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sleepdeprivedghoul · 3 years ago

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BTS Finding Out You're Miss Universe

Hopefully this does this request justice

- -

Jin:

Jin had always admired your beauty, there was just something about you. Hell, you were so beautiful that his title Worldwide Handsome felt like a joke to him now, except he would never let you know that, after all, he had an image to upkeep. Though your face wasn’t the only beautiful thing about you, your personality and compassion for others made him love you even more.

“Yo, Hyung, did you know Y/n used to be a Miss Universe winner?” Asked Taehyung as he scrolled through Twitter aimlessly.

“Wait, what?” asked Jin being drawn out of his thoughts, him and you had just recently started dating so he only knew a bit about your career.

“Whoa, Hyung, not only was she a Miss Universe winner but she was also a model for Victoria's Secret, and whoa, she’s hot,” said Jungkook in surprise his mouth wide open as he stared at his phone.

“Hey, give me that back,” whined Kook as Jin took the youngers phone just to look at your pictures. “I always knew she could be a model,” boasted Jin happily before tossing Jungkook's phone back to him.

Yoongi:

He had just told the guys a few days ago that you and him were together, you two had managed to keep your relationship a secret for almost a year now and with each passing day you both continued to find out something new about one another.

“Y/n,” he groaned sleepily as he noticed you falling asleep on the couch in the studio, “Hm?” you yawned in response as he cracked a small smile, “come on lets go, you’re tired and I am too.” That was literally all he had to say to get you up and moving.

His phone began to buzz with a facetime request from Namjoon, “one second babe,” he spoke before answering the younger male. “Did you know Y/n was a former Miss Universe, like, your girlfriend won too, she’s hot how-” Your laugh cut Namjoon off and Yoongi looked surprised as he turned to face you.

“I can see it, you’re really hot,” stated Yoongi taking in your disheveled and tired appearance, earning the finger from you as you yawned once more. “So you’re famous,” stated Yoongi with a grin and sensing the moment Namjoon hung up.

Hoseok:

Jimin and Hoseok were busy practicing one of the newer dance routines for their new song Butter and each time they’d find something new to change, “what if we,” said Hobi starting to change his leg positions as Jimin watched in the mirror, the practice room door swung open and Jimin smiled widely.

“Ahh, it’s Miss Universe,” shouted Jimin as he ran towards you casually picking you up with a laugh only for Hoseok to pause and get slightly jealous of Jimin being all handsy.

“Excuse me Jiminie,” he stated as the younger put you down.

“Y/n, I’m so proud of you, you were definitely the best one.”

“Aww, Jimin,” you blushed bashfully as Hoseok stood confused. “What’s happening?” He asked shamefully only for Jimin to giggle again.

“Last night your girlfriend was declared Miss Universe.” Hoseok's mouth fell open and he looked embarrassed, he was too busy with rehearsals and practice that he hadn’t been keeping up in your life.

“Damn babe, pop off, let’s go celebrate, what would you like for dinner?” He asked, face red, a shy grin on his face, he felt so silly for not knowing.

Namjoon:

Namjoon was in the studio with Yoongi trying to figure out the right sound for their next song when Namjoon’s phone went off with a facetime request from you, he quickly answered.

“Hey babe,” You called as you stood on what appeared to be a stage, your hair and makeup all done.

“Did I miss a date?” Asked Joon all nervous only for Yoongi to laugh and grab the phone. “If it isn’t Miss Universe,” he teased and you laughed.

“You saw?” You asked and he shook Yoongi head no as Namjoon started to stutter. Yoongi spoke to you first, “I just saw then notification on Apple News, congrats Y/n, Joonie here is so lost.”

“I can see,” you giggled as Namjoon took the phone back, “Y/n I’m so sorry I was so busy and-”

“Joon it’s fine let’s go celebrate or something,” you said with a bit of a suggestive tone.

“Of course!” He exclaimed nearly running out of the room.

Jimin:

“Y/n, you know how last week you had me teach you how to dance?”

“Yeah?” You asked softly as you peered up from your phone catching eyes with him. “Can we dance again now?” He asked cutely, his voice soft as he bowed his head.

“Of course, Jiminie,” you giggled as you stood up from your seat, the maknae in the room cringing at you and your boyfriends cheesy behavior.

“Jimin,” started Jungkook as he noticed Jimin holding your waist, swaying to imaginary music.

“Hm?” Hummed the slightly older male.

“Y/n, is Miss Universe,” he stated as he stared at you, Jimin froze and looked at you.

“Dang Kook, just gonna expose me? I wanted to see how long it would take for you all to figure this out.”

“I’m dating Miss Universe!” Exclaimed Jimin all excited, picking you up and spinning you around, “No wonder you wanted my help with dancing.” He teased before kissing your forehead.

"That and for the free affection," you giggled.

Taehyung:

“What’s up hyung?” Asked Tae as he walked into the sitting room where Hoseok sat.

“Did you buy Y/n anything?”

“Errr, why?” Asked the younger male his eyes fixated on Hobi’s grinning face, his stomach churning, did he forget your birthday again?

“She just won Miss Universe.”

“My girlfriend did what?” Exclaimed Tae excitedly, he always admired how beautiful you were, and hearing this made him happy, except he felt stupid for not knowing his girlfriend was competing for Miss Universe, nor that she won.

“I need to go shopping and call her!” He exclaimed before quickly running out as Hosoek laughed.

Jungkook:

The guys had all gather around Jungkooks apartment planning to surprise both you and him in order to celebrate you winning Miss Universe, there were all sorts of goodies and so much last-minute thought and preparation thrown into this as you had just won last night.

To make it easier Jungkook had no idea you had won or competing, he just wanted to take you on a cute date. The two of you came home after about two hours, you were tired and full and Jungkook was energetic.

The two of you soon arrived at his place and when you entered were bombarded by confetti and a unison scream of "congrats!" Of course, Jungkook had no clue what was going on until he read the banner and soon got flustered with embarrassment but played it off like he knew.

"I'm so proud of you babe," he murmured into your ear as he went to kiss you, "I hope you liked our date, I have more to show you soon," he whispered before placing his lips on yours as all the other guys partied.

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roberttchase · 3 years ago

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Fluffy - comfort for brettsey 🥰

This...got away from me a bit. I didn't mean for it to get long, but I'm a big comfort fan. This is set late season 8, when the pining was intense. Enjoy 2k of sick, soft Matt and overly worried Sylvie.

“Has anyone seen Casey?”

Herrmann shakes his head from where he’s talking to Mouch about an idea for Molly’s. When Sylvie gets a head shake from both Ritter and Gallo, she sighs, not sure what else to do. She’s looked everywhere- his office, Severide’s office, the locker room, his rig, the common room. He’s nowhere to be found. Grabbing water from the fridge, the paramedic huffs and heads back to the bunk room, when she collides with Stella in the doorway.

“Woah! What’s up?”

Looking up, the blonde meets her best friend's eyes. “Have you seen Matt anywhere?”

Stella cocks an eyebrow and tilts her head a bit, a smug look overtaking her features.

“What?”

“Nothin’ just...I may have seen Matt somewhere,” her tone is teasing, and Sylvie wrinkles her nose at how foreign it sounds for the firefighter to say the mans first name.

“If you have something you want to say…” Sylvie inclines her head towards the other woman, who smirks.

“Nope,” Stella pops the end of the word, then rolls her eyes. “Last I saw, Casey was heading towards the turnout room to see what jackets needed to be ordered.”

“Thank you.” Sylvie turns before she can get another word in about her and Matt, and heads out to the apparatus floor. Moving past the squad table, she half heads Tony and Capp talking about some movie, but her head is mostly focused on finding the Captain, wanting to tell him about the good phone call she’d had with Amelia and Scott the night prior. Taking a left into the turnout room, she pauses when she sees the person she’s been searching for.

Matt’s leaning against the wall, clipboard loosely in his hand, head tilted back, eyes shut. He looks tired, like he’s purposely chosen this room to be in so the chaos of the rest of the firehouse can’t touch him. She debates on turning and leaving, letting him have some time alone that he clearly needs, but then she’s brought back from her thoughts when Matt makes a noise.

“Hey, sorry. Got lost in thought. Fancy meeting you here.” Though he smiles, it doesn’t reach his eyes like usual, and Sylvie’s already letting her eyes sweep over him, checking to make sure he hasn’t hurt himself.

“It’s okay, I can go and let you have some alone time.” She says it lightly, as if to be joking, but she’s serious. She doesn’t want to keep him if he needs to decompress- they’ve all been there- even if she hasn’t heard of any bad calls for truck today.

“No, it’s fine, like I said, lost in thought,” he clears his throat and stands up straighter. Sylvie swears she can almost physically see him put on his Captain persona. She hates it, hates that he can’t just be himself, even if she does understand it. She’s the paramedic in charge, which means she’s responsible for her and Foster. Matt’s responsible for the whole house.

Taking a breath in, Sylvie’s about to start telling him how her phone call went, but she’s cut off when Matt coughs. The firefighter ducks his head away and into his arm, letting the coughs come as quietly as it sounds he can manage, finally straightening back up and clearing his throat again.

“I’m sorry.” He’s blushing, Sylvie notices, which is kind of adorable.

“Are you sure you’re okay? You know you can talk to me Matt.” She reaches her hand out and puts it on his shoulder, their eyes meeting. She tries again. “What’s going on?”

Matt hesitates, swallowing, and then rubs at the back of his neck, avoiding her gaze, eyes snapping down. “I’m just….I don’t….” She gives him a reassuring squeeze on his shoulder as he tries to explain. “I didn’t really sleep well last night. Guess it’s just catching up to me is all. Don’t feel all that great. But it’s fine.”

Oh. Without thinking, she moves closer, her hand moving from his shoulder upwards, palm gently connecting with his forehead. It’s warmer than it should be. Frowning, she notices his eyes have shut at the contact, and he looks younger. Matt’s eyes flutter back open when she moves her hand.

“Come on…” Sylvie jerks her head towards the door, walking through it, knowing Matt will follow. Sure enough, he does, even if he looks confused as he trails after her and into the ambo when she opens the back doors. “Sit.”

She almost laughs when he sits on the bench to the side immediately. Turning, the paramedic rummages through one drawer, and then another until she finds the small, white, plastic instrument. “Put this under your tongue.”

“Bossy...Sylvie, this is silly, I’m f-“

“If you say you’re fine, Matt Casey…” she trails off and lowers her stare at him. Slowly, he takes the thermometer she’s holding out of him, a little plastic cover on the tip, and guides it under his tongue. As they wait, Sylvie’s struck with how young and vulnerable he looks. She doesn’t think she’s ever seen him sick before, or if she has, it’s been when he’s hiding it.

After another fourteen quiet seconds, the shrill repetitive beep sounds, and Matt takes it out, glancing at it. His shoulders sag and he lets out a breath, and it’s all the confirmation she needs to know he’s got a fever. Taking it, she looks at the little screen that’s lit up red, the numbers ‘100.5’ flashing.

“Matt.” She knows he must feel bad. Keeping her voice low, she hesitantly reaches out and brushes some hair away from his forehead. The atmosphere around them is suddenly, intensely intimate. She finds that she doesn’t mind, that it doesn’t bother her. “I’ll tell Bo-“

“No! No, I’m...I can do my job just fine Sylvie. It’s barely anything, really. I’ll be alright.”

The look Matt’s giving her makes her nod, but then she levels him with her own. “Fine. But I’m checking your temp every hour. If it hits 101 I’m telling him. That’s putting yourself and your team at risk.” She knows he wants to argue, so she goes for the low blow. Her hand is resting on his arm now, but she has no intention of moving it. If she’s honest, she has no intention of ever breaking this spell cast around them, but, as if the universe wants to tease her, the alarm goes off for ambo and squad. Of course.

“Be safe out there,” Matt says with a genuine smile this time, getting out of the rig slower than usual, as if his body aches. She’s sure it does, even if he won’t admit to it. She moves to the front, and just barely catches the look Foster gives the Captain as she jumps in. Watching the rear view mirror, she sees Matt slip into the firehouse, unnoticed with all the commotion. Maybe he’ll get some rest.

Sylvie fully intends to bring Matt back a smoothie, but while they’re on the way to the coffee shop that has the best ones in Chicago, they’re called to another company's scene to help transport another victim. By the time they’re leaving Med it’s close to ten at night, both she and Foster are tired, and the idea to bring back a smoothie isn’t even in her mind anymore.

They get back to an empty firehouse. Sylvie wonders how long they’ve been out, and after checking with one of the temps in the bullpen, it sounds like they’ve been gone a while. She hopes it’s not a bad fire, though she’s sure if it was they’d have heard about it by now over the radio or from main. Starving, the paramedic goes to root around in the fridge, but when she opens the door, she sees two covered plates with a little sticky note on top.

Saved for Brett and Foster. DO NOT TOUCH.

It’s written in Matt’s neat but scribbled handwriting, and it makes her body feel warm. Even when he’s not feeling well he’s looking out for her. As she heats the plates up, Sylvie hears the apparatus bay doors slide up, and the missing rigs park back in place. Minutes later everyone is bustling in looking exhausted.

“Bad?” Emily asks as Stella drops herself into a chair next to them at the table. When the firefighter only grunts, they both wince sympathetically.

“Not bad, but we had two back to back calls. Even if they weren’t bad, it was just…a lot.”

Matt walks in and heads straight for the bunk room, not acknowledging anyone. Sylvie watches him go, playing with her watch anxiously. Stella shrugs when they make eye contact, as if to say she doesn’t know what’s going on either. Deciding to take action, she excuses herself and grabs her plate, ignoring the looks from her friends. The paramedic follows the same path the man had, but when she gets to his quarters, she sees the door is shut, and the blinds are drawn. Worry pools in her stomach.

Quietly, Sylvie knocks, knuckles hitting glass. When she’s been standing there for almost fifteen seconds, the blonde starts to turn to leave when the door opens, revealing a disheveled Matthew Casey. His skin is just slightly paler than normal, dark circles under his eyes becoming more visible. What stands out to her is the way he’s got his right hand’s fingers pressed gingerly against where she knows his lymph node would be on his neck.

“Hi...you can come in, sorry. I just don’t have the mental capacity to deal with Severide right now.” His voice is just shy of raspy, though that could be from having to call the shots at the scenes.

Stepping inside, Sylvie sits on the mans bunk, then pats the small open area next to her, hoping to coax him onto it, and eventually get him to lay down and rest. “How’re you feeling?”

Matt freezes, then shrugs. “Like I have some silly little bug that you’re getting too worried over,” he decides, looking at her pointedly. Setting her plate in her lap, she mirrors the same gesture she had done earlier, hand going to the firefighters forehead again.

“You feel warmer. Why don’t you get some rest. You can do paperwork later, you need to get some energy back up if there’s another call,” Sylvie tries to reason with him. It’s a testament to how he must be feeling that Matt just nods. She’s about to move when he puts a hand out on her knee.

“Will you stay? Just for a little while.”

Her first instinct is to pull him into a hug and hold him close. Instead, she nods and smiles. “Mind if I eat while I’m here?”

“Of course not…” Matt shifts so that he’s lying on the bed instead of sitting. The space makes Sylvie move too, sitting next to Matt, propped against the back wall. Eating with her right hand, she reaches out her left and plays with Matt’s hair hesitantly. She pauses when he looks at her.

“No, no...you can keep...it feels nice.” The pink on his cheeks increases tenfold, and Sylvie wishes she could take a photo. Instead of responding, she merely continues the motion, and soon Matt’s asleep head falling to her shoulder.

Looking down, she tries to memorize how he looks, so young and at ease, sleep allowing him to get away from the heaviness of being a Captain. The urge to kiss his hairline is strong, but instead she continues to play with his hair, mind wandering and imagining what it would be like to get to take care of him every day, call him hers. There are worse ways to spend shift.

#my fic #chicago fire #brettsey #matt casey #sylvie brett #prompts #chronicfighter

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novelconcepts · 4 years ago

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could you write something about dani's fear of mirrors and jamie describing to her what she looks like when she needs so she won't have to look, and adding things like "you're beautiful", "you're gorgeous" or something like that? thank you!

Dani’s distaste for mirrors is nothing new, by the time she begins turning her eyes away in earnest. “Habit,” Jamie remembers her saying apologetically, not six months in, when she’d shaken her head at an apartment Jamie had found perfectly pleasant. Too many mirrors, she’d realized later--the closet, the bedroom door, the kitchen had all reflected their faces at every turn. Dani, not yet too haunted to breathe, unable to forget the year she’d spent striding stubbornly away from the gaze of a dead man, hadn’t been able to stomach the idea.

Even so, she didn’t mind what she called a “normal person’s” use of mirrors. One in the bathroom; one set into the vanity in the corner of their room. Those had been acceptable, even useful, and Dani had said, “It’s not like he’ll be there.”

The anymore had gone unspoken.

The don’t know what she’ll do had, as well.

She’d fallen slowly back into the groove of accepting her own reflection--to apply makeup, to brush her teeth, to glance at her outfit before leaving for the day--and if she’d done so with caution, if she’d flicked her gaze once, twice, to make sure only Jamie was ever beside her, that was fine. It hadn’t bothered Jamie in the least. She’s never been much for her own gaze staring back, either.

“Didn’t even have one,” she said idly, the first time she’d seen Dani flinch. “In the old flat. Dunno if you noticed.”

Dani, who had seen the place exactly once, when Jamie had packed a single bag for the life they were setting out to begin, shook her head. Jamie shrugged.

“Overrated, in my humble opinion.”

Dani had laughed, and she’d set about building back to normal, and Jamie had watched her body language slowly smooth out. How she’d learned, over time, to check from the corner of her eye, forgetting to believe she’d find a monster in the glass. How she’d learned, even, to appreciate the finer things about a mirror: how it would warn her to Jamie slipping up from behind, lips on her neck, Dani laughing before Jamie’s hands could land on her hips. It had all been easy, for a while.

And then, as things do, normal had slipped sideways again.

Dani, these days, doesn’t just flinch at the sight of a mirror. Her whole body seems to retract, her chin ducking against her chest, her breath freezing mid-swoop. She chokes, stumbling back, and no matter where they are--in the apartment, out to lunch, in a department store--Jamie is there to grasp her around the waist and turn her away. “No worries,” she hears herself say with the glittering good cheer of a lie. “No worries, let’s just--just go this way--”

No worries. Sure. No concern at all for the pale cast to Dani’s face, the way her eyes seem to stare out at something set back in time. No worries.

“It’s--” Dani closes her eyes, frustration evident in every line of her face. “It’s silly--that I can’t--”

Jamie takes her by the hands, remembering a night years ago when she’d done this very same thing, when Dani had looked at her mouth with earnest desire, and everything had made a blistering sort of sense. “Nothing silly about you.”

“That I can’t look,” Dani presses on in a strangled voice. “That I--Jamie.”

She only ever seems to say Jamie’s name this way, lately, this explicit way that drives at Jamie’s heart like a blow. There’s such a lack of hope in the syllables, when Dani says it like this, and Jamie wants to say, Stop. Stop doing that. Say it like you do when I’m kissing you, or when I’ve pissed you off, or when you’ve lost me in a goddamn shop, but stop saying it like you’ve already surrendered.

She doesn’t say any of it. Instead, she says, “Tell me what you need to know.”

Dani, eyes closed, shakes her head. Jamie squeezes her hands, slides both arms around Dani’s body, holds firm until the gentle shivers subside.

“Don’t need anything from a mirror I can’t give. C’mon. Try me.”

She watches the disbelief in Dani’s expression shift to exhaustion. “Just--my hair is--”

“Perfect,” Jamie interrupts. Dani cracks open one eye, frowning. “Seriously. S’all...shiny and wavy and distracting. What more could you want?”

Dani snorts out a laugh. Jamie, whose own hair is a perpetual mess, who seems to find more silver in among the brown with each passing week, grins.

“Next.”

“Makeup,” Dani says, in a voice midway between fed-up and amused. Jamie takes her chin gently in one hand, making a show of tilting her head back and forth.

