#she's a little menace™

[kaiyunsim]

heartsync —

pairing : loser!jaehyun x gn!reader

summary : boring days lead you to download the stupidly popular ai matchmaking app, 'heartsync,' thinking that you would be matched with a bot. next thing you know, you have to maintain a dating score with this loser guy in order to avoid a hefty cancellation fee

warnings : fluff, slight angst, lowkey embarssing jaehyun, kinda fake dating,

a/n : i am addicted to losers. also writers block lwk hitting me so sorry if this isn't that good :(

— wc : 9.2k — not proof read —

notification !

tired of swiping and second-guessing? 🙄 let HeartSync™ match you based on more than just profiles. whether it’s fate or algorithms, HeartSync™ brings people together in unexpected ways. coffee shops ☕, grocery stores 🛒, or even your favorite songs 🎶. with personalized challenges 🎯 and quirky tasks 😏, it’s the app that makes you question what’s real… and what’s meant to be 💫.

ready to dive into a relationship that’s anything but ordinary? 😏 download now and let your heart sync ❤️‍🔥

you should’ve known something was up the second kazuha slid her phone across the table with a sly grin.

"you need this," she says, all too pleased with herself.

sungho leans in beside her, chin resting on his hand. "oh, absolutely. it’s the next big thing."

you glance down at the screen, unimpressed. "heartsync™? that sounds like a scam."

"it’s not," kazuha insists. "it's a revolution."

you narrow your eyes at her. "revolution is a strong word for a dating app."

sungho gestures wildly. "no, listen! this isn’t some basic swiping app. heartsync is, like, the future. ai-driven, hyper-accurate matchmaking." he wiggles his fingers in an attempt to look mysterious. "it scans all your online activity, text patterns, subconscious preferences—"

"wait, subconscious preferences?" you interrupt. "how the hell does it know what i subconsciously want?"

"science," kazuha says, as if that explains anything.

you stare at them, unimpressed. "so you’re telling me this thing invades my privacy, judges me, and then picks out some rando for me to date?"

"yep," sungho grins.

"hard pass."

kazhua sighs dramatically. "you’re so boring. come on, think about it. what if it actually works?"

"it won’t."

"but what if it does?"

you cross your arms. "i give it a week before i get matched with some weird middle-aged man who lives in his mom’s basement."

sungho gasps. "have a little faith, will you?!"

you snort, but kazuha suddenly looks too smug for your liking. before you can question it, your phone buzzes. you glance down.

"your friends are looking out for you! 💖 kazuha has sent you an invite to join heartsync™! experience true compatibility today. 💘"

you slowly raise your head. "zuha, did you just—"

"yep," she says.

"you—"

"it’s already downloading," sungho chimes in.

you look down at your phone in horror. sure enough, the app is installing.

"oh my god.”

jaehyun doesn’t even look up from his drink when taesan slides into the seat across from him, grinning like he’s about to be a menace.

"bro," taesan says, setting his phone down dramatically. "i found the solution to your dry-ass dating life."

jaehyun finally glances up. "i have a dating life."

woonhak, sitting beside him, lets out an exaggerated cough.

jaehyun glares. "shut up."

"he's not wrong," taesan snickers. "c’mon, look at this." he turns his phone around, revealing a sleek interface. jaehyun squints.

"heartsync?"

"ai-powered matchmaking, man. scientifically proven to find your perfect match."

jaehyun raises an eyebrow. "you sound like a bad infomercial."

woonhak leans in. "we already signed up. it’s, like, next-level tech. the app literally studies your habits, patterns, even your subconscious preferences."

jaehyun blinks. "that sounds illegal."

"nah, nah, just invasive," taesan says. "but in a good way."

jaehyun scoffs. "no such thing."

"just try it," woonhak says. "worst case, you get matched with someone weird and you ghost them."

"oh, so now i’m ghosting people?"

"what, like you don’t?" taesan smirks.

jaehyun rolls his eyes, but his phone suddenly buzzes.

"your best bros have your back! 💙 taesan has invited you to join heartsync™! what are you waiting for? your perfect match is waiting! 😉"

he looks up slowly. "you did not just—"

"i did," taesan grins.

woonhak claps him on the back. "welcome to the future, buddy."

jaehyun sighs. "you guys are the worst."

"and yet, here you are, downloading it," taesan singsongs.

jaehyun looks down at his phone. the app is downloading.

"...i hate you both."

setting up the app is way too easy. after a quick sign-up, a series of personality quizzes appear. you answer them halfheartedly, picking whatever feels right in the moment.

you expect a generic dating profile, but instead, a contract pops up.

"welcome to heartsync™'s exclusive perfect pair program! 💖 congratulations! by signing up, you agree to a 30-day trial relationship with your most compatible match. failure to complete the program will result in a penalty fee. please review the terms carefully. 📝"

you frown. "wait. penalty fee?"

kazhua leans over. "probably just a deterrent. no way they actually charge people."

"i don’t like this."

"it’s fine, just hit accept."

you squint at her, but against your better judgment, you press the button.

jaehyun does the same thing across town, equally suspicious.

then, both your phones buzz simultaneously.

"congratulations! 🎉 you’ve been matched! meet your perfect pair: myung jaehyun."

"congratulations! 🎉 you’ve been matched! meet your perfect pair: y/n."

jaehyun squints at his screen. "who the hell is y/n?"

you stare at yours. "who the hell is myung jaehyun?"

then, another notification.

"your first date has been scheduled! 🥰 see you at [reastaurant] tomorrow at 7 PM! remember: love is about commitment! 💞 failure to attend will result in a violation of your contract. 😘"

your stomach drops.

"...i think i just got scammed."

jaehyun, staring at the exact same message, mutters, "what the fuck?"

sungho and kazuha are dying.

"you’re stuck in a relationship for 30 days?!" sungho wheezes. "oh my god, i’m crying."

"this is the best thing that’s ever happened," kazuha says, wiping a fake tear.

you glare. "it’s not funny!"

"it’s hilarious," sungho corrects.

you groan. "this is the worst decision of my life."

kazhua gasps. "are you saying you regret trusting me?"

"yes."

"rude."

meanwhile, jaehyun is getting absolutely clowned on by his friends.

"so let me get this straight," taesan says, grinning like an idiot. "you’re contractually obligated to date this person?"

jaehyun rubs his temples. "apparently."

woonhak snickers. "bro. you’re trapped."

"i hate you both."

"nah," taesan says. "you love us. just like you’re about to love your new partner."

jaehyun looks up with dead eyes. "i hope the app malfunctions and matches you with each other."

woonhak gasps. "how dare you!"

"that would be so tragic," taesan grins. "imagine getting stuck in a relationship with woonhak."

woonhak shoves him. "shut up! i’d be a great boyfriend!"

jaehyun groans. "i cannot believe i let you guys talk me into this."

but before either of them can reply, his phone buzzes again.

"just a reminder! ❤️ your first date is TOMORROW at 7 PM! 💕 don’t keep your perfect match waiting! 😘 failure to attend will result in consequences. 🔥"

jaehyun stares at it.

"...i think i just signed my soul away."

you, staring at the exact same notification, sigh deeply.

what have you gotten yourself into?

...what?

you quickly scroll down. there’s a long wall of text in tiny font. definitely the terms and conditions you skimmed through without reading.

"effective immediately, you are required to actively participate in this relationship for the full 30-day duration. early termination will result in a penalty fee of—"

you freeze.

oh, hell no.

the penalty fee is HOW MUCH?!

"guys," you say, voice flat. "i think i just got scammed."

kazuh and sungho exchange glances. kazuha grabs your phone again and scrolls. her eyebrows shoot up. "holy shit. you’re stuck?"

"define stuck," you say, already dreading the answer.

sungho reads further. "...yep. stuck. you gotta go on dates, talk to this guy, and if you try to ignore him, the app gets passive-aggressive about it."

as if on cue, a new notification pops up.

"ghosting is unhealthy! say hi to your partner within the next 12 hours to maintain a positive relationship score. 💕"

you stare at the screen in horror.

kazuha and sungho? already laughing their asses off.

"this is the best thing that’s ever happened," sungho wheezes.

"no, no, this is cursed," you say, shaking your head. "there has to be a way out of this."

sungho grins. "you could pay the fee."

"i’m not paying that much just to escape some ai-manufactured relationship," you grumble.

kazuh, still laughing, pats your shoulder. "guess you’re dating myung jaehyun now."

somewhere else, jaehyun is also freaking out.

"taesan, what the hell did you make me sign up for?"

jaehyun stares at his phone like it just personally betrayed him.

"you got matched?" taesan asks, amused. he leans over jaehyun’s shoulder to check. "ohhh. wait. you actually got someone decent-looking. nice."

"not nice!" jaehyun exclaims, shoving his phone in taesan’s face. "look at this! it’s a contract. i have to date this person for 30 days or i have to pay an insane fee."

taesan reads for a second, then bursts out laughing. "holy shit. you’re trapped."

"why didn’t you tell me this could happen?!"

"because i didn’t think you’d actually get a match."

"what do i do?" jaehyun groans, scratching the back of his head.

"just go with it," taesan says. "it’s only a month. fake-date them, get some free meals, and worst-case scenario, you make a new friend."

jaehyun grumbles. "what if they suck?"

"what if you suck?"

"i mean, yeah, probably," jaehyun admits. "but still."

his phone buzzes.

"say hi to your partner within 12 hours to maintain a positive relationship score! 💕"

jaehyun stares blankly at the notification. then he looks at taesan.

"okay, but, like… do i get a refund if i cry?"

taesan cackles. "nope. no refunds, buddy. enjoy your new relationship."

jaehyun groans and flops onto the couch, phone balanced on his chest, already regretting everything.

you’re still convinced you’ve been scammed.

it’s not just the fact that you’re contractually obligated to go on this date, it’s the restaurant.

"how the hell did it know?" you mutter, staring at the notification again.

sungho leans over your shoulder, reading it for the tenth time. "i mean… it’s a little creepy."

"it’s very creepy," you correct. "i’ve never put this place in my location history, never mentioned it online, never even texted about it."

kazuha hums, sipping her drink. "maybe you thought about it too hard and the app just knew."

you look at her like she’s insane. "you’re telling me heartsync can read my mind now?"

"i mean, why not? it already owns your soul."

"not helping."

sungho suddenly perks up, squinting at the name on your screen. "wait. myung jaehyun?"

"yeah?"

he snaps his fingers. "oh! i had a class with him last year."

you blink. "and you’re only mentioning this now?"

sungho shrugs. "i forgot. but, uh…" he pauses. "he’s kinda a loser. in a cute way."

you stare at him. "define cute loser."

"like, y’know. a little awkward. kinda clumsy. but he’s not a bad guy."

kazuha raises an eyebrow. "so what i’m hearing is, you’ve already got an advantage."

"what advantage?" you ask flatly.

"you can be the cool one in this relationship," she says, smirking.

sungho grins. "oh yeah, you’ve already won."

you groan, sinking into your seat. "why am i even doing this?"

"because you’re legally bound by a contract," kazuha reminds you.

"right. love that for me."

jaehyun has the same problem.

"this is weird," he mutters, staring at his phone.

woonhak peeks over his shoulder. "dude, how did it know your favorite restaurant?"

"i don’t know."

"have you ever posted about it?" taesan asks.

"nope."

"checked in there?"

"never."

woonhak whistles. "yeah, that’s terrifying."

jaehyun groans. "why am i even going?"

taesan pats his shoulder. "because you’re legally bound by a contract."

jaehyun glares. "i hate you."

you arrive at the restaurant five minutes early, because despite your skepticism, you do respect punctuality.

what you don’t expect is to see someone already waiting at the entrance.

he's tall, a little awkward in the way he shifts on his feet, checking his phone. glasses slipping down his nose.

you approach cautiously. "...myung jaehyun?"

he looks up, blinking.

oh.

he’s kinda cute. in a loser-y way.

"oh," he says. "uh. hey."

you stare at each other for a beat.

jaehyun scratches the back of his neck. "so, uh… this is weird, right?"

"extremely."

he lets out a short laugh. "cool, just making sure."

you glance at the restaurant. "wanna get this over with?"

"yep."

you head inside together.

the weirdness doesn’t stop there.

you both open the menu, and your phones buzz at the same time.

"feeling indecisive? 💡 you both love the same dish! try the spicy seafood pasta! 🍝💖"

you slowly look up at jaehyun.

he looks back, expression unreadable.

"...so, uh," you start.

"are we just gonna ignore that?" he asks.

"we could."

jaehyun nods. "cool. because that was terrifying."

you both order the pasta anyway.

somewhere between the appetizer and the main course, the awkwardness starts to fade.

you’re still skeptical, but… conversation with jaehyun is weirdly easy.

he’s funny in an unintentional way. a little clumsy with his words, but quick to laugh at himself. it’s not what you expected.

"so," he says between bites, "are you, like, willingly doing this, or were you also tricked by your so-called friends?"

you groan. "tricked. sungho and kazuha set me up."

"ah," jaehyun nods. "taesan and woonhak did the same to me."

"so we’re both victims."

"basically."

you clink your glasses in mutual suffering.

then, another notification.

"running out of things to talk about? try reminiscing about your childhood talent show disaster! 😆✨"

you both freeze.

jaehyun slowly looks up. "...did your phone just say—?"

"yep," you cut in.

"what the hell?"

"no idea."

you stare at each other.

then jaehyun cautiously asks, "...did you actually have a childhood talent show disaster?"

you hesitate. "...maybe."

his eyes widen. "no way."

"look, it wasn’t that bad—"

"tell me everything."

you sigh, defeated. "i was seven, okay? i was supposed to sing. i got up there, forgot all the words, panicked, and ended up just dancing instead."

jaehyun claps. "improv! i respect that."

"bad improv," you correct.

"still, you committed. that’s what matters.”

and just like that, the skepticism eases.

then the app sends another notification.

"bonding over past failures? we love to see it! 😍💕 by the way, your partner thinks the nickname 'woonbaby' is hilarious. go ahead, try it! 😏"

you blink.

jaehyun reads his own notification.

then he looks at you, face slowly turning red.

"...what the fuck?"

you can’t help it. you laugh. "what the hell is woonbaby?"

jaehyun groans, covering his face. "it’s—it’s stupid. my friend woonhak. someone called him that once and it just stuck."

"oh my god," you grin. "you definitely still call him that."

"i do not," jaehyun lies.

you raise an eyebrow. "so if you text him right now and ask, he won’t confirm?"

jaehyun opens his mouth, then closes it.

"...no comment."

you cackle.

"oh my god," jaehyun mutters, slumping in his seat. "i hate this app."

"i love this app," you say gleefully.

by the time the bill arrives, you have to admit something.

this was not a disaster.

you’re still weirded out by the app’s accuracy. it’s unsettling how well it seems to know you both.

but jaehyun?

...he’s not so bad.

"so," he says as you both step outside, hands in pockets. "same time next week?"

you blink. "what?"

he holds up his phone.

"congrats! 🎉 your next date is scheduled for next friday! love takes consistency! 💖 ditching is not an option. 😉"

you groan. "again?"

"yep."

"...fine."

jaehyun grins. "see you then, partner."

you shake your head, but you can’t help the small smile forming.

what the hell have you gotten yourself into?

—

you’re in the middle of something important when your phone buzzes.

"surprise! 🎉 we’ve scheduled a spontaneous date night for you and jaehyun! quality time is crucial for growing relationships! 💕 see you at 7PM! 😘"

you stare at the screen.

then you glance at the time.

6:20PM.

"are you kidding me?" you say aloud.

sungho and kazuha look up from where they’re sprawled across your couch, watching a drama. "what?" kazuha asks.

"this stupid app just scheduled a date."

"wait, i thought your next one wasn’t until friday," sungho says.

"it was," you emphasize. "now it’s tonight. at seven."

sungho winces. "oh, that’s rough."

kazuha squints. "can’t you just cancel?"

you shake your head and turn your screen to them.

"cancelling is NOT an option! 🫵😤 love takes EFFORT! 💖"

kazuha snorts. "damn. that app is really holding you hostage."

you sigh. "i hate this."

sungho shrugs. "on the bright side, at least jaehyun is fun to mess with."

you scowl, but you don’t argue.

jaehyun is having an equally miserable time.

"you have got to be kidding me," he groans.

taesan and woonhak glance up from where they’re messing around on the studio couch. "what?" woonhak asks.

jaehyun turns his phone to them.

taesan squints. "another date? bro, you just had one."

"i know," jaehyun says, exasperated. "i have work to do!"

"just reschedule," woonhak suggests.

jaehyun gives him a deadpan look and flips his phone back around.

"cancelling is NOT an option! 🫵😤 love takes EFFORT! 💖"

woonhak bursts out laughing. "nah, this is hilarious."

"i hate this app," jaehyun mutters.

"okay, but like," taesan leans forward, "where are you even supposed to take them? don’t you have to finish your demo?"

jaehyun groans, rubbing his face. "yeah. i do."

he stares at his screen for a second, then sighs. "i guess they’re just coming here."

woonhak and taesan exchange glances.

"bold," woonhak comments.

"risky," taesan adds.

jaehyun throws a notebook at them.

you’re about five seconds away from ghosting when your phone buzzes.

myung jaehyun: uh. slight change of plans myung jaehyun: i’m stuck in the studio bc i have work to finish myung jaehyun: so if you’re cool with it, you can just come here?

you stare at the message.

then you sigh.

you: send me the address

a moment later, it comes through.

you grab your things and head out, still half-annoyed, half-curious about what you’re walking into.

jaehyun’s studio is tucked away in a quieter part of the city, the kind of place you’d probably never stumble upon unless you were looking for it.

the building itself is older, but inside, it’s got that warm, slightly chaotic energy of a space that’s lived in.

post-it notes are stuck to random surfaces. half-full water bottles clutter the desks. a worn couch sits against the wall, surrounded by tangled cables and spare equipment.

jaehyun is hunched over the desk, headphones around his neck, messy hair even messier than usual. he spins in his chair when you walk in, eyes slightly wide.

"oh. hey."

"hey," you say, glancing around. "so this is where the magic happens?"

"uh," jaehyun scratches the back of his neck, "something like that."

you step further inside, taking in the mix of instruments, wires, and open project files on the screen.

"you work here alone?"

"nah," jaehyun gestures vaguely. "woonhak and taesan share this space with me, but they’re not here right now."

"cool."

an awkward pause.

jaehyun clears his throat. "so, uh… i do have to work, but you can hang out? there’s snacks in that cabinet, and the couch is—"

you flop onto the couch before he can finish his sentence.

jaehyun blinks. "—yeah. okay. make yourself at home."

you grin. "thanks, host."

jaehyun groans but turns back to his screen, muttering something about "stupid app forcing dates at the worst times."

you watch him for a moment as he scrolls through his project.

his sleeves are pushed up, revealing the faint ink stains on his fingers. his foot taps absently against the floor as he listens to the playback.

you close your eyes and let the soft hum of music fill the space.

time passes.

jaehyun works. you scroll through your phone, occasionally glancing up to watch him tweak something in his file.

it’s… oddly peaceful.

you get up and sit down at the desk next to him, he’s too immersed to acknowldge you.

despite the forced nature of this whole situation, there’s something nice about sitting in a space where someone is just doing what they love.

you start to relax.

and at some point, without even meaning to, you start to drift off.

jaehyun only notices when he turns around to say something and sees you slumped over the desk next to him, head resting on your arms.

he freezes.

stares.

panics.

oh shit oh shit oh shit.

you’re asleep.

here. in his studio.

jaehyun is hyperaware of everything. the quiet rise and fall of your breathing. the way your fingers are curled slightly, like you were mid-scroll before you passed out.

he has no idea what to do.

should he wake you up? would that be rude? but if he doesn’t, is that weirder?

he’s still spiraling when the door swings open.

"forgot my charger," taesan says, stepping inside. "also, i’m stealing your—"

he stops.

jaehyun can feel the moment taesan processes the scene in front of him.

then—

"holy shit."

jaehyun whips around. "shut up."

taesan grins. "no way. you’re actually—"

"shut. up."

taesan snickers. "oh, this is amazing."

jaehyun glares. "don’t. start."

but it’s too late. taesan is already pulling out his phone.

"bro," he whispers, cackling, "you’re literally watching them like they’re a rare bird species."

"i am not," jaehyun hisses.

