#still gotta wear em at night tho ;-;

[indiestsnake]

for the first time in two and a half years I can spend an entire 12 hours without some variety of metal in my mouth

[paintyoureyeswithavividmind]

close to home | chapter seventy one

close to home | chapter seventy one

plot: time continues to pass for the reader

series masterlist

Pairing: Eventual Daryl Dixon x f!reader Word Count: 3,008 Warnings: violence, blood, typical twd A/N: my body dysmorphia is insane rn I've lost like 70 pounds this year and I cannot keep up with how I look mentally and its such a mind fuck I cry like every day cause nothing is good enough I need to go back to therapy honestly at least by ed is under control tho

“I can’t find anything,” You groaned as you shut the dresser drawer. “All I want are the sweatpants Michonne had when she was pregnant, and I can’t find them. My life is over.”

The hardwood floor was cold against your back as you lay down against it. You whined as tears filled your eyes. 

“Did ya leave ‘em downstairs?” Daryl asked, standing above you. “Why ya always gotta lie on the floor?”

“Because it’s where I find comfort,” You retorted. “I just want my pants.”

Daryl sighed, and you watched him leave the new bedroom. It was only your third night here, as you had to wait for the paint fumes to leave before you could sleep. And Daryl made sure you waited. You hadn’t even finished moving all your belongings up.

You stared up at the ceiling and waited until Daryl came back, holding the pants you were looking for. “They were in ya dresser, crazy girl. Now get off the floor.”

“Will you help me put them on?”

He sighed again as he sat down on the bed and nodded. “Let’s go, woman, ain’ got all night.” 

You chuckled as you slowly got up off the floor. Using his shoulders to help keep balance, he slid the pants to your waist, so the front band was resting under the bump. 

Daryl put his hands on your waist and kissed the bump right above your belly button, his lips grazing against the healed scars. “We gotta start thinkin’ of names. She gonna be here in four months.” 

“I have a name already, just keeping them a secret for now.” You said, shutting off the lights and then climbing into bed. 

“Secrets, huh? Thought we wasn’ supposed to have secrets between us?”

You felt his arm wrap around your lower waist, and then his bare chest was against your arm. You smiled and turned your head, leaning up to kiss him. 

“I will tell you soon.” You bumped your nose against his and then looked up at the ceiling. “It’s way too hot in here. I can’t wear these sweatpants.” 

***

Between months five and six, your belly seemed to explode. It was now a full-on pregnancy belly, and everything was bothering you. Your clothes itched, your food was dry, and you were either too hot or too cold. 

Daryl met every demand you requested or didn’t, and you were eternally grateful he was with you. He held you every night, ensured you could sleep comfortably, and helped you with everything he could. 

Still, it was hard. He never thought he’d be a father, never wanted to be one until he met you and saw the life he could have. He never thought he’d even have a wife, let alone someone like you. Someone who was as brave and strong as you. He knew that baby was the luckiest baby in the world to have a mother like you. 

“You okay?” 

Daryl glanced up at Aaron and came back to the present. They were about fifteen feet up, clearing another foot of snow off the storage shelter before it got too weighed down. 

The archer nodded and watched Aaron turn to see what he’d been staring at. 

You were on the street, your jacket covering the ever-growing bump, and you were with Rosita, Gabriel, and Michonne. You were laughing, with red cheeks, and seemed healed. Like the hell you’d been through was long behind you. 

“Three more months, right?” Aaron asked. “You excited?”

“Just be happy once it’s over, and they both okay,” Daryl said, shoveling off some snow. 

“I can’t wait until she’s here. You guys picked out any names? Gracie wanted me to suggest Belle, but I think she just likes Beauty and the Beast too much.”

Daryl snorted. “Nah. (Y/N)’s got some names, but ain’ tellin’ me yet.”

Aaron laughed as he flung some snow off the roof. “Sounds like her.”

Daryl paused and looked at his friend, his tongue heavy in his mouth as he thought about yours and his conversation from last night. “Hey uh, listen, she wanted me to ask ya… she wanted ya to be the baby’s godfather. In case anythin’ ever happens to us.” 

Aaron paused and looked at the archer, a smile already growing on his red-cheeked face. “I would be honored.”

Daryl nodded and shoveled more snow off the roof. “She gonna pick between Rosita and Michonne. Don’ say anythin’.”

The two of them quickly finished the roof and soon had their feet on the ground. Daryl walked around the building and towards you. 

His steps slowed so he could admire how beautiful you looked with red cheeks and wind-curled hair loose from its braid but under a wool hat. And he loved seeing the bump. He loved seeing you pregnant with his baby. He loved that everyone knew you were pregnant with his child. Perhaps that was why he couldn’t keep his hands off you in the bedroom and why he knew you were still sore from the way you shifted your weight back and forth.

Daryl’s entire world was wrapped up in an old parka. 

You smiled widely when he approached you, and your arm wrapped around his waist. 

“We should get ya inside, get that baby somethin’ to eat.” He told you quietly. 

“My keeper has returned. I will see you guys later.” You said. 

The house was warm when he led you to it, and after he made sure you ate a decent amount and had the tea that Siddiq ensured was great for prenatal care—thanks to Hilltop—he knew you were ready to lie down. 

Your middle-of-the-day naps were a regular occurrence. 

“I can’t wait to get her out of me,” You sighed loudly as you shut the door behind you. “I’m so exhausted every day.”

Daryl sat down at the edge of the bed and brushed back his hair to watch you change. 

“She kept me up half the night kicking.” You continued, but your words drowned out as he stared at you. 

You’d put on weight since getting pregnant, which of course, was a given. Your thighs were a little thicker, and your hips had a curve to them they didn’t before. And, of course, there was the bump. With lighting strikes of stretch marks claiming the undersides of the bump. 

More scars that made you you. 

“Are you even listening to me?”

Daryl blinked and looked up at you. You were wearing an oversized shirt that did little to hide the bump, and he grabbed your arm to pull you toward him. 

“Ya look gorgeous,” He said, pulling you to sit on your lap. He knew you wouldn’t be able to fit in a week's time. You barely fit as it was.

“Oh, here we go again.”

“Shut the hell up, crazy girl,” Daryl said before kissing you deeply. 

His hands pressed against your waist before roaming your body, taking in every dip, curve, mark, and bump. He couldn’t keep his hands in one spot as he slid them under your shirt to feel your warm skin. 

“Daryl…” 

He hummed against your lips and pulled away. “Get on the bed.”

***

You were panting as you pulled your shirt down. Daryl fell beside you and pressed a kiss to your temple. His breathing was labored, and you thought back to only minutes ago when he had your back against his chest, his fingers caressing you, and he was taking you from behind. Or from when, even earlier, looking down while riding him into oblivion. 

“And I thought we had a lot of sex when we were at the Sanctuary.” You mused, grabbing his hand and intertwining your fingers. 

“Ain’ like ya gonna get pregnant.” 

You laughed loudly and shook your head. “Daryl Dixon making a joke. He must be in a good mood.” Your smile widened when he told you to shut up. 

You sighed with contentment and kissed his shoulder. “Are we gonna talk about the Kingdom?”

“I know ya don’ want me to go.”

You shook your head. “No, it’s not that. You can handle yourself out there. And the Kingdom needs escorts. I just hate the idea of not being out there with you. But I also know how much Carol and Ezekiel need you.”

“It’s only a few days. And I can radio ya once I get there.” 

You shifted your hips as the baby moved, then sat up to move his arm and cuddle against him. “Every day at ten in the morning.”

Daryl turned on his side and pressed a kiss against your cheek. “If that’s what ya want.”

“And tell Jerry I expect a cobbler next Apple season. Actually, two, since I’ll only be a few months postpartum.”

Daryl hummed and kissed you again. “Anythin’ for ya, baby girl.”

***

You cried for an hour after Daryl left with the group the next morning. You were positive it was just the hormones, but you couldn’t help it. So you ended up at Gabriel’s house with Rosita, eating a jar of canned peaches from Hilltop and listening to old records. 

Her bump was showing too, though yours had a good two months of her. You couldn’t believe that the two of you were pregnant simultaneously, let alone so closely together. It made you feel even closer to her. 

But when the kids got out of school you headed back home, and were on parent duty. You would be on parent duty until Michonne was back. Not that you minded. You loved the two of them like they were your own. 

“Alright, come on Jude,” You said as you stretched a fitted sheet over the chairs. “RJ, go run up and get the pillows, okay?”

The little boy took off upstairs, and you smiled when you heard him thudding around. 

“Can we make some popcorn?” 

“Do we still have kernels?” You asked, looking at the tent the two of you just built. 

“I think so. I’ll check.”

She ran off just as RJ came back with every blanket in the house, it seemed like, and you had the little boy help you get them sorted. 

“I never made a fort before,” RJ smiled up at you. 

“There’s a first time for everything, little man.” You said. 

Judith returned with a jar of kernels, which you hoped would pop. You weren’t sure how long they’d been in the cellar for. The last time you had popcorn was a few years back after some corn didn’t take. 

But, you would try for the two little kids who looked at you like you were their world. 

***

The following week was uneventful. You spoke to Daryl every morning as you agreed. The Kingdom was done for. It was worse than what Ezekiel had been saying. And Carol wasn’t doing well either. 

Lydia was having a hard time, and Daryl thought it would be best if she came here. You’d start preparing a room for her soon. 

It was nice talking to Daryl. His voice was so rough through the radio that it made you wish he was there with you. You had to keep reminding yourself he would be home in a few days' time. They’d be headed to Hilltop, where he would stay a few days and then come home to you. Your bed was too lonely without his massive body, and the room too quiet without his annoying snoring. 

“He’ll be back soon; stop moping around,” Rosita said, handing you a steaming cup of tea as you waited for the kids to get their belongings together. 

“Hopefully, they’ll beat the storm,” Siddiq said. 

“Don’t remind me; I’m worried about them enough as it is.” You said, taking a long sip. “Judith, RJ, hurry up!” You yelled after. 

“Gabriel and Eugene are already at the church getting supplies in, and it’s starting to snow, so we should go now,” Rosita said. 

Both the kids came down with bags on their shoulders and bundled under their clothes. You wrapped a blanket around the youngest and cupped Judith’s face. 

“Come on, babe, we gotta move before the sun sets and the temperature drops,” Rosita said, handing you your jacket. 

You quickly put it on, then slung your bag around your shoulders and opened the front door. 

The cold wind pushed back your hair, and you adjusted the scarf around your neck. It was well below freezing, and you could feel the cold soak into your bones. 

“I miss Georgia winters,” You mumbled, taking RJ’s hand. “Come on, kids.” 

It wasn’t a long walk to the church, and before long you were sitting RJ down by the fire and telling Judith to do the same. With the door fully shut and blankets keeping out any extra air, you dumped your bag down and rubbed your gloved hands together. 

You sipped at your canteen and then glanced over at Negan, who was sitting on his cot and rubbing his hands together. 

He smiled at you when you walked over. “Hi, baby.”

“You really should stop calling me that.” You shoved your hands in your pockets. “If Daryl hears you say that…”

“And I thought you would’ve told him.”

“Not important enough to tell him,” You said and shrugged your shoulders. “Do you need anything?”

“I’m okay, thank you. You haven’t come to see me in a while. How’s the baby?”

You rubbed your hand against your stomach. “Fine, thank you very much. And I’ve been busy. Let me or Gabriel know if you need anything.” 

***

It was getting colder by the minute. Your hands were shaking as you wrapped another blanket around Judith and RJ. “Stay close. I know it’s cold.” You kissed each of their heads and then walked over to Eugene and Rosita. 

There was still tension in the air from Negan being an asshole, and you could see how annoyed Rosita was, especially after the sorrowful news about the fireplace. 

“If we’re going to go to Aaron’s, we really need to move now.” You said, trying to keep yourself from shaking terribly. God, you wished Daryl was here. 

“I agree. The temperature is going to keep dropping.” Eugene said. 

“Alright, we got rope in here, right? Let’s tie us all together in a line so nobody gets lost,” You said. “We’ll keep the kids in the center. Eugene will take the front. Siddiq in the back.” 

Rosita and Eugene both nodded, and you all got to work. You bundled the kids under a blanket each and tied RJ’s hat strings tightly around his head. You did the same with Judith. 

“You two stay on this line no matter what, you got that?” You asked. They both nodded. 

You walked over to Rosita and Gabriel, who were preparing themselves. “Put Negan behind me in the lineup. I don’t trust him behind anyone else but me. You know he won’t hurt me.” You said, zipping your coat all the way up. 

Though you knew they weren’t thrilled, they both agreed. Siddiq came over and handed you another blanket and helped you tie it around you so it wouldn’t come undone. Then he put your bag on your shoulders. 

You found your spot on the line, checked on RJ and Judith, and then Negan behind you before the doors opened. 

The wind was strong enough to push you backward when you stepped outside. Whirls of white spun around you, and the community had that snowing lightness to it. But it was freezing. A type of cold you hadn’t experienced yet. This blizzard was nothing sort of a terrible, new experience in a world of just that. 

It was hard to keep track of anything. You could barely focus on the ground below you and each step. But when you heard Dog barking, your first thought was of Judith. 

“Judith!” You screamed after the little girl. You didn’t hesitate before running after her. 

You heard someone yelling your name but couldn’t see anything through the white haze. But you could hear Dog. 

Then you could hear your name, and suddenly, Negan was limping toward you. 

“We need to find Judith!” You screamed over the wind. 

He nodded, and the two of you pushed forward into the blizzard. It felt like an eternity, like when you lost her in the woods all those months ago. But finally, you saw her near the children’s playground, leashing Dog on a bit of rope. 

“Here!” You yelled, pulling Negan’s arm. When you got to the young girl, you grabbed her by the shoulders. “Don’t you ever do anything like that ever again!” You yelled, fighting back painful tears. 

“I couldn’t leave him,” She yelled. 

You cupped her red cheeks and looked up at Negan. “You need to carry her. I got Dog.” 

The blizzard fought you every step of the way. It pushed and pulled until you couldn’t feel your face, fingers, or feet. Your boots and gloves were soaked through, and each step felt like you were walking on knives. 

But when you finally saw the glow of Aaron’s house, it gave you enough energy to push Negan forward. 

“(Y/N), Judith!” Rosita yelled as soon as she saw your figures. “Thank God.”

You walked up the icy steps to Aaron’s house, and Rosita ushered you inside. The heat from the fire hit you hard, and you let go of Dog and let Rosita lead you to the couch in front of the fire. 

“Judith,” You called, and the girl walked over to you. She sat beside you, and you wrapped your arm around the half-frozen girl. You called for RJ, who was climbing into your lap before you could even finish saying his name. “Thank God,” You whispered.

Rosita put a blanket over the three of you. “Judith, don’t you ever do that again.” 

“I needed to get Dog,” She said. 

“It’s okay… it’s okay….” You breathed out, still shaking. “Let’s just warm up and get through the storm.” 

[whoblewboobear]

We made Jace too cool and shameless. We gotta give him so deep cut nerd shit or a hobby that he’s so protective and secretive about.

The thing is, he is old. Like he’s accepted that shame is indeed a landfill emotion and no amount of judgment could make him care. BUT, I’m thinking something that if Porter or Zara walked in while he was indulging he’d get nervous and try to hide it.

Kinda like the idea of him having a little craft room where he repaints dolls and sews little clothes and things. He wears his glasses and puts his hair up to keep it from getting in his eyes. He has a fancy stool so he doesn’t get sore from sitting for so long.

One day Porter gets home from the gym earlier than usual and finds Jace in like- a room that definitely wasn’t in their house before, definitely enchanted to be hidden or something, with Jace inside humming along to his music as he plucks hairs out of a dolls head from the neck hole so he can reroot it.

And Porter is just silently watching him, completely curious and unjudging. Maybe even a little in awe of how strange it looks. He’s pretty sure there’s a doll head soaking in water, but the whole room really has a pungent nail polish remover smell so maybe it isn’t water-?

