but everything I've read up on so far says the same thing."

"So basically, what you're telling me is I'm gonna die if I don't find out who the hell has this same mark as I do," you repeated.

"Unfortunately, yes."

"Well, I'll have to worry about that later. Got a briefing with Cap, Bucky, and Wilson in five. Fury's gonna kill me if I'm late again," you breathed out as you tugged your hoodie's sleeve back down. "See ya."

"Agent Y/N," Nick Fury gave you a curt nod as you burst into the meeting room, breathless. "I hope you slept well last night."

"Of course."

"I need you four to track down a weapons dealer in Skagway," he explained as he handed Steve a black manila file folder, "shut down the base, download the intel onto the flashdrive. You’ll be staying at a safe house in Juneau afterwards for about a week to keep things on the down-low in case something goes wrong. Simple in-and-out job."

"When are we leaving?" Sam questioned.

"You're taking off in half an hour. Suit up."

You sighed. Finding your soulmate would just have to wait, then.

...

"Y/N, look out!"

You quickly whipped around and narrowly missed a bullet whizzing past you, as Steve tugged you around the corner, an arm wrapped firmly around your torso as he hid you both behind his shield.

You gasped as you felt a sharp pain in your chest, and Steve immediately pulled away from you in alarm, gripping your shoulders worriedly. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah,” you panted, trying to steady your rapid breathing, “I’m fine. But we’re gonna have to split up from here if we wanna get the job done faster.”

“Y/N, I can’t-”

“Steve,” you interrupted, the firm tone of voice making him immediately shut up. “I can handle myself just fine.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes, I’m sure! Go find Sam and Bucky, and I’ll meet you guys by the rendezvous point as soon as I’m done. Okay?”

“Alright.” He looked around for a moment before stepping away, as if he was hesitant to leave you on your own.

Ignoring the slight ache in your chest, you parted ways, darting down the hall with your guns up and ears alert. 

From there, it was easy to fall into your usual routine. Keep all eyes and ears open; don’t hesitate, shoot on sight unless ordered otherwise. If necessary, engage powers but if not, use your fists or bullets. The mantra repeated itself over and over in your head as you followed through with your job.

You hid behind a tower of wooden crates, back pressed up against the steel walls. “Sam. Status update?”

“Controls room with Barnes, disabling all security systems. Steve’s retrieving intel from the north wing. You?”

“Outside on standby,” you murmured, keeping a finger pressed to your ear. Three technicians were loading equipment onto crates as the other six stood guard several yards away. “I make nine hostiles on the load dock straight ahead at twelve o’clock. Three dozen in total scattered around the area. Most likely preparing for an overseas arms trade. We’ll have to stop them.”

“And...done. We’re heading your way,” Bucky reported. “Be there in three.”

“Roger that.”

Exactly three minutes and two seconds later Bucky showed up, with Steve and Sam in tow. You came out from your hiding spot and began making your way towards the loading dock where the agents were stationed. They were quick to stop what they were doing and noticed the four of you approaching, whipping their snipers out and proceeding to open fire.

...

Your breath came out in white wisps of fog as you got caught in between a fistfight with one of the three dozen men on the docks, the freezing cold slowing all your movements and making them feel more sluggish than usual. If it weren’t for the thick material of your suit and your enhancements, you would’ve succumbed to the harsh weather hours ago.

The man captured you into a tight headlock with his thick arm but despite your frostbite you were too fast; you quickly whipped around and grabbed his wrist, twisting it to the side. His eyes widened slightly as he cried out in pain, the sickening crunch of bone echoing through the frigid Alaskan air as you swiftly dodged each one of moves as he attempted to come at you, countering with a sharp right hook to his jaw. 

His body slumped to the ground with a thump. 

“Why the hell do you even carry around a sniper if your fists do all the work for you?” Sam yelled over the cacophony as he released Redwing, swooping down from the rooftops. “Seriously, you don’t need guns! You’re strong enough as it is!”

“I prefer versatility in fights, Wilson!” you yelled back, grunting as you dodged a blow to the stomach, sweeping out your attacker’s feet from underneath him as his head smacked against the wall, before sliding down to the ground with a dull thud. 

“Y/N, look out-” Bucky called out, but it was too late. You didn’t get to hear his warning in time before you felt something cold and hard hit your lower abdomen. A yell of pain ripped through your throat as you felt a sticky warmth spread across your skin, your knees hitting the ground as you clutched the wound.

At that exact moment, Steve felt a sharp pain flare up his side as well. “Shit,” he cursed to himself, “Buck, cover me so I can get to her.”