"you so are. oh my god."

jaehyun is about to throw something when you shift slightly, letting out a soft sigh.

both of them freeze.

taesan vibrates with silent laughter.

jaehyun, who is now very much contemplating murder, snaps, "get your stupid charger and leave."

taesan holds his hands up in surrender, still grinning. "alright, alright. relax, lover boy."

jaehyun throws a notebook at him.

taesan leaves.

jaehyun exhales, running a hand through his hair.

he turns back to you.

you’re still asleep, breathing steady, face relaxed.

he sighs.

and despite himself, despite the utter embarrassment of this entire situation…

he can’t help the small, stupid smile that tugs at his lips.

this app is so dumb.

but maybe…

just maybe…

it’s onto something.

you wake up slowly, the kind of hazy drift between sleep and awareness where you don’t quite remember where you are.

there’s the soft hum of music. the faint scratch of a pen. the scent of something vaguely citrusy, mixed with the underlying warmth of a well-used space.

then—

"finally awake?"

you blink blearily. jaehyun is sitting at the desk, spinning a pen between his fingers, watching you with an amused expression.

reality clicks into place.

the studio. the forced date. you, falling asleep like an idiot.

you groan, rubbing your face. "how long was i out?"

jaehyun shrugs. "an hour? maybe more?"

you wince. "why didn’t you wake me up?"

"you looked comfortable," he says, like it’s the most obvious thing in the world.

you stare at him.

jaehyun stares back.

heat creeps up the back of your neck. you push it down and scowl instead. "so you just let me drool all over your desk?"

"you didn’t drool," jaehyun says. then, after a pause, "probably."

you groan again and stretch, the stiffness in your neck making you regret everything. "well, thanks for that. i guess."

jaehyun chuckles, spinning back to his screen. "anytime."

you roll your eyes but don’t fight the small smile threatening to form.

you end up staying.

it’s not like you planned to, but the vibe is easy, and jaehyun is… well.

he’s kind of nice to be around.

he works while you scroll through your phone, occasionally showing him something stupid that makes him snort. at one point, he grabs a bag of chips from a shelf and wordlessly hands it to you.

"what’s this for?" you ask.

"you skipped dinner."

you blink. "how do you know?"

jaehyun raises an eyebrow. "because i also skipped dinner, and i didn’t see you eat anything either."

…fair point.

you take the bag and mumble a thanks. jaehyun just shrugs like it’s no big deal.

somewhere between talking about absolutely nothing, watching him edit his project, and accidentally getting crumbs all over the desk, you start to forget that this whole thing was a forced date.

it doesn’t feel like one anymore.

and you don’t know if that’s a good thing or not.

it’s nearly midnight when you check your phone and realize how late it’s gotten.

"shit," you mutter.

jaehyun glances up. "huh?"

"i should probably go."

he blinks, like he just processed the time himself. "oh. right."

you stand, stretching again, then glance at him. "you gonna keep working?"

"for a bit," jaehyun says, rubbing his neck. "i’m almost done."

you nod, then hesitate.

you’re not sure why you hesitate.

but before you can overthink it, you blurt out, "this wasn’t that bad."

jaehyun raises an eyebrow. "wow. high praise."

"shut up," you say, rolling your eyes.

he grins. "but yeah. wasn’t that bad."

you huff, grabbing your things. "see you friday, loser."

"see you, drooler."

you flip him off as you walk out the door.

jaehyun just laughs.

as you head home, your phone buzzes.

"congrats! 🎉 you’ve just completed an unplanned date! we bet you had a GREAT time 😘💖 can’t wait for friday! 😍"

you stare at the notification.

then you scoff, shaking your head.

stupid app.

—

you just want your morning coffee.

that’s it. just a simple, peaceful start to your day before dealing with actual responsibilities.

but when you step into the coffee shop, your usual one, the one you’ve been going to for years, you freeze.

because sitting right there, hunched over his phone with slight dark circles under his eyes and a half-finished iced americano in front of him, is myung jaehyun.

he doesn’t notice you at first. he just stares blankly at his screen, blinking slow like a loading error. he’s so out of it that when the barista calls out his order, he doesn’t even react.

so, naturally, you decide to make his life harder.

"myung jaehyun," you say, loud enough for half the café to hear.

he flinches like you just smacked him.

"huh?!"

"your coffee," you deadpan, nodding towards the counter.

he follows your gaze, then blinks again. "oh. right."

you snort as he stumbles up to grab it, still looking half-asleep.

when he returns to his seat, you’re still standing there, arms crossed.

"what?" he mumbles.

"this is my coffee shop."

jaehyun squints at you. "…what?"

"i come here every morning," you say, pointing at the barista like they can somehow confirm this.

jaehyun shrugs. "cool. i came here because my app said it had ‘the best morning recharge.’"

you frown. "your app?"

"heartsync," he says, yawning. "you know. the app that ruined our lives?"

your stomach drops. "you’re kidding."

jaehyun pulls out his phone and flashes the notification at you. sure enough.

"rise and shine! 🌞 grab your perfect morning pick-me-up at caffeine fix! ☕✨"

your jaw clenches. you also got a similar notification this morning.

slowly, your eyes meet. "okay," you say. "this is weird."

jaehyun hums, sipping his coffee. "yeah. but whatever. i needed caffeine."

you stare at him, offended. "so you’re just accepting this?"

"i mean, if the app is forcing me to get good coffee, i won’t complain," he says, completely unserious.

you hate that he’s taking this so lightly. you hate that he doesn’t even seem surprised.

you snatch his coffee and take a sip.

"hey!" jaehyun protests.

you smack it back down on the table. "that’s for being weirdly okay with this."

he just glares at you, rubbing his temples. "i just woke up. can you at least let me suffer in peace?"

you sigh, pulling out a chair. "fine. but i’m sitting here now. just to make sure you don’t pass out or something."

jaehyun looks at you, surprised. then he grins. "aww. you care."

you grab a sugar packet and chuck it at his forehead.

after that, you make a decision.

you’re not going to see jaehyun for a while.

not because you mind him. he’s fine. whatever. but because there’s something unnerving about the way this stupid app is leading you to each other like rats in some kind of romantic lab experiment.

so the next morning, you take a different route to work.

and by "different," you mean you add twenty minutes to your commute just to be safe.

you’re feeling pretty good about yourself until you stop by a grocery store later that evening—

and jaehyun is right there, staring at a shelf of instant ramen like it personally betrayed him.

you freeze. he looks up.

silence.

"are you kidding me?" you groan, dragging a hand down your face.

jaehyun just stares at you. "you’re the one who just walked in."

"yeah, but i specifically avoided my usual route just to make sure this wouldn’t happen," you argue.

"okay, well, i was just trying to get food," he says, exasperated. "i ran out of ramen."

you narrow your eyes. "don’t tell me your app told you to come here."

he hesitates.

then he holds up his phone.

"craving a late-night snack? 🤤🍜 don’t worry, we got you! swing by mart express—you never know who you might run into! 😉"

you want to throw something.

instead, you march up to him, grab his phone, and put it on airplane mode.

jaehyun blinks. "…what are you doing."

"fixing our problem," you say, pulling out your own phone and doing the same.

jaehyun stares at you for a moment. then, to your surprise, he actually nods. "okay," he says. "good plan."

you blink. "wait. you’re not gonna fight me on this?"

he shrugs. "nah. the app is getting creepy."

you fold your arms. "so you do think it’s weird?"

"i always thought it was weird," jaehyun says. "i just don’t care as much as you do."

you glare at him, but he’s already turning back to the ramen shelf like this whole conversation didn’t just happen.

unbelievable.

you leave the store together, mostly because your places are in the same general direction.

except five minutes in, jaehyun suddenly stops walking.

"shit," he mutters.

"what?" you ask.

he sighs. "i don’t know how to get home."

you stare at him. "you what."

"i always use my phone for directions!" he says, waving his arms. "but i turned it off, and now i’m lost."

you pinch the bridge of your nose. "you’re unbelievable."

"hey, you told me to turn it off!"

"because we were being manipulated!"

"well, congrats, now i’m gonna die on the street because of you."

"oh my god," you groan. "just—fine. where do you live?"

jaehyun tells you the address. you stare at him.

"jaehyun," you say. "that’s literally ten minutes from my place."

jaehyun blinks. "…oh."

you squint at him. "have you been taking the long way home this entire time?"

he scratches his head. "maybe?"

you don’t know whether to laugh or hit him.

instead, you just sigh and grab his wrist.

"come on," you say, dragging him in the right direction. "i’ll walk you."

jaehyun doesn’t protest.

but when you glance at him, he’s smiling.

you get him home without issue.

when you stop in front of his building, jaehyun turns to you.

"thanks," he says, rubbing his neck. "and, uh. good job fighting the system, i guess."

you snort. "yeah. whatever."

he grins, but there’s something softer in it this time.

"see you around?" he asks.

you hesitate.

then you sigh. "probably."

jaehyun laughs. "probably."

you don’t check your phone again until you’re home.

when you do, you have one new notification.

"aw, how sweet! 🥰 you make such a great team! 💕"

you groan, rolling your eyes. the off the grid mode didn’t work.

“so,” sungho says, dragging out the word like he’s about to be annoying.

you look up from your phone, raising an eyebrow. “so?”

sungho smirks. “how’s myung jaehyun?”

you blink. “why are you asking like that?”

“oh, no reason,” he says, very unconvincingly. “you just seem to see him a lot.”

you scoff. “that’s because this stupid app won’t leave us alone.”

“mhm.”

“it literally forced us to meet up.”

“sure.”

you glare at him. “i don’t like him, if that’s what you’re implying.”

sungho just hums. “never said you did.”

you hate him.

“anyway,” you say, aggressively changing the subject. “when are you free? let’s get dinner or something.”

sungho shrugs. “ask jaehyun. you seem to hang out with him more than me these days.”

you chuck a pillow at his face.

on jaehyun’s end, taesan is just as bad.

“so, you and your soulmate have been seeing each other a lot.”

jaehyun groans. “don’t call them that.”

“why not? isn’t that what the app says?” taesan teases.

jaehyun sighs, tilting his head back against the couch. “we don’t even take it seriously.”

“and yet you still see them outside of what the app says.”

“it just happens,” jaehyun defends.

“right.”

jaehyun doesn’t even bother arguing. it’s taesan. nothing he says will change his mind once he starts being annoying.

instead, he just mutters, “i don’t even like them like that.”

taesan snorts. “yeah. okay.”

jaehyun scowls at him. “i don’t.”

taesan grins. “never said you did.”

jaehyun glares at him.

taesan only laughs.

but the truth is—

neither of you mind seeing each other.

the notification hits your phone at the worst possible time, mid-bite into a sandwich, your mouth too full to properly react as you stare at the bolded text on the screen.

💖 heartsync™ challenge: surprise your match with a meaningful gift! don’t forget! thoughtfulness is key! 🎁

you narrow your eyes. a meaningful gift?

sungho, sitting across from you, glances at your phone and snorts. “oh, this is good. what are you gonna get him?”

you finish chewing before deadpanning, “a rock.”

sungho almost chokes on his drink.

jaehyun gets the same notification while lying on his bed, aimlessly scrolling through his phone. he barely processes it at first, but then—

a meaningful gift.

he groans, rubbing his face. "why is this starting to feel like a real relationship?"

“because it is a real relationship,” taesan says from his desk, not looking up from his laptop.

“it’s not,” jaehyun argues immediately.

“sure,” taesan replies, unconvinced.

jaehyun sighs. “what even counts as meaningful?”

taesan finally looks at him, unimpressed. “you’re the one dating them.”

“fake dating,” jaehyun corrects.

“sure,” taesan repeats.

jaehyun groans again.

you decide to put some effort into it.

not because you care or anything, but because you know jaehyun will definitely try, and you don’t want to look like an asshole in comparison.

you wander through a store, scanning the shelves for something that could count as thoughtful.

jaehyun gives off dog energy, doesn’t he?

you frown. that’s weird to think about. but it’s true. he’s clumsy, a little dumb, but weirdly endearing.

then, you spot it.

a plush keychain. a little golden retriever with floppy ears and big, round eyes.

you hesitate before picking it up.

it’s stupid. but it’s also… kind of perfect.

you buy it before you can second-guess yourself.

jaehyun, meanwhile, is just as lost.

he walks through a store with woonhak, who has been absolutely no help.

“why don’t you just get them a candle?” woonhak suggests.

jaehyun sighs. “that’s not meaningful.”

“depends on the scent.”

“woonhak.”

“fine.” woonhak gestures vaguely. “what do they even like?”

jaehyun pauses.

he… actually knows quite a bit. their favorite color, the snacks they always buy, the way they take their coffee—

he stops. when did he start noticing so much?

woonhak stares at him. “dude, you’re so gone.”

jaehyun immediately shakes his head. “shut up.”

but he grabs something off the shelf anyway, a small coffee cup for the coffee addict that is you.

just because it makes sense. not because he cares.

you agree to meet at the studio.

it’s not that weird, jaehyun spends most of his time there anyway, and you’ve been there before.

when you walk in, however, you’re met with the sight of woonhak sitting at the desk, staring intensely at his laptop screen.

you blink. “you’re here?”

woonhak looks up. “you’re here?”

“uh. yeah?”

jaehyun walks in behind you, closing the door. “we’re doing that stupid challenge.”

woonhak frowns. “what challenge?”

you smirk. “the one that made him tell me about woonbaby.”

there’s a beat of silence.

“YOU TOLD THEM?!” woonhak exclaims, turning to jaehyun with betrayal in his eyes.

jaehyun looks genuinely alarmed. “IT WASN’T MY FAULT! THE APP TOLD THEM.”

woonhak glares. “i don’t care! you let it happen.”

you watch, amused, as they bicker.

eventually, jaehyun gives up with an exasperated sigh. “whatever, let’s just do this.”

you sit down, pulling out the little plush keychain.

jaehyun stares at it.

“what?” you say.

he blinks. “…is that a dog?”

you nod. “it reminded me of you.”

woonhak howls with laughter.

jaehyun scowls. “what does that mean?”

you shrug. “you figure it out.”

woonhak is practically crying. “bro, you’re literally a golden retriever.”

jaehyun grumbles, but you catch the way he turns the keychain over in his hands, quietly pressing at the plush fabric.

then, he clears his throat, pulling out his own gift.

a simple and cute coffee cup, one you can reuse for your favorite coffee shop.

you pause.

you recognize this brand. it’s the one you always buy from.

“…how did you know i like these?” you ask.

jaehyun hesitates. “you mentioned it once.”

you stare at him. that was days ago.

woonhak, clearly sensing something, slowly scoots away.

“uh,” he mutters, “i’ll leave you guys to it.”

he exits the room.

leaving you alone with jaehyun.

you turn back to him, suddenly unsure what to say.

he shifts in his seat. “so. we did the challenge.”

you nod. “yeah.”

there’s a silence.

“…i actually really like this,” jaehyun admits, still holding the plush keychain.

you blink. the silence is loud.

he glances at you, a little sheepish. “i know you probably just picked it because it’s funny, but… i like it.”

you feel something unfamiliar stir in your chest.

“…i like mine too,” you say.

he looks up, a little surprised.

you clear your throat. “it’s thoughtful.”

a small smile tugs at his lips.

“good,” he says.

later that night, you add the keychain to your bag.

and jaehyun clips his onto his.

not that it means anything.

—

💖 heartsync challenge: write a letter to your partner about what this experience meant to you. be honest! no holding back! 💌

you stare at your phone.

your stomach turns.

this is different from the other challenges. those were fun, stupid, even. buying a gift? easy. going on a last-minute date? frustrating but manageable.

but this?

you put your phone down and ignore it.

jaehyun, on the other hand, groans dramatically and flops onto his bed.

taesan and woonhak glance at each other.

“what now?” taesan asks.

jaehyun lifts his phone, showing them the notification.

woonhak snorts. “damn. that’s deep.”

“yeah,” jaehyun mutters. “stupid app.”

taesan raises a brow. “you’re actually gonna do it?”

jaehyun pauses. “...it’s just a challenge.”

woonhak smirks. “uh-huh.”

jaehyun rolls onto his stomach, hiding his face.

taesan leans back in his chair. “so… what has this experience meant to you?”

jaehyun groans into his pillow.

woonhak cackles. “this is hilarious.”

jaehyun throws a pillow at him.

you don’t write the letter.

you could.

but you don’t.

because writing it down makes it real. and you don’t want to think about what this actually means.

so, you pretend it doesn’t exist.

the app can’t force you, right?

right.

jaehyun stares at the blank page in front of him.

just write something dumb and get it over with.

but when he tries to start, nothing feels right.

so, he sighs, taps his pen against the desk, and just… writes what comes naturally.

woonhak picks up the folded letter before jaehyun can stop him.

jaehyun nearly tackles him.

“GIVE IT BACK.”

woonhak dances out of reach, grinning. “ooooh, what’s this?”

“IT’S NOTHING.”

taesan, completely unbothered, takes a sip of his drink. “so you did write one.”

jaehyun glares. “it’s just a stupid challenge.”

woonhak dodges another grab. “damn, you really poured your heart into this, huh?”

jaehyun huffs. “i hate both of you.”

woonhak finally tosses it back, laughing.

jaehyun stuffs it into his bag, scowling.

“…so when are you giving it to them?” taesan asks.

jaehyun freezes.

“uh.”

“…you are giving it to them, right?” woonhak says, amused.

jaehyun looks away. “i don’t know.”

“…bro.”

“i just—” jaehyun sighs. “what if they don’t care?”

woonhak and taesan exchange a look.

then, woonhak shrugs. “i guess you’ll find out.”

you don’t ask if jaehyun wrote his letter.

you don’t want to know.

because if he did, then you’d have to think about why you didn’t.

when jaehyun sees you next, he almost gives it to you.

almost.

but then he sees the way you act like nothing is different.

so, he keeps it in his bag.

not that it matters.

—

💖 heartsync update: your 30-day trial is almost over! it’s time for your final compatibility assessment!

will you renew? yes or no? make your choice carefully! 😘

your thumb hovers over the screen.

your chest feels tight.

final compatibility assessment.

it’s just a stupid button. just a choice.

but it feels heavier than that.

yes or no. stay or leave.

do you want this to continue?

and that’s the problem, isn’t it?

because you do. but you also don’t.

or rather, you can’t.

if you say yes, what does that mean? that the app was right? that this was real? that you’re willing to risk whatever this has become?

that’s too much.

that’s terrifying.

so, instead of thinking, instead of wondering, instead of feeling—

you press no.

and just like that, it’s over.

jaehyun gets the notification when he’s halfway to the café.

he’d planned to meet you there, casually slipping you the letter like it wasn’t a big deal. but then—

💔 heartsync update: your trial has ended. thanks for participating! your match has chosen not to renew. we’ve removed them from your contacts. no hard feelings! 💕

he stops walking.

stares at the screen.

his stomach sinks.

his heart—

no renewal.

he scrolls through his messages, but your contact is gone. every conversation, every stupid joke, every awkward late-night text—erased.

like you were never there at all.

like he imagined it.

like it meant nothing.

he swallows.

turns on his heel.

walks away.

when you check your phone again, it’s like jaehyun never existed.

your chat history? gone.

your notifications? empty.

you type his name into your contacts. nothing.

it feels like a punch to the stomach. you should’ve expected this. you did expect this.

but it still hurts.

did he pick no, too?

…or did you delete something that he actually wanted?

you close your phone.

this is for the best.

you keep telling yourself that. so why doesn’t it feel true?

jaehyun stares at the letter in his hands.

it’s stupid.

he shouldn’t care.

but he does. and that pisses him off.

woonhak notices. “what’s up with you?”

jaehyun doesn’t answer.

taesan glances over. “hey. you good?”

jaehyun laughs, but it’s hollow. “yeah.”

woonhak raises a brow.

jaehyun crumples the letter in his fist.

“i just wasted my time, that’s all.”

he gets up.

leaves before they can ask anything else.

you tell sungho and kazuha that it’s fine.

that you’re fine.

sungho doesn’t buy it. “so, you just… ended it?”

you shrug. “it was gonna end anyway.”

kazuha frowns. “but… did you want it to?”

you open your mouth. hesitate.

sungho sighs. “you’re an idiot.”

you glare. “thanks.”

“i’m serious. if you actually liked him—”

“i don’t.”

“…right,” kazuha says, unconvinced.

sungho crosses his arms. “you know, he could’ve said yes.”

you look away.

because that thought is the worst one of all.

jaehyun avoids the café.

he avoids the places he might see you.

he pretends it doesn’t sting.

but when he’s alone, when the studio is quiet, when there’s nothing left to distract him.

he pulls out the letter.

the one you’ll never read.

and he wonders if he had given it to you, would it have made a difference?

