#sitting in a corner somewhere with sid like

[ehghtyseven]

All my life I wore #68... [x]

[littlexdeaths]

older brother’s best friend eddie x fem reader

warnings: slight suggestiveness on eddie’s part, but also lots of tooth rotting fluff <3

it’s a recipe for disaster masterlist.

a/n: this takes place somewhere after the car troubles saga, but before the fake dating saga. based on this lovely request, i hope you like it my love! i appreciate your patience xx

“dude, you sound like fucking shit.”

you hear sid’s voice ring out loudly from the dining room.

you sit up, your inherent nosiness now quickly outweighing any desire to pay attention to the movie flashing across the television. so you carefully get up from the sofa and you peek your head around the corner into the dining room.

sid has his back to you, watching out the window while he continues to talk on the phone. wednesday nights were always slotted for band practice, so you knew it could be one of four people that he was talking to. you just hoped it wasn’t a certain curly haired lead guitarist on the other end.

wednesdays had quickly become your days together as well, once sid fell asleep that is.

your brother snorts but just shakes his head in response to whatever the person on the other line just said.

“nah, don’t worry about it, ed. i’ll see what the other guys wanna do, no need to infect the rest of us with your crap.” he laughs and your heart sinks a little.

so eddie wasn’t coming tonight.

while you feel a little disappointed, an idea suddenly comes to you. and your mind is already made up before sid can even finish hanging up the phone. you grab your keys and purse and hurry past him to the front door.

“hey! where the hell are you going in such a rush?” your brother calls while you slip on your sneakers.

“robin’s having really bad cramps, gotta get her some stuff.”

you’re a little shocked with how easily the lies and excuses come to you now, but you know it’s better than dealing with the reality of sid knowing.

“okay— too much info!” he says with a whistle before he picks the phone back up to call jeff.

you make it to the bradley’s big buy without any issues, besides a disapproving look from hopper as you flew past him on main street. you’re just grateful he was feeling nice today and didn’t pull you over.

as you push the squeaky cart through the aisles you begin to pile saltines, pedialyte and chicken noodle soup into the basket. paying extra mind to grab a couple packages of reese’s pieces and twizzlers on your way past the register.

two of his favorites.

during your short drive to forest hills trailer park, you can’t help the nerves from rumbling in your belly. would he be upset that you showed up unannounced? you didn’t think that was likely, but things were still so new between you. and you really don’t want to mess anything up.

but the look of delighted surprise that crosses his features when he opens the door has any lingering worries dissolving almost instantly. while he’s dressed in a pair of checkered pajama pants and a ratty old band tee— he still manages to take your breath away.

“surprise!” you mumble sheepishly.

“you know,” eddie grins, the tip of his finger tapping against his chin, “i don’t think i ordered a nurse?”

his small chuckle quickly morphs into a hacking cough, the male resting his body further against the doorframe. but the way he’s leaning against it is very reminiscent of that night your car broke down, the night that changed everything. only this time the sweat on his brow is from a fever and not the raging humidity.

“well lucky for you, i do house calls,” you tease, lightly brushing past him to enter the trailer.

eddie had set up camp in the living room, if the amount of tissues strewn about the floor were anything to go by.

“uh… sorry ‘bout the mess,” his already pink cheeks flush a shade darker while he quickly tries to tidy up. “—wasn’t expecting company.”

you can tell by his wobbly stance that he shouldn’t be up and moving around at all right now, so when he bends down again to grab more discarded tissues— you stop him.

“hey, don’t worry about that now, okay?” you reassure him, slipping your hand around his waist to guide him back towards his bedroom.

eddie all but deflates into your side, his mouth lifting into another grin when you reach the edge of his unmade bed.

“i see what’s going on here…” he hums, “trying to get me in bed before we’ve even been on a proper date.”

one of his palms slaps over his chest in mock horror as he flops down onto his mattress in the most dramatic, yet completely eddie-like manner imaginable.

“what kind of guy do you think i am, sweetheart?”

you roll your eyes fondly when he sits back up, eyebrows quirking up suggestively beneath his bangs.

“oh shame on me, we must keep that precious virtue of yours intact.” you giggle, letting him wrap his arm around your waist while he tucks you into the space between his thighs.

you can feel the overwhelming warmth radiating through the thin cotton of his shirt, and the beads of sweat beginning to trickle down his neck when you wrap your arms around him.

“please tell me you’ve been taking tylenol or something for this fever, eds.”

concern laces your tone, but you already know the answer by the way he peeks up at you under his lashes in feigned innocence.

“—uh… no.”

you let out a sigh before untangling yourself from him and he almost manages to follow you out of his room. but you are quick to turn on your heel and press a firm hand to his chest.

“nuh uh, mister. you need to lay down,” you scold, despite the pout adorning his features. “and that’s an order.”

eddie utters a soft, so bossy under his breath before he retreats back to his bed. you’re quick to rummage through the medicine cabinet in his bathroom until you find what you’re looking for. coming back to his room with a full glass of water and two tylenol in tow.

he tosses the pills back without any further argument, much to your relief. but the male immediately reaches for you again and you unwillingly slip through his fingers.

“nooo— where are you going now?” he all but whines.

you merely respond with a giggle as you slip out of his room, padding down the hall towards your bag of goodies you left near the front door. you snatch out the candy and pedialyte, and graciously clean up the rest of his tissues before making your way back towards his room.

eddie perks up at the sight of you, immediately pulling back the bedsheets and welcoming you in with open arms. you set your goodies down on his nightstand before sliding in next to him, the male completely enveloping you in his embrace.

“thank you.” he mutters softly, pressing a kiss to the top of your head.

and truly, he means it.

eddie has spent most of his life fending for himself, so he’s not used to someone wanting to dote on him like this. but the fact that you were so willing to drop everything to come here and check on him — spoke volumes.

you carefully tilt your head up to glance at him, his soft chestnut hues meeting yours as he tucks comfortably into his side.

“anytime, eds.”

and you mean it too.

you spend the better part of the evening nursing him back to health, as much he’ll let you anyway. while eddie is beyond grateful that you’re willing to care for him like this, he’s just happy to be in your presence.

and he can’t deny he’s become quite attached to you in the short time you’d started seeing each other. so much so that when you finally get up to make him some dinner he all but clings to your side, despite your protests for him to go rest.

eddie is nothing if not stubborn, so he follows you into the small kitchen. keeping his arms wrapped securely around your waist and his chin resting on your shoulder while you heat up a can of campbell’s chicken noodle soup.

but as much as he's enjoying the coddling in his current state, he draws the line at your attempts to spoon-feed him. it only leads to him playfully nipping at your fingers until he finally manages to sneak the utensil from your grasp.

with his belly fully and his fever beginning to break the two of you make your way back to his bedroom. slipping comfortably beneath the covers while you flip through the tv stations until you’ve settled on some old the price is right reruns.

eddie falls asleep not even five minutes after his head hits the pillow, soft snores tumbling from his plump lips. the utter picture of content. so you can’t help when your gaze quickly shifts from bob barker and the spinning wheel to his sleeping features.

you admire the way his long lashes fan across his freckled cheeks and the little scar on the slope of his nose that you’ve never noticed before. the way his lips are slightly chapped, but still kissable all the same. and when you lean up to press a soft peck to the corner of his mouth, he doesn’t even stir.

but as you snuggle yourself into his chest you miss the way his lips quirk up in a half smile, the male ultimately catching you in the act. eddie decides to say nothing as your breathing begins to slow and you drift off to sound of his steady heartbeat in your ears.

and later, when wayne returns home from work that evening to find you both entangled and sleeping soundly in his nephew’s bed, he just quietly shuts the door behind him with a knowing grin on his face.

series taglist: @nailbatanddungeon @devil-in-hiding @mugloversonly @eddiemunsonfuxks @munsonhoneybaby @alagalaska @creative1writings @missmarch-99 @stolen-in-moonlight @xxbimbobunnyxx @calumfmu @bastardstevie @prestinalove @indigosparkle444 @tlclick73 @hellfire--cult @take-everything-you-can @guiltyasquinn

let me know if you’d like to join the taglist!

[beggingwolf]

Grungy frat star Sid pulls your hair and spits in your mouth but will totally get you a Gatorade after and ask if you wanna stay the night.

For an impossibly long moment, the air is still in the dark bedroom. There's not a single sound. Zhenya doesn't breathe for fear of ruining it. He's hot all over, his muscles happy and used, and just for that second, everything is perfect.

Then Sid lets out a coughing groan, rolling away from a dark, wet-looking spot on the mattress, and the illusion shatters.

Zhenya is sticky; the sweat on his skin grows colder by the second and there's a damp patch beneath his hips. He can feel something unpleasant stuck to the innermost skin of his thigh—the condom had broken, he remembers fuzzily. He has Sid's cum all over him. And in him. And there's rubber stuck to his ass now.

He should get up. He should scrounge for his clothes, sneak back down the stairs, pray Mario's family is fast asleep as he makes his escape. He thinks about it, and then he makes himself try, just for a second, before the shock of pain up his spine stops him in his tracks.

Zhenya's back fucking aches. He'd been clobbered by that ugly defenseman in last night's game, and Sid had planted a single hand in the middle of Zhenya's back to hold him down while he...

Sid mumbles something Zhenya doesn't catch, but he hauls himself up from the bed and shuffles to the bathroom. Zhenya watches over his shoulder as the light flickers on and the door mostly closes, leaving only a sliver of yellow light to slice across the floor of the room.

Zhenya needs to leave. He should go. Sid's given him the perfect opportunity to gracefully exit, because that's what Zhenya is supposed to do. He got what he wanted. It had been more than Zhenya ever expected, but he wasn't stupid about it.

He'd gotten into Sid's bed. He'd had Sid's hands on his skin, his lips, his dick. He'd had Sid inside him. Sid had laughed tipsily and hoisted Zhenya up onto his cock. He'd slid his fingers into Zhenya's mouth and coaxed it open easily. He'd leaned in and spit—rum-sweet and hot—onto Zhenya's tongue. He'd made Zhenya come, and then he'd fucked Zhenya until Zhenya was sore and whining. He'd... he'd...

Zhenya drags his face against the pillow, trying to steel himself. He shouldn't be getting weepy, he shouldn't have wetness gathering at the corners of his eyes because of a stupid teammate. The loud sound of piss hitting the toilet bowl echoes from the bathroom. It's just Sid. Stupid, loud, bossy Sid. Gross Sid, who lets himself stew in his sweaty clothes and doesn't change his socks often enough and leaves wet towels in the team bathroom. Annoying Sid, who is always looking for the loudest jokester on the plane and demanding food from anyone he passes. Flirtatious Sid, who bags someone new in every city they go to. It doesn't mean a thing. Zhenya had just wanted some dick, and he'd gotten it.

There's no reason to be upset now, he tries to tell himself. If he's honest, he doesn't really believe it.

There's a flush, and water starts to run. Zhenya curses at himself for wasting time and tries to push himself up. He's clumsy and weak, unable to do much besides pushing himself up to sit on his hip by the time the bathroom door swings back open to reveal the shadow of Sid.

"Sorry," Zhenya mumbles, but then the bathroom light unexpectedly flicks off.

"Were you asleep?" Sid doesn't quite whisper. "Sorry, didn't mean to wake you up."

"Fine," Zhenya says as he gets closer. Zhenya gropes around on the sheets—he knows his boxers are somewhere on the bed, they'd been trapped beneath his knee when Sid had put him facedown and fingered him to the point of tears. "Sorry, I go, I—"

Sid's palm, so warm it freezes Zhenya still, lands on his shoulderblade.

"Hey, hey," Sid hums to him like he's a horse. Zhenya is powerless to do anything but go as Sid gently presses him back down to the bed.

"Fuck," Sid giggles as his fingers brush against Zhenya's ass. "This got messy, sorry."

Zhenya is quiet as Sid rubs a damp cloth against his skin. It's sloppily done, and Sid doesn't thoroughly probe for all the mess he's left on Zhenya's thighs and balls, but Zhenya can't bring himself to make a sound.

"You want water? Gatorade? I've got blue" he says. Zhenya shakes his head. He needs to thank Sid and leave. He needs to get up, find his keys, and go. His heart thumps loudly, dangerously, in his chest. He needs to be careful, or—

Sid lobs the cloth over the edge of the bed. It lands with a wet sound. Zhenya's so lovesick he can't even be disgusted by it. And then, then, Sid drops back to the mattress with a groan, his heavy arm landing across Zhenya's hips.

"Y'got an alarm for practice?"

