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gothicpaperback · 2 days ago

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<<< PART THREE: LIABILITIES | PART FIVE: COMING SOON >>>

wc: 6,1k | rating: 18+ for eventual smut | Harry Castillo x You | FALSE RELATIONSHIP

summary: you don’t believe in love. neither does he. that’s the only thing you agree on. after swearing off romance, you’ve built a quiet life in art preservation and avoiding anything resembling vulnerability. but when Harry Castillo, arrogant, infuriating, and stupidly rich, proposes you pretend to be his fiancée for the sake of getting his overbearing mother off his back, you’re thrown. but the money is good and with your detached views on romance and love, you make the perfect polished, commitment-free partner. It’s just a deal; cold, clean and temporary. but pretending to be in love with a man you can’t stand has a way of making you feel things you promised yourself you’d never feel again. especially when he starts looking at you like you're more than just a line item in a contract. And worst of all? You start looking back

the MC female character is YOU. she is not named and barely described physically aside from being able bodied and having hair long enough to grab.

tags/warnings: false relationship, mentions of materialists film spoilers, smut, enemies to lovers. i will add more tags as they become relevant.

THE ART OF THE DEAL | PART FOUR| SIGNS OF INSTABILITY

"We're engaged."

You hear it seconds before you actually comprehend it. By the time your brain catches up with what he's just said the entire family is reacting. Mona has tears in her eyes and Adrian is clapping harder than anyone.

Mason and Eleanor look pleased, but a little irritated, not that you can blame them after overshadowing their big news. And there at the end of the table is Ada looking stone faced, clapping politely.

You turn to Harry with your brows raised, shocked when his hands go to either side of your jaw and his lips crash against yours.

It's a terrible kiss. Hard and dry and you can barely focus because your mind is going a million miles an hour. Everything in you wants to push him off of you and go running from the house.��

Think of the money.

Everyone is clapping, excitedly whooping and Harry has the gall to give a dimpled grin at everyone.

And suddenly the family is circling you giving you and Harry hugs, welcoming you to the family, asking about wedding plans. You feel overwhelmed, your eyes huge. Harry holds you through all of it, arm around your waist as if he's scared you'll take off running. Who knows, maybe you will.

"But you don't have a ring," Eleanor says with a puzzled look as she takes your left hand. "Where is the heirloom ring?"

"It needs to be resized," Harry explains smoothly. "I just couldn’t wait to ask her."

You just keep nodding and blinking, forcing yourself to smile at everyone. Inside your stomach is a twister and you want to murder the tall man next to you.

"Mason proposed on top of the empire State building," Eleanor tells you with a beam up at him. "He rented out the whole 86th floor because my favorite movie is Sleepless in Seattle. He had candles and a string quarter and from the elevator to the table was littered with rose petals. My sister was so jealous."

You try to hold in a smirk. That proposal sounds ridiculous. But you nod and tell her it sounds wonderful.

Mona keeps hugging you and saying she can't wait to have you as her new daughter. You're surprised how your eyes grow wet at this statement.

Then she's hugging Eleanor saying that she loves her and thanks her for giving her a grandchild. She goes between the two of you like a ping pong, overwhelmed by her embarrassment of riches.

"How did Harrison propose?" Mason asks, his arms around Eleanor, rocking her from behind. "He's always been the romantic one."

This guy rents out a floor of the empire State building and Harry is the romantic one?

"Honey, did you want to take this one?" You say to Harry with saccharine sweetness. You covertly pinch his side. "You tell it so much better."

"Of course,"' Harry says wincing at the pinch. But for the first time in his life, he is at a loss.

And for the first time in the evening Ada does something that the two of you can appreciate. She stands, making a great show of tapping her cane.

"I'm afraid all of this enthusiasm has me feeling quite exhausted. Mona, help me to my room."

Mona nods, squeezing you and Eleanor's hands once more before walking after her mother who can clearly make it to her room alone.

Harry takes the opportunity to excuse the two of you, saying that you two should be leaving. Eleanor and Mason, clearly overwhelmed by everything that happened tonight, agree, heading for the door after giving their Uncle Adrian a tight hug.

It's only once you're in the car and being driven home that you let the smile drop from your face. As soon as the large estate is in the rearview mirror you swing to face Harry next to you, bracing himself.

"What the fuck is wrong with you? Engaged is not what we agreed to, Castillo!"

"I know," Harry says, dragging his hand down his face as the car tires move over the gravel. "I can't believe I did that."

You're surprised to see Harry looking so out of sorts. He looks minutes away from ripping his hair out.

"Well, you have to tell them the truth."

"That I'm paying you to pretend to be in a relationship with me?"

"I don't know what you're going to tell them, but this was not the agreement," you snap. "I agreed to girlfriend. That's it."

"This changes practically nothing. You'll wear an engagement ring around my family and that's it."

"Are you serious?"

"Listen, this actually works in our favor. We go along with all this engaged stuff and then i end the 'engagement' in six months, I'm heartbroken, my mother gets off my back about marrying and you and I can part ways."

"You're demented."

"Can you just be reasonable?" Harry says, equally heated. "We end this a full half a year sooner than projected. And you'll still be paid for an entire year. This is a bargain."

"How are we ending things?"

"Huh?"

"You said that you're ending the relationship in 6 months. How are you going to end it? What's your reasoning going to be?"

His fingers begin tapping against his thighs as he thinks. "You have to move abroad for work."

"And if they run into me in downtown New York? How am I going to explain that?"

Harry pauses, exhaling sharply in frustration. He wants this all finished and tied up neat with a bow. "I'll tell them you cheated on me."

"What the fuck? No!" You almost shout, surprising him. "So your family can hate me?"

"You don't even know my family! Why do you care if they like you or not?"

"I don't like the thought of people hating me. Your family was nice. Come up with something else."

Harry tilts his head back against the seat, eyes closing as he rubs at his left temple.

"Fine. You want kids and I don't. You thought I'd change my mind by the time we got married but I didn't. Happy? Good enough?"

He doesn't notice the way your brows twitch together, focused only on your eventual nod. "Yeah. That's a good one."

You feel uneasy for the rest of the car ride home. You check your phone when it vibrates in your pocket.

Payment cleared.

You exhale as the car pulls up alongside the sidewalk outside of your building and as you step out of the vehicle you’re not surprised to find Harry there opening the door for you.

He gives you a weak smile and the sight of it infuriates you. You're irritated that his money means he can treat you like a puppet. But more furious that you're allowing it.

You shoulder past him, throwing out an ugly: "Just so you know Harrison, you're a terrible kisser."

----

Harry paces back and forth in front of the mirror that evening, a scowl on his face. Everything feels so fucked up, so out of control.

Harry has always been in control. He's got everything planned; he knows how to control a room, a business, a social life. And now he's here at midnight, drinking and berating himself for coming up with this stupid plan in the first place.

He was just so sick of the pressure to perform, to be perfect, to outdo Mason, to be the head of the family.

Just so you know Harrison, you're a terrible kisser.

Fuck why does that embarrass him so much? He hadn't been trying to be romantic. He just wanted to sell the story.

He's not a bad kisser is he?

He's had too much to drink because the phone is in his hand and he's sending a text before he stops to think.

Hey. It's Harry

Hi H. How's it going?

Heard through the grapevine that you're engaged. Congrats!

Yeah, I'm pretty happy about it. He's a chill guy.

Harry laughs softly to himself. Lucy's acerbic tone reads even through text. He quickly sobers as he shoots of another text.

Weird question but I need you to be 100000% honest.

Was I a good kisser?

The phone rings suddenly, startling him. Lucy's number flashes up on the screen and he answers hastily.

"Hey Luc-"

"Harry, what the hell are you asking me that for?"

Harry can feel the back of his neck flushing. She doesn't sound upset, more confused with a touch of amusement.

"It's weirdly important to me and I need you to be brutally honest, Lucy."

He thinks he hears her sigh on the other end of the phone. "Harry, as a woman engaged to another man this feels weird to say, but you were one of the best kissers I've ever had."

Harry cannot deny the fission of pleasure this brings him. "You promise?"

"I swear to you. Now tell me why you're asking."

Harry thinks about pretending to get another call, but Lucy is kind and a gentle soul to talk to.

"I was with this woman tonight and we kissed and then we got in an argument and she told me I was a terrible kisser."

It sounds so juvenile when he says it out loud like this. It's enough to have him cringing into his palm even though he's the only one in his bedroom.

"My sweet unicorn," Lucy giggles. "Harry, she was clearly just saying that to get under your skin."

"You think?"

"I know."

-----

The following days are busy ones at the gallery. You've been hard at work with the restoration and have been spending long hours behind your workbench. Y

Tonight, the small portrait resting delicately beneath the focused beam of your lamp. Before anything else, you spend time examining it closely. Under raking light and a low-powered microscope, you look for cracks in the paint layer, signs of flaking, and any past repairs that may have been poorly done. Every restoration has a story buried in its layers.

Maybe that's what you like about your job, the stories.

You begin with a gentle surface cleaning, using soft cotton swabs and a mild conservation-grade solution to lift off years of soot and environmental buildup. It’s slow, careful, methodical work. It makes your back ache and your neck crick some days.

It can be stressful as well because too much pressure or the wrong solvent could strip the original paint. Once the surface is stable and clean, you turn to the areas of loss. Tiny gaps where the paint has chipped away are filled in with a conservation-grade filler and carefully textured to match the original surface. Then comes the inpainting, using reversible pigments to bring color back where it's missing, always matching the original tones as faithfully as possible.

Throughout the process, you're thinking not just about how the piece looks now, but how it will age. Every decision has to be reversible, ethical, and gentle. Always gentle. Always respectful of the artist's hand and the passage of time. It reminds you how quickly time does rush by, memories soon forgotten.

But this focus is good because that means that you don't have time to focus on Harry or the fact that he's just thrown a hand grenade into your fake relationship. When you do think about it on your lunch break this afternoon it pisses you off. You feel trapped, both by the situation and by the fact that you need Harry's money now.

You recently made an expensive decision and you can't back out of it now. It was idiotic to do that perhaps, but it seemed like the right thing to do.

But now? Now that seems like the stupidest thing you could have ever done. It ties you to Harry for the next year or six months or however long he decides to play up this charade. You're supposed to be engaged to him? A man you can barely stand for more than a few minutes at a time?

But you don’t have a choice. You know this as you compose the text to him.

I’ll keep going with this ruse. But no more curveballs

Deal. Thank you.

"I love your dress."

You glance up to see Gemma grinning at you, surveying your new outfit, your recently done hair, the high end makeup you treated yourself to.

"Thanks, I just got it," you say with a small smile to yourself. After your argument with Harry you indulged in a bit of online retail therapy. Most of it is set to be returned because of guilt however. You don't need the stuff and it doesn't hurt Harry to spend his money. He has so much of it he'll never notice.

"Have I told you the latest about Bradford?" She says with a giggle, coming to take a seat opposite you. "He wants to take me to Palm Spring for the weekend."

"Why palm springs?"

"He has a gallery down there he wants me to see. He wants some advice on a new collection."

You listen with wrapped focus as she tells you the numerous dates she and Bradford have been on. You fade in and out when the details become little saccharine but for the most part you're an attentive listener.

"I better go, I have someone coming by," she says jumping up from her chair. "They want to see the Rosalba Carriera."

She's off before you can ask any follow-up questions just as a buzz goes off in your pocket. You have a message from Harry.

We have an event this Saturday. The Mets play the Giants this week and since my grandmother is in town my family is attending.

You like baseball?

Ada does.

You don't bother confessing that you yourself love baseball. That you have since you were a child sitting beside your dad in the cheap seats.

For once this is something you actually want to do.

I'll be there.

Okay. The car will be to get you at noon.

I'll just meet you there. I have an errand I need to run.

No girlfriend of mine is taking a taxi. I'll be to your apartment at noon.

The conversation is over, you know this much. You toss your phone onto the table in irritation. Fuck this guy telling you that you can't just meet him there.

Is all of this worth it?

You pull out your phone and swipe through the photos. There's one from Christmas years ago, your mother dressed in a snowman onesie and your dad laughing in his favorite chair.

You smile. Yeah, it's worth it.

The only issue is pretending to be together. Is one thing at a dinner where Harry can do a lot of the conversationally heavy lifting. But this event gives opportunity for side talking, for probing questions.

You're mulling over how to navigate this whole engagement thing when a clatter of heels rings out. It's Gemma with a tall, handsome man in tow.

"And this is the woman I was telling you about," she says with a proud look in your direction. "Our head art conservator."

The man behind her gives a shy smile your way, pushing his glasses up his nose a bit. Nervously. He's a severe kind of handsome with a noble look, almost aristocratic. He's dressed well, tailored and put together.

You stand, looking politely his way.

"George Edwin," he says extending his hand to you. You introduce yourself with a quick smile, noticing the expensive watch and shoes he wears. His light eyes move over one of your past words, the years of grime washed away leaving only beautiful paintstrokes.

"Your work is exemplary," George says in awe. "I've never seen restoration talent like this in all my time purchasing."

You can't help but blush, eyes downcast. "Thank you."

Gemma smiles widely. "George is here to purchase some items for a private buyer."

"Oh?"

He must see your disappointment because George raises a brow slightly.

“Yes, but any pieces they purchase will remain in the gallery," he says. "A donation of sorts."

A tax write off. But still, fantastic news that the items will still be able to be seen by the general public. It's a fairly common act for those that wish to retain the value of their art knowing that museums can take better care of items than they would in their own home. It also enhances the item's value.

"He's here to look at the Carriera specifically."

"Rumor is it arrived not long ago," George adds.

"I'm working on it right now."

"May I?"

"Of course."

You guide him over to your work desk, standing back so he can see what you've accomplished so far.

"I can't believe a museum hasn't scooped you up yet."

"They've tried," Gemma says, pride in her voice.

"My family always came to this gallery when I was growing up,” you explain. “I like it here."

"I'll meet you upstairs with the paperwork," Gemma says with a secret sort of smile, clearly seeing the spark between the two of you. You'll have to thank her with drinks later.

"Could I give you my number?" George asks with a playful grin once she's gone. "I'm in town only a few weeks for the acquisition but I would love to take you to dinner while I'm here."

This isn't the first time you've run into this with out of town guests. A few weeks means no attachments, no strings. It promises dinners out and uninhibited sex all over your apartment and maybe his hotel room.

You hand him your phone.

"I'd love that."

________________

Harry is surprised to see you waiting outside your apartment wearing jeans, a Mets team t-shirt and a matching baseball cap. Your fingernails are painted blue and orange and Harry realizes that they match your shoelaces.

When you see him exit the car you offer a wave, not flinching half as much when he kisses your cheek in greeting. You're getting used to it. You’re disappointed to see that he’s dressed like he normally is – curated and neutral. Expensive jeans, tailored shirt, smelling good.

"You need to wear this," he says pulling the heirloom ring from his pocket as the two of you sit in the town car. He had it resized for your finger yesterday. You take it from him but make no move to put it on.

You just stare at it, body jostling when the car goes over a bump. Harry feels his brows knit together when you hesitate.

"Just around your family, right?"

"Right."

You nod and then slip it on, surprised at how tasteful it is. You expected gaudy and over the top, but in reality it's rather beautiful.

But along with it comes that suffocated feeling that you always got when you looked at your wedding set. It makes you cringe.

You shuffle your feet and Harry catches the sight of Mets baseball socks peeking out from under the cuff of your jeans.

"You really went all out," Harry murmurs, amused. "Head to toe."

"You sound surprised."

"I didn't peg you as a baseball fan."

"I've been going to games since I was a kid sitting in the cheap seats."

"No cheap seats today," Harry offers with levity. It feels weird to joke about money with you.

"I definitely gonna enjoy myself today,"' you say as you shuffle in your seat. "I always dreamed about watching a games from one the suites. Daryl Strawberry was the reason I joined little league."

This surprises Harry into staring at you. He can't remember you every talking this long.

"You played little league?"

"Yeah, short stop."

"I can't picture it."

"Why not?"

"I'm not sure," Harry says squinting at you. "I imagine libraries and art galleries."

The longer he stares at you he thinks he can imagine the child you. You walking hand in hand with your parents, pointing excitedly at framed pieces on walls. You sitting at a table pouring over a Nancy Drew novel.

"Naw, I like getting dirty."

Harry chuckles to himself, finding it hard to imagine this version of you. Scuffed knees and unkempt hair. You're so put together and have been since he met you.

"My dad took me to games all the time," you explain with a fond look out the window. "He played on his team at college."

"Was he any good?"

"If you ask my mom, no. If you ask him? Yes."

Harry grins, watching as your own smile dims."You okay?"

"Sometimes it's hard..."

The stadium is fast approaching and Harry feels his heart pick up. His family awaits and that means an afternoon of scrutiny. He's so agitated he doesn't even notice you still talking.

"My dad actually-"

"We're here," Harry interrupts as the car comes to a stop. "C'mon."

He doesn't understand why you're suddenly cool when he opens the door for you. Can't comprehend why you flinch at the sensation of his hand on the small of your back.

The two of you move smoothly through the Hodges VIP entrance behind home plate, going through security and being directed to the elevators up to the suites.

Harry notices you dragging your feet as you follow him to the elevator, arms crossed. He tries to catch your eyes but you're looking away from him the entire ride.

"Are you nervous?"

"Nope."

"Remember our st-"

"I remember, Castillo," you say sharply.

