#she is the best thing that's ever been mine

[formula-ghost]

Wildflower (OP81 x fem!reader x LN4)

Chapter 1

SERIES SUMMARY: You’ve been best friends with Oscar Piastri since you were seven, far before the dream of Formula 1 even seemed possible. You’ve been with him from the very beginning—due, in no small part, to the fact that you’ve been in love with him since you were a teenager. But when a breakup and championship battle rattles the very foundations of your friendship, you begin to question if you ever really knew him. (Best friends to lovers, based on the song Wildflower by Billie Eilish)

WORD COUNT: 11.1k

WARNINGS: Oscar is not a very good boyfriend to Lily and Lily is not a very good girlfriend to Oscar. Potentially changed some dates (I think Oscar and Lily started dating when they were 17 or 18, but I’m making them 18 for the sake of the flashback scenes). Reader is “the girl he told me not to worry about” through no fault of her own. This story has a lot of complex character dynamics and everyone is flawed! References to sex but no actual smut.

A/N: Ah new series! I hope this is good—I’m trying some new stuff with the flashbacks and story layers, so I hope it doesn’t read too confusingly! Also, I’m trying to be more intentional with showing instead of telling with my dialogue and such, so hopefully that is an improvement. I always welcome constructive criticism, but either way, I hope you all enjoy this.

“Lily left me.”

He only needed those three words to convey the gravity of the situation. On the other end of the line, you were silent. He was too. What was there to say?

No, it couldn’t be real. Oscar and Lily were inseparable. The dream couple of Formula 1. Your best friend had been in love with her since the pair were 18, attending boarding school in the UK together while Oscar pursued his dreams of making it to F1. 

They were each other’s everything. At least, that’s what the world thought.

But you had seen this coming for a while now. It was just a shock for it to actually happen. 

Finally, after an eternity, you spoke, still too shocked to formulate a coherent thought. “What do you mean?” you asked.

“I mean she fucking left me. What else do you want me to say?” You could hear the quivering in his voice, giving away the sadness behind his abrasive response. You weren’t offended one bit. 

“Shit, Osc, I’m so sorry. I… don’t know what to say. Do you want me to come over? Or you can come to mine?” 

“I’m outside yours right now. In the car park.” 

“I’ll let you in,” you said. The mental image you conjured of Oscar outside your apartment crying in his fancy McLaren would have been comical, if not given the circumstances.

He let himself in only a few moments later, hoodie covering his tall and muscled frame. He was soaked from the rain outside—he must have come directly from the confrontation. 

“Oh, Oscar,” you said, pulling him into a hug, cringing at the contact with his soggy hoodie, but knowing that there were far more important things to be worried about. 

You rubbed your hands up and down his shoulder blades that now heaved with sobs. His entire body shook with the fervor of his tears, and you just held him, gently shushing him and promising that everything will be okay. 

“I don’t know how she could do this to me,” he said, gasping out the words between haggard breaths. “The championship—I can’t do it without her.”

“I know,” you assured him. “It’s gonna be okay.”

“No it’s not, YN, it’s not gonna be okay. I love her. And she just threw away so many years.”

“I know.” You just kept assuring him, tightening your grip on him as his sobs became more intense. “Just breathe.”

“Why would she do this to me?” he asked. “I don’t understand. I don’t know what I did to deserve this.”

You knew. And deep down, Oscar did too. That was a conversation for another day. But he’d be lying if he said he hadn’t seen this coming. 

You didn’t have it in you to lie to him. You had always been the type to pride yourself on being honest, even when the truth hurt, but you couldn’t bear to do it now. You changed the subject.

“Oscar, you’re soaking wet. I’ll find you something else and warm that up in the dryer, yeah? Just sit down, take a deep breath, and let me get this figured out.”

He sat down on your couch and took off his hoodie and t-shirt underneath, revealing his toned body. It wasn’t anything you hadn’t seen before—you’d been friends with him since you were seven, growing up together. He almost felt like a brother to you, sometimes.

Maybe it wouldn’t be weird at all, except for the fact that you’d been in love with him for over a decade now. 

But right now that didn’t matter. He had plenty of old hoodies over in your apartment, which you carefully folded every time he forgot them. Placing his wet clothes in the dryer and setting the temp on high, you reached to the shelf above you and grabbed a random one. You unfolded it—an Alpine hoodie from back in the day, before his time at McLaren. You smiled at the memories that flashed in your mind, before quickly returning to Oscar with the garment. 

He had moved from your couch to your bedroom, holding a pillow on his lap, hunched over where the top of it met his chin. He was staring off into space, not breaking his gaze at the plain white wall.

You sat next to him, handing him the hoodie, and he mumbled a small thanks as he grabbed it. He didn’t put it on, instead just holding it with the pillow, as if filling his arms with the plush material would fill the hole now left in his heart.

“Oscar, I… don’t have anything profound to say. I’m so sorry.”

He didn’t respond at first, instead just silently letting the tears well up in his eyes. 

“I guess I should have seen this coming,” he said quietly. 

You paused, unsure whether or not you should agree with him. But you were nothing if not honest.

“Yeah,” you said, “it’s been a rough few months.”

“I guess we just both fell out of love.”

“I mean… how did the conversation go?”

It would be stupidly easy for Oscar to lie and say he didn’t remember Lily’s every word. But he knew better, and so did you. As he explained, the memory replayed in his head.

“I can’t do this anymore, Oscar,” Lily said, a simple yet devastating statement.

“What do you mean? What’s wrong?” His confusion was genuine, much to the chagrin of his angry girlfriend.

“The fact that you even have to ask that proves my point.”

“Lily, talk to me. I don’t know what you’re trying to say.” Oscar stood up, now understanding the full gravity of the situation he found himself in. 

“I’m trying to say that I’m not happy anymore, and neither are you. I wanted to at least give it until the end of the season, but I can’t keep pretending that everything is okay when we both know bloody well that it’s not! Don’t you want something better than this, Oscar?” Lily pleaded. 

“I just want you. That’s all I’ve ever wanted.”

“Don’t lie to me. You say that but you put everything else before me. I’m not a priority to you. I haven’t been in a long time.”

“I’ll quit F1. We can go back to the UK and live a normal life.”

“No. We both know that you wouldn’t do that.” Her tone was incredulous, twinged with a slight anger at the mere suggestion. 

“Yes, I would. I’d do anything. Don’t do this, Lily. Not now, not when I need you the most.”

Lily grabbed his hand, leading him to sit down on the couch next to her. “Oscar,” she began, “we had a good run. You made me so, so happy for so long.” She reached up to gently cup his cheeks and wipe away where tears were now forming at the edge of his eyes. “I saw you achieve things that neither of us ever thought were possible. But…I can’t stay any longer. Not when there’s no place for me in your heart anymore.”

You sighed. You knew every word that Lily had said was right. But you also knew you couldn’t get that through to Oscar, at least not until the shock wore off.

The words remained unspoken. You had been there for all of it. Lily was his first love, his only girlfriend, and everyone assumed that he’d marry her one day; you included. 

“I just…I don’t know how I’m supposed to go on acting like my life didn’t just fall apart. How did you do it?”

This was Oscar's first breakup, but you had been through too many, it seemed, since he was asking you for advice on how to handle them.

The truth? It was very easy to get over a breakup when every partner you’ve ever had was a feeble attempt at denial. When they all inevitably failed, you just went back to bask in Oscar’s platonic love. It was enough. 

“I won’t lie to you, the first one is always hell. You feel like you’re going crazy for a while. You lose hope that you’ll ever feel happier, because everything reminds you of them. And then one day it just…doesn’t. The only thing that heals it is time and finding love around you, you know, friends and family.”

“No offense, but that doesn’t make me feel any better.”

‘Well, I’m not going to lie to you and say it’ll be easy, because it won't. But it will be okay—not today, but someday. You’ve got something to focus on with the championship. And I’ll be here.” You gave him an empathetic smile. 

Maybe you weren’t the most comforting friend to most. But you and Oscar had a bond that was very different to most friendships. You understood each other’s idiosyncrasies in ways no one else could. So when shit hit the fan, it was always each other that you went to.

You continued, “You can stay here as long as you like.”

“Thank you.”

There was only one problem: your apartment only had one bed. And to the dismay of fanfiction writers across the world, you all would not be sharing it. 

You distracted Oscar by cooking a meal and watching a comfort movie—Cars, a classic. You could tell he was exhausted by the way his head on your shoulder sloped just a little too heavily downwards as the credits rolled. 

“Okay, let’s get you to bed,” you said, gently pushing him awake. He sleepily stumbled back into your bedroom and collapsed on the bed, almost instantly falling back asleep.

You took the couch, but despite the money you spent splurging on the extra cushioned sofa, no sleep came to you. 

It wasn’t any physical discomfort that fueled your insomnia, but rather, the events of the previous evening. Lily had actually left Oscar. She had finally pulled the plug.

Yes, in some ways, it was expected. But at the same time, you couldn’t imagine a version of your best friend that wasn’t madly in love with his girlfriend. 

From the outside, though, you couldn’t blame Lily one bit. You wondered what had been the last straw. 

You could think of three possible moments. First: The Apartment. 

“I’m moving to Monaco,” Oscar began, and you felt your heart drop in your stomach. Of course, one day he’d make it to Monaco. That was the dream of every Formula 1 driver, right? The beauty of the French Riviera and tax evasion. And you’d be left at your aging flat in the UK, waiting for those precious few days a year where he was free to grace you with his presence. 

“That’s amazing!” you said, only half believing it to be true. 

“In a few weeks I’m gonna go look at condos. Come with me? Lily can’t get off work.”

“Of course,” you replied. You’d already been to Monaco before for Oscar’s races, but you wouldn’t turn down any reason to get out of the constant dreary rain of the UK. 

You felt like a celebrity as you coasted through the Monte Carlo streets in the passenger side of Oscar’s McLaren, on your way to tour fabulous properties for your best friend (the actual celebrity). You breathed in the saltwater breeze, fresh and tinged with the air of wealth and splendor.

But it hurt your heart to know that you were helping your best friend leave. You imagined him getting up and doing his morning runs along the harbor, the sun blazing down the strained muscles on his back. Then you laughed to yourself at the thought of Oscar, the pastiest Aussie you knew, getting sunburnt. 

At the first property you met the realtor, who (after mistaking you for Lily; not the first time, and certainly wouldn’t be the last) took the pair of you to different condos throughout the day. 

Oscar decided on the final one you saw; two bedrooms, plenty of natural light, and a great view. Elegant, refined and practical—just like Oscar himself. 

The realtor handed him the paperwork and left as you stood on the balcony, looking at the beauty of the city before you. You were quiet, unusually so, and Oscar noticed. 

He sat the paperwork on the kitchen counter and walked onto the balcony next to you. “Beautiful, isn’t it?”

“Yeah,” you said, your voice lowered. “You’re gonna make such beautiful memories here.”

“Are you getting sentimental on me now?”

You smiled and laughed. “A little,” you admitted, “I can’t help it. I’ll miss you all.” 

“You could always come with us. You seem to like it here,” he teased, tilting his head toward the edge of the balcony.

“You’d have to give me a raise if I was gonna afford Monaco rent prices.” You’d been running Oscar’s merch store and social media for the past few years, making a great wage, but nowhere near the immense wealth you’d need to call a place like this home. You joked with him, knowing Oscar actually had nothing to do with how much you got paid. 

“I would if I could. But, I mean, if you had a place to stay it wouldn’t really be that bad.”

“Are you suggesting I move into your guest room?”

Now he laughed. “No, but I’m just saying, if you had an apartment, you could make it work.”

You raised an eyebrow, confused, but trying to go along with the joke. “Well, sure, but apartments don’t just appear out of thin air.”

“You never know.” Oscar scratched the back of his neck and looked away, a sign of the awkwardness that now blanketed your moment on the balcony. 

“What are you getting at?”

“Well, theoretically, if someone were to have a spare apartment that they weren’t using, you could live there and Monaco would be a reasonable place to live, no?”

You didn’t answer his question, instead just giving him another confused glance until he gave up whatever he was trying to say. He still couldn’t meet your gaze. 

“Look—I don’t want to live so far away from my friend. Is that such a bad thing?”

“Oscar, you…”

“I got you an apartment.”

“You… bought me an apartment. In Monaco.” It came out more like a statement than a question, evidence of your shock. He reached into his pocket and dug out a key, holding it out to you.

You just looked at him with an incredulous expression. “Oscar, I can’t accept that.”

“Why not?”

“How much was it?” 

“I have more than enough money.”

“Answer the question.”

He pursed his lips and shrugged. “About 4 million?” 

Your eyes widened in shock. “Before you say anything,” he began, “I made over 30 million last year. I have more money than I’d ever know what to do with, so why not just spend it all on the people I love?” 

“Oscar… I can’t, that’s too much.”

“Will you at least go look at it with me? Actually, I’m driving, so you don’t have a choice,” he joked, walking back into the apartment. “Let’s go.”

You sighed, smiling to yourself. There was no way you could let Oscar buy you a 4 million dollar apartment, but also, how could you not? The wind whipped through your hair as you rolled down the window of his McLaren, drinking in the beauty of the city around you. 

The apartment was smaller than the one he had picked for himself and Lily, but you didn’t mind one bit. It was perfectly cosy, and God, the view was spectacular. You could see the whole city from his apartment, but here, you could see the water. You stepped on the balcony and took a deep breath, taking in the sound of the ocean waves beneath you. 

Oscar followed you. “It’s a bit small, but I figured you’d like the view.”

“Oscar…”

“If you really don’t want it, I can rent it out. But I’d much rather have you close.” He held out the keys again. “What do you say?”

You could have told him you needed more time to think about it, but deep down, you already knew what you wanted. You took the keys. “Thank you. Thank you so much, Oscar. Seriously.”

“No need to thank me.” He smiled.

Back in the UK, he showed Lily the photos he had taken of the condo he had chosen for them as they went over the paperwork one last time.

He grabbed the pen to scratch out one of the boxes Lily had checked, hoping she wouldn’t notice. 

“Oh, did I mess something up?” Shit. She leaned over his shoulder, reading the paperwork aloud. “Please indicate if you own any additional properties in the principality of Monaco.” She looked at Oscar. “You already have a property there?” 

“Oh, erm, yeah,” he said, hoping the conversation would end there. 

“How come I never heard about this?” 

“Um, I just got it a bit ago.”

Lily could sense her boyfriend’s hesitancy. “Is this something I wasn’t supposed to know about?”

“Oh, no,” he said, “it’s not like that. I just didn’t think to mention it.”

“So, what is this property?”

“An apartment.” 

Lily hated feeling like she was having to interrogate Oscar, but clearly there was some piece of the puzzle missing that was causing his reluctance. 

“An apartment?” she questioned. “You got another apartment?”

“Yeah, I, um,” he looked at the ceiling while scratching his neck, a clear sign of his nervousness, “I was planning on giving it to YN.”

“You bought YN an apartment in Monaco? When were you planning on telling me about this?” 

His walls of defense had finally broken down. “It’s not a big deal. I made more than enough last season, I could afford it.  And it’s just easier to have her there for the brand shoots and media stuff. Plus, I mean, she came to London to support me after graduation, even though I know she hates it here. I just figured I should repay the favor.”

“...Okay,” Lily began, her voice tinged with skepticism. “So, you do realize what this looks like, right?”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, my boyfriend bought an apartment for his “best friend” and tried to hide it from me. That’s the kind of thing cheating husbands do in movies, buy an apartment for their mistress for her to keep it quiet.”

Oscar wasn’t sure what annoyed him more, the air quotes Lily placed around “best friend” or the insinuation that he had been unfaithful. 

“Lily, seriously? I’m not cheating on you, I love you and you know that.”

“When were you going to tell me about this?”

“I don’t know, I didn’t think it was that big of a deal. You know YN and I have been friends forever, it’s not like I did this for some random woman. I don’t appreciate being accused of lying.”

“But you were lying by omission.”

“Lily—”

“You know, nothing against her, but one of the reasons I was looking forward to this move was having more…us time. Without YN.” 

The statement brought a bitter taste to his mouth. Despite what she had said, it seemed like Lily did have something against you.

“You know, this kind of thing is why I was putting off telling you about it.”

“What are you saying?” she asked. Oscar knew he was tempting fire, but he didn’t care.

He continued, “You’re freaking out because I did something kind for a friend. I’m allowed to do whatever I want with my money.”

“I never said you weren’t, and I’m not freaking out. But I guess I’m just such a horrible person for saying I want to spend more time with my boyfriend.”

“If you’re putting down my “best friend” to do it,” he said, mocking her air quotes, “then yeah, that’s not cool.” 

“Oscar, you’re being so…weird about all of this. I’m not insulting YN. I just want to spend more time with you.”

“We’re literally going on vacation in February!”

“With friends. You invited your friends to our romantic getaway, Oscar.”

“You know I only have so much time off during the off season, and I’m spending most of it with realtors and accountants and eight thousand other people preparing us for this move. God forbid I want to invite my friends to Italy with us. Not everything can be just us, Lily.”

“Okay,” she sighed. “I’m done with this conversation.”

The second next instance you could think of happened on the trip.

It was a beautiful getaway to the Amalfi Coast, your dream destination that you’d somehow never made it to.

The group of Oscar’s friends, including you and Lando, had plans to come and go, with everyone being gone before the fourteenth so that Oscar and Lily could have their Valentine's Day date. Of course, you knew nothing of the arguments they’d had in the past about this, but you had common sense enough to not be a third wheel. Oscar thought this was a good enough compromise. 

Well, he thought. 

From the moment he picked you up from the airport, you could tell that the energy was different than usual. He blamed it on jet lag, but you knew better. You knew your best friend too well.

It didn’t take you long to figure out the problem was between him and Lily. She was colder towards him; not enough for anyone but you and him to notice, but still there and undeniable. 

Even weirder was Lily’s…preoccupation, it seemed, with pointing out single and attractive men to you. It wasn’t a hushed reality that you were single, and had been for some time. You'd given up on dating a long time ago—you knew that you had already found the love of your life, and he just happened to be Lily’s boyfriend.