“Eyes,” she says seriously, “perfect. Foundation, expert. Lipstick--”

“Don’t,” Dani says warningly, but she’s starting to grin. Jamie leans in, kisses her slowly, leans back again.

“Little disheveled, if you want my honest word on the subject.”

Dani slumps into her, face pressed to Jamie’s neck. “Bet I look tired.”

“Nope.”

“Bet I look worn out--”

“Gorgeous,” Jamie proclaims. This much is never a lie. Dani’s face is now, has always been, the most perfect she’s ever seen.

She feels the sigh go out of Dani, her shoulders hunched, her breath cool on Jamie’s skin. “You didn’t sign on for this.”

“Signed on for you,” Jamie says into the side of her head, into hair that is, in fact, still the best she’s ever laid eyes upon. “Whatever that means. Always.”

She’d thought, when the face in the glass had been younger and less weary and infinitely more foolish, this kind of devotion was an idiot’s game. A game played only to lose. She’d been so sure of it, that being this kind of invested in another human being was a special kind of lunacy.

Now, with Dani breathing against her neck, Dani’s hands wound in her shirt, she thinks the only lunacy would be in walking away. In leaning back from this too-wonderful woman who fears a mirror is enough to break her.

She knows, with patient certainty, that it will only get harder. That she’ll one day be the one smoothing blush into Dani’s cheeks, tipping her head back to apply mascara, helping wash her face clean at the end of the day. That there may come a time where Dani will be too tired and too averse to her own reflection to keep track of braiding her own hair, to keep up the pretense of a woman at war. She understands that this is not the sort of degradation which reverses--not by luck, not by prayer, not by stubbornness.

And it doesn’t matter. She signed on for Dani. Whatever that looks like. Whatever it may mean down the line.

“You’re sure I look all right?” Dani ventures, sounding almost too tired to care. Jamie kisses the side of her head again, holds her just a little bit tighter.

“Most beautiful woman in the world, my wife.”

#fanfiction #ficlet #the haunting of bly manor #the haunting of bly manor spoilers #dani x jamie #damie #really a high-angst kinda day huh? my bad #but also that's like half the prompts waiting on me

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shookspearewrites · 4 years ago

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Shookspeare Valentines: Vincent

We’re coming up to the last few days of #shookspearevalentines and today it is Vincent’s piece 🌻 And ofc I chose sunflowers as his flower! How are y’all enjoying the series? I certainly hope that you guys love it as much as I do ^^