Zhenya stares at the top of Sid's head—all he can see—wordlessly. The curls are messy and a little matted. Zhenya had tugged at them vigorously when they'd kissed.

"G?"

"Yes," Zhenya says, though he isn't sure. He hopes he doesn't, because—

"Great," Sid yawns, his jaw working against Zhenya's shoulder. "Night."

Zhenya doesn't twitch as Sid falls asleep next to him, afraid he'll ruin the moment and wake himself up from this dream. He doesn't let his eyes close for what feels like hours, wanting to stay in the quiet twilight for forever, Sid's warm body next to his.

[aerynwrites]

Hey! I have a Tech x Reader request.

Only if you're comfortable with it of course since I know many don't like the topic, but I would like to see:

AZI revealing that the reader is pregnant when they go to SID after Techs fall.

A fix it in which they are all reunited is of course welcome but is not necessary. Choose how you like it :)

I was sitting here hoping for a request like this!!! Bc fuck that ending - that ending doesn’t exists. They are all happy and together and amazing and Cid didn’t do what she did and the empire didn’t come after them and they are all planning to live on Pabu for the rest of their lives okay? Okay cool.

Thanks for the request my friend! Had such a good time writing this! ❤️

Unexpected Endings

Tech x Fem!Reader

A/N: please suspend your disbelief with this one lmao. Didn’t go into the gritty details of how reader saved tech she just did. Happy ending Bc it’s what tech and we deserve lol. Hope y’all enjoy!

Word count: 2.5k

Warnings: talks of pregnancy || reader being pregnant || talks of babies/children and raising them || surprise pregnancy || discussions of death/death scare || but mostly fluff , fluff and more fluff!

**apologies for any grammatical errors, wrote this and posted from my phone, also haven’t written in a while…**

The memories come in flashes.

Flashes of emotions and fragmented pictures as you blink in and out of consciousness.

The last solid thing you remember is lunging from the rail car before Tech could fire his blaster. After that…most of it’s a blur.

You remember vaguely shooting your own grapple line into the still attached portion of the rail car, a searing pain in your shoulder as you grasp the tail end of Techs own grapple line, his weight being almost too much for you to hold alone.

You remember the wind whipping around you as the rail car finally speeds away, Wrecker and Omega shouting your names as they try to haul you both to safety.

Then came the screaming of metal, a deafening smash and then, blackness.

A darkness that ebbs and flows but never fully goes away or stays put. You think you hear shouting at one point, your name at another, Techs voice from far away.

Tech.

That stupid idiot!

That’s the first thing you manage to coherently think once consciousness finally decides to grace you with its presence.

When have we ever followed orders?

What would have been his last words replay over and over in your head as you slowly work your eyes open. Trying to gain sense of your bearings.

Your name comes from somewhere to your right, and you want to turn to look at who it is, but a shooting pain in your neck stops you.

“Don’t move.” They tell you, a gentle hand coming to lie on your shoulder. “You and Tech got the worst of it.”

Tech?

“Tech?” You murmur, lips sticking together, mouth parched. “What…? Is he - did I get to him? Is he…?”

The words come out in slurred whispers, your mind moving too fast and your cotton mouth too dry to produce anything louder.

Finally, a familiar tattooed face appears in your line of sight, brows pulled together tightly despite the way the corners of his lips tug upwards.

“He’s alive. Thanks to you.”

You sag with relief, a small breath puffing past your lips as your eyes slips closed.

He’s alive. He’s alive and he’s here, and he’s okay.

“I’m gonna kill him,” you whisper again, opening your eyes just as Hunter lets out a small chuckle, grimacing slightly at the action as he clutches his middle.

“Yeah, well…get in line.”

You want to respond, but Hunter stops you, instead moving to help you sit up.

The movement is awkward, and reveals to you just how extensive your injuries are. There’s a cast on your leg, bandages wrapped tightly around your midsection, and another cast wrapped securely around your wrist.

Hunter is as gentle as he can be when he helps you sit up, stuffing pillows behind you to help support the action, but every little movement causes a wave of pain to wash through you.

Only when you’re situated and Hunter hands you a small cup of water does the pain start to ebb away, leaving behind a dull ache all over.

You look over to the Sergeant, watching as he seems to mull over something.

“Where’s Tech?” You ask, desperate to see him after everything that happened.

Hunter sighs, “He’s in the other room, probably arguing with AZ over his bed rest orders.”

You huff out a small laugh at that, rolling your eyes. “That sounds like him.” You say, fingers fiddling with the cup in your hands. “But he’s…okay, right? I know you said he’s alive, but-“

Hunter cuts you off, reaching over to take the cup from you before placing a reassuring hand over your own.

“He’s fine. Pretty banged up, but nothing a few weeks of healing won’t fix. Same goes for you.”

You nod, finally relaxing back into the pillows. “And everyone else?”

Hunter smiles. “We’re all fine. All of us. Even Omega, who’s been hard pressed to leave your side by the way. The only reason she’s not here now is because Cid convinced her to go out for some Mantell Mix.”

The mention of Omega brings a smile to your face. “Well, I’m just glad to hear that-“

“You’re awake!”

the chipper voice of AZ interrupts you as the familiar silver droid practically flies into the room.

“Hi, AZ,” you greet the droid, unable to stop your smile from growing at the little guy.

“Recognition processing seems to be functioning normally,” the droid says, hovering closer to you as he does other scans. “No signs of significant Brian trauma or bleeds. No progression of spinal injury. Vitals are holding stable. No signs of other internal injuries…”

You sit patiently as the medical droid rattles on for several more minutes, listing off your injuries and what he’s been doing since you’ve been asleep. Hunter has moved to the corner, talking softly into his comm link to who you assume is the rest of the batch. Probably to let them know you’re awake.

“Do you understand?”

AZ’s questions pulls you from your observation and you look back to the droid.

“I’m sorry, could you repeat that again AZ, I wasn’t paying attention.”

The droid nods and points to a data pad he placed in your lap.

“Your care instructions are listed on there. My main recommendation is bed rest and very low activity levels until your spinal injury and concussion have subsided. Drink lots of fluids along with the medications I’ve recommended and you and your baby should be perfectly fine!”

Your eyes snap up to where AZ still hovers, chest frozen as the breath inside you seems to be sucked from your lungs. Frantic eyes dart to where Hunter still stands, his own eyes wide at the droids words.

You finally manage to stutter out just a few words when you suck in uneven breathes.

“Me and my…baby? Baby?”

Kriff…I think I’m going to pass out again.

AZ’s head cocks to the side, an otherwise adorable gesture if he hadn’t just given you life altering news.

“You’re heart rate is elevated and your breathing is erratic. Are you experiencing distress?”

As much as you love AZ, you want nothing more than for him to leave right now. His presence adding to the anxiety spiking within you.

Hunter must sense this, because he’s immediately stepping forward and ushering the droid from the room despite his protests.

Soon he’s by your side again, eyes searching your own.

“You didn’t know?” He asks.

You shake your head, closing your eyes as you force yourself to take steady, even breaths despite the ache it creates in your ribs.

“No, no I - I didn’t think it was - I never…” you trail off, the reality of the situation sinking in.

The burning of tears at the backs of your eyes comes on quicker than you can anticipate and soon you’re trying in vain to blink them away.

Hunter reacts instantly, standing up and moving towards the door. “I’ll get Tech.”

You don’t have time to respond before he’s gone, his presence soon replaced by the man you thought you were going to lose.

He looks just about as good as you do. He’s dressed in his civilian clothing, but you can see the bandages peeking out from beneath the collar of his shirt, and he’s leaning heavily on a makeshift crutch.

And his goggles are missing.

But none of this even matters when his eyes meet yours. He’s on the edge of your bed faster than an injured man should be, your arms wrapped as tightly as you dare around his middle.

All the words you had for him. All your scathing remarks and scoldings and angry names disappear the moment he wraps his arms around you - and you can do nothing but cry as he holds you.

Finally, after several tear filled moments, you manage to speak through your cries.

“Why would you do that?” You ask, pulling away enough so you’re able to see him. “What were you thinking?”

You emphasize the last word with a hard squeeze to his shoulder, lips tugging down into a frown.

Of course, he has a response ready, probably having already said half a dozen times to his squad mates.

“It was the only logical thing to do in order for the rest of the squad to survive.”

You huff, “obviously not, since what I did worked and we’re all alive.”

Techs brows furrow, his own lips thinning before he speaks. “What you did was illogical and reckless. It had less than a five percent chance of being successful-“

You pull away from him then, eyes wide with disbelief. “But it was successful!” You reiterate, “We’re alive because of it. All of us. You were just ready to throw it all away!”

You’re angry now, angry and sad and heartbroken that you almost watch the man you love die, because of fucking statistics. So, before Tech can talk any sense into you, you continue, needing him to know how much his decision hurt.

“You would have died, Tech. You would have died and left me behind. Left us behind…” your hand falls to your stomach instinctively as you trail off.

“It was the only thing that guaranteed your best chance at survival,” He says again, softer this time as he reaches out to take your hand in his own.

You shake your head, “I don’t care, you can’t…you can’t do that again. Ever. Not anymore.”

He looks confused for a moment, before moving to give you what you’re sure is a rebuttal. Some excuse about how the squad as a whole matters more than one member. But you cut him off before he can, squeezing his hand tightly in your own.

“I’m pregnant, Tech.” You tell him, the words shocking him just as they had you.

He’s silent for a long time, his eyes darting from yours to various places around the room before finally landing on you again.

You don’t know what you expect. Part of you, the romantic part of you, hopes for some grand gesture of love. A mind melting kiss, him to jump up and down in joy, a huge smile to spread across his lips as he spins you around.

Yet, the response he gives you is better than all of that combined. Because it’s Tech, and you should have known he would be logical above all else.

“I think I can refrain from any life sacrifices from now on.”

His words, words only Tech would utter at a time like this, bring a watery smile to your lips as you lean in to embrace him once more.

“You aren’t upset?” You ask, voice small from where your face is tucked into his neck.

He holds you tighter, hand running soothingly up and down your back.

“Quite the contrary,” he says, pressing a kiss to your temple. “I never expected for this to be a possibility, so…I’m still processing.”

You can’t help but laugh as you pull away from him, wiping away any stray tears. “That’s normal…I think. I’m still processing too.”

You shake your head, looking down at where your fingers are now laced with his.

“I thought you said clones couldn’t have children.” You say, looking up at him in question.

He shrugs, and you can practically see the gears in his head turning.

“Technically speaking we should not be able to. The Kaminoans engineered all clones to be infertile, for obvious reasons, but…” he trails off for a moment before continuing. “Clone Force 99, we were an experimental batch of clones. Our inhibitor chips were rendered less functional due to our mutations. Perhaps this is similar.”

He reaches quickly for the data pad on your lap, pulling it up closer so he can see as he taps away at the screen.

You smile. “What are you doing?”

“Looking at your medical information regarding your pregnancy. ” He says plainly, pausing his tapping as he seems to find what you’re looking for. “The baby seems to be healthy,” he says, reiterating what AZ had told you. “However, it’s too early to tell much else without more advanced equipment.” He looks up at you, a rare teasing smile on his lips. “AZ estimates that you are approximately two weeks along in gestation.”

You do the math quickly, cheeks reddening at what it adds up to.

“Pabu?” You ask, unable to stop the smile when Tech nods.

Of course that’s when it happened. It was the first time in forever that any of you in the batch were able to have a sense of normalcy. The first time you weren’t running around on missions or saving each other.

It was…peaceful.

Tech starts typing again and you tug him towards you, urging him to sit next to you on the bed as he does whatever it is he’s doing.

“What are you looking at now?” You ask, sinking down in the pillows so you’re able to rest your head against his shoulder.

“I’m searching for articles on how to take care of an infant, as well as searching for nearby space ports where supplies for children are available.”

His tone is so matter-of-fact, so sure, as if he didn’t even think twice about this sudden change in his life. Like he’s accepted it readily and without trouble.

But you have enough worry for the both of you. Something you make known right away.

“Do…do you think we can do it? Raise a kid with what we do?” You worry the blanket between your fingers. “You almost died today Tech. We all came so close, and I…I can’t do this without you.”

The data pad is set aside as soon as you start talking and his hands come up to cup your cheeks before he brings his lips to yours.

It’s not heated or rushed or heavy. No, this kiss is slow and tender and so full of love you have a feeling you know what Tech wants to say before he even speaks.

He pulls away from you slowly, resting his head against your own as he drops his hands to take yours.