Harry has a moment of panic that you're going to blow everything up with your foul mood, but when the elevator opens and his family greets the two of you, he's shocked to see your face contort into a wide smile.

"Mona!"

You step through the sliding glass doors of the Citi Field Luxury Suite, the hum of the stadium roaring behind you like distant thunder.

The air inside is cooler, almost too crisp, with the faint scent of catered food with the citrusy sharpness of someone’s cologne. Plush leather seats line the front of the suite, overlooking the diamond below, and floor-to-ceiling windows bathe everything in the warm late-afternoon sun.

Televisions flicker with the live game feed above the marble-topped bar, but it’s not the Mets you’re worried about.

Harry places a gentle hand on your back as you both walk in, like it’s second nature. Like he’s done it a thousand times. You think he's probably doing it now so you don't run away.

"Finally a woman who knows how to dress for a game!" Mona says with a laugh, pulling you into a tight hug.

"I like that you went for it too," you gush, meaning it as you embrace her back. She smells like expensive perfume.

She's wearing a baseball hat and an expensive looking orange and blue diamond brooch on her cream colored sweater.

"I was so sick of those sticks in the mud you used to bring, Harrison," Mona laughs.

“Mother.”

She looks at you as if she's sharing a secret. "The rest of them were as dull as a bag of rocks. Beautiful of course, but honestly I never understood why he bothered with them. He needs someone with a brain."

"Honestly Mona," comes a miserable voice from the far side of the suite. "Gossiping?"

You watch Mona take a breath, forcing her voice to be light. "Just a little girl talk, mother."

You glance over to see Ada hobbling towards you and Harry. She's wearing a pantsuit, her hair coiffed beautifully. She wears sapphire earrings and makes your way of dressing feel embarrassing.

Her eyes track you the moment you step inside, sharp and unblinking. She’s not buying it. Not the engagement ring, not your relationship. None of it.

"Hello grandmother," Harry says as he steps forward, taking her hand and pressing a kiss to her papery cheek. "Wonderful day for a game."

"That it is," Ada says patting his cheek gently. "If only your brother and his wife were as punctual as you."

"Mason and Sophie will be here soon," Mona says with a frown.

"Traffic was really backed up," you offer. "Maybe just car is stuck."

"I'm sure that's it," Mona nods, thankful for the reason.

"Mm,” Ada says under her breath, more sound than word. It feels like judgment. You internally curse yourself.

Adrian waves at the two of you, a plate of food in his hand. "Just having some lunch before the game starts. Please help yourself."

The food in the suite is the kind that screams *money without trying too hard.*

There’s a platter of mini lobster rolls on buttery brioche buns, still warm, the tails poking out just enough to feel decadent. Next to them, delicate sliders with wagyu beef and caramelized onions, each one topped with a perfect quail egg like it’s no big deal.

Truffle fries are heaped in a tall silver cone, their earthy aroma punching through the air like a challenge to the stadium’s hot dogs outside.

There’s a charcuterie spread that could pass for a Renaissance painting with prosciutto roses, hunks of aged gouda, jewel-toned figs, and almonds glazed in something honeyed and expensive.

For dessert, there’s a tiered tray of macarons in Mets color bright orange and deep blue alongside bite-sized cheesecake squares dusted with edible gold.

Everything is beautifully curated, just like the lie you're living.

"I actually just wanted to grab something before I forget," you say bypassing the elevator in favor of the stairs. "I'll be right back."

You sail by Harry with your eyes averted. He watches the door close behind you, his stomach in knots.

---

You slip out of the luxury suite quietly, the murmured conversation and clinking glasses behind you fading as the heavy door clicks shut. The hum of the stadium swells as you step into the open-air corridor, the space bristling with light and noise.

From up here, the field below is a perfect, emerald stage. The Mets haven't even taken the field yet but the crowd is throbbing with energy.

You walk with purpose, one hand grazing the railing as if to steady yourself against memory.You descend the levels quickly. An elevator would be easier, but you want the walk. It’s not far, but enough to feel the shift, the texture of the stadium changing as you leave the opulence of the suite level for the buzz of the concourse.

Kids run past you in oversized Alonso jerseys, their faces painted and sticky. Somewhere nearby, someone’s singing the "Meet the Mets" song off-key, but joyously

The walk pulls at something inside you, as if each level down brings you closer not just to the field, but to something older, quieter, heavier.

You know exactly where you’re going: the team store, the one tucked under the third base line, near the old Shea memorabilia wall. It’s not the main shop by the rotunda, the one plastered in LED lights and full of tourists. No, this one is smaller, almost hidden, and somehow still smells faintly of leather and sun-faded cardboard.

Memories bubble up but you swallow them down. Inside the team store it's cooler. The overhead lighting buzzes softly, casting a sickly sheen over shelves of hats, replica jerseys,l and bobble heads nodding in eerie unison.

You pass the glossy rows of commemorative bats and head straight for the far wall where a display case of vintage-style pennants hangs beside weathered baseball gloves, perusing for something special.

You think of Harry earlier, how he acted like he cares about your history but then ignored it the second you pulled up. What do you expect? He's not a real friend. He's your employer at best.

Just as you’re winding yourself up into another irritated fever pitch you notice the perfect thing; it is between the baseball cards and framed autographs,; a vintage Mr Met pin, orange and blue and white.

The clerk, a young guy in his twenties, doesn’t comment as he takes your money. He gives you a nod, polite but distracted, his eyes already turning toward the woman behind you.

You head back toward the suite feeling a little lighter. The pin is nestled in your jean pocket, snug and waiting. You pause as the familiar aroma of popcorn and memories assault you.

You didn't see any hot dogs back in the suite and the scent from the concession stand is too strong a pull. You're so focused on whether or not you should get fries as well that you don't notice Harry watching you from several feet away.

----

He came to check up on you, concerned when you seemed to be taking your time. The game is about to start and he's sick of listening to Ada complain. She always has to find fault with everything. The chairs are too stiff, the food is too rich, the heating insufficient.

It's exhausting to listen to.

And now he spots the back of your head as you approach the concession stand, reading the menu. He's about to call your name when someone else beats him to it. Your head swivels to the right, surprised.

A burly man with spiky hair is weaving through the crowd and waving at you. He holds a tall woman's hand, tugging her along.

Harry hangs back, not wanting to stress you out in front of your friends. He promised that he wouldn't intrude more than necessary into your private life and he meant it.

Instead he stands nearby in the crowd, leaning against the wall and watching you covertly over his phone. From this angle he sees the way you tap the toe of your shoe against the sidewalk anxiously.

"Hi Ken," you say weakly when the two figures approach.

Harry watches the man pull you into a hug that you reluctantly return. You're uncomfortable.

"Hiya slugger," Ken laughs. "Shoulda known I'd run into you here."

Slugger? Harry bites back a smirk.

"How longs it been?" Ken asks. "Five years?"

"About that, yeah."

The loud sound of concession purchases and laughing attendees makes the next few sentences impossible to decipher. Harry watches Ken motioning to a pretty woman with auburn hair. Obviously his partner, Harry notes as he winds his arm around her waist.

She gives you a tight smile, clearly not that excited to be talking to her boyfriend's ex. The din from the group dies down and Harry can hear your group again.

"I'm just going to grab a beer," the woman says motioning to the concession stand. She looks at Ken. "You want anything?"

"Yeah grab me a bud."

Harry watches in mild horror as Ken smacks the woman's ass as she walks away with a giggle. He sneaks a glance your way, not surprised to see you standing there stone-faced.

"Best girlfriend in the world," Ken offers.

You nod. "Mhm."

"You look good," Ken says eyeing you up and down, much to your obvious discomfort.

"Thanks."

"You and your dad still coming to games?"

"Not really."

"Still at the same job?"

"Yep."

Harry watches you scratch absently at your elbow, exhaling as you look around. Are you looking for him?

"You still enjoying your freedom?" Ken asks and now Harry is starting to put the pieces together.

You don't reply right away, but Harry watches you bite the inside of your cheek.

"Ruby seems nice," you tell Ken. Harry assumes that's the woman's name. "Where did you two meet?"

"The gym. Just like you and me."

Ken's expression is playful but his eyes are sharp. He's waiting to see your reaction. He wants you to be jealous but from where Harry's standing you just look bored.

"We've been together three years," he adds.

"Cool."

"I'm planning on proposing this summer."

Harry isn't even pretending to look at his phone anymore; he's just staring at the two of you, shoulder leaning against the cement wall.

You don't bother replying. Are you upset or just irritated? He sees your head rise, eyes going to Ken's face.

"I'm happy for you, Ken. Ruby seems really nice and I'm glad she gives you what you need."

Ken clearly isn't expecting that and he gives a derisive snort. You raise a brow at it, thrown by his attitude. "You're happy for me?"

"Of course."

Ken is squaring his shoulders, his face going puce now.

"We were together for six months and you never even gave me a decent reason for splitting," Ken says. "And now you're standing there telling me you're happy for me and Ruby because she gives me what I need?"

Harry watches the way you shift backwards, your body tilted away. You're uncomfortable as his voice rises over the crowd.

"You never knew what I needed."

For a minute, Harry thinks that he should go to you, that you look frightened. But he should have known better.

"Endless attention?" You snap looking irritated, arms crossed. "Someone to make you dinners? Someone to stroke your increasingly bloated ego?"

Ken's teeth are bared with every attribute you throw his way.

"Or is it that insatiable need to be the center of attention at all times?"

Ken scans you from head to toe with a disgusted look on his face. "I can only assume you're still single?"

You don't need Harry to fight your battles for you, but he wants you to return to the suite and this Ken guy is annoying. He sails through the crowd, sidestepping a woman and her son holding a box of popcorn, his eyes on your back.

Ken notices him first, brows rising when Harry reaches forth, sliding an arm around your waist.

"Hey baby, sorry I'm late."

You're clearly relieved, not even tensing up when he presses a kiss to your cheek. Your face is warm, you're upset and this close he can see your eyes are slightly glossy. You're upset. Suddenly Harry isn't irritated, he's fucking pissed off.

He looks at Ken, figuring the cretin to be about five seven at best. He has to look up to glare at Harry.

Your left hand comes to rest on the crook of Harry's arm, his large heirloom ring sparkling on your finger. You wait until Ken's eyes land on it before giving your best smile.

"This is my fiancé," you say with a saccharine edge to your voice. "Ca-Harry. Harry this is Ken, an old friend."

"Fiancé?" Ken looks at you in shock. "Since when did you want to get married again?"

Harry feels the anxiety that overtakes your body. He stands taller, chest puffing as he stares Ken down.

"Since she found someone worth her time."

Ken's face goes an ugly pink color in the cheeks, his eyes narrowing on Harry.

"I wouldn't get too comfortable, pal," Ken says with a sneer your way. "This one isn't into being tied down."

Harry feels your arm tighten around his. He slightly tilts you back so that he's more head on with Ken.

"Really? With me she enjoys being tied down once in a while." He looks your way, putting on a puzzled expression. "Or is it tied up, baby?"

He grins when you laugh out loud, a surprised bark before you slap a hand over your mouth. He's never heard you laugh like that before and it makes him grin widely in response.

"Classy," Ken says sarcastically, his eyes frantically searching the crowd for his girlfriend. Without her it's clear that he feels vulnerable.

"What do you do for work, Ken?"

"Construction. You?"

"Private equity."

Ken can't say anything shitty about that. "Cool."

Ruby returns with two beers, her eyes trained on Harry. She gives him a flirtatious smile, handing Ken his drink without glancing his way.

Harry knows he's handsome, well dressed and gives the air of being part of the upper Echelon. This isn't the first time a taken woman has turned her attention to him in the presence of her partner.

She flips her hair to one side, giving him an alluring look. "Hi, I'm Ruby and you are?"

Harry looks down at you, brows raised. You good to go? You nod. Yeah let's go.

Harry looks Ruby's way. "Leaving."

Ken is still red in the face and now Ruby joins him.

"Have a good evening," Harry says with no sincerity over his shoulder as the two of you turn.

You are trying in vain not to laugh when you hear Ken whining to Ruby about her flirting. When the two of you are safely around the corner Harry gives you a pointed look, his voice a murmur.

"So who was that charmer?"

You roll your eyes. "A drunken mistake about a year after my marriage ended."

"Go on," Harry urges as the two of you make your way back to the luxury suite.

"A hookup I thought could be a friend's with benefits situation. He made it seem like that's what he wanted to. But then seven months later he's changed his mind, he wants serious, he wants commitment. I didn't.

He called me cold and unfeeling a lot of other heinous shit. So I dumped him and haven't seen him since... Until right now." You look at Harry. "Thanks for that by the way."

"It's only right that you get to play the fiancé card too."

For the first time since he's known you, he watches as you smile at him, a sincere, warm thing. Not forced or twisted in barely concealed disgust.

It's nice.

"Yeah, well, fingers crossed I don't run into anymore exes today."

Harry can't help but notice your arm remains crooked around his elbow. He also can't help but notice that he doesn't really mind.

authors note: i really appreciate all of the comments that have been left and i hope my taglist works. does this feel like an old rom com to you? it helps me write if i know what parts you like

💋💋💋💋

i got the line dividers from @saradika-graphics

#the art of the deal #harry castillo fanfiction #harry castillo smut #pedro pascal fanfic #harry castillo #harry castillo the materialists #harry castillo x you #harry castillo materialists #the materialists #harry castillo x female reader #pedro pascal fanfiction #pedro pascal characters #pedro pascal fandom #pedrohub #pedro pascal #pedrohubs

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huntrix-saja-boys · 2 days ago

Text

LUNA-R

This is my first fic for KPDH so please don't mean if characters are OOC.

Beta-read and music co-written by the lovely @queens-peril

Enjoy, heathens!

(also I may or may not make covers of the songs I wrote on my tiktok... when I make the instrumentals for it...)

♡◇♡◇♡◇♡◇♡◇♡◇♡◇♡◇♡◇♡◇♡◇♡◇♡◇♡◇♡

Rumi groaned and turned to the noise behind her. "Do all of you have to be in here while I'm cooking?!"

"Yes." Mystery just stood there, possibly staring at her as he kept a hand on Baby's shoulder to try and stop him from jumping up and reaching his snack box.

Rumi pressed her lips into a thin line, staring at the four boys invading her kitchen. "Fine. If you keep bothering me, I have no choice but to burn your pancakes."

Baby, Romance, Abby, and presumably Mystery, all looked at her with wide eyes, shocked that she would even dream of doing something so horrendous. "NO!"

"Then out! Out of my kitchen! Begone!" She shooed them away, shaking her butter-covered spatula as they ran out. "Baby! Put those chips back! We're eating soon!"

"They're for Zoey!"

"They're not for me! He's lying!"

"Put them back, Baby!" Rumi said, turning back to the stove to keep cooking. She heard some quiet tussling in the living room, someone snatching something away before coming in.

"I know, I know." Jinu's gentle voice cut through the sizzling in the air. "I'll get out of your kitchen."

Rumi turned and smiled, seeing him put away the bag of chips before starting to leave. "Where's my good morning kiss?"

Jinu turned back, a smile gracing his lips before pulling her in for a quick peck. "Good morning."

"Good morning. Did you sleep well?"

"Like a log." He floated up and sat on the counter, letting Rumi move back to the stove. "That new mattress is amazing."

"Good. I was hoping a harder mattress could help with your back problems." She flipped the final pancake onto the stack and handed it to him, along with a large bowl of scrambled eggs and some syrup. "Take these to the table. And don't let Baby near them."

"Yes ma'am." He turned and left the kitchen as quietly as he came in.

"FOOD!"

"NO, BABY!" A smack echoed in the living room. "Bad Saja Boy!"

Rumi sighed and poured a large cup of black coffee for herself as she checked on the bacon. She was gonna need it if she was gonna deal with any of them today. "THANK YOU, ZOEY!"

"YOU'RE WELCOME!"

It only took a few short minutes before all the food was out on the pristinely set table. Everyone gathered around, the girls trying to eat with some decorum, and the boys shoveling food into their mouths like ravenous dogs. Well, all except for Jinu. He seemed to be the only one of the five with some level of restraint.

"You do realize that humans don't eat like that, right?" Zoey said, grabbing the attention of the four boys. "We're not wild animals when it comes to food."

Rumi and Mira both shared a knowing glance. They couldn't even count the times Zoey had demolished an entire Party Size bag of Cheeto Puffs before a concert. Or after a concert. Or on any regular day in general.

"But we're hungry..."

"You're always hungry," Mira said, rolling her eyes. "And don't speak with a mouthful of food. It looks and sounds gross."

"You look and sound gross!"

"Ok! Ok," Rumi said, holding up her hands to try a stop a fight from breaking out. "Both of you, calm down. And boys, you should probably eat slower. You're might choke if you don't."

They all rolled their eyes, mumbling under their breaths as they tried to eat like civilized people.

Once Jinu was done eating, he stood up and grabbed the few empty plates. "Finish up and get dressed. I want everyone by the door in 15 minutes so we can run errands."

Baby groaned and leaned back in his chair. "Can't you go on your own?"

"Getting groceries for eight people is not a one person job, Baby. We all need to help," Zoey said, following Jinu to the kitchen with her own empty plate.

"Especially with how much your fat ass eats..." Abby mumbled.

"I'm not fat! What part about me is fat?!" Baby shouted, gesturing to himself.

"If you two start fighting again then I'm grabbing the Get Along Shirt!" Rumi cut in.

Both boys glared at her and quickly shut up.