By the time that Jace notices him, Porter has barely taken in the shelf of beautiful customs. Rows and rows of dolls. He always found dolls a bit creepy even when his daughter was little he thought they were watching him when he went to pick up her toys.

Jace’s little shriek as he gets up pulls porters focus back to him just as his boyfriend starts ushering him out of the room. Waving a hand the minute the door is closed to hide it again.

“You didn’t see that.” Jace watches Porter, kind of hoping and silently pleading with him to forget it.

Oh but Porter definitely did see that. Or some of it, he’s not really sure why Jace is hiding it all anyway. It’s different but they’ve met enough people and everyone has their interests. He’s pretty sure a student he had about 4 years back would storyboard how she’d crush her enemies. She’d hide her sketchbook away, but would always turn in a panel with her written assignments. It was cool.

“We have a spare room with windows, baby,” is all he offers. The remnants of acetone still singing his nostrils. Jace just rolls his eyes, gets to his toes and pecks Porter’s lips. “You don’t think it’s weird?”

“Nah,” porter grins, leaving a lingering kiss on Jace’s temple. “Why’d you pull the hair out like that tho?”

Jace’s eyes light up a bit only taking a half beat before he starts gushing about the rerooting process and how he found a really gorgeous shade of blue hair online and wants to make a a yeti fashion doll. The more he talks the more relaxed he is, eventually bringing the door to his craft room back and showing Porter all of the moving parts. Custom clothes and redrawn faces meticulously and impeccable in quality. He walks Porter back through his earlier projects and how “bad” they were.

“I like to draw the eyes looking to the left, makes ‘em less creepy,” he offers. Pointing the detail out to Porter, going on about eye shines and the perfect glaze to make them pop.

Porter can’t bring himself to be creeped out by the dolls, Jace made them and he loves Jace. So by extension he thinks they have charm.

Later that weekend he helps Jace move his craft room upstairs where there’s better ventilation. Jace says he’s being overdramatic but Porter smiles to himself when Jace positions his desk in front of a window. He also gets Jace a lil face mask for when he’s working with a lot of acetone. One day over dinner, when the smell of acetone is still lingering on his skin, Jace explains the ‘pickling’ process and says he can make a dolls head shrink in size.

Porter truly doesn’t believe him at first when he says the heads shrink but a week later in the middle of the night Jace’s alarm goes off and he does drag a very groggy Porter out of bed to see the results. The little doll head shrank a decent amount compared to the other. He just kisses Jace on the forehead, calls him “his scientist,” and shuffles back to bed.

[tittysuckersworld]

bsd sleepwear headcannons because i cant stop thinking about it

dazai: either missmatched pajama sets or like a old footy night gown and sweats. if its really hit he might wear a thin linnen nightgown shift but he still wears smth. also his bandages stay on most nights. (also onsies because i forgor when writing-)

atsushi: also has a pajama set or two, mostly given from the agency. but whenever he can he wears the onsies he has. if its really hot he sleeps in some comfy baggy shorts and a t-shirt

kyouka: also onsies. has like a nightgown but most of the time wears her onsies and feels comfortable in the hug of smth soft and warm :>

kunikida: matching pajama set, one for every day of the week scheduled so it works with his laundry and everything else. has an extra set or two and a onsie because family sleepovers are inportant for company moral

naomi and junichiro: matching onsies, a few nightgowns for naomi and some night shirts and slacks for junichiro. when its hot junichiro probably just wears a thin shirt and comfy pants wile naomi.. i dont wanna talk about it.

ranpo: constant onsies. all the time. honestly a miracle that he gets out of them in the morning. cannot sleep without being a little kitty cat or smth

kenji: honestly? just simple shorts and a shirt. very simple for a comfy contry boy. has a onsie as stated of the others but thats only for fancy occasions

yosano: only wears nightgowns. they have tryed to get her to join in with onsies but they feel too.. i guess entraping to her? just not her style. if it gets too cold she will double up on blankets if anything

fukuzawa: probably just wears jinbei(traditional japansese sleepwear from google) most of the time. tho also has a few old person night gowns like dazai and some onsies for sleepovers. also a tall pointy hat that slumps over. you can guess the ones ;>

okay i dont really know for those outside of ada- but um-

poe mostly ends up sleeping in his work clothes cause his layers look so so comfy- if not, pajama set and coat still because aforementioned comfy

lucy probably just wears a simple night dress. a little nice one but smth that also keeps her comfy

alutagawa sleeps in his outside clothes. he has mental illnesses(dw i do too eyebrowless bang man). if you can get him tho he will take onsies

gin has some pajama sets for most nights, and also onsies because let me have this. if i cant have them. they can.

ane-san also wears jinbei or honestly silken night robes/gowns. all fancy enough and made to be super comfy. plus some sorta loose silk pants and just djebdufjej comfy comfy girlboss. has a single onsie to match with chuuya

and the reason why had all these thoughts in first place, chuuya nakahara, the one who i have the exact ideas for!!!!!

he just wears some comfy pants. no shirt. choker depending on how he feels and his energy. and thats it. he might have some extra gloves or a dog plush with hand pockets built in but um. ya! actually he dose have that plush it was at first cruddily sewn together when he started in the mafia and only slept with his hoodie on even if he didnt like it because it kept his hands away. then over time it has been sewn over and over, patched up with little bits of his comrades he trusted to mend em up with. even some stuff from himself. is a stupid silly guy but fuck it i love hypothetically accesible stuffed animal design.

anyways goodbye from my self indulgent rambles and i gotta get to sleep

[meteor752]

This is Halloween

We’re just a few days away from the new life series, and judging by the status of a server I’m on and Trafficblr as a whole, none of us are quite ready

But I do what I gotta do, and the spoopy season is upon us, so here we are

I said I would be making Halloween costumes for the kids a few days ago, and I’ve slaves away all night and day preparing this presentation

No but fr, I had fun. Hope you like em

Liana as Mumbo Jumbo

We’re starting out strong boys. Liana considers Mumbo her biggest financial rival, so their relationship is very, well, rivalesk. At least on her end. Mumbo’s still confused. She probably spent the entire Halloween night imitating him the best she could in a half mocking manner, and both her dads found it hilarious

Wes as a cat burglar

Because what is Halloween without someone in a tight latex cat suit? Wes was 100% forced into this, and as much as he’s a little uncomfortable, he also finds it kinda fun. Jassy def tried to make him wear heels as well, but his balance is shit. He also managed to talk his way out of the tail, since he already has one.

Gertrude as a mobster

Well, she is a king, might as well expand on the brand. Absolutely slaying too, I need to put her in more suits. She probably spent the entire Halloween night sitting mysteriously in some corner, “smoking” her fake cigar.

Johnny as an angel

Cute ironic costume. This was actually suggested by someone in my dm’s, so I thank thee for the idea. The little wings were probably hand crafted from chicken feathers that my lad spent months on, and he’s very proud of them. He’s using the wreath crown to hide his horns as well, they ruin the angelic look. The lyre was borrowed from Novo as well, and he absolutely does not know how to play.

Jassy as a ghost

Can you just put a sheet on your head and call it a day? Yes. But is that any fun? Fuck no. Chains will be rattling all night, and she’ll be throwing them around left and right. The white makeup is probably crappy af too and will start to come off after like, half an hour, but she still looks pretty fucking cool. Will try to scare as many people as she can.

Jekiv as the real monster

A lot of Cleo designs incorporate the classic stitches across the skin, and Jekiv does have that as well on some places where his skin has just come off. But dressing as “Frankenstein’s monster” would be too easy. No, let’s go for the true villain of that story, Viktor Frankenstein himself. It’s a bit fitting too tho, since Jek is a necromancer. He’s just a lot nicer to his creations, amongst other things

Novo as little red riding hood

His gf is a wolf, and the reasoning for his costume ends there. Very disappointed that Gert didn’t want to go in a couples costume, but oh well. The red hood is strangely comforting to him as well, what with his mom and all. He’s girlbossing

[melleonis]

under the middle sky

setting write-up for the Apocalypse World game i’m fixing to run:

Deadwater: On the plus side, you live here, you got the only lakefront property anywhere under the middle sky. On the minus side, Deadwater ain't named that for nothin. Don't go boating, don't drink the water. Leave the dead alone and they'll probably leave you alone. Around the lake you've got a bunch of steadings and a couple holds, some even populated still. Palings, at rivermouth, is the big one. Drinkable water without having to dig wells or rig dewcatchers. Everyone else round Deadwater sends tribute to Palings, if they're lucky.

 If they're not lucky, they send tribute to Roos and all her necro fucks on their barge out on the lake, and Roos takes tribute in flesh and blood.

On the east side of the lake, opposite Palings, is the Horizon Dam, or just Horizon. No one goes there except Lark and his family. Whatever they're building up there, best of luck to em.

Past Horizon, the world ends. Well, not ends ends, but whatever's down there is a long, long way down.

South about half a day, you got Santa Loba and their wolf cult. Also the world's last Waffle House. Worth the trip, if you've got something to trade the lobos for safe passage.

Past Santa Loba, the desert turns to glass. Nothing there but sharpness, heat, and mirage men.

North you got desert, desert, more desert, and then Matelas Vegas, hung with its perpetual thunderstorm. Don't go there. Kill anything that comes out. It'll look like a person, at first.

Northwest you got Rez, built into the river canyons with rope and sheet metal, and past that Riverhead and its bigwitch Aquaraina. Pilgrims sometimes go there. Water cultists, families with deadwater kids, the desperate and the lost. It's custom for whoever holds Palings to go up to show face, bend a knee.

And west, you got the best goddamn racing land anywhere, should you got the knuckles for it. Flats, buttes, arches, and honest earth. And why would you risk the howler winds, the lightshows and the occasional uninvited copilot? Speed, brother. Speed and glory. Heaven's shut, but for a few seconds this comes close.

Past that, in the far west, you got silver flats - salt shallows out to the horizon. At night, sometimes you can see the gold and towering form of the holy city, and it casts the angel road all the way to shore. Angelinos walk it, sometimes, perfect and hypnotic and deadly. They come to take something, or change something, and then they go back. Some folks think they can travel the angel road too. Shit, maybe they can. None of em ever come back to say otherwise.

One more thing I gotta tell you about, and that's the Agency. They show up out the desert - always two of em - in their shiny black cars with "DRA" painted on, wearing gold-age blacklux, with their shades and their books and their guns. They act all primo and touchless, and they got much hi-tech to back that up, killer stuff. Most times, tho, they just ask questions, then get back in their car and drive off. The other times, well. Like I said, killer stuff.

[59writes]

SEVENTEEN- REACTION: THEIR S/O GETS INJURED (PART 2)

(PART ONE)

part two of @honeyylin ‘s request!!! sorry it took so long honey ㅠㅠ

also check out honey’s acc!!! they’ve recently started writing fic so give em a visit!! <3

today’s photo theme is green green green green green green green green green green

(I didn’t proofread this I will when it’s not 5 am lol)

tw: food, injury

SEOKMIN

• *insert terrified screaming*

• yikes. this man. this poor fellow.

• he’s so worried about you!!!

• like. you’re fine. it’s not a big deal you just won’t be able to walk without crutches for a while

• but this man PHYSICALLY refuses to go to work

• Jihoon even comes to your apartment to beat Seokmin’s ass gently request he come to work cuz they kind of need him

• but no, because “y/n needs me more!!”

• please you’re fine. you can walk and you work from home already. you’ll live. You’ve been injured before.

• this goes in one ear and out the other!

• he will stay home and baby you and peek in your room every ten minutes like “hey are you ok???? do you need anything???”

• it’s kind of endearing

• the calls you keep getting from Seungcheol and Jihoon are not though because SOMEONE keeps forgetting to “call in sick” to work!!

• it’s just part of the whole shebang. he calms down eventually and gets over the anxiety of you getting even more hurt or struggling and goes back to the others

• but you bet your ass when he comes home at night you’re not going anywhere and he’s gonna baby you until he deems you all better

• also he definitely just likes babying you because he doesn’t declare you better until a week after the doctor does, “just to be safe!!!”

• he loves you very much and if anything we’re to happen to the love of his life he’d like. Evaporate on the spot

• 10/10 man right here

MINGYU

• ok so we know how clumsy this man is

• he technically knows how to take care of injuries

• also the injury was sort of maybe his fault ):

• he tripped over a damn rock and made you stumble too, falling and scraping up your leg

• and this poor man is apologizing faster than he raps

• you’re not badly hurt, and when the pain wears off you’re laughing

• and Mingyu’s all pouty lol

• and though you assure him that you’re ok and everyone trips up sometimes, he just wants to make it up to you

• he is also one of the other mfs who would make soup. him and Josh r gonna open a soup kitchen s2g

• but he’s also super cheesy and you wake up from a nap and see that Mingyu’s gone out and gotten flowers and made some nice food and made a little mini date in ur apartment

• and he just feels so bad !!!! please help this man

• once you joke that maybe you should get injured more often so you guys have more dates like this he finally really calms down

• but like I said, he’d know how to treat any injury

• maybe not well, and I’m sure this man’s instinctive response is “I will put a bandaid on it and move on with my life” but how focused he is when he is just wiping off dirt from your arm or leg or whatever and making you sit still while he gauzes it up is just really sweet he cares so much

MINGHAO

• this man does not know anything.

• I mean don’t get me wrong he’s incredibly smart and emotionally intelligent but also. there’s nothing in this man’s brain except for dastardly ideas

• and you nearly breaking your arm is not exactly a dastardly idea

• so he kinda just shuts down

• he wants to help !!! So bad !!!! but he can’t do anything !!!

• like he’s genuinely such a kind dude and always willing to help even if he teases about it and just always there

• and this is the one thing he can’t help with!!!

• so frustrated ):

• so he spends his time with you by lurking with a pout, ready for any request you had

• he definitely looks like a lost puppy ㅠㅠ

• maybe you act a little more helpless than usual so he can feel better about himself. just maybe

• seeing him brighten when you ask him to get the pasta from the top shelf or help with the laundry is completely worth getting hurt for!!

• eventually he cheers up and goes back to his normal and teasing ways

• and once you heal up he’s so glad he can hug you super tight again (:<

SEUNGKWAN

• Ah, Seungkwan.

• be prepared for lots of passive-aggressive scolding

• I mean when it first happens you can see the panic in this poor man’s eyes

• ok well technically you texted him about it but his reply was violently misspelled and he showed up at your house within 15 minutes

• tbh you should be scolding him because he definitely was speeding to get home that fast

• but he was scolding you!!!

• like wtf you’re already feeling shitty and then Seungkwan comes over and is acting like your mom

• but this man is emotionally mature!!!

• he notices how frustrated and snippy your replies get and calms down, hugging you tightly where you sit on the bathroom counter as he cleans you up

• complains about getting blood on his shirt tho the bastard

• but he definitely hangs out with you for the rest of the day and you catch up and eat ice cream while you lie around on the floor and it’s just. aju nice. (lol)

• he does his best to keep your mind off of any pain or struggling, and we all know this man is a master of distraction so it goes very well

• he’s a very home-y person and you always feel safe with him (:

VERNON

• his literal response is “well that’s not good”

• you fuckin call him like “hey sol I’m in urgent care kinda like. broke my arm” and he’s just like “Yeah that’s a problem”

• thank you Hansol “Sherlock” Chwe

• he is just. out of his element please this man will just stare at your cast or whatever with wide eyes like “yo you broke your arm” yes Vernon

• he’s kinda just fascinated ngl

• he lets you tell your story with wide eyes, beaming proudly when you said you didn’t cry

• he’s like “yeah that’s my partner (:< so cool and badass”

• he’s just very silly about it and doesn’t treat you any differently

• which is nice because you kinda hate people bringing attention to it cuz it’s annoying as shit already ):<

• and he’s already so helpful and willing to do chores or whatever so you don’t have to worry about carrying things or washing dishes or whatever cuz Vernon’s got it!!!