“Missions have always been my top priority,” he begins, and you worry about what he will say until he continues. “Just consider this my new mission, and the only one that matters.” He tells you, bringing one hand to rest gently on your stomach.

“I will speak to Hunter about returning to Pabu, as soon as I’m done.” He says, leaning back into his position beside you as he picks up the data pad once more.

You settle in next to him, holding his free hand in yours as you watch him work.

“Done with what, exactly?”

“Research, of course.” He says, bringing your hand up to press a kiss to your knuckles. “I refuse to be unprepared.”

The next few moments follow in relative silence, both of you just relishing in each other's presence. Only Tech’s periodic baby facts and information interrupt the comfortable silence.

When Tech is discussing the various types of cribs and their different sleep functions, you finally interrupt him.

“I love you, Tech.” You say, stopping the man in his tracks.

He smiles, squeezing your hand in his own as he looks down at you.

“And I, you, darling.”

The words are simple. To the point. Just like Tech.

And when he’s back to telling you about cribs and the best baby formula, you have a sense of all being right with the world.

[damninternetperson]

I like writing. I assume you like reading. Here you go.

I dont know how to tumblr

~

In the corner, for all its glory, sat the ticket machine, a layer of dust coating the top like fuzz. Long had it stopped being used. Long had it needed to be used. Tickets were taken immediately upon arrival. No one had arrived for a while now.

The station itself was simple, if a little dull. Hard flooring. Grey walls. Mundane. Monotone.

They floated around the cold tunnel, with its tall, icy walls, and and sombre chill. Warmth came in the form of light, ripping through the high windows that were always just a little too far out of reach. The light, with its blinding purity, never ceased to end. It was a comfort to them, especially for those who had sat in the biting station for so long their woollen jackets were often coated with dust as well. As old as the ticket machine, the newer ones liked to say.

It was always the newer ones that still had their voices in their throats. Words were not often needed in their newfound residence. The time-display board gave all the words they needed, after all.

The letters flickered and glowed in a gleaming orange hue, painting the surrounding walls in a colour that seemed almost too bright.

High on its pedestal, the time-display had always announced one thing:

Train Coming.

Who were they to question it when it contained wisdom far beyond their own. They often glanced at it, craning their necks in hope.

Train Coming, it said. Had always said.

Those who had been in there longer, with the ice and the white glare of the light and the dust-topped ticket machine, would stare at those orange letters with dark, unblinking eyes. A thing of worship, they would mutter. Distant and out of reach, the display almost mocked them. Distant and out of reach, they let it.

Those who tried to be smart walked the length of the rails, disappearing into the deep blacks and greys of the tunnel.

Those who tried to be smarter had attempted to open the doors, pulling on those elegant, swooping iron barricades. Like the display, the gates remained unchanged. Forever locked. Exactly how they came into existence.

Eternity was bliss.

Eternity was torture.

A silent question, simple in its nature, often echoed through their minds. Where were they?

A silent question because no one dared to question the ever-present light, and the time-display that knew so much more than them.

And so, calm was how they were, ambling around inside the station's cool walls. Sitting on benches for feet that were never really tired. Glancing at the unchanging display.

With all those eyes, wide and staring and empty, it was clear when it all changed.

The letters hesitated in their saffron glow for a moment, flipping to create the words:

Train Arriving.

With their tickets still in their hands, some straight and some wrinkled, yellowed around the edges, they all stumbled toward the edge.

A whistle shrieked somewhere from the inky depths, turning all heads toward it with a unified snap.

Eternity was imprisonment.

Light shined from the void that was the rails, twinkling gently as it came ever closer, and it was so, so much brighter than they could have ever expected. Gleaming with so much more power than that of the harsh lines that cascaded down from above, broiling the tiles with yellow and white.

The train, divine and sacred, slowed to a halt in front of them. Grey like the walls and grey like floor, the train was bland, dry, stale.

Silently, the doors opened, and no one moved. The train creaked quietly and they all watched. No one moved.

A shoe thrust through the crowd, worn leather, stepping heavily onto the wooden flooring, and as they took a seat upon the one of the many couches, everyone followed suit. They all clambered on, their shoes echoing on the tiles.

A whistle shrilled above them and the doors closed as silently as they opened, a thin layer of steam coating the windows. This was it.

They soon reached the black depths that was on either side of the tunnel, shrouding them all in darkness. The finale.

The black soon switched to blinding white, the light burning their eyes, their clothes, their throats.

To the future or to the past. Whichever you preferred.

[savoies]

three times you told sidney if he wanted kids and one time you told him you were gonna have a kid.

Pairing: sidney crosby x reader.

Summary: the title says it all.

Word count: 1.1k

Warnings: maybe one bad word and hints of sex.

A/N: thank you to caitee@pierreslucdubois for helping bring up this idea and enjoy my first 3 + 1 fic. also the current divisions aren't present here.

taglist: ​ ​ @nhlpetey @mitch-slap ​ @frostythegoalman ​ @ryanssuzuki  @aria253264 ​  @josty ​ ​ @kaitieskidmore1 ​ ​ @kiedhara ​ ​ @laurenairay ​ @teenagekook ​ ​ @alxvlasic ​ ​ ​ @hockeyallthetime ​ ​ @barzy-baby ​ ​ ​ @officialgritty ​ ​ @bowenbyram ​ @mems06 ​ @joshsandersons ​  @connormcdavo ​ @maattamatthews ​ ​ @pierreslucdubois ​ ​ @selenophileangel ​ @boqvistsbabe @ana-maa ​ @stars-canucks @quinnhughxs

​tagging some buds: @npatrickz @beauvibaby @heybarzy @tkachuk-yeah @cozycozzy @2manytabsopen ​

(*credit to gif owner*)

I.

You and Sidney had been dating for a few years now. Seeming more like a married couple overall anything. No one really talking about what the next step was or what your future would look like. Honestly with Sid it was more about just seeing what was to come and that everything would come when the time was right. Being basically somewhat married already except not having the title, rings, and wedding.

It was your three year anniversary. Both of you really not wanting to do anything special since you were kind of over that. He had practice earlier in the day but had asked his coach if he could leave a bit earlier.