"Good. Now go get dressed."

•°••°••°••°••°••°•

"UGHHHHH! My feet hurt!"

They had only been out for an hour and Baby was already whining.

"I told you not to wear your converse," Jinu said with a sigh. "They're half a size too small."

"But they match my hoodie," he whined again.

"You do realize you're not an actual toddler, right?" Mira said condescendingly, heaving a heavy bag of groceries. "You don't have to act like one all the time."

Baby stopped whining immediately, turning to the redhead with a growl and a sneer. "And you realize that you don't have to be a bi-"

Zoey shoved a lollipop into his mouth before he could finish. "Baby, shut up."

"My feet are starting to hurt, though," Mira said to Rumi. "Could we stop-" Before she could finish, Abby picked her up and carried her on his back like it was second nature.

Rumi just smiled at the girl's shocked face. "How's the view?"

"Rumi, make him put me down. Now."

"You can just ask me yourself," Abby said, rolling his eyes.

"Rumi. Make. Him. Put. Me. Down. NOW."

"Abby, can you please set Mira down?" Rumi asked sweetly.

Abby mumbled something about "being nice" and set her back on her feet. "There. Happy?"

Mira reached up and smacked the back on his head as hard as she could. "Now I am."

"Oh, you bi-"

"Abby, shut up." Zoey shoved a lollipop in his mouth as well.

"There's a lot of people out today..." Mystery said softly. He never liked being around a lot of people. Rumi always thought it was odd, but there is a big difference in being around a lot of people and being on a stage where you can keep your distance from the fans.

"Yeah," Jinu said with a chuckle. "Kind of reminds me when we debuted." As soon as he said that, everyone seemed to stop. It couldn't be happening again, could it?

Rumi shared a look with the girls, then snapped her head in the direction of the faint music. She ran over to the crowd that gathered, music getting louder as she ran into the middle of it. She heard their footsteps pounding behind her, quickly drowned out as techno music filled the air.

"Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars The love you give me Is beyond these stars"

"Gwi-Ma is seriously trying this again?"

"You'd think after your guys' big failure, he'd give up."

Zoey pulled a lollipop out of her tote bag. "Mira-"

"No, I want the cherry one."

Zoey shoved the grape flavored lollipop into her mouth. "You can't make demands when you're being mean."

Mira just glared and kept watching the performance.

Four women sang and danced around in blue galaxy themed dresses. One of them was very over the top. Puff sleeves, faux lace bodice, with a huge skirt that puffed out from a petticoat. Rumi guessed that she was the maknae, due to the cutesy look. Her hair was held up in large space buns, charms dangling off and clinking with every movement.

Another one dressed more plain. A sleeveless turtleneck dress, with a solid deep blue to galaxy gradient, her arms covered in charm bracelets and golden bangles. Her hair was put into a crown braid that ended at the base of her hairline, with the rest of her hair dangling in a ponytail that ended on the small of her back. There was a good chance she was the leader.

The third was their center, dressed in a more tough looking outfit. An oversized t-shirt with a nebula on it and riddled with holes, exposing a black tank top underneath. Low rise dark denim jeans, with a painted galaxy starting below the knees. Her hair was in an emo cut, to put it bluntly. Blue pixie cut hair with large bangs that covered her right eye (or left, from Rumi's perspective).

The last had a similar vibe to the leader. She had a cropped halter top, with a high waisted skirt that looked like the night sky. Her hair was wrapped up in a small braid, falling just between her shoulders. Judging by the way she expertly hit every move, she was the choreographer.

"You know, Rumi," Jinu said softly. "Just because a new group is debuting the same way we did, doesn't necessarily mean they're demons."

Almost as if on cue, the light hit their arms just right and their patterns glittered for the small group.

"....ok, so they're demons..."

"Do we seriously have to deal with this again?" Zoey said, her face clouded with sadness. "I thought we just had to deal with normal demons now!"

"Shh!" Rumi slammed her hand over Zoey's mouth. "Don't let everyone know!"

"Hm-hm hm hm?" Zoey asked behind her hand.

"No. No Zoey shut up." Rumi turned her attention back to the demons before them as they moved into the chorus.

"Darling, you must be, From the heavens above! Come on, baby, hit me With that galactic love!

Let me take your halo, And fill you up with sin! You can be my fallen Angel, Let me taste your skin!"

"Let me taste your skin?" Rumi repeated, looking weirded out from the line.

"Even Rome can write better lines than that..." Mystery said quietly, his voice almost entirely drowned out by the techno.

Zoey gasped and looked over at Rumi, shocked. "Are they cannibal demons? Can demons be cannibals?"

"Well, they'd have to eat other demons to be cannibals," Mira commented.

"Hey, you have a lollipop! Lollipop means shut up!" Zoey said, motioning for her to put the lollipop back in her mouth.

"I mean, it's still a pretty good song..." Jinu said, bobbing his head side to side to the beat.

The other seven turned to him, and Zoey just silently handed him a lollipop.

Jinu sighed and took the strawberry shortcake flavored lollipop. "Jinu, shut up," he said before starting to suck on the lollipop.

Rumi bit her lip, trying not to dance along to the intoxicating rhythm like the rest of the crowd while their center started to rap.

"When the stars align Oh, it just feels so right. I need you in my arms Under the moonlight.

You look so fine Like a supernova! I can't control myself You got me blowin' over!

Without you, I feel empty Like the vacuum of space But I know your worship Can never be replaced

Give me your soul Give me your heart Baby, with my love We'll never be apart"

"She's a pretty good rapper," Baby commented, his head bobbing to the rhythm.

"Baby-! Oh, you're done with your lollipop," Zoey said, not realizing she had become a slave to the rhythm as well as the group went into the final chorus, going all out with the choreo.

"Darling, you must be, From the heavens above! Come on, baby, hit me With that galactic love!

Let me take your halo, And fill you up with sin! You can be my fallen Angel, Let me taste your skin!

Hit me with that galactic love! There's nothing I need more of!"

The demons stopped, smiling gently as the crowd clapped and cheered for them. The leader stepped forward, looking so humble and kind.

"Thank you, thank you! You all are sooooo kind!" She said with a bright smile. "We hope you all tune in tonight to see us on Weekly Idol! Until then-" She paused, slamming her high heel into the pavement in unison with the other three. They all posed their left hands into a reverse L and pressed them against their foreheads.

"LUNA-R is LUNA-OUT!" They said in unison, shooting their hands up before disappearing into a cloud of cosmic smoke and dust.

The crowd began to disperse, and the group of eight begrudgingly continued on their shopping trip.

"I serrrrrriouslyyyyyy thought we were over with thissssss!"

"I know, Zoey," Rumi sighed, holding the groceries closer. "Let's just finish getting food and we'll make a battle plan back at home."

The group continued in silence for only a few moments.

"Oh, so I act like a whiny little bitch and it's the end of the world," Baby began. "But Zoey starts whining and everything is fine?!"

"UGHHHHHH! Zoey, make him shut up," Mira groaned.

"I gave Jinu the last one..." She said sadly. "I put them on the grocery list..."

"Hey, I want an answer!" He demanded, getting in front of Mira.

"Baby, your mere existence doesn't even dignify an answer."

"Oh, so you're on the bitch train today!"

"You did not just call me a bitch!"

"Yes I did!"

Rumi screamed in frustration, ready to pull her hair out. "That's it! You're both going in the Get Along Shirt when we get back!" She stormed ahead of the group, ignoring Mira and Baby's pleading to do "anything but the Get Along Shirt."

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the-daughter-of-a-wolf · 3 days ago

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THE OLD GUARD 2 THOUGHTS AS I AM HAVING THEM AAAA

LITERALLY NOTHING BUT SPOILERS PROCEED WITH CAUTION!!

I have never been more anxious about hitting play on a movie in my life

I LOVE THEM ALL SO MUCH AWOOOOO

the violence feels a lot more cartoony than in the first one

like sure, there were gratuitous gore shots in that one as well, but they feel... idk, more goofy and over the top here

also I get starting on an action sequence, but the extreme violence against a horde of random guards feels a lot harder to justify when you don't really know the stakes. like yeah sure guns bad, but so bad that you have to very violently murder this many people over it?? maybe I've just gotten soft in my old age

man I am worried about the Uma Thurman plot. I am very anti-adding new (old) immortals at this point, but I hope they explain it in a satisfying way later on

QUYNH AAAA OOOOWWWW WAUGHH

me chanting to myself with tears in my eyes when Joe asks for some space: "I WANT THEM TO HAVE ARCS AND CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT! I WANT THEM TO HAVE ARCS AND CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT!"

OMGGGG OKAY THAT'S A GOOD DEVELOPMENT. OUCH. AWOO. YES.

like okay yay Tuah I don't mind him, but how are you just rewriting the immortals lore now?? also why would Copley's discoveries change Andy's mind if Tuah was already doing the same thing??? raaahhhh!!!!

also you'd think this whole Discord situation would've come up in conversation between Tuah and Andy before now like hello???? something you might need to know?!

Godddd Andy and Nile make me feral!!! Also if they don't acknowledge Andy and Quynh romantically I'm throwing my laptop off the balcony

OOHHHH that glimpse of historical Nicky and Joe has me screamingggg

I'm actually really happy so far with how Andy and Quynh's reunion is being handled!

ohhh how I wish I gave a shit about the Discord plotline. but alas. I really don't

NOOOO YOU'RE KIDDING ME. please don't explain the becoming mortal thing. please don't. that's so fucking stupid. also how convenient that there are these very specific legends about this very secret thing that only applies to a very few specific humans and that almost no one knows about! this is the lamest shit I've ever heard

oh Booker my sweet baby angel ;___;

Booker trying to wingman Andy into fixing things with Quynh HEEEELLLL YEAH.

OH SHIT THIS IS JUICY!!! Booker using Nile to try to become mortal???? OUGH OW OUCH WAUGH OWWW. I mean that sucks and is so cruel to Nile, but. JUICY. (also unrelatedly, goddd Nile is so fucking hot!!!)

J U I C Y !!!!! AAAAAAAA!!!!

FUCK ME UP NICKY ALRIGHT 😭😭😭😭

THIS IMMORTALITY TRANSFER IS THE STUPIDEST SHIT I'VE HEARD IN MY LIFE!!! SO NOW IT'S A GAME OF HOT POTATO????? jesus christ

ALSO DOES THIS NOT NEGATE THE WHOLE DISCUSSION THEY HAD ABOUT STUFF MEANING MORE WHEN YOU ONLY HAVE LIMITED TIME????

Oh I am BIG MAD about Booker's death. That's a real mean stunt to pull on Andy.

Also can we talk about how this is a giant retcon??? ANDY HEALED FROM WHEN NILE STABBED HER, DIDN'T SHE? Like, the first time she noticed her wound not healing was after the church fight? she would've noticed much sooner if Nile's stab wound hadn't healed. so it wasn't a case of "the first wound inflicted by the newest mortal takes away the healing", right? or am I tripping. but either way that's so fucking stupid.

it would've been much much juicier for Quynh to realise Andy's not immortal than the other way around.

god Andy is hot in this movie. the lesbian mullet. awooga awooga.

dude as anyone who knows anything about consent can tell you, consent given under torture is not consent! it's never going to be "fReELy gIVeN" if you torture them to do it! dumbass.

WHAT THE

WHAT

ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING MEEEEE?????????

THAT'S WHERE IT ENDS???

I'M SORRY?????

dude you're lying to me

THAT'S...

I'm legit speechless.

THAT'S NOT EVEN SEQUEL BAIT, THAT'S AN UNFINISHED MOVIE! WHERE'S THE FUCKING REST OF IT?!?!?!?!

IT TOOK YOU FIVE YEARS TO GET THIS SEQUEL OUT AND YOU DECIDED TO LEAVE THE CONCLUSION TO THE NEXT MOVIE???? WHAT IS HAPPENING??? YOU'RE NOT GETTING A THIRD MOVIE YOU FUCKING IDIOTS!!! SO THIS IS WHERE IT ENDS????

I am gobsmacked.

did not see that coming

0/10. fuck you.

(EDIT: okay I hit "post" the second I was done so that ended a bit harshly so I will amend that there was a lot to like about this, as I hopefully brought up in my notes! I loved all the interactions between the main crew, most of the Booker stuff was handled really nicely, and I liked a lot of the things they did with Quynh's return. but that final curveball really shat on my enjoyment of this movie big time. so it's not actually a flat 0/10, but my god it sure was not a well-made movie, was it. OOF.)

#the old guard #the old guard 2 #tog2 #tog2 spoilers #tog2spoilers #the old guard 2 spoilers

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just-cheyy · 1 day ago

Text

(I do not own this image^)

I had this cute idea and really wanted to share this fanfic to the world because honestly I found comfort from this and i bet others will too

I would like to say I haven't actually realized everyone in the game yet and don't know the ending that comes with that so be aware.

This is semi an AU where when realized it separated the character from the object and the object is still in the house just not tied to a human

Also I apologize this is my first ever fanfic, and I only have the fanfics i've heard and the c.ai experience XD

Gender neutral reader tho there is a nickname used which is prince or princess (just as a warning)

I hope you fellow chance enjoyers enjoy :)

Tags: Gender neutral reader, fluff, Chance date everything, Chance the D20, wholesome

Wc: 1.3k

(not mine^)

—-------------

“Realize everyone in the house. Realize skylar. Destroy the dativators.”

Seemed easier than you thought it'd be. But when you realized what that would actually be like, you knew it would be a lot on you. You had gotten to know everyone so well, and were not too keen on the idea of letting everyone go. But you knew it was for the best. So you did, one by one you went to your friends, using the dativators to turn them into humans. They were all so excited to see the world, thanking you over and over again. It was difficult saying goodbye. But it was just preparation, for the hardest goodbye. Chance…

Ever since you met Chance, there hadn't been a day you didn't visit him. You always stopped by to play GnG for a few hours. You and Chance had gotten very close, and had even formed a bond. Some nights you visit him just to ask if he’d cuddle you to sleep, which he never said no to. After all, to him you were perfect

Your dativators worked their magic, fully realizing Chance. You looked at him, holding back tears. He looked amazing, well he looked amazing before, but now..

“Holy Crit! Would you look at that? I have taken on a new form!” he giggled excitedly, admiring his human body

You chuckled, he looked so excited, like a kid in a candy store. Yet, you were starting to not be able to hold back your tears. He could see that something was wrong by your expression. His smile faded slightly, his expression softening. “Y/N..?”

You couldn't keep it in anymore. Tears fell down your cheeks as you looked at him. You felt terrible, not letting him enjoy his moment of becoming a human because of the selfish feeling of not wanting to let him go. He quickly comes closer to you, embracing you and giving one of his signature bear hugs. “Oh Love, what's wrong?”

“Please.. Promise to come back to me..?” You sniffled, mumbling into his neck, almost too quiet for him to hear. He understood right away what you meant. He kissed your cheek softly as he spoke softly.

“You think I'd leave and never come back? I'd be crazy to let the person I love the most go” He moved you back slightly, still holding you. He softly grabbed your chin and made you look at him.

“I’ll go on my adventure, but returning to the castle my princess/prince is occupying will be the only thing to conclude my quest” You chuckled through your tears, listening to his dorky way of saying he’d be back. You brought him into a sweet kiss, his soft lips pressing against yours.

You say your final goodbye as you watch him leave your home. You cried a bit that night, not something you were proud of.

…

Time passes by, with the dativators destroyed your life is now somewhat peaceful. But also somewhat lonely. You layed in bed, your arm covering your eyes. It had become harder and harder to find reasons to get out of bed, but you'd stay strong. You shifted your body to lay on your side as you picked up your phone. You scrolled Phacebook, looking at all the fun things your old objects are doing now. They were all pursuing their dreams, going on their own adventures. You smiled as you stared at your phone screen and saw Chance’s dorky smile. He was playing GnG, being the DM as always. He looked so happy, and that made you happy as well. But seeing his face on your screen just made you miss him more. The feeling of his hands all over your body, the taste of his sweet lips, his voice whispering sweet nothings into your ear as you cuddle. You grabbed your extra pillow and hugged it tightly, wishing it was him. You placed your phone down and grabbed your d20. After he had left, you always kept it on your bedside table. You twirled it in your fingers, reminiscing even more on the moments you had with him. You finally sighed, knowing if you stayed in bed any later you'd be there for the rest of the day.

You slowly got out of bed, rubbing your eyes and slowly making your way downstairs to the kitchen. You sleepily opened the cabinet, pulling out your bread and putting two slices in the toaster. Pushing the lever down and waiting for it to toast as you put the bread back. Once your toast was done, you made your way to your table. You sat down and ate your fairly burnt toast, going back to scrolling the photos your objects were posting.

All of a sudden, you heard a knock at your door. “Hm..?” you let out an audible hum, wondering who that could be. You weren't expecting anyone, nor did you order anything from store-azon. You groaned as you got up from your seat and slowly went to the front door.

“Who is it..?” you say as you yawn and open the door.

Your eyes widen as you fully realize who is standing in front of you. “C-Chance…?”

He smiled his usual dorky smile and opened his mouth, about to speak. Before he could, you instantly threw your arms around him, embracing him tightly. He gladly hugged you back, he chuckled

“Missed me?” You could feel tears form in your eyes just from hearing his voice, you hug him tighter and he reciprocates. Once you two are done embracing, he takes a step back. You let out a happy sigh “You have no idea how much I've missed you..”