• plus it’s adorable how literally every night he’s just like “it’s so cool how you have a cast” like it’s the dumbest thing ever but he finds it so entertaining. like not even the fact you got hurt just like “holy shit like. it’s cement they basically cement your arm in place you have cement on your arm y/n you could knock someone out with that”

• he’s a cutie lol

CHAN

• ok contrary to popular belief I think he would handle it very well!!

• don’t get me wrong this man is PANICKING under the surface but like. he’s so calm about it on the outside??? hello????

• you call him during practice like “hey so I kinda got hurt I’m ok tho, at the doctor rn” and he’s just like “yes ok are you ok?!”

• little dude lol

• and even though you are, in fact, completely fine, he’s gotta worry smh it’s his job!!

• he comes home and listens to the story as he helps you change the bandages with the most gentle hands ))))):

• and being near you definitely helps calm him down

• he’s back to teasing and being goofy in no time

• this man also definitely knows some medical shit idk what makes me think that but he knows how to like. deal with an injury.

• he definitely is very medically aware idk man I feel like he listens to doctor speak cuz it’s cool and is like “oh yeah go ice that you don’t want it cramping up” whenever one of the other guys complains about something minor lol

• he’s very caring ): I love he sm (:

• he can be a little rat but he knows when to stop and be an ally and what an excellent ally he is!!!!!!!!!

I’m so sorry I’ve never done an after note like this before but seeing all the green and plants makes me think of this damn tweet and I can’t stop laughinh

“he has pollen allergy” I’m sobbing please

[moonlit-imagines]

Headcanons for Friends to Lovers with Rodrick Heffley

Rodrick Heffley x reader

warnings: mentions of a bad home life

a/n: YALL I FUVKING DID IT AND IM TERRIFIED OF THE REPERCUSSIONS

prompt: y/n and rodrick have been friends for a long time, so long boundaries seem to be blurred

you’ve actually known rodrick since elementary school

it all started when he asked you to join his band

“i can play drums, you can play the tambourine because that’s the only other instrument i have! it’ll be wicked!”

your band lasted a week and only had one gig, it was for rodrick’s parents

who LOVED you by the way

they somehow permitted you to sleepover almost every other day, you practically lived at their house

FOR YEARS you did this

terrorizing lil greg

“what’s he gonna do, pee his diaper?”

“rodrick!!!”

always trick or treating together, exchanging candy when you got back go his house (or occasionally yours)

you guys didnt like hanging at your house, your parents were kind of....a lot to handle

starting middle school together, wreaking havoc on all the teachers

rodrick did it to impress you, according to mr. and mrs. heffley

but he’d give you a stupid little smirk from across the classroom after he got scolded so you believed them

whenever anyone gave you shit at school, rodrick wouldn’t hesitate to step in and show them who’s boss

“rodrick, you’re gonna get detention again!”

“yeah, well, i’m not gonna let them be mean to you”

you went to his house after school most days, sometimes you’d get there first while he was in detention

mrs. heffley had after school snacks

“y/n, why don’t you play some video games with greg while you wait for rodrick to get home?”

playing wii sports with greg, who cried when you won

you also had time to do homework while you waited, rodrick usually copied afterwards

when rodrick came home, he’d drag you to the garage to show you his drum skills

he hit himself in the head with his drumstick

“ooh, that’s gonna leave a mark”

next step was high school, which was a weird step up

but you guys had each other

you still spent most nights at the heffley residence, but you had to sleep on the couch instead of on the floor in the attic (aka rodricks lair)

“you two are growing up, so we think it’s best that you don’t sleep in the same room together, right?”

rodrick emptied one of his drawers for you to put your clothes in

but you still end up stealing his clothes half the time

“i wish i could be mad, but you wear all of my clothes better than me”

subconsciously doing couple-y things without realizing it

like rodrick would pull you closer to him when you two were together, put his arm around you, give you his jacket, etc

“are you guys serious? you’ve got to be dating!” -everyone

“rodrick, when are you and y/n going to get together?” -mr. and mrs. heffley

the answer was always the same: “we’re just friendssssss”

watching his band practice and cheering him on no matter what

you’re his guest vocals ☺️

when he got the van, it was a whole new world for you guys

you could go out wherever whenever

(with parent approval usually)

“wanna go ride around for a little while? hit a gas station and get a bunch of candy?”

“do you even have to ask?”

watching scary movies in his room

“platonic” cuddling in his bed

stuffing your face in the crook of his neck during scary scenes

“come on, y/n! it’s not that bad!”

him having to hold onto you for comfort so you’d keep watching with him

sometimes falling asleep together and his mom or dad coming to check on you later

“alright, time for bed! y/n, you get your usual couch...”

laughing your ass off at rodrick when he messes with greg

manny loves you, sometimes rodrick is jealous of the attention you give to his baby brother instead of him

rodrick scooping you up in his arms when you least expect it, never fails to make you scream

“hey there, hot stuff”

“you’re impossible!”

roller skating together, he held your hand the whole time bc he was worried you’d fall

his friends ENDLESSLY taunt him over your relationship

when he makes plans with others, he always says “let me ask y/n first” which just SENDS his friends oh my god

“dude, that’s your s/o!”

“no, they’re not! shut up!”

hating being apart a lot its so stressful

sometimes you’d have a pretty hard time at home and show up to his house at odd hours, but you were always welcome

you have your own key

“hey, what’s wrong?”

“my parents...they’re just the worst”

rodrick knows its bad when you start crying

he took you up to his room and played some music (quietly as not to wake the house)

you laid on top of him while he rubbed your back and told you that he was there for you

dozing off on him, as per usual

dude, the amount of pictures you have? astronomical

you playing his drums, the two of you going 🤘, an actual nice picture of you guys, him carrying you on his back, kiddos on your first day of school by year, you kissing his cheek “platonically”

comforting him when he was having his own hard times, whether it be an argument with his parents/greg, difficulties with musical inspiration, or anything else

“come here, you need a hug”

“i need several”

“you’ll get ‘em”

talent show! talent show! talent show!

you completely cussed out the rest of his band before they went on bc they had the audacity to replace him

but greg managed to save the day

“greg, my dude, give me a high five, that was awesome”

he wasn’t actually half bad but like, his mom kinda stole the show

more joyrides in the van

absolutely BLASTING the music in there while you and rodrick sat on the floor in the back and ate the taco bell you’d just picked up

“dude, you gotta try my potato griller, it’s a godsend”

“okay, but try this slushie, its so good. i mean, not as good as a 7-eleven slushie, but it’s up there”

finishing your food and laying in the van for another hour bc you just loved each other’s company

but after sitting together alone for so long, you felt like there was something left to do, what was it?

you and rodrick were moving around a bunch and ended up next to each other sitting against the wall of the van

you looked over at each other and hesitated before leaning in to kiss

and you guys kissed for a while

okay, so, you made out on the floor of his van with led zeppelin playing in the background

✨magical✨

it wasn’t awkward or anything, just long overdue

okay it was a little awkward actually

“well, that was” *clears throat* “that was cool or whatever”

“yeah...wanna do it again?”

“oh, for sure”

not like it was a surprise to anyone when you announced you were FINALLY dating

“wait, you guys just started dating? i thought you’d been together for like, at least 5 years” -mr. heffley

“this is great! obviously, we’ll need to set up some boundaries so that everyone is comfortable and safe, but yay for young love!” -mrs. heffley

“gross” -greg

mrs. heffley wrote a column in the newspaper about you titled “my teenage son’s fantastic significant other”

not much changed after you and rodrick got together, just kissing, “i love you’s” and more teasing from friends and school faculty

“we were all rooting for you two, actually!” -the teachers

summer vacation with him

it was always SWEET

going to the pool together, he’d usually lay out on the chairs with you but you were able to drag him into the pool a few times

“come onnnn, it’ll be funnnn”

“you’re lucky you’re cute”

hugs from behind!!! kisses on the top of ur head!!!!

PROM AH HAH HAH

seeing rodrick in a tux was too funny for you, you almost couldn’t stop laughing (especially at the eyeliner he insisted on wearing)

but he just couldn’t stop staring at you

“rodrick!”

“what?! you’re stunning!”

honestly, prom wasn’t all it was cracked up to be

you danced like maniacs for a few songs and ended up ditching early on

but you did end up renting a bunch of movies and getting tonssss of snacks and changing into pajamas as soon as you got to his house

im talking popcorn, candy bars, ice cream, cans of pop, chips, chicken nuggets and so on

and also passing out on each other

“i think i love you a little more, i didn’t know that was possible”

“i have that effect on people”

he makes u breakfast before his mom gets the chance though

“pancakes? for me?”

“i put chocolate chips in them too, you’re gonna love them”

(they were a lil bit burned, still good tho)

you guys really did just spot on get each other

okay but i know you also roast each other sometimes so ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

relationship goals, honestly

fresh outta ideas 🤠 goodnight

[lumilasi]

I’ve been struggling to write this one for a month or something now, so I decided to give y’all a sneak peek on the latest Spinaraki one-shot request I’m writing. IDK when I’ll finish it tho, I’m still struggling to decide how to end it. Also I’ve been wanting to focus on writing all the remaining chapters for Depths as that one is nearly finished. Tomura/Tenko is almost home.

Anyway, here’s the sneak peek:

Going through the third week, the weather was still very warm, so warm that Spinner finds Tomura awake one night, clearly unable to sleep due to the heat - or maybe he was insomniac, at this point he wasn’t sure.

Tomura was only wearing loose-fitting black pants with a thin canvas to them, glancing up at him from the couch he’d sat on, TV running in the background while kept on low volume, probably had been to try and not wake him up. Spinner could tell he was sweaty from the heat with how his hair was sticking to his skull. It was totally just the hair he was looking, not anything else.

”Your AC seems to be malfunctioning.”

Checking on it, Spinner notes he was right.

”Damn. I’m sorry. Guess gotta call someone to repair it tomorrow.”

”M’fine. Used to sleeping very little anyway.”

Huh, so maybe he was insomniac?

Spinner sits down next to him hesitantly, trying his best not to look while also kind of looking - again. What was with him lately anyway? He’d seen people half naked before during his schooldays in boys’ locker room, and on the beach and so on. Why did Tomura being like that bother him so much?

”Heh. Spooky folklore and urban legends reruns during the night? Guess it makes sense, fits with the dark atmosphere.”

Spinner looks up at the TV screen, quickly realizing what Tomura meant. There was a show he’d seen before, talking about urban legends across the country. This episode was one he hadn’t seen before, revolving around ancient ninjas or something.

”Well would ya look at that? What a coincidence.”

Tomura muses out and Spinner looks at him confused, before looking back at the TV. The episode legend was talking about some sort of group of supposed near mythical ninjas of assassins or something. Wait weren’t those kinda the same thing?

”What’s this legend about? Never heard of it.”

”It’s called the Yokai King. A master assassin of legendary skill that people to this day debate whenever he existed. According to the legend all the assassins under his command were some form of yokai, from bakenekos to kitsunes, and even a jorogumo.”

”W-what? Really?”

Tomura shrugs, cracking his neck slightly.

”From what I understand - and what the show is talking about right now - it is suspected the ”yokai’ were just humans who used a name of a creature to describe them. There are some rumors that these people might’ve had special kind of mutations that give no outward changes but ’internal’ abilities that cannot be seen.”

”Huh...that’s...kinda cool? I mean as a legend, the assassin part is a bit...”

”To be fair, the legend states the Yokai king only sends his ilk against those he deems unworthy of life. In most stories the victims of his children - as these underlings are called, though how many of them actually are his kids is a debated matter - have been criminals of worst kind. Child abusers, rapists, serial killers, stuff like that. Rich Tax frauders.”

”.....what?”

Tomura turns to look at him with a smirk. That smile was giving him a weird funny feeling, but Spinner was too focused in on the story to care about it.

”There’s more modern versions of the tale about his ’children’ going after rich landlords who abuse their wealth.”

”So they just...”

Spinner makes a slitting motion across his throat, gaining a slight shake of head from Tomura.

”Not always. The ’death’ dished out isn’t always physical. Sometimes it can be mental, social, or financial kind. Tax frauders end up dirt poor, prideful child abuser holding up appearances gets shunned away from their community, etc. To some people there are fates worse than simple death.”

”O-oh...”

”Yeah. I think in a lot of tales the King typically has four assassins; one for each type of ’death.”

Tomura holds up his finger now, smirking amused at how closely he was listening.

”First, is the ’financial death’ often known with the nickname Tanuki. This one is typically the one in charge of dealing with unruly greedy people and leaders, making sure they lose all they hold dear - their finances and influence typically.”

”Why Tanuki?”

”There’s lotta stories about it. Some say the first holder of this title in the legend was an actual one, or had Tanuki-like tendencies with gambling, playing tricks on people and such.”

Tomura shrugs, glancing at the TV briefly. The program was currently discussing this same topic, but Spinner found himself more interested in hearing Tomura tell it, as he seemed to have knowledge of the legend.

”Second is usually either known as the Jorogumo or Snow woman. As you can guess this ’child’ is typically a woman in these legends, often linked to the more psychological death - though arguably they also often literally kill their prey. She is often depicted as stalking their victim for a while, keeping an eye on them and causing psychological turmoil. Other times she’s said to even lure the victims into a trap, until it is too late.”

”...Kind of clicheed in a way, that the woman does that.”

”That’s how these old folk tales are. Didn’t make ’em. Plus there have been some stories from what I remember that dispute whenever this ’child’ was always a woman.”

Tomura shrugs and cracks his neck, now holding up a third finger. His red eyes looked almost like they were shining in the surrounding darkness, with the TV screen reflected on them. It was kind of eerie but also mesmerizing to look at.

”Third, the kitsune, is said to be the one for social deaths. This one will burn all the bridges around you, making you isolated for everything and everyone you had control over, before devouring you. In the same sense the kitsune also protects the victims from the person they punish.”

”And...the...last one?”

Tomura holds up a fourth finger now, the light from TV dimming down as the screen switched to a darker scene.

”The Shinigami. The ultimate death. This one’s often said to be the yokai king’s strongest child, for they represent an absolute death. No mercy, no second chances. If this child goes after you, you are a goner.”

Tomura drops his hand slowly, and Spinner swallows down hard, frozen in place. He stares at the pale face for a long moment, up until Tomura closes his eyes suddenly, starting to snicker. It eventually grows into a full blown laughter, making Spinner blush and frown, asking what was so funny.

”Your face! You’re real freaked out.”

Shigaraki laughs and tries to get his breath back under control, wheezing almost.

”It’s a folktale Spinner, a legend. Not real. Relax.”

”Can you blame me for getting spooked? It’s dark and you’re really good at storytelling stuff like this apparently!”

[letstalkaboutfandomsbaby]

I've been thinking about getting a nip piercing because I think they're neat what's your experience been like?

Hey hun! Overall my experience has been... ehhh sksksk

Lemme explain: this shit fucking HURT. Nipples are much more sensitive than other body parts so the pain you experience is much worse than getting your ears or nose pierced. I was cursing so fucking loud when i got mine done, i was on the verge of tears at the end. Granted i have a pretty low pain tolerance most of the time so maybe it just hurt more for me, but you gotta keep in mind that someone's gonna put a fucking needle through your titty without any numbing agents, you're just gonna have to sit there and take it all as is.