You were barely clinging on to life by the time he reached you. Your breathing was heavy and labored, your eyes beginning to roll back as you struggled to stay awake. Everything hurt. Your arms and legs felt like they were weighed down with bricks. You couldn’t move. You couldn’t open your mouth to scream, either - you had no energy left to do so.

“Come on, Y/N, stay with me, please stay with me,” he muttered as he began carefully applying pressure to your wound. You let out a hiss of pain at the same time he did. “Just hang in there for me, please. Sam’s getting the Quinjet ready. We’re gonna get out of here in just a few minutes, okay? Please don’t die on me.”

“Look, if I don’t make it-”

“Don’t say that,” he spoke in between clenched teeth while fighting back tears of his own, “you’re not going to die. Not today, not tomorrow, and certainly not on my watch.”

“Steve…” you croaked out, the stinging from the wound almost becoming impossible to bear. Your eyes were becoming heavier by the second, your body throbbing painfully now that all the adrenaline had worn off. It was a struggle just to take in a single breath and to stay awake. "I'm so tired, I can't do this anymore..."

He disappeared from your line of sight as your began seeing spots at the edges of your vision momentarily, before reappearing and pulling you into his lap, trying to put pressure on the area of injury again in an attempt to stem the bleeding. But it didn’t seem to work. There was so much blood. So much of it, coming out so fast. There was no way you’d last out here for longer than ten minutes before bleeding to death.

"Stay with me..." he murmured as he looked up around him. "Hang in there for a few more minutes, please…Damn it, Sam, how much longer is this gonna take? Y/N’s down. We gotta get her to the safe house as soon as we can. She’s bleeding out.”

"Three minutes, tops. I’m circling the perimeter as an extra precaution," Sam replied. "You guys hang tight for a sec."

"We don't have time!" he raised his voice. "Just hurry the hell over here."

"I'm so sorry," you choked out before going into a coughing fit, blood dripping down your lips and chin much to Steve’s alarm. "I'm sorry for everything, I'm sorry for being reckless and not keeping a look ou—"

"Shhh, it's okay," he soothed, "There’s nothing to be sorry about. Just save your energy for later, okay? You're gonna be just fine."

"Hold my hand," you begged hoarsely.

"I already am," the super-soldier answered, but his look shifted to that of an alarmed one when he realized you couldn't feel it. "Y/N—"

"I'm cold," you said weakly, already feeling your limbs grow heavy and numb and your vision growing blurrier with each passing second. "I'm so tired, Cap, I just wanna sleep—"

"No no no, please don't leave me," he pleaded as he felt his head begin to spin as well. Where had the sudden wave of dizziness come from? "Hang in there for a little longer, please, I l—"

You didn’t get to hear the rest of his sentence before your eyes fluttered shut and everything went dark.

...

When you came to, your throat felt dry and raw, the metallic taste of dried blood around your lips and chin overwhelming your senses as you adjusted your eyes to the harsh bright lights streaming into the room. It looked like you were in some sort of antique coastal house, strangely void of belongings with the only decoration being a plain floral calendar hung on the wall opposite you, above the fireplace.

You were still in your suit, but your wound had been treated and wrapped up in a thick set of bandages. The couch you were on was old but extremely comfortable, so you found yourself not wanting to sit up at the same time you wanted to get up and look around.

The blinds were drawn shut, but the sunlight still managed to shine through. It was light outside, but you  weren’t sure what time it really was. The walls were a dull grey, and if you listened hard enough you could hear the faint ticking of a nearby clock and probably Bucky or Sam talking on the phone upstairs with someone in hushed whispers.

You finally pulled yourself up into a sitting position, glancing around at your surroundings. Someone quietly entered the living room and you looked up to see Steve. His shoulders sagged in relief upon seeing that you were awake.

“Hey,” his voice came out so softly it took both of you by surprise. You moved over slightly to make room for him to sit. “How are you feeling?”

“Like crap,” you groaned lightly, feeling a dull ache in your stomach where you’d been hit. “But other than that, I’m fine. What about you? Did you get hurt anywhere?”

“Body aches that come and go, but I’m fine. It isn’t your place to be worrying about me right now though, Y/N. You got shot.”

The curtains fluttered and a cool breeze rushed in, making you shiver. Steve took notice and stood up to go light up the fireplace, then sat back down and wrapped the fleece blanket around your body. You let out a small sigh of contentment. “Thanks.”

“Are you sure you’re alright? You knocked out for over twenty-six hours .”

“I’m fine, Steve, just tired...hey, how’s Bucky and Sam?”

“Sam’s upstairs radioing Fury on the mission status. Bucky’s taking a nap in the guest room.”

“Oh. Okay. So, I-” you were interrupted by a sharp stabbing sensation in your wrist. “Ow. Fuck.”

