#so he's probably planned to come some day

[requiemforthepoets]

the story we won’t tell is my greatest fantasy ⟢ LN4

PAIRINGS: lando norris x female!reader

SUMMARY: seven years. you and lando had been together for seven years, but it all went down the drain the moment he decided to come clean about the mistake that he did.

REMINDERS: this is purely fiction, the way how the character is portrayed in my story does not reflect the person that is portraying my character in real life. always separate fiction from reality, and do not repost or copy my work in any way.

WARNINGS: no use of y/n, breakup, cheating, cheater lando, pregnancy, secret child, mentions of nausea and vomiting, fainting, angst, open ending, math is not mathing (but i tried), some inaccuracies, named side characters (except for the reader), single!mom reader, and minor typographical errors

WORD COUNT: 7.2k

AUTHOR’S NOTE: this fic is inspired by niki’s song ‘apartment we won’t share,’ ik that we have diff interpretations for the songs, but i interpret it as the way how i wrote this fic. i’m not planning on doing a second part of this, and just leave it an open ending. but if someday i get inspired, i’ll try and make a part 2 for this, though for now, there will be no part 2 for this fic. i will be leaving the ending all up to you. you comments/reblogs is highly appreciated, and i hope that you’ll enjoy this one.

It had been a long and exhausting week. The lingering ache from your family emergency still tugged at your heart, so to keep off your mind from things, you had spent most of the day sorting through Lando’s things, folding clothes and making sure his suitcase was ready for his flight to another race weekend. It was the kind of task you had done so many times in the last seven years, but this time, it felt heavier, like there was something wrong that you couldn’t quite place.

When Lando returned to Monaco a few days later, you expected him to be his usual vibrant self, but something was off with him. Lando’s eyes seemed heavier, his posture slouched, and smile lacked the spark that you were used to.

“Hey, can we talk for a second?” he asked, voice unusually subdued.

You set down the shirt you had been folding, brows furrowing. “Sure, of course,” you replied, taking a seat on the couch. “What’s on your mind?”

Lando hesitated, hands fidgeting with the edge of his hoodie. He sat across from you, knees bouncing slightly as he stared at the floor. “You know I love you, right? More than anything.”

A faint smile crossed your lips. “I know, Lan, and you made sure to let me know everyday for seven years.”

He looked up briefly, gaze fleeting before dropping back to the floor. “I need to tell you something, I wanted to be completely honest with you…and it’s probably the hardest thing I’ve ever had to say.”

Your heart skipped a beat. Lando’s tone, demeanor—it was all wrong, and you were getting really nervous by now. “What is it?” you asked, voice quiet, wary.

Lando took a deep breath, his hands now gripping his knees as if to ground himself. “When I was out for a night with the guys a month ago…I messed up.”

Your stomach churned. You didn’t want to interrupt him, waiting for Lando to continue, though every fiber of your being wanted to scream at him, to demand some answers.

“There was…someone at the club that night,” he said, words slow and measured, like he was forcing them out of him. “It was stupid, an honest mistake. I was so drunk, caught up in everything, and I wasn’t thinking.”

You felt like the air had been sucked out of the room. “W-What are you saying?” you managed, voice barely above a whisper.

Lando finally looked at you, eyes glistening. “I accidentally slept with her. It was a one-time thing, I swear, then she called me last week—I don’t even know how she got my number, but she told me that she’s pregnant.

Pregnant.

The words hit you like a freight train. You stared at him, mind completely blank, unable to process what he had just said. Tears began to blur your vision, but you didn’t wipe them away.

“Lando…” you tried to speak up, but your voice cracked.

“I didn’t know how to tell you,” he said, voice shaking. “I didn’t know what to do. All I could think about was how much I’ve hurt you. But I can’t let my kid grow up without a family. I know how much family means to you, to me. I have to be there for them.”

Your heart shattered into pieces. You could see how much Lando was struggling, the guilt etched into every line of his face. But the pain of his betrayal was unbearable.

“I don’t…I don’t have anything to say anymore, honestly,” you said finally, voice trembling. “Because you had already made your decision—you’re choosing them.”

Lando shook his head vehemently. “No! No, I’m not choosing anyone over you. You’re the love of my life. That hasn’t changed and never will.”

“Lando, you can’t have both,” you said, tears streaming down your face. “I can’t stay here knowing all of these. I can’t be a part of this.”

He reached out as if to touch you, but you recoiled. You couldn’t bear his touch right now. “Please love,” he whispered, voice breaking. “I love you. I don’t ever want to lose you.”

“You already have,” you said softly, standing up and wiping your tears. “I won’t hold you back, Lando. You need to do what’s right for your child. They deserve a family, and I will not be the reason why they don’t have one.”

You walked to your shared bedroom, your movements mechanical as you began packing your things. Every item you placed in your suitcase felt like a dagger to your chest. This apartment had been your home, your safe haven, and now it was just a place you needed to escape from. Lando just stood in the doorway, watching you pack all of your things, his face pale and tear-streaked. He didn’t try to stop you—he knew that he couldn’t.

When you zipped up your suitcase and grabbed your bag, you turned to him one last time. “Take care of both of them,” you said, voice barely audible. “Be the father they need.

With that, you walked out of the apartment, out of the life you and Lando had built together. You had loved him for seven years, trusted him with every piece of your heart. But now, all you had was the emptiness of what could have been.

The crisp night air bit at your skin as you stood by the entrance of the apartment building, clutching the handle of your suitcase. Your ride to the airport was just a few minutes away, but the wait felt eternal. You stared blankly at the sidewalk, mind is a chaotic mess, the weight of everything that had happened tonight pressing heavily on your chest.

You heard familiar voices approaching before you saw them, their cheerful tones instantly recognizable. Quickly, you wiped at your cheeks, hoping your red-rimmed eyes wouldn’t give you away. Plastering on a smile, you turned towards Max and Kelly as they walked towards the entrance, hand in hand, their expressions bright despite the late hour.

“Hey! What are you doing out here so late?” Kelly asked, brows knitting in concern as she noticed the two large suitcases beside you.

You hesitated, forcing your smile to stay in place. “I, uh, have a family emergency,” you lied smoothly, voice steady even though your heart was pounding. “I need to head back home for a bit.”

Max tilted his head slightly, sharp blue eyes scanning you with the protective gaze you had come to know so well over the years. “Two large suitcases for just a quick trip? That seems a bit much,” he remarked lightly, though his tone carried a hint of suspicion.

You shrugged, trying to appear nonchalant. “It’s just…really complicated right now. I’m not sure how long I’ll be gone, so I packed extra, just in case.”

Kelly’s hand tightened on Max’s arm as she stepped closer to you, her concern evident. “Is Lando not home right now? Why didn’t you tell us earlier? We could’ve helped you pack, we can drive you to the airport.”

You shook your head quickly. “Lan’s already sleeping and I hate to wake him up, he just recently got back from his trip. I also didn’t want to bother you, I’ve already called a car, and it should be here any minute.”

They exchanged a look, clearly unconvinced but respectful enough not to press you further. “Well, we’re not leaving you out here alone,” Max said firmly. “We’ll wait with you until your ride gets here.”

You opened your mouth to protest, but the determined set of his jaw told you it would all be just pointless. Instead, you nodded, grateful for their presence even as it made it harder to hold yourself together.

Kelly gave you a warm smile, trying to ease the tension. “It’s late, but P was asking about you earlier,” she said softly. “She’s been begging to have another day with her favorite Auntie.”

Your heart clenched at the mention of Penelope, and you forced your smile to widen. “I’ll miss her so much,” you said, voice thick despite your best efforts. “Tell her I’ll see her soon.”

Kelly’s brow furrowed slightly at your words, but before she could say anything, your ride had pulled up to the curb. Relief and dread washed over you in equal measure. Max then stepped forward immediately, grabbing your suitcases with ease.

“I’ll load these up for you,” he said, tone gruff but kind.

“Thank you,” you murmured, watching as he placed your suitcases in the trunk of the car.

When Max turned back, Kelly pulled you into a tight hug, her familiar perfume bringing a rush of bittersweet comfort. “Take care of yourself, okay?” she whispered. “Whatever’s going on, we’re here for you.”

You nodded against her shoulder, your throat too tight to respond. When she pulled away, Max had stepped forward, wrapping you in a hug that was strong and protective, just like he always was.

“Be back soon, okay? P will be missing her favorite Aunt.” he said, chuckling. “If you need anything, you call me or Kelly. No excuses.”

“I will,” you promised, though you knew that you wouldn’t.

As you stepped back, Kelly offered you a gentle smile. “When you get back, P will be so excited to see you again. You know how much she loves spending time with you.”

The lump in your throat grew, and you could only nod in response. You managed a faint smile as you climbed into the car, giving them one final wave.

“Safe travels,” Kelly called out as Max closed the door for you.

You watched them through the window, standing together on the curb, their figures illuminated by the soft glow of the streetlights. They waved as the car pulled away, but you couldn’t bring yourself to wave back again. Instead, you turned your gaze forward, the city lights blurring through the tears that silently slid down your cheeks.

You didn’t look back. You couldn’t.

When you finally arrived back home, the weight of the long hour of flight clung to you like a heavy fog. You dragged your suitcases through the familiar front door, exhaustion etched into every inch of your body. The warm, welcoming scent of your childhood home did little to comfort you, instead, it only amplified the ache in your chest. All you wanted was to collapse into your bed and wake up to a world where none of this had ever happened—a world where your heart wasn’t shattered into pieces. But this was your reality, as cruel as it was.

You definitely hadn’t anticipated seeing your older sister, Noelle, and her husband, Mike, in the living room, seated across from your mother, their laughter filling the space. The sound abruptly stopped when they noticed you standing in the doorway, your pale face and tired eyes a huge giveaway of the turmoil you tried so desperately to hide.

“What are you doing here?” Noelle asked, rising from her seatc brows knitting together in concern. “You didn’t tell us that you were coming home.”

Noelle’s brows knit together as she took in your disheveled appearance, her sharp eyes catching every detail—dark circles under your eyes, stiffness in your movements, and the forced smile you mustered.

“Yeah,” you replied quietly, brushing a strand of hair from your face. “I, uh, needed to come home for a bit.”

Your mother rose from her seat as well, concern etched into her features. “Sweetheart, what’s wrong?” she asked softly, gaze darting between you and the suitcases you had left by the door.

You hesitated, throat tightening. You had been dreading this moment, knowing full well how much your family adored Lando so much. They had welcomed him with open arms from the start, treating him as one of their own. Now, you were about to break their hearts almost as much as he had broken yours.

“It’s nothing,” you said, forcing a smile that felt more like a grimace. “I just needed a change of scenery, that’s all.”

Noelle stood, arms crossed as she gave you a pointed look. “Don’t give me that kind of excuse. You don’t just show up unannounced looking like this for no reason. What really happened?”

You swallowed hard, avoiding Noelle’s gaze. “Lando and I broke up,” you said finally, your voice barely above a whisper.

The whole room fell silent, the weight of your words sinking in. Your mother’s hand flew to her mouth, eyes wide with shock. “Oh, my darling sweetheart,” she breathed.

Noelle, however, was not so subdued. “What?” she exclaimed, voice rising. “What do you mean you broke up? What happened? Did he do something stupid?”

“No!” you said quickly, shaking your head. “No, it wasn’t like that.”

“Then what was it like?” she pressed, tone sharp.

You took a deep breath, willing yourself to stay composed. “We just…fell out of love. The both of us,” you said, hating the words even as you said then. “We’ve been together for so long, and I guess we just realized that we weren’t the same people years ago anymore. It didn’t make sense to keep on pretending, we’ll just end up hurting ourselves in the long run.”

Noelle’s eyes narrowed, clearly unconvinced. “That doesn’t sound like Lando at all. The man adores you so much, even worships the ground you walk on.”

“He did,” you said softly, chest tightening. “And I adored him too. But people change, feelings change.”

Your mother stepped closer, her hands reaching for yours. “Are you sure this is what you wanted?” she asked gently.

You nodded, the lump in your throat growing. “It’s for the best,” you lied, voice cracking slightly.

Mike, who had been silent until now, placed a hand on Noelle’s shoulder. “If this is what she’s decided, we should respect it,” he said quietly, giving you a small, understanding nod.

Noelle just sighed, clearly torn between pressing you for further information and letting it go. Finally, she relented, though her expression was still skeptical.

“I just don’t want you to regret this,” she said, voice more softer now. “You two were so good together.”

You bit the inside of your cheek to keep you from breaking down. “I’ll be okay, eventually,” you said, words hollow.

Your mother pulled you into a tight embrace, her warmth briefly soothing the ache in your chest. “Whatever happens, we’re always here for you,” she murmured.

“Thanks, mommy,” you whispered, blinking back tears.

As you pulled away, your sister gave you a long look, her expression unreadable. “If he hurt you—” she started, but you cut her off.

“He didn’t,” you said firmly, voice steady despite the storm inside you. “It just didn’t work out. That’s all.”

Noelle still didn’t look convinced, but she nodded, clearly sensing that there’s more to it, and you didn’t want to talk about it anymore. “Alright,” she said quietly. “But if you ever want to talk, I’m here, okay? We’re all here.”

You gave her a small smile, though it didn’t reach your eyes like it used to. “Thank you,” you said, words barely audible.

Excusing yourself, you retreated to your old bedroom, closing the door behind you gently and sinking onto the comfort of your bed. The familiar surroundings brought no comfort, only a stark reminder of the life you had left behind. While you lay down, staring at the ceiling, the tears finally came, silent and unrelenting.

You had still protected Lando from your family’s anger, even though he did not deserve any of it, and now, you were left to pick up the pieces alone.

The Nausea hits you like clockwork every morning. You found yourself rushing to the bathroom, stomach twisting in protest against seemingly nothing. It had started a few weeks ago, and though you had initially dismissed it as a lingering flu or perhaps the stress with work finally catching up to you, it was becoming harder to ignore. Rest didn’t seem to help you, but you assured yourself that it wasn’t that serious. Besides, you have work to focus on, and that was enough to keep your mind occupied, most of the time.

Two months had already passed since you had left Monaco for good, and life had begun to settle into a new rhythm. Yes, the ache in your chest was still there, but it had been dulled into something manageable. You were slowly rebuilding yourself, piece by piece, though the nausea was an unwelcome distraction.

It was a normal afternoon, while you were curled up on the beanbag chair in your bedroom after a long and tiring day, your phone buzzed. The caller ID that was displayed on the screen made your breath catch for a moment—Kelly. You hesitated before answering, already bracing yourself for the conversation. Her face appeared on the screen, bright and concerned.

“Finally, I caught you!” she said with a smile, though her tone was tinged with worry. “I was starting to think you were avoiding me.”

You shook your head, chuckling and offered her a small smile. “I’m so sorry, Kelly. Things have been so busy with me lately.”

Kelly’s brow furrowed slightly as she studied your face. “You look tired. Are you okay?”

“I’m fine, it’s just a silly flu,” you said quickly, but the faint edge in your voice didn’t go unnoticed.

“Don’t lie to me,” she said gently. “Max and I found out about it already, about you and Lando.”

Your chest tightened, but you forced yourself to stay calm. “Oh.”

“Why didn’t you tell me sooner?” she asked, expression softening. “We would’ve been there for you. You’ve been through this all alone.”

You sighed, your shoulders sagging. “I didn’t want to drag anyone else into the mess, and I didn’t even know what to say.”

Kelly’s voice grew firmer. “You didn’t have to say anything, we would’ve understood. Max is furious with Lando, you know. So is Carlos. I even have to break the two of them away from Lando.”

Your heart sank at the thought. “Please don’t be mad at him. It’s not worth it.”

Kelly shook her head, lips pressing into a thin line. “It is worth it. What Lando did to you was unforgivable. You didn’t deserve any of that.”

“It’s okay,” you murmured, though the words felt hollow. “I’ll move on, eventually.”

Kelly’s expression softened again, and she leaned closer to the camera. “I just wish you’d let us help you. You know we love you, right? You’ve always been family to us.”

“I know,” you whispered, tears pricking at your eyes.

Her face brightened slightly. “But speaking of family, someone’s been dying to talk to you!”

Before you could respond, the screen shifted, and Penelope’s little face appeared, her eyes lighting up when she saw you. “AUNTIE!” she exclaimed, voice high with excitement.