I got my piercing done at a piercing store in a nearby mall (don't come for me, i did my research these ppl are legit sksksk this ain't some claires shit). The women that helped me with paperwork were super sweet and answered all my questions. I was able to get a custom color for my barbells (i got rose gold), and i got my nipples measured before anything else. My size ended up being 3/4 inch, but if my nipples stayed flat and hadn't hardened then i wouldn't have been able to get em, so make sure your nipples can actually perk up before you consider this bc if not you're just gonna be rejected. The total came out to about $100, i dont remember if that was before or after tip tho. My piercer was a gay man and he was super sweet and made me feel very comfortable with the whole experience. He was very kind and understanding when i started cursing up a storm sksksk and he was also very funny, i was very happy with him :)

The night i got my piercing was the worst in terms of pain. I was on the verge of crying all night bc it hurt so fucking bad like obvs it would bc it's a literal wound but all you can do is take pain meds and hope for the best. You have to clean them with saline solution 1-2 times a day for the first few weeks to keep em from getting infected, and you should avoid harsh soaps with fragrances. Unscented baby soap should work just fine, i used a cheap castille soap and it didn't bother me.

Gonna be honest, the pain is unbearable the first month. The first two weeks were a nightmare like wearing a bra hurt, not wearing one hurt, if i ever bumped my titty against something i was in an insurmountable amount of pain, it was not fun sksksk. It's been over a month since i got pierced and even now my nipples can still hurt a shitton depending on how they're resting or if they get snagged on accident. It can take 6-12 months to completely heal, so your titties are gonna be out of commission for a while. Also there's so much fucking scabbing good lord it's so itchy and annoying and if you're a feral lizard like me who can't stop picking scabs then you're gonna have a bad time.

Overall i don't regret the experience. They look super cute, but if i could experience the pain beforehand then i probs would've wimped out and not gotten em. I would take some time to think it over and really consider the pros and cons bc yeah they're cool but your nipples will be aching like crazy for at least a month, do you really wanna go through that? If your answer is yes, make sure you find a piercer that's experienced. Don't go to any random tattoo parlor and ask to get it done. Look at credentials and reviews, call if you have any questions, make sure they sterilize their shit properly and that it's a safe environment to work in. There's a lot of sketchy places out there and the last thing you want is an infection or rejected piercing. Good luck 💕

[danwylds]

Right okay I never actually got myself to write this fic so have my notes for the fic except I haven’t read through them since June when I wrote them and I refuse to edit anything

Right is bakery au but not

Neil either turned down the offer of exy for the foxes or for coach whatever the fuck his name was

He got caught earlier tho which is . Unfortunate

Stuart still comes in

Maybe I’ll have him move back to Britain for a while? To avoid the moriyamas n stuff

He NEVER misses a match of the ravens/foxes tho

Which leads to him seeing the frankly sickening interview of Kevin and riko

Neil is like yo Stuart let me start smth

Stuart is like Neil the only reason you’d go back to the states right now is if you did smth that you could hide and you can’t do that for shit

So Neil is like yk what I’m gonna find a way bc I’m not letting this kid go through this (Andrews quite into this idea when it’s shared)

So he says yo. Stuart. Uncle. Sir. Let me open a bakery or something in the states

Stuart is like no you fucking idiot

And Neil is like but c o n s i d e r

You can get info or smth

Just have another business in the states yk

AND I’d get out of your hair

And Stuart is like hm okay but you’ve gotta live in a complex I choose for you

And Neil is all only if I can choose where it’s gonna be

It’s a deal

He (very obviously) chooses a place near palmetto

Stuart is tired but is like he’ll be under protection n shit so I guess??? And he’s not stupid enough to start something right. Right.

Wrong.

Anyways.

It’s a bakery that starts out kinda slow

But Neil finds he likes baking and Stuart pays for his nephew to have some sort of normal life so it doesn’t matter too much

Renee starts to frequent it

At first it’s to pick up sweets for Andrew

But eventually she starts bringing Allison on dates there bc they have a cute little seating area (figure where Seth fits in? I think he’ll survive?)

Uhhh what’s a timeline

I think this’ll be around the winter holidays (Jewish neil? Look into it)

So thanksgiving will have happened . I think Andrew agreed to go Not bc he particularly wanted to but bc he cares for Nicky and knows he’ll probably go anyways

Yeah so thanksgiving. h

Andrew JUST got off his drugs and he’s so damn protective of his own that he hardly even leaves their sides

Edens is a def no for em

Meanwhile Neil is tentative friends w Renee who has brought all the upperclassmen there a few times

Allison bullies him for his clothing but it’s okay he deserves it

Renee is sweet and stops em from doing anything too drastic which Neil appreciates

Matt,, my baby,, he’s so happy he just asks Neil about random stuff

Dan is sweet too!!

Seth kinda hates him but Neil hasn’t paid enough attention to return the favor

One day close to the winter banquet the upperclassmen are like yeah Neil we’re gonna go to this thing and it should be really fun!! Oh you know what? Our teammate Nicky needs a date and his cousin doesn’t really like anyone from his class and he’s super fucking crazy abt it so if that doesn’t deter you then you should totally join !

Neil is like oh chance to fuck up Riko? Absolutely I’ll go

ALLISON DRESSES HIM

HE LOOKS SO GOOD

when he and Allison emerge from the girls room Aaron is like Who is that

And Allison is “oh nickys date (:”

Andrew gets twitchy and holds a knife to her throat

Renee is like Andrew I stg get away from my gf and Seth is like manic pixie nightmare fuel I’m gonna beat the shit outta you

And Neil is just like same shit every day I guess

And he’s like so you’re Nicky then? COMPLETELY IGNORING YK. ALL THAT

Andrew is like “he is. Don’t touch him”

And Neil straight up says I don’t think you get to set boundaries for people, actually

And Neil has no idea what the effect is of that on Andrew but it’s enough to make him glare

Which is terrifying to everyone but Neil bc again. Dumbass

Anyways Neil very purposely hooks his arm through nickys and they head off to the bus

Dunno what happens there but I’ll figure it out

RIKOOO ROASTTT **AIRHORNNNNSSS**

It’s glorious

Kevin and riko are like who the FUCK are you

And Neil is all wouldn’t you like to know weather boy

They relocate and they’re all like . Ah. That’s why you and Renee get along

It’s kinda funny ngl

Andrew doesn’t think so but fuck him

I think that they head back to the bus when this shit I’d over and wymack is like excuse me what the fuck

And Aaron in german is like thank god he never joined the team bc I could not handle more of that

And Neil in German is like would you believe me I’d I told you I was almost signed

And Andrew is like I fucking Knew it I hate it here

N e ways things go back to normal for the most part

The upperclassmen still show up

Seth has a bit of grudging respect for him

It’s later that all the foxes are getting drunk from a lose that Renee calls him and is like Neil please can I usher them inside for a bit I think they need a place to chill so we don’t get yelled at for being too loud in the dorms

And Neil is like uhh sure why not

It turns out it was not just the upperclassmen

He gives them all water bottles and whatever and lets them lounge around

Gives em some food which they pay for w the coachs card

Uhhh idk time passes and some of the foxes pass out so neil is like y’all can chill in the break room? They have couches

He stays out there bc the bakery is still open

Andrew comes out like hey fuck you but also can I get more of those pastries

Idk I want them to be in love already

Uhh yeah I think they don’t say anything until

“what happened to your face”

“A truth for a truth?”

“If you must insist”

“Fine, my father tried to kill me”

Andrew raises his eyebrow but neils like bitch you said a truth for a truth it’s your turn now

Neil asks him why he wears arm bands

We get the whole knives and scars

They’re quiet again

I don’t know man let them be in love

Uhhh okay

I think Andrew will tell neil like

“[code]”

“Huh”

“That’s the code for the court, Kevin practices at night.”

Neil is like how would you know I’d enjoy playing exy? And andrew is like dipshit that’s how we met

I’m running out of ideas oh no

Maybe they play a couple of night game things

Exchange a few more truths

OHHH OKAY COOL SO THEN NEIL CAN GO TO EDENS W THEM THE WHOLE “DOESNT MEAN I WOULDNT BLOW YOU” THING CAN STILL HAPPEN

sick okay! They start dating but since Baltimore happened earlier they never actually come out to the rest of the team

I like to think when they play against the ravens again neils like haha babe you can have as many sweets as you want if you shut down the goal

Also Neil says it’s hot which is like a big thing to persuade Andrew but shhhhh

Yeah the foxes win they celebrate by getting drunk and they all show up at neils like hello again (:

Same thing happens but this time andrew and Neil are together and basically are doing nothing but making out

At least the store is closed

Nicky comes out and just YELLS

YALLLLLL COME LOOK @ THIS SHIT

Allison wins SO much money

Yeah idk how to end this but happily ever after :3

If you want me to turn this into a fic I will!

[jtsfavslut]

Show Me How II

Description: After countless 'I think she's the one' Grayson loses hope in finding his soulmate. But one girl gives him the hope to try again.

Warnings: None Word Count: 4.5k+

Part One

"Grayson, you can't put three of the same things next to each other," you said noticing how he was putting the same type of decorations next to each other. "You gotta spread em' out evenly," you added before moving over to where he was and spending out the little fake spiders.

"He's so dumb," Ethan shouted making you shake your head as Grayson cursed him out and they began to bicker.

"I didn't know I was taking care of toddlers, I would've brought toys," you sarcastically shouted as Karolina laughed, shaking her head.

"You might want to run away and save yourself while you can," Karo whispered and you shook your head laughing.

"I think I'll stick around for a bit, get some source of entertainment," you replied and focused back on decorating.

"Karo, let's go get some food while these two decorate," Ethan shouted and she nodded her head, carefully putting the decorations on the floor before walking away.

"Don't do anything I wouldn't do," Ethan shouted as they walked away.

"So basically anything with common sense? Got it," you shouted back causing a 'fuck off' to fall past his lips and Karolina and Grayson to laugh.

"You almost done?" Grayson asked you and you shook your head.

"Just a couple of things. Do you guys have a step stool or something? I need to put some things up there?" You asked pointing to the area near the roof.

"No, but you can sit on my shoulders, I'm sure you'll reach," he said and you laughed.

"And crush your body and soul? No thanks, I don't have money for a lawyer," you replied and he glared at you shaking his head.

"Y/N, please don't say that come on," he said and crouched down. You hesitantly climbed on his back and sat on his shoulders and you wrapped your arms around his neck as he rose up.

You carefully placed the decorations as you told him where to stand.

"See, we're done!" He exclaimed with excitement and you shook your head with a smile.

"I am never offering to decorate someone's house again, we've been here for two hours. Two fucking hours," you groaned and laid down on the floor.

"Oh come on? It was fun!" He shouted and you mentally rolled your eyes since your eyes were closed.

"Yeah, says the one that put three things up," you said and he scoffed.

"Shut up before I throw you in the pool," he said and you shrugged.

"Ah yes! And murder me and finish this misery," you joked and heard him chuckle.

"You have class tomorrow?" He asked and you felt him lay down next to you.

"Yeah, it's just one tho," you sighed nodding your head.

"Which one?"

"Organic Chemistry, kinda fun you know?" You replied.

"I don't, I don't even know what that is actually," he said causing you to laugh.

"It's the study of the structure, reactions, and all that other stuff of carbon-containing compounds and shit," you replied and Grayson stared at you with confusion on his face.

"What a carbon-containing compound?" He asked.

"It's a chemical substance that contains carbon, hence the name carbon-containing compound. And a compound is a mixture of two elements. It's basic biology," you said and he nodded his head, still not understanding but not wanting to ask any more questions.

"Holy shit you're smart. Me and E didn't even stay in high school," he said causing you to laugh.

"Well, I'm not going to college for nothing. But you guys had a reason to not stay in school, plus look at this, you didn't even graduate and look at you, meanwhile, look at me, worked my ass off in school and still are busting my ass only to live in a shitty ass apartment, in a shitty ass neighborhood with a shitty add job," you sighed.

"Your apartment isn't shitty Y/N, it's cute. And you're working toward what you want. Have you even made your decision yet?" He asked and you nodded your head opening your eyes.

"Yeah. I'm gonna continue with college. I want to help save people, especially children, I want to help people get a second chance," you said smiling.

"Good, I'm proud of you. And I know you're going to be a great anes- doctor however you pronounce it," he laughed making you chuckle.

"An anesthesiologist Gray, and thank you" you softly replied with a smile.

"We're back bitches," Ethan's voice screamed out as both were shaking you up. "And we brought Monty's and McDonald’s for the meat-eating monster," he added, making you roll your eyes.

"Thank you, Mr. Vegan, I appreciate it. And I appreciate you ordering meat at a store, that's really mature of you," you replied, getting up along with Grayson and following everyone inside the house.

"So, Y/N, are you staying in school?" Ethan asked and you nodded your head, holding a finger up as you swallowed whatever was in your mouth.

"Yeah, I wanna help people, and it's kinda too late to switch majors or drop out now. It's only three more months, and finals are coming up as well," you replied and he nodded his head.

"And after that, do you instantly become a doctor?" Karolina asked and you shook your head.

"Not really, since this is medical school, I need to take on a residency program for a couple of years until I'm officially certified as an anesthesiologist. You still get paid but not as much,"

"That's a lot of work," she replied.

"Yeah, but it kinda pays off at the end, it's a high salary and you can retire pretty early. And you get the satisfaction of helping people," you shrugged.

The conversation carried on switching from different topics as everyone ate their food.

"I need help," you softly said, walking back into the house.

"What wrong?" Grayson asked looking up from his phone filler by Ethan and Karo.

"My dumb car won't turn on," you pouted and Grayson got up from his seat following you outside.

"You have jumper cables?" You asked and he shook his head. "How about soda? The battery terminals might be clogged and that helps clean them," you asked and he shook his head.

"No, but how do you know that?" He asked and you smiled.

"After years of getting yelled at by holding the flashlight wrong, you learn a thing or two," you said and he nodded his head.

You spent a good fifteen minutes trying everything you could but the car wasn't bugging. It was almost 2 Am and Uber prices would be through the roof.

"You wanna spend the night here? You can sleep in my room. It's too dark to be driving around, and to our convenience, it's raining," Grayson sighed and you nodded your head.

"It's ok, I can sleep on the couch, I don't want to take your room away," you said and he shook his head.

"I can't let you sleep on the couch, that's rude," he said and you shook your head smiling.

"What's rude is me staying the night," you replied.

"You're our friend and that's not rude, condone we can split the bed or something," he said grabbing your hand and pulling you to his room.

"Do you wanna shower?" He asked and you nodded your head. "I'll get you some clothes, let me ask Karo if she has anything," he said and you nodded your head.

"Grayson, unless it's big on her it's not going to fit me," you said with a smile and he gave you a look which you couldn't read. "I'm not ashamed or anything. I know my size and she's smaller than me," you added sending him a smile and he nodded his head.

"Here's a shirt and some joggers and a pair of boxers, these are new by the way," he said, handing you everything neatly folded. "Oh some socks in case you want them, and a hoodie," he said, handing you more stuff.

"Gray, I'm fine, thank you," you laughed thanking him, and began walking to the Bathroom he showed you earlier.

You quickly went inside, took off your clothes and turned on the shower, which he had shown you the day you had your little pool party, and took a short but long shower before realizing you had no towel.

"Umm Gray," you said, opening the door and standing behind it, only showing your head.

"Yeah, everything's okay?" He asked and you shook your head.

"I need a towel," you softly replied and he nodded his head.

"Oh yeah, I forgot about that, I'll bring your one," he said and left the room getting a towel and quickly walking back.

"Thank you," you said as he handed you the towel, his eyes catching a glimpse of your bare tits when you went to grab the towel forgetting you were naked.

"I'm sorry, oh my God," he quickly apologized, closing his eyes and walking away.

"No I'm sorry, I forgot I wasn't wearing anything. God this is so embarrassing," you exclaimed with your flushed face. You just flashed him something no one's ever seen before. You quilt got dressed into the hoodie and joggers he handed you and folded your clothes, placing them on the far back corner of the sink counter.

"Well, that's something new, I've never shown anyone my tits before," you joked walking out the bathroom causing Grayson to blush.

"Wait really?" He asked and you nodded your head.

"Yes, is that so hard to believe Dolan? Ima good girl," you laughed and he shook his head.