—

jaehyun is not the kind of guy who does this.

he’s not the type to chase after people. he doesn’t do big confrontations. he doesn’t throw himself into situations where his feelings are laid bare, where rejection is a very real possibility.

but here he is.

sitting in a café across from woonhak, gripping a coffee cup like it’s a lifeline, his foot tapping against the floor so fast it’s a miracle the ground isn’t shaking.

woonhak, for his part, is staring at him like he’s experiencing secondhand embarrassment in real time.

“so… let me get this straight,” woonhak says, setting his drink down. “you got matched with someone on a dating app. spent a whole month with them. actually liked them. and now, instead of talking to them like a normal person, you’re here, asking me to help you find them?”

jaehyun scowls. “when you say it like that, it sounds weird.”

woonhak leans back in his chair. “because it is weird.”

jaehyun groans, running a hand through his hair. “i just—” he hesitates, voice quieter. “they pressed no.”

woonhak’s eyebrows lift.

jaehyun clenches his jaw. “they chose to end it.”

woonhak watches him for a moment. then, slowly, he folds his arms.

“so? that’s it? you’re just gonna let the app decide how this ends?”

jaehyun exhales sharply. “no.”

“good.” woonhak cracks his knuckles. “let’s find them.”

jaehyun blinks. “wait, you’re actually helping?”

woonhak smirks. “are you kidding? this is the most interesting thing that’s happened all week.”

jaehyun rolls his eyes, but his heart is beating a little faster now.

step one: figure out where you work.

woonhak, surprisingly, is really good at this. almost too good.

“didn’t you mention that sungho is their friend?” he asks, scrolling through his phone.

jaehyun blinks. “uh. yeah?”

woonhak hums. “i think i saw something on his page last week. something about dropping off lunch at their job.”

jaehyun leans over. “you can find that?”

“duh. i have skills.”

jaehyun doesn’t question it.

a few minutes later, woonhak tilts his screen toward jaehyun. “bingo. looks like they work at that bookstore near the subway station.”

jaehyun’s stomach twists.

this is actually happening.

woonhak smirks. “you ready?”

jaehyun doesn’t answer. just grabs his jacket and walks out the door.

the bookstore is quiet when jaehyun steps inside.

the warm scent of paper and ink fills the air. soft lighting casts golden hues against the wooden bookshelves. the faint sound of pages turning and the occasional murmur of conversation drifts through the space.

he scans the store, heart hammering.

there.

you’re stacking books near the back, moving with the easy rhythm of someone who’s done this a hundred times.

jaehyun’s feet move before he can think.

you don’t notice him at first.

but then you glance up.

your hands still. your eyes widen.

“…jaehyun?”

his throat is dry. he almost forgets why he’s here.

almost.

“you really didn’t care, huh?”

your expression falters. “what?”

jaehyun exhales sharply. “you didn’t even hesitate. you just—” he gestures vaguely, frustration bleeding into his voice. “you pressed no.”

you swallow. “i—”

jaehyun reaches into his pocket.

pulls out a crumpled piece of paper.

your breath catches.

“you didn’t read mine,” jaehyun says.

his voice is quieter now. rough around the edges.

you stare at the letter.

the ink is smudged. the paper is creased, worn like he’s been holding onto it for days.

like he was going to give it to you, like he wanted to stay.

your stomach twists.

“jaehyun.”

he shakes his head, running a hand through his hair. “i just don’t get it.”

his voice cracks on the last word.

you don’t know what to say. you don’t know how to fix this.

but maybe… maybe it’s not too late.

silence stretches between you.

you don’t look away from the letter.

jaehyun doesn’t either.

there’s a tension in the air, thick and heavy. you try to swallow it down, but it doesn’t go away.

finally, jaehyun exhales.

he shoves a hand into his jacket pocket, gaze dropping to the floor. “you don’t have to say anything,” he mutters. “i just—i needed you to know.”

your throat is tight. your fingers twitch at your sides.

you didn’t read mine.

he said it so simply, like it wasn’t the most painful realization of all. because you should have.

you should have waited.

you should have listened.

but you were afraid.

afraid that reading it would mean accepting something real. afraid that pressing yes would mean opening yourself up to something you weren’t sure you could handle.

but now, looking at him, his tense shoulders, his furrowed brows, the way his hands grip the letter like it’s the only thing holding him together. he’s so cute.

you wonder if you made the wrong choice.

you take a shaky breath. “jaehyun…”

he lifts his gaze.

your fingers brush against the edge of the letter. hesitating.

you take it.

jaehyun stills.

you smooth it out carefully, trying not to focus on the places where the ink has bled.

you glance up. “can i—?”

jaehyun nods, once.

so you read.

jaehyun’s letter is messy.

his handwriting is uneven, like he kept pausing, rewriting, second-guessing.

but the words—

the words hit you like a punch to the chest.

it’s not poetic. not perfectly structured.

but it’s real.

and for some reason, that makes it hurt even more.

hey. i don’t really know what to say, which is probably a bad start to a letter. i don’t know what i was expecting when i signed up for this. definitely not this. i thought it’d be a joke. just something dumb i’d try and then delete. but then, somehow, it was you. and i don’t know how that happened, but i’m not really mad about it. it was weird at first. and sometimes it still is. but somewhere along the way, i stopped thinking about it like an “experiment” or a “trial.” it just became normal. i don’t know if that means anything. but i think i like this. i think i like… you. not that it matters. but yeah. that’s it. - jaehyun.

you can tell when he started to get frustrated. some sentences trail off, like he wasn’t sure how to end them. some are underlined, like he wanted to make sure you understood.

but the part that makes your breath catch, the part that makes your fingers tighten around the page—

is near the end.

"i don’t know if that means anything. but i think i like this. i think i like… you."

you stare at the words.

your hands shake.

your vision blurs.

you blink rapidly, forcing yourself to look up.

jaehyun is watching you, expression unreadable.

you open your mouth. but no words come out.

so you do the only thing you can.

you fold the letter carefully. tuck it into your pocket.

and whisper, “i think i made a mistake.”

jaehyun exhales.

his lips press into a thin line.

“yeah,” he says softly. “i think so, too.”

it should be easier than this.

it should be simple. if you like someone, you tell them. if you want to stay, you stay.

but it’s never that easy, is it?

because standing here, in the quiet of the bookstore, with jaehyun staring at you like you’re the only thing keeping him grounded, it feels impossible to say what you want to say.

your heart is in your throat.

your fingers tighten around the crumpled letter in your pocket.

“so,” jaehyun says, voice quiet. “what now?”

you don’t know.

but you do know one thing:

you don’t want to walk away again.

you meet his gaze.

hesitate.

“i think i liked you before i even realized.”

jaehyun’s breath catches.

your chest feels tight.

you swallow, forcing yourself to keep going.

“i just… i didn’t want to admit it,” you say, voice softer now. “because if i did, then it wouldn’t be because of the app. it wouldn’t be because of some stupid algorithm. it would just be me.”

you take a shaky breath.

“and that scared me.”

jaehyun exhales sharply.

he’s quiet for a long moment, and just when you think he’s going to say something,

he takes a step closer.

then another.

your heart stutters.

he stops just a few inches away.

when he speaks, his voice is steadier than before.

“i don’t care what the app says,” he murmurs.

his gaze is unwavering.

“i like you.”

your stomach flips.

your fingers twitch at your sides.

you want to say something.

but before you can, jaehyun suddenly exhales, dragging a hand down his face.

“god, that was so embarrassing,” he groans. “i can’t believe i actually said that out loud.”

you blink.

a laugh bursts out of you, unexpected and unfiltered.

jaehyun groans again, covering his face. “no, don’t laugh. i was trying to be cool.”

“cool?” you wheeze. “you?”

he glares at you from between his fingers. “i take it back. i don’t like you.”

you grin. “too late.”

jaehyun groans dramatically, but there’s no real frustration in it.

just warmth. just relief.

and when your laughter fades, when the bookstore falls quiet again—

he looks at you. and you look back.

something shifts.

something settles.

and just like that—

it doesn’t feel so impossible anymore.

later, at a coffee shop.

“so,” you say, stirring your drink. “was any of it real?”

jaehyun blinks. “huh?”

“the app,” you clarify. “the ‘fated’ moments. was any of it real?”

jaehyun thinks about it.

“well.” he tilts his head. “the coffee shop thing was definitely on purpose.”

you nod. “and the grocery store?”

“i think you just have bad luck.”

“excuse me?”

jaehyun shrugs, taking a sip of his drink. “i mean, statistically speaking, you were bound to run into me eventually.”

you narrow your eyes. “statistically speaking, i should throw my drink at you.”

jaehyun grins. “you could. but then you’d have to buy me another one.”

you stare at him for a long moment.

then you sigh, leaning back in your chair.

“so… no magic algorithm,” you murmur.

“no magic algorithm,” jaehyun agrees.

it’s strange.

you spent so much time wondering if any of it was real, if the app had manipulated you, if the connection was artificial, if your feelings were manufactured.

but now, sitting here, watching jaehyun poke at the ice in his drink with his straw, you realize something.

you don’t care.

because maybe the app pushed you together. maybe it forced you into situations that you wouldn’t have chosen otherwise.

but the moments you shared?

the conversations, the laughter, the quiet nights at the studio—

that was real. and that’s enough.

and that's something you like the sound of.

—

tysm for reading :>

bnd taglist : @bxnedo

perm taglist : @s0shroe @minoouz @the0p @mon2sunjinsuver

[enhaflixer]

wahhh i just read strikes out and i love every single thing about it 😭 literally every line is chefs kiss especially when jake just figured jade’s his daughter 🤌🏻🤌🏻🤌🏻 now my only problem is wanting more for the fic hhh and u can ignore this if u have too much on ur plate but i’d really like to request a scenario for that baby number … like finding out and jake being there every step of the way esp since reader had a complicated pregnancy with jade 🥺👉🏻👈🏻

𝑩𝒂𝒃𝒚 𝑵𝒖𝒎𝒃𝒆𝒓 𝑻𝒘𝒐 | A “Strikes Out” Bonus Scene

The Pregnancy

Jake had always been borderline ridiculous when it came to taking care of you, but pregnancy? Pregnancy turned him into a full-blown menace.

“Babe, I can walk by myself,” you huffed as he practically carried you down the stairs, one arm wrapped firmly around your waist.

Jake ignored you. “The doctor said you shouldn’t overexert yourself.”

“She meant lifting heavy things, not walking like a normal person.”

Jake shot you an unimpressed look as he helped you settle onto the couch, adjusting pillows like some kind of overprotective mother hen. “You’re growing an entire human,” he said, pulling a blanket over you despite the fact that it was the middle of the afternoon. “That’s already overexertion enough.”

You groaned, throwing your head back. “You do realize I was pregnant before, right? This isn’t my first time.”

Jake, completely unfazed, placed a full water bottle next to you on the couch like you were some kind of delicate, fragile thing. “Yeah,” he muttered, lowering himself onto the floor beside you, resting a careful hand on your belly. “But last time, I wasn’t here.”

Your frustration melted instantly.

Jake stared at your growing belly, rubbing gentle circles against it. “I wasn’t there for any of this,” he murmured, voice thick with something you couldn’t quite name. “I didn’t see the way Jade kicked, or how tired you got, or how much you craved mangoes at 2 a.m.��

Your chest tightened.

“You’re here now,” you whispered, threading your fingers through his hair. “That’s all that matters.”

Jake exhaled slowly, leaning his forehead against your stomach, pressing the softest kiss against your skin. “Yeah,” he murmured. “And I’m never missing a second again.”

And he meant it.

Jake was at every single appointment. Every ultrasound. Every check-up.

He was there for the nausea, the backaches, the mood swings. He held your hair when you got sick, massaged your feet when you got swollen, read every single baby book he could get his hands on.

He was there for the first kick, his eyes going impossibly wide as he dropped to his knees, pressing his hands against your belly.

“Oh my God,” he breathed. “He’s strong.”

You laughed, stroking his hair. “Like his dad.”

Jake kissed your stomach right then and there, his lips lingering for a long moment. “Hi, little man,” he murmured softly. “I can’t wait to meet you.”

And then, of course, there was The Incident™.

One night, at three in the morning, you woke up to an empty bed.

Frowning, you pushed yourself up, waddling out of the bedroom—only to find Jake in the nursery, sitting cross-legged on the floor, surrounded by half-assembled baby furniture, his face scrunched up in concentration.

You sighed. “Jake.”

He whipped around instantly, eyes guilty. “I was just—” He gestured to the unfinished crib. “I was—”

“Go to bed.”

“But—”

“I swear to God, Jake, if you don’t get back in bed right now, I will personally end you before this pregnancy does.”

Jake scrambled up immediately, gently ushering you back to the bedroom while muttering something about “pregnancy hormones are terrifying”.

The Talk with Jade

Jade had been over the moon about the baby since the moment she found out, but the closer the due date got, the more she seemed… quieter.

One night, Jake found her sitting alone in the backyard, soccer ball barely nudging against her feet, her shoulders hunched slightly.

He immediately sat down beside her, bumping her gently with his arm. “Hey, superstar. What’s on your mind?”

Jade shrugged, not looking at him. “Nothing.”

Jake hummed, waiting. He knew his daughter well enough to know that she’d talk when she was ready.

After a long moment, Jade glanced up at him, chewing her lip. “Daddy?”

His heart still stuttered when she called him that. He would never get used to it. “Yeah, baby?”

Her fingers fidgeted with the hem of her shirt. “When the baby comes… am I still gonna be your favorite?”

Jake froze.

Then, without hesitation, he reached out, pulling her right into his arms, cradling her close. “Oh, Jade,” he murmured, pressing a kiss to her hair, his heart squeezing. “Nothing is ever gonna change how much I love you. Not ever.”

Jade sniffled against his chest. “But you’re gonna have two kids now.”

Jake cupped her little face, making her look at him. “You were the first person who ever called me Dad,” he whispered. “That makes you so special to me, Jade. You made me a dad. And now, you get to be a big sister, too.”

Jade swallowed hard. “What if the baby likes you more than me?”

Jake laughed softly, shaking his head. “That’s impossible.” He pressed his forehead against hers, his voice gentle and certain. “You are my girl. That’s never gonna change.”

Jade nodded slowly, blinking back her tears, before wrapping her little arms tightly around his neck. “Okay,” she whispered.

Jake closed his eyes, holding her just as tightly. “I love you so much, baby.”

“Love you too, Daddy.”

The Birth

When you finally went into labor, Jake was ready.

Hospital bag? Packed.

Route to the hospital? Mapped out three different ways.

Jade? Already staying at Tia’s house with strict instructions for updates.

But when he saw you wince in pain, saw the way your breath hitched, his entire world tilted.

He held your hand the entire time, whispering soft encouragements, pressing kisses to your forehead.

“You’re doing so good, baby,” he murmured. “I’m so proud of you.”

And then—

The cry.

Tiny. Loud. Perfect.

But then he saw him.

The first time he held his son, his tiny, squirming, brand new son, wrapped up in soft blue blankets with a full head of dark hair and impossibly small fingers that curled instinctively around his thumb—everything else ceased to exist.

“Oh,” he whispered, completely wrecked, his voice catching in his throat.

Jacob Sim. His son. His boy. His tiny, fragile, perfect little boy.

Something swelled inside him, something overwhelming, something that threatened to bring him to his knees. He was already crying before he even realized it, silent tears slipping down his face as he rocked slightly, instinctively, protectively holding his newborn closer.

“Jake?” you murmured softly from the hospital bed, exhaustion heavy in your voice, but your eyes were bright as you watched him.

Jake turned, barely able to form words, his gaze flickering between you and the baby in his arms. “I—” He let out a shaky breath. “He’s—oh my God.”

You smiled, reaching for him, your fingers brushing his arm. “He’s got you wrapped around his tiny little fingers already, doesn’t he?”

Jake let out something between a laugh and a sob, because��of course he did.

Jade had claimed his heart the moment she grinned up at him with her dimples and declared herself his number one fan. And now Jacob, tiny and new and still figuring out how to exist in the world, had done the same without even trying.

Carefully, he stepped closer to the bed, sitting beside you as he adjusted his hold on the baby, making sure you could see him properly. “Look at him,” Jake murmured, his voice soft with reverence. “Look at our boy.”

You reached out, brushing a delicate fingertip over Jacob’s tiny nose, his soft cheek. “I can’t believe he’s finally here.”

Jake exhaled slowly, pressing a gentle kiss to your forehead before glancing back down at his son. “Jacob Sim,” he murmured, testing the name out loud, letting it settle in his chest.

A quiet sniffle from the doorway made him turn.

Jade stood there, gripping the edge of the hospital door, her eyes huge as she took in the sight of her baby brother for the very first time. She was still wearing her little soccer jersey—Jake recognized it immediately because he was the one who had helped her put it on this morning.

For a second, she just stood there, staring. Then, slowly, she crept forward.

Jake exchanged a quick glance with you before turning to her, shifting the baby in his arms. “Come here, sweetheart,” he said gently. “Come meet your baby brother.”

Jade approached cautiously, like she wasn’t sure what to do. Then she hesitated beside the hospital bed, looking up at him with wide, careful eyes.

“Is he really mine?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Jake’s chest tightened. He reached out with his free hand, pulling her in close. “Yeah, baby,” he murmured. “He’s yours too.”

Jade swallowed hard, eyes fixed on the tiny bundle in her father’s arms. Then, very slowly, she reached out her small hand, fingers trembling slightly as she carefully brushed Jacob’s tiny fist.

The baby stirred, shifting slightly, and Jade sucked in a quiet breath. “He’s so little,” she whispered. “I thought he’d be bigger.”

Jake chuckled softly. “He’ll grow,” he said, watching the way she studied her brother with quiet awe. “But right now, he’s just figuring things out.”

Jade nodded, still staring.

After a moment, she bit her lip and shifted slightly, like she was trying to hold something back.

Jake frowned. “Jade? What’s wrong, baby?”

Jade hesitated for a second longer before blurting out, “I don’t know if I’m gonna be a good big sister, Daddy."

Jake’s heart broke right then and there.

“Oh, sweetheart,” he said, his voice so soft, so full of warmth. He pulled her into his side, pressing a kiss to her hair. “You’re already the best big sister in the whole world.”

Jade sniffled, peeking up at him. “Really?”

Jake nodded. “Really.” Then, carefully, he turned the baby slightly, adjusting his hold. “Do you wanna hold him?”

Jade froze, eyes going impossibly wide. “Can I?”

Jake exchanged a glance with you before nodding. “Of course you can, but you gotta be really gentle, okay?”

Jade nodded so hard her hair bounced, and Jake smiled before carefully settling the baby into her arms, keeping one hand there just in case.

Jade held her breath as Jacob wiggled slightly, his tiny nose scrunching. Then, very slowly, he settled, his tiny head resting against her arm.

Jade beamed.

“Hi, Jacob,” she whispered, voice filled with wonder.

Jake watched them, something warm and unbreakable filling his chest.

This was his family. His daughter, holding her baby brother. His son, safe and sound. You, exhausted but smiling at them with so much love it physically hurt to look at you.

This time, he had been here for everything.

This time, he wasn’t missing a second.

And as Jade rocked her baby brother gently, whispering about how she was going to teach him everything he needed to know—soccer, cartoons, which snacks were the best—Jake realized that this?

This was the happiest he had ever been.

[amethystarachnid]

Hi @amethystarachnid I just read that new drabble with tony and it's so cute and funny. I want to request for a lovely drabble w y/n & tony y/n pampering him and babying him and lots of kisses and tony loving it but acting all tough and sassy in front of other Avengers and y/n teasing him about it. It'd be so cute 🤭

I read that you're busy so write only if you can. Thank you buddy ‭❤

PAMPERING TONY STARK - A Drabble

I love pampering people and just taking care of them so this is heaven for me...and that's because this is so long lol.

The first time you do it, Tony freezes like a deer in headlights. You just cup his face in your hands, plant a long, obnoxiously loud smooch on his forehead, and go, “Who’s my handsome genius billionaire?”

“Uh. Me?” He blinks, genuinely unsure if this is a trick.

“Yes, you.” You pepper more kisses on his cheeks, his nose, and right at the corner of his lips. He’s absolutely malfunctioning. You can practically hear the Windows error sound in his brain.

“Okay, okay, slow down—what’s this for?” he asks, voice dropping into that flustered I’m totally fine, don’t make a big deal out of it tone.

You just grin. “Because I love you, duh.” And then you smoosh his cheeks together and make him do a ridiculous little fish face before landing another loud kiss on his lips.