- JJ x

~~~~~~~~~~

Sunflowers, 1888, Vincent van Gogh x MC

Vincent ran one of his large hands through his wavy blond hair and let a deep sigh tumble from his lips as he gazed upon the blank canvas that stood on the easel in front of him. The painter had found that inspiration, which he normally had in buckets, had been rather hard to come by over the last few days, though, he simply couldn’t figure out why. His china blue eyes wandered away from his art supplies and were caught by a colourful photograph that lay upon his desk - ah, yes, MC had been far too busy helping Theo to organise a gallery showing over the past few days, and as a result, her and Vincent had barely crossed paths in the last week. Vincent, the ever gentle artist, wandered toward his desk and took the photograph in his hands, admiring it with a sweet smile. Comte had printed the stunningly high quality picture in the future on MC’s behalf, with the darling housemaid gifting it to Vincent to bring a smile to his handsome face. The Dutchman stared down at the precious picture of his girlfriend before slipping it into his trouser pocket and then shrugging off his painting apron, draping it over the back of his chair before he left the mansion, making his way into the centre of Paris.

The city buzzed in the bright February afternoon as Vincent hurried through the crowds of people, quickly travelling towards the gallery where his brother and MC would be working. Firstly, however, the soft-spoken painter found himself wandering into a quaint little florist’s in the 4th Arrondissement, only a few minutes walk away from the gallery. There, he purchased a vibrant bouquet of sunflowers for his dearest, the smile on his face only growing brighter as he continued the journey to where he would find her.

Speaking of the beloved housemaid, MC was busy working in one of Paris’s most notable galleries, assisting her boyfriend’s younger brother in preparing the space for the upcoming art exhibition. The lady was cradling an absolutely gorgeous painting of Vincent’s in her hands, eyes full of adoration as she admired it up close for the first time - Sunflowers. MC was so taken by the beautiful painting in her hands that she had somehow managed to trip on seemingly nothing but thin air, very nearly falling over, but, thankfully, saving herself and the painting. Though, she did let out a little yelp of fear, the sound echoing off of the pristine walls and finding Theo’s ears, making the tall Dutchman turn around in worry.

“What is it hondje? What’ve you done?” His voice was gruff but, somehow soft with worry which he usually would not be so quick to express. However, as his future sister-in-law, assistant and friend, Theodorus found himself rather openly caring for MC, even if he wasn’t the best at articulating his feelings.

“C’est un ... petit fuck-up,” She replied bashfully, embarrassed pink blush dusting across the apples of her cheeks, “But it’s okay! The painting is fine - and I’m not hurt. Tout est, um, okay!”

“Your French is appalling,” Her brother-in-law rolled his eyes at her awful grasp of the French language but, the small smile which played on his lips showed that his heart was warmed by her silly nature, “Pass me that canvas, will you?” MC scurried over to Theo, gazing lovingly once more at her boyfriend’s art before handing the painting over. The art dealer lifted the piece from her hands with ease, the soft smile on his lips only widening as he admired the masterpiece, “Zonnebloemen,” he breathed the word softly, “1888. Vincent painted it when he lived in Arles.”

MC was about to open her mouth to respond though, her words were lost within her throat as the gallery doors creaked open to reveal the disheveled blond hair of her angelic boyfriend, his clear, cloudless blue eyes gleaming with hope. “MC!” Vincent gasped with a grin plastering itself on his face the moment he lay eyes on girlfriend, rushing over to envelop her in a tight hug, “I missed you so much.” The artist kept one of his lithe arms around her waist whist the other raised so that his pale hand may cup her cheek gently, a sweet kiss pressed to the other by his soft lips. The older of the van Gogh brothers then produced the bouquet from behind MC’s back and handed it to her, a sheepish smile paired with a faint blush painting his handsome face, “Please accept these. I love you, you simply must accept this simple token of my love.”

“Oh, Vincent,” the lady sighed happily, her heart melting at the romantic gesture, “Thank you, Vincent. I love you too.” MC rose to her tiptoes to kiss her lover’s lips delicately before she sank back onto her heels comfortably, admiring the bouquet in her hands, “They are ever so lovely.”

The tender moment was interrupted by the bass toned voice of Vincent’s younger brother who’d finally torn himself away from his work to observe the cause of the noise that enveloped the room, “Vincent aren’t you supposed to be painting? Why’ve you come all this way? Do you need anything?”

The gentle painter chuckled warmly at his younger brother’s concern, shaking his head lightly so that his milk blond hair shifted on top of his head, “You needn’t worry about me so much, Theo.” Vincent turned his gaze back to MC, tenderly brushing a lock of her silken hair behind her ear before continuing to speak, his beautiful tenor voice seeming to brighten the room, “Well, when sunflowers can’t look towards the sun, they look towards each other. I simply couldn’t bring myself to paint something beautiful if I couldn’t find true beauty - Which is why I came to find you, MC.”

“O-oh,” Theo blushed, embarrassed by his brother’s sappy nature, turning away so that he could give the couple a little privacy. The taller vampire cleared his throat whilst trying to busy his eyes with the task of choosing which paintings to display, “Well, um, hondje you deserve a break for being such a hardworking pup. Why don’t you and Vincent go and enjoy the fresh air and you come back in 20 minutes?”

Vincent grinned down at MC who shared his bright expression as the pair linked arms, thanking Theo before taking an impromptu stroll around Paris together.

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mermaidsneedwater · 4 years ago

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christmas with you | chapter eight

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tag list: @yup-indecisive-girl-cece

Santa Claus Is Coming To Town

Mark had promised himself that tonight, he would work up the courage to tell you that he didn’t want to pretend to date anymore, he wanted to do it for real.

There was something about you, something that allowed him to spill his deepest secrets and desires to you. You made him vulnerable, and he liked it.

Mark watched as you sat laughing with his sisters. The three of you giggling at something one of the girls had done. He hadn’t even realized he was staring until he heard his dad’s voice.

“You’ve got that look.”

He felt his dad’s hand on his shoulder as the man followed his eyeline.

Brushing him off, Mark took a sip of his drink. “What look?”

“The same look I give your mother every time I see her.” He chuckled. “Have you told her you love her?”

Mark groaned. “It’s complicated dad.”

“See this is what I don’t understand with your generation. You over complicate the simple things and simplify the complicated things.”

“What?”

“I mean that if you have something in your heart, you should share it before it’s too late.”

“What if she doesn’t feel the same way?” Mark frowned.

“Well, she came this far from her home to be with you and your family for Christmas… don’t you think that means something?”

“I don’t know…” He trailed off.

“Okay, how about that fact that when she looks at you, it’s like you two are the only people in the room, like you’re both in your own little world.” Raymond said. “I’m telling you, she loves you too.”

“I don’t-“

Mark was cut off by Joey’s yelling. “Dad, I need help starting the fireplace!”

Raymond gave his son a look before hurrying off to assist the younger boy.

Mark sighed, did you feel the same way?

+++

“Suck on that! I win!” You cheered.

Mark watched as you grabbed the money in the middle of the table and brought it towards yourself.

“Woah, how is she so good at this? This is the third round she’s won!” Grace said.

“I can’t believe your girlfriend is a poker champion.” Tammy poured.

It had started off innocently enough. Dorine, Tammy, Grace and Patricia often played a game of poker on Christmas together, just before dinner. Tammy had invited you to play, only trying to be polite. Little did she know you’d end up sweeping the table.

Mark shrugged, watching your face as you counted the money you’d just won.

“I don’t know why I’m doing so well.” You admitted honestly. “I’m really pretty average at Poker.”

“Maybe Mark’s your lucky charm.” Tammy teased.

Blushing, you turned to look at Mark who was lost in thought.

“Alright alright, we have time for one more round and then we should start heating up the food.” Dorine quieted everyone down.

Continuing the game, Mark walked away from behind your chair and settled himself on the couch. Stirring in his spot, he couldn’t help but feel restless. Mark couldn’t stand another minute without telling you how he felt.

Walking back to the dining room, Mark paced around the room before finally standing behind your chair.

“Mark why are you pacing so much? It’s distracting.” Patricia asked.

Giving her an awkward smile, Mark bent down to your ear to say “Can we talk? It’s important.”

You turned to look at him, slightly annoyed that he’d chosen this moment to pull you away from the game.

“Can it wait? I’m about to win for the fourth time!” You whispered excitedly.

“No, it really can’t.” He pleaded, looking into your eyes.

As glanced up to see his face, you knew the matter was serious. Was he going to throw you out of his house for winning too many times?

“Mommy I’m hungry!” Leila whined. “I want dinner!”

“We’re in the middle of a round.” Tammy explained, “We’re going to finish this round and then we’ll come.”

“Maybe we should just finish after dinner. The kids seem famished.” You suggested.

“Oh I suppose you’re right.” Dorine conceded. “Ladies, we shall finish this game after dinner. And I’m going to crush you all.”

“In your dreams Ma.” Grace rolled her eyes, getting up from the table.

Patricia insisted on cleaning up as Tammy, Grace and Dorine headed to the kitchen to begin preparing dinner.

You were surprised as Mark took your hand and led you to the coat closet.

Now you were really confused.

“Why are we in the coat closet?” You asked, as Mark pulled the string above his head to turn on the light.

“Because I wanted to talk about… our… situation.” Mark said delicately.

Your eyes widened as you knew where this conversation was heading.

“Mark I’m so sorry.” You apologized.

“Sorry?”

“I never meant to be disrespectful, I was just caught up in winning the games. I never really-“

“What? Why do you think I pulled you in bere?” He frowned, slightly amused.

“Well I just figured you were throwing me out. Because-“

“Because of a poker game? No you silly girl!” He laughed at you, suddenly forgetting his nerves.

“Oh you’re not?”

“Of course not, I-“ Suddenly remembering the real reason he’d pulled you aside, Mark began to stutter “well I-“

“You?”

“I’ve been thinking and-“

Before he could finish his sentence, he was cut off by a knock at the door.

As you looked at each other, the two of you quickly stepped out of the closet trying not to look suspicious.

From across the house, you heard Raymond call to Dorine, “Did you invite someone?”

“No!” Dorine called back. “Maybe it’s Joey’s girlfriend.”

“Is it Santa?” Kylie asked excitedly.

“I got the door guys.” Mark spoke in the middle.

Walking behind him, you and Mark walked to the front door to open it.

Holding his coat in his hand, Your disheveled ex fiancé stood with a bouqet of flowers in his hand.

“Hi Y/N.”

chapter seven | chapter nine

#got7 #Mark tuan #got7 mark #mark got7 #got7 fluff #got7 christmas #got7 drabbles #got7 imagines #got7 scenarios #got7 masterlist #got7 fics #mnw works

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let-me-write-shit · 4 years ago

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Somebody To You: 25

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Word Count: 4071

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CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE

There was no use in dwelling over Harry right now. It seemed silly to even want to cry, considering Paul, who was seated across from her, was literally fighting for his life. Who was she to cry over a boy that had no interest in dating her? Her problems seemed minuscule to the real tragedies happening all around her. The four of them finished up dinner and when they had finished, Carol whisked their dishes away to wash.

“I should get Zoey over to her mom’s to change now so I can get to the bar in time,” Michael called, standing up, “We’ll meet you there later?”

“Yeah, go on. We’ll see you there,” Paul nodded from his seat at the table.

Being alone with Michael wasn’t as awkward as she thought it’d be. His old, beat-up red car, which usually reeked of stale cigarettes, now only had a lingering scent that was hidden behind the sweet smell of moonlight breeze Gain car fresheners. He explained to her how he’d quit smoking a month ago and it was going well. The twenty-minute conversation to her parents’ house didn’t seem forced like she expected it to be. And he hadn’t once made a pass at her. Maybe he finally moved on.

When she led him into the landing of her parents’ house, her mom’s voice rang out, “Zoey? Is that you?”

“Yeah, I’ve got Mikey with me!” she called back, urging him on.

She could hear her mom’s voice sing his name from the other room and they both shared a look, knowing that Michael was about to be trapped in the endless tirades of Mary. Zoey giggled watching him drag his feet in the directions of the living room, leaving her to go change.

“Hurry,” he quietly urged before he rounded the corner.

She had managed to take up her luggage that morning, so she made her way towards the bedroom, noticing Katie’s bed neatly made and the lights still off. Her car was in the driveway when they arrived, so she must be in the living room with her mom.

Rummaging through her suitcase, Zoey grew more frustrated, feeling silly. All of her clothes were new and were geared more towards her life in LA. Her wardrobe had changed along with her personality and she felt like if she walked downstairs wearing any of these clothes Michael would see right through her and think that she was an imposter.

She had no choice. She didn’t fit into Katie’s clothes and there was no time to go shopping. With a sigh, she slipped into a straight, spaghetti-strapped, white dress and paired it with white sneakers and a jean jacket to make it look more casual. She ran her fingers through her dirty blonde hair, looking at herself in the reflection of Katie’s mirror, finally embracing her new look. This was her. It took years to feel comfortable in her own skin and she wasn’t going to let her insecurities ruin that.

Zoey bounced down the stairs and towards the living room where, sure enough, Katie sat beside Michael, both listening to Mary blabber on about how sorry she was to hear the news of Michael’s dad and the trauma he and Zoey have experienced already. Zoey would have felt embarrassed for her mother’s constant and unwanted reminders, but Michael was used to it having had Mary in his life for five years now. He knew she meant no harm from it and had grown enough thick skin by this point to not pay it any mind.

“I’m ready,” Zoey announced, walking into the room.

“Where are you going?” Katie asked curiously.

Michael stood up, “I have a show tonight at Slyfox. You can join us if you want.”

Before Katie could respond, Mary interrupted, chuckling slightly, “No, Katie’s too young to go.”

“But I’m eighteen! And Zoey will be there!” Katie countered, eyes pleading, but to no avail. Her mom wouldn’t budge.

“Sorry, kiddo,” Michael roughed up Katie’s hair, “maybe next time.”

Zoey always appreciated how Michael treated her younger sister and tried to include her in things, even though it usually got shot down by her parents. Zoey had tried talking to her mom about loosening the reins on Katie a little bit, but the conversation clearly hadn’t done much. At least she started college soon. Her freedom was only weeks away.

“You nervous to see your old coworkers?” Michael asked as they loaded back into the car.

Zoey, shrugged, “A little. But I miss them.”

“Well, the guys are excited to see you,” he said, mentioning his bandmates, “I think Dan is bringing Becky, so you’ll get to see her, too.”

Zoey smiled. Becky was Dan’s girlfriend. The two of them have been dating since right around the time she and Michael first got together. Becky was a sweet girl, but shy like her sister. The two of them had gotten along really well, hanging out during their band rehearsals and attending their little shows together. Zoey liked to think that she had helped Becky come out of her shell in the beginning.

“Listen,” Michael started, his tone a little hesitant as he scratched the back of his head, “I think I should warn you, in case you hear it from any of the guys, but, uh...I’m kinda seeing someone.”

“Oh?”

She had been anticipating this conversation. She knew the day would come where Michael would have moved on and started dating again, but honestly, it threw her off guard. She was happy for him, don’t get her wrong, but there would always be a part of her that still loved Michael. They had been through a lot together for nearly five years and she was so close to his family. There were so many plans and expectations within their relationship that they never got to carry out. They had talked about kids and marriage and buying a house together, and it ended before either of them could accomplish any of it. She wasn’t hurt. She’s the one that ended things, after all. And she didn’t regret that decision, either. But it still left her a little sad. It was the ending of an era.

Michael rushed to explain himself, his tone still the same. She could tell he was trying to ease into it, afraid of hurting her feelings, “It’s nothing serious, yet. But, yeah, I just thought you should know.”

Zoey turned to look at him, grinning understandingly, “I’m happy for you. You deserve it.”

Michael smiled back, nodding. She could see the relief wash over him as his shoulders relaxed. It’s weird - being back in this car with him. There were so many memories involving this car. A stain on the upholstery of her seat from when she accidentally spilled hot chocolate after a spontaneous midnight Wawa run. Warn out stereo buttons from the endless song skipping they did on their long road trips to the Poconos. A dent in the dash from when she had kicked it a little too hard in an attempt to get to the back seat. The number of times they had car sex in the back was, admittedly, a bit ridiculous.

It started pretty early on at the beginning of their relationship. They met at the Slyfox. His band was playing a gig while she bartended. His friends dared him to ask her for her phone number, typical young kid shit. Then it turned into them sneaking away during break to have sex in his car. She’d always come back in, hair disheveled, trying her best to act nonchalant. She had an inkling everyone knew what she was doing, but no one said anything. Not like Andy would. Andy had no problem calling her out.

They had their fair share of fun during their relationship, that’s for sure. And Jess liked him, which only furthered her appeal for him. Jess, as kind and personable as she was, was very protective over Zoey and the men she dated. Having fun was one thing, but if you were going to make it official, it better be a good guy. It wasn’t often that Jess approved of the guys she dated. It could have been why Zoey held onto her relationship for so long. She always had a feeling that she was destined for something, or someone, else. But Jess liked her and Zoey loved his family, so why bother ruining that on a nagging hunch?

She knew now that she was right. They were destined for something else. It was proof enough that she needed to listen to her instincts more. Which is why she tried so hard to listen to her instincts when trying to cut things off with Harry. Ever heard of the saying ‘If you care about something, let it go. If it returns, it was meant to be?’ It wasn’t a test for Harry. He didn’t get brownie points if he shot her a random text saying ‘Sorry. Let’s date.’ But, to her, there was some sort of truth in the statement. She knew how much she cared about Harry, romantically, and platonically. Harry was, in every literal sense of the word, her soulmate. She knew it to be true very early on in their relationship.

Zoey honestly believed that this hiccup that was happening between them wouldn’t last forever. Things may not end up the way she wanted; she might not ever get the chance to be with him on an intimate level again. And she was okay with that if it meant just having him in his life. But he needed to be ready. Emotionally, he still didn’t know who he was or what he wanted to become. He needed to figure that out himself. She had no doubt in her mind that he would return to her one day. Maybe not tomorrow. Maybe not a year from now. Maybe not even ten years from now. But one day, he’d be back. She had to believe that. She needed to believe that. Otherwise, she just made the biggest mistake of her life.

Pulling up to the bar filled her with the biggest sense of nostalgia. When they walked through the door and the aroma of liquor and greasy food hit her, a smile instantly formed on her face. Everything still looked the same as it did the day she left. Lighting so dim that it took a minute to adjust, old tables and chairs scattered throughout the building, a poorly wiped down bartop with early 2000’s hits playing loudly over the speaker, patrons scattered around loudly yapping at each other. She saw the wall of framed pictures with workers and various ‘famous’ people, who weren’t all that famous to begin with, but noticeable enough. She noticed one framed picture that stood out from the rest. It wasn’t quite in the center, but close to it. A framed picture of Jess smiling and holding up a bottle of beer with light-up necklaces and gaudy party hats amongst the rest of their coworkers, Zoey standing right beside her, with an edited banner at the bottom that read ‘Jessica Lewis. Rest In Peace.’.

Zoey remembered the day that picture was taken. It was New Years a few months before Jess died. Their boss had gathered everyone together to take a picture for their Facebook page to advertise discounted drinks. Jess was in the center because of course she was. Everyone loved him.

“Zoey?” she heard the familiar booming voice of Dan, Michael’s friend, and the singer of their band. She turned and smiled seeing him and the rest of the guys in the band walking towards her. “Holy shit, I almost didn’t recognize you with your hair down. How have you been? You look hot!”

Zoey laughed, giving him and the rest of the boys hugs. Dan was always very blunt, as were the rest of the guys. Before she could respond, Zach, the drummer, joked, “Not here to waste your time on this loser again, are you?” he backhanded Michael on the chest with a smirk.

“Absolutely not,” she laughed, bantering, “I live in LA now. I’ve got a city full of D-list celebrities at my disposal.”

Suddenly, she heard a screeching echo from behind the bar and turned to see her old coworker, Riley, jumping over, “Shut the fuck up! Zoey? What the hell are you doing back here?” She ran, practically tackling Zoey into the wall with such force that a framed fire exit picture came crashing to the ground. Riley paid it no mind, however, as she was too busy admiring Zoey’s hair and outfit. “Fuck! What’s in the LA water? You look so good!”

After seeing the commotion that Riley caused, more of her old coworkers had realized who had come in and they all started running over to greet her, welcoming her back with warm hugs and compliments. Michael and the guys had excused themselves to finish setting up while Zoey made her way over to the bar so that she could continue talking to her friends while they worked, laughing, and exchanging old stories while they caught her up on what’s been going on at the bar.

She felt a presence standing behind her and she turned to see Becky, a nervous grin on her face. Zoey’s eyes lit up and she stood to pull her into a hug, “Becky, I missed you!”

“I missed you, too,” she muttered, smiling wider. “I was wondering when you’d come back to visit. Wish it was on better terms, though. I’m sure Paul was happy to see you.”

Zoey nodded solemnly, “It’s hard to believe it’s real, you know?”

“I know, he’s a good man.”

It didn’t take long for the boys to finish up their tuning before they were finally introduced and began playing. Monday nights were always live-music nights at Slyfox in an attempt to draw in more business. And it worked pretty well. The first half of the night was always slower, but the crowds usually started pouring in around 9 PM and you could always be sure to see the same groups of people coming in.

Eventually, Michael’s parents had gotten there. They always did their best to attend any performance of their son’s, always having been supportive of his hobby of music. They knew all of the songs, singing and dancing along. Zoey always admired their parenting and knew that if she were ever given the chance to be a mother, she would want to be just like them.

Listening to the band play brought Zoey back even more. She felt like she was reliving her memories at this point. The only reason she wasn’t entirely warped into this false sense of reality was because Jess wasn’t there. It just didn’t feel right being here without her. The familiar chords of a slower song began playing. It was a song that Michael had written about Zoey in their first year of dating, and to this day was still one of the favorites amongst the crowd. It wasn’t cheesy or too romantic; just about seeing a pretty girl from across the bar. But it was a tradition for Paul to dance with Zoey to this song.