"Have you even dated anyone?" he asked and you shook your head laying down on his bed.

"No, I didn't really have time and I wasn't interested in anyone in that way. I was close but it didn't work out," you shrugged and he looked at you in confusion.

"We didn't work out because I was too busy with school. And if I want a relationship I want to make sure I'm putting my best and I couldn't give him that, so I stopped it before it got too serious.

"That's a valid reason, at least I think it is," he said and you nodded your head. "How about now? Do you think you're ready?"

"I think so. It depends on who the person is, you know? And also whether they're serious about it or not," you shrugged.

"I need you to rub that off on me," he sighed and you turned to look at him.

"No Gray. You just need to find what you're missing. Maybe settle down for a while, and when you least expect it she'll be right there for you, and if it's meant to be it'll last and work out." you said and ruffled his hair making him smile, "Just give the universe and God time. Their timing is always right," you smiled at him, making his urge to kiss you stronger.

But he fought it away, it was hard but he didn't. He didn't want to mess up the friendship that was just beginning. You wouldn't have minded tho, not one bit.

"Thanks, Y/N, you're always so wise and have advice for everything, I don't know how but you do," he said and you shrugged.

"I don't know either," you yawned, slowly closing your eyes.

"You tired?" he asked and you nodded your head.

"Let me tuck you in, yeah?" he said, making you chuckled at his sweetness.

The next morning you woke up to a pair of arms wrapped around and your legs tangled with someone else's. Butterflies erupting in your stomach along with a red tint on your cheeks.

You tried to move but he just wouldn't budge making you let out a sigh.

"Grayson….Grayson, let me go," you whispered, shouted and he shook his head.

"Mmm, Five more minutes please," he mumbled, his morning voice hyping up thoughts that you would never admit you had.

"I need to pee, and brush my teeth," you whined, not wanting to be in bed with morning breath.

"You coming back?" he asked with his eyes still closed.

"Yeah, I just need to pee," you nodded your head and he unwrapped his arms from you. Your body immediately missing being in his warm embrace.

"There's an extra toothbrush on the bottom cabinet, now hurry up, I'm getting cold," he said shooing you off and you walked inside his bathroom and did your business.

Only to find him staring at you when you came out.

"What?"

"You look cute in my clothes," he said with a sheepish smirk on his face, causing you to blush.

"Shut up, Bailey," you said and crawled back into bed.

"You smell good," he said as he pulled you into him.

"Thanks, I tried, and I also had perfume in my purse so I sprayed some last night," you yawned and had hatred at the ceiling.

"Going back to sleep?" he asked and you shook your head.

"I can't, once I wake up I can't go back, and I have class at 12," you sighed, then it hit you that you had class and no car, "Oh my God, I have class," you groaned and he chuckled.

"I'll take, what time is it?" he asked, his voice more awake than before.

"No, no it's okay, I'll take an uber or something," you shook your head and he said no.

"I'll take you, taking an Uber isn't always safe," he said getting up from the bed before you could protest.

(We'll pretend that Stanford isn't 5 hours from LA)

"Thank you, Gray," you thanked him as he pulled up in front of the building.

"It's no problem Y/N, What time do you need to be picked up?" he asked as you got out the car and looked back inside.

"At three, but it's okay," you smiled and he nodded his head.

"I'll come pick you up, I'll be right here when you come out," he sent you a smile and your heart melted.

"Why are you so nice? But I'll see you later Gray, I need to go," you said with a smile and left when he said bye and began walking to class.

"Who was that? And whose clothes are those?" your friend's voice asked from behind you making you turn around.

"Good Morning to you too, Alex. And no one, just a friend's," you shrugged and hugged her before pulling away and walking next to each other.

"Friends don't just wear each other's clothes and drive each other to class," she said and you rolled your eyes.

"Don't you have a video to make or something?" you asked before your phone started ringing, you checked the caller ID to see it was Grayson calling.

"Yeoo," you said after answering and bringing the phone up to your ear.

"Hey, you left your purse in my car, do you need it?" he asked and you let out a groan.

"No, it's okay. I don't even have my laptop in it so it's fine. I didn't even realize it," you sighed and heard him chuckle.

"Do you need it? I can go get it for you," he said and you shook your head with a smile.

"No Gray, it's okay, I'll be fine. I'll just type them on my phone,"

"Are you sure? I don't mind," he replied.

"I'm sure, it's not the first time. Now, I really gotta go, I'll see you later," you replied as your friend stared at you.

"OK, bye,"

"Bye," you whispered before hanging up and putting your phone in your pocket.

"So, Gray?" she asked and you shook your head letting out a 'here we go'

"Yes, Gray, and he's just a friend," you said shaking your head.

"Gray, Gray, Grayson? Grayson Dolan? From the party?" she asked and you nodded your head with a sigh.

"Yes, Grayson from the party," you said and she suddenly grabbed your shoulder stopping you in your tracks.

"Are you serious? Do you know who he is Y/N? He's loved by everyone," she said and you shrugged.

"And? He's just Grayson to me, just like you're just Alex to me. And like I said before we're just friends," you said and she sent you a lie telling you, you were lying.

"Where have you been these past two weekends? Whose clothes are you wearing? What does that mean? And called you to ask whether you need a computer or not?" she asked, causing you to roll your eyes.

"Yeah, we've been hanging out. And I only stayed the night because my car wasn't turning on, and he's just being nice Alex," you sighed making her drop it.

"Fine I'll drop it but one last thing, I've never seen you being so smiley and happy around a guy, you barely even talk to guys, so I'm just saying that maybe you like him.

"Of course I do! Have you seen the guy?" you exclaimed, "And he's so nice and everything, but he's way out of my league, and we just met three weeks ago," you said and she chuckled shaking her head?

"Y/N, it's clear that he likes you too, and he's not out of your league, no one has leagues Y/N. You just need to try and go for it, it's time you do," she said and you sighed.

"I know, but I don't want to get hurt, or hurt anyone else. And I've never been in a relationship, I don't know how this works," you sighed before finally entering the building and going to class.

"Your friend is here," she said and nodded her head towards the car she saw you get out of earlier.

"Thanks, I'll call you later yeah?" you said and she nodded her head before you began walking your own ways.

"Hi," you softly spoke as you got inside the car and put your seatbelt on.

"Hey, how was class?" he asked and began driving away.

"It was alright. Not that many notes, which I'm thankful for. What did you do?"

"I went back home, worked out then took a shower and a power nap, and helped edit a video, then we're gonna film later," he replied and you nodded your head.

The rest of the drive was spent talking as the radio played quietly in the background.

"Do you wanna be in the video?" he asked and you quickly shook your head playing with a pillow that was on the couch.

"Absolutely not sir, not that I don't like your videos, I rather stay behind the camera," you said and he nodded his head.

"What are you guys even doing?"

"A vlog, that's what we've been doing lately," Ethan responded and you nodded your head.

"And we're going somewhere and you're coming with us," Karolina said and you nodded your head.

"Ethan, don't touch that, it's poisonous," Grayson shouted at Ethan who was about to touch a plant.

Grayson decided it would've been a great idea to go hiking in a place they've never been to. Karolina told you Grayson thought he was a survival specialist after doing a couple of survival videos which made you laugh like crazy.

"Oww, something just bit me," you slightly shouted because it was hurting your ankle, you quickly looked down but there was nothing in sight.

"Are you ok? Where is it?" Grayson said quickly, moving to stand in front of you along with the rest.

"On my ankle, and it hurts," you softly replied and he crouched down, softly rolling up the bottom of your- well his joggers to look at your ankle.

"Well, nothing bit you, but it's a bee sting, are you allergic?" he asked and you shook your head with a sigh.

"No, I'm sorry for ruining your video," you sighed and he shook his head.

"You didn't ruin it Y/N, we need to put something cold on it, and you need to take Tylenol or something," he reassured you, and you nodded your head.

"It's okay, I can still walk….I think," you said and looked down at your ankle that was swelling up wicked fast.

But when you couldn't walk you let out a groan, causing Ethan to snicker.

"Oh my fucking God, stupid ass bee, that's why you fucking die, bitch," you said and Ethan laughed.

"I'll just carry you on my back,"

"See I did ruin your video because now we have to leave because of a fucking bee," you exclaimed and Ethan shook his head.

"You didn't ruin it, I don't even want to be here anymore, so thank you," he said, earning a glare from you and a playful smack from Karolina.

"I'm glad my suffering brings you joy Ethan," you sarcastically said.

"Okay, Y/N, you need to let us keep this part," Ethan said, replaying the part where you kept saying something bit you.

"Okay but why?"

"Because it's funny, plus your voice and laugh is throughout the entire video so why not?" he replied and Karolina brought you a bottle of water.

"Why is everyone in this house so fucking nice?" you asked, causing her to laugh.

Two days later the swelling in your ankle was better, you could walk, Grayson forced you to stay in his house, saying it was his fault for wanting to go hiking, you protested, but that's when you learned that Grayson was as stubborn as they came.

"Grayson, I'm fine, I can walk now, look," you said and walked around the room to show him.

"I know, but I just- I don't want you to go," he said causing your heart to melt and a blush to spread on your cheeks.

"Gray, I can always come over, I'm your friend, I'm not just going away," you said and walked back to sit on his bed.

"But I don't want to be just friends anymore," he said and walked towards you standing in front of you.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, that I've been holding these thoughts since the second week of knowing you. You told me that I would know she's the one because I would feel it, And that once I settle she would come into my life for good and that's you," he spoke rather loudly from the emotions he was feeling, while you were frozen in your spot. "I told Ethan I was taking a break from trying to find her, and then you came along, and told me all those wise words, and I feel like it's you. You randomly became a big part of my life, and I just needed to tell you that and that  I like you, it's okay if you don't feel the same,"

"Gray, I like you too, I just didn't know how to tell you. And I thought you wouldn't have liked me back," you said with a smile and he sat down next to you, grabbing your hands in his.

"Y/N, you have been driving me insane, ever since I first saw you," he said causing you to playfully roll your eyes with a blush.

"So now what happens?" you asked.

"We just let it flow. I'm not going to force things to happen, just let the universe play out," he said and you nodded your head and laid your upper body on the bed while your legs were hanging.

"So, does that mean you're staying?" he asked, earning a chuckle from you.

"I don't know, I kinda need clothes,"

"You can wear my clothes, or I  can buy you more,"

"Buy? No sir, I can buy my own things,"

"But I want to buy you stuff," he said and you shook your head.

"I'm fine with wearing your shirts," you said and snuggled into the white shirt you were wearing, which was his, along with some biker shorts you had gotten from your apartment when he took you there to get some of your things.

"You do look cute in my clothes," he said and you could hear the smirk in his voice.

"Stop, I'm gonna blush," you laughed.

"I'm serious, you look so cute, I just wanna kiss you," he said and that must have triggered a switch in your brain because before you knew it, you were slowly climbing onto his lap, your arms wrapping around his neck while his wrapped around your waist.

"Do it," you whispered, your voice was confident but shaky from your nerves.

And after what felt like a lifetime, you felt his lips press against yours. Soft but rough, containing so much emotion, which you returned by kissing back.

You curled your finger along with the little curls on the back of his head and his fingers gripped your waist, digging deep inside your skin.

"God," he groaned once you slowly pulled away with a sly smile on your lips.

You didn't imagine for your first to be this way, but you wouldn't change a thing either.

"Can you drive me to my place? To get more clothes," you asked causing his smile to widen. You had taken your car to the shop, and it was going to be ready by tomorrow, making you depend on other people.

"So you're staying?" he asked and you nodded your head.

"Yeah, until my car's ready," you replied and he pouted.

"But that's tomorrow,"

"I know, it's also Sunday tomorrow which means it's cleaning day," you said climbing off his lap.

"Your place is clean tho," he said and you scoffed.

"And? That doesn't mean you can't clean, there's a thing called dust Grayson," you replied and he shook his head.

"I know what dust is Y/N, do you clean like every day," he said and you scratched the back of your head.  "You do?"

"I do, damm. Do you know how bad I wanted to clean this house in the last couple of days? It's not dirty it's just disorganized, for example, go look at your closet," you said and he walked towards his closet which you organized while he was working out.

"When did you do this?"

"When you went for your workout," you shrugged, you had color-coordinated everything from white to black, and made sure everything was straight and the longer pieces faded into the short ones and so on. (me af)

"You know it's getting messed up later right?" he asked, walking towards you and wrapping his arms around you.

"And that's why I'm staying another night," you smiled and leaned up, pressing your lips against his.

Tags:  @guiltydols@angelgrayson@fangdolan@ydolanssss@aquadolan@atlas-of-a-human-soul@blindedbythelightt@rhyrhy462@333dolans@dolanissues@graysonsdollface@persistence-ofmemories@evergreendolan@episkygrant@graysonsbailey@simplyxdolxstyles@dolansficsandpics@kinkygrays@babeygray@tadadolan@pineappledols@erodasugar

[astralaffairs]

okay okay i was brainstorming a fotp verse drabble request and i got to thinking... if thomas ever got asked about y/n and her articles on him at like a press conference or something, what would he say? obviously he isn't going to reveal... whatever their relationship is but would he praise her writing? or would he crack a few (more lighthearted) jokes at her expense? u don't have to drabble this or anything i was just curious 🥺

I LOVE IT he'd totally be trying to tread lightly like u just KNOW she's there in the audience watching him like 🤨 but he absolutely wouldn't be able to keep himself from making fun of her j a lil. that man is ultimately just a big softie tho

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

The room he'd rented out for his press conference had been far from spacious -- it couldn't have been more than twenty rows of metal chairs which sat before where he stood at a podium at the front of the room. The event had been limited; reporters could only be sent from approved publications (a restriction that, in Y/N's opinion, was just another way of saying they were aiming for as much confirmation bias as possible), and as the primaries had made it abundantly clear who would end up as the Republican presidential nominee, everyone had been clamoring for spots.

Not being even close to a senior reporter, Y/N hadn't expected to be sent. Her original plan for the evening included watching the live stream on her laptop and texting the keynote speaker all the mockery she'd be able to offer for his answers. However, her history with Jefferson -- that is, the Jefferson campaign, of course -- had apparently granted her a sharp, glossy lanyard and a seat in the second row. She'd neglected to mention that small detail to him, though.

His eyes had found hers almost immediately when he took his place before the rows of journalists, all chomping at the bit to have the most exclusive information they could get out of him as quickly as they could get him to speak. However, he continued scanning the crowd, not missing a beat. If not for the wry, surprised smile that'd broken into his front of relaxed professionalism, she'd have almost thought he didn't see her.

But that was all more than twenty questions ago, before he'd fallen into the swing of his public persona, before she'd all but disregarded their prior connection; when her focus was on typing at over 80 words per minute, desperate not to miss a single detail, she couldn't spare a moment to reminisce on having been pinned to his wall the night prior, couldn't think about the bruises littered across her thighs.

She was fully immersed in fact-checking his last response about drone strikes in Afghanistan, because there was no way those empirics were correct; she'd definitely read somewhere that--

"Secretary Jefferson, I'm sure you're aware by now of the series of articles covering your campaign attributed to a Y/N L/N."

Her fingers froze. A small, entertained smile graced her lips, and her head slowly rose from her laptop to find Thomas with his lips pursed, his gaze trained on the reporter still speaking. She could tell by the tension in his shoulders that it was all he could do to control his expression.

"It's been on my radar," he answered mildly, and the reporter continued.

"Considering how prominent they've become in the public eye, what do you think of the writing?" A beat passed; Y/N folded her arms, sat back in her chair, rather enjoying watching the scene before her play out. "Ms. L/N has covered everything from the day you announced that you'd decided to run, but you've never addressed any of the conclusions she draws. Is it simply because she's correct? Or would you like to respond to any of her judgments?"

Thomas looked conflicted where he stood at the front of the room. His gaze flickered over to Y/N, for only a fleeting moment, and she raised an eyebrow. When he looked back at the other reporter, his jaw was tense, tongue in cheek, but she could still see the mischievous glint to his gaze.