”Hi, P!” You said, heart aching at the sight of her.

“I miss you so much!” she said, pouting slightly. “When are you coming back? Mommy says you’re not in Monaco anymore.”

You hesitated, unsure of how to explain. “I miss you too, darling. I just…I had to be somewhere else for a while.”

“But you’ll come back, right?” she asked, her big eyes staring at you expectantly.

You swallowed hard, forcing a smile. “We’ll see, P. For now, you have to be good for your mommy and Maxie, okay?”

“I’m always good!” she declared, puffing out her chest.

Kelly’s voice chimed in from the background. “That’s debatable,” she teased, earning a giggle from Penelope.

You couldn’t help but smile, even as your chest tightened. “You’re the best, P. Don’t ever forget that.”

“Okay!” she said brightly before turning to Kelly. “Mommy, can we call Auntie again tomorrow?”

Kelly returned to the screen, giving you a knowing look. “We’ll let her rest for now, P. But yes, we’ll call Auntie again soon.”

“Promise?” Penelope asked, her eyes wide.

“Promise,” Kelly said, smiling before turning back to you. “Take care of yourself, okay? And if you need anything, anything, just call me.”

You nodded. “Thank you so much, Kelly. I will.”

After ending your facetime call with Kelly, you stumbled into the bathroom, your stomach churning violently. The moment you stepped inside, you collapsed in front of the toilet, heaving uncontrollably. It felt as though your insides were twisting, every muscle tensing in protest. When it finally subsided, you shakily wiped your mouth, staring at your reflection in the mirror. You looked pale—paler than usual, and eyes were bloodshot from the strain.

It took you a couple of minutes to compose yourself before heading to the kitchen, hoping the water would help settle your spinning head. Grabbing a glass from the cabinet, you poured the water, but as you lifted it to your lips, another wave of dizziness hit you. This time, it was stronger. Your grip faltered, and the glass slipped from your hand, shattering loudly as it hit the floor.

The sharp noise brought Noelle and Mike running into the kitchen. They froze when they saw you swaying on your feet, barely managing to stay upright. You blinked, trying to focus, but everything around you was growing hazier. Before you could say anything, your legs gave way beneath you, and you crumpled to the floor, your vision blackening as you began to lose consciousness. Noelle was by your side in an instant, her hands gentle but urgent as she checked your pulse.

“Don’t worry, she’s alive,” Noelle muttered, voice steady despite the fear in her eyes. “Mike, call an ambulance now!”

Mike didn’t hesitate, rushing to grab his phone and calling for help. You could hear Mike’s voice in the background, muffled and frantic as he spoke to the operator.

“Yes, we need an ambulance,” Mike said, tone clipped, almost too calm for the situation. “My sister-in-law collapsed, and we need help immediately.”

Noelle’s voice cut through your haze, trying to keep you steady. “Come on, stay with me, okay? Just hold on.”

You couldn’t respond, couldn’t even make a sound, but you could hear them both, voices blending with the rush of adrenaline in the air. Mike’s footsteps moved swiftly, his voice growing more distant as he spoke with the ambulance on the phone.

The minutes that followed felt like hours. The sound of the ambulance siren grew louder, and relief flooded Noelle’s face as the paramedics rushed into the house. They quickly assessed the situation, asking Noelle questions about your symptoms and recent health conditions.

“She’s been experiencing dizziness for weeks now,” Noelle explained. “She’s stubborn, didn’t want to see a doctor. This morning she was nauseous, and now she’s fainted.”

The paramedics nodded, lifting you onto the stretcher carefully. Noelle and Mike followed closely as they carried you out to the ambulance. “I’m coming with her to the hospital,” Noelle said firmly, climbing into the back of the ambulance without hesitation.

Mike stayed behind, watching the ambulance doors close with a worried expression. “Alright, I’ll be informing your mother when she arrives, but call me as soon as you know something,” he said to Noelle before they drove off.

Inside the ambulance, Noelle held your hand tightly, her fingers trembling against your own. “You’re going to be fine,” she said, though her voice was thick with concern. “Just breathe, okay? We’re almost there.”

You couldn’t focus on what Noelle was saying. The world had gone dark around you, only the pulse of your own heartbeat reminding you that you were still there, still fighting to stay conscious.

The steady beeping of the machines was the first thing you registered as you slowly opened your eyes, the sterile smell of the hospital room making everything feel surreal. Blinking against the harsh fluorescent light, your gaze landed on your sister, Noelle, sitting in one of the chairs beside your bed, her expression a mixture of worry and relief when she noticed you stirring.

“Noelle,” you croaked, voice hoarse from sleep and dryness.

She shot up almost instantly, coming to your side and helping you adjust into a sitting position in the hospital bed. Her hands were gentle but firm as she propped a pillow behind your back.

“Hey, take it easy, okay?” she said softly. She reached for a bottle of water on the bedside table, unscrewing the cap before handing it to you. “Here, drink up. Small sips.”

You followed her instructions, taking slow, careful sips, the cool water soothing your parched throat. “What happened? Why am I in the hospital?” you asked weakly, mind still foggy.

“You fainted in the kitchen,” Noelle explained, brushing a stray strand of hair from your face. “You scared the hell out of us. Mike called the ambulance, and I came with you here. Mom and Mike are both on their way. They’ll be here soon.”

Before you could respond, there was a knock at the door, a doctor entered, her expression professional but kind. Noelle immediately stepped aside, letting her approach you.

“I’m glad that you’re awake now, my dear,” she began, smiling at you. “We’ve run some tests to determine the cause of your fainting and other symptoms.”

You nodded slowly, stomach churning with apprehension. Noelle moved closer to your side, her presence grounding you.

“We’ve reviewed your results,” she continued, glancing at her clipboard before meeting your eyes. “The dizziness, nausea, and vomiting you’ve been experiencing for the past weeks are all consistent with early pregnancy symptoms. Congratulations, you’re seven weeks pregnant!”

Pregnant. Pregnant.

For a moment, the words did not register. The hospital room seemed to grow impossibly still, the doctor’s voice fading into the background as you processed the news. Seven weeks. The timeline clicked into place, and your heart sank as realization hit. Seven weeks pregnant. You could hear the faint ringing in your ears, a sharp contrast to the quiet gasp from Noelle beside you.

“I…I’m sorry, what?” you managed to stammer, voice shaking.

“You’re pregnant, dear,” the doctor repeated gently. “Seven weeks along. Your vitals look good, but it’s important to start prenatal care as soon as possible. We’ve referred you to an OB-GYN who will guide you through the process and answer any questions you might have.”

You nodded numbly, unable to form any coherent response. The doctor continued to explain what you should expect in the coming weeks—dietary recommendations, plenty of rest, and the importance of regular check-ups. But her words felt very distant, as if you were hearing them through a fog.

When the doctor finally left, you were left staring blankly at the sterile white wall, the weight of the revelation crushing you. Seven weeks. You did the math in your head, mind racing. By now, you know that the woman Lando had gotten pregnant would be around three months into pregnancy.

Tears began to well up in your eyes, the enormity of the situation was starting to overwhelm you. You were carrying Lando’s child. That man had broken and shattered your heart into pieces, and who had chosen someone else, was now bound to you in a way that you could not escape.

“Noelle,” you whispered, voice breaking.

She knelt beside the bed, taking your trembling hands in hers. “I’m here. Don’t worry, I’m here, okay?” she said softly, her tone steady and reassuring.

“I don’t know what to do,” you cried, tears streaming down your face. “This wasn’t supposed to happen. How am I supposed to handle this?”

Noelle’s grip on your hands tightened slightly, eyes full of concern. “I don’t have all the answers,” she admitted, “but you don’t have to go through this alone. Whatever you decide to do, I’ll be here for you—Mom and Mike, too. We’ll all figure this out together, okay?”

Two years had already passed, and your life was a world away from where it had been. Astrid, your little ray of sunshine, was turning two today. She was the center of your universe, your whole life, her giggles filling every corner of the house you had worked so hard to call your own. It was a beautiful home, just three doors away from your mother’s home, ensuring that Astrid was always surrounded by the love and warmth of your family.

Noelle and Mike, ever the doting aunt and uncle, spoiled her endlessly. They brought over toys, books, and clothes—sometimes more than you thought Astrid needed, but you couldn’t deny the happiness on Astrid’s face when they arrived with surprise in hand.

It’s true that your pregnancy and the early days of motherhood had not been easy, but you were able to survive. More than that, you thrived. With a promotion to a top position at work and a comfortable life for you and Astrid, you finally felt at peace. The past—Lando, was no longer a wound, but now a distant memory you had learned to accept. Your family also had long stopped asking questions about the details of your breakup, and while they knew Lando was Astrid’s father, they never dwelled on it. Astrid had all the love she needed, and that was what mattered most.

But there was one part of your life you had not reconciled yet—Max and Kelly. Despite keeping in touch with Kelly through regular facetime calls, you had managed to keep Astrid a secret. It wasn’t that you didn’t trust them, it was just too complicated to explain everything. It was already enough that they found out what Lando had done that caused your breakup.

However, when Kelly had mentioned that they would be spending their vacation in your home country and would be arriving the day before Astrid’s second birthday, you had a window of opportunity. It was time to take a step forward. So you had invited them to what you described as a simple gathering at your home. You didn’t explicitly tell them that it would be Astrid’s birthday party—just that it would be a chance to catch up and spend time together.

As the day drew closer, you found yourself torn between excitement and anxiety. What would they say when they realized the gathering that you had talked about was actually a celebration for your daughter? Would they feel hurt that you had kept Astrid a secret for so long?

These thoughts lingered as you finalized the decorations, baked Astrid’s favorite cake, and prepared the house for your guests. But when you looked at Astrid, happily playing with her toys in the living room, the doubt began to fade. This was your life now—a life filled with love and laughter, even if it was different from what you had once imagined.

The backyard was a colorful dream, adorned with streamers, balloons, and a banner that read, Happy 2nd Birthday! and Astrid’s favorite colors painted every corner of the space, and the laughter of children filled the air as they played games and ran around laughing. Astrid herself was the picture of happiness, twirling in her pretty dress, a bright smile on her face as she clung to her grandmother’s hand.

You excused yourself from the backyard, your hands brushing against your dress nervously as you stepped back into the kitchen to double-check the desserts. Rows of cupcakes sat neatly on the counter, each one topped with swirls of frosting and sprinkles. You picked one up, turning it slightly to make sure everything was perfect. Then the doorbell rang.

Your heart skipped a beat, a wave of nerves rushing through you. It had to be Max, Kelly, and Penelope. You wiped your hands on a towel, took a deep breath, and walked to the front door, steadying yourself before opening it. The moment you opened the door, cheerful shouts of ‘surprise!’ had greeted you. Kelly was the first to throw her arms around you, pulling you into a warm hug.

“It’s so good to see you!” she exclaimed, stepping back as Max swooped in for a hug.

“You’ve been hiding!” Max teased lightly, squeezing your shoulder before stepping aside to let Penelope in.

“Hi Auntie!” Penelope chirped, small arms wrapping tightly around your waist as she hugged you with all her might.

You bent down to her level, pulling her into a proper hug. “Hi, darling. I missed you so much!”

Penelope pulled back, her face beaming. “I missed you too, Auntie! Can I see your house?”

Before you could respond, the sound of children’s laughter drifted in from the backyard, catching their attention. Kelly tilted her head curiously.

“What’s going on back there?” she asked, brows furrowed. “That sounds like a lot of kids.”

Max glanced at you, an eyebrow raised. “Is this the simple gathering you mentioned?”

A nervous smile tugged at your lips as you stepped back, gesturing for them to follow. “Come on, follow me.”

You led them through the hallway and out through the glass doors that lead to the backyard, where the yard was buzzing with activity. Children were playing games, some of them are having the time of their life on the bouncy castle, parents chatted near the tables of food, and Astrid was in the middle of it all, her laughter carrying above the noise.

Penelope gasped in delight. “Can I please go play?” she asked, bouncing on her toes as she looked up at Max and Kelly.

Kelly nodded with a smile. “Of course, go ahead.”

Penelope dashed off, her excitement blending seamlessly with the other children. Kelly and Max, however, stood frozen, their eyes scanning the scene. It wasn’t long before they realized that this was not just any gathering.

“Is this…” Kelly began, voice trailing off.

“A birthday party?” Max finished for her, tone laced with confusion.

You nodded slowly, your smile nervous. “Yes. Actually,” you glanced at Astrid, who was now in your mother’s arms, laughing as your mother tickled her sides. “It’s her birthday party.”

Their confusion deepened as they followed your gaze. Max opened his mouth to speak, but Kelly beat him to it. “Her?” she asked, voice soft, almost uncertain.

Taking a deep breath, you walked over to your mother and gently took Astrid from her arms. Astrid immediately snuggled into your shoulder, her tiny hands clutching at your dress as she peeked at the newcomers. Turning back to Max and Kelly, you smiled, though your heart was racing.

“Guys, this is Astrid,” you said softly. “My daughter.”

For a moment, there was only silence as Max and Kelly processed your words. Kelly’s hand flew to her mouth, eyes wide, while Max stared at you, his expression a mix of shock and something deeper.

“You have a daughter?” Kelly finally asked, voice trembling slightly.

You nodded, holding Astrid a little tighter. “I do.”

Max’s voice was careful, almost cautious. “Where’s her father?”

The question hung heavy in the air, heavy and unspoken truths lingering just beneath the surface. You looked down at Astrid, avoiding Max’s gaze as you shifted your weight uncomfortably.

“He’s…not in the picture anymore,” you said quietly.

Max’s eyes narrowed slightly, jaw tightening. It was clear he had pieced everything together, but decided not to press further. Instead, his gaze softened as he looked at Astrid, who was now peering curiously at him. Kelly stepped forward, her initial shock melting into warmth.

“Can I hold her?” she asked gently.

You nodded, carefully handing Astrid over. Kelly cradled her as if she had been waiting for this moment forever, her face lighting up as Astrid stared at her with wide, curious eyes.

“She’s so beautiful,” Kelly murmured, voice thick with emotion.

Max crouched down slightly to Astrid’s level, his serious expression softening. “Hey there, little one,” he said, playfully covering his eyes with his hands and then revealing them. “Peekaboo!”

Astrid blinked at him, tiny lips began curling into a smile as Max covered his face with his hand again and revealed it with a loud ‘boo!’ Astrid’s laughter was immediate and infectious, filling the air and making Max grin wider.

“She likes you,” Kelly said with a laugh, glancing at Max as she bounced Astrid gently.

Max looked up, his expression a mix of amusement and something more tender. “What can I say? Kids love me.”

Penelope had run up to you with little Astrid in tow, face glowing with excitement. “Auntie, can Astrid play with me? I promise that I’ll take care of her,” she said, her little hands clasped together as she gave you the most earnest look.

You smiled, crouching down to their level. “Alright,” you said gently, brushing a strand of hair out of Astrid’s face. “But remember, she’s still very small, so be careful with her, okay?”

“I promise!” Penelope chirped. “Come on Astrid, let’s play!” she took Astrid’s hand and led her back towards the group of children.

Once they were settled, you turned to Max and Kelly, who were waiting nearby, their expressions a mix of curiosity and seriousness. You gestured towards the patio table, and the three of you moved to sit down. For a brief moment, there was an awkward silence, only broken by the distant sound of children laughing.

It was Max who spoke first. “So,” he began, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees, “are you going to tell Lando about Astrid?”

“No.” you said firmly, meeting his gaze.

Kelly’s brows furrowed. “No?” she repeated, voice a mix of confusion and concern. “You don’t plan on telling him that he has a daughter?”

“Telling him that he has a daughter is not included in my plans,” you said quietly, glancing briefly at Astrid, who was now sitting on the grass with Penelope, giggling as they played.

Max exhaled sharply, leaning back in his chair. “But why?” he asked, voice steady but tinged with disbelief. “Don’t you think he has the right to know?”

You looked at Max, expression calm but resolute. “He had already made his choice and I made mine,” you said softly. “By the time I found out that I was pregnant, he was already committed to building a life with someone else—for their child. I’m not that ignorant, I’ve seen the articles, Max. It’s clear as daylight that he’s happy with them, he’s being the father that the child needs.”

