#so thanks to her because now i realize look at us now and suspicious minds have a common theme? adsgdfhfgj

[dodgeballstuckonthegymceiling]

Huge thanks to hattiemagix for commissioning this!

Doey & motherly fem reader

★ When Doey first met the reader, he was immediately wary of her. Her kind nature was unfamiliar and he couldn't tell if it was an act or not, it made him suspicious. Even though he liked it when you were around he tried to keep his distance. Can you really blame him? He’s met a lot of people who’ve pretended to be nice, only for them to end up hurting him. 

★ Doey tested the reader's boundaries to see if her kindness was genuine. Slowly challenging her patience. "Let's see how long she can keep this up," he thought, observing her reactions closely. Shurely she would slip and show her true colors. 

★ Even though it was a tad annoying, you were still patient with him. You never raised your voice or showed anger, even when he was acting difficult. Whether it was explaining something for the hundredth time or dealing with his defensive attitude, you remained steadfast in your kindness. 

★ He started to realize that the reader genuinely cared for his well-being. Something he’s not at all used to. Doey never expected to meet someone, an ex-employee no less, who would try so hard to make him feel safe. He misses having someone to look after him, it's been so long, he almost forgot what it's like to be cared for. 

★ After that he quickly got used to you, your presence became a comfort. As the days in the factory slowly passed he grew even closer to you. Soon enough he started seeing you as an adoptive mother. But he decided to keep that to himself, for now at least, he wouldn't want to make you feel uncomfortable.  

★ If anything were to happen to you, he would be devastated. If you need to leave the Safe Haven, Doey becomes visibly anxious. He begins clinging to you, reluctant to let you go. He asks you to make a promise to stay safe and be careful. The thought of losing you fills him with dread."Promise me you'll be careful, okay? I need to know you'll come back safe” 

★ After defeating the Doctor and the Prototype you bring him, and many of the other toys, home with you. Because of course you had to bring Kissy, Poppy and those who called the Safe Haven home out of the factory where they were starving. 

★ Doey feels a mix of emotions—relief, uncertainty, and a bit of excitement—as he steps into the reader's home "This is... home?" he asks, looking at the various objects you have hung up and strewn about. “Of course” you declare, looking at him as he turns his head. Doey’s expression unreadable, “that is, If you want it to be.” you quickly add. 

★ And of course he stays with you! Where else would he go? He's so attached to you he couldn't imagine living anywhere else. By this point, it was clear as day that he needed you around. The way he beams when you compliment him or how he always lingers by you gave it away.

★ After spending the past 10 years in the abandoned shell of a factory, Doey is very eager to make up for lost time. He's really excited to try something new. You take the opportunity to teach him various domestic skills. His new favorite thing is baking with you!

★ He still has nightmares about the factory. When Doey wakes up from a nightmare he's immediately disoriented and filled with fear, the trauma of the factory still lingering in his mind. His breathing is heavy and a sense of panic is overwhelming him. His panicked cries always wake you up.  

★ You’re quick to comfort him, rushing to his side and hugging him close "It was just a bad dream. You're okay, and nothing can hurt you here." your gentle touch helped to ground him, "It's okay, Doey. I'm here. You're safe now." it's working, because now his cries have dissolved into a quieter whimper.

★ To help Doey calm down, the reader reaches for his favorite book, "The Adventures of Word Wizard." She knows how much the story means to him and starts reading aloud, her voice steady and comforting. As she continues, doey feels his eyelids grow heavy. 

★ Just before he falls asleep, Doey murmurs softly, "Goodnight, Mom." The reader smiles softly, her heart melting from Doey's words. For the rest of the night, he sleeps soundly, knowing he's safe and cared for.

[strangeracrossthestreet]

I swear Lenore's the biggest personification of Katy Perry's Hot N Cold song I've ever seen WHEEEZES

This isn't going to be very nice to Lenore, and in general the "remembering in pieces" mechanic, so just don't click read more if you don't want to see me tear into it thanks.

Like I know we all love to call Annabel a manipulator, and she is, but THIS MOMENT is kind of egregious as fuck to me.

The audacity to call her a monster (AND mad) to her face and then comfort her when she reacts badly over it

The audacity to look at her like this:

and then immediately after do this:

Why is she even saying "I don't know what I'd do with myself" if she's not supposed to remember that they were close?

But then why would she be acting like this if she DOES remember that they're close???

The worst thing is that it's so obvious how Lenore cares for the Misfits but when it comes to Annabel it feels cheap? Like it doesn't feel like there's any connection there other than "I remember I'm supposed to love you but do I actually?" rather than there being any genuine emotions involved. (Is that the point???)

WHERE is the delusion? The "Annabel must have surely had a reason—"

WHERE is the trust?

WHERE is the loyalty? <- truly my biggest gripe because Annabel is so fucking devoted I cannot let it go, I can't LMAO

WHERE is her not actually being as mad as she SHOULD be despite all of her misgivings and thus making Duke and Pluto suspicious as all hell?

Lenore has never ONCE given Annabel the benefit of the doubt and I understand that in the beginning when she knew nothing, but now? NOW? After THIS

Clear realization?

At some point I have to think that the flashbacks we're shown are not things they remember in canon unless we're explicitly shown them waking up to it because THIS

does not make sense otherwise.

Lenore WHY are you not losing your mind here? After saying that you're done with Annabel's whole game?

Go crazy go feral???

Annabel gave you the same reasoning, Lenore. Why are you tolerating this from him? You were manhandling Annabel and inches away from pulling a gun on her but now Duke has Annabel by the throat and halfway past a balcony railing and you're just TALKING?

Lenore tell me. Tell MEEEE!

Is it because Annabel treats it like a "game"? She's being playfully and giggly rather than being serious and "there's no other way" like Duke, even though she said THIS

before.

That's the worst part, really. Annabel has been VERY transparent the ENTIRE time and yet Lenore gets mad over her doing exactly what she said she'll do.

Conclusion to my rant:

What do they remember, what do they NOT remember? I don't know!

Annabel is devoted to the depths of hell even to her own detriment but is that because she remembers or because she's just Like That™?

Lenore is full of doubts and perpetual suspicions, and is willing to call her a monster to her face, but at the same time she sprouts "I don't know what I'll do without you." and jumps off balconies. Is that because she remembers or because she's just Like That™?

What is going ON

It's been a week, give or take, right? So they remember, what? 5 days worth of memories? Unless they remember much, much more than just a singular happening a night?

It feels inconsistent at best and utterly pointless at worst.

Just show us the flashbacks as an outside thing, it didn't have to be organically connected to their Nevermore storyline,,,,OR have them remember everything only when they first go Specre

[septembersghost]

had this very vivid dream that i was teaching a class on aurora (the djats soundtrack) and its 70s influences ("let me down easy is actually the most fleetwood mac inspired track") and was emphatically explaining "the power of the unsaid," and how the songs are about the characters without being too blatant or veering too much into the specificity needed for musical theatre, and i'm going like, "see, the point of 'it used to be easy, but it isn't, so' isn't the surface statement there that things once were easy between them, because we know that, we've already seen how they found a simpler place of communion to create as a team, the point is in the pause, and the, 'so...' because it's the unspoken emotion of how hard it's now become for them to be together, which is why it's momentous when they finally sing it live at the end and daisy has to carry it solo. 'how did we get here, how do we get out' takes on a new significance because she's the only one who can truly release them from this trap they've found themselves caught in, you might say she gives him permission to walk out..." like. what is wrong with my brain...

[thedensworld]

Illogical Project | C.Sc

Pairing: Ceo! Seungcheol x reader

Genre: fluff, humor, stranger to crush

Summary: It was just a project to get rid of a side chick, but Seungcheol fall. Deeply.

I was having so much fun writing this! Part 2 yall ask is here

Seungcheol didn’t have to do this. But he needed to do it. Logic flew right out the window the moment he’d typed your name into the company group website. Imagine his surprise when your profile popped up, revealing you were part of the marketing team—under his own label, no less.

The woman sneaking around with his cousin’s fiancé was one of his employees?

Seungcheol let out a dry laugh. Well, this just got interesting. It shouldn’t be too hard to get rid of you.

It has been two years since Jiyeon, his cousin, and Jeonghan got engaged. Their engagement had been more of a business deal than a love story. And although Jiyeon’s engagement to Jeonghan was supposed to be purely transactional, it had been a lifesaver for Seungcheol. Thanks to her, he no longer had to endure his grandfather’s endless nagging about getting married.

But then, yesterday happened.

“Jeonghan’s been cheating on me!” Jiyeon had wailed, storming into his office like a whirlwind. Seungcheol hadn’t thought much of it—Jiyeon tended to exaggerate. He’d been about to brush it off with some nonchalant comment until she hit him with: “I think I’m going to call off the engagement.”

Hold up. What?

That wasn’t part of the plan. Jiyeon couldn’t break off the engagement! Without it, Seungcheol’s peace and freedom would go down the drain. He’d be right back to enduring those endless blind dates set up by his grandfather. Dinners with girls whose names he’d forget before dessert even arrived. Absolutely not.

Which led him to this moment, finding you—Jeonghan’s secret girlfriend. His smirk widened. If cutting you out of the picture meant keeping Jiyeon on board, then so be it. He’d convince you to take your cheating ways elsewhere.

Who would’ve thought his biggest problem was one of his own subordinates?

If anyone could see him now—Seungcheol, the company CEO, scrolling through employee profiles like a suspicious boyfriend—it would be mortifying. But hey, desperate times called for desperate measures. And there was no way he was letting his hard-earned freedom slip away because of Jeonghan’s wandering eyes and your sneaky rendezvous.

*

"Mr. Choi has been acting strange lately," your manager said as she returned from his office, a puzzled look on her face.

"He’s refused every ad plan we’ve pitched to him. And now he’s specifically asked for you to handle it."

Your brows shot up in surprise as you pointed at yourself. “Me?”

“Yes, you. He wants you in his office in ten minutes—with the best idea you can bring to the table.”

“Wait, ten minutes?!” You shot up from your chair, scrambling to find the folder you always kept at your desk. Panic set in as you grabbed your iPad—your lifeline filled with every concept, draft, and half-baked idea you’d ever had. “Why are you just telling me this now?”

Ms. Shin shrugged nonchalantly, already turning her attention back to her own tasks. “It slipped my mind. Good luck!”

You let out a frustrated sigh. Typical Ms. Shin. She was a perpetual headache wrapped up in business casual attire. Just yesterday, she’d dumped her entire presentation prep on you, claiming she was “too busy” to handle it herself. Never mind the fact that you were the one who’d developed almost every campaign concept the department had used for the past two years.

But still, you remained a shadow. Despite your efforts, you were practically invisible in the department—overworked and unnoticed.

As you rushed to the elevator, the thought crossed your mind: Why did Mr. Choi want to see you now?

Was he starting to see through Ms. Shin’s facade and realize where the real work was coming from? Your heart raced with a mix of excitement and anxiety. This could either be a breakthrough… or a complete disaster.

Jeonghan used to tell you a lot about Seungcheol, his college friend. From what you’d heard, Seungcheol was the embodiment of professionalism. He wouldn’t judge you for staying in the shadows to support your boss all these years, but that didn’t make him any less intimidating. The truth was, you didn’t know him well enough to understand what went on in his mind.

To you, Mr. Choi was just your boss’s boss—the executive you occasionally spotted from a distance as he strode through the office with that air of authority and responsibility. He was the face of Heidos Food, a man who commanded respect and led by example. His dedication and work ethic were part of the reason you’d decided to join this label among the Heidos Group’s many subsidiaries.

Taking a deep breath, you managed a smile at his secretary. “Mr. Choi is expecting me,” you said, trying to keep your voice steady.

The secretary gave a curt nod and led you to the door. You couldn’t help but feel small as you stood before it, staring at the imposing wood panel. The secretary knocked gently and stepped aside, motioning for you to enter.

This was it—your first time stepping into the office of the man who practically ran the entire division.

Your heart pounded wildly in your chest as you took a deep breath and stepped inside.

What could he possibly want from me?

"It was disappointing, Ms. Ji."

Your heart sank as Mr. Choi’s voice sliced through the silence after you wrapped up the impromptu presentation.

“I don’t see your idea being as innovative as I expected. The format feels repetitive—similar to every program the marketing department has produced over the past few years.”

You bit your tongue, resisting the urge to argue. How could you not? Internally, you were screaming. Of course, everything looked the same—they were all your ideas! Yet, it wasn’t like you could point that out to him.

Instead, you forced yourself to respond with a calm, “I’m sorry, sir.”

Mr. Choi tapped his pen thoughtfully against the desk, his gaze never leaving your face. “But,” he continued slowly, “it does have potential. It just needs a bit more… observation and refinement. Do you think you can handle this project, Ms. Ji? It’s rather risky.”

His question caught you off guard. Risky? Since when did Mr. Choi—who typically preferred playing it safe—assign risky projects to subordinates? Still, you couldn’t let this opportunity slip away.

“I’m confident I can handle it, sir. If you trust me, I’ll deliver.”

A faint smile tugged at the corners of his lips as he nodded. “Good. In that case, pack some clothes. We’re going to Singapore for a seminar tomorrow.”

What?!

You blinked at him, stunned. Singapore? Tomorrow? You hadn’t even processed what just happened before he dismissed you, turning his attention back to his paperwork as if he hadn’t just dropped a bomb on you.

*

Seungcheol had no idea where your confidence came from. He’d incidentally overheard your phone conversation with Jeonghan earlier, and it was all sweet and annoyingly romantic.

Alright, maybe it wasn’t exactly accidental. Maybe he intentionally eavesdropped—just a little—but who could blame him? He couldn’t believe how bold you were to have such an intimate call with Jeonghan right in front of him.

So, people are right when they say love is thrilling when you’re playing with fire, he mused, his annoyance growing.

"You should pay attention to her more," he heard you say, your voice dropping to a softer tone that made Seungcheol’s scowl deepen.

Then you added, with a laugh that sounded entirely too carefree, "You’re right, I’m the better companion."

He felt his jaw clench involuntarily. Companion, huh? The nerve of you—being all cozy with Jeonghan right under his nose. He was already irritated by this whole situation, but now he had to endure your lovey-dovey chatter too?

“Alright, I gotta go. Bye... Have a nice day!” you finished, your voice as sweet as honey.

The moment you hung up, Seungcheol snapped himself into a more composed posture, acting as if he hadn’t just been caught leaning against the wall, listening like a gossip. He made a show of dropping himself onto the couch in front of you.

To his further irritation, you looked up with an even brighter smile.

“What should I do today, sir?” you asked, voice cheerful and professional, as if you hadn’t just been caught cooing over the phone.

Seungcheol had to think. There was really nothing too strenuous on the agenda for you today, but a part of him—call it the vindictive part—wanted to see you squirm, especially after witnessing your little show of affection for Jeonghan.

“Take notes on everything,” he ordered, watching your expression closely. “Mingle with everyone. Join every discussion. Since I’ll be attending a separate meeting, make sure you don’t make a fool out of our company. Got it?”

You nodded and jotted everything down like the diligent employee you were. “Okay, noted, sir.”

Seungcheol let out a sigh, not quite satisfied with the reaction—or lack thereof. “Can I trust you with this?”

Your smile remained unwavering as you met his gaze. “Don’t worry, sir. I’ll let you know if I need anything.”

Something about your calm composure only made him want to push you further.

How could you be this unbothered?

On the last day of the seminar, Seungcheol could hardly believe it when his company was presented with an award of appreciation—all thanks to your hard work over the past few days. He had known you were good, but he hadn’t expected you to exceed everyone’s expectations this much.

But what truly grated on his nerves was the way people kept talking about you: “That woman with brains, bravery, and beauty,” they said, almost in awe.

Is this a business seminar or some kind of beauty pageant? he grumbled internally, irritated by how many times he’d heard those words. Every time someone praised your creativity and wit, it felt like another jab. Yet, even he couldn’t deny you deserved the recognition. The achievement might have been unexpected, but it wasn’t entirely surprising.

Now, he found himself sitting at a high-end restaurant for lunch, just hours before their flight back to South Korea. You sat stiffly across from him, clearly uncomfortable. After refusing his invitation five times and trying to hitch a ride to the airport with his secretary instead, here you were—reluctantly.

“You can choose whatever you’d like, Ms. Ji. You’ve earned it,” Seungcheol said, not looking up from his menu as he spoke.

You mumbled a polite acknowledgment, your gaze glued to the menu. Seungcheol raised his hand to call the waitress over and glanced at you, waiting for your order. His eyes widened in surprise when you rattled off your request in perfect, fluent Malay.

“Wait—you can speak the language?” he asked, caught off guard.

You nodded casually. “Yes, I studied and graduated here.”

“Hmm,” Seungcheol murmured thoughtfully. He tapped his fingers against the table, considering your response. “With that kind of portfolio, you could easily settle into a bigger company. Why stay at Heidos Food?”

To his surprise, you shook your head, rejecting the notion. “No, Heidos Food is the perfect fit for me.”

Seungcheol raised a brow. He couldn’t tell if you were just being polite or genuinely meant it. “And why is that?”

You paused, looking a little hesitant before speaking. “Five years ago, I had just graduated, and I attended the company’s anniversary event with someone I knew. I saw your speech there—it was incredible. It motivated me to become a part of Heidos Foods. I applied several times, went through multiple interviews, and finally got my position three years ago.”

Seungcheol didn’t like the way your story painted him as an integral figure in your career choice. He didn’t want to think he was that important. And yet, there was no denying that something about the way you spoke made him pause. He found himself strangely flattered—and maybe a little more intrigued than he wanted to admit.

He glanced away, clearing his throat. Stop it, Seungcheol. She’s not special.

But the thought wouldn’t leave him. He kept stealing glances at you, wondering how he had overlooked these little details about you. Maybe there really was something to what everyone kept saying: brains, bravery, and beauty—all rolled into one package.

No, he told himself sternly. Focus.

Slowly, Seungcheol found himself losing sight of his initial motive for getting to know you better—the desire to uncover the truth behind your connection with Jeonghan. As he spent more time with you, your charm and intelligence began to weave a spell around him, shifting his focus from suspicion to genuine curiosity.

The more he learned about you, the more he realized how difficult it was to see you as just a subordinate or a rival in Jeonghan’s affections.

He hadn’t planned on feeling this way, and it unsettled him. What started as a calculated move to monitor your interactions had transformed into something entirely different.

Seungcheol caught himself daydreaming about your conversations, replaying moments that made him smile. He was drawn to you in ways he hadn’t expected, and that realization left him both exhilarated and confused.

As his initial purpose faded into the background, a new question took root in his mind: What if getting close to you had become the most intriguing project of all?

*

“Can you send Ms. Ji to my office after this? There’s something I need to discuss with her.”

“I’m sorry, sir, but she just left the building a few minutes ago due to personal business. She didn’t provide any details.”

Seungcheol nodded in frustration as Ms. Shin, your manager, wrapped up her paperwork. It had been two weeks since the two of you returned from the business trip, and he still found himself at a crossroads. He was working diligently to create a void that would justify getting rid of you, especially concerning your relationship with Jeonghan.

Alright, if he could be honest; he didn’t want to lose a gem like you from the company. The idea of you being Jeonghan’s “side chick” was almost infuriating, especially given your intelligence and undeniable beauty.

Yeah, Seungcheol couldn’t deny that your beauty truly shone when you were focused on your work, and he found it charming every time he handed you a new challenge.

Suddenly, his phone buzzed with a call from Jiyeon, his cousin. He picked it up, immediately greeted by her sobs.

“What’s wrong? What happened?” he asked, his protective instincts kicking in.

“Jeonghan…” Jiyeon cried, her voice trembling as she choked out his name.

“What did that bastard do now?”

There was no immediate response, just the sound of her muffled cries. Then, through the tears, Seungcheol finally heard her say, “He had a car accident after we fought. He’s in the hospital now.”

Within moments, Seungcheol found himself standing outside the operating room with Jiyeon by his side. To his surprise, he spotted you sitting quietly in a corner, clearly distressed. So here you were, the “personal business” Ms. Shin had mentioned.

“Let’s get you something to drink,” he said gently, placing a reassuring hand on Jiyeon’s shoulder and guiding her away from the waiting area. He handed her a can of soda as they sat down together.

“We fought on the phone,” Jiyeon explained, her voice still shaky. “I mentioned his side chick, and he denied it. He said he had no one besides me. I didn’t believe him, and then he said he would explain everything when he came to my office, but he got into a car accident.”

Seungcheol nodded, processing her words. “Y/N was there,” he said, gesturing toward you in the corner. “Y/N. She’s the one Jeonghan was supposedly seeing,” he added, his voice laced with confusion.

Jiyeon’s brow furrowed in frustration as she shook her head. “No, they are siblings. They have the same mother,” she sobbed, her voice breaking under the weight of her emotions.

Seungcheol’s eyes widened in disbelief. “What? They’re siblings?”

“Yes,” Jiyeon replied, her expression a mixture of sadness and relief. “That explains everything. I thought he was cheating on me, but it turns out he was just trying to protect her.”

The weight of this shocking revelation shifted the tension in the room, leaving both of them momentarily speechless. Seungcheol leaned back against the wall, trying to digest the news.

Jiyeon wiped her tears, glancing toward you again. “I need to talk to her,” she said, determination filling her voice. “She deserves an explanation.”

Seungcheol nodded in agreement, feeling a sense of relief wash over him. Maybe this would clear the air and mend the rift between you.

*

"Has she done this a lot to you?" Seungcheol heard your voice coming from inside the room as he and Jiyeon were about to enter. Both of them paused instinctively, hovering just outside the door.

"She accused you of cheating. She put you in this situation!" Your tone was laced with a rage Seungcheol had never heard from you before. There was an intensity, a fierceness in your voice that was completely unfamiliar to him.

"I could’ve lost you…”

Jeonghan’s voice was soft, barely audible, as if trying to calm you down. “I’m fine, Y/N. I promise. It’s not her fault.”

Jiyeon, who had been poised to enter the room, suddenly froze, her eyes widening in realization. She glanced at Seungcheol, and he could see the confusion and guilt reflecting in her gaze. Before she could turn away, you stepped out of the room, your eyes red and swollen. The sight of Seungcheol and Jiyeon standing there, having clearly overheard the conversation, caught you off guard, but you quickly composed yourself.

You cleared your throat and walked past them with your head held high, your expression a perfect mask of indifference, as if you didn’t realize—or perhaps didn’t care—that they’d been listening in.

Seungcheol watched you go, his mind spinning. He couldn’t help but be reminded of the college days when he and Jeonghan had shared a dorm room. As the only Korean students on campus, they naturally gravitated toward each other. He recalled Jeonghan often mentioning his younger sister—a sibling from the same mother who was in middle school at the time. Seungcheol had never met her, but from Jeonghan’s stories, it was clear how much he treasured her.

"I get a headache every time she doesn’t pick up my call!" Jeonghan would grumble late at night, throwing his phone down in frustration. “She’s so stubborn, but she’s all I’ve got.”

And now, it all clicked into place. The sister Jeonghan had spoken of so fondly, the one he worried about constantly, was you. You, the woman who had captivated his attention with your intelligence and charm, were Jeonghan’s sister. Someone who had been right under his nose this entire time.

*

The hum of the office printer was the only sound in the room as you carefully gathered the documents you needed to submit. Steeling yourself, you walked to Seungcheol’s office and knocked gently before stepping inside.

Seungcheol glanced up from his computer when he heard the door open. The usual lighthearted banter that had developed between the two of you was noticeably absent as you approached his desk and placed the file in front of him.

“Here’s the proposal, sir. It needs your signature,” you said softly, keeping your eyes on the document and not on him.