But, of course, you’d never tell anyone this. Lots of people were confused because you seemed so fine being single. But you thought that Lily, one of your best friends (at least, by association), would know that you weren’t really interested in meeting anyone. 

You sat with Lily in a restaurant overlooking the coast, the balcony having been rented out by Oscar for one of your last dinners. You all were waiting for him and Lando to join you, passing the time by ordering wine and appetizers.

“He’s cute, isn’t he?” Lily said, gesturing her head to your waiter that was walking back into the main restaurant. 

You didn’t really know what to say. You glanced at him through the glass wall. “Lily, he most definitely plays for the other team, if you know what I mean,” you joked, reaching for a slice of bread on the table. “I didn’t know that was your type.”

“Well I don’t mean for me, I meant for you.”

You chuckled. “For me?”

“Well, yeah. Don’t you want to get yourself a hot Italian man?”

“I’m perfectly happy being single.” You tried to diffuse the awkward conversation, keeping a kind tone in your voice as you ate the bread and looked into the distance at the coastline.

“Oh, come on. We’ll get you someone, don’t worry.”

“I really am fine being single.”

“You know who else is single?” she asked, clearly ignoring your protests. “Lando!”

You laughed aloud. “Oh God, no. If I wanted to be cheated on, I would have stayed with my ex. Besides, Oscar would kill him.”

A curious fact: Oscar had never approved of a single person you had ever introduced him to. You had to spend hours talking him out of running over your ex with his F1 car after you found out about his infidelity. 

“Oh, who cares what Oscar thinks? I think you should go for it,” she said, watching as the waiter returned to pour your glasses of wine. 

“Lily,” you said, holding your glass, ready to take a sip, “I don’t want to be in a relationship, like, at all. It’s just…not for me.” You sipped the wine, but through the reflection on the glass, you could see that Lily had pursed her lips in an expression you couldn’t quite read.

“If you want me to stop third-wheeling you and Oscar, you can just say so,” you joked as the boys made their way to the balcony to join you. 

You didn’t know it, but your joke cut deep in Lily’s heart. 

Nothing was said about it during the dinner, but Lily’s strange energy continued. It quickly became uncomfortable how much she was pushing Lando and you to interact. 

And when you all made your way to a local nightclub after the dinner, it didn’t get any better. Lando quickly got himself lost in the crowd, and you were once again left to be the third wheel. 

You could tell that Lily was getting annoyed, but to be fair, she was also annoying you. 

“Go dance with Lando!” she shouted over the thumping bass. She gestured to the opposite corner of the small club, where Lando was currently making out with some random Italian woman. 

You pointed this fact out to Lily, who just grimaced. 

“Do you just want me to go away?” you joked.

“Yes!” she said, and you were taken aback, because she was definitely not joking. 

Oscar was at the bar getting drinks, far enough away that he couldn’t hear. To be honest, you didn’t even want to be in this club anymore. 

So you snuck out and began your walk home without telling any of them.

As you walked along the cobblestone streets, Oscar handed Lily a drink, pausing when he noticed that you weren’t there to receive yours. “Where’s YN?” he asked.

“She wasn’t feeling well, so she headed back,” Lily said. 

“By herself? Should we go check on her?”

Lily wanted to roll her eyes. “No, she’s just tired. C’mon, let’s go dance!”

Oscar obeyed, but couldn’t ignore the feeling inside him that something about this whole night had been odd. 

The next time he saw Lando, he decided to say something about it. 

“Hey mate, are you going back soon?” he asked. Lando nodded, clearly tipsy. “Can you check on YN? Lily said she wasn’t feeling well.”

“Sure,” he said, annoyed at the mention of you again.

He did come back to the house soon, but with an equally drunk and giggly woman on his arm, the same girl he had been making out with in the corner of the club. 

You didn’t expect any of them for a long time, so you sat in the living room of the AirBNB, watching the waves cascade into the shore, romanticizing this complicated feeling that coiled itself inside of you. 

That was, until Lando stumbled in. 

His eyes got wide as dinner plates upon seeing you. The girl on his arm giggled and walked off into the nearest bathroom. 

“Hey YN,” he slurred. “Are you dying?”

You laughed. “I’m fine.”

“Lily said you were sick.” 

“Nope, I’m good.” 

He looked to the closed door of the bathroom. “Sorry about that,” he said.

“You’re fine. I’m…uh, not interested, anyway. I don’t know what Lily’s been on about today.”

“Oh, thank God,” he exhaled. You laughed, despite the sting of rejection in his relief. “Well, I’ll keep it quiet.”

“I’ve got headphones.”

You made your way to your room and put on your noise cancelling headphones, passing the time by scrolling and catching up on work emails, before falling asleep.

You didn’t sleep through the night, instead waking up in the early hours of the morning, when the sun was just beginning to round itself along the golden coast. You left your room to get a glass of water, not expecting to see the rest of your friends in the kitchen.

Lily looked hungover as hell, leaning her elbow on the counter, her hand resting uncomfortably on her forehead. Oscar was leaning against the counter on the other side while Lando sat at the bar next to Lily, drinking something out of a mug. His flight home was going to leave soon. 

You nodded to your three companions as you sipped your water glass, feeling the tension around you like an oncoming migraine. 

“You feeling okay?” Oscar asked. “Lily said you weren’t doing well last night.”

“Ah, just tired,” you answered. Lily had lied to both Lando and Oscar. That was a conversation for another day. 

“Well rested now?” Lily asked, her voice tinged with anger and fake sympathy.

“I’m fine,” was all you could answer. You glanced at Oscar, who gave you a knowing look. You had no idea what had gotten into her.

“Are you feeling okay, Lily? You look like you’re about to throw up,” you said, a more genuine concern in your voice.

“I’m fine too,” she said, clearly not fine.

Lando’s Uber pulled up, and you took the opportunity to help him transfer all his bags in one trip.

“Do you have any idea what’s going on with her?” he asked as you heaved the suitcase up into the trunk.

“No idea,” you answered. “Before you all got to the restaurant last night she was being…weird. For the record, I didn’t put her up to any of that.”

“I figured as much. You’re not the type.” Lando was right—it was common knowledge that you were happily single. 

“I’m sorry if it made you uncomfortable. For the record, it made me uncomfortable too.”

He exhaled. “Eh, we’re cool. No hard feelings, yeah? I’m sure she’ll snap out of it.” 

“I hope so,” you said, giving him a wave as the car disappeared into the winding roads of the coast.

Back in the house, you could hear Oscar and Lily whispering to each other. You wanted nothing more than to disappear and act like this weird night and morning had never happened, but unfortunately, you had to cross through the kitchen back to your room. 

A hush went through the room when you entered. You walked as quickly as possible through the kitchen, but were stopped by a voice.

“YN,” Lily called. “I think you should leave.”

“Lily—” Oscar interjected.

“I was just going back to my room anyway,” you explained.

“That’s not what I meant. I think you should go home.”

“Lily, don’t do this—” Oscar pleaded. You just stood in shock.

“Actually, let me clarify,” she continued. “YN, I don’t want you here. Go home.”

“Lily!” Oscar interjected. “Don’t say that.”

“No, it’s fine,” you said, even though it was definitely not fine. “Let me pack and I’ll be on my way.”

You turned and continued back to your room, fully prepared to do as you had just said. But Oscar followed you.

“YN, wait. Stay,” he said. 

“Oscar, it’s fine.”

“I am so sorry that Lily said that, but I want you here.”

“Look, I don’t know what’s going on between you two or why she’s so upset at me, but if someone tells me to go, I’m not going to overstay my welcome.”

“Still, that was so rude.”

“I’ve got thick skin. I won’t cry myself to sleep over it.” You looked out the window to the coast. “Look, I’ll just find someplace else to stay. A hotel for a few nights is cheaper than trying to reschedule my flight, anyways.”

“I’m so sorry.”

“Don’t worry about me, Osc,” you said, patting his shoulder. “Go talk to her, figure out what’s wrong.” 

He sighed, scratching the back of his neck. “I already know what’s wrong. She’s mad that we don’t spend enough time together.”

“Then go spend time with her.”

“That was the plan! But, I mean, I’m pissed that she said that to you. And she spent all day yesterday trying to set you and Lando up, which was fucking weird.”

“Yeah,” you exhaled with a twinge of laughter. “Look, with my record I can’t exactly give you love advice, but I don’t mind leaving. You all clearly need some space, anyway. Just text me if you need anything, okay?”

Oscar gave you a flat smile and nod. 

You packed and quickly booked a private room at a local hostel for the next few days, planning to enjoy the last few days as a solo trip. You truly didn’t care, but in the back of your mind, you hoped that everything would be okay. You never received that text from Oscar. 

Back at the house, Oscar and Lily were alone. And neither of them were happy.

“Just fucking go with her if you’re that mad,” Lily said, egging Oscar on. He had always been slow to anger, but he couldn’t deny that he was pissed.

“What is wrong with you?” he questioned. “Why would you say that to her? Do you understand how rude that is? And not to mention the fact that you were being fucking weird with her and Lando all night.”

“Oscar, I’m not having this conversation right now.”

“No, I’m pissed!”

“And, as usual, it’s all about your feelings, hm?”

“What are you talking about?” 

“Don’t act stupid. Do you know how much I’ve put up with because I don’t want to hurt your feelings? Every vacation, every race weekend, she’s always there. And I put up with her because she’s your friend, but I don’t like her, Oscar.” 

“What did she do to you?” he asked. But Lily couldn’t answer. It wasn’t like there had been a specific incident or falling out; in fact, you had always been kind to her. Lily’s silence was all the answer that Oscar needed. 

“You knew that YN and I were a package deal from the beginning.” 

Tears came to Lily’s eyes. “But this was supposed to be our trip. Just us.” 

“Lily, they were only here for a few days. I specifically set it up so that we’d have 2 weeks to ourselves after they left. Is that not enough?” 

She was silent, at first. Then came a question out of left field. 

“Were you going to propose?” she asked.

Oscar made a face. “Propose?”

“I thought the point of the trip was that you were going to propose.” She looked away, trying to hide her tears. “I’m tired of feeling like an outsider in my own relationship. I’m sick of YN third wheeling, so I thought if I set her up with Lando, maybe she’d leave us alone for a while.” Her voice was tinged with an angry mocking. 

She continued, softer, “Oscar, I want to be your wife, I want to grow old with you—”

But Oscar had little sympathy for her. “That’s really what all this was about? Lily, I’m not proposing any time soon.”

“We’ve been together for nearly five years.”

“I know. But with the season starting soon—”

“There’ll always be another season, another race. Is your plan to just marry me when you retire?” The sarcasm had returned to her voice. “Do you even want to marry me?”

“Of course I do. But we’re young, we have time. I’m in no rush.” 

“I feel like you don’t care about what I want at all.”

“Lily, I’m trying. But I feel like you want me to cut off my best friend and settle down at 22. You’re asking things of me that I can’t give you.”

“Then why are we even doing this?” Lily asked.

“Because I love you, and I want this to work! But Lily, you can’t treat my friends like that. If you’re angry at me, talk to me, but don’t take it out on them. YN is an important part of my life, too.”

“I’m well aware.”

Oscar sighed. “I don’t know what you want me to say.”

“I’m going back to bed,” Lily announced, leaving the conversation altogether. 

When she woke up, her head was pounding. Oscar was asleep beside her, his back towards her, no warmth even in his unconscious state. She had slept through the entire day—the moon hung high in the sky. 

As she quietly made her way to the kitchen and got some water and a snack, the memory of what had happened came back, rushing over her. She felt horrible. 

The sleep and food had reset her mind. Make no mistake, she was still upset at Oscar, but what he had said was right—she shouldn’t have taken it out on you. She needed to make it right. 

She texted you. Hey YN, are you awake? I’d like to talk. In person, if you can. 

Only a few minutes later you responded, affirming that you were available and sending the address of your hostel. Lily got there quickly, quietly walking through the rooms to your private room in the back. When you shut the door behind you and you both sat on the bed, she broke down. 

“YN,” Lily began, “I am so sorry about this morning. Truthfully, I was upset at Oscar and I took it out on you, and I shouldn't have. I was so rude.”

“It’s okay,” you assured.

“No, it’s not,” Lily interjected. But she seemed at a loss for words. “I just… sometimes, I feel like I hardly get any alone time with Oscar anymore.”

“Because I’m always there?” you joked, not knowing how close to the truth you really were. Lily didn’t respond. “Look, if you want me to take a step back, I can do that.”

Her response was quiet. “Would that be too much to ask?”

“No.” But it was, in a way. You felt your heart shatter into a million pieces, but your expression gave away nothing. “I understand.”

“I don’t think he loves me anymore,” Lily confessed. You normally didn’t want to know the details of their relationship, because the truth was too heavy to bear. But it seemed cruel to cut her off. “I feel like he never wants to be around me, like he prefers his work and his friends over me. I want to get married and he doesn’t. He keeps saying it's too soon and he’s busy, but it’s been nearly five years! I mean, how long does he want me to wait?”

You felt uncomfortable, not sure how to comfort your best friend's girlfriend. So you were honest. “I don’t know, Lily. I don’t know what goes on in Oscar’s head any more than you do.”

“Yes you do,” she replied. “You’ve known him longer.” Her eyes filled with tears. “I think he’s in love with you.”

“No, no, no,” you said, wrapping Lily in an embrace as she cried. “No, he’s not. He loves you so much.”

“No,” she echoed. “He doesn’t.”

You didn’t know how to respond. You just held her. 

At one point, your phone buzzed, illuminating the screen. Some unimportant notification, but you noticed the date and time more than that. It was past midnight; Valentine’s Day. 

The third instance was during the first weekend of the 2025 season; the Australian Grand Prix.  

You hadn’t heard from Oscar since the trip. You didn’t really know what to say, and part of you was dreading having to speak to him, knowing that your mere presence was now a strain on his relationship.

Of course Lily wanted more time with him. It made sense. You were present at…most things, actually. But Oscar always invited you, and besides, they lived together. If you had known that you had overstayed your welcome, you never would have gone in the first place.

But on the other hand, you and Oscar had been a part of each other’s lives for nearly double the time that Lily had been around. It wasn’t a competition, but you couldn’t shake that sour feeling that rested in your stomach, that if given the chance, Lily would want you gone for good. 

Regardless, between the trip and the grand prix, life went on as normal. It was odd, since your job was literally running all the official OP81 media pages and merch website. You couldn’t not be a part of his life—you made your living by posting memes about him on the internet and organizing all his merch sales.

So, naturally, you went to nearly all the races to take photos of fans, the paddock, and the garage. It was one of your favorite parts of the job. 

But Australia was different. It was Oscar’s home race, and a place full of memories for you. 

Your family had moved to Australia when you were only seven, having absolutely no friends, except the sweet boy next door in your cul de sac. At first he was cold. You thought he hated you. But you were nothing if not stubborn. 

You remembered it like it was yesterday; for Christmas, you asked for a pink motorized jeep, just like the black one that Oscar—the neighbour boy, back then—had. You squealed for joy when you got it. And the very first thing you did was challenge him to a race.

He ignored you. So you rammed your car into his, causing both of them to break. Ever since, somehow, you’d been inseparable. 

Your parents traveled a lot for work, so instead of constantly going with them, you found yourself staying with the Piastri family for months at a time. Nicole truly felt like your second mom, and Hattie was the sister you never had. And Oscar was…Oscar. It was impossible to describe the bond between you. 

Your parents were never too keen on Oscar, though. They kept it quiet when you were little, but as you grew, their dislike became more outward.

He was 14, leaving for boarding school in the UK. When he told you, you cried. That’s the only time he ever saw you cry.

You wanted to go with him, but your parents couldn’t afford it. He promised he wouldn’t let your friendship die, and he was true to his word. When he got into the higher formulas in racing, he helped you get your job so that you all would never be that far from each other again. 

But your parents always said he was using you, stringing you along, exploiting your labor. Though you’d never admitted it to another soul, they knew you well enough to understand that you loved him. 

You cut your parents off a long time ago. 

Sometimes the fans were worse. Half of them loved you—the half that understood that you could give them access to your idol—but the other half of them called you a beneficiary of nepotism, a gold digger, or a homewrecker. You learned at a young age to develop thick skin. 

And it was how you both behaved on race weekends that really exemplified the difference between you and Lily. 

You liked to be everywhere at once—in the garage trying to interpret the engineers’ technical jargon, in the grandstands taking photos of fans, in the pitlane shooting the shit with the race stewards. You always wore Oscar’s merch, and you wanted to be in the middle of all the action.

Lily, in contrast, was more reserved. She always looked put together, and frankly stunning, at all her appearances. She preferred to watch the race from the comfort and privacy of McLaren hospitality, and when she did interact with fans, she was respectful but short, very conscious of her space.

Neither of you were better or worse than the other. But no one could deny that you were polar opposites. 

You got to Australia before Oscar himself did, having been invited to spend a few days with your surrogate family before you’d have to stay in the hotel, per F1 employee policy. Nicole had told Oscar, who you assumed had told Lily, and when you didn’t hear anything for a few days before you were meant to fly out, you thought everything was fine.

Of course, you thought wrong. 

You spent 3 days with Oscar’s family, relishing the warm feeling of belonging that you’d missed. The Piastri guest room felt more like your own childhood bedroom. Of course, Nicole asked how you’d been, but you were politely distant, wanting to respect the fact that Oscar and Lily’s relationship was none of your business. 

When the pair finally landed in Australia and made their way to Oscar’s childhood home for the night, though, things worsened. 

When Nicole got back from picking them up from the airport, you were in the kitchen prepping dinner. Hearing the front door close, you looked up and smiled, greeting the group.

“YN! What are you doing here?” Lily asked, her voice tentative. 

Nicole answered for you. “Oh, she’s been here since Sunday. I’m so happy to have all my kids under the same roof again,” she joked, turning to Oscar to reach up and pinch his cheeks.

Lily just gave a pained smile. 

You didn’t know what to do. You hadn’t talked to Oscar in nearly a month. You wanted to honor her wishes—but it seemed like her wish was for you to vanish into thin air. 