Max sighed. “This isn’t about the articles or public perception. It’s about Astrid. She has the right to know who her father is, and Lando has a right to know about her.”

Kelly nodded in agreement with what had Max just said. “And what happens when she grows up and starts asking questions?”

“I’ll tell Astrid,” you said. “I’ll tell her when the time is right, I’ll explain everything to her. But for now, I’m protecting her. I don’t want her to feel like she was a second thought or an obligation. I don’t want to make her feel unwanted.”

Max shook his head slightly. “It’s not fair to Astrid, or to Lando,” he said, voice low. “He deserves to know. He deserves the chance to be a part of her life.”

“And what if Lando doesn’t want to be a part of her life, Max?” you said, voice cracking slightly and gripping the edge of the table. “What if yes, I ended up telling him, and he rejected her? What if I ruin the good thing he has now, for nothing? I’m not going to be the person who will bring chaos to my daughter’s life by trying to force something that might not even work, and I most definitely won't be the one who will tear Lando’s life apart just to ease my conscience.”

Kelly reached out, placing a hand gently on yours. “I understand that you’re scared,” she said softly. “And I understand why you’ve made your choice. But you don’t have to do this alone. Whatever you decide, we’ll support you. But please, just think about it, okay?”

You nodded, though you knew that your decision was firm and wouldn’t change. “Thank you,” you said quietly, looking between Max and Kelly. “I just need you both to trust me on this one. Trust that I’m doing what’s best for Astrid.”

Max hesitated, then finally nodded. “We’ll be keeping this just between the three of us,” he said, though there was a note of reluctance in his voice. “But if you ever change your mind, you know where to find us.”

Kelly smiled faintly, her grip on your hand tightening briefly before she let go. “Astrid is lucky to have you as her mother,” she said, voice warm. “She’s amazing and gorgeous, you know. She’s already so full of life.”

You smiled softly at Kelly’s words. “She is,” you said. “She really is.”

Glancing back towards the yard, you watched Astrid and Penelope play together, the sound of Astrid’s uncontrollable laughter filled the air, warming your heart in a way that words could never even describe. Her happiness was infectious, an important reminder of everything good in your life despite the path it had taken to get where you are now. But as your eyes lingered on her, there was a familiar ache that settled deep in your chest.

You couldn’t deny it—Astrid’s features were very unmistakable. Her eyes, so full of wonder and innocence, were a mirror image of Lando’s. Every now and then, when she turned her head a certain way or smiled just so, it was like seeing a glimpse of Lando again. The resemblance was undeniable, and it only grew stronger as Astrid got older. It was a bittersweet reality you carried with you every day.

Yet, despite the pain that came with those reminders, you were happy. Truly, deeply happy. Astrid was surrounded by love—a love so abundant that it filled every corner of her little world. She didn’t need anything else, not when you, your whole family, and everyone who cherished her. That love was enough, it had to be enough.

Letting Lando go was not easy. It had taken every ounce of strength you had to accept that the life you once imagined with him was not meant to be. But you had done it, you had learned to let him go. You had made peace with the fact that you were not the one he chose, and the woman you would never be was the one who was not his.

Someday, you knew, the time might come when you were ready to tell Lando about Astrid, ready to introduce him to the child you both brought into this world. But that day was not today. For now, you would let him continue living the life he had chosen, with the person he had chosen. You wished him nothing but happiness, even if it wasn’t with you.

You also hoped that Lando would one day find everything he was searching for, that he would feel fulfilled and content in the life he was building. Even if it hurts, you wanted that for him, and while he was busy living that life, the daughter you both would not raise together would still be here—waiting for him, even if he didn’t know it yet.

The breakup, heartache, and the choices you made were not what you had wanted, but they were what you needed. Sometimes, it’s hard to accept the fact that love is not enough to keep two people together, and that’s okay. It didn’t make the love you once shared with Lando any less real.

But for now, everything else could wait.

[clockwayswrites]

Birds birbs birbritch - Part 29

masterpost this is a first draft, please no editing or concrit <3

“Well, there’s the my horde of children,” Bruce said, glanced to Steph, and added, “and otherwise.”

“Hi B,” Steph said with a large smile that was just a little too much tooth, “and hi Danny!”

“Hello Stephanie,” Danny said. His wings were pulled tight against his back, as if he could hide them from view.

He couldn’t.

“Sorry B,” Dick chirped with his most innocent smile, “we were in the middle of a Mario Kart battle and you know how those can get!”

“At least tell me nothing is broken,” Bruce said, sounding entirely resigned about it all.

“Nothing is broken. Yet.”

“Well… good enough, I suppose.” Bruce said. “Though everyone had better sit though before Alfred comes in and fusses.”

“Too late, Master Bruce,” Alfred drawled as he came into the room with serving tray in hand.

They all appropriately scrambled for seats.

What with Danny being there, the normal seating (not that it always stayed exactly the same) was thrown into complete disarray. Mostly this was because Damian insisted on sitting next to Danny while Cass took the seat across from him and Tim next to her. Dick tried to stuff back him smile, but Jason caught it and rolled his eyes at his brother.

Still, it was sort of nice, in a weird way like when big cats have a service dog, to see Damian having someone out of the family that he felt the need to look over and protect. The suddenness of it all was what bothered Jason. Cass meets the guy and he’s invited to the ballet. Tim sleeps in his office. Damian wants to protect him. Even Bruce was at ease earlier with Danny sleeping on his lap. It was just like Danny belong there in with the rest of their family.

Jason didn’t trust it.

He especially didn’t trust it because it seemed to be having an effect on him too. He hadn’t snooped nearly as much as he could have in Danny’s apartment. Hell, the revelations down in the Cave that they had just had didn’t bother him as much as they should have.

Jason looked across the table to Duke, who was squinting a little at Danny. Jason kicked Duke lightly under the table and tilted his head in question.

Duke rolled his eyes, but pulled out his phone and sent: He’s got, like, an aura about him.

Jason frowned, typing back quickly: Did he at the ballet?

Duke gave a little shrug, but shook his head.

Well, that was very interesting. Jason wished that Duke had seen Danny when he was in full bird form so that they could have had a full comparison, but this was something at least. Danny had admitted that he was a Meta, but was he a meta like Wally was or more like Duke or even Kori? The odd language certainly pointed more towards Duke or Kori.

Dick nudged Jason with his pointy elbow. When Jason glared at him, Dick just looked pointedly down at Jason’s plate and back up.

‘Eat,’ he mouthed.

Jason rolled his eyes, but dug into the meal. It was a vegetarian pasta of some sort. Salad and garlic bread were also on the table. Basically a nice, carb heavy meal to have after a long, hard day. Jason had to wonder if Alfred would even let any of them out tonight. None of the ‘kids’ for sure. Tim, Damian, and Steph were all certain to be grounded. Dick, Jason, and Cass could probably make a good argument to go out and get started on this Mad Hater thing, but Cass might prefer to stay close. Jason couldn’t really blame her for that if she did. She deserved to get to be close to her family.

Jason caught Dick’s gaze again, raising a curious brow with a little head motion down towards the Cave. Approximately.

Dick nodded, a seriousness in his eyes.

Okay, guess they had a plan.

-

Bruce found them as they were suiting up. He leaned against the Batcomputer and watched as Dick and Jason bickered and hindered each other actually being able to get dressed for patrol. It was good to see them able to be brothers like that again. Therapy with Harley had really been helping Jason and Bruce knew that Dick was seeing someone, even if he hadn’t pried into who. Bruce didn’t think it was fair too when it had taken him as long to start seeing help.

It was something he wish he had done far earlier.

Had pushed for all of them to do earlier.

“What are you brooding about over there, old man?” Jason called out. He’d finally wrestled his gloves back from Dick and was pulling them on.

“I can just be somewhere without brooding,” Bruce said.

Bruce sighed. “I was thinking how proud I am of both of you for making good of the therapy that you’ve been doing.”

There was a long silence before Jason mumbled ‘sap’ and ducked his head. Dick just grinned back, a faint blush on his cheeks. As old as they two were, they were still his kids.

“If I stay in tonight, will you two be fine out there?”

“Doubting us?” Jason asked. His voice changed part way through as he put on his mask and the modulation kicked in.

“Never,” Bruce said, which seemed to make Jason freeze again. “Just asking you want me out there as back up.”

“Stay in with the others,” Dick said with a little shake of his head. “I know they’ve brushed it off, but Dami and Tim have still been through a rough day. And Danny too. You should be around if anyone has issues in the night.”

“Let us go out and start investigating,” Hood added. Even with the mask, here was a softness to his voice. “We’ve got this.”

Bruce nodded. He knew they did. “I’ll keep a comm if you need me.”

“Sure. Just make sure to get some rest, old man,” Jason said and headed towards the bikes. Nightwing followed with a little wave.

Bruce stayed in the Cave until they were gone and then grabbed a communicator to slide into his ear, just in case.

[moonstruckme]

Hello tumblr has decided to temporarily disappear the request I'm ready to post again, so sorry and thank you for requesting <3

Request: i love love love your writing and was wondering if you’d write a period hurt/comfort with james? i have really bad endometriosis, and i’ve never really had someone take it seriously :( fainted earlier so i’m in pain rn and i just know james would be such a sweetheart

cw: modern au, reader who menstruates, very mild/vague description of cramps, male gaslighting/suspicion of female pain (what else is new)

James Potter x fem!reader ♡ 895 words

“Will that be all?” The geniality in James’ tone is starting to wane thin. He paces aimlessly around your flat, down the hall and into the bedroom and then back out again, footsteps meandering about the kitchen. “Right, yeah. No, I’m quite sure she’ll be out all day.” 

James shoots you an exasperated look as he comes into the sitting room, and you manage a smile-esque grimace from the couch in return. Your boss is a piece of work, you know. 

You hold out your hand for the phone. James shakes his head. 

“No, she can’t come to the phone right now,” he says, sitting beside your curled-up legs. “She’s resting. Did I mention she fainted a bit ago? Alright, yeah, just checking. Yeah. Yeah, okay. I’ll let her know.” 

You grimace again when he puts down the phone. Hanging up without telling the other person to have a lovely day is like James’ equivalent of the middle finger. 

“Sorry,” you say. 

“What’re you sorry for?” James gives your calf a gentle squeeze. “Your boss is rather pushy, isn’t he? Shouldn’t take so much to use a sick day.”

“I don’t think he believes me.” You let your face mush deeply into a throw pillow. There’s a light sweat broken out on your brow, but you couldn’t be more grateful for the sweltering heating pad held tight over your abdomen. “I could’ve talked to him.” 

James makes a face. “You shouldn’t have to deal with someone like that when you’re already poorly.”  

“What did he want you to let me know?” 

“Oh. Uh.” James seems as though he did not, in fact, plan to let you know, but now that you’ve asked he can’t avoid it. “He said that he expects to see you in tomorrow. We’ll see.” 

You sigh. “I might be able to manage tomorrow. Or I might be a bit better, at least.” 

“We’ll see,” he says again, stooping to mush a kiss into the side of your head. “Don’t worry about that yet, sweetheart. How are you feeling now?” 

“Better than when I woke up.” 

“Yeah?” James asks hopefully. It’s a low bar, considering that early this morning the pain had been bad enough to cause you to pass out. But if there’s one thing James can be relied upon for, it’s a positive outlook. “That’s great, lovie. Is there anything you need?”

You shake your head, breaths shallowing as your cramps worsen. Nausea pinches the back of your throat. James’ face pinches, too, as he sees. He rubs your lower back where the muscles tend to clench. 

“Is there anything you want?” he asks instead. 

It almost makes you laugh. Almost, but even that’s enough to ease the pain slightly. 

“No,” you say, breathing out as the worst passes. James continues massaging your back. “Thanks.” 

“Maybe we could try a walk later, if you’re feeling better,” he says. “Some light exercise might help.” 

“Maybe,” you murmur. Truly, the thought of leaving this couch anytime during the next week makes you want to sew yourself into the cushions. James probably knows you’re only humoring him, but he doesn’t say anything. When you hug your heating pad closer, he spreads his palm flat over your back to transfer heat there, too. 

You relax some when the cramp eases the rest of the way. “Sorry. I don’t mean to take over your whole day.” 

“Sweetheart, why are you sorry?” James places his free hand over yours on your heating pad. Between that and the one on your back, it’s almost like a hug. “I know you don’t want this to happen. And, honestly, I’d rather have my day taken over by you than anyone else. Don’t tell Sirius.” 

That coaxes a small smile out of you. James grins, leaning down again to plant a kiss on your cheek. 

“I’m sorry you’re so miserable.” 

“I’m not miserable,” you say. “I’m with you.” 

James makes a horrendously fond sound, cuddling you close. “You flatterer. I don’t know where you find the energy to be so sweet during times like this.” 

You make it easy, you want to say, but James will only think you’re playing along with him and you want to say it when he’ll hear the sincerity you mean it with. Instead, you intertwine your fingers with his and say, “I’ve thought of something I want.” 

“Yeah?” James sits up. He brushes a few strands of hair away from your face, mindless of your clamminess. You think that maybe the only thing bigger than James’ capacity for love is how it feels to be at the center of it. “Some tea, maybe? That tumeric one helped a bit last time, remember?” 

“Maybe later,” you say, voice softening. “For now, could I please have a kiss?” 

James blinks once in surprise, but then he grins. “Ah, for the endorphins,” he says, already bending down. “Good thinking, angel.” 

“Right.” You don’t know where he gets these facts. You suspect he scrolls through endometriosis reddit forums while you’re asleep. “Yeah.” 

James makes it a kiss worth asking for. He keeps his hand flat over your back as he leans over you, the other cupping your cheek to encourage your face towards him. And when your lips part, you do feel a bit better. It’s a magical cure-all, just like the fairytales say.

[jadeazora]

It's dawning on me that we have just over a month left until our first proper ZA news drop, and how long do you guys think we'll be waiting till after the game releases to see AZ added to Masters? 🤔

(I just can't wait to see what sort of voice interactions these two'd get with each other. Like, they definitely interacted off-screen before the player got there, but I always wanted to see more between them, and depending on how ZA is handled, they could potentially canonize Lysandre's survival there if it's set post-XY and give us more there, or just have them both feature in an event when AZ debuts in PMEX.)

[syoddeye]

simon doesn't pursue people, he operates more like a one-man strike team. his approach to human connection is transactional, pragmatic, a matter of logistics.

on the rare occasion he's looking for company, he wants someone easy, who won't fuss when he introduces them to a thin motel mattress. won't ask what he does for work or try to make plans for the morning. won't bother him about 'next time'. nothing long-term. no strings.

he doesn't have a 'type' so much as a protocol: pick someone malleable, pliant, and preferably on the pill.

then you start working at his local.

the first time he sees you, he doesn't notice much beyond the basics: efficiency, attentiveness, pouring pints and bantering with the regulars with aplomb. by the second or third time, he's paying closer attention. you're not just good at your job—you're quick, always three steps ahead of the chaos. you give out smiles left and right, but it's more muscle memory than genuine warmth. and you're clever, too. funny, even, when someone manages to earn your attention for longer than a transaction.

you could probably keep up with his humor. go toe-to-toe.

you're off-limits, though. that's the rule. bartenders are switzerland—neutral territory. don't shit where you eat. it's a system that works, so long as he doesn't let himself think too much about the view when you lean over the counter or the lilt of your voice when you ask what he's having tonight.

then one evening, you take another man's number. some leering idiot, too comfortable with inserting himself into your space, grinning like he's cracked your code because you haven't humbled him. simon doesn't react, not outwardly. he nurses his drink and watches as you smile, slip the napkin into your pocket, and turn back to the bar.

but that's when you become a problem.

he tells himself it doesn't matter, that it's nothing. he doesn't want a number or a date. but the thought of someone else having you—someone who doesn't know what to do with a woman like you—it's a splinter buried just deep enough to keep him thinking about it. irritating, prone to fester.

how to approach you, though? he can't be as direct as he'd like, can't pin you down with a look or crass words. no way to corner you when you're safe behind the counter, or disappearing through a staff door. hanging around until you're off would be pathetic. dog behavior, he thinks, with a twinge of contempt for the mental image. he's got too much self-respect for that, at least.

no, he's got to actually make an effort. use his words.

the next time he comes in, he waits. no more corner tables or watching from afar. he sits close, pretends not to notice how your hands look slicing a lime. he orders his usual and tries not to overthink your tone when you set it down in front of him.