Seungcheol picked up the pen, his gaze shifting between the file and your calm, composed demeanor. After scribbling his signature on the dotted line, he cleared his throat, an awkward tension hanging between you two.

“Is… Jeonghan doing better?” Seungcheol asked cautiously, trying to keep the conversation going.

“Yes,” you replied, your voice finally holding a hint of warmth. “He’s recovering well. The doctors said he’ll be discharged tomorrow.”

Seungcheol nodded, a small wave of relief washing over him. “That’s good to hear. I’m glad he’s getting better. If you need more time off, just let me know. I know you’ve been the one taking care of him.”

You shook your head gently. “No, thank you. There’s already an assigned nurse for him. I’ll be back to work as usual.”

The air between you two was thick with unspoken words and awkwardness. Seungcheol felt the weight of everything he had said and done, of the suspicion that had once tainted every interaction he’d had with you. He knew it was his fault the dynamic between you had shifted so drastically, and now, he was fumbling, unsure of how to bridge the gap he had created.

“I—” Seungcheol hesitated, his usual poise and confidence faltering. “I know I messed up… and I don’t blame you if things don’t go back to the way they were. I just… I miss the way we used to work together, the way we used to talk.”

You blinked, taken aback by his admission. But even then, you didn’t respond with the same enthusiasm you used to. Instead, you offered him a small, understanding smile.

“Thank you for understanding, sir,” was all you said before you excused yourself and walked out of his office.

Seungcheol watched you go, the emptiness in his chest expanding. He had been wrong—terribly, embarrassingly wrong—and now he was paying the price for his foolish assumptions. He had shattered the easy camaraderie that once existed between you, and now, he was left with the cold, polite exchanges that felt more like a punishment than anything else.

You were here, right in front of him, but you felt more distant than ever.

*

You knew exactly what had been happening to you, but you tried to deny it until it finally affected you like it did today. Ms. Shin had already lectured you with words you never imagined she would use, all because of a rare moment of clumsiness that you didn’t even see coming. You had too much on your plate, and the project Mr. Choi had assigned to you was nearing its deadline. In the midst of it all, you accidentally forgot to send an anniversary message to one of your most loyal clients, and Ms. Shin had to do damage control.

“They were very offended, Y/N,” Ms. Shin snapped, her voice carrying throughout the office as she reprimanded you in front of everyone. You stood there, hands clasped in front of you, listening to her and internally cursing yourself for letting things slip, all because you couldn’t get Mr. Choi’s words out of your mind.

“I miss the way we used to work together.”

“I miss—”

“I’ll be reporting this to HR. I can’t handle this kind of negligence anymore.” Ms. Shin concluded sharply, her words reverberating through the office. A collective gasp came from your colleagues, who were too stunned to react.

Later that day, you found yourself sitting in the HR director’s office, replaying Ms. Shin’s words in your mind. You expected another round of the same scolding, but what came next blindsided you completely.

“We’ve received reports about you neglecting your responsibilities over the past three months, and unfortunately, we can’t tolerate this any longer. Please clear your desk before the workday ends,” the HR director said, his tone dismissive.

“What?” The shock was apparent on your face. No warning letter, no opportunity to explain—just an immediate termination.

“You’re firing me?” you whispered, still in disbelief.

“Effective immediately.” His tone was final, and there was no room for negotiation. You were jobless. Just like that.

You felt a scream building up inside you, a storm of emotions you didn’t know how to release. Anger, frustration, betrayal—every word they’d said felt unfair, and you were powerless to fight it. Who were you to contest it? Just another employee, replaceable, forgotten.

By the time you made it home, Jeonghan was the first to greet you, his face lighting up in surprise. “You’re home early?” he chirped, clearly not expecting you at this hour. Ever since he was discharged from the hospital, he had been staying at your place, recovering until he could get around without any help.

His smile quickly faded when he noticed the cardboard box in your hands. His expression crumpled with worry as you dropped the box onto the table with a heavy thud. “Are you��� fired?” Jeonghan asked hesitantly, as if he couldn’t believe his own words.

You nodded, letting out a bitter laugh. “Yeah, they fired me. Fuck Heidos. I’m going to start my own advertising company!”

Jeonghan blinked, caught off guard by your outburst. “Alright, slow down. I appreciate the enthusiasm, but what happened?” he asked, concern lacing his tone.

You shrugged, collapsing onto the couch in exhaustion. The last thing you wanted was to relive today’s events by recounting them to your brother. You just wanted to forget.

“Does Seungcheol know about this?” Jeonghan pressed on, not noticing how drained you were. “He told me you were handling a project together. Was this his decision?”

“Do you need a marketing staff?” you deflected, throwing the question back at him, trying to steer the conversation away.

“No, I don’t. But if you’re interested, I can make some room for you.”

You shook your head immediately. The last thing you wanted was to work for your brother’s company out of pity or nepotism. It wasn’t like you hadn’t considered it before, but joining his business now would feel like a defeat.

“I told you, you could’ve joined my company from the start,” Jeonghan murmured softly, his tone far gentler than before. “The Heidos you were so proud of has finally turned its back on you, huh?”

You groaned and stood up abruptly, your heavy steps echoing through the small living room as you stormed off to your bedroom. You slammed the door behind you, cutting off whatever else Jeonghan had to say.

“Yeah, Heidos finally threw me out,” you muttered bitterly to yourself as you leaned against the door. The company you had dreamed of working for, the place you’d given your blood, sweat, and tears for over the years—had thrown you out without so much as a second thought.

You took a deep breath, but it didn’t ease the tightness in your chest. This was the company you had stayed up nights for, the one you’d gone above and beyond for every single day. You’d fought your way in, made a name for yourself, only to be discarded like you were nothing.

And all you could think about was how everything had spiraled ever since that conversation with Seungcheol. How his simple words had shaken your confidence, distracted you, and caused this downward spiral.

But the worst part?

You still cared what he thought.

You sat on the edge of your bed, staring blankly at the wall as Jeonghan's words replayed in your mind, taunting you.

Heidos finally turned its back on you.

Was that it, though? Was it really the company you were angry with? Or was there something more?

Your gaze dropped to the floor as a bitter realization crept in. Were you really interested in Heidos all along? Or was it Mr. Choi?

You closed your eyes and let out a slow breath, your thoughts drifting back to the first time you saw him in person. It was during Heidos’s anniversary gala, a grand event that showcased the company's milestones.

But there he was—Choi Seungcheol, the CEO’s son, standing on the grand stage, delivering a speech with the kind of charisma that made everyone hang on to his every word. He talked about vision, about passion, about how Heidos wasn’t just a business—it was a dream they all built together.

You remembered the way his eyes scanned the room as if acknowledging everyone’s efforts personally, his voice carrying conviction and authority. He seemed approachable yet untouchable at the same time. There was a spark in him that drew you in, like a flame you couldn’t help but be mesmerized by, even if it meant risking getting burned.

When he mentioned the value of individual contributions, you couldn’t help but imagine yourself as one of those valued employees he spoke of. That night, you had felt an overwhelming sense of pride, a hope that you, too, could be part of something bigger. Part of his vision. It made you work harder, push through every obstacle, and make a name for yourself in the company.

But what if, beneath all those aspirations, it was his approval you were really after?

Had it always been about earning a place at Heidos, or had it been about being acknowledged by him? Did your heart race because of the accomplishments, or was it because of the fleeting interactions you had with him?

You tried to shake off the thoughts, but the memories kept flooding back.

There was the time he complimented your work during a company meeting, the way he’d asked for your opinion during a discussion, and, of course, the project where you saw a different side of him—where he was more than just the stern, high-and-mighty executive everyone knew him as.

"I miss the way we used to work together."

His words echoed in your mind, laced with regret and something you couldn’t quite place. Had you let those words affect you more than they should have? Had you crossed a line somewhere between professionalism and personal admiration?

You huffed out a breath and rubbed your face with your hands. It was hard to admit, but maybe you were chasing after more than just a career.

Maybe it was a person.

“Are you really that naive?” you muttered to yourself, almost laughing at how pathetic it sounded. “You got yourself fired because you couldn’t get over a few words from Choi Seungcheol. Great job, Y/N.”

What had you been thinking? That you meant something more to him? That the way he looked at you was anything other than superficial interest? Maybe you’d been reading into things too much, letting your emotions cloud your judgment.

After all, the way he’d treated you—suspicious, distrustful, wary—it all pointed to how little he thought of you. You were a pawn in his game of protecting Jiyeon. The only reason he ever looked your way was because he thought you were a threat.

And yet… you wanted to believe there had been something more. Something genuine. But now, everything felt tainted.

Because if Heidos was no longer an option, then you’d just have to prove to yourself that you could rise even without the company’s name backing you up.

But first, you’d have to figure out a way to keep your heart in check—especially when it came to him.

“Forget it, Y/N,” you whispered to yourself, staring at your reflection in the bedroom mirror. “Forget about Choi Seungcheol. He was never part of your plan, anyway.”

*

It was his first day back in the office after a week-long business trip, and Seungcheol finally had a chance to sit down and get back into his routine. His secretary entered the room with his usual coffee, already prepared with a list of updates and meetings for the day. He rattled them off efficiently, detailing every appointment and task Seungcheol needed to be aware of.

“I want to know the update on the project Ms. Ji is handling,” Seungcheol said, glancing at the folder in front of him, half-expecting to see her familiar name.

There was a brief pause, and when his secretary responded, the answer was something Seungcheol never anticipated.

“She’s no longer part of our staff, sir.”

Seungcheol frowned, a flicker of confusion crossing his features. “What do you mean?” he asked, the question carrying a sharp edge.

“She was terminated a week ago due to negligence in fulfilling her responsibilities,” the secretary explained carefully. “The report came from Ms. Shin, and HR approved it immediately.”

Seungcheol’s scowl deepened, the irritation evident in the tightening of his jaw. He leaned back in his chair, processing the information. “Ms. Ji was managing a critical project with me,” he said, his voice lowering. “Her status required my approval. How is it possible I wasn’t informed about this?”

His secretary’s shoulders tensed, and he hesitated before replying, “I’m terribly sorry, sir. You were occupied with meetings and engagements throughout the week, and I only received the details two days ago myself.”

“Busy or not, I should have been notified immediately.” Seungcheol’s voice was dangerously calm. He glanced at the stack of files on his desk, his mind already racing to piece together what could’ve gone wrong. “I want Ms. Shin and Mr. Kim from HR in my office—now.”

“Yes, sir,” the secretary replied quickly, bowing slightly before leaving the room to carry out Seungcheol’s orders.

Seungcheol’s gaze shifted to the half-empty coffee cup, his thoughts a blur of anger and disbelief. Fired? For negligence? That didn’t add up. He knew you weren't perfect, but you were dedicated and thorough. You had handled complex projects before, and while you had your flaws, negligence was never one of them.

Something wasn’t right.

The door opened again a few minutes later, and Ms. Shin walked in, followed closely by Mr. Kim. Both looked apprehensive, likely sensing the storm brewing from the tension in the air.

“Explain,” Seungcheol said without preamble, his eyes fixed on Ms. Shin. “Why was Ms. Ji terminated, and why was I not informed?”

Ms. Shin cleared her throat, meeting his gaze with a strained smile. “Sir, there were multiple instances where Ms. Ji failed to meet her deadlines and deliverables, which impacted the team’s performance. I reported this to HR, and after reviewing her recent performance records, they decided to let her go.”

“And whose idea was it to keep this from me?” Seungcheol’s voice was low and dangerous.

“We didn’t intend to keep it from you, sir,” Mr. Kim interjected cautiously.

“The decision was made quickly due to the urgency of the situation. Given that you were away and Ms. Shin was the acting supervisor for that period, we thought it best to handle it internally until we could brief you properly.”

Seungcheol’s gaze shifted between the two of them, his displeasure evident. “I don’t appreciate decisions being made without my knowledge, especially when it concerns a project directly under my supervision. Do I make myself clear?”

“Yes, sir,” they both answered in unison, looking visibly uncomfortable.

“Ms. Ji was fired without a formal warning or disciplinary review?” Seungcheol continued, his voice hardening. “Was she given no chance to explain herself or defend her performance?”

Ms. Shin shifted uneasily, a flicker of annoyance crossing her face. “Sir, she had been making several mistakes, and her focus seemed to be elsewhere. It was affecting her work quality. We couldn’t afford to let it slide any longer.”

“Was this decision truly about her work, or something else?” Seungcheol pressed, his gaze narrowing. “Because from what I’ve seen, she was one of the most consistent performers on the team. I want a full report on the matter by the end of today.”

“Yes, sir,” Mr. Kim replied quickly, while Ms. Shin’s jaw tightened, her frustration barely masked.

“Dismissed,” Seungcheol said curtly, waving them out of his office.

*

You practically jumped out of your bed when you saw an incoming call from Mr. Choi flash across your phone screen. Heart racing, you scrambled to sit up straight before answering.

“I’m outside your place.”

What?

You blinked, staring at yourself in the mirror in disbelief. Just moments ago, you had been in a post-drama-marathon daze, slouched in bed after indulging in a series binge you could never afford the time for before. And now, the very man who occupied your thoughts far more than he should—the Choi Seungcheol—was calling to announce that he was outside your apartment?

“Uh—can you give me ten minutes? I’m not exactly looking presentable at the moment,” you stammered, glancing down at your wrinkled pajamas and messy hair. Your reflection screamed “I-just-woke-up” and “don’t-look-at-me”.

“I—what I mean is!” You quickly corrected yourself, flustered. “I just woke up, so I might look a little… disgusting.”

The last word fell out awkwardly, and you cringed inwardly. Of all the words you could’ve chosen…

“Take your time, Ms. Ji.” His voice was calm, almost amused. You heard the call click off, leaving you in stunned silence.

Oh God, what was he doing here?

You dashed into the bathroom, brushing your teeth and washing your face in record time. The face staring back at you looked different now—the long hair you used to style meticulously was gone, impulsively cut to shoulder length last week in a fit of frustration and exhaustion. You sighed and brushed it diligently, making it look as presentable as possible. Changing out of your pajamas into something more decent—a casual blouse and jeans—you took a deep breath before heading outside.

Stepping out of your building, you spotted his sleek car parked along the road, and there he was—slipping out of the driver’s seat, looking effortlessly handsome despite the casualness of his attire. His usual sharp suit was gone, replaced by a simple white dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up. Even without the formal suit jacket, his presence seemed to dominate the entire street. You couldn’t help but stare for a moment, struggling to reconcile this man’s unexpected appearance outside your home with the same person you admired from afar at work.

Focus, Y/N.

“How are you?” Seungcheol asked, his gaze soft as it met yours.

You couldn’t bring yourself to answer verbally, so you just nodded stiffly, offering a tight smile. The truth was, you weren’t okay—not even close. And a part of you wanted him to understand that without you having to spell it out. But another part of you was wary, unsure how much he even knew or cared about what happened.

“I just found out about your termination this morning,” he began, and you blinked in surprise. You hadn’t expected this to be the topic of conversation. “I’m so sorry.”

You stood there, rooted in place as you stared at him. What was going on?

“I shouldn’t have let Ms. Shin handle things like that,” he continued, voice low, the frustration evident in his tone. “I knew she’s been trying to drag you down all this time. I knew you were the one carrying the department, handling all the toughest projects… That’s why I’m sorry.”

The Choi Seungcheol, the man who exuded confidence and charisma at every turn, now looked uncharacteristically small and uncertain standing before you. The apology caught you off guard. You had prepared yourself for cold professionalism, or maybe even indifference. But not this.

“I won’t force you to come back to the company,” he said gently. “That’s entirely your choice.”

He paused, looking as if he was weighing his next words carefully, then took a deep breath. “But I don’t want to lose the chance to tell you…”

Your heart thumped loudly in your chest as his eyes locked onto yours, the intensity in his gaze making it hard to breathe.

“I might like you,” he confessed, his voice almost a whisper. “Romantically.”

What?!

The world seemed to freeze around you as you stared at him, your mind racing to process his words. Seungcheol… liked you? The very same Choi Seungcheol who spent years being distant and impossible to read? He liked you, romantically? This couldn’t be real.

“I—I don’t know when it happened,” he continued, his expression a mixture of vulnerability and resolve. “But somewhere along the way, I realized I was looking forward to seeing you every day. You were more than just a competent employee; you were someone I admired. And then… I started to miss you.”

The sincerity in his words left you speechless. You glanced down, unable to meet his gaze as you tried to figure out what to say. Was it possible that you hadn’t just admired him from afar but had harbored deeper feelings too?

“I understand if this is too much for you right now,” he said softly, stepping back as if to give you space. “I just needed you to know… I’m sorry for everything. I’m sorry I wasn’t there when I should’ve been. And I’m sorry that you had to go through all of this because of me.”

His voice was gentle, and for a moment, the street around you seemed to blur, leaving just the two of you standing there, suspended in this unexpected moment.

What could you possibly say? Words failed you, so you did the only thing you could—you nodded, acknowledging his apology and his confession, still unsure if you were dreaming or awake.

“Thank you… for telling me,” you managed to say quietly.

Things could never go back to the way they used to be.

[maretinelli]

Could you write Ollie x reader where they have mutual friends and they all say they would make a perfect match without them even knowing each other until they finally go on a first blind date and now they understand why everyone said that

If you write it, thank you so much!!

BLIND DATE

Ollie Bearman X fem!reader

Summary: Y/n and Ollie have mutual friends but never met. Tired of their constant missed chances, the group decides to organize a blind date to finally bring them together. Reluctantly, they agree to the idea, but by the end of the date, they realize exactly why their friends were so eager to match them.

Words: 6.9K+

Warnings: Nothing too exaggerated, just blind dates, nosy friends, couples getting along well and romance.

Author: English is not my first language, I apologize if there are any spelling or writing mistakes in the story. So, this is my first time writing a requested story, I hope it meets your wishes.🥹🥹

Friends who are romantically paired:

Kimberly X Tobias

Jeni X Peter

MASTERLIST

The group consists of six people: Tobias and Peter, Ollie's longtime friends, who are dating Kimberly and Jeni, Y/n Clarke's college classmates. Despite this, Ollie and Y/n never met, neither in person nor in a photo. Whenever the group organized an outing, one of the two had a commitment, making it impossible to meet.

Kimberly and Jeni, who are both accounting students with Y/n, often joked that she and Oliver would be the perfect couple to round out the group into three pairs. Whenever they brought it up, Y/n would laugh it off, not really paying it any mind. She didn't know Oliver, and to be honest, she couldn't even imagine why her friends were so insistent about it.

Furthermore, Y/n was completely unaware that the Oliver character was actually Ollie Bearman, a Formula 1 driver. This was because he was widely known by the nickname Ollie, and his closest friends called him by his full name, Oliver. Y/n tried searching for 'Oliver' on Instagram several times, but never found anyone who seemed to belong to the group.

The library was in its usual rhythm, with students concentrating and the soft sound of pages being turned or fingers typing on keyboards. Y/n was sitting at her favorite table, near a window that let the sunlight illuminate her corner filled with papers, books and notebooks.

She scribbled formulas quickly in an open notebook, her eyes darting back and forth between her notes, library books, and her computer.

Kimberly and Jeni appeared soon after, smiles plastered on their faces. Kimberly, her voluminous curls bouncing with each step, sat in the chair across from Y/n, while Jeni, tall and elegant as always, sat next to her friend.

"Hi, Y/n! How are you today?" Kimberly began, her voice too excited to be casual.

"And what wonderful weather outside, don't you think?" Jeni added, resting her chin on one hand, while her eyes sparkled with obvious amusement.

Y/n looked up briefly and frowned suspiciously. "You guys always look like that when you're up to something... What now?"

Kimberly gave an innocent smile as she took her materials out of her backpack. "That's absurd! We're not planning anything. We just came to study, like you asked us to."

Jeni laughed and also began to organize her books on the table. "Exactly! No conspiracies today, we promise."

"I know..." Y/n replied, letting out a light laugh before returning to her notes. Even though she was suspicious, she decided not to insist.

The three of them began to study, immersed in numbers and accounting theories. But, as always, the silence between them did not last long. Kimberly broke their concentration by commenting.

"Oh, did you know that Tobias said yesterday that Oliver is getting more and more curious about you?"

Y/n paused her writing and raised her eyebrow, confused. "What? Why would he be curious about me if we've never even met?"

Jeni smirked and casually commented, "Well, maybe it's because Peter and I mentioned how cute you two would look together."

Y/n let out a short, incredulous laugh, leaning back in her chair. "You guys are really thinking about this idea, you know? I don't even know this Oliver guy. We've never met in person, and you never show me a picture of him! I'm thinking this 'Oliver' guy is just an old legend of the group."

Kimberly laughed and shook her head.

"He's not a legend, Clarke. He's very real, and the four of us—me, Jeni, Tobias, and Peter—we've been talking recently about how great it would be for you two to finally meet."

Y/n raised an eyebrow again, now more intrigued. "Finally the whole group is going out together, then? I'm finally going to meet this 'Oliver'!"

But Kimberly exchanged a knowing look with Jeni and replied, "Not exactly..."

"What do you mean, 'not exactly'?" Y/n asked, picking up her water bottle to take a sip.

Jeni smiled, biting her lip slightly to hold back her laughter, and explained, "Tobias and Peter had an even better idea... They suggested that you two go on a blind date. Just you and Oliver. It would be much more exciting that way."

Before Y/n could process it, she ended up choking on the water she was drinking. Jeni, alarmed, walked around the table and lightly patted her friend on the back while Kimberly laughed softly.

"Calm down, breathe!" Jeni said, worried, while Y/n coughed, trying to recover.

Once she was able to breathe normally, Y/n looked at the two of them in horror. "You must be crazy! A blind date? With someone I've never met? That's completely insane!"

Kimberly shrugged with a mischievous smile. "It may sound insane now, but trust us, it'll be perfect. Tobias and Peter are already taking care of everything."

Y/n shook her head, going back to writing in her notes. "No, no, and no. Negative!"

Kimberly and Jeni looked at each other with determined expressions, as if they had come up with a plan and weren't going to give up so easily.

Kimberly was the first to insist: "Y/n, please give it a chance! It's just a date. Nothing big. You're just going to talk to him, and if it doesn't work out, that's it, it's over."

"Exactly!" Jeni agreed, leaning on the table and looking at Y/n with almost pleading eyes. "It's just a chance for you two to get to know each other. He's really nice, really. I promise!"

Y/n sighed, leaning back in her chair and dropping her pen on the table. "Girls, this doesn't sound like a good idea. It's weird! Blind date? What if he's... I don't know, a murderer?"

"He's not!" Kimberly said, holding Yin's hand as if it were a mission to convince her friend. "Look, if you're not sure, we can tell you more about him. Maybe then you'll change your mind?"

Y/n hesitated, still suspicious, but curiosity began to take over. "Okay, fine. Tell me a little about him, and I'll think about it." She rolled her eyes.

Kimberly smiled from ear to ear as Jeni began to speak excitedly.

"First, he's very polite and attentive. He always asks how we are and he's the kind of guy who notices when you need help, you know?"

"Besides" Kimberly continued, a twinkle in her eye, "he has a great sense of humor. Tobias is always saying that Oliver can make everyone laugh even on the most stressful days."

"Oh, and he's super dedicated to what he does," Jeni added. "The type of person who puts passion into everything he sets out to do. Tobias and Peter always say that about him."

Y/n had a neutral expression, but inside she was starting to get interested. Attentive? Fun? Dedicated? Sounds too good to be true, she thought, but didn't let it show.

"And of course," Kimberly said, leaning forward a little with a mischievous smile, "I know Jeni and I have boyfriends, but he's pretty cute too."