Instinctively, the two turned to look at each other and Carol smiled, knowingly, as Paul struggled for a split second to stand up, “I’ve got to dance with my girl,” he grinned, holding a hand out for her.

Zoey grinned, taking his hand as he led her a few feet away at the edge of the crowd of people before she turned and put a hand gently on her waist while the other continued to hold onto her hand. Paul was a tall man, towering over her a good eight inches. She rested her head on his chest, bonier than she remembered it being. But it eased her tension to hear his heart beating strongly in his chest. She thought, for a moment, maybe it wasn’t true. Maybe he wasn’t dying. A man this good and this kind couldn’t be taken from them. But she felt his weight beginning to bear down on her, becoming too tired to stand for much longer. She felt angry and upset. Why was this happening? It wasn’t fair.

“You alright?” she whispered, trying not to sound too concerned.

His voice replied, more strained, but confident, “Yeah, I’ve got a strong dance partner.”

The song ended and Zoey led him back towards his wife who urged him to sit down while Zoey shared a quick look with Michael. He nodded, seeing the worry in her eyes, and she knew that he felt it, too.

Harry hardly got any sleep that night, and by the next morning, he had practically downed a quart of coffee at his mother’s house for breakfast with her and Gemma, the words from the fight of last night repeating in his head. He analyzed every tone in each word he spoke, infuriating himself. He was better than that. He knew he was. For years he has been handling tough, hard-hitting questions with grace and ease. Why was it that he struggled when it came to his own intimate relationships he got flustered and spoke out of his ass? Almost every single thing he said he didn’t mean. Why was it so hard for him?

Zoey was right. She had never been anything but open and honest with him. There was no reason for him to feel like he couldn’t tell her any of what he was feeling. He didn’t need to worry about hurting her feelings because she was the most understandable person he knew. He was so caught up in being afraid that he was going to lose her, that he pushed her away. What kind of idiot did that make him?

He wanted to call her back or text her, but he didn’t know what to say. An apology seemed pitiful. He couldn’t seem to find the right words to express just how regretful he was. And he still couldn’t figure out everything he was feeling enough to give her an answer to her question. He cared for her so deeply that hearing the silence on the other end of the line just about shattered his heart. And waking up this morning to texts from everyone but her only made it worse.

He wondered how her night was with Michael. She said that she had no intention of getting back with him, but he still found himself wondering if he had pushed her back into the arms of her ex. He knew how strong of a relationship she had with his family, it was certainly possible. He needed to stop thinking this way. He needed to stop assuming.

“Now, I know you don’t have jetlag,” Harry’s mom, Anne, spoke after placing her cup on the table, noticing Harry’s exhaustion, “Rome is only an hour difference. What’s the matter, darling?”

“You look like you got dumped,” Gemma teased, unknowingly.

The look on Harry’s face must have hit both women at the same time because their eyes widened in realization and they shared a glance before Anne spoke again, more softly, “Is it that Zoey girl?”

“Mom,” Harry warned.

“I didn’t know you two were dating,” Gemma spoke.

“We weren’t.”

“Well did something happen in Italy, then?” his sister pressed. When Harry didn’t answer, her eyebrows raised and a smirk began to form, “It did, didn’t it? I knew you liked her!”

“Yeah, well, I’m pretty sure she hates me now.”

“What happened, dear?” his mom asked, placing a hand on top of his.

Harry sighed, slouching more in his chair, “Do we have to talk about this?”

“Well, maybe we can be of some help,” his mom offered.

Harry hesitated, taking a moment to decide before taking a breath. Why not? “It’s my fault, really. Things happened in Italy and they were great. But then she asked where our relationship was going and I panicked and said I didn’t know and accused her of still wanting to be with her ex-boyfriend because she flew home to visit him.”

“Why is she visiting her ex-boyfriend?” Gemma asked, her face screwed up in judgment.

Harry winced, covering his face with his hands, embarrassed as he explained, “Because she found out his dad is dying of cancer and has three months to live. And she’s extremely close to him.”

The girls gasped. He didn’t need to look up at their faces. He knew that the judgment they had for Zoey a second ago would be shifted onto him. And his intuition was correct as he heard his mom breathe his name in disappointment, “Oh, Harry.” He looked up to see her eyes filled with sadness, almost pleading, “You didn’t.”

He groaned, throwing his head back, “I know. I don’t know why I said it. She’s the one that broke up with him in the first place. I just panicked!”

“Well, why did you panic, you idiot? You obviously like her!” Gemma urged, as though it was the most obvious thing on the planet.

“You know how hard dating is for me!” Harry defended himself, “It’s a lot more complicated than just liking each other.”

“Darling,” Anne spoke so evenly that she made everything sound so simple and plain, “It’s okay to be worried. We know your life isn’t as black and white as most people, and that’s okay. But you remember how it feels to lose a loved one from cancer. Remember Robin and Johannah? Remember how hard that was for you? All she needs is someone who understands and someone who can be there for her. Not the added pressure that you put on her.”

“I know. I messed up,” Harry groaned into his palms, “I don’t know what to do. I really don’t want to lose her. I’m just…I don’t know. My life isn’t easy to keep up with.”

“Do you care about her?” Anne asked.

“Yes.”

“Then don’t you think she can decide if she can keep up with you or not?”

“....yes.”

“Then tell her, you idiot!” Gemma smacked him.

“What if she’s still pissed off at me? What if she doesn’t want anything to do with me?” he stressed.

Anne shot her daughter a look of warning before calmly explaining, “Darling, you both clearly care about each other. She might still be upset, but I doubt she’d be unwilling to talk to you. You don’t have to jump into a relationship if you don’t want to. But you should be honest with yourself and her and have a conversation about what you really want out of it. If you just want her in your life as a friend, then tell her. But if seeing her with someone else is upsetting you that much, then maybe you should give it a try. All I will say on the matter is that you seemed genuinely happy when she was in your life. Just be honest with her. Lay all of your feelings out on the table and go from there.”

Harry took a breath, letting the words his mother said to sink in. He needed time to gather his thoughts. He needed to figure out everything he felt. He looked at his phone to see the time. It was 9 AM in London.

“It’s too early to call her right now,” he said, “It’s only 3 AM.”

“Don’t call her! Go to her!” Gemma threw her hands up.

“Honey, he just flew back home. He can just Facetime her or something.”

“Mom, it’ll be more romantic if he flies to her!” she shot back, turning to Harry, “Just go to her. You said you visited her family before. Do you remember where they lived?”

Harry sat up, intrigued by what his sister was saying, “Y-yeah, I think so. I have her family’s phone number, though. I could always get it.”

“Then go!”

Harry nodded, flustered trying to get up from his seat.

“Not this second, Harry,” Anne reached up to his arm with a laugh, “You can carry out your Romantic Comedy fantasy after breakfast.”

Harry laughed, nervously as the two of the girls he loved most in his life chuckled at him and took a swig of their coffees, nerves rushing through his veins. How could he eat now? He was too anxious.

KEEP READING

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Taglist for Somebody To You:

@thurhomish , @stilljosiegrossie , @odetostep , @apples2019 , @stylesmioamore , @inyourhaven

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bearsinpotatosacks · 4 years ago

Text

There is a War On

This is also on AO3!

Night was clear around him, everything was silent apart from the gentle swishing of the trees. He tucked his hands under his armpits and wished he'd brought his gloves in his fit of minute rage. His body felt weary but his mind was active, there was far too much to think about to warrant rest.

"I know you have high standards, but I never took you for a hypocrite, Arthur," William said into the inky black sky.

"What on earth are you talking about?" Replied the Captain in a hushed tone. "And lower your voice, who knows who could be listening,"

"Who? I doubt any Jerry have wandered here so quickly,"

"Well, you never know, there is a war on" The Captain took a sneaky glance to his left and took in the slightly disheveled appearance of his Lieutenant.

William's hair wasn't as sleek and molded into place, his uniform less pristine but his face brighter, more open now they were officially meant to be sleeping.

"But perhaps you weren't alluding to the Jerry, then,"

Arthur raised an eyebrow and shook his head, despite William obviously being correct in his speculation. "Nonsense, who on earth could I be talking about apart from our enemies,"

"I think we both know what you're talking about," William quickly changed the subject and moved from his lent position in the doorway to stand next to the Captain. "Anyway, why are you not following your own advice and getting a good night's sleep?"

Arthur crinkled the printed card in his hand and turned his head away, immediately raising Williams' attention to said paper and foolishly allowing him to grab it from his hand. He made no effort to stop him from reading it, perhaps with someone else, but everything was different around William, part of him was willing to say that the normal rules didn't apply.

No, of course the rules still applied, there are no exceptions to rules. That was a fact.

It didn't matter if a part of him wanted to hold hands with him, purely for warmth, he'd learnt that men do not hold hands, under any circumstances. Nor did it matter that he wanted to run away from all this and spend the rest of his days alone with him, one must contribute to society, not even when said society went against everything he held secret. It simply didn't matter how much he wanted to break them, the rules still apply.

"Ah, your brother's getting married, congratulations!"

"I'm not the one getting married, there's no need to congratulate me," The Captain started. "Besides, I won't enjoy going,"

"Why? Weddings are fun events, aren't they?"

"Not for me, they're loud, rambunctious, no one respects personal space, they go on for far too long in the night until you're just tired and miserable and everybody drinks until they're silly. No, no, they are definitely not for me," He answered, adding more bite to his voice as the hairs on his arms stood on end and his hands clenched.

William scoffed a laugh and smiled, raising a worn cigarette to his lips and extending the matchbox to Arthur. The glow of the flame shone in his eyes as it reached closer to his face, the flickering wavering the light along his cheekbones as silence surrounded them once more. Part of him longed to reach out and stroke his face, he wanted to see if his skin was as smooth as it looked. He buried that desire, it was far too dangerous to even think about.

"It does say you're allowed to bring a guest, and it doesn't specify a romantic one," William sucked on the cigarette, Arthur was so close he could hear the crackling burning sound. "That does mean that I could accompany you, purely for security,"

"That would be a beneficial option for both parties, the parties being us," He lit his own cigarette, something he hadn't done in a while since he found the satisfaction a pipe or a cigar could fulfill. "You get to enjoy a night full of ridiculous dancing and I won't have to spend the entire evening regretting my decision,"

"Good, I'll write to the higher ups then, I'll say it's of great familial urgency," He said, smiling again as they fell back into silence.

They shuffled closer to each other as wind blustered through the fields and past the gravel. For a moment, Arthur allowed himself to wonder about a life he could live, in a different world where he was allowed to be himself. Perhaps he would be holding hands with William, maybe they would embrace and laugh and smile and kiss and love. He hoped some far off day that someone like him could do that, that maybe there will be people like him who could do all of that, and more.

The Captain stood in the bathroom of the pub, it was small and beige, a single amber light lit up his face as he combed his moustache and hair. William emerged from the other cubicle and cleared his throat, his dress uniform was clean and crisp, hair all in place and a glint of excitement in his eyes.

The train ride had been long back to his hometown, families talking, children crying and staring at their uniforms, elderly ladies looking at them and whispering among themselves. At one point, William had to carefully place his hand on Arthur's arm just to calm him down, distracting him with talk of new plans for the allotment back at Button House.

It was only an hour until the wedding, after dropping their belongings off at the old, worn hotel, giving William a tour and relaxing in the pub for a short while, and Arthur was struggling to hide his bubbling anxiety. He'd adjusted his coat buttons, combed his hair, corrected his tie a million times.

"Will you stop that?" Havers snapped. "Your hair can't get any neater, are you really dreading this wedding so much?"

"Yes, yes I am,"

"Why?"

"Well, let's just say, my family and I aren't on very good terms,"

William raised an eyebrow and asked," Why did they send you an invitation then?" as they left the bathroom and made their way across the cobbles of the street towards the church.

"My brother's been called for national service, he is quite a few years younger than me, you see, and wants to get married before he is sent off into the unknown," Arthur stopped before the church and gulped.

A large crowd of people were mingling near the door, all dressed in their best clothes with styled hair and smiles. These were people he hadn't spoke to, or even thought about, in years and now he was arriving in full military dress with his colleague accompanying him.

"This was a terrible decision, we should go, they will not want me her-" Arthur started, almost fully turned around before a bellowing voice echoed across the street.

"Well, I'll be blessed, he actually came!" The shout came from his brother, drawing the family's eyes on them, a woman, hunched over a walking stick with thin white hair emerged from her conversation with the Priest, calling Arthur's name.

"It looks like we're staying," William mumbled as they were dragged into the crowd.

Finally the night was over, they were frazzled despite staying sober for the night and were standing against the reception desk, dinging the bell impatiently before the main staff member emerged from the back room. She turned to hand the key to them and hesitated.

"I think I've been mistaken," She said.

"Mistaken?" They replied in unison.

"Well, we were told that you, Arthur, were allowed to bring a date and, well, we assumed when you booked a room that you were including your date in the booking," She gave an awkward smile and continued. "Which means that there's only one double bed in the room, and we're fully booked,"

The Captain and Havers slowly turned to look at each other, then at the woman behind the desk, and back to each other. Arthur's stomach flipped. He took a deep, whistling breath inwards and closed his eyes. 'Bury that instinct, it's illegal, you'll be killed and what good can you do for your country after that?' he thought to himself just as William said.

"We're army men, trained for worse situations, we'll manage,"

The woman handed him the key and directed them to their room, right at the back with a perfect overview of the rolling fields that Arthur vaguely recalled playing war games in as a child.

Their worn cases were lying under the bed, William was turned around, changing into his pyjamas as Arthur brushed his teeth and prepared for bed in the bathroom. His hands hadn't stopped shaking since they'd stepped into the room. An entire night spent with Havers, the little rebel inside him was ecstatic.

On the outside however he was terrified. Any of the staff could walk in, any of the staff could report them. Two men willing to share a bed? They were practically begging to be killed.

He went back into the main room just as William was putting his nightshirt on, his back looked just as smooth as his face, freckles revealed themselves under the yellow glow of the old lighting and his muscles rippled as he flicked the shirt on. Havers turned around just slowly enough for Arthur to break himself from his ludicrous staring and smooth out of sheets.

"Well, your family certainly knows how to throw a good party," William said, trying to ease the tension.

The Captain scoffed. "Yes, well, I'm glad you enjoyed yourself at least," He shook his head. "This entire ordeal was a complete waste of time,"

William stopped and let his face run through confusion, annoyance and curiosity. "How was it a waste of time? You got to see your family after years, we're at war and they could die, if it were me, I would've made up with them far before this,"

"Well, you're not me, are you?"

"Evidently not, because if it were me, I wouldn't be calling the last possible time I could see my brother alive a waste of time," He raised his voice slightly, not wanting to alert the attention of any of their neighbours. Despite his anger at Arthur for disgracing his family, he wouldn't risk their lives over it.

"We haven't contacted me for years when I was off in the army before the war, why should it change now?"

"Oh, I don't know, perhaps because they could actually be hurt in this war, or maybe because they genuinely seem to care for you and you aren't giving them anything!"

The Captain squinted and rubbed his forehead, "See, if we hadn't have come, if we had just stayed at our posts, we wouldn't be fighting,"

This was apparently the wrong thing to say as Havers only angered more, "This is your entire life, isn't it?"

"Yes,"

"You have no other wishes or desires outside the army and the war?"

"No," He said, 'Yes,' his mind corrected. 'I seem to be infatuated with you,'

"How? How can there be nothing else in the world you want that doesn't involve the military?"

"There just isn't, now can we drop the matter?" He said, about to climb into the bed just as Havers grabbed his wrist to stop him.

"No." He said lowly. "You keep saying your entire life is the army but why, you're not telling me why, you may not answer this question if someone else had asked it, but you always answer me,"

He looked him in the eye, "Why?"

"Because I want to, it's the proper thing an Army Captain should do," For a moment he considered telling him the truth, but his integrity, his survival instincts got the better of him.

"You're the Captain of a remote Army Base, Arthur," William let go of his arm and began to wave his hands around as he paced. "You're speaking as though you're a general when you're actually stationed at a remote base and haven't been promoted since I've known you,"

He stopped and just breathed for a second, listening to the creeks of the hallway before climbing into the bed and saying, "I give up, all I want is for you to be happy but you give me nothing," He turned away from him. "Goodnight, Captain,"

Arthur climbed into the bed, feeling the scratchy duvet on his feet as he took regular glances at William. He didn't want to annoy him, he just knew that if he told him anything true and personal that whatever they were would become even more dangerous.

"I do wish to play cricket more, that is one thing, away from the army that I want," He whispered, William didn't respond, didn't even shuffle under the covers. "And I've always had a certain quality that the higher ups didn't like, it meant they didn't want to promote me, didn't want to leave me in charge, and certainly wouldn't trust me with anything a general does, that's why you're so special, you're one of the few military men who can put up with me,"

William began to turn over and eventually was facing Arthur head on, his brown eyes were almost black now he had his back to the lamp. He reached out with a small smile and stroked his face. Arthur didn't dare breathe.

"I don't just put up with you, I like you," He watched as the Captain let out a shuddering breath. "I like you a lot, and I'm glad you're acknowledging that we understand each other,"

He waited for a response, but after realising he wasn't getting one, continued. "All I want is for you to have more balance in your life, all of this work, without relaxing, will make you ill,"

"We wouldn't want that," The Captain managed.

"No, there is a war on,"

"There is,"

William sat up and turned the light off, then lay down and pulled the thin layers of bed sheets over both their heads. They were so close now, were being so risky, but this flutter in Arthur's stomach and pounding of his heart were too intense for him to care. For the first time in his life he didn't care about the rules, rules aren't applicable to these sorts of situations, especially because they weren't made with this sort of situation in mind.

"So, because of our current situation, the threat of death and all that," William's voice was barely louder than his breath, he moved his hand across the mattress. "You won't report me for doing this, then,"

He clasped Arthur's clammy hand in his and stared gently in his eyes. His thumb ran over his knuckles as they listened anxiously to every sound of the corridor.

For a moment, Arthur was satisfied, content and felt exactly where he was meant to be, here under a scratchy bed sheet, breaking the law with his Lieutenant. He'd heard about this feeling, read about it, and could never have prepared for how intensely warm it was. If he was a poet, he might say it was similar to sunshine, a warm cup of tea or a good bit of tobacco in his pipe. But he wasn't a poet, so he let himself bask in the innocent glory of it all, let his mind think of alternate universes where he could do this in public, and forget that they were returning back to normal life tomorrow.

But there is a war on, so perhaps there would be more moments like this, purely because of the circumstances.

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shapes-den · 4 years ago

Text

Coal Valley Lore: Growing Up Fast (pt2)

(Content warning for mentions of animal/puppy death. Tanana and Xaasa are both mothers now, although each have their own struggles. This story is set a small time skip from part one, but before "Aruthe's Choice".)

The happy barks and yips of her pups greeted Tanana, as she and Ourkan trotted into the den.

"So, how did she do?" It seemed her sister Ourara had been eagerly awaiting their return too, as she was thumping her tail loudly and vigorously against the ground.

"When the puppies are weaned she'll join us full time." Ourkan said, crouching to fuss over his nieces and nephews.

"That skilled already?" Ourara looked up in awe, as Tanana awkwardly wagged her tail a little.

"Well, I did manage to snag us a grouse for dinner, but I don't know if that counts as skillful."

"No need to be humble. Those birds always go for the eyes." Her brother had his head pinned to the floor at this point, tongue lolling goofily to the side as two pups chewed on either ear, and was pretending to be completely helpless.

"Well if the pups can best you, Ourkie, there's little hope for the pack." Their sister said, and Tanana couldn't help but laugh as she nudged her children away from their uncle.

"Enough now, pups. Your Auntie Xaasa won't be happy if you eat Uncle Ourkan's ears."

"At least I won't be able to hear Ourara bullying me." Her brother drooped sadly, putting on a show for the young wolves, "Poor, poor me! With my ears talked off and then eaten up, how will I ever face the pack again?"

Almost as if summoned by their words, Xaasa barked a greeting from outside the den.

"Anyone home?"

"Yes, Xaasa, come in!"

"Ah, Tanana, how did your hunt go?" Their lead wolf seemed a little disheveled, and behind her stumbled a very small brown puppy, catching Ourkan's eye immediately.

"Quohau'ru!" He exclaimed, wiggling his whole body in excitement as he licked his pup all over. Xaasa smiled at her mate softly, as the other wolves greeted her respectfully.

"The hunt went well, Ourkan chased down a grouse perfectly, and I managed to finish it off." Tanana couldn't keep the pride out of her voice as she spoke, something that Xaasa's picked up on immediately.

"Well done! I take it you and Ourara will be working together once the pups are older?"

"Yes!" Ourara piped up cheerfully, "We can't wait, can we Tana?"

"I'm sure we'll do well together."

"Of course we will, if Aruthe joins too we'll be unstoppable!" Her sister laughed nervously as their leader flinched.

"Well, we'll need all the food we can get, so I hope your very loud claims turn out true." Xaasa sighed quietly, and turned slightly to avoid her mate rolling on the floor with the pups, "Ourkan, will you and Ourara take the pups to play? If you don't mind of course, Tanana?"

"Not at all, Xaasa" The young female smiled, as Ourkan gently herded the pups, as well as Ourara who clearly hadn't gotten the hint, out of the den.

"Now that it's quieter in here, we can talk" Xaasa said, flopping to the ground. With their packmates gone and her leader fully relaxed, tanana could see just how exhausted she looked.

"Are you alright, Xaasa?"

"Hmm? I was just going to ask you the same thing. You seem tense lately, has anything," she glanced to the entrance of the den, "or anyone, been bothering you?"

"Ourara never bothers me" she laughed "I'm just a worrier from a whole pack of worriers."

"I see." Xaasa raised her head " And what's got you worried this time?"