"you alright?"

you reach for his card, fingers pinching the plastic, but he holds on, smirking when you tug and then huff.

this is the moment. his moment. the one he's been building toward in his head for days. but there's a hitch, a blip in his usual confidence, and he fumbles. he blames your perfume.

"so…you come here often?"

not what he meant to say, but not the worst.

the shockwave of his nuclear-level failure doesn't register until your lips twitch, and it finally sinks in. his eyes widen a fraction as the realization lands. oh, he's fucked it. all his rehearsing, for nothing.

"…yeah," you say, voice flat, a single brow raised as you gesture vaguely toward the bar around you. "i work here?"

his mouth dries, but his face doesn't change. he doesn't fight it when you pull the card out of his grasp. there's the barest glint of something in your eyes—amusement, maybe, or pity. he's not sure which is worse.

you turn away to ring him up, but when you glance back, he's gone.

[fancyfeathers]

Part two to this post

Barry Allen would baby trap his darling at some point, it’s when he would not if he would. He also does not exactly view it as baby trapping, it is just the next step in life, you get saved by the Flash engaged, you get kidnapped married, so naturally kids would come next in the line. He know, he know, kids are a really big step, but they have time. Then they have to figure out what to do if the kids have their father’s speed, there is no way his darling can raise the little ones all on her own as a stay at home mom, they’ll have to figure a dynamic that keeps him home more often so he can teach the kids while she is getting dinner ready-

Meanwhile while telling his darling about his their future plans while eating dinner with her and she is just sitting there horrified, he had their whole life planned like they had been together for years.

“Hey, hey, hey, baby, don’t cry. I know this is scary, but we’ll figure it out together.”

The moment he finds out she is pregnant, he hits the ground running, pun not intended, on the preparations. Then literally a minute later after getting the news he has the crib built and is just all over his darling, names for a girl, names for a boy, what if they have twins?

When the baby is born, he does not want to put them down, Barry always needs to holding his baby. Hey, kangaroo care does improve brain and motor development, lowers risk of infection, regulates temperature, and improves weight gain.

Oliver Queen does not really try to get his darling pregnant, but it is not something he bothers to prevent either. It is a thing that naturally happens in time so if they are meant to have kids then so be it, if they aren’t then that is fine to. Now unlike some of the Justice League members, Oliver is more in tune to his darling’s emotions and chances are when she gets that positive pregnancy test that she will not exactly be happy, probably be crying. Oliver will not say anything and he will just sit with her on the bathroom tile and hold her while she cries.

Now just because he understands how his darling feels does not mean she doesn’t have to carry the baby, no she still has to, after all it’s their future child, it means that Oliver will be far more lax with things. Oliver doesn’t really have a lot of rule, and the few he does have are to protect his darling from the sort of threats that may come at her because he is Green Arrow, he is by far one of the least up tight members of the Justice League with their darling. She can go out with him if she wants to rather than being stuck home all day long, she can stay up later, she can even go with him to Justice League meetings because the social interaction would be good for her especially since at least one of the Green Lanterns’ darlings is around the Watchtower while their partner is off planet, and if Clark’s darling is around it is good for them to talk because lord knows how many babies she has had so there is bound to be good advice from her.

Also I think that Oliver would want to do an at home birth, it is free from all the chaos of a hospital because it will attract attention if he is there suddenly with a wife no one has ever seen, plus his money will cover everything, even hiring private doctors for the baby’s vaccinations and such post delivery, and then not to mention to comfort of being able to relax in his own home with his darling and their little baby after the delivery, holding them both and just being in the moment without the stress of anything and not having to be away from either of them.

Also I feel like Oliver would be such a girl dad, like sure he would be happy if it was a boy, but if it’s a girl then that’s his little princess.

Look with Bruce Wayne there is only one correct answer here, absolutely he would. He would not even need to get his darling pregnant to do it, he already has too many children to count. But sometimes empty nest syndrome hits rather hard especially when Dick moves out to Blüdhaven and then the grief when Jason died, then as the other kid come and go they get older and grow more distant, then only one of them is biological and Bruce never got the chance to see Damian as a baby because his son was being raised by the League of Assassins and Bruce had no idea he even existed, so maybe having a child would not be such a bad idea after all.

He would not be surprised or acted surprised when his darling tells him she is pregnant, he planned everything down to the little details, tracking periods, morning sickness, everything. He is happy, but he is calm, telling her that they can handle this. The big thing is telling the rest of his children, who are most likely yanderes as well, that she is pregnant, it’s difficult enough to get them all in the same room at the same time and it is even harder to get them all to calm down when they tell them the news. Dick and Stephanie are by far the most excited at the news, Dick is so excited that he picks her up in a hug and spins her around, but meanwhile Cassandra is just staring at her, just with a look she knows that Bruce’s darling is not happy with this but she can’t exactly say that out loud in a room full of people who are more happy about her baby than she is.

Setting up the nursery is even a family affair, Dick and Tim are painting the walls while Bruce figures out how to build the crib, and meanwhile she is just sitting in an armchair with a cup of caffeine free tea from Alfred with Stephanie and Duke suggesting names while she drinks. Meanwhile Jason takes the initiative to begin to baby proofing the manor because they cannot expect to have gear outside the Batcave with a baby in the house, not ever child in this family is going to be a vigilante.

Then when the baby is born, Bruce makes it a point to shut down any jokes about the baby becoming a Robin, they are not going to be trained from birth like Damian was and they were not taken in by Bruce like the others were. Though Dick and Barbara definitely get the baby a Robin onesie as a gag gift.

But one good thing about having Bruce’s child, when the baby wakes up in the night, either Alfred, Bruce, or one of the kids get there before she does. Now Bruce or the kids may still be in full costume and have just run upstairs from the cave to help after getting back from patrol, but it’s fine.

[haikyuubby]

the haikyuu boys crushing on you!

headcannons about the haikyuu boys crushing on you!

featuring: hinata, sugawara, iwazumi, atsumu, and suna.

❀ - fluff, gender neutral reader

hinata

☀︎ whenever hinata first realizes that he has a crush on you, he totally freaks out.

☀︎ he’s so scared that you won’t reciprocate his feelings or you’ll reject him in the most embarrassing way possible.

☀︎ hinata goes to his teammates for advice, getting little to no help from them.

☀︎ he soon realizes that he’ll just have to man up and ask you out himself.

☀︎ during the crush stage, hinata can’t help but find himself drawn to you in every room that you guys are in.

☀︎ if you guys have classes together, he’d spent the majority of class time admiring you.

☀︎ he’s so desperate to spend time with you that he asks you to tutor him and attend his volleyball games.

☀︎ after weeks of debating how to properly ask you out, he makes up a plan to try and get you to be his.

☀︎ when he tries though…

☀︎ ❝ i really like you, y/n, sopleasegooutwithme! ❞

☀︎ during his confession, you can’t help but laugh at his antics a little bit.

☀︎ due to hinata’s nervous nature, he takes your laughing as rejection

☀︎ then you spend the next few minutes convincing him that you really do like him back and you weren’t rejecting him.

sugawara

☀︎ probably the most in denial of having a crush on you.

☀︎ it’s not anything towards you, but he doesn’t think that he can bag you.

☀︎ sugawara had been crushing on you since you guys were first years.

☀︎ after years of asahi trying to get him to confess his feelings for you, he finally comes around to it before volleyball starts during the final year of high school.

☀︎ sugawara didn’t try to subtly try to hide his crush on you, he just said that he didn’t have one whenever someone would ask.

☀︎ when you two would hang out, sugawara’s touch felt too gentle, too soft:

☀︎ you knew that after you felt his touch linger on your skin for too long, even if his hand just barely grazed yours, that you definitely liked him.

☀︎ sugawara was good with his words, too.

☀︎ at lunch, he’d always save you a seat beside him.

☀︎ if you forgot to pack lunch, he’d give you some of his food or give you money to go and get something from a nearby vending machine.

☀︎ after school one day, sugawara finally decided to confess his feelings for you.

☀︎ ❝ i’m sorry for waiting so long to tell you this, but i’ve had a crush on you for years, y/n. i wanted to tell you before it was too late…let me take you out on a date tomorrow, i’ll make sure that we have a good time. ❞

iwazumi

☀︎ iwazumi was the type of guy who kept his feelings to himself, especially when it came to romance.

☀︎ thanks to oikawa, the team soon found out about his little crush on you.

☀︎ iwazumi was already a pretty closed off guy, so navigating such confusing emotions was a hassle to him.

☀︎ during class, he’d always slide you notes or answers if he figured that you hadn’t been paying attention.

☀︎ during passing periods, he’d wait beside of the class that you were in to walk with you to your next period.

☀︎ iwazumi would stay up late at night texting or facetiming you, that’s when he knew that you’d become a problem in his life.

☀︎ this boy was so in love with you that he didn’t want to come to terms with it, due to his fear of rejection.

☀︎ he wasn’t a pussy, but he figured that things would get too awkward if he tried to talk about this face-to-face with you, so he opted to tell you over text.

☀︎ it was around 6pm on a random tuesday, when you go to check your phone and see that iwazumi has texted you.

☀︎ ❝ i figured i should tell you that i like you, i have a crush on you and i have for a long time. let me know if you feel the same. ❞

☀︎ after you let him know that his feelings are reciprocated, he asks if he can take you out on a proper date the following weekend.

atsumu

☀︎ is very confident in his ability to get you to fall for him.

☀︎ let’s just say you do find yourself catching feelings for him, atsumu will tease the shit out of you during this.

☀︎ during class, he’ll pass notes to you.

☀︎ another guy who will wait for you after class to walk together.

☀︎ atsumu always finds time to text you, rather that be during breaks at practice, or while he’s in the shower, he always makes time for you.

☀︎ the way that atsumu asks you out is…somewhat trifling.

☀︎ basically, he lost a bet to osamu, and his punishment for losing was confessing his feelings to his crush.

☀︎ this was not considered a “punishment” because osamu was convinced that whoever atsumu liked that they’d reject him.

☀︎ atsumu decided to confess to you right after practice one day, making sure osamu was watching the entire thing.

☀︎ ❝ i guess this is long overdue, but i like you, like a lot. ❞

☀︎ you’re caught by surprise by his confession, but not entirely shocked.

☀︎ when you see osamu watching your guys’s interaction unfold from a nearby corner, you start to grow suspicious.

☀︎ trying to just focus on the positive in this situation, you tell him that you feel the same way about him.

suna

☀︎ at first, suna does try to make an effort to show his feelings for you.

☀︎ sure, he’ll stay up on the phone with you until 3 in the morning, sleep on the phone with you, and hang out with you every weekend, but he’s a man who struggles with finding the right things to say.

☀︎ suna never really cared much about romance either, crushes were a waste of time in his opinion.

☀︎ you just so happened to catch his eye though.

☀︎ the way that suna acts after he recognizes his feelings for you is…weird.

☀︎ he compliments you a lot more, saves your snaps in chats, and typically responds to your texts immediately.

☀︎ the way that he confessed to you is very teenage boy like.

☀︎ you two were up late, texting back and forth.

☀︎ you decided to send the imessage game “20 questions”

☀︎ one of the questions you asked suna was: ❝ do u like anyone right now? ❞

☀︎ after you send that text, it takes everything in you to not throw your phone across the room due to the immense levels of anxiety that you’re feeling.

☀︎ suna’s response read: ❝ yeah lol, i like you ❞

☀︎ after he sent that text, he realized what he just did and freaks the fuck out.

☀︎ meaning that he leaves you on delivered until he sees you again the next day, explaining to you that he just got nervous last night and wanted to talk more about that in person.

[admirationandromantics]

Best Friend's Brother

This request is literally 10 days old, which, to some, might not seem as a long time. For me however, it is. I'm sorry, but as I've described, I'm just trying to balance writing and school right now, so I'll be writing a little less than before.

Word count: 1,6k (unedited)

could u write a best friend older brother trope josh x reader. luv you works btww xx -anon

I knock on the door, waiting for Beth to open up. We’d planned a movie night while her parents were gone, and Hannah was at Sam’s. Josh was still home, but she told me he wouldn’t be a bother, and would probably stay in his room the whole night. 

I have met him many times before, and would even call us friends. Though at the same time, I often wonder if he looks at me like another baby sister, despite only being one year apart. He often gives me a hard time, teasing me and joking around, but most times, I don’t mind. I usually also hope that he never means anything with his small occasional comments, because nothing will happen either way. My best friend’s brother? That would be a problem just waiting to happen. 

Josh and I have been drunk together, partied together and been on get togethers together, though I’m not familiar with everyone in their group yet. 

I stand outside, my patience running low in the cold weather, wishing I brought a scarf. I hear footsteps coming from inside. Finally. The door unlocks, and a broad, tan Josh in a thin rolled up sweater and some sweatpants stands there, arm against the doorframe. He gives a small smile, looking me over. 

“Well, look who decided to come while the parents are out” he coos, a small whistling sound coming out of his lips. 

“Well, hello Joshua, care to let me in?” 

He smiles, contemplating whether to make this difficult or not. I look around, sighing and waiting for an answer, thinking about shouting Beth’s name and telling her that her brother is being a prick. Luckily, he opens the door further, making space for me to walk inside. “Thank you” I say, trying to hide my smile a bit. I’ve been here many times before, so I immediately know where to hang my coat and leave everything else. Josh keeps standing there, watching me. 

“Beth is out, said something about getting snacks for your movie night” He explains, and I nod. The store is not far from here, so she will probably be back soon. 

“Well then, do you know which movie she’s got planned?”

“Of course I do, I’m the one who helps pick them out”

I give him a curious and sceptical look, not having heard this before. He keeps his gaze locked on my gaze, a small smirk playing on his lips. 

“Have you?” 

“Every time” 

My mouth opens a little. Beth is always talking about her great taste in movies, never having mentioned this before. 

“No, are you serious? Beth has never given you any credit”

“Little sisters… what do you expect?” 

I hum, not knowing how to respond to that. I walk inside, him following closely as I sit myself by the kitchen counter. 

“So, what movie have you chosen then?” I ask, looking up at him again. Instead of sitting, he just leans against the counter with one arm, body turned my way. I can’t help my gaze, looking over his revealed forearms. 

“Something a bit different than usual…” he smirks, eyes following my gaze down to his arms. I break free, leaning forward a bit. 

“Okay, what movie?” 

“A scary one” 

“No”

“Oh yes” 

I whine, leaning back again. I hate scary movies, I hate jumpscares and gore. Why can’t people just like normal, funny, cozy stuff? 

“Josh, are you serious?”

“And there we go, you’re starting to use my nickname” 

“Joshua! Are you serious?”

“Well, that lasted for long”

I sigh, rolling my eyes. This is not how I want to spend my night, and considering that the walk home will be dark and scary, this movie will definitely fuel my fears. 

“Hey, calm down, it’s a good movie, maybe you just haven’t seen a good scary movie yet, this one might change your mind about the whole genre” He smiles, a hand going to my arm. I can't help the small blush coming from the touch, his fingers warm and comforting. I don’t want to do this, but I really can’t object when Beth is the one getting everything ready, and I just need to show up and have a good time. Or pretend I’m having a good time. 

The door opens, and his hand is immediately removed as Beth comes in, a big bag in her hands. She doesn’t notice me at first. 

“Beth!” I exclaim, and she lifts her head, nose a little red from the cold outside. 

“Hey, oh sorry, I didn’t have time to go earlier today” 

“That’s completely fine, here, let me take it” I state, walking over and taking the bag from her hands as she starts undressing. 

“My brother didn’t bother you?” 

I look over at him, and he just gives a small laugh, shaking his head and putting his hands up defensively. 

“No, he was fine” 

“Good, now, let's go” She smiles, leading me away from him, into their living room. She finds a couple of bowls, letting me distribute the snack in them as she works on getting the movie going. 

“Okay, so I know you’re not a scary movie-person, but I know this one is really good, so please, keep an open mind” 

I laugh a little, thinking back on the fact that Josh is the one who actually picked this out. 