You noticed there were people behind him, no wait.. Many people.. You recognized them all. It was all 100 of the datables, all 100 objects all gathered at your doorstep. Your jaw dropped slightly, eyes widening. You felt under-dressed in your pj’s as you stared back at all of them

“Surprise!” Chance said with a sweet giggle, “We wanted to all surprise you”

“You guys..” You sniffled as you stared back at everyone

…

The party was the best time you've had in a while, getting to talk to everyone and hear their stories. It was even better getting to see the old GnG group. It made your heart warm knowing everyone was still friends and in contact with one another. But nothing matched the way you felt about seeing Chance again. You didn't want to latch onto him the entire time, so you spent time catching up with everyone. But you longed to just hug and cuddle with Chance until you passed out.

Eventually, the sun started to set. And everyone was starting to head out. You watch as Chance yelled his goodbyes to the last of the bunch. You slowly came behind him, hugging him from behind. It startled him slightly, his attention turning to you.

“You're not leaving.. Are you?” you say, your voice muffled by the way your face was pressed against his back. He let out a cute chuckle as he slowly moved your hands. He closed the door and turned around to face you, yet again hugging you.

“I was actually wondering…” he smiled softly, “How would you like it if your traveling knight stayed with his princess/prince? For the rest of his life..”

Your eyes widened, you thought he’d never ask. You pull him into a sweet passionate kiss before pulling away and responding. “If the knight stays, the princess/prince will never let him leave”

You could see the love in his eyes as he nuzzled his nose against yours, “The princess’s/prince’s love would make no man want to leave.”

You two kissed yet again, and again, and again. Until you stopped him and led him to your bedroom. You have a lot you have to catch up on…

—---------

Aaaaaa first fanfic ever! I hope that was enjoyable!

Apologies if i didn't portray Chance well enough, this was just a silly daydream I had that I wanted to turn into something

This fanfic was made by Chey, is posted by any other user, it has been stolen!!

Have an amazing day you simps <3

Enjoy some extra art for getting to the end :)

(art made by me, Chey ^)

#chance date everything #chance the d20 #chance date everything fluff #date everything chance #date everything #fanfic #fluff #wholesome #x reader #gender neutral reader #date everything fanfic

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savvyscribbleswriting · 14 hours ago

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Pairing: Johnny Storm (as portrayed by Joseph Quinn) x fem!Reader

Summary: The Fantastic Four take a vacation to California for the Fourth of July. While there, Johnny sees some cute California girls and falls for one in particular – you.

Word Count: 8.7k

Genre: Fluff

Warnings: I’m going in blind with this one; nothing is set in stone with regards to plot/setting/characters/other; no use of (Y/N); Franklin Richards exists here; Galactus and the Silver Surfer do not exist (but how funny would that be?); H.E.R.B.I.E is also not here (he’s having a staycation in New York); story is set in the general 1960s (a.k.a. no specific year is mentioned); vague descriptions of the 1960s and California (I did minimal research. Apologies for any inaccuracies.)

Author’s Note: HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY, EVERYONE!!! 🇺🇸🎇🎆❤️😁 Stay safe, enjoy the holiday, and enjoy my story!

P.S. I DO NOT OWN THE FANTASTIC FOUR OR ANYTHING ELSE MARVEL-RELATED, NOR DO I OWN THE BEACH BOYS OR ANY OF THEIR MUSIC!!!

Rest in Peace, Brian Wilson.

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The Fantastic Four knew they wanted to take a break during the week of July 4th. They also knew they wanted to get as far away from New York as they could for a while. The question was where they should go.

Reed suggested Washington because of its history and various museums.

Sue brought up Colorado because of its beautiful nature, especially the mountains.

Ben thought about Nevada because of Vegas. “Enough said,” he smirked.

It was Johnny’s choice that ultimately won. It was June, and he was cruising through the city listening to various summer songs when “California Girls” by the Beach Boys came on. Of course! he thought. He rushed home to pitch California to his family. It had its own beautiful nature for Sue, but instead of mountains to just climb aimlessly there’d be beaches to swim and play in, which was much more ideal for baby Franklin. There’d be equally fun things to do and see for Ben (‘Particularly the girls,’ Johnny added). And for Reed… well, Johnny thought that Reed needed to let go of any even remotely related to education for a while. “This time should be about kicking back, relaxing, and enjoying some summer fun, and California is the place to do it,” Johnny concluded.

A couple days before July officially started, they were all flying in the Fantasticar to California.

They decided to stay in Malibu because it was the most famous of all the cities close to the beach. Once they landed at their hotel, they got checked in and asked the receptionist what all there was to do. She recommended some nice gift shops and restaurants, and told them not to miss the big fireworks show that the beach was hosting the night of July 4th. The family quickly got settled in their hotel rooms and got changed into their swim gear. They wasted no time heading to the beach.

They managed to find a nice clearing and claimed it for themselves. Sue, Franklin, and even Reed went back and forth between making sand castles and dipping their toes in the water that was constantly coming and going. Ben and Johnny tossed a ball back and forth, getting progressively farther away from each other and throwing harder.

When it was his turn, Ben threw the ball so high and so far that it must’ve cleared a football field.

“Way to go, Ben!” Johnny yelled, throwing his hands up in the air in frustration.

“You could’ve caught that, you baby!” Ben retorted. “You can fly!”

“That would mean I’d have to fire up! And there is no way I’m doing that in this weather!”

“Settle down, you two,” Sue warned, holding onto Franklin’s hand so he would’ve eat wet sand.

Johnny sighed. “Fine. I’ll see if I can find it.”

“Yeah, you do that,” Ben said, opting to lay down on his towel to catch some sun. Johnny shook his head at the rock man’s laziness before heading in the direction of the ball.

From what he could see and remember, it landed near a couple of big red umbrellas. He just started walking forward in the hopes of finding them. Luckily, there were some red umbrellas a few minutes out. Next to the umbrellas were a group of girls. One of them had long red hair and was wearing a floral bikini. Two of them were twins with the same short black hair, brown eyes, and yellow one-piece swimsuits, although one had stripes and the other polka dots. The last one - you - wore a solid blue bikini. You all were just talking and laughing as you tossed a ball back and forth. Johnny’s ball.

As he walked over, he began to hear parts of your conversation.

“After this, maybe we should get in the water,” you suggested, passing the ball to the redhead.

“But I don’t want to get my hair wet!” she cried, smoothing out her locks before tossing it to the striped twin.

“Plus, what if there’s sharks?!” she asked, holding the ball in her hands tightly.

“I don’t think sharks have the capacity to be so close to the shore,” the polka dot twin argued as she took the ball from her sister and tossed it back to you. You absentmindedly threw it back to the redhead.

“Hi, ladies!” he finally called out. You and your friends whipped around to him. “I believe you have my ball,” he continued. You all gave each other quizzical looks.

“Do we?” the redhead asked. She turned the ball around in her hands. “I don’t see your name on it. Do you see his name on it, Nora?”

“Nope,” stripes responded. “Do you see it, Dora?”

“No,” polka dots echoed. She turned to you. “Do you see his name?”

You merely shook your head.

Johnny cocked an eyebrow and held out his hand. “Well, it is my ball, so can I have it back?” he asked, turning on the charm.

The redhead, however, was not so easily swayed. “What’s the magic word?” she asked back in a sing-sing voice, twirling the ball teasingly.

“Rhonda,” you revealed her name in a warning tone.

Johnny just smiled, playing along. “Please?”

“Okay…” Rhonda began handing it over, then suddenly threw it to Nora. Rhonda laughed and motioned for you and the twins to spread out. Johnny stood dumbfounded for a second but quickly shook it off to get in the middle of your makeshift circle. He tried to grab the ball to no avail. Your friends were too quick and having way too much fun with this. They continued to laugh and tease him mercilessly.

Suddenly, Rhonda tossed the ball to you. Johnny was so concentrated on its whereabouts that he didn’t see you until it was too late. Once you came into his line of vision, he dug his heels in the sand in an effort to stop. Instead, he propelled forward and tackled you to the ground. You let out a mild scream as you fell back. At least Johnny had enough sense to hold his arms out so his whole upper body didn’t crush you.

When he opened his eyes, you were staring back at him. “Are you okay?” was the first thing out of Johnny’s mouth. You nodded vigorously, even though your eyes (wide with shock) and breathing (practically nonexistent) said otherwise. Johnny should’ve pulled himself up, given you some space, apologized profusely for crashing into you. He didn’t. He couldn’t because he was lost in studying your face.

Your eyes eventually returned to their normal size. You then got this look in them, as if you were studying him right back. You had such pretty eyes, Johnny thought. You also had soft-looking lips. Your cheeks were pink, either from being out in the sun or being underneath him.

The thought immediately brought him back to Earth. “Sorry!” he exclaimed, slowly moving away from you to get in a sitting position in the sand. You did the same, the ball still in your hands after everything.

“Here,” you gingerly handed it back to him. It was the first time Johnny took his time in taking it back. You tucked a strand of hair behind your ear. “I’m sorry about my friends. They can be a bit… much sometimes.” You tried a smile. He returned the gesture and said, “It’s alright.”

You and Johnny had the same idea of sneaking a peek at your friends, all of whom were giving you two knowing looks. Embarrassed, you both jumped up to stand. Johnny squeezed the ball out of nervousness.

“Um… th-thanks for the ball,” he managed to get out. You nodded with a tight smile. Johnny cleared his throat and stuttered, “Uh, I better… better be getting back to… to… yeah.” He may have jogged back to his family, but he was kicking himself for his lack of confidence when it came to you.

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As soon as he was out of earshot, your friends surrounded you.

“WHAT WAS THAT?!?!” Rhonda squealed, shaking you rather violently.

“What?!” you asked, utterly confused.

“Do you know who that was?!”

“That was Johnny Storm!” Nora answered, holding onto your shoulder.

“The Human Torch!” Dora clarified, holding your other shoulder.

It finally clicked for you. You were looking at him so hard because you could’ve sworn you had seen him somewhere before. The blonde hair, blue eyes, an exposed torso that looked like the body of a Greek God. It looked like he stepped out of a magazine. Turns out, he was from a magazine. You remember seeing an advertisement for his fan club a while back. You never sent it in, but your friends had. Every time something new came in, they would gather and gossip and daydream while you just stood off to the side listening intently.

“He’s actually here!” Dora exclaimed.

“And he came over to us!” Nora matched her energy.

“Andyou just let him go!” Rhonda shook you again wildly.

You grabbed her arms in an effort to settle her down. “I’m sorry!” you cried. “I didn’t recognize him.”

“It’s not just that! You had him in the palm of your hand and then you dropped the ball, literally and figuratively!”

Dora sighed. “He was all over you! I’d be so jealous if I didn’t have my Paul back home.”

Nora gasped. “Could you imagine if you got to date the Johnny Storm?”

Dora gasped, too, the idea sending her into overdrive. “You’d be the envy of the whole world!”

“Not this again,” you groaned. You knew exactly where this conversation was heading and wanted no part of it. You broke away to sit back down on your towel. “You promised you’d stop trying to find me a boyfriend.”

Rhonda plopped next to you with Nora and Dora following her. “Come on,” Rhonda started, “you’re the only one of us who doesn’t have a boyfriend. You’ve got to start putting yourself out there.”

“Yeah!” Nora agreed. “You’ve got so much going for you.”

“You’re smart and pretty and fun,” Dora rattled off.

“Wasn’t this vacation supposed to be about us?” you asked.

“It is!” Rhonda insisted. “And we’ll have so much fun and do so many cool things… and if you find a pretty boy to be your future husband, that’s okay too.”

You rolled your eyes as Nora and Dora giggled. Rhonda caught you and sighed. “Okay. If not a boyfriend, can you please try and have a summer fling while we’re here?”

“Something you can brag about to the people at home,” Nora suggested.

“Something interesting you can tell your grandkids when you’re old and gray,” Dora said.

“And what could be more interesting than a summer fling with Johnny Storm?” Rhonda leaned in close and wriggled her eyebrows. You couldn’t help but let out a laugh. These girls were going to be the death of you, unless Johnny got to you first. You highly doubted that, though. This was just a happy coincidence, one that you could easily brag about at home. Nothing more would probably happen, and that was fine by you.

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The next day, the Fantastic Four went into town to take in some sights. There were plenty of recognizable places to go to, but they were more interested in the smaller spots. For example, they went into this one shop that sold plenty of beautiful handmade goods.

Sue was minding her own business when she felt Franklin pulling away from her embrace. She tried to calm him down but noticed he was reaching for some pretty seashell bracelets on a stand nearby. She walked closer to pick one up. She observed how the shells were all the same shape and size, held together by a red and yellow band. Franklin smiled at it approvingly.

“You like that, huh?” she asked her baby boy, holding it out for him to feel and grab onto.

“Excellent choice!” the shopkeeper said. “Made from actual seashells.”

“Very nice,” Sue nodded.

“What’s that?” Reed asked, coming up to his wife from behind.

“Authentic seashell bracelets,” Sue explained. “I was thinking of getting it.”

“Why that color, though?” Johnny interjected, baseball cap in hand ready to purchase. “Why not get blue? It’s our color.” A lightbulb went off in his head. “Hey, what if we all got one? We’ll be matching!”

“We’re not BFFs at a sleepover, Johnny,” Ben said from across the shop, looking at some décor for his garden back home.

“You’re right. We’re a family, which will make them even more significant,” Johnny argued. “Plus, we need something actually Californian to remind us of this place.” He moved to the counter to talk to the shopkeeper. “Excuse me, sir. Do you happen to have any of these with a blue band?”

“We did,” he explained, “but we sold the last four to that group over there.”

Johnny turned in the direction the shopkeeper was pointing at. In the corner of the store stood a group of girls gushing over their bracelets while perusing some dresses. The group look so familiar to Johnny. As he looked on, it hit him.

It was the same group from yesterday. Your group.

And there you, were, looking intently at a particular dress, probably wondering if it would look good on you or not. In Johnny’s opinion, anything would look good on you. Your swimsuit from yesterday certainly caught his attention, one of the few reasons he wasn’t on top of his usual flirting game.

He managed to falter this time, too, because Nora looked at her watch and urgently ushered you all out of the store. Johnny thought he heard something about missing a movie. You were the last one out. Before you left, you took one more look at the dress before casting a glance in his direction. You did a double-take, your mouth hanging open once you recognized him. Johnny should’ve walked over to you, said hi, introduced himself, asked what you were up to, if he could see you again since you seemed to be in a rush, anything. Did he? No. Instead, he merely waved to you like an idiot. You waved back and flashed a bashful smile. Dora yelled for you to come along. You went back and forth between Johnny and your friends, ultimately choosing them but not before giving another wave in his direction. Johnny waved back, but at that point your back was turned.

Johnny twisted the baseball cap in his hands to deal with his nerves and frustration. What’s wrong with me? he wondered. When he turned around, all eyes, including Franklin’s, were on him.

“What?”

“What was that?” Reed asked.

“Who was that girl?” Sue followed.

“And what is up with you?” Ben concluded.

Johnny took a deep breath. “Okay. One, that was nothing. Two, I met her on the beach the other day. She and her friends had our ball. And three, I’m fine.” He managed to bypass his family and tried to distract himself with some toy cars. They were not having it.

“That didn’t seem like nothing,” Ben commented.

“And you don’t look fine,” Sue added.

“Yes, you look quite pink in the cheeks,” Reed observed, pointing at the blush that was indeed spreading on Johnny’s face.

“Shut up,” Johnny turned away and moved onto some bottles that had multicolored sand in them. His family still followed him.

“I don’t blame you for having a thing for her,” Ben said. “She’s kind of cute.”

“I don’t have a thing for her!” Johnny insisted. “I don’t even know her!”

“You could get to know her,” Reed suggested.

“How?”

“You could follow her,” Ben said.

“And have her think I’m a creep? Forget it. Besides, I don’t know which direction they went in. They’re long gone now. Now, can you all just drop it, please? I’m trying to look at these-” Johnny randomly pointed to a wall full of… “Beach paintings,” he finished.

He turned around to fully face the wall, hoping to ignore the looks Ben, Sue, and Reed were no doubt giving each other. After a moment, he could hear their footsteps moving in various directions. Finally, he thought. The longer he stood in place, the more he started to really take in the paintings. They were quite beautiful, showing the beach during the day and at night, with people and without, the presence either lively or calm. Johnny thought about how much more he could go to the beach before they went back home. He thought about maybe running into you. He thought about meeting you for lunch or dinner. He thought about talking with you and getting to know you more, where you’re from, what you liked, what you did for fun-

Oh, boy, Johnny realized. Maybe I do have a thing for her.

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Another beautiful day in California laid out before you. It was lunchtime, and you and your friends decided to splurge and try a semi-fancy restaurant. Of course, you all ordered not-so-fancy food. You, in particular, ordered a burger with nothing but the patty, cheese, bacon, and bun with a side of fries. When the food finally made it to the table, it all looked so delicious… except yours.

“Um, excuse me?” you said to the waiter just before he left. “I ordered my burger with no vegetables.”

“Oh, I’m sorry, ma’am,” he said, quickly grabbing your plate. “I think this was for the table over there.”

You gave a quick smile and sipped your lemonade while you waited for your actual plate. You began looking around at the other tables out of boredom when you heard someone hissing. You tried to locate the noise and were met with another hiss and an arm grab from Rhonda.

“What?” you asked.

“Ssshhh!” she shushed you intensely.

“What?” you asked again, lowering your voice, totally confused.