The rest of the night you were unusually quiet, trying to blend into the background. It wasn’t difficult for Nicole to notice that something was up, but she knew better than to bring it up in front of the whole table. 

After dinner she wanted everyone to gather in the living room and watch a movie, which you quickly bowed out of, complaining of exhaustion. 

As the credits rolled, Nicole leaned over to whisper to Oscar, “Is everything okay with YN?” 

Lily overheard and interjected, “She’s fine.” Nicole raised an eyebrow. 

Oscar responded, “The home grand prix is always busy for her.”

The answer wasn’t sufficient enough to crush Nicole’s suspicions, but she didn’t have any more time to pry as her son and his girlfriend quickly decided to retire for the night themselves. 

The next morning, as everyone was packing to get to the hotel, Nicole decided to ask you herself if everything was okay. But predictably, again, you just said that you were fine. And the morning was so hectic that she didn’t really have the time to interrogate you.

Once you all got settled and to the track for media day, work mode took over, and you forgot all about the tension at the Piastri family home. Though you quite literally were paid to follow Oscar around all day, you felt more like the paparazzi than his friend, hardly ever speaking to him.

And as you went back to the hotel room alone to edit and post for tonight, you felt like a stranger in your own body. 

You didn’t want to do this anymore. You missed your friend, but more importantly, you missed being yourself.

But what were you supposed to do? You loved Oscar. Oscar loved Lily. Lily hated you. 

You were stuck between three impossible choices: stick around and be forced to subdue yourself into a shell of your true personality until Lily decided she wasn’t upset at you anymore, lose everything you’d ever built by quitting and moving away like you knew she wanted, or continue being yourself and possibly cost Oscar the love of his life. 

Yeah, this was a wonderful predicament you found yourself in, through no fault of your own.

You moved like a zombie through the free practices and qualifying. When it was finally time for the grand prix, you assumed your usual place in the McLaren garage, for work if nothing else.

But then, Oscar won. 

No team rules. No convoluted strategies. Just Oscar doing what he did best.

You couldn’t hear your own thoughts over the shout of the garage and the crowd in the distance, cheering out for their hometown hero. You ran out with everyone to the barricades to greet your best friend.

Though he still had his helmet on, you could see the effects of his smile in his squinted eyes. He pumped his fist in the air, cheering to himself before running to the barricades to jump into the waiting arms of the crowd. You cheered with them, overwhelmed with pride. 

Oscar locked eyes with you, cupping your face with his gloved hands and pressing the top of his helmet to your forehead. “I did it, YN!”

“You did!” you yelled, smiling ear to ear. 

Of course, people took photos. Photos that Oscar posted later that night. 

Lily didn’t like it—the sweet intimacy of the moment, front and center on Oscar’s Instagram page. Why would you post that? It was like you were taunting her. 

Lily sat on the edge of the hotel bed while Oscar showered, both of them preparing to meet you, Lando, and a few McLaren team members to celebrate his win. 

When Oscar emerged from the bathroom, Lily asked him, “Osc, can you do me a favor?”

“Hm?” he murmured as he dried his hair. 

“Can you take down that picture that YN posted?”

“YN posted something?” he questioned, grabbing his phone. As his social media manager, you had access to all his accounts, but occasionally he’d post something himself, too. “I don’t see what you’re talking about.”

Lily pursed her lips. “The first picture from the post she made an hour ago.” 

“Oh, this?” Oscar held up his phone. “I posted that.” 

Lily was silent. 

“Why do you want me to delete it? It’s a good photo.” 

Lily just looked at him. Oscar sighed and archived the photo. “There, happy?”

His tone was much harsher than he intended, but to be honest, he was getting tired of the constant fighting, and his patience was wearing thin. 

Lily kept quiet, just silently going into the bathroom to start doing her makeup.

In the lobby of the hotel an hour or so later, you awkwardly stood with Lando waiting for the couple to arrive. Once again you were torn—should you miss out on celebrating with your best friend on his first ever home win, or should you go and strain his relationship further? 

You were just going to say screw it and go back up to your room when you saw Lily and Oscar walking towards you. Though there was no tension between them, there was no love either. They both just looked…tired. 

Everyone had decided to keep it relaxed for tonight, just doing a nice group dinner with Oscar’s family. It was fine, albeit a tad awkward, because you were sitting between Lando and some McLaren employees you didn’t know, at the opposite end of the table from Lily, Oscar, and his family. 

You knew this couldn’t continue forever. Something had to break. And it did, when you and Lando ended up back in Oscar and Lily’s room, drinking your way through a bottle of nice champagne. 

The alcohol seemed to have calmed Lando’s nerves, as he was actually normal with you. And Oscar was a blushy, smiling mess and he and his teammate laughed at something you couldn’t remember. 

You opened your mouth to say something, but the mood was ruined by Lily’s drunken slurring. “Oh my God, YN, just shut up! Go away!” she giggled and grabbed Oscar’s arm. 

Usually, you were calm, letting any infraction roll off of you like waves on the beach. But the alcohol emboldened you. 

“Lily, what the fuck is your problem with me?” you asked.

The mood shifted, and Lily gave you a look of disgust. “I was just joking, God.”

“No you weren’t.” 

Lando chimed in. “Well, I think I gotta call it a night.” He got up and patted Oscar on the back. The two men stood up to walk out, leaving just you and Lily alone in the hotel room. 

“I don’t know what the fuck your problem is with me, but don’t act like there isn’t one. It’s obvious that you don’t want me around, I don’t know what I ever did to you.”

Lily had clearly been sobered up by your seriousness. Still, she burst into tears. 

“I’m sorry. I don’t know why I keep doing this.” 

You sighed, unable to keep your anger in the face of her cries. She continued, “I just… Oscar and I were each other’s first everything. First love, first kiss…first time. I love him so much.”

“I’m not trying to steal him from you.” 

Lily was quiet, and so were you. Something she had said gave you pause. 

They were each other’s first everything—no, that couldn’t be true. 

Because you were Oscar’s first. 

It had been many years—you were both 18—and you had never spoken about what happened. But you remembered. 

He came back home for Christmas from the UK. It was before he had even met Lily. 

You welcomed him home with an embrace—even with the frequent phone calls you had, you couldn’t help but miss your best friend, now here before you, in the flesh.

Neither of you could sleep that night, and somehow you both found yourself in Oscar’s childhood bedroom, quiet in the early hours of the morning.

Though it was warm outside, Nicole had a habit of keeping the house frigid, so you and Oscar huddled together under the handmade quilt that decorated his bed. The moment was tender and quiet, together in the soft darkness. 

“Do you like it in the UK?” you asked him, your question searching for a genuine answer. 

“It’s okay, I guess. It’s what I have to do for the races.”

“But do you ever get…lonely?”

He paused. “Yeah. Sometimes.”

You traced small circles on the skin of your leg. The closeness of the moment was uncomfortable. 

“But you have friends, right?”

“Yeah, but they’re not, y’know, friends for life.”

“I get you.” You really did, not having many friends of your own since Oscar left. “But you must have a ton of girls, though. They all want the cool race car driver.” You smiled, trying to use your humor to lighten the intimacy of the moment. 

“No,” was all he answered. “And if I had a girlfriend, you’d be the first to know, anyway.” In the dark of the room, you could only see the outline of his features, but you could feel the pull of his eyes looking at you. “What, do you have a boyfriend? Is that why you’re bringing this up?” he asked. 

“Of course I don’t.” 

“What do you mean, of course?”

“I mean, why would I have a boyfriend? I have no friends and half the people at school think you don’t even exist.”

“What?” he laughed.

“Well, yeah, when I say my best friend drives race cars in the UK, most people think I’m making you up.” 

“Shit,” he laughed. 

“So, yeah, it doesn’t exactly get me dates,” you laughed. You felt your throat stiffen. “I haven’t even had my first kiss or anything.”

The silence in the room was thick. “I haven’t either,” Oscar confessed. 

You found it hard to believe. Oscar was handsome, funny, everything a girl could want. Neither of you had ever been social butterflies, though. 

Under the blanket, Oscar reached for your hand, placing it in his. Your heart was beating out of your chest; you had never even held a boy’s hand. 

“We could just…do it now,” he said. “Just to get it over with.” He feigned his usual nonchalance, but you could feel the increase of his heartbeat and the ever so subtle tremble in his voice. 

It would be easy for you to laugh it off like a joke. But you knew it wasn’t. And you wanted him. 

“Okay,” you said, your voice breathy with nervousness. 

You sat up on the bed, and saw the dark outline of his figure leaning towards you, gently tilting your head. 

And when his lips met yours, it felt like home. Like everything in your entire life had left you up to this moment, here in the warmth of your best friend’s childhood bedroom.

The kiss lasted longer than you anticipated, but when he did pull away, it was too soon. You were grateful for the darkness that hid your expression. But even without the light, Oscar could see the truth behind your eyes.

“We could…keep going.”

“Okay,” you repeated. 

One of his hands found your waist now, pulling you closer, as his other hand pushed back your hair that had fallen in your face.

Once again his lips met yours. It wasn’t like a spark within you—more like a calming, a sense of peace and safety. Of all the boys you’d crushed on before, Oscar was different. You trusted him with everything. 

And you showed him so. 

He slipped his tongue past your teeth, tentative, as if he was scared to do the wrong thing. But you let him close the gap, your own tongue gliding along his, goosebumps going down your back the closer you got. 

He wanted to put his hands all over you, but he was nervous.

He pulled away. “I…don’t really know what I’m doing.”

“I don’t either. Is it actually your first time?”

“Yeah. You don’t mind me being your first?”

“I trust you.”

So you both took it slow, taking each other’s hands where you wanted to be touched, not focusing on anything but the other. 

The love you made was quiet and simple, beautiful yet imperfect. But you didn’t need perfect. You just needed him. 

The next morning, you slipped out of his room before anyone was awake, afraid of what would happen if they found out.

But no one ever did. Oscar never said a word about it ever again, and neither did you; after the holidays, he went back to school and met Lily, and the rest was history. 

But you remembered. And as you sat in that hotel room years later waiting for him, you felt numb. 

By the time he got back Lily had calmed down, but you couldn’t stand to be there anymore. You announced your departure, but Oscar decided to walk you out, too. 

You closed the door behind you, but Oscar pulled you to not leave so quickly. 

“Hey, is everything alright with you and Lily?”

“No. It’s not.” 

He sighed. “I don’t know why she’s being like this.”

You just stared at him, your face blank. 

“What,” he asked, “don’t tell me you’re mad too.”

“Was Lily your first?”

“Huh?”

“You heard me.” 

Oscar looked over his shoulder. “I’d really rather not talk about this in the hallway…”

“So do you want to go in the room and talk about it? In front of her? Because you lied to one of us. Which one was it?”

“YN, it’s—”

“Which one of us did you lie to, Oscar?”

He let out a sharp exhale, knowing there was no way to escape your line of questioning. He leaned down to whisper to you. “I didn’t lie to her. She just…assumed, and I never corrected her.”

“That’s still lying.”

“You really think I should go in there and tell her the truth?” His voice dripped with frustration.

“Yes. She deserves to know.”

“You know why I never told her? Because I knew this shit would happen, she’d get jealous and try to push you out of my life. If I tell her now, she’ll make me choose between the two of you.”

“Do you blame her?” you asked, astounded at how Oscar could be so clueless.

“Seriously?” he retorted. “You think she’s justified in doing all this to you? The entire reason she’s mad is because she knows if she tries to make me choose, I’m not choosing her.”

“Don’t say that! Oscar, she’s your girlfriend. You should love her.”

“I do. But things just…aren’t the same anymore. It’s like she wants me to change my whole life for her. I can’t do that.”

Unbeknownst to you, Lily got up from the bed and walked to the door, pressing her ear to it, where she could faintly hear you and Oscar arguing. 

“What she doesn’t know won’t hurt her,” Oscar continued. “And if you don’t want her to split us up, just let me handle it.”

“Oscar, she deserves better than this. I’ve missed spending time with you, but… you’ve got to tell her the truth.”

Lily opened the door. “I knew it,” she said, her eyes full of tears. “I knew you were cheating.”

Your eyes were wide as dinner plates as Oscar cursed to himself. “Lily, I swear to God that is not what happened—”

“Don’t. Don’t even try,” she said, but Oscar pushed his way back into the room anyway. He looked back to you, and even without words, you knew it was time to go. You needed some sleep.

Unfortunately, Oscar would not be getting any sleep tonight. 

“Oscar, just stop lying to me! I’m tired of this!’ Lily cried, curling her legs to her chest as she sat on the bed.

“Lily, I swear, I have never cheated on you. What YN and I were talking about was something from a long time ago.”

“We’ve been together for five years!”

“Can I just explain myself? Please?”

Lily just broke down in sobs. “Do whatever. I don’t care anymore.”

Oscar sighed. “Look, I…I have lied to you. You weren’t my first. YN was.” He looked at his girlfriend, who was still just silently crying. “It was before we even met, and it was just once, and we’ve never done anything since. I would never cheat on you, I love you and—”

“When and where was it?” Lily asked, cutting him off with her statement more like a command than a question.

“The December before we met, when I came home for Christmas.”

“In your bed?”

He nodded.

“Oscar, I slept in that bed next to you the other night.”

He said nothing. 

“Why are you doing this to me?” she asked, her voice cracking. “Haven’t I been good to you?”

“Lily, I promise, I love you more than anything.”

“Then why would you lie to me for five years?”

Oscar took a deep breath and said, “Because I was afraid you would be upset. People don’t understand that me and YN are just friends. I mean, we were raised together, she’s like my sister.”

“You had sex with her. You took each other’s virginity.”

“It wasn’t…like that.”

“How can it not be like that? Do you even hear what you’re saying?” 

“I’m sorry. I don’t know what else to say.”

About an hour after you left, you heard a knock on your hotel room door, and you answered. It was, of course, Lily. 

“Tell me whatever Oscar wouldn’t,” she said. Her eyes were still puffy and red. 

You welcomed her in, beginning to tell her the entire truth. “Oscar and I had sex when we were 18, before he met you. We never talked about it afterwards. After you met I didn’t want to bring it up, I just assumed he’d do the right thing and tell you. I didn’t want to pry into your relationship.”

So, your stories matched. And Lily knew that you were nothing if not honest. 

“Do you love him?”

“Of course I do, he’s my best friend.”

“No, I mean, are you in love with him?” 

You didn’t answer immediately. What were you supposed to say?

Tears fought their way to the corners of your eyes, but you blinked them away. “I don’t know,” you began, but that was a lie, you did know. “I guess…I have a special type of love for him. We grew up together. When we were younger, yes, I wanted to be his girlfriend. But then he met you, and… Lily, he was so happy! I just…I realized that I wanted him to be happy more than I wanted him to be mine. So I made peace with the fact that this is how it had to be.”

Lily was overwhelmed with your honesty, in the face of so much deception. 

You continued, “I don’t blame you for being upset at me. Oscar should have been honest about what our friendship was like from the very beginning instead of lying to you. But I swear, we haven’t done anything while you all have been together. I’ve been cheated on and I know how much that hurts, I would never do that to anyone else. I’m so sorry it ended up like this.”

“No,” Lily said, “You’re the only one who’s been honest with me throughout all of this. Thank you.”

After that, you hadn’t heard from Oscar after that for a long time. Or, at least, a few weeks felt like a long time to you. But you had other pressing matters—your workload was through the roof with Oscar’s wins. Lando had snatched himself a win too, setting up an early battle for the championship. It was too early into the season to call it, but you knew Oscar was feeling the pressure with the possibility of his first championship dangling so close in front of him. So you kept your distance, not wanting to be a distraction.

That was, until he called you, saying just those three painful words.

“Lily left me.”

The sun was cresting over the horizon, illuminating the thick glass of your balcony and flooding light into your living room. You hadn’t gotten an ounce of rest. 

From your bedroom, you could hear Oscar snoring. You just let him sleep. 

God knows you both needed it. 

[butlervibesonly]

𝑊𝐸𝐿𝐶𝑂𝑀𝐸 𝑇𝑂 𝐺𝑅𝐴𝐶𝐸𝐿𝐴𝑁𝐷 PART 2|| 𝐇𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐢𝐠𝐠𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐡𝐢𝐭 || Austin! Elvis story

PART ONE OF THIS PART → PART THREE coming soon...

• Summary: Evils shows Y/n Graceland as she spends the day here with him. Eventually, she also joins the Presley family for lunch, revealing the sad truth of her parents.

• Pairing: Austin! Elvis x female reader

• Warnings: flirting, making out, kissing, probably typos

• NOTE!! My acknowledge of Elvis is not so big, all things I know are from movie, documents, webs etc! So I deeply apologize for any mistakes/typos/misunderstanding that have nothing to do with reality. All of this is fic and has nothing to do with no one or anything. Based just on Austin's role of Elvis!Thank you for understanding! 🫶🏼

• Note: Yall I apologize if its clingy or something, I try my best really 😭 AND MAKING OUT SCENES ARE NOT MY CUP OF TEA THIS JS ACTUALLY FIRST TIME EVER I WRITTEN SOMETHING LIKE THIS 🫨

Graceland is huge. You would get lost if it wasn’t of Elvis who shows you everything. Every little thing looks so luxurious and so rich. More like a house it feels like Elvis’ kingdom he’s living in.

“There, doll, is my bedroom,” he stops in front of big door. “I don’t usually let anyone in but I need ya go there.” There is a playful chuckle on Elvis’ face. You smile at him, knowing how lucky you are. “Well, that sounds really like honor.”

Both of you enter the bedroom which is covered in dark shades. Your eyes land on his massive bed and door to his own bathroom. “Wow,” you breathe out, your eyes exploring the room. Elvis stands next to you and you feel the warmth of his body on your own. “This is really - something.”

Elvis glances at you, smirking. “Mama’s makin’ lunch for us. Wanna sit before it’s done?” he gestures at the couch. You nod, sitting down. “Elvis… What did I do to… Y’know… Get this lucky?” you ask as he sits down beside you.

“Ya think it’s luck?” Elvis replies, with the cockiness in his eyes. “Y/n, I invited ya to get to know ya better, it wouldn’t be fair if I let you go hungry…” he, slowly and gently takes your hand into his.