Jeni nodded in agreement, completing with a giggle. "Yes. Handsome and charming. The kind of guy who makes people turn their necks on the street. Just your type, Y/n."

Y/n arched an eyebrow, feigning disinterest. "Hmm... it sounds interesting, but you're selling him to me like he's Prince Charming. That makes me even more suspicious."

"Because he is, Y/n!" Kimberly insisted. "Just accept it and trust us. It'll be fun!"

After a moment of silence and anxious looks from her friends, Y/n sighed deeply, surrendering. "Okay, okay. I accept. But if it's awkward, I blame you four. You two and your boyfriends!" She pointed at her friends.

The two friends practically exploded with joy, squealing softly and clapping excitedly. Kimberly jumped a little in her chair while Jeni lightly smacked Y/n's arm, laughing.

Their excited laughter caught the attention of other students in the library, who turned to them with reprimanding looks. "Shhh!" a student let out, clearly irritated.

The three looked at each other and burst out laughing, this time muffling the sound so as not to cause more trouble.

She wasn't going to confess it to the girls, but she was starting to get anxious about meeting Oliver.

•••••••••••••••••••

Meanwhile, the girls' boyfriends were with Ollie, trying to convince him to go out with Y/n as well.

Tobias and Peter took advantage of the fact that their best childhood friend had taken a break from racing and the three of them decided to go out, thus taking the opportunity to give Ollie the idea.

In the center of the room, a pool table in perfect condition occupied the main space. Ollie, Tobias and Peter were gathered there, taking turns playing shots and having relaxed conversations. Tobias, the afternoon's host, held his bat as he bent to aim for the ball, with an expression of exaggerated concentration.

Ollie, in turn, was leaning against the wall near the window, waiting for them to finish the round so he could play with whoever won, he was holding a bottle of beer.

"You need to work on that aim, Tobias," Peter teased with a grin. "You look like you're playing with your eyes closed."

Tobias snorted with laughter and took his shot, which narrowly missed the target. "I want to see you do better."

Peter laughed, picked up the cue and took his turn.

During his playthrough, he cast a quick glance at Ollie. "By the way, since you're on vacation and finally have some free time... we were thinking about something."

Ollie arched an eyebrow, intrigued. Taking another sip of the drink he was holding. "Thinking about what?"

Tobias took advantage of the opportunity. "About a friend of ours. Y/n."

"Y/n?" Ollie repeated, curious. He straightened his posture, crossing his arms as he looked at his two friends. "You always mention her, but never really explain what she's like!"

Peter gave a small smile as he leaned in to make his move. "She's best friends with the girls, Kimberly and Jeni. They study together at the London School of Economics. She's part of the group too!"

Ollie laughs. "I don't think so, I've never seen her on the dates our group goes on."

Tobias rolls his eyes in amusement, while Peter shakes his head.

"Hey, people have commitments too!" Peter says and they laugh. "She's super nice, smart and funny. When she comes to our meetings it's great."

Ollie frowned slightly. "If she's so amazing, why haven't you ever shown a picture of her or talked more about her? I only know her first name: Y/n. It seems like you guys are hiding information."

The two friends exchanged a knowing look before laughing.

"It's because we want you to have the opportunity to get to know her the right way," Tobias explained.

"She's known us and the girls for a long time. She's the one who brought us and our girlfriends together. So I have to say, she's an amazing person!" Peter continues.

"And the best part! It's your style of woman, Bearman!" Tobias lightly hits the F1 driver with the bat and Ollie holds back a laugh, rolling his eyes. "She turns heads wherever she goes, but she's humble, you know? A little shy, but she has an amazing personality."

Ollie listened to the descriptions with a neutral expression, but something inside him began to stir. The curiosity was there, but he didn't want to show interest.

"Hmm, sounds interesting. Cool." He muttered casually, taking a sip of his beer.

Tobias realized he had caught Ollie's attention, even if he didn't admit it. "Yeah... and that's when we had an idea," he said, smirking.

Peter put down the bat and turned to Ollie with an excited expression. "We thought it would be cool if you two got to know each other better. But not in the traditional way. How about a blind date?"

Ollie stopped drinking immediately and looked at the two of them, confused and a little surprised. "A blind date? You're kidding, right?"

"Nothing like that," Tobias said, crossing his arms with a satisfied smile. "It's a perfect idea. No pressure, just the two of you talking. It'll be fun, trust me."

Ollie shook his head, letting out a low, disbelieving laugh. "You two are crazy. I don't even know what she looks like. That's weird."

"That's the fun," Peter insisted. "It'll be spontaneous. And honestly, we think you two are a great match. The girls agree, too."

The Haas driver let out a sigh, thinking for a moment. He still wasn't convinced, but his curiosity about Y/n was starting to grow.

"I don't know, man... that sounds kind of forced."

"Trust us" Tobias said, putting his hand on his friend's shoulder. "It'll be cool. Just one date. If it doesn't work out, that's okay, but at least you tried."

Ollie still looked hesitant, running his hand over the back of his neck as he stared at the pool table, as if he were looking for an excuse to escape the situation. Tobias and Peter, however, were not about to give up.

"Look, Ollie..." Peter began, leaning his cue against the table and crossing his arms. "We know you have a million commitments and your life is busy, but this is different. No pressure, no serious commitment. It's just a date for you two to get to know each other. And honestly, you're going to have fun."

"Y/n is amazing," Tobias added with a confident smile. "You yourself always complain that most of the girls you meet aren't that interesting or genuine. And that they only date you out of interest. But trust us, Y/n is amazing, and she doesn't know that you're an F1 driver because she doesn't follow you. She's not a gold digger."

The three laugh.

Ollie thought for a moment and they were right, most of the girls he went out on a date only knew how good he was at what he did on the track, something as if she wanted to stay with him for fame. But now with the description of Y/n being made by her friends of years, something in him lit up, telling him to accept the proposal they made.

"You two seem pretty invested in this, huh? Almost like it's a personal project."

"Because it is," Peter replied, without losing his sense of humor. "We want you to be happy, man. And who knows, maybe Y/n isn't the right person for that?"

"Not to mention that our group would have three pairs of couples. It will work out," Tobias says, laughing.

He knew that his friends had good intentions, and curiosity about Y/n was starting to outweigh reluctance.

"Okay, okay," he said finally, holding up his hands in surrender. "I'll take it. A blind date. But you two will owe me if this is a disaster."

Tobias and Peter looked at each other with knowing smiles and, at the same time, clapped their hands on Ollie's shoulder in celebration.

"That's it!" Tobias exclaimed, trying to keep his voice low, but visibly excited.

"You won't regret it," Peter said, laughing and picking up the bat again.

As Ollie walked away to pick up his game stick, Tobias discreetly took his phone out of his pocket and quickly typed a message to Kimberly, telling her that their part was also a success.

Now, it was just a matter of marking the day when Y/n and Ollie's lives would change forever.

••••••••••••••••••••

During the week leading up to the meeting, Y/n and Ollie tried to go about their days as usual, but anxiety was inevitable.

Y/n spent her nights trying to focus on her studies, but her thoughts often wandered to the date. Who was this Oliver after all? She imagined what he looked like, what he would do with his life, what his style would be like. The girls' descriptions echoed in her head, but none of them gave a clear picture.

She pretended to be calm when Kimberly and Jeni talked about the meeting, but inside, her heart was racing with anticipation and nervousness.

Ollie, on the other hand, was dealing with his own thoughts. Despite trying to maintain his normal routine, going to the gym and reviewing running strategies during the holidays, he couldn't help but wonder what this Y/n would be like.

He had never been on a blind date, and the idea of not knowing what to expect made him slightly uneasy, although he wouldn't admit it.

The group was also responsible for setting the day, time and place for their meeting.

They carefully chose the setting for the two to meet. It was a charming French restaurant in London, cozy, with an intimate atmosphere, perfect for quiet conversations.

All the friends were secretly excited about the plan and hoped that the meeting would be a success. Of course, they informed Y/n and Ollie of the details without giving too many clues about each other.

And then, the big day had arrived. And even though Ollie and Y/n didn't know each other, it made their hearts race.

In Y/n's room, Kimberly and Jeni were in full fashion consultant mode. The atmosphere was a mix of laughter, hangers with clothes spread across the bed, and the soft sound of music playing on one of their cell phones.

"That blouse is beautiful, but I think the black dress suits the place better," Kimberly opined, holding the piece against Y/n's body as she looked in the mirror.

"No, the black dress is too formal," Jeni countered. "It goes with those high-waisted jeans and the cream blouse. It's casual, but super elegant."

Y/n rolled her eyes with a nervous smile, holding up a third option. And one that she clearly liked the most.

"You guys are more sure than I am. I don't even know what he looks like, and you're out there choosing what's 'perfect'."

"That's exactly why we're here," Kimberly said, smiling as she smoothed back her curly hair. "If it were up to you, you'd show up in a sweatshirt."

"That's not true!" Y/n protested, but laughed along with them.

Meanwhile, Ollie was in his apartment, getting ready alone.

He chose a casual light blue long-sleeved shirt and jeans with sneakers. Ollie looked in the mirror, smoothing his hair with his fingers and trying to look carefree, even though anxiety was poking at him.

"It's just a date" he muttered to himself, trying to dispel the thoughts of what it would be like to meet Y/n. Still, the mystery about her made him uneasy.

Finally, Y/n had chosen an all-black look, with each piece matching perfectly with the next. Her hair was loose and natural, with soft makeup that highlighted her features well.

"You look amazing," Kimberly said, holding Y/n's hands and turning her around slightly, as if she was inspecting a work of art.

"He'll be impressed," Jeni added, leaning against the door with a mischievous smile.

Y/n laughed, still trying to mask her nervousness. "You guys say this like it's the biggest event of the century. It's just a date."

"No, no, no," Kimberly interrupted, pointing a finger. "It's THE date."

With one last adjustment to the simple earrings she wore, Y/n grabbed her bag and let out a long sigh. She was ready to leave, but the butterflies in her stomach remained.

Meanwhile, Peter and Tobias were in the group message with their girlfriends, coordinating the last details.

Peter sent a message to Jeni and Kimberly.

"He's wearing a light blue long-sleeved shirt, his hair is neat, jeans and sneakers. He has that relaxed demeanor of his, but he's definitely curious."

The girls immediately warned Y/n about how Ollie would be waiting for her.

At the same time, Tobias sent a message to Ollie:

"Hey, for you guys to meet! The girls said she's wearing an all black outfit, silver earrings, and heels. She's tall and has long hair!"

This really helped both of them ease the tension as they would know how to look for each other once they arrived at the restaurant.

With everything ready, Y/n left the house, followed by her friends who were also leaving. They said sweet and confident words to help Y/n relax and encourage her.

"It's going to be okay" Jeni said with an encouraging smile. "We already got Tobias's message. He said Ollie is on his way too." She said, twirling her car key on her finger.

Y/n smiles as she walks to her own car to leave the house.

"Take a deep breath and go rock" Kimberly added.

Y/n laughed, but thanked him with a wave, getting into her own car. When she started the engine, the soft sound of the playlist that always calmed her began to play.

On the way to the restaurant, both Y/n and Ollie tried to organize their thoughts.

Y/n drove with a mix of anticipation and anxiety. The thought of finally meeting Oliver, someone he heard so much about, made his mind fill with questions. "Will he like me?", "What if it's weird?", she thought, while trying not to look so nervous to herself.

Ollie, for his part, kept his hands firmly on the steering wheel as he drove through the bright streets of London. He wasn't one to be easily intimidated, but the mystery about Y/n made him feel slightly uneasy. "Be natural" He muttered to himself, looking out the window as the city lights flashed by.

The two, each in their own car, shared a mutual feeling: curiosity and anxiety about finally meeting the person who, until then, was just a name in conversations between mutual friends.

Ollie arrived at the restaurant first, the quiet sound of his car's engine echoing as he pulled into one of the spaces near the entrance. The restaurant had a charming facade, with yellow lights that softly illuminated the letters of the sign, creating a welcoming atmosphere.

He turned off the engine and got out of the car, adjusting his blue shirt as he looked around, as if trying to predict Y/n's arrival.

As he waited, his cell phone vibrated in his pocket. He took it out and read Tobias's message:

"Kimberly said she's stuck in traffic, but she'll be there in six minutes tops. Take a breather, champ."

Ollie let out a short sigh, putting his cell phone back in his pocket. Six minutes. It seemed like a short time, but it was enough for his mind to fill with thoughts. He tried to concentrate, but her name sounded familiar now, almost as if he already knew her, even if only through Tobias and Peter's enthusiastic descriptions.

He repeated in his mind that it was just a meeting and not a trip to the world war.

And exactly a few minutes later, a car pulled into the parking lot, causing Ollie to look up from his phone.

Y/n had finally arrived, parking the car a little further away, without realizing that Ollie was there, next to his own car, playing with his cell phone. The messages from her friends arrived as she turned off the engine. "He's already waiting for you. Good luck, Clarke."

Ollie, in turn, received a message at almost the same time. Tobias, with the same energy as always, wrote:

"She's here. Good luck, pilot. Everything will be fine."

Putting his phone away again, Ollie straightened his posture, paying attention to the movement around him. He saw a car park a little further away from where he was.

He frowned slightly, trying to guess if it could be her. His heart was racing with every beat. Ollie took a step forward, trying to hide his anticipation as he watched the driver get out of the car from afar.

And it was her. He didn't know how, but something in her posture, in the natural gestures of someone who was clearly trying to hide her nervousness, made him sure.

Y/n gave one last hint of nervousness before turning around. And there he was, from afar with a light blue sleeved shirt, brown hair and with body language that revealed that he was nervous too.

They both began walking towards each other almost at the same time, their steps hesitant but full of expectation. When they finally met, they were only a few steps away, and both of them let out shy smiles.

"So..." Y/n began, trying to break the ice. "You must be Oliver. The legend everyone talks about."

Ollie gave a light laugh, relaxing a little. "And you're Y/n. The 'legend' who apparently fits me perfectly, according to our crazy friends."

They both laughed, and the initial tension seemed to dissolve a little. Ollie, without thinking much, opened his arms slightly, indicating a hug. Y/n hesitated for a second, but soon reciprocated, the gesture being more natural than she expected.

"Good" she said, as they both pulled away from the hug with slightly less shy smiles. "At least we now know we have something in common: friends who love to meddle in our lives."

"Yeah" Ollie agreed, laughing. "That's a great start."

Walking to the restaurant, side by side, Ollie and Y/n exchanged quick, nervous glances, the sound of their footsteps filling the short silences between one sentence and another.

"So" Y/n began, adjusting the strap of her bag on her shoulder. "Which pair do you think came up with the blind date idea? Kimberly and Tobias or Jeni and Peter?" She smiled.

Ollie chuckles, running his hands through his hair against the night wind.

"Look, to be honest... I think it was more of Tobias and Peter's idea. Definitely this duo, the girls just caught the wave"

Y/n laughs, with the habit of putting her hand in front of her mouth. "Of course!"

They arrived at the entrance of the restaurant, where a receptionist in an elegant dark suit and a friendly smile welcomed them.

"Good evening, couple. Do you have a reservation?"

Ollie and Y/n looked at each other, laughing somewhat shyly.

"So... we didn't actually book it," Ollie explained, drumming his fingers on the stone countertop. "It was... our friends' thing."

"Yeah, it's probably under Tobias and Kimberly or Jeni and Peter's names" Y/n added.

The receptionist raised his eyebrows, clearly amused by the situation, and began looking through the list. "Ah, here it is. Jeni and Peter. For...Y/n and Ollie, right?"

Ollie sighed in relief and smiled. "That, them and ourselves." He says and Y/n lets out a soft laugh.

"Please follow me."

The restaurant's atmosphere was elegant and welcoming, with soft lighting highlighting the tables decorated with candles and small white flowers.

It wasn't long before the waiter arrived at their reserved table, near the window with an incredible view of the lake outside. "Would you like something to drink?" He handed them the menus.

Ollie looked at Y/n, seeking her opinion. "How about wine? Or would you prefer something different?"

"Wine sounds perfect" She replied, smiling.

After the waiter took their order and left, Y/n looked at Ollie with a curious smile.

"You know, I have to admit something... I spent weeks trying to find you on Instagram under the name Oliver. And nothing."

Ollie laughed, but raised an eyebrow in intrigue. "Really? Why Oliver?"

"Because it's the only name the four of them used to refer to you. I thought it would be easy."

He let out a low laugh, leaning back in his chair. “That explains a lot. No one really calls me Oliver. Everyone calls me Ollie, and I used that to put it on my social media.”

Y/n's eyes widened slightly. "Seriously? That makes so much sense now. If I were a detective, I'd be fired right now."

Ollie chuckles, feeling all the embarrassment and anxiety disappear into thin air now. Because the sound of her sweet voice made the pilot's heart race.

"If you were wanted by Ollie Bearman it would be right" He smiles. "And well...due to the circumstances too, it would have been easier to have found me just for Ollie..." He makes circles on the table with his finger and Y/n frowns a little. But before he could say anything, the waiter returned with two glasses of wine and a bottle.

Ollie thanks him and Y/n smiles kindly as he pours the liquid into their glasses.

"So...what are the circumstances?"

"It's just that...you see...I'm a Formula 1 driver. I joined this year, I'm part of the Haas team."

The menu Y/n was holding slid from her fingers onto the table. She blinked, an incredulous smile appearing on her face. “You’re kidding.”

Ollie laughed, leaning his elbows on the table. "I'm not. It's real."

"Wow." She stared at him for a moment, trying to absorb the information. "Okay, now this just got a lot more interesting. But honestly, I don't follow Formula 1, that's more my dad's thing. I only know a few names like Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost." She let out an awkward laugh. "Really... I'm sorry about that."

"Hey, it's okay. No need to apologize." He smiles and places a hand on hers, feeling the warm heat coming from her body. Y/n tries to hide a smile but it fails. "No problem. Honestly, I prefer it this way. It's more... genuine." Ollie shrugged, his eyes shining at her genuine manner.

"Really?" Y/n asked, tilting her head.

"Yeah. You're here for me, not for the pilot or anything." The pilot smirked.

Y/n’s cheeks flushed slightly, and she looked away with a short laugh. “That was incredibly cute.”

"Well, that's the goal," he replied in a relaxed tone, but his sincere smile showed that he was beginning to relax.

The conversation between Ollie and Y/n was more fluid now. They no longer felt trapped in awkward silences or forced attempts to keep the conversation going.

There was a silent understanding between the two, something genuine that made them feel comfortable, like they were where they were supposed to be. Both could feel, deep down, a small spark, something that grew with each exchange of words and looks.

The waiter appeared again with the notepad and a polite smile. "Have you decided what you want?"

Y/n and Ollie picked up the menus at the same time, but before they could think too much, they ended up saying the same dish almost in unison.

As soon as they realized, they exchanged glances and burst out laughing.

"I swear I wasn't copying you" Ollie commented, raising his hands as if to defend himself.

"Sure" Y/n replied with an amused smile. "I think you were peeking at my menu."

The waiter laughed at their spontaneous exchange, taking their order before leaving. Ollie leaned back in his chair with a relaxed smile.

"I think we're even getting on the same page about our taste in food now."

Y/n laughed, shaking her head. "Just don't tell our friends. They'll never stop talking about it."

They continued talking while they waited for their food. Y/n talked about the college routine, the late nights studying and how she really enjoyed the course, even though it was exhausting.

Ollie, in turn, told a little about his life as a pilot: how he was always on the move, with training, racing and constant traveling.

And, despite their differences, they realized something in common: a passion for challenges and a determination to give their best in everything they did.

When the waiter returned with their dishes, they both thanked them and began to eat. Each bite seemed to be accompanied by smiles and light conversation. They were feeling good, enjoying each other's company in a natural way.

After a while, Ollie looked at Y/n and asked casually: "And what do you like to do in your free time? Any hobbies or sports that help you relax?"

"Look, I've never really been good at sports." She smiles. "But I really like running to clear my mind." Ollie smiles, listening intently. "And a hobby, I'm not sure exactly, I like to do a lot of crafts. I think that counts."

As they finished eating, Y/n looked at Ollie with a slightly more curious expression. "And how is it to deal with the pressure of being a pilot? It must be crazy to live in the public eye all the time."

Ollie paused for a moment, fork between his fingers. His relaxed smile became more thoughtful.

"It's tough, to be honest. Some days it's amazing because I'm doing what I love. But... it's lonely sometimes, you know? And it's hard to always have to look like everything's okay, even when it's not."

His answer left Y/n touched. She looked at him with a mix of empathy and admiration.

"It must be a lot to carry, but I think you're much stronger than you think."

The comment made Ollie smile, a genuine and slightly vulnerable smile. "Thanks for that. It's not often that someone truly understands."

As they continued talking, Y/n looked absentmindedly at the window and suddenly started laughing.

"What's wrong?" Ollie frowned curiously.

She pointed discreetly outside. "Take a look, but try not to be obvious."

Ollie turned his head subtly and immediately rolled his eyes. Outside, Kimberly, Tobias, Jeni, and Peter were disguised, wearing sunglasses and clothes that clearly didn’t match the surroundings. They were leaning against the car, trying to peek inside.

"I don't believe it." Ollie said, laughing as he shook his head. "They can't control themselves, can they?"

"Amateurs" Y/n joked, laughing along. "I think they're more nervous about this meeting than we are."

Discreetly, Y/n sends a message in the group she had with the girls, and glances outside the restaurant, waiting for their reaction.

"You guys out there, could you give us some space? We've already seen you four hiding.💆🏻‍♀️"

The girls just send an emoji and Y/n holds it smiling, seeing the message in the notification bar and turning off the phone. And when she looked outside again, they were already gone.

After a few minutes, Ollie looked at her with a sparkle in his eyes.

"Do you want to take a walk around the lake? There's a park right next door that's really peaceful."

Y/n was surprised by the invitation, but nodded with a smile. "Sure, why not?"

As they stood up, Ollie felt something different. He never asked girls to continue their date like this, but with Y/n, it was different. There was something about her that pulled him in getting closer and closer, something that made him want to prolong that moment. He knew, deep down, that this night would be special.

Ollie and Y/n walked up to the counter to pay the bill, exchanging glances and slight smiles. As soon as Ollie asked how much he had paid, the receptionist looked at them with a friendly smile.

"Your dinner has already been paid for."

The two looked at each other, surprised.

"Paid? What do you mean?" Y/n asked, her eyebrows raised.

The receptionist continued, still smiling:

"It was registered in Tobias and Peter's name just now. Do you know them?"

Y/n let out a laugh, looking at Ollie, who was shaking his head with an amused smile.

"Of course" Ollie replied, laughing. "They're our friends... They're always trying something."

The receptionist laughed along.

"Looks like they got it right this time, huh?"

"It seems so" Y/n replied with a sparkle in her eyes, before thanking her. "Thank you so much for the service. Dinner was amazing!"

"I'm glad you enjoyed it. Come back soon," the receptionist replied, as the two left the restaurant.

Outside, the air was fresh and quiet, and the street lit by streetlights created a welcoming atmosphere. They walked across the street towards the lake, the reflection of the lights dancing on the calm water.

As they walked, Ollie looked at Yin curiously.

"So... what made you choose your college major?"

Y/n gave a slight smile, looking at the lake before answering.

"I think it started because of my godparents. They both have degrees in the field, and I've always admired what they did. In high school, I was really into math and numbers, so things kind of just naturally connected. One thing led to another, you know?" Ollie seemed genuinely interested, and she continued. "I'm a junior in high school now college and I do an internship at their office. It's been an incredible experience, because in addition to learning a lot, I'm working with people I've admired since I was little."