“I’ll keep an open mind then” 

“Great” 

The movie starts, and we both sit down, a blanket over us as the lights dim. At first, the movie seems fine, the occasional jump scare, which scares me much more than it does Beth. Still, I keep watching, body tense and uncomfortable, but I can’t take my eyes off it. We’re in the middle when someone gets violently cut up, and the camera doesn’t bother to show us anything else than the blood and flesh flying everywhere, the gore not stopping. I take a breath, pulling my eyes from the screen and standing up. 

“I just need to use the bathroom”

“Gonna puke?”

I laugh a little, the tension in my shoulders easing as she talks. 

“No, but if there’s no important information in this sequence, please feel free to skip it, I'll be quick” I say, already making my way to the yellow-lighted hallway. It's light, in contrast to the room I was just in, and that makes me ease up a little more. Gosh, if this was to keep going, I wouldn’t dare walking home tonight. 

Suddenly, I hear a click, and the light goes away, leaving me in the dark hallway. I stop, looking around, unsure about what just happened. Another breath escapes my lips, reminding me that I can’t keep holding my breath everytime something startling happens. The hallway looks empty both ways, so I continue further, crossing my fingers that the light in the bathroom at least works. 

Before I can react, a couple of strong arms grab me from behind, caging me. I’m about to yell out, but as if anticipating it, the hand goes over my mouth, muffling my screams. I’m slammed into the wall, not too hard, luckily, but I close my eyes before the impact arrives. As I open them again, a smiling Josh is standing in front of me, biting his lips to hold in his laugh. My heart is still beating fast, breaths coming in and out in a rapid manner. I grab his hand roughly, dragging it off my mouth. 

“Joshua Washington! Are you fucking insane??” 

He bursts out laughing, arms against the wall beside me, holding himself up as he leans over. I shake my head, mouth still a little open in shock, whilst he can’t stop laughing. 

“Maybe, but you should’ve seen your face!” He chuckles, one of his hands going to his stomach to compose himself. It’s probably hurting right now from all the laughter. 

“Joshua! What the hell is wrong with you!?” 

“Okay, okay, calm down, just a little prank on my part” He smiles, finally calming down. 

“I have been watching a fucking horror movie, and you pull this shit?”

He bites his lip again, tilting his head a bit to examine me. 

“Oh, come on now, you’re totally thinking it’s funny” 

“No, I’m not” 

“Or you’re into it or something…”

“Wait, what, no I’m not, what kind of sick-”

Before I can process what’s happening, his lips are on me. I feel his breath, his body close, soft lips moving ove mine. My heart is still beating rapidly, but oddly enough, it calms with the way he’s touching me. Tender and carefully, not like himself at all. His hand goes to my waist, body pressing mine into the wall, opening his mouth a little. I hear a little groan leaving his throat. He pulls away, faces close as his eyes go over me, looking up and down. I almost think he looks a little vulnerable, but his signature smirk finds its way to his lips again. 

“Well then, calmer now?” 

I look at him, confused, conflicted. I scoff, shaking my head a bit. 

“No, I think I need a little more help” I state, hand going to the back of his neck, pulling him into me again. Capturing his lips on mine, already opening my mouth. He does the same, one hand on my hips, pulling me into him. 

“Hey, finished in the bathroom soon? I’ve paused the movie, the gore is over!” Beth shouts from the living room. We both pull away from each other and look over to the living room, luckily not seeing her there. I look back at him, seeing his chest heaving, hot breaths coming from his mouth. He turns, looking into my eyes. 

“Guess we better finish calming you down later” He smiles, pushing himself off me and the wall, walking back to his room. 

Fuck, what have I gotten myself into?

[tacitusk1llwhore]

What's up, y'all? This post has been wildly anticipated, and I have literally spent days on it. So let's get right into it, yeah? The Van Der Linde Gang is not a family; it is not a group of down-and-outs living outside the law for freedom (not entirely). It is, in fact, a cult, or, at the very least, most of the time operates like a cult would. To understand this we have to know exactly what a cult is, so what is the definition of a cult? A cult (as according to Google) is a misplaced or excessive admiration for a particular person or thing. This is one of the many definitions. So there you are; it's a cult, case closed! Just kidding, I wouldn't make it that easy, so let's look deeper into cult mentality and how it relates to the VDL gang.

Let's look first at what some characteristics of a cult leader are, and then let's match them to Dutch as a person. Cult leaders are incredibly charismatic; they come off as personable, as these wonderful, easygoing people who accept those as they are and bring in those who have been deemed by society as undesirable. But what makes them so very charismatic? How is it so easy for them to fall into this role? Having an image of yourself rooted in grandiosity, not reality. But Dutch isn't like that! You cry, to which I say—hold on, I'm getting there. Dutch is like that; Dutch has always been like that. In the traditional cult sense, he doesn't believe himself to be god, nor does he proclaim himself supreme or anything that we typically associate with cults. What does he do then? He corrects himself; he blame-shifts, and often. One of the first hints that I got that maybe this guy isn't as cool as I thought he was was all the way in Colter. When speaking to Charles, Dutch tells him to get indoors, on account of the cold and his injured hand. This seems so sweet, something from genuine concern and care for someone under his leadership. Until he slips up in his language and says, "I—We need you strong." He starts off simply stating that he himself needs Charles strong, greatly overestimating the true need for Charles amongst the other gang members. Charles provides for the gang in the form of food, money, and little repairs. If something were to happen to Charles day-to-day, it wouldn't affect Dutch all that much. Who would it affect? Those that cannot hunt for themselves, Abigail, who can't leave camp on account of her son, those that rely on the men of the gang to provide for them. If there was a food shortage in the gang, Dutch would be just fine; he can hunt for himself. You know who probably can't? Tilly or Mary-Beth. By first and foremost stating that Dutch himself needs Charles strong before he switches to include everyone, we see the first sign of his exaggerated sense of self-importance. His use for Charles is exploitation; he can exploit his position, his lack of connection outside of the gang, to make him money. Others use it for Charles's basic necessities. It is also well known that Dutch is allergic to accountability, as we see in the phrase "You'll keep doubting me and we'll keep failing." This is said to Arthur after yet another one of Dutch's poorly executed and subsequently failed plans, through no fault of Arthur. Dutch needs a scapegoat; he cannot fathom that he himself makes poor choices, and so he narrows his perception, forcing a round peg through a square hole to frame himself as perfect. It was Abigail's fault that Hosea died; it's Arthur's doubt that makes their jobs not run smoothly; John isn't loyal anymore because of Abigail. Never once do we see Dutch take accountability, and we shouldn't expect him to, not when his sense of self is so insanely inflated.

Behaviors and body language also play into this; Dutch is very often seen standing, chest puffed, shoulders back, with a cigar in hand. He will stare off in silence, giving us this illusion that he's thinking, that he has all of these wonderful ideas running through his head so fast he simply has to take a pause to go through them all, to contemplate. Did you know that body language amongst cult leaders is typically comparable? This powerful, almost Superman-like pose is a common one amongst them; it exhibits power and confidence, combined with subtle, casual movements or actions, like smoking a cigar or rubbing the temples. This can and does give the illusion of not only intelligence but also power and empathy or deep contemplation. Dutch also dresses luxuriously; he wants to stand out against the gang as this intellectual genius. He wants to seem so much more well educated, with so much more money, so these people who are more intelligent than him but less confident or well off look at him and say, "Wow, I should follow him; he's doing well for himself; he's confident; he knows best." When in reality it's all a ruse, and body language, the set apart from the others, is another way he does this.

Now let's look at what I think is one of the most cult-like aspects of the VDL gang, and that is how they got their members. So many people say, "Oh well, how could anyone ever join a cult?" "Why not just leave?" "You'd have to be stupid to join a cult!" But the thing is, people do not purposely join cults. People are lured into cults in multiple ways: the promise of money, freedom, love, luxury, but most of all, family. You know who the prime targets for cults are? The marginalized, the poor, as well as the young, the naive, and the downtrodden. Take the analogy of the frog in water: if you slowly turn up the heat, the frog will boil alive—such can be applied to cults; no cult starts with these crazy behaviors, rules, or rituals; they condition you slowly, they put you into a position in which it is impossible to leave, and when you realize the truth, it's too late. Let's look at the stories of some of the members of the VDL gang, how they came to be. Arthur, taken off the streets after his abusive father was hanged, leaving him orphaned and destitute; John, saved from a mob trying to hang him for thieving, this, of course, after he was also orphaned and had run from an orphanage (orphanages in the 1800s were child workhouses); Tilly, who was rescued after running from her kidnappers, after killing one of them to escape. Javier, freshly in the US, running into Dutch while the pair were stealing chickens, Charles, a loner with no family who had been on his own for decades, accepted into the first group he's known that has treated him fairly. What do these stories all have in common? These people were all at their most vulnerable when they were picked up by Dutch; they all were destitute, poor, hungry, afraid, or searching for a place to belong. It's easy to indoctrinate those that have nothing waiting for them on the outside. Dutch preys on people who have nothing, because when you give people with nothing something—you buy their loyalty right with it.

These people are so very loyal to Dutch that they would die for him; they literally state it (or at least Arthur does). The framing of a family is also a common tactic; if you make these people see you as one big family, not little worker bees, you can convince them anything they do for you is doing something for their family—for the greater good, when in reality, it's for you—it's for your gain. These men are called "Dutch's Boys." This implies a fatherly role, almost infantilizing those under the leader and bolstering their importance within the dynamic. These men have killed, stolen, robbed, kidnapped, and done the worst of the worst for Dutch, under the guise of a better life for them and these people they care about, when in reality it's for Dutch and his ideas that never included them in the end. The rules themselves also point to a cultish dynamic; if you rat, or talk, or are considered a traitor in any way, you are killed. Molly was not the first to be killed for this; I doubt she was even the second. It was so bad at the end that people were sneaking away in the night; they knew truly they were never just free to leave, the thought, or fact, rather, that they would be potentially murdered in front of their fellow camp members outweighing any want or wish for goodbyes. Let this be a reminder that most of these people were so indoctrinated they watched a woman they had lived with and cared for be murdered in cold blood, then be burned rather than buried (a sign of disrespect then), and didn't say anything; they didn't try to stop it; they didn't even defend Molly. Uncle actually brought her back, knowing that she was drunk and hysterical, probably knowing what the outcome would be. We see Arthur, who was realizing the error of his ways and the error of the gang, try and stop things, and later Karen go off on Grimshaw in her drunken state, but besides looking a little shocked and then going right back to work, no one did anything or said anything. Reminder: that's not normal. Killing someone for a betrayal (that turned out to be untrue without further evidence in front of a group of people and presumably a child) with such ease and to state, "It's the rules." As an explanation, it is not a family unit; it is a cult.

I will say that just because this is a cult doesn't mean that Arthur seeing the gang as a family or those members calling themselves family is any less true. That dynamic was real for them,that love was real based upon personal relationships and at some point probably real for Dutch, but realizing that he could get away with anything because he gave these people everything turned slowly into something far more sinister. It went from taking from the rich, taking in the downtrodden to help them to, I saved you; now go do my bidding. These people saw him, saw one another as family, as friends and brothers, and he saw them as chess pieces; he states as much. Again, frog in hot water.

Is the VDL a cult? In many ways, yes—common cult tactics are used by the leader, including love bombing to the women and those who he has raised. Calling Arthur son, knowing he has no father, only when he wants something is manipulation; his interactions and the implications of the change in relationship between him and Molly also imply this. The VDL was never a true family as Dutch would have them believe or have us believe. Arthur is an unreliable narrator in that regard; that love was real, absolutely, but the unit, the scenario, wasn't. The VDL ran like a cult; Dutch was not a good person, and he knew exactly what he was doing the entire time.

That's my hot take for the day.

( @moeitsu I know you said you wanted to read my take on this so I figured id tag!)

[imshymorph]

Price is not the only one that gets to live rent free in my mind, so here, have some soft!Soap. Take this as my apology for spamming with posts to organise my blog.

Okay, so in my mind your relationship with Johnny is more of a snowball effect. You meet at a pub through friends, you’ve recently moved to Glasgow due to a better job opportunity and he’s home for leave. And would you look at that, your nice coworkers invited you to their night out, don’t worry their other friends won’t mind. 

They definitely don’t mind because soon enough you’re part of the group, hanging out with them and being invited to any and all plans. And turns out you actually really get along with Johnny, despite being the one you see the least due to his deployments. In fact, whenever he’s in town, he’s the one you spend the most time with. 

So, when he ends up coming to yours after a night at the pub and your neighbours learn both of your names by heart, it’s no surprise to anyone in the group, including you two. 

However, he’s going back on deployment in less than a week and you’re getting increasingly busy in your job, being eligible for a promotion. So you both agree, that night doesn't change anything, you’re still friends. So what if you sleep with each other when either of you needs to scratch the itch? 

Just like your relationship up until now, it evolves naturally. You both stay on that thin line surprisingly well, not really committed to each other nor more than friends, but also with no need to seek anyone else. At least that’s at the beginning. 

Because then there starts to be small gestures, small decisions that feel more deep than they have until now. Outings just the two of you that feel too close to a romantic date to be called anything else, really. Compliments and sweet gifts become regularly interchanged –he gives you flowers or chocolates when he picks you up, you give him a small plushy of a rubber duck you saw, saying it just made sense for someone that goes by Soap–. 

But of course, you say nothing, because it works too well and feels too natural to really care. And also because maybe you’re a little worried that bringing it up might pop the bubble and undo all of it. After all, you both had agreed, you’re too busy for commitment and so is he, so you’ll take this. Whatever it is. 

That is until the day Johnny was supposed to come back from deployment. 

You’re sick like a dog, a stupid virus that had gone all throughout the office and had finally caught up to you. For the first time since you joined the group, you’re not going to be at Johnny's little welcome back reunion at the pub. But before you can feel guilty about it your friends reassure you he’ll understand, after all half of them had gone through the nasty cold already and can vouch on how horrible it feels. 

Luckily enough you don’t get to dwell too much on guilt, because with your feverish and incredibly sore state you settle down on the couch inside a cocoon of blankets falling asleep before the initial credits of the movie you put on for background noise even finish. 

No wonder you feel completely disoriented when you wake up, not even half of the movie having played yet, due to your doorbell ringing. You’re not too sure if it’s real, still too groggy from both sleep and the cold, before it rings again. 

With a grunt you get up, dragging your cocoon along, even more confused when you see Johnny standing there. “Johnny…?” you mumbled, definitely feeling delirious now. It must be the fever, right? There’s no way he’s at your doorstep, his eyes worriedly taking in your sickly appearance and carrying a bag that most probably contains meds and soup. 

“Oh bonnie, ye definitely have a fever, don’t ye?” He says, his tone coming out soft and quiet, almost worried he’ll give you a headache just from his voice. The moment his hand touches your forehead before moving to cup your cheek you know he’s actually there, your eyes closing as you pretty much melt into his touch, which is surprisingly soft and gentle. 

You barely even register when he easily picks you up, closing the door behind the two of you with his foot, carrying you directly to your bedroom. And by the time you register it, you're all warm and cozy in your bed. You don’t really get the chance to complain anyway, because he’s already fussing over you. 

He helps you sit up against the headboard so he can spoon-feed you the soup he brought, make you take the meds he brought and drink enough water to make sure you stay hydrated. He leaves for barely a minute, taking the bowl to the kitchen and getting an extra blanket on the couch, and soon enough he’s back with you. 

This time he helps you lay down, getting into bed right beside you and pulling you close so you can rest against his chest. He doesn’t have to ask, immediately putting on your comfort movie as one of his hands moves to rub your back, making up random patterns as he goes.

“You should be in the pub,” you finally get to reprimand, although it doesn’t have the scolding tone you would’ve liked it to have, given you’re already half-asleep and melting against the comfort of his body's warmth and soothing touch.  

A light scoff leaves him, as if he was offended by it. “Nah bonnie, should be here taking care of ye. No fun without you, anyway.” he’s quick to correct, adjusting to pull you a bit more against him. “We’ll go when ye feel better. Now rest.”

And to be fair, you can’t really argue with that, not with the way your eyes close in their own, nor with how relaxed and loose your body feels thanks to the meds he had brought. So you just give a small nod, melting further against his chest and slowly drifting off. 