Tanana paused, not knowing exactly how her leader always managed to read her perfectly like this, and tried to think of a way to explain without making herself look bad.

"Perhaps it isn't a big deal.. They aren't even weaned yet, but..."

She glanced at Xaasa, who was waiting patiently. The older female had a way of making her ramble out exactly what was on her mind, and it seemed like today was no exception.

"Go on"

"Your daughter already has a name, but my pups are getting older by the minute and... I have no idea what to do. I'm worried they'll be adults and still nameless..." Tanana pinned her ears back sadly "I'm a poor mother. All I've done for my pups is feed them and chastise them. At least Ourkan makes them happy..."

"Oh Tanana," the older female got up and nosed her gently, "Those pups love you just as much as they love my mate. Just because he plays the fool and makes them laugh, doesn't mean you're a bad mother. Who is the one teaching them their first words?"

"I... I am."

"And who was there when they opened their eyes? Who warned them about the dangers of the world? Kept them clean? Encouraged them to walk and play?"

"I did..."

"You see? You're a great mother, how could your pups not love you?"

"But..."

"Don't worry about their names. Names take time."

"But Xaasa, how will I know?"

"Know what?" The leader cocked her head to one side quizzically, as the younger female cut her off.

"How will I know if I do a good job? How will I know when to give them the right names, or... or if the names will suit them, or if I'm waiting too long, or..." Tanana whined softly, overwhelmed, as Xaasa leant against her.

"The truth is, you won't know," the older wolf cut her off as she began to panic again, "But, we can only do our best. Where I came from we never named our pups early."

"Then..."

"Ourkan and I made a promise, after we..." The older wolf paused, taking a deep breath, "After the accident, we vowed to keep our last puppy safe. That meant giving her a name."

"Oh... So..."

"You shouldn't be worried about waiting. As pups grow, their names become obvious. As their mother, you'll know them the best, but as your leader I'm always here to guide you, if you need it."

"Thank you, Xaasa." Tanana whispered.

The loss of her nephew had been a sudden and shocking one. Now she was thinking about it, it was obvious. The way Ourkan joked with the pups, doted on his daughter, tried to make time to spend with his siblings, he was simply putting on a brave and happy front for all his family. She could see the grief in Xaasa's unkempt fur, her tired eyes, the constant patrolling, the way she carefully made sure to praise every wolf of the pack each day.

Tanana suddenly felt very silly comparing her mothering choices to Xaasa's.

"I'm sorry."

"For what?" The older wolf looked genuinely confused. "My job is to advise you, and besides, you're a saint compared to your siblings. I love our family dearly, but I never have to worry about you scaring the pups with ghost stories, or trying to get yourself killed by a porcupine, or barking me awake in the middle of my nap." Xaasa laughed. "Perhaps you should be in charge for a day or two?"

"No thanks, I don't want to be the one to tell Aruthe she has to pull spines out of Ourkan's rump again." They both snorted, remembering how Ourkan had looked like a sad oversized pine branch.

"Yes, I don't think she's forgiven me for assigning her that duty yet."

#wolvden #coal valley lore #vagueshapes writing #tanana #xaasa #ourkan #ourara #cw animal death mention #I really struggled with this one #because if I wanted to write evrything it wouldve been miles long #so there will be a part three for when tanana names her puppies #at this point tanana is basically xaasas best friend alright #theyre bonding and the pack is starting to feel like one big family #i have so much more lore planned!

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lost-your-memory · 5 years ago

Note

"I think I'm in love with you and I'm terrified." For Supercat. 😊

Okay so this is an AU in which Kara’s a student at NCU and also the captain of the all girls soccer team. Cat is a single mother with a five years old baby Carter who loves Dinosaurs and Spaghettis. Also, Alex and Lucy are a couple. Hope you like it, it’s full of fluff.

—

“This day can’t possibly get worse,” Kara grumbles, carefully placing her coffee on the table before sitting down in front of it.

In front of her, Alex barely glances up from her laptop. Dark circles underline her eyes, she looks a little disheveled and her pale-blue shirt is crumpled, showing a little red stain near her collar.

“All things considered, maybe my day isn’t going so bad … you look terrible,” Kara frowns, tilting her head to the side. “When was the last time you took a shower?”

“Fuck off,” Alex groans, her fingers hitting the keyboard with a little too much force. The laptop is a little old and the keys make a lot of noise, especially under the older Danvers stressful typing.

Kara winces but decides against saying something. Instead, she simply grabs her cup and raises it to her lips.

“Ah, the Danvers sisters!”

She jumps in surprise and almost spills her coffee, catching herself at the very last second.

“Geez Luce! Don’t do that again,” Kara protests before looking up to greet one of her best friend. As soon as her eyes land on the younger Lane, her mind goes blank. “Uh …”

Lucy’s wearing her full business attire, a pencil grey shirt and matching jacket, a perfectly ironed white shirt and a pair of Louboutins. She’s perfectly put together, from the light make-up to make her skin glow to the way her hair softly flows in waves around her features.

“Damn girl, you look good!” Kara eventually smiles, finally recovering the usage of her voice.

“Why, thank you! It was mock-trial this morning,” Lucy replies, her smile a little smug and her voice lined with pride. “Hi babe. Still working on your paper?”

Lucy sits down next to Alex and drops a kiss on her cheek, earning herself a smile. It’s brief but it’s sweet and the older Danvers slows down in her typing. She seems to relax a little next to Lucy and even though she doesn’t stop writing, she seems a little more at ease.

“The deadline is tomorrow and I’m nowhere near finished,” Alex nods with a frustrated sigh.

“What do you need?” Lucy asks, stealing a sip off Kara’s cup.

“Hey, that’s mine!” Kara protests, retrieving her coffee and keeping it in her hands.

“I need Mrs Luthor to come down with a bad case of whatever disease will keep her in bed for at least a week,” Alex groans, sounding tired and a little whiny.

Kara shakes her head and gives her sister an apologetic look “Lena says her mom’s never sick …”

“I know! It’s so unfair,” Alex sighs again.

After that, she gets back to her writing and Kara and Lucy start up a conversation about the upcoming spring break.

---Kara’s strolling down the aisles of the supermarket, looking for Alex’s specific beers, when something crashes in her legs. She lets out a painful gasp before looking down, her eyes falling into a pair of sheepish, shy blue eyes that belongs to a very young boy.

“Whoa, easy buddy! Are you alright?” Kara asks, letting go of her cart to crouch down in front of the little boy. He doesn’t look much older than six or seven, dark blond curls bouncing around his face and there’s a few cartoon dinosaurs plastered on his navy sweater. “Are you hurt?”

The boy shakes his head no and then offers her a tiny, uncertain smile. Kara instantly returns the gesture, widely smiling at the boy.

“Cool sweater, by the way. I love dinosaurs,” Kara says, pointing toward the clothes.

That seems to do the trick because the next thing she knows, the boy is suddenly babbling about tyrannosaurus and velociraptors and Kara would have never thought, not in a million years, that someone so young could so easily cite dinosaurs species.

“Whoa, slow down kid. First thing first, what’s your name? I’m pretty sure it’s not T-Rex …” Kara teases and the boy giggles, shaking his head no.

“No, silly! I’m Carter,” the boy says with a grin. “What’s your name?”

“Very nice to meet you, Carter. My name is Kara,” Kara replies and very seriously extends a hand to him. He looks very pleased and takes it without hesitating. “Now, where are your parents? You look a little young to do your grocery shopping all by yourself.”

“I dunno,” Carter says and he suddenly looks a little afraid. “I wanted to see the stuffed pandas, but … I can’t find them.”

His lower lip wobbles and Kara can see the tears gathering in his blue eyes. She smiles and offers him her hand again “Well, let’s go find the pandas!”

Carter hesitates for just a few seconds before placing his hand in hers. Kara grabs her cart with her free hand and starts pushing. “Who’s doing the shopping though, if you’re only here for the stuffed animals? I’m pretty sure you don’t eat stuffed animals … right?”

Carter giggles again. “You’re silly! Mom’s buying the food.”

Kara laughs “Oh, I’m very silly, my sister always says so. Now let’s go find your mom and then we’ll ask her to show you the pandas. How about that?”

Carter nods, looking a little more peaceful now.

“What does she look like, your mother? Does she like dinosaurs too?” Kara asks, keeping an eye on all the women they cross path with. She figures the first panicked one she sees will be Carter’s mother.

“I dunno, she don’t talk about it much,” Carter shrugs.

“She doesn’t,” Kara corrects, absentmindedly. Carter glances up at her with a frown. “She doesn’t talk about it, not she don’t.”

He shrugs again and stays quiet.

“What’s your mom’s name?” Kara asks and when Carter looks at her, she sees the incomprehension in his eyes and figures he must be even younger than she first thought.

“Mom,” Carter replies, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. It makes Kara chuckle, lightly.

“Of course, my bad. So, what does she look like?” Kara pushes, because it’s a big supermarket and the aisles are wide and long. She doesn’t want to leave a panicked mom waiting.

“Like me,” Carter answers with another shrug and Kara thinks she might need to go to the cashiers and ask one of them to make an announcement.

She’s considering it when a shout echoes behind her. “Carter!”

Kara and the little boy turn around at the same time to see a woman run their way.

She’s small but fast, with short blond hair flowing around her features as her heels hit the bland floor tile and dressed in casual blue-jeans and a soft grey pull over, a purse hanging from her shoulder.

“Mom!” Carter says, letting go of Kara’s hand to run toward his mother.

Kara stays back and watches as the woman sweeps her son off the floor and hugs him tightly, a little desperately even. She doesn’t hear what Carter says to his mother but after a little while, the woman approaches her, the little boy still in her arms.

“Thank you, so much,” the woman eventually says and up close, Kara can see the hazel green eyes. They’re shining with relief and she sounds extremely grateful. “Carter says you were trying to find me …”

“It’s nothing, really,” Kara smiles and shakes her head. “I was about to head to the cashiers so they could announce it in the mic …”

“I’m really grateful you found him, I don’t know what …” the woman chokes on her words and hugs Carter a little more.

“It was a pleasure, we had some fun talking about dinosaurs and stuffed pandas,” Kara explains and she waves at the boy, who returns it with a grin.

“Kara like dinos!” Carter explains, one hand playing with his mother’s hair and the other waving in Kara’s direction.

“Does she, now?” the woman smiles, looking a little more at ease now. “I’m guessing Kara is your name?”

“Kara Danvers, yes. Despite the circumstances, it’s a pleasure to meet you and your son,” Kara extends a hand again. The woman’s handshake is firm, commanding but her skin is soft and warm.

“Cat Grant,” the mother introduces herself. “The little runaway here is Carter Grant but you probably already know that.”

“Don’t worry, he was a perfect gentleman,” Kara grins and she then starts to walk away. “Have a nice day, Miss Grant, Carter …”

“Don’t go!” Carter calls after her and Kara stops, not knowing what to do. She throws a helpless look at Cat and to her surprise, the woman is smiling.

“Seems like you got a fan, Miss Danvers,” Cat says before she looks at her son. The little boy moves to whisper something in her ear that has Cat nod. “How about we all go together for a coffee, a tea, or whatever drink you millenial like nowadays?”

Kara chuckles, a little surprised by the witty comment.

“Hm, I don’t want to intrude … And uh … I’m supposed to meet with my sister in a few hours,” Kara replies, looking a little uncertain.

“It’s just a non-alcoholic, child supervised drink, Miss Danvers,” Cat sasses, rolling her eyes. She looks amused now, despite the few traces of fear still flashing in her green eyes.

Carter is looking at her and his bright blue eyes are so full of hope she doesn’t have the heart to say no. She’s always been too soft when it came to kids.

“Alright, alright,” Kara relents, helpless in the face of Carter’s happy smile. “I’ll meet you in front of the supermarket in half an hour, I still need to do some actual shopping!”

Carter waves as she goes away and she hears him say “See you!” It’s the first time she smiles all the way through grocery shopping.

—

“Kara” Alex calls, looking up as her sister crosses their living room. “Is there something you want to tell me, about this babysitting gig?”

Kara narrows her eyes at her sister. “What do you mean?”

“Kara, you’re wearing a dress,” Alex gestures to her sister’s outfit with a knowing look in her eyes.

“So? It’s almost summer, what’s wrong with a dress?”

“Nothing’s wrong with a dress. Just, it’s not something I’d wear if I was on my way to babysit a five years old boy,” Alex retorts without missing a beat.

“Alex, leave Kara alone,” Lucy interrupts, coming out of the bathroom with just a towel wrapped around her body. “I know her crush is visible from space but it’s not a reason to tease her about it.”

Kara sputters and stammers incoherently as Lucy crosses the room and drops a kiss on Alex’s lips before disappearing in their bedroom.

“I do not … I’m not … it’s not … I’m … Whaaaat?”

“Your eloquence is … impressive,” Alex sasses, eyebrow up in a sarcastic call-out.

“I don’t have … it’s not a crush,” Kara eventually manages to say, not sounding very convincing.

“Sure it’s not,” Alex laughs, picking up her book from the coffee table. “Have fun babysitting, Kara. Let us know about that non-crush of yours when you come back.”

Kara wants to protest but then her phone chimes with a text and it’s from Cat.

The smile that graces her lips is so impossibly soft and sweet, Alex rolls her eyes and mutters something about Kara being whipped.

Kara doesn’t hear her, she’s too busy tying an answer.

—

“Hi buddy!” Kara greets the little boy with a smile as she steps into Cat’s penthouse. “Have you behaved yourself while I was gone?”

Carter runs to her and raises his arms for Kara to pick him up, so Kara does. He smells like kid’s shampoo and her smile widen when he burrow his nose against her shoulder.

“I missed you,” Carter mumbles, making Kara’s heart flutter with love and affection. “Don’t go again.”

Kara laughs and hugs Carter, bringing him back to the living room as she explains “Aww, but I had to go, my mom was missing me too. It was only gone a month and she was as happy to see me as you are now.”

“Did she hug you, too?” Carter asks, not letting Kara put him down.

“She did!” Kara says and the little boy looks a little lost, almost sad, so Kara rushes to add “She’s a grown up though, she doesn’t give as good hugs as you do. Your hugs are the very best!”

“You should stop spoiling him, you know?” Cat’s voice echoes from a little further in the penthouse and it takes a minute before she steps into view. Kara’s heart skips a beat at the sigh of her.

She’s wearing a strapless, deep-blue cocktail dress that hugs all her lines and her curves in every right ways and her hair is a little longer now, brushing her naked shoulders with every moves she makes. She fixing a pair of silver earing that matches her necklace and her smile is wide and soft when her eyes meet Kara’s.

“Hello Kara,” She breathes, the name rolling of her tongue. “I’m happy to see you again.”

“What, no hug? Pfff,” Kara manages to joke, making Carter giggle against her shoulder.

Cat rolls her eyes but her smile doesn’t waver.

“He has already had a bath, there was some chocolate incident this afternoon …” Cat explains, moving forward to cross the living room. “Dinner’s in the oven and I should be back a little after one, is that alright with you?”

Kara nods and tries to put down Carter again but he’s clinging to her like a koala, so she keeps him in her arms.

“No problem, enjoy your evening,” Kara replies with a smile.

She feels that familiar twinge of longing and jealousy in her stomach but she’s used to it. She knows Cat Grant is out of her league but every time she sees the CEO getting ready for an evening out, she feels it hurt a little.

“Kara, dinosaurs!” Carter suddenly comes alive in her arms and she puts him down on the floor.

“Whoa buddy, easy. I still can’t read your mind, you need to speak in sentences,” Kara laughs and Carter grabs her hand.

“I got new dinosaurs, come see!”

Kara throws one last glance at Cat, who waves her away with a soft smile, before she follows the little boy to his bedroom.

—

“How did it go?” Cat asks, stepping into the living room with her heels in one hand and her phone in the other.

Kara looks up from her book and smiles. “I struggled a little to put him to bed, he kept saying he didn’t want me to go again, but after a two stories, he was fast asleep. Otherwise, he was a perfect gentleman, like always.”She gets up and stretches, hiding a yawn behind the back of her hand.

“How was your time away with your family? You look good,” Cat says and Kara blushes a little.

“It was good! I spent my time sleeping, eating, reading and surfing. Coming back is a little weird, but I’m really happy to see Carter.” Kara explains, moving around to gather her belongings.

“You surf?” Cat sounds a little impressed. Kara nods and brings up her phone to show her a picture.

“Alex wanted to try her new camera, so here’s some proof,” Kara says, letting Cat have a look at the few pictures that show her riding a wave.

“Not bad,” Cat praises and she drops her heels next to the couch before moving to the liquor cabinet. “Do you want something to drink?”

“No thank you, I should probably go,” Kara shakes her head. “I have a game coming up tomorrow, I need all the sleep I can take.”

“Game?” Cat frowns, pouring herself a glass of whiskey.

“Soccer, Miss Grant. I’m the captain of the NCU all girl team …” Kara explains, not missing the glint of interest that sparkles in Cat’s hazel eyes. “You and Carter are welcome to come and cheer on us, if you want.”To her surprise, Cat jumps on the invitation “We would like that, yes, very much so. Text me the time and the address?”

“Sure thing,” Kara nods and she steps away toward the exit. “Good night Miss Grant.”

“Good night, Kara. Thank you for tonight,” Cat replies, softly.

—

“Well damn Kara, she’s hot!” Lucy whistles, eying Cat as she sits in the bleachers, Carter on her lap.

“Stop ogling!” Kara warns, through her gritted teeth.

She waves at Cat and waits for her to tell Carter where to look before waiving again. The little boy gives her a wide smile and two thumbs up.

“Awwww that boy is so cute!” Lena comes trotting to them. “I’m guessing this is Carter and the woman holding him is the infamous Cat Grant, Kara’s big crush?”

“I hate you,” Kara groans, hiding her blush in between her hands.

“Nah, you don’t. Now, where’s your sister? Coach Henshaw is looking for her,” Lena laughs, efficiently distracting Kara.

“She’s over there, I think she’s talking to Sam,” Kara waves in the general direction of her sister, who seems to be engrossed in a deep conversation with their new attacker. “I’m just going to go say hi, I’ll be right back.”

“Sure,” Lucy and Lena say at once, a knowing smirk showing on their lips.

“Shut up,” Kara groans before trotting up to Cat and Carter.

“Hi buddy! Hello Miss Grant! Thanks for coming,” Kara greets them with a smile, fidgeting a little with the hem of her white and blue jersey.

“You look very sporty, in this outfit,” Cat says with a mocking smirk but Kara notices she keeps glancing at her bare legs and exposed arms. Instinctively, she flexes them and watches as Cat swallows, hard.

“Go win!” Carter cheers and Kara laughs, leaning forward to drop a kiss on his forehead.

“Thanks buddy! See you!” Kara jogs away, back to Lena and Lucy and the way they knowingly waggle their eyebrows at her.

—

Her phone goes off in the middle of the night and Kara jolts awake, her eyes wide and her breath laboured.

Her first reflex is to stretch but her muscles burn in protest. She’s still so sore, recovering from the few unfair tackles she had to endure during the game. She eventually reaches for her phones and sees that Cat’s calling, at 3am on a Sunday.

“Miss Grant? Is everything alright?” Kara says, pressing the phone against her ear.

“Kara! I didn’t know who … else to call, I’m … sorry …” Cat sounds panicked and breathless and there’s only one thing that would cause such a reaction from her. Kara jumps out of her bed and starts dressing up.

“Take a deep breath, Miss Grant. Now,” Kara commands and Cat does as she said. Kara waits another handful of second before asking “What’s wrong?”A strangled sob echoes in the line before Cat comes through “I’m in the hospital, Carter started throwing up a few hours ago, he’s burning hot with fever and he has trouble breathing … I …. I didn’t know who else to … I’m sorry …”

“Where are you? Which hospital?” Kara asks, grabbing her car keys and her leather jacket before exiting her room. She’s as quiet as she can when she leaves the apartment she shares with her sister and Lucy.

Cat gives her the hospital’s name and floor.

“I’m on my way,” Kara says as she climbs in her car.

—

Something brushes against her cheek.

It’s soft, warm and very light but Kara feels it anyway. It starts again, stroking her skin with just a little more pressure and so Kara open her eyes, blearily.

She’s curled on the couch in the penthouse, Carter held tightly in her arms, and Cat’s leaning over them.

Kara’s still half asleep but she can see the softness in Cat’s hazel eyes, the tenderness in her smile and the affection in the way she presses her fingers against her skin.

“Oh, I’m sorry,” Kara whispers, not wanting to wake up the little boy.

She slowly moves away from the warm body pressed against hers and stands up. Without asking, she gathers Carter in her arms and brings him back to his bed. She pulls the cover on him and drops a kiss on his forehead before returning to the living room.

“I’m sorry, I must have fallen asleep at some point and he decided to join me,” Kara explains, sleepily. She starts moving to gather her belongings. “I did put him to bed earlier in the evening but he kept waking up and asking for more stories …”

“It’s quite alright, Kara, don’t worry,” Cat gently says, waving away Kara’s apology. “He’s still having nightmare about the hospital trip and I’ve been told it’s normal, it will pass.”

Kara nods and rubs her eyes, trying to keep herself awake. She’s spreading herself thin lately, in between her classes, sports and the babysitting, not to mention trying to reign over her unrequited growing feelings for Cat.

“You should stay. You’re exhausted,” Cat says, stepping closer to Kara.

They rarely touch and Kara thinks Cat doesn’t like to be touched by anyone who’s not Carter. There has been a few times, like after the soccer game or at the hospital, where Cat had carelessly grabbed Kara’s arm or hand but it had been in the heat of some strong emotion.

“Thank you, but I’ll be fine. I’m not too far away,” Kara shakes her head no.

She stifles a yawn and then moves toward the door.

“Please, stay,” Cat asks again, her voice soft and almost shy. “There’s a guest room for you, it’s safer than for you to drive back to the other side of National City in your state of exhaustion.”

Kara has to admit, it sounds very tempting.

She’s tired to the bones and she knows it would take her too long to drive back, she wouldn’t get much sleep before she needs to get back up to go to her classes.

“You might be right,” Kara sighs and Cat chuckles lightly. “Alright, thank you,”

Cat doesn’t say anything, simply gesturing for Kara to follow her to the guest room.

—

“Alright, you have to tell her,” Alex says, closing her book with too much force. “This has been going on for almost six months now, you have to say something!”

Kara looks up from her bowl of cereals and frowns, looking lost.

“You know what I’m talking about, don’t play dumb with me,” Alex insists and this time, Lucy doesn’t swoop in to take Kara’s defense. The younger Lane, sat down next to her girlfriend, looks a little hesitant.

“Your sister has a point,” Lucy eventually sighs. “You’ve been pining for Cat ever since you’ve met her, it’s not exactly healthy …”

“Not you too,” Kara groans, putting more cereals in her mouth and avoiding looking in the general direction of her sister.

“Come on. You’ve been really sad lately, it’s like you’re nothing but the shadow of yourself and the only times we get to have you back is when you talk with Carter on the phone,” Alex says and despite the cutting edge in her voice, Kara knows it’s because her sister is worried about her.

“That’s not …”

Alex cuts her off before she can finish her sentence. “It’s the truth and you know it. Lena’s worried about you too, even though she doesn’t want to be the one talking to you about it.”Kara can’t help the feeling of betrayal that creeps into her heart. “Don’t blame Lena, we all know you’ve been neglecting soccer, the team, you barely manage to stay afloat with your classes …”

“Alex,” Lucy calls out, throwing a meaningful glare at her girlfriend.

“You’re depressed and I don’t like it,” Alex finishes, crossing her arms over her chest. The look in her eyes is full of worry and sadness, something like determination too. “Either you tell her about your feeling or you quit, but you can’t go on like this.”