Tony Stark—Mr. Cool, Confident, Cocky—actually sputters.

“This is—this is excessive. I have a reputation,” he protests weakly, but his hands are already resting on your waist, and he’s definitely leaning in just a little.

You ignore him and keep at it. “Awww, is my genius getting all shy? Can’t handle a little love?” Another kiss. Another. Another.

“I can handle it,” he grumbles, though his ears are turning pink. You kiss them too, just to prove a point.

At first, he pretends to put up a fight every time you do this—like when you ambush him while he’s working, or when you trap him on the couch, straddling his lap just to smother him with affection.

“Sweetheart, I have a very delicate and important project—”

Kiss.

“You can’t just—”

Kiss. Kiss.

“I am a grown man—”

KISS.

Eventually, he just gives up. Fully accepts his fate. Melts into every touch, every kiss, every obnoxious display of affection.

And now, if a day goes by without you showering him with attention, he gets huffy.

“Excuse me, but I believe you forgot to shower me in love and affection today. Am I not your favorite billionaire anymore?”

If you try to hold back for even a second, he literally pouts. “Wow. So this is how I get treated after all we’ve been through.”

But the moment you pull him in and absolutely smother him in kisses again, his entire face lights up, and he grumbles, “Yeah, okay. Maybe this is kinda nice.”

In private? Tony is an absolute menace for your affection. If you so much as sit down next to him, he’s already pulling you into his lap like, “I’m just making sure you don’t get away before I get my daily dose, obviously.”

But the moment the Avengers are around? Oh, suddenly, he’s Mr. Too Cool for This Soft Stuff™.

The first time Steve walks in on you kissing Tony’s face like he’s a tiny, spoiled prince, Tony immediately sits up and clears his throat. “Ahem. Yeah, uh, work stuff, Cap. Very official.”

Steve raises an eyebrow. “Work stuff?”

“Yes, very advanced research in…uh, emotional stability enhancement. Clearly.”

“Uh-huh.” Steve tries not to laugh.

You just smirk and lean in again, pressing a big mwah to Tony’s cheek. “Awww, am I distracting the big strong genius?”

Tony makes a deeply unconvincing groan, but the moment Steve leaves, he instantly turns and demands another one. “Okay, now that we’re alone—continue. Extensively.”

Natasha catches him once too. You’re literally trapping Tony in a hug, your fingers threading through his hair, kissing the top of his head. He’s definitely leaning into it, looking half-asleep and utterly content—until Natasha coughs.

“Wow,” she deadpans. “You gonna survive, Stark?”

Tony, without missing a beat, immediately sits up. “Listen, I have no choice in this. I’m just an innocent bystander in this overly affectionate attack.”

“Oh yeah?” You tease, crossing your arms. “Because someone literally climbed into my lap last night just to demand forehead kisses.”

“Lies and slander.”

“Tony, you literally pouted at me when I stopped.”

“Okay, first of all, I was testing the effects of withdrawal. For science.”

Natasha just smirks and walks away, while Tony groans and mutters, “Ugh, this is your fault.”

But despite all his protests in front of the team, everyone knows the truth.

Clint casually walks in one day, sees you sitting on the couch while Tony full-on buries his face in your neck, and just sips his coffee. “So, uh…you still claiming you hate affection?”

Tony doesn’t even lift his head. “Shut up, Legolas.”

And when you call him out for being a big softie, he just rolls his eyes. “Pfft. Soft? No, no, sweetheart, you’re the one addicted to this. I’m just doing my duty as a supportive boyfriend.”

“Oh really?” You grin and pull away slightly. “So if I stop giving you kisses, you’ll be fine?”

Tony freezes.

You smirk, moving just an inch further away.

“…Okay, now, let’s not be rash,” he says quickly, wrapping his arms back around you. “Let’s be reasonable adults about this.”

“You need my kisses,” you tease.

“I don’t need them, I just—” He sighs dramatically. “—fine, maybe I need them. A little.”

You boop his nose. “Good boy.”

“Okay, that’s too far—”

But you cut him off with another kiss, and suddenly, all of Tony’s sass mysteriously disappears.

hope you liked it <3

[hurtspideyparker]

Part 2 of Mundane Avengers Headcanons

Part 1

- Clint gets paper cuts way too often and is oddly defensive about it. "Oh no is that a paper cut—" "YES GODAMMIT." "..."

- Steve gets hangry. It is obvious to everyone but him. He will deny the accusation and eat the protein bar being handed to him anyways (he feels immediately better)

- Natasha likes to snack on chips, and will buy whatever random flavour she can find. Garlic bread? Okay. Thanksgiving dinner? Sure thing. Ghost pepper? Most definitely, especially when Clint steals a handful without paying attention

- Tony likes to have Floor Time™ where he will just lie on the floor if he gets tired or overwhelmed. It happens a lot in the kitchen because he gets decision fatigue. Bruce and Nat ignore him, Steve always asks if he's alright, and Clint just lies down with him

- Bruce pretends not to hear when Tony is struggling in the lab or when his friends are fighting because he will Keep His Peace at all costs ✌️

- Clint's favourite song is Wonderwall and when Tony finds out he clowns him for it for two months straight (until Thor visits and wants to hear the song and becomes obsessed, playing it constantly when he's with them much to Clint's amusement and Tony's torture)

- Bucky hogs the blanket every movie night. Doesn't matter how early they get there he will find a way to get to it first or steal it

- If Natasha spends a while doing her hair and there's a piece that won't cooperate she will simply cut it off (like a hair sticking out of a braid). What it looks like unstyled is none of her business 

- Peter crawls up stairs when he's alone—on all fours, running up them like a bear. (One time Clint is going down and sees Peter crawling full speed up at him and screams so loud Steve thinks a little girl is in danger and comes rushing to the rescue)

- Natasha and Tony watch Jeopardy together and get incredibly competitive

- Thor will hug everyone goodbye, including people he just met and complete strangers. "I'm sure it would have been nice to know you! :D". It takes a reallllly long time 

- Bruce is the king of Irish goodbyes (leaving without letting anyone know)

- Steve checks himself out in mirrored surfaces but NEVER if someone can see him do it. He is not afraid to gaslight if caught

- Clint bakes quite a bit, and everyone is thrown off by it. "I don't like to bake, I like to eat homemade cookies. There's a difference."

- Rhodey is actually a total menace but because he's a military guy and always compared to Tony he seems tame

- Sam sings in the shower every time. Doesn't matter if he's in a hotel, sharing, at home. It's every single time

- Peter says things like 'awesome' 'sick' 'epic' 'cool' constantly and about practically everything. butterfly on windowsill, extra chicken nugget in meal, giant aircraft on front lawn—all epic

- Bucky hates pop radio. For this reason you will never catch him in a mall or a club

[rosierin]

uno, dos, kiss | atsumu miya

synopsis; they're home alone, it's raining, he’s bored, and somehow (y/n) is playing uno with a rose on her bed and a kiss on the line.

this fic is part of the off-season quartet™ series! for more, click here :)

The candle on her desk flickered gently, casting shadows along the spines of her books. Lo-fi hummed in the background, slow and rhythmic, just enough to fill the quiet. Her window was cracked open, letting in the faint scent of rain and the occasional roll of thunder. The sheer curtains danced with the breeze—light and ghostlike—fluttering around the warm, golden light of her room.

She sat at her desk, legs tucked under her, pen in hand. Writing always helped clear her head. Sometimes it was dramatic. Sometimes it was mundane. Tonight, it was somewhere in between.

She was mid-sentence when the first knock came.

Then a second.

Then a third.

Then silence.

And finally, a fourth—softer. Suspiciously... needy.

(Y/n) glanced at her door, brows lifting.

“Atsumu,” she called, not even turning around. “You know you’re allowed to walk in, right?”

The door creaked open—just an inch.

“I didn’t wanna intrude if ya were journalin’ about me again.”

Of course.

She finally looked up.

There he was: pyjama pants, hoodie, hair messy, like he’d been aimlessly padding around the hallway for the last twenty minutes. Which—he had. She knew because she'd heard his dramatic sighs echoing down the hallway around ten minutes ago.

“Not everything’s about you,” she said.

“But some of it is.”

She stared.

Atsumu wiggled his fingers like he was conjuring something.

“Anywayyy. The house is suspiciously quiet. No twin yelling. No Suna wheezin' at stupid TikToks. Just you. And me. And the thunder outside.”

She raised a brow. “Okay?”

“So.” He took a step in. “We could do somethin’ about that.”

“…Like what?”

“Dunno. Play a game. Watch somethin’. Flirt. Kiss a little.”

He said it like he was listing ingredients. Casual. Breezy. Ridiculous.

She squinted. “You wanna play Uno and make out?”

“I mean now that you’ve said it like that—” His face lit up. “Yeah. Kinda sounds like the dream.”

She launched a pillow at him. He caught it with both hands like it was a wedding bouquet, grinning like an idiot.

“Okay, loser. How about you start with Uno, and we go from there.”

“Deal. But fair warnin’—if I win, I’m cashin’ in a kiss.”

“That’s not how Uno works.”

“It is in my rules.”

She shook her head, fighting the urge to smile.

He disappeared for all of two minutes and came back wielding a deck of Uno cards, a bowl of gummy bears, and a single rose he’d very obviously stolen from the dining table vase.

“To set the mood,” he announced, placing the flower between them with a romantic flourish as if they were sharing a candlelit dinner.

(Y/n) rolled her eyes so hard she nearly saw the back of her skull.

But when he flopped down on the edge of her bed across from her, cross-legged and beaming, shuffling cards with the kind of intense focus he usually reserved for volleyball—or, apparently, potential kissing—her chest did this stupid thing.

A flutter.

Warm. Unexpected. Annoying.

God, he was infuriating. Always so extra. So smug. So Atsumu.

But also…

Also, part of her kind of wanted to let him win.

“You ready to lose?” She asked, cracking her knuckles like a seasoned Uno champion.

Atsumu leaned back, arms crossed behind his head like he was about to lounge his way to victory. “Sweetheart, I’ve never lost a game where the prize is yer affection.”

“You’ve never won a game where that was the prize.”

“Until day."

She dealt the cards with professional precision. He immediately pouted at his hand.

“Why do I got four Wilds? Is this karma for flirtin’?”

“Could be,” she said lightly. “Or maybe the universe is just tired of your nonsense.”

“Unlikely. The universe lives for my nonsense.”

The first few rounds go smoothly—well, as smoothly as Uno can go with a menace like Atsumu.

He slapped down a Draw Four with the flair of a magician mid-final act.

“Boom. Take that.”

She huffed a laugh. “You’re enjoying this too much.”

“Not nearly enough, if I’m honest.”

She retaliated with a Reverse, followed by a Skip.

Atsumu gasped, clutching the rose to his chest like she’d betrayed him. “Et tu, (y/n)?”

She snorted and waved a hand at his obscure reference. “Play your cards, drama queen.”

Several minutes (and three aggressive +2s) later, they were both down to their last card. The tension was palpable. Outside, the rain picked up, the thunder grumbling as if Mother Nature herself was narrating their showdown.

“Uno,” she said coolly, dropping a red 7.

Atsumu stared at his hand, then at (y/n).

“Hey. Before I destroy you, can I ask somethin’?”

She narrowed her eyes. “If this is another ‘cash in a kiss’ thing, I swear—”

“Nah, nah—well. Kind of. Hear me out.”

She quirked a brow, already amused despite herself. “Go on?”

He leaned forward again, folding his arms over his knees where he sat at the edge of her bed, chin resting on his wrist as he gazed up at her with the dumbest, softest little smile.

"Since ya won't let plant one on ya—"

“Nope.” She smiled, just as sweetly.

He held up a hand. “Lemme finish.”

And for some reason, she did. She always did with him.

There was something about Atsumu that made her press pause. Even when he was being ridiculous. Especially when he was being ridiculous. He could barge in, derail her night, demand attention like it was his right—and somehow, it never annoyed her the way it should. Simply because, talking to him felt... well, easy.

She’d never admit it out loud, but she liked it when he showed up like this—mischievous and maybe a little bored. He never really needed a reason to be around her, and that meant more than she could say.

(Y/n) snorted as Atsumu's voice took on a mock-serious tone.

“How about on the cheek? That ain’t so bad, right?”

She barked out a laugh. “Is this your version of checking the terms and conditions?”

“I’m a respectful man,” he said, nodding solemnly. “Gentle. Law-abiding. Soft lips. Big heart. Unmatched Uno card skills."

She stared. He held the gaze—completely unserious, completely committed.

“Fine,” she said eventually, sighing through a smile. “If you win.”

The man was practically glowing. “Ohhhhhh bet.”

He slammed down his final card—a yellow 3.

Neither the right colour nor the right number.

(Y/n) blinked. “Wait. That’s not—”

“Aw, would ya look at that—I win!” He threw both arms in the air like he’d just scored match point at Nationals.

“Wait, what? That’s not how this works—!”

“Terms and conditions, you said it yerself!" he sang, already scooting closer with a grin so wide it was a miracle his cheeks weren’t cramping.

She opened her mouth to argue. Paused.

Honestly?

She wasn’t even mad. Confused, yes. Mildly betrayed, also yes. But mostly… she was just trying not to laugh.

Because look at him—grinning like an idiot, holding that stolen rose like he was the lead in some dramatic romcom. And that sparkle in his eyes? Stupid. Hopeful. Completely disarming.

She sighed. “Just the cheek,” she warned.

“Wouldn’t dream of anywhere else.” (Liar.)

And then—softer than expected—Atsumu shifted closer.

One of his hands found her knee, fingertips resting there, feather-light but somehow enough to set her skin on fire. The other gently brushed a strand of hair behind her ear, slow and careful like she might disappear if he moved too fast.

Her breath hitched.

Then he leaned in—close enough that she could feel the warmth of his breath, close enough that if either of them moved even an inch in the wrong direction, this wouldn’t be so innocent anymore.

And finally, with a softness that made her chest tighten, he pressed a kiss to her cheek.

Warm. Lingering. Dangerous in how gentle it was.

She blinked.

He pulled back slowly, eyes flicking to hers, something playful swimming behind the gold.

“Did I get ya hopes up?” he asked, voice low—teasing, but… still not quite as cocky as usual.

(Y/n) scoffed, instantly deflecting. “As if.”

He grinned, head tilting. “That a no?”

“That’s a shut up, Atsumu.”

His grin only widened. He flopped back onto his elbows with all the satisfaction of a man who had absolutely, without question, gotten her hopes up.

Then—playfully, shamelessly—

“Round two?”

She smacked him with a throw pillow before her brain could catch up.

He accepted it like a blessing, laughter spilling out of him—loud and stupid and happy. Grinning like a boy who just found a coin on the ground and got praised for it.

[insomniac4000]

Bite Me

Chris Dixon SMUT ChrisMD/female reader.

Chris has a habit of biting his friends when drunk, one night it goes even further

Chris Dixon, known to millions as ChrisMD, had built his reputation opening FIFA packs before moving to football challenges and written and sometimes cheesy jokes. However, among his close circle of friends, he was known for something a little more bizarre: his habit of biting people when he’d had a few too many drinks, his fans were starting to see it more too as his videos started to feature alcohol more and more.

No one was entirely sure how it started. Some blamed a raucous night out in Ibiza. Others swore it was during one of the Sidemen charity matches when Chris, newly single for a few months and overtaken by adrenaline and too much post-match beer, had sunk his teeth into Harry Lewis’ broad shoulder. Whatever the origin, the biting had become a staple of Chris’s intoxicated antics, it was like it was now a meme of sorts but it real life. Every night out it happened and everyone would wait to see who the unlucky victim would be. It wasn’t an aggressive or malicious action from Chris, more like a spontaneous, drunken act of camaraderie. His friends had come to accept it as one of his peculiarities, though that didn’t mean they were entirely okay with it.

In particular George and Arthur Frederick were the ones who protested the most, George remembers the first time it happened to him. The group was gathered at George, Chris and Arthur’s flat for a casual evening. Pizza boxes were stacked on the counter, and the remnants of some games lay scattered across the living room. As the clock ticked toward midnight, Chris’s cheeks were flushed from laughter and a few cans of lager.

George had just finished recounting an embarrassing story about the time he fell into a fountain during a Tiktok he was recording roughly two years ago when Chris pounced.

“Mate, you’re such an idiot,” Chris said, staggering toward George with a grin.

“Thanks for the vote of confidence,” George replied, shaking his head.

Before George could react, Chris leaned in and chomped on his shoulder.

“OW! What the—Chris!” George yelped, pulling away.

"It’s affection!" Chris declared, grinning. "It’s like a hug but more memorable."

George rolled his eyes. "You’re a menace."

The room erupted in laughter.

“There it is!” ArthurTV declared, pointing at Chris. “The Dixon Bite™. Knew it was coming.”

“It’s like clockwork,” Arthur Hill added, shaking his head.

George rubbed his shoulder, half laughing, half glaring. “You’re like a drunk toddler, mate. What is wrong with you?”

Chris, unfazed, raised his can of beer in mock salute. “I told you it’s affection, George. Pure, unfiltered affection.”

Most of the time though it was usually Arthur Frederick, also known as ArthurTV who was on the receiving end of the Dixon chomp.

The first time it happened on camera was during Chris’s first pub golf video, they were a long time into the video and a lot of alcohol had been consumed. They were sat outside on a wooden bench, others were ready to get up and leave with only Chris, Arthur and a cameraman remaining.

“These arms have so little fat on them” Chris slurred as he attempted to pinch the bicep and got his face right up to the muscle in order to admire it. Arthur paid absolutely no attention to his old school friend as he was playing chess on his phone. Suddenly though the brunettes attention was grabbed by the mistakable feelings of two small rows on teeth on his bicep, he looked and there was Chris hanging from his arm.

“Get off me,” Arthur cried and shrugged the smaller man off who could only give a very drunken giggle in response.

“I am the envy of every girl in my Youtube comments right now.”

There was one person who was very bemused by the whole thing, and that was Y/N. Y/N was a relative newcomer to the Youtube scene, she had started out on TikTok but had branched out to Youtube over the past eighteen months, it was a very similar story to George so because of that the two became quite good friends. She could be incredibly sassy, which was good considering she spent a lot of time keeping in check a lot of rowdy boys.

The group were out for karaoke, it had become quite a staple for all of them, joining the aforementioned group of George, Chris, the Arthur’s and Y/N was another relative newcomer to the content creating scene; Italian Bach. Dutch courage was always needed for people to get up in front of a crowd and sing, and that also meant that everyone was waiting for Chris to pounce, today it was Arthur Hill’s turn.

“You haven’t eaten dinner and with your stature that can only spell disaster, here have this,” Arthur suggested as he pushed a bottle of water in Chris’s direction.

“You’re a good mate, Arthur,” he said, accepting the water. Then, without warning, he lunged and bit Arthur’s upper arm, his mouth still wet from the beverage.

Arthur froze, staring at Chris in disbelief. “You’ve got to be joking.”

“Consider it a thank you,” Chris said, grinning.

Arthur sighed, shaking his head. “You know, one day someone’s going to bite you back, and you’re not going to like it.”

Y/N shook her head from her seat. “You’re like an overexcited puppy, Chris. Maybe someone needs to get you a chew toy.” Y/N and Chris had a budding friendship, it was really awkward at first as the pair didn’t know how much they had in common until they both really got to know each other more. Chris really liked the when Y/N took charge too, he needed a girl just like that to keep him on the straight and narrow. Not that he needed parenting or anything but he knew he sometimes took things too far and needed someone to tell him when it was enough and when he needed to wind his neck in. Chris stared at Y/N intensely, she gave back a slightly bemused expression as she watched him bite his lower lip slightly.

“Or my cock… wait what?” ArthurTV added trying to cut the tension.

Nights out with the group were very often, especially for the group who lived together and Arthur and Y/N tagged along often as they were all single. As Bach had a girlfriend he wasn’t always present. The group this time was missing Bach as well as Arthur Hill who was busy rehearing for his upcoming tour. Chris was particularly buoyant that night, fueled by tequila shots and the high of securing a girls number. Y/N was standing at the bar, chatting with George, when Chris appeared out of nowhere.

"Y/N!" he exclaimed, throwing an arm around her shoulders. "You’re a legend. An absolute legend."

"Thanks, Chris," Y/N said, laughing. "You’re not so bad yourself."

Before she could say more, she felt his teeth on her upper arm as it was exposed by her sleeveless top

"Chris!" she shouted, jerking away. "Did you just bite me?"