You at home making your guy's favorite meal. Setting up everything before he arrived home.

~~~

Much later after the meal and a few glasses of wine both of you sat on the couch ignoring the sound of the television and just talking about whatever came up, and for you it was kids.

"Hey Sid have you ever thought about having kids?" You looked questionably at your boyfriend not really ever having brought it up before.

"I mean yeah of course. Teaching them how to play hockey like how my dad taught me, why?" He asked as his soft smile was illuminated by the light of the tv. 

"Just curious" You said as you placed your head on his shoulder and watched whatever silly rerun was on tv.

II.

Before Sidney had gone on a road trip you had spent the night and most of the day in your room. Wanting to spend every single minute together trying to memorize every single inch of each other like you guys didn't already know everything about the other.

Bringing you to one month later. Sidney currently being somewhere on the West Coast and you standing in your bathroom waiting for the five minute timer to go off.

You had been feeling sick the past few days. Thinking maybe it was something you ate but it sooned dawned on you as your friend was talking about her pregnancy symptoms. 

So now here you stood in your bathroom. Waiting. And waiting. And waiting. You had texted Sidney earlier just a quick text along the lines of a hypothetical situation of you being pregnant and what his reaction would be which he replied to with a simple id be excited.

Now weren't sure how to feel as the timer went off. Did you want to be pregnant? Were you gonna be sad if you weren't? Was Sidney gonna be okay with you not being pregnant? Your breath unsteady as you turned around the test and saw that it only had one line indicating that you were in fact not pregnant.

You let out a breath but you felt a sadness overcome you. Then you remembered what Sidney always told you. The right time will come. 

III.

Baby showers. Some people loved them and some people hated them. Honestly some people just thought it was a way for women to tell their husbands they wanted another kid.

Your friend had been expecting and now here you were at her baby shower/gender reveal with Sidney.

Both of you sitting in one of the corners of the backyard participating in all the silly baby shower games. 

Sidney seemed to be quite into them more than you and you laughed at his enthusiasm to win the prizes.

"Sidney honey you do know you don't have to play every game right." Your eyebrow raised as he had his nose stuffed into a diaper trying to guess what chocolate was smeared on it.

"I don't know about John over here but I want to win the prize." He said as he pointed over at your other friend's husband currently in the same situation as Sidney in trying to guess the chocolate.

You laughed as you got up to get a drink and stood by the table overlooking everyone and in the corner of your eye you saw your very pregnant friend waddling to you.

"Y/N!! I'm so glad you are here." She smiled at you definitely having that pregnancy glow that everyone talked about.

"Happy to be here. This all turned great. " you smiled.

"So are you next?" She looked up at you with her eyebrow raised.

You choked on your drink as you processed her words. You definitely did not expect to be asked about kids at her baby shower.

"Wait have you and Crosby not talked about it?" She looked at you as she registered your reaction.

"We have a few times but it hasn't come up recently." You looked over at him still trying to beat your friend's husband in another game.

"Hey Crosby." Your friend yelled across the lawn as she waddled to your boyfriend.

"So you planning to knock up Y/N soon?" She crossed her arms as both of your eyes widened.

"Oh my gosh, i can not believe you just said that." You said shaking your head.

"Well we aren't really trying right now but if she gets pregnant then i'd be happy." He said as he looked at you and smiled.

+1

Sidney had just gotten back from a game. One of the games that really mattered. The season was wrapping up meaning they needed to step their game up and try to get as many wins as possible.

Of course Sidney being Sidney came back with a win. And couldn't wait to show you how much your support meant to him.

You had taken a test earlier in the day after he left. Having been more hopeful this time since your symptoms were definitely stronger.

Now here you sat on the couch waiting for him to walk through the door and tell him that your life was about to be different. 

"Y/N babe i'm home." He spoke up as he set his things down.

"In the living room." You yelled back. "I need to tell you something." You said as you patted the seat on the couch next to you.

"Oh ok. Everything ok?" He asked as he searched your eyes for a sign.

"Yeah, at least i think so. Can you close your eyes for me please." You said as you grabbed his hands, opened it, and placed the pregnancy test on them.

"Ok you can open them now." You said.

"Wait. No. Are you serious? Is this for real? Are you fucking with me?" He asked as his thoughts registered in his mind.

You shook your head as a few tears pricked at your eyes.

"You're pregnant." He said as he hugged you tightly. "Oh I'm sorry, can't be hurting the baby." He said with the biggest smile on his face. Sidney was right, the right time did come.

[callabang]

Fic Rec: Horror

fics to give you the heebie-jeebies! 

please note: lots of excellent fics have horror elements but read as humor/fluff/crack/etc. for purposes of this rec list i’ve selected the ones that are genuinely unsettling. because of that, i highly encourage heeding the warnings and tags. happy haunting :) 

roam the hunting grounds | Springsteen | J. T. Compher/Tyson Jost

Bye week is supposed to be relaxing. It’s supposed to be a break from teammates and drills and everything else, ideally spent on a beach somewhere tropical. Instead, Tyson is going to spend it with half of his team at a horse ranch in the middle of nowhere. It's not the weirdest thing this team has done, at least, not until the weird noises start, followed by the unshakable feeling that someone's watching.

horror elements: ghosts

I’ve been crawling on the walls | Mellow_Yellow | Travis Konecny/Nolan Patrick

TK hadn’t heard from Nolan in three and a half years, but when he got done listening to the voicemail, he was on his phone buying plane tickets in the next breath.

horror elements: haunted houses

How come you're howling at the moon? | gossamer_gaze | Travis Konecny/Nolan Patrick

He’s in the middle of blinking away tears when he hears it.

The scream.

It cuts through the summer air like a knife on bone, chopping roughly, sending splinters of echos instead of a single clean slice. Even over the wind shaking the leaves in the trees, it’s clearly a scream.

horror elements: werewolves

Red Iris | cornfields | Nicklas Backstrom/Alexander Ovechkin

The day they'd met, Nicky had been sitting by the door of Alex's favorite abandoned convenience store, reading a book. As soon as Nicky had heard footsteps, he’d looked up. His veins had been less prominent then, and the tremors hadn’t really started for him yet. Nevertheless, he’d been visibly infected. Alex had had a passing thought that he ought to run away from this stranger sitting with a book.

Then, though. Then, Nicky had smiled at Alex and freaks don’t smile, freaks don’t sit in the sun and read books, and Alex had started to cry. He hadn’t seen a person in ten months.

horror elements: zombies

in this dream I'm wide awake | McSpot | Brock Boeser & Troy Stecher

Troy had this manner about him that made him just...naturally forgettable. People’s eyes skimmed past him like he was part of the scenery, and Troy acted the part, always standing at the edge of the group, the corner of the room, like at any moment he would just be absorbed into the background.

But that first day of development camp, Brock just saw Troy, this small, pale kid lingering in the corner of the dressing room, staring blankly at the floor while picking listlessly at the hem of his jersey.

horror elements: ghosts

what the water gave me | 181018 | Michael Latta/Tom Wilson

He’d been trying for ages not to go down this route, to ignore his instincts telling him this one, this one is perfect.

horror elements: monsters, body horror

From the Earth | iaintafraidofnoghostbear | Nolan Patrick/Ivan Provorov

So I will not ask you Why you were creeping In some sad way I already know

horror elements: necromancy

til the gravity's too much | pinknovembers | Travis Konecny/Nolan Patrick

Nolan has a sleepwalking problem that's not so much a sleepwalking problem as it is a psychic problem. TK's nosy about it, but he thinks he's allowed to be since it's his house that Nolan keeps showing up at.

horror elements: psychics, murder

Orophobia | getoffmyhead | Sidney Crosby/Evgeni Malkin

When he was twelve years old, Zhenya's father took him camping in the Ural mountains, and he became hopelessly lost. He thought he was alone until something came out of the trees to greet him. A fairy tale creature he learned about from his superstitious grandmother: a wild thing.

It wasn't real, of course. It was the work of a child's terrified imagination, but it put a lifelong fear of the mountains in Zhenya. He successfully avoided them for twenty years until, with bye week approaching, Sid asked, "What if we go skiing this year?"

horror elements: monsters

the moon would be ours | addandsubtract | Dylan Larkin/Zach Werenski

For as long as Zach can remember, his bedroom has always been cold.

horror elements: monsters

[storiesbymads]

MIDNIGHT MILKSHAKE RUNS⁴ ( sun kissed desires . )

Y/N finds herself on the lovers cruise she was supposed to be on with her fiancé—ex-fiancé—when she meets a single man in the suite right next to hers.

warnings: mentions of smut

wc: 1.2k

add yourself to the taglist + series masterlist

Somehow, letting Sidney pound you into the mattress for the second time that day was even better than the first. And the third was better than the second. And so on.

“Oh my God. You’re gonna have to give me like, twenty minutes,” you groaned, quite literally slapping his hand away from where it was inching up your thigh. “And a milkshake.”

“How about I make you cum one more time for me,” he hummed. “And then I get you whatever flavor of milkshake you want.”

“The six weren’t enough for you?” you asked incredulously, looking over to where he was pushing himself up to lean against the headboard. He had beginnings of a cocky smirk growing on his lips as you scoffed at him. You noticed there was still a glistening of your wetness in the corner of his lips from your fourth orgasm.

His tongue peeled out to wet his lips before he responded, “Were they enough for you?”

You rolled your eyes in response, pulling the thin sheets up to cover your chest from his prying eyes.

“Alright, come on,” he said as he pushed himself up from the mattress with a sigh. Your eyes followed him as he walked over to the already opened suitcase near the dresser, a small frown forming on your lips as you watched him pull on a pair of boxers followed by a pair of black sweats. A t-shirt and a pair of gym shorts that resembled what you’d seen him in earlier that morning were tossed onto the foot of the bed a second later.

“Wha-“

“You wanted a milkshake, pretty girl. We’re getting you a milkshake,” he replied.

“I just meant we could order room service.”

“Nope, you wanted a milkshake.”

“Sidney, where are we going to find a milkshake on the boat this late?” The sun had set hours ago, and that was on summer time. It was well into the night by now and you knew that none of the dining centers were going to be open at this time of night nor were they going to get you the strawberry concoction you were craving. At least, that’s what you thought.

“I have my ways,” he shot you a quick wink before continuing. “Now, get dressed.”

“Okay, okay,” you said with a soft lilt in your tone. You should ignore the way the blood was pounding in your ears, right? It’s just post-orgasm bliss. Right?

Sidney pulled on a t-shirt himself as you tugged the one he’d given you over your head with little difficulty. The neckline had been worn in enough that it hung below your collarbones and the fabric felt soft against your marked up skin.

He grabbed your hand to lead you out the door, checking his pockets as he did so to make sure he had the room key tucked into one of them before leading you down the length of the hallway.

“Where are we going?” you asked. It felt surreal to be in the hallway with him so late at night. Everything felt so secretive from the way he carried himself to the way your voice was practically a whisper.

“Be patient,” he tutted softly. The two of you had already left the residential area of the boat and Sidney’s hand had yet to falter from yours.

“Sidney,” you groaned out a few moments later. Your legs were already sore from your earlier activities and you weren’t sure how much more walking you could take. He stayed silent only to pull you through a no-handle door within seconds.

The lights flickered on slowly afterward, presumably motion censored, as he led you to the center of what looked to be the kitchen. He found a stool from somewhere—you honestly had no idea what crevice he’d pulled it out of and you probably couldn’t have guessed if you tried—and motioned for you to sit on it before he crossed the length of the table in front of you.

“Anything specific in mind?”

“Strawberry, please,” you hummed, propping your head on your hands as you watched the man in front of you maneuver around the kitchen with more ease than you would’ve expected. It took him a little longer to find the blender, but you cut him some slack; you probably wouldn’t have been able to find it at all.

It was almost impressive how quick he was in the kitchen. He had the strawberry shake topped with whipped cream and in front of your face within mere minutes of him finding the necessary ingredients. That was a lie. It was incredibly impressive.

A plate of fries was slid in your direction seconds later. You looked up at him with a quirked brow and a questioning look in your eye.

“It’s midnight and you skipped dinner,” he shrugged. “Though, I’m not complaining about what I had instead.”

He had a shy smirk curled into the corner of his lips as he swiped his thumb over the bottom one. His lips were dry at this point, though his tongue followed his finger as if he could still taste you on it. The mundane action had you squeezing your thighs together in search of some sort of friction.

You sipped on the pink liquid in an attempt to hide how flustered you were under his gaze only to unwillingly let out a moan not even a second later.

“Oh my God,” you groaned out. It was quite literally the best strawberry milkshake you’d ever had and that was including the one the diner near your house made. “How is this so good?”

He shrugged in response again, a soft hum falling from his mouth as he watched you.

“And another thing—are we even allowed in here? Like, this doesn’t seem like…” He allowed you to ramble on for a while, only answering when you’d stopped to take another sip of the drink.

“I have my ways,” he said. “There’s a lot you don’t know about me.”

“Yeah, like your last name,” you chuckled but the statement was true. You had no idea how you’d allowed yourself to jump into bed with someone who hadn’t even shared their full name with you.

He stayed silent for a moment, eyes glued to the untouched plate of fries. “Crosby.”

“What?”

“My last name. It’s Crosby,” he said.

“Well, Mr. Crosby. It’s good to officially meet you,” you said as you shoved your hand out in front of you for him to shake. His hand found yours quickly, a soft smile playing at the corners of his lips as he did so.

“Your turn, Miss…”

“Y/L/N,” you said with a final shake of his hand, letting your own fall back to its resting place on the table. Sidney grabbed one of the fries from the tray and popped it into his mouth with a nod.

“You should probably eat if you’re still up for another round,” he offered.

You don’t think you shoveled foot into your face faster, and it probably wasn’t the most sexy thing in the world but neither Sid nor you seemed to care because he had you pressed against him twenty minutes later like his life depended on it.