After that, Kara burst in tears.

—

“You quit?” Cat asks, disbelief and hurt clear in her voice. She looks a little angry, Kara notices.

“I do, yes. I’m really sorry,” Kara amends, not meeting Cat’s eyes.

She couldn’t bring herself to talk about her feelings, too terrified it would cause Cat to take her distance and preventing her from seeing Carter anymore. Instead, she did as Alex asked and handed over her resignation letter. She’s heartbroken and feeling sick in her stomach but she tries to trust the voice in her head that says it’s for the best.

“Why?” Cat asks, her hands still holding Kara’s resignation letter. “Is it something I’ve done? Something Carter’s done?”

“Oh no, Miss Grant, please don’t think that. Ever,” Kara retorts, sharply looking up to meet Cat’s eyes this time, because she’s desperate for Cat to know it’s not their fault. “Carter is nothing but an angel and you’ve never said anything or done anything that made me feel uncomfortable or anything …”

“Then why are you quitting?” Cat asks again, a little louder this time.

“I’m …” Kara trails off, shaking her head. She can’t tell the truth, so she gives another form of the truth. “I’m behind in my classes and in my sport activities. I need to focus back on my Master and on the championship …”

Kara can tell Cat doesn’t believe her.

“That’s not it,” Cat counters, standing up from the couch and stepping closer to Kara, who takes a step back.

“Please, don’t,” Kara whispers, unable to stand being too close to Cat anymore. She’s nothing but agony, knowing she could never have Cat that way, and being too close only makes things worse.

“Kara,” Cat says, a little breathlessly. She steps forward again and invades Kara’s space, smelling like sandalwood and spices. It’s a little dizzying. “Why are you leaving?”

“I can’t …” Kara shakes her head again. Her already too fragile will is fading under Cat’s hazel eyes, melting like ice under the sunlight. “I can’t tell you that. Please, just let it go.”

“No,” Cat retorts, stepping closer again. She’s inches away now and Kara can’t think of nothing else but Cat. The tan on her skin, the hints of peach shampoo that waft everytime her hair moves, the sandalwood and spicy perfume, the golden freckles in her ever so green eyes, the faintest pink lipstick on her lips … She’s everywhere, unavoidable, unattainable.

Cat’s watching her with an unwavering look that makes Kara crumble and cave.

“I think I’m in love with you,” Kara breathes, the words escaping her lips before she can catch them back. She closes her eyes, knowing it’s too late, and finishes “And I’m terrified you won’t let me see Carter anymore, now that I’ve told you.”

For a moment, nothing happens. Cat doesn’t say anything so Kara keeps her eyes closed. She can’t bring herself to face the look of disgust or pity that’s probably etched on Cat’s features.

Soft lips suddenly land on hers, warm and a little inquisitive, demanding. Kara’s heart stops in her chest before it starts again, frantic and ecstatic. She answers the kiss without hesitating, drinking in the feeling of Cat’s mouth against her, tasting the notes of wine and chocolate and already learning the shape of Cat’s lips.

“Oh, you silly girl,” Cat whispers as she pulls back just a little. Kara opens her eyes, breathless and stunned. “I have dreamed of doing this since the moment I met you.”

Kara stares, unable to speak.

“You were standing in the coffee aisle of the supermarket and Carter called for you, asking you not to go,” Cat explains, dropping a kiss at the corners of Kara’s mouth. “You turned back and I just, I knew.”

Kara blinks, recalling that day in the supermarket, the way Carter had whispered something into his mother’s ear, the hopeful look he’d thrown his way afterward.

“You never … why didn’t you say anything?” Kara asks, hesitantly reaching a hand to brush away a few strands of Cat’s hair. Cat tilted her head into Kara’s palm.

“I’ve been such a coward, Kara. It’s ridiculous, truly,” Cat laughs a little. “I didn’t know how to keep you close without … so I asked you to be Carter’s babysitter. I started to go to all of my company’s events, event though I never did in the past. It was just an excuse to see you.”

Kara arches an amused brow. “That’s … quite an elaborated stratagem, really.”

“Tell me about it,” Cat laughs again, a little louder this time. “My favorite moment though, was when I got to steal a few minutes with you at the end of my night, before you left. I’ve always hated letting you go,” Cat says, looking a little sad.

“Why didn’t you say so? I hated leaving too,” Kara admits, leaning forward to kiss Cat again.

This time, she takes her time to truly explore the valleys of Cat’s lips, to discern the red wine from the strong chocolate and to tease with her tongue just enough to leave Cat breathless when she pulls back. Cat’s eyes are a little wide and unfocused after that.

“I … you’re so young and I’m … older,” Cat replies, suddenly looking very unsure, almost small. “I’m a business woman, a CEO, I have a media empire and a son … I also figured you probably had … someone in your life, someone younger. I didn’t think I had any chance at all.”

When Kara kisses Cat this time, it’s passionate and furious, full of passion and love. She’s not hiding anymore, not when she now knows she can have it all. It escalates to an open-mouthed kiss that leave them a little unsteady when they stop, all laboured breath and glazed eyes.

“Please, don’t go,” Cat asks, raising a hand to caress Kara’s cheek, pleading with her eyes.

“Oh no, I’m not going anywhere,” Kara smirks, eyes still a little hooded but her voice sure and strong.

Cat smiles in return and tugs Kara along to her bedroom.

—

“Where are you?” Alex demands, sounding very worried.

“Morning sis’,” Kara yawns in her phone, searching for a clock to see the time.

“It’s 2pm, not morning anymore,” Alex retorts. “Where have you been?”

Kara sits up in the bed and notices it’s not hers. She also realises she’s not wearing anything. Memories of last night flash in front of her eyes and she smiles, lazily so.

“Well …. I followed your advice and I went to see Cat to quit,” Kara replies, letting herself fall back into the pillow.

Alex doesn’t say anything for a while and then Lucy’s voice comes through.

“Since you didn’t even bother to send a text saying you weren’t coming back … Are we to assume you never left?”

“I never left, no. I … spent the night,” Kara giggles, feeling a little punch drunk with love.

“You go girl!” Lucy cheers, sounding genuinely happy. “Now, it’s all good and well but we do have a game in like one hour, and the team’s asking for their captain …”

“Oh crap!” Kara swears, scrambling up from the bed and looking for her clothes.

“Oh Kara, bring Cat and Carter along, it’s about time you properly introduce us,” Lucy says before hanging up.

Kara finds her underwears and her jeans and she’s closing the button of it when the door opens and Carter all but barges in, barrelling into her legs with a happy shout. “Karaaaaa!”

“Hi buddy!” Kara greets him, picking him up and holding it in her arms, despite the fact she still has to put on a shirt. “I thought you were with your father this weekend?”

“Mom come pick me up,” Carter shrugs. “Dad’s busy.”

Kara sighs and kisses the little boy on his forehead, not correcting him this time.

“Good morning Kara,” Cat says as she enters the room, holding a shirt in one hand and a cup of coffee in the other one.

“Oh my god, coffee, yes!” Kara perks up at the sight, it makes Cat laugh. “Also, as my sister so eloquently said, it’s not morning anymore and I am very, very, very late. I have a game in one hour …”

Cat looks a little dejected at this, so Kara steps forward and kisses her. It’s soft and tender, she still has Carter in her arms but it’s deep nonetheless.

“Wanna come with me? We could … go have dinner together afterward?” Kara suggests, eyes on Cat. “Also, my sister and her girlfriend would like to meet you.”

Cat’s eyes flash with fear but Carter’s already cheering, loudly “Yes! Soccer game and then spaghettis!”

It makes both women laugh with affection.

—

“You’re dirty,” Carter points out at all the grass and mud stains on Kara’s soccer uniform, scrunching his nose.

“It happens yes,” Kara laughs and kisses him on the forehead before claiming a kiss from Cat, who happily gives her and then scrunches her nose as well. “Alright, I can see you both have sensitive nose, I’m going to hit the shower. I’ll be back in a few.”

“Spaghettis!” Carter shouts after her, earning a laugh.

“You must be Carter,” says a woman with short brown hair as she steps closer. She’s also wearing a soccer uniform but it’s clean. She extends a hand to the little boy, who eyes her curiously “I’m Alex Danvers, Kara’s older sister. I’m the one calling her silly girl all the time.”

That does it, Carter instantly takes to her and shakes her hand. “Do you like dinosaurs too?”

“I do!” Alex cheers, a smile on her face as she looks up to Cat. “Speaking of it, I have something for you.”

She pulls of a stuffed dinosaurs from behind her back and Carter cheers, loudly.

“Very nice to meet you Miss Grant, I’ve heard a lot about you,” Alex eventually focuses on Cat, who looks a lot less comfortable than her son. “Don’t worry, I’m not here to give you a shovel talk or anything like that. I just wanted to say thank you.”

“For what?” Cat asks, a little confused.

“You could have let her quit, instead of making her tell the truth,” Alex explains, a soft smile on her lips. “She’s been … running away from good things a lot in her life and it was killing me to see her so miserable lately. I’m glad you’re in it with her.”

“Oh,” Cat breathes, a little taken aback by Alex’s speech.

“Also, if you ever hurt her …”

“Alex!”

Another soccer player jogs down to them, looking at Alex with a meaningful glare. “We said no shovel talk!”

“But, I’m the big sister it’s my …” Alex starts to protest, looking a little chastised.

“No,” The woman orders, before turning to the mother and son. “Sorry about that. I’m Lucy Lane, Alex’s girlfriend and Kara’s best friend.”

“Hello,” Carter says, looking up from his stuffed dinosaur. “You’re very pretty.”

Lucy is awed and Alex nods approvingly, a soft smile on her face.

—

“Did Alex say something?” Kara asks, a hand trailing down Cat’s naked waist.

“She tried, I think, but Lucy came and shut her down,” Cat giggles, the sound echoing in the room like a sweet melody.

“I knew she’d try,” Kara shakes her head and drops a kiss against Cat’s shoulder. “She’s always been overly protective.”

“She loves you, I can only respect that,” Cat whispers before closing her hands around Kara’s face to pull her in for a kiss. “Will you stay?”

“I don’t know,” Kara says feigning to think about it. “Carter’s bed looks really comfy, I might be better off there …”

“Silly girl,” Cat laughs and then breathlessly kisses Kara, tugging her down in the bed with her.

#supercat #Kara x Cat #Supercat AU #Sentences prompt #baby carter #Alex x Lucy #University AU #Carter loves dino and pasta #Kara is a soccer player #Cat's hot #Alex is the MVP but Lucy is too #Fluff #so much fluff #i don't recognize myself #I need to write more angst

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theazkabandreamer · 5 years ago

Text

A New Dawn

There was a damp chill lingering in Ottery St Catchpole that evening and the villagers noticed many strange and mysterious things happening during the day.

Owls were flying in broad daylight and many strange people were walking about dressed in funny cloaks and gathering on street corners, speaking to each other in hushed voices.

Some of the locals passed these people off as tourists dressed in Halloween costumes, but there was an incident in the village square where a strange man dressed in a black cloak vanished into thin air.

The local landlord suggested that too many pints may have been consumed, but witnesses were adamant that they had seen the man vanish right before their eyes and arguments raged over whether the witnesses were sober or not.

Yet across the village, none of that seemed to matter. Over a clump of trees stood a very odd building that none of the villagers had seen in a long time. What once was a stone Pigsty, now stood a very tall, very odd, very rickety house.

To the untrained eye, it looked as if it would topple over due to its lopsided appearance and there was no way that the local Council would ever grant planning permission to such an unstable building.

Yet the Burrow was used as a comfortable, cosy home for a family of nine wizards and at that moment there was a ruckus in the living room.

“Mummy, Fred and George have my book!” five-year-old Percy Weasley cried as the three-year-old twins charged around together.

“We got book, we got book, we got book,” they chanted.

“Fred, George, that book doesn’t belong to you dears, that’s Percy’s,” Molly Weasley said, trying to take the book but the twins were too fast. The twins ran, giggling as they carried Percy’s book between them but soon stopped as the book was snatched out of their hands.

“Thank you, dear,” Molly sighed gratefully to her eight-year-old son, Charlie as he handed Percy back his book and Percy retreated to an opposite end of the living room, throwing the twins a reproachful look.

“Now you two can sit down and play some games,” She said to the twins. “There’s plenty of things you could be doing. How about you play a game with Charlie? I’m sure you’d enjoy that.”

She went to take a step back, but Charlie shouted out.

“Mum, watch out!”

Molly looked down to see one-year-old Ron around her feet, trying to extract a Toffee Apple that was stuck to her robes.

“Oh, Ronnie dear, what have you done?” She asked softly, picking up the baby and unsticking the Toffee Apple from her robes. “It’s all dirty now. Let me clean it for you.”

She sat Ron down in an armchair and withdrew from her apron, a long thin, wooden wand which she tapped the Toffee Apple with. The bits of dirt vanished instantly.

“There you go,” She said kindly to Ron, whose little face lit up at the sight of his beloved Toffee Apple looking so clean. “You sit there with it, dear and I’ll come and wash you when you’ve finished.”

She passed the Toffee Apple to Ron, who let out a squeal of delight as he took it and began licking it again. The sight of Ron looking so happy made Molly smile. Of all her children, he appreciated her cooking the most.

There was the sound of a baby crying, causing Molly to tear her eyes away from her son.

“Ginny’s due for a feed,” She sighed. “Percy dear, could you fetch me her bottle for me?”

Percy obediently bookmarked his page and ran to collect Ginny’s bottle and Molly scooped her tiny daughter up and rocked her gently, singing softly to her, causing her cries to subside. Percy ran back with the bottle, giving it to Molly.

“Here you go, Mummy,” He said, looking up at her innocently in his oversized glasses.

“Thank you, dear, you were very quick,” Molly smiled at him and watched as he puffed his chest out in pride.

Molly fed Ginny the bottle as Percy sat watching her, asking her questions about Ginny which she answered.

Once Ginny had been fed, Molly put her down again and ten-year-old Bill came in, looking very sombre. Molly thought he was going to report something that he had heard on the wireless which he had been listening to all day.

“Are you alright, Bill?” Molly asked, looking at his face which was unusually pale. “You should stop listening to that wireless, dear. It’s enough to worry anyone silly these days and you’re too young to be worrying about all of that.”

“Dad’s late,” Bill said gravely. “He should’ve been home by now.”

The atmosphere in the Living Room changed considerably as Charlie and Percy looked at Bill worriedly. Even Fred and George picked up on what was happening and fell silent. Ron however, was still engrossed eating his Toffee Apple and took no notice as to what was happening.

Even though Molly loved Bill so much, she felt deeply irked that he would spend all day listening to the wireless. He seemed to feel that the weight of this war rested heavily on his shoulders. But he was much too young!

Why couldn’t he be more like Charlie, who was more carefree and happy to help with the de-gnoming or otherwise fly on his broom? Sometimes, Molly thought that Bill was too mature for his age.

“He’s been quite busy at work lately, dear,” Molly said soothingly. “What with everything going on out there, the Ministry needs all the help it can get.”

“But he’s never been this late,” Bill said, frowning. “Do you think he’s been attacked? Or is it something to do with all the rumours we’ve been hearing on the Wireless about You-Know-Who?”

“What? Dad has been attacked?” Charlie asked gaping at Bill in horror.

“He could be,” Bill said grimly. “It’s dangerous out there despite the rumours flying around.”

Charlie went pale and Percy looked close to tears.

“Mummy?” he asked, tugging at Molly’s robes. “Is Daddy coming home?”

Molly didn’t know what to say; She wanted to shout at Bill for worrying Charlie and Percy, but she knew that he was worried and that shouting at him would make things worse. Instead, she smiled and patted Percy on the shoulder.

“Of course your father’s coming home, boys,” She said softly. “He’s probably just been very busy today.”

Just then, there was a clicking sound and Molly and the boys jerked their heads around to the family clock to see Arthur’s hand moving from ‘Mortal Peril’ to ‘Travelling’. Molly let out a sigh of relief.

“Your Father’s coming,” Molly said to the boys. “See? I told you he’d be home.”

Molly couldn’t help smiling as Bill, Charlie and Percy looked relieved and with squeals of delight, Fred and George got up and both ran to the kitchen as Arthur’s hand moved with another click to ‘Home’ and then back to ‘Mortal Peril’ before there was a shout in the kitchen.

“Daddy!” chorused the Twins and Molly heard Arthur greet them before coming into the living room carrying the pair of them who once again, looked very happy.

“What a day,” Arthur said wearily as he put Fred and George down. “It’s been hectic, Molly. Hectic. I’ve been out all day trying to get wizards to stop celebrating, but far too many of them were too excited. In the end, we had to modify a lot of the muggle’s memories. There was this one lad, Mundungus Fletcher. He tried to hex me when I had my back turned. Thankfully, he got taken into custody. Hello boys.”

Charlie and Percy both ran up to Arthur and hugged him briefly.

“I thought something happened to you dad,” Bill said, frowning as Arthur sank into his armchair with a groan. Ron, who was still licking his toffee apple noticed Arthur and squealed with delight as he got off the sofa and ran towards him.

“Hello, Ronnie, what’s that you’ve got?” Arthur asked his youngest son who was still holding onto his half-eaten toffee apple which was dangerously close to sticking to the armchair.

Molly quickly extracted the Toffee Apple from Ron’s tiny hand before more damage could be done. Ron looked confusedly at the hand which he was holding his toffee apple and then to Molly.

“Look at you, Ronnie,” Molly said softly. “You’re all sticky. Let’s save this for another day. You could do with a wash, young man.”

“And I could finish your Toffee Apple,” Arthur said. “I’ve hardly had anything to eat all day.”

“Your dinner’s in the oven, dear,” Molly said, trying not to chuckle at the reproachful look Ron sent Arthur. “Charlie could you fetch your father his dinner, please and whilst you’re at it could you fetch a wet cloth for Ron? We don’t need any sticky faces here tonight.”

Charlie ran off to the kitchen and Molly looked at Arthur again. He looked exhausted. His glasses were askew and his robes looked dishevelled.

“What’s been going on, Arthur?” She asked him. “Bill’s been getting worried about you being so late. He thought you had been attacked.”

Arthur gave Bill an apologetic smile as Charlie came through with a plate of Cottage Pie for Arthur and a wet cloth for Molly.

“Oh, that looks lovely,” Arthur said, looking longingly at his dinner as Charlie passed him his cutlery and handed the wet cloth over to Molly who turned to Ron and began gently wiping his face and hands. “I’ll tell you later, Molly. No use worrying the younger boys.”

As Arthur tucked into his Cottage Pie, Molly took the opportunity and got the boys and Ginny washed, dressed and tucked Percy, Fred, George and Ron into bed.

Because Bill and Charlie were the eldest two, they were allowed to stay up longer than the other five.

Molly also had Ginny with her instead of having her in her cot. She found that Ginny settled down quicker for the night when she was with Molly.

When the boys came back into the living room ready for a mug of Hot Chocolate, they saw that Arthur had finished and his plate lay empty on the coffee table.

“I’m sorry that I’ve been so late tonight, Molly,” He said. “Things have been hectic and the current climate hasn’t helped things. I’ve been pulled off my regular job and have been out trying to stop any magical disturbances, but its’ been impossible. There was even a report of someone apparating in the village square.”

“Is it to do with all the rumours, Dad?” Bill asked at once.

“You’ve been listening to the Wireless, then?” Arthur asked Bill with a smile.

“He’s been glued to it all day and has been driving himself mad with worry,” Molly said.

“Is it true that there have been Dragons flying about, Dad?” Charlie asked eagerly.

“Not now, Charlie,” Bill muttered irritably. “What has been happening, Dad? There’s been Shooting Stars up in Kent, the Owls flying in broad daylight for the Muggles to see, the rumours about You-Know-Who.”

Bill paused, watching Arthur who took off his glasses and cleaned them.

“There were a lot of rumours on the wireless,” Bill said hesitantly. “And you mentioned that wizards were celebrating. Are the rumours true, dad? Has You-Know-Who finally disappeared?”

There was such a profound silence in the living room as everyone looked at Arthur. Even Charlie was interested and Molly wanted to know if the rumours were true.

“Bill, Charlie. Molly,” Arthur said, putting his glasses back on. “I think it’s best if you sit down. What I’m going to tell you is going to be a bit of a shock.”

Molly sat in her armchair with Ginny, her stomach bubbling with anxiety and a sense of forbidding welling up inside of her.

“Boys,” Arthur said, addressing Bill and Charlie. “Last night on Halloween, when we all had that apple bobbing party, You-Know-Who set out to Godric’s Hollow, looking for the Potters. He found them and I’m afraid that he killed them.”

There was a stunned silence and Molly felt as if the world had stopped. She didn’t know the Potters, but she was aware of what they did to help fight You-Know-Who and his crazed supporters.

“James and Lily?” She gasped. “The young couple who helped evacuate that village full of Muggles about to be attacked by You-Know-Who?”

Arthur bowed his head solemnly.

“I’m afraid so,” He said heavily. “May their souls rest in peace.”

“But what about their son?” Molly asked panickedly. “They have a son the same age as Ron. Surely he hasn’t- He’s not- He didn’t kill?”

Molly hugged Ginny close to her, tears welling in her eyes. So young. The Potter’s son was so young and the most disturbing thing was that it could’ve happened to any family in Britain. It could happen to them. Ginny was just born in August and Ron is the same age as the Potter boy. The thought of her children being ripped from her like that made her go cold.

“No, Molly,” Arthur said, looking strangely excited. “This is where it gets interesting. You-Know-Who didn’t kill the boy. The boy survived, Molly. He lives! But that’s not all. You-Know-Who’s powers somehow broke and he’s disappeared. Completely disappeared. He’s gone, Molly.”

Molly wondered if she were dreaming. You-Know-Who gone at last? This felt simply too good to be true.

“Is he dead?” Charlie asked in a hushed voice.

“Some in the Ministry seem to think so,” Arthur said. “But Dumbledore doesn’t. He told Millicent Bagnold that he thinks that You-Know-Who is still out there somewhere.”

“But what about the boy?” Molly asked. “If he’s not dead, what’s going to happen to him? Who will look after him? We haven’t got much room but I’m sure we could manage if we- “

“Dumbledore’s people got there first, Molly,” Arthur said wearily. “He’s been taken to his Muggle relatives. They’re the only family he has. There’s a rumour going around that he’s got a nasty scar on his forehead. Dumbledore seems to think that he’ll have it forever.”

“How could a baby beat a wizard like You-Know-Who, Dad?” Bill asked. “Of all the Aurors who could stop him, why does it have to be a baby?”

“I don’t know, Bill,” Arthur sighed. “It’s a complete mystery. Although some in the Ministry seem to think that the boy has powers that we don’t have, but it’s just speculation. We may never know.”

“That boy is going to be famous,” Molly said quietly. “Mark my words, every witch and wizard will know his name. No wonder Dumbledore sent him to live with Muggles- The poor dear- He wouldn’t be able to go out in public without people giving him constant attention.”

“He’s being called The Boy who Lived,” Arthur said. “There are a lot of wizards touting him as the saviour of the wizarding world.”

“But he’s just a baby,” Molly said. “He’s the same age as Ron for heaven’s sake and he’s just lost his parents.”

“James and Lily will never be forgotten, Molly,” Arthur said. “ The Ministry’s considering placing a statue of them in Godric’s Hollow. They are even going to preserve the cottage that they had lived in. It’s badly destroyed but it’ll be a monument to the Potters.”

The idea didn’t sit right with Molly, but the realisation of what had happened had finally hit her and she felt dazed.

“This is the first time in eleven years that our community can finally experience some peace,” she said faintly. “All those deaths; the Bone’s, The McKinnon’s, Fabian and Gideon, they’ll be a thing of the past and we can finally move past all of the killings, all of the violence. You’ll be able to go to Hogwarts knowing that you’ll see us again at Christmas, Bill.”

“Would I be able to study Dragons, Mum?” Charlie asked.

“You and your bloody Dragons,” Bill muttered but grinned nonetheless.

“Of course, dear,” Molly said, beaming at Charlie with fondness.