"It’s a compliment!" Chris insisted, grinning. "Means I like you." This was the first time Chris had done it too her and when he let go and looked at Y/N he had such a cheeky look on his face, she tried to be angry but couldn’t help but laugh at the dopey expression, it was quite cute plus she liked the idea she had sort of now been through the initiation ceremony to join the group. She felt like it was a rite of passage she had just gone through.

She stared at him, half-annoyed, half-amused. "You’re lucky I don’t bite back."

The idea must have planted itself in Y/N’s mind, because the next time they were out, she decided to test his theory, They were at another bar. Chris was his usual tipsy self, moving through the group like a whirlwind of energy. Y/N watched as he playfully bit ArthurTV on the shoulder before bursting into laughter.

“You’re going to pick on the wrong person one day,” Y/N mused finished her drink and placing it on the table behind her.

“Hey, I have never had any complaints about my mouth skills before now,”

“You are so full of it aren’t you?”

“You want to be filled…” While Chris was distracted by talking Y/N leaned in and bit him on the arm—not too hard, but enough to make him yelp.

"Ow!" Chris exclaimed, clutching his arm. "What was that for?"

"Just returning the favour," Y/N said, her eyes sparkling with mischief.

Chris stared at her for a moment, then burst into laughter. "Alright, fair play.”

The rest of the night, there was a palpable shift in the dynamic between Chris and Y/N. They found themselves gravitating toward each other, the biting incident breaking down some unspoken barrier. Their banter was sharper, their laughter louder, and there was a spark in their interactions that hadn’t been there before.

At one point, they were sitting at a table, sharing a plate of chips. Y/N reached for the last one, and Chris playfully swatted her hand away.

"Hey!" she protested. "I’m hungry."

"So am I," Chris said, popping the chip into his mouth with a cheeky grin.

"You’re impossible," Y/N said, shaking her head. But she was smiling.

Chris leaned in slightly, his voice softer. "And yet, you’re still here."

Y/N felt her cheeks flush but didn’t look away. "Maybe I like impossible."

They stayed like that for a moment, the noise of the bar fading into the background. Then, without thinking, Chris closed the distance between them and kissed her.

Y/N didn’t pull away. Instead, she kissed him back, her hand resting lightly on his arm. When they finally broke apart, Chris looked at her, a mix of surprise and delight on his face.

"I didn’t see that coming," he admitted.

"Me neither," Y/N said, laughing softly. "But I’m not complaining."

Chris smiled and leaned in again, the kiss wasn’t as soft this time, less tentative and more passionate. Y/N kissed back with full gusto, letting out a small moan when she felt a slight nibble on her bottom lip.

It felt like moments until the pair were in an Uber, Chris’s hand moving up Y/N’s leg the further they got to his flat. The lift ride was quiet and as soon as they reached the black front door to the flat Y/N was pinned against it Chris kissing her again. They fumbled their way to the bedroom Y/N knocking into a plant as they went discarding clothes along the way.

Y/N moaned as Chris’s kisses and light nibbles moved down her jawline and neck.

“You like that?” Chris smirked peppering his kisses lower, removing Y/N’s shirt and bra before carefully placing one her breasts in his mouth.

“Fuck Chris,” Y/N gasped as he liked and again gently bit her where she was most sensitive.

“God you moaning my name is sexy,” he whispered removing Y/N’s underwear. He planted kisses up her thigh, too slowly for Y/N’s liking “Chris please I need you,” she managed to breathe out, that was all Chris needed before his tongue made contact with Y/N’s clit causing her to moan incredibly loudly. It was an ongoing joke that Chris had recently had a lot of practice with women but Y/N was now reaping those rewards massively as Chris was showing her he knew exactly what he was doing, eating her out, his tongue working wonders as a hand massaged her clit simultaneously. Y/N’s breath quickened and her moans loudened as she felt the familiar feeling bubbling in the pit of her stomach, but she also wanted Chris to get his.

“Come here,” she demanded pushing Chris’s face from her pussy and forcing him to look at her. He removed his boxers and was surprised as Y/N pushed him back slightly and Y/N crawled onto Chris’s lap kissing him as she lowered herself onto him, lotus was one of her favourite positions. She bounced on him with as much gusto as she had, only stopping to moan slightly when Chris kissed her, adding the odd bite. Soon enough the pair entered a climax shortly after another before collapsing exhausted in the bed.

Chris was awake first the next morning, he went to grab a coffee hearing that George and Arthur were already awake.

“And where did you get off to last night?” George asked with a smirk as he leaned against the breakfast bar.

“What do you mean?” Chris tried to shrug it off as he poured his cup of morning.

“Well there’s the fact you left without saying goodbye last night, then when we came home we find the plant half hanging off the table, tripped over women’s shoes and some very obvious sounds,” Arthur replied also smirking as he grabbed his cup.

“Well it sounds like you’ve already made your minds up,” Chris shrugged, he looked up at the creaking door to his room and Y/N walked in wearing her outfit from the night before. Her big eyes went even bigger as she saw three men staring back at her she quickly tried to scramble for an excuse.

“I erm.. got too drunk and Chris bought me back here, being a gentleman though he slept on the floor…”

“Y/N that would be so much more convincing if it wasn’t for the fact your neck and shoulder looks like you’ve had cupping treatment,” George replied. Y/N walked towards a mirror and sure enough Chris has definitely made his mark.

“Chris we really need to talk about this biting thing,” she sighed.

[agentstarkid]

TENGO UN CORAZÓN QUE ESTÁ PERDIENDO LA CABEZA ✦ DR3

✦ PAIRING: daniel ricciardo x famous!latina!reader

✦ CHECKERED FLAG: 7.7K words

✦ TRACK LIMITS: yearning, angst, tenderness, fondness, found family (I guess?), 2-year-old menace, spanish and portuguese are spoken, complicated feelings, Daniel interacting with a toddler—hormones and uterus could experience feelings a lil bit (mine did ngl).

✦ MAY'S RADIO: Two chapters in less than a month? Who am I?? 🤭 All I gotta say is that Iza is my MVP because she took matters into her own (tiny) hands! It was so much fun writing her personality, I based her on my niece who's a mini tornado herself 😆 Also, a few weeks ago I made moodboards and headcanons for The Girls™, gonna leave the links below if you wanna know them even more <3. Anyways, I'm excited for this chapter!!! Hope you guys like it 💛

Part of The Joker & The Queen series | Set at the end of Revenant.

Divider by: cafekitsune

Meet: Fiorella | Vittoria | Danna

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Little traitor.

The thought repeats in your head like a mantra as you glance at the 35-inch whirlwind currently glued to Daniel’s leg. Iza’s bright giggles echo through the room, and her tiny hands clutch his shorts like he’s her favorite person in the world—which, admittedly, isn’t far from the truth. She’s always been attached to her godfather. But today? Today, she seems to be on a mission to play matchmaker in her two-year-old way, blissfully unaware of the tension crackling between her chosen victims.

Ever since your flight landed a little over four hours ago, it’s been one emotional ambush after another, all orchestrated by Miss Izabele Abigail Sousa-Allen. She decided you wouldn’t have a moment of peace during your visit, dragging you and Daniel into joint tea parties, coloring sessions, and even a very competitive game of hide-and-seek where she demanded you both hide together. 

(How could you say no to her when she looked at you with her little frown and pouty lips, tiny arms crossed demanding you to do what she wanted? It was adorable and scary at the same time—have you experienced the wrath of a 2-years-old? Definitely not recommended.)

And now, as she tugged on Daniel’s hand and yours simultaneously, her intentions became crystal clear.

“Again!” she demanded, her big brown eyes sparkling with mischief. “All three!”

Vitto, hovering nearby, let out a resigned sigh. “Iza, maybe Tia and Tio need a break—”

“No break!” she interrupted, stomping her little foot for emphasis. Like previously said, her determination was adorable and terrifying all at once. “Together!”

You catched Vitto’s apologetic glance as she scooped Iza up in her arms, trying to wrangle her away. “Bebê, let’s give them some space, okay? Maybe they need a little break to rest," Vitto said with a gentle smile, trying to redirect Iza’s enthusiasm.

Iza frowned, her little brows furrowing as she processed her mom’s words. “But they do nothing,” she said earnestly, her tone filled with the simple logic only a child could muster.

You stifled a laugh, pressing your lips together as Daniel scratched the back of his neck, clearly at a loss for words.

“Well,” Vitto tried again, shifting tactics, “grown-ups get tired faster, bebê. Why don’t you let them rest while we do something fun? Like bake your birthday cake?”

Iza’s face lit up at the mention of cake. “pinkles?” she asked, her tone suddenly bright and hopeful.

“Of course,” Andrew chimed in from the doorway, already rolling up his sleeves. “All the sprinkles you want, my little love.”

That was all it took. Iza squealed in delight, her earlier mission forgotten as she wiggled free from Vitto’s arms, her tiny feet pattering across the floor. Her and Andrew followed closely behind—with the Brazilian in the rearguard, who sent you a look over her shoulder letting you know she was sorry—leaving you and Daniel alone in the living room once again.

Where the hell was everyone else in this house? 

‘We’ll make sure it’s all smooth for you’ yeah, sure.

(A house full of traitors.)

The silence that settled felt heavy, the absence of Iza’s chatter amplifying the slight tension between you. You shifted awkwardly, biting the inner skin of your cheek, unsure whether to laugh or bolt.

“She’s persistent,” Daniel finally said, a small smile tugging at his lips.

You nodded, crossing your arms in a feeble attempt to shield yourself. “She gets it from Vitto.”

“She’s also got great timing,” Daniel said with a soft chuckle.

“Yeah,” you replied, your voice quieter than you intended. “She always knows how to make things… interesting.”

Daniel nodded, his expression turning thoughtful. “She’s grown a lot. It’s hard to believe she’s already two.”

“Almost two,” you corrected, glancing toward the kitchen where laughter and the clatter of mixing bowls filled the air. “Feels like just yesterday she was a tiny little human. Uh, I mean she’s still tiny but-” you rushed to clarify. (Why? the fuck if you knew. Great, if this is how the whole week is gonna turn out as then you were in for the time of your life—Take a deep breath, don’t let it get to you.) “you know what I meant.”

“Yeah,” he murmured, his gaze fixed on you now instead of the kitchen. “Time flies.”

You met his eyes briefly, but the weight of his stare was too much. You looked away, pretending to adjust a cushion on the couch. “Well, she’s definitely keeping us on our toes.”

“That’s Iza for you,” he said with a small smile, his voice tinged with something you couldn’t quite place—nostalgia, maybe? Were you reading too much into it? most likely.

Before you could respond, a loud crash came from the kitchen, followed by Iza’s giggles and Andrew’s exasperated, “Iza, baby, no! Not the whole bag of sprinkles!”

You both laughed, the sound easing some of the tension between you. For a brief moment, it felt like old times—before everything got complicated. But just as quickly, reality crept back in, and the apparent unshakeable tension hung heavily in the air once more.

You cleared your throat, straightening up as if that would physically distance you from the awkwardness. “Well,” you began, your voice deliberately light, “I should probably go and take a shower before the little hurricane comes back and ropes us into another game. Or something worse.” you said quickly, glancing toward the hallway. “Anyway, I’ll see you around.” 

You turned before he could respond, hoping to escape whatever this was. His quiet laugh followed you as you reached the doorframe.

Your name was voiced and you paused, your hand resting on the doorframe. For a second, you debated pretending you didn’t hear him, but curiosity—or maybe something deeper—got the better of you. 

You turned to face him, your expression carefully neutral. “Yeah?”

He hesitated, his eyes scanning your face as if searching for the right words, his usual confidence replaced with something more. “I just… I’m glad you’re here.”

The sincerity in his tone caught you off guard, and for a moment, you didn’t know how to respond. Finally, you managed a small smile. “Me too,” you said softly, though whether it was entirely true, you weren’t sure.

As you walked down the hall, the distant sound of Iza’s giggles were a welcome distraction. But no matter how hard you tried to focus on anything else, the weight of those four words followed you, their meaning tugging at a part of you you weren’t ready to face yet.

You wandered through the halls of the mediterranean-style house fresh out of the shower, focused on typing frantically in the groupchat, when the hallway ended abruptly—well, not ended, more like it got obstructed making you drop your phone in the process.

“Sorry, sorry,” you heard followed by a chuckle, “didn’t see ya.”

You looked up to the talking wall just to find a radiant smile and crinkled eyes staring back at you. “Oh, no, no, it was my fault,” you rushed to say, bending down to pick up the phone, “should’ve paid more attention.” 

For a moment, you didn’t move—your eyes locked on the inked skin that entered your sight as he reached for the mobile, too. The number 3 on his pinkie, the treble clef on his wrist, and the veins running down his hand, tracing a path up his forearm and disappearing beneath the sleeve of his shirt. It was stupid how familiar they were, how easily they could pull you back into memories you weren’t ready to relive.

(or that you shouldn’t relive, for that matter.)

Daniel noticed. Of course, he did.

When you lifted your eyes and met his stare fixed already on you, you could feel the warmth creeping up your neck to your face. But instead of a cocky grin, as you expected, his expression softened, and for a moment his eyes roamed your face as if he was studying and memorizing it before he cleared his throat.

“You okay?” he asked, his voice quieter than before, almost hesitant.

You blinked, forcing yourself out of whatever moment you had just fallen into. “Yeah,” you said quickly, gripping your phone a little tighter. “Just… distracted.”

He nodded, not pushing, though his eyes lingered on you for a second longer. “Guess I should’ve been watching where I was going too,” he admitted, stepping back to give you space. “Didn’t mean to, you know—” he gestured vaguely toward where you had collided “—block your way.”

“It’s fine,” you assured him, brushing a hand through your damp hair. “this your room?” you pointed to the door he just came out of. (Geez, why would you even ask him that?.)

“Huh? oh.” he chuckled softly, a hand absentmindedly rubbing his neck. “Yeah, yeah. It’s uh- It’s been my unofficial room since they moved here”

“Oh, nice.” you nodded, and an awkward silence fell over the two. Why was it so awkward to have a conversation when a month ago at the wedding you guys got to have a normal one?—admittedly it wasn’t a walk in the park, but it wasn’t as painfully awkward as now.  “Well, I should go find Fio and Danna, see what they’re up to. Apparently, they were checking out the new fruit stand on the next block,” you added, playfully rolling your eyes.

A small smile tugged at the corner of his lips, “Yeah. They've been out for a while. Probably causing trouble. Bet Danna’s already made friends with the owner.”

“Probably,” you agreed with a smirk. “And Fio’s probably negotiating the price of fruits like it’s a business deal.”

Daniel’s lips twitched into a fond smile. “Some things never change.”

You nodded back, offering a quick smile before you both turned the corner, your heart drumming a little too loudly in your chest.

Damn it.

Neither of you said anything as you made your way toward the living room, where the little hurricane stood in front of the TV, mesmerized by a colorful kid’s show about a farmer and his animals. Andrew was sprawled out on the sofa, lazily typing on his phone, and from the kitchen, bursts of feminine laughter spilled into the space.

At the sound of your footsteps, Andy looked up, his eyes flickering between you and Daniel in a quick, almost imperceptible movement. Then, as if deciding not to comment, he simply nodded toward the kitchen. “Girls are in there,” he said.

You didn’t need to be told twice. “Thanks,” you muttered, seizing the chance to slip away while Daniel moved to take a seat next to him.

Iza, still planted in front of the TV, was now dressed in pink pajamas, her hair styled into two tiny space buns, and—most curiously—a backpack with a cute cow face strapped onto her shoulders.

(Apparently, she had decided, out of the blue, that pajamas were the outfit of choice for the evening.) 

Daniel leaned back against the couch, a small, amused smile playing on his lips as he took in Iza’s new look. “Nice fit, princess,” he mused, watching as she clutched absentmindedly the straps of her tiny backpack with little hands.

Iza, without turning away from the TV, rocked back and forth on her heels to the rhythm of the kid’s song before finally glancing over at them. “Pajamas,” she stated matter-of-factly, as if that alone explained everything.

Andrew snorted, setting his phone down. “She threw a whole speech about why she needed to wear them now. Something about the cow backpack and how they match.”

Daniel hummed, nodding solemnly. “Well, can’t argue with that logic.”

Iza gave him a satisfied look before shifting her attention fully to them. Her big brown eyes flickered between the two men, her little mind clearly working through something. Then, with all the dramatic energy a nearly-two-year-old could muster, she clapped her hands together and ran, throwing her little body face down over the space between them. “Okay.”

Daniel and Andrew exchanged a glance. “Okay… what, baby?” Andy asked warily, rubbing her back.

She pointed at them, then at the TV. “You watch Bluey now.”

Daniel chuckled, raising a brow at Andrew. “Guess we don’t have a choice.”

Andrew sighed, rubbing his face. “Nope. None at all.”

Meanwhile, in the kitchen, you leaned against the counter, watching as Fio animatedly recounted their fruit stand adventure with Danna to Vitto.

“—and then I told the guy, ‘No way you’re selling those mangoes for that price.’ I mean, I respect a hustle, but come on. You can get better and bigger ones for half that back home in PR,” Fio huffed, shaking her head as she dramatically recounted the story.

Danna shook her head, laughing. “You’re actually insufferable.”

“You’re welcome,” Fio shot back with a grin before noticing you. “Ah, there she is. Survived your little playdate?”

You rolled your eyes but couldn’t help smiling. “Barely.”

Vitto, ever observant, arched a brow. “Daniel still being… Daniel?”

You hesitated, not really sure how to answer that. “He’s… I don’t know. He’s different. But also, not? It’s weird.”

Fio furrowed her brows and narrowed her eyes. “Weird how?”

“Chill, Rambo, no need to kill anyone.” A short, humored laugh escaped you as you sat on one of the counter stools. You exhaled, crossing your arms. “Like… he’s trying. But not in a way that makes it obvious. It’s subtle, like he wants to be careful.”

Danna raised an eyebrow. “Careful because of you or careful because of Rúben?”

That was the question, wasn’t it? You weren’t sure you had the answer.

The weight of Danna’s question settled between you all, unspoken yet heavy. You busied yourself by reaching for a slice of mango from the bowl on the counter, chewing thoughtfully.

“I don’t know,” you admitted finally, voice quieter. “Maybe both.”

Fio watched you closely, then sighed. “That man still loves you.”

You shot her a look. “Fio—”

“What? I’m just saying what we’re all thinking.” She gestured vaguely around the kitchen, earning a few exchanged glances from Vitto and Danna. “You’re over here acting like it’s some great mystery when it’s not.”

Danna, ever the voice of reason, leaned on the counter. “Okay, but does it even matter? He had his chance. And you moved on.”

Moved on. Right.

You nodded, as if agreeing, but something about those words settled uncomfortably in your chest.

Vitto, sensing the shift in your mood, quickly changed the subject. “Alright, enough about that. Let’s talk about something that doesn’t involve a walking emotional landmine.” She smirked. “Like what we’re doing for Iza’s birthday.”

Grateful for the out, you straightened. “Please tell me we’re not doing another ‘Iza commands us all’ day like the last Día de los Niños.”

Danna groaned. “God, no. I’m still recovering from the endless rounds of hide and seek.”

Fio grinned. “Joke’s on you, I actually enjoyed that.”

Laughter filled the kitchen as the conversation shifted to party planning, decorations, and the ridiculous number of snacks Iza had requested. For a moment, the tension from earlier faded into the background.

But even as you laughed along, the thought lingered in your mind—Daniel was being careful. With you. With himself. With whatever was left between you.

And you weren’t sure if that was better or worse.

Suddenly, the sound of tiny, determined footsteps filled the kitchen, and in the next second, Iza came barreling in, running straight to Vitto’s legs. She clung to her mother, her little arms wrapping around as much as she could reach.

“Mamãe, uppie!” she demanded, bouncing on her toes and her little arms reaching towards her.

Vitto chuckled, effortlessly scooping her up. “You’re getting too big, meu amor,” she teased, pressing a kiss to her daughter’s cheek.

Iza, completely ignoring the comment, turned her attention to the counter, where the bowl of mangoes sat. She stretched her tiny arms toward it, fingers wiggling with determination. “Quero!”

“What do we say when we want something, Izabele?” Vitto pulled her away from the counter, giving her the mom look.

“Pweeeeeeeease” she said, tilting her head with doe eyes and a big, innocent smile.

Danna, being the closest, plucked a slice from the bowl and held it out. “Here you go, honey.”

Iza’s eyes lit up, “Fank yoo!” She eagerly grabbed the mango, taking a big bite. Juice instantly dribbled down her chin, but she was too busy enjoying the fruit to care.