tagged @kiedhara @pucksandcricketbats @stuetzlesumlaut @penstxgal1968 @linkingdolans @englishmuffinwritesbooks @mrsvech37 @honeybearbarzal @burningbiatch @hannabritta @monalicia @mymanshawn @butgilinsky @pierreslucdubois @damndunner @klutchnetsov @stampiej @punkharts @heatherawoowoo @gothicgirl100 @holyalfalfasprout

[ghostwriterdiariesxoxo]

           I know him. I know all of him. I have for a very long time. I’ve been cleverly placed in the lines of his shows. Pieces of our personal life have been on display for the world to see, hidden in plain sight. He’s loved me, he’s hated me, and at times it was both.

                                                                      - The Other Girl

   I’m thankful for the four wheel drive feature on my rental as I ascend into the hills of L.A. The narrow, winding, residential roads, like miniature switchbacks and the impossibly steep incline is something I’ve never grown accustomed to, even when I lived here myself, years ago.

       My heart stalls for a moment when the familiar steep pitch of the house comes into view and I turn into the narrow driveway tucked between a towering privacy fence overgrown with vines and the two car garage. I sit for a moment, listening to the soft purr of the idling engine, trying to build up the nerve to face him. It’s been so long since I saw him last and my hands tighten on the steering wheel as I close my eyes, cringing away from the memory.

      I take a deep breath. Then another. You flew all the way here from New York. You can make it another fifteen feet, I tell myself. Patty would have never asked me to come here if she wasn’t genuinely concerned. Right? I finally settle on the idea that he may not even answer the door and that gives me enough courage to finally emerge from the vehicle. I’m met with the slight chill of the overcast March air and pull the sleeves of my deep purple sweater down over my hands. As I bypass the house and head around to the guest house I hear the low rumble of thunder pour into the valley. My breath catches in my throat somewhere between a laugh or the sudden urge to cry as the last words he said to me are swept from the dark corners of my mind.

  “Were like a storm, you know? Beautiful, exciting and powerful. That’s us, Sid. But storms can also be unpredictable and devastating. We’ve been standing out in the storm with our arms open and face to the sky for so long. God dammit, I love you. I love you. But we can’t keep each other safe anymore.”

 I stop in my tracks for a moment, pressing my fingers to my lips, trying to keep the tears at bay as I listen to the thunder roll again. The fucking irony.

I make it to the door of the guesthouse. A simple, charming, one story studio apartment with a pitched roof to match the design of the main house. My heart is suddenly wrapping against my ribs when I hear a stream of music play, stop and play again. After a moment I realize he’s most likely editing as that comes with the familiar annoyance of listening to the same several seconds on loop. I tap lightly on the door. A full on knock feels too aggressive. I hear the music stop for a longer beat than before and then after a moment it starts up again. Is this a headphones situation or am I just being ignored?

I knock reluctantly. Nothing. I sigh and look around as if I’ll find a resolve to this conundrum sitting nearby. Just in case he has headphones on I ball up my fist and politely pound on the door. I hear the squeal of something scuffing across the floor.

“Learn some door knocking etiquette whoever the hell you are! Not answering means go the fuck away!”

           Even though it’s a stream of profanity, It’s good to hear his voice again.

           “Bo, it’s me, Sidney. I know you’re trying to work but I just-“

My sentence is cut short when the door opens and there he is. His blonde hair is longer than I’ve ever seen it; hanging around his blue eyes, full of shock and confusion. The beard is new too. Not very long but certainly past a 5 o’clock shadow.

           “Sid?” He whispers to himself.

           “Hi,” I stupidly reply. 

           “What are you doing here?”

“I know, it’s so random. I’m really sorry. Patty’s worried about you. She said you wouldn’t answer the door for anyone and you aren’t taking calls.”

          “And you’re here because...”

I shrug. “I guess she thought maybe you’d answer the door for me?”

        “My mother had you fly across the country so I would answer the door?”

         “Well, It worked...so...yay.”

He sighs deeply, closing his eyes and squeezing the bridge of his nose. No doubt he’s furious.

        “Look, I’m sorry I bothered you,” I say, feeling like a complete fool. “I know she over worries, I should’ve known better. I’ll let you get back to work.” I turn to leave.

       “Sidney, come inside,” he says gently. I look back. His eyes are soft and somewhat apologetic.

      “It’s okay, really. I can just go.”

“It’s storming, Sid,” he gestures towards the sky. “Please, just get inside.”

I stand there, stunned that it’s raining and I don’t know when it started. I look at Bo standing in the doorway. In a way he’s a stranger now. Yet, he’s still as familiar as home. A storm has arrived, I follow him inside.

           A lot of people know Bo. Well, they don’t really KNOW him. They know his face and his name and the person he plays on the stage. From time to time, his mask slips a little and a glimmer of his truth is revealed to the world. Not enough to really know him, but enough to make the world want more of him.

           I know him. I know all of him. I have for a very long time. I’ve been cleverly placed in the lines of his shows. Pieces of our personal life have been on display for the world to see, hidden in plain sight. He’s loved me, he’s hated me, and at times it was both.

           But when the world sees him on stage, lit up and animated and they cheer from the rafters, I still see the funny but shy, awkward and beautiful, bold yet vulnerable boy next door. My best friend. My first….just about everything. And our story is no less intriguing than he is. So here it goes…

  Read On: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13923776/1/Before-the-Act

AO3 https://archiveofourown.org/works/32940187/chapters/81752383

[desolateice]

Cut and Rewritten: This was supposed to be around Chapter 42, after they get back from New York City and before the prom. But I wanted the magazine’s to go with Daniel and that wouldn’t have happened if this interaction had happened earlier. So I got part of the way and then changed my mind and cut it and then rewrote it.

Dutch wanted to take over prom. The idea was weird. The meaning of that six months ago, a couple years ago would have been vastly different than what it meant now. Then it would've been Dutch with joints and booze to sneak in. It would’ve meant introducing Johnny to girls he'd met at the punk bar or at the beach or somewhere where he'd somehow managed to charm them.

As Johnny's life fell into a routine prom kept popping up. Being on student council meant Tommy was still busy. Busy planning prom now that the senior trip was over and then when that was over it was graduation. Johnny didn't know whether he pitied Tommy or was jealous. But he still hosted study night a couple times as they neared the end of the school year. He wasn't the only one busy. Jimmy had gotten to go to visit his campus early. Had met his teachers. Had talked to some fancy lawyers and that long trek ahead, like Ali, that he had and he seemed busy, distracted with a future far off in the distance. Like he already had a job, was already loaded down with cases. Which didn't make any sense to Johnny because what college puts the high school seniors to work early? 

So that left Bobby and Dutch in charge of their prom plans and festivities. And Bobby just held up his hands and told Johnny that because he couldn't take all of the girls he decided he wouldn't take any, and would just go visit them on campus at a different date. He made it seem like this big deal. But Johnny could tell he was delighted to have been invited to campus. 

Dutch seemed so absolutely pleased with his secret plans. He just told Johnny to "Dress pretty". 

Johnny focused on everything else. It was better not to try and think about Dutch and his plans and whatever they might be. It was better to focus on doing kata and helping Mr. Miyagi. Focus on helping the kids with their homework. Going to the animal sanctuary and taking too many dogs on walks around the farm. Throwing balls and freebees and running this way and that with them because they needed the exercise and someone to play with. He focuses on finishing Pride and Prejudice with Daniel. The way Daniel liked to lay down with his legs in his lap, as they sat in the grass together. Usually at Mr. Miyagi's, sometimes at a park.

It's a weird reversal.

Daniel quiet and listening to Johnny. Watching him with those big brown eyes. He was kind of relieved when they finish the chapter and moved on to other homework. All that focus on him was overwhelming. He always got nervous. Heart pounding in his ears. But he was trying to enjoy the moments before they slipped past.

He tried to enjoy dinner with Mrs. LaRusso and the way Daniel would drag him to his room, the way friends do to talk about everything and nothing, to go over homework and math problems. 

Until one evening that he was sitting at Daniel's desk, Daniel's radio on and he looked for a pencil because his broke over the last problem. Daniel was lounging on his bed, giving him time and space to work through the problems before looking them over and he opened the drawer to see a familiar magazine. Johnny pulled it out. It was undeniably the one. The right issue. Tommy's aunt always showed him the cover. He never wanted a copy. Never thought he could bring himself to look or take it home. Because Sid would say something. Would get weird about it. Sid had this thing about how models really should only be women and that male models all were...well liked guys.

Accurate for him he supposed, but he didn't want to deal with the outbursts.

He flicked it open, wondering, curious.

He spotted Daniel out of the corner of his eye, bolt up, rushing over. Like this magazine was some kind of secret. Johnny knew he was in it. He knew that Daniel had worked on the set. It wasn't some secret that he'd have it. Unless Daniel had gotten childish and drawn fake mustaches on his face or something. 

[early2000smovieimagines]

Meeting and Dating Royce Clayton

(Not my gif)(Requested by anonymous)

(I know the walls are supposed to be soundproof so I’m just gonna pretend that the ghosts can make you hear what they want when they want.)

- Being related to Cyrus had it’s perks …you supposed. You were aware of his “eccentric” work so when he died; let’s pretend he really did die, you were given the haunted house of hell. 

- Considering Cyrus was dead and you would be living in his home alone; and possibly because his “lawyer” found you attractive, you were made well aware of what you would be getting into …but in this economy? 

- Truth be told, you didn’t quite believe the lawyer when he told you that ghosts were being held prisoner in the home. You knew that Cyrus worked in the paranormal but you didn’t expect the reality of your situation; the fact that there were tangible entities locked up in your basement, so when you were brought down there and told to put on the glasses …well, lets just say it was a shock. 

- So there you are, walking tentatively behind the lawyer as he acts tough, making jokes and borderline flirting with you; though you aren’t paying much attention to what he’s saying. The ghosts glared as they watched the two of you, well, most glared, others stared or watched with sick interest. 

- You were so focused on watching the leering Jackal that you hadn’t even noticed the other figure that had suddenly materialized beside it. It wasn’t until you’d felt another set of eyes on you that you noticed; out of the corner of your eye, that the cage you were standing next to was no longer empty. 

- Gasping, you whipped your head around and found yourself nearly nose to nose; separated by glass, with the one and only Torn Prince. 

- The lawyer made a joking comment behind you about the ghost and said apparitions grin faltered as his eyes flickered towards the other man who guided you away from the cage with a hand. And, soon enough, you were being led back up the stairs, leaving the angry spirits behind you. 

- The thing about living in a “haunted house” is that you can’t just pretend that it isn't; as much as you may try. After living a perfectly average and sometimes boring life, the thought of having tangible evidence of ghosts is your very own forbidden fruit ...so soon enough you return to the basement. 

- Initially, you were obviously drawn to the more grizzly and disturbed individuals; perhaps occasionally the sadder ones if it was one of those days, but it was only a matter of time before you found yourself fixated on one ghost in particular; maybe if only for said spirits fixation on you. 

- Every time you went downstairs ...there he was ...staring at you. A part of you was scared but another part of you ...the lonely, horny part of you ...sort of liked it.

- He only ever stared. Never swung at you, never acted aggressive, never even glared. He just ...stared.

- There’d been a few days where you waited to see what he’d do, sat down on the floor in front of his cell and resigned yourself to watching him back. He’d smile at you then, smile and walk around his cell, glancing back you every now and again to see if you were still watching.

- After some time, he’d mirror your position on the floor and watch you back with the same amount of intensity for as long as you sat there. Any attempt you made at speaking to him was futile, he never answered, not until about a month after you moved in.

- You’d had a busy week, busy enough that observing ghosts was the last thing on your mind. Well, the spirits were the last thing on your mind until you were going to bed and heard a harsh banging coming from somewhere in the house.

- Your immediate thought was that someone was breaking in; as implausible as that was, and so, you hesitantly picked up something hard and began to investigate.

- The farther from your room you got, the more you realized that it wasn’t coming from anywhere anyone could get in from, it was coming from the basement. With a sigh of relief yet a bit annoyed, you crept down the steps and looked for the culprit.

- Royce; it was obviously Royce, his chest heaved slightly as he panted from the effort of his actions (does he even need to breathe). You folded your arms and met his eyes as you stood in front of his cell.

“You do realize it’s nearly midnight, right?” He merely watched you like he always did.

“Okay,” you said, sighing and nodding your head at his silence. “Okay, yeah.”

- You turned from him and began to walk away before something stopped you. Before he stopped you.

“You look like a dream.” He’d called out as your back was turned and you immediately froze.

- Turning around, you eyed him in surprise, watching as he stared and toyed with his bat. As any rational; or perhaps not so rationally, person would, you backpedaled and stopped in front of his cell again.

“You just talked,” you stated before furrowing you’re brows and clearing your head with a shake. “What did you say?”

“You. Look. Like. A dream.” He emphasized each word with a step forward.

“This is incredible.” You spoke in disbelief.

“Thank you.” He’d replied with a bit of a grin.

- And thus, you began to speak with him quite often, whenever you could really. He was charming, cocky and confident in his own right; even though he was dead. You liked him, even if it was strange.

- That being said, when he asked you to let him out ...you were hesitant. You’d been warned against trusting the spirits so your immediate thought was that he’d been trying to fool you into releasing him all along. You’d quickly excused yourself and kept away from the basement for a bit of time, thinking the whole thing through.

- After some time, you’d decided that you’d take the chance, crept downstairs, carefully unlocked the door to his; you’d checked it to make sure about seven times, cell and let him out.