He smiled, impressed.

"That's really cool. You can tell you really love what you do. I think that passion is what makes you so good at it."

Y/n smiled, slightly embarrassed by the compliment. "Thank you."

The two continued walking side by side, in comfortable silence.

They both felt that that moment, even without words, had a kind of magic, as if everything around was in perfect harmony.

Y/n broke the silence, turning to him with a curious smile. "Have you ever experienced anything funny in the paddock or on the track?"

Ollie gave a light laugh, running his hand through his hair as he thought.

"Oh, several times. But there's one I'll never forget."

"What? Now you have to tell!" Y/n said, laughing in anticipation.

He looked at her, already laughing before he could speak. "There was this one time when I was on the track and my radio went out. I thought the crew chief was asking me to get out of the car and... well, I did, in the middle of the track, in the middle of practice. He went crazy!"

"What? You got out of the car in the middle of the road?" Y/n's eyes widened in surprise.

"Yes! I got out, took off my helmet, and started gesturing to explain that I was hearing everything wrong. The crew went crazy, everyone was screaming. In the end, the radio was just jamming, but the guys never let it go. To this day, they make fun of me for it."

Y/n laughed out loud, almost stopping walking because of how much fun she was having. Ollie looked at her, pleased that he had made her laugh like that, the sound of her laughter echoing like music in the park.

As they walked, the sweet scent of vanilla reached them, and they noticed a small ice cream stand at the edge of the park, the hanging lights flickering softly.

"How about some ice cream?" Ollie suggested, discreetly pointing to the stand.

"I think it's a great idea!" She smiled.

They arrived at the ice cream stand, where the hanging lights flickered softly, creating a cozy and relaxed atmosphere. Y/n looked over the options on the menu while Ollie quickly placed his order, seeming to already know exactly what he wanted.

When Y/n chose the flavor she wanted, she started to take the card from her bag, but Ollie, with a gentle gesture, placed his hand on her shoulder.

"I'll pay," he said with a confident smile.

"No need! I can pay" Y/n insisted, already pulling out the card.

Ollie shook his head, still smiling. "I insist. Leave it to me."

"But it was all arranged by your friends," she argued, laughing lightly. "You don't have to spend on what they planned."

He looked at her, his eyes shining with sincerity, and replied softly.

"I want to pay. Because honestly, I'm loving your company. Much more than I thought possible."

Y/n laughed again, her barrier giving way to his charm.

"Okay, you win. But just this once."

They grabbed their ice creams and started walking back toward the restaurant parking lot. The conversation flowed naturally, and the quiet atmosphere of the evening seemed to bring them even closer.

After a few minutes, Ollie looked at her, his smile now a little more shy.

"I'm really enjoying being here with you."

Y/n was a little embarrassed, but smiled softly.

"I'm enjoying it too. Even though it's... arranged."

They both laughed, and Ollie held up the ice cream as if it were a toast. "Here's to our arranged date, which is turning out to be very special."

Y/n smiled, touching the ice cream to his.

"A toast."

They continued walking, until they finally reached the parking lot. They stopped in front of Ollie's car, with Y/n looking at hers a few steps away.

A comfortable silence hung between them for a moment, until Ollie gathered his courage and turned to her.

"Can I... get your number?" He asked, his smile almost shy, but still charming. "I really enjoyed tonight and I would love to go out with you more often. Only now... of my own free will."

Y/n was surprised for a moment, feeling her heart race, but quickly smiled.

"Of course," she replied, laughing. "I must confess too...I'm enjoying this date."

They laughed together.

Y/n typed the number into his phone. At the end, they said goodbye with a brief hug, and Y/n walked to her car, the goofy smile remaining as she got in and started the engine.

In the days that followed, Ollie and Y/n began messaging each other daily. They told their friends that the arranged meeting had gone well and, to the happiness of Tobias, Peter and the girls, they had really liked each other.

Soon they planned new meetings: dinners in fancy restaurants, bike rides in the lake park at sunset, going to the gym together and even picnics on sunny late afternoons.

On their second date, when Ollie dropped her off at home, they shared their first kiss, a moment so natural that it seemed like they had both been waiting for it since their first conversation.

Months later, Ollie took her to Silverstone, the most special race for him. It was his home race.

Before the start, as they walked through the reserved area, he turned to her and, with his heart racing, asked her to be his girlfriend.

There was no need to say anything more than that. They both knew they were like pieces of a puzzle that had finally fit together. It seemed like their lives had been connected even before they met, and now, they shared not only moments, but one certainty: they were made for each other.

[il-miele-che-scrive]

lando norris x reader

based on this request (because I take requests and I have to make it everyone's business): Hi not sure if you take requests but in case you do could you write reader x lando where y/n is a celebrity or an influencer and she drops subtle hints at who is her new bf maybe some fun facts about him like "oh he hates fish and I'm making a lot of fish for christmas" and eventually the fans are like "guys it's totally lando"

words count: 2.5k + fans' tweets at the end

author's note: my first request and it was so fun to write 🥹 also added a hospital scene from the time of Vegas GP so we could experience a bit of protective Y/n and painkillers-high Lando (I forgot about a fish scene)

edit: I've just realized I've messed up the dates so let's pretend the award thingie was in '23 instead of '22

A secret boyfriend

It was a normal Tuesday of 2023 when Y/n Y/l/n and Lando Norris met. Well, not so normal since it was the day Y/n won the first award in her musical career, and Lando had his first debut as an award presenter.

"And the winner is..." He opened the envelope and flipped it, as he held it upside down. "Y/n Y/l/n."

Y/n couldn't believe it at first. She looked at her best friend with tears in her eyes. They hugged before Y/n stood up and got on her way to the scene, still questioning if she actually heard her name or was it her mind playing tricks on her.

"Thank you," Y/n sent Lando a smile as he handed her the award, "are you sure it's for me?" She joked, trying to mask the anxiety she felt from the fact that now she had to give a speech while everyone watched.

"Absolutely, it's all yours. Well deserved." Lando said feeling a bit starstruck from being so close to one of his favorite singers.

Just this one simple interaction was enough for both Y/n's and Lando's fanbases to raise suspicions. However, what was unavailable to the fans' eyes were Y/n and Lando's interaction at the after party. Later the same evening, he approached her.

"Hey, congratulations again." He said with a grin on his face. "Your music is amazing, I couldn't imagine you not winning this award."

"Stop with the compliments, I'm gonna blush." Y/n laughed. "Nice to meet you. Lando Norris, isn't it?"

"Yeah, do you watch Formula One?"

"I'm going to be honest from the beginning and admit I did not, but I did my research and I just might start being a fan."

"If you're ever down for hearing firsthand gossip straight from the track, I'm at your service."

"I'd love to hear all the gossip over a coffe sometime."

"Let me give you my number then and I'll arrange something."

And so a few days later they had a coffee date. The date marked the beginning of a carefully hidden romance. They wanted to keep it a secret from the public eye, not wanting people prying on them, trying to estimate how long they'll last.

Keeping the relationship secret somehow came easy to them. They were seen on the coffee date indeed, however they made sure to have the next dates in private. The fans on both sides were literally clueless to the whole ongoing romance. Y/n had her tour, Lando had his races and it wasn't even a little bit suspicious how a lot concerts aligned with race weekends.

Unfortunately, one day Y/n went live on Instagram with her best friend. Unfortunately, because Y/f/n didn't know how to keep her mouth shut. Unfortunately, because Y/f/n gave away the big secret.

"You know, guys, we're gonna use lives as a way to spend time together," she joked, "I've been feeling a bit abandoned since Y/n has been spending so much time with her boyfriend. Even on tour and with his busy schedule, can you believe this?"

Y/n's eyes widened. "Y/f/n!" She scolded her friend.

"What? It's a joke, no worries, I can see you're finally happy and I'm happy for you!"

"Y/f/n! You weren't supposed to say that!"

But the damage was already done. There was nothing Y/n could say to save the situation. So instead she decided to start dropping subtle hints for the fans to guess. Maybe it was the right time to make the relationship public after five months. They couldn't hide it forever.

Y/n started the hint game when she was on Jimmy Fallon's show.

"Y/n Y/l/n, everybody!" Jimmy announced when the girl walked in and sat down on the armchair. "I haven't seen you in a year and so much happened during this time!"

"I know, I know," Y/n said with a smile. "I'm so glad I could make a quick pit stop here on my way to Montreal."

"I'm happy to have you here. You won an award, you got a boyfriend. How- how did that happen?"

Y/n chuckled at Jimmy's question, realizing it was the perfect opportunity to play the hint game. "Oh, life takes unexpected turns and sometimes you find yourself on a fast track to happiness."

Jimmy raised an eyebrow, sensing there was more to the story. "Anything you'd like to share about this mystery man?"

"You know, Jimmy, I've finally found someone who knows how to navigate the twists and turns in life."

The audience laughed and the speculations among fans skyrocketed as they tried to connect the dots from Y/n's playful hints.

The other time, Y/n was on a popular radio show. The host couldn't help but ask about the latest reveal of a big secret.

"You were left hurting really badly after your previous relationship," he spoke, "it's really good to see you finally happy."

"It was a big thing for me. Still is." The girl admitted. "My previous relationship made it hard to open up to a man like that again."

"What made you do it eventually then?"

"I decided life is too short for keeping things in the slow lane," Y/n chuckled, "and when you meet someone that can belt out a Taylor Swift song with the same passion as you, it's hard not to fall for them."

"So your mystery man is a Swiftie too? Any chance we might know him?"

"Oh, I bet many people who are listening right now would know him."

"Now you got us all intrigued, your fans wouldn't forgive me if I didn't ask for more."

Y/n grinned, "Well, he's practically flawless, except for one little detail. He's a scorpio. And let me tell you, when we're playing our silly little racing video games, his competitive scorpio side really comes out. It's all fun and games until his racing pride is at stake."

The host laughed. "I'm sure fans are already trying to guess who this mystery gamer is. And you, are you competitive?"

"Yes, totally. He's more experienced than I am, but it doesn't mean I won't try my hardest to beat him."

"Is there any trait you don't share?"

The girl nodded, "Yes, one thing I'm secretly jealous of. He's quite known for being able to fall asleep in the most uncomfortable conditions. I wish I could do that. I'm all about pillows and comfy blankets, but he can just doze off anywhere, anytime."

A few days later, in the warmth of Lando's bedroom, surrounded by the hum of city life outside the windows, Y/n brought up the topic with a playful glint in her eyes.

"You know, Lando, fans have been buzzing lately. It's quite entertaining."

"Well, you have started this yourself," Lando laughed, laying his head in his girlfriend's lap.

"Not me, it was Y/f/n. I just went with it and turned it into something fun for myself." Y/n defended herself. Her fingers started gently playing with Lando's hair.

"You do seem to be having a great time, leading your fans on and all that," he joked. "Are there chances they'll solve your mystery anytime soon?"

"I've seen a few tweets accusing you of being my secret boyfriend, but most people don't really believe that."

"What?" He sit up dramatically. He continued in a fake-offended voice. "Do they think I'm not good enough?"

Y/n giggled.

Lando's mock offense turned into a playful pout. "I can't believe they're doubting my boyfriend potential. I mean, come on, look at me!" He gestured theatrically at himself.

Y/n burst into laughter, "Maybe we should give them a little more to work with, stir the pot a bit."

Lando leaned in, placing a quick kiss on Y/n's cheek. "You're a master of turning chaos into entertainment, you know that?"

"It's quite a compliment, coming from a Formula One driver."

Lando flashed a grin. "Well, we both have our talents, don't we? Maybe we should drop some subtle hints during a race?"

And so they waited months for the Grand Prix in Vegas, because that was where they could start rumours about getting married. Sure, they could get married spontaneously anywhere, but there was no better place than Las Vegas.

Thankfully they managed to keep the relationship secret all these months, breadcrumbing Y/n's fans. After the Vegas GP, Y/n and Lando where supposed to go for an afterparty, get 'drunk' and then 'married'.

Unfortunately, they plans changed the direction a bit with Lando's crash. Y/n's heart sank as she watched the unfolding drama on the big screens. The thrill of the race was replaced with concern for Lando's well-being. Plans for the afterparty and the playful hints about a fake marriage suddenly didn't matter anymore.

Emergency crews rushed onto the track, the anxious seconds felt like an eternity as they worked to help Lando get out of his racing car. Y/n's heart pounded in her chest, the world around her blurring. The fact that he managed to walk away from the car was a small comfort.

Y/n's phone buzzed moment after Lando disappeared from her sight.

from: Lando

I'm okay, they're taking me to st vincent's hospital. Will update you soon. Love you xx

to: Lando

Be there in a second, see you soon

A shaky exhale escaped Y/n, she felt slightly relief and ran towards the exit. She was sure Lando wasn't okay, not after that crash, but at least he was conscious and walking on his own (although it could be the adrenaline). A moment later, when Y/n got into her own car, her phone buzzed again.

from: Lando

Yknow you could post a pic from the hospital, that would stir the pot

Y/n smiled at the massage. If he could think of that, he might had been better than she thought.

The neon lights of Las Vegas blurred as she drove through the city streets, trying to get to the hospital as quick as possible. Despite the speed, the journey seemed to stretch in time.

Arriving at St. Vincent's hospital, Y/n rushed through the entrance, her heart pounding. The reception area looked like a maze in her anxious state, but she managed to find a nurse.

"I'm here for Lando Norris," the girl said.

The nurse looked her up and down. "Are you his family?"

"I'm his girlfriend."

"Then, unfortunately, I cannot let you see him."

"His family is in Europe, I'm the closest to family you can get here in Vegas."

"The closest, but not family. I'll ask you nicely to wait here for further information."

Y/n nodded with an angry expression on her face. She sat down in the waiting room, pulling out her phone and dialing the number of her manager.

"Hey, Mia," the singer said. "I need you to do something." Urgency and frustration were visible in her voice.

"What's going on, Y/n? Are you okay?" Mia's concerned voice came through the line.

"It's Lando. He's been in a crash during the race in Vegas, and they've taken him to St. Vincent's Hospital. I'm here, but they won't let me in because I'm not 'family.' That's so stupid."

"I'm sorry, Y/n, but I still don't see what you want me to do."

"I want you to make a donation for the hospital from my account. Send them like $100,000. I think it'll be enough to let me in."

"Okay, I'll take care of it."

"Thanks, Mia. I appreciate it more than you know."

Y/n took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down. Anxiety lingered in the air. But there was no way they wouldn't let her in after that.

Y/n didn't know how much time had passed. She felt as if all she did was staring at a wall in front of her, ocassionally moving her eyes to the floor or the ceiling. She was fidgeting with her fingers as the same nurse approached her.

"Miss Y/l/n, you're allowed to see Mr Norris in the room 305."

Without a word, Y/n rushed to the room. She found Lando lying in the hospital bed, his gaze turning towards the door as she walked in.

"Lando." Y/n breathed his name, rushing to his side and taking his hand in hers. "I was so worried. And they didn't want to let me in at first."

He managed a dazed smile, his eyes slightly glazed. "Hey, you're real, right? This isn't happening in my head?"

Y/n chuckled. "Yes, I'm real. It's me."

He squinted at her. "You sure? You look like a beautiful hallucination."

"Well, if I'm a hallucination, at least a beautiful one."

"I feel like I'm floating on marshmallow clouds, but you're the most beautiful marshmallow I've ever seen."

Y/n couldn't help but laugh. "I think you might be on some strong painkillers, love."

"Ah, that explains the marshmallows. They're having a party in my head," Lando said with a dreamy expression.

Y/n burst into laughter, the tension of the earlier moments disappearing in the room.

"Did you know," Lando continued, "that racing is like trying to catch a rainbow? And if you're lucky, you might find a pot of gold at the end."

"Is there an Irish leprechaun as well?"

"I wouldn't be surprised. Maybe that's who's been guiding me all this time."

"You gotta ask him to make the rainbow less slippery next time then."

He nodded solemnly. "I'll have a serious talk with him. No more slippery rainbows, only smooth, marshmallow clouds."

As they joked around, Y/n couldn't ignore the quiet concern for Lando's well-being. She gently brushed his hair away from his forehead. "You scared me, you know? Seeing you crash like that."

"I'm sorry, love. I didn't mean to scare you. I promise I'll be more careful next time. But you have to promise me something too.""

"What is it?"

"You'll visit me in the marshmallow cloud world sometimes. It gets lonely up there."

Y/n laughed, leaning in to press a gentle kiss on his cheek. "I'll visit anytime you want."

"You know, even in the middle of all this craziness, having you here feels like finding that pot of gold at the end of the rainbow."

As the night carried on, the hospital room became a cocoon shielding them from everything that layed outside its walls. Y/n found herself falling asleep on an armchai next to Lando's bed.

In the quiet ambiance of the night, Lando's mind wandered through the whimsical landscapes of his medication-induced thoughts. He couldn't help but marvel at the coincidence that brought Y/n into his life.

It all started with handing her an award. It seemed like it happened a whole lifetime ago and now, there they were, in the middle of marshmallow clouds.

Y/n, nestled in the armchair, breathed softly in her sleep, completely unaware of Lando's reflections. Soon enough, Lando allowed himself to succumb to the gentle pull of sleep as well.

[cutieeva]

Oh shit ! I truly thought that (Y/N) has gone mad but it wasn't that way when I read the second episode !! 😔😔 I am sad for girly yet excited to read the next that's why please please please update fast 😘😘 (Also I love your writing, officially in love with you)

Bullied

Female Reader

Warnings : Bullying. Violence.

⌜ Thank you dearie for loving my art of writing, it never fails to makes me happy and here an belated update. ⌟

𝐒𝐘𝐍𝐎𝐏𝐒𝐈𝐒

Loving someone itself is an act of selfish so why is leaving the relationship seen so heinous ? Sometimes one's own sake of happiness is needed more than another's if fallen out of love. The sooner (Y/N) understand the better.

"What is going on in that table ?"

"Is the girl okay ?"

"Why is she making a big deal about all ?"

"He is such a lovely boy yet she is so nasty accusing him for cheating ?"

"If I had a boyfriend like that I would die from happiness".

"He should break up with her".

"She seem toxic".

"(Y/N) ! Stop it and get up". Sophia's irritated voice reach her ears and (Y/N) couldn't help but feel all is jumbled. All is unclear. All is numb because does her suffering doesn't matter ? Yes, perhaps she is overreacting yet is it her fault when he was the one to lie about everything ?

Slowly her (E/C) eyes met Sophia's and other accountances she calls friends and her heart dropped.

Her pale face in snarl.

Other's cheeks red from thoroughly shame.

Another can't even share a glance at her.

The beautiful woman standing in awkward.

The guests are whispering, increasingly harsh, scary and the workers worried.

And lastly Cameron, stood looking hurt. In pain than she was and all her beliefs, reality begin distorting.

Is she a nuisance ?

Is she really overreacting over everything like others ?

Is she the one in wrong for not trusting him ?

Is being dated on bet and built an relationship on lies is alright as long as the faulty party apologize ?

If once the trust she believes was broken in the worst way, then is she the one to create drama ?

Are lies not serious ?

Do lies have little meaning ? Is playing with someone else's feeling is a small price for a relationship she didn't even realize ?

Is she overreacting ? "Am I overreacting ?" Despite people surround her, her own few people even the boyfriend she loved once yet why she suddenly feels so alone ? Lonely ? And hopeless ?

Daze with piling doubts and thousand pairs of eyes watching her, her hand yanked by Cameron. "I am sorry, I apologize for the scene". Smiling like a good man he hold her shoulder and walk her limp body to his car he drove.

In the entirety none dare break the ice in air while Cameron was in disappointment, (Y/N) in utter confusion. All she discover is that she has fall out of love, maybe from the moment he said 'I am now' in front of the men along losing herself. For the fear to let go she latched onto him, gifting him the second chance only to realize her suspicious, love turn into anger and anger form an hatred. An hatred she didn't knew. An hatred so deep she was unable to see his goodness anymore only searching faults.

Her entire being of happy, blunt, forgiving shaped into such a stranger her own eyes have harder to see from the clear fog. She shaped into a vicious, incredulous person. A person she never even dreamed to become.

"Get off". Cameron's that soft, smooth voice rip her from the creeping shadows of words inside her mind and her haze gaze glance to find herself house. His home they decide to turn into their love nest.

Sliding down from the car, she walked towards the lift without waiting for him to follow and press the cold metal button. Her eyes dried from the tears that caught her reflection in the shining metal and she couldn't help find the dark circles weight heavy under her eyes, rim edges red and hair— a mess with barely appropriate clothes on. She looks nothing alike the neat, fresh (Y/N).

She looks wasted, used and worn off self— the door of the lifts snap her out again, she blink twice before stepping in properly. Their floor came faster than she expect and the moment the doorknob twist open. She close her eyes ready to be face with angry lashing, words like knives twisting her guts yet none came.

Rather he remove his coat, wash his hands and smile. "What shall we eat then ?"

She merely stare at him.

He continue to smile. The smile she doesn't find warming, sweet.

"Maybe something different. Like Pollo al Ajillo, in English known as Garlic Chicken ? Hmm ?" A single word didn't slip her lips, standing at her roots.

And without her reply he decided. She watched him not moving her an inch cooking, smiling like a normal couple. Minutes bled into hours and little to no care he serve the food, finally ripping her from her roots and sat her beside him.

Stomach churn in no hunger and eyes burden to open, she look at him. "Let's take a break". The metal spoon his fingers held pause, his smile creased.

"I-I need spac—".

"You don't". He cut off smoothly. His smile wider to it's length than before and the spoon between his fingers lay on the wooden table. "I know what happen today was a little overboard but do not worry. It was my fault after all and it's alright. I forgive you". Soft his eyes he push the plate of food to her, an gesture to eat.

However she couldn't. Her eyes couldn't rip from the oblivious face, acting all normal, when nothing is. Nothing is normal. Their relationship is falling apart, their love draft from one another and trust long out of the picture.

He so easily utter his denial. She doesn't need space, perhaps she doesn't but wouldn't he at least ask the reason behind ? Even if it's known still ask and not play the game of pretend. It's exhausting because they are a real couple not actors in a play.

"Would you not ask me why ?" Her voice in end crack.

"Would it make a difference ?"

"Yes, a lot". Honestly she shares, it will help her a lot to understand the real Cameron, the one who she fell for or the one she saw when the illusion shatter.

He turn his head to her. "We are doing alright. It will be fine. Look am I not improving myself ?" No, she only sees him now complying to her wishes easily.

"I need space". She look away, his face reminding her of those cherish days. "We both need space". She finished, adamant on seperating even if it's for a moment she wants to breath, the tightness on her chest is too much and the alarming mistrust.

Once a pot is broken, even with the finest potter's hands can't fix the remained lines of past.

"Okay". To her surprise he agreed "I see, you need time to cool your head". With that he stood up and went to their shared bedroom leaving her and the cold food behind.

Her finger hold the spoon to take a bite of the dish however few inches from her lips she pause. Staring at the food and can't help but cry of unable to eat at the end. Merely thinking how without waiting for her choice, he cooked the food, only giving an illusion of choices.

☾

When one announce their break up. People's first reaction is : 

"Did he cheat ?"

"Did you cheat ?"

"Is he abusive ?"

"Manipulative ?"

"Controlling ?"

"A bet". (Y/N) would say. "I was a bet he was dared to date and in process he fell for me but he always treated not less than a princess and after I found out he begged, confessed his love. From then he always is perfect. Even ignoring my overreaction". All the voices stopped altogether. The harsh, doubtful all pause because in this picture nothing is wrong apart from the fact he was a liar, who lied and fixed himself for better. He really did but can it patch the wounds of her shattered faith in him ?