“This is a new age for us, Charlie,” Arthur said, stretching and getting out of his seat. “A new dawn. Some of You-Know-Who’s supporters have already been rounded up and many people have come out of trances. A lot of changes are about to happen and many for the better. Anyway, it’s late and I’m exhausted. Let’s get you two some Hot Chocolate before you go to bed. ”

Arthur made his way into the kitchen whilst leaving Molly with Ginny and her thoughts.

Molly looked down at the sleeping baby in her arms looking so peaceful. Ginny has a great future ahead of her. A future free of the violence and intimidation that plagued the last eleven years.

But there was someone who wouldn’t grow up knowing his parents. Her thoughts went back to Harry Potter. His parents were cruelly ripped from him and she wept silently for the boy who would never know his parents and held onto Ginny, vowing to protect her children.

“It’s going to be okay, Mum,” Charlie said quietly. “You-Know-Who’s gone.”

“I love you all so much,” Molly said tearfully, setting Ginny down and engulfing Charlie in a bone-crushing hug. “I hope you know that.”

“Course we know that, Mum,” Bill said, hugging Molly as well and Arthur came back into the living room carrying two steaming mugs of Hot Chocolate for Bill and Charlie who both let go of Molly.

“I think we should both have a special drink,” Arthur said, giving Molly a significant look. He made his way to the drinks cabinet and poured them both a liberal amount of Old Ogden’s Firewhisky.

“Let’s toast,” Arthur said in a hushed voice, handing Molly her Firewhisky. “To Harry Potter- the Boy who Lived.”

Molly and the boys copied him, their voices hushed as well.

Molly clinked her glass with Arthur’s and she drank, the Firewhisky searing her throat as it went down. As the whisky warmed her stomach, Molly felt for the first time in eleven years a spark of hope for the future that seemed to fill every part of her body.

She felt as if a balloon had inflated inside of her and she hadn’t felt this happy for a long time.

Molly and Arthur both shared a hug and Molly felt very grateful to her Husband. She was relieved that he was home safe. She had been getting rather worried herself when Bill was reporting the rumours from the Wireless.

There was a loud crunching sound and they all turned to see their hands on the family clock move from ‘Mortal Peril’ to ‘Home’. Molly shared a hug with her family. The danger had passed. They were safe.

The Weasleys weren’t the only household toasting Harry Potter. Up and down the country, wizards and witches were gathered around in their living rooms toasting the downfall of Lord Voldemort and the survival of the Boy who Lived.

Asleep on the doorstep of Number Four Privet Drive, with a letter addressed to Mrs Petunia Dursley clutched in his tiny hand, Harry Potter had no idea how special he was at this very moment.

#arthurxmolly #mollyxarthur #Molly Weasley #Arthur Weasley #Bill Weasley #Charlie Weasley #Percy Weasley #Fred Weasley #George Weasley #Ron Weasley #Ginny Weasley #Harry Potter

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tickletastic · 5 years ago

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Movie Nights

Fandom: Man Of Medan

Ship: Alex/Julia, Conrad/Brad

Summary: Julia deals with the fact that Conrad hasn’t slept for days, and to Conrad’s dismay, this ends up happening right before a movie day with Conrad and Brad. Julia can be very persuasive, and Brad can be too.

Notes: I might just use sleeplessness as my inciting incident a little too much, ngl. Projection is important sometimes.

Julia insisted on Conrad bonding more with Alex and Brad, after all, Alex and Conrad were the two most important people in her life. It definitely helped that she thought Brad might have a little thing for Conrad.

Conrad had known they were coming, and yet he had still spent the night awake. He had always had an issue with insomnia, usually he would drink until he could barely open his eyes, but Julia and Roxie, their housekeeper, had started to give him a hard time about his alcohol intake. Their parents were barely home, so at least he didn’t have to worry about them. Not that they’d really notice.

Julia had popped her head into his room every hour on the hour until she found herself drifting off, but Conrad wasn’t sleeping, he wasn’t even trying to, really. It was a bad night.

At 11, he tried to sleep, he layed in bed for an hour, tossing and turning, but it just wasn’t working. He got up at 12:30 and turned on his Playstation, playing some 2K. When he got bored of that, he walked the halls of the mansion, leading himself to the star room. The star room was a room that their parents had built when they were kids, and it was basically a normal room, with rocking chairs and a minifridge, but the entire roof was a skylight, matched with floor-to-ceiling windows. From so far outside of the city, the stars were always beautiful at night.

Conrad took some blankets that were stacked and folded on the rocking chair and organized them on the floor before flopping into them. He looked up at the sky, just watching the stars go by, and eventually watching the sunrise.

The next morning, Julia searched the house, wondering where Conrad could be. When they were kids, Conrad would fall asleep in the weirdest places in the house, and Julia finds herself playing the role of their old nannies as she looks for him. When she finally bursts into the star room, Conrad sits up, alarmed with how quickly she ran into the room.

“Have you slept, Connie?” Julia asked, concern in her voice.

“Yup, slept for a few hours last night.”

“Bullshit, I know you didn’t sleep at all. Joseph put your breakfast tray in your room, go eat and shower, meet me in the cinema room. You’re going to sleep today, whether I have to force you to or not.”

Conrad left, rolling his eyes, hard, and making some sarcastic comments as he left the room. That’s how he ended up in the cinema room an hour later, getting attacked by his sister because of his sleeplessness.

“Fuhuhuck off! Yohohou’re not playing fahahair!”

“Was I ever one to play fair?”

“Yehehehes! You were ahahalaways the fahahair ohohone! I’m thehe-” Conrad interrupted himself with a snort, “I’m the chahaharming ohohone!”

“Hey! You’ll pay for that!” Julia shouted, it always dumbfounded her that Conrad could never flip the situation. When they were kids, he never stood a chance against her. Having been shorter than her until two years ago, she believed it had grown into a learned helplessness. Despite the fact that he could, very easily, pick her up off of him, he just curled into a ball and tried to protect himself. “I don’t know about being the charming one, you seem like the ticklish one to me.”

“Julia- Julia no!”

The sound of a raspberry sounded through the hallway leading up the cinema room as Brad, Alex, and Roxie approached. Alex’s face was completely neutral, but Brad was trying to suppress his laughter, he couldn’t help but find the manic and desperate aspect of Conrad’s laughter hilarious. and kind of cute

When they entered, Roxie cleared her throat. She was their housekeeper, but she had also been their nanny when they were in their younger teens. Even though her job was evolving, she found that Conrad and Julia still needed nannying sometimes.

Julia looked up, and Conrad followed suit before bolting out from underneath his sister, running across the room, putting as much space as possible between him and his sister. He put several rows of couches between the two of them before greeting Alex and Brad, trying to regain his calm, cool, and collected demeanour.

“Hey Alex, Bradsicle. Please excuse Julia, she’s a sadist, but I’m sure you already knew that, Alex,” Conrad winked in his future brother-in-law’s direction.

Alex rolled his eyes, walking up to Julia and giving her a kiss. Brad gave Julia an awkward hug and waved towards Conrad. Roxie greeted Julia and Conrad, telling them that she’d go fetch snacks for them before leaving.

Conrad looked on edge, still standing like he was ready to run, and his sister finally confirmed his suspicions when Julia turned towards him, an absolutely evil look in her eyes. Julia looked up at Alex, “do you mind if I take care of Conrad before we start the movie? He was being a little shit again.”

“Of course, babe, do what you gotta do,” It was Alex’s turn to wink at Conrad, and the blond knew that he was doomed, he didn’t know about Brad, but he did know that if Julia asked, Alex would help her catch Conrad.

Conrad stood with his hands out, like a player in a sport on the defence, and the panicked look returned to his face. He was already a little disheveled, his hair sitting messily on his head, and the look of genuine fear in his eyes didn’t make things much better. Brad noted that he wasn’t in his usual attire, but then again, he had only seen Conrad twice or so since their little diving trip. He thought about him a lot more than twice though. Conrad was wearing a very over-sized hoodie and basketball shorts, making him look much smaller than he really was, and the most like a 19-year-old that Brad had ever seen him look.

“Julia, just cut it out. Playtime is over,” Conrad reasoned, bouncing from foot to foot and getting prepared to run. Julia pretended like she was going to charge around the couches towards him, and he flinched, scared out of his mind. “Julia, come on, Alex and Brad are waiting for us to start the movie, don’t you want to be a good host?”

This time Julia really started running, Conrad running from her in response, “No, no, no, no, no, Julia stop, this is dumb!”

“Quit your whining, Connie. I wouldn’t have to do this if you weren’t so fucking stubborn,”

“I don’t whine, I just have better things to do than run from you. I mean, look, Brad’s just dying for my attention,” Conrad joked, oblivious to the truth in his words. Brad blushed, but Conrad was too busy running to notice.

He laughed nervously, rounding the couches and getting to where Julia previously was, in between the first couch and the giant screen. They ran like that for a couple seconds, in a circle around the couches, Conrad begging Julia to stop chasing him.

Conrad ran around the couch that Alex had taken a seat in, one of the two at the front, and he felt himself falling to the ground. He looked back when he landed, and saw a smirk on Alex’s face. “I thought we were bros, Alex!”

“Sorry, dude, but Julia’s my fiance. Pretty sure that fiance comes before fiance’s brother.”

“Julia, Jules, c’mon sis, you don’t have to do this, it’s not that big of a deal. Didn’t Ghandi do a sleep strike?”

“First of all, no, he did a hunger strike, and you are certainly not Ghandi. Second of all ‘it’s not that big of a deal’,” Julia put her hands up and did a silly voice in an attempt to mock Conrad, “It’s a pretty big deal, you didn’t sleep at all, did you even sleep the night before?”

Conrad looked away, his brow furrowing as he tried not to show any guilt.

“Seriously? Tonight I’m slipping something into your beer,” Julia was kind of pissed off, and that scared him a little more. “Just say that you’ll sleep and I won’t do anything, Connie, it’s that easy.”

“You know that’s not that easy,” Conrad responded, but before he could try to reason, Julia was back at tickling his ribs like she was before Alex and Brad had shown up. Conrad threw his head back, trying to grab his sister’s wrists. He ended up curling up into a ball and holding her wrists, unable to push them away from her skin. He couldn’t help but giggle out, weakly shaking his head.

“Juhuhules stahahap!”

“But I just started!”

“It’s unbehehearable!” Conrad giggled, twitching every time her fingers poked him somewhere else.

“Alex, would you mind holding his arms? They’re getting in my way,” Julia asked. Alex walked over without any questions, leaning down to his knees in front of Conrad.

“Dohohon’t! Alehehex, buddy, don’t do this!” Alex wasn’t taking any of Conrad’s begging either, and he quickly gathered the blond’s wrists in his hands, holding them above his head.

Julia wiggled between the bones of Conrad’s ribs, and even slipped her fingers under his hoodie to poke his tummy, and Conrad was struggling to escape. She wiggled her fingers upwards, under his arms, and Conrad screamed in protest, begging for Julia to show some mercy.

Julia’s hands were fast and unpredictable, Conrad felt like they were everywhere at once because of how frequently she switched spots. When Julia asked Alex if he would be able to flip Conrad over, Conrad knew that he was in for it.

“Juhuhules don’t! Plehehease! I’ll do whahahatever you’d like! Juhust don’t!” Conrad was desperate, he really just wanted it to stop, but he felt Alex turning him onto his tummy, and he knew that his pleas fell on deaf ears.

He felt electrocuted when her fingers touched down on his shoulder blades, and he had to struggle against Alex’s hold. Julia used the fingers on her other hand and traced the nape of his neck, and his laughter rose in volume. He begged and begged to be let go through his hysterical laughter, which had grown to be interrupted by hiccups and snorts.

Roxie entered the room, a cart full of snacks, both fresh and packaged, along with a variety of drinks. “Julia, I do think that your brother is going to need some air, cut him a little break?”

Julia laughed, but agreed, standing up. Conrad was still laughing frantically, covering his face with the sleeves of his sweater, and rolling into a ball. Brad really did like that way that the sight made him feel, Conrad was just too cute when he was out of his element, and it was starting to get to Brad. Brad walked over, offering a hand and a little side smile, “Did you know that you can’t catch up on lost sleep by sleeping more? Your body needs an adequate amount of sleep every night in order to restore proper balance.”

Conrad smile warmly, not his usual smug smile, and took Brad’s hand.

They turned the movie on, they had decided on Knives Out earlier, so it had already been ready. Julia cuddled into Alex, tossing a blanket over them.

Brad had settled on the couch behind them, and when Conrad collected himself, he sat on the couch on the other side from Brad, instead of getting his own couch. He tossed a thick comforter over his legs, making sure it covered Brad without making it look too obvious.

Throughout the movie, Conrad managed to move closer and closer to Brad. Brad was oblivious to it until he looked over and saw that the two of them were practically touching.

Brad decided to test the waters, and he placed his fingernails on Conrad’s knee, spidering outwords from where he had originally placed them. Conrad giggled softly, placing his hand on Brad’s, flattening them both on his thigh. Brad pinched Conrad’s leg a few more times before relaxing his hand in its previous position.

Somehow, 30 minutes later, Brad was carding his hands through Conrad’s hair as Conrad slept in his lap. Brad couldn’t find it in himself to wake Conrad up, not when Knives Out Ended, not when Enchanted ended, and not when Good Will Hunting began.

When Conrad finally did wake up, groggy and a little disoriented, he found himself apologizing feverishly to Brad for falling asleep in his lap. Brad didn’t mind, and he made that known.

“I’m sorry bro, I could get another couch if you want more space,” Conrad reassured, getting up as if to move.

Brad didn’t know what came over him, but he ended up leaning forward, his hands gently holding the sides of Conrad’s face. His lips met Conrad’s, and Conrad leaned into it, kissing back. They didn’t pull away until they were both breathless, looking at each other in shock. Conrad, surprisingly, was the first to drop eye contact, a furious blush lining his cheeks and the faint freckles he had developed in the summer.

“I’m sor-” Brad started, still looking at Conrad. He looked really beautiful like this, flustered and wordless.

“Don’t apologize,” Conrad interrupted, “I liked it.”

#this might be a garbage fire #i really wanted to write this #but idk if the execution met my expectations #this might just sound like a long shitpost #julia #conrad #man of medan #brad smith #alex smith #ticklish!conrad #tickle fic #conbrad #julex

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loyalflutist · 5 years ago

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Am I like you, Father? (F!Byleth x Edelgard)

Rating: General Audience Category: F/F Word: 1,289 Summary: After the war has ended, Edelgard and Byleth finally retired to the countryside with their daughter. Their times are full of joy and love, but one particular moment reminds Byleth of whom she takes after.

A/N: Here’s a quick OS based on domestic themes in a way. I really wanted to write something like this for Edeleth. :) Hope you enjoy it! I enjoyed writing it.

---

Byleth Eisner watched her wife— the retired emperor— grace her presence in the vast flower bed. The seasons that slowly crawled out in this warm field mimicked the years of warring Edelgard von Hresvelg waged against the Church of Seiros and two other nations. Scarlet carnations bloomed in masses as if they were out for domination against the other floral species. Time eventually arrived in the present as the entire field was swept with the color red.

Knelt onto her knees, in the simple, yet luscious white summer gown, her wife was basked in warmth from the sunset’s rays. Byleth stood from the distant, the tattered overcoat she has worn for many years draped over her scarred arms, her teal hair retaining its disheveled appearance. The handicapped woman that served as the emperor’s trusted bodyguard continued her duty effortlessly. Well— retired bodyguard, that is. She watched over her blooming wife and budding seed from a nearby newcomer.

Small hands lightly pat Edelgard’s cheeks. A pair of feet marched in place as an innocent giggle and laughter bubbled from the little girl’s direction. Although the brown colors dyed her hair, It was unfortunate that their child inherited the messy hair from a certain ex-mercenary, the daughter’s short cut minimizing the scrawny appearance.

Elena Eisner. That was their daughter’s name.

Another round of laughter was accompanied by a playful squeal. Edelgard reached her horrifically scarred hands to cup their daughter’s face. She leaned forward and planted a tender kiss on the girl’s forehead. This caused a burst of glee to explode on her facial features.

“I love you so much, Mommy!”

“…”

Byleth’s eyes softened. Whenever she looks at their child, she would feel her fragile heart race at an incredible speed. Byleth hugged her worn overcoat even closer.

Ever since the natural birth of Elena that shared their genetics through an ancient ritual of impregnation with the assistance of Linhardt’s and Hubert’s research, a new life was wedged in between the two powerful figures. It was easier for them to raise their daughter as they had entered their first year as a commoner, the two of them have already given up their duties for Fodlan.

Years of hard work had finally driven out Those Who Slither in the Dark and any remaining threats that would uplift the conflict’s results. A suitable heir handpicked by Ferdinand, Hubert, and Edelgard ascended the throne in conjunction with the white-haired’s relocation to a new life. Edelgard and Byleth reside in the outskirt of the Adrestian Empire, isolated farmland tended and cared for by Byleth, Raphael, Leonie, and occasionally Caspar, Catherine, and Shamir. They were self-sufficient and created their own financial stability by their own hands.

They were finally free to live their lives… Free from the Crests… Free from the heavy burdens… and most importantly, they were able to live their lives as a family.

“I love you too, sweetie.”

Edelgard smoothed their child’s hair and retracted her hands to let the young girl run off. Byleth saw her wife watch over their daughter with a gaze full of wonderment and love. This naturally prompted the teal-haired to approach Edelgard, her limp prominent from the left leg.

“She reminds me of myself when I was younger.”

“?”

Byleth had just seated herself near the ex-noble with the partially numb limb extended outward. Edelgard immediately rested her head on her spouse’s right shoulder, her lilac hues overlooking the field. Clouds lazily floated above their heads in the orange sky as she continued,

“I used to spend time with Mother and my siblings before they were gone like this.”

“El…”

The older female uncomfortably shifted in her position. She wasn’t sure what to say about the matter. No matter how many times Edelgard recounted her days during her childhood, Byleth could not conjure an appropriate response. After all, Edelgard’s past was riddled with agony no youngster should ever have to experience. Not even Byleth could envision herself in a position like Edelgard.

Her retired wife shook her head. She emitted a chuckle, her delicate fingertips brushing upon Byleth’s hardened arms.

“Relax, Byleth. I’ve accepted that their fate has been sealed. There’s no use in digging up the past again.”

“…are you sure you’re okay?”

“I am.”

“Positive?”

“Yes.”

“…”

“…why are you giving me that look?”

“What look?”

“Don’t play dumb!”

Another playful laughter came from Edelgard, who was shortly joined by Byleth, as she lightly slapped her wife’s sturdy shoulder. This caused Byleth to lean forward and greet her lover with a kiss on the lips.

“You’re so cute and strong.”

“Byleth!”

No matter how old they were, they would always act as if they’ve never aged during their time at the monastery. Flirtations eventually morphed into compliments that were endlessly exchanged no matter the time and day. (Even Sylvain finds it too sweet to deal with.) Another smooch planted on Edelgard as their fleeting pecks on the nose and lips began to tally upward, their giggles and smiles in-between.

“So… now I should be asking you that question, Professor.”

“?”

Edelgard had parted from their fun-loving session and snuggled right up to the sitting Byleth, a hand placed on the soft beating chest.

“How are you feeling?”

“I’m feeling fine. Just a bit tired.”

“Hm, Linhardt and Mercedes did tell you that you’re still recovering from the final battle. It's been nearly six years though!”

“I’ll get better in no time.”

Edelgard chuckled. “I’m sure you will. But aside from that, I’m talking about yesterday.”

“What about yesterday?”

“You know… with Elena. When she tried to use the Sword of Creator?”

She diverted her attention to their offspring.

“…”

If Byleth were, to be frank, she had never handled a kid before. Sothis, Jeralt, and her father’s mercenaries had raised her, but the retired professor never once brought up a child from the very beginning of their life. Edelgard was charged with nursing and providing for their daughter. Byleth, on the other hand, was responsible for making the buck and putting food on the table. Time moved forward and transformed their duties to more complex routines. Yet despite her shortcomings, she was able to become an adult their offspring could look up to.

Byleth squeezed her hold on Edelgard.

“I’m not angry at her. I’m just… scared of losing her.”

“Mommy, look!”

An interruption was in order; it promptly slashed right through their conversation. Their child, no older than six, proposed a daffodil after dashing back. However, she did not run towards Edelgard. She ran towards her other parent. That silly, toothy grin beaming in her direction… Byleth easily accepted the gift with a smile of her own. She twisted her wrist and examined the lonesome flower.

“I’m surprised you found this.”

“I found them over there!”

Byleth directed her gaze in the pointed direction. Right smack dab in the middle of the red field, there lies more daffodils. Closer inspection showed that there were only three of them. Unlike the other flowers that wilted and withered at the sight of the scarlet species, this trio bloomed healthily, their petals lightly ruffled by the gentle evening breeze. She glanced back at their daughter.

“Daddy, look.”

A hazy image overlapped their daughter of a young Byleth. In the small girl’s hands, there was the same exact flower as their child had showcased: daffodils. When Byleth reached out to pat Elena’s head, Jeralt’s transparent hand bled into hers.

“I’m surprised you found this.”

“I found them over there.”

At that same moment, a single tear was shed from the hero of Fodlan. This startled Edelgard and their daughter, their questions becoming interrogative. However, Byleth merely cracked a smile, mimicking that of her father, and quietly whispered,

“Am I like you, Father?”

#loyalflutist #fire emblem #fire emblem three houses #edeleth #f!byleth x edelgard #f!byleth #byleth #byleth eisner #edelgard #edelgard von hrevelg #original character (child)#brief mention of jeralt #fan fiction #fanfiction #fanfic #fan fic #one shot #oneshot #os

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xazz · 5 years ago

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Flowers for Yoba

I was struck by this thought on my latest play through of y1 and I realized you have like... something under your clothes. Also wanted it to be for anyone’s farmer and it was fun to figure out how that’d be written.

----

It was a beautiful spring day. The birds were singing, the air was still cool in the morning before warming up in the afternoon, winter trying to hold onto to the day by the fingertips. Lewis had spent all day the day before decorating the town and part of the morning when he retired to the Stardrop as it grew dark last night, distracted by warm smells and the promise of good company. Shane and Marnie had come in before anyone else to hide the eggs for the festival. It was the one time Shane smiled when not six beers deep in the Stardrop, putting eggs out he hoped Jas would find.

As the morning passed everyone started slowly coming out of their homes, dressed for the occasion. Half of them didn’t even know how an egg festival related to Yoba. Eggs? Really? Seemed a bit silly. The soft grumblings of hunger were just starting when Gus, flanked on one side by Emily, burst out of the Stardrop with breakfast. The Sayon brothers cheered and Sam and Vincent were the first two the table for breakfast even as Jodi told them to wait.