“Look at who got your burger!” Rhonda squealed as quietly as possible so as not to cause a scene. You turned to Nora and Dora who enthusiastically pointed in the direction of a table that had a blonde woman, a dark-haired man, a baby that was presumably theirs, a huge man who seemed to be made entirely out of rock, and Johnny Storm.

The Fantastic Four were at the same restaurant as you and your friends. And Johnny Storm was eating the burger that had been placed in front of you moments ago.

Your jaw dropped in shock. Your friends were no better. They were practically peeing their pants. They started looking at you with great big puppy dog eyes. It dawned on you.

“No,” you stated firmly, taking another sip of your lemonade. When you looked to them again, they didn’t let up. “No,” you said again. No dice. You swore you saw tears forming in Nora and Dora’s eyes. Rhonda was biting her lip so hard it nearly drew blood. “A million times no,” you said with finality. You looked down and realized that at some point your burger finally got delivered and was to your liking. You took a big bite out of it to solidify your answer.

“PLEASE?!?!” all three of your friends said in annoying unison.

It was your turn to shush them. You waved your hands in an effort to calm everyone down to no avail.

“What are the odds of you running into him three times in less than a week?!” Dora asked.

“Slim to none!” Nora answered. “It’s luck!”

“It’s fate!” Dora argued.

“It’s perfect,” Rhonda concluded. “We’re going over there.”

She motioned for the other girls to get up. You were too late in realizing that they were grabbing you and dragging you over to the Fantastic Four. You tried to fight them but were not strong enough.

“What?! Didn’t you hear me?! I said no!”

“Yeah, but you’re being outvoted three to one,” Rhonda said, her smile getting wider the closer you all got to the table.

“We shouldn’t be interrupting their lunch!” you pointed out.

“We won’t be there for long! We’ll just go over there and introduce ourselves.”

“No big deal,” Nora said.

“Easy peasy,” Dora agreed.

You groaned and continued fighting them up until you made it to the table. Once you were in front of the superhero group, you tried to hide behind your friends. They held you in place, though, front and center.

Rhonda spoke first. “Hello! Are you the Fantastic Four?”

The family looked at each other nervously, wondering if they should reveal themselves. They then turned to you all and smiled politely.

“Yes, we are,” Sue answered.

Nora and Dora giggled at the admission but managed to keep it down to the bare minimum. Rhonda continued, “Well, first, we’re big fans of yours. We’ve seen you in some magazines and on TV.”

“Oh, thank you,” Reed said while feeding his son, Franklin.

“Secondly, our friend here,” she gestured to you, “met your brother the other day and felt bad about not properly introducing herself. So, we thought we’d come over and fix that real quick.”

And with that, all the girls finally let you go. You knew that they knew that you wouldn’t run out for fear of being rude. You really had no choice expect to put on a brave face, turn to Johnny, and state your name.

He just stared at you, burger in hand, eyes wide. You waited patiently for his response. Ben beat him to it.

“Johnny, don’t be rude. Get up and shake the pretty girl’s hand.”

Johnny shot daggers at the rock man, but ultimately did as he was told. He got up and extended hand to you. You hesitantly took it. It was so big and warm.

“Hi! It’s-“ Johnny started but quickly stopped once pieces of burger started flying out of his mouth. You took a step back, an awkward laugh escaping you and your friends. You heard Reed and Sue trying to hide a chuckle while Ben was chuckling openly. Johnny turned away for a second so he could finish swallowing his food before starting over. “It’s nice to meet you,” he finally said. “Properly, this time.”

“Yeah,” was all you could say.

You two stood in place holding hands for a considerably long time. But then you started to feel self-conscious about your hand possibly sweating, so you quickly removed it and stuck it in the pocket of your shorts.

“So… have you been enjoying California?” you were surprised to hear yourself asking.

“Definitely,” Johnny replied. “My family and I have been having a blast.”

“Good. Are you staying for the fireworks later this week?”

“We wouldn’t miss it.”

“Yeah, us too. I’ve heard it’s an amazing show.” You offered a smile, which Johnny returned. No doubt your friends had Chesire-cat smiles at the fact that you had the Johnny Storm hooked again.

Just as quickly as you had him, however, you lost him.

Franklin started acting fussy, and you took it as a sign that you outstayed your welcome. “Well, we don’t want to disturb you anymore. We should be getting back to our lunch. It was nice seeing you again, Johnny, and the rest of you. Enjoy your time in California.” The family gave you polite nods but it was a blur to you as you made a beeline back to your table. Your friends shot you some disappointed looks but turned them around so they could leave the Fantastic Four on a good note.

You immediately dug into your food when you got back. You hoped if you stuffed your face, your friends would take the hint and not badger you over the interesting interaction you just had with the Human Torch. You should’ve known better.

Nora and Dora immediately bombarded you once they sat down next to you.

“You got to talk to Johnny Storm! Again!” Nora said.

“You got to touch Johnny Storm! Again!” Dora clarified.

“And he’s staying for the fireworks!”

“You’ve got to meet him again at the show!”

“No! Sooner!”

Your eyes darted back and forth between them. You eventually realized that Rhonda was missing. You looked back to the Fantastic Four table and saw her talking with Johnny. She nodded her head before casually waving everyone goodbye and making her way back. She managed to get the twins to quiet down with just her presence and a huge, sneaky grin on her face.

“I just asked if Johnny was going to be at the beach later today,” she explained, “and he said yes. So then I suggested that he meet us there to hang out and he said that he’ll be there at three o’clock.”

The eyes of Nora, Dora, and you got as big as the plates that held your food. Any other time, you all would probably be giddy with delight and freaking out over what to do, say, wear when later came. Instead, you all quickly tore into your food. You all knew the sooner you finished, the sooner later would come.

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Johnny didn’t know why he was checking his hair and swim trunks for the millionth time before leaving the hotel. He was just going to the beach. Then he would remember that you would be there and he’d check himself one more one more time. He did his best to ignore the smirks the others were giving him as he hurried out of the hotel.

All the way to the beach, he tried to calm himself down and pep himself up. He’d talked to plenty of girls before. This shouldn’t be so hard for him. He could do this… or at least he thought. But as soon he spotted your group lounging on the sand and noticed that you were wearing the same cute blue bikini from the other day, he knew he was in trouble.

He took his time getting over to you so that he could shake his nerves off again. When he was about five feet away, Rhonda spotted him.

“There he is!” she announced, making the twins and you turn your heads.

“Hi, Johnny!” Nora and Dora chimed together.

You just gave a shy wave hello to him. He returned it along with a “Ladies.”

“Thank you for joining us,” Rhonda said as she got up, grabbing her purse and towel, “but unfortunately, I just remembered that I promised to give my boyfriend a call around this time. He worries about me, poor guy. I’ve got to run now. Bye!” And with that, she was off.

Then Nora gasped. “Oh my gosh, Dora!” she exclaimed. “I just remembered that movie we wanted to see begins at 2:30! We should go now!”

“But didn’t we see it already?” Dora asked.

“Yes, but I want to see it again!” Nora yanked her sister up and collected everything before rushing off like Rhonda. On the way out, both girls managed a quick “Bye, Johnny!”

And then there was you, sitting dumbfounded on your beach towel. Johnny chuckled at the sight as he sat himself down next to you.

“Guess it’s just us,” he stated.

“I’m sorry,” you said.

“For what?”

“For my friends. For them leaving and making you stuck with me.”

“Don’t be sorry. And don’t feel like I’m stuck with you. I want to be here with you.”

A faint blush came to your cheeks, along with a smile that gradually got bigger as you realized he wasn’t lying. Johnny thought it was adorable. His confidence coming back, he made himself comfortable and began asking about you.

You started with being born and raised in Sacramento.

You moved onto explaining how you met your friends after getting a job at a burger place.

You mentioned coming to Malibu for a bit of fun before starting some classes at a community college in the fall.

Johnny soaked up every piece of information as easily as he soaked up the sun’s rays. He was happy to finally get to know you.

At some point, you two went from lying in the sand to getting your feet wet in the water. As you walked, Johnny began opening up about himself.

He gushed about his family.

He bragged about his powers.

He spent more time, though, talking about what he liked to do outside of family and power stuff.

You paid just as much attention to the mundane as the extraordinary. Johnny appreciated that.

When the sun began to set, you two found some benches and decided to sit down and watch the horizon. It was really something.

“So,” you started up again, “why come to California for vacation?”

Johnny bit his lip. “You’re gonna think it’s stupid.”

You felt comfortable enough to shove him playfully. “Try me.”

He sighed. “Okay. I was driving one day and the song ‘California Girls’ came on the radio.”

“Seriously?!” you gasped.

“I knew you were going to think it’s stupid!”

“No, no! I love that song! I love the Beach Boys!”

“Of course you’d say that!”

You shook your head, laughing. Johnny eventually joined in. Once you settled down, you asked, “So, is that the only reason you came to California? Because the Beach Boys told you to?”

“No,” Johnny said. “I thought it’d be fun for all of us. A real change of pace. And…” He stopped himself. He thought you wouldn’t catch it, but you did. You turned to him. “And what?”

“Um…” Johnny scratched his neck. Should he say it? What would you think? What would you do? He’d never know unless he went for it, so he did. “I wanted to see if California girls really were the cutest in the world.”

Your face was unreadable. Johnny waited patiently. He hoped his face read neutral to cover up the fact that his insides were screaming for a response.

Finally, you gave him one. “Are we?”

Johnny let out a deep sigh as he confirmed, “Without a doubt.”

He didn’t know if it was his imagination or if you were moving closer to him. It wasn’t until your lips were on his that he realized he wasn’t imagining things. You were kissing him, and it felt amazing. Johnny gently cupped your cheek to keep you close. He let you go only so you could catch your breath before pulling you back in for more.

You stayed like that until a buzzing sound made you pull back from each other. Johnny recognized the buzzing the second time around as coming from his watch. He looked down and saw that it was a message from Sue. He clicked his teeth in disappointment.

“What is it?” you asked.

“It’s nothing,” Johnny said, then backtracked. “Well, not nothing. Nothing serious, I mean. No, I mean it is serious! It’s my family. They want me back for dinner.”

“Oh, I understand.” You got up from the bench and collected your things. “I better head back, too. The girls are probably worried about me.”

Johnny jumped up. “Can I walk you back?”

You accepted without hesitation. Johnny cheered on the inside at the thought of having a bit more time with you. You two continued talking about this and that as you made your journey back. You were surprised at how much you two had in common despite being from opposite ends of the map.

When you got closer to your hotel, you noticed a man passing out flyers for the club he was standing outside. They were having a dance on July 4th just before the fireworks show. The man went on and on about how there’d be drinks, food, and a live band playing some great summer tunes.

“That seems like fun,” you thought out loud.

“Do you want to go?” Johnny asked.

You turned to him like an excited child. “Really?!”

“Yeah! Why not? Like you said, it looks fun. Maybe we could do that and then go see the fireworks.”

“That’d be wonderful! Thank you!”

You were about to bound off back in the direction of the hotel, but were promptly stopped by Johnny.

“But can you promise me one thing?”

“What?”

He decided to take another gamble. “Can we see each other again before then?”

You answered with a confident “Definitely.”

Johnny was really lucky.

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You and Johnny met up twice before July 4th.

The first time, you two went to an arcade and played every game in the establishment before getting some ice cream. He taught you how to shoot a toy rifle, and you convinced him that it was okay to mix different ice cream flavors.

The second time, he accompanied you around town to help you pick out some souvenirs for your family. You passed by the shop where you got the seashell bracelets and were surprised to see that the dress you were eyeing was still there. You were even more surprised when Johnny bought it for you. “You need something new and beautiful for the dance,” he simply said. You felt bad about him leaving empty handed, though, so in exchange you got him a matching shirt that funnily enough looked like something the Beach Boys would wear. Any other time, Johnny would flat out refuse it. For you, however, he promised to cherish it and wear it at the dance.

Speaking of, when Johnny brought it up with the others the night of, Sue allowed him to go (‘Thanks, mom’) under two conditions:

That he make it back in time to watch the fireworks with the family.

That he take Ben with him.

“What?!” Johnny exclaimed. “Why?! I’m a grown man! I don’t need a chaperone!”

“I don’t want you getting too rowdy or drunk or whatever before the fireworks,” Sue explained.

“I think it’s a good idea,” Reed as he read his book because of course he managed to sneak a book on this trip.

“Yeah, you would say that,” Johnny mumbled under his breath.

“Come on, Johnny boy,” Ben teased, slapping the young man on the back without causing any injury. “You promised me some fun. And I promise not to embarrass you too much in front of your lady friend with my sweet dance moves.”

As Ben did some light-hearted cha-cha-cha-ing with Sue, Johnny groaned loudly. He had to remove himself from the room so he could wallow for a bit. He knew there’d be no way out of taking Ben with him. When Sue made up her mind, she held firm. All Johnny could do was pray that you didn’t mind a plus one and that you two could still cut loose at the club.

When he and Ben arrived later that night, they were lucky to get in because the place was packed. The band was in full swing and nearly everyone was dancing to the upbeat music. Johnny held his breath as he waited for you, not even taking up Ben’s offer for a drink. He only let it go when he saw you walk in. You took his breath away.

You looked like a vision in your new dress. It was short, hugged your curves in the right places, and had big enough straps to be modest while also showing a bit more skin than usual. Your hair was done just right and you seemed to be wearing comfortable shoes for all the dancing you planned to do.

You seemed to be holding your breath, as well, as your eyes scanned the room for him. When you finally found him, your face lit up and you waved to him happily. Johnny smiled at your cuteness. He smiled even more when he noticed your girls coming up behind you, also dolled up to the nines. Johnny should’ve known that they’d tag along. Honestly, he was glad. Maybe they could steal Ben’s attention long enough for Johnny to steal you away for some privacy.

You all made your way over to the two gentlemen, a few people parting to make room for the beauties that just entered. You stopped right in front Johnny.

“Hi,” you said.

“Hi,” Johnny echoed, enjoying the more up-close view of you. “You look beautiful.”

“You don’t look so bad yourself.” You played with the collar of his new shirt.

“I know, right?” Ben smirked.

“Mr. Grimm,” you addressed him. “I didn’t expect to see you here.”

“Ben, please,” he said, downing a bit more of his punch. “Yeah, Sue made me promise to keep an eye on this one.”

“Well, we’re here to keep an eye on our girl,” Rhonda said, moving next to Ben with a gleam in her eye.

“And to do some dancing,” Nora added.

“It’s been a while since we’ve been out dancing,” Dora stated, looking around in awe.

“Do you dance, Mr- I mean, Ben?” Rhonda asked.

“A little bit,” Ben answered.

“Then how about we get out on the floor and make some waves?”

The twins giggled and began leading Ben by each hand away from the sidelines and into the crowd. Rhonda followed the trio, giving you a sly wink as she passed. Johnny caught it, too, and couldn’t help but laugh along with you.

Johnny extended his hand. “Shall we?”

You graciously took it. “Of course.”

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

You and Johnny twisted, tapped, spun around, held each other close.

You did it for one song and then another and then another.

Blood was pumping. Energy was at an all-time high. Smiles were ear to ear.

You were having the time of your life right here with Johnny.

All of a sudden, you stopped. You got this look on your face, like you just realized something. You started to feel sad, more than sad. Your smile slowly faded and was replaced by hot tears. You tried to pull yourself together but it was too much. You ran in the direction of the exit.

Johnny followed you, not caring where Ben or the girls were. He managed to catch you along the sidewalk before you ran too far. He grabbed you as gently as he could and nearly fell backward as you turned around and pulled him in for a hug. You buried your face in his neck, allowing your tears to fall. Johnny hugged you back as tightly as he could while whispering a few sweet reassurances into your ear.

It took a few minutes for your crying to dry up. You slowly pulled yourself away from Johnny and began cleaning up to the best of your abilities. “I’m sorry,” you hiccupped. “I hope I didn’t freak you out.”

“I mean, you kind of did,” Johnny admitted, “but it’s only because I’m worried about you. What’s wrong, sweetheart?”

You winced at the nickname, not because it was wrong but because it felt so right. It felt good, too good.

You took a few deep breaths before explaining yourself. “While we were dancing, I just found myself thinking about tonight and the past few days. They’ve been so wonderful and memorable. Then it hit me that after tonight, I’ll have to go back home and you’ll have to go back to New York. It just… it scared me.”

You stopped there. Dare you go on? Johnny tried to help you out. “Why are you scared?”

You made yourself look him in the eyes for this next part. “I like you, Johnny. Like, really like you. And please don’t think it’s because you’re the Human Torch. I like you for you. You’re so funny and charming and sweet. And I don’t know what it is, but I’ve found myself thinking about what it would be like if… if we were a couple. Like, going on regular dates and stuff like that. But we’ll be going our separate ways tomorrow. And because you’re so amazing and famous, you’ll probably find some other girl, or maybe a bunch of girls, to go on dates with. And I’ll just be here, alone, with this big hole in my heart. And just the thought of it hurts me. I’ve never felt like this before, with anyone. That’s why I’m scared.”

Johnny’s heart broke at your confession. When he went in to hug you again, it was just as much for him as it was for you. He pulled away quickly. He decided to confess a few things of his own before he chickened out.

“You say I’m amazing. So are you. You are one the kindest and prettiest girls I’ve ever met. And I’ve really enjoyed these last few days, too. I don’t want to forget them, or you. To be honest, I don’t think I could even if I tried.”