"Well, I'll try to keep this brief, since there's too much writin' there to cover in the next couple of minutes," he said, and his controlled expression was gradually easing into entertainment. "I can't tell you she's been makin' up any of the info about my time as the Secretary of State. That's all public knowledge, no matter how much fun Ms. L/N's been having paintin' me as some kinda covert international miscreant."

Again, she caught his stare, now wearing a deep-set scowl, and the amusement in his words was gradually pushing toward the surface. "Of course there are some things I've done that I regret, but I think my time as... what'd she call me, an 'agent of antagonism?'"

"I believe her words were an 'envoy of enmity.'"

"That's the one." He was grinning outright, by then, though her gaze was deadpanned when it met his. His enjoyment of the situation was clear to her. "Anyway, I think havin' made the mistakes I did earlier on in my career's taught me how to avoid 'em in the future, and my field experience has positioned me well for understandin' the role the president's gotta take on in such a turbulent international community. That said, I have... a high level of respect for Ms. L/N."

The irony in his tone had dropped off with his final sentences. His eyes found hers, and she was wearing an easy smile. The teasing spark in his gaze hadn't faded, but it was mingled with a warmth she hadn't noticed just seconds before. That time, he didn't look back to the other reporter.

"Now, you won't catch me pretendin' she hasn't been a bit of a pain along the way--"

Y/N rolled her eyes.

"--and I can't say her Twitter's been all that flatterin' to me--" Scattered, quiet laughter came from the crowd collected in the room. Y/N's glare was present but weak; his tone was too lighthearted for any of the journalists to take his words all that seriously, and his gaze was far too playful for her to maintain any front of offense. "--but if anyone was gonna make a whole career outta writin' about me, I guess I gotta consider myself lucky it wasn't someone who came in with a misconception of me as some power-hungry corporate sellout, or anything."

He raised an eyebrow for just a moment, and though she was shaking her head, somewhere between exasperated and amused, heat rose in the back of Y/N's neck at his words. A twinge of embarrassment and regret dimmed her smile, but she knew his sentiment wasn't resentful.

"She's offered some tough feedback, but her writin' about my platform's been pretty nuanced, 'n I can appreciate a reporter who's willin' to come around to my way of thinkin' on a couple of things." His wink was short, sly, and from the disparate chuckles throughout the room, those around her seemed to think there was some joke they all believed to be in on. (All the better for Y/N, anyway. She didn't need anyone noticing Thomas Jefferson eyeing her in the middle of his own press conference -- really, that was something she'd much rather have kept for her own.)

"Hearin' what she has to say has made me reflect on a couple of things, and I think knowin' so much about one person's opinion of me made me re-evaluate some of the things I took for granted." His words were gentle, though the brazen confidence he still held himself with wouldn't have given off the impression that they might've been. Y/N's gaze was soft, and she was taken ever-so-slightly aback -- as per usual -- by his compassion.

"Dealin' with her opinions has been a bit of a ride, but I like to think I'm a better person for it. She's added a lot of value to my... campaign, and at the end of the day, I really do appreciate her havin' been around all this time." His pause after that went on just a bit too long. She didn't break his stare; the look in his eyes was absent, preoccupied if only for a second, but when she offered him a grateful smile, he was right there with her. The teasing in his demeanor had been overshadowed by a fondness that, had she not known better (much like everyone sitting to her left and right), she might've mistaken for polite cordiality, a front plastered on to mask some sort of animosity toward her published appraisal of him.

When the silence stretched on, she finally raised her eyebrows at him, nodding back toward the reporter who'd asked the question, and he seemed to have broken from a trance, giving her a smile as warm as her own before he turned back to address the room.

"Other questions?"

[thelittlestcheshire]

even if you have to cry, don't let your crown fall

a love letter to luxor’s ches elswood

Well, it’s finally time that I feel ready to post this, and while I’m aware it may be bittersweet with my upcoming departure, I hope you enjoy it nonetheless. Today I present to you a three hour Ches playlist, divided into sections and covering her entire time at Luxor, from when I first picked her up in June of 2019 all the way to now. There’s quite a few plot references, and small (and not as small) references to other muses throughout, especially when it comes to Elliot, so keep an eye out for those as well!

I’d like to thank Lex for giving me the idea to make these, and her support throughout the process because without her, these playlists wouldn’t even exist. And thank you to everyone who has gone on this journey with us, while I’m sorry I need to dip out early after this event to focus on my health, I love y’all so much.

The standard Ches tws apply (poor mental health, alcoholism, etc etc), and anything I think may be a bit abnormal / section exclusive is noted on the sections.

twist me like a key, then you open the lock | pre-luxor:

the section of time before I played Ches at Luxor, very James heavy. additional tws: Death (Sign of the Times), Toxic relationships (nothing explicit tho)

Sign of the Times (Jasmine Thompson) [ Remember everything will be alright. We can meet again somewhere, somewhere far away from here. ] // Sweet Ophelia (Zella Day) [ Singing like it's a full moon, careless now that he has you. Turns you on to the right songs, promises that you're hooked on. ] // Couple of Kids (Maggie Lindemann) [ Now I'm fallin' heavily, recklessly, trying not to lose my sensibility; but gravity, it pulls me into you. ] // Glowstick (Sofia Karlberg) [ You play me like a line-up; long con, you make me wise up. ] // Crying in the Club (Camila Cabello) [ Ain't no crying in the club, hey, hey, let the beat carry away, your tears as they fall, baby. Ain't no crying in the club, hey, hey, with a little faith, your tears turn to ecstasy. ] // Ember (Katherine McNamara) [ Reignite; you lost your grip on me, and now I blaze wild and free. ]

nobody shows up unless i'm paying, have a drink on me cheers to the failing | summer & fall 2019:

the first time I was at Luxor playing ches, from June - October 2019

7 rings (Ariana Grande) [ Been through some bad shit, I should be a sad bitch. Who woulda thought it'd turn me to a savage? ] // I'm a Mess (Bebe Rexha) [ “It's gonna be a good, good life;” that's what my therapists say. ] // OMG (Little Mix) [ Oh my gosh, I did it again. He said I broke his heart, it keeps happening. ] // Only Angel (Harry Styles) [ Couldn't take you home to mother in a skirt that short, but I think that's what I like about it. ] // LA Devotee (Panic! At The Disco) [ Drinking white wine in the blushing light, just another LA Devotee. ] // Woman Like Me (Little Mix feat. Nicki Minaj) [ I made a few mistakes, I regret it nightly. I broke a couple hearts that I wear on my sleeve. ]

all of this emptiness i've been sharing, it never comes when i want it to | winter 2019:

the period of time Ches went home to be with her family and was away from luxor additional tws: vomiting (Habits (Stay High))

Carmen (Lana Del Rey) [ Darlin’, darlin’, doesn't have a problem lyin’ to herself ‘cause her liquor’s top shelf ] // How You Remind Me (Avril Lavigne) [ And I've been wrong, I've been down, been to the bottom of every bottle. These five words in my head scream, "Are we havin' fun yet?" ] // Playing God (Paramore) [ This is the last second chance (I'll point you to the mirror). I'm half as good as it gets (I'll point you to the mirror). I'm on both sides of the fence (I'll point you to the mirror). Without a hint of regret, I'll hold you to it ] // Habits {Stay High} (Tove Lo) [ Staying in my play pretend, where the fun ain't got no end. Oh, can't go home alone again, need someone to numb the pain. ] // Bedroom Window (The Pretty Reckless) [ As I look out of my bedroom window; is it all real or just fantasy? I have lost touch with what makes me human, I have lost touch with reality. ] // Impossible Year (Panic! At The Disco) [ There's no sunshine, this impossible year; only black days and sky grey and clouds full of fear. ]

i wouldn't say you got the best of me, i'd say you got me somewhere in between | spring 2020:

Ches’s return to Luxor, and the months following leading up to her mass text about Leo’s dad following the Lake Bash

3 O'Clock Things (AJR) [ Would you go running if you saw the real me? Maybe you'd love 'em, yeah, maybe you'd feel me. ] // Wild Heart (Bleachers) [ Well, everything has changed and now I can't tell what matters. I will find any way to your wild heart. ] // Rise (Katy Perry) [ When the fire's at my feet again and the vultures all start circling. They're whispering, “you're out of time.” But still, I rise. ] // Don't Stop Me Now (Queen) [ I'm a rocket ship on my way to Mars on a collision course. I am a satellite, I'm out of control. ] // Princesses Don't Cry (CARYS) [ Girls, so pretty and poised and soft to the touch, but God made me rough. Girls, so heavy the crown, they carry it tall, but it's weighing me down. ] // Save Rock And Roll (Fall Out Boy feat. Elton John) [ You are what you love, not who loves you. In a world full of the word 'yes', I'm here to scream... no, no (no, no). ] // Making a Monster out of Me (Katherine McNamara) [ And I don't know how to recollect the morals that I always did possess. Don't know where its leading me. ] // We Don't Have To Dance (Andy Black) [ You're never gonna get it, I'm a hazard to myself. I'll break it to you easy. This is hell, this is hell. ]

tonight it's alright, i can see the tunnel at the end of these lights | summer 2020:

summer camp and the months leading up to a new school year

Night Owls Early Birds (Foxes) [ A wild fire inside me burns. Why do I look like I'm wear for worse? Save me, save me, go underneath the ground. ] // Too Much (Carly Rae Jepsen) [ When I party, then I party too much. When I feel it, then I feel it too much. When I'm thinking, then I'm thinking too much. When I'm drinking, then I'm drinking too much. ] // Royal Blue (Alberto Rosende) [ My regrets are a shade around my neck I know. It's torturous, and there's a burden that I can't let go. ] // Who You Selling For (The Pretty Reckless) [ And when Roger showed me I was building a wall. I've been waiting a long time, waiting a long time, waiting a long time, waiting for it to fall. ] // Heavy (Linkin Park feat. Kiiara) [ You say that I'm paranoid, but I’m pretty sure the world is out to get me. It’s not like I make the choice to let my mind stay so fucking messy. ] // The Archer (Taylor Swift) [ I've been the archer, I've been the prey; screaming, “who could ever leave me,” darling. But who could stay? ] // Everybody Lost Somebody (Bleachers) [ And there's a reason I wake up alone in strange places, a reason I see myself in a million faces, a reason I can't stop it all from changing. So come on, motherfucker, you survive, you gotta give yourself a break. ]

no cameras catch my muffled cries. i counted days, i counted miles | fall and winter 2020(/21):

a new school year, from the start of the semester right until the aftermath of the kings’ party

So It Goes (Guards) [ I don't know who I am but I do know who I'm not. I'm just looking for a friend, I'm still searching for the plot. ] // Wasabi (Little Mix) [ Love to hate me, praise me, shame me; either way, you talk about me. ] // Think Before I Talk (Astrid S) [ Maybe I should think before I talk; I get emotional and words come out all wrong. Sometimes I'm more honest than I want. ] // Miss Americana & The Heartbreak Prince (Taylor Swift) [ No cameras catch my muffled cries. I counted days, I counted miles to see you there, to see you there. And now the storm is coming, but... ] // Sober Up (AJR feat. Rivers Cuomo) [ Won't you help me sober up? Growin' up, it made me numb, and I wanna feel somethin' again. ] // The Show Must Go On (Queen) [ Empty spaces, what are we living for? Abandoned places, I guess we know the score, on and on. Does anybody know what we are looking for? ] // Waiting For A Friend (The Pretty Reckless) [ My head is like a prison cell, I'm all by myself. I'm waiting for my friend to come and break me out. ] // Sober (Demi Lovato) [ I'm sorry that I'm here again, I promise I'll get help. It wasn't my intention, I'm sorry to myself. ] // Eight (Sleeping At Last) [ I'm just a kid who grew up scared enough to hold the door shut, and bury my innocence. But here's a map, here's a shovel, here's my Achilles' heel. ]

i got this handled, i don't need rescuing | spring and early summer 2021:

ches’s progress from the end of march until now

The Man (Taylor Swift) [ I’m so sick of running as fast as I can, wondering if I'd get there quicker if I was a man. And I'm so sick of them coming at me again, 'cause if I was a man, then I'd be the man. ] // Princess (FLETCHER) [ But we're all going through it, so why do we do it? Why do we hide? ] // Humpty Dumpty (AJR) [ If I can't breathe, then you can't see, but aren't you excited that I'm giving you the best me? ] // My Mistake (Gabrielle Aplin) [ Am I jaded? Am I meant to feel this way?  I'm a loser, getting beat by my own game. But if I falter, well, at least it was my mistake. ] // The Climb (Miley Cyrus) [ The struggles I'm facing, the chances I'm taking; sometimes might knock me down, but no, I'm not breaking. ] // breathin (Ariana Grande) [ Some days, things just take way too much of my energy. I look up and the whole room's spinning. You take my cares away. ] // Clean (Taylor Swift) [ Ten months sober, I must admit just because you're clean, don't mean you don't miss it. Ten months older, I won't give in, now that I'm clean, I'm never gonna risk it. ] // Not a Pop Song (Little Mix) [ A hamster on a wheel that's how it feels tryna be real. These unrealistic expectations said we'll make it if we fake it. ] // Queen (Loren Gray) [ Eyes on me like I'm a prize but you better recognize I'm not your angel 'cause I belong to me. ] // The Cure (Little Mix) [ This happiness was always inside me but Lord, it took a minute to find me. ]

[cattles-bians]

damie vibecca exes au part 20

post directory

obsetress: ok but when they first meet

obsetress: at that bar on whatever night or whatever

obsetress: when dani and viola are talking

obsetress: viola's waving her hand around as she says something and dani's staring and then totally out of nowhere:

obsetress: "wanna compare hands?"

obsetress: "what?"

obsetress: "lemme see your hand"

obsetress: and dani is grabbing one of vi's with both of hers and pulling it towards her "like this"

obsetress: and then dani's pressing their palms together and viola's raising an eyebrow and dani just GRINS and then even once they lower their hands back to the bar, neither of them move away

em: dani is SO bold i would die for her

obsetress: god same

obsetress: dani keeps glancing down at them as they're talking and she is NOT subtle

obsetress: viola catches her every time

em: maybe dani gets a smidge of smthn on the corner of her mouth and viola...

obsetress: viola pulls her hand away and dani blinks and her brows do that lil thing but then viola's murmuring "here" and grazing her thumb along the corner of dani's mouth

obsetress: dani squeaks

em: love when dani gets out dani’d

obsetress: viola's like "sorry, was that... was that okay?" and dani just swallows and nods with big shining eyes and then vi kinda hesitates and (they've been talking for a couple hours at this point, touchin hands and obv v into each other) lets her thumb graze across dani's bottom lip and she murmurs "what about that?" and dani's eyes flutter shut

obsetress: cut to: them making out in the bathroom

obsetress: no um

obsetress: thinking about vi and dani's first kiss and like

obsetress: maybe like right after that up there vi's leaning in closer and i think she. asks dani "can i kiss you?" and dani's whispering "please" and then they're kissing all soft and THEN cut to: them making out in the bathroom and one of them slamming back against the door and kissing hard

em: dani whispering please…

em: also the smash cut between um nervous anticipation and SLAMMING against a door is so funny to me

em: sums them up

obsetress: RIGHT

obsetress: it's so good i love them

obsetress: i cant decide like

obsetress: because i don't think vi would be so rough with dani at first as to shove her hard against a door and i DO think dani would be shoving her against the door and her tongue down her throat first chance she gets

obsetress: but i think vi prob flips them p quick

---

em: i am. creasing thinking abt dani having to rename all of violas contacts like STOP FUCKING UR EX

obsetress: STOP FUCKING UR EX lskfjakdlsfjsd even BETTER

obsetress: edit the tumblr post coward

em: obsetress: no um dani definitely calls the landline once and viola's like "HELLO?" and dani's like "hi?" and viola's so glad to hear her dumb voice but she's still like "dani, why are you..." and dani's like "well... i, uh... i... i was... and then i..."

obsetress: anyway they have phone sex on the landline

em: CRYIN

em: danis blocked all of vis numbers except the landline shes down Bad

obsetress: yeah,

obsetress: (dani still comes over after)

em: unstoppable force (danis thirst) meet immovable object (violas stubbornness)

obsetress: just imagining like

obsetress: i mean either after this or at literally any other time

obsetress: dani and viola laying side by side in vi's bed catching their breath immediately after and viola's just like

obsetress: "you have the libido of a teenage boy"

obsetress: and dani's head just flops to the side to look at her and she just GRINS

em: dani makes some quip abt um

em: danis like i read somewhere women don’t hit their sexual peak until their 40s or something and violas like (extremely tersely) i’m 35

obsetress: SCREECH

obsetress: dani "no, i... i know, i wasn't–– i was just––"

obsetress: viola can't stay pressed w her

em: dani tryna explain her way outta that one i’m

em: dani has never once seen violas drivers license nor ID

obsetress: "i was just... saying, because, you know, i mean... for me, i'm... you know, i'm only ever getting more..." (flush, head duck, grin up through her lashes) "you know. and i'm getting older, so i was just... thinking. for me, i mean. thinking for me"

em: dani; also i give WAY better head than a teenage boy

obsetress: viola biting her lip, grinning, melting because how could you not? and then dani kinda stops in her tracks and her brows pinch together and she tilts her head at viola "i'm... a lot better at going down on you than a teenage boy though, right? i think i am" (long pause) "i hope i am"

obsetress: anyway viola laughs and tugs dani over n on top of her "i wouldn't know" and dani does her lil nervous laugh and is like "yeah, you're right, i guess not" "but" and dani's face lights up and viola continues "i think you probably are. and you're definitely up there" and dani just GRINS

obsetress: her head is back between vi's legs not three minutes later

em: dani talks big game n then like immediately double checks for validation

em: it’s an important part of her character growth!!!