The townsfolk from further out trickled in as the day grew on. Willy and Elliot from the beach, Robin’s entire family and someone went to go get Jas as Shane had already started drinking since he didn’t have to go to work.

Lewis did a final look around to make sure everyone was here and he frowned. They were one short. “Everything alright, Lewis?” Marnie asked him. Everyone was talking and impatient to start the egg hunt so they could eat Gus’ delicious food.

“Robert’s grandkid isn’t here yet,” he pulled on his mustache.

“You sent them a letter reminding them about it, right?”

“Of course I did!”

“Maybe they slept in for once. Pierre told me he often finds them waiting outside his door first thing in the morning,” Marnie laughed.

“We’ll wait just a bit longer,” Lewis agreed. “But I think those Sayon boys are about to eat the tablecloth they’re so hungry.” They both laughed.

The sun rose further but they never came. Lewis finally said it was time for everyone to enjoy the wonderful food Gus had spent days prepping and all night cooking. There was much rejoicing. A prayer to Yoba was said and food was enjoyed.

As the morning grew long people got up from the table to sit on the grass and talk or admire the decorations. Jas and Vincent played tag, yelling happily while Marnie fretted over Jas tearing her new pretty dress she’d gotten just for this year. The little groups talked and laughed, enjoying the early spring weather. But there was still a question in the air. When was the egg hunt starting.

“Mayor, are we ever doing the egg hunt?” Abigail finally asked Lewis.

“They’ll be horrible to eat if we go much longer,” Maru agreed and had to dodge out of the way of Jas and Vincent sprinting by.

“Just a few more minutes,” Lewis said. “We’re still waiting for that farmer from Robert’s old farm.”

“Oh,” Abigail said thoughtfully. “Right, what was their name?”

“Beats me,” Maru shrugged.

Lewis huffed at the both of them. “Their name is-

“Sorry I’m late!”

They weren’t the only three to look towards the voice. The girls’ eyes got huge when they saw the farmer from that old farm. They were wearing a cap the wrong way and carrying more tulips than either of them had ever seen. “There’s no such thing as fashionably late here in Pelican town,” Lewis lightly scolded them.

“I wanted to make sure I brought some for everyone,” they frowned before smiling again. “Here,” and they handed Abigail and Maru each their own bundle of three tied with a ribbon. “Yoba watch over you,” and then they proceeded to go around the square apologizing for their tardiness and offering flowers. Some of the boys scoffed and refused the gifts but that didn’t deter them at all. It just meant more flowers for Evelyn and Haley who were thrilled at all the flowers.

“Some entrance,” Lewis looked over and saw Elliot saying that to Leah.

“I think it’s nice,” she smiled.

“Wow! Flowers. That’s so nice! Mommy mommy look what they gave me!” Vincent cried and ran over to Jodi to proudly show off their red flowers. He’d left them squatting on the square, arms noticeably more empty of flowers, a huge smile across their face.

“Can we start the egg hunt now?” Abigail asked. She’d tucked the flowers into her overalls and was ready to go.

Lewis sighed fondly at her. “Let me go see if they want to compete and yes,” he said. Abigail smiled brightly at that. Lewis went over to the young farmer. “Do you want to participate in the egg hunt?”

They looked up at him before standing, confusion written across their entire face. “Egg hunt? What’s that?”

“You’ve never done an egg festival?”

“We just... eat eggs in the city,” they said apologetically.

“I see,” and Lewis explained it to them. The further on he went the more excited they got. “So want to participate?”

“Heck yeah!” they cried. “Let me just put the rest of these down.” Lewis chuckled when they all ended up in Evelyn’s lap. Lewis went back to the center of the square. “Everyone! We’re starting the egg hunt now,” he called and everyone started to form a circle. Vincent and Jas ran right up to him and started jumping up and down excitedly. Abigail and Maru were the only older people who joined in.

“Sorry, excuse me,” and the farmer squeezed between Harvey and Sebastian. They’d taken off their hat so their hair was free and somehow tastefully disheveled and they’d decided to forego their shirt too and were just in their undershirt, face still flushed from harvesting all those tulips.

“Alright everyone, it’s time for the annual egg hunt!”

“Yes!” Jas yelled.

“Yay!” Vincent cried.

Lewis chuckled. “Now if only you kids would show as much enthusiasm in picking up trash around town.” The kids made rude faces at him that just made him smile. He gave them the rules, wished them luck and, “Go!”

Abigail and the younger kids immediately took off. Maru started before going the opposite direction. The farmer for a moment looked overwhelmed and then went, “Oh, right,” they grinned and headed off in the same direction Abigail had gone.

Lewis gave a disapproving look when he heard a quiet, “Did you see the size their arms,” somewhere across the semi circle.

“AHEM,” Lewis said loudly. An awkward cough followed and the townsfolk dispersed some while the hunt was on.

“Guess this new farmer is fitting right in, wouldn’t you say?” Marnie asked Lewis, nudging him in the ribs with her elbow. Lewis just sighed.

“Robert’s grandkid isn’t here yet,” he pulled on his mustache.

“You sent them a letter reminding them about it, right?”

“Of course I did!”

“Maybe they slept in for once. Pierre told me he often finds them waiting outside his door first thing in the morning,” Marnie laughed.

“We’ll wait just a bit longer,” Lewis agreed. “But I think those Sayon boys are about to eat the tablecloth they’re so hungry.” They both laughed.

“Mayor, are we ever doing the egg hunt?” Abigail finally asked Lewis.

“They’ll be horrible to eat if we go much longer,” Maru agreed and had to dodge out of the way of Jas and Vincent sprinting by.

“Just a few more minutes,” Lewis said. “We’re still waiting for that farmer from Robert’s old farm.”

“Oh,” Abigail said thoughtfully. “Right, what was their name?”

“Beats me,” Maru shrugged.

Lewis huffed at the both of them. “Their name is-

“Sorry I’m late!”

“Some entrance,” Lewis looked over and saw Elliot saying that to Leah.

“I think it’s nice,” she smiled.

“Can we start the egg hunt now?” Abigail asked. She’d tucked the flowers into her overalls and was ready to go.

They looked up at him before standing, confusion written across their entire face. “Egg hunt? What’s that?”

“You’ve never done an egg festival?”

“We just... eat eggs in the city,” they said apologetically.

“I see,” and Lewis explained it to them. The further on he went the more excited they got. “So want to participate?”

“Heck yeah!” they cried. “Let me just put the rest of these down.”

Lewis chuckled when they all ended up in Evelyn’s lap. Lewis went back to the center of the square. “Everyone! We’re starting the egg hunt now,” he called and everyone started to form a circle. Vincent and Jas ran right up to him and started jumping up and down excitedly. Abigail and Maru were the only older people who joined in.

“Alright everyone, it’s time for the annual egg hunt!”

“Yes!” Jas yelled.

“Yay!” Vincent cried.

Lewis gave a disapproving look when he heard a quiet, “Did you see the size their arms,” somewhere across the semi circle.

“AHEM,” Lewis said loudly. An awkward cough followed and the townsfolk dispersed some while the hunt was on.

“Guess this new farmer is fitting right in, wouldn’t you say?” Marnie asked Lewis, nudging him in the ribs with her elbow. Lewis just sighed.

#Stardew valley #farmer #your farmer #any farmer #SDV #my writs #flowers for yoba

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cherry-holland · 5 years ago

Text

Dmitri Island - ch 2

(Moodboard done by the lovely @sandersonosterfield ✨)

A/n: hello everyone!! Here’s the next chapter to this lovely series!!! It’s a bit of a filler, but who doesn’t love a slow burn? 😏🥰 also I apologize for how long this is it’s suuuper long but it’s necessary! Promise 👌🏽

Warnings: just a whole lotta fluff, mutual (but not known) pining, and a twinge of jealousy 😏

✨

[[MORE]]

To say that the next week before the trip flew by was an understatement. It seemed like the work week went with the snap of a finger, and everyone was buzzing about the opportunity to get away. The group chat that consisted of you, Harry, Sam, Tuwaine, Harrison, and Tom had the same several messages on rotation.

How many days do we have left again?

Can’t wait to work on my tan 👌🏽

😎🌊🌴

It was as if every time you heard your phone buzz, the boys were talking about their plans for this island getaway. A lot of it consisted of how they all were going to get laid, which was quite an annoying conversation to be a part of, considering Harry and Tuwaine were egging Tom on finding a fit girl for the week.

Every time you saw the texts transpired about this topic, it made your blood boil. The whole idea of a vacation was to relax, not for hookups. But of course, the boys had other plans, plans of which included bringing Tom in on their shenanigans. You knew that getting this upset over the thought of Tom holding another girl close, hands trailing up and down her body, leaving open-mouthed kisses up and down her body... ugh, it made you positively shudder. Because you so desperately wanted that to be you, but you kept your feelings to yourself.

The day before travel day, everyone agreed staying at Tom and Harrison’s was the best idea. It made it easier for everyone - no one had to wake up super early to commute in that damned London traffic, everyone could ride together, and they had the most rooms out of everyone’s apartments. It was a win-win.

“Do you guys only eat pizza when I’m not here, or do any of you actually cook?” You asked as you opened the door to the boys’ apartment. You walked in and immediately saw three brown pizza boxes on the kitchen counter, two of which had already been emptied prior to your arrival.

“Well, y/n/n, we weren’t gonna actually cook anything the night before we leave for Dmitri Island! That would be silly,” Harrison greeted you, exiting the kitchen whilst polishing off his recent slice.

He walked over to you and leaned in to give you a hug and a messy kiss on your cheek, which made you giggle. “Ugh, Haz, you gave me a greasy pizza kiss! That’s gross!”

“Mhm, that’s what you get for arriving late, love,” Harrison laughed as he kept an arm slung around you.

Harrison and you always had a very brother/sister dynamic right from the get-go. After being introduced to him by Tom, you found out that you both had a lot in common, and even pulled a “Step Brothers” moment. It was like having a younger brother with Harrison. He was a hard-ass and a little shit, but was always such an amazing confidant. He was your go-to guy (if Tom wasn’t around) when it came to anything: work-related problems, friend issues, and even guys. Always playful, always there.

Tom had walked in on you and Harrison greeting one another, and for some reason he felt this heart drop at the sight. You and Harrison were normally affectionate, definitely platonically, but it stirred something inside of him. Seeing you in your work clothes - the way the black and white pea coat was slightly opened to reveal those high-waisted black, tailored dress pants you loved, a tight beige mock neck sweater hugging your curves, black belt with a gold buckle holding it all together - and that damn greasy kiss planted on your cheek made Tom’s jaw tighten. And he had no idea why this was affecting him so much.

Just pull it together, Holland.

“Well, Haz, y/n has a real big girl job that she actually has to commute to. Not like some of us,” Tom teased as he leaned against the doorframe of the kitchen.

Your head snapped around when you heard his voice, and you swore you let out a small gasp. He looked damn good. With his tight black v-neck that nearly skimmed the top of his very lowly-slung light grey joggers, so low that you could nearly see the white band of his Calvin’s peeking out, and his disheveled dark brown curls looking as soft as ever, it was enough to turn you into a pile of mush.

You shook the thoughts that were slowly starting to accumulate out of your head as you broke into a smile. “That’s right, Tommy. I do have a big girl job. We can’t all be actors now.”

“Yes, you know what they say. Those that can’t act land corporate jobs,” Tom teased with a wink, and you felt your knees get a little bit weak at the gesture as you walked over to give him a hug.

You felt his arms snake around your entire body as you reached up to his neck to hug him, his fingers drawing small little circles as you squeezed him tighter. You took in his warm, woodsy scent as he breathed in your woodsy floral notes of your perfume, a smile gracing both of your lips. You two stayed like that for a good five seconds before Harrison coughed. “Alright, you two leave some of the hugging for the rest of us, now.”

You and Tom broke apart quickly, light tinges of pink gracing both of your faces. You rolled your eyes as you messed up Harrison’s hair. “Whatever, div. Now, where am I staying?”

Harry cleared his throat as he turned his head from the couch where he was currently playing his PS4. “Well, y/n/n, we have some bad news...”

“Oh no, what did you divs do now?” You groaned.

“See, here’s the thing: Tom forgot that he was getting the guest room renovated, something about adding a bath or whatever in there, so our spare room is occupied now,” Tuwaine replied as he entered the room, his face turning away to take whatever reaction he was going to get from you.

“Oh my God, Thomas. You forgot about a major renovation happening in your home, right before we’re to go on vacation?” You turned to face Tom, rolling your eyes.

Tom’s face turned a darker shade of pink, rubbing his neck in embarrassment. “Sorry, darling, it’s hard to keep track of what kind of maintenance is needed or scheduled ‘round here.”

You took in his face for a moment, full of remorse and guilt, and you sighed audibly. “It’s alright, Tommy. Just need to figure out where I’m staying, that’s all.”

“Y/n, you’re more than welcome to take one of our rooms if you want,” Sam offered from the sofa, a small smile gracing his freckled face.

“Or, y/n, why don’t you stay in Tom’s room? He has the biggest bed, and we will not allow you to sleep on the couch. That shit is uncomfortable,” Harrison interjected, a sly grin growing on his chiseled face.

Harrison wasn’t a stranger to you and Tom’s obvious pining for each other. You both haven’t admitted yet to him (to which he has no idea why yet), but he knew you both were liking each other more than just best friends. You two were perfect for each other, so it was hard not to ship you both. He knew you two both would end up together one day for a while, he was just waiting for the opportunity to make it happen. And this was a start.

You ignored Harrison’s stare as you looked around the living room. Those couches were only really good for naps, but full on sleep? Nope, definitely not going to be good. “I don’t mind it really, though,” you lied.

“Y/n, that’s ridiculous. You’re getting my room, darling, no excuses,” Tom shook his head, placing his calloused hand on top of your clothed shoulder. You felt his thumb slowly move up and down, and the butterflies from earlier returned in your stomach. You looked up to see his dark brown eyes pleading at you, sparkling under the warm fluorescent lights of his home.

“Fine, only because you’re making me,” you poked his side, causing a mini fit of giggles to escape from his lips.

“Alright it’s suited then. Y/n, you can have the last of the slices of pizza, then we need to be going to sleep, boys and girl. We have an early morning tomorrow,” Tuwaine spoke, and wit that, the boys left to finish their packing, and Harry to his game.

You and Tom still stood in the kitchen as you went to grab a slice of the pepperoni that was left for you. “Mmm, you know, these are not as good as back home, but I’ll take it.”

“Well, y/n, we don’t have New York pizza here in London, darling. It’s just whatever we can find,” Tom chuckled, giving your arm a slight shove.

“Oh well, London can’t have everything now,” you joked, returning the shove back to him.

“Ah, love, we definitely do. It’s just not New York,” Tom quipped, stealing the slice of pizza from your hands as you were about to take another bite.

“Oh, you’re gonna regret that, Holland,” you look at him incredulously as he gives you the most wicked smirk.

Tom hums at your remark. “I would love to see you try, y/l/n.”

Tom’s heart beat is racing with the look you’re giving him. The playfulness behind your frown, the flicker of mischief that flashes across your eyes is enough to send the blood rushing to his head.

Control yourself, Holland.

“Oh just you wait, movie star,” you smirk as you start making a mad dash to Tom’s room, Tom following suit.

After you two nearly chased each other around the apartment, you two were laying at the edge of his California king bed, trying to calm down your ragged breaths from running around. You both were exhausted, but couldn’t move.

“Ugh, I wish someone would just take off my makeup for me, because I’m too damn comfortable right now,” you groaned, rubbing your temples.

“Darling, if you want, I could,” Tom replied, turning his head to face you, those damn dark browns twinkling so brightly.

“Oh, Tom, it’s okay. You do not need to do that, I appreciate it though,” you blushed, sitting up and looking directly at the hardwood floor to cover the heat rising to your face.

“I don’t mind,” Tom assured you, and he walked out of his room for a minute without explanation.

You frowned in confusion at his abrupt movement, when he came back with your sleek, leather suitcase in hand. “Alright, let’s get ready to sleep, y/n/n.”

“Tommy, you really don’t have to do this, you know,” you smiled weakly as you looked between your suitcase and Tom.

“Y/n. Stop being foolish and get your damn makeup wipes out so I can clean your face,” Tom concluded, stretching his hand out.

You rolled your eyes as you opened up your suitcase to find your wipes, handing one to Tom in defeat. He took the wipe from you, and with his other hand, he yanked you off the bed with a chuckle escaping your mouth.

Tom led you to his master bathroom as your pulse began to quicken. Walking into the giant restroom with marble flooring made you realize how intimate this was - Tom was about to take off your makeup. You and Tom were definitely affectionate, maybe more so than you and Harrison, and you definitely had your fair share of cuddle sessions with Tom, but this was a whole new level. And it made you nervous.

“You okay, darling?” Tom turned to look at you as he felt your hand subconsciously squeeze his a little.

“Hmm? Oh yeah, I’m fine. Just thinking about all of the travel we’re to do tomorrow,” you lied as you looked into his coffee-colored eyes. God they were beautiful eyes.

“Oh, y/n/n, it’ll be okay. It’s only a short drive to the ferry, and then before you know it, we will be in paradise, darling,” Tom comforted. “Now, come on, we need to get this shit off of you and our beauty rest.”

You chortled as you hopped onto the black and white marble counter. Once you were settled, Tom stood in front of your legs. He placed his large left hand on your right cheek as he took the wet wipe in his hand and smeared it across your left cheek. His gentle touch was electrifying against your skin. You couldn’t help but close your eyes at the touch.

Tom was doing all he could to be careful not to hurt you. He knew how to take makeup off, he’s done it so many times that it’s almost second nature to him. But it’s you. And even though this is just taking off makeup, he was being as careful and calculated as he could. He subconsciously started running his thumb along your jaw while working on the left side of your face, and for a second the swore he felt you lean in to the touch, but he quickly shook it off with a blush.

Holland, what the hell are you doing??

Tom swapped hands to start on the right side, and he finished before you even knew it. His touches were as light as a feather, and it nearly put you to sleep for a minute.

“Y/n, you’re all done,” Tom whispered as you fluttered your eyes open.

Once you did, you saw how close he was to you. Like it was so close that you could feel his warm breath dance along your lips. So close that you saw the many freckles that were scattered all along his nose, and boy were you tempted to reach out and touch them. You smelled peppermint wafting into your nose as his breaths started slowly to become more ragged. You followed his gaze to your lips, and you felt your face grow hot.

“Thank you,” you stammered, pulling away slightly to hide, yet again, another blush, and exiting the bathroom.

“You’re welcome, love,” Tom breathed, redness encompassing his face.

He followed you back into his room, walking to his chestnut brown drawers to pull out pajamas. Once he found pj’s, he went into his linen closet that was conveniently placed by his bathroom door and reached for a blanket and some extra pillows.

You watched the action in confusion. “Thomas, why are you grabbing those for?”

“Because you’re gonna be sleeping here. I’ll take the couch so you can have room,” Tom explained with a shrug.

“Nonsense, Tommy. You don’t need to do that,” you concluded. “Your bed is legit the size of the Atlantic Ocean, it’ll be okay. Also, it’s not as if we haven’t fallen asleep next to each other before.”

“Yeah, but that’s always when we all have our movie nights,” Tom cautioned, his eyebrows raising curiously. “Are you sure?”

You nodded your head as you took out your pajamas (really, it was just some old jogger sweatpants and one of Tom’s old t-shirts he gave to you a while back) from your own suitcase. “Yes, you idiot, now I’ll go change in the bathroom while you change here, and we can finally get that much needed beauty rest.”

Tom smiled, his face softening at the sound of your words. “Alright, darling. I’ll be here!”

You returned the grin as you shut the bathroom door to change, your stomach nearly dropping at the remark.

Holy shit, you’re about to sleep in the same bed as your best friend... your crush.

Pull it together, y/l/n!

Once you were in pajamas, you swung open the door to see Tom already laying in bed, his phone casting an illumination on his face. He was shirtless, which brought that same heat to your cheeks again, and you saw a peek of his dark grey joggers from under the covers. His hair was much more disheveled than it was when you first arrived, but he still looked ravishing.

Stop lusting over your best friend, y/l/n! Act normal!

Tom felt eyes on him as he looked up to see you staring at him. “Hmm do I have something on my face, darling?”

“Oh, no, sorry,” you mumbled, “just tired is all.”

Tom felt his heart go to mush when you yawned, stretching your arms high above your head. He always thought you were cute when you were sleepy, with you constantly rubbing your eyes, and your hair being slightly messy from you fussing around with it. Whenever you would come over in the evenings after work, you would always get like this, and your cuddliness made Tom’s heart increase in size.

“Come on, love. Let’s get some rest,” Tom beckoned, tapping the left side of the huge bed.

You padded over to the crisp, white bedding and slid in with a sigh. You didn’t realize how tired you were until you sunk yourself deeper into Tom’s sheets, a deep yawn escaping your lips.

You felt Tom shift beside you, and turned to see him looking at you with a puzzled look on his face. “Is that my shirt?”

You looked down at the black scoop neck tee you were wearing with a lazy but embarrassed smile. “Yeah, remember? When I spilled the tomato soup that your mom made all over my white blouse, and you gave me this top so I wouldn’t have red stains all over me?”

Tom laughed loudly at the memory, shaking his head. “Oh yeah. Still can’t believe you managed to dump an entire spoonful of tomato soup onto your shirt while you were serving it for yourself.”

“Oh hush, Holland,” you shoved him in between laughs.

The two of you were so tired at this point, that you both were doubled over in laughter. It took a good five minutes before you finally took control over your breathing, letting out a sigh. Tom followed suit, and looked over at you with the goofiest grin on his face. “Ah, y/n, you’re gonna be the death of me, you know that?”

You turn your body towards him and gave a lazy smile in response. “Yep. And you love it.”

Tom hummed as he arched an eyebrow. “Okay, sure, Jan...”

“Holland, don’t use a meme on me right now,” you chuckled, giving him a light slap on his right shoulder. “Now let’s get some sleep before I pass out right now.”

“Whatever, y/l/n,” Tom teased as he pulled the covers up over his body.

You slid down into the sheets, not really knowing what much to do besides turn on your left side, having the covers tucked under your right arm. This was such a weird feeling. You sleeping in the same bed as Tom. Your best friend. You never thought you would be in this position, and the many times you had dreamed about it, it definitely was not because of the lack of rooms in the home.

“Y/n?” Tom whispered from behind you.

“Yeah, Tommy?” You asked, turning your body to face him.

“Can we... cuddle? I’m really cold right now,” Tom mumbled, heat rising to his cheeks.

You felt your own face grow hot at his words. “You, cold? That’s impossible,” you teased. “But yeah, I don’t mind.”

Tom grinned sleepily at your response as he pulled you close to his body, and you nearly gasped at the abrupt action. You quickly nuzzled into his neck, with your head resting on his chest and his left arm slung around your body. Your right arm was laying across his bare torso, your forearm grazing the sculpted abs that graced his beautiful body. Your legs were intertwined with his so naturally, it was as if it were normal.

“Goodnight, y/n,” Tom yawned, a sleepy smile growing on his face.

“Night, Tommy,” you muttered into his neck, immediately dozing off in Tom’s safe arms.

tag list: @jillanaholland

#tom holland #tom holland x reader #tom holland blurb #tom holland imagine #my writing #baby boy

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