“But what about when we leave?” you asked.

“This isn’t ‘Romeo and Juliet,’ sweetheart. No one is forbidding us from contacting each other after tonight. There are no laws against two people calling each other, or writing like they did in the old West, or traveling to see one another. I mean, you do remember that I’m the Human Torch. I can fly like the wind, and I would do it just to say hi to you.”

“You would?”

“In a heartbeat. This may sound crazy because I haven’t known you for very long, but I already know that I don’t want to lose you.”

You began to tear up again. Johnny got worried for a second until you suddenly pulled him in for a deep kiss. You were as happy as you could be. The realization made Johnny very happy and hold you tightly by your waist. You wrapped your arms around his neck, feeling safe in his embrace.

You two weren’t that far from the club, which mean that you could hear the leader of the band say, “This one is for all the girls of this great, big state of ours!” You immediately recognized the beginning notes of “California Girls.” You whipped your heads around in shock, laughter erupting loudly.

“This song!” you exclaimed.

“I know!” Johnny said with the same energy. He turned back to you. “Shall we?”

You nodded your head as you took him by the hand and ran back inside.

You saw Ben and the girls looking around frantically for you both. You waved them down and joined them on the dance floor.

“Where have you been?” Rhonda asked. “We were looking all over for you two.”

“We just needed some fresh air,” Johnny responded.

Ben was a bit suspicious of that. “Now, Johnny, remember what Sue said. If you went out to do anything-“

“We didn’t! We swear!” Johnny went up to give Ben a great big kiss on the cheek before pulling him more towards the center of the room. “Now, come on! Let’s boogie!”

And so, you all danced away to “California Girls” by the Beach Boys. You and the girls sang along every now and then with the people who surrounded you. At one point, Johnny got close to your ear and began singing, too. You smiled and gave him a kiss for his good nature.

The song eventually came to an end and everyone applauded the band. “Thank you!” the leader responded. “Thank you so much! I should let you all know that the fireworks show will begin in about thirty minutes, so if you want to head down to the beach to see them, you better leave now.”

“Shoot! That’s right!” Nora said.

“The fireworks!” Dora followed.

“We can’t miss that,” Rhonda finished. She looked at you. “Are you coming with us or…”

“I was planning on going with Johnny,” you answered. “But… Johnny, is it okay if my friends join us?”

“I don’t mind. Ben?”

Ben turned to the three girls, all of whom were pleading with their best puppy eyes. “Um… I guess.

Johnny clapped his hands together. “Good enough! Let’s go!” He grabbed you by the hand and you ran out once more into the night, not bothering to wait on the others.

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“Where did Reed and Sue say they’d be again?” Johnny asked.

“They said they’d be near the entrance of the pier,” Ben replied. “They said we’d have a better chance of beating the crowds once the show is over that way.”

The boys and girls stopped running a while back and just walked to look around at all the people trying to find spots or getting comfortable in spots they’d already claimed. Johnny and you were still holding hands, taking in the night and excitement that lied ahead. Sure enough, when you all got to the pier, there were Reed, Sue, and baby Franklin standing close to the entrance. They waved you over.

“Good! You two made it,” Sue sighed. She then noticed you and your friends. “And you brought company.”

“I hope you don’t mind,” Johnny said. He motioned to you. “I invited her to watch the fireworks with us, but she didn’t want to leave her friends out so they tagged along with us.”

“I hope it’s not too much trouble, Ms. Storm” you said nervously.

Thankfully, Sue smiled and said, “Not at all. We’re glad you could join us.” She looked to Reed, who gave his own smile. Franklin smiled, too, and that finally put you at ease.

You hung back while Johnny and Ben talked to the couple for a minute. As you joined your friends, you could see them squirming in their spots trying to contain their nerves at watching a fireworks show with the Fantastic Four. You shot them a pointed look to calm them down, which worked just a little bit.

You all got situated along the railing of the pier. You talked with your girls. They made small talk with the team. You held onto Johnny. It was only a matter of time until…

Suddenly, a huge alarm went off somewhere. Everyone became deadly silent. It was time.

The first firework shot off in the air and burst in a bright red color. Everyone erupted in applause and cheers. A couple more fireworks went off in yellow, eliciting the same response. Some smaller ones in pink made an appearance. One firework in purple seemed to be as big as a planet, garnering some gasps. You, Johnny, your friends, and the rest of the Fantastic Four looked up in total awe at the spectacle. It was everything you thought it’d be and more.

You felt like someone was watching you. Sure enough, Johnny was staring at you oh-so lovingly. You gave him a smile that seemed to match the brightness of the fireworks.

A look quickly crossed his face, like he just thought of something.

“What?” you asked.

“Wait here. I’ll be right back.”

He quickly ran off. You watched as he blended into the crowd until he disappeared completely.

“Where’s he going?” Reed called out.

You shrugged. “I don’t know. He just said he’d be right back.”

“Maybe he got scared of the loud noise and peed himself,” Ben joked, making Nora and Dora giggle. Sue shook her head as did you before turning back to watch the sky. Two red fireworks shot out in unison, seemingly creating a heart. You awed at the sight. If only Johnny hadn’t run off, you could’ve pointed it out to him.

“What’s that?” Rhonda asked, pointing to something glowing in the distance. You squinted to make out what it was. It was some sort of red or orange light. It started at the bottom before making its way up and around in the shape of… a heart. It was so big that it seemed to eclipse the fireworks still going on. The light then got in the middle of the heart and seemed to be creating the shape of the number four.

It all hit you like a ton of bricks. It was Johnny. He was making a heart just for you. It was so romantic, so thoughtful. You felt like you were going to cry all over again.

The family looked at you with knowing smiles. Rhonda, Nora, and Dora looked at you with a mix of happiness and jealousy. Everyone around you erupted into thunderous applause. They may have known it was a sign of the Fantastic Four, but they’d never know that it was specifically for you.

The symbol burned brightly for a few minutes before going out to make way for the rest of the fireworks. Johnny showed up a while later, a bit out of breath and with his clothes wrinkled (no doubt from where he threw them somewhere so he wouldn’t burn them to a crisp while in flight). He walked up to you and proudly slung an arm over your shoulder. Everyone in the group looked on, possibly wanting to say something, but decided to let you be to watch the rest of the show.

You got up close to Johnny’s ear and whispered, “Thank you.”

“Anything to make our last night in Malibu special, sweetheart,” he whispered back.

You gave him a gentle, lingering kiss as a reward for his kind words and big heart.

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The day finally came for you and your friends and Johnny and his family to go your separate ways. You all met near the Fantasticar just outside of Malibu. The girls said their goodbyes and thanked the family for their kindness. You and Johnny decided to have a more private moment to the side.

“Here’s my phone number and address,” Johnny held out a piece of paper.

“Here’s mine,” you held out your own. You put his in the pocket of your shorts as he put yours in the pocket of his shirt.

“Call me when you get back,” Johnny said.

“Why me?”

“Because we’re going in a super-powered flying car. We’ll probably make it to New York before you even make it halfway to Sacramento.”

You rolled your eyes. “Alright, Mr. Smarty-Pants.”

“No, that’s Reed. You can call me Pretty Boy.”

“I prefer Beach Boy.”

“Ha ha,” he said, deadpanned. You giggled and wrapped your arms around him tight. He did the same, taking in your warmth and smell. “God, I’m going to miss you,” he said.

“I’m going to miss you, too,” you said. “Labor Day is the next major holiday. Maybe we can see each other then?”

“I was thinking sooner than that, honestly,” Johnny admitted.

“Well I’m already thinking so far ahead. I always wanted to see New York in wintertime.”

“I can keep you warm on those cold, cold nights.” He rubbed your sides for emphasis which made you blush.

The sudden honking of the car horn scared you both. “Come on, Johnny!” Ben yelled. “Bus is leaving!”

“Alright! Alright!” Johnny yelled back. He turned to give you one final kiss… and then another one… and then another one. His actual final kiss to you was long, deep, and meaningful. You could still feel it on your lips after he told you goodbye and walked to the car.

Before the doors closed, you shouted, “Wait!” You ran as fast as you could to Johnny. You quickly took off your seashell bracelet and handed it to him. “Take this.”

“Are you sure?” he reached out for it, but only slightly in case you changed your mind.

“Yes,” you gently shoved it in his hand. “A little something to remember your California Girl by.”

He grinned at the idea and put it on his wrist on the spot. “I’ll never take it off. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” You gave him another quick kiss before stepping back so the family could take off.

As the car started to gain some speed and then flew into the sky, you and your friends waved and called out goodbye. The family waved back at you. Johnny blew you a kiss that you returned. They were out of sight in a matter of minutes. You sighed deeply and felt your friends slowly coming towards you for a big group hug. You embraced them with a big smile on your face.

Johnny had his own smile as he looked down at your bracelet from the backseat of the car. While he appreciated you giving it to him, he thought it looked better on you. He decided he’d get you another one when he made his surprise visit to you in a couple weeks. What a gift from a New York Boy to his California Girl.

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Author’s Note 2: Electric Boogaloo: Thank you so much for making it to the end! I ask that you NOT post this story as your own, please. Instead, give it a like/review/bookmark/reblog/all of the above wherever you read it.

Archive of Our Own

#marvel #mcu #mcu fanfiction #the fantastic four #the fantastic four first steps #fantastic four fanfiction #johnny storm #joseph quinn #x reader #fanfiction #fluff #johnny storm fanfiction #johnny storm x reader #fourth of july #happy fourth of july

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lunar-atlantis · 2 days ago

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I caved. I watched it.

I normally wait a week or so for all the hype to die down before i watch something like this but-

AAAAAA KPOP DEMON HUNTERS IS SOOO GOOD!!! The music the visuals just abegshsb

Honest review below cut (its rlly short cause I dont feel like im qualified for this but still-)

Spoilers below (but not too heavy i think-)

Okay this eats for real

I feel like its a good story. All the (main) characters have a good level of depth, they're not just idols, they're actual people. Rumi facing and discovering herself and its not bad to exist (despite literally everything she's ever been told about her dad and her life), Zoey making a place for herself, not letting her mind hold her back, and Mira just being herself, not hiding what makes her her and instead embracing it (Rumi could learn a lot from her). Honorable characters include Bobby, Tiger, and Bird (Crow? Is it a crow?)

The plot does feel a little cliche, especially near the end with the whole music brings us together wonder where thats from *coughcoughequestriagirlscough* but it makes sense for the plot. The humor in there didn't feel like too much, it fit really well. Overall the plot wasn't too heavy or too light, it balanced out really well.

I dont know a lot about Korean culture, legends or myths, but I think that what there was was solid and good all around. Also anyone notice Jinus hair? He cut his hair when becoming a demon, banishing himself for what he did, severing all ties with his past life. The demon we see isn't Jinu (or the man in the visions isn't Jinu), its a new identity, because Jinu died when he sacrificed his family. Ooor maybe im just reading too much into it and they just did it for aesthetic purposes, who knows

Now, the music. HOLY SHIT IT EATS. Waiting for "This is what it sounds like" covers. Golden? Eats. Takedown, in literally any other context, eats. Rlly good execution of how they put it in there, loved that.

Takedown... that entire scene. The entire buildup to that scene BROKE ME. Rumi trying to change the context of the song, not only because it wasn't what they needed (tbh that wasn't her main priority at that point), but because she didn't want to hurt Jinu. She didn't want to make the song aggressive, to feed into what they've been taught and all they know about what they fight against because she knows. I also think she felt it as a bit of a personal attack, because she's also included in the target of the song, even if unintentionally. Especially after she learned to accept herself, the song hit a lot harder for her. "Whole life spreadin' lies, but you can't hide, baby, nice try" and "Oh, you're the mastery of illusion, 나를속이려 하지마 (dont try to fool me), look at all the masses you're foolin', but they'll turn on you, so how?"

Golden is really good for describing each of the girls. Literally, the lyrics describing what happens out the end?? "I'm done hiding, now I'm shinin' like I'm born to be." I'd include the entire song if I could, but that part just fits really well. Also "We're going up, up, up, it's our moment." Almost like they're flying at the end...

No notes on This is What it Sounds Like. No notes, cause its perfect and its going into my mouth now. But the harmonies in it??? Stunning. Beautiful. As someone who needs to feel the music in their bones, this sent shivers through me. (Also its three part harmonies cause- cause there's three of them and I honestly dont know where im going with this)

So pissed Rumi and Jinu didn't kiss. Literally shaking my screen begging they'd kiss in that one scene. Not even an 'I love you'!!! AJAUJARHHDHEJSJ.

Okay this is all I can think of for now, thanks for coming to my ted talk.

#kpop demon hunters #rumi kpdh #zoey kpdh #mira kpdh #jinu kpdh #rumi x jinu #i give it a solid 8/10 #okay i need go cry in my pillow peace <3

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camficdiner · 2 days ago

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[1.4] [2.6] [3.2] [4.2] maybe a friends to lovers vibe?? Idk just work your magic <3

☕️ cams fic diner — order 088

🍒 thank you, For the ones who walked away — not because the feelings were gone, but because the timing wasn’t right. This one’s for when you come back, just for a moment… and find out he never stopped waiting.

💬 " Come Home Anyway"

✨ description & prompts

• character: Matt Rempe

• prompt: You patch up his injury, then he asks you to stay.

• type: Friends to lovers • Romantic comfort • Soft smut

• smut level: 3 — intimate, emotional, slow and steady

• wc: ~1.1k

✨🧁🍒🛼

You don’t plan to go to the game.

You’re only in New York for a few days — visiting family, clearing your head, hiding from the quiet ache that sometimes feels too loud when you’re home in Europe. It’s been six months since you’ve seen him. Him. The friend you never lost, even after everything else fell apart.

Matt Rempe.

You dated one of his best friends, once. A long time ago. It ended the way those things sometimes do — too quiet, too quick, too sad to talk about. You stayed friends with Matt, somehow. Texts. Check-ins. A shared playlist that still updates on your bad days.

But it’s been radio silence lately. You didn’t tell him you were coming back.

And then you’re in the crowd, almost by accident — gifted tickets, cheap wine in your cup holder, nerves high as the first period starts. He’s bigger than you remembered. Quieter. More locked in.

And then he goes down.

Nothing terrible — just a hit into the boards, a scuffle, a glove lost. But when he stands, blood’s already trailing down his cheek.

You stand too. You don’t mean to.

Just do.

You’re still in the hallway near the medical room when he spots you.

Hair damp with sweat. Jersey wrinkled. Lip split.

He freezes.

Then: “You’re here.”

You nod. “Surprise?”

He blinks — once, twice — and then smiles like he forgot he was bleeding.

“I need stitches,” he says. “Come patch me up?”

You laugh, startled. “Matt—”

“Please.”

----

You’ve been in this room before. A long time ago. You remember the scent — antiseptic and rubber and faint wintergreen. The paper crinkling under him as he sits on the exam cot. The way he fills the space, all height and quiet energy, eyes soft as you wash the blood from his skin.

His voice is gentle. “You still remember how?”

You glance at the gauze. “You’ve always been the easiest mess to clean up.”

He chuckles. You can feel him watching you.

“I missed you,” he says suddenly.

You pause. Look up.

“I know it’s not simple,” he continues. “I know who you used to be with. I know we’re far. But—”

He swallows.

“I think about you more than I should.”

You’re not sure who moves first. You just know that when he kisses you, it’s soft. Careful. A question with no punctuation.

You climb onto the cot, into his lap, his hands already gripping your hips like he’s scared you’ll disappear again.

“You sure?” you whisper.

He nods.

“Always.”

It’s not rushed.

Despite the paper sheets and buzzing fluorescents, it’s slow. Reverent. His mouth moves like it’s memorizing you. His fingers trail down your spine, across your thighs, under your shirt — warm and gentle and firm all at once.

When you grind down against him, he groans into your neck. “Fuck—been wanting this.”

You kiss him harder. He lifts your hips just enough to slide your underwear aside, runs his fingers through your folds, swears under his breath.

“So wet already,” he murmurs. “You missed me too, huh?”

You nod, dazed, riding his hand now, one slow circle at a time.

He doesn’t let you fall apart too fast. He holds your waist as you shudder against him, presses soft kisses to your shoulder, and whispers, “You’re not going anywhere after this, are you?”

You pull back just enough to look at him.

“I don’t live here, Matt.”

“I know,” he says. “But I want to show you my apartment. My books. My coffee routine. I want you in my space—even if it’s temporary. Come home with me anyway.”

You nod.

“Yeah,” you whisper. “Okay.”

You fall asleep on his chest that night.

Jetlagged. Tired.

But for the first time in weeks, you don’t feel far from anything that matters.

#camficdiner #matt rempe #matt rempe smut #matt rempe x reader #mr73 x reader #mr73

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shehungthemoon · 2 days ago

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So... so.

For something stuck in production/editing/post/reshoot hell(🔥👺!!!) for 5 years, I definitely expected something, uhhh, tighter? And more cohesive? And more focused on the individual characters than a convoluted plot. Which is what made the first film so brilliant, even if they did it in a subtle way! TOG2 did have some pretty good scenes showcasing relationships between the characters, but a lot of them felt isolated from the rest of the movie and some also lacked the individual foundation that made them so strong.

My two biggest issues were:

1) Joe being the one reaching out to Booker, despite it going COMPLETELY against his character from the first film. One of his key traits is his passion, but his passion is based in loyalty, and he felt Booker's betrayal more than anyone. It would make sense for literally anyone BUT Yusuf to be sneaking around helping Booker. It was a really weird and out of place plot-line that solely served to add tension in the first third of the movie, and then just goes nowhere. Ugh. So stupid.