---

em: ok more ‘viola has been doing this lesbian thing for longer than jamie realises’ content but like

em: perhaps she has a whole lot of ear piercings that she just never wears

em: and then one day she’s like gosh gotta make sure these don’t heal over and jamies like

em: hey what the fuck

---

obsetress: um suddenly had a thought

obsetress: viola tattoos

em: oh

obsetress: yeah, like um

obsetress: vi wouldn't have heaps and they'd be hidden bc Propriety but

em: hidden tattoos my beloved

em: all tattoos my beloved

em: i mean defs has like. the date and coordinates of isabels birth somewhere

em: but um! hmm

em: haha violets

obsetress: THE ISABEL THING WAS THE FIRST THING I WAS GONNA SAY

obsetress: violets are very vi tho like

obsetress: shade plant yk

em: under the tit

obsetress: I WAS GONNA SAY UNDER THE TIT

obsetress: GET OUTTA MY HEAD

obsetress: ok it has to be canon then if we both thought it

em: it’s canon!!

em: hmm what else

em: i think viola and dani have belly button piercings but like they got them separately

obsetress: omg when did they each get theirs

em: hmmmmmm

em: i mean wild child rich heiress viola (untapped potential here won’t lie)

obsetress: wild child rich heiress viola/boarding school wild child dani au

em: oh my god

em: viola defs went to a boarding school and dani n her commiserate over it

em: viola gets it done while she’s in highschool

em: dani post eddie break up

em: like symbolically reclaiming herself deal

em: doing things for Her

obsetress: YES

obsetress: i was gonna say vi highschool dani college

em: YES

em: idk what tattoos dani would get but am thinking abt viola holding her hand while she’s getting a tattoo or piercing done bc she’s braver than ppl think but Also

obsetress: vi holding dani's hand and telling her how good a job she's doing

obsetress: dani kissing vi's tattoos

obsetress: super fascinated even though shes seen them a hundred times

em: danis like haha and what’s this one mean (plants a big old smooch)

---

obsetress: Shananigans402: dani putting on 4 inch heels and being so content that she's finally her girlfriend's height and then viola kisses her before putting on 6 inch heels with a smug little grin

obsetress: i––

em: oh my god shannon

obsetress: oh shes on one

obsetress: Shananigans402: dani starts keeping things on a high shelf in her place just so she can ask viola to reach up to get them down for her

obsetress: i was talking to shan abt the shelf thing

obsetress: and i played myself i think

obsetress: because now i literally cannot stop thinking

obsetress: dani putting the strap on the top shelf in her closet "baby 🥺 can you get it 🥺"

---

[em note: once again it is the time honored timezone tradition of either sending ur friend something really good or really fucked up b4 they go to sleep]

em: what about

em: jamie and dani laying in bed after brunch w violas excessive amount of ear jewellery and jamies like ‘those were cool. i want some’ and danis like ‘with ur tiny lil ears??’ and jamies like ‘well. yeah…’ and danis like well. if u wanna. i think one would be cute here (mwah) and here (mwah) or maybe here (mwah)

em: ticklish jamie. that is my lil idea

obsetress: im Soft

em: thankyou

em: em softsbians

em: what was ur lil idea

obsetress: oh

obsetress: not obsoftress

obsetress: but um

em: look i was really hoping i could make it hornier but alas sometimes the idea is soft

em: can’t force the horny

obsetress: i will do my job n delivery the horny for u i suppose

obsetress: it's a hard job but somebody's gotta do it!

em: it’s a thankless job!

obsetress: dani, sneaking up behind viola to wrap her arms around her waist and bury her face between her shoulder blades: baby 🥺 can you get the strap 🥺

obsetress: dani, laying on the bed, staring up at her, panting: baby 🥺 can you get the strap 🥺

obsetress: dani, pulling away mid-heated makeout, half naked, still grinding into vi even tho they're not kissing anymore without even realizing it: baby baby 🥺 can you get the strap 🥺

obsetress: dani, catching her breath after her first orgasm, letting her head flop to the side to look over at vi: baby 🥺 can you get the strap 🥺

em: insatiable dani clayton my beloved

obsetress: thank you i agree

obsetress: something about dani calling vi baby also........................

em: oh i love dani calling vi baby SO MUCH

em: fucked up that dani clayton is potentially just the right height to motorboat vi pretty much whenever

em: sappho may u plant ur self face first into the breast of ur tender gf or whatever

em: dani: haha i’m so short i can’t reach it. can u lift me

obsetress: vi sees thru all of dani's little tricks but entertains them anyway

obsetress: because she knows shes gonna get to rail her at the end of them

em: dani being a little shit is foreplay actually clayton

em:

[kbstories]

impression//expression

“It’s not like Kirishima had come all this way to U.A. to immediately break the promise he made to himself upon arrival.

It’s just that Bakugou is as feral as they come, and the moment Kirishima recognizes it’s fear he felt crawling up his spine that day, he makes it his personal mission to face it head-on until it’s gone.”

(Or: Being friends with Bakugou Katsuki is anything but a linear experience. Kirishima Eijirou would have it no other way.)

Tags: Kirishima POV, Developing Friendships, Kamino Arc, Kidnapping & Aftermath, Hurt/Comfort, Bakugou Gets A Hug

Chapter 1. Chapter 2. Chapter 3. Content warning for kidnapping, aftermath of violence. Chapter 5. Chapter 6. Chapter 7. Chapter 8. Chapter 9.

***

Nitro!! (Baku 💣💥)

i’m gonna die (sent 19:08)

no seriously i’m this 👌🏻 close to losing it bro (sent 19:08)

aizawa’s voice is so zzzz and it’s like sir,, i’m begging,,,, (sent 19:09)

a little bit of energy. just a little bit (sent 19:09)

A nudge to his side, somewhat urgent.

shit brb (sent 19:10)

“Dude.”

Kirishima keeps his voice down to a hiss, shooting a glance at Aizawa’s turned back just in case. Hidden behind his pencil case, his phone shows Bakugou has read his messages – near-immediately, as always – before Kirishima locks the screen. His own face is reflected on sleek, innocent black.

Next to him, Kaminari is looking at him like he’s lost his mind. “Don’t dude me, dude”, he whispers back. “Texting in Aizawa’s class? D’you have a death wish?”

Next to Kaminari, Mina leans over her desk, clearly curious and uncaring of her notes crinkling quietly under her elbows. “You? Kiri, paragon of wholesomeness and sunshine, breaking the rules? Lemme guess, it’s because of Bakugou.”

Next to Mina, Sero joins the fray with a muted headshake. “So brave yet so reckless. Truly inspiring.”

“You can say that again. That guy’s scary, man.” That’s Kaminari again. He leans in conspiratorially, nodding at Kirishima’s phone. “You got Blasty’s number? How? He almost bit my head off when I invited him to the 1-A chat.”

“Uh, yeah? We’re besties. But guys…”

If they were anywhere else, Kirishima would let out a whine. All he wanted to do was keep himself awake by texting his bro, is that such a crime? Especially since Bakugou’s the only one of ‘em who is actually allowed out there, where the fun stuff is happening. It’s downright cruel to have a new challenge dangled in front of their eyes like the juiciest steak only to be dragged away to the equivalent of plain steamed broccoli. Or something.

Point is: Kirishima’s bored enough he could cry and Aizawa, bless his insomnia-plagued soul, is making it about a thousand times worse with his monotone mumbling while he continues to write whatever-the-fuck in chalk to illustrate his point.

Three mouths open simultaneously in what Kirishima knows will be a too-loud bout of teasing – a frantic gesture of his hand to shut up, shut up, shut up has identical grins bursting on his friends’ faces.

Grins that disappear the instant the familiar sense of Aizawa’s quirk washes over them. Uh oh.

Aizawa doesn’t even have to say anything. Not even a brief pause registers in his lecture yet Kirishima snaps to attention so hard his buttcheeks clench as he furiously scribbles down what’s on the board. Some sort of… diagram? (It’ll make sense later, Kirishima hopes. And if it doesn’t, there’s always his equally draconic tutor-slash-best-friend he can poke into helping him eventually.)

After a semester at U.A., everyone in 1-A is whipped enough that not a single word is breathed between them for a good fifteen minutes. Aizawa talks, they take notes.

Then the adrenaline wears off and Kirishima finds himself drifting once more, fingers automatically flicking the home button. There, over Crimson Riot’s confident grin, three new messages.

Nitro!! (Baku 💣💥)

pay attention (received 19:14)

ffs (received 19:14)

hope aizawa murdered your ass (received 19:16)

No surprises there. Well, the fact that Bakugou has deigned to reply just before a training exercise kind of is, and he even triple-texted which makes a sappy part of Kirishima’s brain think he must’ve rubbed off on him over the past months. The day Bakugou Katsuki discovers emojis can’t be far off now and it will be Kirishima’s greatest achievement to date.

He bites his lip to suppress an amused noise at that. Ignoring the incredulous stare from Kaminari to his right, Kirishima types.

Nitro!! (Baku 💣💥)

haha! i lived bitch (sent 19:32)

minus the bitch askdjfhsk sry (sent 19:32)

i’m just tired af lol (sent 19:32)

how’s things on ur end tho? (sent 19:34)

no asses left unkicked i’m sure (sent 19:34)

👊🏻💥💥 (sent 19:35)

Kirishima gets about a solid second to feel good about furthering his pro-emoji agenda before his phone is snatched away by rigid, white cloth. Wide-eyed, his gaze is met by a flat expression that exudes more exhaustion than any human should rightfully have to feel.

“Kirishima”, Aizawa says, as calm as ever. “How kind of you to lend me your attention.”

Lord have mercy. Whichever hell Aizawa is about to unleash on him, Kirishima will be in it for a while. And when that’s over, it’ll be Bakugou’s turn to have a field day with it.

Somehow, Kirishima is actually looking forward to that last part.

*

Then, a voice rings out in their heads. Aizawa jumps into motion. The villains strike.

Afterwards, all Kirishima can do is stand there and watch the forest burn. His phone is silent, held between fingers that won’t stop trembling no matter what he does. He unlocks, checks, locks, only to do it all over again a few minutes or seconds later.

Around him, everything is spinning out of control. Reality is too loud, too bright, already overwhelming where it waits to be acknowledged beyond the soothing green interface of his chat with Bakugou.

The messages are still there. Marked read until they aren’t, and Kirishima stares at that subtle difference like it’s the last thing tethering him to the ground. Blue tick, his best friend is fine. Grey tick–

Bakugou let Kirishima take a photo of him, once. Kirishima had complained about his profile picture being that creepy default silhouette, especially once they started texting on a daily basis. So Bakugou sighed and leaned over the tiny table of the café, his chin propped on one hand and his coffee in the other. He’d kept still just long enough for the shutter to go off and called him a clingy bastard right after.

In the soft morning light, there’d been something warm in his typical glare. It’s still there, tucked away in the top left corner of the screen. Fond, red eyes, looking straight at Kirishima ever since.

Higher and higher, the flames reach for the sky with greedy, cobalt fingers, bright enough to take the stars with them. And Bakugou?

Bakugou is gone.

*

Nitro!! (Baku 💣💥)

hey (sent 23:01)

it’s a long shot but (sent 23:03)

are u there? (sent 23:03)

these are going thru so ur phone is on and i thought (sent 23:08)

idk (sent 23:08)

please respond man (sent 23:37)

please (sent 23:58)

katsuki? (sent 00:40)

*

Nitro!! (Baku 💣💥)

fuck (sent 3:24)

*

Bakugou Katsuki

um (sent 6:13)

the pros asked for ur number to track it and stuff so i gave it to them (sent 6:13)

turns out almost nobody has it?? so like (sent 6:20)

if u want a new one after all this it’s on me (sent 6:21)

pls don’t be mad haha (sent 6:21)

fuck that actually (sent 7:05)

be as mad as u want baku (sent 7:06)

u can do whatever ok? when u come back (sent 7:09)

free pass. i won’t guard this time (sent 7:09)

just come back (sent 8:00)

they’re looking for u so u gotta come back (sent 8:02)

* 

Baku 💣💥

sry i just (sent 19:55)

ok still going thru (sent 19:55)

that’s good right? (sent 19:57)

i need it to be good (sent 20:05)

yeah (sent 20:06)

*

Baku 💣💥

it’s saturday (sent 2:33)

please be ok (sent 4:46)

i miss u (sent 5:00)

*

Baku 💣💥

we’re on our way katsuki (sent 12:45)

just hold on we’re coming for u (sending…)

wait (sending…)

oh (sending…)

*

Bakugou is quiet.

When all is said and done, injuries patched up and police statements given, Kirishima waits and Bakugou looks… tired. Small. Glancing back at the precinct with eyes a little too wide, a little too hesitant to truly belong to him.

Whatever he’s searching, if he finds it or not – Kirishima can only guess as Bakugou’s shoulders slump further and he mutters, “Let’s just go.”

In retrospect, he was probably talking to his parents. The Bakugous came for their son in a car as expensive as they come, white with chrome highlights and an interior clad entirely in tasteful, beige leather; it’s an aesthetic that’s the antithesis to Katsuki’s. Their expressions are full of love, though, brows drawn in concern carefully left unspoken. His father opens the back door for him first, going for his own in the front, while his mother ruffles Bakugou’s hair within the one-second-window he allows for the touch before shrugging it off.

“Welcome back, brat. We missed ya.”

Familiar phrases laden with far too much weight. From the outside in, it’s just that: Mildly exasperated parents picking up their kid after some school thing that dragged on into the night, or perhaps a late hangout with a friend. No one acknowledges the nightmare-ish three days they’ve left behind by the merit of time passing and the world spinning on and nothing else – the countless people injured or dead, an entire district torn asunder in a conflict much bigger than any of them, especially Bakugou.