People always say second chance can change lives, do wonders and in her she saw. She can see why they give second chances yet she can't bring herself to love anymore. She is angry, stuck on the phrase where all laughed at her like a clown, whispering, betting for how long would she last.

Was she a human or a puppet ? He never defended her, he never share his thoughts with her. She doesn't even know him anymore. She really really is lost.

Even walking towards the metal gates of university seem heavy, scary. Her mind already twisted her vision of people laughing, hating her. Being the center of attention she so wants to be away from. Her (E/C) eyes glance around walking to her class recalling not to stumble upon them or him. She is enough exhausted. She doesn't need more.

BANG! She flinched, her nerves jolting.

BANG! Her eyelids snapped shut, shielding herself from the brutality.

BANG! The sound of flesh colliding with metal reverberated through her ears, leaving a buzzing ache. A human body, crumpling like a rag doll.

"Poor him. He should quit or complain". Not so subtle whispers like flicker of fire circle around, reaching her ears.

"Shouldn't he die at this rate ?" Cruel.

"What a bore. Really ? Everyday ? Isn't it such a nuisance—". Cruel. So, so cruel. Just because a person can't help himself doesn't give these people the chance to pity him. To paint him— the victim the cause of his own suffering. His silence was twisted into consent, his helplessness fuel for their merciless ridicule.

Cruel. Cruel. Cruel. Cruel. Laughter like devilish cackles echoed, faces feigning sympathy, eyes gleaming with fox-like innocence. Cowardly souls, masking their true nature.

She, too, wore a mask, hypocrisy veiling her own darkness.

That's why in a blink of an eye. Her once neat clean palm painted in crimson, stretch of iron reeking the air, painful grunts and horried screams and distorted yells is making no sense to her. She can't understand the aching in her palm, the cries of the familiar boy's underneath her, chanting of word fight and her own tears rolling down.

"Fight. Fight. Fright. Fright". The crowd roar fueling her more and more and more. Why are they encouraging ? Yet why does it feel like she is revelling in it ?

"(Y/N) ! Stop beating Adrian". Oh. Her palms ache because she is punching his face, painted in crimson because it's his blood, cries belong to Adrian who lay beneath her helpless like that boy he was seconds ago using as a ragdoll.

How wonderful.

She can't stop. She punch and punch and punch and punch uttering only three words. "I am sorry. I am sorry. I am sorry. I am sorry". Not to the bully— no never to Adrian. Never to the boy who is violent to innocent. It's to the victim, to the unknown jester of everyone's joke. For Everyone's play. For the system that enable Adrian's cruelty into fun.

She is sorry for blind. She is sorry for foolish. She is sorry for being coward. She is sorry for ignoring him. She is sorry for wearing mask of pretense herself. She is sorry for falling into the lies of Cameron. She is sorry for saying yes to his proposal. She is sorry for overreacting. She is sorry for suspecting. She is sorry for losing trust. She is sorry for not being happy with a perfect boyfriend.

She is sorry for fell in love.

She is sorry for.....everything.

To herself.

To everything.

☾

Dry tears stain her (S/C) cheeks as in empty space she stare, leaning on the chair in front of director's office. The woman's words faded into background noise, inaudible over the cacophony of her thoughts.

Her mind replayed the chaos: the frantic struggle, the flash of anger, the blur of fists. She couldn't recall who intervened, pulling her back from the brink of destruction. By then, he had already crumpled, unconscious. Her tangled hair bore witness to the scuffle, matted from the grasping hands of his minions, few blood dotted her blue jeans, a crimson constellation from her own nose. Her torn t-shirt hung askew, shoulder exposed while he— lay worse. Broken. Lifeless almost.

Yet no remorse stirred in her stomach, surprisingly. Instead, a lingering sense of justification lingered, eclipsed only by the anguish she felt for the victim. The one she had been compelled to defend, driven by a primal urge to protect she only dreamed.

"(Y/N), can you hear me?" The director's voice cut through the tension. "Do you comprehend the gravity of your situation? You're at risk of expelled !" An humorless laugh almost slip from (Y/N).

Expelled for what ? Punching a deserving scum to death while he punch an innocent boy to death when his skin wasn't even healed from the stitches of wounds Adrian left on him ?

(E/C) eyes stare at the female director who's blue glossy eyes stare at (Y/N) like she was a demon of chao when in her view, the real corrupt could be the adult, this lady who blind these physical, emotion abuse. Pain so small like (Y/N)'s bet and huge imprinting like that boy's scars for eternal to remember. Become something that etched in their memories, their experiences, though grave and painful, would be reduced to cautionary stories, diluted by time and retelling. The true weight of their suffering would remain unspoken, lost amidst the faint whispers of a forgotten past.

The tense standoff ended when the director's blue eyes darted past (Y/N), as if catching something She sighed audibly, her expression softening. "Get out. Reflect on your actions and the reasons for your two-week suspension. Expulsion is off the table." She mused confusing (Y/N)'s daze self a little and when she stood up, walking out of the room.

She understand meeting his concern eyes. Her boyfriend must have used his power.

Cameron swallowed under her intense gaze, part his lips to say when she continue to walk, aware of the pain in her body suddenly.

Alone in the empty hallway, she felt a fleeting sense of peace, liberated from the weight of others' judgments. Her footsteps echoed off the walls as she moved, ghost-like. Her eyes drifted to the scattered belongings on the floor, remnants of the chaos. She bent to gather them, her movements slow and deliberate.

A sudden twinge of pain shot through her knee as she crouched. (Y/N) winced, noticing the cut, a crimson gash on her pale skin. She gingerly touched the wound, her fingers tracing the tender edge. This time she felt like crying with clarity, like she knew what she was crying for along a need. Tears swell within her (E/C) eyes waiting to fall.

"It will hurt more if you cry". Calmly she gaze beside her. To the lockers where the boy slumped, his face still smeared with blood. The indifference surrounding him was palpable, as if no one cared about his suffering. (Y/N) press her lips, pulling a white handkerchief to hand him.

He accepted the handkerchief, his fingers brushing against hers. With gentle movements, he wiped the blood from his face, revealing a canvas of bruises and wounds beneath. For the first time, (Y/N) saw his true complexion – pale, with a hint of rosy undertones. The vibrant hues of his injuries – purple, blue, and crimson – stood in stark contrast to his delicate skin.

As the blood was wiped away, his features emerged, and (Y/N) noticed the sharp angles of his cheekbones, the gentle curve of his nose, and the softness of his lips.

"I am sorry". It fell out before she could revise or add.

"Don't be". He shake his head. "Everyone's coward. Even me". (Y/N) desire to protest of his own situation.

"I am talking about you". She blink. "You are Cameron's girlfriend". He utter like a fact. "All business major knew about a bet on a girl. They just didn't knew who until one of Cameron's friend told about your relationship making everyone realize who she is but wasn't sure". Her breath hitched. So they did. All did.

"I too, because I am from business major. Yet I was a coward to not say the truth or at least..." He tailed off. "Warn you". He finished heavy silence weight the air. (Y/N) inhale, not finding words to explain the mess of feelings she is having. Indeed both were jester of everyone's joke.

As she scoffed, her gaze trailed his movements, expecting him to walk away. But instead, he swooped down, his lithe frame folding into a crouch beside her. His amber eyes locked onto her knee, the cut a tiny, crimson gash.

Without a word, he reached out, his fingertips grazing her skin as he applied a band-aid. A shiver danced up her spine at the gentle touch.

"You know you're also being bullied?" His voice was low, concerned. Her eyes lift to his focused ones on her cut, whispering a "No".

"Bullying is not only physical you know. It can be emotional too. And what is happening to you is bullying too. An emotional one where he took advantage of your trust, then play with your feelings, manipulate you into staying in the relationship when you clearly in daze of the complexity and not in right state. If he truly cared about you, wouldn't he have asked how you felt or given you the space to think? Wouldn't he have prioritized your well-being over his own desires? But instead, he rushed you into this relationship, disregarding your boundaries and emotions". His words felt like sting of bees she couldn't process as the image of Cameron's pained face when she accused of him cheating in front of others.

His pure happiness when he pull the chair for her in front of her parents.

His patience when she was crying so suddenly and at the restaurant.

Her colleagues Sofia and others disturbed faces and harsh whispers.

"No. No. He is not perfect, yes. He is not good entirely. He is a liar but he improved. It is I who has problem. I fall out of love, mistrust him and..." Her throat felt dry to speak and she swallowed having difficulty seeing. The problem lies in her. She is the odd, fallen one.

The boy finally gaze his amber eyes and said. "If Cameron really is a good person. Not perfect, good. Then why in the first place are you lashing out and angrily pushing your anger on Adrian ? And in a mess mindset ?" It left (Y/N) shunned. Because truly did she blames Cameron for her misery. Hates him for his mockery of perfection. However never did she blame him for his entanglement to this relationship based on lies for her was truth.

"Let's assume Cameron is a good person who genuinely cares for you and loves you deeply, but isn't able to let you go. However, if being with him no longer brings you happiness— not because of his flaws, but because your feelings have changed and you're staying solely out of guilt or obligation, don't you think it's time to reevaluate? For your own sake, shouldn't you prioritize your happiness even if it's selfishness ?"

As he stood, dusting off his pants, (Y/N) lifted her gaze to meet his. His eyes held a gentle intensity. "After all, loving someone is, in itself, a selfish act," he added, his voice low and thoughtful.

"I am saying this because you came out of your cowardness for me and I for you". the boy said, wincing as he gingerly touched his jaw. "I should get to the nurse," he added, his voice laced with discomfort.

She swiftly stood up, her hand brushing against his arm with an awkward yet tender touch. "Let me help."

"No, it's okay..." He trailed off, his mind reeling as a wave of dizziness washed over him. His legs weakened, and he swayed precariously, almost toppling over.

(Y/N)'s eyes widened in alarm as she swiftly grasped his arms, her grip tight.

𝑻𝒐 𝑩𝒆 𝑪𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒖𝒆𝒅

☾ ────────

[lustsickforyou]

what side are you on? part two

pairings: regulus black x reader (enemies to lovers) sirius black x reader (romantic, to platonic)

summary: you are finally able to use your powers for good, but what happens when you get called home early and are delivered the worst news of your life?

warnings: abusive parents, torturing, arranged marriage, avada kedavra, death, anger, kidnapping, angst

a/n: i have decided to change the readers year from seventh down to sixth just because it works better for the storyline. another mention that the powers are based off of shadow and bone. NOT PROOFREAD!!

part one , part two

The entire plan was laid out for you, the four marauders would somehow capture the man and you would use your powers to reveal all of his secrets. It seemed easy enough. You hadn’t talked to any of them since, you wanted to keep a low profile as to not raise any suspicion on yourself or them.

It was the day school was let out for fall break, you had a plan for that as well. You and the boys would be taking a trip to london, but of course you couldn’t say you were going with them. You wrote to your parents to let them know you would be staying back at Hogwarts to catch up in school and study ahead for your classes. You told the pureblood boys from Slytherin that you would be going home, as some of them would be staying back in school.

What you didn’t expect was for none other than Evan Rosier to question you. You had packed your bags quickly and started heading down the hallway to catch the train with the marauders, but you felt a grasp on your arm that whipped you around. You looked down at the hand in confusion, your eyes following up the arm and to the face of the familiar blonde haired boy. “You’re going home?” he asked and you stared for a moment before nodding. He never spoke to you before, in fact you knew he was scared of you and your abilities. So why was he talking to you now?

“I was under the impression you were staying here.” he spoke with no emotion in his voice and you swallowed thickly, thanking whatever higher power that was out there that he too couldn’t hear your heart beat. While his was rather calm, yours was beating so hard you thought you might break down. “I’m not, i changed my mind last minute.” you lied, hoping he wouldn’t notice your nervous demeanor.

“But— you never go home.” he was definitely suspicious, and you took a deep breath. It was true, you didn’t unless you were forced to. Going back home was the most horrible thing you had to do time and time again. You had to turn this around on him, make him uncomfortable with the conversation all together so he could forget about it completely. “Why do you care?” you asked, your voice much more calmer than anything else within yourself. Your eyebrows were knitted as you looked at him.

“What?” he asked, equally confused. “Why do you care?” you repeated, stepping back from his grip. “You’ve never cared before, in fact you’re quite scared of me.” you pointed out and his face dropped to realization, knowing what you meant by that. “So why do you care now as to what i’m doing? Why are you talking to me?” you asked and he didn’t respond. “Right.” you scoffed, turning around and walking away. “Y/N, wait—” he called after you but you didn’t turn around. You hoped he wouldn’t think on it too much, or worse— write to your mother back at home.

It didn’t take you long to reach the train, searching for compartment number three. You looked down the walkway of the train to make sure nobody was watching you, but of course there was one person. Regulus Black. He was heading into compartment eight, quite aways from yourself, but just before he walked in her made eye contact with you. As much as Sirius had talked to you growing up, Regulus had never made the effort to do the same. You had a sense that he was scared of you just like everyone else was, I mean— he wouldn’t even look at you. So now as his dark eyes drifted up to look into your own, you felt a shiver run down your spine. Just before you could do anything, he disappeared into his own compartment. You took a deep breath before knocking on the door three times, just as the boys had told you.

The door slid open to reveal Sirius, who looked both ways before pulling you inside. You gasped out in shock and the door was closed behind you quickly. “Did anyone see you?” he asked. You thought about Regulus, surely he hadn’t noticed you well enough to do anything about it. “No, there wasn’t anyone in the hallway.” you finally settled on an answer and he nodded. “Alright, we’re going to get off the train in London. You’re going to wait back in the motel while the four of us—” he started but you rolled your eye. “Yeah, yeah. While the four of you do your heroes act to capture the bad guy. Then I’m going to work my magic because all of you were too stupid to come up with an easier idea.” you jabbed and Remus scoffed, only to earn a punch to the arm from James. Remus furrowed his eyebrows and rubbed the now sore area on his arm. “You are insufferable.” Sirius sighed and you smirked.

—

You had been waiting in the motel room for hours now, constantly checking the old clock that hung on the wall. Something bad must’ve happened surely, why else would they be taking so long. As time went on you paced around the room. They hadn’t even told you where they were going, what if they had been caught by the man, or worse— ambushed by a group of death eaters. You nervously chewed on your nails and suddenly the door busted open. You looked over to see them all beat up, whilst holding the man they captured who looked worse off than them. “What the hell?” you asked, studying the man’s face before looking up at Sirius. “I thought your plan was to not hurt him?” you asked and as if on cue the older man ground, practically hanging by Sirius and James’ arm. “Yeah well— he was a lot stronger than we expected. And someone couldn’t get the potion right that was supposed to knock him out.” Sirius looked over at Peter. “Okay, if you guys would’ve given me more time I could’ve done it!” he defended and you sighed.

“Okay, just put him in the chair.” you instructed and they did as they were told. The four boys stepped back along with you as you stared at him nervously. “Are you going to do it or what?” Sirius asked impatiently and you glared at him before walking up to the man. You had done this hundreds of times for Tom, so why were you so nervous now? Maybe it was a multitude of things, like the fact that you could get caught and there was a high possibility you would get killed for ever going against Tom Riddle. You took a deep breath in, and kneeled before him. The back of your hand trailed down the side of his nervous and beaten face. “You’re safe now.” you spoke softly, seductively. You could hear his heart beat racing. What had they done to this poor man? Every time you had seen him around Tom Riddle he was confident and cocky, always a calm heart rate.

You looked down at his hand, placing his palm to face up. Your soft hand trailed down his rather rough one, the ruby ring on your middle finger glistening through the dim light of the motel room. When your fingertips reached his palm his heart slowed immensely. You looked up at him again. “Now you can just speak.” you said slowly. He took a deep breath, looking into your eyes. “And I will just listen.” you nodded. “Alright..” he complied. “Tell me what Tom Riddle is planning.” your voice was mesmerizing.

“You won’t believe me but—” he replied with a tired voice. “He is planning on attacking Hogwarts.” he breathed out as if he had been holding it in for so long. You remained calm, but Remus sucked in a shocked breath. Sirius was now angry, stepping forward to kneel beside you, you remained focus on keeping the man calm. “Who is helping him?” Sirius asked. The man breathed out a shaky breath. “If I tell you— you’ll set me free?” he asked. “You have my word.” Sirius smiled. James looked up at him with a confused face. “Sirius—” he tried to intervene but Sirius held up a finger for him to be quiet. “I’ll set you free.” he nodded with a reassuring smile. “You’re in London now, you can go anywhere in the world from here.” his words were very convincing.

The man looked over at you and you nodded, although a part of you was unsure with his words. You had known him long enough to know when he was lying, and this seemed like one of those times. The man looked back at Sirius. “Just imagine.” Sirius whispered. The man spaced off, looking up at the ceiling. “Come on.” Sirius smiled. “His name is—” he paused nervously. Your fingers slipped deeper into his wrist to coax the words out of him. “Regulus Black.” he answered clearly and Sirius’ heart dropped along with your own. You had seen him earlier that morning, you would have never guessed he was planning to attack the very school he went to.

James, Remus and Peter’s eyes drifted towards Sirius with worrying looks. “Regulus Black? Are you sure?” Sirius asked and the man nodded tiredly. “Good job.” Sirius said, standing up. You looked up at him with a concerned look. You continued to sooty the man as Sirius stood up to speak with the boys. The man looked at you with such content as you smiled at him. You didn’t want to know what they were talking about. You were worried about what they were going to do. You heard Sirius mumble a ‘perfect’ and the man looked up. “You’ll set me free now?” he asked.

“Of course.” Sirius nodded and pulled out his wand, casting the unforgiving curse and he fell back in his chair and to the ground, going limp. You screamed, jumping back. Everyone went silent, staring in shock as your chest heaved up and down. Sirius had not a single bad bone in him, but tonight you had saw a side of him you had never seen before. There were a million thoughts running through his head, one mainly being that he had to stop Tom Riddle at any cost, and now he felt the same about his own brother. Dumbledore would surely not approve of this.

“Sirius— what the hell.” James was the first to speak up, Remus walking over to you and helping you on your feet. “The whole reason we came up with this plan of Y/N helping us was because we didn’t want to kill him.” James confronted him. Sirius stared at him for a moment. “Now Tom Riddle’s most trusted henchman is dead, where is the first place he is going to look? Hm?” James questioned with raised eyebrows, getting close to him as anger dripped from his words.

“I need some air.” you managed to stutter out, walking passed the boys and practically running outside. It was pouring rain as you walked into the street, your chest heaving up and down with fear. The whole reason you wanted to help them was because you didn’t want to hurt anyone. Even if you didn’t cast the curse, you were just as much responsible for that man’s death as much as Sirius was. You helped him coax the words from him, and a part of you was starting to regret ever listening to James in the library in the first place. You shoved those ideas down, trying to remember what you were trying to accomplish here, and before you could go inside you spotted a dark clothed figure in the street.

You looked over at them with a concerned look, and as you started to walk back to the hotel the dark figure followed you. They wrapped their arms around you as you screamed out, putting their hand over your mouth to conceal the alerting noises. Suddenly you apparated away, and before you could even realize where you had ended up, you knew exactly what had happened. “Stop screaming.” the angry voice commanded, who you recognized as Evan Rosier. You stopped screaming and struggling, looking around to recognize that you were in Tom Riddle’s manor. Evan dragged you into the receiving room, which was a long corridor with a throne at the end, very on brand for a man like him. You had been here hundreds of times, but you knew this time would be much different.

Your eyes trailed over to see Regulus Black and many other members standing off to the side of Tom who sat comfortably in his grand throne. Evan shoved you forward, causing you to fall on your hands and knees in front of him with a cry. Tom stared for a moment with anger in his eyes, standing up and kneeling down in front of you. He grabbed your face harshly with his hand to make you look up at him, a cry escaping your lips as he did so. He shook his head, pursing his lips as he thought. “Who knew you would betray me.” he said sarcastically. “When I received word from Evan Rosier about your lies, I just knew something must be up with you. But for you to go behind my back to help—” he swallowed back a disgusted look. “Them? Now that is crossing the line.” Tom let go of your face with a shove as a sob wracked through you. You were soaked from the rain now. “You’re too valuable to kill, those boys on the other hand?” Tom asked and you stared up at him with saddened eyes.

“I was thinking while Evan Rosier was out to fetch you— what can I do to get you to stay on my side?” he asked, pacing back and forth. “At first it was your mother, all those years ago. Begging for me to use you and traded you off to be married to a respectable man.” Tom recalled. “And we all knew how that worked out.” he laughed and the rest of the people in the room laughed with him. You couldn’t tell if they were pity laughs because they were scared of him, or if they found you genuinely pathetic. Nonetheless, there were too many people there for you to use your powers to get out of this situation. It would kill you, and at this very moment you considered it.

“But then I remembered something.” Tom continued in his thought process. “There is another boy that might just do the trick.” he smiled, and looked over at the group. Evan, Regulus and Barty Crouch Jr. all stood in a line like soldiers. “Regulus, my boy— step forward.” Tom waved him over and he looked at him confused before doing as he was told. “My most loyal follower who is just as young as you.” he smiled. “You two will be married in a weeks time. Maybe this time you’ll consider staying.” Tom was pleased with his decision.

“Sir—” Regulus went to speak up but Tom held up his hand as if to shut him up. “Go to hell.” you spat, and Tom looked down at you with hurt eyes. “Fine, I will give you some time to come to your senses.” Tom decided, and two men came up from beside you, grabbing you on each side and dragging you away as you screamed and kicked to break free from their grasp. They had managed to get you all the way to the cellar, chaining your hands apart and above your head so you were unable to use your powers. “Please.” you begged them through tears, two boys you had grown up with. “You know me, don’t do this to me!” you pleaded but they didn’t listen. They left you there, alone in the cold and soaking wet from the rain.

Meanwhile back in the receiving room many argued, including Walburga Black. “This girl is a traitor, I will not have my son marry her.” she stood her ground and Tom stared at her with an annoyed expression. “Yet you were willing to do the same for your other son?” he asked. Walburga scoffed, shaking her head. “They’re both traitors, they would’ve been better off together and away. Not here with us, why don’t you just get rid of her?” she asked. Tom stared for a moment, as if he was asserting his dominance. “Can you control one’s heart?” he asked, and the women fell silent. “Can you make the blood of anyone you desire boil?” he questioned. She didn’t respond.

“Y/N is a weak girl, and with time I believe she will come to her senses again. Regulus can help her do just that, set an example. Besides, I must punish your family for what Sirius did. Leaving this place, betraying us and killing my right hand man?” he asked and Walburga furrowed her eyebrows. Her Sirius had killed someone? “Regulus is a fine boy, and it is clearly not your choice who he marries.” Tom said. Your mother stepped forward. “He is right, Walburga. My daughter will be a perfect wife.” she defended.

“Of course you think that, your family line ended when you couldn’t manage to have a boy. You’re trying to save your own dignity.” Walburga jabbed and your mother didn’t say a word. “Enough, both of you.” Tom ordered and they both stepped back. “What do you say, Regulus?” he asked. Regulus stood quietly for a moment. “I would do anything you told me to, sir.” he agreed and Tom clapped excitedly. “Wonderful.” he was pleased. “Now my boy, did you ever dispose of that assassin those boys had sent on you?”

During the summer Regulus had been attacked by some wizard he had never seen before. Tom had said it was an assassin sent by his own brother, knowing Sirius would stop at nothing to take his brother down with him. It was the whole reason Regulus was okay with taking down Hogwarts by Tom Riddle’s side. “I did.” Regulus confirmed, and Tom nodded. “Wonderful. I would like to congratulate you on your engagement.” he almost taunted in a way, and with that the meeting was dismissed.