Vitto shook her head fondly, grabbing a napkin to dab at her daughter’s face. “Ai, Iza…”

Fio watched the scene with amusement before nudging Iza’s little foot. “Alright, troublemaker, what’s the plan for your big day? What does the birthday girl want to do?”

Iza, still chewing, blinked at them before swallowing dramatically. She then grinned, her excitement bubbling over. “O aquário!”

Danna and Fio exchanged a look, while you looked at the little hurricane fondly.

“The aquarium?” Vitto clarified, adjusting Iza on her hip.

Iza nodded enthusiastically. “Sim! Fishies!”

Fio smirked, leaning toward you. “Guess we’re hanging out with fish.”

You laughed softly, brushing a few stray curls from Iza’s forehead. “Better than another hide-and-seek marathon.” Then, tilting your head at the little girl's mom, you added, “By the way, her bilingual skills are getting really good. At this rate, I think she expresses herself better in Portuguese than in English.”

Vitto let out a laugh, bouncing Iza lightly in her arms. “She might, yeah.” A mischievous glint flickered in her eyes. “I may or may not encourage her to speak more Portuguese when Andy isn’t around.”

Fio gasped dramatically. “You’re sabotaging your own baby daddy?”

Danna smirked. “No wonder she sounds like a tiny Brazilian grandma sometimes.”

Vitto shrugged, unbothered. “It’s funny. Especially when she talks to him in full Portuguese, and he just stares at her like she’s casting a spell.”

You burst out laughing at the mental image. “Please tell me you have videos.”

Vitto smirked. “Obviously.”

Just then, Iza pointed a tiny finger at her mom’s face. “Mamãe, peixe!” she demanded, reminding them of her plans.

Vitto sighed dramatically, adjusting Iza on her hip. “Alright, xuxú, how about this—we go to the aquarium after your birthday party? That way, we have the whole day to see all the fish. Sound good?”

Iza blinked, processing the deal.

“In the meantime,” Vitto continued smoothly, “we can go on a little adventure today.”

Iza’s interest visibly piqued, her tiny eyebrows raising. “’Ventura?”

“Yes, an adventure!” Vitto nodded, playing into the excitement. “We need to go to the market and find all the special ingredients for Mamãe’s coxinhas. And maybe… just maybe… there are some big, juicy mangoes waiting for you there.”

At the mention of mangoes, Iza lit up like a firework. “Manga?!”

You exchanged a knowing look with Fio and Danna. The kid was officially sold.

“Yes, manga,” Vitto confirmed, grinning. “But first, you need to go change out of your pajamas, okay?”

Before Vitto could even set her down, Iza was already wiggling to be put on the floor. The moment her feet touched the ground, she bolted out of the kitchen. “Papai! Unkie Nanel! ’Ventura!”

You all watched her disappear, her little voice echoing down the hall.

Vitto shook her head with a soft chuckle. “They better not put her in something ridiculous.”

“Oh, they absolutely will,” Danna deadpanned.

A few minutes later, Iza came sprinting back into the kitchen—now fully dressed head to toe in custom-made Enchanté apparel, a tiny washed-red cap, a crisp white shirt, and green shorts that gave her the appearance of a little explorer. Her curls peeked out from under the cap, her big eyes shining with excitement as she spread her arms wide, striking a dramatic pose.

And you couldn't lie—she looked adorable.

“I be Unkie Nanel!” She declared proudly.

And right behind her, sauntering in with the most shit-eating grin you’d ever seen, was Daniel. His hands were tucked into his pockets, and he was watching Iza with a fondness that made something shift in your chest.

“Oh my God,” Fio wheezed. “You turned her into a walking billboard.”

Daniel, utterly unbothered, crouched down next to Iza and tapped her tiny cap. “Gotta start ‘em young,” he said with a smirk.

You let out a soft laugh, shaking your head. “You look way cooler than Uncle Daniel, bubba.”

Daniel placed a dramatic hand on his chest, feigning offense. “Excuse me, Iza, are you just gonna let her disrespect us like that?”

Iza giggled and grabbed his hand, squeezing it in reassurance as if she actually understood the teasing.

You should’ve looked away, walked off, said something sarcastic to break the moment. But you didn’t.

Instead, your gaze lingered.

Watching him with her—how effortlessly he fit into this role, how natural it was for him to give Iza his full attention, how she adored him in return—made something ache deep inside you.

You hated it.

(And maybe, just maybe, you didn’t.)

Andrew, who had been observing the whole scene from the counter where he was slicing some fruit, finally spoke up.

“She does look cooler than you, mate,” he teased Daniel with a smirk, popping a piece of fruit into his mouth. “Might have to start calling her ‘Little Nanel’ from now on.”

Iza gasped excitedly. “Litto Nanel!” she repeated, absolutely thrilled with the new nickname.

Daniel shot Andrew a playful glare. “Thanks for that, Andy. Really appreciate it.”

Andrew shrugged, clearly enjoying himself. “Just saying, man, she pulls off the look better than you ever did.”

Before Daniel could retaliate, Danna, who had been watching the interaction with a knowing smile, suddenly perked up. “Wait, where’s Blake? He’s usually attached to your hip like an overgrown koala.”

Daniel chuckled, shaking his head. “He had a stopover in Miami to visit a friend. His flight got delayed, so he’s getting here later today.”

Fio let out a dramatic sigh. “So, what I’m hearing is that we won’t have our favorite Aussie for the first half of the day? Tragic.”

Daniel scoffed, playing along. “Wow. Love the support, guys.”

Andrew patted his shoulder. “You know you’re only third favorite, right?”

Daniel rolled his eyes, but there was a warmth to his smile that made it hard to tease him too much. “Wait. Who’s the second?” he tilted his head and frowned.

“Scotty.” was answered in unison.

Daniel let out an exaggerated sigh, shaking his head. “Unbelievable. Betrayed by my own people.”

Andrew smirked. “Hey, man, Scotty’s just got that wholesome golden retriever energy. And he can do some cool tricks in the snow. Hard to compete.”

Fio nodded. “Yeah, and you? You’re more like…” she trailed off, pretending to think.

“A chaotic raccoon,” Danna finished with a grin.

Daniel gasped, placing a hand over his heart. “A raccoon? I’m the Honey Badger.”

Fio snorted. “Nah, you’re definitely more raccoon-coded.”

As they continued to joke around, you tried to distract yourself from the way your stomach flipped watching Daniel interact with your people once again—specially the toddler.

Vitto sighed with a fond smile on her face, pressing a kiss to Iza’s forehead. “Alright, Unkie Nanel Jr., let’s go get those mangoes.” She turned back to you all. “C’mon everybody, let’s get moving before this one decides she’s in charge of the whole itinerary.”

“She already is,” Danna muttered, grabbing her drink.

“Facts,” Fio agreed, grabbing her keys.

He had always been good with kids—that was nothing new. But something about seeing him with Iza, the way he knelt down when she tugged at his shorts, how he patiently listened when she babbled about some cartoon you didn’t recognize, the way he let her climb onto his lap without hesitation—it made conflicting feelings bloom in your chest.

And it was messing with you.

You shook your head, trying to focus on something else. Anything else.

The morning was spent wandering around Ojai, stopping by vibrant farmer’s markets where stalls overflowed with fresh produce, handcrafted trinkets, and the scent of sizzling food. Iza sat happily on Andrew’s shoulders, pointing at different fruits and flowers, her tiny fingers reaching out excitedly every time she spotted something new. She made sure everyone took turns holding her hand as they walked, but most often, she sought out you and Daniel.

When you decided that the park was the next destination, the little hurricane was unstoppable. She ran from one end to the other, determined to get every single one of you involved in her games. It started with a simple game of tag, where she would giggle uncontrollably as Andrew pretended to be a big scary monster chasing after her, only to collapse dramatically whenever she tagged him back.

But the moment she spotted a couple of older kids being swung between their parents’ hands, her attention shifted entirely. She ran straight to you and Daniel, grabbing each of your hands in hers.

“I go high! Up, up!” she demanded, bouncing on her toes.

Daniel chuckled, exchanging a glance with you. “You ready for this?”

You exhaled, forcing a small smile. “Let���s do it.”

And so, with a countdown, the two of you lifted her off the ground, swinging her between you as she shrieked with joy. Again and again, she begged for “Mo’ mo’ mo’, pwease!,” her little legs kicking in the air each time she went up.

Fio snapped a picture at one point, sending you a knowing look that you chose to ignore.

Between the laughter, the bright sun, and the easy moments, it almost felt like nothing had changed. Like things weren’t complicated.

Almost.

But reality had a way of creeping in, no matter how much you tried to push it back.

As the morning stretched into the early afternoon, the group found themselves sprawled out on the grass, taking a much-needed break from Iza’s endless energy. She sat cross-legged in the middle, happily munching on a piece of mango Vitto had bought from the market.

Andrew was leaning back on his elbows, sunglasses on, looking every bit like a dad on his day off. “I swear, I don’t know where she gets this energy from. It’s like she recharges by the second.”

“She’s literally your child,” Danna pointed out, sipping from her Iced Matcha Latte.

Vitto snorted. “No, she’s my child. That’s why she’s like this.”

Daniel, who was lying on his side next to Iza, propped himself up on an elbow. “I dunno, she might just be an evolution of both of you. Maximum chaos unlocked.”

Danna hummed, tilting her head as she watched Iza try to feed her uncle what was left of her slice, and Daniel pretended to eat her hand making her squeal and giggle. “You know, if she’s maximum chaos, I can’t even imagine what your kids would be like, Danny.”

That got everyone’s attention.

Andrew snorted. “Oh man. They’d be little menaces. Just picture a tiny Ricciardo running around, making dumb jokes, riding dirt bikes, getting into trouble, grinning through it all.”

Daniel let out a laugh, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes. The moment the word kids left Danna’s mouth, his gaze flickered—almost instinctively—to you.

It was quick, but you caught it.

Because how could you not?

You swallowed and forced a chuckle, keeping your expression neutral as you turned your attention back to Iza, who was now attempting to balance a mango slice on her nose. “Lord have mercy on their mom,” you said with a dramatic sigh, shaking your head.

Daniel let out a breathy laugh, but there was something behind it—something wistful. “Yeah?” he shot back, tilting his head at you. Everyone seemed to hold their breath, trying to guess which way this was going to go.  “Guess she’d have to be someone really special to handle all that chaos.”

His words were playful, but the weight behind them was impossible to ignore. There was something charged in the way he said it—like he wasn’t just talking about some hypothetical her. Like maybe, just maybe, he still pictured you in that role.

Your grip tightened slightly on your cup of fresh juice, but before you could find a response, Fio cut in with a teasing grin. “Special or completely insane.”

The group laughed, the moment breaking, but the way Daniel was still looking at you—like he was thinking of all the things left unsaid—lingered.

A bitter feeling bloomed in your chest before you could stop it. You didn’t even mean for it to happen, but the name was already forming in your mind.

You hated that it still got to you. That, even after all this time, it could still stir something ugly in the pit of your stomach. You had no right to feel this way, not when you were with someone else—not when you were supposed to have moved on.

You should have let the moment go but the words left your lips before you could think twice. “Poor Heidi.”

Daniel didn’t react right away. He just looked at you, a flicker of something crossing his face—understanding, maybe. Amusement. Or maybe it was just all in your head.

Then he smiled, small and almost... resigned. “Not really.”

You blinked, taken aback.

“She, uh—” He exhaled, rubbing the back of his neck. “We broke up.”

Your stomach flipped.

“Oh,” was all you could manage.

Silence.

The kind that stretched too long, felt too loud despite the lack of words.

You felt it the second the shift happened, a wave rolling through the group as everyone collectively processed what he had just said.

Daniel and Heidi were over.

(You tried to suppress the blooming feeling of elation at the news.) 

Everyone knew what that would've meant before. Before everything changed. Before Rúben.

You didn’t look at anyone, but you felt the weight of their stares. Danna, Fio, Vitto—your best friends—all processing the same realization, all probably having the same conflicting thoughts, all silently worrying about you.

You kept your expression carefully neutral, forcing a small shrug. “Sorry.”

Daniel just hummed in response.

And yet, in the heavy silence that followed, you could hear everything neither of you dared to say.

You exhaled, focusing on Iza instead. The little girl, who was still buzzing with excitement, had stood up, and was a few paces away from the group twirling in circles before dramatically collapsing onto the ground with a giggle.

Daniel stretched out next to you now that the toddler wasn't occupying the place in between you both, propping himself up on his elbows as well. There was still something unreadable in his demeanor, like his thoughts were somewhere else entirely.

Fio, never one to let things go unsaid for too long, gave Daniel a sideways glance. “And what about you?” she asked casually, but there was something deliberate in the way she posed the question. “Now that you’re single again, what’s next?”

Your stomach twisted.

Daniel, to his credit, didn’t seem caught off guard. Instead, he exhaled a soft laugh, his eyes flickering over to you for a fraction of a second before settling back on the sky. “Don’t know,” he admitted, voice easy but thoughtful. “Taking my time, I guess.”

Vitto nudged him with her foot. “Taking your time? Since when do you take your time with things?”

Another soft chuckle. “Since now,” he replied, gaze still focused on the clouds drifting above. Then, almost absentmindedly, “Some things are worth waiting for.”

The weight of those words settled over you like a storm cloud, dark and full of unspoken meaning.

You swallowed, feeling Fio’s and Danna’s subtle but pointed glances.

Desperate for an out, you sat up and dusted your hands on your jean shorts. “Alright, break’s over,” you announced, your voice forced-cheerful. “Who’s ready to get Iza home before she finds another way to make us run after her?”

“She’s going to be knocked out after this,” Andrew muttered, adjusting his cap over his eyes, “Which, honestly? Won't be the worst thing.”

The group slowly followed your lead, rising to their feet, the conversation left hanging in the air like an unfinished sentence.

Daniel stood last, brushing stray grass from his shorts. His eyes met yours for the briefest moment—warm, unreadable, patient.

And just like that, you had the overwhelming feeling that this wasn’t the end of it.

Not even close.

As the group started walking, Fio fell into step beside you, bumping her shoulder against yours.

“Todo bien?” she asked, voice low.

You hesitated before giving her a short nod. “Síp.”

She didn’t look convinced. “Uh-huh. Sure.” Her eyes flickered toward Daniel—who was holding the toddler across his arms pretending she was a plane, her bright giggles making you look at them fondly—then back to you. “Just… ten cuidado, okay?”

You knew what she meant, and the worst part was, you didn’t have an answer.

The house was buzzing with a different kind of energy now that Blake had arrived, his laughter blending into the easy hum of conversation. The sun was starting to dip below the trees, casting the living room in golden light as everyone settled in after our long day out.

You were sitting cross-legged on the couch, nursing a glass of iced coffee as you half-listened to Andrew and Blake trading stories. Sitting on a loveseat across the table, Fio had her eyes on you, sharp and knowing, waiting for the right moment to strike. She’d seen how you had been expertly avoiding Daniel all afternoon, your movements purposefully, your gaze never lingering too long in his direction. 

But she knew you. She knew you well enough to quickly recognize when something was brewing beneath the surface.

So the moment she was waiting for to strike came when Daniel entered the room, towel slung over his shoulder from a post-run shower, his damp curls sticking to his forehead. He glanced her way briefly, offering a small nod before moving toward the men on the right side of the L-shaped sectional couch. 

As soon as you noticed your ex in the room, your shoulders tensed and you quickly grabbed your phone to pretend to be interested in whatever gossip was trending on Twitter. And that was all it took for Fio to make her move.

“Acompáñame,” Fio muttered, grabbing your arm and dragging you up from the couch before you could protest. Vitto, who was leaving the kitchen just on time to witness the whole moment, followed closely behind, recognizing the brewing intervention. You barely made it to the hallway before Fio turned on you with a look that could burn holes through steel.

“Mami, what the hell is going on?” she demanded, crossing her arms.

You feigned innocence, which only made Fio roll her eyes. “Nada, Fio. Why?”

“Oh, don’t even start with that bullshit,” Fio shot back. “You’ve been weird ever since we came back. And don’t think I didn’t see the way you tensed up when lo pendejo de Daniel walked in just now.”

“Fio,” Vitto interjected, her tone softer but no less firm. “We just want to know how you’re feeling.”

You exhaled sharply, rubbing a hand down your face. You knew this moment was inevitable, but you weren't ready to unpack it. Not yet.

“I’m fine,” you said, too quickly.

Fio let out a sharp laugh. “Liar. Try again.”

Vitto nudged your shoulder gently. “You’ve been avoiding him all day, even when he’s been trying to be... I don’t know, civil? Different?”

Different. That was exactly it. Daniel was different. More patient, more thoughtful. He still had that stupid, easygoing charm, but there was something else beneath it now—something more deliberate. And it made everything ten times harder.

You groaned, leaning against the wall. “It’s just—he’s here, freshly single apparently. And it’s messing with my head, okay?”

Fio softened just a fraction, but her stance was unwavering. “Be honest—do you still love him?”

The question hit you like a freight train, your breath catching in your throat.

Vitto reached for your hand. “It’s okay if you do, fofinha. We just want you to be honest with yourself.”

You swallowed hard, looking down at your linked hands. You could feel the truth clawing at your chest, but admitting it out loud felt too dangerous. Too real. So instead, you whispered, “I love Rúben.”

Neither of them doubted that you did. But love wasn’t simple, and you all knew it.

Fio sighed, rubbing her temples. “Mira, all I’m saying is—if this is hurting you, you need to face it. You can’t keep pushing it down.”

You closed your eyes, exhaling slowly. “I know.”

Vitto squeezed your hand before stepping back. “Come on, let’s get back before they start thinking we killed you or something.”

You let out a tired chuckle.

You three made your way back, and you couldn’t shake the weight in your chest. Because for the first time in a long time, you weren't sure if you could keep running from this.

As you stepped back into the living room, the warmth of conversation and soft laughter wrapped around you like a protective shield. Blake was animatedly recounting some ridiculous story, his hands moving in exaggerated gestures while Andrew cackled beside him. The scene was so effortlessly lighthearted that, for a brief moment, you almost let yourself slip back into the comfort of it.

Almost.

Daniel was still there.

Still real.

Still encompassing all your senses.

But before you could settle back into your spot on the couch, Vitto’s hand closed gently around your wrist. “Wanna help me finish dinner?,” she asked, her voice light, but you knew her well enough to recognize the intention behind it.

She was giving you an out. A way to escape the tension still lingering in the air.

You nodded quickly, too relieved to question it. “Sure.”

Fio gave you a knowing look but didn’t go with you as you followed Vitto into the kitchen. The warmth of the living room buzzed behind you, but as soon as you stepped into the quieter space, you let out a slow breath.

Vitto had already started making Coxinhas earlier, the smell of seasoned chicken filling the kitchen. She rolled up her sleeves and handed you a piece of dough without saying anything at first, letting the act of cooking settle you.

You worked in silence for a few minutes, shaping the dough into small teardrop shapes while Vitto did the same beside you. The rhythmic motion was soothing, giving your hands something to do while your thoughts settled.

Then, finally, she spoke.

“You okay?”

You sighed, focusing on the dough in your hands. “I don’t know.”

Vitto hummed in understanding. “It’s weird, isn’t it?”

You didn’t have to ask what she meant. “Yeah.”

She set a finished Coxinha onto the tray and turned to you, her expression softer than it had been earlier. “I know today’s been a lot. And I know spending time with him again after everything is… complicated.”

You swallowed hard. “It’s not just that. He’s different.”

Vitto nodded, as if she had noticed it too. “People change.”

“But does it matter?” You met her eyes, your own filled with uncertainty. “Even if he’s changed, it doesn’t erase what happened. It doesn’t change how much it hurt.”

Vitto placed a gentle hand on your arm. “No, it doesn’t. And no one is saying you have to forgive him or even let him back in. But, fofinha, you don’t have to carry all of this alone.”

You exhaled shakily, your fingers tightening around the dough. “I don’t know how to stop.”

Vitto gave your arm a reassuring squeeze. “Remember: One step at a time.”

The words brought back a memory from a night that seemed a lifetime ago, in this same house, but under different circumstances. “You’re strong,” she had whispered as she rocked you gently, as the heart-shattering sobs began anew. “Stronger than you know. You’ll get through this, one step at a time. You have us, and we’re not going anywhere.”

For a moment, you let yourself lean into her words, into the quiet comfort of her presence. The noise from the living room felt distant, like something happening in another world.

And for the first time all day, you felt like you could breathe again.