You smile to his kindness and look around again. There is a guitar resting in the corner, the faint scent of his cologne lingering in the air. You look into your lap, fingers nervously tracing the pattern of your dress. Elvis sits next to you, hand supporting his head as he rests his elbow on the backrest. His eyes check you - it feels like he is eyeing every detail of yours.

“So, ya have always been good at school?” he asks, glancing at you with a curious smile. You nod and turn your face to look him in the eyes. “I kinda have to. My papa’s always been very... strict about it.”

Elvis tilts his head. “How strict?”

“Strict like... ‘Education is important, no distractions, no boys!’ kind of strict…” you answer, lips curling into a small smile when you realize how naive it sounds. “Guess I’m breaking his plans, huh?”

“Mhm… pretty much,” you laugh softly, but your gaze instantly shifts to the floor. “He just wants the best for me, I guess.” Elvis studies you for a moment, his expression softening. “And what do ya want?”

You hesitate for a while. “I mean, I want to make him proud, of course. But... sometimes I feel like there’s more out there, you know?”

“Then why don’t ya… do what ya want?” Your cheeks flushes, and glance at him shyly. “I would love to, really. But I’m afraid,” you start, your voice trembling. “I’m afraid that if I didn’t do what he wants, I might never get the bright future he promises me.”

Elvis shakes his head, his eyebrows raising. “Hmm…” he murmurs. “I wouldn’t treat ya like this, doll. If you were mine, ya would have everything.” At this your heart skips a beat. “What do you mean?” you ask confused

“If you were mine,” he says his voice dipping deep enough to make your heart race even more than before , “ya would have everything ya ever wanted. Freedom, adventure... Ya wouldn’t have to live by anyones control, Satnin.”

‘Satnin’ replays in your head. He calls you either Doll or Satnin…

“I’ve never met someone like ya before. You don’t want anything from me. You’re not... trying to be someone you’re not.” he leans closer his finger removing some hair from your face.

Your chest tightens at his touch, and warmth spreads through you at his words. “Well, maybe that’s because I don’t really know who I’m supposed to be, yet.”

“Maybe that’s what makes ya so special,” he says quietly, barely above a whisper. What Elvis actually does is that he leans even closer, stopping a short distance away from your face to give you a moment to pull away if what he's planning isn't something you want to do as well.

But you don’t pull away. You and him did this before, after all… Elvis presses his lips against yours softly. His full lips feels so gentle on yours. It's almost as it was for the first time but there is one difference - it's more intense now. His lips are more warm and they part slightly, allowing your tongue to slip inside. His hand travels on your hip, while the other hand cups your cheek carefully.

He quickly pulls away, his both hands now on your hips so that he can carry you all the way onto his lap. You sit astride in his lap, your legs wrapping around his waist as he kisses you again more greedy.

“Elvis-” you breathe out against his lips. However, he doesn't let you speak and before you can say anything, his lips are on yours again, biting your lower lip. His big hands roam your body gently, sliding from your curves all the way to your back so that he can pull you closer to his chest. Closing the gap between each other, you tangle your fingers into Elvis' dark hair.

You feel like a swarm of butterflies is flying in your stomach from the tingling you noticed earlier. Elvis girns into the kiss, knowing damn well how he makes you feel. “Elvis, I-“

“Doll,” he trails his kisses on your neck. “You feel like everything to me, angel.” he sighs, and you feel his breath on your skin.

“Bewbie! Lunch is ready!” As much as you would love to continue this, you both pull away from each other. Elvis presses his forehead against yours, rubbing both of your hips. “Guess ya will have to come more often…” You smile at his statement.

Both of you eventually gets downstairs where the dining room is just across the living by the stairs. The dining room looks as luxurious as the rest of the house. The table is set with plates and a food along with glasses. You almost gasp at the look of it - Gladys did this all because of you.

You sit in your chair, hands in your lap, trying not to fidget with them hem of your skirt under the gaze of Evlis’ mother. Gladys is a petite woman with soft, dark curls her eyes looking serious but actually she is very kind.

“Now, don’t you be shy, sweetie,” Gladys says motioning toward the plate of fried chicken. “Go on and help yourself. I made plenty, hope you’re gonna like it.”

“Thank you a lot.” you nod, your voice soft as you reach for a piece. Across the table, Elvis gives you an encouraging smile. “Mamas chicken’s famous around here,” he smirks. “Ya are in for a treat.”

“Stop it, now, El,” Gladys says with a laugh, swatting at Elvis playfully. “Don’t let him fool you, darlin’.” Gladys leans forward slightly, her eyes narrowing with curiosity and questions. “So, Y/n, tell us a little more about yourself. You’re a student, aren’t ya?” You nod, taking a look at Gladys and Elvis. “Yes, I am. I’m finishing up university this year.”

“And what’re your plans after that?” Vernon joins in, his voice carrying a note of authority, just like Elvis’. “Well,” you begin, your voice trembling slightly. “My parents wants me to have the best future possible. So that I’m successful and surrounded with the best only. They’re... really serious about education.”

Gladys tilts her head up, her expression softening. “That’s good of ’em, but you don’t sound too sure about it, darlin’.” You hesitate for a second again, knowing Elvis asked you familiar question earlier. You glance at him briefly before lowering your sight to the plate in front of you. “I’m not quite sure yet… They’re real strict, y’know. Always have been. I think they just want what’s best for them and not for me.”

“Don’t get me wrong, but that sounds like they are fools,” Vernon says. “They kinda are…” you admit, your voice quieter. “They’ve got all these rules, especially my father. No boys until I graduate, no distractions, just school. Only school. Sometimes I even feel like... like I don’t have a chance to figure out what I really want.”

Gladys’ brow furrows and she eventually reaches across the table to pat your hand. “Bless your heart, honey. It must be hard to be in your position. But y’know, you can always reach out to us and we’ll help ya. You’ll figure it all out, I’m sure of it.”

“Thank you so much.” you say, your cheeks blushing at Gladys’ kindness. As much as you love your mama for raising you up and giving you all what you need, she would never step in like Gladys does.

“Well,” she adds, leaning back in her chair with a smile, “I can see why our boy’s so smitten with you.” Your eyes widen, and you glance at him. He grins, leaning forward to prop his chin on his hand. Even tho what just happened between the two of you, you couldn’t stop getting more surprised.

“Mama,” Elvis steps in, his tone teasing, “don’t say this, ya scarin’ her off.” Gladys laughs, waving him off. “Oh, shush, Bewbie. I’m just sayin’ she’s a sweet girl! You could stand to keep some better company, what with all them girls chasin’ after you.”

Vernon chuckles, nodding. “Your mama ain’t wrong about that.” You can’t help but laugh, your nerves easing just a little as the conversation continues with some fun stories, and all the jokes. You feel so welcomed here, almost as if you belong there.

As all of you start to clear the table, Gladys pulls you aside. “Y/n, sweetie,” she says softly, her hand holding yours, “I know it ain’t always easy standin’ up for whatcha want, but don’t let nobody decide your life for ya, y’understand?” You nod, the words settling deep in your heart. “I’ll try, I promise, and... Thank you Mrs. Presley- I mean. Gladys,” you remember she asked you to call her by the first name.

“Y’all welcomed me with open arms and… I never felt better. Not even at my own house. And I mean, I know Elvis just for few weeks but this all means a lot!”

“Oh, darlin’, I can see ya two are just gettin’ to know each other,” Gladys points with her eyes at your neck. You rub your neck confusedly, turning to see a reflection of yourself in one of the mirrors that are almost everywhere in the house. You see a slight hickey on your neck, and you gasp.

“Oh, dang it!” your hands flying over your mouth. “My father will loose his mind!” you turn back at Gladys, panicking. Her hands travel to your shoulders as she clearly wants to calm you down. “No, no, we can fix this,” she gestures you to stay here and walks somewhere.

As Gladys returns to you, she carries a bottle of makeup in her hand. “We’ll cover this up with makeup, sweetie,” she helps you cover the hickey Elvis left there. You never felt more embarrassed but clearly Gladys doesn’t really mind at all. “Keep this,” she gives you the bottle. “I have plenty of those,”

You smile at her gladly and Elvis appears in the door. “Ready for some music?” he smiles. The two of you together enjoy his music as he plays the piano or his guitar, and you enjoy so much fun.

As time comes for you to go back home, Elvis gives you ride back home. You wish you didn’t have to return home actually, because you felt so free and so independent. As Elvis stops in front of your house, he reaches for your hand, hidden enough so that your parents wouldn’t see in a case they would be looking.

He notices the pout on your face and he leans in loser. “Don’t be sad, doll,” his thumb brushing over your knuckles. “I will write ya and call ya if that will be possible.”

You smile a little, knowing you mean something to him. “Thanks, Elvis. For today and for… for everything.” you breathe out, looking over at your house. You see that the kitchen window is opened, definitely so that your parents can hear you arrive. “Your mama is such a sweet woman and your dad… I wish I had parents like you. Because you have freedom.”

Elvis furrows his eyebrows, squeezing your hand tighter. "Graceland is always open to you, Satnin,” he says. You breathe a sigh of relief and see your father looking out the window. "Now go, honey, or I'll never let ya see me or be with me again." You let go of Elvis' hand and get out of the car.

You turn at the door to wave and mouth, "Bye, Elvis." He nods in farewell, his eyes gleaming. As you enter the house, your father is waiting in the hallway. Your hands are clenched into fists, waiting for him to ask or worse - notice something. You covered your hickey with Gladys's makeup before leaving Graceland, but you're still overcome with fear.

"How were ya?" he asks, his eyes scanning you. With a deep breath, you searched your mind for an answer as the memories from today started to come back to you. "Amazing, papa, everyone was nice to me," you replied, heading to your room. "But I'm tired now. Good night."

As soon as you get into your room, you shut the door behind you and fall down on your bed. You can’t stop thinking about Elvis; about the things you two have done, and how you felt that you are his girl. You know one thing for sure - you love that man with your whole heart.

[elryuse]

How about another Babymonster member for a Yandere fic? 🤙

Setting: Younger sister's obsession with her unnie's fiance

Taking What's Mine

Yandere Asa X Male Reader

The day you proposed to Ruka was one of the happiest moments of your life. The memory of her tears streaming down her cheeks as she said “yes” was etched in your mind, a constant reminder of why you chose her. She was charismatic, caring, and incredibly beautiful. From the moment you met her, she had been your rock, always supporting you when you were at your lowest and never letting you feel alone.

Ruka wasn’t just your fiancée; she was your best friend, your confidant, and your safe haven. Every moment with her felt like a piece of a perfect puzzle falling into place.

But lately, something had been gnawing at you—a quiet unease that you couldn’t quite place. It wasn’t Ruka. No, she was as loving and supportive as ever. It was someone else. Someone you had never expected to occupy your thoughts.

It was her younger sister, Asa.

---

You met Asa for the first time at Ruka’s family home. You and Ruka had been dating for a little over a year, and she thought it was time for you to meet her family. Ruka was excited, chattering about her parents and her younger sister the whole drive there.

“Asa’s a bit shy,” she warned you as you pulled up to the house. “She doesn’t really open up to people, so don’t take it personally if she’s a little distant.”

You assured her you wouldn’t.

When Ruka introduced you, Asa was sitting cross-legged on the couch with a book in her hands. She looked up briefly, her dark eyes flicking over you before she mumbled a quiet “Hi” and returned to her reading. Her long hair fell over her face, obscuring her features.

“She’s always like that,” Ruka whispered to you later, laughing softly. “Don’t worry, she’ll warm up to you eventually.”

At the time, you hadn’t given Asa much thought. She was quiet and reserved, her presence almost fading into the background compared to Ruka’s vibrant energy.

Over the next few months, Asa did start to open up—slowly, at first.

Ruka often shared stories about you with her family, and Asa seemed particularly interested in the ones about you overcoming challenges or doing something thoughtful for Ruka. Whenever you visited, you made a point of being kind to Asa, even bringing small gifts for her—nothing extravagant, just little things like a pack of her favorite snacks or a bookmark you thought she’d like.

“Thank you,” Asa said softly the first time you handed her a gift. Her voice was barely above a whisper, and she avoided your gaze, but there was a faint blush on her cheeks.

“It’s nothing,” you said, brushing it off.

But Ruka noticed. “Wow, look at that! Asa’s actually smiling,” she teased, nudging her sister. Asa muttered something under her breath, but you couldn’t help noticing the way her lips curved ever so slightly.

As time passed, Asa became more comfortable around you. She started joining your conversations with Ruka, occasionally chiming in with a teasing remark or a sarcastic comment.

“You know, Ruka always brags about your cooking,” Asa said one evening. “But I’ve heard her complain about your burnt pancakes at least three times now.”

Ruka groaned, playfully swatting at her sister. “Traitor.”

You laughed, feeling a strange sense of camaraderie with Asa. Her wit was sharp, but it was never mean-spirited. If anything, it reminded you of Ruka’s playfulness, though Asa’s teasing carried a subtler edge.

At first, you thought her growing comfort around you was a good thing. Ruka was happy that you and her sister were getting along, and you didn’t see any harm in building a friendly relationship with Asa.

But there were moments—fleeting, almost imperceptible—when Asa’s behavior made you pause.

It started with the way she looked at you.

You didn’t notice it right away, but over time, you began to catch her staring at you when she thought you weren’t looking. Her gaze was intense, her dark eyes fixed on you with an almost unsettling focus.

Then there were the comments—subtle, but strange.

“Ruka’s so lucky to have you,” Asa said one day when Ruka was out of the room. Her tone was light, but there was something in her eyes that made you uneasy.

“I’m lucky to have her too,” you replied, trying to dismiss the odd tension.

Asa’s lips curved into a small smile. “Yeah... I bet you are.”

You shrugged it off at the time, but the unease lingered.

The text messages started a few weeks later.

At first, they were innocent enough. Asa would ask you questions about Ruka’s favorite flowers or suggest ideas for surprises she could plan for her sister. But then the messages became more personal.

“Do you ever feel like Ruka doesn’t appreciate you enough?” Asa asked one night.

You frowned at the screen, your fingers hovering over the keyboard. “What do you mean?”

“I don’t know,” she replied. “It’s just... you’re so thoughtful, and I feel like she doesn’t always notice. I guess I just think you deserve more credit.”

The comment made you uncomfortable, but you decided to let it slide. Asa was Ruka’s sister, after all. Maybe she was just looking out for you in her own way.

But Asa’s behavior only grew more unsettling.

She started finding excuses to be around you, even when Ruka wasn’t there. One evening, she showed up at your apartment unannounced, claiming she needed help picking out a birthday gift for Ruka.

“I just thought you’d know what she’d like best,” Asa said, her tone casual. But the way she lingered in the doorway, her eyes scanning your apartment, made you feel uneasy.

You helped her pick out a gift, but the interaction left you feeling on edge.

The breaking point came one evening when you and Ruka were having dinner at her family’s house.

Asa had been unusually quiet all night, her gaze flicking between you and Ruka with an intensity that made your skin crawl. At one point, you excused yourself to go to the bathroom, and when you returned, you found Asa waiting for you in the hallway.

She stepped closer, her voice low. “You know, I’ve been thinking... you and I have a lot more in common than you and Ruka do.”

You stared at her, taken aback. “Asa, what are you talking about?”

She tilted her head, her lips curving into a small, almost predatory smile. “I just mean... you deserve someone who really understands you. Someone who sees you for who you are.”

Her words sent a chill down your spine. “Asa, I’m engaged to your sister.”

“I know,” she said, her tone eerily calm. “But that doesn’t mean you’re happy.”

You took a step back, your heart pounding. “I think you’re misunderstanding something.”

Asa’s smile faded, her expression darkening. “Am I?”

From that moment on, you couldn’t ignore the signs. The way Asa seemed to be everywhere you went. The little “coincidences” that always seemed to work in her favor. The note you found in your jacket pocket, written in a delicate, familiar handwriting:

“I’ll always be here for you. No matter what.”

Ruka noticed your unease, but you couldn’t bring yourself to tell her the truth. How could you? Asa was her sister, and you didn’t want to be the one to drive a wedge between them.

But deep down, you knew this was only the beginning. Asa’s obsession was growing stronger, and you were caught in a dangerous game you couldn’t escape.

And the worst part? You didn’t know how far Asa was willing to go.

The cracks in Asa’s relationship with her family started small. Ruka didn’t notice at first, too wrapped up in wedding planning and her excitement about your future together. But you noticed.

It began with Asa’s cold responses to Ruka’s usual warmth. When Ruka would laugh and try to include Asa in conversations, Asa would respond with curt, dismissive remarks.

“Did you like the flowers Y/n picked out for the centerpiece?” Ruka asked one evening, smiling at Asa.

“They’re fine, I guess,” Asa said flatly, not even looking up from her phone.

Ruka’s smile faltered, but she brushed it off. “She’s just in a mood,” she whispered to you later.

But it wasn’t just a mood. Asa’s distance from Ruka only grew, and soon, it wasn’t limited to her sister. She began pulling away from her parents too, retreating into herself whenever they tried to engage her. The once shy but sweet Asa had become cold and unapproachable, and no one seemed to understand why.

You knew.

Asa started crossing lines you didn’t even know existed.

She began to show up at places where you should have had privacy—your workplace, your gym, even the coffee shop you liked to visit on your lunch breaks. At first, she played it off as a coincidence, offering a casual, “Oh, hey, I didn’t know you came here too.”

But the frequency of these “coincidences” was alarming.

One afternoon, you caught her standing outside your office building, leaning against the wall with a small smile on her lips.

“Asa? What are you doing here?” you asked, trying to keep your voice steady.

“I was just in the area,” she said, shrugging as though it were the most normal thing in the world. “Thought I’d say hi.”

Her presence unsettled you, but you didn’t want to cause a scene.

The teasing started soon after.

She’d find little ways to make you uncomfortable, her comments always toeing the line between playful and inappropriate.

“Ruka’s lucky to have you,” she said one evening when you were at her family’s house. “I mean, if I’d met you first, who knows what could’ve happened?”

You froze, unsure of how to respond. “That’s... not something you should joke about, Asa.”