But what really confirms it, what makes you know you’re both on the same page, is what happens next. Because Johnny smiles to himself and feeling overly confident about your sleeping state, he presses a soft kiss to your forehead before whispering a soft “gotta get better so i can take ye out, bonnie. Have to tell ye i love ye properly.”

You’re really thankful of how tired you are, because it takes all of your will to not sit up and go on and on about how much you love him too. Instead a small smile pulls at your lips, and you just shift that little bit closer. It’s okay, you can tell him you feel the same right after this little nap. 

[atangledfate]

Miles gave Belle a comforting pat on her shoulder. It was true that not everyone knew Rouge as well as he and sonic did. She was trouble, and you could only trust her so far as you could toss her. But when things were tough she was always on the right side of things. He trusted her in this, and did not believe she'd screw them over when it came to GUN and it's new leader. he had a feeling this guy was bad news for everyone involved.

" Ah it's fine Belle i know how she comes off, and truthfully you should always be a little wary around her. But when the shit hits the fan i believe she's always on the right side of things... unless it involves the chaos emeralds then she's defiantly untrustworthy hah! "

Sonic snorted a little thinking back, the blue hedgehog had his fair share of issues with her. But he was on miles side here, she was rotten to the core Rouge! but she had to live on this world to, and Sonic believed that under all the sass and devilish motives was someone willing to do the right thing when it counted.

" Yea... took alot of bribes for me to get her to promise not to try and swipe the Sol Emeralds... "

He snorted finding it funny!

" But at the end of the day she always does right by us... heck she even saved Jewels museum collection from what she told me. The Rogues tried to make a quick getaway... and she cut them off at the pass. Course she even returned them... without anyone asking--- that said Miles is spot on, if it has to do with a chaos emerald or a rare gem consider her an enemy of the state! hah! "

Lanolin shook her head at Sonic and Tails defending Rouge like that. She personally didn't trust her, and wouldn't put it past her to rob them all blind. Still she did believe the two that she could be an ally when the world was in danger. but likely for selfish reaosns. Her eyes turned though at Blaze's motion to follow and she made her into one of the private offices. She was curious about what Blaze had to say but she didn't like what it implied.

" So he Survived? I wish i could say i was surprised... But he's every bit as dangerous as Eggman. He likely had some kind of back up plan if things went sour. Still i dislike that he attacked you... he had to be after something... "

She didn't know why he'd be so brazen as to strike at Blaze, knowing she was so powerful. She didn't like not knowing why he attacked her in the first place.

" When this GUN situation is over we should probably inform Sonic and Tails at the very least... I... also want to tell Surge but i have no idea how she might react... and right now that feels like a bad idea "

Miles had such a smug smile on his face at the notion anyone could monitor Rouge. That bat had been a thorn in GUN's side since day one. On some level they had brought her on to keep an eye on her and, tried to black mail her. But it was the worst thing they could have done. She used her access to dip her sticky fingers in all of GUN's dirty little secrets. She knew how far she could take it and what she could and couldn't say. But Miles had no doubt Rouge was already in deep and finding answers for these new players.

" Oh i'm sure GUN thinks the same as you Princess... But ... if that were true they'd have nailed her to the wall years ago. She's very good at what she does... and i don't just mean flirting... "

sometimes people forget that Rouge was a spy among spys. Still he'd send a coded message, either way he probably wouldn't hear back for awhile.

" Heh, Rouge has no love of GUN, she works for them out of necessity. I trust her... and i know she won't get caught... i have confidence in her. "

The Sheep turned her head to the fennec and back to the Princess. She didn't much like talking about them when they could hear. She was fairly sure Kitsunami had keen enough ears to hear them. She respected them enough not to throw any ill shade in there direction. She'd keep it to the facts of the story and, leave her feelings on the sidelines.

" Well... I Only know what was in the reports so--- take what i say with a grain of salt. I wasn't there, but i've heard the story from amy and the others. "

She explained as she gave the Princess a sideways glance.

" Starline was a sort of Fanboy for Eggman, but he and eggman had a falling out. So in a bid to take the power for himself, he opted to create his own ideal heroes. Obviously he used Sonic and Tails as bases ... but instead of mechanical doubles, he used a combination of bio, and cybernetic technologies. "

She explained but looked rather dour after that, as the truth of Kit and Surge was a rather sad one. She knew just enough to find her heart strings tugged. How she wished she could do more then just be sympathetic to there plight. But at the end of the day, she knew they wouldn't want sympathy.

" So he kidnapped something like 100 orphans, homeless... you know people who wouldn't be missed. From what Miles put in his assessment report... was only the two who survived... We aren't exactly sure what he did to them, but the end result is Surge and Kitsunami. Each able to keep up with and in some cases surpass our greatest heroes "

Sure Surge might fall short of Sonic's speed but, a battle was about more then just speed. She beat Sonic in stamina, and strength and raw determination couldn't be discounted. How Miles beat Kit was still unknown because he was such a power house in her mind.

" Well you can guess how things went...Starline was killed by Eggman, Surge... well i imagine she was bitter, angry, and found a new toy of eggmans. Long story short she tore up downtown... fought sonic and tails... who had to team up with eggman just to stop them. We thought they were dead, but then they showed up asking for a place to stay. Considering the circumstance... it wasn't entirely there fault... The Director wanted to give them a second chance to prove they weren't just weapons of starline. "

" I've worked with them for awhile now... i think deep down the genuinely want a life for themselves. They were victims of starline...no different then Shadow was a victim of GUN...i ... believed in them both... i hate how this is all ending..."

[deadtired-highkeyenergetic]

Lonely Nights

Two uploads in one day? I'm cooking. Also inspired by @/shurisneakers grumpy x grumpy works, go check her works out they're amazing

Summary: Attending a party with the man whose whole goal in life seems to be annoying you to no end goes...not exactly as planned

You've lost count of the number of parties Natasha has dragged you to attend. You're pretty sure this is at least the tenth one in the past month, which is ten times more than the number of parties you usually attend. Then again zero times ten is still zero so you're not sure how the math adds up.

Grabbing another glass of whiskey, you stare at the golden liquid swirling around, trying to drown out the noise in the background. Parties really are far too loud for your taste, the only good thing to come out of them is the free flow alcohol that you constantly take advantage of. The drinks taste even better knowing that the tab is on a certain genius playboy billionaire and so at every party you lurk at the bar, inhaling drinks until you get hungover.

Tonight, there's a newcomer — Bucky Barnes, also known as the Winter Soldier. Turns out he's Steve's best friend who was thought dead and you have to admit, the brunette is quite the handsome man, although you'd rather die than admit it out loud. He's currently following Sam who seems to be on a mission to talk to a girl for more than a minute, and from the look on his face, quite enjoying the other's multiple failures.

You take another mouth of whiskey and look away, relishing in the way the liquid burns on the way down. Natasha has disappeared, probably to outdrink yet another poor soul, leaving you all alone at the bar counter, not that you mind. You quite like the personal space and lack of need to socialise with another human being, two things that are currently being challenged by a certain brunette you were watching not too long ago.

"Go away."

"I see you've been learning some manners." He leans over to take a glass of whiskey for himself, downing half of it in one go.

"And I see you haven't." You glare at him.

"Maybe you should introduce me to your teacher, I might just learn some manners then." He simply smiles at you.

"Hmph." You turn back to your glass. "So what are you doing here?"

"Was invited to the party by Tony." He swirls his glass before downing the remaining half. "Same as you."

"I can tell. Why are you sitting right next to me after I told you to get lost?"

"I believe you said 'go away', not 'get lost'."

"Same thing." You pinch the bridge of your nose. He was getting on your nerves as always, you sometimes swore he saved all his cheek for you and you alone.

"Nope it isn't. One is asking me to simply leave, the other is asking me to lose all sense of direction —"

"Okay Mr Dictionary, didn't ask you for the difference between 'away' and 'lost'. Why are you still seated next to me?" You grab another glass from a passing waiter and immediately inhale one third of it.

"I'm tired and want to sit down." Bucky shrugs.

"There's plenty of other seats out there." You gesture to where the crowd is.

"Here seemed the most comfy, although the company it offers could use some work." He smirks, biting back an amused huff when you roll your eyes.

"Then go and find company elsewhere."

"But you'll be lonely. As a gentleman, I cannot stand by and let a lovely person such as yourself spend the night alone." He dramatically places a hand over his heart.

"Since when were you a gentleman?" You snort, knocking back more alcohol. You were going to need more if this bastard insisted on spending the rest of the night with you.

"Since the moment I saw you sitting here alone."

"How chivalrous. You want a lordship or something?"

He laughs, reaching over the counter and pulling out a bottle of vodka. "If only you could grant me one."

"Dunno. Could try pulling some strings or something, haven't tried granting anyone a lordship before. First time for everything, am I right?" You toss a bottle opener his way and he catches it, raising an eyebrow.

"Do you have this on you at all times?"

"Swiped it from the waiter just now. Was going to open one myself but since you've already taken one you might as well share. Sharing is caring, right?" You wave a hand.

"Then sharing this bottle would imply I care for you." He pops the cap open and starts chugging.

"Hey! I provided the bottle opener! I deserve some!" You yelp, rising from your seat. He easily dodges your attempts to grab the bottle from him and grins, waving it just out of your reach. Growling, you leap onto the counter and dash along it, successfully swiping the bottle from his surprisingly loose grip. Hopping back down, you gleefully wave the bottle before chugging the remaining liquid inside, letting out a satisfied sigh when not a drop is left.

"I win!" You cheer, laughing. All that alcohol is making you giddy and you lean a little too far backwards, stumbling towards the counter but before you can hit anything, a pair of arms wrap themselves around you, stopping your fall.

"Can't have you dying before granting me that lordship." Bucky grunts, placing you back onto your seat. You try to shove his arms off, making a face when he refuses to let go before resuming your scowl and crossing your arms.

"I'm not dying before you," you huff, annoyed. More importantly, you weren't about to die from a fall when you've survived aliens, gods, superhumans and everything in between.

"Congratulations on surviving purely out of spite all this while. Would you also like a gold medal?" Sarcasm drips heavily from his words.

"I'll take one." You don't miss a beat, even when tipsy. Bucky would admire that, really he would, unfortunately he's on the receiving end of your sass so it's already less admirable because of that. At least him being here means you won't be meeting your end via counters, he would miss all that wit and sarcasm if that were to happen. After laughing at your cause of death.

"Unfortunately I don't have one right now. Mind waiting for a bit, doll?" His lips quirk upwards ever so slightly.

"A gentleman making someone wait? What kind of gentleman are you?" You lift another snagged bottle to your lips, taking a swig.

"One that knows you're caring enough to share that bottle with me." He easily wrestles the half-drunk bottle from you, chugging the rest while keeping you at arms length with his forearm pressed against your chest. "Thank you for your generosity."

"You're not welcome!" You huff, futilely hitting his arm in an attempt to close the gap. He grins, turning the bottle upside down to show you there's not a drop left.

"Asshole." You scowl, gripping his arm tightly.

"My pleasure." His smirk is infuriating and with the alcohol clouding your mind, the moment he drops his arm you close the distance, wiping the smirk off his face with a kiss. Your lips connect and his eyes widen, but he kisses back, his metal arm snaking around your waist while his flesh one pulls you closer so that he can devour you.

Bucky's lips taste of vodka, whiskey and whatever else he drank before being your nuisance and it tastes good. You breathlessly pull away, cheeks flushed and grab a breath before diving back for another round.

"You're a pathetic kisser," you gasp after pulling away for air again.

"And still you want more." He licks his lips, ice blue eyes shining with mirth. "What does that say about you?"

"That I'm going to need to teach you how to kiss."

"Then teach me." He lifts your chin up. "The night's still young."

"Step one: shut up." Your lips crash into his again and he shuts up, savouring the kiss.

"Step two: don't stop." He murmurs, threading his fingers through your hair.

"Step three: eyes on me, only me." You press your forehead against his, feeling his warmth. "Took you forever to kiss me."

"You're the one who took forever, I was always open to it."

"Asshole."

"Idiot."

"You just asked an idiot to be your teacher."

"I don't mind this idiot being my teacher." His thumb runs over your bottom lip. "After all, this idiot is my idiot."

"Hate you."

"Love you too."

[mzenins]

❛ gloria, i wanna take you to euphoria ! ❜ ✶ ࣪˖࿐ * sakadays multi characters

꒰ ⋆ ˚｡⋆ ──── contents: suggestive, gn reader, making out, spitting, dry humping, hickeys┆ `✦ ˑ ִֶ 𓂃⊹ how they kiss you…

꒰ ⋆ ˚｡⋆ ──── featured on this disc: yoichi nagumo, natsuki seba, shin asakura

╰⪼┆nagumo kisses you like you’re both in a constant game of cat and mouse. it’s competitive and intoxicating with a strong surge of adrenaline bustling through your veins but oftentimes it’s fleeting.

he allows for his bottom lip to gently graze yours then retracts himself from your vicinity with the mere purpose of seeing the dazed look on your face that was anticipating more. he enjoys the shocked gasp and reprimand that comes from you, followed by a murmur of “dickhead.” which he classically retorts with, “hey, that’s not nice!”

the roles switches up constantly, something he indulges in, but a sick part of him can’t help but bask in the sight of you desperately grinding down on his clothed crotch with your forehead littered by sweat as you incoherently rasp in his ear for him to kiss you harder. his mouth twists up in a sadistic manner against the column of your neck, “hm? want more neck kisses?” he feigns innocence.

his playing dumb act grinds your gears to the fullest and makes you want to choke him out till your heart’s content but he’d probably brush off your actions with a snippy comeback.

you loudly groan in frustration and his eyebrows pull up at your outburst, your hips halt against his pelvis, “god, do i have to spell everything out for you?” you grab a fist full of his noir hair to perfectly align his head with your face, “kiss me properly, nagumo.. on the lips.”

he likes seeing you all riled up. he tauntingly smirks, “ah! you should’ve just asked, silly.” before you can argue on that’s what you were doing in the first place, he encloses the space, humming contently. your lips moves together in sync, rapidly harmonizing in a sensual way. his tattooed hands slip under your shirt caressing the bare skin but the small delight comes to a pause once he uses his teeth to gently pull at your bottom lip, teasingly letting it go out from his hold. he drily chuckles at you chasing after his lips for more.

╰⪼┆natsuki kisses you like a pornstar in love. it’s lewd but intimate, igniting an untamed flame in the pit of your stomach rapidly flickering waiting to be extinguished but your heart beats erratically against your chest with warmth blooming around the organ.

it can be messy at times with his saliva smearing onto your chin and drippling off, or, it can be sweet and memorable leaving you smitten with butterflies for the rest of the day; pick your poison, he doesn’t mind either way.

he likes to sneak up on you— at first it was an occasional habit he’d done unintentionally but now he uses his airy footsteps to his advantage. slithering his toned arm around your stomach to pull you closer to his broad chest and grips at your jaw with his calloused hand to tilt your head upwards to somewhat face him

“open your mouth.” he calmly instructs, as if what he planned to do next was just a run-on-the-mill activity. you comply and suddenly feel a warm droplet of spit land onto your tongue, your eyes widens and before a squeal could erupt from your throat he captures your lips with his.

natsuki pants heavily against your mouth his hot tongue hastily collides with yours as he subconsciously begins to rut himself into your figure, his eyebrows deeply furrows together. his lips are soft on yours but has intensity far too hot to handle. “s-slow down natsu…” your meek voice trembles in between the heated kisses.

his usual nonchalant complacence crumbles apart. his plump lips glistens once he pulls away, a small string of saliva connecting the two of you. “can’t. sorry. you just taste so damn good.” some darken strands of hair stick to his forehead; he’s dizzy but pushes through to quench his thirst.

╰⪼┆shin kisses you like he’s almost afraid of you. he’s not and he swears by it but the way his body stiffens with his shoulders nearing his ears and rigid lips stilled has you thinking the former. he touches you as if you’re a porcelain doll glossed over with iridescent medium, and that sometimes translates into his fear of messing up.

he gets in his head a lot and stays there. but as the relationship progresses, he gains his confidence within his abilities to please you and once that layer of skin grows, that’s all he dedicates himself to. he’s rough which causes teeth to clash but he’s also sweetly passionate with his movements.

an extremely slow day at sakamoto’s store leads to you on top of the store counter with him between your legs. he disregards the opportunity to flip over the closed sign— the thought of being caught fuelled something dubious inside of him.

his large palms roam from your thighs to grazing over your chest eliciting a choked up gasp from you. he’d become too cocky, perhaps for his own good. his lips moved with delicious vigour against yours, slowly increasing the tempo with every passing second. soft grunts and huffs comes from the blond mixed in with your panting.