Vitto suddenly perked up. “You know what we need? Some music.” She didn’t wait for your answer before speaking again. “Alexa play ‘Caraluna’ by Bacilos”

The robotic voice answered back and the unmistakable opening chords of one of your favorite songs filled the kitchen. One she knew put you in a good mood. A grin spread across her face as she turned to you, already swaying to the beat.

¿Quién dice que no duelen las huellas en la arena?

Tu huella el mar se la llevó, pero la luna sigue ahí.

Pero esa luna es mi condena.

(You couldn't help but internally chuckle at the irony of the song’s lyrics and your current predicament.)

“You have to dance with me,” she insisted, holding out her hands. “Come on, you know you want to.”

You groaned, but a small smile tugged at your lips despite yourself. “Vitto…”

“No excuses!” she cut in, grabbing your hands and pulling you toward her. “Let loose, fofinha!”

And against all odds, you did.

Laughter bubbled up as she spun you, her energy infectious. The rhythm took over, and for the first time in what felt like forever, the knot in your chest loosened. You sang along, carefree, as the warmth of the moment wrapped around you like a long-forgotten embrace.

Yo seguiré buscando o seguiré escapando

Tal vez de ti, tal vez de mí

Before you knew it, the kitchen had turned into a makeshift dance floor, the scent of freshly made coxinhas mixing with the warm nostalgia of song after song.

And then, as if called by the rhythm—because it was in her blood, after all—Iza came toddling into the kitchen. Just woken up from her afternoon nap, her curly hair bounced as she moved, her big brown eyes lighting up at the sight of you and her mother dancing.

“Titi! Mamãe!” she squealed, her tiny feet already moving to the beat in her adorable, uncoordinated way. She wiggled her hips, her little arms waving in the air as she giggled.

Vitto gasped dramatically. “Look at her go! We have a future bailarina in the house!”

You laughed, reaching for Iza’s hands to twirl her around, her delighted laughter filling the room. You had spent months in this house after your breakup, healing, learning to breathe again, and in those months, you and Vitto had passed down a piece of your own childhood to Iza.

Disney Channel songs had been the soundtrack of your teenage years,—Camp Rock, High School Musical, Cheetah Girls, you name it—and now they were becoming hers. She knew them all by heart, but her ultimate favorite? Hoedown Throwdown by Hannah Montana.

So it was no surprise when, as soon as the last notes of ‘Batida de Coco’ played, she gasped dramatically and clapped her hands. “Hodan Trowdawn!” she demanded, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

Vitto smirked. “You heard Boss Baby.”

You sighed, already knowing there was no getting out of this one. “Alexa, play Hoedown Throwdown by Miley Cyrus.”

The second the upbeat intro started, Iza shrieked in excitement, already trying (and failing) to follow the choreography you and Vitto had taught her. You joined in, going through the familiar moves, laughing when Iza tried to stomp her tiny foot with exaggerated determination.

What you didn’t notice, however, was that the ruckus had drawn the attention of the others.

One by one, the voices from the living room started trickling into the kitchen. First Andrew, then Blake, then Fio and Danna, all grinning at the sight of you, Vitto, and Iza in the middle of a full-on Hoedown Throwdown performance.

And then, leaning against the doorway, towel still draped over his shoulder from his earlier shower, stood Daniel.

But he wasn’t just watching the dance—he was watching you.

There was something different in his gaze, something softer, something more intense. He watched as you twirled Iza around, your laughter blending with hers in a way that made his chest tighten. He had always known you were good with kids, but seeing you like this—with Iza, with your guard completely down, with that effortless, nurturing ease—it did something to him.

Something dangerous.

But you were too busy living in the moment to notice.

Fio and Danna wasted no time jumping in.

“This is our moment,” Fio announced dramatically, flipping her hair as she slid into position before the song went back to the chorus.

Danna laughed. “You mean, this is Titi and Mamãe’s moment, and we’re just background dancers.”

But still, the second the chorus hit, the four of you fell into sync like it was second nature. Muscle memory kicked in, and suddenly, it was like you were back in your childhood bedrooms, practicing in front of TVs, convinced you’d someday perform this choreography on a real stage.

Iza squealed in delight, trying her best to keep up, even though her little feet didn’t quite move the way she wanted them to. But she had the spirit, and that was all that mattered.

Andrew leaned against the fridge, arms crossed, shaking his head with amusement. Blake had his phone out, definitely recording what was happening. And somewhere in the back, laughing along with them, was Daniel.

And yet, his gaze kept coming back to you.

Something about this scene—it was overwhelming in the best way. Nostalgic. Warm. Effortless. You were so yourself in this moment, dancing like no one was watching, letting Iza twirl between you and Fio, her giggles filling the air like music.

You were happy.

And it hit him, all at once.

God, he had missed this. He had missed you.

He barely registered when the song ended, when the room erupted into applause and Iza immediately yelled, “Again! Again!”

You caught your breath, shaking your head with a laugh. “Iza, amor, your Tías need a break, or we won’t survive dinner.”

Fio wiped imaginary sweat from her forehead. “Yeah, I don’t have the stamina I had at 14, mi amor.”

Vitto chuckled, scooping Iza into her arms. “Okay, bailarina, let’s give them a minute.”

As the moment settled, the energy in the room slowly shifted, you finally looked up—only to find Daniel watching you.

And unlike before, when you had done your best to avoid his eyes, this time… you held his gaze.

And your lips turned up into a soft smile.

[rootspiral]

Agatha All Along deep dive: episode 8 part 9

(Wandavision entries: [1][2][3])

(AAA entries: ep1 [1][2][3][4] ep2 [1][2][3][4] ep3 [1][2][3] ep4 [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][+1] ep5 [1][2][3][4][5] ep6 [1][2][3] ep7 [1][2][3][4][5][6] ep8 [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9] ep9 [1][2][3][4][5][6])

knowing how ridiculous rio is, I fear she's going to make 'mourning agatha' her whole personality from now on

billy looking all chill like, so this is who agatha was boinking cool cool cool cool cool

and rio, honey. *deep sigh* you made a whole fucking deal about billy being an abomination. you can't just let him live now because you pinky promised your wife. especially bcs you're not even going to collect her. you're just going to be extremely emo about this whole thing, aren't you? MY BELOVED IS GONE SO I AM A SKULL NOW, I HAVE NO HUMANITY LEFT. babe. mourning is the most human thing you could do right now, who are we kidding.

(did they cgi the skull this time? it looks great tbh, that's what cgi should be used for, to enhance little things when it's needed, not to take over the whole process.)

this joke has been made a million times, but:

the Wanda Walk of Shame™

and yes while it is funny that he just gets in his subaru and leaves, what was he supposed to do?? just leave his car in westview? what if his mom and dad need it? how was he supposed to know he'd learn how to fly during the night?

how are we doing, bud? you've had a weird fucking day, haven't you

my parents were so worried!!! jeff and rebecca kaplan please adopt me

I love to snoop around billy's room. lorna wu and the wizard of oz, but also tarots, moon phases, astrology, esotericism and pride stickers galore. and jennifer's body!

now it's time for billy to do the math meme. the wicked witch is even wearing a brooch, it's not that hard to figure out

poltergeist II, haxan, buffy, rocky horror. does anyone know what's the poster on the right behind the lava lamp is, with the woman and the red devil?

AND. LAST BUT NOT LEAST. THE TRANS LIVES MATTERS FLAG.

carrie, the craft, saw. sindie and the spectres, never heard of that one. the incantations. evanescence, tove lo.

good morning, sleeping beauty!

agatha harkness: asshole, menace, toddler. now in ghost form!

eight episodes down, one to go. I'm not ready.

go to episode 9 part 1

[dirtytransmasc]

the poor thing. I know he cries when he's mad. he's probably so pathetic (lovingly) looking, like a wet kitten.

Headcanon that Aegon was given a nickname that he absolutely hates but he gets called by it all the time

- Helaena, because she’s genuinely kind, doesn’t call him by the name. He kissed her for it.

- Aemond goes out of his way to only call Aegon by his nickname.

- Alicent is confused by where the nickname even came from and is tired of Aegon crying to her at night asking “why did you name me this????”

- Daeron will only call Aegon by the nickname when he’s trying to annoy him

- Criston had never used the nickname because he knows how much it annoys Aegon (his eldest son)

[spr1ngbunnypvrin]

💄🎀 Sweet, Silly Coquette Moments w/ William Afton - 𝒀𝒐𝒖, 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒄𝒐𝒒𝒖𝒆𝒕𝒕𝒆 𝒇𝒖𝒓𝒓𝒚 𝒈𝒓𝒆𝒎𝒍𝒊𝒏, 𝒘𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒌 𝑾𝒊𝒍𝒍𝒊𝒂𝒎’𝒔 𝒓𝒆𝒑 𝒃𝒚 𝒔𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒅𝒔

(aka: Him = your goth rabbit test subject husband)

💋 Lipstick Tester Chronicles™

You own like… 56 lipsticks. Every shade of pink, cherry red, coral, and even sparkly lavender.

William has now become your official lipstick test dummy.

“Stay still, darling. I’m testing the kiss-resistance of this one.”

You kiss his cheek, lean back dramatically… “Hmph. Not good enough. You’re stained. Again!”

Now his neck and jaw are permanently bruised with kiss marks in various shades. He acts annoyed.

“You’re using me like parchment paper.”

But does he move away? No.

Does he wear a scarf to hide the marks? Also no.

He lowkey likes it. It's your signature on him.

So naturally, you grab William by the collar while he's heading into a meeting with Henry.

You: "Hold still, love—need to make sure this one doesn’t smudge when I kiss you stupid." 💄💋

You plant a glittery red kiss on his cheek. He stares at you, deadpan. Then walks into the office anyway.

Henry: “...Will.” William: “Don’t say it.” Henry: “Is that a lip mark on your forehead?” William: “...I’m being hunted.”

🌸 You Glitterbomb Him Before Important Meetings

“Willy,” you whisper, eyes gleaming, “I think your cheekbones need more sparkle.”

Before he can escape, you swipe glitter highlighter all over his face.

When he goes to meetings with Henry or anyone else, he’s just:

Stone-cold serial killer face... with pink shimmer on his nose and cupid's bow.

The animatronics can sense the glitter. Even Freddy blinks twice.

He pretends not to care, but the moment he gets back to you, he leans down and mutters: “You... absolute menace. I looked like a disco ball.” You kiss his nose. “The cutest disco ball.”

🎨 Full Coquette Makeover Ambushes

Sometimes you just tackle him onto the fainting couch with makeup brushes in hand.

“Your undereyes are criminal, sweetheart. Sit down. Let mama fix that.”

You give him blush, fake lashes, glitter eyeliner—and sometimes tie a bow around his ponytail.

He looks like a villain in drag and mutters under his breath the whole time.

“If the kids see this, I will never recover.”

“Oh hush, you look divine. A little Victorian boy who tells lies.”

🎠 Embarrassing Him in Front of His Kids and Animatronics™

You love calling him pet names like “Honeybun,” “Starlight,” or “My Sparkly Bun-Bun” in front of the Afton kids or animatronics.

Elizabeth is like: “...Dad. Did she just call you Bun-Bun?”

William: ��No. You’re hallucinating.”

Sometimes you leave glittery kiss marks on his cheek on purpose before he enters the dining area.

Freddy: “Mr. Afton, you are… sparkly today.”

He turns to you with a flat expression and mutters: “They’re planning a coup. I can see it in their eyes.”

🐰 His animatronics are suspicious

Freddy: “Sir, you are displaying romantic residue. Shall I initiate cleanup protocol?”

Bonnie: “Heyyy Mr. A, you got some sugar on your collar—wink wink—”

Chica: “Aww, is it your anniversary???”

William: “I am surrounded by traitors.”

If you ever sneak up behind him while he’s in front of employees and tug his coat, whispering:

“Bun-Bun, you forgot your kiss~”

He’ll literally freeze like a haunted Victorian ghost, then growl under his breath:

"You're lucky I love you, you glitter-cursed minx."

And you? Smug, swinging your fox tail, bells jingling with mischief.

💞 You leave pink notes in his files

When his employees go through the safe room logs, there's a note between pages:

“Reminder: Tell William he’s a sparkly little bun-bun and I love him. Also, he looks kissable when he’s mad. xoxo ~Celeste/[Your Name] ♡”

He reads it mid-meeting and just closes the file slowly while his cheeks are burning. Henry’s watching him with suspicious side-eye. “You good?” “No.”

🧵 You Custom-Make Him Embroidered Coquette Clothing

You sew him delicate lace-trimmed gloves that match your aesthetic.

They’re black with little embroidered rabbits, roses, and stitched “W x _” initials.

He acts like it’s overly sentimental nonsense, but he wears them to work.

You once gave him a handmade pink satin bowtie with tiny skulls on it.

“For formal murder occasions,” you told him.

He genuinely choked laughing.

🐇 “Bunny, Hold Still While I Glue Rhinestones on You”

You treat him like your ✨bedazzle Barbie✨.

“Your springlock suit is cute, but it could use... rhinestone teardrops. And a few pearls.”

“You’re not turning me into a coquette show pony.”

“Too late.”

Sometimes you stick little gems under his eyes before a private show/performance night.

He acts grumpy, but backstage? He smirks. “You missed a spot, sweetheart.”

You also insisted on “adding a little flair” to his springlock suit. By the time you were done:

It had ruffled cuffs.

A glittery pocket square.

A little stitched label on the inside that read: “Property of [Your Name] 💘 Touch and perish.”

🌸 You bedazzle his tools

You find his toolbox one day and decide it needs a little pizzazz. Now everything is covered in pastel rhinestones, pink lace, and heart stickers.

The screwdriver is now “Mr. Pointy Love.”

The wrench? Covered in butterfly decals.

His springlock maintenance gloves? 💖 “Kiss the technician” embroidered on the back.

He doesn’t realize until Henry calls from backstage:

Henry: “Will. Why is your crowbar sparkling.” William: "...Ask my beloved demon."

🧁 Mid-performance interruptions

You’re in your Celeste suit, doing your little puppet show for the kids, being all sugar-sweet and cute— Then William walks by.

You completely break character, lean toward the mic, and go:

“There’s my darling sparkle daddy~ Don’t forget date night tonight! If you’re late, I’m smothering you in glitter hugs and kissing you in front of Henry again!”

Cue every employee pausing. William doesn’t even stop walking. Just raises a hand and mutters, "I married chaos."

☕ You Two in Full Vintage Aesthetic Being Weirdly Romantic

You bake pastries in a frilly vintage apron while he reads on the couch, looking like a noir villain.

Then you plop into his lap, covered in flour, and kiss his temple.

He pretends to scowl but hums contentedly under his breath.

Later, you hand-feed him strawberries from porcelain plates while still wearing a heart-shaped apron.

“Your sugar’s showing,” he mumbles as you peck his lips.

“So’s yours,” you reply, smearing a little pink frosting on his nose.

📖 Bonus Scenario: Caught Daydreaming

One day you catch him sketching a version of himself and you in full fursona suits, wearing matching bows and kissing under a heart-shaped arch.

You sneak up behind him.

“WILLIAM AFTON. Are you drawing romantic animatronic fanfiction of us?”

He slams the notebook shut, face flushed like a rose macaron. “NO. IT’S FOR SCIENCE.”

You hold him from behind, giggling. “My little blushing bunny…”

[gaefiction]

Son of the ScumVillain - Modern Au (ft. Luo Bingge)

So, OG!Shen Qingqiu dies and reincarnates multiple times until he ends up in the Modern World™.

The thing is- His parents hate him (very much) and it's mutual; so the moment he hits adulthood he's forced to marry a wealthy lady of good offspring « he's not interested in, thank you very much» and in retaliation Shen Jiu decides to elope with his new wife (not for long) and HALF AND A YEAR later he comes back, with no spouse in sight and a CHILD.

Little Yuan, no more than a few weeks old, is a delight to the eyes; a tiny baby boy with rosy cheeks and chubby little arms that in the moment his father walks in with him, the entire room is already cooing at the boy- Shen jiu hates that, of course.

Shen Jiu's parents «being the snakes they are» try to take his little boy, using multiple excuses about how Shen Jiu isn't ready for the responsability; that they would take care of Yuan while he works to provide the baby (which, he has already been taken care of since he dropped his, now ex, wife the moment the baby was in his arms!) or that he's too «uhg» innapropiate to be a parent. That directly infurates Shen Jiu, making him yell at his parents about «how innapropiate THEY were for him, that they can try to snatch his baby boy from him, but he will die before letting them touch a single hair of Shen Yuan's hair!». It should be emphasized that they did not take well this, and disowned Shen jiu (lmao).

But, this man being a high IQ individual, has already predicted this course of action- While being away; he slowly built a decent business abroad, enough to keep him rising to the top, and maintain his baby! (RIP ex-wife, she was not in his plans) Check mate. So he has absolutely no problem dropping his deadbeat awful family and disappearing from the picture.

That's how the first years of Shen Yuan's life he's coveted by his father, and spending most of his time indoors (thanks to a very rare decease that keeps him with a very weak inmune system). This shy, cute little child that looks like a carbon copy of his dad (geez, Mother's genes didn't even try) who's too introverted to make friends with the children of dad's business partners, ends up casually being a secret brat!

Too smart for his age, Shen Yuan's a tiny Shen jiu; much less violent but poisonous to the same extent that his father's venomous. His pure golden heart is appeased by the coldness emanated from Shen jiu's and is equally measured a lil bitch (also, he has a lot of mysandric ideas thanks to his beloved dad, but were not talking about that).

That's when Shen yuan's dad meets his- other dad (he doesn't know THAT yet). Yue Qingyuan is a golden retriever made into a man, quick to appease Shen Jiu's moods and pacifist to the absolute extreme, making him very easy to bully but also the best to actually de-escalate any conflict his husband can possibly make.

So, at five/seven years of age, when his new dad enters the picture Shen Yuan is allowed to be a child; no more classes too advanced for his age, no more behavioral instructions or punishments «he can actually eat sweet now! whenever he wants! Baba Yue is the best» but the damage is already done; he's a brat, just like his father, and has a snake's tongue (again, just like his father), with a very- complicated view of the world, ("kill all men" he yawned one day during literature class, his teacher too stunned to speak) and a very serious behavioural problem (he indeed liked to kick people's calves in supermarkets and run to his parents for protection, that little shit).

So, this MENACE grows up, reads PIDW and doxxes everyone that has a fight with him (including airplane himself), sends glitter bombs to Luo Binghe's haters and has a very secret (only Baba Yue knows about it, because and ONLY because he's the one paying for it) collection of merch in his very very big closet and gets discovered by his (dramatic) dad; who threatens to burn all of Shen Yuan's merchandise, leading him to make a threat of his own that he will move out if anything happens to his Luo Binghe welding Xin Mo collectible figurine.

Of course, Shen Jiu doesn't believe it: And when Shen Yuan isn't looking he throws the damn nendoroid in the trash.

Two days later Shen yuan is sitting in his new apartment with all his collectibles secured behind every damn lock he knows blocking the front door.

And because Shen Jiu's luck is shit a month later a very known face shows up in his son's apartment.

He of course isn't informed about it (Shen yuan's still giving him the cold shoulder). He grows suspicious when one day, a year and a half after shen yuan's tantrum, he hears Yue Qingyuan on the phone talking to their son, Shen yuan with a strangled and breathy voice "Ah! Baba don't worry- everything is fine, i'm fine! can w-we talk later? Okay bye!" Not even giving his Baba the CHANCE to say hi.

...

That little shit.

Neither Shen Jiu nor Shen Yuan take it well when Shen Jiu appears unannounced at the door of his apartment, and finds a VERY tall muscular man, with beautiful curls and a winner's smile opening the door.

EDIT: Guys I'm so sorry I was really sleepy when writing this and just now i noticed the copy-pasted parts *cries*

[lalalychee-x]

"Say that again" — Valeria x f!reader

★ my headcannon post that this fic came from!

★ CW: NSFW, afab, wlw, Valeria and reader arguing about something unmentioned, Valeria gets embarrassingly turned on by fiesty women, tit-play, reader wearing a bra that like unclips from the front yk? fingering, sucking, g-spot TARGETTED, lace bra, Valeria smoking + reader with smoking metaphors... ★ Argument, Spanish, Lap Sitting, Groping, Apology Sex™ with Valeria because I'm so in love with her. Basically what happens when she's too busy palming your tits and blinking up at you all sweet while you’re trying to have an actual argument like a grown adult. word count: 1332

You weren’t yelling. Not really. It was more like raised talking—but with purpose, with bite. That clipped tone you only used when Valeria was testing you, and god, she was testing you tonight.