“Who’s joking?” she said, her tone light but her eyes serious.

You tried to distance yourself from her, but Asa always found a way to insert herself into your life. She started asking questions about your daily routine, your friends, your hobbies. At first, it seemed like idle curiosity, but then she began referencing things she shouldn’t have known.

“How was the gym this morning?” she asked one day, her smile almost taunting.

You stared at her, your heart sinking. You hadn’t told her you went to the gym that morning.

The stalking escalated quickly. You’d catch glimpses of her in the distance when you were out running errands or heading home from work. Sometimes, you’d find strange things left in your mailbox—notes written in her delicate handwriting, small trinkets that you didn’t recognize.

One night, you found her standing outside your apartment building.

“Asa, what are you doing here?” you demanded, your voice sharp.

She smiled, unbothered by your tone. “I just wanted to see you.”

“This has to stop,” you said, your frustration boiling over. “You can’t keep following me around like this. It’s not okay.”

Her smile faltered, her eyes narrowing. “You don’t mean that,” she said softly. “I’m just looking out for you. Ruka doesn’t understand you the way I do.”

You couldn’t take it anymore. You decided to tell Ruka the truth.

It wasn’t an easy decision. Asa was her sister, and you knew this would hurt her. But you couldn’t keep living like this, constantly looking over your shoulder and feeling like you were losing your mind.

One evening, while you and Ruka were having dinner at your apartment, you decided to bring it up.

“Ruka, I need to talk to you about something,” you said, your voice heavy with unease.

She looked up from her plate, concern flickering across her face. “What’s wrong?”

“It’s Asa,” you began, struggling to find the right words. “She’s been... acting strange. She’s been following me, showing up at places where I should have privacy. And she’s been saying things—things that make me really uncomfortable.”

Ruka’s expression shifted, her brows knitting together in confusion. “What are you talking about?”

“She’s been stalking me, Ruka,” you said, your voice trembling. “She’s crossed so many lines, and I don’t know what to do anymore.”

Ruka stared at you for a moment, her face unreadable. Then, to your shock, she shook her head.

“I can’t believe you’re saying this,” she said, her voice filled with disbelief.

“Ruka, I’m telling you the truth—”

“No,” she interrupted, her tone sharper now. “How could you say that about my sister? Do you even hear yourself right now?”

Her words hit you like a punch to the gut. “Ruka, I’m not making this up. Asa has been—”

“She’s shy and awkward, sure,” Ruka said, cutting you off again. “But she would never do something like that. How could you accuse her of something so horrible?”

The hurt in her voice was palpable, and it made your chest ache. You thought she would understand, that she would believe you. But instead, she was looking at you like you were the villain.

“You should be ashamed of yourself,” Ruka said, her voice trembling with anger. “Asa’s your future sister-in-law. How can you treat her like this?”

You opened your mouth to respond, but the words wouldn’t come. You felt helpless, the weight of Ruka’s accusations pressing down on you like a suffocating blanket.

Ruka’s rejection was exactly what Asa needed to push her plan to the next level.

She began to grow bolder, her obsession no longer confined to stolen glances and subtle insinuations. She started leaving gifts outside your apartment—flowers, handwritten letters, even a framed photo of the two of you at one of Ruka’s family gatherings.

One night, you woke up to find a shadowy figure standing outside your bedroom window. Your heart raced as you reached for your phone, but when you turned on the lights and looked again, the figure was gone.

The next morning, you found a note slipped under your door.

“You can’t hide from me. I’ll always find you.”

It was written in Asa’s handwriting.

You didn’t know how much longer you could take it. Ruka’s denial left you isolated, and Asa’s obsession was consuming your life. You felt trapped, helpless, and utterly alone.

And the worst part? You could see the endgame approaching, but you had no idea how to stop it. Asa’s plan was reaching its peak, and you were powerless to stop her.

The days blurred into each other, a haze of anxiety and exhaustion. Ever since you’d told Ruka about Asa’s behavior, things had only gotten worse. Ruka’s anger lingered, her warm demeanor replaced with cold indifference. She barely spoke to you anymore, and when she did, her words were curt and dismissive.

“You’re being paranoid,” she’d said one night when you tried to bring it up again. “Maybe if you stopped overthinking everything, you’d feel better.”

Her words stung, cutting deeper than you expected. You were desperate for her support, for her to see what you were going through. But Ruka didn’t seem to care.

Asa, on the other hand, was always there.

Whenever you felt the weight of your stress dragging you down, Asa found a way to insert herself into your life. She’d text you at odd hours, sending messages that teetered between concern and temptation.

“You deserve to feel loved,” she wrote one night. “I just want to help you feel better.”

At first, you tried to ignore her, but the cracks in your resolve were growing wider. Ruka’s indifference left you starved for affection, and Asa was all too eager to fill the void.

One evening, after another argument with Ruka, you found yourself sitting alone in your apartment, staring at the unopened bottle of wine on the counter. Your thoughts were a chaotic mess—frustration with Ruka, confusion about Asa, and an overwhelming sense of loneliness.

A knock at the door startled you. When you opened it, Asa was standing there, holding a bag of takeout and a bottle of your favorite drink.

“I thought you might need some company,” she said, her voice soft and soothing.

You wanted to tell her to leave, to slam the door and block her number. But the look in her eyes—the genuine concern, the warmth—made it impossible.

“I don’t know if this is a good idea,” you muttered, stepping aside to let her in anyway.

“It’s okay,” Asa said, placing the food on the table. “I’m not here to cause trouble. I just... I hate seeing you like this.”

The evening passed in a strange mix of comfort and unease. Asa was attentive, hanging onto your every word as you vented about your frustrations with Ruka.

“She doesn’t understand,” you said, your voice cracking. “I’ve been trying so hard, but it’s like she doesn’t even see me anymore.”

Asa reached across the table, placing her hand on yours. “You don’t have to explain yourself to me,” she said. “I see you, Y/n. I always have.”

Her words sent a shiver down your spine. You should have pulled away, but the warmth of her touch was intoxicating.

In the weeks that followed, Asa’s presence became a constant in your life. She showered you with affection, her sweet words and gestures a stark contrast to Ruka’s coldness. She left handwritten notes on your doorstep, promising to always be there for you. She called you late at night, her voice a soft lullaby that eased the storm in your mind.

You knew it was wrong. Deep down, you knew Asa’s obsession wasn’t healthy. But you were drowning, and she was the only one offering you a lifeline.

The breaking point came one night when Ruka came home late, barely acknowledging your presence as she dropped her bag on the couch.

“Do you even care anymore?” you asked, your voice trembling with anger and despair.

Ruka glanced at you, her expression tired and annoyed. “I’m too exhausted for this, Y/n. Can we not do this right now?”

Her dismissal was the final blow. You felt something inside you snap, the last remnants of your patience and hope crumbling to dust.

That night, you called Asa.

The transition was quick, almost surreal. Asa’s plan had been set in motion for months, and she executed it flawlessly. She convinced you to leave Ruka, her words a mix of sweet promises and subtle manipulation.

“She doesn’t deserve you,” Asa whispered, her arms wrapped around you as you sat in her apartment. “You’ve given her everything, and she’s done nothing but hurt you. Let me take care of you, Y/n. Let me show you what it feels like to be truly loved.”

In your weakened state, her words were irresistible. You wanted to believe her, to let yourself fall into the safety of her arms.

The announcement of your engagement to Asa sent shockwaves through Ruka’s family.

Ruka showed up at Asa’s apartment, demanding answers. “How could you do this to me?” she screamed, her voice breaking with betrayal and anger. “He was my fiancé!”

Asa remained calm, her expression serene as she faced her sister.

“You ignored him, Ruka,” Asa said, her voice cold and measured. “You had the perfect man, and you let him fall apart right in front of you. I was the one who picked up the pieces. I was the one who showed him the love he deserved.”

Ruka’s face crumpled, her anger giving way to disbelief. “You... you’ve been planning this, haven’t you?”

Asa’s smile was chilling. “Of course I have. Do you think someone like Y/n could ever go unnoticed? He’s a treasure, and you were too blind to see it.”

Ruka turned to you, her eyes pleading. “Y/n, tell me this isn’t true. Tell me she didn’t manipulate you.”

But you couldn’t meet her gaze. The guilt and shame were too much, and Asa’s grip on your arm was a silent reminder of the new reality you’d chosen.

Asa had won.

Ruka was left devastated, her relationship with her sister shattered beyond repair. And you? You were trapped in a gilded cage of Asa’s making, her obsession now the foundation of your new life.

But deep down, you couldn’t shake the feeling that this was only the beginning. Asa’s love was possessive, suffocating, and unrelenting—and you had willingly walked into her embrace.

The confrontation was inevitable. Ruka stormed into Asa’s apartment, her face pale with anger and disbelief. The betrayal was written all over her—her hands trembling, her lips pressed into a thin line.

“Asa, what have you done?” she spat, her voice cracking. “How could you steal him from me? He was my fiancé! Do you even realize what you’ve done to our family?”

Asa stood calm and composed, a chilling contrast to her sister’s rage. She looked at you briefly, a small smile tugging at her lips as if to remind you that she was your savior, your protector.

“Sit down, Ruka,” Asa said coolly, gesturing toward the couch. “It’s time you heard the truth.”

Ruka hesitated, but her curiosity—and perhaps guilt—got the better of her. She sat, her arms crossed defensively, glaring at her sister.

“The truth?” Ruka hissed. “You mean the lies you’ve fed him? The manipulation you’ve used to tear us apart?”

Asa shook her head, her expression almost pitying. “No, the truth about how you failed him. About how you left him to wither while I brought him back to life.”

She glanced at you again, her gaze softening. “Y/n was drowning, Ruka. And you were too blind to see it.”

Asa began her story, her tone measured and deliberate, as if every word was a calculated move in her game.

“I started noticing it months ago,” she said, her eyes fixed on Ruka. “The way you ignored him, dismissed him. He was crying out for help, and you couldn’t even hear him.”

Ruka’s jaw clenched, but she said nothing.

“At first, I thought I could help from a distance,” Asa continued. “I’d talk to him, check in on him. But it wasn’t enough. I saw how lonely he was, how much he needed someone who truly cared.”

Her voice grew softer, almost mournful. “So, yes, I started following him. I needed to understand his pain. To see how deep it went.”

“You stalked him,” Ruka interjected, her voice trembling with a mix of anger and disbelief.

Asa didn’t deny it. “I did. And I don’t regret it. Because it showed me the truth—you weren’t there for him, Ruka. You left him to suffer alone.”

Ruka’s expression faltered, the weight of Asa’s words sinking in.

“But I didn’t stop there,” Asa said, her tone hardening. “I got close to him. I broke through the walls you built between him and the love he deserved. I showed him that someone cared, that someone saw his worth.”

She leaned forward, her eyes narrowing. “And do you know what I found? A man who had been abandoned by the one person he trusted most. You broke him, Ruka. And I put him back together.”

Ruka’s composure finally shattered. Tears welled up in her eyes as she shook her head, her voice barely a whisper. “I... I didn’t know. I didn’t realize.”

“You didn’t care,” Asa snapped, her voice icy. “You had the perfect man, and you let him slip through your fingers. You don’t deserve him, Ruka. I do.”

Ruka turned to you, her tears streaming down her face. “Y/n, I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you. I... I thought we were okay.”

Her apology felt hollow, distant. You looked at her, but there was no spark of recognition, no flicker of the love you once felt.

Asa placed a hand on your shoulder, her touch grounding you in the moment. “He doesn’t need your apologies,” she said softly. “He has me now. And I won’t let him suffer like you did.”

Ruka knelt before you, her voice breaking as she begged for your forgiveness. “Please, Y/n. I’ll do better. I’ll fix this. Just come back to me.”

But her words felt like noise, a distant echo that failed to reach you. Your mind was consumed by Asa—her voice, her touch, her promises. She had become your anchor, your guiding light in the storm of your despair.

Asa’s plan had worked perfectly.

She had spent months breaking you down, filling your mind with her words, her presence, her love. She was always there, whispering sweet promises and gentle reassurances. She painted herself as your savior, the only one who truly understood you.

“You don’t need her,” Asa murmured in your ear, her voice a soothing melody. “You only need me.”

And you believed her.

Ruka’s sobs echoed in the room, but they meant nothing to you now. Asa wrapped her arms around you, pulling you close as she glared at her sister.

“You see, Ruka?” Asa said, her voice dripping with triumph. “He’s mine now. And there’s nothing you can do to change that.”

Ruka looked up at you, her face crumpling with despair. “Y/n, please...”

But you didn’t respond. You couldn’t. Asa had claimed you, mind and soul, and there was no escape from her grasp.

In Asa’s arms, you felt a twisted sense of peace. She had won. And you had surrendered.

[elleluvsjurin]

Diva

synopsis: you come home after a long day to see your pretty princess but your princess has other plans

pairings: g!p naoi rei x fem!reader

cw: rich, older(mid to late 20s) dom fem!reader, baby girl!rei, dry humping, mommy kink, buttjob, not proofread!

everywhere you walked, people looked. they knew you weren’t someone to fuck around with, especially because you’re a CEO for a big company. you were what they called a diva. you were rude, confident, and other times stuck up. it’s not your fault though. after YEARS of being treated like shit, what’d they expect? someone to walk over? absolutely not. however, you always melt for your baby, your pretty girl, your rei.

you met rei in a tiny cafe. she sat with a few of her friends and she kept stealing glances at you until you noticed. you walked up to her table and she damn near passed out! someone like you was willing to take her out? how bold! the two of you hit it off instantly and you’ve been in love ever since.

today was a very long day for you. meetings on top of meetings. you and your assistant were both running around, going back and forth during the day. luckily, it finally ended after what felt like forever. you were so excited to see your girlfriend so you could cuddle with her and maybe a few other things.

“rei?” you ask, pulling your keys out of the door. you shut and lock the door, you didn’t hear a reply. you put your bags and keys on the couch near the door and headed up to the shared room to see rei sound asleep. your heart melts at the adorable woman in front of you.

upon seeing that, you end up getting in the shower. rei wakes up to you going through your closet.

“y-y/n? is that you?” she asks, groggily. you smile upon hearing her soft voice. “im here, honey.” you reply. you come out of your closet in a cute, little nightgown, making the girl blush as your nipples harden in the dress.

you sit on the bed, next to her. “i was going to make something to eat for us.” she smiles at your comment. “ok, can i watch?” rei asks. “sure, let’s go.” you reply, giving her a quick peck to the lips before grabbing her hand and leading her to the kitchen.

once in the kitchen, you get to work and she sits on one of the bar stools of the island in the middle of the kitchen, watching you work attentively. she eventually pulls out her phone, scrolling through it. you steal a few glances at rei, making sure she’s okay. there’s an undeniable tension between the two of you, both of you glancing at each other every once in a while.

you put your dish in the oven and scroll on your phone, which leads you to lean forward against the counter. you don’t notice rei behind you until she wraps her arms around your waist and starts grinding herself up against your ass. “rei, what are you doing?” you ask in surprise. rei presses her hands up to your breasts while she thrusts her clothed cock into you. “n-need you mommy..so bad. ‘s been so long since you’re b-busy.” she whimpers. rei humps your ass like a dog, rough and rugged. “mine, mine mine!” she moans.

“r-rei, hold on. im just about done, wait a few. ok?” you say and she shakes her head no. “mommy i-i can’t..feels too good!” she cries, her hips practically moving by themselves as she humps your plump ass. “almost there mommy, s-so glad that you didn’t wear panties.” she whimpers, her precum leaking through her pink sweatpants. she pulls up your dress and pulls down her own pants so she can slide her cock in between your asscheeks. your ass claps while her hips move ferociously back and forth into you, her leaking cock moves in between your ass.

“m-mommy, ‘m gonna cum!” she whimpers. you stay still for her, wanting her to get to best release. she moans out, spilling her load in between and on your ass, some of her cum getting onto the back of your dress.

“sorry” she releases you from her tight grip and her face turns red. you turn around to face her and kiss her cheeks. “it’s ok, i know I’ve been neglectful. forgive me?” you say and she nods her head up and down. “o-ok.” she mumbles. she walks away in embarrassment and you grab your dish from out of the oven, chuckling in amusement. wondering where she got the sudden dominance from.

“im gonna fuck her up.”

a/n: not requested, just wrote this out of impulse

[cosmiclily]

.ᐟ track one: can you see me using everything to hold back?

wc: 1k

cw: talk about death of parents (literally one sentence)

the first time we met, the first thing I noticed about vi was her ridiculous haircut and how she had the most beautiful blue eyes i had ever seen (which wasn’t saying much, considering I was only 10). i instantly wanted to be her friend. but my mom had told me that she and powder were still adjusting and their situation was a little delicate since they had just lost their parents. so, i held myself back as much as I could.

three weeks later, when the adoption papers were signed by vander and they officially became his daughters, i was given the mission of helping the girls feel at home. they were very shy at first, but ekko and i helped them, and in no time, vander’s house had become their home. from then on, vi and I became the best of friends. i covered for her when she got into fights at school, we studied together, played together, we were basically inseparable.

i remember one afternoon not long after the adoption. vi was sitting on the roof, kicking her legs idly and staring at the stars. she looked lost in thought. I hesitated for a moment, not sure if i should bother her, but eventually, i walked over and sat beside her.

“what’re you doing out here all by yourself?” i asked, trying to sound casual.

“just thinking,” she said, her voice quiet. she didn’t look at me, but her hands fidgeted with the hem of her shirt. “it’s weird, you know? having a new home.”

i didn’t know what to say to that, so i just nodded. “yeah, I guess it would be.”

she finally looked at me, her gaze piercing but soft “do you think it’ll get easier?”

i smiled, trying to reassure her even though I wasn’t sure myself. “yeah, i think so. you’ve got vander now. and powder. and… me.”

she smiled for the first time that day. “you’re not too bad, I guess.”

i laughed. “not too bad? wow, thanks for the compliment.”