- You slowly stepped out into the hall after you did so, watching as he walked out of the glass cage with a smile. Your heart beat harder and harder as he gazed at his surroundings before focusing on and approaching you.

- Before you knew it, he was in front of you, his cold hand reaching out and trailing down your arm.

“Why don’t we go upstairs?” You whispered and he met your eyes, smiling in response.

- The two of you shared your first kiss about a week or so after you let him out of his cage. That lawyer had called you as the two of you were sitting together and after a minute or so of you speaking to him; and Royce hearing his attempt to ask you out leaving his mouth, the ghost had pressed his lips to yours.

- In an instant, the phone was forgotten and the lawyers attempt to get you for himself was ruined.

- But while your relationship with the living man was killed before it even began, your relationship with the spirit was only just beginning.

- As we saw, Royce can’t leave your home; not unless he’s released for good, so pda isn’t exactly possible. He’s an indoor boyfriend that can only really give you affection when you’re alone.

- Touchy, touchy, touchy. He’s been alone for a long time and was only about seventeen when he died so he’s at that “prime age” for being a horny, little bastard man.

- Cold touches and kisses. He’s dead so....

- Cheek strokes.

- Coaxing kisses; especially when you first start dating.

- Having kisses peppered across your face and body.

- Feeling a cool weight against some part of you and just knowing that it’s him.

- Sitting on his lap. I assume that it’s possible if he can touch you, right?

- Making out and heavy petting. He’s a bit of a whore for you.

- Occasionally, he’ll ask you to take off “those stupid glasses” so that he can see you as you are and look at your face up close. It’s a vulnerable, intimate sort of moment for the two of you when you don’t know what he’s thinking or how he’s looking at you; and he’s just full on lovestruck staring at you.

- He calls you a few pet names; things like “doll” “kitten” and “angel”, but when hes in a more serious mood, he just sticks to your name.

- He likes to spoon you from behind when you’re cuddling. He likes having you pressed right up against him.

- Him just rubbing your legs when you’re sitting together because you’re soft and he’s completely in love.

- Jumping and jolting because of random cold touches on your bare skin.

- Getting thrown over his shoulder. Even in death, he’s strong and agile as shit.

- Dressing up in 1950s clothing every once in a while just to surprise him. He nearly cried the first time you did. He got all misty eyed and his voice got that stuck in your throat, emotional tone to it; the image is burned in your memory.

- Having him teach you old school dances. He likes watching you fumble around and giggle shyly; he thinks it’s adorable.

- Listening to stories about his life. You can’t help but feel a little melancholy seeing the way his eyes sparkle and the smile that finds its way onto his face as he relives those little past experiences.

- Taking photos of his beloved ballfield and other places for him to see how they changed over the years.

- Letting him tell you baseball facts and recount the different games that he listened to over the radio or saw in the stadium.

- The first time you held his bat (not a poorly hidden innuendo) was borderline erotic for him. A pretty girl touching his prized possession and paying close, careful attention to it? His mouth went dry and he needed a little recovery time before he could speak.

- Movies and tv dates.

- Picnics and candlelit dates in one of your huge, empty glass rooms.

- Laying on the floor together, holding hands and staring up at the clouds through your skylights.

- Please give him a compliment; he wants your praise so badly. You’re literally perfect and he’s got half his face burnt off, he’s a little self conscious.

- He’s sort of shy about his face. He doesn’t like you looking at “it” too much but at the same time, he also gets insecure when you don't look at him. Just try to look at him without focusing on the …burnt side; at least at the beginning of your relationship.

- Being welcomed home by a whispering noise and a pair of glasses coming skidding towards you on the floor.

- Randomly just getting the faint smell of smoke, coldness, and old cologne; or just being able to smell that whenever you’re near him.

- It’s probably not best to have guests over. He’ll be in your ear the entire time, asking you who’s who and trying to make you talk to him, and I doubt most people would handle accidentally seeing a ghost loose in your house; and learning that he’s your boyfriend.

- Calming him down and trying to keep him that way when he gets a rush of anger.

- Cradling his head to your chest/stomach as he’s on his knees, his whole body heaving while he pants and tries to not destroy your house in a fit of rage over something. Royce is a ...troubled individual.

- Given his past, one can assume that Royce is a sort of impulsive. You might have to try and convince him to think things through. Though how much harm can he really do at this point, right?

- He’s dead and your alive, he’s stuck in your inherited house and you wander the streets alone. Your relationship is complex and admittedly difficult, how couldn't he get jealous?

- Royce sort of gets jealous of everyone, just to varying degrees. Your family and friends are meh; he’s more so just envious of them at times but he doesn’t start problems over them. It’s when people; usually men, who aren’t related to or aren't completely platonic with you come around that he actually gets jealous and contemplates …getting rid of them.

- You’re living in a house full of spirits that most likely want to murder you ...and then you’re going into the real world where literally anything could happen to you and he wouldn’t be able to do a damn thing. Of course he’s protective of you!

- That being said, a dark part of him sort of wishes that something would happen to you, not because he wants you to be hurt or because he doesn’t love you, but because he loves you so much. Your relationship is hard for the both of you but he’s the one that can be completely deserted if you chose to leave. He always feels extremely guilty after those thoughts but rest assured, he still has them sometimes.

- The two of you have quite a few fights, he’s just that kind of person. Most of the time it’s stupid bickering but depending on what you’re fighting about, he can get really angry, raising his voice and yelling, maybe making threats; which is when you leave and lock him away behind you.

- When you’re angry at him, all you have to do is take off the glasses and stay in your room …but god he hates it. He gets so, so angry whenever you do ...until his anger morphs into a sort of fear; a fear of you really getting sick of him. As silly as it may be, he can’t help but grow nervous, wondering whether you’re ever going to acknowledge him again.

- He’ll watch you as you go about your day, initially throwing a few tantrums, yelling at you and banging on walls with his bat. He’ll wait for you to forget to close a door or when you willingly leave one open and hesitantly come in, calling out your name in such a depressing tone that you can’t help but feel bad and accept his apology.

- He doesn’t tell you he loves you extremely often but he does say it; usually during very sincere and sweet moments. It’s always memorable whenever he says it.

- You might not know what the future entails but you’re enjoying each other’s company and that’s all that matters, isn’t it?

[ltstarbuck18]

I’ve been feeling sad since Sunday. It’s because of The Rookie, but not because of #chenford. I rewatched it, and that poor mom, the one who took the baby and was just so lost in a sea of sadness hit me like a million bricks at once. When she turns to Nolan and says “My baby died,” I lost it on the repeat viewing. Entire body shaking sobbing. I realized I got triggered, because when you see the pain on that mom’s face as she says her baby died, I realized I’d been there. Now before I go on, let me say this- I had two pregnancies, and both of my babies survived. But their lives did not begin smoothly at all.

My first, born Julia and now Jake, was born at 29 weeks, weighing 2 pounds 14 ounces. They spent 49 days in the neonatal intensive care. To go through an emergency csection due to preeclampsia and know that your baby is very early, and watch them struggle as they continue to grow outside your body because your body failed them- it’s a lot. We made it through though and Jake proved everyone wrong. They taught themself to read at age 2.5 years and are wise beyond their years. Jake is now in middle school and growing too fast!

We met with doctors to talk about having one mor baby. We wanted a big family and doctors said we were good to go have another one. Here’s the thing- there’s no real way to predict you will have preeclampsia again so I don’t think at the time doctors thought I would have it again. We were optimistic.

We found out we were pregnant with our son and my elation quickly turned to fear. Call it a mother’s intuition. We had a lot of complications. This time six years ago, we had a complication and it was believed for a very long few minutes that I lost our son, though he came onscreen via ultrasound shortly after, waving his arms and legs around as if to say, I’m here! I was diagnosed with preeclampsia at 24 weeks pregnant and hospitalized. 3 weeks later, Will would come into the world at 27 weeks weighing 1lb 15 oz, silent and blue. He spent 110 days in the NICU where we watched multiple times as he stared death in the face. We had a night in particular where He was not doing well at all and I felt like I was burning alive inside. Somehow, though, he made it. He came home on oxygen, which three months later was discontinued and he is now a wild 6 year old.

Everything we went through with both kiddos? It can be summed up in that moment on the show when that mom says “my baby died”. We came so close. I would wake up every morning when Will was a baby and worry about SIDS first thing in the morning for months. It was a scary time. It was hard for me to put him down somewhere where I wasn’t. I baby wore him for almost four years because I was so afraid and because his immune system was risky due to chronic lung disease caused by all his intubations in the nicu. We had people we know lose their nicu baby while our son turned the corner. The survivors guilt was hard. The guilt at not being able to carry my children to term was hard. There are days it still threatens to drag me down to the deepest depths of the ocean. Unless you have been through it, you don’t know how it feels...

The thing that struck me the most in this episode of The Rookie (“Amber”) was the way Nolan looked that mom in the eye and said “I know. I’m so sorry,” with so much empathy and compassion. It was an extremely well done episode in my honest opinion.

This is also why I write a lot of baby fic, particularly with Chenford. Because I lost the ability to have a normal birth, to have my big family, and to really enjoy pregnancy. I’m living vicariously through them. Anyway, just some of my thoughts today as I try to sit with these feelings and then let them sail.

[wxlfstxrx]

i’ve asked you like way to many asks already but cAn U iMaGiNE Finn bringing flowers home for his boys because aaaAAAAA

OK i’m quite sure you meant flowers as in,,, bouquets of roses/sunflowers etc. but i had a slightly different idea. i’m honestly too tired to proofread this so i’m sorry if this is a mess LMAO. once again thank you @shinymooncolor for your ideas you have no idea how much i love them

one morning, a couple of days before their first anniversary, finn’s awake at the crack of dawn, long before leo and logan are due to wake up beside him. he’s subconsciously tracing over the small fleur-de-lis tattoo on logan’s hip, trying to decide what to get for them because he’s a complete hopeless romantic and he wants them to know how much they’ve given him over the past year, he wants them to know that they’re the best thing that has happened to him, alongside with joining the league, and he wants them to know he loves them more than anything

his eyes start scanning around the bedroom to get inspiration but his bedroom is honestly, a mess. there’s always clothes strewn all over the floor, and they haven’t really done much decorating over the past year because they never really stay in one fixed room anyway, they just hop around depending on mood, though finn’s room is a hot favourite because it’s the closest to the living room so whenever they’re in a *cough* hurry, they stumble into his room. basically, it is not a good place to search for inspiration in

he has absolutely no clue what to do, and he panics for a bit, until he figures he should ask kasey and sirius for help

the next day, after training, he drags kasey and sirius out for lunch, distractedly telling logan and leo something along the lines of natalie, kasey, birthday, and quickly rushing out of the rink, leaving the two boys completely baffled because natalie’s birthday was two months ago

they head to sid’s for lunch, and finn launches into a whole rant about not knowing what to get for logan and leo, and sirius and kasey, the Ultimate Bros, are throwing ideas at him, and then sirius suddenly goes why don’t you just get them flowers? and kasey retorts that flowers are so cliche THOUGH we already have better ideas on the table, but finn is nodding and his brain is running a hundred miles an hour as they eat. after lunch they head to the nearest garden centre a couple of miles away

he loves the idea of getting flowers, but he also doesn’t want to get them cliche rose bouquets. he, kasey and sirius walk around and kasey has his hands in his pockets, one of them closed around a small box that he’s been carrying around for a couple of days now. he’s looking around as well, and he and finn trade opinions on the different species of plants and flowers that they see as they stroll down the aisles

sirius stays silent, lost in his own thoughts, the image of light brown eyes and windswept golden curls burned into his mind. he smiles to himself, his silver eyes sweeping across the room as he waits for something to catch his eye

finn suddenly remembers the tattoo his fingers had been tracing over the day before, and he makes a beeline for the fragrant white species somewhere in the corner of the large room. kasey follows him, and takes an immediate interest in the yellow flowers, as big as his girlfriend’s heart and as bright as her personality, in the aisle opposite. sirius is wandering a little bit away from them, having stopped by a section of gorgeous blue flowers with yellow centers. forget-me-nots. his fingers brush over the petals of one of the blooms, and the corner of his lip lifts slightly

finn’s giving himself a pat on the back because he thinks he’s quite the genius for picking out lilies for logan, but then he thinks about leo and he’s stumped again. he turns around and casts a quick glance around the room. several pots of bright orange flowers catch his attention and he makes his way over

leonotis leonurus, the sign reads. lion’s tail. finn laughs to himself and picks one up before heading over to where kasey and sirius are standing around the sunflowers. kasey seems nervous, arms folded across his chest and leaning his weight on one foot, but sirius has a wide grin on his face, his eyes bright and dimples showing

finn quirks an eyebrow as he approaches the pair, and kasey shyly pulls the box out of his pocket. finn’s eyes widen and he steps in, throwing his arms around kasey, not needing any words to convey his congratulations and approval. the trio eventually make their purchases and finn drops them both at their places before driving back to the apartment

thankfully, leo and logan are still out so he tries to make quick work of carrying the flowers he’s gotten into the apartment and hiding them. unfortunately, finn o’hara is the kind of guy who’s capable of killing a cactus, so he naturally makes a huge mess. the plants are huge and he’s struggling to carry them safely in and no surprise there but he accidentally drops one of the plants and soil is getting everywhere and he’s trying to clean it up with the roomba they have in the apartment