You and Regulus Black would be married in a weeks time.

—

tag list: @thelastemzy @theday-dreamer17 @jack1n @leslieiscrying @kaverichauhan @helloitsmeeeeeee

[ncillary]

Self Aware AU (Rafayel)

Summary: You have the lowest Affinity with Rafayel. The reason is because you hate being the destroyer of everything he loves. His kingdom. His people. His life. Maybe he is better off without meeting you.

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Masterlist Self Aware AU

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| 1 | 2 | 3 [current] | 4 | 5 |

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"You're staring to find the potential boy for your otome-look-a-like or you're hungry?"

A hand waving in front of you. You hold it and shake it like a greeting.

"Well. Spill it."

You fiddled with the hand. It gave you a light squeeze.

"Nightmare is really a hole you dig yourself into."

Your friend chuckled, "Spiralling early in the morning already? Come on. Chin up. You're going to help your sister out, right? Did you bring her clothes?"

You snorted, "Thanks for resetting my mind with that. Do you know how many trains I have to change just to get there? She drove a car. Have mercy on me a bit."

"At least the journey helps to cleanse your mind from any nightmare that might befall you tonight."

You quirked an eyebrow, "Poetic much. Maybe this is why you and lover boy match well.

She grimaced, "Don't remind me. I was just about to forget the kissing scene."

+-------------------------+-------------------------+

*Bling*

Stamina notification. You ignored it.

*Bling*

*Bling*

*Bling*

"GAH!"

You logged in.

Saw him looking cheeky.

You quickly claim the Stamina and close the game. His face was in panic, you noticed.

At least you can concentrate on your meditation journey now.

Your friend was right. This was the better part of your day than having to think about some dusky purple bug in your phone.

+-----------+-----------------+---------------------+

Quiet.

Silent.

No notification at all.

You just got home from sending more clothes to your sister and brought home her used one. Laundry was definitely a must tomorrow.

You logged in suspiciously.

It was the snow boy. At the sofa with his laptop.

You sighed, "Why can he be more calm like you?"

Stamina claimed and you thought of finishing the Weekly Tasks. Today was Saturday.

"GAH!"

That accursed purple-pink eyes. Looking at you. Brows furrowing. Crossed arms. Finger tapping.

You stilled your shocked self.

Him being silent actually helps.

But of course, not for long.

You're fidgeting now. Eyes looking anywhere but him. Out of guilt? Out of embarrassment for the scream? You didn't know.

What you do know, you don't like seeing him looking at you like this.

"Haaaa~ I'm not mad, cutie. Can you look at me?"

Your eyes looking down.

"Cutie~"

You start to blush.

"You still have one more Weekly Task to finish."

You realized it too. Finally looking up, your eyes saw the gleams of orbs fixated on you.

"Go on. Sit with me. Cook some dinner while you're at it. You must be starving."

Your finger automatically went to Quality Time. You chose work. No more glancing back and forth from his canvas to you. He was looking straight at you. Gentle smile playing on his lips.

You stared. And stared.

Chuckling, "Can't get enough of this handsome face?"

You blushed again, "If only you didn't open your mouth."

He gasped, "Well, excuse me. Who was the one straight up closing the screen on my face? At least bid me farewell or give me a flying kiss."

You grimaced, "In your dream."

"Well I hope my dream has you in it so that I can finally have a proper meet up with you."

Your blushing couldn't stop, "Paint your canvas already, smooth talker."

Walking to the kitchen with the phone, the banter continued.

"Why thank you. My lips use natural lip balm. Wanna try, cutie? I have this one lip balm..."

Somehow you have propped the phone nicely on the phone stand you had in the kitchen. Your banter with him didn't stop as he commented on your choice of food for dinner. You continue your cooking regardless.

+------------------------+---------------------------+

"I can't believe you're talking with me right now. As in... haaaa... I don't know anymore."

Half of the food was gone. You spoon another to remain silent on this incredulous situation.

He shrugged his shoulders, "Suit yourself. I've told you that you can just show me around if no one believes you."

"That's the thing! I can't JUST show you around. My new phone is in danger because of you. Do you know how much I work hard to get this? To play this game? To get to know the wonderful you?"

Your eyes widen. You've mixed your logical feelings with your gaming feelings. You cupped your mouth.

His look softened, "Cutie..."

"Stop. I don't know what is happening and I don't even wanna know. I'll just delete this game and play anew. OR. Better yet. Never play this... AGAIN."

"WAIT!"

You exited the game.

Tears brimming in your eyes. You're embarrassed by your slight confession before.

"Gosh... I'm so sappy."

+---------------------------+------------------------+

A phone clutched by a hand in the dim light.

Few minutes passed in complete stillness.

He sighed in relieved after seeing nothing's changed on his phone. His eyes glanced at the sea just a bit far away from his window.

"I shouldn't push and prod too much. She needs time to process this."

He walked to an empty canvas. Ready to pour his muse on it. Flames flickering on the scented candle nearby. His spirit alit.

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| 1 | 2 | 3 [current] | 4 | 5 |

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Masterlist Self Aware AU

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[captainsophiestark]

Subtle Clues

Anakin Skywalker x Reader

Masterlist - Join My Taglist!

Written for Fictober 2023!

Fandom: Star Wars

Day 4 Prompt: "Do you even know what this means?"

Summary: Anakin and his SO think they're doing a great job of keeping their relationship a secret. They are not.

Word Count: 1,197

Category: Fluff, Humor

Dedicated to @ghostofskywalker for her help coming up with an idea for this prompt! Thanks Tori!!

Putting work into an AI program without permission is illegal. You do not have my permission. Do not do it.

"You know, I don't think I've ever been in Skyguy's quarters before. Have you?"

That one little question from Ahsoka, Anakin's padawan, made my heart stop in my chest. I'd been in Anakin's quarters many, many times, the most recent being just last night when we fell asleep curled up on his couch together. But because of the Jedi, I couldn't admit that I was dating Anakin. It was our most carefully kept secret. So, I shook my head.

"I probably have at some point, I've known him so long," I said, being very careful to sound casual. "But I don't remember the last time, or for what."

"I bet he's a mess," Ahsoka chimed, skipping along next to me without a care in the world. I smiled a little, despite how tired I was.

Anakin, Ahsoka, Obi-Wan, and I were shipping out from Coruscant after a brief stint back here. Anakin had left early this morning, along with Captain Rex and a few other key members of the 501st, to start getting things back in order. As a result, I'd had to wake up even brighter and earlier to get back to my own quarters before Rex showed up to leave with Anakin. Now, because Anakin had forgotten his datapad, I had to go all the way back to his quarters a few hours later to get it for him.

"He's definitely a mess," I grumbled. To be fair, I'd probably qualify too. But still.

We pushed open the door to his room, and Ahsoka stepped through without a moment's hesitation. Anakin had said he'd left his datapad on the bedside table, so that's where I headed while Ahsoka looked around the living room.

I sighed heavily when I got into the bedroom and found it exactly where he'd said it'd be. Exactly where he'd left it last night, after we'd moved from the couch to the bed in a sleep-haze and watched a few short holos on it before passing out again. I tucked it into my bag, then headed back into the living room.

"Y/N! Look at this!"

I found Ahsoka standing just behind the couch in the living room, waving a t-shirt around in the air. A second later I had a heart attack as I realized it was mine, my favorite casual shirt, that I'd ditched last night in favor of stealing some of Anakin's clothes that also qualified as favorites.

I gave a noncommittal hm, trying to figure out how best to respond and not look incredibly, immediately suspicious, but Ahsoka quickly latched on to my initial response.

"Do you even know what this means?"

I tried not to let the irritation or panic show on my face. "Uh... Anakin's a mess?"

"No! There's no way this is his, he hates this band."

I swore, loudly, in my head. I was going to kill my boyfriend for forgetting his stupid datapad the next time I saw him.

"It means that Skyguy had somebody in here with him! Y/N, what if he's dating somebody?"

"Wow, Ahsoka, that's... wow."

"I wonder who it could be?" she said, talking to herself more than me. She turned away and started pacing the room, my t-shirt held tight in her hand. I tried to think of something, anything, to get out of this situation, but my mind kept drawing a blank. "I mean, who could he have brought into the temple without someone noticing? It's not like other Jedi make a habit of losing clothes in each other's rooms..."

I stood frozen in the doorway to the bedroom, using every ounce of strength and training I'd ever received to keep my expression neutral. There had to be a way out of this, some way to get Ahsoka to drop it and move on-

"Master Kenobi!"

My head snapped up, my heartbeat jumping to lightning speed at Ahsoka's words. Sure enough, Obi-Wan stood in the door with his hands on his hips, watching the two of us.

"What are the two of you doing in here?" he asked. "We're supposed to be leaving in a few minutes."

"Anakin... forgot his datapad..." I said weakly, holding up the object in question. He looked from that, to me and the obvious unease I must've been radiating through the force, to Ahsoka, still holding my shirt in the air. A smile tugged at the corner of his lips.

"I see that. And what do you have, young Padawan?"

"I found this shirt in here," she said, holding it out to him. "I think Master Skywalker might have been... with someone."

Obi-Wan walked over to Ahsoka and pretended to inspect the shirt, stroking his beard and giving a thoughtful 'hm'. The whole time, I focused all my energy on projecting the loudest "NO!" possible at him through the force. He must've heard it, but he was clearly ignoring it.

"Well, that's an easy answer. It belongs to Y/N."

The words were out of his mouth faster than I could stop him. I used the force to grab a pillow off of Anakin's bed and hurled it at Obi-Wan, which he annoyingly ducked. Ahsoka looked between the two of us, mouth open in shock.

"WHAT?"

"They've been dating for quite some time now."

Ahsoka whirled on me. "You and Skyguy told Obi-Wan and not me?"

"They didn't tell me," Obi-Wan continued, jumping in before my brain could unfreeze enough for an answer. I just stared between him and Ahsoka, mouth gaping like a fish. "They're just terrible at hiding it. I caught the two of them kissing behind a column in the Temple when we got back here a few weeks ago."

Ahsoka stared at Obi-Wan in shock, and he looked back, his arms crossed. I finally managed to shake myself out of it, the horror wearing off a little faster than when Obi-Wan had caught me and Anakin. I sighed, walking past both of my friends on my way to the door.

"We might not be as good at hiding it as we want to be, but the two of you are still the only two who know besides Padmé and the 501st, so... do us a favor and keep it to yourselves. And sorry we didn't tell you earlier, Soki."

I didn't miss the look Ahsoka and Obi-Wan exchanged as I passed them, instead choosing to ignore it. We were supposed to be leaving in ten minutes, after all, and now that I had Anakin's datapad there was no reason for me to wait around any longer.

"Do you want me to bring your shirt?"

I froze on the threshold at Ahsoka's question, grimacing. I didn't need to turn around to see Kenboi's smirk. I cleared my throat.

"Yes please, Ahsoka. Thank you."

"Sure thing."

Her tone was teasing, and I knew Anakin and I were going to be hearing about this almost nonstop from his young Padawan. I guess we'd deserve it, since we were apparently much worse at keeping secrets than we thought we were, but still. I wanted to get on board the ship with Anakin as soon as possible so I wouldn't have to take the brunt of the teasing alone.

[yumeka-sxf]

A chronological analysis on Twilight and Yor - Part 20

*This is part of an ongoing post series. If you missed the Introduction/Part 1, click here*

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After Yor meets Yuri on the train, she's reminded of the fact that he's "all grown up" and doesn't need her to take care of him anymore.

As I described in Part 8, earning enough money to support Yuri was the main reason Yor became an assassin. Since she didn't have the luxury to pursue anything worthwhile for herself, taking care of and being useful to others became her main focus in life. But since Loid and Anya don't benefit from her assassin work, and now Yuri doesn't either, she begins wondering why she needs to continue doing it. This question is reinforced a few times later: first, when they're on the train and she realizes how much she enjoys being with Loid and Anya as a family, without having to worry about work. And again, during her initial meeting with Olka.

When Olka tells her that she wants to get away from the dangerous life of a gangster to a peaceful, quiet life, Yor takes a moment to reflect on those words, as they were the same thoughts she had on the train earlier – thoughts of what it would be like to live a normal life with your family without all the fears and dangers that come along with being involved in the underworld.

Olka asks Yor why she's so worried about her family discovering her identity since they're just a cover-up family, which leads to a softly emphasized scene of Yor with a noticeably sad expression, as she reluctantly admits that, yes, they are a family just for show.

We know from previous episodes, like the cooking lesson and post-Fiona date, that Yor has since realized that being in the Forger family makes her happy, despite the fact that they're a "fake" family. However, she doesn't know if Loid and Anya feel the same way, especially Loid. For all she knows, he's letting her live with him as his wife more as a favor to her, and because it's convenient for their front at Eden, and not because he personally finds happiness in the arrangement. While he did tell her during their previous date that he wants her to continue playing the role of Anya's mother and his wife, Yor doesn't know whether he feels the same happiness being together as a family like she does.

Yor becomes even more motivated to help Olka when the latter mentions that she's left so much of her old life behind her now.

Perhaps her eagerness to help Olka comes from her sad resignation to the fact that she herself can't attain the kind of life Olka is heading towards, so at the very least, she wants to make sure Olka can attain it.

Meanwhile, we see just how much Twilight's spy work has "traumatized" him, to the point of being on total high alert on the ship even though Sylvia specifically ordered him to relax. Not only was he immediately suspicious of the lottery for the cruise ticket, but even after he's on the ship, his ever-calculating mind can't help but imagine the worst scenarios. He begins looking out for any signs of terrorism and dubious behavior, much to Anya's dismay.

However, thanks to her coaxing, he catches himself and makes a conscious effort to turn off the "spy mode" in his brain (as much as he can anyway).

Later, we see Yor being nervous when having dinner with the executives, obviously not comfortable in such a formal situation and still afraid that she'll be spotted by Loid and Anya. However, when given a task she knows best – assassination work – we get to see a side of Yor that has yet to be fully highlighted in the series…a side that's serious and confident, without her usual doubts and hesitations.

Her social awkwardness and uncertainties disappear as she takes on a total "in-charge" demeanor when guiding Olka and company back to the room. But Olka has spent enough time with the underworld crowd to see that, while Yor is very good at her work, it doesn't suit the sweet, gentle person that she really is. Even before the real danger starts, Olka tells her that she doesn't seem like the underworld type, and even suggests that she spend time with her family when the ship stops at the resort. Olka must have sensed from Yor's hesitation and sad expression in their previous conversation that she truly cares about them.

It's unfortunate that Yor doesn't have a permanent confidant like Olka – someone who not only knows her true identity as an assassin, but also senses that she has real feelings for what should be a "fake" family…and is supportive of that in her own subtle way. Twilight has Franky, and Sylvia somewhat, as people who know him as both a spy and as a (fake) family man. But even though they're not openly supportive of the fact that he's catching feelings for his family, they're still people he can not only confide in without having to hide his true identity, but they care about Anya's well being too. Yor doesn't have anyone like that. While Shopkeeper and McMahon know her true identity, her relationship with them seems to be strictly business. So, as brief as her time with Olka is, it was good for Yor to finally converse with someone who understands her inner feelings that she herself is having trouble realizing.

While Anya and Twilight are having dinner later, Anya mentions that it's been a while since they've eaten dinner without Yor, to which Twilight comments that it does seem lonely without her. He could have replied with any number of less melancholic responses ("It does feel weird" or "She must be very busy" to name a few). So the fact that his first thought was how lonely it felt does seem to indicate a momentary lapse in his spy facade, to which Anya rightfully calls him out and he immediately tries to deny it (with a slight but telling blush).

When they visit the gift shop, we see that Twilight is still having trouble learning how to find enjoyment on the trip, despite the fact that Sylvia made it an official mission. It's tragic to think that even when given orders to have a relaxing family vacation, he simply can't turn off the suspicions and anxiety in his mind. But his anxiousness about people potentially eavesdropping on him soon changes to concern about Anya's mental health. Similar to when he took her to work and had her play in the sandbox, he completely misinterprets her actions as displays of emotional trauma.

I love the interpretation from @sunfoxfic about this side of Twilight's character, to quote:

"His trauma really grounds every action he takes - everything he does is to protect others from experiencing the same trauma. Loid is a highly pragmatic and sympathetic man, and in that way, he's unwaveringly kind to everyone but himself."

Just like the sandbox incident, the scene with Anya at the gift shop is a prime example of Twilight's empathetic side that he keeps hidden from everyone else. Only we as the audience know how much he agonizes about the well-being of those who may have experienced similar trauma as he did. Since Anya's reactions make no sense to him, he can't help but conclude that she has her own share of deep-rooted trauma as well. And, as I've reiterated many times before, rather than express anger or blame her for anything, he puts responsibility on himself to do a better job at trying to understand her. And all of this relates back to what he told Desmond during their first encounter…that he won't stop trying to understand others.

While Yor is keeping watch that night, she has plenty of time to reflect on what happened the day before. As she sits there for hours in silence, we see that her expression has taken on the "robotic" look she had at the very beginning of the series "pre-family," back when her assassination work was all she focused on in her life. This is probably the longest amount of time she's had to continually concentrate on work since meeting Loid and Anya, so it makes sense that her eyes would start to harden like that.

However, when she realizes that she never tried to contact them, her eyes immediately light up as she imagines a scenario where she meets up with them on the ship.

She then starts to wonder why she was hesitating so much when fighting Barnaby. She thinks it could be because she was afraid, not of death or pain, but the fact that if she had gotten seriously injured, she may have had to leave the Forger family. This makes her think back to when Olka asked her why she was so concerned about them since they're just a cover-up family. As I've previously mentioned, Yor has come to realize that being with Loid and Anya makes her happy, but she's also resigned herself to the fact that that happiness can be taken away from her at any minute. So far the biggest threat to her place in the Forgers has been Fiona, but she was able to remedy that by talking with Loid. But this time the threat comes from something where talking isn't an option: an important job from Garden. This is why she tells herself that she needs to keep her priorities straight – as far as she's concerned, her personal happiness is secondary compared to the importance of the job at hand. As she continues to think about the people whose happiness she strives for – Yuri, Loid, and Anya – the same thought she had upon meeting Yuri on the train comes back to her…if none of the people she loves benefit from her assassin work, then why does she need to keep it up?

Continue to Part 21 ->

<- Return to Part 19

[clarisse0o]

Camp Wiegman-Part 40

Lucy Bronze x Ona Batlle

Alternative Universe : Military School

Words : 5k

TW : Homophobia

Masterlist

———————————————————————

Monday, January 18th; 7:50 AM - School Grounds.

Anxiety slowly takes over me. I’m about to meet my new class in a few minutes. Fortunately, I won’t be doing it alone. Both  Leah and  Lotte are accompanying me on this new adventure, thank God. I would have gone crazy otherwise. As if I hadn’t already had a disastrous night… Nothing is ever normal at home anyway. Everything always happens at once. My nightmares came back stronger than ever. I found myself drenched in sweat in my little bed at three in the morning. I was lucky not to have woken up Lucy. I was in a terrible state. I even had to get up and change. I think she noticed I wasn’t wearing the same pajamas this morning, but she didn’t ask me about it. She’s understood my need for space since her rejection. I don’t want to deal with her until I’ve sorted things out in my head. It’s painful, but I have to look at things positively... I’ve finally granted her wish to sleep in separate beds. Even though it worked against me last night, it’s also what I want now. It was a mistake to get used to being in her arms. I should have known better. I suddenly remembered why I keep my distance from people. But now it’s too late. Too late to regret what’s been done. The problem is, I’ve become dependent on her. That’s an undeniable fact. I found myself lying in bed staring at the ceiling, unable to fall back asleep. Her steady breathing calmed me, reminding me that I wasn’t alone, but I still couldn’t sleep. The realization that it was her, her presence against me, that I missed completely overwhelmed me. I had never reached this stage with anyone before, not even Mapi. Instead of swallowing my pride by waking her up or joining her, I locked myself in the bathroom and slid down to the floor. I was on the verge of breaking down, realizing the situation I was in. Everything hit me all at once, and I hadn’t seen it coming. I let her into my life, and now there’s no turning back. I could have cried out in sheer pain, but I didn’t. I held it in because I had no right to do otherwise. I put myself in this situation. The rest of the night gave me plenty of time to reflect with my tormented mind. I ended up spending the rest of the night on that floor until it was time to sneak back to my bed. I didn’t want  Lucy to notice my suspicious absence. My plan worked, and it’s likely to be very effective next time. Though, I doubt my body can endure this for long. I’m already struggling now. I noticed dark circles in the mirror this morning, and my eyes sting.  Lucy couldn’t see them. I rushed to the bathroom as soon as the alarm rang to cover my face with foundation.

“Relax,  Ona,”  Leah chuckles, pulling me out of my thoughts. “You’re acting like we’re going to a funeral. Your stress is palpable from miles away.”

“You’re funny,” I grumbled. “You both know everyone here, unlike me. It feels like I’m starting school all over again.”

“You weren’t even this tense when you first arrived here,” she mocks.

“I didn’t care about being here back then,” I say, shrugging. “Remember, I was looking for a way out.”

“Not anymore?”  Lotte asks.

“Looks like things change.”

“Little Batlle is evolving!”  Leah jokes. “I thought we’d finally get to see a rebel.”

“Pff, nonsense. Of course, Bronze managed to train her student again.”

That unknown voice was harsh. I look around to find the person who dared to listen in on our conversation. I spot a student I don’t know at all. She seems to be mocking me.

“Got a problem?” I reply.

“Me?” she answers, feigning outrage. “Not at all. I was just saying  Bronze succeeded again in taming the camp princess.”

I furrow my brow. Camp princess? What kind of nonsense is this? How do the students know that nickname? An inexplicable rage builds up inside me. So this is what they think of me here? That I was a little rebel that  Lucy managed to tame? If Alessia hadn’t had her hand on my arm, I would have grabbed her collar by now to make her regret her words.

“Let it go, Athenea,” scoffs a girl who just arrived. “The rumors about her must be true. She’s probably a lesbian who can’t resist the charms of our dear instructor.”

I clench my fists so tightly that my knuckles turn white as snow. This is really not the time to provoke me about that. I take a deep breath, telling myself they don’t know what they’re talking about, but that girl’s smug smile is infuriating. Looks like I’ve already found someone to despise in my new class.

“Let it go, Ona. Let them think what they want.”

I take Alessia’s advice and turn my back on those two troublemakers. I’m not going to stoop to their level by getting provoked. They’re just trying to irritate me, but I won’t give them that satisfaction. The best response is to ignore them. I was ready to continue our conversation until I felt a presence behind me.

“By the way, my name is Korbin,” she whispers in my ear. “You’re going to remember my name very quickly with all the trouble I’m going to cause you… filthy dyke.”

She walks past me, turning around to give me one last malicious smile before entering our classroom. Great. This couldn’t have started any better. She clearly doesn’t know who she’s messing with.

“We should go inside,” Alessia gently reminds me.

I nod without taking my eyes off the doors she just walked through.

“Are you okay?” she murmurs.

I sigh, nodding again while trying to hide my slight tremors. This is the first time I’ve experienced a direct homophobic remark. She pats my shoulder before I follow her into our new classroom. Most of the seats are already taken. Luckily,  Leah and Lotte got in before us and saved us seats in the back. I sit next to Alessia, taking the spot by the window. I take out my supplies and put my bag on the floor, then lean against the wall to get a view of my new class. I quickly spot the infamous Korbin, who gives me a twisted smile. Looks like I’ll have to find out more about this girl.

“Good morning, everyone, to your new Business Management class,” my new teacher’s voice snaps me out of my thoughts. “I’m Mr. Tompson, your new homeroom teacher for the rest of the year.”