“is this too much?” he asked as he departs from your space with antsy eyes. you whine restlessly, “it’s not enough.” you tug at the belt loops of his baggy jeans, pulling him back in your vicinity and his face plants in the crock of your neck instead. suckling and nipping at the delicate skin and swirling his tongue around the area. your whimpers fills his ears like a lullaby.

eventually, his ministrations cause a darken bruise to appear. he ogles at the sight that encourages him to continue but an unfamiliar intruding thought enters his mind. a customer outside was planning on coming in and purchasing pockys. and while shin knows it would be morally ethical to put a stop to your activities, he can’t find the strength to do so. he’s completely and utterly drunk off by your smell and touch; what a bad influence you are.

© mzenins, all rights reserved … feedback is welcomed.

[fear-is-truth]

BEING IN A POLY RELATIONSHIP WITH THANOS & NAM-GYU l headcanons

pairing — thanos x reader x nam-gyu warnings — (mild) s2 spoilers. smut author’s note — i wrote some corny lyrics for this lol

──⟢  fear-is-truth — all rights reserved. do not modify, repost, translate, or plagiarise my content.

thanos recruited you into his “team” because of his attraction to you. the rapper didn’t try to hide that he found you hot, and he made sure you knew it, throwing compliments your way. his flirting was over-the-top and shameless. he’d call you “senorita” or “babe” in a sing-song voice, leaning in close to make sure you couldn’t ignore him. his favourite move was to serenade you with cheesy raps that made everyone cringe.

one day, thanos sidles up to you, a wide, cocky-ass smirk plastered on his face. he’s got his hands on his hips, like he’s about to drop the hottest bars in the universe. “yo, senorita,” he starts, “you’re the queen of my world, can’t you see? ain’t no one gonna take my throne, you and me, together, baby, we’re destiny!” while nam-gyu, in the background, is rolling his eyes so hard he could probably see the back of his skull. but thanos keeps going, totally into it, “baby, we can rule the game, you and i, got them all thinking i’m the reason they’ll die. you’ll be my queen, i’ll be your king, together we’ll make this whole thing sing!” it’s a miracle you don’t combust from secondhand embarrassment.

nam-gyu, as thanos’s second-in-command, was pissed from the start. in the beginning, it seemed like he was just territorial—angry that you were disrupting the group dynamic. he’d throw side comments like, “oh, great, now we’ve got a distraction,” and give you cold, assessing looks. his irritation was obvious, especially when thanos started giving you preferential treatment, like sitting beside you during meals or casually throwing an arm over your shoulder during group talks.

he tried to act more “mature” than thanos (spoiler: he wasn’t). his idea of flirting was to act tough, which mostly involved bullying weaker players to look impressive. it was like watching a middle schooler try to flex for their crush. in reality, he just looks like an asshole, and you feel annoyed by his attempts to bully someone into submission to show off. he catches your disapproving glare and immediately tries to backtrack, but it just makes it worse.

thanos wasn’t subtle about his future plans for you. “after we win this thing, you’re coming with me,” he promised you confidently. “i’ll make you my official girl. the fans will eat it up—thanos and his queen.” he didn’t ask if you wanted that, just assumed you’d go along with it lol. nam-gyu, on the other hand, played dirtier. when thanos wasn’t around, he tried to plant seeds of doubt in your mind, leaning in to whisper confidentially. “he’s a scumbag, you know. all talk, no loyalty. don’t let him fool you,”

during meals, both of them insisted on sitting next to you, even if it meant practically wrestling each other to the ground. there were no tables, just groups eating near the bunk beds or stairs leading up to them, and you always ended up sandwiched between the two guys. thanos would slouch with his arm around your shoulders, smirking at anyone who looked your way. nam-gyu would mutter snide comments under his breath, low enough for you to hear, but not enough for thanos to notice.

then came the game “mingle,” where the players had to group up based on a random number announced over the PA system. when the voice said “two,” both thanos and nam-gyu grabbed your arm at the same time. “she’s going with me,” thanos barked, pulling you toward him. “what the fuck about me?” nam-gyu shot back, tugging you in the opposite direction. if it hadn’t been for se-mi, who quickly pulled you into a room with her (the two boys found a room next to you), the four of you would’ve fucking died.

the tension escalated at night. at first, both of them insisted on sleeping next to your bunk bed. but as time went on, they started fighting over who got to sleep in your bed. it started as bickering—“move, she doesn’t want you here,” nam-gyu would snap, trying to shove thanos aside. “speak for yourself, bro,” thanos would shoot back, climbing up anyway. it’s like a power struggle between two self-proclaimed alpha males, but it’s over you, which just feels awkward. each one tries to subtly imply their superiority by making the argument about who has the better “qualifications” to be your bunkmate. eventually, the rivalry reached its peak when they both tried to squeeze into your bed at the same time. you ended up stuck between them, neither willing to back down, and neither particularly caring how uncomfortable it made you.

despite the rivalry, the situation eventually settles into some sort of… equilibrium. neither thanos nor nam-gyu backed down completely, but they seemed to reach an unspoken agreement. the two of them started “sharing” you, like some fucked up custody arrangement.

you start to realise that maybe—just maybe—this unholy triangle might not be such a bad thing after all. meal time turned into a prelude for something else entirely. when everyone was distracted, one of them would catch your eye, silently signaling for you to follow. you’d find yourself slipping away to meet them in the bathroom stall.

thanos is all energy, and unable to shut up—being balls deep inside you, his dirty talk came easily, an endless stream of words that tumbled out in rapid succession, that had you equal parts flustered and irritated. especially with how careless he was. you’d have to kiss him just to silence him, pressing your lips to his until his words were replaced by muffled groans. whenever you grabbed his hair, his reaction was instant—a breathy whimper that only seemed to spur him on more. but almost as quickly as the sound left his lips, he was smirking, leaning in to tease you. “don’t mess it up, baby,” he’d warn, his voice playful yet smug. “this shit cost a lot to style.”

nam-gyu, in contrast, was rougher and far less interested in theatrics. he wasn’t one for words—far too focused to waste time on anything unnecessary. he had you pinned firmly against the partition wall, the cool surface digging into your back as beads of perspiration formed along his brow. the thin structure trembled violently under the sheer force of his movements, creaking with every thrust as though it might give way at any second. the silence between you was broken only by a few curses and grunts that escaped him.

[novascharms]

teach please me — tutor!reader x soccer player!rafe

reader's life is meticulously planned, from high school to becoming president of the country—she knows exactly where she's headed and every step to get there. but her airtight plan hits a snag when the principal ropes her into tutoring rafe cameron, the school’s star soccer player, who’s failing algebra and at risk of being benched next season. the team needs him on the field, and reader needs the principal’s glowing recommendation to secure her spot at her dream school. balancing her ambitious goals with rafe’s chaotic charm might just throw her perfectly crafted plan off track.

word count — 1.9 chapter index — prev. chap. — next chap. masterlist

four

tuesday, january 21st you got the text during your last class of the day. it wasn’t often you received messages during school hours—everyone knew you well enough to understand you probably wouldn’t answer, especially not in class. but something about this one made you check your phone anyway.

you cast a quick glance at your geography teacher before sneaking a look at the screen, hiding the phone behind your laptop. rafe’s name lit up on the display, and your chest tightened slightly as you opened the message.

you started typing a response, what time is the appo— but froze mid-word. it sounded abrupt. rude, almost. with a small sigh, you backspaced the entire line, the screen going blank. after a moment, you began drafting a new response, this time carefully weighing your words.

you nudged hazel, who was focused on the board. she turned to you, raising a brow. “hm?”

“are you still going to the library after class?” you asked quietly.

she nodded. “with ivy.”

“i’m coming with you,” you replied, leaning back in your chair.

what you didn’t tell her—or ivy, or anyone—was the small, inexplicable crush you were starting to develop on rafe cameron of all people. it wasn’t that you didn’t know who he was. of course, you did. you just hadn’t paid much attention to him before. but now? now you seemed to notice him everywhere. in the halls, in the cafeteria, in classes you were pretty sure he didn’t even belong in.

you noticed how he and his friends were louder than most, how there was always one girl lingering close to him, and how, somehow, he still found the time to acknowledge you. it wasn’t much—just a wave, a quick smile, the way his eyes always seemed to find yours in a crowded hallway. it was subtle, effortless, but you were starting to realize rafe had a thing for eye contact.

“i thought you had to tutor the soccer guy?” ivy teased as the three of you headed to the library after school.

“he has a name,” you chided lightly. “and he has to take his dog to the vet, so we’re rescheduling.”

“still can’t believe principal oakley showed you his report card,” hazel remarked, shaking her head and you were fully expecting rafe to have some kind of reaction to that. a report card was something so.. personal. he didn't seem to care that you saw his. he'd yet to say anything about it.

“soooo… what were they? his grades?” ivy pressed, her curiosity bordering on relentless.

“no,” you said firmly for the fifteenth time, shaking your head. she'd been trying for days now, aching to know what kind of results he'd gotten for the first semester. you'd told her no over fifteen times. it didn't matter that rafe probably didn't care. it was confidential. right?

“why not?” she whined, dragging the word out. “i want to know how smart y/n’s boyfriend is. sue me.”

your heart stumbled at the word, your cheeks warming.

“shut up. she’s doing this for her recommendation letter, right, y/n?” hazel added, her tone more practical.

you didn’t answer, eyes fixed on the book in your lap. everything about this felt confusing, uncharted. you’d never been one for crushes. school had always been your focus, your only real commitment. there wasn’t time for boys, and yet here you were.

“wait,” hazel said, her voice rising in excitement. “is this your first crush? oh my god, it is!”

your face dropped into your hands as the librarian hissed a sharp shh!

ivy leaned closer, grinning ear to ear. “and it’s on him. i knew it.”

“i’m blaming my lack of experience with boys,” you muttered. “how am i developing a crush in under two weeks?”

“crushes only last two weeks,” ivy said matter-of-factly.

“what?” you gaped at her. “seriously? what if it lasts longer?”

she gave you an exaggeratedly pitying look. “then it’s true love,” she sang dramatically, laughing as you groaned and buried your head in hazel’s shoulder.

“this doesn’t have to be a bad thing,” hazel said softly, wrapping an arm around you.

“sure. because falling for someone who probably won’t even remember my name by next year is totally ideal,” you shot back. “it’s just transactional for him.”

“maybe it started that way,” hazel said, squeezing your shoulder. “but it doesn’t mean that’s how it still is. honestly, it’s impossible not to like you.”

you smiled faintly, though you weren’t sure you believed her.

“and if he doesn’t, well…” ivy grinned mischievously. “my mature side says his loss. but my insane side says you’ve got the key to the office, and i’m not against swapping a few b’s for d’s.”

you laughed despite yourself, knowing full well you’d never. deep down, all you wanted was for him to succeed.

you tried to shake the thoughts as you walked home, the sound of your family’s usual chaos greeting you at the door.

“no football at the dinner table,” your mom said firmly, wagging a finger at your sister, who held up a basketball instead.

“this isn’t a football, mom,” she argued, earning only a dismissive wave.

your mom began ladling food onto plates, and the familiar rhythm of family mealtime unfolded. the salt and pepper shakers made their rounds, the salad bowl was passed from hand to hand, as your dad threw one bad dad joke after the other.

you were mid-bite, slicing a piece of meat, when the doorbell rang. your younger siblings jumped up simultaneously, vying for the chance to answer it. your dad’s sharp look froze them in their tracks, and you chuckled, shaking your head as you stood to handle it yourself.

you swung the door open, your heart skipping at the sight before you. rafe stood there, a golden retriever puppy cradled in his arms, its floppy ears and wide eyes making your insides turn to mush.

“oh my god,” you breathed, a smile spreading as you practically melted at the sight. “who’s this cutie?”

“this is dona,” rafe said, his grin easy and warm. “he just got the all-clear from the vet, so he’s officially back to causing trouble.” he leaned down to kiss the pup on the head, his affection palpable.

“i’m so glad he’s okay.” you reached out hesitantly, your fingertips brushing the soft fur. rafe nodded, watching you with a gaze that felt… too deep, too knowing. for a moment, the world quieted, and you found yourself unable to look away.

“a dog!” your little brother’s excited shout shattered the moment. you flinched, scooping him up just in time to stop him from barreling into rafe. “easy there,” you chided gently, laughing at the amusement dancing in rafe’s expression.

“is that a dog i hear?” your mom’s voice floated from the dining room, followed by her sudden appearance in the hallway. “oh, hello! y/n didn’t tell me we had company tonight.”

“mom, this is rafe,” you said quickly. “i’m tutoring him, remember?”

“oh, of course! i remember," your mom says brightly, her welcoming grin widening as she steps closer. "would you like to stay for dinner, rafe? young minds need to be fed!"

you step in quickly, the words tumbling out in a rush, "we'll just g—"

“i’d love to, thank you,” rafe cuts in smoothly, his smile unwavering as he stepped inside. your jaw dropped slightly. meeting the parents already?

your mom clapped her hands in delight. “wonderful! we always have room for one more.” she bustled back toward the dining room, leaving you staring at rafe in stunned disbelief. he shot you a raised brow and a teasing smile. “smells delicious in here,” he said lightly, as if he hadn’t just upended your evening plans and casually leans down to scoop your little brother into one arm while holding his dog in the other. the sight is absurdly domestic. your brother chatters excitedly, and rafe responds with effortless charm, telling him something about the dog's favorite tricks.

your heart does not flutter at this scene. absolutely not.

at the table, your sister is the first to pipe up. "dad, can we get a dog?" she pleads, her eyes lighting up at the sight of rafe’s dog lapping up the bowl of water you'd hastily put down.

your dad doesn’t even look up from his plate. "so it can meet the same unfaithful end as your hamster? i don't think so."

the table dissolves into quiet laughter, you and rafe chuckling along.

"what’s his name?" your mom asks, directing her question to rafe as you sneak a glance at the dog curled obediently by his legs.

"dona," he replies.

your dad looks up with a bemused expression. "you named your dog donna?"

"y/d/n," your mom admonishes gently, giving him a look.

rafe shakes his head, clearly unbothered. "not donna," he corrects with a small smile. "dona. after diego maradona."

your sister nearly rockets out of her seat. "maradona?!" she exclaims, her face lighting up like a firework.

"who's that?" you ask not enjoying the fact that you're being left out of the loop.

"only the greatest soccer player in history!" your sister and rafe dive into a passionate, almost fifteen-minute-long ode to the legendary soccer player. she glows with excitement, her hands flying as she talks to rafe who is smiling from ear to ear the entire time.

when you finally retreat to your room with rafe in tow, you close the door behind you, raising an eyebrow as he sprawls across your bed like it’s his own.

"i didn’t expect your family to be so…normal," he says, his tone teasing but curious.

you cross your arms, leaning against the door. "what exactly did you expect?"

he tilts his head toward you, a small smirk tugging at his lips. "for them to be more like you."

the words hang in the air for a moment before they sink in. "i’m normal!" you exclaim, your voice rising in protest.

rafe props himself up on one elbow, his eyes twinkling with amusement as they flick toward the oversized calendar pinned to your wall. "sure. except for the five-foot planner dictating your entire year."

you bristle, glancing at the meticulously organized calendar. "i like certainty," you mutter, your voice quieter now. you sit on the bed facing him.

his gaze shifts to your picture wall, his eyes skimming over the neatly arranged photos. "so…you never stray from the plan?"

you shake your head, your hands folding neatly in your lap. "apart from this," you gesture vaguely between the two of you, "which, trust me, it's truly hurting me inside to not follow my schedule." your voice is so serious that rafe lets out a quiet laugh, his shoulders shaking.

"no parties? no last-minute road trips? no sleeping in?" he prompts, his tone laced with incredulity.

the last part hits a nerve, and your mind flashes back to the time you were so sick in middle school that your dad had to carry you to the bathroom. the only time you’d ever missed class.

"nope," you say with a firm shake of your head.

rafe leans back against your pillows, the casual intimacy of the gesture making your breath hitch. you know your pillow will smell like him tonight.