"Don’t give me that smug look, Valeria," you snap, standing in the middle of her living room, arms folded across your chest. The hem of your tank top rides up a little as you shift your weight, flashing the band of your underwear, but you don’t notice. You’re too pissed. "You can’t just decide shit and expect me to follow along like one of your soldiers."

She lounges back on the couch like she owns it—like she owns everything. Legs spread, black slacks rumpled from earlier, hair slightly mussed from pulling her fingers through it. A lit cigarette balances between her fingers, lazy smoke curling through the air. Her eyes, sharp and amused, flick up to meet yours.

"Ay, cálmate, mi reina," she says, voice low and dangerous, yet a little too soft. Too smooth. That fucking smirk playing on her lips. "You're sexy when you're angry, you know that?"

You gape. “You’re not even listening to me!”

She shrugs, unbothered. “I heard you. Loud and clear.” She brings the cigarette to her lips, inhales slowly, lets the smoke drift through her nostrils like she’s in a noir film. “You're mad. You don’t like being told what to do. Big surprise.”

You march forward. "You're deflecting. As usual."

That does something. Her smirk twitches—falters for half a second—and her legs subtly adjust, thighs shifting with tension. But she just looks up at you, dark eyes blazing with heat and something unreadable.

“You done yelling, baby?” she purrs, setting the cigarette in the ashtray without looking away from you.

“No, I’m not done yelling,” you snarl, leaning over, hands planted on your hips. “You don’t get to pull rank when we’re in bed and then ignore me when I call you out for it. You’re not La Macabra with me, Valeria. You’re my girlfriend. Or at least, you’re supposed to be.”

Your words echo. Heavy. Too honest. And for a second, she looks like you knocked the wind out of her.

Then—

With one hand, she reaches up, grabs your wrist gently, and tugs you forward.

You stumble, confused, but she keeps pulling—guiding you until you're straddling her lap, your knees sinking into the couch cushions on either side of her thighs. She's silent the whole time. Watching. Smiling.

“Valeria—”

Her hands slide to your waist, fingers curling into the waistband of your shorts, dragging you down closer.

“You’re so loud,” she murmurs, but there’s no malice in it. Just awe. Admiration. A hunger. “You drive me crazy.”

You don’t notice her hands under your shirt until her thumbs stroke bare skin. You flinch, surprised by the warmth of her palms, the softness of her touch.

“Valeria,” you warn again. A little breathless now.

“I’m sorry,” she says suddenly. Voice cracking like it hurt her to admit. “Lo siento. I fucked up, alright? I just…” Her gaze flicks to your lips, then down to the way your shirt is riding up over your ribs. “I hate when we fight. But God, it turns me on when you talk to me like that. You’re the only one who doesn’t flinch. The only one who’s not afraid of me.”

You blink, heart hammering. “You’re a menace.”

“I know.” Her smile grows softer, cockier. “Let me make it up to you, cariño. Let me touch you, please, baby.”

Valeria’s fingers move fast, suddenly unclipping your bra from the front with practiced ease.

You genuinely yelp. You’re still straddling her, thighs tense around hers, still a little stunned. Still pissed.

“Valeria—what the hell are you doing—?”

“Shh.” She barely hums in response. You’re half tempted to stop her—but her mouth is already moving, pressing slow, reverent kisses beneath your collarbone, dragging down. Down.

Then—

Her tongue flicks over your nipple.

You suck in a breath so sharp it burns your lungs.

She groans, low and animal. Her lips close over it, sucking gentle at first, then rougher when your hips jerk against her lap without your permission.

"Fuck—Valeria—"

Her hands find your hips again, dragging you closer, grinding your pussy down on her thigh. “You feel that, baby?” she murmurs against your skin, mouth hot and wet. “You’re soaking through. Qué rico…”

You whimper.

You fucking whimper, and Valeria grins against your chest, all smug and shameless as she bites—bites—down on your tit and groans at the sound you make.

"Go on, keep talking... Shout at me all you want, Mi reina."

You bite your lip, frustrated and borderline angry but your panties are getting wetter and you feel stupid.

Your hands tangle in her hair, pulling, but she just hums and licks over the mark she leaves, smug and hot and mean.

One hand slides between your legs, sliding over the lace of your panties.

You twitch—your whole body jerks—but her fingers are already pushing past the waistband of your shorts. Past your underwear and tracing along your dripping slit.

"Valeria! Stop that—"

She hisses. Because of course she doesn't stop; not that your protests held any real weight anyway.

“You're this wet just from yelling at me?” she grunts, slipping her middle finger between your folds, slow and indulgent inside you. 

You try to answer—try—but her fingers find your clit, circle it once, and your brain short-circuits. You rock your hips into her hand, chasing the contact, hating her for how smug she sounds, how cocky her voice is when she chuckles—

“Look at you.”

Then she slides two fingers in, slow, and your head drops to her shoulder with a moan.

“Shhh, I know,” she coos, nuzzling your neck, licking the shell of your ear. “I know you’re mad at me, baby. But please forgive me. You always do when I touch you like this…”

Her thumb rolls over your clit and your legs shake.

Valeria’s fingers are deep inside you now—crooked just right, like she knows exactly where your weakest spot is, and she does, she absolutely does. Every little whimper you make, every twitch of your thighs, as she curls her fingers everytime she pumps her fingers in and out of your dripping cunt. God it sounds so lewd and wet as a pearly, translucent-white ring forms around the base of her fingers.

"That's it..." she mutters, voice thick, lips dragging across the top of your breast.

You don’t even have the strength to fight her on that. Not when she curls her fingers just so, pressing up, rubbing your walls so deliberately it knocks a broken gasp from your throat. You’re already gripping her shoulder, nails digging in, and her thumb hasn’t even gone near your clit again yet.

But she’s teasing—oh, she’s being so evil about it.

One of her hands comes up, thumb brushing over your nipple now, while her mouth sucks on the other. She keeps switching sides, warm tongue swirling, lips tugging, groaning into your skin like you taste better than her favorite cigar.

Your hips buck helplessly, and she finally gives in.

Her thumb slips down, finds your clit again.

Circles once.

Twice.

Then repeatedly.

You gasp—loud—and her voice breaks with laughter. "That's the sound I like to hear, mi vida. Keep makin’ it for me.”

“Fuck—fuck, Valeria, I'm—”

“Mm-hm,” she hums, biting your neck gently. “I know. Don’t hold it back.”

You feel your stomach twist, tightening so hard it’s almost painful.

Her pace doesn’t stop—just steady, insistent, and precise. And her lips are still on you, still kissing and sucking like she needs it. 

When you cum, it hits you so your mind blanks with all the frustration. Your body arches, thighs quaking, jaw falling open with a cry you can’t hold back. Valeria's name, again and again.

She groans in your ear. "You’re so good for me. So fuckin' perfect like this."

She holds you through it—rocking her fingers through the aftershocks, until you're twitching from oversensitivity and burying your face in her neck, panting like you’ve just run a marathon.

And she’s still smiling. Smirking.

"Feel better now, mi amor?"

She kisses your cheek.

Then your jaw.

You look at her, your cheeks warm, flushed and red. "Valeria, what the fuck was—"

Then she cuts you off, chin right between your tits, smug as hell.

"Because I do."

♡ Please do not modify, steal, plagarise or post on other platforms without asking. Thank you!

[cinamun]

Well friends, its officially official .... in the case of TFA, Bishop Blackburn is deceased. He was found early this morning by The Wildfangs and reduced to one femur and one ankle bone. They even ate the man's durag....

But let's explore a little more just who this man was in the Drakerverse:

Bishop arrived as a regular character on December 17th, 2022 as the Problematic Boyfriend™ of Jayce Carruther's mother, Mercy Carruthers. He's been a menace ever since.

*Note: he did arrive in the story earlier that year, but didn't play a major role until he started fucking the mains momma

We all love a good villian so when he was "killed" in Let It Burn, written by my sister-in-storytelling @therichantsim, and she asked if I could find a use for him, I couldn't pass it up! I honestly had no idea how he might fit, until I did! His entire ruthless, felonious persona can only be attributed to Rich, I just morphed him a teeny bit for the purposes of his role in TFA.

I am grateful that I got to play with a maniac for as long as I did. However, as we move into this new chapter, we will not be seeing Bishop again in Things Fall Apart. Will there be another more diabolical evil villian lurking around the corner? Perhaps.... perhaps not.

See y'all Sunday!

[0lliecl0wn]

PUNCH OUT HEADCANONS: Clueless Friends Edition

so i showed my friends the punch out cast and asked them to make up headcanons for them (they have never seen nor heard of punch out outside of me rambling to them about it)

so uh

here it is

GLASS JOE

-Wet the bed as a kid

-Probably still does it

-Denys it

-Goes honk shoo honk shoo when he sleeps

-Had a mullet in middle school

-Has to draw on his eyebrows

-Mouth Breather™

-Wears a cap and nightgown and holds a candle at night

-Can’t swim

VON KAISER

-Bartender

-Screams into his pillow at night

-Screams like a little girl

-Wore light-up Sketchers in middle school

-Got bullied for it

-Goes to the gym to cope

-Fucking YEETS the dumbells

-Flexes on people (also to cope)

-If he is told to sleep on the couch, he will sadly sulk there like a emo person (cue sad hamster music)

DISCO KID

-Babygirl

-Zesty

-Took ballet/gymnastics

-Optimist

-Accidentally broke a trampoline

-Was the popular kid in school

-THE sweetest guy

-Cat person

-Owns 4 cats

-Wears fluffy robes

KING HIPPO

-Plays League of Legends

-Tweaks out HARD at Angry Birds and Super Mario Wii (friend is totally not projecting)

-Really good at board games

-Gamer

-Patrick Star kinnie

-Does NOT cackle. He giggles

-Has Live Laugh Love framed over his toilet

-His snores have caused earthquakes

-Heavy sleeper

PISTON HONDO

-”He did WHAT in his Honda?!”

-Behaves like that one English teacher you had in middle school

-aka the ”Never in my 15 years of teaching have I seen a substitute report this bad” teacher

-ponders

-Dances to animation memes

-Worked at Burger King once

-Constantly pissed

-Goes honk mimimimi when he sleeps

-If he ate a cheeseburger he would explode

-Was the guy who made the post that just says “everytime a new chicken sandwich releases”

BEAR HUGGER

-Smells PUTRID

-Real name is Cleetus

-Lumberjack

-Has a lisp

-Gets food in his beard

-Eats it (EWWWW 🤢)

-His theme song is “Entry of the Gladiators” (aka clown music)

-Wouldn’t survive a day in the military

-Plays Microsoft Flight Simulator

-Goes “weeeeee!” as the plane flies

-Has a poster that says “Eat Slur Game Repeat”

-Redneck

-Has a shirt that says ”These Fists Are Rated E for Everyone”

GREAT TIGER

-HOT

-Has the most beautiful hair but hides it

-Binged My Little Pony

-Binged Twilight

-Plays with Barbie dolls

-Listens to Kpop

-AMAZING at Just Dance

-Also good at DDR

-Plays Pikmin

-Loves the Stone Pikmin

DON FLAMENCO

-Once got addicted to cough drops

-Uses really bad pick up lines

-Does really bad trickshots to impress girls

-Slips like a cartoon character. His shoes go flying every time

-Watched MLP with Great Tiger

-Watches Mean Girls

-Kins Regina George

-Cried when she got hit by a bus

-Zesty

-Scoliosis

-Can pick my friend up with one hand

-Would lean on a wall, say “hey cutie, you free tonight?” and immediately have a coughing fit

-Took an Am I Gay? Quiz. It said yes and refuses to believe it (internalized biphobia)

-Likes big butts and he cannot lie

ARAN RYAN

-Menace

-Actually very lightweight, refuses to admit it

-Bullies kids on ROBLOX

-Keeps getting censored in chat

-Plays Dress to Impress

-Would hit you if so desired

-Uses Joker quotes

-Bakes pink cupcake in spare time

-Would make a balloon animal for a kid and then pop it like Gru

-The guy he tickled in his character intro was Don Flamenco

-Killed someone, steals, graffitis, takes candy from babies

-Should be in jail

-ADHD

-”Ya prob’ly got cheeseburgers in those gloves, have ya Mac?!” “well you have horseshoes”

SODA POPINSKI

-Dropped on the head as a kid

-Nicknamed ”Pinhead Larry”

-Oiled up

-Naturally loud

-Skipped leg day

-Mr. Krabs walking sound when he tiptoes

-Speedruns Hello Neighbor

-Hands are too big for the keyboard

-Makes dad jokes and laughs at himself because no one else laughs

-Gets bullied by Aran Ryan for his dad jokes

BALD BULL

-Someone threw a bowling ball at his head

-Peak Male Performance

-40% chip (context for this is in comments)

-Watched game shows, was in one once

-Blurts out the answers at the TV, gets pissed every time they get it wrong and screams

-Screams like the ash baby

-Shakes randomly

-Ate lead paint

-Ate a glow stick

-”ladies, ladies, calm down, theres enough of me to go around” (stolen from don flamenco, difference is this actually works)

-ash baby coded???

-Teeters on the line of being ugly and hot

-Gets beauty sleep

-20 step skincare routine

SUPER MACHO MAN

-”he looks like a founding father”

-Shrimp posture

-UGLY??

-Listens to phonk unironically

-Has jiggle physics

-Uses his chest to type on keyboards

-says “eureka!” when he as an idea

-FAKE chain

-wears speedos (canon)

-its his only outfit

-played five nights at freddys and shit himself

-Pimp

-GILF

-Looks 72, is 27

MR. SANDMAN

-Drag Queen

-Chappell Roan listener

-Once tried to wax his nose but got q tips stuck in it

-REALLY into horoscopes and gemstones

-NAPALMED a homeless shelter

-Dances like the dame tu cosita guy

-fucken BUSTS IT DOWN to every song

-Throws gang signs in his boxing gloves??

-Does the Omni-Man squat sometimes

-Ate a lightbulb and that's why his skin glows

-Skips to the song “Mr. Sandman” because he’s babygirl like that

LITTLE MAC

-Floats in the air when he smells pie

-Anime protagonist

-Loves Ben 10

-Had a greasy mohawk

-Ate a bug

-Sticks his head out of the car window

-Gulps and goes “EEEYIKES!!!” when he has to fight a strong opponent

-Listens to Mitski

-Loves the movie Ratatouille

-His favorite character is Remy’s brother

-Makes kandi bracelets

-Asserts dominance by T-posing

DOC LOUIS

-Wears yoga pants

-Has asthma

-Runs up the stairs on all fours

-Maximum silly

-Watches romcoms and cries

-Draws watches on his wrist and looks at it when someone asks him for the time

-Watched Skibidi Toilet AND knows all of the lore

-Doesn’t know what a tampon is

-Listens to the song that goes “once I was seven years old”

-Mama’s boy

-HORRIBLE driver

[ask-the-rag-dolly]

PLSPLSPLS can we know more about the office ?? like what everyone did and their personalities and stuff. i love the office sm

this is going to be long

everyone has this weird thing where they're referred to by a nickname in the workplace , which corresponds to their job , appearance or generally something else they're known for . there is no deep story reason to this i just do not want to think of first and last names

they work in c&a which was at first a chill company but after the disappearance of its two valuable employees everything went to Shit™

the boss was a pretty eccentric man that bears a lot of similarities to his mascot , caine . there was only one person he allowed to call him mr. bossman . after the incident though he became more intolerant of imperfection and have a shorter temper .

king and queen were like those corny as hell old couple that unintentionally adopted their department . king was the goofy dad that always cheered everyone up and queen was a mysterious little thing with passionate dreams of arson ( there was no heater in the office )

i think you can garner a guess on where their nicknames came from

clown was the laid-back janitor that always wanted to lighten the mood with his Very hit-or-miss jokes , which is what earned him his nickname . was dolly's anchor through The Incident and the worst of bossman

disappeared after spreading rumors about the company

dolly's the darling secretary of c&a who often did her tasks with a smile and got along with everyone in the office . called ' dolly ' because of her ( suspected to be unhealthy ) obsession of raggedy ann which she often has sitting on her desk . for Emotional Support , she claims

disappeared a week after her eye surgery

jester was the accountant that was always the butt of the joke in the office . she was often the victim of pranks and was never taken seriously by a lot of her co-workers - which is how she got her nickname .

a nervous wreck but don't let that fool you .

was good friends with ribbons but that's because she was one of the only people that didn't approve of her treatment

rabbit's the only one who didn't work for the company . instead he was a feral child that kept breaking into the building and messing with everyone . given a nickname because no one fucking knows who he is or where his parents are at WHOSE MENACE IS THIS

never came back one day . for all they know he got lost in a forest and Never Returned

ribbons was the artist who helps with conceptualizing the products . she was called ribbons because she wore a bajillion ribbons on her hair . would often sleep on the job because she only ever gets 3 hours of sleep

disappeared sometime after rabbit .

scramble was the moody intern that would come back years after as a worker - to where they would last for a month before disappearing . a rebellious teen who just went to adopt a random , mentally ill 23 year old woman as their adopted mom . called scramble due to how their fashion looks like ' a bunch of things mashed together '

[lilyswitchy]

Rudie TK Headcanons

NOT A REQUEST, i HAD TO REMAKE THESE!! RAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH

~🦌‼️~

LER! RUDIE

Absolute Menace™

INSUFFERABLE.

^ and I mean that

Relentless teaser. That's it, that's the whole thing with this guy.

He just goes to town when he's in a ler mood. Like any ler does

Calls himself the "Tickle King of the Holidays"

During these ler moods, he comes up with a plan to elaborate endless tickles towards any of his lees

Really enjoys squirming lees, finds them cute

His main lees are Bobette, Ginger, and Looey (sometimes he would get Connie as well but he fails all the time)

Loves seeing others happy. Therefore, loves tickling other toons. Next question, please!

He does not pose much of a threat, he's just a silly little guy.

^ Other than the fact that he has no intention of mercy that is.

Will nuzzle into your back and neck and there will be nothing you can do about it

Often, he would give some pokes to his lee to see their reflexes (learnt that trick from Bobette)

Yapperius Yapperton III (when it's Christmas.) the more teasy he gets the more Christmassy he is. Boy, he will NEVER shut up

^ If you see him in full Christmas mood while also being in a ler mood, that's tease prone lee's sign to RUN, especially in December

^ Source: he never runs out of teases during December. And he won't run out of Christmas puns either. Cry about it.

^ "Yeesh, stop moving! You'll get alllll tired and barely moving-y! Wonder why you're all sleighed out!~"

Incredibly good at restraining (strong grip) he often does the teasing help as well

Will call you nicknames if you're a friend of his and there's nothing saving you from it

^ e.g: Baubledrop (Bobette), Gingysnap (Ginger), Squeak-loon (Looey)

Raspberries are 100% in his arsenal.

^ And he 100% use that chest fluff of his to his advantage during those (e.g: nuzzling into your back while doing those on your neck, etc.)

It's incredibly fluffy btw, and the bristles tickle a whole ton

~🦌‼️~

LEE! RUDIE

YALLREADY KNOWWWWWWWWWW

whole different breed of ticklish right here. AND I MEAN IT

^ Will be caught lying about it very frequently. Do with that as you will.

Huge squirmer? More like massive squirmer.

^ You'll have a real hard time restraining him as he'll often try to escape. But you'll succeed eventually

Member of the "can't handle what they dish out" club

^ Source: has a serious incapability of handling what he dishes out.

*Walks in* He can snort *Leaves*

Biggest kicker known to mankind

You will need someone to help you restrain him. But if you wanna do it alone, that's fine too

^ Just remember the job is a tad bit harder.

His worst spot is his antlers, get him there and he will start shrieking in milliseconds

^ JK, it's his hooves (but antlers are an incredibly good spot too)

Will literally shriek. ESPECIALLY when you get a good spot, he will kick like there's no tomorrow

Literally dies at every single tease you throw at him. Bro that reindeer just ceases to exist—

^ "Coochie coochie coo~" ← DAWG HE DEAD💀💀

And for some reason, compliments get him WORSE than they should (they get him REAL hard)

Don't tease him when it comes to his snorting, though. He'll die.

^ "You're so cute, Snorty McGee!" ← GOLLY GEE WILKERS, HE'S COOKED ON A SILVER PLATTER

Has a phobia of Bobette (rightfully so, when it comes to him she is absolutely RUTHLESS)

And an even worse phobia of raspberries.

^ Your ears might not live to see the next day you do one of those on a melt spot. He. Will. SCREAM.

~🦌‼️~

heh... *EXPLODES*