I’m surprised to see a young teacher at the front of the class. He’s nothing like any teacher I’ve had before. I’d guess he’s in his early thirties at most. He has a certain charm with his slight beard and tousled chestnut hair.

“I’ll be your management teacher for the rest of the year. We’ll start off slowly by taking roll,” he continues as he heads to his desk. “Just so you know, I have notes on each of you from your previous teachers as well as instructors. This will help your new teachers and me to understand you quickly.”

 Lucy didn’t mention anything about that… Damn. I’m going to be labeled right from the start. I wasn’t particularly liked by my previous teachers.

“Well, let’s get to roll call,” he says, sitting down. “I want to put faces to the names I’ve read about.”

I sink into my chair as he calls the first name on the list. I glance at Alessia, who smiles at me. I was disappointed not to be in the same class as Alexia for the rest of the year, but maybe this will give me a chance to get closer to others. It might be a blessing in disguise. Maybe I’ll be able to forget  Lucy in the process. I furrow my brow when Alessia nudges me.

“ Batlle, Ona?”

“Sorry,” I say aloud, realizing what’s happening. “Here!”

I look my teacher straight in the eye. His are a very plain brown. He gives me a warm smile. I feel like he’s judging me in some way.

“So you’re the famous  Ona I’ve heard so much about,” he says. “I have mixed opinions about you,” he tells me. “A lot of people seem to believe in you. Let’s see how that turns out.”

“She must have slept with Bronze to get positive remarks,” the bitch from earlier snickers.

“Shut up!” I snap without thinking.

I glare at her to emphasize my words. She just smiles at me maliciously. This girl is pure poison, it’s unreal. Many laugh at her stupid joke. I really didn’t need any more rumors about me on top of everything else.

“Hey, that’s enough!” the teacher shouts. “Quiet down,” he demands, silencing the class. “There’s no place for that kind of remark here, got it?! Next time, you’ll explain your inappropriate comments to the principal.”

“Oh, come on, I was just joking,” she giggles.

“Real funny,” I growl.

- "I said that's enough!" he lectures. "I’m going to finish taking attendance, and then we’ll start the lesson right away as a punishment."

Discontented sighs are heard. They better not even try to blame me. The entire class acted childishly. I rest my head against the palm of my hand until attendance is over. I feel like this day is going to be even longer than I expected. My lack of sleep isn’t helping, but it’s best if I don’t draw attention to myself on the first day. Once attendance is over, he follows through on his threat by starting the lesson. This day isn’t much different from other Mondays. My schedule is almost identical. It’s just the content that changes. Today we have two hours of management, then two hours of math. Since it’s the first day, the hours pass more quickly. The teachers take their time getting into the thick of things. We lost half an hour in each subject listening to their spiel and their attendance list, as they don’t know most of us. Finally, lunch arrives. I was chatting with Alessia on the way to the cafeteria until a brown-haired bundle jumps on me, making me lose the little balance I have. I catch her by the thighs to prevent us from falling to the ground.

- "Oh my Onita, I missed you so much!"

- "Alexia," I chuckle. "It was just a morning!"

- "That’s already way too long. I want to see my crazy friend in class!"

I laugh as she hugs me tighter. This position must look hilarious to the others. It’s exactly what I needed after this disastrous start to the day.

- "Putellas, get down immediately," a voice I know too well commands.

My roommate must still be traumatized by Lucy to have listened so quickly. I turn to see her with a stern expression on her face. I simply adjust my backpack properly, then turn on my heel towards the cafeteria with Alexia, who places her arm over my shoulders.

- "Is there any tension in the air with Bronze?" she asks hesitantly.

- "We’ll talk about it later," I reply simply. "How was your morning otherwise?"

- "Calm... Too calm," she sighs. "I really missed you. Plus, I’m with Alba now. I have to behave seriously."

- "Oh, don’t say that," I laugh. "I’m sure she’s not as serious as she pretends to be, little Alba."

- "Oh, not her... But she makes sure that I am."

- "Hey! I’m not that bad," replies Alba, who must have overheard us.

- "Prove us wrong then," I challenge her. "Let your sister live a little!"

- "Well, she lived with you! She only had comments about talking too much in her file."

- "Oh, they gave you your comments? We weren’t so lucky. They only said they couldn’t agree on me."

- "Not surprising," Alba mocks. "Do you have a good class?" she continues.

- "Eh. I have a bitch who’s taken me as a scapegoat."

- "What’s her name?"

- "Korbin, if I remember correctly."

- "Ouch..." she comments. "Avoid her as much as possible. She’s a pain."

- "I noticed. Do you know her? If so, you’ll need to tell me everything you know about her."

- "No problem," she smiles. "We’ll talk about it at the table."

She winks at me before moving forward in line. I realize this is the first sensible conversation I’ve had with Alba. I mean, I talk to everyone around the table, but never one-on-one. The only people who’ve had that privilege are Alexia and Leah. They were the only ones I focused on because I feel close to them. I regret not opening up more to others. I now understand what Mapi meant when she said I was so hooked on Lucy that I could barely talk about my friends. In reality, I gave her so much importance that I didn’t give the same to the other people around me. I think this distance will show me all the things I’ve been missing out on.

Monday, January 18; 5:00 PM - Classroom

I pack up my things as soon as the Alba rings. I absolutely hate my first classes. I just endured two hours of accounting, and I’d be lying if I said I understood anything. It’s a subject that bores me so much that I don’t wait for permission to start packing my bag. I’m the first one standing when the teacher gives the green light to leave.

“In a rush?” Alessia asks, holding me back.

“Uh, yeah. I need to see Wiegman about something personal. I’ll catch up with you in the common room when I’m done.”

“Didn’t you say you’d study in Bronze’ office after your classes?”

“Oh, right. I changed my mind. I’ll study with you guys, so you can help me with what I didn’t understand if that’s okay.”

“No, not at all. I’d be happy to.”

“Cool,” I say with a small smile. “See you later then.”

I quickly escape from that hellish classroom, heading straight to Wiegman’s office as I mentioned. I know the way perfectly, having been there several times already. I don’t hesitate to knock on the

 door. I open it when I’m given permission to do so.

“Good aft-”

I stop in my tracks when I see not one, but two pairs of eyes staring at me.

“Well, hello,  Ona. What brings you here?”

“I wanted to discuss something with you. I can come back later if I’m interrupting.”

“Don’t be silly, we were just finishing up,” she says. “Come sit next to your supervisor. It shouldn’t bother you to talk in front of her, right?”

She couldn’t have picked a worse time to be here. I must be cursed; there’s no other explanation. Having no other choice, I shake my head before closing the door behind me. I move as slowly as possible to the empty chair next to  Lucy, placing my bag between my legs. My pulse quickens, and I can’t control it.

“What did you want to discuss?” she asks.

How did I end up in this situation? I should have left. The topic I want to discuss isn’t one I should address in front of  Lucy. Anxiety takes over me. I lower my head to avoid facing them directly, but it doesn’t stop me from feeling their eyes on me. I shake my head briefly to regain my composure. Her presence should not influence my decision. I’ve had enough time to think it over during the night. I take a deep breath. I’m ready to defend my point if necessary.

“I want to go back to my room,” I blurt out like a bombshell.

With my eyes lowered, I can’t see their reactions. Judging by the silence that follows, I doubt it’s a good one. Surprise, maybe. I gather my courage and raise my head to indeed see that expression on their faces, at least on Wiegman’s.

“I’m feeling better,” I assert confidently. “I still have restless nights, but I’m not having any more episodes. I’ve already caused enough trouble for those around me because of my personal issues.”

Laughter fills the room. I quickly regret meeting my supervisor’s gaze. It’s hard and filled with anger.

“Are you kidding me?” she hisses. “Are we talking about those dark circles under your eyes? You can hide them all you want, but it doesn’t work with me. I absolutely do not agree with this room change.”

And there it is, as expected. I’m screwed. Damn observant! I thought she hadn’t noticed. We both turn to Wiegman, waiting for his decision. She scratches his head while observing us closely. I’ve noticed it’s a habit when she’s thinking. She looks back and forth between us before finally focusing on me.

“Why do you want this change, Ona?”

“I’ve already troubled my supervisor enough. She’s losing sleep because of me, and I don’t want that to continue.”

“She volunteered for this. She’s doing it willingly. Unless you’ve changed your mind, Ms.  Bronze?”

I sense agitation next to me. She’s probably seething right now. I won’t come out unscathed from this meeting.

“Absolutely not,” she growls.

“Good. In that case, it’s up to you to decide what’s best for your student.”

“Her episodes are unpredictable,” she responds. “There’s no way she can return to her room right now.”

The tone she uses sends shivers down my spine. I don’t even dare look at her anymore. She’s going to hate me after this… Maybe that’s what I was aiming for when I made this decision. I raise my eyes to our principal when she speaks again.

“So the matter is settled,” she says, causing my shoulders to slump in defeat. “Don’t feel embarrassed about such small things,  Ona. We’re here to help you, don’t forget that. We were just talking about the remarkable progress you’ve made in your behavior.”

“Um… right,” I respond indifferently. “Can I go now? My friends are waiting for me.”

- "Yes, of course, you can go."

- "Thank you for seeing me. Goodbye."

I stand up and sling my bag over my shoulder. I head for the door, feeling the weight of  Lucy's eyes on my back.

- "You can leave too, Miss Bronze. We were finished."

I suddenly pale. Damn! I hear her thank Wiegman as I make a run for it to get out of there. I was on a good track until I heard her after slamming the door.

- "Not so fast, Batlle!"

Ouch. It's not a good sign when she uses my last name. I do the exact opposite of what she asked, running towards the exit. I was about to reach the door when  Lucy couldn't control her momentum in the chase and ended up crashing into me as I stopped. Her body pins mine against the door before she grabs me by the collar of my jacket. She forcibly drags me to a room I recognize as the restroom when we arrive. She immediately locks the door behind us to prevent me from escaping.

- "What the hell is your problem?" I snap.

- "My problem?!" she exclaims. "What about yours? You've been avoiding me like the plague since this morning! You haven't said a word to me, and now I find you in Wiegman's office asking for a room change? When exactly were you planning to tell me, huh?"

I've never seen her this angry before. She's so red with rage that I don't even dare to speak. I'm paralyzed. She seems to notice my fear because she closes her eyes for a moment. I could have taken the opportunity to slip away if she weren't standing in front of the door. I don't feel ready to face her now. I probably never will be. But I know she won't let me out of here without getting her answers, thanks to those two determined emerald jewels of hers.

- "Answer me. Explain yourself, or... I don't know. Do something!"

Her tone is harsh, and she's losing patience.  Lucy has never been someone who loses patience. My silence is affecting her more than I imagined. I lower my head, trying to come up with some reasonable excuse for what I've done, but what's the point? There’s none that can replace the truth.

- "I-I can't,  Lucy."

- "Can't what?"

- "Act like nothing happened! You rejected me, and I accept that, but... But don't blame me for distancing myself. I've been hurt by rejection enough in my life. I don't want it to happen again."

Her shoulders slump at my response. It was like she just realized the consequences of her decision.

- " Ona..." she says in a strangely calmer voice. "I-"

- "No, shut up. I don't care about the reasons, okay? I don't even know if there are any, but I understood your choice. You can't or you won't. I don't know, but the result is the same. Either way, I can't let myself develop any further feelings for you."

- "It's my fault we've come to this... I should have maintained my professionalism and avoided giving you false hope."

I laugh bitterly. I don't regret how I feel about her at all. It's her reaction I regret. I say nothing, preferring to play along with her.

- "Yeah, maybe you should have, but it's too late now."

- "I never wanted things to get to this point,  Ona. I-I thought we could stay friends, that I could help you. That's all I was trying to do."

- "You don't get it," I spit out.

She doesn't understand that it's her that I need, the relationship she's denying me. She reignited something in me that had been destroyed in my downward spiral. I'd never felt as good as I did with her by my side. I take a deep breath as I see her watching me curiously. If she thinks I'm going to make it easy for her by saying all this, she's dreaming. Who knows why she doesn’t want me? Maybe she’s seeing someone else, like that girl from the other night. They seemed close and she was pretty cute. I shake my head to get that image out of my mind. It’s none of my business.

- "Forget it. I-I... You know, today I realized that I've deprived myself of so much by focusing on you. I never wanted to feel these things for you, but it's not something you can control. I can't turn back now. Just when I thought I had finally discovered the real you..." I murmur thoughtfully.

- "Nothing is stopping us from continuing..." she murmurs, almost desperately.

- "N-no... I-I'm really sorry... B-but, I need to step back. That’s all I’m asking. If you care about me even a little, then... Stay out of my life until I need you again."

These words hurt, but it's the only solution I've found if I don't want to lose her entirely and waste the progress I've made. Running away has always been my way of protecting myself. I know  Lucy can understand that. She’s always been able to read me with unsettling ease. That’s probably why she looks so sad. She knows it’s the only way to keep me intact. She’s the one who transformed me, but she could also be the one who destroys me in the blink of an eye. That thought terrifies me. I should never have gotten so attached to her or developed these feelings. And then my friends wonder why I don’t open up anymore. It was to avoid moments like this that I stopped trusting new people. I should have kept going down that path. You always end up disappointed, even with someone as perfect as  Lucy.

- "Okay," she resigns. "I want you to know that I never wanted things to get to this point, but I'll give you the space you need so I don’t lose you completely..."

I avoid looking at her so she doesn’t see how much her words affect me and how they sting my heart. She doesn't even try to stop me or change my mind. I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to forgive her for putting barriers between us. No matter what she says, I know our relationship isn’t meaningless to her. Or maybe it is. Maybe I’ve been wrong all along.

- "Thank you for respecting my choice..." I say, not without difficulty.

- "It’s not without conditions."

My jaw tightens. How dare she ask something of me? Seeing that I’m not planning to respond, she continues.

- "I’ll give you the space you need, but you’re still sleeping in my room. I’m also offended that you wanted to talk to Wiegman about it before consulting me."

- "To forget about this whole thing, I need to cut ties completely..." I admit. "I knew you’d never let me leave, which is why I went to her directly without consulting you."

- "I figured as much, but that’s not going to happen," she says, frowning. "No matter what happened between us, there’s no way I’m going to let you spiral down again."

- "I’m not spiraling."

- "I know you. This is my condition,  Ona. I also want to keep our evening classes. Just because we had this little falling out doesn’t mean you should jeopardize your education."

I scoff at her words. So this is just a "little falling out" to her? I doubt she understands my feelings for her, then.

- "I’m not planning to jeopardize my education," I reply coldly. "But I’m not keeping those classes. I asked Alessia to help me instead, and she agreed."

My answer seems to surprise her. She doesn’t realize how thoroughly I’ve thought this through. She almost looks disappointed. Knowing that I’m still attending classes, she has no reason to forbid it.

- "I guess that’s non-negotiable...?"

- "Exactly. I need to spend time with my friends and distance myself from you."

- "Very well..." she sighs. "But don’t completely ignore me like you have the last couple of days. I want you to talk to me at least a little."

- "Yeah, whatever you say, Commander. Can I go now that the negotiations are over?"

- "Hmm... I’ll see you tonight," she says as she opens the door.

- "Yeah. I’ll probably be with Alexia before I come."

I walk out with my head held high. I feel relieved of a burden after confessing my feelings and proud of not backing down for once. But that confidence fades once I’m away from her. I have no idea how I’ll feel in the coming days... I’ve focused so much on her these past few months that it feels like I can’t live without her, and the consequences are starting to scare me. I take a deep breath when I get outside. I’m determined to prove to her—and to myself—that I can live without her. If I can make her regret her choice in the process, that would be the ultimate goal. I stop thinking about her when I reach the common room. All my friends are there. I join Alessia and Alexia, who are sitting around a table working. Well, if you can call it that. It looks more like they’re chatting than anything else.

- "Oh, Onita!"

- "Don’t start calling me that," I grimace.

- "I think it’s a cute nickname," Alessia comments.

- "Would you prefer ‘Princess’ instead?" Alexia teases. "I heard that one’s making the rounds at school."

I sigh and nod. Unfortunately, I think I’d rather it be "Onita" spreading instead of the other one. It’s going to remind me of  Lucy, and that’s exactly what I would have preferred to avoid. The first days are going to be very long. I take out my notes while replying.

- "Yeah, it seems so... I wish it weren't the case. I don’t even know how they could have found out."

- "Who knows," Ale smiles. "I heard you were at Wiegman ’s?"

- "Yeah. Bronze was there too."

- "And...?" she asks hesitantly, which makes me shrug.

- "If you want to talk amongst yourselves, I can step out," Alessia offers.

- "No, don’t worry. We’ll talk about it tonight."

- "Hey Ona, you’re finally here!" Alba enthusiastically says. "Want to play a game of foosball?" she suggests.

- "Not tonight, sorry. Alessia owes me some tutoring and it might take a while... I’m really completely lost in my new subjects."

- "To that extent?" Alessia asks. "It’s not that complicated."

- "Oh yes! It’s like Chinese to me, seriously! How can such things even exist?" I grumble.

- "Okay, I get it," Alessia chuckles. "We’ll review everything from the beginning."

I nod with a small smile. I move my chair closer to her with my stuff. I just grab some scratch paper, as I used to do with Lucy... Alessia returns my smile and gets into the groove of going over our lessons for the day. I hope the motivation will be with me; otherwise, I’ll never make it through the year.

Monday, January 18; 8:30 PM - Ona and Alexia's Room

- "How could I have missed so much?"

I’ve just confessed everything to Alexia. When I say everything, I mean the entire story between Lucy and me. I couldn’t keep it to myself knowing how I’m going to feel in the coming days. She would have found out something was wrong anyway, and I doubt she would have stayed quiet without getting answers this time. All I can say is that she is not at all happy. She’s upset that I hid the progress of this relationship from her. I bite my lip, realizing the stupidity of excluding Ale from my life. I should have confided in her rather than Lucy. Her eyes did light up when I admitted that I’ve been sleeping with her recently or when I explained how much I care about her, even now.

- "Are you in love with her?"

- "No... I said I care about her, not that I’m in love with her."

- "It was just a simple question... You know, you’re allowed to be."

- "No, I’m not allowed," I sigh. "I just told you she turned me away. Developing feelings for her would destroy me..."

- "Good grief," she sighs. "Can’t you hear yourself? It can’t be like this. Didn’t you see the way she looked at me at lunch when I was on your back? I thought she was going to kill me with that hurt look!"

- "You’re exaggerating," I roll my eyes.

- "No, I assure you... There must be another reason she doesn’t want to develop your relationship."

- "Whatever... I extended an olive branch for her to change her mind, and she didn’t take it. She accepted me stepping away rather than keeping me by her side. It’s pretty clear as a response, don’t you think? Besides, this break won’t hurt me. She just made it clear that I need to continue being wary of people."

- "I doubt she wants you to react like this..."

- "I don’t care. I just need to clear my mind, and this is the only way I can do that."

- "Alright... If you say so."

I put down the pencil I had between my fingers and let my sketchbook fall between my thighs. It’s been so long since I touched my drawing materials that I’d forgotten the relaxing effect they gave me. As far back as I remember, they were always my best means of escape. Staying in my room with Alexia was probably the best idea I had to escape Lucy for the evening. Lucy hadn’t forgotten that I owed her an explanation, so she dragged me to come with her, but I admit I should have thought of that from the start.

- "Lucy had become my pillar, but I need to prove to myself that I can live without her."

- "You’ve become addicted to her, huh?"

I frown when she says that. It’s not the first time someone has said that to me. Mapi was the first, and I’m starting to question it.

- "No... Haven’t you been talking to Mapi?"

- "Oh, no... Not at all," she mocks.

- "Of course! What did she tell you?"

- "Nothing. She wanted you to tell me yourself. I assure you," she smiles. "But now that you’ve explained everything, I can finally understand what she was talking about, and sorry for you, but I can only agree with her. You’re in love with Lucy, and you’re denying it."

- "That’s not true," I protest.

- "Yes, it is. Just admit it."

- "Definitely not."

- "Say it. It will set you free, you’ll see."

- "No," I say, shaking my head. "You don’t understand," I say desperately, making her sigh.

- "Come here."

She pats her bed. I sigh but join her, grabbing my pillow and hugging it like a stuffed animal. I then curl up when she forces me to rest my head on her shoulder. My eyes fix on a point as I lose myself in my thoughts. Ale’s strokes in my hair, meant to relax me, have the opposite effect. I hate her. That’s how I feel about Lucy right now. All the recent moments of my life are related to her. She has taken up too much space, and now I have to live with this idea while trying to resume my life before she came along. The problem is, I don’t know how it works anymore. She took care of everything. It’s as if she did my thinking for me. I wasn’t ready for everything to turn out like this. I suffocate as I release the lump that had been stuck in my throat for too long.

- "Let it out."

That’s all it takes for my tears to start flowing down my cheeks. I can’t control myself anymore. Everything comes like a tornado. I let myself fall against Alexia, who opens her arms without hesitation. I never thought it would hurt this much.

- "I love her, damn it."

I close my eyes as Alexia encourages me to let go of everything my mind has prevented me from doing. I haven’t cried this much since I’ve been in this damn camp. I’ve felt sad more than once in my life, but I’ve never expressed it so much to others. I feel like I’ve become sensitive to everything. I collapse onto my roommate’s lap as she lets me unload my emotions. She achieved what she wanted. I feel drained. I’ve poured out everything I could until I ran out of strength. Alexia holds me against her, giving me soothing pats on the top of my head to calm me down. I look pathetic with my pillow clutched against me. We stay like this for a while until a muffled noise is heard at the door. I straighten up with my back to it to wipe my face as best as I can. The door opens without permission.

- "Oh, hello Bronze..."

I freeze at Ale’s clearly deliberate hint. I can only mentally thank her for making me realize it was her behind me. I was expecting her if I came too late to her room. I think curfew must be approaching. I squeeze my eyes shut to compose myself before facing her.

- "I was told I’d find you here," she says. "Curfew is coming soon, and it seems you still need to take a shower."

- "I was about to come," I mumble.

- "Hmm... I just wanted to make sure. I was afraid you might skip out on me despite our conversation."

I haven’t discussed this part with Alexia. I didn’t want to rub salt in the wound for now. I guess I’ll have to talk to her about it tomorrow now that she has brought it up.

- "I’m coming. You can go. I’ll tidy up first."

- "I’ll wait."

I sigh and grab my sketchbook from my bed with a brusque motion. I put it away in the cupboard with the rest of the materials, taking care not to turn around even once. It’s only when I pick up my jacket from the desk that she’s likely to see my disheveled state. I approach Alexia, who has already gotten up in the meantime. I give her a huge hug of thanks. I struggle to detach my head from her neck. I imagine her smiling to give her a rare and intense contact from me.

- "Rest, " she whispers in my ear. "It will be okay."

I nod and give her a lingering kiss on the cheek. She smiles softly as we wish each other goodnight. I put my hood over my head to hide the aftermath of my evening. It doesn’t go unnoticed by Lucy, who immediately comments as I pass by her. I simply keep my head down so she doesn’t see my face as we walk.

- "I thought you weren’t coming..." she murmurs. "Sorry for barging in."

- "Trust reigns," I snap. "But it’s no problem."

- "How was your day?" she tries to continue the conversation.

- "Great. Yours?"

- "Good... And your new class?"

- "I’ve had better."

- "With Alexia, I assume."

- "Not just that."