"and you don’t even want to?" he presses, his tone gentler now.

you meet his gaze steadily. "what i want is to be a powerful woman," you say, your voice unwavering.

his expression softens. for a moment, he just looks at you, his chest rising and falling in an even rhythm. "you already are," he says finally, his voice low but sincere. "you’ve got power over me. i’ve never opened my algebra book this much in my entire life."

chapter index — prev. chap. — next chap. masterlist

[eclipixels]

Makes sense

Yoichi Isagi x Reader

Content: How your relationship with Isagi began

[3,152 words]

      It was your first year at Ichinan High when you first noticed the timid, dark-haired Yoichi Isagi. Like every other first year, he seemed slightly lost, trying to navigate the new environment, but somehow, he looked even more clueless than the rest. His awkwardness made him stand out, and when you caught sight of his eyes, it was like something inside you clicked, like glass shattering in your mind. You couldn’t explain it, but the moment you saw him, a strange flutter stirred in your stomach.

      You didn’t know what it was, but you knew one thing for certain, you had to make him yours.

      Of course, as a fumbling first-year yourself, still figuring out how to approach people, your grand plan was... to quietly observe him. You kept an eye on his classes, noted who he talked to (not many people), and even made mental notes about what he ate during lunch. You found out he’d joined the Ichinan soccer team and started attending their practices after school, so naturally, you lingered at a few of those, too.

      But after two weeks of your silent stalking, you grew frustrated. Nothing had changed. That strange feeling in your stomach was still there, and you were no closer to talking to him than you were on day one. Finally, you decided enough was enough. It was time to make a move.

      The next day, at lunch, you spotted him sitting alone, as he usually did. He was hunched over his phone, totally engrossed in whatever he was watching. Taking a deep breath to steady yourself, you approached and slid into the seat beside him.

      “Oh! Hey there!” he squeaked, startled by your sudden presence. He paused the video and turned to face you, his expression a mix of confusion and curiosity.

      “Hi,” you said, already second-guessing your decision. Why were you here again? What were you supposed to say?

      “I’m Isagi Yoichi, first year,” he said after a moment, breaking the awkward silence.

      “L/n Y/n,” you replied quickly, blinking at him. Thirty seconds in, and it already felt painfully awkward.

      “Nice to meet you! So… what made you wanna sit here?” he asked, tilting his head slightly. It wasn’t every day someone chose to sit with him, especially not someone new.

      “I don’t know,” you mumbled, kicking yourself internally. Really? That’s the best you could come up with?

      “Oh,” he said simply, looking a bit confused.

      Desperate to salvage the situation, you leaned over slightly to glance at his phone. “What are you watching?”

      The question worked like magic. His eyes lit up as he launched into an enthusiastic explanation about the soccer match on his screen. He talked about the players, their tactics, and his favorite moments. You listened intently, a small smile forming as you watched him ramble on, his passion shining through.

      “Oh, sorry,” he said suddenly, stopping mid-sentence. “I didn’t mean to ramble. You probably don’t care about this stuff.”

      “I like soccer,” you said, cutting him off before he could finish his apology.

      “You do?” he asked, his eyebrows raising in surprise.

      “Yeah, I even have some Barcelona merch.”

      His expression shifted, and he smirked. “Madrid fan here.”

      Well, that was definitely going to be a problem, but you’d figure it out later.

      “Hey, I don’t mean to sound like a stalker,” he began, scratching the back of his head, “but I feel like I’ve seen you around before.”

      Fuck.

      “Oh, um, maybe you saw me at one of your practices,” you admitted, feeling your cheeks heat up.

      “That makes sense,” he said with a nod. “We have one today. You should come.”

      “You want me there?” you asked, surprised.

      “Yeah, you seem really nice. We’re friends now.”

      Your heart skipped a beat at his casual declaration. “Okay, I’ll be there.”

      “Great!” he said, giving you a cheerful thumbs-up before slurping the last of his noodles. You couldn’t help but giggle at the way he did it, finding it both endearing and funny.

      “Uh, did I do something?” he asked, his cheeks turning a soft shade of pink.

      “No, no! Sorry, it’s just… you look cute when you eat like that,” you blurted, immediately wondering where the sudden confidence had come from.

      “Oh, t-thank you,” he stammered, his voice faltering as his face grew even redder. He glanced away, clearly flustered, and you noticed his hand lightly resting on his stomach.

      You weren’t the only one feeling weird butterflies, it seemed.

      -

      You came to his practice feeling a little nervous, but you pushed through and cheered for him from the sidelines. Watching Isagi move on the field was fascinating. His focus, his effort, his skill, it was impressive. But you couldn’t help but notice something holding him back, as if there was untapped potential he hadn’t discovered yet.

      When practice ended, you waited for him by the side of the field. He approached, towel draped around his shoulders and a nearly empty water bottle in hand, gulping down the last few drops.

      “Oh, hey, Y/n-san,” he greeted, his tone friendly but slightly shy.

      “Hey,” you responded with a smile. “You did great out there.”

      “You really thought so? Thanks,” he said, his smile brightening at your words. Compliments like that weren’t something he heard often from people his age.

      “Yeah, you were incredible,” you continued. “We’re definitely going to nationals with you on the team.”

      He laughed softly, rubbing the back of his neck. “I hope so. I wanna be number one one day.”

      “I’m sure you will, Ichi.”

      “Ichi?” he repeated, tilting his head curiously.

      “Well, yeah. It means number one, and it’s short for Yoichi. It fits, don’t you think? Do you not like it?”

      “No, no. I don’t mind it,” he said quickly. “I’ve just never had a nickname before.”

      “Well, I’m glad to be the first to give you one.”

      His smile grew, but before he could say anything else, his stomach let out an audible growl. He laughed sheepishly, pressing a hand to his abdomen. “I was planning to get some food after this. That soba and pickled radish I had earlier wasn’t nearly enough to keep me fueled.”

      “Oh, okay. Have fun then,” you said, unsure where the conversation was going.

      He hesitated, fidgeting slightly before rubbing the back of his neck. “Um, I was wondering if you wanted to come with me?”

      “You want to get food together?”

      “Y-yeah,” he stammered, his cheeks slightly pink. “Only if you want to! I mean, I get it if you’re busy or have other things to do. I noticed the pin on your bag for student government, so you probably—”

      “Sure,” you interrupted simply, sparing him the spiral of overthinking.

      -

      You spent your entire first year of high school quietly pining for Yoichi Isagi. Over time, your lives intertwined so much that you became a regular fixture in his household. His parents adored you, often treating you like their own child. Their home became a second home for you.

      As your friendship deepened, so did your feelings for him. You finally understood the fluttering in your stomach and the quickening of your heartbeat whenever he got too close. But despite the countless hours spent together, the late-night talks, and his mom’s teasing about how much time you two spent together, you couldn’t figure out how he felt about you.

      One afternoon, you decided you couldn’t keep it bottled up any longer. You were sitting on his bed, watching him laze around after practice. His hair was still slightly damp, and he had the relaxed, carefree air that only made him more endearing.

      “Ichi,” you began softly, your voice trembling.

      “Hm?” he responded absentmindedly, not looking up from the soccer replay on his phone.

      “I need to tell you something important.”

      “Mhm,” he hummed again, clearly not paying full attention.

      “I like you,” you said, finally laying your heart bare.

      “Mhm,” he replied automatically.

      The silence that followed was deafening.

      “…Did you hear me?” you asked, your tone sharper now.

      “Mhm.”

      “Are pineapples purple?”

      “Mhm.”

      You stared at him, your emotions swinging between disbelief and frustration. “This is stupid,” you muttered, standing up abruptly.

      “Y/n, where ya goin’?” he asked, confused as he finally registered that you were leaving.

      “Oh, so now you’re paying attention?”

      “I’m sorry! I’m just tired from practice,” he said, sitting up and rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly. “What were you saying?”

      “Forget it. It was pathetic and dumb anyway,” you mumbled, already regretting saying anything.

      “Hey, don’t be like that,” he said, his tone softer now. “I’m all ears. Tell me.”

      You hesitated but decided to try again. This time, you started more firmly. “Yoichi Isagi,” you said, staring directly at him.

      He swallowed nervously, sitting up straighter. “Yeah?”

      “I have feelings for you.”

      “Oh,” he said, blinking in surprise.

      “I’m sorry,” you added quickly, bracing yourself for rejection.

      “Do you want to date, then?” he asked casually, as if he hadn’t just rocked your entire world.

      “What?”

      “Well, isn’t that what we’re supposed to do now?” he asked, tilting his head like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

      “Huh?”

      “You know, like in the movies,” he explained, “The character confesses to their crush, and then they get together.”

      “I guess so,” you said, still trying to wrap your head around his response.

      “So it’s settled, then.”

      “What is?”

      “I’m your boyfriend now,” he declared.

      -

      "Have an amazing time on your trip!" Isagi’s soft voice carried a tender warmth as he leaned in, pressing a gentle kiss to your cheek. His touch lingered like a memory yet to be made, and you smiled, savoring the moment. You had been dating for a few months now, a sweet, sweet chapter in both your lives during your second year of high school. As you were saying goodbye before your four-day trip to visit your cousin who lived a few hours away in the next city over. What neither of you realized at that moment was that this would be the last time you’d see each other for a while. The last time you’d feel the soft, reassuring press of your perfect boyfriend’s lips against your skin.

      When you returned from your trip, the news hit when you tried getting a hold of Isagi only to be met with radio silence. His parents sat you down to explain about Blue Lock, the elite training program for aspiring soccer prodigies. He didn’t have access to his phone, they explained, a strict rule enforced within the facility. The revelation wasn’t entirely shocking. Isagi had mentioned the program before you left, detailing how he’d received a mysterious invitation. You’d encouraged him to follow his dream, knowing how crushed he’d been after that gut-wrenching loss to Ryosuke Kira during the national qualifiers. Still, the realization that he was gone, unreachable, settled like a cold stone in your chest.

      You wanted to see him so badly, to share the souvenirs you’d thoughtfully picked out for him during your trip. When you arrived at his room, the air felt different, as though his absence had drained the space of its warmth. You stepped inside cautiously, your eyes scanning the familiar surroundings, and placed the small bag of keepsakes on his desk. That’s when your gaze landed on an open notebook.

      It was an accident, really—you hadn’t meant to invade his privacy. But there it was, your name scrawled across the page in his unmistakable handwriting. Curiosity tugged at you, and before you could stop yourself, you leaned closer to read.

      "Day one without Y/n :(. I didn’t realize just how much I’d miss her until now. There was no one at practice to cheer me on, no one to walk to the conbini with, no one to kiss my cheek. Ugh, this is kinda hard.”

      A soft chuckle escaped your lips, though it wavered with the faint ache of longing. The words were sweet, his tone so raw and unfiltered, and they warmed your heart. But you had no idea what deeper truths lay hidden further within those pages.

      If you had read back further, you would have uncovered things you wouldn’t like to see. Confessions of his confusion after your heartfelt confession. Isagi admitted he hadn’t been sure how he felt at first. How he wasn’t sure what love was supposed to feel like. How he felt a nagging sense of obligation, as if being with you was simply the logical choice—because how could he not? You were perfect in so many ways, and he couldn’t imagine letting you down. You already treat him so nicely. Isn't the purpose of a girlfriend to have someone who cares about him and likes him for who he is? Someone who supports his dreams? You already do that for him.

      It wasn’t until you left, until the days stretched into weeks at Blue Lock, that he began to understand. The ache of your absence sharpened his feelings into clarity. He missed you in ways he hadn’t known were possible. He missed the soft scent of your hair when you hugged him, the way your head fit perfectly in the crook of his neck, as if it was meant to be there. He missed the way you cheered for him with unbridled joy whenever he scored a goal, your voice cutting through the noise to remind him he wasn’t alone.

      And your smile, oh God, that radiant, heart-melting smile you gave him every time you saw him—it haunted him. He missed you so much it felt like a part of himself had been torn away, leaving a hollow, aching void. He regretted not giving you a proper goodbye. If he had known how much he would long for you, how deeply you’d become a part of him, he would have told you everything.

      But there’s no such thing as a proper goodbye because he didn’t want you to be away from him in the first place.

      It was then that he understood. You weren’t his girlfriend out of convenience or logic. You were his girlfriend because he loved you. Truly, deeply, irrevocably. Loving you was what made sense.

      Now, more than anything, he wished he could tell you. He wished he could look you in the eyes and say the words that had been etched into his heart all along. I love you.

      -

      "I'm not leaving here until I see my boyfriend!" you snapped, glaring at the sharp-tongued, bowl-cut freak standing in your way. His unimpressed expression only fueled your determination.

      "For the last time, no." Ego groaned, his tone dripping with exasperation. It was clear he found your persistence exhausting, but you refused to back down. Why wouldn’t he just let you see Isagi?

      "Anri-chan!" you called, spinning on your heels to face the only ally you had here. Anri was your cousin’s best friend, which worked to your advantage in moments like this. Her presence was a lifeline, a beacon of hope in this fortress of rules and restrictions.

      "Oh, come on, Ego! Just let her see him for a few hours!" Anri pleaded, her voice tinged with a mix of sympathy and frustration. She couldn't help but be moved by your desperate insistence. It reminded her of her own feelings towards a certain person. Turning back to the stubborn man, she added, "Think of it as a good morale boost! It might actually benefit the kid!"

      Ego’s eyes narrowed, and he crossed his arms, his patience wearing thin. "If I make an exception for her, then I’d have to do it for everyone. Blue Lock isn’t some—"

      Anri cut him off with an almost smug look, her voice dripping with a playful edge. "I hope you realize you're not going to win this. Nobody’s ego is worse than that of a determined, vindictive teenage girl."

      You didn’t miss the way Ego clenched his teeth, clearly annoyed by her remark. "Anri..." he growled, his voice low and warning. Yet she held his gaze firmly, an unspoken challenge hanging in the air between them.

      You raised an eyebrow, sensing some sort of sexual tension between the two. You shoved the thought aside; now wasn’t the time to dwell on their dynamic.

      Finally, with a long, begrudging sigh, Ego threw his hands up in defeat. "Fine. But only for a few hours."

      That was all you needed to hear. Relief flooded your body as you bolted down the hall, not even waiting for further instructions. You had no idea where you were going, but you didn’t care. You’d figure it out. Behind you, Anri called out in alarm, her footsteps echoing as she rushed to catch up with you.

      "Y/n! Wait!"

      Your heart pounded in your chest, a mix of excitement and nervous anticipation. It had been weeks—weeks without seeing him, without your boyfriend. You weren’t sure how much longer you could have endured the separation.

      You turned down another hallway, your eyes scanning desperately for any clue to his whereabouts. Finally, you noticed a row of doors with numbers etched on them.

      "Which one is it?" you asked, turning to Anri, breathless. She sighed but guided you to one of the rooms, muttering something about reckless teenagers under her breath.

      When the door opened, you were met with the sight of several boys, none of whom you recognized. But then your eyes found him, and everything else faded into the background.

      "Ichi!" you cried, your voice trembling with a mix of joy and relief. Without hesitation, you ran to him, your arms wrapping around him in a tight embrace.

      Isagi froze, his body stiff with shock as he tried to process what was happening. But then recognition dawned on his face, and a wide smile spread across his lips. He returned your embrace, his arms strong and warm around you, and before you knew it, he was spinning you around like a scene out of a romantic movie.

      "Y/n? What’s going on?" he asked, his voice filled with disbelief, though his grin betrayed how happy he was to see you.

      The room buzzed with curiosity. "Who’s this, Isagi?" a boy with dark hair and yellow highlights asked, his tone teasing.

      “My girlfrien—” Isagi didn’t get to finish his sentence before you cut him off with a kiss. You pulled back slightly, looking into Isagi’s familiar, bright blue eyes.

      "I missed you," you whispered, your voice shaky with emotion.

      “I love you.” He whispered, loud enough for only you to hear. It was like a weight was lifted off his chest, replaced with something warm and fuzzy. It felt good to get it out.

      And in that moment, nothing else mattered—not the curious stares of the boys, not Ego’s grumbling approval, not even Anri’s amused smirk from the doorway. You were finally here, with him, and that was all either of you needed. It just made sense.