──────────────────────

life couldn’t have been better—until we got to high school and vi had a growth spurt and became insufferable. not only did she get taller and figure out how to manage her hair, but she also developed a sense of style and made it her mission to break every heart in zaun. Suddenly, every hallway we walked down was filled with girls trying to catch her attention, and she seemed to enjoy it.

one day, as we walked home together, i couldn’t help but tease her about it.

“you know, you’ve got a fan club now,” i said, smirking.

vi raised an eyebrow. “a fan club? what are you talking about?”

i gestured back towards the school. “those girls who basically tripped over themselves trying to say hi to you. pretty sure one of them nearly fainted when you smiled at her.”

she laughed, a confident sound that only made her more infuriating. “can i help it if people think i’m charming?”

i rolled my eyes. “charming, not so sure. annoying? definitely.”

she bumped her shoulder against mine, her grin widening. “admit it, you’d miss me if i wasn’t around.”

i looked away, trying to hide the flush on my cheeks. “yeah, right. you’re just my backup for when ekko’s busy.”

“liar,” she said, laughing again.

i shouldn’t have cared about any of that, but my brain decided it would be a fantastic idea to fall in love with her. so, every time she had a girl around—whether it was someone new she was flirting with or a girlfriend she brought home—i had to pretend life was great and that it didn’t affect me at all.

it got harder as time went on. every stolen glance at her became more unbearable, every casual touch felt like torture, and every time i saw her with someone else, it felt like a reminder that she’d never look at me the way I wanted her to. but i couldn’t show it, couldn’t let her or anyone else know how I felt. i was scared our friendship would suffer the consequences of my feelings, so i buried it deep, pretending that everything was fine.

which it was, it actually became second nature by the time we moved in together for college.

our apartment was small but comfortable, and vi's personality seemed to fill every corner. she had insisted on hanging a crooked poster of a rock band that jinx had gifted her—a band she loved—in the living room, despite all my protests.

“it’s not crooked,” she argued, stepping back and tilting her head. “it’s artistic.”

“it’s crooked,” i said, crossing my arms. “fix it or i’m taking it out.”

vi grinned at me. “if i fix it, where’s the fun in watching you suffer?”

“you’re impossible.”

“you love me,” she said casually, turning to grab her drink from the counter. my heart stuttered, and I quickly looked away before she could see my face.

“unfortunately” i said, but it came out without the bite intended.

──────────────────────

late one night, we were sitting on the balcony, watching the city lights. vi leaned back in her chair, her legs propped up on the railing, as she stared up at the sky.

“do you ever think about what’s next?” she asked suddenly, breaking the comfortable silence.

“what do you mean?” i asked, sipping my coffee.

“like… after college. what we’re gonna do. where we’ll end up.” she looked at me then, her expression softer than usual. “do you think we’ll still be close?”

the question caught me off guard, and I had to force myself to answer without hesitating. “of course. Why wouldn’t we be?”

she shrugged, her gaze drifting back to the stars. “i don’t know. life happens. people drift apart.”

“not us,” i said firmly, surprising even myself. “we’ve been through too much. you’re stuck with me, violet.”

she smiled, her eyes catching the faint glow of the streetlights. “good. i like having you around.”

my chest tightened, and I looked away before she could see the way her words affected me. “someone’s gotta keep you out of trouble.”

“hey, I’m a model citizen,” she teased, laughing. “you’re the bad influence here.”

i laughed too, even though the ache in my heart lingered. she had no idea the effect she had on me.

──────────────────────

album - track 2

notes: chapter one heehee, english isn’t my first language so i’m sorry for any mistakes!! this is basically just an introduction for the characters not much plot going one but i hope you guys enjoyed either way !!

[imaginesig]

Today, Tomorrow, Forever

SMAU with writing

Nicholas Hoult x Reader

Yn and Nicholas Hoult have known each other since their Skins days, but it wasn't love at first sight. How did they go from a one sides rivalry to dream marriage in 17 years?

Movie release dates/years have been edited for the sake of the story!

Idea sent by @ateliefloresdaprimavera

2024

nicholashout with ynhoult

liked by user12, aarontaylorjohnson, ellefanning, and 902,104 others

nicholashoult 17 years ago made the worst mistake of my life, 11 years ago I had the best conversation ever, and 6 years ago I married the love of my life. I never imagined that one person could be the reason my world turns, but here she is. Happy anniversary my love 🤍

tagged no one

aarontaylorjohnson happy anniversary!!

elliefanning best couple ever!!

hughgrant happy anniversary! I'm so happy to have met little you and watched as you've grown into an amazing man

scarlettjohansen beautiful!!

sebastianstan 6 years is no small accomplishment, I hope its a good ones guys!

mikebailey here from the start!!

joedempsie so happy for you guys, happy anniversary!

aprilpearson most beautiful bride ever!!

user1 they're the only couple ever

user2 stop the way he looks at her 😭🤭

user3 its the fact he still looks at her the same now as in that photo

user4 Nick putting Yn first in his own post is the most Nick thing he's ever done

user5 Yn is everything and he's just Ken

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2007

N.H.

A laugh rang loud and clear across the busy set. My ears perked up at it and my eyes immediately rolled. There is only on person who has a laugh like that, a laugh that carries through the air with an annoying volume: Yn Ln. I glance towards the noise and notice a small gathering; April, Mitch, and Mike stand around with her laughing at something. Yn looks proud, so it must've been her joke.

"Oi! Nick come join us!" Mitch calls to me.

"I'm good mate, there's some lines I was hoping to review before we start filming again!" It was a lie. There were no lines, I reviewed everything exhaustively yesterday, a bunch of 'Michelle I'm sorry this' and 'Sid get laid' that. I just can't go over there. I can't imagine anything more dull than flocking around Yn and listen to whatever nonsense she spews into conversation.

"Alright we're going to pick up at scene 6. It's our last of the day so let's make it good!" Calls our director. We all fall into place, April by my side, and the others in a semicircle.

"After we're done for the day we should try that place for dinner," she says to Yn.

"Oh yes!" replies Yn with a cheery smiles. I can't help but scoff under my breath.

Y.L.

Across our fake circe, over the chatter of set I hear Nicholas scoff. It stung somewhere deep in my chest and tripped up my good mood.

I was over the moon to book this gig. Like almost every actor here, Skins was my start; from here I'd book more and more until I've reached the stars. My character was an awkward, ugly duckling but she was mine and I love her. This experience has been the best things thats happened to me ever; I've made so many great friends. There is only one problem: Nicholas Hoult. He's a phenomenal actor and a wonderful guy to everyone but me.

I can't recall what I've done over the past months to make him dislike me; at our first read throughs we were cordial and made wonderful small talk, but as filming progressed he distances himself and always has a noise or eye roll to accompany my words. The worst part was he's cute and seeing how hardworking he is around set doesn't help the school girl crush I have for him. And the nail on the coffin? He's a gentleman and so kind to everyone else, just not me. I'm a lucky girl, I suppose; you can't please everyone, so having 7/8 actors be my friends was fine by me. Plus his negatively was only ever a stumble in the road, not a ruin to my day.

Twitter--

2024

Youtube--

comments:

user1 he's so whipped, like Yn did not need to be mentioned for The Menu quote but she was

user2 no cause why did he go on longer about her and the Skins quote than any other line

user3 I'm crying why does he remember the entire Skins line off the top of his head

user4 get yourself a man that talks good about you even when you're not there

user5 the smile he had when talking about Yn makes me wanna cry

user6 he is so in love

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2008

Y.L.

"Cheers!" A round of glasses clinking filled my ears. The core cast got together to celebrate the wrap of season 2 for Skins; we were currently tucked away in the back of some local restaurant in Bristol. I was sat at the end of the table, with Mitch on my right and Dev on my left; everyone was joking and sharing stories, it seemed every member at the table was holding at least 3 conversations. As Cassie would say, it was lovely. The warm lights reflected off of the wooden table and casted a gentle glow on everyone, including Nicholas at the other end of the table. We made eye contact as the table erupted into a roar at something Kaya said; I felt my cheeks burn with the stretch of my smile, but Nicholas's quickly turned from a bright laugh to a tight lipped smile. I rolled by eyes and chose to ignore him; I've let go any wish I had to understand his dislike of me.

I tore my eyes away from Nicholas's direction and looked around, my heart grew heavy. I am so glad we are all geared up to start new projects, but I'm so sad to see everyone separate. I hope we'd all be able to keep in touch. The conversations slowed down so I grabbed my almost empty glass and tapped on it, "Not to make this a cheesy movie moment, but I wanted to let you all know how grateful I am for Skins. Not only has this shown given us a jumping point, but its connected us all..."

N.H.

"...connected us all..." there she bloody goes, killing the mood with some dumb speech. Yn's words soon sounded like the parents from Charlie Brown. Yet, I looked forward to pretend to listen. This is the first time I've really looked at her out of character. I've gotten used to her brush out curls that would frizz out in the English humidity and the hideous fake glasses they'd put on her. All apart of the ugly duckling role she plays. Off set she looks fine, I wouldn't say anything special.

I look down and watch the condensation drip down my glass and onto the table; as the droplets raced I couldn't help but wish Yn was just a little funnier and more interesting.

2024

Youtube--

comments:

user1 they def went home and screwed after this

user2 I felt like I was interrupting something

user3 imagine having to be apart of the crew to film this

user4 Yn was way to excited there's no way Nicholas isn't getting slapped in bed at some point

user5 its the way he gave his answer away with the ask me off camera

user6 also Yn calling Nicholas instead of Nick when she asked 😭 girlie knows how to get what she wants

user7 they're both so possessive but polite

user8 I've never seen a celebrity be so comfortable and laugh (enjoyable not uncomfortable) at these, I love it

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2010

Twitter--

2011

Twitter--

2013

Twitter--

N.H.

My bed felt softer and fluffier than a cloud when I flopped into in face first. It had been a long few months; Warm Bodies finished it wrap, I went straight into auditioning for new projects, and before I could blink I was swept up into press for the movie. I'm living the dream, but sometimes I just want everything to slow down.

My eyes just fluttered closed when my phone let out rapid buzzes, one at a time. I sighed in relief when it went silent, but was quickly disappointed when it started again. I rolled over to retrieve it from the bed beside me. Messages from the old skins group chat filled my lock screen; we made it after a meet up a couple years ago, but it was only ever active on someone's birthday, that was until today. The messages informed me that our old show was trending on twitter with fans pulling old photos, clips, and interviews from our time. I smiled and replied quickly before loading up the app for a quick trip down memory lane.

...

My room slowly grew darker as hours passed. Hours have passed as I went down the rabbit hole of Twitter reminiscing; at some point I ended up clicking on different links to interviews the cast has done. The current one was Yn answering a question that I can't remember. A pit formed in my stomach, she was beautiful inside and out. Every interview I saw her in, she had nothing but praises for everyone else and took every compliment with such humility. I was in awe of her answers, despite being formed on the spot came out with the poise of a well rehearsed speech. I made a horrible misjudgment.

"Whose do I most admire of the cast? I'd have to say Nick," the guilt in my chest grew, "he's so talented that you'd think he was a pure asshole if you only watch the show. We're not the closest, but I've seen from being around him he is an absolute sweetheart. That's what makes him admirable, his absolute kick ass work as Tony while being a fantastic cast mate."

I wished she was lying, but I can tell it's all genuine. I spent those years annoyed by her and mentally tearing down this girl, but she wasn't a girl. Yn was a poised young women who was down to Earth and spent her time raising people up. She was right we weren't close, because of me, but she still through so highly of me. I wanted to hit myself, she could've been an amazing friend and I was too dumb to let go of stupid stereotypes from a fictional show to see it.

I turned my phone off and rolled over. Tonight, I fell asleep with the beautiful sound of Yn laughing in my ears.

2024

Twitter--

2013

N.H.

It was warm inside the event hall; I was currently sitting at my assigned table at the EBA Awards. I was nominated for my role as R in Warm Bodies, but seeing as I wasn't a huge name I was at the beginning of the carpet. I looked around to see other people mingling to pass the time as everyone makes their way in, but no one stood out so I stayed seated. Somewhere in the distance I heard a loud laugh; it was eerily familiar and certainly beautiful but I couldn't seem to place it. I pulled out my phone someone stopped near the table causing me to look up.

A breath got stuck in my throat as Yn Ln stood in front of me looking like a picture of perfection,"hey Nicholas! I saw you and wanted to catch up..."

Instagram--

celeb_updates

liked by user4, user1, user83, and 892,820 others

celeb_updates just days after the EBA Awards, former cast mates Yn Ln and Nicholas Hoult were seen on a supposed date! It's the first time they've been seen together/publicly interacted since the last Skins event they attended in 2008

tagged: no one

user1 omg the bad boy and good girl??

user2 we used to pray for days like these

user3 I'm thrilled with the idea of them just being friends much less ON A DATE

user4 OMG GUYS I THOUGHT I WAS CRAZY! I was hoping we'd get some content with them both attending the EBAs!!

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2017

Marie Antoinette (directed by Sofia Coppola) Premiere

X-Men: Dark Pheonix (directed by Simon Kinberg) Premiere

Instagram--

ynln

liked by user1, aprilpearson, ajcook, and 892,203 others

ynln secrets out 💍

tagged nicholashoult

nicholashoult I love you so much 🩵

ynln right back at ya 🩵

ajcook so excited!!

aprilpearson the scream I let out-- congrats guys!!

mitchhewer never saw it coming but you two work so well together!

user1 omg omg omg omg

user2 that first photo is giving total romcom vibes

user3 right?? I love the shot through the window

user4 part of me is so so excited, but another part just died because wdym Tony fell for C/N??

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2018

Instagram--

ynhoult

liked by mitchhewer, nicholashoult, larissawilson, and 928,029 others

ynhoult allow me to reintroduce myself...

tagged: nicholashoult

aarontaylorjohnson absolutely stunning bride!! Here's to a long, wonderful marriage

larrisaawilson party like no other! Many congrats

aprilpearson what a night!!! Love you both

user1 im actually crying

user2 ok my turn now...

user3 their personal cake is too cute

user4 the third picture 😭

user5 they're back in their skins party era

load more

nicholashoult

liked by mikebailey, ellefanning, hughgrant, and 893,924 others

nicholashoult today, tomorrow, forever

tagged: ynhoult

hughgrant Congratulations! I hope its a long and happy marriage

ellefanning beautiful ceremony and killer reception

mikebaily congrats mate!

user1 the polaroids of the guests are so cute

user2 between the two of them there were more famous actors as guests at their wedding than the oscars 😭

user3 I want a love like this

user4 they're so intimate its adorable

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[crowsofdarkness]

Arranged: Chapter Five

*gif not mine. credit to owner*

Pairings: Mob!Bucky Barnes x Reader

Warnings: language, 18+ smut(ch 12 & ch 17), angst, fluff, mentions of death and violence. I will update the warnings with each chapter.

Summary: Reader would do anything to make her parents happy and that included agreeing to an arranged marriage. She never expected it to be to one of New York's most feared Mob Boss: Bucky Barnes. He is anything but loving towards Reader however when her parents are mysteriously killed, Bucky makes it his mission to find out who were at fault. And in the process, ends up coming close to losing Reader.

Authors Note: This was a story of mine on an old blog and I wanted to publish it on here. Since it's quite a long fic, I've decided to slowly updated it chapter by chapter. If anyone who is interested wants to be tagged, let me know!

Bucky was at my back while Steve led the way up the front steps and they quickly ushered me inside, with no words spoken the entire drive back home. Something wasn’t right with this meeting they were almost late for, I couldn’t shake the weight in my stomach. 

“Steve, can you take her to her room and stay with her until I’m finished?” Bucky asked. 

“I’m not going to be held prisoner. You said it yourself, I can have free reign,” I reminded him. 

Steve simply placed a hand at the small of my back, trying to lead me upstairs, however my foot remained planted in the main entry way of the house. That was when Bucky’s other two bodyguards stepped in, ready to grasp my elbows to drag me upstairs. My yells of protests bounced off the walls. 

“Don’t fucking touch me!” I sneered. 

Bucky stepped between his men, anger flushing his cheeks. “Let’s get one thing straight, you don’t ever lay a finger on her, understand? She is to only be handled by Steve or I.” 

“Boss, all do respect, she’s been a pain since she’s first arrived,” Jake, one of his men said. 

The other man, Ryan, agreed with a nod. 

“Excuse me?” I asked, shocked. 

“Listen lady, I’d suggest you keep my mouth shut. You have no idea what you got yourself into,” Jake snapped. 

A shriek fell from my lips as I watched Bucky wrap his metal fingers around Jake's throat and pinned him against the back of the front door, feet dangling inches above the floor. 

“Bucky, stop.” I placed a hand on his other arm but it was as if Bucky couldn’t feel my touch. 

Jake was gasping, swallowing, for any ounce of air around him as Bucky tightened the grip on his throat. Jake scratched and clawed at the metal arm but failed, it not having any effect on Bucky. 

“I’d suggest you apologize to my future wife.” 

Nothing came out of Jake’s lips so Bucky squeezed harder. 

“Sorry,” Jake choked out. 

“Okay, let him go,” I said to Bucky. 

He still wouldn’t drop him so this time I did my best to step between the two of them. 

“God damnit, Bucky. Let. Him. Go!” 

Bucky’s gaze bounced from Jakes to mine and when he saw my worried one, he reluctantly dropped Jake to the floor; his gasps echoing down the halls. 

“You’re lucky I need you two assholes for this meeting otherwise you’d be gone,” Bucky threatened towards Ryan, who had been standing there, head down and avoiding the wrath of Bucky. 

“Y/N, let's get upstairs,” Steve suggested. 

“Well it’s about time you showed up. I’ve been waiting over an hour.” 

All eyes landed on the new man that entered the room. He was dressed in a suit that screamed expensive and he placed his glasses into his pocket, brown eyes resting on my face. The smile that crept to his lips didn’t sit well with me. 

“You must be the bride to be. I’m Tony Stark, an associate of your lover boy here. Will you be joining us?”

I stared at Tony’s extended hand and before I could even make the choice to shake it, Bucky had his hand on my hip and was leading me towards the stairs. 

“Not this time, Stark,” Bucky grumbled before motioning towards Steve. “She doesn’t have to stay in her room. Make sure she stays away from my office.” 