but the roomba somehow hates him and he practically chases it around for awhile and on hindsight he thinks he should have just swept it up but he’s lazy as fuck and look where that got him. he’s sweaty as heck and he has soil all over him and he’s just a mess. the roomba lazily bumps into his foot at one point and he’s so close to screaming in frustration but then he realises how stupid he looks threatening a goddamn roomba

not ten seconds later the door opens and finn startles. he tries to clean up the mess as best as he can but logan and leo step out of the entryway into the living room and they just stop their convo about thanos and captain marvel halfway, their eyes widening at the sight of finn standing guiltily in the middle of the room with two practically uprooted plants in front of him and soil all over his hands, face, legs and even his… hair? on top of that, the blasted roomba is still going at it, making loud noises to signify that it needs to be cleaned

logan and leo can’t help but burst into laughter while finn just pouts, very petulantly. suddenly though, leo starts sneezing, a few times in succession, and he mentions that he’s allergic to pollen. finn gets very upset, feeling so bad for basically getting pollen around the whole house and quickly, logan and finn clear up the mess and move the flowers to the balcony, shutting the door tightly while leo has already retreated to the bathroom. they find him back in the living room after their shower, and he’s sitting on the now clean couch and smiling at the flowers on the other side of the glass door

finn awkwardly clears his throat and explains himself and leo and logan’s smiles just grow wider even if they’re laughing and shaking their heads in disbelief because finn is just that much of a disaster but they love him anyway. finn is halfway apologising for the pollen when leo just stands up and pulls him in by the waist, kissing him to shut him up and he mumbles against finn’s lips, telling him it’s okay, thank you for the flowers though, i’ll just admire them from in here and finn finally finally relaxes in leo’s arms. logan comes round to hug finn from the back, humming in agreement and he squeezes him tightly because he’s such an idiot but he’s their idiot. their idiot sweetheart

leo then bodily hauls finn up and he wraps his legs around leo’s waist as the three of them retreat to the bedroom and amidst their kisses of gratitude and love, leo and logan worship finn like he’s their god, because he is

[lilyginnyblackv2]

KH3 Novel Vol. 3 - Intermission Twilight - Kairi and Axel Scene - English Translation

Kairi looks at herself in the mirror.

The contents of the trunk, which came from Yen Sid and was delivered to her by Merlin, are spread out on top of the bed. The inside of the trunk is empty. Next to it was Kairi, who had shed the one-piece outfit that she had worn up until now.

Kairi turns about in front of the mirror. The new clothes are the same color as her old one-piece. The things that are different from her previous outfit are the waist belt and the collared hood. The hem of the skirt has a black, pink, and white checkered frill and a black pleat. It also has big pockets. Kairi looks over the new clothes, peers at herself in the mirror one more time, and then clutches a few strands of her hair.

Thinking about it now, 'Why did Riku cut his hair?'*

During her time training with Axel, her hair had a grown a bit longer.

Which would Sora like better, long hair or short hair?

Kairi takes out a pair of scissors from the draw of a desk in the corner of the room and moves the blade, staring at it for a bit. Then she moves in front of the mirror and grabs the tips of her hair.

'Hmm, would shoulder length be good?'

'I just hope I don't mess it up.'**

The new clothes from Yen Sid arrived.

You two are probably both wearing new clothes as well, huh.

I've mentioned this before, but this is a place where you don't have to worry about time. My hair still grows and I still get hungry though.

Lea ---- Axel is the same as ever, and so am I. I feel like we are getting along better now than before. Axel staring, transfixed on my face every once in a while, is the same as ever too. I don't know if he's been able to remember anything though.

I think I'll cut my hair. A new journey is about to begin after all. Or, perhaps it's already starting.

Where are you two right now? What are you doing?

Just as you both have helped me, I think I'll set out to help you. The people you'll meet along the way, the people you've met along the way, the people who need your help. I wonder if I can be one of those people too?***

Please take care of yourself until the day we meet again.

I'm doing fine.****

The sun is setting over the mountains. After training, Axel always stares at that setting sun. He is sitting with his back to her, Kairi calls out, "Axel."

Axel looks back at her with a dazzled look on his face, as if his eyes are stinging from staring at the setting sun. "Ah, you changed your outfit. --- Cut your hair too." Axel said, he spoke as if his mind were somewhere far away. It's Axel's first time seeing her with her new hair cut, but he doesn't let her know if it looks good on her or not. But, she also feels that neither Riku nor Sora will say anything either.

"Yep. So, you gonna try yours on?"Kairi asks, continuing the conversation. When she does, Axel gets a slightly concerned look on his face, then shakes his head.

"Hmm, well, maybe later."

"But, you always wear the same thing, right?"

"It makes for a bold image of me though, right? And it'd be a bit of a problem if, after dressing this way for so long, I changed up my look and couldn't be spotted."

She wonders who it is that Axel's thinking of when he says that. Someone that Axel is thinking of --- Kairi is slightly worried, too.

"That's nice of you."

"It's not like that though." Axel smiled a bit bashfully. Kairi sits down next to Axel and stares at the setting sun.

"Our training will be over soon, huh."

"Yeah."

Axel squints his eyes, still staring at the setting sun.

"I have Namine within me, but if Roxas can return, then Namine can return too, right?"

"Seems so."

"Namine came into being from me, when I was within Sora's heart. So I thought that her returning to me was the solution, but looking at this scenery, feeling the wind on my face, all of this - it probably feels different to her than it does to me."*****

Kairi's short hair flutters in the breeze. Axel just listens to what Kairi has to say.

"Namine is Namine, and though it was short, she lived her own life. Those feelings and experiences were hers, not mine, and the same goes for Roxas too. Nothing's been solved yet."

"That's true." Axel nods, agreeing with Kairi's words. Soon the sun will be fully set. But she already knows that, even after the sun sets, the sky will still glow slightly reddish, creating a space between light and darkness. The sky is at its most beautiful at twilight.

Axel tentatively starts to speak, "A long time ago, back when I was a kid, I had this friend. I only met him once, but there was something mysterious about him. I never saw him again, and he just kinda slipped to the back of my mind. Then, when I met Roxas, my mind was in disbelief - I mean, he looked just like him. But, I never told Roxas about it. It felt like, if I talked to him about it, then he'd end up disappearing like that kid did."******

That had to be Axel's secret. After all, it's something he's never even told Roxas about.

"That kid, his name was Ventus. He's one of the Guardians of Light that Sora and the others are searching for right now. I wonder if he remembers me."

Ahh, so that's it. Axel met Ventus a long time ago. It's connected --- yes, everything is connected.

Kairi taps a finger to her temple, smiling. "I'm sure he's got you memorized."

"It's almost time for us to join up with everyone, so I've had a lot on my mind these days." Axel let's out a breath that isn't quite a sigh. In the glare of the setting sun, Axel's eyes look a little wet.

"You don't have to bear it all on your own anymore, Axel."

Without responding to Kairi's words, Axel just stares at the setting sun.

---

Translation Notes:

* The word used here is そいえば (souieba), which can mean "by the way, now that you mention it, that reminds me, on that subject, speaking of that' so I feel that there are a variety of ways that you could translate this line. Though, they basically all just amount to Kairi being like 'By the by, why'd Riku cut his hair?'

** She actually thinks that she hopes she will cut it well/okay. But I feel 'I hope I don't mess it up' is a bit more of a natural way to express that sentiment.

*** Here Kairi is wondering if she can "join that group (仲間 nakama) too." Those group of people that Sora and Riku have met and helped along the way.

**** Kairi ends the letter with 私は元気です (watashi wa genki desu) this is essentially the standard answer to give when someone asks how you are doing in Japanese (元気ですか - genki desu ka). It's basically the equivalent of our "I'm fine/I'm good" answer when asked "How are you?"

***** The actual Japanese is "when I was inside Sora" and, like, look. It always sounds awkward af when the characters talk about being inside someone, so I just added heart there, because that *is* where Kairi was - inside Sora's heart..

****** Axel refers to Ventus here as そいつ (soitsu), it basically has the same meaning as "aitsu." Even though it can translate to "him/her," I went with "kid" here to avoid possible confusion. I also didn't go with anything like "that guy" or anything like that because it didn't feel right/fitting. "Kid" works better with Axel's personality and way of viewing characters like Roxas, Xion, and Ventus. The English went with that as well.

Also, here Axel uses いつの間にか (itsu no ma ni ka) which means "before one notices, before one is aware, unawares" and the negative form of 気にする (ki ni suru), which means to "worry about, to mind, to care about, etc." The Japanese also makes it clear that Axel's shock at seeing Roxas and him looking so similar to Ventus was something that he noticed right away, but that it was essentially deep down in his heart/mind that the surprise hit. So I went with slightly looser translations that hopefully still capture the essences of those words.

And just a general translation note. Kairi uses a lot of speculative and uncertain words and grammatical structures here (like かな (kana) and だろう (darou)). The second page has Kairi using 君たち (kimi-tachi), 君 (kimi) on it's own means "you" but たち (tachi) makes things plural. So she is referring to you (plural). It isn't made 100% clear/certain, but it seems like she is writing another letter, this time to both Sora and Riku.

[thecheesbyrecipebook]

this is a 2.6k drabble / half-summary of a winter-themed cheesby fic, written as always for @girouxes

it’s very fluffy and sweet.. that’s about it!

(begins in vaguely 2013 - 2015)

sidney crosby doesn’t have time for holiday traditions. it’s always hockey, hockey and hockey. sometimes he’s had time to go home, and sometimes he’s had time to have his family over in pittsburgh but it’s never been proper christmas: not like when he was a kid. it’s become secondary, everything has, next to hockey.

this year is different: they’ve got a game in montreal somewhere between christmas and the new years, and they’ve got a couple of days without a game or practice. he’s got time to go home, but without him at home, new winter traditions have surfaced within the crosby family: mainly to visit a small, frozen lake hidden in the woods around an hour outside of montreal. he’s heard about it, of course he has, both his mom and taylor enjoys telling him what’s happening in their lives.

they’ve told him about the frozen lake hidden away, where you’ve got to wander through a wintery path lit with lanterns, fairy lights and open flame to be led to a small clearing where a small, frozen lake can be seen in the light of flame and moonlight with families, couples and friends skating around it, with a few small cabins to be found around the lake. taylor has described how magical it is, and they’ve gone there every year since they’ve found it.

sid is happy to come along, but of course, even inside the car with taylor gushing excitedly and even walking along the admittingly beautiful path through the snowy forest, lit up by golden flame, his mind is focused on hockey, hockey & hockey.

however, that changes once they arrive at the lake: it is beautiful, lit by flame, joyous laughter to be found along with the nostalgic sound of skates against the frozen lake. it is easy to put on his skates and wander out on the ice. it is easy to feel at home and to feel at peace. it is easy to understand why his family has returned here every year.

he’s skating playfully, loosely and without worry. it’s a refreshing change. taylor comes up to him with a wide grin and rosy cheeks, and gestures towards one of the cottages,

“c’mon, they’ve got the best grilled cheese over there” she says, and sidney for once doesn’t protest, merely chuckles and lets her drag him along to one of the small cottages around the lake. it’s cute, with a small chimney and a door that’s painted orange, with a wooden sign that merely has a lop-sided orange… thing painted on it with two, creepy eyes upon it. outside, there’s a few couples and a couple of families sitting outside with cups of hot chocolate and eating what looks to be, well, grilled cheese.

taylor opens the door, and sid can instantly smell the glorious smell of what must be the grilled cheese, and the warmth emitting from the fireplace within the small cabin. it’s homely, dark wood with a few splashes of orange here and there and a few creepy figurines here and there that sid isn’t sure what they should be.

behind what must be the counter, full of mugs designated for hot chocolate and a few other odd trinkets, there’s a ginger man with a mischievous grin missing a couple of teeth currently speaking with one of the customers, chuckling lightly, as he hands them a grilled cheese and turns to face sid, and blinks rapidly once he spots him.

“fuck, you’re sidney crosby.” he says, and sid doesn’t know how he feels about it, but this man doesn’t seem to be making a big deal out of it as his grin softens, and gestures at them to come forward: taylor coming up first.

“claude!” taylor greets him, and it seems she knows him, which doesn’t surprise sid. taylor, and claude, apparently speak for a few moments and sid feels that claude doesn’t seem to care all that much that he’s sidney crosby.

“what do you want?” claude asks sid, and he blinks, not prepared to get asked a question: especially not with this man grinning straight at him, with a playful twinkle within his eyes.

“..uh, a grilled cheese?”

claude chuckles slightly which is a sound sid doesn’t think he’ll forget, and gestures at the menu above him.. and there seems to be a few options of grilled cheese but..

“the one with jam” sid says, feeling his cheeks flush when claude raises a brow at him, and his grin turns slightly more impish.

“got a sweet tooth, eh?” sid can’t help but chuckle at claude’s comment, even if he’s blushing quite furiously.

“he does,” taylor confirms, and sid jabs her in the side softly. she merely grins back, widely, and it’s never fun when taylor finds someone to gang up on him with. especially not when it’s this claude, with unruly hair, slightly askew apron and a most awful smirk.

it takes a few minutes of waiting, during which taylor and claude continues to engage in casual conversation. it’s surprisingly nice to listen to. then their grilled cheese is done, and claude hands over the grilled cheese to sid with a softer smile,

“i did a couple of tweaks just for you,”

“did you poison it?” sid comments playfully, pointing at a flyers poster up on one of the walls and claude laughs, and shakes his head slightly, “and prevent from being able to see you being demolished by the flyers? nah”

normally sid might be grumpy at the comment, but now, it’s mostly somewhat funny. today’s been nice. and then he tries the grilled cheese.

“holy fuck, this is-” and he can’t help but let out a slight sound of bliss, and he’s not sure why claude’s staring at him like that, but he can see taylor smirking out of the corner of his eyes.

the grilled cheese is,, sweet,, a bit savory,, cheesy, and is that.. is that peanut butter? it melts inside his mouth, and it’s so fucking good.