My short, undeveloped responses make her sigh. I would have loved to tell her about my day, but I promised myself to keep my distance from now on. It’s always her who gets my debrief normally, but today it’s not the case. I’ve done it with Alexia and Amba for once. We talked a lot about that pest Korbin. I learned a few things about her, but nothing crazy. All I learned is that she’s not a person worth hanging out with. We finish the walk to her room in silence. I directly look for my pajamas and clothes for tomorrow before locking myself in the bathroom. I stay there for a good half hour for a shower. When I come out, Lucy is already ready for bed but absorbed in her laptop on her lap. I ignore her and lie down on my small bed. I still wish her goodnight before turning my back to avoid the small light she left on her side. She seems determined to leave me alone, as she responds with a simple goodnight in return.

[xoxodiluc]

lapis dei | zhongli ( genshin impact ) x female! reader

— part four.

series genre romance, angst, smut, fantasy mafia! au

summary in your family, being married and giving an heir to a certain man you’re married to is a must. after zhongli lost his wife guizhong — he was devastated. but there’s no time in wasting to find another woman who shall be his wife, and you were chosen.

cw in this chapter mentions of pregnancy, threats, mentions of blood, violence, character death, use of guns, use of sword | please read at your own risk, and please send an ask if i missed any content warnings here. not proofread.

word count 1.5k

notes + at the end this is a reupload!!! since this app wanna act up… epilogue soon :)

one | two | three | four ( you’re here )

You haven’t seen Zhongli much after the incident in the dining room a few days ago. Even if you bump into him, you doubt he would notice you.

“Madam Y/N?” A maid knocked on the door, and you told her to come in. She bowed as she entered. “Breakfast is ready.”

You nodded, thanking her before following her to the dining room, and to your surprise, Zhongli was there drinking tea.

But he didn’t acknowledge you.

It only took moments before he got up and went to his office, much to your disappointment.

He was so confusing.

Lately, you’ve been feeling tired even though you were only always lonely and bored in the mansion, and you’ve been feeling nauseous.

If you were pregnant, you were scared about what Zhongli’s reaction would be. He’ll be glad you finally gave him an heir...

But what about you?

You cursed your family for requiring you to be in an arranged marriage. Because now you were in love with a man who won’t love you back.

“Madam, you called for me?” Arya, one of your trusted maids, showed up in front of your room in no time.

“Yes. Can you keep this a secret, please?” When she nodded, you continued. “Buy me a few pregnancy tests.” She was surprised for a moment but nodded in understanding nonetheless.

“Of course, Madam.” She bowed when you thanked her before walking away, and you sighed as you closed the door.

“And if I am pregnant,” You whispered, looking down at your stomach, “What would I name you?” You scoffed, “Or would Rex Lapis name you instead?”

After Arya bought you pregnancy tests, you went to the bathroom to test them and waited for the results, and you were right.

You were pregnant.

You were elated, finally having a child, but you weren’t happy with your marriage.

Sighing, you walked by the window and noticed a letter sitting there. It was unsettling because there wasn’t any sign of who it was from. Slowly, you opened the letter, and you gasped.

‘Now, you shall perish.’ Written in blood.

“Don’t move.”

Your breath hitched when you sensed someone behind you, “W-Who… How—”

“Don’t speak. Just come with me.”

The person covered your mouth with a cloth, and you lost consciousness.

“What’s up with you these days?”

Xiao’s voice interrupted Zhongli’s thoughts. “…Hm?”

“You’ve been acting… weird.” He crossed his arms. “Is there something wrong?”

“I’d rather not talk about it. It’s not that big of a deal.”

The Yaksha was worried, but he just shrugged it off. “All right. Also, there are still no reports about your superior’s death. We’ve been investigating it for so long…Tch.”

Zhongli sighed, “We just need to try our hardest.”

A few moments later, Ganyu came bursting through the door. “Mr. Zhongli! Madam Y/N is missing! And she has received a suspicious letter… There isn’t any sign of who it’s from!”

“What?” Ganyu gave him the letter, and when he opened it, his eyes widened.

Immediately, he ordered Xiao, Ganyu, and the Millelith — “Find my wife. Now.”

“I told you to kill her, not bring her here…! Have you fucking lost your mind?!”

“I-I’m sorry… I couldn’t bring myself to!”

You slowly gained consciousness. It took a few seconds to realize your hands were tied up as you lay on the ground of an empty warehouse.

“You’re finally awake.” You recognized that voice, Raiden Shogun!

You looked up at her, glaring. “Zhongli will fucking kill you. He’ll come to find me.” You didn’t know why you said that. It slipped out of your mouth.

But you knew he wouldn’t come to find you.

“Oh? When he does come to find you, he’ll also see the woman he actually loves.”

Your eyebrows furrowed. “W-what?” As if on cue, a woman came up behind Raiden.

Lady Guizhong. Zhongli’s former wife, she’s alive?

She gave you a pitiful look, and you looked back at Raiden, a disturbing smile forming on her face. “She’s not dead. She killed Morax’s superior for her beloved husband to be the leader.”

Oh my God.

You were overwhelmed. It was slowly making sense. Raiden Shogun had probably planned this for so long — Lady Guizhong had killed Zhongli’s superior for Zhongli to be the leader, and Raiden Shogun somehow found out who the killer of his superior was, then used her in her plan.

But what would happen to Lady Guizhong now?

“Didn’t I tell you to count your days, Y/N? I’m gonna get rid of you.” Raiden Shogun pointed her gun at you, and you closed your eyes, your heart pounding so loud that you could almost hear it.

‘I’m sorry, my future child.’

You waited for the gunshot, but then Raiden hummed. “Or what if… Guizhong just kills you instead? Wouldn’t that be so fucked up?” She let out a laugh.

You opened your eyes immediately, and Lady Guizhong shook her head. “N-No please, I can’t—”

“I’m ordering you. Kill your former husband’s current wife.”

Guizhong sobbed as Raiden pushed her gun into her hands, and she looked at you. “I’m sorry.”

Suddenly, you heard gunshots outside the empty warehouse.

“How?!” Raiden Shogun angrily exclaimed, and Guizhong took the opportunity to remove the rope tied up around your wrists as soon as the Millelith crashed into the place, shooting Raiden’s soldiers.

“I left the letter you received in your room on purpose so there was evidence you were kidnapped, and I hoped they could come and save you.” Guizhong flashed a sad smile, “I’m sorry once again.”

“Raiden Shogun. I knew you were suspicious ever since you visited Liyue.”

Zhongli… He came.

He ran towards you but slowly stopped once he saw Guizhong.

“You… You’re alive…?”

Guizhong shook her head, “I’m sorry. Please. Save Y/N and forget about me.” He stared at her in shock.

“Ah, my plan is all ruined!” Raiden Shogun spoke up, holding a tachi in her hand. “Guizhong killed your superior for you to become the new leader, Morax. She deserves to perish, doesn’t she?”

Slash!

And just like that, Guizhong was dead. Zhongli’s breath hitched.

Tears formed in your eyes as you grabbed the gun Guizhong was holding and pointed it at Raiden Shogun. You shot her in the shoulder as she cried out in pain. “You…!”

Zhongli immediately grabbed your hand and pulled you towards the door to escape, but you felt Raiden’s sword slashing your back, making you groan and fall. He looked back furiously to shoot her, but she managed to flee the warehouse.

“Go! I’ll take care of this!” Xiao yelled out as he shot Raiden’s soldiers. Zhongli picked you up, starting to panic when he saw you losing consciousness as he ran out of the warehouse. Ganyu then showed up and helped Zhongli carry you.

“Y/N... Live. Please.”

That was the last thing you heard from him before you passed out.

You opened your eyes slowly, attempting to get up, but it hurt like hell. “Ow!”

“Finally.” You heard someone say, then saw Zhongli giving you a small smile. “Don’t try to get up yet. You’re still not well.”

You slowly sat up and looked away from him, making him frown.

Didn’t he tell you to fuck off because you aren’t his real wife? Why is he here?

“Um…” You started, “How did you know where I was?”

“You received a threat, right? Then you went missing. I immediately ordered Xiao to do everything he can to find you. The first person who came to mind is Raiden Shogun, who’s been suspicious ever since she visited Liyue. I was right.” He sighed, “And I was scared… You’d be dead as soon as we got there. I’m glad you weren’t.”

You huffed, “Why would you be scared?”

“Because… I love you.” You looked at him, surprised at his sudden confession. “After Guizhong ‘died’, I was scared of falling in love again. That’s why I said those foolish things and started avoiding you because I realized I was falling in love with you. I’m sorry for that.” Zhongli held your hand, “But trust me, I do love you.”

“Really?”

“Yes.” He said, “Fuck the contract. I’m willing to break the contract for you. Only you.”

You swallowed a lump in your throat. “How do I know you’re not lying?”

“I’ll prove it to you. I’ll do anything. Please.” Zhongli — Rex Lapis got on his knees, looking up at you as his hands clasped yours tightly. “I beg of you, believe me when I say I love you.”

Take the risk or lose the chance.

Because even after all the unfortunate events, you still loved him.

You sobbed, pulling him up to his feet and hugging him. “I believe you.”

“We still have a long way to go,” He kissed your forehead, and you saw tears in his eyes as he looked down at your stomach. “We’ll take care of this little one, too.”

“You knew?”

He intertwined his hand with yours. “I saw the test before we came to find you. Thankfully after the incident, our baby is fine. You’re so strong.”

You smiled, and it quickly faltered when you remembered the previous events. “What happened to Raiden Shogun?”

His face suddenly turned serious. “She managed to escape after attacking you, which is unfortunate. Fear not, I made sure you’re completely protected and no one is taking you away from me now. I won’t allow it.”

You laughed. “Noted.”

notes that’s it for zhongli’s series! idk i kinda feel eh about it 😭 but there might be an epilogue :) thank you so much for reading! 💖

taglist @dori-mon @angel-of-requiem @xxshinimakixx @aclairysm @celesther @pluviophilefangirl @eternallyvenus @shrynkk @diachibaby @rimsthebest2 @byundumb @youngpainterpizzalawyer @swirrley @deimmortales99 @whattaweeb @hoanganhduong @kyomihann @puppieee @dancing-hillary @limelightsuperhero @beef-stew @local-mr-frog

xoxodiluc © 2022 | all rights reserved. do not claim as your own, modify, copy or repost.

[asheepinfrance]

fic 1 of hopefully 4 tn. hopefully... i am asking you to hope with me because this girl is distractable. anyways here's a little tashi piece that i started yesterday and finished most of just now. i don't love love love this one because im still kinda finding my tashi characterization, so please feel so free to go "hey queen this is hot doodoo ass". also dw i saw the poll, already got an art piece in mind to get started on. i am writing for the people's princesses tn. the usual spiel: thanks for reading, feel free to leave tips and such, all my love.

When Tashi started this whole thing you both have, she was convinced it was just out of pity. I mean, who was she to deny you a date when you were practically wide-eyed and whimpering at her feet. Ok, well maybe it wasn’t that pathetic, but it may as well have been. You would’ve begged her to take a chance because girls are good, too. She knows it, you readily admit it, and it’s a surprise to no one because there’s not one guy who wouldn’t beg for Tashi Duncan. It was only mildly insulting to see the shock on everyone’s face when she chose, of all the suitors presented to her, you. The girl in the back of her Abnormal Psych class with a warmth about her. A warmth that’s usually sequestered until it crawls up and out of your throat. Tashi never had that warmth about her. At least, that’s what she told herself. She’s not so sure if that’s true anymore, or if it ever was. You seem determined to make her realize things about herself, like, how maybe the reason she just hated all her former, puppy-pathetic boyfriends wasn’t them, but their not being women. Who knew? (She did, somewhere deep down).

There were some perks to the whole girl thing, even if it wasn’t a serious relationship. To you it was, but to her this was just giving you the attention you so clearly needed from her. You’ve accepted as much, you’re just grateful to get it in any capacity. I mean, she never looks suspicious if she’s out wearing your clothes, and no one questions why she has a new shade of lipstick on some days, and a perfume she’s never used coating her skin. Because it’s just her liking the comfort of being with a girl. You’re like a best friend, really. A best friend she just happens to find very pretty. A best friend who finds her pretty in return. 

She doesn’t outright reject your physical affection either, from the sweet, strawberry-flavored kisses that leave her lips sticky with gloss to the arms around her waist, fingertips just under the fabric of her shirt. Of course, she responds with enthusiasm. Not cause she likes you doing it, specifically, but who doesn’t like a little bit of touch? She’s cold and relatively uncaring, when she can remember to maintain that front, with you until you place a hand on her. It’s like some mystery switch gets flipped and it’s all she can do not to melt. Tashi Duncan doesn’t melt for anyone. She certainly doesn’t melt for women, because that’s just not who she is. 

Oh, she’s so fucked. Royally fucked. Of course she offered to help you get dressed for some night clubbing with those friends she doesn’t really like, fake ID at the ready on the nightstand nearby, because that’s one thing she’s experienced in. She knows the world of putting on a perfect physical front like no one else does. But it’s doing something to her she’s never felt. Or at least, she’s never readily admitted to herself that she’s feeling it. You’re running that stupid, strawberry-flavored gloss of your lips, looking at her through the mirror. That dress is so short. You could bend just about any part of your body and be in seriously risky territory. She’s not complaining when it’s for her, because she did happen to get a glimpse of some black lace and she’s just waiting for it to happen again. But other people? Other girls? Like hell that’s happening. Because as much as she might tell herself it’s not the case, she really does like you. She likes just about everything you’ve revealed of yourself. That you’re understanding about the whole “new to girls” thing, that you guide her through just about any moment of fear she presents (usually via anger). 

Had she always been able to be honest with herself, she knows she would’ve said something sooner. Done something grander than just let things happen. Tashi doesn’t sit back and take things, and she’s disgusted with herself for having let you take the lead of this because poor little Tashi is brand new to the world of dating girls. Fuck that. Fuck sympathy, fuck pity, and fuck inaction. 

She’s only ready to admit she could love a girl, love a specific one, after everything. You’d told your friends you’d come down with a fever, and spent just as much time getting your hair ruined as you did putting it in place. It’d been the first time she’d initiated anything, wandering hands and soft lips meeting, and it spiraled into what’s still got her breathless. She’d only ever felt that good on the court, as stupid as that may sound, but it’s true. You fell asleep not too long after, pretty, tiny dress all crumpled up at the foot of the bed, breathing soft against her face where it rests close to yours. There’s smudges of pink across your chin and black trails of mascara cascading down the apples of your cheeks, and she knows you’d hate yourself if you let yourself fall asleep with that much product on to seep into your pores and stain your pillowcases. She wipes it away with about as much delicateness as she can. She finds she has much more than she’d been previously aware of. Maybe it’s only accessible in your presence. She finds herself just watching you breathe for the longest time, bare skin warm against hers, legs tangled around hers like ivy on a tree. 

She says what she means to the top of your head, and it seems like you’re a much better actress than she’d thought, because you tilt your head up to press a matching kiss between her furrowed brows, and say “I love you, too.” It’s the first time Tashi lets herself fully relax in anyone’s presence, certainly yours, since she was too young to remember that all anyone wants from her is perfection. That’s probably what she loves about you so much. You just want her. And she just wants you.

[molagboop]

I know nothing about the AU. Give me the rundown of the basics!

Raven Beak is extradited from ZDR after his climactic battle with Samus Aran and delivered straight into the custody of the Galactic Federation's most notorious federal penitentiary. Six months later, he's suspiciously let out on parole, wherein he immediately locates Samus' apartment and asks to be let in.

After a lengthy discussion, she relents, he makes potato pancakes for dinner, and she has a new roommate. This was not intended to be a permanent arrangement, but as Raven Beak's next of kin and only living connection to his esteemed warrior culture, Samus is in a prime position to help him acclimate to living in polite society again and please maybe convince him to be a good little citizen and not blast us all to bits please and thank you.

Thus, Samus has the enviable task of watching a retired Chozo Warlord half-heartedly bumble his way through the streets of the Federation capital on planet Daiban, and reigning him in when he tries swindling groceries away for free from weak-hearted clerks who don't speak Chozo.

Still significantly weakened from their battle, Raven Beak is in no position to murder Federation officials and wrest control of the galaxy from unworthy hands.

Freshly retired, our washed up Warlord must find a niche to settle into on an alien planet full of brittle non-warriors and too-short doorways. Can he survive long enough to find a suitable knitting circle and martial arts dojo in the heart of enemy territory? Will water aerobics be the recreational activity to finally soothe his indomitable spirit?!? Only time will tell.

Raven Beak isn't a complete drag to have around, though: he's a phenomenal cook, he cleans up well, and he keeps the nest when Samus has to leave the planet chasing a bounty. When she can't be around to keep an eye on the big guy, Samus calls upon her ever-reliable friends and neighbors to make sure her once estranged uncle-father isn't jacking any spacefaring vehicles to hightail it off this dump.

The series deals mostly in comedy, with Raven Beak reacting to life on Daiban, bickering with Samus, and forging a new path all his own now that he has no flesh military nor robot army of his own to command. Will he find new purpose in this alien world, or will he slit Samus' throat in her sleep and devour the heart of the Galactic Federation like some fucked up pelican?

Samus is banking on it being the former. She really, truly hopes it'll be the former.

The most important things to keep in mind regarding this universe:

Raven Beak is sleeping on Samus' couch, acclimating to civilian life on a Federation planet.

They don't hate each other, but there is a level of distrust: they're slowly getting to know one another. The mostly one-sided "I hate you" period of their relationship ran the duration of the first week and a half of his stay, but Samus has since realized that she really did a number on him back on ZDR, and has sort of relaxed.

Raven Beak is comically tall. There are some tall aliens here, but he is stupid tall. Some doorways and most apartment bathtubs do not accommodate him. His height is not always accurately conveyed because composition is hard.

Raven Beak has not earned the privilege of the esteemed title of "father" or "papa". He is "big guy", "old [man]", and "he's uhh, kind of like an uncle or a grandpa, technically related by blood... no, he didn't raise me. Kind of like a distant relative. He's here for the summer, maybe longer. Why do you ask?"

This is her life now, and she's accepted it. Every meal's been a banger, though: at least she has that to look forward to.

So far, we've only seen them interact at home, but he will go outside. Oh boy, will he go outside. This gargantuan warrior-poet is about to be everyone else's problem.

[exo-raskreia]

ok so i wanted to share my experience with bleach to you bc i just love that anime and it feels nice to do so after i read your blog haha (i like the way you think <3)

also it is kind of funny now that i think about it

i watched bleach for the first time when i was 14, i remember it was the first time i felt like so good with an anime, like when you say "damn this is what i was looking for"

i remember that at that age i didn't care that much about romance, i just liked to see ichigo fighting and i just hyped everytime i saw his inner hollow

EITHER WAY

i always knew/thought at that time that ichigo was in love with rukia, and yes i always knew/thought they were end game LIKE FR it was something obvious

years after that idk how but i got to know that ichigo ended up with inoue and i couldn't fucking believe it, i swear it was a shock at first but then again i didn't even care about it eventually bc i just cared about ichigo

years later i re-watched the anime as an adult and i just felt the same thing, that ichigo was so in love with rukia it fucking hurt, you know? and until that time i never read the manga, so i decided to do it (also i did it to see if ichihime's fans were right about everything they said, that in the manga you could see how ichigo "cared" about inoue)

AND YOU DON'T KNOW HOW I REGRET THAT BECAUSE I JUST FELT AWFUL

IT WAS THE FIRST FUCKING TIME I CARED ABOUT THE ROMANCE IN BLEACH

i mean i saw/felt even more the love ichigo had for rukia, and also rukia for ichigo. it was like they were so fucking in love they thought they had it well hidden but no, you just had to see their fucking eyes when they looked at each other and you would realize

i tried with all my fucking willingness to interpret the parts ichihime'a fans talked about so much, dude i felt uncomfortable, they were just moments were you could see inoue simping about him and ichigo didn't even notice her

I WAS LIKE ??? WHAT IS THIS PPL TALKING ABOUT?

and i really tried to like ichihime bc i love ichigo, he's like my fucking entire adolescence and i just wanted to see him happy

i just can't help but fucking feel he's the most unhappy person, he just loved to be a sould reaper and loved to be around rukia, in the end he didn't get anything of that and i ended up feeling fucking disappointed

so it is funny for me how as a teenager something i thought as an adult was going to change, in the end didn't, it just got confirmed

i just can't understand what was kubo thinking about when he gave us that end for ichigo, like even if he pretended ichihime to be end game, he should have given them the same (or more) development he gave to ichiruki. because there's fucking nothing between ichigo and inoue more than a fucking friendship (i don't even know to say if even that)

i thought about all this when i saw a comment of an ichihime saying "i just hope they confirm that poem was for zangetsu and not for rukia" you know in that post where ichigo's seiyu finally gave us those LOVELY WORDS for rukia

which first doesn't make sense if you want to interpret it that way (at least for me) and second...

DOES IT FUCKING MATTER?

even if it did ichiruki has a lot more, the way they look at each other, the way they support each other, the way they bring the best of each other, the way they trust each other, the way they talk about each other and i can fucking go on

i just wish i hadn't read the manga bc it made me care about something i didn't and i ended up feeling disappointed haha :(

i realized i wrote a lot, you probably won't read this but hey i wanted to get this out of my system

sorry if there's grammatical errors, english is not my first language. i love your blog and your mind <3

Wow, anon, no worries! And thanks! 😊 Even those who don't care for romance see how suspiciously romantic IR comes off as 🤭. (I'm telling u, I think most of the fanbase & their mother thought IR would end up together...)

The manga is definitely more on the nose about IchiRuki. Everything stands out more, is more emphasized. U gotta have a severe lack of reading comprehension to not see the potential between them. People who think the anime pushed IR clearly haven't read the manga; the anime only added slightly to what was already established (and the manga still did it better), such as the ice skating episode that Kub0 expressed satisfaction in 👀. He always seemed to express enjoyment with the portrayal of IR in adaptations 🤷‍♀️.

That's why I can't believe for a second that Kub0 had "always" intended IH. Everything about them screams they don't work together; they had no chemistry, no special moments, no bonding, no poems, no good teamwork, no trust, no special thoughts from Ichigo towards Ori, etc...

IchiRuki will always be the most special bond in Bl3ach. Nothing could top it. And it's not some regular friendship or rivalry bond like in other battle shounens with male characters. It's a special bond between a man & a woman who met in such a supernatural romance sort of way. Boy meets girl. Girl saves him. He saves her. Like, hello?? Heck, some people have made theories that Bl3ach is more YA fantasy or shoujo (like Ichigo being a shoujo protag) than shounen, lol.

(That's why I hate it when antis try to lump IR in with non-canon mlm ships, forcing Rukia to be just "one of the guys". They do it cuz otherwise, IchiRuki's special bond is unexplainable to them cuz wdym that Ichigo is this close to a woman that's not even his future wife— 🤪🤷‍♀️).

(On that note, one of the closest ships I've seen in animanga to the IR bond is NaLu from Fairy Tail. Ichigo ending up with Ori is like if Natsu were to end up with Lisanna 💀. Of course, FT is still ongoing so NaLu becoming canon is still on the horizon~)

IH could never. Kub0 can't even bother to give them content. Same with RR. He really could care less.

Even if Kub0 ended up retconning the "speed of the world" poem to make it about Zangetsu, it still wouldn't take away from how special the IR bond was throughout the manga. Ntm, the moment Ichigo regained his powers, he immediately set down his zanpakuto on the ground to stare at Rukia longingly while everyone's watching 🤣. Yeah, he really pined after those powers & not the woman in front of him...

Glad u also think IH didn't have much of a friendship either. They always seemed more acquaintances than friends. Ori was always just there? Butting into Ichigo's business? They never bonded...

Anyway, it's ok, anon, & hope that despite it all, you can still enjoy IR 🙂.