“Ah, come on Barnes. She would be a real asset,” Tony spoke once again. 

Bucky’s metal fingers twitched with rage so I reached for them and linked our hands together. He immediately eased into my touch, eyes softening as I looked into his eyes. 

“I’ll be up in my room. Come find me when you’re finished?” I suggested. 

He quickly nodded before he composed himself, ushering all the men to follow him towards his office. 

There was a nice breeze that afternoon, fall in New York fast approaching, and I smiled while bringing the blanket closer to me. I had been sitting on the balcony of my bedroom, watching the fast night life of the city approaching. Even if Barnes Manor was secluded, we were high up on a hill that you could still see the constant movement of cars driving through the city. 

I had a book perched on my lap but after reading the same sentence a handful of times, I had closed it with a long sigh. My mind had been wrapped up in what was happening downstairs and if Bucky would be finishing up soon. It had been almost two hours since he disappeared into his office, Steve standing outside my bedroom door that whole time. I mentioned it a few times to him that he didn’t need to stay, he could do whatever he wanted. 

“I figured you could use the company.” 

The only positive thing about Bucky being in that meeting for so long was that I was able to do a bit of research on this mystery man. 

Tony Stark was a billionaire, one of the few in New York. He had lost his parents when he was in college but he never let that affect him. He created his own empire by investing in other smaller companies and building them high for success. 

A silent investor is what his Wikipedia page said. 

What confused me was that Bucky had money, lots of it. He didn’t need Stark or his money so I had no idea what his part in Bucky’s company was. 

To be honest, I didn’t even know what Bucky was working in or into. All I knew was that he was a feared mob boss. 

But did I want to know that information? Could I live with what he does to the people that go against his orders? 

“Y/N?” 

I looked over my shoulder and gave a smile to Steve, who was leaning against the doorframe to the balcony. 

“Everything alright?” I asked. 

Steve ran a hand through his long hair and nodded. “Bucky sends his apologies. His meeting is running a bit longer than expected.” 

I shrugged. “It’s alright. I’ve got plenty of time.” 

He could hear the falter in my voice. “Did you want to talk? About anything?” 

I hesitated. “Is that a good idea? From what I hear, you and Bucky are best friends. I don’t want to say something that would upset you.” 

Steve shook his head with a chuckle. “It wouldn’t be anything I hadn’t heard before. Buck may come off as a hard ass but he really does care about the people closest to him. Plus, I’m here for you; safety wise and someone to vent too.” 

“Well, in that case,” I pointed to the seat next to me. “Have a seat.” 

“So, Bucky tells me you two are doing a courthouse wedding?” Steve asked while straightening out his dress shirt. 

I nodded. “When I think of a wedding, it's supposed to be this huge celebration where you prove your love for one another in front of your loved ones.” 

“I understand that,” Steve said. 

“I wish my parents did,” I sighed. “They’re upset because they arranged this whole thing to make sure the rest of my life I didn’t have to worry about anything.” 

“You didn’t get a say in this?” 

I shook my head while fidgeting with the rings on my fingers. “Nope and I can’t go against my parents; it was the number one rule while growing up.” 

Steve looked at my fingers and his brow raised in confusion when he saw the bare finger on my left hand. 

“No ring yet?” He questioned. 

“Oh,” I looked at my hand. “I don’t think Bucky is going to give me one, to be honest.” 

“I wouldn’t be too sure about that,” Steve suggested with a smirk. 

Suddenly, I felt a large presence behind me and when I looked over my shoulder, the pace of my heart began to quicken. Bucky was leaning against the railing, a smirk playing at his lips. He must have been so quiet as he walked in because I didn’t hear a thing. 

“Hi,” I breathed. 

“Steve keeping you company?” He questioned. 

“Yeah. Is that alright?” 

I couldn’t tell if Bucky was upset with Steve and I being alone. 

He nodded. “Steve’s the only one I trust to leave you with.” 

“Meeting go alright?” Steve questioned while he rose to his feet. 

Bucky nodded. “Do you mind bringing the car around? I’ve got an errand to run.” 

Steve quietly excused himself, leaving Bucky and I alone. 

“What about Jake?” I asked. 

From what I could tell, he had been Bucky’s driver. 

Bucky’s eyes clouded over with darkness, only for a moment. “He won’t be working for me anymore.” 

With the curtness in his voice, I decided not to press on with the issue. But I didn’t miss the splatter of blood on Bucky’s metal knuckles. 

“So,” I changed the subject. “I’m assuming you have other plans then?” 

He nodded. “I’ll only be gone an hour. Since Steve will be with me, can you promise that you won’t go anywhere?” 

“I’ve got nowhere to go,” I shrugged. 

Bucky let out a sad sigh while stuffing his hands deep into his pockets. “I don’t want to make you feel like a prisoner, Y/N.” 

I disagreed with his worry. “You don’t. I’m still settling in so it’ll take me some time.” 

“Would that stop you from spending some alone time with me tonight?” Bucky noticed my hesitation. “I’ll cook you dinner, that’s it. Please?”

I gnawed on my lip at how cute he looked when he begged. “Sure. I’d like that.” 

Bucky nodded. “Dining room. Seven o'clock.” 

“Seven o'clock,” I repeated before watching him walk out of the room, not before throwing another smile to me over his shoulder.

[achaotichuman]

What's the best tamcien smut fic would you recommend to me? Also are you open in being sent a tamcien smut fic as a gift 👀

HIHIHIHIHIHI

You have come to the right place for recs, I am the resident rec dealer, here are all the tamcien smut fics on AO3, all of them I have read at least multiple times.

I am quite tired at the time of compiling this list, so there is a chance I have missed some, so I would reccomend looking through the Ao3 Tamcien tag to see all the marvelous works all the Tamcien creators have made!

And YESYESYESYESY I AM VERY OPEN TO BEING SENT TAMCIEN SMUT AS A GIFT, YESPLS!!!

Am I making you feel sick? by @yaralulu

Lucien wasn’t a fool. He'd seen the hatred in Tamlin’s eyes, the confusion and disgust vast as he looked him up and down. And yet after the treaty meeting, he seeked him out in his tent anyways. He wasn’t foolish enough to beg for forgiveness.

my lord (and only mine) by @yaralulu

Lucien takes care of his High Lord after he comes back from a rather stressful meeting with his council. “Why not? You’re my High Lord. It seems fitting it, doesn’t it?” Cruel, teasing words, Lucien knew, but he couldn’t help himself. It was just too much fun having that kind of power over Tamlin. It felt too good to see him crumble all because Lucien wore his shirt and called him a certain nickname. Too fun and too easy. “I’m also your friend. Do friends call each other such things?” “Friends.” The corners of Lucien’s lips twitched up unwillingly at that word. “Is that what we are?”

The Fox and The Hound by @samhatch

Every Fire Night since Lucien joined Spring Court, Tamlin has always sought him out to help release the last of the spirits that possessed him. But now that he's mated with Feyre, Tamlin won't need Lucien's help anymore... Or will he? ********************************************************** “I thought you wouldn’t come.” I admitted. I tried to keep my heart from beating too quickly, knowing his heightened senses could hear it. He said nothing in reply, and walked slowly toward me. As gently as the morning dew, he pressed his lips to mine, but I could feel the hunger behind it barely kept at bay. His scent filled my nose, trampled moss and lilac. “What about Feyre?” I asked. “She’s asleep,” he said as he crawled into my bed.

The Wolf and the Fox by @tsunami-of-tears

Alpha Tamlin/Omega Lucien Tamlin is having a rut at the most inconvenient time. Lucien is a cocky shit and not helping the issue.

The Rite of Spring by @nocasdatsgay

Day 6 Poly Week: Celebrations A Calanmai fic. Tamlin and Flora complete the rite, going to find their loves once it is done and the next day help with cleaning up the festivities

Edging || Lucien Vanserra x Tamlin by @sharksscripting

Oct. 21st 2033 — Kinktober Lucien returned to the Spring Court for a visit when he sees it in a worst state than ever, after talking—arguing—with Tamlin feelings evolve and they end up making love.

Cockwarming || Lucien Vanserra x Tamlin by @sharksscripting

Oct. 28th 2023 — Kinktober Part Two of: 𝐄𝐝𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 || 𝐋𝐮𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧 𝐕𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐚 𝐱 𝐓𝐚𝐦𝐥𝐢𝐧 — The Spring Court has been regrowing and that causes Tamlin’s workload to triple. Lucien finds a way to help.

A sunbeam shining bright into the night by @nocasdatsgay

After the Great Rite ritual is completed, Tamlin always goes back to the Manor to see if Lucien is waiting for him. This year he is. Tamlin Week 2023 Day 3 Possessive

Play With Fire by Sam Tinnesz by @trshtffc

Calanmai fire just got a bit too hot (Bonus chapter/prequel for In This Peace) (pre ACOTAR)

And an NSFW Tamcien fanart series by @samhatch

Not Safe For Tumblr

Below are all the smut fics I've written.

Hedonism

Tamlin has never been good with words. Much less relationships, of any kind at all. He doesn't know how to fix this; he doesn't know if there's any possibility of this being fixed. But he has to try, for the man that is everything he's ever needed. He will try.

A Proposition

The High Lords meeting is being held in the Night Court, and Lucien is bored out of his brains, but when he realises the Heirs of Night and Spring have slipped off, what would have once been a very boring day suddenly becomes the opportunity for something he'd never even thought of.

Naked Poetry

The Seasonal Courts are gathering for an annual meeting. With tensions growing between the Courts, they aim to settle what they can and allow the magic to return to harmony as it was before the Curse of Amarantha. But after so long away, the magic of each Court is writhing for its sister. From Spring's weakened magic, the power of the Seasons is demanding rejuvenation. Magic comes with a price, and this is theirs. Title from Naked Poetry by SKYLAR would recommend listening to whilst reading.

If you want to see more Tamcien content, I would also recommend checking out my main fanfiction rec masterlist and my personal masterlist

[immortalbumblebee]

Mom said it's my turn to request!!so anyway👀I love your writing and so I would really like as in Vander x fem!reader where both of them are Mylo's actual biological parentsand just some fluff around them please💙

So this turned more into a Mylo & Reader fluff comfort fic, I hope that's okay! This prompt got me really excited!

Masterlist

Family Ties

You can’t help the soft "oof" that escapes your lips as you lean against the mattress of Mylo’s top bunk. Your feet balance precariously on a rung of the makeshift ladder, while your arms rest atop the edge of the mattress. Carefully, you place a bowl of fruit on the side of the bed. The room is dim, lit only by the faint, flickering glow of a streetlight filtering through the blinds. The rhythmic thud of Mylo’s ball hitting the ceiling fills the small space, a steady beat against the tense silence.

“You want to talk about what happened today?”

Thunk.Thunk.Thunk.

The wooden bunk bed creaks softly beneath the weight of his restless movements. Mylo lies there sprawled out, legs bent awkwardly to accommodate his too-long frame on a bed that hasn't fit him for years. Each toss of the ball is precise, almost mechanical, as though he’s trying to channel all his frustration into the motion.

You stay there, quiet, watching him. Waiting. Mylo’s never been great at hiding his emotions, but pushing him won’t help. You know better.

Finally, the tension breaks.

“We got our asses handed to us out there!” he snaps, the ball clattering against the ceiling with more force than before. It bounces back into his hand, but he doesn’t throw it again. Instead, he props himself up on one elbow, his sharp glare directed at no one in particular. “But I get reamed out while she just gets to mess up without any consequences? How is that fair?”

His voice is tight, the anger barely masking the frustration beneath. He’s not just mad—he’s hurt, and you can see it in the way his hand tightens around the ball.

“I know.” You nod, trying your best to be understanding. “But Powder’s young, and still learning. She needs her older siblings to show her the way sometimes.”

He throws the ball one final time, hard, and it thuds against the ceiling with a force that makes the bunk bed shudder. The ball drops into his lap as he shoots upright, sitting cross-legged now, his sharp gaze locked onto yours.

“Why does everyone let her off easy because of her age, huh?” he demands, his tone heated, though you can tell the anger is masking something deeper. “Just ’cause she’s ‘the baby’ means she can do no wrong!”

You inhale slowly, steadying yourself. “That’s not true,” you say softly, keeping your voice calm and measured. “But we all have to learn our own way—”

“Then we shouldn’t be taking her on jobs!” Mylo snaps, cutting you off mid-sentence. His hands ball into fists, and you can see the frustration etched into every line of his face. “If she’s not capable, why do we have to pick up the slack?”

You catch yourself before the urge to retort takes over. He’s wound so tight he’s practically vibrating, and if you lash out now, it’ll only make things worse.

Instead, you exhale deeply and let the silence linger for a moment, long enough for him to shift uncomfortably under your gaze. Finally, you speak, your tone firm but even. “Because that’s what families do, Mylo. We take care of each other.”

You can feel the seething anger rolling off of him in waves.

“She’s Vi’s family.” He snaps, throwing himself back onto the mattress. “Not mine, remember?”

“Mylo…” You start, but he continues on.

“She makes everything harder,” he mutters eventually, quieter this time. “And I don’t get to mess up. Ever. Claggor and Vi have her back constantly, and you and Dad always have everyone’s back. And I know she's little, but like…I’m supposed to be your son. You’re supposed to have my back, but everyone’s too busy babying her! You know how that feels?”

You try to ignore the daggers stabbing into your heart with every word. Each sharp syllable from Mylo’s mouth cuts deeper than the last, but you remind yourself that he’s young—too young to shoulder the weight he’s been carrying. He’s stubborn, yes, but it’s the same stubbornness you see in yourself and in Vander. It’s a trait that’s both a blessing and a curse. And right now? Gods, he wasn’t making this easy for you.

Rather than snapping or letting your frustration show, you inhale deeply, steadying yourself. You let the silence hang between you for a beat, maybe two, until he shifts uncomfortably, his eyes darting away from yours.

Finally, you speak. Your voice is steady, but there’s a thread of unmistakable warmth beneath the firmness. “You are my son, Mylo.”

You reach out, your hand resting gently on his leg. He stiffens, his body coiling with the same raw energy that’s radiated off him since this conversation began. Then, in one swift motion, he pulls away, retreating like he’s touched a flame.

The rejection stings, more than you care to admit. But you don’t flinch. Instead, you keep your gaze on him, unwavering, as he stares at the floor.

“And Powder is also my daughter,” you continue, your tone softening but losing none of its conviction. “I love you both so much, Mylo. I need you to understand that. But I also love you equally.”

His jaw tightens at the word, his lips pressed into a thin line, but he doesn’t interrupt this time.

“We’re family, my darling,” you say, leaning forward just slightly, trying to close the emotional gap between you. “We look out for each other—not because it’s easy, but because that’s what we do. That’s who we are. You don’t have to like it all the time, and you’re allowed to be angry. But this?” Your voice lowers, growing softer. “This resentment—it’s only going to hurt you.”

For a long moment, Mylo says nothing. His hands clench and unclench at his sides, his knuckles white with tension. Then, finally, he glances up, his expression conflicted. His anger hasn’t fully ebbed, but there’s a flicker of doubt there now, a crack in his armor.

“I just want someone to have my back here…” Mylo’s voice cracks slightly, betraying the vulnerability behind his frustration. He looks away, his jaw set tight, but the weight in his words hangs in the air like a plea he can’t quite bring himself to say outright.

Your chest tightens at his words. You’ve always known how fiercely he feels things, how deeply he longs for validation even when he’s too proud to ask for it.

“I know it feels like you’re alone in this,” you say softly, your voice steady and warm. “But I promise, we’re all on your side. Vander and I are here for you, my darling boy.” You lean forward slightly, your hand hovering near his for a moment before committing to the gesture. “It may not feel like it right now, but I swear, I would take on the whole of the Enforcers for you.”

This time, when your hand brushes his, he doesn’t pull away. His fingers are tense under yours, but the fact that he doesn’t recoil feels like a small victory. Still, he avoids your gaze, his head bowed, the fight in him simmering down to embers.

“And I know your father would do the same,” you add, your tone quieter now, the words almost a whisper.

For a moment, he doesn’t say anything. He just stares at the ball in his other hand, his thumb tracing the worn seam over and over. When he finally speaks, his voice is a low grumble, rough around the edges. “You guys have a funny way of showing it…”

The words sting, even though you know they’re coming from a place of hurt rather than malice. You tighten your grip on his hand just slightly, anchoring both him and yourself.

“We’re not perfect, Mylo,” you admit, your voice tinged with regret. “We’ve made mistakes—so many mistakes—but everything we do, every decision we make, is because we love you and Powder. We’re trying to do what’s best, even when it doesn’t feel like it.”

He snorts, the sound bitter but less sharp than before. “Yeah? Well, maybe you should ask me what’s best for once.”

You nod, letting the comment land without protest. “You’re right,” you say gently. “We should. And I’m sorry if it feels like we haven’t. But I’m listening now, Mylo. Tell me what you need.”

He looks up at you then, just for a fleeting moment, and in his eyes, you see a flicker of something that might be hope. He’s not ready to forgive or forget—not yet—but he’s listening, too.

“What if…” you hum, squeezing his hand gently, “you eat up this fruit, and then meet me upstairs? We can go out? Maybe grab something from the bakery a couple levels down?”

There’s a flicker in his eyes—a spark that’s been missing for too long—and you can’t help the smile that tugs at your lips.

“Race you. Parkour style,” he challenges, and there’s a mischievous edge to his tone now, a hint of the boy who used to dart through the alleyways, laughing like the world wasn’t on his shoulders.

At this, you laugh—a full, hearty sound that shakes loose some of the tension still lingering in your chest. “That hardly seems fair. You’re too fast, and I’m far too old.”

He grins, already stuffing the fruit into his mouth like his life depends on it. Juice dribbles down his chin, and you can’t help but shake your head, your scolding finger already poised.

“Chew and swallow before you speak, Mylo,” you admonish lightly, though your voice is filled with warmth.

He holds up a hand in mock surrender, gulping down the fruit as quickly as possible before grinning at you, unabashed. “There. Happy now?”

“Very,” you reply, matching his grin.