2) Tuah, a totally new immortal whose existence not only makes no sense given anything they've already established in the first film, but more importantly whose existence absolutely undermines EVERYTHING about Copley's character. Copley serves as the wake-up call that Andy (and to Booker, and a lesser extent Nicky and Joe) needed to "reset" their lives. His entire career is spent compiling all of these incredible connections throughout history that come together to make a story that gives the Old Guard purpose, and shows them something truly wonderful about themselves that they've never seen before, despite their hundreds of years of living. It's weighty and quite literally life-changing, not to mention that the entire concept is a really brilliant and unique role to give to your secondary antagonist.

...So the idea that all the same information was just sitting collecting dust with some other random immortal, and that Andy knew about it the whole time, just cheapens the entire previous journey of her character AND the entire purpose of Copley. And the worst part about it is that there's truly no need whatsoever for this character to exist. His sole role is to blanket-provide exposition. That's it. That's CRAZY. It's lazy and clunky. Him being an immortal I feel also throws a wrench into so many things, and it would've been so easy to get around that by just saying smth like, he's a mortal that comes from a long family line that has always been some sort of record keeper and ally to the immortals, for example. Or just just not having him at all and have Discord's existence be something that the Old Guard themselves stumbles across by looking through Copley's research and finding discrepancies or holes or something like that. at the very least that would've given Joe and Nicky something more important to do for once.

The direction also felt sloppier, less focused and with harder to follow action scenes. Also editing discontinuities that are crazy for something that was in post for so long.

I really liked Sebastian's end (despite how mad I am he didn't get even a single goodbye), and how the Nile-the-Destroyer plot (as convoluted as it was presented) lent itself to his decision in a really full-circle way. Andy and Quynh's end scenes together were also really good, and I absolutely ADORED everything abt how they shot that street scene with Andy in Rome. That felt like something magically lifted out of an alternate universe 2O2G that only exists in pieces on a cutting-room floor somewhere.

It was hardly the worst movie I've seen, but they set their bar so so high with the first one that it really makes no sense to have this drop in quality in all aspects with so many more resources at their disposal. I will admit I do feel much better abt the runtime and pacing now, knowing that it's intended to just be a Part 1, though I'm still on the fence about that decision in itself. I really really really hope that the third one gets green-lit for starters, and it actually wraps up this plot in a satisfying way while also delivering on a lot of the things that I think this film was missing.

I think I'll have more thoughts on this tomorrow, it's super late right now and I'm not at my top analyzing ability right now lol. I also hope that the more I mull on it the more I'll think of things that I really did like about it! Anyway, wow. The Old Guard 2. Can't believe it's actually real!

#just a post for me to organize my 2o2g thoughts for myself #the old guard #the old guard 2 #yusuf al kaysani #sebastian le livre #immortal husbands #whom we didn't get much of. but whose midnight garden scene did make me swoon.#as my sister said: 'hey at least they got to have their saw bathroom moment.' i choked.#the old guard 2 spoilers

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red-red-spout · 2 years ago

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God it's genuinely incredible the sheer degree to which Pact is OC-bait

Given that it was written right after Worm- guessing the whole "supernatural powers which fundamentally stem from the character of the wielder" thing was still on his mind

#wonder if the reason Pact and Worm got sequels and Twig didn't is that it's just much easier that twig characters don't really do the thing #with personality based-powers #so it's harder to come up with new characters #though I guess it makes sense to some degree - Twig is about how the failings of societal pedagogy and more specifically the academic syste #and also mad science i guess #Pact is about Family - and also how much wizards suck #Worm is about how much superheroes suck- and also how much superheroes suck #two of the three are about way more personal things - focusing more on individuals than systems #Wizard and Superhero exist apart from society on a different level than the doctors and professors of the academy and their puppet-crown -#certainly they influence society from the shadows but they're a whole alternate society whereas the Academy is.. also seperated but like-#the one creating and enforcing the normal society in the first place i guess?#Pact #parahumans #hawk.txt #idk i'm talking out of my ass here I'm still on literally the 2nd chapter

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sapphroditewrites · 1 month ago

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okie dokie lovelies I’m hoping to get that fic out either by the end of the weekend or the middle of the next week ❤️ very excited to be back thank u for sharing my excitement!!

#considering possibly getting another twt account for my fanfic too? idk very on the fence #bc rn my new Twitter is just a Billie stan account and I kind of love the peace #but if I rlly start pumping em out again I’ll do it just to keep yall updated on the progress #feels good to come back to writing them!#I still have like 1 emison fic I’ve been v consistently writing so i might end up posting that one day lmfao #it’s funny how I never exactly stopped writing but it feels different writing & knowing it’s for myself AND others #do u know what I mean #like don’t get me wrong I’ve been writing my entire life but it hits different when I get to share it w ppl #like I can toot my own horn all I want and tell myself I’m good at it but hearing others say it #and sharing their excitement abt plots and characters and little fun details abt a fictional relationship????#hits so much harder #like oh right we all love these 2 idiots and wanna explore different ways that love shines thru that’s so fun and cute #anyway this is getting rambly sorry I’m just v excited to dip my toes back into fandom culture #lmk if u read all this shit bc if u did idk what I’ll give u but I’m impressed #and if u read this far AAANDDD ur on Billie stan twt lmk I need more moots but be warned I do be out there dogging on republicans a lot #srry I can’t help myself HOWEVERRR I’m getting better at not getting banned lmao

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daisywords · 1 year ago

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one of the pitfalls for me of writing in first person present tense (beloved!) is that I forget that I can just timeskip

#ughh how do I bring her from here to there?#<<just drop her in a new scene bestie. it's okay it's fine #that sweet sweet immediacy does come with the tradeoff #that it's harder to make summary feel natural #but that doesn't mean it can't be done! just not my instinct #third person past tense is smoother for this but incorporates the character's thoughts and emotional states less naturally imo #but we all do it anyway and it works so like. no reason I can't have perfectly fine summary in present tense. it's literally fine #anyway switching between the two wips does have me thinking about tense and pov like never before #someday I might end up doing something in first person past tense and have whole new problems and epiphanies #don't think I've done that yet.#third person present tense I've done and it's perfect for some things #but has the tendancy to make it feel like the characters are zombies (can be a good or bad flavor depending)#<<I mean like dissociative vibes yk??

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sabziesart · 1 year ago

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Bangs? Bangs.

#artist on tumblr #original art #original character #oc art #id in alt #roni helix #digital art #character design #my art #sabz art #for whatever reason roni is the character i draw when i come up with a new method of coloring #i decided i hate lineart and opted to juat not donit her and color over the sketch #i enjoyed this process so much more #i need to practice so i can keep it up #and i think i do prefer the bangs on her #idk i think they just make more sense #i hate drawing bangs mainly because of how they cover the face and can make the expression harder to read #but i think it works well

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kurthorton-moving · 1 year ago

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I have been. Struggling w tumblr lately and i am trying to work out Why bc this hobby means 2 much for me to let it fizzle out

#i have muse. i love these characters and i want to write them.#i talk ab them and scenarios all the time. what is the issue #i mean the issue is the actually writing part motivation is low #but i also think its just like. idk i feel like the rpc as a whole has changed and become. less of a community?#like finding new people to write with is so difficult bc no one talks to anyone new anymore #and starting to talk to new people feels so much harder than it used to and getting engagement is impossible #like i have a group of 5-10 people who r constantly showing up constantly trying and i love that i love you #but thats. thats such a small fraction of my mutuals. like whats the. why arent my mutuals willing to interact w me #like is this a me thing. is this happening to everyone or is it specifically something i need to work on #its so much worse on my other blogs its a vicious cycle of not writing bc theres no one to write w but no one new coming bc u dont write #its just. wheres the community gone #like i have over 300 followers. why do only 5 people want to talk to me

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inseobts · 4 months ago

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Unintentional couple behaviour

you two acts like a loving couple all the time, so what happens when someone points it out?

gn!reader

characters: zoro, sanji, law, ace and sabo

(luffy, kidd, katakuri, shanks and mihawk)

words count: around 0.8k - 1.3k each

masterlist || ao3 || ko-fi

── .✦ Roronoa Zoro:

You do a lot of things for Zoro without thinking.

You wake him up when it’s time to eat. You stop him from training too much. You make sure he doesn’t get lost whenever the crew visits a new island.

It’s normal for you. Someone has to do it.

But one day, the others start teasing you about it.

It happens at lunch. You are eating with the crew when Usopp laughs and nudges your arm.

“Hey, aren’t you gonna get your boyfriend?”

You blink. “What?”

Sanji, cleaning his hands with a towel, nods toward the deck “That moss-brained idiot. You always bring him to meals. It’s like a little routine between you two now. Like a couple…”

“We’re not—” You nearly choke on your drink “We’re not a couple!”

Usopp grins “Then why do you always take so much care of him?”

“Because he’s stupid and forgets to eat!” you say, standing up “I’ll go get him, but not because of whatever weird ideas you guys have.”

You walk away while they laugh behind you.

You find Zoro exactly where you expect, napping against the ship’s railing, his swords next to him.

You roll your eyes and shake his shoulder “Oi, wake up. Lunch is ready.”

Nothing.

You shake him harder “Zoro. If you don’t get up, I’ll eat your food.”

He grumbles and waves his hand, like he’s trying to swat away a fly.

Sighing, you do what you always do. You grab his wrist and pull him up with both hands. He lets you. He always does, like it’s natural.

Zoro blinks at you, still half-asleep “Huh. You again.”

“Yeah, me again,” you say “Come eat before Sanji ‘forgets’ to save you anything.”

You’re still holding his wrist, making sure he doesn’t fall back asleep. That’s when you notice Nami and Robin watching from across the deck, smiling.

“What?” you ask, feeling awkward.

Nami smirks “You two are cute.”

Your face heats up “We’re not—he’s not—we’re not together!”

Robin chuckles “You do take care of him a lot.”

Zoro frowns, confused “What the hell are you talking about?”

“Nothing,” you mutterl “Come eat.”

You let go of his wrist too fast and walk away, ignoring the warm feeling in your chest.

You think it’s over, but now you notice things.

Zoro always sits next to you at meals, even when there are other seats. You always save food for him without realizing. And during fights, he always protects you first, like it’s a habit.

And, worst of all, people keep pointing it out.

“y/n,” Chopper asks one day, tilting his head “Are you and Zoro dating?”

You almost trip “What?! No!”

“Oh...” He looks confused “But you act like it”

You groan “Not you too”

After that, you can’t stop thinking about it.

The next time you wake Zoro up, your fingers stay on his wrist a second too long. The next time he pulls you behind him in a fight, your heart beats faster.

And then one evening, when you catch him watching you with a thoughtful look, you realize you might be in trouble.

That night, Zoro speaks first.

“Oi”

You look up from your seat on the deck “What?”

He leans against the railing, arms crossed “Does it bother you?”

You frown “Does what bother me?”

“What people are saying” His eyes stay on you “About us.”

You swallow “Why? Does it bother you?”

He doesn’t answer right away “No” his voice is quieter than usual.

Your stomach flips and you look at the ocean “I mean… it’s just dumb teasing, right?”

Zoro doesn’t reply. Instead, he watches you for a long time. Then, finally, he smirks.

“Doesn’t really matter what they say” he says, voice calm but sure “I’d still stick with you either way.”

Your breath catches and suddenly, your heart won’t let you ignore this anymore.

For the next days you try to brush off what the crew said.

You really do, but it’s impossible to ignore when Zoro keeps acting the same way.

Like when you’re on lookout duty together, and he hands you his jacket without a word.

Or when you spar with him, and he pulls his hits just enough so you don’t get hurt.

Or when you fall asleep on the Sunny’s deck, and you wake up covered with a blanket, one you know you didn’t grab.

And every time it happens, you catch the crew watching. Smirking.

It’s driving you insane.

One afternoon, you finally decide to do something about it.

You find Zoro by the training room, lifting weights. His shirt is half undone, sweat glistening on his skin, but you shove that thought aside.

You cross your arms “Hey, Zoro.”

He grunts in acknowledgment, not stopping his reps.

You hesitate “…Why do you treat me differently?”

He finally sets the weight down, wiping his face with a towel “What?”

“You heard me...” You shift uncomfortably “You do things for me that you don’t do for anyone else.”

Zoro leans back against the wall, looking at you like you just asked a stupid question “So?”

“So?” You huff “That means something, doesn’t it?”

He shrugs “I guess.”

You blink “That’s it? You guess?”

Zoro sighs, scratching his head “Look, I don’t really think about it. I just—” He pauses, then shrugs again “I want to.”

Your heart skips a beat “…What?”

“I want to do those things for you,” he says simply “it’s not a big deal”

You stare at him “Not a... Zoro, are you serious?”

He frowns “What, you don’t like it?”

“That’s not the point!” Your face feels hot “You don’t do this for Nami or Robin or anyone else!”

Zoro looks at you, unimpressed “Yeah. Because it’s you.”

You freeze.

The way he says it, so blunt, so obvious, it makes your stomach flip.

He isn’t flustered. He isn’t overthinking it. He’s just stating a fact.

“…Oh.”

Zoro crosses his arms, watching you carefully “Is that a problem?”

You swallow “No. It’s just…”

It’s everything. It’s him always being there, always looking out for you, always treating you like someone important.

It’s a realization you should have had ages ago.

You let out a breathless laugh “I’m an idiot.”

Zoro raises an eyebrow “Well, yeah.”

You smack his arm. He smirks.

But when your hand lingers just a little too long, he doesn’t pull away.

And suddenly, you both understand... this isn’t just a habit.

It never was.

Ever since that conversation in the training room, things between you and Zoro have… shifted, but not in a bad way.

He still trains for hours. Still naps in random spots. Still bickers with Sanji.

But now, when you sit beside him, his arm naturally rests along the back of your chair.

Now, when you fight, he doesn’t just watch your back, he makes sure you’re never out of reach.

Now, when you look at him for a second too long, he looks right back.

Like he’s waiting.

Like he’s giving you the choice.

One evening, you find him on the Sunny’s deck, looking out at the ocean.

“…Can’t sleep?” he asks.

You shake your head, stepping closer “Thinking too much.”

Zoro smirks “Dangerous habit...”

You huff a laugh but don’t argue.

Instead, you stand beside him, silent for a moment before you finally ask...

“Do you regret telling me?”

Zoro frowns “Telling you what?”

“That you… actually treat me differently. That you want to.”

His jaw tightens slightly “No.”

Your heart does something strange “Good.”

You don’t give yourself time to hesitate.

Before doubt can creep in, you grab him and pull him down.

Zoro freezes.

For half a second, he doesn’t move. Doesn’t even breathe.

Then a quiet growl rumbles from his chest, and his hand cups the back of your neck as he kisses you back.

It’s firm. Solid. Like he’s been holding back for too long and refuses to anymore.

When you finally break apart, Zoro leans his forehead against yours, exhaling through his nose.

“…Finally” he mutters.

You grin “You were waiting for me?”

“Wasn’t gonna rush you” His fingers brush your jaw “You get there when you get there.”

You hum, leaning into him “And now?”

Zoro smirks “Now, you’re stuck with me.”

You kiss him again, just to make sure he knows you wouldn’t want it any other way.

── .✦ Vinsmoke Sanji:

Sanji has always been a flirt. That’s just how he is.

He calls Nami and Robin “my love” and “my dear”. He spins around the kitchen whenever they compliment him. He offers to carry their bags when the crew goes shopping.

But when it comes to you, it’s different.

It starts when the crew is eating dinner together.

“Sanji, can you pass the salt?” you ask.

Instead of handing you the salt shaker, Sanji grabs it, twists off the lid, and sprinkles just the right amount onto your plate.

You blink “Uh. Thanks?”

“Of course, my dear” he says smoothly. Then, as if nothing happened, he turns back to his own plate.

You think nothing of it... until you notice the way the others are watching.

Usopp raises an eyebrow “Did he just season your food for you?”

“Yeah?” You shrug “What's new about it? He's a chef and he’s just being nice.”

Luffy grins “He doesn’t do that for anyone else.”

“That’s not true,” you argue “Sanji treats everyone like this.”

Nami hums “Not exactly like this. If we wanted more salt he would start a lecture about how it would ruin his masterpiece.”

Before you can ask what she means, Sanji stands up to grab dessert. He places a plate in front of you first. It’s your favorite.

The crew stares.

You stare too “Sanji…”

He smiles “What? I made extra for you.”

Usopp coughs “Yeah. Okay. Totally normal.”

Robin chuckles behind her hand.

You shake your head and go back to eating. It’s nothing. Sanji is just being Sanji.

…Right?

But then, you start noticing other things.

When you’re cold, Sanji drapes his jacket over your shoulders without you asking.

When you need something from a high shelf, Sanji wordlessly reaches up and hands it to you.

When you’re about to trip, his hand is always there to steady you.

And every time, every single time, he does it so naturally that you don’t even think about it.

Until one day, Franky whistles and says, “You two sure act like a couple.”

You nearly drop the drink in your hands “What?!”

Sanji, who was stirring a pot at the stove, pauses.

Franky leans against the counter, grinning “You two do all that coupley stuff. He gives you the best food, takes care of you, treats you differently from everyone else—”

“That’s not true,” you say quickly “Sanji’s like this with everyone.”