Bakugou, who shuffles onto the backseat without saying much of anything. It’s only after Kirishima trails after him and Bakugou’s eyes meet his own over his shoulder that Kirishima realizes that’s what he’s doing.

Then Bakugou’s gaze softens and he kicks the door of the car open wider. “Um”, Kirishima pipes up, the noise of keys clinking together drawing his attention to one Bakugou Mitsuki. “Is it okay if I…?”

She snorts and ruffles his hair, too. “Kid, after what you did tonight, a ride home is the least I can do for ya. C’mon.”

Kirishima bows politely, a mumble of “Thanks, ma’am” waved away immediately. A moment later, Kirishima’s hand is being grabbed and he’s dragged inside. “Get a move on”, Bakugou mumbles, staring pointedly until Kirishima rights himself and digs for the seatbelt with his free hand. The click of the clasp snapping in is oddly loud in the ensuing silence.

It doesn’t last. The moment the engine purrs to life and the lights go off, a heavy guitar riff screeches from cleverly hidden speakers in perfect surround sound and Kirishima jumps. He’s the only one in the car to do so.

“Whoops, my bad”, says Bakugou’s mom as she turns the music down the slightest amount, her smirk – so familiar and yet not – clearly visible in the rear-view mirror. Next to her, Bakugou’s dad chuckles and shakes his head.

Bakugou himself is turned towards the window, the hand against his chin barely hiding the tiny smirk there. Kirishima lets him have it. Anything that’ll replace that lost expression from earlier is good in his books.

“So. Eijirou, right? Nice to finally meet ya.” Mrs. Bakugou checks in with him via the mirror. Her hand rests on the gear selector. “Where to? We’ll bring you home first. I’m sure your parents are worried.”

And oh fuck, Kirishima hasn’t even thought that far ahead yet. When he snuck out of the house a lifetime ago, all his mind was able to process was getting to Bakugou, saving Bakugou, bringing Bakugou back. As much as both his mothers are angels in their own right, they’re also easily worried and twice as buff as him. There haven’t been many occasions which called for them to throw down for their son but they totally would if given half the chance.

If they catch wind of even a fraction of what Kirishima got up to tonight, someone will have to pay. Kirishima’s willing to bet his most prized, limited-edition Crimson Riot figurine that that someone will end up being all of U.A., nationally famous pro heroes or not.

Before any of that can make it out of his mouth, Kirishima’s hand is squeezed and… Oh. Bakugou’s still holding it. Their skin isn’t touching; Kirishima’s sleeve has been pulled down to prevent that.

(It’s one of those things Bakugou does, tracking who and what gets in direct contact with his sweat and how to neutralize it in time. It makes Kirishima’s chest ache that, despite everything that happened, he is still aware of small things like that.)

“He’s crashing at ours tonight”, Bakugou tells his parents rather gruffly. Still looking out the window like there’s nothing unusual about that at all, and Kirishima gapes at him in complete and utter surprise. Bakugou’s grip only tightens.

“Got a problem with that?”

Just like that, Kirishima finds himself able to process speech. “Nope! Not at all. Uh, that is– Mrs. Bakugou, Mr. Bakugou, can I?”

Bakugou’s parents look similarly caught off-guard. To their credit, they merely blink and look at each other, shrugging. Again, it’s the mother who speaks. “That’s Mitsuki and Masaru to you, kid. Let’s go home, then.”

And that’s that. They set off, the car’s movement a quiet thrum that’s drowned out by complicated drum solos and vocals barely scraping past outright growling. Any other day, Kirishima would’ve been ecstatic to finally get to meet the Bakugous. He’d hoard bits and pieces of knowledge about them – such as the fact that Katsuki’s taste in music runs in the family, what the hell – like a dragon does gold coins. The notion that Bakugou invited him to their first sleep-over ever would be the biggest treasure on that pile, for sure.

Because Bakugou Katsuki is anything if not cautious: with his quirk, with his time, with his trust. Because, after days of pacing his room and worrying himself sick and crying until exhaustion took him out, their plan worked.

They pulled it off, Bakugou is back and alive, and Kirishima’s allowed to stay by his side a little bit longer.

He’s here because Bakugou wants him to be and that… feels better than Kirishima can properly put into words. So, no, he doesn’t boast about it, he doesn’t have the energy to – but Kirishima notes and appreciates it nonetheless, relief forming a ball of warmth and light that radiates within him like a tiny sun got stuck between his lungs and his heart. Bit by bit, it melts the tension off Kirishima’s bones until all he can grasp is the steady presence of Bakugou’s hand in his and how heavy his eyelids feel.

Kirishima could sleep for a week straight and still crave a nap afterwards. Probably.

There’s something he has to do before he crashes, though. With a gentle squeeze, he frees his hand to grab his phone and winces at the dozens of unread messages and missed calls that greet him. Both the group he has with his family as well as the one for 1-A have been running hot most of the night, reducing his battery to a pitiful 12%.

Opening up the chat with his moms, Kirishima scrolls to the bottom of the increasingly worried barrage of texts and hesitates, his fingers hovering over the keypad. Once he starts typing, he’ll have about a minute before shit really hits the fan.

💪🏻Kirishima Power 💪🏻

guys i’m so sorry!!! (sent 21:58)

i know ur worried and stuff and i swear i’ll explain later ok?? (sent 21:58)

 just wanna let u know i’m safe!! staying over at baku’s tonight (sent 21:58)

he’s here and safe too (sent 21:58)

🙏🏻🙏🏻 (sent 21:59)

He pauses then, reading that last part over and over again. Safe. Safe, safe, safe. A smile cracks Kirishima’s lips apart and it remains there, steadfast through the flood of new messages rolling in.

*

Bakugou’s room is both everything Kirishima expected it to be and at the same time… not.

It’s huge, for one, the typical bed-wardrobe-desk setup expanded by a couch and a beanbag, a TV with a variety of game systems hooked up to it, a handful of shelves filled to the brim with books and manga and oh, a whole freaking drum set taking up a corner by itself. The walls are plastered with band posters and signed set lists and – less blatant but still there – the odd All Might merch Kirishima knows Bakugou would strangle him for mentioning, so he doesn’t.

What comes out of his mouth is: “Dude! I didn’t know you played drums. That’s so cool!”

Everything is kept in the triad of black-orange-green Kirishima recognizes from a certain hero costume. A few discarded shirts aside, it’s really tidy. So much so that Kirishima feels ashamed of the state of his own room just by seeing this.

The feeling is compounded by Bakugou picking up those shirts and throwing them in the hamper first thing, a quiet tch indicating he’s annoyed by it. Kirishima isn’t up to outing himself as an unrepentant walking mess in comparison – instead, he makes a beeline for the bookshelf with the manga, eyes drawn to a row of covers he’d recognize in a heartbeat.

“Wha– I’ve been looking for these for ages! They’re sold out every time I try to catch up on ‘em.”

A short glance at Bakugou is answered with a shrug and an eye-roll: It’s Bakugou-speak for do whatever the hell you want. Kirishima pulls out the volume he stopped at and leafs through it.

It’s meant as a distraction for Bakugou, a space for him to drop the put-together façade and breathe without people constantly fussing over him. It’s honestly what Kirishima would rather be doing right now (exploring his best bro’s room be damned) but it’s not what Bakugou needs. Well, what Kirishima thinks he needs.

It’s hard to get a read on him without the constant snark and pointed glares. With some dinner in their bellies and Bakugou’s parents now safely downstairs, the expression that fits nowhere on the Angry Bakugou Face catalogue is back. Kind of uncomfortable and so… absent.

Kirishima is really starting to hate that expression.

It’s entirely accidental that Kirishima actually gets into reading. One chapter turns to three, turns to five, and the troubles and worries whirling ever-tighter in his chest ease for a bit until–

Woosh. A soft, balled-up something knocks against the back of his head. Kirishima startles and almost drops the manga, a vaguely alarmed noise stopped short by the sight of Bakugou in sweats and a well-worn, black shirt. His hair is wet. Wild as ever. At Kirishima’s feet: A similar outfit including a towel.

“Bathroom’s that way. Leave your clothes out by the door, I got special detergent for the nitro. Shampoo and shit’s in the shower, there’s a toothbrush for you by the sink. Use it.”

Kirishima opens his mouth.

Bakugou sighs. “It’s just a fucking toothbrush, Kiri. Wreck it for all I care.”

Kirishima closes his mouth. He nods. His phone is quickly dug out of his pocket and set aside, then he slips out to shower.

A good fifteen minutes later, he opens the door to let out a gust of steam and sees his clothes are gone. The hallway is empty, half-lit by the light coming from downstairs. The Bakugous have been as nonchalant about their spontaneous guest as Bakugou himself; even so, Kirishima tries not to linger or make too much noise as he sneaks back to Bakugou’s room.

“Baku. I’m back.”

Bakugou gives him a grunt of acknowledgement from where he’s fitting some sheets over the couch, folded out to provide a decently sized bed. There’s a pillow and a pile of blankets next to him, wrapped in fresh linen as well. It’s unlikely he’s stopped doing stuff since Kirishima left and if he is about ready to crash in five to ten minutes, he can’t imagine how Bakugou is doing right now.

Y’know, the guy who just survived being kidnapped by Japan’s newest and most notorious villain menace. No amount of pretense can make that simple fact undone.

Kirishima pads over to help, the offer to take over already on his lips but– Too late. The last corner is already being tucked in and laid flat with grim-faced efficiency. Left with nothing else to do, Kirishima sits down on the very edge, eyes downcast and fingers fiddling with the hem of his borrowed shirt. There’s some sort of band logo on it, an English word written in that typical death-metal-font that looks like someone dumped a bunch of white sticks in a pile and called it a day.

It’s soft. A little loose and frayed around the edges.

“Hey, Baku?”

Taking the blankets, Bakugou dumps them in Kirishima’s lap. “Mh?” He makes to step away and Kirishima doesn’t think, just reaches out and catches the back of his shirt.

“Dude, seriously. Just… sit down for a minute. Please?”

And Bakugou… listens. He stops, he frowns at Kirishima for a moment like he’s trying to figure out what his deal is, he sighs like he’s been presented with the world’s most aggravating puzzle – and then he tells Kirishima to scooch. “What? I’m not gonna sit on the fucking floor”, he says.

Kirishima can’t keep the relief off his face as he gladly makes room on the couch, leaning against its arm and tucking his legs in. Once Bakugou has settled, cross-legged with an elbow propped on the backrest, Kirishima throws the blanket over both of ‘em. Might as well get comfortable while they still can.

“Okay.” He steels himself with a long, slow breath. “I know you hate this kinda thing and we’re both tired and… stuff. Still, though: Are you okay?”

Bakugou gives him a look, which– Okay, fair. It’s a dumb question with an obvious answer. Kirishima doesn’t back down, though, humming to buy himself some time to rephrase.

“Like… It’s fine if you’re not. Okay, I mean. And if you’d rather go the fuck to bed and not think about this for a while that’s fine, too. But that was pretty rough and you’ve been, um, quiet. And stuff. So, I’m kinda worried. Y’know?”

Kirishima pauses. A bit lower, he mumbles: “And I missed you. So yeah.”

At some point, he dropped his gaze to his hands, limp and useless in his lap. Kirishima swore not to be a coward anymore but it’s hard, to speak and ask about things in full awareness he has no fucking clue what he’s doing.

All he wants is for Bakugou to be okay. That’s all that matters, at the end of a day like this.

“I’m not”, Bakugou says, tentatively. Like he’s making up his mind as he goes. “I’m not gonna waste your time with ‘I’m fine’. I’m not. This shit’s fucked up.” And again he sighs, sounding so fucking tired Kirishima’s heart squeezes in sympathy.

“I haven’t slept in three fucking days; my shoulders are killing me from using my quirk and sitting chained to that stupid chair and whatever the fuck else. The League scouted me specifically because they thought I’d make a good villain and fuck them for that. Fuck them. But it’s just… It’s whatever. It doesn’t matter.”

Whatever Kirishima expected, it’s not that. He looks up and into Bakugou’s eyes and–

He can’t mean that, can he? Kirishima searches his face for evidence to the contrary, traces the tension around Bakugou’s mouth and the exhaustion smudged under his eyes and the line between his brows, growing deeper under Kirishima’s scrutiny. It all reads defeat. It hurts.

They won, right? A childish voice within Kirishima can’t help but cling to that even as he looks back down. They won, and things are supposed to get better when you win.

“People got hurt. People died, Kiri. Heroes, too.” Bakugou takes a shaky breath, a hand going to his hair and rubbing it roughly. “Fucking… Best Jeanist was there and nobody at the precinct wanted to tell me if he’s alive or dead or what. All of Kamino Ward is fucking gone and All Might–”

Bakugou’s voice cracks right down the middle and it hurts. Like there’s a beast tearing through Kirishima’s chest to rip out his heart and throw it to the floor, stubbornly beating as it bleeds out.

Kirishima wants to say something. Anything. All he can hear is Bakugou’s breathing but it’s all wrong, off-rhythm and thread-bare and upset, and any doubt what that means is erased as Bakugou’s hand clenches on the sheets and he sniffs, wet on the exhale.

“Baku–”

“Don’t. Kiri, don’t–”

He’s always been like that, ordering him around and demanding things when politeness dictates to ask for them instead. His tone is as close to pleading as Kirishima’s ever heard from Bakugou, though, and it twists him up inside to the point he feels distantly nauseous.

“Don’t look.” Bakugou isn’t supposed to sound like that. Not now, not ever. “Okay? Don’t f-fucking– Don’t look at me right now.”

“Okay”, Kirishima says. “I won’t.” His own voice is a mess as well, trembling all over the place. “I won’t, Nitro. I won’t.”

You’re safe, is what he wants to tell him. It’s okay, you’re safe now. That’s not what Bakugou is asking of him. Kirishima can’t stop himself from crying because it’s always been hard not to when the people he loves are doing it, but… He tries. For Bakugou, he’ll always try.

Through eyes heavily clouded by tears, he sees Bakugou’s hand tighten, knuckles going white and bloodless. Painfully tense, and Kirishima can’t stand the sight of that, either.

He shuffles a little closer to place his hand over that fist, careful to only touch the back of Bakugou’s hand. Kirishima whispers, “I’m here”, and Bakugou audibly swallows. He lets him slip his fingers in-between his own.

Holding on, just as he did in the car and when they met in mid-air, that desperate instance that decided whether he would make it out alive or not.

Bakugou holds on even as he breaks for good and his shoulders shake with his sobs. As he continues to breathe in gulps of air that sound strangled and desperate, through tears that leave a pattern of uneven dots on the blanket. By morning they will be gone without a trace: The sun will come up, the world will continue to travel around it, and time will reveal the road they walk on as they walk it, step by step by step.

Just because it’s meant to pass doesn’t make this moment any less real. Any less important. Kirishima sits there and listens to his best friend cry. He remembers days spent without him and the mad dash to save him. He thinks of dumb questions and obvious answers.

It’s hard to tell if this is one of them, so he gathers all his courage and asks: “Katsuki. Can I hug you?”

Just like last time, Bakugou doesn’t say anything. He laughs, a watery, humorless thing – and he pulls at Kirishima’s shirt to crush him to his chest. His arms wind around Kirishima’s neck, Bakugou’s face pressing against his hair where Kirishima won’t be able to see him.

It’s fine. Kirishima’s great at hugs; he can totally work with that. Clenching his eyes shut, he adjusts his grip around Bakugou’s waist so he can rub his back, following the bumps of his spine. Up and down, over and over. Bakugou goes boneless in their embrace, not about to let go anytime soon and neither will Kirishima.

Eventually, Kirishima tucks his head against Bakugou’s shoulder, blinking sleep from his eyes. Safe. He doesn’t fight the sharp-toothed smile on his lips. Bakugou mumbles, “Fucking sap”, nearly drowned out by their collective sniffling.

It sounds a whole lot like thank you. Kirishima’s smile only grows.

>>Chapter 5