“Good, because you’re definitely losing this race, Mom!” he declares, his confidence radiating as he jumps off the bunk and bolts toward the door, practically bouncing with anticipation.

You hop off the ladder yourself, your joints protesting slightly, but you ignore the ache. Stretching out your limbs, you roll your shoulders and grin after him.

“I wouldn’t count on it, my darling,” you call out, your voice light but challenging. “I’ve got a few tricks left up my sleeve.”

Mylo stops in the doorway, turning to give you a look of mock surprise. “Oh yeah? We’ll see about that.”

And just like that, the air between you feels lighter—like the weight that had been pressing down on both of you has finally begun to lift. For a moment, there’s no anger, no resentment, no fear. Just the thrill of the challenge and the bond that no amount of hardship can break.

[bwat5-blog]

Hope: Chapter 3

Arcane Fanfic: Non-Canon Compliant

Jinx sits quietly, brushing Vi’s shaggy mane of fiery hair, singing softly: “Dear friend, across the river. My hands are cold and bare. Dear friend, across the river, I’ll take what you can spare…”

She smiles and sets the brush aside, leaning down and pressing her forehead to her older sister’s.

“You’d probably hate to hear this... but I think the long hair suits you. It makes you look...softer... like you’ve experienced something other than pain in life... other than the fight.”

“I happen to agree,” a polite, nervous voice says from the doorway.

Jinx looks up to see Caitlyn Kiramman standing in the doorway, smiling awkwardly.

“Welcome back. How was the meeting?” Jinx asks.

Caitlyn walks in, setting down a bundle of papers and scrolls with a sigh. “Oh, the business of setting things right and rebuilding... exhausting, but worthwhile. Especially given my part in the breaking.” She smiles sadly and sits in the chair across from Jinx.

In the week or so since Jinx had been moved from the bunker, she and Caitlyn had slowly started finding a rhythm. They were cordial and cautious—not in the way of two people setting their mutual hatred aside for a common cause, but in the way of two people realizing that hatred meant nothing anymore and afraid they’d be the one to ruin it.

Caitlyn leans forward, resting an elbow on the arm of the chair. She scratches Vi’s left forearm gently with her nails. “When she would wake from nightmares, I would do this to soothe her back to sleep. I’d give anything for her eyes to open now... even if they were full of the hatred I deserve.”

“We all made mistakes, Caitlyn, and we’ve both hurt her,” Jinx offers quietly.

Caitlyn looks at her, and Jinx is shocked to see gratitude in her eyes. Caitlyn shakes her head gently.

“I was deceived... and preyed upon... I know this. But my mistakes were mine. The Piltover council recognizes that they all agreed to martial law, and as such, the occupation of Zaun was... technically lawful. And they found enough documentation in Ambessa’s private offices to prove I didn’t know about the brutality happening in Stillwater. But...”

“Zaun wants more,” Jinx says simply.

Caitlyn nods. “And they are right to. Regardless of the whole story, they suffered. But I think I’ve found a solution.” She brushes Vi’s hair from her eyes.

“I really miss her, Jinx. Father says she should wake any day, but... she gives me strength.”

“Me too,” Jinx whispers. She looks up and sees tears in Caitlyn’s eyes. “Caitlyn... Zaun... what did you offer them?” she asks, a small bit of apprehension blooming in her stomach.

Caitlyn sits back and smiles ruefully. “Well, it isn’t finalized yet, so I didn’t want to tell you. Firstly, I believe I’ve secured your pardon.”

Jinx sits back, mouth open. She looks at Caitlyn, this woman she took so much from, who hated her and whom she hated in return. “Why?”

Caitlyn runs her hands through her hair. “I meant what I said, Jinx... I want to give Vi a world worth waking up to. If she woke up and you were still suffering, it might break that heart of hers for good. I won’t allow it,” she says, turning away a little.

“Caitlyn, thank you.” Jinx reaches across and takes Caitlyn’s hand without thinking. “But... what’s the other condition?”

Caitlyn turns back to her. “I’ve agreed to leave these shores. For good. Once Vi is well.” She says stiffly. “My father still has land in Ionia. I can live comfortably there as long as I... I never return.”

Caitlyn gives her a clearly forced smile. “As I said, though, they were understanding. They will allow me to wait until Vi is awake so I can bid her farewell.”

Jinx’s stomach drops. She gains her freedom, and Caitlyn is exiled. “That can’t happen. You said this is for Vi. How do you think she’s going to feel if the woman she loves is sent away?”

“It’s for the best. All I am is pain to the Undercity and I.. I don’t think she can ever trust me again anyway” Caitlyn says biting her lip so hard she draws blood.

“She trusts me...” Jinx says earnestly.

Caitlyn shakes her head. “You are her sister. Her kin… I lost the right to her love, Jinx. I didn’t help you all and Vander down there in some desperate bid for the reward of her coming back to me. I don’t deserve that. This way, Zaun is pleased. She gets her sister... and I go where I can’t hurt anyone else here.”

Jinx sits quietly. “Caitlyn. Vi loves you. You know that. There has to be another option”.

Caitlyn shakes her head chuckling through tears “Their first offer was thirty lashes but it was quickly taken off of the table when Sevika offered to relieve the man speaking of his head. This was the only thing they would accept in lieu of violence”.

Jinx grimaces in disgust “Blood for blood. Just what we need… Caitlyn Vi needs you she”

Caitlyn sobs loudly choking. “I hit her Jinx!... after that fight in the vent chamber. I promised not to change. I kissed her, and then... I.I hit her and abandoned her. I knew her history! I knew how she had suffered! And I still became everything she ever feared I was and took away her hope. And all for the great crime of her putting herself in front of my gun to save that little girl from my hatred and madness.”

Caitlyn leans forward, curling up on herself, sobbing now. Jinx freezes. She has never been good at this sort of thing, and the mention of Caitlyn hitting Vi, as well as the reminder of the day she almost shot Isha, sends a whisper of that old rage through Jinx’s mind. But...

No... back to sleep... back to sleep...

Jinx stands slowly and walks gently around the bed. She drops to her knees next to Caitlyn and, like Tobias did with her, starts rubbing small circles on Caitlyn’s back.

“Hey... um... follow my breathing, okay? In for five, hold for five, out for five.”

Caitlyn goes stiff at her touch for a moment, then nods through her wracking sobs.

In: 1... 2... 3... 4... 5. Hold: 1... 2... 3... 4... 5. Out: 1... 2... 3... 4... 5.

They repeat the cycle several times as Caitlyn slowly masters herself. Jinx stands and quickly pours her some water from a pitcher and brings her the glass, standing back while Caitlyn sits up and smiles gratefully through red, puffy eyes.

“I... am so sorry. That was... unbecoming of me,” Caitlyn says stiffly. “Thank you for helping me. I imagine it wasn’t easy for you with our history”.

Jinx nods and sits back in her chair across from Caitlyn. “Maybe as easy as you willingly inviting me into your bedroom” she smiles ruefully. She looks down at Vi and squeezes her hand..

“She told me about your breakup.”

Caitlyn looks shocked for a moment, then laughs. “I suppose I should have known. I’m surprised you knew what I did and didn’t attack me the moment you saw me.”

“Oh, there was a moment I considered it,” Jinx shrugs, allowing a slight chuckle. “But, um... Vi told me something that stopped me.”

“Oh?”

Jinx nods. “She said that a person can only hold so much pain before it starts overflowing. And when it does, no matter how hard you try, that extra pain always lands on someone else. Hurts someone else. And that it doesn’t make it okay or right to hurt that other person; it just makes you human. And that if anyone should understand feeling so much pain you lose control... it should be me.”

Caitlyn looks at her, eyes watering, but nods as Jinx continues.

“I didn’t understand that as a kid, obviously. When Vi hit me in that street, I thought she hated me. And then when Silco told me she died, I had it in my mind that my sister hated me, left me, and I’d never see her again. But even when she came back to me—when you,” she reaches across and squeezes Caitlyn’s hands, “brought her back to me—I couldn’t process it. Even when she told me she’d been taken that night... seven years in Stillwater being beaten and God knows what else... all I could feel was her fist that night. All I could see was her eyes."

“And then Silco told me she was only here for you. That she didn’t care about me anymore, and it just consumed me. I was so convinced you were going to take her from me, that I was going to lose her again. I couldn’t take it. I was so angry and—”

“Afraid,” Caitlyn whispers.

Jinx looks at her and nods. “I was terrified. I know it doesn’t excuse anything, Caitlyn. I’d never say it does. Taking you, hurting you, what I did to your mom... I was so angry and afraid and alone, and I just needed to hurt. It was like fire eating me alive until I let it out, but when I did, I was just more alone than ever.

“And then I saw my sister in that uniform, and it just felt like I’d finally done it. I’d finally destroyed the last possible thing I had left worth living for. Sound familiar?” Jinx wipes away stinging tears and laughs sadly.

Caitlyn nods. “Yes... yes, it certainly does.”

Jinx sits quietly, the crackling of the fire and Vi’s breathing the only sounds around them.

Caitlyn leans back in her chair, and Jinx is struck by how exhausted she truly looks. Her eyes droop, and her head lolls. Caitlyn whispers, “I’d give anything to go back... to talk with you back then.”

Jinx smiles as she rises from her chair and grabs a blanket, gently tucking it around Caitlyn. “I’d probably have killed you,” she grins. Caitlyn smiles before her head droops, and she starts to snore gently.

Jinx exhales. She looks at Vi, sleeping soundly but still not conscious, and at Caitlyn’s exhausted form. Caitlyn, who had traded Jinx’s own freedom in exchange for her exile and never seeing Vi again...

“I believe we swore that Vi would wake to a world worth living in, Commander Kiramman. No more suffering,” Jinx says softly, smiling.

_______________________________________________________

Caitlyn wakes an hour or so later, a cool early winter breeze caressing her skin. She looks around… “Jinx?” and stands groggily, realizing she has a blanket around her that falls to the floor.

“she covered me up” she says softly… She looks down at Vi, blissfully unaware. Caitlyn leans over and kisses Vi’s forehead. “I won’t fail you again…”

Meanwhile far across the city, down in the darkness of the lanes cheers sound from the inside of The Last Drop. The representatives who attended the earlier council sit gathered around a large table toasting the inevitable exile of “The Commander” when the doors slam open with force and high raspy voice exclaims for all to hear-

“I’m hommmeeee! I need a word, councilors!”

[blcssom]

in a lot of ways, birdie was jealous of nickie. her own family had all but abandoned her to their own vices (drugs, alcohol, other men....) by the time she was seventeen and breaking out on her own— getting a taste of true freedom— had been the best thing to ever happen to her. unfortunately, that did nothing to alleviate the hollow feeling that burrowed it's way into her chest each time she saw parents who actually seemed interested in their child. and nickie's were not only interested but invested in his happiness. whether or not their methods were misguided, she couldn't help but admire it. her lips curled into a smile as he argued against her advice, holding back a laugh as she pulled him back in for another attempt. "that was much better." the stuttering of his hips caught her off guard, almost drawing a moan from her lips, though blush that crept up to her cheeks was almost as incriminating. "a goddess, huh?" a satisfied hum settled on her lips as his played with her nipples, her own fingers combing through his hair as he explored until he prompted a gentle laugh. "no, you don't. we don't touch our own nearly as much as you might think. besides... are you saying you'd rather play with your own tits instead of mine?" her fingers curled tighter in his hair, guiding his face closer to her chest. "now put one in your mouth."

nickie had often dreamed about what it would be like to be free from his parent's watchful eyes, to be able to do whatever he wanted whenever he wanted and not have to worry about what they had to say, it was a nice dream but ultimately he was the sort of guy who enjoyed having a helping hand around. birdie was perfect because she told him what to do and gave him rewards for doing so, she was getting paid by his parents but truly believed that she liked him enough to stick around no matter what, even if he had to encourage her with his own money. "that makes no sense." tongues were wet, he had no idea how he wasn't supposed to slobber into her mouth as their tongues curiously flickered against each other but he did his best to not let too much of his saliva slip past her perfect lips. he'd gotten the hang of kissing but as she brought his hands up to cup her breasts, nickie's hips stuttered beneath her and his eyes immediately flickered open to cast the image to memory. "oh my- wow. you are... you are a goddess." he sighed and attempted giving her nipples a teasing twist between his fingers as he'd seen done in porn before. "these are the best ever." he'd never touched another pair of tits before but even if he had, nickie was certain that birdie would always take the cake. "wow... i wish i was a girl." to have tits to play with every day? that would be the life.

[folklur13]

peter × evermore WTF

2 failed comingoutlor songs IM GONNA CRY

[youllalwaysfindyourwaybackhome]

i spent a great deal of time this afternoon singing songs from speak now to my cat

[hadesoftheladies]

hate going for christian weddings sometimes because i always see the prettiest women with the ugliest men, the sermon is always some shit about wives being slaves (but not like bad slavery, mutual slavery except the husband is a benevolent master which makes it okay) and making babies for their husband, the music is always lame, the mc is always weird and obnoxious, and older women keep fucking asking me when it's gonna be my turn and never take no for an answer.

[overnightheartbeats]

"That is true, I'm definitely feeling the age more these days. Oh okay, show-off," he grumbled, though the smile on his lips would've betrayed him. "I suppose not, but it is idiotic to jump into the most complicated case ever. Not to mention, I'm keeping this on the low. I don't want to tell anyone about this in case we have some eager ears at the CIA too." It was one of the first thoughts to cross his mind, had Karina or her people infiltrated his agency too.

Hearing Eli call him by his name, he knew that he had to sit quietly and just listen to his brother. He leaned his head back into the driver's seat, the car hadn't even been started. This was no longer a conversation to have on the drive home, so he remained parked behind the bowling alley. "Yeah, that might be the case." And, as he spoke, he thought back to their meeting earlier, beginning to think out loud. "I suppose, yes. His way of showing fear was to tackle the hell out of me, then yeah, fair enough." Isaac sighed in agreement, because that definitely was not in question. Although, he had not heard about her before this case, one thing was clear. Karina Hurst-Pollard was a formidable woman, and with access to the agency's resources, definitely not someone to underestimate. "That she does. At least as far as I've seen. I haven't finished my research yet." It did take twice as long to investigate when he was covering his track from his own peers and any other curious eyes.

He raised an eyebrow when Eli emphasized understanding his frustrated feeling. Yep, that's what he was feeling. He was irritated and his short temper didn't help. After that meeting, it just felt like this was more trouble than it was worth. Risking himself, possibly his family, for someone who didn't want help. "I hate it when you're right. Yeah, I am frustrated but dealing with frustrating people is the second bullet point of this job. It's mostly just, yeah. He annoyed me, more than I have been annoyed in ages. The thought of passing this on to someone tempted me."

Thinking of hie niece made him smile. He rarely missed her nighttime routine, or any time with her at all. Now that he thought about it, this was the first time in ages that he was out for a longer mission. "I miss that munchkin. If I can get some time, I'll call during the day so I can say hi to her. I'm sure Laurel would, she sees a new street and she's fascinated. I'll think about it, but it might not be safe. Best to stay home. True that, should've lied and said I was FBI too. Could've taken your old badge." Not that his badge would've gotten him far.

"I knew you'd get me one way or another," he admitted. "Well no, obviously I wouldn't want her to see my file. No, I'm not..okay maybe slight judgement. I just wanted to make sure the file didn't read another way. You had once told me I wasn't paranoid enough. I was just being extra careful this time around. Mines would look pretty bad." If that had made it in. He got lucky that his brother and his partner were able to keep most of it off the record.

"Neither would I, it's becoming more widespread too. His family being affected is concerning." He nodded slowly, even though Eli couldn't see him. Isaac also didn't feel comfortable leaving Wally in this situation, no matter how much he irritated him. "You're sure? You guys would look into this?" A stupid question knowing they definitely would. "No, I agree. It doesn't sit right with me that his niece might be in danger. Yep, same here. Made me think of Rosebud and my girl. Yes, that works for me. I'll send her everything as soon as I get back to the hotel. Don't really know if I'll get much sleep. My personal phone is always on for you guys. "

He shrugged and smiled. "Yours is for sure eighty five. At least mine can still carry eighty pounds of gear up and down a ladder." Eli laughed and couldn't help but agree. "We're almost there. One kid at a time."

"No. You're the agent with heart. Don't knock yourself like that. Helping someone in need isn't idiotic. It takes courage. Not many people would do that without wanting something in return."

Eli could tell isa wasn't hearing him or not wanting to. "Isa," he started. "People close up when they're scared to the point of straddling terrified. Just because he showed off a side you didn't like doesn't mean he wouldn't be terrified. From what you showed me, this woman isn't to be fucked with. She knows how to play the game. Has been playing it a long time. Corruption runs deep. Most people hide behind the tough exterior because they don't want to seem weak to feel helpless. Even agents."

He sighed and shook his head. "That's why you're there. It's a mess right now but it won't always be. I get being frustrated with him. Trust me I do but all I'm hearing here is that you got annoyed so you don't want to help him. Not because its hard but because you're annoyed. He pressed your buttons."

"This is the first night you haven't been around for night routine with Rosebud so she knows you're at work. I don't know how much she will let that go so just know we're covering for you. But, hey. Louisiana is a new scenery from Texas. Laurel would love that." He laughed and thought that was to be expected. "Not surprised. CIA and FBI have beef. You've dealt with worse names being called."

"A file doesn't mean anything. If it did then I think you'd not be having the life you lead at the moment. Imagine if Nettie had gone on just your file alone. Wouldn't you want her to look through your file and see the type of man you are. Also, Isa. Are you really going to judge his file when yours reads off worse? You would be labeled a traitor to your country just by fucking a mafia princess."

"It is ultimately your choice but I wouldn't feel good leaving an innocent out like that. No matter how much of an expert he may be in his field." Hearing a child was in the cross fires he couldn't help but think of his own daughter. "Send Lau the address for the Bordeauxs' and we will see what we can find out and confirm whether or not this kid is in danger. You know, I can't let this one go like that. Not when we have Rosebud and your daughter. If she finds anything helpful we will send it back to you. Make sure you have your personal phone on so we can send it encrypted."

[great-tusk]

Ugh. I had a really bad day.