Franky snorts “Nah. He does flirt with everyone. But this?” He gestures between you and Sanji “This is different.”

You glance at Sanji. He’s staring into the pot, silent.

Your face feels hot now “You guys are reading too much into things.”

“Sure we are...” Franky says, smirking. Then he leaves.

The kitchen is quiet now. You swallow and turn to Sanji.

“…Is it true?”

He looks at you. His usual confident smile is gone. Instead, there’s something softer in his eyes.

“I don’t know” he says “is it?”

Your heartbeat quickens.

Suddenly, every touch, every sweet gesture, it all feels different.

Maybe it wasn’t just a habit.

Maybe it was something else all along.

After all this the teasing has only gotten worse.

Ever since Nami and Usopp pointed out how Sanji treats you, they will not let it go.

“Here comes Sanji’s beloveeeed~” Usopp sings when you walk into the kitchen.

“I should start charging you for all the extra food Sanji makes only for you” Nami smirks.

Even Luffy, who usually doesn’t care about these things, grins at Sanji one afternoon and says “Oi, cook, when are you gonna marry y/n?”

Sanji chokes on his cigarette so hard he has to brace himself on the counter.

You groan and drag a hand down your face.

But what really drives you insane?

Sanji never denies it.

He stutters, blushes, waves his hands, but he never says “That’s not true.”

Because it is true.

And it’s starting to drive you crazy.

You try to ignore it. But then you start noticing things, even the smallest ones.

Sanji never lets you carry anything heavy.

He always pours you tea first, even before Nami and Robin.

He adjusts your chair at dinner like it’s second nature.

And the worst part? He doesn’t even realize he’s doing it.

But you do.

And now, every time he gives you that look—the one that’s soft, full of admiration, like you hung the damn sun in the sky—your heart stumbles over itself.

This has to stop.

Or something has to change.

It happens one evening after dinner.

You’re in the kitchen, helping Sanji clean up. He hums as he washes the dishes, sleeves rolled up, golden hair falling over his forehead.

You watch him for a second, then take a deep breath.

“Sanji.”

He glances at you, smiling “Yes, my love?”

You grip the counter “Why do you act like we’re together?”

Sanji freezes.

The faucet keeps running. The kitchen is warm with the smell of spices. But Sanji is frozen.

Slowly, he turns his head toward you “…P-Pardon?”

You cross your arms “You treat me differently. Even the crew notices. You never do this stuff for anyone else.”

Sanji swallows hard “I—”

“You never deny it,” you press “and honestly? I’m tired of waiting for you to finally say something.”

Sanji stares at you like you’ve just flipped his entire world upside down.

His hands shake. His lips part like he wants to speak, but nothing comes out.

“…Sanji.” Your voice softens “Do you want this to be real?”

A shuddering breath leaves him. He looks at you, eyes wide, vulnerable.

“More than anything...” he whispers.

Your heartbeat stutters.

That’s it. That’s all you need to hear.

You step forward, grab the front of his shirt, and kiss him.

Sanji malfunctions.

His entire body locks up, like his brain has completely short-circuited.

For a solid two seconds, he does not move.

Then a noise escapes him, something between a whimper and a desperate sigh, and his hands come up to cup your face, pulling you closer.

The kiss is warm, overwhelming, but soft, like he’s afraid you’ll disappear if he holds on too tight.

When you finally pull away, he’s redder than his own suit.

“…M-Mon amour,” he breathes, voice shaking “You...you actually...”

You smirk “Took us long enough, cook.”

Sanji makes a strangled sound and immediately buries his face in your shoulder, arms wrapped tight around you.

Outside, the crew is losing their minds.

“TOLD YOU!” Usopp shouts.

“I WON THE BET!” Nami cheers.

“Oi, Sanji, you alive in there?” Zoro snickers.

Sanji doesn’t answer. He’s too busy melting against you, whispering sweet nothings into your skin.

And honestly?

You think you’ll let him.

── .✦ Trafalgar D. Law:

Law is not the kind of person who likes physical contact. He doesn’t let most people touch him. He keeps his distance, always standing at the edge of conversations with his arms crossed. If someone bumps into him, they get a glare.

But for some reason, you are different.

It starts when Bepo hands you a coat one evening.

“Here,” he says, tail flicking “you left this in the lounge.”

You blink at it. It’s black, long, and definitely not yours.

“This isn’t mine” you say, confused.

Bepo tilts his head “Oh. But you always wear the captain’s coat, so I thought it was yours now...”

You freeze.

“Wait. What?”

Shachi walks by and hears the conversation. He grins “Yeah, you totally do. Every time you’re cold, you steal his coat.”

Penguin nods “And Law never complains.”

You open your mouth. Close it. Try to remember.

…Okay, maybe you have borrowed Law’s coat a few times. But that’s just because it’s warm! And because it’s there! And because...

Oh no.

Your stomach twists “I... I do not...”

“Sure you don’t...” Shachi teases “What’s next? Calling him ‘dear’?”

You groan and shove the coat at Bepo before walking away.

But now, you can’t stop thinking about it.

After this, you start noticing other things. Like how Law always lets you into his personal space.

How you can tug his hat down over his eyes without him pushing you away.

How he casually rests his hand on your shoulder when he stands next to you.

One day, you trip over a loose crate. Before you even hit the ground, a familiar blue glow surrounds you... Law’s Room.

In an instant, you’re back on your feet, completely unharmed.

The Heart Pirates snicker.

“Captain didn’t even think” Penguin whispers.

“He never uses Room for anyone else’s clumsiness” Shachi adds.

You glare at them “I heard that.”

They just smirk.

Law doesn’t say anything. He just sighs and keeps walking, like saving you without thinking is the most natural thing in the world.

Your heart does something weird. You ignore it.

Later, you sit on a crate, arms crossed. Law stands next to you, reading a medical book.

You glance at him “Your crew keeps calling me ‘Captain’s partner.’”

He doesn’t look up “So?”

“So, why?”

He flips a page “Probably because you act like one.”

Your brain short-circuits.

You stare “Excuse me?”

Law finally looks at you, raising an eyebrow “You’re always in my quarters, you steal my coat, and you act like you belong next to me. They’re not wrong.”

Your face burns “I... You let me do all that!”

He smirks “I know.”

You open your mouth, but no words come out.

Because suddenly, you realize... he has let you. And he still is.

Ever since Bepo and the others pointed out how Law treats you differently, it’s been impossible to ignore.

The extra care during missions. The way he always stands just a little closer than necessary. The way he lets you touch him, his arm, his shoulder, even his hand, when no one else would dare.

But what really gives him away?

The way his ears burn red every time you get too close.

And yet he never says anything.

If you didn’t know better, you’d think he was running an experiment to see how long he could keep this up before you lost your mind.

So tonight you’re calling him out.

You find him in his quarters, buried in medical books.

“Hey, Law.” You lean against the desk, arms crossed “Can I ask you something?”

His eyes flick up “What?”

You tilt your head “Do you like me?”

Law chokes.

Not just a little cough... he full-on chokes on air, slamming his book shut as if that’ll somehow save him.

“What—?!” He coughs into his fist “Where the hell did that come from?”

You raise an eyebrow “You tell me.”

Law scowls, shifting uncomfortably “You’re being ridiculous.”

“Oh? Am I?” You step closer.

He stiffens “What are you...?”

You place your hands on the arms of his chair and lean in, caging him in.

His breath hitches.

Oh. Oh.

He is not prepared for this.

“Law,” you murmur, watching his face closely “you never let anyone touch you, but you let me.”

His jaw clenches “That doesn’t—”

“You always make sure I rest. You check my injuries before anyone else’s.”

“Because you’re reckless—”

“And...” you lean even closer “your ears are red right now.”

Law swallows.

You smirk “So, wanna try again?”

For a long moment, he just stares at you, lips parted, golden eyes darting between yours.

Then, in a last-ditch effort, he growls... “You’re annoying.”

You hum “Maybe.”

And then you kiss him.

Law goes still.

For the first time since you’ve known him, he is completely speechless.

But then a quiet sound escapes him, and his hand suddenly grips your wrist, holding you there.

You almost pull back, unsure, until his other hand slides around the back of your neck, fingers threading into your hair, and he kisses you back.

It’s hesitant at first, but when you don’t pull away, something shifts.

The kiss deepens, his grip tightens, and the heat radiating off of him is enough to make you dizzy.

When you finally part, Law exhales sharply, pressing his forehead against yours.

“…You’re gonna be a problem” he mutters, voice rough.

You grin “Yeah?”

His fingers tighten in your hair “Yeah.”

And then, despite everything, he kisses you again.

Because for once in his life he’s done running.

── .✦ Portgas D. Ace:

Ace is naturally affectionate.

He throws an arm around people’s shoulders, laughs loudly, and grins like the world is a joke he’s in on. He’s warm but also because he makes people feel welcome.

So it’s not weird that he touches you a lot.

Right?

It starts when Marco sits down next to you, smirking.

“You and Ace finally together, yoi?”

You look at him confused “what do you mean?”

“A couple… are you two a couple?”

You almost drop your drink “What? No!”

Marco raises an eyebrow “You sure? He always saves you a seat at meals. Always gives you his food if you ask. Always keeps an eye on you during fights.”

You roll your eyes “That doesn’t mean anything. He’s just like that.”

“Not with everyone” Marco takes a sip of his drink “Just you.”

You open your mouth to argue, but then you don’t know what to say, because now, you’re thinking about it.

The next time Ace sits beside you at dinner, you notice how he slides his plate a little closer to yours, letting you steal his food.

The next time the crew docks at an island, you notice how he instinctively waits for you before walking off together.

The next time you’re about to trip, you don’t even get the chance to fall, Ace grabs your wrist and steadies you like it’s second nature.

And maybe it is second nature.

“Careful, Ace,” one of the division commanders teases “If you keep acting like that, y/n might actually think you’re in love.”

Ace laughs, scratching the back of his head “Yeah, yeah.”

You laugh too. Because it’s just a joke… Right?

One night, you sit together on the deck, watching the ocean.

You fidget for a second before saying “The crew keeps calling us a couple”

Ace hums “Yeah?”

You glance at him “Why do you think that is?”

He leans back, arms behind his head, and grins “Probably because we act like one.”

You choke on your own breath “Excuse me?!”

Ace tilts his head “I mean, we do everything together. You always take my food, and I always let you. You always pull me out of trouble, and I always let you. Feels natural, doesn’t it?”

Your brain short-circuits.

Because now that you think about it... yeah, it does feel natural.

“…Ace,” you say slowly “Are we...?”

He looks at you, amusement flickering in his eyes “What do you think?”

Your stomach flips.

Because suddenly, you’re not sure where the habit ends and the feelings begin.

After this, Ace keeps flirting with you all the time.

It’s just who he is.

Winks across the deck. Throwing an arm around your shoulders. Calling you hot stuff like it’s your actual name.

You’re used to it.

But after the teasing from Marco and Thatch, after realizing that Ace treats you differently, you start to wonder.

Is he just playing around? Or is there something real underneath?

There’s only one way to find out.

The perfect opportunity comes one afternoon, when Ace flops down next to you on the Moby Dick’s deck, grinning.

“Hey,” he drawls, resting an arm behind his head “Miss me?”

You smirk “I saw you literally two hours ago.”

“That’s two hours too long.” He winks “Bet you were thinking about me the whole time.”

You hum, tilting your head “You really think that, huh?”

Ace chuckles “C’mon, you love me.”

You raise an eyebrow “Prove it.”

He blinks “Huh?”

You shift, leaning closer with a sly smile “You say all this stuff, Ace. You flirt, you tease... but are you actually serious?”

For the first time, he hesitates.

Just for a second, but it’s enough.

“…Of course I am,” he says, but his usual confidence isn’t all there.

You smirk “Then show me.”

Before he can react, you grab his hat, his precious hat, and plop it onto your own head.

Ace short-circuits.

“Oi! That’s...!” He reaches for it instinctively but stops mid-motion, staring at you.

You tilt the brim with a smirk “What? You said you liked me, right?”

Ace swallows “Y-Yeah?”

“Then just take it back.”

You expect him to snatch it back playfully.

What you don’t expect is for Ace to grin, eyes flickering with mischief, and suddenly tackle you onto the deck.

You yelp as he hovers over you, forearms braced on either side of your head.

The crew whoops in the background, but neither of you pay them any attention.

Ace smirks down at you “You think you’re funny, huh?”

You grin “A little.”

Ace shakes his head, chuckling, but then his expression softens.

He reaches up, tilts the hat back just enough to see your face properly.

And then without thinking he leans down and kisses you.

It’s grinning into the kiss kind of playful. It’s warm and teasing but full of something deeper.

And when he pulls back, face way too close, he murmurs “Now you gotta prove it.”

Your heart races.

You don’t back down. Instead, you tug him down by his necklace and kiss him again.

This time, Ace melts.

When you finally break apart, Ace huffs out a breathless laugh.

“Well,” he grins “Guess you do love me.”

You roll your eyes “Shut up.”

But you don’t stop him when he kisses you one more time.

Because, honestly?

He’s right.

── .✦ Sabo:

Sabo is easy to be around.

He’s kind, smart, and always ready to listen. He laughs at your jokes, never forgets your favorite things, and somehow always knows when you need him.

So it’s no surprise that you spend a lot of time together.

But apparently, the way you act around him is a little… suspicious.

It starts when you’re walking through the Revolutionary Army base with Koala.

“So,” she says casually “when are you and Sabo going to make it official?”

You nearly trip over your own feet “What?!”

Koala grins “Come on, don’t play dumb. You two already act like a couple.”

You scoff “No, we don’t.”

She raises an eyebrow “Oh really? Who’s the first person Sabo looks for when he gets back from a mission?”

“…Me.”

“Who’s the only person he lets borrow his gloves?”

“…Me.”

“And who’s the only one he lets fall asleep on his shoulder without complaining?”

You open your mouth, but nothing comes out.

Because—oh.

Oh.

Koala smirks “See what I mean?”

You shake your head “That doesn’t mean anything. We’re just close.”

She shrugs “If you say so.”

But now, you can’t stop thinking about it. You start noticing things, like how Sabo always finds a reason to sit next to you during meals, or how he reaches out to fix your collar or tuck your hair behind your ear like it’s normal, or how he always makes sure you have a blanket when you fall asleep at your desk, even though no one else gets that treatment.

And the worst part?

Now that you’re paying attention, everyone else is too.

“I swear, it’s like they’re married” one soldier mutters.

“They finish each other’s sentences” another whispers.

“Bet they don’t even realize” someone else chuckles.

You groan and drop your head onto the table.

Sabo, sitting beside you, blinks “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing” you mumble.

He frowns, then wordlessly slides his drink toward you.

You stare at it “…Did you just give me your drink?”

He shrugs “You like it more than I do.”

You glance around. Several soldiers are watching now, smirking.

Slowly, you push the drink back to him.

Sabo looks confused “You don’t want it?”

Your face burns “Nope. I’m fine.”

He tilts his head, then shrugs and takes a sip.

The others snicker.

You sigh.

Later that night, you sit beside him on the rooftop, watching the stars.

“Sabo,” you say carefully “do we… act like a couple?”

He hums “Why?”

“People keep saying we do.”

Sabo leans back on his hands, thinking. Then he smiles “I guess I can see why.”

Your heart skips a beat “You can?”

“Well, we’re always together,” he says easily “I trust you more than anyone. You take care of me, I take care of you. Feels normal.”

You stare at him “That’s… kind of a couple thing, don’t you think?”

Sabo looks at you for a long moment. Then he smirks.

“Well,” he says, voice teasing but gentle “do you want it to be?”

Your breath catches.

And suddenly, the answer seems obvious.

Sabo has always been easy to be around.

You never have to force a conversation. Never have to second-guess his presence.

He’s just there, a steady warmth beside you, the hand that always steadies your back when you walk through the Revolutionary camp, the person you find yourself naturally leaning against when you’re tired.

And the thing is?

He never pulls away.

Even now, sitting beside you near the fire after a long day, his arm rests lightly along the back of your seat. Close enough to feel, but not demanding.

It’s natural.

But tonight, something’s different.

There’s a quiet between you, not uncomfortable, but charged with something unsaid.

You don’t know who moves first, but suddenly your head is resting against his shoulder, and instead of shifting away, Sabo just exhales softly, tilting his head against yours.

You close your eyes, feeling the warmth of him, the steady rise and fall of his breathing.

“…I like this” you murmur, barely thinking.

Sabo hums “Me too” A pause. Then... “I always have.”

Your heart stutters.

Slowly, you lift your head, turning just enough to meet his gaze.

His expression is calm, too calm, like he’s waiting for you to understand something he’s known for a long time.

And you do.

Because of course it was always him.

You don’t say anything. You don’t need to.

Instead, you reach up, gently tracing your fingers along his jaw.

Sabo closes his eyes briefly at the touch before opening them again, watching you with something unreadable, something deep.

Then, without hesitation, he leans in.

The kiss is slow, certain.

It’s not rushed, not desperate because this was never a question.

It was always going to be this.

When you part, Sabo lingers, his forehead resting against yours.

His hand finds yours, fingers lacing together easily.

“…Feels like we should’ve done that a long time ago” he murmurs, lips brushing against yours.

You smile “Maybe. But I think we got here at the right time.”

Sabo chuckles softly, squeezing your hand “Yeah. I think so too.”

And when he kisses you again, it feels like something that was simply meant to be.

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