“did you add peanut butter?” he can’t help but taking another bite out of the grilled cheese, and watching claude who seems to be blushing slightly.

“yeah, strawberry jam, peanut butter and brie cheese”

“just for you, crosby”

“call me sid.”

they talk throughout the evening, and it’s wonderful. he gets another grilled cheese, and a cup of hot chocolate, and during the late evening, when claude closes, sid manages to get claude out on the ice, and they skate together.

he doesn’t ask for claude’s number.

-

the next year, sid returns and claude’s there once again. it’s just as nice as he remembers. claude is just as nice as he remembers. it’s been a stressful year of hockey, and this is a nice reminder of what exists within the world, of what he could have. sid stays long after closing, long after taylor’s gone home, and he skates with claude once again in the middle of night: all alone. the christmas music is still playing, and it is easy to grab at claude’s hand, and let himself be spun around, and have fun.

at 3 am, he gets a ride back with claude’s scooter to his car: it’s nice, holding onto claude tightly as they drive through the darkness, but claude’s clearly familiar with it.

sid still doesn’t ask for claude’s number, and he doesn’t ask claude for his.

-

the next year, sid returns once again and claude is there: and it is better than ever. this time it’s without taylor, and they talk and talk, and claude learns sid how to make sid’s special grilled cheese, and they drink hot chocolate spiked with kahlua, and it’s nice, being here with claude. it’s almost a pause from reality. a pause from hockey.

they skate, once again, bringing the hot chocolate with them out on the ice along with a blanket, and sid tells claude, looking up at the starry sky, things he’s never told anyone before. he suspects the same of what claude tells him.

they both realize at 4 am, it’s too late, and so, they bundle together within the cabin with the fire: holding each other close, and kissing beneath the blankets.

when it’s morning, sidney leaves. he doesn’t leave claude his number.

-

the next year, sid returns once again and claude isn’t there. there’s someone else in the cottage, a shorter guy with greasy hair and wearing a camo beanie, and his grilled cheese is.. okay, but it’s not claude’s. he asks for him, but the guy (tk) just says he couldn’t make it this year, that they had too much going on during the holidays. sid doesn’t quite know what he means, but claude isn’t here so.

he goes home. he- he knows what he should have done before, but it’s scary, it’s scary finding this thing you think is anything better than you could ever have, and he- he abandoned it, let it go- he- he shouldn’t have. he regrets it, but what can he do now. maybe it’s a sign he didn’t deserve it.

-

it’s late april, and they are playing in montreal. they won the game, quite easily, actually, and so some of the guys decided to get out and get dinner at some rustic, half-fancy place someone got recommended by someone in montreal, and sid doesn’t really want to come along (he still has emotional attachment towards montreal, go away) but, geno manages to convince him.

it’s a nice place, in downtown montreal, and there’s something familiar about the orange.. thing on the sign but sid can’t quite place it. it’s got dark wooden tones, is quite full, and sid hears one of his teammates say something about how this is one of the best restaurants in montreal and run by someone giroux. sid doesn’t care too much, but the food looks nice. they’re about to wait to be seated, when a guy (clearly the waiter) comes up to them, and promptly drops the pen and paper he’s got in his hands when he spots them.

ah, a hockey fan, sidney would guess. however, the guy almost.. glares at sid, and well, they did win against montreal tonight, so it makes sense. the guy is quite tall, shoulder-length brown hair and he greets them in a mumble-like tone, and.. sid doesn’t quite enjoy this behavior but, they’re here now, and so, their little party goes to the table they’re gestured to and sid starts to read the menu he’s handed. it’s not the steak he expected, but there seems to be many things here that look good, and oddly, on his diet plan.

he looks up, and sees their waiter (nolan, according to his badge) talking with another guy, a bit taller who is also staring at him strangely, whispering furiously. sigh. geno pokes his shoulder, asking him if he’s okay, noticing the odd behavior, and yeah, sid is. he’s used by it now. he glances down at the menu, decided what to order, when he gets to a desert section where he spots.. a grilled cheese.

more specifically, a grilled cheese containing brie, strawberry jam and peanut butter. it’s just a coincidence, maybe it’s some trendy shit, but- his heart hurts seeing it.

the waiter returns, and takes their orders, while staring oddly at sid once again, and sid doesn’t really care, shaken up by the grilled cheese, and he mumbles his order. he doesn’t order the grilled cheese.

he gets his food, it’s some sort of salad-thing with salmon, and it is really.. good. it is spicy, fresh, got texture, and something about how it tastes feels.. familiar. he’s halfway through his dish, when he looks up, and he can see the door to the kitchen open and he doesn’t think much of it except- except that’s- that’s claude, coming out of the kitchen dressed in full chef garb, laughing with the two waiters and- claude turns, facing him and he blanks.

sid drops his fork onto the plate, and blinks. it looks like claude is about to go towards him, and sid- sid wants it of course, he’s not going to mess up again, but then claude turns on his heel and returns into the kitchen, and sidney is up from the chair, ignoring the confused questions from his teammates as he rushes towards the kitchens, because he cannot lose claude, but the two waiters stop him, and sid know understands why they behaved so strangely about him.

“please, let me see him.” sid says, or almost begs, and they look.. cautious.

“you hurt him.” and sid- sid didn’t think about that, but he knows, he knows how he abandoned claude in the cottage a year and a half ago, and he knows how claude and he whispered false promises under the blankets, and he knows how tenderly claude held his hand, and he-

“i know.” he says, because he did, and he doesn’t know if he can fix it, claude might be seeing someone else, and but-

“i have to see him.”

“explain. tell him i’m sorry.”

the taller waiter with the oddly long face turns to the other one, talking in hushed whispers, until they nod, and start to walk towards an employee-only area, gesturing at sid to follow them.

“fine. don’t wanna cause drama in the kitchen, but we’ve got a small office, you can wait there.”

and he is led through, and he waits for a few minutes, clenching and unclenching his fingers, trying to figure out what to say, and- he doesn’t quite know.

then, claude enters, looking a bit tired but- extremely handsome, as always, with unruly hair and his sleeves rolled up.

“sid,” he says, and sid stands up.

“you’ve got a few minutes, we’re in the middle of the evening rush.”

“uh- yeah”

“didn’t know you- worked at a restaurant.”

“owned a restaurant,” claude says.

“oh. what about the cotta-”

“it’s a special event, we’re there for a week or two every year,”

sid nods, and silence ensues.

“look, sid, why did you want to talk with me?” sid looks back up at claude, who looks.. well, tired, exhausted but also.. sad in a way.

“i’m sorry.” because that- that’s it. “i shouldn’t- i shouldn’t have left you.”

“sid, it’s fine-”

“based by the way those two guys reacted towards me, it doesn’t seem fine.”

“sid..” claude sighs,

“please, unrequited-”

“it wasn’t unrequited.” sid says shortly, walking up to claude.

“i was-”

“scared?” claude huffs lightly.

“yeah”

“me too, but i didn’t run away- you could at least have-”

“i know i could have.”

“you should have.”

“i know. and i’ll regret it, but, meeting with you every year, our nights together, your grilled cheese, that’s- that was like a dream. like something i couldn’t have. i was so.. i hated not seeing you there, this winter, i- i understand why you didn’t come, but i just wanted to see you. say sorry.”

“sid.”

“i’ll go, please just know that i-” sid remains quiet, and begins to turn around.

“-that you what?”

“that i.. care about you. like you. really like you. i- i want you, but- i know-” sid doesn’t say love, because he doesn’t, but he knows the intention can be heard in his tone.

“sid.”

sid stops.

“sid, look at me.”

sid turns around to face claude, and claude looks-

“why do you think your grilled cheese is on the menu?” and oh.

sid kisses claude, and claude kisses back. it’s soft and tender, and it speaks the words they haven’t said. sid understands that he may not be forgotten, that this may not be easy, that they’ll take time to grow together, that they’ll learn to know each other, but- but right now, it’s claude kissing him tenderly and fiercely, and it’s knowing he’s finally found home.

[alienoresimagines]

I'm too tired to be tough (Just wanna be loved by you) | Bill "Hoosier" Smith x Sidney Phillips

A/N : Happy birthday @murphyism, I love you so damn much🥺❤ I hope you’ll enjoy this one and have an amazing birthday!! This was supposed to be fluffy but actually isn’t, it’s more of a character study. I’m not entirely satisfied with it but eh, I hope u’ll like it :) Again thank you @punkgeekchic for being my beta reader and taking the time to correct all my mistakes💙

Taglist :  @murphyism​ @mavysnavy @speirs-sexy-ass​ @order-of-river-phoenix @inglourious-imagines @liebegott​ @tvserie-s-world @stressedinadress @warrior-healer

Posted : 24/09/2020

Masterlist Prompts Taglists

Hoosier loved winters. True winters, with snow and cold, where you’re sick with the flu and not with some illness mosquitoes gave you.

It was the time of the year where he could just lay on whatever surface he found as long as he was wrapped in his blankets.

When he was a kid, he always loved and expected Christmas. His mother’s kind eyes at the end of the stairs near the Christmas tree, waiting for him was the first thing he thought about when asked about home. It was probably the only day he would’ve consider waking up early willingly. Now, he held Christmas and snow even closer to his heart as it was the only things not tainted by the war.

It was the first time he’d celebrate it since he was back. Sidney had invited him to spend it with him, his parents and sister being away somewhere in Chicago. Hoosier refused to think about why he had accepted.

“Are you going to be laid under your blankets all day?”

Sid sat down on the space left of the couch, two cups of coffee in his hands as he handed one to Bill who nodded his thanks while taking the warm cup in his cold hands.

“Why would you want me to do anything else?” He looked up from his blanket, brought the mug to his lips and took a sip, all while carefully studying the younger man who was watching him with something that looked like softness in his kind blue eyes. Hoosier refused to linger on it, but he craved something that he knew only the man beside him could offer. The warmth that was radiating off Sidney only made it to harder to not reach out to grab him by the collar and cuddle to his side. He didn’t even know why he was fighting that instinct, that need.

The source of all his internal conflicts was neatly clothed, Bill noticed. His blonde, slightly curly hair was arranged perfectly to fit his face, his white shirt straight and clean. No matter how much he denied it, Sid always put time into his appearance. There were times Hoosier feared it was to impress him.

Though there was no need, the only thing between them two being Hoosier himself. And for once he was ready to give in. Ready to give him more than a few kisses when the war came too close from knocking at his heart’s door, more than lingering touches he couldn’t hold back, to give him the person he was, but most importantly the person he wasn’t anymore.

“Fair point.” Sidney’s gentle voice brought him back to reality, making him painfully realize how dry his throat was. As if he was back on the damned last island, with dust and blood everywhere he looked. It was easier when they were fighting a war. Then Hoosier could act as he wanted, although chained by fear, he was allowed to joke around and in a rush of fondness give a present and celebrating someone’s birthday. Even if the present was a mere grenade, in a battle it could save his life. But Hoosier hadn’t think about that aspect, it was simply the first thing he laid the hand on. After all, they were in a war, he could have died at any moment, leaving and forgetting everything behind. Past loves and future sorrows.

Hoosier took another sip of his too hot coffee without breaking the eye contact, feeling the warmth deep within his chest again and butterflies in his stomach. Maybe this time, Sid wouldn’t be disappointed and Hoosier’s heart wouldn’t be crushed.

The ringing of the phone in the hallway pierced his ears but he did not flinch and instead rolled his eyes and reluctantly started to move out of his comfortable spot.

“I’ll take that one, Bill.” Sid was off before Hoosier could say a thing but he heard how the younger one’s voice was shaking. His fists clenched as guilt washed over him but he couldn’t let his fences down, no matter how much he tried. Hoosier felt like the bad boy in high school who’d bring girl’s hopes up just to let them know he was in fact interested in their best friend. His mother didn’t raise him like such, the twist in his stomach let him know.

It most probably wasn’t what Sid had in mind as company for Christmas. Hoosier threw his head back and closed his eyes, praying to a god he stopped believing in.

Sidney’s youthful faith appeared in the doorway, a fake smile on his face and Hoosier’s silent prayers turned into curses.

“Eugene wants to know if we’re down for a walk.” He was tired, Hoosier finally realized.

Tired of loving someone who didn’t allow himself to give it back.

Tired of trying and trying for what seemed to be nothing.

Bill was tired too.

“When?”

“Why would that matter, do you have something planned in the near future?” That stung, and Bill flinched. He deserved it though, but what hurt even more was the look of guilt on Sid’s features. People like Sid shouldn’t have to be sad or feel any kind of negative emotions.

“Yes, for ya to sit down here and cuddle me, ’m cold.” Sid watched him with wide eyes, surely repeating what he just said in his head over and over to be sure it was real. Bill watched as Sid’s blue eyes sparkled and he bit his lips, trying so hard not to smile but failing miserably.

That sight was worth fighting every evil in the world.

“I..I’m sure Gene won’t take that against you.” No, that he wouldn’t. But Bill knew that Sledge fella had some unpleasant but deserved words for him. Bill smiled at Sid, truly and with every emotions he could muster. It seemed to be enough for Sid as he left, lighter than before.

Somehow, it hurt even more.

When Sid returned, after muffled whispers of bliss and hushed confessions to his best friend, the smile hadn’t left his face, even if Bill could say he was trying to tone it down.

His own face was softened, lips forming a lazy smile as he observed Sid with a raised eyebrow.

“What?” He asked while making place for him.

“Are you alright? I mean.. I don’t want to force you in anything you don’t want.. I-” Sidney spoke fast his doubts but his eyes didn’t lie. Oh, what did Bill do? What was he even doing?

Nothing good could ever come out of it, his brain whispered.

He’s scarred and so are you. Right now doesn’t have to be good as long as he makes you feel a better man, his heart chimed in.

Bill’s face darkened for a second before he looked at Sid’s face again. He made eye contact with him for several seconds, corners of the lips twitching slightly.

“Sid. Stop thinking and come cuddle with me.” Sid laughed in relief, still a bit stiff but making his way over. They struggled a bit at first with all the fluffy blankets but they managed, and the younger one settled on his side, head layed on Bill’s shoulder and slowly intertwining their fingers, his own shaking.

Hesitating, not sure of the moves he was allowed to do without making Bill walk away.

For the first time in days, Bill’s love for Sid won against his hatred, and he firmly but tenderly squeezed Sid’s hand.