“Language,” he joked lightly, but when he saw the obvious pained expression on your face, his face fell. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing. Just...I get those random pains from time to time. I don’t know why, but...they’ve gotten worse since we took off for Skagway and then came here...”

“I’m so sorry,” he apologized, eyes glassy with unshed tears, “I should’ve kept a closer watch over you. I’m so sorry.”

“It’s not your fault. It’s mine...I should’ve watched my own back better.”

You both fell into an awkward silence for several minutes before he spoke up again, the realization finally dawning on him. 

"Y/N."

"What?"

"Your wrist."

Your brows furrowed in confusion as you looked down and saw the star glowing brightly, sending a white-hot pain down your arm. "What about it?"

Steve pulled at his shirt's sleeve for a few seconds before lifting it up to reveal the same exact symbol.

"We're soulmates," you breathed out, the realization hitting you like a flash flood.

"Yeah, I guess we are, huh," he smiled softly.

“W-when did yours appear?”

“Monday afternoon.”

“Mine appeared in the morning...I showed it to Tony and Bruce and they said I had a week to find who it was or both me and my soulmate would die. So I guess we got lucky, huh? Only four more days, then...”

“Yeah, we did,” he exhaled. “I’m glad you’re the one. I can’t imagine living out the rest of my life with anyone else.”

“But Peggy...”

“She found her soulmate decades ago,” he explained, “which explained why our relationship was so short-lived. I didn’t expect to find mine...especially not after coming out of the ice. Maybe I had this coming from the get-go, I’d wonder...”

“Then how come they’d appear now?” Your brows furrowed together in confusion. “I don’t get it. We’ve known each other for years.”

“Because it was only this year that I accepted it.”

“Accepted what?”

“That I’d fallen in love with you, and I kept that inside for far too long.”

“You...what?” You were officially rendered speechless. 

“Yeah,” he chuckled lightly, face breaking into a gorgeous, million-dollar grin before turning serious again, lowering his voice. “Y/N, I’m in love with you. You are my infinity and I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life with you. You’re my present and my future, and I hate that I couldn’t see that sooner. I should’ve known from the start that Peggy and I wouldn’t work out, but I never understood why...until I met you. I didn’t believe in the concept of soulmates because I felt I was undeserving of that love, but then you came along...and I started hoping and praying I’d find someone who’d love me as much as I love you. So now that I know for sure it’s you, that it always has been and always will be...I couldn’t be more happier that you’re my soulmate.”

You didn’t realize you were crying until he reached forward to brush your hair away from your face and wipe the stray tears that fell, before wrapping an arm around you and gently pulling you towards him.

“God, I made you cry, I’m so sorry,” he choked on a sob of his own. “I’m the worst.”

“I’m not mad at you, Steve,” you sniffed as you wiped your nose with your sleeve, and looked up and cracked a small grin. “You’re just so cheesy.”

“Can I kiss you?” he whispered, so quiet you almost didn’t catch what he said. 

“You can kiss me any day, Captain,” you smiled.

“I love you more than you know.”

“I know. I love you too.”

He then brought a hand up to cup your face, allowing his thumb to lightly skim against your cheek, his warm breath fanning against your skin.

When his lips met yours, it was like you were turning back the clock. Everything in the world stopped and held its breath,  and all the hurt, all the sadness and heartache and pain bottled up inside your body, washed away.

...

BONUS

“HOLY SHIT, Y’ALL ARE SOULMATES?”

The sound of Sam’s screeching made you finally break apart for air. You could’ve been like that for two minutes, two hours, or two weeks, you weren’t sure.

You blushed and quickly averted your gaze. 

Steve’s face was as red as a tomato. “Yeah. We are.”

“I KNEW IT! I KNEW SOMETHING WAS GONNA HAPPEN BETWEEN THEM SOON! PAY UP, BARNES! YOU OWE ME TWENTY BUCKS.”

“Come on, man,” Bucky groaned, reaching into his jacket pocket and pulling out a crumpled twenty-dollar bill. “We’re gonna head back home soon, anyways! And you’re not even poor.”

“A bet’s a bet, Barnes.”

“Of course you two bet on it,” you groaned. “Classic Sambucky activity.”

...

NINE MONTHS LATER

“I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride, Captain Rogers,” Fury announced, a rare smile gracing his normally stoic features. 

Steve did his best not to break down sobbing as he slid the ring onto your finger. With the backdrop of the waves gently crashing against the shore and the sun slowly sinking lower and lower into the horizon, he leaned down and cupped your face in his hands, passionately pressing his lips to yours. Your soulmarks glowed brightly in tandem, lighting up in a brilliant gold hue. 

Needless to say, there wasn’t a single dry eye in the house.